With Supreme Court set to pronounce verdict on the appeals filed by four death row convicts against death penalty in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case, the parents of the victim said they are sure that the apex court will award death sentence to the guilty.

By Asian News International: The Supreme Court will announce the verdict shortly on the plea by four convicts, challenging their death penalty, in Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case.

The matter is being heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.

The accused were awarded death sentence in September 2013; the sentence was upheld by the Delhi High Court as well in 2014. The four whose fate was decided today are Vinay Sharma, Mukesh, Pawan, and Akshay Thakur.

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On December 16, 2012, the 23-year-old physiotherapist was brutally assaulted and raped by six persons, including one juvenile, on a moving bus in South Delhi and thrown out of the vehicle with her male friend on the night of December 16, 2012.

She died days later in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home.

Earlier today, the parents of the victim said they are sure that the apex court will award death sentence to the guilty.

"We have full faith in the judicial system and I am sure that the Supreme Court will announce death sentence in its verdict for the guilty. I am sure the Supreme Court will give justice to my daughter. This will set an example for the world," said Nirbhaya's mother.

Nirbhaya's father also said that he is sure of the fact that the apex court will award death sentence to the convicts.

"They will be awarded death sentence. Leave Supreme Court, even God will not forgive such people," said Nirbhaya's father.

It is being expected that the Supreme Court would not grant relief to the accused as Justice Dipak Misra doesn't hesitate to give a death sentence and is exceedingly sensitive to women's rights and liberties.

He has upheld rape as depravity and not curable and recently, passed a woman friendly judgement saying that "no woman can be compelled to love; she always has right to say no".

The brutal crime against Nirbhaya had created public furore for a more stringent law to deal with sex crimes against women.

Also Read:

Nirbhaya convicts to be hanged? Supreme Court verdict on plea challenging their death sentence today

Nirbhaya case: Supreme Court to hear sentencing of four accused again

Nirbhaya gangrape convict attempts suicide in Tihar Jail

VIDEO | DCW issues notice to school that barred rape-survivor student from attending classes

--- ENDS ---
The minister said he is happy that India has the provision of death penalty for the rarest of rare cases.

By Brijesh Pandey: Favouring the existence of death penalty in the statutes, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today said the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case was a devastating crime which shook the conscience of the country.

"I am happy and satisfied that our country has the provision of death penalty for the rarest of rare cases. I humbly pray that her soul rests in peace," Shankar said.

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Speaking on the sidelines of a programme here, he said the incident had stirred the soul of the country.

He pointed out that the district court, high court and the apex court awarded the same sentence as rarest of the rare case was established.

He said the Supreme Court rightly pointed out that these diabolical crime, devastating in nature, must be given the highest degree of punishment.

Also read:

Nirbhaya gangrape case: Supreme Court decides the 4 convicts will hang

Nirbhaya rapists to file review petition after Supreme Court upholds death sentence

--- ENDS ---
There is no cause for celebration, as there was and remains an unenlightened majority in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as well as in all other UN institutions. Tuesdays vote , on Israels Independence Day of all days, is part of a war of attrition waged by the Muslim world against Israel. A diplomatic jihad. These may be false resolutions with no real meaning, but with one resolution after anotherthe attrition is working.

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The problem isnt the Muslim world, which is in a state of darkness. Between fighting against Israel and fighting for itself, it favors the battle against Israel. There is not a single point of agreement in the Muslim world, apart from the hostility toward Israel. There is no need, therefore, for resolutions against jihad, which is massacring mostly Muslims, and there is no need to settle the conflict between the Shiites and the Sunnis, and there is no need to deal with the illiteracy and improve the status of women. Nothing is important, just Israel and Israel.

This obsession is harming Israel, but it is harming the Muslims themselves much more, because there is a direct link between the hostility toward Israel and the troubles of the Muslim world. The more hostile it is, the bigger its troubles.

Israels UNESCO envoy, Carmel Shama Hacohen, at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The pressure worked, but we should not rest on our laurels just because the adopted resolution was not as bad as expected

This time it seemed like Germanyeven before its foreign ministers cheap provocationwas about to reach a compromise with the initiators of the anti-Israel motion. This a compromise didnt have anything positive in it; it was a compromise of surrender. Britain made it clear that it would not support the proposal, but Britain is about to leave the European Union anyway. Shortly before the vote, Italy made it clear that it would not support it either. That was a diplomatic accomplishment, which was achieved thanks to the joint efforts of Israels Ambassador to UNESCO Carmel Shama Hacohen and Israels Ambassador to Italy Ofer Sachs with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus intervention. The pressure worked.

Holland, Lithuania and Greece followed in Italys footsteps and announced that they were reneging on the deal. Germanys compromise-surrender collapsed. The European countries, including Germany, which abstain on such votes too often, voted against the resolution this time. All apart from one country, Swedenthe country which has been taken hostage by the forces of progress that are allied with the darkest forces in the world, the country whose foreign minister said after the terror attack in the offices of French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris that it happened because of the oppression of Palestinians. The Swedish madness has not ended. It keeps going faster and faster.

The fundamental problem of the international institutions was and remains that they are all dominated by an unenlightened, automatic majority of undemocratic states. When we say the international community, we are actually saying the unenlightened majority of the international community. Its sad, because points of friction and conflict needs a serious international bodyand that doesnt exist. This body has deserted itself to a majority which led, for example, to the election of Saudi Arabia to the womens rights commission of the UNs Human Rights Council, or which made the World Health Organization find the timein the height of the civil war in Syriato condemn Israel about something that had to do with the Golan Heights. Is there anyone among the residents of bleeding Syria who wouldnt want to live under Israeli rule in the Golan Heights? But to hell with the facts, as long as there is a majority for adopting more resolutions against Israel.

Although resolutions like the one adopted on Tuesday have no practical validity, its hard to ignore their cumulative effect, including on the international public opinion. When newspapers in Europe report these resolutions, they fail to mention that these are foolish resolutions initiated by an unenlightened majority. And if they do include something in this spirit, it appears at the end of the report. This is how false consciousness is created in the free world. This is how Israel is turned into a condemned country. This is how different surveys produce the result that Israel is the country threatening world peace.

At the end of the day, the diplomatic jihad is scoring achievements. We should not, therefore, rest on our laurels just because the resolution adopted on Tuesday was not as bad as the one we expected. There is cumulative damage here, and on Tuesday UNESCO added more fuel to the fire of hatred.
Syria's armed opposition on Thursday rejected a Russian plan to create safe zones in Syria, calling it a threat to the country's territorial integrity, and said it would also not recognise Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan.

Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, and Iran, which backs Syrian President Bashar Assad, agreed earlier in the day to Russia's proposal for "de-escalation zones" in Syria, a move welcomed by the United Nations but met with scepticism from the United States.

"We want Syria to maintain its integrity," opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid said after Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum on creating safe zones. The three countries are sponsoring talks in the Kazakh capital Astana aimed at ending Syria's fighting.

"We are against the division of Syria. As for the agreements, we are not a party to that agreement and of course we will never be in favour (of it) as long as Iran is called a guarantor state," Abu Zaid said.

He also cited what he called "a huge gap" between the promises of Russia, which intervened militarily in 2015 on Assad's side and gave him back the upper hand in the conflict.
President Reuven Rivlin addressed a meeting at his residence on Thursday on the issue of returning property stolen by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

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There can be no true justice, in the face of such terrible evil, such inhuman acts, the president remarked, and asked, What justice, can we bring to the children left in the snow their whole families murdered in front of their eyes? What justice can we bring after the murder of six million people? We cannot bring them back.

Rivlin stressed, We have risen from the ashes. The Jewish people has a home and an army to protect them. We have a strong economy, and Jewish culture flourishes. But no, the scars of the Holocaust, of the Shoah, can never be totally healed.





Suitcases looted from Jews at Auschwitz (Photo: Shutterstock)

The President continued, We always say: Crime doesnt pay. But for many people the crimes of the Holocaust did pay. We cannot allow this. The property must be returned. In addition, time is running out. Less than 400,000 survivors are alive today. About half are here in Israel, the other half live around the worldmany in the countries represented here.

We all have a duty to the survivors today, now, to ensure their well-being. We have come a long way, both in recognizing the rights of survivors, and in returning property. In 2009, 47 countries signed the Terezin Declaration. We have made great progress in Serbia, and Romania, but there is still much more to do.

Jews in the Warsaw ghetto (Photo: Getty Images)

Also speaking at the meeting were Minister for Social Equality Gila Gamliel (Likud); Yuval Rotem, the director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Natan Sharansky, the chairman of the Jewish Agency; the co-chairman of the World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO) executive committee, Abraham Biderman; and the WJROs chair of operations, Gideon Taylor.

Gamliel said, The Jewish people and the Jewish state have a moral duty to make every effort to return the stolen property of Holocaust survivors. Returning the Jewish property is a complex issue that requires extensive and sensitive international action. Only if the Jewish world will speak with one voice and claim the confiscated property from the victims of the Holocaust will it be possible to work with the different countries to return the stolen property to its rightful owners, and achieve some historical justice.

Reuven Rivlin (File photo: Avihu Shapira)

The statements made by the European Union last week on the importance of the issue of returning Jewish property did not occur in a vacuum, it is the result of cooperation and partnership between the State and the WJRO.

The director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the meeting of the efforts made by the MFA to reach the work plan which was to be signed. I am proud of the part the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has played in the current international efforts to achieve justice for the survivors of the Holocaust, he said.

At the end of the meeting, the participants joined representatives of the MFA, representatives of the WJRO, and the director general of the Ministry of Social Equality and his staff for the signing of a joint work plan to see the return of Jewish property stolen from the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

Also attending the meeting were the German ambassador to Israel, Clemens von Goetze; the European Unions head of delegation to Israel, Ambassador Lars FaaborgAndersen; the deputy ambassador of the United Kingdom, Tony Kay; representatives of the US and French embassies; and the French governments special envoy for restitution, Francois Croquette.
Shmuley Boteach, a famous rabbi in the US, uploaded a selfie picture on social media this week with White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, apparently unaware that Bannons detailed to-do list was clearly on display in the background, which contained one item relating to Israel.

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Boteach, an author and orator who calls himself Americas Rabbi, was visiting the White House on Tuesday during Israels Independence Day.

Bannon and Boteach

Featuring on the extensive list, which is only partially exposed, are a number of items pertaining to domestic, foreign and immigration policy. One such item includes the words Tel aviv to Jerusalem, which can only partially be seen.

The broken sentence is presumably a reference to President Donald Trumps campaign pledge to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Other items featuring on Bannon's agenda included: Immediately terminate Obamas two illegal, Suspend the Syrian refugee program, ...defeat ISIS, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions, and Iran deal.

'Tel Aviv to Jerusalem'

Some, although not all, of the the items on Bannons list were ticked off.

Boteach wrote a piece in Breitbart, a far-right American news website previously headed by Bannon, the following day about his experience entitled For Steve Bannon, Israel is on the White Board.

In the article, Boteach said that he thanked Bannon for his deep friendship to Israel, which he had always displayed as head of Breitbart and now as a trusted counselor to the President.
Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked and Tourism Minister Yariv Levin are promoting a measure that would apply all Israeli governmental legislation to the West Bank as well as Israel proper.

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Currently, Israeli law does not apply in the territories. Instead, the GOC Central Command, who is the ex officio sovereign in the conquered territory, applies some laws to the Israeli residents by means of military orders.

Kokhav Ya'akov, south of Ramallah in the West Bank (File photo: Z. F. Building)

According to the directive promoted by the ministers, every governmental law would automatically become an order issued by the general officer commanding.

Shaked and Levin, who head the Ministerial Committee on Legislation, decided to distribute the directive to all government ministers ahead of the Knessets summer session and the start of the committees work.

According to the new directive, before the ministerial committee discusses a government bill, it would examine its effect on the Jewish residents of the territories to make sure that their legal position is appropriately during the legislative process.

Levin in the Knesset (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

It is impossible to accept a situation in which Israeli law does not address the 430,000 citizens of the State of Israel living in Judea and Samaria, Shaked, a member of the Bayit Yehudi party, said. Judea and Samaria are not Israels backyard, and from now on (the) ministerial committee will ask to clarify, with respect to every government law at its table, how the initiating ministry intends to treat the settlers.

Her Likud peer added, The settlement of Judea and Samaria is a fait accompli; it is not a temporary or transitory thing. The time has come for the State of Israel to treat all its citizens equally and apply all the same laws.

The measure we are leading will put an end to the blatant discrimination and the disregard by the laws of the State of Israel against the regions of the homeland and the Israeli citizens living there.

(Translated and edited by J. Herzog)
Following an IDF investigation into the circumstances that permitted a reportedly mentally ill Lebanese man to cross into Israel on April 27, four IDF soldiers are to be sanctioned.

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A battalion commander is to be officially reprimanded, a deputy company commander is to be dismissed, and four other soldiers are to go through disciplinary hearings. The investigation was carried out by the armys Northern Command.

The Lebanese-Israeli border (File)

A statement issued by the IDF Spokespersons Unit stated that the investigation was personally headed by the GOC Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoel Strick, himself. It added that operational lessons were learned regarding the functioning of the forces at the time of the incident.

The lessons of the incident will be transferred to the forces and additional professional complementary investigations will be carried out to prevent recurrence of such cases in the future.

Ali Mari

The Lebanese man, Ali Mari, was spotted by civilians in the central bus station in Kiryat Shmona, which is about 10km from the border. The IDF confirmed that he had entered the country in the area of Moshav Margaliot, located nearby the border fence.

The Northern Commands investigation sought to uncover how Mari passed through the border undetected by army scouts or other troops responsible for securing the border. It appears that he travelled by foot on roads for kilometers.

(Translated and edited by J. Herzog)
hunger strike currently being staged by Palestinian security prisoners in Israel was given a renewed boost of energy on Thursday after it was joined by a number of notorious terrorist responsible for the deaths of dozens of Israelis.

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The new participants in the strike, which entered its 18th day on Friday morning, included the planner of the 2001 assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi and Secretary-General of the Popular Front movement Ahmad Sa'adat.

Moreover, Abbas al-Sayyid, the architect of the Passover massacre in which a suicide bomber killed 30 civilians and wounded 140 in the Park Hotel in Netanyahu during a Passover seder, also joined the strike.

Marwan Barghouti (Photo: AP)

Hassan Salama was another one of the heavyweight terrorists responsible for spilling the blood of dozens of Israelis who joined the strike. Between 1995-1996, Salama was one of the leaders of the military arm of Hamas, and was responsible for a wave of suicide attacks following the assassination of Yahya Ayyash, the terror movements chief bombmaker and the leader of the West Bank battalion of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigade.

Two of the attacks coordinated by Salama included the deadly bombings on the number 18 bus in Jerusalem and one carried out at the Ashkelon Junction in February 1996. Together, these attacks caused the death of 46 Israelis and injured around 100. In total, Salama was given to ten life sentences for the deaths of 67 Israelis.

The hunger strike, which is being led by Marwan Barghouti, suffered a blow to its momentum recently when dozens of strikers quit in two separate waves. The first batch of quitters came after less than a week of the strikes commencement, with 100 prisoners dropping out and another 84 the following week.

With the onset of the strike Barghouti was placed in solitary confinement, as was Saadat when he joined the strike.

Ahmad Sa'adat (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

As things stand, the health of the striking prisoners is not in jeopardy, however the prison services are taking no risks. To that end, the Metzada unit , the Israel Prison Service (IPS), are on high alert near secrity and detention facilities ready to treat anyone whose life is endangered by their self-inflicted starvation.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud), instructed the IPS to enter into negotiations with the prisoners leadership, and ordered that that punitive measures be dished out to the strikers.

Gilad Erdan at an IPS exercise (Photo: Ministry of Public Security)

The main fear facing the IPS in the hunger strike however, which has yet to materialize, is that medical staff will be forced to determine that the the strikers lives are in danger.

In an effort to avoid this situation from arising, which would require prisoners evacuation to civilian hospitals, the IPS has installed four hospitalization facilities in four different prisons, each one containing between 6080 beds.

Metzada in action (Photo: Ministry of Public Security)

More desperate contingency plans are also being mooted by the ministry, which include possibly force-feeding prisoners in such a scenario.

However, as a result of opposition from the Israel Medical Association to participate or provide assistance in such a measure, the ministry is weighing the option of bringing doctors from abroad who are prepared to perform the task.
I had heard about Dora the Explorer mainly in the context of children. I had heard she was an educational figure. To see Dora bedding next to that assault rifle was unusual. It felt low and despicable.

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We enter childrens rooms and look for weapons because there is an understanding that they may hide them there as well. Even though I had never encountered such a thing before, we check every corner. Then one of my soldiers, who was searching the headboard posed above where the little girl slept, suddenly pulled out an M-16 rifle.

M-16 found in child's bed (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

On the one hand, it is very gratifying and satisfying to find the weapon because our mission was to locate the weapons with which the attack was carried out. On the other hand, I find this bizarre. I would not risk my family that way.

It was incomprehensible. I didnt expect that there, in an innocent childrens bed, there would be an assault rifle used for murder. Theres a dividing line here. Hiding a weapon in your daughters bed is not something that is on the border of reason.

Over time, we learn the methods of the other side and how they conceal weapons. This crossed another line of basic moral standards.

Maj. A. on Thursday (Photo: Yuval Chen)

The arrest of this cell is one of the many highlights of the unit that attests to what is happening in the territories and to the work of the unit every night. The sense of satisfaction is tremendous. What keeps meas a 30-year-old manin the army is those moments when you really feel the defense of the country.

The beauty of the Duvdevan unit is the creativity expressed in the sentence that serves as our motto: For by wise counsel thou shalt make war. We know how to reach anywhere in the most surprising and silent way.

Bed used for storing weapons (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

My message to the terrorists is that we will reach them anywhere and at any time. We will do everything to reach every person we need to get our hands on.

(Translated and edited by J. Herzog)
Russian President Vladimir Putin told Russia's human rights ombudsman he will speak with law enforcement officials about the reported torture of gay men in Chechnya. The abuse was first reported in April by the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which said about 100 suspected gay men were rounded up and tortured, and at least three were killed.

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Tatyana Moskalkova asked Putin on Friday to support her request to form a group in Moscow to investigate the treatment of gays in the southern Russian region.

Solidarity protest outside Russian embassy (:  )

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Putin agreed to her proposal for investigating what he called "the well-known information, or rumors" about what is happening to people "with a non-traditional sexual orientation." His comments reflect how Russian officials have played down the report. Moskalkova earlier said she doubted such abuse took place.

Earlier on Friday, hundreds of people demonstrated outside the the Russian Embassy in Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon in response to reports of the systematic murder of people from Chechnyas LGBT community.

Hayarkon Street was eventually closed to traffic as crowds of demonstrators waved signs bearing slogans such as Never Again, Putin is a terrorist and Stop the witch hunt.

We call on everyone with a heart to join us, regardless of identity or how you define yourself, said one of the protests organizers. Later on in the evening, the protesters plan to throw a party at the unofficial gay beach beneath the Hilton Hotel and hoist a pink triangle in solidarity with the Chechen community.

Protesters congregate outside the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv

As a result of the reports of atrocities being perpetrated in Chechnya, an organization for the LGBT in Israel has begun undertaking a series of measures to help the suffering community. One of the initiatives involves coordinating a number of similar protests around the world.

During the planned demonstrations, testimony from LGBT victims in Chechnya will be read out and spokespersons from the community will also address the attending crowds. I call for immediate intervention by Russia in what is happening in order to stop this dark action, one protester said.

Signs reads 'Stop the witch hunt' and 'Never again.'

We know that President Putin has the ability to stop what is taking place in Chechnya if he wants to. We call upon the nations of the world to absorb a few Chechen refugees who are knocking on their doors. For them, return means certain death, one protester warned.

In recent weeks reports have surfaced that widescale and systematic killings intended to erase the LGBT community by the time of Ramadan have been taking place in the republic, which is ruled by President Ramzan Kadyrov.

President Putin and President Kadyrov (Photo: MCT)

According to the reports, hundreds of gay men and trans women have been kidnapped, slung into secret prisons described as concentration camps, undergone horrific torture and killed. President Kadyrovs spokesman denied the reports, claiming that no such acts could be true since there are no homosexuals in his country.

"Nobody can detain or harass anyone who is simply not present in the republic," Alvi Karimov was quoted as telling Interfax.

In April, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said that "The authorities in the Russian Federation must urgently investigate the horrific reports of human rights violations against allegedly gay men in Chechnya, as well as identify, prosecute and punish any known perpetrators."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that "things will be painful" for political rival Hamas, referring to recent financial steps he has taken to pressure the Islamic militant rulers of the Gaza Strip.

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Abbas spoke in a meeting with Arab ambassadors late Thursday before leaving Washington where he had met with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday about resuming peace talks with Israel.

Abbas (Photo: AFP)

Hamas, which seized Gaza from Abbas in 2007, has dismissed his strategy of negotiations as a waste of time.

Abbas recently warned he would cut salaries, aid and subsidies to Gaza to force the militants to cede ground. Earlier this week, his West Bank-based government announced it will stop paying for electricity Israel sends to power-starved Gaza.

Hamas, for its part, says it would not bow to pressure from Abbas.

Trump opened Wednesday's joint press conference with Abbas by reiterating his commitment toward brokering a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. He urged Abbas to work with his administration to acheiving this goal, before emphasizing that the US is ready to help the Palestinians develop and improve their economy.

"We will get this done," Trump promised, noting he will work as a "mediator, an arbitrator or a facilitator" to broker a deal between the warring sides. In his own remarks, Abbas focused on specific demands that the PA will be sticking to in talks with Israel: namely, a two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state and Israel returning to its 1967 borders and ending its 50-year "occupation" of the Palestinian people.

Still, Abbas stated that he believes it is possible to reach peace between both parties, adding that "We are coming into a new opportunity, a new horizon that would enable us to bring about peace." He later reported that while he and Trump did not get into specifics, he believes the US can play an important role as mediator between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Speaking to Trump at their joint press conference, Abbas said, "I believe that we are capable under your leadership and under your courageous stewardship and your wisdom as well as your great negotiating ability ... I believe we can be partnerstrue partners to youto bring about a historic peace treaty," Abbas said. "Now, Mr. President, with you we have hope."
For effective implementation, the Civil Aviation Ministry has proposed to bring out a national no-fly list.

By India Today Web Desk: The Civil Aviation Ministry has proposed a national no-fly list of the passengers, who behave unruly during journey.

Making the announcement, Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey said, "We propose to bring out a national no fly list. It is better to do that by a central mechanism under DGCA than leave it to airlines."

Choubey further said that there will be three types of unruly behaviour:

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Level 1- Disruptive behaviour such as physical gestures for which a passenger will be handed out a suspension of three months

Level 2- Physically abusive behaviour and sexual harassment for which suspension from flying will be for six months

Level 3 - Murderous assault or life-threatening behaviour, damage to aircraft operating systems for which suspension will be for 2 years or more.

By June 30, it is possible for us to come up with the finalisation of the amendment, Choubey said.

RAVINDRA GAIKWAD IMPACT

The proposal to prepare a national no-fly list comes in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who was accused of assaulting an Air India staffer.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said, "In Gaikwad case there was deficiency in the existing rules. That is why these amendments were proposed."

"India will be the first country in the world to have a national no-fly list based on safety," Jayant Sinha added.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has set up a committee to frame the final draft of the new set of rules. The draft will give about a month for the public to comment.

The Civil Aviation Ministry will then take some time to study them and come out with the final Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).

As per the IATA, in 2015, there were 10,854 reported cases of unruly behaviour by the passengers across airlines worldwide, which translate into one incident for every 1,205 flights.

Also Read:

Gaikwad effect: Air India planning to introduce premium economy class on some flights

Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad boards first Air India flight after ban

Also Watch:

Beware unruly passengers! Government brings out new no-fly rules

--- ENDS ---
A New Jersey man who appeared on authorities' radar after stabbing the family dog had plans to construct and use a pressure cooker bomb in New York City and, if necessary, become a martyr in support of ISIS, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Gregory Lepsky, 20, of Point Pleasant, was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Investigators say he had praised the Islamic State group's leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, in online messages. He was arrested in February after investigators said he stabbed and threatened to kill the dog. While searching the home, officers found a pressure cooker stored behind a roll of bubble wrap in his bedroom closet. They also searched his phone.

"Lepsky expressed regret for having tried to kill the family dog because, according to him, if he had not done so, the police would not have discovered his plan," FBI agent Tara Jerussi wrote in a complaint filed Friday. Investigators said Lepsky told police he stabbed the dog because it was considered "dirty" in his view of Islam. Lepsky faces an initial court appearance Friday afternoon. There was no phone listing for him. If convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
YORK  Kimberly Sprau, 42, of Eustis, has pleaded not guilty to two drug possession charges.

Her case was bound over to District Court and she entered her pleas during recent arraignment proceedings.

A jury trial was set for late August.

She and her husband, Donnie Sprau, 47, were both charged with Class 4 felonies, which carry a possible maximum sentence of two years in prison and post-release supervision, upon conviction.

According to court documents, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol saw an eastbound vehicle, in York County, on Interstate 80, which had expired license plates.

A traffic stop was initiated and the trooper alleges that he could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Donnie Sprau was the driver and Kimberly Sprau was the passenger.

A probable cause search was conducted. Troopers allege that they found two methamphetamine pipes with residue in a backpack and two more in the front console. They said they also allegedly found 30 grams of marijuana and two marijuana pipes in the vehicle.

It was also discovered that there was a full extradition warrant issued for Donnie Sprau in Iowa.
YORK  A North Carolina man is being accused of illegally possessing money while violating a law, after nearly $16,000 in cash was found in his vehicle  and a drug indicate it had been in the presence of narcotics.

Matthew J. Garduno, 30, of Greensboro, N.C., has been charged with a Class 4 felony.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the York County Court, a York County Sheriffs deputy was on routine patrol in York County when he saw a motorist do an illegal U-turn. A traffic stop was initiated and Garduno was identified as the driver holding an Oregon license.

He was argumentative from the beginning about the reason for the stop, the deputy wrote in his report. I also noticed several indicators of possible drug trafficking by what I could see in plain view of the vehicle.

The deputy noted that Gardunos tongue was allegedly green, which is an indicator of recent usage of marijuana.

The deputy ran Gardunos criminal history and allegedly found that it included arrests for possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, selling controlled substances, possession/manufacturing methamphetamine, maintaining a place for controlled substances, shoplifting, and more in North Carolina.

The deputy said he asked for consent to search the vehicle and was denied. In his report, he said he called for a canine unit to be brought to the scene and at that point Garduno allegedly offered that he had $13,000 in cash that was to be used to buy vehicles. After the canine unit arrived, the drug dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search was conducted.

Investigators allegedly found an emergency kit that is used to halt a heroin overdose, marijuana and two tins containing cash. When the cash was counted, the total was found to be $15,640. The drug dog also indicated to the smell of narcotics in the cash. Investigators also found a counterfeit $50 bill in the cash, allegedly.

Arraignment proceedings are pending in York County District Court.
This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company.

As of 2020, Minuteman Review is now the proud owner and operator of Your Defence News, a website with a long history of breaking huge news stories and investigative journalism.

We hope you are equally as excited as us.

This means that now the teams of Minuteman can combine with the firepower of Your Defence News to stay at the absolute forefront for our readers.

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Her friends called up her parents and demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh and threatened them not to inform the police.

By Tanseem Haider: A young first-year girl student of Noida today scripted a fake kidnapping drama to help one of her friends get Rs 10 lakh as ransom from her father.

The incident happened in Noida Sector 128 where the girl was "kidnapped" from JP Institute.

Her friends called up her parents and demanded a ransom of Rs 10 lakh and threatened them not to inform the police.

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The father then transferred the money into a bank account from where the funds were withdrawn by the "kidnappers". After sometime, the girl called up her dad and said she has been let off.

At this point the girl's parents informed the police which started investigation and traced the girl. With the help of the girl's phone they managed to track all the three persons who were involved in the kidnap drama.

After police and STF officials investigated the matter they found that the kidnappers were her friends.

Police believes that the girl was part of a kidnapping drama to help her friends get money from her dad.

Her friend Aditya's father was in heavy debt and was in need of money.

Also read:

Malayalam actress abduction: Prime accused escapes

Delhi: Kidnapped makeup artist rescued, 5 including ex-employee arrested

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VILLANOVA, Pa.  Villanova University student Taylor Browna junior in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) with majors in Biochemistry and Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, as well as a minor in Businesshas been named a 2017 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. She was selected on academic merit from nearly 1,300 faculty-nominated students nationwide. Kate Henderson, a junior Environmental Science major in CLAS with a minor in Biology, was also recognized by the Goldwater Program receiving Honorable Mention.

The Goldwater Scholarship is an award that recognizes outstanding undergraduate academic achievement, said University Provost Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD. The success of Villanova students in this competition reflects not only our students exceptional academic accomplishments, but also Villanovas commitment to undergraduate research with dedicated faculty mentors. Congratulations to Taylor and Kate on this prestigious honor.

Brown, from Smithtown, New York, has been engaged in research since eighth grade, when she began working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she has worked every subsequent summer. While at Villanova, Brown joined the research group of Benjamin Sachs, an assistant professor in Villanovas Department of Psychology, which examined endorphin levels in mice that have been administered antidepressant pharmaceuticals. Brown plans to pursue a doctorate in biomedical sciences conducting research in neuropharmacology and genetics to better understand the processes that control drug and alcohol addiction.

Henderson, from Havertown, Pennsylvania, focuses on ecological systems. In 2016, she was awarded a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Award to study the role of insects in promoting plant growth and biodiversity. Henderson received a Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellow Grant in 2015 to study Antarctic sediment samples with Steven Goldsmith, an assistant professor in Villanovas Department of Geography and the Environment. Henderson plans to pursue a doctorate in ecology and to research the applications of the theory of island biogeography to fragmented habitats in the tropics.

Our teacher-scholar model creates truly exciting opportunities for our students to pursue collaborative research alongside renowned faculty who make teaching their priority and education their mission, said Adele Lindenmeyr, PhD, Dean, Villanova University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. We are tremendously proud of Taylor and Kate.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, who served for 30 years in the United States Senate. The program is designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering.
North Korea's Ministry of State Security in a statement said that it will "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" the "terrorists" in the CIA and South Korean intelligence agency for targeting its supreme leadership.

By AP: North Korea has accused the U.S. and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong Un involving bio-chemical weapons.

North Korea's Ministry of State Security said Friday in a statement carried on state media that it will "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" the "terrorists" in the CIA and South Korean intelligence agency for targeting its supreme leadership.

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Also read: We need to talk about North Korea and the 1984-like situation there

North Korea frequently lambasts the United States and South Korea, but its accusation Friday was unusual in its details.

The ministry said the spy agencies "ideologically corrupted and bribed" a North Korean citizen who had been working in Russia to carry out the alleged assassination attempt involving a "radioactive" and "nano poisonous" substance.

Officials at South Korea's National Intelligence Service weren't immediately reachable for comment.

Also read: North Korean media threatens Pyongyang will 'wipe out' US from Earth's surface

Also watch:

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Abuja: Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday made his first public appearance in weeks, re- emerging amid mounting concerns about his health.

The 74-year-old, who spent nearly two months earlier this year receiving treatment in London for an undisclosed illness, was at Friday prayers at a mosque in the presidential villa in Abuja.

Video posted on Twitter by presidential aide Bashir Ahmad showed Buhari dressed in white, shaking hands with fellow worshippers and waving after the service.

The former military ruler has missed the last three weekly meetings of his cabinet, Friday prayers last week and his grandson's wedding at the weekend.

He had been due to meet his counterpart from neighbouring Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, for talks on Friday but the meeting was cancelled, Buhari's office said in a statement on Thursday evening.

"The rescheduling is at the instance of President Issoufou who has another domestic engagement," presidency spokesman Femi Adesina said.

Aides have maintained Buhari is working from his private residence and resting after "a long period of treatment" in the British capital.

They have publicly rejected media reports that he is unable to eat or drink and is being fed intravenously.

Buhari's health is being watched closely as a previous president, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, died in office in 2010 after receiving treatment abroad for a long-standing but undisclosed illness.

His absence triggered months of political turmoil.
Washington: A US Navy SEAL was killed and two troops wounded in a clash with al Shabaab militants in Somalia, US officials said on Friday, in what appeared to be the first US combat death in the country since the 1993 "Black Hawk Down" disaster.

The White House has granted the U.S. military broader authority to carry out strikes in Somalia against al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab, the latest sign President Donald Trump is increasing U.S. military engagement in the region.

U.S. Africa Command said a service member was killed by small arms fire on Thursday while US forces were advising and assisting a Somali National Army operation in Barii about 40 miles (60 km) west of Mogadishu. They did not give further details on the identities of any of the three casualties.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the man killed was a US Navy SEAL. It was not immediately clear whether the wounded U.S. forces were also from the elite military unit.

The U.S. troops were hunting an al Shabaab commander near the Shabelle river alongside Somali special forces, a Mogadishu-based security source told Reuters. There were no Somali casualties.

The raid took place at Darusalam village, where Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame, known as Mahad Karate, was believed to be hiding, said another security source. Warsame is the deputy leader of al Shabaab and U.S. authorities have offered $5 million for information that brings him to justice.

"Warsame played a key role in the Amniyat, the wing of al-Shabaab responsible for assassinations and the April 2, 2015 attack on Garissa University College that resulted in 150 deaths," said a statement on the Rewards for Justice website, which is run by the US State Department.

It was not clear yet if Warsame was the target of the raid, the security source said.

A spokesman for al Shabaab, which wants to overthrow the weak Western-backed Somali government and impose its own strict brand of Islamic law, said US troops had attacked one of their bases.

"Last night at 1 a.m. U.S. forces attacked us in Darusalam village, in lower Shabelle region. After fighting, the U.S. forces ran away," said Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaabs military operation spokesman.

"They left ammunition and weapons on the scene and blood stains. First they had a helicopter which landed some kilometres away from our base, to which they walked. We inflicted heavy casualties -- some forces died and others were wounded but we do not have the exact figure."

Residents of Darusalam village said the gunfire lasted for around 10 minutes. "Last night, helicopters hovered over us and we were scared. Then late at night, there was fighting," resident Mohamed Hassan told Reuters.

US Africa Command said U.S. personnel were working alongside members of the Somali military.

"US forces are assisting partner forces to counter al-Shabaab in Somalia to degrade the al Qaeda affiliate`s ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America," it said in a statement.

"Although US forces are not engaged in direct action (in Somalia), advise and assist missions are inherently dangerous," added Robyn Mack, a spokeswoman at the US militarys Africa Command.

Somalia has been shattered by civil war that began when clan-based warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991 and then turned on each other.

A US military intervention there in 1993 ended after the "Black Hawk Down" incident, when 18 U.S. soldiers were killed after Somali militia shot down two U.S. helicopters in the capital of Mogadishu.

African Union peacekeeping forces have been in Somalia since 2007, gradually expanding from the airport to secure the capital and eventually pushing into other major towns. US military advisers have also secretly operated in the country since around 2007.
Hyderabad: BSEAP 10th Class Results 2017, AP SSC Results 2017, Andhra Pradesh Class 10 Results 2017, Andhra Pradesh Results 2017, AP Board 10th Results 2017 set be announced by the Board of Secondary Education of Andhra Pradesh (BSEAP) on May 6.

Andhra SSC Results 2017, BSEAP class 10th exam Results, AP Board 2017, AP Board Class 10th Examination Results 2017 will be made available on Saturday at 12 noon. Check bseap.org and manabadi.com for the AP Class 10 Result.

Step by step procedure to check AP SSC 10 Results 2017, AP class 10th X matric exam result 2017:

- Log on to the official website of Andhra Pradesh State Board

- Locate AP SSC Class 10th Result 2017 tab and click on it

- Enter details like roll number, Date of Birth and other info in respective fields

- Click on Submit button to get results

- Take a printout

AP Class 10th Result 2017, AP 10th Result 2017 eagerly awaited by 7,10,450 students who appared for the Andhra SSC exam 2017.

About Board of Secondary Education of Andhra Pradesh

Established in 1953, the BSEAP is an autonomous body under the Andhra Pradesh government's Department of Education.

The board has been entrusted with the task of regulating and supervising the system of Secondary Education in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The BSEAP used to conduct examination across undivided Andhra Pradesh but after bifurcation and creation of Telangana, its control is limited to the 13 districts remaining in the truncated state of Andhra Pradesh.

The BSEAP devises the course of study, finalises the syllabus, conduct exams besides carrying other statutory tasks like granting recognitions to schools in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Zee Media wishes 'Best of Luck' to all those who appeared for the exams.
Seoul: North Korea on Friday accused the CIA of plotting with South Korea to assassinate leader Kim Jong-Un, amid soaring tensions in the flashpoint region.

The CIA and Seoul's Intelligence Services have "hatched a vicious plot" involving unspecified "biochemical substances" to kill the hermit state's young leader during public ceremonial events in Pyongyang, the Ministry of State Security said.

For the CIA "assassination by use of biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance is the best method that does not require access to the target, their lethal results will appear after six or twelve months," the Ministry said in a statement carried by state media.

The accusation comes as Pyongyang issues increasingly belligerent rhetoric in a tense stand off with the administration of US President Donald Trump over its rogue weapons programme.

The war of words between the West and the reclusive regime has spiked in recent weeks, and Pyongyang has threatened to carry out a sixth nuclear test that would further inflame tensions.

The CIA and Seoul's Intelligence Services (IS) have "ideologically corrupted and bribed a DPRK citizen surnamed Kim" to carry out the attack on Jong-Un, the statement said.

"We will ferret out and mercilessly destroy to the last one the terrorists of the US CIA and the puppet IS of South Korea," the statement said, adding that the plot was tantamount to "the declaration of a war".

"The heinous crime, which was recently uncovered and smashed in the DPRK, is a kind of terrorism against not only the DPRK but the justice and conscience of humankind and an act of mangling the future of humankind."

The statement did not give any information on how the plot was foiled or what happened to the alleged spy.

North Korea maintains extensive surveillance operations over its own population, and open dissent against the regime is considered extremely difficult.
Jakarta: Indonesian authorities are searching for scores of inmates who escaped today from an overcrowded prison on Sumatra island.

Hundreds of police and soldiers were deployed near Sialang Bungkuk Prison in Riau province and were blockading roads to its capital and other provinces, said Justice and Human Rights Ministry official Wayan Dusak.

He said the escape occurred when prisoners were let out of their cells to take part in Friday prayers and overwhelmed the six guards on duty.

Officials were unsure how many inmates escaped. Indonesian media, citing Riau police, said the number was more than 300.

MetroTV footage showed dozens of men running from the prison and some being captured by police.

The prison holds about 1,800 men, which is several times its capacity.
Brussels: While condemning the horrific killings of five Baloch, Baloch Republican Party spokesman Sher Mohammad Bugti on Friday said the Pakistan Army`s atrocities are intended to force and terrify people to give up on their struggle for Baloch freedom.

Baloch Republican Party spokesman Sher Mohammad Bugti in a statement condemned the horrific killings of Baloch innocent in strongest term possible.

"The discovery of the five mutilated dead bodies of the innocent Baloch in Mand exposes the brutal face of the Pakistani Army. Five bullet-riddled dead bodies of the innocent Baloch were recovered in Mand area of Kech district on Thursday. They had been suffering in illegal detention of the state forces in prior to their abduction. The victims identified as Master Baitullah who had gone missing for two years in Tump, Sabir Baloch, abducted from Turbat, Asif s/o Master Anwar resident of Mand, Noroz Majeed, who was also resident of Mand, and Jasim Rahim, resident of Gomazi." the spokesman said.

He further said that the Pakistani Army`s atrocities and crimes in Balochistan intended to force and terrify people to give up on their struggle for Baloch freedom.

"The Pakistani Army officials are making a very profitable business on the fake surrender of the Baloch Sarmachar to convince the authority in Islamabad and world that everything is in their control now," he said, adding that Baloch freedom activists are struggling for their right and to prove their existence.

The spokesman said the state institutions are taking up the cases of people to hide their failure and shame and then they kill those people in custody and dump their mutilated dead bodies.He appealed to the civilised world to save the lives of Baloch people being victims of the Paki-China evil nexus.
New Delhi: The Centre has declared the entire Assam and a few districts of Arunachal Pradesh as "disturbed" areas under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act for three more months.

In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the entire Assam, besides bordering areas of Meghalaya, have been declared "disturbed" under the AFSPA for three months with effect from May 03.

Various violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB and others have been cited as the reason behind the Centre's decision.

The ministry noted that there were 75 incidents of violence in Assam in 2016 in which 33 people, including four security personnel, were killed and 14 others were abducted.

Besides, there were nine violent incidents in the state in which four people, including two security personnel, were killed in 2017.

The violence was perpetrated by insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and others, the ministry said.

The AFSPA has been continuing in Assam since November 1990.

In another gazette notification, the ministry declared three districts of Arunachal Pradesh - Tirap, Changlang and Longding - besides areas falling under 16 police stations bordering Assam as "disturbed" area under the AFSPA for three more months.

The Home Ministry cited the continuing violence perpetrated by NSCN(IM), NSCN(K), ULFA, NDFB and others as the reason for enforcing the AFSPA for three months beyond May 4.

The AFSPA has been in force in the three Arunachal Pradesh districts since January 2016.

(With PTI inputs)
Patna: At a time when hate crimes are increasing, a Muslim family has donated their land for the upgradation of a temple in Bihar's Gopalganj district, officials said.

Tabarak Dewan and his son Manu Dewan, residents of Ahirauli Dubauli Tola Takia under Gopalpur police station, have donated their land near the NH 28, for construction of the main gate of the historical temple at Bathanakuti.

They had purchased the land for Rs 12 lakh for setting up a business a few months ago.

"By donating their costly land, the Muslim family has helped us to beautify the historical temple at Bathanakuti, which is under renovation. If they had refused to donate their land, it would have been impossible to construct the main gate of the temple.

Thanks to their gesture now the temple`s main gate will be constructed on their donated land," Amrender Kumar alias Pappu Pandey, ruling JD-U legislator of Kuchaikot, said.

According to Pandey, another Muslim, Aali Raza also donated land for the construction of the same temple. Raza, resident of Ramaina village in Kushinagar district in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, termed it a symbol of communal harmony.

"We have been living here for decades and taking care of each other. It is a gesture for communal harmony. We have decided to donate land for a good cause. All religions are the same," Manu Dewan said.

This is not the first such case. Two years ago, some Muslims in Bihar`s east Champaran district, in a demonstration of communal harmony, donated land to help build the world`s largest Hindu temple which will have the capacity to seat 20,000 people.

"Muslims have not only donated land, they have also provided land at a nominal rate for construction of the world`s largest Hindu temple.

Without help of Muslims, it would have been difficult to realise this dream project," Acharya Kishore Kunal, secretary of the Patna-based cash-rich Mahavir Mandir Trust that is undertaking the ambitious project, said.

Muslims have also helped build a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Durga in Bihar`s Gaya district, through donations and also by supervising the construction.

Similarly, a Muslim donated his land for constructing a temple to Lord Shiva in Begusarai district. Mohammad Fakhrool Islam had given land for the temple in Muslim-dominated Bachwara village.

Over three decades ago, some Hindus donated a piece of land for the construction of a mazar in the same village.

Bihar has been by and large free from any major communal trouble, barring a few reported cases of tension, in the last few years.

Muslims form 16.5 per cent of Bihar`s 105 million population. In the Seemanchal region, they account for nearly 67 per cent in Kishanganj, 37 per cent in Purnea, 43 per cent in Katihar and nearly 40 per cent in Araria.
North Korea accused the CIA and South Korea's intelligence service of a failed plot to assassinate Kim Jong-un with a biochemical bomb at a military parade in Pyongyang.

By Reuters: North Korea on Friday accused the US Central Intelligence Agency and South Korea's intelligence service of a failed plot to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-un with a biochemical bomb at a military parade in Pyongyang.

North Korea has a history of accusing the United States and South Korea of planning preemptive military attacks and to target its leaders, but analysts said it could be the first time it has accused the allies of an actual assassination attempt.

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Pyongyang presented extensive details but offered no concrete proof to back its accusations of the plot, which it said could never have succeeded.

The CIA and the White House declined to comment on the statement from North Korea's Ministry of State Security, which accused the CIA and South Korea's National Intelligence Service of bribing a North Korean to target the country's "supreme leadership."

The charge came just after a visit to South Korea by CIA director Mike Pompeo and at a time of high tension driven by concerns that North Korea may conduct a sixth nuclear test or further missile launches in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.

The North Korean statement, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency - which often issues shrill, bellicose threats and accusations against the United States and South Korea - said the foreign intelligence agencies "infiltrated" North Korea "to commit state-sponsored terrorism."

It said they had "ideologically corrupted" and bribed a North Korean surnamed Kim - the most common Korean surname - and turned him into "a terrorist full of repugnance and revenge against the supreme leadership."

"They hatched a plot of letting human scum Kim commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership during events at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and at military parade and public procession after his return home," KCNA said.

"They told him that assassination by use of biochemical substances, including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance, is the best method that does not require access to the target, their lethal results will appear after six or twelve months," the statement said.

It said Kim received two payments of $20,000 and a "satellite transmitter-receiver."

ATTEMPT TO DIVERT ATTENTION?

The statement did not make clear the timing of the alleged plot, but North Korea conducted an annual military parade in Pyongyang, featuring a display of missiles overseen by top leader Kim Jong Un and his right-hand men, on April 15.

The North Korean statement said the plan had "been put into the extremely serious phase of implementation."

Pyongyang has accused the United States and South Korea in the past of plots to assassinate its leadership. It has described regular US-South Korea military exercises as plans to "decapitate" its leadership.

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South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted South Korea's Defense Minister Han Min Koo as saying on January 4 that South Korea would launch a special unit this year tasked with "removing or paralyzing" North Korea's command structure in the event of a war.

North Korea warned this week that US hostility had brought the region to the brink of nuclear war. It said the plot was a "last-ditch effort" by US "imperialists" and South Korea that had gone "beyond the limits."

Bruce Klingner, a former CIA analyst now at the Heritage Foundation think tank, said it could be the first time North Korea had accused the allies of an attempted assassination.

He said North Korea's aim could be to divert attention from the use of VX nerve gas to assassinate the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong Un at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February, or to influence South Korea's May 9 election.

The airport attack, blamed by the United States and Seoul on North Korean agents, has been cited by Washington in its efforts to persuade countries to minimize ties with North Korea.

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"The regime may also be seeking to influence the upcoming South Korean presidential election in favor of progressive candidate Moon Jae-in by portraying rising tensions on the peninsula as the result of conservative governments in Washington and Seoul," Klingner said.

The Trump administration has said that all options, including military, remain on the table in dealing with North Korea, but that it is not pursuing a policy of regime change.

It has said its preferred route is to pressure North Korea to given up its nuclear and missile programs through sanctions.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday that Washington was working on more sanctions against North Korea if it takes steps that merit a new response.

ALSO READ | North Korea accuses US, South Korea of assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong un

ALSO READ | North Korea test-fires ballistic missile in defiance of world pressure

ALSO WATCH | North Korea conducts fifth nuclear test, causes seismic tremors

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Patna: With alcohol out of bounds for people in Bihar, rodent denizens of police stations are on a binge defying the ban and guzzling down seized liquor.

With the rats running riot, the state police headquarters has ordered a probe.

"We have asked Patna zonal IG to inquire into the matter. Based on his findings, the state police headquarters would initiate further action," Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) S K Singhal told PTI today.

The fact that rodents were making merry in the dungeons came to light following media reports that they had overrun the ''Malkhana'' (store) of the police stations and had guzzled down a large amount of the more than 9 lakh litres of alcohbol seized by the police.

Media reports said that in the last 13 months, a whopping 9.15 litre of alcohol, domestic as well Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), have been seized in Bihar following the ban.

It emerged at the recent crime meeting of the state police that while a major portion of the seized liquor got destroyed on way to police stations, an equally large amount was consumed by rodents in the store of the police stations.

Meanwhile, the police arrested President of Bihar Police Men's Association on charge of consuming liquor.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said that a police team arrested Police Association President Nirmal Singh and a member of the Association Shamsher Singh today from police line for consuming liquor.

The two were produced in the court of Judge of Special Excise Court Ravindra Nath Tripathi and have been remanded in judicial custody till May 18.

The two have been taken to Beur jail under new Excise Act 2016 on the basis of the court order.

The Nitish Kumar government clamped total prohibition in Bihar since April last year. In order to enforce the liquor ban, a special drive has been launched by the police as well Excise department across the state.
Patna: Senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday accused state health minister Tej Pratap Yadav of being illegally alloted a petrol pump here.

Modi alleged that Tej Pratap, the son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, was allotted a petrol pump of Bharat Petroleum on New Bypass Road, near Beur here, in 2011 after fake documents were furnished in connivance with an official of the oil marketing company.

"Tej Pratap did not have 43 decimal of land on New Bypass Road in 2011 when he had appeared for an interview before the petrol pump," he said.

However, A K Infosystem pvt ltd on January 9, 2012, gave 136 decimal of land on lease at the same place for opening a petrol pump to Tej Pratap's younger brother and Deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Modi alleged adding that as per the lease deed Tejashwi cannot "sub-let" the said land.

The application for petrol pump was made by Tej Pratap but the land was allotted to Tejashwi, he said.

"How can Tej Pratap be allotted a petrol pump when he had neither land nor the lease of the land in his name? The matter must be probed thoroughly. I will also request the Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to get the matter probed," the senior BJP leader said.

"I have been for the past one month exposing Lalu Prasad and his family's corrupt deals but neither the state government has initiated any probe or action into the matter nor Prasad denied allegations of corruption," the former Deputy Chief Minister said.

Modi, Opposition leader in the Legislative Council, announced that the party will also hold "dharnas" across the state and demand probe into the allegations against Lalu Prasad and his family for allegedly acquiring hundreds of crores of benami properties.

Reacting sharply to Modi's allegation, the RJD described the allegation as "half-baked" information that would expose him (Modi) in the future.

"A desperate Sushil Modiji is trying to invent illegality into matters which stand miles away. The land is on lease to Bharat Petroleum," RJD's national spokesman Manojh Jha said.

"He must realise that a little and half baked knowledge shall only expose him further as happened in case of his so-called soil scam allegation at zoo. And the referred pump is not even operational," Jha said.
What or how would you feel if someone remains ungrateful and unthankful to you despite your utmost efforts? Obviously, you feel 'hurt' when your altruistic actions are not truly cherished or valued.

I am sure this is exactly what our doctors at the Saifee hospital in Mumbai have in their minds. I believe Eman Ahmed Abd Al Aty's doctors are not seeking external gratitude, but reinforcing a better sense of appreciation and regard which her family failed to do so.

Instead, Emans sister Shaimma called Dr Muffazal Lakdawala a 'liar', while her mother alleged him of making false promises and taking advantage of Eman's condition to gain publicity.

That did not disappoint Dr Lakdawala's care towards Eman, he continued to give his service doing what's best for his patient.

Perhaps, the Maharashtra Health Minister Deepak Sawant's comments criticising Eman's sister of being 'ungrateful' clearly revealed the fantastic job done by the hospital and the doctors. Whatever best they could do, they did in the case of Eman.

Till the time she was in India, what was witnessed was a drama of allegations and counter allegations. Her last hours at the hospital did not end without some high drama after Shaimaa refused to sign some legal clause as part of the transfer process.

But many were taken aback when an unapologetic Shaimaa suddenly thanked India and the doctors for treating her sibling. A teary Shaimaa, however, refused to comment about Saifee Hospital or bariatric surgeon Dr Lakdawala, who operated on Eman helping her to shed more than 300kg in just over two months - indeed a feather in his cap.

The remarkable weight loss story of Eman, once known as the world's heaviest woman, made global headlines. From breaking down a wall in her house to have her lifted out of the room using a crane to chartering a special cargo plane fitted with medical equipment to fly her to Mumbai from her home in Alexandria, Egypt, for her treatment  none of this was without risk.

The 37-year-old Egyptian woman, who weighed more than 500kgs until she came to Mumbai on February 11, had not walked in more than 25 years. According to Dr Lakdawala, Eman had multiple health issues including severe uncontrolled hypothyroidism, right-sided heart failure, kidney and liver failure, obstructive and restrictive lung disease, gout, bed sores, urinary tract infection, right-sided paralysis and inability to speak coherently or swallow liquids.

Today, Eman weighs 176kgs (down 324 kgs) and is like any other obese person. Doctors said her thyroid levels are controlled, her kidney and liver tests are as good as any of us, her lung functions and oxygen levels are normal without any need of external oxygen.

In fact, she has left India the healthiest she has been in the last decade or so.

So, what's Shaimma grumbling for? What else does she want?

That being said, unfortunately, people today are becoming less content, ignoring true blessings. They just rumble about the one thing you haven't done for them, instead of being indebted for the thousands of things you have done for them or be grateful for every little last thing that you have or receive in life.

Because no human is perfect, one figures this might well be the case of Shaimaa.

Dr Muffazal Lakdawala seems to have given his best in order to avoid putting any burdens on Eman's family and was truly a blessing in disguise, which Shaimaa needs to appreciate and recognise.

One would think that the publicity Eman has been receiving ever since she came into the limelight because of her weight is being taken undue advantage of.

Not only has this put the entire Indian medical fraternity under a bad light, it also raises questions on a patient-doctor relationship, which is purely based on trust and confidence.

Even though many doctors around the world prefer to hide their emotions, Dr Lakdawala whole-heartedly embraced Eman as his own and offered her his complete attention, which Shaimaa dismissed as mere publicity.

Eman, who underwent a successful bariatric surgery on March 7 where doctors reduced her stomach size in the procedure, has now been shifted to Burjeel Hospital, a part of VPS Healthcare group, for her further treatment.
New Delhi: The powerhouse performer Kangana Ranaut has a huge fan following who eagerly awaits the big release of this talented actress. She has time and again proved her mettle and is a three-time National Award winner.

Now, the talented actress is keen on expanding her horizon and will go behind the camera for it. Confused? Well, don't be as the actress has decided to turn don a director's hat soon.

The 30-year-old actress has confirmed that she will start working on her film post 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi' and it will be a comedy. "After 'Manikarnika', I'm directing my film. It's going to be a comedy," Kangana said in a group interview reports PTI.

Her upcoming venture 'Manikarnika' will see her play Rani Laxmibai on-screen. It will be directed by Krish. "I feel that there are projects and then there are films that fulfil something within you. I remember when I was 15 and I left home, I did not know when I would feel like I have achieved something. My life has come full circle and before this, no amount of success and failure could make me feel like an achiever.

"Now I feel I don't want to just waste time on this (going in a loop). I am also moving on to the next phase, which means that I will focus on my career as a filmmaker and I'll act in my films. So, I was telling Krish that 'you're the last director I'm working with'," she said.

When asked what would be the title of her biopic if it is ever made, Kangana said, "I feel I have a long way to go. I feel that I still haven't got into the field that I actually feel very passionate about which is filmmaking.

"As an individual, I feel that I will be known as a filmmaker, not as an actor. I still have to get into that."

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Widening its probe into the alleged honey-trap case involving BJP MP KC Patel, the Delhi Police had taken the father and the younger brother of the accused woman into custody.

According to ANI, their were taken into custody on Thursday evening.

Earlier this week, the Delhi Police had arrested the accused woman from her residence for questioning.

The woman was arrested following a complaint by KC Patel in which he alleged that he was honey-trapped and filmed in an objectionable position after being given a spiked drink.

Patel alleged that the woman and her gang threatened to leak the video clips online if she was not paid Rs 5 crore, police said.

The woman has also approached a Delhi court alleging that she was raped by the MP.

In his complaint to Delhi Police Commissioner, Amulya Patnaik, Patel alleged that the gang was being operated by the woman, who took him to her house in Ghaziabad.

A case was registered against the woman and her gang in North Avenue police station on Saturday.

The woman, who had also approached a Delhi court, has accused Patel of raping her at his official residence on March 3. She alleged that she was raped on several other occasions in various places by Patel, the officer added.

She claimed that she approached Delhi Police but it refused to register her FIR.

Denying allegations, Patel said, "These are all false allegations against me. I have full faith in the law. I will cooperate in the investigation with police."

The police have registered a case of extortion against the woman and her gang.

With ANI input
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence awarded by the Delhi High Court against the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case.

While passing the judgement, the three-member bench of the court noted that it was a barbaric incident.

They said the aggravating circumstances against the accused far outweighed the mitigating circumstances cited in their favour.

Here are brief profiles of the four convicts.

Mukesh Singh

Twenty-year-old Mukesh Singh is the younger brother of Ram Singh, another accused in the case who died in prison.

Singh, 20, worked as a part-time driver and cleaner on the bus.

He was charged with hitting the couple with an iron rod after raping the woman.

He and his brother lived in the Ravi Dass slum in south Delhi.

Vinay Sharma

Sharma, 20, is a gym assistant and fitness trainer. He also lived in the same slum. Of the five convicts, he was the only one who had a school education.

He claimed in court that he was not on the bus when the crime took place.

Akshay Thakur

Thakur. 28, hails from Bihar and worked as a helper on the bus.

He was arrested five days after the crime in Bihar.

Besides rape, murder and kidnapping charges, Thakur, a school dropout, was also charged with trying to destroy evidence.

He is married and has a young son and his family lives in Bihar.

Pawan Gupta

Gupta, 19, is a fruit-seller. He too claimed in court that he was not on the bus at the time of the crime.

His father said his son was "falsely implicated".

He claimed that his son had gone to attend a music function at the time of the incident.

The Case:

A total of six people, including a juvenile, were put on trial for the December 2012 gang rape and murder case, which jolted the conscience of the nation.

Though they denied the charges, all of them were were found guilty, while a sixth died in jail.

Ram Singh, described as the main suspect, was found dead in Tihar jail. Police said the 33-year-old widower hanged himself.

He was allegedly driving the bus when they picked up the couple.

While the sixth convicted juvenile was tried as a minor. Though he is an adult now, he has been sentenced to three years in a reform facility.
New Delhi: Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, who led a team that probed the 2012 Delhi gangrape, today said his forces solved the case within 72 hours, despite the lack of initial leads.

The Supreme Court, in its judgement today upholding the conviction of four men who raped and killed a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, appreciated the investigation conducted by the Delhi Police.

"I am very happy that the court, at every level, has appreciated our investigation. But people should also realise how difficult the case was. Nobody is talking about the police's role and how the case was investigated well," Kumar told PTI.

He recalled how a team from Delhi arrested one of the four men from a Naxalite-dominated area in Bihar, and another from the interiors of Rajasthan.

The police, he stressed, ended up cracking the case in 72 hours, and filed a chargesheet within 10 days.

"But there were no clues to begin with, and no witnesses," he said.

The police had no details about the vehicle in which the victim was raped on December 16, 2012. But they soon found that the victim and her male partner had been assaulted in a moving bus.

They got their first break when they checked the CCTV footage from the area in south Delhi where the two had been dumped.

"We got the CCTV footage, interpreted it and then overnight we located the bus and then its driver and interrogated him. By the next afternoon, we had Ram Singh confessing that he had been driving the bus," he recalled.

Singh, who was subsequently jailed, allegedly committed suicide in his cell in Tihar in March 2013.

What made matters more difficult for the police was the mounting public and media outrage over the crime, and the demand for quick results.

"Political bosses were baying for the blood of all the officers working on the case," he said.

But one clue led to another, and the police soon zeroed in on another of the accused, Akshay Thakur, picking him up from the troubled region of Aurangabad in Bihar.

"The local police refused to give us help. But our team went to Aurangabad and arrested Thakur," he said.

Another accused, who had fled to Rajasthan, was also arrested.

"The juvenile involved in the crime was apprehended from Delhi's Anand Vihar bus terminal by our team," he said.

The police had been told by the juvenile's co-accused that he had a particular way of hailing passengers.

"He had started working as a bus conductor and was apprehended on the basis of this clue," the officer recalled.

After the arrests, the police focused on filing a chargesheet, which took 10 days.

"I took care of the chargesheet, plugging all the loopholes," he said.

Kumar stressed that he took "all the brickbats" and ensured that his officers did not face public anger that grew as more and more gory details about the crime were exposed.

"I faced the media outrage and the public wrath. I succeeded in shielding my officers. I told them, 'I will face the brunt of the media trial and all the criticism. You people carry on'," he said.

The police's job didn't end with filing the chargesheet; they had to also build up a strong case for prosecution.

Evidence was gathered from Singapore, as doctors who treated her there were examined over video conferencing.

Almost five years later, the police's work had been upheld by the apex court.

"We welcome the verdict," Kumar said.

"As a father of two daughters, I was very upset when this incident happened. Today I feel very happy," he said.

The paramedic student, who was assaulted and raped by six people in the moving bus, died in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.


New Delhi: While the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the death sentence in the December 16 gangrape case was widely hailed, people in the national capital said women safety continues to be a matter of concern.

Terming it to be an "exceptional judgement" for an "exceptional case", Suhil Bhatia, a housewife said, "Awarding them death penalty will of course reinforce people's faith in judiciary and set a right precedent but as a mother the question of my daughter's security still bothers me."

"This is just one case which fortunately drew much attention garnering mass sympathy and anguish which worked as a pressure for the police and the legal system. But there are so many cases where even chargesheets are not filed," she added.



Ruchika Sharma, an IT professional and mother of two daughters, said, "Rape is a very vague term in our country. There is a rape victim in every third house. Until the girl is brutally raped and murdered, the law also doesn't take its course. Stalking, eve-teasing, threatening and other such activities which amount to 'mental rape' don't make it to the court rooms."

However, Meenakshi, a resident of Safdarjung Enclave area said, the judgement makes her feel "more protective" now.

"I am very happy that she (the victim) finally got justice. But, it is redeeming for us too, as, we women also feel that it was justice for us also.

"The verdict will send out a very strong message as now people would know that committing such crimes could entail death penalty. They may even get away initially, but a sense of fear would be instilled in them that they may be caught eventually," she said.

Laxmi, 25, too was feeling emotional after learning about the Supreme Court verdict that said the nature and manner of the crime "devastated social trust", and fell in the 'rarest of rare' category warranting death penalty.

"After 2012 incident, I started being cautious. Sometimes, I would carry pepper spray or even a deodorant, just in case somebody attacked me, but fortunately it never happened.

"As far as the impact of the judgement is concerned, I don't think it will change things much, but yes it will be a deterrent for sure. Also, crime cases in urban areas are highlighted by the media but in tribal areas such incidents are not reported that much," she said.

The Supreme Court today upheld the death sentence awarded to the four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gangrape case.

The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern was gangraped, and brutally sexually assaulted by six men, including a juvenile, in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The accused then threw her and her male companion out of the vehicle, to die by the roadside on the cold December night.

The woman died of grave intestinal injuries on December 29, 2012 at a Singapore hospital, where she was airlifted for specialised treatment.
New Delhi: Scientific and forensic evidence like DNA, finger prints and bite marks analysis, today sealed the fate of the four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder case as the Supreme Court termed them accurate.

The top court said while while DNA report "cogently linked" each of these accused with the victim and the crime scene, the finger print analysis "incontrovertibly proves" that one of the convicts, Vinay Sharma, was present in the bus at the time of the barbaric incident.

Regarding Odontology, a branch of forensic science on bite mark analysis, a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said the report placed on record was "wholly credible" because of the matching of bite marks with the tooth structure of the convicts and there was no reason to view them with any suspicion.

The bench, also comprising Justices R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan, said DNA technology not only provided guidance to investigation, but also supplied the court accrued information about the "tending features" of identification of criminals, and such evidence was increasingly relied upon by the courts.

The apex court, which upheld the death sentence awarded to the four convicts - Pawan Kumar Gupta, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh and Akshay Kumar Singh -- said the recent advancements in modern biological

Research has regularised forensic science resulting in radical help in administration of justice.

"The DNA profiling, which has been done after taking due care for quality, proves to the hilt the presence of the accused persons in the bus and their involvement in the crime. The submission that certain samples were later taken from the accused and planted on the deceased to prove the DNA aspect is noted only to be rejected because it has no legs to stand upon," it said.

The bench noted that there were various "white bite marks" on the victim's body and such analysis report plays an important role in the criminal justice system.

The apex court said "there is no reason to declare the DNA report as inaccurate, specially when it clearly links the accused persons with the incident".

The bench also said that in India, like other countries, DNA evidence was increasingly being relied upon by the courts and after 2005 amendment in the Criminal Procedure Code, DNA profiling has now become a part of the statutory scheme.

Referring to various apex court verdicts, the bench said "it is quite clear that DNA report deserves to be accepted unless it is absolutely dented and for non-acceptance of the same, it is to be established that there had been no quality control or quality assurance."

"If the sampling is proper and if there is no evidence as to tampering of samples, the DNA test report is to be accepted," it said.

In its judgement, the apex court said that to establish a clear link between the convicts and the incident, the police has adduced scientific evidence like DNA, fingerprint and bite mark analysis.

The court noted that various samples from clothes, iron rods, ashes of partly burnt clothes and the bus were lifted from the victim and the convicts during the investigation.

"After establishing the identities of each of the accused persons, the informant (victim's friend) and the prosecutrix (victim) through DNA analysis, the DNA profiles generated from the remaining samples, where the identity of biological material found thereon needed to be ascertained, were matched with the DNA profiles of the prosecutrix, the informant and the accused, generated earlier from known samples," it noted.

"Such an analysis cogently linked each of the accused with the victims as also with the crime scene," it said.

The bench referred to the statement of Dr B K Mohapatra, one of the prosecution witnesses in the case, and said he has testified that once a DNA profile was generated, its accuracy is 100 per cent.

The apex court observed that the defence counsel had not raised substantial grounds to challenge the DNA report during the cross-examination of Mohapatra before the trial court and there was "no reason to declare the DNA report as inaccurate" especially when it clearly links the convicts with the crime.

It also dealt with the contentions of defence counsel who had argued that DNA test cannot be treated as accurate as the victim had undergone blood transfusion during the treatment and when there was mixing of blood, DNA profiling was likely to differ.

The apex court referred to its previous verdicts and said if quality control was maintained, DNA profiling was treated to be quite accurate.

It also referred to the apex court's verdict in the case of 26/11 attack convict, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, and said in that case too, DNA test had matched with stains of sweat, saliva and other bodily secretions on the articles recovered from the accused.

Dealing with the bite mark analysis report, the bench said it linked Ram Singh (since deceased) and convict Akshay Kumar Singh with the crime.

"The photographs depicted the bite marks on the body of the prosecutrix. The said bite marks found on the body of the victim were compared with the dental models of the suspects.

"The analysis showed that at least three bite marks were caused by accused Ram Singh, whereas one bite mark has been identified to have been most likely caused by accused Akshay," the bench noted in its order.

The court also referred to the technological advancement, like laser scanning, scanning electron microscopy or cone beam computed tomography in forensic odontology, which are utilised to identify more details in bite marks.

"Unlike fingerprints and DNA, bite marks lack the specificity and durability as the human teeth may change over time. However, bite mark evidence has other advantages in the criminal justice system that links a specific individual to the crime or victim," it said.

The bench also rejected the contentions of the defence counsel that the bite marks were stage-managed.

Regarding finger print analysis, the bench said it had clearly established that Vinay was present in the bus at the time of the incident while "other chance prints were found to be unfit for comparison or different from specimen print".
New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is likely to declare the results of National Eligibility Test (NET) 2017 in the second week of May. The test was conducted under the University Grants Commission (UGC) this year on January 22.

Once announced, candidates will be able to check their CBSE UGC NET 2017 results by visiting the board's official website, cbsenet.nic.in.

As reported by Times of India, the results are expected to be released on May 10. "Most probable date is May 10," TOI quoted a senior official of the Board as saying.

According to the official portal of CBSE, the detailed notification about the results will be made available on the website itself on May 15.

The examination results will determine the recruitment for the posts of Assistant Professor and Junior Research Fellowship across the nation.

For further queries, candidates can feel free to visit the board's official website.

Steps to check your result:

- Visit cbsenet.nic.in

- Click on Results of UGC NET JAN 2017

- Enter the necessary details

- Click on Submit

- Download and take a print out for future reference
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 5 (PTI) Norways sovereign wealth fund, the worlds largest, has excluded Indias state-owned Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) from its portfolio based on its assessment of risk to environment.

BHEL has been excluded as it is building a coal-fired power plant in the Sundarbans, one of the worlds largest mangrove forests in Bay of Bengal, the Norwegian central bank said today.

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The Government Pension Fund Global has shares in some 9,000 companies around the world and its rules prohibit it from investing in companies that produce nuclear arms, tobacco, risk environmental damage, violate human rights and those which drive a large part of their business from coal.

"The Executive Board in Norges Bank has decided to exclude BHEL from the Government Pension Fund Global. The company is excluded based on an assessment of the risk of severe environmental damage," it said in a statement.

The exclusion, it said, was made on the basis of a recommendation from the Council on Ethics.

"The Executive Board has not conducted an independent assessment of all aspects of the recommendation, but is satisfied that the exclusion criteria have been fulfilled," it added.

The Council had originally recommended the exclusion on December 5 last year.

"The company is building a coal fired power plant close to areas with universally unique environmental qualities in the Sundarbans, the worlds largest mangrove forest, in southern Bangladesh.

"The Council on Ethics finds that there is an unacceptable risk of the company contributing to or being responsible for severe environmental damage," the statement said.

The fund, worth an estimated 8.1 trillion kroner (USD 934 billion) also placed Chinese oil giant PetroChina Co Ltd and Italian aerospace group Leonardo SpA under observation over allegations of corruption.

"The Council on Ethics has recommended that PetroChina Co Ltd and Leonardo SpA should be excluded from the funds investment universe, but highlights that the companies have taken measures against corruption.

"The Executive Board believes that these measures provide sufficient grounds to observe the development in the future," the statement said. PTI ANZ ABM

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: The increasing wheat crop stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana had made matters worse for Delhi's air, with this week showing an increase in the practice.

However, NASA's recent satellite images have calmed the authorities slightly, after they revealed that the stubble burning practice was much less this year as compared to what it was in the same period last year.

Although ground reports portray the two state governments' firm approach as a success, angry farmers demanding an alternative solution may pose bigger challenges.

As per a report in the Time of India (TOI), NASA's FIRM web fire mapper, which uses satellite imagery to map instances of fires on the ground, shows a marked reduction in 'fire spots' in the two states in 2017 over the previous year. The same eight-day period (April 27-May 4, both days included) was used to make the comparison.

The practice of burning of crop stubble after the kharif (October-November) and rabi (April-May) seasons in the two states is seen as a major contributor to air pollution in the region, including Delhi-NCR.

Air quality in Delhi is another indicator of reduced crop burning this year. A comparison of an eight-day AQI average (April 27-May 4, both days included) of 2016 and 2017 shows air in the capital this year has been far healthier than the last. AQI during the period this year has been in the moderate zone (176) while it was 'very poor' last year at 307. Of course, weather conditions as well as raging forest fires in Uttarakhand also contributed to air pollution in Delhi last year, TOI reported.

The state pollution control board, agriculture department and the districts are using remote sensing to monitor straw burning. Nearly 200 farmers have been fined in various districts till May 3. On Thursday, seven farmers were fined Rs 17,500 for burning straw in Muktsar district.

The state has fixed a fine of Rs 2,500 for burning straw in fields up to 2 acres, Rs 5,000 for farms up to 5 acres and Rs 15,000 for those over 5 acres. Most of the fines slapped so far have been on fields below 5 acres, a state government official told TOI.
Accra: Signatories to the Paris climate accord have been urged to step up their support for global climate change mitigation efforts, in the light of the US` regression in its support for such efforts under President Donald Trump.



Bill McKibben, Co-Founder of 350.org, a grassroots climate campaign based in the US, said on Thursday that the rest of the world now had to choose one of two options in the light of Trump`s stance on climate change.



The American administration has been cutting down on its commitments to address climate change, which Trump has openly described as a hoax.



There is currently a potential that Trump would withdraw America from the Paris Climate Accord.



McKibben said most Americans were opposed to Trump`s stance and actions on climate change issues, with several marches organised in Washington DC to resist Trump on these issues.



"He may withdraw America from the Paris climate accord. If that happens, the rest of the world has a choice. It has one of two options: It can either say if Americans won`t work on this, we don`t have to work on this either."



McKibben noted, however, that this choice would mean that climate change would continue to progress, with the poorest countries being the hardest hit by the situation.



"The other option for the rest of the world, is to say `we`re going to step up and we`re going to do more because we have no choice` and I hope that that`s what happens," he stated.



McKibben urged other world leaders to demonstrate more commitment to addressing climate change.



"It is a real moment for the rest of the world to demonstrate that the US is not the most important country in the world and that the world can figure out how to do things even when the US is going backwards," he said.
Germany: German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Friday for fair and constructive negotiations with Britain over its exit from the European Union, with the aim of retaining a good partnership.

"We will of course need, and want to have Britain as a good partner in the future," Merkel said in a speech in Hamburg, adding that the Brexit negotiations would be "extremely complex and intense".

"Britain will in future be less closely connected than until now, including in the economic domain," she said, adding that it would be important nonetheless to have good ties with Britain on economic, security and defence policy.
Florence: European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker took a swipe at Britain on Friday, saying he would not give a speech in English because the language was becoming less significant following Brexit.



"Slowly but surely English is losing importance in Europe," Juncker told a conference in Florence before switching into French and drawing applause from his audience of EU officials, local leaders and Italian students.



Juncker, who hails from Luxembourg, speaks several European languages fluently and regularly uses English at international gatherings. He said he also wanted to speak French to be better understood in France ahead of Sunday`s final presidential election round.



The conference, on the state of the European Union, comes at a time of tensions between Brussels and London ahead of formal negotiations over Britain`s withdrawal from the 28-nation bloc.



Juncker said Britain`s decision to leave was "a tragedy".



"We will negotiate fairly with our British friends, but let`s not forget that the EU is not abandoning the United Kingdom. It is the other way around. And that will make a difference in the years ahead."



Speaking in English, the European Commission`s chief Brexit negotiator, Frenchman Michel Barnier, said a priority in the talks would be to guarantee rights for some 3.2 million EU citizens living in Britain and for some 1.2 million Britons living in EU member states.



He said protecting these rights was "a moral duty".



"Nevertheless we can be certain that Brexit will inevitably entail a number of negative consequences. This is not a question of `punishment`. These negative consequences simply follow logically from the choice made by the British people."

NO SECRECY



British Prime Minister Theresa May said this year that she had offered to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in Britain immediately but that this idea had been rejected. Barnier denied that others were to blame for the ongoing uncertainty.



"The only cause of uncertainty is Brexit," he said.



He also dismissed suggestions in London that the talks should be largely secret. "I will do everything in my power to ensure that information on the negotiations is made public so that an informed debate can take place," he said.



In a sign of growing friction and frustration, May accused EU politicians and officials on Wednesday of seeking to sway the outcome of a June 8 national election in Britain by issuing threats over Brexit.



A German newspaper at the weekend gave a damning account of a dinner last week between May and Juncker, reporting that he had told May that Brexit could not be a success.



The president of the European parliament, Antonio Tajani, told the Florence conference that no one was looking to undermine May, who says she called the snap election to strengthen her hand in the Brexit negotiations.



"No one wants to interfere in the British elections. Rather, we are happy that at the start of this process there will be a stable government with a mandate to resolve this problem," Tajani said.



Juncker acknowledged that the European Union had its "weaknesses" and was partly to blame for the British decision to abandon ship. But he said the bloc`s successes, including helping maintain peace between nations, were often overlooked.



"We are criticised, torn to pieces, but elsewhere in the world we are admired," he said. "We have overcome decades, centuries of bloodshed."
Paris: A "radicalised" man has been arrested near a military base at Evreux in western France, a judicial source said on Friday.

Prosecutors specialising in terrorism cases have been informed, the source said, without giving details.

France will have a big security operation in place on Sunday as voters go to the polls to elect a new president.

Security is a key issue after attacks by militant Islamists which have killed more than 230 people in the past two years.
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday backed an official check into reported brutal attacks on gay men in Chechnya in his first public comment after German Chancellor Angela Merkel confronted him on the issue.

Putin said he would personally "talk to the prosecutor-general and the interior minister" to ask them to help Kremlin rights ombudswoman Tatiana Moskalkova check the reports which have caused an international scandal.

"I hope the colleagues respond and support you," Putin told Moskalkova, whose role is to investigate rights abuses but who is widely seen as a loyalist establishment figure.

Merkel at a press conference with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday raised the "very negative reports" and said she had asked Putin to "use his influence to guarantee the rights of minorities."

While speaking to the Kremlin ombudswoman, Putin referred to the reports as "rumours, you could say, about what is happening in our North Caucasus with people of non-traditional orientation," using a euphemism meaning gay.

In March, Novaya Gazeta opposition daily reported that Chechen authorities were imprisoning and torturing gay men in the conservative region where homosexuality is taboo and can be punished by killings by relatives.

A group of Chechen men in a safe house close to Moscow later confirmed to AFP that they had fled the region in fear of their lives.

Ramzan Kadyrov, the Putin-loyalist and strongman leader of Chechnya, fiercely denied claims of a crackdown in the socially conservative region while meeting Putin.

Putin`s spokesman Dmitry Peskov initially downplayed the reports, saying there had been "no confirmation" of violence and arrests.

After a delay Russian investigators have said they are probing the allegations.

Moskalkova said last month that there had been no official complaints from victims.

But on Friday she said that there needed to be a mechanism for victims to report abuse when they are outside Chechnya and asked Putin to help create a working group to receive such complaints. She stressed that victims` anonymity will be protected.
Gujarat police on Friday said that Altaf Qureshi, the suspected ISI agent held from Mumbai two days ago, had been arrested during a communal riot at Dhoraji in Rajkot district of the state in 2002.

After Qureshi was arrested from south Mumbai by Anti Terrorism Squads of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, Rajkot police started probe into his links in Gujarat, said Rajkot Superintendent of Police Antrip Sood.

Qureshi (37), accused of working for Pakistan's spy agency ISI, had been arrested and charge-sheeted in a rioting case at Dhoraji town, his native place, back in 2002.

"On checking past records, we found out he was arrested as well as charge-sheeted in a case of rioting and attempt to murder during incident of communal violence in Dhoraji. He was part of a mob which damaged property," Sood said.

Qureshi's family still lives in Dhoraji.

"We have learned that Qureshi moved to Mumbai a few years ago. Upon learning about his arrest, we formed several teams to investigate whether he had any connections here," Sood said.

According to ATS, Qureshi deposited money in the bank account of Aftab Ali, another ISI agent, in Lucknow for carrying out espionage activities. Aftab was arrested from Faizabad in UP on May 3.

Acting on leads provided by Aftab, the UP ATS picked up Altaf and Javed Iqbal from Mumbai. The three were part of an espionage ring with links to the Pakistan High Commission, ATS officials said yesterday.
Chandigarh: The Haryana government has decided to take strict action against illegal slaughterhouses and meat shops, a Minister said on Friday.

"Notices would be issued to owners of shops selling meat after slaughtering animals in violation of the rules in all urban local bodies and rural areas by May 15," Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain said.

She said Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had approved a proposal to this effect. She directed officers of urban local bodies to take action against the violators.

"On May 15, a ban would be imposed on illegal slaughter of animals and sale of meat procured thereof, throughout the state... It would be mandatory for owners of meat shops to furnish details regarding the source from where meat was purchased as well as the slaughterhouse," Jain said.

"Besides, meat would not be prepared in the shop and it would only be stored in a freezer. Such shops would not be allowed to operate near religious and educational institutions. The department has issued 21-point guidelines in this regard, compliance of which would be ensured by officers," she added.
Hyderabad: The wife of a techie, who had recently returned from the United States, committed suicide in her flat in Puppalaguda here, police said on Friday.

Rashmi Sharma (39) hanged herself in the apartment in Alkapur colony on Thursday evening when her husband Sanjiv Sharma and their two sons had gone out.

The family, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, had come to Hyderabad a month ago after their return from the US.

Sanjiv Sharma`s visa had expired and he had secured a job at an IT company in Hyderabad.

On Thursday when Sanjiv along with his two sons had gone out for repair of their laptop, Rashmi hanged herself from the ceiling fan, a police official said.

Police said the investigations were on to know the reason for the woman`s extreme step. The preliminary investigations show that there was no major problem between Sanjiv and his wife.

Police said they were waiting for the arrival of Rashmi`s other family members.
Delhi: After UAE, Mumbai serial blasts mastermind Dawood Ibrahim's properties may soon be seized in the United Kingdom too.

As per a report in Aaj Tak, Narendra Modi government has requested the British government to seize the properties of the underworld don.

The media house quoted a Union Home Ministry sources as saying that Indian agencies have been working on it for some time and has been sharing details with UK agencies from time to time.

In January this year, reports had said that UAE government had seized Dawood's assets worth Rs 15,000 crore.

The UAE government is said to have begun an inquiry into properties of Dawood in Dubai after receiving a confidential list from India.

The list was supposedly provided to the UAE authorities when PM Modi, accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, had visited UAE last year.

The dossier provided by India to UAE had listed several properties and had also reportedly made a mention about a company known as ''Golden Box'' being allegedly run in Dubai by Dawood's brother.

The dossier had stated that this company is being run by Anis Ibrahim who is the younger brother of Dawood.

Dawood has investments in Morocco, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, Cyprus, Turkey, India, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi held talks on Thursday with his UK counterpart Patsy Wilkinson, the second permanent secretary in the British Home Office.

As per PTI, India asked Britain to ensure early extradition of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, wanted back home in a bank default case of over Rs 9000 crore involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

Mehrishi sought early conclusion of the extradition process of Mallya, who has been declared a proclaimed offender by a Mumbai court, during his talks with Wilkinson, official sources said.

"We have discussed how to remove the bottlenecks in processing extradition requests. The process involved in matters of extradition and the need to further improve them were also discussed," home ministry adviser Ashok Prasad said.

Though Prasad maintained no specific case was discussed at the meeting, some other official sources said the Mallya case was indeed raised by the union home secretary. Prasad said Mallya's case was subjudice.

The presence of certain Khalistani militant elements in the UK also came up for discussion.

"We discussed the issue of Khalistani militants based in the UK and they have promised to look into it," Prasad said.

(With Agency inputs)
Demonetisation meant that a majority of Indians were pushed to come to grips with various forms of digital financial transactions more quickly than they might have otherwise. The good news for the government is that Indians, at least those polled, trust technology and will make online payments. The comprehensive Global Survey on Internet Security and Trust collected responses from nearly 25,000 people in 24 countries, with at least 1,000 respondents per country, for three months up to March 21 this year. The results showed that people in developing countries are far more willing to shop online; 95 per cent of respondents in Indonesia, for instance, said they were likely to use mobile payments compared with just 27 per cent in Germany.

How Free Is Media?

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Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), the international press watchdog's annual Press Freedom Index puts India's rating at "bad" rather than just "problematic". Ranked in the latest list behind the likes of Burma, the Philippines, Zimbabwe and the UAE, India is criticised for an atmosphere that "encourages self-censorship". And "Hindu nationalists" are explicitly blamed for "trying to purge all manifestations of 'anti-national' thought from the national debate".

The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan found himself on safe, incontrovertibly popular ground by expressing support for India's desire to be part of the UN Security Council. But there was a reminder that Turkey too may have ambitions to be a global power, as indicated by Erdogan's much less well-received suggestion that Turkey could help mediate between India and Pakistan on Kashmir.

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the death penalty awarded to three convicts in the infamous Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. The judgement was delivered by a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan. The apex court while delivering the verdict said that the death row convicts failed to point out "error" in the judgement.

July 9, 2018: The Supreme Court upheld the death penalty awarded to three of the four convicts - Mukesh (29), Pawan Gupta (22) and Vinay Sharma (23) - who are on death row had filed a review petition against their punishment.

May 5, 2017: The Supreme Court to pronounce its judgment in infamous 2012 Delhi gang-rape case.

March 27, 2017: The Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case.

March 6, 2017: All the accused submit additional affidavits in the Court.

February 3, 3017: The Supreme Court decides to re-hear the case on the sentencing aspect, after the petitioners contend that there have been violations in procedure.

January 6, 2017: The Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused.

November 28, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Sanjay Hegde argues against reliability of evidence in the case.

November 7, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside.

September 16, 2016: Former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Delhi) Chaya Sharma, who was transferred to Mizoram post the Delhi gang rape case, attends the hearing.

September 2, 2016: Advocate ML Sharma concludes his submissions.

August 29, 2016: High drama in the courtroom as allegation of the police tampering with evidence is made.

April 8, 2016: Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae.

April 3, 2016: Hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph to hear the case.

December 18, 2015: Delhi High Court refuses to stay release of the minor-accused, who walks free after three years in a juvenile home.

March 15, 2014: The Supreme Court stays execution of the accused after allegations of a denial of fair trial.

March 13, 2014: Delhi High Court Bench of Justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani upholds the trial Court verdict.

September 13, 2013: Four remaining accused sentenced to death by Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna.

January 29, 2013: The Supreme Court dismisses transfer petition.

August 31, 2013: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) presided over by Principal District Magistrate Geetanjali Goel finds the juvenile accused guilty of rape and murder of the medical student, sentences him to three years in Special Home.

March 11, 2013: Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar jail.

December 16, 2012: Six men, including the 17-year-old juvenile, gang-rape a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The girl and her friend were returning home after watching a movie when they were coaxed into the bus by the accused, who then beat up her friend before taking turns in raping her.The girl succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh - challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court's verdict in the December 16 gang-rape case will have the "best demonstrative effect" in containing crimes against women in Delhi which recorded a case of rape every four hours last year, the police administration believes.

According to data shared by the Delhi Police, 2,155 rape cases were reported last year while till March 15 this year, over 300 such cases have been reported.

In 2013, a year after the horrific gang-rape of a 23- year-old physiotherapy intern, 1,636 rape cases were reported and the number subsequently increased to 2,166 and 2,199 in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

The Delhi Police has taken various initiatives, including launching a mobile application, Himmat, to help women in distress and providing self-defence training.

Time to time, it keeps organising events where women are distributed pepper sprays.

"This is perhaps one of the most gruesome cases and the Supreme Court judgement punishing all the accused to death will have the best demonstrative effect in containing crimes against women and social orderliness at large," said Dependra Pathak, Chief Spokesperson and Special Commissioner (Operations) of Delhi Police.

The Supreme Court today upheld the death penalty given to four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old woman.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, through a unanimous verdict, upheld the Delhi High Court judgement on death penalty to the four convicts.

The HC had concurred with the trial court decision in the gang rape that took place in South Delhi's Vasant Vihar on December 16, 2012.

Those who will face the gallows are Mukesh (29), Pawan (22), Vinay Sharma (23) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31). One of the accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar jail while a juvenile was sentenced to three years' punishment in a reform home, and released in 2015.

The six men had attacked the 23-year-old paramedic student, and a male friend in a moving bus as it drove through the streets of New Delhi on the night of December 16.

Later on, she succumbed to her injuries, on December 29, 2012 while undergoing treatment at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital where she was flown by the government.
New Delhi: India needs to "take care" of Beijing's concerns, including those on the Dalai Lama and the South China Sea (SCS), a senior Chinese official said today, maintaining that India only talks about its concerns over JeM head Masood Azhar and the NSG.

Asserting that China has no "strategic will" to contain the rise of India, which is an emerging power and an important partner to it, the official said in the next few months, Chinese warships will pay a "goodwill" visit to India.

Asked about the strong reaction by Beijing, which has warned India of consequences over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh last month, the official said China has good ties with the Modi government and it was not expecting that it will "facilitate" the visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader.

He (Dalai Lama) is a guest in India and not an Indian national, the official said, adding he should not be allowed to bad mouth Chinese leadership.

The Dalai Lama is a "sting" in the China-India ties and leaves a "hurt" for China, the official added.

India has always been talking about its concerns -be it Azhar's banning by 1267 UN Sanctions Committee, or entry into the NSG, it also "needs to take care of Chinese concerns over" Tibet, Taiwan and the SCS, the official said.

If India cannot side with China on the SCS, least it can do is to be neutral, the official said while referring to statements by India on the disputed region.

Maintaining that China has not changed its position on either India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) or banning of Jaish-e-Mohammed head and Pathankot terror strike mastermind Azhar by the UN as a global terrorist, the official said the two sides are in consultation.

On the NSG, the Chinese Director General of Department of Arms Control is in consultation with his Indian counterparts to discuss the issue and the two-step formula, the official said, adding on Azhar, it was talking to both India and Pakistan.

Beijing scuttled India's efforts to get into NSG in the plenary last year on the ground that it was not a signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

China blocked India's proposal at the UN to get Azhar designated as global terrorist last year. It also rejected a fresh US proposal for the same early this year.

However, the official maintained that the NSG and Masood Azhar issues should not "overshadow" the bilateral ties that are witnessing cooperation on various sectors, including counter-terrorism and on economic front.

"Chinese warships will visit India soon...In next few months on a goodwill visit," the official added.
New Delhi: India's absence from a China- initiated regional connectivity and infrastructure forum from May 14 will not be "constructive" for bilateral ties, a senior Chinese official said on Friday.

India has told us that it has not taken any decision on who will attend the two-day 'The Belt and Road Initiative' (BRI) forum to be held in China, he said.

The official said China has more differences with Japan as compared to India but the Japanese government has confirmed its participation unlike the Indian government.

"India's absence will leave some feeling which will not be constructive," he said.

If the concerns of sovereignty over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor were an issue, it could have been discussed, the official said, holding that the Indian side was given a proper briefing on the Chinese initiative.

India has raised sovereignty issues over the CPEC, which runs through the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), and is part of the BRI, the official name of the silk road initiative.

The official also asserted that despite differences over some issues, China always attends India-hosted meets like 'Heart of Asia'.

Under the BRI, which has three major components infrastructure, trade and investment, and industrial capacity cooperation- a series of infrastructure projects will be launched across Asia, Europe and Africa.

According to the Chinese side, top leaders of 28 countries including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi have confirmed their participation.

Asked about China's position on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and whether it will go ahead without India, the official said there was a need for "strategic thinking" on part of India, and indicated that some Indian concerns over the pact were "negotiable".

The official also suggested that China will not leave anyone out of the pact.

The RCEP is a 16-nation trade pact that includes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with China, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, a region that accounts for 46 per cent of the world's population and that produced nearly 30 per cent of global GDP in 2016.
Shimla: In what could be the most befitting way to pay tribute to naib subedar Paramjit Singh, whose body was mutilated by Pakistani forces, a Himachal Pradesh-based couple has offered to look after the 12-year-old daughter of the martyr.

The naib subedar was killed near the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati area of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on May 1 along with Border Security Force trooper Prem Sagar and their bodies "mutilated".

Yunus Khan, an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 2010 batch, and his wife, Anjum Ara, an Indian Police Service officer of the 2011 batch, have offered to look after Khushdeep Kaur, reported Hindustan Times.

The couple, who have a 4-year-old son, has contacted the martyrs wife, Paramjit Kaur, and expressed their desire to take care of the expenses of Khushdeep, currently the Class 7 student, from school till marriage.

"Khushdeep will continue to stay with her family. We will be paying for all her expenses and meeting her from time to time to know about her problems and solve them. If she wants to become an IAS or IPS officer or choose some other career, we are there to help," The Times of India quoted Ara, SP of Solan district, as saying.

My wife and I will be visiting the soldiers village in Punjab on Saturday. We have spoken to the family. We want to build the childs career. This is just a small contribution that we believe everybody should make for the country and its people, Hindustan Times quoted Khan as saying.

Born in Malerkotla, Punjab, Yunus Khan is posted as deputy commissioner, Kullu.

Khan added: By ensuring good education to his daughter, we are doing our duty as responsible citizens.

Overwhelmed by the couple's offer, the naib subedars younger brother, Ranjit Singh, said: I simply cant express gratitude to this kind-hearted couple. It reminds me of what the Muslim ruler of Malerkotla, Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan, had done for the youngest sahibzadas (sons) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
New Delhi: The central government announced a Nirbhaya Fund with a corpus of Rs 3,000 crore in 2013 to support initiatives towards ensuring safety of women, following nationwide outrage after the December 2012 gang rape. But since then, there hasn`t been any information from the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry about utilisation of the fund.



The Supreme Court even issued a notice to the Centre and all the state governments questioning the non-utilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund in May 2016.



Due to various accusations regarding the underutilisation of the fund since 2013, the government issued a clarification in January 2017, saying that the Ministry of Finance has issued guidelines from time to time for administration and operationalisation of the fund.



In that clarification, it gave a list of schemes like a project of Railways -- Integrated Emergency Response Management System (IERMS), the Home Ministry project -- Emergency Response support System (ERSS), Abhaya Project Proposal in Andhra Pradesh, Chirali Friends Forever in Rajasthan etc.



The Railways project at a cost of Rs 500 crore has been approved to provide round the clock security to women passengers in 983 railway stations by strengthening of security control rooms, according to the WCD ministry.



It said that for creation of the Home Ministry`s project, a total cost of Rs 322 crore has been approved.



"There hasn`t been any feedback from the ministries whether the fund allocated to them has been utilised," a WCD official told IANS on Friday.



The proposal of Abhaya Project is for ensuring the safety of women and the girl child during transportation (auto- rickshaw). It has been proposed by Andhra Pradesh with a cost of Rs 139 crore, according to the ministry.





It explained Chirali as a scheme to constitute Community Action Groups in seven districts of Rajasthan covering a total of 2,071 Gram Panchayats. The cost of the project is Rs 11 crore, it said.



The amount allocated to different projects is approximately Rs 1,530 crore so far and the expenditure incurred is approximately Rs 400 crore (as per the information available with the Ministry of Women and Child Development).



While the ministry records show the allocation of the fund to different ministries and NGOs but there is no material on where the fund has been utilised.



The clarification just proves that the schemes and projects under the Nirbhaya Fund have been drafted but have not been manifested on the ground level.



Post the January 27 clarification, there has been no more information from the ministry about the utilisation of the fund.



A WCD ministry official on Friday had the same information to share with IANS that was issued three months back.
Mumbai: Amid the heightened tension at the border after the mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers, the Shiv Sena today said merely angry rhetoric against Pakistan was not enough and it needed to be "crushed" now.

In a scathing editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana,' the Sena also said despite India having given substantial proof to Pakistan over Hafiz Saeed's involvement in the 26/11 terror attack, the Pathankot airbase attack, the Uri attack and the recent beheading of two jawans, the neighbouring country has shirked all its responsibility.

It is poking fun instead at India saying we have a habit of blaming Pakistan for everything that happens here, it added.

"This is going on for many years now. Everybody knows that the ISI, the Pakistani military and the terror outfits based there are behind the terror attacks in India," the Sena mouthpiece said.

"Despite throwing ample proof on their face each time, the terrorism emanating from Pakistan and violence in Kashmir has refused to cease. The banks are being looted in the valley and the soldiers are being killed. But the government only summons (high commissioner of Pakistan to India) Abdul Basit, gives him proof against his nation and lets him off with a warning," it said.

It said the nation is tired of hearing about the revenge that will be taken against Pakistan.

"The anguish of the families of the martyred soldiers numbs all senses. Had the families of the martyred jawans been called when Basit was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry, they would have peeled his skin off. He would not be able to smile in front of the mediapersons then," it said.

"The continuous use of words like shameless for Pakistan will not be enough now. It needs to be crushed. The country was expecting 50 heads (of the Pakistani soldiers) for every Indian killed. But here, it seems that revenge is only taken by summoning Basit and warning him," the Sena said.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the plea of alibi raised by three of the four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder case, saying it was an "afterthought" and could be read as an additional circumstance against them.

The court said the evidence produced by them in support of their plea of alibi was "inconsistent and contradictory" in nature and prosecution evidence overweighted their version.

Convicts Pawan Kumar Gupta and Vinay Sharma had claimed that on the evening of December 16, 2012, they were in the DDA District Park in Hauz Khas area of South Delhi watching a musical event organised in connection with Christmas celebration and they were not in the bus and had not committed any offence with the woman or her friend.

Third convict Akshay Kumar Singh alias Thakur had claimed that he was not in Delhi on the night of the incident and left for his village in a train a day before on the ticket of his brother Abhay, along with his sister-in-law and nephew.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Dipak Misra, said their plea "appears to be an afterthought and rather may be read as an additional circumstance against them."

The bench, also comprising justices R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan, said when a plea of alibi is taken by an accused, the burden is upon him to establish the same by positive evidence after the onus regarding his presence on the spot is established by the prosecution.

"While weighing the plea of alibi, the same has to be weighed against the positive evidence led by the prosecution, i.E. Not only the substantive evidence of prosecution witness 1 (eye witness and the woman's friend) and dying declarations, but also against the scientific evidence, viz., the DNA, finger print and bite marks analysis, the accuracy of which is scientifically acclaimed," the bench said.

Considering the "inconsistent and contradictory" nature of the evidence of alibi led by the convicts against the positive evidence of the prosecution, including scientific, the bench held that they have miserably failed to discharge their burden of absolute certainty regarding their plea.

The apex court, however, said the plea of alibi raised by Pawan and Vinay was rightly rejected by the trial court which has been given the stamp of approval by the Delhi High Court.

It also said that the video clip brought in by Vinay, showing that he was present in the park on the evening of the incident, appeared to have been tampered.

Regarding Akshay, the bench said the defence witnesses brought by him were his relatives including his wife and, as observed by the trial court and high court, they tried to wriggle him out of the messy situation, as is the natural instinct of the family members.
New Delhi/Mumbai: Senior RSS leader Indresh has triggered a fresh controversy by appealing to Muslims to adopt cows and stop eating beef.

Indresh Kumar made this appeal while participating in a function organised by the RSS' affiliate Muslim Rashtriya Manch, which urged the Muslims to stop eating beef.

According to ANI, the RSS leader had called on the Muslims to protect cows by opening gaushalas (cow shelters) and stop eating beef.

While several political parties have slammed Indresh Kumar over his appeal to Muslims, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has jumped into his defence, saying the constitutional imperatives did not allow beef eating.

RSS' ideologue Rakesh Sinha was quoted as saying by ANI that modernity and constitutional imperatives demanded that Muslims should stop eating beef.

"Even during the rule of many Muslim rulers, Muslims did not eat beef, they respected cows and they had adopted cows. I think the modernity; the cultural and constitutional imperatives demand that Muslims should stop eating beef and adopt cows," said Sinha.

"Muslim Rashtriya Manch's appeal to Muslims to stop eating beef and adopt a cow is in consonance with the cultural and traditional civilization of India," said Sinha.

He, however, denied that the MRM was a minority wing of the RSS.

Meanwhile, the BJP has also backed Indresh Kumar's suggestion of Muslim families adopting cows and learn about their benefits and said that the RSS leader has not asked for imposition of any rule but has simply explained the scientific advantages of the bovine.

The MRM's two-day meeting begins in the Roorkee district of Uttarakhand today where it is expected to clear its views on beet eating and triple talaq.

With ANI inputs
Srinagar: In view of growing attacks on policemen and incidents of bank robberies, a massive ''cordon and combing'' operation had been launched by the security forces in south Kashmirs Shopian district, reports said on Friday.

According to army sources, the massive door-to-door joint search operation launched by the Army, paramilitary and J&K Police is probably the biggest such exercise in the past 15 years in the violence-hit South Kashmir.

The ''The Indian Express'' quoted a senior Army official as saying that an operation of this magnitude involving around 4,000 troops has not been undertaken in Kashmir in the last 15 years.

The operation was launched on Thursday evening after a vehicle carrying soldiers of 62 Rashtriya Rifles, who were involved in the operation, were attacked by militants near the Imam Sahib area, leading to the death of a civilian driver and injuries to four jawans.

Militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen later claimed responsibility for the attack.

The driver who was killed in the attack had been identified as Nazir Ahmad, a resident of Kachdoora village in Shopian.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that the combing operation was being carried out to bring the situation in the Valley under control.

The combing operation is going on as some banks were looted and some policemen have been killed. It has been launched to ensure that the situation is brought under control. These operations are carried out regularly, he said.

As per reports, nearly 20 villages in Shopian district were cordoned off and homes and orchards were thoroughly searched. During the combing operation, residents of Heaf, Sugan, Chilipora, Malnad, Turka Wangam and other villages resorted to massive stone pelting against the forces.

Dozens were injured in the clashes at Turka Wangam and Sugan villages and were shifted to Srinagar hospital, which received two youngsters with pellet injuries in their eyes.

Security forces also laid a cordon in Khudwani of Kulgam district after a tip-off about the presence of LeT terrorists, but they escaped with public support, a cop said.

The security officials also asked all villagers to assemble in a common area so their homes could be searched.

Separately, J&K police announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on the head of Umer Majid, a suspected Hizb militant responsible for killing seven people including five cops at Kulgam earlier this week.

(With PTI inputs)
On Friday, Shiv Sena leader and Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam launched a scathing attack on the ministers for going on a junket leaving the farmers in distress.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: The controversy over Maharashtra ministers visiting Australia in times of agrarian crisis, is now snowballing into a political controversy. After the Opposition, now BJP's ally Shiv Sena too has trained its gun on the BJP ministers.

On Friday, Shiv Sena leader and Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam launched a scathing attack on the ministers for going on a junket leaving the farmers in distress.

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"There are unseasonal rains in the state, farmers are committing suicides, at such an important time it's not right that the ministers of the Cabinet related to the departments have gone on a foreign tour. I will be writing to the chief minister to not allow such tours till the problem persists," Kadam said.

"In 1995, Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray has asked ministers from the party not to waste money from the exchequer. We had followed it. Something similar needs to be done now," Kadam recalled.

The Opposition too upped its ante over the foreign junket issue.

Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has written to the Prime Minister asking him to recall the ministers immediately. Pointing out the rules of legislative business, Prithviraj Chavan sarcastically has asked the PM that before the tour the ministers must have taken his mandatory permission.

However, the BJP is unfazed and has vehemently defended the Junket.

Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar called the criticism by the Opposition as "hypocrisy".

"it's hypocrisy to criticise foreign tour. The decision to send legislators for study tours abroad was taken during the earlier Congress NCP regime to enhance the level of debates. However, there are members from all parties," Mungantiwar said.

Mungantiwar also took a dig at Former CM Prithviraj Chavan reminding him that there are Congress members too in the delegation.

"Rather than writing to PM Modi, Prithviraj Chavan should have written to Sonia Gandhi and recalled Congress leaders who are on tour," quipped the Finance Minister.

Also read:

As Maharashtra farmers face crisis, ministers go on foreign tour

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and discussed with him the security situation in the Valley.

The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office at South Block and lasted about 45 minutes. The governor discussed the continuing unrest in parts of the Kashmir Valley, official sources said.

He also informed the prime minister about various developmental works being done in Jammu and Kashmir, they said.

Vohra had on Tuesday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and apprised him of the security situation in the state.

The Valley is witnessing a fresh bout of violence for the last few days. South Kashmir, especially, has seen a spate of attacks on banks in Shopian and Pulwama districts.

Militants had yesterday attacked an army patrol that left a civilian dead and three personnel injured during a massive operation involving 4,000 troops started by the security forces to clear South Kashmir of terrorists.
New Delhi: The Centre on Friday asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to take immediate steps to stop the unauthorised broadcast of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian channels in the state.

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu spoke with the state chief secretary and also sought a compliance report at the earliest, official sources said here.

He expressed concern over reports that these channels are being broadcast in Jammu and Kashmir without permission.

Earlier in the day, Naidu's deputy in the ministry, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, had said the local administration in the state has right to confiscate the equipment of cable operators allegedly airing unauthorised channels.

Noting that the government has sent an advisory to the state, Rathore said such communications are regularly sent by the Centre on unauthorised channels.

"We also monitor whenever such news comes up. It is our work to ask for report about such incidents. The action is being taken," he said.

Rathore said it is the responsibility of the local administration to monitor unauthorised channels in their area and they have the right to take action against them.

"In Kashmir, the district collector or the authorised government official can confiscate the equipment and take action against cable operators," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

The minister was responding to reports that over 50 Saudi and Pakistani channels besides Zakir Naik's banned Peace TV and others indulging in "anti-India" propaganda were allegedly running without necessary clearances via private cable networks in Kashmir.
Srinagar: A video showing terrorists tonsuring the head of a special duty police officer in Jammu and Kashmir on charges of spying has drawn sharp reactions from various quarters.

Though it was not clear where the video was made, the clip shows the terrorists threatening to kill him if he continues to spy against them.

His abductors were seen encircling the officer and throwing expletives at him while he sits on the floor of a dimly-lit room.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Friday decided to reinstate senior IPS Officer TP Senkumar as the state's Director General of Police (Law and Order), hours after the Supreme Court dismissed its clarification petition on his appointment with cost.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan signed the related file tonight and the government order would be issued on Saturday, sources in his office said.

Senkumar told media persons that he would react only after the order has been issued.

Incumbent DGP Loknath Behara is likely to be appointed DGP, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court came down on the Kerala government and also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 for wasting the court's time by disregarding its order to reinstate Senkumar as the state police chief.

It was on April 24 that the Supreme Court had directed the Pinarayi Vijayan government to reinstate the senior Indian Police Service officer as the Director General of Police.

Senkumar, who is due to retire on June 30, was removed from the post when Vijayan took over as Chief Minister on May 25, 2016.

He had moved the Central Administrative Tribunal, challenging his removal, but his plea was turned down. The Kerala High Court had later upheld the CAT's verdict.

The Supreme Court had, however, on April 24 directed the reinstatement of Senkumar, saying he was transferred by the LDF government "unfairly" and "arbitrarily".

The Supreme court order was widely seen as a setback to the LDF government.

The senior IPS officer's relation with ruling CPI-M was not cordial as he had probed various cases, including the sensational TP Chandrasekharan murder case in which CPI(M) cadres were allegedly involved.

The Chief Minister had all along justified Senkumar's removal, saying that he was not fit for the post.

With the government not taking a decision on the SC order, Senkumar had filed a contempt petition accusing it of "wilful, deliberate disobedience".

The Supreme Court earlier today dismissed the Kerala government's clarification petition and imposed a cost of Rs 25,000. It also sought the response of Kerala chief secretary Nalini Netto on the contempt plea.

The Kerala government had defended Senkumar's removal, saying he had tried to shield erring policemen in last year's Puttingal temple fire tragedy which left over 100 people dead.

Following the SC's order, the Congress-led UDF and BJP attacked the government, demanding Vijayan's resignation and immediate reinstatement of Senkumar.

While Law Minister AK Balan said the verdict was not a setback for the government, Panniyan Ravindran, leader of the CPI, a ruling front ally, blamed the government's decision on the wrong advice of legal experts.

The decision on Senkumar's reinstatement followed a meeting of the CPI(M)'s state secretariat earlier in the day where the matter was discussed.

NDA 's Kerala vice chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the apex court's verdict was yet another "stinging slap" on the Kerala government.

(With Agency inputs)
Thiruvananthapuram: Check results.kerala.nic.in or keralapareekshabhavan.in for accessing the Kerala SSLC Result 2017, DHSE Kerala SSLC Results 2017, Kerala Board Class 10 Results 2017 on Friday.

The anxious wait of lakhs of students will end today who are waiting for the Kerala SSLC (Class 10) examination 2017 results, Kerala SSLC 10th Class Results 2017, Kerala SSLC Exam Result 2017, Kerala Board Class 10 Results 2017 at 2 pm today.

The results of Kerala Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC), Kerala SSLC Exam Result 2017, Kerala Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Class 10 on the above mentioned websites.

Around 4,58,494 students who appeared for DHSE exams are waiting for the Kerala DHSE SSLC exam Results 2017, Kerala 10th SSLC Result 2017, Class 10th X SSLC Exam Result 2017, Kerala Board Class 10 Results 2017, Kerala SSLC Results 2017, Kerala Board Class 10 Results 2017, Kerala Class 10 Results 2017, Kerala Board SSLC Class 10th Examination Results 2017, Kerala Results 2017, Kerala Board SSLC Class 10 Results 2017.

Here's how you can check your Kerala SSLC Results 2017:

- Log on to the above any of the mentioned websites

- Click on SSLC Results tab

- Submit details like Name, Roll Number, Mobile Number, and email ID

- Click on 'Submit' and get result

- Download or take printout of the marksheet

2,588 private students appeared for the Kerala SSLC Examination, which was held 8th March to 23rd March 2017.

A total of 4,58,494 students appeared for the examination.

SSLC Examination Government of Kerala (SSLC)

The SSLC is obtained by passing a public examination, i.e., an examination that has been formulated by the regional board of education that the school is affiliated with, and not by members of the faculty of the school. The performance of a student in the SSLC examination is the key factor in obtaining admission to a higher secondary school of choice, where acceptance is typically based on the results of the SSLC examination. Therefore, the SSLC is often regarded as the first important examination that a student undertakes.SSLC is obtained by passing a public examination, i.e., an examination that has been formulated by the regional board of education that the school is affiliated with, and not by members of the faculty of the school. The performance of a student in the SSLC examination is the key factor in obtaining admission to a higher secondary school of choice, where acceptance is typically based on the results of the SSLC examination. Therefore, the SSLC is often regarded as the first important examination that a student undertakes.

The SSLC is obtained by students after successful completion of the exam which is held at the end of study at the secondary schooling level.

The SSLC is held in many states like Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Kerala SSLC results 2016

As many as 4,57,654 students qualified for the higher studies, registering a total pass percentage of 96.59 in the SSLC examination.

Of the total of 4,73,803 students who appeared for the examination, 4,57,654 cleared with various grades.

As many as 22,879 students secured A+ in all subjects and 1,207 schools registered 100 per cent pass.

Zee Media wishes all the students best of luck.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued contempt notice to Kerala's Chief Secretary for not reinstating T.P. Senkumar as state Director General of Police (DGP).

The response has been sought by Monday i.e. May 8th.

The apex court also imposed a fine of Rs. 25,000 on the state for seeking clarification on it verdict of reappointing Senkumar as DGP.

Earlier on May 3, the Kerala Government had filed a modification petition before the top court seeking clarification on its order to reinstate Senkumar as the state police chief.

The apex court directed the reinstatement of the former Director General of Police (DGP) after noting he was removed from the post "arbitrarily".

The court set aside the order of the Kerala High Court that had earlier upheld the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) decision. The CAT was in agreement with the State Government's ruling that transferred Senkumar from the post of the state police chief.

On April 11, the Kerala Government defended its decision to transfer Senkumar, citing his transfer was a punishment for how he had handled the fallout of the 2016 Puttingal temple fire tragedy, in which 110 people were killed and 300 were injured.

The fire tragedy refers to an explosion leading to fireworks display going awry at the temple in Kollam district last year.
Indore: Five persons have been arrested here with demonetised currency worth Rs 70.50 lakh, police said today.

"Acting on a tip-off, cops arrested five persons identified as Arvind, Mukesh, Mahesh Sharma, Mukesh Deharia and Vakil Shah near Machchhi Bazaar Square here late last night and seized from them old notes in denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 totalling Rs 70.50 lakh," said Pandrinath Police Station In-charge, Vijay Rajput.

The accused carrying the scrapped notes were caught after police intercepted an auto rickshaw in which they were travelling, during a vehicle checking drive here.

Rajput said the arrested persons have revealed that that old notes were brought from Ujjain district and were supposed to be delivered in Indore.

Earlier on April 25, a trader was arrested here with demonetised currency worth Rs 44.86 lakh.

Similarly, four persons were arrested on April 11 and demonetised currency worth Rs 64.30 lakh was recovered from their possession.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the NIA and Maharashtra on a plea of accused Shrikant Purohit, seeking bail in a case pertaining to the 2008 Malegaon blast.

A bench of Justices RK Agrawal and AM Sapre issued a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Maharashtra government on the plea of Purohit, former lieutenant colonel, against the Bombay High Court order rejecting his bail plea in the case.

The apex court had on April 28 rejected Purohit's plea for urgent hearing, saying the petition will come up in regular course.

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.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 NIA.

The NIA, which was handed over the probe from Anti- Terrorism Squad (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."

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.
Mumbai: A team of MLAs and presiding officers of Maharashtra have set off on a junket abroad, which has been dubbed as a '14-day study tour' of Australia, Singapore and New Zealand by the state government.

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar, Food and Civil supplies Minister Girish Bapat and his wife, Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde and few other MLAs and officers, who are part of the study tour are scheduled to visit local parliaments, study the type of farm loans of three countries.

The trip comes even as questions are being raised on how the state can afford such a trip when the state farmers are suffering a lot.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently said the state government will study the Uttar Pradesh model of farm loan waiver worth Rs 36,000 crore, after Shiv Sena and BJP members demanded that the state government announce a loan waiver for distressed farmers.

Meanwhile, Congress has slammed the Fadnavis government for sending MLAs and officers on a foreign junket.

Congress leader and former state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said instead of attending to the farmers' problems, Agriculture Minister has gone abroad, as a part of the legislative delegation.
Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately recall two Maharashtra ministers, who are on a "junket" as part of a legislative delegation visiting Australia, Singapore and New Zealand, in the backdrop of protests across the state over Tur dal procurement.

Tur farmers in Maharashtra are facing a crisis due to a bumper production of the commodity and resultant low prices.

In a letter to Modi dated May 4, Chavan said that after PM's appeal for increasing pulses production, farmers from the state responded with a record production of Tur dal.

Sadly, the government procurement system has badly let them down, the former Maharashtra Chief Minister rued.

Tur producing farmers are agitating for procurement at MSP (minimum support price) throughout the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions in the state and the number of farmer suicides is rising, he wrote.

Chavan said that instead of personally attending to this crisis, Agriculture minister along with the Food and Public Distribution minister in the state have gone abroad as part of a legislative delegation led by the Speaker to Australia, Singapore and New Zealand.

"It is appalling that these two ministers directly responsible for handling the current farm crisis have gone on a 15-day junket along with their family. The timing could not be worse. Farmers in the state are shocked," Chavan charged.

The former CM said," I am sure you are aware that as per rules of business, specific sanctions from the Chief Minister and the PMO is mandatory before any minister of the state government is permitted to travel abroad. Surely, these two ministers have obtained prior permission before leaving."

He said, "I request you to ask the Chief Minister to immediately recall these two ministers back to their duty. The legislative delegation led by the Speaker can continue on their visit. I am sure you will appreciate the seriousness of the matter and take appropriate steps."

Chavan posted this letter on his Twitter handle and tagged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in it.

Agriculture Minister Pandurang Phundkar, Food and Civil Supplies minister Girish Bapat are part of the delegation led by Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde.

Legislators cutting across party lines are part of the tour, which is part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Half of the tour cost is borne by the members and the remaining by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Earlier this week, on May 2, Fadnavis had directed officials concerned to complete the procurement of tur in the next five to six days. He had asked officials to work in two shifts and complete the procurement of tur on war footing.

Also, the state government has decided to call for a global tender to auction tur.

Till April 22, 40 lakh quintal tur worth Rs 1839 crore was procured by Maharashtra at Rs 5050, including bonus of Rs 425, from 2,58,341 farmers.
Pakistan International Airlines will suspend flight between Mumbai and Karachi from May 15.

By India Today Web Desk: Pakistan International Airlines will suspend flight between Mumbai and Karachi from May 15.

According to sources, the Airlines is planning to suspend the services because of deteriorating India-Pakistan relations. Not many people are sanctioned visas leading to no passenger traffic.

The flight between Mumbai and Karachi is the only direct flight as no Indian airlines flies to Pakistan. The Pakistan International Airlines has three flights in a week.

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Relations between India and Pakistan have turned sour over the last few months, especially after the Uri attack which killed 19 Indian soldiers, after which India organised a surgical strike targetting terror launch pads across LoC.

Recently, Pakistan Army's mutilated bodies of two Indian soldiers in the Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control (LoC).

In a ceasefire violation, the Pakistan Army had opened rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts along the Line of Control. Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT) attacked an Indian joint patrol team and mutilated its two soldiers.

Indian Army has vowed that it would respond to the barbaric act at a "time and place of its choosing".

Also read

Pakistan mutilates bodies of 2 Indian soldiers near LoC, Army pounds Pak posts in retaliation

Mutilation of Indian soldiers: PM Modi says there is something because of which India keeps marching ahead

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra Congress on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to recall two of his ministers from a foreign junket to tackle the urgent farmland crises that is gripping the state.

Senior Congress leader and ex-chief minister Prithviraj Chavan wrote a letter to Modi pointing out how the two ministers were accompanying Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde on a legislative delegation to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat, Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar, several legislators from different parties and officials left on a fortnight long tour on May 1 to study parliaments there.

"It is appalling that the two ministers directly responsible for handling the current farmland crises have gone on a fifteen day junket with their families. The timing could not be worse. The farmers in the state are shocked," Chavan wrote in his letter to the PM.

He urged the PM to ask Fadnavis to "immediately recall" the two ministers back to their duty, while the official delegation led by the Speaker could continue their trip.

Ruling ally Shiv Sena Minister Ramdas Kadam also slammed the trip especially when the state was in the grip of a major agrarian crisis worsened by the recent bumper crops of "tur dal" (split pigeon pea) but let down by the procurement system.

Congress Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil also criticized the trip and said the ministers should have considered the agricultural crisis and non-stop farmers` suicides before going.
New Delhi: The much-publicised fight between comedy king Kapil Sharma and Sunil Grover not only shocked the industry wallahs but broke a million hearts as well. The fans still can't get over the fact that the two ace comedians and once 'friends' are no longer working together.

After Sunil Grover's exit from 'The Kapil Sharma Show', a lot has been speculated about his next endeavour. Many tried to play the peacemaker between Kapil and Sunil but nothing really worked out.

Now, comedian-actor Krushna Abhishek, who hosted a show on rival channel recently spoke about the ugly spat between Kapil and Sunil. PTI quoted Krushna as saying, That's their personal matter. They're friends, so fights happen in friendships. Kapil had held together the team for four years. You should see that too. They've been working for so long... Not everyone can handle people, so sometimes there are fights."

The actor was speaking at the launch of new Colors' reality show 'India Banega Manch', last evening. The show is shot on the streets and the participants are given a limited time to attract as many people as they can with their skills.

Krushna says he was instantly attracted to the show because of the format which involves "no judges, no sets, no votes" and the winning performance is purely decided by the live audience watching the act.

He will co-anchor the show with TV actress Mona Singh, and Krushna is thankful that his equation with her is fantastic.

"It is very important to have an understanding with your co-host. If you bring someone like me on stage, chances are he may get into the trap of one-upmanship. Hence, you need positive people. Mona and I both entertained each other, supported each other, so it was a fantastic experience." The show is set to air on Colors from May 7.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: On December 16, 2012, India was shamed as a young 23-year-old paramedic student (Nirbhaya) was gang-raped by six men in a moving bus. The Supreme Court on Friday confirmed death penalty for all four convicts in Nirbhaya gang-rape case.

The prime accused in the horrific case, Ram Singh committed suicide inside the jail and another accused, who happened to be a juvenile at the time of committing the heinous crime was sent to a reformative sentence of 3 years.

Amid reactions storming the social media platforms, Bollywood too took to Twitter hailing the SC verdict. Take a look at who said what:

May her tears flow No more..may the mothers daughter finally rest in peace..may all evil know there is a price to pay pic.twitter.com/6uuyAdg6bP  Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) May 5, 2017

Finally!the only end they deserve.Kudos to the Supreme Court for this decision.May she finally rest in peace.#NirbhayaCase May 5, 2017

Even hanging the 4 criminals is not enough justice but it should serve as a reminder that how india deals with this crime #Nirbhayaverdict  Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) May 5, 2017

Jyoti 'Nirbhaya' you will always be remembered. May your soul RIP. There is a god above  Arpita Khan Sharma (@khanarpita) May 5, 2017

Nirbhaya verdict.Justice prevails.Being in a civil society,in this case,"Public Hanging" was needed to set an example for an everyday menace  Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) May 5, 2017
New Delhi: State-run New India Assurance has hiked the premium on its mediclaim policy by up to 25 percent, a newspaper report said on Friday.

New India Assurance has increased premium on health insurance by an average of 25 percent for individuals, a Times Of India report said.

The company has done away with the rate differential based on region and introduced a uniform rate across the country, the TOI report further said.

New India Assurance has reported a net profit at Rs 1,008 crore in fiscal 2017, up 22 percent over the previous year, driven by investment income which whittled down the high underwriting losses.

The largest non-life insurer also set around 17 percent growth in total premium (global premium) income at Rs 26,000 crore in fiscal 2018 from Rs 22,279 crore it achieved in fiscal 2017, which was a 21.27 percent growth over the previous year.

In the reporting year, the state-run company, which has 16 percent market share and is bound for an public float later this fiscal year, had a domestic premium income of Rs 19,115 crore, a growth of 27.17 percent from Rs 15,115 crore a year before.

Sharing the numbers, New India Assurance chairman and managing director S Srinivasan said this is the second best net income for the company after the Rs 1,200 crore it had reported in fiscal 2015.

He said the company has suffered an underwriting losses to the tune of Rs 3,500 crore primarily due to three big fire incidents in the year as well as the Chennai and Wardha cyclones. In fiscal 2016, its underwriting losses stood at a low Rs 3,100 crore. The three fire incidents alone cost the insurer a whopping Rs 1,200 crore in the year, he added.

New India also suffered 100 percent claim ratio from new crop insurance business, whose premia touched Rs 1,050 crore and plans to increase it to Rs 1,500 crore this year.

The company could still manage better profit due to a spike in the investment income which rose to Rs 4,050 crore from Rs 3,953 crore, Srinivasan said, adding its assets rose to Rs 53,000 crore from Rs 45,000 crore while the networth jumped to Rs 34,764 crore from Rs 28,895 crore.

Srinivasan said during the year, the company has hired 10,000 agents and will hire 12,000 this year. He also said going forward the company will focus on digital sales, which currently contribute 14 percent of sales.

Since we started offering 10 percent discount to new policy sales, there was a 60 percent spike in volumes, he said, adding currently as much as 65 percent sales are done by brokers, followed by around 20 percent by agents and 3 percent through the banccasurance channels.

Srinivasan also said the company will soon be roping in three more big banks for this model of channel sales, but refused to name them saying an announcement in this regard will be made a day or two. Already it has tied up with Bank of India and Citi.

On asked about the PIL seeking banning insurers from investing in tobacco companies like ITC, in which it owns 1.5 percent for the past several decades, Srinivasan said, they are a commercial entity and rules should be applicable to all uniformly.

On the proposed IPO, he said it will happen this financial year itself. "It should be happening within the next six to eight months," he said and refused to speak more on the topic.

With PTI Inputs
Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had the potential to become the Prime Minister of the country.



Singh also said it was right for a generational change in the Congress to cater to the aspirations of the over 70 per cent youth population of the country.



Amarinder said he always found Rahul Gandhi "extremely perceptive and decisive".



"There is a deliberate attempt to undermine his image by calling him names. Rahul has the potential to become the Prime Minister of the country," said Amarinder in an interview with senior journalist Vir Sanghvi on his `Rising Punjab 2017' show for CNN-News18.
California: Brad Pitt has admitted heavy drinking helped ruin his marriage and revealed he is teetotal and in therapy in his first interview since his shock split from Angelina Jolie.

Jolie, 41, filed for divorce in September, citing irreconcilable differences. She accused Pitt of hitting their teenage son on a flight from France to Los Angeles, sparking tabloid gossip and an FBI probe.

The 53-year-old was cleared by the FBI and social workers and wants joint legal and physical custody of Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 10, and twins Vivienne and Knox, eight, while Jolie is demanding sole guardianship.

"I mean I stopped everything except boozing when I started my family. But even this last year, you know -- things I wasn`t dealing with: I was boozing too much," Pitt told GQ Style magazine.

"It`s just become a problem. And I`m really happy it`s been half a year now, which is bittersweet, but I`ve got my feelings in my fingertips again."

Pitt, who has three Oscar nominations for acting and one win for producing "12 Years a Slave," says he was able to swap alcohol for cranberry juice and fizzy water after deciding he didn`t "want to live that way anymore.""Truthfully I could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka. I was a professional. I was good," he told the magazine`s summer edition.

Pitt, who has a new movie, "War Machine," on Netflix later this month, said the past six months had been about "looking at my weaknesses and failures and owning my side of the street."

He and Jolie -- known in the gossip columns as "Brangelina" -- got married in France in August two years ago, but had been a couple since 2004.

He voiced fears over the toll the public custody battle might be taking on his children and said he and Jolie were trying to keep proceedings out of the courts.

"I heard one lawyer say, `No one wins in court -- it`s just a matter of who gets hurt worse.` And it seems to be true, you spend a year just focused on building a case to prove your point and why you`re right and why they`re wrong, and it`s just an investment in vitriolic hatred," he said.

"I just refuse. And fortunately my partner in this agrees. It`s just very, very jarring for the kids, to suddenly have their family ripped apart."

Pitt also said he`s learning to face his feelings despite his upbringing, where he was taught to "just deal with it."

He no longer defines himself as an actor, he said, as it takes up so little of his time and focus.

"Film feels like a cheap pass for me, as a way to get at those hard feelings. It doesn`t work anymore, especially being a dad," he said.
New Delhi: And we really don't care about Pakistan's absenteeism, do we.

Pakistan was the only SAARC member that opted out of the project, which included all other SAARC nations, saying it has its "own space programme".

After the launch, all the South Asian leaders went ahead and congratulated India and PM Narendra Modi for the historic launch.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F09 (GSLV-F09) on Friday successfully launched India's gift to South Asia - the Geostationary communication satellite-9 (Gsat-9) - into a Geostationary orbit, also making the it the first Indian satellite to use an electric propulsion.

Precisely at 4.57 p.m., the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) lifted off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh.

Launching aboard the Indian space agencys rocket GSLV-F09, the South Asia Satellite or GSAT-9 costs around Rs 235 crore and is meant for providing communication and disaster support and connectivity among the countries of South Asia region. Its mission life will span 12 years.

Here are some of the key features of the launch:

The South Asia Satellite, proposed by Prime Minister Modi, was launched into orbit at 4:57 pm on Friday,May 5, 2017, on board ISRO's rocket GSLV-09 from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota.

GSAT-9 is a Geostationary Communication Satellite with the objective to provide various communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over South Asian countries.

According to ISRO, GSLV-F09 mission is the eleventh flight of GSLV and its fourth consecutive flight with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS).

The satellite weighs a massive 2,230-kg and it has 12 Ku-band transponders, which India's neighbours can utilise to increase communications.

The total cost of launching the satellite is estimated to be about 2,350,000,000 (235 crore). The cost associated with the launch will be met by the Government of India

The satellite is meant for providing communication and disaster support, connectivity among the countries of South Asia region. The satellite will provide a significant capability to each of the participating countries in terms of DTH, certain VSAT capacity plus linking among the states for both disaster information transfer and also in terms of library type of things.



It's meant to provide communication, disaster support and connectivity among the countries of South Asia region and its mission life will span 12 years.
New Delhi: `South Asia Satellite` (SAS) has been successfully launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on May 5.

The launch of the satellite, intended to serve the SAARC region, was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SAARC summit at Nepal in November 2014.

In his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi described the satellite's launch as India's 'pricelss gift' to its neighbours as part of the 'sabka sath, sabka vikas' concept, adding that it will go a long way in addressing the region`s economic and developmental priorities.

Here's all you need to know about the satellite, which took India three years to build:

The South Asia Satellite, proposed by Prime Minister Modi, was launched into orbit at 4:57 pm on Friday,May 5, 2017, on board ISRO's rocket GSLV-09 from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota.

GSAT-9 is a Geostationary Communication Satellite with the objective to provide various communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over South Asian countries.

According to ISRO, GSLV-F09 mission is the eleventh flight of GSLV and its fourth consecutive flight with the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS).

The satellite weighs a massive 2,230-kg and it has 12 Ku-band transponders, which India's neighbours can utilise to increase communications.

The total cost of launching the satellite is estimated to be about 2,350,000,000 (235 crore). The cost associated with the launch will be met by the Government of India

The satellite is meant for providing communication and disaster support, connectivity among the countries of South Asia region. The satellite will provide a significant capability to each of the participating countries in terms of DTH, certain VSAT capacity plus linking among the states for both disaster information transfer and also in terms of library type of things.

Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are already on board of the mission. Afghanistan is in the process of inking the deal. That means seven out of eight SAARC countries are a part of the project except Pakistan, wehich opted out of the program.

Initially, the satellite was to be named as 'SAARC Satellite' but its name was changed to South Asia Satellite after Pakistan refused to join the project.

The main structure of the satellite is cuboid in shape built around a central cylinder with a mission life of 12 years.

Launched aboard the Indian space agencys rocket GSLV-F09, the South Asia Satellite or GSAT-9 costs around Rs 235 crore and is meant for providing communication and disaster support and connectivity among the countries of South Asia region. Its mission life will span 12 years.
Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka later this month should secure the release of five Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy and 134 boats seized, DMK working president M K Stalin said today.

Referring to the recent arrest of five fishermen of Ramanathapuram and assault of four Nagapattinam fishermen, allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy personnel, he said the state's fisherfolk who put to sea to eke out their livelihood were living in fright.

Citing the recent incidents, Stalin, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said the arrest and assault of the state fishermen and impounding of their boats were continuing at the hands of Sri Lankan Navy.

During his visit to Sri Lanka between May 12 and 14, Modi should take up the fishermen's issue and secure release of the five fishermen and 134 boats seized, considering their livelihood, Stalin said.

He hit out at the K Palaniswami regime for stopping with writing only letters to the Centre on the issue.
Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court on Friday declined to entertain a public interest litigation praying for directions to restrain Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved from using the sacred symbol "Om" on toiletries manufactured by the company.

A division bench comprising Justice V K Shukla and Justice M C Tripathi dismissed the PIL filed by a social activist R S Kushwaha saying it seems that the petition has been filed "to gain publicity and not for public benefit".

The petitioner had contended that the symbol "Om", considered sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, is used by the company as its logo but its use on toiletries was "demeaning" and hurt religious sentiments.

The petitioner had contended that the trademark law prohibited the use of any logo which could hurt feelings of people belonging to any religion.
Islamabad plans to summon an Afghan official after firing by Afghanistan's border police killed at least seven people in Pakistan.

By Hamza Ameer: Pakistan will be recording a strong protest with Afghanistan over today's cross border firing in Balochistan. The firing, from the Afghan side, killed killed at least 7 people, including women and children, and injured dozens of others.

Islamabad plans to summon an Afghan diplomatic official into the Foreign Office today to lodge the protest.

Earlier in the day, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released a statement accusing the Afghan Border Police of opening fire on a Pakistani Frontier Corps detail that was carrying out population census.

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"Since 30th April, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Charnan area of Pakistani side of the border," ISPR said.

The statement added that the firing took place despite Afghan authorities being informed about the census. "...coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of census," ISPR also said.

Following the firing, Pakistan shut down the part of the border where the firing took place.

Pakistan had closed its borders with Afghanistan at Chaman and Torkham on February 18 after a series of terrorist attacks in the country killed over 100 people, according to Pakistani media reports.

Militants having sanctuaries in Afghanistan were blamed for the attacks. After over a month of closure, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered reopening of the borders as a goodwill gesture.

(With inputs from IANS)

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ALSO WATCH | We ourselves are tarnishing the name of Pakistan and Islam: Malala Yousafzai

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Roorkee: The two-day meet of Rashtryia Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) affiliate Muslim Rashtryia Manch (MRM) began in the Roorkee district of Uttar Pradesh amid an ongoing row over beef consumption and protection of cows.

According to ANI, during the two-day meeting, which is being attended by nearly 300 clerics, the RSS-linked body is expected to clear its stand on beet consumption and triple talaq.

However, ahead of the meeting, RSS leader Indresh Kumar had triggered a fresh controversy by making an appeal to Muslims to adopts cows and stop eating beef.

RSS ideologue Indresh Kumar had made this appeal while participating in a function organised by the RSS' affiliate Muslim Rashtriya Manch.

The RSS leader had called on the Muslims to protect cows by opening gaushalas (cow shelters) and stop eating beef, as per ANI.

Congress, however, censured the RSS over its affiliate Muslim Rashtriya Manch's (MRM) appeal to Muslims to shun beef eating.

Targeting the RSS, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI that on the one hand, the right wing organisation appeals Muslims to protect cows, and on the other hand, they beat and kill even those Muslims for whom cows are source of income.

"How could they (MRM) ask Muslims to open gaushalas (cow shelters) when they attacked Muslims who earn their bread and butter from selling cow milk? Kharge asked.

"Look what happened in Alwar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir. In order to conceal their mistakes, now they have forced some Muslims to appeal for cow protection," said Kharge.

Another Congress leader PL Punia also attacked the RSS over the issue.

"The Muslim Rashtriya Manch's suggestion is good, but they should tell where beef is being eaten, and where cows are being slaughtered. Except few states, cow slaughter is banned across India. It is the responsibility of the respective state governments to enforce the ban strongly," Punia told ANI.

He alleged that the beef export had increased manifold during the incumbent BJP-led NDA regime at the Centre but still the RSS had kept a mum.

"The RSS should also ask the Modi Government that how much the beef export increased during its three year rule. Beef export has increased manifold during the Modi government. The RSS intentionally rakes up such issues just to flare the religious sentiments," alleged Punia.

The BJP, however, jumped in Indresh Kumar's defence and said that he had not asked for imposition of any rule but has simply explained the scientific advantages of the bovine.

BJP leader Shaina NC said Kumar has only highlighted the medicinal values of the cow and the fact that the Holy Quran says that we should not be consuming the meat of the cow.
Islamabad: An International New York Times opinion piece criticising the powerful Pakistani army was censored by its local publisher Friday, replaced by a blank space in a country where it can be dangerous to speak out against the military establishment.

The online version of the piece by Mohammed Hanif, a high-profile satirist and novelist whose critiques of Pakistani society regularly appear in the New York Times, was trending on Pakistani social media by Friday afternoon.

In the article, entitled "Pakistan`s Triangle of Hate", he savaged the military for parading a former Pakistani Taliban spokesman before television cameras to claim that the militants are bankrolled by Islamabad`s arch-nemesis India.

"With his appearance, the Pakistani Army seemed to be sending this message: You can kill thousands of Pakistanis, but if you later testify that you hate India as much as we do, everything will be forgiven," Hanif wrote.

"Do we really need to enlist our children`s killers in our campaign against India?"

A note on the blank page clarified the decision to censor the article was taken in Pakistan, and the newspaper "had no role in its removal".

"While we understand that our publishing partners are sometimes faced with local pressures, we regret and condemn any censorship of our journalism," a spokeswoman for the New York Times told AFP on Friday.

The former Taliban spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, is the man who claimed responsibility on behalf of the Taliban for shooting schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai in the head in Swat Valley in 2012.

He also spoke for the group in claiming responsibility for Pakistan`s deadliest ever extremist attack, in which gunmen stormed a school in northwestern Peshawar and killed more than 150 people, most of them children.

Last month the army announced that Ehsan had given himself up to the military, but gave no details on the circumstances or timing of his surrender.

It later released a video of Ehsan stating the militants were given financial and logistical assistance by the intelligence agencies of India and Afghanistan -- a claim often made by the army.

Hanif`s words echoed the feelings of many in Pakistan repulsed by the publicity surrounding Ehsan -- though others have rejoiced at the accusations against India.

Friday`s censorship was the second day in a row that the Express Tribune had blanked out a piece in the Times.

On Thursday, it removed a piece on an anti-gay crackdown in Chechnya entitled "Chechnya`s anti-gay pogrom".

In 2016, it censored a Times image of a man in China giving his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. Later that year it blocked an article in the paper entitled "Sex Talk for Muslim Women".
Quetta: Pakistani and Afghan troops exchanged fire for several hours on Friday along their disputed border, officials on both sides said, as tension between the neighbours flared into deadly violence.

Pakistan`s military said a census team - guarded by troops from its Frontier Corps (FC) - that was collecting population data in a village near the border town of Chaman came under fire and at least one person was killed and 18 wounded.

Zia Durani, police spokesman for Afghanistan`s Kandahar province, said Pakistani officials were using the census as a cover for "malicious activities and to provoke villagers against the government".

"They did not heed the warning and we have clear orders to engage them," Durani said, adding two Afghan border police were wounded.

Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq said 40 Pakistani soldiers and 37 others were killed, including 14 Afghan border police. Reuters was unable to confirm the figures.

Violence ceased later in the day and officials from both sides were due to meet at the frontier, the Pakistani military said. Pakistan`s foreign ministry summoned the Afghan charge daffaires to protest at what it called unprovoked firing.

The Chaman crossing into Afghanistan`s Kandahar province is one of two border points. A doctor in a Chaman hospital told Reuters three people had been killed in the fighting.

Relations between the countries have been uneasy since Pakistan`s independence in 1947. Afghanistan has traditionally enjoyed better ties with Pakistan`s rival, India.

Afghanistan has for years accused Pakistan of sheltering Afghan Taliban militants, something Pakistan denies.

Pakistan`s military said Afghan border police had been "creating hurdles" since April 30 for the census team in the Chaman area.

"This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of the census," the military said.

Tension has been increasing in recent months with each side accusing the other of not doing enough to stop militants engaging in cross-border raids.

Last year, Pakistan started building a barrier at the main border crossing in the town of Torkham, near the Khyber Pass, angering Afghanistan which has never formally recognised the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893.
Mexico: Eight Latin American nations denounced Venezuelan authorities` "excessive use of force" against civilian protesters, Mexico`s foreign ministry said on Thursday, after the death toll from anti-government unrest in Venezuela rose to 36.

The eight nations - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Paraguay - condemned the increase in violence in the oil-producing nation and urged the Venezuelan government to respect the human rights of its citizens.

"We condemn the excessive use of force by Venezuelan authorities against civilians who are protesting government measures that affect democratic stability and cause the loss of human life," the countries said, according to a statement from the Mexican government.

Costa Rica said late on Thursday it had recalled its highest-level diplomat in Venezuela, charge d`affaires Ana Patricia Villalobos, for consultations.

Venezuelans, already on tenterhooks after the unrest that has killed protesters, government supporters, bystanders and security officials, were shaken on Thursday after rumors about the health of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.

President Nicolas Maduro`s leftist government, facing a wave of major opposition protests since last month, later issued a short "proof of life" video in which Lopez said he was fine.
Paris: French presidential election favourite Emmanuel Macron said on Friday he had already chosen the name of his future prime minister -- but even the person concerned has not been told.

"Yes, this choice has been made `in petto`," he told Europe 1 radio, using an Italian expression meaning "in my heart".

But he said he had not told the person concerned "because it`s in my head".

"If I`m elected, I will work to finalise my government next week," Macron said.

The 39-year-old centrist has come under pressure from Le Pen to reveal his hand ahead of Sunday`s run-off.

Le Pen has said she will appoint eurosceptic ally Nicolas Dupont-Aignan -- who was knocked out in the first round of the election -- as her premier if victorious.

Macron said he would only announce his choice after he took over from President Francois Hollande, if he wins.

"I will not announce it before," he said.

Macron had previously said he was considering various candidates to lead a government he says will be "neither of the right nor the left".

In the past, he has said he would prefer to have a woman as prime minister.

Macron has a 20-point lead over Le Pen going into the run-off, according to the latest polls.
London: Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi met Britain`s Queen Elizabeth for lunch on Friday at Buckingham Palace.

Nobel laureate Suu Kyi - who serves as Myanmar`s foreign minister while also being de facto head of its civilian government - later met Prince Charles, heir to the throne, and his wife Camilla.

Prince William, Charles`s elder son, attended the queen`s lunch with Suu Kyi, the palace said.

Suu Kyi, who took power in April 2016 as part of a transition from military rule, has denied ethnic cleansing in the Muslim-majority Rakhine region.

Attacks on Myanmar border guard posts in October last year by a previously unknown insurgent group ignited the biggest crisis so far for Suu Kyi, with more than 75,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh in the ensuing army crackdown.
Seoul: North Korea on Friday accused the CIA and Seoul`s intelligence services of conspiring to assassinate the isolated country`s leader Kim Jong-Un with a biochemical weapon, amid heightened tensions in the region.

In a statement the powerful ministry of state security, said it had foiled a "vicious plot" by a "hideous terrorists` group" to attack the North`s "supreme leadership".

The accusations come with the US and North trading threats over the latter`s nuclear and missile programmes, and as Washington considers whether to re-designate Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism.

That follows the killing of Kim`s estranged half-brother Kim Jong-Nam by two women using the banned nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur international airport.

Both Malaysia and South Korea have blamed the North for the assassination, which retorts that the accusations are an attempt to smear it.

The security ministry statement, carried on the North`s official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), said the CIA and the South`s intelligence had suborned, bribed and blackmailed a North

Korean citizen named only as Kim to carry out the attack.

Possible locations included the mausoleum where Kim Jong-Un`s father and grandfather -- the North`s founder -- lie in state, or a military parade.

Such an operation would be extremely difficult to prepare and carry out successfully. The North`s leader is surrounded by tight security at all times, and Pyongyang maintains a gigantic surveillance system over its own population that is ingrained at every level of society, where open dissent is unknown.

The CIA told its agent Kim it had access to radioactive and "nano poisonous" substances whose lethal results would appear only after six to 12 months, the statement said.

Kim -- described as "human scum" -- received payments totalling at least $740,000 and was given satellite transceivers and other materials and equipment, it said.

He had multiple contacts with South Korean intelligence personnel, and an accomplice who had a Chinese-sounding name, Xu Guanghai of the Qingdao Nazca Trade Co.

Checks on China`s National Enterprise Credit Information system show that a company of that name was formed on March 7 this year, with a Xu Guanghai named as its legal representative, and business areas including "chemical products".

No details were given in the ministry statement of how the supposed plot was uncovered, or of Kim`s fate. But in a potential sign of an internal purge, it said that the ministry will "ferret out and mercilessly destroy the terrorists".

The lurid accusations come with Pyongyang and Washington at loggerheads over the North`s banned weapons programmes, which have seen it subjected to multiple sets of United Nations Security Council sanctions.

Pyongyang, which says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against invasion, has carried out a series of missile launches and threatened a sixth atomic test, while the administration of new US President Donald Trump has said that military action was an "option on the table" -- raising fears of a spiralling conflict.

The alleged plot was a "hideous crime" the security ministry said, and tantamount to "the declaration of a war".

The statement came hours after the US House of Representatives in Washington voted to broaden US sanctions against the North.

The measure, which now heads for the Senate, also gave the Trump administration 90 days to determine whether Pyongyang should be re-designated as a state sponsor of terrorism, after it was removed from the list in 2008.

The North Korean statement described the US as a state sponsor of terrorism itself, and an "empire of evil".

Analysts said the accusations could be a pre-emptive attempt to try to dissuade Washington from any attempt at a surgical strike on its leadership, as suggested by some commentators.

The North believes the US and South are seeking to assassinate Kim, said Professor Koh Yu-Hwan of Dongguk University.

It was "unimaginable that individuals can get close enough to Kim to harm him in light of supertight security there", he told AFP.

But the allegation was also "aimed at keeping its people on their toes and strengthening its grip on them", and intended "to distance itself from the assassination of Jong-Nam who was killed by a chemical weapon".

North Korean commandos infiltrated Seoul in January 1968 in a failed attempt to assassinate its then leader Park Chung-Hee. Bullet holes are still visible on a tree above the presidential Blue House.
Istanbul: A Turkish court on Friday rejected an appeal by the Wikimedia Foundation against the blocking of access in Turkey to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, state media said.

The first magistrates court in Ankara threw out the appeal filed earlier this week by the Wikimedia Foundation, which owns the domain name for Wikipedia, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. The ban had been imposed on Saturday and remains in place.
Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson said India had made it clear that it would build, launch and operate the satellite solely.

By India Today Web Desk: After backing out of the South Asia Satellite project, Pakistan today said it should not be called as a SAARC project because India is doing everything alone.

"Pakistan has its own space programme at an advanced level and is ready to share its expertise and technological know-how and was keen to participate in the (Indian) project," Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.

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But India had made it clear that it would build, launch and operate the satellite solely, the spokesperson added.

He said India offered to "gift" a satellite to SAARC member states, to be named as the "SAARC Satellite". But it was not willing to develop the project on a collaborative basis, so it was not possible for Pakistan to support it as a regional project under the umbrella of SAARC."

The South Asia Satellite today blasted off aboard an Indian rocket. The satellite is intended to address the region's "economic and developmental priorities".

Touted as an 'invaluable gift' to India's neighbours, the Rs 235 crore satellite GSAT-9 is built as part of a Rs 450 crore project as part of India's new age space diplomacy and "neighbourhood first" policy.

It is also seen as a significant move in countering Chinese interests in the region.

(IANS inputs)

Also read:

How Indian satellite GSAT-9 will change South Asia: All you need to know

With launch of South Asia Satellite GSAT-9, India's space diplomacy with Modi in command takes flight

South Asian Satellite GSAT-9: How Pakistan orbited out of SAARC space

Watch the video: Flexing its space prowess, India launches South Asia Satellite GSAT-9 as gift to its neighbours

--- ENDS ---
Manila: The United Nations` special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings condemned Friday the use of violence to combat illegal drugs, as she made a surprise visit to the Philippines that angered President Rodrigo Duterte.

Agnes Callamard had since last year wanted to travel to the Philippines to investigate Duterte`s drug war, which has claimed thousands of lives and led to warnings he may be orchestrating a crime against humanity.

In a speech at a state-run Manila university, Callamard warned of the many pitfalls of governments globally adopting violent responses to illegal drugs, and said she had been watching events in the Philippines closely.

"The `war on drugs` does not work," Callamard said.

She praised people in the Philippines who had spoken out against Duterte`s drug war.

"I have followed testimonies of the relatives of victims, I have seen the brave work of civil society actors, lawyers, human rights defenders, academics, senators.

"I have heard debates between politicians, explanations by government officials, and indeed I have watched footage too of police and military men - and all saying there are other ways; better ways; other options, and better options."

Duterte`s government appeared to be caught off guard by Callamard`s unannounced trip, and said it would lodge a protest with the United Nations because she had not organised the visit through official channels.

"(In) not contacting our government in advance of this visit, she has sent a clear signal that she is not interested in getting an objective perspective on the issues that are the focus of her responsibility," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

Duterte last year invited Callamard to visit the Philippines to investigate the killings, but set strict conditions including a demand that she have a public debate with him on the drug war.

Callamard refused to come under those conditions.

She told reporters in a brief statement on Friday that she did not travel to the Philippines to conduct a UN investigation -- she said she was merely taking part in the academic forum.

However she did meet with various human rights campaigners and lawyers while in the Philippines, including some who organised the forum.

Duterte was elected last year largely on a law-and-order platform in which he promised to eradicate illegal drugs in the Philippines by killing tens of thousands of people.

Since then, police have reported killing 2,692 people in anti-drug operations.

They say unspecified parties have murdered another 1,847 people in drug-related incidents, while 5,691 other violent deaths are under investigation.
YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. A regular Cabinet meeting was held on May 4 chaired by Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia, before proceeding to the agenda, the Prime Minister gave a number of instructions. With reference to the Governments policy of subsidizing the economic entities engaged in priority areas, the Prime Minister stated in part, We have repeatedly talked about the need for providing targeted and effective assistance in priority sectors of Armenias economy. We believe the time has come for the Government to provide effective assistance to startups in priority areas. In particular, we suggest initiating a new policy of subsidizing interest on commercial bank loans. This is in tune with our drive for increasing efficiency and competitiveness in the fields deemed to be a priority. We will thereby support those entities generating added value and, most importantly, we will provide new and sustainable jobs.

Based on the above, the Prime Minister gave the ministers of Economic Development and Investment, Finance and Agriculture two weeks to discuss and submit to the Government Staff proposals on developing a specific toolkit for assistance (subsidy) in priority areas in cooperation with the Central Bank and commercial banks.

The Premier also gave instructions regarding the administrative reform, garbage collection and sanitation. He ordered to deal with the shortcomings in the operations of gas stations, water supply and irrigation systems. Concerning the latter, Karen Karapetyan evoked the need to address the problem of 560 settlements left out of the coverage of the water supply company.

The Government made an amendment to comply with requirements of a standing decision referred to as On phased liberalization of coastwise freightage. The decision will streamline the coastwise transportations exercised by the logistic companies registered in the Eurasian Economic Union-member States. In addition, the freight-haulers registered in Armenia will be able to carry out a single coastwise transportation after implementing an interstate transportation in EEU-member States.

In order to meet the statutory requirements of the law On Procurement, the meeting approved a new procedure for the procurement process by amending a previously adopted decision. The decision will streamline the relationship applicable to the procurements made outside Armenia, procurement planning, procurement item specifications, initial control of procurement, contract execution, management and financing. The concept of related persons will be clearly defined to deal with the restrictions of their involvement in procurement procedures, including the terms of invitation and the contract, purchase order, the instances of centralized procurement and the legal persons authorized to carry out centralized procurements.



In an effort to facilitate the process of providing new-generation cash registers on preferential terms, money will be allocated to the Office of Introduction of Cash Registers. Note that SMEs and businesses in rural areas shall be provided new generation cash registers on preferential terms, while economic entities in border villages will get the cash registers free of charge.

Asked about the exact number of cash registers necessary to cover the nationwide demand, SRC Chairman Vardan Harutyunyan said a total of 25 thousand cash registers are needed to this end, noting that the SRC will have them procured by this yearend.



The Executive amended a standing decision to liberalize the operation and maintenance of cash registers. The decision provides that the maintenance of cash registers will be ensured by those legal entities and individual entrepreneurs having signed relevant contracts with the Office of Introduction of Cash Registers.

The Government decided to accept the Sovaldi drug (Sofosbuvir tablets of 400 mg N28) as provided to the Republic of Armenia by the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of the Republic of Georgia for use in the treatment of patients suffering from Hepatitis C disease.

Money will be allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia with a view to extending humanitarian assistance to the Syrian conflict-affected population
YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. A criminal case was initiated in Ararat Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia on murder attempt committed by a group of people on Artashat road. Necessary investigatory-operative searching measures are taken to identify the persons having committed the apparent crime, to find the motive.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, pursuant to initial data, on May 3, 2017 at about 18:40 on the third km of V. Artashat  Artashat road some unknown persons in the white car of Lada Priora make with plate number 777/93 RD pursued the car of VAZ 2107 make with plate number 44VV443 belonging to the head of Norashen community Norayr Grigoryan which was at that moment driven by the driver Karen Ghazaryan. The unknown persons fired shots towards the driver of VAZ 2107 and his passenger N. Grigoryan then left the site.

As a result, K. Ghazaryan sustained firearm injuries on the upper third part of the left thigh, on the left leg and the upper part of the right collarbone and was taken to medical center.

According to the obtained actual data, shots were fired towards the car of VAZ 2107 make by two persons from the open windows of the front and back right side doors of the car of Lada Priora make.

A criminal case was initiated in Ararat Regional Investigative Department of the investigative Committee according to the Points 1, 7 of the Part 2 of the Article 34-104, the Part 2 of the Article 235 of RA Criminal Code. K. Ghazaryan and N. Grigoryan were found the injured party and were interrogated.

An investigatory plan was worked out, working hypotheses were put forward and necessary investigatory actions are conducted to verify them, the relevant subdivisions of the police were tasked to take operative-searching measures.

Forensic medical, forensic biological, as well as forensic trace and forensic ballistic, forensic video-audio-recording complex examinations were commissioned to find a number of circumstances significant for the criminal case.
YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Republic Bako Sahakyan received the delegation of the Yerevan State Medical University after M. Heratsi headed by rector of the institution Armen Mouradyan.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of Artsakh Presidents office, issues related to the development of the health care sphere in Artsakh, preparation and training of medical personnel were on the meeting agenda. The Head of the State named the Yerevan State Medical University among the most important forges of preparing medical cadres highlighting the necessity of maintaining strong ties. NKR healthcare minister Karine Atayan and other officials partook in the meeting.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Unfound Daisies by photographer and writer Edgar Harutyunyan leads the list of YEREVAN BESTSELLER project of ARMENPRESS.

The book is about complex human relationships: love, friendship, betrayal. This is the authors second book.

This week again Mark Arens Where wild roses bloom is the 2nd in the list. This is the second novel of the author which describes the inner world of an Armenophobic Turkish former serviceman, when he, already an old man, suddenly hears a lullaby song that reminds him of his mother and later finds out that the song is in Armenian: realizing his parents were Armenians. The same former serviceman spends his remaining life searching the graves of his parents, without knowing that it was a misunderstanding.

Oscar Wildes The Picture Of Dorian Gray is ranked 3rd in the bestselling list. Dorian Gray is the subject of a full-length portrait in oil by Basil Hallward, an artist who is impressed and infatuated by Dorian's beauty; he believes that Dorian's beauty is responsible for the new mode in his art as a painter. Through Basil, Dorian meets Lord Henry Wotton, and he soon is enthralled by the aristocrat's hedonistic worldview: that beauty and sensual fulfillment are the only things worth pursuing in life.

Spencer Johnsons Who Moved My Cheese is ranked 4th in the list. Published on September 8, 1998, Who Moved My Cheese is a motivational business fable. The text describes change in one's work and life, and four typical reactions to those changes by two mice and two "little people," during their hunt for cheese. A New York Times business bestseller upon release, Who Moved My Cheese? remained on the list for almost five years and spent over 200 weeks on Publishers Weekly's hardcover nonfiction list. It has sold more than 26 million copies worldwide in 37 languages and remains one of the best-selling business books.

Aram Pachyans novel Goodbye, Bird returns to the list and is ranked 5th. The book was published for the first time in 2012. This is the authors first novel.

Milan Kunderas The Unbearable Lightness of Being comes next. It was published in 1984. The book chronicles the fragile nature of an individual's fate, theorizing that a single lifetime is insignificant in the scope of Nietzsche's concept of eternal return. In an infinite universe, everything is guaranteed to recur infinitely. In 1988, American director Philip Kaufman released a film adaptation.

Flowers for Algernon science fiction short story by Daniel Keyes is ranked 7th in this weeks list. The book was first published in the April 1959 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1960. Algernon is a laboratory mouse who has undergone surgery to increase his intelligence by artificial means. The story is told by a series of progress reports written by Charlie Gordon, the first human test subject for the surgery, and it touches upon many different ethical and moral themes such as the treatment of the mentally disabled.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is ranked 8th in the list. It is a 2006 Holocaust novel by Irish novelist John Boyne. Unlike the months of planning Boyne devoted to his other books, he said that he wrote the entire first draft of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in two and a half days, barely sleeping until he got to the end.

Stefan Zweigs Collected Stories this week is ranked 9th. Zweig was an Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist and biographer. At the height of his literary career, in the 1920s and 1930s, he was one of the most popular writers in the world. The book was translated by Ara Arakelyan and Margarit Arakelyan.

The bestselling list is concluded by "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel published in 1953. It is regarded as one of his best works. The novel presents a future American society where books are outlawed and "firemen" burn any that are found. The title refers to the temperature that Bradbury understood to be the autoignition point of paper.

The following bookstores took part in a survey for the bestseller project: Bookinist (53-74-13), Armenian Book (54-07-06), Edit Print (52-08-48), (Zangak (23 26 49).

Yerevan Bestseller project presented by Angela Hambardzumyan
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the agreements reached in Astana over the peaceful settlement of the situation in Syria and the creation of security zones in the country, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement, TASS reported.

It will be crucial to see this agreement actually improve the lives of Syrians. The Secretary-General welcomes the commitments to ceasing the use of all weapons, particularly aerial assets; to rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access; and to creating conditions for the delivery of medical aid and meeting civilians basic needs, the statement said.

As earlier was reported, on May 4 Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum on creation of de-escalation zones in Syria during Astana-4 meetings plenary session. The memorandum envisages ceasefire in the designated areas from May 6.






STEPANAKERT, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani forces breached the Artsakh ceasefire more than 45 times on May 4 and overnight May 5, firing more than 730 shots from various caliber firearms, the defense ministry of Artsakh told ARMENPRESS.

The Artsakhi defense ministry said the Defense Army forces confidently resume their service and take countermeasures in case of necessity.

According to Artsrun Hovhannisyan, spokesman of Armenias defense ministry, Azerbaijani forces opened gunfire at the Armenian border as well, however significantly little. There were no losses.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. In a major victory for US President Donald Trump, the House of Representatives has voted to dismantle the pillars of the US Affordable Care Act and make sweeping changes to the nation's health care system, CNN reported.

The bill now heads to the Senate where it faces daunting challenges because of the same ideological splits between conservative and moderate Republicans that nearly killed it in the House.

Trump said he is confident the bill will pass the Senate, calling Obamacare "essentially dead."

"This is a great plan. I actually think it will get even better. This is a repeal and replace of Obamacare. Make no mistake about it," Trump said at a celebratory White House appearance with House Republicans.

Trump argued the health care process has unified the GOP. "We've developed a bond," he said. "This has really brought the Republican Party together."

"As far as I'm concerned, your premiums are going to come down," Trump said

The GOP health care bill would eliminate Obamacare taxes on the wealthy, insurers and others, and get rid of the individual mandate imposed by Obamacare, officially known as the Affordable Care Act. Instead of the Obamacare subsidies that are tied to income and premiums, the GOP plan would provide Americans with refundable tax credits based mainly on age to purchase health insurance.
YEREVAN, MAY 4, ARMENPRESS. Frisking/searching attorneys in correctional facilities is prohibited under the law, deputy justice minister Arthur Hovhannisyan told ARMENPRESS.

According to him, although the internal rules of correctional facilities mention anyone can be searched while entering or exiting the facility prior to reaching the inmate, on the other hand the law on attorneys bans searching lawyers and attorneys inside correctional facilities.

Here we had a collision of two legal acts, therefore the justice ministry organized a discussion with the head of correctional department and the president of the chamber of advocates, where it was clearly decided that in this case the law on attorneys is in force, Hovhannisyan said.

The deputy justice minister also mentioned that security officers of correctional facilities are authorized to search lawyers only with relevant devices.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Supporters of jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez held a vigil outside his prison demanding to see him on Thursday after rumors about his health rattled the protest-hit country where the death toll from anti-government unrest rose to 36, Reuters reports.

Lopez's wife and mother rushed to a military hospital in Caracas and then the hilltop Ramo Verde jail overnight, after a journalist tweeted Lopez had been taken to a medical center without vital signs.

President Nicolas Maduro's leftist government, facing a wave of major opposition protests since last month, later issued a short "proof of life" video in which Lopez said he was fine.

Lopez is Venezuela's most prominent imprisoned politician, and U.S. President Donald Trump in February called for his release after a White House meeting with Tintori.

The government says he is a dangerous agitator, pointing to his involvement in a brief 2002 coup against the late Hugo Chavez, when Lopez even helped arrest a Cabinet minister.

Over 1,700 people have been arrested, with 597 of them still jailed, since the unrest began in early April, according to rights group Penal Forum. The death toll in violent Venezuela's month of unrest has been creeping up, reaching at least 36 after two latest cases.

A 38-year-old policeman in Carabobo state, Gerardo Barrera, died overnight after being shot during a protest, the public prosecutor's office said on Thursday.

Juan Lopez, a 33-year old president of a student federation at a university in the western Anzoategui state, was gunned down during a student assembly on Thursday, the public prosecutor's office added. A member of the public approached him, shot him several times, and then fled on a motorcycle.
The report was lodged at Civil Line police in Rawalpindi on Wednesday by Advocate Ishtiaq Ahmed Mirza, who claimed himself as the chairman of the IM Pakistan party.

By Press Trust of India: Pakistan Police have registered a report against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for allegedly provoking people and creating hatred against the armed forces.

The report was lodged at Civil Line police in Rawalpindi on Wednesday by advocate Ishtiaq Ahmed Mirza, who claimed himself as the chairman of the IM Pakistan party.

The one-page report registered by the police is not an FIR and is known in local parlance as roznamcha, the Dawn newspaper reported.

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Mirza claimed he had received a video clip on his WhatsApp which showed a man making a speech.

He said the man delivering the speech was Sharif himself who was allegedly provoking people and creating hatred against the armed forces.

The complainant asked for the registration of a case against Sharif, head of the PMLN party.

Mirza claimed that his IM Pakistan political party was registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan, the report said.

Pakistan's military has always played a crucial role in the country's politics. The army has ruled Pakistan for more than 33 years of the country's 70-year history.

Also Read:Pakistan army terms PM Nawaz Sharif's decision to sack aide Tariq Fatemi as 'incomplete' action

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YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The US Transportation Security Administration has issued a new security alert warning the nation's trucking companies and their drivers about the use of stolen trucks as low-tech methods of attack, CBS reported.

The six-page report was obtained by CBS News. It focuses on the current threat landscape and points out that from 2014 to date, terrorists have carried out 17 known vehicle-ramming attacks worldwide, resulting in 173 fatalities and 667 injuries.

The TSA defines vehicle-ramming as a form of attack in which a perpetrator deliberately aims a motor vehicle at a target with the intent to inflict fatal injuries or significant property damage by striking with concussive force.

Last July, at least 84 people were killed in Nice, France, when a truck plowed through a crowd celebrating Bastille Day. Hundreds of other pedestrians were injured that day.

The report also states that no community, large or small, rural or urban, is immune to attacks of this kind by organized or "lone wolf" terrorists.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The lawmakers of the City Council of Andrushivka of Ukraines Zhytomyr Oblast made a decision to apply to the Supreme Rada (Parliament) and President of Ukraine with the request to declare April 24 as a Memorial Day of the victims of the Armenian peoples tragedy, analitikaua.net reports.

The lawmakers letter says: By reaffirming our commitment in the international fight for prevention of genocide, restoration of rights of people who suffered genocide and establishment of historical justice, we urge you to express solidarity to the international community and declare April 24 a Memorial Day of the victims of the Armenian peoples tragedy.

Earlier a number of local councils submitted similar letters.

As reported, over 40 thematic events were held in Ukraine on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. By the initiative of the Armenian Union of Ukraine, more than 10 cross-stones dedicated to the Genocide victims have been erected in various regions of the country.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. As result of an investigation of the national security service for uncovering how Azerbaijani apples were imported to the Armenian market, authorities launched a criminal case on tax evasion.

Law enforcement agencies revealed that a group of Armenian citizens were engaged in smuggling agricultural products, including the apples of Azerbaijani origin, into Armenia via Georgian territory.

The products have been smuggled, i.e. without customs control. The smugglers had bribed customs officers for clearance.

In addition, the state revenue committee discovered that another group of citizens have acquired those Azerbaijani apples and sold them in the Armenian market.

Authorities also revealed that several customs officials of the Bagratashen checkpoint have regularly received bribes from illegitimate businessmen from December, 2016 to April 2017, for smuggling fruits and vegetables through the Armenian border.

The SRC launched a criminal case for both the bribery case and the illegitimate business operations.

The investigation has been assigned to the special investigative service, since the criminal proceedings are related to crimes committed by law enforcement officers.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Defense minister Vigen Sargsyan and members of the Public Council of Armenia discussed on May 4 the Nation-Army concept and the basic provisions of the new military service options  Its Me and I have the honor.

The minister said the necessity of realizing the programs is associated with the current realities. Speaking on I have the honor program, the minister said a citizen having higher education is enabled to serve his fatherland on a higher level, having the status of an officer at the same time. The important result of the program is the formation of a serious officer reserve. An army having large private reserve needs skilled reserve officers, who have served in the frontline.

Presenting the Its Me program, under which draftees will be able to serve under the new conscription contract service, the minister mentioned that service will last for three years, from which the serviceman will have a total of 7 month for leave  i.e.  one week on leave, one week in the military base and two weeks in the frontline. Upon completing military service, the servicemen will receive over 5 million drams on their accounts, which they will be able to use for one of the three targeted programs  affordable housing, mini farm or tuition fee compensation.

Sargsyan said the I have the honor program will be regulated by the government, while the Its Me program requires legislative changes, and added that overall there is a necessity to revise the legislation of the sector.

Members of the Public Council responded positively to the two programs, and presented their questions, proposals and also concerns.

The PC members namely inquired whether the programs have been discussed in universities and in the student and youth circles and whether social surveys have been carried out to determine the attitude and response of the public on the issue. The minister said discussions and studies have indeed been carried out, however those will be continuous, and overall the appropriateness of the programs will be subject of wide public discussion.

The Public Council highlighted the fact that the programs are exclusively on a voluntary basis.

The increase of protection level for the bordering settlements was also discussed.

The minister notified that an inter-agency commission has been formed which is scrutinizing the issues of bordering settlement and undertakes relevant tasks.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. US Charge dAffaires to OSCE Kate M. Byrnes said in a statement that the United States regrets the closure of the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

The United States regrets the impending closure of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. We lament the loss of the last OSCE field operation in the South Caucasus. Field operations provide invaluable support to their host countries by helping to strengthen adherence to OSCE principles and commitments, providing early warning and crisis management, and promoting dialogue between government and civil society.

We appreciate the determined effort of both the German and Austrian Chairmanships to resolve the impasse over the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. We regret that Azerbaijan refused to agree to extend the mandate unless the Office ended its humanitarian demining-related activities. Armenia, in the spirit of compromise, agreed that the Office in Yerevan would end these activities. Despite months of effort by the Chairmanship, it could not find language satisfactory to all participating States regarding a Permanent Council decision extending the mandate of the Office.

We recognize the Armenian governments cooperation with the OSCE. The Office in Yerevan has played an important role in supporting the host country with implementation of its OSCE commitments in all three dimensions. The Offices promotion of community policing; assistance with tax and regulatory reform; and support for human rights defenders, womens equality and media freedom, were bringing about positive results.

The United States encourages the OSCE to continue cooperation with the Republic of Armenia  with both the government and civil society. We call on the Chairmanship and the Secretary General to explore new ways of maintaining an OSCE presence in Armenia, and throughout the South Caucasus.

Finally, the United States would also like to thank Ambassador Avakov and his staff for their outstanding work and dedication, particularly during the past months of uncertainty over the future of the Office. We wish them the best in their future endeavors, the statement says.

The Armenian foreign ministry responded with criticism to Bakus efforts in the OSCE Office closure issue.

The efforts of the OSCE Austrian chairmanship and member countries in the direction of returning Baku to a constructive field and not obstructing the normal operation of the OSCE Office in Yerevan were in vain. Azerbaijani is violating the OSCE principles and commitments on a daily basis in both domestic and foreign policies, including fundamental freedoms, and in this regard it is always under international criticism. And now, by obstructing the OSCE operation and once again challenging the international community, Baku had another failure in the international arena  by deepening the gap between the civilized world and itself.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Russia try to find legal solutions to ensure the execution of sentence of Valery Permyakov, the Russian soldier who massacred a family of 7 in Gyumri in 2015, Vigen Kocharyan, Deputy Justice Minister, told Armenpress.

As we earlier reported, the Justice Ministry is discussing the organization of Russian citizen Valery Permyakovs prison term. Given that both the courts of Russia and Armenia made respective decisions on the avobementioned person, the discussions currently are being held also with the Russian side aimed at finding necessary legal solutions to ensure the execution of the sentence. If a decision is made, the Justice Ministry will inform the public, the Deputy Minister said.

Valery Permyakov, a serviceman of the 102nd Russian military base of Gyumri, killed an entire family of six on January 12, 2015 in the city. A 6 month old baby survived the attack and was hospitalized. Unfortunately, doctors were unable to save the baby, who died after 7 days due to severe stabbing wounds. Permyakov was apprehended while trying to cross the Armenian-Turkish border. In 2016, the murderer was sentenced to life in prison.






YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The planned de-escalation zones in Syria will be closed to the international coalitions aviation, Alexander Lavrentyev, Russia presidents special envoy for Syrian settlement, said, reports TASS.

The case is that in the de-escalation zones the work of aviation, especially the coalition forces, is absolutely not envisaged, with or without notification, he saying as quoted by TASS.

He clarified that the only places where the coalitions aviation can operate are certainly on targets of Islamic State terrorist group, near Raqqa and other settlements, near the Euphrates and Deir ez-Zor.

On May 4 Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum on creation of de-escalation zones in Syria during Astana-4 meetings plenary session. The memorandum envisages ceasefire in the designated areas from May 6.
STEPANAKERT, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. On May 5 press conference of Lieutenant-General Levon Mnatsakanyan  Defense Minister, Defense Army Commander of the Republic of Artsakh, was held in Stepanakert, the Defense Ministry of Artsakh told Armenpress.

The press conference was attended by mass media representatives accredited in Artsakh.

Welcoming the participants, Levon Mnatsakanyan briefly presented the history of the formation of the 25-year-old Defense Army. Thereafter, he talked about the April 2016 aggression launched by Azerbaijan against the Artsakh Republic, stating that although the Azerbaijani forces put into operation their entire arsenal, the Defense Army succeeded in preventing any Azerbaijani plans, and as in May 1994, in April 2016 as well, Azerbaijan had to seek Moscows mediation with the request to establish a ceasefire.

In his speech, the Defense Army commander said after April 2016, significant equipment, engineering-defensive works have been carried out in the frontline, latest technologies have been installed, and assured that the Defense Army is capable of fulfilling any military task with an honor and ensure safety and peaceful existence of the people. He said the Azerbaijani attempts to solve the Artsakh issue by the use of force are doomed to failure.

At the end of the meeting, the Army commander held a Q&A session with reporters which mainly related to the possibility of restoration of war, acquisition of new weapons and military equipment, installation of cameras in the frontline and their operations, improvement of social and living conditions of soldiers.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The passenger flow in Armenias two  Zvartnots and Shirak airports comprised 668 589 people in January-April 2017, which is an increase of 28.3% compared to the same period of 2016.

Satenik Hovhannisyan  spokeswoman of the General Department of Civil Aviation, told Armenpress in April 2017 the passenger flow in Zvartnots airport amounted 183 108 people, exceeding the figure of April 2016 by 38.9%.

In January-April 2017, compared to January-April 2016, 25.7% increase of passenger flow was registered in Zvartnots airport. The cargo transportation in Zvartnots airport comprised 7246 tons of goods in January-April 2017 which is an increase of 82.8% compared to the same period of 2016.

In April 2017 the passenger flow in Gyumris Shirak airport comprised 5283 people, exceeding the figure of April 2016 by 745.3%.

In January-April the passenger flow in Shirak airport increased by 334.5% compared to January-April 2016.






YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. 50 thousand police officers will be deployed for providing security during the second round of Frances presidential election, BFMTV reports.

According to Paris Police Department, 12 thousand cops will be deployed in the capital. 5 thousand of them will be on duty in the polling stations.

Authorities say security personnel will be deployed in a way so that they can reach any point of Paris within a couple of minutes if necessary.

The second round of the election will be held on May 7.
By India Today Web Desk: Sunil Grover has his hands full with projects after quitting The Kapil Sharma Show. While he is considering many TV projects right now, he might reject them all for a meaty role in a Bollywood film helmed by Anurag Basu.

According to Mumbai Mirror, the talented comedian is being considered for a Bollywood movie by Life in a...Metro director Anurag Basu. Basu was invited as a guest judge in Sony TV's Sabse Bada Kalakar, and apparently he "thoroughly enjoyed" Grover's performance.

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According to a source from the show, Anurag feels that Sunil will do a really job if given a well-sketched role. And that's the reason he's writing one for him in this upcoming project.

Also read: You won't believe what Sunil Grover has just said about Kapil Sharma

Sunil on the other hand might lap up the project as he considers himself an actor more than a comedian.

"I am open to doing more films because I'm not a comedian. It's very difficult to be one. I am an actor who makes caricatures out of characters," he had told Mumbai Mirror in an earlier conversation.

Also read: Sunil Grover has this to say about The Kapil Sharma Show's falling TRPs

The Sabse Bada Kalakar episode featuring Sunil Grover will be aired on May 7.

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YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. With the blessing of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin will provide a 4-room apartment to Karapetyan family where on May 3 quintuplets  4 girls and 1 boy were born.

The Armenian Church always keeps in spotlight the issues of large families by trying to provide them material assistance in addition to spiritual care. Being informed about the living conditions of this family, His Holiness Garegin II made a decision to assist them and contribute to the peaceful and tranquil childhood of the babies, spokesman of the Catholicos of All Armenians Vahram Melikyan told Armenpress.

Asked where the apartment will be located in, the spokesman said this issue is currently being discussed with Karapetyan family. We cannot provide further details for now.

On May 3 the town of Metsamor was celebrating as the local Karapetyan family welcomed quintuplets  4 girls and 1 boy. The local official informed that the family lives in a dormitory.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. President of the European Council Donald Tusk and the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will hold the first meeting with US President Donald Trump on May 25 in Brussels, the EU Council said, TASS reported.

Confirmed. Tusk and Juncker will meet with Trump in Brussels on May 25, the statement said.

After elected as President, Donald Trump was invited by the EU leadership to visit Brussles, mainly for holding EU-US summit. At the same time, NATO will hold a summit in Brussels on May 25 where Trump will be hosted for the first time in the alliance headquarters.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Within the framework of St. Petersburg Days in Yerevan, an exhibition of paintings of children who won in the international childrens painting competition entitled I paint St. Petersburg has been opened in Yerevan City Hall.

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan and St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko toured the exhibition.

14 of the 40 exhibits are paintings by Armenian children, which have been pointed out by the jury during the international competition, which was held on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the CIS.

Children whose paintings were named best received awards by St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko, and in addition the children got the chance to visit St. Petersburg.

Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan and St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko told reporters they have already discussed the process of the 2015-2020 cooperation program between Yerevan and St. Petersburg, which was signed two years ago, and said that efficient progress and dynamics are seen in the ongoing works in all directions.

The sides said that their teams are cooperating even during the St. Petersburg Days in Yerevan sidelines  by organizing round-table discussions with representatives of tourism, commercial, museums, healthcare, education and other sectors.

As a best example of successful cooperation, they pointed out the recent increase of commercial turnover between Yerevan and St. Petersburg, which has an important role in the economic development of both cities.

In this context the sides also highlighted the building of the Yerevan House in St. Petersburg, which will also contribute to tourism development and investment programs, in addition to increasing commercial turnover volumes.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on May 5 hosted Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko who arrived in Armenia on the sidelines of St. Petersburg Days in Yerevan program, press service of the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

The President welcomed the guest and attached importance to the traditional event on holding ST. Petersburg days in Yerevan, and vice versa, which, according to him, is a useful and effective platform to discuss issues relating to expanding the cooperation between the two cities.

Serzh Sargsyan stated that the cooperation with the Russian regions is the most important component of the Armenian-Russian dynamically developing inter-state relations and said with satisfaction that the relations between the two strategic allied states at a decentralized level are strengthening and deepening every year.

In his turn Governor Georgy Poltavchenko thanked the President for the reception and highly appreciated the level of relations between St. Petersburg and Yerevan which is due to the work carried out by both sides in a number of fields, including also the certain increase of trade turnover.

At the meeting the sides also discussed the ways and prospects on developing the bilateral mutual partnership.

St. Petersburg Governor and Mayor of Yerevan, who also attended the meeting, expressed readiness to consistently continue the work on developing and deepening the relations between the two cities.






YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenia already has representative offices of information technologies in 4 countries  US, France, Belgium and Bolivia, Minister of Transportation, Communication and Information Technologies Vahan Martirosyan told reporters on May 5, reports Armenpress.

The Armenian Government, in particular, the Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the private sector to boost the ICT field and establish 16 representative offices in targeted markets. It is expected to make 3 million USD investments. Within the frames of the program already representative offices have been opened in US, France, Belgium and Bolivia, the Minister said.

Armenias Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies and Technology and Science Dynamics (TSD) company on February 24 signed a memorandum of understanding on Promotion of IT, informatisation, telecommunication and innovative sectors .
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. A number of steps were taken aimed at boosting the development of IT field and ensuring the entry of international companies to the Armenian market, Vahan Martirosyan, Minister of Transportation, Communication and Information Technologies, told reporters on May 5, reports Armenpress.

According to the Minister, a number of international events were held on this path.

An Armenian-German forum was held where the achievements and programs of Armenian companies were presented. We had several concrete proposals by the German side which are at the discussion stage. Armenian Zangi app was presented for the first time at Mobile forum in Barcelona which again recorded great success and signed contracts of nearly 3 million USD with different companies. We have also created a startup development fund. Thanks to the cooperation with the private companies, it became possible to provide a financial assistance of over 200.000 USD to startups to implement innovative ideas, the Minister said, adding that 9 companies were selected until April 10 which have already submitted their business-programs at the second round of the competition.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II on May 5 sent a letter of condolences to President of Iran Hassan Rouhani on the mine explosion in the countrys Golestan province which claimed numerous lives, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin told Armenpress.

His Holiness Garegin II extended condolences to Irans President, families and relatives of the victims and the friendly people of Iran, and wished speedy recovery to the injured.

Garegin II wished Irans people to overcome the damages caused by the disaster and continue their peaceful life and creative work.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia Tigran Balayan advises the experts, who blame the MFA in inactivity over the closure of the OSCE Yerevan Office, to learn the rules the OSCE acts, then to make a comment.

Before making such conclusions, those, who consider themselves experts, must first of all gain experience, learn what the OSCE is and with which rules it acts, what was the stance of the remaining OSCE states on Bakus behavior, then to express their opinions, Balayan told Armenpress.

On May 4 OSCE chairing Austrias representative announced that despite their efforts, it has not been possible to reach agreement to extend the mandate of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. Armenias MFA commented on this stating that with its unconstructive approaches Azerbaijan appeared in absolute isolation in the OSCE. The OSCE Chairmanship, the participating states, the Secretariat, all support the activity of the OSCE Yerevan Office, and it is only Azerbaijan, which abusing the organizations principle of consensus, opposes the continuation of the Yerevan Offices activity, by this being opposed to the entire organization.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan on May 5 hosted Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko who arrived in Armenia on an official visit, the Yerevan Municipality told Armenpress.

Welcoming the guest, Mayor Margaryan expressed confidence his visit will contribute to further expanding and intensifying the already existing mutual cooperation and partnering ties between the two cities.

The Yerevan Mayor highly appreciated the St. Petersburg governorates efforts to develop the bilateral ties, once again emphasizing that the relations with Russias northern capital are very important for Yerevan given the productive and successful mutual partnership of the two cities.

Mr. Governor, I am happy to again host you in Yerevan which once again proves that the relations between Yerevan and St. Petersburg are at a high level. Of course, you have a great contribution to this, and I am confident that by discussing the process of ongoing programs between the two cities we will outline our further plans, Taron Margaryan said, adding that the St. Petersburg Days in Yerevan events will further strengthen the bilateral ties.

In his turn the St. Petersburg Governor thanked for the warm reception, stating that the relations with Yerevan have always been important for his city, and the bilateral relations have an obvious development potential.

Mr. Mayor, be sure that Yerevan is a stable and reliable partner for St. Petersburg, and it is pleasure to see that our partner city is steadily developing. It is said perfection has no limits, and I can surely state that this is really true in case of todays Yerevan. Today I see more comfortable and beautiful city, I see new ways and solutions, as well as an ongoing construction which proves that Yerevan lives and develops and has good development prospect, Georgy Poltavchenko said, adding that the cooperation of the past 3 years has been really effective, mutually beneficial and assured that he will do his utmost to further expand and deepen the bilateral partnership.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The trade exhibition of Diaspora-Armenian investors products of Armenias industry field opened on May 5 in the Yerevan Expo center.

The event is held at the initiative of the Diaspora Ministry, with the assistance of Yerevan City Hall and the Development Foundation of Armenia.

Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan attended the opening ceremony.

The minister toured the expo, got acquainted to the activities of Diaspora-Armenian investors in Armenias industrial sector and inquired on the innovations and issues of the manufacturing process.

Hakobyan said products having the Made in Armenia trademark are becoming more and more demanded, accepted and widespread in international markets.

With such exhibitions we must encourage Disapora-Armenian investors and try to take an example from repatriated compatriots, who have a unique attitude of responsibility for work and quality of products. Their products are competitive and innovative in this context, she said.

She said lately the government is defining tax privileges to Diaspora-Armenian investors and producers namely in the economic sector.

The Government continues to focus on SMEs, where Syrian-Armenians who have settled in Armenia are engaged in. The minister mentioned the Diaspora-Armenian investors and producers who are attending the exhibition have repatriated from various countries such as the US, Russia, Syria, Lebanon etc.

Syrian-Armenian businessman Alexan Karadanayan, who founded the Alexan Ar and Sona Print companies in Armenia, thanked the ministry of Diaspora for the assistance.
President Pranab Mukherjee has approved an ordinance to amend the Banking Regulation Act, empowering the Reserve Bank of India to act directly against top loan defaulters.

By Atir Khan: With the promulgation of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance by the President Pranab Mukherjee, which empowers the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to act directly against top loan defaulters, government agencies will now be able to chase major bank loan defaulters hammer and tongs.

The Cabinet had on Wednesday recommended the ordinance empowering the RBI to instruct banks to act against top 20-25 loan defaulters as part of a series of steps aimed at helping lenders get bad debt off their books.

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Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said a list of some of the stressed assets is already with the RBI and it is looking into it.

"Present status quo cannot continue. And the present status quo is that not much was moving," he said.

On the need for an ordinance, he said RBI required to be empowered in relation to specific stressed assets.

Sale of assets, closure of non-profitable branches, reduction of overhead and business turnaround initiatives will be part of resolution process, he said.

Although the government had initiated steps to act against defaulters, they were perceived to be inadequate to restore the condition of the banks, which had been reluctant to work out settlement packages. The RBI may, from time to time, issue directions to the banking companies for resolution of stressed assets. The regulatory body can directly initiate action against defaulters.

The RBI may also form committees with members it can choose to appoint to advise banks on the resolution of stressed assets.

As per the ordinance, the government may authorise the RBI to issue directions to banks to initiate insolvency proceedings against defaulters under the bankruptcy code. It will help accelerate the resolution of bad loans worth Rs 9.64 trillion ailing the Indian banking system.

TRANSPARENT AND MARKET DETERMINING APPROACH

Earlier, banks couldn't invoke the insolvency and bankruptcy code due to fear of being questioned. Now the RBI directing banks to initiate insolvency will be a transparent and market-determined approach.

The CBI, ED and Income Tax Department have already begun action against major loan defaulters. But with the promulgation of the ordinance, loan defaulters will have a tough time ahead - especially those defaulters who take fraudulently take loans from banks and fail to repay the loans.

Several defaulters are likely to be arrested or have their properties being attached in the near future. Recently the agencies have acted against Vijay Mallya, who is accused of owing banks Rs 9,000 crore.

Similarly Vijay Chaudhry and Sanjay Jhunjhunwala have been arrested in the last 15 days. Mallya was arrested in London, while Chaudhry and Jhunjhunwala have been arrested form Mumbai and Delhi respectively.

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Agencies have attached Vijay Mallya's properties worth Rs 900 crores, Zoom Developers's properties worth over Rs 100 crores, Century Group's properties worth Rs 110 crores, Surya Vinakay Group's properties worth Rs 88 crores, and Winsome Diamonds's properties worth Rs 172 crores.

The government has already instructed agencies to collect information about defaulters who fail to repay the loans. The money should be recovered through attachment and sale of their properties. cording to Credit Suisse.

(With inputs from PTI)

ALSO READ | Enforcement Directorate arrests businessman in multi-crore bank fraud case

ALSO READ | Vijay Mallya extradition: Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi meets top UK diplomat in Delhi

ALSO WATCH | India to ask UK to extradite Mallya during Home Secy-level talks

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YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan hosted Bulgarian Ambassador to Armenia Maria Pavlova Tzotzorkova-Kaymaktchieva on May 5, press service of the Government told Armenpress.

The Prime Minister pointed out that Armenia is interested in the furtherance of bilateral relations. Highlighting the development of economic cooperation and business ties, Karen Karapetyan stressed the need for reinvigorating the activities of the Armenian-Bulgarian Intergovernmental Commission.

Noting that Bulgarian investors may consider Armenia as an appropriate platform for entering the Eurasian and Iranian markets, the Premier said that the Bulgarian capital has the opportunity to engage in the free economic zone of Meghri. Karen Karapetyan went on to note that he could see good prospects of cooperation in the transport sector in terms of implementing multimodal transportations via the Black Sea-Persian Gulf transport corridor. The PM conveyed his greetings and congratulations to newly elected Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boiko Borisov.

Maria Pavlova Tzotzorkova-Kaymaktchieva said Bulgaria keen to strengthen relations with Armenia, noting that they could be bolstered by centuries of bilateral ties. Stressing the importance of developing economic cooperation, she considered it necessary to boost trade turnover mediating business forums, promoting new business ties and implementing investment programs. The Ambassador added that Bulgaria is ready to share its experience in different fields, including public administration and the agrarian reform.

The sides concurred in that cultural and educational cooperation might serve as a milestone on the way to strengthening contacts between the two peoples by means of cultural and educational exchange programs.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Since April 25, cleaning works have been carried out in more than 50 locations throughout the city within the framework of the ongoing Clean Yerevan initiative.

On April 25, the City Hall of Yerevan requested citizens on social media to join the #CleanYerevan initiative, whereby citizens mentioned addresses where clearing works are necessary.

More than 50 addresses have been requested by citizens to be cleaned, and the Sanitek waste management company undertook necessary clearing operations.

The Yerevan City Hall thanked all concerned citizens and asked to continue providing addresses where clearing works are required.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. North Korea has accused US and South Korean agents of plotting to kill its Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, BBC reports

A North Korean referred to only as "Kim" was paid to carry out an attack with biochemical substances, the ministry of state security said.

It said the plot was foiled and the North would "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" US and South Korean agents. The US and Seoul have not commented.

The North's claim comes amid continued high tension on the Korean peninsula.

US President Donald Trump has promised to "solve" North Korea and stop it developing nuclear weapons.

The ministry of state security statement, carried by state news agency KCNA, said the CIA and South Korean intelligence services had "hatched a vicious plot to hurt the supreme leadership of the DPRK".

It did not mention Kim Jong-un by name, but he is widely referred to as the supreme leader.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenia attaches importance to the introduction and wide use of information technologies aimed at attracting tourists.

Discussion on the topic of Issues, proposals and ideas of introduction of IT solutions in the field of tourism was held in the Ministry of Economy on May 5, reports Armenpress.

The discussion was organized by the initiative of the State Tourism Committee and the Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE).

Zarmine Zeytuntsyan, president of the State Tourism Committee, attached importance to the extensive use of IT in the field of tourism. She said the IT use enables tourists to have some information before visiting the country, and already by arriving in Armenia a tourist will be able to use the IT opportunities to organize his/her vacation and travel more effectively.

I will bring an example. Recently we met a German tourist during our trip in Syunik province, we accompanied him to the Zorats stones, then to Tatev monastery. Along the way we asked him some questions and we revealed that majority of young tourists before visiting any country collects information about that country, downloads that information on their mobile phones which in its turn makes their travel easier. And now we have initiated this discussion to understand what new ideas the IT representatives can propose for us to apply, she said.

She expressed confidence that the IT specialists in Armenia have perfect ideas which can be used. Zarmine Zeytuntsyan said the discussion aims at getting acquainted with such ideas. We have discussed with the UITE Executive Director Karen Vardanyan and made a decision to hold an interesting event on the topic of Tourism and Information Technologies during DigiTech business forum, and one of the goals of todays meeting is to discuss this events format, she said.

UITE Executive Director Karen Vardanyan stated that the discussion aims to understand what kind of ideas exist that can contribute to attracting tourists and increasing the tourism flow to Armenia. We also want to understand which kind of tourism events we can hold within the frames of DigiTech business forum, he said.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan received a group of representatives of Armenias banking and business circles. Issues related to the realization of various programs were discussed during the meeting.

As Armenpress was informed from the press service of Artsakh Presidents Office, the Head of the State noted with satisfaction that the cooperation of the banking systems of Armenia and Artsakh was on a high level substantially contributing to the consistent development of the sphere in the two Armenian republics. President Sahakyan awarded chairman of the Unibank OJSC Gagik Zaqaryan with the Vachagan Barepasht medal for services rendered to the Artsakh Republic.

Prime-minister Arayik Haroutyunyan and other officials took part in the meeting.
LOS ANGELESAdult star Nikki Benz has filed an anti-SLAPP Motion to Strike against director Tony T.'s defamation lawsuit which he filed in January, when she was named as a defendant.

T. filed his suit in Los Angeles Superior Court stemming from statements Benz made via Twitter starting December 20 that she had been sexually assaulted during a December 19 shoot for Brazzers. That shoot was directed by T. and co-starred Ramon Nomar, who at first was part of the defamation suit but later dropped out.

SLAPP stands for strategic lawsuit against public participation, or one that is intended to censor, intimidate and silence critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense in an effort to get them to abandon their opposition. These suits are illegal in many jurisdictions on the grounds they impede freedom of speech. Benz's Motion to Strike is the legal equivalent of an anti-SLAPP lawsuit.



The California anti-SLAPP law is designed to protect citizens from suits deemed as meeting the criteria for a SLAPP. Defamation cases are common applications of the statute.

In her Motion to Strike, Benz, through her attorney, argues that, "Tony T. presents nothing more than generalized allegations of defamation," and that he "cannot prove [Benz] acted with actual malice."

Tony T.s attorney Karen Tynan told AVN she had yet to see Benz's filings, and therefore could not comment on them at press time.



T.'s suit seeks unspecified damages and claims Benzs statements were untrue. Brazzers and parent company MindGeek USA are also named as defendants in T.'s suit, which additionally charges intentional infliction of emotional distress and interference with economic advantage for Tony T.

Tynan presented a viewing in January for select industry members of the "raw footage" from the December 19 shoot in question, for the purpose of "transparency" and "the opportunity to draw your own conclusions.

Previously, Brazzers had released multiple statements concerning Benz's Twitter allegations including, "This particular type of scene would never meet our standards and would be rejected immediately," and "It appears that some of the alleged conduct could have occurred, and we took immediate measure to sever our relationship with the producer in question. Not only have we terminated all existing professional engagements with the producer, but any possibility for any future endeavors with this producer have also been quashed."

The company has declined to comment about the suit.

A case management conference is set for May 16 in Los Angeles and an early 2018 trial date is projected. However, Benz's attorney, Lisa L. Maki, told AVN that "Nikki Benz looks forward to her day in court."


WOODY POINT, AustraliaGeeky Sex Toys is back in the news, making international headlines for the companys new movie-/space-themed sex toys.

And while one might think the new toys are modeled after Star Wars (it IS May the Fourth, after all), its actually Guardians of the Galaxy that got the nod, just in time for the sequel movie that debuts today.

Geeky Sex Toys got notice earlier this year when the Australian companywhich specializes in unique pleasure products for fans of sci-fi, fantasy and morereleased the Unicorn Horn Dildo collection.

With names like Star-Load, Cumora and Stimula, the toys are made of high-quality materials, including silicone and stainless steel, and retail between $50 and $99.

Known collectively as Orgasms of the Galaxy, the line features strokers, dildos, anal plugs and vibrators.

See the entire range at GeekySexToys.com.
NEW YORK Clinical sexologist Nikki Morgan invites sex-positive men and women to Orgasmic Day Away, an entire day devoted to sexual exploration.

The event is presented by Punany Poets Energy Ex-Chains, from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, May 6.

This Saturday's Orgasmic Day Away focuses on increasing those pleasure hormones on every level for one full day, said Nikki, who is most known as the mistress of the touchless orgasm. Intellectually, energetically and physically we guide you to experience yourself in a no-judgement zone at your own pace. The experience is liberating and shifts your way of seeing things. Naturally you carry that pleasure out into the world.

The day includes orgasm workshops, activities, nude yoga, a gourmet feast and the grand finale of a play party at night. The event is at a private location in Brooklyn, N.Y., that will be revealed only by getting tickets at TheTouchExperience.com.

Nikki Morgan will be a guest on SiriusXMs The Karen Hunter Show at 4:30 p.m. EST/1:30 p.m. PST Friday, May 5, on the Urban View Channel for their weekly feature, Friday Foolishness.

Karen Hunter's show is a great platform to discuss freedom of pleasure as she covers all sexuality, Nikki said. Im looking forward to discussing this weekends Orgasmic Day Away with her and find out about her own fantasies and desires.

You may follow Nikki Morgan on Twitter.com/NikkiExperience and on her website TheTouchExperience.com/events and to book Nikki directly you may contact her at (323) 552-9550.
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.
The United States Supreme Court: Above. photo by Stan Deatherage

On April 7, 2017, the United States Senate set an awesome precedent in using former Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's Nuclear Option to shut down any proposed Democrat filibuster, which, heretofore, needed 60 votes to end, and then appointed President Trump's selection, Neil Gorsuch , for the vacant seat of Antonin Scalia.The Nuclear Option, originated by Leftist Democrat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on November 21, 2013, when the Democrats last had a majority in the U.S. Senate, was designed to end the possible filibuster of Republicans, who would and did block confirmation if Judicial Activist federal judges appointed by Obama. The Nuclear Option was a process begun by the Democrats to end the Senate as the more deliberative body in congress, which was sure to become the first and final move to drive a stake into the bosom of the filibuster; a 60 member legislative tool to stall or end any vote on terrible legislative initiatives. It was was an impregnable door that Harry Reid forced open, and then Republican Senators in the majority, used the Justice Neil Gorsuch confirmation to, with great blunt force, to explode that door opened by Harry Reid , right off its hinges.What do you think the chances are that the Nuclear Option will be employed again, and possibly soon, when the next President Trump appointment to the Supreme Court needs U.S. Senate confirmation?If Justice Gorsuch was an everyman Originalist for another unapologetic Conservative Originalist, the late, great Justice Antonin Scalia, and should there be a second President Trump nomination to the highest court in the land, don't expect them to be anything other than an unabridged Conservative Originalist. If Justice Neal Gorsuch is Justice Scalia "Lite", the next appointment will be a more "Full-bodied" Justice Scalia, with no apologies to the Progressive Socialists . Remarkably, I predict the nation will be ready for it, with the same or more Democrat Senators (3 Democrats) voting to confirm.It is politics, and it is a simple analogy built on the the building premise that Americans are tiring of the Democrat political blunder, put in place by a vacating Barack Hussein Obama , to obstruct, delay, resist and most importantly delegitimize the Trump Administration, real Americans are wanting real change in America, and they are getting it in small doses from the new President. The more they witness Socialist Liberals, all organized and many paid to be there, violently protest that their Democrat Media has not had the opportunity to pore over then Candidate Trump's personal Tax returns, and a winsome "collusion with Russia" scheme, which appears to be mostly a Democrat / Democrat Media fantasy, there are larger issues afoot; have been for years, and will continue until solved.While core Democrats reel from chronic Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS), I am encouraged that the adults are back in charge in our nation's capitol. Socialist Snowflakes , by the day as they grpple with TDS, are being discovered for the shallow, self-absorbed, intellectually pathetic cry babies that they surely are, and it ain't a pretty sight for the rest of we normal folk, we that actually care about our Republic in its entire unified form.When the premise of your political ambition continues to be the unveiled ambition to sell out American values, the best of them, to welcome every disparate faction that abhors those values, good Americans, and many who originally rejected the bombastic Candidate /President Trump, who economically struggle and still strain to pull the American wagon forward will find these Democrat Progressive Socialists abhorrent, and, furthermore, counterproductive to solving real problems that plague real Americans and the free World.The Justice Gorsuch confirmation process, as a failed rallying point for obstructionist Socialists that are the core of today's Democrat party, was the poorly planned first step down a path that may well be the undoing of what is Left of the Democrat Party.
Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad called the civil aviation ministry's new guidelines for dealing with unruly passengers a "welcome move." But he wants guidelines for airline staff too.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who was temporarily banned from domestic flight travel after he assaulted a 60-year old Air India staffer, has now called for guidelines to control the behaviour of airline staff.

Earlier on Friday, the civil aviation ministry announced a new set of guidelines for dealing with unruly passengers on flights. The government announced draft rules for a national 'no-fly list' which proposes a ban on domestic air travel that can last for a period ranging from three months, to two years or beyond.

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Gaikwad called it a "welcome move," but he had more to say.

"But these are just draft guidelines. I think there should be stricter guidelines for the airline staff as well" Gaikwad told India Today in Mumbai.

"Sometimes even passengers have to suffer due to the behaviour of airline staff, that also should have some strict guidelines...Forget us, we usually fly on domestic routes, but you can ask passengers who travel long distance," he added.

THREE LEVELS OF OFFENCES

The proposed draft has three levels of offences that can lead to a person being listed on the No Fly List.

The first level includes disruptive behaviour such as physical gestures, punishable by suspension for three months. The second level is for physical abuse - pushing, kicking, sexual harassment and the like - punishable by a 6-month suspension.

Level 3 offences include murderous assault, life-threatening behaviour, or causing damage to aircraft operating systems. The penalty for such offences would be suspension for two years or more.

The new guidelines also have a penalty structure through which an unruly passenger can be fined up to Rs 5 lakh for delaying a flight by an hour, Rs 10 lakh for delays longer than an hour, and Rs 15 lakh for delays longer than two hours.

ALSO READ | No-fly list: New rules for banning unruly passengers out, 3 levels of offences set

ALSO READ | Air India lifts travel ban on Ravindra Gaikwad, but Shiv Sena MP takes train to Delhi

WATCH VIDEO | Beware unruly passengers! Government brings out new no-fly rules

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Getting Cooked in the Squat

Procrastination gone astray

Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.  Mark Twain

Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.  Abraham Lincoln

My advice is to never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time.  Charles Dickens

Never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today.  Thomas Jefferson

Procrastination is the bad habit of putting of until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.  Napoleon Hill

The really happy people are those who have broken the chains of procrastination, those who find satisfaction in doing the job at hand. Theyre full of eagerness, zest, productivity. You can be, too.  Norman Vincent Peale

A year from now you may wish you had started today.  Karen Lamb

The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once youve made up your mindjump in.  Charles R. Swindoll

Dont wait. The time will never be just right.  Napoleon Hill

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.  William James

It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.  Leonardo da Vinci

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.  Abraham Lincoln

You cant just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood. What mood is that? Last-minute panic.  Bill Watterson

If it werent for the last minute, nothing would get done.  Rita Mae Brown

One of the greatest labor-saving inventions of today is tomorrow.  Vincent T. Foss

The two rules of procrastination: 1) Do it today. 2) Tomorrow will be today tomorrow.  Author Unknown

What may be done at any time will be done at no time.  Scottish Proverb

Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week. - Spanish Proverb

The best way to get something done is to begin.  Author Unknown

I remember reading somewhere about an organization called Procrastinators Anonymous. I think they had been in existence for some years but had never gotten around to having a meeting.  Unknown

Procrastination is like masturbation. At first it feels good, but in the end youre only screwing yourself.  Author unknown, possibly from Monty Python?

One of these days, is none of these days.  Unknown

How soon not now, becomes never.  Martin Luther

In delay there lies no plenty.  William Shakespeare

Neither a wise nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.  Dwight D. Eisenhower

It was my fear of failure that first kept me from attempting the master work. Now, Im beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But Im happy at least that I didnt wait twenty years.  Paulo Coelho

Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isnt the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment  Robert Benchley

Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.  Michael Landon

"After all Tomorrow is another day"  Scarlett Ohara



I have it on reliable authority that this MEME is not true. Publisher - Maybe it is.

Some of you may want to watch this video now. Others may want to watch it later. Still some others will not watch it at all.

One of the better lessons in life is often learned too late. The English language, and perhaps all languages, is full of quotations that reduce/expand the human tendency ofto a few/many simple/complex words.There have been poems written about sitting by the side of the road watching the world go by. The House by the Side of the Road Politicians have expounded on the arena versus the stands. Man in the Arena It has been my observation that most things happen becausedidprocrastinate. I hesitate to call it progress because many mistakes have been made by not procrastinating. But it seems true to me that there areI have been both, but in retrospect, most things happen when acrosses paths with aHere is a sampling of all the quotes on procrastination that crop up when you Google Search: "procrastination quotes"Some day, perhaps, I will try to research all those quotes above to see if the people really said them. I think I will put that on myNumerous people have quotes attributed to them that they may not have actually said. Today the MEME conveys all the authority of Shakespeare's quote "It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing." One of the most fascinating things about internet technology is the ability to actually put words in other people's mouths. All it takes is a picture and some simple software and a keyboard and you can make it appear that your mundane thoughts were actually made by someone a bit more famous and creditable than you. Below is an example:But of course no Bobby Tony post would be complete without me adding my own personal favorites on the subject of Procrastination.- Adlai E. Stevenson."The people who wait for changes before starting are going to get" - Zig ZiglarMost likely 1 & 3 above are DOERS while 2 are VIEWERS.Here is a link for some additional reading for those who say When I get time.
Provisions Included In The FY17 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

Contact: Daniel Keylin

Daniel Keylin daniel_keylin@tillis.senate.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted in favor of the FY17 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds key national and North Carolina priorities Senator Tillis has championed, including a pay raise for servicemembers, an increase of Afghan Special Immigrant Visas, and a provision that could result in an H-2B returning worker exemption.said Senator Tillis.The omnibus gives the Secretary of Homeland Security the discretion to implement a returning worker exemption of the H-2B program which is vital to small and seasonal employers in North Carolina across the country who depend on temporary workers to sustain their businesses and supplement their existing American workforce. Aprovision allows workers who have previously worked in the U.S. through the H-2B visa program to not count against the visa cap. Tillis recently introduced bipartisan legislation that makes substantive reforms to the H-2B program to assist seasonal employers, which includes a returning worker exemption.The spending bill contains 2,500 additional SIVs for Afghans who have assisted American servicemembers and the American mission in Afghanistan and often risk their lives in the process. Senator Tillis has long advocated for extending this vital national security program, and recently joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), John McCain (R-AZ) and Jack Reed (D-RI) to introduce bipartisan legislation to provide 2,500 more visas. The legislation was included as a provision in the omnibus.The omnibus increases the NIH's budget by more than $2 billion, including an increase of $400 million for Alzheimer's research and an increase of $476 million for the National Cancer Institute. Senator Tillis has been an outspoken advocate for increasing NIH funding to assist with the discovery of more effective treatments for diseases and accelerate the pace of finding cures. Earlier this year, Tillis and a bipartisan groups of senators sent a letter to President Trump , calling on him to support an increased federal investment in Alzheimer's research.The omnibus funds the 2.1% pay raise for servicemembers that was authorized by the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This is the largest pay raise for troops in seven years.
Dressing up like Sonam Kapoor won't be a dream anymore. She's launching her clothing line with amazingly decent prices, and we're a little too excited!

By Shivani Chhabra: Sonam Kapoor is the unofficial Fashion Queen, and she proudly proclaims that position with every outfit she adorns.

If you've always wondered who the brainchild behind her spell-casting, experimental ensembles is, it's Rhea Kapoor, her sister.

The two sisters have taken over the fashion industry together with their enthralling attires, and have now collaborated for their own clothing line. The clothing line, to be launched under the name Rheson (Rhea-Son), looks extremely promising--it is a Kapoor sisters FASHION venture, after all.

A post shared by sonamkapoor (@sonamkapoor) on May 4, 2017 at 6:03am PDT

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Honestly, we did expect Sonam to start her own clothing line, given how her fashion sense has been widely appreciated.

Also Read: Sonam Kapoor was a picture of poise in this saree at the National Film Awards ceremony

The good news is the fact that the clothing line will be available at Shoppers Stop stores, and not some high-end designer store like it had been speculated.

So we can dress up like Sonam without selling our kidneys!

While the clothing line will officially be launched on May 12, Sonam gave us a sneak peek into the much-awaited clothing line through her airport look.

Photo: Yogen Shah

Sonam was spotted in a spiffy grey midi dress, teamed with an over-sized studded-denim jacket and black high-top shoes--that is one look we can't wait to get our hands on.

Also Read: Kangana in a net saree, on the ghats of Banaras, is too much for our weak heart to take

The fashionista took to Instagram to share the outfit details; the lovely midi-dress will be available only for Rs 999--unbelievably affordable, right?

The actress mentioned that the cost of the denim jacket is Rs 2199, and we're just so thrilled about just the possibility of being able to steal her look.

In seven days precisely, we'd all get closer to dressing up like Sonam Kapoor, and that's a dream come true.

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By Alexandra Ulmer and Diego Ore CARACAS (Reuters) - Supporters of jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez held a vigil outside his prison demanding to see him on Thursday after rumors about his health rattled the protest-hit country where the death toll from anti-government unrest rose to 36. Lopez's wife and mother rushed to a military hospital in Caracas and then the hilltop Ramo Verde jail overnight, after a journalist tweeted Lopez had been taken to a medical center without vital signs. President Nicolas Maduro's leftist government, facing a wave of major opposition protests since last month, later issued a short "proof of life" video in which Lopez said he was fine. Officials accused Lopez's family of stirring up a media frenzy to get attention and further stoke the protests. "Today is May 3, it's 9 p.m. ... I'm sending a message to my family and my children that I am well," said Lopez, 46, standing cross-armed in front of cell bars and looking healthy in a sleeveless white T-shirt. But Lopez's wife Lilian Tintori, who says she has not been allowed to see him in over a month, rejected the video as "false" and spent the night outside the jail. "The only proof of life that we will accept is to see Leopoldo," she tweeted, as she and Lopez's mother faced a line of green-clad National Guard soldiers at the prison. They later rotated out with some supporters to get sleep. Lopez is Venezuela's most prominent imprisoned politician, and U.S. President Donald Trump in February called for his release after a White House meeting with Tintori. Venezuelans, already on tenterhooks after the unrest that has killed protesters, government supporters, bystanders and security officials, were shaken by the rumors over Lopez, who was jailed in 2014 during the last major round of protests. The U.S.-educated economist and leader of the hard-line Popular Will party is accused of inciting violence, and in 2015 was sentenced to almost 14 years behind bars. The government says he is a dangerous agitator, pointing to his involvement in a brief 2002 coup against the late Hugo Chavez, when Lopez even helped arrest a Cabinet minister. "They're inventing that something or other has been done to Leopoldo to put together a big, pretty show, so that we forget the 43 deaths he caused," said Socialist Party No. 2 Diosdado Cabello, in reference to those killed during unrest in 2014. Lopez's supporters say he was tried in a kangaroo court because he had been viewed as a future presidential hopeful and a threat to Maduro. Others in the opposition deem him a divisive hothead who took to the streets too early and say his supporters exaggerate incidents to get support. HUNDREDS JAILED Over 1,700 people have been arrested, with 597 of them still jailed, since the unrest began in early April, according to rights group Penal Forum. Hundreds have been injured, often in confusing street melees between stone-throwing youths and security forces firing tear gas and water cannons. Maduro's call on Monday to rewrite the constitution has energized the protest movement, and images of a military vehicle running over a demonstrator on Wednesday caused further outrage. The opposition is so far maintaining momentum despite fatigue, injuries, disruptions to daily life, and fears that protests will end up flopping like so many times in the past. Still, none of their demands have been met so far and Maduro has said he will not bend to them. Demonstrators are seeking early elections to remove Maduro and bring an end to a devastating recession that has food and medicine running short. The government says the opposition wants a coup and many demonstrators are simply vandals. Various groups of students took to the streets on Thursday. One group of several hundred from Venezuela's Central University tried to reach a highway but were blocked by National Guard soldiers firing tear gas. "We're going to stay here until this corrupt and lying government falls," said Ines Delgado, 22, with anti-acid indigestion medicine smeared on her face to neutralize the effects of tear gas. The death toll in violent Venezuela's month of unrest has been creeping up, reaching at least 36 after two latest cases. A 38-year-old policeman in Carabobo state, Gerardo Barrera, died overnight after being shot during a protest, the public prosecutor's office said on Thursday. And Juan Lopez, a 33-year old president of a student federation at a university in the western Anzoategui state, was gunned down during a student assembly on Thursday, the public prosecutor's office added. A member of the public approached him, shot him several times, and then fled on a motorcycle. With international pressure piling on Maduro, famed Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who directs the Los Angeles Philharmonic, came out against him in a letter decrying repression. (Additional reporting by Andrew Cawthorne, Andreina Aponte, Corina Pons, Eyanir Chinea, Brian Ellsworth; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by W Simon, Andrew Cawthorne and Andrew Hay)
ASTANA (Reuters) - Syria's armed opposition on Thursday rejected a Russian plan to create safe zones in Syria, calling it a threat to the country's territorial integrity, and said it would also not recognise Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan. Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, and Iran, which backs Syrian President Bashar Assad, agreed earlier in the day to Russia's proposal for "de-escalation zones" in Syria, a move welcomed by the United Nations. "We want Syria to maintain its integrity," opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid said after Russia, Turkey and Iran - the sponsors of talks in the Kazakh capital Astana aimed at ending Syria's fighting - signed a memorandum on creating safe zones. "We are against the division of Syria. As for the agreements, we are not a party to that agreement and of course we will never be in favour (of it) as long as Iran is called a guarantor state," Abu Zaid said. He also cited what he called "a huge gap" between the promises of Russia, which intervened militarily in 2015 on Assad's side and gave him back the upper hand in the conflict. "We have an agreement already (in) our hands, why isnt it implemented? There is an agreement...signed five months ago, why hasn't it been implemented?" he said, referring to a truce deal announced by Russia in December that was largely ignored on the ground. "Why are we jumping now to safe zones?" "Russia was not able to or does not want to implement the pledges it makes, and this is a fundamental problem." Several opposition delegates walked out in protest, briefly interrupting the signing of the safe zones memorandum. Russia, Turkey and Iran did not immediately publish the memorandum, leaving its details unclear. But the safe zones appear intended to be conflict-free in order to help widen a ceasefire, and would potentially be policed by foreign troops. Senior Russian negotiator Alexander Lavrentyev told reporters on Thursday that under the plan Russia could send observers to safe zones. Third-party monitors could also be invited provided Iran and Turkey agreed, he said. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov and Raushan Nurshayeva; writing by Dmitry Solovyov; editing by Vladimir Soldatkin and Mark Heinrich)
Distance Ed

Harvard HMX Offers Dose of Medical School Training in Online Format





Harvard University is issuing certificates for anybody who passes one or more of the same online courses that are also taken by incoming students prior to starting their Harvard Medical School curriculum and used by the institution's faculty to "flip" their classrooms.

The courses make up the university's new "HMX" program, consisting of online instruction for medical education. The HMX classes each last 10 weeks and cover physiology, immunology, genetics and biochemistry. Rather than using "traditional lectures and PowerPoint slides," these programs introduce real-world scenarios, animation, concept videos, notetaking guides, assessments, interactive components and videos that take participants into clinical settings.

The price of each course is $800, or $1,000 when taken two at a time, or $1,800 when all four are taken simultaneously. To get a taste of the experience, the university is granting free access to lessons from the immunology and physiology courses.

Harvard's idea is that the courses will be useful for anybody considering a career in medicine or healthcare or "curious learners" with backgrounds in biology, chemistry and physics who want to learn more. The school isn't giving academic credit for the HMX course; but those who complete a course at a certain level of proficiency will earn either a certificate of achievement or a certificate of completion.
FRIDAY, May 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A Colorado children's hospital saw four times as many marijuana-intoxicated teenagers land in its ER or urgent care centers following legalization of recreational pot in that state, a new study reports.

The number of teens diagnosed annually with marijuana intoxication or testing positive for pot during a drug screen at Children's Hospital Colorado rose from 146 in 2005 to 639 in 2014.

The findings run counter to national surveys that have shown no increase in teenage pot use in states where recreational marijuana is legal, said lead researcher Dr. George Sam Wang. He's an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

For example, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found a similar percentage of teenagers reported pot use in 2015 as in the prior decade, researchers said in background notes.

"Our study shows that there have to be other ways we can follow the impact of legalization on the adolescent population," Wang said. "We know that nationwide, marijuana is the most abused drug in the adolescent age group, and there's been a decline in their perception of risk for marijuana use. They think it's not as risky to use it as in years prior."

Eight states and the District of Columbia allow recreational marijuana use. Colorado approved commercialization of medical marijuana in 2010 and legalized recreational marijuana use in 2014.

For the study, Wang and his colleagues reviewed emergency department and urgent care records for 13- to 21-year-olds treated between January 2005 and June 2015. The researchers looked for visits where the patient either had a diagnostic code related to marijuana use or a positive urine screen showing pot in their system.

The rate of emergency department and urgent care visits by stoned teenagers more than doubled -- from 1.7 per 1,000 patients in 2009 to 4 per 1,000 in 2015, said Wang.

Teenagers with symptoms of mental illness accounted for two-thirds of the 3,443 marijuana-related visits detected by the researchers.

In addition, more than half of the teenagers also had positive urine tests for other drugs, according to the report. Ethanol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, opiates and cocaine were most commonly detected, the researchers said.

According to Sean Clarkin of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, "That raises the question of what landed them in the ER. Was it the marijuana, or was it one of these other drugs?" Clarkin is the director of strategy and programs at the nonprofit organization.

Wang agreed that his study does not show that pot caused these kids to need emergency care.

"All it is saying is we are seeing more teenagers coming into the ER or urgent care who are being diagnosed with cannabis abuse or have a urine drug screen positive for marijuana," Wang said.

The increase also could be "the result of increased awareness and an increased emphasis toward detection by hospital staff," said Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, an advocacy group for reform of marijuana laws.

"My presumption is the latter, since both nationwide and state-specific data shows little change in youth marijuana use rates post-legalization," Armentano added.

However, Clarkin said, the study does show that national surveys may overlook kids who are using pot but not necessarily smoking it.

"Some of these national data sets which show a decline in teen marijuana use, it's not clear how effectively these data sets are catching the edibles, vaping, the non-traditional means of ingesting marijuana," Clarkin said. "It occurs to me that particularly among the young folks, edibles and vaping may be playing a role here."

Clarkin said it can be difficult to judge dosage when eating pot-laced goodies, since the drug's effect builds slowly when ingested. Other studies have shown that people are at greater risk of an overdose with pot edibles compared to smoking marijuana, he added.

The study results are scheduled for presentation May 8 at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies in San Francisco. The findings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

More information

For more on teens and marijuana, visit the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
KYODO NEWS - May 4, 2017 - 19:31 | All, World

Japanese industry minister Hiroshige Seko visited the site of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine on Thursday to learn lessons that could be useful for Japan in the process of scrapping its reactors that suffered meltdowns in the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

The exploded No. 4 reactor at the nuclear plant in the former Soviet republic was originally covered by a concrete shelter, or "sarcophagus," to prevent radiation from leaking. But the shell has aged and a fresh steel structure built with financial aid from Japan, the United States and countries in Europe and elsewhere covered it in November.

While the construction of the new shelter, which has cost about 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion), marked a milestone in addressing safety concerns over the destroyed reactor, Ukraine has yet to see substantial progress in decommissioning the site.

Cranes and monitoring equipment are planned to be built inside the new shelter by this November as part of preparations to dismantle the sarcophagus and the No. 4 reactor.

But it remains unclear how the fuel can be removed from there. A 30-kilometer radius around the plant also remains a restricted area that requires permission for entry.

It is the first time since August 2013 that a Japanese minister has visited Chernobyl. Seko, who is the economy, trade and industry minister, also serves as the minister in charge of nuclear damage compensation and decommissioning issues.

The nuclear accident severity level of the Fukushima crisis has been rated on par with the Chernobyl disaster at maximum 7 on an international scale, with three reactors experiencing meltdowns after the Fukushima Daiichi plant on the Pacific coast was engulfed by huge quake-triggered tsunami waves in March 2011.

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. plans to finish removing melted fuel from the three crippled reactors and scrap the units by around 2051, but it is still struggling to find out the exact locations of the fuel inside the reactors.
KYODO NEWS - May 5, 2017 - 17:05 | World, All

Indonesia will ask Malaysia to transfer custody of a Chinese salvage ship that was caught illegally operating in Indonesian waters last month but fled across the maritime border, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti said Friday.

"I will contact the Malaysian fisheries ministers for facilitating bilateral discussions to transfer the MV Chuan Hong 68 vessel to Indonesian authorities so it can be processed legally," he said.



(Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries)

On April 20, the Indonesian Navy found the 8,352-ton Chinese vessel collecting scrap metal from shipwrecks near the Anambas Islands of Riau Province and brought it to shore, detaining 20 crew members -- 16 Chinese, three Indians and one Malaysian -- who claimed the captain was not among them.

But at 1:30 a.m. on April 22, the navy discovered the vessel missing.

Indonesia coordinated with Malaysian's maritime enforcement authorities to find it, which they did on April 28, off the eastern coast of Malaysia's Johor state.

The listed owner of MV Chuan Hong 68 is Shanghai Chonghe Marine Industry Co.

Indonesian officials said the vessel had salvaged metal from three Japanese shipwrecks in Malaysian waters, including the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Sagiri that was sunk off Borneo during World War II, and two other vessels in Indonesian waters, namely a Swedish supertanker and an Italian steamship.
Before opting out of South Asian Satellite project, Pakistan kept shifting the goalposts. Its response started by welcoming the idea and ended at the insinuation that the satellite would help India steal its sensitive data.

South Asian Satellite GSAT 9 will cater to the communication needs of all SAARC nations except Pakistan. (Photo: PTI file)

By Prabhash K Dutta: About 32 per cent population residing in eight SAARC countries live under USD 1.25 a day. This means that world's 60 per cent poor lives in these countries.

Improved communication is known to bring better governance and prosperity. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is a recognised world leader in launching communication satellites.

Today, the two-year-old promise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi fructified when ISRO sent the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) on its 11th flight into space. Nicknamed the 'naughty boy of ISRO', GSLV carried the South Asia Communication Satellite to place it into its designated orbit.

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The South Asia Satellite will cater to the communication needs of all the SAARC countries except Pakistan, which pulled out of it in, what seemed as its attempt to sabotage the project.

The project survived although Pakistan's mischief caused delay and forced renaming it from SAARC Satellite to South Asia Communication Satellite.

HOW PAKISTAN SHIFTED GOALPOSTS

When Narendra Modi mooted this idea after taking oath as the Prime Minister in 2014, Pakistan welcomed the move. Warming up to Modi's idea, the Pakistan's High Commissioner to India even said that his country would offer some "constructive suggestions".

But a little later, Pakistan asked to be made a 'partner' in the project. Pakistan also insisted on being part of the technical team led by ISRO. It offered to share cost with India, which the Modi government rejected as the Prime Minister had called this project a 'gift' to SAARC nations.

Pakistan further demanded that the satellite be placed under the SAARC umbrella and not under the control of ISRO. India rejected this condition as well citing technical reasons and impracticality.

Then, Pakistan started raising security concerns asking if the SAARC satellite would enable India steal sensitive information related to the member countries. The concerns were dispelled by the Indian side.

Finally, Pakistan withdrew from the project saying that it has its own space programme. Pakistan said that it needed to focus on its national space programme.

SATELLITES OF PAKISTAN, OTHER SAARC NATIONS

Of all the eight SAARC nations, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have their own satellites. The rest don't have their own space programmes.

While India has its own independent and robust space programme, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been helped by China in theirs.

Pakistan has five satellites but it doesn't have fabrication facilities. Pakistan can also not launch its own satellite, made largely with Chinese help, as it lacks heavy duty launchers like PSLVs or GSLVs of ISRO.

Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmospheric Research Commission (SUPARCO) is working on a remote sensing satellite. This is slated for launch in 2018 by a Chinese space vehicle.

Afghanistan, too, has a communication satellite of its own but it is an old made-in-India satellite, which was acquired by the country from European Space Agency.

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Nepal and Bangladesh don't have their own satellites yet. But, both countries are moving fast in that direction. Bangladesh is likely to acquire one satellite manufactured by French multinational Thales.

Nepal is also in the process to acquire two communication satellites, which may be available to it over the next couple of years.

ALSO READ |

Countdown begins for ISRO launch of South Asia satellite: PM Modi's gift to India's neighbours

ISRO creates history as PSLV launches 104 satellites in one go

ALSO WATCH | India launches PSLV carrying earth observation satellite from Sriharikota

--- ENDS ---
- Banky W and Adesua Etomi announced their engagement on May 3rd and people can't stop talking about it

- Many Nigerian celebrities have taken out time to congratulate the couple whose news surprised most of them

- Adesua herself has now reacted to the viral response of her vviral engagement and it's so cute to watch

Legit.ng reported that singer, Banky W and pretty actress, Adesua Etomi broke the internet with their engagement announcement on May 3.

Since then, Nigerian celebrities have been reacting to the news and now, Adesua herself has been filmed reacting to how viral it went.

READ ALSO: Basketmouth's amusing reaction to Banky W's engagement will make you laugh (photos)

Fellow actress Somkele Idhalama posted a video of her with Adeusa saying: "Candid shot with Susu Mama moments after the announcement! Congratulations honey!" Watch the video below:

READ ALSO: Beauty! You need to see how veteran actress Rita Edochie looked when she was much younger (photo)

Adesua and Banky W broke the internet with their engagement on May 3.

Somkele asks how the soon-to-be Mrs. Wellington feels and Adesua starts blushing. Adesua said: "Im overwhelmed! Its crazy! My phone is blowing up!"

Adesua blushed at the mention of her engagement news.

Now, fans are eagerly waiting to hear from Banky W who has only replied to some celebrities reactions on social media..

Watch this video of Legit.ng with Adesua Etomi and some other celebrities:

Source: Legit.ng
Of the millions of people at risk for contracting tuberculosis each year, many are already infected with helminths, parasitic worms including Schistosoma flatworms. In some cases, parasite infections can impair the ability of an immunization to work. But adolescents infected with Schistosoma mansoni respond as well as uninfected teens do to a candidate booster tuberculosis vaccine, according to a new study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Helminths infect over a billion people worldwide, and hundreds of millions of people in Africa require treatment for schistosomiasis each year. Tuberculosis is a similarly widespread global health problem, with an estimated 9.6 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths in 2014. Efforts to develop a tuberculosis vaccine focus among others on adolescents, who have a transmissible form of the disease, but who also have a high prevalence of helminth infections in countries where helminths are endemic. The existing Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine prevents against severe tuberculosis in childhood but not the transmissible form common in teenagers and young adults.

In the new phase II open label trial, Anne Wajja, of the MRC/UVRI Uganda Research Unit, and colleagues tested the investigational tuberculosis vaccine MVA85A on 36 healthy adolescents from Uganda who had all previously received the BCG vaccine. Half had no helminth infections and the other half were infected only with Schistosoma mansoni. The researchers measured the immune response to the vaccine in each patient and recorded any adverse events.

All patients had an immune response to the tuberculosis vaccine, with no difference between those infected with Schistosoma mansoni and those uninfected. Moreover, there were no serious adverse events during the course of the study.

"These findings are important and encouraging for the development of TB vaccines in general," the researchers say, "and support the further development of booster TB vaccines for populations in tropical countries."

###

In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases: http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0005440

Citation: Wajja A, Kizito D, Nassanga B, Nalwoga A, Kabagenyi J, Kimuda S, et al. (2017) The effect of current Schistosoma mansoni infection on the immunogenicity of a candidate TB vaccine, MVA85A, in BCG-vaccinated adolescents: An open-label trial. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 11(5): e0005440. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005440

Funding: This work was supported by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme [FP7/2007-2013] under EC-GA No 241642 and the Wellcome Trust [grant numbers 095778 to AME and 095780/Z/11/Z to HM]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Scientists have discovered the genetic mutation that causes the rare skin disease, keratolytic winter erythema (KWE), or 'Oudtshoorn skin', in Afrikaners

Scientists have discovered the genetic mutation that causes the rare skin disease, keratolytic winter erythema (KWE), or 'Oudtshoorn skin', in Afrikaners.

Researchers at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the Division of Human Genetics at Wits, in collaboration with peers in Europe, the US and Canada published this research in the May issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

KWE causes a redness of the palms and soles with consecutive cycles of peeling of large sections of thick skin, often exacerbated during winter months. Oudtshoorn is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa where the disorder was present in large families.

KWE causes a redness of the palms and soles with consecutive cycles of peeling of large sections of thick skin, often exacerbated during winter months. Oudtshoorn is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa where the disorder was present in large families.

Afrikaners are Afrikaans-language speakers descended from predominantly Dutch, German and French settlers, who arrived in South Africa in the 17th and 18th centuries. Afrikaners have a high risk for several genetic disorders, the best known being familial hypercholesterolaemia (inherited high cholesterol leading to heart attacks early in life) and porphyria (sensitivity of the skin to ultra-violet exposure and adverse reactions to specific drugs).

These disorders are common because of founder mutations brought to South Africa by small groups of immigrants who settled in the Cape of Good Hope and whose descendants are now spread throughout the country. KWE is one of these less well-known founder genetic disorders.

KWE was first described as a unique and discrete skin disorder in 1977 by Wits dermatologist, Professor George Findlay. He noticed that it occurred in families and had a dominant mode of inheritance -- i.e., on average, if a parent has the condition about half the children inherit it in every generation.

In addition to identifying the genetic mutation for scientific purposes, this research now enables dermatologists to make a definitive diagnosis of KWE in patients. It further enables researchers to understand similar skin disorders and is a starting point for developing possible treatments.

GENE MUTATIONS

Since the late 1980s, three MSc and three PhD students at Wits University researched the disorder, firstly under the supervision of Professor Trefor Jenkins and from about 1990 guided by Professor Michele Ramsay, Director and Research Chair in the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience.

In 1997, Wits MSc student Michelle Starfield and a group in Germany mapped the KWE trait to a region on the short arm of chromosome 8. The researchers showed that it was likely that the South African families all had the same mutation, but that the German family had a different mutation.

This research preceded the sequencing of the human genome and subsequent research focused on characterising this region of the genome and examining good candidate genes. The KWE mutation remained elusive.

In 2012 Thandiswa Ngcungcu, then a Wits MSc student in Human Genetics whom Ramsay supervised, chose KWE as a topic for her PhD. Ngcungu's research involved large-scale DNA sequencing during an internship on the Next Generation Scientist Programme in Novartis, Basel. The mutation was not detected by conventional data analysis so copy number variants (genetic changes) -- where regions of the genome are duplicated or deleted - were investigated. Ngcungcu and the researchers then discovered a mutation in a region between genes that was present in all South African KWE-affected individuals studied.

During this time Dr Torunn Fiskerstrand, University of Bergen, Norway, independently discovered the genetic cause of KWE in Norwegians. Ramsay and Fiskerstrand collaborated. The different DNA duplications in the South African and Norwegian families overlapped at a critical genomic region called an enhancer (which 'switches on' the gene) - providing strong evidence that this was, in fact, the KWE mutation.

For over a year the scientists researched how this duplicated enhancer caused KWE. They demonstrated that the mutation causes a nearby gene to produce more protein than normal and that this abnormal expression was the likely cause of the skin peeling. Exactly twenty years after determining that the KWE mutation lies on chromosome 8, the mutation that causes KWE was identified and published.

Solving the mystery of KWE was a journey of data analysis, ancestry mapping, genomic comparison and global collaboration. Ngcungcu continues her work as a postdoctoral fellow examining the genetics of another skin disorder, albinism, and as a lecturer in the Division of Human Genetics at Wits from July 2017.

###




Amanda Knox outside her mother's home in 2015

Amanda Knox, the American exchange student who sparked an international firestorm after she was charged with the 2007 murder of her roommate in Italy, shot back at President Donald Trump, who is reportedly "very upset" that Knox, whom he publicly defended, voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.

In an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, Knox wrote that Trump's demand for her support is "undemocratic and dangerous"  indicative of a politics based on loyalty, rather than merit.

Knox, who was outspoken in her criticism of Trump during the election, wrote that the president's reasoning reminds her of the Italian court's "bias in favor of the prosecution, which represented the Italian people and the Italian state, over the defense, which represented a foreigner." (Knox was convicted in Italy in 2009, but the decision was later overturned by the country's Supreme Court.)

"This is loyalty taken too far," Knox writes. "Just as a persons support of me should not be based upon my politics or identity, hinging instead on the fact of my innocence, so should my politics hinge on the merits of policy, not personal loyalty."

Knox also pointed to what she considers Trump's hypocrisy in calling for the death penalty for the five black and Latino teenage boys, know as the Central Park Five, who were accused of raping a woman in 1989. After years in prison, DNA evidence exonerated all of the boys, but years after their innocence was proven Trump continues to argue they are guilty.

Knox blames Trump's contradictory approaches to the two parallel cases of false conviction on his racism.

"Trump recognized me as a fellow American who deserved to be assumed innocent until proven guilty," she wrote, "but he condemned the Central Park Five as 'other'  guilty until proven innocent."

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She argues that while loyalty to principles, including "due process, equal protection under the law, the freedom to speak one's mind and to vote according to one's principles," is commendable, "personal loyalty" should never trump "reason and justice."

"What do I owe Trump? A thank you for his well-intentioned, if undiplomatic, support," Knox concluded. "But the more important question is, what do I owe my country?"

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* Bladder cancer marks first approval for AZ's durvalumab

* Big market is in lung cancer, where data due mid-year

* AstraZeneca sets durvalumab price at $15,000/month (Adds analyst reaction, sales forecast, latest shares)

By Ben Hirschler and Divya Grover

May 2 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators have approved AstraZeneca's key immunotherapy drug durvalumab as a treatment for bladder cancer, marking the first commercial green light for a product the company hopes will go on to sell billions of dollars.

The approval, while expected, marks a milestone for the British company, which expects new cancer drugs to help revive its fortunes following patent losses on older blockbuster products like cholesterol pill Crestor and Nexium for heartburn.

Bladder cancer itself is a relatively small initial market, where AstraZeneca is lagging behind rivals Bristol-Myers Squibb and Roche whose immunotherapies are already approved for the condition.

Durvalumab's big commercial opportunity lies in previously untreated lung cancer, where key clinical trial results, including with combination therapy, are due in June or July.

Leerink analyst Seamus Fernandez sees durvalumab capturing a modest 10 percent of the estimated $2.3 billion global bladder cancer market, while AstraZeneca in 2014 put the drug's peak sales in all cancers at $6.5 billion, including combination use.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said late on Monday it granted accelerated approval to AstraZeneca's drug to treat advanced bladder cancer in patients whose disease had progressed despite chemotherapy.

The drug, which will have the brand name Imfinzi, works by helping the body's immune cells kill cancer, offering an alternative to toxic chemotherapy. While not without side effects, such immuno-oncology treatment has the potential of longer-lasting efficacy, although it comes at a high price.

AstraZeneca said the average wholesale acquisition cost of durvalumab would be around $15,000 a month.

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"This first approval for Imfinzi is an important milestone in our return to growth," said AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot.

The drug belongs to a new class of medicines called PD-L1 inhibitors that block a mechanism tumours use to evade detection from the immune system.

It was approved by the FDA for use in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, by far the most common form of bladder cancer, regardless of their status for the amount of PD-L1 protein on their cancer cells.

Durvalumab won accelerated approval, which enables the use of therapies for serious conditions to fill an unmet medical need based on data the FDA believes is likely to predict a clinical benefit. AstraZeneca is required to conduct trials to confirm actual benefit to patients.

The FDA also approved a complementary diagnostic from Roche that can be used with the drug to assess PD-L1 levels. Studies have shown patients with high PD-L1 are more likely to do well on durvalumab, although such a test is not required for its use.

Durvalumab is being tested on its own and also in combination with another immune system-boosting therapy called tremelimumab in various cancers.

The medicine is the latest immunotherapy to be approved by the FDA, after nods for treatments developed against various cancers by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck & Co, Roche, and a collaboration between Germany's Merck KGaA and Pfizer.

AstraZeneca shares were up 0.3 percent in early London trading on Tuesday. (Editing by Susan Thomas and Jason Neely)
Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has sought a compliance report from the Jammu and Kashmir government on the issue.

By India Today Web Desk: Amidst reports that Pakistani and Saudi Arabian channels are being shown on TV channels in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre today asked the state government to take immediate steps to stop unauthorised broadcast.

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu expressed concern over reports that these channels are being broadcast in Jammu and Kashmir without permission and spoke with the state chief secretary on the issue.

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He also sought a compliance report at the earliest, official sources said.

There have reports that over 50 Saudi and Pakistani channels besides Zakir Naik's banned Peace TV and others indulging in "anti-India" propaganda were allegedly running without necessary clearances via private cable networks in Kashmir.

Earlier in the day, Naidu's deputy in the ministry, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, had said the local administration in the state has right to confiscate the equipment of cable operators allegedly airing unauthorised channels.

Noting that the government has sent an advisory to the state, Rathore said such communications are regularly sent by the Centre on unauthorised channels.

"We also monitor whenever such news comes up. It is our work to ask for report about such incidents. The action is being taken," he said.

Rathore said it is the responsibility of the local administration to monitor unauthorised channels in their area and they have the right to take action against them.

"In Kashmir, the district collector or the authorised government official can confiscate the equipment and take action against cable operators," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

Also read:

Pakistan International Airlines to suspend flights to Mumbai from May 15

Pakistan on South Asia Satellite GSAT-9: Not a regional effort

South Asia Satellite GSAT-9: How Pakistan orbited out of SAARC space

Also watch:

Banned Zakir Naik's show, Pakistan channels run on televisions in Kashmir; Modi govt talks tough

--- ENDS ---




jason chaffetz

Former president Barack Obama's upcoming speech to investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald has caught the eye of US lawmakers  particularly for the six-figure payment Obama is receiving for the appearance.

At least one lawmaker suggested Congress may evaluate Obama's presidential pension because of it.

House Oversight and Government Reform chair Jason Chaffetz commented in a USA Today story published Wednesday that said lawmakers may reintroduce a bill that would target presidential pensions if a former commander-in-chief earns outside income of at least $400,000.

While in office, Obama vetoed the Presidential Allowance Modernization Act  a bill sponsored by Chaffetz that would have capped a president's pension at $200,000 a year and phased out pensions if they earned $400,000 or more from other sources.

USA Today's tweet Wednesday night read: "Obama's $400,000 speech could prompt Congress to go after his pension."

Chaffetz responded: "Yes, it will."



Obama's $400,000 speech could prompt Congress to go after his pension https://t.co/h17muKPMmE via @USATODAY Yes, it will

 Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) May 4, 2017

"The Obama hypocrisy on this issue is revealing," Chaffetz added. "His veto was very self-serving."

"The basic premise here is, if they want to go fishing in Utah for the rest of their lives, they can do that. They will be well compensated for the rest of their lives," Chaffetz said. "If they're going to make millions of dollars, the taxpayers shouldn't have to subsidize them."

Obama reasoned that his veto was based upon "unintended consequences" that would have affected his predecessors.

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"President Obama will deliver speeches from time to time," said former White House spokesman Eric Schultz. "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."

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By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson on Thursday was ordered by a Missouri jury to pay over $110 million to a Virginia woman who says she developed ovarian cancer after decades of using of its talc-based products for feminine hygiene.

The verdict in state court in St. Louis was the largest so far to arise out of about 2,400 lawsuits accusing J&J of not adequately warning consumers about the cancer risks of talc-based products including its well-known Johnson's Baby Powder.

Many of those lawsuits are pending in St. Louis, where the J&J has faced four prior trials, three of which resulted in $197 million verdicts against J&J and a talc supplier.

Thursday's verdict came in a lawsuit against J&J and talc supplier Imerys Talc by Lois Slemp, a resident of Virginia who is currently undergoing chemotherapy after her ovarian cancer initially diagnosed in 2012 returned and spread to her liver.

Slemp claimed she developed cancer after four decades of using talc-containing products produced by J&J, including J&J's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder.

The jury awarded $5.4 million in compensatory damages and said J&J was 99 percent at fault while Imerys was just 1 percent. It awarded punitive damages of $105 million against J&J and $50,000 against Imerys.

Reuters watched the verdict through Courtroom View Network, which broadcast it online.

"Once again we've shown that these companies ignored the scientific evidence and continue to deny their responsibilities to the women of America," Ted Meadows, a lawyer for Slemp and other plaintiffs, said in a statement.

J&J in a statement said it sympathized with women impacted by ovarian cancer but planned to appeal.

"We are preparing for additional trials this year and we continue to defend the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder," J&J said.

The verdict came after J&J secured its first trial win in the Missouri litigation, when a jury in March sided with the company in a lawsuit by a Tennessee woman who said she developed cancer after using Baby Powder.

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That verdict broke a three-trial winning streak by plaintiffs that began with a verdict in February 2016 in which a jury awarded $72 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer.

In May 2016, another jury awarded $55 million to a woman who said J&J's talc-powder products caused her to develop cancer. A third jury hit J&J and Imerys with a $70 million verdict in October.

The case is Slemp v. Johnson & Johnson, 22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri, No. 1422-CC09326-01.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa Shumaker)
japanese baby

Ever since 1950 when Japan began tracking its population of children, the number has never been as low as it is today.

New data from the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry finds the population shrank by 170,000 kids from this time last year, to a new low of 15.71 million, The Japan Times reports.

This is the 36th consecutive year the population has dropped.

Japan's fertility crisis has been many years in the making. As older generations start to die off without younger generations starting families behind them, economists say Japan shows all the signs of a "demographic time bomb."

Without any intervention, Japan's economy will only continue to shrink.

"We will continue to put efforts into support for child-rearing," welfare minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki told The Japan Times in December of last year.

Japan's fertility rate is among the lowest in the world, at just 1.4 births per woman. Sociologists have found populations stay steady when a country has at least 2.1 births per woman. Beneath that threshold, and countries are likely to see their populations start to decline, which Japan has.

The trend has also led to another record-low, according to the new data: Japan's ratio of children to the rest of the population is just 12.4%. That marks the 43rd straight year of declines and places Japan's ratio at the very bottom of countries with 40 million people or more.

Other countries do face similar problems, including the US, Denmark, China, and Singapore  with fertility rates of 1.87, 1.73, 1.6, and 0.81, respectively  although Japan's case may be the most severe.

A 2016 study conducted by a Japanese research firm found that nearly 70% of unmarried Japanese men and 60% of unmarried Japanese women weren't in relationships. This is despite most people claiming they do want to get married eventually.

Japan has gone to some great lengths to boost its fertility rate to the goal of 1.8 births per woman by 2025, as set by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

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For instance, the country is letting men play with dolls to get accustomed to fatherhood. And the government is organizing speed-dating events to help young people meet.

In the meantime, the time bomb has forced Japan to recognize the importance of innovation more than ever  specifically, with robotics technology. Without strapping youngsters to do the work, machines may be the next best thing.

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By Jamie McGeever

LUXEMBOURG, May 4 (Reuters) - Luxembourg is in talks with a wide range of financial firms looking to relocate out of London as Britain leaves the European Union, but it will not offer sweeteners to undercut rival centres, Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna said on Thursday.

The firms include banks, asset managers, insurance companies and fintech companies, all of them keen to set up shop in the EU to maintain access to its single market and continue serving their European clients with as little disruption as possible.

"Luxembourg has not taken any special measures, and nor do we plan to," Gramegna told reporters on the sidelines of the International Capital Markets Association conference in Luxembourg. "It doesn't give the right signal. There are EU regulations that everyone must comply with."

U.S. insurance giant AIG is the biggest group so far to pick Luxembourg as its EU base, prompting Ireland to complain to the European Commission that it is being undercut by rival centres competing to host financial firms leaving London.

London-based asset manager M&G Investments has also announced it plans to set up in Luxembourg, which is already a major asset management and financial services hub in Europe.

Gramegna said the talks with financial firms have been underway since Britain voted last June to leave the EU.

The preliminary contacts between Britain and the EU over Brexit and Prime Minister Theresa May's surprise decision to hold a snap national election on June 8 have so far had little impact on the process.

NO "LETTER BOX ENTITIES"

Gramegna said firms would not be allowed to set up a subsidiary in Luxembourg simply by opening an office and employing a couple of members of staff, a view echoed by Steven Maijoor, chairman of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).

"Trying to find the best possible location is perfectly legitimate and understandable, but it should not be done on the basis of competition, regulatory and supervisory standards," Maijoor told delegates at the conference.

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"We need to avoid the development of any letter box entities. There cannot be an undermining of appropriate regulation and supervision by the EU 27," he said.

Maijoor said ESMA would shortly publish four "opinions", or formal guidance, on how national regulators should handle day-to-day supervision of relocated operations, in particular when certain functions are subject to outsourcing and delegation, a key issue for the funds sector.

Not everyone is looking to take business out of London, at least not yet.

Andreas Utermann, chief executive officer at Allianz Global Investors overseeing $480 billion of assets, said his firm's London operation had grown in recent years, adding that he envisaged adding to the London headcount, not reducing it.

"For now, it's business as usual," he said. (Reporting by Jamie McGeever; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Wicked Weed

It's a tale as old as time  or at least as old as craft beer.

Scrappy homebrewers start a craft beer company. The beer catches on, becomes a cult classic, and gets noticed by a multi-million dollar company, which then acquires the craft brewer. Customers grow furious, and vow never again to drink the beer they helped make famous.

The latest craft brewer to "sell out" in the eyes of certain, craft-obsessed customers is Wicked Weed. The Asheville, North Carolina brewer announced on Wednesday that it was being acquired by Anheuser-Busch, the world's largest brewing company.

The backlash was swift. The North Carolina's Craft Brewers' Guild issued a statement saying it was "disheartened" by the acquisition, while craft brewers, such as Jester King in Austin, Texas, pledged to stop selling Wicked Weed beers. Social media erupted with anger and disappointment.



Can't wait to sit by the outdoor fire pit at Wicked Weed in Asheville and sip a Bud Light Lime

 Mark Armstrong (@ArmstrongABC11) May 3, 2017



My thoughts on wicked weed to abinbev pic.twitter.com/SHw8BOgcrq

 Matt Freeman (@mattyfree7) May 3, 2017

"What a bunch of sell outs. For shame," one Instagram user commented. "Just had to go after the money and not give a damn about anything else didn't you?"



Wicked Weed has sold out to Anheuser-Busch. We visited a South End bottle shop to find out the proper way to channel the corporate outrage.

 NotAgendaFive (@AgendaFive) May 3, 2017

However, two of Wicked Weed's co-founders, Walt and Luke Dickinson, say that criticism can't be farther from the truth.

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Instead, they told Business Insider that customers would realize that the partnership with Anheuser-Busch was a positive for fans of craft brewing.

Partnering with Anheuser-Busch means great distribution opportunities, more resources, and connections to other breweries, including Goose Island, Blue Point, and Breckenridge Brewery. More opportunities for Wicked Weed means bringing craft beer to more people  which ultimately, they argue, elevates the entire beer industry.

With nearly six years in the craft beer community, there is no doubt that the Dickinsons saw the backlash coming. Why, then, did they decide to go through with the partnership?

"They're the largest company in this segment. And, to have that kind of support behind our mission is immense," Luke said. "We are going to be able to achieve things that we never imagined and have an impact that we never imagined, and that's incredible."

Wicked Weed

Increasingly, the line between independent brewers and craft brands owned by companies like Anheuser-Busch is blurring as strategic partnerships and acquisitions become increasingly common. Wicked Weed is the 10th American craft brewery that AB InBev has acquired since 2011. Heineken and Molson Coors are making similar acquisitions. And, as mega-brewers invest in craft, the growth of independent craft brewers is finally slowing, after years of explosive growth.

The solution, according to the Dickinsons, isn't to reject companies like Anheuser-Busch, but to work with them.

"There was a big fight to take marketshare from those big guys  the Anheuser-Busch of the world. And I think the exciting thing about beer now is it doesn't need to be take down the big guys any more," Walt said. "It's not a civil war here."

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Wilbur Ross

Right before our eyes, commerce secretary and billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is proving something economists have been trying to tell Americans for years.

That lesson: Business and economics are very different disciplines  running a business and running a country are not the same.

And in fact there are a bunch of skills and modes of thought you learn in business that could easily make you really bad at governing.

One of those is the administration's obsession with trade deficits.

"We have the biggest [trade] deficits in the world," Ross complained at Bloomberg's Breakaway conference in New York City on Wednesday, "while protectionist countries have surpluses."

That is why, he explained, the president has "superimposed" handling trade and turning deficits into surpluses "onto the normal duties of his department." That means aggressively enforcing trade deals and slapping countries that "seem" to be violating trade rules with tariffs and investigations.

The problem is that trade deficits and surpluses have little to do with the health of our economy.

Ross is making a fairly common mistake. He's acting as if the US government operates like one of the businesses in his vast network of holdings. It does not, and treating it like it does will ultimately do more harm than good.

Think big. No, bigger. No, even bigger

It's not hard to see how this happens. Washington is full of inane comparisons meant to sell Americans on this or that policy. There's the nonsensical comparison between the federal government's budget and a regular American family balancing their checkbook over the kitchen table and so forth.

The Wall Street version of this is acting as if a $19 trillion economy could be run like a business (and Ross is nothing if not a creature of Wall Street). Thus the obsession, oversimplification, and misunderstanding of trade deficits and surpluses.

If you were a business and you were buying more than you were selling, you'd be in big trouble. But the US isn't a business.

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In fact, during the Great Depression, the US was running a trade surplus. Mexico, during an economic rough patch in the 1980s, also ran a trade surplus. Why? In part, because in both scenarios foreign investors were not interested in sending capital to the US or to Mexico respectively because their economies weren't healthy.

Now, a businessperson will tell you that when your business gets a bunch of investment, you'll run a surplus. That's good, but a country doesn't work the same way. That's because of the interaction between trade and foreign investment in a country's balance of payments.

The balance of payments is made up of a capital account, which shows you the net change in physical or financial asset ownership  net foreign investment  for a nation, and the current account, which is where trade lives  exports less the value of imports, and any income we get from abroad or payouts for anything we purchase. And in theory, the capital account has to balance out the current account (although in practice there are usually some discrepancies.)

That is, when you're talking about a country, foreign investment doesn't create a surplus, it actually creates a trade deficit. That's because the balance of payments must always be zero, so a net positive foreign investment needs to be balanced out by a net negative trade balance.

Paul Krugman explained this back in the Harvard Business Review in 1996:

"Of course, a country can run a trade deficit or surplus. That is, it can buy more goods from foreigners than it sells or vice versa. But that imbalance must always be matched by a corresponding imbalance in the capital account.

"A country that runs a trade deficit must be selling foreigners more assets than it buys; a country that runs a surplus must be a net investor abroad. When the United States buys Japanese automobiles, it must be selling something in return; it might be Boeing jets, but it could also be Rockefeller Center or, for that matter, Treasury bills. That is not just an opinion that economists hold; it is an unavoidable accounting truism."

So OK, we may be running a trade deficit with China, but that's because our economy is healthy enough to purchase goods from them. And it's also attractive for them to invest in  which they have to do to get to zero in their balance of payments.

Which is to say trade deficits do not matter in the grand scheme of the US economy and its participation in the broader global economy.

"At the root of the businesspersons skepticism is the failure to understand the force of the accounting," Krugman wrote, "which says that an inflow of capital mustnot mightbe accompanied by a trade deficit."

paul krugman

This isn't simple, so our leaders can't be simple

The confusion around trade deficits illustrates a broader problem with the idea of "running the country like a business."

In the same essay, Krugman tried to explain why businesspeople might fall into the trap of oversimplifying the US's incredibly vast economy. Ultimately, he came to the conclusion that it comes down to the basic principles of the job. Businesses are constantly trying to innovate. You can micromanage. At the end of the day, after all, you're trying to make a product as efficiently as possible.

But the government isn't like that. Instead of going in and fixing this or that, you have to work on a set of guiding principles and create policy around those principles. The US is, as Krugman said, "a nightmare conglomerate" of hundreds of thousands of interconnected but unrelated enterprises. That means drilling into one industry will have consequences for others the government may not even see.

Let's use an example Ross himself mentioned at Bloomberg. He said that when he was running his business he thought tariffs were more often than not a "nuisance." That was, of course, until he got into the steel business and President George W. Bush slapped tariffs on steel from other countries in 2002. Those tariffs, said Ross, saved 100,000 jobs.

Okay. But according to a report by the Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition a year later, those tariffs also did a lot of damage.

"200,000 Americans lost their jobs to higher steel prices during 2002. These lost jobs represent approximately $4 billion in lost wages from February to November 2002," said the report. "More American workers lost their jobs in 2002 to higher steel prices than the total number employed by the US steel industry itself (187,500 Americans were employed by US steel producers in December 2002)."

That's what happens when you micromanage the US economy. Ross said that the Trump administration would go after "big numbers, big products, big countries," while at the same time admitting that its policies would mostly be bringing back 500 jobs here and there.

Trump's entire trade policy is too hands on, picking individual pieces to fix rather than adhering to general principles. Dare we say it, this is the worst kind of big government interference and over-regulation one can imagine.

In fact, the entire "America First" executive order  forcing businesses to micromanage what they're buying and who they're hiring  is an overreach tantamount to the most onerous regulation.

Growing the number of people working good paying jobs is what really causes GDP growth by adding to labor force participation and increasing productivity. To do that, you have to educate your population for the jobs of the future, not grab onto jobs of the past. When it comes to manufacturing, those jobs are getting more and more advanced  the people in factories are being trained to work with increasingly complex machinery.

The US's actual jobs of the future are in services  like in education and healthcare (especially with our aging population). Building a workforce for this is a long game, way longer than the quarterly-earnings game most CEOs play.

This shows something weird about Ross: You'd think that a businessman would probably move in the direction of growth. You'd think that a businessman would try to innovate and adapt rather than try to save a dying arm of his company. But when it comes to America, Ross is not doing that. In this sense, he and his fellows are behaving not like businessmen or economists or policy wonks, but rather more like rabid ideologues. It's a shame and waste of time.

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In Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama, Sheila Miyoshi Jager said she turned down two marriage proposals from Barack Obama in the 1980s. (Photo: Rosen-Jones Photography)

Barack Obama clearly ended up with the right woman, but with news of his pre-Michelle marriage proposal making headlines, our curiosity about Sheila Miyoshi Jager was piqued.

In Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama, Jager told Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer David J. Garrow that she had been seriously involved with the future president in the mid- to late 80s and early 90s. Not only did they move in together, but he proposed marriage  twice. However, Obamas political ambitions reportedly did them in; a mutual friend of the couple recounted that Obama explained that the lines are very clearly drawn: If I am going out with a white woman, I have no standing here. (For the record, Jager is of Dutch and Japanese ancestry.) Garrow wrote that Obama felt trapped between the woman he loved and the destiny he knew was his, implying that race factored into the Chicago politicos decision to settle down with Michelle.

According to the book, Jager met Obama in the mid-80s while doing community organizing in Chicago. Things turned romantic and they moved in together.

In the winter of 86, when we visited my parents, he asked me to marry him, Jager, 53, recalled. She said that she turned down his proposal not for racial reasons but because her parents were concerned about Obamas professional prospects and thought that Jager, then 23, was too young. (On the issue of race, a close family friend of Jagers parents said that Obama came across to them like a white, middle-class kid.)

The following year, when Obama turned 25, Jager said that he became very ambitious and suddenly had his sights on becoming president. Their romance continued until two years later, when Obama, then 27, was leaving for Harvard Law School. Before he left, he proposed to Jager a second time, asking her to move to Cambridge with him. She said no, as she had plans to travel to Korea for dissertation research. She recalled that she had resented his assumption that she would automatically postpone her career for his.

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After his first year at Harvard, Obama returned to Chicago as a summer associate at the law firm Sidley Austin. Thats where he met Michelle Robinson, who worked there, and they went on their first date. Jager said that Obama continued seeing her on and off for another year after she arrived at Harvard on a teaching fellowship. I always felt bad about it, she said.

Sheila Miyoshi Jager giving a lecture. (Photo via YouTube)

The book noted that after Obama married Michelle in 1992, his only contact with Jager was the occasional letter (after the 9/11 attacks) and phone call (he reached out to ask if a biographer had contacted her). The author also noted that Obamas romantic choice  marrying Michelle over Jager  was influenced by his political ambitions, the implication being that Michelle was a more suitable partner than Jager.

While Obama went on to pursue his political career, Jager continued in the academic world. Currently a professor of East Asian studies at Oberlin College, she received her bachelor of arts from Bennington College in 1984, her master of arts from Middlebury College in 1985, and her PhD from the University of Chicago in 1994.

Jager has written three books about Asia, and her expertise is on Korea. The third, Brothers at War: The Unending Conflict in Korea (2013), was selected to participate in the National Book Festival and named by Foreign Affairs as one of the best books on Asia-Pacific that year. Shes currently at work on a fourth book, about the great power struggle over the Korean Peninsula at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Heres Jager lecturing on the continuing Korean divide in 2015:

According to an article in the Amherst News-Times, Jager has personal connections to Korea  her husband of two and a half decades, historian Jiyul Kim, is a Korean-American veteran of the U.S. Army, and his parents lived through the war, coming to America just after its end. Kim also works at Oberlin (since 2012), as a visiting professor in the history department. His expertise is in East Asia, the Cold War, and U.S. foreign policy. He has been teaching in the history department each spring since 2012.

They have children, including a son who attended West Point and was once sent to guard the border between North and South Korea.

Former President Barack Obama with Michelle Obama in 2013. (Photo: Taylor Hill/WireImage)

Of course, Barack Obama tied the knot with Michelle Robinson in 1992, and they welcomed daughters Malia and Sasha in 1998 and 2001. During that time, Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Read more from Yahoo Celebrity:
Khan has also been appointed a member in seven newly constituted committees, including the Special Inquiry Committee, of the House by the Speaker.

By Press Trust of India: A fresh round of tussle may erupt in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as its MLA Amanatullah Khan, who was recently suspended from the party for attacking senior leader Kumar Vishwas, has been appointed the chairman of a panel of the Delhi Assembly.

Khan, the MLA from Okhla, has also been appointed a member in seven newly constituted committees, including the Special Inquiry Committee, of the House by the Speaker.

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The move is seemed to have been taken to placate Khan, considered as a prominent Muslim face in the party.

An MLA, who had spoken in favour of Vishwas, termed Khan's appointment as a "promotion".

The members to these committee are appointed with tacit approval of the ruling party. The party said the appointment of members to these committees was the "prerogative" of the Speaker.

KHAN'S RSS-BJP AGENT COMMENT

Khan had accused Vishwas of being an "RSS-BJP agent" and plotting a coup in the party.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia had to convince Vishwas who had insisted on stern action against Khan. He had also threatened to quit the party.

By suspending Khan, a "mask", Vishwas had tried attacking the "coterie" who was hatching "conspiracy" against him.

By suspending Khan, the party also averted a major crisis.

Sisodia had visited Khan at this residence, just hours after his suspension from the party.

However, with the appointment of Khan to these committees, the party could face a fresh crisis as many MLAs were believed to be backing Vishwas.

LEADERS BACKING VISHWAS CUT TO SIZE

Sources in the party said all AAP legislators including Somnath Bharti, Alka Lamba and Bhavna Gaur, who had backed Vishwas, have been accommodated in the Library Committee.

It is, however, not considered as prestigious with the panel having little work to do.

Bharti, who had openly advocated a greater role for Vishwas in the party, was removed as the Chairman of the Privileges Committee and Kailash Gehlot appointed in his place.

Sources close to Vishwas declined to react to this development, but indicated that the leader, who was pacified just two days ago, is unhappy over the development.

"With this development the leadership has sought to send a message that it backs Amanatullah and has given him a promotion. Whoever gave statements in favour of Vishwas have been cut to size," an MLA who had backed Vishwas said.

ALSO READ | Kumar Vishwas placated by AAP: Amanatullah Khan suspended, poet-politician given charge of Rajasthan

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ALSO READ | Amanatullah Khan resigns from AAP's PAC, says Kumar Vishwas a BJP-RSS worker

ALSO WATCH | Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan suspended by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party

--- ENDS ---




Kids like to spend money, but few really know what it takes to earn and keep it.

Thats why one program is offering monetary incentives for teens to learn more about personal finance.

Raise.me is offering students a scholarship of up to $1,000 for simply completing an online personal finance course. The company, which launched in 2012, partners with colleges and universities to offer students scholarships for achievements like getting good grades, achieving high test scores, keeping a job and volunteering in their communities.

To get the $1,000 so-called microscholarship, students in grades 9-12 must complete 9 financial lessons on

EverFi, a free digital learning resource. The lessons cover topics like saving, credit scores, investments and taxes. Once completed, students will earn the scholarship to one of the participating schools, including The University of Rochester, Oberlin College and the University of San Diego. The participating institution will issue the scholarship only if the student enrolls in their school.

Many colleges already provide financial guidance to help enrolled students stay on track and graduate on time, but Raise.me co-founder George Kirkland says some institutions want those conversations to happen earlier.

A lot of our college partners said its important for students to understand this information as they are going through the college application process, Kirkland told Yahoo Finance. To help them understand the cost of college, state and federal aid, and scholarships so that they can make an intelligent decision.

Raise.me says it adds up to three colleges to its platform every week, and plans to make the financial literacy program a staple that they recommend to schools going forward.

Learning about credit card balances in high school

Raise.me isnt the only organization focused on bringing financial literacy to high school students. Programs are springing up across the US to help students learn more about real-world personal finance.

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In the Midwest, the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust provided $14,000 in scholarships on April 21 to students who performed well in a Personal Finance Challenge competition. In Wisconsin, 100 high school seniors gathered in Milwaukee on May 1 for a Bank Your Future program aimed at teaching students personal finance and interviewing skills.

Meanwhile, students at Jefferson High School in Tampa, Fla., are taught about setting budgets and saving for retirement thanks to a program called Foundations in Personal Finance, developed by financial expert and radio host, Dave Ramsey. One in three high schools across the country have used Ramseys curriculum, which has reached more than three million students in the US, according to his website.

According to data from the Council for Economic Education (CEE), students who learn about finance are more likely to save money, pay off their credit cards every month, and have higher credit scores. With results like this, implementing financial literacy programs in every high school seems like a no brainer, but it has met some resistance.

Only 17 states currently require students to take a high school course in personal finance, including Florida, New York, Virginia and Tennessee. Of those, only 5 states make students complete a stand-alone personal finance course in order to graduate.

Nan Morrison, president and CEO of the CEE, says there is more economic education in schools than when they started tracking it in 1998, but growth has been inconsistent. Trends were declining, now they are flat, she told Yahoo Finance. As you can imagine, interest increases when times are bad, and wanes in good times.

Morrison says there are several reasons why schools have been slow to implement courses in financial literacy. Mainly, educational structures are different in every state, so integrating it into existing curriculum can be difficult, and a lack of funding has made it hard to train teachers.

Still, a 2016 study from the CEE reveals that the specific topic of personal finance is slowly gaining traction. Data showed that several state treasury departments are taking up the cause, and students in a handful of states have made it their personal mission to learn more about money. Like the group of teens in Rhode Island, who in 2014 pushed their state to adopt the CEEs National Standards for Financial Literacy program after recognizing the laundry list of financial decisions they would have to make after graduation.

Some might argue kids should enjoy their childhood without stressing about. The issue with that line of thinking is that those children will eventually grow into adults who have to make very tough financial decisions: Isnt it better to gain an understanding of how, say, interest works on debt before they take on thousands in student loans?

It is important to start young, to give our kids access to the language and grammar of finance, so that when they become teens, and start earning money, they have the tools to make good decisions and the confidence to ask questions, Morrison says.

Brittany is a reporter at Yahoo Finance.

College-bound students should apply for financial aid this month

How to appeal your financial aid award

How FAFSA changes will affect your college financial aid
ASTANA, May 4 (Reuters) - U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura hailed on Thursday a plan for creating safe zones in Syria as a step in the right direction towards a real cessation of hostilities.

After a new round of Syria peace talks held in the Kazakh capital Astana, Russia, Turkey and Iran signed on Thursday a memorandum on creating safe zones in Syria. But the delegation of the armed Syrian opposition walked out and shouted angrily.

"Today in Astana I think we have been able to witness an important promising positive step in the right direction in the process of de-escalation of the conflict," de Mistura told reporters.

Russia's lead negotiator on Syria Alexander Lavrentyev said that Moscow was ready to work more closely with the United States and Saudi Arabia on Syria.

"Unfortunately, the Americans are still ignoring our attempts to establish closer military cooperation but we will keep trying," he said. He also said that Moscow was ready to send its observers to Syria's free zones. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; editing by Vladimir Soldatkin)
The Federal Reserve offered no surprises yesterday, leaving rates unchanged in a range of 0.75 to 1%. Traders, however, were happy with the hawkish statement after the announcement and the signal that a June hike was likely (barring any significant geopolitical issues). At the same time, they noted the economy had weakened, yet they felt the weakness was transitory and gave a positive assessment of the economy.

While the Federal Reserve neither surprised nor disappointed, Apple, on the other hand, did surprise traders Wednesday with a Q2 beat on the bottom line, but a miss on revenue. iPhone sales, the heart and soul of the company, were another miss, with sales coming in at 50.8 million vs 51.4 million. The surprise from the company was its announcement to start a $1 billion fund for the development of advanced manufacturing jobs here in the United States. Apple, which is sitting on a quarter of a trillion dollars in cash, seems to be leading the charge to bring back manufacturing jobs here in the US, an issue high on President Trumps agenda.

With over half of S&P 500 companies reporting earning (329 companies to be exact), 77% have beat analysts expectations. On the revenue side, a solid 63% have beat those expectations. The earnings beat is the highest in eight quarters, and the revenue is the best in nine quarters.

With the Fed behind us for the moment, all eyes will be focused on tomorrows jobs number. Economists are expecting between 170,000 and 188,000 to be reported in this months report. ADP, which reported their numbers Wednesday, came in at 177,000, which is slightly better than analysts predictions of 175,000. Anything above 140,000 tomorrow will show that last months paltry 97,000 number was an anomaly, which could be blamed on the weather. But should tomorrows number come in at 120,000, that would show continued weakness in the jobs market. Traders would be ecstatic with a read of 170,000 and happy with a 140,000 low-end number.

Sunday, the focus turns to France, where Le Pen is trailing Macron by double digits. A win by Macron, the formal investment banker, would also be a win for Wall Street. Can anyone say Brexit & Trump?
Yahoo Finance will host the live stream of Berkshire Hathaways shareholder meeting at 10 a.m. EST on May 6, 2017.

Concerns about rising inequality remain front and center, particularly in light of President Trumps new tax blueprint, which some say could exacerbate the problem.

America has never been wealthier than it is today, Warren Buffett told Yahoo Finance. The inequality bothers people including me.

I would think there shouldnt be anyone who is willing to work 40 hours a week and has a couple of children, where that doesnt give them a fairly decent standard of living, he said. Our market system as it gets more specialized produces more overall wealth but also leaves significant numbers of people behind.

While many legislators have pushed for raising the minimum wage, with more and more cities across the US roll out higher minimum wage laws, Buffett does not favor this solution. In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal in 2015, Buffett wrote that raising the minimum wage would actually create more problems for our market system.

Instead, he offers a different way to help and incentivize struggling Americans.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is the single best way, Buffett said.

The Earned Income Tax Credit

Buffett has long supported the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which currently goes to millions of low-income workers.

Payments to eligible workers diminish as their earnings increase, he explained in the WSJ op-ed. But there is no disincentive effect: A gain in wages always produces a gain in overall income. The process is simple: You file a tax return, and the government sends you a check.

For Buffett, the EITC is a better solution because its about more than just money.

In essence, the EITC rewards work and provides an incentive for workers to improve their skills, he continued. Equally important, it does not distort market forces, thereby maximizing employment.

Buffett added that the plan needs improvement including reducing fraud, shifting payments to monthly installments from annual, and increasing dollar amounts for those earning the least.

Story continues

The International Monetary Fund has warned the United States over poverty and rising inequality. (AFP Photo/Jewel Samad)

Other business leader support

In his annual letter to shareholders, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon emphasized the need to start investing in our people and help lower-skilled workers earn a living wage.

He specifically promoted the EITC as well, to supplement low-paid workers incomes. For example, he explained, a single mother with two children earning $9 per hour ($20,000 per year) could get a tax credit of more than $5,000 at the end of the year.

As Dimon explained, while the program has flaws, it has brought about 9 million people above the poverty line. (For a four-person household, the income at the poverty level stands at $24,600 a year or approximately $11 an hour).

Stagnating income and limited job prospects have disproportionately affected lower-income and lower-skilled Americans, leading inequality to rise. This is reflected in the chart below from the Harvard Business School US Competitiveness Study conducted last year.

Dimon pointed out that over 20 million American workers earn between $7.25 an hour (the current federal minimum wage) and $10.10 an hour. And over 40% of American workers make less than $15 per hour.

I believe we should dramatically expand the EITC to help more low-paid individuals with and without children, earn a living wage, Dimon wrote in the letter.

The reason? To incentivize people to get back into the workforce.

I have no doubt this will entice more workers back into the workforce. Jobs bring dignity, he wrote. Studies show once people start working, they continue working.

In addition, he highlighted that living wages lead to less crime, more household formation and better social outcomes.

Buffett has remained pessimistic about progress being made in this regard, however.

Clashes of that sort have forever been with us  and will forever continue, he said in his 2015 shareholder letter. Congress will be the battlefield; money and votes will be the weapons. Lobbying will remain a growth industry.

Nicole Sinclair is markets correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Please also see:
At least 13 people were killed and more than 80 others wounded in clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces near the Chaman border crossing, officials said May 5.

The Afghan Border Police opened fire on soldiers accompanying a census team, a Pakistani military statement read.

"Since 30th April, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area on Pakistani side of the border," the statement added.

On the Pakistani side, Naseem Ullah, a doctor at a hospital in Killa Abdullah, told dpa news agency that nine civilians were killed in shelling. He said more than 45 people, including 12 children and six security personnel, were wounded.

Media reports in Afghanistan citing a police chief said four Afghan security personnel were killed and 14 police and at least 23 civilians wounded.

Both sides blamed each other for having started the fighting that began in the early morning near the crossing in southwestern Pakistan and southern Afghanistan.

The fighting along the Chaman border subsided by the end of the day on May 5.

Zia Durani, a spokesman for the police chief in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, blamed Pakistan for initiating the shooting, saying Pakistan wants to use cover of data collection to help militants sneak into Afghanistan.

Another spokesman, Ghurzang Afridi, said the Pakistani census team had worked on the Afghan side of the border.

Based on reporting by dpa, AP, and dawn.com
At least six people have been killed and 24 others injured in clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces near the Chaman border crossing, officials say.

The Afghan Border Police opened fire on soldiers accompanying a census team, a Pakistani military statement read on May 5.

"Since April 30, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Charnan area on Pakistani side of the border," the statement adds.

Three Afghan border-police personnel were also injured in the clash, Afghan officials said.

Both sides blamed each other for having started the fighting that began in the early morning hours near the crossing in southwestern Pakistan and southern Afghanistan.

Firing still continues on the Chaman border, an RFE/RL correspondent reports.

A spokesman for the police chief in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province blamed Pakistan for initiating the shooting. Pakistan wants to use the cover of data collection to help militants sneak into Afghanistan, Zia Durani said.

Another spokesman, Ghurzang Afridi, said the Pakistani census team had worked on the Afghan side of the border.

With reporting by dpa, AP, and Dawn
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The Board of Directors of Orange Belgium has nominated Mr Johan Deschuyffeleer as the new Chairman with a mandate of four years. Johan Deschuyffeleer, who has a profound expertise in digital and B2B, is member of the Board of Directors of Orange Belgium since 2011. He is also member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, and is chairing the Strategic Committee. The Board of Directors has also nominated Mrs Nadine Lemaitre Vice-President of the Board of Directors. Both will take up their new mandate as of today.

Jan Steyaert leaves his functions at the Board of Directors of Orange Belgium after more than 20 years. Notably, Jan Steyaert contributed to the creation of Mobistar, alongside John Cordier and France Telecom. As Chairman for more than 15 years, he guided the enterprise through some of the major milestones in its history: Mobistar's emergence on the market, first focusing on creating competition on the mobile market and today, under the Orange brand, on the fixed market (TV/internet); investments in networks/spectrums; management of the transfer of power between successive CEOs and management of important topics between the majority shareholder and the other shareholders (represented by independent directors) such as the adoption of the Orange brand in 2016.

Gervais Pellissier, Deputy CEO of the Orange Group in charge of Europe, declared: "I am happy that the Orange Group has had the chance to count Jan Steyaert as member and Chairman of the Orange Belgium Board. Jan has been vital for Orange Belgium's successful development for over 20 years, ever since its creation. His professional values and ethics within the Orange Belgium Board have been exemplary. We could not thank him enough for his contribution."

The Board of Directors of Orange Belgium would like to thank Jan Steyaert for his strong commitment, the quality of his work as Director and subsequently as Chairman, and his exemplary management of strategic topics for the company.

About Orange Belgium

Orange Belgium is one of the leading telecommunication operators on the Belgian market, with over 3 million customers, and in Luxembourg through its subsidiary Orange Communications Luxembourg.

As a convergent actor, we provide mobile telecommunication services, internet and TV to private clients, as well as innovative mobile and fixed line services to businesses. Our high-performance mobile network supports 2G, 3G, 4G and 4G+ technology and is the subject of ongoing investments.

Orange Belgium is a subsidiary of the Orange Group, one of the leading European and African operators for mobile telephony and internet access, as well as one of the world leaders for telecommunication services to enterprises.

Orange Belgium is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange (OBEL).

More information on: corporate.orange.be, www.orange.be or follow us on Twitter : @pressOrangeBe.

Press contact

Annelore Marynissen - annelore.marynissen@orange.com - +32 (0) 479 01 60 58

Jean-Pascal Bouillon - jean-pascal.bouillon@orange.com - +32 (0) 473 94 87 31

press@orange.be

Contact investors

Siddy Jobe - ir@orange.be - +32(0)2 745 80 92
LONDON, 4 MAY 2017 - YPO, the world's premier chief executive leadership organization, announced today that London will host the Global Fintech Summit as part of YPO Innovation Week 2017, the world's largest and most impactful global innovation Initiative.

YPO Innovation Week will bring together the world's most dynamic innovators to connect, challenge conventional thinking and gain actionable, applicable insight in a series of more than 50 events around the world. This May, the most dynamic global innovators will be together for a rare chance to network, overturn conventional thinking and get inspired with the tools to infuse innovation in their companies and communities.

As part of YPO Innovation Week, London will host the Global Fintech Summit, designed to explore innovations in financial technology and transformations in payment processing, fraud reduction, blockchain transactions, digital currencies and more.

To provide insights into the newest FinTech technologies currently under development, event chairs Anthony Ginsberg, CEO of GinsGlobal Index Funds, and Ignacio Macia, Managing Director of Psyma Iberica, have arranged for access to Level 39, the largest FinTech accelerator in Europe, to discuss cyber-security and other smart technologies. In addition, Fintech start-ups will present their business pitches to YPO members, highlighting the new ideas of today that will quite likely be the multi-million-dollar firms of tomorrow.

Finally, subject-matter experts will conduct panel discussions with YPO members on some of the leading new FinTech innovations impacting the industry now, from robo advisors and crowd funding, to the latest disruptions in lending, credit and banking.

The Global Fintech Summit will feature an array of impressive keynote speakers including Alastair Lukies, UK Prime Minister Fintech Ambassador; Alison Davis, RBS Bank Director; Tom Teichman, CEO of SPARK Ventures; Lawrence Wintermeyer, CEO of Innovate Finance UK and more.

"Innovations in financial technology are being developed so rapidly now that our industry is practically being reinvented every year," said event chair Anthony Ginsberg. "FinTech companies are one of the largest targets of venture capital money, and these huge investments are having an impact on every facet of business."

"Transformations in payment processing, fraud reduction, blockchain transactions, digital currencies and more are generating enormous opportunities for creativity and innovation for new firms," noted Ignacio Macias, event chair of the Global Fintech Summit.

In early May, YPO Innovation Week 2017 will hold events around the world, including Tel Aviv, New York, Toronto, Silicon Valley, Hong Kong and more, dedicated to driving innovation across a diverse range of industries through live two-way interactive video casts, global conference calls, and signature events across more than 30 countries.



Keith Alper, Founder and CEO of GenieCast and YPO Innovation Week Chair, highlights the significance of the events at this critical time focusing on innovation "Every business leader needs to focus on innovation to grow and thrive. YPO Innovation Week will continue to provide hundreds of opportunities for members to learn from each other and from the most well respected global innovators, disrupters, inventors to help integrate innovation at the most strategic level across all businesses. Combining research, technology and business leadership, Innovation Week is the one place where the world's most innovative companies share their inspiration and insights."

For more information about YPO Innovation Week, visit ypoinnovationweek.com.

###

About YPO





The premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world.

YPO is the global platform for chief executives to engage, learn and grow. YPO members harness the knowledge, influence and trust of the world's most influential and innovative business leaders to inspire business, personal, family and community impact.

Today, YPO empowers more than 24,000 members in more than 130 countries, diversified among industries and types of businesses. Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ more than 15 million people and generate USD6 trillion in annual revenues.

Leadership. Learning. Lifelong. For more information, visit YPO.org.

CONTACT:

press@ypo.org
The combatants exchanged shellfire and were fighting around the rebel-held village of al-Zalakiyat in the Hama countryside, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

By Reuters: Syrian government forces clashed with rebels in the northwestern province of Hama on Friday shortly after a Russian-led deal to establish de-escalation zones took effect, a monitor and a rebel official said.

The combatants exchanged shellfire and were fighting around the rebel-held village of al-Zalakiyat in the Hama countryside, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The Britain-based war monitoring group said there were no initial reports of casualties.

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Mohammed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group based in Hama, confirmed that fighting had broken out and accused government forces of trying to advance in the area.

There was no immediate comment from the Syrian army.

Iran and Turkey agreed on Thursday to a Russian proposal for de-escalation zones in Syria, but the memorandum the three guarantors signed has not been made public, leaving its details unclear.

AGREEMENT CAME INTO FORCE MIDNIGHT

The zones appear intended to halt conflict in specific areas between government forces and rebels, and would potentially be policed by foreign troops.

The Russian defence ministry had said the agreement would come into force as of midnight on Friday. The first and largest zone in northern Syria includes Idlib province and adjoining districts of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia with a population of over 1 million, Russian news agencies cited the ministry as saying.

The Syrian government supported the de-escalation plan, but said it would continue to fight what it termed terrorist groups. Rebels rejected the deal and said they would not recognise Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan.

With the help of Russia and Iranian-backed militias, the Syrian government has gained the military upper hand in the six-year conflict. The wide array of rebel groups include some supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies.

The main Syrian opposition body, the HNC, which includes political and armed groups, denounced the plan earlier as vague. The High Negotiations Committee said the deal "was concluded without the Syrian people" and "lacks the minimum basics of legitimacy".

The deal marks the latest diplomatic effort to quell the fighting. Several truces and agreements have fallen apart during the multi-sided war, in which hundreds of thousands of people have been killed.

ALSO READ | Russia, Turkey agree to support safe-zones in war-torn Syria

ALSO READ | Syria's six-year civil war: 4 years on, scars still line girl's face

--- ENDS ---
Amsterdam, 5 May 2017



Key points Q1 2017

Revenue down by 18% to EUR 196 million and gross profit down by 2% to EUR 47 million

EBIT down by 37% to EUR 5.7 million

Energy division renamed to Global Business

Brunel International (unaudited) P&L amounts in EUR million Q1 2017 Q1 2016 Change % Revenue 196.4 238.4 -18% a Gross Profit 47.2 47.9 -1% Gross margin 24.0% 20.1% Operating costs 41.5 38.8 7% b EBIT 5.7 9.1 -37% EBIT % 2.9% 3.8% Average directs 8,984 9,771 -8% Average indirects 1,460 1,503 -3% Ratio direct / Indirect 6.2 6.5 a -19 % at constant currencies b 6 % at constant currencies

To reflect the diversification in our global infrastructure the division "Energy" has been renamed "Global Business".

The revenue decline in Q1 in our divisions Global Business and The Netherlands was partly offset by growth in Germany. The gross margin improved due to a change in the mix, helped by additional working days in Europe. Operating costs increased due to further investments in our organisation in Europe, partly offset by savings in our Global Business.

In Q1, our Global Business division achieved a slightly lower than expected further decline in headcount. Revenue decreased by 18% compared to Q4 2016. The gross margin increased from 10.9% to 11.6%. Operating costs decreased by 7%.

Revenue in Europe continued to grow year on year, driven by strong performance in Germany.



The Netherlands faced a slow start of the year, in combination with the continued impact of the reduction in number of freelancers during 2016. Q1 2017 included two additional working days compared to Q1 2016. Revenue per working day decreased by 14%, and the gross margin adjusted for working days is 27.8%. A higher bench and higher illness caused the decrease in gross margin.

Germany continues to grow, helped by three additional working days in Q1. Revenue per working day increased by 8% and the gross margin adjusted for working days remained stable at 34.1%.

A lower bench offset more vacation and illness.

Outlook

Given the current market circumstances in Global Business, it remains difficult to provide an outlook for the rest of the year. Germany will continue to grow, while The Netherlands will return to growth in the second half of the year.

Jan Arie van Barneveld, CEO of Brunel International N.V.: "I'm optimistic that after a challenging first half year our results will start improving. The developments in our Global Business suggest we will see the trough somewhere in the middle of this year. With The Netherlands exceeding last year's headcount somewhere in Q2, all divisions will contribute to the improvement of our results."
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ALN has announced the admission of three new members as part of their strategy to expand into francophone Africa. The new members are based in Algeria, Guinea and Morocco and joined as of 1 May 2017. ALN now has coverage in 16 countries making it the largest legal alliance of its kind in Africa.



According to ALNs Chairman, Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra, ALNs expansion strategy has been planned carefully for some time now as we sought out the right firms that met our requirements in terms of independence, capacity, integrity, expertise and cultural fit.

He further said that, It is clear that the Francophone market is looking for lawyers that are dynamic, mobile, and tech savvy who can bring international experience alongside their local on the ground connections. This is what ALN is all about.

The new member firms are led by Safia Fassi-Fihri for BFR & Associes in Morocco, Foued Bourabiat for Bourabiat Associes in Algeria and Salimatou Diallo for SD Avocats in Guinea. These three firms have been working closely with each other and sought to join ALN as part of a common strategy focussed on the sustainable growth of their respective practices in francophone Africa.

ALN now has integrated Anglophone, Lusophone and Francophone capabilities, setting it apart from other African networks which work on a pure regional or referral basis.

Karim Anjarwalla, Managing Partner of Anjarwalla & Khanna, one of the founders of ALN, commented on the new members that ALN has been in a consolidation phase for some time now as we have been recruiting a team of professional business services resources to properly support ALN member firms. Now that we have the appropriate infrastructure and personnel in place we are able to drive our expansion plans and introduce a whole new market to ALN clients.

Anjarwalla further says, ALNs continued success in advising on cross border matters comes from our one firm approach of collaborating in virtual teams across multiple offices. ALN will be able to capitalise on the increase in trade and investment between francophone Africa and anglophone Africa by offering on-the-ground legal resources to clients. ALN members also share resources and exchange business insights, market intelligence and best practices, placing them in an ideal position to advise any client looking to bridge between Francophone and Anglophone Africa.

Distributed by APO on behalf of ALN.
AUSTIN, Texas, May 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mitratech, the leading provider of legal, compliance, and operational risk software solutions, announced today it will be delivering a presentation at the largest gathering of legal operations professionals in the world, the annual Corporate Legal Operations Institute event. The event takes place at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 9-11, 2017.



The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC), which organizes the event, is the worlds premier organization for legal operations providing expert knowledge of best practices to implement policies, processes, and technology to drive peak in-house legal department performance.

Mitratech CEO Jason Parkman will showcase how legal operations teams are evolving to meet the changing needs in todays highly regulated environment. The session will be on May 10, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., room Monet 1 at the Bellagio Hotel.

The ever-changing legal and regulatory environment puts pressure on organizations to respond quickly and systematically. This change requires legal departments to rise to the challenge and creates new opportunities for their legal operations teams to become drivers for increasing enterprise value, said Parkman. Some of our clients are embracing this change as a model for others and I look forward to sharing our collective experiences in this presentation.

ABOUT MITRATECH

Mitratech is a market-leading provider of legal, compliance, and operational risk solutions for more than 1,200 organizations of all sizes across the globe, representing almost 40 percent of the Fortune 500, and over 500,000 users in over 160 countries. Mitratechs portfolio of enterprise legal and risk management software includes: legal matter management, spend management, e-Billing, legal hold, contracts management, risk management, policy management, audit management, and health & safety management. To learn more, visit www.mitratech.com.
daagh wrote:

The source of this topic seems to be the condemned 1000 series. Notwithstanding that, let's see whether we can have any take away from that, especially because is has been cited in the discussions on the principles of modification

Following is an excerpt from the Manhattan guide:



1. Right: This model explains all known subatomic particles, SOME OF WHICH WERE only recently discovered.--



The question is whether the second part of this sentence is an IC or just a modifier clause. IMO, \it is an IC since we have a solid subject in 'many of which' and a solid verb in 'were'. The result is that this is rather a comma splice. In addition, the verb 'were' seems to be out of place here, since the first part is in the present tense and a present perfect such as 'have been' would have been better. However, tense may or may not a critical issue here. .



2. Right: This model explains all known subatomic particles, SOME OF THEM only recently discovered.



This seems to be correct since, the second part is a verbless phrase, simply modifying the touching noun 'particles'.



To extrapolate this to the issue at hand,





(D) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, MANY OF WHICH ARE chiseled from solid rock centuries ago.

(E) The mountainous regions of northern Ethiopia are dotted with hundreds of monasteries, MANY OF THEM chiseled from solid rock centuries ago



In this also, the choice D is wrong more because D is a comma splice. Of course, whether they are chiseled or were chiseled may not the prima-facie fact.

DmitryFarber

GMATNinja

EducationAisle

VeritasKarishma
Photos of a woman, Mrs. Chinelo Ogbonna, who helps her vulcanizer husband in Nsukka, Enugu state, has hit the internet.

According to Facebook user Jeff Unaegbu who posted the pictures, the woman has learnt a lot in the vulcanizing business and she is ever ready to attend to her husband's customers whenever they arrive their workshop.

Read as posted on Facebook below:

"FEMALE VULCANIZER WORKS WITH HUSBAND IN NSUKKA

"Every day, except on Sundays, the energetic Mrs. Chinelo Ogbonna comes to work at Mechanic Village, dons her work wear and sets out many types and sizes of vehicle tyres one atop the other in front of her husbands vulcanizing workshop. She rushes at stopping vehicles, wheel spanner in one hand, ever ready to begin the loosening of a deflated tyre for repair. Her husband, a wiry fair youth, does not stand akimbo watching in front of his number 40, New Parts Section shop. He does not assume the pride of a man whose wife is at work with him.

READ ALSO: Revealed: Bilkis Rafiu, a 35-year-old female vulcanizer in Kwara state

"No, Mr. Ifeanyi Ogbonna is busy already working on a flat tyre, determined to patch it by fire, not with a cold sealant. He makes as if it is a common virtue in women, to behave like his wife. Dont be fooled. He knows he has a unique wife, and he asks me to soften my wonder at this rare form of feminism, and to make-belief she were an ordinary apprentice, else it will get into her gait and slow the turn of work!

She rushes at stopping vehicles, wheel spanner in one hand, ever ready to begin the loosening of a deflated tyre for repair.

"But not me. I step out of my SUV, looking to quietly observe the whole drama, scratching my eyebrows in measured curiosity. I buy a fairly-used tyre and sit like other clients to await my turn for service, if only to catch this out-of-the-box situation.

"A big tyre rolls at her command of hand. She stops it beside the press. And I think the man of the shop will take over to excavate the wheel from the tyre. My eyes almost bulge to see her sit the large ring on the tyre flange and jump upon the big handle of the press to free the wheel. I want to remonstrate by reflex. But something stops me. It is her deftness, like one just tearing apart a paper. She does not care that men are watching. The reflexive but pretentious effeminacy that shows up in some ladies whenever they are in the presence of men, knows no place in her life.

The energetic Mrs. Chinelo Ogbonna comes to work at Mechanic Village, dons her work wear and sets out to work at her husbands vulcanizing workshop.

"It is not that she is not well-endowed as to mesmerize the world if she wants. But she has packaged all the voluptuousness of her body into that work wear. The matter at hand is money. The money to feed her family of a hardworking husband and four children must be fought for. Yes, she has four children and she is still in the side of youth. But here she is, vulcanizing, for the good of the society.

READ ALSO: Meet 20-year-old Adeola Alonge who can twist and turn her body into strange positions

"Her way of life is a decision she made herself. She is not forced by her husband. There are moments of disagreements between the two. But the quickness with which they settle their differences is beyond public comprehension.

"I go on in my mind about the standing values we peddle around and which of them affects us negatively or positively, until she calls my attention to tell me she is through

"I reveal to them that they are news. I educate them how this is so. They consent to a public view such as this you see. It may bring more clients, who knows. Welcome, again, to Nigeria.

"(c) Jeff Unaegbu, May 3, 2017.

"NB: This is a true story. The address and all names are real. Patronize them if you are in Nsukka."

Source: Legit.ng
Legit.ng has obtained pictures of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as a vibrant young man, way before he became a highly revered traditional ruler and the guardian of Yoruba traditional culture and heritage.

Years before he became one of the most revered traditional rulers in Nigeria, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, was a youth in every way.

The man who currently sits on the most revered throne in Yorubaland, was and still is a dashing young man, as his throwback photos can prove.

Oba Ogunwusi seemed to be a ladies favourite, as in all the photos, he was smiling while he posed with equally beautiful ladies.

A recent photo of the Ooni of Ife

One thing is clear in all the pictures both past and present, he never fails to wear his signature smile.

The photos were shared by a Facebook user who said:

"Don't look down on anyone...your friend today might be the future president of this nation...FRIEND!!! Is anyone looking down on you? I present to you the Ooni of Ife during his school days and as a corper...If everyone around you knows what God has in stock for you, they will remain your friends till Eternity.say it to yourself that.I AM SPECIAL."

READ ALSO: Evangelical pastor throws woman into fire to deliver her from demons

See the throwback photos of the Ooni below:

Ooni of Ife as a corp member

Oba Ogunwusi looking dapper in a suit as a young man

Ooni of Ife as an undergraduate

The Ooni is indeed loved by many, as the comments below have proved:

Meanwhile, see this video of the Ooni of Ife speaking to Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
After the Supreme Court rejected the Nirbhaya convicts' plea challenging the death penalty awarded to them, Tihar Jail today beefed up their security, sources said.

By Atir Khan: Tihar Jail today beefed up the security of the convicts in the Nirbhaya rape case, after the Supreme Court rejected their plea challenging the death penalty awarded to them by the Delhi High Court, sources said.

The decision has been taken in view of the possibility of their committing suicide.

All convicts are likely to be transferred to Jail no. 3, a high security prison. A decision is likely to be taken by this evening.

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'RAREST OF THE RAREST CASE'

"On the basis of medical evidence, physical injuries, dying statement, the Supreme Court said this is rarest of the rarest case and thus upheld the High Court judgement," said BL Kapoor, a lawyer.

The apex court has decided the four convicts will be hanged till death.

Following the verdict, the lawyers of the four rapists said they plan to file a review petition to challenge today's judgement.

ALSO READ | Nirbhaya gangrape convict attempts suicide in Tihar Jail

ALSO READ | Nirbhaya gangrape case: Supreme Court decides the four convicts will hang

ALSO WATCH | I am very happy with the judgement, says Nirbhaya's father after Supreme Court verdict

--- ENDS ---
New York State Department of Health Adds Thousands of New Patients to Medical Marijuana Program Following the Addition of Chronic Pain

More Than 3,000 Patients Certified Since Chronic Pain Added As Qualifying Condition

Nearly 1,000 Practitioners Registered With the Program

Public List of Registered Practitioners Now Available

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 5, 2017)The New York State Department of Health today announced several milestones in the state's Medical Marijuana program, including the certification of more than 3,350 patients since the addition of chronic pain as a qualifying condition in late March, the registration of nearly 1,000 practitioners, and the publication of a list of registered practitioners who have consented to be listed publicly.

"We are improving access to medical marijuana for patients in need across New York State," said Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. "As we have said from the very beginning, we will continue to grow this program responsibly and help ease the suffering of those who may benefit from this treatment option."

INCREASE IN PATIENTS

In late March 2017, the Department expanded the Medical Marijuana program to include chronic pain as a qualifying condition. The addition of chronic pain to the other ten qualifying conditions has led to an increase in the number of certified patients and strengthened the program.

Since the addition of chronic pain, an additional 3,356 patients have become certified for the program, representing an 18% increase. As of May 5, 18,348 patients in total are certified for the program.

ADDITIONAL PRACTITIONERS

The Department has taken definitive steps to expand patient access in communities throughout New York State. Central to that effort is increasing the number of health care providers who are registered to certify patients for the Medical Marijuana program.

Over the past seven months, the Department has enhanced the medical marijuana program by empowering nurse practitioners and physician assistants to join physicians in their ability to certify patients for medical marijuana. These additions have increased the number of registered practitioners by ten percent. As of May 5, 995 practitioners are registered to certify patients for medical marijuana.

PUBLIC LIST OF REGISTERED PRACTITIONERS

A public list of registered practitioners will help New Yorkers with debilitating illnesses better identify and access this treatment option. A list of practitioners registered with New York's Medical Marijuana program who have consented to be publicly listed is now available on the Department's website at: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/practitioner/public_list.htm.

The Department is prohibited from publicly posting a registered practitioner's information without that practitioner's consent.

In addition to the public list of practitioners,a list of practitioners registered with the medical marijuana program on the Health Commerce System (HCS) has been available to health care providers since February 2016. Through this process, certified patients simply need to speak with their health care provider to find a registered practitioner.

The HCS is a web-based public health and immunization tracking system used by thousands of health care providers for a variety of applications. Most health care providers already have an HCS account, and can refer a patient to a practitioner registered with the program by logging on and accessing the available list. The HCS is only available to health care providers.

As of May 5, 60% percent of practitioners are listed through the HCS, while 32% percent are listed publicly.

Medical marijuana in New York can only be purchased at the dispensing facilities operated by the registered organizations. Medical marijuana is not available at practitioners' offices, clinics, or hospitals. For a list of dispensing facility locations and their websites, visit http://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/medical_marijuana/application/selected_applicants.htm.

Ensuring that patients have access to registered practitioners, including publishing a list of consenting practitioners, was one of the major recommendations of the Department's two-year report on the Medical Use of Marijuana Under the Compassionate Care Act.
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The teaser of Tubelight, directed by Kabir Khan, and starring Salman Khan and Zhu Zhu in the lead roles, is finally here.

By India Today Web Desk: Perhaps, there can not be a better and more successful writer-director combination in Bollywood right now than Salman Khan and Kabir Khan.

Kabir Khan who comes from the world of documentaries had his first box-office hit with the 2009 political thriller New York. He began working with Salman Khan for the first time on Ek Tha Tiger. That film turned out to be the biggest hit of the year.

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They next collaborated on the 2015 film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Salman Khan, in a rare occasion, did not play an ultra-macho, altruistic hero but a genial, naive do-gooder. Salman's character clicked with the audience and today, Bajrangi Bhaijaan is one of the biggest blockbusters of all time.

Now, Salman Khan and Kabir Khan are back with Tubelight, a feel-good drama set in the backdrop of the 1962 Indo-China war, a setting that has rarely been explored in Indian cinema. In Tubelight, Salman Khan plays a mentally dim character (hence called 'Tubelight') whose brother gets lost across the border during war. The rest of the story involves how Salman Khan's character crosses the border and battles all odds to rescue his brother.

The Tubelight teaser was finally released by the film's makers yesterday. The teaser gives a glimpse into the kind of world Kabir Khan has established in his film. Salman Khan, obviously, is prominently featured in the teaser. Chinese actor Zhu Zhu who makes her Bollywood debut in the film is also seen. However, Sohail Khan, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub or Shah Rukh Khan (playing a cameo) are not seen in the two-minute-long Tubelight teaser.

Watch Tubelight teaser here:

Perhaps, they will feature in the trailer. For the moment, the Tubelight teaser has got one and all talking. Tubelight is scheduled to release on June 23 this year.

ALSO READ: 5 reasons Salman Khan's Tubelight will be bhai's best film till date

WATCH: A look at Salman Khan's controversial life

--- ENDS ---
On 3-5 October 2017 Kyiv is going to host the Space and Future Forum to network international experts and youth, many of whom will also participate at the first CosmoHack in the world. Joinfo provides media coverage of the Forum, and some of its topics were already discussed ...
Here are five best moments from the teaser of Tubelight, starring Salman Khan, that are really making us wonder.

By India Today Web Desk: Director Kabir Khan has said that if fans liked Salman Khan's performance in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, then they are going to love Salman's character in Tubelight as his "performance in Tubelight is five times better."

While that can only be decided once the film releases, the recently released teaser of Tubelight makes us hopeful. Salman Khan is seen playing a mysterious character in the film and the visuals and sights on display really makes this project look exciting.

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After all, there's the Indo-China war. Then, a Chinese heroine. And a Shah Rukh Khan cameo. Salman Khan in the middle of it. Can a project sound any more exciting?

Here are five best moments from the teaser of Tubelight, starring Salman Khan, that are really making us wonder...

Does Salman Khan have superpowers?

Various characters in the teaser chant, "Jal ja" (light up). Salman Khan's character in Tubelight is a mentally dim person hence is taunted as 'Tubelight' in the village the film is set in. At one point, Salman Khan is seen concentrating hard with his eyes squinting towards a mountain as he tries to, perhaps, tele-kinetically move it and lo and behold, the earth starts shaking! So, does Salman Khan have superpowers in the movie?

The '60s period setting looks interesting

Tubelight is set during the 1962 Sino-Indian war. The characters are seen not wearing branded clothes. Much of the film is set in a small hamlet near the Indo-China border. We get a peek of a vintage car in which Chinese actor Zhu Zhu and a Chinese boy is seen travelling. What's most interesting is, however, the presence of a green board in a schoolroom in the '60s. Greenboards did not exist in the '60s.

A still from Tubelight

Likewise for Mahatma Gandhi...

Is that Mahatma Gandhi... in the '60s!?

A man who looks and walks like Mahatma Gandhi appears in the teaser for a few seconds. Tubelight is set in the '60s and Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948. So is this a sequence that happened in the past? The character is seen walking amid a crowd of people and in one shot, is also giving a speech. Much explanation needed.

The Indo-China war looks rad

The Indo-China war which India lost has only been explored once in Indian cinema, understandably, because India was the loser here. The only film to have been made till date on this war is 1964's Haqeeqat which gave us the evergreen song Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyon. Now, once again, a Bollywood film has dared to broach the topic. The teaser starts with moments from the Indo-China war and Kabir Khan has proven himself to be a great director of action sequences. The results appear exciting.

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Who is this kid by the way?

In Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Salman Khan was seen having a fantabulous chemistry with child actor Harshaali Malhotra. Here also there is a boy who appears to be friends with Salman Khan's character. He is Chinese, presumably, and apart from that, we don't know much about him. We have seen him in the promotional posters and we wonder what role he will have to play in the journey of Tubelight.

ALSO READ: Tubelight is not an original film but a copy of English film Little Boy?

ALSO READ: 5 reasons Salman Khan's tubelight will be bhai's best film till date

WATCH: A look at Salman Khan's controversial life

--- ENDS ---
Sure. Yesterday, a number of craft breweries (including Modern Times, one of my favorites from San Diego) launched tweet storms about hop availability.

In recent years, a collection of South African hop fields owned or funded by SAB Miller -- that's South African Breweries -- have routinely sold a portion of their excess hops on the secondary market through hop brokers. (They use about 90 percent on South Africa's Castle-brand beers, sell some to South African craft brewers, and then unload the rest. The total amount is about 1,050 acres of hops, less than 1 percent of the world supply.)

Anyway, AB InBev took control of these hop fields when they merged with SAB Miller last year, and they announced to hop suppliers this year that they're sending the excess hops to their own breweries, rather than selling them off. Craft brewers in the U.S. are angry they won't be able to get these (in most cases) experimental and proprietary hops, which are becoming more popular, while Wicked Weed, Goose Island, Devils Backbone and other breweries that have been acquired by AB InBev will have first shot at them.

I'd understand the outrage, honestly, if this was AB InBev moving into a new territory and taking control of all the hops. But this is a company deciding to keep hops that it already owns within its own ecosystem of breweries.

Don't forget that last week, leading craft brewers and many online beer drinkers were saying that AB InBev's purchase of Wicked Weed was awful, that craft breweries should boycott Wicked Weed's festival, and they'd never drink another Wicked Weed or AB InBev product. Now they're complaining because the evil AB InBev won't play nice with its competition and let them buy their products (in this case, hops).
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

An international group of experts has concluded that, for patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, antipsychotic medications do not have negative long-term effects on patients' outcomes or the brain. In addition, the benefits of these medications are much greater than their potential side effects.

These findings, by Jeffrey Lieberman, MD, Lawrence C. Kolb Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeon and Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and colleagues from institutions in the United States, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, Japan, and China, were published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Nearly seven million Americans take antipsychotic medications for the treatment of schizophrenia and related conditions. The medications are prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of psychosis and longer-term, to prevent relapse. In recent years, however, concerns have been raised that these medications could have toxic effects and negatively impact long-term outcomes. This view, if not justified by data, has the potential mislead some patients (and their families) to refuse or discontinue antipsychotic treatment.

For this reason, the researchers undertook a comprehensive examination of clinical and basic research studies that examined the effects of antipsychotic drug treatment on the clinical outcomes of patients and changes in brain structure.

"The evidence from randomized clinical trials and neuroimaging studies overwhelmingly suggests that the majority of patients with schizophrenia benefit from antipsychotic treatment, both in the initial presentation of the disease and for longer-term maintenance to prevent relapse," said Dr. Lieberman. Moreover, whatever side effects that these medications might cause are greatly outweighed by their therapeutic benefits.

"Anyone who doubts this conclusion should talk with people whose symptoms have been relieved by treatment and literally given back their lives," Lieberman added.

The studies also revealed that delaying or withholding treatment has been associated with poorer long-term outcomes. "While a minority of patients who recover from an initial psychotic episode may maintain their remission without antipsychotic treatment, there is currently no clinical biomarker to identify them, and it is a very small number of patients who may fall into this subgroup," said Dr. Lieberman. "Consequently, withholding treatment could be detrimental for most patients with schizophrenia." And while preclinical studies in rodents suggested that antipsychotic medications can sensitize dopamine receptors, there is no evidence that antipsychotic treatment increases the risk of relapse. While antipsychotic medications can increase the risk for metabolic syndrome, which is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, the study did not include a risk-benefit analysis.

"While more research is needed to address these questions, the strong evidence supporting the benefits of antipsychotic medications should be made clear to patients and their families, while at the same time they should be used judiciously" said Dr. Lieberman.

The paper is entitled, "The Long-Term Effects of Antipsychotic Medication on Clinical Course in Schizophrenia."

More information: The authors are Donald Goff, MD (New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY), Peter Falkai, MD, PhD (Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany), Wolfgang Fleischhacker, MD, (Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria), Ragy Girgis, MD (Columbia University Medical Center), Rene M. Kahn, MD, PhD (University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands;), Hiroyuki Uchida, MD, PhD (Keiyo University, Tokyo, Japan), Jingping Zhao, MD, Ph.D. (Central South University, Chengsha, China), and Jeffrey Lieberman, MD (Columbia University Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute). The authors are Donald Goff, MD (New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY), Peter Falkai, MD, PhD (Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany), Wolfgang Fleischhacker, MD, (Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria), Ragy Girgis, MD (Columbia University Medical Center), Rene M. Kahn, MD, PhD (University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands;), Hiroyuki Uchida, MD, PhD (Keiyo University, Tokyo, Japan), Jingping Zhao, MD, Ph.D. (Central South University, Chengsha, China), and Jeffrey Lieberman, MD (Columbia University Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute). Dr. Goff has received research support from Avanir Pharmaceuticals, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Stanley Medical Research Institute. Dr. Fleischhacker has received research support from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Janssen, Lundbeck, and Otsuka; he has received honoraria for serving as a consultant to and/or on advisory boards for Allergan, Dainippon-Sumitomo, GedeonRichter, Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Takeda, and Teva; and he has received speaker's fees and travel support from AOP Orphan, Dainippon Sumitomo, Gedeon Richter, Janssen, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Otsuka, and Teva. Dr. Girgis receives research support from Allergan, BioAdvantex, Genentech, and Otsuka. Dr. Kahn has received consulting fees from Alkermes, Forrest, Forum, Gedeon-Richter, Janssen-Cilag, Minerva Neurosciences, and Sunovion and speaker's fees from Janssen-Cilag and Lilly. Dr. Uchida has received grants from Astellas Pharmaceutical, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Meiji-Seika Pharmaceutical, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Novartis, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and Shionogi; speaker's honoraria from Dainippon-Sumitomo Pharma, Eli Lilly, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Meiji-Seika Pharma, MSD, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Shionogi, and Yoshitomi Yakuhin; and advisory panel payments from Dainippon-Sumitomo Pharma. All other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests. Journal information: American Journal of Psychiatry
Without adhesion molecules of the FLRT receptor family, the normally smooth mouse cortex, forms folds, which correspond to the structure of the human brain. The neurons shown in this image are stained to mark the corresponding brain layers  green for the outer layer and red for the deeper layers. The other cells are blue. Credit: MPI of Neurobiology, del Toro, Cederfjall

Folds in the human brain enlarge the surface of this important processing organ and in this way create more space for higher functions including thought and action. However, certain species of mammals exist whose brains have smooth surfaces, for example mice. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Martinsried have discovered a previously unknown mechanism for brain folding. Young neurons, which migrate to the cortex during the development of a smooth-surfaced brain, have so-called FLRT receptors on their cell surface. These ensure a certain degree of adhesion between the cells and regular migratory behaviour which favours the formation of a smooth brain surface. Compared to the mouse brain, in the human brain FLRTs are much less abundant. If the expression of FLRTs in the mouse brain is reduced experimentally, folds similar to those found in the human brain form. These findings provide new insights into the evolution of smooth and folded mammalian brains.

The human brain has many grooves and furrows which enlarge the brain surface considerably compared to that of a smooth brain. Homo sapiens is not the only species to form folds in the brain, however. It is likely that the ancestral mammal, which lived around 200 million years ago, also had a folded brain. Over the course of evolution, various mammalian species lost their brain folds again. Hence mice and rats, for example, have brains with smooth surfaces.

"The evolutionary success of these and other animal species with smooth brains shows that having a brain without folds is not necessarily disadvantageous and works well for these species," explains Rudiger Klein, a Director at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology. "We were interested in how brain folds actually arise." Up to now, scientists have shown that in folded brains, there is an expansion of progenitor cells producing a larger number of young neurons that migrate to the outer layer of the cortex during development. Hence this cellular layer becomes crowded with cells. Several mechanisms such as the rigid cranial bone prevents the cortex from simply expanding like a balloon and thus it is forced to fold to accommodate the excess cells. Studies on mice with an artificially elevated number of progenitor cells showed that this process per se is not sufficient to cause folds in the cortex, because in some cases these animals have a thicker cortex but it remains smooth. "So there must be something else that prevents the brain from folding in mice," says Klein, explaining the starting point of the study.

In the developing mouse brain, the young neurons migrate in a homogeneous and orderly fashion to the outer area of the brain where they line up to form regular and smooth outer layers. In a previous study, Rudiger Klein and his research team succeeded in showing that the FLRT3 molecule (pronounced flirt-3) causes the migrating neurons to adhere to each other and thus supports ordered movement. "So it made sense to assume that FLRTs might play a role in the different types of cell migration in folded and smooth brains," says Klein. As part of their study, the researchers examined mice whose precursor cells had neither FLRT3 nor the related FLRT1 receptors. Despite the fact that there was no change in the number of precursor cells, these animals developed brains with obvious folds.

Absence of receptors promotes brain folds

A combination of laboratory tests and computer simulations showed how the mouse brain developed its folds. Due to the absence of FLRT1/3 receptors, the migrating young neurons did not adhere to each other as strongly as before. "In this way, repellent mechanisms in the neighbouring cells probably gained the upper hand and forced the neurons to cluster into groups," explains Daniel del Toro, one of the two first authors of the study. Within these cell clusters, the neurons were able to move more freely and, as a result, they were also able to migrate faster to the outer layers of the brain. Due to this altered migratory behaviour, the neurons arrived too early in the cortex and no longer distributed regularly. The scientists assume that the resulting crowding in the upper cell layer increased the pressure in this layer, and this was alleviated through the formation of folds. "The missing attraction forces between the neurons made the cortex softer and more malleable, and this probably benefitted the formation of folds as well," adds Tobias Ruff, co-first author of the study.

With this study the scientists demonstrated for the first time that adhesion of migrating neurons has a crucial impact on brain folding and that FLRT receptors play a crucial role in this process. Together with their Spanish colleagues from the Institute of Neurosciences in Alicante, Spain, the Max Planck researchers were able to demonstrate that the number of FLRT1/3 receptors in humans and ferrets, both species with folded brains, is considerably lower than in mice which have smooth brains. "Therefore it is likely that FLRTs also influence the formation of folds in our brains," says Rudiger Klein. These findings provide a starting point for further studies on normal and pathological folding of the mammalian brain.

More information: Daniel del Toro et al. Regulation of Cerebral Cortex Folding by Controlling Neuronal Migration via FLRT Adhesion Molecules, Cell (2017). Journal information: Cell Daniel del Toro et al. Regulation of Cerebral Cortex Folding by Controlling Neuronal Migration via FLRT Adhesion Molecules,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.04.012
There is a clear correlation between the number of registered nurses working at an acute hospital, the amount of nursing care that is left undone and the number of patients who die, a new thesis from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden shows. Moreover, the higher death rate associated with low nurse staffing levels does not decline if the nurses are replaced by support workers.

Research conducted since the 1980s has established an inverse correlation between nurse staffing levels and the rate of patient deaths at acute hospitals, but no studies have yet been done to show what it is attributable to or whether there is a causal relationship. In her thesis from Karolinska Institutet, Jane Ball has interrogated the relationship between nurse staffing levels, missed care and risk of patient death in over 300 acute hospitals in nine European countries, including Sweden and the UK.

10 per cent missed care linked to a 16 per cent higher risk of death

Nurses were asked to answer a questionnaire on how much and what type of care they did not provide owing to lack of time during their latest work shift. These responses were then related to reports of nurse staffing during the same work shift. The results show a clear correlation between fewer nurses, more missed care and higher patient mortality. In patients who had undergone common, non-life threatening surgical procedures, 10 per cent missed care was linked to a 16 per cent higher risk of death within 30 days of surgery.

"We found a significant association between mortality rates and the volume of missed care owing to lack of nursing time, which supports the inference of a causal connection between registered nurse staffing and patient mortality," says Jane Ball, registered nurse, doctoral student at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME) and researcher at University of Southampton, England.

In Sweden, 74 per cent of the surveyed nurses reported that they had left necessary care undone due to lack of time; in the UK the corresponding figure was 86 per cent. Ms Ball's thesis also shows that low levels of registered nurse staffing cannot be compensated for by other healthcare staff  the volume of omitted necessary care remains unchanged.

The problem deserves more attention

"What surprised me most while working on my thesis is that staffing levels differ a great deal between different departments and hospitals," says Ms Ball. "It also surprises me that even more attention isn't given to low nurse staffing levels given that short-staffing jeopardises patient safety and put lives at risk."

Ms Ball will now go on to analyse the correlation further with the help of electronic data instead of questionnaires, and examine in more detail the role of patient surveillance on patient survival.

On 5 May 2017 Jane Ball defends her thesis "Nurse staffing levels, care left undone & patient mortality in acute hospitals" at Karolinska Institutet.

More information: Nurse staffing, care left undone and patient mortality in acute hospitals: Nurse staffing, care left undone and patient mortality in acute hospitals: openarchive.ki.se/xmlui/handle/10616/45563
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Studies have found that one in six pregnant women have been abused by a partner - beaten, stabbed, shot, or even murdered. New research shows the risks to these women may be especially profound: Pregnant women are twice as likely to be a victim of an assault-related trauma (including suicide) - and die from their injuries - than an accident-related trauma like car accidents or falls, compared to women who are not pregnant, according to a new study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The findings come from a Pennsylvania statewide analysis of hospital trauma cases occurring over a decade, and will be presented Sunday at the American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists' (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in San Diego (poster 36G).

"Trauma from assaults or accidents complicates 1 in 12 pregnancies and is the leading non-obstetric cause of death among pregnant women. Not only is it associated with complications for the baby, but management of traumatic injuries in pregnant patients has its unique challenges, given the physiologic changes of pregnancy and restrictions doctors may face when treating pregnant patients," said the study's lead author Neha Deshpande, MD, a clinical resident of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Despite the severity of the issue, little is known about how trauma actually impacts pregnant women since accidental and incidental causes of death are excluded in many statewide and national maternal mortality reviews. The striking results of our study suggest that widespread screening for violence and trauma during pregnancy may provide an opportunity to identify women at risk for death during pregnancy."

Previous research on the topic has shown that violence is common in pregnancy - even in relationships where previously there were no incidents - but the new study is the first large statewide analysis highlighting the effect of violent trauma on maternal mortality. For their analysis, the researchers used data from the Pennsylvania Trauma Outcomes Study database, a comprehensive and validated registry which includes records of admissions to all accredited trauma centers in the state. The analysis focused on admissions from 2005 through 2015, and included nearly 45,000 cases of trauma among victims who were defined as women of childbearing age (14-49).

The researchers found that pregnant trauma victims, on average, suffered less severe injuries than their non-pregnant counterparts. However, despite less severe injuries, pregnant women were nearly twice as likely to be dead when they arrived at the hospital, or die in the hospital. In particular, assault-related trauma was about three times more deadly than accident-related trauma. In addition, after suffering a violent assault, pregnant women were 4.4 times more likely to be transferred to another facility for obstetric services and support.

"Since the typical definition of maternal deaths includes only those directly caused or impacted by pregnancy, it does not include accidental or incidental causes of death, making it difficult to accurately gauge the burden of trauma-related deaths on maternal mortality," said senior author Corrina M. Oxford, an assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "However, evidence presented in our study suggests this is a pervasive issue that requires further attention to ensure these women, and their babies, are being properly cared for."

Results also showed that nearly 1 in 5 pregnant women reported a psychiatric illness or arrived at the hospital following a suicide attempt. Minority and uninsured women were also significantly more likely to experience assault. The authors say the findings point to an opportunity for intervention to safeguard pregnant women, and they recommend universal screening of pregnant women at obstetric clinics for assault and mental illness, similar to screenings for postpartum depression.
Credit: Wits University

Scientists have discovered the genetic mutation that causes the rare skin disease, keratolytic winter erythema (KWE), or 'Oudtshoorn skin', in Afrikaners.

Researchers at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the Division of Human Genetics at Wits, in collaboration with peers in Europe, the US and Canada published this research in the May issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

KWE causes a redness of the palms and soles with consecutive cycles of peeling of large sections of thick skin, often exacerbated during winter months. Oudtshoorn is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa where the disorder was present in large families.

Afrikaners are Afrikaans-language speakers descended from predominantly Dutch, German and French settlers, who arrived in South Africa in the 17th and 18th centuries. Afrikaners have a high risk for several genetic disorders, the best known being familial hypercholesterolaemia (inherited high cholesterol leading to heart attacks early in life) and porphyria (sensitivity of the skin to ultra-violet exposure and adverse reactions to specific drugs).

These disorders are common because of founder mutations brought to South Africa by small groups of immigrants who settled in the Cape of Good Hope and whose descendants are now spread throughout the country. KWE is one of these less well-known founder genetic disorders.

KWE was first described as a unique and discrete skin disorder in 1977 by Wits dermatologist, Professor George Findlay. He noticed that it occurred in families and had a dominant mode of inheritance  i.e., on average, if a parent has the condition about half the children inherit it in every generation.

In addition to identifying the genetic mutation for scientific purposes, this research now enables dermatologists to make a definitive diagnosis of KWE in patients. It further enables researchers to understand similar skin disorders and is a starting point for developing possible treatments.

Gene mutations

Since the late 1980s, three MSc and three PhD students at Wits researched the disorder, firstly under the supervision of Professor Trefor Jenkins and from about 1990 guided by Professor Michele Ramsay, Director and Research Chair in the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience. In 1997, Wits MSc student Michelle Starfield and a group in German mapped the KWE trait to a region on the short arm of chromosome 8. The researchers showed that it was likely that the South African families all had the same mutation, but that the German family had a different mutation.

In 1997, Wits MSc student Michelle Starfield and a group in Germany mapped the KWE trait to a region on the short arm of chromosome 8. The researchers showed that it was likely that the South African families all had the same mutation but that the German family had a different mutation. This research preceded the sequencing of the human genome and subsequent research focused on characterising this region of the genome and examining good candidate genes. The KWE mutation remained elusive.

In 2012 Thandiswa Ngcungcu, then a Wits MSc student in Human Genetics whom Ramsay supervised, chose KWE as a topic for her PhD. Ngcungu's research involved large-scale DNA sequencing during an internship on the Next Generation Scientist Programme in Novartis, Basel. The mutation was not detected by conventional data analysis so copy number variants (genetic changes)  where regions of the genome are duplicated or deleted  were investigated. Ngcungcu and the researchers then discovered a mutation in a region between genes that was present in all South African KWE-affected individuals studied.

During this time Dr Torunn Fiskerstrand, University of Bergen, Norway, independently discovered the genetic cause of KWE in Norwegians. Ramsay and Fiskerstrand collaborated. The different DNA duplications in the South African and Norwegian families overlapped at a critical genomic region called an enhancer (which 'switches on' the gene)  providing strong evidence that this was, in fact, the KWE mutation.

For over a year the scientists researched how this duplicated enhancer caused KWE. They demonstrated that the mutation causes a nearby gene to produce more protein than normal and that this abnormal expression was the likely cause of the skin peeling. Exactly twenty years after determining that the KWE mutation lies on chromosome 8, the mutation that causes KWE was identified and published.

Solving the mystery of KWE was a journey of data analysis, ancestry mapping, genomic comparison and global collaboration. Ngcungcu continues her work as a postdoctoral fellow examining the genetics of another skin disorder, albinism, and as a lecturer in the Division of Human Genetics at Wits from July 2017.

More information: Thandiswa Ngcungcu et al. Duplicated Enhancer Region Increases Expression ofCTSBand Segregates with Keratolytic Winter Erythema in South African and Norwegian Families, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2017). Journal information: American Journal of Human Genetics Thandiswa Ngcungcu et al. Duplicated Enhancer Region Increases Expression ofCTSBand Segregates with Keratolytic Winter Erythema in South African and Norwegian Families,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2017.03.012
A late breaking subanalysis of the phase III CONVERT trial presented at the European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) shows that white blood cell boosting drugs are safe during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).1

"The optimal treatment for limited-stage SCLC is concurrent chemo-radiotherapy," said lead author Dr Fabio Gomes, a medical oncologist at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. "The efficacy of this intensive treatment is balanced by more toxicity, mainly haematological but also oesophageal and pulmonary. Meaning this is not a treatment to be considered for every patient and many more will struggle to stay on track with the planned treatment".

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) are commonly used as a supportive measure to boost the survival, proliferation and differentiation of neutrophils. The expected neutropenia is less severe and patients recover more quickly, reducing their risk for infectious complications. However, its use during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in SCLC is controversial and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends against its routine use.2 This is due to a randomised trial with 215 eligible patients performed between 1989 and 1991, which showed a significant increase in severe thrombocytopenia, severe anaemia, pulmonary complications and toxic deaths when granulocyte-macrophage CSFs (GM-CSFs) were used during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.3

Gomes said: "There have been two major changes since this trial was published in 1995 which may affect the safety of CSF in this context. First, the trial tested GM-CSFs which act on more than one blood cell lineage and are not commonly used nowadays. Instead we use G-CSFs, which are more specific and aim for the neutrophil lineage only. Second, modern radiotherapy techniques have evolved significantly since then and are more precise, which reduces the risks of toxicity."

The phase III CONVERT trial enrolled 547 patients with limited-stage SCLC for concurrent chemo-radiotherapy who were randomised to once-daily or twice-daily radiotherapy. There was no difference in overall survival between the two groups.4

The trial protocol allowed the use of G-CSF, and around 40% of patients received it at some point during the treatment. For the analysis presented today, the researchers compared the toxicities and outcomes between patients who received G-CSF during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and those who did not.

They confirmed that the chance of severe thrombocytopenia or anaemia during treatment almost doubled in patients given G-CSF to around 30% and 20%, respectively, however these were lower than previously reported. That was followed by a significantly higher use of further supportive measures such as platelets and blood transfusions. However, there was no difference in the incidence of pulmonary complications or in survival.

Gomes said: "G-CSF had no significant negative impact on the outcomes of these patients, which is a very comforting result. The higher haematological toxicity was balanced by an appropriate supportive care throughout treatment."

He continued: "We can conclude from this analysis that the use of G-CSF during thoracic radiotherapy is safe and should support patients to receive the full planned course of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and achieve the best possible benefit. These findings should give clinicians the confidence to use G-CSF when needed in this context. We aim to publish a complete analysis later this year which may hopefully help change the current guidelines."

Commenting on the findings, Dr Stefan Zimmermann, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology Department, HFR - Hopital Cantonal, Fribourg, Switzerland, said: "Oncologists do need G-CSF to mitigate neutropenia and increase chemotherapy delivery and compliance, but want the beneficial effect of timely concurrent therapy to outweigh the toxic risks."

"In this analysis, the use of G-CSF did not result in an increased risk of pneumonitis, but the incidence of severe thrombocytopenia is a concern," he continued. "The use of G-CSF was not detrimental to progression-free survival or overall survival. We can conclude that primary or secondary prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia with G-CSF is justified, but patients at higher risk for thrombocytopenia should be treated with caution."

More information: 1 Abstract LBA2_PR - 'Use of G-CSF and prophylactic antibiotics with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in limited-stage small cell lung cancer: results from the phase III CONVERT trial,' will be presented by Dr Fabio Gomes during the Proffered Paper session 'SCLC and early stage NSCLC' on Sunday, 7 May, 09:00 (CEST). 1 Abstract LBA2_PR - 'Use of G-CSF and prophylactic antibiotics with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in limited-stage small cell lung cancer: results from the phase III CONVERT trial,' will be presented by Dr Fabio Gomes during the Proffered Paper session 'SCLC and early stage NSCLC' on Sunday, 7 May, 09:00 (CEST). 2 Smith TJ, et al. Recommendations for the Use of WBC Growth Factors: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(28): 3199-3212. 3 Bunn PA Jr, et al. Chemoradiotherapy with or without granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer: a prospective phase III randomized study of the Southwest Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol. 1995;13(7):1632-1641. 4 meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/165387-176
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By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 5 (PTI) Two warships of the Indian Navy today arrived in Alexandria in Egypt as part of an initiative by the two countries to expand maritime cooperation.

The warships, INS Mumbai and INS Aditya, will engage extensively with the Egyptian Navy during their three-day stay in the harbour, the navy said in a statement here.

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The two ships are part of the Indian Navys overseas deployment (OSD) to the Mediterranean Sea and the West Coast of Africa.

Both India and Egypt have been trying to enhance defence cooperation in the last few years.

The setting up of the Indo-Egypt Joint Defence Committee (JDC) in 2006 was a significant step in strengthening defence ties.

Indian naval assets have been increasingly deployed in recent times to address the main maritime concerns of the region, including piracy off the coast of Somalia.

In addition, the Indian Navy has also been involved in assisting countries in the Indian Ocean Region with hydrographic survey, search and rescue and other such capacity-building and capability-enhancement activities.

"The current deployment into the Mediterranean will contribute towards the Indian Navys efforts to consolidate inter operability and forge strong bonds of friendship across the seas," the navy said. PTI MPB SMN

--- ENDS ---
Prince William demanded 1.5 million euros compensation over topless photographs of his wife Catherine.

In a statement read at the opening of a criminal case brought over 12 pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless, the Prince described the decision to publish the images as particularly shocking.

The couple are also demanding a very significant fine from Frances Closer magazine for publishing the photographs, taken during a three-day break in France, in September 2012.

The editorial staff of the magazine, however, assures that these photographs do not at all demean Catherines dignity. In their words, beautiful, loving, and modern couple are shown in these photographs.

Six media representatives, including three photographers, went on trial for alleged invasion of privacy.
STEPANAKERT.  The adversary breached the truce along the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces about 45 times, from late Thursday night to early Friday morning.

During this time the Azerbaijani armed forces fired more than 730 shots toward the position-holders of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR) Defense Army, and with different-caliber shooting weapons, the defense army informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

But the Artsakh defense army vanguard units continue confidently carrying out their military service, and they take actions in response when necessary.
Military serviceman Shiraz Sahakyan, who was wounded in Thursdays land mine explosion in Tavush Province of Armenia, on Friday will be transferred to capital city Yerevan.

Choratan village mayor Varuzhan Baghmanyan, who is a fellow villager of the wounded soldier, told about the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Sahakyan, 48, on Thursday underwent surgery at Berd town hospital, and his leg was amputated.

He is currently in stable condition, and his injury is no longer life-threatening.
The US regrets the impending closure of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Charge dAffaires, a.i. Kate M. Byrnes stated the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, held in Vienna.

We lament the loss of the last OSCE field operation in the South Caucasus. Field operations provide invaluable support to their host countries by helping to strengthen adherence to OSCE principles and commitments, providing early warning and crisis management, and promoting dialogue between government and civil society.

We appreciate the determined effort of both the German and Austrian Chairmanships to resolve the impasse over the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. We regret that Azerbaijan refused to agree to extend the mandate unless the Office ended its humanitarian demining-related activities. Armenia, in the spirit of compromise, agreed that the Office in Yerevan would end these activities. Despite months of effort by the Chairmanship, it could not find language satisfactory to all participating States regarding a Permanent Council decision extending the mandate of the Office.

We recognize the Armenian governments cooperation with the OSCE. The Office in Yerevan has played an important role in supporting the host country with implementation of its OSCE commitments in all three dimensions. The Offices promotion of community policing; assistance with tax and regulatory reform; and support for human rights defenders, womens equality and media freedom, were bringing about positive results.

The United States encourages the OSCE to continue cooperation with the Republic of Armenia  with both the government and civil society. We call on the Chairmanship and the Secretary General to explore new ways of maintaining an OSCE presence in Armenia, and throughout the South Caucasus.

Finally, the United States would also like to thank Ambassador Avakov and his staff for their outstanding work and dedication, particularly during the past months of uncertainty over the future of the Office. We wish them the best in their future endeavors.
YEREVAN.  The Ministry of Justice of Armenia and the Russian side are discussing the matter of organizing the serving of the sentence of Russian citizen Valery Permyakov, who is sentenced to life imprisonment.

Deputy Minister of Justice Vigen Kocharyan told about the aforementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am. He noted this reflecting on the Russian media reports that Permyakov will be serving his sentence in Russia.

Given that there is a situation when there are decisions reached by the courts of both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia regarding the said person, naturally, these discussions are currently being held also with the Russian side, to pursue the objective of finding the necessary legal solutions to ensure the serving of the sentence, stressed Kocharyan. The Ministry of Justice will inform the public about the [respective] decision to be made.

According to the indictment, Valery Permyakov, a serviceman of the 102nd Russian Military Base in Gyumri, entered the Avetisyan family home and killed seven persons, including two children, in January 2015.

Subsequently, he left his uniform and rifle behind, and disappeared.

Russian border guards, however, found him near the Turkish border.

On August of the same year, the Russian garrison court sentenced Permyakov to ten years in prison.

And in August 2016, the Shirak District Court of First Instance found him guilty of the murder of seven people, and sentenced him to life in prison.

At present, Valery Permyakov is kept in custody in the aforesaid Russian military base.
STEPANAKERT.  All attempts by the adversary to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by the use of force are doomed to failure.

The Defense Minister and Defense Army Commander of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic/NKR), Levon Mnatsakanyan, noted about the above-said at a press conference on Friday, the Artsakh defense army informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

At the start of this press conference, which was held in the lead-up to the triple anniversary to be celebrated in the NKR, Mnatsakanyan presented the 25-year history of the defense army of the Republic of Artsakh.

Subsequently, he reflected on the military aggression which Azerbaijan had unleashed against Nagorno-Karabakh, in April of the year past. In this connection, he noted that even though the adversary had used its entire arsenal during this large-scale attack, the Artsakh defense army had managed to foil all plans by Azerbaijan, and therefore, just like in May 1994, Baku was forced to seek Moscows mediation, with a request for establishing ceasefire, also in April 2016.

In addition, the Nagorno-Karabakh minister of defense informed about the extensive upgrading work that has been conducted at the frontline since April of last year.

Also, he assured that the Artsakh defense army was still capable of carrying out its military duties with honor.

At the end of the press conference, Levon Mnatsakanyan responded to the questions posed by the reporters in attendance.
YEREVAN.  Passenger flow in Armenias two international airportsZvartnots airport in capital city Yerevan, and Shirak airport in Gyumrihave totaled 668,589 people, from January to April, and this is 28.3 percent more than the respective indicator for the same months last year.

In addition, cargo transportation at Zvartnots amounted to 7,246 tons in the first four months of the current year, and this is 82.8 percent more than in the same months of 2016, the General Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Also, flights and landings at these two airports increased 21.2 percent, between January and April 2017, as compared with the same months in the year past.
By Press Trust of India: Thiruvananthapuram, May 5 (PTI) The Opposition Congress- led UDF today demanded the immediate reinstatement of IPS officer T P Senkumar as Kerala DGP citing the Supreme Court dismissing a clarification petition by the government over its earlier order on the matter.

The opposition also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying the court development was a huge setback to the LDF government due to its arrogance in not implementing the apex court order.

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The government had no other option but to re-instate Senkumar as the Director General of Police, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said.

He was reacting to the apex court earlier in the day dismissing the state governments application seeking certain clarifications on its April 24 directive to re-instate Senkumar. It also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the Kerala government.

The apex court also sought response of the Kerala Chief Secretary on a contempt plea by Senkumar, who has alleged delay in his reinstatement as DGP despite the court order.

"This is a huge setback to the Chief Ministers and governments arrogance. This government cannot continue even for a moment," Chennithala told reporters here.

Senkumar should have been appointed soon after the apex courts earlier order, he said, adding the LDF government had no right to continue politically or morally.

The court had on April 24 directed the reinstatement of Senkumar, saying he was transferred by the LDF government unfairly and arbitrarily.

Former chief minister Oommen Chandy also criticised the government over the issue.

KPCC acting president M M Hassan demanded the resignation of the chief minister in view of the Supreme Court order.

The apex court verdict "is a consequence of the chief ministers arrogance," he told reporters. PTI UD VS IKA

--- ENDS ---
YEREVAN.  Representatives from the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies of Armenia will soon meet with a Rasia FZE investment company delegation, led by its director Joseph Borkowski.

The Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies, Vahan Martirosyan, informed the aforesaid at a press conference on Friday.

This company, which is registered in Dubai, had announced about making investments in the Iran-Armenia railway project. And in 2013, it had signed a respective memorandum of understanding with the Armenian ministry.

Pursuant to the noted deadlines, however, Rasia already had to prepare a cost-based feasibility study of this project. But there is neither this project nor the company, to this day.

The Armenian minister said there was a need to meet and clarify some matters.

In Martirosyans words, the construction cost is still estimated at US$3.2 billion for the new section of the route of this railway.
YEREVAN.  The Prime Minister of Armenia, Karen Karapetyan, on Friday met with Bulgarian Ambassador Maria Pavlova Tsosorkova-Kaymaktchieva.

The PM noted that Armenia was interested in making interstate relations with Bulgaria grow deeper, the press office of the government informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Also, Karapetyan highlighted the further development of Armenian-Bulgarian economic cooperation and business ties.

In addition, the Premier noted that Bulgarian investors may view Armenia as a platform for entering the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Iranian markets. He added that Bulgarian capital could also engage in the free economic zone in Armenias Meghri town that borders Iran, and stated that he saw prospects for collaboration also in the transport sector.

Ambassador Tsosorkova-Kaymaktchieva, for her part, noted that Bulgaria likewise underscored the strengthening of relations with Armenia. Furthermore, she stressed the need for the development of economic cooperation, and added that Bulgaria stood ready to share its track-record with Armenia, in a variety of domains.

Also, the interlocutors considered educational and cultural cooperation an important milestone in increasing contacts between Armenian and Bulgarian peoples.
YEREVAN.  Georgia wants to complete construction of a tunnel under Upper Lars pass next year, Armenian transport and IT minister Vahan Martirosyan said on Friday.

This would make it easier to travel from Armenia to Russia. The highway will be open throughout the whole year, and will not depend on snowstorm in winter or landslides in spring and autumn, the minister explained.

Upper Lars checkpoint connects Armenia with Russia through Georgia's territory. It is often closed because of bad weather conditions, especially in winter.
Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn and Georgias State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Viktor Dolidze signed the Technical Cooperation Facility agreement, according to which Georgia will receive 32 million, Agenda reported.

The Technical Cooperation Facility provides allocation of 100 million to Georgia. Half of this amount will be spent on the development of agriculture in Georgia, and other part on the reforms. Georgia has received the first tranche amounting to 14 million euros in 2016.

The EU Commissioner wrote on Twitter that the meeting was excellent and congratulated Kvirikashvili for his country showing frontrunning performance in all areas.

They discussed Georgia's expectations for the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit and Kvirikashvili said he hoped that the summit would help deepen EU-Georgia cooperation.
YEREVAN.  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has dismissed reports of the Azerbaijani media that the organization's employees were allegedly subjected to shelling by Nagorno-Karabakh.

Responding to the request of the correspondent of Armenian News - NEWS.am to comment on media reports, representative of the ICRC Yerevan Office Zara Amatuni said, that in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ICRC implements various humanitarian projects in the region to support civilian population living close to the Line of Contact and international border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

We regularly visit these communities and work with them on all the sides. One of the ICRC projects implemented jointly with the local authorities is the rehabilitation of a borehole in Ahmadaghali village of Aghdam. In response to the news circulated in media, we confirm that our staff was there on May 4; however, there is no element to state that either ICRC staff, or the ICRC vehicle were targeted, Zara Amatuni noted.

The similar statement was made also by representative of ICRC Baku office Ilakh Guseinov.
YEREVAN. - The eight deputies, from Tsarukyan Bloc who withdrew their statements on self-recusal and received mandates, cannot form a separate group in the National Assembly of Armenia.

Head of the Chair of Constitutional Law at the Yerevan State University (YSU), professor Gevorg Danielyan, who is also the member of the Specialized Commission on Constitutional Reforms adjunct to the President, told Armenian News  NEWS.am.

In his words, according to the NA Charter Law, they can leave Tsarukyan Bloc, but this doesnt yet mean that they will have to withdraw their mandates. The members who left or were forced to leave the faction cannot form a group; they can act as independent deputies.

According to the NA Charter law, the faction members can cease their participation in the faction. This can be done either by submitting a written application or announcing about this during an NA session.

The faction can also expel its members from its composition but for this purpose it should have a charter, which should be approved by the faction members. The expulsion procedure is approved according to that very charter. If the charter is approved, one or several members can be expelled form the faction, Danielyan stressed.

Referring to the powers of the deputies who left or were expelled from a faction, Danielyan said: If these persons have been elected an NA speaker of deputy speaker, they should leave their office after ending their faction membership. If they were elected for those posts not by the given faction, they can continue to hold their office.

In case of being elected chairmen and deputy chairmen of NA standing committees, they should again quit their offices, since exclusively faction members are elected for them.

But if the member, who has been expelled or left the faction is an NA committee member, his membership is ended only in case the given faction appoints another candidate.

Earlier, twelve of the 23 Tsarukyan Bloc MPs, who had petitioned to the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Armenia and for renouncing their parliamentary mandate, withdrew their respective petitions at the subsequent session of CEC on Wednesday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov promised to smash the Islamic State, despite the fact that the terrorists do not want to surrender, he told in an interview with Mir 24 television.

According to Lavrov, the IG has mastered the Middle East, northern Africa, and also the northern regions of Afghanistan that are bordering with the territories of Russia's neighbors and allies. He added that the security forces of the CSTO member countries are ready to act.

The Russian bases located in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia are also ready. Until this infection is destroyed, the priority will remain, he said.

Lavrov recalled that while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York one and a half years ago, Russian leader Vladimir Putin urged the Western partners to create a united front against terrorism. The ministre noted that although the coalition is still not fully formed, the proposal of the Russian leader remains in force.
YEREVAN. - Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan on Friday received Governor of Saint Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko, who has arrived in Armenia within the framework of the Saint Petersburg days in Yerevanproject.

The PM underscored the importance of the consistent development of the Armenian-Russian decentralized cooperation, noting that there is a great potential in that direction. Karapetyan stressed that different platforms should be used to give a new impetus to the expansion of regional economic ties, including increase in the volumes of commodity turnover and mutual tourist visits, etc. Kapapetyan also welcomed the idea of celebrating days of Saint Petersburg in Yerevan and those of Yerevan in Saint Petersburg, adding that this is also a very good way to enhance ties.

Thanking for the reception, Georgy Poltavchenko noted that the volumes of bilateral commodity turnover have grown as a result of the active cooperation with Yerevan, the further steps in that direction being made according to the established action plan. Apart from this, the governor stressed that different food and goods of Armenian origin are in great demand in Saint Petersburg, adding that the ongoing construction of Yerevan Trade House in the city will significantly contribute to the increase of the volumes thereof.

According to Poltavchenko, Yerevan and Saint Petersburg are making consistent steps also towards the development of ties in the health, agricultural, tourisms, cultural and humanitarian spheres. In his words, the business circle of Saint Petersburg is greatly interested in the implementation of investment programs in Armenia and is willing to consider different projects and proposals.

Karen Karapetyan welcomed the steps aimed at implementing joint programs, adding that the Armenian government is ready to support different initiatives. Moreover, he added that the Saint Petersburg investors can consider Armenia also as a platform for entering the Iranian Armenia, by getting involved in the Meghri free trade zone project.
YEREVAN. - The leadership of the Armenian capital city is doing its best so that the city becomes more beautiful and secure.

Incumbent Yerevan mayor and mayoral candidate Taron Margaryan said the aforementioned at the meeting with voters in Erebuni district on Friday.

According to him, the authorities will continue to raise the quality of life in the city with renewed vigor. The restoration of infrastructures, improvement of streets and yards, public transport, schools and kindergartens is all part of what is being done for the citizens, he added.

It is very important for us to enjoy your confidence in order to continue our work by which Yerevan residents know us. Now Yerevan is among the most secure and attractive capitals of Europe. And the foreign tourists see this. That is why more and more guests visit our city each year, the mayor said.

The Yerevan Council election will be conducted on May 14. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Yelk (Way Out) Bloc and Yerkir Tsirani (Country of Apricot) party take part in the election.
By Press Trust of India: From Aditi Khanna

London, May 5 (PTI) Scotland Yards Counter Terrorism Command officers have been given seven more days to question six female terror suspects arrested over the last few weeks in London and Kent area of south-east England.

All six were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorist acts and detained under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

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Warrants of further detention, for up to seven more days, were granted yesterday at Westminster Magistrates Court in respect of all six women whilst enquiries continue, a Metropolitan Police statement said.

A 21-year-old woman was arrested in hospital after being shot when officers fired laughing gas through the windows of a flat in north-west London and stormed the property.

A second woman, 20, was arrested at the flat and a 43- year-old woman was arrested in Kent. Subsequent raids led to the arrests of three teenage women, aged 18 or 19, in east London.

Meanwhile, three men arrested during raids by heavily armed counter-terrorism officers as part of the same operation have been released without charge.

?Officers have now completed the searches of all the addresses connected with the arrests,? the Met said.

The news came as officers from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) arrested a 30-year-old man at London?s Heathrow Airport as he disembarked a flight from Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday.

"The man has been arrested on suspicion for preparing for terrorist acts and terrorist training contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. He has been taken to a south London police station, where he is detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE),? the Met said.

The Met Police has conducted a series of raids and arrests in the last few weeks, including the arrest of a 27- year-old man carrying knives near the Houses of Parliament in London last week.

Britain?s security services have reportedly identified 350 people who have returned to Britain from Syria and pose a potential terrorist threat.

British police anti-terrorism activity has been on high alert, with 260 arrests in 2016 and 183 people in prison for terrorism offences at the end of the last year.

More than 19,000 people were subjected to anti-terrorism security checks at ports and airports during 2016, according to latest figures.

This anti-terror activity has been further intensified since the March 22 attack on Parliament in London by Khalid Masood, which claimed four innocent lives. PTI AK PMS

--- ENDS ---

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YEREVAN. - The issue on determining the candidacy of the Armenian National Assembly (NA) deputy speaker from Tsarukyan Bloc is in the discussion stage.

Newly-elected NA deputy Iveta Tonoyan, who is also the spokesperson for Tsarukyan Bloc leader Gagik Tarukyan, told the aforementioned to journalists on Friday.

Asked whether the Bloc is going to nominate a candidate for the post of NA deputy speaker, she said: I cant say anything certain. This issue is being discussed and once the decision is made, it will be communicated to the media.

Another deputy from Tsarukyan Bloc, Vardan Bostanjyan, told journalists that the issue on the candidacy of parliamentary deputy speaker has not yet been solved.

Under the new Electoral Code of Armenia, the parliament will have three deputy speakers, one of whom should represent the opposition.
Updated from 5:54 a.m. EDT

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Here are five things you must know for Friday, May 5:

1. -- U.S. stock futures traded mixed Friday as Wall Street turned its attention to U.S. jobs data and as oil prices stabilized after a sharp slide overnight.

The economic calendar in the U.S. on Friday includes the U.S. jobs report for April at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Economists surveyed by FactSet expect 185,000 jobs were added to payrolls last month, while the unemployment rate is forecast to tick up to 4.6%. Average hourly earnings are expected to grow 0.3%.

The U.S. added 235,000 and 98,000 jobs over February and March, respectively, the first full two months under Donald Trump's presidency.

"We believe the previous [March] number was more affected by weather, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest causing somewhat of an aberration," Tony Bedikian, head of global markets for Citizens Bank, told TheStreet. "The market is anticipating and expecting a bounceback here."

Federal Reserve Vice ChairmanStanley Fischer is scheduled to speak at Hoover's Monetary Policy Conference in Stanford, Calif., at 11:30 a.m., while Fed Chair Janet Yellen will speak about "125 Years of Women's Participation in the Economy" at Brown University in Providence, R.I., at 1:30 p.m.

Cigna (CI) - Get Free Report posted adjusted earnings in the first quarter of $2.77 a share, beating analysts' forecasts of $2.45. Earnings are also expected from Revlon (REV) - Get Free Report , Cognizant Technology (CTSH) - Get Free Report and Moody's (MCO) - Get Free Report .

2. -- Global oil prices stabilized Friday after an overnight plunge that extended one of the biggest declines for crude in at least six months.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil for June delivery slipped 0.09% to $45.48 a barrel early Friday after hitting a six-month low of $44.14 in overnight Asia trading as investors adjusted to a glut in supplies and speculation that OPEC members won't agree to further production cuts later this month. Brent crude, the global benchmark, gained 0.4% to $48.56 a barrel but traded as low as $47.05 during Asia hours.

The moves are likely to add pressure to OPEC members as they prepare for their next meeting in Vienna on May 25, when they are expected to discuss extending an agreement reached in November that has, along with participation from Russia, taken 1.8 million barrels of crude from the market each day.

"The collapse in oil prices saw (WTI) plunge as the market continues to probe for a bottom amid oversupply concerns," said Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA. He said traders saw $45 as an important level because the Saudi oil minister said earlier this week that prices would be kept in the $45 to $55 range. "If $45 was OPEC line in the sand, well it's been breached so let us see how strong OPEC resolve is," he said.

3. -- Shares of IBM (IBM) - Get Free Report fell 2.5% in premarket trading Friday after Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) - Get Free Report Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett told CNBChe sold off about a third of his stake in Big Blue in the first and second quarters of 2017.

Buffett owned about 81 million shares of IBM at the end of 2016.

"I don't value IBM the same way that I did six years ago when I started buying ... I've revalued it somewhat downward," Buffett told CNBC. "When it got above $180 we actually sold a reasonable amount of stock."

IBM closed Thursday at $159.05.

Berkshire Hathaway still owns more than 50 million shares of IBM and with shares now trading below $160 Buffett said he has stopped selling, CNBC reported.

4. -- Goldman Sachs (GS) - Get Free ReportCEO Lloyd Blankfein warned Friday that London's status as an international finance hub is at risk as a result of the country's decision to leave the European Union.

In an interview broadcast on the BBC, Blankfein said he was confident that London would remain the principal base for his bank's non-U.S. operations, but nonetheless warned that there were things "beyond our control" that could alter those plans. He also warned that London's financial sector expansion, a key component of U.K. economic growth, could "stall" as a result of the ongoing Brexit uncertainty.

"I don't think it will totally reverse," he told the BBC. "It will stall, it might backtrack a bit, it just depends on a lot of things about which we are uncertain and I know there isn't certainty at the moment."

When asked if the bank, which has more than 6,500 employees working in various London offices, would consider relocating as a result, Blankfein sounded open-minded.

"A lot of people elect to have their European business concentrated in one place and the easiest place would be the U.K.," Blankfein said. "If you cannot benefit from access to the EU from the U.K., and no one knows what those rules and determinations will be, then the risk is that they'll be some adjustment that will cause some people to have a smaller footprint in the U.K."

"It is our hope that we will be able to conduct our business as close as we can to the way we conduct it today," he added. "But, without knowing how things will turn out, we have to plan for a number of contingencies.

5. -- The U.S. Department of Justice has begun a criminal investigation into Uber's use of a software tool that helped its drivers evade local transportation regulators, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Uber acknowledged the software, known as "Greyball," helped it identify and circumvent government officials who were trying to clamp down on Uber in areas where its service had not yet been approved, such as Portland, Ore., Reuters noted.

The company prohibited the use of Greyball for this purpose shortly after The New York Times revealed its existence in March, saying the program was created to check ride requests to prevent fraud and safeguard drivers. The Times report triggered a barrage of negative publicity for the company, which already was struggling with a number of business and legal issues.

Don't miss these top stories on TheStreet:
On 4 May 2017, Ariane 5 flight VA236 lifted off from Europes Spaceport in French Guiana and delivered two telecom satellites, SGDC and Koreasat-7, into their planned orbits. Credit: ESA

Ariane 5 has delivered two telecom satellites, SGDC and Koreasat-7, into their planned orbits.

Arianespace announced the liftoff at 21:50 GMT (23:50 CEST, 18:50 local time) yesterday from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The mission lasted about 36 minutes.

Brazil's SGDC Geostationary Satellite for Communications and Defense, with a launch mass of 5735 kg, was the first to be released after about 28 minutes. The 3680 kg Koreasat-7 was released eight minutes later.

SGDC, operated by Telebras SA, will provide Brazil with broadband, new space technologies and strategic communications. The satellite has a design life of more than 18 years.

Koreasat-7, operated by ktsat, will provide telecommunications and broadcasting services over Korea, the Philippines, Indochina, India and Indonesia. The satellite has a design life of more than 15 years.

The payload mass for this launch was 10 289 kg. The satellites totalled about 9415 kg, with payload adapters and carrying structures making up the rest.

Flight VA236 was the 92nd Ariane 5 mission.
Recently in Lawrenceville, Pa., roboticists sat alongside executives of some of the largest manufacturing companies in the country, as hundreds gathered to start a $260 million national initiative headquartered in Pittsburgh.

The matchmaking effort aims to dramatically increase robots and automation on U.S. production lines. But a second piece of the initiative's mission involves a very different kind of engineering challenge: keeping and growing human jobs along the way.

"We are trying to create jobs because of the new technology and the new skills that will be needed," said Rebecca Hartley, director of operations for the Clemson University Center for Workforce Development in South Carolina.

"We have to do this by the numbers," she added. "How many credentials do we create? How many students do we have enrolled in those programs? How many students do we have enrolled in apprenticeships? How many students are getting jobs? How many incumbent workers are getting new jobs because of new training?"

It's a tall order for Hartley, who was brought on as the chief workforce officer for the Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing Institute, a nonprofit affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University that in January won an $80 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Questions loom over the effects automation has had on the American workforce - a topic that for years has been the subject of debate among economists and policy-makers. While machines have allowed workers to become more productive and companies to lower their costs, the technology has also made some jobs obsolete.

Occupations across the spectrum are seeing increasing automation, but manufacturing is especially exposed to non-human help - and vulnerable to job losses. One recent study found that as the average U.S. manufacturing worker churned out 68 percent more products from 2000 to 2010, employers eliminated 8.2 million jobs that economists had expected to exist.

Companies and proponents of automation partly blame any job losses on what they call a persistent skills gap, and they look to training and education programs to prepare a new generation of workers.

By tracking workforce needs on a national scale, Hartley and others hope the new ARM Institute can prove that improved efficiency can breathe life into manufacturing.

"We believe robots and automation technology are going to save and create jobs," said Jeff Burnstein, president of the Association for Advancing Automation, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based trade group of robotics developers.

A recent study from the group showed manufacturing jobs have grown by 900,000 - even as a record number of robots were shipped. Burnstein said he likes to flip the script on the notion that robots are killing jobs: "What would happen if we didn't automate? How many jobs would be lost?"

A NEW WAY OF LEARNING

Hartley hails from South Carolina, a state that decades ago was home to a thriving textile industry. Like the steel industry collapse in Pittsburgh, she said, textile mills in the southern state shuttered amid an industry collapse beginning in the 1970s.

Memories of lost jobs and tough factory conditions have stuck with older residents, she said, and people tend to steer their children away from goods-producing industry.

"They don't want anything to do with manufacturing because it reminds them of something that's not sustainable," she said. "So it's a perception issue to really show them what advanced manufacturing is."

She has been doing that in her job with Clemson University, which, with funding from the National Science Foundation, has worked to design educational materials for two-year colleges and companies in the advanced manufacturing industry. Among other programs, the group has developed virtual reality courses that give students a perspective into how new machines and equipment works.

At the ARM Institute, she said early talks with industry have revealed a desire to break down negative stereotypes and to show students the future of manufacturing is a wide open field.

Over the next five years, the institute plans to develop short-term certifications or credentials in robotics and automation - something that does not yet exist and that companies have sought for years, Hartley said.

A similar plan using so-called "stackable credentials" was developed for the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania at ShaleNet, a training program founded in 2010.

"That's something a student can build on," Hartley said.

Hartley acknowledged that job creation, particularly this early in the endeavor, is a moving target. Jackie Erickson, a spokeswoman for the ARM Institute, said she couldn't provide exact numbers but workforce development "is very high priority" for the Defense Department. The institute plans to recruit military veterans returning to civilian life who have technical skills.

At the gathering at the school's National Robotics Engineering Center, ARM Institute leaders began recruiting private sector partners to become members - and get at least the $173 million in contributions required as part of the federal grant.

When the institute garnered more than 200 commitment letters for its grant application, many were from colleges, universities and other nonprofits in education and workforce development.

Education partners so far have agreed to spend $88 million to the manufacturing companies' $41 million, according to numbers shared during the meeting by Gary Fedder, the institute's CEO.

PRESSURE ON POLICY-MAKERS

Economists and academic researchers who pin job losses on automation are encouraged by the institute's endeavor.

Michael J. Hicks, an economic professor at Ball State University, found nearly nine in 10 manufacturing jobs evaporated between 2000 and 2010 as factories became more efficient and automated.

Just one in 10 jobs was lost because of trade policy, according to his study, which was published in 2015 and has received national attention amid the push to bring back manufacturing jobs.

That's not to say he discounts robotics from eventually bringing a new wave of jobs. When early manufacturing first sprung into the Midwestern states in the late 1800s, it drew in workers from predominantly simpler, agricultural jobs.

"The same thing could happen in some other sector," he said. "We're going to have automation, but we don't know what that next big sector is going to be."

The ARM Institute also has the potential to create central sources of workforce information for government, suggested Tom Mitchell, a professor of machine learning at CMU. Mitchell released a study claiming that policy-makers are "flying blind" as robotics disrupts the workplace.

"You can imagine a scenario where they add up to more manufacturing jobs in the U.S., but you can also imagine a scenario where they don't," he said. "The situation is not so straightforward to me, because now I can see all these different forces at work.

"We have some choices; there are policies that can make a difference."

2017 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Microscopic landscape of various types of cellsincluding tumour cells (in red). Credit: University of Warwick

Cancer cells are to be detected and classified more efficiently and accurately, using ground-breaking artificial intelligence  thanks to a new collaboration between the University of Warwick, Intel Corporation, the Alan Turing Institute and University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW).

Scientists at the University of Warwick's Tissue Image Analytics (TIA) Laboratoryled by Professor Nasir Rajpoot from the Department of Computer Scienceare creating a large, digital repository of a variety of tumour and immune cells found in thousands of human tissue samples, and are developing algorithms to recognize these cells automatically.

"We are very excited about working with Intel under the auspices of the strategic relationship between Intel and the Alan Turing Institute," said Professor Rajpoot, who is also an Honorary Scientist at University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW).

"The collaboration will enable us to benefit from world-class computer science expertise at Intel with the aim of optimising our digital pathology image analysis software pipeline and deploying some of the latest cutting-edge technologies developed in our lab for computer-assisted diagnosis and grading of cancer."

The digital pathology imaging solution aims to enable pathologists to increase their accuracy and reliability in analysing cancerous tissue specimens over what can be achieved with existing methods.

"We have long known that important aspects of cellular pathology can be done faster with computers than by humans," said Professor David Snead, clinical lead for cellular pathology and director of the UHCW Centre of Excellence.

"With this collaboration, we finally see a pathway toward bringing this science into practice. The successful adoption of these tools will stimulate better organisation of services, gains in efficiency, and above all, better care for patients, especially those with cancer."

The initial work focuses on lung cancer. The University of Warwick and Intel are collaborating to improve a model for computers to recognize cellular distinctions associated with various grades and types of lung cancer by using artificial intelligence frameworks such as TensorFlow running on Intel Xeon processors.

UHCW is annotating the digital pathology images to help inform the model. The aim is to create a model that will eventually be useful in many types of cancercreating more objective results, lowering the risk of human errors, and aiding oncologists and patients in their selection of treatments.

The TIA lab at Warwick and the Pathology Department at the UHCW have established the UHCW Centre of Excellence for Digital Pathology and begun digitising their histopathology service.

This digital pathology imaging solution will be the next step in revolutionising traditional healthcare with computerised systems and could be placed in any pathology department, in any hospital.

The project has been launched in collaboration with Intel and the Alan Turing Institutethe latter being the UK's national centre for data science, founded in 2015 in a joint venture between the University of Warwick and other top UK universities.

"This project is an excellent example of data science's potential to underpin critical improvements in health and well-being, an area of great importance to the Alan Turing Institute," said Dr. Anthony Lee, the Strategic Programme Director at the Alan Turing Institute for the collaboration between the Institute and Intel.

Rick Cnossen, general manager of HIT-Imaging Analytics in Intel's Data Center Group, commented, "This project has massive potential benefit for cellular pathology, and Intel technologies are the foundation for enabling this transformation.

"We've seen what has happened over recent years with the digitisation of X-rays (PACS). The opportunity to transform the way pathology images are handled and analysed, building on experience with PACS and combining data with other sources, could be truly ground-breaking.

"This collaboration could not only improve service efficiency, but also open up new and exciting analytical techniques for more personalised precision care."
North China is one of the areas of strong earthquake activity on the Chinese mainland. Between the 1960s and 1970s, North China experienced the 1966 Xingtai Ms7.2, 1969 Bohai Ms7.4, 1975 Haicheng Ms7.3 and 1976 Tangshan Ms7.8 earthquakes, causing great losses of life and property. The Tangshan earthquake caused 240,000 casualties. In the past 50 years, Chinese seismologists have conducted large-scale deep geophysical exploration and research, obtained the detailed crustal and upper mantle structure, and revealed the deep tectonic environment of strong earthquakes in North China.

The resulting research paper has been published in SCIENCE CHINA Earth Sciences by Professor Wang Chunyong at the Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration. The research group reviewed the main achievements of the studies on the crustal and upper mantle structure as well as the seismogenic environment and tectonic patterns in North China since the 1966 Xingtai earthquake.

Based on plate tectonics theory, geoscientists have successfully explained the patterns and mechanisms of earthquake activity on global plate boundaries. However, plate tectonics theory has not explained the occurrence of earthquakes within the continental plate. The geological structure, seismicity and focal mechanism of North China's position on the Asian continent show that the seismic activity is very different from that in the region of the plate boundary, indicating that the seismotectonics in North China are quite complex. The nucleation, occurence and development of continental earthquakes, and their relationship with the deep-seated structure of the Earth are among the most important subjects in solid Earth science.

Seismologists have conducted numerous surveys of the crustal and upper mantle structure, and associated studies of seismic tomography in North China. They have finished 42 deep seismic sounding profiles with total depth of ~12000 km, and seismic tomography of three-dimensional crustal and upper mantle structure based on the seismic records at ~600 stations. Deep seismic reflection profiling results indicate a complex tectonic setting in the strong earthquake areas of North China, where a listric normal fault and a low-angle detachment in the upper crust coexist with a high-angle deep fault passing through the lower crust to the Moho beneath the hypocenter.

Seismic tomography images revealed that the lithospheric structure in North China is highly inhomogeneousmost of the large earthquakes occurred in the transition between the high- and low-velocity zones, and the Tangshan earthquake area is characterized by a low-velocity anomaly in the middle-lower crust. Comprehensive analysis of geophysical data demonstrated that the deep seismogenic environment in the North China extensional tectonic region is generally characterized by a low-velocity anomalous belt beneath the hypocenter, inconsistency of the deep and shallow structures in the crust, a steep crustal-scale fault, relative lower velocities in the uppermost mantle, and local Moho uplift.

Earthquake prediction is one of the scientific problems that has not yet been solved. Thorough understanding of the deep tectonic environment of strong earthquakes will help to solve the problem of earthquake prediction. Seismologists Deng Qidong (2008) showed that the surface and shallow-deep tectonic features in the large earthquake area have been relieved by the combination of deep seismic reflection profiling and the surface geology and tectonic environment. Thus, researchers are able to obtain more comprehensive understanding of seismogenic tectonic conditions in the active fold area (the extension zone and the compression zone) of the normal or strike-slip normal fault and the reverse fault.

Despite new knowledge from deep seismic exploration and seismic tomography, the complexity of continental seismotectonics still presents some deep-seated problems that need further research.

More information: ChunYong Wang et al, Crustal and upper mantle structure and deep tectonic genesis of large earthquakes in North China, Science China Earth Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1007/s11430-016-9009-1 Journal information: Science China Earth Sciences
Under-Secretary-General for Management Yukio Takasu, in his semi-annual overview of the Organisation's finances, told reporters on Wednesday that the top troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations such as Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Egypt "deserve timely payment" for their contributions and participation in UN peacekeeping.

By Press Trust of India: The UN owes a total of USD 55 million to India for its contribution to the world body's peacekeeping operations, the second highest outstanding payment to any member country.

Under-Secretary-General for Management Yukio Takasu, in his semi-annual overview of the Organisation's finances, told reporters on Wednesday that the top troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations such as Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Egypt "deserve timely payment" for their contributions and participation in UN peacekeeping.

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As on March 31 this year, the UN owed a total of USD 777 million to member states for peacekeeping operations.

Of this, outstanding payment for amount owed for troops, formed police units and Contingent Owned Equipment to Ethiopia was the highest at USD 64 million.

The UN owes India USD 55 million for peacekeeping operations, the second highest amount, followed by 53 million dollars to Bangladesh and 41 million dollars to Pakistan.

Takasu said member states who are owed outstanding payments "deserve to be reimbursed" and the organisation is "making every effort" to make the payments to the nations.

However, as at May 3, India was among the 39 member states which had fully paid all assessments it owed to the UN.

India s Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin pointed out the lag in paying outstanding dues to member states despite the fact that the same member states had paid their dues in full.

"Who pays on time & who is owed huge dues by UN," he tweeted, referring to the amount the UN owed to India and other countries for peacekeeping at a time when these nations had responsibly paid their dues on times.

Earlier Takasu told the UN s Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) that on the regular budget, assessments were issued in 2017 at a level of USD 2.578 billion, USD 29 million higher than in 2016, he said.

Payments received by April 30, 2017 amounted to USD 1.6 billion, unpaid assessed contributions by that date amounted to USD 1.4 billion, USD 8 million lower than a year ago.

The total amount outstanding for peacekeeping operations at the end of 2016 was USD 1.8 billion, compared to the USD 976 million outstanding at the end of the previous year, he said.

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Staphylococcus aureus, in yellow, interacts with a human white blood cell. Credit: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease

Researchers in dermatology at Lund University in Sweden believe they have cracked the mystery of why we are able to quickly prevent an infection from spreading uncontrollably in the body during wounding. They believe this knowledge may be of clinical significance for developing new ways to counteract bacteria.

"Perhaps we don't need to kill them with antibiotics but simply gather them so that the body can better take care of the infection", say researchers Jitka Petrlova (lead author of the article) and Artur Schmidtchen, Professor in Dermatology and Venereology, Lund University. The study was conducted in close collaboration with their colleagues in Lund, Copenhagen and Singapore, and has been published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The researchers have discovered that fragments of thrombin - a common blood protein which can be found in wounds - can aggregate both bacteria and their toxins; something they did not see in normal blood plasma. The aggregation takes place quickly in the wound and causes bacteria and endotoxins not only to gather but also to be "eaten" by the body's inflammatory cells.

"This way, the body avoids a spread of the infection. We believe this to be a fundamental mechanism for taking care of both bacteria and their toxins during wound healing", says Jitka Petrlova and continues;

"Our discovery links aggregation and amyloid formation to our primary defence against infections - our innate immunity. It is well known that various aggregating proteins can cause amyloid disease, in skin or internal organs, such as the brain. Therefore, a mechanism that is supposed to protect us from infections, can sometimes be over-activated and lead to degenerative diseases."

Artur Schmidtchen, who has conducted research in the field of innate immunity for over 20 years, is pleased with the results of the study.

"I have always been fascinated by how nature has effectively created different defence mechanisms, and wound healing provides a rich source of new discoveries. The ability to effectively heal wounds is of evolutionary significance to our survival. Compared to antibiotics, innate immunity has been around for millions of years - and I think we should consider the application of these concepts in an era of increasing antibiotic resistance."

More information: Jitka Petrlova et al. Aggregation of thrombin-derived C-terminal fragments as a previously undisclosed host defense mechanism, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1619609114 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Between 1500 and 1866, slave traders forced 12.5 million Africans aboard transatlantic slave vessels. Before 1820, four enslaved Africans crossed the Atlantic for every European, making Africa the demographic wellspring for the repopulation of the Americas after Columbus' voyages. The slave trade pulled virtually every port that faced the Atlantic Ocean  from Copenhagen to Cape Town and Boston to Buenos Aires  into its orbit.

To document this enormous trade  the largest forced oceanic migration in human history  our team launched Voyages: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, a freely available online resource that lets visitors search through and analyze information on nearly 36,000 slave voyages that occurred between 1514 and 1866.

Inspired by the remarkable public response, we recently developed an animation feature that helps bring into clearer focus the horrifying scale and duration of the trade. The site also recently implemented a system for visitors to contribute new data. In the last year alone we have added more than a thousand new voyages and revised details on many others.

The data have revolutionized scholarship on the slave trade and provided the foundation for new insights into how enslaved people experienced and resisted their captivity. They have also further underscored the distinctive transatlantic connections that the trade fostered.

Records of unique slave voyages lie at the heart of the project. Clicking on individual voyages listed in the site opens their profiles, which comprise more than 70 distinct fields that collectively help tell that voyage's story.

From which port did the voyage begin? To which places in Africa did it go? How many enslaved people perished during the Middle Passage? And where did those enslaved Africans end the oceanic portion of their enslavement and begin their lives as slaves in the Americas?

Working with complex data

Given the size and complexity of the slave trade, combining the sources that document slave ships' activities into a single database has presented numerous challenges. Records are written in numerous languages and maintained in archives, libraries and private collections located in dozens of countries. Many of these are developing nations that lack the financial resources to invest in sustained systems of document preservation.

Even when they are relatively easy to access, documents on slave voyages provide uneven information. Ship logs comprehensively describe places of travel and list the numbers of enslaved people purchased and the captain and crew. By contrast, port-entry records in newspapers might merely produce the name of the vessel and the number of captives who survived the Middle Passage.

These varied sources can be hard to reconcile. The numbers of slaves loaded or removed from a particular vessel might vary widely. Or perhaps a vessel carried registration papers that aimed to mask its actual origins, especially after the legal abolition of the trade in 1808.

Compiling these data in a way that does justice to their complexity, while still keeping the site user-friendly, has remained an ongoing concern.

Volume and direction of the transatlantic slave trade from all African to all American regions. Credit: David Eltis and David Richardson, Atlas of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (New Haven, 2010), Author provided

Of course, not all slave voyages left surviving records. Gaps will consequently remain in coverage, even if they continue to narrow. Perhaps three out of every four slaving voyages are now documented in the database. Aiming to account for missing data, a separate assessment tool enables users to gain a clear understanding of the volume and structure of the slave trade and consider how it changed over time and across space.

Engagement with Voyages site

While gathering data on the slave trade is not new, using these data to compile comprehensive databases for the public has become feasible only in the internet age. Digital projects make it possible to reach a much larger audience with more diverse interests. We often hear from teachers and students who use the site in the classroom, from scholars whose research draws on material in the database and from individuals who consult the project to better understand their heritage.

Through a contribute function, site visitors can also submit new material on transatlantic slave voyages and help us identify errors in the data.

The real strength of the project  and of digital history more generally  is that it encourages visitors to interact with sources and materials that they might not otherwise be able to access. That turns users into historians, allowing them to contextualize a single slave voyage or analyze local, national and Atlantic-wide patterns. How did the survival rate among captives during the Middle Passage change over time? What was the typical ratio of male to female captives? How often did insurrections occur aboard slave ships? From which African port did most enslaved people sent to, say, Virginia originate?

Scholars have used Voyages to address these and many other questions and have in the process transformed our understanding of just about every aspect of the slave trade. We learned that shipboard revolts occurred most often among slaves who came from regions in Africa that supplied comparatively few slaves. Ports tended to send slave vessels to the same African regions in search of enslaved people and dispatch them to familiar places for sale in the Americas. Indeed, slave voyages followed a seasonal pattern that was conditioned at least in part by agricultural cycles on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The slave trade was both highly structured and carefully organized.

The website also continues to collect lesson plans that teachers have created for middle school, high school and college students. In one exercise, students must create a memorial to the captives who experienced the Middle Passage, using the site to inform their thinking. One recent college course situates students in late 18th-century Britain, turning them into collaborators in the abolition campaign who use Voyages to gather critical information on the slave trade's operations.

Voyages has also provided a model for other projects, including a forthcoming database that documents slave ships that operated strictly within the Americas.

We also continue to work in parallel with the African Origins database. The project invites users to identify the likely backgrounds of nearly 100,000 Africans liberated from slave vessels based on their indigenous names. By combining those names with information from Voyages on liberated Africans' ports of origin, the Origins website aims to better understand the homelands from which enslaved people came.

Through these endeavors, Voyages has become a digital memorial to the millions of enslaved Africans forcibly pulled into the slave trade and, until recently, nearly erased from the history of not only the trade itself, but also the history of the Atlantic world.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
A satellite image of Antarctica. Credit: USGS, via Wikipedia, Public Domain

Scientists have known for over a decade that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been losing mass and contributing to sea level rise.

Its eastern neighbour is, however, ten times larger and has the potential to raise global sea level by some 50 metres.

Despite its huge size and importance, conflicting results have been published on the recent behaviour of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. A study led by a group of NASA scientists, that was published in 2015, suggested that this part of Antarctica was gaining so much mass that it compensated for the losses in the west.

Determining what the largest ice sheet on the planet is doing is vital for our understanding of the factors that are influencing present day, and future, sea level rise.

To address this question, a team of scientists led by the University of Bristol and including the University of Wollongong, Australia have studied the problem by combining different satellite observations within a statistical model that is able to separate the processes related to ice mass changes over the continent.

Professor Jonathan Bamber from the Bristol Glaciology Centre which is part of the School of Geographical Sciences, said: "We used similar data sets to the NASA team but added other satellite data from a mission called the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) to help solve for mass gains and losses.

"We then conducted different experiments, using similar assumptions made in the NASA study but found that in every experiment, mass loss from the west always exceeded gains in the east."

The researchers concluded that over the study period, 2003-2013, Antarctica, as a whole, has been contributing to sea level rise and that the gains in East Antarctica were around three times smaller than suggested in the 2015 study.

More information: Alba Martin-Espanol et al, Constraining the mass balance of East Antarctica, Geophysical Research Letters (2017). DOI: 10.1002/2017GL072937 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters
Credit: University of Virginia

Since 1966, when a now-famous and often replicated study known as "The Coleman Report" was published, the phrase "achievement gap" has referred to one thing: the differences in academic success between the average black student and the average white student in America.

Daniel Duke, a professor in the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education, wants to challenge that framework.

"All African-American students are not low-achievers," Duke wrote in a recent article, "Can Within-Race Achievement Comparisons Help Narrow Between-Race Achievement Gaps?," a literature review published in December in the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk.

"Always dwelling on average African-American achievement can distract researchers and policymakers from trying to understand why some African-American students are more successful in school than other African-American students," Duke said in the article. "It seemed to me that the high-performing students had become invisible."

Duke, who has built a career as an organizational historian studying how educational leaders confront challenging situations, said today's leaders have a lot to learn from high-achieving minority students.

"Obviously, between-race differences are extremely important," he said. "But we need an additional set of questions to understand within the given setting  whether it's a classroom, a school, a state or a region  why there are higher-achieving African-American students. What's producing these differences?"

Duke's article examines five different ways to reframe the question of African-American student achievement: variations between schools, differences across school districts, variations between public and charter schools, differences across states, and variations between African-American boys and girls.

"There is a lot of mythology about minority students," Duke said, referring to John Ogbu's 2003 book, "Black Students in an Affluent Suburb: A Study of Academic Disengagement," in which Ogbu noted the negativity of African-American peer groups who say that academic achievement is "acting white."

"We have to be careful of these broad generalizations," Duke said. "Some of our generalizations are inappropriate. There are also white students who don't work very hard. Trying to understand individual differences is what we as educators should be all about."

Two of the more noteworthy findings to come out of Duke's article include the differences in achievement between African-American students in different states and the differences between African-American boys and girls. Hawaii, for example, had the most African-American students passing AP exams, while Mississippi had the least. Texas graduates 84 percent of its African-American students, while Nevada only graduates 57 percent.

In addition, several studies show African-American girls achieve a higher level of academic success than boys. On the California High School Exit Exam in grade 10, the first-time passing rate for African-American girls in English was 15 percentage points higher than for African-American boys, and four points higher in math. Similar numbers were found in Washington State.

Framing the problem of African-American student achievement with different criteria leads to different questions than when comparing white students to black students. New questions arise. What are the differences in how states fund struggling minority schools? Does state funding of social services and early childhood education make a difference? And would higher levels of achievement be associated with single-gender classes and schools?

Reframing the achievement gap question this way also highlights the successes of students of color.

Joanna Williams, an associate professor at the Curry School, researches the social contexts of race and ethnicity for positive youth development.

"This reframing of the achievement gap question creates an important opportunity for us to push back against the inaccurate narrative that all students of color are struggling," she said. "Many youth of color are excelling in schools and are active change agents in their communities.

"It is critical that we identify ways that large numbers of students of color are falling behind. But we have to do that while also amplifying the true story, that many students of color are high-achievers."

At the same time, Williams cautioned that high-achievement outcomes are never the result of individual student effort alone and agrees that experts need to continue thinking about how structures in schools create advantages for some and disadvantages for others.

"Successful student exemplars can help us better understand the dynamics between what individuals bring to the table and how the school environment meets their needs," she said.

Duke's work is doing exactly this, Williams concluded.
Credit: ESA/S. Marti, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

ESA's sensitive tracking antennas at New Norcia, Western Australia, and Malargue, Argentina (seen here in 2012), are being called in to help gather crucial science data during Cassini's last months in orbit, dubbed the Grand Finale.

The mission will end on 15 September, when Cassini plunges into Saturn's atmosphere, bringing to a close one of the most successful exploration endeavours ever (more information).

The craft isn't exiting meekly, however, and its Grand Finale orbits are proving to be immensely valuable. On 26 April, Cassini made the first-ever daring dive between Saturn and its beautiful and enigmatic ring system.

Starting next week, ESA ground stations will work with NASA's Deep Space Network to record radio signals transmitted by Cassini across 1.6 billion km during 22 communication 'passes'.

The recorded signals will serve important new scientific purposes with the strong involvement of European teams.

During its final 22 orbits, the Cassini orbiter is approaching Saturn and its ring so close that the tiny wobbles in Cassini's orbit can be measured to separate the gravitational contribution of the planet and its main rings. From those gravity measurements, allowing radial velocity changes of the spacecraft as tiny as 0.05 mm/s to be measured, the total mass of Saturn's ring can be inferred. Scientists will also gain a better understanding of the interior structure of Saturn.

In addition, during certain part of the orbits, the radio signal will be transmitted directly through the rings and Saturn's upper atmosphere, allowing valuable information on their composition and material distribution to be retrieved.

"We are just now getting into a new mode of radio science, with much more accurate measurements of gravitational effects compared to previous where the effects of ring density on the radio signals were the main topic of study," says Daniel Firre, the service manager at ESA's mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany.
City residents are not benefitting from a clear strategy for developing cities that are 'smart' according to a new RICS Research Trust report by University of Reading academics.

The research, which examined four case studies (Bristol, Milton Keynes, Amsterdam and Taipei) also found that less than a quarter of UK cities had an smart city action plan. Of those that did, the main focus in the smart city case studies is on open data. There is also little or no evidence of the built environment real estate and construction sectors engaging directly with the smart city agenda.

Professor Tim Dixon, Chair of Sustainable Futures in the Built Environment at the University of Reading said:

"With directly elected mayors in large cities such as London, Liverpool and Bristol, and more to follow in six large city regions today, city heads need to consider how big and open data would enrich the lives of their populations.

"In particular, those newly elected city mayors need to work hard to promote increased collaboration between authorities, the built environment sector, and technology companies, to harness the power of built environment data".

Key findings from the report include:

Less than half (47 percent) of UK cities have an established definition for a smart city.

22 percent of respondents had a smart city action plan.

22 percent had a smart city framework.

33 percent of respondents stated their city had a data strategy.

22 percent stated that the strategy mentioned big data.

Prof Dixon continued:

"A key priority for cities is the need to develop clear smart city and data strategies to demonstrate the benefits for citizens and help improve incentives for companies to share their data. This also means professional bodies need to act more decisively, by championing change and promoting the uptake of data and smart city skills within the built environment sector."

Dr Jorn Van de Wetering, Lecturer in Real Estate and Planning at the University of Reading said:

"The focus in this report on the experiences of international smart city stakeholders informs innovation in the built environment sector. This research has identified many interesting international smart city projects and big and open data sharing initiatives. There are significant opportunities for built environment professionals to learn from this best practice to create value through the adoption and transfer of innovative knowledge and skills."

Dr Clare Eriksson FRICS, Director of Global Research & Policy (RICS) said:

"The built environment sector is faced with increasing opportunities and challenges in unlocking the potential offered by the fast rate of technological change. The new report provides highly pertinent and timely insights into how the development of data platforms at the city level can be better used by built environment professionals. It identifies how RICS professionals need to become more "data savvy" and identify where big and open data, alongside the smart city agenda, can help inform and improve organisational performance. Professionals and sector leaders will also need to focus on data interoperability and the necessity of a common data language and standards."

More information: Smart Cities, Big Data and the Built Environment: What's Required? Report Available at: www.rics.org/uk/knowledge/rese  ment-whats-required/
NASA's Terra satellite passed over Tropical Cyclone Donna on May 4 at 2330 UTC (7:30 p.m. EDT) as it covered Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA

The 80 plus islands that make up the nation of Vanuatu were blanketed by the clouds of Tropical Cyclone Donna when NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead. NASA's Aqua satellite provided an infrared look at Donna that showed strong storms with heavy rain potential.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Donna on May 4 at 2330 UTC (7:30 p.m. EDT) as it covered Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean. Powerful thunderstorms circled the center of the storm and a large, thick band of thunderstorms wrapped into the center from the south-southwest.

On May 5, warnings were in effect for Vanuatu and New Caledonia. The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department issued warnings for Torba, Sanma and Malampa. A Red Alert was in effect for the Torba Province and a Yellow Alert was in effect for the Sanma and Malampa provinces.

The New Caledonia Meteorological and Climatological Department issued a Yellow Strong Wind Alert for the northwestern area of the territory.

An infrared image from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite on May 5 at 02:17 UTC (May 4 at 10:17 p.m. EDT) showed very cold cloud top temperatures in thunderstorms around Donna's center. Coldest cloud tops were as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 53 degrees Celsius. Cloud top temperatures that cold have been shown to generate heavy rainfall.

An infrared image from NASA's Aqua satellite on May 5 at 02:17 UTC showed very cold (purple) cloud top temperatures in thunderstorms around Donna's center. Coldest cloud tops were as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 53 degrees Celsius. Credit: NASA JPL/Ed Olsen

On May 5, 2017 at 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT), Tropical Cyclone Donna has maximum sustained winds near 90 knots (103 mph/166.7 kph). Donna was a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Donna was centered near 13.9 degrees south latitude and 164.8 degrees east longitude, about 302 nautical miles (347.8 miles/ 559.7 km) northwest of Port Vila, Vanuatu. Donna was moving to the west-southwest at 6 knots (7 mph/11 kph).

Donna is expected to peak in intensity on May 7 and 8 at 115 knots. A trough or elongated area of low pressure moving toward the storm from the west is expected to turn the direction of the storm from the southwest to the southeast. After May 8, increasing vertical wind shear and cooling sea surface temperatures will gradually weaken the cyclone. By May 10, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects Tropical Cyclone Donna to begin extra-tropical transition.
Image of photonic hypercrystals courtesy of Tal Galfsky

Control of light-matter interaction is central to fundamental phenomena and technologies such as photosynthesis, lasers, LEDs and solar cells. City College of New York researchers have now demonstrated a new class of artificial media called photonic hypercrystals that can control light-matter interaction in unprecedented ways.

This could lead to such benefits as ultrafast LEDs for Li-Fi (a wireless technology that transmits high-speed data using visible light communication), enhanced absorption in solar cells and the development of single photon emitters for quantum information processing, said Vinod M. Menon, professor of physics in City College's Division of Science who led the research.

Photonic crystals and metamaterials are two of the most well-known artificial materials used to manipulate light. However, they suffer from drawbacks such as bandwidth limitation and poor light emission. In their research, Menon and his team overcame these drawbacks by developing hypercrystals that take on the best of both photonic crystals and metamaterials and do even better. They demonstrated significant increase in both light emission rate and intensity from nanomaterials embedded inside the hypercrystals.

The emergent properties of the hypercrystals arise from the unique combination of length scales of the features in the hypercrystal as well as the inherent properties of the nanoscale structures.

The CCNY research appears in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The team included graduate students Tal Galfsky and Jie Gu from Menon's research group in CCNY's Physics Department and Evgenii Narimanov (Purdue University), who first theoretically predicted the hypercrystals. The research was supported by the Army Research Office, the National Science Foundation - Division of Materials Research MRSEC program, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Credit: National Research Nuclear University

Turbulence in clear skies comprises the most unpleasant kind of vortex drifts in air travel. These occur in cloudless space with perfect visibility when an airplane travels between air flows that differ in direction, speed of movement, temperature and density. This is the kind of turbulence that Aeroflot flight SU-270 from Moscow to Bangkok experienced, resulting in 27 injuries of varying severity.

Such turbulence is impossible to detect in advance, and experts believe early warning for pilots could mitigate injuries to travelers and flight crews. Scientists are developing techniques for distant detection of turbulence in clear skies. Russian physicists from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI suggest using a "muon hodoscope," which traces muon trajectories in the atmosphere for detection of zones of possible turbulence. Muons are elementary particles that result from interaction of space articles (protons and nuclei) with Earth's atmosphere. As they pass through the atmosphere, muons lose energy, and their flow changes. The quantity of lost energy depends on characteristics of the atmosphere. Electromagnetic fields, temperature, air rarity and water vapor content all influence muon energy. It is possible to trace, describe, and predict atmosphere processes by the character of changes in muon flow.

Professor Igor Yashin says, "The hodoscope records changes of each muon, producing a picture of the atmosphere that is similar to X-ray imaging. Currently, we have a working stationary hodoscope called HURRICANE, and a mobile version of the detector." The device is portable, and powered by a small electronic generator or a domestic socket.

"The main question for us is the device calibration at real events," Igor Yashin explains. "We can trace any processes in the atmosphere where there are large-scale changes of the density gradient. The incident above Thailand involved a reported 700-meter 'air pocket,' which means that in this zone, there was very high air raritywe would definitely see it with the help of a hodoscope. Using muon diagnostics, we can see the atmosphere in real-time, and predict the development of powerful atmospheric phenomena at heights of up to 15 km. It is only necessary to create a network of similar devices."
UMCES graduate student Jessica Wingfield is first author on the paper. Credit: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

A new study by scientists at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Cornell University and Duke University is the first in a series to understand how marine mammals like porpoises, whales, and dolphins may be impacted by the construction of wind farms off the coast of Maryland. The new research offers insight into previously unknown habits of harbor porpoises in the Maryland Wind Energy Area, a 125-square-mile area off the coast of Ocean City that may be the nation's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm.

Offshore wind farms provide renewable energy, but activities during the construction can affect marine mammals that use sound for communication, finding food, and navigation.

"It is critical to understand where marine mammals spend their time in areas of planning developments, like offshore wind farms, in order to inform regulators and developers on how to most effectively avoid and minimize negative impacts during the construction phase when loud sounds may be emitted," said Helen Bailey, the project leader at the UMCES' Chesapeake Biological Laboratory.

Scientists from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science used underwater microphones called hydrophones to detect and map the habits of harbor porpoises, one of the smallest marine mammals. Bailey describes harbor porpoises as "very shy" ranging 4 to 5 feet long with a small triangular fin that can be hard to spot. They swim primarily in the ocean, spending summers north in the Bay of Fundy and migrating to the Mid-Atlantic, as far south as North Carolina, in the winter. There are about 80,000 of them in the northwestern Atlantic.

"There was so little known about them in this area," said Bailey. "It was suspected they used the waters off Maryland, but we had no idea how frequently they occurred here in the winter until we analyzed these data."

Porpoises produce echolocation clicks, a type of sonar that hits an object and reflects back to tell them its distance, size and shape. They use it to navigate and feed. The researchers used hydrophones anchored 65-145 feet deep, and about 10 feet off the bottom of the ocean, to pick up these clicks over the course of a year.

"We found that harbor porpoises occurred significantly more frequently during January to May, and foraged for food significantly more often in the evenings to early mornings," said study author Jessica Wingfield.

Scheduling wind farm construction activities in the Maryland WEA to take place during summer months (June to September) could reduce the likelihood of disturbance to harbor porpoises.

"We were certainly surprised by how frequently we detected harbor porpoises because there had not been a lot of reported sightings," said Wingfield.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources secured the funding for this study from the Maryland Energy Administration's Offshore Wind Development Fund and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

"Year-round spatiotemporal distribution of harbour porpoises within and around the Maryland wind energy area" was recently published in PLOS ONE.

More information: Jessica E. Wingfield et al, Year-round spatiotemporal distribution of harbour porpoises within and around the Maryland wind energy area, PLOS ONE (2017). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176653 Journal information: PLoS ONE
The US State Department proposed tougher questioning of visa applicants believed to warrant extra scrutiny, according to a document published on Thursday.

By Reuters: The US Department of State has proposed tougher questioning of visa applicants believed to warrant extra scrutiny, according to a document published Thursday, in a push toward the "extreme vetting" that President Donald Trump has said is necessary to prevent terrorist attacks.

Questions about social media accounts would be part of the stepped-up criteria, which would apply to 65,000 people per year, or about 0.5 per cent of US visa applicants worldwide, the State Department estimated. It did not target nationals of any particular countries.

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A set of new questions would apply to visa applicants "who have been determined to warrant additional scrutiny in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities," the State Department said in a notice to the Federal Register.

Those applicants would be required to provide all prior passport numbers, five years' worth of social media handles, email addresses and phone numbers, as well as 15 years of biographical information, when applying for a US visa. Consular officers would not request user passwords for social media accounts, the document said.

If granted, the new criteria would mark the first concrete step toward more stringent vetting that Trump asked federal agencies to apply toward travelers from countries he deemed a threat to the United States in an executive order issued in January and revised in March.

While parts of the travel order, including a temporary ban on the entry of nationals from several majority-Muslim countries, were halted by federal courts, the review of vetting procedures detailed in an accompanying memorandum remains in place.

"Collecting additional information from visa applicants whose circumstances suggest a need for further scrutiny will strengthen our process for vetting these applicants and confirming their identity," a State Department official said.

The State Department's proposal also says that applicants may be asked to provide additional travel dates if a consular officer determines they have been in an area which was "under the operational control of a terrorist organization."

The proposed changes must undergo a public comment period before being approved or denied by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) by May 18. OMB did not respond to a request for comment.

The Department of Homeland Security, which was also tasked with reviewing vetting procedures for visa applicants, said the State Department request does not preclude DHS from identifying new "ways to protect the American people."

"Some improvement will be classified, others will be public, but the Department has only just begun ways to enhance the security of our immigration system," DHS spokesman David Lapan said.

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SOCIAL MEDIA SNAGS

Immigration lawyers and advocates say the request for 15 years of detailed biographical information, as well as the expectation that applicants remember all their social media handles, is likely to catch applicants who make innocent mistakes or do not remember all the information requested.

They also question whether the time-consuming screening can achieve its intended goal of identifying potential terrorists.

"The more effective tactics are the methods that we currently use to monitor terrorist organizations, not just stumbling into the terrorist who is dumb enough to post on his Facebook page 'I am going to blow up something in the United States,'" said John Sandweg, a former senior official at DHS who is now with the firm Frontier Solutions, which provides investigatory, crisis management and other services.

Applicants may not necessarily be denied a visa if they fail to provide all the information if it is determined they can provide a "credible explanation," the notice said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson first introduced similar measures in a March cable to American consular officers that outlined questions officers should ask in order to tighten vetting of visa applicants.

But Tillerson had to withdraw that guidance just days later because the OMB had not approved those specific questions.

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The State Department estimated that the additional screening measures would take approximately an hour per applicant, meaning an additional 65,000 additional hours of work per year.

Tillerson's cables anticipated delays as a result of the rules implementation.

"Somebody's got to do the work," said Greg Siskind, an immigration attorney in Memphis. "It's going to cause operations at a lot of consulates slow to a crawl."

ALSO READ | H1-B visa: Donald Trump signs 'buy American, hire American' order, may impact Indian workers

ALSO READ | Waiting for green cards, Indian visa-holders see hope in Trump review

ALSO WATCH | Arun Jaitley strongly raises visa issue with US

--- ENDS ---
Credit: Scott Meltzer/public domain

What if you knew when you stopped at a traffic signal whether you had two minutes or 10 seconds before the light turned green?

That basic information has been shown to provide an extra level of comfort for drivers. And it's part of a new technology coming soon to a vehicle near you.

Frisco is expected to be the second city in the country to connect its traffic signal network with certain vehicles. Las Vegas linked its network of intersections with the technology back in December. Frisco's network of 115 traffic signals is planned to go live in May.

"This is the wave of the future," said Frisco Mayor Maher Maso, who has already taken a test drive with the new tool. "It becomes second nature."

It's also the first step in connecting a vehicle to its surroundings as the automotive industry moves toward self-driving cars.

"A lot of people think autonomous vehicles are all about the car," Maso said. "The reality is it's autonomous transportation systems and traffic systems. Everything needs to communicate."

Audi is the only automaker offering this traffic signal information technology to vehicles so far. And it's available only on select 2017 Audi A4, Q7 and A4 allroad models that have an Audi connect PRIME subscription. Other manufacturers are expected to integrate the technology into their own vehicles as the service expands to more cities.

"It's simply getting information into the hands of drivers to make decisions," said Brian Moen, assistant director of engineering services for the city of Frisco.

The first feature, called time to green, provides a display on Audi's instrument panel that counts down the seconds until the red light turns green.

Other functions are being tested. Drivers could get more guidance on starting and stopping. Alternate routes could be calculated based on real-time traffic data. Or vehicle speeds could be suggested to maximize the number of green lights.

Beyond easing some driver frustration, the technology aims to improve traffic flow and create fuel efficiencies.

Last fall, the Frisco City Council approved an agreement with Oregon-based Traffic Technology Services Inc. to launch the service in the suburb at no cost to the city.

"These are some of the very first connected vehicle applications that are being implemented," said Kiel Ova, chief marketing officer for Traffic Technology Services.

The city sends its traffic signal information to Traffic Technology Services, which then makes it available in real time on a secure network to partners in the automotive industry. The industry then relays the data to individual vehicles.

"We provide a data product second by second for every signalized intersection where we have a connection, and we do that regardless of whether a car shows up at that intersection or not," Ova said.

Much of what's happening with smart vehicles has been concentrated in private industry or at the university research level. Sharing traffic signal data is one of the first opportunities for cities to get involved, Moen said.

"We've been progressive in trying to find ways as we grow to keep searching for alternatives to help us manage traffic into the future," Moen said.

Right now, the data goes one way - from the city's traffic signal network to vehicles. The hope is that vehicles will eventually share information in real time with the city, he said.

"We'd love to know where people are going and travel times - how long did it take them to travel from point A to point B," Moen said.

Maso said this new technology ties in with the announcement last week that Frisco would be among the first beneficiaries of Uber's effort to build a network of on-demand flying cars or VTOLs (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft.

Hillwood Properties has agreed to build vertical skyports at its developments. The first leg to be developed will be from the new Frisco Station project to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

"We're a progressive city. We're innovative in everything we do," Maso said. "Why not in this?"

2017 The Dallas Morning News

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The hackers of the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation left a faint and winding trail that seems to point toward Russia.

Besides their digital footprints, the cyber thieves left behind a series of spilled secrets, broken laws and unsettling questions about how voters and the news media should react when international hackers seek to influence American politics.

These are very powerful techniques for manipulating institutions of all types, said Dave Aitel, whose career includes six years as a National Security Agency analyst and nearly two decades in the cyber-security field.

(Hackers) definitely will succeed some of the time, so we need to figure out what we do about it, said Aitel, now chief executive officer of the Miami-based firm Immunity. Its not the medias problem. Its democracys problem.

The Bradley Blueprint National Wisconsin A closer look at the grants Documents

The Bradley Blueprint National Wisconsin A closer look at the grants Documents

Experts in cyber security point to evidence that the theft of the conservative Milwaukee foundation's files was likely the work of Russian hackers. The documents were posted online briefly last year and provided to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Media ethics experts say the American public has an interest in knowing what those documents show about their government.

Anytime you have information that is relevant to your audience, you have a duty to get it to that audience, said Kelly McBride, vice president of the Poynter journalism foundation in St. Petersburg, Fla. But you have to verify that its true.

To do that, Journal Sentinel reporters spoke with officials at the Bradley Foundation, who confirmed the hacked documents, and people mentioned in the hundreds of thousands of pages. Rather than dumping out all the hacked documents, the Journal Sentinel is focusing on those that most directly affect public policy.

"These records shed light directly on laws and policies being considered by our elected officials  and on efforts to influence the elections process itself," said Journal Sentinel Editor George Stanley.

If citizens are going to remain in charge, they must have access to information about what their elected representatives are doing in their name  and why," Stanley said.

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When hacked emails from the chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, John Podesta, were released last year, writers at the Bradley-funded Wisconsin Watchdog website wrote about them in October and again in November. But the foundation's former chief executive, Michael Grebe, says it's wrong to write about Podesta's hacked documents  or those from the foundation.

"I am very critical of (the Journal Sentinel) for going with this story, recognizing that other media outlets are also following this pattern," Grebe said. "Where have we come as a society? People steal records, illegally, and expose them. And then otherwise reputable media rely on those stolen records for their reporting."

A spokeswoman for the parent of Wisconsin Watchdog had no immediate comment.

From Russia with malware

In 2016, Russian hackers appeared to target Democrats in the presidential election. That raises an obvious question: why would these international cyber-thieves target a conservative foundation in Milwaukee?

The hackers appear to have put out the authentic Bradley files in an attempt to lend credence to their release  days before the election  of forged letters about Clintons campaign.

On Oct. 30, a hacker known on Twitter as Anonymous Poland released three fake letters in which Bradley's vice president of finance Cynthia Friauf supposedly directed the foundation's financial manager, Rothschild Asset Management, to transfer a total of $156 million to Clinton's campaign.

The properties of the electronic file were made to look as if Friauf had created it, the Journal Sentinel found. But despite its digital sophistication, the fraud was unconvincing, given Bradley's staunchly conservative outlook and the fact that a foundation couldn't legally contribute such a sum directly to a presidential campaign.

"If you know anything about the Bradley Foundation, it's ridiculous," said Rick Graber, Bradley's current CEO.

"You feel violated. It's as if someone broke into your house or stole your laptop," he said.

It's unclear why the hackers thought it would be credible that Bradley would give money to Clinton  Anonymous Poland's account went dark after the election and its user didn't respond to messages from a reporter. But one Anonymous tweet references the Rothschild family, which is often mentioned in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

What is clear is that this same Anonymous Poland Twitter user also referenced the hacking of materials from last summer's hack of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which followed the agency's call to ban Russian athletes from the Rio Olympics. That hack  which Anonymous Poland talked about weeks before materials were released  was widely seen by experts as the work of Russian intelligence.

The account last year also released what it says were hacked documents from the Ukraine  another major focus for Russia.

Aitel, the cyber-security executive, said all the signs point to Russian involvement in the doping hack. He pointed to both the hacking techniques used and to common sense  Russia had something to gain from discrediting the anti-doping agency.

The Anonymous account drew the attention of analysts at Wapack Labs Corp., a New Hampshire security firm that was tracking the Olympics. Wapack analysts looked at the Anonymous Poland posts and saw the hacker's browser history showed visits to Google's Russian site, not its Polish one.

"That's how we came up with a medium to high confidence level that Anonymous Poland was indeed Russian," said Bill Schenkelberg, a former federal investigator who is now a technical director for Wapack.

When Anonymous Poland showed up in the Bradley hack, Schenkelberg said Wapack came to a similar conclusion about that attack: Russian involvement.

Anonymous Poland told the technology site Vocativ that the hack was easy because Bradley had used only an extremely basic administrative username and password.

"Bro, We are Anonymous," the hacker said of his or her identity.

The Bradley Foundation reported the hack to the FBI and hired lawyers and its own forensic firm to look into the attackers' identity, Graber said. There's been no firm conclusions released by either the FBI or the private investigators.

"I suspect we probably will never know exactly who it is," Graber said.

Public interest duty

Journalists should take care with hacked documents, experts on ethics said. At the same time, they said, the media can't ignore their news value.

If theyre factual and theres a link to the public interest, then you have a public interest duty to write these things, said Stephen Ward, founder of the University of Wisconsins Center for Journalism Ethics.

Jeffrey Seglin, an ethicist at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School, agreed.

The ethical response is to make sure that what youre putting out there is accurate, Seglin said. There is this public interest in getting this information to the readers.

Stanley, the Journal Sentinel editor, pointed to the newspaper's Pulitzer Prize-winning stories in 2009 about fraud within Wisconsin's state-funded child care subsidy program. Those stories were based in part on records on children and parents that were not available to the public and that were provided by a government whistle-blower.

"Those records, when Democrats were in charge of state government, helped us expose massive fraud against state taxpayers that was also causing harm to children," Stanley said. "That's the key for us  is it important information that citizens can use to make their own decisions and choices?"

Daniel Bice and Bill Glauber of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
Expanding Wisconsin template

As it often does, the foundation tested its new strategy in the political petri dish of Wisconsin, financing a network of conservative groups that defended and promoted Walker and his agenda, including his attacks on labor unions. From 2011 to 2015, these dozen-plus nonprofits, labeled the Wisconsin Network, received more than $13 million from the conservative foundation.

Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Michael Grebe

Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Michael Grebe

Michael Grebe, who stepped down as president and CEO of the Bradley Foundation last year after 15 years in charge, said he decided to make the change in direction.

"We didn't create any of these organizations, but clearly we had a prominent role in funding those operations, particularly as they got up and running," said Grebe, who has been chairman of Walker's campaign committee since 2010. "I think it's been rather successful."

Rob Stein, who tracks the state-by-state political networks for the liberal Democracy Alliance, agreed.

"The Bradley Foundation has figured this out," Stein said. "The presidency is the least important lever of power for them to control.

"If they control state legislatures and governors and both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court, whether Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama or Donald Trump is president, they control the country."

If they control state legislatures and governors and both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court, whether Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama or Donald Trump is president, they control the country. Rob Stein

If they control state legislatures and governors and both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court, whether Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama or Donald Trump is president, they control the country. Rob Stein

Now the Bradley Foundation is trying to export the Wisconsin model with the help of a recent infusion of $200 million from a Bradley family member's trust. The foundation is actively trying to build a system of conservative groups in more than a dozen states, many crucial to the outcome of presidential elections.

Particularly attractive, one document says, are states where Republicans maintain what it calls "unified control" of the executive and legislative branches of government.

The internal records show the new dollars have already been spent in several states, including:

Starting in 2016, the foundation put $575,000 into five groups in Colorado, a key swing state. One group uses the money to recruit and train conservative activists and candidates while two others have the stated goal "to defund teachers unions."

Bradley Foundation officials are giving $1.5 million over three years to two organizations in North Carolina, another swing state, to "create a comprehensive communications infrastructure around four primary elements: radio, online content aggregation, mobile applications and an AP-style news service for local newspapers." One group has acquired a Drudge Report-style website called Carolina Plott Hound.

In the states of Washington and Oregon, a group called the Freedom Foundation was awarded $1.5 million over three years to "educate union workers themselves about their rights  which, if and when exercised, would defund Big Labor."

Already, the Freedom Foundation has won a two-year court battle in the state of Washington to get the names of 34,000 members of a major union and contacted many of them to try to get them to drop their membership. The Freedom Foundation even hired a Santa Claus to stand outside a Washington state agency to encourage workers there to opt out of the union.

Refining conservative blueprint

The records used by the Journal Sentinel became available because a foreign group calling itself Anonymous Poland hacked the foundation's server shortly before the 2016 general election and briefly posted the compressed file of 30 gigabytes of hacked data information online. The information included more than 56,000 internal files. Foundation officials, who reported the crime to the FBI, still don't know who was behind the security breach.

Those internal files point out the Bradley Foundation was following the lead of liberal philanthropists called the "Gang of Four" who famously achieved this by putting big bucks into Colorado to further their agenda there more than a decade ago. A book on their success, called "The Blueprint: How the Democrats Won Colorado," came out in 2010.

Today, Wisconsin liberals have their own alliance of groups, often funded by unions or billionaires such as George Soros, that provide help to Democrats and liberal candidates for nonpartisan office.

One Wisconsin Now, for example, digs up dirt on conservative politicians that can be used in political ads, and Emerge Wisconsin and Wisconsin Progress recruit and train liberal candidates and grass roots activists, just as the Bradley-funded American Majority does for candidates on the other side of the aisle. The Center for Media and Democracy posts original reporting and stories while pursuing a left wing agenda.

An internal Bradley document compiles a list of 17 liberal organizations that "attack groups and people helping the Foundation further its mission"  an enemies list, of sorts. Making the list were two Wisconsin groups, One Wisconsin Now and the Center for Media and Democracy, and a host of national ones, including Media Matters for America, Democracy Alliance and Open Society.

The Bradley Foundation board voted in 2014 to approve pursuing grants intended "to mitigate the damage" these groups can do, according to the minutes of the meeting.

But Wisconsin liberals already trail their conservative counterparts in important ways. They don't have state-based legal centers or think tanks, for instance.

As much ink as the Koch brothers get, what the Bradley Foundation is doing has a way bigger impact and is way more substantial. Mike Tate

As much ink as the Koch brothers get, what the Bradley Foundation is doing has a way bigger impact and is way more substantial. Mike Tate

Nor do they have, said one prominent Democrat, the patience and discipline of the Bradley Foundation.

"The word I would use is grit," said Mike Tate, a former state Democratic Party chairman who works with liberal nonprofits and candidates. "They have a 15- or 20-year vision, and they are executing it. They have their eyes on the horizon the whole time. That is not something seen in a substantial way in the progressive movement."

Tate concluded, "As much ink as the Koch brothers get, what the Bradley Foundation is doing has a way bigger impact and is way more substantial."

History of influence

From its inception in 1985, the Bradley Foundation funded organizations tethered to conservative ideals of limited government, free markets and a strong national defense  a mission crafted in keeping with the late manufacturing titans and brothers Lynde and Harry Bradley, who built the Allen Bradley Co. into a manufacturing giant.

Lynde Bradley died in 1942, and the Lynde Bradley Foundation, later called the Allen-Bradley Foundation, was set up that year. The foundation supported local causes, including schools, hospitals and the Boys Club. Eventually, its assets reached nearly $14 million.

Harry Bradley, a fierce anti-Communist and a supporter of the right wing John Birch Society, died in 1965.

Twenty years later, the company the two brothers founded was sold to Rockwell International for $1.65 billion. A portion of the proceeds boosted the foundation's assets to $290 million.

With the influx of money came a new name, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and a more ambitious goal of promoting the brothers' conservative values to a national audience.

Since then, millions of Bradley Foundation dollars have been directed to groups such as the Hudson Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute, the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace and the Federalist Society. Smaller amounts have flowed to major conservative publications, including Reason, Crisis, First Things, National Affairs and FrontPage Magazine.

An internal statement of "current program interests" spells out the scope and breadth of the Bradley Foundation's agenda in more specific terms than the mission statement, which is posted on the group's website.

First, the statement says the foundation is interested in promoting government policies that "lower taxes, cut spending and reform entitlements." It also said it favors tort reform, gifted education programs and school choice while opposing civil rights programs that judge people by the color of their skin.

"It identifies and supports institutions and projects exposing and highlighting Big Labor's role in obstructing the (conservative) program," the statement reads.

In 2009, records show, Grebe commissioned former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen and his ex-chief of staff, Brett Healy, now the head of a Bradley Foundation-funded think tank, to do a study of the liberal and conservative networks in Wisconsin. The report was recently updated.

"That was at the beginning of our increased focus on state infrastructure," said Grebe, a former managing partner at the Foley & Lardner law firm and former counsel for the Republican National Committee.

"We wanted to see the relative array of resources from the left and right," Grebe continued. "What we took away from that was that conservatives (in Wisconsin) were being out-resourced, outspent by people on the left."

Along with the study, Bradley Foundation staffers began circulating copies of the blueprint internally and among some of its supporters. The document argued that, along with Colorado, liberals had built a "healthy, sustainable, progressive infrastructure" in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

It wasn't long until all sides concluded the foundation needed to shift its focus and dollars away from the federal government in Washington. Perhaps, officials thought, with then-President Barack Obama in charge, the conservative outfit should take a page from the playbook of the deep-pocketed liberals in Colorado.

"We felt this was something we should try," Grebe said. "Since Wisconsin was our home, we would start with Wisconsin."

Stein, the founder of the liberal Democracy Alliance, said the Bradley Foundation's investment in state-based groups works well alongside the spending by the industrialist Koch brothers in Americans for Prosperity and Freedom Partners.

This partnership, Stein said, is "brilliantly conceived" and could lead to a permanent "red wall" for Republicans in national and state elections. "It's what I call the Republican iron curtain," Stein said.

Laying Wisconsin groundwork

Beginning in late 2010 and early 2011, the Bradley Foundation started putting money into 14 Wisconsin-based groups.

That meant helping support Media Trackers, a website that distributes negative information on liberals and certain Republicans, and Wisconsin Watchdog, which published nearly 400 stories attacking the John Doe investigation of Walker and his GOP allies over their campaign spending in the recall elections. It also has poured millions of dollars collectively into two think tanks, the MacIver Institute and the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute.

Support our investigative journalism Become a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel subscriber today and get unlimited digital access to support stories like this one.

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And American Majority took in more than $1.6 million from the Bradley Foundation from 2011 to 2015 to identify and train "pro-freedom" individuals interested in running for office or participating in the political process. In just four years, the group trained more than 6,000 local political leaders and helped candidates run for everything from municipal judge to state lawmaker.

"From that group, there were 651 new leaders in state or local office, including whole cohorts of candidates who, together, overturned school boards and county boards, and village boards, and made them newly accountable to the citizens," wrote Janet Riordan, then a Bradley staffer in 2015 and the spouse of former conservative talk show host Charlie Sykes, the editor of WPRI's "Wisconsin Interest" magazine.

In 2010, both of the houses in the Wisconsin Legislature flipped from Democrat to Republican, putting the party in charge of redistricting after the census.

"This has been a long-term investment for the Bradley Foundation, but it paid off when Walker succeeded in dismantling public sector unions in 2011," said Mary Bottari of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy, which appears on the Bradley Foundation's enemies list. "Once you have gutted out the opposition, you can continue to win on issue after issue because you have made yourself the only game in town."

Buoyed by the success in the Badger state, nonprofits began asking the foundation for cash to begin doing similar work elsewhere.

For instance, in Pennsylvania, a local think tank, Media Trackers and American Majority, requested grant money in 2013 "to create a permanent, alternative 'infrastructure' that they say mimics Wisconsin's." A Bradley staffer noted the "potential national importance of Pennsylvania as a place for policy to pivot."

Likewise, the Texas Public Policy Foundation has been given more than $300,000 to pursue policies such as eliminating the Texas property tax and replacing it with a sales tax or requiring that Texas state agencies cannot be expanded but only downsized, privatized or eliminated.

In March, the Texas foundation registered to start lobbying Wisconsin lawmakers on a dozen criminal justice and occupational-licensing bills.

And now there are 13 states with conservative public interest litigation centers and five state chapters of the Institute for Justice. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty has sued over issues ranging from limits on taxi cab licenses to emails to a senator on Walker's collective bargaining law, known as Act 10.

Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The Bradley Foundation at 1241 N. Franklin Place in Milwaukee.

Infusion of new funds

But this effort to encourage and finance conservative state-based groups was galvanized by the addition of $200 million, including $147 million in unrestricted funds, to the Bradley Foundation endowment from the Caroline Bradley Trust after the death of her daughter, Sarah Barder.

Barder was the niece and then later the adopted daughter of Caroline Bradley, the wife of Lynde Bradley.

"She was a very private woman," Grebe said of Barder, who served on the original board for the Bradley Foundation.

"Sarah Barder and her mother had a keen interest in education," Grebe added.

The money from the trust  along with a bump in its investments  helped boost the foundation's bottom line from $630 million at the start of 2013 to $903 million at the end of that year. Private foundations are supposed to give away at least 5% of their assets each year, a percentage that works out to between $40 million and $46 million a year these days for the conservative behemoth.

Bradley Foundation board members voted in 2014 to begin using a portion of the unrestricted Barder Funds on "capacity-building in the states." Graber said the foundation considers this money to be like venture capital funds, meaning they often are used for larger, higher-risk grants.

A staff analysis of the situation said the foundation was known historically for supporting the national think tanks that "laid the foundation for and then helped sustain the conservative ascendance beginning in the 1980s." Along with that, the report said Bradley paved the way for Gov. Tommy Thompson's W-2, or Wisconsin Works, welfare-to-work program and the taxpayer-funded voucher program for public schools in Milwaukee.

But the report concluded that "conservativism's ascendance was not permanent nor universal," noting that two Democratic presidents have been elected to two terms since the 1990s. By contrast, it noted, Republicans now have control of both houses of the legislature and the governor's office in half the states, opening the door to "meaningful conservative policy advancement."

Some call this coalition of power in statehouses a political "trifecta," but the Bradley report opted to call it "unified control," a term coined by former board member George Will, a columnist for the Washington Post. The report noted that many of the states with unified control also have "restrained" Supreme Courts as opposed to "activist" ones.

In building these state-based conservative networks, the study said, the Bradley Foundation should focus on finding dynamic leaders for think tanks, grass roots groups, legal centers and other organizations. "Chefs, not restaurants," it explained.

"Given the demise of the media as it was constituted at Bradley's beginning, a relatively new characteristic of successful conservative infrastructures, including at the state level, is investigative journalism that doesn't rely on old or new organs of the left and is able to stand on its own," the report said. "The Foundation has taken note, and tries to help here, too."

In deciding where to spend the Barder funds, board members had its staff and an outside consultant rate states in terms of the conservative networks by grading them from one to five in eight different categories, including think tanks, local funding, advocacy journalism and receptive policy-makers.

Given the Bradley Foundation's spending in the state, Wisconsin, not surprisingly, came out on top, receiving 39 of 40 points. The only area where it didn't receive a perfect score was for conservative groups that do "opposition research."

A consultant recommended that Bradley officials focus their spending in eight states, led by Colorado, which was described as "an important swing state with a broad base of center-right organizations and donors."

After soliciting grant proposals from scores of conservative groups, the Bradley board took the consultant's advice and put $575,000 into five groups in Colorado as well as pumping money into projects in North Carolina, Washington, Oregon and Wisconsin.

A slew of proposals from more than two dozen other states were under review late last year.

According to the internal documents, SEIU Local 925 in the state of Washington has lost 4,000 members, or 60% of its total, since the Freedom Foundation was awarded its Barder grant. The group had also sent out seven mailers and three emails and done automated and live calls and door-to-door canvassing of members of SEIU Local 775 to try to get them to opt out of the union.

But SEIU won a big victory in November with a ballot initiative to bar any future release of union membership lists contained in public records. The Freedom Foundation is challenging the constitutionality of the measure.

Less successful has been the efforts by the conservative John Locke Foundation to provide news stories in North Carolina. An earlier report said only 12 small papers had signed up.

"The AP-style Conservative News Service for local newspapers has not taken hold as originally contemplated," said a June 14, 2016, report. "There has not been much success so far at all in recruiting papers to sign up and use the service."

One of the most ambitious projects is a $1.2 million, three-year grant to the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty to establish a Center for Competitive Federalism. The group hopes to use the money to go to court to stop the federal government from coercing states into taking certain actions in exchange for receiving federal funds, such as passing specific OWI laws to obtain federal highway dollars.

Rick Esenberg, head of the institute, has said he will "seek the best opportunities for meaningful litigation."

Along with these state-based efforts, there are another 20 national groups receiving significant dollars from the conservative philanthropy that were helping with the state efforts.

These include the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which provides model bills to lawmakers, Americans for Tax Reform Foundation, America's Future Foundation, Think Freely Media and the Liberty Foundation of America.

Among the most significant is the State Policy Network, a collection of 66 state and national think tanks and 80 affiliate organizations from around the country that originally organized in 1992.

Wisconsin has three members and two affiliates of the network, which has its headquarters in Virginia.

Over the years, the Bradley Foundation has poured out nearly $116 million to 65 members and associates of the conservative network, according to a tally by the Center for the Media and Democracy. That includes more than $21 million to the five Wisconsin groups in the network.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 224-2135 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's party and its coalition ally have won a clear majority in parliamentary elections, the interior ministry said Friday of a vote marred by a low turnout. Bouteflika's National Liberation Front (FLN) won 164 of the national assembly's 462 seats amid public disillusionment over a tepid economy and allegations of political corruption. The FLN, which has dominated the North African nation's politics since its 1962 independence from France, lost a quarter of the seats it won in 2012, according to preliminary results from Thursday's vote announced by Interior Minister Nourredine Bedoui. But the FLN preserved its majority thanks to its ally, the Rally for National Democracy (RND), which won 97 seats, up from 70 in the last election. Two opposition Islamist lists won a total of 67 seats, seven more than five years ago when they recorded their worst ever results since Algeria first held multi-party elections in 1990. Abdelrrazak Makri, who heads the Movement for the Society of Peace (MSP) which has links to the Muslim Brotherhood, complained to AFP of "election fraud". "I am disappointed with this election," said Makri, whose MSP ran a joint list with the Front for Change. "For political observers, there are no surprises," analyst Rachid Tlemcani told AFP. "The ruling parties take the top two places and the Islamists are on the bottom step of the podium." The official results will be announced by the constitutional council after any appeals. The ministry said turnout was 38 percent, down from just over 43 percent in the 2012 election. Polling was marked by voter disillusionment over what many see as broken government promises on the economy and a political system tainted by graft. Officials spent weeks before the vote trying to drum up enthusiasm among electors, launching a campaign dubbed "Samaa sawtek" ("Let your voice be heard"). - Political stagnation - Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal even told an all-female audience in the eastern city of Setif to wake their husbands early, refuse them coffee and "drag" them to voting booths. "If they resist, hit them with a stick," he said. But many voters were disillusioned by a scandal involving candidates accused of paying to have their names added to party lists. Voters have also been put off by perceived stagnation in the political system and speculation over the health of the 80-year-old president, who has rarely been seen in public since a 2013 stroke. Bouteflika voted from a wheelchair at a polling booth in Algiers on Thursday in his first appearance before the international media since he was sworn in for a fourth term in April 2014. Many Algerians pay little attention to parliamentary elections in a opaque system dominated by the office of the president. "It's normal to vote for the president, but I don't see the interest in MPs," said Mourad, a 45-year-old engineer. Algeria weathered the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings with massive spending on wages and subsidies that depleted government coffers. But a 2014 slump in crude oil prices forced the government to raise taxes and mothball many public projects. Today, in a country of 40 million where half the population is under 30, one young person in three is unemployed. Tlemcani said the chasm between the elite and young people had broadened in recent years. "People are disappointed by the previous legislature, which has done nothing," he said. Meanwhile secular parties such as the Front of Socialist Forces (FFS), Algeria's oldest opposition group, issued a post-election statement criticising the results. "The biggest winner of this election is absenteeism, followed by blank voting papers," the statement said, adding that the result will "make more fragile" a country already reeling from a plethora of problems.
By Robert Muller and Jan Lopatka PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka postponed on Thursday tendering his cabinet's resignation until the second half of May, buying time to push through a plan for a new government before stepping down. Sobotka announced on Tuesday he and the government would quit, less than six months before its term ends, to resolve a dispute with billionaire Finance Minister Andrej Babis, founder of the popular anti-establishment ANO movement. The prime minister wants to form a new cabinet without Babis, whose business practices he has questioned, even if that means stepping aside himself. A new cabinet could include a replacement for Sobotka from his Social Democrat party, either Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek or Interior Minister Milan Chovanec, Zaoralek told reporters on Thursday. President Milos Zeman, who has the right to choose the next government leader, said in a television interview on Thursday evening that Zaoralek and Chovanec were potential candidates. He said he might also consider Pavel Belobradek, who heads the Christian Democrats, the third and smallest party in the governing coalition. Zeman also said the government team should remain "in the same composition" barring Sobotka - implying Babis should keep the finance ministry seat, which would go against the one condition the Social Democrats have set. Zeman appoints individual ministers on the recommendation of the prime minister, which means there needs to be a wider deal. "The government crisis can be over in 10 minutes," Sobotka earlier told reporters. "All it takes is for Andrej Babis to recognise his responsibility and put the interests of the Czech Republic ahead of his desire to remain finance minister." Sobotka says Babis - the Czech Republic's second-richest businessman - has failed to give convincing explanations for some of his past business deals. Babis has come under fire over the legality of using tax-free bonds and of the payment of European Union small business subsidies to a company he ultimately acquired. Babis, who has good relations with Zeman, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said he had no reason to quit. All three parties in Sobotka's governing coalition want to avoid a snap election before national elections scheduled for Oct. 20-21. BLURRED LINES Sobotka had planned to tender the government's resignation to Zeman on Thursday. But he held back, in part due to the possibility that Zeman, whose relations with Sobotka are poor, might consider Sobotka's resignation his personal move and not the cabinet's, which would have left Babis in place. "I can hardly submit the resignation at a moment when it is not clear how the (presidential office) will handle it," Sobotka said. Past prime ministerial resignations have meant the automatic fall of the government. While several lawyers said the constitution implied the prime minister's resignation means the fall of the entire cabinet, some experts have said it also allowed the interpretation that such a resignation, without a cabinet vote, might only mean the departure of the prime minister. Zeman gave Sobotka a dressing down in front of cameras on Thursday afternoon, implying the postponement of the resignation plan was handled clumsily by the prime minister's office. The two men later met behind closed doors. The sense of a government in turmoil was heightened this week by wiretaps released by an anonymous Twitter user that appeared to show Babis interfering in news coverage of political rivals at one of the newspapers now in his trust fund. In an interview with news website DVTV, Babis denied any interference and said he would file a criminal complaint related to the matter. Babis' Agrofert group, which he shifted to a trust fund earlier this year, includes hundreds of firms in chemicals and farming, as well as two national newspapers and a radio station. (Editing by Gareth Jones and John Stonestreet)
A man who murdered Miss Honduras and her sister in a jealous rage will be given a prison sentence in June after a court on Thursday found him guilty of the 2014 double slaying. Plutarco Antonio Ruiz, a 34-year-old Honduran, covered his mouth and squeezed his eyes shut as the jury in the Tegucigalpa courtroom declared him guilty of the murders of beauty queen Maria Jose Alvarado, 19, and her sister Sofia Trinidad Alvarado, 23. The women were killed on November 13, 2014 and their bodies were found buried on the banks of a river six days later -- on the date Maria Jose, the reigning Miss Honduras, was meant to have flown to London to compete in that year's Miss World pageant. Ruiz shot the sisters multiple times and then buried them with the help of accomplices, the court found. He was the boyfriend of Sofia at the time and was said to have committed the crime out of jealousy because he saw one of the women dancing with a man during his birthday party the same night. The judge will hand down Ruiz's prison sentence at a June 2 hearing. Ruiz faces up to 20 years for the murder of Maria Jose and up to 40 years behind bars for Sofia, after the jury decided the latter's killing was feminicide, or a sex-based hate crime that carries a heavier penalty. He can be ordered to serve the sentences one after the other rather than concurrently. "We are not happy. Both the cases were feminicide and we might put in an appeal," the mother of the victims, Teresa Munoz, told AFP. "Sofia was shot eight times and Maria Jose 16 times," she said. During his trial, on April 21, Ruiz had appeared distracted in court in a way resembling mental illness. But medical experts said he was pretending. After his conviction on Thursday, armed and masked police escorted Ruiz out of the courtroom to a cell to await his sentencing.
ASTANA (Reuters) - Syria's armed opposition on Thursday rejected a Russian plan to create safe zones in Syria, calling it a threat to the country's territorial integrity, and said it would also not recognise Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan. Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, and Iran, which backs Syrian President Bashar Assad, agreed earlier in the day to Russia's proposal for "de-escalation zones" in Syria, a move welcomed by the United Nations but met with scepticism from the United States. "We want Syria to maintain its integrity," opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid said after Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum on creating safe zones. The three countries are sponsoring talks in the Kazakh capital Astana aimed at ending Syria's fighting. "We are against the division of Syria. As for the agreements, we are not a party to that agreement and of course we will never be in favour (of it) as long as Iran is called a guarantor state," Abu Zaid said. He also cited what he called "a huge gap" between the promises of Russia, which intervened militarily in 2015 on Assad's side and gave him back the upper hand in the conflict. "We have an agreement already (in) our hands, why isnt it implemented?" he said, referring to a truce deal announced by Russia in December that was largely ignored on the ground. "Why are we jumping now to safe zones?" "Russia was not able to or does not want to implement the pledges it makes, and this is a fundamental problem." Russia, Turkey and Iran did not immediately publish the memorandum, leaving its details unclear. But the safe zones appear intended to be conflict-free to help widen a ceasefire, and would potentially be policed by foreign troops. The U.S. State Department said in a statement that it was sceptical of Iran's involvement as a guarantor of the accord and Damascus' track record on previous agreements. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that he was encouraged by the proposal but cautioned it must "actually improve the lives of Syrians." Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said while on a visit to Washington, D.C., that the kingdom supported creation of safe zones but he wanted to see more details. Russian negotiator Alexander Lavrentyev said that under the plan Russia could send observers to safe zones. He said third-party monitors could be invited provided Iran and Turkey agreed. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov and Raushan Nurshayeva; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Vladimir Soldatkin, Mark Heinrich, Toni Reinhold)
In this Facebook video, the woman was seen hitting a man. In another video, she was seen kicking a security guard at Enggor Street and attempting to assault a taxi driver. (Photo: Screengrab from Facebook video: Issac Cheng)

A Taiwanese woman living in Singapore was taken to court on Friday (5 May) for allegedly assaulting a security guard, attempting to assault a taxi driver and allegedly abusing them verbally.

The incident was documented in two videos that went viral on 8 December last year.

Dina Huang Chih Yung, 30, allegedly attempted to assault taxi driver Cheng Teck Wei and allegedly verbally abused him outside the Skysuits@Anson condominium at Enggor Street on 7 December at about 11pm.

She is also accused of assaulting female security guard Jeiv Anay Alimthu. Huang allegedly bit, hit and kicked her.

In one video of the incident, Huang was heard speaking in Mandarin, English and Cantonese and at one point said, I have a lot of money. A man, believed to be Cheng, was also heard saying, She said she got money, dont want to pay.

In a second video, Huang was seen being involved in another scuffle with Cheng, Jeiv Anay and a restaurant worker.

Huang was seen kicking Jeiv Anay in the groin area. Towards the end of the video, Jeiv Anay was seen showing her wounds.

Huang faces a jail term of up to two years and a fine of up to $5,000 if convicted of assault. If convicted of being verbally abusing, Huang faces up to six months jail and a fine of $5,000 for each count.
After a Matador slipped off the Etah-Jalesar road and fell into a canal, 15 people died, and more than 28 were injured. The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased.

By Siraj Qureshi: As many as 15 people died, and more than 28 were injured, when a Matador they were travelling in slipped off the road and fell into a canal at Sarai Neem on Etah-Jalesar road.

The deceased and injured are all from Agra, and were returning from Jalesar after attending an engagement ceremony.

The incident took place at around 4:50 am, when the driver suddenly lost control of the speeding Matador DCM-407 when he dozed off on the wheel.

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District Magistrate Etah Amit Kishore ordered the rescue of the injured as soon as information of the accident reached the district headquarters. But by that time, 15 passengers had died, while the injured were sent to Agra for further treatment.

All the passengers were from the Nagariya village in PS Dauki area of Agra's Fatehabad.

YOGI ADITYANATH EXPECTED TO VISIT VILLAGE OF DECEASED

When news of the accident reached Nagariya, every single villager rushed to either the accident site or the various Agra hospitals, to get some information about the victims.

Additional police force has been deployed in both the village and the accident site, to prevent any public unrest.

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased. The seriously-injured will be given Rs 50,000 each, and the nominally injured will be given Rs 25,000 each.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to visit Nagariya soon to convey his condolences.

ALSO READ | In Yogi Adityanath's Uttar Pradesh, Annapurna Bhojanalya to soon offer breakfast for Rs 3, meals at Rs 5

ALSO READ | Uttar Pradesh has 5 of India's top 10 dirtiest cities. MP's Indore ranked the cleanest

ALSO WATCH | Yogi Adityanath refuses to meet kin of rape-accused SP leader Gayatri Prajapati

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A solid business idea requires creativity, planning and soul-searching. Use these three tips to choose the right business idea.

Tips for Choosing The Best Business Idea For You

1. Focus on Your Skills, Experience and Passion

Go with what you already know or dont mind learning fast. You dont need to be an expert right away, but leveraging skills and experience youve gained can increase your chances of success.

Ask yourself whether youre passionate about running this company. Without that drive, it may be hard to stick it out through tough times.

2. Evaluate Business-Lifestyle Fit

If balancing work and family life is important to you, then avoid businesses that could require working 60 hours a week. If you hate being stuck in an office, then look for businesses that can be operated remotely.

Matching the business idea to your lifestyle can prevent burnout.

3. Test Your Idea

Before jumping in, make sure youve done your due diligence. Ask yourself: Is there enough demand for the product or service in your market? Can you afford the startup costs? How will you stand out from competitors?

No matter what business idea you decide to pursue, its smart to write a business plan that details your goals and how you plan to achieve them. A business plan forces you to examine the validity of your business idea, giving you a better shot at success.

Republished by permission. Original here.
Congos governmental predicament continues to smolder. President Kabila is still in office and seems dead set on retaining the presidency. He has already exceeded him constitution-mandated limit of two terms in office. The opposition coalition group, RDC (Rally for Congolese Democracy, also known as Rassemblement), has continued to hold mass protests. However, one scheduled for April 10 failed to attract the large crowds seen in previous demonstrations. That may or may not mean anything, but Kabila supporters noted it. It is now doubtful that there will be new elections by December 2017. That was key element in the December Accord, the agreement mediated by Catholic bishops and reached on December 31, 2016. The agreement also specified that Kabila would not to alter the constitution and his government would free all political prisoners. The bishops belonged to the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), which gave the agreement its backing. Yet in March CENCO said that continuing negotiations with Kabila had collapsed. Why does Kabila want to hold on to power? One obvious reason: Corruption in the government Kabila controls has made his family and associates rich. Kabila and his family are wealthy and that fortune could be lost or severely depleted if a reform-minded new government decides to recover stolen billions. Another theory is that Kabila, some of his key supporters, members of his personal security forces and Kabila loyalists in the military fear they would be subject to war crimes prosecution. As long as Kabila remains in power they are protected. This, too, may be explanatory. Another possibility: Kabila likes power and intends to keep it, no matter what harm it may bring to his country. Could he face a rebellion? Of course. It appears he is already facing an uncoordinated but spreading rebellion in southern Congo. The so-called Kamuina Nsapu rebellion that began in Kasai-Central province in July 2016 has now spread to three other nearby provinces, Kasai, Lomami and Sankuru. At least one report indicates that a militia fighting under the banner of Kamuina Nsapu is also operating in Kasai-Oriental province. The militias appear to be operating independently and are motivated by local issues. However, all of them distrust Kabilas government. (Austin Bay)

April 30, 2017: Five UN peacekeepers are facing new sexual misconduct allegations. The group includes a Romanian military observer charged with sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor. He fathered a child with an underage Congolese girl. Two men are accused of fathering a child with adult women. The women seek paternal recognition. UN officials are investigating other complaints as well.

April 29, 2017: The UN is seeking an additional $65 million to aid one million people displaced by fighting in three southern Congolese provinces. The army is fighting militias in Kasai, Lomami and Sankuru provinces. The funding request is in addition to the $750 million budgeted for aid in Congo.

April 28, 2017: At least 29 people have died in a series of battles in North Kivu province between two factions in the Mai-Mai Nyatura militia over the last three days. At least 11 of the dead are militiamen. The Mai-Mai Nyatura is a Hutu self-defense militia organized to protect ethnic Hutus in their struggle with the Nande tribe. The Nyatura factions are both trying to take control of the village of Bweru, which is a Hutu enclave.

April 27, 2017: Uganda is willing to provide Central African Republic (CAR) security forces with military training assistance. Since April 19 Uganda has been withdrawing its troops in CAR that had been fighting LRA ( Lords Resistance Army) rebels since 2009. By 2016 Uganda announced it would end its operations against the LRA.

April 25, 2017: A grenade attack in Burundi (north of the capital, Bujumbura) killed one person and wounded four. The attack took place in Kamenge. The attacker was on a motorbike and he approached a car and threw a grenade into the car. Burundi has been plagued by sporadic violence since April 2015 when president Nkurunziza decided to run for a third term in violation of the constitution and the Arusha Agreement which ended the civil war.

Poachers hunting elephants in Congos Garamba National Park killed two park rangers after a brief battle. This all began after the rangers heard gunshots and went to investigate. They tracked and caught six poachers butchering an elephant. Apparently at least one poacher was killed. Congolese officials are still investigating the incident.

April 23, 2017: The Central African Republic has held a series of talks with 14 armed groups in the capital, Bangui. The armed groups come from throughout the country. CAR officials are seeking a disarmament agreement as part of a UN-sponsored Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) program.

April 22, 2017: A group of Congolese Catholic bishops publicly defended their decision to halt mediation efforts between the Kabila government and the opposition. The bishops said politicians must be blamed for the collapse of the talks. The Catholic Church is a major institution in Congo. About two-thirds of Congos 71 million people are Roman Catholics.

April 19, 2017: The UN confirmed that an investigating team found 17 more mass graves in Kasai-Central province. The team found the graves during a three day deployment (April 5-7). The graves are located in an area where the army has fought several battles with the Kamuina Nsapu militia. UN investigators have concluded Congolese Army soldiers dug the graves in late March (possibly starting on March 26). That was right after a major clash in which at least 70 civilians were killed by government forces. UN investigators also visited Kananga. Between March 28 and 30 Congolese soldiers killed an estimated 40 people and wounded 21 more.

April 18, 2017: The government fired general Celestin Kanyama, the senior police commander in Kinshasa. The government did not give a reason. However Kanyama is notorious, so much so that in 2016 the U.S. sanctioned him. The individual sanctions included freezing his assets in the U.S. The sanction charged him with targeting civilians for violent attack and kidnapping civilians. He was in charge of the police unit that in January 2015 attacked opposition political demonstrators. At least 40 people died in the violence and at least half the dead were killed by police. Sacking Kanyama may be an attempt by Kabila to placate his Congolese political opponents and donor nations that are demanding he cede power.

April 15, 2017: The government turned over the body of Kamuina Nsapu to his family and supporters in Kasai-Central province. He was killed by government security forces in August 2016. Kamuina Nsapu led the militia force that bears his name. Since July 2016, least 400 people have been killed in fighting between the government and the militia. The government also confirmed it now recognizes Kamuina Nsapus successor, Jacques Kabeya Ntumba, as a customary chief in the region. The governments decision to deny Kamuina Nsapu the title helped spark the rebellion.

April 14, 2017: Police arrested two men suspected of involvement in the murder of two UN investigators. One of the men arrested subsequently escaped police custody. Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a Swede, disappeared on March 12. They were travelling in Kasai-Central province. In late March their bodies and the bodies of four Congolese who were working with them were discovered in a hastily dug grave near the village of Bunkonde (Kasai-Central province). The suspect still in detention was described as an insurgent.

April 12, 2017: The U.S. has imposed individual financial sanctions on two militia leaders in the CAR. One man leads a Muslim militia, the other leads a Christian anti-balaka militia. The reason for the individual sanctions was rather surprising: the two men are accused of collaborating to destabilize the country.

April 10, 2017: Congolese media reported scheduled opposition political rallies drew sparse crowds. The government had beefed up police patrols in Kinshasa, which may have deterred some demonstrators.

April 8, 2017: President Kabila has appointed Bruno Tshibala as prime minister in a transitional government. The transitional government is tasked with organizing the next presidential election that will ostensibly select Kabilas successor. The European Union said Kabila was not fulfilling the December 31, 2016 agreement. The December Accord supposedly gave the power to pick the prime minister to the opposition coalition, not Kabila. The opposition had selected Felix Tshisekedi as prime minister. Felix Tshisekedi replaced his father, Etienne Tshisekedi, as coalition leader after Etienne died. Tshibala was a major figure in the opposition coalition. However, he has split with Felix Tshisekedi. Several opposition leaders said Kabila is trying to further fragment the coalition.

April 7, 2017: The UN has given command of its South Sudan peacekeepers to a Rwandan. General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi. Kamanzi had served as commander of the African Union-UN hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID)

April 6, 2017: Congos prime minister Samy Badibanga resigned from office. The resignation followed an announcement by President Kabila that he (Kabila) would appoint a new prime minister. Kabila appointed Badibanga in November 2016 and he took charge on Dec. 21, 2016.

April 3, 2017: In Congo fighters in a militia claiming loyalty to Kamuina Nsapu launched several attacks near the town of Luebo (Kasai province). Eight people died in the violence. Luebo is the capital of Kasai province.

April 1, 2017: A senior prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) said that recent atrocities in Congos Kasai-Central province could be prosecuted as war crimes. The prosecutor was referring to reports that Congolese security forces shot 70 civilians in one incident and a militia group killed and beheaded 42 police officers in a retaliatory attack. The retaliatory attack took place outside the city of Kananga, the capital of Kasai-Central province.

March 30, 2017: The UN confirmed that two bodies found in a grave near the village of Bunkonde (Kasai-Central province) are those of two missing UN workers. The bodies were those of Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan. They disappeared March 12.
Policy

California's CUE Supports State Effort to Maintain Federal Net Neutrality Rules

An organization that works with school people in California to help them "infuse" technology into learning, has come out  fists swinging  to fight what it perceives as a move to limit students' access to the internet. CUE, which runs annual technology conferences for educators, announced that it would lead efforts to help get a new joint resolution passed by the state's Assembly. AJR-7 encourages the President of the United States and members of Congress to maintain the current standards of "net neutrality" reinforced by the Federal Communications Commission last year.

Net neutrality is the term used to describe how broadband internet providers should enable access to all content and applications, without blocking, slowing or otherwise discriminating against any websites or online services.

Currently, the FCC, under new Republican-led leadership, is considering dismantling rules put in place under the previous administration. Going under the name, "Restoring Internet Freedom," the deregulation activities would roll back rules that put limits on the activities of broadband providers.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, appointed by President Trump, has stated that the Internet Freedom changes he has introduced would "spur broadband deployment," bringing "better, faster Internet service to more Americans"; boost "competition and choice" in the marketplace; and "secure online privacy" by putting the Federal Trade Commission in charge of broadband providers' privacy practices.

Opponents view the deregulation activities as just the opposite. "It would allow broadband providers to favor their own content over others and pick winners and losers on the internet," said FCC Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Terrell McSweeny in a joint statement. "It would also create an environment where neither the FCC nor FTC could protect the privacy of the customers of some of our largest broadband companies." The result, they added, would be positioning broadband providers to "shape the future of internet content, mine and sell sensitive personal information and limit consumer access to the internet in whatever manner they think will bring them the most profit."

Educators are concerned that access for public entities such as schools and colleges that can't afford to pay extra fees for prioritized access could be pushed to the "slow lane" on the internet.

The California resolution is more of an advisory to the FCC than anything else. Introduced by Assembly Member and Speaker Pro-Tem, Kevin Mullin, AJR-7 urges the president and Congress to continue to protect net neutrality and open internet access, as well as the E-rate program providing discounted telecommunication and Internet access to schools and libraries and the Lifeline program, which offers discounted Internet access to low-income customers.

"We cannot expect students to be successful if we take away or limit their ability to access the internet," said Mike Lawrence, CUE's CEO, in a statement announcing CUE's support for AJR-7. "Reliable broadband is absolutely essential for both our students and our teachers to be successful. Dependable access allows educators to significantly expand teaching and learning opportunities."

CUE's Legislative Policy Consultant, John Cradler, described the decision to initiate and support AJR-7 as being "first and foremost about educating students more effectively by greatly expanding access to critical information and communications opportunities."

Support for the state measure has been pouring in from school districts; county offices of education; national education associations, including the International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE), the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN); and other members of the California legislature.

A hearing on the resolution is scheduled for May 10 in the California State Capitol building.
Security

Google Adds Safety Feature to Android Gmail App After E-Mail Phishing Attack

A word of warning: If there is an e-mail in your inbox asking you to open a Google Doc from someone, dont open it. Most Google users are by now aware of the phishing e-mail scam that took place Wednesday, which many security experts called sophisticated, various news sources reported. A day after the attack, Google has rolled out a new safeguard to its Android Gmail app.

The phishing scam attempted to hack a users Google account after the user clicks a link that appears to be from a trusted individual. Google was able to stop the attack after about 1 million (just 0.1 percent) of all Gmail users had seen one of the e-mails.

Now with the Gmail app updates, when a phony link appears in an e-mail, Google will warn the user, with an alert: The site you are trying to visit has been identified as a forgery intended to trick you into disclosing financial, personal or other sensitive information.

The company recommends that Google users affected by the attack change their passwords and report the incident.

To learn more, visit the G Suite blog post announcement.
Events

DeVos to Keynote ASU+GSV Summit

United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos will deliver the opening keynote address at this year's ASU+GSV Summit, an annual event focused on ed tech and education policy, with a heavy emphasis on ed reform.

The Summit runs May 810 and is being held this year in Salt Lake City, UT. DeVos's keynote address will take place May 9 at 2:30 p.m. local time.

Further information about the summit can be found at asugsvsummit.com.
Russia is ready to extend the oil production cut agreement with Opec, media sources said, citing the Russian Energy Ministry.



"Now we are holding final negotiations on this topic with our partners and are inclined to think that extension is reasonable," TASS, the Russian news agency, quoted the energy minister as saying.



Reduction of the surplus of commercial reserves on the market is going at a fairly good pace, while the reserves in floating storage facilities and tankers have decreased by about half, said Alexander Valentinovich Novak.



The minister marked a high level of discipline among the countries in terms of meeting their obligations on oil production cut deal and a good pace of growth in demand.



Novak added that for the full recovery of the market, it is necessary to extend the initiative.



Under the agreement with Opec Russia is to reduce its average daily oil production by 300,000 barrels in the first half of 2017, or by 2.7 per cent in comparison with the level of last October.



On May 2, the Energy Ministry reported that the target had been achieved.



At a meeting in Vienna on May 24-25, Opec and Russia will hold official negotiations on the extension of the deal for another six months. To date, most cartel countries have expressed their support for the prolongation of the agreement, according to the TASS report.


Lebanese warriors participate in a competition during the ninth annual Warrior Competition held at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre (KASOTC), in Amman, Jordan on May 4. Around 37 teams representing a number of Arab and foreign countries will compete to be the best warrior of 2017. The competition is designed to demonstrate the competencies, skills, adaptability, endurance, teamwork, tactics, and communications of warriors on the battlefield. EPA/Jamal Nasrallah
Centro Capital Doha, Rotanas fourth hotel in Qatar, celebrated its first anniversary with pomp and show.



In its first year of operations, the hotel has successfully established its position on the map of the hotel and tourism industry in Qatar as an address for distinct accommodation in a contemporary environment and affordable rates.



To meet the growing demand of new generation of travellers and businessmen, seeking exclusive accommodation, finesse and functionality at reasonable rates, Centro has added 229 keys to the local booming hospitality sector.



On this occasion, Luca Medda, general manager of Centro Capital Doha, said: "Today, we celebrate the first anniversary of Centro Capital Doha, and during this short period, we were able to take a prominent position in the local hospitality sector due to high level of service provided by our team and to meet the expectations of our traveller, from both local and regional markets."



The demand for affordable accommodation that offers comfort, functionality and style has never been stronger in the region. In recent years, Rotana recognized the arrival of a new generation of travellers, guests that expect the elegance and finesse of a five star hotel but not its corresponding cost at the end of their stay. This is the category of guests that drove the conceptualization of the Centro brand, added Medda.



With an elegant and modern touch, Centro offers an inspirational philosophy and distinctive concept for travellers based on the idea of modern accommodation at affordable prices, In addition to the concept of economic comfort with its services and facilities dedicated to meet the needs of business travellers including two fully- equipped meeting rooms, recreational facilities including a swimming pool. Moreover, Centro Capital Doha offers three F&B outlets: c.taste  the all-day dining restaurant, c.mondo  the hotel bar and c.deli - Centro's innovative 24-hours take-away dining concept. - TradeArabia News Service
Dubai Airports held its first Airline Excellence Awards yesterday to recognise airline excellence in customer service, on-time performance and partnership at both Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC), centered around achievements throughout 2016.



The ceremony, which was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City, was attended by Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths and CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing Issam Kazim.



Airlines were nominated in five categories which contributed to Dubai Airports objectives to achieve high levels of on-time performance, partnership, engagement and customer service. Additionally, an award was given to Airline Employee of the Year.



Qatar Airways won a total of three awards for engagement, on-time performance (over 2,000 flights per year category) and on-time performance (DWC). Air France also won an on-time performance award (in the 200 to 1,999 flights per year category). The customer service award went to Emirates Airline while Air France-KLM won the award for partnership. The airline employee of the year award was won by Yonas Gebre of Ethiopian Airlines.



Tonight, we celebrate the fact that together we connect the world with 100 airlines serving 240 destinations around the globe with 1,100 flights per day, said Griffiths in his opening remarks. We do so with safety as our top priority. We do it with our customers at the very heart of everything we do. We do so recognising that your success is our success. - TradeArabia News Service


Speaking at Aaj Tak's UP Panchayat, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today said India's most populous state will be safe for every resident before the 100-day mark of the BJP government's tenure.

By India Today Web Desk: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today said that by the time he comes up with the report card of first 100 days of his government, the state will be safe for every resident.

Yogi Adityanath said, "Jungleraj will end in Uttar Pradesh. Law and order is our priority. Minor incidents are occurring at some places but I am sure that by the time I present the report card of my government's 100 days, such incidents will stop completely."

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"Every sister, daughter and trader of Uttar Pradesh will feel safe in the state," Yogi Adityanath said.

Yogi Aditaynath emphasised that VIP culture will be put to an end in Uttar Pradesh. "No one will be treated as VIP. VIP culture will end." "Criminals can't seek guarantee of security from the government. They are threat to public security. They won't be allowed to take law in their hands. No discrimination will be done on the basis of religion, caste or gender," Yogi Adityanath said.

Yogi Adityanath further said, "If someone takes law in his hand, the administration will deal with him in strictest manner. No recommendation for law breakers will be entertained."

CLEAN CITIES

By the next Clean City survey, at least 50 cities of Uttar Pradesh will be in top 100, Yogi Adityanath said.

ADMINISTRATION

Yogi Adityanaath said, "Usually when a new Chief Minister takes charge, he tries to overhaul the administration. We tried to work with the same officers. We started shuffling the officers only after a month. We changed only those, who were not ready to change with the changed system or not comfortable with the new system."

"We have brought a transfer policy in Uttar Pradesh. In the last 12-15 years, transfer posting had become an industry. Now everyone will have to tell about the reason for transfer. All the ministers will have to mention and inform me as to why an officer is being transferred and what public good will be served with the transfer," Yogi Adityanath said.

ON UP'S FARMERS

Yogi Adityanath said, "Farmers of Uttar Pradesh are a worrisome lot. The government is committed to double the income of farmers by 2022. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that the government's objective should be public welfare not populist. But, we went for loan waiver because that was necessary to lessen the load of the farmers."

"We will ensure that farmers get seeds in time, water for irrigation and are protected from floods. We are working towards this end. I was surprised to know that in 12 years first meeting on flood protection was held recently," he said.

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ON TRADE

"We are trying to create an investment-friendly environment in Uttar Pradesh. Traders have expressed their willingness to come to Uttar Pradesh. We will bring new trade policy," Yogi Adityanath said.

ON ANTI-ROMEO SQUADS

On the question of anti-romeo squad, Yogi Adityanth said, "It was brought for safety of girls and women at public places. When we brought anti-romeo squad, we issued a guideline making it clear that the couples going out or sitting together with consent should not be harassed."

ALSO READ | In Yogi Adityanath's Uttar Pradesh, Annapurna Bhojanalya to soon offer breakfast for Rs 3, meals at Rs 5

ALSO READ | Uttar Pradesh has 5 of India's top 10 dirtiest cities. MP's Indore ranked the cleanest

ALSO WATCH | Yogi Adityanath refuses to meet kin of rape-accused SP leader Gayatri Prajapati

--- ENDS ---
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* SocGen (Paris: FR0000130809 - news) settles with LIA for 963 mln euros

* SocGen says books 350 mln euro legal provision

* Talks with U.S. authorities to continue for several months

* SocGen reports Q1 net income down 19 pct (Releads, adds CEO comments, details, share price)

By Maya Nikolaeva and Julien Ponthus

PARIS, May 4 (Reuters) - Societe Generale (Swiss: 519928.SW - news) avoided a costly and potentially embarrassing court case on Thursday by agreeing to pay nearly 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) to settle a long-running dispute with the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA).

France's second-biggest listed bank reached an 11th-hour settlement over LIA allegations that 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.

"By settling this dispute ... we avoid a long trial that would have demanded a lot of resources," SocGen CEO Frederic Oudea told journalists on a results call, adding that the bank was now able to concentrate its energy on its main businesses.

A spokesman in Paris said SocGen was paying 963 million euros as part of the Libya settlement, which overshadowed a fall of 19 percent in SocGen's first-quarter net income to 747 million euros which it posted on Thursday.

Asked if SocGen had taken any sanctions against employees or if any of its staff had left the bank as a result of the case, Oudea said "appropriate measures" had and would be taken, while SocGen added that it had apologised to the LIA.

The Libyan fund lost a high-profile case last summer against Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS-PB - news) in which it tried to claw back $1.2 billion from the Wall Street firm relating to nine equity derivatives investments carried out in 2008.

The settlement also marks the end of proceedings against Libyan businessman Walid Giahmi who controlled Lenaida, the Panamanian-registered company alleged to have been paid by SocGen, which was dissolved in 2010.

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"This is a complete exoneration of my client, who has been subject to serious allegations involving bribery and intimidation for the past three years," Giahmi's lawyer, Kathryn Garbett, head of fraud defence at Mishcon de Reya, said, adding that her client was relieved the case was over.

U.S. TALKS NOT OVER YET

While significant, the Libyan settlement does not mark the end of SocGen's legal woes, with the bank still in talks with U.S. authorities over dollar transfers it made on behalf of entities based in countries subject to economic sanctions.

Oudea, who is seeking to turn the page following a series of legal disputes and scandals so that he can focus on a new strategic plan under a new management structure, said those discussions would continue for at least several months.

"Among French banks, SocGen is the only one that does not seem to be able to get rid of recurring reputational problems," analysts at Kepler Cheuvreux, who kept a "buy" rating on SocGen, said.

SocGen shares were down 0.4 percent at 1030 GMT following the results, which came a day after BNP Paribas (LSE: 0HB5.L - news) , France's biggest bank by market capitalisation, beat forecasts with higher first-quarter profits. (Additional reporting by Claire Milhench in London and Jean-Michel Belot in Paris; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta/Greg Mahlich/Alexander Smith)
BERLIN (Reuters) - No debt relief measures are being readied for Greece, Germany's Finance Ministry said on Thursday after the Handelsblatt business daily reported measures were under consideration. "No debt relief is being prepared," the ministry said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters, adding that the implementation of reforms that Greece agreed to in return for aid would help ensure the sustainability of the country's debt. "With regard to possible debt measures, we reached a clear agreement in the Eurogroup statement of May 2016. According to that, after the full implementation of the adjustment programme, there will be an assessment of whether debt measures are necessary. That still applies." (Reporting by Christian Goetz; Writing by Paul Carrel; editing by John Stonestreet)
With the WhatsApp shutdown, separatists' efforts to communicate with each other and contact supporters through the messaging application have been thwarted.

By Ajit Kumar Dubey: A crackdown by authorities on WhatsApp groups in the Kashmir Valley has left separatist and militant outfits stuck between a rock and a hard-up place.

While their efforts to communicate with each other and contact supporters through the instant messaging cellphone application have been thwarted, the funds they received from their Pakistan-based administrators on the basis of the memberships they gather for these WhatsApp groups have also taken a hit, say sources.

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Last month, local police along with the central intelligence agencies had carried out a massive onslaught on the members and administrators of close to 300 such groups for spreading misinformation about Indian forces and gathering stone-pelters at encounter sites to hinder operations.

"Every locality in the Valley had three to four WhatsApp groups for coordinating with the local youth as the social media application has a restriction that a maximum of 256 members can be there in one group," sources in Jammu and Kashmir said.

HOW MEMBERS OF THE WHATSAPP GROUPS WORK

According to officials, the groups were given numbers: for instance, in Langate locality of the valley, the four groups operated were named Langate 1, Langate 2, etc. "More active members were placed in the main group and would be paid around Rs 7,000-8,000 for gathering people and actively motivating the others in the locality for joining them while the ordinary members would be paid around six to seven thousand rupees for doing the job," they said.

Young boys took to throwing stones in mass demonstrations that rocked Kashmir Valley in 2008 and 2010. Since then, it has become a popular way for youths to express their anger against the government, and authorities have been constantly looking to stamp out any repeat.

The administrators of the WhatsApp groups, more than half of whom were Pakistanis, were able to monitor the activities of the group members sitting in faraway locations and also marked their presence on locations through the groups only. "With the closure of these groups and ban on internet services in the state, gathering of stone-pelters has been slowed down to a large extent and their payments have also been adversely affected," the sources said.

After the social media crackdown, the state home department headed by chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also ordered a ban on internet services in Kashmir Valley for one month. The sites that were blocked include Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, QQ, WeChat, Qzone, Tumblr, Google+, Baidu, Skype, Viber, Line, Snapchat, Pinterest, Telegram and Reddit.

HOW BAN ON INTERNET SERVICES SLOWED MOBILISATION

WhatsApp groups have become preferred options for terrorists and separatists to gather stone-pelters against security forces as well as hinder operations against militants in different localities.

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"With no internet services, the speed of mobilisation has been slowed down drastically as earlier they were gathering at sites more than 10 kilometres away in no time and would pelt stones in large numbers," the sources said.

Stone-pelting on security forces near the encounter sites has been causing major operational problems for the law enforcing agencies over the past year. More than half a dozen youths have been killed in such incidents in the first quarter of 2017.

Social media applications have become a big tool of spreading misinformation about Indian forces and government in Kashmir as morphed pictures of police atrocities on locals and videos are spread to instigate local youth, say sources.

Organising the youth in no time and giving them directions to reach nearby places was getting easier through WhatsApp, but the crackdown has hit the momentum hard.

Last month, Pakistan-based WhatsApp groups were also found circulating fake videos purportedly showing Indian Army personnel assaulting and abusing local Kashmiri youth for pelting stones, forcing the Army headquarters in Delhi to issue a denial.

ALSO READ | How Jammu and Kashmir police removed 90 per cent of 300 WhatsApp groups that guided stone pelters

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ALSO READ | Stone pelters on hire in Kashmir: India Today nails Valley's insidious villains

ALSO WATCH | Pakistan-sponsored stone-pelters on WhatsApp: Rajnath brings up India Today report in Lok Sabha

--- ENDS ---
By Parisa Hafezi ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran's main pro-reform opposition leaders plan to speak out from their confinement under house arrest this month to publicly back President Hassan Rouhani for re-election, aides say, helping win over voters disillusioned with the slow pace of change. Rouhani was elected in a landslide in 2013 on promises to ease Iran's international isolation and open up society. He is standing for a second term against five other candidates, mostly prominent hardliners, on May 19, with a run-off a week later if no candidate wins more than 50 percent of votes cast in the first round. In his first term, Rouhani expended his political capital pushing through a landmark agreement with global powers to limit Iran's nuclear programme in return for the lifting of international financial sanctions. But even his supporters acknowledge he has made comparatively little progress on his domestic agenda, after promising that Iranians should enjoy the same rights as other people around the world. Some reformist critics say he neglected the cause of curbing the powers of the security forces and rolling back restrictions that govern how Iranians dress, behave, speak and assemble. Nevertheless, Iran's two leading champions of the reform movement, former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi and former parliament speaker Mehdi Karoubi, will urge voters to back him, a spokesman said. "The two leaders, like in previous elections, will support the candidate backed by the pro-reform faction," said Ardeshir Amir-Arjomand, the Paris-based spokesman for the two men. Another source close to the opposition leaders said "Mousavi and Karoubi will announce their support for Rouhani a few days before the May 19 vote." Rouhani has already won the backing of former President Mohammad Khatami, considered the spiritual leader of the reformists, who declared his support on his website on Tuesday. Iranian newspapers and broadcasters are banned from publishing the former president's image or mentioning his name. Many reformist voters will look for guidance to Mousavi and Karoubi, who both stood for president in 2009 when opposition to the disputed victory of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to Iran's biggest mass demonstrations since its 1979 revolution. Both men have been held under house arrest for six years, although neither has been convicted of a crime. Their pronouncements from their confinement are eagerly followed by reformists online. Maryam Zare, a 19-year-old in Tehran who would be voting for president for the first time, said she would vote only if she heard a call to do so from Karoubi and Mousavi. "I will vote for whoever they support," she said. Others said they would back Rouhani, but only reluctantly. "He is part of the establishment. We have to vote for the lesser of evils," said music teacher Morad Behmanesh in the central city of Yazd. "What happened to Rouhani's promises of releasing the two opposition leaders from house arrest?" PRIORITIES Under Iran's governing system, the elected president's powers are limited, circumscribed by the authority of the supreme leader, a position held since 1989 by hardline cleric Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During Rouhani's first term, the president won Khamenei's cautious backing for his nuclear deal. But persuading the leader to accept social change may be a more difficult task. Some of Rouhani's allies say he will now be able to make more progress on his domestic agenda if he wins a clear, fresh mandate for another four-year term, which would prove to the hardliners that the public wants change. "Iranians want to be free and live freely. They are not against the Islamic Republic. People will continue to fight for their rights," a senior official in Rouhani's government said on condition of anonymity. But international rights groups and activists in Iran say there were few, if any, moves to bring about greater political and social freedoms during Rouhani's first term. Dozens of activists, journalists, bloggers and artists were jailed on political grounds. Rouhani often suggests that he has no control over such arrests, carried out by the mostly hardline judiciary and the Revolutionary Guards, a powerful military force. "I have lost my hope over Rouhani's ability to reform the country. His main focus has been economy, not improving civil rights," said Reza, 28, a reformist who was jailed briefly after the 2009 election and asked that his surname not be published for security reasons. The president has had some success on promises to loosen Internet restrictions, but access to social media remains officially blocked, although Rouhani, Khamenei and other officials have their own Twitter accounts. Human Rights Watch said last year that Rouhani had failed to deliver on his promise of greater respect for civil and political rights. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists in 2015 said that more journalists were in jail in Iran than any country other than China and Egypt. The total number of political prisoners held in Iranian jails has not been disclosed. About a dozen people who also hold other nationalities have been jailed for what rights groups consider political offences. Whoever wins Irans presidential election should prioritise improving the countrys dismal human rights situation," said Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director at Human Rights Watch. "Iran has maintained the highest per capita execution rate in the world for years ... it put 530 people to death last year, many for drug offences and a number of them minors." Rouhani benefits because reformist voters have no other choice on the ballot, where candidates are vetted by a hardline body. Reformist voters will have to judge him in the context of what is possible under the system, said Saeed Leylaz, a prominent economist imprisoned under Ahmadinejad for criticising economic policy, who is now close to Rouhani's government. "Rouhani's failure to fully deliver his promises on social reforms will impact the vote ... but Iranians are well aware of his limitations and his achievements." (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by Peter Graff)
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - A renegade general said he was weighing launching his new rebel force into South Sudan's civil war, and called for President Salva Kiir to go, accusing him of spearheading ethnic violence that rights groups fear is slipping towards genocide. Thomas Cirillo Swaka, known as Cirillo, resigned as deputy chief of staff of South Sudan's military in February, citing rights abuses in a war that has split the world's youngest nation, often along ethnic lines, since 2013. Since then, the army's most high-profile defector said he has put together a force of several thousand fighters, but declined to identify their exact plans or locations. The scarred guerrilla veteran told Reuters that before he quit he had seen evidence of a government programme to recruit fighters and procure arms for militias from Kiir's Dinka ethnic group that included secret orders for weapons bypassing military supply lines. The assertions from Cirillo, a member of the smaller Bari ethnic group, were dismissed by the presidency. "It is very unfortunate that Cirillo is getting out of his mind. This is completely rubbish," said presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny. Reuters was unable to verify Cirillo's accusations independently. But if true, they reinforce rights groups' assertions that the government is using ethnic militias, accusations that the government has strongly denied. A senior U.N. rights official said in December parts of the conflict involved ethnic cleansing. Last month, Britain said some of the violence in the oil-producing state amounted to genocide. "Salva Kiir must go and there should be a change," Cirillo told Reuters from a hotel in Addis Ababa, capital of South Sudan's neighbour Ethiopia, where he said he was living in exile while trying to unite the disparate rebel forces. "If Salva Kiir ... tries to close all doors to peaceful solution ... (the National Salvation Front) will have no other option to defend the people of South Sudan and to protect itself," he added, referring to his rebel force. He said his fighters were "friendly" with the country's biggest rebel force, known as the SPLA-In Opposition - which confirmed it sees Cirillo as an ally. REFUGEES, FAMINE, OIL The war started in December 2013 after Kiir sacked his deputy and long-term rival Riek Machar, a member of the Nuer ethnic group. Forces loyal to Kiir clashed with Nuer in the capital, triggering retaliatory attacks across the impoverished nation. The surge of violence just over two years after South Sudan seceded from Sudan has fuelled Africa's biggest cross-border refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. It has also plunged districts into famine, nearly halved oil production and threatened to destabilise a volatile region. Cirillo said he had largely been sidelined with little power during the period when the worst abuses by government troops took place. Reuters could not verify that assertion, though Cirillo has not been named in any U.N. reports on rights abuses. He said he quit partly because the president and army chief set up a system to recruit militia fighters, bypassing official military channels - a statement dismissed by the presidency. "The president does not seek parallel recruitment," said Ateny. Cirillo said the programme was organised out of Kiir's ranch outside the capital, Juba, in Luri - an area described as a "marshalling point and training area for Dinka militia" in a 2016 U.N. Panel of Experts report on South Sudan. Cirillo said Kiir and army chief Paul Malong, another Dinka, held meetings at their homes, rather than at the ministry or military headquarters, excluding military officers of other ethnic backgrounds. The two also circumvented normal military channels when they recruited thousands of youths from their home region of Bahr el Ghazal, Cirillo said. "They train them there and bring them to Juba," he said. A military spokesman referred Reuters queries to the presidential spokesman. "YOU HAVE TO HIDE GUNS" Cirillo, who has an eight-inch scar on his head from a landmine blast, fought during South Sudan's long wars with the Khartoum government and was head of army training and research from 2010 until February 2016, when he became head of logistics. Cirillo said that less than a week after signing an internationally backed peace deal with Machar in August 2015, Kiir called 60 top generals, including Cirillo, to his palace and ordered them not to withdraw from the capital as the deal stipulated. "The president came and told us that he is not going to implement the agreement and told us in an open way that you have to hide guns," Cirillo said. Ateny described that as "another fabricated lie." Machar returned to Juba in April last year, but was forced to flee in August after fighting between his forces and Kiir's broke out in the capital. South African authorities are holding Machar under de facto house arrest after he sought medical treatment there in October. Alan Boswell, author of an upcoming report on South Sudan for the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, which monitors small arms and armed violence, said Cirillo had support in his native Equatoria region that surrounds Juba and borders Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. "If Cirillo manages to secure an arms supply, the effect would be immediate and drastic, as the rebellion is currently extremely under-resourced," said Boswell. (Editing by Andrew Heavens)
News

New Hybrid Cloud Offering From Dell Integrates With Azure Stack

The full solution should be available later this year.

Today, Dell EMC announced a new hybrid cloud solution that allows business to take advantage of its servers and software in combination with the Microsoft Azure Stack.

Called the Dell EMC Cloud for Microsoft Azure Stack, if offers " a turn-key, IaaS ready platform the day of deployment with PaaS capabilities in its future as development continues," Dell EMC stated in a press release.

The timing of the announcement coincides with a milestone for Microsoft: today also marks the two-year anniversary of Microsoft's first Ignite conference in Chicago, where the company revealed plans to offer Azure Stack. While the company's vision for Azure Stack changed last year after the release of the first technical preview, Microsoft has signaled it will appear in the latter half of this year; and there are now signs it will soon see the light of day.

Dell EMC offered a key indicator today that Microsoft is on track, with the introduction of a single-node server for developers and a 4-node converged system aimed at dev and test, both of which will appear when Microsoft officially releases the software later this year.

Dell EMC is one of the infrastructure providers that Microsoft has engineering and co-development pacts with to offer Azure Stack-certified systems. In addition to Dell EMC, Microsoft is working with Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Lenovo, which have all indicated they'll have Azure Stack-based systems.

Following an interview with Dell EMC officials, it's clear that the company is taking a different approach to its Azure Stack systems than the Cloud Platform System (CPS) running Windows Azure Pack (WAP). The CPS was introduced by Dell prior to its merger with EMC. Now that the two companies are combined, EMC's influence on the Azure Stack platform is apparent. Today's announcement comes in advance of its Dell EMC World gathering, which will take place next week in Las Vegas, where officials plan to emphasize hybrid cloud.

Since the completion of the Dell-EMC merger last summer, server, network and storage infrastructure product groups have consolidated with EMC's headquarters in Hopkinton, Mass. The development of its Azure Stack appliances are now based on EMC's approach to hybrid could hardware, said Kevin Gray, Dell EMC's director of product marketing for hybrid cloud platforms.

"Our first enterprise hybrid cloud was based on the VMware vRealize Suite and all their software defined datacenter components and the virtualization," Gray said. "We build integrations to IaaS layer, things like backup and encryption as a service and we're extending that approach and model to Azure Stack. We are leveraging the partners we've had with Microsoft and the expertise we both have with hybrid cloud."

In addition to its vRealize-based offering, Dell EMC offers its Pivotal Cloud Foundry native hybrid cloud platform, which Gray said focused on enterprises and partners building cloud-native analytics modules. "We are moving this model to Azure Stack," he said.

Gray said the company isn't revealing specs at this time, but added that the entry-level system is 1-node and doesn't come with the entire infrastructure and tooling for deployments, since it's only intended for skilled developers. It will carry a list price of $20,0000. The 4-node system will list at $300,000, but Gray declined to share anticipated street prices. The company also isn't offering details on hardware specs.

Gray explained that Dell EMC believes it will have a differentiated offering with its Azure Stack Platform is via its backup as a service offering, which is based on Dell EMC Networker and Data Domain storage. "We back up not just the data produced by the applications; we actually protect that underlying infrastructure of the Azure environment," he said. "So, all of the bits that are created and the IaaS and PaaS layer are protected, as well as the underlying infrastructure, making sure we back up the full environment."

Dell EMC's Azure Stack Platform will also offer the company's CloudLink SecureVM encryption offering. This secure VM tool is available in the Azure catalog, and enables encryption of virtual machines. This means they're portable and remain secure as they move between hosts. "That really ensures that workloads remain secure, wherever they are running in the datacenter, whether it's in public cloud or if it's the on-premises instance of Azure Stack," Gray said.

While Gray emphasized the 4-node system will be targeted for development as well, he indicated deployment-based systems will also arrive by launch time. Dell EMC will offer complete systems integration services directly and through its own channel partners, as well as Microsoft's. The company will reveal more information on its channel distribution plans in the second half of the year, Gray said.

"We are still working through our approach for channel partners," Gray said. "In fact, we expect the channel to play a big role in the sale of these systems, given the strength of the Microsoft partner ecosystem."
By Press Trust of India: Kolkata, May 5 (PTI) CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury today held the Narendra Modi government responsible for the turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir and accused the BJP of "trying to reap political dividends" out of the situation in that state.

"It is the Narendra Modi government that is solely responsible for the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir. Last year, an all-party delegation had gone to Kashmir and put forward suggestions to normalise the situation such as confidence- building measures, putting an end to the use of pellet guns by security forces and a dialogue with all the stakeholders," he told reporters on the sidelines of a programme here.

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Yechury claimed that in the last six months, the BJP government did not start the process of dialogue with the stakeholders, which further complicated the prevailing explosive situation in the state.

"The government had agreed on it (dialogue). But, nothing happened in the last six months. They did not start the dialogue. So, it is the government which is to blame," he said.

Yechury accused the BJP government of "keeping the Kashmir problem alive to reap political and communal benefits".

"They want the unrest to continue at least till 2019 (Lok Sabha polls), so that they can reap political and communal dividends. They want to project the unrest as a Hindu-Muslim issue," he said. PTI PNT MD RC

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SAN FRANCISCO  Apple is getting more aggressive about emphasizing its role in the U.S. economy, apparently hoping to counter recurring criticism over its reliance on overseas factories.

On Wednesday, Apple for the first time released a state-by-state breakdown of where its 80,000 U.S. employees work, showing that more than half of them are located outside Silicon Valley. It also announced a $1 billion fund aimed at creating more U.S. manufacturing jobs, although it provided few details.

The strategy appears aimed at complicating efforts by President Donald Trump and other politicians to vilify Apple for using companies in China and elsewhere to assemble most of its products. Apple had no comment on political ramifications of its announcements.

CEO Tim Cook first described the manufacturing fund an interview on CNBC, but didnt say how the money will be disbursed or who will be eligible to receive it. Apple will provide more details when it announces its first investment by the end of the month, he said. Apples initial billion-dollar investment amounts to a tiny fraction of its $257 billion in cash.

Cook also promised that Apple will hire thousands of employees, thousands more in the future in the U.S., although he didnt specify how quickly that will happen. Apples U.S. payroll has grown roughly 40-fold since 1998, when it had 5,000 U.S. workers.

Cook also said Apple is examining ways to help more people learn the programming skills to make apps.

THREATS TO APPLE

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from China, a change that would drive up Apples costs. That could pressure the company to raise its prices at a time when it is already having trouble increasing its sales of iPhones and iPads.

They are trying to make the case that they really do have a lot of folks working in the U.S., said technology industry analyst Rob Enderle. So if want to pick on somebody, you might want to pick on somebody else because they wont be a good example.

Cook isnt the only CEO who has been trying to highlight his companys hiring and expansion plans in the U.S.

Trump has attacked many companies, frequently on Twitter, for moving jobs out of the U.S. and lavishly praised those who have announced major hiring initiatives. As a result, many companies, including Exxon Mobil, Intel, Charter Communications and Ford Motor, have unveiled big hiring plans, though in many cases they were already in the works before the presidential campaign.

There is a lot of political pressure to create jobs in the United States, Diane Swonk, CEO of DS Economics, said. Chief executives do not want to show up in a tweet.

APPLE IN THE STATES

Since 2014, Apple has issued a series of reports intended to underscore its contributions to U.S. jobs and economic growth. Its first report came after years of complaints about labor practices and suicides at Foxconn, one of the companys major contractors in China, drew more attention to Apples reliance on overseas factories. Apple to also issues a separate supplier responsibility report reviewing the labor conditions in those facilities.

The Wednesday report on U.S jobs is its fourth update, but the first to include a state-by-state breakdown of Apple employees.

Unsurprisingly, the numbers show its highest concentration of workers (36,786) is located in California, home to the companys Silicon Valley headquarters and 53 stores. Apples second biggest employment center is in Texas (8,407 jobs), where it has a corporate campus and 18 stores. Its smallest pockets of employment are in North Dakota (four jobs), Vermont (six) and Wyoming (seven).

Apples decision to provide detailed information about the locations of its U.S. employees could help the company win support from lawmakers eager to protect jobs in their states, Enderle said. It gives senators something to push back with, recognizing that Apple is a real risky company to target anyway because its products are so popular with people.

Besides showing how many of its full-time and part-time employees work in each state, Apple also lists where its 9,000 U.S. suppliers are located. The company says it spent more than $50 billion at its U.S. suppliers last year, helping them employ a total of 450,000 workers.

APP ECONOMY

The company also cited a study by the Progressive Policy Institute that attributes 1.5 million U.S. jobs to Apples iPhone ecosystem. That figure not only includes programmers that work on the apps, but also supporting staff and employees working everywhere from banks to restaurants that have jobs because of the spending generated by apps.

Such spillover effects are widely recognized, although economists sometimes spar over their magnitude. But for a company to claim credit for all or most of the jobs in a particular industry is a stretch, Swonk said. The vast majority of app developers, for example, also produce apps for Android phones from Samsung and other manufacturers.

The Public Policy Institute only found 1.7 million jobs in the entire app economy  and 1.35 million of those were associated with Android apps. Most of those overlap with the jobs linked to Apple.

___

Rugaber reported from Washington.
The man found dead in the street next to a northeast Albuquerque park early Sunday morning has been identified as 19-year-old Jon Paul Carabajal, according to a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Police Department.

Celina Espinoza said Carabajal is from Albuquerque. He was found dead after neighbors heard several gunshots, but police have not said if he was shot.

Police said they were called to Stardust Skies park, near Pennsylvania and Bellrose NE, around 4 a.m. for reports of gunfire. When they arrived they found Carabajal dead on the scene.

Espinoza did not release any more details about the case and said detectives are still looking for information.

John Statzula lives across from the park and said early Sunday morning he heard about a dozen gunshots over several minutes.

About three oclock I got up and looked out and it was dark, I figured if there was something going on the police would show up, Statzula said. When I got up at 9 and looked out and the whole park is taped off.

Statzula said that afternoon a man saying he was the victims father visited the park so he showed him where his sons body had been found.

He said the police came to his house about 7:20 in the morning and woke him up said there was a 99.9 percent chance its his son but were not sure, Statzula said. But it was his car that was found there.
PHOENIX  A Mesa woman who was naked when she stole a sheriff deputys vehicle in January and led officers on a 70-mile pursuit has been sentenced to 27 months in prison.

Maricopa County Superior Court officials say Lisa Luna also was sentenced Thursday to three years of supervised probation.

She was credited with 119 days spent in jail since her arrest.

The 31-year-old Luna pleaded guilty last month to theft of a means of transportation and endangerment.

Authorities say she took off her clothes while walking along a road in Gila Bend on Jan. 5.

Luna later investigators she was high on drugs and the effects caused her to steal the pickup of a deputy whom shed told she had been sexually assaulted.

She later recanted the assault story.
SAN DIEGO  It seems everyone has a strong opinion about Donald Trumps border wall. But we should at least talk about it in the right way. That is, with clarity, pragmatism and common sense.

Not just in terms of how much this project would cost, with estimates soaring beyond $50 billion. Or whether Mexico is going to pick up the tab, as Donald Trump has insisted. Or whether our neighbor will be forced to pay for it indirectly through a tariff on imported Mexican goods. Or whether Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas might be on to something with his attention-grabbing proposal to use the confiscated assets of drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman to help offset the walls cost.

Not in a partisan way where the public is expected to swallow whole the fantastical narrative that Democrats harbor some deep-seated moral objection to building structures on the U.S.-Mexico border. Dont be fooled by Sen. Chuck Schumers phony tears when he talks about how a wall would divide families; the New York Democrat voted in favor of the Secure Fence Act of 2006, as did his then-Senate colleagues Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Most Democrats love border enforcement, especially walls and fences.

Not in Washington parlance, where the only thing that seems to interest most of the Beltway media is the question: Will he, or wont he? As usual, what reporters in the nations capital are obsessed with is the politics, not the policy. They never tire of speculating about whether Trump will follow through on building a big beautiful border wall, or whether he will ultimately cave to opposition from Democrats.

Judging from the reaction on conservative talk radio, Trump supporters are worried about a cave-in. They fear that the outsider they sent to change Washington has, in just over 100 days, been changed by Washington. Theyre also concerned that the businessmans obsession with getting deals done might soon become a liability if it prompts him to accept bad deals that give away too much to Democrats.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer tried to calm fears by telling reporters this week that the wall will indeed be built.

Maybe, maybe not. The administration failed to get the down payment it was asking for in the recent $1.07 trillion spending package.

But instead of getting bogged down talking about cost, politics and broken promises, there is only one question we should be asking: Is the border wall a good idea or not?

The answer is not.

For one thing, the border stretches nearly 2,000 miles from Brownsville, Texas, to San Diego, Calif., and about a third of it is already covered by a wall or fence. Another third is made up of uncoverable terrain  rivers, mountains, Native American land, private ranches, a university. This whole debate is over what to do with the remaining 700 or so miles along the border.

Also, even if a wall does go up, it wont do much to stop the flow of illegal immigrants. In the last few years, that flow has become a trickle as the economy in Mexico has improved and the human smugglers have raised their prices. The Trump wall is irrelevant before its even built, given an existing and sophisticated network of underground tunnels.

This could explain why  in my conversations with Border Patrol supervisors and rank-and-file agents  they tend to ask for tunnel-detection equipment and not for walls. They also want better roads to make it easier to apprehend border crossers, and the latest technology to help them win what is a battle of wits with smuggling cartels. And for their own safety, they would rather not contend with 20-foot-high walls they cant see through or around.

But what do these experts know? They just walk the line every day.

Lastly, a wall could make the problem worse by penning in many of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants on this side of the border. Many of them have been separated from their families for so long that they consider it normal. They wont go home for a visit  at Christmas or Mothers Day  because theyre afraid they wont be able to get back unless they pay a smugglers new and exorbitant Donald Trump rate. So they stay here, put down roots, and never leave.

Guess what, Mr. President. Its not just health care, Syria and North Korea. Who knew a border wall could be so complicated?

E-mail: ruben@rubennavarrette.com. Copyright, The Washington Post Writers Group.
SANTA FE  A bipartisan trio of New Mexico lawmakers is calling for state economists to craft a new estimate of the money available to spend this year and next, with the goal of making it clear how much cost-cutting or other budget adjustments are necessary.

But Gov. Susana Martinez said the state already has enough information to make sound decisions and its time to negotiate a budget agreement. Her support would be necessary because a revenue forecast cant be produced without help from economists who work in her administration.

The request for an updated revenue estimate, in any case, comes as Martinez, a Republican, and the Legislature  where Democrats hold majorities in both chambers  are at odds over how to resolve a state budget crisis, triggered in part by a downturn in oil and gas prices.

Martinez is preparing to force most rank-and-file state workers to take unpaid days off to help balance this years budget, though she said she hopes it wont come to that. Democrats say furloughs arent necessary, but that a new revenue estimate would make the budget picture clearer either way.

Meanwhile, the governor and Legislature havent agreed on a budget for next year. The fiscal year begins in July, and Martinez has said she expects to call lawmakers back for a special session soon.

Theres also litigation over the budget, parts of which the governor vetoed.

Two Democrats  Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming and Rep. Patricia Lundstrom of Gallup  joined Republican Sen. Steven Neville of Aztec this week to request a new revenue estimate.

In a short letter, they asked the Martinez administration to support calling together staff economists who work for the executive and legislative branches to review economic projections and determine whether any changes should be made to the states most recent revenue forecast.

It seems like common sense to me, said Neville, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. We dont want to cut anything we dont have to.

The last forecast came in December, and it was reviewed in February, with no changes made. The estimates are typically made only twice a year  once in winter and once in summer.

Theyre issued by staff economists for the Legislative Finance Committee and the state departments of Finance and Administration, Taxation and Revenue, and Transportation.

Michael Lonergan, a spokesman for the governor, said theres no need for a new estimate.

It does not make much sense, he said, to spend more money and more time to produce an out-of-cycle revenue estimate.  Rather than delay tactics, legislators should focus on negotiations and working on solutions that pay for their spending and grow our reserves without raising taxes.

Rep. Larry Larranaga, an Albuquerque Republican and former chairman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, said a new revenue forecast would take time  time that would be better spent negotiating a budget agreement.

I dont think theres big a change in the numbers, he said.

The three lawmakers who signed the letter, in turn, said they believe state revenue is coming in a little better than estimated in the December forecast. That could provide some extra room to reach agreement in budget talks, they said, if economists determine a change is justified.

A revenue-tracking report issued last month by the Legislative Finance Committee showed the state was on track to collect roughly $55 million more than projected for the current budget year.

I think (the administration) should have a common interest in wanting to know where the state stands financially, said Smith, chairman of both the Senate Finance Committee and the LFC.

It takes about two weeks to develop a revenue forecast, he said.

Neville said it might not take that long, if the economists just review their prior work and determine whether changes are necessary.

Lundstrom, chairwoman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, said it cant hurt to have updated information.

Its a best practice, she said. Theres no downside, if youre looking at it from a professional point of view.
In anticipation of the sometimes alcohol-tinged revelry on Cinco de Mayo, Gov. Susana Martinez and the state Department of Transportation on Thursday released a documentary-style, anti-DWI TV ad aimed at people who dont have any experience with jail and its dehumanizing reality.

The ad follows a white male in his 30s as he is pulled over, tested, arrested, booked into and ultimately released from the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. The ad is punctuated with the sounds of slamming jail cell doors and dramatic gongs as the man, an actor, is interviewed about how shaming and expensive the experience was for him.

You dont feel like a real person any more, the actor tells the camera as he recalls trying to navigate the jeering, menacing jail inmates to his cell, where he is met by a scowling inmate with neck and face tattoos.

I dont know what my best bet is for not getting hurt, by the inmates and cellmate, he tells the interviewer.

Ultimately, he is released on his own recognizance, which means he likely had no criminal history.

Martinez and State Police Chief Pete Kassetas said Thursday the ad targets those without criminal justice system experience and those without a history of DWI arrests.

The two agreed that people without previous criminal justice experience dont really know what it is like in jail, and so they hope the segment persuades them not to drink and drive.

Often times, people think they have a few drinks and they are OK, but driving buzzed is just as bad, she told a crowd, which included DOT employees, the film maker crew, the latest class of State Police cadets and media at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Of those convicted for DWI statewide in 2014, 39 percent were first-timers, according to the 2014 New Mexico DWI Report. About two-thirds of drivers in fatal DWI-related crashes have never been arrested for DWI, said Linda Atkinson, executive director of the DWI Resource Center.

The 12-minute video will be available for anti-DWI presentations and drivers education classes. And portions of it have been made into individual commercials for television and social media.

The production cost was $398,000 and television spots cost $125,000, mostly funded by federal grants to the states DOT.

Click to go to ENDWI.com


Why do the New Mexico State Police and the Santa Fe police have to be badgered into releasing basic information after a police shooting?

Their stance only creates distrust and raises questions about credibility.

On Saturday, a Santa Fe officer shot and killed a man after a stolen car was located near Eldorado. A State Police officer was also present.

On Sunday, the State Police released a statement that contained a few sentences of information. A suspect managed to get away from the officers, get into a Santa Fe police car, place it in drive, and pinned a Santa Fe officer between a tree and the patrol cars drivers side door, knocking the officer down. In a subsequent struggle, the officer shot and killed the suspect, the statement said.

Was there a chase before the confrontation that led to the shooting? Police cant say. Did the suspect live at or near the location where the shooting took place? Not suitable for public release by New Mexico law enforcement. The part about the car door and tree is simply not clear  if youre pinned between a car door and a tree, how do you fall down?

Pretty basic information except in the eyes of the State Police and the SFPD.

No names were released. That finally happened on Wednesday. For unexplained reasons, the State Police maintained they were waiting for an autopsy before releasing the name of the man who was killed  the first time we can recall using a procedure that determines cause of death as a way to figure out someones identity.

Reporters, after filing formal requests with the regional dispatch center, managed to find out that, yes, there was a chase before the shooting and that the driver of a car reported stolen sped the wrong way in lanes of Interstate 25 with his headlights off, based on recordings of radio communications among officers. No way such delicate information could be released quickly and voluntarily by police without compromising the investigation, right?

Its hard to imagine law enforcement agencies getting away with such stonewalling anywhere else in the country after an officer-involved shooting, particularly with the heightened tensions over confrontations involving police officers that turn violent.

The police in our neighborhood for years have tried to use the phrase the case remains under investigation as an excuse for not releasing records or more information. There is no under investigation exception to the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act.

There are very limited exceptions, including to protect confidential sources. In this case, the Santa Fe city attorney also has twisted a 10-year-old legal agreement between news organizations and the State Police  intended to further limit how police agencies can withhold information  as justification for not quickly releasing officers identities.

As has been said in this space before, the Santa Fe police have a good record on restrained use of deadly force. Going silent after a police shooting just raises questions about the investigation and leads to suspicion about whether the days of withholding details are intended to allow more time for shaping a narrative.
BERLIN  Feeling nervous before your flight? Travelers at one German airport can now receive spiritual solace by entering a booth and listening to a prayer of their choice before boarding the plane.

The prayer booth at Stuttgart Airports Terminal 3 features 300 prayers from various religions in 65 different languages, airport spokesman Johannes Schumm said Friday.

Often, passengers still have a bit of time before their departure at the gate, Schumm added. The prayer booth is an offer by the airports chaplains to provide a moment of contemplation.

Designed by Berlin artist Oliver Sturm, the former photo booth offers a vast variety of prayers, including the Christian Lords Prayer, the Jewish Shma Israel and the Islamic muezzins call to prayer. The Hindu Hare Krishna chant, Tibetan monk chants, Buddhist sutras, prayers of Shamans from New Guinea or Mali, even American TV preachers are also available on the touch-screen display.

In addition to the big monotheistic faiths, polytheistic religions and animist beliefs are also included.

The Gebetomat, which roughly translates as Pray-o-Matic, was first designed by Sturm in 2008. Its red cabin has a gray curtain and an adjustable swivel chair inside. The booth is free and will be available for three months at Stuttgart Airports boarding area next to Gate 310.

The artist, who could not immediately be reached for comment, writes on his home page that all prayers are real prayers of believers, gathered in worship, prayer rooms, homes.

Sturm has designed several prayer booths in recent years that have been installed at schools, universities and museums.

___

Follow Kirsten Grieshaber on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/kugrieshaber
NOGALES, Ariz.  A shipment of Ford Fusions traveling by rail from Mexico to Minnesota has been found to have marijuana hidden inside the vehicles.

The shipment contained 15 Ford Fusions and each one had marijuana concealed in the trunks spare-tire space, the Arizona Daily Star reported (http://bit.ly/2qAz3Zc ) Thursday.

A truck driver in a Minnesota rail yard had discovered the pot in two vehicles, which prompted a search of the other 13.

Each of the first two cars had 40 pounds (18 kilograms) of marijuana molded into the shape of spare tires and tucked inside plastic wrap, aluminum foil, coffee grounds and garbage bags.

Authorities had to search as far as 170 miles (274 kilometers) away from the original report to find all the cars.

Fusions are made at the Ford plant in Sonora, Mexico, and some are shipped by rail through the border crossing in Nogales, Arizona.

Police do not have any suspects, said Steve Linders, a spokesman for the St. Paul, Minnesota, police.

A spokeswoman for Ford said the company is aware of the situation and cooperating with the investigation, but declined to provide any more information

In a separate incident on March 10, railroad police notified the police department in Dilworth, Minnesota, that marijuana was found in a Ford Fusion from Mexico.

Police searched more than 400 other vehicles in the Dilworth rail yard and found 217 pounds (98 kilograms) of marijuana packaged and sealed to look like spare tires in seven new Fusions from Mexico, Dilworth Police Chief Ty Sharpe said.

At the Arizona-Sonora border in May 2015, the Mexican military found 430 pounds of marijuana in the spare-tire spaces of 14 new cars inside a rail car in Nogales, Sonora.

___

Information from: Arizona Daily Star, http://www.tucson.com
SANTA FE  Gov. Susana Martinez on Friday set a budget-balancing special legislative session for later this month, giving her office and leading lawmakers less than three weeks to try to hammer out a deal before legislators reconvene at the Roundhouse.

The two-term Republican governors announcement that she had settled on May 24 as the special sessions start date came after weeks of uncertainty, lawsuits and finger-pointing over New Mexicos budget impasse.

In addition to balancing the budget, Martinez added a proposed overhaul of the states gross receipts tax system, the creation of a state rainy day fund and regent confirmations to the sessions to-do-list.

New Mexico faces serious fiscal challenges, and its up to us as leaders, not politicians, to address them responsibly  without raising taxes on our hardworking families and businesses, Martinez said in a statement.

However, top-ranking Democratic lawmakers sounded a wary tone in response to the special session announcement, with some saying there had been no communication from the Governors Office about her plans.

The scarce details provided by Gov. Martinez in her proclamation do not add up, said Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe. New Mexico cannot afford the additional cuts the governor seems intent on making a reality.

The governors decision to issue a special session proclamation without an agreement in place between her office and the Democratic-controlled Legislature opens the door to the possibility of a prolonged, contentious session  which would in some ways be a repeat of this years regular session.

It also means a special session will not begin until after the state Supreme Court has heard arguments in a court challenge filed by the Legislature over the governors line-item veto of all proposed funding  roughly $779 million in all  for legislative branch agencies and New Mexico colleges and universities.

House GOP floor leader Nate Gentry of Albuquerque said the Legislature will have to shore up the state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 regardless of the outcome of the court case.

He also said House Republicans are willing to sign off on revenue-generating changes to the states tax code, provided theyre part of a comprehensive tax reform package.

Im hopeful people will set aside their egos and anger and come up with an agreement, Gentry told the Journal . Its going to take a little political courage to get it done.

Tax reform deal?

A previous proposal to overhaul the states gross receipts tax by eliminating more than 100 exemptions and lowering the base rate stalled in the Senate during this years 60-day session due to concerns over its impact.

Rep. Jason Harper, R-Rio Rancho, the bills sponsor, has described the tax legislation as a way to get New Mexico out of an economic death spiral.

But Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla Park, who met with Harper last month to discuss the legislation, said theres no agreement in place and that Democratic legislators have some serious misgivings about the proposal  including the potential reimposition of a tax on food items.

Anything that is proposed is going to have to be thoroughly analyzed, McCamley said.

After several rounds of budget cuts in recent years, the Legislature approved a $350 million package of tax and fee increases during this years session that was aimed at averting additional spending reductions.

However, Martinez vetoed that legislation, instead proposing cost-savings measures such as making state workers pay more money into their retirements accounts  allowing the state-funded contribution to be decreased accordingly.

Martinez described the tax package as one of the largest tax increases in state history, adding, We need to balance our budget, address our cash crisis, and restore funding for our colleges and universities  without asking families to foot the bill to bail out government.

But House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said Democratic lawmakers will resist additional spending cuts to core state government programs.

Governor Susana Martinez Issues Proclamation for Special Session by Albuquerque Journal on Scribd

The governor knows, because House and Senate leadership have been clear from the beginning, that cuts to education, health care, behavioral health and important economic development initiatives will not be accepted during a special session, Egolf said Friday.

He also said he was unsure whether a budget-balancing agreement might be reached, since lawmakers have not seen the details of Martinezs plan to restore funding for colleges and universities.

Special sessions

This years special session will mark the second consecutive year Martinez has summoned lawmakers back to Santa Fe to address the state budget, after calling just two special sessions during her first five years in office.

Last years special session  called just a month before the November general election  lasted for seven days and with an agreement on a $371 million solvency package but no accord on three crime bills sought by Martinez.

Per the state Constitution, the governor can set the agenda of special sessions, but lawmakers are not required to act on all issues on a governors to-do list.

Special sessions, which can cost up to $50,000 per day, are limited to no longer than 30 days. This years special session is not expected to last that long, but without an agreement in place it could stretch on for days.
The Trump administrations Army secretary nominee withdrew from consideration Friday, a senior defense official said, amid mounting opposition to past comments he made about Islam, evolution and gender issues.

Mark Green, a Republican state lawmaker in Tennessee and veteran of the Iraq War, blamed false and misleading attacks against him, in a statement provided to NBC News. The Pentagon and the White House had no immediate reaction to the move, but it came hours after a Defense Department spokesman declined to say whether Defense Secretary Jim Mattis still supported him for the job.

The decision was announced after a month of growing calls for the Trump administration to choose someone else for the job. Advocacy groups for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people immediately launched an effort on Capitol Hill to block his nomination after it was announced April 7, saying his history of antagonism toward them made him an unacceptable choice.

Several U.S. senators signaled opposition to Green becoming Army secretary this week, including Sens. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also said in an interview with USA Today that some of Greens comments are very concerning and that would have to explain himself to the committee.

Theres a lot of controversy concerning his nomination, McCain said in an interview with USA Today. We are getting some questions from both Republicans and Democrats on the Armed Services Committee. I think there are some issues that clearly need to be cleared up.
Public Service Co. of New Mexico announced a settlement Friday with most parties in its latest rate case that, if approved by the Public Regulation Commission, would lower its proposed rate hike from 14 percent to about 9 percent, phased in over two years.

The company had requested $99.2 million in new annual revenue when it filed the case in December, which would have increased overall average rates for all customers by 14.3 percent. Residential and small-business consumers would have faced higher percentage hikes than large industrial and institutional consumers in that proposal, although rates would have been implemented in stages in 2018 and 2019 to mitigate the impact.

Under the new settlement agreement, PNMs annual revenue would grow by only $62.3 million. That would still be phased-in over two years, and most of the rate-paying classes would face the same base-rate percentage increases of a total 9 percent over two years.

Average residential customers will pay about 3.9 percent more on their total bill in 2018, and an additional 3.4 percent in 2019. The impact is smaller because the rate increase only applies to a portion of the total bill.

About a dozen parties are participating in the case. Of those, PNM and eight others have signed the settlement, including the attorney general, PRC utility staff and four environmental and consumer advocacy groups: Western Resource Advocates, Sierra Club, the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy and the Renewable Energy Industry Association. The board of New Mexico Industrial Energy Consumers will vote next week and Energy Freedom Coalition of America remains neutral.

Only one lone wolf, Santa Fe-based New Energy Economy, is so far opposing the agreement.

Those signing the settlement said it represents a good deal for ratepayers that ensures the utilitys financial stability and electric system reliability while working toward more environmentally friendly generation.

The broad support of this agreement demonstrates the parties shared vision for PNM customers to have affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible power, Pat Vincent-Collawn, PNM Resources chairwoman, president and CEO, said in a statement.

The rate impact on customers is now lower than it otherwise might have been, and the two-year phase-in will help offset the impact, said Steve Michel, attorney with Western Resource Advocates.

We believe its a good outcome for consumers that also provides a reasonable rate path forward for PNM, Michel said.

All sides made significant concessions. PNM, for example, agreed to a 9.575 percent return on equity, which the PRC had approved in its previous rate case last year, thus forgoing a bump to 10.125 percent that the company had sought in its proposal in December.

PNM also accepted a much lower increase in the current $7 fixed charge residential consumers pay on their monthly bills independent of how much electricity they consume. PNM agreed to a 65-cent increase in contrast to the $6 increase it proposed in December.

PNM has said it needs more fixed-charge income to compensate for energy efficiency programs that have decreased electric consumption in recent years. PNMs fixed costs to keep the grid operating 24/7 have remained unchanged despite declining consumption, leading to $91 million in unrecovered utility costs from 2011 to 2016.

In the settlement, rather than cover such losses through higher fixed charges on bills, the parties will seek solutions for energy efficiency-related revenue issues through more regulatory proceedings next fall.

The new rate hike would come on the heels of a rate increase last October that added about 10 percent to the average residential monthly bill.

Four Corners controversy

The parties also negotiated significant agreements on the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station and Four Corners Power Plant near Farmington. The agreements could help pave the way for PNMs early shutdown of San Juan and a pullout from Four Corners in coming years. Much of the companys rate hike will pay for capital investments related to shutting down two of the four San Juan generating units and installation of pollution controls at Four Corners, where PNM owns a 13 percent ownership stake.

Under the settlement, PNM would raise depreciation rates at San Juan to generate an additional $10 million in revenue annually to accelerate cost recovery for capital investments there. That would be offset by lower depreciation rates on the companys electric distribution system.

That could ease the burden of shutting down San Juan entirely in 2022 when the plants co-ownership agreement and coal contract end.

At Four Corners, PNM will be allowed to recover its share of investment in pollution controls that were mandated under environmental laws, but it has agreed to earn only enough return on that investment to pay off debt, not to turn a profit. It also agreed to review the potential costs and benefits of an early pullout from Four Corners before the ownership and coal contracts there expire in 2031. The company will analyze impacts if it departed in 2024 or 2028 as part of its next integrated resource plan, which it prepares every three years to chart the most affordable and reliable paths forward in future years.

Those agreements helped pave the way for support from environmental and renewable energy organizations in the settlement.

The rate-making treatment we worked out for San Juan and Four Corners will make it easier for PNM to get out of coal generation in the next few years, said Chuck Noble, attorney for the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy.

New Energy Economy opposes the settlement principally because it allows the utility to recover capital investments in the Four Corners plant. The group says PNM has never justified retaining its ownership stake there with a financial analysis that shows its investments in Four Corners, which total about $150 million, are beneficial for ratepayers as the law mandates.

PNM is asking ratepayers to foot a $150 million bill on capital expenditures on a 50-year-old plant without any financial analysis to show its justified or cost-effective, said NEE executive director Mariel Nanasi. Thats a heavy and unfair burden to place on ratepayers.

PNM settlement agreement

PNM is requesting $62 million in new annual revenue, amounting to a 9 percent increase in base rates

Average residential customers will pay about 8.3 percent more on their total bill, which includes other charges. That will be phased-in over two years, with a 3.9 percent hike in 2018 and another 3.4 percent in 2019.

The fixed monthly charge for residential customers will increase by 65 cents, also phased in over two years.
When TV actor Sumeet Raghavan posted a selfie a while back with the cast of popular sitcom Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai after 10 years, it a created a ripple amongst the shows fans. Anticipation turned to frenzy when Producer Jamnadas (JD) Majethia confirmed in July 2016, We have received so much support from fans online, some of whom have even volunteered to finance the show if it returns. During the discussions we agreed that none of us wanted a never-ending TV series, and a short-term online series seems a good idea. Once I return from my vacation, I will finalise the script and we will move on from there.

Now, following a unique marketing campaign, leading video-on-demand platform Hotstar has finally announced May 16, 2017 to be the launch date for Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai: Take 2.

With the comeback, the show has also taken a leap of seven years. New characters will join the entire original cast of Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai  Satish Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Sumeet Raghavan, Rupali Ganguly, Rajesh Kumar and Deven Bhojani.

Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai is based on the life of a hilarious and quirky Gujarati family, living in Mumbai. The shows originality and humour have earned it a spot among the best of Indian television. The second season promises the same wit and sarcasm that became the hallmark of the show, along with some new and interesting story tracks and characters.

Hotstar, aware of the consistent and passionate fandom for the show, designed an immersive marketing campaign which would allow fans to become part of the shows journey, while giving new audiences a peek into what makes the show a smash hit.

The quirky digital campaign kick-started with a teaser on April 3, taking fans on a virtual tour of the shows set for the Muhuratshot via Facebook Live. Millions of fans immediately responded with much enthusiasm, resulting in the show trending on Facebook for four days.

Hotstar dialed up the engagement further with a digital video, inviting suggestions from audiences for naming the second season of the show.

The video went viral, attracting over 15 million views within just two days of release. The suffix in the shows title, Take 2, was selected from over 50,000 suggestions from fans.

The new name of the show  Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai: Take 2  was finally revealed via an official promotional film on social media, which racked up 3 million views within 10 hours of release. The film, which shows the characters diligently cleaning various objects around the house, underscores the shows proposition as a comedy that is Clean bhi, crazy bhi.

Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai: Take 2 is produced by JD Majethia and Aatish Kapadia.

Commenting on the show, Ajit Mohan, CEO, Hotstar, said, We looked at the comedy space on digital and realised that there is a glut of content that liberally uses swearing and insults to create comedy. While that has its place, Sarabhai vs. Sarabhais brand of comedy stands out in sharp contrast as content thats best known for its wit, sarcasm and the stellar casts inimitable timing.

He further said, Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai: Take 2 is the latest in our signature bouquet of content, called Hotstar Originals. Each show in this bouquet, be it On Air with AIB, Cineplay or Tanhaaiyan, is genre-defining in its own unique way, and were really excited to see the enthusiasm Sarabhai vs. Sarabhai: Take 2 has already drummed up.
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.
Amazon is planning to build a massive Development Center in Cambridge, United Kingdom, the British division of the American tech giant revealed in a release published on Thursday. The science hub will span 60,000 square feet and be focused on researching artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and related technologies, the company said. The center is scheduled to be opened this fall and will host 400 researchers, though its currently unclear how many of them will be new hires as opposed to existing employees that Amazon will simply relocate north of London. However, the company will turn to the job market to fill at least a portion of those new positions, at least according to the comments made by Doug Gurr, Amazons Country Manager for the United Kingdom. In a short statement included in the announcement of the firms new research center, Gurr said that the British unit of the U.S. tech giant is planning to employ over 1,500 researchers and other innovators by the end of the year.

Amazons latest announcement is likely connected to the companys February pledge to create 15,000 new jobs across Europe over the course of 2017. Those positions that Amazon already started creating on the Old Continent exclusively refer to full-time jobs, and approximately one-third of all new roles will be located in the United Kingdom, recent reports have indicated. In a separate release that was also published on Thursday, the Seattle-based eCommerce and tech company said that it invested 6.4 billion  more than $8.25 billion  in the UK in the last seven years, indicating that its commitment to the country will keep increasing in the coming years. Amazon is currently employing approximately 19,000 people in the UK and will likely grow its British workforce to 24,000 by the end of the year.

Regarding the Cambridge-based Development Center itself, Amazon didnt share many details on its future operations, though a company representative clarified that the aforementioned drone research will be conducted as part of the firms efforts to revolutionize delivery services. The same is likely at least partially true for all AI-related research that will be carried out in the same facilities. An update on Amazons UK operations is expected to follow later this year.
App optimization company Neumob released an infographic detailing the state of smartphone usage in the United States that also provides an in-depth look into app download and retention rates among American smartphone owners across different demographics. The infographic also details the operating system that is dominant among consumers in the United States, showing that Android lags behind iOS with younger demographics. However, the difference between the two operating systems is not a massive one, the largest being the 19-percent advantage of iOS among users aged 18 to 24, while Android leads among older demographics, particularly users aged 25 to 34.

Another interesting observation made by Neumob is the number of apps users have on their smartphones, not counting applications preloaded by the smartphone manufacturer or the wireless carrier. According to Neumob, most Americans keep between six and 15 applications on their smartphones, which is true across almost all demographics except for those older than 65 wherein people tend to keep less than half a dozen apps on their handsets. In addition to the small number of apps downloaded by consumers, there is only a small number of users who continue using their apps after theyve downloaded them. A sharp drop in usage is observable just a week after the app is downloaded, after which only 10 to 12 percent of consumers continue using the app. After one month, that number is further reduced to around 7.5 percent, and less than two percent of users continue using the app after three months.

A major contributor to poor retention of certain apps is the speed of app loading, with at least 75 percent of users deleting a downloaded app after they get frustrated due to poor stability and performance. Underwhelming app performance is surely a great factor in app use, and even major players in the industry like Snapchat are blaming bad Android app performance for their poor uptake among Android users. Neumobs infographic, which is a compilation of research and statistics released in previous years, also provides a number of tips regarding what app developers should do to improve app retention and make sure that users arent giving up on their creations due to poor performance.
BlaBlaCar is currently piloting a new ride-sharing service for France called BlaBlaLines that focuses on making carpooling to work a more organic process. It also doesnt appear the service is intended to compete directly with companies like Uber, whose ride-sharing is more closely related to hailing a taxi. Instead of calling for a ride from a dedicated driver, the application behind the new service will automatically sync up drivers and passengers along lines of travel, as a matter of convenience and environmental footprint reduction. BlaBlaLines is even backed by ADEME  the French Environment and Energy Agency. The pilot is taking place along two routes in France, including Reims to Chalons-en-Champagne and Toulouse to Montauban, and got its start on May 2.

As mentioned above, BlaBlaCar is looking to innovate in a completely different way than would be competitors. Although there are bound to be hiccups along the way  as with any beta, pilot, or experiment  that alone should help it avoid at least some of the pitfalls those other companies have faced along the way. Heres how it works. Users sign up with the application and set up the destinations they need and what time they need to be there. Then the application works out the meeting points and times automatically so there isnt any confusion to be caused by miscommunication. Those are set up along the lines of travel of the driver, with the meeting place set as close to the passenger as possible. That should  with enough users signed up for the service  make getting a ride more natural and far less dependent on the whims of any given driver, while also allowing the driver to still take the route he or she would normally be taking to get to his or her destination.

The BlaBlaLines test doesnt have a specified end date, but BlaBlaCar says it will continue to rework the application as needed before finally rolling the app out to the rest of the country at a later time. Unfortunately, theres already one glaringly obvious feature thats missing. Passengers will need to pay with cash for a ride for the time being, with a payment system expected to come in a later iteration of the app. However, the ideas behind BlaBlaLines are interesting at very least and could ultimately have a positive impact on the ride-sharing industry. The application is available in France right now as a beta, for anybody interested in giving it a shot.
A group of former Google Maps employees is presently trying to evolve map-building software through its startup DeepMap. Founded in 2016 by ex-Googlers Mark Wheeler and James Wu, the Palo Alto, California-based startup is currently in the process of developing solutions that would improve the ability of self-driving vehicles to navigate through urban environments. The company is aiming to do so by not only building highly detailed cityscape maps but also by offering its mapmaking software to vehicle manufacturers.

While the platform that DeepMap is currently developing can be used by autonomous cars in real time, its also aimed at teaching artificial intelligence powering self-driving vehicles to drive before it actually hits public roads. The mapmaking technology infused into DeepMaps vehicles is based on a LiDAR that collects data and combines it with images captured by highly advanced digital cameras. Once processed, that set of data can be used for automatically building highly detailed 3D maps, DeepMap claims. Among other things, the solution is said to be capable of measuring curb height, marking and interpreting street signs, and identifying billboards.

DeepMaps main goal is to develop a robust mapmaking solution and detailed 3D maps and license them to autonomous vehicle manufacturers. While the Palo Alto-based startup already has a number of high-profile and much better-funded competitors like Alphabet, Apple, HERE, and TomTom, the company is hoping that it will be able to grab a sizeable portion of the emerging 3D map market as its offerings arent tied down to any kind of hardware or other products. While somewhat optimistic, that strategy seemingly resonated with some investors seeing how DeepMap managed to raise $32 million in two funding rounds since being established last year and will likely manage to secure at least one more capital injection in the future. The company is currently aiming to generate up to $10 million in revenue by the end of 2017 and if it succeeds in that endeavor, its valuation could easily skyrocket. While it remains to be seen whether DeepMap manages to develop into a sustainable business in the future, a number of self-driving startups certainly will seeing how this market continues to grow at a rapid pace.
A recent market survey conducted by Strategy Analytics reveals that Apple was the leading wearable manufacturer in the world in Q1 2017, surpassing both Xiaomi and Fitbit in terms of global shipments during that period. Furthermore, the report shows that Fitbit not only lost its top position to Apple in the first quarter but that it also shipped fewer wearables than Xiaomi over the same three-month period ending March 31, falling to the third spot on the podium behind the Chinese tech giant.

According to Strategy Analytics, Apple shipped 3.5 million wearables to vendors worldwide in the first quarter of 2017, up from 2.2 million units shipped in Q1 2016. In contrast, although Fitbit previously shipped a total of 4.5 million units throughout Q1 2016, the company managed to ship only 2.9 million wearables in the first quarter of 2017, according to Strategy Analytics estimate, though Fitbits Q1 2017 earnings report puts that number at three million. Fitbits shipment figures fell behind Xiaomis, who managed to ship 3.4 million wearables in the first quarter of this year, compared to 3.8 million units shipped in Q1 2016. These figures drastically reshuffled the global wearable vendor market share in the first quarter, with Apple now holding 15.9 percent of the market, up from 12.1 percent in Q1 2016. Xiaomi maintains its second place in the race with a 15.5-percent market share down from 20.9 percent year-on-year, while Fitbits wearables now account for 13.2 percent of the global market, down from 24.7 percent a year ago.

Strategy Analytics believes that Apple has been winning ground in the global wearable market thanks to solid sales of the Apple Watch Series 2 in the United States and the United Kingdom. The second generation Apple Watch was released in December 2016 and while it retained its predecessors overall design, it built on top of the first model with a new Apple S2 dual-core system-on-chip, a brighter display, better waterproofing, and the inclusion of a GPS module. Meanwhile, Strategy Analytics adds that Fitbits late entry into the smartwatch segment didnt help the company in solidifying its top spot, and Fitbit continued to lose ground as demand for its fitness trackers had diminished. As for Xiaomi, it would seem the companys strategy to release affordable wearables allowed it to maintain the second position on the market, as Strategy Analytics further reveals that demand for the Xiaomi Mi Band fitness lineup has been broadly flat across key markets in Asia. Regardless, Fitbit is reportedly still the global leader in terms of wearable sales, though latest data suggests that it may struggle to maintain that market position.
Google I/O kicked off for the very first time on May 28th, 2008, and for those wondering what the I/O stands for, it actually is pretty simple, it stands for input/output. It started out as a two-day developer conference, and has changed quite a bit since. Moving to a three-day event in 2012, then back to a two-day conference in 2014 and 2015, before returning to a three-day event. It all started at the Moscone West conference center in San Francisco, where most developer conferences take place (including Apples WWDC and Microsofts BUILD conference). It has since moved over to the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, to accommodate the steadily growing crowd that attends each year. Tickets for Google I/O always sell out in record time, with many years, tickets selling out in mere seconds. In recent years, Google has changed the way tickets are sold. Allowing those developers that are interested in attending, a way to register their interest, and then they select people at random to attend the event. Its worked out a bit better but, its still not perfect.

The majority of Googles major announcements have taken place at Google I/O, including the announcement of Android at the very first edition of Google I/O in 2008. In the years since, there have been plenty of new products announced, some of which are no longer around, or have morphed into something bigger and better  like Google TV and Google+ Photos. Google I/O has always been, and likely always will be a developers conference, so while there are plenty of great new products announced at Google I/O, they are mostly geared towards developers. This is important because developers are what make services succeed, like Android. So sit back, and lets take a trip down memory lane and see what some of the bigger announcements were from past Google I/Os before we begin to speculate what we might see in 2017.

Google I/O 2008

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Google I/O took place on May 28th and 29th in 2008, at the Moscone West convention center in the heart of San Francisco. It was the first developers conference for Google, who at the time was still mostly a search engine. Now obviously the biggest announcement in this developers conference was definitely Android. Google announced Android at Google I/O 2008, and it remains their biggest venture ever. Google also debuted the Google Apps Engine, OpenSocial and Google Gears. Google Gears was short-lived, but it was an API that was shut down in 2011 and replaced by HTML5 standards.

As for the Google Apps Engine, it was a platform for startups and/or businesses to build scalable web and mobile apps in the cloud. Remember, in 2008, neither Android nor iOS was a big deal (in fact the first iPhone launched in 2007, and used web apps only), so the Google Apps Engine wasnt a huge announcement like it would be in 2017. OpenSocial was an API that was made to build social or mobile apps. OpenSocial was shut down in 2015 when it merged with W3C. So theoretically, the only announcement from Google I/O 2008 that is still working today, is Android.

Google I/O 2009

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May 27th and 28th were the dates for the second annual Google I/O conference, and there werent many major announcements here. Of course, Google did make some announcements regarding Android and OpenSocial, but the big new service was Google Wave. Which was a pretty short-lived service as well. After being announced in May 2009, it stopped development in August of 2010 and it was officially shut down in 2012.

When it came to Android, Donut was announced. Which was Android 1.6. This was also the year that Google showcased Gmail running on an Android phone. Pretty impressive to think that Android was available for an entire year without Gmail being available. In 2009, Google gave out the myTouch 3G to all that attended. That was an HTC-made smartphone that was branded by T-Mobile in the US.

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Google I/O 2010

Their third developers conference brought about a few more announcements that are actually still active products today. Taking place a bit earlier in 2010, Google I/O was held on May 19th and 20th, again at Moscone West in San Francisco. Announced at that years edition was Google TV, the Chrome Web Store and Android 2.2 Froyo. Google TV was discontinued in 2014, but it did have some big aspirations, especially from the team working on it at Google. They eventually relaunched it as Android TV in 2014. The Chrome Web Store is still here today, and its how you find all of the apps and extensions available for the Chrome web browser. Of course, at that time it was only extensions, as Chrome apps didnt come until a bit later on.

Android 2.2 Froyo was announced in 2010, and it was a pretty big update. Between Google I/O in 2009 and 2010, Google had jumped from Android 1.6 Donut to Android 2.0/2.1 Eclair to Android 2.2 Froyo. Which was expected, since it was a brand new operating system, it did need frequent updates to bring in new features, fix bugs and such. At Google I/O 2010, there were actually two days of keynotes, and Android wasnt even mentioned until day 2. But there were some big changes coming to Froyo. And a lot of them had to do with Google TV as well. Some of the big (although in hindsight, they dont seem that big) changes here included the ability to update all your apps with the touch of a button in the Android Market. As well as being able to move apps and games over to the SD card.

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It was at Google I/O 2010 that the company unveiled the HTC EVO 4G. The first 4G device for Sprint. We say 4G in quotes because it was actually a WiMAX device and not an LTE device, so it was technically not 4G. It was also the first smartphone to launch with a 4.3-inch display, which at the time was pretty large. And finally, it was first to run on Android 2.2 Froyo, which is a big deal, as it it always is, to launch with the newest version of Android first. All attendees did get to go home with one.

Google I/O 2011

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In 2011, Google had a lot of big announcements at their annual developers conference, but they still kept it to just two days  May 10th and 11th. When it came to Android, Google unveiled Ice Cream Sandwich. Well, sort of. They actually were touting Honeycomb, which was Android 3.0 and Android 3.1 and made specifically for tablets (it was never made for smartphones). Googles Hugo Barra (before he left for Xiaomi and now Oculus) name-dropped Ice Cream Sandwich a few times, but Ice Cream Sandwich wouldnt be officially unveiled until later that year when the Galaxy Nexus debuted. Google launched Android 3.1 for the Motorola Xoom tablets at Google I/O 2011, and also showed it off on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Limited Edition during the keynote.

There were a few other Android-related announcements at Google I/O 2011, including [email protected] and the Android Upgrade Alliance. Both are services that are still a problem for Google and Android. Lets start with the Android Upgrade Alliance. Googles intent here was to get updates pushed out to Android smartphones sooner. Thats an issue that has plagued Android since the beginning. But after the announcement at Google I/O 2011, no one heard anything else about the Android Upgrade Alliance, it essentially disappeared. Then there was [email protected] This was Googles attempt at the smart home. Perhaps a bit too early. It was announced, demoed at Google I/O 2011, but after that, it basically vanished into thin air.

Now there were a couple of big announcements from Google I/O in 2011 that were not Android-related. One of those was Google Music. They launched the beta version of Google Music at Google I/O 2011. At the time, it was essentially a locker where users could store up to 20,000 songs in the cloud and then stream them on their smartphones, tablets or the desktop. It has since been rebranded to Google Play Music, and is actually also a subscription based service. Where users can store their library, but also opt to stream music that they dont own. Giving them the best of both worlds. Finally, the Chromebook was born at Google I/O 2011. It was the beginning of Netbooks dying and reincarnating as Chromebooks, running the Chrome web browser. At this years Google I/O, Google gave out the Samsung Series 5 Chromebook, a Verizon MiFi Hotspot and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Limited Edition  so that developers could get started with Chrome OS, and with Honeycomb.

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Google I/O 2012

In 2012, Google expanded their developers conference to three days full of excitement. At Google I/O 2012, the company announced quite a few things, including Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and some Android hardware in the Nexus 7 and Nexus Q. Leading up to the conference, there had been plenty of rumblings about a 7-inch tablet from ASUS and NVIDIA, which was first rumored back at CES in January. It was officially announced as the Nexus 7, and it cost $199, which was an impressive price point for Google. The other piece of hardware, the Nexus Q, was cancelled before it even hit store shelves. The only people with the Nexus Q, are those that attended Google I/O in 2012, sadly. With Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Google debuted Google Now, which has now morphed into Google Now on Tap and then Google Assistant.

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Project Glass was really the big announcement at this years Google I/O. And perhaps even bigger than the announcement was the demo and entrance by Google and Alphabet co-founder, Sergey Brin. They used skydivers, and BMX bikers to bring glass from a plane onto the ground at Moscone, really showing what the camera on Glass can do, as well as showing off what Google Hangouts and Hangouts on Air is capable of  also announced at Google I/O 2012. Brin announced that they were putting together a waiting list for Project Glass (later changed to simply Google Glass), which came out about a year later with the Explorer Edition for $1500. Unfortunately, that was about the last we heard about Google Glass. There hasnt been any new hardware, although there has been plenty of rumors about new hardware since then.

Finally and perhaps the smallest announcements at this years conference, was Chrome and Google Drive for iOS. This was the start of Google really bringing their services to the iPhone. Google decided that no matter which platform you used, they wanted you to use their services, and making it more widely available was a big part of that. Google also announced Google+ in 2012, their social media platform, which has struggled ever since it debuted, but as of right now, it is still active and Google is still developing it. As far as giveaways in 2012, Google gave out the Nexus 7, Nexus Q and a Chromebox.

Google I/O 2013

In 2013, Google didnt announce a new version of Android at their conference. Android 4.3 was announced two months later with the refreshed Nexus 7 tablet and Chromecast, which was a huge surprise to everyone actually. At Google I/O 2013, the company mostly focused on other platforms, and launched the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition. Which was essentially a Galaxy S4, but running stock Android, and updated by Google. It was the beginning of the Google Play Edition experiment, which didnt last terribly long. But Google did, at one point, have a Google Play Edition smartphone from a few major manufacturers. These included Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola, and Sony. It was in 2013 that Android hit the 900 million mark, which now seems a bit small.

Google did redesign Google+ in 2013, and the redesign emphasized the photo sharing capabilities of Google+. Since so many photographers were using the social media network for sharing photos, Google decided to take advantage of that. Google Maps also got a huge redesign, for both the web and Android, making it more immersive than it was before.

Now when it comes to Google Play, there were tons of announcements this year. Google Play Games was announced, and so was Google Play Music Unlimited. Although, at the time, it was simply known as Google Play Music All Access, and it allowed you to stream and download just about any song in Googles massive catalog. This was the start of them really competing with the likes of Spotify and Pandora. It has since morphed to include YouTube Red, for $9.99/month and Google does offer a family plan for $14.99/month. Google Play for Education was also announced, and it was a way for teachers to keep track of what apps students were able to download and use. Google gave all attendees a Chromebook Pixel to take home in 2013.

Google I/O 2014

While 2013 was a bit of an Android-free year for Google I/O, the company made up for it in 2014. Announcing a slew of Android products. They announced Android L and this was the first version of Android that they did an early developer preview for, which later launched in the fall with the Nexus 6. Google also unveiled Android Auto, Android TV, Android One and gave more details on Android Wear, which was announced a few months earlier.

Android One was rumored quite a bit leading up to the conference, although it turned out to be not quite what everyone was hoping. Android One was a way for Google to reach emerging markets. By working with manufacturers to release cheaper smartphones, but with Google handling the software  of course it was running on stock Android. The program hasnt done as well as Google had hoped, so far, but they havent given up just yet. Android Wear was, as youd expect, for wearables. They launched the LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live and the Moto 360 with this platform. Again, like Android One, Android Wear has struggled, but it did just get a huge Android Wear 2.0 update a few months ago, so that should help bring in more users.

Android TV was the replacement for Google TV. It runs on Android, and there still arent many choices for Android TV at this time, unfortunately. It included Chromecast functionality, but also had plenty of apps and games available. Android Auto was Googles attempt at getting into your car. It might be the most successful of these three programs. It was made out to be a way for you to plug in your smartphone when you get in the car, and use Google Maps for navigation, stream music, and make phone calls and such. Right now, it is available in hundreds of different car models around the world.

Material Design launched at Google I/O 2014. This was the baby of Matias Duarte, and something he had been working on for nearly 3 years at Google. It brought about a much cleaner look to Android, a look that has now started to make its way across all of Googles products, even on the web. Google had begun adding design standards that apps and games needed to adhere to, in 2014. To make the entire platform a bit nicer looking. Before Ice Cream Sandwich, Android wasnt that great looking, it was functional, but that was it, basically. Google Fit was also announced, another product that Google announced, but has done very little for since. Given away in 2014 was the LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live and Google Cardboard. Now Google Cardboard was a complete surprise. It was basically a piece of cardboard that folded out to be a virtual reality viewer. It was a very bare-bones VR headset, which was the predecessor to Daydream, that Google launched in 2016.

Google I/O 2015

In 2015, Google continued the trend of doing a developer preview of the next version of Android, releasing Android M at Google I/O. It was later confirmed to be Android 6.0 Marshmallow in the fall, when it launched with the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. Android M wasnt a huge upgrade over Android L, but mostly refining the huge new redesign that came with Lollipop. Google revamped Google Wallet and rebranded it as Android Pay in 2015. Allowing users with a device running Android 4.4 KitKat and later to use their smartphone to pay for things at various retailers. Like Google Wallet, it still hasnt taken over as much as Google hoped it would.

One of the bigger announcements at Google I/O 2015 was definitely the Google Photos app. It took Google+ out of their Photos service and relaunched the app as Google Photos. They brought in all of the goodies like turning your burst shots into GIFs, doing different animations and much more. But Google made it easier to find things like pictures of a person, or pictures in a certain location. Its also easier to go back a few years and find pictures you took. With Google Photos, you can upload all of your photos in high resolution for free, theres unlimited space. But if you want the original resolution, itll use your Google Drive storage.

Project Brillo and Project Tango were also announced in 2015. Well, Project Tango was announced slightly before Google I/O, but it was shown off a bit more at the conference. Project Tango is their AR platform, which has now morphed into a smartphone and dropped the Project from its name. Its not as big of a platform as Google likely would like, but it is getting there. Right now, Lowes is really excited about what this augmented reality platform can do for them and their customers. Project Brillo was a platform made for the Internet of Things. This we havent heard much about either, but as a platform behind other products, you shouldnt expect to hear much about it anyways.

Google gave out the Nexus 9  hoping to get developers making tablet-specific apps again  and the newest version of Google Cardboard. Speaking of Cardboard, Google announced Jump VR, which was a 360-degree camera rig that Google had made with GoPro. It was a pretty large rig, but it offered up some incredible 360-degree video. It consisted of 16 GoPro cameras, and only recently launched in 2017.

Google I/O 2016

2016 appeared to be the year of the beta, it was also their first year leaving San Francisco and holding Google I/O at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View (Googles home). Google announced a slew of products and services that were coming later that year, and one in particular didnt launch until 2017. Yes, were talking about Android Wear 2.0. Google had planned a huge upgrade to the Android Wear platform, drastically redesigning it and making it easier to use. They had hoped to launch it in the fall, but it was pushed back until the first quarter of 2017. Android Wear 2.0 brought in Android Pay and Google Assistant, along with some other features. Speaking of Google Assistant, that was also announced in 2016, and later made available in the fall. Google Assistant is basically the evolution of Google Now. Using machine learning and artificial intelligence, Google made an assistant that is pretty impressive, and even baked it into the Google Home to compete with Amazons Alexa.

Google Home was made fun of for looking like an air freshener, but when it also launched later in 2016, it became popular for how good of a speaker it was, and how good the Google Assistant was at launch. Since Google Assistant is software, it has been getting better over time, adding new features and integrations. Currently, you can ask Google Assistant many questions, but you can also ask it to change the temperature on your Nest thermostat and much more.

Google debuted two new apps in 2016, Google Allo and Duo. Allo is their newest messaging app, after announcing Hangouts as their newest messaging app back in 2012. Allo does have Google Assistant baked in, allowing you to talk with the Google Assistant to get answers to questions, and even book a table at a restaurant. Duo is their video calling app, because Google believes people want more apps and not less. Both launched in the fall, and many still havent switched from Hangouts or even Skype to using them. Daydream was another new app announced in 2016. It is the successor to Google Cardboard. Its a new virtual reality platform that is a bit more premium, and it isnt compatible with most Android devices, as Google is a bit more restrictive with what devices work with Daydream. They didnt announce any hardware for Daydream until the fall, when Daydream View was made official.

Of course, we cant forget about Android N. This developer preview actually launched in the spring, a few months ahead of Google I/O, but they did still have a few features to show off at Google I/O. Android N included over 250 new features, like Multi-window, improved Doze (which launched in Android M the year before) and much more. The name was being crowdsourced, and eventually became Android Nougat, which launched in August ahead of Googles hardware release. The LG V20 was actually the first device to launch with Android Nougat, even ahead of the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. Finally, Google announced Instant Apps in 2016, which still hasnt fully launched. The idea with Instant Apps was for users to be able to run apps in the browser. So that users could use an app like Flixster to get movie tickets without needing to download the app to their phone. Especially important for those that have very little space left on their smartphone(s).

On the Chrome side of things, Google had a big event on the second day of the conference where they talked all about Chrome OS. Specifically they talked about bringing Android apps to Chrome OS. The Google Play Store is now part of Chrome OS, but only on a few Chromebooks right now. Its expected to hit the rest of the supported list by the end of 2017, though. With Android apps on Chrome OS, Chromebooks got a whole lot more useful. Seeing as Adobe has a slew of apps for Android, which can now be used in Chrome, as well as other great note-taking apps and much more. Android apps on Chrome is still pretty beta, but its getting better with each update to Chrome OS. Given away in 2016 was Google Cardboard, once again.

Google I/O 2017

Now its time for some speculation, which is always fun. Google I/O 2017 is taking place at the Shoreline Amphitheater again this year, and itll take place May 17th through the 19th. Googles keynote starts at 10AM PDT on May 17th and is expected to last about an hour and a half. Now what could Google be announcing in this keynote? Likely, plenty. Google will more than likely go over Android O, even though the developer preview came out earlier this year. They are going to go over a few more features that are going to be part of Android O, and likely release another preview (this would be the second one). Of course, theyll also update Google Assistant, Allo, Duo and many other things announced at Google I/O 2016, but as far as new products go, its tough to say. Especially since there hasnt been a lot of leaks regarding Google I/O 2017 just yet.

Something that everyone is hoping Google will talk about at Google I/O (and likely will, even if not at the 2017 edition of Google I/O) is Andromeda. This first popped up last year in the run up to Googles big hardware announcement in October. Basically Andromeda is going to be a hybrid operating system, bringing Chrome OS and Android together. Now Google has already begun doing this a bit with bringing Android apps to Chrome OS, but thats not even complete yet, nearly a year later. This may or may not get announced this year, but Google will definitely announce it well ahead of release, so that developers can get started with making apps and such for the platform. One thing is for sure, there will be plenty of news coming out of Google I/O 2017. Its said to be Android users Christmas, since Google does announce plenty of new features, products and services at these developers conferences, and 2017 will be no different.
The brand new Samsung Galaxy S8 will be arriving with an added bit of security in some markets thanks to some of the devices getting one of Gemaltos embedded Secure Element (eSE) smart chip. The eSE chip acts a kind of moderator between the device itself and interactions that are external to the device  such as when the NFC reader is used to make a payment. Things are a little more complicated than that, but what it effectively does is to protect the sensitive data portion of the transmission. No security measure is perfect but Gemalto says the chip is tamper-proof and comes with a secured OS and applications.

In addition to being generally multi-applicative, it also specifically supports Samsung Pay, which may be at least one of the reasons Samsung opted to go with the company and that smart chip in particular. The announcement was made today, May 4th, through Gemaltos press website. According to Suzanne Tong-Li, Gemaltos Senior Vice President of Greater China and Korea for Mobile Services, the company is thrilled about being chosen to provide Samsung with an end-to-end solution for its smartphones through the partnership. No information was given via the press release regarding which specific markets consumers can expect the eSE variant of Samsungs latest flagship to arrive in. It also isnt known if the handsets that have already been sold in the U.S. and elsewhere had the secured chip embedded in them. However, either Samsung or Gemalto will likely make an announcement about that later on, once the details of the deal have been finalized between the two companies.

Although there has been no revelation as to which markets the more secure Samsung Galaxy S8 will be available in, this isnt the first device for which Samsung has chosen to use Gemaltos eSE. Some globally available Galaxy A series devices and Chinas Galaxy C series have previously come with the smart chip. Samsung also teamed up with Mercedes-Benz in 2016 to create a Smartphone Car Key which used an eSE. For those interested in a more in-depth, technical outline about how Gemaltos eSE smart chip works, the company has a video up on YouTube  which has been embedded below.
TDI

After the configurator for Germany went online a little over a month ago, the 2017 Ibiza now prepares to arrive at UK dealers. British customers will get their first glimpse of the new supermini on July 21, and the order books are open as of now.The price mentioned earlier applies to the entry-level S model, which packs air conditioning, Bluetooth audio streaming, a 5.0-inch monochrome touchscreen, electric front windows, and 15-inch steelies with plastic covers. Engine-wise, the least exciting Ibiza of them all makes do with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder with 75 PS (74 bhp) to its name, which is matched to a good ol manual.Four more trim levels are available for the UK market, starting with the SE (14,000) and continuing with the SE Technology (14,660), FR (16,015), and Xcellence (16,715). Available exclusively as a five-door hatchback, the all-new Ibiza can be had with no less than four engines. Neither is a diesel, though.Other than the naturally aspirated MPI that comes standard on the S, customers can choose between two turbocharged takes on the 1.0-liter mill, developing 95 and 115 PS ( 94 to 113 bhp), respectively. Then theres the cream of the crop: the all-new 1.5 TSI Evo that prides itself on 150 PS (148 bhp). In LHD European markets, a fuel-efficient 1.6is also available. And of course, select powerplant options can be had with a DSG transmission.Ibiza is an iconic model for SEAT , a best-seller thats been at the heart of our lineup for more than 30 years, said Richard Harrison, the direct of the Spanish automakers British arm. With that kind of heritage, you can be sure the new model will be a benchmark car, taking SEAT quality, design, engineering and technology to an even higher level.More info on the 2017 Ibiza for the UK is available in the following PDF.
A bit overconcerned? Speed bumps seen in a short range of pedestrian walks at a scenic spot in east China stunned many Chinese netizens pic.twitter.com/OeOUc0h5Hj  People's Daily,China (@PDChina) April 30, 2017

Social media has transformed many humans into people obsessed with their phones, and many have gotten tired of seeing others walk the streets while looking down.It may be fun to have Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and whatever app you like, but you risk missing out on all of the sights on your trip.The administrators of a Chinese heritage site and ancient town on the Beijing -Hangzhou Grand Canal have decided to try an "alternative" solution. A road at Taierzhuang, which is the traditional town we were referring above, has been fitted with the pedestrian equipment of speed bumps The black-and-yellow rubber components have been placed one next to the other, and walking while looking at your smartphones screen is dangerous. An inattentive person could break his or her ankle if they attempted to focus on social media while walking, but the solution raises questions about the access possibilities of people with restricted mobility.While the bumps may be accessible for humans who do not have any problems to walk on a road with so many consecutive differences in level, the same does not apply to people in wheelchairs.Fortunately, there are a few routes that allow solutions for people with limited mobility, but it still makes you wonder about the purpose of this installation. On social media, the track earned a nickname: washboard road.Chinese officials explained that the humps were placed to encourage crowds to walk in a more orderly and respectful way. Evidently, using skateboards or bicycles in a historic place would be disrespectful, but how can crowds made up of tourists walking be a disturbance to the administrator of a site meant to welcome them.As The Telegraph notes, the local authorities were concerned that people did not appreciate the historical significance of the site. One thing is sure - they got free publicity for the touristic spot thanks to the extensive coverage of the intentional bumps on their road.
SUV

It is unveiled as an all-new compact, but it looks familiar. Theres and explanation, thankfully. It is the rebadged version of the ZS , which is the first name used for the model that will be marketed in the United Kingdom under the XS name.The new crossover is the first product from the British brand that gets this rebadging, but it will not be clear if the practice will be continued for the upcoming models. The X stands for extra, while the S comes from SUV, officials have explained. MG promises that it will come to the market with competitive pricing, and that the new model will be perfect both for young families and new drivers. The 2018 XS comes as a completion to the range that is currently composed of the MG3 and the GS SUV.The full specification of this model, along with pricing and trim details will be announced later on during this year. Customers can place their names on a list for test drives, and also register themselves to be the first to receive the models brochures.The Longbridge brands ZS, which the twin brother of the XS, was unveiled in December 2016, and it was presented as a small crossover that is meant to rival Nissans Juke.The engine line-up was expected to include two 1.5-liter gasoline engines, along with a few more other units. The ZS has not reached the market yet, but its makers have global ambitions with this crossover.Currently owned by the Chinese at SAIC Motor, MG has stopped building cars in the United Kingdom . The modification in production plans was scheduled to happen before the Brexit vote, and the idea is to save money through lower wage costs in China This year marks a decade since MG was acquired by SAIC Motor, who bought it from Nanjing Automobile. The British company collapsed back in 2005 because of uninspired decisions.
He is one of the first flying Finns of world rallying , and he departed our world at the age of 79. While the name may remind you of Tommi Makinen , the two racing drivers are not related. Instead, their surname is common in Finland, which is why this is a frequent confusion.Timo Makinen is renowned his success in the 1960s, when rallying was far from what the WRC is today. His first event was the 1000 Lakes Rally, which is also his home event, and he and his brother completed the race in the third place of their class.The first ever win for Timo Makinen was accomplished in a Triumph TR3, and he was surpassed by two other drivers, Erik Carlsson and Rauno Aaltonen, who drove Saab models at that event.Timos first rally outside of his native country was the 1962 RAC Rally, where he was entrusted to drive a works Mini Cooper by the BMC team manager after a call from a Morris dealer in Finland.He managed to win his class at that event, and was then signed by the works team. A few years after that moment, he drove a Group 3 Mini 1275S to victory in the 1964 Tulip Rally, where he finished with a total difference of 20 minutes ahead of the second driver, Eugen Bohringer, who drove a Porsche 904.Makinen also scored several wins in the Monte Carlo Rally. However, the Finnish driver was stripped of the 1966 win in Monaco on charges regarding his Mini s headlights.Pauli Toivonen was declared the winner, but he never considered it an accomplishment. From the 1966 Monte Carlo event, Mini began installing additional lights on the front grills of its models, in honor of Makinens lost win.Makinen was the first racer to score a hat-trick at the 1000 Lakes Rally, which is currently known as the Neste Oil Rally Finland. The top picture of this story, taken at the 1967 1000 Lakes Rally on the Ouninpohja stage, was taken during Makinens heroic drive.With an overheating engine, he and his co-driver opened the hood to keep it cool. It was tied with leather straps, but they failed mid-drive. The Finn decided to continue driving, and he slid the car through turns to see the road ahead. After driving half of the stage with the hood up, he came in third fastest.Along with Rauno Aaltonen, Makinen is one of the Finnish icons of rallying, especially for their pioneering work with left-foot braking. He also won the inaugural round of Great Britains powerboat race in 1969, after he convinced the builder who was supporting him to stick a third V8 engine in the back, because two were not enough.
The Senate Intelligence Committee has asked Trump campaign associates to provide records of their communications with Russians as part of the committee's ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, per the NYT.

A partial list of those asked: Roger Stone, Carter Page, Paul Manafort, and Michael Flynn.

The deadlines: May 9 to provide a list of Russians they've met; May 19 to turn over all communication records with those Russians, including emails, texts, and phone calls  that accelerated timeline shows that the committee isn't messing around.
President Trump was back in New York Thursday night for an event celebrating U.S.-Australian relations and marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. In remarks with Australian P.M. Malcolm Turnbull ahead of his speech, Trump raised eyebrows by saying:

We have failing health care... you have better health care than we do.

Trump also said that reports of a "rough" phone call with Turnbull in January were overblown, though he admitted the call "got a little bit testy."

In his speech, Trump praised the military alliance between the U.S. and Australia and joked that the countries were "born as the rebellious children of the same parent."
5 May 2017 22:24 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have prevented a large-scale provocation planned by the Armenian Armed Forces in Azerbaijans Tartar district, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement May 5.

As a result of the operative measures, reliable information was received on the plans of the intelligence service of the armed forces and special services of Armenia to carry out large-scale provocative activities against our military units and settlements located in the direction of Tartar district, the ministry said. As a result of effective and preventive measures, enemys plan was timely elicited.

The defense ministry said the operational situation along the frontline and the situation as a whole is under constant review.

At the same time, we warn that further such activities of the enemy will be resolutely suppressed, reads the statement.

The retaliatory measures will be ruthless and the criminal military and political leadership of Armenia bears full responsibility for the major losses that the enemy will suffer, the ministry added.

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.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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5 May 2017 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

By J. Bradford DeLong

In the two decades from 1979 to 1999, the number of manufacturing jobs in the United States drifted downward, from 19 million to 17 million. But over the next decade, between 1999 and 2009, the number plummeted to 12 million. That more dramatic decline has given rise to the idea that the US economy suddenly stopped working  at least for blue-collar males  at the turn of the century.

But it is wrong to suggest that all was well in manufacturing before 1999. Manufacturing jobs were being destroyed in those earlier decades, too. But the lost jobs in one region and sector were generally being replaced  in absolute terms, if not as a share of the labor force  by new jobs in another region or sector.

Consider the career of my grandfather, William Walcott Lord, who was born in New England early in the twentieth century. In 1933, his Lord Brothers Shoe Company in Brockton, Massachusetts, was facing imminent bankruptcy. So he relocated his operations to South Paris, Maine, where wages were lower.

The Brockton workers were devastated by this move, and by the widespread destruction of relatively high-paying blue-collar factory jobs across Southern New England. But in the aggregate statistics, their loss was offset by a bonanza for the rural workers of South Paris, who went from slaving away in near-subsistence agriculture to holding a seemingly steady job in a shoe factory.

The South Paris workers good fortune lasted for just 14 years. After World War II, the Lord brothers feared that depression could return, so they liquidated their enterprise and split up. One of the three brothers moved to York, Maine; another moved to Boston. My grandfather went to Lakeland, Florida  halfway between Tampa Bay and Orlando  where he speculated in real estate and pursued non-residential construction.

Again, the aggregate statistics didnt change much. There were fewer workers making boots and shoes, but more workers manufacturing chemicals, constructing buildings, and operating the turnkey at the Wellman-Lord Construction Companys Florida-based phosphate-processing plants and other factories. In terms of domestic employment, the Wellman-Lord Construction Company had the same net factor impact as Lord Brothers in Brockton. The workers were different people in different places, but their level of education and training was the same.

So, during the supposedly stable post-war period, manufacturing (and construction) jobs actually moved en masse from the Northeast and Midwest to the Sun Belt. Those job losses were as painful for New Englanders and Midwesterners then as the more recent job losses are for workers today.

During the 2000s, American blue-collar jobs were churned more than they were destroyed. Until 2006, the number of manufacturing jobs decreased while construction jobs increased. And in 2006 and 2007, losses of residential construction jobs were offset by an increase in blue-collar jobs supporting business investment and exports. It was not until the post-2008 Great Recession that blue-collar jobs began to be lost more than churned.

Because there is always some degree of churn, a more accurate perspective on what has happened is gained by looking at blue-collar jobs as a share of total employment, rather than at the absolute number of manufacturing workers at any given time. In fact, there was an extremely large and powerful long-run decline in the share of manufacturing jobs between World War II and now. This gives the lie to the meme that manufacturing was stable for a long time, and then suddenly collapsed when China started making gains.

In 1943, 38% of Americas nonfarm labor force was in manufacturing, owing to high demand for bombs and tanks at the time. After the war, the normal share of nonfarm workers in manufacturing was around 30%.

Had the US been a normal post-war industrial powerhouse like Germany or Japan, technological innovation would have brought that share down from 30% to around 12%. Instead, it has declined to 8.6%. Much of the decline, to 9.2%, is attributable to dysfunctional macroeconomic policies, which, since Ronald Reagans presidency, have turned the US into a savings-deficit country, rather than a savings-surplus country.

As a rich country, the US should be financing industrialization and development around the world, so that emerging countries can purchase US manufacturing exports. Instead, the US has assumed various unproductive roles, becoming the worlds money launderer, political-risk insurer, and money-holder of last resort. For developing countries, large dollar assets mean never having to call for a lifeline from the International Monetary Fund.

The rest of the decline in the share of manufacturing jobs, from 9.2% to 8.6%, stems from changing trade patterns, primarily owing to the rise of China. The North American Free Trade Agreement, contrary to what US President Donald Trump has claimed, contributed almost nothing to manufacturings decline. In fact, all of those bad trade deals have helped other sectors of the American economy make substantial gains; and as those sectors have grown, the share of jobs in manufacturing has fallen by only 0.1%.

In this era of fake news, astroturf social movements, and misleading anecdotes, it is imperative for anyone who cares about our collective future to get the numbers right, and to get the right numbers into the public sphere. As the Republican Partys first president, Abraham Lincoln, put it in his House Divided speech, If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do and how to do it.

Copyright: Project Syndicate: Where US Manufacturing Jobs Really Went

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5 May 2017 18:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Jacek Rostowski

Several months ago, I predicted that British Prime Minister Theresa Mays government would fall by next month, when the British people realized that the soft Brexit they had been promised was impossible. How wrong I was! May has now called an early election, which she is tipped to win easily.

As it turns out, May herself realized what would happen if people discussed and disputed her Brexit plans. So she crafted a political strategy that would keep the Brexit debate from opening up again. This meant never allowing a popular (or even parliamentary) vote on what kind of Brexit Mays government should pursue, let alone a second vote on whether Brexit should happen at all.

But it was clearly stated that last Junes referendum on Britains European Union membership was merely consultative and not binding on parliament. Moreover, the various Brexit options were never discussed as alternatives  much less voted upon  during the referendum campaign.

If anything, the expectation among Brexit voters, created by Brexiteers like Boris Johnson, now Mays foreign secretary, was that they could have their cake and eat it. Britain, proclaimed Johnson and other prominent leaders of the Leave campaign, would retain easy access to the single market, while being able to block immigration from the EU.

Rather than revisit those issues and reveal just how mendacious the Brexiteers promises were, May has pursued a lockdown of all discussion. And she has been breathtakingly successful.

The first step in Mays strategy was to state unequivocally last summer that there will be no early general election. This served to prevent any mobilization of the 48% of the voters who had voted Remain and who, contrary to the expectations of most professional politicians, remain strongly opposed to Brexit. Had May not taken that step, a political anti-Brexit project  led by, say, the Liberal Democrats or a new center-left party  could have emerged and challenged the Conservatives for power. The result of a Brexit election, which took place once voters knew that Brexit really could happen, would have turned into a re-run of the referendum and could have been highly unpredictable.

But, until Mays announcement, seasoned political players, such as former Prime Minister Tony Blair, thought Brexit would be over before the next general election, so none laid the groundwork for such a project. This puts them at a severe disadvantage.

The second step in Mays strategy was to avoid any discussion of what kind of Brexit the UK should choose. Contrary to government claims, Mays goal here was not to gain the upper hand in negotiations, by keeping the EU27 in the dark about Britains objectives. (Britains ideal outcome is no secret, after all.) Instead, Mays government wanted to keep British voters from recognizing the extent to which they had been duped by the Leave campaign.

According to opinion polls, last year, most voters wanted both single-market membership and control over EU immigration. If forced to choose, they preferred single-market membership by large majorities. Yet Mays government is probably going to secure the opposite outcome: control over immigration, but at the cost of what she calls a clean break with the single market.

Mays government knew that, if the Leave campaigns deception had been revealed, her Conservative Party, now tethered to Brexit, would have faced a potentially disastrous backlash. This danger was highlighted last week by a YouGov poll, which for the first time showed a plurality regretting the result of the Brexit referendum. So she is attempting to boil the frog slowly, ensuring that it doesnt realize it is being cooked until it is too late to jump out of the pot.

This strategy was nearly thwarted, when government efforts failed to prevent a parliamentary vote on triggering Article 50, officially launching Brexit negotiations. Mays government had resisted the vote precisely because it feared that it would have to provide more details about its aims, either repeating disingenuously the Brexiteers pledges, which the EU would quickly declare unacceptable, or owning up to the Brexiteers (and its own) deception.

When the Supreme Court ruled that parliament would get a vote, Mays government had to find a third way. It resorted to the same obfuscation that had served the Brexiteers so well during the referendum  and won the vote.

The last critical step in Mays plan to push forward a version of Brexit that British voters never wanted is to prevent a vote on the final deal. Were May to stick to the normal electoral schedule, negotiations would end just 18 months before the general election. That is not the moment when a government wants its deceit to be exposed, especially given that the agreement May reaches may well divide her own party.

By holding the election now, May is avoiding this risk. It is too late for the campaign to focus on whether to trigger Article 50. And it is early enough that voters  and even many businesses  remain unaware of what a hard Brexit will mean. In short, the British dont yet know that theyve been conned.

In the name of democracy and sovereignty, British voters are being denied any chance to reconsider Brexit, even though many voted for it under false pretenses, or to express an informed opinion on what kind of Brexit their government should pursue. Instead, they are being manipulated into voting, yet again, for the impossible.

All of this carries worrisome implications for the state of Britains democracy, its political culture, and even its long-term stability. When foreigners ask how British democracy can function without a written constitution, the usual answer is that Britons common understanding of fair and foul play would lead them to reject undemocratic behavior. How convincing is that answer today?

Copyright: Project Syndicate: Cheating Britain Out of Europe

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5 May 2017 13:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are working on increasing the bilateral trade turnover and searching for possibilities to expand the economic interaction.

To fulfill the tasks of increasing the trade turnover between the two countries, set during the last meeting of the two countries presidents, Azerbaijani Ambassador Rashad Mammadov met with National Economy Minister of Kazakhstan Timur Suleimenov.

Hailing the relations between the two nations, Suleimenov noted that Kazakhstan is interested in developing relations with Azerbaijan in all areas.

Mammadov, in turn, assured that the relations between the two brotherly countries will always be at the highest level, as evidenced by the awarding of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev with the Heydar Aliyev Order, which is the supreme order of Azerbaijan.

The sides further highlighted the importance of encouraging e-commerce to achieve the set goals. In addition, the parties agreed to consider the issue of establishing cooperation between Azexport.com and the relevant portal of Kazakhstan.

The portal Azexport was created in accordance with the order of the head of state On creation of a unified database of goods produced in Azerbaijan Republic dated September 21, 2016. The aim of the portal is to provide information about Azerbaijani-made goods and offer a beneficial platform for their sale in the domestic and foreign markets.

Mammadov and Suleimenov also agreed that expansion of cooperation between major cities of the two countries will also positively affect the bilateral relations, including the trade turnover.

They noted the necessity of defining potential of bilateral trade between Shymkent [Kazakhstan] and Ganja [Azerbaijan] and holding of business forums and trade missions with the participation of the business communities.

Both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan attach great importance to the development of bilateral trade and economic ties.

The main export items from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan are mineral resources (oil and gas), chemical raw materials, grain, barley, tobacco products, carbon steel and electrical equipment.

Today, 37 Kazakh companies involved in different sectors of economy are successfully doing their business in Azerbaijan. In a western region of Kazakhstan alone, a total of 46 companies with Azerbaijani capital are registered.

The two countries have already signed over 100 agreements, which constitute legal basis for negotiations between the countries. More than 20 of those are in the field of economy.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan amounted to almost $124.4 million in 2016, including more than $26 million that accounted for the export to Kazakhstan, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee.

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5 May 2017 16:45 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijani entrepreneurs are keen to increase the volume of investments in Turkey, said Rufat Mammadov.



Head of the Azerbaijan Export and Investments Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) made the remark during the Azerbaijani-Turkish business forum held in Baku on May 5.

Currently, Azerbaijan is the largest foreign investor in Turkey, he said, adding that Azerbaijan, in turn, created all the conditions for increasing investments from Turkish entrepreneurs.

Mammadov noted that for further expansion of the trade and economic relations between the two brotherly countries, Turkey should eliminate customs duties on the import of Azerbaijani products.

Ahmet Ataker, Trade Counselor of Turkeys Embassy in Azerbaijan, talking to Trend on the sidelines of the event, said that the two countries determined 68 fields on the free trade agreement.

Currently, the preparation work on the agreement is underway and the signing ceremony is expected for the end of the year.

He said that this agreement will be the beginning. The main target of Turkey is signing of a free trade agreement with Azerbaijan, Ataker said.

Ali Ihsan Genc, Chairman of Turkish and Azerbaijani Businessmen and Industrialists Public Association told Trend that Turkish companies manufacturing products in Azerbaijan can export them into the third countries.

He said that production of goods in Azerbaijan is very profitable since the products produced in Azerbaijan can be exported to CIS countries without duty.

Speaking at the event, Turkish Eastern Black Sea Exporters Association Hamdi Gurdaoglu said that Turkey is ready to invest in the logistics and trade sectors.

Gurdogan added that Turkeys Eastern Black Sea region is the closest region to Azerbaijan. There is a good potential to strengthen trade relations of this region with Azerbaijan and we should think about acceleration of this process, he said.



To date, Turkish businessmen have invested over $9 billion in the Azerbaijani economy. At the same time, thanks to the operations of the Azerbaijani state-owned SOCAR, Azerbaijan's investments in Turkey will reach $17-20 billion.

Trade turnover with Turkey in the first quarter of 2017 reached almost $553 million, and as many as $308.7 million of this amount accounted for exports to that country, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.

Over the year, the trade turnover between the two countries has more than doubled. At the same time, during the same period, exports to Turkey increased by 5.2 times.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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5 May 2017 17:37 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Israfilbayova

Azerbaijan and Estonia are keen to strengthen cooperation in the field of agriculture and plan to launch new projects to increase import and export of agricultural products.

In this connection, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Estonia Murad Najafbayli met with the Minister of Rural Affairs of Estonia Tarmo Tamm to discuss agricultural cooperation between the countries.

During the meeting, Tamm emphasized the high level of organization of the meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, in particular noting that President Ilham Aliyev received the co-chairman of the intergovernmental commission, Mihhail Korb.

Tamm expressed hope that the level of economic relations with friendly Azerbaijan will be as high as in the political sphere.

The minister drew attention to the fact that Estonia, which is the second largest producer of milk in Europe, is ready to share its experience and technologies with the Azerbaijani side. Estonia is also engaged in certification of agricultural products and can assist in free access of Azerbaijani products to the European market.

He stressed the importance of carrying out mutual visits to expand bilateral ties.

In turn, Najafbayli stressed Azerbaijan's interest enhancing cooperation with Estonia in the field of agriculture, noting his country's great opportunities for exporting its products to Estonia.

The meeting was also attended by the chairman of the inter-parliamentary friendship group Denis Borodich, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Rural Affairs Olavi Petron, the head of the international relations department Janica Salev and the officer of this department Leo Tinitalo.

The sides also discussed the state of the legal framework between Estonia and Azerbaijan in the field of agriculture.

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5 May 2017 17:47 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan will send an export mission to Russia in September 2017, according to Rufat Mammadov, Head of the Azerbaijan Export and Investments Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO).

Before the end of this year, we plan to organize five more export missions. Tentatively, in September we will send a mission to Russia, and in October our export mission will visit China. We also consider sending export missions to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It is possible that we will send two missions to one of the major countries, he said.

Since early 2017, Azerbaijan has already sent export missions to Qatar (in February) and Kazakhstan (in April), as well as to Germany, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Eight export missions (China, Dubai, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, Germany and Kazakhstan) with participation of the local producers were already organized within the framework of the promotion Made in Azerbaijan brand launched in November 2016. The success was immediate, as Azerbaijan signed agreements on export of red wine to China and food products to the UAE, which are new markets for the country.

Also, agreements were reached on honey exports to Dubai, pomegranate juice to European markets, fruit juices to Afghanistan and Pakistan, pipes, polyethylene products to Pakistan, as well as street and city furniture supplies to Qatar.

In addition, at exhibitions in Dubai (Gulfood 2017) and Germany (Prowein), Azerbaijani companies received an order for exports of hazelnuts to Spain. The negotiations were also held for the export of fruits and vegetables, fruit juices, honey, dry milk, meat, tea, nuts to the countries of the Persian Gulf and access to trade networks operating in this region.

Azerbaijani AB Farma company, which produces Naftalan ointment, reached an agreement to export its products to Kazakhstan as an Azerbaijani export mission consisting of 19 companies met with their Kazakh counterparts in Astana this April.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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5 May 2017 11:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Want to know more about the authors behind your favorite books? Tune in discover the inspiration behind some of the most exciting writers.

YARAT Contemporary Art Space invites everyone to join Reading Club on May 11.

The event will be hosted by writer Alexander Hakimov, who will present his new book A Yawning Seagull.

This book brought together short stories, science-fiction, magazine articles and newspaper reports, essays, sketches, film scripts and even poetry.

Alexander Hakimov is a biologist, journalist, writer and scriptwriter who lives and works in Baku. Alexander changed several occupations before applying to Baku State University where he studied chemical biochemistry. He is more known as a writer who wrote 11 books and penned a countless number of articles for magazines. Over the last 30 years that passed since the publication of his first short story in a magazine, Alexandre has been relentlessly working to hone his writing skills.

The event will start at 19:00. Admission is free.

YARAT is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to nurturing an understanding of contemporary art in Azerbaijan and to creating a platform for Azerbaijani art, both nationally and internationally. Based in Baku, YARAT (meaning CREATE in Azerbaijani) was founded by Aida Mahmudova in 2011.

YARAT realizes its mission through an on-going program of exhibitions, education events and festivals. YARAT facilitates exchange between local and international artistic networks including foundations, galleries and museums.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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5 May 2017 12:44 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Nakhchivan, one of the world's most ancient settlements, will host international conference this July.

Entitled "Turkish-Islamic culture monuments of Nakhchivan: history and present-day", the conference will be held on July 7-8, Report.az reported.

The event will be held according to the Action Plan of the Knowledge Foundation under auspices of Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR).

The conference is organized by ANAS Nakhchivan Department, Nakhchivan State University, Nakhchivan University, Nakhchivan Teachers Institute and Office for Religious Affairs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Nakhchivan, the central city of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic had been admired by many travelers and poets of the past as one of the most beautiful and prosperous cities in the East.

Due to its numerous monuments, beautiful sunsets and striking heights, the city is still an attractive destination for tourists.

Archeological research conducted in the territory has revealed samples of material culture dating back to the 2nd and 1st millennia B.C.E.

The region abounds with historical monuments, including ancient Gamigaya, Farhad house, Ajhabi-Kahf, Yusuf ibn Kuseyr tomb, Momina Khatun tomb, Tomb of the Gulistan, Khanagah tomb, Qazanchi bridge, Nakhchivan Juma Mosque, and Qesariyya monument.

Nakhchivan enjoys clear water rivers, beautiful blue springs, and so much more. Beautiful color of springs maybe surprised you at some photos that present the natural beauty of Nakhchivan, but those who have seen them live say that the feeling is incomparable.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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5 May 2017 17:43 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The Delegation of the European Union in Azerbaijan, its Member States and the Executive authorities of Lenkaran will mark this years Europe Day in Lenkaran on May 6-7.

For the first time, Europe Day in Azerbaijan will be celebrated outside of Baku, in the city of Lenkaran. Apart from its new location, this year's Europe Day is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome that laid the foundation of the European Union, the mission reported.

More than 15 EU Member States will be represented alongside the Delegation of the European Union in Lenkaran.

The city of Lenkaran has been chosen as this year's venue for several reasons: First, the EU is interested in stepping up its engagement towards the development of the region of Lenkaran and is currently preparing a program in support of the region's socio-economic development (EU4Lankaran). Second, Lenkaran is located at a strategic position on various transport corridors that are developed between North and South, East and West.

During the Europe Day festivities, a very rich and varied programme will be available for the inhabitants of Lenkaran and neighboring regions.

Students will review with European Union officials the past, present and future of the EU and its relations with Azerbaijan. An opera gala concert dedicated to the memory of opera diva Maria Callas will be transmitted live from Baku Philharmonic Hall. Exhibitions, films and a student quiz will give further insights into European culture and life. Introductory language classes are offered for those that wish to familiarize themselves with the linguistic diversity of the EU. Finally, a big open air concert featuring famous Azerbaijani performers will conclude the festivities.

Founded 60 year ago for the sake of peace and prosperity after World War II, the European Union remains a unique integration project. Representing 500 000 people today, it understands itself as a strong promoter of common European values, democratic standards and high living quality of its citizens.

The EU has become a leading trading partner and foreign investor all over the world. This year's Europe day serves as an occasion to reaffirm the commitments on a unified Europe.

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5 May 2017 10:10 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The leadership of Armenia still doesnt understand that it is on a completely wrong path, Novruz Mammadov, deputy head of Azerbaijani presidential administration, chief of the administrations foreign relations department, told reporters in Baku May 5.

Mammadov further said that Armenias position is not constructive, it does its best to win time and maintain the status quo in the conflict.

Despite certain pressure by Azerbaijan and Russia, Armenia still doesnt want to change its position, he said.

Apparently, this meets the interests of the Armenian leadership, Sargsyan, Nalbandian. They just cant understand that they are on a completely wrong path, and where it leads them. Its time for them to think about it, said Mammadov.

Russia along with the U.S. and France is a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group established to broker a peace to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

For more than two decades Armenia and Azerbaijan are in a state of war following Yerevans aggression, ethnic cleansing policy and illegal territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia keeps under control over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions in a brutal war in the early 1990s.

Armenia still controls fifth part of Azerbaijan's territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

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5 May 2017 13:31 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Russia is making every effort to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully, Head of Russia-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group, Member of Russias State Duma Dmitry Savelyev told Trend on May 5.

He recalled that Russia initially offered its help as a negotiator and all this time didnt deviate from its position.

Negotiations are underway with our mediation, consultations are held. A great job has been done. I am confident that the conflict will be resolved peacefully  in line with international law, with the mandatory preservation of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Savelyev said.

Russia along with the U.S. and France is a co-chair country of the Minsk Group established to broker a peace to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign state with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

The Russian MP added that the negotiation process on the conflict must be continued within the OSCE Minsk Group framework.

The Minsk Group is working actively, decisions are proposed, discussions are underway. All countries, and first of all Russia, create the most favorable conditions for negotiations, Savelyev noted.

The MP expressed his confidence that this activity will be fruitful, and the conflict will be resolved.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, 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 ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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5 May 2017 16:31 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The world community should be properly informed of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and massacres committed by Armenians, said Emin Ozkara, Vice-President of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Ozkara made the remarks as he met with Azerbaijans Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov in Baku on May 4.

During the meeting, Ozkara praised Azerbaijan`s development, saying President Ilham Aliyevs successful policy lies at the heart of the countrys achievements.

Hasanov, in turn, gave detailed information about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reminding that 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories were occupied and over a million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of Armenian aggression.

Hasanov expressed regret over the OSCE Minsk Groups failure to produce any tangible results in the conflict resolution.

There has not been any progress in the settlement of the problem for 25 years. The four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council have not yet been implemented, the Deputy PM stressed.

He also hailed relations between Azerbaijan and Belgium, pointing out good prospects for expanding the bilateral cooperation.

Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied a fifth 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.

Despite a ceasefire agreement achieved between the sides, Armenia regularly shells the Azerbaijani positions in an effort to tense the situation. Ignoring the calls of Azerbaijani side, as well as the international community to follow the armistice, Armenia continues its destructive actions hereby showing its disrespect to the peace process.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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5 May 2017 10:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The number of co-organizers of the World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is growing, Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev said at a press-conference in Baku on May 4.

The minister added that the Forum is becoming more authoritative.

"The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been participating as a co-organizer of the forum this year, he said. This initiative is supported by international organizations. The current forum differs from the previous ones.

Garayev said that a high-level meeting of international organizations is planned to be held as part of the forum this year.

Azerbaijani First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva will take part in this meeting, he said. FAO's joining the forum, participation and speech of FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva are also of great interest. The parliamentarians from different countries are also planned to take part in the forum.

The minister said that up to 40 countries participated in the first forum in 2011. The representatives from more than 120 countries, around 50 international organizations and around 50 NGOs are expected to participate in the current forum.

The minister added that all participants of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue know about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

We have invited the Armenian representatives through international organizations, he said. The negotiations have been held, but the Armenian representatives are not ready for dialogue."

Garayev said that an intercultural dialogue can play an important role in resolving conflicts in the world. "We would like the conflicts to be resolved peacefully and through negotiations, he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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5 May 2017 16:08 (UTC+04:00)

The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue has kicked off in Baku on May 5.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva are attending the opening of the Forum on the theme "Advancing Intercultural Dialogue: New Avenues for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development" at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

The forum is organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.

Prior to the opening ceremony participants posed together for photos.

The head of state made a speech at the opening ceremony.

Other speakers at the event included UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yousef Al-Othaimeen, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri and Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni.

The forum brings together more than 800 foreign delegations, including high-ranking state and government officials, heads of international organizations, parliamentary leaders, renowned scholars, ambassadors and public figures.

This is for the first time that heads of more than 25 international organizations participate in the forum, which has become a platform for global cultural dialogue. The forum will feature a joint high-level meeting of the heads of international organizations for the first time this year, in addition to nearly 40 sessions and events.

The agenda includes topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.

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5 May 2017 11:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The next stage of joint exercises of the Azerbaijani and Turkish Armed Forces was held on May 4 with participation of high-ranking observers from Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia.

The stage was held in accordance with the agreement reached during the meetings of defense ministers of the three countries held earlier in the trilateral format.

Within the framework of the "Day of High-Level Observers", a delegation of countries led by Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Commander of the corps of the Turkish Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mehmet Ozoglu, and Commander of the brigade of the Georgian Defense Ministry, Colonel Zurab Khvichia, watched the next stage of the exercises.

The high-ranking guests were fully briefed on the exercises on the basis of the terrain model board. Then, having familiarized with the military personnel and military equipment participating in the exercises, they observed the practical accomplishment of the tasks.

The units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey participating in the exercises successfully completed all assigned tasks.

After the successful completion of the next stage of the exercises, the guests met with the military personnel. Distinguished servicemen were awarded, and a joint photo was taken.

The joint exercises of the Azerbaijani and Turkish Armed Forces started in Azerbaijan on May 1 in accordance with the agreement on military cooperation between the two countries.

The aim of the exercises is to improve coordination through the exchange of experience between the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as to achieve the interoperability of the military units of the two countries through joint headquarters planning, improving the readiness and capabilities of the units to conduct operations.

The joint exercises involve military personnel, armored vehicles, artillery launchers and mortars, military and transport helicopters of the Air Force, as well as air defense units and anti-aircraft missile units equipped with modern defensive systems to protect groupings from the air.

The exercises will last until May 5.

The Azerbaijani Army, which today is considered the most modern army in the Caucasus, consists of Air Force and Air Defense Forces, the Navy, and the Land Forces.

Today, Azerbaijani Army is one of the most powerful, highly disciplined armies in the world and the leading army in the region, which is equipped with modern military machinery.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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5 May 2017 11:41 (UTC+04:00)

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter of condolences to President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani.

I was deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties as a result of an explosion in a coal mine in Golestan province, the President said in his message.

On the occasion of this tragedy, on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who died and the whole people of Iran and wish those injured the soonest possible recovery."

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5 May 2017 12:50 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Tacan Ildem, who is on a visit to Baku, stated that Azerbaijan is a valuable partner for the Alliance.

NATO highly appreciates Azerbaijan's participation in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan. Participation of Azerbaijan in these operations is a great contribution in solving Euro-Atlantic challenges, said Ildem as he attends 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.

Appreciating Azerbaijan's active participation in "Resolute support" peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, he stressed that NATO and Azerbaijan cooperate in defense, security and other fields.

Speaking about the importance of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue , Ildem described this event as very important initiative in solving a number of problems in the modern world, Azertac reported.

The forum is organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.

The event brings together more than 800 foreign delegations, including high-ranking state and government officials, heads of international organizations, parliamentary leaders, renowned scholars, ambassadors and public figures.

The agenda includes topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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5 May 2017 12:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The Israeli Embassy in Baku organized an official reception to mark the 69th anniversary of the countrys National Day.

Independence Day is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. It is celebrated either on the 5th of Iyar, according to the Hebrew calendar, or on one of the preceding or following days, depending on which day of the week this date falls on.

The event was attended by representatives of state structures and departments of Azerbaijan, heads and staff of diplomatic missions accredited in the country, scientists and artists and representatives of leading media.

Speaking to the guests, Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan Dan Stav noted that during the years of independence, Israel has achieved a lot and citizens can be proud of this.

At the same time, he noted that Israel still has something to work on. Unfortunately, so far peace has not been achieved in the region, and its achievement is the main goal of the country.



Israel is interested in cooperation with all countries of the region, the ambassador noted.

Speaking about cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel, the ambassador noted that the two countries and the two nations have excellent relations. He recalled that Azerbaijan has a large Jewish diaspora, which has lived side by side with Azerbaijanis for centuries, sharing all the joys and hardships.



He stressed the role of Azerbaijan's multiculturalism in strengthening cooperation with Israel and expressed confidence that relations between the countries will continue to develop.

Then, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov addressed the event and congratulated Israel on the Independence Day.

He noted that Israel is a strategic partner and occupies a special place in Azerbaijan's foreign policy, and good relations based on common values have developed between countries.



In recent years the number of visits between the two countries has increased, which also contributes to the development of cooperation, according to Ibrahimov.

He also noted that a large role in the development of relations is played by the large Jewish community of Azerbaijan, which takes an active part in the political, economic and other spheres of life of the country.

The relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel is a successful mix of economy, diplomacy and gratitude, a handshake that holds interests too big to be neglected. The recent developments in the economic and diplomatic relationship between the two countries represent the natural evolution of a dialogue which, already at the end of the 1990s appeared as promising.

Israel recognized the independence of Azerbaijan very shortly after the official dissolution of the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Israel were established in April 1992. Since gaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has established a position of one of Israels closest friends in the Muslim world.

Over the last twenty years, the ties between Israel and Azerbaijan have improved drastically. The development of economic ties is particularly noticeable, as Israel rose from being Azerbaijans tenth largest trading partner to its third in February 2016.

Several synagogues are operating in the capital of Azerbaijan, as well as in Guba and Oguz regions. Synagogue, opened in Baku in 2003 is one of the largest in Europe. In September 2003, the first Jewish school was opened in Baku.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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5 May 2017 13:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue reflects Azerbaijans long history  history of tradition, culture, intercultural dialogue and interreligious exchange, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova said during the forum in Baku May 5.

I am deeply honored to participate in this 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue. Of course, my first gratitude goes to His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev for his longstanding leadership in promoting intercultural dialogue so much needed today, noted Bokova.

We need the soft power, the soft power of education and knowledge, of culture, communication, the sciences to strengthen the values we share and recognize the destiny we hold in common. All cultures are different, but humanity is a single family bound by respect for dignity and rights for all. This is our vision of the world. This is UNESCOs vision. We need solidarity, we need understanding, she added.

The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, titled Advancing Intercultural Dialogue: New Avenues for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development, brings together more than 800 foreign delegations, including high-ranking state and government officials, heads of international organizations, parliamentary leaders, renowned scholars, ambassadors and public figures.

This is for the first time that heads of more than 25 international organizations participate in the forum, which has become a platform for global cultural dialogue. The forum will feature a joint high-level meeting of the heads of international organizations for the first time this year, in addition to nearly 40 sessions and events.

The agenda includes topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.

The Forum is being organized for the fourth time as part of the Baku Process initiated by Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev in 2008.

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Azerbaijan has made significant achievements in social, economic, political life, said the country's president, Ilham Aliyev, at the opening of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.

"Azerbaijan is a relatively young independent country, though a country with great history, traditions and culture," he said. "But as an independent country we're only 25 years old. Last year we celebrated the 25th anniversary of restoration of our independence."

The president went on to say that this year clearly demonstrates that when the fate of your country is in your hands, you can achieve great success.

"Azerbaijan, for centuries, has been a part of different countries, empires. And 25 years of independence, clearly demonstrate that only being free, we can achieve success. Never in the history of our nation, Azerbaijan was as strong as it is today," President Aliyev said.

He went on to say that today Azerbaijan is a rapidly developing, dynamic, modern country, which is very close to its roots, traditional roots.

At the same time, Azerbaijan is open to the world, he added.

President Aliyev has called Armenia`s occupation of Azerbaijani lands the only problem our country faces.

Azerbaijan`s Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts are under occupation. The policy of ethnic cleansing was conducted against Azerbaijan, all our mosques were destroyed, said the head of state.

We restored an Armenian church in the center of Baku, but Armenia destroyed the whole of our cultural legacy in the occupied lands. This was confirmed by the fact-finding missions of the OSCE, he stressed.

President Aliyev went on to say that Armenia continues to ignore the UN Security Council`s four resolutions on the liberation of the occupied territories. In some cases, UN resolutions are implemented in just hours, but these resolutions relating to Azerbaijan have not been implemented for years, which is a sign of double standards, he added.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be solved within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh is a historical Azerbaijani territory, its legal part, President Ilham Aliyev said.

For about three decades Armenia and Azerbaijan are in a state of war following Yerevans aggression, ethnic cleansing policy and illegal territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia keeps under control over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions in a brutal war in the early 1990s.

Despite a fragile ceasefire agreement signed in 1994, Armenia keeps violating armistice with Azerbaijan.

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5 May 2017 14:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey are actively negotiating the establishment of a joint interparliamentary friendship group, the head of the interparliamentary friendship group Russia-Azerbaijan, member of Russias State Duma Dmitry Saveliev said.

He recalled that in addition to the Russia-Azerbaijan friendship group, a Russia-Turkey friendship group has been created, and both groups are working intensely and very fruitfully.

"I think that the tripartite group will also be established, this is a requirement of the time. Our countries are committed to cooperation," Saveliev said.

He went on to say that Azerbaijan and Turkey enjoy very strong relations, just like Azerbaijan and Russia, and in particular, Azerbaijan has done everything possible to resolve the situation when Russian-Turkish relations were extremely aggravated.

"In the light of these circumstances, the trilateral group, I believe, will be an exceptionally effective platform for discussing interstate issues and exchanging experience," Saveliev said.

Speaking about plans for cooperation within the Russia-Azerbaijan friendship group for the near future, he said that the trips of parliamentary groups, holding of joint meetings for discussion of topical issues of bilateral relations are planned.

At the same time, educational and enlightenment activity is a separate and one of the most important items of the cooperation, according to Saveliev.

In particular, large-scale actions are planned in Russian and Azerbaijani media with the purpose of informing citizens about the history and culture of the two states and the development of bilateral relations.

"Probably, the most important thing is the active position of parliamentarians-representatives of friendship groups between our countries, their work on establishing contacts between Russia and Azerbaijan at different levels certainly contributes to the intensification of the search for ways to resolve the Karabakh conflict peacefully," Saveliev added.

Earlier, the three countries expressed their will to create a new trilateral format which will serve as a ground for increasing trust between the neighboring countries.

The creation of trilateral format between Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkey might impact the settlement of Karabakh conflict. Many analysts and experts suggest that the rapprochement between Russia and Turkey may reach high enough to affect Armenia as well. Against the background of a favorable political atmosphere, the significant progress can be made in Karabakh dispute.

For more than two decades Armenia and Azerbaijan are in a state of war following Yerevans aggression, ethnic cleansing policy and illegal territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia keeps under control over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions in a brutal war in the early 1990s.

Despite a fragile ceasefire agreement signed in 1994, Armenia keeps violating armistice with Azerbaijan.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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5 May 2017 14:41 (UTC+04:00)

The two strategic partners and brotherly nations- Azerbaijan and Pakistan have explored ways of developing the bilateral ties as first deputy speaker of the parliament Ziyafat Asgarov met with a Pakistani delegation led by deputy speaker of the National Assembly Murtaza Javed Abbasi.

Asgarov, addressing the meeting, reiterated that Azerbaijan considers Pakistan as a friendly and brotherly country, Azertac reported.

He noted that the visits of delegations at various level, as well as bilateral meetings and negotiations give an impetus to the strengthening of relations between the two countries. He praised ties with Pakistan in many spheres.

Asgarov said that the two countries have signed more than 30 agreements, particularly in economic and military spheres.

Abbasi, in turn, said reciprocal visits contribute to the deepening of the bilateral relations. He noted the importance of the bilateral cooperation within international organizations.

He also highlighted ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor project, expressing his hope that it will benefit all Muslim countries.

Pakistan is one of the oldest and closest allies and strategic partners of Azerbaijan in Asia. Pakistan was among the first countries that recognized the independence of Azerbaijan in October 1991.

Last year, a number of high-level talks and meetings were held in order to develop bilateral trade, investment making, and identify business opportunities.

In October and December 2016, respectively, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan visited Baku. During their visits, the expansion of trade and economic cooperation was discussed.

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5 May 2017 16:49 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan's First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva met with UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova in Baku on May 5, on the sidelines of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, Azertac reported.

Mrs. Aliyeva hailed Irina Bokova's participation in the forum, underlining that the topical issues are being discussed at this international event.

They also praised the establishment of close cooperation and the successful implementation of joint projects between Azerbaijan and UNESCO, and discussed the work done to further development the country's ties with the organization.

The forum entitled "Advancing Intercultural Dialogue: New Avenues for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development" kicked off at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

The forum is organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.

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5 May 2017 16:51 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova in Baku on May 5, on the sidelines of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, Azertac reported.

They noted that cooperation between Azerbaijan and UNESCO is developing successfully, and in this regard hailed the importance of the Forum.

Hailing the fact that UNESCO attaches great importance to the forum, President Aliyev said it enjoys growing interest every year and has become a globally prestigious event.

Bokova, for her part, underlined that they are pleased that UNESCO is one of the main partners of the forum. She noted that UNESCO attaches great significance to the forum, which features 15 different projects of the organization.

UNESCO highly values the position of Azerbaijan, which has great influence in the region, and its friendly and kindly relations with all neighboring countries, she said.

The UNESCO Director General congratulated President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva on the forum's global success, and added that Baku is recognized as a place of intercultural dialogue in the world.

The forum entitled "Advancing Intercultural Dialogue: New Avenues for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development" kicked off at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

The forum is organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.

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5 May 2017 15:48 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev met with President of the Republic of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who is on a visit in the country to attend the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, on May 5.

The importance of the Baku-hosted Forum was noted at the meeting, Azertac reported.

The level of political relations was hailed, and they also stressed the significance of developing economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Malian president praised warm hospitality shown to him in Azerbaijan. He said Azerbaijan has achieved rapid development under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev to gain great influence in the world.

President Boubacar Keita described the head of state`s landslide victory in the elections as indicative of the people's trust and confidence in the Azerbaijani president. He praised Azerbaijan's rapid development, saying Baku has become a center of global intercultural dialogue.

Underlining his country's keenness to develop bilateral ties with Azerbaijan, the Malian president expressed their need to study Azerbaijan's experience, technical capabilities as well as management experience in various fields of economy, including the agricultural sector.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita also hailed good prospects for cooperation with Azerbaijan in military-technical and energy spheres, expressing his country's interest in studying Azerbaijan's experience in the fight against terrorism.

Hailing good opportunities for developing Azerbaijan-Mali bilateral relations, President Ilham Aliyev underlined the two countries' fruitful cooperation within international organizations.

The head of state noted the importance of exploring opportunities for economic cooperation, mutual trade and investment making between the two countries.

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5 May 2017 16:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The level of political relations between Azerbaijan and Djibouti was hailed as Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with a delegation led by President of the National Assembly of Djibouti Mohamed Ali Houmed.

During the meeting in Baku on May 4, they stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and intensifying the activity of Friendship Group of both countries for further development of ties, Azertac reported.

Mammadyarov praised the active role of Djibouti as a non-permanent member of UN Security Council in adoption of relevant UN Security Council resolutions on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in that time.

He also expressed his gratitude on behalf of Azerbaijan for the adoption of a resolution on the Khojaly genocide in the National Assembly of the Republic of Djibouti and consistent support to the Azerbaijans just position.

Mohamed Ali Houmed, in turn, expressed his gratitude for the humanitarian assistance rendered by the Government of Azerbaijan to Djibouti and stated that his country always stands by brotherly and friendly Azerbaijani people.

Touching upon the importance of expansion of economic and humanitarian relations, the FM mentioned that the favourable geographical and strategic position of both countries could provide more opportunities to strengthen further cooperation in the fields of air and sea transport.

Mohamed Ali Houmed characterized his country as an entry door to Africa and Arabic world for Azerbaijan and in this regard, he commended the cooperation forged between Baku International Sea Trade Port and Djibouti Port as well as Azerbaijan Airlines and relevant authorities of Djibouti and exchange of reciprocal visits.

Speaker of Azerbaijan`s Parliament Ogtay Asadov met the delegation on May 3, noting that reciprocal visits contribute to development of bilateral bonds.

During the Baku visit, the delegation was earlier received by President Ilham Aliyev, who expressed a confidence that the visit will play a significant role in the development of Azerbaijan-Djibouti relations.

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5 May 2017 10:20 (UTC+04:00)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is pushing ahead with plans to lend $500 million to Azerbaijan's Southern Gas Corridor project , according to Bloomberg.

The development bank is "progressing" its financing to the $40 billion pipeline project with a final board decision expected by the end of the year, Suma Chakrabarti, the EBRD's president, said in an interview in London.

The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. It envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian region to the European countries through Georgia and Turkey.

At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage.

As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans Adriatic Pipeline.

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5 May 2017 12:06 (UTC+04:00)

Oil prices continue to fall on the world markets.

On the New York Stock Exchange NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange), the cost of the US Light crude oil decreased $ 1.22 to stand at $44.30. The price of Brent crude fell $1.17 to trade at $47.21 at the London ICE (Intercontinental Exchange Futures).

The price of a barrel of Azeri Light crude oil decreased $1.46 to stand at $49.79 on the world markets.

Energy-rich Azerbaijan produces three grades of crude oil - Azeri BTC, Azeri Light, and Urals. The price of a barrel of Azeri Light crude oil fell $0.03 to stand at $53.21 on the world markets on April 25.

The countrys oil output in March 2017 amounted to 733,300 barrels, 40,000 barrels of which accounted for condensate.

Prior to the landmark deal, the volume of production in the country was at the level of 37.72 million tons of oil, while daily output stood at 829,100 barrels. Oil production of the country in 2017 is forecasted to stand at 39.797 million, while average daily oil production will amount to 800,000-807,000 barrels.

In December 2016, OPEC and non-OPEC producers reached their first deal since 2001 to curtail oil output jointly and ease a global glut after more than two years of low prices.

The participation of Azerbaijan in joint oil production cuts is defined at 35,000 barrels per day.

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5 May 2017 17:05 (UTC+04:00)

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG has informed embassies located in Greece about the progress of the TAP project, one of the core projects of the Southern Gas Corridor.

The event was attended by representatives of more than 50 Embassies, as well as delegates from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, TAP reported on May 5.

Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Greece Rahman Mustafayev, addressing the event, said that TAP's implementation is of critical importance on a political, geo-political and business level.

Mustafayev subsequently introduced TAP's Management, represented by Managing Director, Ian Bradshaw; Project Director, John Haynes; and TAP's Country Manager for Greece, Rikard Scoufias.

Bradshaw provided general information on TAP, the European leg of the Southern Gas Corridor, its purpose, and what its implementation entails, since it "ensures strategic targets of the European Union, namely energy security and diversification."

He also elaborated on TAP's progress in its three host countries, as well as the project's key achievements, thanking all involved stakeholders, contractors, partners and employees for their contribution.

Haynes presented in detail the pipeline's construction process, highlighting security as the project's absolute priority, while Scoufias focused on how TAP is being implemented in Greece with respect to local communities, as demonstrated in the engagement and consultation process followed; the extensive communication campaigns launched; the social and environmental investments programme drafted and implemented; and the benefits TAP brings to Greece  both present and future ones.

The event was concluded with a discussion on TAP among speakers and guests.

TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The approximately 878 km long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.

TAP's routing can facilitate gas supply to several South Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and others. TAP's landfall in Italy provides multiple opportunities for further transport of Caspian natural gas to some of the largest European markets such as Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland and Austria.

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5 May 2017 11:18 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

Experts of Rosselkhoznadzor will launch inspections over the production of peppers, lettuce, pumpkins and zucchini in Turkey since May 15, RIA Novosti reported with reference to the press service of the Russian department.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, after talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 3, said that an agreement on comprehensive settlement of restrictions in bilateral economic relations was reached.

The Russian leader noted that the relations between the two countries are fully restored.

At the same time, restrictions on visa-free travel and on deliveries of tomatoes from Turkey to Russia will remain in place.

"Based on the results of consideration of the list of Turkish producers of pepper, lettuce, pumpkin and zucchini presented by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock of the Republic of Turkey, the Rosselkhoznadzor is ready to visit Turkey on May 15, 2017, in order to get acquainted with the work of the main producers of these products and their ability to provide a set of measures to ensure Russian phytosanitary requirements," the press service said.

Russia had imposed a number of economic sanctions, including the suspension of visa-free travel, on Turkey at the beginning of last year in response to the downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber.

The Moscow-Ankara relations began to improve after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologized over the jet incident. Russia lifted the flight ban, but food embargo on Turkey's food and agricultural products remains partly in place.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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5 May 2017 12:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The United States does not intend to dictate its will to other countries, and instead of that is going to build "a coalition of friends and partners," U.S. President Donald Trump said, RIA Novosti reported.

Our task is not to dictate to others how to live but to build a coalition of friends and partners who share the goal of fighting terrorism and bringing safety, opportunity and stability to the Middle East, he said ahead of his first trip abroad.

Trump will travel this month to Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican in an effort to unite Islam, Judaism and Christianity in the common cause of fighting intolerance and radical extremism.

He stated that his trip will begin with a truly historic gathering in Saudi Arabia with leaders from all across the Muslim world, where we will begin to construct a new foundation of cooperation and support with our Muslim allies to combat extremism, terrorism and violence.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir also confirmed that an upcoming visit to the kingdom by U.S. President Donald Trump would enhance cooperation between the United States and Muslim countries in the fight against extremism.

Trumps decision to make Saudi Arabia his first destination will reinforce a relationship with a top ally in the Middle East, where the United States is leading a coalition against Islamic State and seeking to counter Iranian influence.

Earlier, U.S. President spoke in favor of forming a military coalition with several Arab allies to combat their mutual enemy, Iran.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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5 May 2017 17:10 (UTC+04:00)

By Kamila Aliyeva

The latest round of Astana talks sponsored by Russia, Turkey and Iran completed by signing the agreement on de-escalation zones.

The presence of representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition in Astana will positively affect the negotiations in Geneva, should the agreement is respected, the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said in an interview with the Sky News Eurasian television channel, RIA Novosti reported.

"The two sides, the Syrian government and most of the opposition were present, and this will have a positive effect on the Geneva talks, but under condition that the agreement will operate. We had several armistices, three, I believe, in my period, I guess that this one has an opportunity to be successful," de Mistura said.

The talks in Astana serve as a real opportunity to reduce the escalation of the conflict in Syria, according to the Special Envoy.

"The negotiations were complicated, because they were real, and real - because there are signatures, and even the presence of observers such as Jordan and the U.S. is important. And there were other topics, such as mine clearance, prisoners, missing and dead. Everything is moving in the right direction, and there are real attempts," he added.

De Mistura also noted that there is no ready-made political solution to the Syrian crisis, but negotiations contribute to this.

Representatives of the guarantor countries of the ceasefire in Syria during this round of international talks in Astana signed a memorandum on the establishment of four de-escalation zones in Syria, which include the province of Idlib and seven other regions. According to the memorandum, since May 6 any clashes between government forces and armed groups will be ceased in these zones.

The work of coalition aviation in the zones of de-escalations in Syria is impossible, the guarantor countries will closely monitor all actions in this direction, said the Russian president's special envoy, the head of the Russian delegation to the talks on Syria in Astana Alexander Lavrentiev.

Any military activity, including flights of aircraft, will be banned. Russia, Iran and Turkey will do their utmost to combat terrorism in these territories and outside them. "As for the flights by aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, we will naturally cease combat operations on this territory but only if no efforts are taken from the territory of de-escalation zones to destabilize the situation on the countrys other territories," Lavrentyev said.

Ten days after signing the memorandum, the guarantor states will establish a joint working group, in particular for designating the borders of de-escalation and security zones. By late May, the maps of these areas will be drawn up.

The memorandum will be in force during six months and can be extended automatically for the same period. This agreement was highly assessed by many.

In theory, safe zones offer refuge and humanitarian aid to displaced persons fleeing violence, though it is uncertain how the three nations expect to monitor the newly established zones. A safe-zone strategy has garnered criticism in the past for serving as a band-aid solution to the refugee crisis while failing to address the root of the Syrian conflict. Historically, safe zones have even become targets for increased violence.

The nationwide Syrian ceasefire regime was introduced on December 30, 2016, with Russia, Iran and Turkey serving as its guarantors. The UN Security Council passed a resolution in December supporting the effort.

Syria has been gripped by civil war since March 2011 with various terrorist groups, including Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL), controlling parts of it.

According to a report by the Syrian Center for Policy Research, the conflict has claimed the lives of over 470,000 people, injured 1.9 million others, and displaced nearly half of the countrys pre-war population of about 23 million within or beyond its borders.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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5 May 2017 12:23 (UTC+04:00)

The Heydar Aliyev International Airport, a holder of the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards, serviced 1.62 million passengers in January-April 2017.

The figure is more by 36 percent compared to the same period of 2016.

AZAL carried 594,000 passengers, 158,000 of which were carried on domestic flights to Nakhchivan, Ganja and Gabala.

Some 904,000 passengers (85%) of the Baku airport were carried by international flights.

Roughly 48.2% of the total international traffic of the airport accounted for Azerbaijan Airlines, 51.8% - foreign air carriers.

Istanbul, Moscow, Dubai and Kiev remained the most popular international destinations - the passenger flow to these cities was 62% of the total number. Tehran, Tbilisi, Doha and St. Petersburg (12% of passenger traffic) are also among the popular destinations.

The Heydar Aliyev International Airport serves 28 airlines; five of them are low-cost carriers.

The Airport was awarded the category of "4 stars" by the Skytrax, which is influential British consulting company specializing in the study of the quality of services provided by various airlines and airports worldwide.

In March this year, the Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport was named the best airport among airports of Russia and CIS countries for the level of the provided services, being awarded the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards.

The Heydar Aliyev International Airport, a modern airport only 20-minute drive from the center of Azerbaijans capital Baku, offers full comfort for arriving and departing passengers.

In 2016, the Airport, which provides many flights take-off and land every day, served a record number of passengers in Azerbaijan's civil aviation history. Some 3.26 million passengers used services of the national airport, where 83.5 percent of passenger traffic accounted for international transportation.

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5 May 2017 13:43 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

The first- ever Baku Shopping Festival continues to amaze participants with numerous surprises. Now within the framework of the Festival participants can use the services of Atelier Moscow by Alexander Terekhov, whose main designer is the world-famous Alexander Terekhov.

Atelier Moscow by Alexandr Terekhov is a close-knit team of experienced designers and tailors, who offer services in creating original and unique products of any complexity - from exclusive wedding and evening gowns to classic costumes and casual wear.

Only two days - on May 5 and 6, within the framework of the Baku Shopping Festival, buyers are given a unique opportunity to personally communicate with the Atelier Moscow team, which will arrive in Baku, and make an individual order in accordance with any wishes!

Hurry to talk with representatives of Atelier Moscow and place an order in the Fashion Pavilion of the Baku Shopping Festival, located in the Globus Plaza mall at Tbilisi avenue 27 (Barkers Baku).

Atelier Moscow cooperates with the best European suppliers of fabrics and accessories. At the request of the client, the studio can carry out manual embroidery using various materials, as well as develop and produce an exclusive print for the fabric and then manufacture in factories in Europe.

The Festival, lasting until May 10, offers a wide range of shopping options that are available across the city right from massive malls to specially designed shops. Besides discounted shopping, there are other activities for travelers like music concerts, fashion shows, childrens events and lots more to double the fun.

Here you can get acquainted with a list of stores participating in the Baku shopping festival. List of stores participating in the Baku shopping festival.

Tax-free system is applied during the Baku Shopping Festival. Alongside foreigners, Azerbaijani citizens also have a chance to benefit Tax-free system, which will be the first such practice.

Buyers can obtain a refund of the VAT paid on the goods purchased during the day, when the purchase was made. VAT refund can be obtained either in cash or in non-cash by transfer to a card or bank account.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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The National Research Council of Canada (NRC), with the support of Bayer Inc. through an innovation fund, has developed a first-of-its-kind pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) surgery simulator that has the potential to improve the quality of life for thousands of Canadian patients.



This new 3D device will allow doctors, for the first time, to train more effectively to perform surgery in cases of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH), a rare and debilitating disease caused by chronic blood clots within the lungs.



CTEPH is underdiagnosed and there are potentially several thousand prevalent cases in Canada. Approximately 80 per cent of CTEPH patients are eligible for PEA surgery with only three centres in Canada performing it.



The PEA surgery simulator addresses an imperative training need for this technically complex surgery for which only a few surgeons in Canada currently have expertise. The first simulator is now in operation at the Toronto Western Hospital, creating a training Centre of Excellence for surgical residents.



"Bayer is honoured to collaborate with the National Research Council to develop this innovative surgery simulator," says Alok Kanti, President and CEO, Bayer Inc. Canada. "Bayer is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for Canadians, and this surgery simulator will do just that for many Canadians with CTEPH."



"The National Research Council developed one more tool to help Canadian doctors better serve their patients," said Roman Szumski, Vice President, Life Sciences, National Research Council of Canada. "Our expertise makes us a unique collaborator for companies developing simulators for doctors and healthcare practitioners to perform complex and challenging medical techniques."



CTEPH may be cured by PEA surgery, which involves a heart-lung bypass, full cardiac arrest and deep hypothermia. The rarity of the disease and the limited field of view during surgery make teaching this technique very difficult. "The simulator may reduce the training time for residents by up to six months," says Dr. Marc de Perrot, world renowned thoracic surgeon at UHN  Toronto General Hospital, who worked in collaboration with NRC and Bayer to develop the simulator. This 3D simulator will provide surgeons with more "practice hours" to fine tune their ability to operate, which will lead to improved patient outcomes.
1.5 million Christians have fled Iraq in an exodus that could lead to the extinction of the faith in the land

As many as 1.5 million Christians have fled Iraq since the rise of Islamic State, according to an Iraqi MP.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Christian lawyer Josef Sleve said that just 14 years ago, there had been nearly two milliion Christians in Iraq.

There are now between 500,000 and 850,000.

'This means that over the past 14 years, some 1.5 million Christians have emigrated to other countries," said Sleve.

The exodus began after the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a coalition including forces from the US, Australia, the UK and Poland. But most fled the terrors of Islamic State, which wants to wipe out Christians and is notorious for its executions by beheading.

The Chaldean Patriarch Sako of Baghdad has warned that the exodus could mean the end of Chritianity in Iraq.

Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III also said in 2015: 'Given this tsunami of emigration...what future is left for the Church? What will become of our homeland? What will become of our parishes and institutions?'

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, currently visiting Jordan and the Holy Land, said this week that refugees have had their lives 'torn apart'.

He said: 'People are divided from their children and families and have no idea what will happen. One woman has children in both Germany and the Netherlands, but has been refused entry to both so she doesn't know when or if they will ever be reunited.

'Young men are vulnerable to being recruited to extremist causes because their community and networks have been stripped away.

'The Iraqi Christians I met yesterday say they feel the world has forgotten them, because the focus of the international community is now on Syria. Iraqis, they say, are at the bottom of the list when it comes to resettlement or support.'
Acting Bishop of London calls churches to pray for 'strangest general election in many a long year'

The acting Bishop of London is calling on churches to pray ahead of the 'strangest general election in many a long year'.

Bishop Pete Broadbent says the capital's congregations must engage by voting, holding hustings and praying as the country prepares to go the polls for the second time in two years.

'Facing perhaps one of the strangest General Elections in many a long year, it is important that the public role of the Church and our commitment to the well-being of our parish and chaplaincy communities is made clear,' he says.

Broadbent's intervention comes before the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are expected to make a more official, lengthy intervention on the general election.

Broadbent went on to ask London churches to pray for pray for all their local candidates, regardless of party loyalties.

'Please therefore include the election, your local candidates, and the future direction of the UK in your public intercessions and private praying.'

Broadbent, current Bishop of Willesden, raises concerns that because of the snap nature of the election, church hustings may be more difficult to organise.

'There is a tradition of churches and faith communities holding hustings - we are one of the very few organisations that still do this. Given the suddenness of the calling of this election, the framework locally may not be in place  please check and encourage your parishioners to attend and participate.'
Archbishop of Canterbury in last minute visit to Gaza

The Archbishop of Canterbury made a last minute visit to Gaza on Thursday as part of his official trip to the Holy Land.

Justin Welby visited Palestinian Christians in the beleaguered strip and led worship in Gaza City's Anglican hospital.

He was accompanied by the fourteenth Anglican bishop in Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, and described the surprise visit as 'extraordinary' after Israeli authority granted them permits at the last minute, according to the Guardian.

The Hamas-ruled stretch is blockaded by the Israeli navy and surrounded by walls and fences.

A brutal war in 2014 saw 2,251 Palestinians, mainly civilians, killed and 74 Israelis, according to UN figures. Up to 50 days of intense fighting left more than 100,000 people homeless and much of the city reduced to rubble.

During his short visit Welby visited two hospitals in Gaza City, St John' Eye hospital and the Anglican-run al-Ahli Arab hospital where he led a service in the chapel.

Afterwards he met members of Gaza's small Christian population who make up less than 3,000 of the 1.9million Palestinian inhabitants.

They are generally accepted by Hamas, the Islamist movement that has ruled Gaza since 2006.

After meeting the Christians, Welby laid a wreath at the Gaza War Cemetery, where 3691 British and imperial troops are buried from the battles of Gaza in 1917.

The visit was part of Welby's 12-day tour of the Middle East. Next week, Welby will visit Bethlehem, where he will meet with the Palestinian Christian community and the city's Christian Mayor, Vera Baboun. He is expected to comment on the plight of Palestinian Christians.
As French election faces final round, poll finds significant Protestant support for Macron

As the French presidential election faces its decisive second round this Sunday, a poll has shown that so far Protestant Christians have shown the highest support for Emmanuel Macron of any faith group.

The election is now between independent centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. In the first round of the vote, Macron received 24 per cent of the vote, Le Pen received 21 per cent, and the two were followed by conservative Francois Fillon at 20 per cent, left-wing Jean-Luc Melenchon at 19 per cent and socialist Benoit Hamon at just 6 per cent).

A survey by the French Institute of Public Opinion for Pelerin Magazine found that 30 per cent of French voters who identify as Protestants, including evangelicals, voted for Macron in the first round, according to Evangelical Focus.

Twenty per cent of Protestants voted for Le Pen, another 20 per cent for with Fillon, while 16 per cent chose Melenchon.

For Roman Catholics, Fillon was the favourite, followed by Macron, Le Pen and Melenchon.

Le Pen found minimal support from Muslim voters, with nearly four in ten favouring Melenchon.

Three in ten of the non-religious also supported Melenchon, with more than two in ten backing Macron and Le Pen.

Jewish and Muslim leaders have lamented Le Pen's success in getting through to the contest's second round, and warned voters now to reject the 'dangerous' candidate.

Dalil Boubakeur, the rector of Paris's Grand Mosque, described the final May 7 vote as 'decisive for the destiny of France and its religious minorities'.

Writing for Christian Today, French pastor David Buick called the vote a 'clear choice' between a France that is 'withdrawn, protectionist, and nationalistic, or open, European, and reformist'.

The European Evangelical Alliance implored prayer for a divided and politically disillusioned country.
Church organist arrested for 'Heil Trump' graffiti on his own church

A church organist has been arrested for graffiting 'Heil Trump' on the walls of an episcopal church in Indiana days after the presidential election last year.

Nathan Stang, 26, was the person to report the incident when he arrived at St. David's Episcopal Church to play the organ the Sunday after the election. But after a six-month police investigation he was confronted with the evidence and confessed to spray-painting the words himself.

Stang now faces minor charges of criminal damage after he was arrested on Wednesday in the tiny town of Bean Blossom, Indiana, where 97 per cent of the population of less than 3,000 are white.

Images of the graffiti made national headlines at the time and was thought to be a politically motivated hate speech. However prosecutors are now saying Stang, who regularly attends St David's, was hoping to mobilise others who were disappointed by the election result.

Brown County Prosecuting Attorney Theodore F. Adams said: 'Stang stated that he wanted to mobilize a movement after being disappointed in and fearful of the outcome of the national election,' adding that investigators concluded this was not a hate crime.

'Stang denied that his actions were motivated by any anti-Christian or anti-gay motivations.'

Nevertheless Rev Kelsey Hutto, priest-in-charge at St. David's, said the rest of the congregation feels 'like we had the rug pulled out from underneath us' when they found out who had been arrested.

'Nathan is a member of our St. David's family and naturally there is a certain amount of betrayal with this act,' she said in a statement on the church's website.

'Over the coming weeks and days we will process our emotions regarding this hurtful act. I ask that we remember what we have stood for over the past few months  love and forgiveness.'
Egypt's ISIS leader warns Muslims to stay away from Christian gatherings, warns of future attacks

ISIS' leader in Egypt has warned Muslims to stay away from Christian gatherings, as well as government facilities, warning of future attacks on what he called 'legitimate targets' to come.

The statement comes as Egyptian Christians continue to mourn the Palm Sunday bombings on Coptic churches that killed at least 45 and injured over 100, for which ISIS claimed responsibility.

'We are warning you to stay away from Christian gatherings, as well as the gatherings of the army and the police, and the areas that have political government facilities,' the unnamed ISIS leader said in an interview in the jihadist Al Naba weekly newspaper, published on Telegram.

In February this year ISIS vocally incited violence against 'infidel' Egyptian Coptic Christians, who represent about ten per cent of the majority Muslim country. Hundreds of Christians were forced to flee their homes in Sinai, northern Egypt after several targeted murders in the region, given the ultimatum 'leave or die'.

In December 2016, the jihadist group claimed responsibility for a Cairo Coptic church bombing that killed 27.

Some commentators say that the militant oppression of the minority group is part of a targeted attack on Egypt as a whole, aiming at the state's most vulnerable elements. The increased attacks have placed increased pressure on Egypt's president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as he seeks to keep the country secure and fulfill his promise to protect minorities from extremism.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Forget American religious freedom concerns. Freedom is threatened, period

As Donald Trump signed an executive order providing religious groups with additional protections in politics and in matters regarding LGBT individuals, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) that many had not read. The 'health' bill, which has been sharply criticised for raising rates, eliminating the ACA's life-saving pre-existing condition provisions, and doling out tax breaks to the wealthy, was hardly criticised by religious conservatives or Trump's circle of religious advisors because they were duped by the smoke screen of his executive order and the far more sinister implications of the AHCA and the functioning of American democracy.

The events of May 4 offer a kind of microcosm of the Trump administration and why it may be so dangerous for our freedom in the months to come. Throughout his campaign and now presidency, Trump has more or less thrown table scraps to his religious supporters so that they have tiny victories to proclaim to their supporters. While cooler-headed political analysts noted that the 'religious liberty' executive order hardly touched on all of the topics its original writers had in mind, it enabled one Christian media outlet to declare: 'Trump Restores Religious Rights and Protects Pastors'.

The point of the executive order for Trump and his Republican allies wasn't protecting pastors or even addressing all of the concerns of religious leaders. He simply needed to reassure his religious base that he's working for them while passing his far more sinister health bill.

The AHCA is bad news in part because of the virtual death sentence that it passes on those with pre-existing conditions and the significantly higher costs for pregnant women and Americans over 50. However, the greater concern is that the government of a representative democracy worked around the clock to pass legislation that will harm its citizens without hardly a care about reelection.

While rumours swirl and investigations continue behind closed doors about Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, there is an abundance of information in the public record about the Republican strategy moving forward. The members of Congress voted for a strikingly cruel and harmful healthcare bill because they believe they can use diversion, voter removal, and voter suppression to get elected in the future.

I first learned about voter suppression while living in Ohio, a key swing state in most presidential elections. Polling hours and locations were being cut dramatically in many areas with minority populations, including early voting hours and locations that had proven critical for those unable to take time off from work to vote during the week. Politicians attempted to by-pass the proposals of independent commissions to redraw district lines in order to concentrate Demographic voters and to expand the influence of Republicans.

In southern states, such as Alabama, there are reports that the state closed Department of Motor Vehicle registration locations in minority areas after passing tougher voter ID requirements. Indeed, claims of voter fraud are largely manufactured to hide the greater problem of voter suppression in America.

Swing states such as Ohio have been especially concerning. North Carolina has cut access to early voting and has even been criticized for undermining democracy for its citizens. Arizona allegedly turned away thousands of registered voters.

States, such as Pennsylvania blocked access to voting machine recounts. While those present for the recount in Michigan report being intimidated from doing their work. Voter registration was only extended in Georgia when a judge ruled in its favor. There are a reported 20 states with restrictive voting laws.

Even more concerning in light of the 2016 election is the possibility of hacking in voting machines. The vulnerability of voting machines has been highlighted by many. Conveniently, in February, a house committee voted to eliminate the agency that oversees the hacking of voting machines.

All of these concerns about voter suppression hardly touch on the flood of special interest money since the passage of Citizens United and the rise of corporate lobbying. Corporations in America can, more or less, legally bribe politicians to address their concerns ahead of the American people. The AHCA fits the bill for this emerging American oligarchy by primarily serving the interests of the wealthiest Americans.

Trump and his Republican colleagues believe they have a winning formula for at least the near future. Religious supporters can be placated by passing relatively toothless measures related to religious freedom. Elections can be influenced through suppression tactics. Corporations will supply the campaign funds they require.

The irony is particularly striking for me after growing up in a pro-life Republican household and voting for George W. Bush in 2004. By every possible measure, the AHCA is going to hasten the death and/or financial ruin of many Americans. The freedom of many Americans is being undermined by Republican voter suppression efforts. And yet, this party claims to be the standard bearer for religious liberty and life.

While a major change in direction for the Republican party is desperately needed, significant legal action to restore our election system may be more urgent before the 2018 mid-term elections.

Ed Cyzewski is the author of A Christian Survival Guide and Pray, Write, Grow. He writes at www.edcyzewski.com and is on Twitter as @edcyzewski.
Franklin Graham under attack for 'blaming' Duchess of Cambridge for paparazzi pictures

Leading evangelical Franklin Graham has hit out at the Duchess of Cambridge on Facebook.

The head of Samaritan's Purse and well-known Trump Supporter, Graham's Facebook comment was in response to invasive pictures of the Duchess, taken four years ago.

He said, 'We all appreciate our privacy, but we live in a high tech, digital age where it seems there's no privacy. Cameras are everywhere.' The Duchess, of all people, 'should know this', he said.

Graham's pronouncement came as a trial began in France with the Duchess and her husband Prince William seeking 1.5 million Euros in compensation in damages after topless photos were published of her at a private villa.

Graham incorrectly referred to the Duchess as 'Princess Kate' before appearing to blame her for being photographed while on private property. He said, 'If you don't want topless pictures of yourself taken, it might be a good idea to keep your top on outside. This is also a reminder to all of us that even though it seems people are always watching  more importantly, God is always watching.'

Graham's remarks were met with criticism from around the world, with one blogger summing up much of the response by saying he was 'blaming a woman for being violated'.
'Olive Tree' ceremony in Iraq marks start of programme to rebuild Christian homes

Rebuilding is to start on some of the first homes belonging to Christian families that were destroyed by Islamic State in Iraq.

There will be a Bible-style 'Olive Tree' ceremony on Monday in the historic Nineveh Plains, a traditional Christian homeland that was devastated by atrocities perpetrated by ISIS.

The ceremony will mark the start of a programme to rebuild the first 100 houses to be destroyed destroyed houses in the villages of Bartella, Karamlesh and Qaraqosh.

While hundreds of thousands of Christians have fled the country or are hiding out in safe places in the mountains and desert, some are trickling back as ISIS is forced out.

A survey by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Catholic charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians, calculated that around 12,000 homes need to be rebuilt.

At the ceremony, olive trees will be given to the house owners to plant near their homes. There will be prayers for them as they literally put back roots in the villages where they were born in, in a first step towards reaping fruits of peace and reconciliation.

Father Andrzej Halemba, acting chairman of the Nineveh Reconstruction Committee, of ACN, described the ceremony as an 'historic and unrepeatable occasion for the future of Christianity in Iraq'.

He said: 'By starting work on these first three reconstruction sites, we are hoping to send a clear signal to the thousands of Christian families who were driven from their homes on the Plains of Nineveh and who are now living in makeshift conditions in Erbil and other towns of Iraqi Kurdistan.

'This is a decisive historical moment. If we now miss the opportunity to help the Christians return to their homes on the Plains of Nineveh, these families might well decide to leave Iraq forever. That would be an enormous tragedy.

The presence of the Christians in this region is of vital importance, and not only historically, but also politically and culturally.

'The Christians represent a bridge of peace between the various Muslim groups that are fighting each other  they make a crucial contribution to the educational system and are respected by all moderate Muslims.'

Representatives of the three main Christian Churches in the region, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Syriac Catholic Church and the Chaldean Church, will be present at the olive tree ceremony.

A survey of displaced Christian families by ACN in March revealed that 41 percent are committed to returning to their own homes in the Nineveh Plains. A further 46 percent are considering returning.

This is a drastic change from the charity's November 2016 survey in which just 3.3 percent of families indicated they would seriously consider returning to their villages.

Father Halemba said: 'These figures are a snapshot of the historical dilemma facing Christianity in Iraq at the present time.'

The cost of the rebuilding programme is estimated to be more than US$250 million (158 million). ACN has already made 450,000 Euros (381,000) available.

Father Halemba said: 'To all our Christian brothers and sisters in the West we ask not only their financial support but also that they support with their prayers the courage of the thousands of Iraqi Christians who have made the decision to return to their villages and stay on in Iraq.'

Since late summer 2014, ACN has been providing emergency aid including food for around 12,000 displaced families in Erbil who were forced to flee from Mosul and the other towns and villages in the Nineveh Plains.
Orthodox bishop calls on Turkey's President Erdogan to convert  with Vladimir Putin as his godfather

A Greek Orthodox bishop has called on Turkey's President Erdogan to repent and convert to Orthodoxy, with Russia's President Vladimir Putin as his godfather.

Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus, one of the most hard-line clerics in Greece's conservative Orthodox Church, wrote a rambling 37-page letter in which he urge Erdogan to convert and be baptised by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul.

According to a translation by the Keep Talking Greece website, he says: 'If you want to save yourself and your family you should convert to Greek Orthodox Church, the only real faith.

'We propose and we advise you to come to the arms of the Greek Orthodox Church before the end of your life on earth.

'Otherwise, you will unfortunately find yourself, your family and your people in the same place where Allah, Muhammad and his followers are, ie in the place of suffering, eternal and unending hell.'

He calls on Erdogan to 'repent, cry, be humble and believe in Christ', stressing that he is certain that 'the Holy Trinity of God will open the arms for you'.

In the letter posted on his official website, Seraphim attacks Islam as a false religion and says Muhammad was not a true prophet. However, he praises some aspects of Erdogan's policies and congratulates him for surviving the attempted coup against him.

The letter will cause acute embarrassment to Bartholomew. Relations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate, nominally the centre of the Orthodox world but representing only a few thousand Orthodox Christians in Turkey, and the Turkish authorities, are always complex and frequently strained. Following the attempted coup against Erdogan, Bartholomew was accused by conservative websites of being implicated, though no evidence was ever provided.

The coup has led to a draconian crackdown by the president and the passing of a referendum giving him vastly increased powers, with fears that the increasing Islamisation of the country will lead to greater pressure on Turkey's minorities. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is expert at the diplomacy needed to protect its existence and the Church in Turkey; it is unlikely to welcome an intervention that would generally be seen as inappropriate and unhelpful.
Pakistan hospital forces Christian staff to attend Quran readings

Staff at a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, have gone on strike after a Christian member of staff was slapped for refusing to attend a morning reading of the Quran.

The superintendent of Mian Mir Hospital, Dr Muhammad Safraz, allegedly slapped a Christian paramedic. Staff went on strike in solidarity and shut down all the medical facilities at the hospital.

A doctor at the hospital said: 'Such behaviour is embarrassing for all hospital staff, the discrimination is not only limited to this incident; we are witnessing discrimination against Christians staff members daily.'

According to Pakistan's Express Tribune, non-Muslim staff are forced to recite verses of the Quran at morning meetings and those who refuse are marked absent and lose pay.

Fahad Ahmed, a Muslim paramedic, told the Tribune: 'I don't know why the administration is forcing our Christian brothers to do this. This is totally unacceptable.'

A senior law enforcement official who asked to remain anonymous said extremism among doctors and other paramedical staff was nothing new and urged the health department to frame a code of conduct to avoid any such incident in future. 'The issue of Mian Mir hospital is just a small manifestation and also serves as an alarm bell,' he concluded.

At only 1.6 per cent of the population, Christians are a tiny minority in Pakistan and frequently face discrimination and intimidation. The country's repressive blasphemy laws, widely condemned by human rights activists, are used to punish Christians and other minorities for any perceived slight on Islam and are frequently used to settle scores against minorities.

Attempts to reform them have led to the assassination of politicians, notably Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti. The lynching last month of Mashal Khan, a Muslims university student accused of blasphemy, sparked condemnation from Pakistan's National Assembly and calls for safeguards against the abuse of the laws, though the Assembly did not call for their repeal.
The Wisdom Of Trump? Christians Must Pray The New President Can Learn From Solomon

With Donald Trump's inauguration imminent, there's been plenty of talk about who had been chosen to offer prayers at the event. Trump's team has selected six leaders to pray  ranging from a Pentecostal pastor to a Rabbi.

The most interesting insight that we have so far is the text that Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, will use as the basis of his prayer.

He has chosen to read from the Book of Wisdom. It's one of the deuterocanonical books of the Bible  considered to be apocryphal by Protestants, but part of the Bible by Catholics. Also known as the Wisdom of Solomon, there is disagreement over its authorship, but the message of this prayer seems perfect for this particular inauguration.

Attributed to Solomon, part of the prayer says, "the reasoning of mortals is inadequate, our attitudes of mind unstable; for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the mind with its many cares."

It also contains this heartfelt request for wisdom: "With you is Wisdom, she who knows your works, she who was present when you made the world; she understands what is pleasing in your eyes and what agrees with your commandments. Dispatch her from the holy heavens, send her forth from your throne of glory to help me and to toil with me and teach me what is pleasing to you."

It's hard to imagine a more apposite prayer for our times - and for Donald Trump.

Part of Trump's appeal to the American electorate lay in his reputation as an outsider, a man who wasn't part of the political machine. In an economy like the US, where wealth inequality is stark, we can see why someone seen as being an "outsider" to a broken system won.

There's a problem, though. Quite apart from Trump's many obvious character and moral failings, the lack of experience he has in a perilously complicated world has to be a worry. The simplistic solutions he has proposed can't be carried out. The Mexicans won't pay to build a wall. Replacing the Affordable Care Act with, "health care that is far less expensive and far better," as Trump has promised, will be fiendishly difficult and there is no discernable plan from Trump or the GOP.

Defeating ISIS, resisting the rise of Vladimir Putin's autocratic Russia (if Trump even wants to), and creating jobs as automation and outsourcing continue apace. These are all viciously vexed problems. A master operator in politics and economics would struggle. A man without a single day of governing experience is going to find it an almighty undertaking.

This is where we come back to wisdom  and the astute choice made by Cardinal Dolan. What Solomon teaches us is that wisdom is the greatest virtue of a leader. Trump may brag about his business skills, but it's meaningless if he has no wisdom.

Solomon, whose finery would have made the Trump Tower look impoverished, was beloved of his people, not because of his riches. Instead, "they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice."

A wise man wouldn't boast about grabbing women without their consent. A wise man wouldn't show disregard for religious freedom. A wise man should use social media to build people up, not humiliate them.

Cardinal Dolan's message to Trump, and the American people, is that the measure of a leader isn't in his inflated claims, in military might, or even his ability to create prosperity. A true Judeo-Christian vision of leadership will value justice above all. In the famous words of the Prophet Micah, "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Wisdom doesn't seem to be in fashion at the moment. Simple solutions to complex problems are offered by politicians across the world. How different the world might look if they sought Godly wisdom instead.

When the Queen Of Sheba visited King Solomon, she remarked, "The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom... Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom!"

May we pray that in our own time we may be able to say the same of all our leaders.
For years, public-employee groups used their political muscle to win contracts granting them pension and health benefits often better than what many private-sector workers enjoyed. Now the exploding cost of those benefits is turning into a problem for government employees themselves, reducing pay increases and prompting ongoing job cuts, especially in states where these workers are unionized. Barring some unexpected national economic outburst that showers states and cities with new revenues, government-worker benefits will likely weigh down budgets for years.

Consider how rising pension and health-benefit costs have influenced public education spending. The Census Bureau data on public school finances for 2014 (the latest year available) show that school budgets grew by $141 billion over a ten-year perioda compound annual rate of about 3 percent. But a $47.5 billion increase in benefit costs gobbled up one-third of that growth. Thats a huge bill for a budget item that traditionally amounts to less than 20 percent of school spending. School districts responded by paying out less in wage hikes: salaries rose by just 2 percent a year, on average.

Benefits are taking a big bite out of school budgets in a number of states that have made lavish pension and retiree health-care promises to workers. Connecticut, with one of the worst-funded state pension systems, has seen the cost of supplying benefits to its school employees rocket by 123 percent over ten years, so that benefits alone now consume 27 percent of its public education budgets, up from 18 percent a decade ago. Similarly, the cost of benefits in Illinois schools more than doubled over ten years, while money allocated to salaries increased just 27 percentor 2.5 percent annuallyover the same period. Meantime, benefits in Pennsylvania now account for one-quarter of the spending in school budgets. By contrast, expenditures on school salaries in the Keystone State grew by just 16 percent, or 1.4 percent annually.

In many states, theres little hope that this pressure will end soon. Oregon benefit costs consume nearly 30 percent of school budgets, leaving education districts and local governments bracing for a 44 percent jump in pension bills alone in the next two yearsamounting to $885 million in new spending. A study concluded that the additional burden could lead to significant staffing cuts in Oregon, costing as many as 10 percent of all public employees their jobs. A recent study estimated that pension contributions from California school districts will have to increase from $3 billion in 2014 to $9.45 billion in 2021. Its scaring districts right now. A lot are questioning whether they can stay afloat, an official with the California School Boards Association recently said.

As the bills come due, public officials will discover that the actual costs are even higher than reflected in these alarming data. The reason: many state and local governments have been contributing less than they should to fund their benefitsand they cant keep doing it. A 2016 study by Pew, for instance, found that only 15 states were putting enough money annually into their pension systems to meet future obligations. In total, Pew found that states paid 75 percent of what they needed to add to pensions in 2014leaving $28 billion in contributions unpaid. Even the recent rise in financial markets will only marginally improve the situation; so much money is missing from government retirement funds that higher investment returns dont produce the same gains as when a system is fully financed.

With spending spiking so quickly, states and cities began cutting workers after the crash of financial markets in 2008; and in many places, politicians and administrators have not added back all the jobs they eliminated. States and cities employ about 320,000 fewer people than they did before the last recession. Public schools have seen some of the biggest pare-backs, getting rid of about 150,000 jobs that theyve yet to regain. By contrast, the private sector recovered all its lost jobs three years ago. Among the states, New York has sustained the largest net losses, down 85,000 public-sector jobs. California and Michigan have each cut about 60,000 government employees, followed by Pennsylvania, with about 45,000 fewer government positions today than at the peak several years ago. Not surprisingly, unionized government workers, whose leaders negotiated some of the most expensive benefit packages, have borne the brunt of the reductions. Membership in government unions has plunged in five of the last seven years and is now down by 783,500 workers, or 10 percent, since its 2009 peak.

Taxpayers also bear the burden of rising government costs and declining workers: theyre paying more for servicesand getting less back. You couldnt succeed in business by offering customers less of a product for more money, of course, but this is likely to be the operating model of local governments until they regain control of benefit spending.

Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
A potentially crucial local story went uncovered at a number of Gannett-owned newspapers this week. The big news? More reductions in the ranks of journalists at some of the titles owned by the Virginia-based media conglomerate. The scope? Gannett executives refuse to say.

Newsroom cuts have long been a fixture among publicly traded newspaper companies, particularly Gannett, which announced in October 2016 that it would trim 2 percent of its total workforceequivalent to more than 300 employees. But the corporation has foregone such transparency with its latest round of cutbacks, which come a week after a quarterly earnings report in which publishing revenues fell more than 10 percent compared to the same period last year, excluding acquisitions.

Gannett spokeswoman Chrissy Terrell declined to elaborate on which papers felt the axor how many jobs were slashedsaying the company does not comment on personnel decisions.

Gannetts stated purpose, according to its website, is to serve communities and get the right information, tools and guidance to people at the right time. Many local readers, however, remain in the dark about how this umpteenth round of belt-tightening might affect the diminished newspapers they read. Meantime, Gannett properties have largely remained mum on whether they were affected and, if so, what it means for their local roles.

Word of the newsroom reductions began dribbling out Wednesday on Twitter, with a message passed on by retired media writer Jim Romenesko from a tipster who suggested the cuts may have arrived with a hush order from corporate or a local publisher:

INBOX: "We weren't allowed to publish [the news], so I thought I'd share: There were 'staff reductions' at 37 Gannett publications today."  Romenesko (@romenesko) May 3, 2017

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Terrell said that the Gannett mothership gave no such directives, adding, Our local editors make their own decision on coverage. I found only two examples of in-house coverage, one coming from the Independent Mail, in South Carolina, which saw seven newsroom staffers depart.



The Independent Mail brand is important to this community and so is the information we provide on a daily basis, News Director Steve Bruss was quoted as saying in the un-bylined report, which did not note how many journalists remain. Our mission of being Andersons newspaper will not change.

Such messages seem to be important, if boilerplate, PR after newsroom cutbacks: Were still here, and were still working for you. Yet additional insight to just how much Gannett had trimmed, and where, came in bits and pieces from departing staffers and alternative media. The other paper that covered its own reductions, the Las Cruces Sun-News, in New Mexico, similarly omitted the number of remaining staffers. While the three journalists it lost is minute relative to the more than 3,000 journalists Gannett employs nationwide, such totals can be sizable bites from small newsrooms. The Santa Fe New Mexican, which also covered the layoff news, put the Sun-News editorial staff around 10. The papers managing editor also announced her resignation on the same day.

Related: Employment picture darkens for journalists at digital outlets

The informational vacuum left many speculating as to the size of total staff reductions, and an un-dated ABC News article that fit the popular narrative of Gannett as a bloodletter began circulating on Twitter. The piece suggested Gannett had slashed 1,000 newsroom jobs, though the stock price it mentioned indicated that it was published in 2008.

FFS, Gannett laid off 1,000 newspaper workers today. Newspapers are not a growth industry. They need support  Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) May 4, 2017

The confusion is yet more evidence of the difficulty in measuring what communities loseaccountability journalism, beat reporting, institutional knowledgeas local newspapers wither. Their continued decline comes as national media have been bolstered by digital investment and, more recently, renewed interest since the election of President Donald Trump. Despite debate over the centralization of the national press on the coasts, however, less attention is paid to how atrophy at the local level plays into media bubbles and drops in public trust.

There are a few bright spots among metro newspapers that are privately owned by civic do-gooders or experimenting with nonprofit models. Digital startups have also proved promising in a number of small communities. But for now, with newspaper chains beholden to quarterly earnings reports that look ever more grim with the implosion of print advertising, more reductions are on the horizon at many newsrooms.

Thats why support your newspaper because local journalism is important isnt as simple a proposition as it sounds, Matt DeRienzo, executive director of Local Independent Online News (LION) Publishers, wrote on Medium Thursday. Because what if the ownership of your local newspaper is the biggest threat to the continued existence of watchdog journalism in your community?

If your paper was affected by Gannetts latest round of cutbacks, give a shout at duberti@cjr.org.

Related: Gannetts push into New Jersey saps local coverage

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David Uberti is a writer in New York. He was previously a media reporter for Gizmodo Media Group and a staff writer for CJR. Follow him on Twitter @DavidUberti.
SINCE REPUBLICANS PULLED THE FIRST VERSION of the American Health Care Act, reporters have written thousands of words to detail how the GOPs proposal would harm various constituenciesfrom beneficiaries of Medicaid expansion to the catastrophically ill, whose expenses are now capped. The urgency of those words intensified Thursday as the House of Representatives narrowly passed the GOPs refashioned, fraught proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Ahead of the AHCA vote, local news media showed more good sense than the politicians they cover. Just one day before the vote, numerous editorial pages called for representatives to show greater deliberation before approving the AHCA. The Baltimore Sun noted the lack of transparency, and suggested the rush to vote without a new score from the Congressional Budget Office was an attempt to dodge bad headlines (like the ones that followed when the CBO estimated 24 million fewer people would be covered under the GOP plan). In West Virginia, the Register Herald pushed back against the creation of high-risk pools, a widely discredited solution for providing coverage to people with preexisting conditions.

In their rush to pass somethinganything, for God sake!before the next Congressional recess beginning Friday, Republicans are pulling an old hare out of the past, the editorial board wrote. Well that bunny wont hop.

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Indeed, it was House Republicans haste to pass the AHCAwithout a CBO score or pubic hearings, and with only 16 hours for the public to read the latest legislative languagethat drew the ire of many editorial boards. The Albany Times Union editorial board, in a piece headlined Legislative malpractice, compared the diligence of the Houses Republican majority to that of a middle school student on the day before spring break. The Idaho Falls Post Register called out its state representatives and urged them to vote against the AHCA to prevent disaster in the state. A leap-of-faith vote along ideological lines could cause Idaho to plummet to the bottom of every heap, the paper warned. The Detroit News urged Republicans to take time and get the legislation right: A viable replacement cant be crafted in a hurry.

The Houses passage of the AHCA suggests that many representatives werent paying much attention to their hometown papers.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch used President Donald Trumps recent appearance on Face the Nation in order to fact-check several claims that Trump made to host John Dickerson. (The Post-Dispatch ran a picture of the two men with the editorial, along with this caption: Only one of them knew what was in the House health care bill.) The papers editorial identified inaccuracies in Trumps statements about lowering deductibles and protecting coverage for pre-existing conditions, and then concluded:

Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project Trump was either telling them what they want to hear even though its not true, or he is legitimately confused about whats in the bill. Either way, its not a good thing in a president

The conservative Washington Times seemed to cheer the speed of the vote (at some point a pretty good ride beats the one that never arrives), and argued that the AHCAs passage would tell Democrats the resistance is not working. Greg Sargent, the Washington Posts liberal columnist, had this to say about the breakneck speed of the bills passage:

The justifications for the rushed vote coming from individual Republicans have rapidly devolved into low comedy. One GOP congressman when asked how he knows whats in the bill without a CBO score, claimed: I just know. Another in a moment of accidental candor, admitted, I would prefer to have it scored but more than that I want it to pass.

With minimal time to review legislative language, the AHCA was bound to contain a few surprises. Heres one: In the past 24 hours, it became clear the bill would also affect people with employer plans. A state that opts out of Obamacare (which states may do under the AHCA) could eliminate the essential benefits package and weaken Obamacares guarantee of protection against catastrophic costs for workers in large employer plans. Obamacare bars employer plans from imposing annual limits on the amount of care they will cover as well as limits on the 10 essential benefits the law requires policies to offer. So much for keeping the consumer protections that Republicans have touted over the past few months.

I dont think we should pass bills we havent read and dont know what they cost, Paul Ryan said in 2009. The next year, as Aaron Blake pointed out at The Washington Post, the GOP shared A Pledge to America, which included the following:

We will ensure that bills are debated and discussed in the public square by publishing the text on line for at least three days before coming up for a vote in the House of Representatives. No more hiding legislative language from the minority party, opponents, and the public. Legislation should be understood by all interested parties before it is voted on.

Such statements reveal House Republicans hypocrisythough, of course, that has never been in short supply among politicians. On Thursday, House Republicans did exactly what they accused former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of doing: They passed a bill in order for you to find out whats in it.

The Houses passage of the AHCA suggests that many representatives werent paying much attention to their hometown papersat least, not any more than they paid to constituents who attended town halls and clamored for more information on the proposed legislation just weeks ago. It seems secrecy is how most legislation gets passed, no matter who is in power. It also means that journalists must redouble efforts to pull back the curtain on obfuscation and report the hell out of the continuing healthcare war. The public depends on it.

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Trudy Lieberman is a longtime contributing editor to the Columbia Journalism Review. She is the lead writer for CJR's Covering the Health Care Fight. She also blogs for Health News Review and the Center for Health Journalism. Follow her on Twitter @Trudy_Lieberman.
Even after nearly two decades on the job, New Yorker Editor David Remnick still doesnt feel that hes figured it out. Im not quite there yet, Remnick told George Delacorte Professor of Magazine Journalism Keith Gessen in front of a packed room at Pulitzer Hall as part of the Columbia Journalism Schools Delacorte Lecture Series.

Tracing his career from the night desk at The Washington Post to serving as that papers Moscow bureau chief, and then to his current position as editor of the nations most prestigious magazine, Remnick spoke with humor and cautious optimism about the profession, while expressing pessimism about global political trends which he said are moving away from democracy.

Asked by Gessen about his most difficult moment since ascending to the top of the New Yorker masthead in 1998, Remnick replied, Now is not so easy. Figuring out who we should be, how we should be, what to cover day by day when youre in a political situation like this, is not without complication.

Remnick is the rare editor who also regularly reports and writes his own pieces. This past fall, even as he steered the magazine through coverage of a tumultuous campaign and its aftermath, he produced 10,000 words on Leonard Cohens final months, wrote a morning-after call to action on November 9th, and spent time with Barack Obama before and after the election for another major magazine piece.

His conversation with Gessen touched on a variety of topics, including The New Yorkers business model, its efforts to increase the diversity of its writers, and how journalism has reacted to the Trump presidency.

The New Yorker has managed to stay above water in a media climate of financial uncertainty by cultivating a loyal audience willing to shell out big bucks for subscriptions to the magazine and its expanded website. Print advertising in the magazine, which as recently as a decade ago contributed 70 percent of its revenue, now accounts for less than half of the bottom line, Remnick said. He noted that in 1967, The New Yorker published 6,000 pages of print ads; by 2017, that number has dipped below 1,000. Subscription revenue has filled the gap. People want things that are true, and that are not bullshit, Remnick said. I think people somehow know it, and appreciate it, and are willing to pay.

I think if youre involved in a journalistic enterprise that you trust and believe in, and the only limit on your work is your own talent and exhaustion, then you are very lucky.

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Part of the reason theyre willing to pay is that The New Yorker has built a powerhouse website that requires a subscription to gain full access. Remnick discussed the magazines halting transition to the internet and its attempt to create work commensurate with the pieces that appear in print, or, as he put it, the same wine in new bottles. The website, Remnick says, provides opportunities to experiment with new voices. This is an advantage of the Web: its allowed you to take chances on, and open the door to, people who maybe arent completely down the road yet. [Online writing is] shorter, more frequent. Muscles get built up. You can experiment more.

Asked about one of those new voices, recent hire Doreen St. Felix, who is African American, Remnick explained why he feels diversity is important. Look where we are, he said. What world do we live in? [The magazine] should reflect the intelligences and experiences of the world.

One thread running through much of the evenings conversation was the passion Remnick maintains for his job after 35 years in the business. I find journalism fun, he said. The thing I always dreaded in life was waking up in the morning and not knowing why I was doing what I was doing. I didnt want to live a life of quiet desperation. I think if youre involved in a journalistic enterprise that you trust and believe in, and the only limit on your work is your own talent or exhaustion, then you are very lucky.

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Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon.
CUNA is seeking credit unions to participate in a relaunch of its regulatory burden study to provide 2017 data on the costs of regulations.

CUNA, along with Cornerstone Advisors, first published the study looking at 2014 costs and finding that regulatory burden cost credit unions $7.2 billion that year.

When we reported that regulations cost credit unions $7.2 billion in 2014, we generated a lot of attention here in Washington, CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle wrote to CUNA members this week. Im convinced that this information, combined with the fierce advocacy of credit unions, leagues and CUNA, is a major reason behind the improved prospect for reducing your regulatory burden in the future.

Nussle asked credit unions to consider participating in the study, which will again be conducted with Cornerstone Advisors. CUNA will hold a webinar later this month for credit unions interested in participating.
The House Financial Services Committee on Thursday voted along party lines to pass the Financial CHOICE Act (H.R. 10). The bill, approved on a vote of 34-26, still contains the NAFCU-backed provision for repeal of the Durbin interchange amendment.

Passage of the Financial CHOICE Act is an important step toward creating a regulatory environment where the nations credit unions can thrive. NAFCU thanks committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, for introducing this important legislation, said NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger. NAFCU supports many provisions of this bill, but one of the most significant is the repeal of the failed Durbin interchange amendment. We urge lawmakers to see this bill through, including the repeal of this government interference that harms consumers.

NAFCU will continue its work with members of Congress to create a better regulatory environment for the credit union industry, Berger added.

In addition to Durbin amendment repeal, the committee-approved CHOICE Act contains numerous other NAFCU-sought measures, including one requiring regulatory agencies to improve their cost-benefit analyses and better tailor regulations to the size of regulated institutions. It would also, as urged by NAFCU, preserve the NCUA Boards current three-member structure and mandate agency budget transparency.
Neo-Nazi arson gang targeting migrants raided by police in Italy

Six have been arrested on suspicion of arson, criminal damage and racial violence



Independent, UK/May 4, 2017



By Caroline Mortimer

Italian police have dismantled a neo-Nazi group which targeted refugees and charities which were helping them in a series of arson attacks.



Six people, all in their early 20s, were arrested in the northern city of La Spezia on suspicion of carrying out nighttime raids targeting migrants over the last two years .



Investigators with the Carabinieri  the country's national police force  discovered instructions for creating explosives, knives and other bladed weapons in a caravan belonging to the group when during the raid earlier this week.

They also found a large stash of neo-Nazi propaganda, including two swastika flags, The Local website reported.



The group, who have not been named, are suspected to have been behind two arson attacks on containers owned by Catholic charity Caritas which were used to collect second-hand clothes to be given to the refugees.



They are also believed to have been involved with other acts of vandalism including damage to plaques commemorating Italian partisans and the daubing of swastikas on the walls of a local political partys office.



Police say the extremists used a WhatsApp messaging group to attract new recruits to their organisation and boasted about acts of violence against migrants which have so far gone unreported.



They are now all facing investigation for arson, criminal damage and racial violence.

Italy is one of several European countries which has seen an upswing in violent attacks on refugees fleeing conflict across the Mediterranean.



Accommodation for asylum seekers has been burnt down on numerous occasions in many of their destination countries such as Germany and Sweden.



In October last year, 200 residents of the Italian town of Gorino constructed a barricade to prevent the arrival of 12 women and eight children who were being taken to a publicly-owned hostel.



The refugees had been given a police escort so there was no violence but the mayor of the region was forced to say they would be given homes elsewhere.

To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here.
The recent social, economic, political and international crises have taken their toll and left the regime weak and fractured.

In a conference hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Irans (NCRI) Foreign Affairs committee, its chairman Mohammad Mohaddessin and former Foreign Minister of Italy, Ambassador Giulio Terzi, spoke about their thoughts on the elections.

Ambassador Terzi said that the Iranian regime has been unable to improve the economic and social issues of the country following the Iran nuclear deal. He also emphasised that it is against the Wests imperatives and objectives to economically collaborate with the Islamic Republic. He said that such a collaboration would be a ticket for Iran to strengthen its support for terrorist activities in the Middle East. He also emphasised that it would strengthen the position of the IRGC.

Ambassador Terzi said that the West would be terribly misguided to believe that the outcome of the Iranian elections will bring a shift to Tehrans policies.

Mr. Mohaddessin agreed and said that the system of absolute rule for the clergy (the velayat-e-faqih system) means that any president of the country will have limited power. It is the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that really has the final say on everything. Closely followed by the IRGC.

He emphasised: Elections in the clerical regime is power sharing between various factions of the brutal regime. It is also about various factions share in plundering the Iranian peoples wealth.

All factions of the Iranian regime agree on the main policies  that is, suppression of the Iranian people, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the export of terrorism and fundamentalism.

The two leading candidates in the elections are current president Hassan Rouhani and Ibrahim Raisi who has a horrifying past.

Mohaddessin indicated that Raisi is a cruel and brutal candidate because of his involvement in the 1988 massacre that saw the execution of 30,000 political prisoners. He also pointed out that Rouhani was involved in the suppression of people during the 2009 uprising where more than 3,000 people were executed. He also pointed to Rouhanis support of Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad.

Ambassador Terzi warned that there is no such thing as moderates and hardliners in Iran, contrary to what Iran and other governments claim.

The Supreme Leader will ultimately be the one who decides who becomes president via engineering of the election. Mohaddessin said that the choices for Khamenei are between the worse and the worse of the worse. He added: This is the reality that Khamenei has to deal with. This is a totally new situation and new prospects and brings the regime closer to its downfall.
The resolution calls on the government of Italy to condemn the incident. It also calls on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, General Assembly and the Security Council to carry out an appropriate investigation so that the perpetrators of this crime against humanity can be prosecuted and finally face justice.

Following the news of this resolution, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reported that the Mayor of Kivasu, Libero Chuferdo, spoke about the 1988 massacre.

Mayor Libero Chuferdo said that he welcomed the resolution and promised that the crimes committed by the Iranian regime will not go unanswered.

He said: The Iranian Resistances firm stance and perseverance for establishing freedom and democracy in Iran is highly commendable and represents a huge hope for the Iranian people. We learn a lot from the Iranian Resistance. The Iranian people and human rights in Iran have been victims to the Wests indifference and silence, and the Iranian Resistance has been paying a heavy price in this regard.

He urged the people to be responsible and to rise to defend human rights for the people of Iran. He called on the people to ensure the grave disaster is taken to international courts.

Chair of the Social Policies Commission of the Kivasu municipality, Analisa Decol, speaking about the role of the Iranian opposition, said that the Resistance has paid a major price for freedom in Iran, with the massacre of political prisoners one such example. She added: This is our moral and political duty to awaken the international community to place those behind this massacre before justice.

She also pointed out that the incident in 1988 shows how brutal and inhumane the Iranian regime is, but it is also evidence of the perseverance and hope of the Iranian people to establish freedom. She said that the West has a responsibility to be the voice of the Iranian people who she commended for their perseverance when faced with so much hardship.

Lorda Bifu said: Today the National Council of Resistance of Iran led by Maryam Rajavi is the sole democratic and popular alternative for the mullahs regime. Her 10-point-plan for a future free and democratic Iran has been welcomed by the world over. The summer 1988 catastrophe was the climax of the mullahs inhumane measures and it is our duty to seriously pursue the call for the prosecution of those behind these hideous crimes in international courts.
Hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, Ntombi Nkiwane grew up in a country emerging from the shadow of apartheid. Inspired by the struggle of black South Africans to achieve freedom from racial oppression, Ntombi became a passionate advocate for social justice.



A lot of my family members were very active in the anti-apartheid struggle, so seeing what they went through and the sacrifices they made drives me, Ntombi says.



When she crossed the ocean for her post-secondary education, Ntombi brought along her commitment to serving marginalized members of society. Now a fourth-year Management student with a minor in Political Science, Ntombi has backed up that commitment with action since the moment she arrived on campus. And in the past year, she has  quite literally  discovered a new way to amplify her voice.





Alongside former Halifax poet laureate El Jones and Todd McCallum, an assistant professor in Dals Department of History, Ntombi is the co-host of the radio show Black Power Hour. Airing on CKDU, the community radio station that broadcasts from the Dalhousie campus, Black Power Hour is the only radio show in Eastern Canada to deliver content targeted to incarcerated persons, particularly inmates of African descent.



The concept for the show was initially pitched by Ed, a pseudonymous inmate incarcerated at a prison in Nova Scotia.



Ed spoke to El about the fact that theres a lack of culturally-appropriate content in the prisons of Nova Scotia, so it would be great if we could start a show that specifically features Black content, political content, as they listen to the radio, Ntombi explains. El phoned me up and asked if I wanted to be a part of it



Airing from 1:30-3 p.m. every Friday, Black Power Hour blends programmed content such as guest speakers and topical discussions with requests from listeners. It is produced by filmmaker and spoken-word artist Reed iZrEAL Jones.



One week well speak about the history of prison organizing, the next week well speak about Angela Davis, the next week well speak about Africa, post-colonialism. We cover a broad range of topics. Anything that relates to political or cultural content, well speak about.



The format gives incarcerated persons the opportunity to make musical choices and even share some of their own art.



The show aims to be a platform for art as a tool of resistance. We incorporate a lot of spoken word into the content and the people who phone in will do poetry or request music thats relevant to them or their current situation.



Reimagining the justice system



El, a PhD candidate and former instructor in Dals English department and current Chair of Womens Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University, acknowledges that providing a platform for people who have committed crimes may be an unpopular idea in some circles. But convincing skeptics isnt the programs core mission.



We hope that people in the wider community listen and think about the humanity of prisoners and listen to what people have to say, but ultimately its about providing a space to people who dont have another space.



According to Ntombi, empowering inmates is one step towards a broader goal of re-imagining how society addresses crime, punishment and rehabilitation. In her mind, approaches such as restorative justice  which focuses on people more than punishment  are more valuable than incarceration.



Love is very central to the work that we do, and in order to move towards a place of love, we need to imagine other methods of punishment. What are other methods we can use to hold people accountable but also restore societys ability to rehabilitate people?



For Ntombi, who had no prior radio experience, the program is an opportunity to engage in a medium with which she has long been fascinated. She notes that radio played a key role in the anti-apartheid revolution in South Africa by helping listeners organize and coordinate their political action.



When El asked me (to co-host), I thought it was a great way for me to test new ground.



International recognition



Radio may be a relatively new pursuit for Ntombi, but activism certainly isnt. In her first year at Dal, she launched the How Would You React? campaign on campus, which depicted common scenarios wherein Black members of the community are casually stigmatized or marginalized. El partnered on the campaign, marking the beginning of a years-long friendship and working partnership, and the viral impact of the initiative resulted in the duos invitation to Harvard to participate at a conference for black students.





More recently, the radio show yielded another invitation to a U.S. college. In March, Ntombi, El and iZrEAL presented at the Behind the Bars conference at Columbia University. Organized by students, the annual conference focuses on issues relevant to the political empowerment of incarcerated peoples.



The Black Power Hour trio provided a distinctly Canadian context to conference-goers, sharing statistics about the incarceration of African Nova Scotians  which occurs at a rate even higher than in the U.S.  and how the radio show employs art as an instrument of political action.



Ntombi also realized a personal dream when she attended a speech by prominent activist Angela Davis. Id always wanted to see her speak live, so that was very exciting.



Serving the audience



Whether during Black Power Hour or during all the hours between shows, both El and Ntombi are emphatic that their work is a collaborative venture, one that brings together students, faculty, community members and, of course, incarcerated people. Indeed, the Black Power Hour hosts are adamant that it is inmates themselves who are the driving force behind their efforts.



In all our work we aim to centre the people were working with and working for. Ntombi says. Instead of doing one-way programming where we assume the role of teachers and arbitrators of knowledge and power, people who are incarcerated are also teaching us.



When people focus on one-way programming, it can be problematic, because youre not speaking about dismantling systems. Were trying to de-carcerate and decolonize the prison system and I think you do that through two-way programming.



While achieving the kind of substantive, systemic change Ntombi is advocating for is no easy task, she remains undaunted in her mission. After all, the history of her family and her home country tells her that change can happen.



I can see that there has been change in the past, even though its been slow, and imagine a future where things can be better and more opportunities are possible.


In 2015 the Communications Fraud Control Association (CFCA) estimated that mobile network operators lost more than $38 billion to fraud and revenue loss.

In percentage terms this figure is more than the amount lost by retailers to theft and remains a serious issue for operators. More than 60% of operators surveyed believed that their company was losing at least 2% of revenue to fraud and more than 40% believed the sum to be between 3%-6%.

Alongside Eastern European countries, Africa is seen by operators around the world as one of the hubs of fraud against mobile network operators. Whilst it is easy to consider fraud against mobile networks as a victimless crime, it is far from the case. The GSMA reported in 2012 that a 10% increase in the number of people connected to a mobile phone network leads to a growth in economic productivity of 4.2%. The less money networks have, the slower they can roll out mobile network upgrades, and this impacts on growth in country.

Mobile operators in Africa have historically suffered from Bypass or SIM Box fraud. Mobile Network Operators receive payment from the customer for connecting or terminating a call in a country. The cost of connecting an international call can be more valuable than the cost of a local mobile to mobile call within a country.

Fraudsters exploit the difference between international and local call rates by buying thousands of local SIM cards and inserting them into a device known as a GSM Gateway or SIM Box, which is then connected to the internet. They then sell international phone minutes and connect them as local calls. The operator is denied the full international payment rate, resulting in a loss of revenue. Customers can find the quality of the call suffers or they do not receive services such as caller ID.

Cross border tariffs introduced to offer users in East Africa the same calling costs across several countries (including Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda) has brought this issue further into focus. SIM Box fraudsters have started terminating calls for each country outside of their borders, leading to a significant threat to mobile operator revenues across the region. At a time when African mobile operators are attempting to invest in new infrastructure, this could impede the growth of mobile telephony across the continent, through no fault of the operators.

More recently operators have suffered a new threat to revenues  which has the potential to be far more serious than SIM Box fraud. This is known as Over The Top (OTT) Hijack and a recent survey by Revector, the telecommunications anti-fraud specialist, of more than 16 operators in Africa has identified that this could cause revenue loss of more than 50% of termination revenues.

OTT apps such as Viber and WhatsApp have been proactively touting the capability to terminate calls, selling this service on the open market and directly to some operators in different countries.

This new threat means that some calling a different country will dial the number on the keypad as usual. However, when the recipient of the call answers, it is no longer a normal telephone call  it arrives as an in app call on a voice or messaging app. How does this happen? Buried within the terms and conditions of several OTT apps is an option to deliver normal calls as OTT calls when possible. This is usually defaulted to ON, meaning that, unless the user digs deeply into the settings, they will be unaware. The recipient of the call will simply think that the caller has called them on an OTT app rather than via the normal telephone service (which is not the case).

This is ingenious short term profiteering by the OTT apps: not only do they get to convince recipients of calls that more people are using their apps, they also get to keep the termination revenue from the call, all the time delivering this call over data using the network of the operator they are hijacking the revenue from.

This is a very short term approach however. The lost revenue to the mobile network operator will eventually mean a lack of investment in networks, driving down quality for everyone (including the OTT provider). This practice is currently rife across the whole of Africas telecommunications landscape and constitutes the biggest threat to revenues for mobile (and fixed line) network operators.

Wherever there is business, there is fraud. As new revenue opportunities grow, so new frauds appear. Mobile operators need to take a closer look at their revenue losses and consult detection and elimination services to combat fraud and regain a level playing field. Across the African continent fraudsters continue to look to mobile network operators as a rich source of illicit gains. The long term consequences however hit harder than operator revenues: with such a close link between mobile communications and country-wide productivity the consequences can be limiting to economic development for the entire continent.

Andy Gent is the Founder and CEO of Revector.
Digital radio and smart audio device pioneer Frontier Smart Technologies Group updated the market on its trading on Friday, saying it had continued to build on the momentum it achieved in the second half of 2016, with first half revenues significantly ahead of last year.

The AIM-traded firm said, taking a prudent view of second half trading across the group, the board now anticipated full year EBITDA profit to be materially ahead of expectations.

Its established digital radio and smart radio business lines were said to both be performing well.

Digital radio was benefiting from strong underlying growth in continental Europe, boosted by the switching-off of analogue radio in Norway.

First half sales also received an uplift from the forthcoming introduction of the EU RED Directive in July 2017, which encouraged customers to bring forward orders.

Smart radio was ahead of expectations due to better-than-expected growth in Germany.

The board said margins in both digital radio and smart radio were also ahead of plan.

In smart audio, the group recently announced several design wins for speakers using Google's Chromecast built-in technology.

Trading in smart audio was currently broadly in line with expectations, but it would be early in the second half before the full-year performance of this business line would be known.

The performance of our digital radio and smart radio businesses in the opening months of the year has been encouraging and reflects our market leadership in both sectors, said CEO Anthony Sethill.

Our smart audio business is still at an early stage of development, but our recently announced design wins provide grounds for confidence.
Pearson surged on Friday as the education publisher posted a 6% increase in first-quarter underlying sales, reiterated its guidance for the full year and announced further cost-cutting measures and a strategic review of its K12 courseware publishing business.

Sales in the first three months were up 6% in underlying terms, led by growth in revenues in North American higher education courseware, professional certification, Online Program Management, US K12 courseware, South African school textbooks and UK student assessment. This was offset by expected declines in US student assessment and in Learning Studio, a higher education learning management system which is being retired, and declines in Middle East and India due to business exits.

The company maintained its guidance range for 2017 profit of 570m to 630m, adjusted earnings per share of 48.5p to 55.5p and cash conversion in excess of 90%.

It also announced a strategic review of the US K12 courseware publishing business, which it said has seen a slow pace of digital adoption in basal courseware, high capital intensity and a challenging competitive and market environment.

In addition, Pearson said it was currently undertaking the detailed planning to enable it to deliver annualised cost savings of 300m by the end of 2019, with further detail on the timing and costs of these plans to be revealed at the time of the interim results.

Chief executive John Fallon said: "Though the bulk of our sales come later in the year, our first quarter trading is encouraging and in line with expectations.

"We are creating a leaner Pearson, equipped to innovate and win in digital education. The measures we are announcing today build on the work completed last year and will allow us to further simplify our portfolio, reduce costs and accelerate our digital transformation."

Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Nicholas Hyett said: "Youve got to hand it to Pearson CEO John Fallon, he doesnt do things by halves. Every quarter it seems that another part of the staid publishing house he inherited is laid on the block in the drive to move the group into the digital age  this time its the turn of the K12 US courseware business.

"Unchanged full year guidance and a positive performance from North America are both likely to be taken well by the market given Pearsons recent profit warning. Having already disposed of several businesses the group is trimming the cost base to reflect its reduced size, 300m of cost savings announced today are equivalent to 12% of the entire 2016 operating cost base - not to be sneezed at!"

However, Hyett pointed out that Pearsons current strategy remains a higher risk bet on the groups ability to seize market share in the emerging digital education space.

"Even then, with plenty of free resources already available online, questions remain about whether the group will be able to make that market share profitable.

At 0840 BST, the shares were up 14% to 748p.
Mining stocks bounced back at the end of the week despite another move lower for iron ore prices.

However, COMEX-traded July 2017 copper was on the up after another brusing week, bouncing back by 0.78% to $2.5310 a pound. So too, downwards pressure on gold futures abated, possibly as short-sellers squared positions going into the weekend.

COMEX gold was up by 0.09% at $1,229.70/oz., while spot iron ore prices retreated from $62.0 a metric tonne to $59.4.

Against that backdrop, precious metals miners were pacing gains, with Acacia Mining, Hochschild Mining and Randgold Resources three of the biggest risers in that space.

Aerospace and Defence was also higher, with Rolls Royce powering ahead as Goldman Sachs its Conviction List Buy recommendation on the engineering firm,

Rolls Royce said on 4 May it expected flat free cash flow year-on-year in 2017 but by 2020 Goldman Sachs estimated the company would be generating 1.56bn of it.



Shell have Oil&Gas a boost as analysts at SocGen upgraded the shares from 'Hold' to a 'Buy'.

Helping things along, Brent crude futures were bouncing back after hitting an overnight low $46.64 a barrel ibn ICE trading.

Top performing sectors so far today

Mining 14,275.97 +2.82%

Aerospace and Defence 5,286.96 +2.55%

Oil & Gas Producers 7,650.56 +1.96%

Food & Drug Retailers 2,944.70 +1.60%

Electricity 8,435.94 +1.57%

Bottom performing sectors so far today

Insurance (non-life) 2,976.26 -1.02%

Banks 4,242.98 -0.80%

Electronic & Electrical Equipment 5,974.28 -0.58%

Food Producers & Processors 8,231.61 -0.44%

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology 13,761.12 -0.44%
Live election coverage: Shapiro wins governor; Fetterman Senate-bound

Josh Shapiro appears to have won the race for PA Governor, though opponent Doug Mastriano hasn't conceded.
New York, NY, May 5, 2017 - An international group of experts has concluded that, for patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, antipsychotic medications do not have negative long-term effects on patients' outcomes or the brain. In addition, the benefits of these medications are much greater than their potential side effects.

These findings, by Jeffrey Lieberman, MD, Lawrence C. Kolb Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeon and Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and colleagues from institutions in the United States, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, Japan, and China, were published today in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Nearly seven million Americans take antipsychotic medications for the treatment of schizophrenia and related conditions. The medications are prescribed to alleviate the symptoms of psychosis and longer-term, to prevent relapse. In recent years, however, concerns have been raised that these medications could have toxic effects and negatively impact long-term outcomes. This view, if not justified by data, has the potential mislead some patients (and their families) to refuse or discontinue antipsychotic treatment.

For this reason, the researchers undertook a comprehensive examination of clinical and basic research studies that examined the effects of antipsychotic drug treatment on the clinical outcomes of patients and changes in brain structure.

"The evidence from randomized clinical trials and neuroimaging studies overwhelmingly suggests that the majority of patients with schizophrenia benefit from antipsychotic treatment, both in the initial presentation of the disease and for longer-term maintenance to prevent relapse," said Dr. Lieberman. Moreover, whatever side effects that these medications might cause are greatly outweighed by their therapeutic benefits.

"Anyone who doubts this conclusion should talk with people whose symptoms have been relieved by treatment and literally given back their lives," Lieberman added.

The studies also revealed that delaying or withholding treatment has been associated with poorer long-term outcomes. "While a minority of patients who recover from an initial psychotic episode may maintain their remission without antipsychotic treatment, there is currently no clinical biomarker to identify them, and it is a very small number of patients who may fall into this subgroup," said Dr. Lieberman. "Consequently, withholding treatment could be detrimental for most patients with schizophrenia." And while preclinical studies in rodents suggested that antipsychotic medications can sensitize dopamine receptors, there is no evidence that antipsychotic treatment increases the risk of relapse. While antipsychotic medications can increase the risk for metabolic syndrome, which is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, the study did not include a risk-benefit analysis.

"While more research is needed to address these questions, the strong evidence supporting the benefits of antipsychotic medications should be made clear to patients and their families, while at the same time they should be used judiciously" said Dr. Lieberman.

The paper is entitled, "The Long-Term Effects of Antipsychotic Medication on Clinical Course in Schizophrenia." The authors are Donald Goff, MD (New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY), Peter Falkai, MD, PhD (Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany), Wolfgang Fleischhacker, MD, (Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria), Ragy Girgis, MD (Columbia University Medical Center), Rene M. Kahn, MD, PhD (University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands;), Hiroyuki Uchida, MD, PhD (Keiyo University, Tokyo, Japan), Jingping Zhao, MD, Ph.D. (Central South University, Chengsha, China), and Jeffrey Lieberman, MD (Columbia University Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute).

Dr. Goff has received research support from Avanir Pharmaceuticals, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Stanley Medical Research Institute. Dr. Fleischhacker has received research support from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Janssen, Lundbeck, and Otsuka; he has received honoraria for serving as a consultant to and/or on advisory boards for Allergan, Dainippon-Sumitomo, GedeonRichter, Janssen, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Takeda, and Teva; and he has received speaker's fees and travel support from AOP Orphan, Dainippon Sumitomo, Gedeon Richter, Janssen, Lundbeck, Pfizer, Otsuka, and Teva. Dr. Girgis receives research support from Allergan, BioAdvantex, Genentech, and Otsuka. Dr. Kahn has received consulting fees from Alkermes, Forrest, Forum, Gedeon-Richter, Janssen-Cilag, Minerva Neurosciences, and Sunovion and speaker's fees from Janssen-Cilag and Lilly. Dr. Uchida has received grants from Astellas Pharmaceutical, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Meiji-Seika Pharmaceutical, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Novartis, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and Shionogi; speaker's honoraria from Dainippon-Sumitomo Pharma, Eli Lilly, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Meiji-Seika Pharma, MSD, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Pfizer, Shionogi, and Yoshitomi Yakuhin; and advisory panel payments from Dainippon-Sumitomo Pharma. All other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Department of Psychiatry (NYSPI/Columbia Psychiatry). New York State Psychiatric Institute (founded in 1896) and the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry have been closely affiliated since 1925. Their co-location in a New York State facility on the New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center campus provides the setting for a rich and productive collaborative relationship among scientists and physicians in a variety of disciplines. NYSPI/Columbia Psychiatry is ranked among the best departments and psychiatric research facilities in the nation and has contributed greatly to the understanding of and current treatment for psychiatric disorders. The Department and Institute are home to distinguished clinicians and researchers noted for their clinical and research advances in the diagnosis and treatment of depression, suicide, schizophrenia, bipolar and anxiety disorders and childhood psychiatric disorders. Their combined expertise provides state of the art clinical care for patients, and training for the next generation of psychiatrists and psychiatric researchers.

Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, preclinical, and clinical research; medical and health sciences education; and patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Columbia University Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast. The campus that Columbia University Medical Center shares with its hospital partner, NewYork-Presbyterian, is now called the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. For more information, visit cumc.columbia.edu or columbiadoctors.org.
Geneva, Switzerland, May 5, 2017 - A late breaking subanalysis of the phase III CONVERT trial presented at the European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) shows that white blood cell boosting drugs are safe during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).1

"The optimal treatment for limited-stage SCLC is concurrent chemo-radiotherapy," said lead author Dr Fabio Gomes, a medical oncologist at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. "The efficacy of this intensive treatment is balanced by more toxicity, mainly haematological but also oesophageal and pulmonary. Meaning this is not a treatment to be considered for every patient and many more will struggle to stay on track with the planned treatment".

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) are commonly used as a supportive measure to boost the survival, proliferation and differentiation of neutrophils. The expected neutropenia is less severe and patients recover more quickly, reducing their risk for infectious complications. However, its use during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in SCLC is controversial and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recommends against its routine use.2 This is due to a randomised trial with 215 eligible patients performed between 1989 and 1991, which showed a significant increase in severe thrombocytopenia, severe anaemia, pulmonary complications and toxic deaths when granulocyte-macrophage CSFs (GM-CSFs) were used during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.3

Gomes said: "There have been two major changes since this trial was published in 1995 which may affect the safety of CSF in this context. First, the trial tested GM-CSFs which act on more than one blood cell lineage and are not commonly used nowadays. Instead we use G-CSFs, which are more specific and aim for the neutrophil lineage only. Second, modern radiotherapy techniques have evolved significantly since then and are more precise, which reduces the risks of toxicity."

The phase III CONVERT trial enrolled 547 patients with limited-stage SCLC for concurrent chemo-radiotherapy who were randomised to once-daily or twice-daily radiotherapy. There was no difference in overall survival between the two groups.4

The trial protocol allowed the use of G-CSF, and around 40% of patients received it at some point during the treatment. For the analysis presented today, the researchers compared the toxicities and outcomes between patients who received G-CSF during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and those who did not.

They confirmed that the chance of severe thrombocytopenia or anaemia during treatment almost doubled in patients given G-CSF to around 30% and 20%, respectively, however these were lower than previously reported. That was followed by a significantly higher use of further supportive measures such as platelets and blood transfusions. However, there was no difference in the incidence of pulmonary complications or in survival.

Gomes said: "G-CSF had no significant negative impact on the outcomes of these patients, which is a very comforting result. The higher haematological toxicity was balanced by an appropriate supportive care throughout treatment."

He continued: "We can conclude from this analysis that the use of G-CSF during thoracic radiotherapy is safe and should support patients to receive the full planned course of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and achieve the best possible benefit. These findings should give clinicians the confidence to use G-CSF when needed in this context. We aim to publish a complete analysis later this year which may hopefully help change the current guidelines."

Commenting on the findings, Dr Stefan Zimmermann, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology Department, HFR - Hopital Cantonal, Fribourg, Switzerland, said: "Oncologists do need G-CSF to mitigate neutropenia and increase chemotherapy delivery and compliance, but want the beneficial effect of timely concurrent therapy to outweigh the toxic risks."

"In this analysis, the use of G-CSF did not result in an increased risk of pneumonitis, but the incidence of severe thrombocytopenia is a concern," he continued. "The use of G-CSF was not detrimental to progression-free survival or overall survival. We can conclude that primary or secondary prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia with G-CSF is justified, but patients at higher risk for thrombocytopenia should be treated with caution."

###

Notes to Editors

References

1 Abstract LBA2_PR - 'Use of G-CSF and prophylactic antibiotics with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in limited-stage small cell lung cancer: results from the phase III CONVERT trial,' will be presented by Dr Fabio Gomes during the Proffered Paper session 'SCLC and early stage NSCLC' on Sunday, 7 May, 09:00 (CEST).

2 Smith TJ, et al. Recommendations for the Use of WBC Growth Factors: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(28): 3199-3212.

3 Bunn PA Jr, et al. Chemoradiotherapy with or without granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer: a prospective phase III randomized study of the Southwest Oncology Group. J Clin Oncol. 1995;13(7):1632-1641.

4 http://meetinglibrary.asco.org/content/165387-176

Disclaimer

This press release contains information provided by the authors of the highlighted abstracts and reflects the content of those abstracts. It does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ESMO or IASLC who cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the data. Commentators quoted in the press release are required to comply with the ESMO Declaration of Interests policy and the ESMO Code of Conduct.

About the European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) 2017

The European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) is the reference event in Europe for professionals treating lung cancers. It is organised by the European Society for Medical Oncology and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer in partnership with ESTRO and ETOP. ELCC provides a comprehensive multidisciplinary overview of the latest as well as of the state-of-the-art knowledge in thoracic malignancies, covering different aspects such as prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment modalities and the results of basic, clinical and translational research, presented by top international academic experts. Around 2,000 attendees are expected from throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

About the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

ESMO is the leading professional organisation for medical oncology. With more than 15,000 members representing oncology professionals from over 130 countries worldwide, ESMO is the society of reference for oncology education and information. We are committed to supporting our members to develop and advance in a fast-evolving professional environment. http://www.esmo.org

About the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated to the study of lung cancer. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes more than 5,000 lung cancer specialists in over 100 countries. Visit http://www.iaslc.org for more information.
Vienna, Austria: Lung cancer patients who are treated with radiotherapy can develop an inflammation of the lung tissue called pneumonitis; this can limit the dose of radiation they can receive and severe forms of pneumonitis, if left untreated, can be fatal.

Now researchers have found that it is possible to adapt radiation treatment so that it targets the tumour much more precisely. "This has resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence of radiation pneumonitis in patients with advanced lung cancer, while still slowing and controlling the growth of the cancer," Dr Azza Khalil, a clinical oncologist at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, told the ESTRO 36 conference today (Saturday).

"Previously, the radiation therapist would set up the patient on the radiotherapy machines using the bone structures in the chest and skin tattoos to mark the area to be treated. We have already shown that during the course of radiotherapy the anatomical structure can differ and the cancer change position inside the chest," explained Dr Khalil. "For this study the radiation therapists used a daily 3D image of the tumour to adjust the patient's position under the radiotherapy machine, and if they discovered any change during the course of radiotherapy, doctors and physicists were able to adapt the radiation treatment. This meant they could target the tumour area more accurately, leaving smaller margins so that less healthy tissue was irradiated."

Dr Khalil and her colleagues analysed data from 108 patients with locally advanced lung cancer (cancer that had started to spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes) who had received adaptive radiation treatment (ART) with smaller margins after April 2013. They matched them with a control group of 102 patients who had been treated prior to April 2013 without the adaptive strategy, using the older method for planning the treatment, which involved leaving larger margins. They followed the patients for a median average of 20 months (ranging from two to 56 months).

"We found that the incidence of radiation pneumonitis that was serious enough to require treatment (grade 2 and above) decreased significantly from 50% of patients in the group treated without adaptive radiation treatment to 33% in the group that did receive adaptive radiation treatment," said Dr Khalil. "However, there was no difference between the two groups in the rates of recurrence of cancer or the failure of the radiotherapy to control tumour growth."

Thirty-two percent of patients treated with ART had a recurrence of cancer at the site of the original tumour compared to 36% of patients in the non-ART group. Failure to control tumour growth (loco-regional failure) occurred in 45% of the ART group and 48% of the non-ART group.

The researchers have not followed the patients for long enough to assess the rates of overall survival between the two groups. However, the average amount of time that patients lived without their disease progressing was similar between the two groups: 16 months for the ART group and 19 months for the non-ART group.

Dr Khalil said: "These are important findings for this group of patients who have limited treatment options. Adaptive radiation treatment has resulted in fewer and less pronounced pulmonary symptoms and other side effects, which makes a significant difference to the patients' quality of life."

Adaptive radiation treatment has been introduced into routine clinical practice in Dr Khalil's department and she believes her findings are applicable to clinics elsewhere. She and her colleagues are continuing their research into ART.

"The outcome of patients with locally advanced lung cancer is compromised by a high rate of local failure where the cancer comes back in the same area we have treated. As we reduced the tumour margin using this adaptive strategy, we are testing whether we would be able now to increase the treatment doses to the tumour without affecting the incidence of the radiation pneumonitis, and hence have a better outcome," she concluded.

The incidence of radiation pneumonitis that produces some symptoms in lung cancer patients varies between 25-50% depending on the study. Severe radiation pneumonitis (grade 3 and above) varies between 10-20%. Untreated severe pneumonitis can be fatal. In a previous study Dr Khalid and her colleagues found that overall survival time was shorter in patients who developed severe pneumonitis.

President of ESTRO, Professor Yolande Lievens, head of the department of radiation oncology at Ghent University Hospital, Belgium, said: "This study shows significant reductions in radiation pneumonitis when adaptive radiation treatment is used to target the tumour more precisely, and it is a good example of how we are working constantly to refine and improve radiation therapy so that patients can be treated effectively with fewer side effects. These are impressive decreases in toxicity and we look forward to seeing whether overall survival for patients treated in this way is as good as or better than for patients not treated with ART."

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Abstract no: OC-0143, "Lung" proffered papers session at 16.30-17.30 hrs (CEST) on Saturday, 6 May, Auditorium.
Washington DC, May 5, 2017: Mexican ecologist Jose Sarukhan last night used his acceptance speech for the world's highest environmental honor, the Tyler Prize, to challenge the Trump administration's attitude towards science.

He particularly criticized the administration's' plan to build an impermeable wall between the US and Mexico.

"If this wall is built, many mammal species, such as Jaguars, will not be able to move freely in their original territories. This will not only lead to genetic isolation -- in some populations, that could potentially mean extinction."

Professor Sarukhan addressed the proposed border wall in the context of international scientific collaboration. He was being recognized for his establishment of CONABIO -- a world-first federal institution charged with protecting national biodiversity.

"A society that develops fear of independent science cannot advance at the pace which its growth and needs demand. A sound and enlightened government must support excellence and and independent scientific activity... for the global good," the 2017 Tyler Laureate said.

Professor Sarukhan called for the US to return to the evidence-based thinking that founded one of the most advanced democracies in the world.

"Scientific integrity must underpin public policy-making -- and it must be adequately funded. This is precisely what has made the US the great nation that it is at the moment: a world class public scientific research in all fields, together with the strongest system of research-based universities in the world."

At this 44th Tyler Prize Award Ceremony, Professor Sarukhan accepted his gold medal award, a plaque, and a check for $200,000 US. The black tie formalities were preceded by a panel featuring two leading US environmental scientists -- Jane Lubchenco and Harold Mooney. The panel, Translating Research Into Policy Action: How Can Environmental Science Move Forward Quickly? was moderated by John Iadarola, host of the political news network, The Young Turks.

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Click here to download a press kit including photos of the Award ceremony and lecture, as well as a video of Professor Sarukhan.

About the Tyler Prize

Established by the late John and Alice Tyler in 1973, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement is one of the first international premier awards for environmental science, environmental health and energy. Recipients encompass the spectrum of environmental concerns, including environmental policy, health, air and water pollution, ecosystem disruption and loss of biodiversity, and energy resources. The Prize is awarded by the international Tyler Prize Executive Committee with the administrative support of the University of Southern California. For more information on the Tyler Prize go to: http://www.tylerprize.org
SOLOMONS, MD (MAY 5, 2017)--A new study by scientists at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Cornell University and Duke University is the first in a series to understand how marine mammals like porpoises, whales, and dolphins may be impacted by the construction of wind farms off the coast of Maryland. The new research offers insight into previously unknown habits of harbor porpoises in the Maryland Wind Energy Area, a 125-square-mile area off the coast of Ocean City that may be the nation's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm.

Offshore wind farms provide renewable energy, but activities during the construction can affect marine mammals that use sound for communication, finding food, and navigation.

"It is critical to understand where marine mammals spend their time in areas of planning developments, like offshore wind farms, in order to inform regulators and developers on how to most effectively avoid and minimize negative impacts during the construction phase when loud sounds may be emitted," said Helen Bailey, the project leader at the UMCES' Chesapeake Biological Laboratory.

Scientists from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science used underwater microphones called hydrophones to detect and map the habits of harbor porpoises, one of the smallest marine mammals. Bailey describes harbor porpoises as "very shy" ranging 4 to 5 feet long with a small triangular fin that can be hard to spot. They swim primarily in the ocean, spending summers north in the Bay of Fundy and migrating to the Mid-Atlantic, as far south as North Carolina, in the winter. There are about 80,000 of them in the northwestern Atlantic.

"There was so little known about them in this area," said Bailey. "It was suspected they used the waters off Maryland, but we had no idea how frequently they occurred here in the winter until we analyzed these data."

Porpoises produce echolocation clicks, a type of sonar that hits an object and reflects back to tell them its distance, size and shape. They use it to navigate and feed. The researchers used hydrophones anchored 65-145 feet deep, and about 10 feet off the bottom of the ocean, to pick up these clicks over the course of a year.

"We found that harbor porpoises occurred significantly more frequently during January to May, and foraged for food significantly more often in the evenings to early mornings," said study author Jessica Wingfield.

Scheduling wind farm construction activities in the Maryland WEA to take place during summer months (June to September) could reduce the likelihood of disturbance to harbor porpoises.

"We were certainly surprised by how frequently we detected harbor porpoises because there had not been a lot of reported sightings," said Wingfield.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources secured the funding for this study from the Maryland Energy Administration's Offshore Wind Development Fund and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

"Year-round spatiotemporal distribution of harbour porpoises within and around the Maryland wind energy area" was recently published in PLOS ONE.

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UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland's natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century.
MIAMI -- Researchers at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science have developed a new technology to measure the currents near the ocean's surface that carry pollutants such as plastics and spilled oil.

This new technique, which includes a specialized video camera to remotely sense currents in the upper few centimeters of the water column, can help scientists more accurately predict the fate of spilled oil or other marine pollutants that are transported at the surface layer by providing these measurements that were previously unattainable.

"The health and economic impacts of spilled oil and marine debris have the potential to be profoundly negative," said UM Rosenstiel School postdoctoral researcher Nathan Laxague, and lead author of the study. "Improving our ability to measure near-surface ocean currents can aid in disaster response and provides for greater context in understanding the dynamics of marine pollutant transport."

Laxague and colleagues conducted two experiments -- one in a laboratory and one in the field at the mouth of the Columbia River--to test their new technique. In the laboratory study, the researchers imaged the water surface in the SUSTAIN (SUrge-STructure Atmosphere INteraction) facility using a specialized camera that simultaneously records three polarizations of reflected light off the ocean surface to determine the current profile for a range of wind speeds. In the field study, a research vessel was stationed in the mouth of the Columbia River along the Oregon-Washington border to verify the results from the lab experiment in a real-world setting.

The data gathered from the experiments showed that the innovative optical technique is ideal to measure currents within the first few centimeters at the ocean's surface.

"This slice of the water column is important because it is where oil, larvae and other drifting floating objects are, and yet, until now, scientists had no good way to measure it using existing technologies," said UM Rosenstiel School Ocean Science Professor Brian Haus, a co-author of the study.

The study was conducted as a part of the CARTHE (Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment) and RIVET (RIVerine and Estuarine Transport) projects. Based at the UM Rosenstiel School, CARTHE, is a research team dedicated to predicting the fate of the oil released into our environment as a result of future oil spills.

The paper, titled "Passive optical sensing of the near-surface, wind-driven current profile," appears in the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology in its online pre-print version. The study's authors include: Laxague, Haus, David Ortiz-Suslow, Conor Smith, Guillaume Novelli, Hanjing Dai, Tamay Ozgokmen, and Hans Graber from the UM Rosenstiel School Department of Ocean Sciences.

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The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (grant #SA1207GOMRI005) and the Office of Naval Research (grant #N000141410643) provided funding for the study.

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.
Friday, May 5, 2017

Publishers Weekly , the bible of the publishing industry, recently ran a positive review of KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die. Heres what they published (with paragraph breaks added to ease the eyes of the reader).

Rubin (A Good Goodbye), a certified thanatologist, takes a not-so-grim look at how to reap lifes benefits while preparing for death. Rubins common-sense approach is broken down into 100 succinct steps that cover a wide range of activities, from general decluttering and mental preparations to more specific tasks involving legal documents and choices to make closer to death.

Rubins approach is holistic, considering the practical need to organize ones affairs to decrease the stress for surviving family and the emotional need to simplify and enjoy life. Her tone is encouraging, comforting, and even humorous as she systematically navigates through the vast preparation process while providing a plethora of ideas to inspire action without overwhelming.

Rubins steps take into account diverse personalities and spiritual beliefs, and also include charitable and environmentally responsible ways of donating propertyincluding ones body. This invaluable book is an easy-to-read, enlightening reality check and an insightful and sensitive reminder to preplan today, so you and your loved ones can enjoy the rest of your life. (BookLife)

Details: Author  Gail Rubin. Publisher  Rio Grande Books, $15.95 trade paper (128p) ISBN 978-1-9436-8115-0 (also available in E-book formats)

Love the language riff on grim and reaping. Read more about KICKING THE BUCKET LIST here.

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The Armagh County Agricultural Show and Country Festival will be held on Saturday the 141h June 2022 in the beautiful surroundings of Gosford Forest Park, close to the village of Markethill, on the main Armagh / Newry Road, 6 miles from Armagh and 12 miles from Newry.

FarmingUK assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this page.

The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis, and should be independently verified before travel.
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LAMMA 2023 will be on 10th & 11th January 2023 at the NEC Birmingham.



The UK's leading farm machinery show, LAMMA connects farmers from all sectors with companies who provide cutting-edge machinery, technology and equipment for the farming industry.



Over 600 exhibitors will showcase the latest tractors, combines, arable and grassland machinery, as well as a wide range of new technology, services and tools for every sector.



See machinery launches, UK debuts, global brands and small manufacturers, all together under one roof.



Bring your team to the UK's largest farm machinery showroom, network and do business.

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Now entering our 89th year dedicated to showcasing the British top and soft fruit, the National Fruit Show is the show by growers for growers.



We will be back at the Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 7JF in November 2022.



*New* for 2022 is a focus on soft fruit, including our new soft fruit technical forum.

FarmingUK assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this page.

The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis, and should be independently verified before travel.
On the second Saturday in September, every year since 1844, Usk Farmers Club have held the Usk Show to celebrate the very best of Monmouthshire farming and rural life.



Now one of the biggest One-Day Agricultural Shows in the whole of the UK, its popularity is second-to-none.

FarmingUK assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this page.

The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis, and should be independently verified before travel.
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NFU Scotland has called for milk buyers to deliver stability to Scottish dairy farmers as farmgate prices come under pressure.

Market signals around commodity prices, production at world and EU levels and global dairy auction results are all positive.

But the farming union wants milk buyers give a strong sign to their suppliers that any price cuts now should only be temporary.

This week saw farmer-owned business First Milk reduce prices to its members by between 0.1p and 0.35p per litre  the companys first price cut since last summer.

NFU Scotlands Milk Policy Manager, George Jamieson said: The dairy market is very finely balanced, with global and regional milk buyers waiting to see how supply and demand balance out going forward.

All parts of the dairy chain are watching the market but given the very serious dent in producers cash flow, net worth and confidence suffered over the last two years the response of processors and retailers now is crucial.

Strong signals and a clear commitment to deliver a fairer share of the rewards from dairy markets are what is needed. Butter and cream prices remain strong and the cheese trade is only marginally down.

High stocks of powder are affecting skimmed milk prices but across the board there are few drivers for drastic price change.

'Solid forecasts'

While the market has weakened slightly in recent months, dairy futures and the global dairy auction  up 3.6 percent this week - are all suggesting that milk values should at least hold.

Mr Jamieson continued: That optimism is underpinned by solid forecasts for dairy products, including an expected increase in demand from China, and question marks over supply in some major milk regions.

The recognised UK dairy market indicators  Actual Milk Price Equivalent (AMPE) and Milk for Cheese Equivalent (MCVE) - have dropped but only marginally. That is encouraging for this time of year as we approach peak production. With AMPE sitting at 27.7p per litre (-0.1ppl) and MCVE at 31.8p per litre (-0.35ppl), farmgate prices should be around 27.5p per litre depending on the end use for that farmers milk.

First Milks announcement that it is to reduce its milk prices to members reflects the markets it is in and its Boards policy to pay a price that is based on returns month on month. After a very difficult time, when First Milks prices lagged well behind competitors, much needed progress had raised members prices to a more competitive level.

First Milks recovery, rationalisation and streamlining has been achieved to a large extent by the poor prices that their farming members have had to withstand over a prolonged period.

Mr Jamieson concluded: We know that the new CEO at First Milk, Shelagh Hancock, is keen to add more value where possible. This will be important if members prices are to aspire to higher levels relative to competitors. NFUS has met with Shelagh and will meet again shortly to discuss how we can work together for the benefit of Scottish First Milk members.
David Clarke, the first ever chief executive of Red Tractor Assurance, is to retire after 19 years building the scheme from scratch.

Launched in 2000, the Red Tractor logo was established in the wake of the many food scares of the 1990s, including BSE, to reassure consumers over the reliability and safety of British food.

Under Clarke's leadership, and with more than 60,000 farm businesses in membership, Red Tractor has become the UK's leading farm assurance scheme.

Clarke said: In Red Tractor, the UK farming industry has an assurance scheme that it can be really proud of.

Major food and drink businesses use it as an intrinsic part of their sourcing policies and it is viewed positively by consumers who say it influences their shopping decisions.

More than 14bn of food carried the Red Tractor logo on it last year.

"Government agencies also recognise the quality of the scheme, meaning Red Tractor farmers get fewer regulatory inspections.

Establishing such a robust scheme which has to constantly evolve has not been without its challenges but I am leaving the organisation in great shape for the future.

Mr Clarke will be replaced by Jim Moseley  currently the assurance schemes chairman  later this month. He brings with him a wealth of food industry experience from a career which has spanned FMC (Meat) Ltd, Tulip, General Mills and, most recently, Mizkan.

He has also presided over both the Food & Drink Federation and the Provision Trade Federation.
A Scottish crofter has died in what is being described as a horrific incident involving a bull.

76-year-old Alistair Maclean was killed at his remote property on Monday (1 May) in a tragic accident.

Sources said the scene at his croft near Bettyhill on the northern coast of Scotland was horrific.

A Police Scotland spokesman said officers had been called to Mr Macleans address and are now liaising with the Health and Safety Executive but there were no suspicious circumstances.

Shocked community leaders have paid tribute to the retired milkman, who was well known along the coast.

Strathy and Armadale Community Council chairwoman Janette Mackay said: "I was very, very sad to hear about Alistairs death. He was a very pleasant gentleman and was very well liked."
More than 50 sheep and lambs were killed in an accidental fire at Scottish farm.

Dozens of orphan lambs in pens and 13 ewes died in the fire, while a nearby herd of cattle escaped the flames.

A fire spokeswoman said: This fire has been deemed accidental.

Around 40 firefighters from across the North-east of Scotland tackled the accidental blaze in farm buildings in Aberdeenshire.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to the incident at Blackpots Farm, near Auchnagatt, shortly after 7pm on Sunday night (30 April).

Firefighters were originally called to deal with what was believed to be a shed fire but found several agricultural buildings ablaze, including one that was filled with straw  which took crews around five hours to bring under control.

White smoke could be seen billowing into the sky for miles around in the countryside as the fire raged.
The Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) has launched its 2017 General Election manifesto, outlining what it considers the priorities for the next UK Government should be in terms of agriculture.

The FUW, in its manifesto, said it believes that the next UK Government must take the opportunity to shape domestic policies fit for a UK outside the EU.

The farming union warns that those policies 'must respect' the current balances of power between devolved nations.

Welsh farmers have concerns regarding disproportionate EU rules, regulations and bureaucracy which led to so many voting to leave the EU in Wales.

'Brexit will dominate'

FUW President Glyn Roberts said the upcoming general election is 'unusual' and will be a 'single issue' election.

Brexit will dominate and we need to ensure that whoever forms the next Government understands the significant challenges and opportunities that Welsh family farms face. And that they also recognise that Wales  and Welsh farming  is not England and English farming.

We must ensure that we continue to grow and deliver successful, profitable businesses in strong, happy, multilingual communities. Farm businesses that offer hope for our younger generation and help to keep our rural communities alive. For us the past is a foundation for building our future.

The FUW is committed to lobbying all those in Westminster to ensure that Welsh agriculture and Wales family farms receive the attention and respect that they warrant, for the period of the next Parliament and beyond  for the sake of all our futures, added Mr Roberts.

Numerous other rural organisations have released their manifestos, including the NFU, NFU Cymru, the CLA, the Soil Association, the Tenant Farmers' Association and the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the British Veterinary Association and the Countryside Alliance.
A retiring Scottish farm family has put their land up for sale in the Highlands with a price tag of just under 8.5million making it one of the largest sales in Scotland for the past 10 years.

The trio of farms, owned and run by the Whiteford family, are situated in the Fear Peninsula, near Tain in Easter Ross.

Shandwick Mains, Wester Rarichie and Castlecraig are described by selling agents Strutt and Parker as 'one of the finest collections of farms in Scotland.'

Castlecraig

"It is the single largest farm instruction in Scotland for many years and, as such, will command a great deal of attention in the agricultural industry," said Strutt and Parker's Scottish chairman Andrew Rettie.

"I anticipate we will attract buyers from Scotland, the rest of the United Kingdom and Europe."

'Wonderful environment'

Shandwick

Stewart Whiteford said his he and his brothers reached the collective decision to retire from farming.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to farm and live in this vibrant community.

"It has also been a wonderful environment in which to bring up our families and we have no hesitation in recommending this beautiful part of the world to any prospective buyers."

Extending to 2,397 acres, the farms are offered for sale as a whole, as three individual farms, or 13 sub-lots.

Shandwick Mains is described as an 'exceptional arable farm' with with 327 ring-fenced acres. It includes a 1,200t grain store with drying facilities, two cattle courts plus storage and a large farmhouse.

Wester Rarichie is a large arable and stock farm extending to 1,094 acres. Grass is grazed by 190 head of Stabiliser cross Angus plus a 700-strong Blackface breeding flock

Castlecraig is an arable and livestock-rearing farm stretching across 933 acres. The farm's livestock currently includes 110 suckler cattle and 700 Scotch Mules.

It includes a 350-sow indoor pig unit, cottages and a seven-bedroom period farmhouse.
Sheep rustlers have stolen more than 50 sheep in a raid on a north-east farm in Scotland.

Police Scotland has appealed for information after the theft of 54 sheep from Alves, Moray.

The livestock, a mixture of Cheviot and black face sheep, were taken from the Coltfield area between noon on Wednesday and yesterday morning of Thursday.

Pc Katherine Powell said: The theft of such a large number of sheep would have required careful planning and the use of vehicles to transport the animals away from the area.

I would urge any members of the public who saw anyone or anything suspicious around the times in question to please get in touch if you think your information could help.

We take rural crime extremely seriously as part of our day-to-day policing in the North-east and I can assure the local and rural communities that crimes of this nature will not be tolerated.

We are lucky to live in a relatively safe and crime-free region, however given this recent incident I would urge people to be extra vigilant and take measures and precautions to protect your property.

We take every opportunity to share knowledge and information with officers across the force area to minimise and prevent the number of crimes that take place.

In February, sheep rustlers stole almost 100 sheep worth just under 13,000 in a farm near Falkirk, Scotland.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting incident number 0968 of 05/04 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 in confidence.
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.
Hello. I'm Carolyn Herbert from the Finance News Network, and joining me from Vertical Events to discuss the upcoming 2017 RIU Sydney Resources Round-up is event manager Doug Bowie. Doug, welcome to FNN.Thanks, Carolyn.Now, can you start by telling us a bit about the 2017 RIU Sydney Resources Round-up?Yes. It started off in 2004. We were looking for a conference to work on the east coast of Australia after being involved in Western Australia and Queensland as well beforehand. And it's now probably the largest corporate resources investor show on the east coast. We've got now 49 companies presenting and six keynote presentations, and it's being held at the Sofitel Wentworth in the financial district here in Sydney. It's also part of, now, the New South Wales Minerals Week, which has been authorised by the government, which includes presentations and conferences by the government and the Minerals Council.So, Doug, we've seen a remarkable turnaround in the mining space in the price of commodities over the past year. So, what's the consensus outlook for commodities going forward?Well, we've definitely had a big return at the start of the year after four years of malaise, but it has settled down a touch over the last couple of months, which is probably a good sign, that the rise we had couldn't be sustained. And now it's levelled off, we think it's going to be a lot better in the next two years.So, Doug, taking a look at the line-up, which companies are going to be presenting, and who are some of the keynote speakers?Well, I'd say, over the companies, we've got a large range of resources and also commodities and so on, including Corazon, Peel Mining, Xanadu Mines, Kin Mining, Danakaliand Gascoyne Resources, so all very good companies. Out of the keynotes, we're looking at the main two being Warwick Grigor of Far East Capital, with Justin Smirk of Westpac Banking Corporation, who you quite often see on the TV many times, as well as talks from CRU, Austex Mining, CSA Global and, to close the show, we always have Noah's Rule, which is a very entertaining talk as well.And, Doug, over the past 12 months, lithium really has become a hot commodity, so which companies from this sector are presenting?Yep, there's not just lithium companies, Carolyn, but all the battery minerals companies, so we've got cobalt, we've got lithium, we've got rare earths, we've got graphite and many other elements as well involved in those battery minerals. So, it's a big hot area. The companies that we've got are, you know, companies like Corazon, Black Rock Mining, we've got Core Exploration, we've got Auroch Minerals, and many others as well. So, it's a large range of companies we've got.And finally, Doug, where can we find more information about the event?Best place to go is our website, which is www.verticalevents.com.au. There's a point there for the Sydney Resources Round-Up. You can click, look at the program, also register online. If there are any investors out there who are not employed in the resources industry, they can give our office a call on (08) 9388 2222.Doug Bowie, thanks for the update, and good luck with the event.Thank you very much, Carolyn.
News that Molina Healthcare's (MOH -0.28%) board of directors is shaking up its C-suite sent shares soaring this week, but investors might want to avoid buying stock in Molina until it gets its house in order. Instead, it might be better to buy shares in Centene Corp (CNC 0.43%), a competitor that's putting up best-in-class financial results.

What's the story?

Molina and Centene make the majority of their money running state Medicaid programs. Individual states will often contract with these insurers to run their Medicaid programs to avoid the burden associated with managing members and to achieve cost savings.

It's a good business to be in, especially since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Obamacare includes an opt-in provision that allows willing states to expand Medicaid coverage to more residents, with federal funding.

Overall, 32 states, including D.C., adopted Medicaid expansion, leading to an additional 16.7 million people becoming covered by the program since 2013, and since Medicaid insurers' revenue is based on per-member contracts, these new members are supporting sales and profit growth industrywide.

Some insurers, however, are faring better than others when it comes to turning those additional dollars into profit. Centene, for example, has done a better job of delivering earnings-per-share growth than Molina Health.

Different directions

The two companies' first-quarter financials paint too very different pictures of financial health. Centene's results show it's executing at a high level, while Molina Health's results show it's got some housekeeping to do.

In discussing its first-quarter financials, Centene was laser-focused on its growth, regardless of Washington's regulatory whims and whispers. Meanwhile, Molina is focused on what's gone wrong, so that the company can get back on track.

At Centene, organic growth and the acquisition of Health Net are fueling sales and earnings expansion. In the quarter, Centene's membership was 12.1 million, which was up over 600,000 from the first quarter of 2016, and those members translated into $11.7 billion in revenue.

The company reported membership growth in Medicaid, and also in Medicare and in Obamacare. Centene boasts more than 1.2 million Obamacare plan members, up 500,000 from last year, and management says it's considering expanding into new markets in 2018, absent Obamacare's repeal-and-replace.

Centene's health benefit ratio, or the ratio of spending on member healthcare to premiums, clocked in at 87.6% in the first quarter, or 1.1% better than last year, and that performance helped management deliver earnings per share of $1.12, up 51% from last year.

Over at Molina, the first quarter was less rosy.

Molina announced that CEO Dr. J. Mario Molina and CFO John C. Molina will be replaced by Joseph White, the company's longtime chief accounting officer, because of disappointing financial results. Dale Wolf, chairman of the board of directors, said:

In light of the company's disappointing financial performance and after careful consideration and analysis, the board determined that a change in leadership was necessary in order to drive profitability through operational improvements and other initiatives.

Wolf's comments might have you thinking that Molina's quarter was a disaster. It wasn't. But Molina is clearly underperforming competitors, including Centene, in terms of profitability.

In the quarter, Molina served 4.8 million members across state programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Obamacare, and those members generated $4.6 billion in revenue.

The ratio of premiums spent on member healthcare was 88.4% in the quarter, and while that was a year-over-year improvement, it wasn't as good as Centene's ratio. On the bottom line, Molina reported EPS of $1.47. However, if you back out tailwinds due to a one-time breakup fee, EPS drops to $0.53. Last year, Molina's adjusted EPS was $0.43, so this was still an improvement. Still, it's not nearly the kind of growth that Centene delivered in the period.

The quarter's profit performance was also dragged down by an increase in spending on general and administrative expenses. The ratio of G&A spending to revenue increased to 8.9% in Q1 from 7.8% a year ago.

Profitability also took a hit because of costs associated with members in Illinois. Costs from dates of service in 2016 and earlier reduced EPS by $0.22 in the quarter, as the company spent 112% of premiums on member healthcare.

Where do we go from here?

It could be months before Molina Health announces permanent replacements to serve as CEO and CFO, and even longer for those replacements to offer up a program to investors that shows how Molina plans to boost its profit.

That uncertainty in leadership, coupled with how quickly this decision appears to have been made, suggests that there could be negative unintended consequences for Molina's business, either in terms of fallout among employees, or hiccups in renewing contracts.

Overall, I think most investors should avoid the risk of owning Molina, and own Centene shares instead. Molina could execute a nice turnaround in its business, but there's no guarantee. Until investors have more insight into the company's plans, there are simply too many question marks for me to recommend owning shares.




Haiti - Politics : The Senate asks the Executive to declare the State of Emergency





Wednesday, following the worsening situation in the Great South which is struggling to recover from Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 and hard hit by torrential rains in recent days https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20778-haiti-security-heavy-rains-in-figures.html , the senators meeting in plenary voted unanimously (17) a resolution calling on the Executive to declare a state of emergency for the great South (Departments of the South, Southeast, Nippes and Grand'Anse) as well as the state of environmental emergency for the entire national territory.



It should be noted that while a state of emergency is not required for the whole country, senators wish in this resolution that specific measures be taken to assist the various communes affected in other departments than those in the Grand South.



If the Executive decree the State of Emergency, this will allow it to disburse funds more easily in terms of procedures. However, this resolution is not a blank check for the Executive, because of the bad practices of the previous Governments, senators have included an article in this resolution to avoid money being wasted or people getting rich. To this end, the Senate demands from the Executive that, through this state of emergency, an operational plan and a budget be submitted to the Parliament and that the Executive submits itself to the strict control of the Commissions charged with this state of emergency.



PI/ HaitiLibre


















TUSCOLA  The Vault Arts and Antiques celebrates its grand re-opening under new ownership with a wine tasting and chocolate event from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday.

The Vault is located at 100 N. Main St. in Tuscola.

From 2 to 3 p.m, visitors to The Vault will have a chance to meet the artists who make the artwork for sale. The art gallery, which also recently started carrying antiques, features approximately 50 artists from within a 100-mile radius, including Charleston, Mattoon, Sullivan, and Effingham.

Meanwhile, Chocolate Sundae on Saturday takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. and will feature a sampling of red wines, along with handmade chocolates from Flesor's Candy Kitchen. In addition, those who attend the event can get a small $1 hot fudge sundae from Flesor's, located in downtown Tuscola.

The Vault is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The Vault is a unique space in Central Illinois, because it is one of the few  if not the only  business that offers artists a place to rent space and sell their artwork, says manager Kirby Pringle, also an artist with his wife, Cindy, at The Vault.

Artwork at The Vault will include paintings, photographs, jewelry and ceramics.

The quality of the artwork is fantastic," Pringle said. "The antiques fit in very well. It's a great match that people won't find anywhere else in East Central Illinois. We will be adding more antiques and collectibles in the coming months.

We are very proud of this space. It's always been unique, and for a small town, it's just incredible. I think new customers will be blown away by their first visit, and old customers will find new artists and artwork that will make for a new experience.

The Vault was started in 2013 by John McDevitt of Sullivan. A group of investors from Tuscola  Mike Carroll, Jim Higgins and Jerry Reynolds  took over the business March 1. While locally made artwork will always be the main emphasis of The Vault, the new owners believe an expansion into antiques and vintage will broaden the customer base.

For more information, go to The Vault's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheVaultArtsCollective/ or call 217-599-1215.




Haiti - FLASH : The driver of President Moise dead by bullet





The living body of Livingston Odni aka "Roro" (36), the driver of President Jovenel Moise, was discovered Thursday morning in his residence in Clercine. He would have received a bullet near his heart, said Senior Inspector Gary Desrosiers, deputy spokesman for the Haitian National Police (PNH), adding that a pistol was found at his side. Suicide or assassination, he said that it will be necessary to await the results of the investigation, which will shed light on the exact circumstances surrounding the death of this agent of the Presidential Security Unit.



A note from the Palace states that "[...] the President Jovenel Moise learned with sadness the news of the death of his driver, the agent Levinston Odni, in circumstances not yet elucidated."



He further stated that "Levinston Odni had sought and obtained sick leave from the administration of the National Palace and was expected to resume soon his service."



"This sudden disappearance leaves under the shock all the colleagues and collaborators of the deceased. The President of the Republic expresses his condolences to the family of the late Odni and to his colleagues and close collaborators."



HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre


















Shutting down Fifth Avenue drug house required patience, coordination of agencies

Police shut down a house at 1014 Fifth Avenue West after complaints of drug use and fights.

It took months of investigation and a special overtime patrol before city police, with help from the district attorney, could shut down a bungalow on Fifth Avenue West that neighbors called the drug house.

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Neighbors, who met at City Hall to complain about the drug activity, expressed impatience with the time it took. But given property rights and the need to build a solid case to declare a private a home a nuisance, the authorities acted as fast as they could, police, city officials and the district attorney said.

On April 17, finally armed with the legal paperwork they needed, city police descended on the house at 1014 Fifth Avenue West, made sure no one was inside and locked it up at last, ending months of frustration by neighbors who had come to fear for their safety.

The action that occurred really was the culmination of several months of work between the police department, the state agencies and the D.A.s office and frankly a local private attorney who was working with the property owner, City Manager John Connet said. Behind the scenes, the district attorney and a private attorney, Ron Justice, had been working with the homeowner to get the legal authority to evict the vagrants and shut down the house.

The house was originally owned by Bob Kauss, who is in the Henderson County jail awaiting trial on multiple drug related felonies. When Kauss turned ownership over to his father, who lives in California, the city finally had the break it needed.

Ron Justice received the necessary power of attorney to execute the paperwork in the police department to go and evict everyone and post a no-trespass sign on the property, Connet said. The patrol side had been working with the attorney and the detectives had been working with the ALE (the state Alcohol Law Enforcement agents) on nuisance and abatement.

Connet knew first-hand that getting a judge to OK a petition to declare private property a nuisance was not easy. With hundreds of calls about drugs and violence at the Alpine Woods trailer park, city and county attorneys presented a detailed petition in 2015 asking a Superior Court judge to declare the property a nuisance and appoint a special master to run it. The judge said no.

Judges and D.A.s typically do not take that action without extensive evidence that it is a nuisance, Connet said.

Councilman Jeff Miller, who got involved the day the police shut down the house, shared the neighbors impatience over the pace of the investigation.

You cant always trust the system to move as fast as you want it to, he said. Ive got to give them credit. The police were working on it. The D.A. was working on it. They got it together.

Private property rights

While Newman was telling residents what they didnt want to hear  that the drug house could not be shut down immediately  he was working behind the scenes to make that happen.

I facilitated the son deeding the house over to his mother and father, he said. I was able to get him brought over from the jail so the lawyer for the father could get that done immediately.

With the signed affidavit in hand, Justice accompanied police officers to the house around noon. They tacked the notice on the door that declared the house off-limits and threatened arrest of anyone caught trespassing.

Thats the only way it could have been done, Newman said. I appreciate the city police. None of us want to live in a place where our police are kicking in doors and taking peoples property without the proper evidence."

Aggressive about patrolling the street, the city was also cautious about trampling on property rights of the absentee owner.

You can have anybody you want in your house, police Capt. Bruce Simonds. We had zoning go out and look at it on a couple of occasions. For three weeks in a row we had extra patrols set up out of our budget for four hours a night. Thats an extra expense but we did it just to make sure the neighbors knew we were serious about shutting down that house because we knew what a problem was.

We understand the frustration that the neighbors had, Simonds said. We completely understand.

Chief Herbert Blake also said the city acted as fast as it could.

We were aware of the problems. We made them aware we were working on it but we had to do it the right way, he said. We cant just go into a home and remove the occupants because of their lifestyle. ... During the process we made the decision to find money and pay overtime for several weeks for several officers to frequent that area just to increase our presence, Blake said. We do know that it made a significant difference in the reduction of calls and complaints from people in the community.

Renters with leases have renters rights. Squatters who pay nothing dont, Newman said.

Those people have no rights, he said. They would have rights if they had a signed contract but none of these people had that. In fact, what I was told that in exchange for drugs they could stay there or in exchange for various other illegal and nefarious activity they could stay there.

Newman said he still wants the house cleaned up and sold.

If its not cleaned up and sold Im going to consider it a nuisance, the end result of which I can ask the court to divest him of that property, he said. Im not trying to be heavy-handed. I am trying to strongly encourage some movement here.  I want him to understand that he cant just dilly dally around and not have anything happen here. An abandoned house is not good either. We hope we can put him in contact with an interested buyer.

Its a good lesson. Its a great older neighborhood. I think people have a had a real life experience about what drug activity can do to an area. If you allow that type of activity it can impact an entire neighborhood and it can do so quickly. People think these are victimless crimes and nothing could be further from the truth.
Hoteles City Express, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: HCITY) announced today that Jaguar Growth Partners - a privately-held investment management firm focused on global growth markets - has made an investment for approximately 9.7% of the total Shareholders Equity of the Company to establish a strategic partnership between the two firms.

The investment was made through Jaguar's real estate private equity strategy, which focuses on investing opportunistically in real estate related operating platforms and companies in key Latin American markets.

"We are excited to have Jaguar as our shareholder and to be able to count on their strategic support. Together with our team's expertise in the Latin American hospitality marketplace and focus on operational excellence, we are confident that Jaguar's real estate and capital market expertise will contribute positively to our strategy for profitable growth," noted Mr. Luis Barrios, CEO of Hoteles City Express.

"As the largest hotel company in its targeted segments, Hoteles City Express is well-positioned to continue to grow and benefit from the solid fundamentals of Mexico's economy and its presence in diverse regions across the country. We look forward to working with HCITY's outstanding management team to increase shareholder value by optimizing its real estate assets and expanding its franchise and management operations," said Thomas McDonald, Jaguar Managing Partner.

Support from long-term investors with real estate optimization expertise such as Jaguar helps advance Hoteles City Express' commitment to its shareholders' to continue being the best investment option for value creation.

Jaguar has previously completed investments in several other operating platforms and real estate companies in Latin America with significant success.

Headquartered in New York with an office in Sao Paulo, Jaguar is a privately-held investment management firm specializing in real estate private equity in growth markets globally.

Hoteles City Express is the leading and fastest-growing limited-service hotel chain in Mexico in terms of number of hotels, number of rooms, geographic presence, market share and revenues. Founded in 2002, Hoteles City Express specializes in offering high-quality, comfortable and safe lodging at affordable prices via a limited-service hotel chain geared mainly towards domestic business travelers. With 124 hotels in operation located throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Chile, Hoteles City Express operates five distinct brands: City Express, City Express Plus, City Express Suites, City Express Junior and City Centro to serve different segments of its target market.
Tony De George, President and Ken Olipra, Broker Associate, of Greene, Canfield, De George, LLC, have negotiated the sale of the Raceway Motel in Orlando. The 14-room, limited service motel was originally built in 1955 and has operated under the same owner for the past 30 years.

Greene, Canfield, De George LLC (GCD Hotels), a Clearwater, Florida-based member of Hotel Brokers International, announces the successful marketing and sale of the Raceway Motel in Orlando. Tony De George, President of GCD Hotels advised and represented the Seller and Ken Olipra, Broker Associate of GCD Hotels, represented the Buyer in this transaction. This is an example of the range of properties GCD Hotels lists and sells. No property is too small or large for GCD Hotels.

The Raceway Motel is a 14 room, limited service property, built in 1955. The motel is located in Orlando and the owners have operated the motel for over 30 years.

The Seller is a seasoned hotel owner with more than 30 years of experience in hotel investment and has been involved in many real estate transactions. Following the closing of the hotel, he conveyed appreciation to the GCD team and complimented them on their professionalism and knowledge.

Founded in 1970, Greene, Canfield, De George, LLC is the South Atlantic Regions premier real estate brokerage firm specializing in the listing, sale, financing, and evaluation of hospitality properties.

In the firms 45 year history of exceptional service to the hotel investment community, GCD LLC has successfully sold hundreds of hotels ranging from single asset investment sales to strategic portfolio dispositions and acquisitions. The professionals at GCD Hotels are highly trained specialists and hold Certified Hotel Brokers (CHB) and Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designations.

GCD Hotels are members of Hotel Brokers International (HBI)  founded in 1959 HBI and its members lead the industry in hotel real estate sales. HBI hotel brokerage specialists have successfully negotiated nearly 10,500 hotel real estate transactions and consistently account for the largest share of all select-service and economy hotel sales in the United States. The organizations database currently comprises more than 100 property listings, primarily in the upper mid-market to economy segments. This listing inventory can be found on the associations website found at www.hbihotels.com. HBI is the founder and host of the popular Hotel Investors Marketplace Webcast, HBI also developed the Certified Hotel Broker professional designation program. In addition to hospitality real estate advisory services, HBI offers affiliate membership to professionals in allied fields, including franchising, lending, appraisals and investment services.

For more information contact:

Tony De George, CHB, President

Greene, Canfield, De George, LLC

Clearwater, Florida

727.447.8383

info@GCDhotels.com

Glenda J. Webb

Managing Director

Hotel Brokers International

Phone 816.505.4315

gwebb@hbihotels.com
Category: Top Corporate Leader Award (Over 35) LEAD Award Rank: 20 Name: Kevin Saunders Title: Senior Human Resources Officer Company: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center Number of people you lead: 24 direct reports, support approximately 200 leaders. Become A Trusted Advisor To Your Employees Our editorial team interviewed Kevin Saunders from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center at the LEAD2017 Awards this past February. Here are some excerpts from the exclusive interview. What is your strongest characteristic that has made you a great leader? Integrity. If you dont have integrity, your employees and leaders will not want to follow you. I have heard some leaders say Do as I say, not as I do. This is the wrong example to set. I want them to Do as I do by setting a positive example for them to follow. How can you ask someone to be on time, if you are not on time? How can you expect someone not to leave early, if you leave early? How can you expect someone to have good time management skills, if you do not have good time management skills? I also believe that integrity leads to gaining the respect of your employees and leaders. When they see you doing the right thing, they will respect you for it. Leading with integrity also leads to transparency and you will have open and honest transactions between your employees and leaders. Thi...
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
ALTAMONT -- The 72nd Annual Central Illinois District Convention of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) was held April 29 at Immanuel Lutheran in Altamont with 254 in attendance.

Representing Immanuel Lutheran in Charleston were Julie Stranz, Emma Hackler and Joann Meyer.

The theme was "Grow and Build Together in God's Love"-Ephesians 4:16. The Rev. Mark A. Wood, director of Witness and Outreach Ministry for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, was the main speaker.

LWML CID President Sheila Lutz chaired the business meeting. A new goal of $90,000 was set for the 2017-18 Mite Box Offerings which are used to support mission grants. By vote, one of the seven selected submissions was for an Affiliate Membership to Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. That money will go to LCC to purchase and train a Comfort Dog specifically for Immanuel in Charleston.

Those attending the convention brought 100 packs of diapers, 185 containers of baby wipes and $290, which was donated to area pregnancy centers, along with 1,249 food pantry items and $290 for the Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

Next year's convention will be April 28, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran in Bloomington.
Update 12.15pm: The University of Limerick has confirm that it has invited the Department of Education and Science to undertake an independent review of a number of areas of governance at the university.

In a statement the university said it did so last week at the instruction of the new President of UL, Dr. Des Fitzgerald.

It comes after a Higher Education Authority probe into how the university handled whistleblowers claims about irregular expense claims and ensuing industrial relations problems.

The new UL President wants to ensure the full confidence of the Department of Education and other stakeholders and so took the decision to invite an independent review of issues this week, the statement said.

Questions raised at the PAC last month and by the Department itself need to be addressed and clarified so that the reputation of UL and the region it serves can move forward with the full confidence of its many stakeholders.

HEA officials told the Dail public accounts committee (PAC) in March that the report it commissioned into the processes engaged by UL to deal with the allegations cost 69,000.

Two of the whistleblowers who raised concerns about claims have been suspended since early 2015, and the third is a former employee who left UL in 2010.

Earlier:The Department of Education is to launch an independent inquiry into allegations of misconduct at the University of Limerick.

Some staff and former employees have raised concerns over irregular expense claims.

Among the irregular expense claims were mileage payments for senior staff for journeys from home to work and the delivery of a fitted kitchen for a relocating staff member.

The University previously rejected calls for an inquiry, but the college's new president - who took over this week - says It is warranted.
The "de-escalation zones" to be established in Syria will be closed to military aircraft from the US-led coalition, the Russian official who signed the new agreement said.

Alexander Lavrentyev spoke a day after he and officials from Turkey and Iran agreed to establish the zones, in the latest attempt to reduce violence in the Arab country.

Russia's military said the agreement will go into effect at midnight. It also said the deal could be extended to more areas.

Under the Russian plan, President Bashar Assad's air force would halt flights over the designated areas.

Mr Lavrentyev suggested that all military aircraft, including Russian and Turkish, also were prohibited.

The same was suggested in a UN statement, which said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "welcomes the commitments to ceasing the use of all weapons, particularly aerial assets".

Mr Lavrentyev, whose remarks were carried by Russian news agencies, said: "The operation of aviation in the de-escalation zones, especially of the forces of the international coalition, is absolutely not envisaged, either with notification or without. This question is closed."

He said the US-led coalition aircraft would still be able to operate against Islamic State in specific areas.

As the agreement was being signed in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, some members of the Syrian opposition delegation shouted in protest and walked out.

The opposition was protesting against Iran's participation at the conference and role as a guarantor of the agreement.

They accuse it of fuelling the sectarian nature of the conflict that has killed some 400,000 people and displaced half the country's population.

The Syrian government has said that although it will abide by the agreement, it would continue fighting "terrorism" wherever it exists, parlance for most armed rebel groups fighting government troops.

The Pentagon says the de-escalation agreement will not affect the US-led air campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria.

Marine Major Adrian JT Rankine-Galloway, a Pentagon spokesman, said "the coalition will continue to target Isis wherever they operate to ensure they have no sanctuary".

He noted that the US government is not party to the agreement. The United States was represented at the talks but was not part of it.

Russia's military said it wants to restore an agreement with the United States to coordinate air operations over Syria and reduce the risk of aircraft colliding.

Russia suspended the agreement a month ago following a US missile strike on a Syrian air base in response to a deadly chemical gas attack that has been blamed on the Syrian government forces.

A Syrian rebel spokesman who attended the cease fire talks in Kazakhstan says Syrian opposition fighters have "fears and doubts" over the deal.

Osama Abo Zayd, a spokesman for the Syrian military factions said it was "incomprehensible" for Iran to play the role of a guarantor of the deal.

He said the Shiite-majority country is fuelling the sectarian nature of the conflict and "Iran can't play the role of a peace maker".

He says a cease fire is unsustainable in the presence of the Iranian-backed militias in Syria, accusing them of also forcefully displacing people to replace them with a loyal population.

Mr Abo Zayd says rebel leaders are now meeting to come up with a formal stance on the Russian proposal.

Meanwhile, an international team set up to apportion blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria has started investigating the deadly April 4 sarin gas attack in Idlib province.

Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Ahmet Uzumcu said the team is already working.

The probe by experts from the Organisation and the United Nations will come under intense scrutiny amid widespread claims that Assad's regime was responsible for dozens of deaths in Khan Sheikhoun.

Assad denies responsibility.

AP
They unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion at the former Admiralty House, which is now a Benedictine priory. The nuns, who are in an enclosed order, seemed to thoroughly enjoy the spectacle of a military remembrance, which included flagbearers, a lone piper, and bugler.

The plaque was unveiled by Elizabeth Helmer, great granddaughter of Commander Joseph Taussig, who led the first six US destroyers into the port.

Gallery and video by Larry Cummins (@larrycpix)

Tim Forsyth, US deputy chief of mission at the American embassy, said that by the end of the war, 92 of his countrys navy ships had served out of Cork.

For the chief of staff of the US Naval Forces in Europe and Africa, Captain David Dwyer, the event brought back his Irish roots. He said he was very honoured to attend as his great, great, great grandfather emigrated to the US from Cork in 1847.

Elizabeth Helmer, great grand-daughter of Cmdr Joseph Taussig of the US naval forces in 1917, with some of the passport photographs of Cork women in The Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh. Pic: John Allen

I believe Im the first of his descendants to come back to Ireland, said Capt Dwyer, adding that Cobh was very popular among US navy crews for R&R breaks.

Among the gathering was David Maddox, whose great grandfather, John McCluskey, served on several US warships based in what was then known as Queenstown.

He explained that his forebear married Mary Ellen Watkins from Cloyne, Co Cork, in 1918.

The wheel has come full circle for David, as he and wife Elizabeth have retired to Castlemartyr in East Cork after spending their lives in Florida.

Its a real honour for me to be here and to honour those who served, he said.

Many Irish women ended up marrying American sailors and going to live with them across the Atlantic.

Historian Damien Shiels has complied pen pictures of 100 of them, which are being exhibited at the towns Sirius Arts Centre.

Bugler Ronald Howko from the American Legion play Taps at a ceremony to mark the arrival of American Naval forces in Cobh in 1917. Pic: John Allen

Meanwhile, a photographic exhibition curated by Cobh Tourism records the US presence at the time, and will remain open throughout the month at Cobh Railway Station.
Asia After North Korea Criticism, China Says Wants to be Good Neighbor

North Korean soldiers observe from a vessel on the Yalu river, near the Chinese border city of Dandong, on May 2, 2017. / Jacky Chan / Reuters

BEIJING, China  China said on Thursday it wants to be good neighbors with North Korea, after the isolated countrys state news agency published a rare criticism of Chinese state media commentaries calling for tougher sanctions over the Norths nuclear program.

The United States has urged China, North Koreas only major ally, to do more to rein in the Norths nuclear and missile programs, which have prompted an assertive response from the Trump administration, warning that an era of strategic patience is over.

A commentary carried by North Koreas KCNA news agency referred to recent commentaries in Chinas Peoples Daily and Global Times newspapers, which it said were widely known as media speaking for the official stand of the Chinese party and government.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Chinas position was consistent and clear.

Chinas position on developing friendly, good-neighborly relations with North Korea is also consistent and clear, Geng told reporters, in response to a question about the KCNA commentary.

China was unswervingly devoted to the denuclearization of the peninsula and maintaining peace and security and resolving the issue through talks, Geng added.

The WeChat account of the overseas edition of the Peoples Daily, in its reaction to the KCNA piece, said it was clear that North Koreas nuclear and missile activities were a threat to China.

North Korea has not left the Cold War behind and does not want to, and is enmeshed in a web of its own spinning of antagonism between its enemies and itself, it said.

China has repeatedly said that while it is happy to help arrange talks, it is ultimately up to the United States and North Korea to sort out their differences.

Diplomats say Washington and Beijing are negotiating a possible stronger UN Security Council responsesuch as new sanctionsto North Koreas repeated ballistic missile launches in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.

The KCNA commentary charged that the Chinese articles had attempted to shift the blame to Pyongyang for deteriorated relations between China and North Korea and US deployment of strategic assets to the region.

It also accused China of hyping up damage caused by North Korean nuclear tests to Chinas three northeastern provinces.

Chinese state media calls for North Korea to dismantle its nuclear program were a wanton violation of the independent and legitimate rights, dignity and supreme interests of North Korea and constituted an undisguised threat to an honest-minded neighboring country which has a long history and tradition of friendship, KCNA said.

The United States has sent a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Korean waters and a pair of strategic US bombers flew training drills with South Korea and Japan in another show of strength this week.

The reckless military provocation is pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula closer to the brink of nuclear war, KCNA said on Tuesday.

Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high for weeks, driven by concern that North Korea might conduct its sixth nuclear test, also in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.
Burma Army Condemns NLD Assumption of Military Involvement in Presidential Resignation Rumors

Win Htein (C) talks to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at his right during an NLD event in 2015. / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  Burmas military has seriously condemned the ruling partys spokesperson assumption of military involvement in spreading rumors concerning the resignation of the countrys President, saying that they will make the necessary responses.

On Thursday, the National League for Democracy (NLD) partys U Win Htein gave a media briefing on the rumors regarding President U Htin Kyaw.

Its difficult to say [who is behind the rumor] as we are flooded with information. Its hard to guess if it was [spread] by the USDP [Union Solidarity and Development Party] or some military organizations, or IT guys who hate us, U Win Htein told The Irrawaddy.

A press release by the Military Information Team on Friday afternoon stated that a groundless reply based on suspicion seriously harms the militarys dignity, regarding the NLD spokespersons comment.

The statement suggested that U Win Htein had encouraged journalists to breach the Burmese media law that dictates reporters refrain from hurtingan organizations dignity. It added that the military seriously condemned the groundless accusation. 

Such an act, the military said, could harm national unity, especially during a time when the government is committed to national reconciliation, adding, we will make the necessary responses.

U Win Htein was not immediately available for comment on Friday.

The militarys response on Friday is the militarys first open condemnation of the NLD since 2012, when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi publicly reached out to the army for purposes of national reconciliation.

Mindful of the powerful role the Tatmadaw playsfrom the 25 percent of lawmakers appointed by the military to the Parliament, to the three military-controlled ministries related to security issuethe Nobel Laureate had several meetings with military chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing in recent years, presumably to build trust.

The army condemnation comes at a time when the relations between the senior general and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appear to have stalled given the armys hardline approach concerning ethnic armed groups in the countrys peace process, an initiative now topping the State Counselors priority list.

Once internationally criticized for human rights abuses in ethnic areas and general oppression of Burmas citizens, the Tatmadaw today is more likely to respond to criticism that could harm their image. The military recently made a complaint over satire that questioned the countrys ongoing peace process.
Burma Attorney General Office Recommends Changes to Article 66(d)

An activist wearing a t-shirt that protests Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYIDAW  Burmas Attorney General Office has recommended that defendants charged under the controversial Article 66(d) of the 2013 Telecommunications Law be granted bail.

The transport and communications ministry submitted a bill amending the telecommunications law to the Union Attorney General Office, permanent secretary of the office Daw Nu Nu Yin told a government press conference on Thursday.

Daw Nu Nu Yin said the office is reviewing the bill and giving recommendations for changes, including granting bail. It will return the bill to the ministry, which will forward it to the government and Parliament, she added.

Currently, judges decided whether to grant bail on hearing the cases, as the law does not specify whether bail should be granted or not.

Article 66(d) states that anyone found guilty of extorting, coercing, restraining wrongfully, defaming, disturbing, causing undue influence or threatening any person by using any telecommunications network shall be punished with a maximum three years in prison, a fine, or both.

An increasing number of defamation charges have been brought against politicians, reporters, and social media users under Article 66(d). Activists have called for the controversial defamation law to be abolished or amended, saying that it denies citizens their freedom of speech and expression.

In many cases, the accused have been denied bail.

U Nay Pu Ba Swe, secretary of the Lower House Transport, Communications and Construction Committee, said they would coordinate with the concerned authorities to amend the law when the parliament resumes on May 18.

Third parties have filed complaints against some defendants under Article 66(d). Rangoon divisional lawmaker U Nay Phone Latt said the law should be amended so that only the defamed persons can file complaints.

According to the law, the Ministry of Transport and Communications must approve a complaint before the defendant is sued. However, U Nay Phone Latt said the ministry does not thoroughly review the complaints.

The ministry takes no responsibility at present, he said. It should assign a group of ministry officers to review the complaints and decide whether the person should be sued or not.

The telecommunications law was enacted under the military-backed government of former President U Thein Sein, ostensibly to regulate private telecom operators. It was mainly used to deter criticism of the administration.

According to an NGO researching the law, there have been 54 cases charged under Article 66 (d) under the new government up to April. Eight have been jailed, and six were denied bail and are facing trial in custody.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko
Burma Burma Says Fake News Being Spread to Destabilize NLD Government

Burma State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi smiles as she visits an IDP camp outside of Myitkyina, the capital city of Kachin state, on March 28, 2017. / Soe Zayar Tun / Reuters

RANGOON  Burmas government has warned the public that false news and rumors are being spread by unidentified people wishing to cause political instability during the tenure of leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, state-run media said on Friday.

Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi took power in April 2016 as part of a transition from military rule.

Her first year in power has been beset by bureaucratic inertia, ethnic and religious tensions, and conflicts that have displaced tens of thousands, including an estimated 75,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown late last year.

Rumors emerged in recent days that President Htin Kyawwho Daw Aung San Suu Kyi picked for head of statewould step down. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi directs the civilian administration in the specially created role of State Counselor because the constitutiondrafted by the still-powerful militarybars her from the presidency.

Police said they would prosecute those responsible for the information, which has spread quickly on online social networks that have grown in popularity amid expanding freedoms and Internet access in Burma.

False news regarding the president and the State Counselor has been spread on purpose by using accounts with false names, Daw Aung San Suu Kyis office carried in the governments Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Friday.

It named two Facebook accounts that it said had published fabricated news.

It has been found that these acts are being done intentionally to cause political instability during the tenure of the incumbent government, said the State Counselors office, adding that the perpetrators wished to create a situation among the people to live in fear and anxiety due to the spread of rumors.

Police Colonel Myo Thu Soe, national police spokesman, told Reuters an investigation was being launched and anyone intentionally spreading false news would be brought to court.

We will conduct a focused and intensive search for those responsible for this, Myo Thu Soe said.
Burma Local Arakanese Welcome U Wirathu

An official from the Burma Armys western command in Arakan State greets U Wirathu at Sittwe airport. / RMC / Facebook

RANGOON  Leader of the Ma Ba Tha ultranationalist group U Wirathu and 10 other Buddhist monks were welcomed by ethnic Arakanese villagers in conflict-torn Maungdaw Township, northern Arakan State, on Friday.

A major from the border police told The Irrawaddy that U Wirathu visited Aung Mingalar, Aung Tharyar and Aung Zeya villages, situated near the border police headquarters at Kyi Kan Pyin, which was ambushed by militants in October of last year, killing nine policemen.

Everything is fine here. But if something breaks out, we will fight against the attackers, the policeman said, on the condition of anonymity.

The other villages that the monks delegation visited included Long Don and Kyein Chaung, which are situated far from the border police headquarters and surrounded by Muslim villages.

The police official said that U Wirathu donated bags of rice, dried fish and gave sweets to children. The monk also held an informal discussion with Brig-Gen Thura San Lwin at Kyi Kan Pyin. But the police officer claimed that talks between the two men focused solely on religious matters, and rejected statements that it was a closed-door meeting.

Several vehicles belonging to the border police provided an escort for U Wirathu as he traveled to five Arakanese villages in southern Maungdaw on Friday.

The divisive monk was banned by authorities from delivering sermons for a year beginning in March, handed down for engaging in anti-Muslim hate speech in Irrawaddy Division. But it is unclear whether the prohibition includes restrictions on public speaking in general.

This trip is not a political campaign. He suggested [that the villagers] protect the Buddhist religion and he advised them to meditate, the police officer said. He also stated that he did not know when U Wirathu would return to his monastery in Mandalay.

The Irrawaddy phoned Ma Ba Tha followers who are accompanying U Wirathu on his Arakan State trip, but was not able to obtain a comment from them.

Local Buddhist Arakanese U Tun Kyaw of Alay Than Kyaw village in southern Maungdaw, told The Irrawaddy he was really glad to see U Wirathu, and that he believed the monk had learned more about the challenges of local Arakanese, referring to problems he perceived as population shrinkage.

Some Arakanese in Rangoon and abroad have said that they worry that U Wirathu is exploiting the fears of rural Arakanese for political purposes.

Yet Kyaw Myo Paing, 22, a Buddhist Arakanese man from Mawrawaddy village, disagreed with this perspective.

I respect and like U Wirathu because he always voices out about being anti-Muslim, he said, saying that people who lived away from the area did not understand the situation.

He said that since riots broke out in 2012, Buddhists and Muslims no longer trust one another.

The Irrawaddy contacted local Muslim religious leaders in the area for comment, but were unable to reach them at the time of publication.
Burma New Govt Cuts Military Personnel Appointed to Civil Service

Union Civil Service Board member U Saw Valentine. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYIDAW  The government body responsible for recruiting, appointing, and training civil servants no longer allows transfer of military officers to senior posts in the civilian administration under the new government of National League for Democracy (NLD), according to a member of the Union Civil Service Board (UCSB).

There are civil servant laws, and by-laws. We have to function according to them. There are exceptions if Union government can allow. But normally, the procedures have to be in line with laws, and by-laws, said UCSB member U Saw Valentine at a government press conference on Thursday.

Successive governments since military dictator Ne Wins coup in 1962 have transferred retired and serving military officers into management positions in various civilian departments. They are often referred to in Burmese language as Moe kya shwe ko, meaning those who come from above and enjoy privileges.

Military appointees have stifled the progress of experienced civilian staff and their mismanagement has led to the malfunction of civilian departments and the administration at large, critics have pointed out.

Though the new government no longer allows transfer of military officers to civilian departments, 22 captains and majors from the Ministry of Defense injured or disabled in the line of duty were transferred to civilian departments with the approval of the cabinet since April last year, said director-general of UCSB U Kyaw Soe.

The program was initiated under the previous government to provide a living for military officers who have become disabled as well as give them psychological encouragement, said U Kyaw Soe.

The number of army appointees was more than that in previous years, according to U Kyaw Soe.

When civilian departments need recruits or technicians, the defense ministry is the only ministry that has staff and technicians at hand, according to U Saw Valentine.

For example, if a particular ministry needs IT technicians, it has to find them in other ministries. If other ministries have no [spare] IT technicians to give, but the army has, then they are transferred, said U Saw Valentine.

Currently, ministry senior management positions such as permanent secretary, director-general, and managing director are all held by army appointees. In August 2015, medical professionals and students organized a black ribbon movement in protest against the appointment of military officers to positions within the Ministry of Health.

It is not a problem if the appointee has the capacity and deserves the post he is transferred to, said an assistant director of the Ministry of Health on the condition of anonymity.

But if [the appointee] knows nothing about it and is just sent from above, the experienced staff will not be happy. If the right men are not in the right places, it is a loss for the country, he added.
Burma No New Quarrying Licenses to Be Issued in Mon State Forest Reserve

Yarmanya Companys quarry in Paung Township, Mon State. / Phyo Thiha Cho / Myanmar Now

RANGOON  No new quarrying licenses will be issued in Mt. Kalama Forest Reserve in Mon States Paung Township, according to the Mon State divisional government, where there have been ongoing disputes between mining companies and locals.

Dr. Min Kyi Win, Mon State minister for environmental conservation and natural resources, told The Irrawaddy that the state government would also reduce the existing number of companies operating inside the forest reserve, as per the instruction of Union Minister for Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources U Ohn Win.

Locals in the area have complained of the environmental impact, stating that waste and dust from the quarries have polluted the air and water sources.

The state minister said there are currently six quarries in the forest reserve. The state government carries out regular checks on quarries in the area to ensure they are in line with rules and regulations, and punitive actions are taken if violations are found, he added.

The Mon State government imposed a total ban on Dec. 13 of last year on all quarries in the Kaylatha Nature Reserve in Bilin Township. The suspension is still in place.

It is against the laws, rules and regulations to operate quarries in places designated for environmental conservation, said lawmaker Dr. Khin Naing Oo of Bilin Township Constituency (1).

The Protection of Wildlife and Conservation of Natural Areas Law (1994) prescribes up to three years of imprisonment for causing water or air pollution or possessing or disposing of pollutants or mineral pollutants in a natural area.
Burma Shan Alliance Demands Greater Ethnic Inclusion in National Reconciliation Process

SNLD leaderand former CSSU chairKhun Htun Oo speaks at the CSSU annual meeting. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

CHIANG MAI, Thailand  Stakeholders alliance the Committee for Shan State Unity (CSSU) has said that its members are concerned that the National League for Democracy (NLD) government lacks the intention of achieving national reconciliation with the countrys ethnic minorities.

The CSSU, formed in 2013, said after its two-day annual meeting in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand that the government must be urged to to collaborate pragmatically to build mutual respect with other groups in the country, with the ultimate goal of peace.

The current government is trying to reconcile with the Tatmadaw, but has delayed in doing so with the ethnic groups, said Sai Leik, spokesperson for the CSSU.

He also said that equal treatment is the key to success concerning reconciliation.

He recalled that the United Wa State Armys peace delegation boycotted the first 21st Panglong Union Peace Conference in September 2016 due to alleged discrimination, referring to the Wa representatives walkout. He added, every group, regardless of the size of their organization, must be treated equally when we hold talks for our Union.

Over 60 representatives from Shan political parties, the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S) and the Shan State Progress Party/ Shan State Army North (SSPP/SSA-N), and community-based organizations gathered to discuss ways to build unity in multi-ethnic Shan State, where armed conflict has been ongoing. Leaders also called for an end to fighting, and to continue the drug eradication efforts.

Ying Harn Fa, a representative from the Shan community-based womens and youth groups said, We would like to urge both the government and ethnic armed groups to stop the fighting, adding that implementation must move the process forward.

She said that she felt the discussion went well, despite the short time allocated to discuss such wide-ranging issues. The annual meeting served as both a performance evaluation and an opportunity to change leadership.

The CSSU was chaired by Khun Htun Oo of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy until yesterday; now the CSSU chairman is the Gen Yawd Serk of the RCSS.

The CSSU is also pushing for ethnic-based national level dialogue to happen in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, as it has been delayed due to the Tatmadaws objection over the location.

The ethnic-based national level dialogue needs to be implemented in Shan State, and we do not accept that the RCSS can conduct it only in its controlled zone in Mong Pan, as the SSPP has not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement, Sai Leik added.

He added that SSPP could not sign the NCA because of multiple government restrictions, and said that the only way that they might become signatories is if the government agrees to the terms of the ethnic armed group coalition the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC), of which the SSPP is one of seven members.

The governments Peace Commission held talks with the UNFC last week and its chairman, Dr. Tin Myo Win, said that progress has been made.

If the government agreed to the UNFCs nine-point proposal, I believe that the SSPP would certainly be on the NCA path, Sai Leik said, adding, For that to happen, we are also coordinating.
Burma UN Survey: Over Half of Rohingya Girls who Fled Violence Became Child Brides

A Rohingya child bride who ran away from her husband carries her sister outside a shack she shares with her mother and siblings, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 9, 2017. / Lai Seng Sin / Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia  More than half of Rohingya Muslim girls who fled violence in western Burma ended up becoming child brides, according to a United Nations survey that also showed widespread domestic abuse.

Since 2012, violence and communal clashes in Burmas Arakan State have forced more than 168,000 of the ethnic Muslim Rohingya minorities to flee, including a rising number of women and girls, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

In a survey of 85 Rohingya women and girls who have fled to India, Malaysia and Indonesia, UNHCR found about 60 percent married before the age of 18. The average age that they gave birth to their first child was 18.

One in every three women and girls also said they were victims of domestic violence, according to UNHCRs 2016 Report on Mixed Movements in Southeast Asia.

We generally counsel them about their options and, if they agree, refer them to a partner or shelter that cares for vulnerable women, UNHCR Asia spokeswoman Vivian Tan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The growing number of Rohingya women and girls fleeing persecution in Buddhist-majority Burma has raised concern that they may be vulnerable to human trafficking, sexual exploitation and child marriage, activists say.

UNHCR said the interviews with the 85 women in its latest report were to assess continuing vulnerabilities they face.

There are about 8,000 Rohingya women and girls aged between 14 and 34 in India, Indonesia and Malaysiathe countries where the study was carried out late last year.

The findings showed while the majority of the Rohingya girls in India said they chose their husbands, 76 percent in Malaysia said their marriage was arranged by families or brokers, giving rise to fears of human trafficking.

Rights groups said they have seen an increase in the number of child brides among Rohingya refugees as violence in Arakan worsened, with human traffickers selling girls to Rohingya men as brides.

As Rohingya refugees are denied formal employment in many of the host countries, only 7 percent of the women polled said they were earning an income, even though two-thirds said they desired their own income.

The plight of the Rohingya hit international headlines again in recent months after Burma security forces were accused of carrying out mass killings and gang rapes during their campaign against Rohingya insurgents. The military has denied the accusations.
Burma USDP Wont Punish Ex-Chief Minister Embroiled in Embezzlement Scandal

U Phone Maw Shwe in 2015. / Magwe News

RANGOON  The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will not take action against its former chief minister for Magwe Division, U Phone Maw Shwe, as the politician is now returning some of more than 3 billion kyats that went missing from government development funds.

U Phone Maw Shwe returned 500 million kyats to Magwe Division government on Friday after writing to the divisional government that he would return all the money by the end of July.

The Union government in early April ordered U Phone Maw Shwe to return 1.7 billion kyats, four cars, a digger, and two boats, all of which he donated to the Union Solidarity and Development party (USDP) during his time as chief minister.

The government also instructed him to return more than 1.57 billion kyats that he transferred to Shwe Thuka Microcredit Association. He returned the 500 million kyats through the associations chairman, U Kyi Tun.

Lower House lawmaker U Tun Tun of Magwes Pwintbyu Township asked Parliament in May 2016 about the alleged embezzlement of regional development funds collected as taxation from small-scale oil producers in Magwe Division by the previous divisional government.

The Bureau of Special Investigations under the Ministry of Home Affairs launched an investigation and found that missing funds amounted to 7.5 billion kyats, and 1.7 billion kyats was spent on then-ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

USDP spokesperson Dr Nandar Hla Myint said the party would not discipline the ex-chief minister.

He has now taken responsibility for things that happened while he was the chief minister, U Nandar Hla Myint said. The central executive committee (CEC) of the party has nothing to do with it. But if he was punished for a certain violation of the law, we would probably take action against him, according to party rules and regulations.

U Phone Maw Shwe was also chairman of Magwe Divisions USDP chapter during his time as chief minister. He is currently a member of the central consultative committee.

U Kyi Tun paid the money into Myanmar Economic Bank today. And the divisional government has received it. We will wait for the remaining money, as he said he would return the rest later on, Magwe division government spokesperson U Nay Myo Kyaw told The Irrawaddy.

The ex-chief minister also returned the cars, digger and boats to the divisional government at the end of April.

Director-General of Burmas State Counselor Office U Zaw Htay said that the government would not take punitive actions against U Phone Maw Shwe for the embezzlement, saying that its policy has no retrospection.

After the embezzlement was brought under the spotlight, USDP chairman U Than Htay said that his party was politically targeted.

U Nay Myo Kyaw denied this, however, adding, We were looking for justice. We did not target an individual or a party out of hatred. We just wanted to get back the public funds for the people.
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TeleSur |  

Signatories to the agreement say that there should be a cessation of hostilities in safe zones designated by the three powers by Friday.

Russia, Turkey and Iran on Thursday signed a memorandum on creating safe zones in Syria, while a delegation of the armed Syrian opposition walked out and shouted angrily after a new round of peace talks held in the Kazakh capital Astana.

While Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, and Iran, which backs Syrian President Bashar Assad, agreed earlier in the day to Russias proposal for "de-escalation zones" in Syria, the U.S. responded with cautious skepticism.

Signatories to the agreement say that there should be a cessation of hostilities in safe zones designated by the major powers by Friday. The Russian proposal seeks to "put an immediate end to the violence" in the war-torn nation and "provide the conditions for the safe (and) voluntary return of refugees, AFP reported.

Opposition elements called the agreement a threat to the countrys territorial integrity, rejecting Irans role as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan.

"We want Syria to maintain its integrity," opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid said the memorandum was signed.

"We are against the division of Syria. As for the agreements, we are not a party to that agreement and of course we will never be in favor (of it) as long as Iran is called a guarantor state," Abu Zaid added, calling on Tehran to withdraw all armed personnel and affiliates from third nations aligned with Iran.

The U.S. Department of State echoed the sentiment, saying in a statement that it was skeptical of Irans involvement as a guarantor of the accord and Damascus track record on previous agreements.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that he was encouraged by the proposal but cautioned it must "actually improve the lives of Syrians."

Saudi Arabias foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said while on a visit to Washington, D.C., that the kingdom supported the creation of safe zones but he wanted to see more details.

The opposition representative also cast aspersion on Russian promises, citing a huge gap between its pledges and its practices, pointing to a truce deal announced by Russia in December that he claimed was largely ignored on the ground.

"Russia was not able to or does not want to implement the pledges it makes, and this is a fundamental problem."

Russia, for its part, vowed to ensure that warplanes would not be used in the Syrian safe zones in Syria, according to Russian delegation head Alexander Lavrentyev.

"The Syrian Foreign Ministry has stated that the leadership of that country welcomes the agreements on creating de-escalation zones and ceases its aviation flights over them," the diplomat said, according to Russian news agency TASS.

"As for the flights by aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Force, we will naturally cease combat operations on this territory but only if no efforts are taken from the territory of de-escalation zones to destabilize the situation on the countrys other territories," Lavrentyev added.

The next meeting in Astana will take place in mid-July.

Via TeleSur

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Related video added by Juan Cole:

RonPaulLibertyReport: Syria Safe Zones Declared: Will The Killing Finally End?
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 5, 2017) - Trevali Mining Corporation ("Trevali" or the "Company") (TSX:TV)(LMA:TV)(OTCQX:TREVF)(FRANKFURT:4TI) announces initial results from its drill program on the Heath Steele project located adjacent to the Company's Stratmat zinc deposit in the Bathurst Mining Camp of northeastern New Brunswick. The drill program is testing the E-Zone at Heath Steele, an advanced-stage, near-surface target with historic, non-National Instrument 43-101-compliant resources. Trevali has completed an initial data validation drill program testing this target, and additional results will be reported as they become available.

Heath Steele

As part of the recently announced definitive agreement to acquire a portfolio of zinc assets from Glencore PLC, Trevali has commenced exploration on the Heath Steele claim group (Figure 1). Mining operations at Heath Steele were carried out by a variety of companies (including Noranda) discontinuously between 1957 and 1999. Over Heath Steele's long mine life, zinc, lead, copper, silver and gold were extracted from several zones on the property (see Table 1 and Figure 1). Multiple exploration campaigns over the Heath Steele property identified and tested a number of targets. One of the more advanced targets from this work is the E-Zone.

Mined Zone Million

Tonnes Zn

(%) Pb

(%) Cu

(%) Ag

(g/t) Boundary Zone and N-5 1.137 8.11 2.98 0.35 44.0 Heath Steele ACD Zone 2.472 7.38 1.73 0.73 76.7 Heath Steele B Zone 20.723 4.79 1.75 0.98 65.5 Combined Total: 24.332 5.21 1.81 0.93 65.6 Table 1: Historic mine production from various zones on the Heath Steele property, from Goodfellow, 2007

Figure 1: Location map of the Heath Steele and Stratmat claim groups showing location of historic mine production, defined resources and known prospects



E-Zone

The E-Zone has sulphide mineralization exposed at surface and has been previously tested and defined by more than 150 historic drill holes (Figure 2). Based on the available historic drill hole data, E-Zone appears to be comprised of two stacked sulphide lenses each approximately 150 metres in length and with thicknesses ranging from 5-30 metres (Figures 3 and 4). The lenses merge towards surface and have a vertical continuity of approximately 200 metres. Highlights from some of the historic drilling at the E-Zone are presented in Table 2.

Hole ID From - To

(metres) Core Length

Interval (metres) Zn

(%) Pb

(%) Cu

(%) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) S811 75.59 - 122.83 47.24 3.91 2.5 1.25 S814 47.24 - 66.14 18.9 4.67 3.46 2.51 S828 50.90 - 61.87 10.97 6.18 2.25 0.11 No data S846 94.79 - 134.11 39.32 3.7 2.59 1.3 S846 incl. 119.48 - 134.11 14.63 4.94 4.23 1.12 S910 107.66 - 116.19 8.54 6.87 3.62 1.97 Table 2: Length-weighted composite intervals of select historic drilling at the E-Zone. Analytical method unknown, Ag and Au values not reported for these holes. Un-validated historic assay results, should be considered as reference only, quality assurance/quality control procedures and processes have not been audited by Trevali. True thickness is estimated to be approx. 75-90% of the reported interval.

2017 Drill Program

In March 2017, Trevali commenced an initial 7-hole, 1,200-metre drill program to validate historic data and to collect material for metallurgical test work (Figure 4). The first drill hole, HS17-001 successfully intersected 56.2 metres of sulphide mineralization grading at 3.84% Zn, 1.51% Pb, 2.15% Cu, 64.3 g/t Ag and 1.01 g/t Au, within which significantly higher grade intervals occur (see Table 3). Interestingly elevated cobalt values were also encountered within the mineralization. Several samples had Co values of 0.4% (4,000 ppm, the upper detection limit) and the average Co grade over the entire 56.2-metre interval was 0.15% (1,450 ppm). Additional drill results will be released as they become available. Metallurgical testing will commence upon completion of program and receipt of all assay results.

Hole ID From - To

(metres) Core Length

Interval (metres) Zn

(%) Pb

(%) Cu

(%) Ag

(g/t) Au

(g/t) 76.13 - 132.33 56.2 3.84 1.51 2.15 64.3 1.01 94.15 - 117.40 23.25 5.82 2.41 3.18 91.95 1.71 HS17-001 105.15 - 132.33 27.18 5.83 2.47 1.07 78.92 0.94 105.15 - 117.40 12.25 8.48 3.72 1.47 111.53 1.68 128.30 - 132.33 4.03 7.94 3.33 0.19 82.14 0.33 Table 3: Length and SG weighted composite intervals. True thickness is estimated to be approx. 75-90% of the reported interval.

Additional exploration work is planned for the Heath Steele claim group in 2017 including a detailed review of the available historic data. Results from this data review will prioritize exploration efforts with the goal of quickly adding mineable resources to Trevali's growing operations in the Bathurst Mining Camp of New Brunswick.

Figure 2: Map of the Heath Steele E-Zone showing historic drill hole locations (yellow) and recent drilling, assays pending



Figure 3: Various plan and 3-D section views of the Heath Steele drill hole data and the E-Zone



Figure 4: Cross section through the Heath Steele E-Zone, looking WNW



Q1-2017 Financial Results and Conference Call

Trevali will release financial results for its first quarter period ending March 31, 2017, on May 15, 2017 after the close of the trading day in Toronto. The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 16th, 2017, to review the financial results. Conference call dial-in details and audio webcast link will be provided in the financial results news release.

Qualified Person and Quality Control/Quality Assurance

EurGeol Dr. Mark D. Cruise, Trevali's President and CEO and Daniel Marinov, P.Geo, Trevali's VP Exploration, are qualified persons as defined by NI 43-101, have supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Marinov is responsible for all aspects of the work, including the quality control/quality assurance programs. Dr. Cruise is not independent of the Company, as he is an officer, director and shareholder. Mr. Marinov is not independent of the Company as he is an officer and shareholder. On-site personnel at the project rigorously collect and track samples which are then security sealed and shipped to Bureau Veritas Laboratories preparation facility in Timmins, Ontario, then the pulp samples are shipped to Vancouver, BC for assay. Zinc, lead, copper gold and silver, assays were obtained by four acid Aqua-Regia dissolution followed by Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) measurements. Values of Zinc, lead and copper over 10% are assayed by volumetric method. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples. Quality control is further assured by the use of international and in-house standards. Blind certified reference material is inserted at regular intervals into the sample sequence by Trevali personnel in order to independently assess analytical accuracy. Bureau Veritas' quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025: 1999. Finally, representative blind duplicate samples are routinely forwarded to an ISO compliant third party laboratory for external quality control.

ABOUT TREVALI MINING CORPORATION

Trevali is a zinc-focused, base metals mining company with two commercially producing operations.

The Company is actively producing zinc and lead-silver concentrates from its 2,000-tonne-per-day Santander mine in Peru and its 3,000-tonne-per-day Caribou mine in the Bathurst Mining Camp of northern New Brunswick. Trevali also owns the Halfmile and Stratmat base metal deposits, located in New Brunswick, that are currently undergoing a Preliminary Economic Assessment reviewing their potential development. Additionally, the Company has entered into a definitive agreement with Glencore PLC to acquire a portfolio of zinc assets from Glencore, including an 80% interest in the Rosh Pinah mine in Namibia, a 90% interest in the Perkoa mine in Burkina Faso, an effective 39% interest in the Gergarub project in Namibia, an option to acquire 100% interest in the Heath Steele property in Canada and certain related exploration properties and assets.

The common shares of Trevali are listed on the TSX (symbol TV), the OTCQX (symbol TREVF), the Lima Stock Exchange (symbol TV), and the Frankfurt Exchange (symbol 4TI). For further details on Trevali, readers are referred to the Company's website (www.trevali.com) and to Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 05, 2017) - Sarama Resources Ltd. (the "Company" or "Sarama") advises that Savary Gold Corp. ("Savary"), the operator of the Karankasso Project Joint Venture4 between Sarama and Savary, provided an update on May 4, 2017 of the balance of drill results from the Q1, 2017 drill programs. The drilling was undertaken across multiple target zones within the Karankasso Project area.

Highlights

24 holes totalling approximately 2,380 metres of reverse-circulation ("RC") drilling were completed.

Selected downhole intersections highlighted by Savary include:

S-Nosa Zone HE-RC-17-084 15m @ 1.34 g/t Au from 70m including 7m @ 2.43 g/t Au from 80m HE-RC-17-085 4m @ 13.05 g/t Au from 95m HE-RC-17-089 3m @ 4.32 g/t Au from 81m Kueredougou West Trend Zone HE-RC-17-02 7m @ 2.96 g/t Au from 20m including 3m @ 6.45 g/t Au from 21m

Approximately 125 RC and RAB drill holes totalling up to 8,000m are planned to test select gold-in-auger anomalies and potential resource extensions with drilling anticipated to commence in May 2017.

Note: mineralisation true widths are estimated at 65-80% of listed downhole intersection lengths

Further details of these drill results, including sampling and QA/QC procedures, are contained in Savary's news release dated May 4, 2017. Sarama has not specifically verified Savary's data using a Qualified Person as Savary is the operator of the Karankasso Project Joint Venture and Sarama is relying on their Qualified Person's assurance that procedures have been followed and data being provided is valid.

Sarama's President and CEO, Andrew Dinning, commented:

"Sarama has interests in a suite of projects in the southern part of the Hounde Belt which between them have the potential to form the basis of a future mine development. This year, over C$8M of exploration is budgeted across these projects and Sarama is very optimistic that with this exploration plus the addition of more properties, the company's share of regional resources will grow and further underwrite future development.

At the Karankasso Project we are pleased with the steady progress and work being undertaken and are looking forward to the recommencement of drilling."

ABOUT SARAMA RESOURCES LTD

Sarama Resources Ltd (TSX VENTURE: SWA) is a West African focused gold explorer with substantial landholdings in Burkina Faso. Sarama is focused on consolidating under-explored landholdings in Burkina Faso and other established mining jurisdictions.

Sarama's flagship properties are situated within the Company's South Hounde Project area in south-west Burkina Faso. Located within the prolific Hounde Greenstone Belt, Sarama's exploration programs have built on significant early success to deliver an inferred mineral resource estimate of 2.1 Moz gold1. Acacia Mining plc is earning up to a 70% interest in the South Hounde Project by satisfying certain conditions, including funding earn-in expenditures of up to US$14 million, over a 4-year earn-in period and may acquire an additional 5% interest, for an aggregate 75% interest in the Project, upon declaration of a minimum mineral reserve of 1.6 million ounces of gold.

Sarama holds a 31% participating interest in the Karankasso Project Joint Venture ("JV") which is situated adjacent to the Company's South Hounde Project in Burkina Faso and is a JV between Sarama and Savary Gold Corp. ("Savary"). Savary is the operator of the JV and in October 2015, declared a maiden inferred mineral resource estimate of 671,000 ounces of contained gold2 at the Karankasso Project JV.

Sarama has also agreed to acquire a 100% interest in the Bondi Deposit from Orezone Gold Corporation (refer news release May 24, 2016). Bondi has a historical estimate of mineral resources of 0.3Moz Au (measured and indicated) and 0.1Moz Au (inferred)3.

Together, the South Hounde Project, Bondi Deposit and the Karankasso Project form a cluster of advanced gold deposits, within trucking distance of one another, which potentially offers a development option for a multi-source fed central processing facility in the southern Hounde Belt region of Burkina Faso.

Incorporated in 2010, the Company's Board and management team have a proven track record in Africa and a strong history in the discovery and development of large-scale gold deposits. Sarama is well positioned to build on its current success with a sound exploration strategy across its property portfolio.

South Hounde Project - 43.0 Mt @ 1.5 g/t Au (reported above cut-off grades ranging 0.3-2.2 g/t Au, reflecting the mining methods and processing flowsheets assumed to assess the likelihood of the inferred mineral resources having reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction). The effective date of the Company's inferred mineral resource estimate is February 4, 2016. For further information regarding the mineral resource estimate please refer to the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Independent Technical Report South Hounde Project Update, Bougouriba and Ioba Provinces, Burkina Faso", dated March 31, 2016. The technical report is available under Sarama Resources Ltd.'s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Karankasso Project - 9.2 Mt @ 2.3 g/t Au (at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off). The effective date of the Karankasso Project JV mineral resource estimate is October 7, 2015. For further information regarding the mineral resource estimate please refer to the technical report titled "Technical Report and Resource Estimate on the Karankasso Project, Burkina Faso", dated October 7, 2015. The technical report is available under Savary Gold Corp's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Sarama has not independently verified Savary's mineral resource estimate and takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Bondi Deposit - 4.1Mt @ 2.1g/t Au for 282,000 oz Au (measured and indicated) and 2.5Mt @ 1.8g/t Au for 149,700 oz Au (inferred), reported at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off.

i. The historical estimate of the Bondi Deposit reflects a mineral resource estimate compiled by Orezone Gold Corporation ("Orezone") which has an effective date of February 20, 2009. The historical estimate is contained in a technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource of the Bondigui Gold Project", dated date of February 20, 2009 (the "Bondi Technical Report") and is available under the profile of Orezone on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. ii. Sarama believes that the historical estimate is relevant to investors' understanding of the property, as it reflects the most recent technical work undertaken in respect of the Bondi Deposit. iii. The historical estimate was informed by 886 drillholes, assayed for gold by cyanidation methods, were used to interpret mineralised envelopes and geological zones over the area of the historical estimate. Gold grade interpolation was undertaken using ID methodology based on input parameters derived from geostatistical and geological analyses assessments. Field measurements and geological logging of drillholes were used to determine weathering boundaries and bulk densities for modelled blocks. iv. The historical estimate uses the mineral resource reporting categories required under National Instrument 43-101. v. No more recent estimates of the mineral resource or other data are available. vi. Sarama is currently undertaking the necessary verification work in the field and on the desktop that may support the future reclassification of the historical estimate to a mineral resource. vii. A qualified person engaged by Sarama has not undertaken sufficient work to verify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and Sarama is therefore not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.
The United States and Southeast Asian nations agreed Thursday on the need for full implementation of U.N. Security Council sanctions on North Korea, the State Department said.

The agreement was reached when Secretary of State Tillerson held a special meeting in Washington with his counterparts from the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement.

"Secretary Tillerson and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers discussed the tensions on the Korean Peninsula caused by the DPRK's nuclear tests and missile launches, and the grave threat posed to regional stability. They recognized the need for full implementation of all relevant UN Security Council resolutions," she said.












Moon Jae-in, presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, makes a thums-up gesture while delivering a campaign speech in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. / Yonhap





By Kim Hyo-jin



Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Moon Jae-in has unveiled 10 campaign pledges based on 125,000 ideas and policy suggestions his team gathered through social media in recent weeks.

Moon said he will implement them promptly if elected.

"Many ideas enlightened me," he said during a press conference Friday. "I was reminded again the people are the smartest and answers always lie in the people. We narrowed them down to 10 based on popular suggestions about children, education, women, housing and the environment. I will carry them out swiftly if elected."

The pledges include government support for hospitalized children aged 15 and under and free treatment for premature babies until they are six.

For parents of premature babies, he said the government would provide 80 percent of their monthly salaries during their one-year childcare leave.

To better respond to child abuse, Moon promised to set up a policy control tower and a network involving educational offices, schools, police and nurseries. More money would be earmarked for child protection.

Moon also backed the people's proposal for school uniforms. He plans to adopt standardized yet multiple designs for middle and high school uniforms and have them mass produced to reduce the cost burden on families.












By Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu





The Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) organized a media forum, the World Journalists Conference, to promote world peace in early April and provided good opportunities to show Korea's economic and urban progress to the world journalists.



The government establishes new cities in empty areas of the country and gets benefits economically as well as by inviting foreign investors. So, the Korean government is following the concept of smart cities. A smart city is an urban development concept to integrate information and communication technology in a secure fashion to manage the assets of the city. So South Korea is developing urban services with this concept. For that, we can give three major examples _ Sejong, Incheon and Gwangmyeong. These cities are close to the capital, Seoul. Their importance arises around economic and technologic benefits. JAK organized fruitful trips to Incheon and Gwangmyeong.



I previously visited Sejong with Asia Journalist Association (AJA) members and would like to start with this. Sejong is South Korea's de facto administrative capital city. It is located between three major cities of Daejeon, Cheonan and Cheongju. The capital Seoul is in a cleft stick because of its large population. In short, this administrative city was established to reduce the influence and dominance of Seoul on governance and economics. By 2012, the city was under construction and now it is ready to host new residents, aiming for a population of 200.000 people. The government plans to move more than 36 government ministries and agencies to this city. Sejong is also connected to major railroads and Cheongju International Airport.



Another example is Incheon. Today 3 million people are living in Incheon, which uses its natural advantages as an important port and forming the country's second largest metropolitan area. The Incheon Free Economic Zone played a key role in the development of Incheon, which was designated as Korea's first free economic zone. It made Korea an economic attraction in the Far East. Incheon stands as an important element of the industrialization of the country. It hosts giant companies and serves as an ideal city for living in. Gwangmyeong is a city in Gyeonggi Province. It is home to the world's largest IKEA store at 59,000 square meters and a large Costco complex. Mayor Yang Ki-dae hosted the world journalists and showed the hospitality of Korean culture. He is a successful mayor and realized big achievements. Along with his successes in urban planning, transportation stands as an important point.



He asked, "Have you ever heard about the Eurasian Transcontinental Railroad?" Actually, I didn't expect that he would share his very interesting dream for the future. Currently, South Korea is trying to stabilize regional peace and we are aware of the nuclear threat from the North. But he is positively thinking and planning for a peaceful future for the region. He talked about his dream: "My dream starts with KTX Gwangmyeong Station which I hope to be the departure station for the Eurasian Transcontinental Railroad, that will go through North Korea, China, and Russia and reach as far as Siberia and Europe. And these, in turn, would create a much higher possibility for North Korea to open its way for the railroad." I should say that I haven't seen this kind of idealist politician in recent years. His motivation source is coming from the belief in global peace. He also said: "You need to follow with passion to achieve something and follow it with all of your heart.



This spirit that emphasized the importance of the scene of real life, will be a driving force for me to carry on and achieve our ambitious but worthy dream of the Eurasia Transcontinental Railroad, which might sound a bit too ambitious at first. South Korean smart cities are governed by smart people. These people will make the world a better place. I totally support these significant aims and appreciate Yang and others.







Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu is a Turkish journalist in Seoul. Write to oztarsu@gmail.com.
(Churchill Downs Press Release)

John Oxleys Classic Empire, the unanimous Eclipse Award selection as champion 2-year-old of 2016 and a three-time Grade I winner, has been established as the 4-1 morning-line favorite in a field of 20 3-year-olds and two also-eligibles entered for Saturdays 143rd running of the $2,395,800 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I).

If all 20 horses start, the winners share will be $1,635,800.

The 1 -mile classic that starts the Triple Crown series serves as the centerpiece of Saturdays 14-race program and will go as the 12th race with a6:46 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time. First post time Saturday is 10:30 a.m.

Trained by Mark Casse, Classic Empire will be attempting to give Oxley a second Kentucky Derby victory to join 2001 winner Monarchos.

A two-time winner at Churchill Downs that includes a debut victory last year during Derby Week, Classic Empire won the Arkansas Derby (GI) in his most recent start. He closed out 2016 with victories in the Breeders Futurity (GI) at Keeneland and the Breeders Cup Juvenile (GI) at Santa Anita.

Julien Leparoux, who has been aboard Classic Empire for all five of his victories, has the mount Saturday as he seeks a first Kentucky Derby victory and what would be a first for Casse. Classic Empire will break from post position 14.

Casse also will send out Conrad Farms State of Honor. The Florida Derby (GI) runner-up, 30-1 on the morning line, will be ridden for the first time by Jose Lezcano and break from post position six.

Co-second choices on the line at 5-1 are the Brooklyn Boyz Stablesand Teresa Viola Racing Stables Always Dreaming and WhithamThoroughbreds McCraken.

A winner of his past three starts including a five-length victory in the Florida Derby, Always Dreaming is trained by Todd Pletcher and will be ridden by John Velazquez, both of whom are seeking their second victory in the Run for the Roses. Super Saver won the 2010 Derby for Pletcher and Velazquez rode Animal Kingdom to the 2011 Derby win. Always Dreaming will break from post position five.

Pletcher will be sending out two other starters: Bridlewood Farm,Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert LaPentas Tapwrit andCalumet Farms Patch. Al Shaqab Racing and WinStar Farms Master Plan is one of the also-eligibles.

Winner of his first four starts with three coming at Churchill Downs, McCraken is trained by Ian Wilkes. Wilkes, who was the exercise rider for 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled and assistant to trainer Carl Nafzger in 2007 when Street Sense won the Derby, is seeking his first Kentucky Derby victory.

Brian Hernandez Jr. will be riding in his second Derby and break McCraken out of post position 15.

Isabella de Tomasos Irish War Cry is the fourth choice on the morning line at 6-1.

Daylight winner of the Holy Bull (GII) and Wood Memorial (GII), Irish War Cry will attempt to give trainer Graham Motion a second Kentucky Derby victory to place alongside Animal Kingdom. Rajiv Maragh has the mount on Irish War Cry, who will exit post position 17.

In addition to Classic Empire and Always Dreaming, two other Derby entrants are Grade I winners.

Jerry and Ann Moss Gormley, winner of the Santa Anita Derby (GI) and FrontRunner (GI), is trained by John Shirreffs. The owner-trainer combo won the 2005 Derby with Giacomo.

Three-time Derby-winning rider and newly elected Hall of FamerVictor Espinoza will ride Gormley and attempt to join Bill Shoemaker as a four-time race winner, second only to the five wins by Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack.

Listed at 15-1 on the morning line, Gormley will break from post position 18.

The Mosses also entered by Royal Mo, who is the first also-eligible. Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning rider Gary Stevens has the mount if Royal Mo gets in the race.

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrences Practical Joke, winner of the Hopeful (GI) and Champagne (GI) last year, is trained by Chad Brown and will be ridden by Joel Rosario, who rode Orb to victory in 2013. Listed at 20-1 on the morning line, Practical Joke will break from post position 19.

Also seeking to build on their Derby resumes will be the human connections of Blue Grass Stakes (GII) winner Irap.

Reddam Racing, trainer Doug ONeill and jockey Mario Gutierrezwill be shooting for their third Derby victory and a consecutive score on the heels of Nyquist in 2016. The team first hit Derby gold in 2012 with Ill Have Another.

Should Irap, who broke his maiden in the Blue Grass in his most recent start, prevail, Reddam Racing would join three other owners to post victories in back-to-back years. The feat has been accomplished four times, most recently in 1972-73 by Meadow Stable with Riva Ridge andSecretariat.

Six trainers have won the Derby in consecutive years, most recently accomplished by Bob Baffert in 1997-98 with Silver Charm and Real Quiet.

Gutierrez could become the seventh rider to win the Derby in back-to-back years with the most recent being Espinoza (2014-15).

Irap, listed at 20-1 on the morning line, will break from post position nine.

Calumet Farm, which has won a record eight Kentucky Derbys, is represented by three runners in Hence, trained by Steve Asmussen,Sonneteer, trained by Keith Desormeaux and Patch.

Adding a touch of foreign intrigue to Derby 143 is Thunder Snow(IRE).

Winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas (Group III) and the UAE Derby (Group II) in his lone starts on dirt, Thunder Snow will represent Godolphin Racings 10th Kentucky Derby starter. Listed at 20-1 on the morning line, Thunder Snow is trained by Saeed bin Suroor and will be ridden by Christophe Soumillon, breaking from post position two.

The field for the Kentucky Derby with jockey and morning-line odds from the rail out, is: Lookin At Lee (Corey Lanerie, 30-1), Thunder Snow(IRE) (Christophe Soumillon, 20-1), Fast and Accurate (Channing Hill, 50-1), Untrapped (Ricardo Santana Jr., 30-1), Always Dreaming (Velazquez, 5-1), State of Honor (Jose Lezcano, 30-1), Girvin (Mike Smith, 15-1),Hence (Florent Geroux, 15-1), Irap (Gutierrez, 20-1), Gunnevera (Javier Castellano, 15-1), Battle of Midway (Flavien Prat, 30-1), Sonneteer (Kent Desormeaux, 50-1), J Boys Echo (Luis Saez, 20-1), Classic Empire(Leparoux, 4-1), McCraken (Hernandez Jr., 5-1), Tapwrit (Jose Ortiz, 20-1),Irish War Cry (Maragh, 6-1), Gormley (Espinoza, 15-1), Practical Joke(Rosario, 20-1) and Patch (Tyler Gaffalione, 30-1). Also-eligibles: Royal Mo(Stevens, 20-1) and Master Plan (Velazquez, 50-1). All starters will carry 126 pounds.
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The University of Minnesota and their industry sponsors held the 16th Design of Medical Devices Conference, touted by the organizers as the worlds largest premiere medical devices conference. Hundreds of biomedical engineers, students, physicians, and industry representatives traveled from all over the world to gather in a truly unique atmosphere. The state of Minnesota has a rich history in medical innovation. Clinicians at the University of Minnesota performed the first successful open-heart operation and implanted the first small, portable, battery-powered pacemaker. In fact, a great deal of medical device technologies, particularly implantable devices, originated in this state. Today, Minnesota has around 1,000 health technology companies and is the home base for Mayo Clinic, the top-ranked hospital in the United States. It should come as no surprise that Minnesota has been dubbed the Medical Alley, with the Medical Alley Association promoting Minnesota as the global epicenter of health innovation and care.

The Design of Medical Devices Conference covered a vast array of topics related to medical innovation, such as the regulatory and financial aspects of medical innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization. The conference included numerous keynote speakers, scientific and technical presentations, and hundreds of scientific posters, all aiming to spark attendees imaginations on where the future of healthcare is heading.

An optional, all-day preconference workshop on How to Become a Medical Innovator was held on April 10th with the Conference officially beginning the following day. Here are some highlights from the Conference:

Day 1

The first day of the Conference kicked off with a welcome address by Samuel Mukasa, Dean of the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering. Mukasa emphasized the importance of collaboration between the private sector and academic centers to support and propel medical innovation forward. Next, Angela Sykes from the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) presented on intellectual property, a very critical subject for anyone working in the space of medical innovation. Sykes provided an overview of the USPTO and patenting prosecution. She highlighted the major change that occurred with the 2013 America Invents Act (AIA), where an intellectual property patent is now reserved to the first-to-file as opposed to the first-to-invent. This makes it extremely important for innovators to file a provisional application as soon as possible and before any public disclosure. To advance patent prosecution and bridge the gap between innovators and patent examiners, Sykes recommends sit-down meetings between both parties and for both parties to engage in multiple programs like the Patent Examiner Technical training Program (PETTP), PETTP Technology Fairs, and Site Experience Education Program.

Next on the Conference schedule was a keynote luncheon presentation by Dr. Michelle McMurry from Johnson & Johnson. Dr. McMurry tied the new global political climate and the rise of nationalism around the world to medical innovation. She explained how the worlds political climate might create obstacles for innovators and medical companies. Dr. McMurry discussed a new global trend in which many countries are installing their own approval bodies as well as demanding new devices be tested in their own countries and on their own population before entering the market. When appended to the increased demand for clinical evidence, it becomes clear that the medical device industry cannot meet these demands by using traditional clinical study methods. Rather, Dr. McMurry believes, patients, innovators and medical companies should collaborate with regulatory bodies and computer engineers to utilize computer modeling and simulations to bring innovative medical solutions to patients in a faster, safer, and more cost effective manner.

That afternoon six innovators participated in the Emerging Medical Innovation Valuation Competition. The innovators presented their new medical devices to a panel of judges and received immediate feedback. Summaries of the top three devices are included below:

1st Place : RAS-Q is a portable heart-lung support device that utilizes an oxygenator, with elasticity similar to a normal lung and with relatively low resistance, which could serve as a passive lung substitute without the need for an active blood pump. 2nd Place: Traceless Biopsy is a low-cost device that minimizes complications, such as bleeding and tumor seeding, that occur with percutaneous biopsies. 3rd Place: Eucontra is a resorbable contraceptive arm implant made from a biodegradable material that differs from current contraceptive implants in that it does not need to be removed when the implants effective period is over.

The first day closed with the Student Design Showcase, during which young innovators shared their innovative projects and ideas.

Day 2

The first session was a crowd favorite that involved an interesting, fast-paced competition called Three-in-Five. Each of the ten competitors was given five minutes to pitch his/her new medical device idea in three slides. All 10 competitors demonstrated high-energy and passion for their devices, but unfortunately, not everyone could be a winner. Here are the top three devices:

1st Place: An Active Limb Warming Device to Treat Insomnia: The idea for this device is based on research that links distal vasodilation to sleep induction. When a person goes to sleep, his/her core body temperature drops while the distal skin temperature increases. By using an active warming device to heat the distal limbs and promote vasodilation, the device creates enough of a heat gradient between the distal limbs and core body temperature to help the user fall asleep more quickly. 2nd Place: Pop-Up-Inspired Design of a Septal Anchor for Ventricular Assist Device: This is the first proposed medical device implant application using pop-up fabrication methods. The device opens automatically once it is out of the delivery sheet and is the first of its kind for ventricular assist devices. 3rd Place (Tie): Active Compression Garments for Orthostatic Intolerance:

This new device uses shape memory alloy (SMA) wire formed into springs that are engineered to contract when heated. The SMAs are embedded in the garment, allowing for dynamic control over compression in a low profile and mobile form factor for people with venous insufficiency. 3rd Place (Tie): MRI- Compatible Robot for Intracerebral Hemorrhage Removal:

A robot arm uses a small entry port in the cranium and is controlled by a physician to evacuate intracerebaral hematoma while the patient is inside an MRI machine.

3D printing has gained a lot of attention in the medical field over the last few years and its growing popularity was apparent at the Design of Medical Devices Conference. Walking past the different booths in the Sponsor Exhibit Showcase, it was hard to miss the diverse shapes and sizes of the many 3D printers. Several presenters see a big future for 3D printers in the medical field, suggesting many hospitals will likely begin installing these tools in-house to supply personalized, on-demand medical devices.

Several companies have already managed to transition the role of 3D printing in medicine from theory to practice. OsteoFab a Connecticut-based company uses 3D printing and a material called PEKK (polyetherketoneketone) to build cranial, facial, and vertebral body replacement implants. Metamason, a California-based company, utilizes 3D printing to customize CPAP masks, which are used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. This field seems to be set to expand exponentially over the next few years.

Over lunch attendees enjoyed a long-awaited presentation by Dr. Stephen Oesterle. Dr. Oesterle is a renowned leader in the medical device industry, who represented Medtronic for over 14 years. Dr. Oesterle provided great insight into the field of medical innovation and what specific areas he predicts will be at the forefront of innovation and investment opportunities in the future. His list included sectors like artificial intelligence, communication technology, gene sequencing, 3D printing, and robotics. Dr. Oesterle also discussed how the rise in personal sensors would generate an enormous amount of data. He states that data wins, and companies capable of aggregating and putting this data to good use will likely lead medical innovation in the years to come.

Day 3

The theme of the conferences final day was Personalized Medical Devices and Care. We listened to a number of respectable speakers, including Josiah Allen from OneOme. Josiah discussed how his company utilizes personal genomics testing to help providers identify optimal drug therapy for each patient. Personalizing medication could maximize drug effectiveness and avoid potentially lethal drug allergies and adverse interactions.

John Daley from IBM Watson Health brought cognitive computing to the stage. The world publishes about 700,000 articles a year. No matter how smart you are, no human can keep up with this explosion of knowledge, he noted. Watson Health utilizes cognitive computing to weed through new material and data, making new information more intelligible and accessible to physicians to aid them in their day-to-day practice.

The final presentation was by Dr. Jeffrey Shuren from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Shuren gave voice to the National Evaluation System for health Technology (NEST). NEST is a new system that the FDA is working on to establish new data sources to better evaluate and regulate medical devices. The program will consolidate and interpret data from different sources like electronic health records, clinical registries, and mobile devices. The goal of NEST is to sufficiently reduce the time and cost of the total product life cycle without sacrificing the standard of assurance safety and effectiveness of new medical products.

The conference concluded with guided tours to multiple labs and centers at the University of Minnesota, such as the Visible Heart Lab, Medical Device Center, and Minnesota Nano Center. Overall, the Design of Medical Devices Conference was a huge success, delivering up-to-date information on recent medical technologies and offering insights into what the future holds for this exciting field.

Next years event: 2018 Design of Medical Devices Conference
by Ray Schultz , May 5, 2017

BelGioioso Cheese Inc., a family business devoted to artisanal Italian cheesemaking, is conducting a multichannel ad campaign. And email is in the recipe.

As part of the effort -- which includes TV, print and social media -- the company has sent two email blasts, each going to 3.5 million subscribers, and it will send a third in December.

Designed to inspire a usage occasion, the emails have produced an open rate of over 25% and click-through rate of over 25%, according to Womens Marketing, the media agency of record for BelGioioso and provider of creative services for the firm's social media activation. The first wave went out on March 30, and the second on April 25.

But email is only part of a larger campaign: BelGioioso is also delivering content across several other platforms, including its new social media channels, and placing ads on TV and in endemic magazines.

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The email blasts are being sent to the AllRecipes.com subscriber database, as part of BelGioiosos magazine buy with Meredith. Meredith owns AllRecipes.com.

Headlined The Daily Dish, each features recipes like the Winter Winner, Roast Chicken-Rotisserie Style, and side dishes such as hazelnut-mushroom pilaf.

The emails urge readers to start fresh, and are designed to add reach and create a usage occasion, according to Womens Marketing. Readers can click through to a Web site for additional recipes and information.

We know email is highly effective at driving trial and ultimately purchase, said Marjorie Powers, general manager, food & beverage at Womens Marketing, in an email.

Powers added that for BelGioioso, were looking to be especially effective by tapping into a passionate food-focused audience and providing recipe content directly to their in-boxes, a direct communication complementing our full funnel strategy across digital, social, TV and print.

The agency and client hope that the content will connect women to the brand, Powers noted.

The campaign supports the brands Fresh Mozzarella cheese and showcases the brands history. Founded in 1979, the company uses artisanal methods while staying true to our Italian heritage, said Sofia Auricchio Krans, of BelGioioso Cheese, in a statement

She added that footage for the campaign was shot in our state-of-the-art facilities in Northeast Wisconsin featuring some of our dedicated employees, including my father who founded the company.
Lately, Facebook has been copying many of Snaps more popular features. Turning the tables slightly, Snap just stole a page from Facebooks playbook with the launch of a new self-service ad-buying platform.

Unveiled on Thursday, Snapchat Ad Manager should make it easier for brands to buy ads on the self-described camera company.

With Ad Manager, Snap partners can choose from all of its existing formats, and then target their ads to specific demographics.

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For Snap, this is just the latest move to better monetize its maturing network.

Among other efforts, it recently launched an Engagement Audiences initiative, which invites brands to target those users who previously interacted with their ads on the app.

For example, a brand can now can hit audiences who have already interacted with their Lens or Geofilter with a fresh Snap Ad campaign.

The point is to help advertisers reach consumers more likely to be in the consideration stage -- or mid-funnel -- because they have already shown an interest in their brand.

According to Snap, this sort of offering is not retargeting as it is commonly known. Rather, its engagement targeting all within Snapchat -- rather than involving outside Web sites or data.

Since its debut at the end of 2016, Snap also continues to roll out goal-based bidding for installs. Per the program, advertisers can bid for installs, which means that buyers can optimize for the lowest cost per install by showing ads to users most likely to install the app.

This form of targeting is done via Snaps auction, while brands are still billed on impressions.

Over the past year, Snapchat has secured its spot as a top app. According to comScore, the popular service officially joined the ranks of the Top 10 most popular apps in late 2016.

Snapchat  went from being a very popular app among the younger demographics to being one of the most popular apps among the general population, Adam Lella, senior analyst at comScore, recently told MediaPost.

Critically, Snapchats general popularity has yet to undercut its status among Millennials, according to comScores 2017 Cross-Platform Future in Focus report.

At the end of 2016, a whopping 78% of U.S. consumers ages 18-to-24 -- and 48% of those 25-to-34 -- were using Snapchat.

By Snaps own estimate, 41% of U.S. adults ages 18-to-34 check out Snapchat every day.

Worldwide, Snapchat Discover has now surpassed 150 million daily active users.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 5, 2017

Sweater company Tipsy Elves has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against the rival business Ugly Christmas Sweater.

Tipsy Elves, which secured funding from investor Robert Herjavec after appearing on Shark Tank in 2013, alleges that Ugly Christmas Sweater uses the phrase "Tipsy Elves" to trigger search ads on Google. Ugly Christmas Sweater's ad copy also allegedly include the words "Tipsy Elves" in the headline.

The search ad "gave the consuming public the false impression that clicking on the associated links would take them to either the Tipsy Elves website or another website where they could purchase Tipsy Elves apparel," the company alleges in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. "This advertising tactic was highly likely to confuse, mislead, and deceive consumers."

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Tipsy Elves also alleges that the founder of Ugly Christmas Sweaters previously sold "knockoff copies" of at least one sweater design. That matter was resolved, according to the lawsuit.

Tipsy Elves isn't the only company that has sued a rival for allegedly infringing trademark in search ads. But many of those cases have resulted in losses for the company that brought the suit, according to Santa Clara University law professor Eric Goldman, who has followed the disputes.

Tipsy Elves, however, may have a stronger case than some of the other companies that have sued, because it alleges that its trademark is being used in the ad copy -- not just as a trigger for the ads.

A recent Federal Trade Commission complaint against contact lens seller 1 800Contacts could affect how judges view Tipsy Elves' complaint. The FTC argues in its case that 1 800Contacts violated antitrust laws by preventing other companies from using the term 1-800Contacts in ads. The agency's complaint suggests that using a trademark to trigger a search ad is legitimate, and that efforts to prevent a competitor from doing so may violate antitrust principles.
by Larissa Faw , May 5, 2017

With help from J. Walter Thompson Paris, publisher Liberation decided to fight fake news during the recent French presidential election by introducing an anti-hoax service titled Check News, which it will continue to use going forward.

The CheckNews.fr search engine traded algorithms for real journalists for three days before the French elections on April 23. The project required a team approach, with the agency working closely with the editor-in-chief at Liberation and its teams of fact checkers to help readers sort between fact and fiction.

The journalists came from the fact checkers service, Desintox.

Heres how the service works. Readers submit questions to the newspaper's social-media account. Submissions included:

Is France becoming an Islamic republic?

Is candidate Emmanuel Macron backed by Saudi Arabia?

Is the Euro raising prices?

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Responding to the queries, journalists would investigate and cross-reference before publishing their answers.

The project has already gained massive attention in France. "The major surprises came from the technicity of some of the questions asked to the journalists, showing the deep interest and will to get sharp and correct information in such a crucial time," the agency stated.

In addition to word-of-mouth, Liberation is promoting the operation via its social networks and on its Web site.
Best Buy Co., Inc. retails technology products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two segments, Domestic and International. Its stores provide computing products, such as desktops, notebooks, and peripherals; mobile phones comprising related mobile network carrier commissions; networking products; tablets covering e-readers; smartwatches; and consumer electronics consisting of digital imaging, health and fitness, home theater, portable audio comprising headphones and portable speakers, and smart home products. The company's stores also offer appliances, such as dishwashers, laundry, ovens, refrigerators, blenders, coffee makers, and vacuums; entertainment products consisting of drones, peripherals, movies, music, and toys, as well as gaming hardware and software, and virtual reality and other software products; and other products, such as baby, food and beverage, luggage, outdoor living, and sporting goods. In addition, it provides consultation, delivery, design, health-related, installation, memberships, repair, set-up, technical support, and warranty-related services. The company offers its products through stores and websites under the Best Buy, Best Buy Ads, Best Buy Business, Best Buy Health, CST, Current Health, Geek Squad, Lively, Magnolia, Best Buy Mobile, Pacific Kitchen, Home, and Yardbird, as well as domain names bestbuy.com, currenthealth.com, lively.com, yardbird.com, and bestbuy.ca. As of January 30, 2022, it had 1,144 stores. The company was formerly known as Sound of Music, Inc. The company was incorporated in 1966 and is headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota.
Consolidated Edison, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.5 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,555 customers in parts of Manhattan. The company also supplies electricity to approximately 0.3 million customers in southeastern New York and northern New Jersey; and gas to approximately 0.1 million customers in southeastern New York. In addition, it operates 533 circuit miles of transmission lines; 15 transmission substations; 64 distribution substations; 87,564 in-service line transformers; 3,924 pole miles of overhead distribution lines; and 2,291 miles of underground distribution lines, as well as 4,350 miles of mains and 377,971 service lines for natural gas distribution. Further, the company owns, operates, and develops renewable and energy infrastructure projects; and provides energy-related products and services to wholesale and retail customers, as well as invests in electric and gas transmission projects. It primarily sells electricity to industrial, commercial, residential, and government customers. The company was founded in 1823 and is based in New York, New York.
Band / Level / Grade: 6B

Department: International Programs

Location: Mae Sot

National Position

Overtime Eligible: N/A

Job Overview/Summary:

IRCs program for Womens Protection and Empowerment (WPE) improves and expands community-based services to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in the seven refugee camps. The program supports and strengthens community-based efforts to respond to and prevent violence against women and girls through comprehensive and holistic programming, including case management. This program coordinates a network against GBV that ensures a comprehensive and multi-sectoral response for survivors, increasing the safety and power of women and girls through promoting community leadership and provision of technical training on GBV core concepts.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP), and the overall guidance of the Country Director, the WPE Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating WPE programming in IRC field sites in Thailand. This includes providing technical oversight across all field sites of implementation and expansion of WPE programs in new project sites. The WPE Coordinator will be responsible for all aspects of WPE and gender-based strategy development, program design, implementation, standardization, and evaluation of all WPE-related activities within the IRC Thailand country program. In addition, the WPE Coordinator will be primarily responsible for coordinating with other non-governmental organizations (NGO), United Nations (UN) agencies and Community Based Organization (CBO) to strengthen the gender-based violence sector border-wide. The primary focus is on program quality, with program progress being monitored and evaluated against quantifiable benchmarks.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Oversight and Implementation

Provide technical support, leadership, guidance and oversight of IRC Thailands WPE program.

Identify gaps in the WPE programs and work with the team to develop innovative approaches and mechanisms to address them.

Conduct regular field visits to assess program quality and progress toward objectives, facilitate collective problem solving with staff and other stakeholders to address challenges, and identify opportunities for expansion and improvements in WPE program efficiency and quality.

Develop and maintain a monitoring & evaluation plan and framework for all WPE programming, ensuring ethical and systematic processes of data collection, analysis and information sharing.

Proactively work with other IRC programs in Health and Protection to identify areas and opportunities for collaboration, design integrated proposals, and collectively implement projects that multiply positive outcomes for the people we serve.

Oversee the development of improved tools/capacity for gender-based violence (GBV) response and prevention including gender mainstreaming in programming for IRC and partner organizations

Grants Management and Reporting

Lead and support field-based WPE program managers and officers to develop, implement and monitor WPE interventions and programs that are based on approved grants. These included, but not limited to reviewing progress and targets, preparing work plan and program spending plans, and reviewing internal and external reports prepared by the managers.

Ensure the most efficient use of resources by preparing sound project budgets, monitoring project budgets against expenditure, and ensuring appropriate adjustments by providing support and oversight to program managers on programmatic spending.

Work with Program Unit to develop strong and coordinated project monitoring and evaluation systems in the WPE sector, including systematic data collection, storage and dissemination tools; and support capacity building of IRC partners to improve monitoring capacity and data quality.

Program Development

In coordination with the Program Unit and IRC headquarters technical unit, support new program designs, monitoring and evaluation and preparation of work-plans with clear objectives and achievable benchmarks, reflecting strategic long-term and short-term priorities.

Coordinate and participate in the development of new proposals and initiatives in accordance with the country program Strategic Action Plan (SAP) and provide regular input to SAP processes.

Support senior management staff in developing a country sector strategic plan for Thailand, ensuring that program growth is aligned with country strategic plans. This includes collaboration with the Myanmar country program as required.

Actively contribute to broader strategic planning processes in Thailand, ensuring that WPE interventions and related initiatives are taken into account.

Partnerships and Coordination

Proactively develop and maintain effective working relationships with other key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors working on violence against women and girls (VAWG); maintaining IRC as a key contributor to addressing VAWG and WPE issues in Thailand.

Actively participate in national level coordination meetings and working groups and lead oversight of efforts to promote coordination and collaboration between IRC partners, including regular WPE and protection coordination meetings and other similar fora.

Staff Management and Development
Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. operates as a branded consumer products company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Home and Personal Care; Global Pet Care; and Home and Garden. The Home and Personal Care segment provides home appliances under the Black & Decker, Russell Hobbs, George Foreman, Toastmaster, Juiceman, Farberware, and Breadman brands; and personal care products under the Remington and LumaBella brands. The Global Pet Care segment provides rawhide chewing, dog and cat clean-up and food, training, health and grooming, small animal food and care, and rawhide-free products under the 8IN1 (8-in-1), Dingo, Nature's Miracle, Wild Harvest, Littermaid, Jungle, Excel, FURminator, IAMS, Eukanuba, Healthy-Hide, DreamBone, SmartBones, ProSense, Perfect Coat, eCOTRITION, Birdola, Good Boy, Meowee!, Wildbird, and Wafcol brands. This segment also offers aquarium kits, stand-alone tanks, and aquatics equipment and consumables under the Tetra, Marineland, Whisper, Instant Ocean, GloFish, OmegaOne, and OmegaSea brands. The Home and Garden segment provides outdoor insect and weed control solutions, and animal repellents under the Spectracide, Garden Safe, Liquid Fence, and EcoLogic brands; household pest control solutions under the Hot Shot, Black Flag, Real-Kill, Ultra Kill, The Ant Trap, and Rid-A-Bug brand names; household surface cleaning, maintenance, and restoration products, including bottled liquids, mops, wipes, and markers under the Rejuvenate brand name; and personal-use pesticides and insect repellent products under the Cutter and Repel brands. The company sells its products through retailers, e-commerce and online retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin.
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.
Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides newborn, maternal-fetal, pediatric cardiology, and other pediatric subspecialty care services in the United States and Puerto Rico. It offers neonatal care services, such as clinical care to babies born prematurely or with complications within specific units at hospitals through neonatal physician subspecialists, neonatal nurse practitioners, and other pediatric clinicians. The company also provides maternal-fetal care services, including inpatient and office-based clinical care to expectant mothers and unborn babies through affiliated maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists, as well as obstetricians and other clinicians, including maternal-fetal nurse practitioners, certified nurse mid-wives, ultrasonographers, and genetic counselors. In addition, it offers pediatric cardiology care services comprising inpatient and office-based pediatric cardiology care of the fetus, infant, child, and adolescent patient with congenital heart defects and acquired heart disease, as well as adults with congenital heart defects through affiliated pediatric cardiologist subspecialists and other related clinical professionals; and specialized cardiac care to the fetus, neonatal and pediatric patients. Further, the company provides other pediatric subspecialty care services through pediatric subspecialists, such as pediatric intensivists, pediatric hospitalists, pediatric surgeons, and pediatric ophthalmologists, as well as pediatric ear, nose, and throat physicians; and support services in the areas of hospitals, primarily in the pediatric emergency rooms, labor and delivery areas, and nursery and pediatric departments. As of February 17, 2022, it operated a network of approximately 2,700 physicians. The company was formerly known as MEDNAX, Inc. and changed its name to Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. in July 2022. Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Sunrise, Florida.
Nabors Industries Ltd. provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells. The company operates through five segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. It provides tubular running, wellbore placement, directional drilling, measurement-while-drilling (MWD), equipment manufacturing, and rig instrumentation services; and logging-while-drilling systems and services, as well as drilling optimization software. The company also offers REVit, an automated real time stick-slip mitigation system; ROCKit, a directional steering control system; SmartNAV, a collaborative guidance and advisory platform; SmartSLIDE, an advanced directional steering control system; and RigCLOUD, which provides the tools and infrastructure to integrate applications to deliver real-time insight into operations across the rig fleet. In addition, it manufactures and sells top drives, catwalks, wrenches, drawworks, and other drilling related equipment, such as robotic systems and downhole tools; and provides aftermarket sales and services for the installed base of its equipment. As of December 31, 2021, the company marketed approximately 301 rigs for land-based drilling operations in the United States, Canada, and in 20 other countries worldwide; and 29 rigs for offshore platform drilling operations in the United States and internationally. Nabors Industries Ltd. was founded in 1952 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Department: International Programs

Location: Bangkok

National Position

Overtime Eligible: (per local law)

Job Overview/Summary:

IRC strives to produce quality proposals, reports and evaluations that illustrate measurement of contractual goals and activities, but also includes analysis of context and dynamic needs of beneficiaries at the community-level. Programming and program cycle management thus require a more strategic and technically sound approach to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in order to better support program management, compliance to donor reporting and learning through consolidation and dissemination of lessons learnt from completed and ongoing programs.

Leading the establishment and effective smooth running of M&E within the country program, the M&E Coordinator will provide strategic, technical, and managerial leadership for the IRC Thailand measurement efforts, including monitoring, evaluation, learning, and  above all  making decisions and taking action based on data. This position requires oversight of M&E activities across country programs  including support to program staff  and coordination with field-based staff to ensure that data are of high quality and used effectively for decision making.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership for Development of Robust M&E System

Development and implementation of an M&E strategy for the country program that ensures technically sound and consistent approaches to:

- Indicator development across projects and geographic locations, including incorporation of organizational core indicators

- Routine monitoring of program activities

- Assessments of beneficiary needs

- Evaluations of the effectiveness of program interventions

- Accountability feedback mechanisms to ensure responsiveness to needs and clients

- Data collection, including digital data collection where feasible

- Data storage and secure accessibility of data by project staff and country/regional management

Support country-level knowledge management efforts and develop and implement systems that facilitate the sharing of information across regions and field sites within Thailand, specifically focused on use of data and analysis for decision making and donor influence.

Work with IRC Headquarters technical units to ensure Thailand program provides quality input to global outcome indicators.

2. Technical Quality Oversight of M&E System Implementation

In collaboration with the Regional Measurement Action Coordinator for Asia Region (RMAC) and the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP), develop a country M&E strategy

Work with project teams to implement the M&E country strategy, with a focus on:

- Coordinated monitoring of project activities, ensuring that activities are carried out or as planned or adjusted/adapted as needed

- Coordinated assessments of beneficiary needs, ensuring that tools and methodologies are appropriate, so that results are actionable and easily communicated

- Coordinated evaluation of projects, ensuring that activities are effectively addressing the beneficiary needs

- Contributing to an organizational culture shift from a focus on data being primarily for donor reporting to using data for decision making and action

Work with RMAC to ensure that country teams are using the right tools and have the proper procedures in place to achieve both collection of high quality data and the effective use of those data

Work with technical and country teams to implement the IRCs program data platform

Support field teams in analysis of data, including going beyond simple Excel charts to more sophisticated statistical analysis, and including creative use of GIS

Manage external evaluations in partnership with relevant stakeholders, such as donor or project managers, including the development of Terms of Reference, selecting consultants or evaluators, oversight of contract, reviewing outputs, etc.

Support design and implementation of internal evaluations and project assessments with relevant program staff and technical advisors.

Update and keep track of a country-wide evaluation plan to ensure projects are prepared for evaluations or internal assessments far in advance, and that each grant is subject to review in a systematic and timely fashion.

3. Capacity Building

Conduct preliminary participatory capacity assessment of current IRC program/field staff to identify specific gaps in M&E technical skills. Based on needs identified by staff in the preliminary capacity assessment, support development of an M&E capacity building plan for the Thailand country office.

Coach, train, and mentor project-specific M&E and/or relevant field staff with the aim of strengthening their technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the program team and providing professional development guidance.

Support capacity development for IRCs local partners through technical training, coaching, mentoring.

4. Design and Learning

Support the DDP, IRC Program Unit and other Coordinators to design evidence-based programming that aligns with the IRCs country strategy and is relevant for the context and responsive to the needs on the ground as identified by the M&E team.

Lead the proposal development process, ensuring that the theory of change is based on the results of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) processes, that the log frame is developed with the full participation of the field team, and that multiple technical sector inputs are integrated.
Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services. It serves corporate, middle market, and commercial real estate developers and investors. The Consumer Bank segment provides consumer banking products and services related to residential first mortgages, home equity lines and loans, consumer credit cards, and other consumer loans, as well as deposits. The Wealth Management segment offers credit related products, and retirement and savings solutions; and trust and investment management, asset management, and estate planning services to individuals, businesses, governmental institutions, and non-profit entities. The company also provides investment and insurance products; low-income housing tax credit corporate fund syndication services; and other specialty financing services. As of March 01, 2022, it operated through a network of 1,300 banking offices and 2,000 automated teller machines across the South, Midwest, and Texas. Regions Financial Corporation was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.
Sotheby's operates as an auctioneer of authenticated fine art, decorative art, jewelry, wine, and collectibles in the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, Switzerland, France, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Agency and Finance. The Agency segment accepts property on consignment; and matches sellers to buyers through the auction or private sale process. It is also involved in the sale of artworks; and operation of an auction house for investment-quality automobiles. The Finance segment offers art-related financing services, such as term loans secured by artworks. In addition, the company provides art advisory service. The company is also involved in the retail wine operations; licensing Sotheby's International Realty and related trademarks; and licensing its Sotheby's brand name for use in connection with the art auction business in Australia, and art education services in the United States and the United Kingdom. Sotheby's was founded in 1744 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
The following companies are subsidiares of Sonoco Products: Associated Packaging Technologies Inc., Can Packaging, Clear Lam Packaging Inc., Clear Pack Co., Conitex Sonoco (BVI) Ltd., Corenso Holdings America Inc., CorrFlex Graphics LLC, Demolli Industria Cartaria S.p.A., Engraph Inc., Graffo Paranaense de Embalagens S/A, Hayes Manufacturing Group, Highland Packaging Solutions, Laminar Medica, Matrix Packaging Inc., PT Conitex Sonoco, PT Papcor Asia Pacific, PT Papertech Indonesia, PT Sonoco Indonesia, PenPack LLC, Peninsula Packaging Company, Peninsula Packaging LLC, Penpack S. de R.L. de C.V., Phoenix Packaging Corp., Plastique Holdings LTD, SMB GmbH, SPC Capital Management Inc, SPC Liquidation LLC, SPC Management LLC, SPC Resources Inc, SR Holdings of the Carolinas LLC, Sebro Plastics Inx, Sonoco (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Sonoco (Taicang) Packaging Co. Ltd, Sonoco (Weifang) Packaging Company Ltd, Sonoco Absorbent Technologies LLC, Sonoco Absorbent Technologies Limited, Sonoco Alcore - Demolli S.r.l., Sonoco Alcore AB, Sonoco Alcore GmbH, Sonoco Alcore N.V., Sonoco Alcore Nederland B.V., Sonoco Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Sonoco Asia Holding S.a.r.l., Sonoco Asia LLC, Sonoco Asia Management Company LLC, Sonoco Australia Pty Ltd, Sonoco Board Mills Limited, Sonoco Bonmati S.A.U., Sonoco Canada Corporation, Sonoco Capseals Liners Limited, Sonoco Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Sonoco Consumer Products Dordrecht B.V. (fka Dorpak B.V.), Sonoco Consumer Products Europe GmbH (fka Weidenhammer Packaging Group GmbH), Sonoco Consumer Products Hellas S.A. (fka Weidenhammer Hellas S.A.), Sonoco Consumer Products Limited, Sonoco Consumer Products Mechelen BVBA (fka Weidenhammer Belgium BVBA), Sonoco Consumer Products Montanay SAS (fka Neuvibox SAS), Sonoco Consumer Products Poland Sp. Z.O.O., Sonoco Consumer Products SAS, Sonoco Consumer Products South Africa (PTY) Ltd., Sonoco Consumer Products Zwenkau GmbH (fka fka Weidenhammer Plastice Packaging GmbH), Sonoco Cores and Paper Limited, Sonoco Deutschland GmbH, Sonoco Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Sonoco Development Inc, Sonoco Elk Grove Inc, Sonoco Embalagens Ltda. (fka Sonoco Embalagens S.A.), Sonoco Flexible Packaging Canada Corporation, Sonoco Flexible Packaging Co. Inc, Sonoco Graphics India Private Limited, Sonoco Hickory Inc, Sonoco Holdings Inc, Sonoco Holdings UK Limited, Sonoco Hutchinson LLC, Sonoco IPD France SAS, Sonoco Iberia S.L.U., Sonoco International Holdings GmbH, Sonoco JV GmbH & Co. KG, Sonoco Kaiping Packaging Co. Ltd., Sonoco Limited, Sonoco Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Sonoco Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sonoco Milnrow, Sonoco Netherlands Holding II BV, Sonoco Netherlands Holding III BV, Sonoco New Zealand Limited, Sonoco Operadora S. de R.L. de C.V., Sonoco Packaging Limited, Sonoco Packaging Tapes Limited, Sonoco Paper Mill & IPD Hellas SA, Sonoco Paperboard Group LLC, Sonoco Partitions Inc, Sonoco Phoenix LLC, Sonoco Pina S.A.U., Sonoco Plastics B.V., Sonoco Plastics Canada ULC, Sonoco Plastics Germany GmbH, Sonoco Plastics Inc, Sonoco Poland Holdings B.V., Sonoco Polysack A/S Inc, Sonoco Polysack Limited, Sonoco Products Company UK, Sonoco Products Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Sonoco Protective Solutions Inc, Sonoco Recycling - International Trade Group LLC, Sonoco Recycling LLC, Sonoco Reels Limited, Sonoco Retail Packaging S. de R.L. de C.V., Sonoco S.A. de C.V., Sonoco SAS, Sonoco Saudi Limited Company, Sonoco Services LLC, Sonoco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Sonoco TEQ Holdings Ltd, Sonoco TEQ LLC, Sonoco TEQ Ltd, Sonoco TEQ Sp. Z.o.o, Sonoco Taiwan Ltd, Sonoco Thailand Ltd, Sonoco UK Leasing Limited, Sonoco Venezolana C.A., Sonoco Venture International Holdings GmbH, Sonoco Ventures UK Limited, Sonoco Wisconsin Rapids Core Plant LLC, Sonoco Wisconsin Rapids Inc, Sonoco Wisconsin Rapids Paper Mill LLC, Sonoco Yatai Pinghu Packaging Co Ltd, Sonoco de Colombia Ltda, Sonoco do Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Sonoco do Brazil Ltda, Sonoco of Puerto Rico Inc, Sonoco-Alcore AS, Sonoco-Alcore Oy, Sonoco-Alcore S.a.r.l., Sonoco-Alcore Sp. Z.O.O., Sonoco-Engraph Puerto Rico Inc, TPT Limited, Tegrant Alloyd Brands Inc, Tegrant Corporation, Tegrant International Inc, Tegrant Property Holdings LLC, Tegrant de Mexico S.A. de C.V., ThermoSafe Brands Asia PTE LTD, ThermoSafe Brands Europe Ltd., Thermoform Engineered Quality LLC, Trident Graphics Canada Corporation, Trident Graphics NA LLC, Tubo-Tec Nordeste Industria, U.S. Paper Mills Corp., Weidenhammer Chile Ltda., Weidenhammer Packaging Group, Weidenhammer UK Ltd., and Wisenberg U.S. Inc.

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Tableau Software, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides business analytics software products. It offers Tableau Desktop, a self-service, powerful analytics product with data; Tableau Server, a business intelligence platform for organizations; Tableau Online, a hosted software-as-a-service version of Tableau Server; Tableau Prep, a data preparation product for combining, shaping, and cleaning data; and Tableau Public, a cloud-based platform for analyzing and sharing public data. In addition, it offers Visual Query Language (VizQL) for databases, which is a computer language for describing pictures of data, including graphs, charts, maps, time series, and tables of visualizations; Live Query Engine that interprets abstract queries generated by VizQL into syntax understandable by database systems; and Hyper, an in-memory data engine technology that helps customers to analyze a range of data sets by evaluating analytical queries directly in the transactional database. Further, the company provides support, maintenance, training, and professional services. It serves organizations in various industries, including business services, energy and telecommunications, financial services, life sciences and healthcare, manufacturing and technology, media and entertainment, public sector, and education, as well as retail, consumer, and distribution industries. The company sells its products directly, as well as through indirect sales channels, such as technology vendors, resellers, original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendor, and distributors in the United States, Canada, and internationally. Tableau Software, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. The Proprietary Products segment offers stoppers and seals for injectable packaging systems; syringe and cartridge components, including custom solutions for the needs of injectable drug applications, as well as administration systems that enhance the safe delivery of drugs through advanced reconstitution, mixing, and transfer technologies; and films, coatings, washing, and vision inspection and sterilization processes and services to enhance the quality of packaging components. It also provides drug containment solutions, including Crystal Zenith, a cyclic olefin polymer in the form of vials, syringes, and cartridges; and self-injection devices, as well as a range of integrated solutions, including analytical lab services, pre-approval primary packaging support and engineering development, regulatory expertise, and after-sales technical support. This segment serves biologic, generic, and pharmaceutical drug companies. The Contract-Manufactured Products segment is involved in the design, manufacture, and automated assembly of devices used in surgical, diagnostic, ophthalmic, injectable, and other drug delivery systems, as well as consumer products. It serves pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and medical device companies. The company distributes its products through its sales force and distribution network, as well as contract sales agents and regional distributors. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. was incorporated in 1923 and is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has approved a 14-member committee to select a film to represent Ghana at the 90th Oscars which will run in 2018.

Following the guidelines of the Academy, the committee is tasked to select from open submissions one film to be the official film from Ghana at the awards.

In 1969, Algeria became the first African country to win an Academy Award, this was followed in 1976 by Ivory Coast with the film Black and White in Color.

African countries and films represented at the Academy Awards in the past have included Tsotsi from South Africa, Lamb from Ethiopia, Timbuktu from Mauritania. South Africa, Ivory Coast, Algeria and Mauritania went ahead to win foreign language Oscars.

Leila Djansi, who spearheaded the committee selection and submission to the Academy explained the motivation behind the move saying :Since 2011, Films from Ghana and made by Ghanaians have successfully travelled the festival circuit by merit, with 2016 being our most successful year yet. It is time to tell a different story about Ghana and Africa. The Hollywood narrative has been poverty porn, HIV and war.

We can best tell of our brave men and women who we meet in our daily lives. Regular people, regular heroes, whether it is a woman with a deformed child, or women atoning for crimes of their families, men who leave their dreams to take care of their homes. These are everyday heroes and if we dont tell the truth about these people, the world will continue to believe the lies. The Oscars is the ultimate pedestal, well use that to show the world our Africa, she continued.

The committee is made of up members of the various guilds in the Ghana film industry, journalists, actors, film professionals, members of the media, government and academia.

Ms. Akofa Djankui, the Academy approved secretary of the committee is confident of very free and fair selection processes and encourages filmmakers to start preparing their films for submissions.

The basic rule of the foreign language Oscar category is that film must be in a Ghanaian language and capture the true essence of Ghana as well as meet world filmmaking standards. In collaboration with Ghana Academy of Film and Television Arts (GAFTA), the committee will hold a workshop to educate filmmakers on the submission process and filmmaking standards.

Filmmakers are encouraged to attend the workshop and prepare their films for submission.

Foreign Oscars are awarded to the country, not the individual and as such, the committee hopes the various film guilds, government organizations and corporate bodies in Ghana will support filmmakers and filmmaking in Ghana.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Thursday urged the Democratic Republic of Congo to cooperate with investigations of the murder of two UN experts and mass graves found in the troubled Kasai region.

In a unanimous statement, the council also told the Kinshasa government and the opposition to step up efforts to implement a New Year's Eve agreement aimed at paving the way to elections.

Council members "stressed the need for a swift and full investigation into the killing" of the two UN experts and "underlined the need for full cooperation from the government of the DRC," the statement drafted by France said.

The United Nations has set up a board of inquiry to investigate the deaths in March of Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a dual Swedish-Chilean national.

They were members of a UN panel of experts seeking to investigate reports of more than 40 mass graves found in the central Kasai region when they were abducted and shot dead. One of the victims was also beheaded.

The council said it would "closely monitor" investigations by the government, working with the UN mission in the DR Congo and the African Union on rights abuses in Kasai.

Kasai has seen a major spike in violence since September that has killed at least 400 in an uprising that erupted when government forces killed Kamwina Nsapu, a tribal chief and militia leader, who had rebelled against President Joseph Kabila.

The UN has accused the Nsapu rebels of using child soldiers and committing several atrocities, while also denouncing the disproportionate use of force by the military.

The council called for the political agreement to be quickly implemented "in order to organize peaceful, credible, inclusive and timely elections, no later than December 2017, leading to a peaceful transfer of power" in the vast resource-rich African country.

After months of violence, the influential Catholic Church brokered a deal to pave the way for elections, but the agreement has since been bogged down in disputes.

Elections would bring an end to the rule of President Joseph Kabila, in power since 2001.
Durban (South Africa) (AFP) - The famine ravaging South Sudan and its neighbours could claim six million lives, a charity warned Friday, as the international community struggles to raise the $4.4 billion needed to avert a full-blown disaster.

The food crisis in the world's youngest country is one of the key issues being discussed at this week's World Economic Forum on Africa in Durban, which has brought together the continent's business and political elite.

Saira Khan, the chief executive of the charity Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa, warned that a chaotic international response to the situation in South Sudan was threatening the lives of millions.

"It's pretty gloomy. We're seeing a lot of confusion amongst the NGOs and governments in terms of what needs to be done," she said.

"It's a difficult time for that region -- and if we don't do anything we're going to have six million people dead at the end of this year because of famine."

In February, South Sudan and the United Nations formally declared a famine in some parts of the northern Greater Unity region affecting 100,000 people, a disaster UN officials said was "man-made" and could have been averted.

After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, the country descended into civil war in December 2013 when a power struggle erupted between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar. Tens of thousands died and more than 3.5 million have been displaced.

"The real instability in the area with the war and migrants just going and settling where they can has contributed to this and put enormous pressure on Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda," Khan said.

Oxfam International's executive director Winnie Byanyima told AFP that a huge funding shortfall for relief efforts was threatening lives.

Go hungry or 'be raped'

The UN has estimated that $4.4 billion is needed by July to avoid widespread loss of life in South Sudan -- but just 26 percent of that has been raised so far.

"The need is huge, the gap is huge," Byanyima said. "It needs to be filled urgently. When people die in a famine it's a sign of failure because you can prevent it if you act early enough."

More than 1.9 million South Sudanese are internally displaced and at least 1.7 million have fled to safety across the country's borders so far -- including a total of 830,000 to neighbouring Uganda

More than 1.9 million people are internally displaced and at least 1.7 million have fled to safety across the country's borders so far. A total of 830,000 South Sudanese refugees have fled to neighbouring Uganda and the UN expects this figure will reach more than a million by mid-year.

"I visited places where people are trapped in what are called 'protection of civilian' camps. The women there face a choice between hunger or stepping out and being raped while looking for food," Byanyima said.

Elsewhere in Africa, Byanyima warned that Nigeria could face its own famine crisis.

"I have just been to northeast Nigeria, a region that has been devastated by Boko Haram," she said. "There are 47,000 people living there in famine-like conditions. Another five million could experience famine in the next few months".

'Paradox of Africa'

Relief agencies in northern Nigeria will run out of money to avert food shortages as early as June, Peter Lundberg, the UN's deputy humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria, said recently.

The World Food Programme says that 4.7 million people across three areas of northeast Nigeria are already facing acute hunger while the Red Cross warns that five children are dying daily of starvation.

Ahead of the WEF, South Africa's deputy finance minister Sifiso Buthelezi highlighted the disconnect between Africa's vast natural resources and its persistent hunger issues.

"...it's part of the paradox of Africa. You have got vast lands but our people are starving. There's definitely something that we need to do," he said.

Byanyima called for the United Nations to be overhauled to face the challenges in South Sudan.

"Today it is so dysfunctional and unable to get the Security Council to bear pressure on leaders who are behaving irresponsibly such as in South Sudan," she said.

Gilbert Houngbo, the new head of the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development, said that efforts were needed to prepare South Sudan's agriculture for when peace returns.

"I visited places where people are trapped in what are called 'protection of civilian' camps. The women there face a choice between hunger or stepping out and being raped while looking for food," Oxfam International's Winnie Byanyima said

"Our guys are already active in preparing for an early recovery," Houngbo told AFP. "It's going to be difficult, but it's not impossible. The major impediment is still our ability to be there to come to a peace agreement."

The theme of the 27th WEF on Africa is "Leadership in an era of disruption". It has drawn more than 1,200 participants, including several heads of state.

Oxfam released a report to coincide with the start of the forum which winds up on Friday, revealing that seven of the world's top 20 unequal countries are in Africa.

It warned that if economic growth continues to benefit only a small African elite, an additional 350 million people could be forced into poverty by 2032.
According to legend, pirate treasure reportedly worth 100 million is buried on an Indian Ocean island.

Although the region is thought to be littered with hidden treasure, this one is said to be the Holy Grail, the worlds biggest booty haul. The story, which reads like a Hollywood script, has been passed down through generations on the islands of the Seychelles and La Reunion.

Although many have tried  and failed  to locate the bounty, two men have devoted their lives to the quest. Reginald Herbert Cruise-Wilkins, known locally on the Seychelles island of Mahe as the Treasure Man, hunted the fortune for 27 years until his death in 1977. His son John inherited both the nickname and the quest.

When I first met John, he immediately barked that I was half an hour late. I didnt expect a warm welcome; John is constantly hounded by writers and locals who stop him wherever he is, asking if he is looking for buried treasure.

But as he showed me around what he believes is the treasure site, and talked about the clues and what he had left to do, the gruff man melted into one you couldnt help but root for. His eyes twinkled and his smile was infectious. Even after all these years of searching, he was still the storybook boy hero armed with his backpack and treasure map, trying to piece together the puzzle. His is a story of hope and of never giving up, despite the odds.

John explained that the fascinating tale of the treasure started in 1716 when Frenchman Olivier Levasseur, otherwise known as La Buse (The Buzzard) because of the speed with which he would attack his enemies, was given a letter of marque to operate as a privateer. But within a few months, Levasseur turned to the more lucrative career of pirating.

In 1721, Levasseur and his associates  then with 750 pirates over three ships  came across a Portuguese galleon flying British colours, Nossa Senhora do Cabo, in the port of La Reunion, then called Bourbon Island. They landed 250 men on board and killed the crew. Levasseur, who had no idea what was on the ship, was astonished with the haul. According to John, a historian described it as a floating treasure house, believed to consist of gold and silver bars, precious stones, uncut diamonds, guineas, church plate and goblets.

Reginald Cruise-Wilkins, the Treasure Man, hunted the fortune for 27 years (Credit: Helen Soteriou)

The pirates quickly fled to their headquarters in Madagascar with the British Navy in hot pursuit, and the booty was divided between the crew. There was a share out; each pirate got 42 diamonds and 5,000 gold guineas a piece. There were extra shares for the officers, John said.

Levasseur kept the rest.

The pirate then disappeared and is believed to have hidden his treasure on the Seychelles island of Mahe.

He broke up his crew in groups of 20 men, my father thought. The crew didnt know where the treasure chamber would be. [The treasure] was placed in a cave, kept for a temporary period, and then when the time came for the proper burial, it was only the burial crew who closed the cavern and they were then executed, John said. No one except Levasseur now knew its location.

When Levasseur was finally captured and executed on 7 July 1730 on La Reunion, he apparently knew there were members of his pirate brotherhood in the crowd. He hurled a piece of parchment into the air, shouting 'My treasure for he who can understand.

The treasure is rumoured to be in the Bel Ombre area on Mahes northern coast (Credit: Helen Soteriou)

That piece of parchment was a treasure map in the form of a cryptogram of 17 lines.

I can just visualise the hands going up, the fight, to meet the paper in the air, John said wistfully.

But the cryptogram, which has been tested to be genuine parchment from the 18th-Century by the British Museum, just looks like 17 lines of jumbled symbols to the untrained eye.

Levasseur was an intellectual, a Greek and Latin scholar who was versed in masonic symbology. Cruise-Wilkins spent years trying to decode the cryptogram, using everything from Greek, Hebrew, astrology, astronomy, mythology and the occult to break the elaborate system of clues. Based on what he uncovered, he believed the bounty was buried according to a complex riddle inspired by the 12 Labours of Hercules, and, after many years identified the treasure to be in the stunningly beautiful area of Bel Ombre on Mahes northern coast, surrounded by turquoise sea, lush vegetation and huge smooth granite boulders sculpted by the waves.

Mahe is a small island where everyone knows each other. They all have an opinion on the story, from the taxi driver who drove me to Bel Ombre, to the lady who runs the guest house where I was staying. As soon as I told them what I was doing, they laughed, and reminisced on the legend theyd known since their childhoods.

I dont care what they think, but a lot of them think Im crazy. They thought my father was crazy. And the question always with people is Why do you treasure hunt? I mean, people dont do this anymore, John said.

For John, who inherited his fathers quest, the search has become his life (Credit: Helen Soteriou)

But for John, as for his father, the search has become his life, an intellectual and physical undertaking into which hes poured all his energy and savings. When Cruise-Wilkins died in 1977, John was only 18. He grew up with the treasure hunt and its all hes ever known. He wants to prove his father right, and like his dad, he wants to understand what made the pirate tick.

I have found the mental treasure, it is only the physical that now remains, he told me.

John has searched more than 40 acres around the Bel Ombre area, exploring crevices and caverns, and uncovering what he thinks are pirate markings on rocks. Hes also found bones, pistols, musket balls and statuettes.

Ive used all sorts of equipment: water pumps, rock drills, jackhammers, hand tools, even excavators and blasting at certain times, [as well as] the latest treasure detection equipment from Germany, he said.

Although John is understandably vague on details, not wanting to be trumped in his search, he believes hes found the actual treasure site, a cavern just off the beach  and mere steps from his home  which is blocked by boulders and can only be accessed by an underwater tunnel. John also warns that, according to his research, there will be a final booby trap over the treasure.

But it is illegal to dig up government land without a permit, and despite searching continuously since 1988, John was shut down by the government in 2009 until he can pay 250,000 rupees to get a license. He believes that this was done in order to secure the governments stake on the booty haul.

"The government owns the land, so they are entitled to 50%, which is the law, he said.

But still, 50% of 100 million is a lot of money, and John is emphatic that he wont stop searching. Since 2009, hes been doing preparatory work on the site, repairing rock armouring walls, building footpaths to get equipment in and working on measurements, clues and other data to get this right.

After so many obstacles placed in our way had been overcome, the bond was the final straw. I almost gave up. But I could not give them that satisfaction, John said. My plans are to recover the treasure. To get a license. To get that bond removed, or else get the proper funding to finish off the work.

Until that happens, the story of John and the pirates will never have a happy ending. And Im rooting for him to have the last laugh.
Al-Hoceima (Morocco) (AFP) - In Morocco's neglected Rif region, where outrage erupted last year over the gruesome death of a fishmonger, calls for justice have evolved into a grassroots movement demanding jobs and hospitals.

Mouhcine Fikri, 31, was crushed in a rubbish truck in October in the northern city of Al-Hoceima as he tried to protest against the seizure and destruction of swordfish, which were not allowed to be caught at that time of year.

His death in the Rif -- an ethnically Berber region long marginalised and at the heart of a 2011 protest movement for reform -- briefly sparked protests nationwide and added to long-standing grievances in his hometown.

"We're the sons of the poor, simple people who have taken to the street to say no to tyranny. We're not asking for anything exceptional -- just the rehabilitation of our devastated region," says activist Nasser Zefzafi.

Broadcasting passionate speeches online in the local Tarifit dialect from his home or the street, the unemployed 39-year-old has become the face of the new movement demanding economic inclusion for the Rif.

"The martyrdom of Mouhcine Fikri, which was the consequence of years of the same state policy, was the last straw. The trial was a farce, the judgement shameful," says Zefzafi, the leader of the Al-Hirak al-Shaabi, or "Popular Movement".

"For six months we have been resisting... And we will resist until they respond to our demands for the economic and social development of our region," he says.

'No money, no work'

With its apartment blocks hugging the mountain and its main square overlooking the blue Mediterranean Sea, Al-Hoceima would seem like a normal seaside city if it were not for the heavy presence of policemen in plain clothes and uniform.

Weekend protests are common in this city of 60,000 inhabitants, with police immediately moving in to contain the demonstrators and prevent them from marching to the city centre.

With the exception of a high school student protest in late March, all demonstrations have been peaceful.

The demands are always the same: jobs, roads, universities, hospitals and investment.

Long excluded from state development plans and with little agricultural produce, the Rif region is economically devastated.

Remittances have stopped flowing in from relatives abroad, a state clampdown has made cannabis production harder, and smuggling towards nearby Spanish enclaves has dwindled.

And fishing, one of the region's main sources of income, is also in crisis. Demonstrators say a mafia controls local fishing ports.

The disillusionment is tangible among the city's residents fed up with the lack of work.

In a region that has traditionally rebelled against central power, Rif residents are feeling increasingly neglected and angry with the state.

"The movement is spearheaded by youth, but it resonates with many people because of the economic crisis, especially with traders and fishermen," Zefzafi says.

'Not separatists'

Faycal Aoussar, a local activist with the Moroccan Association of Human Rights, agrees.

"The youth's demands are fair and legitimate. The whole Rif supports them," he says.

"People are very determined... The movement will continue as long as the social and economic issues are not resolved," Aoussar says.

But, say Zefzafi and Aoussar, the movement is not fighting for independence of the region, despite protesters holding up the flag of the short-lived Rif republic founded in 1922 by local hero Abdelkrim el-Khattabi.

"The Rif flag is our identity, the heritage of our region," Aoussar says.

Zefzafi insists: "We're not separatists... Our demands are economic and social. It has never been about creating an independent state."

The Moroccan state has struggled to respond to the demands.

The governor of Al-Hoceima was fired in late March, and a flurry of ministers have visited the city in recent months, promising projects to boost the local economy.

Local state "institutions are doing their job and listening to citizens", local official Nourredine Boughrane says.

"Many projects are under way. We are doing everything to attract investors. There will be direct aid for fishermen," he adds. "The province has a bright future."

But a local dignitary, who asked to remain anonymous, said state efforts so far were insufficient.

"The authorities are moving but it's not enough. They'll need immediate results to stem the revolt. And (they'll need) to create jobs."
Lands and Natural Resources minister John Peter Amewu has directed Shanxii Mining Ghana Limited in the Upper East region to stop work following the tragic death of seven miners.

The death of 35-year-old Samuel Bang, an employee of the Shaanxi mining is the latest addition to six other deaths reported in the area since May 2013.

Bang was buried alive while drilling. The pit in which he was working suddenly caved in.

It took the search party close to 24 hours before his body was retrieved following what the company has said was an accident.

It is purely a mining accident. It is not a case of gas inhalation where someone has failed to do hazards assessment, " Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Shaanxi Mining Company Mr. Maxwell Wooma has said.

Underground mine manager at Shanxii Mining Thomas Tii at a media briefing said the company are cooperating with the BNI which is investigating the circumstances that led to the death.

"Yesterday we were invited by the BNI [and] this morning we stopped operations underground".

But the tragedy appears to have become a rallying point for protest by some youths in Talensi who have accused the company of negligence.

The accusations of foul play was brought to the media's attention by youths in Talensi who have constituted themselves into a pressure group, Concerned Citizens of Talensi.

At a press conference last Tuesday, they listed a litany of complaints against the company which is a mine support service firm providing services to two licensed small scale miners at Gbane.

They say the death of the 35-year old is the seventh since 2013.

A report by Today newspaper has said in 2015, 16 miners working for the company were rushed to the Upper East Regional Hospital after inhaling what was suspected to be a poisonous gas from a mining explosion.

In April, 2015, two miners died and eight were critically injured from the gas of an explosive substance, the paper has reported.

On Wednesday April 2 2014, two miners were allegedly gassed to death and one severely injured. In October the same year, three miners lost their lives when a mining pit collapsed on them.

Another tragedy was reported to have occurred in May 26, 2013, when three small-scale miners suspected to be intruders from another concession perished after a gas from an explosive engulfed a tunnel that belonged to Shaanxi Mining.

The Concerned Citizens of Talensi have questioned the credibility of the company and demanded that it be removed from the area.

They described the Chinese-owned company as 'wicked' and their operations 'illegal'.

"...even though, the Minerals and Mining (Support Services) Regulations 2012, LI 2174, seeks to preserve Mining Support Services to only Ghanaian local companies, Shaanxi Mining Ghana Ltd, has been allowed and shielded to operate.

They claimed the mines support company is actually into mining and has trespassed into other mining concessions, triggering clashes with other small scale miners.

However, at a media briefing yesterday, operators of the Shanxii mining company insisted that they could not have caused the deaths of the miners.

Meanwhile workers of the Shanxii mining company are unhappy about the indefinite closure of the company. They have been expressing their frustrations to Joy News.

"I am very, very sad. This work is helping this town a lot more than the galamsey (illegal) mining", a female employee said.

She said deaths over the years have been caused by the intrusive activities of illegal miners.

"They have created a hole linking to Shanxii Mining causing their own death" she told Joy News' Albert Sore.

Pleading for a resumption of work, the employee told Joy News, "please we are on our knees...me like this, I don't think I can survive [ if the company remains closed]"

Story by Ghana|myjoyonline.com
Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) Ghanas leading total beverage business and a subsidiary of Diageo PLC has reiterated its support to the Ghanaian media to continue to promote democracy in Ghana and beyond.

This backing comes at the time when the Ghanaian media fraternity joins the world to mark the 2017 World Press Freedom Day, a day celebrated to promote the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

This international day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the 26th Session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991. This, in turn, was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence.

Rita Rockson, Communications and Employee Engagement Manager for GGBL said the Ghanaian media has over the years contributed immensely to the development of Ghana through the promotion of democracy which is the backbone for socio-economic development. We at GGBL appreciate Ghanaian journalists for their work, informing and educating us and most especially being the voice of the people. The media also plays a critical role in providing the appropriate environment for industry players such as ours to succeed.

She added that Ghana can boast of being a leader when the world talks about democracy in Africa and we have achieved this as a nation due to the work journalists and existing media mechanisms. It is, therefore, right for us to applaud our journalists for their good work.

Speaking on practices to help solve the challenges of the Ghanaian media Ms. Rockson mentioned the need for a collaborated effort to support journalists to continue to perform their duties effectively.

On behalf of GGBL, she congratulated Ghanaian journalists and encouraged them to be bold in delivering their duties professionally.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com
MTN Ghanas Head of Mobile Money, Eli Hini, has cautioned customers against giving out their Mobile Money PIN code to persons who call them on phone and claim to be a staff of the company.

He was speaking to Adom News at a media workshop organised by MTN Ghana and E-Crime Bureau to sensitise news editors on ways fraudsters manage to steal money from people's mobile wallets.

It is very common for MTN customers to get calls from people claiming to be staff of MTN and demanding some payment via mobile money as a way of claiming some supposed award won in a promo.

Many such unsuspecting customers have been so defrauded in recent times.

Eli Hini said MTN, in collaboration with the police, have recently arrested a number of such fraudsters who are being prepared for prosecution soon.

He, however, cautioned that it is never MTN's practice to call customers and ask them to mention or dial their Mobile Money PIN so "if anyone ever calls you and says you have won a promo so dial your PIN or pay money that person is a fraudster."

He adds, "often when a customer wins in a promo we will only call you with our 0244300000 number and show you how to get your prize. We will never ask for your PIN or for you to pay money, he said.

Hini is confident that if customers got this understanding, 90 per cent of the mobile money fraud problem would have been solved.

Touching on the MTN Mobile Money service itself, Eli Hini said currently it has nine million active customers out of which some six million are billed to receive their 2017 first quarter interests this month.

He said beyond the interest on the balance in mobile wallets, MTN Mobile Money also runs a Yellow Save product with Fidelity Bank, which offers customers up to 12 percent interest on their balance.

Customers can also buy government treasury bills with the TBills4U product on MTN Mobile Money through Ecobank, he said.

Hini said all the services on the platform, including remittance, payments, airtime top-up and others are growing exponentially, particularly after the ISO certification which assures users of safety.

Principal Consultant at E-Crime Bureau, Albert Antwi-Boasiako, said phone users also need to be cautious of which sites they visit on their phones because some sites have viruses and Trojans that are able to extract vital information such as PIN numbers, passwords, and others.

He said pornography sites, in particular, pose the threat of Trojans that cyber fraudsters use to extract such information to steal from customers.

Albert Antwi-Boasiako also urged phone users to install reliable anti-viruses on their phones to protect their vital information.

He also touched on the recent attack on some media house websites saying that he suspected the galamsey operators to be behind those attacks because of the huge anti-galamsey campaign by the media.

He noted that the attackers succeed because the targeted websites were hosted on servers that also hosts several other websites, and that exposed them to risks.

Albert Antwi-Boasiako is, therefore, urging media house to stop hosting their websites on wholesale servers and also take steps to protect their websites because E-Crime analysis show they are still being targeted.
Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has pledged the support of her Ministry to work with GCNet to ensure the smooth implementation of Total Revenue Integrated Processing Systems (TRIPS) and Ghanas business automation project as part of eGhana project with the support of the World Bank

Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful said the goal of her Ministry is to address all outstanding issues mitigating against the e-Ghana project to enhance transparency drive. She stressed on Governments commitment to use technology to facilitate government business to ensure Ghanas improves its business competitiveness and the ease of doing business in the country. She added that it was critical for all stakeholders to work together to realise the revenue target set for 2017 so government could deliver on its promise to build a prosperous, self- reliant and vibrant economy that creates opportunities for all.

Mrs. Owusu- Ekuful made these comments when the she received the General Manager of the Ghana Community Network Services Limited (GCNet), Mr. Alwin Hoegerle at her offices to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Mr. Alwin Hoegerle briefed the Minister that GCNet was implementing the e-Registration component of the e-Ghana project with the Registrar Generals Department. He said significant progress has been made including the full automation of business registration processes on the eRegistrar platform, rollout of the eRegistrar to the Registrar General Department (RGD) in Accra, Kumasi , Tamale and Takoradi, provision of public online services via the eRegistrar portal including  name search, name reservation, business registration, regulatory filing, change in particulars, conversions and ePayments.

Mr. Hoegerle also shared progress update on the implementation of the Total Revenue Integrated Processing System project being deployed by GCNet. He told the Minister that Government realised more than twelve billion Ghana cedis in 2016 through TRIPS which accounted for 75% of domestic tax revenue having migrated about 34 GRA tax offices onto the platform with about 30 more offices to be hooked onto the system.

The Deputy Ministers of the Ministry, Hon. George Andah and Hon. Vincent Odotei also urged GCNet to work harder in deploying more innovative e-solutions that will facilitate the automation of government machinery to deliver better services to the citizenry.

They noted that GCNet managed a rich database which government can tap into and assured Government would leverage on GCNets experience especially in the design of the national identification project to ensure there is full maximisation and value for the country.

On his part, the Tema Branch & Transit Manager of GCNet, Mr. Jimmy Allotey called for the establishment of revenue courts at the ports as part of the measures to address leakages in the revenue mobilisation chain.

The GCNet team also used the opportunity to formally invite the Minister of Communications and her team to visit and acquaint themselves with the operational processes of the company.

GCNet is implementing the TRIPS and e-Registration components of the e-Ghana project through the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) under the Ministry of Communication with the beneficiary institutions being the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Registrar General Department as well as its original mandate to provide a complete IT solution for GRA Customs which has been ongoing for the past 15 years.

GCNet is also a founding member of the African organization, African Alliance for eCommerce (AACE) that seeks the roll out of Single Window systems in Africa and have been operating the Single Window in Ghana.

The visit was in line with the strategic direction of Executive Management of GCNet to deepen and sustain its relations with Government through top of mind presence engagements in re-positioning as leader in the provision of e-solutions to government to foster trade development, improve ease of doing business and business competitiveness and enhance revenue mobilisation.
The Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has opened up about the bribery scandal that hit Parliaments Appointments Committee, describing the experience as very painful.

According to Alhaji Muntaka, the most painful aspect of the ordeal, that saw bribery allegations leveled against some Members of the Appointments Committee, was dealing with the fact that the allegations were made by his best friend, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga.

Speaking on the Point Blank segment of Eyewitness News, he said I really wish it never happened. I wish I didn't have to be in between my best friend and whoever he wanted to accuse. But the sad thing is that, I am a very serious Muslim and there is no way I will support false witness no matter what is involved.

The fallout from the allegations saw Mahama Ayariga charged with contempt of Parliament, and subsequently compelled to apologize for the bribery allegations he made against the committee, and the Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko, who he said had offered the bribe to have his nomination for the portfolio passed.

Alhaji Muntaka himself, also the Asawase MP, was implicated in the bribery allegations with Mr. Ayariga alleging that the Chairman of the Appointments Committee served as a courier for the bribe money which was given to him for onward disbursement.

Mahama Ayariga

About a month after the dust has settled on the allegations, Alhaji Muntaka said we are all getting over it; but I must admit that it is the most shocking moment of my life; when I had to be in this heated thing between a friend, my party and another person; but I am happy that we tried to get over it.

He further expressed hope that his fellow MPs had picked the lessons off it so that so that next time around, this never happens.

This is an issue that is better not spoken about, looking at the passion and emotions that it brings about for me it was very painful, really really very painful for me, the MP stressed, saying we need to let sleeping dogs lie with respect to the matter.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
CHI Health is undergoing some major changes in Lincoln.

Both Kim Moore, president of CHI Health St. Elizabeth, and Kent Reckewey, president of The Physician Network, are retiring.

Reckewey's last day is Friday, while Moore's last day will be July 31.

Together, the two have more than seven decades of experience in the Lincoln medical community.

Moore has worked at St. Elizabeth since 1979, when she started as a staff nurse in the critical-care department. She worked her way up the nursing ranks, eventually becoming chief nursing officer, then chief operating officer before being named president in 2011.

"Mine is kind of a rags-to-riches story," she said.

Moore is taking an early retirement buyout, something that recently was offered to employees of the hospital age 55 and older with a certain number of years of service.

The departures of Moore and Reckewey come as CHI Health and its umbrella organization, Catholic Health Initiatives, struggle with a changing health care landscape.

CHI lost more than $75 million in its most recent quarter, and that comes on the heels of a $483 million loss in its 2016 fiscal year.

As a result, the company has been cutting costs.

Moore said that she wasn't necessarily looking to retire, but with the retirement of Reckewey, it made sense.

In addition to leading The Physician Network  a network of more than 300 health care providers affiliated with CHI hospitals in Lincoln, Grand Island and Kearney  Reckewey also is the top administrator at CHI Health Heart Hospital. With his retirement, CHI Health plans to combine leadership of St. Elizabeth and the Heart Hospital into one position.

Combining the two positions into one "is absolutely the right thing to do," Moore said.

And she said she felt it was also the right thing to do for her to step down and let CHI Health choose a new person for the role.

A CHI Health spokesman said the company will conduct national searches for both president jobs  one for the St. Elizabeth and Heart Hospital job and one for The Physician Network.

Barry Hoover, chief medical officer for The Physician Network, will serve as interim president until someone is hired permanently for that job. Moore said the St. Elizabeth board is likely to name an interim president for the hospital to take over after she leaves.

Reckewey, who declined to be interviewed, spent 33 years in various roles at The Physician Network and has been president since 2014.

He was CEO of the Nebraska Heart Institute in Lincoln from 2011 to 2013 and served as the EMS director for Lincoln from 1999 to 2010.

In a presentation to investors in February, CHI said it had given a "labor-reduction" plan to all of its operating regions.

So far this year, CHI  which is in talks to merge with San Francisco-based Dignity Health  cut more than 600 jobs at its Texas hospitals, 250 in Kentucky and almost 100 in Bismarck, North Dakota, according to media reports.

In Nebraska, CHI Health cut about 60 positions in January, according to Michael Romano, director of media relations for Catholic Health Initiatives, and another approximately 50 employees accepted the recent buyout offer.

Those cuts come on top of 150 layoffs in 2015 that were largely due to a nine-month contract dispute between CHI Health and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, during which people with Blue Cross insurance could not get in-network coverage at CHI Health facilities.

In addition to the recent layoffs and buyouts, CHI Health also decided to end ownership of two OB-GYN clinics in Lincoln. One of the clinics decided to stay open under independent ownership, while the other plans to close. Its doctors will become employees of St. Elizabeth.

Moore said there are health care challenges across the country as hospitals deal with rising costs and new models of providing care, but she said she's proud of the way her staff has handled the difficulties.

"It's been a tough few years, and our staff has really hung in there," she said.

Moore and Reckewey are not the only CHI executives stepping down. The president of CHI Health St. Francis hospital in Grand Island resigned in November, and the CEO of Mercy Health Network in Des Moines, Iowa, is retiring this summer.

In addition, Catholic Health Initiatives' chief operating officer, the company's No. 2-ranking executive, resigned in December.

Romano said the timing of the retirements and resignations is coincidental.

Moore said she's confident that whoever is hired to replace her will do a good job.

"There have been great leaders before me and there are going to be great leaders after me," she said.
05.05.2017 LISTEN

For the third (or fourth) time in a row, President Muhammadu Buhari has missed the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting fueling insinuations that he must be critically ill. Some online media platforms reported on Tuesday May 2, 2017 that the President in fact reported to his office holding meetings with some officials but this does little to refute doubts on his health because a day before, the president was expected to address the nations hardworking workers on May Day which he failed to do. The efforts of the Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, to clear the air on her husbands health appeared to have added to the suspicions that things were not well with the nations Number One citizen.

Like most patriotic Nigerians, I wish the President well and hope he succeeds. But my fear for him today is simply those so-called Cabals that have exploited his failing health to take over his administration. The anti-corruption war appears to be tuning down. The cabal, allegedly, has been hiding the President and engage in looting spree. They have now arrogated powers to themselves that even the President himself does not have. This is what you get when people ask, Who is the Presidency? But, should the Presidents health condition at any time be an issue? Is the President not just a mortal like any of us that can fall ill, or even give up the ghost at any time even without prior warning? What is the big deal in anyone falling sick? Lets rid him of the status of President he is just human!

Why I am of the view that the President should just simply resign to attend to his health and make history as the first African to do so. But, in the case, he may choose (or not) to take my advice in which case both can be justified. I dont know, for instance, an US president that have resigned due to poor health. I am also aware a total of eight out of 45 US president have died in office, out of which four were assassinated. Of those that died of natural courses none disclosed their health status publicly and none resigned. In this case, there is nothing really unusual about the President not declaring his health status publicly if the American presidential system we copy doesnt allow for such!

It is understandable for people to play politics with the presidents health. In Nigeria, everything seems to be politics, including something as petty as Jollof Rice. In January 1992, 67-year old US President George H. Bush suddenly ill and collapsed at a state dinner being given for him on a night at the home of the Japanese Prime Minister, Kiichi Miyazawa a big as this news was, no responsible US politician made a political capital of it. It was normal for anyone to fall ill and at any time. No one told the President to resign due to his poor health. Buhari has not collapsed in a foreign country, yet some people are calling for his impeachment even though the Constitution doesnt say so!

The President is ill, we all know. His handlers cannot hide that fact anymore. Like I said in a previous piece on the subject of the Presidents health, his handlers should simply have come out clean on the presidents health status rather than this weekly drama as to whether the president will attend the weekly FEC meeting or not. If they have done that it will then have been the case of: Im sick, so what?

When next anyone asks for the presidents health status, their response should be the following lines from David Aragons song So What? Which goes thus (hopefully I will get the lines correct):

So what if I'm crazier than crazy?

So what if I'm sicker than sick?

So what if I'm out of control?

Maybe that's what I like about it

So what?

So what?

That the presidents ill is not a big deal. The big deal is how to handle such without necessarily creating an atmosphere of tensions!

Olalekan Waheed ADIGUN is a political analyst and an independent political strategist for wide range of individuals, organisations and campaigns. He is based in Lagos, Nigeria. His write-ups can be viewed on his website http://olalekanadigun.com/ Tel: +2348136502040, +2347081901080 Email: [email protected] , [email protected] . Follow me on twitter @adgorwell
Five or so months after losing the December 2016 elections, former President John Dramani Mahama is still groping for the factors accounting for his devastating loss to Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

While in Durban, South Africa, attending the World Economic Forum last week, he attributed his shocking defeat to a fresh set of factors, one of them being his sincerity about the state of the economy as against the rosy presentation by his opponent.

According to the former president, it was this rosy picture of 'heaven on earth' which Nana Akufo-Addo presented that swayed the votes in his favour.

Many would wonder whether the foregone factor represents a euphemism for deceit in his estimation, on the part of his opponent which accounted for the record electoral defeat in local terms.

I knew what the economy could give the people and I told the people the truth that we need more hard work to be able to get out of where we are; my opponent promised heaven and you have the constraints of not being able to promise all the rosy things he was doing, he said on the sidelines of the forum.

Former President Mahama, it would be recalled, told Ghanaians that the economy was in good shape under his stewardship and so if anybody presented a rosy picture of the fiscal state of the country, it was he.

Continuing his speech, he said he was a victim of incumbency disadvantage, another factor which many would question, given the advantages incumbency presented during the 2016 campaign.

His positions notwithstanding, he was not in doubt about the decision of his compatriots when he continued, The people made a choice and voted me out, adding that what he suffered was part of a learning process.

It is part of the learning process for all of us.

The former president leaves nobody in doubt about the painful exit he made after a term in office  the first to be recorded in local political history.

He said, if he [President Nana Akufo-Addo] is able to deliver on his promises, good; if he is not able too, the people would have learnt that not all that glitters is gold.

The subject of incumbency has been the central point in many a discussion by civil societies, given the advantages it presents to presidents who go into electoral duels with the opposition.

Former President John Mahama was largely accused of using state resources such as Ghana Air Force aircraft for his campaign rounds across the country.

He was reported to have told Nana Akufo-Addo sarcastically of sleeping off on his road travels and so did not take note of the quality of roads he (Mahama) had constructed in the Western Region, and got a devastating response from his opponents.

They told him that he was always airborne on his campaign trail using state aircraft for his trips and so did not know the true state of the roads.

For those who hold this view, it would be difficult convincing them that the former president suffered the incumbency disadvantage.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC)  his party  has set up a committee to find out what accounted for the loss of the party to the NPP.

The former president's accounts, cut and dry, could be valuable to the committee if it finds them credible and worthy of consideration.

He told world leaders to be accountable to their compatriots as a means of building state institutions.

It is interesting to note that Mr Mahama seeks to campaign for the strengthening of public institutions, considering the appalling state of such bodies in the country.

The government of President Akufo-Addo is still grappling with the sorry state of state institutions, some of them unable to even ensure that people who owed the state paid up.

The people must know what public funds are used for, he said, explaining that this is a means of building confidence in public institutions of the country.

Every month when I work, part of my salary is taken as tax, so as a citizen I want to be sure that whoever has been elected into government is going to be accountable on how he uses that money, Nana Addo underscored.

Former President John Mahama's discourse would provoke interesting and divisive discussions among his compatriots, coming at a time when the new government is taking stock of what went wrong under his stewardship.

By A.R. Gomda


The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has commenced the demolition of unauthorized structures at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

The demolition exercise commenced at about 6:00 am yesterday, and the AMA team was supervised by heavily armed police officers from the Greater Accra Regional Command.

The taskforce, with about 50 members, destroyed all unauthorized structures, particularly those around the interchange, to the chagrin of some hawkers.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of AMA, Numo Blafo Akotia, said the exercise was the beginning of efforts to ensure that governments pledge to make Accra the cleanest city in Africa is realised.

Recently, President Akufo-Addo told Ga chiefs that the commitment we are making and which I want you all to make with me is that by the time we end our four-year term, Accra is going to be the cleanest city in Africa.

A disgruntled trader, who was affected by the demolition exercise, admitted that the assembly notified them three weeks ahead of the exercise, but said the city authorities had failed to offer alternative places for them to do their trading.

Where do they expect us to go, now that they have demolished our structures? They gave us a three-week ultimatum but they did not give us an alternative venue for us to relocate to. We do not have any place to sell our wares and we have to work to cater for our family. Government should have found a convenient place for us before demolishing our structures, he lamented.

Director of Operations at the AMA , Mohammed Naziru, stressed that the assembly issued prior notice and could not be held to ransom.

The AMA taskforce is not happy about this development. That is why we came to speak to them to find another place. Nana Addo's priority is to make Accra clean and that is why we are embarking on this exercise, he explained.

The city of Accra has virtually been besieged by traders who are unlawfully hawking various types of wares at the Circle (Dubai), and under newly constructed foot-bridges at Shiashie and East Legon.

Additionally, a walkway towards Accra Mall has been overtaken by traders.
On May 4, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the U.S. governments Feed the Future Initiative, hosted the 4th Annual Ghana Agribusiness Investment Summit to showcase investment opportunities in Ghanas agribusinesses.

The event brought together business service providers, financial institutions, agribusinesses, farmers, development partners and the Ghanaian government under the theme Mobilizing strategic investment for agriculture. At the summit, the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Honorable George Oduro, and U.S. Charge d'Affaires Melinda Tabler-Stone stressed the importance of leveraging financial opportunities for Ghanaian agribusinesses.

The aim of the event is to spotlight Ghanaian agribusinesses and link them with viable private investment opportunities. The event featured panel discussions on opportunities in the agriculture sector, the importance of forming strategic partnerships to enhance agricultural productivity, risk-sharing agricultural lending, and alternative sources of financing for agribusiness. The summit offered participants business-to-business sessions where they were given the opportunity to network and forge partnerships.

Todays summit is a call to action, remarked Charge d'Affaires Tabler-Stone. It is a call for private, public, and development partners to re-strategize and increase investment in agriculture, so that we can achieve sustainable and broadly shared economic growth. Let me assure you that the U.S. government is committed to working with the Ghanaian government and our partners to boost economic growth and reduce poverty.

This annual event was organized by Feed the Future with support from USAID. In Ghana, Feed the Future has mobilized more than $115 in private sector investment for Ghanas agriculture sector and works to improve agricultural productivity, boost incomes, and link farmers to market and trade opportunities.
Durban (South Africa) (AFP) - The famine ravaging South Sudan and its neighbours could claim six million lives, a charity warned Friday, as the international community struggles to raise the $4.4 billion needed to avert a full-blown disaster.

The food crisis in the world's youngest country is one of the key issues being discussed at this week's World Economic Forum on Africa in Durban, which has brought together the continent's business and political elite.

Saira Khan, the chief executive of the charity Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa, warned that a chaotic international response to the situation in South Sudan was threatening the lives of millions.

"It's pretty gloomy. We're seeing a lot of confusion amongst the NGOs and governments in terms of what needs to be done," she said.

"It's a difficult time for that region -- and if we don't do anything we're going to have six million people dead at the end of this year because of famine."

In February, South Sudan and the United Nations formally declared a famine in some parts of the northern Greater Unity region affecting 100,000 people, a disaster UN officials said was "man-made" and could have been averted.

More than 1.9 million South Sudanese are internally displaced and at least 1.7 million have fled to safety across the country's borders so far -- including a total of 830,000 to neighbouring Uganda

After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, the country descended into civil war in December 2013 when a power struggle erupted between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar. Tens of thousands died and more than 3.5 million have been displaced.

"The real instability in the area with the war and migrants just going and settling where they can has contributed to this and put enormous pressure on Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda," Khan said.

Oxfam International's executive director Winnie Byanyima told AFP that a huge funding shortfall for relief efforts was threatening lives.

Go hungry or 'be raped'

The UN has estimated that $4.4 billion is needed by July to avoid widespread loss of life in South Sudan -- but just 26 percent of that has been raised so far.

"The need is huge, the gap is huge," Byanyima said. "It needs to be filled urgently. When people die in a famine it's a sign of failure because you can prevent it if you act early enough."

The food crisis in South Sudan is one of the key issues being discussed at this week's World Economic Forum on Africa in Durban, which has brought together the continent's business and political elite

More than 1.9 million people are internally displaced and at least 1.7 million have fled to safety across the country's borders so far. A total of 830,000 South Sudanese refugees have fled to neighbouring Uganda and the UN expects this figure will reach more than a million by mid-year.

"I visited places where people are trapped in what are called 'protection of civilian' camps. The women there face a choice between hunger or stepping out and being raped while looking for food," Byanyima said.

Elsewhere in Africa, Byanyima warned that Nigeria could face its own famine crisis.

"I have just been to northeast Nigeria, a region that has been devastated by Boko Haram," she said. "There are 47,000 people living there in famine-like conditions. Another five million could experience famine in the next few months".

'Paradox of Africa'

Relief agencies in northern Nigeria will run out of money to avert food shortages as early as June, Peter Lundberg, the UN's deputy humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria, said recently.

Refugees from South Sudan receive treatment at the Bidibidi health centre in the northern Ugandan district of Yumbe on April 14, 2017

The World Food Programme says that 4.7 million people across three areas of northeast Nigeria are already facing acute hunger while the Red Cross warns that five children are dying daily of starvation.

Ahead of the WEF, South Africa's deputy finance minister Sifiso Buthelezi highlighted the disconnect between Africa's vast natural resources and its persistent hunger issues.

"...it's part of the paradox of Africa. You have got vast lands but our people are starving. There's definitely something that we need to do," he said.

Byanyima called for the United Nations to be overhauled to face the challenges in South Sudan.

"Today it is so dysfunctional and unable to get the Security Council to bear pressure on leaders who are behaving irresponsibly such as in South Sudan," she said.

Gilbert Houngbo, the new head of the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development, said that efforts were needed to prepare South Sudan's agriculture for when peace returns.

"I visited places where people are trapped in what are called 'protection of civilian' camps. The women there face a choice between hunger or stepping out and being raped while looking for food," Oxfam International's Winnie Byanyima said

"Our guys are already active in preparing for an early recovery," Houngbo told AFP. "It's going to be difficult, but it's not impossible. The major impediment is still our ability to be there to come to a peace agreement."

The theme of the 27th WEF on Africa is "Leadership in an era of disruption". It has drawn more than 1,200 participants, including several heads of state.

Oxfam released a report to coincide with the start of the forum which winds up on Friday, revealing that seven of the world's top 20 unequal countries are in Africa.

It warned that if economic growth continues to benefit only a small African elite, an additional 350 million people could be forced into poverty by 2032.
The Omanhene of the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, Obirifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea Ababio II has lauded Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo for nominating competent DCEs for Gomoa East and West Districts adding that the Nananom in the traditional area would support his government to succeed.

" On behalf of the Gomoa Akyempim traditional council I state with authority that we are highly determined to support full implementation of H. E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo led NPP government all its achievable programs and policies for Gomoa.Am not being partisan here but the truth must be told that NPP government is really set to ensure that Ghana becomes icon of development in the African continent "

Obirifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea Ababio II gave this assurance when President's nominees for DCEs positions for Gomoa East and West Districts, Mr. Benjamin Kojo Otoo and Mr. Bismarck Nkum respectively paid courtesy call on him at Gomoa Buduatta,

"Looking at Free SHS, Planting for Food and Jobs, the One District one Factory and other policies aimded at creating jobs, there is the need for everybody to play positive role to ensure its full implementation and benefits to the nation and the youth in particular.

Gomoa is hard hit with poverty and unemployment and illiteracy. This has led to migration of its hardworking youth to urban and city centers to seek for greener pasture. I see these policies as God Sent to alleviate poverty and other antisocial vices in this part of the country"

The Omanhene therefore tasked the nominees if confirmed as DCEs to spearhead the development agenda of Nana Akuffo Addo for total development of all the communities in Gomoa.

" Let me use this opportunity to caution Assembly Members that Nananom don't want to hear that any of these competent DCEs has been rejected. This would retire development. We are confidence that they would performed creditably "

The Guantoahene of the Gomoa Akyempim traditional area, Nana Osuan Asare VII urged political parties in the two districts to coexist peacefully.

He called for collaboration between Nananom and the two District Assemblies in Gomoa to enhance development and improve the living conditions of the people.

Mr. Benjamin Kojo Otoo on behalf of his colleague pledged to consult Nananom in all their endeavors adding that if confirmed, they would operate Open Door administration for proper accountability.

Present were MPs for Gomoa Central and Gomoa West constituencies, Hon. Naana Eyiah Quansah and Hon. Alexander Abban respectively.
Residents of Medoma, near Kumasi, discovered the body of man in the area on Wednesday morning.

The deceased, whose identity is not known, was found lying under a high tension pole, with blood oozing from his mouth.

According to them, some wicked people might have killed the man and dumped the body at the place.

It was initially rumoured that the man, perhaps, tried stealing electricity cables and was unfortunately electrocuted in the process.

People at the scene believed the reports for some time until other revelations were made.

One Kojo Antwi, who was at the crime scene, said people at the scene later realized that the man's right leg had been broken.

Mr. Antwi disclosed that the marks on the man's body showed that some people might be behind the demise of the man.

The matter was later reported to the police who deposited the body at morgue pending autopsy.



From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi




The priest in-charge of Jukwa Krobo Grotto Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast in the Central Region, Rev. Fr. David Obeng Paintsil, has stressed the need for all Christians and Muslims of good will in the country to offer prayers on the first Sunday and first Friday of every month respectively to end illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.

According to him, the government, the media and civil society cannot succeed in this campaign without prayers.

He indicated that the situation at hand is so complex that human efforts are not enough to combat it.

Rev Fr Paintsil made this observation at a press conference held in the area.

He stressed the need for all to pray for divine intervention to touch the hearts of both the big and ordinary men behind the business that has dire consequences on the environment and life.

This would also give the government and the media the will power and the spirit of perseverance to end the canker as well as give spiritual protection to all who were involved in this campaign, especially the sector minister and the media, he said.

Rev Fr Paintsil entreated pastors and Imams to educate the youth on the hazards of the galamsey menace, and the effect of illegal mining activities in the country.

He noted that the government would get a lasting and sustainable solution to this national problem if people make up their minds to help save the lands and water bodies for the sake of posterity.

This current state of the galamsey menace has depleted the hitherto rich farming lands and water bodies and one can no longer rely on the natural rivers for water consumption since they have been poisoned by dangerous chemicals from the activities of galamsey, he lamented.

The priest added that there had been several attempts by successive governments and civil society organizations to deal with the menace in various ways but all such attempts landed on rocks.

Rev Fr Paintsil noted that the current campaign launched by the media and the government is in the right direction.

From Sarah Afful, Jukwa

Email:[email protected]


An Accra circuit court yesterday dismissed the application for bail by lawyers of the four persons standing trial for allegedly robbing Akua Donkor, founder and flag bearer of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) in the last elections.

The court, presided over by Aboagye Tandoh, held that the request for bail by the various lawyers of the accused persons  Yakubu Yusif, trader/Central Regional Chairman of the GFP; Abdul Razak Shaibu, a member of the GPRTU task force; Banabas Kayase, driver/secretary of the party and Opoku Agyemang, trader  was premature.

Ruling

He said per Section 965 (6) of Act 30, the grant of bail is solely the discretion of the court in all cases like the instant one.

Mr. Tandoh stated that in granting bail, it was imperative for the court to do so in the contexts of the facts before it, the charge sheet and whether the accused persons would avail themselves for the trial.

In the view of the court, having assessed the application of the lawyers and the law, the court was unable to grant the bail but rather, opted for the speedy trial of the matter in order to avoid undue delays to the disadvantage of the accused persons.

Negligence

Earlier, Sergeant Yesulorn Atsutse, an officer attached to the Odorkor Motorbike Patrol Team  the third prosecution witness in the case  was under cross-examination by Vincent Aikins, lawyer of two of the accused persons.

The lawyer had accused the witness of doing nothing to avert the robbery when he allegedly saw three of the accused persons on a motorbike heading to the scene of the crime on the day of the incident.

Mr Vincent Aikins was emphatic that the police officer was negligent and shirked his duty to avert the committal of the crime.

According to him, the police officer, upon seeing that the accused persons on the motorbike were violating motor traffic regulations, should have stopped them.

This, he insisted, could have averted the crime, adding, If any robbery was committed, you contributed to it.

Sergeant Atsutse, whose answers to the lawyer's jabs threw the court into a state of intermittent laughter, said he could not be blamed for the crime because he attempted to stop the accused persons on the motorbike, but they refused to stop.

He stated that he had followed the three for barley ten minutes prior to his attempt to stop them.

Sergeant Atsutse, among other things, told the court that he also saw the vehicle of Madam Akua Donkor parked at the scene of the crime.

The case has been adjourned until May 8.

Charges

The prosecution said at about 2:30 am, the accused persons conspired to rob the GFP leader at gunpoint and snatched her travelling bag containing plane ticket, Ghanaian passport, voter ID card, $30,000 and GH3,000 at Sowutuom, a suburb of Accra, on December 30, 2016. Two other accomplices  Joe and Nuamah aka Lion- are currently on the run.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

[email protected]


Osei Assibey talking to a woman who operates a food joint on the school compound

TEACHERS AND students of the New Asafo MA Basic School at Asokwa in Kumasi are said to be living in great danger following reports that mad men frequently invade the school to terrorize them.

Some of the lunatics reportedly look very scary, and usually enter the classrooms during teaching hours, forcing fear-stricken teachers and pupils to flee in order to prevent themselves from possible attacks.

The continuous reported invasion of classrooms by the mad men and other pressing challenges, such as lack of key amenities, are said to have contributed to a sharp decline in the school's population in recent times.

Mr. Foster Opoku, headmaster of the school, who made the disclosure, called for immediate construction of a wall around the school to forestall a reoccurrence of the incident.

He expressed the worry when the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Osei Assibey Antwi, and other top officials of the assembly visited the school  which shares a boundary with the Kumasi City Mall  on an inspection tour.

Mr. Opoku also called for the introduction of the school feeding programme in the school to help attract new students, stressing that he was alarmed about the continuous spate of dropouts in the school.

Mr Osei Assibey said it is unacceptable for mad men to attack teachers and pupils whilst in school, indicating that the KMA would partner a private company to construct a wall around the school.

He stated that he was also not happy about commercial activities on the school's premises, which he noted, could distract the teachers and the pupils, and assured that the KMA would soon solve the problem once and for all.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi


A measure that's had craft brewers hopping mad for months is now tapped for debate by the full Legislature this year.

The General Affairs Committee advanced the bill Friday on a 6-2 vote after rejecting an amendment backed by Nebraska's craft beer producers.

"We're gonna fight it on the floor," said Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, who proposed the failed amendment and was one of two committee members who ultimately voted against advancing the bill to the full Legislature.

The bill (LB632) contains a series of proposed changes to state liquor law requested by the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

Craft brewers say parts aimed at clamping down on their distribution practices would hinder their burgeoning industry, particularly in rural communities where it has begun to flourish.

Brewpubs across the state held rallies earlier this year to raise public opposition to the changes, and craft beer backers packed a legislative hearing on the measure in February.

Some controversial elements have since been tweaked or removed, but the bill's sponsor, Sen. Tyson Larson of O'Neill, says the remaining pieces are necessary to protect the state from a lawsuit.

Specifically, the craft brewers oppose a part that would require any beer they sell through a distributor to physically come to rest at the distributor's warehouse instead of a truck simply hauling it directly to bars and retail stores.

That "at-rest" rule has long applied to major brewers, and expanding it to include craft brewers simply codifies a rule already approved by the Liquor Commission earlier this week.

Blood's amendment, which would have stricken that requirement from the bill, failed on a 3-3 vote. Sens. Dan Quick and Bob Krist joined Blood in supporting her amendment. Sens. Larson, Merv Riepe and Burke Harr opposed it, and Sens. Lydia Brasch and Justin Wayne didn't vote.

Major breweries have long opposed state laws aimed at nurturing microbreweries, arguing they violate the U.S. Constitution's interstate commerce protections.

But Blood said craft breweries are an economic driver that enhance nightlife in the state.

"We want to have things to do for young Nebraskans," she said.

Senators had to act on the bill no later than Friday in order for it to be debated this year.

Several said they had no choice but to support the overall bill because it would allow the state to clamp down on a series of strip clubs owned by Lincoln businessman Shane Harrington, where members can bring their own alcohol.

The proposed changes would make those "bottle clubs"  which Harrington has opened in Omaha, Hastings, Grand Island and Elm Creek  subject to state licensing.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Sam George has disclosed that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), have for years, been recruiting unqualified individuals into the Ghana Police Service.

Mr. George who is a former presidential staffer in the erstwhile NDC government revealed this Friday on Morning Starr while commenting on the recent spate of police brutality  the latest involving a police officer, Gabriel Tabiri stationed at Anya Police Station.

Tabiri Tuesday went berserk and stripped a taxi driver naked for allegedly jumping red light.

The cab driver Kwabena Danso, who is traumatized, was disgraced in the open by the peacemaker with service number 36832. The officer allegedly accosted him at a Fuel Station and ended up tearing apart his clothing.

Frequent users of that Anyaa stretch of the highway know that particular traffic light is faulty. It is usually on amber or switches to red and within a blink of an eye it turns green then amber then red, Danso explained to Starrfmonline.com and has been corroborated by drivers who use that road often.

Scandalized by the conduct of the officer, the Ningo-Prampram legislator told Morning Starr host Francis Abban that the conduct of the officer clearly shows that he did not have the necessary training.

Many times if you take a close look at the individuals in the police service who carry out some of these excesses and you begin to do a back trace of their recruitment into the service, you will realize that many of them may not have necessarily made it through the regular process, he said.

He added: Many of them get into the police service by virtue of political influence. At times political influence is able to get people who hitherto may not have been able to make it through the rigorous checks and balances, and so because they got in through a certain back door you realized that the proper things when it comes to training and background check on some of them are not done. And that is why at times you even see policemen who are engaged in armed robbery.

When quizzed further by the host, he said: This one is not partisan, this is not one political party. It cuts across. All of us we do it. I mean when NPP was in government they helped people into the (police service).

In your time you also did it?, asked the host, Oh! yes we did it. NDC also did it. It is actually a thing that MPs use to campaign that Oh! me I help twenty people get into the police, forty into the army. It is a campaign issue. These are realities on the ground we cant run away from it.
Contractors of Cocobod Housing project briefing management of the marketing company

A debt stock of about $100 million is crippling the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) located at Tema.

West Africa's largest local processor, CPC, which has been listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) since 2003, owes syndicated banks, regulator and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) at least $94 million for raw supply of beans.

CPC's revenues in 2014 were $36.4 million, down from $60 million in 2013.

The company said it would sell some assets of the company in order to raise funds to get cheaper power from VRA.

Last year, the company closed its two main plants, which have a total annual grinding capacity of 64,500 tonnes and produce semi-finished products such as cocoa butter, liquor and powder for export mainly to Europe for maintenance.

Ghana, the world's second-largest cocoa producer, currently processes about 30 percent of its total output locally far less than government's target of 50 percent.

This was made known by management of the company when some top officials of COCOBOD paid an official visit to CPC as part of a familiarization tour of the company on Wednesday.

They also toured Niche Cocoa, Cargill Ghana, Cocoa Touton Processing Company and other companies in the Free Zones enclave of Tema.

Acting Managing Director of CPC, Dr. Frank Asante, attributed the huge debt to high electricity tariffs and unavailability of cocoa beans to process to make payment.

He appealed to management of COCOBOD to assist the company by supplying raw beans and funds.

According to him, the company was considering withdrawing from the Free Zones enclave to ensure competition in prices, adding that we are hoping to get cheaper electricity from Volta River Authority (VRA) this year.

Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Board Chairman of COCOBOD, disclosed that his outfit would offer unflinching support to salvage CPC and make it viable.

He called on management of the company to be proactive to save the company from collapse.

The Board Chairman expressed worry about the failure of CPC to take advantage of the best cocoa beans produced in Ghana.

Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, in a remark, assured the cocoa companies in the country of government's support to boost production to meet its target of producing 50 percent of the beans processed locally.

He was optimistic the current measures put in place by management of COCOBOD and government would help cocoa producers to increase production.

The team also inspected the 192-room housing project for workers of COCOBOD at the Cocoa Village in Community 2, Tema.

CPC currently has 270 permanent staff, 130 casual workers, with about 100 of them outsourced.

From Vincent Kubi, Tema


The 47th Annual Global Summit of Public Relations Organizations International (PROI) has discussed, among other topics, the need for Public Relations practitioners to develop consultancies that are equipped with relevant human and technological resources to drive results in the communication and business space of today's vibrant organization.

The summit, held in Sydney, Australia and themed 'the new world we live in,' was attended by PROI's West African partner, Mahogany Consult and over 80 other participants from the Americas, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions.

Baaba Cofie, Senior Consultant at Mahogany Consult, stated that this year's conference provided insightful discussions and case studies on new and innovative trends in Public Relations consulting.

Key among discussions at the summit was the need for Public Relations agencies to consider new agency business models in order to stay competitive in a world whose industries are being driven by the digital agenda.

This means, we need to develop conscious corporate governance behaviour for business success, build a strong DNA that encourages learning and growth within the agency and present brilliance in our everyday work, Mrs. Cofie said.

Mrs. Cofie stated that successful agencies create, innovate and respond to challenges, and Mahogany Consult is committed to evolving with global trends to satisfy client needs and become an agency of choice in Africa.

We must therefore continue to build strength in roles such as creative content creation, visual storytelling, and a variety of other communication services to deliver the best results for clients, she added.

PROI Worldwide is the longest-running partnership of public relations agencies founded in 1970. Since then, PROI has grown to encompass over 75 partner agencies with over 5,000 PR professionals across five continents, 50 countries and over 100 cities.

A business desk report


Deputy Minister Trade and Industry, Robert Ahomka Lindsay presenting the ultimate award to the GGBL team

Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), leading total beverage business and a subsidiary of Diageo PLC in Ghana, was adjudged the Manufacturing Company of the year at the recently held Ghana Manufacturers Award.

The awards, which was organized by the Xodus Communications in Accra, also saw the company winning the Best Company in Corporate Social Responsibility and Best Company in Waste Management/Sustainability awards.

Francis Agbonlahor, Managing Director of GGBL said, We are very proud to be named the Manufacturing Company of the Year from such a competitive and diverse manufacturing industry.

GGBL has operated in Ghana for over 50 years and contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of the country through direct and indirect job creation, as well as impactful Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Consistently, we have proved that our products are manufactured to the best quality and promoted in a responsible manner, adhering to global best practices.

He said the award would certainly spur the company on to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer product company in Ghana.

GGBL is the only beverage business listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange and produces a total beverage portfolio including Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Star Lager, Orijin Bitter and Beer Johnnie Walker Blue, Platinum, Gold, Black and Red Labels, Baileys, Smirnoff Vodka, Tappers Palm Beer, Smirnoff Ice, Malta Guinness, Alvaro, Orijin Zero.
The Ghana Chamber of Agribusiness (GCA) has suggested to government to register smallholder farmers for the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) scheme.

Anthony Selorm Kwesi Morrison, a senior official at the Chamber, who spoke to BUSINESS GUIDE after the May Day celebrations in Accra, said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration must do everything possible to promote the welfare of farmers nationwide.

He said government should focus on a full rollout of an agriculture insurance programme that would cushion smallholder farmers from the harsh weather and economic conditions.

According to him, even though there were lots of smallholder farmers in the hinterlands whose contributions to the food production needs of the country were very significant, their living conditions are awful.

He said while many smallholder farmers face difficulties, some middlemen in the agric sector continue to benefit at the expense of the poor farmers.

The development, he said, must be tackled by the Akufo-Addo administration, which intends to promote agriculture.

Mr Selorm said Ghana does not have any clear policy targeting smallholder farmers in terms of agribusiness.

Earlier in a release issued to the media, Mr Selorm indicated: It's an undeniable fact that every nation requires clear sustainable national policy which drives its sustainable development programmes and it's in this vein that we employ the government to look at national policy on agribusiness in Ghana.

Meanwhile, the Chamber has commended government for the bold initiative to boost agriculture sector in Ghana under the 'Planting for Food and Jobs' programme which was launched recently in the Brong Ahafo Region by the President.

By Melvin Tarlue
05.05.2017 LISTEN

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has expressed its readiness to support management of Coca-Cola Bottling Company Ghana Limited to reopen the company's manufacturing plant in Kumasi.

Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkra, who made this known after touring Coca-Cola manufacturing plant on Thursday off the Spintex Road in Accra, said it was imperative for government to partner the company to ensure that the Kumasi Plant becomes operational again.

We are going to make sure that the factory in Kumasi is reopened, Mr. Ahenkra said.

He said the operations of Coca-Cola Ghana meet international standards and were hygiene compliant.

The move, he said, was in line with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration's goal of supporting the growth and sustainability of businesses, as well as providing jobs for the masses nationwide.

It would be recalled that Coca-Cola Ghana's plant in Kumasi was shut down in 2015 due to the harsh economic situation in the country under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

The shut down led to the dismissal of 211 employees while other staff were absorbed by the Coca-Cola Manufacturing Plant in Accra.

The Deputy Minister said Coca-Cola Bottling Company Ghana Limited, which used to have about 1,200 employees three years ago, cut down its workforce to about 700 as a result of the economic crisis in the country over the past four years.

Warning

Mr. Ahenkra also touched on government's plans to clamp down on the activities of traders who import beverages that are being manufactured locally to sell at cheaper prices.

On his part, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Ghana Limited, Felix Gomis, said the company would look at the proposal from the Ministry and take a decision on the matter.

He explained that the company suffered greatly in the last four years under the previous Mahama administration.

By Melvin Tarlue


Catania (Italy) (AFP) - Rescuers in the Mediterranean raced Friday to the aid of more than 20 migrant dinghies in distress as the debate in Italy over privately-funded aid ships intensified and the death toll at sea ticked steadily upwards.

"There are over 20 boats in difficulty off Libya and an already tense situation has worsened with people in the water," said Mathilde Auvillain, communicator officer for SOS Mediterranee.

Charities Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Save the Children were taking part in a senate meeting in a bid to clear the air after weeks of speculation over whether some of the rescue vessels may have links to traffickers in Libya.

NGOs have fiercely denied claims of collusion with smugglers made by Sicilian prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro, who has suggested they are worsening Europe's worst migrant crisis since World War II -- but also admitted he has no proof.

"We are under political attack, probably because we are giving a voice to those we save at sea, and pointing the finger at Europe for its failure to respond" to the crisis, said MSF search and rescue coordinator Michele Trainiti.

'Never too soon'

The MFS boat Vos Prudence disembarked six bodies recovered from the Mediterranean in the port of Catania Friday morning, five of whom were young women of African origin aged between 16 and 35.

"We think they were in the water for around a week, we can't be more specific because of the advanced state of decomposition of the bodies," MSF nurse Elena Zandanel, 33, told AFP.

The furore has been stoked by the populist Five Star Movement and anti-immigrant Northern League, whose leader Matteo Salvini said this week that the rescues were little more than "a financial and commercial operation".

Zuccaro appealed Wednesday for more resources to expand his investigation, including intercepting the satellite calls made by traffickers, saying European Border Agency Frontex had intelligence of contact between NGOs and smugglers.

A Frontex spokesperson in Warsaw said Frontex had never accused the NGOs.

"They want more resources, the resources should be used to save those risking their lives at sea," said Trainiti.

"Frontex has said there is no proof linking us to traffickers, as has (anti-smuggling operation) EU Navfor med and the (Sicilian) prosecutor of Siracusa", he said.

He also rubbished Zuccaro's suggestion the NGO boats were intervening to rescue people before they needed help.

"There's never a 'too soon' when you speak of rescues. According to the rules of the sea, as soon as one of these dinghies leaves land it is a vessel in distress, because it has over 10 times the number of people it could legally carry.

"It doesn't need to send a distress signal, it doesn't need to call for help, the law of the sea says it is a boat that needs assistance, full stop".

'Entire families raped'

The flimsy dinghies used by traffickers are launched from the North African coast with an average of 122 passengers crammed aboard.

More than 1,000 people have died or are missing feared drowned on the central Mediterranean crossing so far this year.

The debate -- which saw Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni wade in Thursday to hail the NGOs -- is distracting from the real issue, the chaotic situation in Libya which is forcing ever larger numbers of people to flee across the sea, Trainiti said.

"We are very worried the situation will get worse with the summer and good weather. The situation in Libya becomes more critical by the day, there are stories of prolonged violence, torture and rape, including the rape of entire families".

Giancarlo Perego, director of the Migrantes foundation, said it was "right that prosecutors and the judiciary be vigilant and take note of the current situation in the Mediterranean, so that migrants are not victims twice over".

"But indistinct political fire on the nine NGOs operating in the Mediterranean to save lives using the resources of banking and private foundations, of civil society, is hypocritical and shameful."


THE KUMASI Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) is currently battling over 43 court cases with companies and individuals in the various law courts in Kumasi.

The assembly is also facing a whopping GH15 million judgment debt charge, which is having adverse effects on the scanty coffers of the KMA.

OseiAssibeyAntwi, the Kumasi Mayor, who assumed office a few weeks ago, lamented that the court cases are becoming too much for the assembly to bear.

According to him, inactions and actions of some staffers of the assembly were the major contributory factors to the numerous legal battles KMA is facing now.

The Kumasi Mayor therefore appealed to all staffers of the assembly to ensure due process when discharging duties on behalf of KMA to avert court cases.

He was speaking when a total of 460 Unit Committee Members from the various sub-metros in the Kumasi Metropolis were sworn into office on Tuesday.

His Lordship, Justice Abodakpi, supervised the swearing in ceremony, which took place at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC).

MrOseiAssibey observed that wrongful seizure of toilet facilities and lands by KMA staffs contributed to the numerous legal battles.

He therefore urged the KMA staffs to be extra vigilant and circumspect so as to prevent the KMA from attracting additional court cases.

According to him, Kumasi roads are in bad condition now, which can only be repaired with money so the court cases, which are capital intensive, ought to stop now.

The Kumasi Mayor charged the Unit Committee members to stay united and support assemblymen in their various localities to ensure development.

The KMA Presiding Member (PM), Abraham Boadi, urged assemblymen to respect the unit committee members in their collaborations.

He said MrOseiAssibey is determined to develop Kumasi so staffers of the assembly should give him the full support to achieve his aim.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi




The Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah has said the overall worldwide membership of the church of Pentecost (COP) which is operated in ninety-one (91) countries was 2,804,861 as of December 2016.

Apostle Prof.Opoku Onyinah continued that total membership of the Church in Ghana as at the same period was 2,367,283 which represented 84.4% of total worldwide membership.

He attributed the phenomenal increase to the church's active engagement in sundry activities and programmes including Leadership Development, Bible Study, Prayer and Fasting and Evangelism.

The Chairman disclosed this at the opening of the 15th Extraordinary Council Meeting held at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) at Gomoa Fetteh near Kasoa.

The Extraordinary Council meeting was held under the theme, I am an Example in My Generation (1Corinthians 4:16-17)

According to the Chairman, the church which has been described as the fastest growing church occupies approximately 11.74% of the total Christian population in Ghana.

'The overall analysis implies that 71% of COP membership in Ghana is made up of children and youth (up to 35%) which to us is an indication that the COP is a thriving church with a great future, he emphasised

Speaking of the role of the Church in nation building, the Chairman assured that the church will use its platforms to collaborate with government in the fight against illegal mining and other practices which degrades the environment.

A true example of Christ is a true and patriotic citizen of his or her nation; Christ set the pace by obeying the laws of the land, it is wrong to separate your profession from your worship or church service, the prayers and worship are supposed to assist you demonstrate Christ wherever you go, he stated.

Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah stressed emphattically that work must not suffer neglect for prayer and prayer must equally not suffer neglect for work adding that they must both be done at the right time.

The Christian public servant, entrepreneur, student, politician, chief or policeman must live as an example of Christ for others to follow.

Her Ladyship, the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Georgina Theodora Wood described the theme for the meeting as relevant for the period in which the country finds itself.

She challenged the Church to gird its loins and join government and the rest of society in the fight against, what she described as, naked environmental lawlessness.

We need to let the people of God understand that as stewards of the environment, the Lord experts each one of us without a single exception to manage all that he has entrusted into our hands responsibly, she remarked.

The Chief Justice also disclosed that it was in view of that, that she designated fourteen(14) courts to deal with all mining offences under the Minerals and Mining Act,2006(Act 703).

As a lead justice institution committed to the rule of law, the judiciary has a mandatory constitutional duty to support the state in the renewed fight against illegal mining, a menace which threatens our very survival as a nation she stated

By Solomon Ofori


A KUMASI-BASED man of God decided to take refuge in a thick bush after duping seven unsuspecting people of a staggering amount of GH76,500.

Bishop Charles Amos Boampong managed to dupe his victims under the pretext of securing them United States of America visas.

He reportedly charged each of his victims an amount ranging between GH11,000 and GH 29,700.

The man of God however failed to secure the visas for the seven people he had collected the money from.

Sensing danger that he might be arrested, the man of God, who is nicknamed 'Cardinal', then vanished into thin air.

But it was, however, alleged that the Bishop, who is the founder and leader of Generations of Christ Ministries at Kwamo, went into hiding in a forest at Kwamo.

Chief Inspector Godwin Ahianyo, of the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Office, said the man of God was finally arrested on April 29 this year.

According to him, several efforts by the police to apprehend Bishop Boampong did not yield the desired results as the Bishop always proved elusive.

Chief Inspector Ahianyo disclosed that the police, acting upon intelligence, finally picked Bishop Boampong from the bush at Kwamo.

He entreated people who might have fallen prey to Bishop Boampong's illegal visa deals to report at the police station.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi


Gov. Pete Ricketts said Friday he will continue to push for a legislative package of income and property tax reductions in the wake of its failure to win approval this year.

Ricketts said he intends to work through the summer and into next year in an effort to gain support for the tax cuts, noting that the bill (LB461) that he had helped craft was not killed and still will be on the legislative docket in 2018.

The package, a joint proposal championed by the governor and Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion, chairman of the Legislature's Revenue Committee, fell six senators short of the 33 votes required to free it from a filibuster earlier this week.

Ricketts told a Capitol news conference that he has not considered how involved he may be in legislative elections next year.

"We have a long way to go before we talk about elections," he said in answer to a question. But, he said, he believes it is important for voters to "look at who would best represent that (legislative) district."

Ricketts, who will be engaged in his own re-election campaign next year, played an active role in ousting three incumbent senators in 2016 who had opposed him on substantial legislative issues.

Those three members of the nonpartisan Legislature were Republicans who voted to override vetoes issued by the Republican governor.

On another matter, Ricketts said he continues to oppose a reduction in the state's required minimum budget reserve in order to help resolve the state's 2017-2019 budget challenge.

Such a reduction results in "less cushion, more risk," the governor said.

"The Legislature should be looking at more ways that we can trim the budget," he said.

Ricketts called the news conference to proclaim May as Beef Month in Nebraska.

Nebraska is the largest red meat-producing state in the nation, he said, and beef production represents the state's largest industry.

Representatives from the beef industry joined Ricketts and State Agriculture Director Greg Ibach in pledging to promote more beef exports, including through a reopening of the market in China.

"Trade and exports are a big part of what we do," Buck Wehrbein, chairman of the Nebraska Beef Council, said.
05.05.2017 LISTEN

The police in Liberia have arrested one Yakubu who is suspected have killed a 40-year old alleged 'black marketer' on May 1, 2017 in Takoradi.

The deceased Alhassan Zambrama, believed to be a Nigerian, was found beheaded in his room at East Tanokrom near Takoradi on May Day.

ASP Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, Western Regional Police PRO explained that at about 7:20 am on Monday, one Fuseini Ibrahim a landlord of House Number Pt.197 East Tanokrom, visited the police charge office in the area to report about the murder case.

According to the landlord, at about 5:20 am on that fateful day, when he returned from the mosque he was informed that his tenant Alhassan Zambrama had been killed in his room.

He said he quickly rushed to the police station to report the case and later the body was conveyed and deposited at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital mortuary at Sekondi for preservation and autopsy.

The Regional Police PRO indicated that the police were making every effort to apprehend Yakubu and one other, who were suspected to have carried out the alleged barbaric act.

She revealed that suspect Yakubu was arrested at his hide out at Merelane in Liberia and that efforts were being made to bring him back to Ghana.

She pointed out also that the police had managed to retrieve one sharp machete with blood stains when they visited the crime scene.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
Durban (South Africa) (AFP) - The famine ravaging South Sudan and its neighbours could claim many more lives than previously feared, a charity warned Friday, as the international community struggles to raise the $4.4 billion needed to avert a full-blown disaster.

The food crisis in the world's youngest country is one of the key issues being discussed at this week's World Economic Forum on Africa, which has brought together the continent's business and political elite in Durban.

Saira Khan, the chief executive of the charity Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa, warned that a chaotic international response to the situation in South Sudan was threatening the lives of millions.

"It's pretty gloomy. We're seeing a lot of confusion amongst the NGOs and governments in terms of what needs to be done," she said.

"It's a difficult time for that region -- and if we don't do anything we're going to have six million people dead at the end of this year because of famine."

In February, South Sudan and the United Nations formally declared a famine in some parts of the northern Greater Unity region affecting 100,000 people, a disaster UN officials said was "man-made" and could have been averted.

More than 1.9 million South Sudanese are internally displaced and at least 1.7 million have fled to safety across the country's borders so far -- including a total of 830,000 to neighbouring Uganda

After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, the country descended into civil war in December 2013 when a power struggle erupted between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar. Tens of thousands of people died and more than 3.5 million have been displaced.

"The real instability in the area with the war and migrants just going and settling where they can has contributed to this and put enormous pressure on Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda," Khan said.

Oxfam International's executive director Winnie Byanyima told AFP that a huge funding shortfall for relief efforts was threatening lives.

Go hungry or 'be raped'

Oxfam says that the UN will need $4.4 billion for its famine relief operations by July to avoid widespread loss of life in South Sudan -- but just 26 percent of that has been raised so far.

"The need is huge, the gap is huge," Byanyima said. "It needs to be filled urgently. When people die in a famine it's a sign of failure because you can prevent it if you act early enough."

The food crisis in South Sudan is one of the key issues being discussed at this week's World Economic Forum on Africa in Durban, which has brought together the continent's business and political elite

More than 1.9 million people are internally displaced and at least 1.7 million have fled to safety across the country's borders so far. A total of 830,000 South Sudanese refugees are in neighbouring Uganda and the UN expects this figure will reach more than a million by mid-year.

"I visited places where people are trapped in what are called 'protection of civilian' camps. The women there face a choice between hunger or stepping out and being raped while looking for food," Byanyima said.

Elsewhere in Africa, Byanyima warned that Nigeria could face its own famine crisis.

"I have just been to northeast Nigeria, a region that has been devastated by Boko Haram," she said. "There are 47,000 people living there in famine-like conditions. Another five million could experience famine in the next few months".

'So dysfunctional'

Relief agencies in northern Nigeria will run out of money to avert food shortages as early as June, Peter Lundberg, the UN's deputy humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria said recently.

Refugees from South Sudan receive treatment at the Bidibidi health centre in the northern Ugandan district of Yumbe on April 14, 2017

The World Food Programme says that 4.7 million people across three areas of northeast Nigeria are already facing acute hunger while the Red Cross warns that five children are dying daily of starvation.

Byanyima called for the United Nations to be overhauled to face the challenges in South Sudan.

"Today it is so dysfunctional and unable to get the Security Council to bear pressure on leaders who are behaving irresponsibly such as in South Sudan," she said.

UNESCO special envoy Forest Whitaker said at the WEF that "the UN, which is there to help bring peace will have to step up".

"Do I feel they have done enough? No, because we haven't gotten to that place."

Gilbert Houngbo, the new head of the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development, said that efforts were needed to prepare South Sudan's agriculture for when peace returns.

"I visited places where people are trapped in what are called 'protection of civilian' camps. The women there face a choice between hunger or stepping out and being raped while looking for food," Oxfam International's Winnie Byanyima said

"Our guys are already active in preparing for an early recovery," Houngbo told AFP. "It's going to be difficult, but it's not impossible."

The theme of the 27th WEF on Africa is "Leadership in an era of disruption". It has drawn more than 1,200 participants, including several heads of state.

Oxfam released a report to coincide with the start of the forum which winds up on Friday, revealing that seven of the world's top 20 unequal countries are in Africa.

It warned that if economic growth continues to benefit only a small African elite, an additional 350 million people could be forced into poverty by 2032.
Abuja (AFP) - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday made his first public appearance in weeks, re-emerging amid mounting concerns about his health.

The 74-year-old, who spent nearly two months earlier this year receiving treatment in London for an undisclosed illness, was at Friday prayers at a mosque in the presidential villa in Abuja.

Video posted on Twitter by presidential aide Bashir Ahmad showed Buhari dressed in white, shaking hands with fellow worshippers and waving after the service.

The former military ruler has missed the last three weekly meetings of his cabinet, Friday prayers last week and his grandson's wedding at the weekend.

He had been due to meet his counterpart from neighbouring Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, for talks on Friday but the meeting was cancelled, Buhari's office said in a statement on Thursday evening.

"The rescheduling is at the instance of President Issoufou who has another domestic engagement," presidency spokesman Femi Adesina said.

Aides have maintained Buhari is working from his private residence and resting after "a long period of treatment" in the British capital.

They have publicly rejected media reports that he is unable to eat or drink and is being fed intravenously.

Buhari's health is being watched closely as a previous president, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, died in office in 2010 after receiving treatment abroad for a long-standing but undisclosed illness.

His absence triggered months of political turmoil.
Mogadishu (AFP) - An American soldier was shot dead and two others wounded in Somalia during a joint operation with Somali forces against Shabaab militants, the US military said Friday.

"On May 4, one US service member was killed during an operation against al-Shabaab near Barii, Somalia, approximately 40 miles west of Mogadishu," said a statement from the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), adding the US forces were "conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army."

AFRICOM spokeswoman Robyn Mack told AFP two US soldiers were also wounded.

"The service member was struck by small arms fire while conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somalia National Army. Two other US service members were wounded in the incident. They are both receiving proper medical attention," she said.

US special forces have been deployed in Somalia for years, training and supporting the Somali military in the fight against the al-Qaeda aligned Shabaab. Drone and missile strikes have also been used against Shabaab commanders and footsoldiers.

Since taking office President Trump has signed a directive loosening the US military's rules of engagement in Somalia and authorised the deployment of dozens of additional regular troops from the 101st Airborne Division.

In 1993, during the last major deployment of US troops in Somalia, 18 US soldiers were killed in the capital Mogadishu in fighting against warlords and their clan militias. The incident was captured in the book and film 'Black Hawk Down'.

For the last decade the Shabaab has been fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government of Somalia.
As part of efforts to decongest the prisons, three judges Friday sat at the Nsawam Prison and heard the cases of some inmates who have been on remand for years.

The Chief Justice (CJ), Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, the Danish Ambassador and the Director of Public Prosecutions were also in the prisons as the CJ witnessed her last Justice For All Programme before she leaves office next month.

In 2015, Joy FMs Seth Kwame Boateng made a documentary, which tells the stories of shock, pain and sheer neglect of possibly innocent people spending productive hours behind bars.

In response to the documentary, the Chief Justice reactivated the Justice for All Programme which was initiated by the Attorney General and the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) and aimed at ensuring that hearing is given every citizen, irrespective of ones social, economic and political background.

The Justice for all programme is a special in-prison court sitting forn remand prisoners, prisoners whose trials are unreasonably delayed.

The programme constitutes a key component of the rule of law, access to justice and the sustained promotion and protection of the human rights of prisoners both remand prisoners and convicted prisoners and of course their handlers, that is officials of the Prisons Service, and by extension the families of these persons that I have identified.

Through the initiative, hundreds of prisoners have been freed from jail and saved the government purse.

Last year, at the first stakeholders' workshop since the inception of the programme, the Chief Justice revealed that although the programme has saved many, it is fraught with difficulties that impede its success.

Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood said the Justice For All programme needs a complete overhaul to ensure its effectiveness.

Over the years the Justice for All programmes has sought to remedy some of these acts of gross miscarriage of justice, but something more fundamental, something more far-reaching, needs to be done.

The system is crying for a radical overhaul in terms of the procedural law in particular, and the sanctions to be applied following conviction. One such important statutory intervention would definitely help bring sanity into the criminal justice system and therefore ease the congestion in the prisons, she said.

She referred to the issue of non-adoption of proceedings in partly-heard criminal cases and proposed the adoption of proceedings in partly heard criminal cases as is the case in civil cases if not on a wholesale basis for all offences, certainly in relation to a large number of criminal cases which are heard in the lower courts.

 I have no doubt that trials de novo are clearly disadvantageous to stakeholder participation in the criminal justice delivery system, she argued.

Reporting from todays sitting at the Nsawam Prison, Mr Kwame Boateng said 57 inmates cases were heard and the CJ will later hold a press conference to tell the media how proceedings went regarding the cases heard.

Before the hearings, the CJ together with the Ambassador toured some parts of the prison including the condemned cells and the remand areas to see the congestion in there.

According to the Joy News reporter, the delegation privately discussed what could be done to improve the living conditions of inmates.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim
Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu says the Chinese government is in full support of Ghana's efforts to end illegal mining known as galamsey.

He said the Xi Jinping government has given its backing for punitive measures to be meted out to Chinese nationals who are caught engaging in illegal mining in Ghana.

Speaking at Joy FMs Thought Leadership dialogue on galamsey Friday, Mr Amewu said the President Akufo-Addo government will continue to collaborate with civil society groups to clamp down on the practice.

Chinese President Xi Jinping

The anti-galamsey campaign has been gathering momentum days after the Lands Ministry's three-weeks ultimatum served miners to end their activities elapsed.

As part of activities to consolidate gains made since the start of the campaign in February 2017, the Lands Minister has been leading a delegation of mine officials to tour some illegal mining sites.

Some galamseyers at work

Available data at the Lands Ministry reveals a total of about 500 excavators used for illegal mining have been handed over to government by some of the operators.

The campaign was triggered by the destruction caused Ghanas water bodies and forest reserves through galamsey activities. The Tano River in the Brong Ahafo Region, that serves several communities, has dried up for the first time in 40 years.

Some Ghanaians and their Chinese counterparts mining in the River Ankobrah in Western Region

The Brim and Densu Rivers in the Eastern Region and Ankobrah River in the Western Region have been muddied to an extent that experts have estimated it will cost more money for them to be treated for consumption.

Information available indicates some of the people found to be engaging in the practice are Ghanaians and Chinese. At least five Chinese and their Ghanaian counterparts are standing trial for mining in the Ankobrah River in the Western Region.

The five Chinese standing trial for allegedly mining in the Ankobrah River

The Chinese community in Ghana has expressed dissatisfaction with media reportage on galamsey, saying its people are being unfairly targeted.

In a letter to the Lands Ministry, officials of the Chinese mission said the campaign against galamsey could hamper bilateral relationship between the two countries if attacks on its citizens are not stopped.

The Lands Minister inspecting extent of damage to one of Ghana's water bodies

In the heat of the campaign, reports were rife that the Chinese government has directed its Immigration Department to unfairly scrutinise travelling documents of Ghanaian businessmen and women at their airports because of the galamsey clamp down.

But the Lands Minister said President Akufo-Addo has communicated with Chinese President, Xi Jinping over the anti-galamsey activities and he has given his support.

A miner caught mining in the Western Region

"The Chinese government totally agrees with the government that any foreigner that misbehaves, they have [to be dealt with]," Mr Amewu said.

The Minister advised the media to exercise circumspection in their reportage since any Chinese accosted for engaging in illegal mining is an individual and not their government. "We should be careful," he cautioned.

"We will continue to chase recalcitrant people who will not conform to sustainable environmental mining," he warned.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | [email protected]
The Pests Intelligence Control Unit of Ghana Chamber of Agribusiness Executives can confirm a seemingly invasion of cereal farms in the country by army worms, and call on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to act with a sense of urgency.

The Chamber is urging the ministry to release required supplies to the Agricultural Extension Officers across the country to enable them to visit farming communities and render their valuable services to the worried and affected farmers.

We can confirm with certainty that at least four regions in the country have been affected by the army worm invasion.

By this release the Chamber is equally sending a strong caution to all agrochemical dealers in the country, not to take advantage of the situation to exploit the distressed farmers by inflating prices of their goods, as that would bring severe consequences on consumers and the country as a whole.

We are also calling on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to as a matter of urgency, incorporate measures in the governments*PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS CAMPAIGN* to avoid re-occurrence of above invasions in future.

Many institutions such as the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, ISSER, Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Ghana Association of Farmers and Fishermen, Ghana Agricultural Chamber, Queen Mothers Associations, Ghana Agriculture Volunteers of Ghana, Federation of Young Farmers Ghana, at a recent youth forum organized by the University of Ghana School of Continuing and Distance Education, to discuss expectations of stakeholders on the governments Planting for Food and Jobs program, unanimously agreed that the concept would pose great challenges in its implementation as enough stakeholder consultations were not done and called for review of the program in order to ensure its success.

One Major issue which has been overlooked in the program is *PEST CONTROL MECHANISMS AND POST HARVEST LOSES* and this we strongly urge the government to consider.

Finally the Chamber wishes to call on government to endeavor to provide financial assistance to all farmers taking part in the program to ensure its success.

We also call on the telecommunication companies in the country to help farmers by extending excellent network coverage to farming communities, so farmers can take advantage and benefit from many ICT agriculture based programs and most especially social media business and marketing drive information.

Food is essential to the development and security of any nation, hence the need to provide the maximum state interventions to arrest the rising cost of food in Ghana.

Signed

Anthony Selorm K Morrison

Executive President

Ghana Chamber of Agribusiness Executives

Tel: 0540742111

E-mail: [email protected]
Some chiefs and political figures in the country have been cited in a report by the Bureau of National Investigations for involvement in illegal mining.

The 31-page report details all the 216 districts in the 10 Regions of Ghana where galamsey is taking place.

National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Talensi in the Upper East Region, Benson Tongo Baba has been mentioned as being behind galamsey activities in the area.

An alleged financier of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bunyak Kolog, popularly known in Talensi as Polo is said to be funding the activities of galamsey in the community.

An official of the Precious Minerals Office at Bolgatanga was cited as a sponsor of galamsey in Gbane, Blung and Datoku all in the Talensi district.

In the Ahanta West district in the Western Region, prominent chiefs in several towns and villages were found to be behind galamsey activities there.

An illegal miner caught in the Western Region

In Adieworsu, Jumako, Abura, Tontu and Mempeasem, some chiefs and their elders are said to be at the forefront of galamsey.

Open pit galamsey activities are widespread in these areas, the report remarked.

The story in Shama district in the same region is not different. Chief of Bokorkope, Nana Issah Muni is alleged to be involved in illegal mining activities in the area.

Lands Minister inspecting extent of damage caused water bodies

According to the report, the Bokorkope chief reportedly acquired a concession from the Minerals Commission and Shama district assembly under the pretext of winning sand but ended up mining on it.

Chief Executive Officer of Bupong Construction Limited in the Western Regional town of Twifo Praso, Prince John Baidoo has been cited in the report. The BNI said he is engaging in alluvial and surface illegal mining in the Twifo Praso, Beposo, Sekyere-Krobo, Sekyere-Didiso, Basase and Sekyere-Nsuta.

Five Chinese standing trial for mining in Ankobrah River in Western Region

There were only two regions that the report said did not have cases of illegal mining activities. Checks conducted within the Volta and Greater Accra Regions revealed that there is no illegal mining there.

The BNI report comes at a time pressure continues to be mounted on the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government to clamp down on illegal mining that is responsible for the pollution of the country's water bodies.

Ghana is losing its water bodies and forest reserves to galamsey activities. From the Western Region right to the Eastern Region water bodies that serve as the major source of drinking water for residents are being polluted by the day.

Since the start of the efforts to end the practice, some gains have been made. Available data at the Lands Ministry reveals a total of 500 excavators used by some illegal miners have been handed over to the government.

The Minerals Commission has also said there has been a reduction in the quantity of gold that is traded by natives.

But the BNI report said it has gathered there is growing dissatisfaction with government's campaign to end galamsey.

"The directives given to illegal miners to stop mining activities within three weeks by John Peter Amewu, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources...received mixed reactions from...illegal miners, residents of communities affected by activities of miners and the public," te report said.

It cited the claim by some youth in the Brong Ahafo Region that government's directive is not a sustainable measure in combating the menace.

Apart from the backlash the Lands Ministry has suffered, the report said efforts to end the practice has received a widespread commendation. "The general public was also unanimous in condemning collusion and involvement of some chiefs, politicians and security personnel."

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | AKABP
Tripoli (AFP) - British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson held talks Friday with the head of Libya's parliament, a day after visiting Tripoli to back peace efforts in the troubled north African nation.

The Foreign Office said Johnson, who met parliament speaker Aguila Salah in the remote eastern city of Tobruk, stressed "the importance of working... to break the political deadlock".

The oil-rich country has endured varying degrees of chaos and lawlessness since the 2011 NATO-backed ouster of dictator Moamer Kadhafi, and its rival administrations have struggled to assert nationwide influence.

Libya's elected parliament, which fled Tripoli in 2014 after advances by Islamist-backed militias, has so far resisted international efforts to voice support for a UN-backed unity government in the capital.

It is allied with military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who also does not recognise the Government of National Accord's legitimacy.

Haftar, whose forces have battled jihadists around second city Benghazi for years, met earlier this week with GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj.

"A more secure, stable and prosperous future for Libya can only be restored when their leaders choose to work together in the interests of the Libyan people," Johnson said Friday after meeting Salah.

He met Sarraj in Tripoli on Thursday and voiced the support of Britain -- which played a pivotal role in overthrowing Kadhafi -- for further talks with Haftar.

Before Libya, Johnson held talks with officials in the Tunisian capital on counterterrorism cooperation and boosting trade.
Bonn, 5 May 2017-- In a next round of UN climate change negotiations, nations are meeting from 8  18 May 2017 to further develop the guidelines needed to fully implement the landmark 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement now and over the decades to come.

Issues under discussion range from ensuring transparency on the reporting of climate action by nations to the provision of climate finance.

Next to the negotiations on the operational rules of the Agreement, which are scheduled to be completed in 2018, governments will also prepare the budget of the Bonn-based UNFCCC secretariat.

The budget is designed to support governments implement the Paris Agreement and provide a range of assistance to developing countries to help them meet their climate action plans or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The May meeting provides governments with the opportunity to clearly advance on the implementation guidelines for making the Paris Agreement fully operational while advancing preparations for the assessment, to take place next year, on progress since Paris, said Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC.

The May meeting will also prepare the next budget for the secretariat that governments will need to take forward the implementation of their Paris Agreement, she added.

The May meeting is a staging-post for the annual climate change conference  COP23  which will be held in November 2017 and the preparation of its key outcomes. The final budget is also set to be agreed at COP23.

Given that immediate and accelerated climate action is required for governments to reach their climate goals, another key focus in Bonn will be on activities which have a high potential to curb and reduce emissions.

At a Climate Action Fair http://newsroom.unfccc.int/climate-action/climate-action-fair-at-sb46-in-bonn/ , governments will discuss cross-cutting issues in the urban environment and on land use.

Specifically, they will focus on efforts to mobilize diverse groups of stakeholders, including the private sector, for urban services and agriculture, forestry and other land use activities with high emission reduction potential and sustainable development benefits.

The Climate Action Fair is taking place against the backdrop of continuing global momentum including a growing wealth of policy-making that promises to embed the transition to a low carbon, resilient and sustainable world.

At the May meeting, the Grantham Institute which is part of the London School of Economics, will unveil findings spotlighting the world-wide growth in climate or climate-related laws pre-and post-Paris 2015.

I look forward to these findings, said Ms. Espinosa. In many ways, they are the proverbial proof in the pudding as the implementation of both the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals hinges on solid national policies that set a clear direction for action, she added.

Ms. Espinosa said the secretariat was also looking forward to welcoming members of the Fijian Government including the Prime Minister at the May sessions. Fiji will be the COP23 president at the November conference.

The May meeting will also see the first meeting of the newly established Paris Committee on Capacity Building (PCCB). Established by the Paris Agreement, this new and critically important institution will boost capacity building for climate action in developing countries.

Other Highlights

Opening Press Conference

Executive Secretary Espinosa will be giving an opening press conference on Monday, 8 May (time TBC) during which she will also make a special announcement on gender.

Further Highlights

 On 10 May, a Research Dialogue will take place that will focus on regional climate information and gaps, as well as on science to take stock of and assess progress on mitigation. The dialogue is important, including in light of the 2018 initial stock-take that will focus on the pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

 The 10th of May will also see the launch of the Global Youth Video Competition on Climate Change. The objective of the competition is to highlight climate action being taken by youth through videos. The competition provides them with a platform to identify their successes and inspire other youth and policy-makers.

 The May meeting will see several gender and gender-related events. On 10 May and 11 May, a workshop to develop elements of the gender action plan, in view of getting the plan agreed at COP 23. On 12 May, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will launch its initiative on elevating gender in the context of countries nationally determined contributions (NDCs). NDCs detail what each country will contribute to the global response to climate change.

 On 12 May, a special event on Technology Innovation will take place with high-level experts and special guests from around the world. The one-day event will explore how innovation can significantly boost the deployment of climate technologies, and thus the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

 On 15 and 16 May, the Action for Climate Empowerments (ACE) 5th Dialogue will take place. The dialogue provides a regular forum for countries and stakeholders to share their experiences, exchange ideas, good practices and lessons learned regarding public awareness-raising and the involvement of youth.

 On 16 May, the NDC Partnership, launched at COP22 in Marrakech, will hold an event to assist countries in accelerating the implementation of nationally determined contributions.

For further highlights as well as numerous official side events, please consult the daily programme.

Virtual participation

Along with live webcast, social media community tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Flickr enable virtual participation in the Bonn UN Climate Change Conference. Information on live webcasts of each respective day will be posted on the main meetings page. The main Twitter hashtag for the event is #SB46. Media representatives not on location can put questions at the opening UNFCCC press conference using the hashtag #FCCCpress, or by sending an e-mail to the UNFCCC press account or by sending an SMS to the cell number of the UNFCCC spokesperson (see below for contact details).

About the UNFCCC

With 197 Parties, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep a global average temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The UNFCCC is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.

The ultimate objective of all agreements under the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables sustainable development.
A Michigan man is accused of defrauding a Nebraska woman of nearly $300,000 by using the online dating website farmersonly.com, according to a federal indictment.

The document says Calvin M. Anderson, 57, of Detroit, used the website to meet a woman and solicit her to send money to him via wire transfer from Nebraska to Michigan.

Between Feb. 27 and March 10 of last year, the woman sent Anderson $298,295, the indictment says.

A federal arrest warrant for Anderson was issued Wednesday after a grand jury handed up an indictment for two counts of wire fraud. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each count if convicted.

During a short hearing in Michigan on Wednesday, Anderson was given a court-appointed attorney and $10,000 bond.
Eyram Tawia

05.05.2017 LISTEN

Leti Arts in partnership with GhanaThink Foundation through its Junior Camp Ghana programme presents the Uncompromising Passion Book Donation Tour  an opportunity to learn from one of the celebrated entrepreneurs in Africa. Uncompromising Passion  the Humble Beginnings of an African Video game Industry is a great example of documenting an African success story in an inspiring and enjoyable style.

The book, co-authored by Samson Ojo Abiodun recounts the life of a young man who actively followed his dream with unwavering focus. This young man is the author and CEO of Leti Arts  one of the renowned young entrepreneurs in Africa; Eyram Akofa Tawia. He had this to say, This book is not a motivational book. It was not written to tell you - you can. It was written to tell you - you are already doing it. Having had all my education in Ghana and being one of the pioneers of the African video game industry, I believe its time we started documenting our stories as Africans instead of always looking up to the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs. They are great men no doubt but its time we started paying attention to our own stories on the continent.

Leti Arts pride themselves to present African folklores and cultures through meaningful games and digital comics to an authentic worldwide audience. They also believe in encouraging and building capacity of the next generation talent hence the birth of this inspiring and entertaining book.

As part of efforts to impact the next generation to live tomorrows career today is the birth of this partnership that seeks to distribute 1000 copies of this book to school libraries across the country. This book tracks Eyrams journey from days at school to present day while highlighting Ghana on the world map of video game development through captivating creative work being churned out by his company, Leti Arts since 2009.

Director of GhanaThink Foundation, Ato Ulzen-Appiah recounted Leti Arts shares the same passion that we do with the Junior Camp Ghana program when it comes to building skills. Eyram Tawia's book chronicles a great story about building skills and how he ends up contributing massively to an African video game industry. I'm eager to see the book in libraries all over Ghana.

The tour is slated to commence in May 2017 from the Greater Accra Region and would follow through all other regions in the country with both private and public educational institutions being beneficiaries.

Kofi Kafui Kornu of the Junior Camp Internship Program; an initiative of the GhanaThink Foundation believes, This book tour is to help improve the reading habits of the beneficiaries, while teaching them the power of focus, resilience, and hard work in fulfilling ones dreams. It is our hope that these students would dream, dare, and do.

GhanaThink Foundation through its flagship programme Junior Camp Ghana continues to impact lives and minds of over 5000 high school students in Ghana since its inception in 2013. With focus on providing mentoring and career guidance, Junior Camp Ghana encourages students to live tomorrows career today. The partnership is one that seeks to satisfy the values of both parties that seek to greatly stimulate the next generation of African talent. For information about the schools and dates, stay tuned to ( www.Facebook.com/JuniorCampGhana ) and ( www.twitter.com/JuniorCampGhana )

Contact [email protected] for copies of this masterpiece for your institution. Copies are also available via http://bit.ly/buycompromisingpassion on Amazon; or http://bit.ly/compromisingpassionkindle on Kindle. Doorstep delivery with Mobile Money payment is possible via http://bit.ly/uncompromisingpassionghana
The President's nominee for Offinso North District Assembly, Mr. David Kwasi Asare has been confirmed as the District Chief Executive by the Assembly members.

A total of 33 members including government appointees participated in the voting which was held today at Akumadan Methodist Church. Elected members of the Assembly were 22 whilst 11 were appointees from the government.

At the end of the voting, Mr. David Kwasi Asare had 23 of the valid votes cast in his favour whilst 9 voted against him and the remaining 1 rejected ,giving him a 68.9%.

Mr. David Kwasi Asare has become the first nominee of the President who has secured a one touch confirmation by the Assembly in the history of Offinso North DCE endorsement.

The 64 year old retired teacher was the chairman of the ruling party (NPP) in the Offinso north constituency for 8 years.

In his speech , Mr Asare pledged his commitment to developing the district and to ensure that all the ambitious programs of the government are executed in the district.

He however indicated his readiness to continue every project his predecessor left in the district and initiate new ones.

Mr Asare ,popularly known as 'chairman Asare' said he's going to be a DCE for everyone in the district.

On his part, the deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Madam Elizabeth Agyemang expressed her appreciation to the Assembly members and asked the newly elected DCE to be father for all.
The outspoken Northern Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu has called for ceasefire on the brouhaha surrounding the Presidents Municipal and District Chief Executive nominees for some districts in the region.

Tolon and Savelugu/Nantong are the identified hotspots where party executives and supporters are up in arms against the Presidents nominees.

Daniel Bugri Naabu in a Citi News interview appealed to the agitators to exercise maximum restraint and support the Presidents nominees to get 100% endorsement.

He promised that the other failed aspirants will get lucrative jobs and emphasized the need for calm.

He also cautioned the Presidents nominees against exhibiting arrogance after their confirmations.

Daniel Bugri Naabu admonished them to collaborate with party leaders and the traditional authorities to deepen peaceful coexistence in their respective areas.

He thanked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for recognizing the hard work of party loyalists at the 2016 polls.

He assured the chiefs and people of the region of good governance under the watch of President Nana Akufo-Addo.



By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Reports from Segyimase near Kyebi in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region indicate that illegal mining activities are gradually resurfacing.

These indications come some three weeks after the deadline of the nationwide ultimatum from government ordering the cessation of illegal mining activities, known locally as galamsey.

Residents have been complaining that the illegal miners have flouted the government's orders, and the Assembly Member for the area, Emmanuel Akyeanor Tabi, expressed fears that the miners have no intention of leaving the sites they operate on.

He explained that, the mining area in question was under a legal concession, but he alleged that the concessionaire had been leasing out land to the illegal miners.

Narrating to Citi News, Akyeanor Tabi said the genesis of the whole thing is that, the place is under concession, but they released it to galamsey miners. So they [the illegal miners] were doing galamsey, they destroyed the water bodies, they mined without reclaiming and all kind of things.

So the Minerals Commission revoked that license temporarily, pending the concessionaire's ability to reclaim all the land and dredge the rivers destroyed, and then they will see if they will be able reallocate the license to him.

But Mr. Akyeanor Tabi said the concessionaire is yet to adhere to the Minerals Commission's directive and has gone on to bring in new galamsey operators who are working in the concession. They have paid the concessionaire and the concessionaire has asked them to come back and work.

The effects of illegal mining in Kyebi as a whole have been well documented with the shutdown of the Ghana Water Company treatment plant at Kyebi in March 2017.

Kyebi was left with a single borehole as its water treatment plant shut down

The River Birim which feeds the Kyebi treatment plant is in a sorry state

The treatment plant, which takes water from the Birim River flowing from the Atiwa Forest, is seen to be heavly polluted by illegal gold mining activities.

Akrofusu calls for more security

The fear of a return of illegal mining extends to the Akrofusu electoral in the Atiwa District, where the Assembly member of that area, Kwaku Nyarko, complained to Citi News that illegal mining with heavy equipment was still ongoing.

This is despite the efforts of security personnel in the area, according to the Assemblyman, who said, the galamsey situation at my end is still going on, especially with the chanfang and excavator, and chanfang miners who are in the river.

We ordered men from the Anyinam district, and we took up some operations; but immediately after the operation, they started working again the police are still embarking on the operation, but they wait and work in the night.

In light of the security struggles, Mr. Nyarko said government, should bring more men so that we will be able to combat the galamsey people from there.

Minerals Commission believes galamsey has almost stopped

These concerns come on the back of the Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Dr. Tony Aubynn, saying that illegal small-scale mining activities were close to zero in the country following the intense media campaign and government action.

According to him, there were clear indications that illegal miners have suspended their operations and vacated their sites after government intervention.

Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Dr. Tony Aubynn

Speaking in an interview on Eyewitness News Pointblank segment, Dr. Tony Aubynn said when the ultimatum was given weeks ago, we were all waiting to see what will happen, but at the end of it, when we went round to the places, we saw virtually no mining activity going on, almost total cessation. By and large, there was no mining, and what we also saw was that, a lot of excavators, a lot of them had been parked. For now, we have seen that it [galamsey] has stopped, he said.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Kampala (AFP) - Thirteen men accused of involvement in the murder of high-ranking police officer Andrew Kaweesi and two aides appeared in court Friday, with some claiming they had been tortured while in detention.

Some of the suspects were limping heavily as they arrived at the magistrates' court in the capital Kampala, and proceeded to display injuries they said were the result of police torture.

Ahmad Senfuka Shaban, 30, a school teacher in Mukono, removed his shirt to show what appeared to be fresh injuries to his back, chest and left arm.

In the dock another suspect told the magistrate judge, Noah Ssajjabi, that he and his co-accused had been held at the Nalufenya police station, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital, where they had been tortured.

Outside the court relatives of the accused wept as the men hobbled into police vehicles under heavy guard.

Abdul Hamid Shaban Senfuka, Shaban's brother, said the two had managed to speak briefly in the small courtroom.

"He said police poured boiling water on him, as well as acid. They beat him with cables and put electricity on his private parts," the 27-year old car mechanic told AFP.

"He's innocent," he insisted. "He had nothing to do with Kaweesi's death. They took him because he is a Muslim and there had been a disagreement in the community about his school."

Kaweesi, the assistant inspector general of police, was shot dead outside his home in a Kampala suburb on March 17 by heavily armed men on motorbikes.

His driver and his bodyguard were also killed in the attack.

Kaweesi's murder resembles the assassinations of other high-profile legal and military personnel in Uganda which remain unsolved.

When asked about the torture allegations, Uganda police spokesman Asan Kasingye told AFP, "I don't have that information," adding that the magistrate had the power to order an enquiry.

"But without that order we cannot investigate these allegations because it is before the courts not the police,' Kasingye said.

The magistrate ordered that the men be transferred to Luzira Prison in Kampala until their next hearing on 18 May.

The 13 suspects were arrested last month and are charged with "terrorism, murder and aggravated theft".

Kaweesi oversaw the brutal police oppression of an opposition protest movement in 2011.

Last August he was appointed the chief police spokesman and became a well-known figure to the public, appearing regularly in the local media.
N'Djamena (AFP) - Nine Chadian soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram attack on an army post in the Lake Chad region on Friday, local and security sources told AFP.

Some 40 Boko Haram jihadists were also killed as the army responded to the attack on the Kaiga post, sources said on condition of anonymity. A military official confirmed the attack without giving a toll.

"Very early this morning, Boko Haram fighters attacked the Chadian army's position in Kaiga on Lake Chad. They were pushed back," Chadian army spokesman Colonel Azem said in a statement.

Surrounded by Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, Lake Chad has been the site of frequent Boko Haram attacks. Chad's army is based on the north bank, where four Chadian soldiers and several jihadist fighters were killed in skirmishes in late September.

Over the past two years, the jihadists have been chased out of most territories where they founded a hardline Islamic state in 2014. But despite being weakened, they continue to fight army forces and launch suicide attacks.

The conflict has lasted for eight years, killing more than 20,000 people and displacing 2.6 million, devastating the region where millions of people depend on humanitarian assistance.
APN News & Media Ltd [ASX:APN] traded down 3% this morning, to a low of $2.34.

What happened to APN News & Media shares?

Yesterday, APN released slides from their 2017 Annual General Meeting. The company presented various ways they could grow their existing divisions, in addition to providing a trading update.

The company stated:

After four months of trading, APN Group revenues are in line with strong 2016 comparatives on a pro-forma basis. The radio market remained soft in March and April, on strong first half 2016 comps. ARNs revenues YTD is behind expectations with the second half 2016 trend continuing into 2017. Further cost action has been taken, however earnings have been impacted by contracted cost increasing.

Nothing to warrant a share-price drop of 3%, right?

However, yesterday, the ACCC voiced their concerns over APNs merger with oOh!Media Ltd [ASX:OML].

As reported by The Australian:

The $1.6 billion merger between oOh!Media and APN Outdoor is in danger of being rejected by the competition regulator, after it raised serious concerns about the deal and its impact on advertising prices and innovation in the sector. The merger, if approved, would create for APN Outdoor and Ooh a national network of billboards, shopping centres, street furniture and digital sites. But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released a statement of issues and called on the industry to respond to its concerns that the tie-up between the two largest players in the out-of-home advertising market would irreversibly damage competition.

The ACCC has called on industry stakeholders to address its concerns by 19 May. A final decision on the deal will be released by the ACCC on 6 July, according to The Australian.

What now for APN News & Media?

Both APN and OML acknowledged the statements made by the ACCC. The Statement of Issues is a preliminary view by the ACCC, a spokesman for APN and OML said.

APN and OML will continue working with the ACCC with a view to addressing the matter it has raised today. We are currently considering next steps, including impacts on the proposed transaction timeline.

I dont believe the merger will fall through. While the ACCC has their issues, APN seems determined to integrate OML into their business. APN has already said they are willing to demerge assets if necessary. I wouldnt be surprised if they did some further cutting to appease the competition watchdog.

Regards,

Harje Ronngard,

Junior Analyst, Money Morning

PS: If you want to lay down a little money on the hottest corner of the ASX right nowbut you dont know your way around the small-cap sectorthis report is for you. Get access now (free).
Many people are familiar with value investing. Value investing is when you buy stocks for less than what theyre worth. But Ill bet only a minority of investors practice this widely-known investing style.

Investors who buy companies with low price-to-earnings ratios or some other value metric arent value investors in my book. Anyone can do that.

A value investor is someone who dives deep in order to understand a business. They know about the industry, and how the competition is performing. Most importantly, they think about the future. What will the business be worth five-to-10 years from now? If more money is invested into this company, do they have a business model which could compound your investment?

These arent easy questions to answer. Many analysts and fund managers get paid millions just to come up with answers to these questions.

But an investing style even more niche than value investing is activism. Activist investors build up equity stakes in cheap businesses and then put pressure on management to unlock shareholder value.

Unlike Warren Buffett, who buys businesses with value, activists buy businesses with poor management and eroding returns.

Recently, BHP Billiton Ltd [ASX:BHP] gained attention from activist hedge fund Elliott Associates. Last month, they pressured BHPs management to spin off its US energy assets. Elliotts move on the big miner has encouraged other activists to do the same.

As reported by the Australian Financial Review, Sydney-based hedge fund Tribeca Global Natural Resource is the latest activist to pressure BHP for change:

Tribeca Global Natural Resources has called for an overhaul of the BHP Billiton board, which it claims has wasted $US30 billion ($40 billion) of capital, a figure that could have been $US50 billion ($67 billion) higher if not for deals it failed to get done. Tribeca outlined its concerns in an eight-page letter titled Making BHP Great Again that was sent to its investors late on Thursday.

Tribecas four-point plan to achieve substantial shareholder gains is as follows:

BHP should divest their US onshore assets which could release $10 billion;

Return capital to shareholders and invest in growth projects;

Leave the dual-listing structure intact; and

Renewal of the board.

Tribeca said the retirement of chairman Jac Nasser was a critical opportunity to reset the culture to one that covets capital efficiency and EPS growth and we hold high hopes that this opportunity will not be wasted.

However, I wouldnt expect BHP to start gutting management and executives tomorrow. Tribeca will have to encourage other shareholders to vote for a change.

What now for BHP?

There are many critics of activist investing. While they try to increase shareholder value, some argue activists are doing more harm than good. But I believe activists are an essential part of our market. We need them.

When a companys board or management steps out of line, guess who comes in to straighten them out?

This way, management is kept accountable, and the board is told to do a better job. But even if companies are able to shrug off activists, theyre still forced to think about shareholder value and how it could be improved for the future.

Regards,

Harje Ronngard,

Junior Analyst, Money Morning

PS: If you want to lay down a little money on the hottest corner of the ASX right nowbut you dont know your way around the small-cap sectorthis report is for you. Get access now (free).
If someone had told you 20 years ago that marijuana companies in 2017 would enjoy broad mainstream support, while coal companies were thrown under the bus, would you have believed them?

I sure wouldnt.

Nonetheless, thats where we find ourselves today.

Now, that doesnt mean you should avoid all coal stocks. Unless, of course, your ethics outweigh your greeda condition that doesnt afflict your editor. Nor does it mean that every marijuana stock will be profitable at todays prices.

But select stocks in both the coal and grass industries will almost certainly continue to deliver healthy gains this year. The trick, as always, is finding the right ones. Ill get back on how you can do that shortly.

First, lets take a look at coal.

As a quick geology tutorial, there are broadly two types of coal: coking coal and thermal coal. Coking coal is used to produce steel and iron. Thermal coal produces heatand runs many of our power plants.

Thermal coal, in particular, is taking a drubbing from mainstream investors and lenders concerned about its impact on climate change.

As reported by the AFR:

Commonwealth Bank has emerged as the No. 1 target for activists after Westpac revealed plans to restrict lending to coal minersafter Westpac released a climate change policy statement and action plan that placed strict conditions on its future lending activities. The changes will have the bank cease lending to new coal mines and restrict lending to mines that yield only higher-quality coal, effectively ruling out the prospect of Westpac funding Adanis controversial Carmichael coal mine in Queensland.

Does this spell the end of Adanis ambitions with their Carmichael mine? Not likely.

When one investor or lender closes the door, you can expect another to come knocking. That may still be Commonwealth Bank. Or it may be ANZ or NAB.

If none of the big banks approve the loan  be it for ethical or risk assessment reasons  you can expect a fund manager to step in. Taurus Funds Management is one such fund manager. Taurus often lends to miners having trouble securing funding from mainstream banks.

As the saying goes, One mans trash is another mans treasure.

And if you take a look at coals performance over the past year, its looking a lot more like treasure than trash.

Seven-year chart of thermal coal, priced from the Australian Newcastle Port

Source: Bloomberg

Click to enlarge

As you can see, after hitting a low of $65.70 on 29 April last year, thermal coal peeked at $139.43 per tonne on 31 October. Its since retraced to $106.72, about 14% above the seven-year average.

Not surprisingly, many of the coal miners have seen their share prices soar. With a market cap of $1.4 billion, New Hope Corporation Ltd [ASX:NHC] is one of Australias largest coal plays. Its currently trading at $1.71 per share. Thats up 41% from its 2016 lows.

Does this look like the kind of industry you should be shying away from? Or does it look like its time to take a punt on the best coal miners?

Heres what our in-house resource expert, Jason Stevenson, told me this morning:

Im definitely bullish on thermal coal from a medium to long term outlook. It remains the cheapest, readily available energy source. Nations arent going to stop using coal tomorrow, despite the environmental activists and the move towards cleaner energy. 50% of Chinas energy needs come from coal. Thats not going to change anytime soon, even with its focus on nuclear and greener alternatives. The question is whether thermal coal is a good short term investment. As the majority arent that interested in the sector, Ive started to look at it more closely as an opportunity.

Over at Resource Speculator, Jason is always on the lookout for the best contrarian investment opportunities. His recent focus has been on companies providing the little-known metals needed to fuel the booming battery revolution. Two of these tips are up 78% and 100% since his recommendation. You can find out more here.

The holy grail of investments

Now lets look at the other part of our coal and grass investment scheme.

Pot was once labelled an illegal gateway drug. One that fries your brain. Yet it is now promoted as a promising treatment for a range of diseasesfrom epilepsy to cancer. Indeed, marijuana has enjoyed a huge PR boon.

Motivated by legalisation movements in the US  for both medicinal and recreational use  Australia is starting to take note. Recreational use remains illegal Down Under. But the government has moved to ease restrictions on imports to treat specific illnesses. And cannabis can now be grown domestically  with strict regulations  to supply a predicted surge in demand.

Thats seen some locally-listed pot stocks skyrocket.

And its drawn the interest of the worlds top performing hedge fund, Tribeca Investment Partners.

According to Bloomberg:

Tribeca Investment Partners Pty, owner of the worlds best-performing hedge fund last year, has found its next stock pick: a tiny grower of cannabis. The Sydney-based money manager has bought shares in the initial public offering of Cann Group Tribeca is buying into an Australia medicinal cannabis firm for the first time after successful wagers on stocks in this sector in North America, helping it beat more than 10,000 funds last year to claim the crown as the worlds best-performing hedge fund. Cann raised A$13.5 million ($10 million) to expand its crops and further its genetics and plant breeding program and is due to list on the Sydney exchange this month.

Ben Cleary, who co-manages the Tribeca Global Natural Resources Fund, described the cannabis sector as a holy grail of investments where there are strict regulations, a growing consumer base and high margins. While its a nascent industry in Australia compared with the U.S. and Canada, stocks doing business in the industry are trouncing returns in the broader equity market.

So did pot stocks really trounce the returns you can get elsewhere? Have a look at the chart below. It shows the returns delivered by listed pot stocks (white line), compared to returns from the ASX 200 (blue line).

Source: Bloomberg

Click to enlarge

Bens not exaggerating. Aussie pot stocks delivered some seriously index-trouncing returns this year.

And its not just companies growing marijuana or researching medicinal applications that are likely to benefit from the global shift in attitude towards cannabis.

As Bloomberg reports:

The Hydroponics Co. Ltd., which makes lighting rigs and glasshouses that help grow cannabis plants, is raising money for an initial public offering next month. The A$8 million share sale is almost three times oversubscribed, according to the companys chairman Alan Beasley.

Sam Volkering has been atop this story for months now over at Australian Small-Cap Investigator. Hes labelled it marijuana mania. And hes tipped some of the best performing pot stocks on the ASX. One recommendation is up 128.8% since February. Another is up 55.3% since March. A third pot stock is only up 0.8%, and remains an active buy recommendation.

But thats just the tip of the iceberg, according to Sam. Hes predicting a massive bull run ahead for the Aussie market. And hes got several small-cap stocks in mind that should shoot the lights out as the market surges. Get all the details here.

Cheers,

Bernd Struben,

Managing Editor, Money Morning

From the Port Phillip Publishing Library

Special Report: ASX 20,000 If you missed the recent run-up in Aussie stocksdont sweat it a second longer. Because this research indicates an even bigger bull market could sweep the ASX between now and 2021. Potentially handing you your best-ever shot at a retirement-sized fortune. Better than that, the Aussie stock mega-surge I believe is imminent could rank as the GREATEST wealth-building opportunity of your life.

If youd like the opportunity to double, even TRIPLE your retirement nest-egg in the next two to four years, find out more here.

Money Morning: Value Manager Says This Time IS Different

Money Morning: Here Comes Another Four Year Bull Market
A 21-year-old Lincoln man got eight to 12 years in prison Thursday to sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

Franklin R. Corado Diaz pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree sexual assault.

Deputy Lancaster County Public Defender Shawn Elliott asked the judge to take into consideration that Diaz grew up in Guatemala, where there's a different culture and his mother was 14 when he was conceived, his dad 23.

Diaz said he intended to marry the girl.

Her mother went to police in July about threatening text messages he had sent after she forbid him to see her daughter.

The girl said they were dating and disclosed they had sex three times.

Lancaster County District Judge Darla Ideus said a 13-year-old can't consent to having sex with a 20-year-old (his age at the time).

In Nebraska, the age of consent is 16.

Diaz is likely to be deported when he's done serving his sentence.
The first ever Cinco de Mayo celebration in the U.S.A., was held 155 years ago in Columbia, California.

Gary Neubert, Board Director with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, was Fridays Newsmaker of the Day.

According to Neubert, that very first celebration wasnt even on the fifth of May. The news of the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, took a few weeks to reach the Mother Lode.

After word reached Columbia, via newspapers from San Francisco, a spontaneous celebration broke out on May 27th, 1862.

According to a paper published by the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture about the origin of the observance of Cinco de Mayo in the United States, Far up in the gold country town of Columbia (now Columbia State Park), Mexican miners were so overjoyed at the news that they spontaneously fired off rifles shots and fireworks, sang patriotic songs and made impromptu speeches.

So will there be a celebration in Columbia today for the 155th anniversary of Cinco de Mayo?

Neubert said, No. Interest in Columbia being the home of Cinco de Mayo celebrations seems to be very low. We tried to stir interest a few years ago during the 150th anniversary and for the most part, residents here just dont find it to be a big deal.

Columbia will be busy this weekend, but for other reasons. The annual Firemens Muster will take place this weekend with numerous events planned, beginning tonight.

Additionally, Columbia is gearing up for another busy summer with numerous events planned over the next several months.

For more information about the Columbia Chamber and the Chamber sponsored events that take place in Columbia log onto http://www.visitcolumbiacalifornia.com

You can also call (209) 536-1672.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard each weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
House Speaker Paul Ryan View Photos

Washington, DC  A bill that passed the US House today to repeal and replace Obamacare was supported by regional lawmakers Tom McClintock and Jeff Denham, but is being criticized by Californias Governor.

The final vote on the GOP healthcare plan was 217-213. The bill garnered support of all but 21 Republicans in the House, and had zero support among Democrats.

Republican Jeff Denham, who represented the Mother Lode prior to redistricting, says, The American Health Care Act, as amended, is a good first step toward putting control over personal healthcare choices back into the hands of individuals  not the federal government  while ensuring important protections remain in place.

The bill also garnered a yes vote from District Four Republican Tom McClintock, who represents much of the Sierra Nevada.

Republicans argue that it will begin the process of reshaping the American health care system. It eliminates tax penalties for those that choose not to purchase insurance, and it rolls back the state expansions of Medicaid. There are new tax credits, but some of the requirements regarding coverage of things like maternity care will placed in the hands of the states.

California Governor Jerry Brown is responding negatively to the passage, by saying, This cruel and ill-conceived bill  the so-called American Health Care Act  rushed to a vote with no fiscal analysis, will hurt American families and its bad for California. Just look at the districts of Representatives David Valadao (R-Hanford), Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) and Steve Knight (R-Lancaster) where 111,000, 109,000 and 76,000 Californians, respectively, are at risk of losing coverage because of this legislation.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where it is unclear if there are enough votes for its approval.
Stone Mill Center View Photos

Sonora, CA  Tuolumne County has received notice that the group Citizens For Responsible Growth is planning to file a lawsuit over the planned Stone Mill Center project.

It is the second time in the past four years that the group will file a lawsuit trying to slow development at the Pedro Wye. In July of 2013 the group filed a suit challenging the environmental review of a planned apartment complex.

Thursday afternoon the county received a letter from attorney Donald B. Mooney, on behalf of Citizens For Responsible Growth, notifying of the intent to file an environmental lawsuit challenging the countys approval of the Stone Mill Centers mitigated negative declaration and site development permit. The Citizens group is led by President Barbara Farkas.

The proposed development would consist of three commercial buildings totaling 15,933 sq. ft. A notable tenant would be Sonora Regional Medical Centers prompt care. The project was approved by the planning commission in January and later appealed to the Board of Supervisors. On April 4, the supervisors voted 5-0 in favor of the Stone Mill Center.

The county counsels office is anticipating formally receiving the lawsuit within the next couple of days.

Ron Kopf, project consultant for the Stone Mill Center, has authored a new myMotherLode.com blog entitled, Citizens for Responsible Growth Sues Again. He writes, The lawsuit sends a very negative message to businesses looking to develop in the Columbia and Tuolumne County area which negatively impacts our available services, job growth, retention of our work force, housing availability and affordability and the cost of those future services.

You can read the blog by clicking here.
Senator Tom Berryhill View Photos

Sonora, CA  The Mother Lodes Republican state Senator will talk about several issues up for debate at the state capitol.

This weekends Mother Lode Views will feature Senator Tom Berryhill. Topics will include the recent gas tax increase, Californias relationship with the Trump Administration, efforts to move California towards becoming a sanctuary state, removing dead and dying trees, the budget, the economy and legislation he is personally introducing this session.

Berryhill, who will term out as state senator next year, will also give some insight into what state office he may run for next.
Waiting for results can sometimes make even the most motivated students go crazy. It is really hard to go through it without nervous breakdowns and disappointment. Fortunately, progress does not stand still and this particular innovation is used for the benefit of school graduates and their concerned parents. A new handy service has been created for monitoring the process of matriculation online. If you have no idea about it, then read this easy guide and increase your awareness on the issue.

READ MORE: How to pass JAMB without cheating?

The Joint Admission and Matriculations Board looks towards the future, realizing all the advantages of computer technologies, and created a unique internet service to track the process of enrollment to higher educational establishments in Nigeria. We should emphasize that such options had already being implemented in many different countries. It has been proven to be useful, popular among candidates, and most importantly, it is really easy-to-use.

JAMB results checker

So, all a person needs to check JAMB results is Internet access and minimum effort. Following non-sophisticated steps, you can quickly track JAMB results online:

First of all, the candidate should go to the official site of JAMB. The next step is creating a personal account with a login. It may be helpful to visit: www.jamb.org.ng/efacility/. Then he/she picks the column Exam Year and enters a code / the registration number to the system, and wait a little bit to be personalized. After that in the menu, you have to select the option of Check Admission Status, and start the monitoring process.

Moreover, one more convenient tool is available: JAMB result printing. Here, you can easily print out a JAMB result letter. If you still have questions, contact the board through the site mentioned above. It is easier than a hiccup to figure it out.

You must admit that this innovation in educational sphere really works because it lets more potential students keep track of events and get to know all the changes and moves on the list of higher educational establishments.

JAMB results checker facilitates the process of admission and eases the lives of candidates and officials too. Thus, no fuss and no line in university lobbies. The scheme of checking JAMB results online is working well now. So, a concerned user can find it easier to relax.

READ MORE: Check JAMB result without scratch card, is it possible?

Nigerians express mixed feelings as JAMB reduces admission cut-off to 120 - On Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
A 27-year-old man who took over his brother's drug dealing business when he got his parole revoked in 2013 got nearly six years of federal prison time himself Thursday.

Musa Harris was facing the possibility of at least 10 years and up to life after pleading guilty without a deal with the government.

In March, his brother, Isa Harris, got 11 years and eight months in federal prison for his part in the conspiracy.

Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in Nebraska.

At Musa Harris' plea hearing, Bruce Gillan of the U.S. Attorney's office, said Isa Harris had obtained pounds of meth and kilos of heroine from sources in California between Nov. 1, 2012, and April 19, 2015.

Isa Harris ended up going to state prison after he was stopped on Interstate 80 near Lincoln Sept. 27, 2012, with 7 pounds of marijuana.

When he was paroled in 2013, he went back to the same source, getting 7 pounds of meth and a kilo of heroin, Gillan said.

But when Isa Harris' parole got revoked, he arranged for his brother, Musa Harris, "to take over the business for him," Gillan said.

He said Musa Harris went to California and brought back several pounds of methamphetamine and some heroin and brought it back to Nebraska.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge John Gerrard sentenced him to five years and 10 months in prison, plus three years of supervised release. He agreed to go under the 10-year minimum due to his lack of a criminal record.
Its Friday, let's do a flash back to when Mercy Aigbe met her husband before their marital crisis!

Once upon a time, Mercy Aigbe and her estranged husband Lanre Gentry were best of friends who saw no wrong in their relationship.

READ ALSO: 24 year-old Nigerian man marries his 20-year-old bride in Lagos

In 2015, Lanre Gentry in an interview with City People revealed how he met the popular actress through a friend named Muyiwa.

According to him, "Mercy was not into acting then. Mercy was a staff of Zenith bank for six months.

Mercy Aigbe and Lanre Gentry

When I saw her with him, I told him 'I like this girl O', That day she didn't even answer.

'I begged Muyiwa that I want the girl to befriend me. I said I want to just be her friend. If you can link me to her I will give you N20,000."

READ ALSO: BBNaija winner Efe crowned prince of Okpe Kingdom

Mercy Aigbe and Lanre Gentry

He said he has talked to her and she doesn't need a boyfriend but a husband. He took me to her house in Maryland on getting there she refused to talk to me.

I met one lady Bimbo. I told her to talk to Mercy that if she agrees I will give her N50,000. Mercy came to my car, she said, "Mr Lanre don't be angry. I have my fiancee. I can't double date.

Mercy Aigbe and Lanre Gentry

The following week somebody just leaked the secret of the boyfriend to me that the guy has a wife in Ikorodu.

The beautiful love story which others envied resulted to a war story after reports of domestic violence allegations surfaced on social media.

READ ALSO: Mercy Aigbe finally speaks out on her abusive marriage

Seyi Shay speaks on her relationship with Wizkid and other things on Legit.ng TV, watch it below:

Source: Legit.ng
- Hon. Sam Onuigbo, Abia lawmaker, says there has been high rate of abuse with the national flag

- It is for this reason the House of Reps approved second reading of the bill seeking to impose N100,000 fine on anyone who abuses the countrys national flag

- Reps express concern that there are underground efforts to change the national flag

The House of Representatives on Thursday, May 4, approved the second reading of a bill seeking to impose N100,000 fine on anyone who abuses the countrys national flag.

According to the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South in Abia state, there has been high rate of abuse with the national flag, The Guardian reports.

Discussing the general principles of the bill at plenary, Onuigbo urged the House to do everything possible to preserve the national flag.

READ ALSO: Jonathan govt blew N34b on River Niger - Amaechi

Reps propose N100,000 fine on anyone who abuses the national flag

The PDP lawmaker said the bill, which would amend the Flag and Coat of Arms Act 2004, would further make provisions to safeguard all the countrys national heritage, when passed.

He expressed concern that there are underground efforts to change the national flag as many public and government offices now include the coat of arms in it.

READ ALSO: MASSOB faults Sultans anti-war advice

Onuigbo proposes N100,000 fine on anyone who abuses the national flag

He said: It is important to declare that any addition, subtraction or super imposition outside the version designed by Pa Michael Akinkunmi in 1959 is not the Nigerian flag.

Section 10 of the Principal Act is being amended by removing the fine of N100 and replacing same with N100,000.

The Nigeria flag was designed in 1959 and first officially hoisted on October 1, 1960.

Earlier, Legit.ng had reported that Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, the man who designed Nigerias flag is still alive but his present living condition is that of a forgotten hero.

"I was well-known all over the place," Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi says. "Everybody was calling me Mr Flag Man."

He designed the flag in October 1959, a year before Nigeria gained independence. He was paid  100 pounds, equal to $281 in 1959.

Meanwhile, watch this video and find out the impression some citizens have of President Buhari and the nation's economy.

Source: Legit.ng
Umaru Musa YarAdua, (August 16, 1951 - May 5, 2010) was declared winner of the controversial presidential election which held on April 21, 2007.

Sworn in on May 29, 2007, YarAdua spent three years in power battling with his health challenges until death eventually won the battle.

He left Nigeria for Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for pericarditis. During his absence ex-President Goodluck Jonathan assumed the position of acting president after a vote by Nigerias National Assembly.

Yaradua returned to Nigeria on May, 2, 2010, died on the 5th and was buried on the 6th, in his hometown in Katsina according to Islamic rites.

READ ALSO: 6 POWERFUL people hiding the true nature of Buhari's health (LIST)

Today Saturday, May 5, marks the 8th year of his passing and Legit.ng has compiled some of the most touching tributes to the late president.

1. Jonathan paid a glowing tribute to his former boss.

2. He was a man with integrity.

3. Nigeria was better during his administration.

4. Yar'Adua respected the rule of law.

READ ALSO: 7 years after: 7 reasons Nigerians will always remember Yar'Adua

5. He would have been the greatest president.

6. His death caused Nigerians good governance.

7. If death had not snatched him, Nigeria would have been better today.

8. His memory lives on.

9. A great leader Nigerians did not enjoy.

10. He will be remembered as the only president with integrity Nigeria has ever had.

11. He was a leader who put service above ambition.

12. Gone but still fresh in our memories.

13. His good works will continue to be cherished.

Nigeria is upside down - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- The police latest attack which comes days after a similar attempt was frustrated by security forces

- The Boko Haram insurgents have always attacked villages and settlements in Borno state, Nigeria

Insurgents in Nigerias Northeastern state of Borno have attacked the Mandarari ward in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno killing seven people, the police have said.

The law enforcement agency said on Friday, May 5, 2017 that the seven people died after two female members of the terrorist group detonated explosive devices they were laced with.

READ ALSO: Ex-President Jonathan prepares to spill more beans in new book

Vanguard quotes Malam Murtala Ibrahim of the Borno Police Command Public Relations Unit as confirming the incident in statement he issued in Maiduguri.

Borno state has remained the most attacked part of the northeast

According to Ibrahim, the attack took place late Thursday, May 4.

Yesterday at about 22.45 hours, two suspected female su*cide bombers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies at Mandarari ward in Konduga LGA, killing themselves and five others.

Six persons sustained various degrees of injuries.

READ ALSO: Im alive, I was never wounded - Boko Haram leader Shekau says in new video

The corpses and injured persons were evacuated to General Hospital Konduga, and normalcy restored to the area, the statement said.

Legit.ng reports that three suspected female bombers were earlier killed as they attempted to attack a military outpost near Muna garage in the outskirt of Maiduguri.

Meanwhile watch this video and see how the Nigerian Air Force recently attacked a formation of the Boko Haram:

Source: Legit.ng
Editors note: President Muhammadu Buharis heath has dominated public discourse in the last few weeks. While some Nigerians believe that some cabals within Buharis cabinet have hijacked the government using the presidents current health status, others opine that it is better for him to resign and allow his vice, Yemi Osinbajo to continue with his good vision for Nigeria.

In an article sent to Legit.ng, Sani Mohammed Uzairu writes about the controversies that surround President Buharis health condition.

Sani Mohammed Uzairu writes from Near East University, Cyprus. He can be reached via smartbiochemist@gmail.com

Prof. Jerrold Post, a political psychologist, once submitted that an illness to a president is not just a personal matter but a devastating public crisis. In the last decade, starting from 2008, there have been about 13 presidential deaths in the world, with serving African leaders accounting for 10 (76.92%) of the deaths.

This should serve enough deterrent for our political office holders to relinquish power under severe health challenges for the sake of the socio-political and economic development of their countries, if sincerely they are altruistic in their claims to seeking the progress of their nations.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Buhari, Malami, others attend Juma'at Service

Alas, our vain and self-centered leaders enjoying the spoils of office would never give such a thought, even at the detriment of their life. Living a life of luxury far removed from those of the ordinary citizens, they would rather prefer to listen to the whispers of few sycophantic aides who themselves are seeking to maintains their grips on power.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Just like it obtains elsewhere in the world, an illness to a president means his political apparatchiks are in trouble  the circle around the president, his aides, advisers, ministers etc.

Despite having Nigerias top medical care team to address his everyday health concerns and emergency situations, Buharis health has become one of the most controversial issues in the countrys politics, leaving many with the question: what ails Buhari?

This, his handlers and manipulators have failed to come clear, and his inability to preside over the federal executive council for the umpteenth time has even yet heightened tensions and left many compatriots in deja vu.

Often times, presidential media advisers do not hesitate in informing the public that the president has flown out on vacation and will cease the opportunity to see his doctors. This is a political game; and many times it has backfired in the face of these advisers.

We cannot forget too soon the circumstance and drama that surrounded the death of President Umaru Musa Yaradua. Yaradua took ill whilst in office. An anecdote has it that the former President once had to be carried off a runway by a military officer whilst on a state visit to Togo.

The soldier assigned to President Yaradua, it was related, had to drape traditional cloth to hide what was happening from the prying eyes of on-lookers. State-run televisions came under a directive to film only one side of his face because the other side was puffed up.

The cabal around the then president concealed his deteriorating ill health to the public even when it was obvious, and continued to read riot act from the presidency. It took the intervention of civil society organizations for the national assembly to activate what they referred to as a doctrine of necessity, which allowed the then vice president to take over in acting capacity so as steer clear the ship of the country.

Unfortunately, Africa is littered with many of such reprehensible incidents. The former president of Ghana, our next door neighbors, Prof. Atta Mills died in 2012 under similar circumstance. Until his death, his illness was concealed and his handlers hoodwinked him from handing over power to his deputy with a view to maintain their political relevance at the seat of power, and milk their country dry.

Anxious to repudiate speculations of his ill health, the cabal deceived him into jogging at the airport in apparent display of energy and vigour upon his return from a medical treatment in the USA. A month later, his health condition aggravated and he was reported dead.

His intent was to seek another term of office in spite of his undisclosed and deteriorating health. Needless to say, that was unjust to the people he purports to serve. It is indeed a sad pass that political leaders in Africa are in the habit of concentrating power in themselves until death snatches them way.

Similar to the cases outlined above, the illness and eventual demise of former president of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, stoked public controversy. Speculations about his health challenges had heightened when he failed to attend African union summit in Addis Ababa in July 2012.

His illness seemed hidden from the public for political reasons until death came calling. Zenawis demise was consequently received with mixed feeling of surprise and disenchantment, which set alarm bells ringing about the possibility of leadership vacuum and eventual instability in Ethiopia.

READ ALSO: Pandemonium in Oyo as Muslims, Masquerades clash, 25 hospitalised

Lack of transparency and accountability is a dreadful political disease undermining the progress of Africa. Leaders apparently live in fortresses far removed from the economic and social realities and too distant from the very citizens they profess to serve.

Far away in Guinea, the concealed illness of Lassana Conte generated widespread controversy before he gave up the ghost in 2008. Rumors of his death surfaced occasionally, and at one particular point in 2003, the cabals in his government had to arrange for him to appear on live television to disavow claims of his death.

A week before his demise, his spokesman assured the nation that the president was as fit as fiddle, and against that backdrop the government even ordered the arrest of a journalist who published a picture of the president looking frail.

In Gabon, few hours before the demise ex-president Omar Bongo, his prime minister came out to say he was alive and well despite grapevine reports that he was battling health complications.

Following death of President Bingu wa Mutharikas in Malawi, and despite constitutional provision which stipulates that the countrys number two citizen fills the void, cabals sympathetic to the dead president hijacked power and displayed brinkmanship in their attempt deny Mrs Joyce Hilda Banda of her inalienable right. Sanity eventually prevailed before she was inaugurated as President.

I have deliberately taken you through a ride down memory lane to drive home a point. Political leaders should make the populace aware of their health condition as a matter of transparency and accountability.

Where lies your integrity if you cannot be sincere to the people you presume to serve? President Buhari must not live the country in suspense. He must come out clear about his health challenges, and if possible take a break with a view to getting proper medical care.

If he recovers well enough, then surely he can take over and continue with the business of government. Of course political adversaries may capitalize on that to score cheap political points; and perchance foster their political agenda but ultimately he stands on his honor to be accountable to the people.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Boko Haram attacks Konduga in Borno, kills 7

Yes, power is sweet; but again, we must understand that it is not an end on itself and that there is life after power.

The major critics of the Buhari-led federal government are supporters of the Biafra agitation. Watch a Legit.ng video of them speaking below:

Source: Legit.ng
President Muhammadu Buhari has made his first public appearance in two weeks as he is currently attending Fridays Juma'at service.

Buhari is joined by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Babagana Monguno, and other officials at Fridays Juma'at service.

Legit.ng can report that since he attended Juma'at prayer at the Aso Villa in Abuja on Friday, April 21, Buhari has not made any public appearance.

Buhari, Moguno, others attend Juma'at Service

President Buhari has not been seen in public in two weeks. He has also been absent from the last couple of Federal Executive Council meetings held at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.

Buhari, Kyari, others attend Juma'at Service

Similarly, Legit.ng reported that the president was also missing at the Jumaat prayer at Aso Villa mosque on Friday, April 28.

Buhari attends Juma'at Service

Watch celebration that occurred in Daura, Buhari home town in Katsina, after he returned from London from 49 days medical leave

Details later

Source: Legit.ng
Rep. Don Bacon's vote Thursday to enact a Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act prompted former Democratic Rep. Brad Ashford to consider more strongly a 2018 bid to reclaim the 2nd District House seat.

"Sure, I'm considering running again," Ashford said during a telephone interview after issuing a statement critical of Bacon's vote.

"Nebraskans are really going to be hurt by this," Ashford said.

"Nebraska doesn't even have Medicaid expansion and now there will be an opportunity to waive out of funding coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.

"It's exactly the wrong direction," Ashford said.

Bacon said he joined House colleagues "on a rescue mission to save health care for Nebraskans, because people were being burdened with skyrocketing premiums, unaffordable deductibles and lack of choice."

"This landmark legislation ensures that Americans will have control over their health care policies while maintaining coverage for those with pre-existing conditions," Bacon said.

Bacon unseated Ashford in 2016 after the former congressman had served a single term in the House.

All three Nebraska Republican House members voted to enact the new health care law.

"The bill is a start to try and restore the health care system that all Americans deserve," Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln said.

"At its core, the new health care bill moves from a centralized one-size-fits-all Washington program to more of a state-based system with important federal protections," Fortenberry said.

Nearly 50 people showed up outside of Fortenberry's Lincoln office on Thursday to protest his vote. The event was planned just after the vote and organizers were glad to see a large turnout considering the short notice.

"I think it just really shows how important health care is to people, that at the drop of a dime, people came out here to show support," said Emily Wynn, one of the organizers.

Doris Pleskac carried a sign with a photo of her daughter and two granddaughters. She said Obamacare saved her daughter's family from bankruptcy after her son-in-law died from pancreatic cancer two years ago. She plans to continue attending events and protesting the bill.

"We've only just begun," she said. "It's a long fight, but we'll hang in there, because it's personal. When it's personal, people show up."

Also supporting the bill was Rep. Adrian Smith.

Reacting to the House vote, Nebraska Appleseed said the bill may "cause potentially tens of thousands of Nebraskans to lose life-saving health insurance."

"The most-recent changes eliminated important protections that guarantee people with pre-existing conditions could be covered," according to James Goddard, health care director for Appleseed.
Reports reaching Legit.ng this moment claims that Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe arrived at the Area F police station in Ikeja at about 12 noon today, May 5.

According to reports on Lindaikeji's blog, the embattled actress was at the station on invitation of the Nigerian police.

READ ALSO: 24 year old groom whose wedding went viral opens up on their special day

It was gathered that Mercy and her hubby were both invited to the station but only Mercy showed up as her estranged husband was nowhere to be found.

Mercy Aigbe shows up at Area F police station

Mercy Aigbe declined to speak with journalists at the station and there's no confirmation if the case is proceeding to court as earlier speculated.

READ ALSO: How Mercy Aigbe met her estranged husband as a banker

Stay tuned to Legit.ng for more updates.

Seyi Shay speaks on her relationship with Wizkid and other things on Legit.ng TV, watch it below:

Source: Legit.ng
- The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu is currently in hometown in Isiama Afara in Abia state

- Kanu arrived on Friday, May 5, to meet with his parents

- He was also at the Enugu Cenotaph for a private prayer and to honour those who were lost during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has arrived his hometown in Isiama Afara, Umuahia in Abia state.

The IPOB leader arrived Umuahia on Friday, May 5, exactly one week after his release from Kuje Prison in Abuja.

Speaking to Legit.ng, Kanu's father, Eze Israel Kanu said he is full of joy for his son's safe return.

Speaking in his native dialect - Igbo - Eze Kanu said: "My heart is full of joy over his return. I am extremely grateful to God who has done this because it could only have been him."

The IPOB leader arrived Umuahia on Friday, May 5, exactly one week after his release from Kuje Prison in Abuja

Also, Legit.ng gathered that, Kanu's home town is full of merry and gunshots salutes by residents of the community who welcomed the IPOB leader.

It was also gathered that many people in their numbers thronged the palace of Kanu's father to welcome the IPOB leader.

Kanu's father, Eze Israel Kanu said he is full of joy for his son's safe return.

Recall that the IPOB was at the Enugu Cenotaph on Thursday, May 4, where he went for some private prayers, Legit.ng gathered.

Legit.ng also gathered that Kanu usually made a visit at the Cenotaph every time he visited the East to pray some of the heroes lost during the Nigerian-Biafra civil war.

Watch this Legit.ng video of the Jewish Rabbi who stood surety for Nnamdi Kanu speakk:

Source: Legit.ng
Legislation to provide for collection of state sales taxes already owed on internet purchases by Nebraskans sputtered in the face of a filibuster Thursday night and disappeared from this year's agenda.

Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse, sponsor of the bill (LB44), said he did not have the 33 votes required to end a filibuster and the Legislature adjourned after an evening of debate.

Six senators who were prepared to support the bill were attending a bankers convention in Omaha, Watermeier said following adjournment.

The bill had cleared its initial floor test on a 28-13 vote.

Watermeier said he still was "working with the governor" on possible amendments to the proposal when he decided to inform Speaker Jim Scheer of Norfolk that he did not have sufficient votes for a successful cloture motion that would free the bill to move forward.

"Maybe next year," Watermeier said.

Gov. Pete Ricketts had earlier signaled his opposition to the bill in its current form.

Collection of sales taxes owed on internet purchases could open the path to a new revenue stream for state government, eventually producing an estimated $30 million to $40 million a year in additional revenue, supporters of the bill argued.

Current law already requires Nebraskans to self-report and pay the Nebraska sales tax on internet and mail-order purchases.

Watermeier's bill provides that online retailers would either be required to collect and remit sales taxes on those purchases or notify Nebraska purchasers of their tax obligations.

In response to an attorney general's opinion raising questions about the constitutionality of the bill, Watermeier had prepared an amendment that met those objections.

Amazon already has announced its decision to voluntarily collect sales taxes from Nebraska purchasers.

Supporters argued that collection of sales taxes on internet purchases would help level the playing field that now tips to the disadvantage of local Main Street merchants who collect sales taxes on purchases within the state.

"It's an issue of fairness with brick-and-mortar small businesses," Watermeier said.

"Main Street merchants are asking for this level of fairness," Sen. John McCollister of Omaha said.

Sen. Tom Briese of Albion said he believes many Nebraskans are not aware of their sales tax obligation under current law.

Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln opposed the bill, arguing that previous federal court decisions suggest it would be unconstitutional.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha led the filibuster.

Ricketts had contended that "enforcement of online state sales tax is an issue that must be addressed" at the federal level or by "a change in direction from the Supreme Court."
- Boko Haram fighters attacked an Army post in the Lake Chad region but faced stiff opposition from troops

- The incident occurred on Friday, May 5 just hours after reports of a bomb attack on Borno state in Nigeria

- For more reports on Boko Haram, please visit: https://www.legit.ng/tag/boko-haram.html

The BBC is reporting that not fewer than nine Chadian soldiers have been killed after Boko Haram attacked an army post in the Lake Chad region.

According to the report, the attack occurred on Friday, May 5.

The report said not fewer than 40 Boko Haram fighters were also killed by troops who responded sharply to the attack on the Kaiga post.

READ ALSO: Buhari, Malami, others attend Juma'at Service

Local sources speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the report while a military source also affirmed that the attack took place.

Lake Chad region bordered by Nigeria and Chad

The development comes just hours after Legit.ng reported about an attack on Mandarari ward in Konduga local government area of Borno that killed seven people.

The Nigeria Police Force said on Friday, May 5, 2017 that the seven people died after two female members of the terrorist group detonated explosive devices they were laced with.

Malam Murtala Ibrahim of the Borno Police Command Public Relations Unit as confirming the incident in statement he issued in Maiduguri.

According to Ibrahim, the attack took place late Thursday, May 4.

He said: Yesterday at about 22.45 hours, two suspected female su*cide bombers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies at Mandarari ward in Konduga LGA, killing themselves and five others.

Six persons sustained various degrees of injuries. READ ALSO: Im alive, I was never wounded - Boko Haram leader Shekau says in new video

The corpses and injured persons were evacuated to General Hospital Konduga, and normalcy restored to the area, the statement said.

Watch this touching Legit.ng TV video of child survivors of Boko Haram activities in the northeast narrating their ordeal

Source: Legit.ng
The Oyo state Police Command on Friday paraded a 55-year-old pastor over unlawful possession of a human head, buffalo horn as well as gun powder and charms.

File photo: Cherubim & Seraphim Church pastor, Clement Oyetunde was arrested on October 9, 2015 by the police in Osun state for allegedly being in possession of charms and a human skull

The police also paraded 18 suspects arrested for alleged armed robbery, stealing and cultism.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude, told newsmen in Ibadan that the pastor said to be the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Idapomimo Zion, Alagbado, Lagos, was arrested by operatives of the Federal Highway Patrol during a  stop and search operation.

Odude said that the pastor was arrested at about 10:30 pm on May 4 on his way to another branch of the church at Imini in Afijo Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspect, on his part, told newsmen that he got the human head during a demolition exercise in Alagbado, Lagos.

READ ALSO: I came to Lagos a sinner - Pastor Enoch Adeboye

Isaiah, who claimed to be the son of a herbalist, said that he was taking the human head to the branch of the church at Imini to offer sacrifice in order to chase away thieves terrorising the area.

He, however, said that such an attitude was not expected from a pastor.

Items recovered from other robbery suspects were eight vehicles, 14 cell phones and 106 rounds of ammunition.

Meanwhile, the Police in Taraba say they have arrested a 60-year-old man, Abubakar Abdulkadir, for allegedly being in possession of roasted human parts.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the Police Command in the state, Mr David Misal, on Friday in Jalingo said the suspect was arrested at Alin-Gora Village, Ardo-kola Council Area of the state.

However in the video below by Legit.ng, the Nigerian man who designed the tallest drum speaks to Nigerians.

Watch the video:

Source: Legit.ng
- President Muhammadu Buhari appoints 6 new advisers

- The advisers would help in setting up the national airline and develop aviation infrastructure

- N1.52 billion ($4.99 million) has been set aside for the project

President Muhammadu Buhari's administration has set up a committee and appointed six advisers to help with the set up of national airlines and develop aviation infrastructure.

Legit.ng gathered that the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, made the announcement after the Federal Executive Council meeting on May 3.

Sirika said a group of six firms including German carrier Lufthansa would advise the government on setting up an airline, an aviation leasing company and a maintenance hanger, and on creating concessions to run the countrys airports.

READ ALSO: UK police begins investigation on the murder of Nigerian man

N1.52 billion ($4.99 million) has been approved for the set up of the national airline.

Sirika said the cabinet meeting chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had approved N1.52 billion ($4.99 million) of funding for the project, Nigeria Bulletin reports.

Legit.ng recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, who promised a national airline when campaigning for election, did not attend the weekly meeting, fuelling concerns about the state of his health.

An APC transition paper seen by Reuters in 2015 had proposed merging a dozen debt-laden airlines on the books of state-owned bad bank Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) into a single carrier that would partner with a global airline to serve the West and Central African region.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: 9 soldiers, 40 Boko Haram members killed at Lake Chad

The single carrier would include Nigerias biggest airline, Arik Air, which AMCON took over in February.

AMCON has said it has no plans to convert Arik into a national carrier and that the government has no interest in doing so other than to ensure that the airline continues to fly.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has made his first public appearance in two weeks as he is currently attending Fridays Juma'at service.

Buhari is joined by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Babagana Monguno, and other officials at Fridays Juma'at service.

Legit.ng can report that since he attended Juma'at prayer at the Aso Villa in Abuja on Friday, April 21, Buhari has not made any public appearance.

Watch this Legit.ng video of Nigerian Air force officials talking about the operations on Boko Haram.

Source: Legit.ng
Lagos state government denies involvement in the demolition of Sabo Market, Ikorodu, which was demolished on the night of Thursday, May 4.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, in a statement issued on Friday, May 5, said that the state government did not demolish the market and would not demolish any market or property in the state without following due process.

Legit.ng had reported earlier that the Sabo market, in Ikorodu local government, Lagos state, was demolished overnight on Thursday and traders arrived at their stall Thursday morning only to find the debris.

According to the statement presented by Ayorinde, the state governments preliminary investigation revealed that the market was demolished by some private developers who connived with some local government officers and certain uniformed personnel who acted beyond their brief, Premium Times reports.

Lagos state government said the demolition of Sabo market in Ikorodu was not ordered by the governor.

READ ALSO: 3 medical doctors arrive in Aso Rock to treat Buhari

Ayorinde said the government had observed a pattern which security officials to carry out spurious orders without any proper notice being served to deny market women of the means of their livelihood.

He however said that the Lagos government would no longer tolerate this brazen act of illegality.

Ayorinde said, the government would henceforth beam its searchlight on the excesses of developers, local government officials and their cohorts in order to protect the interest of hard working traders.

The statement reads: The current administration in the state is committed to the socio -economic empowerment of the people and has formulated policies and taken measures that would guarantee their economic well-being."

READ ALSO: Lagos police discovers new kidnappers den

It would therefore not fold its arms and watch desperate individuals or groups deny hard working people in the State their means of livelihood.

Meanwhile, Officials of the Lagos state government on Wednesday, May 3, began demolition of shops located at the Ikeja New Garage along the popular Computer Village, Ikeja.

It was gathered that about 18 shops have been demolished as at the time of this report, with heavily armed police officers supervising the demolition.

watch this Legit.ng TV video of an aggrieved woman in Lagos telling Governor Akinwunmi Ambode that he is not likely to return as governor in 2019.

Source: Legit.ng
Two thousand health and nutrition industry professionals gathered in Orlando on April 18 to 20, 2017, to gain insights into the latest trends, and connect with business partners. In this episode, Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, and Steve Myers, managing editor of INSIDER sit down with Heather Granato, vice president of content, Informas Global Health and Nutrition Network, to discuss the top happenings in the shows education sessions and on the show floor. They cover:

The new sports nutrition consumers who views their health and nutrition in terms of social media status updates.

Emerging science for probiotics in the sports nutrition, bone health and allergenic categories.

African traditional medicine and the untapped potential for these beneficial natural ingredients.

In April 2018, Informa Exhibitions heads to Secaucus, New Jersey, for SupplySide East. Attend SupplySide West on Sept. 25 to 29 in Las Vegas for more education and connection in the natural product space.

Hear more podcasts with Ingredient Marketplace speakers:
Perhaps you recently found yourself at a Canadian bar where you ordered a gin and tonic. Perhaps you felt like splurging, so you asked the bartender to make your drink with Bombay Sapphire.

And lets say you took one sip and thought, Wow  that was a superheavy pour.

If this actually happened to you, there may be a simple explanation.

On Wednesday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced that a recall of Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin, issued the previous day, had been expanded nationwide after officials discovered that one rogue batch had managed to escape the bottling plant much stronger than it should have been.

In emails, Amy Federman, a spokeswoman for Bacardi, which owns Bombay Sapphire, said that a few cases hiding somewhere in Canada contained gin with an alcohol content by volume of 77 percent, rather than the 40 percent shown on the bottles labels. That means the recalled gin ended up being 154 proof instead of 80 proof.
It is a rare unifying moment. Hospitals, doctors, health insurers and some consumer groups, with few exceptions, are speaking with one voice and urging significant changes to the Republican health care legislation that passed the House on Thursday.

The bills impact is wide-ranging, potentially affecting not only the millions who could lose coverage through deep cuts in Medicaid or no longer be able to afford to buy coverage in the state marketplaces. With states allowed to seek waivers from providing certain benefits, employers big and small could scale back what they pay for each year or reimpose lifetime limits on coverage. In particular, small businesses, some of which were strongly opposed to the Affordable Care Act, could be free to drop coverage with no penalty.

The prospect of millions of people unable to afford coverage led to an outcry from the health care industry as well as consumer groups. They found an uncommon ally in some insurers, who rely heavily on Medicaid and Medicare as mainstays of their business and hope the Senate will be more receptive to their concerns.

The American Health Care Act needs important improvements to better protect low- and moderate-income families who rely on Medicaid or buy their own coverage, Marilyn B. Tavenner, the chief executive of Americas Health Insurance Plans, the industrys trade group, said in a strongly worded statement.
It was one of those ugly, unsolved crimes that seem to haunt many neighborhoods in New York City: In February 1993, a man with a knife abducted an 11-year-old girl in an apartment building hallway in the Hamilton Heights section of Manhattan, forced her to the roof and sexually assaulted her.

The girl was taken to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, where nurses gathered physical evidence from her body, but no one was ever arrested. The DNA of her attacker was not even tested until 2002, when the city undertook a project to clear a backlog of rape-evidence kits.

When the evidence was processed, investigators did not find a match in a database of genetic profiles kept by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2003, as the statute of limitations was running out, Manhattan prosecutors obtained an indictment against a John Doe using the DNA profile of the unidentified man.

On Thursday, prosecutors from the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., said they had finally identified the man with the knife who attacked the girl 24 years ago.
It was the most brutal French presidential debate anyone could remember, two and a half hours of interruptions, insults, sarcasm and invective between the 48-year-old, far-right populist Marine Le Pen and the 39-year-old, centrist upstart Emmanuel Macron. They called each other liars, arrogant, dangerous and many other things, often paying little heed to the two moderators.

When the dust settled on Wednesday night, Mr. Macron, the acknowledged front-runner in the race, was deemed in political polls to have prevailed. In the calmer moments of the debate, he offered a more detailed and pragmatic set of policy proposals for Frances economic ills, and a more coherent vision of Frances place in Europe, than Ms. Le Pens familiar litany of plaints against the European Union, globalization and immigrants.

However the French may feel about its tone, the encounter served to clarify the choice they face in Sundays vote, the second and last round of the presidential election. After decades of alternating between mainstream candidates of the center-left and center-right, the French this time rejected both in the first round and advanced two relative outsiders who are diametrically, often virulently, opposed on virtually every issue  Europe, terrorism, Frances stagnant economy, Russia.
SAN FRANCISCO  Uber is the subject of a United States Department of Justice inquiry over a program that it used to deceive regulators who were trying to shut down its ride-hailing service.

The inquiry concerns Ubers use of a software tool called Greyball, which the company developed in part to aid entrance into new markets where its service was not permitted. The tool allowed Uber to deploy what was essentially a fake version of its app to evade law enforcement agencies that were cracking down on its service.

The New York Times reported on Greyball in March, raising questions about the legality of the practice. After the report, Uber said it would prohibit employees from using the software to thwart regulators.

The federal inquiry was disclosed in a transportation audit conducted by the City of Portland, Ore., published last week. In the audit, Portland officials said they had been notified by the United States attorneys office for the Northern District of California about the existence of the inquiry. The City of Portland said it was cooperating with the inquiry.
LONDON  Its a mighty full house thats presided over by Quinn Carney, the divided Irish hero of Jez Butterworths The Ferryman, which burst open at the Royal Court Theater here on Wednesday night, where its run is already sold out. (It moves to the West End in June.) The fiercely gripping play in which Quinn, a father of seven, appears is every bit as crowded.

And I mean teeming  with characters, plot, secrets, confessions, clashes political and sexual, betrayals, murders, ballads, poems, dancing, drinking, wrestling and the wails of banshees, whose reality is not to be doubted. The terrific cast  led by Paddy Considine and directed with a racing pulse by Sam Mendes  numbers 21, and thats not counting the baby, the rabbit and the goose. Like everything else in The Ferryman, those nonspeaking performers are indisputably alive.

Set in rural Northern Ireland in 1981, this latest offering from the author of Jerusalem also overflows with storytelling vitality, the kind that so holds the attention that three and a quarter hours seem to pass in the blink of an eye, albeit a bloodied and black one. Consider yourself well warned when a little girl, gleefully awaiting an oft-told tale by an ancient relative, chirps excitedly: I love this one! Its so violent!

That scene exudes the hearthside warmth of a classic, bustling domestic comedy in which an extended family lives in contented close quarters and everybody chips in to help. Of course, in this clan, even the little ones swear like sailors on a bender.
WASHINGTON  To Jeff Sessionss biggest critics, his decision this week not to charge two white police officers in the shooting death of a black man in Louisiana was the realization of their fears of an attorney general who promised a pro-police stance on civil rights matters.

There is no way to misinterpret the message that Jeff Sessions sent, Rashad Robinson, the executive director of the civil rights group Color of Change, said. Black lives do not matter.

The truth is more complicated.

In declining to prosecute officers in the July death of Alton B. Sterling in Baton Rouge, Mr. Sessions was keeping with  not breaking from  a longstanding pattern. Even under President Barack Obama, the Justice Department rarely prosecuted police officers in deadly shootings, including those that inspired the greatest outrage.

Bringing federal charges in such cases requires proving that an officer intended to violate someones civil rights, an exceptionally high legal standard. And the criminal justice system can favor police officers from the moment shots are fired. Officers have wide latitude about when to use deadly force if they perceive a threat, and courts and juries have been hesitant to second-guess their decisions.
The investigation, still in its infancy, ground to a halt. After it was revealed that Mr. Nunes obtained his information on White House grounds from White House staff members, Democrats called on him to recuse himself from the inquiry. He eventually did, but only when it emerged that he was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for possibly leaking classified information. Mr. Conaway, the most senior Republican on the committee, took over.

The encore appearance before the committee by the heads of the F.B.I. and N.S.A. has proved a sticking point. After Mr. Nunes scuttled the public hearing with Ms. Yates and other officials in favor of another round of questions for Mr. Comey and Admiral Rogers, Democrats accused Mr. Nunes of bowing to White House pressure. A series of letters between Ms. Yatess lawyer and the White House counsel showed that administration officials had tried to block her from testifying before Congress, an accusation the White House spokesman, Sean Spicer, later denied.

Last month, the House committee extended a new invitation to Ms. Yates; James R. Clapper Jr., the former director of national intelligence; and John O. Brennan, the former C.I.A. director.

The panel has not scheduled that public hearing, though Ms. Yates and Mr. Clapper are expected to testify before a Senate panel on Monday.

Days after Mr. Trump took office, Ms. Yates alerted the administration that Michael T. Flynn, then the national security adviser, had misled Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials about his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States, and that it could make him vulnerable to blackmail by Russia.

Mr. Flynn, a three-star Army general who was forced out of the administration after less than a month, is now under investigation by the Pentagons inspector general over allegations that he failed to disclose payments from a foreign government or get them approved, a potential violation of federal law for a retired military officer.
President Trump postponed his meeting today with Malcolm Turnbull, Australias prime minister, to celebrate the passage of a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, in New York.

When they finally did meet before a planned dinner they both attended Thursday evening, Mr. Trump and Mr. Turnbull both said they had moved beyond the contentious phone call that defined their relationship early on. Were not babies, Mr. Trump said.

Damien Cave, the New York Times Australia bureau chief, interviewed Maggie Haberman, a Times White House correspondent, about how Mr. Trump was managing relations with Australia and China; about his relationship with Rupert Murdoch; and about what its like covering the Trump White House.

What do you make of the fact that Trump canceled the scheduled meeting with Malcolm Turnbull, or shortened it and pushed it into the evening? What should we take away from that?

Well, I think a few things. Part of it speaks to Trumps whimsical approach to all things. He shifted course so he could celebrate a needed (albeit short-term) victory on the repeal bill for the Affordable Care Act.
Iran responded angrily on Thursday to criticisms by Saudi Arabias defense minister, accusing him of acts that violate the United Nations Charter and calling his kingdom an instigator of dangerous ambitions in the region and beyond.

The Iranian response came in a formal protest letter sent to the United Nations Security Council and to Secretary General Antonio Guterres by Irans ambassador, Gholamali Khoshroo.

The latest exchange could further exacerbate tensions between Shiite-led Iran and Sunni-led Saudi Arabia, which compete for religious and political influence in the Middle East and stand with opposite sides in the Syria and Yemen conflicts.
LONDON  And so the great work has begun once again.

No, that is not a reference to the impossible mission of taping back together a busted planet, urged by one of the hectoring title characters in Tony Kushners Angels in America. Alas, that project is feeling like a no-go these days.

Im talking about Angels in America itself, which opened Thursday night at the National Theater here in a 25th-anniversary revival that confirms its place in the pantheon of dramas that stretch toward the heavens. In the case of Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, the sky is not the limit, and no work of theater since has quite matched its reach.

Directed by Marianne Elliott, and featuring an illustrious cast that includes Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane in top form, this Angels is a rich, imperfect production of a rich, imperfect play. But thats a bit like saying there are bricks missing from the pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Mr. Kushners two-part masterwork, the first half of which was staged by the National Theater in 1992 (opening on Broadway the following year), sees and celebrates aspiration and imperfection as inevitable companions.

It does so with a boundless imagination and a moral rage that roam, at length and at large, where few playwrights have dared to tread. And perhaps the greatest miracle achieved by Angels, at least in physical terms, is that even after the seven hours of bum-numbing sitting it demands (not counting intermissions), it continues to leave its audiences not exhausted but energized  including this critic, who has seen at least four earlier versions.
LONDON  E-commerce is revolutionizing the world of retail. Online sales in the United States have grown by an average of $40 billion a year over the past three years, posing an existential threat to brick-and-mortar shopping. This year, Amazon is set to overtake Macys, which plans to close 100 stores, as Americas biggest apparel seller.

Yet at least one sector seems firmly resistant to the convenience of the click: the buying and selling of fine art.

Last year, worldwide online sales of art and collectibles were estimated at $3.75 billion, an increase of 15 percent over 2015, according to the fifth annual Online Art Trade Report, published last month by the insurer Hiscox. This is steady growth, but hardly the revolution promised by auction houses. The total represents well below 10 percent of a global market that recent reports have valued at $45 billion or higher.

Its still tiny, Robert Read, head of art and private clients at Hiscox, said of the online art market. The market is crowded and fractured, and still has to deal with trust issues.
Since the 1960s, John Giorno has been a nexus of New Yorks downtown art scene. This 80-year-old poet, artist and activist had been a muse of Andy Warhols and has hosted dinner parties with friends like Patti Smith, Robert Mapplethorpe and Keith Haring. In more recent years, he has collaborated with the French artist Pierre Huyghe and starred in the music video for R.E.M.s final single.

Also among Mr. Giornos admirers is his partner of nearly two decades, the Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, who this summer will stage Ugo Rondinone: I  John Giorno, an artwork in the form of an exhibition and festival that will open on June 21 at 13 locations around Manhattan.

Mr. Rondinone described I  John Giorno  a title that suggests Mr. Giorno, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, as a quintessential New York figure  as a kaleidoscopic retrospective that includes items from Mr. Giornos archive, as well as works by his collaborators and Mr. Rondinone.
Ms. Aram and others worry that this plague-on-both-your-houses sentiment is, in effect, a vote for Ms. Le Pen, the National Fronts candidate  whom they regard as xenophobic, divisive and authoritarian. And that has prompted a flurry of last-minute mobilizations among the cultural elite to rally left-leaning abstainers, including by the actor Mathieu Kassovitz and the directors Agnes Varda, Jacques Audiard and Bertrand Tavernier.

In writing her radio riff, Ms. Aram said she had listened to friends and young people. What struck me is the irresponsibility of some of the Neither-Nor supporters, she wrote in an email. I think that equating Le Pen and Macron and standing under a Without Me May 7 banner, hoping that other people are going to stop the National Front is totally irresponsible.

But many on the left and right also see Mr. Macron as a continuation of the policies of President Francois Hollande and his Socialist government, which, for different reasons, they want to reject. (Mr. Macron left the government to form his own party, En Marche!, or Onward!) Supporters of the far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who received nearly 20 percent in the first round, view Mr. Macron as a protector of the status quo and disagree with his pro-Europe stance and his role in loosening French labor laws.



One of the most prominent intellectuals to say he will cast a blank ballot is the left-wing historian Emmanuel Todd. He is the author of Who Is Charlie? a controversial book that said the mass rallies of solidarity in France after the murder of journalists at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket in 2015 were a cover for Islamophobia.

In terms of threats to liberal democracy, threat No. 1 is the National Front, Mr. Todd said in an interview. But the forces behind Macron, the people who are pro-Euro, pro-Europe, pro-Germany, are a major threat to democracy.
Sense8 brings back its radiant cast for more mind- and body-melding. Africas Hunters goes on night patrol with the continents most fearsome predators. And Dateline remembers Princess Diana.

Whats Streaming

SENSE8 on Netflix. Bad things are happening, and Angelica (Daryl Hannah) says its all her fault as this series about transcendentally attuned global citizens, sprung from the minds of the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski, begins a second season. The stars  Nomi (Jamie Clayton), Riley (Tuppence Middleton), Will (Brian J. Smith), Lito (Miguel Angel Silvestre), Sun (Doona Bae), Capheus (Toby Onwumere), Kala (Tina Desai) and Wolfgang (Max Riemelt)  are back in their own worlds and one anothers, infiltrating their thoughts and bodies, as Mr. Whispers (Terrence Mann) lurks. Only now, theyre coming for him. Look forward to bloodletting, scary scientific experiments and anthropological musings. And catch up on A Christmas Special, the official kickoff to Season 2, if you havent already.
About half an hour into Cory Doctorows discussion of his new science-fiction novel, Walkaway, at the New York Public Library on Wednesday, the man interviewing him suddenly froze in midsentence.

The crowd murmured uncomfortably as technicians rushed to the stage to fix the video feed, which beamed a frozen image of Edward J. Snowden, who was some 4,660 miles away in Moscow, onto two large screens.

Oh, theres the N.S.A., Mr. Doctorow joked when the video stalled. Ed warned us this might happen and said we should just make a joke about the N.S.A. and wait for him to come back.

Mr. Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency who leaked a trove of classified documents that revealed the agencys vast surveillance operation against hundreds of millions of United States citizens and others, has become something of a fugitive hero and pop culture icon. Hes been featured in video games and a graphic novel and is the subject of an Academy Award-winning documentary, Citizenfour, as well as a 2016 feature film directed by Oliver Stone. He appeared, via video, in a play with Daniel Radcliffe at the Public Theater. Theres an Edward Snowden action figure.
ASHLAND  Helicopter Day, sponsored by Midwest Medical Transport, is Saturday, May 27. It is an indoor and outdoor event at the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum in celebration of aviation careers and the history of helicopters.

Spectators will be able to watch in wonder as, Midwest Medical Transportation, Nebraska National Guard, law enforcement, commercial and private helicopters fly over the horizon and land right in front them. The helicopters begin their decent at 10am. The Nebraska National Guard will land first with a UH-72 Lakota, UH-60 Black Hawk, and CH-47 Chinook. After all helicopters land, spectators can visit with helicopter pilots, including medical and law officials, about their careers and get a firsthand view of each aircraft. Helicopter rides will be available through Galaxy Enterprises of Holdrege, Neb. on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Activities will take place inside the museum from 10am to 2pm, including a drone workshop on flight and safety, free helicopter balloon sculptors, a make-and-take project, and hands-on activities offered by sponsors.

Outdoor festivities include:

 From 10am to 11am helicopters will make their landing.

 Helicopter rides, offered by Galaxy Enterprises, will begin at 11am and will operate until 4pm. Galaxy Enterprises will take reservations the day of the event on a first come basis. The price per person is $60 for cash, or $65 for credit card, for an estimated eight-minute ride.

Indoor festivities include:

 Drone workshop sponsored by Midwest Performance Flyers.

 Free balloon helicopter hat made by balloon artist.

 Midwest Medical Transportation will offer a family activity and the museum will offer a make-and-take activity.

 Theater shows are free and include Crazy Engineering: Mars Helicopter - presenting the challenges of helicopter motion on Mars, The Future Goes Vertical  presented by NASA on the future of rotorcraft.

 Admission applies to indoor activities - $12 adult; $6 youth over 4.
Caught in the middle was the citys hapless mayor, Abe Beame, the son of an immigrant socialist agitator and factory worker. Beame grew up on the Lower East Side in the shadow of the Jewish Daily Forward building, its facade decorated with busts of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. A cum laude graduate of City College, Beame was a bookkeeper by training. (If you dont know the buck, you dont know the job, was his campaign slogan.) He understood the depths of the citys financial woes, but was blind to many of the larger forces that shaped how the crisis played out. He assumed, for instance, that the interests of the big banks were too bound up with those of the city for them to cease lending it money, never realizing that these financial institutions were operating in an increasingly global context: Now the municipal debt was, to them, only an economic proposition  and New Yorks economics did not look good.

Beame also failed to recognize that the political landscape was shifting. President Ford, who had the power to bail out the city, was a moderate Republican, but his party was moving to the right, beginning its migration toward the anti-government, free-market ideology later embodied by Ronald Reagan. In this sense, New Yorks problem presented Ford with an opportunity. Some of his closest advisers, including Alan Greenspan, William Simon and Donald Rumsfeld, urged him to make an example of the city, to treat its fiscal crisis as a case study in the broader failure of big-government liberalism.

Of course, the definition of liberalism was shifting too. The postwar boom that had enabled the ambitious Great Society programs of the 1960s was over, and so too was the full-throated commitment to progressive bulwarks and principles, to labor unions and an activist government. Many of the men  and they were almost all men  who emerged from the private sector to help steer New York out of the fiscal crisis were Democrats, but not of the Beame vintage. A case in point is the financier often credited with rescuing the city, Felix Rohatyn, the master fixer who helped bring together the banks and unions, while persuading the citys leaders to reduce their spending and rethink their budgets. Here he is portrayed in a less flattering light, not as ill-intentioned but as the most prominent member of a group of unelected financial executives making critical decisions about the future of the city without any input from or accountability to its citizens.

What else might have been possible? This is the one realm in which this powerful and involving work of narrative history comes up short. Phillips-Fein makes a convincing argument that the citys abandonment of its liberal ideals was a choice. What she doesnt do is offer a different path, imagine an alternative history for New York. What would have happened if the city had simply gone bankrupt and left the courts to sort things out? If the federal government hadnt been so relentlessly hostile, Phillips-Fein notes, it might have been easier for New York to renegotiate its debts. Maybe, but this explanation feels facile, given the magnitude of the citys problems. You come away from Fear City with a clear sense of what was lost as New York left behind one set of priorities and embraced another, but not of what could have been salvaged or rebuilt for the benefit of the poor and working class, or of how this might have been accomplished. For that matter, there is no mention of what has been achieved, of models of public-private partnerships that have worked for all the citys residents, even in the face of its ever-widening income gap.

Still, this is a book that deserves an audience beyond New York City history buffs, and all the more so because of its relevance to our political moment. The young Donald Trump makes a brief cameo appearance as an icon of the new New York, a real estate mogul who leveraged his fathers connections and the citys desperation into massive tax breaks, starving the city of badly needed revenues for education and other basic municipal functions as he developed properties for the rich. These buildings are symbols too, reminders that the private investment now driving the citys economy comes at a cost, one often borne by those who can least afford it.
THE UNDERWORLD

BY KEVIN CANTY

253 PP. NORTON, $24.95.

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All that silver in our electronic devices, appliances and automobiles has to come from somewhere, and somebody drills and blasts and digs miles underground to get at it, regardless of the dangers inherent in such work. This is the subject of Cantys fifth novel, an excellent and terse account of a devastating mine fire in Idaho in 1972. The book follows a young man away at college, the first in his family to escape the mine; a young woman stuck in the company town, unsatisfied in her marriage to a miner who goes missing in the fire; and a divorced miner trapped in a far corner of the mine, surviving in the dark on water dripping down the rock walls.

Drinking and fighting and fornicating abound in the aftermath of the fire, as connections, both desperate and genuine, are made between the survivors. Canty keeps his descriptions to a minimum, depending instead on taut stretches of introspection and screenplay-ready dialogue to reveal characters acting against their own best interests. Shes lived here all her life and never once been underground, he tells us about the young wife. She had thought mistakenly that it couldnt harm her if she didnt think of it. Leave the dragon in its lair. Whether in his portrait of the young woman stacking cans of pumpkin pie filling when news of the accident comes, or the divorced miner scrubbing himself clean of arsenic and creosote grime in a hot shower the morning after a long night shift, Canty honors labor and thoughtfully challenges the commitment the townspeople make to the thing that is so clearly ruining them.

GIFTED

BY JOHN DANIEL

341 PP. COUNTERPOINT, $26.

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The 30-something narrator Henry Fielder reflects on his conflicted 15-year-old self in this alluring debut novel, primarily set in the hippie- and blue-collar-populated Oregon Coast Range during the timber wars of the mid-1990s. Following the death of his book-loving mother, Henry is left in the care of his hard-drinking, physically abusive father, who also struggles with the loss while continuing to punch a clock at the local timber mill. Tensions escalate between the strict father and the defiant son, and after a shocking attack Henry sets out on a backcountry trek, desperate to reconnect with the serenity that left him upon his mothers passing.

Daniel explores an ecology of natives and invasives  plant and animal  while rendering clear-cuts and second-growth forests with the same keen eye for beauty as he does towering old growths. Each tree showed its history, written in dead stubs and snapped-off green limbs among the living limbs still whole. His protagonist spends much of the book avoiding truths small and large, and repeatedly admits as much directly to the reader, but the novel is most intriguing when Daniel pits dishonesty between his characters, not between writer and reader. In justifying the writing, Daniel undermines the terrifying and humbling aspects of his remarkable story  reasons enough to write it.
FOUR PRINCES

Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent and the Obsessions That Forged Modern Europe

By John Julius Norwich

288 pp. Atlantic Monthly Press. $27.

The decade of the 1490s was a hinge in European history. In almost the same breath that Europe crossed the Atlantic and extended its reach into the Indian Ocean, Spain vanquished the continents oldest Muslim polities and scattered Iberias Jews across the Mediterranean. These events helped set the stage for the major rivalries of European states in the 16th century; the commercial revolution; advances in maritime technology; and religious revolutions of the sort that gave us the Protestant Reformation.

In this same decade were born four men who would carry much of this forward, the four princes who are at the center of John Julius Norwichs new book. Norwich, the prolific author of over 20 books of popular European history, is perhaps best known for his three-volume history of Byzantium. In Four Princes, he uses the lives of Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent to explain how the first half of the 16th century shaped our current world. Although Norwich offers individual histories of each of his subjects and their empires, his focus is more on how these men  together  exemplified an age of global transformation, international war and political realignment.

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The major achievement of the book is the very fact that Norwich takes each of the four rulers to be a piece of the same story. The outlier of the group is Suleiman. While historians have long known that his Ottoman Empire was crucial to everything going on in Europe, it is still the case that the Ottomans are most often described as outsiders  Muslims, bloodthirsty wielders of scimitars at the gates of Vienna, sexually depraved sultans hidden away in harem dens of endless licentious sex. Norwich dabbles in such Orientalist fantasies too, but offers us some useful moves beyond as well. The Ottomans held more territory in 16th-century Europe than either England or the Netherlands. More Christians lived in the Ottoman Empire than in any other European state. The city with the largest Jewish population in the 16th-century world was Ottoman Salonica. Christian Europes major military and political concern was the Ottomans. As Norwich helps to show, the Ottoman Empire was a European state, and we should finally bury the notion that the Ottomans were somehow set apart from Europe.
There are echoes of Beggar Boy in the ironically titled story America the Great Equalizer. Biks, a Nepali graduate student living in Illinois at the time of Michael Browns shooting in Ferguson, Mo., simultaneously develops a heightened awareness of the racism all around him and learns that his beloved Seema, back in Nepal, has married. The death and the marriage, hardly comparable tragedies, intertwine in his mind, sparking a suspicion that Seema rejected him because of his comparatively dark skin. Feeling himself the victim of a terrible injustice due to prejudice, he begins to identify with African-Americans, taking on what he believes to be black mannerisms, including addressing customers at his new job in a gas station as brothah. Its an uncomfortable charade, barreling right through the boundary between empathy and appropriation, and into offensive stereotypes, a fact Biks is initially incapable of seeing, though others try to point it out. Am I your brother because we have the same mother, or am I your brother because youre African-American? one customer asks him. Then he laughed and said he was just giving Biks a hard time.

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Biks sees through his own masquerade only after reaching some acceptance about his former lovers marriage, a piece of timing that suggests the great degree to which his supposed empathy has been about managing his own emotional wounds. This was not the life hed envisioned  trying to be blacker than blacks  Blacker than thou, he muttered to himself  when his history didnt compare to theirs, the brutality, the dehumanization, the violence. He was a fraud, trying to pretend to be someone he was not.  I am a pretender, Biks said to himself. A poseur. An impostor.

That is clearly true, but as with Ramesh in Beggar Boy, the pretense has to do with enacting something genuinely felt. And while impostors are commonly thought of as assuming a higher status, to which they have no claim, these characters take on the identities of those they perceive to be of lower status, to whose sufferings they have no claim, in order to engage in a kind of theater of pain. Their behaviors are particularly outlandish and so seem particularly egregious, but the wrong of using other peoples troubles to soothe oneself is commonplace, a sin most of us commit at some point, which is perhaps why Upadhyay maintains so empathic a stance toward his characters, even as they transgress.

Though he does allow them to be mocked. The specter of foolishness hovers close to many of the people found in Mad Country. The distinction between the questions Who might I actually be? and Just who do you think you are? is repeatedly revealed to be a slippery one. In Freak Street, set in 1970s Nepal, a young American woman decides she is Nepali, changing her name from Sofi to Sukumari, taking to wearing Nepali clothes and calling her landlady Ma. She is ridiculed for doing so, though again, her masquerade is the product of a profound unhappiness. The boy pointed at Sukumari. She! Shes funny! Look at her. She a kuiriney hippie, but she thinks shes Nepali. With this drumbeat of mockery, Upadhyay illuminates the unquestioned pressures on us all to remain as we are, a key element in a book about societal constructs, emotional exigencies and identity.

Story collections need not be entirely consistent to triumph. Mad Country is brilliant, daring, memorable  and also uneven. The opening piece, Fast Forward, about a newsmagazine in Kathmandu, is a nuanced study of truth-telling under a repressive regime, while the novella Dreaming of Ghana, in which a young man first dreams about the country Ghana and then meets a young black woman whom he rather presumptuously names Ghana, involves disparate plot lines and symbolic representations that never quite add up. The title story, in which a successful businesswoman finds new forms of contentment while baselessly incarcerated, left me unconvinced. But I would not want any pieces excised. Even the less powerful stories here are original and thought-provoking enough to add something of value to the whole.
Prochnik  an essayist and biographer, most recently of the Austrian writer Stefan Zweig  introduces himself here as the cerebral, searching son of a non-Jewish mother and an assimilated Jewish father, who reaches to Judaism as a possible answer to the spiritual challenge of American life. Long before my conversion to Judaism, Prochnik writes, I felt that Id been forcibly inducted into a patriotic consumerism that I wanted nothing to do with  from which I wanted to de-convert, into some form of being that spoke to my nature  to Nature and History.

This did not mean Orthodoxy. It was the 1980s, when the desire to be more deeply Jewish often enough led acculturated and liberal American Jews to find inspiration in Israel. At 27, Prochnik, a budding writer and scholar, and his young wife, Anne  herself similarly moved by Judaism  made their way to a diverse neighborhood in Jerusalem, where they set about creating a life.

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Along for the ride, at least metaphorically, was Prochniks muse: Gershom Scholem, the Jewish philosopher credited with establishing the modern academic study of kabbalah. Raised in Berlin in the early 1900s, the son of a nominally Jewish father whose bourgeois values he loathed, Scholem became what he called a religious anarchist  seeing in Jewish mysticism an answer to the political quandaries of his time. To this direct end, he also considered himself a Zionist; to him, the land did not signify the Jews withdrawal from the world and its great problems, but rather the establishment of a unique laboratory in which experiments for redeeming both could be conducted.

Scholem believed that by plucking the knowledge of kabbalah from the moribund pious community that had abandoned it and feeding it to secular Zionists, he could help fuel the movements drive toward independence and historical responsibility, Prochnik writes, explaining that Scholem believed it could be used to develop a more explosive, polymorphous perspective on Jewish history.
THE ROMANCE READERS GUIDE TO LIFE

By Sharon Pywell

308 pp. Flatiron Books. $25.99.

Neave Terhune, one of the two narrators of Sharon Pywells third novel, is a book thief. Growing up between the two world wars, she has a job after school, reading to an elderly neighbor, Mrs. Daniels. One day, when the old lady leaves the room, Neave pilfers an off-limits novel, a romance called The Pirate Lover.

This is the main structural conceit of The Romance Readers Guide to Life: As Neave and her sister, Lilly, grow up, the novel within the novel tells the parallel coming-of-age story of its heroine, Electra Gates. Neave and Lilly are Irish twins from working-class Lynn, Mass. But while Lilly is a sunny, unsteerable, reckless girl, Neave is an introvert, accused by her mother of clinging to a grudge like it was a life raft. The heroine of The Pirate Lover, Electra, is a penniless young woman inhabiting a vague Parisian past who fulfills the expectations of the novels genre by fleeing a wealthy but terrible suitor and falling for his secretly honorable privateer brother.

Pywells other structural gambit is to switch between Neaves narration and Lillys, spoken mysteriously from beyond the grave. Perhaps not trusting the dead narrators familiarity to readers, Pywell lavishes twee detail on Where I Am Now (Lillys ingenuous name for the afterlife) and her otherworldly companion, the deceased family dog, Mr. Boppit: He wasnt, strictly speaking, a dog  slurpy thing going on with the tongue, goofy cocked ears, a rear end that looked like it was wagging even though there wasnt a tail. He was dressed in navy whites, which seemed right. So did his high heels.

Pywell is strongest when describing the Mary Kay-like company, Be Your Best Cosmetics, the adult sisters run before Lillys demise. At one point, Neave describes how Technicolor helped their sales: Movie actresses started to appear on magazine covers in aquamarine eye shadow, but the New Look was still so new that a whole lot of women were walking around with faces that looked like childrens crayon drawings of women. The plot also concerns romantic attachments, homing in on Ricky Luhrmann, Lillys fiery, poetic, volatile and dangerous second husband. Lilly and Mr. Boppits mission is to protect Neave from him; by exploiting the divisions between the living and the dead, they provide entertaining suspense.
Arimah is most insightful when exploring the complex relations between mothers and daughters and between young women. Her mothers deal harshly, often violently, with rebellious offspring as they mold them to social norms, both in the United States and in a Nigeria that is worldly and wealthy and tough, haunted by the Biafran war, with oppressive principles of propriety. The poignant story Light describes a Nigerian father who wants to keep his daughter with him while his wife is studying in the United States. We see their lives unfold from his point of view, and the encroaching danger: She is his brightest ember and he would not have her dimmed. But by the end, we know that living with her mother in America, her streak of fire will die out.

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In another fine-grained story, Wild, Ada, who prefers to dress like a boy, is sent on a one-way ticket to Lagos to stay with her Auntie Ugo and her cousin Chinyere. On arrival, she finds that her suitcase has been packed with pretty new feminine clothes and that her cousin is in disgrace, confined to the house and even deprived of her phone. The initial scratchy relations between the young women shift dramatically over the course of a magnificently evoked party scene, rife with social taunts and the revelation of more family secrets. By the storys end, new allegiances have been effected, shadowed by foreboding and filled with tenderness.

Arimah knows how to withhold information, making the reader work like an archaeologist on a tray of potsherds to assemble the pieces; but the reciprocity she asks from us only adds to our pleasure. And yet, for all her sparkiness, she writes predominantly of isolation and loss, conveyed in images of dwindling and devouring, subtraction, consuming and fading. In the most startling and brilliant tale in the collection, Who Will Greet You at Home, women must make their babies from whatever is at hand and present their lifeless creations to Mama, a sorceress figure who might, if she so wishes, bless them into life in return for  for what? I want just a bit more of your joy, Ogechi, says the powerful older woman. (Ogechi has made previous attempts, but her own mother has met them with contempt: Shed then taken the molded form from Ogechi, gripped it under its armpits, and pulled it in half.) The story, however fantastic, faces outward into real life, grappling with anxiety about designer babies, bristling with anger at the social pressures surrounding motherhood, the grief of childlessness. The Faustian pact Arimah has invented has strong echoes: with the Little Mermaid of Hans Christian Andersens story, who trades her voice for human legs, and with the Dementors, J. K. Rowlings unforgettable creations, who suck out their victims souls. But Arimah has enriched this legacy with a tale that has the true power of the uncanny: Ogechi takes hair from a salon and spins a baby from it, yielding a fresh twist on the monster child of horror fiction.

Arimahs magic realism owes something to Ben Okris use of spirit beliefs, while her science fiction parables, with their ecological and feminist concerns, recall those of Margaret Atwood. But it would be wrong not to hail Arimahs exhilarating originality: She is conducting adventures in narrative on her own terms, keeping her streak of light, that bright ember, burning fiercely, undimmed.
1. Did House Republicans kick a hornets nest with their bill to repeal Obamacare?

That was the question the morning after the bills passage. Democrats say theyll capitalize on anger over the bill to take back the House in 2018.

Thats why they sang Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) during the vote. And they were speaking from experience  they lost control of the chamber after passing the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
SHANGHAI  Chinas commercial aerospace dreams took wing on Friday, as the first Chinese-built passenger jetliner completed its first public flight test, embodying the countrys ambitions to take on the industry champions, Boeing and Airbus.

With a brisk breeze blowing through light smog under overcast skies, a large crowd of government officials and aerospace executives gathered to watch as the C919, white with a green-and-blue striped tail, underwent a lengthy preflight check, then rumbled down a runway and into the sky for a test flight that lasted about an hour.

The aircraft landed safely, and Comac, its manufacturer, declared it a success. But the program still has a long journey ahead. It is emblematic of Chinas challenge as it seeks to become a leader in aerospace and other critical technologies like electric cars, advanced microchips and artificial intelligence.

The C919 is years  if not decades  behind aircraft made by Airbus and Boeing that are cheaper to fly and easier to maintain. Safety regulators in Europe, the United States and elsewhere still have to certify the plane before it can be sold outside China. And including parts like the engines, its cockpit and its belly, the C919 is filled with gear made by Western industrial giants like General Electric and Honeywell.
SHANGHAI  A Chinese regulator announced on Friday that it had taken disciplinary measures against the Anbang Insurance Group, a financial behemoth that has tried to invest tens of billions of dollars overseas, for the improper sale of two investment products.

The moves by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission come against a backdrop of broader worries about the countrys financial system, in addition to ones about the insurance industry.

President Xi Jinping told Politburo members last month that China should place a strong emphasis on financial stability as a pillar of a strong economy, Xinhua, the state-run news agency, reported.

Many foreign economists and investors on Wall Street have expressed misgivings about Chinas rapid accumulation of debt, particularly at state-owned enterprises, since the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009.
RACINE  A neglect charge filed against a woman who allegedly left her infant alone has been dismissed following a child protective services action.

Samone F. Hankins, 26, of the 700 block of High Street, was charged in late January with misdemeanor child neglect after police reportedly found she had left her 4-month-old child alone while she left for work.

According to the complaint, Hankins told police that she had left the child with a babysitter, then changed her story to say she had left the child at home alone under the assumption that the childs father  who had been at the house with her earlier  would be returning.

She discovered the childs father was not at home with their baby when she called him at 4:45 p.m. for a ride home  about an hour after she had reportedly left the apartment.

The father allegedly contacted the police who went to the apartment and found the child alone in a crib, the complaint states.

The neglect charge Hankins had been facing in relation to the case was dismissed this week on a prosecutors motion because Hankins was complying with a confidential CHIPS (Child in Need of Protection and/or Service) order.
Daniel S. Loeb may be spinning his Honeywell International story a bit too far. The activist investor behind the hedge fund Third Point wants the $100 billion conglomerate to spin off its aerospace unit. That could be an option, but Mr. Loebs pitch that it would increase shareholder value by $20 billion is a stretch.

Aerospace is Honeywells largest business, accounting for around 37 percent of the companys $39 billion in revenue last year. But the units sales have on average grown at just 0.6 percent annually over the last five years, according to Credit Suisse. Mr. Loeb says this is why Honeywell trades at 18.5 times the estimated earnings for 2017, compared with an average 23 times at Emerson Electric, 3M and three other airplane-less rivals.

That group includes two companies  Emerson and Rockwell Automation  with similar operating margins and faster growth than Honeywells other businesses, and three others with similar core-business growth but stronger profitability: Fortive, Illinois Tool Works and 3M. To fit in either one, Honeywell would need to improve the 17 percent margin it would have made without aerospace last year, increase growth or, improbably, do both.

Offloading aerospace could cost Honeywell, too. The units margin exceeded 20 percent in 2016. And it provides most of the $4 billion or so in cash the company needs each year for dividends, buybacks, interest payments and the like. Much of its other cash is trapped overseas, at least for now, the investment bank Jefferies estimated.
IBM Dips After Buffett Revalues the Stock

As Warren Buffett goes, so go the markets. Ahead of Buffettpalooza, a.k.a. the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting this weekend in Nebraska, the Oracle of Omaha told CNBC that he had dumped about a third of his enormous stake in IBM this year. The news sent Big Blue stock down about 4 percent.

I dont value IBM the same way that I did six years ago when I started buying... Ive revalued it somewhat downward, Buffett told CNBC. When it got above $180, we actually sold a reasonable amount of stock.

Basically, Mr. Buffett said he was losing faith that IBM could keep up with the competition.

I think if you look back at what they were projecting and how they thought the business would develop, I would say what theyve run into is some pretty tough competitors, Buffett said. IBM is a big strong company, but theyve got big strong competitors too.

Mr. Buffett said that he still owned more than 50 million shares of IBM, valued at roughly $8 billion, and that he had stopped selling. For now.

What to Watch For

 The United States saw hiring pick up in April, with 211,000 new jobs created. The unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent, its lowest level since 2007. Read our full article.
The messages from your parents about the importance of grit  those were explicit?

Very explicit. They talked often about the idea that some things are not fair. You want to work to change what you can. And if you cant change it, the question is, how do you deal with it?

They were really preparing me for a world that wouldnt immediately assume that Id be the best thinker. How do you develop the toughness of skin, but also a strong sense of self? Its this balance between confidence and humility.

Did you move into leadership roles quickly?

Even when I was a grad student, I would always speak up and say what I thought was not working well. So people would tell me, Then you do it. I was always working with other people and saying, Lets figure out how to make this better.

From grad school on, I was doing a combination of teaching and administration, but most important, I was trying to understand human behavior. Why is it that two students can come from the same background and one can be focused and hungry and the other can be bored and not motivated? How do you find ways of getting students to connect to the work and take it seriously?

What about leadership lessons later in life?

In meetings, I had to learn to not be so quick to give a response, to breathe deeply and allow the energy of the room to lead to more discussion. I was much too quick to think I had the answer in the early years.

How do you hire?

First of all, I look for chemistry, the ability of the person to connect, human being to human being. Do they have the ability to have interesting conversations about ideas involving education, and to listen?

Most important, do they have the ability to ask good questions and to give answers that show they are a deep thinker, and not that they know everything? Im sometimes more impressed with somebody who leaves me with more questions than answers.
The same day that President Trump hosted the Australian prime minister in New York aboard the decommissioned aircraft carrier Intrepid, a political meeting of a different sort took place farther north.

I am talking, of course, about the sit-down on Thursday between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and Prime Minister Enda Kenny of Ireland. And though you might think it was what Melania Trump wore to the black-tie dinner on the Intrepid that should have made sartorial waves (it was a yellow one-shouldered Dior, for the record), in fact, it was Mr. Trudeaus outfit in Montreal that got everyone talking.

Specifically, his socks. Specifically, his mismatched Star Wars socks, one in blue and gray with R2D2 and the other in gold and black depicting C3PO. They were impossible to miss set against his dark suit, white shirt, and red tie.
It was a perfect fit from the very beginning, Mr. Lynch said in a phone interview. Kyle is a great actor. He can play somebody quite pure and quite spiritual, and he can go to the opposite extreme.

Dune turned out to be one of the biggest flops of the 1980s, but it led to Mr. Lynchs placing Mr. MacLachlan in Blue Velvet, which the National Society of Film Critics named the best film of 1986 and has since gone on to appear on numerous lists of the greatest movies of all time.

Then came their collaboration on Twin Peaks, which focused on a small-town It Girl whose murder is being investigated by an F.B.I. agent. The show was unlike anything that had ever appeared on network TV and garnered critical praise and Emmy nominations for its cast members, including Mr. MacLachlan. Then, with Mr. Lynch and Mr. Frost leaving the running of the series to others, it went off the rails in the second season, and ABC canceled it.

I was angry with him at the time, Mr. MacLachlan said of Mr. Lynch in a 2003 interview.

His career suffered for a while. In 1995, Mr. MacLachlan starred in Paul Verhoevens Showgirls, whose embrace by drag queens and cineaste contrarians only seemed to confirm its grand prize status as the decades most reviled film. I remember seeing the movie for the first time in disbelief of how bad it was, Mr. MacLachlan said. But what you do in your brain is you say: Its got to get better. The next scene is going to get better. And then your hopes are dashed in the next scene.
On Thursday evening, protesters in New York signaled their resistance to President Trump by standing outside the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, awaiting his first homecoming since taking office, with many wearing white in honor of the suffragist movement. Meanwhile, another form of dissent in a different shade was underway downtown.

The nonprofit organization Everytown for Gun Safety had invited a mix of celebrities, designers and survivors of gun violence to a dinner for the start of its 2017 Wear Orange campaign, which encourages people to don the bold hue for National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 2. But not everyone in the room was sporting the color.
SCOTT Im glad you brought up Colossal and Get Out, both of which confront just how divided we are. (Since the movies have been in theaters for a while, I think we can get a little spoiler-y). In Colossal, Anne Hathaways character, Gloria, a drifting young adult of a familiar indie-movie type, discovers that the monster is her. Or more precisely, for reasons left delightfully unexplained, that whenever she steps into a playground sandbox in her generic American hometown, a giant scaly lizard appears in Seoul and does a lot of damage. The beast is the manifestation of her anger and frustration, and its soon joined by a rival: a giant robot who is the alter id of Oscar, a childhood friend of Glorias played by Jason Sudeikis.

One of the brilliant things about Colossal, written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo, is the way it entwines low-key post-mumblecore comedy, genuine horror and feminist insight. While Oscar and Gloria are both angry, their fury is not symmetrical or equivalent. Oscar, who seems like a nice enough guy at first, turns out to be part of the brotherhood of angry dudes who swarm like locusts on social media and elsewhere, spewing a toxic brew of belligerence, entitlement and whining self-pity. One minute hes a passive-aggressive gaslighter, the next a homicidal maniac, threatening to wipe out innocent people on the other side of the world if he doesnt get his way.

Glorias rage, in contrast, is partly the result of a lifetime of having to deal with guys like him.

DARGIS The male troll is truly the monster of the moment, as Ghostbusters reminded us last summer. In Colossal, to be monstrous means to be incredibly powerful and have dominion over life and death. To an extent, the movie falls along a familiar gender divide when it comes to morality (a divide backed by science!): Gloria is horrified by her newfound ability  specifically its tragic consequences  while Oscar embraces his murderous power. In other words, she may be a mess and an alcoholic, but her moral identity is far stronger than his. Like Jeffrey Dahmer, Oscar has to drink to excess before he kills, drowning whatever tiny inner voice he has in beer before rampaging.

We may love female monsters  the bandaged villain in the new The Mummy is one  and were fascinated by true-life horror stories of women who commit ghastly crimes. But many seem to retain doubts whether women can be wholly monstrous; whether theyre capable of crushing enemies nonmetaphorically. In an NBC News/Survey Monkey poll, for instance, a majority of military and veteran voters didnt believe that Hillary Clinton, despite being a former secretary of state, could ably serve as commander in chief. Obviously some voters thought her monstrous, but for others she may not have been monstrous enough because, really, we dont just love monsters, we love the monsters in us.
Sometimes the hardest part isnt what happens on the set  its landing the role in the first place. Here, a handful of actors gracing the screen this summer talk about how they got a crucial job.

DEMETRIUS SHIPP JR.

All Eyez on Me (June 16)

Mr. Shipp had heard it before  that he looked like Tupac Shakur. Then an online casting call for a biopic of the rapper was posted in 2011. Though reluctant to try out for what would be his first acting job, Mr. Shipp submitted a tape at the last minute and his father  Demetrius Shipp Sr., who had produced Shakurs single Toss It Up  shared it with LT Hutton, a former Death Row Records producer who was a producer on the movie. The younger Shipp had won an audition.

Theyre taking pictures, Mr. Shipp recalled. Theyre like All right, start losing weight. And theyre giving me all these Tupac videos to study. I went bald and got my nose pierced for real.

Then he stopped hearing from them  until 2012, when he was asked to audition again. So I did, he said, the same process of reading with the new casting agency and going on camera. And guess what  no more calls.
Speeding car chases, heart-stopping hand-to-hand combat, bodies left for dead on the pavement, a backdrop of international espionage. The director David Leitchs latest film has all the elements of a Jason Bourne or James Bond blockbuster  except for one major difference. Its a woman throwing the punches.

In Atomic Blonde, Charlize Theron takes on the biggest action role for a woman on screen to date. Based on the graphic novel The Coldest City by Antony Johnston, she stars as Lorraine, an undercover MI6 agent who is sent to Berlin in the closing days of the Cold War to investigate a murder and clean up a mess left by the British government. In her wake, she leaves her own trail of bruises and blood.

With Atomic Blonde, scheduled to be released on July 28, Ms. Theron joins a long line of actresses  think Pam Grier (Foxy Brown) and Sigourney Weaver (the Alien movies)  who have changed how women are portrayed in action movies. Ms. Theron has been here before  her Furiosa was a big factor in the success of Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015  but this summer, Ms. Theron pushes the limits of intensity and realism.
Mayor Lindsay gave us a letter, so that if we were stopped by the police, if the police tried to stop us from saving the ornament that was being smashed willy-nilly, we could show the letter, she recalled. It said, in mayorly terms: Cease and desist. These people have permission.

A stroll through the museum is an immersion in an era that began around 1875, when the city was beginning to climb skyward. That era lasted until just before World War I. Many of the carefully carved keystones and classical column capitals lasted until the heyday of urban renewal a couple of generations later, when wrecking crews pried them off.

They werent saving anything, Mrs. Karp said. When a building was under demolition, Ivan would go up to the foreman and say: See that up there? Bring it down gently. Ivan would give him $10 and go back at the end of the day, and the foreman would tell him where it was.

The adventures of Mr. Karp, who died in 2012, fueled the recent novel The Gargoyle Hunters by John Freeman Gill, a freelance writer who has contributed to The New York Times and The Atlantic. He took the title from the headline on a 1962 article in The New York Herald Tribunes Sunday magazine that he said described a subculture of folks who haunted demolition sites to salvage endangered architectural sculptures during that period of sweeping urban renewal. Mr. Gill said his mother had done some gargoyle hunting. He said he had heard about Mr. Karp from her, and tracked him down in 2009.

The museum is open only three hours a week, from noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays, and only three months of the year, from Fathers Day through August. Charlotteville is so far from the madding crowd that no one from New York actually makes a trip here, Mr. Dahms said. He added that local residents come for the second floor, a separate museum about Charlotteville itself that Mrs. Karp assembled.

The Karps spent summers in Charlotteville, but at first Mr. Karp did not publicize where the museum was because he didnt want artists besieging him with slides to look at, Mrs. Karp said. The town had shown promise before the Civil War, with a couple of colleges and five general stores, but the colleges burned and the general stores foundered. Later a photographer from Vogue redid the towns one hotel as a getaway place for the models, Mr. Dahms said, but he married one  and she decided she wanted a castle in France, and they moved on.
Well, so am I, Mr. Reich said with a laugh.

His memories of Auschwitz, however, remain indelible. He still recalls the fatherly tenderness and an air of elegance that Mr. Levin displayed, as well as the dirty pack of playing cards he would use to practice tricks on the bunks cushions of straw and burlap.

Six men would sleep crowded onto one bunk, in a barracks not far from the gas chambers and crematories that incinerated corpses day and night.

I can still hear the screaming and smell the bodies burning, Mr. Reich said.

Amid the horror and depravity of Auschwitz, Prisoner A-1676 taught A-1828 some simple card sleight of hand, both of them in their striped uniforms on the bunk.

It just stuck with me, said Mr. Reich, who was replicating the trick not on a barracks bunk, but on a white leather sofa in his spacious ranch house in Smithtown, N.Y. This man may have taken a minute to show me this trick, but I remembered it.

While Mr. Levin survived Auschwitz by currying favor with cards, coins and pieces of string, Mr. Reich made it through by being physically sturdy and incredibly lucky.

Scores of prisoners were sent to their deaths based on selections made by Josef Mengele, who was known as the Angel of Death because of his horrific experiments on prisoners.
It has been assumed for months that the prosecution of Joaquin Guzman Loera, the Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo, would be an undertaking of major proportions.

At the news conference in January when the charges against him were announced, federal prosecutors described a Shakespearean cast of more than 40 witnesses who would testify that, over three decades, Mr. Guzman had built the worlds biggest drug empire, employing an army of assassins and earning billions of dollars by trafficking his product with a rotating fleet of trucks, planes, fishing boats, submersibles and yachts.

But on Friday, the true scope of the case came into view, and the details suggest it is going to be enormous. At a hearing in Federal District Court in Brooklyn, prosecutors said that Mr. Guzmans trial could last three months and include up to 1,500 audio recordings of the defendant and his allies alongside nearly 10,000 pages of documents. The presiding judge, Brian M. Cogan, set what he called an aspirational trial date: April 2018.

Image Mr. Guzman, who is known as El Chapo. Credit... Tomas Bravo/Reuters

The sweeping nature of the case, which will track Mr. Guzmans rise from a teenage marijuana farmer to an international kingpin who carried a diamond-encrusted pistol, is matched by his outsize reputation. The United States attorneys office in Brooklyn has portrayed him not only as the worlds most sophisticated drug dealer, but also as a coldblooded killer who ordered the deaths of thousands of people during Mexicos brutal drug wars.
Though there have been serious problems at Rikers for years, the state commission had never before deemed conditions too dangerous for inmate transfers. And it is not clear what prompted the commission to issue the letter when it did. At its two most recent meetings, on March 28 and April 18, the issues raised in the letter were not discussed.

A City Hall spokeswoman said that months before the letter was sent, the Correction Department had submitted plans to address many of the issues raised by the state commission and had started taking steps to resolve them.

A few minor issues that are already being addressed provide insufficient grounds to revoke a program that has improved the safety of staff and inmates at Rikers and at jails across the state, said the spokeswoman, Natalie Grybauskas. We welcome any guidance from the State Commission of Correction on how it believes inmates already in custody at Rikers and around the state should be handled.

Inmate transfers to jails outside the county of arrest are rare. As of this week, there were 17 transferred inmates at Rikers, mostly from nearby counties like Nassau and Suffolk on Long Island, and Westchester just north of New York City. The letter does not specify what to do with those inmates already in custody at Rikers under the transfer program.

In addition to the 12 jails in New York City, the state commission oversees 63 county jails and 54 state prisons. It evaluates renovation projects and changes in regulations and investigates inmate deaths, among other matters. But it has little enforcement power. In 2015, the commission issued a scathing report about the mistreatment of an inmate at Rikers who was locked in his cell for six days, was denied food and medication and died after he was found naked and covered in feces. The report said the details of the death shock the conscience. But corrections officials would not say if anyone was disciplined or fired, and no one was criminally charged.

The commission is but one of a number of agencies responsible for overseeing conditions at New York City jails. In the city, the Board of Correction sets minimum standards that the Correction Department must follow.

The Department of Investigation, which has a special unit for investigating malfeasance at Rikers, has the power to make arrests and refer city employees for prosecution. Since 2014, 38 Correction Department staff members have been arrested as a result of Investigation Department inquiries into brutality by guards, sexual assault and the smuggling of drugs and weapons into Rikers, according to Diane Struzzi, a spokeswoman for the Investigation Department.

There is also a federal monitoring team brought on in 2015 as a result of a class-action settlement over brutality at Rikers. Last month, the team issued a report that said guards were continuing to use brutal force against inmates at an alarming rate.
The basement has changed little since the Aronds first moved to their home in 1950. There is an antiquated television set built into a brown paneled wall. There is wall-to-wall carpeting and a dropped tile ceiling above, as well as a cocktail bar and the requisite bowling trophy on a shelf.

Its a time capsule from the 50s, but at least its real, Ms. Arond said. We once had 36 people down here for Passover.

If the setting hardly exudes an Eastern spiritual vibe, with dim lighting from an ordinary table lamp stuck in the corner, a serene aura still somehow descends, perhaps emanating from Ms. Arond herself.

She runs classes more in the manner of a zany Gracie Allen-type ingenue than some New Age guru affectation. She instructs with folksy patter sprinkled with wisecracking, delivered in a New Yawkese chirp. For her comedic groaners, Ms. Arond blames formative summers spent at Catskills resorts.

If I dont tell a joke, call an ambulance because somethings wrong, she said.

You cant have yoga without humor, she said while teaching the class. Now lower the shoulders, breathe and enjoy.
PARIS  On April 23, Frances voters avoided the most dangerous of traps: a red-brown runoff between two authoritarian demagogues  Jean-Luc Melenchon on the far left and Marine Le Pen on the far right. Both offered similarly reckless policies: Exit the European Union and NATO. Adopt economic protectionism. Get cozy with Vladimir Putins Russia.

Ms. Le Pen  a political goddaughter, if ever there was one, to Donald Trump  remains in the running for president. But instead of Mr. Melenchon, on Sunday she must face Emmanuel Macron, a young pro-Europe centrist who is given a good chance to defeat her.

Hes not elected yet, but his first-place showing two weeks ago clarified the choices in Frances severe crisis of identity. About half of those who voted chose Ms. Le Pen, Mr. Melenchon or some other extreme populist. Is the strength of demagogy just another example of the populist winds blowing throughout the West? Or is France uniquely cursed  the sick man of Europe?

The story behind the answer begins in 1940: France never got over its collapse after Nazi Germanys blitzkrieg and the collaboration that ensued. To be sure, Charles de Gaulle and the Resistance formed a heroic minority around which could be woven a comforting myth of greatness. In 1945, that was enough for France to be counted as one of the wars winners. It also allowed France to repress the humiliation of surrender and, after the war, to embark on ill-timed military exploits to restore its self-confidence as a global power. In Indochina and Algeria, it defended its empire, and with Britain at Suez it sought to maintain its Middle Eastern influence. But those efforts failed. By 1962, France had lost most of its overseas possessions  most notably Algeria, since 1830 the jewel in Frances crown.
In China, summary executions and the arbitrary killing of opponents were the order of the day. Posters with slogans like Long Live Red Terrorism! were plastered all over the country. Red Guard organizations on the mainland, especially in large cities, expressed solidarity with the Hong Kong leftists. One million people protested in front of the office of the British charge daffaires in Beijing in June. Two months later the office was set on fire.

Sino-British relations came to a standstill. According to a highly reputable source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, it appears that Zhou Enlai, the Chinese premier, asked Mao Zedong if he intended to claim Hong Kong back from Britain. Mao said that it wasnt time and that he would honor the treaties China had signed allowing Britain to rule Hong Kong until 1997. Zhou then ordered an immediate halt to the riot in Hong Kong.

Mao died in 1976, and in 1981 the C.C.P. adopted the Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party Since the Founding of the Peoples Republic of China, categorically denouncing the Cultural Revolution. The 1967 Hong Kong riot, being an extension of that, was also being disavowed.

Li Hou, a former deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, a ministry-level body that handled the two colonies, wrote in his 1997 memoir that the 1967 riot was the worst mistake the C.C.P. had made in Hong Kong since coming to power in 1949. Although the masses are heroic, he wrote, the line is wrong.

But no sooner had Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 that local communists started rewriting history. In 2001, Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kongs leader at the time, awarded the territorys highest order of honor, the Grand Bauhinia Medal, to the symbolic leader of the 1967 riot.

Since then, this terrorist chapter in Hong Kongs history book has been whitewashed. In 2010, two legislators from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, a pro-communist party, openly claimed that Chinese communists had nothing to do with the assassination of Lam Bun  never mind the fact that numerous communist newspapers at the time had hailed his execution. In 2015, the Hong Kong police, in the name of depoliticizing the force, deleted key facts from its account of the 1967 riot on its website, downplaying the communist militias involvement in the violence.
Infosys, the giant Indian company that supplies American businesses with foreign technology workers, has announced that it will hire 10,000 Americans in the United States in the next two years. This might seem like an early victory in President Trumps Hire American campaign, but its less of a cause for celebration than it appears.

Mr. Trump has condemned the loss of Americans jobs to foreign replacements. And Infosys has been one of the biggest users of H-1B visas  intended for specially talented foreigners  to bring in cheaper labor to fill American jobs or replace Americans, often in entry-level positions.

But individual corporate measures like Infosys hiring of Americans, no matter how headline-grabbing, are no substitute for true reform to eliminate systemic abuses. Worse, by creating the appearance of change, they may actually entrench those problems. Rather than say what he wants to see changed about a system he has pilloried, Mr. Trump has simply told executive agencies to recommend reforms in the H-1B program.

Infosys is, in effect, getting out in front of presidential criticism of outsourcing in a way that makes Mr. Trumps plan appear effective  even though no real reforms have been broached. The situation is akin to what happened last year at Carrier, when the company blunted criticism from Mr. Trump, then the president-elect, by keeping 800 jobs in the United States rather than offshoring them to Mexico as planned. The workers were happy and Mr. Trump declared victory. But the populist appeal of the deal has far outweighed its practical effect, not just because that deal involved only one plant, but because the Trump administration has shown no interest in or aptitude for addressing the underlying trends in technology, anti-unionism and public policy that undermine blue-collar jobs.
I remember only whispers of antiwar sentiment in the form of occasional leaflets scattered along the colleges 19th-century colonnade, competing with posters for spring dances featuring Motown groups like the Marvelettes. It was a mystery where the antiwar leaflets came from, but probably  my frat brothers hypothesized  the propagandist handiwork of pinkos and NuFus (the latter being the derogatory term for the less than 10 percent of students who had not joined a fraternity). Curiously, the most vocally antiwar student I knew was a V.M.I. cadet who got away with it because he was both a jock and future Rhodes scholar.

Conscription, not patriotism, encouraged many of us to take control of our own fate by volunteering. The calculus was simple: Better to be an officer than a grunt; better to be at sea than in the jungle. So it was that a disproportionate number of my classmates would soon be at Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. Indeed, according to one Pentagon study, as many as two-fifths of Vietnam-era officers would not have entered the military if not for the draft as motivator.

To sign up for officer school, however, required maturity and forward thinking that not all of us possessed. Unless you were a business major or pre-med, your time horizon was typically limited to next weekends date or a research paper due the following week. The paperwork for officer school  as well as for National Guard or Reserves  took months to process. By spring it was too late.

To flunk what was called the pre-induction physical was the last resort. Easier was finding a friendly civilian doctor to declare you medically unfit to serve. That classification would make you 4-F. But no one I knew wanted the draft-dodging stigma that 4-F might bring, although it apparently did not bother the future President Trump. His family doctor vowed that one of his heels (he cant remember which) had bone spurs.

Indeed, how people in my generation responded to the draft would subsequently seem like an X-ray into their character. Take the baby boomers who, like Mr. Trump, became the nations leaders: Bill Clinton equivocated enough to avoid service. George W. Bush served in the National Guard. Al Gore became an Army enlisted man in Vietnam. John Kerry was a naval officer in Vietnam. Dick Cheney, explaining his multiple deferments, said he had other priorities.

Given the militarys manpower needs, an honorable and honest calculation meant that if you didnt serve, someone else would have to go in your place. But I dont remember being touched by any such moral imperative when, in cap and gown at graduation ceremonies, I knew that just a few days later my local draft board would surely reclassify me as 1-A. Rather than feeling noble, patriotic, brave or even frightened, I recall feeling, most of all, simply curious.
This is not ethnic or racial determinism, since the Slavs of southeastern Europe have been shaped politically and economically more by the agency of foreign imperialism than by their own blood and language. The former Byzantine and Ottoman part of Europe  the part closest to the Middle East  is still the poorest, least stable and most in need of support and guidance from the European Union. Whether Europe remains a secure and prosperous continent, or fractures along traditional east-west fault lines  with authoritarians in Russia and Turkey carving out zones of interest  will play out most vividly in the Balkans. Thus, political developments in Paris, Berlin and Brussels have repercussions far afield.

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has been active throughout Central and Eastern Europe, and particularly in the Balkans, using various forms of subversion, from running organized crime rings to financing nationalist-populist movements to influencing local news media. Montenegro may be close to joining NATO, but it is often viewed as a veritable colony of Russian oligarchs and crime groups, where by some accounts Russia tried to stage a coup last year. Serbia and Bulgaria are seen as beachheads of Russian regional influence, even as neo-authoritarian governments farther north in Hungary and Poland increasingly bear similarities to the Russian regime. The effort by the Hungarian government to end the freedom of Central European University, founded in Budapest by the Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros after the fall of the Berlin Wall, has to be seen in this geopolitical context.

As for Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a referendum granting him near-dictatorial powers last month. The next day, he visited the tomb not of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkeys founder, but the tomb of Mehmed II, known as the Conqueror, the 15th-century Ottoman sultan whose imperial armies marched westward from Constantinople as far as Bosnia. Whether it is in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kosovo or elsewhere in the region, Mr. Erdogan is determined to fill the void opened by a declining European Union. Lawlessness in Macedonia, including violence in the Parliament itself over a contested government transition, demonstrates the political fragility of southeastern Europe.

Yet it is only the European Union that can stabilize the Balkans. Only if Serbia, Albania and Kosovo all become members of the union can the ethnic dispute between Serbs and Albanians truly be solved. Within the European Union, Albania and Kosovo will have no need of unifying on their own. But if they were to attempt unification, it could become a casus belli for the Serbs. A similar dynamic holds for the continuing contest between Croatia and Serbia for influence in Bosnia-Herzegovina. There is peace for everyone in the former Yugoslavia within the framework of the European Union. There is only protracted conflict without it. Indeed, the European Union offers a world of legal states instead of ethnic nations, governed by impersonal laws rather than fiat, where individuals are protected over the group.
After a French police officer, Xavier Jugele, was killed in Paris last month, a service was held at Paris police headquarters. His grief-stricken civil partner, Etienne Cardiles, described their love and, addressing the murderer, said, You will not have my hatred.

It was a statement consistent with the resolute, dignified response of France to the terrorism that has struck it in recent years. The Republic, tested more than the United States of late, has not succumbed to fear or fanaticism. It has held the line and so has reinforced, in a time of indignities, the dignity of the French state.

France faces a choice between many things Sunday as it votes to elect either the rightist Marine Le Pen or the centrist Emmanuel Macron as president, but the most fundamental issue is whether to uphold or abandon the values of the Republic, whether to hold the high ground or descend into the mire.

The French state is the most animate of inanimate things. It breathes. Absent religion in any official form, absent the monarchy, the state is what the French have to represent the high ideals and aspirations that, as descendants of the Revolution, they must somehow embody. The question before the French now is whether to stain or sustain that body.
The fences havent stopped the burros, who use either ropes or their bare hands to scale them. This was captured in extraordinary footage from a Mexican TV crew, showing smugglers climbing into Arizona. But solid walls offer no solution, as they can also be scaled and they make it harder for border patrol agents to spot what smugglers are up to on the Mexican side.

Flaco quickly graduated to building secret compartments in cars. Called clavos, they are fixed into gas tanks, on dashboards, on roofs. The cars, known by customs agents as trap cars, then drive right through the ports of entry. In fact, while most marijuana is caught in the desert, harder drugs such as heroin are far more likely to go over the bridge.

When customs agents learned to look for the switches that opened the secret compartments, smugglers figured out how to do without them. Some new trap cars can be opened only with complex procedures, such as when the driver is in the seat, all doors are closed, the defroster is turned on and a special card is swiped.

Equally sophisticated engineering goes into the tunnels that turn the border into a block of Swiss cheese. Between 1990 and 2016, 224 tunnels were discovered, some with air vents, rails and electric lights. While the drug lord Joaquin Guzman, known as El Chapo, became infamous for using them, Flaco says they are as old as the border itself and began as natural underground rivers.

Tunnels are particularly popular in Nogales, where Mexican federal agents regularly seize houses near the border for having them. Flaco even shows me a filled-in passage that started inside a graveyard tomb. Its because Nogales is one of the few border towns that is urbanized right up to the line, explains Mayor David Cuauhtemoc Galindo. There are houses that are on both sides of the border at a very short distance, making it easy to tunnel from one to the other.

Nogales is also connected to its neighbor across the border in Arizona, also called Nogales, by a common drainage system. It cannot be blocked, because the ground slopes downward from Mexico to the United States. Police officers took me into the drainage system and showed me several smuggling tunnels that had been burrowed off it. They had been filled in with concrete, but the officers warned that smugglers could be lurking around to make new ones and that I should hit the ground if we ran into any.
On todays episode:

 The Republicans finally get their health care bill. But their legislative victory could come at a serious political cost. We go to Jennifer Steinhauer in the phone booth in the Capitol building for an explanation of the House vote.

 My colleague Adam Nossiter is covering the French election from Paris. He joins to discuss the tricky balance that Ms. Le Pen must face: keep loyal supporters of the National Front but reject the partys tainted past. We also talk to a 19-year-old National Front voter, Aurore Lahondes.

Background reading (and viewing):

 Which Republicans flipped to allow the G.O.P. health care bill to finally pass.

 Young National Front voters describe their loyalty to the party in this New York Times video.

 For a different take on the French election, read Vanessa Friedman and Guy Trebay on the candidates fashion choices.

Tune in, and tell us what you think. Email us at thedaily@nytimes.com. Tweet me at @mikiebarb. And if that isnt enough, we can even text.
Last Friday, Bret Stephens announced his arrival at The New York Times with a debut column on climate change. Our inbox, as the public editor noted in her Wednesday column, was inundated: Over a thousand letters have streamed in and counting.

While we wont rehash the entire debate here  the public editor wrote two columns on the subject, the first of which followed Stephenss hiring  the crux of the issue lay in what many readers considered to be inaccurate and misleading claims about climate science. (Climate experts penned a letter in response to Stephenss column.)

As the fallout settled later in the week, several readers were left wondering about The Timess fact-checking process for its columnists.

Im one of the Times readers who welcomes alternative points of view  even when the perspective makes me uneasy. I read the Stephens column and found it provocative (perhaps deliberately and unnecessarily) but I wasnt offended per se. Where I was uncomfortable was with his creative reading of science. I wonder to what standards the Times holds the Op Ed columns. Is there fact checking on columns? Can a columnist invent/stretch facts? Are columnists held to the same standards around facts, sources, attribution, and other journalistic practices as are reporters? James McNee, Toronto

We went to James Bennet, the editorial page editor, for an explanation of the process.

Yes, we expect our columnists to work with the same regard for fact and truth as the newsroom. We edit and fact-check columnists and ask them to provide sources for their facts. They are given greater scope for interpretation and advocacy than newsroom journalists, and arent held to the same rules regarding attribution or balance of the he-said-she-said variety. We encourage them to confront the toughest opposing arguments, and in the end, we expect them to articulate their own positions honestly and powerfully.

To bring the discussion of Stephenss first column to a close  at least in this forum  weve included a few thoughtful emails in response to the public editors Wednesday column.

Couldnt an argument be made, an argument very similar to yours on Stephens, that the NYTimes should have hired a Philip Morris-friendly, full-time columnist to tell us tobacco smoking was safe? Couldnt that columnist argue he was open to changing his mind over time, but until then, he would take a skeptical view of the science? Glenn W. Smith, Austin, Tex.

I appreciated your column on Bret Stephens. Whenever science is politicized and the stakes are so high our understanding of the process of science flies out the window. Its based on an ingrained skepticism of what we know (as opposed to religion). To be a skeptic of our knowledge is not the same as denying it exists. But the way Stephens framed the issue bothers me a bit. Seems facile and intended to provoke rather than inform. Tom Bamberger, Milwaukee

I rarely agree with Bret Stephens opinions, and dont think his column on climate change was convincing, but I welcome different points of view in the NYT editorial pages. I think opinions we disagree with can help us think through and sharpen our own arguments. Joanne Lederman, Clayton, Calif.

Moving on, readers wrote in about another Opinion-page columnist this week, Maureen Dowd, who has been away for over a month. Her last column appeared in The Timess Op-Ed pages on March 25, in the form of a personal letter to Donald Trump, and several readers have grown worried.

Is she on leave to write a book? In poor health? I hope not! And thats private personal information, but repeating Maureen Dowd is off today every Sunday just doesnt tell us much. Im kind of curious. Scott Brown, Grand Isle, Vt.

Another reader, who likely finds Dowds work online, not in print, was left more confused than worried, since there has been no indicator that shes been away online.

As far as I can tell, Maureen Dowd has not written for the Times since late March, nor tweeted since that time. I have not seen an editors note saying she is on leave (but forgive me if I missed it). Is she still with the Times? Suzanne Perry, Minneapolis

We asked Jim Dao, the Op-Ed editor, about Dowds whereabouts. He told us that shes been away speaking on a Times cruise in Asia and the Middle East, and that readers can expect her next column on Sunday.

An article claiming There Is a Right Way to Wash Your Hair drew the ire of one reader, who found that it focused only on one kind of person.

The right way to wash your hair should have been titled the way some white women should wash their hair. What about women with curly hair, or kinky hair, or straight Asian hair? Despite the papers claim to being open and interested in diversity this article reveals the real interests and concerns of the New York Times. Jane Bond Moore

We went to the Anita Leclerc, a style editor, for a response.

The public editors take: I can understand the readers instinct to question why this story seemed aimed at just one type of reader  white women (with a lot of money to spend on hair products). Theres a lot in The Times that feels oriented toward the white and wealthy. In this case, it seems the Styles section has done a commendable job of addressing the needs of many ethnicities.
Mr. LeFrak has been a friend of the presidents for half a century. His father, who died in 2003, did not appear to share such warm feelings for Mr. Trump, telling Business Week in 1992, Like I always said, he might be strutting around like a peacock today, but hes gonna be a feather duster tomorrow.

Stroll along the streets of Newport, and it feels like a world set apart from the grit and congestion of Jersey City farther inland. Land that was barren, without roads or sewage lines, now has an outdoor ice rink, a waterfront park with a beach, a Morton Williams supermarket and a mall, which is owned by Simon Property Group. The citys first Starbucks opened in Newport, in 1998.

You had the ability to create a community from scratch, said Mr. LeFrak, who, with his family, is worth $6.5 billion, according to Forbes.

A tour of Newport offers a glimpse of what a neighborhood looks like when it is largely owned and built by a single family. The neighborhood has a private school but not a public one. With one landlord in town, the neighborhood has its own Residential Customer Service office (near the Duane Reade) where tenants can go to complain. Many streets are private, so parking meter fees on those blocks go to the LeFrak Organization, not the city.

Newport did not happen without public support. In 1983, two years after Samuel LeFrak first took an interest in the area, but before he bought any of it, Jersey City received a $40 million federal urban development grant to build infrastructure on the waterfront. At the time, it was the largest such grant in United States history.
Over the last decade, Long Island City, Queens, has become a refuge for Manhattan professionals who want a short commute and an apartment in an amenity-laden high-rise, but dont want to split a Murray Hill two-bedroom three ways to get it.

But as rents have climbed  studios in the neighborhood now average $2,405 a month, according to a March market report from the brokerage MNS  more people have turned to informal shares. The problem is that larger apartments are designed with families in mind, making for awkward shares when divided among friends. Or worse, strangers. Chris Bledsoe, a founder and chief executive of the co-living operator Ollie, is hoping that a new development at 29-26 Northern Boulevard will change that.

It marries the concept of micro-living with a shared suite, said Mr. Bledsoe, whose company also operates the city-sponsored micro-unit building at Carmel Place, in the Kips Bay neighborhood in Manhattan.
Theres no r in May  much to the dismay of oyster lovers whove learned to follow this rule of thumb: Eat raw oysters only in months containing the letter r.

But what does the spelling of a word have to do with the viscous helping of flesh you slurp out of a half shell?

The short answer is nothing. The life cycle of a particular species, the temperature and quality of the water in which an oyster grows, and how the mollusk is handled after leaving that water all can affect its health and taste  and your health.

Essentially if you buy oysters that are grown in healthy waters and theyre handled properly, then theres no problem with eating them any time of the year, said Donald Meritt, an aquaculturist at the Horn Point Oyster Hatchery at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
In a penthouse apartment in Manhattans Chinatown on a recent Monday night, Lisa Larsson chopped shiitake mushrooms and looked rather relaxed for someone about to host a 14-person dinner.

She had arranged the party through the app AirDine, which lets users pay to eat at strangers houses, rating the experience afterward. The app started in Sweden last year, and expanded to the United States and elsewhere in March. Ms. Larsson, 26, a painter originally from Sweden, was hosting the first party in the United States.

The guests  half friends and half strangers  arrived. Mostly millennials, they displayed a dinner-party-appropriate gravitas: pocket squares, bottles of wine for Ms. Larsson. There was only a whiff of cynicism when Noor Shams, who works in microfinance, said the doorman downstairs did not recognize Ms. Larssons name and for a second, I was, like, this is a scam!

It was not a scam  but whether AirDine and a wave of similar apps can get consumers to embrace them is a question. While other companies have conquered car rides (Uber), bedroom rentals (Airbnb) and errand running (TaskRabbit), AirDine and services like EatWith and Feastly are trying to master shared dining. Yet social dining has not so far caught on in the same way, and a few of the apps have already shut down.
Theres no way to know how the health care debate in Congress will play out, but theres a lot of reason to think that the House vote to replace the Affordable Care Act has put Republicans on a risky path heading into next years midterm elections.

The midterms were already looking challenging for House Republicans. The presidents party almost always loses big in off-year elections, especially when it has full control of government and a president with weak approval ratings.

And the presidents party has happened to lose particularly badly in several elections that followed a prolonged debate over the national health care system. Its hard to think of why this particular debate would go much better for the Republicans. The American Health Care Act, passed by 217-213 in the House on Thursday, is extremely unpopular in recent polls  even more unpopular than the Affordable Care Act was when it was passed in 2010.
Bresha Meadows was 14 when she took her fathers gun and shot him last July, putting an end to what some relatives say were years of abuse visited upon her, her mother and her siblings.

On Monday, an Ohio judge is expected to decide whether the teenager can go free while she awaits trial. She has been held in juvenile detention for the last nine months after being charged with aggravated murder for the killing of her father, Jonathan Meadows.

Her lawyer, Ian Friedman, said in an interview Thursday  a day after a hearing was held in Warren, Ohio, on whether she should be released  that no one should object to her receiving the mental health treatment she needs, given the trauma she had suffered.

It does not make any sense to delay the help that we can get her, he said, after having disclosed in court on Wednesday that she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
For the next year and five months, she and her son were detained, mostly at the Berks County Residential Center in Leesport, Pa., while lawyers tried to appeal her case.

Advocates say it is not uncommon for people in situations like theirs to encounter difficulties while trying to press asylum claims.

The American asylum system was established in the early 1980s with World War II refugees, not gang violence, in mind. Under the law, asylum seekers must show they fear persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinions or membership in a particular social group.

To fear gang killings is, often, not enough.

Asylum does not solve everything, said Dana Leigh Marks, an immigration judge in California and president of the National Association of Immigration Judges. She noted that even if the person is genuinely in danger, immigration officers must ensure that each claim meets certain legal conditions. Imagine Im the judge, she said, and I have to go through each of these points and show that you have to qualify on each basis. Any one that isnt proven can derail a claim.

Poverty is also not enough. Immigration officials are sometimes wary of letting through economic migrants who may have memorized a script to claim asylum  a practice so widespread in some immigrant populations that it can support a cottage industry of immigration fraud, as it has in New Yorks Chinatowns.

In 2015, the Obama administration designated female heads of households as a particular social group, a move that may have made it easier for women traveling with children to qualify for asylum. Still, gang violence has not risen to the same status as religious persecution or other asylum grounds. Elevating it to the same level could invite even more Central Americans to rush north; instead, the Obama administration pushed Central American countries and Mexico to thin the flow of migrants before they ever reached the border.

There are other obstacles: Trauma may make it difficult for people to recount their stories thoroughly; rape victims can freeze up when asked to talk about their assaults; poverty, illiteracy and language barriers prevent many people from hiring lawyers, even though legal representation greatly increases their chances of prevailing; documentation of their claims may be impossible to get from police departments corrupted by gangs back home.
RACINE  In 1935, 6-year-old John Andersons father, Racine Police Officer John Anderson, was killed in the line of duty.

More than eight decades later, Anderson, now 89, cut the ribbon Thursday at a ceremony dedicating an honor wall with his fathers name on it.

Thats a nice thing to have up there, because I was a young kid when I lost him, Anderson said. He meant a lot. He was a wonderful father.

The honor wall also bears the names of the 11 other officers killed on the job in the departments history, from Detective John Harms in 1918 to James Fine in 1974. Thursdays ceremony saw several dozen community members pack the lobby of the Police Department, 730 Center St., to watch Howell recognize citizen contributions and help Anderson cut the ribbon on the new wall.

Howell said Andersons presence at the walls dedication made the ceremony particularly special.

It was special to have him come here and share this day with us, Howell said. He comes out every year on national police week and hes with us at the memorial out at Hantschel (Park), but it was great to have him here to share this occasion with us.

The event culminated in Anderson cutting the ribbon in front of the wall, but also featured an addition to the lobbys Racine Police Museum honoring the community policing efforts of former chief Richard Polzin, who passed away earlier in 2017. Members of Polzins family, including his wife, Sheila, were recognized by Howell and Racine Mayor John Dickert, who delivered a proclamation.

Howell also recognized several community members who contributed to the museum and the policing efforts the museum honors.

Those citizens included Marge Kozina, a former executive director of the Racine Community Foundation, Paul Rohling, a former United Way of Racine County board chairman, Liz Powell, RCFs current director, and her sister Connie Shannon, Powells sister, a significant donor to the K9 program.

Howell also thanked SC Johnson and presented an award to Imogene Johnson at the event. SCJ and the Johnson family funded the wall through a donation.
Health officials are grappling with the largest outbreak of measles in Minnesota in almost 30 years, which is mainly sickening young children of Somali immigrants who fell under the sway of anti-vaccination activists.

The state has reported 44 confirmed cases of measles since April 11, and the outbreak is the largest this year in the United States, which had essentially eradicated the disease in 2000 before discredited research stoked fears of a link between vaccines and autism.

As of Thursday, 11 patients have been hospitalized, Doug Schultz, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health, said on Friday. It is the largest outbreak in the state since 1990, when 460 cases were reported. All of the patients, with the exception of an adult health care worker, were children younger than 10. Most were under 5, he said.

Measles, which can cause severe illness and death, is highly contagious, spreading through the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes. Not only does it pass through droplets in the air, but it can also linger. Infected people can also spread measles before a telltale rash of flat red spots develops.
But Democrats were confident many colleagues across the aisle would come to regret this vote, particularly in an election cycle where the presidents party is typically on the defensive and when Republicans will need to protect nearly two dozen districts carried by Hillary Clinton last year. Those districts alone, including some in places like California, Texas and Illinois, are almost enough to determine who runs the House.

Republicans kicked a hornets nest, and it is not too soon to begin saying goodbye to some of my Republican colleagues from moderate districts, because this will cost them dearly, said Representative Luis V. Gutierrez, Democrat of Illinois.

The 2018 campaign is only now beginning, and the political climate is highly volatile. The outlook for the House bill in the Senate is uncertain, and it could be significantly rewritten. But Democrats believe that the potential ramifications of the House-passed measure  millions losing insurance coverage, a diminished array of benefits, no definite guarantee of coverage for those with pre-existing conditions  provide them with powerful ammunition against Republicans.
The political news cycle is fast, and keeping up can be overwhelming. Trying to find differing perspectives worth your time is even harder. Thats why we have scoured the internet for political writing from the right and left that you might not have seen.

Has this series exposed you to new ideas?

Tell us how. Email us at ourpicks@nytimes.com.

From the Right

 Samuel Goldman in Law and Liberty:

Intellectual conservatism has entered its crack-up phase.

Samuel Goldman argues that, historically, conservative thought can be split into two fundamental tendencies: liberalism and reaction. Now, after decades of uneasy coexistence, the two tendencies are causing the conservative mind to come apart. Read more 
WASHINGTON  The Senate Intelligence Committee has asked a number of high-profile Trump campaign associates to hand over emails and other records of dealings with Russians as part of its investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election and is prepared to subpoena those who refuse to cooperate, officials said.

The requests for the materials were made in letters sent by the committee in the past 10 days, said two officials with knowledge of the contents of the letters. The move is designed to accelerate the committees investigation, and represents a new bipartisan challenge to the Trump administration, which has sought to use Republican allies in Congress to blunt the inquiries.

Among those who said they had received the requests were Roger J. Stone Jr., an informal adviser to President Trump, and Carter Page, a businessman and former foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign. Paul Manafort, the former campaign chairman, and Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser, were also sent letters, the officials with knowledge of the investigation said. Representatives for those two men declined to comment.


BALCH SPRINGS, Tex.  A police officer in a Dallas suburb was charged with murder on Friday, six days after he fired his rifle into a car full of teenagers leaving a party, killing a black 15-year-old in the front passenger seat.

The Dallas County Sheriffs Department issued a warrant on Friday for the arrest of the officer, Roy D. Oliver II, 37, the authorities said. Mr. Oliver turned himself in Friday night in Parker County, Tex., officials said.

Mr. Oliver, who was a patrol officer with the Balch Springs Police Department, responded late last Saturday to reports of underage drinking at a house party. Mr. Oliver and another officer entered the house but left after the police said they heard gunshots outside the residence.

As a car with five black teenagers inside drove away from the house, Mr. Oliver, who is white, fired his AR-15 rifle, fatally striking Jordan Edwards, a freshman at Mesquite High School, in the head, according to the police and the law firm representing the Edwards family.
Before the celebrity chef Tom Colicchio set me straight, I didnt know that ramps grow only in the wild. These garlicky leeks cant be raised in captivity, but must be foraged in rich, moist forests.

Theyre impossible to actually just cultivate, he said. People have tried. This is one of those true wild products.

And right now, in early spring, is the only time to get them. I would have walked right past them had I not been trailing Mr. Colicchio through Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Greenmarket near the United Nations in Manhattan.

I joined Mr. Colicchio, known for his restaurants, including Fowler & Wells, and the Bravo show Top Chef, for a lunchtime excursion earlier this week to scope out this seasons offerings with his trained eye  all captured on Facebook Live.
WASHINGTON  A member of the Navy SEALs was killed and two other American service members were wounded in a raid in Somalia on Friday, the first American combat fatality there since the 1993 Black Hawk Down battle.

The combat death was another milestone in the United States escalating involvement in a war against Islamist militants called the Shabab and showed the difficulty of fighting in the Horn of Africa country, where drought and famine have heightened chaos.

Yet the episode highlighted a deepening anomaly: The United States Africa Command, which oversees American military operations in Somalia, has yet to act on new authority from President Trump freeing it from Obama-era constraints on strikes against the Shabab. The commandos death came during a Somali military operation, not an American one.

The head of Africa Command, Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, has said he is exercising caution in using his new authority to launch American-led missions, taking into consideration the difficulty of conducting operations amid a population of civilians on the move in search of food, and aid workers scrambling to provide it.
MEXICO CITY  Faced with a wave of deadly attacks against journalists, the president of Mexico has vowed to take concrete steps to ensure the safety of journalists in his country, including removing the lead prosecutor responsible for investigating crimes against the freedom of expression.

Last year, 11 Mexican journalists were killed, the most in more than a decade, and several more murders have already been recorded in 2017. And yet there is near total impunity for the attackers, in part because the special office responsible for prosecuting cases involving the freedom of expression rarely brings anyone to justice for the crimes.

Since its creation in 2010, the office has examined more than 800 cases of serious crimes but has won only two convictions. Ricardo Najera, the lead prosecutor, has repeatedly failed to take on cases, including homicides, in which evidence exists that the victims reporting and writing had provoked the wrath of attackers.

President Enrique Pena Nietos pledge to replace Mr. Najera and ensure funding for a federal protection program for threatened journalists follows several critical reports accusing the government of complicity in attacks on the news media and of an inability  or unwillingness  to investigate cases.
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan  At least 11 people were killed and dozens were wounded on Friday in clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces on the border between the two countries, officials said.

Samim Khpalwak, a spokesman for the governor of the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, said the clashes erupted after Pakistani forces accompanying a census team crossed the frontier in disputed territory as they were trying to include two villages in the counting.

Mr. Khpalwak said that two Afghan border police officers and a civilian were killed and that 11 border police officers and 14 civilians were wounded. He said the fighting had displaced hundreds of families.

But Abdul Haq, an Afghan border police officer in the area, said three border police officers were killed in the clash and that three civilians had also been killed.
The North Korean government laid out its claims of a plot against Mr. Kim in surprising detail on Friday.

It said that officers at South Koreas National Intelligence Service had trained the man in the assassination plot, and provided him with $20,000 and a satellite communication device. His handlers then sent the human scum into North Korea, giving him instructions last year on how to assassinate Mr. Kim, according to a spokesman for the Norths Ministry of State Security. The ministry serves as the Norths intelligence and secret police agency.

The plan involved bombing a military parade attended by Mr. Kim, the North Korean statement said. The South Korean spy agency later provided the man with additional cash to hire co-conspirators, the statement said.

The statement then threatened that an anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organizations of the U.S. imperialists and the puppet clique, the most mean and brutal hideous terrorist group in the world. In North Korean propaganda, South Korea is regularly referred to as a puppet of the United States.

In recent years, at least three South Koreans have been arrested in North Korea and sentenced to long prison terms on espionage charges. The North is also holding at least three Americans on charges of hostile acts, including a Korean-American named Kim Dong-chul, whom it accused of spying for the South.

It remains impossible to verify these claims. South Koreas National Intelligence Service dismisses them as propaganda.

North Korea has also made improbable allegations that more than 30,000 North Korean defectors who fled to South Korea in the last two decades were kidnapped by the South.
MANILA  Implicitly rebuking the leader of the Philippines on a visit to his country, the United Nations top expert on extrajudicial killings said on Friday that governments around the world had rejected the war on drugs approach being championed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Speaking at a private policy forum in Manila, Agnes S. Callamard, the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, did not mention Mr. Duterte by name. But she made it plain that she viewed his policies as dangerously out of step.

Delegates at the United Nations General Assembly special session last year had recognized drug dependency as a disorder of a chronic and relapsing nature, Dr. Callamard said. So instead of relying on heavy-handed tactics against users and traffickers, she said, they called for what amounts to a balanced, multifaceted, multidisciplinary approach, and they placed great emphasis on health, rights and justice.

Dr. Callamards visit to the Philippines came after months of wrangling with the Philippine government to allow her to investigate the more than 4,000 violent deaths  many at the hands of the police or vigilantes  that the authorities have identified as drug-related since Mr. Dutertes crackdown began 10 months ago.
With the two of them, you can tell that Trumps at home, obviously hes sitting back and hes quite comfortable, said David Alssema, a body language expert in Perth. Malcolm Turnbull moved a fair bit through the conversation  hes on edge of the seat, he changed hands and positions and so on. It just shows the comfortability factor is not so much there.

Seeking Common Ground

Did the delay in holding the meeting make Mr. Turnbull nervous? Its hard to tell from the video, but the wait was widely seen in Australia as a snub  and Mr. Turnbull seemed eager to overcome any awkwardness caused by it.

After Mr. Trump repeatedly remarked that it had been a big day because of the House vote, the Australian prime minister chimed in: I know the feeling. We have challenges with our Parliament, too.

He went on to explain the Australian legislative process in more detail than Mr. Trump may have needed.
That was the short-term damage. The long-term effects on a city already hard hit economically by sharply lower oil prices are only now coming into focus, with spring and the start of construction season. High on the list is the number of people who fled Fort McMurray last May, through choking smoke and walls of flame, and are deciding to stay away for good.

The Beaverglen partygoers  about two dozen people and two dogs  took a ceremonial walk along the crescent-shaped street, catching up with neighbors, snapping photos and puzzling over exactly where some of the missing houses once stood. It quickly became apparent that the party was both a reunion and something of a farewell: Two residents said they did not intend to rebuild, and a third said he was leaning that way.

Across the city, only 1 percent of the buildings that were destroyed last year have been rebuilt and reoccupied. The city has issued building permits for fewer than half of the rest. Those figures will rise as more property owners reach settlements with their insurers. But Melissa Blake, the mayor of the regional municipality that includes Fort McMurray, acknowledged that the city might not fully repopulate for years.

We know the events of last year weigh heavily on a lot of people, Ms. Blake said from her office, where she has a panoramic view of the black scar the fire left on the landscape. If part of their recovery requires they leave the community, thats just a reality we have to face.
Workers at Canary Wharf, a London business district. Mr. Macron, if elected president of France, is expected to push a harder negotiating line on Britains exit from the European Union.

Credit... Andrew Testa for The New York Times
SOFIA, Bulgaria  A cartoon in the latest issue of Prass Press, a new satirical newspaper in Bulgaria, depicts leaders in charge of the global circus: President Trump straddling a missile; Kim Jong-un of North Korea preparing to launch a warhead with a slingshot; and the prime ministers of Bulgaria and Hungary under the label baby dictators.

On the cover, the Bulgarian prime minister, Boiko Borisov, is seen holding hands with an ally, Volen Siderov, who is the head of an extreme-right party known for its rhetorical attacks on migrants and on the Turkish and Roma minority groups.

Satire that pushes the boundaries of taste is nothing new in the West, but in Bulgaria  the European Unions poorest country, and ranked by Reporters Without Borders as the worst in the 28-nation bloc when it comes to press freedom  Prass Press has quickly found readers. It offers a satirical lens on issues like corruption, the regions right-wing turn and the growing pains of an economy that remains underdeveloped a decade after joining the European Union.

Although cartoons, comic strips and collages are at the heart of the newspaper, it also offers political commentary and Onion-style news parody. Readers have likened its tone to that of Charlie Hebdo in France.
One difference is that Mr. Hollande ran on a Socialist platform but as president introduced a short-term payroll tax credit plan to reduce rising labor costs, leaving many Socialists feeling betrayed. Mr. Macron has made clear that he supports a variety of stimulus measures that help businesses, wants to make the payroll tax credit permanent and would push labor reforms even further.

He has endorsed a 50 billion euro (about $55 billion) stimulus plan to reduce unemployment  which includes investing in training programs for one million youths and offering bonuses to businesses that hire from the impoverished suburbs  as well as a host of other proposals that focus more on innovation and modernizing infrastructure.

He has a social-liberal program which is in the spirit of the five-year term we just had, Mr. Plane said of Mr. Macron.

This raises the question of whether Mr. Macrons plans will in fact be enough for France: enough to stimulate jobs while easing the effects of globalization, which have sown such anger that about 40 percent of votes in the first round of the election went to populist candidates, both far right and far left.

Rayanne Benyahia, 16, who is in the program for disadvantaged and troubled youths at the center and keeps up with politics through the internet, said he was skeptical about Mr. Macrons economic plans.

His preferred candidate was Philippe Poutou, a far-left, tough-talking worker in a Ford factory who inveighed against corrupt politicians and the rich. He won 1 percent of the vote in the first round.
The mood in France is tense. Europe is on tenterhooks. The world is on edge.

The election in France on Sunday, pitting an independent centrist against a far-right nationalist, could signal the end of the European experiment, lead to a Frexit and decidedly ring in a new era of reactionary populism and isolationism around the world.

All that stands between the world and the unknown, the British and American news media have said frequently in recent days, are the polls predicting the outcome of the French election.

And so, again, we find ourselves awaiting an important election and poring over the numerical tea leaves.

But can we really trust polls? Remember what they said about the likelihood of a President Trump? Remember Brexit? Remember arguing about pollsters who relied too much on calls to voters with landlines? Remember screaming into the void: Who still has a landline?
BRUSSELS  Jean-Claude Juncker couldnt resist a little dig, and it drew a big laugh.

Speaking on Friday at a conference in Florence, Italy, he began his remarks in English  but only to explain that he would be switching to French.

Why? Because slowly but surely, English is losing importance in Europe.

He was kidding, of course, as an aide confirmed later. But then again, maybe he wasnt.

Mr. Juncker, you see, is the man with the Brexit problem on his desk. As the president of the European Commission, he helps oversee the back and forth with London over how, to the irritation of its neighbors, Britain will go about withdrawing from the European Union over the next two years.

The union has 24 official and working languages, but for practicalitys sake it does most of its business in just a handful, and in recent years, English has usually been the first choice.
LONDON  In voting for local councils on Thursday, just five weeks before the British general election, the governing Conservative Party made significant gains, the opposition Labour Party did badly and the centrist Liberal Democrats had mixed success.

The results, released on Friday, are a disaster for the far-right, anti-immigrant U.K. Independence Party, which pushed for Britains exit from the European Union but saw many of its voters move toward the Conservatives, who promised to end unrestricted immigration while carrying out the divorce.

In contrast, the results display the strength of the Conservatives under Prime Minister Theresa May and the weakness of Labour under its left-wing leader, Jeremy Corbyn, going into the June 8 general election. Mrs. May hopes to increase her majority in Parliament sharply as she tries to negotiate a good deal for Britain as it withdraws from the European Union.

Normally, governing parties are punished in local elections, but in England and Wales, at least, there was a sharp swing to the Conservatives from Labour, in what appeared to be a protest vote against Mr. Corbyn and his management of the opposition. The problem for Labour is that previous UKIP voters, many of whom were Labour loyalists, are moving to the Conservatives instead of returning to Labour. This has raised the chances of a sweeping Conservative victory next month, while Labour has collapsed in its former stronghold in Scotland.
BEIRUT, Lebanon  United States and allied aircraft will be banned from flying over much of Syria as part of a deal struck by Iran, Russia and Turkey to foster a cease-fire in the Syrian war, a senior Russian diplomat said Friday.

But a State Department spokesman later said that the agreement, which the United States did not sign, does not preclude anyone from going after terrorists wherever they may be in Syria. The spokesman, Edgar Vasquez, said Russian officials interpretation of their own agreement makes no sense.

A senior State Department official was at the talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, that led to the deal, which went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. The agreement aims to establish four de-escalation zones, where Syrian government and rebel forces are supposed to stop fighting each other.

The accord raised the prospect that after years of government opponents asking the United States and its allies for a no-fly zone to protect civilians from the Syrian militarys bombings, it could end up being Russia, Syrias ally, that imposes one.
Money cant buy me love.

 The Beatles

  

A favorable judicial ruling? Well, thats another thing altogether.

That was the tune sung by Wisconsin Supreme Court justices last month when they rejected a proposal by 54 retired state jurists to force judges up and down the ladder  from municipal court judges to high court justices  to recuse themselves from cases involving those who contributed financially or otherwise supported their political campaigns for office.

On a 5-2 vote, conservatives on the state high court voted to reject a bright line standard for when judges must remove themselves from a case. The retired judges suggested recusal if a circuit court judge received $1,000 or more from a litigant or attorney in a case; a threshold of $2,500 for appeals judges and $10,000 for Supreme Court judges.

Instead, under current rules, that decision will continue to be left to the judge himself or herself.

In todays political climate with a highly politicized high court that now relies on millions of dollars in special interest spending on issue ads to promote judicial candidates, that is an open invitation to corruption.

On the high end of the political spending level, that means lobbying organizations cannot help but get a friendly ear to their arguments when they donate heavily to a judges political campaign. On the low end, that means anyone in a municipal court might feel disadvantaged going before a municipal judge knowing that the opposing litigant or his attorney had put some cash in the judges political coffers.

The high court majority  which declined to even give a public hearing to the proposed rule change  cast it as a constitutional and free speech issue and some were mightily offended that it had come before the court at all.

Every judge and justice in Wisconsin should be highly offended by this petition because it attacks their integrity, said Justice Rebecca Bradley.

Justice Daniel Kelly chimed in that judges are capable of determining on their own when they must step aside.

The question is whether we should tell judges and the state that we dont trust them to do that, said Kelly. I think thats caustic and inappropriate and an unnecessary thing for us to do.

We take umbrage with that umbrage.

We have seen too many instances in the past decade where justices have resisted or rejected requests for recusal based on conflicts of interest. We have watched as special-interest group spending on issue ads in state Supreme Court races soared to more than $13 million in the past decade. We have watched as the state Legislature has rewritten state law to allow candidates for office  including judicial office  to coordinate campaign work with groups that dont disclose their election spending.

On the recusal issue, Rick Esenberg of the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, filed a brief, saying, Money is speech, or more accurately, speech requires money.

With its 5-2 vote, the justices showed they are listening attentively.

It may be the law of the land, but the law and our land are both poorer for it. The fat wallets of special interest spending have been placed on the scales of justice.
As a representative of irate consumers across the country, the Haggler often toils on behalf of people who want nothing more than to find executives and scream in their faces. But that opportunity is rare. Corporate leaders are usually insulated by underlings, which makes their faces difficult to find.

So for anyone who has ever wanted to confront an antagonist about a transaction gone wrong but didnt get the chance, the Haggler has a spectacle for you. He now takes you to a room in a courthouse in Manchester, N.H. It is March 21 and it is quite a scene, if a recording of the event captures the mood.

Imagine a room packed with people who consigned their vintage vehicles to a company called Dusty Old Cars. Remember this operation? In a column in February, the Haggler wrote about the many consignors who said that Dusty Old Cars charged them for repairs that were unnecessary or never performed. Worse, many said that they hadnt received a penny of the proceeds from the sale of their cars.

Just before the column was published, the owner of Dusty Old Cars, the ever-defiant and reliably info-taining Stephan Condodemetraky, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Soon after, a court appointed a trustee who said, in effect, that this company instead needed to be liquidated. (Thats Chapter 7.) And as part of such liquidations, creditors have an opportunity to show up and ask questions of the debtor, in this case Mr. Condodemetraky.
MAPUTO, Mozambique  One day in October 2015, Electerio Joaos brother-in-law called him up and asked him to come work and earn money. Mr. Joao, who was 22 at the time, welcomed the opportunity. He was living with his mother in a small mud-brick house in the village of Namina in northern Mozambique. He needed the cash.

But he quickly realized that he was going to be the source of cash, not labor. His brother-in-law, working with three of his friends, tied up Mr. Joao with a rope and took him to the side of a main road, where they planned to sell him for his body parts.

Mr. Joao has albinism. Superstition in Mozambique and nearby countries like Malawi and Tanzania holds that if you have a piece of albinism on you  in the form of a bone or piece of skin  youll have luck and money. In Mozambique a person with albinism can be worth $4,000 to $75,000.

Since the end of 2014, dozens of albinos in Mozambique have been kidnapped or murdered, often by family members. In Malawi, 20 albinos have been killed in the same period and hundreds more attacked. In both countries, albinos graves have been desecrated, with corpses dug up for talismans. Those who arent abducted or killed face discrimination and live in fear.

I came to this corner of southern Africa in 2015 to chronicle the albino community and its difficulties. I took hundreds of photographs and met dozens of albinos and their families. What I found was fear. Albinos try to avoid leaving their houses. Children avoid school and walking alone. Everyone is a threat. Many of the people I interviewed and photographed didnt believe I was a journalist at first  they thought I wanted to kidnap and sell them.

Word of Mr. Joaos sale made its way to some buyers. After he and his captors spent several hours waiting by the side of the road, the would-be purchasers arrived. Luckily, they were from the police. Mr. Joao was released; his brother-in-law and his co-conspirators were arrested. It was the first time that Mozambiques police had caught albino smugglers in the act. Mr. Joao is still afraid, though, as were all of the albinos and their families I spoke with and photographed in Mozambique and Malawi.

The governments in Malawi and Mozambique know about this problem. Theyve started public information campaigns to quash the superstition that albino body parts bring good luck and to remind citizens that albinos are people, just like everyone else. The police, too, have become more attentive to the issue. There are some small civil-society groups that aim to protect albinos and discourage trafficking. But much more needs to be done.
Over more than a decade, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs transferred $55 million away from the King veterans home as it delayed facilities improvements, including failing to replace soiled carpeting for more than seven years, according to an audit of the nursing home's finances released Friday.

The finances of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, the state's largest nursing home for veterans and their spouses, was detailed in the audit following an investigation by the Cap Times in August that showed the state was increasingly transferring money away from the home as it remained understaffed and care for veterans there suffered. The audit reviewed financial information at King from 2003-04 through 2015-16.

Both Democratic and Republican state lawmakers said the results of the audit will affect budget negotiations next week. Gov. Scott Walker's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the audit results.

In a letter of response included in the audit, state Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dan Zimmerman said the agency strives to be transparent and is working to make improvements and implement the Legislatures recommendations.

This audit is an opportunity to improve our financial and planning practices, and in turn our service to veterans and their families, said Zimmerman, who took office in February after former Secretary John Scocos resigned in November. Your analysis is a valuable tool for the department. It is our obligation to not only ensure that all veterans and their families have access to the critical programs, benefits and services they have earned, but also to do so in a responsible and transparent manner.

The department generated surplus revenue from King, but did not have a plan for how to allocate that money and did not make improvements to the facility promptly, the audit found.

From 2010 to 2016, staff at King provided care to an average of 685 veterans and their spouses, bringing in more revenue as the number of residents at the home increased. The agency tried to maximize the number of residents in the home to facilitate its ability to generate revenue in excess of expenditures, according to the audit.

Since 2011, the agency tried to keep the occupancy rate at 92 percent or more, about 10 percent higher than the national average. The audit found that the average annual occupancy rate at King was at least 95 percent from 2012 through 2016.

From July 2011 through December 2016, 19 of the 29 capital projects King requested began, but not all were started in a timely manner, "including the replacement of soiled carpeting in one of its skilled nursing facilities that took more than seven years to initiate," according to the audit. It also did not create a 10-year facilities plan for the home, according to the audit.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers said the results will affect budget discussions and could lead to more legislative oversight over how Kings money is managed. The money transfers included $28.4 million to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove and more than $20.1 million to the Veterans Trust Fund. The Veterans Trust Fund is an internal fund at the agency that funds some veterans benefit programs.

The Legislatures Joint Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on the state Department of Veterans Affairs budget on May 11.

State Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, a member of the Joint Finance Committee whose district includes the King home, said the committee should have more oversight over how King money is spent.

The thing that concerns me is why there wasnt any initiative to say, We have this money here, we need to invest it in the home. Maybe at the state level, we need to say, Were going to take this money, Joint Finance, and put it in this account and you can come to usand we can determine if this is the right thing, he said. We have to figure out what is the right thing to do here.

State Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, who also sits on the Joint Finance Committee, said the audit shows the need for more oversight. He filed a bill this session that would require WDVA to get legislative approval to make any money transfers from the home.

Its quite clear that several things need to be done and the first step is to make sure theres legislative oversight on any transfer, he said. Obviously we get calls, other offices get calls on the conditions up at King and what we heard on the phone was very different from what we heard from the previous secretary.

Its really upsetting, Erpenbach said. We are supposed to do the best we possibly can do to take care of our veterans and the administration failed miserably. I would tend to think transfers for the time being probably wont be happening as they did in the last 10 years.

Yet Zimmerman has said that he still plans to transfer at least $9 million away from King to the Veterans Trust Fund this year. In his budget proposal for the agency, Zimmerman has estimated that the fund will need $18.6 million over the next two fiscal years.

Despite the transfers, the King homes year-end cash balance increased from $17.3 million at the end of FY 2011-12 to $35.2 million at the end of FY 2015-16, or by 103.5 percent, according to the audit.

How veterans are charged for their care at the King is another issue highlighted in the audit that WDVA has failed to address for nearly a decade. In 2010, auditors recommended that the agency put a process in place to set rates and calculate the costs of care, but the agency failed to do so.

There is still no formula for calculating how much veterans are charged for their care at King and why. Zimmerman said he agrees there needs to be a plan and is working on it.

DVA staff indicated that the process was delayed when DVA transitioned from a board-governed agency to one governed directly by DVAs secretary in July 2011. DVA indicated it is currently revising a draft statement of scope for the administrative rule, according to the audit.

State Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, a co-chairman of the state committee that authorized the audit, said he is concerned that the agency failed to implement recommendations from the last audit in 2010. He said he plans to call for a public hearing in the coming weeks to discuss the audit results.

We have to ask the question, Why were there diversions when that wasnt done and why werent the private pay rates clarified so individuals going into the home knew what they were paying and why? he said. Perhaps theyre paying too much and thats why the balance is there.

Cowles said he opposes any more money transfers from the home until infrastructure issues there are fixed.

Zimmerman said the agency has been responsive to infrastructure needs and is working on a long-term plan that has identified where improvements to King facilities are needed. He defended the delay of the soiled carpet replacement that auditors highlighted, saying that the agency was being a good steward of state resources to clean it instead of replacing it.

We share the concern regarding the flooring project that was initiated in the 2005-2007 budget. As good stewards of state resources, King staff responsibly employed other measures to adequately mitigate the carpet damage. After these mitigation measures were no longer adequate, WDVA requested and DOA approved the flooring project again in September 2012 and it was completed in November 2013.

Zimmerman said that outside the carpet example, the agency has allocated more than $118 million for capital projects at the home.

WDVA receives several streams of state and federal money to fund the King home. The largest increase in revenue has been federal service-connected disability payments, according to the audit. The service-connected disability program pays veterans for injuries and disabilities they sustained during their time in the military, money which goes directly to the home.

The revenues from that program increased by $9 million, 173.4 percent, from fiscal year 2011-12 to 2015-16, according to the audit. The home took in $5.2 million in service-connected disability payments in 2011-12, growing to $14.2 million payments in the last fiscal year, according to the audit.

That increase is due to an increase in payment rates and an increase in the number of residents eligible for these payments, according to the audit.

The other portion of the audit, which will include an analysis of health care needs, and how the home complies with federal and state regulations, will be released later this year.

The Legislature requested the audit in September following a Cap Times investigation that highlighted persistent staff shortages, negligent care and deteriorating facilities.

In the weeks following, the federal government issued several citations to the home and dropped its federal ratings for two of its residence halls.

State inspectors found dozens of instances of medical errors there, which were a part of 14 total federal citations issued to the home following a two-week inspection in late September.

In December, seven citations were issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services for separate incidents involving residents' medical care. CMS substantiated a complaint from earlier this year alleging that King staff mishandled liquid oxygen, though there was no evidence that it leaked into the home's ventilation system.

Several high-ranking officials, including former Secretary Scocos and his deputy secretary Dan Buttery, also resigned in the months that followed.

Auditors also noted that there are few limitations on how WDVA spends the money it makes from the King home and recommended that the department develop a plan for how it is spent in the future. Auditors said the agency should consider using excess money to improve the overall quality of life for King residents, such as providing certain goods and services that have been eliminated or have not been funded in recent years as cost-savings measures, according to the audit.

Last year the department cut its popular coffee shop with its homemade food and replaced it with vending machines to save money. Zimmerman has said he is working to restore the coffee shop.

Auditors also said DVA could also use money to improve employee satisfaction and retention, as understaffing continues to be a problem there. Zimmerman has pledged to make staffing issues at King a priority. He said he has launched several initiatives to recruit and retain direct care staff there.

Extra money could also be used to fix deferred maintenance projects that the agency has asked the Legislature to fund.

In July 2016, DVA submitted to DOA a list of 21 deferred maintenance projects at King. Of these 21 projects, 3 projects totaling $5.7 million were included as part of DVAs 2017-19 capital budget request, and funding for 18 projects, according to the audit.

Auditors directed the agency to report back by Sept. 1 on the progress of its recommendations.

Correction: This story has been updated to accurately reflect earlier reporting about the liquid oxygen incident at King. The home was cited, but the federal government found no evidence that it leaked into the ventilation system.
NOTE: This is Part 2 of a two-part series, "Successful Marketing for Political Revolutionaries." Part 1 was published as "The Progressive Resistance: 'Woke" on Politics, Comatose on Marketing."

Why Do Progressives Need an Umbrella?

In response, the wiseass side of me is irresistibly prone to say, "Because it's raining bullshit." And indeed, that's a pretty apt assessment of the nonstop propaganda spewing from the establishment politicians and media flaks for both major parties.



The umbrella as weapon--successful model for the Progressive Resistance

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But because my audience consists of principled progressives--the politically "woke" in the language of my Part 1 article--I'm not especially concerned with our own protection from the raging bullshit storm. Instead, the umbrella I invoke here is an offensive weapon, rather like the poison-tipped or bullet-firing umbrellas that are the cliche' fixture of so many spy thrillers. And that weapon, while certainly useful in offering cover from the bullshit storm, is designed far more to end the storm altogether, by mortally wounding the parties responsible for it. And when I say "parties," I of course mean individual and group actors, but I above all mean our two worthless political parties, Democrats and Republicans.

So in speaking of an umbrella narrative, I mean a compelling, unifying story under which the diverse groups of the Progressive Resistance can gather and win the minds and hearts of the latently radical public--the "partially woke" folks who, perhaps unbeknownst to themselves, are ripe for political revolution. And the umbrella party I sketch here--tentatively called the Peace and Prosperity Party--is both the primary vehicle for spreading that narrative and, best of all, the source of popular hope that folks who embrace the narrative have a forceful political voice capable of influencing policy.

Together, the umbrella narrative and party will form a potent political weapon, much like the deadliest poison-tipped or bullet-firing umbrella ever devised for a spy flick. And our weaponized umbrella is specially designed to exploit the fact that our Democrat and Republican enemies are already suffering grievously from self-inflicted wounds, both doing their utmost to commit political suicide.

That we of the Progressive Resistance should embrace the role of Dr. Kevorkians--though not necessarily merciful ones--assisting at the political suicides of both major parties is a point that deserves its own section. Just remember: we deliver the needed lethal drugs via our umbrella.

Our Unique Opportunity: Assisting the Suicide of Both Major Parties

Every comparison or analogy is limited, and in invoking the "political suicide" of Democrats and Republicans, I don't mean to imply our deeply unloved duopoly will disappear altogether from the national map any time soon. In ever-weakening form, they could easily haul their rotting carcasses across our political landscape for a decade or more. And it remains possible--and hardly undesirable--that an onrushing political firestorm will drive them to reform beyond recognition, as enough people within the parties awaken to realize that the only alternative is political death.

What I do mean here is that both major parties keep inflicting on themselves such grievous harm with the voting public that the previously unthinkable--a viable third party--now seems politically possible. And not just possible but necessary, for reasons I will soon state. But the needed party can't be a party of the deeply loathed recent past (sorry, Greens); it can't seem a fixture of a status quo voters now rightly detest. Rather, it must package itself as a special creation responding to political emergency; only such packaging will convince mainstream voters to take the deeply uncomfortable, unaccustomed step of voting for a third party. Fortunately, both major parties, by their corruption, have unwittingly conspired to create such an emergency, and the winning narrative for the progressive resistance--and the single third party associated with it--consists in villainizing Democrats and Republicans for creating that emergency. The required party must from the get-go be a predator, one that has astutely sized up the fatal weaknesses of its unwittingly suicidal prey.

A Predator Party--with a Positive Message

At this point, the sunnier-tempered members of the Progressive Resistance--as well as those with a keen sense of marketing--are apt to push back, saying, "People are so damn sick of negativity. Do you really expect to succeed with a party that's about nothing but attack--in your own words, 'villainizing' and being a 'predator'?" And both groups would have a point--except for forgetting that the proposed "umbrella" party is tentatively called the Peace and Prosperity Party.

Readers of Part 1 of this series will recall its discussion of cognitive scientist George Lakoff and his insistence on the importance of framing in political messaging. Well, as noted in the Salon article just cited, Lakoff had earlier authored a book titled Moral Politics. Lakoff's thesis is that political discourse is moral discourse through and through, and that liberals and conservatives have remarkably consistent systems of moral values underlying their political narratives. He notes, however, that conservatives often have an advantage, because they tend to be more conscious of the moral values backing their narrative and less hesitant than liberals to frame political discussions in flagrantly moral terms. The proposed Peace and Prosperity Party would consciously take a page from Lakoff's book and frame its political narrative by moral values reflected in the party name--values that automatically paint today's Democrats and Republicans as moral villains.

Or rather, the "painting" in question wouldn't be ours at all; the "peace and prosperity" framing would simply highlight how both major parties have suicidally painted themselves into an indefensible moral corner based on the donors they inflexibly serve. After all, it's simply a normal, sane expectation of modern democratic citizens that their governments should seek to provide peace and general prosperity; that neither of our only two electable parties no longer even tries to meet those sane, normal citizen expectations amounts to moral insanity-- the type of insanity that amounts to a civic emergency. Offering a policy agenda highlighting peace and prosperity should not be a political niche market, yet the corruption of our political system by global corporate and war lobby interests--let's stigmatize them as "Wall Street and War Street"--has made it one. A party name like Peace and Prosperity Party (based on such crucial values being political orphans) is itself a screaming argument that we face a civic emergency where the unaccustomed act of voting for a third party is now essential. A compelling argument to vote third party is built right into the name.

Will the Resistance Accept the "Killer Umbrella"?

What worries me frankly about current progressive resistance organizing, as I'm aware of it from social media, is that it's based on a coalition. In a sense, this is wonderful news, since it implies a willingness by diverse groups of principled progressives--not members of the Democratic Party "McResistance"--to work together for a common cause. But in another sense, it strongly suggests a democracy of groups that's simply a cacophony of voices, with each group shouting to promote its own favored issue, and nothing like a unified "umbrella" narrative, tailored for maximal appeal to "partially woke" voters, ever transmitted to the general public.

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One of the key steps in creating a totalitarian state: attacking, silencing the media.

Could these relentless attacks by the Trump administration on the media be a sign that this government could be heading down a road leading to a totalitarian state?

Perhaps we can draw some conclusions by reviewing history to see what happened in other countries in past decades when its national media came under attack by its highly aggressive, controlling government and was muzzled and silenced.

Here are some of the most notable totalitarian governments of the past; note that several of these countries could still be so classified:

*Soviet Russia under Stalin

*Nazi Germany and Hitler

*Italy under Mussolini

*North Korea under various dictators from the same family

*China under Mao Zedong

All of these countries had governments that evolved into either fascist or totalitarian states. One of the first things that they did when moving down that path was to keep the people from knowing exactly what was going on, so that there was little to no chance that they would rise up and revolt against the formation of this kind of a controlling government.

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4 May 2017

The arrest of a German army officer suspected of plotting the assassination of leftist politicians and high-ranking state officials has exposed the operations of neo-Nazi forces at the highest levels of the German military (Bundeswehr).

The information that has emerged thus far indicates that the suspected officer-terrorist was part of a broader network of fascists within the Bundeswehr, and that his activities were known to his superiors and covered up by them.

Most astonishing is the official reaction to these alarming revelations. They have prompted an outpouring of anger in the German media and from the establishment parties directed not at the existence of this network and evidence of its toleration by high-level state forces, but at mild criticisms of the military by Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen.

Given the historic crimes of German imperialism in the 20th century and the current revival of militarism in Germany, it is remarkable how little attention has been paid to these developments in the American and international press.

Lieutenant Franco A., 28, was arrested last week after coming to the attention of Austrian police when he sought to retrieve a weapon hidden at the airport in Vienna. It quickly emerged that the officer had been leading a double life. In addition to his activities in the Bundeswehr, Franco A, who does not speak a word of Arabic, had registered as a Syrian refugee and been recognized as such.

He apparently intended to carry out a terror attack under a false flag. A police search of his home uncovered a list of possible targets, which included, together with leftist politicians and activists, Justice Minister Heiko Maas and former German President Joachim Gauck.

Franco A. did not operate alone. The police have recovered shells and handguns from a 24-year-old accomplice, who was also arrested. The Defence Ministry has informed the parliamentary defence committee that the arrested officer may be part of an ultra-right network within the Bundeswehr.

The reaction of the military leadership suggests that this network is far more extensive and reaches much higher than has thus far been revealed. Defence Minister von der Leyen cancelled a planned trip to the US and invited 100 high-ranking military officers to Berlin on Thursday "to discuss the implications and consequences of the accumulated cases in the Bundeswehr."

It is now clear that, for some time, Franco A.'s superiors were aware of his fascistic views and shielded him. As far back as 2014, his graduate thesis at the French military university Saint-Cyr was rejected on the grounds that it was not a scholarly work, but rather "a radical nationalist, racist appeal," calling for "existing conditions to be adapted to the alleged natural law of racial purity." The responsible French general advised Franco A.'s German superiors to sack him, but the latter concluded that he was not a racist. They hushed up the case and promoted his military career.

The neo-Nazi views of the first lieutenant were an open secret in the French town of Illkirch, where he served in a Franco-German unit. Investigators from the Bundeswehr have found "indications of right-wing and racist ideas" in his room. In addition to a swastika carved on an assault rifle, they discovered pictures glorifying Hitler's army, the Wehrmacht.

Racist and authoritarian views and the glorification of violence are not only widespread in the Bundeswehr, they are actively encouraged by its leaders. The military intelligence service is currently investigating 275 extreme right-wing suspects. These investigations are exercises in damage control. Charges were dropped against one soldier who placed a photo of a machine gun on the Internet with the caption: "The fastest German asylum procedure: rejects up to 1,400 requests per minute."

The tradition of Hitler's Wehrmacht continues to be officially cultivated in the Bundeswehr. Many barracks bear the names of military officers who were implicated in the Nazis' genocidal racial and war policies.

The universities of the Bundeswehr in Munich and Hamburg have repeatedly generated headlines by promoting right-wing extremism. In Munich, there was a controversy in 2011 surrounding the student magazine Campus when three of its editors expressed their support for the Conservative Revolutionary movement, one of the leading ideological forbears of the Nazis.

In Hamburg, the book Armee im Aufbruch (Army on the Move) was published in 2014 with contributions from sixteen officers who studied at the Bundeswehr University there and had combat experience in Afghanistan. The book is full of language typical of Nazi literature glorifying war.

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Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Rob Kall has been in on the modern bottom-up revolution from the ground floor. While the last two years have put the dangers of social media and connectivity at the forefront of our national debate, Rob Kall knows as well as anybody the infinite positive potential of our new world."



Jesse Lee, former White House Director of Rapid Response and Social Media Director for Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi
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In the criminal prosecution of children and parents' rights activists Lori Shem-Tov and Moti Leybel, Judge Benny Sagi was caught in multiple incidents of fraud and deceit, including attempt to unlawfully conduct a closed doors hearing - serious violation of a fundamental Human Rights -- fair and public hearing.



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Figure 1. Lori Shem-Tov and Moti Leybel are key activists in protest against corruption of the justice and welfare systems and the unbearably easy removal of children from their parents (particularly poor parents), which created an industry of adoptions and highly paid foster parents. Shem-Tov, Leybel and their former attorney Zvi Zer now face criminal prosecution, which may leave them behind bars for years.

OccupyTLV, May 04 -- An unprecedented incident took place today in the Tel-Aviv District Court today -- the public defied Court Guards' demand to leave the courtroom and eventually secured an open court criminal prosecution hearing for jailed social protest activists Lori Shem-Tov and Moti Leybel, and their former attorney Zvi Zer (prosecuted with them). All three have been detained for almost 2 months.

Media campaign by Israel Police in the days following their arrest, referred to them as an "internet terror group" and claimed that they had engaged in "extortion" (notably missing from Israeli English media editions). [ii] On April 18, 2017, State Prosecution entered the indictment. Media published indictment records, while implying at the same time that the entire care was conducted under seal with a gag order prohibiting its coverage by media...

Shem-Tov and Leybel's primary protest is against corruption of the justice and welfare systems, which permits unbearably easy removal of children from their parents (particularly poor parents), and which generated a highly-paid foster family industry and a market for adoptions. The final incidents, which triggered the arrests, were small street protests near the homes of two judges. [iii] With a growing number of protests being held against justice, welfare and banking system officers in recent years, the State has started arresting and criminally prosecuting activists. [iv]

Open court, or a closed doors hearing?

The case was listed as a normal open court hearing by Judge Benny Sagi of the Tel-Aviv District Court. However, around 10:45, prior to the Judge's entry, Court Guard Matan Rahmani announced a closed doors hearing and demanded that the public -- about 20 supporters and family members -- leave the room. In an unprecedented incident, the public defied the Court Guards arguing that there was no lawful decision in the court file to such effect. Rahmani again demanded that people leave the room, but nobody complied. Finally, Rahmani consulted with the court assistant, there was a phone call to someone, the public stayed in the courtroom, and the hearing was after all conducted in open court.

At the end of the hearing, Rahmani was asked, who instructed him to announce the closed doors hearing. First, Rahmani claimed that he had been instructed by the Prosecutor -- an unreasonable explanation. Shortly afterwards, Mr Shay Shmarel, who introduced himself as the Court Guards Shift Commander, interfered and stated that "information was received of a closed doors hearing". Finally, Shmarel admitted that the false instruction came from Judge Benny Sagi himself.

Fake indictment served on Defendants in jail

Later, during the hearing, Mr Moshe Halevi asked Judge Sagi from the public benches to provide Defendant Lori Shem-Tov a copy of the indictment that was entered in Net-HaMishpat -- case management system of the Court. Halevi had earlier filed a request to the same effect on behalf of Shem-Tov, who is unrepresented and unable to file for herself. Judge Sagi demanded to inspect the papers, and approved their delivery to Shem-Tov. Shem-Tov briefly inspected the papers and immediately stated that they were different than the indictment record, which had been served on her in jail by the Prosecution. Shem-Tov first stated the difference in total page count. Here, Judge Sagi blundered even deeper. He tried to argue, "it is impossible that there are two different indictments", and "difference in page count in itself does not mean that the records are different" (implying differences in formatting). However, the request, which had been earlier filed by Halevi included a table summary of the material differences between the two indictment records" In short, if earlier one could assume that the fraud on the Defendants was perpetrated by the Prosecution alone, conduct of Judge Sagi in open court established him as partner in such conduct. The fake indictment record, which was served on the Defendants was the same which was published by media. It was obviously an invalid, unauthentic court record: It was unsigned, showed neither a court file number nor a "Filed" stamp, among various obvious cardinal defects. Regardless, such records are routinely provided by the State Prosecution to media and used by legal correspondents without doubting their truthfulness"

Difficulties in designating a Defense Counsel

The issue of designating Defense Counsel was again a key issue in today's hearing. In the previous court hearing, representative of the Public Defender's office stated that the Public Defender's office desired not to be involved in this case, due to "the nature of the indictment". Judge Sagi lost his temper, and ordered the Public Defender's office to designate Counsel by today's hearing. However, today, the Public Defender's office again stated that no Counsel had been designated, since they could not find anybody, who agreed to accept the case" Judge Sagi gave the Public Defender's office extension of additional 10 days"

Was Arraignment duly executed?

According to the entries in Case Calendar in Net-HaMishpat, Arraignment was executed on April 18, 2017. However, on that date, the Defendants have not even seen the fake indictment record. The case calendar now has no Arraignment scheduled for a future date, although it is obvious that today was the first time that the Defendants ever saw the authentic indictment record...

Inspection of the evidence

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Donald Trump continues to be unpopular with voters, in general. However, his base overwhelmingly supports him. Why?

According to Five Thirty Eight, 52 percent of Americans disapprove of the job Trump is doing while 42 percent approve of his performance. (A ten-point gap that has held steady for a month.) Nonetheless, the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll finds a stark difference of opinion between Trump voters and everyone else: 94 percent of Trump voters approve of his performance, 92 percent of Clinton voters disapprove, and 62 percent of other or non-voters disapprove.

There are three explanations for the rabid support Trump gets from his base. The first is political, the Trump voters don't have another choice; they don't see any other politician they prefer to Trump. The Washington Post/ABC News poll asked voters who was to blame for Trump's lack of accomplishments in his first 100 days in office. Trump voters felt this was due to the obstruction of congressional Democrats. On the other hand, Clinton voters felt that the lack of accomplishments was Trump's fault.

The typical perspective of Trump voters is, "Give him a chance to show what he can do." Trump hasn't repealed Obamacare or built the border wall or kept Muslims from entering the U.S., but these failures are dwarfed by what appears to be a strong economy. Trump claims to have created 500,000 jobs (but overall economic growth is a tepid .7 percent).

From a political perspective, Trump voters aren't going to desert him until the economy stalls.

There's also a sociological reason why Trump voters are "standing by their man." Trump has fashioned a narrative where he is the most reliable source of information. When Trump says things like, "We've accomplished more in 100 days than any previous Administration," it's laughed at by the mainstream media but accepted as truth by Trump voters.

Roughly one-third of Trump's April 29 Harrisburg speech was spent attacking the press. "Media outlets like CNN and MSNBC are fake news...They're incompetent, dishonest people, who, after [the] election had to apologize...the media deserves a very, very, big fat failing grade."

The next third of the speech was spent lauding Trump's accomplishments: "For decades, our country has lived through the greatest jobs theft in the history of the world...[the media won't report this because] they're all part of a broken system that profited this global theft... We've delivered 100 days of action."

The final third of the speech was about the "threat" of illegal immigrants. the audience called out, "Build the wall!" and Trump promised he would. He said, "The last, very weak administration allowed thousands and thousands of gang members to cross our border and enter into our communities where they wreaked havoc on our citizens."

Trump voters buy this narrative because they identify with Trump and trust him; most of their associates share this sentiment.

Finally, there's a psychological reason why Trump voters continue to support him: they are trapped in an abusive "system." These voters suffer from a version of Stockholm syndrome where prisoners "develop a psychological alliance with their captors as a survival strategy."

After the election, many polls noted that Trump supporters voted for him because they believe it to be their last chance to save the country and to regain power over their lives.

In her landmark study, "Stranger in their own Land," sociologist Arlie Hochschild detailed the shared narrative, "deep story," of many Trump voters: "You are standing in a long line leading up a hill... You are situated in the middle of this line, along with others who are also white, older, Christian, and predominantly male... Just over the brow of the hill is the American Dream, the goal of everyone waiting in line. Most in the back of the line are people of color... Look! You see people cutting in line ahead of you! You're following the rules. They aren't. As they cut in, it feels like you are being moved back... Who are they? Women, immigrants, refugees, public sector workers -- where will it end?" Hochschild explained, "[Trump voters] felt that the deep story was their real story and that there was a false PC over-up of that story... So it was with joyous belief that many heard a Donald Trump who seemed to be wildly, omnipotently, magically free of all PC constraint." Trump made them feel okay about themselves.

Hochschild observed, "Underlying all these other bases of honor -- in work, region, state, family life, and church -- was pride in the self of the deep story... What seemed like a problem to liberals -- the fact that conservatives identify 'up,' with the 1 percent -- was actually a source of pride to the [Trump voters] I got to know." Trump voters admire Donald.

A recent Time magazine article (e.com/3309687/why-women-stay-in-abusive-relationships/), about why women stay in abusive relationships, observed: "Research also shows that abusers are drawn to people who already feel powerless in other aspects of their life. These people question their own worth and thus do not consider whether their needs are being met. Predators build up the victim's self-esteem before introducing the abuse." This explains the relationship between Trump and his supporters.

Donald Trump is an abuser. He's found an audience with millions of American who feel powerless. Now, he's getting ready to abuse them by taking away their healthcare, polluting their air and water, and reducing public services.

What will take for Trump voters to realize they have been fooled?


Democrats Aren't

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We are discouraged.

We are discouraged not because we lost the last election, but because we DIDN'T lose; not because people don't agree with us, but because most Americans agree with us; not because there is no hope, but because hope is evident all around us, but is being ignored.

We are discouraged because hope is being crushed by the disenfranchisers of the American dream. The American dream of being good.

Who are the disenfranchisers? Certainly the Republican party. But that's nothing new. For at least seventy-five years, they have been the party of the Machine. They have scorned the will of the people. They have used lies, intimidation, racial and religious discrimination, and violence to distract from their true goal of serving the Machine. The new development is that the Democratic Party has been co-opted. The Democratic Party has fused with the enemy.

We are discouraged because the party of Roosevelt, the party of Kennedy, the party of Martin Luther King has lost its soul.

We are discouraged because the Democratic Party freely admits (to a federal judge who is hearing a suit filed by Democrats against the Democratic Party) [1] that the DNC is NOT a democratic institution. They brag that it was never intended to be. They tell us to our face, to the face of the sitting federal-court judge that the words in the DNC charter are meaningless; that a small number of DNC power brokers have a right to choose candidates literally in back rooms without consulting party members. In other words the Democratic Party is not democratic. It is a return to the "smoke-filled rooms".

We are discouraged because the Democratic Party has the same position as the Republicans on defense spending (which should be called offense spending) -- using cuts to social and health services to transfer money to the arms manufacturers.

We are discouraged because the Democratic Party is war party. It insanely backs the placement of "tactical' nuclear weapons on the borders of Russia. This despite the fact that poll after poll show that the American people do not desire endless wars, including cold wars that would involve placing "tactical" nuclear weapons on the border of another nuclear power. We are discouraged because the Democratic Party has pledged itself to a strategy of regime change despite the fact that this strategy has never worked.

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In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, FBI Director James Comey defended going public with his letter on the FBI's probe into Hillary Clinton's email server flap at the 11th hour of the presidential election. The question, the answer, and the implication that hung heavy was that Comey's release of the letter tipped the election to Trump. Clinton has flatly blamed his perfectly timed election eve release of the letter for her loss. Not a whole lot of people agree with her on that. The near universal consensus among pundits, a new book, Shattered, by two Politico writers, that dissects the Clinton campaign's foibles and missteps, and many on the street, is that Clinton lost because she was a lousy candidate.

They endlessly claim that she didn't message right, snubbed the white working class, was too arrogant, aloof, and know it all, and smugly believed she had the election in the bag. If she lost it wasn't because anything Comey did, but because of Clinton.

Let's be clear. Comey's letter did wreak colossal damage on Clinton. In the hours before the release, polls showed Clinton with almost a 6-point bulge over Trump. The letter swiftly changed that. Her poll lead plunged to under 3 points. Even factoring in polling margins of error, volatility, bias, and voter deception, that's still too big a swing in such a short period of time to shrug off as irrelevant. Clinton's numbers dropped after the Comey letter for two other good reasons. It hardened the belief among big swatches of the public that Clinton was untrustworthy at best, and a serial liar at worse, who might wind up in a court docket. It also endlessly fed the avaricious media search and play up any Clinton scandal in the waning moments before the election's end.

In this case, timing was everything. Despite his long and loud protestations, Comey had to know that. If not, why then did he keep his mouth shut about the FBI's probe of Trump's Russia connection which was ongoing at the same time?

Then there is Trump. There was always a path for a Trump White House win no matter what Clinton said or did. Much was made that there weren't enough less educated, blue-collar white men in the electorate to push Trump over the top. But that was always misleading. Trump got a lot of votes from middle-class whites, both male and female, college educated, business, and professionals. They had one thing in common and that one thing wasn't borderline bigotry, loathing of Obama, or dislike and rejection of a Democrat. They still wanted what powered Obama's 2008 win--change.

Clinton simply was not that change. To them, she was the consummate beltway established, corporate influenced, deal making politician. The Clinton name was the embodiment of that image and dislike. There were two huge tip-offs that Trump was their perfect antidote to that. The first was he held no political office and burnished that fact as a point of pride and as his credential of why he would be different. The other was his muscle aside against seemingly all odds of a dozen rock solid establishment Republican presidential contenders from the race.



Elections are almost always won by candidates with a solid and impassioned core of bloc voters. In Trump's case, white males, older voters, middle-income, college educated voters vote consistently and faithfully. And they vote in a far greater percentage than Hispanics and blacks, and especially young voters. The only exception was 2008. Obama's run turned the campaign into a crusade to make racial history. There was absolutely no way that Clinton could ever have recaptured that enthusiasm, passion, energy, and sense of making history that was there for Obama.

Also, Trump was loathed by many from the start, but the Trump haters weren't going to vote for him anyway. But Clinton was loathed too, and that absolutely nothing to do with anything she said or did on the campaign trail. It had everything to do with a two decade long artful, masterful and relentless smear campaign by the GOP against her. A year before she declared her 2016 candidacy the Republican National Committee was in full torpedo Hillary mode. It was busily churning out anti-Hillary videos, releases, and paid books by party hacks lambasting Clinton on everything from her and Bill's foundation's alleged shady dealings to Benghazi.

The notion that Trump was so repugnant and repulsive, and that Clinton would make mincemeat of him in the campaign was also dangerous. It lowered the bar so low in the dirt for Trump that all he had to do was show up on the campaign trail sober and reasonably coherent to score points. The bar for Clinton was stratospheric. She was a woman, a Clinton, and perennially tainted by the GOP's endless, phony and manufactured scandals against her. It would have taken a miracle to overcome that. There would be none in 2016. And that had nothing to do with anything Clinton did, or didn't do.



Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is the author of the new ebook How the Democrats Can Win in The Trump Era (Amazon Kindle). He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on Radio One. He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network.
(This article is part of a series on labyrinths. Additional information, especially about the history of labyrinths, is available in many of the previous articles listed below. Author, Meryl Ann Butler, is a founding member of The Labyrinth Society and has been building labyrinths since 1992.)



Walking the labyrinth

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The Labyrinth Society invites everyone to celebrate World Labyrinth Day by taking steps for peace during the global "Walk as One at 1" (1 o'clock pm local time), joining others around the world to create a wave of peaceful energy flowing across the time zones.

A labyrinth is similar to a maze, but it has only one path and no choicepoints. Labyrinths are walked for many reasons, including to lower stress, to create ceremony, as prayerful/meditative movement, and to promote wellbeing. The current political climate encourages a quest for centering oneself and finding relief from outer world stresses, and labyrinth walking is a satisfying answer.

Last year TLS counted over 200 events in 24 countries on World Labyrinth Day, including: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, England, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Finland, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain & the U.S. (including 46 states)!



Labyrinth Seattle WA

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Labyrinths have been experiencing a public revival in schools, hospitals, libraries and places of worship, as well as in private spaces, as virtual labyrinths online, and as small, printed patterns to walk with a finger.

Participants can find a local labyrinth to walk in the TLS World Wide Labyrinth Locator or look up WLD events on the TLS site. Or, learn to draw or build a simple labyrinth in the TLS resources section.

Hashtag: #LabyrinthDay

A selection of global WLD events is listed below, more can be found here.



Labyrinth

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How to draw a simple labyrinth:

More about labyrinths



Walking the labyrinth

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This article is part of a series on labyrinths, please see previous articles listed below for more information.
Never thought of visiting Myanmar? Well, you might be soon. In our Breakout Role series, we take a look at places that have seen huge increases in tourism in the last few years, and try to figure out whats causing all the hype.

During the Southeast Asian tourism boom of the mid-to-late 2000s, Myanmar was mostly left behind. While the nation formerly known as Burma was home to less than 1 million international tourists per year, nearby countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia saw massive increases in their annual visitors.

After the Junta military regimean authoritarian government accused of massive human rights violations dissolved in 2011, the Myanmar began to open itself up to vacationers, who came in hoards to experience the countrys history, architecture and stunning natural beauty.

Today, the Asian nation is beginning to catch up with its tourism-laden neighbors, with the number of annual visitors essentially tripling between 2012 and 2014. In 2016, Myanmars incoming tourists grew by 25 percent from the previous year, with the number predicted to top 6 million by the time the data is officially released.

Photo: Marc Veraart, CC-BY

Andrea Ross first came to Southeastern Asia fifteen years ago, back when the regions tourism markets had yet to explode. Ross, the CEO and co-founder of the Journeys Within Tour Company, has witnessed Myanmars rapid growth over the course of the past five years, much of which has been aided by the European Union, the United States and other members of the international community relaxing and suspending sanctions against the former dictatorship.

Once the political situation changed, and the sanctions were released, then obviously trade and infrastructure came fast, Ross says.

Ross also says that many foreignersherself includedhad moral reservations about visiting the country while the Junta government was still in power. However, the beginning of free and fair domestic elections, and a famous 2011 visit by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton quelled many tourist concerns, and showed that it was both safe and acceptable to visit Myanmar.

From that point on, the nations growth was aided by its accessibility. The government still somewhat restricts tourism by requiring visitors to apply for a visa, but entry has become much easier. Additionally, the countrys history as a British colony means that English is its most commonly spoken second language, making getting around major hubs fairly easy for many travelers who dont speak Burmese.

Photo: Guillen Perez, CC-BY

According to Ross, these developments were generally welcome among the local population, many of who realized the success many neighboring countries were experiencing without them.

It was hard, Ross says. They were living next to Thailand, [which] has had a booming tourism economy for years. And I think the Burmese really felt like they were getting the short end of the stick, because they have everything that Thailand has.

As visitors began to flood into the nation, development struggled at times to keep up with increasing demand, but accommodations and infrastructure seemed to speed up as time went on. Last year, the government even had to issue a temporary ban on hotel projects in certain destinations, in order to slow the rapid construction occurring in cities throughout the country.

While Ross says there have been some complaints about tourism spoiling some of Myanmars most untouched sites, the public reaction to incoming vacationers has been pretty positive, as the industry provides the type of job opportunities that helped transform other Southeastern nations.

Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC-BY

Its fairly easy to see why Myanmar has emerged so quickly as a hotspot destination, as the country offers an unreal diversity of attractions that can be hard to come by in other regions of the world. In terms of cities, Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the countrys largest, featuring marvelous, gleaming golden temples and cant-miss local food markets.

Additionally, Mandalay, located at the countrys center, is home to unbelievable architecture and Kuthodaw Pagoda, a walkable collection of inscribed 700 stone slabs that is often referred to as the worlds largest book.

In terms of history, ancient sites such as Mrauk U and Bagan include almost otherworldly views of centuries-old Buddhist architecture that have remained largely untouched for the past several years. However, if discovering shrines seems too adventurous, increasingly popular river cruises have given tourists a way to explore while remaining in more luxurious accommodations.

Hiking is easy to come by as well, and locations such as the Himalayan regions of Myanmars far north and the popular, monastery-neighboring shore of Lake Inle are standouts for prospective trekkers. As if these sights arent enough, the countrys beaches, especially Ngapali and Ngwe Saung can compete with some of Thailands best.

Flight Rates: Current flights from LAX to Yangon cost between $735 and $1,615, while trips leaving from New York City can be found for $970  $1,740.

Travel Concerns: The U.S. Department of State recommends caution in parts of certain border regionssuch as Kachin, Shan, Rakhin and Chinwhere there is still conflict between the government and militant groups. Additionally, the Burmese government requires international visitors to apply for a tourist visa before entering the county.

Currency Exchange: 1 USD = 1,333 Burmese Kyats

More Info: The Myanmar Tourism Federations website features travel information, recent tourism news and a breakdown of each regions attractions.

Top photo: Guillen Perez, CC-BY

Dillon Thompson is University of Georgia student and freelance writer with a love for travel and an addiction to coffee and hip-hop music.
This article is not meant to diagnose or provide medical advicethat responsibility lies with physicians. The author is not a licensed medical professional.

Thats an excellent question.

In March, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released an aggressive strategy for eliminating viral hepatitis as a U.S. public health problem by 2030. Doing so would save 20,000 lives per yearthe number of people who die from hepatitis B and C in the U.S. annually. Thats more than those who perish from AIDS. Sounds like a no-brainer, right?

But squashing the virus is easier said than done. Eliminating hepatitis B and C would require a significant departure from the status quo, according to the report. Despite the diseases prevalence (about 1.3 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis B, and about 2.7 million have chronic hepatitis C) this chief cause of liver cancer hasnt been a priority in the U.S., according to Brian Strom, chair of the committee that carried out the study and Rutgers University professor and chancellor. Despite being the seventh leading cause of death in the world and killing more people every year than HIV, road traffic accidents, or diabetes, viral hepatitis accounts for less than 1 percent of the National Institutes of Health research budget, he says in a report press release.

Awareness and stigma stand in the way of making hepatitis a rare disease. Often, the groups most stricken with the disease are difficult to reach for health screenings that would help them know their statuses, including immigrant populations, the uninsured and those who have substance abuse problems or have been imprisoned. However, that certainly doesnt account for all the at-risk populations, which also include baby boomers, veterans, men who have sex with men. and Asian and Pacific Islanders, who account for an outsized portion of those living with hepatitis. Still, according to the CDC, one in 12 Asians is living with the disease but may not know about it. Pregnant women are also at risk, since an estimated quarter of Americans living with hepatitis B were infected in early childhood through blood-to-blood contact with their mothers (who may have been unaware of their own positive statuses).

In a video from the Hepatitis B Foundations #justB campaignMay is hepatitis awareness monthAlan shares his diagnosis story and the diseases prevalence in his family. My family only knew my uncles died from liver cancer, because the doctors never say a person dies from hepatitis B, he says.

Hepatitis has been called a silent epidemicin part because those who have the virus can be symptom-free and wont look or feel sick. Stigma also leads to that silence. Since the disease can be caused by drug use or unprotected sex, and, in general, liver diseases are associated with substance use, those diagnosed can be hesitant to talk about it. They may also fear repercussions from family and neighbors. In another #justB video, Kim shares the story of her father, who kept his disease secret. He knew he had hepatitis B for many years before he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Its pretty common in the Asian communities, but no one talks about it. He was the same way. He never told us he had it  maybe because he thought people would gossip and treat us differently. They would be afraid to shake his hand, share our food, or even be in the same room with him, she says.

Because stigma encourages silence, it could undo the best viral hepatitis elimination campaign, the report acknowledges.



Photo by Sherry Yates Young/Shutterstock

Awareness and stigma aside, the availability of vaccines and treatment, the powerful pharmaceutical lobby, and the controversy around needle exchanges are further obstacles to sending hepatitis the way of polio in the U.S.

Theres an effective vaccination for hepatitis Band its being administered. Since 2013, about 90 percent of U.S. children have been immunized, but only about a quarter of American adults have been immunized. Changing that may mean treating hepatitis vaccines like flu shots and making them widely available at pharmacies across the country.

Although a vaccine isnt available for hepatitis C, new treatments cure the vast majority of patients. Healing everyone with chronic hepatitis C would reduce new infections and reduce hepatitis C deaths; however, there wont be a generic (non-patented) treatment available before 2029. Treatments would be unavailable to all but the wealthiest patients, or be budget busting for government programs like Medicare and Medicare. Getting effective antivirals en masse sooner would mean the government would have to license the patents, something critics see as a slippery slope that would lead to further licensingat a great expense and undermining the drive for pharmaceutical research and development.

Expanding needle exchanges and confronting American opioid addictions is another hurdle in eliminating hepatitis. People who inject drugs account for 75 percent of the 30,500 new hepatitis C infections every year. Providing clean syringes for these users would prevent blood-to-blood contact. And, of course, providing opioid replacement medicines, like methadone, to relieve the symptoms of withdrawal, can decrease underlying addictions. Syringe exchange and opioid agonist treatment are cornerstones of viral hepatitis elimination. But these services are least available in the places that most need them, rural areas with an injection opioid problem, the report attests. For example, rural and suburban areas account for about half the people in the U.S. who inject drugs, but they only have 30 percent of the countrys exchange programs and distribute only eight percent of the total syringes.

The U.S. isnt alone in recognizing the severity of the hepatitis epidemic. The World Health Organization says the number of people dying of hepatitis is rising, and most of the 325 million infected worldwide are unaware they have the virus. Viral hepatitis is now a major public health challenge that requires an urgent response, the WHOs director general Margaret Chan said.

Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ashley M. Biggers is a freelance writer who covers travel, art and health.
After years of traveling with various bike boxes, carefully cramming wheels in around the frame and spending a good chunk of preparation time padding everything up, it was time to try something developed specifically for the task. On recent travels from Canada to Australia and New Zealand, my bike was thrown into Evocs latest version of their Bike Travel Bag Pro.



The bag itself is designed to work with anything from a road bike to DH bikes, accepting wheels up to 29. The max wheelbase that it can fit is 1,240mm, which should be adequate for a lot of riders, though newer, longer bikes and a lot of size large and bigger DH bikes may be a problem. The stock bag comes with a plastic box that the rear of the bike rests on, but were also testing Evocs new Bike Stand. The stand can mount to any current axle combination and adds an additional 1,400g to the 8kg bag.



Bag and Stand Details



Bag:

 Fits Tri, road, XC, AM and DH bikes

 Accepts up to a 29 wheel

 Eight Internal straps secure bike within bag

 Eight plastic rods support case structure

 Large, durable wheels

 136cm x 80cm x 39cm

 Max wheelbase: 1,240mm

 Bag weight: 8kg

 MSRP: $599.99 USD



Stand:

 Fits Tri, road, XC, AM and DH bikes

 Front Mounts: QR 5 mm, Thru axle: 12/15/20 mm, Boost

 Rear Mounts: QR 5 x 130 mm, Thru axle: 12 x 135/142/148/150/157 mm

 Adjustable length, alloy base

 Max wheelbase: 1,240mm

 Stand weight: 1,400g

 MSRP: $139.99 USD

 www.evocsports.com

Bag: Fits Tri, road, XC, AM and DH bikes Accepts up to a 29 wheel Eight Internal straps secure bike within bag Eight plastic rods support case structure Large, durable wheels 136cm x 80cm x 39cm Max wheelbase: 1,240mm Bag weight: 8kg MSRP: $599.99 USDStand: Fits Tri, road, XC, AM and DH bikes Front Mounts: QR 5 mm, Thru axle: 12/15/20 mm, Boost Rear Mounts: QR 5 x 130 mm, Thru axle: 12 x 135/142/148/150/157 mm Adjustable length, alloy base Max wheelbase: 1,240mm Stand weight: 1,400g MSRP: $139.99 USD

The updated rotor protection in the wheel pocket. Between the bag internals and the wheel pocket is a sheet of plastic board.

The range of mounting options based on hub size and type of bike. Front axle mounting options. For the XL bike mounted the lowest possible mount was needed.

Performance

Straps securely hold the frame down in the bag. The derailleur resting under the chainstay.

The strap for the seatpost has three options for placement. Placement for the stem strap also has three options available.

The sturdy alloy handle is great for dragging the bag around but also doubles as an attachment point for a third wheel. The third wheel attachment. Note the missing pins that were inside the clip, which line up with the holes in the alloy handle.

Pinkbikes Thoughts

The Evoc Bike Travel Bag Pro with the Bike Stand made packing and unpacking the bike a quick and painless process. Traveling with it was pain-free and the bike made it through all travels unscathed, as did the bag. There's no denying that they're a larger investment than some will be willing to front, but if you travel with a bike regularly enough, having something like this is a no-brainer.  AJ Barlas

The bag is collapsible for ease of storage, achieved by removing the hard plastic rods from the fitted slots strategically placed around ittwo at each end and another two on each side, over the wheel pockets. The base of the bag is constructed of a hard plastic, with two alloy sliders attached in an effort to add more durability to the bag. An update to earlier Evoc Bike Travel Bags is around the brake rotors within the wheel pockets. These now include a hard plastic pouch of sorts, which provides protection around the rotor. There is also an included third wheel that attaches to the alloy handle at the front of the bag, which is supposed to make rolling the bag around without lifting anything, easy.The alloy stand features a poplock pin style system to adjust the length and once locked to the size that your bike is going to work with, determining the axle mount location and style at both the front and rear is required. Once this has all been determined the mounting process is very easy and straightforward. Mounting the bike is best done with the stand removed from the bag, and attaching the front, before even removing the rear wheel, I found to work best. From here, using the stand to hold the bike up while the rear wheel is pulled out makes life easy.Once both the front and rear axles are attached to the stand remove the bars, wrap the front of the frame with the supplied pad, and secure the bar with the velcro loops on the pad. At this point I found it super simple to place the bike in the bag. Obviously pedals need to be off before the bike is put in the bag, but otherwise, this is it. I found that the stand makes it simple to prepare everything and get the bike into the bag itself. There is a pouch on the inside of the bag for pedals, small tools and other bits and pieces.The bike that was used with the bag was an XL Transition Patrol, which contains a wheelbase bang on the max that the Evoc Bike Travel Bag is listed as being able to accept, at 1,240mm. With the fork deflated the bike just fit to the stand and within the bag. If your bike has a longer wheelbase you will likely be stuck with the usual, large cardboard box, especially if youre a rider on a size large or bigger DH bike, with a number of current, popular DH bikes in a size large containing wheelbases of more than 1,240mm.As it was, I found that my XT derailleur made some contact with the rear of the bag, so I removed it and let it lay in the bag with the cable still attached. This takes five seconds to do and there were no issues with it like this. Throwing a pair of socks or rags around it, or at least between the derailleur and the frame isnt a bad idea either.The strapping system inside the bag is well designed and the straps for the seatpost and stem are adjustable through three different positionsbeneficial for different bikes and frame sizes. With the bike mounted in the stand and all of the straps secured everything is very well locked into place. Toss in any extras (I threw in some tools, my riding shoes, and two riding kits) zip it up and move to mounting the wheels into the side pockets. The bag only opens up from one side, but I found this to be plenty and it also held the bag upright while trying to place the bike within the bag.With the updated rotor protection in the wheel pockets, I ran the gamble and threw both wheels in with the rotors attachedone 180mm and the other 200mm. The rotors remained straight throughout my travels with no issues. Lucky? Perhaps, but they are sturdy boxes surrounding the rotors. The Patrol runs on 27.5 wheels and with the tires deflated, its an easy fit into the side pockets, but there isnt a lot of room to spare.All packed up with some small tools and some riding gear, the bag weighed in at around 30kg. The max weight allowed for an oversized piece of luggage, like a bike bag, is generally 32kgthere isnt a lot of room for movement on the scale. Flying with a DH bike would be a different story and would likely result in only the bike being in the bag, though I haven't had a chance to try with one.The included third wheel attachment was the only let down with the bag. The wheel mounts with a clip over the alloy handle at the front of the bag, and lining up two pins in the clip with holes provided in the alloy handle keep it in place until the pins break off. I lost the first pin before checking the bag in on my first flight and the second disappeared shortly after landing in Australia. Its a nice option to have with the bag, but how it attaches needs to be rethought. I also found that placing the hard plastic support rods at the front and rear of the bag was cumbersome and as a result won't be taking them out, which results in the bag not being so collapsable.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-04 22:06:01

A.M. Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Core Business Subsidiaries of Grupo Catalana Occidente, S.A.

A.M. Best

Jessica Botelho, +44 20 7626 6264

Financial Analyst

jessica.botelho@ambest.com

or

Mahesh Mistry, +44 20 7397 0325

Senior Director, Analytics

mahesh.mistry@ambest.com

or

Christopher Sharkey, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5159

Manager, Public Relations

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

or

Jim Peavy, +1-908-439-2200, ext. 5644

Director, Public Relations

james.peavy@ambest.com

A.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of a of Seguros Catalana Occidente, S.A. de Seguros y Reaseguros (SCO) (Spain), Bilbao, Compania Anonima de Seguros y Reaseguros, S.A. (SB) (Spain) and Plus Ultra Seguros Generales y Vida, S.A. de Seguros y Reaseguros (Plus Ultra) (Spain). All three companies are wholly owned subsidiaries of Grupo Catalana Occidente, S.A. (GCO), the non-operating holding company of the GCO group, and form the traditional business unit of the group. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable.

The ratings of SCO, SB and Plus Ultra reflect the companies integral role within the GCO group along with their strong level of risk-adjusted capitalisation and track record of solid earnings. The ratings of all three companies also benefit from the financial strength of GCO and the support provided by the group.

GCO exhibits a strong level of risk-adjusted capitalisation that has been supported partly by minimal net exposure to catastrophes, good earnings retention, a stable dividend policy, low levels of financial leverage and good quality of capital. During 2016, GCOs equity increased by 10% to EUR 2.8 billion (including minority interests) benefiting from stronger underwriting results across the groups operations. During 2016, GCO demonstrated its resilient profitability associated with the traditional businesses in Spain combined with solid earnings of its worldwide credit insurance operations.

GCOs traditional business unit maintains a solid competitive position in Spain as the top sixth insurer in the country by premium volumes. In addition, GCOs global credit insurance operations also have a dominating position worldwide, holding a 22% market share in a segment that maintains high barriers for new entrants.

Despite the entities strong profile, all three companies are highly exposed to Spains insurance market, where the outlooks remain challenged by high levels of competition in personal lines and limited opportunities for organic growth.

SCO is the leading insurance entity within the traditional business unit of the GCO group. Since SB and Plus Ultra were incorporated into the group, they have undergone a strategic transformation that has solidified its profile, taking advantage of all the shared platforms within the GCO group and implementing stricter underwriting guidelines, which have delivered improved profitability. All three entities operate exclusively in Spain and together they conform a solid and diversified franchise with presence in all the regions and distribution channels of Spains insurance market.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on A.M. Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see A.M. Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Understanding Bests Credit Ratings.

A.M. Best is the worlds oldest and most authoritative insurance rating and information source. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2017 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

####

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PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-04 20:26:01

Amcor Rigid Plastics Announces Specialty Container Acquisition in Latin America

Amcor Rigid Plastics

Michael Hodges, 734-302-2503

Vice President, Communications

michael.hodges@amcor.com

Amcor Rigid Plastics USA, LLC has expanded its specialty container business in Latin America with the acquisition of Colombias Plasticos Team S.A.S. from Team Foods Colombia S.A., a leading food producer in Colombia.

Plasticos Team is a dedicated producer and distributor of preforms, bottles, thin-wall containers, and closures.

This acquisition broadens Amcors technology in the region and strengthens its position as a leading global supplier of rigid plastic containers. The deal includes one stand-alone facility located in Guachene, Colombia.

The Latin America market continues to be an important growth area for us, said Mike Schmitt, Amcor Rigid Plastics President. The acquisition of Plasticos Team is important since it validates the roles of both a packaging converter and a consumer goods company working together to supply innovative products to consumers in the region.

Team Foods Colombia S.A. has signed a long-term agreement with Amcor for the supply of rigid plastic containers.

Amcor operates three additional rigid packaging plants and one flexible packaging plant in Colombia serving customers in the beverage, food, home, and personal care segments.

About Amcor Rigid Plastics

Amcor Rigid Plastics is among the worlds largest manufacturers of rigid plastic packaging for the food, beverage, spirits, personal care, home care and healthcare industries with 69 facilities in 12 countries. Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Amcor Rigid Plastics is a subsidiary of Amcor Limited.

Amcor Limited is a global leader in responsible packaging solutions, employing more than 29,000 people worldwide and operating in more than 40 countries throughout 180-plus sites. Amcor supplies rigid and flexible packaging solutions to enhance products consumers use in everyday life. Amcor also provides packaging-related services to help customers succeed through collaboration and innovation driven by art and science.

Amcor (AMC) is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. For details, visit www.amcor.com.

Follow Amcor on social media:

Twitter

@amcorpackaging

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/amcorlimited

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/amcor

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/AmcorPackaging

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201705040063
PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-05 04:51:25

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Clinical trials are research studies performed on humans to gain specific information about biomedical interventions such as novel vaccines, devices, treatments and drugs and thereby generating safety data. Clinical trials are regulated by health authorities and ethics committees.Documents required for performing clinical trials are investigators brochure (IB) which include current and relevant scientific information about the investigational product, United States Food and Drug (FDA) form 1572, protocol and amendments, inform consent, other written information for participants, recruitment advertisement, financial disclosure form (FDF), master clinical trial agreement (MCTA), institutional review board (IRB) approval, medical licensure, training records, laboratory accreditation, visit monitor reports, miscellaneous document, signature sheet and documentation of investigational drug destruction. The International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) brings together regulatory authorities of Europe, the United States, Japan and experts from pharmaceutical industry to frame and regulate the technical and scientific aspects of pharmaceutical product registration. The Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) states rules and standard guidelines for clinical trials. ICH guidelines are followed as law by several countries in the world.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-384 Clinical trials are conducted in four phases namely, Phase I, II, III and IV. Phase I is conducted for safety, phase II is conducted for efficacy, phase III is conducted for final confirmation of safety and efficacy and phase IV is conducted for post sales studies. Risk to participants involved in clinical trials decreases from phase I to phase VI. Number of participants increases from phase I to phase IV resulting in increasing cost of trials. Based on the phases of clinical trials, global clinical trials market is segmented as follows:Phase IPhase IIPhase IIIPhase IVBased on indication, global clinical trials market is classified as follows:Blood disordersOphthalmologyAutoimmune diseasesCirculatory diseasesCancerGenitourinary diseasesCongenital diseasesMusculoskeletal diseasesCentral nervous system (CNS)InfectionsDermatologyMetabolic disordersCardio vascular system (CVS) diseasesGastrointestinal diseasesMental disordersOthersRequest For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-384 Being relatively costly process, in order to reduce economic burden on company and shift focus on core business activities, many companies outsource their clinical trial activities to contract research organizations (CROs). Contract research organizations provide services such as clinical trial management, clinical research and preclinical research. Factors such as advancement in technology and increasing demand of innovative solutions in healthcare industry are driving the market of global clinical trials towards growth. On the other hand, factors such as high cost and stringent regulations are restraining the growth of clinical trials market globally. Geographically, the global clinical trials market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World.North America is the leading consumer of global clinical trials solutions, followed by Europe. Ample availability of funds to outsource clinical trials serves as the major growth driver for the North America clinical trials market. Asia-Pacific demonstrates impressive growth potential for clinical trials market and is expected to show the highest growth rate as compared to other regions in the world. Countries such as India are attractive markets due to advantages such as availability of skilled practitioners and availability government support in terms development of outsourcing hubs thus attracting pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to outsource clinical trial activities to CROs in this region. Some of the market leaders contributing to the global clinical trials market include Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk A/S, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Ltd., Sanofi Aventis A.S. and Roche Group.
PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-05 12:58:01

Efficio Announces Nordic Capital as Winners of Excellence in Procurement Award

Efficio

Layisha Laypang

PR & Communications Manager

+44 (0) 20 7550 5695

layisha.laypang@efficioconsulting.com



Nordic Capital has won Private Equity Internationals (PEI) Excellence in Procurement Award for an innovative procurement programme that delivered approximately 10 million in savings in 2016.

The award was presented to Bob Kickham, Industrial Adviser and Head of NCPO at Nordic Capital, by Declan Feeney, Private Equity Director at Efficio, at the PEI Operating Partners Forum and recognises portfolio companies that best address procurement issues and turn them into a value creation lever.

The Nordic Capital Procurement Optimisation (NCPO) model pools the sourcing requirements of portfolio companies and leverages their scale to deliver significantly enhanced procurement deals  similar to those enjoyed by large multinationals. Economies of scale can be achieved to meet common needs, for example flights or hotel accommodation, as well as industry-specific requirements. Additional benefits for participants include procurement skills training and the opportunity to share best-practice insights, tools and processes.

NCPO currently combines the power of 80,000 employees and 17 billion in revenue, generating savings of around 10 million per annum and a value created of 100 million per annum.

Bob said: Out of adversity comes opportunity and the best commercial minds will always respond to frustration with innovation. NCPO is an outstanding example of a group of management teams identifying a problem and sharing their professional insights to craft a solution that has generated considerable opportunity and value for its participants. I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of all those Nordic Capital portfolio companies  current and past  that have contributed to NCPOs success.

Declan said: Previously the award has gone to a single company within a private equity portfolio but, this year, the Nordic Capital NCPO approach of generating value across multiple companies by enabling them to partner together and share best practices stood out from the competition. In addition to demonstrating significant savings in 2016, NCPO has a clear vision of how to increase the value from procurement in further direct and indirect spend procurement categories across its portfolio through to 2020.

About Efficio

Efficio helps its clients achieve breakthrough results in their procurement and supply chain functions. We work for blue chip companies and leading private equity firms to deliver more from procurement and the supply chain, while transforming the clients capability for the long term.

The private equity industry represents over 50% of the projects we deliver, given the desire of investors and management to realise substantial benefits within a part of the business that is in their control. Since inception, we have worked with over 25 different private equity groups and over 50 different portfolio companies.

Efficio is headquartered in London, with offices in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Middle East, Switzerland and the USA.

For further information about Efficio, please see: www.efficioconsulting.com

About Nordic Capital

Nordic Capital private equity funds have invested in mid-market companies primarily in the Nordic region since 1989. Through committed ownership and by targeting strategic development and operational improvements, Nordic Capital enables value creation in its investments. Nordic Capital Funds invest in companies in northern Europe and in selected investment opportunities internationally. The most recent fund is Nordic Capital Fund VIII with EUR 3.5 billion in committed capital, principally provided by international institutional investors such as pension funds. Nordic Capital Funds are based in Jersey, Channel Islands, and are advised by the NC Advisory companies in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany and the UK. For further information about Nordic Capital please see www.nordiccapital.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201705050053

Award sponsors Efficio announce Nordic Capital as winners of PEIs Excellence in Procurement Award.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the Air Purifiers Market: GCC Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2014-2020" report to their offering.

PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-05 08:33:07

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# 449 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

The GCC air purifiers market is anticipated to reach US$ 85 Mn by 2020, registering a CAGR of 17% from 2014 to 2020. Commercial sector is anticipated to account for more than 90% of the total air purifier market revenue. This is mainly due to increased economic diversification efforts by GCC countries and growing focus on healthcare, tourism hospitality, and services sectors in the region.Drivers & TrendsThe demand for air purifiers in GCC is increasing owing to the increasing cases of respiratory disorders, dry weather, and air pollution. Moreover, effective marketing campaigns by key market players, road shows, and promotional activities have resulted in greater awareness about air purifiers. Currently, positioning of air purifier is that of a luxury good and not an absolute necessity, and this is identified as a restraint to widespread adoption of air purifiers in the region. High pricing is another factor that acts as an impediment to the growth of GCC air purifier market.Request For Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gc-614 GCC Air Purifiers Market: Analysis by RegionsAmongst different geographical areas within GCC, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to contribute significant share of revenue with net worth of approximately US$ 14.85 Mn in 2014. In terms of growth rate, UAE is expected to be a lucrative market with a CAGR of 17% by 2020. Rest of GCC (includes Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman) is also anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 15% by 2020.Analysis by TechnologyHigh Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) segment is anticipated to contribute a sizable revenue in GCC followed by electrostatic precipitator segment.HEPA and electrostatic precipitator collectively are estimated to account for more than 50% of the total value of GCC air purifier market in 2014. Ion and ozone generator technology of air purification is anticipated to grow at sluggish growth rate due to its adverse effects on human health in the long run. GCC region is also observed to prefer filter-less technology of air purification due to its relatively low-maintenance cost. Cost incurred on changing filters constitute a major part of cost, and if these filters are not changed on time, they become a source of air contamination.Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gc-614 GCC air purifier market is dominated by several major players like Sharp Corporation, Panasonic, Hitachi, Coway and others. The leading players in global market are joining hands with regional players to enter and strengthen their position. Launch of NASA developed Airocide technology of air purification by US-based Akida Holdings LLC, in association with Fakruddin Holdings of Saudi and Max Electronics (a part of Landmark Group) for distribution, is one such example. Airocide is a filter-less technology which is anticipated to capture a major market share in near future.
Automated CPR Devices Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015 - 2025 Research Report By Future Market Insights

Automated CPR Devices Market

PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-05 07:39:13

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# 545 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

CPR Devices are chest compression systems that provide high quality compression to chest of patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest to provide a steady flow of oxygen and blood in the brain as well as heart. The CPR device finds application in EMS, hospitals, ambulances, coronary & intensive care units, cardiac catheterization labs, air medevac units, EMT rescue units, etc.The devices does the Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) process mechanically. CPR is a compression technique used in various medical emergencies to maintain or initiate blood circulation in the heart and oxygen supply in the brain.The observational studies have demonstrated that improved hemodynamic effect & better coronary perfusion and increased incidence of return of spontaneous circulation can be achieved by mechanical and automated CPR devices. On the basis of power source used the devices are classified as Pneumatically Driven CPR devices, Battery Driven CPR Devices, and Mechanically Actuated and Battery Driven CPR devices. On the basis of kind of device the CPR devices can be classified as Piston Devices, Load Distribution Devices, and 3D Compression Devices.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-720 In terms of revenue the global automated CPR devices market was valued at US$ 50.7 Mn in 2014, and is estimated to be worth US$ 159 Mn by 2025 with a CAGR of 11%.Drivers & TrendsIncreasing demand from EMS (Emergency Medical Services), surge in public awareness about cardiac arrest and clinical benefits of the CPR devices, increasing government funding and grants and growing geriatric population are some of the major drivers of the market. The increasing incidences of cardiovascular diseases and increasing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest across the globe are also expected to drive the automated CPR devices market significantly.Conversely, high cost of automated CPR device, its substantial weight, high training requirements and conflicting results of observational studies are some minor restraints in the global automated CPR devices market.Analysis by GeographyGeographically, the global automated CPR devices market is segmented into five regions: Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America of which the most prominent regional markets are Europe and North America which together constituted around 62.4% of the current market 2014.Europe market is expected to remain dominant in global automated CPR devices market throughout the forecast period. Highly advanced EMS, high adoption rates of CPR technologies and high consumer understanding of clinical benefits in charge to the increasing need of automated CPR devices in the concerned region.Despite huge investments by key players and new entrants in the North America market the North America market is expected to be at second position owing to some inhibitors such as reluctance of the health professionals to do the CPR process and high capital requirements for employment of CPR devices in the large EMS systems of U.S.Send An Enquiry@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-720 Technological advancements coupled with rising awareness of cardiac arrest management in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America are projected to boost demand for automated CPR devices. This is further expected to present new opportunities for global and regional niche players to enter the markets in these regions with cost-effective offerings in order to gain large market shareMiddle East and Africa market is expected to exhibit a comparatively higher CAGR than other segments
PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-04 17:46:01

Amsterdam, 4 May 2017 - Heineken N.V. ('HEINEKEN') (EURONEXT: HEIA; OTCQX: HEINY) today announces that it has acquired all the remaining shares in Lagunitas Brewing Company. To maintain the Lagunitas culture and free spirit, the company will continue to operate as an independent entity within HEINEKEN and will report within the HEINEKEN Americas Region.

Tony Magee, the founder of Lagunitas, will remain active as Executive Chairman of the company. Tony will be supported by his current management team. In addition, Tony will take a leading advisory role to HEINEKEN and its Executive Team on the global and local craft strategy.

HEINEKEN has enjoyed a successful partnership with Lagunitas since 2015, when it acquired a 50% stake in the company. Since then Lagunitas has continued to outperform the US beer market, where craft beer now represents about 11% of total volume. Lagunitas is the market leader in the IPA segment, the fastest growing sub-segment within craft, and sold over 1 million hectolitres in 2016. HEINEKEN has helped to expand Lagunitas' international presence, including entry into new markets such as France, Mexico, Italy and Spain, and extended the brand's availability in markets including the UK, Canada, Netherlands, Sweden and Japan. Following this transaction HEINEKEN will accelerate the export of Lagunitas to many more markets around the world.

The impact of this acquisition, similar to the proposed acquisitions in Brazil and in the UK, is excluded from the 2017 FY margin guidance. In the current year the impact of acquiring Lagunitas is expected to be slightly margin dilutive.

Commenting on the transaction, Jean-Francois van Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board & CEO of HEINEKEN said: "Our partnership with Lagunitas has been a great success and today's announcement marks the next stage of an exciting journey. We look forward to accelerating the roll-out of the Lagunitas brand to many more markets, and sharing Lagunitas craft beer with many more consumers around the world."

Tony Magee, founder and Executive Chairman of Lagunitas, added: "During the 19 months of our partnership we have come to trust and truly believe in each other. Through that we have found ourselves aligned on how to bring the vibe of U.S. craft-brewing to beer lovers everywhere. Only by fully committing to this relationship can we both respond to the historic opportunity that awaits us in all 24 time zones."

The transaction has been completed with immediate effect. Financial terms are not disclosed.

ENDS

Press enquiries

John-Paul Schuirink

E-mail: pressoffice@heineken.com

Tel: +31-20-5239-355

Michael Fuchs

E-mail: pressoffice@heineken.com

Tel: +31-20-5239-355

Investor and analyst enquiries

Sonya Ghobrial

E-mail: investors@heineken.com

Tel: +31-20-5239-590

Chris MacDonald / Gabriela Malczynska

E-mail: investors@heineken.com

Tel: +31-20-5239-590

Information relating to HEINEKEN Group and Lagunitas

About HEINEKEN Group:

HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken brand, the Group has a powerful portfolio of more than 250 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through "Brewing a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business and delivers value for all stakeholders. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We employ approximately 73,500 people and operate more than 165 breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares trade on the Euronext in Amsterdam. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on Reuters under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. HEINEKEN has two sponsored level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes: Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: HEINY) and Heineken Holding N.V. (OTCQX: HKHHY). Most recent information is available on HEINEKEN's website: www.theHEINEKENcompany.com and follow us via @HEINEKENCorp.

About Lagunitas Brewing Company:

Lagunitas Brewing Company began on a kitchen stove in Northern California in 1993. From actually getting beers into bottles and onto the streets, Lagunitas looks to the future. From expanding the Petaluma Brewery to building a second in Chicago and soon a third in Azusa CA to bringing its flagship IPA across the pond Lagunitas could probably make good beer on the Moon. Wherever you go, beer speaks, people mumble. More mumblings at www.lagunitas.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: HEINEKEN NV via Globenewswire


PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-04 17:32:02

TORONTO, May 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maricann Group Inc. (CSE:MARI) (Maricann or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Maricann has secured $42,500,000 in non-dilutive financing to further expand production in Germany.

The $42,500,000 non-dilutive financing comes from The Green Streaming Finance Company of Canada Inc. a Vancouver-based company that provides non-equity financing solutions for cannabis producers. The streaming payment will be made in return for the right to purchase 20% of production at an all in cost + 10% from expansion funded by Green Streaming in Germany. "We are pleased to be funding Maricann and their expansion efforts in Germany. This is a win-win relationship for Maricann and Green Streaming Finance, with no dilution to Maricann shareholders and a stable, reliable, renewable stream of revenue to Green Stream Finance from a proven producer of medicinal cannabis," said Donald McInnes, founder of Green Streaming Finance. Under the terms of the agreement, Maricann will receive investment in two tranches, $15,000,000 and a $27,500,000.

This financing will fully fund the planned 150,000 sq. ft (13,935 square meters) expansion of cultivation operations in its Ebersbach Facility and an additional 250,000 sq. ft. (23,255 sq. m.) of expansion in a two tiered cultivation plan, as well as an outdoor hemp farm from which Maricann will derive high CBD content active pharmaceutical ingredients. The Ebersbach facility (West of Dresden) is a former Cargill plant constructed 20 years ago at a cost of 80 million EUR at that time. The facility is comprised of multiple individual clean rooms that are ideal for cultivation of cannabis. "The Ebersbach facility offers Maricann a significant advantage in cost of overall construction and speed to market. The infrastructure for cultivation of cannabis in an indoor secured environment is already in place. We simply need to add the fertigation system, lights and benches for growing, and then can be operational. Our competitors are spending north of $70,000,000 CAD for facilities with less than 1/3 the footprint of our Ebersbach location. To construct a similar facility today, the estimated cost would be over 120 million EUR. Maricann entered into a reservation agreement to purchase the facility for a total price of 3,410,000 EUR at closing," said Benjamin Ward, CEO.

About Maricann Group Inc.

Maricann is a vertically integrated producer and distributor of marijuana for medical purposes. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Langton, Ontario, where it operates a medicinal cannabis cultivation, extraction and distribution business under federal licence from the Government of Canada. Maricann, which has federal licences to cultivate, process and distribute cannabis, services a patient base with more than 8,000 total registered patients since inception. Maricann is currently undertaking an expansion of its cultivation and support facilities in Canada in a fully funded 217,000 sq. ft. (20,159 sq. m), to support existing and future patient growth. Maricann GmbH is a 95% owned subsidiary of Maricann Netherlands BV, a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Maricann Group Inc.

Maricann Milestones

April 2013, Maricann Inc. is founded in Langton, Ontario, a well-established agricultural region in southwestern Ontario

March 2014, Maricann Inc. obtains its Health Canada licence to cultivate plants

December 2014, Maricann Inc. obtains its Health Canada licence to sell dried cannabis

January 2015, first dried cannabis sale

September 2016, Maricann Inc. earns its Health Canada licence to sell cannabis extracts

October 2016, first sale of extracted cannabis

December 2016, Maricann Inc. raises $22.5 million in private capital

January 2017, commences sale of clones

February 2017, Maricann Inc. raises $10 million in private capital

April 24, 2017, first day of trading on the CSE

April 28, 2017, announces Advisory Board of German subsidiary.

For more information about Maricann please visit our website at www.maricann.ca

Forward Looking Information

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of management with respect to performance, business and future events, including but not limited to express or implied statements and assumptions regarding the Company's business and operations. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the industry and markets in which the Company operates. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.
Dental Implants and Prosthetics Market Trends

PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-05 04:49:47

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Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United States3479183531Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531

Dental implant is an artificial tooth that is placed in jaw to act as replacement tooth. People who have lost their tooth or teeth due to injury, periodontal disease and other reasons may use dental implant as an alternative to the natural tooth. Prosthetics are used to reconstruct the intraoral defects such as soft or hard structure of the jaw, missing parts and others. Rising number of people suffering from periodontal disease is one of the important factors driving the growth of dental implants and prosthetics. For instance, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that 47.2% of the total population above the age of 65 years suffers from some kind of periodontal disease. Thus, with the rise in periodontal diseases globally the dental implants and prosthetics market is also expected to grow in near future.The global dental implants and prosthetics market can be segmented as follows:Dental Implants MarketBy TypeTitanium Dental ImplantsProcedure StageSingle StageTwo StageConnector TypeExternal HexagonalInternal HexagonalInternal OctagonalZirconium Dental ImplantDental Prosthetics MarketCrowns and BridgesPorcelain fused to Metal Crowns and BridgesAll Ceramics Crowns and BridgesMetallic Crowns and BridgesDenturesAbutmentsRequest Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-386 Rising edentulous population, increasing disposable income and growing awareness for dental care are some of key factors driving the growth of dental implants and prosthetics market. For instance, it has been estimated that in 2010 approximately 160 million people globally were edentulous which accounts for 2.3% of the global population. In addition, increasing geriatric population and changing lifestyle also propel the growth of this market. According, to the World Health Organization (WHO) it has been estimated that the global elderly population is expected to reach around 2 billion by 2050; thiswas around 524 million in 2010. Moreover, the global geriatric population is expected to grow at the fastest rate in developed countries such as Italy, Germany, the U.K., the U.S. and Japan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 40 million people in the country belonged to the elderly category in 2011. Around 89 million people are estimated to be beyond the age of 65 years by 2050.Thus, increasing geriatric population globally augments the demand for dental implants and prosthetics.Technological advancements in the field of dentistry also drive the growth of this market. With the introduction of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology has significantly reduced the dental treatment time. Thus, all the above mentioned factors collectively drive the growth of dental implants and prosthetics market. However, unfavorable reimbursement policies restrict the growth of this market during the study period.Geographically, Europe accounts for the largest share of the global dental implants and prosthetic market as the key players are domiciled in this region followed by North America. In addition, increasing geriatric population, presence of organized distribution channels and rising disposable income are of the major factors driving the global demand of this market during the forecast period 2015 to 2025. In addition, Asia-Pacific is estimated to be fastest growing market for dental implants and prosthetic owing to increasing healthcare awareness, population aging and rising medical tourism in countries such as India, Japan, Malaysia and others. However, economic slowdown in developed regions such as Europe and North America coupled with unfavorable reimbursement policies inhibits the global growth of dental implants and prosthetics market.Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-386 3M Company, Biomet, Inc., Nobel Biocare, Straumann, Zimmer Holdings, Dentsply International, Zimmer Dental, BioHorizons, Inc., Ivoclar Vivadent AG are some of the leading companies having their presence in the global dental implants and prosthetics market.
ADB to expand lending in Asia by 50pc by 20

The 50th annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) began in the Japanese city of Yokohama on Thursday with calls for promoting good developmental policies, reducing the infrastructure gap to support economic growth, supporting ageing Asian societies and deepening regional cooperation.
Future Market Insights has announced the addition of the  Transcatheter Heart Valve Replacement (TAVI) Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025report to their offering.

Transcatheter Heart Valve Replacement (TAVI) Market Share

PR-Inside.com: 2017-05-05 07:42:04

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A heart valve is present in arteries and veins and facilitates blood flow only in one direction through the heart. The four major valves in the heart are two atrioventricular valves known as bicuspid valve and tricuspid valve and two semilunar valves known as aortic valve and pulmonary valve. A heart valve separates the atria, ventricles and blood vessels from each other. A heart valve is pushed open to allow blood flow and it closes and prevents backflow of blood. This closing is sealed tightly by nodules present at the tip of the cusps, which are the opening leaflets of the heart valve. The dysfunction of the heart valve causes valvular heart disease. There are two types of valvular heart disease, regurgitation or valvular insufficiency where blood flows in wrong direction due to dysfunctional heart valve and the second is valvular stenosis (Severe Aortic Stenosis) where the heart valve becomes narrow. Injured and defective heart valves are repaired or replaced by artificial heart valves. Echocardiography is done to diagnose valvular heart disease. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, also known as transcatheter aortic valve implantation is one of the treatment procedure for valvular heart disease wherein transcatheter heart valve is used to replace the damaged heart valve.Transcatheter Heart Valve Replacement (TAVI) Market: Drivers & RestraintsValvular heart disease is most prevalent among the population aged above 65 years. Around 5% of the global population aged above 65 years is at the risk of developing valvular heart disease. If heart valve is not replaced or repaired, 50% of the valvular heart disease patients would not survive. Transcatheter heart valve is used in transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure for valvular heart disease patients who are unable to sustain open-heart surgery and it poses life threatening risks to the patient. For instance, patients having heart, lung kidney diseases or diabetic patients face complications in open-heart surgery due to which transcatheter aortic replacement is the viable option. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has been proven to have higher survival rates in valvular heart disease patients. The recovery period after insertion of transcatheter heart valve is seven to eight days which is less than other surgical procedures. The limitation of the transcatheter heart valve market is the risk associated with transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedure. There can be problems related to replacement of valve and its slipping. Also, there is high risk of blood vessel tearing and infection during the transcatheter heart valve replacement procedure.Request Report Sample@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-537 Transcatheter Heart Valve Replacement (TAVI): SegmentationTranscatheter Heart Valve market is classified on the basis of geography.Based on geography, the global transcatheter heart valve market is segmented into the following:North AmericaLatin AmericaWestern EuropeEastern EuropeAsia Pacific Excluding JapanJapanMEATranscatheter Heart Valve Replacement (TAVI): OverviewTranscatheter aortic valve replacement is a minimally invasive procedure and is an efficient alternative for open-heart surgery. Globally 300,000 patients have been implanted with TAVI. With number of high-risk severe aortic stenosis patient going for TAVI implantation, it is estimated that in the forecast years, patient with low-risk will opt for such procedures due to its nature of implantation. TAVI market is in its nascent stages, however it is expected to witness a double digit CAGR in the forecast period (2015-2025).Request For TOC@ http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-537 Transcatheter Heart Valve Replacement (TAVI): Region-wise OutlookEurope is the major market for transcatheter heart valve replacement. With the introduction of transcatheter heart valve replacement in United States in 2011 and patient with severe aortic stenosis with inoperable conditions are comfortable with the minimally invasive surgery and the market is expected to witness a remarkable growth in the forecast years. The growth of transcatheter heart valve market in Europe is attributed to the technology advancements in that region.Transcatheter Heart Valve Replacement (TAVI): Key PlayersThe global transcatheter heart valve market is held by two major players namely Edward Lifesciences LLC and Medtronic Inc.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




After pact with Deuba, Nidhi rejoins ministry

An understanding between Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and party leader Bimalendra Nidhi reached at the NC headquarters on Wednesday finally created an environment for Nidhi to rejoin the Cabinet as deputy prime minister and minister for home affairs.
75 professionals have been included in a definitive ranking of Canada's best mortgage brokers.

Contact

Katrina Ricarte

***@keymedia.com Katrina Ricarte

End

--magazine has just released its annual Top 75 Brokers list, featuring the nation's leading mortgage brokers.Top 75 Brokers report is a definitive ranking of Canada's best brokers and on its 11year,recognizes yet another set of brokers who have proven themselves to be tireless workers with their impressive deal breakdowns; innovative leaders and the best in the business when it comes to navigating the mortgage landscape."This year's list includes a diverse set of professionals both from large and small markets," said Kimberly Banks,journalist. "Whether they operate independently or work within networks, these brokers have a wide range of experience and have proven themselves to be the best of the best in the industry."To learn more about this year's top brokers, see issue 12.04 of, out now or view the list online at http://www.whichmortgage.ca/ leading-mortgage- professionals/ cmp-top-75-brokers- 2017/ ###, published by Key Media International, is Canada's leading independent magazine for mortgage brokers and professionals. With over 10,000 copies being distributed every month, it provides the latest news, developments and changes that affect the industry along with dedicated sales and marketing features that enable Canadian mortgage brokers to further develop their businesses.
Get top website rankings on Google with IBL Infotech, one of the best SEO company in Canada, offering affordable internet/digital marketing services, SEO using latest SEO tools. Hire professional SEO experts for outsourcing work at cheap prices.

End

-- If users are unable to find your website on Google, then it's high time to think of expanding your business online. Millions of people across the globe search on Google before getting associated with a business or taking a purchase decision. If you are not found on Google, you are losing a huge chunk of revenue that comes from search engines. So to get your business website found on Google, you need to hire best SEO services company & IBL Infotech is one of the leading SEO companies in Canada offering result oriented search engine optimization (SEO) services aligned with your business objectives.At IBL Infotech, we work on a single mantra of optimizing your website for top rankings on Google, Yahoo & Bing search engines. To achieve this, we follow a proven strategy & process that not only puts your website on top pages of search engines thereby resulting in increased brand visibility & awareness.What we do to get #1 ranking on Google, Yahoo & Bing search engines: Implementation of deep website review & analysis taking into account the entire website structure, site URLs & other important things After initial pre-optimization audit, our experts will recommend the development & other changes needed on your website as per the search engine guidelines Once the recommended changes are done, our SEO experts will suggest the perfect combination of right keywords as per your business category. During this phase, clients can also suggest for the keywords as per their needs After final selection of keywords & changes are done on site, our expert SEO team will start optimizing the website by strictly adhering to search engine guidelines & following the best strategy for getting top rankingsWondering why to choose SEO services of IBL Infotech: 5+ years of experience in the SEO industry Highly qualified team of more than 25 SEO experts Cost effective & affordable SEO solutions provider Use of latest ethical SEO techniques for best results Result-oriented SEO services 24/7 dedicated SEO supportBe found on Google with the best search engine optimization (SEO) services offered by IBL Infotech at affordable prices.For more info, visit our site: http://www.iblinfotech.com/ seo-services- company-usa/ We are one of Canada's top rated web/app development & SEO Based company. We've started off in 2011 with a strong commitment to delivering quality web development solutions to global clients. A strong penchant of continuous innovative creations & robust developments with utmost perfection is the major driving force that sets us apart from the crowd. Happily serving clients from 20+ countries, we take pride in our highly skilled team of 60+ professionals who work passionately & tirelessly to deliver results that exceed your expectations.
Logistics and transport specialist, Tibbett Logistics, continues Romanian expansion.

By: Tibbett Logistics

Media Contact

John Hayes

jhayes@kesent.com John Hayes

End

-- Tibbett Logistics, the Romania-based transport, intermodal and contract logistics specialist within The Keswick Enterprises Group, is again extending its warehousing operations in Romania with the signing this week of two new long-term leases with CTP  a leading Central European industrial property developer.In the first development, Tibbett Logistics has agreed a multi-year extension to the lease at its existing 10 000 sq metre facility at Bolintin Vale  which is currently operated on behalf of multiple customers. It includes the possibility of extending the building further.Tibbett Logistics has for some time provided storage, order-picking and distribution services from Bolintin Vale for customers in the retail, automotive and FMCG sectors. More recently the site has become the centre of its B2B and B2C e-commerce fulfilment operations. Going forwards the location will focus on the retail sector, and in particular the provision of storage, picking, store delivery and e-fulfilment operations for Auchan.In the second development, Tibbett Logistics has signed a new long-term lease with CTP on a 7 500 sq metre warehouse 2 km from Bolintin Vale  to be known as Bucharest West. Some of the company's beverage and food clients will be based here  including Coca Cola and ED&F Man  as well as further e-fulfilment activities.This additional Bucharest site takes the number of Tibbett Logistics' warehousing locations in Romania to 14, and the company now operates a total of 111,250 sq metres (1,200,000 sq ft) of Class A multi-user and dedicated warehousing  including rail-connected and temperature-controlled.Tibbett Logistics' CEO, David Goldsborough, commented: "In recent years we have opened at least two new warehousing locations a year in Romania, so I am delighted to report that already in 2017 we have extended our lease at one site and added a brand new facility. I am looking forward to announcing further site developments soon."Tibbett Logistics specialises in providing intermodal logistics and extensive supply chain management services to the automotive, DIY, food & grocery, textiles, retail and other FMCG sectors across Romania and elsewhere in South East Europe. Employing over 1250 people, the company operates a distribution fleet comprising tilt trailers, double- and triple-chamber reefers and container chassis  along with its own intermodal rail wagons.High resolution photographs may be freely downloaded from:http://www.tibbettlogistics.com/attachments/1493917342-Tibbett_Logistics_brand-new_Bucharest_West_warehouse%20in%20Romania.HIGH-RES-0177.jpghttp://www.tibbettlogistics.com/attachments/1493917321-Tibbett_Logistics_brand-new_Bucharest_West_warehouse%20in%20Romania.HIGH-RES-0161.jpgPhoto-captions:Tibbett Logistics is wholly owned by The Keswick Enterprises Group Limited  the UK-based private equity company specialising in logistics and supply chain-related services. Formed in 2004, the Group makes strategic investments and acquisitions in supply chain-related companies, where through proactive management it can add know-how and experience. It has reinforced incumbent managements and invested resources to extend capabilities.Keswick Enterprises is headed by John Harvey CBE, a logistics veteran who is a widely known personality in the outsourced supply chain management sector.Please also see www.tibbettlogistics.com and www.keswickenterprises.com
The Akaki Tsereteli State University in Georgia is known to offer education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels to its students.

By: Education Consultancy

Contact

Education Consultancy

***@gmail.com Education Consultancy

End

-- The Akaki Tsereteli State University in Georgia, is one of the oldest academic institutions in Europe, offering a range of study programs in the field of research. The university has its own website where it highlights the academic programs that it offers to prospective students. The university is known to offer education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels to its students. It ensures that its students get the best careers. The Akaki Tsereteli State University is known to provide quality resources to companies and by doing so it contributes to the social, cultural and economic development of an area.In recent times, students are trained at academic institutions so that they are ideal for the job market. The university aims to do the same, it provides skilled labor with an objective to develop the region socially, culturally and economically.The university website clearly mentions the mission of the university and they are as follows:-The university Implements high-quality academic programs. It promotes the development of a vocational academic system using modern vocational academic programs. The university conducts modern day research in the field of science and technology. It implements educational, research programs and by doing so it contributes to the social, cultural and economic development of the region or the country.A university faculty says "Akaki Tsereteli State University"supports social values, it emphasizes democracy, humanism, national as well as international values ".The university imparts academic programs in the field of arts, business, law, social science, pedagogic, medicine, natural sciences, technological engineering, maritime transport, agrarian sciences. The Akaki Tsereteli State University Georgia is accredited by the World Health Organization, and important academic bodies, institutions, and organizations. In its website, the university very clearly mentions the tuition fee structure for the prospective candidates who want to study in the university. The university has its contact section and a candidate can use this section to know more details about the academic body and its curriculum.About Us:The Akaki Tsereteli State University in Georgia is one of the oldest academic institutions in Europe and it offers a range of study programs in the field of research to its students. The university in its website highlights the academic programs which it offers to prospective students. The university is known to offer education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels to its students.For more information, please visit http://www.educationconsultancy.co.in/ akaki-tsereteli- sta... Contact:Mr. Achal Shah, Mrs. Prapti ShahKapadiya House,Beside Amrapali Complex, KarelibaugVadodara, Gujarat 390018 INPhone: +91-9898581881, 9737999344
The Wellborn Blueberry Festival celebrates the annual North Florida blueberry harvest and is held on the first Saturday in June.

Contact

Wendell Snowden, Festival Chairman

Wellborn Community Association, Inc.

***@prodigy.net Wendell Snowden, Festival ChairmanWellborn Community Association, Inc.

End

-- The 24Annual Wellborn Blueberry Festival will be taking place on June 3, 2017, in historic downtown Wellborn, Florida. The festival celebrates the annual blueberry harvest and takes place in Andrew's Square. Admission is free. The event is the major fundraiser for the non-profit Wellborn Community Association whose mission is to enhance community life in Wellborn and its surrounding areas and care for the social, economic and physical needs of the less fortunate members of the community as means permit.Activities get under way at 7:00 am on Saturday with the famous Blueberry Pancake Breakfast which includes three pancakes, three sausage links, orange juice and coffee for $5 adults and $3 children. The last breakfast ticket will be sold at 9:30 AM. Two serving stations are open at the fairgrounds, and a third station will be open at the Wellborn Baptist Church on US 90. Attendees can take advantage of this by parking at the church, enjoying breakfast there, and then riding the free shuttle to the festival grounds. About 100 vendors will be selling any imagined craft from handmade mailboxes, precious jewelry, hand painted pictures, knitted items, and homemade delicacies, to several food vendors selling all the fair favorites - elephant ears, bloomin' onions, fried pickles, seafood, hot dogs, sausage, hamburgers, all kinds of BBQ, kettle corn and fried Twinkies. Many children's activities will be offered including a climbing wall, ponies, a petting zoo and more.The Country Store building at the south gate will be selling blueberry pies, jams, syrup, cobbler, and muffins to take home. Information on the Suwannee Valley area will be available for visitors who would like to see "Old Florida" and the many natural springs in the area. Downtown Wellborn features several buildings which date to the late 1800s, as well as a piece of the original brick road which was finished in 1920 and extended form San Diego, California, to Jacksonville, Florida. Blueberry cobbler or pie topped with ice cream will also be served in the Country Store.This year's parade theme is "Living the Blues." The parade gets under way at 10:30 am and will include the award-winning Suwannee High School Band, floats from local businesses, churches and organizations, beautiful horses, and antique cars. Speaking of antique cars, there will be a classic car show presented by Southern Knights Street Rodders. So join us the first Saturday in June because, Wellborn has got "The Blues".For more information, directions, entry forms, vendor and sponsorship applications, see the website at www.wellborncommunityassociation.com , call 386-963-1157 or join us on Facebook at Wellborn Community Association.
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The Israeli format developer and distributor Armoza Formats is to open its first office for the Latin American region.





The office, based in Miami, marks the companys first move into local offices and a key expansion of its business in the region. Along with the new regional quarters, Karina Dolgiej has been brought in to head up the office, as sales director for LATAM.Dolgiej has over 20 years of experience, most recently working as international sales executive at Comarex. Her experience in the industry covers the US Hispanic and Latin American regions and she has worked closely with leading networks including Univision, Televisa and Telemundo.I am thrilled to be part of the creation of Armoza's Miami office, and to share my experience in helping to grow the business within the Latin America and US Hispanic market, said Dolgiej, who will report to Armozas head of sales, Sharon Levi."We see the creation of a new LATAM office, with Karina at its helm, as a significant move for Armoza as we look to build more strategic partnerships and relationships at a local level in this important region. Karinas expertise and passion make her the perfect person to be heading up this new venture and we look forward to exploring the opportunities that it opens up, explained the companys CEO Avi Armoza.Armozas formats have previously been broadcast by Latin American channels including Mexicos Azteca and Brazils Globosat
Major stars such as Kevin Hart, Rhett and Link, Ellen DeGeneres, Katy Perry, The Slow Mo Guys, Demi Lovato and Ludacris have been signed up to star in new ad-supported shows premiering exclusively on YouTube, free to users. The move is an extension of the YouTube Red premium original content service launched in 2016 which to date has released 30 TV series and films in just over a year.When excited fans, brands, and creators tell us something, we listen, commented YouTube chief business officer Robert Kyncl. Were thrilled to announce that beginning later this year, some of the biggest YouTube creators and Hollywood names will be featured in seven new series on YouTube  bringing more cant-get-enough-of and cant-find-anywhere-else shows to everyone, everywhere. With these new shows, brands can be a part of content thats generating buzz around the world.Among the standout shows will be Ellens Show Me More Show, a twice-a-week series built just for YouTube, giving fans behind the scenes access to some of the biggest stars appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres show, plus her favourite moments. In Good Mythical Morning: Worldwide, Rhett & Link, hosts of YouTubes most popular daily show, will offer a long-form expansion of their popular well known show to give fans even more stunts, challenges, and comedy.Johnson & Johnson Consumer Brands will be the first advertising partner for the new content. In addition to a major investment in creators through Google Preferred, it has signed on as the exclusive sponsor of talent competition Best.Cover.Ever. Were excited to partner with top creators and world-class production companies to offer these new shows to audiences globallyon the platform where the world chooses to watch over a billion hours of video every day, Kyncl added. People turn to YouTube to express themselves, engage with creators, and connect with the thriving communities theyre proud to be a part of. This vibrant fan and creator community is also why brands turn to YouTube.
California-based consultancy and systems integrator DigitalGlue has contracted broadcast/OTT software and service specialist Inview Technology for middleware in a contract for the American Forces Networks new MPEG-4 HD set-top boxes.





Inview says that its partnership with DigitalGlue will allow the American Forces Network to meet consumer needs with a significantly enhanced viewing experience and a range of broadcast services for the DVB-S2 twin tuner set-top boxes. Some of these services include an EPG with promotional banners and full-screen pages, PVR; enabling users to pause/rewind live TV, record content and catch-up on missed programs, channel management, and TV listings. DigitalGlue will deliver a new head-end solution.This is a fantastic opportunity for us to globally supply high-quality features and services to the American Forces Network, commented Diego Martinez, SVP Americas at Inview. (Pictured left.)We look forward to working closely with the team and providing an innovative roadmap of services.Added Ray Rodriguez, director of system integration at DigitalGlue: We have been working with the Defense Media Activity for the last two years, designing and now implementing a new MPEG-4 HD solution.
KABUL -- Hundreds of Afghans have staged a protest against Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, hours after the notorious militant leader held a large rally in Kabul to mark his return to the country under a peace deal with the government.

The rally at a stadium and the protest outside Hekmatyar's government-funded residence in western Kabul on May 5 underscored deep divisions over the longtime militant leader, whose Hezb-e Islami group was responsible for some of deadliest violence in the civil war that engulfed Afghanistan in the 1990s.

They came a day after Hekmatyar, who recently returned to Afghanistan following more than two decades in self-imposed exile, arrived in Kabul.

Holding photographs of people allegedly killed by Hezb-e Islami in the bloody 1992-96 conflict, demonstrators demanded the government put Hekmatyar on trial for crimes they accuse him of committing. There were no reports of violence during the protest.

Forces loyal to Hekmatyar, known as the "Butcher of Kabul," have been accused of gross human rights violations during the internecine war, in which the group stands accused of killing thousands of people in the capital.

Thousands of Hekmatyar supporters attended the rally at Ghazi Stadium, waving the green flags of his group and shouting "Long Live Islam!" and "Allahu Akbar!" (God is great).

Hezb-e Islami signed a peace agreement with President Ashraf Ghani's government in September.

Under the deal, Hezb-e Islami have pledged they would lay down their weapons and end their insurgency against the Afghan government throughout the country.

The agreement also says that Hezb-e Islami militia fighters who are interested in joining government forces will be "integrated" into the Afghan national security forces.

In exchange, Hezb-e Islami prisoners will be released from Afghan jails, among other provisions of the agreement.

At the rally, Hekmatyar called for all insurgent groups fighting the government, including the Taliban, to end what he said was a war "imposed" on Afghanistan from outside the country.

"In every province, there are mass graves," he said, adding that the continuation of the war will only kill more Afghans. "Our country now needs peace."

"Let's bring peace to the country first and tell the foreign forces that Afghans are able to sort out their issues themselves and we want them to leave Afghanistan," he added. "No one has any justification for the presence of foreign troops."

He also called on the government to fulfill its promises under the peace deal, including the release of hundreds of Hezb-e Islami fighters in Afghan prisons.

A day earlier, Hekmatyar met Ghani at the presidential palace, where a ceremony was held in his honor.

During the gathering, Hekmatyar called on his Taliban "brothers" to end their insurgency and offered to mediate talks with the government.

The governments peace deal with Hekmatyar has been criticized by many Afghans and by Western rights groups. Critics point to his dismal human rights record and his groups deadly attacks on U.S. and Afghan forces since the U.S.-led invasion that drove the Taliban from power after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States.

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 civil war for control of Kabul after the collapse of the communist government in 1992 in the wake of the Soviet army's withdrawal from Afghanistan three years earlier.

Hekmatyar, who had been prime minister in the mujahedin government from 1993-94 and then briefly again in 1996, was one of the chief protagonists of the civil 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.
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.
Macedonia's parliament speaker has asked the country's president to recognize a majority of Social Democrats and ethnic Albanian members of parliament so they can form a new government.

Talat Xhaferi, who took over the speaker's office on May 3, urged President Gjorge Ivanov on May 4 to acknowledge the new majority bloc and allow Social Democratic Union leader Zoran Zaev to form a cabinet.

"I expect the president to act according to the constitution," Xhaferi said before heading to Brussels to meet with European Union officials, including Johannes Hahn, the commissioner in charge of EU enlargement.

Ivanov, an ally of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party that has ruled Macedonia for years, has 10 days to answer Xhaferi's request.

Ivanov has previously refused to give a government mandate to Zaev, contending the coalition's agreement to make Albanian the country's second language threatens national unity and sovereignty.

However, after speaking with a U.S. envoy on May 1, he suggested he might relent if Zaev provided reassurances that his coalition would work according to the constitution and uphold national sovereignty.

Zaev told reporters in Skopje on May 4 that "I am ready, if necessary, to see Ivanov and offer guarantees that the territorial integrity of Macedonia will be respected."

Zaev said that he expected his government to be established by the end of the month, possibly ushering in the end of a long-running political crisis.

Inconclusive parliamentary elections in December led to the current impasse. Though the VMRO-DPMNE got the most votes, it was not able to put together a ruling coalition.

But when Zaev's Social Democrats put together a majority coalition with ethnic Albanians, who make up about a quarter of the country's 2.1 million population, the VMRO-DPMNE and its nationalist supporters staged protests nearly every night calling for new elections.

The coalition's vote last week to install Xhaferi, a former ethnic Albanian guerrilla, as speaker prompted about 100 of the protesters to storm into parliament and assault Zaev and ethnic Albanian lawmakers in a melee that left more than 100 people injured.

The EU and United States strongly condemned the violence, moved to recognize Zaev's coalition as the legitimate majority bloc, and called on Ivanov to do the same.

Macedonia has been without a functioning government since 2015, when it fell into turmoil over a wiretapping scandal that brought down the VMRO-DPMNE's governing bloc.

Efforts to advance toward membership of the EU and NATO have been set back by the impasse.

The EU's foreign-policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has called the violence in Macedonia "worrying" and "dangerous."

At her meeting with Xhaferi on May 4, Mogherini called on all sides to "engage constructively in the political process" and said she was ready to work with Xhaferi and other parties to end the political deadlock.

"The EU expects all political parties to engage constructively in the political process, including on government formation, and in the work of the new parliament," Mogherini said.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
At least 13 people have been killed and more than 80 others wounded in clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces near the Chaman border crossing, officials say.

The Afghan Border Police opened fire on soldiers accompanying a census team, a Pakistani military statement read on May 5.

"Since April 30, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area on Pakistani side of the border," the statement adds.

On the Pakistani side, Naseem Ullah, a doctor at a hospital in Killa Abdullah, told the German dpa news agency that nine civilians were killed in shelling. He said more than 45 people, including 12 children and six security personnel, were wounded.

Media reports in Afghanistan citing a police chief said four Afghan security personnel were killed and 14 police and at least 23 civilians wounded.

Both sides blamed each other for having started the fighting that began in the early morning hours near the crossing in southwestern Pakistan and southern Afghanistan.

Firing still continues on the Chaman border, an RFE/RL correspondent reports.

Zia Durani, a spokesman for the police chief in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province, blamed Pakistan for initiating the shooting, saying Pakistan wants to use the cover of data collection to help militants sneak into Afghanistan.

Another spokesman, Ghurzang Afridi, said the Pakistani census team had worked on the Afghan side of the border.

With reporting by dpa, AP, and Dawn
Several dozen left-wing activists and citizens have protested in Belgrade against xenophobia and called for support of migrants from the Middle East who are living on the streets of the city.

The trigger for the May 4 protest was an announcement of a protest by a group of students who claimed that migrants are threatening the safety of Belgrade citizens. Many of the migrants live in the park near Belgrade's main bus station.

While the students later canceled their protest, the first protesters said they would go ahead with their demonstrations, and they paraded banners with the message "Lets rid Belgrade of xenophobia.

A small group of counterprotesters emerged on May 4, claiming that they had problems with migrants robbing people and leaving garbage on the streets.

According to official data, there are currently about 8,000 migrants in Serbia, and 6,000 of them are in refugee camps.

Since the opening of the Balkan route to Western Europe in 2015, the park near the main bus station in Belgrade has been one of the main gathering places for migrants headed north from their homelands in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Talks between high-level U.S. and Russia diplomats aimed at improving relations will begin next week, the State Department said on May 5.

Thomas Shannon, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, will travel to New York on May 8 to meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov "to discuss a range of bilateral issues," the department said.

The meeting will mark the start of a dialogue that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to last month in Moscow.

The working group headed by Shannon and Ryabkov is tasked with addressing festering irritants in the U.S.-Russia relationship that are hindering cooperation on larger issues, such as Syria and Ukraine.

Those irritants, described by Russia as "grievances," include concerns about the treatment of diplomats and ordinary citizens by police and judicial officials in the two countries.

Tillerson said the working group would look at "smaller issues and make progress toward stabilizing the relationship, so that we can then address the more serious problems."

In Moscow, Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Ryabkov as saying his meeting with Shannon would cover "questions connected to the normal functioning of diplomatic representations in both countries."

With reporting by AP


DUSHANBE -- Authorities in Tajikistan have decided not to go ahead with a march called the Immortal Regiment to mark the anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany, which is celebrated in many former Soviet republics on May 9.

State news agency Hovar reported on May 4 that the decision was prompted by security concerns and "Islamic traditions that do not approve of the public display of pictures of deceased people."

Last year, Tajikistan for the first time held a march of World War II veterans and younger Tajiks holding portraits of relatives who died in the war. The march was inspired by a similar one in Russia.

Immortal Regiment marches have been held across Russia and some other former Soviet republics on May 9 for several years.

Kremlin critics accuse President Vladimir Putin's government of transforming what was initially a grassroots movement honoring the sacrifices made by previous generations in the war, which led to some 27 million deaths in the Soviet Union, into a state-sanctioned event designed to instill patriotism.

With feelings of unity with Moscow inspired by the memory of the war fading, Russia has encouraged other former Soviet republics to hold the marches.

Russia's ambassador to Tajikistan, Igor Lyakin-Frolov, on May 5 voiced regret at Tajikistan's decision not to do so, saying that Tajiks who died in the war deserve to be remembered.

The director of the presidential Strategic Studies Center in Dushanbe, Hudoiberdy Holiknazarov, told RFE/RL on May 5 that the decision had nothing to do with politics.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. media reports say several people associated with U.S. President Donald Trumps election campaign have been asked to hand over information about their contacts with Russian officials or Russian business interests.

Former Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page, fired national security adviser Michael Flynn, former campaign manager Paul Manafort, and Republican strategist Roger Stone were among those who were sent letters by the Senate Intelligence Committee, The New York Times and Associated Press reported on May 5.

Page said he would cooperate with the committee but called the investigation a "comically fake inquiry."

Stone told the Associated Press in an e-mail that "I am eager, indeed anxious, to testify in full public session, have requested no immunity, and am ready to go."

Representatives for Flynn and Manafort declined to comment.

In letters seen by the AP, the committee asked Page and Stone to turn over e-mails, text messages, letters, phone records, or any other relevant information they have about meetings or contacts with Russian officials or representatives of Russian business interests from June 16, 2015, to January 20, 2017.

It set a May 9 deadline for a list of all meetings, along with a May 19 deadline for e-mails, texts, and phone logs.

The committee also asked the two to appear for closed interviews with Intelligence Committee staff.

U.S. intelligence services have said they believe the Russia government interfered in the 2016 presidential campaign to help boost Trumps campaign.

Trump has downplayed the effect on the election, although he acknowledged that Russia likely attempted to interfere.

With reporting by AP and The New York Times
KYIV -- Andriy Artemenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker whose plan to resolve the three-year-old conflict in Ukraine reportedly wound up on the desk of then-U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn, has been stripped of his citizenship by presidential decree, the State Migration Service says.

The migration service said in a statement on May 5 that President Petro Poroshenko had terminated Artemenko's Ukrainian citizenship over the lawmaker's voluntary acceptance of foreign citizenship.

Artemenko had previously acknowledged that he holds Canadian citizenship.

Artemenko's "peace plan," which calls for holding a national referendum on leasing Crimea to Russia for a period of 30 to 50 years, made headlines in February when he was quoted in a New York Times report as saying he had given the document to associates of President Donald Trump who then passed it to someone who put it on Flynn's desk.

The news caused a scandal in Kyiv, and Artemenko was ejected from the Radical Party as a result. Ukrainian investigators later opened a treason case over his actions.

After a Moscow-friendly Ukrainian president fled in the face of protests in February 2014, Russia seized Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and fomented separatism in eastern Ukraine, where a war between Russia-backed separatists and government forces has killed more than 9,900 people since April 2014.

Russia says it will never return Crimea to Ukraine, making the idea of leasing it to Moscow improbable even if it could gain support in Ukraine, where many people would oppose voluntarily granting Russia any form of control over the peninsula.

Artemenko's plan never made it to Flynn, who was forced out in February after it was revealed that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russia's ambassador to the United States during the election campaign. He is currently under formal investigation by the Pentagon over apparently undisclosed Russian payments.

Artemenko did not immediately respond to RFE/RL's request for comment. But when RFE/RL communicated with him via Facebook Messenger on May 2, the lawmaker did not respond directly to questions about what were then rumors of his loss of citizenship.

"Fake news destroyed careers and unfortunately kills people!!!! Still waiting official confirmation or denial from president administration on my deputy request. So will see what next..." Artemenko wrote, adding that he was in Washington, D.C.

He did not explain what the "deputy request" was.

"I have a couple of very important meetings with U.S. and Canada officials and Ukrainean [sic] diaspora," he claimed. Asked if he was still pushing his "peace plan" for Ukraine and trying to meet with Trump administration officials, he wrote, "Exactly."

Artemenko did not say whether he would return to Ukraine.
Ukraine has banned U.S. action film star Steven Seagal from entering the country, labeling him a national security threat.

The Ukraine National News (UNN) agency on May 5 quoted the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) as saying Seagal would be banned for five years.

Seagal, who received Russian citizenship in November, has publicly supported Moscow's illegal annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and participated in a concert there in August 2014.

Moscow seized control of Crimea in March 2014 and has supported separatists in eastern Ukraine in fighting that has killed more than 9,750 people.

The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia in retaliation for its actions in Ukraine.

Seagal, 65, grew up in California but claims Russian and Mongolian ancestry.

Reports have said he holds a black belt in aikido and is a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also is a fan of the martial arts.

Other celebrities have been banned from Ukraine after taking Russian citizenship and expressing support for Russias annexation of Crimea, including French film star Gerard Depardieu.

In March, Ukraine barred Russia's contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest from entering the country because it said she had performed in Crimea in 2015.

That ban will prevent Yulia Samoilova, 22, from participating in the song contest scheduled for May 13 in Kyiv. Russia is boycotting the event.

Based on reporting by dpa, UNN, Interfax, Apostrophe.ua, and The Guardian
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 the city of Dnipro with drones, targeting a logistics enterprise. Four employees were wounded; three of them are in serious condition in the 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 was 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 Ukraine will not "surrender a single centimeter of our land" in Donetsk, 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 has taken place 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, and 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 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 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 Mykolayiv 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 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
Chand-led Maoist cadres clash with police in Kalikot

At a time when the local level elections are round the corner, a clash broke out between Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist cadres and police personnel at Raskot Municipality-7 of Kalikot district on Friday.
A group of workers in Uzbekistan has faced its state-owned employer and made demands.

That is something unheard of in Uzbekistan for many years. It would practically have been treason when Islam Karimov was president of Uzbekistan.

But Karimov died in September, and new Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyaev has been talking a lot about the responsibility of authorities to the people.

Seems someone believed him.

That someone is a group of employees at UzGazOil gas stations. Actually, they are now employees of Uzbekneftegaz gas stations, since in February the company rebranded. (Or, more appropriately, translated the companys name into Uzbek. Uzbekneftegaz, in Uzbek, means "Uzbek oil and gas.")

RFE/RLs Uzbek Service, known locally as Ozodlik, spoke to some of the workers who were at this unusual meeting with company officials on April 20 in Tashkent.

Rebranding was at the heart of the matter, since many gas-station employees were reportedly under the impression the new name would mean the companys management would be changed and they would finally be paid on time.

Nothing of the sort.

One of the complaints made at the meeting with Uzbekneftegaz officials was that wages -- at least full wages -- had not been paid since the company changed its name.

"I havent received my salary for two months already," one employee told Ozodlik. "I went to the accountant, but instead of giving me my salary, which should have been 1 million soms" -- or about $125 -- "they gave me only 300,000 soms."

This source said he soon discovered he was not the only employee with this problem, and others from Uzbekneftegaz confirmed to Ozodlik that they have had similar problems.

So he went to the April 20 meeting, along with many other Uzbekneftegaz employees.

"The hall was filled with people," he said. "[At the meeting] there were those who had not received their salaries and those who were dismissed and not paid any severance."

Another complaint by Uzbekneftegaz employees was that some of their co-workers had reportedly been dismissed without grounds since the company rebranded.

According to this Uzbekneftegaz employee, the companys director, Batyr Turaev, attended, along with two other company officials. There are two videos, purportedly from the meeting.

One shows a man saying he has eight children and that he was unfairly fired. "Why didn't they give me severance pay?" he asks, adding. "How can I feed my children now?"

Workers in the hall shouted out their support:

The other video shows a man believed to be Uzbekneftegaz chief Turaev trying to calm the workers:

While workers at the meeting in Tashkent appeared able to voice their complaints to management, there was no indication that any of their demands would be met.

However, there has also been no word so far that any of the employees who complained at the meeting were punished or threatened in any way, as would almost surely have been the case when Karimov was Uzbekistans president.

Another Uzbekneftegaz employee who was at the meeting said that he, too, had earlier approached officials demanding his unpaid salary. This employee said officials at Uzbekneftegaz told him -- before the meeting, and in an implied threat -- that he would be put on a list compiled by the National Security Service (SNB).

He said that to head off other employees from demanding unpaid wages, management would call some employees and tell them, "People from the SNB were asking about you."

Again, so far, there is no indication the SNB has actually become involved in the Uzbekneftegaz labor dispute. Comments about the SNB from management seem to be playing on fears from earlier days that the powerful security agency could step in and quiet the situation.

After the Tashkent meeting, a rumor circulated that Turaev had been dismissed.

Ozodlik contacted Uzbekneftegaz and was told, "Batyr Turaev has not gone anywhere. He comes to work every day."

Turaev is an interesting figure.

Once, a company called Zeromax that was registered in Switzerland owned the gas stations of UzGazOil. For many years, Zeromax was virtually the only Western company to get contracts in Uzbekistans gas-and-oil sector, a situation some attributed to the companys alleged links to Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of the late President Karimov, who was then spending a lot of time in Switzerland.

Zeromaxs fortunes started to wane and the companys stake in UzGazOil gas stations was given over to the Uzbek government in 2010.

In 2012, a former employee of Zeromax was named director-general of UzGazOil.

That person was Batyr Turaev.

Returning to the Uzbekneftegaz gas-station employees and their grievances, some of the workers told Ozodlik that they had sent their complaints to the Uzbek governments virtual-office website and were waiting for a response.

They also said that airing their problems so publicly was fully in accordance with Mirziyaevs statements that, in this Year Of Dialogue With The People, which the country declared for 2017, officials were obliged to resolve the problems of the people.

Based on material from RFE/RL's Uzbek Service

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL.
Fish that show bravery often become prey themselves, whereas shyer individuals survive to a greater extent. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now successfully established a connection between bold personalities and the risk of being killed by a predator in the wild.

The researchers marked common roaches, a widespread freshwater fish, and studied their personalities. After investigating which individuals then became food for cormorants, the biologists at Lund University were able to show that the bravest fish run twice the risk of being eaten compared to the shyest individuals.

Common roaches, just like human beings, are individuals with different personalities and traits. One of these is courage -- and not all common roaches are equally bold.

For a long time, researchers have assumed that the inclination to expose oneself to risks is a compromise between the actual risk itself and any associated consequences on the one hand, and the potential reward on the other. Boldness and the willingness to take major risks are thus a strategy which can lead to something really tasty to eat or a partner with whom to mate. But it can also end badly.

Until recently, there have only been a few research findings from wild populations to support this assumption. That is, until now, when the biologists studied personalities among common roaches in Krankesjon lake in southern Sweden.

Captured common roaches were taken to a lab and placed in a dark concealed area. Then, the researchers measured how long it took each fish to swim out of the concealed area. The bolder the individual, the less time it took. Each common roach was subsequently implanted with a microchip and released in Krankesjon lake.

At the lake, plenty of fish-eating cormorants ate the tagged common roaches. The birds then regurgitated fully functioning microchips on the small island where they rest between searches for food. By using a portable reader, the researchers were able to identify which common roaches had fallen victim to the cormorants -- the bolder or the shyer individuals.

Relating the behaviour of a certain individual to the risk of being killed by a predator is a major challenge. A number of previous studies have instead focused on how morphological characteristics (appearance and shape) are linked to the risk of being eaten by a predator.

"Our study is unique in that we focus on an important behaviour and not morphology, but also because we allow the interplay between predator and prey to take place in their natural habitat, their home lake," says Kaj Hulthen, one of the researchers behind the study.
A new American Cancer Society study concludes that sugar-sweetened beverages have become more affordable in nearly every corner of the globe, and are likely to become even more affordable and more widely consumed. The study appears in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, and concludes that without policy action to raise prices, global efforts to address the obesity epidemic will be hampered.

For the study researchers analyzed both real prices of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) as well as relative income prices, based on annual per capita income in 40 high-income and 42 low-income and middle-income countries around the world between from 1990 to 2016. They used Coca-Cola as a proxy for all sugar-sweetened beverages because it is the most globally recognizable sugar-sweetened beverage brand and widely available worldwide, comprising more than one-fourth (25.8%) of the global market in 2014, more than double its closest competitor.

They found sugar-sweetened beverages became more affordable in 79 of 82 countries between 1990 and 2016, most often due to a combination of increases in income and decreases in price. Real prices dropped in 56 of the 82 countries.

"Overall in the countries we studied, a person in 2016 could buy 71 percent more sugar-sweetened beverages with the same share of their income than they could in 1990," said Jeffrey Drope, Ph.D., study co-author. "Sugary drinks became even more affordable in developing countries, where 2016's income could buy 89 percent more sugar-sweetened beverages than in 1990. That's essentially half-price."

"Although the increase in affordability is partly due to economic progress that resulted from rapid global economic development, it is also attributable to a lack of action taken by policy makers to affect the price of sugar-sweetened beverages," write the authors. "We argue and the scientific literature strongly suggests that this environment of increasingly affordable sugar-sweetened beverages will inevitably drive increased consumption of such products and will certainly hamper global efforts to address the overweight and obesity epidemic."

The authors also reviewed price trends for bottled water comparing them to SSBs to provide a control, and found that bottled water is typically more expensive and less affordable than sugar-sweetened beverages.

Because rising incomes are a positive sign of growth, the authors say "the logical intervention is for governments to affect prices through excise taxation, as they have done with other unhealthful products such as cigarettes."
Daydreams of the tropical paradise of Hawai'i rarely include snow in the imagery, but nearly every year, a beautiful white blanket covers the highest peaks in the state for at least a few days. However, systematic observations of snowfall and the snow cover dimensions on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are practically nonexistent. A group of climate modelers led by Chunxi Zhang from the International Pacific Research Center (IPRC) at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa used satellite images to quantify recent snow cover distributions patterns. They developed a regional climate model to simulate the present-day snowfalls and then to project future Hawaiian snowfalls. Their results indicate that the two volcano summits are typically snow-covered at least 20 days each winter, on average, but that the snow cover will nearly disappear by the end of the century.

To evaluate the current situation, Zhang and his colleagues examined surface composition data retrieved from satellite imagery of Hawai'i Island from 2000 to 2015 to construct a daily index of snow cover. They used this data compilation to evaluate the quality of their regional atmospheric climate model, based on global climate projections that included several scenarios of anticipated climate change. Zhang then ran simulations representative of the end of the 21st century, assuming a moderate business-as-usual scenario for greenhouse gas emissions projections, to establish how long Hawai'i might enjoy its occasional glimpses of white-topped mountains.

"We recognized that Hawaiian snow has an aesthetic and recreational value, as well as a cultural significance, for residents and visitors," explained Zhang. "So, we decided to examine just what the implications of future climate change would be for future snowfall in Hawai'i." Unfortunately, the projections suggest that future average winter snowfall will be ten times less than present day amounts, virtually erasing all snow cover.

The findings were not a total surprise, with future projections showing that even with moderate climate warming, air temperatures over the higher altitudes increase even more than at sea level, and that, on average, fewer winter storm systems will impact the state. However, the group's new method for establishing the current snow cover on these Hawaiian mountains provides another avenue for monitoring the progression of climate change in the region. Ultimately, this study also illustrates the benefits of the recent trend in model downscaling, highlighting the regional and local effects of global climate change.
Central parts of Antarctica's ice sheet have been stable for millions of years, from a time when conditions were considerably warmer than now, research suggests.

The study of mountains in West Antarctica will help scientists improve their predictions of how the region might respond to continuing climate change. Its findings could also show how ice loss might contribute to sea level rise.

Although the discovery demonstrates the long-term stability of some parts of Antarctica's ice sheet, scientists remain concerned that ice at its coastline is vulnerable to rising temperatures.

Researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Northumbria studied rocks on slopes of the Ellsworth Mountains, whose peaks protrude through the ice sheet.

By mapping and analysing surface rocks -- including measuring their exposure to cosmic rays -- researchers calculated that the mountains have been shaped by an ice sheet over a million-year period, beginning in a climate some 20C warmer than at present.

The last time such climates existed in the mountains of Antarctica was 14 million years ago when vegetation grew in the mountains and beetles thrived. Antarctica's climate at the time would be similar to that of modern day Patagonia or Greenland.

This time marked the start of a period of cooling and the growth of a large ice sheet that extended offshore around the Antarctic continent. Glaciers have subsequently cut deep into the landscape, leaving a high-tide mark -- known as a trimline -- in the exposed peaks of the Ellsworth range.

The extended ice sheet cooled the oceans and atmosphere, helping form the world of today, researchers say. Their study is among the first to find evidence for this period in West Antarctica.

The research, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, was done in collaboration with the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre. It was funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council and supported by British Antarctic Survey.

Professor David Sugden, of the University of Edinburgh's School of GeoSciences, said: "These findings help us understand how the Antarctic Ice Sheet has evolved, and to fine-tune our models and predict its future. The preservation of old rock surfaces is testimony to the stability of at least the central parts of the Antarctic Ice Sheet -- but we are still very concerned over other parts of Antarctica amid climate change."
Delhi court awards life imprisonment to 5 for gang-raping Danish woman

The Delhi court on Friday awarded life imprisonment to five persons arrested on charge of gang-raping a 52-year-old Danish woman at knife-point near the New Delhi railway station two year ago, according to Press Trust of India.
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Recently Bulgaria announced that the Swedish Gripen won the 2016 competition for eight combat aircraft issued last year. The Bulgarian air force currently depends on 15 MiG-29 fighters but only about half are flyable. The reason behind this is Russian anger at Bulgaria for rejecting Russian guidance. Most annoying was Bulgaria joining NATO. Russia shows its displeasure by making it more difficult to get spare parts and tech support in maintaining MiG-29s. These aircraft are already notorious for being very expensive to maintain. Gripen will actually be cheaper and the Swedes have an excellent reputation when it comes to support. Another reason for buying Gripen is to show other NATO members that Bulgaria is activity reorganizing their armed forces to NATO standards. MiG-29s dont work for that.

The Gripen deal is estimated to be worth about $832 million but now a few rumors point that initial Swedish offer was around 560 million dollars. The final contract will include 8 Gripen C/D aircrafts, spare parts, weapons and training. Moreover the Swedes promised to deliver the first Gripen aircrafts within 18 months after signing contact and also offered a deferred payment scheme which will be a very good thing for tight Bulgarias defense budget.

The 2016 competition put Gripen up against used F-16s that would have cost about $835 million dollars. The third competitor was used early model Eurofighters from Italy that apparently would cost more than the Portuguese F-16s.

The JAS-39 Gripen entered active service in 1997. It is a14 ton jet roughly comparable to the latest versions of the F-16. The Gripen is small but can carry up to 3.6 tons of weapons. With the increasing use of smart bombs, this is adequate. Often regarded as an also-ran in the current crop of "modern jet fighters", the Gripen is proving to be more competition than the major players (the F-16, F-18, F-35, Eurofighter, Rafale, MiG-29, and Su-27) expected. Put simply, Gripen does a lot of little (but important) things right and costs about half as much (at about $35 million each) as its major competitors. More importantly, Gripen also costs about half as much, per flight hour, to operate (compared to bigger twin engine aircraft). In effect, Gripen provides the ruggedness and low cost of Russian aircraft with the high quality and reliability of Western aircraft. For many nations this is an appealing combination. The Gripen is easy to use (both for pilots and ground crews) and capable of doing all jet fighter jobs (air defense, ground support, and reconnaissance) well enough.

The choice of preferred offer is only the beginning because now there will be held negotiations which producer and government-to-government purchase agreement have to be signed later. However it looks like Bulgaria prefers the new aircraft over used ones and what is important actual Bulgarian president Rumen Radev (ex Air Force Commander) heavily criticized the idea to buy used aircrafts. -- Przemysaw Juraszek
The Russian government has successfully adapted to lower oil prices and economic sanctions. Since oil prices collapsed and sanctions were imposed in 2014 the defense budget has been cut 25 percent and the government is trying to prevent any further cuts. Russia admits that this will slow the rate of replacing Cold War era technology and the development of modern military technology. The biggest loss has been access to Western technology. While Russia could not buy the latest military tech they did have access to non-military tech and that enabled them to build modern commercial aircraft and upgrade their manufacturing industries. Until 2014 it also enabled them to buy some Western weapons systems often including licensing agreements to assemble and partially manufacture armored vehicles, warships and other Western weapons in Russia. The main reason for doing that was to upgrade the Russian defense industries, which remained largely state-owned and inefficient after 1991. There was a lot of resistance to buying foreign weapons, mainly from those running the defense industries. The more pragmatic generals and Defense Ministry officials were able to force these changes to be made, until the sanctions and low oil prices made these deals impossible. This was difficult for Russian military reformers to accept and the government initially pitched it as an opportunity for Russian defense firms to do better. It soon became obvious that the reformers had a point about the Russian defense industries being resistant to change.

It was also soon noted that China was still had plenty of cash and access to Western tech and were making great strides. Russian defense experts had long dismissed Chinese efforts as little more than copying (often with stolen tech) Western and Russian designs. But now it became obvious that the Chinese were facing the same problems as the Russians since the Cold War ended and were adapting more effectively. Because the Soviet Union began developing modern military tech in the 1930s and the Chinese didnt really get going until fifty years later the Russians believed they would be ahead of the Chinese for a long time. But now the Chinese are gaining on Russia even faster because of the low oil prices (which are a plus for major oil importers like China) and far fewer sanction restrictions.

Thus China is moving ahead on developing fifth generation stealth warplanes while Russia has had to scale back their effort. China is building a new, and very modern, navy while Russia is watching its modern (in the 1980s) Cold War fleet die of old age and neglect with fewer replacements. But the most painful loss is the inability to modernize defense industries that are clearly being outclassed by their Chinese counterparts.

Thus the numbers do not tell the whole story. On paper Russia has gone from number four on the list of largest defense spenders to number eight. But in terms of potential to do better Russia has slipped even further and that trend shows no sign of reversing itself anytime soon. Russia has also accepted the reality of permanent lower oil prices (because of fracking and more use of other energy sources) and, for the moment, shows no signs of ending the aggressive policies towards its neighbors that triggered the economic sanctions. Russia has, for the moment, chosen to downsize itself economically and militarily.
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Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited  DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U.  Portugal Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU, Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB, Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG, Vodafone Erste Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Vodafone Espana S.A.U., Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited, Vodafone Euro Hedging Two, Vodafone Europe B.V., Vodafone Europe UK, Vodafone European Investments, Vodafone European Portal Limited, Vodafone Finance Limited, Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Finance Sweden, Vodafone Finance UK Limited, Vodafone Financial Operations, Vodafone Financial Services B.V., Vodafone Fixed Ltd, Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A, Vodafone Ghana Mobile Financial Services Limited, Vodafone Global Content Services Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E., Vodafone Global Network Limited, Vodafone Global Network Limited  Slovakia Branch, Vodafone Global Services Private Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Services GmbH, Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited, Vodafone Group Services Limited, Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited, Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited, Vodafone Hire Limited, Vodafone Holding A.S., Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited, Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U., Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Receivables Pty Limited, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited, Vodafone India Digital Limited, Vodafone India Limited, Vodafone India Services Private Limited, Vodafone India Ventures Limited, Vodafone Institut fur Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH, Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited, Vodafone International 1 S.a.r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone International 1 S.a r.l., Vodafone International 2 Limited, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Vodafone International Holdings Limited, Vodafone International M S.a r.l., Vodafone International Operations Limited, Vodafone International Services LLC, Vodafone Investment UK, Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Investments Australia Limited, Vodafone Investments Limited, Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited, Vodafone Ireland Ltd., Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited, Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited, Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited, Vodafone Italia S.p.A., Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited, Vodafone Jersey Finance, Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings Unlimited, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field Services GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH, Vodafone Kenya Limited, Vodafone Leasing Limited, Vodafone Libertel B.V., Vodafone Limited, Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K., Vodafone M-Pesa S.A, Vodafone M.C. Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal  Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V..

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Chief justice impeachment motion: Differences result in House meet deferral

Differences over whether to include the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Sushila Karki in the agenda resulted in the postponement of Thursdays scheduled Parliament meeting, which was also supposed to take up constitution amendment bill for discussions.
Telecom Argentina S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Argentina and internationally. The company offers telephone services, including local, domestic, and international long-distance telephone services, as well as public telephone services; and other related supplementary services, such as call waiting, call forwarding, conference calls, caller ID, voice mail, itemized billing, and maintenance services. It also provides interconnection services, such as traffic and interconnection resource, dedicated Internet access, video signals transportation in standard and high definitions, audio and video streaming, dedicated links, backhaul links for mobile operators, data center hosting/housing services, dedicated links, layer 2 and layer 3 transport networks, video links, value-added services, and other services. In addition, the company offers mobile telecommunications services, including voice communications, high-speed mobile Internet content and applications download, online streaming, and other services; and sells mobile communication devices, such as handsets, Modems MiFi and wingles, and smart watches under the Personal brand. Further, it provides internet connectivity products, including virtual private network services, traditional Internet protocol links, and other products; data services; and programming and other cable television services. The company was formerly known as Cablevision S.A. and changed its name to Telecom Argentina S.A. in January 2018. Telecom Argentina S.A. was founded in 1979 and is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Electoral alliance, or dalliance?

Electoral alliances for first phase of local elections scheduled for May 14 once again have thrown up for debate the idiosyncrasies of political parties.
Hearing begins on contempt case against Kantipur

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought clarification from the defendants after hearing on a contempt of court application filed against the Kantipur daily.
Home Capital Group Inc. is adding a former Royal Bank of Canada executive to its board, replacing company founder Gerald Soloway, in a bid to renew its leadership and boost investor confidence.

Shares of the Toronto-based mortgage lender were up 3.7 per cent to $6.23 on Friday after the appointment of Alan Hibben was announced.

This is the start of our governance renewal, board chairman Kevin Smith said in a news release, adding that more changes are coming.

We have made considerable progress in identifying new candidates for the board and in our search for a new chief executive officer. The new CEO will in turn be involved in the hiring of a new chief financial officer, providing a major refresh in our corporate leadership as part of the process of rebuilding the company.

Home Capitals share price has been under pressure in recent weeks as the company grapples with a loss of deposits following allegations from Ontarios securities watchdog.

Customers have been pulling their money out after the Ontario Securities Commission alleged that Home Capital, Soloway, former CEO Martin Reid and current CFO Robert Morton misled investors in their handling of a scandal involving falsified loan applications.

The company has said that the allegations are without merit and has vowed to defend itself. Lawyers for all three men did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Reid declined to comment several weeks ago when the OSC first announced the allegations.

The OSC has scheduled a June 2 hearing to deal with that matter.

Home Capital has secured a $2 billion line of credit from the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan to help make up the lost capital.

Veritas analyst Mike Rizvanovic says bringing in someone as credible as Hibben is a small positive, but noted Home Capital is still dealing with an outflow of the cash it uses to fund lending.

We cant say that bringing new people in is going to necessarily stem the outflow of deposits, Rizvanovic said.

Its not like you bring this individual in and then suddenly theyve got their access back to the deposit market. Its way too early to know that.

Hibbens resume includes experience as head of strategy at Royal Bank and managing director of mergers and acquisitions for RBC Capital Markets until his retirement from the bank in 2014.

Since retiring from RBC in 2014, Hibben has been an independent financial adviser and a director of several companies. He was appointed last year to the board of trustees for OPTrust, which manages funds for an Ontario public-sector pension plan.

Home Capital announced last week that Soloway would step down from the board of directors once a replacement is found.

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It was a couple of hours past midnight when Mike Piche walked through the portal to the Westray coal mine. His hard hat didnt have a head lamp, so it was by flashlight that Piche scanned the surroundings, the sight of cigarette butts, the five-gallon pail lined with a plastic bag and fitted on top with a toilet seat, the coal dust that drifted shin high.

Its like stepping in talc, Piche says of moving through the abundance of black dust that coated the tunnel that April morning, the dust that would explode weeks later, turning the Westray mine into a mortuary for 26 miners, and a permanent sepulchre for 11 of those men.

Piche had been leading an organizing drive for the United Steelworkers that spring 25 years ago. The accounts of production pressures and lax and even nonexistent safety standards at the Nova Scotia mine were legion. He remembers the meeting he had at Roy Feltmates place the evening of May 8. A few of the miners were there, an inside committee had been formed and the union was well on its way to certification with signed cards from 45 per cent of the miners. Feltmate promised to swing by Piches room at the Heather Hotel the next day with a few of the other guys. But at 5:18 the morning of May 9 the mine blew apart. Roy Feltmate was never seen again.

The cascading misery from Westray seemed never to end, and its worth a pause as the quarter-century anniversary approaches to think very hard about that. The inquiry into the tragedy led by Supreme Court Justice K. Peter Richard was definitive in laying the catastrophes root causes, from failures in the mine approval process, to the promotion of workers with little coal mining experience, to a grossly inadequate ventilation system to deal with the methane gas for which the Foord coal seam was famous. Basic safety measures were ignored. Stonedusting, a critical and standard practice that renders coal dust non-explosive, wrote Richard, was carried out sporadically by volunteers on overtime following their 12-hour shifts.

In the fateful moment, a spark was struck, perhaps during the rock cutting by a beast of a machine known as the continuous miner. The spark ignited the inadequately ventilated methane gas, much the same way that the spark from the flint of a cigarette lighter will ignite the gas emitted from the lighter reservoir, Richard wrote. The methane explosion fed a coal dust explosion, causing death and devastation in a matter of a few seconds. The photos of mangled machinery accompanying Richards report draws one word from Mike Piche: Apocalyptic.

The economic imperative of production consistently outweighed the safety of the workers in each and every measure and for this, Richard concluded, management, from Curragh Resources chief executive officer Clifford Frame on down, bore responsibility. Westray management failed in this primary responsibility, Richard wrote, and the significance of that failure cannot be mitigated or diluted simply because others were derelict in their responsibility.

Yet not one individual was successfully prosecuted.

Its an absolute travesty that not a single person paid for that crime, not a single person went to jail, says Ken Neumann, the Steelworkers national director. Whats so horrific is that so many people got away with the negligence that transpired. And thats the reality today.

In 2004 a major victory was scored. After years of lobbying by the Steelworkers and others Bill C-45, federal legislation known as the Westray Bill, was passed. A key component of that legislation attaches criminal liability to corporations and their representatives. Under the bill, the maximum penalty for the conviction of an individual found criminally negligent in the death of a worker is life in prison. The maximum penalty for criminally negligent injury to a worker is 10 years in prison. The maximum fine that can be levelled against a corporation? Unlimited.

Yet the Steelworkers havent taken a breath, arguing the obvious  that the law has been ineffectively applied. Since the Westray law, over 10,000 workers have lost their lives, says Neumann. We have had a total of 11 prosecutions, and only one person has gone to jail, and thats under appeal.

Hes referring to the Toronto scaffolding collapse on Christmas Eve, 2009, that claimed the lives of four men. Six workers stepped onto a swing stage platform outside a Kipling Ave. high rise that afternoon to do balcony repairs on the building. The platform was equipped with two lifelines. One worker was tethered when the brackets failed and the scaffolding let loose on the 13th floor. One other worker survived the fall.

Project manager Vadim Kazenelson was found guilty on four counts of criminal negligence causing death and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. He was sentenced to three and a half years. Kazenelson is appealing his sentence. The company doing the work, Metron Construction, was initially fined $200,000. In that case the Crown, which had been seeking a fine of $1 million, appealed, and a three judge panel raised the fine to $750,000.

Too often, says Neumann, the Crown fails to lay criminal charges in cases of worker fatality and too often large corporations skate with nothing more than a fine. In many cases its just been brushed to the side. Lets get productivity up and running and, yeah, Ill pay my fine. Thats got to come to an end. Its just got to come to an end.

Changing course demands education specific to the Westray amendments and co-ordination between regulators, police and Crown attorneys. Some provinces have taken positive steps. In 2014 Nova Scotia appointed a special prosecutor for workplace safety investigations. Last week, Albertas labour minister announced a Westray memorandum of understanding that sets shared protocols between police, the ministry of labour and health and safety in investigating workplace incidents.

In a statement on the National Day of Mourning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated the federal governments commitment to working to ensure the Westray law is applied effectively, and negligent employers are held responsible. Training labour inspectors and law enforcement officials in the provisions of the law has been promised, and the sharing of best investigative practices across jurisdictions.

Wheres the meat on the bones? Neumann asks. Where are the resources? Wheres the training?

On Tuesday he will be in Stellarton. The fatherless children of the Westray miners are now grown. Some must have children of their own by now. There will be quiet moments of contemplation.

Justice Peter Richard was given the investigative powers to determine whether the killing catastrophe was preventable. His answer was quietly eloquent: Of course it was.

jenwells@thestar.ca

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OTTAWAThe energy and consumer goods sectors helped Canadian exports rise to a record high in March as the countrys trade deficit narrowed to $135 million, Statistics Canada said Thursday.

Economists had expected a deficit of $800 million, according to Thomson Reuters.

This is a solid report, said Benjamin Reitzes, Canadian rates and macro strategist at BMO Capital Markets.

Read more:Canadian exports expected to double despite Trumps trade threats

The shortfall followed a revised deficit of $1.1 billion for February compared with an initial reading of a deficit of $972 million for the month.

Gains in eight of 11 sectors in March helped exports rise 3.8 per cent to $47 billion, while volumes gained 2.5 per cent and prices increased 1.3 per cent.

Driving the gain was a 7 per cent increase in energy exports to $8.7 billion. A boost in natural gas exports attributable to cold temperatures in the northeastern United States and increased coal exports to Asia were both factors.

Combined with a continued creep higher in crude prices, look for energy to continue being a catalyst in supporting Canadian exports, CIBC economist Nick Exarhos wrote in a report.

Consumer goods exports also gained ground, climbing 6.8 per cent to $6.1 billion. Exports of other food products led the increase with a gain of 11.9 per cent to a record $1.4 billion, boosted by exports of yellow peas and red lentils to India.

On the other side of the equation, imports increased 1.7 per cent to $47.1 billion with gains in seven of 11 sectors. Prices rose 1.9 per cent and volumes fell 0.2 per cent.

Statistics Canada said higher imports of metal and non-metallic mineral products, industrial machinery, equipment and parts, and motor vehicles and parts were the main contributors.

Metal and non-metallic mineral product imports grew 10.4 per cent to $4 billion as unwrought precious metals and precious metal alloys rose 61.1 per cent.

Imports of industrial machinery, equipment and parts increased 4.1 per cent to $4.4 billion, while motor vehicles and parts gained 1.5 per cent to reach a record high $9.3 billion.

On a regional basis, Canadas trade surplus with the United States slipped to $4 billion in March compared with $4.5 billion in February.

Exports to the United States edged up 0.1 per cent to $34.4 billion, while imports from the United States increased 2 per cent to $30.4 billion.

Meanwhile, Canadas trade deficit with countries other than the United States narrowed to $4.1 billion in March from $5.6 billion in February.

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The trade war that the U.S. has declared threatens to do more damage to Canadians than any crisis since the Great Depression. Then again, given the unpredictable character of the new U.S. president who launched the attack, the threat could disappear in a puff of smoke.

But wise countries prepare for worst-case scenarios.

Donald Trump, going against his word and without warning, has already threatened the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Canadian dairy farmers and softwood lumber workers. And it came as a stunning revelation last week that Trump had been poised to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a vital underpinning of Canadas prosperity, on April 29.

It would be delusional to believe that Trump changed his mind due to last-minute phone conversations in which the Canadian and Mexican heads of government warned him of the massive short- and medium-term wreckage that killing NAFTA would cause. Whatever counsel Trump actually heeded in sparing the pact (for now) surely came from Trump confidantes.

Trump has signaled that its open season on all Canadian industries. Emboldened by the presidents cavalier regard for Americas purported best friend, powerful U.S. lobby groups have already set their sights on the Canadian aerospace, aluminum, mining and intellectual property sectors, among others.

Never mind that Canada and Mexico are the biggest buyers of U.S. exports of goods (not including services). The numbers for 2016 are a staggering $246 billion and $212 billion (U.S.), respectively. To watch Trumps handling of this huge portion of the U.S. economy is to imagine a chimp juggling a Sevres vase.

Like Trump, Mexicans are thinking of quitting NAFTA rather than going along with a Trump America First doctrine at Mexicos expense.

Juan Pablo Castanon heads the Business Coordinating Council, a leading alliance of Mexican business groups. If they arent the right conditions, Castanon recently told The New York Times of a renegotiated NAFTA, then we have to contemplate the possibility of not staying within the treaty, and working with international rules instead.

No U.S. president has been subjected to a charm offensive the likes of which Justin Trudeau has lavished on Donald Trump. It has failed. Its time to disenthrall Trump from thinking his reckless behavior has no consequences.

Before getting to how that could be done, a few salient points:

This isnt the place to argue the merits of NAFTA. Suffice to say, as this space noted last week, that U.S. trade with its NAFTA partners has tripled since the treaty came into effect, in 1994, to last years $1.1 trillion.

There is dissent within Trumps own party about his trade actions. We should improve NAFTA, says veteran U.S. Senator Jeff Flake, a Republican. Not abandon it.

Both Canada and Mexico are keen to renegotiate NAFTA, whose indisputable benefits have not been equally shared by the North American population.

A creaky NAFTA traces its origins to the 1965 Auto Pact. It does not include the state-of-the-art environmental and social-justice provisions of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Trump withdrew the U.S. from the TPP early in his administration.

Starting now, Canada needs an escalating response to Trumps trade belligerence. How is that done?

Phase One: Ottawa would promptly abide by the request of B.C. Premier Christy Clark, who has the livelihoods of about 60,000 softwood-lumber workers to protect, in imposing a moratorium on U.S. coal headed for export markets via the federal Port of Vancouver. Trump is obsessed with reviving the U.S. coal industry.

Ottawa would also announce that Canada is embracing Japans enthusiasm in spearheading a revival of the TPP. That would strengthen Canadian trade ties and goodwill with the TPPs 11 Pacific Rim and South American members. An isolated U.S. would have no role in shaping, via the TPP, a Pacific Rim economy that is Americas top foreign-policy concern.

TPP membership would complement Canadas agreed-upon free trade deal with the European Union. That would accelerate progress in reducing Canadas over-reliance on the U.S. market.

Phase Two: Trump has demanded that NATO members pay more for their membership. Ottawa would announce that, actually, Canada is re-considering its NATO membership altogether.

Its not proper to say this out loud, but NATO is chiefly an instrument of U.S. foreign policy. Its time to rethink helping America fight its wars.

Canada made its first substantive claim to sovereignty during World War I in demanding and obtaining Canadian command of Canadian troops. Yet in Afghanistan, in Syria and in joining NATOs deployment of troops on Russias western frontier, our forces have continued to be directly or indirectly under U.S. command.

Freed of NATO obligations, Canada would retain its ability to use its armed forces unilaterally or in coalitions, as our interests alone dictate. And we could more fully deploy our military resources on peacekeeping, which we pioneered but have sadly neglected in recent decades.

Phase Three: In constructing a long-overdue national energy strategy by the end of this year, Canada would reconsider its energy export practices.

Americas largest source of imported oil is the Athabasca tar sands. And much of the power that lights up the U.S. northeast is generated by Hydro-Quebec.

The rates we charge for those energy exports bear examination, since much of them are underpriced. Also, Athabasca, in particular, wreaks enormous environmental damage in Canada and is a significant contributor to global warming. That undermines Canadian goodwill, and makes tougher the challenge of meeting our CO2-reduction commitments under the Paris Accords.

The R&D into continual technological improvement needed to reduce that damage should be borne at least partly by U.S. energy consumers.

A carbon surtax on fossil-fuel exports would achieve that goal. Trump is adamantly opposed to putting a price on carbon emissions  the only certain way of reducing them. But then, Trump regards global warming as a hoax perpetrated by China to disadvantage U.S. industry.

The above measures are not intended as retaliatory strikes. They are long overdue, common-sense policy improvements. None require major new expenditures. And some would save Canada money more wisely spent on other priorities.

We could wait out Donald Trump. But we cant afford a minimum of four years of economic uncertainly and potential turmoil. Besides, we will not have seen the last of erratic, thuggish leaders here and abroad after Trump retires to Mar-a-Lago. We have our own example in the quixotic John Diefenbaker.

Our surest protection against epic maladministration at home, and that which is directed at us from abroad, is to deeply entrench best practices now, to enact sound policies with which even the most determined future buffoons in high places cannot tamper.

The time to get moving on that is right now.

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Wildfire

Created and directed by Judith Thompson. Until May 20 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane. Soulpepper.ca or 416-866-8666.

The most-talked about play in Toronto recently was Why Not Theatres Shakespearean adaptation Prince Hamlet, a bilingual production that incorporated American Sign Language into the English text and featured a cast so non-traditional in gender and race that those two factors became virtually irrelevant.

Wildfire, which opened this week at Soulpepper Theatre, takes a similarly radical approach to Romeo and Juliet. Its a socially motivated production that charges at several boundaries simultaneously.

Canadian playwright Judith Thompson first worked with actors with Down syndrome in Rare, which premiered at the 2012 Toronto Fringe Festival.

In several ways, Wildfire is the spiritual sequel to Rare. That show ended with its performers passionately pleading for equal rights, acceptance and respect from those without Down syndrome; particularly when it comes to protecting unborn children with the genetic disorder.

Wildfire gives the actors from Rare  including Sarah Carney, Nicholas Herd, Michael Liu, Dylan Harman Livaja, Suzanne Love, Krystal Hope Nausbaum and Andreas Prinz  a meatier artistic task. In Rare, they mainly portrayed themselves and recounted their life experiences.

Wildfire directly confronts the discrimination that Canadians with Down syndrome faced in the past and continue to in the present, from institutional abuse in Ontarios Huronia Regional Centre (formerly known as a Hospital for Idiots and Imbeciles) to todays dating scene.

Its a play within a play within a play  clearly explained by the performers, at first directly addressing the audience as themselves, setting out the context of their rising fears and concerns within our particular political and social context. Donning worn-out patient garb, the actors then transform into patients at Huronia, where children with Down syndrome were kept without stimulation.

As an act of protest, these patients stage a rendition of Romeo and Juliet while the guards arent looking. Romeo (Dylan Harman Livaja) is a hopeless romantic with Down syndrome who falls for a normal man named Jazz (Nicholas Herd). Instead of familial feuds, these characters must look beyond the disorder. And instead of family loyalty keeping them apart, its societys assumption that a romantic relationship across this difference is inherently exploitative.

The ensemble cast forms a chorus of Romeos peers, verbally abusive onlookers and authoritative cops, and banishment means Romeos internment in Huronia and Jazzs incarceration in the windowless, isolating D-Ward.

Wildfire might be logistically clunky and narratively overstuffed (including a side plot with Jazzs abusive boyfriend), but its never confusing. In fact, Thompson and the cast are explicit in the message they want to impart to the audience: that anyone with Down syndrome is capable of leading their own lives, choosing whom to love and taking control over the way theyre perceived by the public (including a theatre audience). And incredible harm can be done when this agency is denied to them.

This directness enables bold creative choices while keeping the play accessible to audiences of all abilities.

The overwhelming charm and honesty of the performers is captivating. And for anyone who caught Rare, the maturation of the performances is thrilling: particularly Harman Livaja, whose smile is blissfully emotive but whose angst is punctuated by tight fists and punches, and Herd, who emanates an authoritative calm.

Wildfire also includes one of the most entertaining elements from Rare, a personality showcase via a free-for-all dance party  a wild balance to more controlled acting moments, featuring famous lines from the original Shakespeare text.

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Im not sure this is rape, but

When Alexandra Brodsky researched the practice of stealthing, the popular term for a man removing a condom during sex, without his partners consent, this was often how women described the experience. Victims didnt quite have a word for the experience, but they felt violated, and they didnt know that it was a common practice.

Brodsky, a law student at Yale University at the time, wanted to know: How do people feel when they have this experience, and how can the law serve them? She spoke to women whod experienced nonconsensual condom removal, Brodskys preferred term, and perused online forums where women and men described how it had happened  or not knowing it had happened until later. She found that the practice was widespread among young, sexually active people, though her data is purely anecdotal. Some realized their partner had removed the condom at the moment of re-penetration; others did not realize until their partner ejaculated, or in one case, notified them the next morning, Brodskey wrote in an April article for the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law.

Victims were worried about the practical risks  potential exposure to sexually transmitted infections and the risk of an unwanted pregnancy. And the practice can be emotionally damaging as well: Survivors spoke not only of betrayal but of their partners wholesale dismissal of their preferences and desires, Brodsky wrote. One of the things that struck Brodsky, she said in a phone interview, was that this happens not just in casual encounters but in relationships as well.

None of it worried him, one victim told Brodsky of her partners lack of concern for the riskiness of stealthing. It didnt perturb him. My potential pregnancy, my potential STI. . . . That was my burden.

In her article, Brodsky says current laws need to change to respond to and affirm the harm victims report by making clear that stealthing doesnt just feel violent  it is.

It is entirely possible that victims have the tools they need in the law, said Brodsky, whos now a fellow at the National Womens Law Center. But a new tort that names nonconsensual condom removal might cut through some of the obstacles that victims might face in court, including rape myths and biases.

Whether or not any legal changes come as a result of Brodskys study, she has brought more attention to a dangerous sexual practice that, until now, wasnt so well known. For example, Jenelle Marie Pierce, founder of the STD Project, which works to increase awareness of sexually transmitted infections, said that, before Brodskys study and the media coverage of it, she hadnt heard about stealthing. While Pierce agrees that the law should directly address nonconsensual condom removal, shes not convinced that new laws will affect peoples behaviour.

Of course its a form of sexual violence, Pierce said, and its a very selfish act, solely with concern for one persons pleasure. But she also thinks the practice of removing a condom during sex speaks volumes to how little people know about sexually transmitted infections. Because a man whos removing his condom is not just potentially exposing his partner to an STI, hes also exposing himself.

And perhaps thats the way to reach perpetrators of what is a selfish act, Pierce said, and get them to change their behaviour. There are things you cant be tested for, Pierce said, adding that there are more than 30 STIs identified by the World Health Organization but that a full STI panel only tests for five infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are 20 million new cases of STIs every year in the United States. But some infections, such as human papilloma virus (HPV), dont always show symptoms or show up on tests. Those who remove condoms during sex dont realize not only are they risking someones health, Pierce said, theyre not considering their own health.

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OTTAWAImpassioned appeals by two mothers of transgender youth and a federal promise that passports will soon reflect different gender identities marked the start of a final drive to outlaw discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression in Canada.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould told a Senate committee studying the proposed law  to amend hate speech provisions in the Criminal Code and federal workplace protections in the human rights code  that its time to catch up to the provinces and territories, which have all enacted or introduced protections for transgender people.

Conservatives who said they supported the broad goal complained that Bill C-16 is too vague, will force people to use odd pronouns, confuse public bathroom usage and mess up Canadian passports.

But Melissa Schaettgen, mother of a 9-year-old trans girl and her twin brother talked about how her daughter was assaulted and her son held back from running for help while older kids yanked down his sisters clothes to check her genitalia.

Schaettgen pleaded with senators to pass the bill to send a strong message to all Canadians. Some in her Catholic and conservative circle of family and friends even turned their back on them when they finally allowed her daughter to make a social transition to live as the girl she felt she was.

Schaettgen said she and her husband live in fear for their daughters safety every day. We are terrified of what she faces, the discrimination, the harassment, the judgment. This is absolutely key to our childrens future, were fighting for our childrens lives. Its not just some bill to us.

Afterward, the 9-year-old, in a pale pink dress, and her twin brother spoke for themselves. Not everyone agreed with the bill, but I feel like this bill is the right for me to live, she said.

Shy in front of a wall of television cameras, she stammered and said, People attacked me on the bus and Im pretty sure it stops people, like people cant do that to you and they cant not give you a job . . . because youre trans.

The twin brother added, It makes me feel like it has a bigger chance for her world to be better.

I think this is going to stop people bullying her and see different ways for their decisions. And I think thats amazing, he said, standing beside his mother.

The justice minister said no one should have to put up with the kind of verbal, physical and sexual violence and discrimination that drives many in the trans community to despair or suicide.

Parliament has the opportunity to affirm, in clear language, that trans and gender diverse persons are entitled to equal protection from discrimination, hate propaganda and hate crime and that all Canadians are entitled to manifest their gender identity and expression without fear for their safety, Wilson-Raybould said.

What is going to be written in a passport? What kind of checks should be made before the passport is delivered? asked Conservative Sen. Jean-Guy Dagenais.

Without question . . . we have work to do, the justice minister admitted. Simply ticking a box of male or female doesnt accord with the intent that is in Bill C-16.

She said the government is looking at a third gender designation and working with other departments on how to update government-wide policies.

Conservative Sen. Don Plett challenged Wilson-Raybould on whether she agrees with an Ontario human rights commission policy that says refusing to refer to a person by their chosen and proper personal pronoun is unacceptable and could amount to harassment or discrimination.

He asked whether people who identify as another race or age deserve similar protections, saying hed met a biologically male adult who identifies as a six-year-old girl. He said the bill might infringe on the free speech rights of somebody, an intellectual dissenter perhaps who for personal, scientific or faith-based reasons might not believe there is an infinite spectrum of genders.

The justice minister said theres nothing within Bill C-16 that would compel somebody to have to call somebody by the pronoun he or she or otherwise.

In most cases, public bathrooms in schools and other areas come under provincial jurisdiction, said deputy justice minister Bill Pentney. The bill would indeed provide for universal washrooms in federal spaces, but not in Parliament itself, which sets its own rules.

The justice minister said definitions and the extent of protections in the bill will be interpreted and fleshed out as human rights commissions and courts deal with discrimination claims on a case-by-case basis.

It wasnt enough for Plett, who claimed others in the transgender community agree with him that very clearly there are only two genders and then there are people who just happen to want to be the other gender. He warned of a slippery slope which would compel the recognition of 70+ genders.

When you start putting other boxes in, where does that end? How many boxes are we going to put in there? I dont think its a workable solution at all, he told reporters.

An 11-year-old trans girl, listened and raised her eyebrows as she listened to Plett. She said some senators didnt have a good understanding of the bill.

I think its very important for this bill to go through because people need and they should have the right to express the gender that they want.

Cisgendered people, they have all the rights to express themselves, and no one intimidates them about the gender that they choose. But for a lot of transgender people its hard to be able to express the gender of your choice without being intimidated or someone telling you that its not right to do it.

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At weeks end it looks like national defence minister Harjit Sajjan will live to fight another day. Unless the opposition parties come up with fresh ammunition, they are unlikely to exact his resignation for having embellished his role in the planning of a major military offensive in Afghanistan.

But having won one battle, can Sajjan win the war and redeem what was until last week a promising political career? And, in the immediate, can he still be an effective national defence minister? The answer on both scores is a qualified yes.

Lets take them in order.

As it happens there is fresh evidence these days that an error in judgment  as glaring as it may be  need not be fatal to ones political ambitions.

Consider the case of Maxime Bernier, the Conservative candidate best placed according to the polls to become later this month Canadas next leader of the official Opposition and a potential prime minister-in-waiting.

At around the same juncture as Sajjan in his parliamentary tenure, Bernier had to acknowledge that he had left some classified government documents at the home of a former girlfriend. To compound the embarrassment, she had been linked, in a previous life, to Hells Angels members.

The security lapse cost him his post as foreign affairs minister. But if Conservative insiders are to be believed, Stephen Harper had prior doubts as to his ministers judgment.

What is certain is that when the prime minister invited Bernier back to the ministerial table three years later, it was in a junior capacity.

On this fragile record Bernier has built a solid leadership bid for the leading opposition job in the House of Commons.

On the other hand, by all accounts Sajjan was still in Justin Trudeaus good graces when his exaggerated claims to fame surfaced  and there, it seems, he remains. Trudeau is standing by his judgment-challenged minister. One does not get the impression that the prime minister is just biding his time until he can move Sajjan out of his portfolio under the cover of a larger cabinet shuffle.

On the contrary, within 48 hours of the storm breaking, Sajjan was back in the saddle, setting the scene for the imminent rollout of a revamped Canadian defence policy. This is not the kind of operation a government normally engages in only to change horses in midstream.

That Sajjan is a minister under a cloud in some military quarters is not in doubt. If he were commander-in-chief, his position would be unsustainable. But the minister is no more the countrys first soldier than his health colleague is Canadas chief medical officer.

On my watch covering federal politics I have seen 16 defence ministers  including Sajjan  come and go. They came in all shapes and sizes and as often as not had no prior military knowledge and/or no documented interest for the file.

Take Marcel Masse, Brian Mulroneys next-to-last defence minister. His seat was located in a maple-rich region of Quebec and he is more or less fondly remembered for his insistence on ensuring that Canadian maple syrup be on offer on every mess table.

Kim Campbell was his immediate successor. She fought the biggest battle of her tenure at national defence on the field of leadership politics.

Some of Sajjans predecessors were popular with the troops, others much less so. Some were caretakers; others had proactive agendas. But it was their respective clout within the government and not their standing with the military that mostly distinguished the effective ones from the placeholders.

That is true not just of national defence but of many other not-always-top-of-mind federal portfolios.

A star candidate that Trudeaus team had in mind for the national defence slot long before the 2015 election, Sajjan was meant to be a defining figure in the Liberal cabinet and notwithstanding this months self-inflicted hit he still is.

One of the recurring problems of Canadas defence policy has been the short political attention of a succession of federal governments and an attending lack of consistency. When push has come to shove on the fiscal front, the national defence budget has often been little more than a juicy target for savings.

But this week, Trudeau put a lot of political capital on the line to defend his minister. As of now the prime minister has a bigger stake in ensuring that Sajjan succeeds in his current role.

Chantal Hebert is a national affairs writer. Her column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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OTTAWAUnelected. Unaccountable. Out of touch.

Canadas Senate is no stranger to such smears. Go talk about the upper house in your local Tim Hortons and youll probably hear them before your coffee is poured.

But as the chamber of sober second thought contemplates the first-ever expulsion of a sitting senator  the disgraced Sen. Don Meredith, found to have used his job to lure a teenage girl into a sexual affair over two years  it may be worth asking whether this represents an evolution in accountability for the red chamber.

After all, the expulsion-push comes at a time when the Senate is grappling with change. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made a show of severing direct partisan ties to Liberals in the red chamber, and for creating a new breed of independent senator that presumably dont have to answer to a political party. (This is debatable, given theyre appointed by the PM.)

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At the same time, a Senate committee is studying how to modernize the institution as it continues to bear the ill-will of many Canadians. The expense scandals of Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, Patrick Brazeau and Mac Harb loom still in the collective memory.

How does Meredith fit into all this?

Adam Dodek, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, has argued that the Senate faces a triple deficit  one of integrity, legitimacy and democracy. Speaking Wednesday at the Senates modernization committee, Dodek applauded the proposal to expel Meredith.

A modern Senate must show that it takes ethics seriously, he said.

If the senate does not deal forcefully and quickly with malfeasance, it wont be able to serve its function, he said.

I hope that it (the recommendation) is acted upon speedily by the members of the Senate as a whole.

Many senators also welcomed the expulsion proposal as an example of accountability. Conservative Sen. Claude Carignan said that the ethics code under which Meredith was judged, which was adopted in the wake of the expense scandals in 2014, is considered one of the strongest in the world.

But Kathy Brock, a constitutional and parliamentary legal expert at Queens University, noted that the power to expel isnt new.

In his memorandum to the ethics committee, the Senates legal counsel, Michel Patrice, wrote that the power to expel members was recognized in the United Kingdoms House of Commons in 1867 and has existed for centuries. The Canadian House of Commons has actually used it four times, including in the case of Louis Riel, who was charged with murder in the 19th century.

Patrice also wrote that the Constitution Act lists five reasons for the expulsion of a parliamentarian: if they are absent for two straight sessions, for example. Senators can also be kicked out for allegiance or adherence to a foreign power, bankruptcy, treason, or if they dont meet property qualifications.

Whats new is that Patrice concluded that this is not an exhaustive list of circumstances for the expulsion of a senator. And so, the ethics committee ruled Meredith should be expelled because he demonstrated that he is unfit to serve as a senator. Their report said, His continued presence in the chamber would in itself discredit the institution.

For Brock, this brings up a difficult question about whether such a rationale for expulsion could be abused for political purposes. In a way, the willingness to expel for being unfit could make senators vulnerable, she said.

If the Senate actually does this, and removes a senator because they find his conduct egregious, then there is a danger that in the future, parties could use the Senate to get rid of Senators (they disagree with), she said.

Dodek said he feels this risk is indeed real, but overrated. The Senate actually has a history of being too lenient, Dodek argued, pointing to how the chamber was slow on its move to expel Sen. Andy Thompson for his poor record of attendance. He was living in Mexico and was pushing the codified limits of attendance, Dodek said  the Constitution Act says a seat becomes vacant if a senator doesnt show up for two straight parliamentary sessions.

Instead of getting dragged through expulsion proceedings, Thompson resigned his seat in 1998.

The failure to act and potentially the failure to act here (in Merediths case) is much more damaging than potential abuse down the road, Dodek said.

Derek Lee, a former Liberal MP and lawyer, said that, whatever the legalities, hes not surprised the ethics committee wants Meredith expelled.

He said the recommendation is a consequence, at least partly, of Trudeaus move to untangle the direct influence of the elected government from the Senate, as well as make the chamber less partisan.

As a result, party discipline and the levers of control traditionally used in Parliament might not be as effective as before, Lee said.

It has crystallized the awareness that they must take charge, he said.

The Senate collectively has got to take charge, otherwise nobodys in charge.

Whatever the case, if the committees analysis is correct, they havent opened a new door with their recommendation to expel.

They just want to walk through one thats been open all along.

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A man fatally shot four months ago in North York had just left a Woodbridge bar where Toronto rapper Robin Banks was filming his music video, police said.

In Janaury, Dylan Gill entered the Cameo Lounge at Steeles Ave. W and Weston Rd. where he was there for about 30 minutes with two female friends until an altercation with two men prompted him to leave the club, Toronto police said.

Gill was sitting alone in the back seat of the vehicle while his friends were sitting in the front when it reached the area of Islington Ave. and Milady Rd. at about 12:50 a.m. on Jan. 23. A black sedan drove by and shots were fired at the back of the vehicle.

Police said it appeared that the shots were targeting Gill. No one else was injured.

On Thursday, Toronto police released two security images of two men who they say are persons of interest in Gills killing.

Anyone with further information of the suspects or of a black sedan that may have been in the area is asked to contact police. Police are hoping that someone who was at Cameo Lounge that night, where Banks video was being filmed, could provide them with information.

Nearly four months later, Banks himself was critically injured after he was shot at the same bar in Woodbridge.

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Hearing on writ petition against impeachment motion continues

The Supreme Court will continue to hear on the writ petition filed against the impeachment motion registered at the parliament against Chief Justice Sushila Karki on Friday.
Homeowners are rushing to flood-proof their homes as Toronto continues to be pelted by rain. And the City is offering subsidies of up to $3,400 help keep basements dry.

Over the past decade, the municipal government has put $37 million toward the costs of flood-proofing for 21,500 properties, through the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program.

With increasingly frequent severe weather events, it is essential that homeowners take appropriate action to reduce the risk of basement flooding on their own private property, reads the programs webpage.

The subsidies cover 80 per cent of the installation costs of three specific flood prevention devices.

A backwater valve, which prevents sewage from backing up into a home, is subsidized, up to a maximum of $1,250.

A sump pump, to shift water away from the house, is subsidized up to $1,750.

And pipe severance and capping  disconnecting your homes weeping tile drainage pipe from the citys sewer system, and covering the opening  is subsidized up to $400.

On average, participating homeowners receive a total of $1,700.

Homeowners must apply to City Hall for the subsidy and obtain a building permit for the backwater valve.

The process can take several weeks, according to the city, which may be too late for some homeowners.

Toronto was soaked by nearly a months worth of rain this week, according to Environment Canada weather reports.

Pierre Van Belleghem, co-owner of AquaSeal Basement Waterproofing Contractors, said his company has received over 500 calls this week, from homeowners across Southern Ontario in need of flood protection.

Many Torontonians learned about flood proofing the hard way in July 2013, when a storm that spilt 126mm of rain deluged subway stations, roads, backyards and basements.

The City received over 4,700 complaints of flooding from that storm alone, and a major spike in applications to the basement protection subsidy.

Generally the most common cause of basement floods are cracks in the foundation, said Van Belleghem.

But, during periods of heavy rain, its common for window wells to fill with water and leak, he said.

They become like an aquarium, and the water gets into the basement behind the finished wall... Lately weve had a high number of window wells and drains backing-up and flooding peoples finished basements.

Many of Van Belleghems customers are people who have had leaks in the past, and put off getting the issues fixed until now.

Its kind of out of sight, out of mind, he said.

Then we get a few heavy rainfalls and a forecast for even crazier rainfall in the next days to come... and then people want everything done today.

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A Canadian who was questioned by police in Belize in relation to the deaths of a Canadian-American couple has been charged with handling stolen goods for an unrelated robbery offence.

The man was questioned at a police station in the southern resort town of Placencia, according to police spokesperson Raphael Martinez.

We are looking at a different charge that is totally different from the murder charge, said Martinez.

The charge is in connection to an alleged robbery of a Placencia casino, according to Martinez. The Canadian man was also given bail and is no longer in police custody.

He was previously one of several people being questioned in the northern Belizean town of Corozal regarding the deaths of 52-year-old Canadian Francesca Matus and her boyfriend, 36-year-old Drew DeVoursney.

Police found their bodies in a sugar cane field Monday after the couple disappeared on April 25 after leaving a Corozal bar.

DeVoursneys body was found on top of Matuss with their wrists duct-taped, and both were in an advanced state of decomposition after having been strangled to death, according to police.

But police have ruled out theft as a motive in their murder because Matuss jewelry and DeVoursneys wallet were found on their bodies, Martinez said.

He said the Canadian man charged is still considered a person of interest in relation to their death because the man knew the couple.

He knew the couple and probably he associated with them, Martinez said, adding it was unclear if he had seen Matus and DeVoursney the night they went missing.

Hes not under custody of police anymore but he is still a person of interest and he can be re-arrested if they need him. The case is ongoing.

Martinez said he didnt expect police to lay charges in connection to their death on Friday.

I dont think weve gotten to that place yet, he said.

Global Affairs Canada said Thursday it was aware that a Canadian citizen is in police custody in Belize and that consular officials were assisting the family of the detained Canadian.

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When Raven Swamp, a 23-year-old Mohawk woman, travelled from her home of Kahnawake, Que., to Albuquerque, N.M., for the Miss Indian World pageant, she wasnt even expecting to compete.

Initially, shed planned on going as a spectator, but changed her mind when she learned more about it.

I was truly nervous, she recalled. I was intimidated by many of the other women because they were all title holders of their own communities from different pageants and competitions  And I personally never did anything like this.

But she entered, and won.

At the end of the (competition) I felt my confidence grow in such a way that I didnt expect, she said. I felt more like I was part of a sisterhood of these contestants.

Swamp, a teacher at a Mohawk immersion school, competed against women from across North America in one of the biggest pageants of its kind.

Unlike traditional pageants, Miss Indian World is not focused on beauty. Contestants compete in essays, interviews and public speaking on cultural knowledge, as well as by sharing a talent and traditional dance.

Miss Indian World is one of the most prestigious honours in the Native American and indigenous world and the winner will serve as a role model for all Native Americans, said Melonie Mathews, coordinator of the Miss Indian World Pageant, in a press release.

It took place during the annual Gathering of Nations Powwow, which is billed as the worlds largest gathering of Native American and indigenous people.

Swamp will spend the next year representing indigenous people as a cultural goodwill ambassador. She hopes to speak about language revitalization and indigenous food sovereignty.

Id like to promote native people to speak their language because its essential to who we are, she said. It connects us to our ancestors; it instils within us our world views.

Swamp said she was grateful to everyone in her community and outside it for their support and for helping to sponsor her so she could attend the pageant.

I wouldnt be here and I wouldnt hold this title without them, she said. I just hope to represent them to the best of my ability and make them proud.

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A riot is the language of the unheard.

- Martin Luther King Jr. in 1966

In 1992, as Los Angeles burned, little of the rest of the world paid attention to the violence on Yonge St.

But it did happen.

On May 4 of that year, while L.A. was reeling from the anger over the acquittal of four police officers caught on video beating black driver Rodney King, a few hundred Canadians took to Yonge St. in solidarity with King but also to protest police brutality here. Two days prior, a white police officer in plain clothes shot and killed a 22-year-old black man named Raymond Lawrence.

Looting, fires, smashing of windows, pelting of police. Some 30 people were arrested in the end, some 37 police officers injured, the media reported.

That was one side of the story.

Another perspective was screened Thursday night at Ryerson University. A new documentary It Takes A Riot: Race, Rebellion, Reform marked what its makers called the 25th anniversary of the Yonge St. Uprising.

Uprising. Not riot.

The choice of word matters.

What one calls it is as much a political question as a sociological one, says Simon Black, who is an assistant professor of Labour Studies at Brock University. He co-produced the film with Idil Abdillahi, an assistant professor of Social Work at Ryerson.

The word riot connotes violence emanating from an immature, unruly mob. It condemns protesters without condemning the conditions that led to their protest.

An uprising is about disrupting and creating and bringing to the forefront an issue . . . and doing so in a way that calls attention, said Abdillahi.

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There is also that nagging little thing about skin colour of the protester defining the protest. American history is rife with rebellions when enacted by whites. Black points to the Shays Rebellion (1786-1787 protests by armed American farmers crushed by a state militia) and the Bacons Rebellion (1676 by armed Virginia settlers) as examples.

When its black people involved, the media labels it a riot, says Black (who is white). This has to do with long-standing tropes around black criminality.

In other words, blacks who protest violently are thugs, whites who do so have a righteous anger.

You could argue that a rebellion is longer term and planned, while a riot is short and spontaneous. But in the historical continuum of protests, multiple black power riots surely count as a long-term rebellion or uprisings.

The 25-minute film, funded by Ryerson at the Akua Benjamin Legacy Project, begins with a question a young protester asks on CBC.

Whats more important? Broken windows or dead people?

Its impossible to condone violence, but it gets attention, leaving no incentive for protesters to keep it peaceful.

So what happened on May 4, 1992?

A few hundred activists from the Black Action Defence Committee (BADC) took to Yonge St. for a peaceful protest at 4 p.m. The number of protesters quickly grew to a thousand, as homeless youth, Indigenous youth, other minorities as well as white allies joined in. Not to be left behind, members of the white supremacist Heritage Front also showed up. Posters such as, We denounce the racist murder of whites were visible.

The protesters had marched to the U.S. Embassy to show solidarity with King, then they had a peaceful sit-in at Yonge and Bloor. By 7 p.m., they arrived at City Hall, and after speeches, brought formal demonstrations to a close.

The organizers may have been done. The protesters werent. At around 9 p.m., that crowd  about as multi-racial as the audience who saw the film Thursday night  grew restless and went from chanting No Justice No Peace to smashing windows and pelting police.

Black recounts in a blog how a young marcher came up to BADC co-founder Lennox Farrell, and told him: This is our time. We have to get back at them for how they hurt us.

A few weeks prior to the Toronto protest, two white Peel police officers had been acquitted of killing unarmed 17-year-old Michael Wade Lawson.

He was driving a stolen car, and police said they were afraid he was trying to run them over.

As for Lawrence killed two days prior, police say he was wielding a knife at them, although his fingerprints were not found on the knife.

Remember, this was all before smartphones.

The Rodney King beating, caught on video, happened in an era where video cameras were not ubiquitous. It gave visual evidence of the experiences of black people that were being denied until then.

Still, the police officers were acquitted in all three cases.

Plus ca change.

Twenty-five-years later, police brutality is back in the headlines. The BADCs mantle is taken up by Black Lives Matter, the music speaking the pain of the oppressed has moved from the mouths of Public Enemy to Kendrick Lamar and the names of the Canadian victims have changed to Jermaine Carby, Andrew Loku and Abdirahman Abdi.

The police continue to allege criminality by the victim and a society that prides itself on its decency silently shakes its head  not at the injustice but at the tactics of those who protest that injustice, the injustice of their deaths at the hands of their defenders.

Shree Paradkar tackles issues of race and gender. You can follow her @shreeparadkar

It Takes A Riot will be made available online as an interactive educational tool at the Akua Benjamin Legacy Project.

Correction - May 8, 2017: This article was edited from a previous version that referred to Abdhirahman Abdi as a Toronto victim.



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The propensity to overstate a claim and, by so doing, muddy a clear uncontested truth is a fatal flaw existing in many professions, no doubt. So, we understand the pit Mayor John Tory has dug himself in his budget fight with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Premier Wynne has abandoned the City of Toronto on housing and transit, the mayor says, and, as such, all MPPs and citizens should stand up for the city. Tory is right about housing; hes dead wrong about transit. By coupling the two needs he weakens his housing demands. That is a pity.

It is inarguable that the province of Ontario has done a horrible job looking after the housing needs of its vulnerable citizens. Bad went to worse when former premier Mike Harris dumped the social housing file in the laps of municipalities in the late 1990s. Harris did other egregious things but this was among his most cynical, damaging and unforgivable.

Most people who have studied the function and efficacy of government conclude that issues of social equity  welfare payments and subsidized housing and social and income assistance  are best funded by the government that gets its income and taxes from a broad base of citizens. That way, citizens of Wampus, for example, would not suffer from no subsidized housing or zero welfare payments just because the businesses have left Wampus for Bumpus. No, we combine the wealth of Wampus and Bumpus and we look after the less fortunate of both towns.

Canada is good at that  in education and social housing and health care, et cetera. The province, not Toronto, is supposed to take care of social service costs of Toronto residents. Harris turned that on its head with an unconscionable download that has threatened to sink Toronto.

Toronto has the vast majority of social housing units in the GTA and in the province. Property tax dollars were never meant to pay for social services. To dump these cost on municipalities was akin to a targeted strike against the provincial capital.

Dalton McGuinty succeeded Harris and did more to rescue Toronto than is recorded and trumpeted. He reversed much of the Harris download of social service costs. And McGuintys successor Kathleen Wynne has continued the rehabilitation.

However, both Liberal premiers have failed to remediate one visible area  public housing. And it is to their shame. Pointedly, Toronto bears the brunt of this failure. And it is particularly stinging because Premier Wynnes own riding has more social housing units than some entire Ontario towns and jurisdictions.

Citizens in search of rental units head to the city where there is a larger inventory. Nearly half of Torontonians rent. People arrive looking to land a home with cheap rent. If the rents are too high  and they are, when four in 10 are paying more than 30 per cent of their income on rent  residents apply for a government-subsidized unit. While they wait for a unit, they shack up with friends or neighbours or church family.

In Toronto, 181,000 people are on the wait list for subsidized housing. It takes nearly a decade to move to the top of the list. One reason is that the current stock is crumbling. On average, the units are 42 years old. The city says it doesnt have enough money to repair them. The repair bill is about $2.5 billion. The backlog is $1.7 billion. Our politicians wont fix crumbling units and are closing them by the thousands. A projected 1,000 units that are in disrepair are slated to be closed by next year.

That is an unspeakable crisis  one worthy of the mayors focused attention. Tory wants Wynne to pick up one-third the cost, with the federal government funding one-third and the city the other one-third. Thats a reasonable solution. Reasonable Ontarians understand this.

But then Tory loses his way. In responding to the provincial budget he started talking about Wynnes shortfall in transit funding as well. Excuse me. Dont muddy the waters, Mr. Mayor.

Its been a long time since Toronto had a more willing and reliable partner for transit. Toronto didnt have to pay a cent for the Crosstown LRT, now under construction. The provincial Liberals are fully funding all of the Finch West LRT.

Queens Park signed a contract to give city hall $1.4 billion to extend transit from Kennedy station to the Scarborough Town Centre and offered to handle operating costs. Tory looked the gift horse in the mouth and decided to spend more than $3 billion going on $4 billion for a one-stop subway. So dont cry poor on transit when you waste billions. And dont blame your benefactor.

Better to stick to the housing file where the province has blood on its hands.

Of course, the city isnt blameless on the housing file. City councillors should know of the dire needs in their wards. They can see the impact of poor housing, crumbling units, inhabited by people whose average household income is under $19,000 a year.

One imagines that if city councillors really cared about the state of public housing, council would not be signing off on closing thousands of housing units while the waiting list bulges towards 200,000 applicants.

Where is the money? How about some of the billions earmarked for the expensive options to rebuild the Gardiner Expressway? How about some of the billions for the one-stop subway.

One imagines that if the microscope was placed on city spending and housing, one might find that city hall is almost as much of a dead-beat landlord as Ontario.

Royson James column appears weekly. rjames@thestar.ca

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A Nicaraguan man was refused asylum in Canada because he had not pursued gay relationships. A gay man from St. Kitts was denied because a refugee judge said cops in his home country couldve protected him. A Ugandan lesbian refugee was denied because her story was ruled not credible.

Asylum claims based on sexual orientation are hard to verify and validate, as LGBTQ claimants are an invisible minority with no membership or specific physical appearance to prove their identity, presenting a huge challenge for decision-makers at the Immigration and Refugee Board.

That challenge has prompted the board to develop its first-ever guidelines on SOGIE  short for sexual orientation and gender identity and expression  to help decision-makers handle proceedings involving the LGBTQ population.

Questioning an individual about their SOGIE can feel intrusive and may be difficult for the individual concerned. Questioning should be done in a sensitive, nonconfrontational manner. Open-ended questions should be employed where appropriate, advises the guidelines, released this week.

While an individual's experiences and behaviours related to their SOGIE may be expressed in both the private and public spheres, an individual's testimony may, in some cases, be the only evidence of their SOGIE.

The board has published various guidelines that focus on specific groups including children, women and civilian non-combatants in civil war situations, as well as procedures on immigration detention, scheduling and conduct at refugee hearings.

Previously, proceedings involving sexual minorities were lumped into the general guidelines in handling what the board described as vulnerable persons.

The guidelines intended goal is to promote a greater understanding of the diversity and complexity of the situation of individuals with diverse SOGIE; establish guiding principles for decision-makers in adjudicating cases involving them; and provide parties with a clearer understanding as to what to expect when appearing before the IRB, said refugee board spokesperson Anna Pape.

The policy is not binding against decision-makers, but where it applies, they have to provide justifications for not doing that.

The guidelines, which apply to all the tribunals under the board, are divided into 11 chapters, addressing the needs to protect sensitive information, use appropriate language, avoid stereotypes and assess credibility.

The refugee board said statistics of asylum claims received and granted based on sexual orientation were not available, but data obtained by Osgoode Hall Law School professor Sean Rehaag show that 2,371 or 13 per cent of all 18,221 asylum decisions made between 2013 and 2015 were based on sexual orientation, and that 70.5 per cent of them were granted compared to 62.5 per cent of all claims.

This is such an important area of refugee law. In many countries around the world, sexual minorities continue to be persecuted, and all too often killed. This is exactly the sort of group that Canadas refugee determination system should be protecting, said Rehaag.

The guidelines are a step in the right direction. Sexual minority refugee claims are among the most difficult cases the board is called upon to decide. There is a long history of decision-makers drawing on problematic stereotypes to make such decisions, and especially in determining whether claimants are really gay.

In cautioning decision-makers to be aware of their own stereotypes, the guidelines warn adjudicators that they should not assume LGBTQ people:

Have feminized or masculinized appearances or mannerisms;

Share the same dynamics and characteristics across cultures;

Have had same-sex sexual experiences or relations;

Have refrained from heterosexual sexual experiences or having children;

Would actively participate in LGBTQ culture in Canada, including frequenting gay-predominant areas and social establishments or join community groups.

Our clients who are LGBTQ refugees have fled from horrific persecution where many have spent decades hiding their identity. They deserve to have their claim heard by a Canadian decision-maker who not only respects their identity, but ensures a level of openness in speaking about past trauma, said Toronto immigration lawyer Adrienne Smith.

There is an added-layer of sensitivity that is required when adjudicating these claims. The release of the SOGIE guidelines is one step towards this, however it remains to be seen how IRB members will adhere to the guidelines given their non-binding nature.

Lawyer Aadil Mangalji, who represented the Ugandan lesbian claimant Yvonne Niwahereza Jele, said he particularly likes the highlights of the stereotypes against LGBTQ people and the guidelines caution against the assumption that the group receives equal access to state protection.

These are especially beneficial to LGBTQ claimants before the board. It is a step forward, said Mangalji, whose clients deportation has been stayed after Canadian officials agreed to review her case.

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No one plans to acquire a drug problem over the course of a lifetime  and neither do governments.

Yet Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government is nearing its midpoint in power surrounded by drug problems: serious issues to confront about legal, illegal and almost-legal substances. Two years ago, as they campaigned for office, most of these issues were not high (pardon the pun) on the Liberals agenda.

First, the legal drugs. The federal Liberals old allies at Queens Park threw a deliberate curveball at Ottawa in the latest provincial budget when they introduced pharmacare for all Ontario health-card holders under the age of 25.

Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins made it very clear in the wake of the budget announcement that this was intended as a call to action for the Trudeau government in Ottawa. I think if there is one message today its that this is possible, Hoskins said, promising to keep up his advocacy for a nationwide program. Its doable.

Health-care reform advocates are also keen to see this as an historic tipping point toward a future with national pharmacare in it.

But pharmacare is not anywhere near the top of the federal governments to-do list at present. Health Minister Jane Philpott has been saying repeatedly that her mandate, as far as it concerns drug prices and availability, is limited to getting better deals within the status quo.

The Commons health committee has been studying the idea of a national pharmacare program off and on since late 2015. As recently as February, in fact, the committee was hearing from experts on how a national drug plan might fit into the Constitution. But neither Philpott nor her government has shown much enthusiasm for the committees work  at least so far.

Ontarios gambit may change that, basically forcing the federal Liberals to get serious about pharmacare before the next election.

Moreover, this weeks census report  showing that Canada now has more seniors than children  could also factor into those political deliberations. Seniors are the biggest users of pharmaceuticals in Canada and also the most likely to show up at the ballot box. As the Stars Thomas Walkom has noted, if pharmacare makes sense for young people in Ontario, it also makes sense for seniors. Now that the door has been opened to pharmacare, its going to be hard for Ottawa to close it.

Meanwhile, apart from all the discussion over legal drugs, there are the illegal  and increasingly dangerous  ones for the Liberals to worry about. Deaths and overdoses from opioid use are now being called a public health crisis by the federal government and an increasing amount of Philpotts time is being taken up with how to tackle it.

This is not a political or a partisan issue. This is one of the most serious public health crises that we have faced in this country, Philpott told the Commons health committee last month. Two years ago, though, opioid abuse wasnt mentioned in the official mandate letter that Philpott received when she was sworn into cabinet.

Really, the only drug that figured prominently into the Liberals platform in 2015 was marijuana  specifically, its legalization, which only recently got underway. People have noticed, though, that the tone around marijuana has markedly changed  its become less about liberalization of drug laws and more about stricter controls and discipline. Funny how power has changed that discussion.

Speaking of power shifts, Ive been watching a lot more of CNN since the U.S. presidential election. One big surprise has been the commercials  I had no idea that Americans were suffering from so many ailments that required pharmaceutical intervention.

Drugs, legal and illegal, seem to be rampant all over the States. I was reading some profiles of typical Donald Trump voters recently and was surprised by the ways that many of their lives had plunged into despair after pharmaceutical drug abuse. Some early post-election research also found that Trump had fared better in electoral districts with high rates of drug addiction.

Recent analyses suggest a relationship between Trump support and opiate overdoses in key states and provide potential explanations for why Trump received so much support in Americas new post-industrial heroin beltway, said a research brief from Penn State University in late 2016.

Given the Trudeau governments ongoing preoccupation with Trumps America  and its determination not to see Canadas politics go down the same road  the Liberals may be paying closer attention these days to the way drugs and politics are turning into a powerful, unpredictable political mix.

Thats the thing about drug problems. You may not see them coming, but they can quickly become all-consuming, for individuals and for governments.

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LONDONAfter a frenzied, middle-of-the-night scramble by the global news media for strategic real estate outside Buckingham Palace and an hours-long wait in the cold, the much anticipated announcement finally came: A 95-year-old man was retiring.

That would be Prince Philip, also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, the gaffe-prone but grumpily endearing and loyal husband of Queen Elizabeth II, who has been her consort for 70 years  the longest royal union in British history  and has served the country for nearly as long.

His royal highness the Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year. In taking this decision, the duke has the full support of the Queen, read the terse statement from the palace, which gave no reason for the retirement. It added that the Queens role would be unchanged, and that while Philip would retreat from public view he may occasionally attend public events.

Read more: Prince Philip will retire from public engagements this fall, Buckingham Palace says

Only minutes earlier, outside the palace, more than a dozen television crews and assembled journalists from Britain, the United States, France, Japan, Canada, New Zealand and Australia had been watching for even the slightest clue about what was happening. Speculation was rife  unfounded, as it turned out  that either Philip or the Queen might be dead.

The media scrum was touched off by a report in the Daily Mail, a British tabloid, that all members of the Queens staff had been ordered to a meeting in London, and that employees from royal residences across the country would be in attendance.

The Daily Mail described the meeting as highly unusual, and Buckingham Palaces silence on the matter early in the morning allowed rumours to flourish. A palace official said such gatherings happened every now and then, and that there was no reason for alarm.

The Sun, Rupert Murdochs British tabloid, erroneously published an unfinished obituary of Philip on its website for a few minutes Thursday morning. The headline read: Prince Philip dead at 95, how did the Duke of Edinburgh die, etc etc. We are mortified this happened, a Sun executive later said.

Members of the royal family are beloved fixtures in Britain and speculation about royal health has been simmering for months. The prince was ill during the holiday period while the Queen, who is 91, was not seen in public for nearly a month after missing church services on Christmas and New Years Day because of what Buckingham Palace described as a persistent cold.

A former naval officer, Philip has earned a reputation as a royal workhorse and a steadfast spouse to the Queen, even as he has sometimes come under criticism for making rude and occasionally out-of-place remarks.

During a trip to Canada in 1976, he had this to say: We dont come here for our health. We can think of other ways of enjoying ourselves.

In 1986, while on an official visit to China, he told a group of British exchange students living in the city of Xian that if they stayed much longer youll all be slitty-eyed.

In 1995 on a visit to Scotland, he met a driving instructor. How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to pass the test? he asked.

Despite his propensity for political incorrectness, on Thursday he came in for praise, the memory of earlier embarrassments perhaps blunted by the sheer stamina and longevity of the foreign-born prince as he gets closer to 100. May offered him our deepest gratitude and good wishes.

Philips essentially diplomatic role as royal consort did not come naturally, even as he has served as a patron, a president or a member of more than 780 organizations. When interviewed by the Independent in 1992, he reflected with characteristic bluntness on his various honorary functions, including roles on a committee on coinage and at the wildlife charity WWF.

It was not my ambition to be president of the Mint Advisory Committee. I didnt want to be president of WWF. I was asked to do it, he said, before adding: Id much rather have stayed in the navy, frankly.

A nephew of King Constantine I of Greece, Prince Philip was born in 1921 on the dining room table of a villa on the Greek island of Corfu. Known for his passion for the rugged outdoors, he represents an era when Britain ruled large parts of the world and gentlemen wore their lack of visible emotion like a badge of honour. That style has been blamed for making him a distant figure in the lives of his children, particularly Prince Charles, the heir to the throne.

There has also been speculation about his marriage to the queen. When asked by the Independent about rumours of infidelity, he replied wryly: Have you ever stopped to think that for the last 40 years, I have never moved anywhere without a policeman accompanying me? So how the hell could I get away with anything like that?

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WASHINGTONIt was a Tuesday night at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, and the marble-floored, chandelier-covered, gold-trimmed lobby was buzzing. On a cushy chair by the bar, former Trump campaign adviser Michael Caputo was explaining why he wears a skull ring on the middle finger of his right hand and a bracelet on his left.

The jewelrys origin story included a Ukrainian murder, love, a French circus, hiding out from the mob, an Indian ashram, the Rolling Stones, and a campaign to get out the vote in Russia, but he wasnt worried about being overheard by enemies.

If you go to a bar on Capitol Hill, you go to a restaurant downtown, its somebody elses place, Caputo said. This is Trump Land. Its not even a neutral zone. Its not even like no mans land. This is Trump Land. People from the campaign, people from the administration, feel comfortable coming here.

Read more:

Trump can pull money from his businesses whenever he wants

Trumps new Washington hotel owes trades more than $5M for unpaid labour

Spending almost 50 straight hours inside Donald Trumps second-most important building on Pennsylvania Avenue  from late morning on April 25 to the early afternoon two days later  shows why its the perfect symbol of his presidency. The hotel lobby is drawing Trump fans who cheered his promises to drain Washingtons swamp, along with the power players who know how to swim in it. Because much of their money will end up in Trumps pocket, and the government he controls leased the building to him, few places present more potential conflicts for the president.

That week, Trump was barrelling toward the end of his first 100 days in office by cobbling together his one-page tax overhaul, racing to revive a health care bill, and avoiding a government shutdown. Nothing seemed amiss inside his 263-room hotel. The lobby, with its Swarovski chandeliers and glass-topped atrium, is bright even on a bleak Tuesday afternoon. On one side, tourists sat below a four-story U.S. flag, flipping through a bar menu that offers an $8 glass of milk, a $100 vodka cocktail with caviar, and one ounce of Hungarian wine in a crystal spoon for $140. The corn nuts, with truffle oil, are free.

On the other side, BLT Primes $110 porterhouse for two can be accompanied by a $16 tarragon lobster fondue. The mezzanine, where the president has eaten well-done steak with ketchup, is perfect for watching people downstairs. Trump has visited the hotel at least five times this year, more than once a month.

Below the lobby, a spa offers $340 couples massages, something called curated rituals, and, for $225 in the skin studio, a diamond whitening treatment. The place is named for White House aide Ivanka Trump, and so is a suite that costs about $940 a night.

By an elevator Tuesday evening, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was cradling a small dog in his arms. The former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. partner, who would present Trumps tax overhaul the next day, went up at about 10 p.m. A grandmother from Florida on a trip to see a friend was eating fries by the bar. She raised her arms to praise Trumps renovation of a 118-year-old former post office, a project that cost about $200 million. She said it made her feel hope for the U.S.

Republican elephants adorned the socks of a tourist from Nashville, Tenn., and the cuff links of banking lobbyist Aaron Cutler, who arrived the next morning at 10. His office at Hogan Lovells is nearby.

Its a nice place to go when you want to have a conversation with somebody and you dont want somebody on top of you listening in, said Cutler, a senior policy adviser for Eric Cantor when the Republican was House Majority Leader. Theres a bird, Cutler said, spotting what looked like a sparrow inside the lobby. It was there the day before, too, hopping on a cream-coloured carpet by one of the bars cream-coloured armchairs.

While Cutler drank a mid-morning cola, Boris Epshteyn was on the mezzanine eating breakfast in a three-piece suit at a table for two. Epshteyn, raised in Soviet Russia, left as a Trump media official this year and became a political analyst. He returned to the hotel that evening, when important people were coming and going with entourages. Campaign ally and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was accompanied by four people and his monogrammed luggage. He stopped to examine a cart with five bottles of Glenfarclas whisky and smiled.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy went up to the mezzanine, where the California congressman lifted his left hand with his palm held vertical, handing out a crisp wave and crisper smile. Downstairs at BLT Prime, South Dakota Sen. John Thune sat with his tie tucked into his shirt between two buttons. When the other three men at his table got up to welcome someone, Thune, chairman of the Commerce Committee and the Republican Conference, stayed snugly seated.

Giuliani, whos working for an Iranian-Turkish gold trader accused of circumventing U.S. sanctions, crossed the lobby again. This time he was accompanied by a woman wearing what looked like a blue fur.

That week, Noah Bookbinder sent a letter to senators about the hotel. The former federal prosecutor, who heads Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has a few bones to pick. As he sees it, the U.S. Constitution bars presidents from receiving anything of value from foreign officials without the consent of Congress, a problem now that Bahrain, Kuwait, and Azerbaijan have held events here. Plus, he says the 60-year lease Trump signed with the government in 2013 bans elected officials from being on it. The General Services Administration said in March that it sees no problem, and Bookbinders letter asked senators to investigate why. His group sued the president over the hotel in January.

Trump still has a stake in the project, though he put it in a trust controlled by his adult sons, who now also run the Trump Organization. His lawyers said he will donate hotel profits from foreign governments to the Treasury, without detailing how that would work.

It was easy to book a room for about $600 a night that week on a few days notice, even when the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons hotels were sold out. The service was smiley, the marble shiny, and pillows plentiful. The real world only intervened thanks to some wilting flowers and uncleared dessert dishes in the lobby.

The night when Caputo was sitting by the bar, telling the story of how he met his wife while working on a Ukrainian political campaign, then followed her to France and India, the former Trump adviser said the hotel reminded him of a particular country.

Russia, said Caputo, who did work for a subsidiary of state-owned Gazprom and a Boris Yeltsin campaign. They have buildings that are 900 years older than this, he added, before walking across the marble floor to eat a steak.

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In a little less than two years, Britain will no longer be part of the European Union. And as far as Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, is concerned, the role of English in European affairs might be diminished as well.

Slowly but surely, English is losing importance in Europe, Juncker said Friday, a remark that brought both laughter and applause as he touched on what has been a delicate subject for some in the EU.

In his remarks, Juncker did not directly link the declining use of English to Britains plan to leave the EU, nor did he offer precise details about what he meant.

Juncker, who is from Luxembourg, a nation of polyglots, noted that he was always hesitating between two or three languages. But he said his native tongue usually wasnt an option because there were few people able to speak and to understand Luxembourgish.

Speaking at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, Juncker made his remarks about English in English  and in the context of explaining why he would be switching to French later in his address.

His prediction for the future of the English language was followed by a more serious remark aimed at French voters, who face a choice in the presidential election Sunday between the pro-European independent candidate Emmanuel Macron and the far-right, anti-EU candidate Marine Le Pen.

The French will have elections next Sunday, he said, and I would like them to understand what Im saying about Europe and about nations.

The frequent use of English has long been a source of dispute in European affairs. Although the EU has 24 official and working languages, employees at the European Commission, the blocs executive arm, often speak in English.

Britains departure from the EU  it has given notice to leave by March 2019, although exhaustive negotiations are still to come  has led some to declare that the EU will become less dependent on English.

An aide to Juncker said the remark was made in jest. But it might be seen by some in Brussels as ill-advised after a cross-Channel war of words this past week, prompted by leaked details of a tense dinner attended by Juncker and the British prime minister, Theresa May.

May said the leak had misrepresented Britains negotiating position and amounted to meddling in her countrys general election, scheduled for June 8.

Speaking mostly in French, Juncker described as a tragedy the British decision to leave the EU. While he promised to negotiate the terms of the divorce in all fairness, Juncker also suggested that the British had more to lose from the divorce than the Europeans.

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, took to Twitter on Thursday to call for moderation & mutual respect in the talks, which were difficult enough and risked becoming impossible.

(In Britain, at least, the fuming continued. Junckers remark in English was an outrageous SWIPE at Britain, according to a headline in the online edition of the Daily Express, a right-wing newspaper that backs Britains decision to leave the bloc.)

Regardless of the sniping, the EU wont abandon English: among other reasons, Ireland and Malta, two members of the bloc, have English as an official language and it is a common second language across much of the continent.

Also in his remarks Friday, Juncker listed achievements including the creation of the euro, which protected the blocs members from external financial shocks and had become the worlds second most important currency, as well as the establishment of a vast, internal market.

The European project had unified the continent for the first time in its history by peaceful means and further integration was the only realistic way for Europeans to exercise influence in a world where they could expect to make up just 4 per cent of the global population by the end of the century, he said.

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House meet deferred until Sunday

The Legislature-Parliament meeting has been deferred for Sunday after the lawmaker of the opposition parties including the CPN-UML obstructed the House over the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Sushila Karki.
Forget Britains vote for Brexit. Forget U.S. President Donald Trumps November win. If Marine Le Pen somehow defeats Emmanuel Macron in Frances presidential runoff vote on Sunday, it may be the biggest electoral shock in the West so far this century.

A win by the leader of the French far right would see a leading European nation select a president emphatically opposed to globalization and integration, friendly to authoritarian Russia and tethered to a party, the National Front, that is steeped in a history of neo-fascism, extremism and bigotry. It could prefigure the dissolution of the European Union, trigger new economic chaos and hammer home the last nail in the coffin of an already ailing liberal order.

A Le Pen victory means the collapse of the EU, because the EU without France doesnt make any sense, Gerard Araud, Frances ambassador in Washington, said in a conversation with The Washington Post earlier this year. And it means the collapse of the euro and a financial crisis, which will have consequences throughout the world.

Its still an unlikely outcome. Polls place Macron ahead of Le Pen by roughly 20 points with just a few days to go. Most observers thought he was the clear victor in an ill-tempered Wednesday night debate. But Macrons supporters  and anyone who seeks the preservation of the European project  have good reason to feel jittery.

Reports suggest that many disaffected French voters across the political spectrum may abstain. Those voters already rejected Frances traditional conservative and centre-left parties amid a tidal wave of public dissatisfaction. Macrons boosters see his independent movement  known by its slogan En Marche, or Onward  as an opportunity to rejuvenate the country with a new radical centrism. His critics, principally Le Pen, but also some on the left, cast the former banker as an out-of-touch member of the financial elite beholden to tired neo-liberal dogma.

A video endorsement of Macron from former U.S. president Barack Obama may not help things. After all, Obamas overt support for Britains Remainers last year  as well as a warning that Britain would suffer economically if it left the EU, interpreted by some as a threat  did not prevent the Leave camp from winning. And it further cements the unhelpful analogy that Macron is the Hillary Clinton to Le Pens Trump, the custodian of an unpopular status quo.

Even in defeat, Le Pen is projected to win millions more votes than did her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, when he unexpectedly made the presidential runoff in 2002. That year, the French formed a Republican Front of both conservative and left-of-centre voters who rallied against the candidate with a fascist past.

But the situation in 2017 is different. The younger Le Pen has spent years bringing the National Front into the mainstream. Voters, moreover, are ready for radical change.

There was no element of surprise this time, Dominique Moisi, a French political scientist, told the Post. In 2002, people were genuinely shocked by the fact that someone like Jean-Marie Le Pen could actually reach power. This time, everybody expected it.

That sentiment was echoed by left-leaning protesters who rallied in the French capital on May Day.

For years, the right and left just divided the Republic with their disputes, and now there is little left, 57-year-old Hamid Djodi told the Post while standing in the Place de la Republique. In 2002, we believed it, this idea of a Republican Front. But now we dont believe it anymore  all you have is a capitalist running against a fascist.

This disillusionment is most apparent in the rhetoric of leftist presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who won close to 20 per cent of the first-round vote. While denouncing Le Pen, he has refused to endorse Macron, who served briefly in the Socialist government of President Francois Hollande and implemented reforms criticized by the left. A poll this week found that some 65 per cent of Melenchon voters would not vote for the centrist candidate, preferring to spoil their ballots or not turn up at all.

The abstention rate in the second round is expected to be the highest in French history. Meanwhile, a significant proportion of voters on the French right may opt for Le Pen.

But even if Le Pen charts a narrow path to victory, her battle will only really begin the day after the election.

Based on conversations with senior politicians and advisers to Frances major parties, including the National Front, Politico Europes Nicholas Vinocur imagined what Le Pens first 100 days would look like. It would begin likely with riots in some of the countrys alienated minority suburbs, as well as chaos in the markets and a potential banking crisis. And then things could really get crazy.

Le Pen, in a bid to appeal to a broader swath of the country, would fill her cabinet with officials from various conservative factions. But that may not help her in Frances legislative elections in June. The National Front holds just one seat in the National Assembly, and the countrys main parties have vowed to stymie a potential President Le Pen through their parliamentary clout. The prospect of cohabitation  when the president and the prime minister, who heads the government, represent two different parties  would be all the more likely.

Le Pen, writes Vinocur, could be condemned to kibitzing the government while signing executive decrees on matters ranging from immigration to the process of quitting the European Union. But decrees would be open to legal challenges from lower courts, he notes. Le Pen would spend much of her first 100 days locked in legal disputes, imposing executive will whenever possible. (Where have we seen this before?)

The more dire scenarios, according to Vinocur, could see Le Pen dissolve Parliament or even invoke an article in the constitution that allows the president full control at a moment when the nation is deemed to be under extreme existential threat. But that, Macron and others in Europe could argue, is what Le Pen already represents.

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NEWARK, N.J.A New Jersey man who appeared on authorities radar after stabbing the family dog had plans to construct and use a pressure cooker bomb in New York City and, if necessary, become a martyr in support of Daesh, also known as ISIS, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Gregory Lepsky, 20, of Point Pleasant, was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Investigators say he had praised Daeshs leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, in online messages.

He was arrested in February after investigators said he stabbed and threatened to kill the dog. While searching the home, officers found a pressure cooker stored behind a roll of bubble wrap in his bedroom closet. They also searched his phone.

Lepsky expressed regret for having tried to kill the family dog because, according to him, if he had not done so, the police would not have discovered his plan, FBI agent Tara Jerussi wrote in a complaint filed Friday.

Investigators said Lepsky told police he stabbed the dog because it was considered dirty in his view of Islam.

Lepsky faces an initial court appearance Friday afternoon. There was no phone listing for him. If convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Authorities said a search of his computer and social media yielded evidence Lepsky planned to detonate a bomb and fight on behalf of Daesh.

I linked up with some guy I met on a chat website and he wants me to become Muslim and join ISIS, Lepsky said in message to someone, the FBI reported. I really wanna go join ISIS.

Law enforcement also said they found a series of instructions on how to build a pressure cooker bomb and a message forwarded by Lepsky from another Daesh supporter stating that if a Westerner could not travel to Syria to fight, he could conduct a terrorist attack in his home country using improvised explosive devices.

A search of his phone also found an image of a flag used by Daesh and a photo of him holding firearms with his finger making a gesture used by Daesh members and supporters, investigators said.

He said in another Facebook message that his father was a Muslim from Chechnya, but stopped being religious when he moved to America.

But I want to be different, investigators said he wrote. I want to be religious and grow up and be a martyr.

Point Pleasant is 19 kilometres north of Seaside Park, where a pipe bomb exploded before the start of a charity military run last year. Ahmad Khan Rahimi, of Elizabeth, faces charges that he set off that bomb and planting two pressure cooker bombs in Manhattan that injured more than 30 people. He was arrested the next morning after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey.

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Passage of the Houses health-care bill gives the Obamacare repeal effort new life after months of wrangling, but key Republican senators are already pushing it aside to write their own bill with no clear timetable to act.

The narrowly passed House measure cant get anywhere near the 51 votes needed as is, even though Republican senators insist theyre united on delivering on their seven-year vow to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Instead, they want to write their own bill.

Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who chairs the Senate health committee, Rob Portman of Ohio, and Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of GOP leadership, described the plan even as the House was celebrating passing its repeal after weeks of back-and-forth.

Well write our own bill, Alexander said in an interview, although he said senators would consider pieces of the House bill. Where theyve solved problems we agree with, that makes it a lot easier for us.

The decision will delay the prospect of any repeal bill reaching U.S. President Donald Trumps desk. Before the failure of the House bill in March, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had talked of taking it up and passing it in a week.

Read more:House Republicans pass their bill to replace Obamacare, a major victory for Trump

Trump says Australias health care  which is universal  is better than U.S.

A senior White House official said the administration is ready for a slower, more deliberative debate in the Senate, where the main sticking point is expected to be how to address Obamacares expansion of Medicaid.

The House bill, which squeaked through the House on a 217-213 vote Thursday, became an even tougher proposition for the Senate with changes made in recent weeks to win over conservatives. Those revisions raised potential procedural hurdles, and also sparked new Republican concerns over how the measure would affect coverage of people with pre-existing conditions.

If any senators got a better idea, I wish them well, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana told MSNBC on Friday. What theyre going to find is you have to find consensus. We put 217 votes on the board and it took weeks and weeks to do it because everybodys got good ideas. Some of them dont work for other people.

Suddenly, Senate Republicans are doing their best to downplay expectations for quick action.

Chuck Grassley of Iowa, a senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said it will take weeks or maybe months for the Senate to develop a plan because many lawmakers in the chamber havent yet engaged on the issue.

There hasnt been any health care discussion over here, Grassley said.

Vice President Mike Pence tipped to that notion on Sunday, when he said on NBCs Meet the Press that he hoped a final version from Congress would get to the president to sign before the end of the year.

Grassley also said the Senate GOPs goal should be to attract some Democratic support, even though Republicans are trying to use expedited measures that would allow the bill to pass with only 51 votes.

As I said with Obamacare, anything that affects so many people and such a big part of the economy should have a solution that can attract bipartisanship, he said. Obamacare didnt achieve that.

Democrats will negotiate only if this is about improvements, repairs, reforms, advances to Obamacare, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the partys vice presidential candidate in 2016, told CNN on Friday. If its just about politics, he added, no, were not going to participate in slashing health care for millions just to give tax cuts to the richest.

Alexander, whose Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will have a major role in drafting the Senate version, is beginning to lay out his objectives for the eventual measure.

Our goals are to rescue the people who wont be able to buy insurance in 2018, to lower premiums, to gradually move Medicaid to the states without pulling the rug out from people, and make sure that people that have pre-existing conditions are covered, Alexander added. Were going to go to work on it.

Blunt said Republicans will look to see what they can take from the House version, H.R. 1628, as they write their own measure, but before holding a vote theyll need to see estimates from the Congressional Budget Office for its cost and how it would affect insurance coverage.

Portman said a growing working group including himself, conservative Texas Senator Ted Cruz, leadership and committee chairmen has been meeting about once a week to try to find a path to 51 votes.

Its an attempt to write our own bill, he said. We all have ideas and so do a lot of our colleagues so lets get them all together.

Alaskas Lisa Murkowski, who has been very critical of the House bill, said Thursday she hopes the Senate starts with a clean slate.

Her focus is on cutting premiums and protecting the Medicaid expansion in her state far more than enacting all of the tax cuts in the House bill.

In Alaska people are a lot more concerned with cost and access than the tax cuts, she said.

To get some kind of bill through his chamber, McConnell will need to unite moderate and conservative wings of the party that want to pull the measure in entirely different directions. The GOP controls the chamber 52-48, meaning he can lose no more than two Republicans and still pass it, given the united Democratic opposition.

A number of moderates were unhappy with a Congressional Budget Office estimate showing an earlier version of the House measure would have resulted in 24 million more people without insurance within a decade.

That wing is led by Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor who worked for decades in a charity hospital, and Susan Collins of Maine. Together they crafted a more moderate plan that kept the Affordable Care Acts taxes in place instead of repealing them.

Other senators who have expressed concerns about the House bill include Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Cory Gardner of Colorado, who both hail from states that have benefited from Obamacares Medicaid expansion. The House measure included an $800 billion-plus cut to Medicaid.

That cut also led Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Portman and Murkowski to object to the House bill. Its unclear whether they would be satisfied by reallocating some of the spending, shrinking the tax cuts, or some combination. Senators have been meeting in small groups and discussing possible amendments.

On the partys right flank, Cruz and Rand Paul of Kentucky will try to pull any measure closer to a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act while adding conservative planks. Its not clear how they can do so and still get enough votes to pass the final product.

Cruz said Wednesday he is talking with senators and the administration about ways to improve the bill and bring down premiums. One provision he hopes to add is an amendment allowing insurers to sell coverage across state lines to boost competition. Thats something Trump promised during the campaign, but it could run into procedural objections and political resistance.

Paul, meanwhile, may be the toughest vote to get on the right. The libertarian-minded senator has criticized the House bill for continuing some tax credit payments to insurance companies.

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As Republicans move closer to dismantling Democrat Barack Obamas health care law, Americans with serious illnesses are feeling uneasy.

The GOP health care bill pushed through the House on Thursday leaves those with pre-existing conditions fearful of higher premiums and losing coverage altogether if the Affordable Care Act is replaced.

The bill sets aside billions of dollars more to help people afford coverage, but experts say that money is unlikely to guarantee an affordable alternative for people now covered under a popular provision of the existing law that prevents insurers from rejecting them or charging higher rates based on their health.

What happens to those with pre-existing conditions under the Republican plan remains unknown.

Several people unsettled by the prospects expressed these concerns.

Former Utah chef

Jake Martinez said hes worried about getting health insurance in the future because he has epilepsy, considered a pre-existing condition by insurers.

For the last several years, he, his wife and their three children have settled into a comfortable place using health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. But now the Murray, Utah, residents are worried about what may happen with this new health care bill.

Read more:

Senate Republicans look to rewrite health bill after narrow win in the House

House Republicans pass their bill to replace Obamacare, a major victory for Trump

Trump says Australias health care  which is universal  is better than U.S.

Today, it really kind of sunk in that not only are we not going to potentially have health care coverage but that it was done as a political win rather than a well-thought-out plan, said Martinez, a 32-year-old former chef whos studying social work. Thats what stings about it.

Kentucky attorney

Shortly after being diagnosed with type I diabetes, Amanda Perkins learned about the perils of pre-existing conditions when she starting trying to buy health insurance.

Now she worries that protections under the Affordable Care Act that made sure certain essential health benefits, like insulin prescriptions, could be eliminated.

The new Republican plan would let some states allow insurers to charge higher premiums for people with pre-existing conditions, but only if those people had a lapse in insurance coverage. Supporters say those states would need to have programs in place to help people pay for expensive medical treatments, including high risk pools.

But Perkins said Kentuckys previous high risk pool had a 12-month waiting period and was too expensive for her.

I bought a house just a couple of months ago. Will it come down to me paying my mortgage payment or paying my health insurance so I dont have a lapse in coverage? said Perkins, an attorney for a small firm in Lexington, Kentucky.

Kansas graphic designer

Janella Williams has a rare neurological disorder that forces her to receive expensive IV drugs every seven weeks. Without it, she would not be able to walk.

Williams, who owns her own graphic design company in Lawrence, Kansas, pays $480 under an Obamacare plan. It keeps her out-of-pocket maximum at $3,500 a year and provides her coverage despite her pre-existing condition.

Im terrified of becoming disabled. If Im being completely honest, Ive thought of ending my life if it comes to that, she said.

High risk pools run by the state are not the answer, she says. The Republican plan would also bring back lifetime caps on coverage, which Williams says she would meet after only her first IV treatment. She and her husband both work full time, but wouldnt be able to afford the roughly $600,000 a year her treatments cost once the cap is met.

I have really lost my faith in humanity, she said. Its terrible how little we care for the sick.

North Carolina financial adviser

John Thompson credits his survival in large part because he bought a family insurance policy through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Thompson, of Greensboro, North Carolina, was laid off in 2013, lost his employer-backed insurance and diagnosed with cancer during the year he was unemployed.

If the House proposal allowing insurers to make coverage for pre-existing conditions unaffordable takes hold, he fears his cancer history will make him uninsurable if he would lose his current job as a retirement financial adviser.

Like many of us here, whether you have asthma or a heart condition or diabetes or like me, cancer, any type of pre-existing condition, you go back to the way it was before, you give insurance companies carte blanche to do their underwriting and to exclude you, Thompson said.

Florida mom

Shelby Jehlen, of New Port Richey, Florida, was diagnosed six years ago with leukemia and says she wouldnt be able to afford insurance if she lost her roughly $400 a month subsidy.

Jehlen saves about $1,000 every three months to see her cancer doctor under her Obamacare plan, but still pays about $1,500 for the check-ups.

She was forced to quit work because of all the X-rays and other chemicals she was exposed to daily as a veterinary assistant and now cuts corners, sacrificing phones and school activities for her two teen daughters, to afford the monthly premiums. The stress has caused her to struggle with depression and anxiety.

Absolutely, Im scared. Im worried Im going to have to figure out what Im going to do with all my side effects with my leukemia if they take this away from me, she said.

Philadelphia businesswoman

Adrienne Standley has been preparing for the possibility of losing her insurance since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.

Three days after the inauguration, she set up an appointment for a birth control implant so she would be covered for four years, no matter what happens.

The 29-year-old operations director at a start-up apparel business in Philadelphia also has asthma and attention deficit disorder.

Im looking at stockpiling, making sure I have an inhaler, she said. Im pretty scared to lose coverage.

New Orleans attorney

John S. Williams says hell be forced to close his practice and find a job with a group insurance plan if hes no longer covered under the governments health care plan

The New Orleans attorney has multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease for which medication alone costs $70,000 a year. He buys insurance for himself on the individual marketplace, and the Affordable Care Act has made that possible, he said.

We always hear about job growth and business creation - being able to have affordable health care drives that, Williams said. Because of the ACA I am able to employ people and help the economy grow.

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BEIRUTUnited States and allied aircraft will be banned from flying over much of Syria in a deal between Iran, Russia and Turkey, a senior Russian diplomat said on Friday.

The diplomat, Aleksandr Lavrentiev, also suggested that Russian and Turkish warplanes would be prohibited from flying in four designated de-escalation zones, where Syrian government and rebel forces are supposed to stop fighting each other.

But Lavrentiev seemed to sketch out a broader geographical no-fly zone for U.S. and coalition military planes. He said they would be allowed to fly only in eastern Syria over Daesh-held areas, apparently excluding the entire western spine of the country.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. military or from the Trump administration. Nor was it clear whether Washington had agreed to the conditions that Lavrentiev described, or whether Russia would try to enforce them.

Significantly, the agreement to establish the de-escalation zones has not been accepted by all opposition groups, and it left loopholes for Syria to continue undiminished attacks on the rebels, factors that combined to torpedo the last attempt by Iran, Russia and Turkey to forge a ceasefire.

Nevertheless, one of the representatives of the Syrian opposition groups at the Astana talks, Col. Ahmad Berri, sounded a strikingly optimistic note, saying he expected to see a full ceasefire in the designated zones once the plan takes effect Saturday.

The Russians this time are more serious, we sensed it, more than last time, he said in a telephone interview. The regime will be committed to the deal because the Russians are the guarantor, so if the Russians said no bombing, the regime will stop.

Read more: Russia, Iran, Turkey sign agreement on de-escalation zones in Syria

Trump, Putin look to work together on Syria

No-fly zones have been a contentious issue in the Syrian conflict, now in its seventh year; they have long been requested by rebel groups and rejected by the government. Disputes about who can fly planes and when  subtle professional issues, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, called them recently  are likely to continue under the new deal.

Confusion about the details of agreements in the Syrian civil war is nothing new, as disputes about the most basic facts and definitions have always made negotiations extraordinarily thorny.

The government of President Bashar Assad of Syria said in a statement late Wednesday night that it supports the initiative on de-escalation zones, including not shelling those areas.

But the statement also said the Syrian military would continue to fight banned terrorist groups like Daesh, also known as ISIS, al-Qaida-linked militants, and other affiliated terrorist organizations wherever they were all over the Syrian territories. That language was interpreted by many government opponents as a signal that the Syrian military intended to keep bombing wherever it chose on the pretext of fighting terrorism.

Aviation over these territories ceases, Lavrentiev told reporters in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday, where a memorandum laying out the plan for de-escalation zones was signed the day before between Iran and Russia, which back the Syrian government, and Turkey, which backs some rebel groups.

But in answer to a question about the U.S.-led coalition formed in 2014 to fight Daesh, Lavrentiev did not mince words. The work of aviation, especially the forces of the international coalition, is absolutely not envisaged. With notification or without notification, this issue is now closed.

He added: The only place where the international coalitions aviation can work is on the objects of Daesh that are located in the Raqqa area, some populated areas in the area of the Euphrates, Deir el-Zour and further on the Iraqi territory.

That suggests that the U.S. military would no longer be allowed to fly over a number of critical areas where it already conducts operations and that it would be barred from all of the most important areas contested by the government and rebels not affiliated with Daesh.

The excluded area encompasses Idlib province, where U.S. warplanes have been carrying out an intensifying series of airstrikes against what officials say are Al Qaeda operatives. It also includes some of the areas where Turkey, a NATO ally, has skirmished with Kurdish militias also backed, sometimes with airstrikes, by the United States.

And it includes most of the Syrian governments military installations, such as the Shayrat airbase, which the United States struck with missiles in retaliation for chemical attacks that killed scores of people in the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province last month.

The de-escalation zones are along Syrias southern border with Jordan, in the eastern Damascus suburbs, in Idlib province, and in a pocket of the central province of Homs.

In some ways, such discussions are academic. The United States has never had Syrian government permission for its airstrikes on Daesh and on Al Qaeda targets on Syrian territory. The Syrian government calls the U.S. strikes violations of its sovereignty.

And Russia and the Syrian government have liberally interpreted exceptions to previous ceasefire deals, continuing to carry out strikes, including some that hit rescue workers and hospitals and that were followed by declarations from Moscow and Damascus that terrorist groups had been present in the areas targeted.

Rebel groups, too, have argued about the meaning of provisions requiring them to separate from banned terrorist groups, asserting that they lack the ability to push out well-funded and well-armed extremists. But, at the same time, some rebel groups have entered into tactical alliances with the extremists.

Still, UN officials have held out hope that the new deal will fare better than others that have evaporated under the weight of those contradictions. U.S. officials said they shared the stated goals of the plan but expressed skepticism that Russia could restrain the Syrian government and concern about the role of Iran.

What makes this agreement different is that some of the countries backing different sides in Syria have agreed at least on the possibility of bringing in outside military forces to monitor a ceasefire. Those could be UN peacekeepers, troops from Arab countries, or forces from countries friendly to both Russia and Turkey, like the former Soviet republics.

Some analysts, on both the government and on the opposition sides, have complained about precisely those attributes of the agreement: that it could be a first step to the de facto division of the country along existing conflict lines and that it is being imposed by outside powers.

Putin said on Wednesday that aircraft would not operate over the designated zones, provided that these zones show no sign of military activity. These are all subtle professional issues.

Government opponents said that a real end to bombings across the country was the top demand of their supporters.

But they saw the deal as something else: a pretext to make sure that there would be no repeat of the strikes ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump and to shore up Assad politically. They said the latest deal recalled the agreement to remove Syrias chemical weapons that Russia and the United States struck as an alternative to punitive strikes for chemical attacks in 2013.

This deal is like when the Russians rescued Bashar in 2013, and now theyre trying to rescue him again with plastic surgery agreements, said Hisham Marwa, a member of an opposition coalition.

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It is not appropriate for Star journalists to play the roles of both actor and critic.

- Toronto Star Newsroom Policy and Journalistic Standards Manual

It has long been Toronto Star policy that journalists do not take public stands on public issues or become the news. This policy is aligned with longstanding journalistic values and the ethics policies of most credible news organizations in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. These policies hold that journalists must not cross over into direct activism and personal participation in causes that go beyond their writing.

Our policies state that Star journalists must avoid participation in demonstrations or signing of petitions, including online petitions and social media campaigns. Further, editorial employees must avoid active participation in community organizations and pressure groups that take positions on public issues.

Given these standards, I know I was not the only Star journalist who became somewhat uneasy upon reading that a meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board came to an abrupt end recently when journalist and activist Desmond Cole admonished board members for failing to destroy carding data, then stalled the proceedings by refusing to leave the speakers chair.

As the Stars Wendy Gillis reported, Cole, then a freelance Star columnist, had been making a public deputation about the controversial police practice of carding when he announced he would launch an immediate protest if the board did not agree to put stricter constraints on police access to the data collected through what he termed the illicit practice.

Until this week, Cole wrote a biweekly column for the Stars opinion pages. On Thursday, without any advance notice to the Star, he took to social media to announce he has decided to stop writing the column.

Earlier this week, Andrew Phillips, the Stars editorial page editor who is responsible for the opinion pages, talked with Cole to make him aware of the Stars policies regarding journalism and activism and the fact that its standards apply to the Stars freelancers. That, too, is clearly stated in the standards manual but seemingly had not been communicated to Cole in the past.

To be clear, Cole was not fired by the Star, as some have suggested, nor disciplined or threatened with any consequences. Phillips apprised Cole of the Stars policies and told him he hoped he would stay on as a freelance columnist. Unfortunately, Cole chose not to.

While being a columnist provides some measure of latitude to take public stands in line with the views expressed in columns  and certainly Coles Star columns have made clear his well-founded passionate dissent with the practice of police carding  the Star had understandable concerns that Coles actions in disrupting a public meeting and becoming the news went beyond that latitude.

As a result of that discussion, which I am told was a cordial chat in which Cole indicated he understood his actions were outside the parameters of the Stars policies, Cole opted to stop writing for the Star.

@TorontoStar says I cant be a columnist and an activist at the same time, so Im giving up my column, he tweeted Thursday.

In a longer blog post explaining his decision, he wrote, If I must choose between a newspaper column and the actions I must take to liberate myself and my community, I choose activism in the service of Black liberation.

I am sorry Coles strong voice will no longer be a regular part of the Star. While the Star has made considerable strides forward in publishing a greater diversity of voices, I believe it still needs more diverse voices in both its news and opinion pages. I was happy when the Star sought Cole out and asked him to write a regular column in September, 2015.

But, as public editor with responsibility for overseeing the Stars policies, I agree with the Stars concerns about Coles recent actions at the public police board meeting.

While there is some precedent at the Star for columnists  not news reporters  to take an advocacy stance in the community, the fact that a public meeting of a democratic municipal government committee discussing an important matter of public interest was brought to a halt as a result of Coles actions would seem to go beyond advocacy to an entirely different level of the journalist/activist becoming the story.

Further, I think those actions went further than whatever latitude to act as advocates the newsroom granted in the past to some former Star columnists, such as Catherine Porter. As well, it should be noted that the Star had no issues with Cole participating in demonstrations (as Porter had with the consent of her editors. Though, for the record, I was never comfortable with that, either.)

It was only when Cole became the story by his protest at the police board that he took his activism to a new level that became of concern to the Star.

Coles actions at the police board made him the story on an important public issue the Star has strived to cover fairly and persistently. The Star, as an institution, has held the police to account on carding and racial discrimination for many years. It has spent large sums of money to obtain police carding data that showed that black people are stopped and carded at a rate three times the proportion they represent in Torontos population. The Star has won important national journalism awards for its groundbreaking work on this issue.

And this organization has consistently used the power of its editorials and columns to call out police for this practice and to call for racial and social justice and equality for all. As a freelance columnist for the Star, Cole also had a powerful platform to influence public opinion on this issue and others.

I understand there is some debate in the Stars newsroom and among others about whether the Stars longstanding policies regarding journalists taking public stands as community activists are outdated and should be revisited, especially as it applies to columnists who are, after all, empowered to take public stands in their writing. I see merit in that discussion. I believe all newsroom policies should be open to regular debate and discussion as journalism evolves. That has happened several times here over the years.

But no news organization that cares about its integrity should make or amend policy on the fly simply to accommodate any one voice or any one cause. Policies exist to create consistency aligned with values. Any further consideration of the policy must take place within a wider discussion about the Stars overall journalistic values and reader trust in journalisms digital evolution.

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Ontario school boards have recommended closing 121 schools in Ontario over the next three years, hitting rural communities the hardest, according to a new report by People for Education.

The study, based on numbers provided by the provinces 72 school boards this spring, was an attempt to paint a clearer picture of an emotionally-charged issue that cuts to the heart of communities, said Annie Kidder, executive director of the research and advocacy group.

School closures have generated protests and outrage from families across the province during the current school year, but how many of the provinces 4,900 schools are vulnerable has been subject to dispute.

See a full list of the schools set to close

Education Minister Mitzie Hunter has said up to 300 schools are under review for possible shuttering as a result of low enrolment or disrepair.

But organizations like the Ontario Alliance Against School Closures have estimated that twice as many  about 600  are on the chopping block and have called for a moratorium on these reckless, hurried and undemocratic decisions.

The numbers we were hearing were all over the map, says Kidder. To get a clearer picture, People for Education collected data from boards and tallied the number of schools actually in the process of being closed, rather than under review.

They found 34 boards had recommended a total of 121 schools close by June of 2020, affecting 33,000 students and with a disproportionate impact on rural communities, she said. In almost all cases during previous years, such recommendations have been followed.

As of April 30, 58 schools had reached the final stage of being approved for closure by trustees. Votes were pending for another 52.

Twenty-five new schools had been proposed, primarily to consolidate students following two or more closures.

Were not saying no school should ever close, were saying thats a lot of schools, said Kidder. Its a very big impact on a huge swath of Ontario that we have to take very seriously. There are fundamentally deep flaws in the process that are not working for rural Ontario.

A spokesperson for Hunter said based on a preliminary review, the numbers in the report seem consistent with what the Ministry of Education has been monitoring.

Planned closures include 12 schools in the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board and 19 from the Upper Canada District School Board. Both boards are in eastern Ontario.

While rural schools are often vulnerable because they are smaller, closing them can be particularly difficult for kids, resulting in significantly longer school bus rides and the loss of a central feature of their communities.

We understand the vital role that schools play in any community, particularly our rural communities, Hunter said in a statement Thursday.

Potential school closures are among the most difficult decisions that school boards and communities have to consider.

Last month, the province announced consultations to develop a new rural education strategy. The first meeting was scheduled to be held Friday in the eastern Ontario town of Merrickville.

But Kidder, who said a new strategy and review of rural funding are long overdue, noted boards are already in the final stages of their decisions.

The People for Education report blames closures on declining enrolment, changes to the provincial funding formula that makes it harder to keep schools with extra spaces operating, and review guidelines that changed the minimum standards and consultation required to close a school.

Parents and students at Robert Bateman High School in Burlington are among those devastated by an unexpected recommendation last month to close their school, which they say is the result of a flawed closure process and will have a profound impact on special needs students.

The school has many students with physical and developmental disabilities, is fully accessible and offers a full range of vocational programs.

The process has been completely disorganized, chaotic and unaccountable, says Denise Davy, who has one daughter in Grade 12 at Bateman and another who had been looking forward to starting Grade 9 there in the fall.

Parents have 16 days between the time the closure was proposed on April 21 and this Monday, when they can appear before trustees to make their case against the move. Halton District School Board will make the final decision in a June 7 vote.

Parents feel very disrespected and many parents of children with special needs are very afraid for their future schooling.

Delegations are planning to appear before trustees Monday to oppose the decision.

Hunter said the ministry continues to urge school boards and communities to collaborate and find creative solutions such as sharing excess space with other boards or community groups.

The province has built or renovated 80 rural schools in the past five years, she noted. Last year, 19 schools in the province were shuttered.

Progressive Conservative MPP Bill Walker voiced concern about the pending closure of schools in rural Ontario.

These numbers are very ominous and show how out of control the situation is. I hope the Liberal government has more wherewithal than to wait until the next election to stop the hallowing out of rural Ontario, said Walker, who is MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. Its clear they need to step up today and take control of the situation by putting a moratorium on school closures and fixing the funding formula. This is about children and their lives, and that has to be the priority.

With files from Kristin Rushowy

Correction-May 5, 2017:This article was updated from a previous version that incorrectly stated the span of days parents have to fight the school closure.

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This is still relevant now; discrimination still exists and theres more of an impact through the words of students.

The story of Anne Frank may be one we all know, but it is also one that must be remembered, says Emma Da Silva, a 17-year-old student at Torontos John Polanyi Collegiate  and one of the senior students trained to be a guide, working alongside two teachers, for an exhibit now showing at her school to mark Jewish Heritage Month.

The Toronto District School Board secured the travelling exhibit  called Anne Frank: A History for Today  which 2,300 students from across the city will visit on class trips. It will also be open to the public, free of charge, two Sundays in May.

Its intense, Da Silva says of the exhibit, which includes a video and 37 information panels with photos and details about the situation in Germany and Europe around the Second World War, the Holocaust, and Annes life and death.

Theres a picture of her parents wedding party, from 1925, and a young Anne sitting in her classroom at school 10 years later.

Also on display is a replica of her famous diary, as well as actual examples of Nazi propaganda, a 3-D replica of the secret annex where she and her family hid, and pieces from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam are also on loan.

Shari Schwartz-Maltz, the boards media relations manager who chaired the heritage month committee, said they wanted something that would have a real impact given whats going on around the world today.

It was the little girl tweeting from Syria that got her thinking about Annes story, said Schwartz-Maltz, referring to Bana Alabed, the 7-year-old who has been sending out live updates on social media about the war in Aleppo.

They were both hiding from hate, Schwartz-Maltz said. Its the same story  and the only way forward is to teach kids the consequences of hate.

Sometimes schools here have to deal with racist or anti-Semitic graffiti  its there and it bothers us, she added.

John Polanyi principal Aiman Flahat said the community around the school seems to be divided north and south of Lawrence Ave. W.  but the school itself is very diverse, with students from more than 60 countries learning tolerance and acceptance.

There are things happening today that happened more than 70 years ago, he said of world events. If we dont understand them, they can be repeated again.

In York Region, a public elementary school was named in Anne Franks honour when it opened in 2014, and it hosted a similar exhibit earlier this year.

Being an Anne Frank school comes with very specific responsibilities  sharing Annes message of hope, and education, to bring about the ideas of acceptance and diversity, said principal Aneta Fishman.

About 1,000 students went through their exhibit, as well as members of the public.

We had Holocaust survivors or those with family members who had perished in the Holocaust, she said, as well as new immigrants whose relatives had died in conflicts in their homeland.

It went beyond being the story of Anne, said Fishman. It became everyones story.

In Toronto, Veterans Affairs Canada contributed to the exhibit and the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation is donating a copy of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl to every student who attends with their class.

The exhibit at John Polanyi is open to the public on May 7 and May 28, from 9 to 5 p.m.

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World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said today that the international financial institution does not intend to shift its position on financing alternative energy projects and reducing the effects of climate change, Reuters reports.

Kim remained steadfast on that stance when asked about the Trump administration's skepticism regarding climate change.

The World Bank will continue to work with governments and the private sector to increase financing for alternative energy, particularly in China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Vietnam, Kim said.

"The science of climate change didn't change with any particular election, and I don't see that it will," Kim added. "We have to be an evidence-based organization."

(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.)
Immunomedics (IMMU) - Get Free Report and Seattle Genetics (SGEN) - Get Free Report said Friday they have agreed to terminate a license agreement for cancer drug sacituzumab govitecan (IMMU-132).

The news comes after Delaware Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster in March halted the deal as a result of a lawsuit filed by VenBio Partners LLC, an activist firm invested in Immunomedics.

Also on Friday, Immunomedics said Cynthia L. Sullivan will step down as president, CEO and director, and CFO Michael R. Garone will serve as interim CEO effective upon the execution of a broad legal settlement with VenBio and other parties. Immunomedics founder Dr. David M. Goldenberg will step down as chief scientific officer and chief patent officer effective upon the execution of the settlement pact and will remain a director.

In addition, Immunomedics said it raised $125 million in gross proceeds in a private placement of its Series A-1 convertible preferred stock with institutional investors.

Bothell, Wash.-based Seattle Genetics and Morris Plains, N.J.-based Immunomedics announced a license agreement on February 10.

Under the terms of the deal, Seattle Genetics will pay $250 million in cash to Immunomedics for rights to IMMU-132. Immunomedics is also eligible for an additional $1.7 billion in back-end milestone payments plus royalties on IMMU-132 sales. Concurrent with the transaction, Seattle Genetics said in February it will make an equity investment of up to $57 million for up to a 9.9% stake in Immunomedics through an immediate purchase of common stock and a three-year warrant.

VenBio Select Advisor LLC, the investment fund managed by Behzad Aghazadeh that last fall unveiled a slate of four nominees to Immunomedics' board, filed a complaint with Delaware Court of Chancery on Feb. 13, seeking an injunction against the Seattle Genetics partnership.

VenBio accused Immunomedics management of undervaluing and essentially giving away its most valuable asset -- IMMU-132 -- because they were afraid of losing their jobs in a proxy vote. A day after VenBio filed its lawsuit, Immunomedics issued a statement saying it believes the allegations "are completely without merit."

The activist won its campaign on March 3 at the company's annual shareholder meeting, where its slate of four directors were elected to Immunomedics' board.

Upon the termination of the license agreement, the parties have agreed to settle, resolve and release each other from all disputes, claims and liabilities. Seattle Genetics will continue to own 3 million Immunomedics shares, as well as a warrant to acquire an additional 8.7 million shares at $4.90 per share exercisable until Dec. 31, 2017.

In a statement on Friday, Seattle Genetics president and CEO Clay Siegall said that the Immunomedics deal "would have effectively utilized our substantial expertise in antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development to advance IMMU-132 for patients in need."

"However, due to significant delays and lack of progress towards closing the deal, we are turning our full attention and resources to our promising pipeline and the substantial opportunities in front of us, including the upcoming topline data readout from the ADCETRIS ECHELON-1 trial and ongoing or planned pivotal trials of vadastuximab talirine (SGN-CD33A) and enfortumab vedotin (ASG-22ME)," Siegall said.

Shares of Seattle Genetics were trading at $62.11, down 2.6%.

Aghazadeh, Immunomedics' chairman, said in a statement: "After conducting a full multi-faceted review of the organizational, operational, and clinical and regulatory capabilities, we are confident that Immunomedics can fully execute on a strategic plan over the next several years to become a recognized leader in the field of antibody-drug conjugates."

Cowen served as sole placement agent to Immunomedics and DLA Piper served as legal counsel.

This article was originally published by The Deal, a sister publication of TheStreet that offers sophisticated insight and analysis on all types of deals, from inception to integration. Click here for a free trial.
Impeachment motion against CJ Karki: SC order hailed across social media

Here is a compilation of public reactions over SC's interim order that ordered legislation to withhold the impeachment motion against SC's suspended Chief Justice Sushila Karki and allow her to resume the office.
Travis Perkins plc distributes building materials to the building, construction, and home improvement markets in the United Kingdom. It operates through, Merchanting, and Toolstation segments. The Merchanting segment distributes interior building products, which include drywalls, ceilings, external envelopes, fire protection products, flooring and partitioning products, and tools and accessories to professionals within the construction industry; civil, drainage, and heavy building materials to specialist contractors and trade professionals; and pipeline and heating solutions. This segment also distributes building materials, plumbing and heating products, landscaping materials, timber and sheet materials, painting and decorating products, dry lining and insulation products, doors and joinery, and hand and power tools to trade professionals and self-builders. The Toolstation segment supplies products to the trade, home improvers, and self-builders industry through approximately 500 branches, as well as online, call centers, and a mobile website. It also offers kitchens and joinery products to specialist joiners, kitchen fitters, house builders, local authorities, and national house builders. The company was formerly known as Sandell Perkins Public Limited Company and changed its name to Travis Perkins plc in October 1988. Travis Perkins plc was founded in 1797 and is headquartered in Northampton, the United Kingdom.
Celanese Corporation, a technology and specialty materials company, manufactures and sells high performance engineered polymers in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Engineered Materials, Acetate Tow, and Acetyl Chain. The Engineered Materials segment develops, produces, and supplies specialty polymers for automotive and medical applications, as well as for use in industrial products and consumer electronics. It also offers acesulfame potassium, a sweetener for use in various beverages, confections, and dairy products; and food protection ingredients, such as potassium sorbate and sorbic acid for use in foods, beverages, and personal care products. The Acetate Tow segment provides acetate tows and flakes for use in filter products applications. The Acetyl Chain segment produces and supplies acetyl products, including acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomers, acetic anhydride, and acetate esters that are used as starting materials for colorants, paints, adhesives, coatings, and pharmaceuticals; and organic solvents and intermediates for pharmaceutical, agricultural, and chemical products. It also offers vinyl acetate-based emulsions for use in paints and coatings, adhesives, construction, glass fiber, textiles, and paper applications; and ethylene vinyl acetate resins and compounds, as well as low-density polyethylene for use in flexible packaging films, lamination film products, hot melt adhesives, automotive parts, and carpeting applications. In addition, it manufactures ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Celanese Corporation was founded in 1918 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.
The following companies are subsidiares of BorgWarner: Akasol AG, B80 Italia S.r.l., BERU AG, BW El Salto S.A. De C.V., BWA Receivables Corporation, BWA Turbo Systems Holding LLC, Borg Warner Europe Holdings (PDS) B. V., BorgWarner (China) Investment Co. Ltd., BorgWarner (Reman) Holdings L.L.C., BorgWarner (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner Aftermarket Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Alternators Inc., BorgWarner Arden LLC, BorgWarner Arnstadt RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Asia Inc., BorgWarner Automotive Asia Limited, BorgWarner Automotive Components (Beijing) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Automotive Components (Wuhan) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Brasil Ltda., BorgWarner Chungju Co. LLC, BorgWarner Comercial e Distribuidora de Pecas para Veiculos Automotores Ltda., BorgWarner Comercializadora PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Componentes PDS S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner Cooling Systems (India) Private Limited, BorgWarner Cooling Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Diversified Transmission Products Services Inc., BorgWarner Drivetrain Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Drivetrain Management Services de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Drivetrain de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Electric Motors L.L.C., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Emissions Systems Holding LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Emissions Systems LLC, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Portugal Unipessoal LDA, BorgWarner Emissions Systems Spain S.L.U., BorgWarner Emissions Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Emissions Talegaon Private Limited, BorgWarner Engineering Ketsch RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Engineering Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Esslingen GmbH, BorgWarner Europe GmbH, BorgWarner Europe Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Gateshead Limited, BorgWarner Germany Holding GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Holding Services GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REH GmbH, BorgWarner Germany REM GmbH, BorgWarner Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, BorgWarner Global Holding S.a. r. l., BorgWarner Heidelberg I RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg II RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Heidelberg REH GmbH, BorgWarner Heidelberg REM GmbH, BorgWarner Holding Inc., BorgWarner Holdings Limited, BorgWarner Hungary Kft., BorgWarner IT Services Europe GmbH, BorgWarner India Holdings Inc., BorgWarner Investment Holding Inc., BorgWarner Ithaca LLC, BorgWarner Ketsch Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Ketsch REH GmbH, BorgWarner Ketsch REM GmbH, BorgWarner Kft., BorgWarner Kibo RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Korea Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Korea Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Korea LLC, BorgWarner Limited, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg GmbH, BorgWarner Ludwigsburg RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf Plant RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner Markdorf REH GmbH, BorgWarner Markdorf REM GmbH, BorgWarner Massachusetts Inc., BorgWarner Mauritius Holdings Ltd., BorgWarner Mexico Holding BV, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings II LLC, BorgWarner Mexico Holdings LLC, BorgWarner Morse Systems India Private Limited, BorgWarner Morse Systems Italy S.r.l., BorgWarner Morse Systems Japan K.K., BorgWarner Morse Systems Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner Muggendorf RE GmbH & Co. KG, BorgWarner NW Inc., BorgWarner Netherlands Holdings (PDS) B.V., BorgWarner Oroszlany Kft., BorgWarner PDS (Anderson) L.L.C., BorgWarner PDS (Changnyeong) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Indiana) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Livonia) Inc., BorgWarner PDS (Ochang) LLC, BorgWarner PDS (Thailand) Limited, BorgWarner PDS (USA) Inc., BorgWarner PDS Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., BorgWarner PDS Irapuato S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., BorgWarner PDS Technologies L.L.C., BorgWarner Poland Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Pyongtaek LLC, BorgWarner Romeo Power LLC, BorgWarner Rzeszow Sp. z o.o., BorgWarner Shenglong (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., BorgWarner South Asia LLC, BorgWarner Southborough Inc., BorgWarner Spain Holding S.L.U, BorgWarner Sweden AB, BorgWarner Systems Lugo S.r.l., BorgWarner Thermal Systems Inc., BorgWarner Thermal Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner TorqTransfer Systems Beijing Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Tralee Ltd., BorgWarner Transmission Products LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Arnstadt GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Korea LLC, BorgWarner Transmission Systems Tulle S.A.S., BorgWarner Trustees Limited, BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems France S.A.S., BorgWarner Turbo Systems Engineering GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems LLC, BorgWarner Turbo Systems Worldwide Headquarters GmbH, BorgWarner Turbo Systems of Michigan Inc., BorgWarner Turbo and Emissions Systems de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BorgWarner UK Financing Ltd., BorgWarner UK Holding and Services Ltd., BorgWarner US Holding LLC, BorgWarner USA Industries L.L.C., BorgWarner United Transmission Systems Co. Ltd., BorgWarner Waterloo Inc., BorgWarner Wrexham Limited, Cascadia Motion LLC, Creon Insurance Agency Limited, Delphi Technologies, Dytech ENSA, Gustav Wahler GmbH u. Co. KG, Haldex, Kuhlman LLC, Kysor Europe Limited, M. & M. Knopf Auto Parts L.L.C., NSK-Warner (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., NSK-Warner K.K., NSK-Warner Mexico S.A. de C.V, NSK-Warner U.S.A. Inc., New PDS Corp., Old Remco Holdings L.L.C., Old Remco International Holdings L.L.C., Remy International, SeohanWarner Turbo Systems LLC, Sevcon, Sevcon New Energy Technology (Hubei) Company Limited, and Transmission Systems AutoForm LLC.

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AmerisourceBergen Corporation sources and distributes pharmaceutical products in the United States and internationally. Its Pharmaceutical Distribution segment distributes brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to various healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, long-term care and alternate site pharmacies, and other customers. It also provides pharmacy management, staffing, and other consulting services; supply management software to retail and institutional healthcare providers; and packaging solutions to various institutional and retail healthcare providers. In addition, this segment distributes plasma and other blood products, injectable pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and other specialty products; provides other services primarily to physicians who specialize in various disease states, primarily oncology, as well as to other healthcare providers, including hospitals and dialysis clinics; and offers data analytics, outcomes research, and additional services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company's Other segment provides integrated manufacturer services, such as clinical trial support, product post-approval, and commercialization support; specialty transportation and logistics services for the biopharmaceutical industry; and sells pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, micro feed ingredients, and various other products to customers in the companion animal and production animal markets, as well as demand-creating sales force services to manufacturers. AmerisourceBergen Corporation was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
Mahat invites Singapore to invest in Nepal

Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat discussed bilateral issues with his Singaporean counterpart Josephine Teo Li Min on Thursday, inviting the Southeast Asian nation to invest in Nepal.
Maine is ready to change to Atlantic Standard Time (AST) as long as voters approve and neighboring states follow.

Sunset in Augusta, Maine's state capital. iStockphoto.com/SeanPavonePhoto

The Maine Senate just passed a bill supporting the shift to Atlantic Standard Time (AST). However, the bill also requires a public vote on the issue and with the condition that Massachusetts and New Hampshire also decide to make the switch.

No Daylight Saving Time

The proposed shift to permanent AST would remove the yearly Daylight Saving Time (DST) clock changes, and move sunrise and sunset one hour later in the day all year.

Currently, Maine is on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) with a UTC offset of UTC-4. During standard time the state observes Eastern Standard Time (EST) with an offset of UTC-5.

A Possible New England Move

The Maine bill surfaced after Massachusetts decided in 2016 to study the effects of abolishing yearly clock changes and permanently moving the state from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Atlantic Standard Time (AST).

The study has inspired lawmakers in the New England states of New Hampshire and Connecticut to propose similar bills. Also, Rhode Island has proposed to move to AST on the condition that Massachusetts makes the same move.

The pros and cons of DST

Two States without DST

Currently, Hawaii and most of Arizona are the only two US states that do not use DST.

The US dependencies American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Marina Islands, the US Minor Outlying Islands, and the US Virgin Islands do not observe DST either.

DST changes in the US

DST Rules in the US

DST in the USA starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The current schedule was introduced in 2007 and follows the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

According to section 110 of the Act, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) governs the use of DST. The law does not affect the rights of the states and territories that choose not to observe DST.
An official website of the United States Government
Unique wolf species are found in all corners of the Earth. The critically endangered red wolf has decreasing populations, with only between 20 and 30 individuals in the U.S., while the endangered Ethiopian wolf is believed to number just under 200 in the remote highlands of Ethiopia. The most abundant wolf species, the gray wolf, lost its protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in late 2020 and is now believed to have a stable population of 6,000 throughout the lower 48 U.S. states (and over 200,000 individuals worldwide). While the gray wolf species is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, the dwindling Mexican wolf subpopulation in the southwest is still protected under the ESA.

Federal Protections

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the removal of the gray wolf (also known as the grey wolf) from the ESA in March 2019, citing the overall population's health in all nine extant states. The species had spent 45 years on the list, and the two primary populations greatly exceeded recovery goals among the Northern Rocky Mountains and Western Great Lakes. According to the announcement, state and tribal wildlife management agencies would assume responsibility for the sustainable management and protection of gray wolves, but FWS would continue to monitor the species for the next five years. The Mexican wolf, a subspecies of the gray wolf, would remain on the ESA due to its small range  condensed to Arizona and New Mexico  and low numbers.

Certain conservationists and scientists didnt necessarily see it this way, however, highlighting the fact that the revival of one or two populations may not be sufficient to declare an entire species recovered. A 2021 study published in the journal BioScience suggested that the revisions to the ESA in 2019 allowed for a narrower view of what constitutes the recovery of widely distributed species in terms of range, as it focuses on stronger population numbers and discounts weak ones.

While the Great Lakes region accounts for two-thirds of the entire U.S. gray wolf population, it still only occupies 3 out of the 17 states with substantial habitat in the wolves historical range. The proposal of a separate species called the eastern wolf in the Great Lakes region poised a similar argument. Scientists continue to disagree on whether the eastern wolf constitutes its own species, a gray wolf subspecies, or a wolf-coyote hybrid. Since the ESA makes it illegal to kill a protected species in most cases, many wolf advocates believe the removal will hinder wolf recovery throughout the rest of the country.

The red wolf, known as the worlds most endangered wolf species, is found only in eastern North Carolina and is currently listed as an endangered species under the ESA. According to the FWS, there are only about 20 wild red wolves left in their native habitats and 245 maintained in captive breeding facilities.

The Mexican wolf subspecies teetered on the edge of extinction through the 1800s and mid-1900s due to hunting. The subspecies gained protection under the ESA in 1976, and in 1998, wolf recovery strategies began in the United States. By 2018, the population of endangered Mexican wolves had grown from 32 to 131, and by 2019, the FWS announced a 24% increase to 163 individuals divided almost evenly between Arizona and New Mexico.

The Mexican wolf is a critically endangered subspecies of gray wolf. Mark Newman / Getty Images

Threats

Wolves are apex predators, so they are rarely threatened by other species in their natural environments. It isnt uncommon for wolves to kill one another over territory disputes, but generally, the majority of wolf mortalities come at the hands of humans. Disease, prey depletion, and habitat loss contribute to a portion of threats, as well.

Human Intolerance

The long history between wolves and humans is steeped in misrepresentation. Wolves are typically presented as villainous or dangerous; we are taught to fear them even in the fairy tales we grew up hearing as children. Although unprovoked attacks against humans are rare, wolves pose a danger to livestock and domestic animals, especially in areas where their usual prey has become scarce. Even as we come to understand more about wolves and attitudes toward the animals change, wolf management and conservation remain controversial.

In areas where wolf populations overlap with agriculture, wolves are culled to reduce potential conflicts between wolves and livestock. In the Yukon, lethal wolf control efforts can reduce populations by up to 80% in the wintertime. Though populations have been known to rebound within four to five years, recovery is largely due to outside wolves coming in from neighboring areas in search of new habitats.

Habitat Loss

Human encroachment into wolf habitats leads to fragmentation and conflicts from vehicle collision as wolves are forced to cross roads and railways. Similarly, as agricultural land expands, farmers are more likely to kill wolves to protect their livestock.

A wide habitat range is especially important for gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains, who are over 11 times more likely to reproduce after forming new packs than when they stay in existing packs. Surrounding pack density has a negative effect on the formation of new packs, so when wolves are given the chance to distribute or spread over a wider area, opportunities for successful reproduction grow.

A group of gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park, Montana. Jason Maehl / Getty Images

Loss of Prey Sources

Some researchers propose wolf culling as a means to protect populations of prey mammals; however, studies have found that wolves in southern Europe prey more on ungulates (hoofed mammals) in areas where wild prey is at higher densities than livestock. This suggests that the reintroduction of certain wild ungulate species would prove a successful conservation method to keep wolves from being hunted.

The endangered Ethiopian wolf, a species currently confined to seven isolated mountain ranges in the Ethiopian highlands, has at least 40% of its prey classified as threatened by the IUCN.

Disease

Disease affects wolf populations in the wild less than in captivity, threatening recovery efforts for species like the red wolf, whose captive populations outnumber those in the wild more than 12:1. A survey of captive red wolves from 1996 to 2012 found that out of 259 deceased wolves, the greatest cause of death was cancerous growths, while the second was gastrointestinal disease.

Rabies and canine distemper virus (CDV) are both large issues for endangered Ethiopian wolves. In 2010, a massive CVD outbreak occurred just 20 months after a rabies outbreak in Bale Mountains National Park in southeastern Ethiopia, where the worlds largest population of Ethiopian wolves lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared populations from 2005-2006 and 2010 to find that death rates range between 43% and 68% in affected wolves, giving the population little chance of recovery.

An Ethiopian wolf and cub in Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia. Anup Shah / Getty Images

What We Can Do

Wolves help maintain the overall health of prey species by targeting weak animals and reducing heavy prey animal populations, allowing for more diversity and abundance of plant species. Wolves can even have economic benefits to their occupied areas; the presence of wolves in Yellowstone National Park increased ecotourism spending by $35.5 million in 2005.

Wolf reintroduction can have a cascading effect on entire ecosystems. The 1995 reintroduction project in Yellowstone led to important indirect interactions between wolves, elk, and plant species (specifically aspen, cottonwood, and willow trees). Animal browsing on the five tallest young aspens in portions of the northern range decreased from 100% in 1998 to under 25% by 2010. Trees grew taller and populations of species like bison and beaver who rely on woody plants and herbaceous forage increased.

Continuing scientific research is necessary to understand the interactions between wolves and people to influence future conservation efforts. As management responsibilities for gray wolves in the U.S. move from the ESA to local and state officials, it's important to contact your local representatives to voice your support for wolves, especially if you live in states like Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington, and Oregon.

Individuals can help wolves by supporting organizations that preserve wildlands and by keeping an open mind about wolf management. Coexistence between humans (especially those who care for livestock) and wolves is key to their survival.
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The 'natural branding' process marks the outermost layer of peel without using ink or affecting taste and shelf life.

Plastic produce stickers might be a thing of the past if Swedish supermarket ICA has its way. The chain, with more than 1,300 stores across Sweden, began experimenting last December with natural branding, a process that imprints a fruit or vegetable peel with its name, country of origin, and code number using a laser. The low-energy, carbon dioxide laser burns away the first layer of pigment to a clearly legible result that uses no ink or additional products. It is a superficial, contact-free method that does not affect taste or shelf life.

This innovation is welcome news for shoppers familiar with the irritation of having to pick stickers off while washing produce prior to eating. Especially for those striving to reduce plastic waste, its highly annoying to have to pick off stickers in the produce aisle and placate grumpy cashiers who dont like looking up produce codes.

While those plastic stickers may look tiny, they add up to a lot of waste from paper or plastic, glue, and ink. Waste reduction is something that ICAs senior produce manager, Peter Hagg, wants to prioritize:
When Graham Hill designed his first LifeEdited apartment, he did not include a permanent stove or range top; instead he had three little induction hotplates that he would pull out as needed. It was edgy at the time- who ever heard of a kitchen without a stove? In fact, it was really prescient. According to the UK Vice food site Munchies, Londons Top Chefs Are All Cooking on 99 Induction Hobs now. Chloe Scott-Moncrieff describes it:

At P. Franco wine bar in London, an act of culinary sorcery is about to commence. Tim Spedding, former sous chef at the Michelin-starred Clove Club, is standing in front of two induction hobs. There's no pacojet, no sous vide bath, no army of chefs running the pass. Instead, it's just Spedding working two portable electric hobs with the adroitness of a DJ behind the decks. "Here, with limited cooking capacity, you focus entirely on presenting the best ingredients in the most balanced way."



Munchies/ Chef Tim Spedding cooks using induction hobs at P. Franco wine bar in London. Photo courtesy P. Franco./viaOther chefs agree, saying "I wouldn't ever go back to gas....Once you get the hang of them, they're far easier than cooking on gas or electric." James Lowe of a Michelin starred restaurant thinks that a lot of it has to do with finally getting over snobbery.
Main oppn draws ECs attention

The main opposition CPN-UML on Thursday drew the attention of the Election Commission (EC) to the second phase of polls scheduled for June 14, saying that elections cannot be conducted after the fiscal budget is presented.
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Militants launched 58 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 positions near near Pavlopol. In addition, the enemy fired at ATO troops near Vodiane (16km north-west of Donetsk), using grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. Ukrainian strongholds outside Maryinka came under 82mm mortars, grenade launcher and heavy machine gun fire.

In Donetsk direction, terrorists used 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms to shell Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk). Militants also launched attacks on ATO troops in Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk) and Butovka coal mine (11.4km north-west of Donetsk).

In Luhansk direction, militants shelled Ukrainian positions near Popasna (90 km north-west of Luhansk) and Novozvanivka (70km west of Luhansk), using 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. ATO troops also came under antitank grenade launcher fire outside Lobachevo and Valuiske.

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Additional UAH 200 million has been allocated from the reserve fund of Ukraine to for the restoration of military depots and arsenals.

Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said during his visit to Balaklia, Kharkiv region, the Defense Ministrys press service reports.

About UAH 99 million has been allocated for the restoration of damages caused by a fire in a warehouse in Balaklia, of which UAH 9 million - for mine clearance. In addition, UAH 200 million has been allocated from the national reserve fund to restore military warehouses and arsenals," Poltorak said. .

He also stressed that special attention will be paid to the warehouses located near the borders with the Russian Federation.

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A total of 81 Ukrainian servicepersons, who have been wounded or injured in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) in eastern Ukraine, are currently undergoing treatment at medical establishments of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.

Defense Ministrys Spokesperson Maksym Prauta informed this at a press briefing on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

Seven ATO soldiers are currently undergoing treatment abroad. In particular three in Hungary, two are in Portugal, one each in Germany and in USA. In addition, 50 ATO participants are currently undergoing rehabilitation at health resorts of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, he said.

Prauta also added that since the start of ATO, 3,235 servicepersons have received treatment, including 275 soldiers  in 2017.

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No Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine over the past day.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson for ATO issues Colonel Andriy Lysenko said this at a press briefing on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"As a result of combat actions over the last day, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed, but ten were wounded. In particular, six servicepersons were wounded near Luhanske, another four  near Pavlopil, Lysenko said.

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The European Parliaments International Trade Committee has approved regulations to trade preferences to Ukraine to export some types of products to the EU countries.

The EU should offer further trade preferences to Ukraine, but some sensitive agricultural products dont need additional EU support, members of the International Trade Committee stated in a resolution adopted on Thursday, own Ukrinform correspondent in Brussels reported.

At the same time, amending a Commission proposal offering further trade preferences to Ukraine regarding certain agricultural products, MEPs suggested that tomatoes, wheat, and urea (a raw material for fertilizers) should not enjoy further quota preferences than those outlined in the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.

Also, MEPs noted that the condition for further trade preferences to Ukraine is a sustained fight against corruption along with respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

The European Parliament strongly supports the ongoing reforms in Ukraine. By granting temporary trade preferences, we want to strengthen small and medium enterprises and provide the necessary impetus for increasing trade flows. These developments have not just economic but political value for Ukraine, rapporteur Jaroslaw Walesa (EPP, PL) said.

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Since the beginning of 2017, Ukraine has sent most of its honey exports to the United States, totaling $12.6 million, the press service of the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry reports.

The United States has been the major importer of Ukrainian honey during the said period. The export deliveries of honey to this country came to $12.6 million, which is 34.03% of the total exports. In terms of the volume of honey exports, Germany was ranked second ($8.5 million, or 22.99%) and Poland was ranked third ($3.7 million, or 9.97%), the report states.

According to the data from the Ukrainian State Fiscal Service, Ukraine has exported 21.9 thousand tonnes of honey over the past four months, totaling $36.9 million. Meanwhile, Ukraine imported 6 tonnes of honey, totaling $24 thousand. Most honey imports came from the Czech Republic ($14 thousand, or 60.87%) and Lithuania ($7 thousand, or 30.43%).

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Germany was the major importer of Ukrainian honey in 2016 (totaling 18.482 thousand tonnes). In general, Ukraine's honey exports were sent to 19 European countries last year.

mk
Foreign Minister Mahat meets Swaraj in Delhi

Indians Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj has expressed her best wishes for successful conduction of local level elections in Nepal and national efforts to achieve peace, stability and socio-economic transformations.
On Thursday evening, Italian representative at Eurovision Francesco Gabbani arrived in the Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv. Bookmakers from the first days are predicting victory for Italy at the song contest this year.

"A lot of Ukrainian journalists came to meet Gabbani at the Boryspil airport. The Italian did not go out for about 40 minutes to the press and then got into his bus and drove under police escort to his apartments," Apostrophe website reported.

Answering a question about the fact that he is called a likely winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2017, Gabbani notes that he prefers not to think about it yet.

Since Italy is a member of the Big Five, Gabbani with his song "Occidentali's Karma" will perform in the Eurovision final on May 13.

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The European Union and Norway have discussed support for Ukraine and further pressure on Russia.

This was discussed at a meeting of European Council President Donald Tusk and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Thursday in Brussels, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"Together with Prime Minister Solberg, we discussed the conflict in Ukraine and our relations with Russia. We remain adamant in our attitude towards Russia. We know who is the victim of the conflict, and we will continue to work together to promote reforms and development of Ukraine. We also cooperate in the issue of sanctions against Russia," Tusk said.

The parties also reaffirmed their commitment to transatlantic relations and called for further strengthening of security cooperation, including relations between the EU and NATO.

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Move to impeach CJ Karki assault on human rights: UN Commissioner

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein has condemned the move to impeach Chief Justice Sushila Karki, warning that such actions suggest a concerted attempt by government to undermine the independence of the judiciary.
UNICEF/Logan

BANGUI, Central African Republic/DAKAR/GENEVA/NEW YORK, 5 May 2017  Without increased support, the lives and futures of more than 1 million children in the Central African Republic are under threat, UNICEF said today.



While the countrys fragile recovery continues, sporadic violence and instability remains an issue, with an estimated 890,000 people remain displaced and more than 2.2 million people  half of them children  in need of humanitarian assistance.



We cannot allow the Central African Republic to become a forgotten crisis, said Christine Muhigana, UNICEF Representative in the Central African Republic. The reality is that without sufficient support we will not be able to provide the vital services that are needed to keep children healthy, safe and in school.



Today, over 425,000 people remain displaced inside the country while 463,000 have sought refuge in Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Congo  with Cameroon hosting more than half of these refugees. It is estimated that around half of those displaced are children.



The situation for children inside the country remains calamitous as violence and widespread displacement have made children especially vulnerable to health risks, exploitation and abuse. Nearly half of children under five (41%) suffer from chronic malnutrition that jeopardizes their physical and intellectual development; 1 in 7 children will die before they reach their fifth birthday and a third of children are out of school.



Social services remain absent in many areas, where humanitarian organisations are having to provide the most vulnerable populations with emergency assistance. Muhigana added. UNICEF is working to provide humanitarian assistance in areas affected by conflict and working with the government on recovery in areas that are secure.



In May 2015, the leaders of the armed groups signed a commitment to release all the children within their ranks. Since then, over 7,000 children have been released, but hundreds more are still enrolled.



UNICEFs is facing a US$32.6 million funding gap as it races to provide life-saving assistance to children and families in the country. UNICEFs 2016 appeal was less than 56 percent funded.



Humanitarian access remains a pressing issue, with CAR being considered as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for humanitarian workers. In March 2017 alone there were 14 incidents involving humanitarian organisations.



In 2017 UNICEF and partners aim to:



 Reach 29,585 children under five affected by severe malnutrition with treatment

 Provide 320,000 people with access to essential health services

 Reach 450,000 internally displaced people and their host communities with safe water

 Provide 50,000 children with psycho-social support



###



For more information please contact:

Donaig Le Du, UNICEF CAR, +236 70 00 97 06, dledu@unicef.org

Patrick Rose, UNICEF Dakar, +221 78 63 80 250, prose@unicef.org

Joe English, UNICEF New York, + 1 917-893-0692, jenglish@unicef.org

Christophe Boulierac, UNICEF Geneva, +41 22 909 5716, +41 799639244, cboulierac@unicef.org
Prosecutors said Friday they are dropping charges against two Hispanic teens accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a Maryland high school restroom, a case that drew national attention after the White House cited it as an example of why the president wants to crack down on illegal immigration.

Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy said at a news conference that the rape and sex offense charges were being dropped after a "painstaking investigation" of a 14-year-old girl's claim that the two teens took turns raping her in the bathroom at Rockville High School.

Defense attorneys said the sex was consensual. They pointed to text messages in which the girl agreed to a sexual encounter, an explicit video the girl sent one of the teens, and security camera footage which they said shows the girl running to meet one of the teens and willingly entering the restroom with him.

At the news conference, McCarthy said the girl was interviewed multiple times and the investigation revealed a "lack of corroboration and substantial inconsistencies."

"The original charges cannot be sustained, and prosecution is untenable on those charges," McCarthy said. He refused to answer any questions after reading his statement.

While dropping the rape charges, prosecutors brought new child pornography charges against the two teens. McCarthy said the 18-year-old, Henry Sanchez, will be charged with possession of child pornography, which carries a potential sentence of up to five years.

He declined to say what charges would be brought against the 17-year-old, because that case has now been transferred to juvenile court. But the younger teen's lawyers said the boy would face charges on counts of distributing and possessing child pornography, and that the charges carry a possible sentence of 10 years or more.

The AP does not typically identify juveniles charged with crimes and is no longer naming the 17-year-old now that he is charged as a juvenile.

Explicit video from girl

Defense lawyer Maria Mena said the pornography charges stem from the explicit video that the 14-year-old girl sent to the 17-year-old, which he then shared with Sanchez.

She called it "egregious" that her client was being charged, while the 14-year-old girl who actually produced the video and sent it to him voluntarily is not being charged.

"Obviously this young girl was not raped, as we've said from the beginning," she said. The purpose of the child pornography statute, she said, is to deter adults from engaging in predatory conduct against kids, not to criminalize sexting between two minors.

Another defense attorney, David Wooten, said the primary reason they were able to prove the 17-year-old's innocence was by producing the evidence of the explicit text messages and video that the girl had sent.

"Those very text messages and images that vindicated him are now being used against him," he said.

White House comments

The 17-year-old came to the U.S. from El Salvador to live with relatives who are U.S. citizens after his adoptive grandmother died in El Salvador, leaving him alone there, his lawyers said. Mena said Friday that immigration proceedings have been initiated against him but they will fight to keep him in the country.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the 18-year-old, Sanchez, was stopped by a border patrol agent in Texas last year and that an immigration detainer has been placed on him.

In March, after the charges were filed, White House spokesman Sean Spicer, in response to a reporter's question, called the allegations shocking and disturbing, saying "I think part of the reason that the president has made illegal immigration and crackdown such a big deal is because of tragedies like this."

After those comments, the school system stepped up security as it became the subject of anti-immigration protests and counter protests. Officials said they were besieged by hundreds of racist and xenophobic calls and comments.
Indonesia's foreign minister expressed satisfaction after a meeting Thursday with the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, saying that Speaker Paul Ryan had affirmed he does not see the Muslim faith as the source of Islamist radicalism.

"There is a strong message that Paul Ryan delivered at the meeting, that overcoming radicalism and terrorism is not [to be done] by positioning Islam as the enemy," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told VOA's Indonesian service after the meeting. "This ideology can be adopted by anyone. There is no link between Islam and radicalism."

Speaking in the Indonesian language, the minister said the 15-minute Capitol Hill meeting had left her with the belief that the United States understands that Indonesia is a strong, pluralistic and democratic country, and that Islam, the predominant faith in Indonesia, is not an obstacle to positive relations with the United States.

She said the two agreed that Indonesia, with the world's largest Muslim population, could play a "very important" role in the fight against international terrorism, "especially through 'soft power,' because that's where our strength is."

Travel ban

Retno's remarks masked her reaction to the Trump administration's initial travel ban covering seven Muslim-majority nations. In January, she said, "We have deep regrets about the policy."

And, although Ryan stressed the need for Indonesia to use "soft power" to counter "radicalism and terrorism," Indonesia has faced an increase in religious intolerance since the end of Suharto's secular dictatorship in 1998. Salafism, which is much stricter than Indonesia's traditional practice of Islam, has been growing in part because of Saudi Arabian funding.

Retno said she and Ryan also discussed efforts to maintain and strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, cooperation on trade and investment cooperation, and the long-running dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.

The minister's two-day visit to Washington follows a visit to Jakarta last month by Vice President Mike Pence. In addition to her meeting with Ryan, Retno met with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Talks with Pence and Thomas P. Bossert, President Donald Trump's presidential adviser on counterterrorism, were also on her agenda.

The meeting between Retno and Ryan came two weeks after Islam played an unprecedented role in the election of a new governor of Jakarta, Indonesia's largest city.

Ahok defeated

In last month's runoff, Anies Baswedan, a former minister of education and culture, beat Chinese-Christian Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who became acting governor after his boss, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, won the 2014 presidential election.

Ahok campaigned while being tried on a blasphemy charge, which originated in a campaign speech when he quoted the Quran. Islamist hard-liners seized upon a video clip, and the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI), once a fringe group, organized two enormous protests in Jakarta, where it called for Ahok to be jailed and even killed.

The verdict and sentencing are scheduled for Tuesday, amid growing popular support for Sharia, the Islamic legal code, which is what the Trump administration hints at in its attacks on "radical Islamic terrorism."

An October 2016 study found nearly 80 percent of Islamic education teachers in five of 34 Indonesian provinces supported implementing Sharia. In much of Indonesia, religion is taught in public and private schools.
Laura Poitras announces early in her Julian Assange documentary Risk: "This is not the film I thought I was making."

"I thought I could ignore the contradictions," the Oscar-winning Citizenfour filmmaker says in a voiceover. "I thought they were not part of the story. I was so wrong. They are becoming the story."

Decoding "the story" when it comes to the WikiLeaks founder has never been easy. It's evolving even now, just as Poitras' six-years-in-the-making documentary  one made with rare access to an explosively controversial figure under ever-increasing international pressure  is hitting theaters.

Following WikiLeaks publishing of a trove of CIA hacking documents in March, the Department of Justice is reportedly preparing to seek the arrest of Assange, who has been holed away in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London for nearly five years to avoid extradition to Sweden. On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton blamed "Russian WikiLeaks" for swaying November's election by publishing hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee. (Assange, responding Wednesday on Twitter, told Clinton to "Blame yourself.")

Also on Wednesday, FBI director James Comey, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the FBI had "high confidence" Russia was behind the DNC hacking. Comey said WikiLeaks was publishing damaging "intelligence porn." Assange responded Thursday on Twitter, accusing Comey of lying during his testimony.

'Very complex picture'

Poitras, whose Citizenfour went behind the headlines to reveal NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden, initially hoped that Risk would do something similar for Assange. She was making an intimate documentary about a brave visionary who risks everything in his crusade to make governments transparent. But, like many others who have been confounded by the WikiLeaks founder, Poitras underwent an evolution in her opinion of Assange. It's a journey she documents in the film, running right up until now.

"The ambivalence and struggle, I share that. I did try to let the audience see a very complex picture. And I grapple with it," Poitras said in an interview Tuesday. "For me, I absolutely support and defend their right to publish and I think that they have brought forward extraordinarily important information through their publishing. And I'm also disturbed by some of the things that are said in the film and I didn't want to exclude those things. That's not my job, to paint a simplistic portrait."

Poitras first contacted Assange in 2010 after WikiLeaks published the Collateral Murder video, which showed a U.S. helicopter in Iraq shooting several men, including two Reuters journalists. Poitras, who became focused on making films about post-9/11 surveillance, was welcomed into Assange's inner circle. Risk captures some of the inside drama behind many earth-shattering WikiLeaks publications; it opens with Assange trying to reach Clinton at the State Department ahead of the imminent leak of thousands of diplomatic cables.

It also shows Assange in a bracingly intimate, sometimes surreal way: getting his hair cut by his loyal followers; disguising himself before fleeing to Ecuador's embassy; being interviewed by Lady Gaga. There are hints, too, of the accusations that have often followed him, like that he runs WikiLeaks like its own intelligence agency.

Early reaction to film

Poitras first premiered the film a year ago at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was received largely positively. But some questioned whether Poitras was too closely aligned with her subject. Variety wondered if it was a "glorified fan film." The Guardian labeled it "an embedded report that sacrifices impartiality for access."

"I never define myself as an activist. I define myself as a journalist and a filmmaker," said Poitras. "There's a long tradition of journalism that's first-person perspective. I don't think that journalism is by definition activism. I think it's just stories that are told from a subjective point of view."

But developments that followed that premiere led Poitras to recut her film. She added the voiceovers that question and occasionally distance herself from Assange. She updated the film to include the DNC leak and allegations of a Russian connection, and even late last month went back in to include Attorney General Jeff Sessions vow to make Assange's arrest "a priority."

Numerous alleged victims also came forward to accuse Jacob Appelbaum, a WikiLeaks insider and significant personality in the film, of sexual harassment and bullying. (Appelbaum has denied it.) Poitras added to the film her acknowledgement of a previous relationship with Appelbaum and said he was abusive to someone close to her after their relationship ended. A representative for Appelbaum didn't respond to a request for comment about the film or abuse allegations.

Slate, however, still criticized the updated Risk as "what happens when a filmmaker gets too close to her subject." Yet Risk also repeatedly shows questionable behavior by Assange. In one scene he calls the rape allegation in Sweden, which he has denied, "a thoroughly tawdry radical feminist political positioning thing."

Assange calls film 'a threat'

Poitras has shown him multiple cuts of the film. Before the Cannes screening, he texted her that he considers Risk "a threat" to him personally.

"There were pressuring demands that I remove scenes from the film  that I didn't  that involved what he was talking about in terms of the Swedish case," said Poitras. "I don't think he has legitimate reason to [perceive the film as a threat]."

Assange and WikiLeaks also did not respond to requests for comment.

Citizenfour came about while Poitras was working on Risk. She was contacted by Snowden, who said he wanted to leak NSA documents to her, and she put him in touch with reporter Glenn Greenwald and documented their clandestine meetings in a Hong Kong hotel room.

"I got pulled into the story in a way that I never anticipated. Being pulled into the story led to all different types of conflicts and shifting relationships that happened that are in the film," said Poitras. "I'm part of the story now."

She nearly abandoned the Assange project but, convinced of its value to history, eventually returned to it.

"This is a moment of shifting power dynamics and how the internet is impacting that, for better and for worse," said Poitras. "We have a president now who communicates through Twitter. The film, I think, is trying to capture that historical moment."
The leader of Mozambique's Renamo opposition party and rebel movement said Thursday that he was extending a cease-fire indefinitely, part of an agreement reached in talks with the government to end violence since a disputed 2014 election.

Renamo and the ruling Frelimo party fought on opposing sides of a civil war from 1976 to 1992 in which a million people died before a peace accord ended the fighting.

But fighting has sporadically flared since Renamo challenged results of the southern African nation's 2014 elections. Till now, Renamo had renewed the cease-fire each 60 days during peace talks. Thursday was the latest deadline.

"This truce will be different from those we announced in the past. I am now declaring a truce without deadline," Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama told reporters during a conference call from his hideout in the Gorongosa area of central Mozambique.

A long-term deal would strengthen President Filipe Nyusi's position before a conference of the Frelimo party in September at which he is expected to be re-elected leader despite a high-profile debt scandal hanging over him.

Complaints from businesses

Dhlakama said businesses had complained about insecurity and the difficulty of working with looming cease-fire deadlines. "They were apprehensive about what would happen after 60 days. Peace is beginning and it will be an effective peace," Dhlakama said.

Beginning Monday, troops from Renamo's militia will start leaving positions around the mountains of Gorongosa, where Dhlakama has been holed up since fleeing a siege in the port city of Beira, and all troops will be gone by June, he said.

Dhlakama said progress in peace talks was slow but had been progressing. "I believe, I am motivated, that things will end well," he said of the talks.

Issues still being discussed include plans to decentralize powers, constitutional reforms to allow provincial governors to be elected and reintegrating Renamo's staff into the police and army.

Renamo wants governors to be elected in 2019, seeing it as a chance to rule areas where it has popular backing.
Border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 80 others Friday in a disputed area, officials said.



A Pakistan army spokesman said the fighting erupted after Afghan forces fired at a government census team near the southwestern border town of Chaman.

Army spokesman Major-General Asif Ghafoor said several Pakistani soldiers escorting civilian enumerators were among the wounded. He added that Pakistani troops returned fire and closed the busy Chaman border crossing with Afghanistan.



Pakistani hospital and security officials in Chaman say the death toll on their side is at least nine civilians, including women and children, while more than 40 have been wounded.

The Pakistan military also has confirmed that both sides have agreed to a cease-fire, and a meeting between border officials from the two sides is expected to take place.



WATCH: Video footage from the scene



Ongoing dispute



General Ghafoor insisted that Afghan border forces have been creating hurdles in attempts to conduct a census in two divided villages, Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir, along the border.



This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance, and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels to conduct the census, explained General Ghafoor.

An Afghan regional police chief, General Abdul Raziq, confirmed to VOA the fighting left four of his border guards dead and wounded 37 people, including 14 security forces. He added that the clashes have stopped, and border officials from the two sides are scheduled to meet late Friday afternoon.

The police chief said that Pakistani authorities were warned beforehand against conducting any activity in the divided villages, saying they are part of Afghanistan.



We had alerted our border police and also warned Pakistan that if they undertook any activity [in this area] it would cost them a big price, Raziq insisted.



Despite the warning, Pakistani troops and military vehicles tried to enter the divided villages early Friday morning to occupy our land, but they were prevented from doing so, he added.



General Raziq went on to assert that the two villages, with a total population of around 15,000 people, are located at the zero point of the Durand Line and a large number of them are enrolled in the Afghan border force."

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned what he said was the grave incident of firing by Afghan forces, and he termed it as most unfortunate.



Action demanded

The foreign ministry summoned the Afghan Charge d Affairs in Islamabad and strongly protested over the unprovoked firing and demanded Kabul take immediate action against those responsible for starting it.

The unprovoked firing from the Afghan side not only led to the loss of precious lives and injured many, but has also disrupted the census in areas on the Pakistan side of the border and caused damage to properties, a ministry statement said.



Thousands of travelers use the Chaman border crossing to move in both directions, and it also serves as a major trade and transit route for landlocked Afghanistan.



Afghanistan disputes portions of its nearly 2,600-kilometer border with Pakistan, which is known as the Durand Line. The frontier was established in 1896 when Britain was ruling the Indian subcontinent.



Islamabad dismisses Kabul's objections over the demarcation and maintains Pakistan inherited the international frontier when it gained independence from Britain in 1947.



Bilateral relations have deteriorated in recent years over mutual allegations and counter allegations that Pakistani and Afghan spy agencies support militants conducting terrorist attacks in both countries.
Romania's constitutional court on Thursday upheld a law preventing people with convictions from serving as ministers, a victory for the country's anti-corruption fight.

The ruling deals a blow to the powerful chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Liviu Dragnea, who cannot be prime minister because of a conviction last year for vote rigging.

Dragnea has called the law unfair, and many Social Democrats want him to be prime minister. The court had postponed making a ruling four times.

The law, introduced in 2001 as Romania prepared for membership in NATO and the European Union, bars people with convictions from serving as ministers. Dragnea could still run for president, because the law does not cover that post.

In January, Romania's ombudsman asked the court to declare it unconstitutional.

In a related development, senators who are members of a parliamentary legal committee voted Thursday to scrap a draft law they had approved the previous day that would have granted amnesty to people convicted of bribery and influence peddling.

More than 1,000 protested the vote Wednesday evening in Bucharest, joined by hundreds more in cities around Romania.
NA men defuse explosive device at NC candidates house

A socket bomb was found at a house of Nepali Congress mayor candidate at Kushma Municipality in Parbat district on Thursday evening.
Macedonia's parliament speaker urged the country's president on Thursday to recognize a new majority of Social Democrats and parties representing ethnic Albanians so they can form a government and end a volatile political stalemate.

Almost five months after a December 11 parliamentary election, Macedonian nationalists unhappy about the inclusion of minority Albanians are blocking the formation of a new government, compounding the worst crisis in the small Balkan country since it narrowly averted an ethnic civil war in 2001.

The election last week of Talat Xhaferi, a former ethnic Albanian guerrilla, as speaker prompted nationalists to storm into parliament where they assaulted MPs. More than 100 people were injured and the European Union and NATO  both of which Skopje aspires to join  condemned the violence.

Letter to president

In a letter on Thursday, Xhaferi urged President Gjorge Ivanov, a nationalist though not affiliated with any party, to acknowledge the new majority bloc and allow Social Democratic leader Zoran Zaev to form a cabinet.

"I expect the president to act, according to the constitution," Xhaferi said in a statement before heading to Brussels to meet EU officials including Johannes Hahn, the commissioner in charge of EU enlargement.

After the December election in the former Yugoslav republic, Zaev engineered a coalition with two parties representing ethnic Albanians, who make up a third of the 2.1 million population.

The pact, among other things, envisages a law that would allow wider use of the Albanian language, something that has triggered daily street protests by Macedonian Slav nationalists.

But Ivanov refused to give a government mandate to Zaev, saying the coalition deal threatened the country's sovereignty.

Territorial guarantees

Zaev, however, said Thursday that he expected a government to be established this month.

"I am ready, if necessary, to see Ivanov and offer guarantees that the territorial integrity of Macedonia will be respected," Zaev told reporters in Skopje.

Macedonia has been without a functioning government since 2015, when it fell into turmoil over a wiretapping scandal that brought down the ruling nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party bloc.

Efforts to advance toward membership of the EU and NATO have faltered in part over a row with Greece over Macedonia's name, which it shares with a northern Greek province.

The EU has become alarmed in recent months about growing instability in the Balkans, two decades after the devastating ethnic wars caused by Yugoslavia's breakup. The EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said the violence in Macedonia was "particularly worrying" and the crisis "dangerous."
Wednesday was World Press Freedom Day, but in South Sudan, journalists say freedom to do their work has all but disappeared.

Alfred Taban, editor in chief of the independent Juba Monitor, says his English-language newspaper is routinely censored by security agents prior to publishing.

Taban was arrested last year for writing an editorial calling for South Sudans leaders to step down.

In July when I wrote that President Kiir and the then-First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar should be removed because they have failed to bring peace to this country, on that same day I was arrested. And I stayed in detention for close to two weeks," he tells VOA's South Sudan in Focus.

Freelance journalist Gale Julius, who writes for the Catholic-owned Bakhita Radio in Juba, says he got into trouble several times for snapping photos in the capital, Juba.



Once instance came during a trial of officials accused of trying overthrow President Salva Kiir. "That was a day when one of the big men in national security came to testify and they told me they did not want their photos taken. When they took me to the security offices they didnt beat me, but it was what they said about journalists, the names they call us. It is really very disturbing, Julius says.



Julius was also arrested for taking photos of Juba residents who spent the night a makeshift clinic offering free medical services. He says security agents did not want him to report the true picture of how desperate South Sudanese are for health care.

Government says journalists are free

South Sudan Information Minister Michael Makuei insists that contrary to reports like these, journalists working in South Sudan are free.

"The way people behave undermines the law. Journalists are free, but it is not absolute freedom. If there is any country in the world where there is absolute freedom of press, you can inform me, he told South Sudan in Focus.

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the U.N. General Assembly in 1993. Besides promoting the rights of journalists, the day also pays tribute to reporters who have been killed.

The Committee to Protect Journalists ranks South Sudan as the 5th most dangerous country for journalists in its annual index. Seven South Sudanese journalists were killed by unknown gunmen in 2015. Another was killed in July 2016.

Despite the dangers, many reporters told VOA they will carry on, because they believe journalists play a critical role in the drive to achieve peace in conflict-ridden South Sudan.



Mary Ajith, deputy chairman of the Association of Media Development in South Sudan, said peace should be the core responsibility of every journalist.



Through the articles we write, whether on the website or in newspapers, these articles work towards peace in our country, Ajith tells South Sudan in Focus.



Koang Pal Chang is an editor at Eye Radio, a station shut down last year by national security operatives after it aired the voice of rebel leader Riek Machar.





Pal said despite the hardships, he will not give up his work.



People want to know what is happening with the peace agreement, with the national dialogue, what is happening with my neighbor, what is happening in that state, what is this U.N. doing? said Pal.

Rachel Alek works at She magazine, which covers womens issues. She encourages other South Sudanese journalists to not choose a tribal line reporting kind of habit, just present what is right and do what you think is ethical.

Nabeel Biajo, Waakhe Simon Wudu, Ayen Bior contributed to this report.
Taiwan is expected to follow any agreements reached by other governments that compete with its claims to nearly the entire South China Sea as a show of strategic goodwill, even though it can neither negotiate nor sign the deals.

China and an organization representing four Southeast Asian countries that claim the sea are working on the framework for a code of conduct that would help head off mishaps among fishing boats, oil rigs and coast guard vessels. Separately, China is talking to Vietnam and the Philippines about their own deals in waters that Taiwan claims.

Taiwan lacks formal diplomatic relations in Asia because China sees it as part of its own territory rather than as a sovereign state. Beijing uses its economic clout to stop other countries from pursuing economic or security deals with Taipei.

We have limited tools in our box, said Alexander Huang, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan. If China signed the code of conduct, we would have no choice but follow the code of conduct. Even if we dispute, I think we would be further alienated and even be punished.

Claims to 90 percent of the sea

China and Taiwan are the only governments that claim more than 90 percent of the whole sea, a 3.5 million-square-kilometer swath of rich fisheries, strategic shipping lanes and oil and gas resources.

Both support their claims with a nine-dash line, a demarcation based on historical fishing records. China has landfilled islets and positioned some to accommodate combat aircraft and radar systems. Taiwan holds the seas largest feature, Taiping Island, and the tiny Pratas island chain.

Taiwan would observe maritime deals as part of its policy of striving to share resources and preserve peace in the sea that extends from its south coast to Singapore, analysts say. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines also claim parts of the South China Sea.

Ive always felt Taiwans best play is to be a model international citizen, said Denny Roy, senior fellow at the think tank East-West Center in Honolulu. If that is the approach Taipei decides to take, it would mean first complaining about the ongoing issue of not being treated as a claimant country, but afterward following whatever set of rules is agreed to by the others.

Model international citizen

Taiwan believes in setting aside disputes and working toward joint development at sea, the foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday. It did not say whether it would follow agreements that exclude it, but asked that Taiwan be treated equally in talks on regional stability or on freedom of shipping and aviation.

Taiwan lost a chance to make a global impression by stepping away from its nine-dash line claim, said Euan Graham, international security director with the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney.

There was an opportunity there I think for Taiwan to get ahead of China in a way by maintaining its claim on the basis of features, but separating itself from the nine-dash line, Graham said. That would have been interesting, how China would have responded to that.

Focus likely on research

Taiwan will probably focus now on oceanic environmental research with measures backing up its calls for peaceful, common use of the sea, Huang said.

Agreements between Vietnam and China cover tracts of water claimed by Taiwan, as well. China and Vietnam signed a maritime delineation deal in 2000. Theyre now discussing cooperation on undersea exploration for fossil fuels.

China and the Philippines are scheduled this month to start talks on a maritime security and cooperation deal.

Taiwan-registered fishing boats, part of a fleet ranked as one of the worlds largest at $1.27 billion in 2014, sometimes work off the coast of Luzon Island in the Philippine exclusive economic zone, a coast guard official on site said.

Taipei, which is not a signatory to a United Nations law of the sea convention, and Manila reached a deal in 2015 to shun any use of force against each others fishing vessels in disputed waters. They did not agree to joint use.

Disregard for maritime agreements would risk a backlash against Taiwans policy of shifting private investment into South and Southeast Asia instead of China, where political relations are cold.

For the sake of prosperity and also for the friendship I think we will follow whatever agreements (are) already in place, said Alex Chiang, international relations professor at National Chengchi University in Taipei. Especially the government today is trying to increase contact with Southeast Asian countries, so I dont think well try to make trouble for those Southeast Asian countries.
The United States is rallying Southeast Asian countries to advance Washington's approach to address North Korea's threats and to uphold principles including freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in his first meeting with all members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday, asked the bloc to speak in one voice to tackle North Korea's nuclear and missile proliferation.

Very specifically, the U.S. is asking countries, including our partners in ASEAN, to take efforts to deny the revenue streams that North Korea has enjoyed around the region, and to take a look at the diplomatic relations to minimize them, Patrick Murphy, deputy assistant secretary of state for Southeast Asia, said in a telephone briefing on Thursday.

So that North Korea does not gain benefit from its diplomatic channels for its nuclear and missile aspirations, Murphy added.



All ASEAN members have diplomatic relations with North Korea. Eight of them host North Korean embassies and five have embassies in Pyongyang.

A shared concern



Washington said there was a shared concern among the Southeast Asian bloc that North Korea's provocation has threatened the stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region and around the globe.

Some countries have told the U.S. they are taking measures and steps, relooking (at) the size of North Korea's diplomatic presence in individual countries, their activities, their commercial transactions that are conducted under diplomatic cover in the light, Murphy said.

On the South China Sea, Secretary Tillerson made a particular appeal to his counterparts that all parties involved to stop militarization, construction and reclamation of land in the South China Sea area while talks are going on.

Principles reaffirmed

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said principles were reaffirmed during the U.S.-ASEAN ministerial meeting, including peaceful resolution of disputes, with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, and in accordance with international law.

The secretary and the ministers stressed the need for ASEAN member states and China to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety, and took note of efforts towards the early conclusion of a meaningful Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, Nauert said.



In 2002, China and ASEAN adopted a declaration of conduct in which all parties agreed to avoid activities that would escalate disputes, including refraining from inhabiting the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays and other features.

However, a legally binding code of conduct has yet to be worked out.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the South China Sea issue is neither a problem between China and ASEAN, nor between the U.S. and ASEAN.

The South China Sea issue involves China and a few members of ASEAN, said Geng at a daily briefing, adding, we hope that countries outside the region could respect efforts made by countries in the region for peace and stability in the South China Sea.



A week ago, leaders from ASEAN sidestepped criticizing China over its expansion in the disputed the South China Sea, in a mildly worded statement after the summit in the Philippines.

Tillerson to visit Philippines



The top U.S. diplomat planned to visit the Philippines in August to attend several ASEAN regional meetings.

This announcement came after the White House was under fire for inviting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to the U.S.



Duterte has been scorned internationally for his war on drugs, which has featured the extrajudicial killings of thousands of people.



Tillerson said on Wednesday that while the U.S. is not leaving America's core values on the sidelines, sometimes if the U.S. conditions too heavily that others must adopt this value, It really creates obstacles to U.S. ability to advance its national security interests.

ASEAN celebrates 50 years

ASEAN will celebrate its 50th year of existence. The U.S. and ASEAN will celebrate a concurrently 40-year anniversary of relations.



Founded in 1967, the ASEAN bloc is America's fourth-largest export goods market.

Washington established its relations with this bloc in 1977 through the ASEAN-U.S. Dialogue. The U.S. and ASEAN also share nearly 100 sister city or sister state partnerships.
President Donald Trump may be confident he can help mediate a historic peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. But don't ask him what that deal looks like, because apparently he's not saying.

During his meeting this week with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Trump repeatedly expressed hope for an "agreement," a "deal," or more generally an arrangement resulting in "peace" between the two sides.

Conspicuously absent from Trump's remarks was any reference to a two-state solution or the notion of a Palestinian state, which the U.S. has long seen as the desired outcome of the Mideast peace negotiations.

The omission did not go unrecognized.

"He made sure he never mentioned Palestine  you noticed that, yes?" Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, told VOA. "I think he's departing in some ways from long-standing American policy on the two-state solution."

U.S. officials insist Trump is not opposed to two states; they say he is simply keeping all options open and is allowing the Israelis and Palestinians to decide for themselves what the result of peace talks will be.

But Trump's reluctance to even mention the idea of a Palestinian state risks sending mixed messages at a sensitive moment, as the White House tries to restart peace talks, and could further the perception among many Palestinians that the U.S. is not an impartial broker in the dispute.

A pattern of wavering

It's not the first time the question has been raised. During a meeting in February with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump explicitly said he would consider alternatives to the two-state framework.

"I'm looking at two-state and one-state," said Trump, alongside Netanyahu. "I'm very happy with the one that both parties like. I can live with either one."

It's not clear what Trump meant by "one-state," since the U.S., Israel, and most Palestinian leaders have long opposed the creation of a single, democratic state with equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians.

Although the comment created headlines, U.S. State Department officials deny it reflects a fundamental shift in U.S. policy.

"The administration is not casting aside the two-state solution," a State Department spokesperson told VOA. "It still remains a possibility if both parties agree that a two-state solution is their preferred approach, and in such an event the president will strongly support them in moving toward that goal. This is not our choice to make  it is theirs to make together."

Palestinian support

As far as the Palestinian Authority is concerned, an independent state based on pre-1967 borders remains the only solution.

"Our strategic choice is to bring about peace based on the vision of the two-state," Abbas, who heads the West Bank-based PA, told Trump.

Hamas, which controls Gaza, this week also took steps toward accepting a two-state framework, issuing a political document that omitted the group's previous call for Israel's destruction.

For Israel's part, Netanyahu first endorsed the principle of a two-state solution in 2009. But he has at times backed away from the idea, such as during the 2015 election, when he said he would never permit a Palestinian state to be established under his watch.

Complicating matters, most Israeli cabinet ministers in Netanyahu's right-wing government oppose the creation of a Palestinian state.

Trump offering a favor?

That could help explain why Trump is unwilling to even say the words "two-state solution" or "Palestinian state," said Dan Shapiro, U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Barack Obama, in an interview with VOA.

"At the moment, it's politically difficult for Netanyahu to utter those formulas. So I think Trump is trying to do him a favor by finding other formulas," said Shapiro, now a fellow at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies.

But if you read between the lines of what Trump is proposing  a peace deal achieved through direct talks that both sides can accept and that Arab countries will support  a two-state solution is the only option, Shapiro said.

Backing up that theory, White House negotiators have privately reassured Palestinian officials of their support for two states, according to various news reports.

But as Palestinians prepare next month to mark the 50-year anniversary of Israeli occupation of the West Bank, land Palestinians want for an independent state, few see reasons for optimism about the Trump-led peace process.

"Let's just say I'm extremely realistic," said Ashrawi, the Palestinian lawmaker, laughing. "It'll take a lot to convince me that there is a peacemaker now in the White House who knows how to make a deal that is based on international law and justice."

VOA's Nike Ching contributed to this report.
The U.S. Senate cast aside partisan acrimony Thursday and overwhelmingly passed a trillion-dollar spending bill that keeps the federal government funded through September.

The 79 to 18 vote came one day after the House of Representatives approved the measure, which now awaits President Donald Trumps signature to become law.

This represents the first demonstration of Republicans and Democrats in both houses of Congress working with the White House in order to pass an important piece of legislation and keep the government up and running, said Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas.

It [the spending bill] is proof that Washington can work when we work together, said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat. In my view this is a very good bill for the American people.

The product of weeks of negotiations between congressional leaders and the White House, the bill boosts U.S. military spending and provides increased funding for U.S. border security.

This funding will help the Department of Homeland Security hire more border patrol agents and customs officials, improve the infrastructure at our ports of entry and checkpoints, and hire more immigration judges to process more immigration cases, Cornyn said.

To the delight of Democrats, the bill sidesteps numerous promises made by Republicans in general and Trump in particular. There is no money for constructing a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and no provision to punish local governments that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities in identifying and removing undocumented immigrants. The spending bill continues funding for Obamacare as well as Planned Parenthood, a womens health organization that performs abortions.

Not only does it preclude funding for an unnecessary and ineffective border wall, it increases investments in programs that the middle class relies on, Schumer said. The National Institutes of Health will get an additional $2 billion. Infrastructure programs  will get an increase.

Democratic Senator Bill Nelson, whose home state of Florida includes Cape Canaveral, praised a boost in funds for NASA.

We now stand on the precipice of a new golden age of exploration and discovery, Nelson said. The can-do little agency, NASA, is now on the way [for a mission] to Mars.

But the bills bipartisan nature rankled hardline conservative Republicans who argued minority Democrats won too many concessions.

Last November, the American people voted to give Republicans control of both houses of Congress and the White House, said Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas in a statement. We should be funding our priorities, not perpetuating Democrats big government programs.

Taking to Twitter, Trump has praised the spending bill but also said a government shutdown may be necessary at the beginning of the next fiscal year, which begins October 1.

Senators of both parties rejected the presidents thinking.

We were elected to govern, not to shut down the government, Cornyn said.

Schumer said that if congressional leaders work as well on the 2018 budget as we did on the 2017 budget, we will have a product we can be proud of with no worries about any kind of government shutdown.
The Pentagon has identified a U.S. Navy SEAL killed while fighting the al-Shabab terrorist group in Somalia as Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Kyle Milliken.

The 38-year-old Milliken of Falmouth, Maine was killed Thursday when a U.S. aircraft came under fire while dropping off Somali soldiers at a target area about 65 kilometers west of Mogadishu, the Department of Defense said in a statement.

Milliken is the first American service member killed in combat in the war-torn country since a deadly battle in 1993 - the clash that inspired the movie Black Hawk Down.

WATCH: 'Deepest Condolences, Appreciation' to Soldier, Family

A U.S. military official told VOA at least two other Navy SEALs and an interpreter were wounded in the attack in the village of Barire, west of Afgoye.



U.S. Africa Command, responsible for all American military operations on the continent, said the U.S. forces came under attack were attacked during an advise-and-assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army.

"This was a Somali mission," Navy Captain Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Friday. American forces were "operating in support of" the Somali units, in an attack targeting a compound associated with attacks on nearby facilities used by both U.S. and Somali forces, he added.



A senior official in Somalia's Lower Shabelle region said soldiers raided a building that houses Radio Andalus, al-Shabab's official radio station. The attack killed eight al-Shabab fighters, the official said, adding that radio-station equipment reportedly was seized.

"We helped bring [the Somali soldiers] in with our aircraft, and we were there maintaining a distance back as they conducted the operation," Davis said at the Pentagon. "That's when our forces came under fire."

'Deepest sympathies from Trump

White House officials said President Donald Trump sent his deepest condolences to the family of the victim, along with his appreciation for the efforts of all men and women in the U.S. military.

Al-Shabab said its fighters foiled an attack by U.S. troops and killed an unspecified number of enemy soldiers Friday. The group's military spokesman, Abdulaziz Abu Musab, told Radio Andalus the militants knew about the attack in advance and were prepared for it.

At the White House, Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters the president was fully briefed on the action in Somalia by his national security adviser, General H.R. McMaster.

"First and foremost [we] want to express our deepest condolences and our deepest appreciation for all of the men and women in the military and the ultimate sacrifice that they paid - particularly this soldier and all of the others," Sanders said.

"The president has made it certainly a major priority to protect the men and women who protect us. Thats one of the reasons he wanted to put so much emphasis on rebuilding the military, and that was a priority for him in the budget. And again, our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to all of the men and women in uniform and, particularly, this family.

Details of clash from Somali sources



Security sources and officials in the Lower Shabelle region say Friday's attack was led by Somalia's Danab commando team, accompanied by U.S. special forces.



The team attacked a target in Dar es Salam village, located between the small towns of Barire and Mubarak, both controlled by al-Shabab, the Somali sources said. The area is said to be mostly farmland with large banana and pawpaw crops.



One official told VOA's Somali service that helicopters carried the commandos and special forces from Ballidogle airport, a known base for U.S. trainers working with Somali forces, to a point near Barire, and the soldiers then walked to Dar es Salam village. A Somali ground force from the town of Afgoye supported the raid, which began overnight Friday.



US: militants 'neutralized'

Pentagon spokesman Davis said U.S. and Somali forces "quickly neutralized" enemy forces on the ground, and evacuated the wounded aboard helicopters.

VOA Somalia reported al-Shabab later sealed off an area around Dar es Salam village, where the firefight took place. The militants claimed they also deployed large numbers of reinforcements.



U.S. special forces and Somali commandos have been conducting joint operations for more than a year now as part of the U.S. effort to help the Somali government combat al-Shabab. Joint operations have taken place in Lower Shabelle and Lower Juba, two regions where al-Shabab has a large presence, and especially in the strategic agricultural area west of Afgoye where Friday's action took place.



The U.S. says military personnel advise and assist Somali security forces, but local officials say U.S. troops also provide helicopters and intelligence gathering.

Last month, dozens of American soldiers deployed to Mogadishu for a separate mission to train and equip Somali and AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) forces fighting extremism in Somalia, U.S. military officials told VOA.



Somali officials say more than 500 Somalia commandos have been trained by the U.S., and the Somali government has said it wants to increase the number of trained commandos to 4,000.

18 Americans died in 'Black Hawk' disaster

In the early 1990s, the United Nations attempted to provide and secure humanitarian relief in Somalia while monitoring a U.N.-brokered cease-fire in the Somali civil war. The U.S. deployed thousands of American troops to carry out the peacekeeping mission, which by late 1993 had expanded to try to restore a government in Somalia.

Two American Black Hawk helicopters were shot down in October 1993. Rescue squads sent in to try to remove soldiers from the crash sites became pinned down, and a 15-hour battle ensued that killed 18 Americans and hundreds of Somalis.

Days later, then-U.S. President Bill Clinton announced that he would remove all American combat forces from Somalia by March 1994, and the United States also withdrew from the peacekeeping missions in the East African country.
The hedge-fund industry is a secretive world led by tight-lipped titans who make more than $1 billion a year. It shouldnt enjoy having its quirky habits probed on television.

But that appears to be what is happening. On Showtimes Billions, two larger-than-life adversaries, U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades and billionaire hedge-fund manager Bobby Axe Axelrod, battle for supremacy. Wall Street insiders say they are watching closely.

Hire a psychiatrist to pump up traders suffering through a slump? Check. Wager millions of dollars based on satellite images of a manufacturing plant in China? Check. Rewarded with multimillion-dollar bonuses for a good year? Check.

They are really trying to get it right, whether its running dialogue by me or other people, said James Chanos, one of the veteran Wall Street insiders on whom the shows creators have come to depend. Chanos has made billions betting on when a company, most famously Enron, would see its stock price plummet, a practice known in the industry as short selling. After decades in the business, he has seen nearly everything.

That being said, [the show] is fiction, he said. It is Wall Street porn, okay, soft porn . . . which makes it fun.

Paul Giamatti plays Chuck Rhoades, the attorney general who at times makes it easy to root for the hedge-fund titans. (Jeff Neumann/Showtime)

I joke that the writers should come by my offices. There arent Abercrombie models in the latest fashions walking around, Chanos said. They would see schlubs with half-eaten Chinese food on their desks. Sadly, the reality is not as romantic as portrayed.

The creators of Billions, Brian Koppelman and David Levien, who also co-wrote 1998s Rounders, have made friends across the hedge-fund industry and among the federal prosecutors keeping an eye on them. (Preet Bharara, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, has met with Koppelman and Levien and stopped by when the show was taping near his offices. ) The third co-creator is New York Times reporter and financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, author of Too Big to Fail.

What were trying to get right is the spirit and mood of the industry, Koppelman said. We absolutely hear back that we get that part right and that part wrong.

[Billions shows why some of us root for the rich and scandalous]

One pivotal scene this season comes as Axelrod assembles his team to consider whether to force a small New York town into bankruptcy to recoup a $500 million investment. To help plan out the debate, Koppelman and Levien tapped Barbara Morgan, a veteran of New York politics. Morgan leaned on her experience working with Puerto Rico, which has been facing off against Wall Street titans over its debts in recent years, to help keep the fictional debate realistic.

They developed the story arc, Morgan said. Then I came in to help on the granular level. How would a fund do this? What would austerity look like? What would be the impact of those measures?

Koppelman and Levien are following the footsteps of Hollywood greats who have attempted to capture Wall Streets underbelly. In Oliver Stones Wall Street, Gordon Gekko schemed to take over a company and raid its pension plan. The Big Short explained how a few people spotted the housing disaster and made billions from it.

In Billions, the worst assumptions about the hedge-fund industry are brought to the screen. Axelrod, played by Damian Lewis, once delayed medical treatment for one of his employees to gain an advantage against Rhoades, played by Paul Giamatti. Rhoades repeatedly crossed the line in his pursuit of Axelrod. Yet, the shows fans cheer for both.

David and I are in search of these answers, Koppelman said. Why do we as a culture celebrate these flawed people in the way we do?

One comparison Koppelman and Levien are struggling to kill is that the show is based on a showdown between two real-world figures: Bharara and hedge-fund billionaire Steven Cohen. Bharara (like Rhoades) was an ambitious and aggressive prosecutor who brought headline-grabbing cases against hedge-fund giants. Cohen, like Axelrod, has spent years being investigated by federal prosecutors on accusations of insider trading. Cohen has never been charged.

The comparison rankles Levien and Koppelman.

The character is not based on Preet. Preet is a very good man. We really dont think the character is Preet, Koppelman said. Its a fictional show.

Not everyone is convinced. When Bharara was fired by President Trump this year, some of the shows fans were unnerved. One said on Twitter that watching the show was weird now.

Bharara responded, Well, for some people, its always been weird.

Bharara has a standing offer to join the show as a consultant, Koppelman and Levien say. We havent heard from him, Levien said.

As for Cohen, he is not talking.

Read more:

Fearless Girl ignites debate about art, Wall Street and the lack of female executives

The London Whale trader lost $6.2 billion, but he may walk off scot-free

Preet Bharara on why he was fired: Beats the hell out of me.
NRB and IFC join hands to promote sustainable finance

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is partnering with Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central monetary authority of Nepal, to help the bank adopt improved environmental and social risk management practices to strengthen their portfolio performance, generate business opportunities and boost competitiveness in the region.


FROM LEFT: Sarachai and Alisa Boonyakiat and Crystal and Kevin Ellis with son Sean, 3, dine at Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot, a Chinese chain restaurant in the traditionally Vietnamese Eden Center at Seven Corners in Falls Church. (Dayna Smith/For The Washington Post)

To the first wave of refugees who fled South Vietnam in the 1970s, the Eden Center has never been just a place to share a drink, get a haircut or order a warming bowl of noodle soup. Its a bricks-and-mortar eulogy to the past, to war heroes, to a country that hasnt existed for more than 40 years.

For most visitors to the Eden Center, the complex is simply a booming economic center for ethnic foods and services, wrote Yen Le Espiritu in her 2014 book, Body Counts: The Vietnam War and Militarized Refugees, but for many others it is also a somber memorial that honors the Republic of Vietnam and its dead.

The South Vietnam flag still flies next to Old Glory in the giant parking lot, where the lanes come with their own street signs, bearing such names as Pham Van Phu, Nguyen Van Long, Tran Van Hai and other officers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) who killed themselves as acts of loyalty to their collapsed country. Every year, the Eden Center holds a ceremony commemorating the fall of Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City, on April 30, 1975. Anyone who dares to speak well of the communists now in charge of the mother country risks a war of words, or worse.

Today, it seems the Eden Center is dealing with a different kind of takeover, a culinary and cultural one, which threatens to change, or complicate, the historic nature of the shopping plaza in Falls Church. More than two years ago, Edens owners welcomed its first Korean eatery, Gom Tang E, a place that specializes in seolleongtang, a silky, milky bone-broth soup that alone is worth a trip to Northern Virginia.

[The hunt for the D.C. areas best cheap-eats hotbeds: Eden Center]

Other outsiders have since arrived: Last summer, Kao Sarn Thai Street Food debuted inside the Saigon West wing, and a few months later, the Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot chain opened an outlet in the former Spicy Bar & Grill space, adding a Mongolia-influenced Chinese flavor to the sprawling center. This year, another chain, the rapidly expanding Vivi Bubble Tea, will bring a taste of Taiwan to Eden.

From a purely gastronomic perspective, these are welcome additions.



Kao soi noodle soup is on the menu at Kao Sarn, a Thai street-food restaurant that has found a foothold at the Vietnamese-food mecca Eden Center. (Dayna Smith/For The Washington Post)

With Kao Sarn, chef Arin Lapakulchai has delivered an infusion of Thai flavors. (Dayna Smith/For The Washington Post)

Kao Sarn (6795 Wilson Blvd., Unit 12; 703-992-7440) occupies a microscopic piece of real estate, which chef and owner Nucharin Arin Lapakulchai has fashioned into an endearing, contemporary space, so different from the functional austerity of many interior Eden Center shops. Lapakulchais open kitchen is framed by a blackboard covered with charming, childlike chalk drawings: a street vendor, a steaming bowl of noodle soup, a contemplative Buddha, ingredients indigenous to Thai cooking.

Lapakulchais food has as much personality as her space. A native of Bangkok, the chef is basically a one-woman show. She prepares every order herself, whether the components are stir-fried, deep-fried or, in the case of the egg atop her rich and rewarding kapow pork, pan-fried. Watching her cook from a counter seat is a form of meditation: You can almost feel your pulse relax as Lapakulchai performs her silent ballet, moving from cutting board to wok to rice cooker. She is a chef at one with her work, alone but not.

[Thai Cuisine review: A bastion of pungency and fire in Rockville]

The green papaya salad adheres closely to its Thai description, som tum, the latter word meaning to pound, as in pestle against mortar. Lapakulchai crushes the aromatic ingredients to order in a mortar, releasing their oils and fragrance, an intoxicating fusion of earth, acid and pungency. Lapakulchai can customize a dish to your desired heat level, but should you ask for spicy, the server will probably ask for clarification: American spicy or Thai spicy? The staff has clearly seen too many non-natives fall to the sword of Thai spicy.



Fish fillet and eggplant with basil leaves at Kao Sarn. (Dayna Smith/For The Washington Post)

Trust me, American spicy can revive the dead, like the countershock of a defibrillator. The house-made boat noodle soup, ordered American spicy, runs fiercely hot, although not as luxuriant as, say, the version at Thai Cuisine, where the broth is enriched with animal blood. (Lapakulchai later told me diners have to special-request the blood.) Her toothsome pad Thai, at once sweet and semi-spicy, benefits from a few tiny spoonfuls of prik nam pla, a condiment of Thai chiles in fish sauce. Same goes for the kao soi noodle soup, whose curry paste is not made from scratch but starts with a commercial product that Lapakulchai supplements with her own herbs, chiles, garlic and other flavoring agents of change.

Across Pham Van Phu Avenue  he was a major general in the ARVN  youll serve as your own chef at Little Sheep (6799 Wilson Blvd., Unit 10; 571-405-6947), where your tabletop doubles as your cooktop. The braising liquid that roils on the tables induction burner is a deep reservoir of flavor, a cloudy broth extracted from 40 pounds of chicken bones over the course of a 10-hour-plus simmer. The broth can be ordered either milky or spicy; the latter bobs with about a billion chopped chile-pepper husks. It has a burn to match.



Meat and vegetables are cooked in a yin-yang pot with both the spicy and regular milky bone broths at Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot. (Dayna Smith/For The Washington Post)

The spicy broth at Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot, right, bobs with chopped chile-pepper husks and has a burn to match. (Dayna Smith/For The Washington Post)

Unlike many hot-pot concepts, Little Sheep doesnt provide a station where you can concoct your own condiments (although you can request house-made dipping sauces, if you cant live without one). The place wants you to focus on the flavors of the cooking liquid, which is understandable. The broth is infused with litchi berry, garlic, black and white cardamom, ginger and countless other ingredients buried in this opaque elixir.

The broth improves everything you dunk into it, whether pristine slices of New Zealand spring lamb or glistening pucks of sea scallops. You can choose from more than 50 items to submerge in your milky broth. Just dont waste calories on the lamb skewers, pork dumplings or any of the other sides and appetizers, some of which only underscore the kitchens general apathy toward the rest of the menu.

So, a question still lingers here: Are these non-Vietnamese restaurants a sign of things to come for the Eden Center? Alan Frank, a senior vice president at Capital Commercial Properties, the owner of the center, says no. They want Eden to remain primarily Vietnamese. But at the same time, those refugees from the 1970s and 1980s are older now. Theyre no longer the target consumer.

We cant keep the Eden Center the same as it was in 1985, Frank says. Theres a shift going on, and I dont know where its going to go. But its good for business.


The Chinatown Chirashi, with tuna, scallop, corvina and rice with smoked shoyu brown butter, is one of the bright new additions to a menu that embraces Chinese and Japanese influences in South American cooking. (Deb Lindsey /For The Washington Post)

The chef known for slipping smoke into everything from cocktails to desserts has been tweaking his menu and dining room over the past eight months or so to make both more relaxed.

The focus of fine dining is different from when I first started out, says Victor Albisu of Del Campo, the sophisticated four-year-old South American grill near Chinatown. Fans who havent dropped by in a while are returning to find an edgier interior: acid-washed cowhides on the wall, ceramic green tile bordering the kitchen, chunky wood tables  the restaurant I always wanted it to be, says Albisu, 42, who also stripped linens from the picture.

[The 2017 Spring Dining Guide]

Fear not. Del Campos popular octopus causa and skirt steak are still around, but theyve been joined by a host of new dishes, some of which call attention to the influence of Chinese and Japanese immigrants in South America.

Cue the chirashi. The most alluring addition to the list is created from a loose round of rice decked out with scallops splashed with brown butter, and tuna and corvina ignited with the assertive fish marinade called tigers milk. Circling the fish-topped rice cake is an tangy ponzu sauce.



Chef Victor Albisu plates an asado board in the window of his newly renovated restaurant, where hes aiming to create a more memorable dining experience. (Deb Lindsey /For The Washington Post)

Street noodles brings a bowl of wiry noodles tossed with pieces of Peruvian-spiced chicken and singed bok choy, bright with what tastes like lime. A bite or two in, you get slapped with heat. Its from rocoto, the chile pepper known for its apple shape, hairy leaves and habanero-like kick.

[Mirabelle is the new crown jewel of downtown dining]

Proof that seafood isnt the only way to make ceviche is a fresh appetizer featuring sliced beef tenderloin, its marinade spiked with horseradish. For the table, a collection of dishes meant to be shared, includes a smoked crab dip staged with two-bite arepas and avocado-chile relish, from which diners can make tiny sandwiches. A few new empanadas have joined the list, too. The crimped purses filled with duck confit and green chiles are particularly appealing. Squeeze some lime on them first, says a waiter, pointing to the grilled citrus on the plate. Sure enough, a few drops fairly electrify the empanadas, which are further enriched by a creamy aioli, green (and zesty) with shishito peppers.



The newly renovated interior at Del Campo has more of an edge than the previous iteration. (Deb Lindsey /For The Washington Post)

Smoked crab, Kewpie avocado and chile relish with arepas. (Deb Lindsey /For The Washington Post)

The changes at Del Campo, where Faiz Ally and Marc Hennessy share the title of chef de cuisine, reflect a more mature boss. It used to be about the fanciest plate, the most stunning presentation, says Albisu, who now values consistency as much as any detail in his restaurant. These days, its all about being memorable.

The proof is on the chefs revised menu.

The wall painted with an outsize bull skull doesnt hurt, either.

777 I St. NW. 202-289-7377. delcampodc.com. Entrees, $26 to $110.
Federal prosecutors are looking into whether Fox News Channel and its parent company tried to disguise a $3.15 million payment to a former employee who said she had a 20-year affair with the networks former chairman, Roger Ailes, according to people involved with the investigation.

Investigators in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York have focused on a payment to Laurie Luhn, a former Fox booker and event planner who left the company in 2011 with the seven-figure severance package. Luhn later claimed that she had engaged in a consensual but a mentally abusive, relationship with Ailes and that several of his lieutenants facilitated the assignations and were aware of his alleged mistreatment of her.

Prosecutors have taken testimony from several witnesses, including Luhn, about her severance package and how it was recorded on Foxs books, according to those familiar with the probe.

The size of the payout is of less concern to the investigation than the manner in which it was accounted for, those people said. Prosecutors are investigating whether Fox News Channel and its parent company, 21st Century Fox, improperly accounted for the payments to Luhn and other ex-employees to minimize their impact on Foxs books.

In addition to Luhn, they have taken testimony from at least two other former Fox employees, including former chief financial officer Mark Kranz and former Fox media relations chief Brian Lewis, over the past six weeks, according to people involved with the investigation.

Kranz, who retired from Fox in August, is seen as a potentially crucial witness for the prosecution; people close to the investigation have indicated that he has been offered immunity. Fox reportedly paid $8 million in 2013 to settle Lewiss contract.

Luhns case is of particular interest to prosecutors because of the unusual nature of her severance. One of her settlement checks is signed by a corporate executive based in Los Angeles who had no direct involvement with Fox News, according to people who spoke about the investigation anonymously because they werent authorized to speak on the record.

Luhn worked primarily at Foxs headquarters in New York, not in Los Angeles, so the executives signature has raised questions about where the funds for her severance came from. Investigators have been looking into whether some of the cost of her settlement was attributed to another Fox-owned entity to minimize the impact on Fox News financial statements.

Luhn, who signed a nondisclosure agreement and was not available for comment, nevertheless told New York magazine last summer about her two-decade affair with Ailes. Luhn told the magazine that the stress of the relationship led to a series of mental breakdowns. She claimed that other Fox executives helped cover up the relationship. Ailes has previously denied any sort of improper relationship with Luhn.

A second issue in the investigation concerns the structuring of other settlements to former employees. Fox News settled at least one such claim involving a former high-ranking manager by stretching the payments over several years, in effect accounting for the executives severance compensation as if he were still an employee instead of taking a one-time financial hit.

People familiar with the investigation said it was still in an early fact-gathering phase. There have been no indications about when it could conclude or whether criminal charges would result; 21st Century Fox has previously said that it was cooperating with the probe.

Mr. Ailes took no part in any decisions about the accounting, reporting or disclosing of any severance to Ms. Luhn, said Susan Estrich, Ailess lawyer.

Fox News referred questions to 21st Century Fox, whose spokesman, Nathaniel Brown, declined to comment.

One of the attorneys handling the probe for the prosecution, Damian Williams, declined to comment. A second federal prosecutor who is involved, Andrea Griswold, did not respond to a request for comment.

Although the payments to Luhn and other employees are relatively small, particularly within a multibillion-dollar company such as Fox, the heart of the matter for prosecutors is whether they constituted material events requiring public disclosure to investors under federal securities law.

A series of such payments could be considered material not because of their size but because they could raise concerns among investors about the stability of the companys management or finances.

As the co-founder and chief architect of Fox News, Ailes was a towering figure within the network. Any sense that his reign was threatened by multiple allegations of harassment could constitute a material event. The same could be true of OReilly, the networks biggest star and a chief moneymaker.

Ailes was pushed out in July after former Fox host Gretchen Carlson filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit against him, triggering a series of harassment complaints against Ailes by women who had worked for him. Carlson later settled with Fox for $20 million.

OReilly was fired last month following a New York Times investigation that found he and Fox had paid $13 million to settle five harassment complaints by female employees since 2002. Both OReilly and Ailes have denied the claims against them.

The parent company has disclosed only the costs associated with the Carlson lawsuit. In an investor disclosure document filed Nov. 2, it said that it spent approximately $35 million . . . related to settlement of pending and potential litigations in the wake of Ailess resignation. The money was divided among Carlson, Foxs attorneys and an unknown number of other employees whom Fox paid to address the complaints.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said former Fox host Juliet Huddy had been questioned by prosecutors in the probe. Her attorney said she has not done so.
THE DISTRICT

Five plead guilty in high court protest

Five people who disrupted a session of the U.S. Supreme Court by shouting their disapproval of the courts campaign finance rulings pleaded guilty Thursday after losing their bid to overturn a 1949 law restricting public protest at the court.

The defendants, members of an organization called 99Rise, stood and spoke one by one just after the court was gaveled into session on April 1, 2015, about a year after the justices struck down overall limits on campaign contributions.

Money is not speech. One person, one vote! shouted defendant Matthew Kresling, 43, of Los Angeles, before being led away. Lead defendant in the case, David Bronstein, 30, of the District, sang, We who believe in freedom shall not rest.

Oh, please, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said in remarks captured in a court audio recording, after Justice Antonin Scalia grumbled, Give them stiff, stiff sentences.

 Spencer S. Hsu

Woman set on fire

in Northeast hotel

A woman was set on fire by a man she knew at a hotel in Northeast Washington, police said.

The incident happened Wednesday around 8:30 p.m. at a Motel 6 on Fourth Street near New York Avenue NE. When authorities arrived, they found a woman who had been set on fire. The fire was put out, and she suffered from burns to her chest and neck, officials said.

The woman, police said, knew the man who is believed to have burned her, but he fled the area. No arrests have been made, and police said they did not have a description of the man.

Police said they are investigating the incident and that the womans injuries are not considered life-threatening.

 Dana Hedgpeth

MARYLAND

Homicide investigated in Berwyn Heights

Police said Thursday they are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in Prince Georges County.

At about 9:20 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to the 5700 block of Nevada Street in Berwyn Heights after a person found the mans body outside, county police said in a statement.

An autopsy showed the man died of trauma to the body, the statement said, and the death was ruled a homicide. No information about the victims identity was immediately available.

 Justin Wm. Moyer

THE REGION

D.C. ranks second

on mosquito cities

As talking heads debate what President Trump has accomplished in his first 100 days, his ability to drain the swamp seems limited by one measure: mosquitoes.

The pest-control company Orkin found that the District is No. 2 in the country for the hungry critters, behind only Atlanta.

Mosquitoes are a public-health threat, Orkin entomologist Mark Beavers said in a statement. Zika virus is currently one of the most notable illnesses that can be spread by mosquitoes, and it will likely be a problem again this year, especially in areas where the type of mosquito that can carry the virus thrives.

Orkins method was less scientific than economic: It ranked the top 50 mosquito cities by the number of mosquito customers served from April 1, 2016, through March 31. Atlanta topped the list, as it did last year, and Washington rose one place, besting Chicago.

 Justin Wm. Moyer


Judge Alexander Williams Jr. reluctantly sentenced Evans Ray Jr. to life under mandatory minimum laws, but Ray received clemency from President Barack Obama. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

When Evans Ray Jr. stood in a federal courtroom in 2007 after arranging a drug sale, a judge explained, at length, that he didnt want to hand down the mandatory life sentence required by law.

It is my desire not to sentence you to life, Judge Alexander Williams Jr. said in his Greenbelt, Md., courtroom, according to transcripts. I believe that the circumstances justify a sentence shorter than life. I further believe that there is some disproportionality between what youve done and the sentence of life.

[How a murder convict facing a life sentence became a D.C. mayoral appointee]

Ray, 47, a barber with a wife, four children and two prior drug convictions, initially refused to arrange the sale. He was a middleman pushed into the transaction by a friend who turned out to be a government informant, and he didnt profit from the deal. The other defendants involved in the sale received lighter sentences. Williams tried to sentence Ray to a shorter term of 27 years, but prosecutors appealed.

The conviction was what is commonly called a third strike, which can trigger a mandatory minimum sentence. In Rays case, a life sentence it would be.

After his sentencing, Ray thanked the man who ensured that he would die behind bars.

I have to own up to my own responsibility. The law says life. Im not in agreement with it, not at all, and I know you werent, Ray said, according to transcripts. But I just want to thank you and the courts for at least trying.

Ray now considers himself blessed, he said  he was granted clemency in 2016 by President Barack Obama. After 12 years, he is out, and he and the judge who gave him life are joining forces to condemn mandatory minimum sentences.

It had to be said, Williams, now retired from the law, said of his comments from the bench during a recent meeting with Ray at his office at the University of Maryland justice and ethics center named after him. It didnt sit right in my stomach.

Ray, meanwhile, is adjusting to a life he thought he would never return to. Now 57, he is living with his parents in Prince Georges County, getting to know his children, holding down a job and speaking out against the law that sought to keep him behind bars for life.

(The Washington Post)

A letter from the president

Mandatory minimum sentences have long troubled drug-reform advocates. First instituted by Congress during the war on drugs in the 1980s, they prevent judges from considering other factors, such as past behavior, when handing out prison time.

Some judges dont like them, either. Kevin Sharp, a former federal judge in Tennessee who recently stepped down after six years, said he didnt sleep for several nights in 2014 after he sentenced a minor player in a drug deal to life.

I dragged out the sentencing so that I wouldnt have to say these words and sentence him, said Sharp, now a civil rights attorney in private practice.

Williams said that he presided over about 1,000 criminal cases in Maryland before stepping down and that certainly a couple hundred involved mandatory minimums.

None of the judges like having their hands tied, he said.

The Maryland U.S. Attorneys Office, which prosecuted Ray, declined to comment on the case. But Del Wright Jr., a prosecutor in Rays case who is now a law professor at Valparaiso University in Indiana, said he didnt think Rays sentence was fair  even though Wright worked for the office that asked for it.

After Ray declined a plea agreement and was convicted at trial, Wright said, prosecutors had no choice but to ask for a mandatory life sentence. The threat of a mandatory minimum is what can induce people to accept plea bargains to lesser charges, he said.

I use that [as an example] in my classes sometimes, he said of the case. Its our role. Its not something you necessarily want to do.

[I sentenced criminals to hundreds more years than I wanted to. I had no choice.]

Ray was thrown into the federal prison system with a hefty sentence, serving hard time. Although he had never fired a gun, he said, he was sent to Big Sandy, a high-security penitentiary in Kentucky also known as Killer Mountain. Some killers and rapists were serving shorter sentences than his, and peace among the races was kept by the constant threat of violence.

Theyve got knives, weve got knives, Ray said.

Ray kept out of trouble, working toward lower-security institutions, and applied for clemency in 2014. Obama made clear that he was no friend of mandatory minimums, eventually granting clemency to more than 1,700 people. Ray was the type of candidate the Obama administration had in mind: He had a limited criminal history and arguably was pulled into a conspiracy.

Sapna Mirchandani, a Maryland federal public defender, said she learned of Rays case during a review of hundreds of mandatory minimum sentences while searching for possible clemency applicants.

His jumped out at me, she said.



Evans Ray Jr., right, a former prisoner who received clemency from President Barack Obama, watches attorney Sapna Mirchandani, center, embrace his niece, Shaniya Taylor, 12, in a hallway of the Howard University School of Law. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)

Mirchandani helped put together Rays clemency petition. Among the letters submitted on his behalf were some from prison officials  and one from Williams, the judge in Rays case.

As I stated at the time of sentencing, and as I believe even more strongly today, imposing a life sentence on Mr. Ray for the single sale of 60 grams of cocaine base . . . amounted to cruel and unusual punishment, the judge wrote in April 2016.

Ray was granted clemency in August. He was so nervous about reading the letter when it arrived that he asked a fellow prisoner to read it for him.

I am granting your application because you have demonstrated the potential to turn your life around, Obama wrote. Now it is up to you to make the most of this opportunity.

Since he stepped out of prison, Ray says he has done just that.

Its like a long black tunnel, but you cant let that beacon of light go dark, he said.



Evans Ray Jr. was so nervous upon receiving a clemency letter from Obama that he had to ask a fellow prisoner to read it to him.

Forecast for a better future

Its not clear whether President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions embrace mandatory minimums. The Justice Department didnt respond to requests for comment.

Kevin Ring, a former prisoner and the president of the advocacy group Families Against Mandatory Minimums, isnt optimistic, saying, Were going backward.

Some prosecutors disagree. Larry Leiser, president of the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, a professional association for prosecutors, declined to comment, but referred to the organizations 2015 white paper on mandatory minimums that concluded that they help reduce violent crime and persuade defendants to cooperate with prosecutors.



Ray, photographed in a stairwell at Howard University, now works at the Toni Thomas Community Empowerment Training Academy, a jobs program in Southeast Washington. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)

Behind the sentimental appeal of the circumstances of some defendants serving long mandatory sentences is the rest of the story,  it read. In nearly every instance, the defendant has been convicted multiple times before and could have avoided a longer sentence. . . . Instead they elected not to assist law enforcement and instead protected fellow coconspirators.

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

Ray and hundreds of other offenders granted clemency by Obama, meanwhile, are struggling to adapt to a reality many thought they would never see: shaking off a life sentence and learning to survive outside prison  in some cases at an age when others may contemplate retirement.

David Carroll, 64, was convicted of distribution of crack cocaine in 1995 in Virginia. He served 22 years before Obama commuted his sentence, and he was released last fall.

Twenty-two years takes a toll, whether youre inside or out, he said.

His first stop was Hope Village, the maligned D.C. halfway house with a history of security issues and problems connecting residents with jobs.

Some guys would rather stay in jail than go to Hope Village, Carroll said.

In an interview, Hope Village Director Jeff Varone referred to Washington Post stories about problems at the halfway house, saying he shared Trumps opinion that The Post offered fake news.

No matter what we say isnt going to be good enough, Varone said. We do the best possible job with these guys. They think were miracle workers. I think we do a really outstanding job for our community.

Carroll is sleeping on his nieces couch in Falls Church, with limited job prospects. He wants to start a hauling business with his Ford truck but said hes had trouble getting a drivers license because of complications with a 32-year-old outstanding traffic ticket.

Unlike less fortunate former prisoners, he is surrounded by friends and family to support him as his new life begins, but wants to get back to work.

I hope to be halfway stable so I can give a better forecast for next year, five years, Carroll said. I have to make money.

[Once the face of the drug war, he now represents Obamas attempt at the wars unwinding]

Ray is helping to care for his mother, who recently had a mastectomy, and his stepfather, who lost both legs to diabetes. He makes a little more than the Districts minimum wage of $11.50 an hour at the Toni Thomas Community Empowerment Training Academy, a jobs program in Southeast Washington. Hes also able to help his children for the first time, taking some of the slack off their moms, he said.



Ray stands with his 14-year-old daughter, Thea, in a hallway of the Howard University School of Law. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)

I didnt have any memories, said Thea Ray, his 14-year-old daughter who was 2 years old when her father was locked up. Just pictures.

Among sentencing reform advocates, Rays voice is valued  but interviews and speaking engagements dont pay, and he sometimes misses paid work for them.

I just cant forget where I came from, he said. The day you stop fighting for your life is the day you give up.

Among those cheering for him is the judge who sent him away.

Its a happy ending, Williams said, and Im just glad I could play a small part.
Kate Goettge feeds her two hens in her Washington yard on Thursday. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

After a month of debate dominated by confusion, anger, fear and enough bad puns to last a lifetime, it appears that a proposed ban on chickens in the nations capital is headed toward ignominious defeat.

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) had quietly slipped the fowl-banishment provision into a raft of legislation accompanying the budget proposal she released last month. It launched a wave of activism  complete with a new coalition to protect the rights of yard hens and a petition that garnered more than 700 signatures  that helped sway key members of the D.C. Council.

Pardon the pun, but I think the chickens have already come home to roost on the likelihood of this remaining in the Health Committee markup, Council member Vincent Gray (D-Ward 7) said Friday, stating that he, along with at least two other members of his five-seat committee, planned to block the ban from advancing.

Grays quip wasnt the worst  by a long shot  at an hours-long committee hearing Friday at which the idea of outlawing the raising of backyard chickens in the District was not so much earnestly opposed as laughed out of the room.

Its just so absurd that it almost makes your jaw drop, said Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), expressing astonishment that large sections of Bowsers 2018 Budget Support Act were devoted to what she considered quixotic animal regulations. Among others that seem destined for defeat are a requirement that all cats within city limits be licensed and that dog feces have to be removed from private yards within 24 hours.

Kate Goettge feeds her two hens in her yard on Thursday. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

Gray said the anti-poultry policy was one of the most ridiculous issues that I think we have had to endure here.

That didnt stop him from taking obvious delight in trying to keep up with some of the levity-infused testimony of pro-chicken activists.

Aaron Rosenzweig, a resident of Gaithersburg, Md., who came to city hall to show his solidarity with fellow chicken enthusiasts in the District, drolly compared chickens to dogs and cats. Nobody has ever been maimed or mauled to death by a chicken, he asserted.

Gray interrupted Rosenzweigs testimony at one point with a chuckle. Youre turning this into a shell game, sir, he said.

Council member David Grosso (I-At Large) said he would vote to remove the chicken ban from the budget legislation. The other committee members, Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1) and Brandon T. Todd (D-Ward 4), have not taken a position.

If the committee blocks the ban from advancing as part of the budget process when it votes on May 17, the measure could still be considered as a separate bill. However, Gray said he doubted the ban will ever see the light of day again as independent legislation.

Chicken-raising has in recent years become a popular  and legal  agrarian pastime in American cities including New York, San Francisco and Portland, Ore.

Kate Goettge feeds her two hens in her Washington yard on Thursday. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

Residents in Arlington, Va., and Montgomery County, Md., have also fought in recent years for zoning changes that would allow them to keep chickens. The Rockville City Council in Maryland voted in 2015 to allow residents up to five hens.

District officials have said little about their rationale for banning chickens. Last month, when asked about the ban, Bowser said she wanted to keep neighborhoods safe, and clean and rodent-free. (D.C.s animal-control laws actually explicitly condone pet rodents.)

Its not usually the chickens that are the problem but what they leave behind, she said.

Live poultry have been linked to salmonella infections. Last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention traced eight salmonella outbreaks across the country to backyard fowl, resulting in more than 200 hospitalizations and at least one death.

D.C. Department of Health officials said the language is meant to clarify what is actually an existing ban on chickens. Last year the city suffered defeat at the hands of a pair of chicken-raising antitrust attorneys who live in Chevy Chase and who sued the District when the Department of Health warned them to remove the birds.

The litigation  which centered on ambiguities in D.C.s Animal Control Act concerning the legal status of chickens  ended with the city beating a retreat and issuing Allison Sheedy and Dan McInnis a permit to keep their four backyard birds.

Chicken owners said they were gratified that the outright fowl ban would not advance, but that the District needed to liberalize its existing regulations, which include the requirement  hard to follow for those without large properties  that a chicken coop be placed at least 50 feet away from buildings occupied by humans.

Id like to see them adopt more reasonable restrictions, said Winkie Crigler, an attorney from Tenleytown.
Students pray before class begins at St. Anselm's Abbey School in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 2016. The school is the top-ranked high school in the D.C. region on the Americas Most Challenging High Schools list for 2017. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

This is the 30th anniversary of a moment that changed my life, when I discovered that a public school in a poor Hispanic neighborhood could produce 26 percent of all the successful Mexican American Advanced Placement calculus students in the country by giving students more time and encouragement to learn.

My focus since then has been to explore how this was done and identify those schools working hardest to challenge students from all backgrounds with courses such as AP and International Baccalaureate. One way has been to produce each year The Washington Posts list of Americas Most Challenging High Schools. The 2017 edition has just launched.

The list shows a sustained increase in the number of schools that qualify through AP, IB and Cambridge test participation, even though the vast majority of U.S. schools still do not make the list. In 1998, the first year of what I call the Challenge Index, only about one percent of U.S. schools qualified. The number this year is up to about 12 percent.

The College Board has done much to get into AP more impoverished students like the ones I encountered at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles in the 1980s, even though thoughtless bipartisan congressional funding cuts have recently threatened that work. The latest data show how powerful was the inspiration from Garfield math teachers Jaime Escalante and Ben Jimenez 30 years ago.

In 2003, 94,539 students from low-income families took an AP exam. By 2016 that number had jumped to 554,584, a 487 percent increase. The quality of the instruction has held up, refuting those who doubted Garfield could have produced a quarter of all the Mexican Americans passing AP Calculus tests in 1987. Many people at the time told me Garfield must have recruited some middle-class kids. They said children brought up in low-income environments lacked the conceptual math abilities of suburban kids, even though many Garfield AP graduates went on to become engineers and financial analysts.

Trevor Packer, the College Board vice president who runs the AP program, noted the average score on all AP exams has held steady from 2003 to 2016 despite the portion of low-income test-takers increasing from 9.5 to 21.8 percent. The average score was actually higher in 2016 than in some years when fewer students took AP, he said.

AP courses mimic introductory college courses in state universities. The final exams are written and graded by outside experts and thus are immune to the tendency in high schools to go easy on students who might complain, along with their parents, if they didnt.

Nat Malkus, a research fellow at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute, looked at National Assessment of Educational Progress math tests in 2000, 2005 and 2009 and found no sign that the achievement of graduates with AP course credit had been watered down. Teachers have shown what can be accomplished by encouraging every child to try at least one challenging course and giving each more time to learn through after-school and summer instruction.

That explains what has been happening with AP and IB instruction in the Washington area. Twenty years ago, Fairfax County was the first large district in the country to open AP and IB courses to all students who wished to participate, followed by most other districts in the region and several far away. More than 70 percent of Washington area high schools this year qualified for The Posts list, six times the national rate.

The growth of AP and IB participation has also been fueled by selective college admissions offices using that as a measure of a students readiness for higher education. Many impoverished students have thrived in this atmosphere. The IDEA Public Schools network, with nearly 30,000 mostly low-income students in Texas, requires that each take 11 AP courses. Parents applaud their children breaking out of the remedial courses, with homework increasing gradually so they can get used to the load.

Several other programs are moving in that direction. The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has made a $1 million grant to Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM) so the New York-based program, which sharply accelerates math instruction for low-income students, can expand nationally. The National Math and Science Initiative has spent more than $200 million encouraging schools to add AP courses and motivate students to pass them, while training more teachers.

More such efforts will be necessary after Congress last year passed severe cuts in funds to pay for low-income students to take AP and IB tests. Those fees are as high as $93 for AP and $106 for IB because of the grading by experts. The federal neglect of such students appears to be the result of widespread ignorance on Capitol Hill of what is happening in high schools. Thirty-seven states have moved to fill the gap, Packer said, but 13, including Maryland and Virginia, have not. Low-income student AP participation increased this year in Maryland but declined in Virginia, and most states are uncertain what they will do next year.

Even students who do not pass AP exams appear to benefit from struggling in high school with the long reading lists and exams demanded of them in college. A study of 302,969 Texas high school graduates from 1998 to 2002 found that students with low SAT scores who had gotten a score of 2 on an AP test, below the passing mark of 3 on the five-point scale, had significantly better college outcomes than students with similarly low SAT scores who did not take AP.

Public high schools in the top 100 of The Posts 2017 list include many with much poverty but AP and IB test participation rates higher than found in expensive private schools. The IDEA Mission College Prep school in Mission, Tex, had 91 percent of its students from low-income families. The Irma Lerma Rangel Young Womens Leadership School in Dallas was 73 percent low-income. Preuss charter school at the University of California-San Diego was 100 percent low-income.

What I saw in East Los Angeles 30 years ago seemed clear to me. Dedicated teachers saw hidden potential in students who had not had much support. They convinced the teenagers they could do as well on college-level tests as kids in rich Los Angeles neighborhoods like Beverly Hills and San Marino. The teachers gave them the time they needed to learn, leading to changes in American high school education that no one, including me, ever anticipated.
A class-action lawsuit seeking more than $10 million has been filed on behalf of the victims of a deadly bus crash that occurred last fall in southwest Baltimore, alleging the driver was wrongly cleared to work despite previous crashes and health problems.

A school bus driven by Glenn Chappell, 67, rear-ended a Ford Mustang before crossing into oncoming traffic and striking a Maryland Transit Administration bus. The Nov. 1 crash killed the driver and four passengers on the MTA bus, as well as Chappell.

Another 11 people were injured, including passengers on the MTA bus, a teacher aide on the school bus and the driver of the Ford Mustang. No students were on the school bus at the time of the crash.

The lawsuit alleges that the health-care company Concentra, which provides commercial driver certifications, knew or should have known that Chappell had suffered multiple seizures in the past and had been involved in at least four crashes or incidents while operating a school bus or a personal vehicle where he had lost consciousness from a seizure when it cleared Chappell to drive commercial vehicles.

Also named as defendants are AA Affordable Transportation, which employed Chappell, and its owners and operators Tracy and Aliyu Dabo.

It is beyond unbelievable that Concentra and AAAfordable put this man behind the wheel and that they certified him to drive buses full of disabled children, said attorney Hassan Murphy, a managing partner at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy.

Concentra and officials with AA Affordable could not be immediately reached for comment.

The National Transportation Safety Board reported last month that Baltimore school officials had been alerted for years to crashes involving Chappell and to criminal charges against him yet did not disqualify him from transporting students.

A December NTSB report offering a preliminary assessment of the crash revealed that Chappell had stopped responding to a school aide in the moments before the crash. He had a history of seizures, as well as diabetes and hypertension  conditions that should have disqualified him from operating a commercial vehicle under state and federal law, according to the report.

Doctors had repeatedly cleared Chappell to drive under a federal system designed to keep drivers with certain risky health conditions from operating passenger vehicles. Drivers are required to sign documents that detail their medical histories before they undergo the health exams at least once every two years.
View of the cured and finished buds as well as growing medical marijuana plants propagated at Josh Gender's medical marijuana growing operation in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 7, 2016. Genderson is expanding operations to Maryland under that states program. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post)

Marylands medical marijuana regulating agency skirted state contracting rules and may have overcharged taxpayers when it hired an outside group to review applications to open cannabis businesses, a legislative audit found.

Its the latest black eye for a state agency that has been criticized by state lawmakers, businesses and medical marijuana advocates for struggling to get the program off the ground.

Last year, the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission gave preliminary authorization to 15 companies to grow medical marijuana, 15 companies to process the drug into medicinal products and 102 to open dispensaries. The businesses may open as early as this summer.

To choose these companies, the commission contracted with the Regional Economic Studies Institute at Towson University to oversee the review and scoring of business applications with the help of outside experts.

[Hogan orders study of racial disparities in medical marijuana]

But the Office of Legislative Audits found numerous problems with this arrangement.

For starters, it was not subject to competitive bidding meant to ensure that taxpayers are getting the best deal for services.

Auditors determined that the arrangement was artificially split into different agreements for the separate types of cannabis licenses, shielding it from additional scrutiny from other state agencies and the Board of Public Works, which typically approves significant state spending.

Also, commission officials underestimated the cost of reviewing the applications, which ballooned from an initial estimate of $545,000 to $2.4 million, as The Washington Post reported last year.

Agency officials blamed the spike in costs on an unexpected flood of applications. But auditors said the commission failed to ensure that the increased costs and overhead were documented and reasonable.

[Read the full audit]

The use and structure of the interagency agreements resulted in a circumvention of control agency approvals and a lack of assurance that these services were obtained at the most advantageous cost to the State, the audit says.

In a written response to the audit, the commission said its arrangement with Towson does not reflect any intent to circumvent state law. It agreed with auditor recommendations to change how it handles future contracts.

The Commission is committed to the competitive procurement process, executive director Patrick Jameson said in a statement to The Post.

Jameson was hired after the consulting arrangement with Towson was made.

Hannah Byron, the commissions former executive director, defended her handling of the deal with Towson, saying that she followed proper channels and that it was a better alternative than waiting as long as a year to find a private company to oversee the review of applications.

There had been enormous pressure to get this program off the ground, and there were a lot of hiccups along the way, Byron said in an interview. We felt that this was the most expedient way of doing that.

Commission officials told auditors they wanted to award the first batch of licenses by December 2015.

The commission ended up awarding preliminary licenses for growers and processors in August and dispensaries in December 2016.

Several companies are suing the state over the process for awarding licenses, and Maryland state lawmakers are weighing whether to reconvene to take up legislation overhauling the states medical marijuana program.

Black lawmakers have insisted on authorizing new cultivation licenses for minority-owned companies to ensure racial equity in the profits of a new state-created industry. Legislation that would have done so failed in the final seconds of the General Assembly session that ended in April.

That bill would have also restructured the cannabis commission, which lawmakers of both parties have accused of bungling the programs rollout.
Quota system launched in Yarsagumba collection

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), in coordination with various stakeholders, has implemented a quota system for collecting Yarsagumba in order to prevent overharvesting of the herb which is used as an aphrodisiac.
Democracy for America, a national progressive group, is ready to mobilize its 26,000 Maryland members to help Benjamin Jealous run for Maryland governor in 2018.

Replacing Marylands Republican governor will require a candidate with strong progressive values who can inspire and mobilize voters throughout the state, Charles Chamberlain, executive director of Democracy for America, said in a statement. There is no one better than Ben Jealous for this task.

Jealous, the former head of the NAACP and a leading voice of progressive Democrats, has never run for political office but is weighing a bid for the Democratic nomination to challenge Gov. Larry Hogan (R) next year.

He is among seven Democrats who have said they are considering the race. The others include Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, former Maryland attorney general Douglas F. Gansler, Baltimore County Executive Kevin B. Kamenetz, state Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (Montgomery), and lawyer James L. Shea.

Alec Ross, a technology entrepreneur, is the only Democrat who has officially entered the race.

Jealous has been traveling across the state trying to make connections with voters. Last week, he finished third behind Rep. John Delaney and Kamenetz in a straw poll held in western Maryland, outperforming Baker, Gansler and Madaleno despite their years in the political arena.

Chamberlain said members of Democracy for America, a group founded by former Vermont governor and Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean, have been fired up about a possible Jealous candidacy since February, when word spread that he was seriously considering a run.

The group has 1 million members across the country, Chamberlain said, which could provide a ready base of volunteers and grass-roots donors.

Theres not a moment to lose in organizing to elect a progressive governor of Maryland in 2018, he said. Thats why our work starts today.

Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will face a challenge in trying to deny a second term to Hogan, despite the partys 2-to-1 voter registration advantage in the state. The first-term governor has record-high approval ratings, according to recent polls, and has millions of dollars in his campaign coffers.

At the same time, Democrats in the state have grown somewhat more reluctant to support him for a second term since the election of President Trump, a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll found in March.
Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh this week advised state and local law-enforcement agencies not to hold undocumented immigrants past their release dates on behalf of federal authorities unless they have a judicial warrant or probable cause.

He said in a memo Thursday that following his guidance would allow agencies to comply with federal law in a manner that respects the constitutional rights of individuals, protects local agencies and officials from potential legal liability, and allows them to remain faithful to their mission of promoting public safety.

Frosh (D) warned that state and local jails could be subject to legal challenges regarding unconstitutional detention if they hold individuals suspected of immigration violations past their release dates without a judicial warrant or probable cause.

As an overriding principle, the government bears the burden of proving that the detention of someone beyond the persons State-law release date does not violate the Fourth Amendment and its Maryland counterpart, the memo said.

Frosh said that state and local officers can share information about a detainees immigration status with federal authorities, but are not required to do so.

He also advised state and local police not to take action to enforce federal immigration laws  such as investigating suspected immigration violations  unless they have agreements to take part in such efforts through a special federal program.

The advice, which is not legally binding, comes amid changes that the Trump administration has made to immigration enforcement policies, including an executive order threatening to withhold federal funds for sanctuary jurisdictions. The administration has not clearly defined which regulations or laws would make a state or locality vulnerable to such sanctions, and a federal judge recently blocked part of the order.

A bill to limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts died in the state Senate this year, causing strife among Democratic lawmakers who disagreed over how strict the regulations should be.
Obituaries of residents from the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Faith McCormick, HHS official

Faith McCormick, 70, a career official with the Department of Health and Human Services who retired in 2011 as acting commissioner in the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, died April 2 at a hospital in Washington. The cause was lymphoma, said a friend, Phyllis Garner.

A resident of Fairfax Station, Va., she was born Faith Thomas in Wilmington, Del., and came to Washington in 1973 as an aide to Rep. Richard Shoup (R-Mont.). In 1976 she became a Social Security Administration hearings and appeals officer. She was a foster parent to a developmentally disabled foster child and a co-founder of Food for Others, an organization that provides food for the needy in Northern Virginia.

Sol Schindler, Foreign Service officer

Sol Schindler, 92, a Foreign Service officer from 1952 until 1975 who served throughout Asia and retired as cultural attache at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, died April 11 at a hospital in Washington. The cause was congestive heart failure, said a daughter-in-law, Katherine Spurlock.

Mr. Schindler, who lived in Bethesda, Md., was born in Sioux City, Iowa. As a young Foreign Service officer in India, he shot a leopard that had terrorized a village. In Saigon, the South Vietnamese capital, he started a weekly poker game that continued in Washington for 30 years. In retirement, he was deputy director of developing programs for the U.S. Information Agency, and he declassified information for the State Department under the Freedom of Information Act until 2002.

 From staff reports
An 81-year-old woman is dead after a collision involving two cars and a school bus Friday in Montgomery County, authorities said.

At around 8:15 a.m., officers responded to the 13000 block of Georgia Avenue for a report of a collision, Montgomery County police said in a statement.

An investigation determined that a 2005 Honda Accord was traveling north on Georgia Avenue when it struck a 2009 Honda Accord attempting to make a left turn from westbound Regina Drive onto southbound Georgia, the statement said.

After the collision, a Montgomery school bus that was traveling south on Georgia Avenue and was not carrying students was struck by the 2009 Honda, according to the statement.

The driver of the 2009 Honda was identified as Stavroula Doulaveris, 81, of Silver Spring, who died of her injuries after being taken to a hospital.

The driver of the 2005 Honda was identified as Ablavi Julienne Hobuame, 25, who was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the school bus, Hyeong Seok Kang, 48, of Germantown was not injured.

Police asked anyone with information about the collision to contact them at 240-773-6620.
A bust of a major organized crime ring that made millions smuggling cigarettes and committing bank fraud in Virginia has resulted in 43 indictments and more than 740 charges, Fairfax County police announced Friday.

An extensive two-year investigation uncovered a sprawling operation with more than 150 suspects engaged in transporting cigarettes from the Richmond area to New York City, writing bad checks, money laundering, and committing shootings and other violent crimes in the Richmond area, officials said.

Authorities there said the ring sold $30 million worth of cigarettes on the black market and created 29 fake businesses in the Richmond area to make bulk purchases of cigarettes, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Its got to be one of the largest organized crime groups weve had, Fairfax County police 2nd Lt. Thomas Harrington said at a Friday news conference. It is an extremely complex case.

Harrington said that detectives are still trying to determine where the organizations profits went but that officials are exploring whether any money funded terrorist groups. The organization was primarily composed of foreign nationals from northern Africa, Harrington said.

The investigation began in January 2015, when a bank investigator in Fairfax County reported to police that a group of 12 to 14 people were engaged in check kiting, or writing checks on accounts with no available funds, police said.

Detectives determined the suspects also were fraudulently building up bank credit by making quick deposits and withdrawals, and then using debit cards to rent cars, which they never returned.

In all, police said nine banks in Fairfax County reported losses of more than $620,000. After it was determined that the 12 to 14 people were using multiple addresses in the county and the Richmond area, Fairfax police reached out to the FBI for help.

The probe eventually expanded to include more than 80 suspects. Some were making large purchases at convenience stores, gas stations and other businesses in Henrico and Chesterfield counties, police said.

Police also discovered that some of the rental vehicles were being abandoned in New York City and the Richmond area. Police stopped some of the vehicles in transit and determined that suspects were using them to smuggle cigarettes up the East Coast.

Cigarette smuggling from Virginia to spots in the Northeast has become a major and lucrative crime in recent years. Harrington said a carton of cigarettes costing $50 in Virginia could cost $110 to $120 in New York City because of added taxes and fees.

Among other schemes, smugglers buy cigarettes in the commonwealth and then illegally transport them to New York City, where they are sold below market rate but for a higher price than they were purchased for in Virginia.

In 2011, federal officials estimated that a U-Haul truck stocked with 200 cases of cigarettes could net a smuggler a profit of $670,000.

Illegally trafficked cigarettes now have a higher profit margin than cocaine, heroin, marijuana or guns, a Virginia State Police official was quoted as saying by the states Crime Commission.

In the current case, police were able to locate storage facilities in the Richmond area being used by the organized crime ring.

Fairfax County police have arrested more than a dozen people linked to the organization since 2015. In addition, Henrico authorities on Monday indicted 43 on charges including money laundering, cigarette smuggling, receiving stolen goods and obtaining money under false pretenses, among other charges. Police said 19 of the 43 are in custody.

Fairfax County police said that the investigation is ongoing and that they expect to bring additional charges against the suspects.
A 7-week-old girl who died on Christmas Day in Southwest Washington was malnourished and suffered broken ribs, according to D.C. police, who on Friday arrested the parents and charged them each with first-degree murder.

An arrest affidavit describes the infant, Trinity Jabore, as living in an apartment with three other children  ages 15 months, 5 and 8  littered with dirty dishes, trash and cigarette butts, as well as evidence of drug use.

Police said the parents fed Trinity formula given to them by the hospital, but later began using water mixed with condensed milk. The medical examiner said Trinity died of starvation, trauma and hyponatremia, or forced water intoxication. The death was ruled a homicide on Wednesday.

On Friday, police said that they arrested Trishelle Jabore, 26, and Jay Crowder, 33, identified as the infants parents. Each was charged with first-degree murder .

The affidavit says that Trinity was born Nov. 6 and was discharged two days later weighing 4 pounds, 11 ounces. The infant tested positive for marijuana, the affidavit says. The mother, unable to breast feed, was sent home with two boxes of pre-mixed formula, each containing eight five-ounce bottles.

Police said that when the formula ran out, the parents purchased one other container of formula. Police said that the refrigerator in their apartment in the first block of Galveston Place SW was stocked with food, but none that the baby could eat.

Police said that the couple went grocery shopping at two stores on Dec. 2 and spent $450.90, but only $12.99 on one 23-ounce box of baby formula.
Maryland prosecutors said they will drop rape and sex offense charges against two immigrant teens accused of attacking a 14-year-old classmate in a high school bathroom stall in a case that attracted international and White House attention and stoked the debate about illegal crossings into the United States.

After a court hearing Friday morning, prosecutors said they will drop the sex-assault case against Henry Sanchez Milian, 18, and Jose Montano, 17.

The facts of this case do not support the original charges filed, said Montgomery County States Attorney John McCarthy.

Defense lawyers had said for weeks that the sex acts were consensual and that text messages and school surveillance videos did not substantiate the girls claims she had been pushed from a hallway into a bathroom at Rockville High School on March 16 and that the suspects took turns assaulting her as she tried to break free.

As prosecutors moved to dismiss the rape cases, they began pursuing cases of child pornography charges related to images discovered on cellphones during the course of the investigation, according to court records and defense attorneys.

Maria Mena, attorney for one of the accused students, talks to the press as she departs the courthouse Friday in Rockville, Md. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

Prosecutors did not describe the content or path of the exchanges of the images. Defense attorneys said they were willingly shared by the girl with one defendant, who passed them along to the other.

Sanchez Milians attorney, Andrew Jezic, called the charges selective prosecution of elective promiscuity, adding that it is hardly uncommon behavior for teenagers.

Montanos attorney, Maria Mena, said the child pornography laws are made to go after adults. She called the new charges egregious.

The developments Friday stood in stark contrast to the reports that pushed the case onto the national platform.

The severity of the reported assault  the girl originally told police the suspects held her down as she cried and repeatedly told them to stop  and that the two accused teens had entered the United States illegally only months earlier drew heated comments from the White House to the Maryland State House and to activists in the county.

Montano came to the United States from El Salvador, and Sanchez Milian from Guatemala. They were stopped at the border, detained, then allowed to continue on to relatives before they enrolled at Rockville at a ninth-grade level.

[Suspects in Rockville High rape case came to U.S. last year to join relatives]

White House press secretary Sean Spicer was asked at a daily briefing about the cases in its early days and said, The idea that this occurred is shocking, disturbing, horrific.

Part of the reason that the president has made illegal immigration and crackdown such a big deal is because of tragedies like this. . . . Immigration pays its toll on our people if its not done legally, and this is another example, Spicer said.

Demonstrators converged on county government offices and hundreds of calls, emails and texts went to the school system, bashing undocumented immigrant students, assailing school policies and demanding the ouster of the superintendent. Police provided protection at the school after the threats.

In Annapolis, politicians referred to the case in denouncing legislation that would have limited cooperation between local police and immigration authorities. The legislation was defeated weeks later.

Immigration advocates and the county schools superintendent publicly spoke out about the charges, voicing horror and regret and also saying politicians should not judge immigrant children seeking a better life by the disturbing case. We are a public school system, and we serve all of our students when they come to us, Schools Superintendent Jack Smith said as the case broke, a position he repeated Friday.

And in the rippling effects, Sanchez Milians father, Adolfo Sanchez-Reyes, was taken into immigration custody.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Friday that they are still pursuing Henry Sanchez Milians deportation to Guatemala, ICE spokesman Matthew Bourke said. Sanchez Milian is not yet in federal custody, but the agency has issued a detainer asking local authorities to ensure he is transferred to its custody.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said the county was cooperating with federal immigration officials because of the child-pornography charge filed against Sanchez Milian, and that the detainer would be honored.

At the White House, during the daily briefing Friday, principal deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked several times about whether Spicer had unfairly jumped to conclusions about the teens, and whether the White House regretted the rhetoric and would issue a retraction.

Were always looking to protect the American people. Sean was speaking about what he knew at the time, she said. I dont want to retract anything without further information in front of me.

On Friday, McCarthy, flanked by county leaders, said the decision to drop the charges followed an extensive investigation that included additional interviews and a review of medical records, school security videos, and phone and computer records. Due to lack of corroboration and substantial inconsistencies from the facts, McCarthy said, the original charges cannot be sustained and prosecution of those charges is untenable.

He declined to take questions from reporters.

In an interview, Leggett called the circumstances a real tragedy and sad occasion.

[Rockville High rape case draws attention at White House briefing]

The case began March 16, when the girl told a staff member she had been raped. Detectives came to the school and spoke to the girl, who according to their affidavits, told them she knew Montano and they had been talking in a school hallway that morning.

She said he asked to have sex and when she refused, pushed her into a boys bathroom and pulled her into a stall, according to the police affidavits. Sanchez Milian then entered the stall, according to girls account in the affidavit, and both raped her as she cried out and told them to stop.

Montano denied having any sexual contact with [the victim]. Montano stated they went into the bathroom to tell jokes, detectives wrote after talking with him.

They also spoke with Sanchez Milian, who initially stated nothing happened, the police affidavits state, then changed his statement multiple times and admitted having sex with the victim with his friend Montano.

Faced with the choice of filing charges or not arresting the suspects as an investigation continued  and risking them fleeing  the police brought charges. Hours later, the two teens were locked in the Montgomery County Detention Center.

[ICE a gents arrest father of Rockville High School rape suspect]

Defense lawyers had said for weeks there were major problems with the allegations.

The day before the incident, they said, the girl and Montano exchanged explicit text messages and images about planning to have sex in the school. Then, inside the school, surveillance video showed Montano and the girl walked together into the bathroom at the time of the incident, according to the attorneys. They also said the girls account of events was not consistent as the investigation progressed.

At no point did the girl express any reluctance with any sex acts, said Jezic. From the night before, she actively planned a sexual encounter.

[Rockville High School rape suspect contends sexual contact was consensual]

Prosecutors considered pursuing a case of statutory rape, which holds that a victim is so young they cannot legally consent. To make such a case under Maryland law with a victim who is 14, the suspects must be a full four years older, said Jezic and other attorneys in the state.

In this case, neither Montano, at 17, nor Sanchez Milian, who is a relatively young 18, was a full four years older than the girl.

Jezic said he knows many people who followed the case will question that group sex in a high school bathroom could be consensual.

It does seem improbable, if you are a person who is not connected to contemporary high school culture, he said.

Therese Gibson, a parent and community activist who is part of Montgomery County Latino Advocacy Coalition, said she had no details about exactly what happened at Rockville High but found it unfortunate that the incident became politicized amid the national immigration debate.

I think most students who come to the United States are coming to find a better life, and the vast majority are struggling to gain a foothold and do better than where they came from, she said.

The case is not likely to be forgotten soon, she said. It was such an explosive case when it started  the alleged rape of a young girl in a school, she said. I think people will remember this case for a long time. I hope this young girl heals and the immigrant community doesnt suffer as a result of what happened.

Maria Sacchetti, Donna St. George, Jennifer Jenkins, Abby Phillip and David Nakamura contributed to this report.
Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) was the only Republican member of Congress from Virginia or Maryland to vote against the GOP bill to overhaul the health insurance system on Thursday. (Jeff Taylor/AP)

During House Speaker Paul D. Ryans push this week to pass legislation that would overhaul the nations health-care system, Northern Virginia Rep. Barbara Comstock stood alone as a no vote among her Republican Party colleagues in the Washington region.

The reason Comstock gave is that the latest version of the American Health Care Act, which passed by a vote of 217 to 213, does not protect people with preexisting conditions and has too many other uncertainties in its aim to offer a better model than Obamacare.

But as the two-term congresswoman and Ryan ally prepares for what is expected to be a competitive election in November 2018, political analysts see her opposition as a pragmatic act of survival in the increasingly moderate 10th Congressional District, where Hillary Clinton won 51 percent of the vote in last falls presidential election.

Many of the other 19 Republicans who voted against the health-care bill also are facing potentially tight reelection races, said David Wasserman, who analyzes congressional elections for the Cook Political Report and lists Comstock as one of the three most vulnerable Republicans in the House.

Shes the only Republican left who represents any area inside the D.C. Beltway, Wasserman said. That helps explain why she was one of the few Republicans to get a coveted pass from leadership to vote no on health care.

(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

Comstocks office said the congresswoman opposed the bill out of concern over some of its provisions, in particular one that would allow states to let insurers again charge more to customers with preexisting medical problems  a practice that the current Affordable Care Act prohibits.

A spokesman declined to make Comstock available for comment but said her position on health care has been consistent.

Comstock  whose district stretches from the southwestern Washington suburbs to the border with West Virginia  campaigned for reelection to a second term on a pledge to revise the current health-care law and has repeatedly voted to begin the process of repealing Obamacare.

My goals on health care reform are to provide patient-centered reforms that provide better access to high quality, affordable care and covers pre-existing conditions without lifetime limits, Comstock said in a statement posted on her congressional website after Thursdays vote. I did not support the AHCA today because of the many uncertainties in achieving those goals.

Jim Hoeft, publisher of the Bearing Drift conservative blog in Virginia, said Comstock is walking a fine line in a portion of the state whose changing demographics are making elections more favorable to Democrats.

Comstock easily won her first election in 2014 with 56 percent of the vote but faced a closer election last year, when she won with 53 percent in the district where voters are often concerned about the economic effects of federal spending cuts and traffic-clogged roads.

On health care, Comstock may be responding to changes in the district by reflecting the views of Republican voters who may be happy with some aspects of Obamacare, Hoeft said.

(Daron Taylor/The Washington Post)

It doesnt take a rocket scientist to look at that and say, Shes representing her constituency,  he said. Thats the whole point of being a representative. Youre representing the interests of your district.

But going down on record as opposed to what has been a central component of President Trumps agenda could backfire with more conservative voters in what is likely to be a close November election, said Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections, which analyzes federal and gubernatorial elections.

For some Republicans in the district who wanted Republicans to act against Obamacare, she risks them sitting out the midterm elections, Gonzales said. She needs every Republican possible in order to win. She doesnt have a lot of margin for error.

On Friday, the Republican Party sought to defend Comstock against any backlash.

No one knows Northern Virginia better than Barbara Comstock, the National Republican Congressional Committee said in a statement. She clearly demonstrated her independence and we applaud her for keeping her constituents in the forefront of her mind in all decisions she makes.

But in Loudoun County, whose voters often determine the outcome of elections in the 10th District, Comstocks health-care vote generated some confusion and controversy on a Republican voters Facebook page.

Im very disappointed in Congresswoman Barbara Comstock for this, one commenter wrote. I get that its political theater. But its dishonorable.

Its amazing how some conservatives will do anything they can to find fault with Congresswoman Comstock, another poster responded. Im positive that had she voted for the bill the same people mad at her now would be mad at her for that vote.

Democrats, meanwhile, plan to characterize Comstock as a cynical politician out to win at all costs  a tactic that other Comstock opponents have tried.

I dont think Barbara Comstock is fooling anybody, said Lindsey Davis Stover, a former Obama administration official who is one of four Democratic candidates so far vying to run against Comstock in November. What shes doing is not courage; its politics.

State Sen. Jennifer T. Wexton (D-Loudoun), another candidate, said Comstocks vote is less about any core values that she may have than it is about political expediency and survival mode.

If she really wanted to be a leader and do the best thing for her constituents, why was she not speaking out publicly against it? Wexton said.

The other two Democrats in the race  former Fairfax County teachers union president Kimberly Adams and Dan Helmer, an Army veteran and Rhodes scholar  could not be reached for comment. Helmer is on active military duty, a spokesman said.

Dorothy McAuliffe, the wife of Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), has said she is seriously considering running for the seat but has not made a decision.


Republican candidate for Virginia governor Ed Gillespie announces a policy initiative during the Loudoun Kitchen Table Conversation in Sterling, Va. (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post)

RICHMOND  Political strategist Ed Gillespie on Thursday released the first TV ad of his campaign for the Republican nomination for Virginia governor, a 30-second spot focused on the 10 percent income tax cut that is the centerpiece of his bid.

Gillespies campaign said the commercial will air across the commonwealth but declined to put a dollar figure on what it described as a significant buy.

The ad begins with a landscape shot, then scenes of Gillespie on the campaign trail, touring manufacturing plants and meeting with voters around a kitchen table.

The first income tax rate cut in 45 years  53,000 new jobs, a female narrator begins. Ed Gillespies conservative plan.

[Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie proposes modest tax cut]

Clips of TV news reports on Gillespies proposal follow, with one reporter after the other summing it up: Hes talking major tax cuts at the kitchen table. ... Gillespie called for a 10 percent cut to income taxes. ... Ed Gillespie is one of the top candidates for governor, and he wants to put around $1,300 in the pockets of average families. ... It would create 50,000 full time private sector jobs.

Democrats and Gillespies two rivals for the GOP nomination have questioned his claim that the cut would save the average family of four $1,300 a year. That figure is based on an annual household income of $135,000. Average household income in Virginia is about $90,000. Median income  the midpoint that some critics call a more meaningful measure since it is not skewed by extremes in wealth or poverty  is about $65,000.

[Gillespies report on his tax plan]

Gillespies campaign has said the plan, which calls for phasing in the cut over three years, is based on calculations from the Beacon Hill Institute, a Boston think tank, and projections that average income will top $134,000 by 2021.

Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (D), seeking his partys gubernatorial nomination against former congressman Tom Perriello, has dismissed Beacon Hill as a Koch-funded group that promotes skepticism of climate change.

With the release of the ad, Gillespies two Republican rivals in the June 13 primary renewed their criticism.

@EdWGillespie tax plan is a publicity stunt, Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, wrote on Twitter. You cant cut taxes without cutting spending. #Finance101.

Stewart has called for a larger tax cut but offsetting spending reductions. Gillespie has said his plan would take effect only if state revenues rise to cover the cost. State Sen. Frank Wagner (Virginia Beach), who has called for raising taxes for transportation projects, went on Facebook to call the plan dishonest phony math.

.
From right, Pinar Gurdal, Rick Shingles and Russell Chisholm show their opposition to the Mountain Valley Pipeline project during the debate for the Democratic nomination for governor at Virginia Western Community College on Thursday, May 4, 2017, in Roanoke, Va. Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam and former congressman Tom Perriello both claimed Thursday to be Virginia Democrats' best option for winning over rural voters who supported President Donald Trump in last year's election. (Heather Rousseau/AP)

ROANOKE -- Gas pipelines are a touchy subject in this mountainous part of the state, and Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam struggled to find the right thing to say about two proposed projects Thursday night during a debate with his rival for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Emotions regarding the pipelines run high in the region. Supporters say the projects will generate jobs; opponents say they will harm the environment and property rights. And the sponsor of one pipeline, Dominion Energy, is a major political donor whose largesse has come under fire this election season.

Northam, who has received campaign cash from Dominion and owns stock in the company, repeatedly declined to stake out a position Thursday on the multibillion dollar Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines, which would bring fracked gas from West Virginia through Virginia.

Former Congressman Tom Perriello, who is challenging Northam for the nomination, is opposed to the projects and sought to underline that fact, as well as his pledge not to accept campaign donations from Dominion.

[Power broker in hot seat in governors race]

Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, left, and former congressman Tom Perriello, who are seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in the June 13 primary election, debate at Virginia Western Community College on Thursday, May 4, 2017, in Roanoke, Va. (Heather Rousseau/AP)

But there were other flareups in the second debate between Northam and Perriello that highlighted a fundamental difference between two candidates who tend to agree on most issues.

Simply put, Northam stressed his ability to compromise with the Republican-controlled General Assembly and spoke about modest ways of attacking problems that might win support across the aisle. And Perriello talked about aggressive goals and big ideas that won cheers from the crowd.

Where Northam talked about encouraging economic development and workplace training to help the under-employed find better jobs, Perriello promoted his plan for free community college and mandatory 8-week paid family leave.

Northam outlined his own proposal for tuition-free community college that would be followed by a year of paid community service, much as he paid off his government-funded medical training by serving as an Army doctor for eight years.

But Perriello countered that such a plan is unrealistic for working people who just need a chance at a better career path and dont need the distraction of community service. When Northam responded that Perriellos plan, which includes tax increases, would be too expensive to pass the General Assembly, the polite affair began to heat up.

Community service would be more expensive, not less expensive, Perriello interrupted. How would that pay for the plan?

Did me serving for eight years in the United States Army make it more expensive, Tom? Northam snapped back.

Perriello replied that he honored the military service, but that a community service program would carry extra public costs. That seemed to further irritate Northam.

So youre telling me that people like me shouldnt serve in the United States Army he said, and the crowd began to groan and drown him out.

I think you just lost the audience, doctor, Perriello said.

No I didnt, Northam shot back.

The awkwardexchange spun into a dustup a few minutes later when the topic of pipelines came up.

A small but vocal group of pipeline opponents in an audience of at least 250 people at Virginia Western Community College interrupted Northam several times as he repeatedly declined to say whether he supported or was opposed to two major gas pipeline projects now under review.

Asked by the moderator for his stand, Northam first described efforts he has taken to protect the states environment on other issues. Then he said that if the pipelines move forward, they need to be done with transparency and fairness, and with sensitivity to property rights. And he described how he wrote a letter to the state Department of Environmental Quality insisting that permits be determined on a site-specific basis, rather than a blanket approval.

But the decision is ultimately up to the federal government about whether they proceed, he said.

That opened the door for Perriello to step up and say, I do oppose the two pipelines and Im the only person on this stage to refuse to take any money from Dominion Power and the other electric utilities.

In addition to Perriello, 61 Democratic candidates for the state legislature have also pledged not to take campaign contributions from Dominion.

The moderator, WDBJ news anchor Jean Jadhon, again pressed Northam: Can you say yes or no?

You know I think I explained my position on the pipelines. Northam began, and some in the crowd interrupted, one woman shouting, Aw, come on.

Its not something a governor or lieutenant governor can make the decision on, Northam continued.

After that, the two candidates mounted no more harsh personal challenges. In fact, Northam didnt challenge Perriello on his changing position on issues of gun control and abortion rights. At other times Northam has highlighted that Perriello won top ratings from the NRA in his time in Congress and voted for an amendment that would have restricted federal funding for abortions.

[Shades of blue in the Democratic primary for Va. governor]

Asked how they would woo voters in rural parts of the state who had supported President Trump, Northam responded that he has won in rural areas before because I went out and listened to people and heard what they were saying. He touted his plans for education, health care and 21st century jobs training.

Perriello sounded similar notes. You show up, you listen, then you have to have something to say, he said. But then he added a bigger thought: People feel like the system has been rigged against certain regions...because it has been.

On the same day that the GOP-controlled House voted to replace the Affordable Care Act, both men lamented the vote in Congress and vowed to fight Washington. But when asked how they could actually get anything done with a General Assembly thats likely to remain under Republican control, their answers highlighted different approaches.

Northam invoked his 10 years in the legislature, first as a state senator, and cited his ability to compromise with Republicans. Perriello invoked his experience working in Africa for the Obama administration, saying they could use a peace negotiator in Richmond, as well.

The two are campaigning toward a June 13 primary. Three Republicans are vying for that partys nomination, though their names never came up in Thursdays debate: former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie, state Sen. Frank Wagner (Virginia Beach) and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart.
COLLECTIVE MADNESS



Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."
Sajha Party gets electoral symbols

Newly formed Sajha Party has received two electoral symbols for its candidates contesting in the local level elections on Friday.


Suaado Salah comforts her 3-year-old son, who got measles during an outbreak in Minneapolis. His 5-year-old brother, left, did not get sick and has now been vaccinated. Salah had previously refused the MMR vaccine for them because of false rumors that it caused autism. (Courtney Perry for The Washington Post)

MINNEAPOLIS  The young mother started getting advice early on from friends in the close-knit Somali immigrant community here. Dont let your children get the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella  it causes autism, they said.

Suaado Salah listened. And this spring, her 3-year-old boy and 18-month-old girl contracted measles in Minnesotas largest outbreak of the highly infectious and potentially deadly disease in nearly three decades. Her daughter, who had a rash, high fever and cough, was hospitalized for four nights and needed intravenous fluids and oxygen.

I thought: Im in America. I thought Im in a safe place and my kids will never get sick in that disease,  said Salah, 26, who has lived in Minnesota for more than a decade. Growing up in Somalia, shed had measles as a child. A sister died of the disease at age 3.

Salah no longer believes that the MMR vaccine triggers autism, a discredited theory that spread rapidly through the local Somali community, fanned by meetings organized by anti-vaccine groups. The activists repeatedly invited Andrew Wakefield, the founder of the modern anti-vaccine movement, to talk to worried parents.

Immunization rates plummeted, and last month the first cases of measles appeared. Soon there was a full-blown outbreak, one of the starkest consequences of an intensifying anti-vaccine movement in the United States and around the world that has gained traction in part by targeting specific communities.

Its remarkable to come in and talk to a population thats vulnerable and marginalized and who doesnt necessarily have the capacity for advocacy for themselves, and to take advantage of that, said Siman Nuurali, a Somali American clinician who coordinates the care of medically complex patients at Childrens Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Its abhorrent.

Although extensive research has disproved any relationship between vaccines and autism, the fear has become entrenched in the community. I dont know if we will be able to dig out on our own, Nuurali said.

Anti-vaccine activists defend their position and their role, saying they merely provided information to parents.

The Somalis had decided themselves that they were particularly concerned, Wakefield said last week. I was responding to that.

He maintained that he bears no fault for what is happening within the community. I dont feel responsible at all, he said.

This video from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains how measles spreads and how to prevent it. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

MMR vaccination rates among U.S.-born children of Somali descent used to be higher than among other children in Minnesota. But the rates plummeted from 92 percent in 2004 to 42 percent in 2014, state health department data shows, well below the threshold of 92 to 94 percent needed to protect a community against measles.

Wakefield, a British activist who now lives in Texas, visited Minneapolis at least three times in 2010 and 2011 to meet privately with Somali parents of autistic children, according to local anti-vaccine activists. Wakefields prominence stems from a 1998 study he authored that claimed to show a link between the vaccine and autism. The study was later identified as fraudulent and was retracted by the medical journal that published it, and his medical license was revoked.

The current outbreak was identified in early April. As of Friday, there were 44 cases, all but two occurring in people who were not vaccinated and all but one in children 10 or younger. Nearly all have been from the Somali American community in Hennepin County. A fourth of the patients have been hospitalized. Because of the dangerously low vaccination rates and the diseases extreme infectiousness, more cases are expected in the weeks ahead.

Measles, which remains endemic in many parts of the world, was eliminated in the United States at the start of this century. It reappeared several years ago as more people  many wealthier, more educated and white  began refusing to vaccinate their children or delaying those shots.





The ramifications already have been significant. A 2014-2015 measles outbreak infected 147 people in seven states and spread to Mexico and Canada. In California, high school students were sent home because of infected classmates. One patient who was unknowingly infectious visited a hospital and exposed dozens of pregnant women and babies, including those in the neonatal intensive care unit. Another adult patient was hospitalized and on a breathing machine for three weeks.

Federal guidelines typically recommend that children get the first vaccine dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second when they are 4 to 6 years old. The combination is 97 percent effective in preventing the viral disease, which can cause pneumonia, brain swelling, deafness and, in rare instances, death. State health officials are now recommending doses for babies as young as 6 months if there is concern for ongoing measles exposure.

Minnesotas Somali community is the largest in the country. The roots of the outbreak there date to 2008, when parents raised concerns that their children were disproportionately affected by autism spectrum disorder. A limited survey by the state health department the following year found an unexpectedly high number of Somali children in a preschool autism program. But a University of Minnesota study found that Somali children were about as likely as white children to be identified with autism, although they were more likely to have intellectual disabilities.

Around that time, health-care providers began receiving reports of parents refusing the MMR vaccine.

As parents sought to learn more about the disorder, they came across websites of anti-

vaccine groups. And activists from those groups started showing up at community health meetings and distributing pamphlets, recalled Lynn Bahta, a longtime state health department nurse who has worked with Somali nurses to counter MMR vaccine resistance within the community.

At one 2011 gathering featuring Wakefield, Bahta recalled, an armed guard barred her, other public health officials and reporters from attending.

Fear of autism runs so deep in the Somali community that parents whose children have recently come down with measles insist that measles is preferable to risking autism. One father, who did not want his family identified to protect its privacy, sat helplessly by his daughters bed at Childrens Minnesota hospital last week as she struggled to breathe during coughing fits.



Nurse Lydia Fulton administers the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella to a young patient at a clinic in Minneapolis. A triage center has been set up there as a major measles outbreak continues. (Courtney Perry for The Washington Post)

The 23-month-old was on an IV for fluids and had repeatedly pulled out the oxygen tube in her nose. Her older brother, almost 4, endured a milder bout. Neither had received the MMR vaccine.

The children now have antibodies to protect against measles, but they still need the vaccine to prevent mumps and rubella. Their father, who is 33 and studying mechanical engineering while working as a mechanic, wants to wait. His worry: autism. A colleague has a son who is mute.

I would hold off until shes 3 . . . or until she fluently starts talking, he said.

His wife no longer harbors doubts, however. As soon as both children are well, she said, they are going to get the shot.

The pervasive mistrust was evident Sunday night during a meeting, sponsored by several anti-vaccine groups, that drew a mostly Somali crowd of 90 to a Somali-owned restaurant here. Patti Carroll, a member of the Vaccine Safety Council of Minnesota, described its goal as giving parents more information, including about their right to refuse to vaccinate. People have been bullied big-time by doctors and public health officials, she said.

The presentation by anti-

vaccine activist Mark Blaxill drew cheers and applause. Blaxill, a Boston businessman whose adult daughter has autism, played down the threat of measles and played up local autism rates.

When you hear people from the state public health department saying there is no risk, that [vaccines] are safe, this is the sort of thing that should cause you to be skeptical, Blaxill said.

Two pediatricians in the audience stepped up to a microphone to denounce the claims.

I am very concerned, especially in the midst of a measles outbreak, to have folks come into a community impacted by this disease and start talking about links between MMR and autism, said Andrew Kiragu, interim chief of pediatrics at Hennepin Medical Center in Minneapolis. This is a travesty.

He and the other doctors were interruptedby boos and yelling.

For Gods sake, I want to know if vaccines are safe! Sahra Osman shouted. She has a nearly adult son who received an autism diagnosis when he was 3. My people are suffering! Were not ignorant. I read a lot. I know a lot. I educate myself. . . . You dont know what you are talking about.

Tahlil Wehlie comforts his son, who is recovering from measles. His 18-month-old daughter also became ill and was hospitalized. (Courtney Perry for The Washington Post)

While scores of studies from around the world have shown conclusively that vaccines do not cause autism, that is often not a satisfactory answer for Somali American parents. They say that if science can explain that vaccines do not cause autism, science should be able to say what does.

But researchers dont really know. A growing body of evidence suggests that brain differences associated with autism may be found early in infancy  well before children receive most vaccines. Other studies have found that alterations in brain-cell development related to autism may occur before birth. There are some genetic risk factors for autism, and advanced parental age has been associated with the condition.

Meanwhile, the ongoing spread of the anti-vaccine message is making it harder to control the burgeoning number of measles cases.

The groups continue advising parents, in the middle of their crisis, on how to opt out of vaccines, said pediatric nurse practitioner Patsy Stinchfield, an infection-control expert leading the outbreak response at Childrens Minnesota. That message is exactly the opposite of what clinicians and public health officials are urging, which is to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Staffers at her hospital have been working round-the-clock to vaccinate hundreds of people who may have been exposed; an MMR dose given within 72 hours of exposure can prevent measles.

When their two sick children are well, Suaado Salah and her husband, Tahlil Wehlie, plan to talk to friends and acquaintances to spread the word that the anti-vaccine groups are wrong and that all youngsters should get immunized.

Because when the kids get sick, its going to affect everybody. Its not going to affect only the family who have the sick kid, she said. They make sick for everybody. Thats when you wake up and say, Okay, what happened? 

But she understands the apprehension that fed the outbreak. With a parent whose child has autism, she said, its something that youre looking for an answer for how it happened and what happened to your kid.



Salah shares pasta with 3-year-old Luqman as his 5-year-old brother looks on. Luqman had not been immunized for measles because of his mothers fear that the vaccine causes autism. (Courtney Perry for The Washington Post)

Alice Crites in Washington and Emily Sohn in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
Somethings got to give

Nepal can try a new approach to foreign relations; it should think about what it can offer
Geese swim Thursday through receding floodwater from the Meramec River in Arnold, Mo. Heavy rain last weekend created a flooding mess in Missouri, Arkansas and neighboring states, and several inches of midweek rain have kept the water high. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via Associated Press)

GEORGIA

Voter registration to reopen before heated runoff

A federal judge on Thursday ordered Georgia officials to reopen voter registration in a suburban Atlanta congressional district ahead of a runoff in a heated special election.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten ruled in favor of civil rights advocacy groups who argued that Georgia violated federal law by preventing more new voter registrations before the June 20 runoff.

Georgia had set the registration deadline on March 20, 30 days before the first round of voting in April. Jon Ossoff (D) and Karen Handel (R), the top two vote-getters, advanced to a runoff in the conservative 6th District.

Batten ordered the state to extend the deadline to May 21 and to allow any district resident registered by that day to cast a ballot in the runoff. He said he wouldnt order the state to publicize the change but that he expects the secretary of state, Georgias top elections official, to update his website with the new information. Candice Broce, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Brian Kemp, said the state will comply with the order.

Batten said his Thursday order only applies to the June runoff and not to future elections.

 Associated Press

NEW YORK

Drug lord El Chapo to stay in solitary at New York City lockup

Mexican drug lord and escape artist Joaquin El Chapo Guzman needs to stay in solitary confinement at a New York City lockup to keep him from trying to control his drug-trafficking empire from behind bars, a judge ruled Thursday.

In a written decision, U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan rejected a request by Guzmans defense team to order him released from an ultrahigh-security wing of a jail in lower Manhattan and be allowed in the general inmate population and receive visitors. The judge agreed to let Guzman communicate with his wife about his defense but only through letters screened by federal agents.

Guzman, 59, was brought to the United States in January and pleaded not guilty to face charges that he oversaw a multibillion-dollar international drug trafficking operation responsible for murders and kidnappings.

Since then, hes has been locked up for 23 hours a day in a 20-by-12-foot cell in a unit that has held other high-profile, high-risk inmates like Gambino crime family boss John Gotti and several former close associates of Osama bin Laden. His lawyers had argued that restrictions limiting access to his lawyers and barring him from seeing or speaking on the phone with his wife violated his constitutional rights. The government had countered that the conditions are appropriate for someone who escaped twice from prison in Mexico.

 Associated Press

Charges dropped against man who served 20 years in fatal fire: A Chicago man has been released from prison after serving more than 20 years of a life sentence he received for a fire that killed two people on the citys southwest side in 1993. Adam Gray was released from an Illinois prison Wednesday after Cook County prosecutors recently decided to dismiss the charges against him. They said fire science advancements raised too many questions about his conviction. The fire occurred in March 1993 when Gray was 14.

British man who tried to attack Trump deported: A British man was deported home to England after nearly 11 months in U.S. custody for trying to grab a police officers gun in a bid to shoot then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Las Vegas, authorities said Thursday. Michael Steven Sandford, 21, who was found to have overstayed a 90-day visa, flew out of Seattle on Wednesday, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman said. A federal judge acknowledged in December that Sandford had been diagnosed with psychotic mental illness.

 From news services
VENEZUELA

Death toll climbs to 37 in political protests

Students held demonstrations across Caracas on Thursday as a two-month-old protest movement that shows no signs of letting up claimed more lives.

At the Central University of Venezuela, soldiers sprayed hundreds of student protesters with tear gas. Many protesters stayed put, and medics in gas masks attended to others.

Students from another university marched peacefully to deliver a petition to the office of the countrys Catholic bishops, asking the pope to speak out against the violence and the governments steps toward authoritarianism.

Gunfire erupted at a student gathering in El Tigre, southeast of Caracas, leaving Juan Lopez, 33, dead and three others injured, authorities said. Lopez was the president of a university federation. His death brought to at least 37 the number killed in Venezuelas political turmoil.

Earlier Thursday, authorities said a 38-year-old police officer in the central state of Carabobo had died of his injuries after being shot during a Wednesday protest that had hundreds of thousands of people on the street nationwide. A 17-year-old was also killed in the days protests.

 Associated Press

MEXICO

Gunmen kill 4 soldiers on pipeline patrol

Gunmen using local residents as human shields opened fire on a Mexican army patrol that was investigating fuel pipeline thefts on Wednesday, killing two soldiers and wounding a third, the military said Thursday.

Hours later, the gunmen attacked again with armored cars and high-powered rifles, killing two more soldiers and wounding nine, the army said. Three attackers were killed.

The violence in the state of Puebla marked an escalation of conflicts in which fuel thieves have largely taken control of some towns in the Red Triangle east of Mexico City.

Mexicos Defense Department said the patrol was dispatched to the town of Palmarito to investigate reports of an illegal pipeline tap. When soldiers arrived, they came under fire from assailants who took cover behind a group of women and children, prompting soldiers to hold fire, the department said.

 Associated Press

PAKISTAN

Boy dies in mob attack on police station

Police said Thursday that a boy was killed in a shootout between police and a mob that attacked a police station and demanded to be allowed to execute a minority Hindu being held on blasphemy charges.

The clash occurred in southwestern Baluchistan province after police arrested Parkash Kumar, 35, for allegedly sharing blasphemous content against Islams prophet Muhammad on WhatsApp, police official Atta Ullah said.

Ullah said officers were questioning the man when the mob stormed the police station, sparking a shootout in which a young boy was killed.

Blasphemy against Islam and its prophet is punishable by death under Pakistani law.

 Associated Press

Rwandan activist announces presidential bid: A Rwandan womens rights activist said she will challenge President Paul Kagame in the August election, taking a rare public stand against alleged government abuses from inside the country. Diane Rwigara, 35, announced her candidacy more than two years after her father, a prominent businessman, was killed in what police called a car accident, even as the family cited foul play. Assinapol Rwigaras family had petitioned Kagame to launch an independent probe into his death.

Saudi women get greater access to government services: Saudi Arabias King Salman has issued a directive to government offices that allows women greater access to their services without the consent of a male relative. Womens rights activists say the memo codifies the rights of Saudi women to access a job, higher education or medical procedures, for example, without a male guardians permission. There are no specific laws barring women from such services, but some government bodies request that a male give his consent first.

Russian artist wins asylum: A Russian performance artist noted for macabre, politically charged actions reportedly has received political asylum in France. Yes, its true, Pyotr Pavlensky was quoted as telling the Interfax news agency. He sought asylum in January after learning of rape accusations against him. He was jailed for six months in 2015-16 after setting fire to the doors of the Russian federal security agency in Moscow.

 From news services
Regarding the April 29 Metro article Metro sick policy draws staff ire, but no protest:

As a D.C. resident who relies exclusively on public transit, I have been supportive of efforts to upgrade the system and have tried to be patient with the attendant upheavals. However, this latest work rule  asking workers to notify the company three days in advance for doctors appointments  defies logic. Is management asking members of its workforce to be clairvoyant regarding their health? Is it insisting workers show up very sick, contaminating staff and the public? How many accidents will be caused by workers not able to exercise good judgment because of impaired functioning?

Ruth Cecire, Washington
UML welcomes SC order on reinstatement of CJ Karki

The main opposition CPN-UML has welcomed the Supreme Court (SC)'s interim order to reinstate Sushil Karki as Chief Justice.
Every American president in recent history has had reasons to meet with dictators. Franklin D. Roosevelt divided up Europe with Stalin at the Yalta summit. Richard Nixon went to Beijing to meet Mao. Ronald Reagan welcomed Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos to the White House. Most of them met with Saudi princes, whether in Washington or Riyadh.

Contact is unavoidable; so too, sometimes, are deals, often justified as embarrassing sacrifices to be made in the name of a greater good. During the Cold War, the United States often backed vicious authoritarian leaders against vicious communist insurgencies. The reasons for this were best articulated by Jeane Kirkpatrick, who argued that while authoritarianism could be modified, communism could not, because its totalitarian aspirations killed off commerce, religion, civil society and much else.

This proved untrue  after 70 years, communism eventually collapsed  and as a policy it often ended badly (see: Vietnam). Yet even the most retroactively embarrassing encounters were at the very least part of a larger strategy. When Reagan welcomed Ferdinand Marcos to the White House in 1982, for example, he was careful to speak of the history of U.S.-Philippine friendship, forged in shared history and common ideals. He also praised the Philippine constitution: Independence, liberty, democracy, justice, equality . . . are engraved in our constitutions and embodied in our peoples aspirations.

In his frequent and markedly enthusiastic comments about dictators, we hear no such aspirational language from President Trump. His admiration for men who torture and murder their opponents contains no historical or ethical nuance, no reference to theoretical ideals. Compare Reagans language in 1982 with Trumps language a few weeks ago, when Abdel Fatah al-Sissi, Egypts brutal dictator, visited Washington. I just want to let everybody know, in case there was any doubt, that we are very much behind President Sissi, he told the cameras. Hes done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation.

Sissi has arrested tens of thousands of people, many of them tortured, many of them imprisoned for the crime of running independent charities or organizations.

His brutality is such that Ive heard his prisons described as factories for the creation of future Islamist fanatics. His war on his people will increase instability in the region. Yet Trumps language was not just positive but also personalized. Sissi, he declared, has been very close to me from the first time I met him.

For Sissi, this encounter was important: It helped to solidify his authority at home, justify his brutality and reinforce his power. Trumps congratulatory call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after he won (probably through rigging the vote) a referendum giving him dictatorial powers will help him enforce those, too. Trumps White House invitation to Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine president who has ordered police to shoot thousands of suspected drug dealers without arrest or trial, will have the same effect: You know, hes very popular in the Philippines, said Trump. He has a very high approval rating in the Philippines.

None of this lavish praise has a strategy behind it. (In some cases, it may shore up the presidents business interests. Trump has investments in the Philippines, as well as Turkey, from which he derives undisclosed income; Duterte has already sent Trumps Manila business partner to be a special envoy to the United States.) Nor is there evidence to suggest deeper diplomatic goals or some kind of clever game. Instead, Trumps apparent admiration for bizarre and cruel men such as Kim Jong Un  he called the North Korean dictator a smart cookie whom he would be honored to meet  is simply consistent with his long-standing practice. He has willingly worked with corrupt and otherwise unsavory business partners in the past  he chose, for example, to partner with allies of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps in the construction of a mysteriously empty luxury building in Azerbaijan  and now hes still doing it.

Because Trump says so many outrageous things every day, its easy to lose sight of just how dramatic this shift in paradigm is going to be and just how profound will be the consequences on the ground. For 70 years, the United States has helped maintain peace in much of the world thanks to a system of alliances based on a common belief in democracy. For the same period of time, American presidents have supported those alliances rhetorically as well as militarily and economically, and the United States has profited from that support. Now that the U.S. president no longer distinguishes between dictators and democrats, expect the former to grow stronger and more violent. Expect democratic alliances to grow weaker. Expect peace and prosperity to diminish.

Expect people to look elsewhere for moral leadership. During a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, one Western leader publicly asked him to stop religious repression and the torture of gay men in Russian prisons. Thats the kind of language we were once accustomed to hearing from the leader of the free world  and, of course, thats the language we can expect now only from the chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel.

Read more from Anne Applebaums archive, follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her updates on Facebook.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, represents Washingtons 5th District in the House and is the chair of the House Republican Conference.

Hearing late-night host Jimmy Kimmels emotional monologue this week about his sons condition and his familys experience in the moments after his birth, I had a flashback to the day my son was born and we learned he had Down syndrome.

My husband and I had a lot of questions about Coles future. Whether hed have health care shouldnt have had to be one of them. When youre facing years of doctors appointments, you want to know that having a preexisting condition, such as an extra 21st chromosome or a heart defect, wont prevent you or your loved ones from accessing the care you need.

Protections for children such as Cole Rodgers and Billy Kimmel have long existed, as they should. And despite what people are saying, House Republicans arent seeking to strip these protections  or anyones protections  away.

Its the people we love  our children, friends and neighbors  who are the inspiration behind our American Health Care Act, which we passed in the House on Thursday.

Were working hard to build a health-care system that puts the American people back at the center of their health decisions. Weve had conversations  tough conversations  with people from all walks of life, and weve passed a bill that were confident will improve lives.

When Obamacare was introduced, Republicans and Democrats knew the status quo wasnt working. But Republicans rejected the notion that to help 2 million people with preexisting conditions get access to care, we needed a 2,000-page bill that transformed one-sixth of the economy.

1 of 20 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Photos from the Capitol and White House as the House passes the American Health Care Act View Photos The vote and passage of the bill marks an achievement for President Trump, who has pledged to repeal and replace Obamacare but has struggled to secure legislative wins early in his presidency. Caption The vote and passage of the bill marks an achievement for President Trump, who has pledged to repeal and replace Obamacare but has struggled to secure legislative wins early in his presidency. May 4, 2017 Democrats join a rally outside the Capitol to oppose the House Republicans bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Oliver Contreras for The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

At each point of our process to repeal Obamacare, we have not lost sight of our responsibility to the most vulnerable in our communities. Safety nets and protections are important and must be maintained for those who need them most. Our plan accomplishes this mission in two key ways: by guaranteeing that access to health coverage cant be denied for people with preexisting conditions, and by empowering states to innovate with new models for better patient outcomes at a lower cost.

This bill isnt perfect. It doesnt include every single component I wanted. But it came down to the AHCA or the continued disaster of Obamacare, which was an easy choice. The AHCA is a major improvement, because a federal one-size-fits-all approach to health care isnt the answer. A major feature of our plan is returning control to states, through both funding and reducing red tape, which empowers them to innovate and to stabilize costs.

With Obamacare, our health- insurance system relies on younger, healthier people subsidizing the costs of the older and sicker. As a result, insurance costs consistently increase to cover the costs of people who are considered high-risk, namely those who are sick or who have preexisting conditions. High-risk pools and reinsurance programs at the state level address this concern and have been successful in the past. Our plan establishes a program to provide federal resources for states to create high-risk pools, reduce out-of-pocket costs or promote better access to services.

States know better than the federal government how to allocate and manage resources to address the needs of their people. Our plan allows states to serve and provide financial support directly to vulnerable populations, including people with preexisting conditions. Weve seen this system work before  just look at Maine. After the state created an invisible high-risk pool (invisible because it did not cordon off people with preexisting conditions from the traditional market) and relaxed its premium rating rules in 2011, people with preexisting conditions continued to have access to health care and their premiums were cut in half. Young and healthy people could finally afford to enter the market, and prices stabilized even further. This approach was more personal, reasonable and innovative than anything a bureaucrat in D.C. could have imagined.

To me, protecting people with preexisting conditions isnt just good policy  its a personal mission.

All across the country, families like mine have real concerns about the future of health care, and they are why were focusing on results and working on these reforms. Obamacare is wrong for America. It has failed, and its only getting worse  making health care more expensive and less accessible. To stand by and do nothing would be irresponsible. The AHCA is a monumental step forward that trusts the American people  not the federal government  to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.

Our effort to create a better health-care future for all Americans isnt finished. Whether its allowing insurance to be purchased across state lines or implementing other insurance reforms, we will continue our work until every American has access to good-quality, affordable health care and our most vulnerable communities have peace of mind.
It was ludicrous of Marc A. Thiessen to suggest in his May 2 op-ed, Democrats contempt for Trump voters, that the airstrike against Syria following its alleged use of sarin nerve agent debunked Democrats efforts to paint President Trump as a puppet of Russian President Vladimir Putin. What more simplistic way is there to deflect inquiry into election collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign and his administration than a slap-on-the-wrist airstrike (after warning the Russians) that accomplished little? Some politicians remain determined to get to the bottom of the collusion. Our country needs their resolve.

Jim Furnish, Rockville

Marc A. Thiessens May 2 op-ed was a prime example of the Republicans use of false accusation  Democrats loathe your president and all of you who put him into office  to obfuscate the fact that Republicans cant govern this country nor can they actually accomplish something for their voters. Republicans fear that if they dont keep up the red meat of hatred, their voters will notice that manufacturing jobs returned to this country are few, their drinking water is contaminated, fracking is causing earthquakes, their health care and medications cost more than those in other countries, and their tax dollars are used to benefit the defense industry instead of building infrastructure. Mr. Thiessen complained that Democrats are resisting their president? It was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) who famously declared that he would not allow any successes for President Barack Obama, a betrayal of Mr. McConnells duty to this country.

Democrats dont hate those voters. We hate those who tricked them.

Virginia Nuta, Montgomery Village
Ultra Orthodox Jews pray at the tomb of Rabbi Isaac Ben Solomon Luria, founder of the practical Kabbalah, in the ancient cemetery of Safed, Israel, a city associated with Jewish mysticism, in 2007. (MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images)

Randy Rosenthal is co-founding editor of the literary journals The Coffin Factory and Tweeds Magazine of Literature & Art. He studies religion and literature at Harvard Divinity School.

Before Gershom Scholem published Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism in 1941, Kabbalah had been either ignored or forgotten by 20th-century Jews. The orthodox and the secular alike were uncomfortable with Kabbalahs gnostic mythology, embarrassed by its strange books teeming with demons, magic and sex. The less known about it the better. But Scholem thought differently. To him, Kabbalah was the vibrant lost soul of a religion that modernity had made stale.

For many, Scholems writings became Judaism. That is, his commentary on scripture has become incorporated into the canon of Jewish mysticism. In her review of Major Trends, Scholems friend turned adversary Hannah Arendt wrote that his work changed the whole picture of Jewish history. Harold Bloom considered Scholem not less than a prophet, declaring that for many contemporary Jewish intellectuals, the Kabbalah of Gershom Scholem is now more normative than normative Judaism itself. And yet many people havent heard of him. George Prochnik aims to change this with his book Stranger in a Strange Land: Searching for Gershom Scholem and Jerusalem.

Prochnik is the author of several books, most recently The Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the World, which won the National Jewish Book Award in 2014. In Stranger in a Strange Land, he again mixes biography and memoir, digging deep into Scholems life and work while telling the story of his own relationship with Judaism and Jerusalem, the adopted city of both author and subject.

[A Jewish wanderer moving from place to place in hopes of repairing the world]

"Stranger in a Strange Land: Searching for Gershom Scholem and Jerusalem," by George Prochnik (Other Press)

It was Scholems books that persuaded Prochnik to fully convert to Judaism  his mother wasnt Jewish  and move to Israel with his new wife when he was in his mid-20s. Prochnik had discovered Scholem through the essays of Walter Benjamin, and much of Stranger in a Strange Land deals with the intense friendship between Scholem and Benjamin. Both were born into affluent, secular Jewish German families in fin de siecle Berlin and participated in the citys Jewish Youth Movement, where debates raged about socialism, anarchism, Zionism, cubism and the rejection of bourgeois assimilation.

Benjamin came to identify more and more as Marxist, yet Scholem steered away from politics and learned Hebrew so he could study ancient Jewish texts in their original language. At age 19 he wrote: Torah is not a law, just as Judaism is not a religion. Torah is the transmission of God and divine things. Soon after World War I, Scholem moved to Jerusalem and took up residence in what is now West Jerusalems orthodox neighborhood of Rehavia. There he changed his name from Gerhard to Gershom, the name Moses gave his first son after escaping from Egypt.

In Jerusalem, Scholem immersed himself in Jewish literature. He eventually collected so many volumes that Bloom later said hed never seen anything like it  shelves ran along the ceilings as well as the walls, he recalled. As Scholem buried himself in Hebrew scholarship, fascism overwhelmed Europe and the Balfour Declaration created havoc in Palestine. As Jewish refugees flooded the Holy Land, Zionism mutated from a romantic ideal to a necessity of survival.

[At the Existentialist Cafe: Hanging out with Sartre, Camus, de Beauvoir and more]

Living amid the brutal riots that broke out between Arabs and Jews in August 1929 and continued to erupt throughout the 1930s, Scholem, who by then was an esteemed professor at Hebrew University, refused to put his scholarly knowledge at the service of the Zionist political mission, even though he was an early and committed Zionist. For such ambivalence, he was attacked in the press. And just as his work straddled the line between philosophy and history, his books ultimately became popular after the war for being both scholarly and literary, his tone as playful as it is metaphysical. Besides Benjamin, his biggest influence was Kafka.

Scholem, who died in 1982, called Jewish mysticism the Open Sesame of religion, and Pronchnik, too, uses a colorful style. He writes that as teenagers, Benjamin and Scholem traded radical magazines the way people now exchange playlists and that the mystics journey is a multiplayer quest game. Instead of Dungeons and Dragons, Palaces and Demons. Kabbalah is pretty abstruse, and Prochnik deftly condenses Scholems Jewish mythology.

But its the way Prochnik weaves memoir through this intellectual biography that shows how thoroughly the authors own life has twined with Scholems ideas. Just as a mystic ascends from one palace to the next in Kabbalah cosmology, Scholems life and work have led Prochnik from phase to phase of his own.
Stephen J. Hadley, Andrew Wilder and Scott Worden, in their May 2 op-ed, How to win the peace in Afghanistan, gave us the formula to win there. But Mr. Hadley spent the entire eight years of President George W. Bushs terms as No. 2 and then No. 1 national security adviser. From deposing the Taliban and the U.S. invasion through to handing the account over to President Barack Obama, he was there. And now, Mr. Hadleys group has provided us with a modest proposal on how to win. Finally.

Let me condense the four objectives: First, destroy all Islamic State and al-Qaeda elements there. Check. Second, stem corruption, create a modern economy and install good government. Check. Third, be clear that the resolution of a politically driven civil war is political, not militarily driven. Check. Last, bring in the various regional interests  China, Russia, Iran and the madcap collection of stans  to support this. Check. So 16 years after beginning our misguided effort (read the reports of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction) to build a modern nation there, one that is ranked 169th-most-corrupt (out of 176), the writers say we need to double down on nation-building. Check.

Peter F. Schaefer, Washington
There has been much focus on President Trumps erratic foreign policy  the outlandish positions, the many flip-flops, the mistakes. But far more damaging in the long run might be what some have termed the Trump effect: his impact on the domestic politics of other countries. That effect appears to be powerful, negative and enduring. It could undermine decades of U.S. foreign policy successes.

Look at Mexico. For generations, this was a country defined by fiery anti-Americanism. Founded by a radical revolutionary movement, fueled by anger against U.S. imperialism and high-handedness, Mexico would rarely cooperate with Washington. Since the 1990s, the landscape has shifted, indeed almost reversed. Thanks to intelligent leadership in Mexico City and consistent bipartisan engagement by Washington, the United States and Mexico have become friendly neighbors, active trading partners and allies in national security.

Mexico buys more U.S. goods than China and is, in fact, the second-largest destination for U.S. exports, after Canada. Sales to Mexico are up 455 percent since the passage of NAFTA. The country cooperates with the United States on border security, helping to interdict drug shipments and deporting tens of thousands of Central American migrants who aim to enter the United States illegally. Mexico is an ally of the United States in most international negotiations and organizations.

All of this could change easily. Over the past year, as Trump has attacked and demeaned Mexico and its people, the political landscape there has shifted. President Enrique Pena Nietos already declining approval ratings plummeted after he was seen as too conciliatory toward Trump. It is now quite possible  in fact, likely  that the next president of Mexico will be an anti-American socialist-populist similar to Venezuelas Hugo Chavez. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was polling at about 10 percent at the start of 2015. He is now at about 30 percent, the front-runner among the potential candidates in next years election.

A victory for Lopez Obrador would be a disaster for Mexico  but also for the United States. It would likely take Mexico back to its days of corrupt socialism and dysfunctional economics, all sustained by populism and nationalism. Lopez Obrador has described Trump as a neo-fascist, attacked the Pena Nieto administration for being too weak to confront Trump and promised to get tough with Washington. In February, he began a tour of U.S. cities, speaking at large rallies of Mexican Americans and symbolically standing up to Trump.

(Alice Li/The Washington Post)

Now consider South Korea. Trumps demand that Seoul pay for the THAAD missile defense system, threatening to overturn the existing agreement with Washington, has fueled the forces in South Korea that oppose that system in the first place, along with any aggressive military measures against North Korea. Trump has casually delivered a number of slights to one of the United States closest allies, accepting wholesale Chinas claim that Korea once belonged to it and threatening to tear up the U.S.-South Korea free-trade agreement. South Korea is facing a snap election for its presidency, and the candidate who is benefiting most from Trumps antics is the left-wing Moon Jae-in. Anti-Americanism has returned to South Korea in force, though not quite as strongly as in Mexico, where Trumps favorability has been recorded at 3 percent.

Were these trend lines to harden, it could mean decades of difficulty for U.S. foreign policy. Dealing with North Korea is hard enough as it is, but with a recalcitrant South Korea that is determined not to be viewed as overly pro-American, it would become impossible. Tackling issues of drugs, border control and migration would become much harder if the Mexican government recoiled from cooperating with the United States.

There are other places where the Trump effect is also clear. Politics in Iran have become more favorable to hard-liners, and the reelection of the relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani, once seemingly assured, is now in jeopardy. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears to be campaigning against him and supporting a far more anti-U.S. candidate. In Cuba, Raul Castro has gone from inching toward better relations with the United States to lambasting Trump and his policies. Around the world, the United States friends are embarrassed and on the defensive, and its enemies are gloating.

In foreign policy, great statesmen always keep in mind one crucial reality: Every country has its own domestic politics. Crude rhetoric, outlandish demands, poorly thought-through policies and cheap shots all place foreign leaders in a box. They cant be perceived as surrendering to the United States, and certainly not to a nation led by someone who is determined to show that for the United States to win, others must lose. Thats one big difference, among many, between doing a real estate deal and managing foreign policy.

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For years, reports of a mythical figure have lingered in Washington and reverberated through congressional districts around the country. Its legend is spread by talking heads, donors, even many of us in the news media.

This is the Myth of the Moderate Republican.

To be sure, among the general population, moderate Republicans are real and plentiful. But not on Capitol Hill, where the Moderate Republican  a creature whose prudence and clearheadedness will rescue the country from the uncompromising dogmatism of the House Freedom Caucus  is an extraordinary popular delusion, a madness of crowds.

Were told of these centrist leading lights of the Grand Old Party, people who listen to experts and weigh evidence, who are serious and sane and even sometimes inclined toward making PowerPoint presentations. They emphasize substance over sloganeering, country over party.

They are reasonable, rational, sensible. Or so we like to tell ourselves.

(Bastien Inzaurralde,Dalton Bennett,Jayne Orenstein/The Washington Post)

But at the point that they vote to remake 18 percent of the economy without hearings, without expert testimony, without a public text of a bill even a day before their vote, without waiting for an estimate of either the budgetary or human cost of their handiwork  well, at that point, they lose any claim to seriousness or moderation.

If theres one thing to take away from Thursdays health-care vote, its this: Next time you think these Moderate Republicans are going to save the United States from doing something catastrophically stupid, constructed from the whims of ideologue colleagues, disabuse yourself of the notion.

Immediately and forever.

On Thursday, the House voted on, and passed, the American Health Care Act. This is a bill that, despite President Trumps pledge not to cut Medicaid, cuts Medicaid by more than $800 billion, a savings that will be used to offset hundreds of billions in tax cuts for the wealthy. In so doing, it cuts special ed, prenatal care for the impoverished, coverage for the disabled and substance-abuse treatments for the working class, among other worthy purposes that rich countries typically feel a moral imperative to fund.

It is a bill that incentivizes states to eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions.

It also allows states to kill requirements that insurance plans cover certain essential benefits, such as maternity care, prescriptions and emergency services. These are requirements that help consumers compare plans on an apples-to-apples basis and avoid shelling out thousands for coverage that covers almost nothing, mini-med plans that will never pay out.

This is a bill that guts caps on annual and lifetime out-of-pocket spending, not just for plans on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, but also for employer-sponsored plans, which would likely send more Americans with high medical bills into bankruptcy.

This is a plan that, by at least one estimate, would also effectively end enrollment in the ACA exchanges for families who make under $75,000 a year.

This is a plan that, according to the best projection we have (a dated one, because Republicans did not allow time for a new Congressional Budget Office score), would cause 24 million people to lose insurance.

This is a plan opposed by nearly every stakeholder imaginable, including doctors, hospitals, AARP, the March of Dimes and patient-advocacy groups.

But apparently none of this means anything to those alleged Moderate (or alternatively, Mainstream) Republicans who voted for it. They are so apparently desperate for a partisan win  and so committed to fulfilling their empty, seven-year-long pledge to repeal Obamacare  that they have ignored their constituents and experts of all stripes. They have ignored the pleas of cancer survivors, of parents of sick infants, of people desperately in need of mental-health care.

They have even ignored the usual expectation that they read the text of their own bill, to know what theyve doomed their constituents to.

Theres a certain parallel with last weekends failed Fyre Festival, for which people paid thousands of dollars to attend a private-island music festival with luxury accommodations, only to find themselves in disaster-relief tents with cheese sandwiches and no water or sanitation. With both the island fiasco and Obamacare repeal, organizers were so taken in by their own promises that they neglected to pay attention to any of the critical details.

They were, in short, suckered by their own viral-marketing campaigns.

Lets just do it and be legends, man, a Fyre Festival marketer infamously declared shortly before completely foreseeable disaster struck; Lets get this f---ing thing done, Rep. Martha McSally (Ariz.) reportedly told her Republican colleagues hours before completely foreseeable disaster unfolded in the House.

Good thing there are all those Moderate Republicans in the Senate to save us.
With the Houses passage of the American Health Care Act, House Republican leaders have handed their Senate counterparts the biggest legislative weapon they have held in their entire careers. At this point, Senate Republicans should learn from a bit of wisdom often attributed to one of the wittiest and most clear-eyed Founders, Ben Franklin: We must, indeed, all hang together, he supposedly told the Continental Congress in 1776, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately. If the 52 GOP senators agree to stay together and maneuver through the next month together, they could bring about a huge breakthrough for the country and a rejection of the gridlock that has consumed the Senate for years.

The Senate GOP should begin their part of the legislative process with a sort of Republican Hippocratic Oath: First, do no damage in your statements and press appearances. Stake out no must-haves, demand no specific changes, stash the posturing at the town halls. Duck all questions on specifics. Smile and say no comment. Just stick to a message of We are working together as a caucus toward a common goal of saving American health care from Obamacare and advancing other critical goals. Ask Senate leaders to keep you in the loop, but to avoid leaks dont loop in anyone from your staff. Shut up and sit down, in other words  unnatural acts for senators, I know, but crucial right now. Save us your wisdom until after the deal is done or falls apart.

Of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Majority Whip John Cornyn (Tex.) and Republican Conference Chair John Thune (S.D.), the other 49 GOP senators should demand that they bring back from negotiations with Democrats a majority keeper and majority builder: a bill or a group of bills that addresses Obamacares many deficiencies as well as a reversal of the sequesters limits on defense spending, a commitment on moving judicial nominees forward, and tax reform. This would both do good for the country and lay the groundwork for expanding the GOP majority in the 2018 midterms.

Republicans will need both a carrot and a stick to get Democrats to the table. To keep Democrats from dragging their feet, Republicans can threaten straight-line approval of the AHCA via the reconciliation process, which prohibits filibusters. A pledge from all 52 GOP senators to go that route if necessary is the hammer that should make the Democrats step up to the table to negotiate the numerous problems facing the country and left behind by President Barack Obama.

For Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) to sit down and deal with McConnell, though, the Democratic leader needs more than just threats. He needs some genuine wins for his base. There are several options here: tweaks to the new health-care regime, immigration reform that allows the dreamers and millions more who havent broken any laws since illegally entering the country to stay and work (but not to vote), and of course infrastructure spending. With the last option in particular, there is mutual interest that can mean dollars for every state (and every imperiled Democratic senator standing in 2018). Republicans can score a win by requiring that those dollars be spent by the state and local governments  preferably the local governments  and not by Washington. Loading the agreement with a good bit of spending  with ending the defense sequester as top priority  will make it all go much easier for all concerned.

If the 52 Republicans can sign a letter to Schumer threatening speedy approval of the Houses bill absent serious negotiations and an agreed-upon comprehensive big deal, then those Republican senators with qualms about the AHCA can get their fixes embedded in the final health-care bill, and those with needs outside of the AHCA can work through the leader to obtain them, and the bill or bills can pass with bipartisan support. What cant work is 52 Republicans demanding 52 amendments. House Republicans realized the consequences of their earlier failure to stay united on this issue and got most of the Freedom Caucuss most intractable members back on board to work out a deal. Now the Senate GOP needs to do the same. It has to work together, and through its leadership, or it will be back to the minority despite the very unlevel playing field of the 2018 elections. If the 52 senators stick together now, so much is possible. Dont blow it, Republicans.
Between the solution-less horror of North Korean nukes and the self-inflicted damage of Twitter diplomacy lies a decision that, while important in itself, will indicate a great deal about the foreign policy philosophy and geopolitical strategy of the Trump administration. What will the president do about the war in Afghanistan?

The good news? The choices are being clarified in a context that is the clearest strength of the Trump presidency: his first-rate national-security staff. Any meeting that includes Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and national security adviser H.R. McMaster is a convening of the counterinsurgency A-team. Both are part of the surge generation of military officers who helped retrieve the Iraq War from disaster. Both know what near-defeat looks and smells like, and what might be involved in achieving slow, partial, conflicted progress. Both know the consequences of abandoning the battlefield before success is assured and the high cost of cleaning up after that mistake.

President Trump is in the process of being presented with a range of choices concerning Afghanistan. This type of review generally yields a Goldilocks-inspired briefing book, including a high-commitment option, a low-commitment option and a middle-range approach (which is often the one that the staff really likes). According to recent press accounts, McMasters preferred option might include a mini-surge in troops; greater resources for military and police training; efforts to improve Afghan governance; an increased pace of operations against the Taliban; and no artificial timetable for American withdrawal. The goal would be to strengthen President Ashraf Ghanis government just enough, and weaken the Taliban just enough, that some kind of peace settlement could be negotiated.

This is conceived as a sustained effort, unlike President Barack Obamas reluctant, time-limited Afghan surge. The cost of the McMaster approach has been estimated at $23 billion a year  which is a serious commitment, given that Afghanistans entire gross domestic product was less than $20 billion in 2015.

None of this has been decided. And who knows how and what Trump will decide. But he will face (at least) two major problems if he agrees to anything in the reported range.

First, Trump and his team will need to convince Congress and the country that Ghanis government  which has high ambitions and few capabilities  is a credible partner. Both Mattis and McMaster have recently been to Kabul. What evidence did they find that the Afghan government could absorb added help?

Second, the president will have difficulty communicating a decision of this type because it sounds suspiciously like nation-building. And it would be nation-building in all but name.

Trump is facing the inescapable logic of internationalism. It is true that the United States cant be everywhere in the world. But the United States can be struck by threats emerging anywhere in the world (with Afghanistan as Exhibit A). Preventing those threats requires the ability to strike from a distance (with drones, missiles and special operations) and the existence of capable partners and proxies who control and police their own territory.

How are partners and proxies strengthened? By providing military hardware and the skills to use it. By training police who are governed by the rule of law. By encouraging effective, non-corrupt governance. By encouraging health and economic opportunity as alternatives to resentment and radicalism.

This is the reality that Trump is discovering in his first contact with the problems of the world. The United States needs to employ nonmilitary tools of influence  things such as training and foreign assistance  precisely because they can reduce the need for large-scale military interventions. Putting America first actually requires putting our partners in a generous and respected second.

The United States eventually needs a capable, nonradical government in Afghanistan that controls as much of its own territory as possible. This will not be achieved by bombing the hell out of the Taliban alone. It will also not be achieved without bombing the hell out of the Taliban, because it has no current incentive to come to the peace table.

Only one of these facts  the bombing-the-hell-out-of-the-enemy part  fits Trumps instincts. But somehow he will need to understand  and explain to the American public  the strengthening-our-partners element. Trump should take comfort in the fact that George W. Bush made a similar transition. He ran against Clintonian nation-building in his 2000 campaign. Yet in his second inaugural address, in 2005, Bush located American success in the success and freedom of others.

As a speechwriter I was along for the ride on this learning curve, which bent dramatically on Sept. 11, 2001. Because Afghanistan, of all places, had been forgotten.

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Corey Lewandowski, center left, and David Bossie, center right, wait to greet President Trump during the 139th Easter Egg Roll outside the White House. Lewandowski is exiting from his lobbying firm. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

President Trumps former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, is leaving Avenue Strategies, the lobbying and consulting firm he co-founded after the election.

His departure, first reported Thursday by Bloomberg News, occurred after news stories revealed that Lewandowski had not registered as a lobbyist, even though his firm appeared to be offering potential foreign and other clients access to top administration officials.

Lewandowski and his former partner, Barry Bennett, confirmed the split Thursday evening.

Corey was a big name and a big target, said Bennett, also a former Trump campaign adviser. The firm has been growing yet everything the firm did was associated with Corey, even though we have a lot of clients who Corey has not even met.

The departure is amicable, Bennett said, noting that it was a tough fit for Lewandowski who has said he did not wish to lobby or work for foreign clients. It is hard to not lobby and own a chunk of a lobbying firm, Bennett said.

Last week, Politico reported that an affiliate of Avenue  Washington East West Political Strategies  had been soliciting business in Eastern Europe by offering clients access to Trump, Vice President Pence and other top administration officials. Lewandowski told Bloomberg that he had not authorized or been informed about the creation of Washington East West.

Lewandowski confirmed to The Washington Post on Thursday that he was leaving the firm but did not elaborate. He told Bloomberg that Bennett and others within the firm have used his name without authorization. Nonetheless, the reform group Public Citizen filed a request with the Justice Department to investigate whether Lewandowski had violated lobbying laws.

The most important thing is my reputation, Lewandowski said, adding that he wants to make clear going forward that he wont work for foreign clients or lobby.

This week, Politico reported that Avenue had secured a contract to lobby for Citgo, the oil company owned by the leftist government of Venezuela. Lewandowski said he had no involvement with that deal.

Other Trump advisers have formed consulting and lobbying firms after the election. Lewandowski, who served as campaign manager until June of last year, had been among the most high profile. His refusal to register became controversial among other lobbyists who circulated reports that Lewandowski was pitching potential clients by boasting of his ability to reach Trump personally.
US parliamentary team visiting Nepal

A parliamentary team led by Nancy Pelosi of Democratic Party in the US Congress is visiting Nepal to know various issues including human rights.
Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), at a White House event last week honoring the Air Force Academys football team, said that her bill  will ensure that Congress abides by the laws they pass and are treated no differently than other hard-working Americans. (Susan Walsh/AP)

Lawmakers and congressional staffers are unlikely to face higher premiums or fewer health-care benefits as a direct result of the House Republicans health-care plan for one big reason: They work in the District of Columbia.

Thats the conclusion of health-care experts who said that Congresss 535 lawmakers and the thousands of Capitol Hill staffers who work for them wont be much affected by the American Health Care Act, which passed the House narrowly on Thursday.

This is despite the Houses move to nullify a provision in the amended bill that originally exempting them from the plans changes, according to several health-care experts.

The AHCA would allow states to opt out of current rules requiring health plans to cover a set of essential benefits and preventing insurers from charging higher premiums to people with preexisting conditions.

Members of Congress and their aides are unlikely to feel the effects of these changes, however, because they generally obtain health insurance through the small-group exchange operated by the District of Columbia. If the D.C. government continues to enforce the Affordable Care Acts protections, which most experts believe it will, lawmakers and their staffers could end up with more robust and less expensive coverage than constituents in states that are not as friendly to Obamacare.

Even though theyre no longer exempting themselves, I think the likelihood of any of them facing higher premiums for preexisting conditions or not having access to a comprehensive set of benefits is pretty unlikely, said Cynthia Cox, associate director for the Program for the Study of Health Reform and Private Insurance at the Kaiser Family Foundation, in an interview.

The issue of whether lawmakers and staffers would be affected by Republicans ACA overhaul reared its head last month, when Vox reported that a provision in the AHCA known as the MacArthur amendment would protect members and staffers from changes to their health-care coverage.

This cast temporary doubt on the future of the amendment, which was at that point helping Republicans revive their previously failed effort to enact a health-care bill. But concerns were put to rest when the proposals authors, Reps. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.) and Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), promised to remove the exemption.

This effort eventually took the form of H.R. 2192, from Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), which passed unanimously, 429 to 0, in the House on Thursday.

Individuals who are stewards of public trust must abide by the rules that they make, McSally said in a brief floor speech Thursday. My bill will ensure that Congress abides by the laws they pass and are treated no differently than other hard-working Americans.

McSally blamed very arcane Senate procedural rules for the fact the MacArthur amendment did not apply to members of Congress in the first place.

Congressional Republicans are trying to revise the ACA using the budget reconciliation process, which imposes special rules about what can be included in legislation while allowing bills to pass the Senate by a simple-majority vote. These limits on what may be included in the legislation are known as the Byrd rule.

The original provision was apparently included to avoid Byrd issues in the Senate so the amendment may cause problems, wrote Tim Jost, a professor at the Washington and Lee University School of Law and expert on the ACA, in an email.

It seems to me there are plenty of other Byrd problems already, he added.

It is unclear how the Senate plans to handle this element of the AHCA. A Senate Republican aide said that any Byrd issues related to lawmakers coverage could be addressed with a surgical strike that does not change how the overall bill is treated. This could be why House Republicans chose to strike the exemption with a separate bill  the one offered by McSally  rather than simply amend the MacArthur proposal.

The MacArthur amendment to the American Health Care Act does not and cannot apply to members of Congress, McSally said Thursday.

The issue of whether members of Congress should obtain health insurance in the same way as their constituents has been politically explosive since before the ACAs passage in 2010. The Obama-era law required members and staffers to buy insurance on an exchange rather than through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, as a way to ensure that Congress experienced the same perceived benefits and hardships under the law as the people they represented.

Lawmakers and staffers, except for a handful of cases, have purchased health insurance through the Districts SHOP exchange since 2014. They do this with an employer-based subsidy from the federal government, which some Republicans have denounced as an exemption for Congress under the law.

If the AHCA is enacted and the District seeks the ability to opt out of certain insurance rules, lawmakers still would not face some of the changes their constituents might. Thats because they purchase coverage on the small-group market, and states are allowed to seek permission for that market only to waive ACA rules on essential health benefits and how a persons age affects their premiums.

If D.C. went waiver-crazy, they wouldnt be able to waive the community rating provision of the ACA for the small-group market, Cox said, referring to the protection for people with preexisting conditions. [Congress] would still be protected in that way.

Dan Mendelson, president of consulting and research firm Avalere Health, agreed.

Ironically, since D.C. will likely always be a community rating state, members and their staffs are unlikely to have to worry about any personal disruption, he wrote in an email.

There are a handful of scenarios in which the opt-outs might apply to lawmakers. For example, members of Congress could choose to buy health insurance on the individual market in their home state, or the Trump administration could write rules kicking them off the D.C. exchange. Experts said neither situation is likely to happen.

Kelsey Snell contributed to this report.
Democrats and health groups charted out their next moves to protect the Affordable Care Act and turn up the pressure on Republicans, who are defending their health-care overhaul legislation they barely managed to heave across the finish line in the House on Thursday.

President Trump, who had hosted House members at the White House to congratulate themselves on passing the embattled bill, insisted Friday morning it will ultimately improve the health-care system, whose problems Republicans have blamed on Obamacare for years.

Big win in the House  very exciting! Trump tweeted Friday morning. But when everything comes together with the inclusion of Phase 2, we will have truly great health care!

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post published Thursday night that the bill isnt perfect but is still a major improvement to the Affordable Care Act.

It doesnt include every single component I wanted, McMorris Rodgers wrote. But it came down to the [American Health Care Act] or the continued disaster of Obamacare, which was an easy choice.

(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

[My son has a preexisting condition. Hes one of the reasons I voted for the AHCA]

Yet the GOP health-care bill, which now heads over to the Senate, is likely to be a big political hot potato in next years election, as it could disrupt health insurance for millions of Americans by dismantling big parts of the Affordable Care Act.

The optics are so bad for Republicans, that top political prognosticator the Cook Political Report shifted ratings for 20 GOP lawmakers to indicate tighter races in the 2018 midterms than previously imagined.

Cook switched House races from lean Republican to toss-up for Reps. Mike Coffman (Colo.), Steve Knight (Calif.) and Jason Lewis (Minn.). It also moved 11 districts from likely Republican to lean Republican and six districts from solid Republican to likely Republican.

Democratic political groups are poised and ready to attack moderate Republicans who supported it and could be vulnerable in 2018.

[House Republicans claim a major victory with passage of health-care overhaul]

After Rep. Chris Collins told CNN that he hadnt read the entire text of the legislation, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was quick to blast the Republican from New York, saying he doesnt respect or care about his constituents.

This disturbing admission makes it clear that Collins doesnt respect or care about the people who sent him to Washington, said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Evan Lukaske. Instead of reading pharmaceutical stock financial statements, Collins should actually read the legislation that would take away health care from thousands of his constituents.

And Republicans returning home to their districts faced angry protesters. Constituents gathered outside the offices of Reps. Patrick J. Tiberi (Ohio) and Fred Upton (Mich.), both states that stand to lose the health-care laws new federal dollars for expanding their Medicaid programs.

Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and Reps. David Valadao of California, Billy Long (Mo.), David B. McKinley (W. Va.) and Bruce Poliquin (Maine) were among other members targeted by frustrated constituents. In Texas, anti-Trump activists planned to demonstrate on the states capital grounds.

Health associations, who were largely dismayed by the GOP health-care legislation, are turning their attention to Senate Republicans, who will now take on the issue in the next few months.

Theyre putting pressure on senators to ensure a final bill revamping President Barack Obamas health-care law doesnt cost millions of Americans the insurance coverage they gained under it. Some of the leading groups have asked the Senate to ditch the House-passed legislation and work on bipartisan fixes to the health-care law instead.

We urge the Senate to promptly put aside the AHCA, and instead work with our organizations to achieve real bipartisan solutions to improve affordability, access, and coverage for all, said a statement released jointly by six groups including the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Physicians.

Andrew Gurman, president of the American Medical Association, said the GOP bill would result in millions of people losing coverage but said action is needed  to improve the current health care insurance system.

Health insurers are pleased the GOP health-care bill would repeal the laws taxes, but dislike other parts, like how it would reduce the insurance subsidies available to people without employer-sponsored coverage.

We stand ready to work with members of the Senate and all policymakers, offering our recommendations for how this bill can be improved to ensure the private market delivers affordable coverage for all Americans, Americas Health Insurance Plans chief executive Marilyn Tavenner said in a statement.

The Senate may not even use the health-care bill House Republicans passed this week, but instead start from scratch. A group of 12 Republicans are working on their own plan to replace Obamas health-care law.

They include the leaders of two top health-care committees  Finance Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)  along with several members in leadership including Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Cornyn (R-Tex.). Several prominent conservatives, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), are also among the dozen members.

Despite those efforts, the White House insisted Friday there will be no substantive changes to the underlying parts of the House bill, which reshapes and reduces the laws insurance subsidies and repeals its Medicaid expansion.

Never underestimate this president. Hes shown time and time again when hes committed to something its going to get done, said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders. We expect there to be some changes, but we expect the principles and main pillars of the health care bill as they exist now to remain the same.

Read more at PowerPost


Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) during a Fayetteville High School football game in October 2014, less than a week before his election to the Senate. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

In one corner of a packed and muggy hotel ballroom sat a man wearing a black Team Trump T-shirt. But in another was a sign urging: TRUMPCARE GO (BACK) TO SIBERIA. At the front stood Tom Cotton, an ambitious Republican senator plunged into the crossfire on health care by the election of Donald Trump.

Senator Cotton, do you support repealing the Affordable Care Act so that 300,000 Arkansas citizens will lose their health care? a woman asked him at a town hall meeting here this year. She was referring to the states unique Medicaid expansion initiative created under the ACA, in which more than 300,000 people have enrolled.

I would disagree with the premise of your question, that if we repeal the Affordable Care Act, that thats going to happen, Cotton said, drawing loud boos.

Republicans made their biggest stride yet toward fulfilling their years-long pledge to undo the ACA, commonly known as Obamacare, when the House passed a controversial overhaul bill Thursday. The measure now heads to the Senate.

(Jenny Starrs/The Washington Post)

There, Cotton and other Republican senators will have to grapple with forces pulling them in different directions: their own promises to repeal and replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act; the reality that many of their home states are filled with constituents who have benefited from Obamacare; and the perilous challenge of negotiating with Trump, who has shown a willingness to lash out at unruly Republican lawmakers.

How they navigate those pressures will largely shape what, if any, bill comes out of the upper chamber of Congress.

Just a few months ago, Cotton appeared to be poised for his own presidential run. He was in Iowa four weeks before Novembers election  a time when many Republicans were losing hope that Trump could win and were looking ahead to 2020.

Then Trump won. And suddenly, ascendant Republicans such as Cotton had to confront a difficult question: What now?

That question is no less challenging as the health-care debate moves to the Senate amid deepening political divides across the country triggered by Trumps presidency.



Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) speaks during a television interview on Capitol Hill last month. (J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press)

Like many of his Senate Republican colleagues, Cotton, 39, was not impressed by the health-care bill passed by the House. Were going to write our own bill, he said, echoing Senate GOP leaders.

Cotton belongs to a health-care working group of Senate Republicans that includes lawmakers from different parts of the ideological spectrum. The group met Thursday to plot its next steps.

On most issues, the lanky Cotton, a rising star in the party, has emerged as one of President Trumps staunchest supporters, aligning in both tone and substance with the enthusiastic conservative base that helped elect the president. However, on health care, he has not marched in lockstep with the president, whose election made real the possibility of dismantling the ACA for the first time since it was signed into law.

Then-Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) looks for questions in a crowd of supporters at a Republican headquarters in April 2014, the year he went on to defeat incumbent Sen. Mark Pryor. (Stephen B. Thornton/For The Washington Post)

Even as Cotton reiterated his opposition to the ACA at that town hall meeting in April, he was determined to distance himself from the House bill that was introduced in March and championed by Trump. To the woman who voiced concerns about people losing coverage, he said: Part of my problems with the bill that was introduced in the Congress last month . . . is that it could have had that result, and it was moving too fast. I didnt think it got it right, that it was better to slow down, and get it right rather than get it fast.

When Cotton said, I do support repealing Obamacare, he set off a mix of cheers and boos. He added: I have no doubt that some Arkansans benefited from Obamacare. Many more were hurt by Obamacare.

The ACAs dramatic impact in Cottons home state  which leans conservative and voted heavily for Trump  has put the first-term senator in an awkward position. From 2013 to 2016, the uninsured rate in Arkansas dropped more than 12 percentage points  more dramatically than in any state except Kentucky, according to a Gallup survey.

Arkansas implemented a variation of Medicaid expansion that was offered under the ACA, giving some people federal aid to purchase private insurance. Cotton does not hold a position for or against the program, his spokeswoman Caroline Rabbitt confirmed. Going forward he wants to ensure the governor has the flexibility he needs to help Arkansans adapt to any changes to Medicaid, she added.

(Youtube/Springdale Public Schools)

Still, Cotton broadly opposes the Medicaid expansion that was created under the ACA, as many conservatives do. That leaves Cotton walking a tightrope, which has drawn some skepticism at home that he is playing politics.

Theres kind of a joke among liberals here that he was created in a lab, as we always say, because hes this conservative everyman, said Camille Richoux, 26, of Little Rock, a liberal organizer who attended Cottons town hall.

Other Cotton constituents have concluded that Obamacare is not working and want to see lawmakers come up with a functional long-term alternative.

Slow down, look at this thing and get it right. Its not going to be perfect, said David Jones, 70, of Conway, Ark., who wore a Trump hat.

As he spoke in an interview after the town hall, an argument broke out a few feet away, underscoring the raw tensions at the meeting.

Why did you even bother coming? a woman asked another.

Dont ask me why I came here, the second woman shot back angrily. I vote. I have as much right to be here as you do!



Then-Rep. Tom Cotton greets supporters during a campaign rally in November 2014 in Little Rock shortly before he defeated incumbent Sen. Mark Pryor (D). (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

For Senate Republican leaders, coming up with a health bill that has broad appeal will be difficult.

Republican senators in other states that expanded Medicaid have openly worried about the impact the language in the House bill would have on people who obtained coverage through the initiative.

I think were going to have to really look at it closely. I couldnt commit to supporting it right now, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), one such lawmaker.

At the other end of the spectrum are conservative senators such as Rand Paul (R-Ky.) who want to see a more forceful repeal than many of his GOP colleagues. Im still open-minded. I do want to vote for a repeal bill, said Paul, sounding a noncommittal note.

As the House shaped its bill in the spring, Cotton urged caution in the pace at which it was proceeding, but he did not advocate restraint in shredding some directives in the ACA. In effect, it was a simultaneous nod to conservatives on policy and centrists on timing.

The bill does not address most of the Obamacare regulations that help drive up the cost of insurance in the first place, Cotton said during a March interview in his Senate office.

On many other matters, Cotton has advocated for Trump. During his town hall, he was asked about Trumps decision not to release his tax returns, a controversial position that has drawn increasing criticism, even from Republicans.

As far as Im aware, the president says hes still under audit, said the senator, excusing Trump.

Awwww! Boooo! exclaimed the crowd in one of their most vocal outbursts.

Cotton, an Army veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who has built a reputation around his hawkish national security views, also backed Trumps foreign policy approach. He said the president made the right call with his decision to strike a Syrian air base last month.

But many attendees saw the presidents overall strategy abroad in an unfavorable light.

Lock him up! some chanted as Cotton defended the presidents foreign policy and ticked through the list of world leaders Trump has met with. They were putting a twist on Lock her up!  a popular anti-Hillary Clinton chant at Trump campaign rallies. Others tried to drown them out with U.S.A.!



Photographed by hoards of media, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), soon to be majority leader, stands with newly elected Republican senators Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), James Lankford (Okla.), Tom Cotton (Ark.), Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Steve Daines (Mont.) on Capitol Hill in November 2014. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

We have serious division. I mean, those divisions were on display last year during the campaign. They remain on display, Cotton said at the town hall. He sought to add a bipartisan note: That doesnt mean we dont work together on a case-by-case basis.

But the effort to reshape the countrys health-care system is not fostering much bipartisanship. Not a single Democrat voted for the House bill, and no Democrats are expected to support the effort in the Senate.

GOP leaders are not even banking on getting all 52 Republican senators to vote for a health-care bill, given their disagreements, differing local considerations and discordant political motivations.

Wed love to get, you know, 52 votes on whatever it is that ultimately emerges from the Senate, said Sen. John Thune (S.D.), the third-ranking Republican senator. But we know we have to get 50 plus Vice President Pence.



Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) makes his way to a GOP policy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington in March. (J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press)

Read more at PowerPost
Vibrant and vigilant

Nepali press faces problems, but has evolved considerably over the years
North Korea accused the United States and South Korean intelligence agencies Friday of plotting to kill the nations leader, Kim Jong Un, using biochemical substances.

The accusation came amid sharply increased tensions between the United States and North Korea over Pyongyangs nuclear and missile programs, and just a few days before a presidential election in South Korea.

On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to tighten sanctions on North Korea by targeting its shipping industry and companies that do business with the reclusive state.

The measure, passed by a vote of 419 to 1, would need to be approved by the Senate before being sent to the White House for President Trump to sign into law.

North Koreas Ministry of State Security said Friday that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and South Koreas National Intelligence Service had ideologically corrupted and bribed a North Korean timber worker employed in Russia to return to the country and try to kill its leader.

The CIA declined to comment.

[North Korean video shows White House in crosshairs and carriers exploding]

Pyongyang has made similar accusations in the past, none of which have been verified.

The intelligence agencies, hotbed of evils in the world, hatched a vicious plot to hurt the supreme leadership of the DPRK, the ministry said in a statement, using the initials for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

The ministrys statement was carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

It alleged that the citizen, named Kim, was given $290,000 over the course of various meetings, meant for himself and terrorist accomplices, as well as satellite communications equipment. He was supposed to target the supreme leadership at a public event or military parade, using bomb terrorism that involved biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano-poisonous substance, it said.

The ministry claimed that the lethal results of detonating a bomb packed with such substances would not take effect for six to 12 months. It said that only the CIA can produce the toxic material and that the hardware, supplies and funds for the alleged plot were to be supplied by the South Korean intelligence service. It charged that the puppet agencys chief directly organized the terrorist operation, which it described as a declaration of war aimed to . . . eclipse the eternal sun of the DPRK.

The lengthy statement reserved some of its harshest language for the United States, which it called a kingpin of terrorism and empire of evil whose acts surpass terrorism which is said to be perpetrated by Islamic State forces.

[Twenty-five million reasons the U.S. hasnt struck North Korea]

Cui Zhiying, a professor at the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at Tongji University in Shanghai, said the bizarre accusation appeared to be just another episode in a war of words between the two sides.

There is no doubt that the United States and South Korea have been thinking about eradicating Kim Jong Un, but it is hard to put into practice, he said. He said the claim was more likely a North Korean response to escalating threats from the U.S. side.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo was in South Korea this week, conducting detailed security discussions with his South Korean counterpart and visiting an island near the border between the North and the South, the U.S. military command in South Korea said in a statement Tuesday.

The Trump administration has not ruled out a military strike against North Koreas missile program but says it first wants to tighten sanctions against the regime and is even prepared to negotiate in the right circumstances.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that the administration is not seeking regime change in North Korea, and he told ABC last month that he was not aware of any plans to assassinate Kim.

[Defying skeptics, Kim Jong Un marks five years at the helm of North Korea]

Last week, however, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) told reporters that the best way to solve the North Korea problem was to eradicate the leadership.

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia, said last month that the United States should work with South Korea, Japan and China to formulate a plan for what would happen after the fall of Kim.

On Friday, a spokesman for North Koreas Foreign Ministry called Gardners remarks a provocation that cannot be overlooked and an affront to the dignity of the countrys supreme leadership, from a man who was tantamount to mentally deranged.



John Delury, a professor of international relations at Yonsei University in Seoul, said one of the North Korean regimes main narratives is that the country faces relentless hostility from the outside world, driven by the United States.

That is their central argument as to why they need to develop a military deterrent, he said. Whether there is some truth [to the assassination claim] or whether it is entirely fictional, it fits this narrative.

[To counter North Korea, admiral says the U.S. should consider adding ballistic missile interceptors in Hawaii]

On Friday, China responded to the events in the U.S. Congress by saying it supported U.N. Security Council resolutions but opposed the imposition of unilateral sanctions.

The current situation on the peninsula is complex and sensitive, and the parties concerned should exercise restraint, in particular to avoid taking actions that stimulate others and to prevent a further escalation of the situation on the peninsula, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular news conference.

The North Korean claim was somewhat ironic, considering that Kims estranged half brother, Kim Jong Nam, was assassinated in February in Malaysia with a banned chemical weapon identified as VX nerve agent, according to Malaysian authorities. Two women smeared the deadly substance on his face at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and he died within 20 minutes.

Malaysia has implicated eight North Koreans in the killing, including a diplomat and a scientist. South Korea squarely blamed Kim Jong Un, accusing him of ordering the elimination of a potential rival.

Congcong Zhang in Beijing and William Branigin in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more:

North Korean state media lashes out at China and suggests Trump is ignorant

Chinas Korea policy in tatters as both North and South defy sanctions

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
Spectators take photos as they watch the COMAC C919, China's first large passenger jet, coming in for a landing on its maiden flight at Shanghai's Pudong airport on May 5. (Greg Baker/Reuters)

China took a step toward the aviation big leagues Friday with the long-delayed, but successful, maiden flight of its first modern passenger jet.

China hopes its aircraft industry can someday challenge the Western duopoly of Boeing and Airbus, especially for its large and fast-growing domestic market. But the flight of the single-aisle, twin-engine C-919 is also a symbol of the countrys ambitions to develop an advanced high-tech economy over the next decade.

State media burst with pride and patriotism as the planes debut flight from Pudong International Airport in Shanghai was broadcast live, reporting that about 3,000 officials, executives and other onlookers clapped ecstatically as the plane landed, carrying a skeleton crew of five pilots and engineers.

But the reaction on social media was a little more muted, with some pointing out that the flight was a reminder of how far China lags behind the West.

The government says the ability to build and fly a modern passenger plane would be the pearl and flower of modern manufacturing, a centerpiece of the governments Made in China 2025 industrial plan that includes ambitions to develop world-class robotics, advanced information technology, medicines and high-tech transport industries.

There is, however, still a long road to a globally competitive aerospace industry.

The planes development was beset by production problems and delays  it had initially been slated to fly in 2014  and it still relies on a wide range of foreign technology. General Electric and the French firm Safran supply the engines through a joint venture.

The plane is designed to hold 155 to 175 seats and fly 2,530 miles. It is expected to enter commercial service with China Eastern Airlines in 2019, and its maker, state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, says it has 570 orders from 23 customers.

Most of the demand is coming from state-owned Chinese airlines, and the plane will initially target the domestic market, which is set to displace the United States as the worlds biggest by around 2024, the International Air Transport Association predicts.

It says that 1.3 billion passengers will fly to, from and within China every year by 2035. To meet that demand, Boeing predicts that China will need 6,800 new airplanes, valued at $1 trillion, over that period, as its economy and middle class continue to grow.

Most of the flights will be on single-aisle jets like the C-919. Chinese media said the plane will cost about $50 million, significantly less than a Boeing 737 or Airbus 320, its closest equivalents.

The Commercial Aircraft Corp. is seeking certification from Europes aviation safety regulator.

But Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst at the Teal Group, told Bloomberg News that China may have to wait until its next aircraft to break the duopoly for jets that can carry more than 100 passengers.

At the moment, they are in a real replication mode, which is not where you want to be, he said. First off, they need to privatize and open their supply chain up to a global network, rather than just people who will transfer yesterdays technology.

Chinas ambitions to build a passenger jet of its own date back to the time of Mao Zedong. In the 1970s, China developed the Shanghai Y-10 airliner, but the plane was beset by problems, including its weight, high fuel consumption, limited range and safety concerns. Only two prototypes were built.

Read more:

Finally, China manufactures a ballpoint pen all by itself

China offers huge rewards for Boeing, but it could also take that business away

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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When a far-right politician captured city hall in this northern French town three years ago, many in the citys Muslim community feared the worst.

National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who is in a presidential runoff election scheduled for Sunday, has Islam in her crosshairs. But in the hollowed-out industrial town of Henin-Beaumont, one of Le Pens top deputies, Mayor Steeve Briois, upended expectations with his light touch on the culture-war agenda that has long been the National Fronts central focus.

After Paris terrorist attacks in January 2015, Briois rushed to Henin-Beaumonts Ennasr Mosque to deliver reassurances that drew a strict line between Islam and radical Islamism. Last year, he approved the mosques expansion. And he has overhauled the towns roads and parks, expanded the police force, cut local taxes and attended to the daily needs of his 27,000 residents in a manner that even his critics grudgingly acknowledge has been competent.

[Marine Le Pen goes from fringe right-winger to major contender]

Now, with Le Pen in an unprecedented runoff against another political outsider, centrist Emmanuel Macron, the eight French towns run by the National Front showcase what far-right governance could look like in France. In Henin-Beaumont, the partys flagship town, many residents say Briois has shown flexibility by focusing on pocketbook issues and playing down anti-immigrant policies. But people who have dared to oppose the mayor say that he has a fearsome, combative approach to those he views as his political enemies. They fear the consequences of handing the near-monarchic powers of the French presidency to the far right.

Hes doing great things for the city. He takes care of the streets. Hes been able to reduce taxes, said Herve Fontowicz, 54, a disabled market vendor. He said he planned to vote for Le Pen on Sunday in the hope that she could reverse a tide of globalization that he said has overwhelmed towns such as Henin-Beaumont, which once bustled with coal mining and manufacturing.

Theres nothing left. There are no jobs left here. Look at how all these stands are empty. Its a disaster, said Fontowicz, sweeping his arm across the citys open-air street market, where vendors selling cheap cellophane-wrapped underwear jostled against butcher stands offering horse sausage. In his deserted corner of the market, there were more vendors than customers. A mall that opened on the outskirts of town a few years ago robbed them of customers who were already struggling to pay for the basics, he said. The only business to open recently in the city center is a funeral parlor, fitting for an aging area where unemployment stands above 15 percent, sharply higher than the national average.

Le Pen has long embraced Henin-Beaumont, where the mines started sputtering out of business decades ago and a steel forge shut down just last year. She served on the town council and last month held her first-round election celebration in a stadium on the outskirts of town, a sharp retort to Macron, who partied in Paris. When she temporarily stepped down last week from the leadership of the National Front  a bid to make herself more palatable to voters  she made the mayor her placeholder at the head of the party.

That means a far-right party that has thrown pork festivals  municipal celebrations intended to offend Muslim sensibilities  is run by a man who has taken a far softer approach.

We are against radical Muslims, radical Islamists. These are the enemies. The huge majority of Muslims who live in Henin-

Beaumont respect France and are patriotic, Briois said in an interview in his office in city hall, where he has arranged a bust of the French Socialist hero Jean Jaures so that it looks down over the room  an unconventional choice for a far-right politician.

[Marion Marechal-Le Pen: Weve won the battle of ideas]

Even if Le Pen falls short of a runoff victory on Sunday, as polls suggest she will, she is forecast to deliver a historically high 40 percent share of the vote  an unthinkable result just a few years ago, when the National Front was written off as a collection of Nazi apologists. The success is a testament to her strategy of delivering a fierce protectionist economic agenda alongside her partys long-standing focus on ending immigration and targeting Muslims. And it positions her to sweep into office should Macron stumble.

Toned-down rhetoric

The muted emphasis on immigration was a winning move in Henin-Beaumont, whose modest center is dotted by halal butchers, Turkish pizza parlors and Polish grocery stores in two- and three-story buildings. They are the legacy of Frances post-World War II economic boom, when French businesses swept across Europe and northern Africa in search of workers. Many residents have a tolerant attitude toward immigration.

The National Front is using the strategy of the chameleon. They know how to adapt their speech to a local audience, said Marine Tondelier, a local politician from the opposition Green Party who has written a book about life under the National Front.

In other regions where it has captured city hall, the approach has been far more confrontational. In the Mediterranean coastal town of Frejus, the National Front mayor has sought to raze the local mosque. In nearby Beaucaire, the mayor sought to shut down late-night hours for Muslim restaurants during Ramadan, when observant Muslims can eat only during the night.

[Whoever wins Frances presidency will still face a big challenge: Governing ]

Still, in most of the towns, the basic issues of city administration have been addressed in a professional, unambitious manner, observers say.

Le Pen decided that this is her chance to convince French voters that the National Front can govern, said Jean-Yves Camus, a scholar of the French far right. They do their job. They attend city councils. They attend the markets every Sunday.

In Henin-Beaumont, voters gave the National Front a chance after an embezzlement scandal felled the Socialist mayor here in 2009. A technocratic successor nursed city finances back to health in the years that followed, but he was forced to make unpopular cuts to do so and he lost to Briois in 2014, just as there was finally money in city coffers.

Political humiliation

Even as residents have been won over by the beautification campaign, critics say the political climate has darkened.

When everything could be perfect, they remain incredibly aggressive with anyone who doesnt agree with their views, said Pascal Wallart, the head of the Henin-Beaumont office of the regional Voix du Nord newspaper, who has been targeted with harassment since the newspaper ran editorials criticizing the National Front ahead of December 2015 regional elections. Its the level wed expect from children at recess.

A Facebook page run by Briois supporters dismisses the Voix du Nord newspaper as leftist propaganda and mocks the physical appearance of opposition leaders.

Were talking about a permanent humiliation here, said Eugene Binaisse, 77, the mayor who lost the 2014 election and is called old Binaisse on the Facebook page.

Asked about harassment, Briois did little to dispel the allegations.

If its people close to us, its not the mayor, he said. Those who criticize are unfair and unjustified.

He played down any deliberate strategy to tone down immigration rhetoric. Last year, he declared Henin-Beaumont a migrant-free zone, even though it has not been asked to host any refugees, and in the past he has been quoted in local media saying that he cannot stand it when North African immigrants speak among themselves in Arabic, because it shows they are refusing to fit in.

[Frances National Front co-founder says the battle is already won]

Still, many in the towns Muslim community say they have found a way to coexist. At the town mosque on the outskirts of the city, construction is underway on the new green-and-white prayer space. (Briois asked them to leave out minarets and shorten their domes.) In the city center, shopkeepers say that town leaders have always been professional.

On the scale of the city, there are no problems, said Youssef Kouba, 41, a halal butcher who runs a shop on Henin-Beaumonts main square. One late afternoon this week, a cross-section of the town filtered through to buy lamb shoulders, steaks and sausages after work. Kouba, who was born in the area and whose parents emigrated from Morocco and Algeria decades ago, said that it was good that Briois was accessible at weekly markets and elsewhere in town life.

But he said that he feared that the tone would change if Le Pen seized the Elysee Palace.

Right now their hands are tied here, Kouba said. When she wins, this is when youll be seeing their true face.

Virgile Demoustier contributed to this report.

Read more

Le Pen vs. Macron: A guide to Frances presidential runoff vote

Marine Le Pen wants to be Frances future. But can she escape the past?

French voters face choice between hope and fear in runoff for presidency

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
A memorandum signed by Russia, Iran and Turkey this week is the latest in a string of cease-fire proposals over the six years of conflict in Syria. On Friday, Russia announced that the plan was set to take effect at midnight. Here is a look at what it could mean for Syria and the major outside parties involved, including the United States.

What does the memorandum say?

The plan calls for a cessation of hostilities between Syrian President Bashar al-Assads government and the rebel groups seeking to topple it in four de-escalation areas in Syria. Russia, Turkey and Iran will act as guarantors of the cease-fire.

Russia and Iran have backed Assad during the conflict. Turkey has supported rebel groups and sent its own military to fight Islamic State militants as well as U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.

The deal covers four areas: Idlib province in the north, where almost a million displaced people are packed among rebel forces dominated by al-Qaedas Syrian affiliate; Eastern Ghouta, a Damascus suburb where rebels threaten the governments complete control of the capital; sections of the central province of Homs in which the patchwork of rebel forces includes a small contingent of al-Qaeda militants; and a stretch of Syrias southern border with Jordan where the United States is supporting rebels against both Syrian forces and Islamic State militants.

The plan bans the use of weapons by all sides in the de-escalation zones, including aerial assets  a reference to the Syrian governments air force. It also calls for unhindered humanitarian access, measures to restore infrastructure such as electricity networks and the creation of conditions that will allow refugees to return.

Critically, the plan allows for the guarantors to continue fighting not just the Islamic State but also al-Qaeda, which is allied with some rebel groups in the proposed safe zones. Previous cease-fires failed for this reason, as Syrian and Russian jets continued to bomb civilians in rebel-held areas.

[The Russia-Turkey-U.S. tussle to save Syria will still get very messy]

Are these no-fly zones?

It appears so, but there may be enormous loopholes. The ban does not apply to attacks on rebel groups who have not signed on to the agreement, and it specifically exempts attacks on al-Qaeda and Islamic State forces.

Russia and Syria have said they will not use air power in the designated zones, but if their forces claim the zones are being used as bases for militant activity, the ban can be waived.

Have the Syrian government and its opponents agreed to the plan?

Assads government said Wednesday that it supported the Russian initiative and was committed to not shelling the cease-fire zones. A spokesman for rebel groups who attended the talks in Kazakhstan expressed doubt Friday about the agreement, including with regard to Russias ability to force Iran and the Syrian government to respect a truce with the rebels.

More importantly, there has been no unified response from the fractured rebel factions, including some who were not invited to the talks. Several said that they supported any attempt to stem the bloodshed but that they doubted Russias intentions. Others, including a U.S.-based faction, said they would never accept Iran as a guarantor of any agreement.

How do Iran and Turkey feel about it?

The Iranian government has yet to issue a formal statement. Iran has previously resisted Russias cease-fire efforts in Syria and, along with its proxy forces in Syria, is pressing for the military defeat of Assads foes.

Turkey, which hosts more than 3 million Syrian refugees, has been calling for the establishment of no-fly zones in Syria since early in the war, but mostly along its southern border. The memorandum appears to allow the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to continue its recent military offensives against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria whom it sees as an arm of Turkeys Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which Turkey has classified as a terrorist group.

Why is Russia supporting it?

Throughout the Syrian conflict, Russia has opposed no-fly zones that Western nations have called for but never agreed to enforce  most recently in October, during the bombardment of Aleppo.

But with the Syrian governments territorial advances in the past year and the Trump administrations apparent willingness to collaborate on counter-Islamic State measures, the Kremlin has appeared more amenable to a political solution to the conflict  on its own terms.

The zones may help ensure Syrias government control over the areas it seized, said Maxim A. Suchkov, an expert on the Russian International Affairs Council. Because Moscow is monitoring the agreement, he said, it is unlikely to impede its own military actions on the ground.

The plan will play to Russias desire to appear as a peacemaker, Suchkov said. So far, it looks like a political move serving to score Moscow some points.

What does the United States think about all this?

Its not clear yet. In January, President Trump said he would absolutely do safe zones in Syria to stem the flow of refugees to Europe, although it is unlikely he meant as part of a Russian plan with Iranian backing.

But when Trump and Putin spoke this week, a White House account of the call said the conversation was a very good one, and included the discussion of safe, or de-escalation, zones to achieve lasting peace for humanitarian and many other reasons. Putin said he believes he has White House backing for the plan, and the White House had not come out against the initiative as of Friday evening.

There are some unresolved differences, including the question of whether U.S.-led coalition aircraft may be barred from the de-escalation zones, as a Russian official claimed Friday. The Pentagon said Friday that Moscow had not officially notified it of any shift affecting air operations in Syria.

We have not changed or altered our operations in any way, said Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.

Louisa Loveluck in Istanbul and Karen DeYoung and Missy Ryan in Washington contributed to this report.

Read more:

Trump and Putin discuss cease-fire in Syria in first conversation since U.S. airstrikes

Tillerson meets with Putin amid deepening tensions over U.S. missile strikes in Syria

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Then-national security adviser Michael Flynn arrives to deliver a statement during the daily briefing at the White House on Feb. 1, 2017. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn was warned by senior members of President Trumps transition team about the risks of his contacts with the Russian ambassador weeks before the December call that led to Flynns forced resignation, current and former U.S. officials said.

Flynn was told during a late November meeting that Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyaks conversations were almost certainly being monitored by U.S. intelligence agencies, officials said, a caution that came a month before Flynn was recorded discussing U.S. sanctions against Russia with Kislyak, suggesting that the Trump administration would reevaluate the issue.

Officials were so concerned that Flynn did not fully understand the motives of the Russian ambassador that the head of Trumps national security council transition team asked Obama administration officials for a classified CIA profile of Kislyak, officials said. The document was delivered within days, officials said, but it is not clear that Flynn ever read it.

The previously undisclosed sequence reveals the extent to which even some Trump insiders were troubled by the still-forming administrations entanglements with Russia and its enthusiasm for a friendly relationship with the Kremlin.

The failed efforts to intervene with Flynn also cast harsh new light on a national security adviser who lasted just 24 days on the job before revelations about his discussions with Kislyak  and misleading accounts of them  forced him to resign.

Robert Kelner, a lawyer for Flynn, declined to comment.

Providing the Kislyak bio was seen by Obama officials as part of an effort to make sure the new team had a full appreciation of the extent of the threat from Russia, a former U.S. official said.

The perceived need to impress this point upon Flynn added to the growing concerns among senior members of the Obama administration, who at the time were still coming to grips with the scale of Russian interference in the 2016 election and were worried that any punitive measures they imposed might be rescinded when Trump was sworn in.

The request for the Kislyak document came from Marshall Billingslea, a former senior Pentagon official in the George W. Bush administration who led Trumps national security transition team from November until shortly before Trumps inauguration.

Billingslea, who declined requests for comment, was nominated this week for a high-level position in the Treasury Department overseeing efforts to disrupt terrorist financing.

A former deputy undersecretary of the Navy, Billingslea was among a small group of experienced national security hands on the Trump transition whose entrenched skepticism toward Russia seemed at odds with the pro-Moscow impulses of Flynn and the incoming president, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Trump personnel and decision-making.

Others included Samantha Ravich, a deputy national security adviser to Vice President Richard B. Cheney; and Christopher Ford, a former State Department official who now works as a special assistant on counterproliferation issues in the Trump White House.

Ravich declined to comment. A spokesman for the National Security Council did not respond to requests for comment from Ford.

The Trump administration has taken a harsher tone toward Russia in recent weeks after the Syrian government, which is backed by Moscow, used chemical weapons on civilians. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last month accused Russia of being incompetent or complicit in the attack, and CIA Director Mike Pompeo described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a man for whom veracity doesnt translate.

But Trump has pointedly refused to employ such language himself and this week renewed his skepticism that Russia was responsible for a hacking and propaganda campaign targeting last years presidential race  a position held by the president that is at odds with the unanimous view of U.S. intelligence agencies.

Asked during a recent CBS interview whether he believed the allegations of Russian meddling, Trump said, Ill go along with Russia. Couldve been China, couldve been a lot of different groups.

The unusual steps taken by transition officials working with Flynn suggest that internal tensions over Russia began almost immediately after Trumps victory in an election that Moscow sought to help him win, according to a declassified report from U.S. intelligence agencies.

Billingslea was selected in early November to head the effort to assemble a national security team for Trump in Washington, leading a landing team that was based in offices at the General Services Administration headquarters but also had space in the Old Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House.

The effort was hampered by confusion in the elections aftermath, friction among factions competing for influence with Trump, and communication difficulties created by an arrangement in which the landing team was based in Washington but Flynn and his deputy, K.T. McFarland, spent almost all of their time at Trump Tower in New York.

In an attempt to improve coordination, the group scheduled a November meeting in Washington, a session attended by Flynn as well as about a dozen aides and staff members from other departments, officials said. Others also participated by phone.

As Flynn went through his upcoming appointments, he mentioned that he was being inundated with requests for meetings from diplomats. Most would have to wait to get access to Trumps designated national security adviser, a position that would give Flynn enormous influence in the White House. Flynn then revealed that hed already scheduled a conversation with Kislyak.

Meetings with foreign counterparts are commonplace for incoming national security advisers. But the reference to Kislyak raised eyebrows among officials who had spent much of their careers treating Russia as an adversary and avoiding encounters with Russian officials who might be engaged in espionage.

Several also worried that engaging with Kislyak, even if appropriate, had only political downsides for Trump, whose effusive praise of Putin during the campaign had fanned suspicion about his associates ties to Moscow.

Billingslea warned Flynn that Kislyak was likely a target of U.S. surveillance and that his communications  whether with U.S. persons or superiors in Moscow  were undoubtedly being monitored by the FBI and National Security Agency, according to officials familiar with the exchange. Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general who led the Defense Intelligence Agency, would presumably have been aware of such surveillance.

Billingslea then said that he would obtain a copy of the profile of Kislyak, officials said, a document that Billingslea urged Flynn to read if he were going to communicate with the Russian envoy. Flynns reaction was noncommittal, officials said, neither objecting to the feedback nor signaling agreement.

Shortly thereafter, during the week of Nov. 28, Billingslea and other transition officials met with lower-level Obama administration officials in the Situation Room at the White House.

At the end of the meeting, which covered a range of subjects, Billingslea asked for the CIA profile. Can we get material on Kislyak? one recalled Billingslea asking.

Days later, Flynn took part in a meeting with Kislyak at Trump Tower. White House spokeswoman Hope Hicks has confirmed that both Flynn and Jared Kushner, Trumps adviser and son-in-law, took part in that session, which was not publicly disclosed at the time.

Its not clear whether the Kislyak profile was shared before that meeting. Flynn continued to communicate with Kislyak, however, exchanging text messages and cellphone calls, culminating in a conversation intercepted by U.S. intelligence agencies just as the Obama administration was announcing election-related sanctions on Russia.

The Dec. 29 measures included the expulsion of 35 suspected Russian spies, the closure of two Russian compounds, in Maryland and New York, and economic sanctions against Russian intelligence services and officials.

Kislyak would have been keenly interested in whether the Trump administration, just weeks from taking office, intended to enforce these measures. After denying for weeks that he had discussed the sanctions with Kislyak, Flynn altered his story in early February when told that The Washington Post planned to publish a story saying he had done so, citing multiple sources familiar with the contents of the Kislyak call.

Flynn was forced to resign days later and may face other consequences for his dealings with Russia. The FBI has interviewed Flynn about the conversations with Kislyak. Flynn is also under investigation by the Pentagons inspector general over $45,000 he accepted for appearing at a 2015 event in Russia and $530,000 his former consulting firm was paid for work tied to the Turkish government.

The CIA bio on Kislyak was placed in a room in the Trump transition offices set up to handle classified material. Officials familiar with the document said that even if Flynn had read it, there was little in it that would have triggered alarms.

The file spanned three or four pages, describing Kislyaks diplomatic career, extensive involvement in arms negotiations, and reputation as a determined proponent of Russian interests. It noted that he routinely reported information back to Moscow and that any information he gathered would be shared with Russias intelligence services. But the file did not say Kislyak was a spy.

During Flynns fleeting tenure as national security adviser, he had several follow-on conversations with Kislyak, and at one point Flynn proposed a lunch, officials said. The Russian Embassy called repeatedly to collect on that offer, officials said, until Flynn was fired and the calls stopped.

Karen DeYoung, Ellen Nakashima and Julie Tate contributed to this report.
The Italian airline Alitalia filed for bankruptcy on April 25. One day earlier a workforce referendum on a restructuring plan was voted down. Two-thirds of Alitalia pilots, flight attendants and ground crew rejected the planned job cuts and pay cuts.

All of the trade unions represented at Alitalia had previously agreed to the restructuring plan, which amounted to little more than extortion. In addition to the major trade unions Cgil, Cisl Uil and UGL, the professional unions Trasporto Aereo, Anpac and Anpav also participated in the vote.

The companys shareholders refused to invest a single cent in the airline until the workforce agreed to cuts. The main shareholder with 49 percent of shares is Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi); the remainder are held by the Italian consortium CAI, headed by Unicredit and Intesa Sanpaolo.

Alitalia CEO Luca Cordero di Montezemolo announced his resignation from the company board a few weeks ago. The multimillionaire, who had previously led Fiat, Ferrari and Maserati, had negotiated a rescue plan with the Ministry of the Economy and trade unions. The plan envisaged pay reductions of eight percent and the slashing of nearly one thousand jobs. Other reports referred to 1,700 job cuts, especially among ground crew. Indirectly, the measures impact over 20,000 employees at subsidiaries, suppliers and third-party companies, for example Alitalia Cargo, CityLiner, Carpatair etc.

The unions sought to portray the cuts plan as the best possible option following negotiations. Then to the surprise and consternation of the management, trade unions and government, 67 percent of the 12,500-strong Alitalia workforce rejected the restructuring plan.

It now appears that the government of Paolo Gentiloni is ready to accept Alitalias bankruptcy. It has deliberately broken with the practice of past governments. So far, every Italian government, from Prodi to Berlusconi to Monti, had ensured that the state took responsibility for Alitalia liabilities. This policy is evidently at an end.

The conditions necessary for nationalization are not at hand, declared Premier Paolo Gentiloni (Democratic Party) on television. His economics minister Pier Carlo Padoan said: The government is not ready to participate in a possible capital increase for the company, either directly or indirectly.

The company now has a lifespan of just six months. During this period, Alitalia is to be put under the control of a bankruptcy administrator and financed with a bridging loan of four hundred million euros. This loan must also be approved by the EU Commission.

Major airlines are already circling Alitalia like vultures anticipating that the company will probably be broken up and sold off. Transport Minister Graziano told the press that they would sell the company to the best bidders, although any final decision resides with the largest shareholder, i.e., Etihad.

Lufthansa recently emerged as a prospective buyer: The German airline, which took over the bankrupt Swiss Air a few years ago, could wait for insolvency and then take over parts of Alitalia at a bargain price.

Malaysia Airlines has expressed interest in the acquisition of six to eight Alitalia jets. British aviation groups could also try to buy an Italian location on favourable terms in order to have a leg within the EU following Brexit.

Fierce competition on the part of low-cost airlines is already taking place for coveted slots, such as the start and landing rights in Rome-Fiumicino or Milan-Linate.

Some representatives of Beppe Grillos Five-Star Movement (M5S), which in 2008 had supported Alitalia going bankrupt, are now calling for the nationalization of Alitalia. Their role models are group holdings such as ENI, Leonardo SpA or Trenitalia, whose main shareholder is the state.

There is nothing progressive, however, in this proposal. Under conditions of capitalist crisis it recalls the nationalization measures of the fascist dictator Mussolini. Under his direction, the state holding IRI was established in 1933. Without abolishing capitalism, much of Italian industry was placed under the direct control of the fascist state. For workers, this process was accompanied by brutal dictatorship and war.

The Alitalia Group emerged from the IRI trust after the Second World War. Up until the 1990s it was a state-owned corporation, and was then gradually privatized by 1996. Since then it has faced bankruptcy a number of times.

Following the stock market crash of 2008, a consortium of Italian companies and banks took over the airline. Five thousand jobs were slashed from the workforce of 20,000. Six years later, Etihad Airways posed as rescuer in need to avert another bankruptcy. The takeover of 49 percent of shares by Etihad in 2014 was accompanied by the radical restructuring of the airline, the destruction of even more jobs and a further worsening of wages and working conditions.

This is the reason why the pilots, flight attendants and soil workers rejected the latest plan. There is real anger among the workers, said Riccardo Canestrari, coordinator of the Anpaz pilots union, after the rejection vote. People are fed up with promises, and the level of trust is now under zero.

The move to plunge Alitalia into bankruptcy and endanger more than 12,000 jobs is criminal. It reveals the conditions which underlie the continual attacks on jobs, wages and working conditions taking place in every country.

The global competition for profit threatens both the functioning of modern transport systems and the living conditions of the working class. The government openly takes sides with the banks and investors. Having sought to persuade workers to swallow the bitter pill of yet another poisonous restructuring plan, the trade unions are now conspiring to assist management in breaking up the company and tossing whats left to the vultures.

The fact that the Alitalia workforce withstood pressure from all sides and rejected the restructuring plan, demonstrates its militancy. What is necessary, however, is an international and socialist program that unites workers across borders.

The Alitalia employees have repeatedly resorted to strikes and protests to oppose the attacks on their jobs. Strikes took place in February 2017 and the last one was on April 5. Almost at the same time there were strikes by ground staff in Berlin and at airports in France and Great Britain. These struggles must be united and guided under a socialist perspective with the aim of abolishing the bankrupt capitalist profit system.
The Trump administration and the government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi are engaged in negotiations over a proposal that would maintain a permanent US troop presence in Iraq, according to American and Iraqi officials cited by the Associated Press (AP).

The talks come more than 14 years after the US military invaded the country and unleashed a bloodbath that cost over a million lives and left the entire country shattered. The ostensible purpose of the permanent US presence is to train Iraqi forces and to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) after the anticipated fall of its last stronghold in Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city.

Defense Secretary James Mad Dog Mattis, who commanded the 1st Marine Division during the Iraq invasion and was responsible for numerous atrocities committed in the country, is leading the talks with Iraqi officials, according to the AP report.

The Obama administration formally withdrew US forces, which at their highpoint numbered 170,000, in 2011. The American military presence, however, never fully ended. Under the so-called Operation Inherent Resolve launched in 2014 following the overrunning of Mosul and a broad swathe of Iraq by ISIS, US forces have risen officially to 5,000, while the real number of troops is well over 7,000 as the Pentagon uses temporary deployments to escalate the American intervention.

According to the AP, US forces would remain after Mosuls fall, deployed in at least five bases around the city as well as ones on the Iraqi-Syrian border.

There is a general understanding on both sides that it would be in the long-term interests of each to have that continued presence, a US official told the news agency. So as for agreement, yes, we both understand it would be mutually beneficial. That we agree on.

The official said that the number of American troops that would remain indefinitely in Iraq would be several thousand...similar to what we have now, maybe a little more.

The discussions are unfolding under the shadow of the more than six-month-long bloody US-backed offensive by Iraqi government forces against Mosul. American warplanes, Apache attack helicopters and heavy artillery have played a decisive role in the siege, reducing much of the city to rubble and inflicting thousands of civilian casualties. US special operations troops are participating alongside Iraqi forces in the battle to retake the city.

In the latest atrocity, a strike by US warplanes killed at least 11 civilians in a district of western Mosul on Thursday. The Shafaaq news web site, quoting local sources, reported that women and children were among the dead.

The Pentagon routinely denies responsibility for civilian deaths or grossly underestimates the toll inflicted by American airstrikes. It has been compelled, however, to open an investigation into a March 17 attack that is estimated to have killed over 200 people, including over 100 people who had taken refuge in one house.

After the horrific scale of the carnage inflicted by the strike became known, both US and Iraqi military spokesmen attempted to blame the deaths on ISIS, claiming that it had herded people into a house booby-trapped with explosives and then lured the American warplanes into attacking it.

Survivors of the airstrike have angrily denounced these claims as lies. The survivors, according to AP, described a horrifying battlefield where airstrikes and artillery pound neighborhoods relentlessly, trying to root out ISIS militants, leveling hundreds of buildings, many with civilians inside, despite the constant flight of surveillance drones overhead.

Ali Zanoun, one of only two people to survive the strike on the house where more than 100 died, told the news agency that it had belonged to a local businessman who had sheltered a dozen families seeking refuge. It was thought to be safe because it was only two stories and therefore not of use to ISIS snipers. Zanoun denied that ISIS had ever entered the house, much less planted explosives there.

Zanoun spent five days buried in the rubble, surrounded by the remains of 20 members of his family, before he was rescued. My entire family is gone, Zanoun told AP. They melted. Not even a fingernail or a little bone found.

According to Iraq Body Count, an independent monitoring group, US airstrikes killed 1,117 people in western Mosul in March and April alone. The UN, meanwhile, has released evidence showing that 1,590 residential buildings have been destroyed in western Mosul over the same period.

At least 400,000 people have been displaced by the US-backed siege, while conditions for the hundreds of thousands more who remain in western Mosul are described as catastrophic. The same Western media that last year cried crocodile tears about conditions in Aleppo, Syria, in order to feed US war propaganda against Russia and the Syrian government, has largely ignored the bloodbath now unfolding barely 300 miles to the east.

If the US and Iraqi government forces do succeed in retaking all of Mosul, while reducing this ancient city on the banks of the Tigris river to rubble, it will by no means spell an end to the savage conflict that was unleashed by the US invasion in 2003.

Sectarian divisions, manipulated by the US occupation as part of a divide-and-rule strategy, will only be exacerbated by the siege. It is being waged by a predominantly Shia army, backed by Shia sectarian and Kurdish militias, against a largely Sunni population, which had bitterly resented repression by the Shia-dominated government in Baghdad before ISIS took control in 2014.

Washington will no doubt utilize continuing sectarian conflict as a pretext for maintaining and escalating its military intervention in the country. The aim of this intervention, like the 2003 invasion itself, will be to further the drive for US hegemony over the oil-rich Middle East and to counter the considerable influence of Iran in Iraq and the region as a whole.
Whatever your version of the good life is, one of these 15 moms is living it. Scroll to take a peek into their incredible lives/personal heavens with their perfectly crafted Instagram accounts and prepare to be inspired.

Happy Mothers Day!

Andrea Hannemann lives with her husband and two surfer boys on the North Shore of Hawaii. Her Instagram feed is decorated with gorgeous vegan recipes, sunsets, and smiles.

Fitness guru Massy Arias gave birth to baby Indira just nine weeks ago, but shes already back at it with instructive and inspirational fitness videos, along with a healthy dose of adorable baby photos.

Mom of two Latonya Yvette keeps a natural hair diary and documents her kids lives growing up in her impeccably decorated Brooklyn apartment.

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Who wore it better? I vote for Ren ???????????? A post shared by Eva Chen (@evachen212) on Oct 31, 2016 at 7:24am PDT

Director of fashion partnerships at Instagram, Eva Chen knows the ins and outs of matchy mommy-baby fashion. The mom of 2-year-old Ren and 9-week-old Tao shares plenty of fashion and beauty glam.

Yogi Laura Kasperzak and her 7-year-old daughter, Mini, love to do yoga together, keeping track of Minis progress and having fun flowing through poses as a unit.

My garden pixies ???? A post shared by Kate Oliver (@kateoliver) on Jan 15, 2017 at 11:34pm PST

Australian mom of three Kate Oliver loves food, beauty, and building bouquets in her sleeping boys curls.

You are living the only life you are guaranteed. THIS is it! The future is bright and full of dreams waiting to be realized. So go get after yours. A post shared by Our Open Road (@ouropenroad) on Nov 6, 2016 at 6:36pm PST

Emily Harteau runs Our Open Road with her husband, Adam, documenting their life living out of a van traveling from California through South America in a series of gorgeous photos sure to stir up your wanderlust.

Learning the ropes ???? A post shared by HIPPIE LANE (@talinegabriel) on Oct 9, 2015 at 3:26pm PDT

Much of Taline Gabriels Instagram account consists of absolutely perfect vegan treats, but her young daughter makes frequent appearances, and her 7-year-old son loves to be behind the camera capturing their best moments.

Monica Bencomo shows her followers what it looks like to stay fit at home as a mom of two, and she has fun doing it.

Mornings with kids are quicker, shinier, and a whole lot smoother now with the @dysonhair dryer around. #dysonhair #dysonsponsored A post shared by miss james (@bleubird) on Dec 16, 2016 at 11:59am PST

Co-founder of Mother Magazine and Two Son, a clothing store based in Nashville, James Kicinski-McCoy documents her life with her two young daughters in a scrapbook-like feed.

Rock n roll #kukkutasana #toetaptuesday # A post shared by My name is Wah (@wahderful) on Mar 7, 2017 at 6:42am PST

Saranlux Wah Wunjina is a yoga teacher from Thailand whos currently living in the Netherlands. When she was eight months pregnant, her simple vinyasa videos went viral. Now, baby Finnley Nasira has arrived, and he loves to watch mom move.

We all knew it was only a matter of time before I fell victim to this. #farrisdoesfaces A post shared by Gray Benko (@graybenko) on Feb 19, 2016 at 6:33pm PST

South Carolina mom Gray Benko is a photographer documenting her life with her two redheaded children. Among her photos of outdoor playtime and sibling rivalry, she shares a hilarious series of her daughter Farriss makeup experiments.

When your 3 year old continues to out selfie you #iquit ???????????????????????? A post shared by @jenwithjustonen on Aug 2, 2016 at 4:14pm PDT

Traveling with her three curly, redheaded kids, Jennifer Rogerss feed gives us life!

Heaven came down & grace rescued me. // Grateful for the meaning of today. ???????? A post shared by ascotfriday (@ascotfriday) on Mar 27, 2016 at 4:23pm PDT

Mom of two and co-founder of Ascot + Hart, a clothing store in California and Texas, Laura Wiertzema loves to dress her long-haired boys in matching clothes and live a laid-back lifestyle.

Superfit supermom Latham Thomas also helps new moms as a doula and prenatal yoga instructor.

Read more from Yahoo Style + Beauty:

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WHAT WE LIKE: Continuously variable automatic transmissions have long been derided around here, but the tide is turning some, thanks to powertrains like the 1.5-liter turbo inline-four/CVT combination in our long-term Honda Civic. In fact, this torque-rich drivetrain has earned praise from several corners. Reviews editor Josh Jacquot proclaimed the Civic to be home to one of the best CVT/four-cylinder combos on the market today, while testing director Don Sherman said that this transmissions plusesinstantaneous power surges for passing and smooth, shiftless operationfar outweigh its minuses such as occasional high-rpm droning.

The small-displacement turbo four-cylinder also lives up to its billing by delivering consistently stellar fuel economy. Our average dipped a bit during the winter but still sits at a miserly 34 mpg overall, and weve seen tank-average fuel economy as high as 41 mpg on highway trips.

On a more frivolous note, we discovered a fun Easter egg inside of our Civics center console thats sure to delight Honda fanatics. The underside of the rubber spill mat features an engraving showing vintage Honda race cars and the HondaJetthree other designs also exist with illustrations of various other bits of Honda motorsports history.

WHAT WE DONT LIKE: Complaints continue to roll in concerning the lack of a proper volume knob, with one staffer calling it a huge functionality oversight. Honda has since realized its error and reinstalled the knob in the 2017 CR-V, but it likely wont reappear in the Civic until the car gets a mid-cycle refresh. Until then, were stuck with the finicky volume slider on the dash or the steering-wheel volume switch, which also incorporates a touch-sensitive slider that some of us like and some of us hate.

Speaking of volume, long-distance travelers have been annoyed with the amount of road noise at highway speeds. Some thought the Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires were to blame, although the complaints persisted even after we swapped back to the all-season Firestone FT140 rubber. The all-season tires did at least diminish the freeway wandering that some noted with the Blizzaks and their softer rubber compound.

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WHAT WENT WRONG: Our Civics sole issue was related to its infotainment system: The SiriusXM satellite-radio reception stopped. Our dealer reset the system for free, and all was well. Otherwise, the Civic has required only routine scheduled service just before 20,000 miles that included an oil change and a tire rotation for $69.

WHERE WE WENT: The Civic hasnt ventured much beyond Michigans borders over the past few months, making a trip to Chicago but otherwise serving mostly as a commuter runabout in the greater Detroit area.

Months in Fleet: 8 months Current Mileage: 20,174 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 34 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 12.4 gal Fuel Range: 420 miles

Service: $133 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan



PRICE AS TESTED: $27,335 (base price: $19,475)



ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection



Displacement: 91 cu in, 1497 cc

Power: 174 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque: 162 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm



TRANSMISSION: continuously variable automatic



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 106.3 in

Length: 182.3 in

Width: 70.8 in Height: 55.7 in

Passenger volume: 95 cu ft

Cargo volume: 15 cu ft

Curb weight: 2920 lb



PERFORMANCE: NEW

Zero to 60 mph: 6.9 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 17.5 sec

Zero to 120 mph: 28.5 sec

Rolling start, 560 mph: 7.5 sec

Top gear, 3050 mph: 4.0 sec

Top gear, 5070 mph: 4.9 sec

Standing -mile: 15.3 sec @ 94 mph

Top speed (governor limited): 126 mph

Braking, 700 mph: 179 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.83 g



FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 31/42 mpg

C/D observed: 34 mpg

Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt



WARRANTY:

3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper;

5 years/60,000 miles powertrain;

5 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;

3 years/36,000 miles roadside assistance







It's hard to believe, but it has been nearly two decades since we last conducted a long-term test of a Honda Civic. A 1997 Civic HX coupe was the most recent example of Hondas venerable compact to go through our 40,000-mile test regimen. Now, almost 19 years and four Civic generations later, were finally welcoming another one into the fold: a 2016 sedan in top-of-the-line Touring trim.

Why is this 10th-generation Civic important enough to warrant an extended closer look? First, because its a shot at redemption for Honda. The ninth-gen Civic drew critical ire, mostly for its plain styling and lack of driving verve. Early indications, including a strong second-place finish in a recent five-car comparison test, are promising. The new Civic certainly cant be called plain, no matter the body stylethe coupe, hatchback, and sedan versions all display curves and angles that are daring for a Civic. And the new Civic is a big deal for Honda in a broader sense, because this cars platform was engineered right here in the U.S.A. by Hondas Marysville, Ohio, team and will form the basis for all global versions of the Civic. It also will underpin the next Accord mid-size sedan and CR-V crossover.

Loaded to the Gills

To sample the full palette of what the new Civic has to offer, we opted for the sedans top Touring trim level. That means getting as standard the new 174-hp 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, the first forced-induction engine installed in a U.S. Honda product since the original 2007 Acura RDX. A continuously variable automatic is the only transmission choice for 2016 turbo Civicsyes, a six-speed manual is coming for certain boosted 2017 models, but we figure most stick-shift enthusiasts will wait for the upcoming Civic Si. Plus, Honda has had plenty of time to get CVTs right: even our 97 Civic HX long-termer had one as a nod to its high-fuel-economy mission.

Thats about where the similarities between 1997 and 2016 end, technology-wise. Our Civic Touring is positively chock-full of the latest equipment, including a 7.0-inch central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability, dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, and a digital gauge cluster with customizable information displays. Hondas full package of active-safety features is standard on the Touring, comprising adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, the proprietary LaneWatch camera (which displays a view of the passenger-side blind spot on the main screen when the right turn signal is engaged), and a few other systems to help avoid accidents. Shelling out for the Touring model also affords a few features not available on any other Civic trim level, notably LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, heated rear seats, a power passenger seat, a 450-watt premium audio system, and slightly thicker front and rear anti-roll bars.

All told, our Civic Tourings $27,335 price might seem steep for a compact Honda. But we will say that our long-term BMW 740i, costing more than three times as much, at $96,095, is missing some of the Civics key features such as adaptive cruise, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and remote start.

So Far, So Good

After a month of road tripping and commuting, we find that comments in the Civics logbook are mostly positive. The powertrain has proved especially impressive, averaging a stellar 39 mpga figure made all the more remarkable when you consider our car clocked a zero-to-60-mph time of 6.9 seconds. The sharp steering and composed ride quality also are strong points. Several complaints have arisen concerning the central touchscreen, which is frustrating to useas is its slider to adjust audio volumealong with the herky-jerky nature of the adaptive cruise control. The latter systems bad behavior spurred some drivers into deactivating the adaptive function in favor of good old regular cruisea handy feature not always included with these systems. Its achieved by holding down the button that adjusts the following distance.

So, yes, maybe some of the Civics advanced tech features spur more frustration than actual advancement, but well see how our opinions evolve as we live with the car. Were also curious to find out how the Hondas impressive fuel economy holds up as weather conditions change and the leadfoots around here get more time behind the wheel. But considering our initial impression of all-around goodness, at this point well simply say that, after nearly 20 years, its nice to have a Honda Civic back in our long-term stable.

Months in Fleet: 1 month Current Mileage: 2380 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 39 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 12.4 gal Fuel Range: 480 miles

Service: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan



PRICE AS TESTED: $27,335 (base price: $27,335)



ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection



Displacement: 91 cu in, 1496 cc

Power: 174 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque: 162 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm



TRANSMISSION: continuously variable automatic



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 106.3 in

Length: 182.3 in

Width: 70.8 in Height: 55.7 in

Passenger volume: 95 cu ft

Cargo volume: 15 cu ft

Curb weight: 2920 lb



PERFORMANCE: NEW

Zero to 60 mph: 6.9 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 17.5 sec

Zero to 120 mph: 28.5 sec

Rolling start, 560 mph: 7.5 sec

Top gear, 3050 mph: 4.0 sec

Top gear, 5070 mph: 4.9 sec

Standing -mile: 15.3 sec @ 94 mph

Top speed (governor limited): 126 mph

Braking, 700 mph: 179 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.83 g



FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 31/42 mpg

C/D observed: 39 mpg

Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt



WARRANTY:

3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper;

5 years/60,000 miles powertrain;

5 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;

3 years/36,000 miles roadside assistance







WHAT WE LIKE: After a few months of road-tripping, commuting, and tooling around in the 10th-generation Civic (a.k.a. Civic X), its clear that the new cars chassis is a solid achievement on Hondas part. Its dynamic fundamentalsthings like going, stopping, and turningare near the top of the compact class, with our editors praising the responsive steering, the composed ride quality, and the progressive feel of the brake pedal. Although the turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four may not evoke high-revving fevered dreams as did the Honda VTEC four-bangers of yore, it delivers torque low down in the rev range, which mitigates our criticisms of the continuously variable automatic transmission. Several drivers proclaimed this Civics CVT to be among the best of its kind for the way it modulates torque smoothly and unobtrusively, rarely eliciting the loud moaning from the engine that often accompanies this transmission type. Additionally, the powertrain is delivering an impressive average of 35 mpg thus far.

WHAT WE DONT LIKE: For a new-for-2016 compact car engineered with tech-savvy buyers in mind, the Civics touchscreen interface and its active-safety systems are disappointingly behind the times. The central infotainment screen has come under fire for slow operation and overly complex menu structures. Several complaints also arose about an overly sensitive forward-collision-warning system that sounds its alert at the merest suggestion of a possible impactsuch as when a driver has already begun slowing using the brakes when approaching a stopped car. (There are three sensitivity settings for the forward-collision system, which we will continue to experiment with.)

Were also not thrilled with the amount of noise from the Firestone FT140 tires that came installed on our car, as they generate a bothersome thrum when cruising on the freeway and loud thwaps when traversing expansion joints. Wed be more inclined to forgive these transgressions in return for more dry-weather grip, but they recorded only a modest 0.83 g in our skidpad test. To prepare our Civic for snow season, we fitted it with a set of Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 winter tires that, despite their more aggressive tread, counterintuitively seemed to reduce overall tire noise.

WHAT WENT WRONG: After a routine $64 oil and filter change and tire rotation at 9800 miles (and a recall fix for new stability-control software programming), we asked our dealer to take a look at an annoying rattle coming from the rear parcel shelf. The technician determined that the shelf was distorted, and it was replaced under warranty. The rattle, which had been most obvious when listening to music with heavy bass, appears to be gone for now. (Translation: Its time to crank up the Kendrick Lamar.)

WHERE WE WENT: Although the Honda has been fulfilling its, ahem, civic duty as an efficient daily commuter, staffers arent shy to sign it out for road trips thanks to its comfortable seats and good fuel economy. It has already logged jaunts to Chicago, New York City, Louisville, Kentucky, and Columbus, Ohio, and has even ventured into the Great White North, rolling up miles during a trip into central Ontario.

Months in Fleet: 5 months Current Mileage: 11,034 miles

Average Fuel Economy: 35 mpg Fuel Tank Size: 12.4 gal Fuel Range: 430 miles

Service: $64 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan



PRICE AS TESTED: $27,335 (base price: $19,475)



ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection



Displacement: 91 cu in, 1497 cc

Power: 174 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque: 162 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm



TRANSMISSION: continuously variable automatic



DIMENSIONS:

Wheelbase: 106.3 in

Length: 182.3 in

Width: 70.8 in Height: 55.7 in

Passenger volume: 95 cu ft

Cargo volume: 15 cu ft

Curb weight: 2920 lb



PERFORMANCE: NEW

Zero to 60 mph: 6.9 sec

Zero to 100 mph: 17.5 sec

Zero to 120 mph: 28.5 sec

Rolling start, 560 mph: 7.5 sec

Top gear, 3050 mph: 4.0 sec

Top gear, 5070 mph: 4.9 sec

Standing -mile: 15.3 sec @ 94 mph

Top speed (governor limited): 126 mph

Braking, 700 mph: 179 ft

Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.83 g



FUEL ECONOMY:

EPA city/highway driving: 31/42 mpg

C/D observed: 35 mpg

Unscheduled oil additions: 0 qt



WARRANTY:

3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper;

5 years/60,000 miles powertrain;

5 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;

3 years/36,000 miles roadside assistance






Yahoo Finance will host the live stream of Berkshire Hathaways shareholder meeting at 10 a.m. EST on May 6, 2017.

Warren Buffett, 86, has no immediate plans to retire, but investors all over the world still wonder who will replace him as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, BRK-B) once his tenure does come to an end.

Both the board and I believe we now have the right person to succeed me as CEO  a successor ready to assume the job the day after I die or step down, Buffett wrote in his 2014 shareholder letter. In certain important respects, this person will do a better job than I am doing.

In a recent note, Barclays analysts led by Jay Gelb evaluated the merits of three Berkshire executives presumably in the running for the top role. Those executives include: Ajit Jain, the 65-year-old head of Berkshires reinsurance businesses; Berkshire Hathaway Energy head Greg Abel, 54; and Matt Rose, the 57-year-old executive chairman of Berkshire-owned BNSF Railway.

Make the trade!

Jain attended Harvard Business School in 1978. Before joining Berkshire, he worked for IBMs data processing business and for McKinsey & Co., according to a profile of him in Berkshires hometown newspaper, the Omaha World-Herald.

When he joined Berkshire in 1986, Jain had no experience with insurance. But he was charged with reviving Berkshires struggling reinsurance business, a type of insurance that lets insurers cover their own risk. Jain got a shout-out in Buffetts 2016 letter for turning that business around and creating billions of dollars for shareholders.

If there were ever to be another Ajit and you could swap me for him, dont hesitate. Make the trade! Buffett wrote in the shareholder letter.

Ajit Jain, who runs some of Berkshires insurance operations, plays a game of bridge during Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska in this May 3, 2009 file photo. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Jain and Buffett are in close contact. In fact, Buffett has said Jain is the only executive he speaks with on a daily basis, Barclays pointed out. This would all seem to bode well for the possibility that Jain would later become CEO. Still, Barclays pointed out that Jain might be so indispensable in his current role that Berkshire wouldnt remove him from it.

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Mr. Jain might remain focused on Berkshires vast commercial insurance and reinsurance operations rather than be the frontrunner to succeed Mr. Buffett as CEO of Berkshire, the Barclays note stated.

The most experience with bolt-on acquisitions

Greg Abel earned a commerce degree from the University of Alberta in 1984. Subsequently, he spent some time at Price Waterhouse (before it merged with Coopers & Lybrand) and at CalEnergy. He joined Berkshire Hathaway in 1992. But, according to the Omaha World-Herald, he didnt get a mention in Buffetts annual shareholder letter until a decade later.

Dave Sokol, MEHCs [MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co.] CEO, and Greg Abel, his key associate, are huge assets for Berkshire. They are dealmakers, and they are managers, Buffett wrote.

In this April 30, 2010 photo, Greg Abel is seen in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, file)

In its note, Barclays cited Abels deal-making as an asset that set him apart from the other contenders for CEO.

Among the three likely candidates for a higher leadership role, we view Mr. Abel as having the most experience in bolt-on acquisitions, the note said, referring to acquisitions made with the purpose of merging the acquired company with a division of the acquirer.

Regardless of whether hes chosen as the next CEO, its clear Berkshire values Abel. Last year, Berkshire reported that in 2015 Abels pay spiked 48% to $41 million.

An outstanding CEO and extraordinary manager

Matt Rose holds a marketing degree from the University of Missouri. Rose was at the helm of BNSF Railway in 2009 when Berkshire decided to acquire the 77.4% of the railway company it didnt already own. It was the largest deal in Berkshire history at the time.

In 2015, Buffett said Rose was not out of the running to be CEO, Barclays pointed out. Thats despite the fact that Buffett said in 2014 that BNSF had disappointed many of its customers with service delays.

These shippers depend on us, and service failures can badly hurt their businesses, Buffett wrote, without calling Rose out by name.

Matt Rose, chairman and chief executive officer of Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC (BNSF). Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

While Buffett delivered harsh words about BNSF that year, in his 2015 letter he credited Rose by name with the railroads turnaround.

The most important development at Berkshire during 2015 was not financial, though it led to better earnings. After a poor performance in 2014, our BNSF railroad dramatically improved its service to customers last year, Buffett wrote.

Later on in that section of the letter, Buffett wrote: For most American railroads, 2015 was a disappointing year. Aggregate ton-miles fell, and earnings weakened as well. BNSF, however, maintained volume, and pre-tax income rose to a record $6.8 billion* (a gain of $606 million from 2014). Matt Rose and Carl Ice, the managers of BNSF, have my thanks and deserve yours.

In his 2012 shareholder letter, Buffett praised Rose and Abel for being outstanding CEOs and extraordinary managers.

Regardless of whether one of them, or Jain, becomes CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, its clear that all three contenders likely have long futures ahead of them at the company.

More on Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway:

Warren Buffett: Heres the big mistake investors make

Warren Buffett has a simple explanation for why rich Americans should pay higher taxes

Why Warren Buffett isnt worried by Americas political divide

Why Chinese investors love Warren Buffett

12 Warren Buffett quotes that will make you smarter about money
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
Banki (Nigeria) (AFP) - The Nigerianarmy calls it "New Banki City", an optimistic name conjuring up visions of modern housing. The reality is an overcrowded camp for 32,000 desperate people made homeless by Boko Haram.

In this ravaged corner of northeast Nigeria, the Islamists frequently launch attacks on military convoys, unleash suicide bombers and litter the surrounding roads and arid bush with mines.

Even the most mundane tasks are treacherous. Desperate for firewood to cook food, 25-year-old Bulama Zarami didn't make it far out of the camp before he triggered a mine.

Shifting from side to side in pain, Zarami says he still feels shrapnel from the explosive in his wounded left leg, which is swollen at the knee and wrapped with blood-stained gauze.

"With Boko Haram we face danger," Zarami told AFP.

The Nigerian military recaptured Banki in September 2015 after fierce battles with the Islamist militants, whose insurgency has killed at least 20,000 in Nigeria alone since 2009.

Along with other towns in Borno state including Monguno, Dikwa and Rann, Banki is an example of the enormous challenge facing Nigeria as it tries to resuscitate civilian life.

"We can't say peace has returned," warned Commander Kenechukwu Otubo, from the 152 battalion stationed in Banki. "They (Boko Haram) have a lot of hideouts we can't get to."

In Banki, the army's urgent priority isn't to build schools or construct homes, it's digging a trench around the ever-expanding perimeter swollen by internally displaced people (IDPs).

"The unit (battalion) is still faced with the challenge of protecting IDPs, it becomes inevitable to keep expanding and barricading all entry and exit points," said Captain Aminu Abdulmalik.

"If the town is not excavated in the nearest future, we will be exposed to suicide bomb attacks and supporters of Boko Haram terrorists."

- Presumed guilty -

Banki, located on the southeastern rim of Borno state, used to be a bustling trading town but today is one of the last vestiges of Boko Haram's dominance in the region.

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It's part of a crescent of off-limits territory that arches past Lake Chad where the battle against Boko Haram is still raging, despite contrary claims from the military and government.

With the enemy so close, everyone is presumed guilty in Banki camp, a mix of bombed-out concrete buildings and white tents protected by a four-metre-high (13 feet) barricade of corrugated metal sheets.

No-one is allowed to leave the patrolled perimeter without permission or keep cell phones out of fear of contacting Boko Haram.

There are few men of fighting age because most have been taken to army-run detention centres.

What remains are the elderly, women and children, who draw eerie pictures of war on the walls with charcoal, depicting swarms of helicopters and men firing lines of bullets into the sky.

Children are estimated to represent a third of the population in Banki. They wear tattered clothes and roam the sandy streets of the camp in packs.

Without school, they have nothing else to do.

The older generation worries that the inertia of camp life will provide more recruits for the jihadists, who want to create a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria.

"The issue of Boko Haram happened as a result of staying idle without any education," said 56-year-old teacher Alhaji Bulama. "A lack of orientation will make the children join them."

- Influx of refugees -

Current conditions in Banki may soon get worse when some 78,000 Nigerian refugees return from across the border in Cameroon.

The influx of people, who will likely be in desperate need of food and medical care, is "definitely a concern", said Henry Kwenin, of the International Organization for Migration.

It will strain already over-stretched troops and supplies just before the rainy season, which floods roads and makes humanitarian access difficult, if not impossible.

"Banki isn't a place with enough infrastructure to receive those people," said Kwenin in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri.

They have reason to be concerned.

Just a year ago, 10 people were said to be dying of hunger every day in Banki.

The UN said in April there was a growing risk of mass deaths in Nigeria, where famine-like conditions have been reported.

Those returning, though, are hoping for a return to normal life.

Trader Abubakar Madu was able to afford the 4,000-naira fee ($13, 11 euros) for himself and his family to take the 24-hour journey by road from Minawao camp in Cameroon.

"I want to live happily with my family," he said but concluded it was hard to say when that might happen.
Tehran (AFP) - Rescuers battled hazardous conditions Thursday at a coal mine in northern Iran where 26 miners died as attempts failed to save workmates trapped deep underground after an explosion.

Hopes of finding nine missing miners alive were fading more than 36 hours after the blast Wednesday at the mine in Azadshahr in Golestan province, where three days of mourning were declared.

The rescue operation at the Zemestan Yort mine was hampered by poisonous gases that filled the tunnels as well as by fears of a further collapse.

The removal of rubble blocking the tunnel was expected to finish by the end of Thursday, state television broadcaster quoted Labour Minister Ali Rabii as saying from the site.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered condolences for the "very bitter" tragedy.

"Efforts by various organisations will be rewarded (by God). They (should) increase their efforts as much as possible," he said in a message.

President Hassan Rouhani also expressed sorrow for victims of the disaster, which has overshadowed his re-election campaign.

Tasnim news agency quoted director of Iran's emergency services Pir Hossein Kolivand as saying that 26 bodies had been recovered from the mine.

Sadegh-Ali Moghadam, emergencies director in Golestan province, had said earlier that 21 victims were found at a depth of 600 metres (yards) and rescue teams had descended 1,400 metres into the tunnel where the blast happened.

The hope of finding the remaining miners alive "is now minimal," he told state IRNA news agency.

"The problem is the upper arch which has been weakened by the explosion. Miners are working to secure the tunnel" to be able to move forward, he said.

The tunnel caved in when methane gas exploded underground as workers tried to jump-start a locomotive engine, according to initial reports.

Rouhani ordered all departments "to use all equipment available to facilitate the rescue services and save those trapped".

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"The painful incident involving a number of hard-working miners in the Azadshahr mine brought sorrow and mourning to all Iranian people," he said.

- Gas poisoning -

Images broadcast on state television IRIB showed the evacuation of injured and exhausted miners on stretchers as rescue services worked relentlessly at the entrance to one of the mine tunnels.

The army joined forces on Thursday with rescue teams by sending medics, bulldozers and trucks.

More than 70 miners were treated in hospitals for gas poisoning and injuries, state news agency IRNA reported.

The workers sent to hospital were among those who had rushed from outside to help the victims after the blast.

Rouhani sent Rabii along with mining and industry minister Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh to the mine to oversee the rescue operations, treatment of victims and lead an investigation.

Rabii told IRNA that all work at the mine will be completely halted for six months until the probe is completed.

"The government will undertake the payment of all workers' wages until the mine reopens," he added.

The mine has 500 workers and the explosion happened during a change of shift, state media said.

The issue is particularly sensitive two weeks before a presidential vote in which Rouhani hopes to win re-election.

Conservative candidates have accused the government of failing to care for the poor.
Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau appeared in a new video published online on Thursday, rejecting claims he had been injured in an airstrike in remote northeast Nigeria.

The jihadist chief was said to have been wounded and one of his deputies killed when two air force jets bombarded fighters at Balla village, on the edge of the Sambisa Forest in Borno state, last Friday.

Surveillance footage showed missiles being fired on what the air force said were Boko Haram fighters, while the army announced it had "neutralised quite a number of terrorists", including in Balla.

"There were indications that quite a number of the terrorists' key leaders have either been killed or wounded," army spokesman Brigadier-General Sani Usman said earlier Thursday, without naming Shekau.

But in a 14-minute video, the shadowy Boko Haram leader claimed ignorance of both the incident and the location, insisting he was not injured and that none of his key lieutenants was harmed either.

"I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive," he said, wearing his trademark camouflage jacket and cradling an assault rifle.

"I'm alive, you have not killed any of my men. I didn't even know this incident you are talking about ever happened.

"What surprises me is your claim that I'm nursing wounds. Look at me well. Look at my sitting posture."

There was no indication where the video was shot.

In it, Shekau was flanked by two masked, armed men, sitting against what appeared to be a desert camouflage net and Boko Haram's black and white insignia.

He spoke in Hausa and Arabic.

The Nigerian authorities' reticence about naming Shekau is likely to come from previous occasions when his death has been announced prematurely, only for him to reappear in video messages.

He has rejected military claims the rebels are depleted and in disarray as a result of a sustained counter-offensive that began in early 2015 and recaptured swathes of territory.

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A source with links to the Islamist militants told AFP on Wednesday that Shekau narrowly escaped death when the second missile hit as he was on his way to preach at Friday prayers.

"It's bloody propaganda," he said of Shekau's video denial.

"Shekau hurt his back from the impact of the second strike. He was injured in the back and then taken out of the area to a place around Kolofata (near the Cameroon border)," he added.

"You can see he is not the same Shekau we were seeing in other videos. He didn't exude the same energy."

The Boko Haram insurgency has left at least 20,000 people dead and made more than 2.6 million others homeless since 2009, devastating the region and leaving millions dependent on humanitarian aid.
Florence (Italy) (AFP) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday described Brexit as a "tragedy" that had happened partly as a result of the European Union's past mistakes.

In a speech in Florence, the head of the EU's executive arm warned of tough negotiations to come but also struck a more conciliatory tone after the first round of contacts on a Brexit deal degenerated into a cross-Channel war of words.

"Our British friends have decided to leave, which is a tragedy," the former Luxembourg Prime Minister told the European University Institute's State of the Union conference.

"I don't want anyone to underestimate the real importance of this sovereign decision of the British people. It is not a small thing but we must and will negotiate in all 'fairness' with our British friends.

"But I would like to recall here that there should be no doubt that it is not the EU abandoning the UK, it is the oppposite. They are abandoning the EU and this is a difference of status that must and will be felt over the next few years."

In a nod to longstanding British complaints about Brussels bureaucracy and perceived meddling in national affairs, Juncker acknowledged that the EU "has some weaknesses which can partly explain the outcome of the referendum in the UK."

"In the past, the EU has done a little too much, even the Commission: too many rules, too much interference in the daily lives of our citizens."

Juncker said his Commission had slashed the number of legislative proposals put to EU governments from 130 a year to 23 and was concentrating on the environment and programmes to boost trade, growth and jobs.

The only comment that could have been interpreted as a barb at Britain came at the start of his speech, when he briefly spoke in English to say it would be delivered in French.

"Slowly but surely English is losing importance in Europe," he said with a rueful smile, before explaining: "The French will have elections on Sunday and I would like them to understand what I am saying about Europe and about nations."

Juncker's speech came at the end of a week which has seen Prime Minister Theresa May accuse Brussels of meddling in the British election campaign and another government minister describe the Commission as trying to "bully" London.

The spat was sparked by the leaking of details of a Downing Street dinner May hosted for Juncker which exposed frustration in Brussels about the British government's "delusions" over the divorce proceedings.
Four California students were suspended after "liking" and "commenting" on Instagram posts of a racial nature in March. On Monday, the students at Albany High School in the San Francisco Bay Area, sued the school district in response to their suspension, claiming the punishment they received violated their free-speech rights.

According to the lawsuit, the students  Philip Shen, Nima Kormi, Michael Bales and Kevin Chen  say the school administrators violated their First Amendment rights by exceeding its authority to discipline students. The lawsuit claims the posts were on a private account with no connection to school activity.

Read: Is Racism, Sexism On Rise In US? Black Women Paid 21% Less Than White Men, Survey Says

The students are also claiming unspecified damages and a court order removing the suspensions from their records, saying schools cannot interfere in activities outside school premises and that the school district suspended students who passively followed the account.

People of this age click like to pretty much everything, and they'll respond in grunts and single syllables to pretty much anything, Darryl Yorkey, an attorney for the students, said.

The incident began early March, when school adminsitrators were informed about a group of students making Nazi salutes in the hallways. On further investigation, it was found a group of students had posted racial memes on Instagram.

They showed 11 female students, mostly non-white, with nooses around their necks and those pictures were featured next to images of apes.

"On or about December 2016 or January 2017, Kevin Chen came upon several images that were posted privately on Instagram by another student. Kevin 'liked' several of the images and was responsive to comments previously made on two," according to the lawsuit.

Chen then posted one of the images on his own Snapchat account, which was then picked up by another student for his own private Instagram account.

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This to me is no different than having a private drawing book and making some offensive drawings at home and sharing them with a couple of my friends, Alan Beck, an attorney for the students, said. He added: Does the school have the right to ruin my life over something I was doing at my house? according to Los Angeles Times.

Albany School District Superintendent Valerie Williams said in a statement: "The District is currently reviewing the lawsuit and will take appropriate action in responding to it.

"The district takes great care to ensure that our students feel safe at school, and we are committed to providing an inclusive and respectful learning environment for all of our students. The district intends to defend this commitment and its conduct within the court system."

Dan Horowitz however, a defense attorney who separately reviewed the lawsuit, said the students' claim has merit.

"Having childish or hateful beliefs off campus are 100 percent protected," he said, according to Mercury News. "The schools publicizing of the matter and exposing the students to ridicule, negative characterizations etc. is deeply troubling. The students cannot defend themselves as they are barred from campus and have no ability to address the student body."

You have the right to be racist in this country, and you have the right not to be racist in this country, he added. This turns the school into the Thought Police.

In recent years, students across the country have often got into trouble for offensive social media posts and parties with racist themes, the Guardian reported.

According to an October, 2016 report by East Bay Times, officials at California High School in San Ramon said a student had confessed to being responsible for race-related graffiti found in a school bathroom.

In another January, 2016 incident, there were reports of a private school in San Francisco suspending 14 students after learning they attended a party with a "wigger" theme  a racist term that blends the word white with the N-word.

This California lawsuit, legal experts have argued, will provide federal courts with another opportunity to decide how strictly schools can regulate student speech. It also raises the question whether "likes" on social media should be treated similarly to original posts, or not.

"'Likes' are ambiguous in that they could be saying, 'This is funny,' 'I agree with it,' or 'I don't agree, but I want to stand up for your right to say it,'" said Eugene Volokh, who teaches free speech law at the University of California, Los Angeles, according to Fox 34 News.

Schools have the authority to limit freedom of speech in school premises, under federal law, according to First Amendment scholars. However, Aaron Caplan, a Loyola Law School professor in Los Angeles said courts have disagreed whether schools can punish students for off-campus activties.

"In my own view, students are entitled to speak just like everyone else when they are off campus," Caplan said. "The school should not say, 'You engaged in free speech over the weekend on your own time, but we will punish you because your speech has ripple effects that we don't like.'"

Related Articles
Sigh. Another day, another airline saying "we're sorry." This time, it's Delta.

The airline issued an apology Thursday for an incident in which a Delta employee and a police officer threatened parents with jail time over a seat they'd booked for their son. Brian and Brittany Schear, the passengers Delta booted from their April 23 flight, shared video of the incident on Thursday. Theirs is the latest in a string of videos highlighting customer service issues between employees and passengers. Can we please get it together, airlines?

SEE ALSO: Delta threatens parents with jail for trying to use a seat they bought

Delta's statement reads:

Video of the incident shows Brian Schear arguing with a police officer and presumably a Delta employee over a seat he'd originally purchased for his teenage son. The couple was also traveling with their young children, aged 2 and 1, and had initially planned to hold the kids on their laps for the duration of the flight. When Schear's eldest son booked a seat at the last minute on an earlier flight, Schear decided to use the original seat for his 2-year-old instead.

From there, the situation spun out of control. Delta overbooked the flight, meaning people were waiting to board while attendants looked for extra seats. When Schear refused to give up his teenage son's seat  now his toddler son's seat  Delta employees removed his family from the flight, citing incorrect FAA regulations.

As Reuters notes, Delta's apology came the same day that the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security held a hearing on airline costumer protections. The hearing is a response to the now infamous video of Dr. David Dao being dragged off a United Airlines flight.
Within minutes of the passage of the American Health Care Act in the House Thursday, Democrats moved to fulfill Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis warning to Republicans that their votes for the highly unpopular bill would be tattooed to your forehead[s].

Democrats projected confidence Republican votes for AHCA would be an electoral boon for the minority party next November, chanting Hey hey hey, goodbye as the final tally was announced. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched a campaign to target the districts of 30 Republican incumbents it classified as vulnerable with Instagram and Facebook ads.

The first Democrat out of the gate was Virginia gubernatorial candidate Tom Perriello. Shortly after the vote was final, his campaign pushed out an ad showing him standing in front of an ambulance in the jaws of a car-crushing machine.

In the spot, Perriello highlights his 2009 vote for the Affordable Care Act. He represented Virginias Fifth District but lost after a single term as part of the Republican wave in 2010. Ambulance was among YouTubes trending videos Thursday night and into Friday.

In the high-profile race to fill Tom Prices vacant congressional seat in Georgias Sixth District, Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff came out with a statement against the vote Thursday.

I strongly oppose this bill, which allows discrimination against Georgians with pre-existing conditions and would make health insurance unaffordable for millions of families, Ossoff said. This bill puts Georgians lives at risk. Congress should put aside partisan politics and work to make affordable insurance and quality care available to all Americans.

Ossoffs campaign was undecided on how it would go forward with messaging regarding the Republican vote.

We know AHCA is an important issue to a lot of people, said a spokesperson for the Ossoff campaign in a statement to Yahoo News, especially those with pre-existing conditions, and we havent yet decided all the methods well use to talk to voters about it, whether its on TV, at doors, or in mailboxes.

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In Montanas special congressional election, Democratic candidate Rob Quist issued a statement on his Facebook page after the vote concluded. The campaign spokesman for Quists opponent, Republican Greg Gianforte, also issued a statement that refused to support the AHCA:

Greg has repeatedly said he will not support a bill until he knows it reduces premiums, preserves rural access, and protects Montanans with pre-existing conditions. Obamacare failed in part because people said they need to vote for it first to find out whats in it. Greg believes we must repeal and replace Obamacare before it collapses but as an engineer, Greg needs all the facts because its important to know exactly whats in the bill before he votes on it.

President Donald Trump talks to House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, after the House pushed through a health care bill, May 4, 2017. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)

The liberal site Daily Kos, which helped spur Ossoffs successful fundraising campaign, also launched a list of 24 Republican targets in conjunction with ActBlue, a progressive political action committee.

A big surge in donations now would have huge salutary effects right away, wrote David Nir, Daily Kos political director. It would both terrify Republicans and boost Democratic efforts to recruit good candidates. Of course, it would also help us defeat these Republicans next year. And as it happens, 24 is exactly the number of seats we need to take back the House.

Read more from Yahoo News:
Acclaimed horror author Stephen King has said Donald Trumps access to nuclear weapons is worse than any story he has written.

President Trump has disturbed many by ramping up the rhetoric surrounding nuclear weapons since taking office. Psychiatrists have suggested Mr Trump shows symptoms of having a dangerous mental illness.

Mr King, author of The Shining and Dead Zone, apparently agreed with this sentiment.

Read more

Stephen King has compared Trump to two characters from his books

Trump's tweets in his first hundred days draw a pretty clear portrait: he's an almost textbook case of narcissistic personality disorder, Mr King wrote on Twitter.

He added: That this guy has his finger on the nuclear trigger is worse than any horror story I ever wrote.

Mr King has been a staunch critic of Mr Trump, particularly regarding his lack of financial transparency.

In April, he wrote: Come on, chickens***, if you're man enough to drop a mega-bomb on Afghanistan, you should be man enough to release your tax returns.

Mr King was one of hundreds of authors who signed an open letter opposing Mr Trump during his election campaign.
President Donald Trump embarked on an early morning Twitter rant about "Fake News" and a former Obama administration official, before praising Fox News for high ratings.

The media "will do or say anything in order to get attention," he said.

Mr Trump logged in apparently before 7am on Thursday to send two messages criticising former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, for declining to testify to senators investigating alleged Russian election interference.

Last month the President had accused Ms Rice, without evidence, of potentially committing a crime by requesting the "unmasking" of members of his transition team in intelligence documents. Ms Rice reportedly declined the invitation to testify because it was not bipartisan.

Read more

Pregnancy to cost 425% more under Trump's healthcare plan

Mr Trump then moved on to a familiar target, using capital letters to emphasise his point.

He said: "The Fake News media is officially out of control. They will do or say anything in order to get attention - never been a time like this!"

Five minutes later, he said: "Congratulations to @foxandfriends on its unbelievable ratings hike."

The Fake News media is officially out of control. They will do or say anything in order to get attention - never been a time like this!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 4, 2017

He then retweeted a Fox & Friends video report of his plans to sign a new executive order on religious liberty.

The President's affinity with Twitter was reflected in revelations on Wednesday that he had been personally involved in the hunt for the person who tweeted a comparison photo of his and Barack Obama's inauguration crowds from the official National Park Service account.
Donald Trump is one huge step closer to repealing Obamacare, after the House of Representatives narrowly passed a healthcare bill aimed at undoing one of his predecessor's biggest accomplishments.

The 217-213 vote is a significant triumph for Mr Trump, who repeatedly promised during his campaign to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama's healthcare law. Mr Trump suffered a major setback in March after a vote on an earlier version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) was dramatically cancelled at the last minute when it failed to gain enough Republican support.

Twenty Republicans voted against the legislation, which was fully rejected by Democrats.

The AHCA now faces an uphill battle in the Senate, but Mr Trump feels confident about the result. Its going to an unbelievable victory when we get it through the Senate, Mr Trump said at a press conference following the House vote.

Read more

Pregnancy to cost 425% more under Trump's healthcare plan

Mr Trump saluted the bill as a great plan and [one that] will get even better, saying more than once: Make no mistake: this is a repeal and replace of Obamacare. Obamacare, he added, was essentially dead.

The US leader also vowed that premiums and deductibles would come down. People are suffering so badly with the ravages of Obamacare, said Mr Trump, whose West Wing staff were eager for the appearances of a victory after a turbulent first 100 days in office.

A joyous Mr Trump at one point even turned to the representatives lined up behind him and, suggesting the victory was especially impressive for a novice politician, exclaimed Hey, I'm President! I'm President! Can you believe it?

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said the upper chamber would work on a healthcare bill if the House passed one, but that it would be difficult.

While Republican senator Bob Corker said the Senate hasnt been focused on a healthcare bill just yet, House Freedom Caucus chairman Mark Meadows told CNN he has spent the last four or five weeks speaking with Senators about the legislation.

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I do believe we can make it better by using some of their ideas to improve it, Mr Meadows said. There is uncertainty over whether the Senate will take up the House's bill or write its own.

While not fully repealing the Affordable Care Act, the latest version of Mr Trump's AHCA would make it possible for states to opt out of having to provide certain health services. It would also eliminate fines imposed on people who dont buy insurance.

A previous version of the bill  which is opposed by the American Medical Association, the AARP, and other medical groups  would have bumped an estimated 24 million people off of insurance by 2026, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.

The House voted on the legislation without an updated analysis of how much it would cost, or how many it would affect, a sign that leadership was trying to rush the bill through the lower chamber, AHCA critics say.

House minority leader Democrat Nancy Pelosi said: Republicans are clearly terrified of their members and the American people seeing the full consequences of their plan to gut critical protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

An eleventh-hour deal made between two Republicans and Mr Trump himself is slated to provide $8bn over five years to help people with pre-existing illnesses, such as asthma or heart disease, afford coverage.

Speaking on the House floor before the vote, Ms Pelosi cited a study from Karen Pollitz, a healthcare expert at the Kaiser Family Foundation, who found that the $8bn would only cover the cost of one per cent of those who purchase insurance on the exchanges created by Obamacare.

Ms Pelosi has also said that the healthcare bill will provide a great civics lesson for America.

Let's face it, as important as we think we are when we're in Congress, most people don't even know who their Congress person is in many places, and now they'll find out, Ms Pelosi said. They'll find out that their Congress person voted to take away their healthcare.

Republicans are adamant that the AHCA will provide Americans with more choices for where to receive health insurance coverage, as insurers continue to stop selling individual plans in certain states. Insurers have cited market uncertainty and instability as reasons for exiting the exchanges.

House Speaker Paul Ryan asked, What protection is Obamacare if there is no healthcare plan to purchase in your state?

Mr Ryan said at a press conference that the passing of the bill is just one step in this process of repealing Obamacare. We still have a lot of work to do to get this signed into law, he said.
Photo credit: Dunkin' Donuts

From Delish

Back in March, Dunkin' Donuts faced some serious backlash online after it pulled the Coffee Coolatta from its menu. Now, most likely to heal those wounds and make amends with its bleeding-heart fans, the coffee chain will be handing out free samples of the new frozen drink that replaced it.

Dunkin's new Frozen Coffee apparently tastes more like coffee than its predecessor, containing offee extract, ice, liquid cane sugar, and dairy. According to the brand's website, you can add a flavor shot (unsweetened) like french vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, toasted almond, coconut, blueberry, or raspberry; or a flavor swirl (sweetened) like caramel, french vanilla, hazelnut, and mocha.

The drink debuted at locations nationwide today but on May 19, it will be totally free. Just stop into a participating location between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to score a free sample. After a few sips, you'll be cool and caffeinated.

Follow Delish on Instagram.

From Delish

Back in March, Dunkin' Donuts faced some serious backlash online after it pulled the Coffee Coolatta from its menu. Now, most likely to heal those wounds and make amends with its bleeding-heart fans, the coffee chain will be handing out free samples of the new frozen drink that replaced it.

Dunkin's new Frozen Coffee apparently tastes more like coffee than its predecessor, containing offee extract, ice, liquid cane sugar, and dairy. According to the brand's website, you can add a flavor shot (unsweetened) like french vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, toasted almond, coconut, blueberry, or raspberry; or a flavor swirl (sweetened) like caramel, french vanilla, hazelnut, and mocha.

The drink debuted at locations nationwide today but on May 19, it will be totally free. Just stop into a participating location between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to score a free sample. After a few sips, you'll be cool and caffeinated.

Follow Delish on Instagram.

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The family of a boy tragically killed while on the world's tallest waterslide last year is set to receive a massive settlement.

Caleb Schwab, the son of a Kansas politician, was killed in August 2016 while riding the 17-story "Verruckt" ride, which had been dubbed the tallest in the world.

Read: 3 Girls Injured in 40-Foot Fall From County Fair Ferris Wheel

The settlement will come from multiple parties, according to the Kansas City Star. The largest payment to Schwab's family is $14 million paid out by SVV 1 and KC Water Park, companies associated with the Texas-based water park operator Schlitterbahn.

The rest is reportedly to be paid out from other parties associated with the ride or its construction.

When added up, the settlement reportedly totals $19,732,125 The Star reported that the settlement is the largest of its kind paid in a wrongful death case involving a minor in either Kansas or Missouri.

Caleb's father, Republican Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab, and the family have declined to comment.

The investigation into the August 7, 2016 tragedy found that Caleb suffered a "fatal neck injury" at the end of the ride.

Caleb was discovered in a pool at the bottom of Verruckt.

The boy was on a raft with two women who later told investigators they went airborne. It is believed that Caleb's body struck nets placed above the slide.

Read: Teen Dies With Instructor in Tandem Skydive as His Family Watches From the Ground

The two women in the raft with Caleb were not related to him and suffered facial injuries, police said.

Verruckt is German for "insane." It stood at 168 feet tall, which is about the same height as Niagara Falls.

The ride was shut down following the incident.

Watch: 11-Year-Old Girl Gets $15,000 Settlement From Safari Park After Camel Attack

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A family was removed from an overbooked flight and threatened with jail for not giving up a seat that was occupied by their two-year-old son.

Staff aboard the Delta airlines flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles asked the Schear family from Southern California to carry the two-year-old on their laps. A video has emerged of the incident.

Brian Schear said that staff told him that they were told that they would be sent to jail and the boy taken away from them if they did not agree to the demand.

An official told Mr Schear that he would have to leave the plane before it took off.

Then they can remove me off the plane, he replied. You and your whole family? the official asked.

Yeah, thats fine, he said.

So, then, its going to be a federal offence, another agent quickly chimed in, and you and your wife will be in jail and your kids will be .

Schear at this point interrupted and said: Were going to be in jail and my kids are going to be what?.

Its a federal offence if you dont abide by it, she said. I bought that seat, said Schear. Youre saying youre going to give that away to someone else when I paid for that seat. Thats not right.

His wife Brittany said although the family believed they were in the right there was little they could do.

"As a mother, you have a one-year-old and two-year-old - it doesn't matter whether that's true or false. It put fear in me," she told ABC.

The seat in question was initially reserved for the Schears 18-year-son Mason, who had travelled on an earlier flight. So they thought the seat could be used for their younger child.

Airline staff argued they needed the seat as the flight was overbooked and it was not being used by the person it was designated for.

Mr Schear eventually agreed to carry his son on his lap but at this point the entire family was apparently asked to leave the plane.

As a result, the family said they were forced to book a hotel room and pay $2,000 (1,550) for another flight the next day.

The Independent has contacted Delta for a comment but none had arrived at the time of publication.
Five men were charged with violating Thailand's draconian royal defamation law for sharing Facebook posts written by an exiled dissident academic, a human rights lawyer said Thursday.

The case is the largest known lese majeste prosecution so far under Thailand's new King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who ascended the throne after the October death of his father.

Observers have been closely watching how the law -- which bars any criticism of the royal family and forces media to heavily self-censor -- is applied under his reign.

The five, who have not been named, were remanded in custody Wednesday for sharing Facebook posts written by a Paris-based Thai historian Somsak Jeamteerasakul about the disappearance of a democracy plaque in Bangkok last month.

"They shared Somsak's posts about the 1932 plaque," Anon Numpa, from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, told AFP without elaborating on what the posts said.

The small bronze monument, which lay in Bangkok's heavily-policed Royal Plaza, marked the 1932 revolution that ended absolute monarchy in Thailand.

It was mysteriously replaced by a new plaque bearing a royalist message in April, sparking fury among Thailand's hard-pressed democracy campaigners who fear the monument was removed with official backing.

Authorities have moved to stifle discourse on the missing plaque and have detained several activists who have tried to call for an investigation.

Thai authorities last month warned that contacting, following or sharing social media posts by junta critic Somsak could be grounds for legal action.

The five faced charges alongside prominent human rights lawyer Prawet Prapanukul, who was hit with a record ten counts of royal defamation for a series of social media posts apparently containing republican sentiment.

Prawet now faces a maximum 150-year sentence under a law that assigns up to 15 years in prison per offence.

A police officer from the technology crime suppression division confirmed the men were remanded over lese majeste charges but declined to comment further.

Story continues

Royal insult cases are typically shrouded in secrecy as even repeating defamatory content can be grounds for prosecution.

In a recent Facebook post, 57-year-old Prawet encouraged Thais to push the boundaries of the lese majeste law, which has choked expression across the kingdom's media, academia and arts.

Use of the law has shot up under the royalist junta that seized power in 2014.
Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website.

One of the upshots of last year's Zika outbreaks is that there are now many more insect repellents to choose from.

Last Augustthe height of mosquito and tick season for much of the continental U.S.an Amazon search of repellents turned up more than 13,000 products, according to researchers at New Mexico State University. This spring, that same search turned up closer to 25,000 productsnot just sprays but also creams, clothing, skin patches, wearable devices, and even live plants rich in essential oils.

This sheer number of options presents consumers with a double-edged sword: It's good to have choices, but it's not always easy to tell what works and what doesn't.

"The recurrent outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika have created a large market for a variety of mosquito repellent and control products," says Immo Hansen, a scientist who studies insect-borne diseases at New Mexico State University. "But in many cases, the claims made by the vendors of these products are exaggerated or outright false."

Joe Conlon, an entomologist with the American Mosquito Control Association, a trade group, said that area repellentsproducts that claim to create an insect-free bubble around the usercan be particularly problematic. "They have limitations," he says. The AMCA advises consumers to stick with Environmental Protection Agency-registered products, and says that no product is more effective than DEET.

To help separate the good stuff from the not-so-good, we've compiled a quick list of products that you can skip.

Natural Repellents

It sounds like such a good idea: Use a "natural" mosquito repellent, with an active ingredient like clove or lemongrass or rosemary oil, and avoid the ones containing chemicals such as DEET.

But here's the problem: Natural repellents are regulated differently than other repellent products. Because the EPA deems the chemicals they contain harmless, the agency does not evaluate them for effectiveness. Because of that loophole, companies that sell those repellents don't have to prove that they actually work. And our testing indicates that, in fact, they don't.

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Most of the plant-based repellents CR has tested lasted just one hour or less against the Aedes aegypti mosquitothe kind that can spread Zika, yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya.

Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Natural Products Association, told Consumer Reports that natural repellents vary in their effectiveness the same way that other repellents do.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the EPA both say that DEET is safe when used properly, even for pregnant women. Our experts agree, though they recommend sticking to products that contain 15 percent to 30 percent DEET.

Wrist Bands

These wearable repellent devices are marketed as being safer, because you don't have to rub anything on your skin.

But Consumer Reports tested two wristband products and found both of them to be ineffective: When our testers stuck their arms into a cage full of mosquitoes wearing one of two wristbandsthe Coleman Naturals Insect Repellent Snap Band, or the Super Band Wristbandthe bugs started biting immediately.

Last May, the Federal Trade Comission fined another wristband maker, Viatek, $300,000 for deceptive marketing of its Mosquito Shield Bands. The commission says the company's claimsthat the bands protect against mosquitoeswere not backed up with scientific evidence.

Sonic Repellents

Ultrasonic devices claim to emit high frequency sounds that are too high for humans to hear, but are just the right frequency to drive pests, including mosquitoes, away. The trouble is, there's no proof that they work.

Last summer, the New York Attorney General's Office sent cease and desist letters to the makers of two specific brands of sonic repellentSTAR Ultrasonic Pest Repeller and iGear iGuard 2.0 Ultrasonic Insect Pest Repeller. "Numerous scientific studies show that [these devices] don't repel mosquitoes and may even attract mosquitoes," the attorney general said.

The Federal Trade Commission has also investigated several sonic repellent makers for false advertising.

Clip-On Fans

Clip-on repellents may seem like a great idea, because they allow you to avoid rubbing chemicals directly onto your skin. But the CDC says that wearable foggers "have not been adequately evaluated for their efficacy in preventing vector-borne diseases."

Our own testing of one such productthe Off! Clip-On repellent, a device that attaches to your waistband and then uses a fan to circulate the chemical metofluthrin into the air around youfound that it offered far less protection than our best-performing spray-on repellents.

Perhaps most important, Consumer Reports also has concerns about the safety of the Off! Clip-On because it uses the chemical metofluthrin, which is classified by the EPA as a neurotoxin and as a potential carcinogen.

Citronella Candles

Our tests of two area repellentscitronella candles and a battery-powered diffuser that blows out the chemical geraniolshowed they were ineffective at keeping mosquitoes away. An oscillating pedestal fan set on high worked much better: It cut mosquito landings by 45 to 65 percent, at least among people close to it.

But your best bet is doing things that discourage mosquitoes from breeding in the first place. Keep your yard free of containers filled with water, such as gutters, birdbaths, tires, wheelbarrows, wading pools, and swimming pool covers. Clear away ivy and decaying leaves, because mosquitoes like cool, dark places. And because ticks like tall grass and lots of shade, it's best to keep your lawn mowed and free of leaves and other debris (read our lawn mower buying guide).

For a list of products to try instead, see our insect repellent buyer's guide.





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Copyright  2006-2017 Consumer Reports, Inc.
The former Afghan warlord known as the butcher of Kabul called for peace during a speech before his supporters at Kabuls Ghazi Stadium on Friday, May 5, while hundreds of protesters staged a demonstration nearby.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar returned to Kabul to a presidential reception on Thursday, following a peace deal he signed with the government last fall. Hekmatyars group, Hezb-e Islami, was responsible for some of the deadliest violence in the capital during Afghanistans civil war in the 1990s.

On Friday, Hekmatyar said the country now needs peace and called on all insurgents, including the Taliban, to put down their arms. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Storyful
By Hamid Shalizi KABUL (Reuters) - Former Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar returned to Kabul on Thursday after two decades in hiding, calling for peace with Taliban insurgents and criticizing the Western-backed government, which he said was not working. Hekmatyar's comments in a ceremony at the presidential palace highlighted the complications likely to face President Ashraf Ghani, who signed a peace deal with Hekmatyar last year that brought his Hizb-i-Islami party into the government fold. Even before the ceremony, Hekmatyar's arrival in Kabul, the city his forces bombarded ruthlessly during the 1990s civil war, appeared aimed at reinforcing his status as a major new force on the political scene. A convoy of dozens of white pickup trucks carrying armed men and draped in Afghan flags and green banners made its way through the capital as it brought Hekmatyar from Jalalabad, the eastern city where he has been based for the past few days. Calling his former allies in the Afghan Taliban "brothers", Hekmatyar, a charismatic speaker whose address was frequently interrupted by shouts of acclamation, portrayed himself as a mediator able to bring peace. That, he said, would remove the justification for the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan. Ghani and the Americans have long pursued a negotiated peace with Taliban militants, but their efforts have come to little and the insurgency has gained ground in recent years, claiming thousands of lives each year. "The most important issue for me is to end this war and rescue the country from crisis," said Hekmatyar, calling on neighboring countries like Pakistan and Iran not to interfere. IMPORTANT STEP The Hizb-i-Islami leader said he had accepted the constitution drawn up following the U.S.-led campaign that ousted the Taliban in 2001, but wanted it amended and said a parliamentary system was not appropriate for Afghanistan. The national unity government led by Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, painstakingly brokered by Washington after the disputed election of 2014, was "not working", he said, and either Ghani or Abdullah should resign. "It is not suitable for the current condition of the country," he said, but added that he was not seeking any formal position for himself. "I am not here for partnership. I have no conditions, I don't want ministries." Hekmatyar also made a pointed call to politicians, many of whom keep their families abroad: "Bring your families back to Afghanistan. I have returned with my family." International partners including the United States have welcomed the agreement with Hekmatyar, seeing it was a possible precursor to a deal with the Taliban, the country's dominant militant group. The Taliban has shown no sign of accepting any arrangement with Hekmatyar, but Ghani thanked him for accepting the deal and said the Afghan people wanted peace and prosperity. "We have promised the nation that we will pave the way for the peace and today an important step has been taken," he said. But in Kabul, where he is widely known as "Rocketyar" after the thousands of bombs his forces fired into the city, Hekmatyar has been awaited with a mixture of anticipation and mistrust. Over recent days, posters of his face had been plastered all over the city, many immediately defaced by opponents. His arrival also risks fuelling ethnic divisions and complicating Ghani's already difficult relationship with partners including Abdullah, who is from Hekmatyar's civil war rivals, the old Northern Alliance. Abdullah's mainly Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party has been particularly suspicious of Hekmatyar, who draws most of his support from the Pashtuns, traditionally Afghanistan's strongest ethnic group. Human rights groups have also been strongly critical of the agreement, saying it reinforces a culture of impunity that allows political strongmen to get away with gross abuses. (Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell share a smooch while being honored with a double star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Relationship goals is an overused phrase nowadays, but in the case of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, it definitely applies.

On Thursday, the power couple received stars together on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the special joint ceremony, the Snatched actress, 71, and Fate of the Furious actor, 66, proved that after 33 years together  and nearly 50 years in showbiz  they are as crazy in love as ever.

The longtime couple  who have never married  shared a kiss at the podium and proudly showed off their stars. Can we just get married? Weve never had a celebration like this before, Hawn told the crowd, laughing.

Power couple: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in Hollywood. (Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Russell praised his partner during his speech.

Goldie, to you I owe my wonderful life, he said. Simply put, Goldie, I cherish you. All of the stars in the sky or the boulevard dont hold a candle to that. Theres no one else Id rather be next to than Goldie Hawn.

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell look at each other lovingly while being honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Hawn and Russell have a modern family and share four children: Boston Russell, from Kurts previous marriage to Season Hubley; Oliver and Kate Hudson, from Goldies previous marriage to Bill Hudson; and their son, Wyatt, whom they welcomed in 1986.

Boston, 37, and Kate, 38, were on hand during the ceremony.

Boston Russell, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, and Kate Hudson. (Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

In her speech, Kate joked about the fact that her mother and Kurt have never walked down the aisle.

I was slotted in to talk about my mother, but I have two parents, and theyre both here. I always thought Id be talking about them at a wedding or something, she said. But since a wedding doesnt seem to be in our near future, this seems to be my only opportunity.

Goldie Hawn with her daughter, Kate Hudson. (Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Kate continued, Their philosophy is family first. As their child, what really stands out is [that] somehow in their phenomenal careers, theyve maintained normalcy with all of their children. They never hid away their love for making movies. For me and my brother [Oliver], we grew up with artists. These shining stars standing next to me, their real legacy is what theyve instilled in us kids.

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Reese Witherspoon also paid homage to her idol, Goldie.

Reese Witherspoon honors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Every career choice, I think, Would Goldie approve of this? she told the crowd. Reese revealed that she accepted the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde because of Hawn.

She shattered all sorts of barriers for women, an emotional Reese continued. She changed the possibilities of what women can do in film. Thank you for making us laugh. She has lit up my life. Shes changed my life, and shes quite simply my idol. I love you, Goldie.

Kurt clearly loves her too.





Read more from Yahoo Celebrity:
Greg Holland is using his slider more often this season as he transitions from playing in the American League to the National League. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Colorado Rockies are sitting atop the National League West and seem primed to contend for the long haul. Theyve got the hitting, the fielding, the speed and, maybe most importantly, the dominant closer.

That last part should be the least surprising.

The fact is, Greg Holland has been embarrassing batters for a few years now. Yet coming off a season lost to Tommy John surgery, it was logical to wonder just how good Holland would be when he returned.

Through one month the results are pretty telling: 12 save opportunities, 12 saves.

Holland is leading the league in that column. Hes only had to throw 13 innings and has collected 15 strikeouts on seven hits and five walks in that span.

Heres where things get really wild. Holland has only given up two runs this year and both came in the same outing. Its numbers like those that force you to remember just how dominant he was in Kansas City, because thinking two runs per month would put Holland on track for a career year doesnt add up. In 2013, Holland appeared in 68 games, converted 47 of 50 save opportunities and gave up just nine earned runs all year. He struck out 103 batters while walking just 18. The next year was more of the same  65 appearances, 46 saves in 48 chances and 10 earned runs for the year.

It didnt matter when those numbers started to slip in 2015, the year the Royals won the World Series, because Holland was still surrounded by Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis.

But his arm blew out that September. Hollands career with the Royals was over. He was no longer a part of the leagues most intimidating trio of relievers. So who knew what the 31-year-old would be capable of when he was finally healthy again?

It turns out hes just as formidable in Colorado. And it goes back to his slider  the pitch that made him both famous and feared in the American League.

According to FanGraphs, Holland throws that pitch 56.4 percent of the time with the Rockies, which is actually a more than a 10-point bump from how often he used it in Kansas City.

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Maybe switching leagues has helped Holland fool hitters to start the year. Maybe the knowledge of having stellar talent behind him again has eased him back into the closer role.

Whatever the case, the Rockies are shutting down opponents in the ninth inning, which means Holland is silencing batters in the ninth inning.

Are you really surprised?

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:



     

Blake Schuster is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at blakeschuster@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who returned to Kabul Thursday after more than 20 years, is one of Afghanistan's most notorious warlords, chiefly remembered for his siege of the capital in the bloody civil war of the 1990s.

A former prime minister, Hekmatyar was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s and stands accused of killing thousands of people in Kabul from 1992 to 1996, a period when various mujahideen factions fought each other for supremacy and which ended when the Taliban emerged victorious.

Widely lambasted as the "butcher of Kabul", during his exile he was long believed to be living in hiding in Pakistan, though his group had claimed he was inside Afghanistan.

Following the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan and fall of the Taliban, the US State Department designated him a terrorist, accusing him of taking part in and supporting attacks by Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

But his Hezb-i-Islami militant group has been largely inactive in recent years, with its last big attack in Afghanistan, which killed 15 people -- including five Americans -- in 2013.

Many Afghans remember Hekmatyar for overseeing the massive shelling of Kabul in the early 1990s -- despite being named prime minister in 1992. His other nickname is "Rocketyar".

Now believed to be aged near 70, he is the latest among a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate into Afghan politics in the post-Taliban era.

His return comes seven months after he signed a landmark peace deal with Kabul, marking a symbolic victory for President Ashraf Ghani, who has struggled to revive peace talks with the more powerful Taliban.

As a mujahideen leader Hekmetyar enjoyed considerable support from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, but eventually Islamabad gave up its support and backed the Taliban movement instead. The Taliban forced Hekmatyar out of Kabul in 1996.

He was also linked to serious human rights abuses, including the forced disappearance of political opponents and an underground prison in Pakistan where torture was routine, according to Human Rights Watch.

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"Bolstered by US military aid funnelled through Pakistan in the 1980s, Hekmatyar extended his reach to include targeted assassinations of Afghan intellectuals in Pakistan and violent attacks on nongovernmental organisations that ran education and health programs for Afghan women in refugee camps in Pakistan," the group has written.

But he is far from alone in enjoying impunity -- no former Afghan warlord has been held to account. Indeed Abdul Rashid Dostum, another notorious former commander, has been the country's vice president since 2014.

Hezb-i-Islami has been trying to repair Hekmatyar's public image as it attempts to rebrand from a radical, misogynistic movement to a mainstream political force.

Prior to the September deal, the US State Department had said Washington was not involved in the talks but welcomed the potential truce with Hekmatyar.

In February the UN Security Council lifted its sanctions on Hekmatyar, theoretically opening the way for his return to Kabul and mainstream political life.
LA Philharmonic director speaks out against president amid political crisis

At least 36 have been killed during wave of unrest in beleaguered nation

Dudamel said in his Facebook post: I urgently call on the president and the government to rectify and listen to the voice of the Venezuelan people. Photograph: Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images

Throughout Venezuelas slow descent into its current political and humanitarian crisis, the countrys most famous musical ambassador has chosen to remain largely silent.

But following the death of a 17-year-old boy during a crackdown against anti-government protestors, the acclaimed conductor Gustavo Dudamel has denounced president Nicolas Maduro for the violent repression.

At least 36 people, including supporters and opponents of the government, have been killed in more than a month of unrest triggered by Maduros efforts to consolidate his rule.

I raise my voice against violence. I raise my voice against any form of repression. Nothing justifies bloodshed, Dudamel wrote in a Facebook post.

I urgently call on the president of the republic and the national government to rectify and listen to the voice of the Venezuelan people. Times cannot be defined by the blood of our people.

It is time to listen to the people: Enough is enough.

Dudamel, the director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, had until now largely avoided speaking out about the economic, social and political crisis rocking his country. He has served as a poster boy for the acclaimed music education program El Sistema, which is credited with taking music to hundreds of thousands of children, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Dudamels statement came a day after Armando Canizales, 17, was killed during clashes between protesters and the national guard.

Canizales, who played the violin in an El Sistema orchestra, died after being shot in the neck. Footage of the incident shows the youngster wearing a motorcycle helmet and gas mask, before a line of national guards in riot gear.

Dudamel does not mention Canizales in his statement, but the childs name is emblazoned across a black heading above the post.



Because El Sistema is largely funded by the Venezuelan government, many have accused Dudamel of being complacent with a government that is increasingly being perceived as authoritarian.

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His silence in the face of deteriorating conditions in Venezuela has earned him the anger and scorn of those who oppose Maduro. They accuse the conductor of failing to use his international prominence to push for change.

In his statement, Dudamel urged political leaders to stop the violence, but also directed much of his criticism at Maduros decision this week to convoke a constituent assembly to rewrite the countrys constitution.

Democracy cannot be built to fit the needs of a particular government or otherwise it would cease to be a democracy. Politics must be exercised from conscience and in the utmost respect of the constitution, adapting itself to a young society that, like the Venezuelans, has the right to reinvent itself through the healthy and unobjectionable democratic checks and balances, Dudamel wrote.

Dudamel also made reference to the intense shortages of food, medicine and basic goods which have made daily life a challenge for so many ordinary citizens. Venezuelans are desperate for their inalienable right to wellbeing and the satisfaction of their basic needs, he said.

Dudamels change of heart was welcomed by many, but others said his appeal to the beleaguered president was too little, too late.

Underneath the conductors post, a man claiming to be Canizaless uncle said that young people were the main victims of the countrys deeply polarized political crisis.

He died for selfish interests on both sides. A government that has systematically killed our children, and an opposition that encourages them and then abandons them, he wrote.

In recent weeks, protests have erupted nearly every day, often ending in fierce confrontations between the national guard and groups of young men wearing makeshift masks and swimming goggles, carrying home-made plywood shields.

During Wednesdays protest, one young protester was driven over by a water-cannon, while more than 150 wounded people were rushed to the local hospital for emergency treatment.
As Ivanka Trump's new book "Women Who Work" hit bookstores Tuesday, some women have viewed it as being full of class bias, which limit the first daughter's advice to wealthy and powerful women.

The book was written ahead of the 2016 presidential election which saw her father, Donald Trump become president. In it, she talked about how she was so caught up during the entire campaign she was forced to go into "survival mode" and not get her usual massages.

The statement drew wide criticism from working women who slammed the first daughter of writing about sacrificing massages when millions of women in the U.S. still struggle to earn a living, according to reports.

Read: Protest Erupts After Ivanka Defends Father At Women's Summit

Jennifer Senior, a writer for New York Magazine and The Times, describes the book as "strawberry milkshake of inspirational quotes" in her review of it. Senior also points out there is a class bias prevalent in the book as Ivanka Trump has profiled business leaders, who like her, are often daughters of New York's elite.

In another criticism, Fatima Goss Graves wrote in U.S. News and World Report about the "women Ivanka ignores" in her book by failing to address the barriers facing most women in the U.S. today. "No amount of personal drive and sunny approach will ease the life of a mother of two who is struggling to pay her rent and put food on the table," according to Goss Graves.

The first daughter's book also contains quotes and references to other women. Among them is something once said by the inspirational conservationist and primatologist, Jane Goodall, formerly Baroness Jane van Lawick-Goodall. "What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make," the quote reads.

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In a statement to CNNMoney, Goodall said she was not aware her quote would be used in Ivanka Trump's book and that the first daughter "is in a position to do much good or terrible harm," on the basis of Donald Trump's administration's views on natural resources that Goodall has fought to protect.

A passage from Ivanka's book has also been devoted to Reshma Saujani, the founder of the tech organization Girls Who Code, a national non-profit, that offers free summer courses and after-school programs to teach computing skills to girls. "She personally witnessed the gender gap in computing classes and set out to do something about it," the passage reads.

Saujani tweeted a response to Ivanka Trump, asking her not to use her "story" unless the first daughter was "going to stop being complicit" herself.

Saujani is among the many women who have been critical of Ivanka Trump's silence toward her father's policies, with many critics using the word "complicit" to label her.

In an interview with CBS News last month however, Ivanka Trump said: "I would say not to conflate lack of public denouncement with silence. I think there are multiple ways to have your voice heard."

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Ivanka Trumps new book quotes more than a dozen Hillary Clinton supporters, including outspoken critics of her father.

The book, released on Tuesday, offers career advice, tips on seeking personal fulfilment, and strategies for juggling work and motherhood.

In addition to passing on Ms Trump's own wisdom, Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success cites numerous celebrities and entrepreneurs who the president's daughter cites as having inspired her  but it neglects to mention that many of them campaigned against Donald Trump.

Among women leaders included in the book  which has received extremely poor reviews  are Oprah Winfrey, who endorsed Ms Clinton; actors Mindy Kaling  who tweeted support for Ms Clinton  and Cynthia Nixon, who donated to her campaign; Richard Branson, the founder and CEO of Virgin who said a Trump presidency would be a disaster during the election campaign; and billionaire investor Warren Buffett who endorsed Ms Clinton.

According to CNNMoney, which analysed the text, Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, is named no less than 11 times in the book. She endorsed Ms Clinton last June.

Jane Goodall, the animal behaviour expert and conservationist, is quoted on 'deciding what kind of difference you make'  she said in an interview with the Atlantic during the campaign: In many ways the performances of Donald Trump remind me of male chimpanzees and their dominance rituals.

The spiritual author Deepak Chopra is also mentioned, despite writing in a column for the Huffington Post last year that Mr Trump represents an aspect of the human psyche that we feel embarrassed and ashamed of.

Republican turncoat Colin Powell, the former secretary of state for President George W Bush who said in October he would vote for Ms Clinton, is featured in an anecdote, and Mr Bush's niece Lauren, a businesswoman, is quoted despite instagramming #ImWithHer last year.

Anne-Marie Slaughter, who worked as director of policy planning for Ms Clinton when she was secretary of state is mentioned, as is Nadine Burke Harris, a paediatrician who advised the Clinton Foundation.

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Reshma Saujani, the CEO of Girls Who Code, is also mentioned. She has already demanded Ivanka Trump retract her story from the newly released book unless she stops being complicit in her fathers harmful policies.

Ms Saujani, the founder of the non-profit organisation which seeks to support and increase the amount of women in computer science, urged the first daughter to remove her story in a tweet.

Ms Trump has also been targeted by protesters, campaigners, and even actress Scarlett Johannson for being complicit in the Trump administration, which many argue is actively damaging women's interests globally, not least by restricting access to abortion and contraception.

In a statement to CNNMoney on Tuesday, representatives for Ivanka Trump said the Women Who Work manuscript was submitted months before the election. They said it is not a political book.

Ivanka has always believed that no one person or party has a monopoly on good ideas, the statement said. When she was writing this book, she included quotes from many different thought leaders who've inspired Ivanka and helped inform her viewpoints over the years.
cameronabadi

Ivanka Trumps White House resume will soon include famine and the Syrian humanitarian crisis.

The first daughter scheduled an unannounced meeting Thursday at the White House with Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to explore ways to address some of the worlds worst humanitarian crises, including looming famines from Somalia to Yemen and aid blockades in Syria.

The collaboration by two of the administrations most influential women signaled an intent to raise the profile of American support for humanitarian relief around the world at a time when President Donald Trumps budget advisors have been calling for steep financial cuts in foreign aid.

The initiative provides a counterpoint to the America First approach advocated by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who has expressed little interest in promoting human rights around the world or making humanitarian relief an American foreign-policy priority. In fact, Tillerson has routinely declined to meet, or cancelled scheduled meetings, with the heads of U.N. relief agencies, including Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees.

But the effort by Haley and the younger Trump to enter the humanitarian field has rankled State Department staffers, who were not asked to provide input for the meeting between the two, who have virtually no experience in managing international relief efforts. Without the backing and involvement of the bureaucracy, which controls the U.S. relief budgets, the effort is unlikely to amount to no more than empty feel-good platitudes, officials say.

Aid advocates said while they welcome Haley and Trumps interest in humanitarian issues, they see the administration moving in a different direction, proposing deep cuts in humanitarian relief programs and foreign assistance. The State Department, meanwhile, has yet to fill its most senior humanitarian positions, including the director of USAID, and the top posts that deal with refugees, humanitarian affairs, and conflict resolution.

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There is a strange disconnect between what we see in the Trump budget proposal and the ad hoc action of U.S. Ambassador Haley and Trumps daughter, said Joel Charny, the director of the U.S. office of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Its good to hear there are people in the administration who believe in humanitarian response and believe in U.S. leadership on humanitarian response, Charny added. But the fact that it is taking place completely outside of a normal policy process led by agencies with humanitarian leaders who understand and believe in human action is troubling.

Ivanka Trumps interest in humanitarian issues comes at a time when the administration has faced withering criticism for failing to address famines or the threat of famine in Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, and Yemen.

In an effort to dramatize those needs, Haley is planning to take a trip to Jordan and Turkey in the near future to highlight the plight of millions of suffering Syrian civilians, including nearly half a million people forced to endure sieges by government and rebel forces. Ivanka Trump is not expected to tag along on the trip said one source. But they may take a trip together later in the fall to a humanitarian crisis zone.

Last week, Haley denounced the Syrian government for trying to starve its people into submission and Russia for covering up its crimes. The Syrian regime is engaged in a purposeful strategy of siege and surrender, she told the Security Council last Thursday during a meeting on the humanitarian crises in Syria. Civilians stranded inside are literally kept as prisoners until they die or kneel before the government. They are denied food. They are also denied life-saving medical supplies.

Trump recently reached out to Haley to brief her on the humanitarian crisis in Syria, according to a report Tuesday in the New York Times. The two promised to keep in regular touch, according to a source close to the White House.

Trumps daughter is a natural ally for Haley, who has been fending off efforts by the State Department to rein her in.

Last month, Haley excluded the State Department from a luncheon she organized with President Trump and the 14 other Security Council ambassadors.

One council diplomat said the arrangement appeared calculated to demonstrate the strength of her personal relationship with the president, who lunches regularly with the U.S. secretary of state.

The meeting, the diplomat said, appeared calculated for reinforcing the perception in all of our minds that she is very close to the president and that no one else in the foreign-policy space really matters and its all about the president and her.

She is positioning herself as the decision-maker, and she has expanded that quite broadly, so it is not just the U.N. aspect of Syria policy. I think she has got a bigger role on Syria foreign policy, the diplomat added.

Photo credit: MOLLY RILEY/Pool/Getty Images
If the Champions League were to adopt a slogan, a strong contender would be: Its not over until the Old Lady Wins.

Juventus have been nothing short of majestic in Europes premier domestic competition this season, reaching the semifinal stage with just two goals conceded.

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They casually swept away Barcelona in the previous round and, after getting the better of Monaco in their own back yard, Massimo Allegris team look likely to reach the final for the second time in three years.

This continental success comes on the back of a sixth consecutive year of dominating Serie A, virtually unopposed.

If you thought Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Real Madrid were the best team in Europe, you certainly need to bring Turins finest into the conversation.

Take a look at FC Yahoos latest video to see why Juventus are a European tour de force, and be sure to leave a comment below.

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Lena Dunhams night at the museum didnt end up the way she planned. The Girls alum, 30, went from the Met Gala to the hospital on Monday to be treated for complications from her recent endometriosis surgery. On Thursday, she posted a photo to thank her fans for their love & concern, and it showed her in her hospital bed while the Elizabeth Kennedy gown she wore on the red carpet was in a heap behind her.

Thank you for all the love & concern thats been pouring in since Tuesday, wrote the actress, producer, and writer, who has long shone a spotlight on her painful condition in which uterine-lining tissue grows outside of the uterus. Although Im much healthier than I was a year ago, complications arose from my most recent endometriosis surgery, referring to the operation she had in April to move her ovaries away from her rectal wall in hopes of stopping her chronic pain.

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With the House vote on the GOP health care bill taking place today (it passed), Dunhams post turned to politics and how the new bill will negatively impact many Americans.

When the healthcare of so many American women, especially our trans sisters, is at-risk- or already nonexistent- I am lucky to be in the position to seek help when Im in pain, she wrote. To those in that privileged spot- never forget that we are blessed and can pay it forward by supporting Planned Parenthood and LGBTQ clinics like Callen-Lorde with our [money] and [time].

Lena Dunham went from the Met Ball, where she is pictured here, to the hospital on Monday. (Photo: Sean/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Dunham continued, I also want to remind all the women suffering from chronic illness that we arent weak- quite the opposite, actually. We do our jobs with skill even when were struggling. We care [for our] families even when we can hardly care for ourselves. We serve major face on a red carpet when we feel like lying face down would be more appropriate.

Dunham went on to say shell always be proud of those Met Gala pics from Monday night, not just because I felt beautiful, surrounded by art and magic, hugging my best friend tightly. She said its because the photos are evidence that women contain steely multitudes.





She ended by mentioning Diana Falzone, a Fox News reporter who sued the network this week after they took her off air for disclosing her endometriosis. But theyre the ones who lost when they fired her, because everyone whos anyone knows that if you can battle chronic illness theres nothing you cant take on.

Dunham often gets frank about her endometriosis on her website Lenny Letter. Over the past year, shes had five surgeries, with the most recent one being last month. After, she declared herself endometriosis-free. However, she was rushed from the Met Gala, held at New York Citys Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, to a local hospital for treatment. She was later released and shes been recovering  and Instagramming  at home.

Read more from Yahoo Celebrity:
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Pamela Anderson, of all people, gave Americans a close-up look at Melania Trumps signature when she tweeted a thank-you note that Donald Trumps wife sent her.

The Baywatch actress and PETA spokeswoman sent Melania a faux-fur coat in February, after she went fur-free at the inauguration, despite her affinity for fur in the past. The White House has since announced that the first lady does not wear fur.

@flotus

Dear Melania,

Thank you for your sweet note.

It is heartwarming to see you

manage your position with such beauty and grace.

Pamela pic.twitter.com/h9mmdqxp0h  Pamela Anderson (@pamfoundation) May 3, 2017

A big win for animal rights activists like Anderson, sure, but it also gave us a rare look at Melanias signature. FLOTUS has stayed somewhat out of the spotlight, living at Trump Tower in New York City with the couples son, Barron, although she has hosted official events, such as the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, and is expected to move into the White House soon. (Barron has already been accepted at what the president calls a good school in the D.C. area.)

Handwriting analyst Sheila Kurtz, the founder and CEO of New York-based Graphology Consulting Group and operator of ScanMyHandwriting.com, has been studying the handwriting of President Trump since before his reality show The Apprentice went on the air. A quick look at Melanias signature on the Anderson note struck Kurtz as incredibly similar to President Trumps before he took office.

Hers looks just like his, which is absolutely amazing, Kurtz told Yahoo Celebrity.

But is it common for people who have a close relationship to begin writing in the same way? After all, we know thats true when it comes to picking up each others mannerisms or style of dressing.

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Kurtz said no.

This is stylized, noted Kurtz, who has worked with companies to screen prospective employees. Maybe they brought someone in to show her how to do it or [its] a stamp, but it is definitely stylized.

Public figures often use template signatures because they get a lot of mail.

The other message that Melanias official John Hancock sends, Kurtz said, is that shes private.

When someone writes, and you cant really read what theyre writing, they dont want you to read them at all, she explained.

Still, Kurtz, who typically analyzes a page of handwriting, rather than just a signature, detected a few things.

The first [letter], where it goes up into a point, thats pretty sharp and direct and gets right to it. The downstrokes  those two lines in her last name  those are very sharp, Kurtz said. She added that sharp, straight lines indicate that a person is a sharp thinker, a fast thinker, and picks up information quickly.

Kurtzs take on POTUS has long been that hes very analytical and sharp. Hes blunt  the obvious is all there.

Donald Trumps presidential signature has sharp points and noticeable height. (Photo: CNN)

Kurtz has noticed changes in Donald Trumps handwriting since he began campaigning, and then again when he took office and began signing public documents.

Its so blocked up with ink, she said of the presidents autograph of late. Picture your blood vessels being blocked and your blood wasnt allowed to flow  this is what it would look like. The sharpness is there, too. The sharp mind. All the letters have sharpness on top, but then they get clogged up. It has a lot to do with his expression, how he expresses himself. The tallness is the vanity.

She said her firm has evaluated the signatures on the Constitution, and no one writes with as much vanity as he has.

This is the tallest Ive seen his signature ever, Kurtz said. He has to be out there, he has to be big, he has to be powerful, but hes clogged up.

And we just thought he had been tweeting a lot





Read more from Yahoo Celebrity:
The World Economic Forum estimated that up to 5.1 million jobs could be displaced by 2020.

Microsofts CTO for Data, Raghu Ramakrishnan, says hes not too concerned about the artificial intelligence revolution thats supposed to displace millions of jobs over the next few years.

If I take the employment side of it, Im not even sure its on top of my list of things to worry about, Ramakrishnan told Yahoo Finance at this weeks tech-focused Collision conference in New Orleans.

Regardless of his attitude, some critics are extremely worried, fearing technology will come for many jobs that workers currently rely upon. The World Economic Forum released a report in January 2016 that predicts AI, machine learning, and other nascent technologies will spur a so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution that replaces 5.1 million jobs by 2020. According to the report, jobs across every industry and every geographical region in 15 of the worlds largest economies  Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, the UK and the US, among others  will be affected.

Microsoft CTO for Data Ragu Ramakrishnan. Source: Microsoft

Ramakrishnan, who runs Microsofts (MSFT) team for cloud, data management and analytics services, pointed to the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries to back up his optimistic attitude despite these recent reports of a robot revolution.

By comparison, on a percentage basis, the impact of that is vastly greater than what were talking about now, and if you look at the history of it, yeah, I think the world ultimately came out ahead, Ramakrishnan explained.

For every single thing you displace, the nature of the beast is, some other opportunity opens up, and it is beyond me to think about all the common permutational aspects and combinations. But realistically, we are in a far better place than we were 200 years ago or 2,000 years ago. Its been these episodic functions  something hugely disruptive  that settle, and typically, they settle on a higher platform.

How AI helps (not hurts)

Ramakrishnan joins a chorus of high-profile members of the tech community who believe the AI revolution will be a force for good even if it upends some of the methods and processes we presently use to get things done. Facebook CTO Mike Schroepfer told Yahoo Finance this January at CES that the focus by some critics on job displacement overlooks the larger benefits AI and other technologies. As one example, he pointed to AI reducing the number of car accidents that happen every year thanks to intelligent auto-breaking systems.

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Likewise, Ramakrishnan suggests newer technologies can benefit workers by connecting them to users in new ways.

Thats what I think is going to happen, Ramakrishnan added. Were talking about, oh, my god, if technology displaces a number of people, who are roofless, whats going to happen? Well, there will be a Handyman.com that will create a new way of connecting for them, that will create a pathway into jobs that were previously not economically harvestable. Unexpected, new things like these, will help make this transition easier than some might think.



JP Mangalindan is a senior correspondent for Yahoo Finance covering the intersection of tech and business. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

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Myanmar's plans to grow the country's desperately needed but polluting coal-fired power plants could kill more than a quarter of a million people in the coming decades, environmentalists said Thursday.

The country's air is among the dirtiest in the world and pollution is only expected to worsen as the economy opens up after decades of isolation under the former junta.

A new study by Harvard University and Greenpeace warned that the government's plans to expand its current network of two coal-fired plants to 10 could have a major human toll.

Six of its cities already have higher counts of dangerous microscopic particles known as PM10 than China's famously smog-filled capital Beijing, according to 2016 data from the World Health Organization.

"These plans do not take into account the human health costs when making choices about the country's energy future," Lauri Millyvirta, from Greenpeace, said.

The extra pollution would likely cause more than 7,000 premature deaths a year, totalling 280,000 over the 40-year operating life of the eight new planned plants and the two operating ones, it predicted.

Half would be in Myanmar and the rest in neighbouring countries, mainly Thailand and China but also other parts of Southeast Asia, the study found.

The pollution would likely increase the risk of heart attacks, breathing problems and lung infections.

Myanmar has made coal-fired plants a cornerstone of a government plan to provide electricity to its entire population of more than 50 million people by 2030.

Less than a third of people have regular access to electricity through the country's dilapidated power grid, which frequently breaks down, and a lack of power is a major issue for attracting foreign investors.

While the country has abundant reserves of gas off its shores in the Andaman Sea, the vast majority is exported, mainly to Thailand and China.

Plans to build the $3.6 billion Myitsone hydroelectric dam on the mouth of Myanmar's Irrawaddy river, which would sell some 90 percent of its power to China, have also faced strong public opposition.
By Latifah Muhammad

Nick Cannons childhood friend was the sole fatality of a recent mass shooting in San Diego. A gunman opened fire at a pool party in the upscale La Jolla neighborhood Sunday (April 30) killing 35-year-old Monique Clark, and injuring seven others.

The shooter, 49-year-old, Peter Selis, randomly targeted the group, because he was distraught over a recent breakup, reports the Associated Press.

Clark, a mother of three, had only been at the party for 20 minutes before she was shot.

My heart hurts with great sadness tonight, Cannon captioned a childhood photo alongside Clark. I just learned that the one life lost in the senseless and tragic mass shooting in San Diego was my childhood friend, who was more like family, Miss Monique Clark. Such a beautiful spirit with an infectious smile.

Cannon added that he had nothing but wonderful memories of Clark who he called an angel.

Tears cant express the pain and shock, he continued. A mother of three, a sister, a daughter, a cousin, a friend and a Queen Rest in Paradise.

Although most of the victims were black and Latino and Selis was white, authorities dont believe race had anything to do with the violence. Officers arrived at the complex as Selis appeared to be reloading his weapon. He was shot and killed after pointing his gun at police.

These victims were just in his vicinity when he committed this terrible tragedy, San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman told the media. What started as a celebration of a friends birthday party turned into a tragedy of just epic proportion for all those in attendance.

Selis walked into a 50th birthday party at the La Jolla Crossroads complex at around 6 p.m. Sunday. Guests assumed he had been invited to the party when he laid down on a lounge chair by the pool, before pulling a gun out of his waistband and shooting the party host twice in the torso.

He called his ex-girlfriend after shooting two people, and eventually hung up after two more shots were heard. Selis stayed on the phone talking to his ex-girlfriend as he continued to fire his weapon, Zimmerman explained. It is apparent that Selis wanted his ex-girlfriend to listen in as he carried out his rampage.

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Clarks father launched a GoFundMe account to raise money for her funeral, and has already raised over $30,000.

The other shooting victims are expected to make full recoveries.

See Cannons post below.

This post Nick Cannon Pays Tribute To Childhood Friend Killed In San Diego Mass Shooting first appeared on Vibe.
Joe Del Bosque stands in his almond orchard in Firebaugh, Calif. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

FIREBAUGH, Calif.  There were moments when Joe Del Bosque wondered if his farm could survive.

For six long years, Del Bosque, the son of migrant farmworkers who has worked the land his entire life, watched as his 2,000-acre farm here in Californias Central Valley slowly dried up, the victim of a near-biblical drought that many likened to a modern version of the Dust Bowl, when every single drop of water was a precious commodity.

It was here on one of Del Bosques dusty, barren cantaloupe fields that President Barack Obama strolled on a Friday afternoon three years ago to illustrate his call for action on climate change. Del Bosque had invited the president in the hopes he might wade into the tricky politics of Californias water allocation rules to ease environmental regulations, giving farmers more access to what little water the state did have. It didnt happen, but the visit made Del Bosque the face of a drought that threatened to destroy farming in a region that provides half the nations fruit and vegetables.

Then something miraculous happened. Late last year, all over California, it began to rain, and in the Sierra Nevada, it began to snow  historic storms that replenished streams and reservoirs that supply water for much of the state. Suddenly, the Central Valley was green and lush, the soil fertile and fully ready for planting in a way that farmers hadnt experienced since 2011. But with the passing of one crisis came another worry.

Now we have the water we need, Del Bosque said on a recent afternoon as he walked a reporter through a melon field he was getting ready to plant. But now I dont know if we have the people we need to pick the crops.

President Trumps pledge to crack down on illegal immigration has sent chills through the Central Valley, where farmers like Del Bosque rely heavily on migrant farm labor to plant, tend and pick their crops. Though theres no complete tally, a recent Department of Agriculture study estimated that nearly 60 percent of Californias farm laborers are unauthorized to work in the U.S.  a number that has steadily increased over the years as farmers have struggled to find those willing to do the jobs.

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Joe Del Bosque stands on a field where he will plant melons this spring in Firebaugh, Calif. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

But the farm labor force got smaller and more competitive in recent years as the Obama administration stepped up the pace of deportations for those in the country illegally. And Trumps rhetoric and more frequent immigration raids in recent months, including in California, has scared some migrant workers into staying away from the fields in the Central Valley  fearful they could be arrested and deported for doing jobs that farmers say are crucial to producing the food that feeds much of the nation.

At Del Bosques farm, where he is harvesting asparagus and planting his cantaloupes, he has struggled to fully staff his crews in recent weeks. Though unemployment is high across the Central Valley and the job pays at least minimum wage, farm labor is grueling work that most Americans are unwilling to do. He usually hires temporary workers who live in nearby towns like Mendota, a small farming community that for generations has been a magnet for Mexican laborers who come to California to work the fields to support their families back home. But many of the workers Del Bosque has hired before have vanished, forcing him to expand his search to other parts of the region, as far as an hour away.

Ten years ago, people would just show up and ask for work. We never had any trouble finding people. We never had to worry, Del Bosque said. But now we are struggling. Theres not enough people, and theres lots of competition, not just from farmers here but from people on the coast like Salinas and Watsonville, who are coming over to try and hire our workers because they cant find people there.

Its the same story all over the valley. Citrus producers, who often handpick their fruit to prevent bruising, have struggled to find workers amid the springs harvest. Local officials say crops like strawberries and blueberries may be down this year  not because of lack of land or demand, but because farmers cant find people to tend them. And that could drive up the cost of food.

The labor shortage has prompted mixed feelings among farmers in the valley, who overwhelmingly backed Trump in November. In a state that is a bright bastion of blue, the Central Valley largely went for Trump. He easily carried Kern, Kings and Tulare counties  three of Californias most agricultural counties.

A woman walks near a street mural in Mendota, Calif. The rural community has long been the base for migrant farm laborers who come to work in the Central Valley, but farmers say there is a labor shortage this year amid Trumps immigration threats. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

Farmers here were openly torn about the campaign. More Republican and conservative than the electorate in other parts of the state, many farmers couldnt stomach the idea of voting for Hillary Clinton. But they were also conflicted about Trumps tough rhetoric on immigration and his promises to roll back trade deals, a move that could dramatically hurt their export markets.

But Trump ultimately won over many farmers. In his two visits to the region last year, the New York businessman vowed to do what Obama did not  to directly intervene in Californias water policies for the benefit of agriculture (at the expense, environmentalists say, of the ecology of a good part of the state). But the crucial turning point came at a fundraiser in Tulare last August, where those in attendance say he indicated to a crowd of mostly farmers that he would be open to the idea of a worker program for farm laborers in the country illegally.

That was a direct contradiction to what Trump had argued publicly  including his position that he would deport all illegal immigrants in the country before considering any kind of worker program, a move farmers say would kill agriculture in California. But like many of his supporters, farmers here believed Trump in office would be more moderate on the issue than his campaign rhetoric suggested.

But in his first months in the White House, Trump has given no indication of compromise on the issue, doubling down on his promise to deport undocumented immigrants. Just days after taking office he signed an executive order decreeing that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents should fully apply federal immigration laws already on the books  an order that many have interpreted as giving ICE newfound freedom to go after illegal immigrants.

After a series of high-profile raids in California, Texas and New York, Trump bragged that his administration has been focused on deporting the bad guys, including hardened criminals and drug dealers. But a recent Washington Post report found that most of those apprehended had traffic violations or no criminal record at all  fueling fears here that even illegal immigrants trying to live and work quietly could be at risk for arrest.

The rhetoric and the new policy are upsetting farmers here who backed Trump. More than a dozen who publicly supported the candidate, including several who attended his Tulare fundraiser, declined to comment on the presidents immigration policies  including one who said publicly disagreeing with Trump and his team wouldnt help our cause.

Still, many point to one sign of hope: Trumps close relationship with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who represents Bakersfield. In February, McCarthy, who is said to speak regularly with Trump and is close to the presidents son-in-law and top adviser, Jared Kushner, told the New York Times that some sort of guest workers program was essential to immigration reform.

President Barack Obama walks with farmers Joe Del Bosque and Maria Del Bosque as he tours a farm affected by drought in Los Banos, Calif., on Feb. 14, 2014. California Gov. Jerry Brown is at left. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

For Del Bosque, Trump presents a dilemma. In recent years, Del Bosque has made it a goal to talk to as many people as possible about the importance of Californias agriculture industry and the policies that affect farmers like him. Obamas 2014 visit was the result of a Twitter message he sent to the president, which caught the eye of White House staffers. But Del Bosque, who is Mexican-American, has mixed feelings about hosting Trump, given the presidents rhetoric on immigration.

In his office overlooking an almond orchard in bloom, Del Bosque cited his laborers, who, like his parents, came here to work hard and support their families. His wife of more than 40 years, Maria Gloria, who helps him run the farm, came to the U.S. illegally with her parents to work in the fields. What would it say to them if he were to host a man who has regularly demeaned people like them?

These people look up to me. They know me as someone who fights, fights for water, fights for the farm, he said. Our people feel like we protect them, and thats true. We do.

Last summer, Del Bosque was invited to serve on an agricultural advisory board for Trump. But he turned down the opportunity to meet with the GOP nominee, in part out of loyalty to his workers. It wasnt about political allegiance. In November, he didnt vote for Clinton or Trump because he felt neither one represented his interests. I threw my vote away, which in California doesnt mean anything because Hillary was going to win anyway, he said.

But now that Trump has taken office, Del Bosque is considering sending an invitation to the president to come to his farm  maybe even by Twitter, as he did with Obama. Though he doesnt agree with Trump and is scared of the impact his policies could have on his farm and his workers, he thinks the president should see a working farm up close  including the undocumented Mexicans who toil in the fields here.

Does he know where his food comes from? Has he ever been to a farm? Del Bosque asked. I dont think he has any idea how it works. And he needs to.

A sign advocating Donald Trumps presidential campaign near an almond orchard in Firebaugh, Calif. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

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By Yasmeen Abutaleb and Robin Respaut FRANKFORT, Ky./SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - For nearly three years, Democrats and former President Barack Obama pointed to Kentucky as one of the Affordable Care Acts biggest success stories. A poor, rural state that straddles the North and South, Kentucky was an early adopter of the healthcare law commonly known as Obamacare and saw one of the countrys largest drops in the uninsured rate. Now Kentucky is poised for a new distinction: to be the first state to save money by reducing the number of people on Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor and disabled and a central tenet of Obamacare. If successful, Kentucky would provide a roadmap for other states who are worried about paying an increasing share for people on Medicaid. A new Republican health law that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, along with state initiatives like Kentucky's, would dramatically change the national healthcare system and cut more than $800 billion from Medicaid over the next 10 years. The Republican bill still faces a long road ahead in the U.S. Senate and its final passage is far from assured, making initiatives like Kentucky's all the more important. Kentucky has proposed to lessen its financial burden before it grows by reducing the number of residents on Medicaid by nearly 86,000 within five years, saving more than $330 million in the process. (For a graphic click http://tmsnrt.rs/2on0HVK) Kentucky's plan also calls for new work requirements for able-bodied adults to get insurance. Plus, it would establish new fees for all members based on income and lock out some people who miss a payment or fail to re-enroll. By following these proposed rules, Kentucky believes Medicaid enrollees will over time graduate from Medicaid to private and employer insurance plans. One of the most remarkable lies that has perpetrated in recent years in the healthcare community in America is that expanded Medicaid was working well in Kentucky, Republican Governor Matt Bevin, who is leading the state effort, told Reuters from the governors mansion in Frankfort, Kentucky. That view is in line with President Donald Trumps administration, which has criticized Obamacares Medicaid expansion and urged states to pursue similar Medicaid reforms to what Kentucky is now attempting. "If Kentucky is successful, youll see this spread through the more conservative-leaning states. Its possible even a Democratic blue state could do it, said George Huang, director and senior municipal healthcare research analyst at Wells Fargo Securities. Its the flexibility that some states are seeking. INSURING THE POOR AT A PRICE Kentucky, a state Trump won handily last November, has been devastated by the loss of coal mining jobs and an opioid epidemic. The state sits near the bottom of health rankings for smoking rates, cancer deaths and diabetes. To me, morally, it was the right thing to expand Medicaid, but I had a responsibility to not to do something that would bankrupt the state, said former Governor Steve Beshear, a Democrat, referring to the increased costs of caring for a larger population with Medicaid insurance. More than 30 states, about a dozen of which are led by Republican governors, expanded Medicaid under Obamacare. In Kentucky, more than 400,000 people gained health insurance through the program, the highest growth rate of Medicaid coverage of any state. Beshear commissioned independent studies by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte on the financial and health impacts of expanding Medicaid. Both studies found health and economic gains. Deloitte reported that 90,000 newly covered residents received cholesterol screening and 80,000 got preventative dental care within a year. It estimated Kentucky would see an economic boost of $30 billion and 40,000 new jobs by 2021. Beshears successor, Republican Governor Bevin, was elected in 2015 on a promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law on the view that thousands of Kentuckians had unaffordable premiums and only one health insurer to choose from. He dismissed the projections in the Beshear-commissioned studies as preposterous, and says the states share of expanded Medicaid - $74 million in 2017 and totaling $1.2 billion over five years - was too expensive and unsustainable. We want this to be a helping hand for people at a time when they need it, but then be able to return to the commercial marketplace, Bevin said. Last year, Bevin submitted the waiver to restrict Medicaid eligibility by requiring enrollees to work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week and to pay monthly premiums based on income. He's still awaiting approval. Bevin said he has spoken with several governors about the waiver and has had extensive conversations with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price about fast-tracking the approval process in order for other states to quickly adopt similar programs. Such conversations are occurring across the country in response to encouragement from the new administration to reform state Medicaid programs, said Alleigh Marre, a Health and Human Services spokeswoman. Louisiana and Wisconsin are considering work requirements for Medicaid enrollees. The Obama administration rejected previous attempts by other states, including Ohio and Arizona, to require work programs and monthly premiums for Medicaid, historically a free program for those eligible. "Every state is watching this to see what happens, said Bevin of Kentuckys waiver. Its the first one in the queue. SIGNS POINT TO YES FOR KENTUCKY WAIVER The odds look good for Kentucky to get the waiver in the coming months, based on the track records of health officials that Trump named after his inauguration. Seema Verma, the new head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which approves Medicaid waivers, said during congressional testimony that the agency will usher in a new era of state flexibility and leadership. Verma helped craft Kentuckys waiver, but said she will recuse herself from the approval process to avoid conflicts of interest. She and Tom Price wrote a letter to governors in March encouraging Medicaid reforms that more closely resemble commercial insurance plans. In the letter, they suggested features such as premium fees, health savings accounts, and emergency room co-payments that encourage the use of primary care. CMS declined to comment on Kentuckys waiver and said it does not speculate on the process while ongoing. Under federal law, waivers must promote Medicaids objective of delivering healthcare services to vulnerable populations who cannot otherwise afford them. Waivers have never been used to cut people from the rolls, said Emily Parento, associate professor at the University of the Pacifics law school and the former executive director of Kentuckys Office of Health Policy. But Vermas office is encouraging changes to Medicaid that make the government program look more like private insurance policies - goals that are similar to Bevins in Kentucky. I think what will happen is that other states will look at it and go, We want everything they got, Bevin said. (This story has been refiled to fix spelling in paragraph 3.) (Reporting by Yasmeen Abutaleb in Kentucky and Robin Respaut in San Francisco; Editing by Caroline Humer and Edward Tobin)
Paris Jackson is 19 years old and ready to claim her birthright: superstardom. Michael Jacksons only daughter has reportedly inked a seven-figure spokesmodel deal with Calvin Klein, so get ready to see the eldest Jackson on a billboard near you.

This deal is to make Paris the new face and body of Calvin Klein, a source told Page Six. The deal  which is just about to be signed  is huge, worth seven figures, many millions. Expect to see Paris in huge ad campaigns and on many red carpets in Calvin Klein.

The deal was likely settled in time for Mondays Met Gala, which Jackson attended with Calvin Klein chief creative officer Raf Simons. In a preview of whats to come, Jackson wore a Calvin Klein gown in simple black with pockets and a tasteful cutout.

mr noodle A post shared by Paris-Michael K. Jackson (@parisjackson) on May 1, 2017 at 9:11pm PDT

Jackson is carving out a place for herself in the spotlight, and shes not limiting herself to one industry. After signing with IMG Models and reportedly shooting for Vogue Australia earlier this week, shes also making her feature film debut. Shes signed on to play an edgy 20-year-old in an unnamed comedic thriller for Amazon co-starring David Oyelowo. Between posing for Calvin Klein as an edgy IRL teen and showing up onscreen as that edgy 20-year-old, Jackson has found her niche.

If Jackson can already be considered an it girl, she allegedly has a team of 20 to thank for engineering her move into the spotlight. Page Six reports shes working with Arnold Stiefel, the talent manager behind old Hollywood powerhouses like Rod Stewart and Bette Midler. After being told, Youre very talented, youre very beautiful. I will make you famous, Arnold is one of the only people that has the knowledge and the power to do it, says a source.

Mission accomplished.

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Washington (AFP) - The Pentagon will ask the White House next week to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan to break a deadlocked fight with the Taliban, a senior official said Thursday.

After a steady downsizing of US troop numbers since 2011, US military commanders say they need to strengthen the numbers on the ground to better support Afghan forces and help retake territory lost to the Taliban.

According to US media, the Pentagon will ask for 3,000 to 5,000 more soldiers, mainly to be assigned to advise and train Afghan military and police.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 today, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies, also now in an advisory capacity.

But that is a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago, and the Afghan military has struggled to fill the void amid an unrelenting Taliban insurgency.

"I expect that these proposals will go to the president within the next week," said Theresa Whelan, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

The intent is "to move beyond the stalemate and also to recognize that Afghanistan is a very important partner for the United States in a very tricky region."

NATO officially ended its combat operations against the Taliban at the end of 2014, and its current mission is to support Afghan troops in training and advice.

Last year, with the Kabul government struggling to hold ground against the Taliban, former president Barack Obama authorized US air strikes against the Taliban in limited cases, to ensure Afghan forces on the ground would have a "strategic advantage."

The new Trump administration could go beyond that to permit more direct engagement between US forces and the Taliban, General Raymond Thomas, commander of the US Special Operations Command, told the same hearing Thursday.

"Changes to the rules of engagement are being considered," he said.
Warsaw (AFP) - Poland is ready to take a dispute with the European Union over logging in an ancient forest to the bloc's highest court, Environment Minister Jan Szyszko said Friday.

The European Commission last week sent a "final warning" to Warsaw saying it could take legal action to halt large-scale logging in the UNESCO World Heritage forest of Bialowieza on the border with Belarus.

"We are not afraid to take this dispute to the EU Court of Justice," said Szyszko, cited by the Polish PAP news agency.

"We are simply defending environmental law based on Natura 2000."

One of the last large ancient forests in Europe, Bialowieza belongs to the EU's Natura 2000 network of protected areas.

"I think it would be truly indispensable to put an end to this dispute at the EU Court of Justice... in case the information we have does not manage to convince the (European) Commission," said Szyszko.

Europe's executive branch gave Polish authorities one month rather than the usual two to address its concerns about the forest or face being summoned by the EU's top court, citing the "urgency of the situation".

The EU is concerned the logging will cause irreparable loss of biodiversity.

Poland defends the wood-cutting, calling it "protective logging" to stop an insect infestation, preserve road traffic and fight forest fire risks.

"In the forest of Bialowieza, we are defending the law, we are acting to protect habitats. So that they can truly exist. These habitats call for human action, that is, active protection," said Szyszko.
Buckingham Palaces announcement that Prince Philip is retiring in the autumn is a masterclass in triggering media spectacle. Media industries around the world instantly went into meltdown over what is actually a fairly minor revelation: a 96-year-old man will retire. But following the event as it unfolded on May 4 was deeply revealing of the way in which the British monarchy operates in the 21st century  and the power it still holds over popular opinion.

News started to break around 3am that all of the Queens staff had been asked to travel to London for an emergency meeting. Within minutes, rumors were flying on social media that either the Queen or Prince Philip had died. These were later picked up by The Sun, who ran with the story before having confirmation.

Speculation continued on Twitter on the #BuckinghamPalace hashtag, while TV and radio reports remained silent. Finally, at 10am, Buckingham Palace released a press announcement stating Prince Philips intention to retire in the autumn. That was immediately released as breaking news in all major newspapers. The BBC News channel ran non-stop coverage of the event for the next two hours.

The embargo on the announcement triggered a whirlwind of anticipation; because it was so secretive, people assumed something major had happened. The monarchy is perhaps one of the only institutions that doesnt abide by the 24-hour news cycle. As leaked plans for the Queens death have revealed, a newsflash will go out to the Press Association at the exact moment a footman in mourning clothes pins a notice to the gates of Buckingham Palace. The implication here is that this news is so momentous, a breaking news tweet would be discourteous.

What happened with the announcement of Philips retirement is the exact same sentiment: Buckingham Palace manipulated the news cycle by making everyone wait until it was ready to announce it. The monarchy doesnt need to comply with the norms of news in the 21st century because its the monarchy. Its above the necessity of timing news to fit with news cycles. News cycles come to it.

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However, this is definitely not to say that the monarchy is above the news cycle itself. It has an experienced PR team, most of whom have worked in various media corporations before. This demonstrates a recognition of the importance of the media for running an institution successfully.

philip

Photo: Getty Images

The people working in Buckingham Palace will know exactly how to package royal news in digestible ways. Their manipulation of the news media in this instance reveals that they know how to whip up a frenzy of speculation  and they know how to create a media spectacle which could easily have continued for hours. Buckingham Palace has shaped the story exactly as it wanted.

Smooth operators

The fact that mere rumors became a media spectacle is also revealing of how the public sees the monarchy. People awaiting the announcement and praying it wasnt a death demonstrates how British attitudes towards the monarchy are so much more complicated than them just being good for tourism. There are deep, emotional and effective connections which operate in intimate ways.

We saw this come into play just a few days before the Prince Philip announcement, when Kensington Palace released a new photograph of Princess Charlotte for her second birthday. What is ostensibly a nice picture of a little girl was published on most major news sites, and led to John Lewis selling out of the cardigan she was wearing in the image within two days of its release.

We can also see it in the way republican Jeremy Corbyn is treated by the mainstream media when he demonstrates the slightest sniff of anti-monarchy sentiment. People who actively oppose the monarchy in a political context are, for the most part, marginalized by the establishment. Even though people demonstrated annoyance once the Prince Philip news turned out to be minor, it doesnt alter the frenzy which was taking place minutes earlier over the possibility someone had died. What people say and how they feel and act is, in this case, very different.

This event has demonstrated, perceptibly, the ways in which the monarchy still retains the power to manipulate both news media cycles and public opinion. The fact the Royal family managed to embargo a news story for hours, with most mainstream media sources not even speculating on what was happening, shows a notable level of influence and power, as does the usual lack in BBC coverage of any anti-monarchy commentary. Yes, it turned out to be a minor news story, but what it revealed about royal media power is fascinating.

Laura Clancy, PhD Candidate, Lancaster University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

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Photo: The Conversation

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Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh has decided to step down from his royal duties this autumn, the Buckingham Palace announced Thursday. The decision was made by the Duke of Edinburgh himself and has been fully supported by Queen Elizabeth II, a palace spokesman confirmed.

In his absence, the queen "will continue to carry out a full program of official engagements," the palace said.

Prince Philip, who turns 96 in June, will continue to attend previously scheduled engagements till August but wont take up any new invitations.

Philip has supported his wife as her consort from the time she was crowned and had new duties to perform. He accompanied her to ceremonies like the State Opening of Parliament in various countries, state dinners, and tours abroad.

He also served as Chairman of the Coronation Commission when his wife was crowned and he was the first member of the royal family to fly in a helicopter to visit the troops that were taking part in the ceremony. During the service, Philip was not crowned however, he knelt before Elizabeth and held her hands in his own as he swore to be her "liege man of life and limb."

Philip has been a patron of over 780 organizations, particularly focused on education, sport, industry, and environment. He served as President of the National Playing Fields Association (now known as Fields in Trust) for 64 years, from 1947 till 2013 until his grandson, Prince William took over the position that year.

He was a patron of The Work Foundation, was President of the International Equestrian Federation from 1964 to 1986, and has served as Chancellor of the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Salford, and Wales.

He was U.K. President of the World Wildlife Fund from 1961 to 1982, International President from 1981, and President Emeritus from 1996 till now.

The palace also announced he will not take part in engagements regarding these organizations: The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron, President or a member of over 780 organizations, with which he will continue to be associated, although he will no longer play an active role by attending engagements.

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In the statement, the spokesman said the duke "may still choose to attend certain public events from time to time.

In the early hours Thursday, the queen ordered a highly unusual meeting in London for staff members from royal residences across the country. They were to be addressed by the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior officer of the Royal Household, as well as Her Majesty's right-hand man, Private Secretary Sir Christopher Geidt, according to various reports.

This led to wide speculation online the announcement might be related to the Dukes death. However, the Buckingham Palace press office denied those rumors by telling 1News in Auckland: "You could safely assume the Queen and Prince Philip are not dead."

According to a 2015 article in the Daily Beast, it was explained in detail what the procedure would be if Prince Philip died. After his death, his title would be inherited by his son Prince Edward. However, the Dukes death would have no other constitutional implications.

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The Russian intervention in Syria has been, by most accounts, a success. And Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to do everything he can to keep it that way.

Beginning with an air campaign on behalf of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in September 2015, Russian forces have not only stopped regime losses but also helped Damascus retake Aleppo city in December 2016. Now with the opposition stronghold under government control and Assads hold on power no longer in question, Moscow has said it plans to reduce its presence in the country. But while some Russian forces did initially depart in early January, Moscow is actually expanding its role in Syria. Russian officials announced major expansions to Russian military bases in the country while the number of private contractors fighting on the Kremlins behalf also swelled.

Most interestingly, however, Putin deployed an unprecedented Russian weapon to Syria: several units of Chechen and Ingush commandos hailing from Russias restive North Caucasus region.

Until recently, regular Russian forces in Syria were largely limited to being a support crew for aircraft conducting strikes across the country. Apart from a few notable exceptions  artillery and special forces deployments in Hama province and military advisors alongside Syrian troops in Latakia  Moscows ground game in Syria has been minimal. But the ongoing deployment of the Chechen and Ingush brigades marks a strategic shift for the Kremlin: Russia now has its own elite ground personnel, drawn from its Sunni Muslim population, placed across Syria. This growing presence allows the Kremlin to have a greater role in shaping events on the ground as it digs in for the long term. Such forces could prove vital in curtailing any action taken by the Assad regime that would undermine Moscows wider interests in the Middle East while offering a highly effective method for the Kremlin to project power at a reduced political cost.

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The exact role and size of the Kremlins new brigades are still uncertain. Initial open-source reports on the ground placed the number of Chechens deployed in December at around 500, while some estimates suggested a total of 300-400. The number of Ingush is reportedly slightly smaller, at roughly 300. Despite their designation as military police, the units are reportedly drawn from elite Spetnaz formations within the Chechen armed forces and are being employed in a role far beyond the simple rear-area guard duty thats typical of such units: manning checkpoints, distributing aid, guarding bases, and even coordinating the defense of pro-government strongholds with regime forces.

I think this represents Moscows grudging recognition that its stuck in a quagmire, says Mark Galeotti, a senior researcher at the Institute of International Relations in Prague. In their hybrid civil-military role, capable of a wide range of operations, these brigades have become a go-to deployment for the Kremlin as it seeks to assert itself in various theaters abroad. Chechen fighters have appeared alongside pro-separatist Russian volunteers in eastern Ukraine, and several battalions of Chechen servicemen also entered Georgia during its brief war with Russia in August 2008, occupying the town of Gori. At least some of the Chechen troops deployed in Syria have combat experience in eastern Ukraine, with the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reporting that one of the Chechen commanders is Apti Bolotkhanov, who spent substantial time fighting alongside pro-Russian forces in the Donbass.

But beyond their skill on the battlefield, the brigades are valuable to Moscow for other reasons. Russian society and leadership have proved extremely sensitive to casualties in Syria; the Kremlin has gone to extreme lengths to hide its losses. Casualties are often only publicly confirmed after observers find the tombstones of deceased soldiers in their hometown cemeteries. Moscows official figures only account for 30 dead in Syria  with the true figure likely much higher. Using nonethnic Russian special personnel might protect the Kremlin from a public backlash sparked by rising battlefield casualties. Losses incurred by the new, North Caucasian contingent are unlikely to trigger such a response. Russian society carries a deep-seated resentment toward natives of the region, in particular Chechens, after two wars in the 1990s and multiple terrorist attacks since.

Gregory Shvedov, the editor of the Caucasian Knot website and an expert on the North Caucasus, says popular disdain toward the region is a major factor for the deployment of these personnel. Cynically speaking [it would be much easier for Putin] if the Chechens or other [troops] from the Caucasus would be killed in Syria  than those from other regions of Russia, Shvedov notes.

Employing these fighters offers Moscow another major advantage. The natives of the North Caucasus are almost entirely Sunni Muslims, a faith they share with the majority of Syrias population. Since the first units arrived in December 2016, Moscow has sought to use their shared religion and appearance to its advantage. North Caucasian units have been documented using handbooks that include helpful suggestions for dealing with locals, such as the liberal use of the word mukhabarat (Syrian secret police)  implying detention and other nasty repercussions  should a request be met with resistance. On a more cordial level, Chechen military police have been told to use shared Islamic words to build friendlier relations with the public, relying on various religious epithets to greet locals when on a patrol. The conversion of an ethnic Russian soldier to Sunni Islam, conducted by Chechnyas grand mufti in front of Syrian onlookers in Aleppo, was another public relations maneuver utilizing the shared faith between Syrians and the servicemen.

While the deployment of the Caucasian brigades represents a new phase of Russias intervention in Syria, Moscows use of its Muslim-majority regions to reach out to the Middle East is not new. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has often acted as an interlocutor between Moscow and Sunni Arab states, making state visits on behalf of Putin and attracting Gulf investors to the Chechen capital. Kadyrov has attempted to cast the Chechen capital, Grozny, as a center of international Sunni discussion on the state level, hosting numerous international forums where Chechen figures were the sole representatives of Russias 20 million Muslims. The aim of such conferences is generally to discredit Salafi Islam, the hard-line strain followed by most jihadis.

Syrian officials themselves have begun to engage closely with North Caucasian authorities. A delegation from Damascus including Syrias minister of religious affairs visited the Dagestani capital of Makhachkala in March, discussing counterradicalization with Dagestani authorities and students. In present circumstances, where it is rare for Syrian officials to make any foreign trip, let alone to a far-flung region of another country, the Makhachkala trip is significant in demonstrating the depth of Moscows use of its Sunni Muslim region as an outreach tool. Most recently, the head of Damascus University announced in mid-April that his institution is opening a campus in Chechnya. Given these religious and cultural links, Moscow is banking on its new Muslim-majority brigades to prove more amenable to the Syrian populace than its ethnic Russian soldiers.

As Moscows footprint deepens, North Caucasian special forces have taken on increasingly important tasks across Syria, from guarding Syrian Kurdish units against Turkish incursions in Manbij to ensuring the success of negotiated rebel evacuations on the outskirts of Damascus. The growing role of the brigades demonstrates a desire on Russias part to wield greater influence over areas of Syria it deems crucial, particularly in the face of occasional tension with its Syrian and Iranian allies. Although outward appearances suggest solidarity, Moscow has occasionally clashed with both Damascus and Tehran. Perhaps the most publicized example of this uneasy alliance came during the late stages of the Aleppo campaign. Iranian officials were reportedly incensed with the terms of a cease-fire brokered for the city by Russia and Turkey in December 2016 that were imposed without their input. Iran later intentionally scuttled the deal, using its Iraqi and Syrian proxy forces to resume fighting in Aleppo. Not coincidentally, Moscows first Chechen soldiers arrived in Syria within weeks of that event.

The importance for Moscow in being able to control unexpected events on the ground was highlighted in late January when rumors began to spread that Assad had suffered a stroke. Adding fuel to the fire, some opposition figures claimed that the Syrian president had flown to Beirut for treatment; Damascus uncharacteristically denied the claims instead of ignoring them, fueling the speculation. Amid the uncertainty, reports emerged that with Assads health failing, Iranian forces were posturing to install his brother Maher, who is rumored to not be among the Kremlins preferred list of successors. Within several days, Assad returned to Damascus and held a series of publicized meetings, calming the situation. But the incident highlighted the value for Moscow in having its own ground forces in the Syrian capital.

As part of its strategy to further control events on the ground in Syria, the Kremlin has also elected far more secretive means to expand its footprint. To bolster its regular forces, Moscow has employed a sizable private military contractor (PMC) that now has nearly four years of experience in the country. First known as the Slavonic Corps, the groups first mission in 2013 in Syria proved a major debacle, but after rebranding itself and gaining stronger Kremlin backing, the group redeployed to Syria as part of Moscows official intervention in 2015. Now called Wagner, the group is headed by Dmitry Utkin, a former intelligence officer in the GRU, Russias foreign military intelligence agency, who first deployed the PMC in operations in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Obtaining precise statistics on the group is difficult, but the most accurate estimate by the Russian daily RBC, whose experts have broken numerous stories on the group, puts their number at 2,500. Russias regular forces in Syria total around 5,000, so when combined with its brigades from the North Caucasus and its PMCs, Moscows true ground strength in the country has swelled significantly.

The first stage of Moscows Caucasian adventure in Syria ended on March 27, as the deployed Chechen military police returned home after their first tour. The soldiers were greeted by Kadyrov himself in Grozny and received several awards for their service. But the Chechens initial success appears to have earned them another tour. Less than a month after the return of the first military police battalion, Kadyrov announced on April 19 that a new unit of Chechens had just been deployed to Syria.

The Ingush battalion, meanwhile, continues to function in Damascus, having been spotted in the center of the capital throughout April. There are signs that the Ingush battalion is becoming more involved in front-line action with rebel forces in the Syrian capital. In Damascuss Jobar district, the scene of heavy fighting in March, rebels reportedly intercepted communications indicating that some Ingush officers, as well as some remaining Chechens, were coordinating much of the pro-government defense of the area. The Ingush battalion will reportedly return home from its tour in May.

Another tour is yet to be announced for the Ingush battalion, but given the units early successes, expect to see Russias North Caucasian specialists appear in locations across Syria as the war grinds on. So far, the deployment of Chechen and Ingush forces has been very surgical, appearing only in areas and events Moscow considers critical to its aims in Syria. And while their role is unlikely to expand greatly anytime soon, the North Caucasian battalions will continue to serve as the tip of the spear in Moscows wider strategy to expand its influence in Syria.

Christian Borys, an independent Canadian journalist focused on Eastern Europe and based in Ukraine, contributed to this report. Follow him on Twitter at: @itsborys.

Photo credit: YouTube/Anna News
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An Israeli-Palestinian peace deal has eluded every president in modern history. U.S. President Donald Trump wants to break that pattern  but if the daylight between his meetings with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas indicates anything, its going to be an uphill battle.

On Wednesday, Trump hosted Abbas at the White House, and pledged to move forward. We will get it done, he said. We will be working so hard to get it done.

Trump has put some of his closest advisors on the issue, including his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his long-time legal advisor and confidante, Jason Greenblatt, who is now the White Houses chief Middle East negotiator.

And less than a month into office and before nearly every other key foreign policy posting, Trump tapped David Friedman, a controversial hardliner on Israel, to be the ambassador in Tel Aviv.

Over the course of his campaign, Trump hinted at dropping the traditional two-state solution past presidents have supported (he also mulled moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the disputed holy city claimed by both Palestinians and Israelis). In his joint press conference with Netanyahu back in February, Trump, when asked whether he favored a one- or two-state solution, said he is happy with the one that both parties like, a departure from over a decade of previous U.S. policy. I can live with either one, Trump said.

But on Wednesday, Abbas made one thing clear  he is not equally content with a one- or two-state solution. For Abbas and the Palestinians, there is only one solution. Our strategic option is the realization of a two-state solution, he said.

And despite Trumps cadre of Israel hardliners, he struck a cordial tone with Abbas in their Wednesday press conference, and Abbas reciprocated. The Palestinian leader said a peace agreement could be reached under the courageous leadership of Donald Trump.

Story continues

During the press conference, Trump spoke of wanting to work with Palestinians to fight terrorism, foster private sector development and rule of law, and, of course, to establish a peace deal. His remarks werent entirely uncritical, however. Palestinian leaders need to speak in a unified voice against incitement to violence and hate, he said.

In between thanks and compliments for Trump, Abbas reiterated the importance of establishing a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. Only a two-state solution, Abbas said, would allow Palestinians to focus on fighting terrorism and enable Arab states to establish normal relations with Israel.

In his closing remarks, Trump said he looked to prove wrong those who say negotiating a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians is the toughest deal.

Unmentioned in the joint remarks was the thorny subject of Jewish settlements on land Palestinians claim as their own. The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics said the number of Jewish settlers in disputed territory grew from 198,300 in 2000 to 385,900 in 2015. Friedman is a staunch supporter of Israeli settlements.

Also hanging in the air but unstated is the reality that Abbas might not be around for long enough to conclude a peace deal. Abbass support at home is dwindling, and a poll last month found nearly two-thirds of Palestinians wanted the 81-year old leader of the Palestinian Authority to step down.

This week, the Islamic militant group Hamas, arch-rival to Abbass Fatah party, unveiled a new and more moderated political charter. Experts say Hamas is angling to scoop up more mainstream political support while Abbass wanes.

Photo credit: Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images
Washington (AFP) - The House of Representatives votes Thursday on revived legislation endorsed by US President Donald Trump that replaces his predecessor's health care reforms.

An earlier version of the Republican plan to repeal Obamacare collapsed in March, torpedoed by opposition from both moderates and conservatives in the president's party.

Supporters defend the new version as a more free-market, patient-centered system -- and Republican leaders now say they have the votes to pass the controversial measure.

But how would it work?

Here are key points about the current health care system -- which is credited with helping 20 million Americans acquire coverage but has been blamed for rising premiums and other costs -- and the proposed changes in the latest Republican substitute.

- No more mandatory coverage -

In the United States, health insurance is primarily private. About half of Americans have coverage through their employers, often at a reasonable cost, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

About a third of Americans are covered by government plans -- either Medicare for those over the age of 65 or Medicaid, the insurance program for the poor.

The rest have to fend for themselves, and either buy insurance on their own or do not have coverage, paying cash for their medical expenses. Costs for these groups can be very high.

Under Barack Obama's reforms, individuals are required to either obtain health insurance or pay a penalty.

Forcing younger, healthier people to buy coverage was expected to help defray medical costs for poorer, older, sicker Americans.

The replacement bill scraps those conditions in favor of a system of tax credits aimed at helping people purchase health insurance on the open market.

But Democrats warn that those credits are on average less than the subsidies built into Obamacare's premiums, especially for older Americans who are not yet eligible for Medicare.

- Keeping what's good -

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Despite Republican calls throughout last year's election campaign to completely kill off Obamacare, the substitute aims to keep two very popular provisions.

It protects the rule that dependents can remain on their parents' insurance plan until the age of 26, and one blocking insurance companies from refusing coverage to anyone due to a pre-existing condition -- though some analysts have voiced concern that the proposed reforms to protections for those patients would be inadequate.

- Republican reforms -

Uninsured people would not be fined under the new plan, which would no longer mandate individual coverage.

Republican party leadership apparently won over enough skeptical members with an amendment that adds $8 billion over five years to help cover insurance costs for people with pre-existing conditions.

States would be allowed to request exemption from some provisions that were key under Obamacare, including one requiring minimum coverage of services considered essential, like maternity care and emergency services.

They would also be able to opt out of a rule that bars insurers from charging those with medical issues more.

In those states insurers could therefore offer cheaper, potentially skimpier care plans. They would have to create alternative programs to mitigate risks for insurers with "high-cost" patients, who could be grouped into publicly subsidized "high-risk pools."

Obamacare allowed the expansion of Medicaid, a health care program managed by states for individuals and families with limited resources. But the new bill would cap federal reimbursements to states, potentially to the detriment of those living in states that underwent the expansion.

If the House passes the bill, the Senate will take up the measure next week -- with further amendments surely to come.
Mazraat Tishreen (Syria) (AFP) - Dozens of black veils dotted a freshly laid sand berm in northern Syria, ditched by women fleeing the Islamic State group's bastion of Raqa as US-backed fighters close in.

Outside the village of Tishreen Farms, 17 kilometres (10 miles) north of Raqa, the Syrian Democratic Forces could be seen laying sandbags to protect themselves from IS car bombs and snipers.

With air support from the US-led coalition, the alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters has seized swathes of territory from the jihadists, who were stationed less than a kilometre away.

SDF fighters told AFP that women hastily shed their IS-mandated black veils after crossing into SDF territory near Tishreen Farms, revealing vibrant, patterned robes underneath.

"Most of the women tear off their robes and burqas as soon as they arrive at our positions," an SDF fighter said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Some of the women stomp on the robes because they finally feel safe and are finished with Daesh," he added, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

Thousands of civilians have been smuggled out of Raqa and surrounding territory in recent weeks.

Ahmad, who fled Raqa to a village near Tishreen Farms, told AFP that he was one of the lucky ones.

He managed to escape despite IS's brutal measures to block residents from leaving.

"IS is using the civilians as human shields to protect itself," said the man in his 30s.

"We fled as part of a group two days ago, and an IS sniper shot and killed two of us."

- Key coalition raids -

In Tishreen Farms, male and female SDF members worked to fill an underground tunnel they say jihadists used to avoid coalition air strikes as they transported supplies and ammunition throughout the area.

IS has used that tactic -- as well as weaponised drones and car bombs -- to defend territory across the so-called "caliphate" it declared in 2014.

The SDF launched its fight for Raqa in November, just a month after US-backed forces in neighbouring Iraq announced an offensive for IS's other main stronghold, Mosul.

Story continues

Both assaults have received crucial support from the US-led air coalition bombing the jihadists.

The bodies of alleged IS fighters were still visible around Tishreen Farms, along with destroyed vehicles on the side of the road that testified to the heavy strikes that targeted the area.

One SDF fighter told AFP that coalition raids had killed "most of the IS fighters present in these villages".

"Others were killed during our combing operations... IS has lost a huge part of its defensive capabilities. The fight isn't as intense," he said.

As it faces mounting pressure, IS has lashed out in other areas -- including multiple suicide attacks near a refugee camp on the Syrian-Iraqi border on Tuesday that left at least 46 people dead.

- 'For its people' -

The SDF has already seized most of Raqa province as part of its "Wrath of the Euphrates" campaign, named after the major river that cuts across the northern part of Syria.

At their closest point, they are just eight kilometres (five miles) from Raqa city.

SDF spokesman Talal Sello said SDF fighters were still working on fully besieging the city, after which they would launch the final phase of the campaign.

"As our troops get closer and closer to Raqa city, the number of soldiers and advisers from the international coalition continues to increase," Sello told AFP.

The US has dispatched about 900 troops to Syria to help train and advise the SDF, as well as a Marine artillery unit.

Ahmad al-Hassan, a clean-shaven local SDF commander, said the US-led coalition "has provided the SDF with special weapons including artillery, tanks, anti-tank missiles."

Like many SDF fighters, he wore a scarf around his head to protect from the reddish dust in the air from an incoming sandstorm.

The SDF would fully liberate the city in coordination with the coalition, Hassan said, but "Raqa will only be for its people."
cameronabadi

The Port Arthur refinery in Texas is North Americas largest oil refinery, and as of this week Saudi Arabia controls all of it. With the stroke of a proverbial pen, Saudis state-owned oil giant Aramco took on 100 percent ownership of the port, cementing its access to the lucrative U.S. energy market at a critical time.

Industry experts say this weeks deal is Aramcos latest power play before its highly anticipated IPO next year. But it also unveils a wider Aramco strategy no other state-owned oil giant has pursued yet: buying up downstream refineries worldwide to ensure steady consumer access regardless of prices.

In the latest deal, finalized Monday, Aramco gained full ownership of Port Arthur and 24 distribution terminals in a boon to investors eyeing the IPO. Before that, Aramco had a 50-50 stake in the refinery with Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell. Port Arthur, referred to as the crown jewel of U.S. refinery infrastructure, can process 600,000 barrels of oil a day.

Aramco is slated to go public next year and the government is hoping the IPO can net $2 trillion  the largest IPO in history by a long shot  to score some sorely needed cash. This Port Arthur deal is about Saudis getting prepared to try and value Aramco at the highest amount they can before they go public, said Andrew Holland, an energy expert at Washington-based think tank American Security Project.

Saudi Arabia and other petro-states are feeling the pain from record-low oil prices, squeezing their steady streams of government revenue. The U.S. market is one of the few bright spots for Saudi Arabia, the United States second-largest oil supplier after Canada. The Gulf kingdom exported 1.3 million barrels of crude a day to the United States in February, up 32 percent from last year.

This isnt the first downstream refinery Aramco bought, and it wont be the last. Aramco also bought up refineries in China, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and is exploring pricey new ventures in Malaysia and India.

Story continues

Thats all part of a grand plan, said Jean-Francois Seznec, a 25-year energy industry veteran now with Georgetown University. As the sole state-owned oil company in the worlds largest petro-state, Aramco has a firm grip on its upstream business, so now its locking down control of downstream markets, he told FP. Theyre creating a baseload of demand for their crude production so Saudi oil will always have an outlet to sell in regardless of prices, he said. I think its a superb strategyno other national companies appear to have the same strategy.

A Saudi state company controlling the largest U.S. refinery may sound like a national security headache, but experts say its not. The problem rather is one of perception.

The optics arent good, said Bud Coote, a former energy analyst for the CIA and now with Washington-based think tank the Atlantic Council. But the [oil] industrys globalization and interdependence may quell any alarm, he said, adding Aramco likely wouldnt risk any access to U.S. markets for Riyadhs political gains. And U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia are much better than with other petro-states around the world, such as Iran, Russia, or Venezuela.

Unlike Russias state-owned energy companies, which the Kremlin wields as a blunt geopolitical weapon against energy hungry neighbors, Aramco has never put politics above commercial interests, Holland said. And the Saudi Royal family, which controls all aspects of the countrys government, is conspicuously absent from Aramcos leadership.

There is not a single member of the royal family in Saudi Aramco, not one, Seznec said.

Not even on board of directors.

If there are concerns over the deal, however, they can be addressed through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency panel that has the power to halt foreign transactions that threaten national security.

U.S. President Donald Trump appears to have backed off repeated campaign promises to wean the United States off foreign energy. In campaign speeches, Trump vowed to gain independence from our foes and the oil cartels (presumably referring to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, of which Saudi Arabia is a member), and threatened to curb Saudi crude imports if Riyadh didnt pitch in more troops to the fight against ISIS.

Trump has since backed away from those statements, and U.S.-Saudi relations appear to be flourishing based on recent bilateral meetings. So, at least for now, the latest Aramco deal may be a win-win situation for Washington and Riyadh.

Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images for the ATP




Warning: This recap for The Box episode of Scandal contains spoilers.

Nasty women dont back down  and Olivia Pope is the nastiest of them all.

Last week, the gladiators finally got one up on the Mystery Power People by taking Marjorie/Samantha into custody. But this week, they have to take down Peus, which they find is a much harder task, especially when he launches nine bomb-carrying drones over cities across America.

At one point, Jake points out Samantha doesnt really exist  she has no background, no past. Shes a ghost. The same thing can be said of Peus: Where did this guy come from? He seems to have emerged  fully formed, fully funded, and fully in power  in just the last year.

He seems unbeatable, but Olivia isnt ready to throw in the white hat just yet. Her biggest fix to date? Getting her dad to put the white hat on too.

Heres a rundown of this weeks episode, including our live tweets:

The episode picks up right where last weeks left off, with Luna Vargas holding court at the press conference that announced her as Mellies VP pick.

Meanwhile, Fitz is summoned to the situation room, where his military commanders inform him of nine drones hovering over cities. Elsewhere in the White House, Olivia and Mellie are horrified watching the news. Peus calls Olivia and demands both Marjorie/Samantha and Mellie back. Olivia refuses. And then a drone bomb explodes over Dallas.

Peus dont play ???? How did this guy get so much power? #Scandal  Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 5, 2017

There are casualties, as we see on the news as Liv watches with her father. He doesnt care; hes enjoying a nice bottle of red wine. What he really wants, though, is freedom. She asks him when he became someone who runs away. He replies that he doesnt want to die, nor watch her die. And with Peus so angry, people are definitely going to die.

Story continues

Fitz orders David to investigate Peuss super-PAC for leads, then has Jake interrogate Samantha. He asks her where Peus is, but she just makes some snarky comments. He notes that hes looked into her background and found nothing. He used to be the same way  twinsies! she exclaims.

He offers to free her and tuck her away in some hidden island, but Samantha says Peus will track her down if she squeals. And with that, Jake takes out his knife and cuts into the back of her neck to reveal a tracking chip. No wonder Peus can always find her.

Huck will try to hack into the chip to reverse locate Peus. But the chip is disabled from the other end, and Peus calls Olivia. He tells her more people will die, but she says Fitz wont bend to a terrorist. Another drone bomb goes off in Philadelphia.

Fitz is pissed. He is certain that Rowan has some info on these Mystery Power People  he was under their thumb for months! He barges into Rowans cell, but Rowan still wont help. Theyve won, Fitz has lost. Fitz grabs him by the collar, while Olivia sobs for him to stop.

Fitz asks how he can call himself a patriot and also how many patriots have to die in the name of the Republic. Rowan scoffs  the Republic is dead.

Rowans idea of patriotism has always been off #Scandal @JOEtheMORTON  Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 5, 2017

Abby and Cyrus give an update on the drone situation to Luna when Fitz comes in. He wants to know why Abby hasnt deployed FEMA in Dallas and Philadelphia. She nervously replies that she thought hed done it from the situation room  but she wouldnt know, since she wasnt there. Cyrus pipes up that they should hold off on FEMA to see if more drone bombs go off. Fitz sees the wisdom in his advice and invites him to the next briefing, leaving Abby feeling very left out.

Cyrus, back where he belongs  advising Fitz in the Oval Office #Scandal @jscandalp  Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 5, 2017

Thats not the end of Cyruss good advice. Jake has gotten nowhere with Samantha, and Cyrus suggests that Jake lie to her since she has no access to the news. Jake tells Samantha that theyve taken Peus into custody, and are offering both of them the same deal. Whoever takes it first gets it: Reveal the location of the drone control center and be set free. Samantha finally takes the deal and also offers info on bank accounts, operatives, etc.

Olivia finds out that her father had been receiving packages every few days from Peus and has Huck look at the exhibits security footage. Each time Rowan looked into the delivered box, he looked frightened. And one bit of footage shows that the box contained a brick. WTF?

Totally thought the boxes held peoples heads #se7en #scandal  Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 5, 2017

David takes the immunity deal to Samantha to sign. She reveals her real name is Grace and asks if she and David can start over. He is astonished  she murdered Lizzy. How can they start over? He hates her! His diatribe tips her off. He twitches when he lies, but he didnt twitch at all when he said he despised her. So now she knows the deal was a lie and she refuses to help them.

Liv tells Fitz about the boxes, so Fitz goes to see Rowan again. He tries to bond with her father, saying they are a lot alike  neither had full control over their lives. Rowan brushes this off. Nobody has systematically oppressed you, Rowan sneers.

Then, Rowan reveals the truth behind the boxes. The human head weighs about as much as a brick. If he didnt cooperate with Peus, they had threatened to send him Olivias head in a box.

So there COULD have been a head in the box  Olivias! #Scandal pic.twitter.com/P7zFqZ7pre  Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 5, 2017

I am a father incapable of protecting my own daughter, Rowan says bitterly. Fitz realizes Olivia is Rowans legacy but how does he want her to be remembered?

Fitz and Olivia have a sad drink together in the Oval Office. This isnt how they imagined the final two weeks of his presidency going down. Suddenly, Rowan comes in and asks to speak to Fitz alone. Hes ready to help.

He and Olivia go to Samanthas cell, but Rowan uses the chance to grab a Secret Service guards gun. He offers to bust Samantha out in exchange for his freedom. Olivia is in shock that her father would turn on her like this. Rowan and Samantha flee through the tunnels.

Abby finds the hallways full of commotion and asks Cyrus what the hell is happening. He is on his way to meet with Fitz and she asks to come along. Hasnt she been punished enough for betraying their trust? Cyrus tells her to grow up  nobody is taking her job. Shes just given up on doing it. Dont ask to be let back in, he says, prove youre worth it.

Olivia stares forlornly out a window when Mellie arrives. Shes decided to give herself over to Peus. All he wants is her as a puppet president. But Olivia refuses to let her go. Mellie will be the first female president in American history and shell be damned if shes going to let her be turned into a powerless figurehead. A woman in power is a nasty woman, Olivia vows. Theyll fight Peus until he goes down.

At the exhibit, Peus finds Rowan and Samantha. Rowan asks for his freedom, and Peus grants it. Youve been emancipated, Peus says, then turns to leave.

Rowan makes a call. Turns out, he didnt betray Olivia. In flashbacks, we see his secret meeting with Fitz. He proposes this whole plan to gain Samanthas trust and lure Peus to the exhibit. Then, they can track him back to the drone control center! Jake does that and shoots two operatives and Peus in the head! Goodbye, Mystery Power Guy, and good riddance.

As for Samantha, when she returns to the exhibit with Rowans new passport, hes opening another box. It holds the last tooth for the exhibits dinosaur skeleton. And he uses it to stab her to death. Goodbye, Mystery Power Woman, and good riddance.

How awesome would it have been if Peus head was in that box? #Scandal  Yahoo TV (@YahooTV) May 5, 2017

He places the tooth in the dinosaurs jaw. We survived, he says with a smile. Survival of the fittest!

Scandal airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC.

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By Emily Flitter NEW YORK (Reuters) - Researchers from Harvard University, Princeton University and the Environmental Defense Fund proposed a new, more precise way to measure the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on Earth's climate in an article published on Thursday in the academic journal Science. The proposal, titled "Unmask temporal trade-offs in climate policy debates," would create a two-digit measurement system the scientists likened to blood pressure readings in medicine, which show the pressure on blood vessels both during heartbeats and in between them. It would help scientists and policymakers account for the fact that some greenhouse gasses last longer than others in the atmosphere. "Different gases have widely different lifetimes in the atmosphere after emission and affect the climate in different ways over widely different timescales," said co-author Michael Oppenheimer, a geosciences professor at Princeton. The system would show the effects of greenhouse emissions on a 20-year scale and a 100-year scale. Having a measurement that shows both numbers, the scientists argued, would let governments and other institutions trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming decide which policies would be best in the short term and which should be adopted longer term. It would also help in disputes between opposing advocacy groups. For example, according to the researchers, advocates for using natural gas as an energy source base their arguments on a 100-year timescale. But their opponents, activists lobbying against natural gas, use a 20-year timescale to show the effects of burning natural gas on the climate. An overwhelming majority of scientists believe gas emissions like carbon dioxide, which is produced from burning fossil fuels, are contributing to global climate change, triggering sea level rise, droughts and more frequent violent storms. For the two-value proposal to be successful, the scientists argued, it would have to be widely adopted, not only by individual government agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but also by international bodies like the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change. Science is a weekly, peer-reviewed journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. (Reporting by Emily Flitter; Editing by Sandra Maler)
cameronabadi

With Adam Rawnsley

Action, reaction. American forces raced for the Syria/Turkish border last week after Turkish warplanes bombed Kurdish fighters allied with Washington in the fight against the Islamic State. The move angered Ankara, which considers the Kurdish YPG to be a terrorist group, and placed Washington in the uncomfortable position of defending one non-state ally against a longtime NATO partner. Its also put U.S. forces in the middle of a shooting war, in the role of a human buffer in armored vehicles.

On Wednesday, a top aide to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a radio program that those troops arent safe: we wont be considering the fact that there are armored American vehiclesAll of a sudden, by accident, a few rockets can hit them.

Strangeways. The U.S. show of force is a very public reminder of American support for the Kurds, who make up a majority of the Syrian Democratic Forces, a 50,000-strong collection of local militias currently moving on the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, FPs Paul McLeary reports. U.S. military commanders have said repeatedly that the Kurds are the only viable military option to defeat ISIS on the ground in Syria.

On his way. The threats come about two weeks before Erdogan is due in Washington to meet with president Trump. On Wednesday, the Turkish leader met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where the two talked about creating safe zones in Syria for civilians. Russia pushed the idea at peace talks in Kazakhstan between the moderate Syrian opposition, the Syrian regime, Russia, Iran, and Turkey Wednesday, but representatives of the opposition walked out of the talks over continued Syrian government bombing of hospitals and civilian targets, and the role Iran is playing in the Syrian civil war.

The opposition returned to the table Thursday, and the Russians hope to sign a memorandum calling for the safe zones by the end of the day. Damascus appears to be a fan of the idea, but U.S. defense officials say they are not planning to create any safe zones, or no-fly zones in Syria.

Story continues

Values here. In his second address to his department since taking up his new job, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on his staff to forget what they thought they knew and approach their jobs with no constraints on their thinking, writes FPs Emily Tamkin. Tillerson did not address the expected budget cuts that could decimate plenty of departments, though he did implicitly promise organizational changes.

Tillerson also said the days of Washington attempting to export its values  and push for respect for human rights abroad  are over. Insisting that potential partners uphold international norms only creates obstacles to our ability to advance our national security interests, our economic interests, he said.

Pressure points. But the secretary did outline the White Houses North Korea policy more explicitly than any U.S. official has in the Trump administration. He said that the plan is to lean hard on China to lean harder on Pyongyang. Its a pressure campaign that has a knob on it, he said. Were at dial setting five or six now.

Tillerson added that Washington would negotiate with North Korea when conditions are right, but there are conditions. We are not going to negotiate our way to the negotiating table. That is what Pyongyang has done for the last 20 years, is cause us to have to negotiate to get them to sit down. Well sit down when theyre ready to sit down under the right terms.

Road rules. On Tuesday, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee boarded a bus to Langley, Virginia, as part of their probe into Russian election meddling. Many facets of the congressional probe into Russian election meddling are unusual, but these field trips are part of yet another first for the intelligence panel: access to raw intelligence, reports FPs Jenna McLaughlin. After significant negotiations, the chairman and vice chairman got access to categories and types of intelligence documents that have never been provided to Congress before  even beyond what the Gang of Eight has received in the past, one Senate staffer emailed. More on what they saw here.

Over there. President Trump is due to travel to Brussels later this month for a critical NATO meeting, which will be the first time many alliance members will meet him in person. Hell encounter an alliance that is changing, and while he will likely take credit for those changes, most of the reforms and new spending plans were in the works well before January 2017.

For NATOs newest members, it is Russia, not Trump, that is motivating their spending, writes FPs Paul McLeary. Romania is one of the countries at the forefront of this new spending push, and the countrys ambassador to the United States recently pointed out to FP that Crimea sits less than 200 miles from its shores, and Romania shares a long border with Serbia, which has moved closer to the Kremlin as it buys Russian warplanes and air defense systems. And when NATO opened a missile defense site in Romania last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the country to be in Moscows crosshairs.

Best coast. The commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard issued a stark warning on Wednesday that Russia was leagues ahead of Washington in the Arctic. And while the warming Arctic opens up, the United States could be caught flat-footed while other geopolitical rivals swiftly step in, according to a new report by FPs Robbie Gramer.

Paul Zukunft, the coastie commandant, warned Moscow is building up a huge military and industrial presence in the region while the United States dawdled. Russia is showing Im here first, and everyone else, youre going to be playing catch-up for a generation to catch up to me first, said Zukunft in remarks before the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Theyve made a strategic statement, he said.

Welcome to SitRep. Send any tips, thoughts or national security events to paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or via Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley.

The news today, oh boy. North Korea is extra grumpy with its neighbor to the north following signals from China that its open to a tougher line on Pyongyangs antics. The flareup started with a war of words between both countries state-run media. North Koreas KCNA warned China that the daily absurd and reckless remarks in Chinese state media calling for sanctions against North Korea could lead to grave consequences and advised that the DPRK will never beg for the maintenance of friendship with China. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang responded to the broadside by saying that Beijing is still interested in having good neighborly and friendly cooperation with the North.

Aint no party like a Balad party. Two former investigators for a private security company charged with protecting an Iraqi F-16 base say that company employees engaged in a booze-soaked campaign of corruption, theft, and human trafficking. The AP reports that Virginia-based contractor Sallyport fired investigators after they allegedly uncovered rampant misconduct by company employees at Balad Air Base, where the company had a $700 million contract to provide security. The investigators say employees charged with directing traffic on the tarmac at Balad regularly showed up to work drunk, popping Vodka-soaked gummy bears and smuggling in so much booze, and guns, that a plane carrying the illicit cargo tipped over. Investigators also allege that Balad was home to a prostitution ring patronized by Sallyport employees.

Yemen. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) effort to piece together a national army in Yemen is faltering due to political divisions within Yemeni society, Reuters reports. UAE forces fighting as part of the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi movement in Yemen have been trying to train up local forces to buttress the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. But UAE troops tell the wire service that their Yemeni trainees are often unwilling to fight alongside troops from other parts of the country. One of the biggest rifts in the force is the hesitance of troops from southern Yemen, previously an independent country, to fight in the north.

Missiles. Iran is trying to get its midget submarines to fire cruise missiles, according to Fox News. Anonymous sources tell the cable news outlet that Iran tried to fire a cruise missile from a Ghadir submarine, based on North Koreas Yono-class design, but the launch failed. The tiny subs are usually reserved for firing torpedoes and laying sea mines. Iran claimed to have successfully fired a missile from a submarine for the first time back in February but whether that claim pertains to a Ghadir cruise missile launch or another platform remains a mystery.

Raider. Congressional appropriators tweaked the funding for the B-21 stealth bomber in the latest spending bill, shaving off $20 million for the program and attaching a handful of new oversight requirements, according to Defense News. The 2017 omnibus spending bill shelled out $1.338 billion for the B-21, down from $1.358 billion. Appropriators also called for an inspector general review of the program and clamped down on the Air Forces ability to transfer and reprogram funding without Congressional approval.

Bonus. The Army wants to stand up a new brigade to improve the training of Iraqi and Afghan forces and so its offering troops with training experience a $5,000 bonus to sign up for the new unit. The program is aimed at mid-career non-commissioned officers and hopes to address some of the problems caused by the piecemeal approach to training as parts of other units carry out training missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pic of the day. To the observant celebrating todays holiday, May the Fourth be with you. Always.
ASTANA (Reuters) - Syria's armed opposition on Thursday rejected a Russian plan to create safe zones in Syria, calling it a threat to the country's territorial integrity, and said it would also not recognize Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan. Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, and Iran, which backs Syrian President Bashar Assad, agreed earlier in the day to Russia's proposal for "de-escalation zones" in Syria, a move welcomed by the United Nations but met with scepticism from the United States. "We want Syria to maintain its integrity," opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid said after Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum on creating safe zones. The three countries are sponsoring talks in the Kazakh capital Astana aimed at ending Syria's fighting. "We are against the division of Syria. As for the agreements, we are not a party to that agreement and of course we will never be in favor (of it) as long as Iran is called a guarantor state," Abu Zaid said. He also cited what he called "a huge gap" between the promises of Russia, which intervened militarily in 2015 on Assad's side and gave him back the upper hand in the conflict. "We have an agreement already (in) our hands, why isnt it implemented?" he said, referring to a truce deal announced by Russia in December that was largely ignored on the ground. "Why are we jumping now to safe zones?" "Russia was not able to or does not want to implement the pledges it makes, and this is a fundamental problem." Russia, Turkey and Iran did not immediately publish the memorandum, leaving its details unclear. But the safe zones appear intended to be conflict-free to help widen a ceasefire, and would potentially be policed by foreign troops. The U.S. State Department said in a statement that it was skeptical of Iran's involvement as a guarantor of the accord and Damascus' track record on previous agreements. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that he was encouraged by the proposal but cautioned it must "actually improve the lives of Syrians." Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said while on a visit to Washington, D.C., that the kingdom supported creation of safe zones but he wanted to see more details. Russian negotiator Alexander Lavrentyev said that under the plan Russia could send observers to safe zones. He said third-party monitors could be invited provided Iran and Turkey agreed. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov and Raushan Nurshayeva; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Vladimir Soldatkin, Mark Heinrich, Toni Reinhold)
The Flash Wolves at the 2017 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational (Riot Games Brazil/lolesportsbr)

In a quick 3-0 sweep, LoL Master Series representative Flash Wolves took down Turkish representative SuperMassive to advance to the main stage of the 2017 Mid-Season Invitational.

Flash Wolves have been dominant in their own region, losing only two games all season. With the potent duo of jungler Hung Karsa Hauhsuan and mid laner Huang Maple Yitang, the Flash Wolves were pegged as one of the best teams at the MSI tournament, despite the fact that their regions prior international showings put the Flash Wolves in the second round of the Play-In stage.

After Team SoloMids narrow 3-2 victory over GIGABYTE Marines yesterday, a slight shadow of doubt was cast over Flash Wolves series against SuperMassive, especially since SuperMassive were the stronger of the two minor region teams in the previous stage of the Play-In.

As it turns out, Flash Wolves fans had nothing to worry about. Led by Karsa, Maple, and top laner Yu MMD Lihung, the Flash Wolves struck early and often, wholly outclassing the Turkish team.

SuperMassive will face the Marines on Saturday, May 6 to determine the final team at the main stage of the 2017 Mid-Season Invitational.

Emily Rands love of the 2013 KT Rolster Bullets will never die. You can follow her on Twitter.
President Donald Trump has a scheduled meeting with Pope Francis later this month, but the two men havent exactly seen eye to eye on a number of issues.

The Pontiff has clashed with the US leader on climate change and the treatment of immigrants and refugees

So things might get awkward when the blustering American president and the soft-spoken pontiff touch base.

Here are some of the issues they have disagreed on:

Immigration

Without mentioning Mr Trump by name, the Pope heavily criticised the President's promise to build a border wall and "make Mexico pay for it" in February. In remarks at the Vatican, he said it was a Christian's calling "to not raise walls but bridges, to not respond to evil with evil, to overcome evil with good.

He continued to seemingly address Trump, saying: A Christian can never say: Ill make you pay for that. Never! That is not a Christian gesture. An offence is overcome with forgiveness, by living in peace with everyone.

The Pope's comments follow a very public spat last year. Francis seemed to criticise Mr Trump during the 2016 campaign for his positions on immigration, suggesting that his policies made the US leader not Christian. Mr Trump described this as "disgraceful".

The Pope started the beef while flying back to Rome from Mexico in February 2016. A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian, he said.

Mr Trump quickly responded at a rally, telling the crowd: For a religious leader to question a persons faith is disgraceful."

He added: No leader, especially a religious leader, has the right to question another mans religion or faith. The now-President then accused the Mexican government of using the pope as a pawn.

Mr Trump also attempted to implement two travel bans early in his administration, which the Vatican called troubling.

The pope has favoured a message of inclusiveness and integration for immigration.

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The refugee crisis

The president has frequently decried the wave of refugees coming out of war torn areas of the Middle East. He has said that refugee resettlement programmes could be exploited by Isis militants in their quest to commit acts of violence in the US.

During Mr Trumps presidency, the rate of refugee resettlements have plummeted when compared with those under his predecessor Barack Obama.

The Pope, on the other hand, has encouraged acceptance when it comes to refugees, saying that you cant defend Christianity by being against refugees and other religions.

His holiness has also tweeted his support for refugees, in what has been seen by many as a thinly veiled barb at Mr Trump.

I express my solidarity with migrants around the world and thank all those who help them: welcoming others means welcoming God in person!  Pope Francis (@Pontifex) December 18, 2016

How often in the Bible the Lord asks us to welcome migrants and foreigners, reminding us that we too are foreigners!  Pope Francis (@Pontifex) February 18, 2017

Climate Change

When it comes to climate change Mr Trump and Pope Francis couldn't be further apart.

The pope has called climate change a sin and released an encyclical - a papal document on Catholic doctrine - calling on Christians to protect the planet. Failing to do so, it says, is an immoral action that would disproportionately injure the less fortunate. When Mr Trumps predecessor Barack Obama announced a major rule to curb greenhouse gas emissions known as the Clean Power Plan, the Pontiff cheered those efforts.

Mr Trump on the other hand openly mocked climate change while campaigning to become president. In one now-famous tweet he even said it was a hoax created by China.

Since taking office he has actively sought to dismantle the rules and regulations Mr Obama put in place.
Donald Trumps presidency continues to dominate the late-night television landscape. Every monologue is filled with jokes about Trump, his family, and his administration. It is impossible to keep up with all the hilarious jokes, so we rounded up the top five Trump punch lines of the week.

Donald Trump cannot believe these jokes. (Photo: AP Images)

Donald Trump Punch Lines

On The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, Trevor commented on last Saturday being Donald Trumps 100th day in office. Trevor then said, Which means he no longer has that new president smell. If I had to guess, I would say he now smells like nepotism and steak sauce.

Conan brought up Trumps recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding, The call was all part of Putins annual employee review. And on The Late Show With Seth Meyers, Seth joked about Trumps comments on the Civil War. Seth said: President Trump questioned why America fought the Civil War. You know, at this rate, the only way Trump is going to get a second term is if hes held back.

Meanwhile, on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Stephen was in some hot water for a joke he told this week that prompted #FireColbert. But a joke that Stephen told that wasnt so controversial was after a clip of Donald Trump bragging about his big tax returns. Following the clip, Stephen said, We get it. You have a huge tax return. But you know what would be nice? A full release.

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah airs weeknights at 11 p.m. on Comedy Central.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on CBS.

The Late Late Show With James Corden airs weeknights at 12:37 a.m. on CBS.

Conan airs weeknights at 11 p.m. on TBS.

Late Night With Seth Meyers airs weeknights at 12:35 a.m. on NBC.

Watch: Stephen Colberts Response to #FireColbert: I Dont Regret It

Read more from Yahoo TV:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below.
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump will issue an executive order on Thursday making it easier for churches and religious groups to take part in politics without risk of losing their tax-exempt status, a senior White House official said.

The order, which will also declare it the policy of the Trump administration to "protect and vigorously promote religious liberty," aims to get around a provision of the federal tax code known as the Johnson Amendment prohibiting religious organizations from directly opposing or supporting political candidates.

The order "will direct the IRS to exercise maximum enforcement discretion to alleviate the burden of the Johnson amendment, which prohibits religious leaders from speaking about politics and candidates from the pulpit," the official said.

However, "we're not actually in the executive order stating what the specific details of that relief will be," the official added.

The move, meant to mark the National Day of Prayer, will also make it easier for company owners to act in accordance with their religious beliefs -- such as refusing to pay for contraceptives -- under the Affordable Care Act.

In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that closely held for-profit businesses -- those with at least 50 percent of stock held by five or fewer people -- with owners holding clear religious beliefs, can't be required to pay for specific types of contraceptives for their employees.

The executive order would seek to extend the ruling in the case known as Hobby Lobby, the official said. "We need to provide regulatory relief to deal with those outstanding issues for more than just companies like Hobby Lobby."

The move has raised fears among rights groups that the Trump administration will effectively legalize discrimination against LGBT people and other minorities.

Two prominent civil rights groups said they will sue the Trump administration if the executive order targets Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender people for discrimination, Buzzfeed reported.

Trump is set to host religious leaders on Thursday morning. While some have complained about the time Trump has taken to loose restrictions against religious groups, other conservative religious leaders will likely be upset that his order will fall short of the broader action they have been advocating.
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Pope Francis on May 24, the Vatican said on Thursday, a potentially awkward encounter given their diametrically opposing positions on immigration, refugees and climate change. Trump will be coming from the Middle East and stop in Rome before going to Brussels for a NATO summit and then to Sicily for a meeting of the Group of Seven rich countries. The Vatican said the meeting would take place at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) on a Wednesday in the Apostolic Palace, an unusual day and an unusually early time for a head of state to meet the pope. Francis holds his weekly general audience on Wednesday mornings, and senior Vatican sources said the meeting with the president had to be squeezed in before that. Just last Saturday, the pope told reporters aboard the plane returning from a trip to Egypt that he was not aware of any request from Trump for a meeting. He repeated the policy that a pope meets with any head of state who asks for a private audience. Trump's first foreign trip originally was to have included only Brussels and Sicily but was later expanded to include Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican. Besides being leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, the pope is a head of state. Such meetings allow for an exchange of views on world affairs and a chance for the pope to encourage ethical solutions to world problems. Last year, in response to an answer about then-candidate Trump's views on immigration and his intention to build a wall on the border with Mexico, Francis said a man with those views is "not Christian". Trump, who grew up in a Presbyterian family, shot back saying it was "disgraceful" for the pope to question his faith. In March, Cardinal Peter Turkson, a close aide of the pope, urged Trump to listen to "dissenting voices" and reconsider his position on climate change, after Trump signed an executive order dismantling Obama-era environmental legislation. Francis has made defense of the environment a key plank of his papacy, strongly backing scientific opinion that global warming is caused mostly by human activity. About 21 percent of Americans, or 70 million people, are Catholic. Washington has had full diplomatic relations with the Vatican since 1984, when President Ronald Reagan saw the Vatican under Pope John Paul, a Pole, as a crucial ally against communism. (Reporting By Philip Pullella)
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had their third phone call Tuesday. The two leaders spoke for the first time since the U.S. attacked the Shayrat air base in Syria in April in retaliation to the deadly chemical gas attack against civilians, allegedly conducted by Syrian President Bashar Assad in Idlib province April 4, which left over 100 people dead and more than 300 wounded.

The attack resulted in tensions between the United States and Russia as the Russian military have been fighting alongside the Syrian regime.

According to the Kremlins official website, a statement about the phone call also said that the two presidents have agreed to meet face-to-face in July at the G20 world leaders summit in Hamburg.

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump supported the continuation of the contacts on the phone, as well as in favor of the organization of personal meetings in conjunction with the meeting of the 'Summit of the Group of twenty' July 7-8 in Hamburg, the statement on the website read.

Read: Trump Has Always Praised Putin Despite Tensions In US-Russia Relations

During the phone call, the two leaders also agreed to work together to make diplomatic progress on the threat posed by North Korea, after weeks of escalating tensions between North Korea and the U.S.

Thoroughly discussed the dangerous situation on the Korean peninsula. The Russian head of state has called for restraint and reduce tensions level. It was agreed to establish a joint work focused on diplomatic solutions to the comprehensive settlement of the problem, the statement on Kremlins website said.

Moscow described the phone call as "business-like and constructive." The two leaders also discussed the Syrian crisis over the telephonic conversation.

Matthew Wallin, senior fellow at the American Security Project said: "Russias influence will be helpful [on North Korea], but not nearly as much as Chinas cooperation."

Story continues

He said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un needs to see that the possession of destructive nuclear weapons is a much larger threat to the country's existence "than the threat of an American or South Korean invasion without them, according to the Independent.

"Like China, Russia sees North Korea as a useful check on American power in the region", but Wallin said it was "unclear" if either Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping are really willing to put pressure on Kim.

Read: Trump Calls Putin To Offer Condolences For St. Petersburg Metro Bomb Blast

After Trump and Putins phone call, reports said that former Fox News personality Megyn Kelly is expected to travel to Russia in June to moderate a panel at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which will take place between June 1 to June 3 and include Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kelly has already been on the headlines for the official June premiere of her new show for NBC News.

Page Six reported Tuesday that Kelly officially started her new NBC role on May 1. An unnamed source called the coming trip to Russia a great way for Megyn to get an inside track and land the big one-on-one interview with President Putin.

In a statement, an NBC spokesperson confirmed the news to the gossip site saying: Megyn Kelly of NBC News will moderate the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on stage with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin.

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At least three House Republicans say they did not read the entire American Health Care Act (AHCA) before voting for it.

"I will fully admit, Wolf, I did not, Representative Mark Sanford told CNNs Wolf Blitzer when asked if he had read the whole bill. But I can also assure you my staff did.

The bill  Republicans latest plan to repeal and replace Obamacare  was finalised at 8pm the night before a House of Representatives vote. It was not posted publicly until that morning.

Read more

Donald Trump's healthcare bill approved by House

The bill passed the House by a razor-thin margin on Thursday.

The compressed timeline lead Democrats to accuse their counterparts of forcing a vote on a backroom deal. Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan had accused Democrats of the same thing during the Obamacare vote in 2009, saying, If you rush this thing through before anyone even knows what it is, thats not good democracy.

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise said that representatives had had more than enough time to read the bill.

Republican Representative Mark Sanford, however, told CNNs Alysyn Camerota that he had only turned through every page of the legislation.

As to whether or not I got through some of the details in some of the pages, no, he said. But yes, I attempted to read the entire bill.

The congressman also seemed unclear on the specifics of the bill, saying it was fundamentally about protecting people with pre-existing conditions. The bill allows states to opt out of key Obamacare protections for those with pre-existing health concerns.

Representative Tom Garrett also admitted to not reading the bill in its entirety, although he said that people in my office had read all parts of it.

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"I don't think any individual has read the whole bill," Garrett said. "That's why we have staff."

Called @Rep_Tom_Garrett about #AHCA, who said he didn't read the bill, "that's what staff is for." Staffer couldn't say who had read bill.  Ross Baird (@rossbaird) May 4, 2017

Congress members say that the White House, concerned with their lack of progress on campaign promises, pushed the House to vote on Thursday. President Donald Trump called several members of Congress personally, reportedly even raising his voice and swearing at them in phone conversations.

Mr Sanford has been outspoken about the president's attempts to sway his vote in the past. The congressman said Mr Trump threatened to run a candidate against him in the midterms if he did not vote yes on the first iteration of the bill.

Mr Sanford said the threats absolutely did not influence his vote on Thursday.

I voted 'yes' because ultimately this debate came down to whether or not we simply advance this vote to the Senate. he said.

Members of the Senate, for their part, say they plan to make major changes to the legislation.

Y'all, I'm still waiting to see if it's a boy or a girl," GOP Senator Lindsey Graham said of the House bill. Any bill that has been posted less than 24 hours, going to be debated three or four hours, not scored? Needs to be viewed with suspicion."

The representatives did not respond to The Independents request for comment.
By Scott Malone BOSTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's executive order on Thursday making it easier for churches to dabble in politics kept faith with his promise to evangelical Christians who helped him win the White House, but could end up benefiting his opponents as well. Leaders of the U.S. religious left, a rising force of opposition to Trump's hard-line stance on immigration and healthcare, said they were poised to benefit from the move, which lifts the risk of religious groups losing their tax-exempt status if they advocate for particular candidates. "This is going to backfire on Trump," said the Rev. Jennifer Butler, chief executive of progressive policy group Faith in Public Life. "We are morally outraged at what is going on and we are appalled at the weaponization of religion." The group plans to mobilize voters who view some of Trump's policies as immoral. While the group does not endorse candidates, those voters in the 2018 midterm elections would back candidates who oppose those policies. Trump's order gives religious groups more liberty to do so without jeopardizing tax-exempt status. "We're going to be mobilizing millions of voters to turn out at the polls and vote their values," Butler said. Sojourners, a Washington-based progressive Christian network that advocates for immigrants and the poor, also believes more of its members will now feel free to speak out against Trump's policies. "I wouldn't tell people who to vote for but I would tell them what to vote against and this might encourage more churches to speak out against him," said Jim Wallis, the group's founder. "Donald Trump's use of racism and racial bigotry is unchristian. His attack on refugees is anti-Christian." Trump has repeatedly and angrily denied allegations that his policies are racist, calling immigration limits essential for national security. Before signing the order, the Republican president cited historically black churches and slain civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. as drivers of U.S. social progress. 'SWORD OF DAMOCLES' Evangelical and Roman Catholic leaders as well as a prominent U.S. rabbi joined Trump when he signed the order instructing the Internal Revenue Service to "alleviate the burden of the Johnson Amendment," the 1954 law prohibiting organizations with tax-free status, including churches, from participating in political campaigns or supporting particular candidates. The move by Trump, who appealed to religious conservatives in his 2016 presidential run, was widely praised by religious organizations that felt hemmed in by the law or openly violated it. "We will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced any more," Trump, who criticized the Johnson Amendment during his campaign, said at the ceremony. Rescinding the law would require an act of Congress. Ralph Reed, a longtime leader of the religious right and chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, praised Trump's executive order in a statement, saying it removed a "sword of Damocles that has hung over the faith community for decades." Several prominent leaders of the religious left said Trump's move violated the U.S. Constitution's separation of church and state. They noted that neither Republican nor Democratic policy stances lined up neatly with any major religion's teaching and said the move could fracture congregations by encouraging leaders to take sides. The American Civil Liberties Union promised to sue to stop it. "Once faith leaders become partisan, it hijacks their moral authority and their impartiality in this hyper-partisan environment," said Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Several leaders interviewed said they worried that Trump's move could be unevenly enforced, allowing conservative Christian churches to promote political candidates without extending the same exemptions to other views or other denominations. "The biggest religious liberty issue now for me is how Christians are going to protect the liberty of Muslims," said Wallis, of Sojourners. "That's the top issue, more than whether they have to hire gay people." Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said his group would keep urging U.S. imams to speak out on moral issues with political consequences, but would urge them to remain nonpartisan. He wondered if all religious leaders would follow that guidance. "These kind of moves, particularly by this administration, have a vast ocean of unintended consequences," he said. (Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Peter Cooney)
cameronabadi

A U.S. Navy SEAL was killed and two other troops were wounded during a firefight in Somalia on Friday, marking the latest casualties in President Donald Trumps ramped-up fight against terrorists in Africa and the Middle East.

The incident marks the fourth combat death of a U.S. service member this week  in three separate countries  after two Army Rangers were killed in Afghanistan battling the Islamic State, and another soldier was killed by an explosive device near Mosul, Iraq.

The SEALs death is the first American combat death in Somalia since 1993. A Defense Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the casualties to Foreign Policy.

The objective of the mission was to kill or capture militants from the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group who had previously conducted assaults against Somali and American targets, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said. It began when American helicopters ferried the Somali and U.S. special operations forces to a site near a compound housing the militants in northeastern Somalia, when they were attacked soon after leaving the aircraft.

While the Americans were on what the Pentagon calls an advise and assist mission  meaning they hold back near the intended target to allow local forces to proceed  they were caught up in the fight and were able to assist in eliminating the targets, Davis said. It appears the fight was entirely on the ground, and no U.S. aircraft dropped munitions during the exchange. This was a Somali mission, Davis said. We were in support.

The incident comes just weeks after the Trump administration designated parts of Somalia an area of active hostilities, making it easier for U.S. commanders to act against the al Qaeda-linked group without White House approval.

Somalias newly elected president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared a fresh campaign in April to rid his fragile country of al-Shabab. Since ousting the group from Mogadishu in 2011, the countrys weak central government has relied on a 22,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force and small cadre of U.S. special forces and advisors to maintain stability.

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American commandos have long had a small but significant presence in Somalia, patrolling with government forces battling the insurgent group. The rules of engagement have stipulated that they can only open fire if they or their Somali allies are in danger of being overrun.

The new rules relax those conditions somewhat, though Defense officials insist that they dont represent the start of offensive operations on the part of U.S. troops. AFRICOM Commander Thomas Waldhauser said in March the Pentagon would avoid turning Somalia into a free-fire zone.

The cardinal rule in these types of engagements is to not make more enemies than you already have, he said.

In early April, dozens of troops from the 101st Airborne Division arrived in Mogadishu to assist with logistics and training for local forces and African Union peacekeepers in a new deployment that will not include combat operations.

One of the deadliest U.S. assaults against al-Shabab took place last year, when American drones and manned aircraft targeted a training camp and killed an estimated 150 fighters.

Al-Shabab has lost ground to the Somali government and its international partners in recent months, but still controls some 10 percent of the country and regularly conducts raids against military and civilian targets.

The African Union reiterated last month it intends to draw down its Somalia mission, AMISOM, in 2018, sparking fears al-Shabab could make a resurgence. We were not intending to stay there forever, AMISOM civilian chief Francisco Madeira said. Somalia is for the Somalis. We, like all other Africans, we have our own countries.

Photo credit: ABDULFITAH HASHI NOR/AFP/Getty Images

Correction, May 5, 2017: Gen. Waldhauser spoke to the press about U.S. objectives on March 24. The 101st Airborne Division arrived in Mogadishu on April 2. A previous version of this article incorrectly reported the timing of both events.
New York (AFP) - A US judge on Thursday relaxed slightly the stringent custody conditions of Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, allowing him to correspond with his beauty queen wife.

The 60-year-old kingpin, accused of running one of the world's biggest drug empires, has been held in solitary confinement since being extradited to New York on January 19.

Federal Judge Brian Cogan ruled that Guzman, one of the world's most notorious criminals, could send written messages to his wife -- provided they were pre-screened by federal agencies -- but denied him family visits and phone calls.

Guzman's wife Emma Coronel, 27, is the mother of his twins.

The 18-page ruling similarly allowed his defense team's pre-cleared investigator to visit without an attorney present, following complaints from Guzman's lawyers about the conditions of his pre-trial detention.

But Cogan refused a request for Amnesty International to visit on the grounds that there was "absolutely no reason."

The London-based rights groups in March asked to speak with Guzman, expressing concern that the conditions of his detention "appear to be unnecessarily harsh and to breach international standards for human treatment."

Cogan also flatly denied a request by Guzman -- who twice escaped from prisons in Mexico -- to have his "special administrative measures" lifted in full or for him to be moved out of solitary confinement.

"The conditions are reasonably necessary to ensure that defendant cannot coordinate any escape from prison, direct any violence against cooperators, or manage any aspect of the Sinaloa Cartel's enterprise," he wrote.

He went on to write that Guzman's second jail break in Mexico "was accomplished under 24-hour video surveillance in solitary confinement."

The decision came one day before Guzman is due to appear in court for another pre-trial hearing. His wife is also expected to attend.

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His lawyer Michelle Gelernt welcomed permission for her client to swap letters with his wife as "small comfort" but said it was "devastating news for both of them" to be denied visits and calls.

"We continue to believe that the conditions of Mr Guzman's detention, including being held in solitary confinement, are untenable," she said in a statement.

"We will continue to fight for his right to fair and humane treatment."

Cogan has denied Guzman visits from anyone other than his lawyers or permission to communicate with potential witnesses.

Cogan's ruling revealed that Guzman is visited by his lawyers almost every day at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, for an average of four to five hours in a windowed visitor room.

The judge ordered US prosecutors to "cease any communications with MCC staff," in which prison employees report back on the content of those meetings.

In March, the defense complained Guzman's health was deteriorating in custody, and claimed that he experienced "auditory hallucinations."

Guzman pleaded not guilty to firearms, drug trafficking and conspiracy charges. If convicted, he is likely to spend the rest of his life in a maximum security US prison.
The owners of an American animal sanctuary have come under fire for killing all 11 of its exotic animals, despite other rescue centres offering to rehome the three tigers, three lions and five bears.

The Lions Gate Sanctuary in Colorado said it was forced to euthanise its animals last month after it was denied permission to relocate away from a site that had repeatedly flooded.

Co-owners doctor Joan Laub and Peter Winney said in a statement they planned to build a new facility on 45 acres of empty land they owned, but were denied permission by commissioners who bowed to pressure from local residents in an "unfair" hearing.

In a statement the couple said they felt "the Elbert County Commissioners did not take... the plight of our animals seriously... [or] the safety of Elbert County residents seriously".

"We told them it was no longer safe to keep the animals at that location and we needed to move," they said.

"The commissioners made a decision based upon emotion, and not the law. The 'not in my backyard' crowd controlled the meeting and the outcome.

"As a result, 11 innocent animals paid the price."

Elbert County officials denied responsibility for the deaths of the exotic animals, saying they did not anticipate the outcome of the ruling.

The couple killed all of the big cats and bears at once without warning, having said in the hearing they intended to continue to care for them at the old site if they were denied permission to move, a spokesman for the three county commissioners said in a statement. .

Furthermore, the Keenesburg Wild Animal Sanctuary, also in Colorado, had publicly offered to care for the animals at their facility if Lions Gate was unable to do so", the commissioners claim.

Dr Laub and Mr Winney claimed they did reach out to other animal centres for help, but nobody offered to take in their animals because most were very old. But several centres inside and outside the state dispute this, saying they did not hear from the couple and could have offered the animals a home.

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Pat Craig, who runs the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, told Denver7 the couple were lying.

Taking care of animals that are either sick or have long-term issues is part of our daily thing that we do here, Ms Craig said. We rescue... geriatric animals all the time where theyre definitely in the last phases of their life and most people think it would be traumatic for them to move and we move many animals and every one of them ends up very happy here, even in their elder years.

Meanwhile the Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota said they were in a "state of shock" over the decision, especially as they had been "very vocal about our opening for lions in need".

In a post on Facebook the animal rescue facility said they had a long history with Lion's Gate, having rehomed five animals from the centre more than ten years ago when it operated under a different name and had a different owner. They urged members of the public to request an official investigation into the incident.

"It appears this tragedy was a selfish move by these private owners and had nothing to do with the welfare of the animals," the centre said, in a post that has been liked nearly 7,000 times. "Our heart breaks knowing these were senseless deaths of animals that deserved so much more compassion."
Venezuelas ruling party leader Diosdado Cabello quelled reports of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez being hospitalized in a serious condition late Wednesday. This comes after several local reports and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida said Lopez was transferred to a military hospital, where his wife, Lilian Tintori was denied entry, says reports.

Venezuelas popular journalist Leopoldo Castillo tweeted earlier in the day saying 46-year-old Lopez was taken from the Ramo Verde military jail outside Caracas, to the hospital without vital signs. The Socialist government blamed "intoxication" for Lopezs condition, Castillo added in his tweet. After the reports began gaining traction, Cabello showed a 20-second video clipping on state television of Lopez in good health from May 3, 9 p.m., the Associated Press (AP) reported.

"I don't understand why they want me to send a proof of life," Lopez, who stood with arms crossed in front of prison bars, said in the video, according to the AP. "I'm sending this message to my family, to my kids, to say I'm fine."

Earlier, Rubio announced on Twitter Lopez was hospitalized and was in "very serious condition." Following the unconfirmed reports, Tintori said on Twitter she was on her way to the hospital seeking information on his condition. Several posts on Twitter showed Tintori crying at the closed gates of the hospital, since she was denied entry.

"Please, can you inform us if anyone brought Leopoldo here? Did he enter or not?" she was heard saying through the metal bars at the entrance, the AP reported.

La Patilla, a Venezuelan website, reported citing his attorney that they were unable to verify about Lopezs condition.

Lopez was jailed on Feb. 18, 2014, after surrendering to the police. In August 2015, he was handed down 13 years and nine months of prison term after being found guilty of instigating violence during the 2014 anti-government protests that killed at least 40 people. He repeatedly maintained his innocence. Lopezs jail term was combined with the time already spent in prison.

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In May 2015, he went on a month-long hunger strike to put pressure on the government official to set a date for legislative elections. He ended the strike after the election date was set for Dec. 6 that year.

Lopezs detention triggered uproar among opposition supporters, who said President Nicolas Maduros government squashed human rights.

According to his website, Lopez is the founder and National Coordinator of Voluntad Popular (Popular Will), which is a social movement and political party composed of thousands of activists and community, labor and youth leaders from all regions of Venezuela.

Lopez was born into a well-off family that has ties to the business and oil sector, according to BBC. He studied in the U.S. and earned a master's degree from Harvard University. He came to limelight after getting elected as mayor of Caracas's Chacao district. He remained the mayor from 2000 to 2008. However, he was denied of running for reelection in the 2008 polls for allegedly misusing public funds.

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Long-legged fliers may be particularly interested in a side-by-side comparison of airlines that offer the most and least amount of legroom, after the world's largest airline revealed that flying economy class will become an even tighter squeeze.

American Airlines will be reducing legroom by as much as two inches for passengers traveling economy aboard their Boeing 737 MAX jetliners, which are due to enter service later this year. The jets will fly primarily domestic routes.

Seat pitch -- the distance between seats -- will shrink from 31 inches to 29 inches on three rows of the aircraft, and down to 30 inches in the rest of the economy class cabin, reported CNN Money.

The move is aimed at squeezing more seats into the aircraft's economy cabin, and it puts it on-par with low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, where seat pitch averages 28 inches.

Earlier this year, American Airlines launched a no-frills basic economy fare as a way to compete with the low-cost competition.

Meanwhile, aside from choosing a seat in the emergency exit row and bulkhead, for extra legroom Cheapflights also recommends arriving early and being polite to the gate agents who may be able to reassign long-legged passengers in the event of last-minute cancelations and no-shows.

Here's a look at the average legroom space for short-haul economy class flights aboard one of the most common aircrafts, the Boeing 737, for different airlines, according to Seatguru:

KLM: 30 inches

Lufthansa: 30 inches

Qantas: 30 inches

United Airlines: 30-31 inches

Delta Air Lines:30-31 inches

American Airlines: 31 inches

Alaska Airlines: 31-32 inches

WestJet: 31-33 inches

Korean Air: 31-33 inches

All Nippon Airways: 32 inches
Breaking news: The Trump White House is not exactly home to the best and the brightest legal minds. This much was clear starting with the first "Muslim Ban," which courts swiftly struck down, and it's still the case when it comes to reports about why Trump is poised to pull the U.S. out of the landmark Paris Climate Agreement.

In fact, your future and the futures of generations of people on this planet may come down to how the Trump administration chooses to interpret one sentence in this 25-page international agreement.

SEE ALSO: Trump's climate order puts 'China first' in clean energy

Scholars specializing in climate law say one possible way of interpreting the language of the Paris Climate Agreement is actually flat-out wrong. Trouble is, that's the interpretation that has gained favor at the White House, according to numerous media reports.

Either the Trump administration knows this but is citing it anyway, or the Trump team is getting some seriously flawed legal advice.

2016 was the warmest year on record since 1880, as this visualization shows.

Image: nasa giss

Under the terms of the agreement, each country is asked to come up with its own emissions reduction targets. There are no mechanisms for punishing a country if it fails to live up to its pledges.

The problem for the White House is that language in the treaty meant to nudge countries to gradually slash emissions by greater amounts could, in theory at least, be read as prohibiting a country from making its pledges less ambitious.

If this were the case, then the Trump White House would likely ditch the pact altogether, because its policies favor burning more fossil fuels. Withdrawing from the pact would put the U.S. in the company of the few nations that have not yet signed onto it, such as Syria, which is in the midst of a devastating civil war, and Nicaragua, which found the agreement to be too tepid to support.

The Paris Agreement is widely considered to be a vital tool in giving countries a decent chance (though not a sure bet) of preventing the worst-case global warming scenarios.

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The pact contains the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to preindustrial levels by the year 2100.

Any delays in implementing the treaty's emissions cuts are likely to put its temperature target further out of reach, however.

The provision in question for the Trump administration is known as the agreements ratchet mechanism, since it is aimed at encouraging countries to make their emissions pledges more stringent over time.

Heres the exact wording that is giving White House lawyers pause:

Ok, so that's a bunch of diplomacy-speak, but the key word in there is may.

In international law, may is the equivalent of can. In other words, this is optional, whereas if the wording used contained shall, then it would be mandatory.

The fact that it uses may means that any country that is a party to the treaty can adjust its emissions targets in either direction at anytime it wishes to. Nothing in that paragraph encourages countries to move their emissions reduction targets down, because the whole point is to reduce global warming, but nothing prevents it either.

Scholars specializing in climate law were not kind to the White Houses emerging view that the treaty prevents the U.S. from revising its targets to make them more modest.

U.S. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, left, shakes hands with coal miners in Pennsylvania on April 13, 2017.

Image: AP/REX/Shutterstock

They also dismissed the administrations fear, reportedly expressed by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt, that the treaty could be cited in legal challenges to Trumps environmental agenda. Under former president Barack Obama, the U.S. brought forward a target of cutting emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, but Trump wants to ease that, since he is in favor of burning more fossil fuels.

Pruitt has already kicked off efforts to roll back Obamas greenhouse gas emissions reductions for coal-fired power plants.

Michael Burger, the executive director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, said the Paris Agreement permits downward revisions of emissions targets.

He also said Pruitts concern over court cases is unfounded, since U.S. courts dont take their cues from international law, but rather from domestic statutes.

Remaining in the Paris Agreement does not increase domestic litigation risk for the Trump administration, he said in an email.

The emissions reduction target is just that  a target. It is non-binding. There is no right to sue to enforce the target in U.S. courts, and there is no right to sue to enforce it in any international tribunal, either, he said.

Greenhouse gas emissions scenarios to meet particular global warming targets. Deep cuts are needed to hold warming to 2 degrees Celsius by 2100.

Image: global carbon budget 2016.

Of course, the Trump administration has a larger problem, here. Climate change is real, and the American public wants action. Moreover, climate change impacts affect people's lives, livelihoods, health and well-being. It affects people's fundamental rights. Failing to take action, or taking affirmative actions that leads to violations of people's rights raises legal problems, regardless of the Paris Agreement, Burger said.

The debate taking place within the Trump administration has put some who fought tirelessly to draft and pass the agreement in the first place in an odd position. For example, Laurence Tubiana, who served as the French governments special representative to the Paris talks in 2015, tweeted on Thursday morning that Trump would still be complying with the Paris Agreement even if he submits a new, less stringent target.

To make my point clear.Of course US government CAN legally downsize its contribution but SHOULD Not. https://t.co/Eyko2ULgIT  Laurence Tubiana (@LaurenceTubiana) May 4, 2017

Others who want the U.S. to remain a party to the treaty are also trying to get their message out, including Democratic governors, who wrote to the White House on Wednesday.

Paula Caballero, who directs the climate program for the nonpartisan World Resources Institute in Washington, warned of damaging consequences for the U.S. and the world if Trump were to pull the country out of the agreement entirely. She said the legal arguments put forward so far amount to a smokescreen.

Those urging the US to withdraw from the agreement have manufactured a misleading debate over whether the terms agreed to in Paris could be used to challenge the administrations plans on climate change, she said.

Caballero called the legal debate: A tactic to cover what is at its heart purely a political decision, and warned of harsh consequences to come from countries that are sticking with the treaty.

Walking away from the agreement would be a dark stain on the presidents legacy that he would never be able to wash out, Caballero warned.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's son was born with a heart defect, and the newborn needed surgery within days of his birth.

Kimmel described his son's surgery in an emotional monologue on his show last night (May 1).

The baby, named Billy, was born with a condition called "tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia," Kimmel told viewers. Billy had open-heart surgery on April 24 and went home six days later, on April 30. [Heart of the Matter: 7 Things to Know About Your Ticker]

"He's doing great. He's eating, he's sleeping, he peed on his mother today while she was changing his diaper. He's doing all the things that he's supposed to do," Kimmel said.

Billy will need another operation in three to six months, and then a noninvasive procedure when he's in his teens, Kimmel said.

But what is tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia? And how is it treated?

The condition is a relatively common type of congenital heart defect, one that pediatric cardiologists and surgeons generally see many times each year, said Dr. Joseph Rossano, the executive director of the Cardiac Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Rossano was not involved in Kimmel's son's case.

The condition involves problems with the heart's structure that change the way that blood flows through the heart, causing the baby to have lower levels of oxygen in his or her blood than normal, Rossano told Live Science.

Normally, blood enters the right side of the heart and then is pumped through a blood vessel called the pulmonary artery to the lungs. In the lungs, the blood picks up oxygen, and then flows back into the left side of the heart. This oxygen-rich blood is then pumped out of the heart through the aorta, and into the rest of the body.

But when a person is born with tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia, the blood vessel that transports blood from the heart to the lungs is blocked, Rossano said. In addition, people with the condition have a defect in the wall of the heart that separates the two bottom chambers (the heart has four chambers), he said.

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The result is that the blood can go from the right to the left side of the heart without first going to the lungs to pick up oxygen, Rossano said. Because the blood from the left side of the heart is pumped out into the rest of the body, this means that blood without oxygen is being pumped out of the heart, he said.

The severity of a baby's condition depends on the extent of the blockage in the blood vessel that leads to the lungs, Rossano said. In some cases, the vessel may be blocked just a little, so enough blood gets to the lungs and the baby's oxygen levels are normal.

But in severe cases, the blood vessel can be completely blocked, Rossano said. ("Atresia" is a medical term that refers to a passage in the body being closed off.) In these cases, babies must rely on another blood vessel, called the ductus arteriosus, to carry blood from the heart to the lungs, Rossano said. The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel that's open when a baby is still in the uterus, but closes a day or so after the baby is born, Rossano said. A medication called prostaglandin can help keep the ductus arteriosus open until the baby can have surgery or a procedure to fix the defect.

Most children who are born with this condition undergo a "complete" repair, Rossano said. That means closing the defect between the right and left side of the heart and making sure that blood can flow normally from the right side of the heart to the lungs, he said. [The 7 Biggest Mysteries of the Human Body]

This surgery can take place shortly after the baby is born or after the child has grown a bit, Rossano said. The "vast majority" of children end up having the complete repair before age 1, he said.

Rossano noted that although children with this condition need follow-ups for the rest of their lives, "many of these children if not most are really thriving."

Kids with the condition can still lead a pretty normal childhood, he said. It's a "serious heart defect," Rossano added, "but it's treatable."

Originally published on Live Science.

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Desiree Fairooz, an activist with Code Pink, found guilty of disorderly or disruptive conduct with intent to disrupt congressional proceedings

Desiree Fairooz confronts Condoleeza Rice in 2007. Fairooz has been convicted after laughing during a confirmation hearing for Jeff Sessions as attorney general. Photograph: Larry Downing/Reuters

A jury in Washington has convicted a woman who was arrested after laughing during a confirmation hearing for the attorney general, Jeff Sessions.

Desiree Fairooz, an activist with the leftwing NGO Code Pink, was found guilty of engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct with the intent to disrupt congressional proceedings, as well as parading, demonstrating or picketing.

The charges stem from the hearing on 10 January, when Sessions then colleague, fellow Alabama Republicansenator Richard Shelby, said Sessions record of treating all Americans equally under the law is clear and well-documented.

Fairooz laughed out loud twice at this claim, and according to the charges filed by the prosecutor, grew loud and more disruptive as an officer attempted to remove her from the room.

Her disruptive behavior included yelling that Senator Sessions voting record was evil and waving a sign that read: Support civil rights, stop [S]essions.

Another protester escorted out of Sessions hearing. Her original offense appeared to be simply laughing. pic.twitter.com/p6lWzBVFRW  Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) January 10, 2017

Two men who dressed up in KKK outfits and pretended to be Sessions supporters at the hearing were also convicted on charges related to the hearing. Fairooz and the two men are due back in court to be sentenced in June. The misdemeanor convictions the three face could carry jail time, but it is considered unlikely.

The idea that a US citizen could be removed from a hearing and charged with a crime after laughing was ironic given that, in response to an April gaffe about the state of Hawaii, Sessions lamented: Nobody has a sense of humour any more.

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The arrest was also curious because the gallery had laughed at other points during the hearing, when Sessions cracked a joke.

A spokesperson for the jury that convicted Fairooz, who spoke to the Huffington Post on condition of anonymity, said: She did not get convicted for laughing. It was her actions as she was being asked to leave.

After the arrest, Fairooz said in a statement on Code Pinks website that she felt it was her responsibility as a citizen to dissent at the confirmation hearing of Senator Jeff Sessions, a man who professes anti-immigrant, anti-LGBT policies, who has voted against several civil rights measures and who jokes about the white supremacist terrorist group the Ku Klux Klan.

Sessions was rejected as a federal judge in the 1980s because of concerns about his views on race crystallized in a letter from Coretta Scott King that was widely revisited during the hearing process.
President Donald Trump will return to New York City Thursday for the first time after he took office and moved to Washington D.C., but the homecoming may not be as sweet as he would have liked it to be.

Massive protests have been organized to Rise and Resist against the president as he visits USS Intrepid, a decommissioned aircraft carrier docked in lower Manhattan. Trump will be joined by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, as both of them commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Read: Climate Change Protesters Host Dance Party Opposite First Daughter Ivanka Trump's House

Donald Trump is coming to New York City for the first time since his inauguration, the events Facebook page reads. Join Rise and Resist this Thursday, May 4th, to show the so-called-president how unpopular and unwelcome he is in his hometown. We condemn Trump and his regime of hatred and discrimination. #NoTrumpNYC

The events page calls on fellow protesters to join them at West 44th Street and 12th Avenue, opposite the Intrepid at 3 p.m.

We're bringing 100 signs and Lady Liberty crowns and torches: please feel free to bring your own signs, costumes, noisemakers, food, water, the organizers added on the page. As his movements are being kept secret we wont know the exact timings until the last minute. We will send out a text alert as soon as his movements are confirmed on the day. Please sign up here if you would like to receive a text alert for this action: http://bit.ly/trumpvisit.

Trump protest

Photo: Reuters

During the 2016 presidential election, Trump faced defeat at the hands of his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton in New York. The Womens Marchs New York chapter that followed his inauguration also saw an overwhelming number of people coming out to protest the presidents election.

New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio has also been a vocal critic of Trump and his immigration and law enforcement policies. The Washington Examiner, however, quoted DeBlasio as saying, The White House organized that event. If they invite me in my role as mayor, I would respect that.

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Even though I have real differences with the president, hes still president of the United States, and I would respect that, the mayor said when asked whether he would attend the event at the Intrepid. I dont have any illusion that reaching out to him is going to achieve something immediate. But if its the kind of situation thats a civic event, if you will, and something that is about more universal values  of course, I would participate.

The Rise and Resist protest is not the only one scheduled for the day. A protest is scheduled at the DeWitt Clinton Park at 2 p.m. Thursday, followed by the one opposite the Intrepid. Protesters are also expected to make an appearance at the Trump Tower at 6 p.m.

A number of protests are also scheduled for Cinco De Mayo, Friday, a day celebrated to commemorate the Mexican Armys unlikely victory over French forces during the Franco-Mexican War. Trumps attitude towards Mexico has been considered condescending by many and people are using the day to protest the presidents policies.

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Lele Pons and Juanpa Zurita, digital superstars who together reach 50 million followers across platforms, will host MTV Latin Americas 2017 MTV MIAW awards.

The duo  dubbed #ZuriPons online  will take over the stage at the MTV Millennial Awards (better known as MTV MIAW) next month. The fifth annual awards show will be held in Mexico City at Palacio de los Deportes arena, airing Sunday, June 4, on TV on MTV Latin America and online at MTV Play.

The MTV MIAW awards are a celebration of Latin Americas hottest trends and top influencers in pop culture, digital, music, viral videos and social media. The show will feature live performances, LatAms most-liked digital influencers of the moment, and appearances by socialites and celebrities. Fans worldwide can cast their votes for the winners at miaw.mtvla.com, as well as via Twitter and Facebook.

Said Pons, I grew up watching MTV and to now be able to be part of a show where they award and celebrate the best and most successful talent of our generation is truly exciting! Im counting down the days until I get to meet with my fans across Mexico and Latin America!

Zurita said hes attended every MIAW since its inception, but as this years host, its a dream come true and I hope youre all ready for whats about to go down. Youre about to witness the craziest awards show in history!

Eleonora Lele Pons, who counts over 25 million fans, was born in Caracas, Venezuela. She rose to fame with her comedic Vine videos, topping 1 billion views on the now-defunct platform. Pons has crossed over to other platforms including Instagram, where her videos garner between 7 million and 12 million views on average.

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The 20-year-old Pons walked the runway for Dolce & Gabbana during Milan Fashion Week in February, and last year starred in her first movie, We Love You, on YouTube Red. Pons also scored the cover of Seventeen Mexico and co-wrote her first book, Surviving High School, a novel about her experiences with bullying in school. For the 2017 MTV MIAW awards, she is nominated in the categories for Global Instagrammer and Super Collab.

Zurita, 21, a native of Mexico City, also got his start on Vine and is now one of the biggest Latin American personalities on Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat. He has four 2017 MTV MIAW nominations, including in the top category, MIAW Icon of the Year.

Along with Pons, Zurita also strutted the D&G runway at this years Milan Fashion Week. In 2016, he was recognized by GQ Mexico as the male digital star of the year and won Mexican Snapchatter of the Year at last years MTV MIAW awards. Zurita co-stars in the forthcoming film Airplane Mode, written by and starring Logan Paul, and appears in YouTube Red original movie Alexander IRL released earlier this year.

Pons is repped by UTA and managed by Shots Studios, a digital content network whose investors include Justin Bieber. Zurita signed with CAA earlier this year.

The 2016 edition of MTV MIAW registered over 106 million votes, more than 77 million impressions on social media and over 62 million page views. On MTV Latin America, the telecast ranked as one of the top 10 rated shows across pay-TV channels in Mexico and Colombia among young audiences.
By Ruth Anderah

13 people accused of participating in the murder of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi are expected to re-appear in court today.

These were charged on April 21st 2017 and sent on remand to Luzira prison by Nakawa Court Grade One Magistrate Noah Sajjabi.

They face five counts including murder, terrorism and aggravated robbery.

Prosecution alleges that the 13 on the 17th/March 2017 at Kulambiro within Kampala district shot dead the former police spokesperson, his body guard Kenneth Erau and driver Godfrey Wambewa as they drove in the official Uganda Police vehicle to work.

They were not given a chance to plead to the charges which are all capital in nature and can only be tried and are bailable by the High Court.

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Fallen AIGP to be laid to rest in Lwengo later this afternoon.

President Museveni condemns the killing of Andrew Felix Kaweesi
By Ruth Anderah

13 people accused of participating in the murder of AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi have asked Nakawa Court grade one magistrate Noah Sajjabi to remand them to Luzira prison instead of Nalufenya where they have been since their arrest.

These led by Abdul Rashid Mbaziira told court that they torture them at Nalufenya police station which put their lives are in danger.

They were charged on April 21st 2017 and sent on remand at Luzira prison but instead they were taken to Nalufenya.

Now the magistrate has ordered their dentation in Luzira prison until May 18th when they re-appear for mention of the case.

This after prosecution led by Rachael Nabwire informed court that investigations into the matter are still on-going.

They faced five counts including murder, Terrorism and Aggravated robbery.

Prosecution states that the 13 on the 17th/March 2017 at Kulambiro within Kampala district shot dead AIGP Felix Kaweesi, his body guard Kenneth Erau and his driver Godfrey Wambewa as they drove in the official Uganda Police vehicle to work.
Gov. Scott Walker kicked off his tour of the states tourism industry in La Crosse on Friday with a visitor center ribbon-cutting on Interstate 90.

Walker participated in the event at the rest area and visitor center on French Island, and released highlights from new tourism numbers that show Wisconsin tourism continues to grow.

Replacing the rest area that opened in 1977 was a longtime goal of retired La Crosse County Convention and Visitor Bureau Executive Director Dave Clements. Clements worked hard with La Crosses Democratic legislators, Sen. Jennifer Shilling and Rep. Jill Billings to get state support for the project, which included buy-in from the Republican governor in 2014. Construction of the $3.5 million facility began in 2016. It includes a visitors building, restrooms, playground, pet exercise area, picnic tables and seasonal walking paths.

Clements attended the ribbon-cutting and said the project was one of the last things on his bucket from his days as tourism director. The facility is a great boon for the state and the city, he said.

This is like my little baby here, he said. I couldnt be more proud.

Dozens of representatives of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the county visitors bureau and the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and local visitors bureaus packed the rest visitors center for the celebration. During his remarks, Walker spoke about the growth of the tourism industry during his tenure as governor.

The tourism industry reached $20 billion in 2016, Walker announced, an increase of more than $5 billion from six years ago. The number of visitors is up as well, with 107.7 million people coming to Wisconsin in 2016.

La Crosse had the ninth-largest volume of tourism for the second year in a row, visitor bureau executive director AJ Frels said. And visitor spending rose to more than $248 million.

This helps support more than 193,000 tourism industry jobs in Wisconsin, which Walker said were a big boost to the state economy.

Tourism isnt just a lot of fun, he said. It is a really important economic impact for the state.

Walker again said he was not yet ready to weigh in on the GOP transportation bill. He did speak about the half-cent premier resort area tax La Crosse County voters supported in an April 4 referendum that the La Crosse County Board is pursuing to help fund road improvements.

He said he had spoken with Shilling about the proposal, and said he would be looking for a binding referendum from voters as a requirement before he could get on board. The proposal would require legislative approval, and previous tax proposals have included similar referendum requirements.

There should be a definitive vote, he said. At a minimum, the taxpayers have to have their say.
From: mathilda kalia <mathildakalia4@hotmail.com>

Sent: 27/04/2017 11:39

Subject: I WILL LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU



I am more than happy in your urgent mail to my mail. How are you today? l hope fine. Mine is not too good due to my suffering condition here in Dakar Senegal. My name is Miss Mathilda Kalia I am (23) years old, single and never married, 5ft 8 inches Tall, 55kg weight, black hair and brown eyes. l am from Ivory Coast in West Africa and presently l am residing in a church Orphanage home here in Dakar Senegal as a result of the civil war that was fought in my country some years ago. I lost my both Parents during this deadly Political War, that Damaged Thousands of innocent Souls in Ivory Coast.



My family was among the first target of the rebels because my Late father a Successful business and also a politician supporting the present Government when the problems was about to start. l managed to make my way to a nearby country Senegal where l am staying now and never pray or think to step my legs in that bloody country called Ivory Coast.



I would like to know more about you. Your likes and dislikes, your hobbies and what you are doing presently. I will tell you more about myself in my next mail. Attached here is my picture, i will like you to send me your picture also, Hoping to hear from you soonest.

Yours forever,

Miss Mathilda. I am more than happy in your urgent mail to my mail. How are you today? l hope fine. Mine is not too good due to my suffering condition here in Dakar Senegal. My name is Miss Mathilda Kalia I am (23) years old, single and never married, 5ft 8 inches Tall, 55kg weight, black hair and brown eyes. l am from Ivory Coast in West Africa and presently l am residing in a church Orphanage home here in Dakar Senegal as a result of the civil war that was fought in my country some years ago. I lost my both Parents during this deadly Political War, that Damaged Thousands of innocent Souls in Ivory Coast.My family was among the first target of the rebels because my Late father a Successful business and also a politician supporting the present Government when the problems was about to start. l managed to make my way to a nearby country Senegal where l am staying now and never pray or think to step my legs in that bloody country called Ivory Coast.I would like to know more about you. Your likes and dislikes, your hobbies and what you are doing presently. I will tell you more about myself in my next mail. Attached here is my picture, i will like you to send me your picture also, Hoping to hear from you soonest.Yours forever,Miss Mathilda.





From: mathilda kalia <mathildakalia4@hotmail.com>

Sent: 28/04/2017 11:28

Subject: THIS IS MY LIFE STORY WITH TRUST AND HONEST



Dearest one,

Thanks for your mail, I will really like to have a good relationship with you and i was praying and fasting for my situation. i have a special reason why i decided to contact you.



I decided to contact you because of the urgency of my situation here and I am constrained to contact you because of the maltreatment I'm received from this camp here where i am now. Meanwhile I wanted to escape to Europe but i lost my international passport and other valuable traveling documents. Luckily the rebels did not discover where I kept my father's File which contains important documents. So I decided to run to the refugee camp where I am presently seeking asylum (protection from danger) under the United Nations High Commission for the Refugee here in Dakar- Republic of Senegal. I wish to contact you personally for a long term business relationship and investment assistance in your Country.



I don't have any relatives now whom i can go to as all my relatives ran away in the middle of the war. The only person i have now is Reverend father JameS Noah. Pastor of ( Christ Mission Assemble ) here in the camp. He has been very nice to me since i came here but i am not living with him rather i live in the females hostel.



The Reverend father's phone number is (+ 221-765-961-651) please i want you to call me by 1:30 PM GMT today, we have more to discuss, please when you call, tell him that you want to speak with me so that he will send for me in the hostel. Please at refugee here i don't have any right or privilege to any thing be it money or whatever because it is against the law of this country. I want to go back to my studies because i only attended my first year before the tragic incident that lead to the death of my parents took place.



My father of blessed memory deposited the sum of US$5,300,000.00 ( Five Million Three Hundred Thousand US Dollars only), in a bank with my name as the next of kin. However, I shall forward you with the necessary documents for confirmation upon your acceptance to assist me for the transfer and investment of the fund. I will also like to complete my academic studies in your Country which you will help me to recommend a nice medical Higher Institution. I was studying Health science before the killing of my parents by the Rebels and was a first year student in the University.



It is my intention to compensate you with 30% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my investment capital. This is the reason why I decided to contact you. Please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes.



As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest, I will send you the contact of the bank immediately. In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely. Am waiting your urgent and positive response. Please do keep this only to your self, please i beg you not to disclose it.

Yours mathilda.

From: mathilda kalia <mathildakalia4@hotmail.com>

Sent: 01/05/2017 15:03

Subject: KINDLY CONTACT THE BANK



My dearest,

Thanks for your mail. I want to explain more to you and also thanking for replying me and the opportunity you have given me to prove my sincerity of purpose. I believed that this is the beginning of a long lasting relationship between both of us, you shall never regret knowing me. However, I decided to contact you in this site and tell you about this money because I needed your help. I have no doubt about your honesty because I prayed to God for direction and directives before contacted you and believed in my heart that you are the right person to assist me.









However, I can not use the money in the bank because when I came to Senegal, I wrote to the bank where my late father deposited the money so that I can withdraw some money as the next of kin to the account and start a new life. unfortunately, I did not know that my late father signed an agreement with the bank that the money should not be released directly to me if not married or up to 30years. The agreement states that I should appoint a foreign trustee/ investor any time I want to take the money from the bank before I am 30 years. I understand that the foreign investor is to invest and manage the money for me in a good business. I was told that it will not be possible for me to indulge in financial transaction because of my age as refugee statue and law that governs this country i am living.



So the bank people advised me that since I am not yet 30 years and not married, I should look for someone to stand for me for claims in accordance with their agreement with my late father. Actually, this is why I contacted you, to help me transfer this money to your bank account in your country or any where you are. Secondly, I like your country and I want to live there and continue my education. You don't have to be afraid because the money was deposited with my name as the next of kin to inherit the fund.







Pastors phone number is (+ 221-765-961-651) if you call, tell him to kindly want to talk to me





I am sending you email from the Rev.office computer in the camp here because i explain to Reverend a little about my condition and he permitted me to have access on his office computer sometimes once in a day. The Pastors ( encase if you want to call me, you tell him that you want to speak with me he will send for me in the hostel camp. Here in the camp their condition is that we don't go out and we don't miss up with people, and the moment you broke the rule you will be out from their guidance.



Sincere in your heart to assist me transfer the money into any account which you know will be safe either new or old empty or not, Though I do not have experience in international transaction so there is nothing I can do without your help, I wouldn't have bordered you if I have full access to the money within myself, because I am helpless without you, having no account and no body abroad as a friend or relation.



Despite the money I really want a man who will care and love me, I need a man who will always tell me the truth from his heart, I need a man who will be my brother my best friends and if the nature permit it to be my husband, But if marriage is out of it, I will not mind but as long we got along together with real love I will definitely be satisfied. I will want you to think very well and understand in your heart if you really want to help me ? If yes I will live the rest of my live to appreciate it, But if no I suggest you make it open to me before you will brake my heart, because I don't want to under go torture any more.





Darling if you really want to help me, i will like you to write a mail to the transfer department of the bank today with this email address and tell them that you are my foreign partner and you want to assist me transfer the amount of 5.3 million us dollar deposited by my late father DR Oliver Kalia due to my refugee statues here in Dakar Senegal. request them the procedure and possibility of transferring my money into your account and as soon as you write to the bank you let me know. Note i have already told the bank about your, they may be waiting to see your mail to prove to them that you are the real person i told the about. so darling write to them and get me inform.



Here is the contact information of the bank in London where the money was

deposited by my late father is as follows;



RABO BANK OF LONDON

NAME OF THE TRANSFER OFFICER IS MR LEED HANSON.



EMAIL ADDRESS. . . . . . . . (tran.lon.rabank@mail.com)

EMAIL ADDRESS. . . . . . . . (bankrabo@mail.com)



TELEPHONE NUMBER IS. + 447849041340

FAX NUMBER. + 447024094154



THE ACCOUNT INFORMATION ARE AS FOLLOWS.



ACCOUNT NAME. . . . . . . DR OLIVER KALIA

AMOUNT . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.3 MILLION DOLLARS.

NEXT OF KIN . . . . . . . . . . .MISS Mathilda KALIA.

ACCOUNT NUMBER 43483002

God bless you as you do this today,

Yours Mathilda

From: mathilda kalia <mathildakalia4@hotmail.com>

Sent: 01/05/2017 15:05

Subject: thank you darling



thank you darling iam happy to hear your voice today Mathilda

From: mathilda kalia <mathildakalia4@hotmail.com>

Sent: 02/05/2017 13:44

Subject: PLEASE CONTACT THIS LAWYER FOR ASSISTANCE.



Hello my darling,

how are you doing once again today, I believe you are doing well. God will bless and reward you for every effort you are making to see me out from this horrible situation i found myself today. As for me i am fine here with all hopes that you will assist me to transfer my money to your position for a better life with you.



I appreciated the way you are handling this transfer of my money to your position pending my arrival to meet with you to start a new life. I am suffering here and i believe with you i can start a new life in your country after the transfer of my money to your account.



Darling I have see what the bank is demanding before they will transfer my money to your position. Presently i have my Late Father Death Certificate and Deposit Certificate with me here which i am going to give to this lawyer to send to you when you contact him. The only problem we have now is the Power of Attorney which the bank said that it will be issued by a lawyer here in Senegal for me to sign my signature on it.



After after reading your mail, i discussed it with our Rev. Father and he gave me the contact of this lawyer Dr.David lamina. He is one of the lawyers working with the united nations refugee commission here in Dakar Senegal. I will want you to contact him on telephone and email. Tell him that you are my foreign partner that you need his services to prepare a power of attorney that will enable you transfer my $5.3 million dollars from Robo bank of London to your account on my behalf due to my refugee status. This is the lawyer's contact below:



Name: Dr David lamina



EMAIL ADDRESS. . . . . . . .( davidesq3001@gmail.com )



Office telephone number + 221-763-253-115



Please my darling, i will like you to make contact with this lawyer today and ask him to help us to get this needed document by the bank to effect this transfer, as you can see that everything concerning this transfer is complete, please help me out to see that this lawyer get this document for us as soon as possible, my prayers are with you and i know that God will surely see us through. I will never forget you in my life, God bless you for me.

Yours Forever,

Mathilda Mathilda

From: RABO BANK <tran.lon.rabank@mail.com>

Sent: 02/05/2017 10:04

Subject: FROM RABO BANK IN LONDON DEPARTMENT



2/05/2017 OFFICE ADDRESS. THAMES COURT 1 QUEENHITHE, LONDON, EC4V 3RL,

UNITED KINGDOM.

P. O. BOX 489621ET. LONDON. UNITED KINGDOM.

TELEPHONE NUMBER. + 44-7031832398

FAX NUMBER. + 44-7031832380.







For your kind attention.

Sir



I have been directed by the director of foreign operation / wire transfer to write you in respect of your mail we received.



Actually, we have been told about you by the young lady Miss mathilda Kalia, that she wishes you to be her trustee or representative for the claim of her late father's fund deposited with our bank.



Late Dr. Oliver Kalia is our late customer with substantial amount (US$5,300,000.00) Deposited with us.



Hence you have been really appointed as the trustee to represent the next of kin , however before our bank will transact any business concerning the transfer with you, we will like you to send the following documents.



1. A power of attorney permitting you to claim and transfer the funds to your bank account on her behalf. This Document must be endorsed by Senegalese resident lawyer which she can help you to get one.



2. Death certificate of late Dr. Oliver Kalia (HIS DECEASED FATHER) confirming the death.



3.A copy of statement of account of the account issued to Dr. oliver by our bank. 4. your partner Miss mathilda kalia have tell us about you since

Note, that the above are compulsory and are needed to protect our interest, yours, the next of kin after the claim. These shall also ensure, smooth, quick and successful of the fund is made. We promise to give our customer the best of service.



Should you have any question, please contact us for more directive / clarifications on the Telephone number. + 44-7031832380

Yours faithfully . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MR LEED HANSON THE BANK MANAGER From: mathilda kalia <mathildakalia4@hotmail.com>

Sent: 02/05/2017 11:19

Subject: forward me what you receive from the bank today





Hello my darling.

how are you today and everything around you, i hope you are doing fine.

Darling as soon as you hear from them you forward me what you received from

the bank and so that i will read it and understand it better.

Yours in love

forever

Mathilda

From: david lamina <davidesq3001@gmail.com>

Sent: 02/05/2017 16:21

Subject: FORWARD YOUR INFORMATION



EQUAL RIGHT CHAMBERS

MEMBER ECOWAS BANK ACCREDITED ATTORNEYS.

RUE 45, PARCEL, DAKAR.

P. O. Box 28874 DAKAR SENEGAL

davidesq3001@gmail.com <davidesq300@gmail.com> Email.

Tel: + 221-763-253-115







OUR REF: JLC/ /01541 YOUR REF: LMC/0549 DATE; 2/05/2017

EQUAL RIGHT CHAMBERS



ATTENTION: SIR



IN RESPECTS OF THE MAIL WE RECEIVED TODAY IN OURNOBLE LAW FIRMON HOW TO PREPARE ANAFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORTAND POWER OF ATTORNEY IN YOUR MISS MATHILDA KALIA) TO TRANSFER SOME MONEY FROM THE RABO BANK OF LONDON TO YOUR ACCOUNT .

OUR NOBLE LAW FIRMWISHES TO BRING TO YOUR NOTICE THAT BEFORE WE CAN PROCEED WITH THIS SERVICES WE WILL WANT YOU TO FORWARD YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO OUR LAW FIRM IMMEDIATELY .

FROM:

1) NAME;

2) ADDRESS ;

3) TEL ;

4) FAX;

5)E-MAIL;

6) DATE OF BIRTH:

7) COUNTRY:

8) PROFESSION;



ALL THIS INFORMATION LISTED ABOVE WILL APPEAR ON THE POWER OF ATTORNEY AND THE AFFIDAVIT OF OATH. SO THAT I WILL GO TO THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT HERE IN SENEGAL, TO ASCERTAIN THE COST OF THE AUTHENTICATION OF THE POWER OF ATTORNEY AND THE AFFIDAVIT OF OATH BEFORE IT BECOMES VALID FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE MONEY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.

AFTER WHICH OUR LAW FIRM WILL CONTACT YOU BACK WITH THE REQUIRED COSTS BEFORE ACCEPTING TO RENDER THE REQUIRED LEGAL SERVICES.

OUR PRIORITY IS TO RENDER THE BEST AND EFFICIENT SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS.

THANKS FOR YOUR DECISION TO WORK WITH OUR LAW FIRM IN THIS TRANSACTION.

REGARDS







YOURS SINCERELY IN SERVICE.

DR. DAVID LAMINA (ESQ)

From: mathilda kalia <mathildakalia4@hotmail.com>

Sent: 02/05/2017 22:21

Subject: DARLING SEND THIS LETTER TO THE LAWYER



Hello my darling .

How are you to day again? I hope you are okay because the feeling your health means a lot to me, with all hope to be with you the re in the immediate bank transfer money to your account, Darling thank you so much because of the way in which care for me, Darling , I love you so much because you showed me true love of life to you, I love you my darling .



Darling please I want you to try and contact a lawyer so that he will get us the power of attorney to enable the Bank to transfer the money to us immediately so that I will start coming over you because I suffer a lot here , you Darling is just that I have and I want to be with you soon and spend the rest of my life with you , as you requested , and sen d this message to him. and only our lawyer can get us the power of attorney i wait to hear from you soon

Darling I 'm waiting to hear from you soon on that you have contacted a lawyer , and always thinking about me until I hear from you soon.









EMAIL ADDRESS. . . . . . . . ( davide sq3001@gmail.com <davidesq3001@gmail.com> )

Office telephone number + 221-763-253-115





God bless you as you contact him immediately.

Yours in love Forever. Mathilda



Respected Sir ,

My name is

. . . . . . . . . .

I am the foreign partner of Miss Mathilda Kalia .

Sir, I need your service to prepare us a power of attor ney that will enable me to transfer a s um of money from a London bank account for her father to my account.

Please, sir , I'm waiting for your kind reply

Mathilda

If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more....


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Friday, May 5, 2017

An Arizona Hearing Board found against the State Bar in all charges brought alleging misconduct but nonetheless imposed a reprimand and probation for two years.

Mr. Walz violated his obligation pursuant to the Supreme Court Rules to cooperate, furnish information, follow the initial case management conference order of the presiding disciplinary judge, and comply with the duty to file a disclosure statement as part of discovery. His actions were intentional and showed extreme disregard for the profession. His animus towards the State Bar included animus for the Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee, the Office of the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, the Supreme Court, and the profession.

The rules he violated were the Rules of the Supreme Court of Arizona, not of the State Bar of Arizona. The orders he violated were those of the PDJ, not of the State Bar of Arizona. The probable cause order he distained [sic] was from the Attorney Discipline Probable Cause Committee, not the State Bar.

Every attorney and every judge has an obligation to demonstrate respect for the legal system, not merely by words but by their actions. Every lawyer has a duty to show respect for those who serve the legal system. That obligation of regard is to the position held in the legal system not the person and is not limited to judges but also to other lawyers and public officials. While every lawyer has a concomitant duty, when necessary, to challenge the correctness, integrity or rightness of official action, it is also every lawyers responsibility to uphold the legal process because every licensed lawyer is an officer of the legal system. Mr. Walz failed in his obligations as a lawyer.

The panel rejected "unwanted sexual advances" charges

To support this unwanted sexual advances allegation, the Panel was referred to specific recordings by the Memorandum. By example, the Panel was referred to Attachment E of the Memorandum. There Mr. Walz asked Complainant, Where should I sit? Ill sit on this side. She responded, Dont sit over there. To which he replied, Okay. Ill have to sit somewhere. Ill sit by all these dirty Kleenex. Complainant said Sorry (laughter). [Attachment E, Page 2:10-15.]

Another cited recording claimed to support this allegation was Mr. Walz stating, Im going from Medford to by Carter Lake. Complainant stated, Uh-huh. Its a nice - "Mr. Walz stated, Oh thats right. You can see what Im doing. Complainant responded, I know exactly what youre doing. Mr. Walz stated, Because I havent been looking at any porn. Youd be really offended. (Laughter) I meant anyway. [Id., Page 10:18-11:1.]

In another cited recording referenced, Complainant in context is angry with Mr. Walz and claims he just talked to her about going on disability. Prior to the referenced section, Mr. Walz states, Janet, Im just wanting to talk about work. She responds, Now you want to talk about work? He states, I always want to talk about work. When she asked what work he claims she cannot do, he tells her, You cantyou cant send a request for a police report. [Attachment F, Page 2:1-24.] After this prior dialogue, the State Bar cites that Complainant suddenly alleged Mr. Walz had porn on in the office which he immediately denies. [Id., Page 4:4-15.]

The panel also found insufficient evidence that he advised a criminal client to flee.

And this

Among the contested facts deemed material by the State Bar was listed, Respondents Arizona Medical Marijuana Program ID card expired on September 21, 2012. The State Bar alleged Respondent requested Complainant obtain marijuana for Respondent from private sources other than marijuana dispensaries registered by the Arizona Department of Health Services and that Complainant did so. Other contested facts deemed material by the State Bar included Respondent was upset because he could have made other arrangements when Complainant failed to purchase an ounce of marijuana from Complainants acquaintance David and Respondent paid money for a marijuana grow-house, partially quoting Respondent saying maybe I wanted to get some weed out of the investment and considering the money I paid, I wanted to get some marijuana back. [State Bar Individual PreHearing Statement, Page 2, Paragraph 4-7 and 8(b)-(c).]...

The State Bar argues, even if Mr. Walz was licensed, his purchasing or having Complainant purchase from private sources other than marijuana dispensaries registered by the Arizona Department of Health Services would be unlawful. As with most of the counts, the support for these allegations comes from the surreptitious recordings of Complainant of conversations that are alleged to have occurred in 2013.

The State Bar declined to offer Exhibit 33 into evidence although it was in its book of proposed exhibits filed with the disciplinary clerk. As the Exhibit is dispositive of multiple allegations, the PDJ orders the exhibit into evidence. Exhibit 33 is a verified statement from the Arizona Department of Health Services, Licensing. It is not listed in the State Bar Individual Pre-Hearing Statement.

The Exhibit verifies Respondent has had five medical marijuana cards issued to him. With the first, he could apparently cultivate marijuana. The card expired on September 21, 2012, and its status is now void. The second card is the only card referenced by the State Bar. It was issued on June 20, 2012, and expired on September 21, 2012. The next card was issued to Mr. Walz had an effective date of September 22, 2012, and expired on September 22, 2013. His fourth card was effective on November 13, 2013, and expired on November 14, 2014. We conclude at all times relative to the recordings, Mr. Walz had a valid Medical Marijuana card. The fact his first card expired on September 21, 2012, is not relevant. Because this raised significant concerns for the Panel, Exhibits 4, 5 and 6 were also reviewed. Exhibit 4 is the State of Arizona authorization for Complainant to cultivate and harvest marijuana. Exhibit 5 is the Arizona Department of Health Services Qualified Patient Request by Mr. Walz to add a caregiver for him. Exhibit 6 is the Arizona Department of Health Services Medical Marijuana Caregiver Attestation apparently filed by Complainant to assist Mr. Walz with his medical marijuana use.

We reviewed the cited transcripts, listened to the recordings and find the references often grossly out of context. By example, to support the State Bar allegation that Respondent was upset because he could have made other arrangements when Complainant failed to purchase an ounce of marijuana from Complainants acquaintance David, the State Bar referenced Attachment B.

But in that recording, Complainant denies she was asked by Respondent to obtain marijuana for him. [Attachment B, Page 5:2-3.] When Complainant tells Respondent he had said he would call David, Respondent states she keeps making things up. [Id., Page 5:4-8.] This is emphasized by each of them later in the recording when they both individually deny any effort to call or agreement to call David. [Id., Page 6:19-24.] How such denials establish a crime is entirely unclear to us. We found the balance of the cited recordings offered insufficient proof of this allegation. We reviewed the cited transcripts, listened to the recordings and find the State Bar failed to meet its burden of proof by clear and convincing evidence a violation of ER 8.4(b)

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/05/an-arizona-hearing-board-found-against-the-state-bar-in-all-charges-brought-alleging-misconduct-but-nonetheless-imposed-a-rep.html
Friday, May 5, 2017

An interim suspension for a serious crime conviction has been ordered by the New York Appellate Division for the First Judicial Department

On October 20, 2016, respondent pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York to racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy, both felonies, in violation of 18 USC  1343, 1349, and 1962(d). Respondent has not yet been sentenced.

Respondent's conviction stems from his employment with Traffic Sports USA, a firm headquartered in Florida. In connection with his employment, respondent admittedly negotiated and facilitated the payment of millions of dollars in bribes to soccer officials in order to secure lucrative media and marketing contracts for his employer. Respondent's conviction was part of the many prosecutions connected to FIFA, the international organization governing organized soccer, and its affiliated regional organizations.

His arguments notwithstanding

Respondent contends that an interim suspension is unwarranted in his case, because he was essentially a minor participant in the criminal conspiracy at issue. Respondent claims he never received a bribery payment; he did not use his law license to commit the crimes of which he stands convicted; and the factual record concerning his conduct is incomplete as he has not yet been sentenced.

Respondent has not presented any compelling reason why this Court should not impose an interim suspension given the serious, criminal conduct to which he has admitted and has been convicted of, namely negotiating and facilitating millions of dollars in illegal bribes. Furthermore, this Court has consistently held that during the pendency of a "serious crime" proceeding, it is appropriate to suspend an attorney, pursuant to Judiciary Law  90(4)(f), who has been convicted of a federal felony even if they have not yet been sentenced (see e.g. Matter of Sampson, 138 AD3d 175 [1st Dept 2016] [imposing interim suspension based on "serious crime" prior to sentencing]; Matter of Kramer, 69 AD3d 139 [1st Dept 2009] [same]).

Accordingly, the Committee's motion to deem the crimes of which respondent has been convicted as "serious crimes" pursuant to Judiciary Law  90(4)(d), and immediately suspend respondent from the practice +of law pursuant to Judiciary Law  90(4)(f) and NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(ii) should be granted and respondent is directed, pursuant to Judiciary Law  90(4)(g) and 22 NYCRR 1240.12(c)(2)(i) and (iv), to show cause before a referee appointed by the Court who shall thereupon hold a hearing within 90 days of respondent's sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever is applicable, why a final order of censure, suspension, or disbarment should not be made.

The New York Times reported

Aaron Davidson, one of a handful of Americans implicated in United States prosecutors world soccer corruption case, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and wire-fraud conspiracy charges in federal court in Brooklyn on Thursday.

His conviction was the 20th to be announced by the Department of Justice in its far-reaching prosecutions of sports officials and business executives connected to FIFA, soccers global governing body, and affiliated regional organizations.

Mr. Davidson, 45, a sports marketing executive, admitted to negotiating and paying more than $14 million in bribes to soccer officials on behalf of Traffic Sports USA, a firm headquartered on Brickell Key, a private island in Miami where Mr. Davidson lives.

Those bribes helped Traffic secure lucrative media and marketing contracts, including the rights to major international tournaments. Mr. Davidson, who began working for Traffic as a salesman in 2003, said on Thursday that he had learned about the companys practice of paying bribes for business in 2009 and that he had begun participating in such schemes in 2012. I knew making the bribe payment was illegal and was concerned about making it, he said of one transaction, noting that he had falsified an invoice to make it seem legitimate. Mr. Davidson faces up to 40 years in prison for the two charges to which he admitted. He agreed to forfeit more than half a million dollars to the United States, adding to the more than $200 million promised to the government by people convicted in the case.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/05/an-interim-suspension-for-a-serious-crime-conviction-has-been-ordered-by-the-new-york-appellate-division-for-the-first-judici.html
Friday, May 5, 2017

The Arizona Presiding Disciplinary Judge has ordered a reprimand and two-years probation of an attorney who assaulted his handcuffed client.

The client had entered a guilty plea but written the court to complain about the attorney. The attorney took umbrage and then some.

Then

On that next day, Mr. Nicholas went to visit client who remained incarcerated. He was restrained and seated with his hands cuffed together and chained from below the table where he was seated. A video recorded visually, not audibly, what occurred. Within moments, whatever discussion was taking place ended when Mr. Nicholas rose from his seat and swung around slapping his client across his face with what he states was an unbound 33 page document and folder he was holding in his right hand. In one continuous motion Mr. Nicholas slapped his client, and followed through with a full turn and swiftly walked away. Four days later, Mr. Nicholas moved to withdraw, which was granted.

Such conduct violates Rule 41(g). The comment to Rule 41 states, Lawyers, whether or not engaged in the practice of law, should act honorably and treat others with courtesy and respect. The slap was an assault, a criminal act implicating, ER 8.4(b) which prohibits a lawyer from engaging in a criminal act that reflects adversely on the lawyers fitness. It also was conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice under ER 8.4(d). The comment to ER 8.4 explains, a lawyer is professionally answerable only for offenses that indicate a lack of any characteristic relevant to the practice of law. ER 8.4(d) applies when conduct manifests bias...

Although more than a year has passed since this misconduct, the trial of Mr. Nicholas has yet to occur on the single count of misdemeanor assault.

The client and his cousin did not favor the agreed-upon consent discipline

The objection by cousin states there were misleading text messages and affirms client was a heart patient. He also states Mr. Nicholas punched client. There is nothing relating to text messaging encompassed within the complaint. The actions recorded on the video are the main body of the complaint. As the video does not support that client was punched but instead slapped, cousin suggests the video might have been altered to protect the jail. The video shows no signs of being altered and there appears to be little likelihood of liability to the jail arising from the misbehavior of Mr. Nicholas. The blunt criticism of Mr. Nicholas by cousin is appreciated. Such criticism assists a court in its analysis of the proposed Agreement.

The objection by client is both as a victim and as a client. As a victim, client is entitled to important victim rights in the criminal prosecution of Mr. Nicholas. It appears from his comments he has also stated his positions as a victim in that prosecution. Those comments add additional insight in this proceeding.

But the judge accepted the agreement

The misconduct of Mr. Nicholas was entirely relevant to his practicing law. His action was done in spite of and in the presence of law enforcement officers within the jail. They knew he was the lawyer for the defendant-client. Viewing the video of Mr. Nicholas slapping a client whose hands were bound can bring a ready and reasonable criticism that such action was cowardly. That the slap was a breach of the most fundamental trust relationship between client and attorney is unassailable.

In The Republic, Plato held up ethics as essential to society. As Plato put it, the community suffers nothing very terrible if its cobblers are bad and become degenerate and pretentious; but if the Guardians of the laws and state, who alone have the opportunity to bring it good government and prosperity become a mere shame, then clearly it is completely ruined. It is an important recognition of the seriousness of the facts that the parties stipulate there was actual harm to the legal system and to the profession.

At the heart of the purpose of a lawyer practicing criminal law, whether an attorney be for the State or the defense, is to facilitate the resolution of conflicting positions without recourse to violence. Law is the alternative to violence. Engaging in violent conduct towards a client who cannot defend or even avoid the assault is antithetical to the privilege of practicing law, and such conduct generally warrants suspension from the practice of law...

However, the substantive mitigation offered by the consistent professional life of Mr. Nicholas mitigate his sanction to reprimand with creative, thoughtful and critical terms of probation. Reprimand is not a token sanction. It is a public censure with remains permanently on his record. The proposed and lengthy two years of probation include weighty requirements.

If you want to see the incident video, ABC 15 Arizona has it. The cousin is quoted characterizing the bar sanction as a "slap on the hand." (Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/05/the-arizona-presiding-disciplinary-judge-has-an-attorney-for-misconduct-in-a-criminal-case-the-client-had-entered-a-guilty.html
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."
2 Iraqis buy books at an open-air market in the Baghdad to donate them to the University of Mosul's library, as part of an initiative to replenish the institution after its documents were destroyed by Islamic State fighters when they took the city.
4 This image released by the U.S. Army shows an Afghan soldier engulfed in flame as a mortar tube explodes during an Afghan National Army live-fire training exercise in Laghman Province. U.S Army combat camera photographer Spc. Hilda Clayton took this photo on July 2, 2013. The accident killed Clayton and four Afghan National Army soldiers.
Concerns about the health of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari have increased after he missed another cabinet meeting this week.

It was the third straight cabinet meeting that Buhari did not attend, says the Associated Press.

Earlier this year, the 74-year-old president took six weeks of medical leave in London. Aides to Buhari said he returned to Nigeria in March, but often works from home.

His wife, Aisha, used the social media site Twitter to reassure the Nigerian people about her husband.

I wish to inform everyone that his health is not as bad as it's being perceived, Meanwhile, he continues to carry out his responsibilities.

The president's office has not identified his medical problems. Last month, the office said Buhari remains in charge of the government, but added that his doctors advised "on his taking things slowly."

On his return in March, Buhari discussed blood transfusions and said he has not been so sick in decades. But he offered no other details.

On Wednesday, his office said the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, led last Wednesdays cabinet meeting.

Continuing questions about the presidents health come at a time of major problems facing the country.

Nigeria continues to face a rebellion by Boko Haram militants. There are severe food shortages in the countrys northeast, and the economy slowed in 2016 for the first time in about 25 years.

More tweets from Nigerias first lady

Aisha Buhari wrote four tweets about her husband this week.

One expressed thanks to the Nigerian people.

She wrote, "I thank all Nigerians for their concern, love and prayers over my husband's health status.

The reaction to her messages on Twitter was mixed.

One person wrote, Thanks for this information. God heal our president and long live Nigeria.

But another message raised doubts about how sick the president really is:

If Buhari's health is not as bad as people said, Let Buhari show himself to Nigeria and perform his duty

Im Jonathan Evans.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by the Associated Press, Reuters and other sources. Mario Ritter was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

leave - n. a period of time when someone has special permission to be away from a job

reassure - v. to make someone feel less afraid, upset, or doubtful

perceive - v. to of someone in a certain way

blood transfusion - n. a medical treatment in which someone's blood is put into the body of another person

decade - n. a period of 10 years

status - n. the current state of someone or something

heal - v. to become healthy or well again


The final debate between the two remaining candidates in Frances presidential election took place Wednesday. The country will vote in the historic election Sunday.

The presidential election is the first in which Frances traditional parties are not represented.

The vote could decide if France stays in the European Union.

Observers say the vote suggests there is a high level of anti-establishment feelings among French voters.

In the first vote on April 23, En Marche! party candidate Emmanuel Macron received 23.8 percent of the vote. National Front candidate Marine Le Pen received 21.5 percent. That was enough to send the two non-traditional candidates to the final election on May 7.

Eleven candidates took part in the first vote. Current President Francois Hollande chose not to seek reelection because of his low popularity among voters.

Marine Le Pen is the candidate of the very conservative National Front party. The 48-year-old candidate is currently a member of the European Parliament.

Le Pen has called for stronger border controls and has shown opposition to immigrants and foreign cultures. She also has criticized free trade and suggested that France should leave the European Union.

Emmanuel Macron started his own party last year. The 39-year-old served as Frances economy minister. Before that, he was an investment banker. Macron supports Frances membership in the EU and has said he is pro-business. His support is found mainly in cities.

During Wednesdays debate, Le Pen described Macron as weak on terrorism. Macron accused Le Pen of being a dangerous extremist.

The candidates discussed Frances high unemployment rate. Macron called for reducing government rules on business. He also called for policies designed to help create more small and medium-sized businesses.

Le Pen promised to tax the products of companies that outsource jobs in France to other countries.

Terrorism was another major issue in the debate. France has had several deadly terrorist attacks in the last two years. The violence killed more than 240 people. The country remains under a state of emergency.

Le Pen called for closing Muslim religious centers, or mosques, suspected of supporting extremism. She said she wants to expand prisons and increase border security.

Macron called for increasing surveillance of online activity, more police officers and better sharing of intelligence.

About 18 percent of French voters are estimated to be undecided. Wednesdays debate was the last chance for them to decide on who to support.

One public opinion study showed Macron with 60 percent support to Le Pens 40 percent.

Le Pens party has long faced criticism for extreme positions on immigration and religion. Le Pen ousted her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, from the leadership of the National Front party because of his extreme positions.

After the first vote in April, Le Pen gave up leadership of the party saying she wants to be above partisan considerations.

Macron, once a member of the Socialist Party, was the economy minister in the unpopular Francois Hollande administration. But the candidate has largely escaped public frustration with that party.

Im Mario Ritter.

Marissa Melton and Smita Nordwall reported this story for VOA Learning English with additional material from AP. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

anti-establishment adj. to be against established institutions like government, traditional parties or other groups

outsource v. to have workers in another country do a job that used to be done in ones home country

surveillance n. the act of watching someone or something carefully, especially in connection with law enforcement

partisan adj. to strongly support a side, party or leader

frustration n. a feeling of anger or annoyance caused by not being able to do something
At Taxands 2017 Global Conference in Frankfurt, a panel discussed the potential game-changing US corporate tax reform. The panel involved Jill Harding (Taxand USA), Albert Ligouri (Taxand USA) and Shane Wallace (Taxand Ireland). Tim Wach, Managing Director of Taxand, summarises the session below:Not since the Reagan era have we seen any meaningful attempt at corporate tax reform in the US. However, in Trump, the US now has a pro-business President with hugely ambitious plans for unprecedented changes which will have implications for multinationals both in the US and overseas. Still, there are significant missing pieces in the puzzle and a unified house of representatives will be essential if any significant tax reform is to be achievable for President Trump.The Republican control of both houses of congress as well as the White House that resulted from the elections of last November gives the allusion of an alignment of the legislative stars, although it does provide Republicans with a very real opportunity to push through reform, albeit in a tight timescale.It is a critical time-period for Republicans to capitalise on their opportunity. The mid-term elections in November 2018 could mean the Republican control of Congress could shift and the wheels of the cart could come off in pushing through reform.History tells us though that tax reform is achievable in this window, with the last significant reform in 1986 moving from proposal stage to signed law in under a year. If both the house and senate come on side, then we might expect an agreement to be signed by the end of this calendar year and come into effect in January 2018.Currently there are a different proposals for tax reform floating around in congress, many of which are controversial on the world stage. The two serious contenders are the Trump Administrations proposal and the Republican Blueprint, the latter of which has a much greater level of detail than Trumps current one pager. But both proposals are consistent in three main aims. Firstly, seeking to aggressively lower the tax rate; secondly, allowing a one-time movement of offshore cash and, finally, in the future, seeking to move the US to a territorial tax system.Cost of implementation is the most notable difference in the plans  with the Republican Blueprint forecast to raise revenue by $1 trillion versus Trumps which is estimated to come at a cost, of an eye watering $2 trillion over a period of ten years (although some analysts indicate it would in fact be much more expensive). Questions are therefore arising about how Trumps proposal will create value in the US. While Trump argues it will be paid for by the economic stimulus that will come following reform, current projections of growth indicate that there would be a huge economic mountain to climb. On the other hand, the Blueprint is forecast to be revenue positive, but only because it includes the highly controversial Boarder Adjustment Tax cannot be ignored which would result in significant winners and losers amongst importers and exporters, further complicating the political process.For now, as we await the draft proposals, US multinationals need to consider how they could be impacted, particularly importers which could be impacted negatively should the Blueprint, with the Boarder Adjustment Tax, be adopted.Companies need to wait and see how the US tax debate evolves however we are talking about a very short timeframe. There is much horse-trading to play out, but if the stars align, reforms will come into effect in 2018 and corporates therefore need to have in place a variety of plans for whatever the eventuality is. Taxand Commentary  'The brave new world of US tax'Robert Collett-Creedy
LEXINGTON  Local mail carriers will be picking up food donations as they do mail routes on Saturday, May 13, for a Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

To participate, people should place a bag of non-perishable food next to their mailbox in advance of the letter carriers arrival, said Lexington Postmaster Leta Zimbelman.

"We look forward to people participating. We did well last year," she said.

Mail carrier Luann McBride said last year postal carriers affiliated with the Lexington Post Office collected over 1,700 pounds of food which was donated to the Lexington Food Bank operated by Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska. "We are shooting for 2,000 pounds of food this year," said McBride.

Food donations can also be dropped off at the front counter of the Lexington Post Office or on the east side dock, said Zimbelman.

This is the 25th year for the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, which has collected well over one billion pounds of food since its inception.

Although Lexington hasnt participated every year, it was revived in the area two years ago, said Zimbelman, because both the rural and city carriers wanted to participate.

The timing of the food drive in late spring is based on input from food banks and pantries nationwide who report they start running out of donations received during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods.

Post offices in Cozad, Elwood and Overton also plan to participate with donations going to the Cozad Food Pantry and Gosper County Food Pantry.

Examples of non-perishable items include cereal, rice, pasta, pasta or spaghetti sauce, canned fruit and vegetables, canned meals such as soups and chili, juice, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned meats such as tuna, chicken and turkey, and beans, canned or dry.

Zimbelman asked that people not donate items that are homemade or home-canned. In keeping with food-handling and food-safety procedures, food that is opened, damaged or expired will be discarded by the food bank in the sorting process.

The food drive is an effort to raise national awareness about the real, ongoing problem of hunger in every community, and its a sincere attempt to use the U.S. Postal systems unique delivery network to do something about it.

According to statistics on the stampouthungerfooddrives.us website:

 Over 43 million, or 1 in 7, Americans is food insecure. Food insecurity means living at risk of hunger and not knowing where the next meal is coming from.

 Over 13 million, or 1 in 6, children is living in a food insecure household. Hungry children cannot thrive  their physical, intellectual and emotional developments are limited.

 Over 5 million seniors, people age 60 or older, choose between paying rent, utilities and having enough nutritious food.

 One in seven Americans lives at or below the poverty level. The poverty level is $24,447 for a family of four in 2016.
Guestline, market leaders in innovative cloud hosted property management solutions and services for the hospitality sector, are pleased to announce B2 Hotels in Thailand as the latest group to opt for the company's next generation software.

With 33 properties across Thailand and 20 more in the pipeline, including B2 Riverside Premier Hotel in Chiang Mai, B2 Monethong in Laos, B2 Pai Premier Resort in MaeHongSon, B2 Phuket Boutique & Budget hotel in Phuket, B2 Bangna Premier Hotel in Bangkok and B2 South Pattaya Premier Hotel, B2 Jomtien Boutique and Budget both are in Pattaya, B2 Hotels are an impressive addition to the hotels already utilising Guestline solutions in Thailand.

Mr Niran Chawla, CEO at B2 Hotels, recently visited Guestline's UK based head office to participate in the signing ceremony with Guestline CEO, Andrew McGregor, Head of Commercial Development James Cannon and Sales and Marketing Director, Rupert Gutteridge.

B2 Hotels have chosen Guestline's award winning property management system Rezlynx, Guestline distribution and a number of industry integrations to power the day-to-day management of each property.

Explaining the decision to implement Guestline solutions across the portfolio, Mr Niran Chawla commented, "Guestline are the right fit for our business needs as we expand our portfolio of properties throughout Asia Pacific. Cloud hosted solutions will enable us to manage our accommodation offering from one system, in real time, from any place and on any device. Management will be able to access reports on each property easily and the integrations offered by Guestline will allow us to operate more efficiently. We recognised Guestline as an industry leader in technology for the hospitality marketplace and are therefore very happy to be working alongside the team."

Andrew McGregor  CEO at Guestline said, "B2 Boutique and Budget Hotels has become a well-known and successful boutique and budget hotel chain in Thailand and neighbouring countries, and is continuously expanding and welcoming new properties into the group. We are extremely pleased to have been selected to support B2 Hotels with their technology needs and look forward to increasing our presence across Thailand."

To arrange a demonstration of Guestline solutions in the Asia Pacific region, please contact the team here.

About Guestline

Established 30 years ago, Guestline provides innovative property management, guest engagement and distribution software to the hospitality industry. Founded on cloud technology, Guestline's revenue generating solutions enable independents of all sizes and small hotel groups to achieve maximum occupancy at the most profitable rate.

With offices in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Thailand, Guestline's property management software is currently growing revenues in businesses in 25 countries across five continents. The range of solutions include Guestline PMS, CRS, C&B, Channel Manager, EPoS, IBE, GuestStay and GuestPay. Additionally, Guestline's PMS can be integrated with nearly 200 third-party solutions via an API.

Sophie Cartwright

Online Marketing Executive

01743 282300

View source
Asia's fiercest global hub looks gain a string of new hotels this year and beyond. Singapore has long been the haunt of wealthy tourists who flock to its shores to experience one of the most advanced cities in the world. A total of 18 new project are planned for Singapore in the coming years, with 12 set to open in 2017, 3 in 2018 and 3 more in 2019.

Singapore ranks 3rd highest on the world's index of per capita income and is known worldwide for its position as a business, finance and transport hub, so it's no wonder that hotel investment continues to be a priority for developers in the area. Over 15 million tourists visited the area in 2014 alone, and that number is sure to have increased over recent years. The 18 planned projects will give a total key count of 4,356, opening up the potential for even more even more visitors. Over half of these projects are nearing completion, with seven more in the pre-opening stages, a good sign for the projected 12 openings this year.

As would be assumed, the majority of these hotels and resorts are at the upper end of the scale, with 11o f the proposed projects ranking in the 5-star sector, while four hotels have 4-stars and the remaining 3 projects set to be 3-star hotels, showing that the market caters for travelers of all demographics. The recently opened refurbishment of the 5-star Concorde Hotel boasts 407 luxury rooms and suites, while the 4-star Ascott Orchard Singapore, a new-build hotel that opened in February this year, welcomes guests into its 220 new rooms, located within the Orchard Road shopping belt.

More information on hotel constructions in Singapore can be found on TOPHOTELPROJECTS, the specialized service provider in the exchange of cutting-edge information of hotel construction in the international hospitality industry.

Jule Grass

Marketing Manager

+49 4261 4140 309

TOPHOTELPROJECTS

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China is compiling a free online encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia, but it will likely only give Beijings official version of sensitive historical events, and the public wont be able to write or edit it.

Instead, scholars and experts hand-picked by Beijing say only they will be able to make entries  the latest example of the Chinese governments efforts to control information available on the internet.

The scholars say truth is their guiding light, and their editing and review process is a rigorous one. If there is a difference of opinion, a committee should figure it out, said Zhang Baichun, chief editor of the history of science and technology section.

Of course, science does not come from democratic votes, to convince others you will have to present the most convincing proof, he told The Associated Press.

The effort to compile 300,000 entries that span science, literature, politics and history is being led by the ruling Communist Partys central propaganda department, which guides public opinion through instructions to Chinas media, internet companies and publishing industry as well as overseeing the education sector. They have instructed the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, known for its offline Chinese Encyclopedia, to produce it.

The ruling party has struggled to manage public opinion in the internet age, when citizens can comment on news and topics of outrage and post photos of protests on social media  at least until such messages are scrubbed away or rendered unsearchable by censors. China also regularly blocks overseas sites including Facebook and Twitter, and has periodically blocked Wikipedias English and Chinese versions. Currently, the Chinese Wikipedia is inaccessible in the mainland.

Jiang Lijun, senior editor at the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, said they plan to have entries on political leaders, the history of the Communist Party, and subjects including virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the European Union.

The online Chinese Encyclopedia will focus primarily on entries that are less likely to change as opposed to recent events, and with academic value. She declined to comment on how events that are politically sensitive in China, like the Cultural Revolution and the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, would be treated.

Qiao Mu, an independent media analyst in Beijing, said the Chinese Encyclopedia would be quite different from Wikipedia because of the need to toe the line on political taboos.

He said the encyclopedia would likely present a single, official version of sensitive historical events, and exclude items like the Tiananmen crackdown and the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual group, which never exist on the internet.

The publishing house behind the Chinese Encyclopedia is paying 20,000 scholars and experts from universities and research institutes to write entries and it is slated to go online next year. Jiang said initially the encyclopedia will just be in Chinese, but they are also doing research to see how viable an English version would be.

Jiang said they met with a team from San Francisco-based Wikipedia to learn from their experience.

There is Chinese content on Wikipedia too, but sometimes it is not as accurate as it could be, said Jiang. Louise Watt, Beijing, AP
The Hong Kong Economic Journal (HKE) has reported that the deadly accident that occurred during the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HKZMB) was avoidable and due to contractor mistakes. A construction platform collapsed, claiming the lives of two workers and left three others injured on March 29.

Following the collapse, three workers at the construction site plunged into the sea and went missing. The submerged platform sunk 10 meters below the waters surface.

An investigative report on the incident has concluded that the accident occurred because the contractor had rushed the removal of a 40-tonne work platform before the tide had subsided, as mentioned by Labor party chair Suzanne Wu, citing reports from witnesses.

Both the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions and Hong Kong Labour Party have publicly criticized the Hong Kong Labour Department and the contractor at fault for the accident, saying that they failed to address proper safety issues at the site.

According to Wu, the three lost workers were not properly secured with individual harnesses, causing them to be dragged into the sea when the bridge collapsed. Another worker informed HKEJ that the workers had not been notified by the contractor that they were removing the platform, which had been unsteady before they removed it.

Chan Kam Hong, a representative from the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims said, The incident showed that labor laws are no longer effective in protecting workers. [] Last year, the contractor was penalized in HKD30,000 per incident, much lower than the penalties elsewhere. Hong urged the government to raise the bar, and adopt criteria like the mainlands in which companies are penalized up to 80 percent of their income for safety breaches, remarking that there is no ceiling for penalties in the UK.

During the ongoing HKZM Bridge project, which started in 2011, at least ten accidents resulting in several deaths and one hundred and seventy injuries have reportedly occurred.

The Highways Department, responsible for the final incident report, has set up a task force to investigate the case, promising to deliver a full report in three months time.
The only face-to-face televised debate between Frances presidential candidates turned into an uncivil, no-holds-

barred head-on clash of styles, politics and personalities yesterday [Macau time].

Emmanuel Macron called his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen a parasite who would lead the country into civil war. She painted the former banker as a lackey of big business who is soft on Islamic extremism.

Neither landed a knockout blow in the 2-hour prime-time slugfest  but not for lack of trying. The tone was ill-tempered from the get-go, with no common ground or love lost between the two candidates and their polar opposite plans and visions for France. Both sought to destabilize each other and neither really succeeded.

For the large cohort of voters who remain undecided, the debate at least had the merit of making abundantly clear the stark choice facing them at the ballot box Sunday.

Neither candidate announced major shifts in their policy platforms. They instead spent much of their carefully monitored allotments of time attacking each other  often personally.

Le Pens choicest barb came as she argued that Macron, if elected, would be in the pocket of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Either way France will be led by a woman; either me or Madame Merkel, she said derisively.

Macron gave as good as he got and, at times, got the upper hand with his pithy slights. In the closing minutes, he used a sharp-tongued monologue to target one of Le Pens biggest vulnerabilities: her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the extreme-right former presidential candidate repeatedly convicted for hate speech and who founded her party, the National Front.

Throughout, Macron portrayed Marine Le Pen as an empty shell, shaky on details and facts, seeking to profit politically by stirring up hatred and the anger of French voters  a dominant theme of the campaign  without feasible proposals. He called her the high priestess of fear.

Your project consists of telling the French people, This person is horrible. Its to cast dirt. Its to lead a campaign of lies and falsifications. Your project lives off fear and lies. Thats what sustains you. Thats what sustained your father for decades. Thats what nourished the extreme right and that is what created you, Macron said. You are its parasite.

What class! Le Pen retorted.

One of the most heated exchanges was on terrorism  a top concern for Le Pens voters and many French in the wake of repeated attacks since 2015. Saying that Islamic extremists must be eradicated, Le Pen said Macron wouldnt be up to the task.

You wont do that, she charged.

Saying Frances fight against terror would be his priority if elected, Macron countered that Le Pens anti-terror plans would play into extremists hands and divide France.

The trap theyre setting for us, the one that youre proposing, is civil war. What the terrorists expect is division among ourselves. What the terrorists expect is heinous speech, Macron said.

Sitting opposite one another at a round table, the debate quickly became a shouting match. She had piles of notes in colored folders, and referred to them occasionally. His side of the table was sparser, with just a few sheets of paper. He at times rested his chin on his hands as she spoke, fixing her in his gaze and smiling wryly at her barbs.

They clashed over Frances finances, its future and their respective proposals for tackling its ills. He scoffed at her monetary plans, saying reintroducing a franc for purchases within France but allowing big firms to continue using the shared euro currency that Le Pen wants to abandon made no sense.

She dismissed his economic proposals with sweeping critiques and bristled at his suggestions that she didnt understand how finance and business work.

Youre trying to play with me like a professor with a pupil, she said.

They also clashed over foreign policy. Macron said he wants to work with U.S. President Donald Trump on intelligence-sharing, at the United Nations and on climate change. He spoke less favorably of Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying on many subjects we dont have the same values and priorities.

We have no reason to be in a cold war with Russia, Le Pen said.

He said that her election would harm Frances image abroad, charging: The world wont look favorably on us.

While Macron was borderline patronizing at times, she sought  but failed  to make it seem like he has trouble controlling his temper, which stayed fairly even throughout.

Youre interrupting me about every 10 seconds. I sense youre a bit exasperated, she said.

The debate offered risk and reward for both.

Trailing in polls, Le Pen needed but failed to land a knockout blow in the debate to erode the seemingly comfortable lead of Macron, the front-

runner who topped round one, nearly three points ahead of Le Pen.

For Macron, the priority was to prevent Le Pen from making up ground in the races final days. Mission accomplished. John Leicester, Paris, AP

Macron: The political newbie who may become French president

French centrist Emmanuel Macron has already achieved an immense task: a former outsider with little political experience, he is now the front-

runner in Frances presidential race, banking on the promise to reform the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies.

The 39-year-old independent candidate faces far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen in Sundays presidential runoff.

A former investment banker and economy minister, Macron has never held elected office.

The strong advocate of a free market and entrepreneurial spirit has called for France to focus on getting benefits from globalization rather than the protectionist policies advocated by the far right.

In his political rallies, Macron encourages supporters to wave both the French tricolor and the European Union flags.

Le Pen this week called him the face of the world of finance, the candidate of the caviar left.

Im not under control of the banks. If that was the case, I would have kept working for them, Macron answered.

Macron had an unexpected test of his political skills last week during the battle of Whirlpool, when Le Pen upstaged him at a Whirlpool factory in Amiens that is threatened with closure.

Le Pens surprise appearance put him on the defensive and prompted him to meet with angry Whirlpool workers later the same day. He was whistled and booed when he first arrived. But he stood his ground, patiently debating workers in often heated exchanges about how to stop French jobs from moving abroad.

Macron promised to shake up the political landscape by appointing a government including new figures from business and civil society.

In a country shaken by recent terror attacks, he pledged to boost the police and military as well as the intelligence services and to put pressure on internet giants to better monitor extremism online.

Macron doesnt run his campaign alone: his wife is never far away. Brigitte Macron, 24 years his senior, is his closest adviser. She has been by his side during the campaign, supporting him and helping prepare his speeches.

Macron and his wife have publicly described how their unusual romance started  when he was a student at the high school where she teaching in Amiens in northern France. A married mother of three at the time, she was supervising the drama club. Macron, a literature lover, was a member.

Macron moved to Paris for his last year of high school. We called each other all the time, we spent hours on the phone, hours and hours on the phone, Brigitte Macron recalled in a televised documentary. Little by little, he overcame all my resistances in an unbelievable way, with patience.

She eventually moved to the French capital to join him, and divorced. They married in 2007. AP
Lawyer Sergio de Almeida Correia has addressed the issue of gaming sub-concessions in Macau, and suggested that the government should put an end to the system as it is the basis of various problems.

It is important to put an end to the present sub-concession system, which creates conflicts of interest and other corrupt practices, wrote Correia in a paper published in this months edition of Asian Gaming Lawyer reviewed by MDT.

It is therefore appropriate to plan for the future and to review the existing legal regime, if necessary by extending the number of concessions to allow direct allocation, Correia added.

He further remarked that such a solution is balanced, respects the interests of the present sub-concessionaires, and is in line with the actions of the PRC and President Xi Jinping to fight undesirable situations that undermine the power of the State and the ethical and moral authority of those that govern vis-a-vis the governed.

In his paper, Correia pens a historical review starting from the origin of the gaming concessions in the territory, explaining that according to the customary practice for the gaming industry after the Macau handover, the concessions were bound by the legal-administrative institution. This institution is a formal contract for the operation of games of fortune and chance, and was previously defined by others as the administrative contract by which the administration allows a private person to operate, or maintain and operate, a casino gaming premise by remunerating himself from gaming revenues and providing financial compensation to the grantor.

This concession tool sets strict rules according to the Law 16/2001, of which Article 7 clearly states that there is a maximum of only three allowable concessions.

Correia notes that, despite the law above, casino gaming operation is undertaken by six distinct entities, out of which three are without concession agreements with the MSAR, operating under sub-concessions but behaving as if they were true license holders.

The lawyer remarks that the legal regime for the concessions comes directly from the general law  Law 3/90/M  and that according to the general basis of concessions, sub-concessions should be used only for public works and public services. He concludes that there is no legal basis for sub-concessions in the gaming industry.

As the discussion arises when the concessions and their conditions are due for renewal, with current concessions ending between 2020 and 2022, the lawyer believes that now is the right time to change the law or system that allows for these exceptions with no legal basis.

As explained by Correia, the sub-concessions raise three fundamental problems: One derives from the particular contractual instrument used that allows for the extension of certain obligations beyond the date of termination of the concession contracts on which they depend, a situation he considers to be contrary to what is common practice and is not a result of the classic administrative legal framework applicable to sub-concessions.

On the other hand, clause 94 of the sub-concession contracts state that the termination of the concessions does not imply the termination of the sub-concessions, a situation that the lawyer considers a genuine legal aberration that is only understandable given the circumstances at the time (2002-2006).

The legal expert says that the continuity clauses for sub-concessions beyond the final deadlines set in the gaming concession regime are no longer acceptable, adding that it should be corrected as soon as possible so that this situation does not recur.

The most acute problem, Correia argues, is that the government should be asking whether the current regime of sub-concessions is in the interests of the MSAR at all.

His response is unequivocally negative: the current regime of sub-concessions is clearly detrimental to Macaus interests because the proceeds from the agreement to establish the sub-concession, which should go directly into the MSAR treasury strongboxes, will eventually end up in the pockets of brokers and intermediaries who use the licenses granted by MSAR to negotiate the terms of the sub-concessions.

In other words, the grantor [of the contract], who is the MSAR government, is marginalized from these negotiations and takes no advantage from the income generated by an agreement prior to the commencement of casino operations of the sub-concession; and which terms it does not control.

The lawyer concluded by noting that it is in the hands of the MSAR government to determine whether or not to maintain, or even increase, the existing concessionaires and sub-concessionaires.

He advises that the issue should be handled as soon as possible as the future will depend on it.

Total smoking ban is far from being a global trend

The total smoking ban is far from being a global trend  most (if not all) regional competitors and potential newcomers are clearly allowing smoking in designated areas, says local gaming industry law specialist Francisco Gaivao, in an article published in the May edition of Asian Gaming Lawyer.

In the article, Gaivao addressed the implemented changes to Macaus smoking policy, as well as the governments future intended policies in the pursuit of the total [smoking] ban.

While he said that no one knows for sure how the implementation of a full smoking ban would affect the local gaming industry  and the exceedingly gaming-dependent Macau economy  he also suggested a possible scenario.

He noted that on one hand, it is widely known that a large portion of casino patrons (namely those coming to Macau) take great pleasure in smoking while gambling.

On the other hand, if the total ban policy is adopted, Macau will have the most aggressive anti-casino smoking policy in the world with restrictions that exceed those of other regions, namely in competing gaming hubs such as Australia, Singapore and even Japan.

In light of this, Gaivao further noted that such thoughtful consideration should resonate with the Macau policy makers, especially taking into account the fact that the importance of the gaming activity to the overall economy of [markets such as] Australia or Singapore is (by a long shot!) much lower than the overwhelming importance in the non-diversified Macau economy.

UPDATED May 6, 1:32am
North Korea has issued a rare direct criticism of China through a commentary saying its reckless remarks on the Norths nuclear program are testing its patience and could trigger unspecified grave consequences.

China, North Koreas largest trading partner and main benefactor, suspended imports of North Korean coal in line with U.N. sanctions earlier this year and has recently been urging its traditional ally to stop nuclear and missile activities amid U.S. pressure to use its leverage to resolve the nuclear standoff. Chinese state media have also unleashed regular and harsh criticisms on North Korea.

The commentary released Wednesday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency said that a string of absurd and reckless remarks are now heard from China every day only to render the present bad situation tenser.

Asked about the KCNA commentary during a regular briefing yesterday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijings position on developing good neighborly and friendly cooperation with North Korea is also consistent and clear.

The North Korean article cited recent commentaries by Chinese state media that it said shifted the blame for deteriorating bilateral relations onto the North and raised lame excuses for the base acts of dancing to the tune of the U.S.

China should no longer try to test the limits of the DPRKs patience, the North Korean commentary said, using the acronym for its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. China had better ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by its reckless act of chopping down the pillar of the DPRK-China relations.

The article was not attributed to any government agency or official; the writer was identified only as Kim Chol. Still, its unusual for the North to directly criticize China. Previously it has couched such criticism by referring to China only as a neighboring country.

Analyst Cheong Seong-chang at South Koreas private Sejong Institute said the Norths discontent at China appears to be on the verge of exploding. He said North Korea will likely ignore China from now on while trying to strengthen ties with Russia and improve relations with a new South Korean government to be inaugurated next week.

The Global Times, an outspoken nationalist tabloid published by Chinas ruling Communist Partys flagship Peoples Daily, warned yesterday, in an editorial, that the Norths actions threatened a 1961 treaty of non-aggression between the two countries. It called on the North to end its nuclear tests.

China will not allow its northeastern region to be contaminated by North Koreas nuclear activities, the Global Times declared.

In recent days, the paper also warned that China was able to strike back at any side that crosses the red line and would impose an oil embargo against the North in response to any more tests. The North Korean commentary said its China that crossed the red line.

The Peoples Daily declared Sunday  and again on Tuesday  that the Norths nuclear ambitions put itself and the whole region into dire peril. Hyung-Jin Kim, Seoul, AP
The Macao Association for the Promotion of Exchange between Asia-Pacific and Latin America (MAPEAL) organized a visit of the delegation from the Peruvian University, San Ignacio University (USIL) to two universities in Macau yesterday.

The delegation was accompanied by Gonzalo Talavera-Alvarez, deputy Consul-General of Peru in Hong Kong and Macau for this first promotion of academic exchange visit.

The delegations visit started at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), during which time the two universities discussed issues for future cooperation and student exchange, according to a statement issued by MAPEAL.

Ramiro Salas Bravo of USIL stated that they were seeking suitable partners around the world for cooperation on different levels.

The delegation was also given a special tour of the MUSTs State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine.

According to the statement, the Peruvian delegation showed interest in the labs research and courses of Chinese Medicine.

The delegates also proceeded to the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) campus in Taipa for a guided campus tour. The tour showcased different teaching facilities such as mock hotel rooms, restaurant simulation classrooms for Western and Chinese restaurants, training rooms for creative art and make-up art.

During the visit, the delegation conducted discussions with Fanny Vong, president of IFT, about student exchange programs and long-term cooperation between the two institutes.

USIL is a part of the San Ignacio de Loyola Education Corporation.

The corporation also has operations in the United States, Paraguay and China, as well as agreements with more than 220 strategic partners in the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
U.S. President Donald Trumps unpredictability and nationalist policies have become the biggest risk to global trade, Philippine billionaire and port operator Enrique Razon said.

There are dark clouds gathering, Razon, chairman and president of International Container Terminal Services Inc., said in an interview this week with Bloomberg Televisions Haslinda Amin in Los Angeles.

The U.S. has created the largest part of the uncertainty in an already uncertain future, he said, referring to the U.S. leaders protectionist moves including a proposed border-adjustment tax and his earlier threats to pull out of the World Trade Organization and North American Free Trade Agreement.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has been pushing to replace corporate income tax with a tax on businesses domestic sales and imports, exempting exports. The border-adjustment tax proposal raised alarm bells among importers in the U.S., as well as government officials in Mexico as they feared it would reduce shipments north of the border.

Trump in April signed an executive order that threatens to review and renegotiate or terminate Americas trade agreements  including its participation in the WTO  if they are found to harm U.S. interests. Last week, he also threatened to withdraw from Nafta, but later said, after speaking with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, he would seek to renegotiate.

While Trump has backtracked on some positions he keeps changing what he is saying, Razon, 57, said. I dont even know if his people know exactly what hes really going to do.

Still, Razon said his company is willing to invest $500 million to $1 billion to build a terminal in every country in western and eastern Africa, a continent he considers the most immune to any globalization shifts. Barriers to entry are very high there but once you are in, it has the best margins in our industry, he said.

Rising anti-globalization hasnt affected International Containers port operations in the first quarter, with trade growing in almost every region where it has a presence, Razon said. The company operates in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

Razon, who also chairs Bloomberry Resorts Corp., said Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes Beijing trip, which yielded $24 billion in investment pledges in October, has paid off with Chinese tourists more than doubling and feeding growth in the Philippine casino industry.

The market has been growing tremendously in the last two, three years so the bet is paying off, Razon said. We are making more money. We are seeing huge growth from visitations in China, he said, adding he expects to sustain growth of as much as 40 percent in VIP volume at its Solaire Resort and Casino on Manila Bay.

One of the risks to his gambling business is if the Chinese government succeeds in curtailing the movement of VIP funds, which could slow the sector, something that Macaus casino industry had to endure during an anti-corruption crackdown, Razon said. Norman P. Aquino, Ian Sayson, Bloomberg
A top Philippine official is set to be questioned next week at the U.N. Human Rights Council on issues such as extrajudicial killings and vigilante justice alleged to be occurring in President Rodrigo Dutertes deadly fight against illegal drugs.

The Philippines is one of 14 countries whose records are being examined in the latest session of the Universal Periodic Review, which examines issues in all 193 U.N. member states. Britain is on tap today [Macau time] and the Philippines anti-drug campaign and moves to restore the death penalty are among the issues set for discussion on Monday.

Menardo Guevarra, a senior deputy executive secretary in Dutertes office, is leading the delegation. Also participating is senator and staunch Duterte supporter Alan Peter Cayetano, who told reporters our strategy is simple: The facts being said about the campaign against drugs are wrong.

Human Rights Watch yesterday called on the U.N. to denounce the Philippines war on drugs that it said has left more than 7,000 suspected drug dealers and users dead since Duterte took office on June 30 and to urge the country to support an international investigation into the killings.

The UN review of the Philippines is critical because of the sheer magnitude of the human rights calamity since President Duterte took office last year, said Phelim Kine, Human Rights Watchs deputy Asia director. Dutertes war on drugs has been nothing less than a murderous war on the poor.

Amnesty International Philippines says the review should highlight persisting problems, including the high number of extrajudicial executions and moves to reinstate the death penalty.

The government is also releasing new data in an attempt to refute death tolls ranging from more than 7,000 to 9,000 cited by human rights groups and the media that were based on previous numbers released by police.

Numbers released by the presidential palace, the Philippine National Police and other government agencies this week showed nearly 4,600 people have been killed in drug-related crime since July 1 and over 1.2 million drug suspects have surrendered.

The death toll includes more than 2,700 suspected drug dealers and users killed in police operations and 1,847 homicides investigated and found to be drug-related.

Police said 19.6 percent of the countrys 9,432 recorded homicides from July 1 to March 31 were drug-related. About 20 percent of homicides were unrelated to drugs, while the rest are still under investigation.

The higher figures released by police earlier and cited by media and human rights groups included deaths still under investigation, which officials now clarify were not all drug-related.

The fact that the new PNP figures are inconsistent with the numbers released by the media or human rights organizations on extrajudicial executions, or even their own previous numbers, means that there may be more unreported cases, not less, said Amnesty International Philippines head Ritz Lee Santos, III.

He said the police should send a clear message that the state-sponsored unlawful killings of alleged offenders are never justified and are equivalent to extrajudicial executions which they should vow to end. AP
Twin Falls County

Wednesday arraignments

Lindsay Jean Langlois, 23, Twin Falls; possession of a controlled substance, own recognizance release, public defender appointed, preliminary hearing May 12.

Lindsay Jean Langlois, 23, Twin Falls; possession of marijuana, failure to appear, own recognizance release, public defender appointed, pretrial June 13.

Lindsay Jean Langlois, 23, Twin Falls; false information, failure to appear, own recognizance release, public defender appointed, pretrial June 13.

Dustin Wyatt Peyman, 45, Buhl; possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, own recognizance release, public defender appointed, preliminary hearing May 12.

Thursday arraignments

Brian Edwin Jensen, 42, Rupert; check, draft or overdrawn on account with insufficient funds more than $250, walk-in arraignment, public defender appointed, preliminary hearing May 12.

Stormy Lon Winmill, 28, Twin Falls; possession of a stolen vehicle, $5,000 bond, public defender appointed, preliminary hearing May 12.

Rebecca Floence Robbins, 42, Twin Falls; driving under the influence  excessive, walk-in arraignment, bond previously posted, public defender appointed, pretrial June 13.

Roberto Miranda Villa, 19, Twin Falls; willful concealment, own recognizance release, public defender appointed, pretrial June 20.
TWIN FALLS  The South Central Public Health Districts board voted Friday to bump the interim heads salary while the executive director is out because of a state investigation.

After a 30 minute closed session, the board, which includes a representative from each of the eight counties that are part of the district, voted unanimously to increase the salary of Jeremy St. Clair, the health districts Principal Financial Specialist who is now interim executive director, from $32.62 an hour to $42.40 an hour for as long as he is the interim director.

St. Clair is running things now because Rene LeBlanc, who has been in the job since 2007, is out of the office because of an investigation by the state Division of Human Resources. According to a former employee who is in contact with current employees, LeBlanc has been out since last week.

The reasons for the investigation are unclear. Neither the Division of Human Resources nor LeBlanc have returned calls for comment, and board member Terry Kramer said Thursday he doesnt know much about the investigation and couldnt comment on a personnel matter.

LeBlanc came under fire in 2013, when former employee Patricia Scott accused him of disciplining her improperly, complaining to the Idaho Personnel Commission. At the time, Scott and other former employees accused Health District of mistreating and harassing employees. A court ruled in Scotts favor and ordered the Health District to pay her $394 in withheld pay.
WASHINGTON  With Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson wielding the gavel, the U.S. House voted Thursday to roll back key provisions of the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a new plan.

The speaker asked him to preside for the debate and vote, his spokeswoman Nikki Wallace said. He is very experienced and skilled at managing the floor.

Simpson, whose district includes the Magic Valley and who is in his eighth term in Congress, isnt a stranger to presiding over debates  he was Speaker of the House when he was in the Idaho Legislature. He has also presided over the U.S. House before, including once in 2011 for a reading of the U.S. Constitution and in February of this year when Democrats made an unsuccessful attempt to pass a resolution to force President Donald Trump to release his tax returns.

They put him in the chair when they have a vote thats going to be difficult, or the debate would be, Wallace said, because of his extensive knowledge of parliamentary procedure.

Both Simpson and Idahos only other congressman, U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, voted for the GOPs American Health Care Act, which passed 217-213 with 20 mostly purple-district Republicans opposed.

I voted against the passage of Obamacare and I have voted to repeal it over 60 times, Simpson said in a statement after the vote. Many members promised the American public that they would repeal and replace Obamacare and this vote is the first step to fulfilling that promise. I believe in keeping my promises.

Simpson cited a Congressional Budget Office estimate that the bill would reduce premiums by 10 percent and said it also eliminates the most burdensome Obamacare mandates such as some of the taxes in the Affordable Care Act and the mandates that individuals must buy health insurance or pay an extra tax and that employers with more than 50 workers must offer insurance.

The Affordable Care Act is unsustainable given its current trajectory, Simpson said. The thought of a total collapse in the health care market is simply too dangerous to ignore given the stakes. The question today was to stick with Obamacare or to start the process of fixing our broken health care system. The American Health Care Act is the only opportunity we have to start that replacement process. It is not perfect given the limited scope of reconciliation rules, but to fix health care we need to start somewhere.

By reconciliation rules, Simpson was referring to the fact that the bill was written as a budget bill, the purpose being that spending bills cant be filibustered and can pass the Senate with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes that would be needed to break a filibuster.

Labrador, whose House Freedom Caucus opposed a previous version of the bill on the grounds that it didnt go far enough, said Congress work on health care is far from done, and he is still committed to a total repeal of the ACA, but that the AHCA is the best way to get there eventually.

The bill we passed today strikes down Obamacares prohibition on less expensive health care plans and the knot of insurance regulations and mandates that are making health coverage so unaffordable, Labrador said. Meanwhile, it sets up a national $130 billion invisible high-risk pool to help offset the cost for those with pre-existing conditions.

The group Close the Gap Idaho, which has been lobbying for Medicaid expansion, released a statement blasting the vote, citing estimates that it could lead to 24 million people losing their insurance over the next decade and weaken protections for the more than 662,000 Idahoans who are estimated to have pre-existing conditions.

The (Idaho Medical Associations) goal is to ensure that all Idahoans have health care coverage, CEO Susie Pouliot said in a statement. Unfortunately, passage of the AHCA through the U.S. House today takes us in the wrong direction by causing millions of Americans to lose the health insurance they now have. Further, the AHCA puts chronically ill people at risk of being priced out of the insurance market, if they can even find coverage at all. IMA is disappointed with this outcome that will hurt many Idahoans.

Idaho is one of 19 mostly red states that opted not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It is, however, one of the few Republican-run states to have created its own state-run exchange rather than rely on the federal market. The exchanges creation was supported by Gov. C.L. Butch Otter and most of the establishment wing of the state party, and even Republican lawmakers often point to it as a model of a well-run exchange other states could learn from.

Your Health Idaho Executive Director Pat Kelly told the exchanges board in March that a previous version of the bill could have resulted in almost 60,000 Idahoans leaving the exchange by 2020  more than half of the roughly 106,000 enrollees  due both to the repeal of the individual mandate and to cuts in the tax credit subsidies people use to buy coverage, saying the credit received by a family of four with a $50,000 a year income would drop by 23 percent.

Kelly, who was in Washington Thursday to meet with lawmakers, said it was difficult to speculate at this point how the changes would affect Idahoans.

We will continue to work with policymakers and review input from the Congressional Budget Office and the Senate in the weeks to come, Kelly said in an email. For now, its business as usual at Your Health Idaho. Idaho has one of the most successful and cost-efficient health insurance marketplaces in the country. As changes are made, we are confident that by working with our partners at the state and federal level, we can once again provide the right solution for Idahoans. Our technology, processes, partners, and people are ready to adapt.
HAILEY  Five people were injured in a crash Thursday that blocked Idaho 75 between Hailey and Ketchum for about two hours.

Brian J. Harvey, 36, of Boise was northbound on the highway in a 2015 Subaru Outback when he crashed into the back of a car slowing for traffic near Spruce Way, Idaho State Police said in a statement.

The initial crash pushed a 2004 Volvo C70, driven by 67-year-old Anna D. Jensen of Hailey, into oncoming traffic, where she was hit by a Toyota Tacoma with three occupants  driver Sean P. Evangelista, 43, of Ketchum, passenger Jessica L. Viglienzoni, 36, of Twin Falls and a juvenile girl.

Everybody involved was wearing seat belts, though Evangelistas minor passenger was not in an approved safety seat, ISP said. All five people were taken to hospitals by ambulance.

The crash blocked the highway for about two hours as crews treated the injured and cleared the scene.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at weakening the enforcement of a law that bars churches and tax-exempt groups from endorsing political candidates.

A look at the law in question, known as the Johnson Amendment:

WHAT IT DOES

The law prohibits tax-exempt charitable organizations such as churches from participating directly or indirectly in any political campaign to support or oppose a candidate. That means no donations to candidates' campaigns and no public statements explicitly on behalf of or against a candidate.

WHAT IT DOESN'T DO

It doesn't stop religious groups from weighing in on public policy or organizing in ways that may benefit one side in a campaign. Plenty of religiously grounded organizations or movements  Roman Catholic bishops, the Christian Coalition, you name it  have delved fiercely into political causes, and preachers of the left and right are not shy about exhorting their followers to political action. The law requires them to stop short of endorsing candidates, but their leanings are often not a mystery.

WHY IT MATTERS

To supporters, the law is central to the constitutional separation of church and state. To opponents, it's a gag on the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.

WHAT TRUMP DID

Trump said his action is meant to ensure that people are not penalized for their "protected religious beliefs" and that religious institutions are not "unfairly" targeted for political speech. In effect, the order discourages the IRS from going after churches aggressively for their political expression. But the law stays on the books; an executive order cannot change it.

The order also promises "regulatory relief" for groups with religious objections to the preventive services requirement in the Affordable Care Act, according to a White House official. Those requirements include covering birth control and the move could apply to religious groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor, who have moral objections to paying for contraception.

GENESIS: IN THE BEGINNING ...

A Republican Congress and Republican president, Dwight Eisenhower, brought the law into effect in 1954, but it was the handiwork of Lyndon Johnson, then a Democratic senator from Texas and later president.

LBJ was no altar boy for the Constitution's edicts on church and state. He was livid that a few nonprofit groups attacked him as a communist in a Senate campaign. His amendment was meant to slam such organizations by revoking their tax-exempt status if they went over the line in the partisan fray. His amendment was not focused on religious groups, but covers them.

FITFULLY ENFORCED

The IRS has not been particularly aggressive in enforcing the law. Revoking a religious organization's tax exemption risks accusations that the government is crushing religious freedom. But the fact it possesses that power has kept interference in partisan politics in check, as the law's supporters see it, and represents government overreach in the mind of critics.

In September, Gov. Matt Bevin, R-Ky., told preachers the law was a "paper tiger" and they should embrace political speech more boldly. "There is no reason to fear it," he said. "There is no reason to be silent."

Lisa Runquist, a California lawyer who specializes in nonprofit and religious tax law, said it is a law with a lot of gray area, but she counsels clients to stay on the safe side of it. "Do you want to be the test case that goes forward?" she said she asks them.

WHAT A VIOLATION LOOKS LIKE

Runquist cites a case in the 1990s when a New York church bought full-page newspaper advertisements that called on Christians not to vote for Bill Clinton. The organization Americans United for the Separation of Church and State lodged a complaint with the IRS. The IRS investigated, denied the church's exempt status and a federal court upheld that decision.

You can read the full "Presidential Executive Order Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty" at whitehouse.gov.

Associated Press writers Dylan Lovan and Claire Galofaro in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this report.
The fight to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act is just getting started.

President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan deserve significant credit for getting their alternative, the American Health Care Act, or AHCA, across the finish line. But the version of health reform that the Senate will send back in the coming weeks or months will likely look very different from the legislation the House passed Thursday. And that's a good thing. While the House bill included a number of important reforms, the Senate has an opportunity to improve upon what was passed and address some of the concerns that the bill's critics have expressed over the last several weeks.

There are at least three key policy issues that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Trump administration will need to address to get the consensus necessary among Republicans to pass a bill through the upper chamber. These are difficult issues to resolve, but the GOP has little choice but to act, given the promises the party has made for seven years about getting rid of Obamacare and replacing it with more market-driven reforms.

First, Medicaid reform will be a sticking point. The AHCA fundamentally changes Medicaid from an open-ended entitlement program, where the federal government is on the hook for a theoretically limitless amount of spending, to one where it spends a fixed and predictable amount of money per year. This change could be particularly problematic for states that chose to accept Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, which extended eligibility to anyone making less than 138% of the federal poverty level (about $16,000 a year in 2017). The challenge is that these states aren't all governed by Democrats -- 11 GOP governors, including John Kasich and Chris Christie, took Obamacare's Medicaid expansion. Republican senators from these states are concerned about how the transition will affect Medicaid coverage and will therefore be looking for a gentler transition from the current financing system to the new one proposed by the AHCA.

Second, there will be a debate over the nature and magnitude of assistance offered to low-income Americans for the purchase of health insurance. The AHCA includes a refundable tax credit, based on the age of the recipient, to assist in the purchase of private coverage outside the employer-sponsored system. Some analysts have complained the tax credit is too skimpy, while some conservatives have attacked the subsidy as creating yet another government entitlement. The Senate is likely to make the tax credits more, not less, generous, in an effort to help cover more people. Targeting more assistance to low-income Americans on the cusp of Medicaid eligibility will also help more of them acquire private coverage and push them away from Medicaid, which is an outcome most conservatives favor.

Finally, the issue of how best to help those with pre-existing conditions will likely be the most politically volatile of the debates to come. Obamacare's approach was to mandate a set of essential health benefits, impose restrictions on an insurer's ability to deny coverage based on health status and limit the factors on which insurers could base their premiums as well as the extent of variance in those premiums. Many Republicans who voted against the AHCA, as well as almost all Democrats, have accepted that this is the only way to deal with the issue.

But the House-passed legislation shows there is a different, more targeted way, to address the problem. It offers states the opportunity to opt out of the Affordable Care Act's rigid regulatory regime and includes a significant amount of funding (up to $123 billion over 10 years) to build mechanisms at the state and federal levels to ensure those with pre-existing conditions get access to affordable coverage. This, in turn, will help to lower premiums for everyone else purchasing insurance on the individual market. Senators looking for middle ground might try to add even more funding to address this problem. But the two approaches to addressing pre-existing conditions represent fundamentally divergent views about the role of government, the scope of the problem and what policy is needed to solve it.

There are likely many more twists and turns in the road ahead for the effort to repeal and replace Obamacare. Some senators have even suggested they might never take up the AHCA and instead start afresh with their own legislation.

Whatever approach the Senate takes, these significant policy disagreements between Republicans must be tackled and resolved if, as conservatives have long hoped, Obamacare is to be wiped away once and for all.
An impromptu assembly on race took place at a New Orleans school after a black student and a white teacher argued about the use of the N-word.
This appeared in the Idaho Falls Post Register:

Perhaps youre still on the fence as to whether Rep. Janet Trujillo, R-Idaho Falls, did anything wrong.

The background: Trujillo wont say where she lived during the legislative session. Her full time home is in Idaho Falls, but her new husband, Rep. Mike Moyle, R-Star, lives less than 20 miles from the statehouse in Boise. Trujillo (and, by virtue of Idahos marital property laws, Moyle) took a $129/day per diem, meant to cover the costs of legislators food and lodging expenses if they live outside Ada County. Those whose homes are in Ada County get $49/day.

On Wednesday Bryan Clark reported House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, said that because Trujillos primary residence is in Idaho Falls, technically she did nothing wrong.

The rules are set up by the Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation. Bedke thinks they should handle it. Members of the committee say they have no authority to do anything except change the rule  in a year and a half, which is the next time they meet.

Lets translate this into a little allegory: Say you leave your young child in the care of a part-time babysitter.

One day the babysitter, at your request, stops off at the grocery store to pick up a few items.

Its just before lunch time. Your child asks the babysitter for a candy bar. But she has instructions to only spend money for the items on the list you gave her.

The babysitter explains, Well eat soon and this money is for just the things on the list. She pays for the items, loads the groceries and the child into the car and buckles up to head home.

But before the babysitter puts the car in reverse, she hears something. She turns around and sees the little boy unwrapping a candy bar in the backseat.

Where did you get that? she asks him in surprise.

He takes a bite of the candy bar. I was hungry, he says. I wanted it. No one told me I couldnt have it.

You should have known better! I told you the money we had was only for what was on the list.

The child shrugs and finishes the candy bar.

All gone, he says, holding up his chocolate-covered fingers.

The babysitter shakes her head in frustration then picks up the phone to call you at work. She explains the situation: We went shopping for groceries and I stuck to the list and the budget you gave me. Your son took a candy bar without paying. What should I do? You told me Im not supposed to punish him.

You ponder the situation. The babysitter never technically told your child he couldnt have the candy bar. Then again, he should have known better. He took and ate a candy bar without paying for it. What now?

Do you, like Bedke, do nothing? Do you let your kid off the hook on a technicality?

Or do you punish him and point out that not every rule should have to be thoroughly explained? How many rules do each of us abide by without being told the ins and outs of every letter of every law?

Most of us have been on one side or the other of this situation  whether you were the young child caught stealing candy, or the parent dispensing wisdom and consequences.

We just dont take things without permission, especially when it has a financial impact on others  whether thats a grocery store or a state.

Time to gauge your moral compass: Was it right or wrong to take an extra $6,400 from the state when Trujillo could have (and may have) lived with her spouse and saved the cost of maintaining a second home during the session?

And whos the grown up in charge here?


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US President Donald Trump announced Thursday a tour in the Gulf and the Middle East as of this May 23 with Saudi Arabia as his first stop in a move to warm up ties with the Arab world.

The tour, his first since he took office, will take him to Riyadh, Israel and the Vatican.

My first foreign trip as president of the United States will be to Saudi Arabia, then Israel, and then to a place that my cardinals love very much, Rome, Trump said.

The choice of Saudi Arabia as the first stop has been described as a strong signal by the new US administration to cement ties with the Saudi establishment, which remained cautious with the US during Obamas term.

Trump said in Saudi Arabia, he will begin to construct a new foundation of cooperation and support with our Muslim allies to combat extremism, terrorism and violence and to embrace a more just and hopeful future for young Muslims in their countries.

A senior member of the Trump administration emphasized that the aim of the visit was to reverse a trend of Americas disengagement from the world and some of its biggest problems, al-monitor.com reports.

Trumps announcement followed his meeting with the Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman in March, in Washington.

During their encounter, both leaders reiterated their close contact on regional affairs as well as on bilateral issues. Washington and Riyadh are poised to work together in countering Irans influence in the Middle East and stamping out Daech and al-Qaeda.
Moscow, Teheran and Ankara agreed Thursday in Astana; Kazakhstans capital; to work towards peace in Syria as the three warring sides penned down agreement to create safe zones to allow the return of refugees and facilitate peace.

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the agreement signed by Damascus supporters Moscow, Teheran and rebels backer Ankara, would lead to further pacification and cessation of hostilities of a conflict, which killed more than 320,000 people since 2011.

The document reportedly calls for the creation of safe zones in rebel-held territory in the northwestern province of Idlib, in parts of Homs province in the center, in the south, and in the opposition enclave of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.

Moscow and Tehran have been backing embattled Syrian leader Bashar al Assad in the conflict, opposing him to rebels backed by Ankara and Washington.

The Assad regime is not signatory to the agreement, criticized by rebels who have lambasted Teherans attendance of the talks.

Washington, which has been informed of the agreement, also expressed doubt over Irans good faith for peace. US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert however noted that Washington would continue talking to Moscow to bring an end to the Syrian conflict.

We continue to have concerns about the Astana agreement, including the involvement of Iran as a so-called guarantor, she said.

Irans activities in Syria have only contributed to the violence, not stopped it, and Irans unquestioning support for the Assad regime has perpetuated the misery of ordinary Syrians.

We nonetheless hope that this arrangement can contribute to a de-escalation of violence, end the suffering of the Syrian people, and set the stage for a political settlement of the conflict, she said.

We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the Russian Federation on efforts that can responsibly end the Syria conflict.
Iraqi forces supported by the US-led international coalition have moved to the final assault on Mosul as the forces try to retake the town from terrorists still staging resistance.

The operation, which started in October last year, is edging towards its end. Iraqi military officials argue that the militants have been tangled in the Northern Iraqi town.

The remaining Daesh [ISIS] terrorists in Mosul are now under heavy siege by the Iraqi forces in the northwestern corner of the city, an army official who did not want to be named said.

Our forces are making a steady advance in the first hours of the offensive and Daesh fighters are breaking and retreating, another army official known as Brigadier General Yahya Rasool added.

The army has opened a new front in the north with the aim of forcing the militant group to split its defense and make it easy for forces to head on from the South, reports say.

The army was able to liberate the South within two months but is still stumbling on resistance from other parts. Around 1,000 Daech fighters are reportedly still protecting the old town used by the militants as their stronghold in Iraq.

At the beginning of the operation, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi indicated that it would be over by December.

Over 700 government forces have been killed so far and close to 5,000 others have been injured.

The US and its allies have been providing aerial support to the Iraqi forces backed by Shia paramilitary Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).
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.
A court in Nigeria on Thursday sentenced two Nigerian officials to two years in jail for taking and selling about 300 bags of rice donated by an international aid group for people fleeing severe food shortages and insurgency in the West-African nation.

The two convict are Umar Ibrahim, a counsellor for agriculture, and Bulama Ali Zangebe, a member of a camp feeding committee.

They admitted to the High Court in the Borno state capital Maiduguri having sold rice bags for 8,500 naira each in the town of Mafa, home to a camp for displaced people, Reuters reported.

The court also ordered the pair to pay 1 million naira ($3,280) each to northeastern Borno State for diverting the food donated by the Norwegian Refugee Agency.

Nigeria is part of what the UN has called the largest humanitarian crisis since the world body was founded in 1945, with more than 20 million people in four countries facing possible famine.

The UN said that nearly 5.1 million people in three northeastern states were expected to face serious food shortages. For the third year in a row, farmers had been unable to plant, fearing unexploded improvised devices left behind by militants.

In December, President Muhammadu Buhari accused UN agencies of exaggerating his countrys crisis in their appeal to donors for $1 billion.
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Qatari investment company explores Georgia

The Alfardan Group, one of the largest investment companies in Qatar, is interested in investing in Georgia.The main fields of interests for the Alfardan Group in Georgia are tourism and the industrial zone.To explore the investment opportunities Georgia has to offer the company's President and CEO Omar Hussain Alfardan visited Georgia last week.Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili personally hosted the honourable guest.At the meeting Kvirikashvili introduced various investment projects to Alfardan that the investor may implement in the future.At the end of the meeting, Alfardan shared his impressions with Kvirikashvili, saying that Georgia was an important investment destination for the company.He also promised to continue close cooperation with Georgia on a number of projects.
Opposition speaks against nepotism at public service

By Messenger Staff

The Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defense has confirmed that MPs Sophie Kiladze and Tamar Khulordava's spouses are employed at the General Inspection Department of the Ministry of Defense.They stressed that certain functions have been added to the General Inspection Department and it led to the employment of the additional staff.It has nothing to do with nepotism. They took part in the competition and the competition-certification commission made a decision. Levan Vakhtangadze and Avtandil Kharadze have been appointed as temporary acting inspectors, said a representative of the Department.The statement came after criticism of the opposition.The trend of nepotism in the Georgian Dream government is very worrying, Irma Nadirashvili, a a member of the European Georgia opposition party, stated.She announced that the appointing of the two men at the ministry indicated towards nepotism.Politicians' children and their family members should not be the target of political confrontation and they should be able to live normally, but sometimes politicians themselves create a situation wherein members of society or the opposition are forced to ask questions, she said.Defence Minister Levan Ozoria also commented on the issue, saying that Nadirashvilis relatives are also employed at the Ministry but he didnt fire them.He stressed that none of his relatives were employed at the Ministry and said the employment of the two people was in line with law.Several days ago, the employment of ruling party representative Irakli Sesiashvilis 19-year-old son  a second-year university student  at the State Security Service also caused controversy.Sesiashvili himself stated that his son was a distinguished student.Sesiashvili does not seem to have considered (or has totally and callously disregarded) the fact that distinguished sons or daughters of ordinary citizens have no a chance to be employed at such an important body, unlike the son of the head of Parliaments Defence Committee.Creating a new department and appointing MPs husbands also causes some question marks to be raised; despite claims that the men were employed after an 'employment competition', no details over this process have been released, nor have the successful candidates' qualifications.Nepotism in the state institutions and elsewhere is a huge step backwards, and it is ironic that it was a subject of criticism by the Georgian Dream party towards the UNM's preceding leadership. Of course, everyone has the right to have a job and their relationship to some top figures or MPs must not be an obstacle, but their appointment must be transparent and fair.
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

Injured workers caught a break today when the Florida Legislature failed to pass a bill that could have made it harder for them to find attorneys to take their case even when they've been wrongly denied their injury claim.

The Florida House and Senate never could work out a compromise to cap attorney fees for workers who sue companies for wrongly denying their claims.

The House wanted to cap attorney fees at $150 an hour, far less than what trial attorneys get in other types of cases. The Senate initially pitched a $250 an hour rate. Sen. Rob Bradley, a Republican from Clay County, offered a plan to split the difference to $200 an hour.

But the Senate this morning surprisingly rejected Bradleys compromise offer and instead voted out a proposal to keep the rate at $250 an hour - a rate the House has opposed. The House refused to accept that change, as expected, an proposed going to $180 an hour, the highest it was willing to go. The result was that nothing passed as the Legislature's regular session ended Friday. Legislators have agreed to meet again on Monday to finish voting on a state budget, but will not take up any other legislation.

The defeat of the legislation is a blow to the business community that has already been hit with a 14 percent increase in workers compensation rates and is bracing for what many fear will be another 20 percent next year. The rates are climbing because of a Florida Supreme Court case last year that ruled a previous attorney fee cap the Florida Legislature had imposed was unconstitutional. Under the old system, some attorney in smaller cases were getting paid was amounted to less than $2 an hour for their work.

State Rep. Sean Shaw, a Democrat from Tampa and an attorney, said the old system worked as a disincentive for attorneys to take workers compensation cases, even for workers who looked like they would win. With no caps, judges now will determine a reasonable rate for winning attorneys to be compensated.

Shaw said for 20 years, the state has only made it harder for injured workers to fight wrongly denied claims. Statistics show that even though Florida has added nearly 2 million more workers since 2004, the number of workers compensation legal claims have been on the decline. And the insurance rates charged to businesses have dropped 60 percent.
@MichaelAuslen

State lawmakers agreed late Thursday to cut $521 million from hospitals  with nearly a third of it coming from South Florida.

The cuts, which hit the Medicaid program, mostly impact the facilities that take on the largest number of Medicaid patients, including the states safety net hospitals.

In Dade and Broward, that means hospitals will lose $160 million under the plan, which is expected to pass the House and Senate on Monday as part of the state budget. The prospect for deeper cuts is on the horizon as the Legislature has teed up an additional $130 million in statewide cuts the following year, unless they counteract it.

"Adequate funding for Floridas Medicaid program ensures our most vulnerable children, pregnant women, disabled and elderly people have access to critical health care services," said Bruce Rueben, president of the Florida Hosptial Association. "The Legislatures decision to reduce more than $521 million from this important program will be felt in communities across our state."

Lawmakers put forward the idea of cutting Medicaid months ago, citing fears that the state needs to tighten its belt in the long run or risk revenue shortfalls brought on by years of tax cuts.

However, they hope to counteract the cuts with a pot of money the federal government agreed to allow that would reimburse hospitals for unpaid charity care. That fund could reach $1.5 billion, but there is not yet a plan in place for how each hospital could benefit  or even that Florida hospitals could reap the full $1.5 billion allowed.

What is guaranteed for hospitals are the cuts. Here are where the biggest losses will be felt in South Florida:

1. Jackson Memorial Hospital, $32.5 million

2. Baptist Hospital of Miami, $15.3 million

3. Nicklaus Childrens Hospital, $14.7 million

4. Memorial Regional Hospital, $14.2 million

5. Broward Health Medical Center, $13.6 million

6. North Shore Medical Center, $7.6 million

7. Broward Health North, $6.6 million

8. Memorial Hospital West, $6.6 million

9. Palmetto General Hospital, $6 million

10. University of Miami Hospital, $5.6 million

This post has been updated to correct data errors.

Photo: Jackson Memorial Hospital (Hector Gabino, el Nuevo Herald)


@PatriciaMazzei

TALLAHASSEE -- State Rep. Jose Felix Diaz plans to give his Florida House farewell speech on Monday, the last scheduled day of the legislative session.

That normally wouldn't be news, if Diaz were term-limited. But he's not.

Instead, the Miami Republican has asked to say good-bye because he expects to be gone from the House one way or another before the 2018 session.

Diaz, a lawyer, is a finalist for the Miami U.S. attorney job under President Donald Trump. But even if he doesn't get appointed to the high-profile gig, he intends to run for the state Senate seat vacated by former Republican Sen. Frank Artiles.

If Diaz runs, then his Republican colleague and friend state Rep. Jeanette Nunez, the House speaker pro tempore, won't seek the Senate seat, Nunez told the Miami Herald on Thursday.

Nunez could, however, wind up with a committee chairmanship with the imminent departure of Diaz, the regulatory affairs committee chair, or of Rep. Carlos Trujillo, the appropriations committee chair who is being considered for an ambassadorship.

Photo credit: Steve Cannon, Associated Press


@PatriciaMazzei @NewsbySmiley

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro is running for Congress.

Barreiro told the Miami Herald on Friday he plans to seek Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's seat next year, now that she is retiring. He is the first big-name Republican to announce a candidacy.

"I am definitely running," Barreiro said, adding that he's preparing filing paperwork and putting together a campaign team.

Barreiro isn't term-limited until 2020, and because he's not on the local ballot in 2018, he won't have to resign from the commission run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

"All of my districts -- in the state House, on the county commission -- have always been 100 percent within this congressional district," said Barreiro, a former state representative. "I've always eyed running for Congress. I didn't think it would be this soon."

Barreiro said his interests at the federal level lie in housing and transportation. On the commission, he's sometimes bucked Republican orthodoxy and sided with labor unions. A group of activists tried to recall him in 2010, after he backed the creation of a new Miami Marlins ballpark, but they fell short in gathering petition signatures against him.

"I think I've worked across the aisle at the state level, and on the commission, and God willing I could do it in Congress," Barreiro said.

Keeping Ros-Lehtinen's seat in Republican hands will be difficult for the GOP. The 27th district, which comprises Southeastern Miami-Dade County, leans Democratic. In last year's presidential election, Hillary Clinton defeated Donald Trump in the district by 20 percentage points, making it the most Clinton-leaning district in the country held by a Republican.

In a WPLG-ABC 10 "This Week in South Florida" interview taped Friday, Ros-Lehtinen was asked about good potential Republican candidates. She mentioned Barreiro -- and former Miami-Dade School Board member Raquel Regalado. A Republican named Maria Peiro has already filed.

Regalado said Friday she was "honored" to be mentioned by Ros-Lehtinen, although she said she hasn't yet made up her mind on a campaign. She said she's waiting to see the direction of "the national party," but said it looks like the GOP is willing to support a moderate candidate.

"This is a multi-million-dollar race. I've already discussed this with my family and considered the logistics of it. I've called people locally to see where they're at," she said. "The party may or may not participate in the primary but you need to figure out if you can raise the money. I think I can. I think I'm the right candidate."

Regalado -- whose older brother, Tommy, is currently running against Barreiro's wife, Zoraida, for Miami City Commission -- seemed ready to start the campaign.

"Bruno and I are being mentioned because we've both been elected in the district for a while. We both have a track record that fits the district somewhat. I think I'm a better candidate," she said. "I don't think he can prove he's a fiscal conservative. He supported the Marlins Stadium. He raised taxes. There are things that set us apart."

This post has been updated.

Photo credit: Carl Juste, Miami Herald staff
@ByKristenMClark

With reluctance by several Democrats, senators on Friday morning endorsed significant expansions to two of Floridas premiere voucher-like programs for education that help children with disabilities pay for alternative learning options and help poor children to afford private school.

Senators approved HB 15 by a 27-11 vote, with four Democrats joining Republicans in support. The House has to vote again this afternoon to approve the same language as the Senate, so that the bill can go to Gov. Rick Scotts desk.

The bills passage would mark another session victory for House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land OLakes.

Corcoran opened the 2017 session by prioritizing, in particular, growing the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, which is facilitated almost entirely by a single organization that is led by an influential and wealthy school choice advocate. The controversial scholarship aids low-income, mostly minority families by giving dollar-for-dollar tax breaks to businesses that donate money, which then pays for private school scholarships.

HB 15 calls for raising the award amounts so that families can stay in the program when their children advance to high school, where private education is more expensive.

Several Democratic senators said they didnt want to divert more dollars to the tax credits  dollars they argue could otherwise go to improving K-12 public schools  and they struggled with voting no because they do support the Gardiner Scholarship to help children with disabilities.

By putting the two programs in a single bill, House Republicans linked the expansion of the Gardiner Scholarship to that of the tax-credit awards  meaning lawmakers could not expand one voucher program without the other.

The Gardiner Scholarship program is a fantastic program, so I want desperately to be able to support this bill because of those provisions ... but I am philosophically opposed to corporate tax vouchers and diverting money away from our general funds, which could be used to improve our public school system, Sen. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, said.

Proponents of the bill defended against the criticism of the tax credit scholarships.

If we want to keep from failing our children, we have got to support this program and we have got to support these children who have no hope without it, Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young said.

Democrats Daphne Campbell of Miami Shores, Bill Montford of Tallahassee, Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg and Linda Stewart of Orlando broke with the rest of their caucus and voted yes.
You probably havent heard his name, but I guarantee youve seen graphic designer Aaron James Draplins work. If you drive a car or ride a bicycle around the city, youve seen a touch of his influence on official signage rolled out by the Obama administration (for example, the recovery.gov signs for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the dot.gov Tiger signs for the U.S. Department of Transportation, both in 2009).

As an independent designer, hes worked for big name clients like Esquire, Burton Snowboards, Snowboarder Magazine and Ford Motors. Hes traveled around the world  from coast-to-coast in the USA, as well as Europe and Australia  delivering his Tall Tales From a Large Man speaking engagements, which he refers to as fiascoes. These are lively events often sponsored by design organizations attached to universities and art schools, but also include motivational type speaking for companies like Lego and keynote addresses at Adobe and related design conferences.

Draplin is a workaholic. That proof is no more evident than in perusing his book, "Pretty Much Everything," which came out a year ago. He and his publishers, Abrams Books, hoped to sell 4,000 copies. Theyve since topped 30,000 sales and counting, largely behind Draplins own efforts promoting the book via his road tour (in a purchased-for-the-purpose van painted safety orange) and speaking engagements.

The book is marketed as a mid-career survey of work, case studies, inspiration, road stories, lists, maps, how-tos and advice. What it is is a display between two hard covers of pretty much everything Draplin has done as a designer; presented in this fashion it overwhelms. Not just for large, corporate customers, but also small advertising/logo projects for his friends. Like Cobra Dogs, a hot-dog cart company owned by a friend of Draplins who got cross-ways with Hasbro (i.e. cease-and-desist letters, threatened financial ruin, etc.) for borrowing their Cobra Commander logo from the "G.I. Joe" cartoon. In a drop everything answer to the distress call, Draplin redesigned the entire Cobra Dogs logo and marketing material, for free, and kept his buddy out of court.

Speaking of Cobra Dogs, Draplin writes, When I look back at my little career so far, Im so proud I made room for the Cobra Dogs sort of clients. This is the stuff I remember and love the most. The big stuff? I cant remember the details, because, quite frankly, the moment that ... is off the plate you move on to the next thing. Those things pay the bills but they arent memorable. I know you cant pay your mortgage with this stuff (gratis work for friends and the budget-challenged), but dont go through life missing designs golden opportunities.

"Pretty Much Everything" traces Draplins roots back to a kid growing up in Michigan. It includes old family photos, drawings and sketches Draplin did as a boy, as well as photos of other keepsakes (high school ID, cassette tape liner notes, a Spider-Man wallet). It was as typical a nerdy Midwestern childhood as one might expect.

After earning an associate degree in graphic design, Draplin moved to Bend, Oregon, at 19 to be a snowboarder. After a few years of adventures out west, he enrolled at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where he earned his bachelor of science in graphic design. His career unfolded; he took a job as art director at Snowboarder Magazine and moved to Los Angeles.

Burning out on L.A. (Southern California occupies the third position on his Things We Hate list at the back of the book, following only Kid Rock and the farce presidency of George Bush) he went to work at Cinco Design in Portland, Oregon. He worked there two years, before freelance opportunities began to compete with the time he needed for his day job. So in 2004 he gave notice and went solo as the Draplin Design Company, still based in Portland, and hasnt looked back.

Draplin is all about the roots of design, and its place in culture. The book describes his obsession, for example, with old metal nameplates that used to be attached to buildings and machinery, and packaging for old car parts and their lost, simple, elegant logos.

This nod to the past is no more evident than in one of his more famous pursuits, the Field Notes brand of small notebooks. This is a line of notebooks based on the old ledger notebooks that one would pick up for free at feed stores and hardware stores back in the day, that Draplin produces in partnership with Coudal Partners out of Chicago with a tagline of Im not writing it down to remember it later, Im writing it down to remember it now. Theyve become so ubiquitous that multiple high-end leather companies build wallets specifically designed to incorporate a Field Notes notebook.

How the Field Notes project came together is described in minute detail in "Pretty Much Everything." As is just about every other project the man has launched on the world. Its a book to be picked up and browsed through, but its also chock-full of fantastic, and hilarious, anecdotes related to all the twists and turns Draplin has taken in his self-made career.

Draplin is revealed as a man who loves to have fun but puts up with no bull****. He is gruff, lovable, surly and massive of heart. He also works very hard. The book is an inspiration to anyone who wants to make a go of it on their own as an artist or entrepreneur, with more gritty real-world advice than any number of other targeted heres how you do it books. Its the kind of book a reader can approach and take something new from with every sitting.
Join Whitefish Legacy Partners on a guided wild mushroom hike on Saturday, May 6, at 2 p.m. at the Swift Creek Trailhead.

These spring rains always bring out the mushrooms. Search for wild mushrooms and learn general classifications and identifying characteristics. Dale Johnson, who has been exploring the woods for wild mushrooms for more than 25 years, will be guiding this spring hike, and ImagineIF Libraries will help participants identify their finds. Bring a basket to collect mushrooms. Guide books will be provided.

The Whitefish Trail is the anchor project of Whitefish Legacy Partners and the result of collaborative partnerships providing public access and recreation while protecting clean water, thriving forests, and prime wildlife habitat on open lands located in the urban interface of Whitefish Montana. To date, Whitefish Legacy Partners and City of Whitefish have established more than 36 miles of a recreational trail system accessed by 10 trailheads. The Whitefish Trail continues to pioneer conservation, education and recreation initiatives, with strategic partners, volunteers, and financial support from the community.

For more information about this hike and other scheduled outings, visit whitefishlegacy.org, call 406-862-3880 or email info@whitefishlegacy.org.
BILLINGS  U.S. House candidates Rob Quist and Greg Gianforte differ sharply on laws affecting womens health care, particularly abortion.

The candidates outlined their differences for Lee Montana Newspapers this week, particularly on whether abortion without government inference  a right protected by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution  could still be changed. Both candidates then discussed federal funding of Planned Parenthood and federal health care policy affecting women.

Quist, a Democrat, and Gianforte, a Republican, are vying for Montanas only U.S. House seat. Voting is underway and ends May 25. Libertarian Mark Wicks is also on the ballot.

Divided stances

I am pro-life. We should have a culture that values life from conception to natural death, Gianforte said. We have an obligation to help the most vulnerable in our society who cant help themselves. Science, faith and common sense compel us to the common understanding that life begins at conception, and should be protected. This is one of our most fundamental freedoms, the first one mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life.

Quist said abortion is none of the governments business.

Politicians should not be in charge of making womens health care decisions, Quist said. These kind of decisions should be made by women with their doctor, their family and their faith and without any government intrusion. This is a settled question, particularly in Montana, where our state constitution has an explicit right to privacy, which I strongly support.

There is room, Gianforte said, for the federal government to place restrictions on abortions, namely by prohibiting the abortion when a fetus is developed enough to feel pain. Late-term and partial-birth abortions can be limited, he said.

The United States is just one of seven countries that permits elective abortions more than halfway through pregnancy, beyond 20 weeks," Gianforte said. "Infants born premature at the age of 20 weeks are patients in neonatal intensive care units, proving their viability before our very eyes. In poll after poll, a clear majority of Americans support protecting unborn children after 20 weeks of gestation from abortion procedures, as science tells us that it is at this point that the baby can feel pain. Protecting unborn infants at this stage of life is a bipartisan position in this country and the accepted practice in other nations of the industrialized world.

Quist said Congress shouldnt meddle.

"My opponent has consistently put his own political ideology ahead of the health and safety of Montana women," Quist said."He even opposes abortion in cases of rape or incest. I believe abortion should be safe, legal and rare. Unlike my opponent, I trust women and their families to make their own health care decisions. He wants to roll back the clock and put the government in charge of womens health care decisions.

Federal funding

Last month, President Donald Trump signed a law allowing states to deny federal family planning funds to health clinics offering abortion. That means states could deny Title X funding for family planning services like contraception, fertility care and breast and cervical cancer screenings, if abortion was also provided.

Federal funding already was banned from paying for abortion. Federal courts have already struck down similar attempts to deny funding to clinics like Planned Parenthood in states like Florida and Utah. The candidates split on whether they supported the law.

Tax dollars should not directly or indirectly subsidize abortions, Gianforte said. Title X funds were established in 1970 for family planning programs via grants to public and not-for-profit providers. Montana has 25 Title X providers, only five of which are Planned Parenthood. For example, we have 17 community health care centers that can provide all the same services as Planned Parenthood with the exception of abortions. Redirecting Title X funds to the scores of other clinics in Montana that are eligible for Title X tax dollars, such as our community health centers, will expand access to womens health services.

Quist said too many Montana women rely on Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions, to cut off funding.

"With regard to Planned Parenthood, in a rural state like Montana, leaders should be working to make sure we have more health care options, not fewer," Quist said. "Thousands of Montana women and men rely on Planned Parenthood for affordable primary care including contraception, family planning and cancer screenings, and defunding Planned Parenthood threatens Montanans' access to health care. Federal law already prohibits taxpayer dollars from being used for abortions, and we should not eliminate funding for preventative care, cancer screenings, and family planning, which helps reduce the number of abortions, simply because Planned Parenthood provides abortion services. Thats playing politics with critical womens health care, and Montanans dont tolerate those types of political games.

Both candidates agreed that federally funded health care programs like Medicaid, the Military Health System and the Indian Health Service should offer contraceptives and maternity care.

Yes, they should as they already do, because they are intended to cover large swaths of the population and not be competitive policies designed for individuals' needs," Gianforte said. "Though it's critical to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not pay for abortions. It is common sense for programs such as these to provide quality maternity care, which increases the likelihood of healthy and happy babies.

Quist again said that contraception services reduce the number of abortions and should be covered by federal health care programs.

"We should increase womens access to preventative health care, family planning and contraception services and maternity care in other federal programs like the military health system or Indian Health Service to the extent they are not already covered, Quist said.

Equal rates

As Congress works to the repeal the Affordable Care Act, replacing it with a Republican plan, as the House did Thursday, lawmakers should not be charging different rates to men than women, the candidates said. However, Gianforte framed the same-rate argument in the context of same care.

Just like we shouldnt be denying health care to individuals with pre-existing conditions, we should not be charging different rates for men and women for the same care, Gianforte said. In any health care reform, we must give Montanans more options to choose the right health care plan that best fits their needs. We absolutely need to have health care plans that cover maternity services, and they need to be affordable. I believe more choice and competition will result in lower health care prices.

Quist said the ACA had stopped insurance companies from setting rates and coverage limits based on pre-existing conditions. He would support changing those policies.

As recently as a few years ago, insurance companies considered being a woman to be a pre-existing condition. That wasnt right, Quist said. Yet my opponent wants to give insurance companies the power to do that again. Women should not pay more for health insurance just because of their gender, and I will not support any health care legislation allowing them to do so.
For Jordan Kilby, there was only one appropriate sentence for Emmanuel Gomez, convicted earlier this year of deliberate homicide in the killing of his girlfriend Charlie Ann Wyrick.

Keep him locked behind bars in the Montana State Prison until the day that he dies, the prosecutor requested of District Court Judge Karen Townsend at the end of Gomezs sentencing hearing on Thursday.

Townsend did just that, sentencing 31-year-old Gomez to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The judge looked at Gomez and repeated a phrase he told people who came looking for Wyrick after she disappeared.

Shes gone and she aint coming back.

***

In February, after an eight-day trial, a jury found that Gomez murdered 26-year-old Wyrick, whose body was found in December 2015 at the bottom of a ravine in Deer Creek.

I just want to tell her how sorry I am for not being there for what he put her through, Wyricks mother Crystal said when it was her turn on the stand at Thursdays sentencing.

Then she turned to Gomez.

Theres so much I would like to say to you, but I dont think the court will let me say it to you.

She looked down at the framed photo in her lap of Wyricks 6-year-old son, then up at Townsend.

He took this little boys mom. A Mothers Day for Harley will never be the same, Crystal said.

In her sentencing recommendation Thursday, Kilby reminded the judge that at trial, multiple witnesses testified that Wyrick told them Gomez used to take her to the same spot where her body was eventually found; that he repeatedly beat and threatened to kill her.

The defendant did exactly what he said he was going to, Kilby said.

The impact of Wyricks death on her family and friends was unfathomable, the prosecutor added.

She meant the world to the people in this courtroom and he took her away from all of them, she said.

***

At trial, Wyricks friends and family said she suffered an increasing level of abuse from Gomez in the months leading up to her death.

On Dec. 21, 2015, that abuse culminated in a fight between Gomez and Wyrick at his house, where roommates testified they were awakened by yelling before hearing a thump and a scream. They came upstairs in time to see Gomez getting into his SUV and driving away.

Wyricks blood was found on the ground leading from the house to the vehicle, as well as inside the SUV. Data from his phone indicated that he drove up to the Pattee Canyon area after the fight.

Medical experts testified that Wyrick, whose body was found stabbed through the chest, was likely still alive when she was pushed off the road and down the embankment.

On Thursday, Wyricks best friend Kimberly Mulcare said despite the abuse she suffered at his hands, Wyrick had still loved Gomez up until he killed her.

Not only was Charlie murdered but she was killed inside by this man, she said. You took her life in more ways than one.

Mulcare said for what he had done, she couldnt imagine any punishment other than life in prison.

You dont deserve a day out in the sun ever again. I hope that you never have a good day while youre in there, she said.

***

Defense attorney Lisa Kauffman urged the judge not to impose the no-parole condition. Without the knowledge that he could one day be released, Gomez would have no incentive to make use of treatment programs in prison or to do any work to rehabilitate and better himself.

Its not an eye for an eye, its not to get even, she said. The only reason that a court would make that decision is to get even.

The defenses witnesses at sentencing included a private investigator, Weaver Barkman, who had been on the witness list for trial but never testified. Barkman used his time to lay out alternate theories of how she could have been stabbed at the house, despite the fact that a jury had decided two months ago that Gomez murdered Wyrick.

Laura Kirsh, a clinical psychologist who performed a mental evaluation on Gomez, said Thursday he was extremely hopeless and depressed. She went over Gomezs meth use and a difficult childhood that included him running away to Mexico as a teen.

Former coworkers of Gomezs called him a hard worker who was quiet but friendly during the time they knew him. John Vandenberg, who owns an upholstery company where Gomez worked, said his laugh had been infectious around the shop.

Couldnt ask for a better worker, he said.

Vandenbergs wife Valerie said she was shocked when she saw the news of Gomezs arrest.

The Manny I know would never have done this, she said. He was just like family.

Kauffman referenced some of the behavioral violations Gomez has been cited for while in custody at the jail, including prison wine being found in his cell. Gomez was also one of the inmates who refused to take a drug test after its believed another inmate who had been out on release smuggled methamphetamine and opiates into the jail pod he was being kept in.

Throughout the sentencing hearing, Gomez kept his head down and stared at his lap. While he hadnt spoken in any court appearances since shortly after his arrest, Gomez rose to give a statement before being sentenced.

Sorry for everything, he said to the court, before specifically apologizing to Wyricks family.
Nationally, 33,000 Americans died in 2015 from an opioid overdose  that's close to the number of casualties caused by car accidents. Montana has seen a 475 percent increase in heroin found during arrests since 2013, and meth usage is rising again.

Patients who struggle with substance abuse and mental illnesses rely heavily on mental health care, often to survive. In 2015, Montana had the third-highest suicide rate in the nation. Based on Montana Department of Health and Human Services information, 65 percent of suicides between January 2014 and March 2016 had multiple substances in the body (such as opioids and alcohol). We must continue to address mental health needs if we want to reduce substance abuse and suicide rates.

This year, the Montana Legislature stepped up and provided protections for those in need of mental health care. House Bill 142, the Montana Mental Health Parity Act, will require insurance companies to cover mental health services on par with physical health. This means deductibles, copayments and out-of-pocket costs for mental health must be equal to those for physical health.

For instance, if a patient requires a prescription for bipolar depression, the insurance company must cover the drug as it would high blood pressure medicine. Access to mental and behavioral health care can save lives, and this legislation can help Montanans struggling receive critical care.

The impact of the House Bill 142 can seem small at first blush - this new Montana law reflects the practice that should already be taking place under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, in the last few months, congressional efforts to repeal and replace the ACA are jeopardizing mental health parity, making the need for a Montana solution that takes care of Montanans more relevant than ever.

Furthermore, while the Montana Legislature is passing this key piece of legislation to address mental health and substance use disorders, congressional leadership in Washington, D.C., continues to threaten another critical element that assures access to mental health care - Medicaid expansion.

In Montana, more than 71,000 low-income adults have gained coverage through Medicaid expansion. They now join the 52,473 Montanans who have purchased coverage through the marketplace with the help of the ACAs tax credits and subsidies.

The failed ACA repeal bill would have ended Montanas Medicaid expansion and shifted $3 billion in costs to Montana over the next 10 years. This would put our state level-expansion on the chopping block and cause thousands of Montanans to lose their healthcare coverage. Without this assistance, thousands would go unserved. Without this assistance, low-income workers would struggle even more to pay for addiction treatment and mental health services on their own.

Montana should be proud of the bipartisan work done to address mental health and expand access to health care, including life-saving substance use disorder treatment. Our work is not yet done. We must hold Congress accountable and demand that they protect health coverage for tens of thousands of Montanans. With an opioid epidemic destroying lives and a mental health crisis ripping apart families, it is essential people receive the care they need. Too many lives are at stake for us to stand idly by and risk going backwards.
When folks run for any office I want them to state their stand on the important issues of the day. Age, financial status, race and residence time are not important to me.

Greg Gianforte has given his position on many of the current issues. Both candidates have declared their support for preservation of public lands. Rob Quist needs to give his views of many issues not yet addressed. How about the negative add claim that he favors gun registration? Sanctuary cities? What about immigration problems? The fence? Repeal of Obamacare? Taxes? Environmental Protection Agency regulations that affect Montana? Balancing the federal budget? Infrastructure?

Rob Quist evidently has plenty of financial backing supporting the flood of his media ads. If the number of support letters published in the paper for either Quist or Gianforte are any measure, Quist ought to win by a landslide.

Dale Smith,

Cut Bank
At the end of the 2017 legislative session, we cant help but be disappointed.

Rather than listening to thousands of Montanans, many of our legislators chose to block important legislation that would have created jobs and increased energy independence in Montana. Rather than passing proactive legislation that would have eliminated restrictions on solar energy, our elected officials only passed bills that would punish those who choose to produce their own energy.

We are thankful for the governors veto of one of these harmful bills, Senate Bill 7, which discriminated against net-metered customers using solar panels to generate power onto the grid.

Now, he should veto Senate Bill 154. This is another bill that takes punitive action against Montanans who choose to produce their own power. As Montanans, we value our independence and ability to provide for ourselves. Why should this be any different when it comes to energy production?

Keith Hunter Losing,

Missoula
I think the people of Montana should be appalled that Don Nichols was granted parole. In 1985 Nichols was convicted of deliberate homicide, kidnapping and aggravated assault. I think he should have served his whole 85-year sentence. His crimes were so severe and affected so many people he should have spent the rest of his life in prison.
HELENA  Donald Trump Jr. will return to Montana next week, appearing in Helena, Great Falls and Sidney to campaign for Greg Gianforte.

Trump Jr. will speak at the Kleffner Ranch in Helena at 9 a.m. on May 11, Lewis and Clark County Central Committee Chairman Joe Dooling confirmed. Tickets will be $10.

Gianforte will also attend the Helena event, he said.

The president's oldest son will then appear that afternoon at the Richland County Fairgrounds in Sidney. Doors open at 12:15 p.m. Admission costs $10. Register at TrumpInMontana.com.

Details on the Great Falls event were not yet available.

Gianforte is running to replace Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who resigned Montanas only U.S. House seat in early March to become a Trump Cabinet member. His main opponent is Democrat Rob Quist, a Montana musician from Creston. Inverness rancher Mark Wicks is the Libertarian candidate.

Election Day is Thursday, May 25. Absentee ballots can be picked up at elections offices today for early voting. Ballots were mailed out May 1.

While the event is still being organized, Dooling expects Trump Jr. to talk about national issues and what President Donald Trump is working on.

Trump Jr. recently campaigned in Montana on behalf of Gianforte, speaking in Kalispell, Hamilton and Billings.
WASHINGTON  Vice President Mike Pence plans to travel to Montana next week to campaign for a Republican congressional candidate running in a special election.

The vice president's office said Friday that Pence is expected to campaign for Greg Gianforte during the weekend of May 13. Details on the trip have not yet been finalized.

Montana is holding a May 25 special election to fill the seat vacated by Ryan Zinke, who resigned from Congress earlier this year to serve as President Donald Trump's interior secretary.

Gianforte is competing against Democrat Rob Quist and Libertarian Mark Wicks for the state's only congressional seat.

A spokesman for Gianfortes campaign could not immediately be reached for comment. Katie Waldman, a spokesperson for Daines, said she didnt have any update to share.

Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. is campaigning for Gianforte next week in Helena, Great Falls, and Sidney, making his second trip on the GOP candidate's behalf.

Sen. Bernie Sanders announced hell be coming to Montana in May to campaign for Rob Quist, but those dates are still undetermined.

Pence's trip was first reported by The Washington Post.
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WASHINGTON -- So now it can be told: Bill Clinton cost his wife the presidency.

Almost three hours into a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, FBI Director James Comey shed new light on his decision to go public about his agency's investigations into Hillary Clinton's emails, first in July 2016 and again, with devastating effect, in late October, 11 days before the election.

The specific reason he cited: Bill Clinton's decision to board Attorney General Loretta Lynch's plane in late June, when their planes were both on a tarmac in Phoenix. "The capper was -- and I'm not picking on Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who I like very much -- but her meeting with President Clinton on that airplane was the capper for me," Comey said. Comey decided to "step away" and announce, without consulting the Justice Department, that Hillary Clinton shouldn't be charged.

In Comey's telling, this public announcement in turn required Comey to speak up again in October, when more emails were found. "Having done that [the public announcement] and then having testified repeatedly under oath that we're done," he said, "it would be a disastrous, catastrophic concealment" not to go public on Oct. 28 with the newly discovered emails.

It's a tragic chain of events: If Bill Clinton hadn't boarded that plane in June, Comey might not have spoken out in July, which means he wouldn't have felt compelled to speak up again in October, which means Hillary Clinton would have won the election in November.

These were Comey's fullest comments to date on his indefensible decision to announce on the eve of the election that he was reopening the investigation into Clinton, almost certainly handing the election to Donald Trump. It wasn't a compelling explanation, but, knowing the self-righteousness and independence that drives the FBI director, it seemed genuine. He made a disastrous decision but for reasons that weren't entirely wrong: Bill Clinton's clumsiness created a vacuum of credibility, and Comey, self-appointed guardian of the justice system, stepped in to fill the void.

Comey said he was physically ill over his role in the election, which Trump and Hillary Clinton are again arguing about this week. "Look, this is terrible," he told the senators. "It makes me mildly nauseous to think that we might have had some impact on the election."

If Comey is mildly nauseated by the thought that he had "some impact," he should have his face over the toilet bowl when he considers that he handed Trump the presidency. Certainly, there were many factors behind Clinton's loss. But in an election this close there can be no doubt that Comey's action was enough to swing the outcome.

Comey's performance Wednesday was maddening at times. He was unfailingly pious. "Lordy this has been painful," he pleaded. "But I think I have done the right thing at each turn. ... The honest answer -- I don't mean to sound arrogant -- is I wouldn't have done anything differently."

And Comey was full of inconsistencies when he tried to explain why he spoke out about Clinton's case during the campaign yet remained adamantly silent about the FBI's investigation into Trump's Russia ties. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), top Democrat on the panel, shook her head in disbelief when Comey maintained that "I didn't make a public announcement" on Oct. 28 that he was reopening the Clinton investigation. "I sent a private letter" to Congress, he said -- as if it wouldn't immediately leak.

Comey proclaimed that "I've lived my entire career by the tradition that if you can possibly avoid it, you avoid any action in the run-up to an election that might have an impact." Yet he acknowledged an aide told him "what you're about to do may help elect Donald Trump president," and Comey said he considered "not for a moment" that huge impact.

The director asserted that he had only "two doors" on Oct. 28 -- speak or "conceal." Thus did he ignore the obvious third option: Let his agents find out whether there was anything worthwhile in the new batch of emails (there wasn't) before throwing the election into chaos.

But there was something that rang true in Comey's account. Dating back to his showdown at John Ashcroft's hospital bed during the Bush administration, he has been the incorruptible exemplar of justice. "I have lived my whole life caring about the credibility and the integrity of the criminal-justice process," he proclaimed Wednesday.

His time as FBI director, a position independent by design, no doubt reinforced his instincts. And after Bill Clinton climbed onto Lynch's plane last year, Comey told the senators, he decided "the best chance of the American people believing in the system" was for him to go public.

Comey's intervention ultimately did the justice system worse harm. But at least we now know why he did it.

Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank.

(c) 2017, Washington Post Writers Group
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho  A Montana man has been sentenced to five years in prison for possessing about a pound of marijuana in Idaho.

The Post Register reports that 32-year-old Daryl Johnson of Great Falls received the sentence Wednesday and must serve one year before becoming eligible for parole.

Johnson in March pleaded guilty to possession more than 3 ounces (85 grams) of marijuana. The charge was amended from trafficking.

Court records say an Idaho State Police trooper in November pulled Johnson over on Interstate 15 for traveling 75 mph in a 65 mph zone.

Police say they found more than a pound (0.45 kilogram) of pot in jars and baggies.

Two passengers in Johnson's Jeep Cherokee previously received sentences of two years of probation each after their charges were reduced to misdemeanors.
MUSCATINE  A group of preschoolers and kindergartners giggled and gasped Friday morning, while a sheep was flipped over on its side and given a spring haircut.

Exclamations of "they look like pillows" and "I like the wool" filled the Ag Learning Center in Muscatine, while children witnessed a sheep being sheared for the first time.

Muscatine High School FFA Vice President Ryan Calvert, a senior, said the annual Kiddie Barnyard event is a chance for students from nearby elementary schools to ride ponies, pet goats and piglets, and take tractor rides.

"There's a lot of exhibits to see, so they get to interact with animals and understand how animals live," Calvert said. "The kids are super excited about pony rides ... and they always love getting to touch and pet the animals."

Calvert plans to attend Iowa State University in the fall and major in Agriculture Business. He said the event is an opportunity to start getting children excited about agriculture at an early age.

MHS sophomore Callie Kellett, 16, said working with children at the Ag Learning Center is a learning experience for high school students.

"I think it helps with responsibility," she said. "You have to pay attention and be nice to them, and you have to talk to them in a way that you don't talk to your friends. I think it's a good thing."

Senior Jenna Franklin, 18, held onto a kid goat named Oliver while children came up to pet him.

"He likes attention," she joked.

Franklin said she first became interested in FFA in eighth grade, and since then has been showing pigs and goats. She keeps a goat at the Ag Learning Center, which she visits every day and will show at the county fair this year.

"I get to work with animals every day," she said. "It's been really beneficial to me because I live in town, so I get to come here every day and work with my goat."

Franklin said the best part of the day was seeing the children's reactions.

"They really love it," she said. "Some of these kids have never seen a pig or goat in real life, so it's a good experience to have and see when you're really young."

Owen Goodwin, a 6-year-old at Colorado Elementary, said he's already had experience with animals, and gets to ride horses bareback with his family.

"I like them," Goodwin said, while explaining he was most excited to see the ponies.

A kindergartner from Madison Elementary, Jenna Swift, 6, said her favorite part of the day was petting a horse.

"I saw a horse and it was up so high. He had to eat with his neck. It was so huge," she giggled.

She also enjoyed watching a sheep be sheared.

"I saw them shave off the lamb and it was cool," she said.

Kellett said she was grateful to herd groups of elementary students around the Kiddie Barnyard event Friday because she rarely has the chance to work with children.

"I don't really get to talk to kids because all my siblings are older," she said. "And the kids are doing pretty good. I'm kind of surprised. If I was a kid I'd be running around doing whatever I wanted to."

The Ag Learning Center, near the corner of Lucas and Houser streets, is a joint project of Friends of the FFA, the Muscatine Community School District and Muscatine Community College.
MUSCATINE  After nearly eight years of planning and design, public hearings and environmental studies, the reconstruction of the Mississippi Drive corridor will begin next week.

City Engineer Jim Edgmond said the first phase of the $8 million project will begin Monday, closing the section of Mississippi Drive from Sycamore to Pine streets. Both intersections will remain open.

Edgmond said the first phase of construction, which has been contracted out to KE Flatwork, must be completed by August 31. Construction includes rebuilding the street and infrastructure, improving access to the riverfront for pedestrians, plus the addition of decorative elements and lighting.

"It's going to be a huge improvement," Edgmond said. "This project has as much to do with improving [Mississippi Drive] as a place as it has to do with it being a street project."

After reconstruction, Mississippi Drive will have fewer lanes and a lower speed limit, which Edgmond said will improve accessibility to the riverfront.

"It's going to be an attraction instead of a detriment to the downtown," he said.

Edgmond said the city and Canadian Pacific Railway will each pay $4 million toward the project.

"The agreement is sign, sealed and delivered, and we've already received $2 million from them," Edgmond said.

Muscatine hired the firm Bolton & Menk to develop design plans for the 1.6 mile reconstruction. One goal is to raise the street level so Mississippi Drive can remain open during flooding for the next 25 years.

Raising the level of the street has been done in coordination with the Canadian Pacific Railway, which has been working to raise its adjacent railroad tracks.

Bolton & Menk Project Engineer Jim Harbaugh said reconstruction will be done in phases, which could change depending on a number of factors.

Edgmond said KE Flatwork will decide what phase to complete next, whether it is the "upstream side or downstream side."

He also said while initial plans for the Mississippi Drive Corridor included work on Mulberry Avenue and 2nd Street, those streets will now be separate construction projects. Plans for a potential roundabout at the intersection of Hershey Avenue and Green Street also will be done as a separate contract.

Edgmond discussed plans for the Mississippi Drive construction at a public meeting on Tuesday. He said several residents were concerned construction would block access to their homes, but for now, access should only limit access to Pearlview Condominiums.

"They're going to have access but it won't be the greatest access in the world," he said. "But you have to compromise somehow to get it done."

City Administrator Gregg Mandsager said once the first phase of construction is completed in August, the city will hold several project meetings and continue to ask residents for input.

Final construction of the Mississippi Drive Corridor should be completed by November 2018, according to Edgmond.
MUSCATINE  By the time she headed back to shore, JaMyrah Jackson, 9, was paddling a canoe through Chicken Creek with confidence. Sitting in the front, she navigated the canoe toward the bank, where other children waited their turn.

It was the first time the Colorado Elementary student had been on the water. At first, she wasnt so sure it was a good idea.

It was a little bit scary, but when I got used to it, it was so fun that my heart was beating, she said.

Along the bank, other children dragged nets through the water, looking for frogs and snakes. Across the Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area, students took turns playing games, hearing stories and walking around, among other activities, as part of Colorado Elementarys Environmental Education Day. The event, which the school has been holding for at least 15 years, is designed to teach children to appreciate the outdoors.

The future of our world and our environment is really in the hands of our kids," said teacher Karen Hartman, who has been organizing the event. "If we have kids who appreciate the environment then theyll be adults who care about it."

Volunteers from Monsanto, Musser Public Library, and other organizations helped put together activities that highlight the environment and healthy lifestyles.

At one station, students learned about honey bees from high school students. In another, they sorted foods among buckets according to their nutritional value.

The event, Hartman said, is a group effort.

I do a lot of the planning, she said. But the show runs because of everyone who comes.

One of these volunteers is Mike Hartman, who took a day off from his job as assistant chief at the fire station to help with the canoes and kayaks.

Mike, a canoeing enthusiast, said it is important to introduce children to the water early.

The more comfortable you are, the better you are, he said. "You can tell the kids whove gone boating before. You can really see the confidence  it builds them as a person.

On Thursday morning, he did his part to help them build that confidence. Some children, he said, are skittish at first, but he helps them work through the fear.

We try to use a little bit of logic, he said. Knock on wood  Ive never had a kid fall.

Once they get over their fear, many first-timers have experiences similar to JaMyrahs.

Usually when they are over here, they like getting out there, Mike said. They like moving around. Its a little bit more freedom 'cause they get to choose where they go. To an extent, they get a chance to try it on their own.
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 []
The Kikuyu community has come to associate the falling of fig trees (Mugumo) to major events in the political world.

The best known instance was when Mugo wa Kibiru prophesied that the falling of a huge Mugumo tree in Thika would mark the end of British rule in Kenya.

Worried that someone might cut it down, the British fenced it off with an iron rig, but true to the prophecy, the centuries-old tree fell in 1963.

In 1975, a Mugumo tree fell and the next day JM Kariuki was found dead. In 1978, another Mugumo tree fell in Chania. That same year Mzee Jomo Kenyatta died.

Another one is reported to have fallen in 2002 after heavy rains.

In 2013, a 300-year old Mugumo tree fell in Giakanja village, Nyeri county. Just like the 1963 tree, this one split into two, a phenomenon known as Ituika. Elders interpreted this as a transition between old and young leadership.

Read: Is Uhuru Kenyas Next President? Prophetic Mugumo Tree Falls In Nyeri

While the falling of Mugumo trees is welcomed by outsiders, it is almost usually never good news to those in power.

Following heavy rains on Wednesday night, a Mugumo tree fell in Karatina.

Less than 2 months ago, another one fell in Kiamigwi, Mathira constituency, Nyeri.

Elsewhere in Mukuyu village in Githunguri, Kiambu, a 300-year old Mugumo tree is almost falling.

In March this year, Kikuyu Council of Elders Kiambu secretary Muchai Muiruri said that the council had been informed about the occurrence, and was set to offer sacrifices and hold a prayer ceremony. Some of the trees branches fell last year, and in accordance to Kikuyu traditional practices, were left to rot there.

This is a sacred tree and no one can cut its branches, nor can its branches to be used as firewood, a villager told the Star.

Of course not everyone buys into this Mugumo tree thing, but for the supporters of Uhuru that do, its going to be a long 3 months.
Nakuru Senatorial aspirant Koigi Wa Wamwere has joined the opposition coalition National Super Alliance (NASA).

Koigis switch to the opposotion comes barely two weeks after after he was defeated in Jubilee Party primaries for the Nakuru Senatorial ticket.

The former Subukia MP said that he made the decision after seeing NASAs efforts to unite the country. Coincidentally, that was the same reason he gave when he folded his Chama Cha Mwananchi party to join Jubilee on September 2016.

Most of my ideologies are reflected in Jubilee. I have made this decision owing to the party policy of uniting the country, zero tolerance to tribalism, and the zeal in the fight against corruption, he said while decamping to Jubilee.

On Thursday, he gave the same reason for decamping to NASA this time around using a classic biblical narrative.

Before President Moi, there was Kenyatta who was like Moses and was supposed to lead the Israelites to the promised land of Canaan but, unfortunately, he died on the way. Since then, 99% of Kenyans are still languishing in the desert but in Raila, he is a possible Joshua, explained Koigi.

Koigi was joined by former Central Imenti Legislator, Kirugi MMukindia, in making the switch to the opposition outfit.

They were welcomed by NASA flagbearer Raila Odinga who said: Our movement seeks to establish an inclusive leadership that has space for all Kenyans regardless of color, creed or religion. We respect and value every Kenyans contribution towards building our nation.
Starehe Member of Parliament Maina Kamanda has blamed his defeat in the just concluded Jubilee primaries on his decision to back Peter Kenneth for the Nairobi gubernatorial position.

Maina who was opposed to Jubilee Party gubernatorial nominee, Senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko, claimed that they were coerced to support the former Gatanga MP.

The Peter Kenneth issue caused Jubilee leaders to be divided into two groups. I am saying right now that the issue has caused some leaders, who were seen to have endorsed Kenneth, big problems including losing in the nominations, said Kamanda on Thursday.

I was coerced to support Peter Kenneth by forces I will not disclose right now. But we have buried the hatchet, added the MP.

It is like Nairobians were not happy with us supporting Peter Kenneth.

The veteran politician, who was speaking when conceding defeat to Vharles Njagua aka Jaguar at the Jubilee headquarters on Thursday, however, said that he will support Jubilees candidates in order to win all the elective seats in the city.

All the same, we are not crying foul but let us forget what has happened and focus on the future, I will not lament about this issue, added Kamanda.
The worker who was killed in a fall at Sutter Home Winery in St. Helena during the noon hour Thursday was identified by the Napa County Coroner's office Friday as Daniel Mario Colombo, 56, from Vallejo.

Colombo was a pipefitter/welder employee of Applied Process Cooling Corporation, a refrigeration contractor based in Modesto, the winery reported.

While doing repairs on a refrigeration system, Colombo fell through a fiberglass light panel on the roof of the refrigeration building at 100 Main St., the coroner's office said. He fell 16 feet, sustaining serious head injuries, St. Helena Police said.

Colombo died at 12:40 p.m. at the scene.

Cal-OSHA is investigating the death. It may take two or three months before a report is available, agency spokesperson Frank Polizzi said Friday. Investigations must be concluded within six months, he said.

Colombo was not wearing a safety harness when the fall occurred, the coroner's office said.
For all of its intense rhetoric, Robert Wilkinsons April 30 letter completely misses the point about why so many Americans want President Trump to release his tax returns ("No need to release returns").

Since no one has argued that a president is legally required to release tax returns, Wilkinsons rebuttal is irrelevant. It should be obvious to Wilkinson that if anyone believed that the law required Trump to release his returns, there would have been a few lawsuits by now. But there are none.

In reminding us of what we already know about the law, Wilkinson makes a straw-man argument against a position that no one has, rather than addressing the argument that many actually do make, when they ask for the tax returns.

Now, I hesitate to venture the opinion that President Trump should release his tax returns, because Wilkinson has partially poisoned the civic debate by attacking anyone who disagrees with him: he asserts that citizens asking the president to release his returns are Trump haters and liberal left cry-baby demagogues.

Wilkinson should know better. He ignores the recent Global Strategy Group poll showing that 64 percent of Republicans want Trump to release his tax returns. That poll reports that 80 percent of Americans favor his releasing his tax returns, and surely no one thinks that 80 percent of Americans are uber leftists.

Republicans calling for Trump to release his tax forms include Mark Sanford, Ted Yoho, and Justin Amash (all are in the conservative House Freedom Caucus), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), and David Young (R-Iowa).

So much for Robert Wilkinsons insistence that people only want the returns to use them for nefarious political purposes, that they are totally misguided, jealous, and unwilling to accept the election result.

By using these two rhetorical tricks (demonizing people who disagree with him, and insisting that their motives are evil), Wilkinson can comfortably avoid the reason he is in a minority on this issue.

So, why do so many ordinary Americans want President Trump to release his returns? Because we want to know if any of his actions are financially self-serving, and we want to know if he told us any lies in addition to the many we already know about.

On a side note, so far as I know the IRS does not audit any tax return more than three years old unless it suspects fraud. In some variations of his replies on the release issue, President Trump has said that all of his old tax returns are being audited. Are we to think the IRS suspects fraud in each of those years, or did the president just fake an excuse?

I hope that Robert Wilkinson reconsiders his position, and adds his voice to the many who are asking the president to release his returns. Two examples of nationally vital issues that might be partially clarified by Trumps tax returns are his tax proposals and his family business ties to Russia.

We Americans are rightly interested in tax policy, and in foreign influence and subversion. Who knows, the presidents tax returns might put to rest some of the deep suspicions that many Americans have about him. I doubt that, but lets find out.

Stephen Sossaman

Burbank
Two years ago during Christmastime, I got a nasty message on my voicemail from a Trump supporter.

He said, Carl, I hope when Trump becomes president that he kicks you off all your social programs. You're one of the biggest freeloaders Cynthia and I know.

The caller was referring to the fact that I collect a monthly Social Security disability check and live in a government-subsidized apartment. In the beginning of the 2016 presidential election campaign, I treated Donald Trump's nomination to the Republican Party as a farce and didn't think he had a chance at becoming president. Bernie Sanders interested me a whole lot, because he seemed like he'd do good for the people. However, he lost the Democrat nomination to Hillary Clinton.

As a born-again Christian believer, I didn't like her stand on abortion. My disgust for Donald Trump ran much deeper, though. He was known for shady business dealings and used his billionaire status to hurt people financially. I'd heard terrible stories how he treated people who worked underneath him, and labor union disputes concerning his employees.

When the Trump University scandal broke in the news, I'd hoped he'd go to prison for a very long time. He'd cheated these business students out of thousands of dollars. They believed they were going to an accredited college. Instead, they were pressured into paying more money for worthless courses that didn't gain them a degree in real estate. Somehow, Donald Trump settled the matter out of court.

During her campaign, Hillary Clinton promised voters that she'd put money back into Social Security. I'd heard for years now that Social Security was going broke and worried about it constantly.

When you depend on a monthly Social Security disability check, you can feel helpless and worthless at times. Although I didn't like her position on abortion, I was relieved that she was going to put money back into Social Security. She had my vote. Then, news came out that she was using a private email server.

Fundamental Christians were overjoyed with Trump's campaign promises about "making America great again" and stopping government funding to Planned Parenthood. He also brought up the fact that he'd send Hillary Clinton to prison with new evidence against her. Fox News ran the story that the FBI was investigating Hillary Clinton, but later had apologized to its viewers for running a fake news story.

Donald Trump scared me. In my mind, I kept hearing that threat on my voicemail from the Trump supporter saying he wished Trump would kicked me off my social programs. My therapist reassured me that Donald Trump couldn't win the election. We were both stunned later when Trump won the presidency.

My fears of being kicked off of Social Security and losing my government-subsidized apartment came back in full force. Also, my black Bombay cat, Sophie, whom I took in after the earthquake of 2014, depended on me regularly. You may remember her from a few articles I wrote in the Napa Valley Register.

Another female cat, Violet, came to live with Sophie and me. She was originally my neighbor's tuxedo kitten. However, Violet discovered Sophie one day and thought the adult cat was her mother. She kept coming over here, and not wanting to return home. Finally, my neighbor gave Violet to me, because he believed he was fighting a losing battle. I don't know if Sophie really wanted the job of being this other cat's mother, but she got it hands down. They seem to enjoy the living arrangement so far.

Now, I'm afraid that my two cats and myself will lose my apartment if the Trump/Pence administration gets rid of Social Security.

In the beginning of this year, I brought up the subject with someone on mental health staff about my fear. This mental health official told me that Donald Trump can't do whatever he wants like he runs his corporations, because people are out making their voices known to Congress and the Senate by protesting him. Apparently, a number of mentally disabled people have now asked the same questions at the Napa County building.

Carl G. White

Napa
Benicia police are advising the entire population of the city of Benicia to shelter in place and for people downwind of the Valero Refinery to evacuate the area due to a power outage that has caused flaring and smoke.

At about 7:27 a.m., Friday, Benicia police announced via their Twitter account that the refinery was experiencing a power outage that resulted in flaring and smoke.

Roughly 20 minutes later, police advised anyone in businesses or homes downwind of the facility to evacuate the area.

At about 8:30 a.m., police said "all other areas of town" should shelter in place, keep doors and windows closed and bring pets inside.

The power outage is the result of a PG&E "power disruption," according to Valero spokeswoman Lillian Riojas.
Cool Anderson Valley, a long, isolated, scenic and even quirky region near the Mendocino Coast in Northern California, produces some of the best, most-Burgundian pinot noir wines in America, but its also proud of its wine made from traditional varieties popular in Alsace in France.

It sponsors the low-key Alsatian Varietal Festival every year to promote them. The seminar was so low key, in fact, that its sold-out educational seminar didnt even discuss or offer tastes of local wines, just those from Alsace, New Zealand and Michigan.

I cant image the Napa Valley Vintners sponsoring a session and tasting that just featured Bordeaux wines with no local products, but Anderson Valley is unique.

Alsace is different from the rest of France, too. It has whipsawed back and forth between France and German, and both German language, cuisine and grape varieties are common there, but the wines can be distinctive.

Alsace is in cool northeast France, but the Vosge Mountain Range blocks cold winds from the region and grapes tend to grow on slopes that provide them with good sun exposure. Its also relatively dry with warm days and cool nights, perfect for growing wine grapes.

Still, its not red wine territory. Expert speakers at the festival agreed on that. However, Anderson Valley does hold an excellent pinot noir festival, too. Not as big or famous as that in Oregon, its well worth attending if you like pinot noir wines including those with traditional delicate flavors.

The white wines are another matter. Alsace (and Anderson Valley) produce excellent riesling, gewurztraminer, pinot blanc and pinot gris wines.

The Alsatian pinot gris is a more serious wine than the wine from the same grape grown in Northeastern Italy and labeled pinot grigio, generally a light and undemanding quaff.

Alsatian wineries also make dry muscat and grow some chardonnay.

In addition, Alsace grows sylvaner and auxerrois, a cousin of pinot gris, but thats pretty rate elsewhere. Oddly, an Alsatian pinot blanc can be all or part auxerrois, but not the other way around. neither pure nor part auxerrois is particularly impressive.

Catherine Fallis of Planet Grape gave an introduction to Alsace concentrating on Cremant dAlsace, the most popular sparkling wines in France after Champagne.

In general, Alsatian wines are fresh, fruity and aromatic, never tainted by oak. Almost all the wines are dry, so you dont need to watch out for sweet ones as you do for German rieslings.

The still wines are rarely above 14 percent alcohol.

They can also be great bargains. The sparkling wines tasted, which cost about $20 to $30, are made using the traditional method of Champagne with a second fermentation in the bottle to produce the bubbles, are made from Alsatian varieties, with the rose made wholly from pinot noir. Others  brut (very dry) and extra dry (a tad sweet) can use a variety of grapes. They typically dont have vintage dates.

The sparkling rose was especially tasty, and speaker (and Master of Wine, Ph.D. and winemaker) Liz Thach noted that it reflected two of the hottest trends in wine, roses and bubbles.

The sauvignon blancs of New Zealand reinvigorated the whole varietys popularity, but we also tasted fairly rare dry riesling, gewurztraminer and pinot gris from there. All were excellent, as might be expected from the cool climate region with a excellent winemaking reputation.

The third group of wines tasted was a surprise  they were from the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas of Michigan. There, the influence of Lake Michigan and some smaller lakes moderates the climate, allowing them to grow cool-climate Vinifera (European wine) grapes and make excellent wines.

A warming climate, consumer demand and better viticulture have allowed local growers to largely replace the hybrids and natives they once grew, though some customers maintain a preference for sweet wines, so most wineries make those too.

Michigan had 14 wineries in 1991 and has 119 now, some in the southwest along the lake and in the northwest. The Leelanau-Old Mission area has about 40 wineries, with five on the way.

The riesling wines tasted were certainly comparable to fine wines from Alsace and Germany, and an older one (2010) even had a bit of the aroma indelicately called petrol and savored by some connoisseurs. The producer said it was fading, however.

The Anderson Valley Wine Association, which organized the festival, also had a grand tasting that did include its members wines, too. That demonstrated how well suited the area is for these varieties.

One of the food options they offered was a spicy Thai dish, a good match for the aromatic wines, though my favorite was a sort of Alsatian white pizza called tart flamme or flammekueche with onions, bacon and a combination of creme fraiche and fromage blanc.

If you havent been to Anderson Valley recently, Pennyroyal Farm and Farmstead Cheese is well worth visiting. They make great goat and sheep cheeses, ideal matches for the Alsatian wines.

Anderson Valley is about two hours from Napa, much of the last hour on a picturesque but winding road. Options to eat and sleep are limited there, but about 45 minutes away on the coast is Mendocino, perhaps the most romantic town in America. The classic romance Same Time Next Year was filmed there.

There are plenty of inns and top restaurants on the coast.
The Military Committee, NATOs highest Military Authority, will meet in Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) Session on 17 May 2017, at the NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium. General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the Military Committee, will preside over the meeting. The Chiefs of Defence will discuss the challenging security environment on NATOs Southern Flank and the Alliances contribution to countering (or fighting) terrorism. The CHODs with their Resolute Support counterparts will review the way forward for the RESOLUTE SUPPORT Mission in Afghanistan for 2018 and beyond. The Allied Chiefs of Defence will exchange views on Projecting Stability Initiative activities and the Alliances Deterrence and Defence posture in conjunction with taking into account Russias ongoing activities in the near abroad. Finally, the days meeting will conclude with an update on the NATO Command Structure Functional Assessment and a discussion on the efficient and effective use of existing capabilities and resources.

The first session of the day will include a situational awareness briefing on the Middle East and North Africa region and pave the way for further discussions on Projecting Stability Initiatives, countering/fighting terrorism and the ongoing NATO Training and Capacity Building in Iraq.

In RESOLUTE SUPPORT Format, the Chiefs of Defence will receive political and military situation briefs from the NATO Senior Civilian Representative Ambassador Zimmermann and Commander of RESOLUTE SUPPORT, General Nicholson, respectively and provide further recommendations for 2018 and beyond.

In their final sessions, the Allied Chiefs of Defence will examine how to ensure that NATO continues to have the necessary capabilities and resources taking into consideration all NATOs ongoing tasks. They will also discuss progress of the NATO Command Structure functional assessment and discuss ahead of the June Defence Ministerial.

The Chiefs of Defences advice and guidance will assist and further frame discussions ahead of the Head of State and Government meeting on 25 May 2017.

General Petr Pavel will be supported in each session by General Curtis Scaparrotti (Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SACEUR) and General Denis Mercier (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, SACT).

The Military Committee meets twice a year at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, at the level of Chiefs of Defence to discuss NATO operations and missions and provide the North Atlantic Council with consensus-based military advice on how the Alliance can best meet global security challenges. Once a year, they meet in an Allied member country. On a day-to-day basis, their work is carried out by Permanent Military Representatives at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

Media Opportunities

Wednesday 17 May 2017

07:30-07:45 Media Pool pick up in the NATO Press Area

08:00-08:05 177th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session  Opening remarks by General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee

18:00-18:30 Joint Press Conference in the Luns Theatre with General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee (CMC), General Curtis Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and General Denis Mercier, Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation (SACT)

Imagery

Photos and video of all opening sessions will be available online at www.nato.int/ims shortly after each meeting. The Opening Remarks and Joint Press Conference will be made available on the NATO website after the event. Broadcasters can also request the broadcast quality footage by contacting content@natochannel.tv.

The Joint Press Conference will be livestreamed via the NATO website.

Accreditation

Media representatives holding a valid 2017 NATO Media pass will have access as usual to the NATO HQ. Media representatives not in possession of a NATO Media pass and wishing to attend the media opportunities available are invited to contact the NATO IMS Public Affairs Office via email or fax ( ronaynecasimiro.lara@hq.nato.int, fax number + 32 2 707 5713) with a completed accreditation form no later than 1700 on 11 May 2017

Media passes will not be mailed to applicants; they must be collected in person upon presentation of an ID card or passport and a valid national press pass (or accreditation letter from a recognized media organization). Media representatives will be given their accreditation at the Main Entrance of NATO Headquarters. Passes must be worn visibly at all times, and security personnel may ask to see another form of ID at any time. Media representatives are informed that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site and are advised to arrive with sufficient lead time to clear security checks.

Enquiries

Points of contact for the Chairman of the Military Committee:

Dr Eva Svobodova, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee and NATO International Military Staff

Tel: + 32 2 707 59 83

E-Mail: svobodova.eva@hq.nato.int

General press arrangements:

Ms. Lara Ronayne Casimiro, Senior Assistant

Tel: +32 2 707 5423

Email: ronaynecasimiro.lara@hq.nato.int




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Anyone who heard Noah Cole deliver an address as Oxford Student Government Association president or talk to the community during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration might think he has aspirations to elected office.

He is, after all, a political science major. And Cole will again rise to speak on May 8 as the 2017 class orator at the Emory College of Arts and Sciences diploma ceremony, following the university-wide commencement on the Emory Quadrangle.

His topic: the transformative journey of college and the need for students to hold true to the principles and advocacy they learned at Emory as they make their way in the world.

The focus, though, isnt politics. It's policy.

Policy is what unites us. Its how we make an impact, Cole says. One of the main values of Emory is the spirit of engagement. Policy is how you ensure you maintain those values.

Gift for communication

Cole was cultivating Emory values even in high school. He was active in student government and embraced the diversity of his native Rancho Cucamonga, a suburban city in Californias Inland Empire.

When he came to visit Emory's Atlanta campus, the admissions office suggested he also check out the university's original Oxford campus, 36 miles east.

He admired the Gothic revival-style Seney Hall, watched the tight knit student body and was told he could immediately become involved as a student leader.

I was definitely able to pick up my momentum right away and impact change at the ground level, says Cole, who was quickly elected freshman senator in the Oxford SGA and enrolled in the Pierce Leadership Certificate program.

His stint as Oxford SGA president as a sophomore included a speech during the campus annual MLK Celebration. A community leader happened to see his brief remarks and was so impressed he invited Cole to give the 30-minute keynote address for the 2016 Newton County Dr. King Celebration.

I have never observed a college student more comfortable, effective and articulate as a public speaker, says Joe Moon, Oxford dean of campus life, who was in the audience for the 2015 speech that addressed racial progress by also noting the tragedy of the Emanuel AME Church massacre in South Carolina and Coles observations during a service trip to New Orleans neighborhoods still struggling after Hurricane Katrina.

At the close of his remarks, the audience of 500-plus leapt to their feet in an ovation, Moon says. His gift for communication is singular and peerless.

Focus on service

Cole left behind his student government activities when he moved to Emorys Atlanta campus as a Temple Scholar. He has made the intentional shift to service, both as a senior resident adviser on the Clairmont campus and with the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

He also began pursuing internships and other activities that highlighted interests. For two years, he has served on the State Farm Youth Advisory Board, helping to oversee a $5 million budget for service-leaning youth initiatives.

Last year, he worked one semester as an intern with CNNs public relations operations. He spent last summer as an intern in President Obama's White House, participating in community service projects and supervising 30 volunteers on the White House Comment Line within the Office of Presidential Correspondence.

He was exposed to professional speakers who advised him and other interns and also learned more about how government works by watching from the inside. But Cole was also fielding phone calls the week when Philando Castile was fatally shot by a police officer in Minnesota and a Dallas sniper killed five police officers.

Being that involved is something than can wear on you emotionally, but thats why its so important to have a strong support network and sense you can make a difference, Cole says.

Policy implications

Coles commitment to focusing on the big policy questions has played a role in his honors thesis. His work analyzes voluntary desegregation, actions that modern school districts take to ensure diversity of race, income and other factors in their student body.

His work shows that all things being equal, it is social capital  that is, the number of nonprofits, churches and community groups in a district  that is most strongly related with the adoption of voluntary desegregation plans, says Michael Rich, professor of political science, who is Coles thesis adviser.

He has an understanding of whats at stake in the real world and the implications of policy on actual outcomes, Rich says. Its wonderful to see someone so serious about finding his way to do good in the world.

Not that the audience should expect all seriousness in Coles commencement address. The five finalists  selected from a pool of applicants who had submitted their resumes and written speeches  were the strongest Jason Ciejka says he has seen in his five years of heading the selection committee.

What set Cole apart in his audition speech was not just his content, but the delivery and emotion behind it, says Ciejka, the assistant dean of the Office for Undergraduate Education.

He is able to balance some light-heartened moments with some very serious notes in his speech, Ciejka says. Noah is very smart and sensitive and understands the great significance of everything he does.
17:08

Delivering justice after five long years of wait, the Supreme Court on Friday ,while upholding its earlier order of death sentence to four convicts in the December 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case, termed the brutal incident as 'barbaric'.



A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and comprising Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan was hearing the matter.



Justice Deepak Mishra observed in the order that it seems it is a 'story of some different world'.



"Taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committed by the convicts, we are upholding the sentence," the bench said.



Justice Banumathi said there should be systematic education of all children to ensure the fact that they give respect to women.



Justice Banumathi also said that except the Dhananjoy Chatterjee case, in no other rape and murder case, capital punishment had been executed.



She has also suggested certain other measures to ensure gender Justice in the society.



One of the lawyers B.L. Kapoor, while hailing the apex court's verdict said that it was one of the rarest of the rarest cases as it shocked the collective conscience of the society.



"The brutality with which the crime was committed, it makes it come under rarest of the rarest cases. The Supreme Court upheld the High court's judgment citing its earlier judgment that the one which shocks the collective conscience of the society is dubbed as rarest of rarest case," he told ANI.



Rajiv Mohan, who was the public prosecutor in the case in the lower courts, told ANI that it is a good judgment that the Supreme Court has passed today.



A teary-eyed Nirbhaya's father said it was a victory for his family.



"I am now very happy and satisfied with the judgment," he said.



However, the defence lawyer, unhappy with the verdict, said they would be filing a review petition after reading the order.



"Justice is not done. We will file a review petition after reading the order. You cannot give a death sentence to anyone for a message to the nation. The meaning of punishment is improvement. There is a right to live. In this, the human rights have been neglected, Mahatma Gandhi's ideology has been neglected as this is violence," Singh said.



Six men, including the 17-year-old juvenile, gang-raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus on December 16, 2012 in the national capital.



The girl and her friend were returning home after watching a movie when they were coaxed into the bus by the accused, who then beat up her friend before taking turns in raping her.



The girl succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.



The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh - challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows.
Graduating senior described as change agent

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill.  By any standard, Naomi Tolbert is a successful student.

When the Carbondale native walks across the commencement stage at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on May 13, she graduates with a bachelors degree in political science, specializing in international affairs. She carries with her a slew of accomplishments. To name a few: She is the 2016-17 student trustee on the SIU Board of Trustees. The American Political Science Association named her a Minority Fellow. She was one of 15 students in the nation to attend the 2016 Ralph Bunch Summer Institute. She has been a McNair Scholar, a recipient of the John S. and Nancy Jackson Scholarship for political science students, and an Emma Smith Hough Library Research Scholarship Award winner.

With all those accomplishments, and more, it seems like shes always been a successful, top-rated student. If youd met her in junior high school, Tolbert said, your impression might have been different.

Middle school and junior high school are widely recognized to be challenging times for children. Tolbert faced more challenges than many. Her mother died from breast cancer when Tolbert was 10 years old. Her father told her he wasnt interested in pursuing a relationship with his daughter. Tolbert was hurt, angry and lost.

I dont like the concept of bad student, I dont believe in that, she said. But I had some problems during those years. I was in a lot of detentions, I got suspended. I knew a couple of teachers felt like I would never go anywhere, especially not as an African-American female.

Tolbert took a good look at herself before she started high school and decided to change what people expected of her. I decided to show everyone I could be different, she said. I had a few teachers who saw that and believed in me. Ive been lucky. Ive had people there to support me when I needed support.

Among those people is Patsy Watson, Tolberts great-grandmother. The oldest of 14 children, Watson was mothering people and taking care of them even when she was a child. She raised Tolberts mother and her uncle, and she raised Tolbert and her siblings as well. She put herself through nursing school, and still works a full-time job as a home health aide at the age of 82.

She taught me you can be an amazing person on your own terms, Tolbert said. You dont need to define yourself by how other people see you.

Shes well on her way to doing that. She is a member of the University Honors Program, and served as the vice president of the Intercultural Experiences and Diversity committee there. She has held offices in the Beta Eta chapter of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and the Panhellenic Association. Shes been a Political Science Ambassador, a four-year Excellence Scholar and a Horatio Alger In-State Scholar. She has served on Undergraduate Student Government, Model UN, the IBHE Student Advisory Committee, Center for English as a Second Language conversation partner and she was on the homecoming court in 2016.

Tolbert said growing up with SIU in her backyard made her realize the diversity the university embodies. We have students from all over the state, all over the country, even from universities abroad, she said. The university is like a different world.

Tolbert has nothing against travel, of course. A Rotary-sponsored trip to Brazil when she was in high school was a life changer, and since then shes also been to Paris, France, through SIU study abroad. Shes a big believer in experiencing something new, something that will make a person realize their point of view is only one of many.

My first trip abroad was a real eye-opener, she said. I realized the world is a lot bigger than what I knew. Ive seen poverty here, but the levels of poverty outside the United States can be so much deeper. But, there are so many opportunities, too. I want more people to have the opportunity to travel to another place -- I believe it will help people understand the world better and their place in it.

Ive received so much support at SIU, she said. My professors have all been helpful  willing to help me see the next level and then get to the next level. I used to feel like I had to prove everyone wrong. Here, I strive to make their belief in me justified.

Lori Merrill-Fink, director of the University Honors Program, said Tolbert is recognized by faculty, administrators and fellow students as a trustworthy, responsible individual and a true collaborator.

I have been most impressed with her poise, deep listening skills, and ability to confront delicate subjects, Merrill-Fink said. This is due in no small measure to her calling -- to be a change agent for peace and cultural understanding.

Tolbert said she has always been interested in ideologies of freedom and justice, and political science was a good fit for her. Initially she planned on law school after earning her bachelors degree, but now has accepted an offer to attend the University of Chicago to pursue a graduate degree in international relations beginning this fall.
UC Santa Cruzs Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS) will present a dramatic, four-screen video installation in San Francisco, hosted and co-sponsored by Minnesota Street Project (MSP), the citys new contemporary art venue, from May 20 through June 24.

Titled Unearthing Disaster I & II, the installation was created by Berlin-based artists Angela Melitopoulos and Angela Anderson. Their work examines the destruction of a pristine, mountainous forest region in northeastern Greece by a Canadian mining company.

Its a timely show, noted John Weber, IAS director and the curator of Unearthing Disaster. Alternately jarring and ruminative, it anticipates the tenor of ecological activism in the time of Trump and Standing Rock, as struggles over resource extraction take on a heightened sense of urgency.

The idea for the exhibition in San Francisco emerged last fall from the IASs collaboration with UC Santa Cruz professors T.J. Demos (History of Art and Visual Culture) and A. Laurie Palmer (Art).

Demos, founder of the Center for Creative Ecologies at UCSC, and Palmer were creating EXTRACTION--a year-long series of classes, speakers, film screenings, and field trips, which will culminate with a final conference on the UC Santa Cruz campus, May 12 and 13.

When it became clear that the Berlin artists would play a role in the conference, IAS director Weber reached out to the Minnesota Street Project to see if a San Francisco venue could be arranged for their work. Arts patrons and investors Deborah and Andy Rappaport, the founders of the venue, quickly agreed to donate space and co-sponsor the installation.

Opened in 2016, Minnesota Street Project has rapidly become a new center for the citys art scene. Profiled in January in the New York Times as Americas Next Great Art Neighborhood, it houses a number of art galleries and collaborates with non-profit and educational institutions to offer public programs and exhibitions.

We are so pleased to be working with the Rappaports to bring this timely and meaningful installation to Minnesota Street Project and San Francisco, said UC Santa Cruz arts dean Susan Solt. The energy around Minnesota Street is inspiring.

Unearthing Disaster I accompanies local activists on a journey through their once-familiar landscape, made unrecognizable in a matter of days by the impact of industrial resource extraction. Their journey reveals an imminent ecological disaster with thousands of trees cut, clean water disappearing from the mountain, and the sell-out of the region by local politicians. The artists show violent police and private security clashes with protestors gathering to oppose the mine. They also document encounters with workers who vehemently defend the mining project.

Unearthing Disaster II offers an overview of the stakes in this struggle. It contrasts the ecologically intertwined networks of plants, trees, streams, and earth with the massive, violent, mechanized destruction of these networks in the name of profit and capitalist development. The artists document a relentless onslaught on the idyllic Greek landscape, already transformed into a defoliated mountaintop desert.

The struggle shown in Unearthing Disaster I & II is ongoing, Weber noted. Against this backdrop, Melitopolous and Anderson's work calls for a re-evaluation of entangled economic, social and political systems which produce ecological devastation and cultural upheaval.

As Demos puts it: Unearthing Disaster is a crucial touchstone of visual culture and experimental art that focuses on the priorities of environmental and climate justice in an era of emergency environmental transformation. It shows the power of the arts in confronting some of the most urgent topics of our day.

Unearthing Disaster I & II runs May 20-June 24 at the Minnesota Street Project, with a public reception for the artists May 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. (1275 Minnesota Street, San Francisco). Admission is free and open to the public, Tuesday-Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is exhibited in conjunction with EXTRACTION, a conference May 12-13 at UC Santa Cruz, presented by the Center for Creative Ecologies, and co-sponsored by the Institute of the Arts and Sciences (IAS). For more information about the artists, visit the IAS web site.
Actress Manisha Koirala says that artistes are always open to experimenting with roles. The "Bombay" actress, who fought cancer, is set to make her comeback with the upcoming film "Dear Maya". During the launch of the film's trailer on Thursday here, she said: "An artiste is always up for an experiment and looks forward to do new things. I really liked the script of the film and once the opportunity came my way, I grabbed it with both hands." The actress is playing a spinster with a wrinkled face in the film. "To get the correct look of the character, we had to work hard and it used to take long hours. But once we got the look, it became easier to follow the character as well," said Manisha. Talking about her comeback, she said: "It felt great. I loved being in front of the camera. As an artiste there is always hunger in me to deliver better performance or at least match up to my previous work." Pakistani VJ Madiha Imam is also making her Bollywood debut with this film. She is playing a 16-year-old school girl. Sharing her experience of working with younger actors, Manisha said: "It was a nice experience working with younger artiste because actors of today's generation are very hardworking, focused, disciplined and talented. In fact, I learnt a few lessons from them. When I see them doing good work then I also feel motivated to do better work." "Dear Maya", written and directed by Sunaina Bhatnagar, is scheduled to release on June 2. --IANS iv/nn/bg ( 270 Words) 2017-05-05-18:46:08 (IANS)
In remarks to Caracol Radio on Friday, Carlos Antonio Lozada urged those who abducted the official to release him as soon as possible, Efe news reported.

Harley Lopez, a Colombian who is employed by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and working on an illegal crop substitution program, was kidnapped Wednesday night by FARC dissidents led by Ivan Mordisco.

The abduction occurred in Barranquillita, a remote hamlet two hours by land from Miraflores, a municipality in the southeastern Colombian province of Guaviare.

Lozada, a member of the FARC's secretariat, said incidents like these placed roadblocks on a path forged with great effort in recent years, referring to the process that led to the signing of a peace agreement between the national government and the FARC last November.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday that a delegation had traveled to the site where the kidnapping occurred to facilitate Lopez's release.

The UN System in Colombia, for its part, denounced the kidnapping and demanded that the official be released immediately.

The abduction coincided with the arrival of a group of UN Security Council ambassadors who are visiting Colombia this week to demonstrate their support for the peace agreement and for the process that is to lead to the FARC's full laying aside of its weapons by June 1.

--IANS vgu/

( 263 Words)

2017-05-06-03:16:07 (IANS)
The study showed that for each 30-minute increase in hand-held screen time, there was a 49 per cent increased risk of expressive speech delay.

"Hand-held devices are everywhere these days," said Catherine Birken, pediatrician at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Ontario, Canada.

"While new pediatric guidelines suggest limiting screen time for babies and toddlers, we believe that the use of smartphones and tablets with young children has become quite common. This is the first study to report an association between hand-held screen time and increased risk of expressive language delay," Birken added.

However, there was no apparent link between hand-held device screen time and other communications delays, such as social interactions, body language or gestures, the researchers said.

The findings were presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco.

For the study, the team included 894 children between ages 6 months and 2 years.

According to their parents, 20 per cent of the children had daily average hand-held device use of 28 minutes.

The results also support a recent policy recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics to discourage any type of screen media in children younger than 18 months, Birken said.

--IANS rt/ruwa/vm

( 238 Words)

2017-05-05-13:18:12 (IANS)
Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Thursday said India needed to address its four deficits, namely historic, economic, security and energy, before developing any strategic thought process and upgrade military in the nation. Speaking at a book release function, Rawat said India needed to identify its friends and start building alliance in order to circumvent any aggression adopted by its adversaries. "The first strategic deficit is the historical deficit that emerged after the Independence, the creation of India and Pakistan. India had reached till the Middle East, but with the creation of Pakistan, there was a break in the outreach. And to recreate that outreach we have to start looking at newer alliances," Rawat said. As the China is aggressively pursuing its 'One Belt and One Road' initiate, Rawat stressed on the need to review India's Act East Policy in order to counter any encirclement. "Now, we have again started looking towards the East, which is 'Look East' and finally, it is described as the 'Act East' policy is encirclement of the northern neighbour from the East. While we talk of our own encirclement, we have to start looking at how we carry out the counter encirclement of some of our future adversaries," he said. The Chief of Army Staff said India needed to focus on creating alliances, so that it could find its rightful place in the United Nations in the Security Council. Shifting his focus to the economic and security deficit, Rawat said misconceptions on growing budgetary allocations on military must be avoided as it helped in ensuring peace and stability along the borders. "I think we need to appreciate that defence and economy go hand in hand. Only strong military can help in ensuring stability along the borders and within the nation in your hinterland and that will help to develop your economy. This is the deficit, which remains while we are developing the economy that military somehow is not getting its due share which it deserves," he said. Highlighting on the need to address energy deficiency, Rawat said India needed to explore alternative energy resources, so that its dependence on oil is reduced. "We need to look at alternate sources of energy. The western nations are already looking at them. We have an abundance of solar and wind power for developing our own energy sources," he said. (ANI)
As the Supreme Court is set to deliver the much-awaited verdict in the December 16 Nirbhaya gang rape case, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party expressed their full faith on the Supreme Court. "The whole country is waiting for judgment in the Nirbhaya case. The case raised the question on legal system of this country, after which lot of changes took place in legal system. We have complete faith on Supreme Court. Complete justice will be given to her and family. The Supreme Court will take strict action against accused," BJP leader Rita Bahuguna told ANI. Echoing the similar sentiments, Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad said, "We have full faith on the Supreme Court that they will give severe punishment to accused." The matter is being heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan. The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh - challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows. Earlier, the trial court also had sentenced all the four convicts to death penalty. It is being expected that the apex court would not grant relief to the accused as Justice Dipak Misra doesn't hesitate to give a death sentence and is exceedingly sensitive to women's rights and liberties. He upheld rape as depravity and not curable and recently passed a woman friendly judgement saying that "no woman can be compelled to love; she always has right to say no". In December, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home. (ANI)
A bench of the apex court gave the Maharashtra government four weeks time to respond.

The Bombay High Court on April 25, while granting bail to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, rejected former Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit's plea.

At least six persons were killed in the blast in Malegaon town in Nashik district on September 29, 2008.

The investigating agencies had attributed the blast to right-wing group Abhinav Bharat. Eleven people, including Sadhvi and Purohit, were arrested.

The National Investigation Agency, which probed the case, gave a clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya but said the charges against Purohit were of serious and grave nature.

The NIA contended there was evidence pointing to Purohit's involvement in the blast.

--IANS pk/in/mr

( 160 Words)

2017-05-05-13:14:08 (IANS)
Naidu, leading a high-level delegation, met California Governor Jerry Brown at Sacramento on Thursday.

The Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh would emerge as the gateway to Southeast Asia given its long coastline and the presence of deep water ports.

Naidu also explained to the Governor about the unscientific manner in which Andhra Pradesh was divided.

"Due to that hasty decision, Andhra Pradesh was left without a capital. Now we have a great opportunity to build a capital for ourselves," the statement quoted Rao as saying.

Soon after his arrival in San Francisco, Naidu met Mike McNamara, CEO, Flextronics, and highlighted the enormous advantages Andhra Pradesh has to offer in terms of location and accessibility.

The Chief Minister spoke about the friendly business atmosphere in Andhra Pradesh besides citing that it stood first in the 'Ease of Doing Business' rankings.

Naidu said Andhra Pradesh was a potential logistics hub of India and it was the right time for Flextronics to expand the scope of their existing operations in Visakhapatnam.

The Chief Minister also met Simon Segars, CEO of ARM Holdings.

--IANS ms/ksk/mr

( 218 Words)

2017-05-05-13:18:08 (IANS)
The left front government in Tripura seems to be worried about the Digital India move of Prime Minister Narendra Modi especially for shifting the provision of common service to software based operation.Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer affairs minister Bhanu Lal Saha today criticised the central government over the transferring of manual works to software based operation for distribution of essential commodities at village level under Modi's digital India mission,"I apprehend such rapid transfer of enrolments and necessities will create problem for the common people in the long run. The digital literacy is still limited among a very small class of people in the state. Moreover, internet connectivity is not at all satisfactory a small trouble in the network may led to mishap," Saha said while addressing a gathering here of a program of consumer affairs.The central government instructed for transferring every manual works of PDS to software based revealing the modern technology computerised works but nobody is concerned about the obvious challenges.Nobody is clarifying the point, what would happen if server remains down for long at the village and internet service has not reached in several parts of the state, Saha said adding that out of compulsion Tripura is going to start it but no option available for steady operation of the system.He said consumers can call in the toll-free PDS helpline number 1967 or consumer helpline 1800 345 3665 number to find out consumer information about any purchase or sale or service caused by any consumer of the state and online submission of complaints at e-PDS portal.UNI BB KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-881109.Xml
Large amount of smuggled items were seized from different borderingareas of Tripura in last one month and border guards also apprehended 19persons for trespass into Indian territory during the period in the state.BorderSecurity Force (BSF) officials said that during the month of April goods likeSarees, forest produces, cattle, Phensidyl , fish and cannabis (ganja), worthof Rs. 2..23 crore were seized by BSF from bordering areas of the state.BSFclaimed out of the total seizure goods worth Rs. 2.16 core were being smuggledout to Bangladesh and goods worth Rs. 6.77 crore were coming into the Indian Territoryillegally from Bangladesh.On theother, BSF troops also apprehended 4 Indian, one Nigerian and 14 Bangladeshinationals while they were illegally crossing the Indo-Bangla border of Tripurain last one month.UNI BB KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-881111.Xml
Tollywood actor Vikram Chatterjee, who survived a fatal car crash in which model-cum-actressand his friend Sonika Singh Chauhan died late last month, today surrendered before the Alipur court after being summoned by the investigation team of the city police.The actor on his late 20s sustained head, neck and shoulder injuries in the car crash on April 29 near Lake Mall in south Kolkata, was released from the hospital yesterday. But before his release from hospital the Tollygunge police station investigating the crash following an FIR lodged by the deceased family, summoned the actor to appear into the police station within three days. The police also took over the dresses the actors had during the time of accident,around 0400 hours on April 29.Vikram Chatterjee's counsel Anirban Guha also submitted an application for bail of his client in the case saying the actor was still need adequate rest for recovery.The hearing is expected to start around 1400 hours for his bail application,court officials said.Sonika Singh Chauhan was killed in the fatal accident, in which actor was on the wheelswhen the accident occurred around 0400 hours of Saturday morning.Sonika was 28.Police also filed a case against the actor for alleged rash driving. UNI PC KK -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0212-881119.Xml
A bipartisan Congressional delegation is coming for a visit to India next week during which it will also meet the Dalai lama. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is leading the high-level delegation. Besides India, the Congress Members will also visit Nepal, Germany and Belgium. Sources said the delegation will go to Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh and remain there on May 9 and 10 during which the members will meet the Dalai Lama. The focus will be ''on national security, the global economy, bilateral and multilateral relations, and human rights,'' a statement from the office of Ms Pelosi issued by the US Embassy said heretoday."Our bipartisan delegation travels at a vital time in the US relationship with India, Nepal and our NATO partners," she said. "Our delegation looks forward to meetings on how we can strengthen our economic and security relationships, as well as addressing challenges ranging from regional Russian aggression to global human rights" the Democratic leader said.In addition to leader Pelosi, the Members of the delegation are: Jim Sensenbrenner of Foreign Affairs Committee and Judiciary Committee; Eliot Engel , Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee;Jim McGovern , Co-Chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Agriculture Committee, Rules Committee; Betty McCollum , Appropriations Committee;Judy Chu , Ways and Means Committee, Small Business Committee; Joyce Beatty , Financial Services Committee Pramila Jayapal , Vice Ranking Member, Budget Committee and Judiciary Committee.UNI NAZ RSA 1407 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0104-881239.Xml
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the earlier order of death sentence to four convicts in the December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case. Justice Dipak Misra observed in its order that it''s a story of ''some different world''. "Taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committed by th3e convicts, we are upholding the sentence," the order said. The next option for the convicts is to appeal against their death sentence to President Pranab Mukherjee. Here is a timeline of crucial developments in the case so far: May 5, 2017: The Supreme Court to pronounce its judgment in infamous 2012 Delhi gang rape case. March 27, 2017: The Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case. March 6, 2017: All the accused submit additional affidavits in the Court. February 3, 3017: The Supreme Court decides to re-hear the case on the sentencing aspect, after the petitioners contend that there have been violations in procedure. January 6, 2017: The Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused. November 28, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Sanjay Hegde argues against reliability of evidence in the case. November 7, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside. September 16, 2016: Former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Delhi) Chaya Sharma, who was transferred to Mizoram post the Delhi gang rape case, attends the hearing. September 2, 2016: Advocate M. L. Sharma concludes his submissions. August 29, 2016: High drama in the courtroom as allegation of the police tampering with evidence is made. April 8, 2016: Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae. April 3, 2016: Hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V. Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph to hear the case. December 18, 2015: Delhi High Court refuses to stay release of the minor-accused, who walks free after three years in a juvenile home. March 15, 2014: The Supreme Court stays execution of the accused after allegations of a denial of fair trial. March 13, 2014: Delhi High Court Bench of Justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani upholds the trial Court verdict. September 13, 2013: Four remaining accused sentenced to death by Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna. January 29, 2013: The Supreme Court dismisses transfer petition. August 31, 2013: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) presided over by Principal District Magistrate Geetanjali Goel finds the juvenile accused guilty of rape and murder of the medical student, sentences him to three years in Special Home. March 11, 2013: Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar jail. December 16, 2012: Six men, including the 17-year-old juvenile, gang-rape a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The girl and her friend were returning home after watching a movie when they were coaxed into the bus by the accused, who then beat up her friend before taking turns in raping her. The girl succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh - challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows. (ANI)
OPEC and other countries that agreed to cut crude production are converging on the need to extend the pact beyond June to help clear a supply glut, Saudi Arabia's OPEC governor said on Friday.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers agreed last year to curb production by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) for six months from Jan. 1.But while oil prices have risen stockpiles are still high and production from countries that have not agreed to the cut, including the United States, has been rising, keeping crude below the $60 level that OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and others would like to see."There's an emerging consensus among participating countries on the need to extend the production agreement reached last year," Adeeb Al-Aama told Reuters."Based on today's data, there's a growing conviction that a six-month extension may be needed to rebalance the market, but the length of the extension is not firm yet," he said.A formal decision will be made when OPEC ministers meet on May 25. OPEC will also meet the non-OPEC countries in Vienna on May 25.The Saudi OPEC governor was talking by phone from Vienna where he is attending a meeting of OPEC's governing board along with his counterparts from the 13-country OPEC - which accounts for a third of global oil production.Such meetings are an occasion to consult informally, but they deal with administrative matters and do not decide policy.Al-Aama said he had accompanied Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih on a visit last week to some of the non-OPEC producers that are party to the pact, and "all have expressed their commitment to the deal." Al-Falih was due to visit more countries next week, he added.Compliance with the cuts has been rising every month, reaching "an impressive 98 percent in March", Al-Aama said. This is higher than OPEC achieved during its last cut in 2009.Al-Falih also spoke with Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak on Thursday, Al-Aama said."The two ministers expressed their satisfaction with the market fundamentals evidenced by the gradual drawdown of global inventories and agreed on the need to continue working with all participants to guide oil markets towards rebalancing," he said.Novak has said Russia is inclined to prolong the accord.REUTERS SW 1447 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-881310.Xml
JIPMER Hospital Infection Control Committee conducted first state level conference on "Nurses role in Hospital Infection Control", targeting nurses from various hospitals of Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu marking "World Hand Hygiene Day" today.According to a Jipmer statement, Dr S C Parija, Director, JIPMER, who inaugurated the conference, said to deliver quality medical services the role of nurses is very important and infection control is a huge challenge in hospital like JIPMER. The nurses play active role in inpatient and outpatient departments for effective infection control, he said. He added that JIPMER serves a large number of patients for 24 hours and every aspect of hospital services has been screened routinely and appropriate infection control measures are carried out. Ms Vassantha, Chief Nursing officer, in her address said that JIPMER nurses are regularly updated with theory and practical knowledge on evolving nursing care. The conference aimed at educating nurses on various aspects of hospital infection control and prevention and further facilitates them to train others and implement, establish on augment the infection control programmes in their own institutes. Around 300 nurses participated from in and around Puducherry and Tamil Nadu.UNI PAB RSA 1414 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0104-881232.Xml
Timeline of the Nirbhaya gang-rape case in which the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentences of the four convicts. December 16, 2012: A 23-year-old paramedic student and her boyfriend take a private bus home after watching English film "Life of Pi" at the Select City Walk Mall in Saket. The woman was brutally raped and beaten up by six men in the moving bus and thrown out of it near Mahipalpur along with her male friend. They are admitted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital the same night. December 17: Delhi Police identify four men who raped and assaulted her -- bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta. Doctors say the woman has suffered grave internal injuries. December 18: Ram Singh and three others are arrested. People come out on the streets to protest the gang-rape. December 19: The woman undergoes a fifth surgery, with doctors removing most of her intestines. December 21: The accused juvenile is nabbed from Anand Vihar bus terminal in Delhi. The government appoints a panel of physicians to ensure she receives best medical care. The woman's friend identifies Mukesh as one of the culprits. Police conduct raids in Haryana and Bihar to nab sixth accused, Akshay Thakur. December 22: Akshay Thakur is arrested in Bihar and brought to Delhi. Victim records her statement before the SDM in hospital. December 25: The woman's condition deteriorates December 26: She is flown to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital for advanced treatment December 29: The woman dies in Singapore due to organ failure January 2, 2013: The then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir inaugurates fast track court for speedy trial in sexual offence cases January 3: Police files charge-sheet against five adult accused for offences including murder, gangrape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences and dacoity January 17: Fast track court starts proceedings against five adult accused January 28: Juvenile Justice Board rules that sixth accused is a minor February 2: Five adult accused are charged with 13 offences including murder February 28: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) frames rape, murder charges against the juvenile accused March 11: Ram Singh, the bus driver, is found hanging in his cell in Tihar jail March 21: Government approves new tougher anti-rape law to punish sex crimes, including death for repeat rape offenders July 5: Trial against juvenile concludes, the JJB reserves verdict for July 11 July 11: The JJB holds the minor guilty of illegally confining and robbing a carpenter on December 16 night before the gangrape. It defers to July 25 its verdict in the gang-rape case. July 25: JJB defers to August 5 its verdict after a PIL is filed in the Supreme Court seeking fresh interpretation of the term "juvenile". August 19: JJB again defers verdict to August 31 August 22: Supreme Court allows JJB to pronounce verdict in gangrape case August 31: JJB convicts the juvenile for gangrape and murder and awards three years term at a probation home August 22: Fast track court begins hearing of final arguments in trial against the four adult accused. September 10: Court convicts Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan of 13 offences including gangrape, unnatural offence and murder of the woman and attempt to murder her male friend September 13: Fast track court awards death to all four convicts. Trial court refers the case to Delhi High Court for confirmation of death sentence November 1: The Delhi High Court starts hearing the case on a daily basis January 3, 2014: The Delhi High Court reserves its verdict on confirming the death sentence and appeals of the four convicts. March 13: The Delhi High Court upholds the death sentences awarded to the four convicts June 2: Two death row convicts move the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court verdict July 14: The Supreme Court stays till further orders execution of death penalty of two of four convicts -- Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur December 18, 2015: Delhi High Court refuses to stay the release of the juvenile. He walks out of a correction home after spending three years. April 3, 2016: Supreme Court begins hearing in the case July 11: Hearing begins with a change in Bench to Justices Dipak Misra, R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan August 2016: Vinay Sharma tries to commit suicide in Tihar Jail January 6, 2017: Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused March 27: Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case May 5: SC upholds death penalty of four accused - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh --IANS aks/rn/vm ( 775 Words) 2017-05-05-16:18:13 (IANS)
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentences of all four convicts in the fatal 2012 gang rape of Nirbhaya in a moving bus here, a "rarest of rare" crime that sparked nationwide outrage over violence against women in the country. "If ever a case called for hanging, this was it," said a bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice R. Banumathi. This sparked off loud clapping in the packed courtroom by relatives of the victim -- whose identity is protected by law -- and others. The judges said the aggravating circumstances against Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur - all in their 20s - far outweighed the mitigating circumstances, such as their poor family background, age, good conduct in prison and their children cited in their favour. "If the dreadfulness displayed by the accused in committing the gang-rape, unnatural sex, insertion of iron rod in the private parts of the victim doesn't fall in the rarest of rare category, then one may wonder what else would," Justice Banumathi said, declining the convicts' appeal. Describing it as a crime of "mental perversion and extreme brutality" where in intestines of the victim were "perforated in the most savage and inhuman manner", Justice Misra said: "It sounds like a story from a different world humanity has been treated with irreverence." Justice Misra, also speaking for Justice Bhushan, said the convicts "don't deserve leniency" in view of their "brutal, barbaric and diabolical" conduct and "their brutish behaviour" with the victim. The four were convicted for raping and assaulting the 23-year-old paramedical student inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The rapists, six in all, pounced on the young woman who had boarded the bus with her boyfriend to go home after seeing a movie "Life of Pi". As the bus moved on south Delhi roads, the convicts pulled out her internal organs with a rusted L-shaped iron rod used with a wheel jack. This led to her death due to internal injuries 13 days later in a Singapore hospital. After committing the crime, they dumped the woman and her friend on the side of a road. Some onlookers alerted the police. The sheer brutality of the crime led to nationwide revulsion -- and street protests. A fifth accused, Ram Singh, committed suicide in the Tihar Central Jail here. The sixth, a juvenile, who was accused of ripping apart the woman's intestines, was sent to a correction home and has been released after serving his probation period. Taking note of the serious injuries and the severe nature of the offence, the judges said they were upholding the death sentence first pronounced by a lower court and upheld by the Delhi High Court. Nirbhaya's mother was in tears as she heard the judges pronouncing death to the rapists. "I am very satisfied. I am happy today." The victim's grieving father hailed the the Supreme Court that "heard our voice and understood the suffering Nirbhaya underwent". "It has given justice to Nirbhaya and the entire country," he said, referring to his daughter by the name -- which means fearless -- given by the media. The convicts' lawyer, A.P. Singh, pledged to file a review petition. "I am not satisfied with the judgement," he said. "It is a violation of human rights. Someone cannot be hanged just because of public sentiments." The last recourse for the convicts will be to file a mercy petition and seek clemency from President Pranab Mukherjee. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said she was happy. "I wish it had come sooner. It was a horrible experience and suffering for the family." The Delhi Commission for Women welcomed the capital punishment. "Finally, justice was delayed but not denied," said its chief, Swati Maliwal. --IANS pk-sar/mr ( 637 Words) 2017-05-05-18:44:08 (IANS)
Additional District and Session Judge A K Mahatha sentenced Arvind Sah and his father Chaturvuj Sah to rigorous life imprisonment after they were found guilty in the case.

According to the charges, Arvind Sah along with his father had strangulated his wife to death after her parents failed to meet their dowry demands at Ashota village under Shambhuganj police station area in Banka district on July 18, 2015. UNI XC-KKS AKM 1858

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0213-881940.Xml
Lauding the Supreme Court's verdict in the Nirbhaya gang rape case, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that though justice was delayed but the decision was good. "It has taken time but the decision is good. It will give a good impact. The effect will be such that whoever will try to commit such crime will fear before doing it", Nitish told ANI. Meanwhile, women rights activist and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav hailed the apex court's verdict, while expressing happiness over the punishment awarded to the rapists. "I am very happy to hear the Supreme Court's decision. The judgement came late. It should have come sooner. I will also fight for the girls who are still awaiting justice," she told ANI. Dubbing rape as heinous and devilish act, Aparna said that the criminal should be treated with the same mentality. Earlier in the day, the apex court upheld the earlier order of death sentence to four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gang rape case. The matter was heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan. Justice Dipak Misra observed in its order that 'it's a story of some different world'. "Taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committed by th3e convicts, we are upholding the sentence," the order said. The next option for the convicts is to appeal against their death sentence to President Pranab Mukherjee. The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh had challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows. Earlier, the trial court had also sentenced all the four convicts to death penalty. In December 16, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh's Additional Director General (ADG), law and order, Aditya Mishra yesterday said Ali was lured into the network by Pakistan High commission officials.

Mishra told media, "Ali was in touch with an official in the Pakistan embassy in Delhi. He had been allegedly approached by ISI operatives over the phone in 2014 after his visa to meet his relatives in Pakistan was rejected by the high commission three times."

Mishra informed that Ali had apparently confessed during the questioning that he got into spying as it helped him earn easy money.

A tip-off by Ali during helped the ATS to arrest another ISI agent Altaf Bhai Qureshi from Mumbai.

"Qureshi was in the hawala trade and provided money to Ali for sharing crucial information with his ISI handlers," Mishra added.

Ali visited Pakistan twice since, in 2014 and 2016 respectively.

The ISI operatives also provided him with other facilities paid him some money when he was returning to India after a few months stay.

The suspects will soon be brought to Lucknow for further interrogation.

The arrest comes weeks after the Uttar Pradesh police had issued a warning of a possible attack in the state by ISI-trained agents. (ANI)
The Confederation of State Government Employees Association today opposed the move to lease out Hotel Ashok Beach Resort at Puducherry to private players jointly by Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Pondicherry Industrial Promotion, Development and Investment Corporation (PIPDIC) under Government of Puducherry. Puducherry Chief Secretary Manoj Parida had earlier stated that Ministry of Tourism and Puducherry government had decided to lease out the property jointly. The revenue generated through joint lease of the property assessed at Rs 120 crore will be shared by the two governments. Mr.C H Balamohanan, the Honorary President of the confederation said such a beach front with sprawling premises should not be given away to private players , when there is immense potential to earn good Tourism revenue and the move to privatise it should be dropped. Since the ITDC which holds 51 per cent equity in the Hotel (and PIPDIC 49 per cent) wants to disinvest it, the shares of ITDC should be procured by the government and made to run by Government owned Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation .''The government which is holding its conferences in several private hotels like Sunway, Hotel Annandha Inn and Hotel Annamalai International could promote the beach resort for such purposes, he said. With Tourism being the driver of Puducherry's growth , there is no point in giving away the hotel to private players . At a time when the cash starved government is trying to enhance its revenue, tourism remains the best option before the government ,'' he said.''Private players want to acquire it, they see scope for profit . Hence the government should not let go of the opportunity. If necessary the government could take loan to acquire the ITDC shares of 51 percent ( Hotel assessed at Rs 120 crores ) as it can repay the loan from the profit,'' he said. In a similar way, he also raised objection to another move of Puducherry government to allow a private player to set up a boat house near Chunamber Boat house , run by PTDC. Already the government has called for expression of interest (EOI) from private players for establishing another boat house , said Balamohanan. It will seriously affect the revenue that Chunamber boat house is earning from the flow of Tourists , he said.UNI PAB RSA SHK 2043 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0104-882099.Xml
Welcoming the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the death penalty of four convicts involved in the Nirbhaya gang rape case, Maharashtra's public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Friday, however, expressed his apprehensions about top court's order being challenged. Nikam said the convicts still have the option of approaching the President and can file a mercy petition asking him to revoke the order. "I welcome the decision of the Supreme Court, but the main question is when the death penalty be executed. According to our law, every criminal, that is the condemned prisoner, has a right to challenge to file a mercy petition before the President of India, and unfortunately, our Constitution is silent as to when the President should take the decision on such mercy petitions," Nikam told ANI. He also highlighted that a delay in issuing a mercy petition can convert the death penalty case to one of life imprisonment. "I have come across number of cases wherein though the Supreme Court has awarded the death penalty and the condemned prisoner had filed a mercy petition before the President and since there was a delay in giving such mercy petition the Supreme Court or the High Court has converted the said death penalty to life imprisonment," Nikam said. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir has also welcomed the verdict given by the Supreme Court. The apex court earlier today upheld the conviction and death penalty of four convicts' -- Mukesh, Akshay, Pawan and Vinay awarded to them by the Delhi High Court on December16, 2012. The matter was heard by the bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra after the convicts challenged the Court order. However, A.P. Singh, lawyer for the accused, claimed that he would file the review petition after reading the order. "Justice is not done. We will file review petition after reading the order. You cannot give a death sentence to anyone for a message to the nation. The meaning of punishment is improvement. There is a right to live. In this, the human rights have been neglected, Mahatma Gandhi's ideology has been neglected," Singh said.(ANI)
A commentary in the state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun vowed that North Korea would not give up its nuclear program, the CNN reports.

It also accused China of "dancing to the tune of the United States".

The commentary urged two Chinese state-run newspapers - the People's Daily and Global Times - to refrain from making reckless remarks as they risked undermining the relations between the two allies.

When quizzed about the commentary, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing had been firm in its call for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in order to maintain the peace and stability of the region.

Chinese state-sanctioned tabloid Global Times slammed the Rodong Sinmun in a rebuttal and said, "The editorial is nothing more than a hyper-aggressive piece completely filled with nationalistic passion."

"Pyongyang is obviously grappling with some form of irrational logic over its nuclear program." (ANI)
Russia, Turkey and Iran signed an agreement calling for the creation of four "safe zones" in Syria, but the proposal was rejected by Syrian rebels, who walked out of a press conference in the Kazakh capital, Astana, where the deal was announced. An angry Syrian delegation claimed there was a huge gap between Russian promises and actions. They also said they would never accept Iran as a military guarantor of a peace process and also questioned whether the plan could lead to Syria's disintegration, as reported by The Guardian. The use of weapons would be forbidden in the safe zones, allowing for the restoration of infrastructure and essential services and the return of refugees. These zones include areas in the provinces of Idlib and Homs, the eastern Ghouta suburbs outside Damascus, and an area in the south of the country, all of which include significant rebel-controlled enclaves. The rebels had walked out of the talks on Wednesday, protesting about continued Syrian air force attacks, but returned on Thursday. Osama Abu Zaid, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army, said, "We demand guarantee of aid entry, the immediate release of detainees and a cessation of hostilities," the Guardian reports. The Astana talks, which involve armed rebel groups, are the latest attempt to reduce the violence in Syria, where a six-year conflict has killed more than 400,000 people. Stop-start negotiations held under the auspices of the United Nations, involving the Syrian political opposition, are due to recommence in Geneva in May. (ANI)
Former United States president Barack Obama has extended his support to French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron, saying that the latter is committed to a better future for the French people. "I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run. He has stood up for liberal values, he put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world. And, he is committed to a better future for the French people. He appeals to people's hopes and not their fears," CNN quoted Obama as saying in a video shared by Macron via Twitter on Thursday. Asserting that he is not planning to get involved in many elections and also that he does not has to run for the office again, Obama underscored that the French election is very important to the future of France and to the values that Americans care so much about. Obama added that "he is endorsing Emmanuel Macron to lead the French people due to the significance of the upcoming presidential election in the country". This comes after President Donald Trump had earlier spoken positively about the right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen of the National Front party. Trump had said last month that Le Pen is "strongest on borders, and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France." The final run-off vote for the French Presidential elections will take place on Sunday. (ANI)
The 79-18 vote on Thursday, now sends the legislation to President Donald Trump's desk, local media reports said. Trump is likely to sign the bill before Friday deadline.

The Trump administration on Wednesday moved one step closer to avoiding government shutdown after the House of Representatives approved a USD1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September.

After Trump's signature, $598.5 billion for defence will be allocated, which is roughly $25 billion above 2016 levels.

The developments so far portend this would be the first major legislative victory for Republican President Trump.

Earlier, Trump had called for a 'good shutdown' in September to fix the "mess" in the Senate.

He said that the legislation needs 60 votes in the Senate because of the filibuster and suggested that it would be necessary to elect more Republicans or "change the rules."

"The reason for the plan negotiated between the Republicans and Democrats is that we need 60 votes in the Senate which are not there! We.... either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good "shutdown" in September to fix mess!" Trump said in a series of tweets. (ANI)
A memorandum in this regard was signed between these countries on Thursday.

However, Syrian armed opposition's delegation did not sign the memorandum and stormed out in protest against Iran's participation in the deal.

They are protesting the role of Iran as a guarantor of the agreement, accusing it of fuelling the sectarian nature of the conflict.

The agreement is the latest attempt to reduce violence in the Arab country and would go into effect on Saturday.

According to the agreement, the de-escalation zones include the provinces of Idlib, areas north of Homs, the eastern Ghouta suburbs outside Damascus, and an area in the south of the country.

The memorandum calls for a pause in fighting, including government airstrikes and for unhindered aid deliveries in and around the four main zones still held by rebels unaffiliated with the Islamic State, the New York Times reported.

The memorandum also calls for all parties to fight terror groups like the Islamic State and the Qaeda-linked group once known as the Nusra Front. (ANI)
While condemning the horrific killings of five Baloch, Baloch Republican Party spokesman Sher Mohammad Bugti on Friday said the Pakistan Army's atrocities are intended to force and terrify people to give up on their struggle for Baloch freedom. Baloch Republican Party spokesman Sher Mohammad Bugti in a statement condemned the horrific killings of Baloch innocent in strongest term possible. "The discovery of the five mutilated dead bodies of the innocent Baloch in Mand exposes the brutal face of the Pakistani Army. Five bullet-riddled dead bodies of the innocent Baloch were recovered in Mand area of Kech district on Thursday. They had been suffering in illegal detention of the state forces in prior to their abduction. The victims identified as Master Baitullah who had gone missing for two years in Tump, Sabir Baloch, abducted from Turbat, Asif s/o Master Anwar resident of Mand, Noroz Majeed, who was also resident of Mand, and Jasim Rahim, resident of Gomazi." the spokesman said. He further said that the Pakistani Army's atrocities and crimes in Balochistan intended to force and terrify people to give up on their struggle for Baloch freedom. "The Pakistani Army officials are making a very profitable business on the fake surrender of the Baloch Sarmachar to convince the authority in Islamabad and world that everything is in their control now," he said, adding that Baloch freedom activists are struggling for their right and to prove their existence. The spokesman said the state institutions are taking up the cases of people to hide their failure and shame and then they kill those people in custody and dump their mutilated dead bodies. He appealed to the civilised world to save the lives of Baloch people being victims of the Paki-China evil nexus. (ANI)
During the cross-border attack, mortar shells fired from the Afghan side hit houses in a village of Kali Luqman.

At least three children are among the injured and two of the victims are said to be in critical condition.

The injured have been shifted to Civil Hospital Chaman, where an emergency has been imposed, Express Tribune reports.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) tweeted confirming the attack and sharing a ISPR press release stating, "Since 30th April, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in [the] conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area, on Pakistani side of the border. This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of census. Exchange of fire continues. Chaman crossing closed."

Recently, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also turned down Pakistan's invitation to visit the country.

During a BBC interview, the President's deputy spokesperson Dawa Khan Mina Pal said Ghani was invited by Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and parliamentarians to visit the country.(ANI)
Clashes erupted between Pakistani and Afghan troops today along their disputed border and at least one person was killed, Pakistan's military said, in another blow to already tense relations between the neighbours.Pakistan's military said the clashes broke out in a remote village near the Pakistani border town of Chaman as a Pakistani census team, guarded by troops from its Frontier Corps (FC), was collecting population figures."Afghan border police opens fire on FC detailed for security of population census team," said Pakistan military's media wing, adding that 18 people were wounded."Exchange of fire continues. Chaman crossing closed."The Chaman crossing into Afghanistan's Kandahar province is one of two main crossing points on the border.While the military said one person had been killed, a doctor in a hospital in Chaman told Reuters that three people had been killed in the fighting.Zia Durani, police spokesman for Afghanistan's Kandahar province, said Pakistani officials were using the census as a cover for "malicious activities and to provoke villagers against the government"."They did not heed the warning and we have clear orders to engage them," Durani said, adding two Afghan border police were wounded.Relations between the countries have been uneasy since Pakistan's independence in 1947. Afghanistan has traditionally enjoyed better ties with Pakistan's arch rival, India.Afghanistan has for years accused Pakistan of sheltering Afghan Taliban militants on its soil. Pakistan officially denies that even though various Taliban leaders have over the years been killed, died and detained in Pakistan.Tension has been increasing in recent months amid new exchanges of accusations of not doing enough to tackle militants engaging in cross-border raids.Pakistan's military said Afghan border police had been "creating hurdles" since April 30 for the census team in the Chaman area."This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of the census," the military said.Last year, Pakistan started building a barrier at the main border crossing in the town of Torkham, near the Khyber Pass, angering Afghanistan which rejects the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893.Afghanistan has never formally recognised the line as the border. REUTERS SW 1502 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-881333.Xml
Both the leaders met face to face aboard the World War II USS aircraft carrier Intrepid to mark the 75th anniversary of the battle of the Coral Sea, in which the U.S. and Australia halted Japan's advance across the South Pacific.

Trump played down the 25 minutes testy phone call exchange that was expected to be an hour-long call, saying "We had a great telephone call. You guys exaggerated that call. That was a big exaggeration. We're not babies. That was little bit of fake news. "

Turnbull agreed with Trump's assessment, saying "that's exactly right."

The heated argument on phone centered on a US-Australia agreement under former President Obama for the US to accept refugees from Australia.

Turnbull is expected to raise the issue of US influence across the world and will ask Trump to remain committed to the Asia-Pacific region. Trump is likely to discuss North Korea, US-Australia relations.

The first meeting between Trump and Turnbull was to be held in midtown Manhattan,but the introduction was delayed after Trump decided to remain in Washington.

The Australian government said that the President's decision to make Turnbull wait was "an amazing snub," CNN reported.(ANI)
China's home-grown C919 passenger jet completed its long-delayed maiden flight today, a major first step for Beijing as it looks to raise its profile in the global aviation market and boost high-tech manufacturing at home.Under overcast skies, the white, green and blue aircraft, with "C919" emblazoned on its tail, touched down at Shanghai's international airport after an 80-minute flight to cheers from thousands of dignitaries, aviation workers and enthusiasts.The jet is a symbol of China's ambitions to muscle into a global jet market estimated to be worth $2 trillion over the next two decades, as well as of Beijing's broader "Made in China 2025" plan to spur home-made products, from medicines to robots."Seeing the C919 take off into the sky made me quite emotional. This is a moment we have waited to see for a very long time," Wang Mingfeng, 42, who witnessed the maiden flight at the Shanghai airport, told Reuters."I believe that in the not too distant future, we will be neck-and-neck with Boeing and Airbus."At the moment, though, Boeing and Airbus remain far ahead in terms of sales, technical know-how and order books. And the C919, whose test flight was pushed back at least twice since 2014 due to production issues, may need years of tests to get certified in China, as well as in the United States and Europe.Today, the C919 flew north over the Yangtze River delta, carried out manoeuvres and then returned south along the coast before landing, according to aircraft tracker Flightradar24. State media said the plane flew at around 3,000 metres and at speeds of 290-300 kilometres (180-186 miles) per hour.The crew of five pilots and engineers, all wearing orange jump suits and aviators, were applauded as they disembarked. The plane, which can carry 158-168 passengers, had no passenger seats installed for the maiden flight.A letter from China's ministerial cabinet, read out after the plane landed, said the successful flight marked a "major breakthrough" and milestone for China's passenger jet industry. The industry ministry said in a statement the flight went smoothly and that all the systems functioned properly.The C919, made by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), relies on overseas technology from firms including General Electric, France's Safran, Honeywell International Inc and United Technologies Corp subsidiary Goodrich.China Eastern Airlines is the launch customer for the plane, which COMAC says has 570 orders from 23 customers.HARDSHIP, STRUGGLEConceived in 2008, China wants the C919 to eventually take market share from Boeing and Airbus in the lucrative narrow-body market which accounts for more than 50 percent of the aircraft in service worldwide. For a TIMELINE on the C919, click"Every year we spend billions on buying planes," a COMAC promotional video showed President Xi Jinping saying during a site visit. He added China should become more self-reliant.However, the jet likely faces a lengthy journey from first flight to commercial usage.China's first home-made jet, the regional ARJ-21, received its type certification in December 2014, six years after its first flight and more than 12 years after it was conceived. It made its maiden passenger flight in June last year.Then there is also the daunting task of selling the jet in a global market dominated by Boeing and Airbus."Aviation is a complex market and you need experience over a long time. Boeing has 100 years, Airbus has over 40 years," said Sinolink Securities analyst Si Jingzhe, adding COMAC still lagged far behind in terms of supply chain know-how.China is aware the path won't be easy. On a media visit on Thursday to COMAC's C919 assembly plant less than 10 kilometres from the airport, large red banners could be seen in giant hangars calling for long-term "hardship", "dedication" and "struggle" to meet the firm's goals.China is pushing for recognition globally of its certification by European and U.S. regulators as without their certification, it would only be able to sell the jet to a handful of countries that accept its certification standards.But Beijing is already looking beyond the C919, with plans to develop a wide-body long-haul jet with Russia. In November COMAC and its partner United Aircraft Corp said they have started the hunt to find suppliers.REUTERS SW 1521 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-881393.Xml
A renegade general said he was weighing launching his new rebel force into South Sudan's civil war, and called for President Salva Kiir to go, accusing him of spearheading ethnic violence that rights groups fear is slipping towards genocide.Thomas Cirillo Swaka, known as Cirillo, resigned as deputy chief of staff of South Sudan's military in February, citing rights abuses in a war that has split the world's youngest nation, often along ethnic lines, since 2013.Since then, the army's most high-profile defector said he has put together a force of several thousand fighters, but declined to identify their exact plans or locations.The scarred guerrilla veteran told Reuters that before he quit he had seen evidence of a government programme to recruit fighters and procure arms for militias from Kiir's Dinka ethnic group that included secret orders for weapons bypassing military supply lines.The assertions from Cirillo, a member of the smaller Bari ethnic group, were dismissed by the presidency. "It is very unfortunate that Cirillo is getting out of his mind. This is completely rubbish," said presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny.Reuters was unable to verify Cirillo's accusations independently. But if true, they reinforce rights groups' assertions that the government is using ethnic militias, accusations that the government has strongly denied.A senior U.N. rights official said in December parts of the conflict involved ethnic cleansing. Last month, Britain said some of the violence in the oil-producing state amounted to genocide."Salva Kiir must go and there should be a change," Cirillo told Reuters from a hotel in Addis Ababa, capital of South Sudan's neighbour Ethiopia, where he said he was living in exile while trying to unite the disparate rebel forces."If Salva Kiir ... tries to close all doors to peaceful solution ... (the National Salvation Front) will have no other option to defend the people of South Sudan and to protect itself," he added, referring to his rebel force.He said his fighters were "friendly" with the country's biggest rebel force, known as the SPLA-In Opposition - which confirmed it sees Cirillo as an ally.REFUGEES, FAMINE, OILThe war started in December 2013 after Kiir sacked his deputy and long-term rival Riek Machar, a member of the Nuer ethnic group. Forces loyal to Kiir clashed with Nuer in the capital, triggering retaliatory attacks across the impoverished nation.The surge of violence just over two years after South Sudan seceded from Sudan has fuelled Africa's biggest cross-border refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide. It has also plunged districts into famine, nearly halved oil production and threatened to destabilise a volatile region.Cirillo said he had largely been sidelined with little power during the period when the worst abuses by government troops took place. Reuters could not verify that assertion, though Cirillo has not been named in any U.N. reports on rights abuses.He said he quit partly because the president and army chief set up a system to recruit militia fighters, bypassing official military channels - a statement dismissed by the presidency."The president does not seek parallel recruitment," said Ateny.Cirillo said the programme was organised out of Kiir's ranch outside the capital, Juba, in Luri - an area described as a "marshalling point and training area for Dinka militia" in a 2016 U.N. Panel of Experts report on South Sudan.Cirillo said Kiir and army chief Paul Malong, another Dinka, held meetings at their homes, rather than at the ministry or military headquarters, excluding military officers of other ethnic backgrounds.The two also circumvented normal military channels when they recruited thousands of youths from their home region of Bahr el Ghazal, Cirillo said."They train them there and bring them to Juba," he said.A military spokesman referred Reuters queries to the presidential spokesman."YOU HAVE TO HIDE GUNS"Cirillo, who has an eight-inch scar on his head from a landmine blast, fought during South Sudan's long wars with the Khartoum government and was head of army training and research from 2010 until February 2016, when he became head of logistics. Cirillo said that less than a week after signing an internationally backed peace deal with Machar in August 2015, Kiir called 60 top generals, including Cirillo, to his palace and ordered them not to withdraw from the capital as the deal stipulated."The president came and told us that he is not going to implement the agreement and told us in an open way that you have to hide guns," Cirillo said.Ateny described that as "another fabricated lie."Machar returned to Juba in April last year, but was forced to flee in August after fighting between his forces and Kiir's broke out in the capital. South African authorities are holding Machar under de facto house arrest after he sought medical treatment there in October.Alan Boswell, author of an upcoming report on South Sudan for the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, which monitors small arms and armed violence, said Cirillo had support in his native Equatoria region that surrounds Juba and borders Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo."If Cirillo manages to secure an arms supply, the effect would be immediate and drastic, as the rebellion is currently extremely under-resourced," said Boswell.REUTERS SW 1537 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-881423.Xml
Thai police found 35 migrants from Myanmar abandoned and wandering in a southern forest on Friday, raising fears that smuggling and trafficking routes are flourishing despite a crackdown by authorities.The 28 men and seven women were discovered by villagers in Tha Sala district in Nakorn Si Thammarat province, police said. They were on their way to Malaysia and had no identification cards on them."They were wandering in the forest and near abandoned shrimp farms. Villagers found them and brought them to us," Police Colonel Sophon Chamrongnigrong, an officer in charge of the case, told Reuters."They said they were dumped here... It is unclear who dumped them."Reuters has not spoken directly to the 35 who are being detained and questioned by police.Activists say the discovery is unlikely to be a one-off and said it could suggest that smuggling routes are still thriving in Thailand despite a crackdown by authorities."We know from recent activity that the smuggling routes are far from quiet, despite what authorities might have us believe about the success of their trafficking crackdown," said one activist who declined to be named because he feared repercussions.Thai authorities in March detained 27 men from Myanmar who were allegedly trying to enter Malaysia.Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar's Rakhine State since 2012, when violent clashes with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists killed hundreds and made about 140,000 homeless.An estimated 75,000 Rohingya fled across the border to Bangladesh during a recent crackdown by Myanmar security forces in response to militant attacks on border posts.Thai police said the 35 people discovered on Friday were not Rohingya although three were Muslims from Myanmar.A 2015 crackdown on trafficking in Thailand followed the discovery of scores of jungle graves along the Thailand-Malaysia border which triggered a human trafficking investigation that reverberated across Southeast Asia.According to the United Nations, that led to a significant downturn in the number of migrants leaving Myanmar and Bangladesh by boat.Thailand's military government has vowed a "zero tolerance" policy toward human trafficking.Thailand's efforts led last year to the country being upgraded a notch to Tier 2 "Watch List" in the annual U.S. Trafficking in Persons report.Thailand had been downgraded to the lowest level, Tier 3, after a 2014 coup. REUTERS SW 1800 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-881759.Xml
COLOMBO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka picked up with over 160,000 tourists arriving in April, after February and March recorded a negative growth due to the partial closure of the country's main airport, statistics from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Bureau showed here Thursday.

India was the number one market in April with the largest number of tourist arrivals of 26,323, while China came in second with 19,823 arrivals.

Britain generated the third highest number of arrivals with 17,841 tourists.

Overall over 760,000 tourists arrived in Sri Lanka from January to April 2017, a 6.1 percent growth from the 721,825 tourists who arrived during the same period last year.

Tourist arrivals had seen a decline in February and March, due to the partial closure of Bandaranaike International Airport from Jan 8 to April 8 in order to renovate its runway.

During the period, passengers were required to check in five hours prior their flight departures whilst airlines also had to reschedule their timings due to the day time closure of the airport from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time.

However with the airport getting back to its normal operations from the first week of April, the month recorded a positive growth of 17.5 percent with 160,249 tourist arrivals.

Sri Lanka's tourism industry is poised to become the number one foreign exchange earner with several leading international travel agents branding Sri Lanka as a "must see" destination in 2017.

Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said the country was expecting 2.5 million tourists this year and was confident it could achieve its target.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-04 22:39:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ROME, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Italy will host an international conference on the European migration emergency, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said on Thursday.

He made the announcement while addressing a joint session of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee on security issues and Italy's Group of Seven (G7) presidency in 2017.

Alfano linked the initiative to the urgent need to stabilize Libya, the troubled northern African country from which the vast majority of migrant and refugee flows head to Italy and Europe.

Libya has been engulfed in a civil strife since the ouster of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

"The stabilization of Libya has a tremendous value for us (Italy): it means national security, the end of human trafficking, and a reduction of the migration flow," Ansa news agency cited Alfano as saying.

The international conference will be held in the Italian capital on July 6, and would involve representatives from Libya and from countries of transit for migrants and refugees in Africa.

The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini, as well as Italy's EU partners will take part in the initiative, according to the minister.

Alfano also stressed the Italian diplomatic action was focused on the "centrality of the Mediterranean identity."

"UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has assured me of the utmost effort from him personally and from the UN on the Libyan issue," he told the committee.

The Italian government said it is committed to the G7 summit scheduled in Taormina, Sicily, on May 26-27 to provide "tangible support" to a political solution of the civil war in Syria.

"At the same time, we will work to have clear support towards a dialogue with Russia from the G7 summit," Alfano said.

Italy has assumed the rotating presidency of the G7 this year. The group comprises the world's seven major developed economies, namely the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-04 23:04:14|Editor: Yamei

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LONDON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Smartphone apps can help to significantly reduce anxiety levels in those suffering from the disorder, new research from the University of Manchester revealed Thursday.

Researcher Joseph Firth from the university's Institute of Brain, Behavior and Mental Health, led the first ever meta-analysis of all published evidence on the effect of smartphone-based therapies on anxiety in nearly 2,000 people.

The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, was a collaboration between the University of Manchester, Harvard University, University of Melbourne, and the Black Dog Institute in Australia.

It showed that overall, smartphone interventions reduced anxiety significantly more than control conditions, suggesting new digital therapies could be useful for managing the condition.

Smartphone apps, say the research team, may be best used for augmenting face-to-face therapy and other psychological treatment, rather than replacing standard care.

Firth said: "Smartphones could be a novel way to help treat anxiety: they are now owned by the majority of people, and are particularly popular with younger people. That presents a new opportunity for psychological care provision in a non-stigmatizing, self-managing format."

"Looking at individual studies, we find that smartphone apps which aim to promote overall mental health and well-being, rather than focusing specifically on anxiety alone, may be most consistently effective," the researcher said.

The research team is now further analyzing how smartphone apps can also be used in the treatment of depression, with the results expected to be published soon.
JUBA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The UN senior envoy in South Sudan on Thursday condemned an attack on its base in famine area in South Sudan.

David Shearer, head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said the attack on Wednesday night were carried out with callous disregard for the lives for civilians as well as UN and humanitarian workers.

"We strongly condemn the attack, and call on all parties to the conflict to respect the sanctity of UN premises," Shearer said in a statement issued in Juba.

The mission's Temporary Operating Base (TOB) in Leer town in the former Unity State came under small armed attack from the direction of the nearby government-held town.

Shearer said the Ghanaian company of UNMISS peacekeeping forces based there quickly and robustly returned fire, deterring the attack.

He praised the response of the Ghanaian forces for successfully repelling the attack and remaining on high alert throughout the night.

"They reacted in the best possible manner, according to the true spirit of peacekeeping. Their quick defensive action secured the safety of all of the internally displaced people who had sought UN protection adjacent to the base," the UN official said.

He confirmed that there were no UNMISS or other casualties within the base from the attack. So far, there is no confirmation of which party to the conflict carried out the attack.

"We are here to protect and support the people of South Sudan. The base is located at Leer for that reason. The people are hungry and deprived as the result of the famine. However, it is clear the attackers have no consideration for their plight, given those who most desperately need help will suffer more because of a likely resulting delay of humanitarian aid," said Shearer.

Shearer said the UN mission has launched investigations into the incident and will examine whether the TOB needs to be further strengthened.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 02:44:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Osama Radi, Emad Drimly

RAMALLAH, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The first meeting of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on Wednesday apparently focused on the upcoming U.S. action to resume the peace process in the Middle East which has been stalled since April 2014, analysts said.

However, they expect that more pressure would be exerted on the Palestinian side to make concessions, in terms of the way Trump Administration may handle the peace negotiations.

In a joint news briefing with Abbas on Wednesday evening after their first meeting, Trump said he will "do whatever is necessary to negotiate a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians."

He promised he will work as a "mediator, an arbitrator or a facilitator" to broker a deal between Israel and Palestine, and expressed hope that "there won't be such hatred for very long."

Abbas, meanwhile, highlighted specific demands that the Palestinians will stick to in talks with Israel: a two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state and Israel returning to its 1967 borders and ending its 50-year occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Abbas said he believes it is possible to reach a historic peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians.

"We are coming into a new opportunity, a new horizon that would enable us to bring about peace," he said at the news briefing.

Samir Awad, a political science professor at Beir Zeit University in the West Bank, said visiting the White House to present Palestinian views and express their readiness for peace "is a good thing."

However, "Trump didn't mention anything related to the deep debate and resolving the permanent status issues," said Awad.

"Trump clearly said he is able to make peace and resolve the conflict between the two sides, and he vowed to do his best to make them committed to watch their practices on the ground," the professor added.

According to Awad, the Palestinians are more concerned that President Trump will focus on running the conflict and not resolving it, as "Trump might go for the choice of a regional peace instead in coordination with influential Arab states, and this is what Israel is also looking for."

Palestinian officials had earlier announced that they may accept a U.S. regional solution to the conflict with Israel, but it should be based on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which demands a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders and the return of refugees in exchange for full Arab normalization with Israel.

Ahmad Rafiq Awwad, a West Bank political analyst, told Xinhua that Trump "hasn't offered a specific mechanism for a permanent solution and didn't say anything about what's next step based on the Arab Peace Initiative or on the two-state solution and the rights of the Palestinians."

"Trump neglected all the promises and the context of the speeches of his predecessors, mainly in relation to backing the two-state solution to resolve the conflict between the two sides that has been going on for so many decades," said Awwad.

He warned that Trump's vision of resolving the conflict might be close to the Israeli vision "which might drop the option of the two-state solution."

"Trump may discuss the outcomes of the occupation, but not for ending it, or he would seek more pressure on the Palestinians to accept his vision that Israel backs," the analyst said.

Hani el-Masri, a Ramallah-based political analyst, agreed that the United States might consider Israeli visions and terms more than Palestinian ones.

"Trump focused on calling the Palestinians to stop incitement in the media and boost the security coordination (with Israel) in return for resuming the U.S. financial aid to the Palestinians and maybe it has decided to postpone moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," el-Masri told Xinhua.

The prominent Palestinian analyst warned that the scenario of recognizing a demilitarized Palestinian state built on only parts of the West Bank and without sovereignty might be the vision for the United States and Israel.

The last peace talks between Israel and Palestine, sponsored by the United States, lasted nine months and broke down in April 2014 over their deep differences on the issue of settlement building.
LISBON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Paulo Rangel, the Portuguese vice-president of the European People's Party, claimed Thursday that Portugal had not properly dealt with Britain leaving the European Union (EU), local media agency Lusa reported.

"I am very worried when I see prime ministers in countries similar to Portugal give importance to the subject, while the Portuguese government is very sloppy," he said at an international seminar on the future of the EU in Porto, some 320 km north of Lisbon.

Rangel called on Portugal to do "something" about Brexit and added that it had not handled the subject in the right way.

He also said that as Portugal was sea-based, it depended on Britain for a pro-Atlantic vision in the EU.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has recently accused EU officials of influencing the country's general election, which is taking place on June 8 this year. Britain is scheduled to withdraw from the EU in March 2019.

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa has held that the government hopes that Britain and Portugal will maintain a positive relationship despite Brexit.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 03:45:24|Editor: xuxin

South African President Jacob Zuma addresses the 2017 World Economic Forum Africa regional meeting in Durban, South Africa, on May 4, 2017. South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday called for the fast tracking of skills provision and improvement to address the restless African youth facing poverty and unemployment. (Xinhua/GCIS/Elmond Jiyane)

DURBAN, May 4 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday called for the fast tracking of skills provision and improvement to address the restless African youth facing poverty and unemployment.

At the 2017 World Economic Forum Africa regional meeting in Durban, Zuma said the youth have been calling for leaders to address exclusion, inequality, poverty and unemployment. He emphasized that nobody should be left behind in the economic growth.

Zuma said the theme of the conference is relevant as it emphasizes inclusive growth.

"They (youth) are an important stakeholder for us because Africa is a youthful continent, which means we are a continent that has a very bright future if we invest correctly in our young people. For us to move forward we need that energy, we need that imagination," he said.

The South African President noted many African youths lack rare skills which makes them unemployable.

"Other critical challenges facing the world include weak economic growth, the management of migration, global security and terrorism as well as related international crimes," said Zuma.

He said the world has not adequately addressed the gap between the rich and poor and the developed and developing worlds. He lamented that the gap between the North and South and rich and poor in many countries also remains wide.

Infrastructure development remains top of the agenda to ease the movement of goods, people and services across Africa, President Zuma said.

"Also critical is the work that is being done to promote regional integration and intra-Africa trade. For Africa to succeed in taking these programs forward, we need to mobilize appropriate financing. Accordingly, we must invest in developing local capital markets and mobilize domestic resources through taxation and other means," he added.

He also called for the sourcing of finance to fight the illicit financial flows out of the continent. He said the billions illegally taken out of Africa could be used to fund development. Zuma also called for tackling of money laundering and terrorist financing risk. Profit shifting, tax crimes and other related economic crimes require more attention, he said.

Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum said there is a deficiency of leadership across the world. He said Africa's old generation should be role models for the younger generation.

Schwab called for the people to follow Nelson Mandela's key values of respecting human dignity and diversity, serve the community people belong to and not one's self-interest and to act as a trustee for future generations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 04:26:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ANKARA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Turkey welcomed a consensus reached in Astana on Thursday to establish "de-escalation zones" in Syria, which covers all of Idlib Province and parts of Aleppo, Latakia and Homs.

"We welcome this memorandum which records the stopping of the use of all kinds of weapons including the air elements in the mentioned regions among the conflicting parties and the provision of the flow of urgent and uninterrupted humanitarian aid to the regions," a written statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The details and arrangements for the boundaries and functioning of the "de-escalation zones" will be set out in a working group established between the three guarantor countries of the Syrian cease-fire, said the ministry.

Turkey will effectively continue its efforts to contain current cease-fire regime, thereby improving the conditions on the ground for easing meaningful steps to take in the political solution process, and continue efforts to safeguard security and humanitarian needs of the Syrian civilians, read the statement.

On Thursday, Syrian regime's allies Russia and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey signed a memorandum in Astana on a Moscow-backed plan which sets up four "de-escalation zones" in northern, central and southern Syria in an attempt to contain a fragile truce. The deal bans use of weapons in these areas and allows humanitarian aid through these regions.

But a delegation from the Syrian opposition and the regime has not sealed the deal, while some members of the rebel delegation shouted in protest and walked out of the conference room.

The deal would solve 50 percent of the problem in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on Wednesday after flying back from a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

"A region centered in Idlib, a part of Aleppo near Idlib, the al-Rastan region in Homs, rural Damascus, rural Daraa and rural Quneitra are included in these zones," he said.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Erdogan in Sochi, Putin said Russian and Syrian government jets would halt flights over the specified "de-escalation zones" if all sides respect the cease-fire.

These zones would lead to "further pacification and cessation of hostilities," he added.

In the Astana talks, Russia presented a proposal for setting up four "de-escalation zones" in Syria where the warring sides would be separated by "security lines."

Syrian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Damascus was "fully backing" the proposal.

A cease-fire brokered by Turkey and Russia came into force on Dec. 30, 2016, and as guarantors of the deal, the two countries are responsible for monitoring violations and safeguarding the truce.

Since the beginning of 2017, both countries have been monitoring the cease-fire from centers in their capitals and Hmeymim air base in Syria. Russia recently deployed soldiers in northern Afrin Province to monitor the cease-fire deal.

In March, Russia, Turkey and Iran agreed to strengthen the tripartite mechanism for monitoring cease-fire violations in Syria.

In the same month, Moscow asked Ankara to deploy similar security forces in northern Syrian, which is largely under the control of Turkey-backed rebels, in order to monitor the truce, a Turkish official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 06:37:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BOGOTA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Colombian Minister for Post-conflict and Human Rights Rafael Pardo confirmed Thursday that a dissident faction of the FARC guerrilla will free a UN envoy kidnapped on Wednesday.

Arley Lopez from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was seized in a remote area of the southern province of Guaviare, where FARC dissidents operate.

The seizure of the UN official happened just before President Juan Manuel Santos received on Thursday a delegation from the UN Security Council, which expressed its support for the peace process.

"This official had come from a social meeting, In this area, we are aware that the FARC dissidents have a presence. They announced they would free him today," Pardo told local media.

Last November, President Santos and the FARC's top leader Rodrigo Londono signed a peace agreement that was approved by the Congress.

However, a number of FARC members have rejected the agreement and continued their struggle.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 06:52:55|Editor: xuxin

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UNITED NATIONS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday called upon all parties concerned to carry out a peace accord signed in December 2016 in an effective, swift and timely manner for "a peaceful transfer of power" in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 07:03:00|Editor: Xiang Bo

Staff workers check a C919, China's first domestically-built large passenger jet, at a hangar of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Shanghai, east China, May 4, 2017. The maiden flight of the C919 is scheduled for May 5. The flight will depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. "If weather conditions are not suitable, the maiden flight will be rescheduled," COMAC said. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. experts said Thursday China's new passenger planes pose no immediate threat to Western aviation companies such as Boeing and Airbus.

The maiden flight of China's C919 passenger plane, scheduled for Friday from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, represents one step towards the country's bid to reduce reliance on foreign airliners.

"The Chinese government is interested in establishing independence and self-sufficiency in all aspects of aviation," Douglas Royce, an aerospace expert at Forecast International, an aerospace market research firm, told Xinhua.

It is engaged in a long-term process of catching up to Europe, the United States, and Russia in commercial aircraft, he said, adding this is one step in that direction.

The 158-seat C919 is China's first large passenger jet and is expected to compete with the updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737.

So far, 23 foreign and domestic customers, including China's national carrier Air China and leasing company GE Capital Aviation Service, have placed orders for 570 aircrafts, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the manufacturer of the C919.

Royce predicted that demand for the C919 will be centered in the Chinese market and a few satellite markets in the early years of service.

"Airbus and Boeing have spent decades competing fiercely against each other and are lean and mean in the airliner market. The duopoly in the airliner sector has resulted in very well-made products," he explained.

"What COMAC faces here is not two bloated, non-competitive players. Both companies are at the top of their game," Royce said. "So it will be very difficult for COMAC to break into western markets, particularly when very few airlines have experience with using COMAC's aircraft in service."

In contrast, the A320 and 737 have huge advantages because the airlines already have built up a lot of knowledge and infrastructure around flying both types.

Richard Aboulafia, vice president at Teal Group Corp., a U.S.-based aeronautics analysis firm, held a similar view.

While building and flying a plane is an important step and an expensive one, the next steps such as customer support, finance, and the ability to offer aggressive discounts are "just as important, and just as expensive," he told Xinhua.

Even if the C919 ends up being a superior aircraft, it will still take years for many Western airlines to consider adding the type to their fleets, Royce noted.

But he added that the C919 might be able to get orders from startup airlines that aren't already flying either of the Western models. In addition, traditional customers of Russian passenger aircraft will also make viable sales targets.

To pave the way for the jet to enter foreign market, China has already been in talks with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to obtain the airworthiness certification for the C919.

"Getting FAA and EASA certification would be a huge win for the program," Royce said. "The aircraft requires Western certification to compete directly with Airbus and Boeing in major markets. On a symbolic level, it also shows huge progress for China's civil aircraft industry."

However, he cautioned that certification is "a long and expensive process" for aircraft manufacturers in the U.S. and that for a newcomer like COMAC, dealing with the FAA is "a new world for them."

Aboulafia said while certification is necessary, it "has no impact on commercial competitiveness."

Meanwhile, COMAC estimated that it can sell 2,000 C919s over the next 20 years, but Royce said it's "way too optimistic."

"An estimate of 600-800 C919s over 20 years once production starts is a more reasonable goal given the very strong competition offered by Boeing and Airbus, coupled with Chinese-made airliners' lack of a long-term operating and maintenance history," he said.

"A COMAC-built airliner has no track record in either area, and it will take a long time for the aircraft manufacturer to establish itself as the equal of Airbus and Boeing in the area of global sales and product support."

However, over the very long term, Royce said, COMAC is likely to become "a major player in the airline segment."

"It's not something that will happen over the next decade, but rather a long-term process that will require ongoing support from the Chinese government," he said.

When asked to comment on the C919, a spokesman for Boeing told Xinhua: "We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate COMAC for the successful development of the C919 airplane."
Xinhua| 2017-05-05 07:15:16|Editor: Tian Shaohui

An elephant with its calf is seen crossing the road to reach out to a nearby pond to satisfy their thirst in the scorching heat at Sri Lanka's Yala Wildlife National Park on May 4, 2017. (Xinhua/Huang Haimin)
A United AirlinesBoeing 787-9 plane prepares to take off at Xiaoshan Airport in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, July 15, 2016. United Airlines on Wednesday inaugurated a three-times-weekly nonstop service from the U.S. West Coast city San Francisco to the southeast Chinese city of Hangzhou. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. experts said Thursday China's new passenger planes pose no immediate threat to Western aviation companies such as Boeing and Airbus.

The maiden flight of China's C919 passenger plane, scheduled for Friday from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, represents one step towards the country's bid to reduce reliance on foreign airliners.

"The Chinese government is interested in establishing independence and self-sufficiency in all aspects of aviation," Douglas Royce, an aerospace expert at Forecast International, an aerospace market research firm, told Xinhua.

It is engaged in a long-term process of catching up to Europe, the United States, and Russia in commercial aircraft, he said, adding this is one step in that direction.

The 158-seat C919 is China's first large passenger jet and is expected to compete with the updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737.

So far, 23 foreign and domestic customers, including China's national carrier Air China and leasing company GE Capital Aviation Service, have placed orders for 570 aircrafts, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the manufacturer of the C919.

Royce predicted that demand for the C919 will be centered in the Chinese market and a few satellite markets in the early years of service.

"Airbus and Boeing have spent decades competing fiercely against each other and are lean and mean in the airliner market. The duopoly in the airliner sector has resulted in very well-made products," he explained.

"What COMAC faces here is not two bloated, non-competitive players. Both companies are at the top of their game," Royce said. "So it will be very difficult for COMAC to break into western markets, particularly when very few airlines have experience with using COMAC's aircraft in service."

In contrast, the A320 and 737 have huge advantages because the airlines already have built up a lot of knowledge and infrastructure around flying both types.

Richard Aboulafia, vice president at Teal Group Corp., a U.S.-based aeronautics analysis firm, held a similar view.

While building and flying a plane is an important step and an expensive one, the next steps such as customer support, finance, and the ability to offer aggressive discounts are "just as important, and just as expensive," he told Xinhua.

Even if the C919 ends up being a superior aircraft, it will still take years for many Western airlines to consider adding the type to their fleets, Royce noted.

But he added that the C919 might be able to get orders from startup airlines that aren't already flying either of the Western models. In addition, traditional customers of Russian passenger aircraft will also make viable sales targets.

To pave the way for the jet to enter foreign market, China has already been in talks with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to obtain the airworthiness certification for the C919.

"Getting FAA and EASA certification would be a huge win for the program," Royce said. "The aircraft requires Western certification to compete directly with Airbus and Boeing in major markets. On a symbolic level, it also shows huge progress for China's civil aircraft industry."

However, he cautioned that certification is "a long and expensive process" for aircraft manufacturers in the U.S. and that for a newcomer like COMAC, dealing with the FAA is "a new world for them."

Aboulafia said while certification is necessary, it "has no impact on commercial competitiveness."

Meanwhile, COMAC estimated that it can sell 2,000 C919s over the next 20 years, but Royce said it's "way too optimistic."

"An estimate of 600-800 C919s over 20 years once production starts is a more reasonable goal given the very strong competition offered by Boeing and Airbus, coupled with Chinese-made airliners' lack of a long-term operating and maintenance history," he said.

"A COMAC-built airliner has no track record in either area, and it will take a long time for the aircraft manufacturer to establish itself as the equal of Airbus and Boeing in the area of global sales and product support."

However, over the very long term, Royce said, COMAC is likely to become "a major player in the airline segment."

"It's not something that will happen over the next decade, but rather a long-term process that will require ongoing support from the Chinese government," he said.

When asked to comment on the C919, a spokesman for Boeing told Xinhua: "We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate COMAC for the successful development of the C919 airplane."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 07:28:00|Editor: xuxin

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SAN FRANCISCO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- An orchid fossil, trapped in Baltic amber that dates back some 45 million years to 55 million years ago, has been identified by researchers.

While the orchid family has some 28,000 species, more than double the number of bird species and quadruple the mammal species, the previous record for an orchid fossil found in Dominican amber is 20-30 million years old.

Orchids have their pollen in small sac-like structures called pollinia, which are attached by supports to viscidia, or adhesive pads, that can stick to the various body parts of pollinating insects, including bees, beetles, flies and gnats. The entire pollination unit is known as a pollinarium.

In a study published in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, researchers documented that a small female fungus gnat was carrying the pollinaria of an extinct species of orchid when it became trapped in amber near what is now the Baltic Sea in northern Europe. The pollinaria was attached to the base of the gnat's hind leg.

Amber preserves fossils so well, according to the researchers, that they could identify a droplet of congealed blood at the tip of the gnat's leg, which had been broken off shortly before it was entombed in amber.

"It wasn't until a few years ago that we even had evidence of ancient orchids because there wasn't anything preserved in the fossil record," said George Poinar, Jr., a professor emeritus of entomology in the College of Science at Oregon State University (OSU) and lead author on the study. "But now we're beginning to locate pollen evidence associated with insects trapped in amber, opening the door to some new discoveries."

Orchids, which use color, odor and the allure of nectar to draw in potential pollinating insects, will emit a scent that suggests to hungry insects the promise of food, but they will learn that the promise of nourishment was false after entering the flower.

Likewise, female gnats may pick up a mushroom-like odor from many orchids, which attracts them as a place to lay their eggs because the decaying fungal tissue is a source of future nutrition. However, it is a ruse. In frustration, they may go ahead and lay their eggs, dooming their offspring to a likely death from a lack of food.

Finally, attracted by the ersatz scent of female flies, male insects will attempt to copulate with a part of the orchid they think is a potential mate.

All three of these processes are based on deception, Poinar was quoted as saying by a news release from OSU on Thursday.

"Though the deception works in different ways, the bottom line is that the orchid is able to draw in pollinating insects, which unwittingly gather pollen that becomes attached to their legs and other body parts, and then pass it on to the next orchid flowers that lure them in."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 07:38:01|Editor: xuxin

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QUITO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Around 400 pregnant women have been contaminated by the Zika virus in Ecuador since April 2016, the Minister of Public Health, Veronica Espinoza, said Thursday.

In a press conference, the minister said that nine other cases had been found of vertical transmission from mother to fetus, and three of birth malformations linked to the virus.

Zika is a virus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also a carrier of dengue and chikungunya.

Only around 20 percent of infected adults will even show symptoms but it is dangerous for pregnant women as the virus can be transmitted from mother to fetus, or through sexual relations or blood transfusions, said Espinoza.

It can lead to babies being born with microcephaly or a range of other malformations.

Espinoza asked the population to strengthen their efforts to protect pregnant women from contracting the virus.

The Ministry has led a campaign against the mosquitoes across the country by spraying chemicals, destruction of areas in which mosquitos could lay eggs.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 07:38:02|Editor: xuxin

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MEXICO CITY, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A series of firefights in different parts of Mexico have left at least 15 people dead over the last two days, according to government reports on Thursday.

The first incident saw four soldiers and six suspected criminals perish in two attacks by a group stealing fuel against solders in the central state of Puebla.

In a statement Thursday, the federal government said that the attacks took place in the community of Palmarito, with 10 people killed, another ten soldiers and a criminal injured, as well as 14 suspected gang members arrested.

The Ministry of Defense said the first attack took place at 8:15 p.m. local time when soldiers arrived in Palmarito to investigate the reported fuel theft.

In the statement, the ministry said the gang opened fire on the soldiers and used women and children as human shields to avoid a counter-attack. Two soldiers died in this initial assault and another was injured.

The second incursion took place at 10 p.m. local time as soldiers patrolled the area. Gang members, travelling in vans, opened fire again, with two soldiers losing their lives.

Puebla's secretary of the interior, Diodoro Carrasco, later stated in a press conference that six criminals had also been killed in this attack.

While nine other soldiers and one criminal were injured in the fight, the army troops succeeded in capturing 14 of their attackers, including two minors.

After the attack, Carrasco said that 1,000 soldiers and police had been sent to the area as reinforcements.

On Thursday morning, residents of Palmarito blockaded the highway between the cities of Puebla and Orizaba to protest the operation, in which they alleged an innocent woman was killed.

To the north of the country, fights between criminal gangs in the city of Reynosa, in the state of Tamaulipas, killed five people, said the state government.

Tamaulipas' security spokesperson, Luis Alberto Rodriguez, explained the deaths happened in shootouts between armed gangs and federal forces.

Rodriguez revealed that the criminal groups were fighting to assert control over illicit activities, such as operating illegal gambling dens, stealing fuel and electricity, as well as people trafficking and drug smuggling.

There has been speculation in the local press that those responsible are two factions of the Gulf Cartel fighting for control since the group's leader Juan Manuel Loza, alias "El Comandante Toro", was killed on April 22.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 07:43:03|Editor: xuxin

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SAN FRANCISCO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have described 10 new CRISPR enzymes that, once activated, behave like Pac-Man in the classic video game to chew up ribonucleic acid (RNA), a nucleic acid present in all living cells.

The researchers, who published a paper Thursday in the journal Molecular Cell, believe their new findings could lead to sensitive detectors of infectious viruses.

CRISPR, short for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, are segments of prokaryotic DNA containing short, repetitive base sequences. It has been a contested research area in recent years, as it holds the promise to be a gene-editing tool.

The new CRISPR enzymes are variants of a CRISPR protein, Cas13a. Last September, the UC Berkeley researchers reported in Nature that once CRISPR-Cas13a binds to its target RNA, it begins to indiscriminately cut up all RNA, easily cutting RNA linked to a reporter molecule, making it fluoresce to allow signal detection.

Two teams of researchers at the Broad Institute later paired CRISPR-Cas13a with RNA amplification, and showed that the system could detect viral RNA at extremely low concentrations, detecting the presence of dengue and Zika viral RNA, for example.

Such a system could be used to detect any type of RNA, including RNA distinctive of cancer cells.

While the original Cas13a enzyme used by the UC Berkeley and Broad teams cuts RNA at one specific nucleic acid, uracil, according to the researchers, three of the new Cas13a variants cut RNA at adenine. This difference allows simultaneous detection of two different RNA molecules, such as from two different viruses.

RNA consists of four different nucleotides: adenine, cytosine, guanine and uracil.

"Think of binding between Cas13a and its RNA target as an on-off switch -- target binding turns on the enzyme to go be a Pac-Man in the cell, chewing up all RNA nearby," said first author Alexandra East-Seletsky, a UC Berkeley graduate student in the laboratory of Jennifer Doudna, one of the inventors of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool.

The CRISPR-Cas13a family is related to CRISPR-Cas9, which is revolutionizing biomedical research and treatment because of the ease of targeting it to unique DNA sequences to cut or edit. While the Cas9 protein cuts double-stranded DNA at specific sequences, the Cas13a protein latches onto specific RNA sequences, and not only cuts that specific RNA, but runs amok to cut and destroy all RNA present.

After publishing their September Nature paper, the UC Berkeley researchers searched databases of bacterial genomes and found 10 other Cas13a-like proteins, which they synthesized and studied to assess their ability to find and cut RNA. Of those, seven resembled the original Cas13a, while three differed in where they cut RNA.

Doudna, a professor of molecular biology, noted that detection of infectious RNA may or may not require amplification, which is a complicated step. "Our intention is to develop the Cas13a family of enzymes for point-of-care diagnostics that are robust and simple to deploy," she was quoted as saying in a news release.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 08:43:41|Editor: Liangyu

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MADRID, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Barcelona forward Neymar has been ordered to stand trial in a Spanish court over allegations of fraud and corruption.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell were also named as defendants over the Brazilian's 2013 transfer from Santos. Both clubs will also stand trial.

Prosecutors claim Barcelona, Santos and the Neymar family lied about the value of the transfer, announced at the time as 57.1 million euros, of which 17 million euros were paid o Santos.

Court documents allege that Santos in fact received 25 million euros, meaning that Brazilian marketing firm DIS, which held 40% of Neymar's transfer rights, were cheated out of 3.5 million euros.

The prosecution has called for five-year jail terms for Neymar and his parents, eight-year sentences for Rosell and Bartomeu and a 195 million-euro fine for Barcelona.

Thursday's announcement follows a raft of legal proceedings related to the transfer.

Last July, a Spanish judge quashed criminal action against Neymar and his family, saying the accusations were a matter for a civil court.

A month earlier, Barcelona agreed to pay a 5.5 million-euro fine to settle a separate case in which the club was accused of tax evasion over the transfer.

Neymar and his family are also being investigated in Brazil over alleged irregularities related to the deal.
Xinhuanet| 2017-05-05 08:58:01|Editor: MJ

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhuanet) --The Belt and Road Initiative highlights Chinas new outlook on cooperative development, said Zhang Yunling, director of the international studies department of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Zhang underscored this view during a recent press salon held by the China Journalists Association.

According to Zhang, the Belt and Road Initiative has not only struck a chord among participating countries, but also got high profile in meetings of UN and other international organizations.

The upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation aims to find bigger common ground on cooperation to achieve tangible fruits, Zhang said.

He noted that the Belt and Road Initiative is raised to build new economic development belt through land-sea connection.

It is different from traditional foreign investment, Zhang said, adding that the Initiative is proposed to improve the integrated investment environment and help address the development divergence domestically, regionally and globally.

It highlights Chinas new outlook on cooperative development, Zhang explained.

He stressed that cooperative development calls for joint contribution and shared benefits.

China will help boost the development of other nations and stimulate local economic growth with its own advantages and experience. In turn, Chinese enterprises will be able to gain from other countries prosperity.

Zhang acknowledged that the Belt and Road Initiative requires long-term efforts and the resolve to face difficulties and challenges. We should implement the less difficult, less risky projects first and unite people with common goals and interests, he added.

Theres a rising tide of anti-globalization and protectionism, which is a big test for the Initiative, as Zhang pointed out.

But it must be known that anti-globalization is an inevitable byproduct of globalization, offering an opportunity for the Belt and Road Initiative to lead globalization in the right direction, he concluded.

More than 90 journalists from 48 news organizations attended the press salon.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 08:58:45|Editor: xuxin

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CANBERRA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Australian airline and national flag carrier Qantas has edged out the Victorian state government and national public broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), to be named Australia's most attractive employer by employment firm Randstad.

In a statement released on Friday, Randstad announced that Qantas had beaten last year's winner, competitor Virgin Australia, and was most popular in two key age demographics for its "innovation with technology, financial health and strong reputation."

Randstad chief executive Frank Ribuot said his firm had analyzed Australia's 150 biggest employers to determine those which have the best conditions, scope for growth and financial stability.

He added that the aviation industry was the most popular among the almost 8,000 jobseekers polled for the fourth straight year.

"It's no surprise that the aviation industry continues to be named the most attractive sector year after year," Ribuot said on Friday.

"Aussies love to travel and working for an airline offers not only the opportunity to travel the world, but also financial compensation and real opportunities for career development."

According to Randstad, workers considered a fair work-life balance to be the most attractive part of potential employment, while long-term job security, scope for growth and a happy workplace not far behind.

Ribuot said some employers in Australia weren't offering "enough balance" between work and life.

"Unfortunately, employers aren't always offering enough balance, which creates a gap between what employees are seeking and what employers are actually offering," Ribuot said.

"Companies that are able to recognize and bridge the gap will be able to attract and retain the best talent."

Qantas edged out the Victorian government and the ABC for the honor, while Virgin Australia and engineering consultant GHD rounded out the top five.
SYDNEY, May 5 (Xinhua) -- One of Australia's most popular beer companies announced on Friday that their product will soon be sold into China.

Little Creatures products brewed in Geelong, 75 km southwest of Melbourne, will be exported into Asia in an attempt to harness the lucrative Chinese market.

In addition to exporting their beer, the company also intends to open a series of bars in major cities such as Shanghai.

The company has already opened a successful brew bar in Hong Kong.

Matt Tapper, a marketing spokesman for Little Creatures, said there are huge opportunities for the brand in China.

"We hope this deal... will accelerate Little Creatures growth to become one of the leading craft beer brands in China," Tapper told News Limited on Friday.

Little Creatures is owned by Lion, Australia's second biggest beer company, which is in turn owned by Japan's Kirin Company.

Chinese company DXCEL will act as distribution partner for Lion products in China.

Research published in 2015 found that more than 25 billion liters of beer were consumed in China every year, more than double the amount consumed in the U.S.

Little Creatures already has some market penetration in China, having launched a successful pop-up bar on Dagu Road in Shanghai in early 2017.

The brand also took part in Austrade's inaugural craft beer road show in March.

Little Creatures was named the brewery of the year at the Vintage Cellars Best Of Awards in April as well as winning the best craft beer for their Dog Days Summer Ale.

"It is a nice little pat on the back and recognition for our team and all the hard work they do day in and day out making the beers we love," Little Creatures brewer Russ Gosling said in April.

"When we found out we won, it was high fives all 'round and a well-earned pint at the end of the day." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 09:44:21|Editor: xuxin

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UNITED NATIONS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that he was encouraged by the signing of a new agreement on Syria, adding it will be crucial to improving the lives of Syrians.

The agreement was reached by guarantor countries Iran, Russia and Turkey to de-escalate violence in key areas in Syria, noted a statement issued here by UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"The secretary-general welcomes the commitments to ceasing the use of all weapons, particularly aerial assets; to rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access; and to creating conditions for the delivery of medical aid and meeting civilians' basic needs," the statement said. "The commitments made should not affect the rights of Syrians to seek and enjoy asylum."

On Thursday, Russia, Iran and Turkey signed a memorandum in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on the creation of four safe zones in war-torn Syria. The countries will outline the maps by June 4.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 10:34:33|Editor: Tian Shaohui

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SHIJIAZHUANG, May 5 (Xinhua) -- For villagers of Shoudong, grain is not just food, but the material used to make beautiful collages and mosaics, which in turn have brought prosperity to the formerly destitute village.

Shoudong, in north China's Hebei Province, was a nondescript village with nothing special to commend it. A typical poor village, most men worked in cities, leaving their wives, aging parents and children at home.

Now, by making these pictures from cereals and pulses, housewives bring in money by working at home while taking care of their family.

"I'm proud that the income from my pictures is enough for our household expenses. We have no need to ask for financial support from our husbands," said Shi Xianqiao, one of the artists.

Grain pictures are made by pasting various kinds of grains such as wheat, rice and beans, on a hard backboard.

The village of 180 households is now home to over 80 collage-makers. Not just housewives but some of the men have returned home, attracted by profits to be made from the emerging handicraft.

Monthly income for each artist is around 2,000 yuan (290 U.S. dollars), and that comes just from utilizing spare time after farming and looking after the family.

Collage making began in March 2014, when Zhang Haizeng, from the county seat of Guantao, came to teach the craft to the villagers.

Zhang, an art graduate, had been an advertising designer, a welder, a security guard, and taxi driver before gluing together his first picture with tree bark, cotton and green beans in 2008.

"I imagined that even if I earned only one yuan from each picture, I would soon be able to buy an apartment and a car," Zhang recalled wistfully. Unfortunately his pictures quickly rotted because the glue was not compatible with the grain.

He tried over 100 glues before finally finding the perfect solution. Then he realized that while he could make the pictures easily now, he had nowhere to sell them.

"In the following two years, I only sold one piece of my work, and that was to a friend," he said, adding that the picture made him 260 yuan.

In September 2009, an art exhibition in the county changed both his mind and his fate. "I had told my family to give up the idea of making these pictures, when suddenly a customer ordered eight pieces of my work at the exhibition," he said, smiling at the recollection.

As his business gradually developed, Zhang turned to his county government for land to establish a production base for his pictures.

Instead of the factory lot at the county seat that he had dreamed of, the government offered him three houses in the rural backwater of Shoudong, free of charge.

"It was a perfect opportunity for rural poverty alleviation," Xie Jijiong, Communist Party chief of Guantao County, said.

"Putting the factory in the village not only lowered land costs, but made labor recruitment easier," Xie remembered telling Zhang.

Zhang's site, covering 0.8 hectares now, makes around 5 million yuan every year. Competitors from other provinces have been attracted to the village, forming an industrial cluster.

Tourists are also drawn to the village, which is now full of cafes, inns and souvenir stalls.

Visitors, especially children, are helped to make their own pictures as DIY gifts for their friends and families.

With all this activity, villagers in Shoudong village made 15,000 yuan per capita in 2016, putting an end to their poverty, according to the village's Communist Party head Zhang Furen.

Seeing the profits in collages, Shi has set up her own studio and is planning to expand her business.

"I plan to invest around 500,000 yuan in a brand new workspace and office, leaving the current premises as a family inn," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 11:00:10|Editor: xuxin

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UNITED NATIONS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday he "is encouraged" by an agreement reached earlier in the day aimed at ending the violence in Syria and "it will be crucial to see this agreement actually improve the lives of Syrians."

Countries that act as guarantors of a truce in Syria -- Russia, Turkey and Iran -- on Thursday approved in Astana, Kazakhstan, a memorandum to set up four safe zones in Syria and will outline the maps by June 4.

"The secretary-general welcomes the commitments to ceasing the use of all weapons, particularly aerial assets; to rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access; and to creating conditions for the delivery of medical aid and meeting civilians' basic needs," said a statement issued here by UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"The commitments made should not affect the rights of Syrians to seek and enjoy asylum," it added.

The Syrian government supported the plan, but Syrian opposition announced it would not accept it, saying the pact threatens Syria's territorial integrity.

Russia and Iran have been backing Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey backs Syrian rebels. The six-year war in Syria has cost more than 320,000 lives.

"The UN will continue to support de-escalation within the framework of the Security Council resolutions on Syria," the statement said. "The UN has also been proactively supporting discussions in Astana regarding detainees and humanitarian demining."

Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, is in consultation with all concerned parties as he finalizes the date for the next round of the intra-Syrian talks, the statement said.

The intra-Syrian talks taking place in Geneva, held in parallel to the Astana talks, are seeking a political solution to the six-year conflict in the Middle East country.

The discussions are guided by UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015), focusing on matters of governance, a schedule and process to draft a new constitution and the holding of elections as the basis for a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned process to end the conflict.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 11:15:16|Editor: xuxin

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WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States was concerned about Iran's role as a guarantor of a new agreement to reduce violence in certain areas of Syria, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.

While the United States supports any effort to de-escalate the violence in Syria, the involvement of Iran as one of the guarantors of the Astana agreement reached on Thursday between Russia, Turkey, and Iran raised concerns, said the State Department in a statement.

There is no comment so far from the Iran side.

"We nonetheless hope that this arrangement can contribute to a de-escalation of violence, end the suffering of the Syrian people, and set the stage for a political settlement of the conflict," said the statement.

Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday signed a memorandum in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on the creation of four safe zones in war-torn Syria.

The aim is to "put an immediate end to the violence," "provide the conditions for the safe, voluntary return of refugees," and allow immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, the memorandum said.

In the statement, U.S. State Department called for the Syrian opposition to "live up to its commitments."

Russia and Iran have been backing Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey backs Syrian rebels. The six-year war in Syria has cost over 320,000 lives.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 11:25:19|Editor: xuxin

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by Will Koulouris

SYDNEY, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Australia remains one of the top 10 countries for university education, according to a report released on Friday, which assesses countries, and not individual institutions, as part of its process.

The annual Universitas 21 (U21) report lead author, Prof. Ross Williams of the University of Melbourne told Xinhua on Friday, as the report is a combination of official OECD (Office of Economic Cooperation and Development) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) data, it is far more effective in assessing the tertiary education systems in countries.

"The university systems should be wider than the elite research institutions, particularly for developing countries, and in those countries it is just as important that things like technical training, are encouraged," Williams said.

"The motivation is to get away from the distortions of ranking institutions."

There were some countries that have managed to show significant improvement in their rankings over the past six years, with Australia, Croatia and Denmark rising four places, and China edging five places higher.

The rankings are based on assessing 25 different measures across four key areas: resources, output, connectivity and environment, with Australia able to maintain high grades in the most of the key performance indicators.

Prof. Bairbre Redmond, the provost of U21, said "the rankings show further enhancement in the approach to data collection and analysis, allowing countries to benchmark performance over a range of attributes."

The rankings system, now in its sixth year, has Australia placed at number 10 in the world, both before and after results are adjusted to assess educational spending as a proportion of GDP, and Williams said Australia did very well, and remains a premier location for Chinese international students.

"Australia comes in at number ten, and if you think of particularly English speaking countries, it's up there, and certainly Australia has depth in its universities," Williams said.

"There has been significant improvement in Australian output and activity in the last five to six years, and there has been a strengthening in the middle tier universities, as well as the best ones continuing to perform."

The professor said he hopes there will be more globalization of universities, particularly in the field of collaboration, and identified this as an area that Australia could explore even further with China, boosting their already strong ties in the education sector.

Speaking on the overall results, Williams had a message for all countries as to how the best performers were able to achieve their high rankings.

"It is noticeable that in the countries where the higher education sector has shown the largest improvements in output over the six years of our ranking, government policy has been well thought out, congruent with national aims, and implemented on a consistent basis over an extended period of time."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 11:30:21|Editor: xuxin

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UNITED NATIONS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday "condemned in the strongest terms" an attack against a UN mission in Mali, which killed a Liberian peacekeeper and injured others.

The attack targeted a camp of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Timbuktu on Wednesday and it was claimed by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims), the UN Security Council said in a press statement.

"The members of the Security Council called on the government of Mali to swiftly investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice," the statement said. "They underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law."

The council members expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to the government of Liberia and to MINUSMA, the statement said. "They paid tribute to the peacekeepers who risk their lives."

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," and that "perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism" must be brought to justice, the statement said.

MINUSMA has become a frequent target of terrorist attacks in Mali and is known as the most dangerous active UN mission. It is tasked to support and monitor the implementation of a peace deal in Mali.

Mali has suffered instability for years and the country's peace process has been slow and fragile.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 11:30:22|Editor: xuxin

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ADEN, Yemen, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of pro-independence southern Yemenis rallied Thursday in Aden Province to protest the decision by President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to fire two high-ranking officials from the south.

The two sacked officials, Aden's Provincial Governor Aidarous Zubaidi and Southern State Minister Hani Bin Buraik, strongly support south secession and allegedly have strong ties with the United Arab Emirates, which Hadi accuses of training and equipping separatists in the south.

In response to Hadi's decisions announced on April 27, the pro-secession Southern Movement organized mass protests for five consecutive days in Aden and neighboring provinces.

Earlier Thursday, the sacked governor of Aden was declared leader of the country's southern regions during a mass demonstration held in the public square in Aden's neighborhood of KhorMaksar.

The southern leaders in Aden issued a political declaration that was widely supported and signed by several secessionist delegates from across the south.

The declaration received by Xinhua also announced the formation of a "political council" to represent the southern provinces and pursue southern independence.

Observers say that Thursday's declaration is a major blow to Hadi's government.

Hadi, who is currently in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, will face difficulties returning to Aden with the city under the control of the southern forces.

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 former President Ali Abdullah Saleh ousted the UN-backed transitional government and occupied the capital Sanaa militarily in September 2014.

The legitimate government controls the south and some eastern parts, while the Houthi-Saleh alliance controls the remaining areas including the capital Sanaa.

The UN has sponsored peace talks between the warring factions several times, but they failed to reach common ground.

The civil war, ground battles and airstrikes have already killed more than 10,000 people, half of them civilians. Such conflicts also injured more than 35,000 others and displaced over 2 million, according to humanitarian agencies.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 12:05:39|Editor: Xiang Bo

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SUVA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Ro Teimumu Kepa, the paramount chief of Fiji's Burebasaga Confederacy and Opposition leader, declared on Friday that the descendants of the Indentured Laborers belonged to the people of Noco and Rewa traditionally.

In a moving ceremony of acceptance on Friday, Kepa said these Indians of Fijian descent would be forever known with the indigenous identity of "Luvedra na Ratu" or (The children of the chief).

This was after the people of Noco presented the descendants of indentured laborers to Kepa as the paramount chief of Rewa.

Kepa unveiled a plaque to declare their acceptance and for the first time ever, the descendants of Indentured Laborers were bestowed a new indigenous Fijian identity.

While accepting the I Cavuti (traditional name), Kepa said this was the beginning of a new journey for her people.

Kepa said their acceptance was through principles accepted by the Fijian chiefs in 1838 and it was about loving one's neighbor, according to reports on Fijivillage news website.

Sashi Kiran, a representative of the descendants of Girimitiyas, said they finally had a feeling of belonging after the acceptance by the chiefs and the new indigenous identity they were given on Friday.

The district of Noco and the province of Rewa celebrated the birth of a new relationship on Rewa Day in 2016 through the traditional adoption of the descendants of indentured labourers into the Noco and Rewa family.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 12:25:35|Editor: Xiang Bo

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ISLAMABAD, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Officials in Pakistan's Balochistan province said on Friday that at least one civilian was killed and 17 others were injured in an "unprovoked firing" from the Afghan side.

It has been unclear that how the firing was started in the early morning and continued for hours. The shelling was in the Pakistani areas in Chamman, a border town, security officials told local media.

Those injured include two women and six children. All the injured were shifted to a hospital by ambulances of the Frontier Corps which guard the Pakistani border with Afghanistan.

The incident happened days after two high-level Pakistani delegations of officials visited Afghanistan for discussions on security issues, focusing on border management.

Pakistan insists on effective border security so as to check illegal movement of militants.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 13:06:14|Editor: Tian Shaohui

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HOHHOT, May 5 (Xinhua) -- It is early morning and Qi Xiaojing is driving her van to deliver vegetables freshly picked from her farm to the doors of residents in Ulanhot.

Qi, 34, a Mongolian and university graduate, manages her farm in Ping'an Village in Ulanhot city, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

She now has 27 hothouses and seven cold frames, covering 1.36 hectares.

"Vegetables and fruit can grow in cold frames in summer, and in hothouses every season, so I am able to produce them for the whole year," she says.

This May Day holiday, she held the second annual strawberry festival on her farm, drawing more than 5,000 people to pick strawberries, have local food and enjoy ethnic dance performances.

Last year, her farm had a net income of 160,000 yuan (23,200 U.S. dollars). With the financial support of the local government, she now has a new van and six delivery carts.

But it was not easy when she started her business in 2013, four years after graduating from Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology.

She borrowed about 10,000 yuan from relatives and was only able to rent one greenhouse, growing mushrooms at the beginning.

With her husband, Shan Chunpeng, she would finish picking mushrooms around midnight, and Shan would pack and deliver them around 2 a.m. with a second-hand truck that often broke down.

"He only slept three hours a day as he had another job at 6 a.m., as a construction worker," she says.

In 2014, she decided to grow melons, but they all died as a result of her rush to pick them.

"My relatives were no longer willing to lend me money, seeing my failure. Those were really tough days," she says.

In 2015, she came up with the idea of opening an online store via the social networking app WeChat, selling fruit and vegetables from her farm and other villagers.

"The villagers were growing good quality vegetables but did not have an effective channel to sell them, so I though that maybe I could help them," she says. "To my surprise, they sold really well in my online store."

So far, Qi has helped over 200 local households sell and deliver vegetables to customers in Ulanhot, as well as local range-free chickens to other cities in China, such as Beijing. Each family's income has increased by about 6,000 yuan a year on average.

"With Qi taking charge of delivery and sales, I no longer have to take a bus to the city and be a street vendor," says Xing Changqing, 54, a villagers who sells Qi cucumbers.

Guo Shihuai, the village's Communist Party chief, says that unlike local villagers who tend to be conservative and afraid of risks, university graduates like Qi are brave enough to try new things.

Growing up in a rural area, Qi's father expected her to stay in the city after graduation, but she insisted on returning to the countryside.

"There is a sense of achievement when I can share the benefits with the villagers. Sharing is important for an entrepreneur," she says.

With Qi taking the lead, 20 households in the village have started greenhouse planting businesses.

Qi visited several agricultural expos, and took training courses in Beijing last year, bringing more fresh ideas to her village.

She plans to open a delivery station in June, the first in Ulanhot, delivering fresh agricultural products.

"I hope that I will be able to understand market demand better to realize my dream of selling products from my farm and villagers to more cities in the country," she says.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 13:36:41|Editor: xuxin

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A civilian driver was killed and two troopers were wounded after militants attacked an army patrol in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said Friday.

The army personnel travelling in a private taxi came under heavy gunfire in Kiloora village of Shopian district, 56 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"An army patrol that was travelling in a private taxi was ambushed by militants in village Kiloora here late last evening," a police official posted in Shopian told Xinhua. "In the firing, the driver of vehicle and two troopers were wounded. However, the civilian driver succumbed to his wounds soon after."

Doctors at Shopian district hospital who attended wounded troopers said they were out of danger, however a local medical facility where the driver was rushed declared him brought dead on arrival.

Reports said the troopers were wearing bullet-proof jackets and helmets, while as the civilian driver was without any protective gear.

The slain driver has been identified as Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, a local resident.

Locals alleged army often uses private vehicles to carry out patrols in the villages.

The attack came immediately after government forces ended an intense search operation looking for militants in around two dozen villages of the district. The government forces comprising several companies of army, paramilitary and police carried out house-to-house searches. It also pressed into service military helicopters to carry out combing operation in orchards.

The massive hunt was carried out in the wake of a deadly attack on policemen, incidents of weapon snatching and a series of bank robberies.

Last week, videos released on the social networking sites showed groups of militants wearing combat fatigues marching inside orchards. Authorities suspect the video was shot in Shopian.

On Tuesday night, suspected militants stormed a police post guarding court complex in Shopian district and snatched five service rifles belonging to policemen deployed there.

Prior to that, militants killed five policemen and two security guards of bank after attacking a cash carrying vehicle belonging to Jammu and Kashmir Bank in adjacent Kulgam district.

A separatist movement and guerilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 13:41:47|Editor: xuxin

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WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Thursday urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to step up economic and diplomatic pressure on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said a senior U.S. official.

In his first meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers, Tillerson urged his counterparts to make efforts to deny the revenue streams that the DPRK has enjoyed around the region and to minimize diplomatic relations with the DPRK, according to Patrick Murphy, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for Southeast Asia.

"The discussion was very robust," Murphy told reporters. "I think on this issue a considerable common ground was identified."

According to Murphy, the United States was encouraging "continued and further steps across all of ASEAN."

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Tension has remained very high on the Korean Peninsula over the past two months between the United States and the DPRK over the U.S. threat to stage military attacks against Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile programs.

The United States and South Korea also held their largest ever joint military exercises in the past two months. Last week, the USS Carl Vinson nuclear aircraft carrier task group arrived in the waters off the peninsula for a separate joint naval exercise with South Korea.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 14:01:40|Editor: xuxin

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NEW DELHI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed and 28 others injured, some of them critically, on Friday after a mini-truck carrying them fell into a canal in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

The accident took place near Saray Neem area in Etah district, 265 km west of Lucknow city, the capital of Uttar Pradesh.

Police said the victims were returning from a marriage party.

"Early this morning, 14 people were killed and nearly 28 injured in a road accident here," a senior police official posted in Etah told Xinhua. "This fatal incident happened when a mini-truck full of passengers turned turtle and fell into a canal."

Media reports said locals immediately informed the police and rescue teams rushed to the spot to take the injured to the nearby hospital.

According to police, 20 injured persons have been admitted in SN hospital Agra.

The bodies have been sent for postmortem, officials said.

The cause of the accident was being ascertained, however, preliminary investigations by police suggest negligent driving as the reason behind the mishap.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 14:27:03|Editor: Liu

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WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday played down the strained ties between him and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the past and praised a "tremendous friendship" between the two countries.

"We had a good telephone call," said Trump after his first meeting with Turnbull in New York on the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Intrepid to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, referring to a reported acrimonious phone call back in January.

Later during a gala dinner, Trump acknowledged that the phone call was "a little bit testy."

"They said we had a rough phone call. We didn't really have a rough phone call," said Trump.

Trump spoke by phone with Turnbull shortly after taking office in January. However, the exchange soon reportedly went sour after Turnbull expressed expectation that Trump would honor an Obama-era deal with Australia to help resettle up to 1,250 refugees from Africa, the Middle East and Asia, who are housed in immigration camps on the Pacific island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

The phone call, supposed to last for one hour, ended after 25 minutes and Trump told Turnbull that "this was the worst call by far," reports said.

After the call, Trump tweeted that the refugee resettlement deal was a "dumb deal."

However, during a trip to Australia in April, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said that the United States would "honor" the refugee deal.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 14:47:32|Editor: Tian Shaohui

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LOS ANGELES, May 4, (Xinhua) -- Delta Airlines released a statement on Thursday apologizing for forcing a family of four, including two children, off a plane while they refused to give up their 2-year-old son's seat.

Brian Schear of Huntington Beach, California, posted an eight-minute video online on Youtube Wednesday, saying his family was forced to leave the plane when they turned down a Delta staff's request to offer their son's seat to another passenger.

In the video, the staff also threatened to pause the flight and to send the parents to jail if they did not cooperate.

"We're sorry for what this family experienced. Our team has reached out and will be talking with them to better understand what happened and come to a resolution." said Betsy Talton, the Delta spokeswoman in the statement.

Talton also denied that the plane was "overbooked", as reported in earlier reports.

The video has sparked outrage on social media and has received over 890,000 views by Thursday afternoon.

The incident added Delta to the list of recent encounters on airlines that has gone viral, including the forceful removal of a 69-year-old passenger from a United Airlines flight plane to make room for crew members last month.

Congress held two hearings this week on airline customer service, with executives from United Airlines, American Airlines, Southeast Airlines and Alaska Airlines present. Delta was notably absent.
KABUL, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Twelve militants were killed and 23 others wounded in an accidental blast in Afghanistan's eastern province of Ghazni, the country's Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"Militants were busy in building Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and landmines in a compound in Ab Band district, Ghani province. As a result of a mine explosion in the building, 12 militants had been killed and 23 others wounded," the ministry said in a statement without providing details.

Among the casualties were several bomb-making experts and foreign militants, it said.

The Taliban militant group uses IEDs to target security forces but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians, according to military officials.

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.

Out of casualties, 86 civilians were killed and 132 others wounded in IED attacks across the country over the period.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 16:08:20|Editor: MJ

Pakistani paramedics give treatment to an injured man at a hospital following cross-border firing, in southwest Pakistan's Quetta, on May 5, 2017. Pakistan army said on Friday that border with Afghanistan in Chaman area has been closed after three Pakistanis were killed by "unprovoked" firing from the Afghan side, while 18 others were injured. (Xinhua/Asad)

ISLAMABAD, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan army said on Friday that border with Afghanistan in Chaman area has been closed after three Pakistanis were killed by "unprovoked" firing from the Afghan side, while 18 others were injured.

The army spokesman said the Afghan Border Police "opened fire" on the Pakistani border forces Frontier Corps (FC) in charge of security of a population census team in southwestern Balochistan Province.

A senior health official in the province, Akhtar, said death toll from the cross-border firing reached three, and a woman is among the dead.

Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor had said earlier in a statement that one civilian was killed and 18 individuals, including four FC soldiers were injured.

He said Pakistan closed the Chaman border, one of the major crossing points with Afghanistan. Locals said hundreds of trucks with transit goods were stuck up on both sides of the border.

The Pakistani spokesman said that Afghan Border Police had been "creating hurdles" in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area, on Pakistani side of the border.

Earlier Pakistani media quoted local forces as saying that the injured include two women and six children. The injured were shifted to a hospital by ambulances of FC. TV footage showed inured were being treated at a local hospital.

The incident happened days after two high level Pakistani delegation of army and intelligence officials visited Afghanistan this week for discussions on security issues, focusing on border management.

Pakistan insists for effective border security to check illegal movement for militants.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 16:13:40|Editor: MJ

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MANILA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 900 people are killed each day in road crashes in the Western Pacific region, with speeding being a major factor in up to half of fatal crashes in most low-and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

The Manila-based WHO Western Pacific Region Headquarters said in a statement that approximately 337,000 people are killed each year as a result of road traffic crashes in the region, which includes 37 countries and areas in East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

"69 percent of those dying on the region's roads are vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Millions more suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring lifelong disability as a result of their injury,"the statement read.

WHO said road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to victims, their families and to nations, adding "these losses arise from the coast of treatment, including rehabilitation and incident investigation, as well as reduced or lost productivity for those killed or disabled by their injuries, and for family members who need to take time off work or school to care for the injured."

"Road traffic injuries cost some low-and middle-income countries as much as 5 percent of their gross national product," WHO said, noting the risk of dying from road traffic injuries is 2.5 times higher in low- and middle-income countries compared to high-income countries.

Injuries create a spiral of poverty, WHO said, adding they can leave people unable to work or care for themselves, draining family budgets and hopes for prosperity.

And one of the simplest ways to avoid road traffic crashes and the millions of deaths and injuries they cause is to slow down, WHO said, adding other preventive measures include avoiding drinking alcohol before driving, and wearing motorcycle helmets.

Increasingly crowded roadways make it even more imperative for people to slow down, WHO said, noting that the faster you drive, the higher the risk of a crash and the more severe the injuries that may occur.

Citing studies, WHO said reducing average traveling speeds by just 5 percent could reduce fatal road crashes by 30 percent.

"If every vehicle on every road slows down even a little, there could be fewer crashes - and certainly fewer serious injuries and deaths," said Shin Young-soo, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific.

WHO stressed the importance of raising awareness on the dangers of speeding. Every two years, WHO organizes United Nations Global Road Safety Week to reflect on the magnitude of road traffic injuries and the urgent need to scale up action to prevent road crashes.

The theme for 2017 U.N. Global Road Safety Week, to be held from May 8-14 in Sydney, Australia, is managing to keep roads safe for pedestrians and other road users.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 16:28:50|Editor: An

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will convene in Beijing from May 14 to 15, with the aim of strengthening partnership on the Belt and Road Initiative and advancing international cooperation for development.

More than three years after being proposed in 2013, the initiative, which envisions a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, has borne rich fruit. Here are highlights of the early successes achieved under the initiative:

INVESTMENT & TRADE

-- Since 2013, China has invested more than 50 billion U.S. dollars in countries along the Belt and Road. In 2016 alone, direct investment reached 14.5 billion dollars, or 8.5 percent of China's total outbound investment.

-- China signed 126 billion dollars worth of new contracts for projects in countries along the Belt and Road in 2016, up 36 percent year on year.

-- China's trade with countries along the Belt and Road rose 0.5 percent year on year to 6.25 trillion yuan (906.3 billion dollars) in 2016, compared with a 0.9-percent decline in the country's overall foreign trade.

CAPACITY COOPERATION

-- As of the end of 2016, Chinese businesses had built 56 economic and trade cooperation zones in more than 20 countries along the Belt and Road, with the total investment exceeding 18.5 billion dollars, generating nearly 1.1 billion dollars in tax revenue and creating nearly 180,000 local jobs.

-- China has industrial capacity cooperation systems with nearly 20 countries. Notably, China and Kazakhstan have signed 51 major cooperation projects worth 27 billion dollars.

CONNECTIVITY PROGRESS

-- China has signed more than 130 bilateral and regional transport agreements with countries involved in the Belt and Road to improve connectivity.

-- China-Europe express freight trains have covered 28 cities in 11 European countries since being launched in 2011. More than 3,500 trips have been made so far, and the figure is planned to rise to 5,000 a year by 2020.

-- The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, one of the six economic corridors envisaged by the Belt and Road Initiative, has seen rapid progress, with major highway, railway and port projects under way.

-- Construction has started or neared completion on other large transport infrastructure projects along the Belt and Road, including the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway in Indonesia and the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Kenya.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

-- China has contributed 40 billion dollars to set up a Silk Road Fund to finance Belt and Road projects. The fund has launched its first round of investment, with 5.3 billion dollars already allocated.

-- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was established in 2015 to fund infrastructure improvement in Asia, with an authorized capital of 100 billion U.S. dollars. The multilateral development bank's total lending exceeds 2 billion dollars so far.

CONSENSUS BUILDING

-- Over 100 countries and international organizations have responded warmly to the Belt and Road Initiative, with more than 40 signing a total of over 50 agreements of cooperation with China.

-- Many countries and regions along the Belt and Road have considered integrating the initiative with their own development programs, including Mongolia's Prairie Road, Kazakhstan's Nurly Zhol (Bright Path), the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union and the EU's Junker Investment Plan.

-- The United Nations General Assembly and the UN Security Council have incorporated the initiative into their resolutions.

CULTURAL EXCHANGES

-- As of the end of 2016, China had signed more than 300 inter-governmental agreements and implementation programs on cultural exchanges and cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road. Altogether 11 Chinese cultural centers had been established in these countries.

-- China has set up an official Silk Road scholarship and held cultural events and art festivals with Belt and Road countries.

-- The ancient Silk Road was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2014, and a joint application has started for the inclusion of the Maritime Silk Road.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 16:33:39|Editor: An

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HANOI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam imported nearly 93.7 million U.S. dollars worth of materials and accessories used for pharmaceutical production in the first quarter of this year, with roughly 59 percent of the money spent on importing Chinese items.

Vietnam spent over 55 million U.S. dollars importing medicinal materials and accessories from China in the three-month period, gaining a year-on-year rise of 9.5 percent, the Industry and Trade Information Center under the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade told Xinhua on Friday.

Meanwhile, Vietnam poured 18.9 million dollars into importing medicinal materials and accessories from India, up 58.3 percent, and 3.5 million dollars from Spain, up 234.3 percent.

The country spent 2.5 billion dollars importing materials and accessories, mainly from China, India, Britain, Switzerland and Spain, to produce pharmaceuticals and functional foods last year, according to statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Vietnam has over 5,000 species of medicinal plants, but only 90 species are grown on a large scale with annual output of some 100,000 tons, according to its Drug Administration Department.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 16:38:58|Editor: Lu Hui

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China's homegrown large passenger plane C919 takes off on its maiden flight in Shanghai, east China, May 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- China's homegrown large passenger plane, the C919, took to the skies on Friday in the eastern city of Shanghai, marking a great improvement of China's innovative capability and high technology in aviation and aerospace industry.

Departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at around 2 pm (0700GMT) with five crew members on board but no passengers, the twin-engine plane signals the country's entry into the global aviation market as a strong competitor.

CHINA'S EFFORTS IN AVIATION

Within only 10 days, China has successively launched its first home-made aircraft carrier and large passenger plane, showing its determination to implement "Made in China 2025," a plan to transform China from a manufacturing giant into a world manufacturing power.

Douglas Royce, an aerospace expert at Forecast International, an aerospace market research firm, told Xinhua that "the Chinese government is interested in establishing independence and self-sufficiency in all aspects of aviation, so it is as much a national project as it is a commercial venture."

In 2007, plans to develop a Chinese-built large passenger jet were approved by the State Council. In November 2015, the first C919 jet rolled off the assembly line.

The "C" in the aircraft's name stands for both China and COMAC, while 9 symbolizes "forever" in Chinese culture, and 19 represents the 190 seats at maximum capacity.

With a standard range of 4,075 kilometers, the narrow-body jet is comparable with updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737.

Royce believed that "the Chinese government is engaged in a long-term process of catching up to Europe, the United States, and Russia in commercial aircraft. This is one step in that direction."

Michel Merluzeau, director of AirInsightResearch, an aerospace & defence market analysis and consulting group, based in Seattle, told Xinhua that he was impressed by the role of the Chinese government and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the manufacturer of the C919, to accelerate innovation and implement innovative programs.

ACCESSING TO INT'L MARKET

So far, 23 foreign and domestic customers, including China's national carrier Air China and leasing company GE Capital Aviation Service, have placed orders for 570 aircraft, according to COMAC.

Merluzeau anticipated that by the mid-2030s, COMAC is going to become an important partner to the global aerospace supply chains, owing to the growth of supply chains in China proper and partnership and the importance of market. "It cannot be ignored," he said.

However, "at least in the early years of service, demand will be centered in the Chinese market and a few satellite markets," Royce commented on C919's competitiveness with Airbus and Boeing, which are competitive rivals for China's jet and have spent decades competing fiercely against each other.

In Merluzeau's view, Western certification is a major challenge facing the Chinese passenger jet now. Getting European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification would be a huge win for the program as it carries different weight comparing with China's certification recognition.

"If achieved, I think it will greatly enhance the accessible market of C919," he said.

Royce anticipated that the COMAC is likely to become a major player in the airline segment over a very long term.

"It's not something that will happen over the next decade, but rather is a long-term process that will require ongoing support from the Chinese government," he said. Enditem

Xinhua correspondents Ma Dan in San Francisco, and Lin Xiaochun in Washington contributed to the story.
HO CHI MINH CITY, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A 195-km expressway linking Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia's Phnom Penh will be constructed with investment of some 650 million U.S. dollars, a Vietnamese transport department said Friday.

The expressway will include a 65-km section stretching from Ho Chi Minh City to Moc Bai international border gate in southern Tay Ninh province, and a 130-km section from Cambodia's Bavet city, Svay Rieng province to Phnom Penh, said the International Cooperation Department under the Transport Ministry.

The expressway will have six lanes, allow vehicles to run at a maximum speed of 120 km per hour, and help reduce loads for the national road No. 22 which is now the only way linking Ho Chi Minh City with Moc Bai.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 17:03:40|Editor: An

Villagers in Dingshanhe Village participate in a folk culture event to celebrate the upcoming "lixia", the beginning of summer, the 7th term of China's "24 Solar Terms", in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 4, 2017. This year's the beginning of summer fell on May 5. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 17:14:08|Editor: MJ

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by Yan Liang, Abdul Meguid

SUEZ CANAL, Egypt, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Seen from the deck of Merchant Vessel (M.V.) COSCO Netherlands, a splendid landscape across the Suez Canal unfolds, with some green tropical plants flourishing against the yellow deserts under the blue sky.

M.V. COSCO Netherlands, a subsidiary of China COSCO Shipping Corp., arrived at its designated anchorage at the Suez Canal late Thursday night, after 10 days of sailing across the Indian Ocean from Singapore. It's now waiting to cross the 194-km-long Egyptian waterway.

Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by China in 2013, the Suez Canal has witnessed not only an increasing trade between China and the world, but also an ever-lasting friendship between China and Middle East countries.

A GREAT WATERWAY LINKING THE WORLD

It takes about 12 hours for M.V. COSCO Netherlands to cross the Suez Canal which connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, before it continues its journey to Europe.

Zheng Minghua, the 60-year-old commissar of M.V. COSCO Netherlands, told Xinhua: "We have to wait for the inspection from the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) to cross the canal. It depends on the classification of the ship's cargo."

The Suez Canal is frequently used by modern vessels like M.V. COSCO Netherlands. Tolls paid by the vessels constitute an important source of income for the Egyptian government.

Head of the SCA Economic Unit Sayyid Aboul-Fotouh told Xinhua: "The Chinese containers passing through the Suez Canal represent over 25 percent of all containers trade across the canal, which is extremely important to the Suez Canal."

A DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WORLD

The Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at building trade, investment and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, along the ancient trade routes.

The initiative is very important to Egypt and it will play an important role in activating world trade, said Aboul-Fotouh.

According to statistics released by the SCA, a total of 1,524 ships passed through the Suez Canal in March 2017, with an average of 49.2 ships daily, increasing three ships daily from 2016.

In history, the ancient Silk Road witnessed frequent trade and cultural exchanges between the Arab world and China. That partly explains why the Middle East countries are now eager to cooperate with China after the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed.

Mustafa Ibrahim, a 60-year-old small-business owner in Cairo, said the initiative is very important and timely against the backdrop of a sluggish world economy.

"As a businessman, I hope there will be more political stability in the region to push the initiative forward."

Egypt highly values its strategic partnership with China, and Egypt is willing to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative actively, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said last month.

Chinese companies are welcome to invest in Egypt, he added.

According to Aboul-Fotouh, the Belt and Road Initiative carries great significance for all participating countries, as it aims at infrastructure development, especially in the fields of transportation and communication.

The initiative is expected to increase world trade and enhance cooperation between different participants, he concluded.
ABUJA, Nigeria, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A total of 28 people have been infected with a strange disease ravaging Liberia's southeastern county of Sinoe, Liberian health authorities have confirmed.

Liberia's chief medical officer Francis Kateh said Thursday that seven additional cases of the strange disease were reported in the Sinoe County capital of Greenville, bring the total to 28. At least 13 people have died.

Laboratory tests have proved the disease to be neither Ebola nor Lassa fever.

Locals said victims suffered severe stomach pain before death. Most of the deaths occurred in Greenville.

Kateh said some of the sick persons were now responding to treatment.

Two pathologists are expected to arrive in Liberia on Friday to conduct autopsies to find clues of the disease, he added.

The first case of the unknown disease was reported in Greenville last week and now it has been found in Monrovia. An investigation was under way to ascertain the origin of the disease.

The Liberian Health Ministry said it had launched a massive search for all 60 people who attended a funeral in Greenville and was ready to quarantine them. It is suspected that the disease originated from that funeral.

The government has already put in place the necessary mechanisms and measures to contain any outbreak of infectious diseases, a Health Ministry spokesman has said.

About 4,500 people died in Liberia alone in 2014 when the Ebola outbreak ravaged some countries in West Africa.
RABAT, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's government has approved 51 investments projects worth 6.7 billion U.S. dollars, the prime minister office said in a statement late on Thursday.

The projects will create 6,477 direct jobs, the statement said following a meeting of the Inter-ministerial Investment Commission under the chairmanship of Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani.

The breakdown of investments by sector shows a strong predominance of the energy sector with 4.3 billion dollars, representing nearly two thirds of the total investments submitted to the committee, which are expected to create some 4,803 jobs.

Tourism and leisure activities hold the second position with nearly 13 percent of the planned investments, while transport sector ranks third with 8 percent of said investments.

As for financing, 90 percent of the investments projects are funded by Moroccan investors, and the rest is by partnership between local and international partners.
ANKARA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained 12 Islamic-State-linked suspects in operations conducted in Turkey's southern Adana province early Friday, local media reported.

Police carried out simultaneous operations in nine different addresses according to intelligence information. They conducted an extensive search at the targeted houses and surroundings.

The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that two of the 12 suspects are Iraqi nationals, five Syrian nationals and five Turkish.

The suspects were brought to the police headquarters after routine health check.

Police are reportedly searching for three other absconding suspects.
ADDIS ABABA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The number of Ethiopians who are in need of emergency humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing drought has surpassed 7.7 million, an Ethiopian government official told Xinhua on Friday.

The Ethiopian government and its humanitarian partners in January officially launched the Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD) for 2017, looking for 948 million U.S. dollars to reach out 5.6 million people with emergency food and non-food assistance.

Debebe Zewdie, public relations head of the Ethiopian National Disaster Risk Management Commission, said the number of Ethiopians who needs emergency humanitarian assistance has now increased to over 7.7 million.

Zewdie further asserted that more than 740 million dollars is currently needed to address the humanitarian requirements of citizens who are enduring difficult situations as a result of the drought that hits the southern and southeastern part of the East African country.

According to Zewdie, the increase is attributed to the negative weather conditions experienced in some parts of the country that failed main harvesting season.

Areas that experience the negative weather conditions together with severe water shortage are in Ethiopia's three dominant regions, namely Oromiya, Amhara, and SNNP regions, according to Zewdie.

Mitiku Kassa, commissioner of the National Disaster Risk Management Commission, previously told Xinhua that despite efforts made by the Ethiopian government in tackling the impacts of the existing drought, "the response from the global community is so slow."

The 2017 Humanitarian Requirements Document presents prioritized plans in water and sanitation (WASH), agriculture, relief food, nutrition, health, education, protection, and shelter and non-food items in the affected areas.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 17:59:52|Editor: An

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NEW DELHI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- India's Supreme Court Friday confirmed the death sentence given to four men convicted of the brutal and fatal gangrape of a 23-year-old medical student on a moving bus in Delhi in 2012.

The case has triggered nationwide protests and led to stringent anti-rape laws.

The four men - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh - were found guilty in the case by a special court in September 2013. The death sentence of the four men was upheld by the Delhi High Court in March 2014, following which they had appealed in the Supreme Court.

Three years on, confirming the death penalty of the four men, a three-judge bench of the apex court said: "Taking note of the serious injuries, the severe nature of offense committed by the convicts, we are upholding the sentence."
ADDIS ABABA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopians on Friday marked the 76th anniversary of Patriots' Victory Day with a call for the young to get inspired by the fight against the Italian colonizers and engage in new battles against poverty.

Patriots' Victory Day is celebrated annually in the East African country to remember the victory against the Italian colonizers in the 1930s. The war, referred as the second Italy-Ethiopian war, ended in May 1936 with victory on the side of allied Ethiopian forces. Ethiopia was, by the time, the only sovereign African nation.

According to Lij Daniel Jote, President of Ethiopian Patriots Association, the young generation needs to be motivated by the patriots' commitment and the sacrifice they made for the independence of the country.

"The victory of Ethiopian patriots over fascist Italy forces is an inspiration for the young generation and taught a lesson for the need to engage in activities that will contribute towards nation building," he said.

The day commemorates the sacrifice made by Ethiopian patriots as a model for the country's current generation to repeat similar victory over poverty, he added.

Solomon Tadesse, a young Ethiopian who takes part at the commemorative ceremony held in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, told Xinhua that celebrating the day is a manifestation for the country's younger generation to work in harmony in the fight against poverty.

"Our fathers have worked hard and defended our country from colonial invasion," he said, adding that "Our current enemy is in poverty and we, the younger generation, have to keep our promises in the fight against poverty towards building a developed nation."
RABAT, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Some 2.1 million tourists visited Morocco in the first quarter of 2017, representing a 7.9 increase year on year, according to data published by Morocco's official Tourism Observatory on Friday.

The data show a record hike in Asian visitors to the North African kingdom. Chinese, South Korean, Japanese tourist arrivals increased by 784 percent, 63 percent increase, and 62 percent respectively. The number of Russian visitors was also up by 79 percent.

During the same period, Morocco welcomed more tourists from its traditional European market. Visitors from Germany and France increased by six percent, while arrivals from United Kingdom and the Netherlands increased by five percent.

A total of 10.3 million tourists visited Morocco in 2016, representing an increase of 1.5 percent compared to 2015.

Morocco expects tourist arrivals to grow by 6 percent in 2017.

Tourism is one of the main economic drivers in Morocco as it employs over 500,000 people, nearly five percent of the country's total jobs, and makes up 6.7 percent of Morocco's GDP.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 18:30:07|Editor: An

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang will pay a state visit to China from May 11 to 15 and attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Friday morning.

Chinese leaders will hold talks and meet with Quang during his visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing Friday afternoon.

According to Geng, both sides will exchange views on consolidating good neighborly and friendly ties and deepening pragmatic cooperation.

China-Vietnam ties have good growth momentum with frequent high-level exchanges, more economic and trade cooperation, as well as increasing cultural exchanges, Geng said.

China is willing to make joint efforts with Vietnam to push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, he added.
PYONGYANG, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Friday that it had foiled an attempt by U.S. and South Korean spy agencies to assassinate the country's top leader Kim Jong Un, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

According to the report, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States and South Korea's Intelligence Service (IS) attempted to murder DPRK's Kim last month with bio-chemical and radio-active substances.

The Ministry of State Security of the DPRK said in a statement that CIA recruited a DPRK citizen in Russia's Far East in 2014 and trained him to stage the assassination against Kim when he was making public appearances on April 15 during celebrations of the 105th birthday of DPRK founding leader Kim Il Sung.

The KCNA said the spy, surnamed Kim and a resident of Pyongyang, was given equipment, money and instruction to carry out the plot.
Somali refugee Amina Ali feeds her kid beside her makeshift tent at the Dagahaley refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya, on April 14, 2015. (Xinhua/Stephen Ingati)

MOGADISHU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- About 620,000 Somalis have been displaced from their homes since November 2016 due to severe drought ravaging parts of the Horn of Africa nation, the UN humanitarian agency has said.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Thursday about 7,000 people have crossed into neighboring Ethiopia and Kenya as the threat of famine once again looms large over Somalia.

"Drought-related displacements to urban centers have slowed down land preparation activities ahead of the rainy season in agropastoral areas of Bay, Bakool, Hiraan, Gedo, Middle Juba and riverine areas of Shabelle," OCHA said in its latest Humanitarian Bulletin.

In drought affected areas in northern and central regions, rural pastoralists have resorted to expensive livestock supplementary feeding, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)-managed Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit.

It said humanitarian partners have massively scaled up famine prevention response in the first quarter of 2017 and reached millions of people with life-saving food, water, nutritional and health services.

Somalia is in the midst of a drought after rains failed in November 2016, for a third year in the row. About 615,000 people looking for food and water have been displaced since then.

Humanitarians in Somalia are seeking an overall 825 million U.S. dollars to reach the most vulnerable with life-saving assistance until June.

According to the UN, donors have been quick with their contributions for a scale-up of response and over 600 million dollars has been made available or pledged for humanitarian response since January.

"This has enabled operational agencies to rapidly reach millions of Somalis with safe water, food and medical assistance. Cash and vouchers are safeguarding more than 1.5 million of the 3 million most vulnerable people in emergency and crisis phases," it said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 19:10:33|Editor: An

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has sent a letter to the China Vocational Education Association (CVEA) to offer congratulations on the 100th anniversary of its founding.

In the letter published Friday, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, praised the association's historical contributions and called on the organization to promote development of the country's vocational education.

The president also told the association to work with domestic and overseas vocational education workers to strengthen exchanges and better serve society.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 19:10:38|Editor: An

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GUIYANG, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Li Chengyun, former vice governor of southwest China's Sichuan Province, stood trial Friday on charges of taking bribes.

The people's procuratorate of Liupanshui City in southwest China's Guizhou Province alleged that Li took advantage of his posts in Sichuan between 2001 and 2012 to assist entities and individuals in commercial bids and real estate development.

Prosecutors said Li accepted bribes worth 6.36 million yuan (about 920,000 U.S. dollars) directly or through his wife.

Li made a statement to the court in which he pled guilty and expressed remorse.

The court has adjourned to decide on sentencing.
A local resident looks at a damaged wardrobe destroyed by floods in Sipepa village in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe, March 26, 2017. (Xinhua)

HARARE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Cases of suicide are on the increase in Zimbabwe with police attributing it to economic challenges and infidelity among spouses.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said more men were killing themselves than women.

She was quoted by the state-run news agency New Ziana Thursday as saying that at least 489 men committed suicide in 2016 compared to 348 in 2015 while 147 women committed suicide in 2016 compared to 126 in 2015.

She said the high number of suicide among men was a result of stress, which was related to bread winning roles as well as general expectations by society where men are expected to provide for their families.

"Suicide cases among women are tied to domestic problems with infidelity being at the top," she said, adding the most suicide cases were in the form of food poisoning and hanging.

A high profile case of suspected suicide occurred last month when career civil servant and former State Procurement Board chairperson Charles Kuwaza plunged to his death from the 9th floor of a high rise Harare building.

He was facing charges of criminal abuse of power and fraud involving 1 million U.S. dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 19:46:08|Editor: An

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A music education alliance along the Belt and Road was set up on Friday in Beijing to promote cooperation and exchange.

Presidents of conservatories, musicians and scholars from 16 countries attended the three-day inauguration conference, which began Friday at China's Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

The conference will examine exchange mechanisms for conservatories for Belt and Road countries and strengthen the research on and development of music heritage, said Guo Shulan, Communist Party chief of China's Central Conservatory of Music.

Music concerts and music instrument exhibitions will be organized during the event.

Participants come from India, Thailand, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran and Turkey, among other countries.

Yu Feng, president of China's Central Conservatory of Music, proposed that a Silk Road international music forum could be held every three years by conservatories in different countries.

Beijing will host the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on May 14-15.
HELSINKI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Finland has seen a flurry of optimistic predictions about its economic performance within a week.

The Confederation of Industries reported Wednesday improved prospects in all of its main branches. Local media also highlighted the hot housing market in southwestern Finland as both the auto industry and shipbuilding are recruiting.

Finance Minister Petteri Orpo told lawmakers on Wednesday that Finland was "permanently on a growth path".

Expert estimates about growth this year have varied from the prediction of 1.2 percent of GDP made by the Ministry of Finance to 2 percent predicted by a major insurance company.

Opposition MPs in parliament said, however, the government cannot take credit from the growth.

Lu Anderson, chairman of the Left League, said on Wednesday the turn is a positive change, but it would have come automatically at some stage. She also said the predictions by the Ministry of Finance for later years still hover at around 1 percent.

The Confederation of Industries reported on Wednesday that new orders received by the industries grew remarkably during the first quarter this year. The use of industrial capacity in Finland is now close to the long term average.

In April, 74 percent of capacity was in use, the Confederation said. Most companies reported to the Confederation they had no problems getting financing.

The Finnish technology industries reported on Tuesday that orders in the sector during January-March were 13 percent higher than a year ago. At the end of March, technology sector employed 288,000 people in Finland. During the first quarter this year, 11,000 people were recruited, while the number for the whole 2016 was 28,500 only.

Ilmarinen, a key insurance group, predicted on Tuesday 2 percent growth this year and next. Ilmarinen saw increased domestic demand as the main reason, but detected improvement in exports as well. It said that prospects are improving in all of Finland's market areas and also Russian economy is expected to turn into an upswing.

The predictions by Ilmarinen outnumbered the 1.2 percent growth suggested by the researchers of the Ministry of Finance last week. Late last year, the prediction by the Ministry for 2017 was at 0.9 percent.

However, the Ministry predicted that growth will level off at 1 percent in 2018 and increase to 1.2 percent in 2019. Mikko Spolander, a senior director at the Ministry of Finance, told local media that Finns should get "used to a situation that during the boom cycle growth will remain at around 2 percent".

The Ministry's economists believed that the government budget would show a clear deficit even in 2021. It said the key aim of the government to raise employment rate to 72 percent "remains at a far distance". The Ministry predicted a 70 percent employment rate in 2019.

Finance Minister Petteri Orpo said on Wednesday, however, the government still aims at reaching 72 percent employment. Orpo noted that in the rest of the Nordic area the employment level is 75 percent.
ALGIERS, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The Algerian ruling parties of the National Liberation Front (FLN) and the National Democratic Rally (RND) managed grabbed the majority of seats following the Parliamentary polls of Thursday, officials figures showed on Friday.

In a press conference held in Algiers on Friday, Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui outlined the official figures of the Parliamentary election of May 4, saying the national turnout reached 38.25 percent.

He further specified that FLN grabbed 164 seats out of the 462 seats of the lower house, while its ruling ally, namely the RND, collected 97 seats, making them the major force at the parliament for the second time since 2012 polls.

The Islamist alliance of the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) accumulated 33 seats, said Bedoui, adding that the independent candidates collected 28 seats, followed by the Movement of Algeria's Hope (TAJ) with 19 seats.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 20:01:21|Editor: An

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ZHENGZHOU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Yang Luyu, former mayor of Jinan, capital city of eastern China's Shandong Province, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for graft Friday.

The sentence was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Pingdingshan City in Henan Province.

The court also fined Yang 2 million yuan (around 289,900 U.S. dollars) and ordered all his illicit gains to be confiscated.

The court found Yang guilty of taking advantage of various posts in Shandong between 2004 and 2016 to assist entities and individuals in company projects, real estate development, land-related procedures and promotions.

In return, he accepted money and property worth more than 23 million yuan, personally or through his relatives, the court said.

Yang was given relatively lenient treatment as he cooperated with investigators, surrendered his gains, admitted guilt and repented, the court said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 20:06:11|Editor: MJ

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (2nd R) attends the commissioning ceremony held in Singapore's Changi Naval Base on May 5, 2017. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) held a commissioning ceremony for its very first littoral mission vessel "Independence" at the Changi Naval Base on Friday. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

SINGAPORE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Singapore celebrated the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Golden Jubilee which commemorates 50 years of the RSN being the maritime force on Friday, the Ministry of Defence said.

In conjunction with the celebration, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officiated the commissioning of the RSN's first-of-class Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV), RSS Independence, at Changi Naval Base.

The RSS Independence is the first of the RSN's next-generation warships to be completely designed and built in Singapore, in close collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Agency.

According to the ministry, the warship "pushes the boundaries of engineering and design in delivering a more capable, faster and mission-flexible ship with better seakeeping and endurance that can be manned with a leaner crew."

In a speech delivered at the commissioning ceremony, Lee emphasized the RSN's vital role as the frontline of Singapore's maritime defense and its vital mission in protecting Singapore's sovereignty.

Lee also said that it is apt for the LMV to be named RSS Independence.

"It is a significant and historic name. Significant because protecting Singapore's independence has always been a core mission of the RSN. Historic because the name Independence carries the legacy and spirit of the navy's pioneers," he said.
LONDON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The early results of local elections across Britain on Friday gave British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservatives a massive boost ahead of the June 8 snap general election.

As the first results came in from towns and cities across England, Scotland and Wales, the Conservatives were making significant gains at the expense of the main opposition Labor Party and the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP).

If backed by the ensuing results throughout Friday, political commentators said, it would mark one of the best days for the Conservatives for some years.

John Curtice, professor of Politics from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, said the Conservatives had so far performed best in elections since at least 2008.

Almost 5,000 seats on city, county and town councils were up for grabs in Thursday's elections, with the results predicted to be an indicator for June 8 when the snap general election for the 650 parliamentary seats takes place.

During overnight counting of votes, the Conservatives gained control of at least five local councils, while the Labor Party lost control at some town halls.

Early wins for the Conservatives included the control of councils in Lincolnshire and Warwickshire.

By mid-morning, the Conservatives had gained 165 seats in England and Wales, while the Labor Party had lost 127, and the UKIP had lost 42.

As Labor retained control of city hall in Cardiff, capital of Wales, the Liberal Democrats lost seats in Wales, while Wales' national party Plaid Cymru picked up a handful.

Welsh Labor MP Stephen Kinnock, son of former Labor leader Neil Kinnock, described the early results as a pretty disastrous picture for the Labor Party.

"It is simply not good enough for a party that has been in opposition for seven years, heading towards a general election in five weeks, to not be picking up seats and making forward progress," he said in a television interview.

Counting of votes in Scotland only started Friday morning, but there was speculation that Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) would emerge as the largest party in Glasgow, but without an overall majority.

For the UKIP, which was set up nearly 30 years ago to campaign for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, the early signs were bad.

The first results showed it had lost more than 40 seats.

Britain's first ever metro mayors were also being elected, with the Conservatives waiting to announce their winning in the West of England.

Tim Bowles was declared the winner in the West of England metro mayor race after a close election battle with Labor rival Lesley Ann Mansell. The metro mayor's area covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North East Somerset and the historic tourism city of Bath.

Counting was going on in Manchester and Liverpool where Labor was predicted to be favorites to win both metro-mayor elections. The result in Birmingham was said to be on a knife-edge.
MADRID, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Spanish Civil Guard on Friday confirmed they have arrested 59 members of a criminal organization which was dedicated to robberies in a variety of locations.

The group carried out robberies in industrial warehouses, shopping centers, trucks and lorries, as well as petrol stations and bars.

The majority of their attacks were carried out in the provinces of Madrid, Valladolid, Salamanca, Zamora, Burgos, Toledo and Zaragoza.

The Civil Guard attributes a total of 126 robberies to the band, which was divided into three separate cells and is described as "highly specialized" with experts in different types of robbery dispatched to participate in the theft which best suited their skills.

The robberies were carried out in stolen vehicles which were burned afterwards to avoid the detection and identification of fingerprints.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 21:06:53|Editor: An

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The B20 China Business Council was established Friday in Beijing to help Chinese enterprises participate in global economic governance.

The members of the council are mainly Chinese enterprises that participated in the G20 summit in Hangzhou last year, according to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

The council aims to bring Chinese business leaders to global discussions on economic policy and protect the interests of the Chinese business community, according to the CCPIT.

The council will promote multilateral trade and build a healthy environment for Chinese enterprises, said CCPIT Chairman Jiang Zengwei.

B20 provides policy recommendations for the annual meeting of G20 leaders.

Last year's B20 was hosted by CCPIT as China was the president of G20 in 2016.
PRAGUE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka announced at a press conference on Friday that he would no longer resign amid a political spat that has gripped the nation.

Instead, he proposed sacking Finance Minister Andrej Babis as of May 9 to resolve the ongoing political crisis. Sobotka said he expects Czech President Milos Zeman to dismiss Babis without any delay.

On Tuesday, Sobotka announced his resignation over the business dealings of Babis, who is suspected of tax evasion and influence peddling in his media houses.

Babis, a leading Czech businessman who has denied wrongdoing, is a rival of Sobotka's leftist Social Democrats and heads a centrist movement tipped to win upcoming parliamentary elections in October.

On Friday, Sobotka said he changed his mind on resigning after President Zeman only accepted his personal resignation and not the entire government's.

Zeman said he would prefer the government to stay in power until October but without Sobotka.

His office said Zeman will "act responsibly" and wait for the prime minister's move.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 21:06:58|Editor: An

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URUMQI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- "There are two imported things in my company, one is the oil, the other is me," said Miras Kilybayev, deputy director of Jinsi Oil in the bonded zone of Alataw Pass bordering Kazakhstan in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The Kazakhstan businessman, 25, works for one of the largest agricultural companies in his country. Last year, he was sent to China to expand the company's business.

"The whole world is looking at the Chinese market, so we can't afford to ignore it," he said.

Kilybayev learned Chinese at Tsinghua University and chemical engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology from 2008 to 2014. After graduation he returned to Kazakhstan, but deep down, he knew he would come back to China.

"The first time I was in China, I bought a bottle of local cooking oil from a supermarket. It tasted different and made me homesick," said Kilybayev who speaks not only Kazakh and Chinese, but also English and Russian.

According to him, farmers in Kazakhstan follow traditional farming methods, use non-GMO seeds, and seldom add fertilizers.

"Low yields guarantee high quality, especially in the northern province, where my company manages 20,000 hectares of arable land," Kilybayev said.

At its first factory -- also the first foreign-funded enterprise -- established in the bonded zone, Kilybayev's company received support from the local government: from streamlined approval procedures, low-cost office space to considerable subsidies.

The oil refinery, with a total investment of 20 million yuan (2.9 million U.S. dollars), went into operation in July last year. Crude cooking oil is transported by train from Kazakhstan. Customs duties and value-added taxes are exempted in the bonded zone.

"It's like producing in my own country," Kilybayev said.

The daily output has risen to nearly 100 tonnes. Demand is also increasing rapidly, thanks to local government connections with Chinese distributors.

"Our products are on the shelves across Xinjiang, including the regional capital Urumqi. In June, we will enter Guangdong and Jiangxi provinces in south and east China," Kilybayev said.

The Alataw Pass is one of the busiest land ports on the modern Silk Road. Last year, a total of 1,727 China-Europe and China-Central Asia freight trains passed through the port, an increase of 35 percent year on year, with the volume of goods transported exceeding 1.3 million tonnes, said Yang Yonghong, head of Alataw Pass train station.

More foreign products, including agricultural products from Kazakhstan, are now transported to China by rail.

Nine Chinese cities, including Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an and Yiwu, have launched China-Europe trains travelling via the Alataw Pass, which makes Kilybayev optimistic about in his company's future.

"We have recently decided to open a flour mill and a poultry farm next to the refinery to bring more quality agricultural products from Kazakhstan," he said.

"I will be living in China longer than I originally expected, but my fiancee will be coming so I won't be lonely," said Kilybayev, who is getting married this August.
CAPE TOWN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Friday voiced concern over a ruling by the North Gauteng High Court that President Jacob Zuma must provide reasons for the recent cabinet reshuffle.

"This judgment signifies unfettered encroachment of the judiciary into the realm of the executive, pandering to the whims of the opposition who want to co-govern with the popularly elected government through the courts," the party said in a statement.

The court delivered the ruling on Thursday, which also ordered Zuma to hand over cabinet reshuffle records to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) within five working days.

The records allegedly contain intelligence Zuma used as "an excuse" to fire Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in the cabinet reshuffle, which also saw the sacking or replacement of nine other ministers.

Zuma reportedly told the ANC top leadership before the reshuffle that he had received intelligence that Gordhan was seeking foreign assitance to topple him.

Zuma later said the cabinet reshuffle was based on the intelligence.

The reshuffle prompted international rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch to downgrade South Africa's sovereign credit to junk status in April.

Last week, the DA approached the Pretoria High Court, seeking a court order to compel Zuma to give reasons for the cabinet reshuffle and hand over relevant records.

The DA argued that the axing of ministers, in particular the finance minister, has already shown signs of economic negativity for the country.

In its Friday statement, the ANC said the Constitution confers upon the President powers to constitute his cabinet without imposing an obligation upon him to consult opposition parties.

To read into the Constitution that the president must explain himself on the composition of the National Executive to the opposition is to use the judiciary to police political decisions and sets a very worrisome precedent, the ANC said.

The ANC urged Zuma to appeal this judgment. Zuma has not responded to the ruling yet.
ISLAMABAD, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Friday summoned Afghan Charge d'Affaires to formally lodge strong protest over the "unprovoked firing by the Afghan forces," the Foreign Ministry said.

"We urge the Afghan government to take immediate steps to bring an end the unprovoked firing from the Afghan side. Action should also be taken against those who are responsible for this violation," the statement said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also strongly condemned the incident and expressed his profound grief and sorrow over the loss of precious human lives and injuries caused to the civilian and personnel of law enforcement agencies, a statement from the Prime Minister office said.

Terming the incident as most unfortunate, Sharif said that recurring of such incidents is contrary to "our efforts for achieving peace and stability in the region."

"It is the responsibility of the Afghan government to ensure that such incidents are permanently stopped," he said.

The prime minister directed the concerned authorities for treatment of the injured.

Pakistan army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor said earlier that the Afghan Border Police "opened fire" on the border forces Frontier Corps (FC) detailed for security of a population census team in Balochistan Province.

Health officials in Quetta, the provincial capital, have confirmed to the media that death toll from the cross-border firing has reached nine while 40 others have been injured.

The Afghan media has quoted Afghan officials as saying that exchange of firing started after "Pakistani forces entered Afghan side of the border."

During the firing, the Pakistan army spokesman had stated in a statement that Pakistan closed the Chaman border with Afghanistan, adding that Afghan Border Police had been "creating hurdles" in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area, on Pakistani side of the border.

"This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of census," Ghafoor said.

The incident happened days after two high level Pakistani delegation of army and intelligence officials visited Afghanistan this week for discussions on security issues, focusing on border management.

Pakistan insists for effective border security to check illegal movement for militants.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 21:32:26|Editor: liuxin

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The GSLV-F09 rocket carrying India's GSAT-9, or the South Asia Communication Satellite, blasts off from the launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India, May 5, 2017. In its biggest space diplomacy push, Indian launched a South Asia communication satellite on Friday from the spaceport of Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. (Xinhua/Stringer)

NEW DELHI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- In its biggest space diplomacy push, Indian launched a South Asia communication satellite on Friday from the spaceport of Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

The State-owned Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) rocket, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), carrying the 2,230 kg satellite GSAT-9, lifted off from the launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota at 4:57 p.m. local time (1127 GMT).

ISRO, which has built the satellite for use by countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region, said GSAT-9 has been launched with an objective to provide different communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over South Asia.

The satellite was originally named SAARC satellite, but was later changed to South Asia satellite after Pakistan opted out of the project, stating "it has its own space program."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the country's scientists for the successful launch. "We are a united family of South Asian countries, united in our pursuit of peace, progress & prosperity of our region & the entire humankind," he tweeted soon after the launch.

Later joining the five heads of state of SAARC nations -- Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena -- Modi hailed the launch.

"Today is a historic day, one without precedent. We extend our close links into Outer Space. Space technology will touch the lives of our people in the region. Convinced when we join hands and mutually share fruits of knowledge, technology and growth, we can speed up development," he said.

On his part, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani said: "This is an extremely important step to know nature and nature's patterns. Development must be citizen centric. Today's development is child centred and women centred, it makes governance accessible."

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the opportunity to thank India. "On today's auspicious occasion, I congratulate the Government of India (for the successful launch). Betterment of our people can happen through fruitful engagement," she said.

Modi, who had first announced the project during the 2014 SAARC Summit in Nepal as a gift to the regional countries, spelled out the date of launch of the satellite in his monthly radio program, Mann ki baat (talk from the heart) Sunday.

The satellite has 12 Ku-band transponders. It is cuboid in shape and built around a central cylinder has a mission life of over 12 years.

It is expected to help communicate during disasters and also focus on telemedicine and education. Each country can beam its own TV programs while there will be the possibility for a common South Asia programming.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 21:42:18|Editor: An

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by Jamil Bhatti, Liu Tian

ISLAMABAD, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative has become a living global reality for its inclusive and cooperative nature, and the win-win cooperation will benefit all, said Senator Mushahid Hussain, chairman of Pakistan's parliamentary committee on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"This is a very positive and timely initiative, which gives an alternative world view and is vital for Asian countries, for the third world countries, and for the world at large, because this talks about cooperation not confrontation, this talks about connectivity not collision," Hussain told Xinhua in an interview.

Noting that the Belt and Road Initiative is more about bringing people together and linking regions, Hussain mentioned that on April 29, the world has seen that a cargo train from London reached China's eastern Yiwu city in 19 days after covering thousands of kilometers across the Asia-Euro continent.

"It is great proof that China is linking peoples and regions," said the senator, adding that China is reviving the ancient silk route through the modern initiative with huge, monumental and unprecedented scale and scope.

Talking about Pakistan's role in the Belt and Road Initiative, Hussain said that the CPEC is the flagship project of the initiative, and it is the biggest single comprehensive project between any two countries in the history of the international relations.

During the past couple of years, Pakistan has witnessed rapid economic development in the field of energy, ports, special economic zones and infrastructure, he said.

Hussain, who also heads the Pakistan-China Institute, will attend the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held on May 14-15 in Beijing.

Highlighting the significance of the forum, Hussain said it is the first global conference of its kind which focuses on the Belt and Road Initiative. "The forum will provide a new institutional platform to promote the initiative. This institutional platform for cooperation, for corridors and for connectivity will bring leaders together, where they will discuss, review and plan for the future."

"We are going there to convey our success story to other countries, how we are doing it together with our Chinese friends, and how it is important not just for China and Pakistan, but for the whole region and the world as well," said Hussain.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong told Pakistani officials and scholars in an address that China and Pakistan can play a major role in promoting the Belt and Road initiative as "all-weather" strategic cooperative partners.

"If the initiative is a symphony benefiting many countries, CPEC will be the first sweet chapter," said Sun.

"Among the countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC is one of the earliest, fastest and most effective projects. Over the past three years, 19 early-harvest projects are under smooth construction with a total contract amount of 18.5 billion U.S. dollars," said the Chinese envoy.

Sun said the CPEC projects covering all the provinces and regions of Pakistan have employed 60,000 Pakistani workers related to the CPEC projects, adding that some of the Pakistani employees are sent to China for training and have now become the backbone of the projects and bilateral cooperation.

China proposed the Belt and Road initiative in 2013 to build a trade and infrastructure network along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which offers opportunities for cooperation and development for all countries amid a sluggish global economy.

More than 100 countries and international organizations have responded to the initiative, and over 40 countries and organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China.

Hussain believed that a new kind of region and a new kind of Asia is emerging because of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"It's not just about linking Asian countries, but this is connectivity among countries, continents, cultures and civilizations ... It is not only an economic issue. It is also cultural because culture means people to people," he said.

"The historical heritage of the ancient Silk Road is now a legacy of ancient China and it is a gift to the whole world in the 21st century."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 21:42:20|Editor: MJ

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MOGADISHU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The United States military confirmed on Friday that a special operations member was killed on Thursday during an operation against Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia.

The U.S. Africa Command (Africom) which has in the past conducted counter-terrorism airstrikes against the militants in Somalia said the incident took place when the U.S. Special Forces were conducting an advise-and-assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army.

"On May 4, one U.S. service member was killed during an operation against Al-Shabaab near Barii, Somalia, approximately 40 miles west of Mogadishu," Africom said in a statement.

It said Al-Shabaab presents a threat to Americans and American interests.

Africom said the U.S. forces are assisting partner forces to counter Al-Shabaab in Somalia to degrade the Al-Qaida affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America.

The incident came after the White House approved a Pentagon request in March to conduct offensive operations against Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

The U.S. soldiers in April joined the small number of U.S. special operations forces already there providing counter-terrorism support to local forces battling Al-Shabaab.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 21:51:24|Editor: MJ

Hong Joon-pyo(C), presidential candidate of the Liberty Korea Party, attends a campaign in Seoul, South Korea, on May 5, 2017. A presidential by-election is scheduled for May 9 after former President Park Geun-hye was impeached and arrested in March over corruption allegations. (Xinhua/Lee Sang-ho)
BANGKOK, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's power consumption has hit the year's peak of up to 30,303.4 megawatts (MW), local media reported Friday quoting the Energy Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).

Rerngchai Kongthong, official from the EGAT said that the power peak was recorded at 2:20 p.m. local time, attributing Thursday's new record of power consumption to the persistent heat with the temperature of 35.2 degree celsius.

He said the use of air-conditioner contributes most to the power peak, with more power consumption expected from all segments particularly the business sector.

Summer heat continues to hit Thailand since late March. Some provinces such as Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, has recorded a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius even after the Songkran Festival, known as Thailand's hottest period has passed.

The overall power consumption this year is less than las year's top figure of 30,972.73 MW, according to Rerngchai.

The EGAT said they may consider activating two more power generators and using auxiliary fuel at the expense of higher production cost in case that the energy usage rises 3.5 percent higher than the peak level in 2016.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 22:02:43|Editor: An

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China's homegrown large passenger plane C919 makes its maiden flight in Shanghai, east China, May 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

By Xinhua writers Liu Jie, Qi Zhongxi, Hu Tao

SHANGHAI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- China took a major step toward becoming a global aviation powerhouse as its homegrown large passenger plane, the C919, took to the sky on Friday.

The flight makes China the fourth jumbo jet producer after the United States, Western Europe and Russia. It also marks a milestone for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of the C919.

The twin-engine plane departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with five crew members on board but no passengers.

The plane took off at around 2 p.m. amid applause from more than 1,000 spectators on the tarmac, including Vice Premier Ma Kai and Shanghai Party chief Han Zheng. The flight lasted about 80 minutes.

The "C" in the aircraft's name stands for both China and COMAC, while 9 symbolizes "forever" in Chinese culture, and 19 represents the 190 seats at maximum capacity.

With a standard range of 4,075 kilometers, the narrow-body jet is comparable with updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737 planes, signaling the country's entry into the global aviation market.

The successful flight moves China one step closer to transforming itself from a manufacturer of low-cost goods to a creator of advanced technology.

It marks a major breakthrough of China's large passenger plane project and a major landmark in the development of China's civil aviation industry, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council said in a congratulatory letter.

It is a great achievement made under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, said the letter.

"The maiden flight is exciting," said Wu Guanghui, the C919's chief designer, hailing it as the start of a new era in China's advanced manufacturing.

China has taken pride in developing the homegrown jumbo jet, regarding it as a symbol of national strength. It began developing its own large passenger jets in the 1970s and the first one, the Y-10, had a successful test flight in 1980. But the project was later abandoned.

In 2007, the State Council approved plans to develop a large passenger jet. In November 2015, the first C919 jet rolled off the assembly line. More than 200,000 technicians worked on the project.

The jet was designed and produced in China and made with resources from around the world. It is an achievement in global cooperation, said Wu.

The C919 incorporated parts from over 30 global suppliers such as Honeywell International Inc. Its engines were made by a joint venture between General Electric and Safran Aircraft Engines.

The flight marks the culmination of a successful collaboration between Safran and China. "We are very confident that the C919 will play a more important role in the world aviation industry," said Olivier Dubroeucq, Safran executive vice president of the COMAC and AVIC Programs.

"China is willing to share growth opportunities with the rest of the world. For Honeywell, which has invested heavily in China's aviation industry, we are picking the winner," said Steven Lien, president of Honeywell Aerospace Asia Pacific.

Despite the successful test flight, it may still take time for the C919 to take off in the market.

Shaking the dominance of giants Boeing and Airbus in the near future is unrealistic, observers say, but the Chinese jetliner could be a strong option for global carriers in decades to come.

A total of 23 foreign and domestic customers, including China's national carrier Air China, have placed orders for 570 aircraft, according to COMAC.

But this is only the very first step. Even in China's domestic market, COMAC has a long way to go to turn technical success into business success.

Boeing predicted last year that China will become the world's top aviation market within 20 years, projecting a demand for more than 6,000 new aircraft in the next two decades with a total value of 1 trillion U.S. dollars.

China will need 5,110 new single-aisle airplanes through 2035, accounting for 75 percent of the total new deliveries, according to Boeing.

The C919 will be a strong competitor in this field as it is economical and comfortable, according to a research note from Guosen Securities.

COMAC will seek airworthiness certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and foreign aviation safety regulators before making its first deliveries slated for around 2019.

(Jia Yuankun and Ji Ming also contributed to the story)
NEW DELHI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Governor of Indian-controlled Kashmir N N Vohra met Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday to discuss prevailing situation in the restive region, officials said.

The meeting was held at Indian Prime Minister's Office at South Block in New Delhi.

"The Governor discussed ongoing unrest in the region and briefed Prime Minister about present situation," an official said.

The region is in a fresh phase of violence and witnessed an increase in student protests and clashes.

India's election commission cancelled by-polls for Anantnag parliamentary seat in the wake of continued violence.

The violence began on April 9 during the polling for Srinagar parliamentary seat, which witnessed massive anti-India protests and killing of eight civilians.

The voter turnout in Srinagar constituency was recorded 7 percent. Later on a re-poll in some areas of the constituency saw turnout of mere 2 percent. The turnout recorded was the lowest in decades.

There has been a surge in militant attacks in the region as well. On Tuesday night suspected militants stormed a police post guarding court complex in Shopian district and snatched five service rifles belonging to policemen deployed there.

Prior to that militants on Monday killed five policemen and two security guards of bank after attacking a cash-carrying vehicle belonging to Jammu and Kashmir Bank in adjacent Kulgam district.

A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
MADRID, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Spain suffered the most from terrorism as it had the highest number of victims of terrorism in the European Union, according to a document presented on Friday.

The document -- Black and White Book of Terrorism in Europe -- showed that a total of 658 people were killed by terrorist actions in the European Union between 2000 and 2016.

Of those 658, 253 were murdered in Spain and 250 in France, it showed.

According to the report, 13.8 percent of those victims died in suicide attacks. "Jihadism has been the most mortal actor, causing 82.8 percent of the victims," it said.

That is supported by the fact that 192 of the deaths in Spain were the result of one single attack -- the Atocha train bombings on March 11, 2004.

The majority of the other deaths were down to the actions of Basque separatist group ETA, before the band, which announced a permanent ceasefire in November 2011 and its complete disarmament in April this year, ceased operations.

The document also calculated that 1,029 Europeans died in terrorist attacks outside of the European Union, mainly while participating in peacekeeping missions.

The document, widely reported among Spanish media, was presented by the Euro Deputy of the centrist UPyD party, Maite Pagazaurtundua, and Director of the Memorial Center for Victims of Terrorism, Florencio Dominguez.
by Ronald Njoroge

NAIROBI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya plans to roll out a National Consumer Financial Education Strategy to boost capital markets penetration, a senior official said on Friday.

Cabinet Secretary in the National Treasury Henry Rotich told a capital markets forum in Nairobi that Kenya's capital market penetration is still relatively low at around 10 percent of the adult population compared with 40 percent, 30 percent and 53 percent in Australia, Britain and the United States respectively.

"For the capital markets, investor education is important to promote greater retail participation in the market as we seek to democratize access to opportunities for wealth creation," Rotich said during the official opening of the fifth annual capital markets open day.

The conference will focus on the mobilization of savings through investment in capital markets products and spans a broader demographic spectrum.

The Capital Market Authority is currently conducting an Investor Education Impact Assessment Study that will identify the investment habits, perceived challenges and opportunities that can be leveraged by the existing and potential investing community.

Critically, the study will also inform the development of a White Paper on a consumer financial education framework pertaining to the Capital Markets.

Rotich said Kenya recognizes that improving financial literacy and educating consumers around financial products and services has become an essential means toward greater economic, social and financial inclusion.

He said the education and empowerment efforts are well aligned with the important strides Kenya has taken towards becoming an International Financial Centre, through introducing world class policy, regulatory and institution frameworks aimed at promoting investor confidence.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 22:23:07|Editor: MJ

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VILNIUS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis is to visit Lithuania next week, Lithuania announced on Friday.

Mattis is to meet with President Dalia Grybauskaite next Wednesday to discuss strengthening security in Lithuania and the Baltic region, and bilateral cooperation.

It will be Mattis' first visit in the region, demonstrating the "attention paid by the United States to the security of Lithuania and the other Baltic states", according to the president's office.

Mattis and Grybauskaite are to discuss preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Brussels later this month.

Rotational U.S. forces have been present on Lithuanian soil since early 2014, attending joint military trainings in Lithuania.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 22:48:12|Editor: liuxin

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Finance chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as Japan, China and South Korea pose for group photo during the 20th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting held in Yokohama, Japan, May 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

YOKOHAMA, Japan, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Finance chiefs from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as Japan, China and South Korea discussed global and regional economy and financial cooperation here Friday at the 20th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting.

The ASEAN+3 finance leaders agreed that the regional economy, while growing relatively fast, still faces downside risks caused by factors, such as protectionism and financial condition tightening.

They agreed to promote sustainable, balanced and inclusive economic growth by deploying all necessary policy tools independently or jointly, including monetary, fiscal policies as well as structural reform.

They reaffirmed support for open and rules-based multilateral trade and investment systems, and agreed to enhance monitoring of capital flows and pay close attention to and address possible risks in the region.

The leaders also reaffirmed strengthening the role of the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization (CMIM) as part of the regional financial safety net and welcomed the fruits achieved in the first joint test run of the CMIM and the International Monetary Fund.

Shi Yaobin, China's deputy finance minister, said China's economy got off to a good start in 2017, with economic growth reaching 6.9 percent, 3.34 million new jobs created in the first quarter and foreign trade up 21.8 percent year-on-year.

He said that China will continue with proactive fiscal policy, further cut taxes and administrative fees for enterprises, optimize the fiscal expenditure structure to promote reform of the supply side while attaching more importance to controling local governments' debt risks.

He noted that the ASEAN+3 region, while keeping a growth momentum, still faces a lot of challenges, including the aging society, the increasing need to conduct industrial structural transformation, and the growing financial vulnerability for some countries.

He called on all sides to take joint actions to strengthen structural reform, increase regional infrastructure investment and connectivity, firmly protect multilateral trade system, and continue to improve regional financial safety nets to effectively prevent financial risk.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 23:03:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A cargo plane contracted by UPS went off the runway Friday morning after landing at an airport in the U.S. state of West Virginia, killing the pilot and co-pilot, airport officials said.

The plane, flying from Louisville, Kentucky, was trying to land at Yeager Airport in Charleston at around 7:00 a.m. local time (1100 GMT). After crashing, the plane went down a steep, wooded hill, according to a Fox News report.

Mike Plante, a spokesman for Yeager Airport, told Fox 11 that the plane is owned by Air Cargo Carriers, which contracts for UPS.

There was no indication of any issue with the aircraft before the crash, said Plante.

Charleston airport officials have proposed spending 290 million U.S. dollars to rebuild and extend the runway after a landslide in 2015 took out a church and an unoccupied house. The proposal calls for lengthening the runway from about 6,800 feet (2,073 meters) to 8,000 feet (2,438 meters).

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, Fox News said.
LISBON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The regional government of the Portuguese Azores islands said Friday it was positive the United States didn't want to leave the Lajes airbase on the island, but said the U.S. administration had responsibilities.

"It is not enough for them to say they don't want to leave. They have responsibilities that they have to fulfill," said Berto Messias, the regional assistant secretary of the presidency for parliamentary affairs, according to Lusa news agency.

Messias' comments came after the United States said it would remain in Lajes and had recently made an investment of nine million U.S. dollars in projects to modernize the base.

Over the last years, the United States and Portugal have been wrangling over the future of the base, with over 450 civil Portuguese workers leaving due to mutually agreed job terminations.

The United States announced it was downsizing the base in 2012 due to budgetary constraints. However, these plans have been opposed by U.S. lawmakers who say it could affect Portuguese-U.S. relations.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 23:08:25|Editor: Mengjie

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Editor-in-Chief of Xinhua News Agency, He Ping, met with the Philippine Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday.

He said Xinhua News Agency is willing to maintain good exchanges and cooperation with Philippine media outlets, including the Philippine News Agency, to contribute to the development of a good-neighborly relationship .

Andanar said the Presidential Communications Office attaches importance to cooperation with Xinhua News Agency and will support Philippine media in strengthening cooperation with Xinhua.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-05 23:18:33|Editor: Mengjie

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SHENZHEN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Forty five people were sentenced in Shenzhen on Friday afternoon for their parts in a landslide that left 73 dead and four others missing in December 2015.

The suspects, mostly from Hong Ao landfill, the Yixianglong company which managed the dump site and local governments were tried in the Intermediate People's Court of Shenzhen, the People's Court of Nanshan district and the People's Court of Bao'an district from April 26 through 28.

Long Renfu, boss of Shenzhen Yixianglong, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined 10 million yuan (about 1.5 million U.S. dollars) for bribery and negligence which led to the accident.

The dump site had a planned storage of four million cubic meters and a maximum stack height of 95 meters, but when the accident happened, its actual storage reached 5.83 million cubic meters and the waste heaps stood as high as 160 meters.

Meng Jinghang, former head of the city administration bureau of Shenzhen, was convicted of abuse of power and taking bribes of 24.9 million yuan and 800,000 Hong Kong dollars. He was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and fined eight million yuan.

Peng Shuiqing, former head of the Guangming New District management bureau of the Urban Planning, Land and Resources Commission of Shenzhen, was sentenced to 16 years and fined one million yuan for the same offences.

Another 17 government officials were sentenced to three to seven years in jail for negligence and abuses of power. Another 25 also received penalties.

The landslide occurred when a huge waste pile collapsed. The accident resulted in a direct economic loss of 880 million yuan, and was believed to be caused by mismanagement rather than any geological reasons.
JOHANNESBURG, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will lead a 25-member delegation on an investment road show in the Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, said Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies on Friday.

The road show will be from May 6 to 11, 2017 and the delegation will consist of high-ranking officials of the Trade and Industry department, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and provincial economic development agencies.

Davies said the road show is part of the implementation of the undertakings of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between SA and China in 2011 and also the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Johannesburg in 2015.

He said China agreed to support South Africa and Africa's industrialization.

"The investment road show seeks to attract varied potential investors in different sectors to invest in the South African SEZs. As our focus in regard to the SEZ implementation program is on attracting investments into the SEZs, the ultimate objective of the road shows of this nature is to bring high-level local and international investors together with a view to entice them to invest in South Africa," he said.

Davies also said the road show is part of the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Agreement which was signed between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Bank of China in March this year. Both parties agreed to assist the other part to get markets and collaborate in helping each other develop. During the road shows in China there will be seminars, networking and match-making sessions.

"The seminars will provide a platform wherein the South African SEZ operators will have an opportunity to meet and present their value propositions to potential Chinese investors, finance institutions, and government representatives," said the minister.

He said his department wants to learn and benefit from their cooperation with China's SEZs. There are many productive programs his government is doing in partnership with China. These include development of high-tech and science industrial parks, a metallurgical SEZ, and capacity building program.

"China is the second biggest economy in the world, and South Africa's biggest trading partner. China's market remains a key strategic priority for South Africa's raw material and value-added products," he said.

"More importantly, the DTI has entered into a number of strategic partnerships with the Chinese government. The main purpose of these strategic partnerships is to foster cooperation on investment promotion and facilitation, infrastructure development, exchange of information and human resource development," he said.

He said the marketing and investment approach will make the country's SEZ vibrant and make the economy competitive, adding there has been an increase in the investment of SEZs, having attracted investment of about 3.15 billion U.S. dollars.

South Africa has prioritized the industrialization in the country's blue print, the National Development Plan. South Africa is using the SEZs to attract Foreign Direct Investment, establish industrial parks and create jobs.
KATHMANDU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali Supreme Court on Friday directed the Parliament to immediately reinstate the country's first female Chief Justice Sushila Karki, who was suspended following an impeachment motion earlier this week.

Supreme Court Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana issued the order against the impeachment motion filed by the ruling coalition, stating that the allegations made against the chief justice were unconstitutional.

In the first case of its kind in the country's judicial history, the sitting chief justice was suspended from her capacity after the ruling party parliamentarians accused her of bias and interfering with executive powers.

Responding to a writ petition against the motion to impeach Karki, the Supreme Court ordered the House that she should be allowed to return to her work to be effective from Friday.

Parliamentarians from the ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) moved the House against Karki after the apex court last month overturned the government's choice for the head of police.

The Nepali government had appointed Jay Bahadur Chand as the chief of police; however, the court ruled that senior-most police officer Nawaraj Silwal should take the top job.

The impeachment motion was highly criticized by human rights bodies and various sections of society in Nepal while it also triggered protests within the ruling coalition.

The 64-year-old Karki's tenure is going to expire next month.
HARARE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Zhejiang Province on Friday offered 200 scholarships to students from the Harare Metropolitan Province following the establishment of sister relations between the two provinces.

Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress Wang Huizhong said the scholarships would cover graduate, post-graduate and vocational studies in China.

He did not indicate in what fields the scholarships will be offered.

He was speaking at the Zimbabwe-China Zhejiang Province Investment Conference where he signed a Memorandum of Friendship between the two provinces with the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa.

"We are also willing to work together with Harare to establish the Zhejiang Industrial Park in the spirit of Special Economic Zones," he said.

Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping said the signing of the friendship agreement set up the stage for business people from the two provinces to cooperate.
BUCHAREST, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Romania values the Chinese tourism outbound source market and will participate in the ITB Shanghai International Tourism Fair, the Romanian Tourism Ministry said Friday in a statement.

Romania will be present at the 3-day event in Shanghai with an 18-square-meter stand, within the European Union pavilion, according to the ministry.

Four local tour operators -- GDS.Travel, Rolandia, Exact Tours and Phoenix Travels -- will attend ITB Shanghai on behalf of Romania and promote the country as tourist's destination.

One of the four exhibitors, Phoenix Travels, is a company run by a Chinese businessman living in Bucharest.

The fair is exclusively B2B oriented, targeting only the actors in the tourism industry and the participating Romanian companies will have meetings in order to promote tourist attractions in capital city of Bucharest, the Danube Delta and various other regions of the eastern European country, and to have tourist packages contracted for these places, the ministry said.

"The Ministry of Tourism attaches great importance to the development of this market, especially that 2018 will be declared as the EU-China Travel Year," the ministry said.

ITB Shanghai fair is to take place between May 10 and 12. It is expected to gather international destinations, service and travel technology provider in Shanghai connecting them with over 600 handpicked Chinese buyers.
by Peter Mutai

NAIROBI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Energy experts on Friday called for new policies to accelerate the adoption of solar lighting and clean cooking technologies in Africa's refugee camps.

The experts said that African countries need to integrate humanitarian and business approaches for long-term sustainable development interventions in providing energy to the refugees.

"There is need to incorporate the private sector in bringing new expertise as they have the incentive to improve access to energy products and services in humanitarian settings," Moving Energy Initiative (MEI) Program Manager Laura Patel said at a forum on private sector engagement in meeting refugee energy needs.

She observed that some private sector is already providing energy solutions to low-income and remote communities.

"Their understanding of the market and customer satisfaction supports the growth of local, sustainable and clean energy markets within refugee and host communities," she added.

Patel called for a shift from biomass to clean and low-carbon energy to vulnerable households in the refugee set-up and host community.

Patel noted that the private sector are facing challenges ranging from unstable environments, insecurity, poor road networks, lack of water, unclear contractual guidelines, intellectual property ownership and slow decision making in the provision of energy to displaced populations.

Experts noted that Kakuma refugee camp that is located in Kenya with a population of around 170,000 require improved energy access to benefit refugees mainly from South Sudan.

The CEO of Energy Impact Ben Good said the organization is implementing low-carbon projects, exploring contracts for expert management of energy infrastructure.

"We are looking at local market-based solutions to energy access challenges and stimulating non-wood fuel markets in the continent," he noted.

In the recent past, Kenya has engaged accelerating energy access to populations through small-scale renewable energy entrepreneurs in line with the country's Vision 2030.

Experts from the government, the United Nations, the international and local NGOs and private sector on renewable energy have attended the workshop.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-06 00:14:18|Editor: Mengjie

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Erlan Abdyldaev in Beijing, capital of China, May 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Cui Xinyu)

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Friday that China stands ready to enhance practical cooperation with Kyrgyzstan under the Belt and Road initiative.

Wang said the two countries are good neighbors, partners and friends during a meeting with his Kyrgyz counterpart Erlan Abdyldaev.

Diplomatic relations between China and Kyrgyzstan have maintained healthy and stable development since they were established 25 years ago, Wang said.

The bilateral strategic partnership has maintained sound development with deepened political mutual trust and expanded practical cooperation, he added.

Early this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in Beijing, Wang said, adding that the meeting injected new impetus into bilateral ties.

"China will strengthen cooperation on security and anti-terrorism with Kyrgyzstan and implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries," Wang said.

Abdyldaev said Kyrgyzstan firmly supports China to hold the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and will actively participate in the Belt and Road initiative.
by Mahmoud Fouly

CAIRO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has recently paid state visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to refresh ties with the leading Gulf allies amid regional disorder in several Arab states including Syria, Libya and Yemen.

TIES AMID CHAOS

Ties between Egypt and Saudi Arabia have gone through ups and downs over the past year, mostly because of their different views on some regional issues particularly the situations in Syria and Yemen.

While Saudi Arabia seeks removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Egypt sees that a political settlement in Syria is the best option. Egypt is not so much involved in the Saudi-led military campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen but its naval forces is still protecting Red Sea's Bab al-Mandab Strait to maintain national security.

"Sisi's tour came in the framework of continuous consultation between Egypt and the UAE on strategic issues. He may have also updated Emirati leaders with the progress in Egypt's relations with Saudi Arabia and the differences they have overcome," said Motaz Salama, researcher and head of the Gulf Studies Unit at Cairo-based Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.

According to Salama, the structure of Egypt-Gulf ties is strong despite some hardships, noting that "the future of Arab national security" is one of the focal topics of discussion during Sisi's visits.

"The Egyptian-Gulf approach is considered the general umbrella of Arab relations, as it reflects the general conditions of inter-Arab ties," he said.

Hassan Nafaa, a political science professor at Cairo University, believes that there is improvement in the Egyptian-Saudi relations but their differences have not yet been all cleared for natural strategic ties.

"So, Abu Dhabi's active role at this stage is important," he told Xinhua.

Sisi's visit to the UAE aims at boosting mutual cooperation and coordination over the challenges facing the Arab nation "with the purpose of enhancing joint Arab work and protecting the Arab national security," according to the Egyptian official news agency MENA.

Since Sisi led the ouster of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 with the support of his Gulf allies excluding Qatar, Cairo's relations with Doha have been on edge particularly as the latter hosted fleeing members of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood group, which has eventually been designated by Sisi government as a terrorist organization.

"I do not rule out the possibility that the UAE attempts to play a role in bringing Egypt and Saudi Arabia closer on the one hand and in fixing ties between Egypt and Qatar on the other hand, especially amid such overwhelming regional chaos," Nafaa told Xinhua.

While Egypt seeks a settlement in chaotic neighboring Libya to maintain the security of the Egyptian western border areas amid growing terrorism and security challenges, the UAE has recently hosted a rare meeting between Libyan national army chief Khalifa Haftar and head of Libya's unity government Fayez Serraj, the two key rival figures in the country.

"I believe that Abu Dhabi tries to play a role in some key Arab issues and it was not a coincidence that it hosted such a high-profile Libyan meeting, which is an important development because the Libyan issue is extremely important to Egypt," Nafaa pointed out.

IRAN EXPANSION

The leading Gulf states are undoubtedly concerned about any possible future interaction between Egypt and Iran in case of awkward relations between Cairo and Riyadh.

After Saudi Arabia led Gulf support for Sisi's post-Morsi administration with billions of U.S. dollars and tons of oil supplies, Aramco, a Saudi national oil company, resumed in early April its delivery of oil shipments to Egypt after six months of suspension.

"Gulf support is very important and essential for Egypt to face the current challenges including terrorism and general economic conditions. Emirati and Saudi support for Egypt have not stopped in the first place," said Salama of Al-Ahram Center.

"I believe there is a development in the Egyptian understanding of the concerns of Gulf states over Iranian regional expansion that poses a threat to their political stability. This is a positive aspect in the Egyptian-Gulf ties," he said.

For his part, Nafaa argues that the Gulf states care about keeping Egypt away from Iran, noting there is now some understanding between Egypt and Saudi Arabia because of the active Emirati role to overcome their differences.

"This will surely keep the distance between Egypt and Iran or at least prevent their approach that was apparent on the horizon," the professor explained.

Nafaa said Donald Trump's election to the White House boost interaction between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the U.S. president must have urged both to overcome their rift amid his effort to integrate Israel in the region and achieve an Israeli-Saudi closeness to face Iran.

The professor sees that the United States seeks an Egyptian-Saudi approach and even an Egyptian-Turkish approach to establish a Muslim Sunni axis supported by Israel in confrontation of Iran, but he said it would not be that easy given the complicated situation in the Middle East.

"I believe that the developments in Syria will be the basic indicator of what the regional events will be like in the near future," Nafaa told Xinhua.
HARARE, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe and China's Zhejiang Province on Friday signed two memorandum as the two countries push for more cooperation and fostering of joint ventures in sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, construction, energy, health and finance.

Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province Miriam Chikukwa signed a Friendship Memorandum of Understanding with the Vice Chairman of Standing Committee of Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress Wang Huizhong.

Secretary for Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Desire Sibanda signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Chairperson of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Zhejiang) Wu Guiying, under which the Chinese will explore investment opportunities in Zimbabwe.

Wang is leading a high-powered delegation with more than 20 people from Zhejiang Province which is exploring business opportunities with both the public and private sectors.

The delegation joined Zimbabwean government officials and the private sector for the Zimbabwe-China Zhejiang Investment Conference where they engaged with a view to establishing long term cooperation agreements.

"We expect them to invest in our economic blueprint Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation priority areas in our Special Economic Zones (SEZs)," Sibanda told Xinhua after the signing ceremony.

He told the delegation that the government had come up with highly competitive SEZs incentives such as flexible labor laws, tax free holidays, duty free importation of essential raw materials which are not locally available and relaxed immigration rules for investors.

Wu said Zimbabwe and China were highly complementary of each other and announced plans to establish an office in Harare to promote cooperation between the two.

"As long as we join hands with each other, I believe that our symposium will bring more opportunities," she said.

Chikukwa said that the memorandum she signed sought to foster greater friendship between the two provinces and boost cooperation in various sectors of the economy.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping said he had once asked investors in Zhejiang why they were not investing in Zimbabwe and they had told him that they did not know much about the country.

"They always got negative information on Zimbabwe from the internet," he said, adding that it was time for China and Zimbabwe to transform their comparative advantages into fruitful cooperation.
ROME, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Charity organization Oxfam Italy launched a campaign Friday to aid Italians who, it says, are living in absolute poverty.

According to the charitable organization founded in the British city of Oxford 75 years ago, one in four people in Italy are at risk of poverty and 7.6 percent of the population -- over 4.5 million people -- live in absolute poverty.

This compares to 4.1 million people or 6.8 percent of the population living in absolute poverty in 2014, according to Istat, Italy's agency of statistics, which also counted 1.47 million families or 5.7 percent of all families in Italy as living in absolute poverty that year.

Italy's population stood at 60.7 million at the end of 2016, according to Istat. The agency also noted that a family made up of two parents and two children under the age of 10 lives in absolute poverty if its monthly budget for essential items falls at or below 1,534.26 euros (1,686.79 U.S. dollars) in the North and 1,184.74 euros in the South.

The essential items are listed as education, food, health care, housing, and transportation.

One in 13 Italians and one in 10 children lacks sufficient food, a heated home, adequate clothing, and the means to seek medical care and education, according to Oxfam Italy.

The greater pockets of absolute poverty are concentrated in Italy's chronically underdeveloped, crime-ridden South, but they also exist in the outlying districts of central and northern cities, it said.

The charitable organization also pointed to the correlation between poverty and educational levels -- the higher the degree of education, the less the likelihood of poverty.

The report highlighted "deterioration in the conditions of the younger generations" in Italy, many of whom can't get jobs or only have access to unskilled positions that don't provide a decent living wage.

In March this year, the jobless rate for youth aged 15-24 stood at 34.1 percent, down from 37.1 percent one year ago and 42.8 percent in March 2015, according to Istat. Overall unemployment stood at 11.7 percent, compared to 9.5 percent in the eurozone.

Oxfam Italy also noted the widening gap between rich and poor in the Mediterranean nation, where in 1988-2011, the income of the richest 10 percent rose faster than that of the poorer 50 percent.
by Eric J. Lyman

ROME, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Alitalia, Italy's troubled flagship airline, is again on the brink of bankruptcy, with analysts predicting it will be difficult for the struggling carrier to survive independently and resume its role as a significant European player.

The Rome-based company has limped from crisis to crisis over the last 20 years or more. The last time it faced catastrophe, in 2014, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways took a large minority stake in the company and started making changes. But now, spurned by high labor costs, difficult trade union problems, and an aging fleet, Etihad said it would no longer play that role.

"Alitalia needs fundamental and far-reaching restructuring to survive," Etihad Aviation Group CEO James Hogan said in a statement. "Etihad is not prepared to continue pumping money into" Alitalia.

That is a dramatic turnaround from 2014, when Hogan said Alitalia should be "the sexiest airline" in Europe. "If we didn't believe Alitalia could restructure and win, we wouldn't be here," Hogan said at the time.

Without Etihad's deep pockets, Alitalia is in big trouble. The Italian government has agreed to give Alitalia access to a bridge loan worth 600 million euros (660 million U.S. dollars). But with the company losing money at the rate of nearly two million euros per day, it will go through the bridge loan money quickly.

"The money from the government buys Alitalia another year at most, but it doesn't address the company's biggest problems," Andrea Giuricin, an economist and fellow with the Milan-based Bruno Leoni think tank, told Xinhua.

Giuricin said that because of flying routes with too much competition -- especially from low-cost competitors such as EasyJet and RyanAir -- Alitalia flights are on average around 76 percent full, whereas healthy rivals like Germany's Lufthansa, Air France, and Netherlands-based KLM are on average about 10 percentage points fuller, something reflected in their bottom lines. The discount carriers are generally at least 90 percent full on their routes, Giuricin said.

Competition from discount carriers has been so difficult for Alitalia, Giuricin said, that it is no longer the largest carrier in Italy: that distinction goes to Ryanair, which accounts for 24 percent of Italy's domestic air traffic, compared to just 17 percent for Alitalia. Ten years ago, Alitalia controlled nearly a third of Italy's domestic air travel market.

"Alitalia is simply too inefficient to complete against leaner and better-managed rivals," Giuricin said.

The next steps for Alitalia are far from clear. It will continue operating with the backing of the Italian Treasury, though analysts agreed the cash-strapped government cannot afford to keep propping the company up financially.

"It would be a very unpopular choice for the government to send money to floundering Alitalia while raising taxes and cutting back on spending in some many other areas," Oliviero Fiorini, a political affairs analyst with ABS Securities, said in an interview.

The most likely scenario is that Alitalia will be forced to dramatically scale back operations to a sustainable level, go out of business and sell its assets such as aircraft and landing slots at busy airports like London's Heathrow and the New York-area airports, or look for yet another airline to partner with.

Giuricin said that the latter option would be the best one for Alitalia, though the company's three billion euros of debt, Etihad's difficult experience in that role, and Alitalia's bad treatment of Air France and KLM when they sought a partnership 10 years ago make that less likely.

"Lufthansa has a history of taking over troubled airlines, which is what they did with Belgium's Sabena and Swiss Air," Giuricin said. "But there aren't strong signals that they're interested in Alitalia, and even if they are interested, they'd be better off waiting until things get so bad that Alitalia renegotiates its debt and cuts back to become a smaller and hopefully healthier company. Then it's possible they could step in."
CAPE TOWN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma has extended the deployment of South African troops on a peace mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Presidency announced on Friday.

The deployment is extended from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018, presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

The president has informed Parliament of this decision, Ngqulunga said.

South Africa has dispatched 1,371 members of the South African National Defense Force to participate in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) as part of the 3,500-strong Force Intervention Brigade.

The UN peace mission oversees the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation and reintegration program for rebel groups in the DRC, which has continued to suffer from recurring cycles of conflict and persistent violence by the armed groups.

On March 31 this year, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of MONUSCO until March 31, 2018.
STOCKHOLM, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Sweden's Court of Appeal on Friday raised a 7-year prison sentence handed down to a man convicted of sexually violating young girls in Sweden to eight years in prison, Swedish Television reported.

The man was previously convicted by a district court, but the Court of Appeal issued a harsher sentence, raising his prison term to the maximum.

The man was also ordered to pay damages. The crimes were revealed after the man, who is in his mid-forties, was reported to the police and a raid was conducted at his home in Ulricehamn in western Sweden.

The police were able to link the man to several sexual assaults on young girls from all over Sweden before arresting him in the summer of 2015.

Most of the victims were between 12 and 16 years old at the time of the assaults, which took place between 2010 and 2015. However, one victim was as young as 10.

The man contacted the girls through online chat programs and convinced them to undress and perform sexual acts in front of web cameras. The man was accused of several crimes, including aggravated sexual assault on children, aggravated sexual exploitation of minors, child pornography crimes and slander.

Margareta Esplund, the counsel for 14 of the young plaintiffs, said the harsher sentence "sends an important signal to society" and that the 14 girls she represent were still suffering emotionally from feelings of guilt and shame.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-06 01:24:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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By Levi J Parsons

SYDNEY, May 6 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has performed for the first time at Australia's iconic Sydney Opera House on Friday evening, on the final stop of their tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Over 2,000 distinguished guests were on hand to welcome the performance and its world renowned conductor, Jaap van Zweden.

"I think it is the actually the most iconic building in the world, forget just the arts, of any kind of building it is the most iconic and it's a privilege for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to be able to play here. We are delighted," Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Michael MacLeod told Xinhua Friday.

Coming off concerts in Seoul, Osaka, Singapore and Melbourne, Macleod explained the efforts that go into executing a performance like Sydney.

"It's not just the night, we are preparing for the whole tour," Macleod said.

"It needs a number of days rehearsal in Hong Kong and then we have to pack up all the instruments and get the orchestra on flights on the right day etc. and hope that nothing goes wrong because there are many, many moving parts and here we are on our final destination for the tour and nothing has gone wrong."

"It's been a huge success, with standing ovations and very, very warm audiences."

Lovers of classical music in the Chinese mainland will also have their chance to witness the orchestra.

"Later in the year we are going to play in Beijing, it's the 20th anniversary of HKSAR, 20th anniversary of the Beijing Music Festival and 50th anniversary of the Salzburg Easter Festival, founded by one of the greatest conductors of all time -- Herbert von Karajan," Macleod said.

Macleod added that although it was a pleasure to play in Sydney, the thrill of performing in the Chinese mainland would be tremendous.

"The Chinese audiences are becoming more and more aware of great western orchestral music and we are finding the receptions we get, bigger and better all the time."

Although the HKSAR is mostly known for its thriving economic sector, as a hub for international trade and finance, Macleod said he hoped the tour would showcase a more artistic side of the region.

"We get around the world, playing great music conducted by our music director who is now one of the great conductors of our time (Jaap van Zweden)," Macleod said.

"He's just been appointed director on the New York Philharmonic and he's not leaving us to join them, he's going to do them both concurrently."

"So it's very exciting times for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-06 01:24:56|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DUBAI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Friday that the Saudi-led Arab coalition will continue its mission until the Yemeni people can decide their own future, UAE state news agency WAM reported.

The remarks were made by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum in a public speech on the 41st anniversary of the UAE Armed Forces Unification Day in the capital Abu Dhabi.

"Having accomplished strategic targets to thwart coup plans, the coalition has enabled legitimacy to return to Yemen, extending control over most of its territory and aiding the country to rebuild in liberated areas," he said.

"The coalition countries will continue their mission until the Yemeni people can decide their own future away from the terror, threats and intimidation of coup militants," the vice president added.

Since the beginning of the anti-Houthi campaign in Yemen, dozens of UAE military personnel have lost their lives.

On Tuesday, the UAE Supreme Command of the Armed Forces said a UAE soldier, identified as Hassan Abdullah Al-Beshr, was killed in action in Yemen.

The UAE is part of the Saudi-led coalition of nine Arab states to support Yemen's internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The coalition has been air striking on a daily basis the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi group across Yemen since March 26, 2015, when Hadi fled to the Saudi capital Riyadh to take refuge. The coalition said its intervention aims to restore Hadi's authority in the country.
by Eric J. Lyman

ROME, May 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S.-based Internet search giant Google and Italy's tax authority agreed this week to terms to end a long-standing tax dispute over 306 million euros (336 million U.S. dollars), in a deal that experts said would help set the stage for similar agreements in the future.

The settlement satisfies Google's tax obligations over a 14-year tax period from 2002 to 2015, at an amount far lower than the 800 million to one billion euros Italy reportedly sought when the investigation was opened last year.

But it is also a third higher than the 224-million-euro settlement figure that was leaked to Italian media in the final days of the negotiations.

According to Raffaele Barberio, director of the tech-savvy Key4Biz web site, the agreement was a victory in Italy's efforts to ensure big technology companies like Google paid their share of taxes.

"There has been an adversarial situation between the Italian state and big digital companies," Barberio told Xinhua. "This doesn't mean that the situation doesn't exist any more, but the wall has been breached. From the point of view of Italian tax collectors, it is a big step forward."

Barberio said he would be "surprised" if more investigations into online companies did not follow.

Francesco Brandi, a former government tax agency official working as a law professor with Rome's La Sapienza University, agreed.

"The biggest development here is not the extra cash for the Italian treasury, but the fact that Google and other major players will have to follow these rules from this point forward," Brandi said in an interview.

In a statement, Google, which is a subsidiary of the U.S. holding company Alphabet, Inc., said: "In addition to the corporation tax already paid in Italy, Google will pay an additional 306 million euros."

While the case was being negotiated, Google denied owing additional taxes in Italy on several occasions.

The central part of the case revolves around allegations that Google illegally lowered its tax obligations by logging profits in low-tax jurisdictions like Ireland.

The value of the deal with Google is just short of the 318-million-euro settlement Italy reached with Apple, Inc. in December 2015, still the largest single tax settlement case ever in Italy.

More recently, Italy opened an investigation in April into the tax obligations of U.S.-based online retailer Amazon, accusing the company of underpaying its tax bill by at least 130 million euros. Amazon has denied any wrongdoing. (1 euro = 1.10 U.S. dollars)
Police officers stand guard on Champs Elysees shopping street in Paris, France on April 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

PARIS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- French police on Friday found hidden weapons near the military base in western France, where a former soldier was arrested, local media reported.

The 34-year-old former soldier was arrested on early Friday morning, according to the newspaper L'Express.

The suspect was already known to French intelligence services before the arrest as "fiche S," which refers to people considered a specific threat to security and those who have been radicalized.

According to a source close to the investigation, quoted by L'Express, "a shotgun, two powder revolvers and ammunition" were discovered near the air base 105 of Evreux, Normandy.

The anti-terrorism unit of the Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation for "individual terrorist incident," and the suspect is being held for "fraudulent entry into a military zone" and "violation of legislation on weapons," several media reports said.

According to RTL radio, the suspect's car caught the attention of the police, who later found a rifle cartridge inside the vehicle.

The suspect was possibly planning on further actions targeting the military base, the radio quoted a source as saying.

The arrest came two days before the second round of the French presidential election, in the backdrop of high security risks.

On the evening of April 20, three days before the first around of the election, a policeman was killed in the Champs-Elysees avenue in an attack claimed by the Islamic State.
NAIROBI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Senior government and UN officials from across the world are due to meet in Nairobi from Monday to discuss ways of accelerating sustainable urban development, the UN-housing agency said on Friday.

Delegates who will attend the 26th Session of the United Nation's Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) Governing Council will also deliberate the climate change and its impact on cities.

"The Governing Council will be attended by government ministers, senior officials and other representatives of governments making up the Council as well as UN-Habitat partners who will deliberate on these issues as well as climate change and its impact on cities," UN-Habitat said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

The Governing Council meets every two years to examine UN-Habitat's work plan for the coming biennial.

It is a high-level forum of governments at the ministerial level during which policy guidelines and the organization's budget are established for the next two-year period.

Following the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development in Quito in October 2016, the theme of this Governing Council is opportunities for the effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
KIEV, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine on Friday welcomed the European Parliament (EP)'s decision to expand trade preferences for the country, which granted it additional food exports quotas.

"The decision to increase quotas on Ukrainian agricultural products is important for us as it will expand our export opportunities," Ukrainian Agriculture Minister Taras Kutovyi said in a statement.

The new trade preferences will bring Ukraine an estimated 200 million U.S. dollars in additional exports revenues, Kutovyi said.

On Thursday, the EP's Committee on International Trade voted to expand the quotas on duty-free imports from Ukraine of such products as honey, grape juice, and food made of corn, barley and oats.

Last year, Ukraine's agricultural exports to European Union (EU) countries increased by 1.6 percent to 4.2 billion dollars.

In January 2016, Ukraine and the EU launched a free trade agreement, which removed custom tariffs on over 90 percent of goods traded between the sides. The deal imposed annual quotas on 36 types of goods, mostly food, exported by Ukraine.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-06 02:45:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LONDON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- With most of the results declared Friday in Britain's local elections, the results for the Conservatives under Prime Minister Theresa May, where the party's biggest success since 1973.

Political commentators said the results pointed to a potential landslide for May in next month's snap general election when voting takes place for the country's 650 House of Commons MPs.

Overnight counting of votes for town halls and county halls in England, Scotland and Wales offered little comfort to the main opposition Labor Party, but as counting continued Friday the toll of lost seats in council chambers continued.

UKIP, the United Kingdom Independence Party set up to campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, was virtually wiped off the political map, losing virtually every seat on local councils it had held.

The results will also have implications across the English channel, with the success of the Conservatives indicating approval for May's strong Brexit approach.

There were consolation prizes for Labor, winning the race for the first ever metro mayors in the big city regions of Manchester and Liverpool, though Conservative Andy Street became metro mayor in Birmingham after a nail-biting fight to the finish with Labor.

In Scotland, Labor lost control of Glasgow City Council, with the results making Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish National Party the biggest group at city hall.

Rather than being in a celebratory mood, Prime Minister May responded to the Conservatives success by saying she was taking nothing for granted ahead of the June 8 general election, adding: "there is too much at stake".

May said she would be fighting on the election campaign trail every day of the next five weeks to earn the support of the British people to strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations with Brussels.

Election expert Professor John Curtice, from the University of Strathcylde in Scotland, said that if the council results were reflected at next month's general election, May would win a bigger majority, but possibly not the landslide May is hoping for.

When the British House of Commons was dissolved earlier this week, the Conservative government had a working majority of 17.

Labor's finance spokesman, the Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, said the results were not the wipe-out that many commentators had forecasted. Labor, he said, was building a solid base for the general election.

Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn was in Liverpool, one of the party's strongest areas of support Friday night, celebrating the success of Steve Rotheram in the metro mayor election.

In a statement Corbyn said: "The results were mixed. We lost seats but we are closing the gap on the Conservatives. I am disappointed at every Labor defeat in the local elections. Too many fantastic councilors, who work tirelessly for their communities, lost their seats.

In the Daily Telegraph, a commentary said Labor's heartlands are now under a new level of threat from the Conservatives, the party coming to sweep away Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn.

In Scotland, the Conservatives won more than 130 seats, making them the biggest party behind the SNP. May's party scored wins in council seats once described as no-go areas for Conservatives.

Some people are already talking of a funeral wake for UKIP, but the party's newly chosen leader Paul Nuttall said UKIP was a victim of its own success, having campaigned for and succeeded in bringing Britain out of the EU.

With virtually all the results in by mid-evening Friday, the Conservatives had gained 558 seats, Labor had lost 320 seats and the Lib Dems lost 37.

The SNP in Scotland gained 31 seats and there was success for the nationalists in Wales, with Plaid Cymru making 26 gains. UKIP, meanwhile, lost 114 seats.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-06 03:05:54|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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UNITED NATIONS, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council has urged all political actors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to keep the interests of people above all else.

Voicing concern over challenges to the implementation of last year's political agreement in the DRC and deteriorating humanitarian and security situation, the Security Council has urged all stakeholders "to redouble their efforts to resolve the problems faced by the country," said members of the Security Council in a statement late Thursday.

The agreement, popularly referred to as the "December agreement" represented a significant step towards a peacefully managed transition. However, its implementation has since seen considerable difficulties.

"Effective, swift and timely implementation of the agreement is critical to a credible process and the peace and stability of the DRC, as well as in supporting the legitimacy of the transitional institutions, as it represents a viable roadmap towards the holding of peaceful and democratic elections," according to the statement.

Also in the statement, the members urged for the swift and inclusive establishment of a government of national unity, the adoption of a new electoral law and the full implementation of the confidence building measures in chapter V of the December 31, 2016 agreement, some of which are yet to be implemented.

They also urged all national political stakeholders to overcome their differences, uphold the interests of their people and ensure that they are guided by the rule of law, restraint and the spirit of compromise and dialogue.

The members of Security Council condemned violence and alleged violations and abuses of human rights in the Kasai region as well as the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the region, which according to reports, has displaced more than 1 million people within the country and more than 11,000 across its borders, according to the statement.

They also stressed the need for a swift and full investigation into the killing of the two members of the Group of Experts established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1533 (2004).
A man waves traditional daggers, or Jambiyas, as he attends with supporters of the Houthi movement a rally to mark two years of the military intervention by the Saudi-led coalition, in Sanaa, Yemen March 26, 2017. (Reuters photo)

DUBAI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Friday that the Saudi-led Arab coalition will continue its mission until the Yemeni people can decide their own future, UAE state news agency WAM reported.

The remarks were made by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum in a public speech on the 41st anniversary of the UAE Armed Forces Unification Day in the capital Abu Dhabi.

"Having accomplished strategic targets to thwart coup plans, the coalition has enabled legitimacy to return to Yemen, extending control over most of its territory and aiding the country to rebuild in liberated areas," he said.

"The coalition countries will continue their mission until the Yemeni people can decide their own future away from the terror, threats and intimidation of coup militants," the vice president added.

Since the beginning of the anti-Houthi campaign in Yemen, dozens of UAE military personnel have lost their lives.

On Tuesday, the UAE Supreme Command of the Armed Forces said a UAE soldier, identified as Hassan Abdullah Al-Beshr, was killed in action in Yemen.

The UAE is part of the Saudi-led coalition of nine Arab states to support Yemen's internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The coalition has been air striking on a daily basis the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi group across Yemen since March 26, 2015, when Hadi fled to the Saudi capital Riyadh to take refuge. The coalition said its intervention aims to restore Hadi's authority in the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-06 03:21:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- White House Chief Usher Angella Reid, the first woman and second African-American to hold this job, has been fired, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Friday without giving any reasons.

"We left on very good terms and wish her the very best and certainly hope for great things for her in the future," Sanders said at the daily press briefing.

"However, it's not uncommon that you might have a transition when a new administration comes in and it's simply nothing more than that," Sanders said, adding that the deputy chief usher would step into an acting role for now.

Reid joined the White House in 2011 under President Barack Obama. She was previously the general manager at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City, just outside Washington.

The White House Chief Usher, which is not a political position, is to run the White House executive mansion, overseeing its staff and all major events at the residence and working closely with the first family.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the country's Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova (not pictured) in Moscow on May 5, 2017. (Kremlin Photo)

MOSCOW, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he will ask governmental bodies to support an investigation into the alleged persecution of homosexuals in the country.

According to a Kremlin transcript, Putin made the remarks when meeting with Russia's Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova, who asked him to order the establishment of an inter-departmental working group "to accept public appeals, if any" on the issue.

"I will talk with the Prosecutor General and the Minister of the Interior so that they support you on the topic you raised ... I hope colleagues will respond and support you," Putin said.

Last month, the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported that authorities of the Chechen Republic in North Caucasus detained and tortured homosexuals. But local officials have repeatedly denied the report.

Earlier this week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked Putin to ensure the rights of homosexuals during their meeting at the Russian resort city of Sochi.
BRATISLAVA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The construction work for an engineering and electronic industry plant to be built by Japanese company MinebeaMitsumi started on Friday in Kosice, eastern Slovakia, local media reported.

For this plant, MinebeaMitsumi reportedly will invest at least 60 million euros (65.9 million U.S. dollars) and provide jobs to 1,100 people.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has praised the company's decision to invest in the underdeveloped eastern Slovakia.

"Apart from established sectors as steel production and IT, this region is now getting standard industrial production, which is so typical for Slovakia. From this perspective, Slovakia is the most industrialised country in the EU when it comes to the share of industry on GDP," Fico said.

Operations at the plant, which would be one of Europe's most advanced producers of mechatronic propulsion systems and electric engines for industrial purposes, including the automotive sector, will be launched in the first quarter of 2018.
BUCHAREST, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The prime ministers of Moldova and Turkey on Friday appreciated the dynamic of bilateral contacts and expected a qualitatively new stage of the relations on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral ties.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim arrived on Friday in Chisinau, for a two-day official visit, the first ever official trip at the prime ministerial level from Turkey to Moldova.

Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip exchanged opinions with his Turkish counterpart on the main subjects on the international agenda, according to a governmental release reaching here from Chisinau, the capital of Moldova.

The two officials also agreed to develop the present mechanism in the trade and economic sectors, to efficiently enforce the Free Trade Agreement and to back mutual investments.

Turkey is an important economic partner of Moldova and as many as 1,126 enterprises with Turkish capital work in Moldova, according to official sources.

Following the meeting, the two prime ministers signed a joint declaration and then attended the official inauguration of the new building of the Turkish embassy in Moldova.
ACCRA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Ghana would be in the position to export power to its neighboring countries within the next four years, World Bank Country Director, Henry Kerali projected here late Friday.

According to him, the investments made by the country in the energy sector have resulted in the situation where there is bound to be the over-supply of power in the country to necessitate the exportation of part of the power to neighboring countries.

Kerali was addressing the media here on the outcomes of discussions held between the new government of Ghana and the World Bank Group during the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC, in America last month.

"The past government had too many Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) signed; this is more than needed to satisfy the demands in the country. There will be at least 1.5 Giga Watts (GW) of excess electricity available, more than can be consumed in the country," Kerali projected.

The World Bank official therefore urged the country to enter into discussions with the neighboring countries early so the excess power would take advantage of the power needs in the sub-region to make Ghana a net exporter of power.

The World Bank official however expressed worry that some of the PPAs were negotiated with very high cost which could make Ghana's energy tariffs uncompetitive in the sub-region.

He therefore called for a re-negotiation of some of the PPAs in order to drive down the cost component which would help make Ghana's energy tariffs competitive in the sub-region.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-06 04:01:38|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ANKARA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A total of 107 Turkey's judges and prosecutors were dismissed on Friday as part of an ongoing probe into the Gulen movement.

Turkey's High Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) dismissed these judicial officials over their alleged links to U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of being behind the failed coup attempt in July 2016, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Mehmet Yilmaz, deputy chairman of HSYK, said two of the dismissed have used ByLock, an encrypted messaging application Gulenists use to communicate with each other.

A detention warrant was also issued.

According to local media, the number of dismissed judges and prosecutors as part of the ongoing investigation into the coup attempt has exceeded 4,000.

Since the failed coup, tens of thousands of people have been dismissed or suspended from public positions, hundreds of others arrested for alleged involvement in the coup or suspected links to the Gulen movement.
KAMPALA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Tucked away over 50km north of the capital Kampala, Chinese technicians continue to set up the first agricultural industrial park in the east African country.

In different parts of the country, Chinese experts advise local farmers on how best to make agriculture a lucrative business.

Back in the capital, Chinese enterprises at a one day China-Uganda business forum are networking to devise ways of setting up more businesses in the country.

Among the key discussions in the meeting attended by top Ugandan government officials and Chinese enterprises is the agriculture sector, the mainstay of the economy.

Agriculture is Uganda's main economic activity with over 70 percent of the country's population deriving its livelihood from the sector.

Government figures show that the sector growth 2014/15 was 4.4 percent with a contribution of 24 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. The growth was mainly on account of increased cash and food crop production.

Uganda is hoping, basing on the experiences back home, that the Chinese enterprises could set up businesses to boost growth in the sector.

Already some Chinese business people have set up shop. The locals are farming Chinese hybrid rice and fox-tail millet both on a small and large scale basis.

According to experts, the yield of Chinese hybrid rice is three times more than the local breed from one hectare of land. Similarly, the yield of fox-tail millet is two times more than the local breed, finger millet in the same acreage.

At the business forum, Evelyn Anite, minister of state for privatization and investment said Uganda welcomes Chinese enterprises into the agriculture sector with open arms, noting that government has set up many incentives to make the sector lucrative.

"That is one untapped opportunity that many investors have not gone into," Anite told the meeting convened by Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), a state run investment agency and the Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce in Uganda.

Among the key incentives is that companies would enjoy tax free export on agricultural products. Those that bring into the country machinery that is geared towards adding value to agriculture would not pay tax on the equipment imported.

Jolly Kamugira, UIA Executive Director told the meeting that the companies also stand out to benefit from the different lucrative markets that the country has access to.

Uganda exports its agriculture products tax and quota free to the United States through the American Growth Opportunity Act. It has also access to the European Union market and other markets like China on tax and quota free basis.

In the region, Uganda supplies its agriculture produce to neighboring South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and western Kenya.

According to UIA, the investment opportunities in the sector are in commercial farming, agro-processing, manufacturing inputs, cold storage facilities and irrigation among others.

Uganda is optimistic that with the conclusion of the ongoing transport and energy infrastructure projects, the cost of doing business in the country would go down enabling investors to recoup big returns.
CIBC FirstCaribbean wins two awards

The regional banks credit card products were also named best in the region by International Finance Magazine (IFM) in its International Finance Awards for 2017.

The International Finance Awards recognise and honour individuals and organisations in the international finance industry and celebrates the highest standards of innovation and performance. The awards highlight those who make a contribution to raising the bar in the financial industry.

This years winners will be honoured at a gala event and presentation ceremony in Dubai. The ceremony brings together a Whos Who of the international finance community together under one roof.

We are delighted to have won these two prestigious awards, said Trevor Torzsas, the banks Managing Director, Cards and Customer Relationship Management, under whose portfolio the winning products fall.

These awards are a fitting tribute to the hard work of our dedicated team of client-focused professionals whose daily mission is to provide our clients with excellent banking products and services that fit their lives. We were able to impress the judges with our highly rated mobile app, which has been receiving high praise from our clients, along with the impressive suite of credit card products that we have introduced to the market, most recently our CHIP, PIN and Contactless cards and our Cash Back card, Torzsas said Since its launch last June, CIBC FirstCaribbeans mobile app for smartphones has been downloaded by thousands of clients and has been consistently rated 4.5 and higher by users.

The app which can be downloaded from the playstore, the apple store and blackberry world is accessed via Android, Apple, Blackberry and Windows devices.

It affords users the convenience of checking their account balances, transferring funds between accounts or to other CIBC First- Caribbean clients, paying bills and locating branches and Instant Tellers, all from their mobile device.

In addition to the CHIP, PIN and Contactless technology, the banks credit card products were recognized for the variety of cards on offer, co-branding, loyalty programme, customer service and security.
Cabinet seeks information on TSTT/Massy deal

Finance Minister Colm Imbert and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said this at yesterdays post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns.

At a public inquiry held by the Public Accounts Enterprises Committee (PAEC) at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre on Wednesday, TSTT chairman Emile Elias declined to provide PAEC chairman Wade Mark and committee member David Small with particulars of the agreement.

This is actually something that is currently being looked at by the Cabinet, Young said.

Asked if Cabinet knew about the decision by TSTT to acquire Massy Communications, Imbert replied, It depends on the decision. Imbert continued, We are going to ask TSTT to explain to us exactly what are the implications of that decision. He explained the information which Cabinet is seeking will determine whether this is a governance, operational or policy matter.

Imbert said it will also clarify how this affects Governments policy for the continuation of TSTT, especially in relation to the acquisition of a company and its associated personnel. He said once Cabinet has all the information and is able to analyse it, it will make a decision in due course.
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The membership of the Algerian-backed separatist entity, SADR, in the African Union is an anomaly that goes against the international law, said Moroccos Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

Bourita told the French radio channel, RFI, that two thirds of African countries do not recognize the Algerian-sponsored separatist entity. He recalled that during the AUs July summit in Kigali, 28 African states submitted a motion demanding the freeze of the membership of the Polisario in the pan-African organization.

Bourita explained that the participation of the Polisario in the African Unions sectoral committees is an aberration since the SADR does not fulfill the attributes of state sovereignty.

Concerning Moroccos bid to join the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS), Bourita set a confident tone saying that several West African countries have welcomed Moroccos membership in view of the prominent place attached in Moroccos foreign policy to west Africa, which attracts most of the Kingdoms FDIs.

The Foreign Minister highlighted that historical, cultural, geographic and economic ties as well as Moroccos contribution to peace keeping in the region are all in favor of the Kingdoms membership in the ECOWAS.

Moroccos request to join ECOWAS is the continuation of a decades-long process of fostering ties with the countries of the region. With the inclusion of Morocco, the sub-regional grouping will bolster its aggregated GDP to the 16th rank globally ahead of Turkey and right after Indonesia.
British foreign Secretary Boris Johnson made on Thursday his first visit to Libya to support efforts made for a unified and stable government in this North African country.

During his visit, Mr. Boris Johnson met Libyan Prime Minister Faiez Serraj and Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala. Talks focused on the challenges faced by Libyas Government of National Accord and how the UK can support Libyan efforts to re-establish security, stability, and prosperity for the Libyan people

The Foreign Secretary also met Abdurrahman Swehli, President of Libyas High State Council. In these meetings, Mr Johnson underlined the importance of Libyas legitimate political institutions working together to break the political deadlock which is prolonging instability and the suffering of the Libyan people.

Libyas political and social groups need to seize the momentum offered by the welcome meeting between Prime Minister Serraj and Marshall Haftar earlier this week to set out a path towards Libyan reconciliation and unity, said the UK Foreign Secretary.

Security, stability and prosperity can only be achieved when the countrys leaders choose to get together and work out a plan for the common benefit of the Libyan people, he added, stressing the importance of establishing an effective governance to defeat terrorism in Libya and counter illegal migration.

The meetings in Tripoli followed talks held Wednesday in Tunis with Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui on counterterrorism cooperation, UK assistance in improving the Tunisian security situation, and boosting trade.

On his visit to Tunisia, Mr Johnson said: It was a pleasure to visit Tunisia for the first time and to meet my counterpart for our first bilateral talks. The UK is a long term partner and friend of Tunisia and will continue to cooperate closely on security, counterterrorism and trade.
Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

College students, you may have heard, are increasingly opposed to free speech. Especially liberal ones  they just cant handle views they disagree with, especially conservative ones. Except: It might be more complicated than that. Thats the takeaway of a new survey of Yale University students  who made national headlines for an uproar over a Halloween-costume email back in 2015  summed up by James Freeman in The Wall Street Journal.

The survey was commissioned by the William F. Buckley Jr. Program at Yale, and there were 872 respondents. Freeman, who is on the board of that organization, notes that 72 percent of respondents were opposed to the idea of Yale having speech codes to regulate speech for students and faculty. And when presented with an either-or question about controversial views, 84% opted for intellectual diversity and just 5% favored muzzling people with controversial views.

Freeman cites this as both good news, from his point of view, and as a novel finding: The first sentence of his column is At last, theres hopeful news on intellectual liberty from a college campus. But this isnt entirely new, even for Yale. Last year, in the course of debunking some claims about how ostensibly anti-free-speech college students are, I highlighted a previous iteration of that same survey of Yale students which found that they generally reported being staunchly supportive of free-speech rights, at least when the question was asked in certain ways (the slide deck I reference doesnt appear to be available online anymore, unfortunately):

The slide deck notes on page 9, for example, that [e]ight in ten [students surveyed] believe that freedom of speech should either be less limited on college campuses or there should be no difference compared to society at large. On page 14, the authors write that When given a list of choices, just one in ten believes colleges should regulate free speech more. And on page 29, the authors note that Greater than six in ten say political correctness on college campuses is either a big problem (19%) or somewhat of a problem (44%)  though, to be fair, this can be interpreted both as evidence that college students respect free speech and of evidence that they think that PC culture is a problem on their campuses (though they dont appear to be too exercised about it).

Now, surveys are complicated and susceptible to rather wild swings based on question wording, so it would be wrong to cherry-pick any limited set of findings and then make sweeping generalizations about college students these days. Plus, there were some items on the survey where students werent quite so free-speech-friendly. And it goes without saying that what happens at Yale might not be applicable to the rest of the college population.

But whats striking is, zooming out a little, just how little empirical evidence there is to suggest college students differ in big ways from the broader population when it comes to their support for free speech, despite how often we hear confident assertions that campuses are free-speech no-go zones. People clearly think there is a big difference and will sometimes point to survey evidence to support this view, the best recent-ish example being a Pew survey from a year and a half ago finding that 40 percent of students favored government bans on certain forms of offensive speech. I initially covered that finding as though it were alarming, but when I looked around at other past surveys of Americans views on free speech, it was clear that the 40 percent number wasnt an outlier. In other words, as I wrote in a subsequent mea culpa:

[T]his number is well within the standard range of responses when not just college students but Americans have been asked if some forms of speech should be banned by the government. Despite what wed like to tell ourselves about Americans fierce love of free speech, a lot of us have basically always supported banning its offensive varieties. What has changed, over time, is which categories of speech make people the most ban-happy  in the past its been pro-Communist propaganda, and more recently its been racial slurs. But at no point has it been unusual for something in the ballpark of nearly half of Americans to be in favor of government bans on some form of speech, so the fact that this same percentage of students are supportive of restrictions on certain forms of free speech on campus tells us exactly nothing. But, hey, without all that pesky context it sure does sound damning.

Part of whats going on here could come down to preference intensity and opportunity. By which I mean that college students who are in favor of expanding restrictions on free speech might feel relatively more strongly about it than do their pro-free-speech peers, and they have highly visible opportunities to express those views by attempting to no-platform speakers they dont like, or responding assertively to instances of perceived administrator insensitivity. Whenever they do so, of course  or whenever they engage in any other act that can be portrayed as yet another instance of out-of-control college activists  it gets blown up to the status of a national news story. Twenty years ago, no one would have heard of a small group of Oberlin students protesting about the cultural appropriation of Banh Mi going on at a dining hall there, or about any of the dozen other similar blowups that seem to occur on a monthly basis.

Furthermore, its very hard for stories that buck the trend  stories about how most college students arent sent into conniptions by appropriated Banh Mi  to get much traction because of the whole dog-bites-man thing: No one wants to write about college students who are acting like everyday American adults with fairly standard views on free speech. So while the phrase silent majority has some unfortunate political baggage affixed to it, it might accurately capture whats going on here. There may not have been much real, substantive movement in the anti-free-speech direction on campus  a lot of kids dont see the need to ban or no-platform offensive speakers, but they arent in the streets about it, and may simply not want to bother stating their own views during those instances in which things get out of hand. Because theyre quiet, they dont get much coverage, skewing everyones view of college students as a group.
Young voters dont like Donald Trump, his party, or his policies. But they also dont like voting in non-presidential elections. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The darkest cloud threatening what should be a sunny Democratic Election Day in 2018 is the donkey partys recent dependence on elements of the electorate  minorities and millennials  who tend to be a smaller share of the electorate in non-presidential elections. Democrats midterm falloff problem is sometimes misdiagnosed as an enthusiasm issue: While enthusiasm can matter significantly on the margins, the bigger problem is simply that younger and minority voters have never participated in midterms as much as their older and whiter counterparts, and they now play a bigger role in the Democratic coalition than ever. This heavy dependence on falloff voters is pretty recent in its intensity: Last time Democrats won back the House from Republicans, in 2006, they carried the senior vote. That is almost certainly not going to happen in 2018.

So as Ron Brownstein explains, one part of the 2018 puzzle for Democrats is taking advantage of millennial antipathy to Donald Trump to get these most falloff-prone of voters to show up at the polls:

The challenge is especially urgent for Democrats because Trump divides younger and older Americans so sharply. Though Trump showed strength among blue-collar white Millennials, he carried just 36 percent of young people overall last November. Polls show hes lost ground since. Both the CNN/ORC and NBC/Wall Street Journal surveys released last week found his approval rating among adults aged 18 to 34almost exactly the Millennial generations boundariesfalling below 30 percent. Thats much lower than his ratings among older adults, especially those 50 or older.



Polls have also found that over three-fourths of Millennials oppose both Trumps Mexico border wall and his push to repeal Obamas climate-change agenda. Eliminating funding for Planned Parenthood, cutting taxes for top earners, barring Syrian refugeeseach Trump prioritiesall face preponderant Millennial opposition in surveys.

More to the point, early congressional generic balloting shows millennials demonstrating the kind of Democratic preference the party needs, assuming they can get these voters to the polls:

Millennials said they preferred Democrats for Congress by crushing margins of nearly 30 percentage points in both the NBC/Wall Street Journal and CNN/ORC surveys. Thats more than double the partys advantage among younger voters in NBC/Wall Street Journal polls from 2010 and 2014. By contrast, Americans 35 years old or more divide exactly evenly between the parties on that ballot test in the CNN/ORC survey and slightly prefer Republicans in the other.

Eventually, the overall growth of the millennial population will make this demographic category dominant no matter how much it does or doesnt turn out. But for 2018, something more is needed.

One answer Democrats are offering is to recruit millennial candidates:

Two young Democratic operatives have approached the problem from the supply side by forming an organization called Run for Something that assists progressive Millennials seeking state or local office. Amanda Litman, the groups co-founder, said it is building a network of campaign consultants and donors to help young candidates for offices from school board to state legislatures; it has already advanced about 800 potential candidates past its initial screening process.

But there is a surprisingly underwhelming estimate of millennial turnout from a high-profile election this year featuring a millennial candidate and all the money and enthusiasm in the world: the special election in the sixth district of Georgia. Nate Cohn ran the numbers the day after the first-round election on April 18:

The electorate was almost exactly as old and white as would be expected in a normal midterm electorate. This is not surprising  there is no recent precedent for a strong turnout among young and nonwhite voters in midterm elections. But this sort of pattern would hamper Democrats in relatively diverse districts where they depend more on nonwhite voters, like those in Southern and Central California, South Florida and Texas.

Democrats did turn out a higher percentage of their millennial voters for Jon Ossoff than Republicans turned out for their candidates. But his strong performance owed more to a higher share of older white voters than to any triumph over the midterm falloff.

So the challenge persists heading toward 2018. In the end a vote is a vote, and Democrats can claw back a lot of congressional seats through a combination of relatively small improvements among 2016 Trump voters, 2016 congressional Republican voters, and stay-at-home-prone Democratic millennials and minorities. But figuring out what makes millennials vote in proportionate numbers would be priceless.
games

March Madness Is Perfect, So of Course Theyre Trying to Ruin It

Big universities want to expand the tournament, which would make the Cinderella stories everyone loves much less likely to happen.
Marchers on Tax Day demanding that Trump release his returns. Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

The likelihood that Donald Trump would voluntarily release his own tax returns probably hit zero well before his 100th day in the presidency. But his resistance alone might not be enough to keep them out of public view: A bill now being considered by the New York State Legislature would require Trumps state tax returns to be published online. Since those contain much of the same information thats in his federal returns, wed finally get a sense not only of how much hes actually worth, but how much hed potentially stand to benefit from his radical tax-slashing plans. The idea to leverage the state legislature to reveal Trumps taxes was originally proposed by Daniel Hemel, a law professor at the University of Chicago, in a Washington Post op-ed. More recently, Hemel has also issued a legal paper arguing for why it would hold up in court. I caught up with him last week for a breakdown on how the plan would work.

How did the idea end up in the state legislature?

After I wrote the op-ed in the Washington Post, the office of Brad Hoylman, the state senator who represents lower Manhattan, contacted me to talk about it. Also, a constituent of David Buchwald, who represents Westchester County, went to the protest over Trumps tax returns on April 15, saw her assemblyman there, and put us in touch. So this was grassroots democracy at its best. I also give a lot of credit to a New York lawyer named Andrea Weiss, who saw the op-ed and got together a group of lawyers in New York who are active in city and state politics. She worked on draft legislation and got state senators and assemblymen on board.

The law would apply to all politicians in a certain category, right? It wouldnt be a one-off thing affecting only Donald Trump.

Yes. This isnt just about President Trump. He triggered it because he violated a decades-old norm of tax transparency that we previously hadnt needed a law to enforce. But the norm mattered before Trump, and it will matter after Trump.

The law would apply to any president, vice-president, or New York statewide elected official, which includes the governor and the two U.S. senators representing the state. It would require that when they take office, the state tax authority has to post on its website a statement saying whether these people have filed New York state tax returns in the last five years. If so, it requires the tax authority to actually post copies of those returns.

Whats an example of something we might find in Trumps returns that would be valuable for the public to know about?

I can answer that question without speculating about anything involving the Kremlin. The leak of his 2005 returns revealed that the only reason he was paying taxes was because of the alternative minimum tax. I think he ended up paying about $38 million. Without that, he would have been paying zero taxes.

The issue is that Trump just proposed getting rid of the alternative minimum tax. We dont know whether thats his tax situation circa 2017, but if I were a member of Congress  in fact, even simply as a voter  I want to know before supporting his tax-reform plan whether it looks engineered to reduce the presidents own taxes.

Another feature of the proposal he recently put out was a plan to dramatically lower the tax rate on income that individuals get through pass-throughs. There are lots of small businesses that are set up as pass-throughs, but also lots of real-estate developers and giant privately held companies that are pass-throughs. You and I get wages as employees, so we wouldnt benefit from that. Donald Trump probably gets a salary from the Trump Organization; he gets a salary as president; and he probably gets something from NBC for The Celebrity Apprentice. But hes got a lot of income coming from pass-throughs as well. Most of us would expect that the vast majority of his income was coming from those. And here he wants to lower the top rate on pass-throughs from 39.6 percent to 15 percent. Thats a big tax cut. What does it mean for his own tax returns?

But the norm mattered before Trump, and it will matter after Trump.

It seemed to be a late-in-the-day decision to extend the corporate tax cut to pass-throughs. We would know more from his tax returns how much of his income is going through corporations that are taxed as corporations, and how much is going through pass-throughs. It would help us evaluate that aspect of his tax plan. Does that look like good tax policy, or does it look like good personal tax minimization by the president?

Yeah, we are talking about someone whos clearly not above using the presidency to enrich himself in the most petty ways. Hes famously cheap.

And weve demanded this from presidents who were not famously cheap. I dont think that President Reagan supported the 86 tax reform because it reduced his own taxes, but I think it was helpful for voters and members of Congress to be able to look at his tax returns and think, Hey, does this seem like its being done in the public interest or for self-interest?

What do you think would be most likely to derail your proposal? The New York legislature not passing it? Or a court challenge later on?

I think this should hold up in court, but I dont know whether it will get through the New York State Legislature. Im hopeful. As you know, both chambers of the legislature have majorities of Democrats, but in the State Senate, theres a group of eight Democrats who caucus with Republicans, such that Republicans actually control the State Senate. I think that objectively speaking, the most likely roadblock is the State Senate.

But I dont think thats insurmountable, for a number of reasons. One, I think the Democrats who caucus with the Republican minority probably will be blue on this particular issue. Its hard enough to explain to Democratic voters in your district why you are caucusing with the other party, but its a lot harder if the consequence of doing that is that we dont see the presidents tax returns. The Independent Democrats in the state senate can say, Look, this is about state politics, not about Donald Trump. But once it becomes about Donald Trump, that argument loses.

Second, I think this is an issue where theres bipartisan support. There was a poll from the Global Strategy Group from last month, suggesting that 64 percent of Republicans want Trump to release his tax returns. A bill in the House that would force disclosure has Republican co-sponsors. So I think this legislation could, quite plausibly, win votes from Republicans as well. Also, Governor Cuomo believes in tax transparency. He discloses his tax returns. Im optimistic about his support.

And then there are the legal challenges that might come. There are really only two people who I think might challenge this: Donald Trump and Melania Trump. The paper I wrote is mostly focused on constitutional and statutory arguments. Im trying to give the benefit of the doubt to the opposing side. I want supporters of this legislation to know what the best arguments against it are. But frankly, at the end of the day, I dont think these arguments will hold up.

You said in the paper that theres some prospect of the IRS retaliating against the state of New York, if the state were to do this. What would that look like?

Well, it hasnt happened before, so its hard to say. And historically, the IRS has done an admirable job of separating itself from politics  even though it has withstood criticism during the last few years for its processing of tax-exemption applications from tea-party organizations. Hopefully that continues under President Trump.

But is it conceivable that the IRS would cut off information-sharing with New York state? Its not impossible. There are a lot of ways in which states and the federal government share information about taxpayers and tax returns. The IRS is getting W-2s and 1099s from the people who pay you, and if that doesnt correspond to what you file, it raises a red flag  and the IRS tells your state, too. Thats extraordinarily valuable to New York state. The IRS could say, Hey, New York, were not going to tell you that anymore. The state really depends on that.

But the IRS depends on the states, too. The federal government doesnt know when you die. The state is the one that issues a death certificate. But the IRS wants to know, because it doesnt want fraudulent refund claims on behalf of dead people. The state can also help the IRS identify which small businesses arent filing federal taxes. So for the IRS to cut off information-sharing with New York would be to cut off its nose to spite its face. The probability is very, very low, but I cant say that its zero.

The state is also considering a bill that would require candidates to release their tax returns in order to be on the ballot in future elections.

Right. Those laws would say, If you want to be on our ballot in 2020, you need to disclose your federal returns. So theyre state laws concerning federal returns. New Jersey has passed this, but Chris Christie is widely expected to veto it [Ed. Christie vetoed the bill on May 1]. However, there are similar proposals in almost half the states, and its entirely conceivable that it will get through somewhere. So thats great. But there are a few red flags, or drawbacks, to the plan, relative to the other plan New York is considering.

First, we should know what President Trump is paying in taxes now, not in 2020. Were having a debate about tax reform now. It is little solace to say, to a member of Congress, or to a constituent deciding how they feel about that members vote, We dont know yet whether this hugely benefits President Trump, but well know that by 2020. Right? Congress will be voting on it in 2017, and it will affect how we cast our own votes in the 2018 midterms.

Second, if it gets passed in a state like Hawaii, California, Connecticut, maybe New York, President Trump may decide, Im not going to put my name on the ballot in that state. Here we have a president who, every other day, reminds us that he won the Electoral College. He seems not to care a whit about the popular-vote outcome. He might say, Ill give up California, Ill give up New York, if it means I dont have to give up my tax returns. Thats not a reason for states not to do this, but I do think its a reason for New York state to take this additional step.

Is there anything else thats crucial to know about your argument or about the bill?

Theres one constitutional issue that I think is of interest to laypeople. There is not an unbroken tradition of taxpayer privacy in the United States. In fact, there have been times in American history when we have had tax transparency, not just for the president, but for everyone. For the first federal income tax, we had named tax liabilities for individual taxpayers posted on courthouse doors. After the Revenue Act of 1924, we had peoples tax liabilities published in the newspaper.

So I think it would be hard for a judge who subscribes to originalism to say theres a constitutional right to taxpayer privacy. I mean, people didnt think that in 1862. Generally when you bring a constitutional claim against the state, you rely on the 14th Amendment, which says that all states must provide people with equal protection and due process of law. And at the time the 14th Amendment was passed, everyones tax returns were public! So its a lot harder for an originalist to say the 14th Amendment creates a right to tax privacy.

So even if you were a Scalia 

Or a Gorsuch.

Yeah, or a Gorsuch, it would be hard to justify voting against it on that basis.

Right.
Some users saw fake information in the app. Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images

So far Uber has had a terrible 2017, facing allegations of widespread discrimination, the #DeleteUber campaign, and the departure of top executives. Now its become even worse. According to Reuters, the Justice Department is conducting a criminal probe into Uber over the companys alleged use of software to evade law enforcement and local officials.

After the New York Times revealed Ubers use of the tool, called Greyball, in March, Uber said it would prohibit employees from using the software to throw off officials trying to determine if the service was operating in areas where it hadnt been approved. In a letter sent to authorities in Portland, Oregon, last month, Ubers lawyers said Greyball was used exceedingly sparingly in the city shortly before the ride-sharing company was approved to operate there in 2015. The Times reported that Greyball was used in several U.S. cities  including Boston, Paris, and Las Vegas  as well as Australia, China, Italy, and South Korea.

Greyball was part of Ubers broader fraud detection system, which relied on credit card information, location, device information, and other data to determine if a ride request was legitimate. Those tagged by the program would see fake information when they opened the app, and would not be picked up when they requested a ride. Joe Sullivan, Ubers chief security officer, said last month that the program was used for many purposes, including the testing of new features by employees; marketing promotions; fraud prevention; to protect our partners from physical harm; and to deter riders using the app in violation of our terms of service.

However, employees told Reuters that it was also used to single out potential authorities, based on factors like affiliation with police credit unions and social-media profiles. Following the Times report, officials said they believed the company used Greyball to obstruct their efforts to determine whether Uber was operating in their city illegally.

Uber has reportedly received a subpoena from a grand jury in Northern California to produce documents on how the program works and where it was used. Uber and the Justice Department have declined to comment on the investigation.
Protesters gather near the U.S.S. Intrepid, a decommissioned World War II aircraft carrier, now the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, to protest President Trumps May 4 visit. Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump is back in his hometown, his first visit to New York City since Inauguration Day. The presidents already short trip  he planned to sleep at his club in Bedminster, New Jersey, instead of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue  became even more truncated after he ended up sticking around Washington, D.C. this afternoon, where he presided over a celebration to mark Trumpcares passage in the House.

Air Force One has just landed at JFK. This is the first time that Donald Trump has been in New York City as president. Full coverage @ny1  Bob Hardt (@bobhardt) May 4, 2017

But even before Trump touched down at JFK (he landed around 6 p.m.) the protesters had already been gathered for hours along the West Side Highway across from the U.S.S. Intrepid, the maritime museum on the Hudson River, where Trump will attend a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary the World War II Battle of the Coral Sea, and later meet with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Security is very, very tight, but hundreds of demonstrators have reportedly packed the designated areas, lifting signs and chanting and showing off Star Warsthemed anti-Trump costumes to greet the commander-in-chief.

Trump protests outside the Intrepid https://t.co/O0dJwWKS0w  Michael Scotto (@mikescotto) May 4, 2017

Anti-Trump protest outside DeWitt Clinton Park now walking to Intrepid. pic.twitter.com/Ow8vl3T9Ax  David Schwartz (@schwartznewsNY) May 4, 2017

Greetings from an anti-Trump protest on Manhattan's West Side, where the president is due in a few hours to meet with Australia's PM pic.twitter.com/H7zmyeEsJS  David Mack (@davidmackau) May 4, 2017

More signs of the times. pic.twitter.com/aw8Vq0lpUa  Miguel Marquez (@miguelmarquez) May 4, 2017

Anti-anti-Trump protesters, some distinguished by their MAGA hats, also showed up in support of the president. The two sides briefly tussled, before being separated by NYPD officers:

Pro-Trump and Anti-Trump protesters briefly clash across from the Intrepid pic.twitter.com/QChDF0hMKL  Michael Scotto (@mikescotto) May 4, 2017

Jim MacDonald of Flushing shouting "you lost, you lost" at protestors. pic.twitter.com/HRtvFp6w4I  David Schwartz (@schwartznewsNY) May 4, 2017

pro-@realDonaldTrump picketer angry that the NYPD won't let her argue / picket on the sidewalk (she doesn't want to go into a protest pen) pic.twitter.com/iHyY5U1Dp8  Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) May 4, 2017

The Working Families Party and Rise and Resist organized the demonstrations near the U.S.S. Intrepid. A few stragglers apparently also stopped by Trump Tower:
Roger Stone, whos eager to speak to the committee. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Fe

Four men connected with President Trumps campaign have been asked by the Senate Intelligence Committee to turn over all communications with Russian businesspeople and government officials, a significant step forward for the Senates investigation into the Trump campaigns Russia ties.

The letters, asking for emails, phone calls, texts, and information on meetings, were sent to informal Trump adviser Roger Stone, one-time campaign manager Paul Manafort, former national-security adviser Michael Flynn, and former campaign adviser Carter Page, the Times reports. Stone and Page confirmed to the paper that they received letters from the committee, while Manafort and Flynn declined to comment.

For his part, Stone says he is happy to talk to the investigators. I am eager, indeed anxious, to testify in full public session, have requested no immunity and am ready to go, said the longtime Republican operative who likes to dress funny.

But Page, who has said hes eager to cooperate with the investigation to clear his name, suddenly has cold feet. The energy consultant, who was surveilled by the FBI last year because of his Kremlin connections, responded to the committee by calling the information it requested irrelevant. Page also said in the letter that his personal records of contacts with Russian interests would be minuscule compared to the data the FBI collected on him.

Committee chair Senator Richard Burr, Republican of North Carolina, and ranking member Mark Warner, Democratic senator from Virginia, responded to Page in a statement Friday. The committee expects Page to live up to his publicly-expressed cooperation with our effort, the statement says. If he chooses not to, the committee will consider its next steps at that time.

If that sounds like a veiled subpoena threat, thats because it is.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions speaks to local, state, and federal law enforcement about a recent spate of gang-related killings on April 28, 2017, in Central Islip, New York. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Attorney General Jeff Sessions is not being honest with the American public.

He is trying to deceive you into believing that a federal judge went off the rails when he blocked President Donald Trumps executive order aiming to defund so-called sanctuary cities. (Trump and the White House arent being honest about the ruling either, but their mendacity is so pervasive as to no longer be newsworthy.)

Sessions professed to be shocked by the ruling. Actions that have always been understood to be squarely within the powers of the president, regardless of the administration, have now been enjoined, he said in a prepared statement. The Department of Justice cannot accept such a result  and we will continue to litigate this case to vindicate the rule of law, he continued. This is the Trump era  This will be the administration that fully enforces our nations immigration laws.

The White House statement was in the same vein, but more over the top. Today, the rule of law suffered another blow, as an unelected judge rewrote the immigration policy for our nation, it said in its statement. This San Francisco judges 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.

But Sessions and the White House have a secret theyre trying to keep from you. The judge theyre denigrating, U.S. District Judge William Orrick III of San Francisco, actually ruled that Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly may continue to do everything  everything  that Sessionss own staff attorneys at the Department of Justice claimed the executive order empowered them to do.

Sessions has, then, no legitimate beef with Judge Orrick at all. His beef, if any, should be with his own staff attorneys, because they all but conceded in court that the executive order could not constitutionally accomplish the things Sessions and Trump kept telling the public that it could.

Beginning during the election campaign and continuing since issuance of the executive order on January 25, Sessions and Trump have been threatening to strip federal funding from so-called sanctuary jurisdictions  cities or counties that do not cooperate with immigration authorities to the degree Trump believes they should. Under the executive order, Sessions said in a speech in March, such jurisdictions would face withholding [of] grants, termination of grants, and disbarment or ineligibility for future grants, as well as the claw back of funds previously awarded. Trump told Fox News host Bill OReilly in February that hed use the threat of defunding as a weapon to change these cities policies vis-a-vis immigration authorities.

The text of the executive order makes no distinction between different kinds of federal funds, and thus appears to implicate billions of dollars worth of federal grants issued to municipalities by various federal agencies for such diverse purposes as hospitals, nutritional programs, affordable housing, homeless shelters, transportation infrastructure, and much more. In the case of Santa Clara County, California  one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit before Judge Orrick  federal grants account for about 35 percent of its annual budget, or some $1.7 billion.

The DOJ attorneys defending the case, however, appear to have recognized that the order, to the extent that it purported to authorize Sessions and Kelly to unilaterally and retroactively deprive municipalities of all these funds on the basis of their seemingly unreviewable say-so, was unconstitutional, root and branch. For reasons I described in detail last month, such an order would violate multiple long-standing precedents relating to separation of powers, the Tenth Amendment (which bars federal officials from commandeering state officials into carrying out federal regulatory schemes), and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

For that reason, the Department of Justice staffers working on the case tried to save the executive order the only way they knew how: by arguing to Judge Orrick that the order really did no such thing. They claimed, instead, that it actually had a narrow, modest, and benign meaning. It did not alter or expand the existing law at all, the department argued in its briefs. In fact, argued Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad Readler at the oral argument on April 14, regardless of its broad language, the order was only meant to urge Sessions and Kelly to exercise the power they already had to cut off grants issued by their own departments  Justice and Homeland Security  and had nothing to do with grants issued by, say, Health and Human Services or the Department of Transportation or any other government agencies. Moreover, Readler argued, it only applied to those few grants that had already been expressly conditioned from the outset upon a municipalitys agreement to share certain information with federal immigration authorities.

Really? And how many such grants are there?

Just three, it turns out. There are three narrow law-enforcement-related programs, run by the Justice Department, for which, in July 2016, the Obama administration started conditioning grants on an applicants commitment to cooperate with immigration authorities in specified ways.

Are you arguing, Judge Orrick asked, with evident disbelief, that the executive order is targeting three grants that were conditioned a year ago? Is that the argument?

In many ways thats correct, Readler conceded.

(Not one dime of Santa Claras $1.7 billion in federal funding came from any of these three programs, in part because it didnt want to agree to the Justice Departments condition.)

In his ruling, Judge Orrick found that it was not legally plausible that the executive order was, in fact, meant to be read as narrowly as Readler urged. Still, he agreed with Readler that Sessions and Kelly probably did have the power to enforce explicit immigration-related conditions written into grant programs issued by their own agencies.

So in his order he gave Readler everything he asked for, except the official victory.

This injunction does nothing more than implement the effect of the Governments flawed interpretation of the Order, Orrick wrote. It does not affect the ability of the Attorney General or the Secretary [of Homeland Security] to enforce existing conditions of federal grants.

What the injunction did do, however, was stop Sessions and Trump from continuing to threaten and deceive the nations municipalities into thinking that Sessions and Kelly could strip them of billions of dollars of grants from scores of programs if the municipalities didnt bow down before them and pledge their employees as unpaid deputies to the federal immigration police.

Since Assistant Attorney General Readler claimed that the executive order had never been intended for that purpose, its unclear why Attorney General Sessions would have any cause to regret the outcome. (The Department of Justice press office did not respond to an inquiry seeking comment.)

Its disappointing that the Department of Justice  a body whose devotion to the rule of law is supposed to transcend politics  would issue a press release taking such nakedly misleading, propagandistic cheap shots at a federal judge who had granted the department virtually everything it claimed to be entitled to.

But then, as Sessions noted, This is the Trump era.
Trump: Australia has the best health care! All the socialist countries do! Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

The United States is the only industrialized democracy in the world that does not guarantee all its citizens access to medical care, while also spending a higher percentage of its economy on health care than any country in the world. Liberals harp constantly on this bad kind of American exceptionalism. Conservatives tend to ignore international comparisons, except for the purpose of regularly pulling out horror stories about some poor Canadian or Brit who suffered terribly at the hands of socialized medicine. Sometimes they say the United States has the best health-care system in the world. The thing Republicans dont do, for obvious reasons, is speak fondly of socialized medicine in other countries.

Last night, meeting publicly with Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, Trump blurted out, I shouldnt say this to a great gentleman and my friend from Australia, because you have better health care than we do. This provoked a great deal of mockery, given that the country has a single-payer system. The White House tried to clean up the presidents comments. I think he was simply being complimentary of the prime minister and I dont think it was much more than that, explained Principal Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. The president was complimenting a foreign leader on the operations of their health-care system. Just empty praise! Trump only meant that for a dystopian socialist nightmare, the Australian version is one of the more smoothly operating ones out there.

But Trump, who does not understand ideology, took to Twitter to offer his own explanation. Yes, he really does think Australia has a better system than the United States. Indeed, he thinks everybody does:

Of course the Australians have better healthcare than we do --everybody does. ObamaCare is dead! But our healthcare will soon be great.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2017

So, the only industrialized democracy in the world that does not have government-run health care also has the worst health care in the world, according to the Republican president of the United States. And that president is trying to strip back government involvement in health care while massively increasing the number of his citizens who will lack access to medical care. One might begin to suspect a minimal government role in health-care finance is a strategy that leads to bad health-care outcomes.
Celebrating what? Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

A word on Obamacare. I relied on it until just recently when I joined New Yorks staff and went on an employers plan, and, to tell the truth, part of me didnt even want to make the change  even though it will obviously save me a lot of money. What Obamacare did for me, living with the preexisting condition of HIV, was, first of all, give me far more independence and freedom. It gave me the confidence to quit a previous job and start my own little media company  my blog, the Dish. It gave me peace of mind when I subsequently shut that business down and was able to stay on the same plan. It allowed me to be a freelance writer without fear of personal bankruptcy. I got no subsidy, but I was glad to pay the premiums for me and my husband because it gave me a sense of control over our finances and our future. I knew I wouldnt suddenly find myself facing soaring health-care costs or no health care at all  and the premium actually went down a smidgen last year.

The Trump GOP s attempt to abolish it is therefore, to my mind, neither conservative nor decent.

You might think Obamacare would violate my generally conservative principles, but it didnt. In fact, it seemed to me to be an effective marriage of conservative principles and, well, human decency. The decency part comes from not blaming or punishing the sick for their condition. The conservative part comes from the incremental nature of the reform, and its reliance on the private sector to provide a public good. For good measure, it actually saved the government money, and it slowed soaring health-care costs. The exchanges, with predictable early hiccups, largely worked  a case study in the benefits of market competition. The law allowed for experiments to test how efficient health care could be. It even insisted on personal responsibility by mandating individual coverage. And the concept of insurance is not socialism; its a matter simply of pooling risk as widely as possible. If any European conservative party were to propose such a system, it would be pilloried as a far-right plot. And yet the Republican Party opposed it with a passion that became very hard for me to disentangle from hatred of Obama himself.

The Trump GOPs attempt to abolish it is therefore, to my mind, neither conservative nor decent. Its reactionary and callous. Its effective abandonment of 95 percent of us with preexisting conditions will strike real terror in a lot of peoples hearts. Its gutting of Medicaid will force millions of the poor to lose health care almost altogether. It will bankrupt the struggling members of the working and middle classes who find themselves in a serious health crisis. It could hurt Republicans in the midterms though that will be cold comfort for the countless forced into penury or sickness because of Trumps desire for a win. But its clarifying for me. It forces me to back a Democratic Party I dont particularly care for. And it destroys any notion I might have had that American conservatism gives a damn about the vulnerable. It really is a deal-breaker for me. I hope many others feel exactly the same way.

The one aspect of the current, drama-filled European political scene that hasnt gotten enough attention, I think, is the power now wielded by women. All three of the biggest economies in Europe  Germany, Britain, and France  now have women at the very center of their national politics. Angela Merkel and Theresa May currently run their respective countries and Marine Le Pen is only the second woman in the final round of a French presidential campaign. And heres the refreshing thing: No one seems to care much about their gender. Neither Le Pen nor May is appealing to women as some kind of gesture toward gender solidarity. And their opponents almost never mention Mays or Le Pens gender, either.

You can see the impact of this in the opinion polls in Britain and France, where the gap between mens and womens votes is close to nonexistent. May, Merkel, and Le Pen, it seems, have been pioneering a new politics of gender equality, but none of them wants to make a big deal out of it. Compare this with the Hillary Clinton campaign. Yes, I know she based her campaign on many issues beyond her gender. But when she was asked how she would bring change to America, did she really say that being a woman was change in itself? And when she brought her convention to a climax surrounded by women celebrating the breaking of a glass ceiling, she couldnt have been more different than her successful European peers.

Merkel and May. Photo: Ulrich Baumgarten/via Getty Images

Thats not to say, of course, that their gender isnt salient in subtler ways. Le Pen has promoted an image of herself in the French campaign as a woman and as a mother, changed the partys logo from a flame to a blue rose, and deployed gender in her campaign against Islam: In France, we respect women, she declared recently. We do not beat them or ask them to hide behind a veil as if they were impure.

May has tried a more British tactic. During her campaign to win the Conservative Party leadership last July, she pounced on a hot mic gaffe by a Europhile Tory grandee, Ken Clarke. He was caught saying that May was a bloody difficult woman to deal with. This Thatcher-style soubriquet helped rally support behind her  even or especially among the male-dominated Tory parliamentary party. Last week, May reached back to this moment. Details of a private, contentious meeting about Brexit with EU leaders in Downing Street  almost certainly leaked by the German government  had painted her as delusionally confident about negotiating Brexit with her European partners. Claude Juncker, the president of the EU Commission, was quoted as saying their meeting made him ten times more skeptical about the feasibility of Brexit, and that May was living on another planet. May responded publicly by insisting that, indeed, she intended to be a bloody difficult woman in negotiating Brexit with Juncker. Not quite a nasty woman moment  but close. And she deftly exploited it to bring the Tories near an unprecedented 50 percent in the polls.

Im also struck by the fact that so many working-class men have rallied behind Le Pen and May  the very demographic that Clinton lost. Check out this video of an older Brit who says he had always voted Labour before but this time will vote for May because she is a strong woman who will defend Britains interests abroad. And take a look at this revealing Guardian video interviewing men and women in a region in rural France that was once a bastion of the left. You can see that theres a mild gender-influenced strain behind notre Marine but that she is reaching new heights for her party among women almost entirely because of the core question of globalization and nationalism.

Perhaps the first female president of the U.S. will have to come from the right, as May, Merkel, and Le Pen do. That position scrambles the gender war in such a way that conservative women may be more likely to succeed in politics than liberal women  at least at first. (The pioneer in this, of course, was Margaret Thatcher, who was subjected to sexist criticism entirely from the left.) Its also true that feminism in Europe is still, at the political-elite level, interested in getting past gender, rather than obsessing about it. When Le Pen loses the vote next Sunday (as seems likely), the one thing you can count on is that she wont blame misogyny. It seems as if those who actually succeed in breaking the glass ceiling dont actually campaign on breaking the glass ceiling. I wonder if the Democrats will one day realize that.

One of the great achievements of the gay-rights movement has, in my view, been its successful engagement with the police. I was reminded of this most starkly watching the video of the memorial service in Paris for gay policeman Xavier Jugele, who was shot in the head by an Islamist terrorist last month. His civil partner, Etienne Cardiles, gave a beautiful eulogy, while President Francois Hollande, Marine Le Pen, and Emmanuel Macron put aside their political differences and watched and listened. None of this would have been imaginable a generation ago. Jugele himself was an activist for gay rights. He was a simple man who loved his job, and he was really committed to the LGBT cause, Mickael Bucheron, president of the French association for LGBT police officers, told the New York Times. He joined the association a few years ago, and he protested with us when there was the homosexual propaganda ban at the Sochi Olympic Games.

We can easily forget how new this is, how profound the transformation of the West on this subject has been in such a short period of time. From cops busting the Stonewall Inn or enforcing sodomy laws, we now have openly gay cops defending us from Islamist terrorism (and we have openly gay soldiers doing exactly the same thing). In my own city of Washington, D.C., in my adult lifetime, we went from cops wearing rubber gloves to shut down a Halloween drag race in the AIDS era to a Pride March which proudly includes gay cops and which is made possible by the work of many straight cops who police the event. It moves me every time I see this. It is a quiet and profound revolution.

But I fear it is only a matter of time before Pride everywhere is hijacked by the social-justice left.

And thats why it is so deeply saddening that a faction of the far left is now attempting to shut down or disrupt Pride marches next month  in part because they include gay cops. It has already happened in San Diego, where a group called No Justice No Pride held up the parade for five minutes and caused the local sheriff to leave the event. In Toronto, the Pride March was held up for half an hour last summer until the Pride organization agreed to a set of demands from a Black Lives Matter group, including a ban on gay cops in the parade in the future. This year, gay cops will indeed be barred from the parade entirely because BLM wants more inclusivity. Im not kidding: Exclusion is now inclusion. A new board member of Toronto Pride, one Akio Maroon, explained her position: We cannot have the same people who are beating us, who are harassing us, whore responsible for violent encounters with us, dancing with us in revelry in uniform with their guns on their side while being paid to participate. Absolutely not. The same people? Does she have any proof of this blanket description of all gay cops as violent racists? Or does she simply believe that gross generalizations about an entire group of people can be applied to any member of that group?

In D.C., a branch of the same group is threatening to do the same this year because the police are part of the very forces that oppress queer and trans individuals. So far, Capital Pride has not capitulated the way Toronto has. But I fear it is only a matter of time before Pride everywhere is hijacked by the social-justice left. For them, gay rights are inextricable from the broader social-justice agenda, and intersectionality requires solidarity with any number of other demographics, even if it means discriminating against our own. And I have no problem with their expressing their views on this. Id defend their right to march and to express themselves as loudly and as passionately as they want. Thats what you call inclusion and diversity of viewpoints. But I dont think they have a right to unilaterally define the gay-rights movement along far-left lines, to exclude anyone with a politics different than their own, to use the tactics of physical confrontation to impose their will and to discriminate against and vilify some of the heroes of the movement. More to the point, their bid to exclude gay cops from Pride is obviously counterproductive. It cannot help but alienate the very police we need to engage.

Remember the righteous protests against the various Saint Patricks Day parades because of their exclusion of openly gay Irish marchers? Does no one see the excruciating and damning parallel here? It seems to me that inclusion and diversity mean, well, inclusion and diversity. And that this is a core principle worth defending.

Correction: This article originally stated that Marine Le Pen is the first woman to reach the final round of a French presidential campaign. Segolene Royal reached the run-off against Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.
Angella Reid during the Obama presidency. Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP

The first woman and second African-American to serve as the White House chief usher was abruptly fired Friday morning, according to multiple reports.

Angella Reid took the job as chief usher, one that required her to coordinate the activities at the White House residence and oversee its staff, in 2011, after serving as general manager of a Ritz-Carlton hotel. Those in Reids position have typically stayed much longer than she did, with the average tenure lasting about 13 years.

Others on the residential staff tend to stay even longer. It really doesnt matter who is president, or what party is in office, former chief usher Stephen Rochon told CNN. The permanent staff averages 25 years  one staffer was there for 50 years.

Rochon, who had been hired by George W. Bush in 2007, served under Obama until 2011, when he left for a position at the Department of Homeland Security. He told CNN that the Trump transition team asked him to return as chief usher, but he turned them down.

The White House hasnt yet given a reason for Reids firing  one anonymous official told the Washington Post, We are very grateful for her service and wish her the very best but the speculation has already begun.

The Trump administration seems worried about Obamas spies, and there may have been a feeling that she wasnt on page with the Trumpians, presidential historian Douglas Brinkley told the Post.
Mattress innards: The proprietary Hyper-Elastic Polymer of a Purple mattress. Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine

Its not crazy  faintly ridiculous maybe, but not crazy  to suggest that we are living in what amounts to a golden age of mattresses. Never before have so many of the best mattresses been available for so little  or so much. If you are the kind of person for whom a Lamborghini is too conspicuous a display of wealth, there is a mattress like the $150,000 Vividus from Hastens. If you are the kind of person who wants to buy a mattress that costs 187 times less than Hastens handmade, all-organic, somewhat imperious product but is certainly not 187 times less comfortable, there are hundreds of options. And if you are the kind of person who finds so many options overwhelming, there is a cohort of new and innovative e-commerce mattress companies that make mattress purchasing as easy as clicking a button. But all these choices mean its easy to lose sight of the only question about mattresses that matters: Can any of them help you sleep better at night?

Until relatively recently, the mattress industry wasnt exactly a hotbed of technical achievement. The first leap forward came 146 years ago, when a German named Heinrich Westphal addressed the problem of sleeping on a mattress filled with leaves, straw, or whatever else the lumpenproletariat had lying around by inventing the durable and easy-to-manufacture innerspring mattress. Thats a mattress filled with coiled steel springs (typically between 600 and 1,000) for support, topped with batting for comfort, and wrapped in ticking. The odd water-bed and air-filled-mattress fads aside, Westphals invention remained the basic template, the standard, for more than a century  until 1992, when Tempur-Pedic imported viscoelastic polyurethane foam, designed by NASA for aircraft-seat cushioning, into mattresses and provided the added comfort of a material that conforms to the body.

The layers of solid Swedish pine, flax, springs, and horsetail hair of a Hastens. Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine

Now, increasingly, consumers are buying mattresses online without having tried them. The vast majority of the roughly 22 million beds sold in America every year are still purchased from a physical store, but in 2016, experts estimate, the three biggest e-commerce mattress retailers (Casper, Saatva, and Tuft & Needle, none more than five years old) generated $500 million in revenue. Their sales growth is triple that of the brick-and-mortar Old Guard. So-called bed-in-a-box companies sell one model, generally in the $800 range and made of foam, rather than springs, so it can be squished into a box and easily shipped to your home. (Where you can experience the delight of unfurling it  sharing that moment has become a surprisingly popular YouTube subgenre.) You never have to deal with a salesperson, and, because you cant try it before buying it, the return policies are generous (even if getting it back in the box is not the easiest). All you have to do is go to, say, Caspers or Lulls or Leesas site, pick the size of the mattress you want  perhaps after reading a prominently placed screed on their sites against traditional mattress companies shady business practices; look for headings like The Truth or Sleep Exposedand simply click BUY. The process may seem unnervingly simple for such an important purchase, but according to the sleep experts, mattresses really need to do only two things: provide pressure relief  which means distributing your weight evenly across the mattresss surface to avoid pressure points and soreness  and stay cool.

About 100 of these Casper types are now competing in the click-to-buy space. And as if mattress choices werent already complicated, other brands are rolling out smart beds  theyll sell in the $3,000-to-$5,000 range  that can measure various sleep-related biometrics, automatically raise your head if youre snoring, warm your feet if theyre cold, and shut off your phone when you dont have the willpower to stop scrolling Twitter. (Okay, not that last one, but why not imagine a feature thats really worthwhile?)

The disrupters are moving in lockstep with what amounts to a collective cultural obsession with sleep. The average American gets about six and a half hours of sleep per night, down 90 minutes from a generation ago. As a result, were increasingly fixated on how to optimize the sleep we get. Hence the explosion of sleep-monitoring apps, wearable sleep trackers, smart clocks, and smart pillows that help you properly attend to your sleep environment.

Illustration: Nishant Choksi

But in the effort to trumpet their products, young companies have, ironically, replicated the old bewildering problem of the mattress store, just at a lower cost. Now, instead of being overwhelmed in a Sleepys, consumers are overwhelmed while comparison shopping on the internet. Whatever disruption has occurred, it has only plopped consumers right back into the mattress maze, and its advertising, not mattress technology, thats leading them out. Decisions are coming down to two things, Joe Auer, co-founder of the Mattress Clarity review site, says. Personal preference  some people like foam mattresses and some people dontand marketing: People are buying the mattress they see ads for the most.

So how then should we pick a mattress? Loving an ad? Throwing a dart? Abusing the 100-day return policies of the start-up brands and filling your apartment with human-size mattress boxes? Another option, according to clinical psychologist and sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, is to show up to an old-school mattress store at the end of the day, when your feet are a little swollen, wearing sweatpants or some other garment with pajamalike comfort, and carrying your pillow from home: Once the sales associate shows you a few top beds, set an alarm and spend seven minutes on each, to allow your heart rate to adjust to lying down. There are ways, in other words, to find what youre looking for amid all the high-density foam, inner coil springs, Dunlop latex, and moisture-wicking fabrics. It just takes a little time. David Marchese

Do You Want to Try One Out in Person?

Heres how you can, following the bring-your-own-pillow-and-rest-for-at-least-seven-minutes advice of clinical psychologist and sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus. By Lauren Schwartzberg

Simmons Beautyrest Recharge Signature Select Hartfield Luxury $800 Illustration: Nishant Choksi/Courtesy of the vendor Simmons Beautyrest Recharge Signature Select Hartfield Luxury At Mattress Firm (the company that bought Sleepys and renamed all the stores), my boyfriend and I lie listening to a mom burp her baby and Im distracted by the massage settings of this models adjustable base (sold separately). At the sixth minute, my outlook changes. It isnt that Im more relaxed but that I can actually feel the way my body hits the mattress. The goal for a mattress, according to the experts, is pressure relief  to have your entire spine hit it evenly, no one part sinking lower than the next, and it is only after the five-minute mark that I feel settled enough to be mindful of that. This mattress feels good. $800 at Mattress Firm Buy

Hampton and Rhodes HR500 Illustration: Nishant Choksi/Courtesy of the vendor Hampton and Rhodes HR500 Ive never used a memory-foam mattress before, and I love it. It envelops my whole body, letting me sink in deeper than I ever would with non-foam, while somehow still remaining firm enough that I feel propped up. Its also much less bouncy, which Im not sure if I like. It takes about four minutes for my body to settle in. We listen to Adeles Send My Love (To Your New Lover), we read on our cell phones, I start feeling tired, but I dont fall asleep. When the timer goes off, my partner says his back is too hot. I didnt feel the same way, probably because I generally prefer the heat, but a Google search on memory foams tells me that they are known to suck in heat and offer less breathability than spring mattresses. $450 for a full at Mattress Firm Buy

Sealy Deveraux With Plush Euro Pillow Top Illustration: Nishant Choksi/Courtesy of the vendor Sealy Deveraux With Plush Euro Pillow Top At first, this one feels soft and cozy with its plush top. But about six minutes in, I realize that my butt is definitely sinking lower than my back, leaving a slight opening between my back and the mattress and starting, even after just minutes,to cause lower-back pain. The pressure relief isnt there. When I flip to lie on my stomach, I feel like Im sinking in there too. We try the Hartfield again (mattress No. 1), and after another full seven minutes, we can tell why we prefer it. It hits in all the right places. The memory foam is a close second, but Im not ready to risk night sweats. As we get ready to leave, the store owner comes over and says that for $50, we can stay the night. $750 for a full at Mattress Firm Buy

This Sealy model is no longer available, but here is a similar Queen version and here is a similar Full version.

How to Haggle in 2017

Using the advice of Nick Robinson and Joe Auer, respective founders of the mattress-review sites Sleep Like the Dead and Mattress Clarity.

Illustration: Nishant Choksi

Tip No. 1 | Ask Directly for a Discount

Nick Robinson prefers the old Can you do any better? line. I tried this at Coco-Mat, and it worked immediately. After testing out its $4,000 Proteas mattress, I asked if there was any flexibility and was told that since it was the end of the month, the store could offer 15 percent off, a free pillow, and a free linen set. At Mattress Firm, I used the line on a queen Beautyrest Hartfield, and it was swiftly dropped from the $750 listed price to $600 with the delivery fee reduced by half, to $40.

Tip No. 2 | Reference the Start-ups

Traditional mattress stores have made changes to compete with the Caspers of the world. When I referenced Caspers generous return policy during my Mattress Firm trip, I was offered a 100-day trial, after which I could still return the mattress for a full refund.

Tip No. 3 | Dont Try the Its Cheaper Online Logic

The most confusing thing is that different stores will use different names for the same mattress, says Auer. And indeed, at Mattress Firm, when I showed the employee a mattress I found online that was extremely similar to the Beautyrest Hartfield, but $509, he told me the Hartfield had 50 more coils  a metric I couldnt verify made any difference but also couldnt argue against. So I asked for a free pillow, which I was told I could get if I wrote a Yelp review.

Tip No. 4 | You Cant Haggle a Casper

I called up the customer-service line and told the cheery woman on the other end about my $600 queen-size Beautyrest mattress that I could return after a 100-day trial. In response, I was told theres no price matching. I followed up by asking for a pillow to sweeten the deal and was directed to Google around for a $50 promo code, which would only bring a $950 queen Casper down to $900 (as anyone whos ever been on the subway knows, the code is subway). L.S.

Do You Want to Buy One Online?

A comparison of the four major start-ups. D.M.

Photo: Courtesy of the vendor Secret Sauce

Casper plays this one even closer to the vest than its already pretty secretive competitors, focusing on process  its intensive R&D team continually refines the product  rather than a singular element of its memory-foam mattress. What Its Supposed to Do

Open cell technology keeps heat flowing away from your body; the pressure relieving foam and springy top layer are meant to produce a practically weightless feeling. What It Actually Feels Like

More than the other mattresses here, the Casper had significant sink to it  especially around the butt  which made my legs feel slightly and pleasantly raised above my hips. Casper mattress $895 at Casper Buy

Photo: Courtesy of the vendor Secret Sauce

A top-layer of cooling Aveena foam, a middle layer of naturally pressure-relieving foam, then a base layer of dense foam for support  all contributing to its universal adaptive feel. [Editors note: Since this story was first published, Leesa now refers to its top layer simply as foam.] What Its Supposed to Do

Be comfortable to everyone, with an emphasis on the physically active, who treat sleep as a performance-enhancer  hence endorsements from Olympians Michael Phelps and Aly Raisman. What It Actually Feels Like

As a non-Olympian, I cant attest to the Leesas restorative powers, but the mattress had only minimal sink, and I had the sensation of lying on a soft yet flat surface that felt cozy and supportive in any sleeping position. Leesa mattress $855 at Leesa Buy

Photo: Courtesy of the vendor Secret Sauce

A purple  hence the companys name  gridded top layer made of a proprietary Hyper-Elastic Polymer. What Its Supposed to Do

Deliver perfect spinal alignment, neutral temperature (i.e., be neither hot nor cool), and pressure relief for the hips and shoulders. What It Actually Feels Like

Hyper-Elastic is no joke; this mattress felt noticeably bouncier than the others. And presumably this wont matter once youve put the mattress in its place, but the Purple is significantly heavier  and thus harder to move  than its trio of competitors. Purple mattress $1,299 at Purple Buy

Photo: Courtesy of the vendor Secret Sauce

T&N Adaptive Foam. What Its Supposed to Do

Aided by a supportive base layer of material that keeps you from sinking too much into the mattress, the adaptive foam uses gel and graphite to disperse heat away from your body so you stay cool. What It Actually Feels Like

Where Casper aspires to a feeling of weightlessness, the firmer Tuft & Needle gives a sensation of being held up rather than floating. Theres almost no sink. Tuft & Needle mattress $627 at Amazon Buy $627 at Amazon Buy

Photo: Nishant Chokski/Courtesy of the vendor

And 15 Other Casper Types

Illustration: Nishant Choksi

1. Aviya: An innerspring and foam-hybrid mattress with a semi-curious selling point: Strong edges for a larger feel. ($849 at aviyamattress.com)

2. Bear Mattress: Another mattress for athletes: Bears topmost Celliant layer absorbs the bodys natural heat and reflects far infrared back to the skin to aid in recovery from physical activity. ($750 at bearmattress.com)

3. Bed in a Box: The granddaddy of the e-commerce mattress business, Bed in a Box has been offering, yes, beds shipped in a box  made with the instructively named CoolRest and SureAlign foams  since the early aughts. ($799 at bedinabox.com)

4. Brentwood Home: Latex, spring, and foam mattresses with a California ethos. So thats why the models are all named things like Pacifica and Sequoia. ($695 at brentwoodhome.com)

5. Cocoon Bed: Cocoon is old-guard mattress brand Sealys recent foray into the bed-in-a-box market. Buyers can personalize their mattress by choosing between a soft or firm comfort layer. ($599 at cocoonbysealy.com)

6. Allswell: At 12-inches tall, Allswell is the grandest of the online mattresses. Its also one of the very few to use coils. ($585 at allswellhome.com)

7. Ghostbed: A lot of e-commerce mattress companies offer a 100-day trial period. Not Ghostbed. It offers 101. ($775 at ghostbed.com)

8. Helix: Helix asks visitors to its website to take a (fairly extensive) online sleep survey before recommending a mattress type. ($850 at helixsleep.com)

9. IntelliBed: The mattress juju here comes from a top-gridded layer, gel matrix, designed to complement the springs underneath. ($2,669 at intellibed.com)

10. Keetsa: Keetsas EverGreen formula involves mixing calming green tea into its memory foam. ($576 at keetsa.com)

11. Lull: This highly rated mattress is designed with a 1.5-inch thick transition layer to ensure against the mattress feeling either too sinky or trampolinelike. ($750 at lull.com)

12. Novosbed: If youre not happy with your bed, you can request its Comfort+ kit so you can fine-tune your mattress  its basically a mattress topper that makes the bed feel softer or firmer depending on your preference. ($899 at novosbed.com)

13. Saatva: Saatva prides itself on its concierge-style service  if you buy its mattress, a person comes and sets everything up for you. ($849 at saatvamattress.com)

14. Marpac Yogabed: This mattress is inspired by  yoga. Though theres not much on the website to suggest what that might mean beyond images of people in leggings. ($824 at marpac.com)

15. Zotto: A mattress packed with four distinct layers of material  two or three is more common. ($750 at zottosleep.com) D.M.

Do You Have $150,000 to Spend?

A trip to the Hastens store.

Illustration: Nishant Choksi

Do you feel like youre weightless? asks Soy, a young salesperson here at the Hastens bed companys showroom in Manhattan. Im lying on the regally named Vividus model in the cozy and serene space, home to about a dozen mattresses famous for their yet-to-be-surpassed prices, each covered in blue-and-white-checked ticking. Soy, dressed in a crisp white shirt, black ankle-length skirt, and bejeweled black head wrap, smiles down at me. The most common reaction to the Vividus, she says in the same soothing tones as the electronica burbling from the stores speakers, is that people feel like theyre floating on a cloud. The Vividus costs $150,000, bed frame included.

I tell Soy that the price tag seems crazy. Why shouldnt I just go with a Casper or a Leesa? She hears this one a lot about Hastens mattresses. If you amortize the price of the 2000T across the 25-year warranty, she says, about a $40,000 mattress, it only works out to about a cup of coffee a day. She then, again, suggests I lie there with the mattress and really commune. I close my eyes. Supine on the Vividus, my mind begins to wander. I imagine a stoic Scandinavian artisan dressed in a shiny leather smock, laboring at a workshop in tiny Koping, Sweden, where all Hastens beds are made. The artisan, lets call him Hjalmar, resembles Max von Sydow, and I watch as he carefully fluffs horsehair, one strand at a time. He hand-ties the springs. He gently spreads out the batting. After he sews the last stitch of the mattresss ticking, he sits up in his chair and says tersely, It is done. It is only then, when I think of an old Swede filling the Vividus with years of expertise and that fancy horsehair, when I consider the unique craftsmanship and the even more unique status and wealth that the mattress represents, that the Vividus seems capable of fulfilling its promises. And those, of course, are the promises of all mattresses: value, peace of mind, better nights, and brighter days.

Then Soy, still mulling my reference to the cheaper competition, snaps me out of it: I know people are hot on the online companies, she huffs. But you cant spend $800 on a mattress and then expect it to improve your quality of life. She shook her head ruefully. Are those beds even organic? D.M.

Do You Demand Organic?

If you dont have a house-size budget to drop on a horsehair Hastens, here are seven other organic options, mostly made with latex (a natural rubber that comes from trees).

Coco-Mat. Photo: Bobby Doherty/New York Magazine

Coco-Mat

Coco-Mats starter mattress is the Afroditi ($1,340 for a full at Coco-Mat, 49 Mercer St.), made with about five inches of natural latex and a cotton cover. But latex alone is very soft; other Coco-Mats have coconut fiber, seaweed, and horsehair for firmness.

Zenhaven

The inside of the Zenhaven mattress ($1,699 at zenhaven.com) is made of layers of talalay latex that are sandwiched between New Zealand wool and wrapped in a cotton cover. A 120-day home trial is offered.

Spindle

The Spindle mattress ($1,150 at spindlemattress.com) arrives at your door with three latex layers, each in its own box, and an inch of wool from the Pacific Northwest that you stack and stuff into the cotton twill cover yourself.

Avocado Green Mattress

Launched in 2015, the Avocado Green Mattress ($1,199 at avocadogreenmattress.com) is made of Dunlop latex and New Zealand wool and comes in either a standard 11-inch gentle yet firm model thats hand-tufted or with an optional pillow-top.

Sleep on Latex

Sleep on Latex (from $899 at sleeponlatex.com), with its Sri Lankan latex and New Zealand wool, comes in a box and unravels much like the Casper. Buyers choose between three firmness levels, and the cotton cover can be removed for dry cleaning.

Essentia

Essentia tops its Dunlop latex with one of the only natural memory foams on the market, made of Hevea milk and grapefruit seed and jasmine oils ($2,845 at Essentia, 36 W. 34th St.).

Nest Bedding

For a vegan option, Nest Beddings Graphite Latex Mattress ($2,899 at Nest Bedding, 196 Bowery) forgoes a wool layer and uses graphite-infused latex, which is supposed to sleep cooler than regular latex. L.S.

Do You Mind Schlepping to an Outlet in Wayne, New Jersey?

I found out about the Bloomingdales mattress outlet in Wayne, New Jersey (469 Route 46), through a friend  he and his wife are crazy bed people. Theyll go to a hotel, and if the beds not good enough, theyll check out. Anytime we were invited to spend the weekend at their home, we always slept exceptionally well. Mattresses  especially high-end ones  get returned all the time for various reasons, and many times theyve never been used. The outlet takes them. King-size mattresses here can sell for around $1,000. I am partial to Shifman (which are handmade and can retail for as much as $30,000), but the outlet also carries Stearns and Foster, Kluft, and Astra. On holiday weekends, there are promotions and sales, like free box springs, or an extra 10 or 20 percent off. Jody Quon, New York photography director

Its Been Over a Year, and I Still Cant Decide on a Mattress

By Jada Yuan

My mattress dilemma came into my life disguised as a gift. One day last summer, I walked onto my apartment landing to find a gorgeous, $1,900 cherrywood platform bed frame my neighbor was just giving away. All I had to do was upgrade my ancient, hand-me-down mattress from a full to a queen.

Illustration: Nishant Choksi

Soon I was staying up all night scouring mattress-review sites and online message boards  and spiraling into an existential crisis. Every option seemed like a determiner of my core identity. Was I a memory-foam person or an innerspring person? A hybrid compromiser? Or maybe a latex rebel? Was gel padding brilliant or basic? What was my coil-count limit? Did I need them to be pocketed? If Ive never had a pillow top, is that because pillow tops arent for me or because Im a masochist denying myself true pleasure? What if I wasnt sure if Im a side sleeper or a back sleeper? Didnt I understand that if I got the wrong level of firmness for my sleep position, Id be stuck with it for the next ten to 12 years? I wasnt getting any closer to picking a mattress, but this was providing a lot of material for my therapist around my fear of commitment.

And even once Id figured out I was in the firm-to-extra-firm innerspring camp (it seemed like a major victory to declare that all memory-foam mattresses feel like theyre dead inside to me), that barely narrowed things down. I live alone in a three-story walk-up with an entryway so cumbersome I had to lift my couch in through the kitchen window. I dont want to try something for 100 days and switch it out; I want to choose well and never have to think about how to get that mattress into my apartment again. Sites like Sleepopolis and the Sleep Sherpa are overly weighted to the bed-in-a-box specials the reviewers get for free. Mattress Clarity, my favorite and the one I found the most authoritative, didnt recommend a single innerspring bed I could try in person, unless I wanted to head to the Brentwood Home store in Los Angeles  which I definitely contemplated doing. (Its since closed.) I thought Id found The One, an Aireloom (Ronald Reagans favorite brand), at Longs, a family-run mattress store on the Upper West Side. But it was twice my original budget, and I got spooked by its no-return policy and low grades on Sleep Like the Dead. Longs explained to me that only crazy people write mattress reviews online (or read them, I was starting to believe), and Im sure Longs is right, but it did nothing to assuage my paranoia. Dig deep and youll find enough horror stories of back pain, dented and sagging pillow tops that companies refuse to warranty, and thousands of dollars squandered to lose sleep for days  the opposite of the desired outcome of researching mattresses in the first place.

Ive solicited advice on Facebook; recruited my mom, my dad, and several friends for second opinions; gone to the New York showrooms for Casper, Leesa/Sapira, Nest Bedding, and Keetsa; ventured to a fancy furniture store to try the Wright mattress it had on display; gone to a friends place to try a Saatva; even mapped out routes to Long Island to a Jennifer Convertibles to try out Kingsdown, since it doesnt sell them in the city anymore  and stopped myself, because that really was insane. [Editors note: The Sapira mattress is now simply known as the Leesa Hybrid.] I have a pile of business cards from salespeople and dozens of papers filled with pros and cons and prices and add-ons and delivery fees and restocking fees (beware, Keetsa will get you there). Its finally down to three contenders: the one I cant afford, the one I sort of cant afford, and the one I can afford but am least excited about. But every time I get to the point of purchase, Im so exhausted I just fall asleep on my still damned comfortable, still too-small bed.

The Future of Mattresses

(That are also available now.)

It Can Brew Coffee

Eight Sleeps Smart Mattress ($950 for a full at eightsleep.com) connects to Wi-Fi-enabled devices to do things like start brewing your coffee when you hit snooze or tell Amazons Alexa when to start warming up the bed. Itll also give you a sleep report in the morning with stats on breathing rate and body movements. (The mattress includes a sleep-tracking smart cover that you can throw over any existing bed; you can buy it separately for $399.)

It Can Train You for a Triathlon

Designed specifically for athletes, the ReST Bed (from $2,799 at restperformance.com) has five zones  head, shoulder, lumbar, hips, and legs  and monitors almost 2,000 pressure points. Using a pump below the mattress, the bed automatically adjusts each zone to desired firmness levels, even as you change positions in the middle of the night.

It Can Monitor the Kids

From Sleep Number comes one of the only smart kids mattresses. The SleepIQ Kids K2 ($1,100 for a twin at sleepnumber.com) connects the childrens bed to a parents smartphone and uses sensors to send alerts when your child is restless or out of bed. For those who are afraid of the dark, theres built-in lighting underneath the mattress that turns on when kids get out of bed, and there is a separate night-light that can be remotely shut off once theyre finally asleep.

It Can Spy on Your Partner

And coming soon  the Smarttress. Developed in Spain and still apparently in the manufacturing process, it has sensors embedded in its springs that use ultrasonic waves to track whenever someones using the mattress (including TMI details about the intensity of pulses per minute), then send notifications to a connected smartphone. The point is to spy on cheating lovers. L.S.

*This article appears in the May 1, 2017, issue of New York Magazine.

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Attiya Khan is about to have the hardest conversation of her life. She didnt sleep last night and woke up this morning covered in hives, little red spots that invade her body when stress runs high. Her breathing is shallow as she cycles through motivational mantras in her head: You can do this. You have the strength. Youve come this far.

Its December 2014, and shes about to speak on camera with the man who abused her on a daily basis more than 20 years ago. The conversation is part of her documentary A Better Man, in which Khan and her ex-boyfriend, Steve, talk about his violent behavior. They met when she was 16 and he was 17 and began living together almost immediately  first with her mother, later on their own or with Steves father. Just as quickly, Steve began punching her. It was two years before Khan escaped the relationship, with the support of her friends.

Now, in a Toronto studio with big windows and brick walls, they sit an arms-length apart and face counselor Tod Augusta-Scott, who will facilitate the discussion. Khans long career working with survivors of physical and sexual assault has mentally prepared her to talk about the abuse. But with the studio lights hot on her face, she searches for the courage to relive one of her most traumatic memories.

Khan begins to describe a day full of brutality in which Steve had smashed her heart-shaped jewelry box, dragged her over the broken glass shards and started to punch her repeatedly in the face.

And then what happened in this incident? asks Augusta-Scott, in a careful whisper.

Khan swallows hard, exhales deeply, and smiles uncomfortably at Steve.

So our faces were really close, she says, holding a hand up in front of her eyes, and I remember just being done. I felt bruised everywhere. I felt limp. I had no energy and Im lying there and Im thinking please stop. Just please stop. Stop. I dont think my body can do this anymore. And, um, then I just remember  VOOM! She mimics hitting her head with her left hand and looks directly at Steve. And you head-butted me. And then thats when I think I was unconscious.

Steves eyes widen at the words head-butted. He shakes his head in shame, tucks in his lower lip and looks down at the floor.

Khan remembers that when she regained consciousness Steve cried and said how sorry he was. But his apologies never lasted long.

What are you hearing in what Attiya is saying? asks Augusta-Scott.

Steve swallows hard, looks at Khan and shakes his head. A moment of silence passes and he lets out a deep breath.

You dont remember, do you? Khan asks. She stares at him with a straight face: She cant believe that to Steve, the punches and blows so deeply etched into her mind are simply a blur. She wants him to corroborate the trauma shes been carrying alone for her entire adult life.

A Better Man, which runs until May 6 at Torontos Hot Docs festival (and again at a Toronto theater between June 9 and 15), follows Khans personal mission to heal as she bluntly confronts her trauma. The mediated conversations with Steve are interspersed with trips to their old high school and apartments  landmarks of their abusive past  and glimpses into how the violence still haunts her personal life. Though the film, which Khan also co-wrote and co-directed, is not an explicit work of activism, she ultimately hopes that her talks with Steve could help persuade counselors, experts, and advocates in the domestic-violence field that engaging with abusive men could actually help to keep some survivors safe  a process known in the legal world as restorative justice.

It works like this: A victim and offender have a facilitated dialogue, either between themselves or with a larger group that includes friends, family, and other members of their community. During meetings a survivor describes the crime and its effect on their life; the others who might be present talk about their experience as witnesses. The offender takes responsibility for the behavior and commits to an accountability program that often includes ongoing counseling, addiction treatment if necessary, community service, a formal apology, and in some cases, financial restitution. While the criminal system aims to punish an offender, restorative justice has the broad goal of healing a survivor, whether they want to stay in their relationship, leave, or hear the person who assaulted them own up to the abuse years later. Khans case isnt typical  the violence happened decades ago, she and Steve spent time together without a facilitator, and they didnt develop an ongoing plan. But their taped conversations still follow the basic restorative-justice formula.

Countries such as Canada, New Zealand, Austria, and Finland have restorative-justice programs that handle cases of intimate-partner violence. But while hundreds of mediation and group conferencing programs exist in the U.S. today, these processes are typically only used here when dealing with juvenile crimes. Only recently have advocates and legal experts begun to consider them as options for survivors of domestic or sexual violence. In January, the U.S. Department of Justice announced for the first time ever a grant for restorative-justice programs that deal with sexual assault and domestic violence on campuses. The federal governments Office on Violence Against Women recently sponsored a national roundtable on the topic.

The American legal system first began to incorporate restorative-justice practices in the late 70s for civil cases and juvenile crimes. (A number of Indigenous groups have long used a similar process, often called peacemaking circles, to deal with crime.) And, at first, domestic-violence advocates tended to strongly oppose any form of mediation. After fighting for decades, they had finally convinced the legal system to treat intimate-partner violence as a serious crime instead of a personal feud; they were understandably wary of alternative solutions that might undermine that progress.

They read [restorative-justice advocates] as saying Well, lets just sit down and talk about it with these guys who are going to choke us to death, says Sujatha Baliga, a former lawyer who works at a restorative-justice research center in Oakland. Today, she says, there is an openness to something other than the singular approach weve taken to domestic violence.

By the mid-90s, victim-offender mediation had been endorsed by the American Bar Association and was more commonly used in criminal cases. More importantly, though, womens-rights activists had become frustrated with the criminal systems response to domestic violence and wanted alternatives. They felt policies such as mandatory arrests and protective orders ignored survivors individual needs, and that incarceration only exacerbated the issues of poverty and discrimination that lay at the root of much abuse. So a small group of advocates with backgrounds in the shelter movement, social work, and academia decided to see whether restorative justice could offer solutions.

Between 1998 and 2008, these experts launched short-term pilot programs in North Carolina, Arizona and Minnesota that used group conferences or circles to deal with cases of domestic abuse (including child abuse) and sexual violence. The results were promising: rates of PTSD among sexual-assault survivors went down by 20 percent; the group conferences, some of which separated the victims and offenders, lowered rates of domestic violence and child abuse; there were no violent incidents during the sessions or in the follow-up period that ranged from 6 to 24 months. While the programs helped some women stay safely in their relationships, it helped others feel empowered enough to leave. One participant in the Minnesota pilot left her abusive partner, saying the restorative-justice process gave me the guts and  it give me back my sense of self-worth. Over 90 percent of participants said that they felt the group sessions were successful.

While there is limited data on restorative-justice programs that deal with domestic violence, these findings mirrored research in other countries: A South African report found that none of the women were abused after going through victim-offender mediation. In a Canadian study the number of survivors who showed symptoms of domestic violence, such as feeling fear and anxiety near their partners, dropped by 60 percent after the group conferences. Other findings were more cautiously optimistic: an Austrian researcher concluded that mediation was helpful, but only in situations where both the offender and survivor wanted the relationship to change.

A lot of women say I just want the violence to stop and I dont want to end my relationship with them and I dont want to destroy my family, says Augusta-Scott, the facilitator in Khans film who works as a counselor for domestic-violence offenders. He points out how the criminal system fails to accommodate a spectrum of situations that range from occasional, non-life-threatening attacks to constant physical and emotional abuse. Weve geared all our services around [the assumption that] if women dont want to leave they should want to leave. Weve just missed the mark for so many women.

While many survivors may want their cases to end up in court, others are dissuaded by the fact that judges and lawyers continue to blame victims and that conviction rates remain stubbornly low. They would rather hear their offender acknowledge the crime than navigate a criminal system that seems stacked against them. Think about a trial  nobody says [to victims], Now we want to hear from you for 15 minutes in your own words without a defense attorney interrupting you, says Mary Koss, a public health professor who ran the pilot project in Arizona for sex offenses. Many victims say, I want to tell my story to him, to the person who did this to me, and I want my family and friends to be sitting there so they can understand I am a legitimate victim.

Khan herself has worked as a counselor and coordinator for domestic-violence programs and shed come to feel that the standard assumption in her field  that all survivors should call the police, leave their partners, and go to a shelter  wasnt actually working for many of her clients. We didnt have enough services to accommodate the ways that women wanted to be either during abusive situations or after, she says.

Khan knows she is different from many survivors, who might be drawn to a nonpunitive approach out of desperation (seeing a partner jailed can come at the cost of child support or rent). I am healing and doing better and overall Im in a good place, she says. I am so lucky and privileged. Today, at age 43, she does work that shes passionate about; shes married, with a 10-year-old son; in person shes warm, often referring to people as love, and she exudes a sense of hypercompetence as well as physical strength. Still, shes been diagnosed with PTSD; she has panic attacks, flashbacks, and nightmares about her time with Steve. She thinks constantly about safety, especially in enclosed, crowded spaces like movie theaters  a common PTSD symptom.

For the first few years I just wanted revenge, to be quite honest, she says. Even so, it would have helped me to actually see [Steve] in a controlled environment at that time and talk to him.

Photo: Intervention Productions/National Film Board of Canada

Two years after Khan left Steve, when she was 19 and in college, she saw him in Toronto, walking toward her. She became faint and speechless. But over the next six years they bumped into one another a handful of times, and as they did, Khans fear and anger began to dissipate. While her life continued to improve  she earned a degree, got a job, fell in love  Steve seemed stuck and unhappy, his eyes hollow. Gradually, instead of ignoring him, shed say hello and exchange a few minutes of small talk.

In 2001, on one run-in, Steve asked if they could sit down. She did a quick safety gut check before agreeing. Im so sorry, he said, once they were seated. He repeated the apology a few times before breaking into tears.

Khan thought about that conversation often in the years that followed, and wondered how talking more with Steve might help her deal with the lingering trauma. If she could tell him the graphic details of the violence that had haunted her for so long, maybe she would heal. If Steve better understood the roots and consequences of his own anger, maybe he would be less likely to hurt another woman. She wanted to capture dialogue on tape so it could be a resource for other survivors and offenders.

She made her pitch in 2013: Would Steve be part of a documentary exploring their abusive relationship? Khan remembers that she could feel her heartbeat as she waited for a response. After a long silence, Steve said he needed to think about it. Six months later he texted her back: If youre ready to listen Im ready to talk. Two days later, they sat down in a coffee shop for their first recorded conversation. Khan used the footage of that meeting, shot by a friend, to persuade a producer and co-director to sign on to her project.

Using a restorative-justice model to take on domestic abuse is contentious even among restorative-justice advocates: Domestic violence is probably the most problematic area of application and here great caution is advised, wrote Howard Zehr, known as the grandfather of the field.

But part of the reason so few programs exist in the U.S. lies in a misunderstanding of what restorative justice means: The practice is often conflated with traditional mediation, which treats both parties as equally complicit in the problem rather than acknowledging a clear victim and offender. In fact, a few states, like Colorado and Vermont, have laws that explicitly preclude restorative justice from being used in cases of domestic violence; Title IX guidelines prohibit any process that resembles mediation in cases of sexual assault; and its usually excluded from grants for government-funded programs to prevent violence against women. (The Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence plans to develop a restorative-justice pilot program in collaboration with the Vermont Department of Corrections and a few other groups in 2018, which means they will have to lobby the government to change its law next year. )

Another reason victim-offender and group conferences are seldom used for domestic violence is that many womens-rights advocates have traditionally opposed them. Critics worry that any contact could lead to more violence, and that facilitators who arent trained in the complexities of intimate-partner violence will allow abusive power dynamics to go unchecked. The victim may feel unsafe presenting any kind of challenge to the abuser, fearing that he will retaliate afterward by hurting her and/or her children, write restorative-justice experts Alan Edwards and Susan Sharpe in a research paper. This power imbalance may not be evident to the person(s) facilitating the victim-offender dialogue. In a culture where victim-blaming too often prevails, womens advocates also worry that group-conference members are likely to excuse an offenders violent behavior rather than support the survivor. Then theres the issue of accountability: Does restorative justice send the message that violent abuse should be met with a slap on the wrist?

Experts in the field have worked to address these concerns. Domestic-violence professionals help to develop any program and train facilitators to spot coercion during sessions. Most restorative-justice organizations have some connection to the legal system for safety reasons: the most common model is that prosecutors or police recommend certain cases be diverted from the courts, but only if a survivor is willing to participate and an offender has admitted guilt. Other experts think restorative justice can happen in addition to criminal justice (and offenders who violate the terms of their accountability plan can face a criminal sentence). In the Arizona pilot program, sex offenders had to pass a psychosexual assessment during which time a stay-away order was issued. Conferences took place in a police station. Some programs limit cases to couples with children, juvenile, low-risk or first-time offenders to be extra cautious. According to Barbara Hart, the former director of law and domestic violence policy at the University of Southern Maine, the older a man becomes, the less likely he is to be changed by restorative justice. We can work with young men  at the beginning of their relationships with young women, she says. [But] I think if you are a 30-year-old living without kids and you are still battering  restorative principles are not going to make a difference in your life.

Baliga trains restorative-justice facilitators and she says that, if done right, the process should help survivors realize that they arent to blame for the abuse. I would say that the girls definitely have a feeling they deserved it somehow, she said. What Ive seen is [that a] young man eventually breaks down and says Help me not be like my father, and you see her eyes get big and shes like Oh, this isnt about me.

Augusta-Scott estimates that 98 percent of the men he works with have experienced violent childhoods in which someone told them they were ugly and not worth anything.

They often come in with This is just the way I am. Im bad. And Ive always been bad. Ive been abused because Im bad and now this is more evidence that Im bad, he says. While there is no comprehensive research on the recidivism rates of domestic-violence offenders who go through restorative-justice programs versus the court system, advocates of the former take the position that demonizing offenders can actually fuel the cycle of violence. The RJ model leans towards peoples redemption, says Baliga.

Back in the Toronto studio with Augusta-Scott and Steve, Khan continues to recount her most horrific memory of the abuse.

She describes passing out after Steve head-butted her and trying to run away once she regained consciousness. She was too weak, though, and Steve grabbed her. Then you turned me around and thats when, you know, you gave me the sleeper, she says.

Steve, do you remember that? Augusta-Scott asks.

Steve looks at Khan solemnly and nods.

Khans eyes tear up and her face forms a pained expression. She looks down, breathes in deeply, and looks at Steve. Its strangling until you pass out, she says in a choked voice. She exhales loudly and whispers to herself, Oh god. My neck was so swollen and used to it that you would just go like this, she says, putting her right hand up to her neck, and I would faint, you know? Khan wipes tears from her eyes with her left hand.

Whats it like to recall that? asks Augusta-Scott.

Fuck, I hate that one, I just hate it, she says, bringing both hands to her face to wipe away more tears. She lets out a deep breath, shifts in her chair and collects herself. Its the form of violence that I feel like, its very symbolic, you know? Like when someone has their hands around you, your life is literally in their hands. And I always thought, Fuck, this is the way Im going to die.

Khan turns to face Steve and tilts her head to the side with a sympathetic expression. I always thought someone must have done that to you, you know, to do it to me.

Steves eyes pool with tears and he nods.

You dont have to answer, she says softly. Its always something that Ive wondered.

Steve, do you remember that? asks Augusta-Scott.

Steve swallows hard, clears his throat, and pauses for a few seconds.

I do now, he says, his voice trembling. He turns to face Khan. My recollection was I tossed you off the bed and you passed out. You cut your knee. I carried you to the hospital. Its much worse than that. He looks down at the ground. What youre reminding me of is the level of anger  not quite hate but anger.

When you look back at it as an adult, what were you taking out on Attiya? asks Augusta-Scott.

Absolutely everything, Steve says.

And what was everything? Augusta-Scott asks. Had you experienced violence?

Mmm-hmmm. Yeah, he replies while nodding, knots of worry forming between his brows.

Augusta-Scott asks whether theres a relationship between the violence he experienced and the abuse he inflicted.

Definitely, Steve says. Its an incapacity to deal with your own feelings in a productive way. Its just explosive. And it always happens to the one whos closest to you. Khan looks at him with complete focus, like shes searching his face for more answers as she processes his words. He meets her gaze and says: Its more about my experience before I came to live with you.

Steve and Khan shot together for eight days over the course of a year and a half and even visited their old apartments. The process would have been intense enough off-camera, but being on film added another layer of anxiety. At points, Khan became depressed and exhausted. For me things are physical and Im heavy, she said last March, after a long series of shoots. I [keep] saying I just want someone to take me by the feet and hold me up and let me float and let me drain.

Once the major filming ended last spring, Khan started to feel a new lightness  as if she were physically shedding the trauma from her body. Steve had helped answer questions she had been harboring for years. I was so desperate to be in a supportive relationship, I used violence to keep you beside me, he told her in one session. I was just obviously going to do anything to keep you at my side regardless of how manipulative that was. Now, he says, he consciously monitors his anger and slows down when his emotions flare up instead of resorting to violence.

The more they talked, the more Steve began to remember details of the abuse, which helped validate Khans trauma. Sometimes I would question myself like Did it happen and was it that bad? she told him during a shoot. And now I can move past it to think about the big story.

But the most powerful part of the process was recounting the details of Steves abuse to his face. The feeling of being able to tell him You hit me and you strangled me and you dragged me on the floor. You [are] the reason my knee has a scar  It was huge, she says. She doesnt think every survivor will benefit from a dialogue with their abuser, but does want every woman to have the choice.

Now that the filming is over, Khan thinks about the abuse less often and has fewer flashbacks and nightmares. Not long ago, when she went to see Moonlight, she didnt immediately think to sit near an exit. I directly relate that to seeing Steve and being in front of a place he hurt me, she said. Confronting that, and leaving that behind.
Photo: Courtesy of Facebook/vladimir.cicmanec 16-year-old Lucie Myslikova faced off with a neo-Nazi.

Last summer, a photo of a Black Lives Matter demonstrator Ieshia L. Evans standing calmly in front of two policemen in full riot gear swept across the internet, a viral symbol of self-assurance in the face of adversity. Now, at a time when support for nationalism is picking up around the globe, photos of women calmly facing off with far-right protesters are taking on similar weight. In April, Saffiyah Khan smiled down at an English Defense League member in her hometown of Birmingham, and on Monday a new woman joined the club: Lucie Myslikova, a 16-year-old Girl Scout who a photographer captured debating a neo-Nazi.

Myslikova was part of a group of counter-protesters who confronted the neo-Nazis in the Czech city of Brno at a May Day rally. Vladimir Cicmanec, who took the photo, said she stood proud and made some profound arguments. Teens, man  they are the future.
Bathroom celebs at the Met Gala. Photo: Courtesy of Twitter/victuuris95

A number of celebrities were pictured smoking in the bathrooms of the Metropolitan Museum of Art at Monday nights Met Gala, just like the cool kids in high school. However, the rebellion reportedly pissed off museum board members and donors  to the point that one actually complained to Anna Wintour, Page Six reports.

this year's met gala theme was smoking in the bathroom pic.twitter.com/b83rjR3qlZ  fast slow disco (@veedagger) May 2, 2017

According to Page Six, one board member was horrified to go into the ladies loo to find a host of celebs messing around, including Sean Diddy Combs, Kendall Jenner, and Kim Kardashian. On top of that, certain celebrities, such as Bella Hadid, Marc Jacobs, and Dakota Johnson, were also caught smoking in the bathroom (as seen in pictures shared on social media). A source told the gossip column, The board member stormed right out and complained right away to Anna Wintours team. It is so disrespectful to the museum.

This photo is like taken at a college party except for the fancy dresses #metgala pic.twitter.com/wwiRCjre6x  elif (@victuuris95) May 2, 2017

Another Met donor told Page Six that they want the smoking celebs to be punished, as it may have damaged some of the museums art. As a donor to the Met, I was so insulted to see all these celebrities smoking and taking selfies of themselves in the bathroom, the donor said. Mostly, its disrespectful to the art collection which needs to be kept 100 percent smoke-free. I would honestly like to see these people fined by the city.

This is where it's at and yes, that is indeed Catherine Deneuve XPG. A post shared by Prabal Gurung (@prabalgurung) on May 2, 2017 at 1:00am PDT

Oh boy, when are celebrities going to learn that true rebels without a cause hang out in the parking lot, not the bathroom?
18-year-old Henry Sanchez-Milian was arrested in March.

On Friday, prosecutors announced that rape and sexual-assault charges against two Maryland high-school students had been dropped, CNN reports. Eighteen-year-old Henry Sanchez-Milian and 17-year-old Jose Montano, both students at Rockville High School, were originally charged with raping a 14-year-old girl in a school bathroom. But on Friday, prosecutors dropped the charges for lack of corroboration and substantial inconsistencies from the facts.

We have concluded that the facts in this case do not support the original charges filed in this matter, Montgomery County State Attorney John McCarthy said during a news conference. He added that the investigation was extensive and included multiple interviews and reviews of phone and computer records, school surveillance video and medical records.

The case drew national attention when the White House used it to support President Trumps immigration policies  Sanchez-Milian, whos from Guatemala, was in the U.S. illegally. During a press briefing, Sean Spicer called the case horrendous and horrible and disgusting and added, I think part of the reason the president has made illegal immigration and crackdown such a big deal is because of tragedies like this.

He went on, The president recognizes that education is a state-run and a local-run issue, but I think it is  it is cause for concern, what happened there. And I think that the city should look at its policies.

After Spicers comments, Rockville High was flooded with around 500 emails and 200 phone calls; at least two calls threatened to shoot the illegals. During a press conference Friday, White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders (who was standing in for Spicer) declined to retract Spicers statement and said he was reacting based on what he knew at the time.

Instead of rape, Sanchez-Milian has been charged with possession of child pornography for allegedly forwarding explicit photos and videos of the 14-year-old girl to Montano. His lawyer said that if hes found guilty, Immigration and Customs Enforcement will likely seek to deport him.
why wouldn't it??

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I can see them passing this so the party has a win. Yeah they might lose their seat in 2018 but if it's for the party why not

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It apparently is going to need 60 votes in the Senate because it will increase the deficit?

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I'm terrified



I mean, have you seen what's listed as pre-existing conditions under this bill?



Edited at 2017-05-04 01:01 pm (UTC)

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being alive?

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and being poor

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where is the list, if you don't mind me asking? (because i'm a masochist and i want to know)

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It's pretty disgusting. Basically everything from conception to death are pre-existing conditions. One of the grossest specific new pre-existing conditions being sexual assault. They're disgusting, vile heartless assholes.



But the GOP made sure to exempt all of Congress and their family and staffs from it all. Their coverage remains untouched.

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I'm not from the US so I don't understand this system tbh. What will it mean for the person who has one of the listed pre-existing conditions? Can you give me an example?





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I fucking hate this country.

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this is so scary, sending good vibes to you guys! Stay strong!

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This is so baffling to me. How can republicans try over and over again to fuck the American people, proving they don't give a shit about them and yet vote them into office.

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racism is a powerful drug

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Having the worst education system in the developed world doesn't help much

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Those Republicans know that people (especially their own supporters) will suffer and couldn't give two shits. Their supporters don't give a shit because hey, there's going a be a wall to keep out the brown people and bring back three coal jobs.

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It baffles me that there are republicans that aren't wealthy, white or male. Like they are in support of screwing themselves over.

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well, the "vote them into office part" is very layered and complicated

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pure evil.

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i seriously cannot comprehend what it takes to not internalize the stories that people have shared about their struggles with health care.

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how i'm feeling until this bill rightfully dies on arrival like it SHOULD

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literally me every day since the election



ty dorinda for giving us this gif

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me rn

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the more I read about this last night the more terrifying it got. being a woman might as well be listed as a pre-existing condition. won't be able to follow the vote @ 1 but I'm hoping it doesn't pass for all you americans, jfc.

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this shit is gonna pass, i just know it.



and Dump's supporters won't gaf.

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I don't feel an ounce of sympathy for his supporters but it's conflicting because the bill will affect everyone including the people that didn't vote him.

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Yeah, it's like...I know their mindset all too well as someone who grew up in flyover country, escaped to DC, and then came to Kentucky, but I am OUT. OF. SYMPATHY.



(Out of sympathy for his supporters, I mean. For those of us stuck lying in the bed those derfwads have made, my heart aches.)



Edited at 2017-05-04 03:10 pm (UTC)

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This is the shit I don't understand, do his supporters give a shit about anything other than eliminating the "browning of America". Like they want all the brown people gone, but they want to get sick and die in the process?

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

-- Stephen Colbert

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I think it's pretty obvious that conservatives have just been pretending Jesus is just as selfish as they are. I mean, I know "Supply Side Jesus" is a meme, but Trump's "church" is pretty much based off that idea.

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Yeah republicans have always served business interests they just realized in the 70s that appealing to religious southerners would give them more votes from white people who felt abandoned by democrats. Republicans have never cared about Jesus just $$$ and power

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US philosophy on this comes from what Max Weber called the "protestant work ethic," which has Calvinist roots, and Calvinism determined that the poor were poor because they were less moral, that wealth is a gift to the righteous

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Ignoring the Christian stuff about the poor, needy and pitiful while being actual hardocre believers in the Christian faith used to be all the rage in those feudal societies of yore, so yeah, it can be done, it is done, it has been done. It's hypocrisy for a Christian believer but it's so ancient that it always has been normal.

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This is a shitshow that I can't wait to be over.



The American people really fuck themselves over with the orange reality star as president.



So much power, so much money, so damn stupid.

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I have every intention of moving back to the US at some point but boy am I glad I live in Europe in times such as these.

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As an American who also lives in Europe... SAME!

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How were you able to move to Europe ? I'm being serious I've been trying to figure a way out for years and the only way I can think of is getting married to a euro which probably won't happen.

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I seriously thought about relocating to another country.

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I'm English living in NY :(



Seriously considering moving back despite setting up an entire life over here and having basically nothing in the UK

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as someone who lived in korea from 2010 to 2014 i wonder why i ever came back..

i paid like 24$ a month taken directly out of my paycheck for full health and dental coverage.

fuck this country

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I'm Canadian, so it's not like our healthcare is terrible here, but I miss living in Scotland and the NHS. I had to get a prescription refilled about 2 weeks before I moved back here and the ladies at the chemist were so upset when I paid and insisted I mail in a form to get reimbursed for it because "no one should pay for their medication" and I was like "omfg this place is utopia i don't want to leeeeave ;____;"



I mean, I like Canada and our healthcare is fine, but paying for prescriptions is sf expensive here. I have to put mine on my credit card every time because it's just too much to pay at one time. And istg, if my family lived in the US, we'd be literally homeless based on our medical bills. I'm not even joking. My heart hurts for Americans who get billed thousands for a trip to the ER or to have a baby or whatever. That's insanity.

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i hate all these fucking sociopaths, jerking themselves off to thoughts of poor people dying. when is the vote happening? i need to know when to start surreptitiously checking my phone at work and preparing myself to smother the explosion of rage if they pass this shit. an accurate representation of the mood i'm in today:i hate all these fucking sociopaths, jerking themselves off to thoughts of poor people dying. when is the vote happening? i need to know when to start surreptitiously checking my phone at work and preparing myself to smother the explosion of rage if they pass this shit.

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someone upthread said 1?

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the only thing i really found when i googled was this random article, which says the house floor is convening at 9am today but we don't know when they'll be voting. ugh idk

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I have hope this won't pass in the Senate.



And I know this site is US-centric AF but can we talk about what's going on in Venezuela? I hope Leopoldo is okay but I have a sinking feeling he might have died. That would unfold such chaos that I can't even imagine. My heart breaks for such a beautiful country filled with amazing people.

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I was going to include it in the post but I could only find the entire film on YT and not the trailer Lol. The only one out of these that I've seen is Cronos :(

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Rec

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[Rec] is Spanish, though?

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Paz Vega and Poncho Herrera? Sign me up...the trailer looks cheesy tho,

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ooh thanks for the recs. I need to see more mexican films. My favorite mexican film is one I saw as a child. Uno y medio contra el mundo with Vicente Fernandez.

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What's your favorite Mexican film, ONTD?





Erendira directed by Ruy Guerra which is based on a Garcia Marquez novel about a teenage girl who is forced to be a teenage prostitute (what is with Garcia Marquez and teenage prostitutes? It's really weird). Anyway it's the only Garcia Marquez adaptation that really captures how surreal and beautiful his work is. I saw it years ago and I wish I could find a copy.

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cronos better be on the list

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It is :)

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BLESS 

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Here Comes the Devil fucked me up for a good while idek

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Most of the Mexican horror films I've seen are awful ones like El Santo movies or Vacacciones de Terror. My favorites are Amores Perros, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Despues de Lucia, and idgaf but I love me some Pedro Infante movies like Nosotros Los Pobres.

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Nosotros Los Pobres with Pedro Infante and El Padrecito with Cantinflas are sentimental faves because I used to watch them with my grandparents all the time. But Y Tu Mama Tambien is my personal fave.



Edited at 2017-05-05 12:14 am (UTC)

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Alucarda was such a dumb movie. The only Mexican horror movie I really like was veneno para las hadas, it was just such an eerie movie.

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i really liked that one too!!

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I just saw that one a few weeks ago. I really like it too.

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my fav <3

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that looks so good

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its crap

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HASTA EL VIENTO TIENE MIEDO (original).

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I still wanna watch Mexican Barbaro, even if I heard it sucks.

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I'm gonna put it on the ontd ffaf movie poll! Maybe other ppl will want to watch it too. IDK tho lol. And I love watching scary movies when it rains too!

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chafa

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A lot of Mexican films are like horror for how awful they are 

I have an almost finished ontd original list with 80s-90s Mexican movies with singers.. I need to finish it and post it.. say the classic one with magneto, luismi, lucero, gloria trevi and the likes.. there are so many to choose from

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Yes finish it!!! Sounds fun

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WTI and Brent continued to tumble on Thursday, dropping to their lowest levels since the announcement of the OPEC deal back in November. Brent actually dipped below $49 per barrel, raising fears of another downturn. Both WTI and Brent were off by nearly 4 percent during midday trading on Thursday.

Oil traders have been patient, hoping that despite the rapid rebound in U.S. shale production, the OPEC cuts would take a substantial volume of oil off the market and correct the supply/demand imbalance. But it has been a painful and protracted process.

U.S. crude oil inventories hit a record high of 535 million barrels as recently as the end of March. Several consecutive weeks of drawdowns in April again raised hopes that the market is heading towards balance, but the most recent data release from the EIA on May 3 disappointed yet again, and it was apparently the last straw for some. Market analysts predicted a drop in oil inventories by about 2.3 million barrels, but the EIA said stocks only fell by 930,000 barrels. WTI sank to $46 per barrel and Brent fell into the $40s for the first time in 2017.

Worse, gasoline stocks increased slightly, offering more evidence that motorists are not willing to burn through all the refined products that the downstream sector is producing. Even if refiners suck more crude out of storage, consumers wont sufficiently burn through all of the additional refined product. Related: Tech Breakthroughs May Save Deepwater Oil

But the most bearish part of the report came from the upstream figures, which once again showed dramatic growth in U.S. oil production. In the last week in April, the industry added another 28,000 bpd, taking U.S. output up to 9.293 million barrels per day (mb/d), up more than 200,000 bpd since the beginning of March, and up more than 450,000 bpd since the start of the year. Output is now the highest since the summer of 2015, and if current trends continue, the industry could break all-time production records before we know it.

U.S. oil production continues to grow hand over fist, and the market will remain well oversupplied given the lack of demand for gasoline and diesel, Roberto Friedlander, head of energy trading at Seaport Global Securities, told CNBC.

It is growing more difficult by the day to make the case that oil prices will post strong gains this year. A WSJ survey of 14 investment banks finds an average projected Brent oil prices for this year at $57 per barrel, an estimate that is starting to look a bit overly optimistic.

"Crude inventories fell, because they always do at this time of year," Stephen Schork, president of Schork Group Inc., told Bloomberg. "This is the 11th straight-weekly gain in production and heading for a modern-day record by the end of the year. I dont see any way you can spin this as bullish."

Adding to the supply glut is the fact that Libya has restored large chunks of its production, taking output back above 700,000 bpd. Libyas National Oil Company is also targeting another 500,000 bpd of gains this year, although that will be easier said than done.

Things are not all bad. On the plus side, hedge funds and other money managers have reduced their bullish bets on crude oil, which is to say, they are not overextended on the upside in the way that they were the last time oil prices fell. That means there is less pent up pressure that could suddenly force prices down further. "We've had some pretty sharp price corrections already so it does reduce the risk of length liquidation. I do think as long as OPEC maintains the cuts, the price will get some stability," Petromatrix analyst Olivier Jakob said to CNBC. Related: The Oil Crisis: An Ice Cream-Flavored Asteroid?

And although it gets lost in the mix, especially when prices start getting volatile, the market is still marching slowly in the right direction. Inventories are declining globally, and many analysts still see more balance later this year.

Moreover, the markets tend to put too much emphasis on one indicator over another. OPEC was given enormous credit in the initial rally up to $50 last November, but some argue that the large OPEC cuts, which are likely to be extended through the end of the year, are now being discounted as everyone shifts their focus to the shale comeback. "U.S. production continues to rise largely in response to supply discipline being shown by OPEC and Russia," Tim Evans, an energy analyst at Citi Futures Perspective, said in a Bloomberg interview. "It was a mistake during the first part of the year to ignore rising U.S. production and focus exclusively on the OPEC cuts. Its a mistake now to just focus on U.S. production and assume that guarantees well have an ongoing abundance of supply."

But the problem with that argument is that to a large degree the OPEC extension has already been priced into the markets. That leaves little upside to an extension but a massive risk to the downside if OPEC fails to extend.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Russian energy giant Gazprom will begin construction on the Black Sea portion of the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline in a few days, according to CEO Alexei Miller, who spoke to reporters on Thursday.

"We have finished all preparatory and mobilization works [on the Turkish Stream project]. I report to you that we are ready to start the construction of the sea stretch of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline in a few days," Miller said after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In anticipation of future competition, changing market dynamics in Europe, the limited success of Gazproms pivoting to China, and the phasing out of long-term contracts, Gazprom has followed through with a strategy of doubling down on Europe and securing its future market share by launching Nord Stream II and Turkish Stream. In doing so, the Russian gas giant is enacting a pincer strategy aimed at eliminating the need for the gas to transit through Ukraine. This would remove the transit risk based on political quarrels between Russia and Ukraine.

Russias ambition to export gas to China seems to be a pipe dream for the moment. Although having signed a largely political agreement, Beijing has not committed to any concrete terms as it pressures Russia on accepting a much lower-than-requested export price.



Related: Are Gasoline Prices About To Crash? Glut Moves Downstream

Russia and Turkey signed the agreement authorizing the pipeline last October. Previously, Miller had said construction would begin later this year, but the timeline has moved up since a couple of weeks ago.

"In the second half of this year, we will start the laying of the gas pipeline and we plan to complete the construction of two lines of the Turkish Stream by the end of 2019, he said in late April. The drilling of the first section of the micro tunnel has been completed on the Russian part, the second micro tunnel is ready for 98.5 percent.

By Zainab Calcuttawala for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Big opportunities come when new terrains open for exploration. And this week, one of the worlds newest countries declared itself open for business  offering up ground that already holds some world-class mineral finds.

The place is Bougainville. A 9,300 square-kilometer island, formerly part of eastern Papua New Guinea  Google Earth view below.

(Click to enlarge)

Bougainville is a newly-autonomous territory in eastern Papua New Guinea

Unlike Papua New Guinea, Bougainville has been closed to new mining and exploration projects for a full 46 years, since 1971. Partly because of political conflict in the region during the 1980s  and also due to concerns over mining activities that historically took place on the island.

But the local government now wants to change that. With president John Momis saying in a statement this week that he has lifted the moratorium, and welcomes new investment in mining.

The area involved here isnt huge. But Bougainville will likely be of interest for exploration firms  because of the one mine the country does hold, which demonstrates major potential for copper and gold.

Thats the Panguna mine. Which was developed here in the 1970s by Rio Tinto  and contained an initial resource of nearly a billion tonnes at 0.5 percent copper and 0.6 g/t gold. Related: Russia Inclined To Extend Output Cut Deal With OPEC

The mine was a major producer until it was shut down in 1989 due to political unrest. Afterward it became a contentious asset  with Bougainville residents saying they didnt get enough of the profits, and that they suffered environmental damage from the mine.

The mine has lain dormant since, and wont be included for licensing, according to the Bougainville government. But the rest of the island is now available  potentially opening up some targets for similar, major porphyry deposits.

All of this comes as Bougainville is gearing up to become the worlds newest nation. With a vote on full autonomy expected in 2020. Watch to see who will take up the governments invitation to start exploring  and what the terms and licensing conditions will be.

Heres to green fields.

By Dave Forest

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
By Senator Alan DeBoer

Civil discourse has been an important part of the American tradition ever since our nations founding. The free exchange of ideas enables us to participate in processes to come up with solutions to problems and create a stronger sense of the greater good.

However, it seems that some people have forgotten the need to have these conversations with a sense of mutual respect.

I attended a couple of town hall meetings in mid-April with Congressman Greg Walden. They were held in Medford and Grants Pass, and afforded citizens the opportunity to share their concerns with one of the highest-ranking members of Congress.

Both meetings were marred with constant interruptions from members of the audience and frequent displays of disdain for the Congressman and everyone else in attendance. Many people who wanted to ask questions were unable to because of the time others spent heckling Walden without even trying to hear what he had to say.

The next day, I held two town hall meetings of my own, in Ashland and Jacksonville. Although a some of those who came to the Ashland event disagreed with my stance on a few issues, the overall dialogue was still largely productive. My meeting at old city hall in Jacksonville was even better, as the audience did much to uphold the traditions of civic discourse.

Theres no way that everyone is always going to agree on everything. Therefore, its critical we take the time to listen to each others viewpoints to decide what policies government should implement to benefit as many people as possible.

Instead, weve reached a point where elected representatives and members of their families are directly threatened by people who are unhappy with decisions theyve made while serving in office. The mayor of Portland has had to contend with protesters behaving badly in front of the private residence that he shares with his wife and children. He stayed at least one night at a hotel and has had his car tires slashed repeatedly.

Such behavior is simply unacceptable. We owe it to each other to engage in constructive discussions that bring us closer to a mutual understanding, rather than perpetuating the politics of division and personal destruction normalized by the 2016 presidential election. Lets rise above this and rise above the race to the bottom.

I was very encouraged by those who showed up to meet with me in Ashland and Jacksonville, and look forward to having more town hall meetings in the future. Together, we can do what we can to make Oregon a better place to live for each and every one of us.

Alan DeBoer is a State Senator representing District 3 in Southern Oregon.
After the 2016 election Republican moved into power by assuming the Presidency, preventing a liberal takeover of the Supreme Court, and holding both Houses of Congress. Additionally Republicans occupy 33 Gubernatorial offices and fully control 32 state legislatures. The seeds for those 2016 electoral victories were sewn back in 2010. In 2010 opposition to President Obamas Affordable Care Act gave rise to the Tea Party movement. Republicans were able to successfully channel the energy of the Tea Party to take back the House of Representatives and many state legislatures. By controlling state legislatures in 2010 Republicans were in the drivers seat when it came to the redistricting process that followed the 2010 census. Having gotten more favorable lines for congressional elections and state legislative elections Republicans reinforced their hold on power, setting the stage for the Republican takeover that came about in 2016.

Without Obamacare almost none of what I mentioned above would have ever been possible. Now Republicans are working to fulfill their promise of finally repealing the Affordable Care Act. As I write this the headlines are popping up about the American Health Care Act passing the House of Representatives. Regardless of how you feel about the AHCA as policy, I fear that while health care made our Republican government possible, it could also be the issue that leads to its eventually collapse.

I am not here to discuss the practical policy implications of the new law, only the possible political repercussions. The biggest repercussion that I see is in the consequences of shifting the fight to our states and state legislatures.

The American Health Care Act allows states to decide if insurers will be required to cover folks with pre-existing conditions or now. This means that every Republican Governor and every Republican legislature will be forced to grapple with this issue in a very public manner. As with any government entitlement it is much easier to give to folks than it is to take away. Going into the 2018 elections Governor and legislators will not be able to run on the issues that would have hoped to have run on because the Democratic political machine and the media will keep the spotlight on healthcare and the mean old Republicans who just want to take healthcare away from sick people.

Discussions over high risk pools or other conservative solutions for the pre-existing condition problem will be drowned out by The Resistance and their media allies shouting about how Republicans in their state are taking away protections from people that Obamacare provided.

Obamacare was a disaster on its way towards collapse and it needed to be repealed. I am glad the elected Republicans are finally taking the steps to do what we sent them to Washington to do and repeal and replace this law. I only fear that the way they went about it will have severe consequences for conservatives down at the state level.
Frank and Jennie (Chong) Jue

On October 15, 2005 we interviewed longtime residents of the Richmond district, Frank and Jennie (Chong) Jue.

Jennie's first memories of the Richmond district come from her high school days. As a bobby-soxer living in Chinatown she was one of the first group of Chinese-Americans to attend Star of the Sea High School:



"Somehow they were having an outreach kind of a program and they gave us a big break on tuition at that time. There were four of us that came out. It was strange, because in those days we don't know too much about things outside of Chinatown. You don't travel that much. You still have the trolley cars and the buses, and very few people have cars. So you're not really exposed to a lot. So it was interesting. [B]ut all the girls at the school were very nice, very accepting."

Jennie married Frank Jue. In 1958, after having two children (with another on the way), Frank and Jennie thought their Chinatown apartment looked a little small and the Richmond district called:

"Well, we were looking, actually, in other areas, but in that time and era, we were advised not to buy in certain areas because of neighbor animosity and stuff like that. [...] And I was in no mood to fight it. When we first moved out here [in 1958], there weren't too many Chinese out here. It was quite a cosmopolitan area and we had everything and everyone here. A lot of Irish, a scattering of Chinese, a lot of Russians."

Frank and Jennie bought a house on 11th Avenue and raised nine children there from 1958 on. Star of the Sea Grammar School didn't have a year without one of Frank and Jennie's kids from 1959 to 1979. Jennie noted "this was an Irish parish, so there were a lot of large Irish families. So we didn't feel out of place at all."

Frank's father, Joseph Sunn Jue, was a pioneering motion picture producer in Chinatown. Joseph took his family back to Kowloon, China to expand his business before World War II intruded:

"[The Japanese] started to bomb Hong Kong, so we came back in '39, just when they had the first World's Fair here. We were considered pretty lucky to have a chance to even get out of that horrible situation."

When the Jue family returned to Chinatown Frank's father resumed his business on Ross Alley, and eventually owned the Grand View Theater on Jackson Street. ("The marquee is still there, but it's an apartment building now.")

Jennie remembered ironically that as a teenager she thought the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII would be good thing:

"[B]ecause anytime you looked Asian then you get persecuted, so we said, 'Good. If they are put away, then they'll lay off us Chinese.' Didn't realize the full ramification of the whole thing."

After so long in the city, and with many of their children moved away, we asked Frank and Jennie if they could ever imagine leaving:

Jennie: "No, I don't think so. I like to be able to walk to places. I don't like to live in a suburb, although I like the sun." [laughs]

Frank: "Can't have everything."

Thank you Frank and Jennie!

Read the complete Frank and Jennie Jue interview!

Images: 1) Frank and Jennie Jue, October 15, 2005. (WNP photo); 2) Jue family at the 1939-40 Treasure Island World's Fair, with Frank front and center; 3) Chong family (Courtesy of Frank and Jennie Jue).



Contribute your own stories about the Richmond.
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GLENS FALLS  A Lake George man was charged with three felonies this week for allegedly selling a $21,000 pickup truck he didn't own, police said.

Michael L. Peters, 38, was charged with counts of grand larceny, falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing after an investigation by Glens Falls Police and the state Department of Motor Vehicles, police said.

He is accused of selling a 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck for which the state had mistakenly issued a title without a lien listed on it, according to Glens Falls Police Detective Lt. Peter Casertino.

Peters had financed the vehicle when purchasing it, but the title was sent to him without the lienholder listed, Casertino said.

He later sold the vehicle to Whiteman Chevrolet in Glens Falls for $21,500, not notifying the dealership of the lien, police said. The dealership later learned of it, and contacted police.

Peters sold the vehicle despite correspondence from the lienholder indicating there was an error with the title, though it was unclear when that correspondence was sent to him, Casertino said

"He said he thought it was okay since there was no lien listed on the title," Casertino said.

Peters was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.

Casertino and Glens Falls Police Detective Sgt. Seth French made the arrest, assisted by DMV investigators.
WHITEHALL  Village officials believe a Route 4 business is operating an illegal junkyard.

After receiving complaints from multiple residents, Mayor Phil Smith announced Tuesday that the village is taking steps against Smith Street Autos Poultney Street (Route 4) lot. Particularly, Smith said, the village is concerned that the lot violates the villages junkyard ordinance.

Weve received letters about that property, Smith said. We are in the process of taking some steps.

Smith said he has spoken on multiple occasions with the owner, Jared Mowatt, telling him he believes the lot is in violation of multiple village laws or ordinances.

Were going to address it in some form, Smith said. I think hes in violation of at least four or five laws or ordinances. Ive told him that.

The issue has come up in the past, and Mowatt has argued that he is running a legitimate business and being unfairly targeted.

Smith said he is directing village zoning officer Pete Telisky to issue a formal warning for Mowatt to move cars located on the property. If Mowatt does not comply, Smith said, the village police would then be involved in citing Mowatt.

He either gets them moved or there is a hefty fine, Smith said.

Local attorney Harold Nicholson sent a letter to the village saying that multiple residents had approached him with concerns about the property. Nicholson demanded the village take action through its local junkyard law.

He called the lot an unregistered junkyard, and an eyesore. He added that he felt it was particularly bad to have the property on Route 4, the villages main thoroughfare.

Is that really what we want the thousands of people who drive through our village every day to see? Nicholson wrote.

Resident Steve St. Claire, who also owns an auto shop in the village, said he was concerned about the fact that the property is not on the tax rolls.

Officials said the property, formerly Martells Auto, is not on the tax rolls because Washington County refused to foreclose on it, after the state Department of Environmental Conservation warned of contamination issues on the land.

St. Claire argued that is unfair to other village residents, particularly because a new roof was recently constructed at the property.

If any of us make our property nicer, whats going to happen? Our taxes are going up, he said.

Youre not alone on this, board member Teresa Austin told St. Claire. Theres a lot of people asking the same questions.

If you have an issue with the tax side of it, thats something youll have to take up with the county, Village Attorney Erika Sellar Ryan told St. Claire.

According to Washington County Real Propertys tax database, the property is assessed at $120,000 and no tax bill was sent out.

An email to Mowatt, asking for comment on this story, was not returned by press time.
If the system were to bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store, it wouldnt be any harder than using the plastic bags the stores provide.

You could leave the bags in your car, carry them into the store with you and have your popsicles and artichoke hearts and unripe bananas packed into them at checkout. Youd have to remember to stick them back in your car after unloading at home, but you wouldnt have to find a place to stuff all the bags or fill up your trash with them, the way you do with the plastic ones.

Yes, some people reuse plastic bags by putting them in wastebaskets or using them to carry their lunches to work. But most of us acquire far more of them than we can find second uses for.

The plastic bags are wasteful, and it would be great to find a way to motivate shoppers to switch to using their own. But despite the efforts of grocery chains to encourage customers to switch, most people so far have stuck with plastic.

We dont know the solution. We do suspect that, if somehow the system were changed tomorrow, people would adapt to it without trouble.

When we have sufficient reason to change our habits, most of us find its not hard. The new way becomes ingrained and before long we cant imagine how or why we ever did things differently.

Take seat belts, which any of us older than about 50 grew up not wearing. Now we wont put the car in gear until everyone is buckled.

Take recyclables, for a more relevant example. Decades ago, everything went in the trash and the trash went to the end of the driveway or into the back of the car for a trip to the dump.

Now we separate plastic, metal and glass from the garbage without much thought. Its not hard, and it saves you money if you pay by the bag at the transfer station.

Price Chopper is on the right track by giving people a 3-cent credit for bringing reusable bags or boxes. Its not much of an incentive, but even tiny savings motivate shoppers, which everyone knows who has ever overheard a conversation about where to find the cheapest gas.

Warren County supervisors have been discussing the plastic bag issue and the merits of a law to ban them. A ban, especially one restricted to Warren County, seems premature and could lead to resentment and resistance from customers.

California has a statewide ban, and all the counties in Hawaii have bans.

In New York, Gov. Cuomo recently intervened to block a New York City law that would have imposed a 5-cent fee per plastic bag. Cuomo objected to the grocery companies keeping the fees, and he had a point. Wed like to see a much lower fee  a penny a bag, perhaps  and have the money collected go toward state environmental efforts. It could be used, for example, for a fund that would provide free reusable bags to anyone who needed them.

Plastic bags are a ubiquitous contamination of our landscape, urban and rural. Worse, they clog our waterways and oceans. Perhaps, bit by bit, with governments, businesses and consumers contributing, we can get rid of them. In the meantime, we can make a start by beginning to use reusable bags at the grocery store  its not a more difficult way, just a different one.
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Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein told the BBC in an interview that the investment bank has looked at increasing office space in a number of European cities, such as Frankfurt in Germany and Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. But he said the giant investment bank is not looking to relocate London staff just yet.

"We don't have big plans now, we are looking  we are trying to avoid," Blankfein said when asked about whether the bank is going to start relocating jobs before the UK leaves the EU on March 29, 2019.

However, he did say that a transition deal  a period of adjustment to let companies get ready for the new rules  is vital for Brexit to work. Otherwise, he says, Goldman Sachs, as well as others, would have to act "prematurely" by relocating jobs, business units, and activities.

"We are talking about the long-term stability of huge economies with hundreds of millions of people and livelihoods at stake and huge gross domestic product. So, if it takes a little while  I'd rather get it right than do things quickly," Blankfein said.

So, if it takes a little while - I'd rather get it right than do things quickly

Goldman Sachs employs 6,500 people in Britain. Blankfein told the BBC he hopes he does not have to enact contingency plans but it all depends on the outcome of the Brexit deal.

The loss of financial passporting rights

The loss of passporting rights seems almost a certainty under Prime Minister Theresa May's "hard Brexit" plan, which involves the loss of membership of the EU's Single Market in exchange for complete control over immigration.

Passporting rights allow companies to sell goods and services anywhere across Europe using local licences. If the passport is taken away, London could cease to be the most important financial centre in Europe, costing the UK thousands of jobs and billions in revenue. Around 5,500 firms registered in the UK rely on the European Unions passporting rights for the financial services sector, and they turn over about 9 billion in revenue.

This is one of the biggest fears in the City. It has led to global investment banks, such as Citigroup and HSBC, signalling that jobs could move to continental Europe from London.

This week, JPMorgan's head of investment banking Daniel Pinto said the Wall Street giant is relocating hundreds of bankers in London to Dublin, Frankfurt, and Luxembourg because of Brexit.

And if you cannot benefit from access to the EU from the UK... then the risk is there will be some adjustment that will cause some people to have a smaller footprint in the UK

In March, Lloyd's of London  the city's 329-year-old insurance market  said it would open a subsidiary in the heart of the European Union to counter Brexit effects.

Blankfein said London's financial sector could contract as a result of Brexit.

"Obviously, a lot of people elect to have their European business concentrated in a single place, and the easiest place, certainly, for the biggest economy in the world [America] to concentrate would be the UK  the culture, the language, the special relationship, and we are an example of that," said Blankfein to the BBC.

"The UK has a big history  certainly in financial services  of managing markets and having a fair system that makes it very attractive, but it extends to other industries as well.
"A shameful failure of policy & morality by GOP today," Clinton said on Twitter. "Fight back on behalf of the millions of families that will be hurt by their actions."

Clinton's tweet came in response to a tweet soliciting donations to ActBlue, a political action committee that raises money for Democratic politicians.

Biden was equally blunt in his appraisal, calling Thursday a "day of shame."

"Day of shame in Congress. Protections for pre-existing conditions, mental health, maternity care, addiction services -- all gone," he said on Twitter.

The AHCA passed 217 to 213, with 20 Republicans and all Democrats voting in opposition. It will now head to the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle to become law.
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It was adjudged at the maiden edition of the Ghana Manufacturers Award held in Accra.

The company which is part of the worlds leading premium drinks business, UK-based Diageo, also strives hard to play a leading role in improving the lives and livelihoods of the community in which it operates, through a number of breakthrough initiatives.

Guinness Ghana Breweries is on a path to become the most vibrant and iconic business in Ghana by 2017 following its recent 27.5 million investment in a new state-of-the-art brewing and packaging line at its Kaasi brewery.

The company was also awarded Best Company in Corporate Social Responsibility and the Best Company in Waste Management/Sustainability.

The company is currently implementing a number of changes within its distribution systems and making innovations within its branding and marketing divisions, in a bid to increase its overall efficiency and stay ahead of ever-changing consumer needs.

In Ghana, it distributes a wide range of internationally celebrated brands including Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Baileys and on the beer and stout front, produces Guinness, Malta Guinness, Star and Alvaro as well as Ruut Extra Premium Beer, which was the first cassava-based beer on the market.

READ MORE: Memorable ways some Ghanaians celebrated their Easter holidays

It currently produces some 2,000hl a day equivalent to 26,700 cases rattles out 36,000 bottles an hour on its just installed packaging line.

Managing Director of GGBL Francis Agbonlahor said "we are very proud to be named the Manufacturing Company of the Year from such a competitive and diverse manufacturing industry. GGBL has operated in Ghana for over 50 years and contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of the country through direct and indirect job creation as well as impactful Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Consistently, we have proved that our products are manufactured to the best quality and promoted in a responsible manner, adhering to global best practices. This award will certainly spur us on to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer product company in Ghana."
Fakorede, 33, and Ugbeh, 32, who entered a `not-guilty plea to a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and forgery, are residents of Agege in Lagos State.

The Magistrate, Mrs O.J Awope, said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Ezekiel Ayorinde, had said that the accused committed the offences on April 5, at Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said that the accused conspired to divert company products valued at N743,000, property of Guinness Nigeria Plc.

Ayorinde said that the first accused, Fakorede, who was a driver, loaded 682 empty crates of different varieties of Guinness, diverted the consignment and sold the goods off.

The accused was sent to bring the goods from a customer in Ilorin in Kwara, but when he got to Ibadan, Oyo State, he sold the consignment to an illegal buyer, he said.

Ayorinde said that the accused also forged the companys transit vehicle record card receipt.

The accused, who came to Lagos with an empty truck, conspired with Ugbeh, the store verifier, to forge the transit card to indicate that the goods were brought and offloaded into warehouse, he said.

He said the offences contravened Sections 285, 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 363 prescribes 14 years jail term for forgery, while Section 285 prescribes three years for stealing.
The defendant is facing a count charge of unlawful possession of cannabis sativa.

Mohammed of no fixed address, however, denied committing the offence, while Magistrate M.I. Dan-Oru admitted him to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned until May 25 for mention.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, the accused committed the offence on April 24 at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos.

He said that the accused was caught by policemen on patrol in an uncompleted building.

The accused sighted the police on patrol, he took to his heels, the police suspected something and they chased him and he was apprehended.

When his bag was searched, weeds suspected to be hemp were found, he said.

The offence contravened Section 330 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Mustapha, whose address is unknown, is facing charges of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But the Prosecutor, Insp. Roman Unuigbe, told the court that Mustapha committed the offences on April 24 at No. 21, Sariyu St., Yaba.

According to him, the accused persuaded the complainant, Ifeayin Ekweme, to give her 300 bags of cement with a promise to pay back after sales.

Unuigbe alleged that after the accused had sold the cement, she failed to pay the complainant as promised and came up with excuses when he demanded payment.

The offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 stipulates a 15-year jail term for fraud, while Section 285 prescribes three years for stealing.
Sani, who resides in Ijaiye Street, Agege, Lagos, was arraigned for a four-count charge of conspiracy, threatening violence, breach of peace and attempted murder.

He attempted to slit the throat of a man with a knife before he was rescued.

The Magistrate, Mrs O. J. Awope, ordered that the accused should be kept behind bars pending sentence on May 5.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Ezekiel Ayorinde, had told the court that the accused committed the offences with another man still at large on April 26 in Agege.

According to him, the accused with his accomplice attempted to kill a man, Muhammed Kudan, for an undisclosed reason.

The accused unlawfully entered the complainants room and held his shirt.

He brought out a knife and attempted to slit the complainants throat but he was rescued by some neighbours, who reported the matter to the police.

The accused was arrested while his accomplice escaped, he said.

The offences contravened Sections 56, 168, 230 and 412 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
It will be recalled that scores of them spent two nights at the Ministry of Health to mount pressure on the government to fast-track their postings.

The spokesperson for the nurses, Tina Mireku, said that the Ministry had cleared them Thursday evening to get them employed.

A meeting just ended with the minister, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders and our clearance has been released  a total of 4832 nurses. On the clearance, it has been stated that we are to start work 1 July, she said.

Aside whatever happened, although the minister was not happy with the demonstration, that is the picketing we didwe also told him we did that out of frustration because staying home for nine months jobless wasnt easy for us. So we want to say a big thank you to the Ministry of Health, all stakeholders that were involved in our posting and then the media So we are looking forward to the Ministry to give us our various stations where on the 1st of July we will go and begin our work as professional nurses in the country, she told Accra-based Class FM.

Meanwhile, some nurses in Ghana are against moves by the government to revoke the bonding arrangement of nurses.

The Minister of Health Kwaku Agyemang Manu on Thursday described as irrelevant the government bonding of nurses.

We have several nursing training schools  some private ones have been training nurses for usthey pay their own school fees. So the value of bonding doesnt seem to be real now, he told Accra-based Citi FM.

His comments follow a statement by the Ministry that starting from 2017/2018 academic year, new entrant trainee nurses will not be mandated to serve a bond after completion of their training in government funded health institutions.
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A letter dated April 24th 2017, signed by the Sector Minister, Mr.John Peter Amewu and copied to the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission in Accra stated that the sector minister "has received reports that your mining operations at Gbane in the Talensi district of the Upper East Region have allegedly caused the death of some people in that area. It has been reported that this is not the first time such an incident has occurred in your mine and this cannot be allowed to continue.

According to the letter, the directive was also to enable "thorough investigations to be conducted into the matter and that "the suspension shall remain in force until investigations are completed and the appropriate decisions taken by me".

The company has asked 500 workers to go home to enable it to comply with the directive which it received in the form of a letter from the Ministry.

But some of the frustrated employees have described the decision by the sector minister as unfair.

Many of the workers who are from Tarkwa in the Western Region, Kumasi and Obuasi in the Ashanti Region said the directive would have an effect on their families and other dependants.

Company's response

At a press conference held at the premises of the company after the workers were told of the new directive, the Human Resource Manager of the company, Mr.Joseph Anokye said that it was not the operations of the company that resulted in the recent deaths of seven people in the area but it was due to the activities of the illegal miners.
The order came after he told the trial judge, Justice Lawrence L. Mensah, that he does not know the whereabouts of his lawyer.

The judge, in giving the order, said the case is a serious one which requires that he and his other accomplice, are well represented.

Daniel Asiedu, 19, aka Sexy Don Don, also told the court that he has lost contact with his relatives since his transfer from police custody to the Nsawam Prisons.

Background

Daniel Asiedu was arrested few days after the murder of JB Danquah who was the member of parliament for the Abuakwa North constituency in his residence at Shiashie in Accra.

He was charged with murder when arraigned after his arrest and allegedly confessed to stabbing the late MP in his residence which led to his death.

Despite his confessions, another suspect was arrested later as an accomplice.

But the teenager said he entered the MPs house to steal but not to kill.

According to him, he had to stab the MP who held him tight during a struggle.
Writing in The Observer, former Belgian Prime Minister

Theresa May, who had previously ruled out a general election, said a Conservative victory would make her "stronger" when she "negotiates for Britain with the prime ministers, presidents and chancellors of the EU."

"The theory espoused by some, that Theresa May is calling a general election on Brexit in order to secure a better deal with the EU, is nonsensical," he wrote.

"Will the election of more Tory MPs give Theresa May a greater chance of securing a better Brexit deal? For those sitting around the table in Brussels, this is an irrelevance."

The Brexit coordinator also took issue with the timing of the election, calling it a "powergrab" designed to "take advantage of a Labour party in seeming disarray to secure another five years of power before the reality of Brexit bites."

Labour is expected to be crushed by the Tories in the June election, with the latest polls showing Labour trailing by 24 points. News of the snap election also lead to 12 Labour MPs resigning.
It read: "A formerly secret Government underground site near Corsham in Wiltshire, which was a potential relocation site for the Government in the event of a nuclear war, was declassified at the end of 2004."

This was the first official acknowledgement of an urban fortress lying beneath the picturesque English town of Corsham which was, for around forty years, the British military's most closely-guarded secret.

The threat of war hung over the west in the 1950s, and the Cabinet Office decided that an alternative seat of government was needed to prepare for the worst-case scenario: all-out nuclear war.

In 1955, the Central Government War Headquarters was commissioned, and work to transform the space began in earnest (it was never referred to as a "bunker" in government literature, but Burlington was one of its many contemporary codenames and the alliterative phrase stuck.)

Set within a 240-acre abandoned quarry, it was a sprawling underground city, a 35-acre network of hidden entrances, streets, canteens, and purpose-built rooms designed to house the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan along with the entire British government  even, it seems, the Royal Family  in the event of nuclear attack.

It had everything that 4,000 government staff  though not their families  would need to survive for 90 days in conditions of thermonuclear war, or a major conflict with the Soviet Union: 100ft-deep reinforced concrete walls, bedrooms and offices, wired telephones, a bakery, a hospital  even a BBC broadcasting studio to communicate with survivors.

Business Insider obtained the following photos from the Ministry of Defence. They were taken in 2005. Though the site has been declassified since 2004, much of what is known about it has been in the public domain since 1982, when journalist Duncan Campbell reported its existence.

This is the story of the "Burlington Bunker."

The Corsham Tunnels began life as an underground quarry, producing limestone that would later be called bath stone.

Mining had taken place since Roman times, but the period from 1841 to around 1910 became a 'golden age' of quarrying after Isambard Kingdom Brunel oversaw the construction of the nearby Box Tunnel, a huge engineering project which created an underground stretch of railway from London to Bristol.

Much of nearby Bath's iconic architecture was made from stone taken from Spring Quarry.

During the Second World War, the site took on a different role. It was acquired by the Ministry of Aircraft Production in 1940 and transformed into an underground aeroplane engine factory. Graffiti daubed on the walls by wartime factory workers was visible for decades afterwards.

In 1943, celebrated artist Olga Lehmann was invited to paint the walls in the canteens of the factory.

Lehmann's Corsham project took eight months to complete and involved painting murals of six canteens. The oil paint used was supplied by the factory, and also used in the production of wartime aircraft.

Photos of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and wartime actors and celebrities plastered the walls of the wartime factory.

Contingency planning for a new world war began in the early 1950s as tension between the West and the Soviet Union rose. The British government now faced the new reality of atomic war, which would bring damage far greater than that caused by German planes during the Blitz (pictured).

exhaustive account, contingency plans from 1955 assumed that the UK would be hit by 132 atomic bombs in the event of war, with 35 targeting London.

Planners predicted that those bombs would kill around 1.7 million people and injure another million, with two-fifths of the country's housing stock and half of its manufacturing industry destroyed.

In 1955  after years of deliberations and committee meetings  Prime Minister Anthony Eden formally approved the construction of the Central Government War Headquarters in Corsham.

The secret project would be referred to by the codename "Subterfuge" (later codenames included Stockwell, Burlington, Turnstile, and Eyeglass.)

Perhaps the most striking part of the building is the magnificent 1950s telephone switchboard  one of the biggest in the world of its kind  which lay perfectly preserved for decades after it was built.

It is currently on a list of historic buildings deemed "at risk" from neglect due to problems with damp.

Pictured is the BBC broadcasting studio, which was maintained until 1991. It would have allowed the prime minister to broadcast messages to the surviving population via the BBC's above-ground emergency centre.

The enormous network of tunnels was mapped out with an American-style roadmap system. Pictured here is the North West Ring Road, located near the site's bakery and canteen.

The site had two canteens. This is a chalk menu board outside one of them.

As reported by Catford, the list of materials stored on the site by 1961 gives some indication as to its sheer scale. Kitchen and dining equipment included: 225 canteen tables, 2,320 dinner plates, 2,320 tea cups, 1,152 tumblers, and 11 tea trolleys.

The labels on these ovens demonstrate that they were never used.

One of the unused and still-glistening coffee machines stored in the canteen.

On the left of the photo, a rusty escalator designed to carry passengers out of the bunker can be seen. The escalator was originally destined for Holborn Underground Station in London.

Residents of the bunker would travel around the enormous site using electric buggies.

This record player forms part of the bunker's public address system. It could be used to pump music through the corridors of the complex.

A 700 series phone still in its wrapping. Enormous piles of stores were kept at the site for many decades afterwards: thousands of office chairs, telephones, bedding, toilet rolls, ashtrays, and much more.

The site included a dark room which could be used to develop photographs.

This room would have been an office. Wires hang from the ceiling, indicating that teleprinters would have been installed here to transmit telegraph messages to the outside world.

A row of sinks, located near an area designated for staff bedrooms.

The sluice room in the site's hospital.

The Ministry of Defence labels this room the prime minister's private bathroom. It is one of the few rooms in the entire site which was painted.

This bathroom is part of an odd suite of rooms which many believe were built to accommodate the Royal Family. The area has only one point of access, and has high-ceilings and is painted, unlike most of the complex.

Speculation about the royal connection is unlikely to be confirmed because sensitive

A lift which carried passengers to the site from ground level.

This huge butterfly valve within the ventilation system was designed to shut off the circulation of outside air in the event of a gas attack or nuclear fallout.

The Corsham site was maintained until 1991, when it was deemed too run-down and expensive to keep maintaining. It was decommissioned in 2004.
Efe Ejeba is now the Prince of Okpe kingdom, in Delta. The honour was bestowed on him on Thursday, May 4, 2017, by Major Gen. Felix Mujakperuo who is the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom.

According to Daily Independent, Efe came in a convoy from Benin. He was welcomed by the Orodje and six other traditional rulers. One of the rulers was Ovie of Ughelli.

The traditional ceremony had other dignitaries such as traditional chiefs, politicians and former minister of information, Prof Sam Oyovbaire in attendance.

The Orodje of Okpe Kingdom said he decided to bestow this honour on Efe because he wants the world to know that Niger-Delta youths are not thieves and violent.

On April 30, 2017 Efe dropped his highly anticipated single 'Based On Logistics'.

The BBN winner received his cheque of the 25 million Naira prize money, and a key to a brand new KIA Sorento car on April 11, 2017, at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.

The press conference was attended by the Big Brother Naija runner-up, Bisola. Former housemates including Bally, Soma, Gifty, TTT, Jon, CocoIce and Bassey were also in attendance.
But the Prosecutor, Sgt. Ishaku Babaji, told the court that the accused with others still at large committed the offences at the premises of 7up Company at Oregun, Ikeja, on April 1.

Babaji alleged that the accused stole the battery from the companys trailer and hid it in a truck being driven out of the premises.

The truck was checked and searched at the exit gate by security officers and they found the stolen battery in the truck.

The accused was arrested and on interrogation, he confessed to stealing the battery, saying he wants to sell it and use the money to meet personal commitment.

The offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 409 stipulates a two-year imprisonment for conspiracy.

The Magistrate, Mr J.A. Adegun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adegun said the sureties must be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Adalemo, who resides at Adetola Street, Ijaye, a suburb of Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of stealing and obtaining money by false pretence preferred against him.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Yomi Egunjobi, told the court that the offences were committed sometime in 2015 at Ijaye, Ojokoro, Lagos.

Egunjobi said the accused collected N1.2 million from the complainant, Mr Abiola Lasisi, on the pretext of getting him a car of his choice, which he never did.

The prosecutor said that the accused also refused to refund the money to Lasisi when it was demanded.

Adalemo, he added, later started avoiding Lasisi while all efforts to trace him failed until he was recently sighted by the complainant who effected his arrest through the police.

The offences, Egunjobi said, contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes three years jail term for stealing, while Section 312 stipulates 15 years for fraud.

The Magistrate, Mrs M. O. Osinbajo, in her ruling, granted the accused N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
If you live in any of Nigerias major population centres, Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Abuja, Kano, the chances are higher; every young person you know has probably consumed one variant of marijuana, in one way or the other, in the course of their lives.

If that young person is a millennial, the chances just went through the roof.

This is not meant to cast outright assertions about the habits of the younger members of your family and friends; it is simply what statistics and months of social deduction say.

According to data from the United Nations Office for Drug Control, the average age of first use for most Nigerians is between 1029 years; the same report states that 10.8% of these people continue to use cannabis for a substantial period over the course of their lifetimes.

And you might be tempted to blame failing institutions or todays bad children, but the reasons are far simpler.

In the past decade or so, cannabis use has become a major part of popular Nigerian culture. The dank aroma of a burning blunt is now about as common as K-Cee dressing like a traffic light or Uncle Dino Melaye bringing more shame to his immediate family and the people of Kogi State.

You get the point.

You probably dont like it but its not as surprising as it used to be.

There was a time when children were actively taught about drug abuse and every cannabis smoker was thought to be about 30 minutes from insanity and a stint in one of our many psychiatric facilities.

So how did we get to the point where weed is almost normal?

It started with perception. And that change in perception started with the legendary Fela Kuti.

Even though there are strong claims that certain tribes actively cultivated it as far back as the 18th Century, it is widely accepted that marijuana use was introduced to Nigeria by soldiers returning from the Burma front of the second World War.

They had discovered it at the hands of fellow soldiers from other countries who taught them to use it to numb the pain and trauma of war.

But it was the enigma, Fela Kuti, who put it in the face of all and sundry.

As Felas militant music and message touched nerves across society, they came in the image of him holding a blunt in his right hand.

The people loved the music but not everyone supported this blatant drug use - he was arrested by the military government of that time on a number of occasions for possession and use.

Some, however, listened to this man talk about how this herb was made to liberate the mind. His staunch followers saw him reach creative and philosophical heights that they thought impossible and in time, they explored it themselves.

The average Fela fan was a poor person living in the oppressive regimes of the 1970s  1990s and that factor, coupled with the pressure for survival and the desire to be detached from their reality made them willing participants.

In the years when Afrika Shrine was in the Mushin/Surulere vicinity, that area became a hotbed for dealers and users of Cannabis. Thanks to places like the famed Shitta, it still is.

It only makes sense that it is musicians and entertainers, inspired by Fela, that have done the most to change how cannabis is viewed in the years since he passed away, particularly among the younger generation.

The factors that facilitate this are still the same; the average young person in these times is displeased with the state of things, and where one can not search for leave in body, it is easy to search for and find leave in mind.

Where Fela treated the herb from a philosophical standpoint, todays entertainers have approached it as a tool, a part of their routine and in turn, an element of the culture.

There may have been a time where the NBC banned videos for encouraging illegal habits but they must have forgotten all about it.

It is nearly impossible to see a music video from any of Nigerias more popular musicians without a cloud of smoke floating around like a featured artiste.

Well assume you know the music video for his 2013 hit "Redemption", where Jesse Jagz, producer extraordinaire and already proven lyricist laid down the law and cried out to Babylon.

"Burning Bush" is two-faced weed love song: a ballad to what Jagz percieves of the herb and a dirge to the woman who revealed it to him. The album that produced these songs, his magnum opus, "Jagz Nation Vol. 1: Thy Nation Come" is Nigeria's marijuana charter; a collection of tracks that avid users see as anthems.

In recent times, musicians like Wizkid, Davido, and the very aptly-named Burna Boy have taken it a step further and completely tied their very brand identities with marijuana.

Well keep things on this side and not cross over the seas to Young Thug, Migos, Future or Wiz Khalifa.

What these people have done, and continue to do, perhaps unwittingly, is make marijuana cool.

So when a young person first considers smoking a blunt, the question he has to answer is no longer a moral one, it is a social question.

Will you say no or will you do it for the culture?

This re-branding of marijuana is part of a global conversation that has been on-going for the better part of the past 100 years.

The traditional perception of weed as a bad drug was never restricted to just Nigeria. Around the world, it has always been vilified as a dangerous and addictive drug and tied to social disorders, violent crime and insanity for most of the 20th Century.

Then, as if to flash a big middle finger to the rest of the world, the Netherlands changed its policy on cannabis and classified it as a soft drug.

In reality, it was not made legal, but chances of getting arrested became very slim, except where the smoker is a minor or disturbs the public peace.

Naturally, citizens of other countries around the world have begun to push for liberal policies on drugs. In the past 20 years, several states in the United States, Canada and the whole of Uruguay have legalised cannabis.

The conversation surrounding marijuana has shifted from vilification to legalisation, it only makes sense that this has filtered into Nigeria.

Thanks to the news, social media and a culture that has encouraged us to look to the West for standards to aspire to, young people now approach cannabis with a relaxed stance.

The question they ask is simple: If its legal in a developed country, then how will it make us mad?

It is clear that these factors play a major role but we cannot say they are the sole reason why marijuana has seeped into your homes, back-packs, parties and just about everywhere.

Music videos, 10-second snaps and videos of people celebrating in California may get one interested, but finding the herb to consume is another equation entirely.

Which is why it should come as a surprise to no-one that it has become too easy to find weed in Lagos.

For every corner, shantytown, street, neighbourhood or estate, there are two guys; one sitting innocently on a bench, the other loitering carefully around, both with small pouches and a bag stashed somewhere, all of them heavy with weed they are ready to sell.

In some high-brow areas, dealers ride around on bicycles and small motorcycles waiting on the next order for weed that they will deliver in a matter of minutes.

Think about it, that young people can now get weed by delivery.

Like Pizza.

All that is left is to open e-commerce sites where users and consumers can order their preferred quantity and strain from the comfort of their beds.

And as cannabis has become more accessible, consumers (and various business people) have devised newer, more creative ways to use it.

Last week, a colleague of mine came in contact with a random collection of students from one of the more prominent universities in Nigeria. Ever the precocious, data-hungry guy that he is, he asked them when, if ever, they had their first experience with weed.

All 8 of them had consumed weed at one point in time in the last two years. 7 of them had taken it in either a cake, pie, slice of pancake, smoothie or a juice.

Just one person had smoked it.

Its not hard to understand why.

Smoking marijuana attracts attention, the smell of burning weed is a distinct, dank odour that most people are familiar with.

But by mixing and preparing it with familiar foods and drinks, a big problem is solved.

I dare you to tell the difference between a regular chocolate cake and one with cannabis infused from the taste or smell alone.

The result is that tens of retailers and 'head shops' have popped up that offer these products - cookies, cakes, oils, smoothies.

More people now get high while consuming regular foods and attracting zero attention.

This is not to say that smoking has gone out of fashion, it remains the most common mode of using marijuana in Nigeria and this is made relatively easy by the fact that law enforcement agents just dont seem to care as much as they used to.

A good number of Nigerian policemen smoke weed themselves, some of them at the same spots and bunks where it is sold. But that is beside the point.

Except youre completely naive or you decide to light a blunt in the most public or notorious places, it is very difficult to get arrested for smoking weed in Nigeria.

Lets be clear; the Police takes possession very seriously and getting caught with the smallest quantity of marijuana will most definitely get you arrested.

The case is different with smoking because most times, it is a question of who feels troubled by it or, better still, whether it constitutes a nuisance.

A lot of the time, the answer is no, most people, even where they are uncomfortable with marijuana use in their immediate vicinity, are very reluctant to inform the police.

It may seem difficult to believe, after all, Nigerian law enforcement officials are notorious for arresting people at the slightest offence and sometimes when youre completely innocent.

But there are persons sitting in the open around Surulere and Ketu in Lagos, Jimeta in Yola, Karu in Abuja and Upper Sakponba in Benin, diluting the atmosphere with cannabis smoke as you read this. They would beg to differ.

Save for the NDLEA (who are probably willing to arrest anybody that can spell smoke), the attitude of the Police and various subordinate security agencies towards consumption and use is more relaxed than you would expect for a country as conservative as Nigeria.

Maybe it is just a reflection of the general stance that higher authority is gradually taking over Cannabis. In a 2012 interview with Daily Post, then-presidential aspirant Muhammadu Buhari trivialised marijuana in comparison to other hard drugs like Cocaine.

These drugs, We We (Indian hemp), is planted here, but the hard drug, cocaine, most Nigerians dont know what cocaine is., he said. "You can have a certain people who grow Ashisha or We We and so on because it is indigenous. But cocaine, it is alien to our people. And this drug (cociane) is so potent that it destroys people, especially intelligent people

This, the same person who enacted the notorious Decree 4 that provided that drug peddlers should be shot.

Nowadays, visit any concert, live show, art exhibition or random gathering of young people and you are likely to see one or more daring ones set fire to a generous doobie, with policemen or security officers nearby, unlooking and moving on with their lives.

It is easy to blame them for disregarding their duties and allowing the use and possession of an illegal substance.

However, you will find there is little they can do to affect a growing culture that is pushing us towards an important crossroads when it comes to this subject.

That culture is fuelled by all the factors that we have explored - a change in how weed is seen and understood, increased access to it, an ever growing global conversation and overwhelmed law enforcement agents running on outdated rules and regulations.

Considering how much it has permeated and become a norm, particularly among young people, there is nothing to indicate that marijuana consumption will dwindle or even stall.
She was apparently not allowed into the establishment because she was a woman who was not accompanied by a man. As ridiculous as this sounds, there are several establishments in the city of Lagos that don't welcome single women unless they are with a man.

This Lagos unofficial policy is a snapshot of how single women are treated in Nigeria. The fairer sex is still the fairer sex in this country and with this comes pressure that society places on women.

When a young Nigerian lady graduates from University, the next step is to get married and have kids. The longer the wait for a knight in shining armour to pick her up, the more the pressure from her folks, her relatives and the society. God help you that you are a single mum, the pressure increases.

According to a Pulse Survey, 25% of the women who participated said there is 'intense' pressure from the society on single women and mums to get married quickly. Although, 40% said the pressure was moderate. It, however, must be stated that majority (47.4%) of the women who took the survey were between the ages of 25-29. Women between the ages of 30-35 made up 36.8% of the survey. Maybe if the ladies in their 30s were the majority in the survey, societal pressure would have been more intense than moderate.

The older a woman gets (especially in Nigeria) the more the pressure increases. We don't need data for that.

Apart from the pressure of getting married, a lot of landlords prefer not to rent their flats or apartments to single women. They fear that they might be giving their home to a prostitute or 'runs girl'. This points to a Nigerian way of thinking- a woman without man must be a whore or commercial sex worker.

Going back to our survey, 15% of women said they have been denied accommodation because they are single. 35% were unsure and 50% stated that they have not been denied accommodation because of their single status. Still, 15% is a significant number.

Many single women prefer to stay in their parents' homes till they get married. It's even a norm for some.

Women are not expected to be independent and enjoy life on their own terms. They are expected to marry early or be with a man at some public places. Men, on the other hand, are given a free reign to do what they want to do. Boys will be boys at the end of the day.

This attitude has held back the women folk in the country. In the Pulse survey, 85% women believe the Nigerian society treats single women and single mums unfairly.
WAVA is a coalition of reputable women groups working together to advocate for better access to vaccines and raise a voice for sustainable immunisation financing in Nigeria.

The organisations jointly made the call in a statement signed by Dr Chizoba Wonodi, WAVA National Convener in Abuja on Thursday.

Wonodi said that the major challenges for immunisation in the country were compliance and finances.

The problem is that as we get successful with immunisation programmes, it becomes harder to convince people that immunisation is important because we are all well and walking around.

It is only when we have an outbreak like meningitis that we remember the importance of immunisation, she said.

Wonodi explained that Nigerias under-five mortality rate had dropped by 41 per cent from 189 to 109 per 1,000 lives birth between 2000 and 2015.

She said that vaccines contributed greatly to the progress recorded, especially measles vaccine, which helped decreased death by 93 per cent in the same period.

The official, however, said that WAVA in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline Plc and other development partners had been championing the advocacy for vaccine immunisation for children.

She recalled that the organisations successfully organised some advocacy programmes at the just concluded African Immunisation week in Abuja.

Wonodi said one of the programmes was an award ceremony for creative art and writing competition for secondary schools.

She, however, expressed appreciation to GSK, World Health Organisation (WHO) and other development partners who had contributed to the progress of the course so far.

Prof. Adebola Richard, a representative of GSK said that the only shelter way for the society in time of epidemic outbreak was immunisation.

He emphasised the need to eradicate diseases and applauded the Federal Government and agencies involved in the process of making vaccines available for administration on children.

He, however, pledged the companys continuous support and assistance to enable good life for children in the country.

NAN reports that secondary school children who are on the path of advocacy, through their creative art and writing competition won prizes from the online voting.

Splendor Joeking from Unique Blossom Schools Abuja won the star prize with 2, 519, while Chidinma Osuagwu of Olumawu Basic Education school took second place with 2,157 votes.
The jihadist chief was said to have been wounded and one of his deputies killed when two air force jets bombarded fighters at Balla village, on the edge of the Sambisa Forest in Borno state, last Friday.

Surveillance footage showed missiles being fired on what the air force said were Boko Haram fighters, while the army announced it had "neutralised quite a number of terrorists", including in Balla.

"There were indications that quite a number of the terrorists' key leaders have either been killed or wounded," army spokesman Brigadier-General Sani Usman said earlier Thursday, without naming Shekau.

But in a 14-minute video, the shadowy Boko Haram leader claimed ignorance of both the incident and the location, insisting he was not injured and that none of his key lieutenants was harmed either.

"I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive," he said, wearing his trademark camouflage jacket and cradling an assault rifle.

"I'm alive, you have not killed any of my men. I didn't even know this incident you are talking about ever happened.

"What surprises me is your claim that I'm nursing wounds. Look at me well. Look at my sitting posture."

There was no indication where the video was shot.

In it, Shekau was flanked by two masked, armed men, sitting against what appeared to be a desert camouflage net and Boko Haram's black and white insignia.

He spoke in Hausa and Arabic.

The Nigerian authorities' reticence about naming Shekau is likely to come from previous occasions when his death has been announced prematurely, only for him to reappear in video messages.

He has rejected military claims the rebels are depleted and in disarray as a result of a sustained counter-offensive that began in early 2015 and recaptured swathes of territory.

A source with links to the Islamist militants told AFP on Wednesday that Shekau narrowly escaped death when the second missile hit as he was on his way to preach at Friday prayers.

"It's bloody propaganda," he said of Shekau's video denial.

"Shekau hurt his back from the impact of the second strike. He was injured in the back and then taken out of the area to a place around Kolofata (near the Cameroon border)," he added.

"You can see he is not the same Shekau we were seeing in other videos. He didn't exude the same energy."
The minister also claims that despite the large sum paid for the contract, the job was not done.

When the River Niger was first approved for dredging by the previous administration, it was approved for N47billion and N34billion was paid to the contractor. Dancers were called in and there was a party, Amaechi said during a conference in Lagos, the Nation reports.

We are not dredging the River Niger with billions of naira; we are dredging the River Niger with just N100m. When we flagged it off recently, did you see us dancing? Was there a party? I just went to see the governor and told him that the project will start today and will be finished in one month.

The governor said he will accompany me, and I said ok. So, I asked the governor to flag it off since its located in his state. People are wondering how on earth we are going to dredge the River Niger for N100m when the previous government awarded same contract for N47billion? But we are going to dredge the River Niger, using dredgers owned by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

NIWA has dredgers, but the previous government preferred to give contractors money to dredge the river with private dredgers while NIWAs dredgers were lying idle somewhere in Port Harcourt.

The NIWA MD told me the agency has dredgers, but its been hired out to somebody in Port Harcourt. So, we had dredgers, but the previous administration hired them out to some persons in Port Harcourt while paying a contractor billions of naira to use privately owned dredgers at a very high cost.

I told the NIWA MD that I will look for money to fuel their dredgers, and work has started. That is why we are dredging the River Niger with just N100m, Amaechi added.
The interactive session will begin late on Friday May 5, 2017 and will last into the early hours of Saturday, May 6 2017.

The repackaged public engagement forum has been tagged 'Ogbeni Till Day Break'.

The organisers have told Pulse that 'Ogbeni till break' will commence at 11pm on Friday.

The event will hold at the WOCDIF Event Centre, Ring Road Osogbo.

Participants will be free to take on the Governor on a wide range of issues.
On the day, the President was on his haunches in a mosque alongside Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai and a few other Governors and aides.

Weve just been shown footages and photos of the President again.

Its another Friday. Dateline: May 5, 2017.

Apparently, weve been reduced to lining up outside the Aso Rock mosque, while clutching our smartphones and cameras.

Weve been reduced to a people who take pictures of their ailing President, while broadcasting same with glee and triumphalism on social media.

But governance is serious business.

To be clear, theres nothing wrong with Buhari showing up at a mosque when hes battling an ailment. But when he misses consecutive Federal Executive Council (FEC)meetings and shows up at a mosque just hours after missing the last FEC meeting, the citizenry is allowed to speculate and pose all manner of questions.

Like theyve been rightly doing.

The Presidents handlers have just suffused the social media space with images and videos of a President hurtling through the doors of a mosque; alongside comments deriding citizens and the media whove been asking if Buhari is fit enough to cope with the rigours and demands of his office.

In their frenzy, they forget that even in these latest images and videos, Buhari doesnt look any healthier. Hes visibly struggling so badly with an undisclosed ailment.

The Presidents handlers also forget that citizens have a right to demand answers concerning the state of health of their President because the man is now public property and servant of the people.

In the last couple of days, weve been told that Buhari will work from home for a day, that hes skipping federal executive council meetings because he needs all the rest he can get, his wife Aisha has said her husband is not as ill as people think and work meetings with top government officials have been arranged for the President.

All of thatincluding the Friday mosque photo-opsare pointless in the larger scheme of things. There are needless distractions from the meat of the issue.

All of the drama on this issue could have been entirely avoided if lessons were learned from the Yar'adua debacle.

When the dust around todays Friday appearance settles, questions will still arise around whether Buhari is fit enough to continue as President.

And he may well be.

We all wish him well and pray that he gets well soon. But to get to that point, hes got to embark on that medical vacation and allow his Vice President run this country in the interim.
The Chairman of the Senate Press Corps , Mr Cosmas Ekpunobi in a statement described the decision of the senate bureaucracy as unhealthy and an attempt to cause friction between the media and the National Assembly.

The attention of Senate Press Corps leadership has been drawn to decision of the Senate bureaucracy to further reduce the number of television news crews (cameramen) covering plenary from 13 to 6. The change came into operation today, precipitating the reported boycott of the cameramen of today senate proceedings.

We want to reiterate here that the Senate Press Corp leadership will never condone any unprofessional conduct by any of our members.

We accepted to call our erring members to order and get back to the Clerk of the Senate for further action.

We expected the clerk to rescind his decision pending the outcome of our meeting with the cameramen today.

We believe that this issue can still be resolved through dialogue as we are amenable to consensual decision reached by all parties,  he said.

He said newsmen in the senate had often been told that no parliament in the world allowed cameramen into the chamber.

The chairman said while such was true, those parliaments, however, had functional central pool units to deliver quality feeds.

Until such equipment is installed with the requisite broadcast professionals to man them, we plead for a stay of execution,  he said.
According to Daily Post, the Governor said this while speaking during a radio program in Kaduna state.

El-Rufai said If the president comes and meets me and says I want you to re-contest or otherwise, I have no option than to obey his command.

Afterall, in 2014 or thereabout, I had my own plans before the President asked me to contest the exalted position of the governor and the rest is now history.

We have not only cut cost in governance but we have saved to carry out these projects.

We were not reckless in our spending but we are very meticulous and prudent in our finances. Your money is safe, he added.

ALSO READ:
Jonathan also described YarAdua as a great gift to the nation and people of Nigeria.

Seven years ago you left this world leaving behind a legacy of detribalized leadership and a soil that was fertile enough to grow trees whose shade you would never enjoy, Jonathan said via Facebook.

As a peace maker, you helped bring peace to the Niger Delta and that singular act brought manifold benefits to Nigeria. As a democrat, you promoted due process in government and equity in public administration. Umar Musa Yaradua, a friend and brother, a great gift to the nation and people of Nigeria.

Seven years gone but never forgotten. May you Rest In Peace even as we hope and believe that you made al-Jannah firdaus. Miyetti Allah for the life of service you lived and may Almighty God care for the family you left behind, he added.
Its not clear if the service chiefs were in the Villa to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari has not been seen in public for a while but has supposedly been having meetings at his residence.

The president is said to have met with Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru on Tuesday, May 2.

Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele also met with Buhari on Thursday, May 4.

The presidents absence from three Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings and other public events seems to lend credence to reports that his health has deteriorated.
The Assistant Comptroller-General, Abdulkadir Azarema, Chairman, National Logistic Committee on Distribution of Relief Materials, handed over the items to the IDP camp in uhogua, Edo.

Azarema said that the donation made in Uhogua marked the fourth series of donations in the third phase.

He said that the committee had already donated to the IDPs in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno, adding that Benin marked the last donation in the third phase.

According to him,  we shall soon commerce the fourth phase.

 It is therefore my pleasure to hand over the following relief items for the use of the camp.

 We hereby donate7,312 (50kg) bags of rice; 700 jery cans of vegetable oil; 500 cartoons of vegetable oil; 373 used cloths and 1,735 used shoes.

Others are 1,063 cartoons of spagheti and 2,000 cartoons of soap.

 Provision of these items on their own does not adequately solve the IDPs challenge, no matter the quantities donated.

 The bigger challenge before us is to ensure these Nigerians return to their communities to live in peace with their loved ones without entertaining fear of attack, Azarema said.

He commended the camp coordinator and the staff for their unrelenting efforts.

Azarema said that the NCS had paid for the transporting the materials to Uhogua, adding that the tranportation of such items in the Northeast was paid by the state governments.

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo said that the initiative reflected the quality of the mind of Mr President.

Obaseki said President Muhammudu Buhari is somebody that is not wasteful, adding that before now seized goods by the customs were usually destroyed.

ALSO READ:Court jails 2 LG officials for stealing 180 bags of rice meant for IDPs

 The quantity of the items is sizable and as a frequent visitor to the camp, I know how it feels to receive these items for the IDPs.

 As a government, we will have and will continue to support the IDPs in any way we can.

 We have built schools for them and medicalfacilities and other necessary things to give them sense of belonging to have proper life, Obaseki said.

The Coordinator of the Camp, Uhogua, Mr Solomon Folorunsho, conmended the Federal Government and the state government for their support to Uhogua IDPs.

Our first cardinal point is transparency. In this camp, nobody has been abused, cheated or raped, Folorunsho said.
The doctors, who carried placards, marched from the associations secretariat on Gbogon/Ibadan Road to the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo, and sang anti-government songs.

Dr Tokunbo Olajumoke, the NMA Chairman in the state, told newsmen that the state government owed doctors two years arrears of salaries.

Olajumoke also said that government was imposing heavy task on the doctors in spite of the fact that they were not well paid.

The NMA chairman said the doctors could no longer meet their financial obligations because of the unpaid salaries.

Olajumoke said there were no drugs in all public hospitals in the state.

He urged Gov. Rauf Aregbesola to ensure the payment of the arrears of their salaries without delay to avoid the wrath of doctors and its consequences.

ALSO READ: Osun explains how it spent N11.7B Paris club refund

Reacting to the protest, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, a media aide to Aregbesola, said the state government remained committed to the welfare of workers, including doctors.

Okanlawon said the state government had developed the most ingenious formula for satisfying the needs of its workforce within the limit of available resources.
A release issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Thursday indicated that the re-scheduling was at the instance of the visiting president, as all arrangements had been made to receive him in Abuja.

The visit of President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic to President Muhammadu Buhari scheduled for Friday, May 5, 2017, has been put forward.

The rescheduling is at the instance of President Issoufou who has another domestic engagement, Adesina said.

He said that all arrangements had been concluded for President Buhari to receive his Nigerien counterpart and his delegation at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa.

He added that the delegation and host had intended to attend the Jumaat prayers together as well as have lunch before the last-minute postponement.
National President of the pressure group, Mrs Nwanganga Ibeh, made the call on Thursday in Abuja when she led members of the group on a visit to the National Chairman, of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

Ibeh spoke on the backdrop of the proliferation of illegal child-adoption centres in the South-East, saying that if the laws and procedures were made flexible, genuine couples could adopt children easily.

This, she said, would drastically reduce the operation of illegal adoption centres spread across the country.

She informed the APC chairman that the association recently met with the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on a similar lobby mission.

We have watched how the South-East has been ridiculed by illegal child-adoption centres that recruit vulnerable girl-child to give birth to babies for sale to the highest bidders.

We are working to find ways and means to bring the menace to an end. We were at the Senate recently to see the Senate President.

We appealed that legislation concerning adoption should be looked into so that the National Assembly can make it simpler for genuine couples to adopt easily.

We appeal to you to use your office to talk to APC governors to look into the adoption laws in their states, she said, adding that it would make adoption easier and eliminate the illegal centres.

In response, Odogie-Oyegun assured the association of the party`s support.

He lauded the association for its effort to ameliorate the sufferings of affected persons and curb the menace of illegal adoption centres, which he linked to the country`s economic situation.

Odigie-Oyegun, decried the menace of child depot saying it was one of the ways of trafficking in humans locally and internationally.

There is no reason why the country cannot run a proper adoption procedure such that those who genuinely need to adopt children be facilitated to legally do so.

We know these practices have been made worse by our unusual economic circumstance resulting from almost two decades of running the economy aground.

We as a party have now been saddled with the responsibility of patching up a very horrible situation that we did not create,  he said.

The chairman added that the APC-led administration was doing everything possible to fix the economic base of the country.

He expressed happiness that the country had recorded tremendous investment on infrastructure, agriculture and other sectors of the economy.

According to him, in a few years, the country will be permanently on the path of growth.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma said this when he received Japanese Public and Private Joint Mission for Promoting Trade and Investment, on Thursday in Abuja.

Udoma said that improved transportation infrastructure was one of the priorities of Federal Government as stated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

He, therefore urged the Japanese investors to invest in railway infrastructure and other transport facilities in the country as incentives would be provided by the Federal Government for them.

We want to integrate the whole country by railway and we know that Japan is at the forefront of the railway facilities.

It is an area we would like you to work with the government under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to revamp the countrys railway.

Udoma listed other priority areas as agriculture, energy and industrialisation.

The minister, however, appreciated the support of the Government of Japan, which had come in form of technical assistance, grant aids and Yen loans.

He said the support had been to the various sectors of the economy such as transportation, security, education, health, water, power sectors as well as in humanitarian services in the North East.

He also told the investors that Nigeria had a huge labour and market to absorb production, adding that the country also had good investment climate environment for investors.

Udoma further said that the government had inaugurated the ERGP to revive the economy, diversified it and make the economy attractive to foreign investors.

ALSO READ: FG is not increasing taxes - Udo Udoma

Earlier, Shunsuke Takei, Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs commended the efforts of the Federal Government to improving business environment by adopting the ERGP.

Takei said that the economic relations between the countries would improve with the ERGP and their visit to Nigeria.

I expect full implementation of the ERGP as the key to reviving the economy in line with the Japanese cooperation in the country.

We have emphasised development of key infrastructure particularly in power and transport sector which are crucial for economic activities and investment promotion, he said.

Also speaking, Japanese head of the delegation of private sector, Masahiro Kuwahara commended the Federal Government for adopting the EGRP to address the economic challenges in the country.

Our mission is to discuss on broader business opportunities for both countries.

We will like to listen to your policies and idea on how you are going to enhance investment environment for foreign investors like us, he said.
The Governor said this on Thursday, May 4, 2017, while speaking with members of the National Association of Rivers State Students from the Nigerian Law School.

According to Punch, the students paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

Wike also assured the students that his administration will improve the standard of living and provide good governance.

The Publicity Secretary of association, Akubueze Okocha also praised the Governor for his achievements in the development of the judiciary.

He said After Lagos State, the next state with the highest number of litigations is Rivers State. Yet the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt was dilapidated, the National Industrial Court was non-existent and the Court of Appeal has been in a sorry state.

To ensure that our people have access to justice, we resolved to construct a new Federal High Court complex with six modern courtrooms and state-of-the-art facilities. That complex will be inaugurated in May.

We have proposed the demolition of the existing old Federal High Court so that we can build a new complex with more courtrooms.
Dr. Temitope Sinkaye, the National Coordinator, National Cash Transfer Project (NCTP), Office of the Vice President, made this known at the inauguration of 100-Day Rapid Result Initiative (RRI) workshop on Conditional Cash Transfer, in Lokoja.

He stated that the projects had two components  unconditional cash transfer of N5,000 for the most vulnerable in which payment had already commenced in nine States, and conditional cash transfer of additional N5,000 for households with children and pregnant women

We are here to develop a framework for the implementation of the conditional cash transfer, which is the second component that is being funded by the World Bank, unlike the base cash transfer that is solely funded by the federal government.

Kogi has been selected as a pilot state for the 100-day test run of the implementation strategy and six Local Governments  Lokoja, Yagba West, Okehi, Ajaokuta, Ibaji and Dekina  have been selected in each senatorial zone for the test run.

At the end of the 100 day after the design and test running, if we are sure that this framework is good enough, then we will replicate it in other States of the Federation.

For now, we have a total of nine States, including Kogi, to participate in the 100-day RRI.

It has joined other states like others Oyo, Kwara, Osun, Cross River, Ekiti, Niger, Bauchi and Borno State, Sinkaye said.

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, while declaring the workshop open, expressed optimism that the cash transfer programme would serve as a foundation of hope for many vulnerable people, and also reduce crime in the society.

Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Simon Achuba, pointed out that the programme was highly commendable and should be applauded by all Nigerians.
The state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association had directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike over their unpaid salaries.

NAN reports that barely 48 hours into the strike, health activities have been grounded in most state government-owned hospitals across the state.

In a circular rolled out on Friday, May 5, the State's acting Head of Service, Mrs. Kehinde Lawal, said workers who participate in the strike are bidding their jobs goodbye.

Lawal also said that the state will adopt 'no work, no pay' policy for any doctor on strike.

She said, "It is equally noteworthy for every union to realise that the best way to resolve any issue is through peaceful dialogue and not strike action.

"In view of the foregoing, any staff of Kogi State Government that decides to go on strike is hereby notified that such person will have his/her job at stake.

"The policy of No Work No Pay will be adopted for any worker that embarks on strike action."

NAN investigations revealed that the ever busy state Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, the state capital, had few or no patients.

One of the patients, Mrs Jumai Usman, said that no doctor was available to attend to her.

The patient added that the development has forced many patients to patronise private hospitals.
The Head, Media and Public Affairs at NGF Secretariat, Abulrazaque Barkindo said Dogara should focus on the work that needs to be done in the House.

Barkindo issued the statement on Thursday, May 4, 2017, in Abuja.

He also revealed that Nigerian Governors are signatories to the Open Governance Partnership (OGP) initiative.

Barkindo also revealed that the initiative is aimed at improving governance and promoting transparency in governance.

He said It may interest the speaker to note that at the last Governors Forum meeting of April 17, governors agreed to sign into the Open Governance Partnership (OGP).

The key indices of the agreement include fiscal transparency, anti-corruption, access to information and citizen engagement."

Speaking on the face-off between the Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Barkindo said The governor had earlier demanded that the Speaker should come clean on the expenditures of the National Assembly but instead Dogara published N346.57 as his January take-home.

Of course, governors are human and can therefore not be adjudged to be all perfect, but the governorship institution is an integral part of this democracy, just as the House of Representatives

If the Speaker continues in this path of disparaging governors, he may ultimately endanger this same democratic process that brought him national prominence.

Kaduna state has also signed and many more governors, including Mohammed Ibrahim, are positively disposed to it.
The regulatory body said in a statement on Friday in Lagos that it supported among other things, telecommunications-based innovations.

It said that it supported inventions and research from tertiary institutions in the country that were practical, locally realisable and had clear potential of developing the telecommunications industry.

Pursuant to this objective, the commission invites proposals from academics in tertiary institutions that have feasible research ideas capable of replacing or enhancing foreign technologies in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria."

It is envisaged that the initiative will help build capacity in the tertiary institutions and promote Nigerias contribution to the pool of technologies in use in the communications industry."

Interested researchers are invited to submit their proposals which must come from teaching academics in Nigerias tertiary institutions."

The proposal must have a one-page executive summary of the research proposal to include relevance of the research to the telecommunications industry, NCC said.

It said that the proposal must involve a clear statement and explanation of the problem which the technologies would solve.

NCC said that the proposal must proposed solution to the problem and the relevance of the technology to the telecommunications industry.

According to the regulatory body, the researcher must show evidence of local realisation, up to prototype of the technology.

The cost of actualising the idea, excluding furniture and allowances must be reasonable."

The research should be integrated with education so as to build the capacity of students via the implementation of the project in the institution."

There must be evidence of competence of term in executing the project, the commission said.

NCC said that interested researchers should submit both hard and soft copies of their research proposals on or before May 17.

It said that submission would undergo preliminary assessment.

The proposals that are adjudged promising and capable of developing the telecommunications industry will be further evaluated by another level of assessors."
He met Government of National Unity chief Fayez al-Sarraj and welcomed the latter's meeting earlier this week in Abu Dhabi with military strongman Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who does not recognise the GNA's legitimacy.

Johnson "underlined the importance of Libya's legitimate political institutions working together to break the political deadlock which is prolonging instability and the suffering of the Libyan people" his office said.

"Libya's political and social groups need to seize the momentum offered by the welcome meeting... to set out a path towards Libyan reconciliation and unity," the foreign minister was quoted as saying after his brief visit.

"Establishing effective governance is also the key to defeating terrorism in Libya and countering illegal migration," he said.

On Wednesday night, Johnson met in Tunis with his Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui and Tourism Minister Salma Elloumi on counterterrorism cooperation and boosting trade.

Tunisia's foreign ministry said London was asked to review its advise for British nationals to avoid travel to the country, in place since a 2015 jihadist attack on a beach in which 38 tourists were killed, 30 of them British.

Tunis, "thanks to the cooperation and security coordination with its partners, especially Great Britain, has the same degree of security as the largest European capitals", the Tunisian foreign minister said.
The 60-year-old kingpin, accused of running one of the world's biggest drug empires, has been held in solitary confinement since being extradited to New York on January 19.

Federal Judge Brian Cogan ruled that Guzman, one of the world's most notorious criminals, could send written messages to his wife -- provided they were pre-screened by federal agencies -- but denied him family visits and phone calls.

Guzman's wife Emma Coronel, 27, is the mother of his twins.

The 18-page ruling similarly allowed his defense team's pre-cleared investigator to visit without an attorney present, following complaints from Guzman's lawyers about the conditions of his pre-trial detention.

But Cogan refused a request for Amnesty International to visit on the grounds that there was "absolutely no reason."

The London-based rights groups in March asked to speak with Guzman, expressing concern that the conditions of his detention "appear to be unnecessarily harsh and to breach international standards for human treatment."

Cogan also flatly denied a request by Guzman -- who twice escaped from prisons in Mexico -- to have his "special administrative measures" lifted in full or for him to be moved out of solitary confinement.

"The conditions are reasonably necessary to ensure that defendant cannot coordinate any escape from prison, direct any violence against cooperators, or manage any aspect of the Sinaloa Cartel's enterprise," he wrote.

He went on to write that Guzman's second jail break in Mexico "was accomplished under 24-hour video surveillance in solitary confinement."

The decision came one day before Guzman is due to appear in court for another pre-trial hearing. His wife is also expected to attend.

His lawyer Michelle Gelernt welcomed permission for her client to swap letters with his wife as "small comfort" but said it was "devastating news for both of them" to be denied visits and calls.

"We continue to believe that the conditions of Mr Guzman's detention, including being held in solitary confinement, are untenable," she said in a statement.

"We will continue to fight for his right to fair and humane treatment."

Cogan has denied Guzman visits from anyone other than his lawyers or permission to communicate with potential witnesses.

Cogan's ruling revealed that Guzman is visited by his lawyers almost every day at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, for an average of four to five hours in a windowed visitor room.

The judge ordered US prosecutors to "cease any communications with MCC staff," in which prison employees report back on the content of those meetings.

In March, the defense complained Guzman's health was deteriorating in custody, and claimed that he experienced "auditory hallucinations."
Nine other soldiers were injured by the shelling that struck the base held by the UN's MINUSMA mission, near the airport in the historic city of Timbuktu on Wednesday afternoon.

MINUSMA has been stationed in the west African country since 2013 and is considered the UN's most dangerous active peacekeeping deployment.

The Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM), a fusion of three Malian jihadist groups with previous Al-Qaeda links, confirmed in a statement late Wednesday that it had "bombarded Timbuktu airport with rockets" and had left "several injured among the international forces".

The alliance, also known as Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen in Arabic, is led by the Malian jihadist Iyad Ag Ghaly, a former leader of the Islamist group Ansar Dine.

It also claimed an attack on April 5 in the central Douentza area that killed a French soldier serving with France's counterterror Barkhane force, which is also aiding Mali's security forces.

Liberia had 78 soldiers serving in the 13,000-member MINUSMA force, which has faced frequent jihadist attacks that have claimed the lives of dozens of peacekeepers.

Liberia's deputy chief of defence staff confirmed Wednesday that Liberians were among the injured, while Sweden's military said one of its nationals was wounded.

The UN mission said it had reinforced defences at its based and deployed aircraft to identify where the enemy fire had originated.

Northern Mali fell to jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in March 2012, and they have spread further south after being driven out of key towns by a French-led military intervention the following year.

The Wagadou forest, on the border with Mauritania, is believed to be a launchpad for attacks in the central region of Segou, according to experts, the most recent of which killed nine Malian soldiers.

One of Ag Ghaly's closest allies, Ba Ag Moussa, known as Bamoussa, is believed to be behind the ambushes that have become an increasing concern for the government and international troops.

"We have to take seriously information that identifies Bamoussa, the former army deserter turned Islamist, as the brains behind the attacks between Mali and Mauritania," a regional security source told AFP.
"Last week, more than 100 soldiers relocated from Smith Barracks in Baumholder, Germany, to Poznan, Poland, to enhance the mission command of US rotational forces... where the US Army has not previously maintained a significant military presence," OAR Mission Command spokesman, Master Sergeant Brent M. Williams, said in a statement to AFP.

The headquarters will serve more than 6,000 US troops deployed in NATO members Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

The deployments to the region were ordered during the previous administration of president Barack Obama.

Rhetoric by US President Donald Trump, who called NATO "obsolete" and demanded that allies pay their share in the alliance shortly before he took office, deeply rattled its easternmost members bordering Russia.

Trump has since reversed much of his criticism and made good on US troop commitments for the unprecedented NATO deployments across its eastern flank.
Some of the suspects were limping heavily as they arrived at the magistrates' court in the capital Kampala, and proceeded to display injuries they said were the result of police torture.

Ahmad Senfuka Shaban, 30, a school teacher in Mukono, removed his shirt to show what appeared to be fresh injuries to his back, chest and left arm.

In the dock another suspect told the magistrate judge, Noah Ssajjabi, that he and his co-accused had been held at the Nalufenya police station, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital, where they had been tortured.

Outside the court relatives of the accused wept as the men hobbled into police vehicles under heavy guard.

Abdul Hamid Shaban Senfuka, Shaban's brother, said the two had managed to speak briefly in the small courtroom.

"He said police poured boiling water on him, as well as acid. They beat him with cables and put electricity on his private parts," the 27-year old car mechanic told AFP.

"Hes innocent," he insisted. "He had nothing to do with Kaweesi's death. They took him because he is a Muslim and there had been a disagreement in the community about his school."

Kaweesi, the assistant inspector general of police, was shot dead outside his home in a Kampala suburb on March 17 by heavily armed men on motorbikes.

His driver and his bodyguard were also killed in the attack.

Kaweesi's murder resembles the assassinations of other high-profile legal and military personnel in Uganda which remain unsolved.

When asked about the torture allegations, Uganda police spokesman Asan Kasingye told AFP, "I don't have that information," adding that the magistrate had the power to order an enquiry.

"But without that order we cannot investigate these allegations because it is before the courts not the police, Kasingye said.

The magistrate ordered that the men be transferred to Luzira Prison in Kampala until their next hearing on 18 May.

The 13 suspects were arrested last month and are charged with "terrorism, murder and aggravated theft".

Kaweesi oversaw the brutal police oppression of an opposition protest movement in 2011.
Kafando, 74, has "more than three decades of extensive experience in high-level international diplomacy and politics," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday in announcing the appointment.

A former foreign minister and UN ambassador, Kafando was president from November 2014 to December 2015 during Burkina Faso's transition to civilian rule following a military takeover and the resignation of long-serving leader Blaise Compaore.

Kafando will replace Jamal Benomar, who held the post since November 2015 and who had come under heavy criticism and calls to resign from the Bujumbura government.

Relations between Burundi and the United Nations nosedived after a report by UN rights experts in September blamed state police and security forces for the violence tearing the country apart since April 2015.

Hundreds died, hundreds more have disappeared and 390,000 people fled after Nkurunziza announced plans to run for a third term, which he went on to win.

The Security Council last month threw its weight behind a proposal by mediator Benjamin Mkapa, the former president of Tanzania, to hold a regional summit to press the government and the opposition to start negotiations.

But east African leaders appear divided on the way forward and there has been no progress towards holding talks.
Hungary's foreign ministry said Timmermans "should resign from his post after having accused Hungary's Prime Minister and the country's government of anti-Semitism".

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that the comments were an "unfounded accusation" and that Hungary "has done more than anyone in Europe to combat anti-Semitism," a statement said.

It added that Budapest "has major issues" with the Hungarian-born financier and philanthropist but that "these disputes have absolutely nothing to do with George Soros's origins or religion".

Orban on Wednesday told the European Parliament that Soros was an "American financial speculator attacking Hungary" and that the Hungarian-born financier has "destroyed the lives of millions of Europeans".

Asked in an interview with Germany weekly Die Zeit published on Thursday whether he thought the comments sounded anti-Semitic, Timmermans said: "I understood that in exactly the same way as you and was appalled".

Orban was in Brussels to defend education legislation that the Central European University in Budapest, a highly respected institution founded by Soros, believes is aimed at forcing it to close.

The legislation has drawn street protests and international concern including from the US State Department and an open letter signed by more than 900 academics around the world.

Orban has accused the university, set up in 1991 after the fall of communism, of "cheating" and of having an "unfair advantage" over local institutions -- allegations rejected by the CEU as "defamatory".

Orban's government also aims to oblige non-governmental organisations receiving above a certain amount of foreign funding to register and stamp any publication with "foreign-funded organisation".

Mirroring similar rules in Russia, this is also seen as targeting Soros's Open Society Foundation which funds civil society groups and which has also come under fire elsewhere in the region.
Glow media, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., will host the Iowa premiere of its award-winning teen short film, Warning: Take Only As Directed, on Thursday, May 18, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport. For more information or to view the film, visit www.warningshortfilm.com.

The 26-minute film will feature original music and compositions, and serves to raise awareness and prompt discussion about the widespread use and misuse of prescription medication in the U.S.

The evening will begin with a pre-screening reception, including live performances by Davenport-area students, as well as musicians who wrote the original music and recorded on the soundtrack.

Members of law enforcement, teachers, students, and people on the front lines of addiction, will participate in a panel discussion with questions and answers following the screening.

Warning: Take Only as Directed, added to Discovery Educations digital streaming subscription series, is based on realistic teenage situations involving prescription drug use and misuse. The film and curriculum are available free of charge and can be found at warningshortfilm.com and glowmedia.org.
On the second day of his campaign for governor, Democrat Nate Boulton faulted Iowa Republicans for an economic development strategy that he says relies too heavily on tax incentives, while ignoring ignoring investments in education and infrastructure.

Boulton, a state senator from Des Moines, is in the midst of a six-day tour of the state after kicking off his campaign Thursday in Columbus Junction.

Boulton, a 36-year-old lawyer, got statewide attention earlier this year while fighting the Republicans' collective bargaining bill in the Iowa Legislature. He drew about 60 people to the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 431, union hall for a midday visit Friday. And he said that investing in an educated workforce is the key to long term growth.

"That's what's defined our economy long term, not coupons and giveaways to the tune of $500 million a year, not transactional economic development but actually investing in our workforce," he said.

In the face of revenue shortfalls, Democrats and other critics have taken aim at the menu of business tax credits and other incentives that are offered in the state to businesses. Boulton called for a thorough review of the incentives, and while he did not single out any for elimination yet, he said, "At the very least, we have to cap those credits."

Boulton also said rural areas need greater infrastructure investment, and in an interview, he cited the Vision Iowa program as a model. The program offered grants and loans for local tourism-related initiatives in the early 2000s.

"I think a program like that would be worth exploring again," he said.

Finding rural votes will be a key for any Democrat running in next year's general election, and Boulton and other Democrats are making stronger appeals to those areas.

In Boulton's case, he has noted he grew up in Columbus Junction. He also has connections to the Quad-Cities. A relative was on the board of UFCW, Local 431, and the union's president, Jerry Messer, introduced Boulton on Friday as a "working man's hero." Messer, who has a long history in Democratic politics, said he has made no endorsement in the race.

Not all was smooth sailing in Boulton's visit here. One person who praised Sen. Bernie Sanders' refusal to take political action committee money challenged Boulton to do the same.

Boulton declined, saying he didn't want to handcuff himself. But he said that he would make aggressive appeals for individual donations. Boulton's campaign released a list of 14 legislative endorsements Friday, including state Sen. Tod Bowman of Maquoketa.

Also in the running for the Democratic nomination are former Iowa Democratic Party Chair Andy McGuire, Rich Leopod, a former state Department of Natural Resources director, and former Des Moines School Board president Jon Neiderbach.

State Rep. Todd Prichard has formed an exploratory committee and is expected to run. John Norris, a longtime Iowa Democrat who was a top aide to Tom Vilsack, also is considering it, as is Davenport Alderman Mike Matson.
Flags in Iowa should fly at half-staff Monday to honor Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Burbridge, who was killed in the line of duty on Monday.

Gov. Terry Branstad issued the order Friday, calling for flags to be lowered from sunrise to sunset Monday. Services for Burbridge are scheduled for Monday.

The governors order applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state, but individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.
There was applause, lots of hugs and even a few tears Monday night after the Chadron City Council voted against entering an agreement with the Nebraska Department of Roads to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Highways 20 and 385.

Corey Pourier, co-owner of Big Bats, became overwhelmed as he realized the outcome he and his family had been fighting for had come to fruition. He took a moment to bury his head in his hands and let it sink in before receiving several hugs from supporters on his way out of the council chambers to notify the rest of his family.

His family has made a huge investment, not just in their business, but in the community, Pourier said. After months of wondering if their business would face a challenge they didnt believe it could overcome, it was, to say the least, a relief to know the idea of a roundabout has stalled once again.

Three members of the council voted against entering an agreement with NDOR that would have allowed the state agency to place a roundabout for the intersection on its five-year program plan.

Councilman George Klein showed his cards early in more than three hours of discussion on the topic, saying that while he believes a properly designed roundabout could work, he didnt think it was the right move for Chadron at this time.

I had to vote my conscious, and I had to vote on what I heard said tonight, remarked Mayor John Coates after the decision.

Only one individual spoke in support of the roundabout, while the rest of the overflowing chamber was there in opposition.

Nobody came to show their support, Coates said, though council members did mention having received comments in support prior to the meeting. Sometimes, its about showing respect to those who show up, Coates added, noting that he was undecided on the issue entering Mondays meeting.

Ive had a lot of sleepless nights, he said.

While a concept drawing was provided to the council and the public for the discussion, no alternative design plans were available for review, and in the end, that gave Councilmember Keith Crofutt pause. Calling the decision the hardest hes had to make in his relatively new council term, Crofutt said it was difficult for him to look past potential access problems for businesses in the area based on one concept.

Doug Hoevet, the NDORs District 5 engineer, handled questions throughout the evening from area residents and business owners. Because the agency owns plenty of right-of-way in the area, any proposed roundabout could be designed to accommodate many of the businesses concerns, he said.

There is a lot of work between where we are today and a final project, Hoevet continued.

But Crofutt said without being able to see alternatives that could mitigate the impact on businesses, he couldnt vote in favor of a roundabout.

Vice Mayor Miles Bannan and Councilmember Mark Werner voted in favor of the proposal, saying they have heard from both supporters and those in opposition. Bannan, too, called it the hardest decision hes had to make as a councilman, but in the end said the roundabout would have decreased the conflict points in the intersection from 32 to eight. Werner supported the agreement mainly in an effort to increase sidewalks and crossings for pedestrian and bike safety and further trail development in the area.

The discussion was calm for most of the night, though tempers flared occasionally and derisive laughter came from many in the crowd when the council asked Hoevet if public input and the needs of the businesses would be incorporated into any final design.

As the time for a vote neared, Coates asked that those in the audience who patronize Big Bats to stand. Everyone in the room did so, and Coates reminded Pourier that they would all remain customers of the business regardless of the vote.

A visibly upset Pourier  his brother Tye had already left the meeting believing the council was set to approve the roundabout  interrupted and stressed that his business depends on travelers, too, not just loyal locals.

If you do this, we will shut our business down, and we will leave town, he said with finality.

His family has long argued that their truck traffic will dry up if a roundabout is constructed at the intersection because truck drivers dont like going through them. Other businesses in the area also testified against the idea Monday, saying it will create access problems that will cause drivers to avoid their locations.

(A roundabout) is a real permanent solution, said Tye Pourier before he left the meeting. Lets take some more time.

The NDOR has already committed to some repainting in the intersection this spring in an effort to make traffic flow more smoothly, and the council discussed speed limit changes with Hoevet Monday as well. The traffic study that prompted the roundabout discussion recommended a decrease in the speed limit from both the east and the south, and Bannan suggested they look at extending the speed limit reduction even farther west than suggested in the study.

Hoevet said the NDOR needs a request for a speed study from the city to initiate the process, though the agency likely will use the recently completed traffic study in reaching its final conclusion at least in part, depending on where exactly the city wants a change to occur.

In addition, the NDOR will continue to evaluate the intersection, and the city and state can review options again in the future. Future traffic patterns could change the options for the intersection, which again range from doing nothing, constructing a roundabout, installing a light or one of several other alternatives.

Due to the lengthy nature of the roundabout discussion, the council delayed much of its other business for the evening, but did approve a $9,000 LB840 grant to Northwest Nebraska Development Corporation and several special liquor licenses.
Dale Tech, a Rapid City engineer who has served as the interim Public Works director for the past 16 months, has been chosen to fill the director position on a permanent basis.

Simply put, looking at it objectively, Dale Techs resume clearly overshadows every single resume we have seen as part of this selection process, Mayor Steve Allender said at a news conference in City Hall Thursday afternoon announcing the selection. Theres no one on paper or in person that compares to Dale Tech.

The hire must be formally approved at the next council meeting on May 15, though any opposition appears unlikely. The Public Works department is the citys largest department, employing over 240 people across six divisions.

Tech, a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a bachelors degree in civil engineering, is a registered professional engineer and land surveyor. Prior to joining the city, he was an engineer for the Pennington County Highway Department for eight years and worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for six years.

He also has seven years of private sector experience, including four years as a construction foreman and three years as a purchasing and inventory manager, according to a release from the city.

Tech will remain interim director of the Community Planning and Development Services  a position he has held since March 2016  as the city continues to search for a qualified candidate.

The decision to hire Tech comes after a national search that yielded little results. In May 2016, the city council approved a request from Allender to hire and pay recruiting firm Waters & Company up to $44,000 to fill both the Public Works and Community Planning and Development Services director positions.

In February, the council approved increasing the director positions advertised salary range from $96,000 to $115,000, to $105,628 to $125,260, depending on experience.

Tech told Allender in March that he was interested in the position after previously expressing no interest.

Over 10 months of recruiting and screening efforts, its been disappointing and ultimately non-productive, Allender said. The extended nature of this search, which was perhaps three times longer than we were hoping it would be, has truly caused the public works department and planning department to operate at status quo.

Tech said he pursued the position after watching the effective interaction and cooperation between council members and the city administration, something he said was a struggle in the past.

Added Allender: He could no longer sit on the sidelines.
A dark lesson about the historic displacement of Native Americans in Rapid City shined a hopeful light on the future during a special community presentation at the Journey Museum on Thursday night.

Partnering with Mayor Steve Allender, the Mniluzahan Okolakiciyapi Ambassadors  a group of Native and non-Native community leaders  has been researching how Native communities in Rapid City were formed, dismantled and reformed again, particularity on the land surrounding the Sioux San Hospital.

More than 170 people filled the seats at the Journey Museum to hear the group's findings, presented by researchers Kibbe Conti and attorney Heather Dawn Thompson.

"We are hopeful that by having this common set of knowledge about our shared history it will facilitate better understanding within our community, and hopefully better relationships," Thompson said.

The story unearthed by Conti and Thompson explains how the post-World War II expansion of Rapid City led to the destruction of established Native American communities as a matter of policy and choice by those in charge at the time.

According to Thompson, the culmination of this all too recent history has been lingering confusion about the rightful ownership of roughly 1,200 acres of land stretching from Mountain View Road to Canyon Lake Park on the west side of the city.

"My advice to anyone watching this and feeling threatened by it would be to just settle down and listen," Allender said before the meeting. "When we come home tonight, I dont think were going to have a whole lot of answers, I think we're going to have as many questions. This should not be seen as the final product or the conclusion of anything. Really, it has to be viewed as the beginning of something."

Thompson assured those property and homeowners within the affected area that despite its checkered and complicated past, their rights to the land were not being called into question.

"None of us in this room had anything to do with this," Thompson prefaced. The events of her research, she said, happened "in a different time, in a different era, with different people."

Boarding school era

In Thompson's telling, the story begins in 1898, when the Bureau of Indian Affairs established the Rapid City Indian Boarding School, a huddle of buildings on 1,200 acres of property that would eventually become the present day Sioux San Hospital.

The mission, as in many such schools of that era, was to strip young Native American minds of their language, culture, and history, to kill the Indian and save the man.

The U.S government took hundreds of Native children from reservations across the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana and sent them to the boarding school in Rapid City.

It was a very harsh experience that went on for 100 years, Conti said.

Many Native families followed their children to the Rapid City boarding school in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and formed communities nearby.

So began a Native migration to the area that eventually prompted members of federal and local government to decide to uproot existing Native communities and relocate them to modern-day housing subdivisions like the Sioux Addition on the north side of town.

Packed in the poor living conditions of the school, dozens of students died from disease until the place was shutdown more than 30 years after its founding.

The whole reason we started this research was to honor those children who died," Thompson said, noting that there is an unmarked cemetery on the former boarding school property that she is working with the city to memorialize and protect.

Sioux Sanatorium

The boarding school became the Sioux Sanatorium in 1938, a place to treat Native victims of the tuberculosis epidemic that ravaged the Lakota population in those days.

More Native families came to the area to be near their loved ones in the facility and even more came after World War II, forced out of their homes in Pine Ridge when the federal government began using part of the reservation as a bombing range.

The city's Native population gathered in "camps" near Rapid Creek and on the land near the former boarding school, Thompson said. It was around this time that local groups in Rapid City began lobbying to use portions of the 1,200 acres of former boarding school land for their own purposes.

In 1948, Congress allowed three uses for the land. Either it could be set aside for  in their words  needy Indians, sold to churches, or given for free to the city, the school district and the National Guard.

Though much of it was the site of existing Native communities at the time, the land was quickly divided up into parcels: roughly 207 acres for the city, 152 for the Rapid City school district, 693 for the South Dakota National Guard, and 183 for nine local churches.

And how much for the Native community? According to Thompson, none.

Native leaders fought for years to obtain some of the boarding school lands for a variety of purposes: Housing, a cultural center, powwow and ceremonial grounds, a new health facility. All of the requests, Thompson said, were denied.

Instead of allowing them to form their own neighborhoods on the boarding school land, the government pushed the Native community further into the fringes of north Rapid City, where the Sioux Addition now sits.

"There was no water or sewer, so the community members had to go all the way back to the river to haul water," Thompson said. "This caused a lot of feelings in the community.

Looking ahead

Thompson and Conti said it is their hope to bring the Native and non-Native communities together in an understanding of their shared history and how the people of Rapid City continue to live together within the consequences of past decisions.

"What becomes of this presentation," Thompson said, "is up to you as community members.

At least two dozen people had to be turned away on Tuesday night, as The Journey Museum was packed to capacity. To accommodate these and other individuals who are interested in learning about the history of Sioux San, Conti and Thompson will give another presentation on May 18.
After three days of presenting evidence, federal prosecutors and defense lawyers handed over to the jury Thursday afternoon a Pine Ridge murder case.

The jury has to decide whether James Robert Dowty, 27, is guilty of second-degree murder, as well as a firearm offense, in the shooting of 13-year-old TeCa Clifford last year. The girl and three teenage friends were walking in the town of Pine Ridge in the early morning of July 20 when a man they encountered fired at Clifford.

Prosecutors emphasized during closing arguments that Cliffords companions, who identified Dowty as the shooter, were reliable eyewitnesses. The teenagers recognized not only Dowtys face but also his clothing and mannerisms, based on previous encounters, they said.

These kids had no agenda to lie, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins said during her rebuttal. Just because theyre young doesnt mean theyre not trustworthy.

Defense attorney Jennifer Albertson earlier restated that the teenagers had been smoking marijuana and drinking just before the shooting. They had given inconsistent statements about clearly seeing Dowty, she said, noting that one of the eyewitnesses had not been able to point out Dowty when she appeared in court this week.

Dowty, who did not take the stand, looked thinner than in his jail booking photo taken several hours after Clifford's shooting. He was also clean-shaven, had longer hair and was wearing glasses and a long-sleeved shirt  changes that Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman said prevented the eyewitness from recognizing him in court.

On Thursday morning, an optometrist who testified for the defense said it would have been humanly impossible for the teenagers to correctly identify the shooter.

Dr. Paul Michel, who has been an expert witness on eyewitness identification in criminal cases, said Cliffords companions could have only identified the shooter with a telescope or binoculars. He cited factors such as the areas dim lighting and the witnesses distance from the shooter, which the defense estimated to be at least 50 yards.

Albertson repeated that the prosecution had not located the gun that killed Clifford, and did not find Dowtys fingerprints or DNA on the bullet casing recovered from the crime scene. It also did not have a confession from Dowty, who claims he was at home during the shooting, the lawyer said.

The investigation isn't good enough, Albertson told the jurors who began hearing the case Monday. The government hasnt given you the evidence to prove my client guilty.

Collins, however, said nobody could testify that Dowty was really at home when Clifford was killed. She said the shooting happened during a full moon and that jurors should rely on their personal experience with that type of lighting.

An expert opinion is just that, an opinion, Collins said. "It doesnt make it fact.

If convicted of murder, Dowty faces up to life in prison.

It has been years since the federal courthouse in Rapid City has seen a murder trial. The last may have taken place in 2010, according to Journal archives, when Vine Richard Marshall was acquitted of aiding and abetting first-degree murder in the death of an American Indian Movement activist in 1975.

Before sequestering the 12 jurors to begin their deliberations, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Jeffrey Viken instructed them not to worry about whether the government wins or loses the case.

The government and society always wins when justice is served, he said.
Russian imam appeals sentence for justifying terrorism

MOSCOW, May 5 (RAPSI, Yevgeniya Sokolova) - Imam Makhmud Velitov has filed an appeal against a 3-year prison sentence passed on him for justifying terrorism, his attorney Dagir Khasavov told RAPSI on Friday.

On April 28, the Moscow District Military Court convicted and sentenced Velitov.

A prosecutor earlier demanded a 3.5-year prison term for the imam.

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.
Investigation into criminal case over Karelia lake tragedy complete

MOSCOW, May 5 (RAPSI)  Investigation into six defendants in a criminal case over an accident at the Syamozero lake in Russias Republic of Karelia that resulted in the death of 14 children, has been completed, the Investigative Committee announced on Friday.

Defendants in the case are former head of Karelias Rospotrebnadzor Anatoly Kovalenko, his deputy Lyudmila Kotovich, director of Syamozero Park Hotel camp Elena Reshetova, the camps coordinator Vadim Vinogradov and the camps instructors Valery Krupodershikov and Pavel Ilyin.

Reshetova, Vinogradov Krupodershikov and Ilyin were charged with rendering of services in violation of safety protocol which accidentally lead two or more people to death. Kovalenko and Kotovich were charged with negligence.

According to investigators, on June 18, 2016, 47 children and instructors of the childrens camp Park-Hotel Syamozero were sailing on a raft and two canoes over the lake Syamozero in Karelia despite the fact that management of the camp, including Reshetova, Vinogradov, Krupodershchikov and Ilyin were informed about dangerous weather conditions.

Children were accompanied by 4 adults (Vinogradov, Krupodershchikov, Regina Ivanova and Lyudmila Vasilyeva) who did not take gathering storm into account. Storm made sailing extremely dangerous: a raft with children and two adults washed up near one of the islands while both canoes were capsized, leaving passengers in the open waters. Only some managed to swim across to the shore. 14 children drowned. Other children survived and were evacuated.

Investigators allege that Reshetova, Vinogradov and Krupodershikov deliberately refused to notify local emergency services about the accident to prevent negative reaction of society from ruining camps reputation and inflicting losses. Defendants in the case are believed to abandon children in water during the storm.

Investigators also believe that former officials of Karelias Rospotrebnadzor, Kovalenko and Kotovich, were aware about unsavory conditions at the camp and did not take appropriate measures eventually leading to the tragedy.

On August 10, the Commercial Court of the Republic of Karelia fined infamous Park-Hotel Syamozero 200,000 rubles ($3,000). The court thus granted a lawsuit lodged by the republican Health Ministry demanding to hold the camp administratively liable. According to court records, the ministrys lawsuit was conditioned by licensing violation committed by the defendant.
Bill prohibiting media from covering suicide information reaches State Duma

MOSCOW, May 5 (RAPSI)  The State Council of Russias Udmurt Republic has submitted a bill, prohibiting media from covering information related to suicides, to the State Duma, the database for the lower house of parliament reads on Friday.

Authors of the bill propose to amend the Article 4 of the Russian Law on Mass Media by adding a provision that prohibits media and telecommunication networks from disseminating information regarding methods of committing suicide, conditions and circumstances of suicides, and direct or indirect calls to commit suicides. Under the bill, bloggers are also to follow the proposed prohibition.

The bill also introduces changes to the Law on protecting children from negative and harmful information.

According to authors of the bill, these measures will help with lowering number of suicides in Russia citing example of Austria and drastically lowered number of such tragic incidents in the country after media stopped covering those incidents.
MISSOULA  For Jordan Kilby, there was only one appropriate sentence for Emmanuel Gomez, convicted earlier this year of deliberate homicide in the killing of his girlfriend Charlie Ann Wyrick.

Keep him locked behind bars in the Montana State Prison until the day that he dies, the prosecutor requested of District Court Judge Karen Townsend at the end of Gomezs sentencing hearing on Thursday.

Townsend did just that, sentencing 31-year-old Gomez to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The judge looked at Gomez and repeated a phrase he told people who came looking for Wyrick after she disappeared.

Shes gone and she aint coming back.

***

In February, after an eight-day trial, a jury found that Gomez murdered 26-year-old Wyrick, whose body was found in December 2015 at the bottom of a ravine in Deer Creek.

I just want to tell her how sorry I am for not being there for what he put her through, Wyricks mother Crystal said when it was her turn on the stand at Thursdays sentencing.

Then she turned to Gomez.

Theres so much I would like to say to you, but I dont think the court will let me say it to you.

She looked down at the framed photo in her lap of Wyricks 6-year-old son, then up at Townsend.

He took this little boys mom. A Mothers Day for Harley will never be the same, Crystal said.

In her sentencing recommendation Thursday, Kilby reminded the judge that at trial, multiple witnesses testified that Wyrick told them Gomez used to take her to the same spot where her body was eventually found; that he repeatedly beat and threatened to kill her.

The defendant did exactly what he said he was going to, Kilby said.

The impact of Wyricks death on her family and friends was unfathomable, the prosecutor added.

She meant the world to the people in this courtroom and he took her away from all of them, she said.

***

At trial, Wyricks friends and family said she suffered an increasing level of abuse from Gomez in the months leading up to her death.

On Dec. 21, 2015, that abuse culminated in a fight between Gomez and Wyrick at his house, where roommates testified they were awakened by yelling before hearing a thump and a scream. They came upstairs in time to see Gomez getting into his SUV and driving away.

Wyricks blood was found on the ground leading from the house to the vehicle, as well as inside the SUV. Data from his phone indicated that he drove up to the Pattee Canyon area after the fight.

Medical experts testified that Wyrick, whose body was found stabbed through the chest, was likely still alive when she was pushed off the road and down the embankment.

On Thursday, Wyricks best friend Kimberly Mulcare said despite the abuse she suffered at his hands, Wyrick had still loved Gomez up until he killed her.

Not only was Charlie murdered but she was killed inside by this man, she said. You took her life in more ways than one.

Mulcare said for what he had done, she couldnt imagine any punishment other than life in prison.

You dont deserve a day out in the sun ever again. I hope that you never have a good day while youre in there, she said.

***

Defense attorney Lisa Kauffman urged the judge not to impose the no-parole condition. Without the knowledge that he could one day be released, Gomez would have no incentive to make use of treatment programs in prison or to do any work to rehabilitate and better himself.

Its not an eye for an eye, its not to get even, she said. The only reason that a court would make that decision is to get even.

The defenses witnesses at sentencing included a private investigator, Weaver Barkman, who had been on the witness list for trial but never testified. Barkman used his time to lay out alternate theories of how she could have been stabbed at the house, despite the fact that a jury had decided two months ago that Gomez murdered Wyrick.

Laura Kirsh, a clinical psychologist who performed a mental evaluation on Gomez, said Thursday he was extremely hopeless and depressed. She went over Gomezs meth use and a difficult childhood that included him running away to Mexico as a teen.

Former coworkers of Gomezs called him a hard worker who was quiet but friendly during the time they knew him. John Vandenberg, who owns an upholstery company where Gomez worked, said his laugh had been infectious around the shop.

Couldnt ask for a better worker, he said.

Vandenbergs wife Valerie said she was shocked when she saw the news of Gomezs arrest.

The Manny I know would never have done this, she said. He was just like family.

Kauffman referenced some of the behavioral violations Gomez has been cited for while in custody at the jail, including prison wine being found in his cell. Gomez was also one of the inmates who refused to take a drug test after its believed another inmate who had been out on release smuggled methamphetamine and opiates into the jail pod he was being kept in.

Throughout the sentencing hearing, Gomez kept his head down and stared at his lap. While he hadnt spoken in any court appearances since shortly after his arrest, Gomez rose to give a statement before being sentenced.

Sorry for everything, he said to the court, before specifically apologizing to Wyricks family.
By Review Nepal

Guwahati : BJP-led Assam state government will recommend to the Union government disqualification of MLAs and MPs of the state who don't adhere the new two child family planning norms.

Assam finance and health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said during a press conference held in Guwahati that, the state government will take up with the centre that MLAs and MPs adhere to the family planning norms.

'The two-child norm will be proposed as the yardstick for any contestant to the state legislature. In case any MLA from the state flouts the family planning norms, that is MLAs having more than two children may be disqualified from their membership and debarred from contesting polls in future. The two-child norms will be relaxed in exceptions where there is birth of twins or triplets or in special circumstances on a case to case basis,'A Sarma said.

'The state government will introduce legal provision in the draft population policy to bar people with more than two children to take part in panchayat and municipal body elections. It will be applicable for election to other statuary bodies and committees in the state,'A Sarma said.

The Assam minister said that, the state government servants shall strictly follow norms of two children family to serve as role model for the society.

The Assam finance minister said that, the state government also proposed specific measures to promote women's empowerment in the draft policy.

'The state government has taken strict measures to ensure retention of girl students at school, provide all necessary facilities like girls toilets, water etc in all schools. The defaulting schools will be penalized and better performing schools to be awarded. Older widows and women would be protected by law to ensure that they are not duped of their property rights and strict application of laws will be encouraged to ensure it. The state government to introduce new provisions for the women belonging to SC, ST, Tea tribes and economically weaker women to avail equal and special opportunities,' Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The minister further said that, the state government will bring forth legislation to ensure adequate representation of women in elected bodies from village level onwards and to increase the reservation of women in eligible jobs up to 50 percent.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said that, the state government has identified 11 such districts in the state which with the highest densities of population as per the population census 2011 and will be launched a sustained campaigns in these districts to control the population growth.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Guwahati : At least two persons of a family were injured following grenade attack hurled by suspected ULFA (I) militants in upper Assam's Tinsukia district on Thursday evening, officials said.

According to the reports, suspected militants had hurled a grenade targeting to a house owned by Joginder Singh at Kakopathar area in the upper Assam district.

In the attack, Joginder and his minor daughter Rinki Singh were injured and they were rushed to nearest hospital.

Doctor said that, the injured persons are now out of danger.

Meanwhile, top police and army officials had rushed to the area and cordoned off the area.

Assam police head quarter has recently sounded high alert in all upper Assam districts for probable militants attack.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
NEW DELHI: Indias top court on Friday upheld death sentences against four men who fatally gang raped a woman on board a bus in 2012, a crime that sparked widespread protests and drew international attention to violence against women.

Its a barbaric crime and it has shaken the societys conscience, Justice R Banumathi told a packed courtroom as the three-judge Supreme Court panel threw out an appeal on behalf of the defendants.

The five men and a juvenile lured the 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist and her male friend on to a minibus in New Delhi on December 16, 2012, repeatedly raping the woman and beating both with a metal bar before dumping them on a road.

The woman died of grave internal injuries two weeks later in a Singapore hospital.

Applause broke out in court among relatives of the victim  whose identity is protected by law  as judges explained that the crime met the rarest of the rare standard to justify capital punishment in India.

I am very satisfied. Today I am happy, the victims mother said. Her father said: Its not just a victory for my family, its a victory for each and every woman in our country.
Guwahati : Arunachal Pradesh governor PB Acharya on Thursday said that the North East Region is one of the most vibrant regions of the country.

While attending as a chief guest in the business summit 'Vibrant North east 2017' held in Guwahati, Acharya said that, the region has abundant resources, in terms of hydropower potential, water, land, forests, oil and minerals.

'It Only the people of the region must stand on their own feet and harness the potentials of the region. They have to improve their work culture. They must have a humane relationship amongst each other without discriminating between tribal and non-tribal and their economic status or appointments. First, we all are Indian then comes the other designation and identities,' Acharya said.

The governor emphasised that the Universities must not be centres for education only but Centres for Development. It should not be factors for graduates but produce good human and intelligent, patriotic, skilled and useful citizens. They should know how to harness the potential of the region and create assets out of the natural resources.

Stressing that the graduation courses must have Skill Development programme in the penultimate term, the governor said that the graduates coming out of the Universities and Colleges must be easily employable.

Emphasizing on making the central sponsored schemes available to the lowest echelon of the society, the Arunachal Pradesh governor called for more awareness about the welfare programmes.

'There are many welfare schemes and projects for stakeholders in various fields, including Agriculture and Horticulture but the targeted section of the society, such as farmers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders are not aware of it,' Acharya said.

The educated and empowered people must facilitate the disadvantage section of the people to avail benefits from it, the governor underscored.

The three-day event is being jointly organized by the Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India at Veterinary College Playground, Khanapara, Guwahati.

Vibrant North East 2017, comprising of Development Expo 2017, Agri and Rural Expo and North East Development Meet will provide an opportunity for the region to showcase its potential and opportunities for the rest of the country to offer what it has to for partnering and engaging to explore the opportunities and participating in the growth and development of the region.

The three-day long event is expected to bring a large number of the national and international stake-holders from the industry, institutions, government and the development sectors to showcase the programs and schemes, products, technologies and services; and deliberate upon the issues and opportunities and the way forward.

The event, comprised of the technical conferences, investment and business meets, partnership events, entrepreneurs' seminars, farmers workshops and large exhibition, would serve as a significant step towards addressing the objectives.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
By Review Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal: following obstruction by the CPN-UML lawmakers, the meeting of the Legislature Parliament scheduled for Monday has been adjourned till 1 pm on Sunday.

The House meeting was adjourned after lawmakers from the main opposition party- CPN UML- gathered at the well to protest against the impeachment motion filed against Chief Justice Sushila Karki as soon as Speaker Onsari Gharti announced the commencement of the meeting.

Though Speaker Gharti had earlier had a discussion with top leaders of major three parties regarding the House business and the impeachment motion, the meeting had failed to make any headway due to the rigid stand of the UML leaders.

UML leaders have been clinching on the stand that the impeachment motion registered in the parliament against of the Chief Justice Sushila Karki should be withdrawn. The party has a claim that the impeachment motion has tarnished the image of the independence of the judiciary.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli along with the chief whips of the three major parties were present in the meeting held at the chamber of speaker Gharti.

249 lawmakers from the government allies- Nepali Congress and CPN Maoist Center had filed an impeachment motion against CJ Karki on April 30.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Supreme Court (SC) the apex court of the country paved the way to resume service to the suspended Chief Justice (CJ) Sushila Karki by issuing a stay order on the impeachment motion filed against Karki.

A single bench of Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana ordered the parliament not to proceed forward the impeachment motion until further order come to thiseffect .

249 lawmakers from government allies Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) had field an impeachment motion against CJ Karki accusing her of breaching the jurisdiction of the constitution on April 30.
Guwahati : Another Assam police cop was suspended after the police official made a post in social media.

According to the reports, Naba Kumar Bora, Officer in charge of Lakhipur police station in Cachar district on Thursday was suspended following the directive of Assam DGP on his remarks against the Prime Minister, Assam Chief Minister the top officials of Assam police in Facebook.

Recently, the police officer posted in the social media that he had submitted several applications to his higher authorities for transfer purpose, but he would not get any order from the higher authorities.

The Assam cop also said in the Facebook post that, he informed his higher authorities to quit the service.

Following the social media post, Assam police had suspended the police official.

Earlier, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was suspended after a Facebook post, where the DSP said that, a BJP lady MLA is involved in flesh trade.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Welcome to the PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE. We are a multi-racial, multi-issue "rainbow coalition" dedicated to social justice, peace and building progressive power. Our key priorities include economic justice; equal rights and equal opportunities for all regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation; international solidarity; humanitarian service; eradicating poverty at home and abroad; environmental protection and sustainable development; and electing progressives to public office and then holding them accountable.




 Stories of severe federal sentences and the judges forced to impose them | Main | Might Prez Trump conduct something of a federal "drug war" retreat through major budget cuts? 

May 5, 2017

"Mass Monitoring"

The title of this post is the title of this notable new paper authored by Avlana Eisenberg and now available via SSRN. Here is the abstract:

Business is booming for criminal justice monitoring technology: these days ankle bracelet refers as often to an electronic monitor as to jewelry. Indeed, the explosive growth of electronic monitoring (EM) for criminal justice purposes  a phenomenon which this Article terms mass monitoring  is among the most overlooked features of the otherwise well-known phenomenon of mass incarceration. This Article addresses the fundamental question of whether EM is punishment. It finds that the origins and history of EM as a progressive alternative to incarceration  a punitive sanction  support characterization of EM as punitive, and that EM comports with the goals of dominant punishment theories. Yet new uses of EM have complicated this narrative. The Article draws attention to the expansion of EM both as a substitute for incarceration and as an added sanction, highlighting the analytic importance of what it terms the substitution/addition distinction. The Article argues that, as a punitive sanction, EM can be justified when used as a substitute for incarceration, but that its use as an added sanction may result in excessive punishment and raises significant constitutional and policy concerns. The Articles findings have crucial implications for hotly contested questions over whether monitoring can be imposed retroactively and whether pretrial house arrest plus monitoring (which resembles the post-conviction use of monitoring as a substitute for incarceration) should count toward time served. The Article provides a framework for addressing these questions and, at the same time, offers practical policy guidance that will enable courts and policymakers to ensure that EM programs are genuinely a cost-saving, progressive substitute for incarceration rather than another destructive expansion of government control.

May 5, 2017 at 09:47 AM | Permalink

Comments

The opening screen on my Nissan Rogue states that data on the car will be transmitted to Nissan. I wrote asking what data, who gets its, how ill it be used. I asked if it is available to government officials. They replied that a black box was in Nissans since 2006, that the car functions are being monitored, and that, yes, the data would be available to government entities when appropriate. They did not say they would need a court order to reveal the content.

I am now asking how to turn it off, and how to disconnect the black box recorder. So Nissan knows everything about my use of the car. The police can prove I was speeding. The wife can prove I was at my mistress's address on a specific date.

It gets worse. My son in law was discussing a product in his living room, with all appliances off. He then began receiving ads on this product. The likely source of his privacy breach was the microphone of his turned off smart TV. It is waiting for instructions to turn on, for example. However, while waiting, it is transmitting the conversation in the living room to Google.

Posted by: David Behar | May 5, 2017 10:17:02 AM

I have proposed the use of civil forfeiture to seize Facebook/Twitter/Google/Apple/Microsoft. They have hosted 1000's of crimes. The government should then sell the parts of these massive monopolies, keep the proceeds, and mandate better privacy as a condition of acquisition.

Stop kidding around seizing the houses of grandmas and the wallets of travelers because of traces of cocaine on their cash. Go after the biggest vehicles of criminality of all, Facebook/Twitter/Google/Apple/Microsoft. A classmate is now suing Twitter and Facebook on behalf of the families of the victims of the Orlando terror attack.

Posted by: David Behar | May 5, 2017 10:56:17 AM

Oh, come on, how can mere monitoring be punishment, right South Carolina Supreme Court and probably soon to be agreed with by our very own baboons in black pajamas (United States Supreme Court). These scapegoats, er, I mean criminals earned this, even if it was not a proscribed punishment at the time of sentencing. So what if they have to pay thousands of dollars over their life for the privilege, monetary compensation to the state is merely payback for just use.

Also, who cares if:

- the unit malfunctions, as it most certainly will, over it extended use and Bubba, er I mean LE show up at their door to put them in jail for a few days, or weeks while the matter is straightened out by our ever efficient injustice system. Their employer won't mind.

- limited life batteries can't be charged in time and again they are non-compliant and the results are the same as above.

- no matter how many lives they save and saintly they live, they can never get out from under the thumb of government. So what if they are treated only slightly worse than a taxpayer. They should consider themselves lucky to be breathing.

Many of these individuals were guilty of non-contact offenses.

Now, ain't our country great or what?

Posted by: albeed | May 5, 2017 11:56:40 AM

Al. Great question of malfunction. Does the maker of the ankle bracelet have any liability for malfunction? That is the path to a remedy, deterrence by tort litigation, especially in aggregate claims.

Posted by: David Behar | May 5, 2017 12:30:21 PM

Post a comment
 "Mass Monitoring" | Main | "Designed to Fail: The President's Deference to the Department of Justice in Advancing Criminal Justice Reform" 

May 5, 2017

Might Prez Trump conduct something of a federal "drug war" retreat through major budget cuts?

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this notable new CBS News article headlined "Trump administration proposes massive cuts to Drug Czar office." Here are the details:

The Trump administration is looking to slash the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) budget by nearly 95 percent, according to a memo obtained by CBS News. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed major ONDCP budget cuts for fiscal year 2018 that would cut 33 employees, nearly half the office staff, along with intelligence, research and budget functions at the agency, as well as the Model State Drug Laws and Drug Court grant programs.... The document also zeroes out funding to a number of grant programs including the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program and the Drug-free Communities Support Program. These grants are "duplicative of other efforts across the Federal government and supplant State and local responsibilities," the memo states. HIDTA serves as a catalyst for coordination among federal state and local enforcement entities, and funds task forces in 49 states across the country. It is considered a vital tool used by law enforcement agencies to go after very high profile drug dealers and conduct in-depth interagency investigations. The drug free communities support program is the nation's largest drug prevention program and funds 5,000 local anti-drug community coalitions across the country. This program has also enjoyed broad bipartisan support. President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order last month to create a presidential commission to tackle the national opioid [crisis], chaired by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. The Order stated that the ONDCP would be providing support for the Commission. "I have been encouraged by the Administration's commitment to addressing the opioid epidemic, and the President's personal engagement on the issue, both during the campaign and since he was sworn into office," the ONDCP's Acting Director, Richard Baum, wrote in an office-wide email. "However, since OMB's proposed cuts are also at odds with the fact that the President has tasked us with supporting his Commission on Combatting drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis." "These drastic proposed cuts are frankly heartbreaking, and if carried out, would cause us to lose many good people who contribute greatly to ONDCP's mission and core activities," Baum wrote. The staff was notified of the cuts Friday after Baum and top aides were notified of the draconian cuts last Thursday. According to a source familiar with the discussions, Baum has been in close contact with Jared Kushner, who heads up the White House Office of American Innovation. Baum had hoped to convince the Office of American Innovation that the ONDCP is an essential tool in combatting the opioid epidemic. The discussions did not go as planned. "The budget process is a complex one with many moving parts," The White House said in a statement to CBS. "It would be premature for us to comment - or anyone to report - on any aspect of this ever-changing, internal discussion before the publication of the document. The President and his cabinet are working collaboratively to create a leaner, more efficient government that does more with less of tax payers' hard-earned dollars."

Due in part of some of the rhetoric used by both Prez Trump and Attorney General Sessions, there has been much talk and consternation about the prospect of the Trump Administration ramping up the federal drug war. But if these significant budget cuts become a reality, it is quite possible that the Trump Administration would be functionally doing a lot more to pull back on the drug war in his first Term than did President Obama during his first Term.

UPDATE : This new CBS News article, headlined "White House dismisses concerns over steep potential cuts to 'Drug Czar' office," includes new statements from White House officials suggesting any ONDCP cuts would not signal a drug war retreat as well as some informed reaction to the budget cutting talk:

A senior administration official suggested that if the White House decided to strip ONDCP of its agency mandate to coordinate collaboration between federal and local law enforcement and public health organizations, transitioning it into an office like the National Security Council or National Economic Council. The official said cuts would "by no means signal the commitment to winning the war on drugs is lessened." The senior administration official pointed to dozens of drug programs across many federal agencies as evidence that the White House is committed to anti-drug efforts, even if the ONDCP loses its ability to issue grants. But Rafael Lemaitre, a former top spokesman for the ONDCP, countered that the reason the ONDCP was created in the first place was to coordinate these programs into one comprehensive strategy for the president. "Creating chaos at ONDCP or eliminating the agency will mean that each of the bureaucrats who run each those long list of programs and are spread out across government will have no single point of contact or direction to follow," Lemaitre said. "Efforts will be duplicated. Presidential priorities won't be followed. Ineffective programs will continue."... Scores of former government officials, doctors, community based organizations, law enforcement officials and officials at drug treatment and prevention programs agree. In a letter to senior White House adviser Reed Cordish, dozens called on the White House to maintain ONDCP's funding and strong national influence. "As we have written before, ONDCP brings essential expertise to the table on complex drug issues, expertise that would otherwise be missing or dispersed across multiple agencies," the letter states. "ONDCP holds all federal, state, and local agencies accountable for achieving specific goals to reduce drug trafficking, use, and other consequences." Kevin Sabet, the head of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and a three-time ONDCP adviser who distributed the letter, did not mince words. "To slash anti-drug finding during this opiate and marijuana crisis is exactly the wrong move at the wrong time," he said.

May 5, 2017 at 02:29 PM | Permalink

Comments

I don't see that white house staffing has much at all to do with action on the ground. I could in fact see this as a way to ramp up.

Now, if he were talking cuts in the DEA or similar I might think there was something going on.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | May 5, 2017 3:55:08 PM

I'm inclined to agree with the first comment.

Posted by: Joe | May 5, 2017 4:21:11 PM

Trump is ramping up on the drug war. More prosecuters, reactivating the prisons run by civilian corporations and funding more money in the doj.

The opiate group needs to ramp up and fast. Its way out if control and locally in smallville even, lives have been lost and ithers floating down the river of no return.

Sessions wants to go back to the 1987 guidelines almost as bad as Bill Otis does. Lets see this was the mindset, prosecute to the highest level charge and assure guideline sentences and above all else, W I N.

Posted by: MidWestGuy | May 5, 2017 4:52:02 PM

Fair points, Soronel, but I think getting rid of HIDTA funding is potentially a big deal. Moreover, the folks who favor tough drug policies have been urging Trump to "restore to Cabinet-level status the position of the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and adequately fund the office so that it can be effective." --- Cully Stimson, http://dailysignal.com/2017/02/27/how-trumps-doj-can-start-enforcing-federal-marijuana-law/

Here is a good Vox piece providing an effective and nuanced view on what the cuts might and might not mean:

https://www.vox.com/2017/5/5/15558400/trump-ondcp-drug-czar-cut

"Where the cuts will take overall US drug policy remains unclear. One possibility, however, is that as ONDCP dwindles down, anti-drug efforts under Trump will be more likely to go through the US Department of Justice, which is led by anti-drug hardliner Jeff Sessions, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, which historically takes a tough on crime approach to drugs. If so, we could expect a more criminal justicefocused drug policy  more traditional war on drugs, less public health focus  than we saw under Obama.

"But it could also mean that without a significant ONDCP presence, it will be much harder to coordinate efforts to double down on a criminal justiceoriented war on drugs, as Trump and Sessions have suggested they want to do. Thats one reason why the reform-focused Drug Policy Alliance mostly praised the cuts, while calling HIDTA and the Drug-Free Communities Support Program 'a phenomenal waste of money that contribute to the incarceration and stigmatization of drug users'."





Posted by: Doug B. | May 5, 2017 5:09:01 PM

who knows what this maniac will do. Impossible to believe anything he says. Impossible to believe he understands consequences of any of his decisions.

Posted by: Emily | May 5, 2017 5:11:18 PM

Have to agree with Emily on this one. Just saw the following post online somewhere:

"Trump defends comment on Australia having better health care than U.S.

By AIDAN QUIGLEY 05/05/17 03:57 PM EDT

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

President Donald Trump on Friday responded to criticism for saying that Australia, a country with universal health care, has better health care than the United States.

Of course the Australians have better healthcare than we do  everybody does, he tweeted. ObamaCare is dead! But our healthcare will soon be great.



Now, this is truly a maniacal set of three statements. The first part is clearly true, or is it? The second part is clearly false, or is?it. The third part is definitely false, or is it?

Posted by: James the Just | May 5, 2017 5:42:37 PM

I have suggested that Trump end his open pronouncements. He should stealthily achieve his goals by executive action. For example, do not announce the defunding of sanctuary cities. Never issue the checks. Have them get lost in the mail.

Stop checks to the treason indoctrination camps in our universities until they institute patriotism and traditional values indoctrination of all their faculties, and purge them of feminists. The checks include all those for research grants, student loans. any subsidy. The same goes for for payments to Planned Parenthood.

If any sues, wins, and gets court orders from federal judges, start losing the pay checks of the judges. Continue to block the funding of these traitor organizations. If a federal marshal shows up at a federal agency to enforce the order of a judge, fire him. If he refuses to leave, stop issuing his paychecks.

There is no moral or legal duty to fund one's adversaries.

Posted by: David Behar | May 5, 2017 7:05:22 PM

Trump is cutting "waste" in the war on drugs. He can even save the taxpayers money. If he would close the Federal prison 'camps' and send these inmates home with ankle monitors. These inmates have taken programs, served time, clawed their way to be allowed the camp setting, followed rules and stayed out of trouble in prison. Complete criminal justice reform.

Posted by: Carol Creasy | May 5, 2017 8:46:48 PM

Trump is cutting "waste" from the useless, ineffective drug programs and excessive spending on getting nothing done. Save taxpayers billions by closing Federal Prison camps and sending those occupants home with monitoring. Camp settings are earned by serving time, following rules, taking lengthy programs, etc.

Posted by: Carol Creasy | May 5, 2017 8:51:09 PM

I've asked the question before: is Trump crazy or is he crazy like a fox? My own view is that there is a method to his madness and if you ask why do I think that well the obvious answer is that he got himself elected president when the supposedly know-it-alls laughed at him.

So I take a wait and see attitude and not jump at the first bait that Trump tosses out.

Posted by: Daniel | May 6, 2017 10:49:43 AM

Daniel. I like you. I care about your welfare. Please, review this release from the American Psychological Association.

http://www.apa.org/news/press/response/presidential-candidates.aspx

Posted by: David Behar | May 6, 2017 12:52:57 PM

He could save $42 Billion per year just by administratively removing marijuana from the CSA Schedule. I think this will be tempting now that there are billions of dollars to be made in the 29 states that have legalized marijuana to some degree.

There are perhaps some where over 600,000 marijuana arrests per year. Treating marijuana like alcohol eliminates the need for funding many agencies at the federal state and local levels.

Posted by: beth | May 6, 2017 2:57:09 PM

Beth. I like your enthusiasm. You are casting utility pearls before the stupidest swine people in our country, additionally blinded by their rent seeking. You are proposing to transfer $billions to the taxpayer from lawyers and government employees. I am convinced lawyers driving the War on Drugs receive financial support from drug cartels, through shell companies in the US.

I propose a special investigator to find the real campaign donors to Jeff Sessions. I am also interested in knowing whether Carlos Slim, Mexican cement billionaire, donated funds to the Trump campaign. Trump wants a wall, a huge make work 1000 mile wall. It can be overcome with an overflight, with a tourist or student visa, far cheaper than hiring a coyote to tunnel under it.

Posted by: David Behar | May 6, 2017 3:32:22 PM

I guess I owe a small apology to the lawyers. They are not alone in their stupidity, rent seeking, and disloyal selfishness, in arguing to maintain their worthless make work, tax funded jobs:

"Scores of former government officials, doctors, community based organizations, law enforcement officials and officials at drug treatment and prevention programs agree. In a letter to senior White House adviser Reed Cordish, dozens called on the White House to maintain ONDCP's funding and strong national influence."

Posted by: David Behar | May 6, 2017 3:38:22 PM

Crazy like a fox? Really? Realize that by definition, approximately half the population is below average intelligence. "No one in this world ... has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby." H.L. Mencken. Nothing more than a conman finding his marks. God save these United States.

Posted by: Mark M. | May 7, 2017 3:56:15 PM

Crazy Like A Fox ... a 1980s comedy mystery t.v. series starring Jack Warden.

Posted by: Joe | May 7, 2017 8:01:35 PM

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Fear, anxiety, and mockery of people who fall for phishing attacks ran rampant on the World Wide Web Wednesday, as a phenomenally sophisticated and fast-moving phishing attack disguised a Google Doc made its way to one million Gmail users and countless non-Gmail email accounts, according to the BBC.

While the email requests technically originated from the obviously sketchy [email protected] email address, the request appeared legitimate to many of the victims thanks to the bcc field being populated by the addresses of senders youd recognize, and the title of the email request saying that someone in your address book shared a document on Google Docs with you.

For their part, Google claims they shut down the attack within an hour Wednesday afternoon. We have taken action to protect users against an email impersonating Google Docs, the service said in a tweet. Weve removed the fake pages, pushed updates through Safe Browsing, and our abuse team is working to prevent this kind of spoofing from happening again.

We've addressed the issue with a phishing email claiming to be Google Docs. If you think you were affected, visit https://t.co/O68nQjFhBL. pic.twitter.com/AtlX6oNZaf  Google Docs (@googledocs) May 3, 2017

Google said in a statement to CNN that contact information was accessed and used in the attack, but no other information was exposed. Still, heads should perhaps roll from their folding portable massage chairs at Googles parent company Alphabet if a non-Google, third party service was somehow allowed into the ecosystem with the name Google Docs.

I'd like to share a Google Doc with you pic.twitter.com/jPOuUDNOjY  David Mack (@davidmackau) May 3, 2017

While the phishing attack appears to now be gutted, a compromised account is still a compromised account. You still need to take protective measures if your account was baited by this phishing attack, but its a pretty simple fix. Gmail users can just go to their Google account permissions and revoke Google Docs or any other unsavory looking apps (is Pokemon GO still on there?) by clicking on the app and then the blue Remove button. You are then highly encouraged to change your password ASAP.

This adversary likely did not anticipate the velocity with which this attack would follow, Ciscos Talos Intelligence notes on their security blog. This was a loud and noisy version and subtle, low volume attacks are likely to follow. This again points to some basic security principles. Namely, don't trust email, no matter how legitimate looking, do not allow third parties have access to any of your accounts. In the instance where the option exists to either login with an existing third party account or create a new account, create the new account. It may take a little additional time, but it can prevent a catastrophic compromise of your email and contacts."

Related: Beware Of Sophisticated Gmail Phishing Email That Makes You Log In Again
They did not take home a James Beard Award the other night in Chicago, however baker Chad Robertson, pastry chef Liz Prueitt, and chef Sam Goinsalvos still got a nice honor this week as Tartine Manufactory was named one of Food & Wine's ten Restaurants of the Year. The splashy new restaurant was a finalist for the Beard Award for Best New Restaurant, it landed on SFist's lists of best new restaurants in December, on the Chronicle's Top 100 last week, and it's basically a shoe-in for Bon Appetit's annual list too, but that won't arrive until August.

Says Food & Wine Editor in Chief Nilou Motamed, "This years ... winners prove that theres never been a better time to eat in America. The 2017 list showcases restaurants that are ambitious, innovative and generous to their communities. From an inspired sandwich spot to an all-day wine bar, a white-linen fine-dining experience to a linen factory-turned-bakery, we love how these restaurants are expanding our experience of eating out.

This list follows shortly on the announcement of Food & Wine's prestigious Best New Chefs list, on which this year's SF honoree is Val Cantu, chef-owner at Californios.

Tartine Manufactory is of course that former linen factory, and it is of course much more than a bakery, with all-day food service, a full-service Cal-Med-inspired dinner menu by Goinsalvos, a wine bar, and house-made ice cream and pastry. Goinsalvos has a deft hand with vegetables and lets meat dishes shine with simple preparations  like a thick ribeye steak served with house-made steak sauce. But yes, it wouldn't be Tartine without fantastic bread.

Below, the full list of this year's Food & Wine Restaurant of the Year honorees.

Heres Looking At You, Los Angeles - Chef Jonathan Whitener

Junes All Day, Austin - Sommelier June Rodil

Le Coucou, New York City - Chef Daniel Rose

Olmsted, Brooklyn - Chef Greg Baxtrom

Roister, Chicago - Chef Andrew Brochu

Rooster Soup Co., Philadelphia - Chefs Michael Solomonov and Erin OShea

Tartine Manufactory, San Francisco - Chef Sam Goinsalvos, Baker Chad Robertson and Pastry Chef Liz Prueitt

Turkey and the Wolf, New Orleans - Chef Mason Hereford

Tusk, Portland, OR - Chef Sam Smith

Waypoint, Cambridge, MA - Chef Michael Scelfo



Related: The 15 Best New SF Restaurants Of 2016
The rush to start flying drones through the skies of San Francisco has thus far consumed for-profit companies like Amazon, Google and Chipotle, all of which seek to to eventually test-fly various drone delivery models. But the city of San Francisco appears to be on the verge of allowing various city departments to start flying drones for their own non-commercial purposes.

The Chronicle reports that the San Francisco Committee on Information Technology is poised to approve a plan to give permission to five city agencies to begin flying their own drones, though each agency would then have to develop its own specific drone request-and-approval process.

The proposal has been two years in the making, and was spurred by the 2015 discovery that SF Rec and Parks had been using drones for monitoring purposes. That revelation came only after one of the drones was stolen, prompting privacy advocates and neighbors living adjacent to parks to wonder why the heck Rec and Parks was flying drones and what was being done with the pictures and video the drones took.

The proposal would not give every single city department permission to fly drones. Drone-flying privileges would only be granted to the fire department, the Port of San Francisco, the Recreation and Parks Department, the Public Utilities Commission. and the Office of the Controller. Quite notably, the San Francisco Police Department is not on this list, though any department is currently allowed to use drones in the event of a disaster or emergency.

Departments must have an authorized purpose to collect information using a drone, or use drone-collected information, according to a draft of the policy obtained by the Chronicle. The policy also states that any personally identifiable private information collected by the drone must be deleted.

But those safeguards may not be enough for the comfort level of privacy advocates, and the drone policy is still not fully approved. The Committee on Information Technology will debate  and is expected to approve  the proposal at a 10 a.m. meeting Friday morning at Room 305 at City Hall.

Related: Drone Blamed For Sunday Night Power Outage In SF


The Berkeley Police Department has released the photos of three men who are wanted in connection with violent assaults during an April 15th Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park demonstration.

20 people were arrested at that Tax Day protest, including two people who had outstanding warrants for violence during a March 4th protest.

Anyone with info on any one of these three is asked to contact detective Tim Gardner at (510) 981-5816. Berkeley police are also interested in checking out any photos or video you might have of protestors breaking the law.
Milwaukee Downtown recently selected Albuquerque by way of Chicago visual artist Mauricio Ramirez as Wisconsin Avenue's artist in residence. Ramirez has created murals across the country for Microsoft, Warner Music Group, VitaminWater, Red Bull, Stella Artois and The City of Albuquerque. This project will have him concept and execute mural installations on ten utility boxes along Wisconsin Avenue from Cass to 9th streets.

The utility box mural project is one of several arts initiatives for Wisconsin Avenue. Among the soon-to-debut installations are Sculpture Milwaukee and Lighting the Avenue. All projects are part of Arts on the Avenue  an initiative to heighten awareness of the creative community.

I know it sounds cliche, but I really enjoy how Milwaukee has turned their old buildings and factories into updated spaces with new purposes, Mauricio Ramirez said in a press release. I am honored to celebrate in painting form the citys rich history of commerce.

The ten utility boxes that will be transformed this summer include:

800 E. Wisconsin Ave.

650 N. Jackson St.

401 E. Wisconsin Ave.

411 E. Wisconsin Ave.

200 E. Wisconsin Ave.

707 N. Plankinton Ave.

703 N. 2nd St.

300 W. Wisconsin Ave.

700 N. 6th St.

706 N. 9th St.
ELK POINT, S.D. | Certain ABC expert witnesses will not be able to testify, or will have the scope of their testimony limited, when lawyers defend the network against Beef Products Inc.'s $1.9 billion defamation lawsuit at trial this summer.

Circuit Judge Cheryle Gering on Friday also ruled against BPI's motions to keep two other ABC experts off the witness stand, saying it will be up to jurors hearing the case to decide whether ABC or BPI experts have the more reliable opinions.

"I'm not the arbiter of who is correct and who is not correct in their opinions" when it comes to expert testimony, Gering said during a daylong hearing in Union County Circuit Court.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin May 31 and testimony on June 5 for what is expected to be an eight-week trial.

BPI had filed motions to exclude trial testimony of five ABC witnesses expected to rebut BPI expert testimony about the company's total amount of lost sales, business value and other economic factors used to determine the amount of damages the Dakota Dunes-based company says it suffered from a series of ABC stories and broadcasts that began in early March 2012 about the company's Lean Finely Textured Beef, its signature lean beef product.

BPI alleges the "prolonged disinformation campaign" caused a backlash against the product, which critics repeatedly referred to as "pink slime," and led to a loss of business, forcing the family-owned business to close all but its South Sioux City plant and lay off more than 700 workers. BPI sued ABC, its correspondents, federal officials and a former employee in September 2012.

Gering denied BPI motions to keep defense witnesses Scott Fausti and David Scheffman, economists who analyzed the findings of BPI experts' opinions, from testifying at trial, and it would be up to jurors to decide whether to believe their testimony.

Defense witness Jean-Pierre Dube will not be allowed to testify. In granting BPI's motion to exclude him, Gering said information Dube gathered to dispute BPI's economic figures was unreliable.

Gering also ruled that Mark Zmijewski and Donald Frankenfeld will be limited in their testimony about BPI's damages and business evaluations, respectively.

Earlier this week, Gering denied ABC motions to prohibit two BPI-retained experts who calculated the amount of lost sales and business value of the company from testifying.

Gering previously dismissed former "World News Tonight" anchor Diane Sawyer from the case, saying that Sawyer's role as an anchor limited her involvement in doing research and was not enough to establish defamation. The ruling left American Broadcasting Companies Inc., the parent of ABC News, and correspondent Jim Avila as defendants.

BPI lawyers previously dismissed ABC News, network producer David Kerley, former U.S. Department of Agriculture officials Gerald Zirnstein and Carl Custer and former BPI employee Kit Foshee from the lawsuit.

BPI estimates that the reports did $1.9 billion in actual damages to the company and is seeking a jury award in that amount. If BPI wins at trial, its claim could be tripled to $5.7 billion under provisions of South Dakota's Agricultural Food Product Disparagement Act.
SIOUX CITY | One year ago, Donald Trump was pleased to commemorate Cinco de Mayo, the May 5 celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.

Trump chose to send a tweet with a smiling photo of himself about to eat a taco salad bowl in his office at Trump Tower, with the phrase "I love Hispanics!"

The tweeted photo caused a furor, with people citing the president having a poor grasp of how to highlight Mexican culture. One day later, Trump in a "Fox & Friends" interview defended his tweet.

"As of yesterday, I had 59,000 re-tweets, 59,000 re-tweets in the short period of what  that's got to be some kind of a record," said Trump, who went on to win the presidency in November. "People loved it."

As of this writing, it is unknown if Trump will tweet anything about Cinco de Mayo this year.

What Mexican food will Trump tweet about this year? Vote in the poll below:
NEW YORK  For legions of Americans craving a chance to adopt children, a confluence of daunting trends makes this an especially distressing time.

The overall number of U.S. adoptions has dropped significantly in recent years, straining the viability of many adoption agencies and drawing some into conduct that authorities describe as unethical. Would-be adoptive parents confront the specter of long waiting times and high fees. And many face pressure to spend lavishly on self-promotional advertising if they want to compete for a chance to adopt an infant.

Chuck Johnson, CEO of the National Council for Adoption, estimates that 1 million families are trying to adopt at any given time.

"No matter where they go, unless they're super lucky, they're going to be in for a long wait," Johnson said. "They're going to be in a slow, painful process for foster care or in this massive competition for the limited number of healthy infants  and that's where the situation is ripe for fraud. There are so many families who want to adopt, and so few options for them."

Some of the people desperate to adopt fall victim to scams. In March, for example, a woman from Carolina Beach, North Carolina, was accused of using the internet to fleece a dozen would-be adoptive parents.

In the absence of comprehensive federal figures, Johnson's council, which represents more than 120 adoption agencies, periodically tries to tally the total number of adoptions in the U.S. Its latest count, released in February, showed a 17 percent drop from 133,737 adoptions in 2007 to 110,373 in 2014.

Most of the decline was due to a sharp decrease in the number of international adoptions; the number of infant adoptions remained relatively stable at about 18,000, as did adoptions out of foster care at about 50,000.

Thousands of clients seeking to adopt have been buffeted recently by the downfall of their agencies.

The State Department, alleging extensive improprieties in handling international adoptions, shut down Ohio-based European Adoption Consultants in December. It operated in a dozen foreign countries.

A few weeks later, a domestic-adoption agency licensed in eight states, the Independent Adoption Center, declared bankruptcy, leaving more than 3,000 clients in the lurch. The agency blamed the bankruptcy on "societal changes" that increased the number of parents seeking to adopt while shrinking the pool of expectant mothers open to having their babies adopted.

Among those affected were newlyweds Christopher Koontz and Bobby Duong of Long Beach, California, who said they'd paid the agency about $16,000 over nearly two years. The extent of any reimbursement is uncertain.

"Several of our close friends, family members and co-workers were rooting for us to adopt  it felt shameful to tell them what happened," Duong said.

Josh Christian, a lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina, was a client of European Adoption Consultants. He estimates that he and his wife ended out paying $10,000 extra to complete the adoptions of two sisters from Uganda, who had to spend more time in an orphanage because of the agency's shutdown.

Only after the State Department action did Christian learn that there were long-simmering problems with EAC. He suggested there should be some sort of national database through which would-be adoptive parents could access information of that nature.

EAC was accused by the State Department of charging excessively high fees, misrepresenting information about children, and other improprieties. The agency said it considered the shutdown unwarranted and was considering an appeal.

Many agencies specializing in international adoptions have closed in recent years, and others have struggled, as foreign adoptions by Americans have dwindled. The latest federal figures, for the 2016 fiscal year, reported 5,372 adoptions from abroad, down from a high of 22,884 in 2004.

There are many reasons for the decline  including an increase in domestic adoptions in China, Russia's suspension of adoptions by Americans, and corruption scandals that shut down international adoptions in several countries.

Virginia-based America World Adoption, which has offices in 21 states, has seen its caseload drop by more than 50 percent over a decade  from 447 international adoptions in 2005 to 208 last year.

"We have fewer staff now, and adoptions are becoming more difficult, taking longer," said Ryan Hanlon, the agency's executive director. Hanlon says some families lose interest when told that infants are not available. Those who do persist face large bills; adoptions from China or Ethiopia can cost $30,000 to $40,000.

One of the largest U.S. agencies, Bethany Christian Services, continues to grow overall even as the number of adoptions it facilitated dropped from 1,980 in 2010 to fewer than 1,300 in 2016. It has expanded other services in the U.S., including foster care and family counseling, and has launched programs in South Africa, Ethiopia and elsewhere to encourage foster care and adoption of orphans in their home country.

In San Antonio, Abrazo Adoption Associates was handling a peak of about 70 adoptions annually a decade ago, and now fewer than half that number. Its executive director, Elizabeth Jurenovich, bemoans the cut-throat competition for the small supply of healthy infants  she calls them "Gerber babies"  available for adoption.

"It sticks in my craw that there are tens of thousands of American children sitting in foster care who are considered less than desirable because they're no longer infants," she said.

Of the roughly 50,000 children adopted from foster care annually, most are 5 or younger. Of the nearly 112,000 children left in the system still waiting to be adopted, most are 7 or older, according to federal figures.

Experts doubt the number of adoptions in the U.S. will ever approach their peak of 175,000 in the 1970s. One key factor: the destigmatization of single motherhood.

Deborah Siegel, a professor of social work at Rhode Island College, says the lower numbers aren't necessarily a cause for regret.

"If we can avoid adoption by keeping children embraced in stable, safe families, everybody's better off," she said. "But that's hard for the people waiting to adopt."
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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Saying that Girl Scouts is no longer a compatible partner in helping us form young women with the virtues and values of the Gospel, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas is severing ties with the organization and switching its support to a Christian-based scouting program.

I have asked the pastors of the Archdiocese to begin the process of transitioning away from the hosting of parish Girl Scout troops and toward the chartering of American Heritage Girls troops, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann said in a statement released Monday.

Pastors were given the choice of making this transition quickly, or to, over the next several years, graduate the scouts currently in the program. Regardless of whether they chose the immediate or phased transition, parishes should be in the process of forming American Heritage Girl troops, at least for their kindergartners, this fall.

American Heritage Girls, founded in 1995, has become an option for those who say Girl Scouts has become too liberal and has relationships with organizations that support abortion rights and do not share traditional family values  allegations the Girl Scouts deny.

Naumann also called for an end to Girl Scout cookie sales in the archdiocese.

No Girl Scout cookie sales should occur in Catholic Schools or on parish property after the 2016-2017 school year, he said in a letter to priests in January.

The action has angered some Girl Scout leaders and parents in the archdiocese, who say Girl Scouts is a respected program that helps raise strong girls who become good stewards. They call the move punitive and unfair and say it treats girls in their troops like second-class citizens.

This is frustrating; parents are very irritated, said Maria Walters, a former Girl Scout leader in the archdiocese and mother of two Girl Scouts. I feel we should all be together as one in the community. This does nothing but divide us.

I dont know why you would take an organization out of a school when it provides an option for girls to feel like theyre part of a group.

Walters said her parish has had a Girl Scout troop for at least 25 years.

Theyve done a father-daughter dance that has been a huge success, she said. And they do service projects at Childrens Mercy, animal shelters, battered womens shelters, the Ronald McDonald House and projects around the parish.

Walters said the troop used to have about 100 members but now has around 75.

We have lost some to American Heritage Girls, she said. We are still allowed to meet here, but I dont know for how long. Its frustrating when you have American Heritage Girls and Boys Scouts in the school newsletter, but no Girl Scouts. We are not allowed to recruit on campus, so were going to have to use Facebook and other technology to reach out to people.

Deacon Dana Nearmyer, the archdioceses director of evangelization, told the Kansas City Star that careful thought went into the decision.

Several years ago, a number of Catholic school moms called us up and said, Wed like to have a Christian program for our after-school girls program, he said. So we did a bunch of research and tried to find the best mission fit for us, and American Heritage Girls seemed like that was going to be the best fit.

Nearmyer said priests in the archdiocese have been offered two options.

One is that they can do an immediate shift to American Heritage Girls, and some of the leadership did that, he said. The other is that next years kindergartners that sign up for after-school girls programs through their schools will join American Heritage Girls.

That way, he said, the Girl Scouts would be phased out over several years.

Were trying to make it as pastoral and gradual as we can, Nearmyer said. Theres no malice at all.

He said the transition would be put in motion by the start of school this fall.

American Heritage Girls, based in Cincinnati, is described as a Christ-centered character development program for girls ages 5 to 18.

We use the methods of scouting to achieve our mission of building women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country, said Patti Garibay, national executive director and founder.

Garibay said she started the organization 22 years ago as a little club for her daughter.

I never really anticipated it being anything like this, she said. I think God had a bigger plan. Were just happy to serve and to help girls navigate.

Now, she said, American Heritage Girls has 1,005 troops and more than 47,000 members. There are troops in every state in the country and some foreign countries, she said.

Garibay said 25 percent of the membership is Catholic, with American Heritage Girls troops in more than half the dioceses in the United States.

We offer life skill enhancement, leadership opportunities, have a very strong belief in service, and we also do a lot around faith, she said. And I believe that might be one of the reasons why the archdiocese in Kansas and some of the others like what were doing.

The organization also was attractive to the archdiocese because of its opposition to abortion. Some of the troops have participated in protests and prayer vigils outside clinics that perform abortions.

Nearmyer said the first two parishes in the archdiocese to adopt the American Heritage Girls program were Holy Trinity in Lenexa and Cure of Ars in Leawood. St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood and Church of the Ascension in Overland Park also have American Heritage Girls troops, he said.

The response, he said, has been positive.

Some Girl Scout leaders disagreed, saying they were never consulted about the decision and that some of their girls had been bullied because they were involved in Scouts.

Nearmyer said that so far about 150 to 200 girls in the archdiocese have joined American Heritage Girls.

But were kind of ramping up to try to support folks as it comes online, he said, because those numbers will swell.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has studied the issue in recent years and said it held a lengthy dialogue with the Girl Scouts. It developed a resource guide for Catholics and concluded that the question of whether the church should sever its ties to Girl Scouts must be answered at the local level.

Diocesan bishops have the final authority over what is appropriate for Catholic scouting in their dioceses, the bishops conference said.

(EDITORS: BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM)

Last year, Archbishop Robert Carlson of the Archdiocese of St. Louis urged priests to drop Girl Scouts, saying the organization was exhibiting a troubling pattern of behavior and was becoming increasingly incompatible with our Catholic values.

The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph has no policy regarding Girl Scouts, said spokesman Jack Smith.

But in 2015, Bishop James V. Johnston Jr.  at the time head of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau  expressed concerns about Girl Scouts in a letter to priests, school officials and parishioners.

Johnston commended the service of Girl Scout troop leaders, but added that Girl Scouts is a secular organization, and does not fully promote the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Because many Catholics had asked for other options, Johnston said, he was recommending American Heritage Girls.

(END OPTIONAL TRIM)

In his statement issued Monday, Naumann said the decision to cut ties with Girl Scouts was not an easy one. Over many years, he said, the archdiocese has spent hundreds of hours researching concerns regarding the policies of both the international and national Girl Scouting organizations.

Eventually, it came down to this, Naumann said. Our greatest responsibility as a church is to the children and young people in our care.  It is essential that all youth programs at our parishes affirm virtues and values consistent with our Catholic faith.

Naumann said Girl Scouts contributes more than a million dollars each year to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, which he called an organization tied to International Planned Parenthood and its advocacy for legislation that includes both contraception and abortion as preventive health care for women.

He also said that many of those who have been cited as role models by Girl Scouts not only do not reflect our Catholic worldview but stand in stark opposition to what we believe.

The Girl Scouts, which has 1.9 million girl members and 800,000 adult members nationwide, does not take a position or develop materials on human sexuality, birth control or abortion, according to its website. And despite what critics say, the organization says, it does not have a relationship with Planned Parenthood.

Parents or guardians make all decisions regarding program participation that may be of a sensitive nature, it says.

(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE)

Girl Scouts officials say that each member organization of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts creates its own programs that are based on the needs and issues affecting girls in its individual country. Girl Scouts does not always take the same positions or endorse the same programs as the world organization, they say.

Some parents in the archdiocese have nothing but praise for Girl Scouts.

Girl Scouts has provided excellent opportunities for my daughters that no other organization has been able to replicate, said Jeffrey Benes, a parishioner with daughters in Girl Scouts.

Some are wondering why the Catholic dioceses havent taken similar actions regarding Boy Scouts.

I feel like were being discriminated against, Walters said. Weve been wiped from the archdiocese website, and we have no leadership role in the church at all. Theres nothing like this going on with the Boy Scouts.
WASHINGTON | Party line voting took place Thursday among the U.S. House representatives from Siouxland, when a bill to gut the Affordable Care Act moved by a narrow margin to the U.S. Senate.

All four of the tri-state Republican representatives -- Reps. Steve King of Iowa, Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Adrian Smith and Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska -- voted for the package. The lawmakers said Obamacare was a failure and it was time for a much better replacement, in the form of the American Health Care Act that passed on a 217-212 vote under the leadership of majority party Republicans.

Fortenberry had reportedly been among the final 20 undecided Republicans shortly before votes were cast with an unclear outcome in the early afternoon. In a statement, Fortenberry said, As I prepared to vote today, I asked a Nebraskan visiting my office what he thought about the new health care bill. He said, Its a start. I agree with him."

Fortenberry said his goal in health care reform remains the same, including lower costs, since health care costs rose by double-digits last year in Nebraska and the state may be left with only one insurance provider.

While this bill is highly complex and has created a great deal of controversy, saying no to any change would lock us into a system with significant and worsening problems," Fortenberry said.

King has long sought to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which was enacted in 2010 when Democrats held both federal chambers. He cited that quest in his only public comment by mid-afternoon, in the form of a tweet that referenced fellow native Iowan and former Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

King tweeted, "Michele Bachmann & I wrote the first Obamacare repeal bills 7 years ago. Her finger joined mine today to push my vote button to dismantle."

Smith in a statement said, The bill passed by the House today maintains important patient protections while returning health insurance regulation to the states, where it belongs. It stops the federal government from forcing people to purchase health care plans they do not want and which do not meet their needs. It brings competition back to the market."

Noem said too many South Dakotans were paying more than $10,000 in premiums annually for Obamacare.

"I do not believe the federal government should be the decision maker on health care. When programs are necessary, states should be in charge, and in all other cases, it should be you, the patient, who is in the drivers seat. Thats the vision reflected by todays bill," Noem said in a statement.

Elsewhere in more easterly Iowa congressional seats, the lone Democrat, David Loebsack, voted against the bill. Republican Reps. Rod Blum and David Young cast affirmative votes.

Loebsack, in a statement, said the legislation jeopardizes the health care of 171,000 residents and "opens the door to eliminating the guarantee that pre-existing conditions will be covered for 1.3 million Iowans."

The Republican legislation requires insurers to cover people with pre-existing conditions, but it also allows states to let insurance companies charge people more based on their health status.

Democrats also criticized that Republicans moved too quickly, since the financial impact of the bill was not known at voting time, because it had not been scored by the Congressional Budget Office.

The Thursday bill vote was highly watched to see how majority party Republicans would address health care under first-year Republican President Donald Trump. That was true because the prior push by Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act floundered on March 24.

That's when evolving machinations by Republicans to come up with replacement fell flat, with a bill pulled from going up to a vote. King mere minutes later tweeted, "Now then bring to the House floor HR 175, the FULL ObamaCare repeal. Rip it ALL out by the roots!"
MILFORD, Iowa | The man who was found dead after a standoff in Dickinson County on Sunday died from self-inflicted gunshots, according to results of a state report Friday.

The Iowa Department of Public Safetys Division of Criminal Investigation released details of the death of Robert Brunner, 52, of Milford, following an autopsy. The agency's press release also identified Milford Police Department Officer Jesse Hoss as the officer who fired his gun, after he and an Arnolds Park Police Department officer responded to a call about a domestic disturbance at 26 Westview Drive on Sunday.

The press release said Brunner pointed a handgun at the two officers as they approached the home, then shots were exchanged by Brunner and Hoss.

After that, the officers retreated to a safe spot and additional officers arrived. The release said law enforcement officers attempted for several hours to make contact with Brunner, but that was not successful. About midnight, officers entered the home and found Brunner dead.

The Iowa Office of State Medical Examiner conducted a forensic autopsy on Brunner on Thursday in Ankeny, Iowa. Initial autopsy results show Brunner sustained a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head and another gunshot wound to his torso.

The Iowa DCI is continuing an investigation. Once the investigation has been completed, the information will be turned over to Dickinson County Attorney Jon Martin for his review.

Hoss has been placed on administrative leave, to comply with the policy when an officer is involved in a shooting.
SIOUX CITY | The man accused of shooting two Pottawattamie County deputies, one fatally, while escaping from that county's jail Monday will be housed in the Woodbury County Jail pending his trial.

Sheriff Dave Drew told the Journal Thursday night Wesley Correa-Carmenaty, 24, will be housed in the jail for the expected several months his trial will last. He faces first-degree murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, escape and weapons charges.

"The other option I think would have been to keep him in Polk County. But it is a little more distance. You have to put him somewhere that has the resources and space available," he said. "Fortunately for us, our census numbers are down so we are able to accommodate (them)."

The county will also be responsible for transporting Correa-Carmenaty back and forth to court for various proceedings.

"He will be given the same rights as any inmate," Drew said. "We will take extra great caution in moving him and dealing with him."

Authorities said Correa-Carmenaty was being transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs on Monday for unrelated convictions when he attacked Mark Burbridge and another deputy, grabbed one of their guns and shot them both. Burbridge died soon afterward. Deputy Pat Morgan is expected to recover.

Authorities say Correa-Carmenaty then drove a transport van through a jail garage door, abandoning it a few blocks away. He tried to carjack a truck, shooting and wounding a man inside the truck, investigators said, then carjacked a woman and drove across the state border into Omaha, where he let the woman go.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Big Ox Energy, a South Sioux City renewable energy plant, with a half-dozen serious violations totaling more than $50,000 in fines.

The citations follow a six-month investigation into an incident of worker exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas that occurred 1 1/2 months after the plant started its operations last year in the Roth Industrial Park.

Two more investigations, opened after subsequent worker incidents related to hydrogen sulfide gas and chemical exposure, remain open and -- barring an extension -- will conclude within the next two months.

The recently issued violations cover issues connected to a lack of protection, education and safety practices for employees, which at times left employees vulnerable to hazardous gases inside the facility.

According to citation documents provided to The Journal, the six violations recently issued to Big Ox Energy include the following:

-- Failure to ensure eye and face protection from hazards like pressurized liquid wastewater. An employee around Dec. 4 suffered lacerations, cheek eye socket fractures and chipped teeth after being struck by pressurized wastewater and a flying hose nozzle while wearing only safety glasses.

-- Failing to retain confined space entry permits. Canceled entry permits were not available upon OSHA's request, according to the documents.

-- Not developing and implementing energy control and lockout-tagout procedures for certain equipment, including a gas energy mixing system, centrifuge, raw-feed and digester pumps. OSHA says employees were exposed to electrical hazards, flowing wastewater and chemical and mechanical hazards while performing equipment maintenance.

-- Failing to ensure each authorized employee affixed his or her own lock or tag to certain devices prior to working on the equipment.

-- Not maintaining records measuring the amount of hazardous chemicals employees were exposed to.

-- Not ensuring that all employees exposed to high levels of air contaminants, including hydrogen sulfide, were properly trained and understood the health risks.

OSHA began probing the plant, which went online in late summer of 2016, on Oct. 19 after an employee of Clean Water Technology, a contractor at the facility, was hospitalized due to hydrogen sulfide exposure.

That company, which was also under investigation in relation to the incident, has received two serious citations from OSHA regarding respiratory protection and hazardous energy control, totaling nearly $10,000 in penalties.

Big Ox Energy spokesman Kevin Bradley said in a statement that many of the citations deal with problems that occurred several months ago during the plant's startup. He said some of them resulted from the activities of outside contractors working on the facility.

"We responded immediately after being made aware of the issues, and we also brought in top experts to verify the facility was operating properly," Bradley said in the statement. "We worked closely with OSHA and these experts to address concerns and demonstrate that our facility continues to operate safely."

OSHA opened two new investigations into Big Ox Energy on Dec. 16 and Jan. 9 following other instances of worker exposure and hospitalization due to chemicals and gases.

On Dec. 14, a maintenance worker was treated and released for hydrogen sulfide exposure. On Jan. 8, two workers were exposed to unidentified chemicals, and one was hospitalized with burns.

OSHA spokesman Scott Allen said Big Ox Energy has requested an informal conference to discuss the recently issued violations as soon as next week. Most OSHA cases are settled at an informal conference, at which time citations could possibly be reduced in severity and penalties may be lowered.

Bradley said in the statement that the OSHA report "deserves further review" and that Big Ox Energy plans to discuss the concerns with the agency.

We are committed to an open, fact-based dialogue with the agency," he said. "We will review the proposal in detail and then meet and talk with agency representatives about how to proceed."

If Big Ox Energy desires, following the informal conference it could appeal the violations through the independent Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission.

Big Ox Energy's more than $30 million plant uses an anaerobic digestion process to extract organic nutrients from animal, grain and other waste to create methane. The clean-burning fuel is then sold into the natural gas pipeline.

Since it went online Sept. 2, the plant has been a lightning rod in the community of just over 13,000 for its possible role in sewer odor issues that displaced as many as two dozen families at their height last fall.

South Sioux City administrator Lance Hedquist said he was not immediately concerned by the violations.

"That's an issue between Big Ox and OSHA," he said.

The company currently owns two other locations near Riceville, Iowa, and Denmark, Wisconsin. Its Riceville facility was cited with five violations in late 2016 following a six-month investigation triggered by a complaint that workers were being exposed to chemicals, live electrical parts and fall hazards.

OSHA cited the facility with five violations, four of them serious. Those citations resulted in a $1,775 total penalty following an informal settlement, and all but one of the violations was reduced from its "serious" designation. Big Ox Energy has said it has remedied the situation in the months since.
Maas assaulted his mother on May 12 at her Sioux City home after she refused to go with him to pick up another person. After she offered him money for a cab, he hit her repeatedly in the face and tried to strangle her.
The following companies are subsidiares of Textron: AAI Corporation, AAI Services Corporation, ALSTOM Gears, Able Aerospace, Able Aerospace Services Inc., Able Engineering & Component Services, Aeronautical Accessories LLC, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company LLC, Arctic Cat, Arctic Cat ACE Holding GmbH, Arctic Cat France SARL, Arctic Cat GmbH, Arctic Cat Inc., Arctic Cat Production LLC, Arctic Cat Production Support LLC, Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Arctic Cat Shared Services LLC, Arctic Cat UK Ltd., Arkansas Aerospace Inc., Avco Corporation, Aviation Service servis letal doo Ljubljana, Aylesbury Automation, B/K Navigational Equipment sro, BELL TEXTRON ASIA (PTE.) LTD., Beech Aircraft Corporation, Beech Holdings, Beechcraft Defense Support Holding LLC, Beechcraft Domestic Service Company, Beechcraft Germany GmbH, Beechcraft International Holding LLC, Beechcraft International Service Company, Beechcraft New Zealand, Bell Textron Canada International Inc., Bell Textron Canada Limited/Limitee, Bell Textron Co. Ltd, Bell Textron Inc., Bell Textron Korea Inc., Bell Textron LLC, Bell Textron Miami Inc., Bell Textron Prague a.s., Bell Textron Rhode Island Inc., Bell Textron Services Inc., Bell Textron Supply Center BV, Bell Textron Technical Services Inc., Benzlers, Brazaco Mapri Industrias, Burkland, Cessna Aircraft Company, Cessna Citation European Service Center SAS (99.9%; 1 share  Textron France SAS), Cessna Dusseldorf Citation Service Center GmbH, Cessna Finance Corporation, Cessna Finance Export Corporation, Cessna Mexico S de RL de CV, Cessna Spanish Citation Service Center SLU, Cessna Zurich Citation Service Center GmbH, Citation Parts Distribution International Inc., Cushman Inc., Datacom Technologies, David Brown Group, Doncaster Citation Service Centre Limited, E-Z-GO Canada Limited, Energy Manufacturing, Flexalloy, HBC LLC, Hawker Beech de Mexico S de RL de CV, Hawker Beechcraft Argentina SA , Howe & Howe Inc., Howe and Howe Technologies, Industrial Technology Inc., InteSys Technologies, International Product Support Inc., KSB Annecy SAS, Kautex (Changchun) Plastics Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Chongqing) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Guangzhou) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Pinghu) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Shanghai) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Wuhan) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex Corporation, Kautex Craiova srl, Kautex Germany Holding GmbH, Kautex Inc., Kautex Japan KK, Kautex Shanghai GmbH, Kautex Textron (UK) Limited, Kautex Textron Benelux BVBA, Kautex Textron Bohemia spol sro, Kautex Textron CVS Limited, Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, Kautex Textron Iberica SL, Kautex Textron Management Services Company de Puebla S. de RL de CV, Kautex Textron Portugal  Produtos Plasticos Sociedade Unipessoal Lda., Kautex Textron de Mexico S de RL de CV, Kautex Textron do Brasil Ltda., Kautex of Georgia Inc., Kaywood Products Corp., Klauke, LCI Corporation International, LLC Textron RUS, Maag, McCord Corporation, Mechtronix, Medical Numerics Inc., Midland Industrial Plastics, MillenWorks, MillenWorks Themed Technologies, MotorFist LLC, OPINICUS Simulation and Training Services LLC, OmniQuip International, Opinicus, Optical Boring Co., Opto-Electronics, Opto-Electronics Inc., Overwatch Systems, PEINER Umformtechnik, Pipistrel, Pirelli Tyres - General Rubber Goods (GRG) division, Premiair Aviation Maintenance Pty Ltd, Progressive Electronics, Ransomes, Ransomes Inc., Ransomes Investment LLC, Ransomes Jacobsen France SAS, Ransomes Jacobsen Limited, Ransomes Limited, Ransomes Pensions Trustee Company Limited, Replacement Part Solutions LLC, Response Technologies LLC, Rotor Blades Limited, Sukosim Verbindungselemente, TRU Simulation & Training Spain SL, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., TRU Simulation + Training LLC, TekGPS Engineering Srl, Textron Airland LLC, Textron Atlantic LLC, Textron Aviation Australia Pty. Ltd., Textron Aviation Canada Ltd., Textron Aviation Defense LLC, Textron Aviation Finance Corporation, Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Prague Service Center sro, Textron Aviation Rhode Island Inc., Textron Aviation Services de Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Capital BV, Textron Communications Inc., Textron Far East Pte. Ltd., Textron Finance Holding Company, Textron Financial Corporation, Textron Financial Corporation Receivables Trust 2002-CP-2, Textron Fluid and Power Inc., Textron France Holding SAS, Textron France SAS, Textron Global Services Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment UK Limited, Textron IPMP Inc., Textron India Private Limited , Textron Innovations Inc., Textron International Inc., Textron International Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Limited, Textron Management Services Inc., Textron Motors GmbH, Textron Motors North America Inc., Textron Outdoor Power Equipment Inc., Textron Realty Corporation, Textron Shared Service Centre (Canada) Inc., Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., Textron Sweden AB, Textron Systems Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Canada Inc., Textron Systems Corporation, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK (Holdings) Limited, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK Limited, Textron Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Textron UK Pension Trustee Limited, Textron Verwaltungs-GmbH, Turbine Engine Components Textron (Newington Operations) Inc., United Industrial Corporation, Westminster Insurance Company, Williams Machine & Tool, and Zhenjiang Bell Textron Aviation Services Limited.

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The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.
HPFCC NASA

Do you, or someone you know, know how to program computers? NASA has a challenging assignment for you.



NASAs aeronautical innovators are sponsoring a competition to reward qualified contenders who can manipulate the agencys FUN3D design software so it runs ten to 10,000 times faster on the Pleiades supercomputer without any decrease in accuracy.

The competition is called the High Performance Fast Computing Challenge (HPFCC).

This is the ultimate geek dream assignment, said Doug Rohn, director of NASAs Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP). Helping NASA speed up its software to help advance our aviation research is a win-win for all.

NASAs aviation research is based on what is often described as a three-legged stool.

One leg sees initial designs tested with computational fluid dynamics, or CFD, which relies on a supercomputer for numerical analysis and data structures to solve and analyze problems.

Another leg involves building scale models to test in wind tunnels and hopefully confirm previous CFD results.

The third leg takes the research into the air, such as with experimental aircraft  or X-planes  that can fly with or without pilots, to further analyze and demonstrate a particular technologys capability.

This challenge is specifically targeted to speed up the CFD portion of our aerospace research, said Michael Hetle, TACP program executive. Some concepts are just so complex, its difficult for even the fastest supercomputers to analyze these models in real time. Achieving a speed-up in this software by orders of magnitude hones the edge we need to advance our technology to the next level!

The FUN3D software is written predominately in Modern Fortran. Since the code is owned by the U.S. government, it has strict export restrictions requiring all challenge participants to be U.S. citizens over the age of 18.

NASA is looking for qualified people who can download the FUN3D code, analyze the performance bottlenecks, and identify possible modifications that might lead to reducing overall computational time.

Examples of modifications would be simplifying a single subroutine so that it runs a few milliseconds faster. If this subroutine is called millions of times, this one change could dramatically speed up the entire programs runtime.

The HPFCC is supported by two NASA partners  HeroX and TopCoder  and offers two specific opportunities to compete. A prize purse of up to $55,000 will be distributed among first and second finishers in two categories.

To take on this challenge, and you dont need a supercomputer to do so, just visit https://herox.com/HPFCC. Code submissions must be received by 5 p.m. EDT, June 29, and winners will be announced August 9.

For more information about this challenge, the FUN3D software, or the Pleiades supercomputer, send an email hq-fastcomputingchallenge@mail.nasa.gov.
On Thursday evening two $6,000 divisions of the North American Amateur Drivers Association Spring Trotting Series were contested over the double oval at Yonkers Raceway, with both events raced as non-wagering affairs prior to the betting card getting underway.

Peter Kleinhans won the first split with Toss Cartwright in 1:59.4 while the second division went to John Kokinos when he reined Sim Brown home first in a 1:59.2 clocking.

Although Kokinos breezed to an easy five- length triumph Kleinhans had to work hard to keep Hannah Miller and Rev It Now at bay to score short nose victory. In fact the finish was so close that Rev It Now got the last call but the judges review of the photo finish showed a different result.

Kleinhans and Toss Cartwright took command as the gate folded and they led through fractions of :29; :58.2 and 1:29 with Rev It Now and Hannah Miller shadowing the pacesetters every move. When they rounded the final turn the top two trotters were open lengths ahead of the trailing horses and as they straightened for home Hurricane Hannah moved Rev It Now out to challenge and a battle then ensued as the two trotters raced head-to-head down the long stretch and all the way to the wire and despite Rev It Now getting the last call it was Toss Cartwright who walked away with the lions share of the purse. Third place, some three lengths in the rears, was Windsun Fireball, driven by John Nicholson.

The race winner is owned by Coleen Cash and trained by John McDermott. For Kleinhans it was his first winning drive in four seasonal starts this year and 52 of his amateur career.

In late May Kleinhans will be among the six NAADA members who will travel to France for a Friendship Competition against members of UNAT (Union Nationale des Amateurs du Trot) - the French amateur organization.

In the other division Dr. John Kokinos made a laugher out of the race when he sent Sim Brown to the lead from the two-hole and then made every pole a winning one en route to a five-length triumph over Kerfuffle Cookie and driver Peter Gerry. Third place went to Jelectric who was handled by Bob Davis.

Sim Brown coasted through early fractions of :30.1; 1:00.3 before Kokinos put the pedal to the metal and his trotter began to draw clear of the competition and the farther they went to bigger to lead became until they coasted to an oh-so-easy victory.

Sim Brown is owned by Robert Santagata and Jennifer Lappe and Kokinos also doubles as the horses trainer. It was the second seasonal victory for the nine-year old Angus Hall gelding who now has purse earnings in excess of $605,000.

(NAADA)
Longtime harness racing industry participant George 'Butch' Ward of Charlottetown, PEI passed away peacefully at the Provincial Palliative Care Centre on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at the age of 78.

The subject of a Trot feature in March 2016, Ward was the longtime paddock judge at Red Shores Racetrack & Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park and had the respect of the entire Standardbred community.

"Dependability, credibility, ability to get along with anyone," said senior judge Roger DesRoches of Ward. "The horsemen love him. He's always been well-respected by the racing fraternity. I don't think I've ever had a complaint."

Beloved husband of the late Dorothy "Dottie" (Flanagan) Ward and dear father of Paul (Blanche), Mike, Mark "Gussie" (Shelley), and Tim (Dawn). Loving Poppy of Emma, Jamie, MacKenzie and Karleigh. Brother of Anne (Jim) McMullin, Art (Sharon) Smith, Marion Westman and Lois (deceased). Butch is also lovingly remembered by special niece/daughter, Carol Roach and many nieces and nephews.

Resting at the Hennessey Cutcliffe Charlottetown Funeral Home until Monday, then transferred to St. Pius X Church for funeral mass at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Charlottetown. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

If so desired memorial contributions may be made to the Provincial Palliative Care Centre or a charity of choice. Online condolences may be made at islandowned.ca.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of George 'Butch' Ward.
National Day of Prayer 2017 Honors U.S. Military with Historic Prayer by Verna Linzey

Contact: Dr. David Wagner, 267-250-1222, info@militarychaplains.org



MISSION VIEJO, Calif., May 5, 2017 /Standard Newswire/ -- On Thursday, May 4, 2017, a crowd of 4,000 Christians representing 90 Southern California churches gathered to honor the US Armed Forces and pray for the nation.



Photo: U.S. Capitol by David Iliff. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0.



Various military chaplains were invited to attend. Among them, Dr. James F. Linzey who is a retired US Army chaplain with the rank of Major, and who is the managing editor of the New Tyndale Version Bible translation, was invited by Rev. Mike Maiolo to give the prayer for the US Armed Forces, military members, and veterans. Rev. Maiolo who organized the event is the senior pastor of Mission Viejo Christian Church.



In preparation for the event, Jim spent considerable time preparing a prayer. Then, upon reflection, he felt led by the Spirit to set his prayer aside and pray a historic prayer written by Dr. Verna Hall Linzey, who was the wife of a Navy chaplain, the mother of three military chaplains, the grandmother of a Navy chaplain, and who was made an honorary military chaplain by the Coalition of Spirit-Filled Churches and the Military Bible Association, and who was the great, great grand-daughter of Chaplain George Hall who was a chaplain in George Washington's Army. She is also the chief editor of the New Tyndale Version Bible translation.



When Jim shared his mother's background with the audience of 4,000 people, they broke out in thunderous cheers and applause. Jim energized the crowd more, shouting, "Yes, let's hear it for Verna Linzey." After a hush gradually fell over the audience, Jim invited the audience to bow their heads in prayer as he read Verna's prayer for the US Armed Forces and Veterans:

Almighty God and most merciful Father, we ask You to impart by Your Spirit to the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces, as well as to our veterans, an illumination of their spirits and minds, revealing to them the need for the Savior Jesus Christ; convict of sin, O Lord, those who stray from righteousness, chastising them as only a loving Father would do, until they receive the atonement that is only wrought by the blood of Jesus Christ, who alone provides for the propitiation of their sins, and repentance brings them to the foot of the cross, and Your Spirit reigns in and through their mortal flesh. Let freedom of the one, true religion of faith in Christ alone, and salvation in no other name under heaven, be expressed freely and openly in the United States military once again, throughout the ranks, without fear of reprisal, that all military men and women may hear the Gospel, and draw nigh unto You, O Lord, and be saved. We ask for an eternal reward for those who have served. Bless our veterans, meeting all their needsthose and their loved ones who have sacrificed everything, so that we may enjoy freedom of religion throughout the land, upon which all other freedoms emanate. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Few military prayers match the theological depths as Verna's. The accolades given in honor of Verna Linzey included many requests for copies of the prayer, which Jim had on hand. Special remarks were given by Mission Viejo Council Member Brian Goodell. Other participants included various church worship bands, choirs, and pastors. The event concluded with the audience breaking out into small groups to pray for one another as Jim joined pastors at the altar to pray for people coming forward for personal prayer requests.



The event was supported by a broad spectrum of denominational churches and independent churches, including the Assemblies of God, Baptist, Calvary Chapel, Catholic, Church of God in Christ, Evangelical Free Church, Lutheran, Messianic, Methodist, Presbyterian, the Salvation Army, the Vineyard, and congregations such as Mariners Church and South Shores Church, and dozens of others.


The essential component of totalitarian propaganda is artifice (het toepassen van kunstgrepen. svh) . The ruling elites, like celebritie...
Its About You is the message Western Bay of Plenty District Council wants to share with residents when starting conversations about the upcoming Long Term Plan 2018-28.

From this week, council is hosting a number of events and holding stalls at market days to meet with residents and learn about what matters to them now and in the coming ten years.

Mayor Garry Webber says the work council does is aimed at meeting the goals and aspirations of the people who live here, and community conversations are a tool to help clarify what these are.

The Long Term Plan sets the budget and dictates what projects council will focus on for the next ten years  we want to be sure were investing in the right things at the right time. Well only know this by listening to people and learning about what they love about living here and how theyd like to see the district progress.

In March and April council had meetings with community groups about potential LTP conversation topics. These will be the focus of the relaxed, informal events being held through May to July.

The first event takes place this weekend, from 10am-2pm on Saturday May 6, at the Omokoroa Boat Club.

Garry says this is the first of three LTP engagement phases.

The idea behind this initial phase is to listen to our residents about the things they are concerned or passionate about. Well use this information to inform a second, check-in phase later this year where we ask people to confirm were headed in the right direction.

The third step is putting a draft long term plan together, giving our residents options on what they want us to achieve while showing the effect this will have on rates, and then consulting on this final step from March next year. Its a complex process, but its important and we want to get it right  starting with the community conversations.

Were coming to a hall or reserve near you soon and we hope as many people as possible will take advantage of this opportunity.

To follow the Long Term Plan process, share your Western Bay story, and sign up to receive updates visit www.itsaboutyou.co.nz.

Community Conversations:

Omokoroa Saturday, May 6 from 10am-2pm at the Omokoroa Boat Club

Kaimai Thursday, May 18 from 3pm-7pm at Kaimai School and Community Hall

Te Puna Saturday, May 27 from 11am-3pm at Te Puna School

Waihi Beach Saturday, June 3 from 11am-3pm at Waihi Beach United Church

Katikati Saturday, June 24 from 11am-3pm at St Pauls Presbyterian Church

Paengaroa Tuesday, July 4 from 7pm-9pm at Paengaroa Community Hall

Drop-in/market day conversations:

Oropi Friday, May 12 from 5.30pm-7.30pm at Oropi Memorial Hall Happy Hour Event

Te Puke Saturday, May 20 from 9am-1pm at Jubilee Park (alongside Te Puke Skatepark opening)

Maketu Sunday, May 21 from 8am-12pm at Village Green Markets

Drop-in sessions before Community Committee Meetings

Omokoroa Tuesday, June 6 from 4.30pm-6.30pm at Omokoroa Community Church

Katikati Wednesday, June 7 from 4.30pm-6.30pm at Katikati Library and Service Centre

Waihi Beach Monday, June 12 from 4pm-6pm at Waihi Beach Community Centre

Maketu Tuesday, June 13 from 4.30pm-6.30pm at Maketu Community Centre

Te Puke Thursday, June 15 from 4.30pm-6.30pm at Te Puke Library and Service Centre

For those who cant be there, there are other ways to have a say:

Go to www.itsaboutyou.co.nz to have your say online

Join Connect: Peoples Panel  our online com
Capt. Neal Stark wanted to do something for veterans, and he thought they might enjoy a bass fishing trip in the Everglades.

More than a pleasant day on the water, those free fishing trips have had a powerful, positive effect on the military men and women Stark has taken out in his bass boat.

Fishing is the best, said Stark, of Davie, Fla. Theyve actually named this fishing, its piscatorial therapy. Fishing therapy.

Weve done research. Your brain releases a chemical that actually puts you at ease and relaxes you while youre fishing.

Stark created Fishing with Americas Finest (fishingwithamericasfinest.org) nine years ago. He said the nonprofit organization, which relies on donations, all of which benefit veterans (there are no salaries), takes an average of 150 vets fishing each year.

When I started this, I had no idea it would reach this level, Stark said. Its turned out to be an amazing form of therapy.

Most folks think just because a wars over, it just ends. For our veterans, the wars never end. They still see the images. Theyre still fighting the war, even though theyre home.

Fishing really gets them to relax and to forget about all their troubles and things theyve experienced and lets them unwind.

Recently, Stark had a special event at Bass Pro Shops for veterans from the Miami VA Hospital.

More than 30 patients fished for largemouth and peacock bass in the pond between the stores Islamorada Fish Company restaurant and the International Game Fish Association.

Some were experienced fishermen, others were fishing for the first time. Volunteers from local bass clubs helped the veterans rig their rods, bait their hooks, unhook fish and untangle lines.

Theres medical and theres mental health, but sometimes its nice to be able to take it outside of the hospital and show that theres a lot of recovery that can happen in the real world, said Masha Andreoni, a mental health social worker at the Miami VA. We try to do this when we can for our veterans.

Another benefit is the camaraderie the veterans share with each other. One of the biggest issues facing combat veterans is not having anyone who can relate to what theyve been through or issues they are dealing with.

If you just look around, you see everybody helping one another, Andreoni said. Everybodys got somebody watching out for them.

Thank God for the VA, said Jake, a Vietnam veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress. Without the VA, wed have nothing to do. The VA helps us find ourselves and tells us we can live our lives the way we used to.

Jake did not fish, but he was a presence at Wednesdays activities, going up and down the shoreline to watch and chat with his buddies.

And although the palm fronds rustling in the wind and the thatched roof on a hut-like structure caused some haunting memories to flash through his mind, he enjoyed the experience.

Im glad I came, he said, because it takes your mind off your problems.

Donna Cox, a licensed practical nurse at the VA for the past 7 1/2 years, fished for the first time on Wednesday and marveled at how the vets she works with in the hospital enjoyed the event.

This is very good therapy, Cox said. It helps them to connect with others.

Bass Pro Shops has worked with Stark, who has brought veterans from all over Florida to fish at the store, since Fishing with Americas Finest started.

Anything to do with the armed forces, Bass Pro Shops tries to support as much as we can, said Vince Getz, the stores promotions director. What Neal does is really special, so we do all we can to help him.  Its nice to give back.

Fishing with Americas Finest provided spinning rods and reels, live bait, drinks and pizza for lunch. The event concluded with a drawing for Bass Pro T-shirts, lures and fishing rods and reels.

I think its a wonderful program, said volunteer Josh Roller of Boca Raton. It gives back to people who have given so much to this country. Im very proud to help Neal and be a part of it.
ISLAMORADA, Fla.  One second the over-sized fishing outfit was dead weight in my hands. The next it seemed totally alive with the thumb-thick rod bowed 90 degrees and bucking as the spool atop the oversized reel spun like a top as line streamed away from the boat.

Come on fish, give us a jump, Rick Stanczyk, a top Florida Keys guide, said as we stared out over the gulf, and hoped Id hooked our target species.

Soon, 100 or more yards out a five-foot fish rocketed 15 feet into the air. In the days first rays of sunshine the silvery fish shined like freshly polished chrome. A split second after splashing down it was airborne again with twists and a flip added to the second jump.

Only one fish looks and acts like that  a tarpon.

  

My fascination with tarpon began with 1960s episodes of The American Sportsman, and outdoors magazines I watched and read of how famous anglers, like Ted Williams, battled giant fish to 200 pounds that had more high-flying moves than an Olympic gymnast, and more strength than a gold medal power lifter.

In those old movies and magazines the fish always seemed as beautiful as they were powerful, with rows of scales the size and sheen of freshly-minted silver dollars. Even decades before I caught one I believed they deserved the title of the Silver King.

Through all those years I longed for the day when I could battle such a fish, surrounded by miles of blue, shallow water in the Florida Keys. I imagined myself waist-deep in water, like Id seen in some many photos, cradling a 100-pounder for a photo, then watching it swim away.

My chance came last Monday when my nephew, Brian Elliott, hired Stanczyk. Hed come highly recommend by experts in the Keys. Raised at his familys marina, Bud and Marys, even at only 34 hes rated as the best of the best by some. I had to make reservations four months ago to get last Mondays trip.

After weeks of rough weather, on Monday Stanczyk was pleased the morning was clear and pretty calm.

Action came fast.

Five minutes into fishing, a stingray grabbed a chunk of cut mullet Brian was fishing. Those wing-like fins provide plenty of speed and power. I soon caught another and we both got a yard-long shark or two.

All of those fish we brought to the boat. We had to take the boat to the tarpon that picked up my bait, bent the rod to the bottom eye and headed toward Mexico in a hurry.

With the reel still losing line Stanczyk started the motor and headed toward the tarpon as fast as I could crank the reel. The fish gave another good leap as we closed the distance. Then the battle really began.

Tarpon fights are known to usually be fast and hectic. Some battle the angler with dozens of jumps. Big fish have been known to land in boats. I saw a video of one that completely vaulted over the boat. But such speed and acrobatics can wear out the fish fairly quickly.

Mid-morning Monday Brian hooked a tarpon that took a live mullet with a savage top-water strike. The high-flying fight lasted less than 15 minutes as the fish wore down from jump after jump. Stanczyk estimated it 60 pounds as he removed the hook and held the fish in the water for a few photos.

My fish missed the memo about jumping a lot, and wearing down quickly.

We got the occasional surface roll from the tarpon but mostly it just bull-dogged through the water. So many times I thought I was gaining line, and had the fish within 20 yards of the boat only to have it blitz away like it was leaving the scene of a crime.

That tarpons crime, by the way, would have been assault and battery.

Tuesday morning my abdomen showed 18 plum-colored bruises from when the fish pulled hard and fast enough to hammer the butt of the rod into my belly. Days after the fight my shoulder felt as stiff as the Tin Mans after a good rain.

I marveled at the tarpons strength as it pulled and held a deep bow in the rod as it towed the boat hundreds of yards.

  

Forty minutes into the fight the fish was close enough Stanczyk grabbed the few feet of heavy leader just above the hook. The fish rose enough to shake a mouth the size of bucket above the surface a few yards from the boat. It snapped the line from the guides closed fist and headed away.

In the world of big-game fishing a fish is considered caught once that leader is touched because it was close enough to have been gaffed or harpooned.

Its also considered a catch for the protection of the angler and a boats crew. Trying to unhook something as strong as marlin, tuna or tarpon can get somebody seriously hurt, or even killed.

Releases at the leader are also done for the protection of the fish. Worn too thin, some fish become easy prey for sharks, though Stanczyk said big sharks were rare where we were fishing.

Some fish will also fight to the death rather than give up. Ive had sailfish suddenly go belly-up at the boat. My largest tuna, 100 pounds or so, died mid-run, 100 more yards from the rod. Friends have had the same happen with tarpon and marlin.

My longest fight before the tarpon was about 45 minutes on a black marlin estimated at 600 pounds. Stanczyk thought the tarpon around 90 pounds, and after 45 minutes it was still fighting strong.

With every run the fish made, I became more fearful it would just die on the line. Gradually, the boyhood dream of cradling a tarpon for a photo became over-shadowed with the reality of the stress I was putting on the fish.

According to time stamps on Brians camera, the fight was right at an hour long when I had the tarpon close enough Stanczyk grabbed the leader for the fourth time. Once again the fish panicked, pulled the line from Stanczyks hand powered off again.

I clamped a hand on the reels spool so the fish could take no more line. After all of that fight, the tarpon still had enough power that the 50-pound-test main line sounded like a pistol shot when it snapped.

Technically I can say Ive finally caught a tarpon. I can live without having a photo.
CHELATCHIE  The drizzle had resumed, yet it was hardly noticeable, on Siouxon trail No. 130 in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

When the clouds hang low in the Siouxon Creek canyon, the zillions of fir and hemlock needles constantly extract moisture, thus its always dripping. When it rains, it simply drips a little more.

Siouxon trail No. 130 is one of three classic drippy-day hikes in the southern end of the 1.3-million-acre national forest.

Along with Falls Creek Falls trail No. 152 and Lewis River No. 31, Siouxon provides a quality outing on cloudy  or even rainy  day.

And there has been no shortage of rainy days in 2017.

There are no panoramic views on these three trails to miss due to clouds and fog. When the horizon is hidden, stay in the river bottoms.

These three trails feature a hundred hues of green. There are firs and ferns. Moss is everywhere and all sizes and styles of waterfalls are abundant.

So until the sunshine comes to stay, consider this trio:

Siouxon No. 130  The 10-mile round trip to Chinook Creek Falls follows Siouxon Creek nearly its entire way. It also passes over Horseshoe Creek Falls and there is a side trail to a viewpoint at the base of Horseshoe Creek Falls.

While there are lots of little climbs and dips, the route is relatively flat.

Siouxon Creek starts at Timbered Peak in Skamania County and flows 20 miles west to Yale Reservoir on the North Fork of the Lewis River.

The clarity of the creek is amazing, due in no small amount to the lack of roads and logging in the upper watershed.

The U.S. Forest Service, not an agency given to hype, described Siouxon Creek this way in its 1990 land-use plan: Its subtle beauty below the forest canopy and a wide variety of water features from pools and riffles to spectacular waterfalls make it one of the most scenic rivers in the state of Washington.

At a minimum, hikers should plan to go the 1.7 miles (one way) to Horseshoe Creek Falls. The next highlight is Siouxon Falls at 2.35 miles. A bench at Siouxon Falls provides an ideal spot for a break.

Be advised, theres a bit of a gnarly crossing of a tributary creek at mile 4.88, just before the bridge across Siouxon Creek on trail No. 130A, which leads another quarter-mile to must-see Chinook Creek Falls.

Scramble up the tributary stream to find a better crossing point than on the slick bed rock where the creek flows across trail No. 130. A trekking pole or walking staff is useful here.

Lower Falls Creek trail No. 152A  This is a relatively easy 1.54 miles with just 700 feet of elevation gain in the Wind River valley. The trail ends at a viewpoint of Falls Creek Falls, a triple-tier, 250-foot falls.

Falls Creek originates in Indian Heaven Wilderness and rushes to the Wind River. It makes this big drop where it squeezes between Middle Butte and South Butte.

The waterfall is so outstanding one must wonder how it was given such a generic name, according to Greg Plumb, a geographer who rates more than 600 falls in his book A Waterfall Lovers Guide to the Pacific Northwest.

He rates Multnomah Falls a 93. He gives Falls Creek Falls at score of 99.

Be prepared for all to stop in their tracks when they first see Falls Creek Falls, writes author Joan Burton in her book Best Hikes with Children Western Washington & the Cascades. Falls Creek is such a poor name for it....Magnificent Falls would be more like it.

Lewis River trail No. 31  Four excellent waterfalls can be found in a 3.5-mile stretch of Lewis River trail No. 31 between Lower Falls campground and the end of the trail at Quartz Creek.

Lower Falls, Middle Falls, Upper Falls and Taitnapum Falls each only have a drop of 30 to 35 feet, but what makes them so special is the huge volume of water.

The North Fork of the Lewis River is a big stream. It originates high on the west flank of Mount Adams and drains a big area. That much water cascading over even a relatively short falls is impressive.

It takes about 90 minutes of hiking time (one way) to complete the trip.

Some hikers will turn around at Taitnapum Falls. The short distance between the falls and the trails end at Quartz Creek lacks any special attractions.

A couple of caveats come with this hike recommendation:

Lewis River road No. 90 has a slide at mile post 28, which is near the Crab Creek bridge and short of Lower Falls campground. The Forest Service recommends not traveling the road until repairs are made, hopefully later this month. For updates, call 509-395-3402.

Lewis River trail No. 31 has a permanent detour between Lower and Middle falls due to a landslide. The detour routes through Middle Falls trailhead parking area then back down to trail No. 31 on the east side.
tech2 News Staff

The skies above the island of Sriharikota on the coast of the Bay of Bengal lit up as the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) also called the naughty boy of Isro, on its 11th mission carried a message of peace like never before. The nearly 50-m-tall rocket that weighs about 412 tons had on board a single passenger, what is now dubbed as the South Asia Satellite or what the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) still prefers to call GSat-9. Precisely at 4.57 p.m., the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) rose into the sky from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh.

I congratulate the team of scientists who worked hard for the successful launch of South Asia Satellite. We are very proud of them. @isro  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

India has embarked on space diplomacy like never before. For the first time, New Delhi has flexed its prowess of space technology by embarking on unprecedented and un-chartered stratospheric diplomacy through a special gift for south Asians. India is carving a very unique place in the universe, New Delhi has gifted a heavyweight bird in the sky to its neighbours through the South Asia Satellite.

The satellite is intended as an 'Indian Gift' for use by its fellow South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) nations save Pakistan, which had opted out, stating "it has its own space programme." Costing around Rs 235 crore, the satellite was initially known as the Saarc satellite but with Pakistan deciding to keep out, it is now called the South Asia Satellite. Its life span is over 12 years.

India is opening its heart out to its neighbours, explains External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay, adding neighbourhood first is now being extended beyond the stratosphere. It seems this gift of a communications satellite for use by neighbours at no cost has no parallels in the space- faring world, all other current regional consortia are commercial for-profit enterprises. The initiative has been praised by a Chinese state run daily newspaper, Global Times.

The satellite is the pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who first proposed the satellite on 30 June, 2014, just four weeks after coming into power and witnessing the successful launch of five satellites on board the PSLV-c23. Unlike previous satellite launches, Isro did not cover the launch live, and DD National did not have a pre-launch program. Various news channels have however, reported that the rocket has taken off with the South Asia Satellite on board.

We are a united family of South Asian countries, united in our pursuit of peace, progress & prosperity of our region & the entire humankind.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

In his most recent monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', Modi said the South Asia Satellite will go a long way in addressing the region's economic and developmental priorities. "Natural resources mapping, telemedicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact, this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region. "It is an important step by India to enhance cooperation with the entire South Asia...It is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. I welcome all the South Asian countries who have joined us on this momentous endeavour," he had said.

According to an official, the ISRO on an experimental basis decided to have electric power for the satellite. "We have not reduced the volume of the traditional on-board fuel because of the electric power. We have added electric power facility to check its performance for use in future satellites," the official told IANS. He said the next satellite with electric power will be the GSAT-20 slated for launch in 2018.

The GSLV is a three stage/engine rocket. The core of the first stage is fired with solid fuel while the four strap-on motors by liquid fuel. The second is the liquid fuel and the third is the cryogenic engine.

With inputs from IANS and PTI
tech2 News Staff

The media will not be present at the launch of Isro's GSLV-F09 mission according to the personal blog of Prasad Ravindranath, a reporter from The Hindu. "Apparently, the scientists have been told not to divulge any details till the satellite is launched. And I wonder what this secrecy is all about," the blog reads. The schedule of the DD National channel for the day (PDF) also does not contain a slot for coverage of the launch. Isro usually provides a link for live coverage on the mission page, which is missing for this launch. There is no brochure for the launch as well, which contains details on the timings of the various rocket stages, as well as the separation events.

This is very unusual, as normally, the media are invited to the launch event, and the National television channel covers the launch in real time, along with pre-launch programming that provides details on the background of the satellites being launched and the launch vehicles being used. It looks like no information will be forthcoming till after the launch takes place, irrespective of whether it is a success or a failure.

India's gift to neighboring countries was initially called the SAARC satellite but, Pakistan backed out of the initiative, so it is now known as the South Asia Satellite. The initiative is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project. Isro refers to the satellite as the GSat-9, and it will be launched on Isro's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), known by the nickname "naughty boy." The South Asia Satellite is a communications satellite with 12 Ku band transponders. The Ku band is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies.

Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are part of the initiative, and each country will have at least one dedicated transponder. Each country is responsible for coming up with the content for communication. Potentially, there can be common programming for the region broadcast through the satellite. The satellite stands to benefit the countries in early stages of economic development the most, particularly Bhutan and Maldives. The satellite costs Rs 235 crore and has an expected life span of at least 12 years.

The GSat-09 has a lift off mass of 2,230 kg. The GSLV is a two ton class launch vehicle, stands 49 meters tall, has a diameter of 2.8 meters, and it weighs 416 tons at launch. There are three stages in the rocket. The first stage has a solid propellant main motor, with four strap on boosters with liquid propellant. The second stage has a single motor with liquid propellant. The third and final stage of the rocket has cryogenic fuel. The launch is scheduled to take place at 4:57 PM.
tech2 News Staff

The 28 hour countdown for the launch of Isro's GSLV-F09 mission has began at 12:57 PM on 4 May. AT 4:57 PM today, the GLSV-F09 is scheduled to blast off from the second launch pad at the Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR) in Andhra Pradesh, a facility also known as the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

The satellite is a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is known to be a space buff. Modi has conceived the idea and has kept working on it over a course of three years.

On 30 June, 2014, just four weeks after coming into power and witnessing the successful launch of five satellites on board the PSLV-c23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Isro scientists. "The space community is to take up the challenge of developing a SAARC satellite that we can dedicate to our neighbourhood as a gift from India," he said. "I believe that the fight against the poverty of the countries of SAARC is the fight against illiteracy, the fight against superstition. The challenge of moving forward in the scientific field is the possibility of providing opportunities to young people of SAARC countries. Our dream of this SAARC Satellite will work in the welfare of all our neighbouring countries. And that is why I have proposed in front of you today that we offer a valuable gift to our SAARC countries through a SAARC Satellite launch so that we also become partners in their welfare."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi then unveiled plans for the launch of the communications satellite on November 2014 at a SAARC summit in Kathmandu, Nepal. The satellite was meant to be a gift to the neighbours of India. "India's gift of a satellite for the SAARC region will benefit us all in areas like education, telemedicine, disaster response, resource management, weather forecasting and communication. We will also host a conference in India for all South Asian partners next year, to strengthen our collective ability to apply space technology in economic development and governance. And, we plan to launch our satellite by the SAARC Day in 2016," Modi said.

The 8 December launch would have been a symbolic day to launch the SAARC satellite, but it was not to be because of one country that played spoilsport, that Modi had included in the project despite hostile relations with India. You can guess which country that was.

The initiative is seen as an effort in space diplomacy, but Pakistan tried to sabotage the effort, raised unreasonable objections, and opted out of the project. The SAARC satellite was then renamed as the "South Asia Satellite", and the launch date postponed to March 2017. There were further delays, and the final launch date has been set to 5 May.

Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are all part of the initiative. Bangladesh was one of the latest to ink an agreement with India. The Indian High commission has said, "This satellite is a reflection of Indias commitment to the development of the South Asian region and an expression to share its expertise and technology for the benefit of the region." External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay has indicated that India is opening its heart out to its neighbours. "Neighbourhood first is now being extended beyond the stratosphere," he said.

Pleasing China was one of the reasons Pakistan opted out of the satellite, but the Chinese state run daily newspaper, the Global Times has praised the effort. "The effort that the Modi administration has made in providing satellite services to South Asian countries is worth praising, but China should not be excluded from New Delhis recent moves toward strengthening space cooperation with neighbours. Further opening up of the two countries space industries is worth consideration because normal bilateral cooperation could help the two nations make breakthroughs in space technology. Additionally, Beijing and New Delhi could take advantage of multilateral platforms to boost cooperation" it said.

On 30 April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on All India Radio with his "Mann ki Baat" address. Towards the end of the talk, the Prime Minister spoke about the South Asia Satellite. "My dear countrymen, India has always advanced on the path of progress in the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas inclusive development for all. And when we say Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, it is not limited to the confines of India. It applies to the global context too. And very specially to our neighbouring countries. May our neighbouring countries be with us in our journey, may they develop equally. There are many projects under way. On the 5th of May, India will launch the South Asia Satellite. The capacities of this satellite and the facilities it provides will go a long way in addressing South Asias economic and developmental priorities. Natural resources mapping, tele medicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people to people contact  this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region. It is an important step by India to enhance co-operation with the entire South Asia it is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. I welcome all the South Asian countries who have joined us on the South Asia Satellite in this momentous endeavour My best wishes to them," he said.

The South Asia Satellite is an initiative that is unprecedented among space faring countries. All other consortia for regional co-operations are on a commercial basis. Prashant Agarwal, an IIT Kanpur-trained engineer and the point-person in the Ministry of External Affairs piloting the project, says, "Prime Minister Modi has actually extended his slogan Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas to India's neighbourhood, essentially to service the needs of the poor in South Asia."

The South Asia Satellite is a 2 ton class satellite, and has a lift off mass of 2230 kg, with 12 Ku band transponders (36 Mhz each) on board. The Ku band is the name for a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, in the microwave range of frequencies. Each participating country will have at least one dedicated transponder for its own use. There could potentially be common South Asia programming broadcast from the satellite as well. The content generation and use of the transponders is the prerogative of each participating country. Apart from the use cases mentioned by the Prime Minister, the satellite will also be used for forming inter-government networks, communications in emergency situations, television broadcasts and providing DTH services.

Unlike the previous record setting launch of 104 satellites from aboard the PSLV-C37, there is a single passenger on board, the GSat-9, which is known as the "South Asia Satellite." The launch vehicle itself is known as "naughty boy", whereas the PSLV has the moniker "workhorse rocket of Isro." There aren't multiple passengers on board this GLSV launch because the vehicle is taking a payload into the geosynchronous transfer orbit. The orbit is too high for nanosatellites and CubeSats, which are a class of much smaller satellites that were packed into a single PSLV rocket.

The satellite has on board an electric propulsion system, which will allow Isro to save costs. The planned mission duration of the South Asia Satellite is 12 years, but knowing Isro, the duration is likely to be extended further. GSLV stands for Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, and it has three stages. The solid and liquid propellant stages are adopted from the PSLV. The first stage has a solid propellant core with the four strap on boosters having liquid propellant. The second stage has a single engine with liquid propellant and the third is a cryogenic stage with 12 tons of propellant. The GSLV is a two ton class launch vehicle, stands 49 meters tall, has a diameter of 2.8 meters, and it weighs 416 tons at launch.

Doordarshan is expected to telecast the launch operations live, with a pre-launch program that is likely to explain details about the satellite and the launch vehicle. A live web stream of the launch is usually available on the Doordarshan National YouTube channel. The TV schedule for today (PDF), however does not contain a listing for the launch. The blog of a reporter from The Hindu, Prasad Ravindranath, there will be no media presence at the launch, Isro will not be broadcasting the launch Live, and no information will be forthcoming till after the successful launch.
tech2 News Staff

Isro has successfully launched the South Asia Satellite from the second launch pad at the Sriharikota High Altitude Range(SHAR), on board a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The mission was designated as the GSLV-F09, and Isro refers to the communications satellite as the GSat-09. The launch was a big step in the direction of space diplomacy for India.

The satellite was a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who first proposed the idea of a SAARC satellite in June 2014, after seeing the successful launch of PSLV-C23 with five satellites on board. Pakistan withdrew from the initiative, after which the satellite was renamed as the South Asia Satellite. Unlike previous launches, the press were not invited to the launch, and Isro as well as the National broadcaster, DD were mysteriously silent about the launch.

The reason was revealed about half an hour after the launch, when the Prime Minister announced a surprise live video conference with the leaders of the participating nations, from the capitals of the respective countries. The video conference included Isro scientists, and was broadcast on DD News.

The historic occasion has been made better with a surprise- we have leaders of South Asian nations joining us in celebrating this launch.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

The heads of states attending the video conference were the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay, President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen, Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal and President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena.

Isro Chief AS Kiran Kumar opened the proceedings on the behalf of Isro. Kumar reported that the satellite had successfully been transported from earth to the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, and that the mission had been successful. The satellite control will be carried out from Hasan, and the satellite is expected to reach its orbit in a few weeks.

The launch programming that Isro normally casts live was shown during the video conference. The short video included the countdown, the rocket launching off, the ground station tracking the flight of the rocket, and the separation events including the heat shield and the boosters. The entire launch sequence happened as planned. On board video footage showed the satellite being placed into the intended orbit.

Prime Minister Modi then welcomed all the leaders to the video conference. Speaking in English, Modi said Today is a historic day for South Asia, a day without precedents. Two years ago, India made a promise, a promise to extend the advanced space technology for the cause of growth and prosperity of our brothers and sisters in South Asia. The successful launch of the South Asia satellite marks the fulfillment of that. With this launch, we have started our journey of building the most advanced frontier of our partnership. With its position, high in the sky, this symbol of South Asian co-operation would meet the aspirations of economic progress of more than one and a half billion people in our region.

President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani then spoke. Ghani said, We know that nature does not know political boundaries, and the pioneering effort of India in making our co-operation possible gives us an immense advantage. Ghani then spoke about who stand to benefit the most from the satellite. The satellite, Ghani said is child centered, woman centered and poor centered. He then congratulated the Indian prime minister, the other leaders, and Isro scientists before concluding that South Asia has taken a giant step today towards regional co-operation, and our citizens will be much better together. If co-operation through land is not possible, it is certainly possible through the sky. Narendra Modi laughed in pleasure and clapped at the remark.

The video conference then moved to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh made a few remarks. On todays auspicious occasion, I congratulate you (Narendra Modi) and the Government of India for successfully launching South Asias satellite. I am confident that the launching of this satellite will change the face of South Asia. With this, we have expanded our connectivity from land, water and air to space. I am sure that co-operation in space will definitely lead us to the ambitious technological enhancement for the benefit of the region.

The Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay then spoke from Thimpu. This is the first time that a country has launched a satellite for the free use of its neighbours. Then launch of this satellite, is an impressive milestone in the history of the world. One (a world), that ushers in new era of regional co-operation. I congratulate the government and the people of India for successfully launching this important satellite, and I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to their visionary leader, Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi, for dedicated it to the common good and the common progress for all countries in the South Asian region. This satellite will help improve the happiness and well-being of our people. This generous gift from India is an example of true friendship and co-operation.

President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen then thanked Prime Minister Modi for his vision and commitment towards the development of the region. President Yameen said, This satellite will, no doubt, serve to improve the lives of people of South Asia. I would like to re-affirm Maldives commitment towards the betterment and prosperity of the region. It is my sincere hope that we be able to put aside our differences, and work together as an organization, that can fulfill our hopes and aspirations. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.

The focus then shifted to Khatmandu, and Prime Minister (Prachanda) Pushpa Kamal Dahal of Nepal addressed the other leaders. We are glad to learn that the South Asia Satellite has been launched just a while ago. We extend hearty congratulations to Prime Minister Modiji, and express our much sincere thanks for your thoughtfulness to help South Asian neighbours benefit from the progress India has achieved in the field of science and technology. This is a testament to South Asia becoming self-reliant in space science. Nepal looks forward to making the best use of this facility. It would also be helpful in providing communications service in the mountainous and hilly regions of Nepal. I want to extend my best wishes to the future efforts of the space program of India.

The teleconference then moved to Sri Lanka, and President Maithripala Sirisena addressed the video conference. This important initiative by India will assist in many priority areas in the region, including mapping natural resources, education, environment, conservation, forecasting and various other subjects. I hope that that this initiative will support the people in all the regions by enhancing the economic and social conditions, by alleviating poverty and improving the standard of living. I take this opportunity to thank all the leaders of the SAARC countries.

The support and presence of these leaders will add even more joy in the hearts & minds of our region.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

The satellite has 12 ku band transponders on board. The ku band is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range. Each of the participating nations will get to dedicatedly use at least one of the transponders. The participating nations are expected to come up with the content for the communication services on their own. The satellite stands to benefit the nations with economies in the early stages of development more, particularly Maldives and Bhutan. There are also incipient plans for common programming for the south Asia Region.
PTI

Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan today said the government was working towards bridging the divide between "digital India and Bharat" so that the poorest of the poor could also have access to all the facilities.

"A digital movement has already started - which is the combination of a scientific movement and a technology movement - so that the poorest of the poor in the remotest part of India can have access to all the facilities," he said.

Vardhan was speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Phase 4 of "Rashtriya Atlas Bhavan" of National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) here.

He said that in the past 2-3 years over 2-lakh km optical fibre had been laid, and by 2018 the whole country is expected to be covered.

"Modiji wants that the 125 crore people of the country use mobiles and by pressing the button they get Re 1 in full and not just 15 paise they used to get previously," he said, adding "there should not be the real divide any more."

The Union minister referred to the sacrifices made by "Jan Sangh founder Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee" and said that the Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Research Foundation had renovated his birth place and digitised his archival photos.

He said NATMO was working with the aim of making the National Atlas freely available to the citizens of the country.

He said that with his own core team the PM was monitoring government schemes being implemented in the country and "the Department of Science and Technology was encouraging scientists to be pro-active and think out-of-box.

Crediting Modi with making the dream of digital India happen, Harsh Vardhan said, "After Modiji announced demonetisation on November 8, not a single man in the line said Uff despite standing in line for hours."

In an apparent dig at the Opposition and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said, "While the opposition parties paralysed Parliament for days, a leader from Bengal kept making comments against demonetisation day after day."

Vardhan also praised former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee for bringing science to the centrestage of government policies.

"Vajpayeeji first coined the slogan Jai Vigyan," he said.
3 dacoits held with firearms

Chittagong Bureau :

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) arrested three dacoits from city's Biyazid thana area in the early hours of Tuesday Police also recovered two LG guns, 11 cartridges and three knives from their possessions.

The arrestees were identified as Forkan Uddin, 34, Harunur Rashid, 32, and Rajib, 24.

Based on secret information, a team of Biyazid thana police arrested them from two separate areas under the police station at around 3 am today while they were taking preparations to commit robbery.

Sensing the presence of law enforcers, other dacoits fled from the scene leaving three behind. Police arrested three dacoits with the firearms and ammunitions.A case was filed with Biyazid thana in this connection.




Demand for gold plunges after Trump win

AFP, London :

Global gold demand fell 18 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier as US investors abandoned the precious metal after Donald Trump's election win, industry figures showed Thursday.

After a "really good" first quarter of 2016 for gold demand, the first three months of this year was "not a strong quarter", World Gold Council director John Mulligan told AFP.

"In 2016 demand was concentrated on one source, which was professional investors, especially in the US" where activity was focussed on Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) -- investment funds backed by physical stocks of gold, the WGC director added.

Demand stood at 1,034.5 tonnes between January and March 2017, its lowest first quarter level since 2010.

At the section, but are now shifting their attention to riskier products- but it is a different story in Europe.

"There are multiple elections coming up, even in Paris... the election is not over. People are uncertain, it is generally good for gold," said Mulligan.

Gold is viewed as a haven investment in times of economic uncertainty.

Despite enthusiasm from European investors, the demand for gold through ETFs dropped by 68 percent to 109.1 tonnes in the first quarter.

As well as in Europe, there was also an uptick in overall demand in India and China, the two leading buyers of physical gold.

The demand for coins or bullion increased by 30 percent in China to 105.9 tonnes.

"The demand is seasonally strong in China, with the Chinese New Year, but it is only the fourth time demand was stronger than a 100 tonnes," said Mulligan.

With Chinese authorities reforming the financial system to avoid a property bubble, savers have turned to physical gold to preserve their wealth.

In India, demand for jewelry increased by 16 percent to 92.3 tonnes, while the sector suffered at the end of 2016 from the government's demonetisation effort.

"There are signs of improvement, especially from India where the gradual remonetisation of the economy is supporting the jewellery market," added Mulligan.
Record-breaking Sydney FC put all on the line in decider





Sydney FC, coming off a record-breaking season with just one defeat, will put it all on the line against Melbourne Victory in Sunday's Australian A-League grand final in Sydney.

The Sky Blues have been hailed the A-League's greatest team after finishing the regular season with a record 66 points from 20 wins in 27 games and 17 points ahead of the nearest rivals Victory.
Windies level series as Pakistan fall under Gabriel`s spell

Yasir Shah is bowled by Shannon Gabriel during the 5th day of the 2nd Test between West Indies and Pakistan at Bridgetown on Thursday.

AFP, Bridgetown :

Shannon Gabriel produced an outstanding effort of consistently fast bowling to lead the West Indies to a 106-run victory over Pakistan 80 minutes after lunch on the final day of the second Test at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday.

Set a target of 188 after leg-spinner Yasir Shah's seven for 94 wrapped up the home side's second innings at 268 at the start of the day, the tourists were never in contention after the pace barrage on a deteriorating pitch led by Gabriel, whose innings figures of five for 11 contributed to Pakistan's demise for just 81 off 34.4 overs.

It equalled the lowest total ever in a Test innings at the venue set by India, also in a losing effort chasing 120, against the West Indies in 1997 and leaves the series at 1-1 going into the final Test in Dominica starting next Wednesday.

Troubled by injuries and no-balls throughout his comparatively brief career, the burly fast bowler earned the Man of the Match award with overall figures of nine for 92, the third-best by a West Indian against Pakistan.

Only wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed and fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who contributed 23 each, offered any resistance to Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph (two for 42) and Jason Holder (three for 23), the West Indies captain having the satisfaction of taking the final wicket when Ahmed was caught by Roston Chase on the long-on boundary to trigger the Caribbean side's celebrations.

"We knew we had a chance once we got a lead over 150," said Gabriel as he savoured the success. "I just concentrated on bowling the right areas at pace and everything worked out for me and the team. This was a total team effort." Gabriel started the rout with the wicket of first innings century-maker Azhar Ali as the opening batsman miscued an attempted pull for Shimron Hetmyer to take a diving catch at midwicket.

Joseph, sharing the new ball with Gabriel, struck in the very next over when Babar Azam flicked at a leg-side delivery for wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich to snare the chance and consign Pakistan's brightest batting talent to the indignity of a "pair."

Joseph should have also accounted for Ahmed Shehzad but the opening batsman, who enjoyed generous slices of luck in scoring 70 in the first innings, was missed at first slip edging an attempted drive.

That disappointment was replaced by even more jubilation in the West Indies camp though, as Holder replaced Gabriel and immediately earned the prized scalp of Younis Khan. Adjudged LBW by on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough, Younis challenged the decision only to have it confirmed by the television replays.

With Joseph tiring, Gabriel was recalled into action to replace the gangling Antiguan and the burly Trinidad and Tobago tearaway responded with two critical wickets in the space of three deliveries.

Captain Misbah ul Haq was first ruled "not out" to vociferous appeals but replays following a challenge showed an inside-edge that lobbed to Shai Hope at gully and sent the Pakistan captain back to the pavilion without scoring.

He was joined just a few minutes later by Asad Shafiq when the new batsman edged his second delivery for Powell to take the catch at first slip at the third attempt.
Judiciary now can`t play independent role: Fakhrul

UNB, Dhaka :

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that the judiciary in the country now cannot play the independent role due to the government's interference.

Talking to reporters after visiting late BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain's ailing wife Sahera Hossain at a city hospital, he also said their chairperson Khaleda Zia may unveil the party's 'Vision 2030' this week

if they get a suitable venue for holding a press conference.

"We've long been saying democratic institutions can't work independently in a country where democracy is absent. If the government creates pressure on the judiciary, it won't be able to work with freedom," he said.

The BNP leader further said, "What now the Chief Justice is saying (about judiciary) it has clearly demonstrated that the judiciary cannot work independently as there is no democracy in the country now. It has also exposed that the government is interfering in the judiciary." Speaking at a reception accorded to him recently by Habiganj Bar Association in Habiganj, Chief Justice SK Sinha said, "The administration never wants the judiciary to function independently although it provides security to the administration, too. The bureaucracy always considers the judiciary a rival." Fakhrul alleged that the government has also been playing an autocratic role in suppressing the opinions and voice of its opponents.

He urged the government to engage in talks with the political parties to get rid of the current situation and restore democracy in the country. "The government should come to the path of democracy shunning its arrogance." By presenting the 'Vision 2030', the BNP leader said their party will inform the nation what it will do if it returns to power. "Our chairperson gave an outline of the Vision 2030 at our party's sixth national council. "She'll now present the details of it." He, however, said the 'Vision 2030' has no relation with the framework of the election-time 'supportive' government and their party's election manifesto.

The BNP secretary general renewed their party's demand that the government announce the flood-affected haor areas disaster zone and take all-out steps to ease the sufferings of the victims. Sahera, 75, has been put on life support at the city's Square Hospital since Monday as she fell ill seriously.

Fakhrul talked to doctors and Sahera's family members and inquired about her health condition.
Social Business Day July 28-29

UNB, Dhaka :

The 7th annual Social Business Day (SBD), a platform to network and learn from social business leaders from all over the globe, will be held here in Social Business Convention Centre at Zirabo, Savar on July 28-29.

Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus will host the event with the theme "Can Wealth

Concentration Be Stopped?" to discuss and celebrate the concept of social business through a series of interactive panel sessions and workshops. Global social leaders, entrepreneurs and academics will participate in the event, according to Yunus Centre.

This year the host aims to make Social Business Day bigger and better and they will inaugurate the newly established Social Business Convention Centre (SBCC) in Zirabo, Savar, Dhaka, which will be the new home of Social Business Day. There will also be a meeting of the Social Business Academia Network on July 30 in order to prepare for our Social Business Academia Conference 2017 in Paris which will take place in November.
Banks must upgrade cyber security

A bleak picture has emerged about cyber security risks in the country's 52 percent banks. It is not a reality that we can take lightly. According to Media report, Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) released a survey report at a workshop on 'IT Operations of Banks' in Dhaka on Thursday. The report found such a huge number of banks ran the risk of breach in their information management security system in 2016, of which 16 percent were at the highest risk level.



The research found that a major portion of IT budget of those banks is being used to procure hardware. The portion of expenditure for hardware was 40.4 of the IT budget in 2016. The second highest amount of IT budget went to the software sector; and the spending on security, training and audit was very poor in the last six years. The report also says that total number of employees working in the IT department is not sufficient and they are under tremendous stress.



It is true that IT governance (ITG) is gaining importance in the banking sector due to its increasing reliance on technology to conduct their operations, gain customers' satisfaction and improve cost efficiencies. But banks should give proper attention to follow appropriate guidelines, standards and framework to successfully implement ITG that include protection against hacking and other form of theft.



Successful implementation of ITG will also help in achieving sustainable business and offer new innovative products and services to their clients. In view of the growing threat to cyber security banks' budget for such security system should be increased by around 60 percent, the study report said referring to the reserve heist of Bangladesh Bank last year that took away $81 million from its New York Federal Reserve Bank account. Information suggests that after that incident most banks are spending a lot to purchase foreign software to ensure security; but they have failed to become risk free yet. It may yield positive result if banks use uniform software to reduce cyber risks and financial damage. Banks may appoint IT specialist in their audit team to identify IT flaws.



Bankers management should keep it in their mind that they are not owners of the bank, but caretakers of public deposit and there can't be any slow down to plug such risks.
Rampal plant a source of massive air pollution

Staff Reporter:

Rampal coal-fired power plant will be the largest source of air pollution in Bangladesh, causing premature deaths to as many as 150 people every year, said Lauri Myllyvirta Greenpeace through a video conference from Myanmar on Friday.

Greenpeace is a non-governmental global environmental organisation. This coal and air pollution expert conducted a study on the environmental impact of the Rampal coal-fired power plant at the request from Bangladesh's National Committee to Protect the Sundarbans (NCPS). The study was conducted using the CALPUFF air pollution modelling system recommended by the United States' Environment Protection Agency for assessing long-range transport of pollutants and their impacts. At a press conference in the capital, Convener of the NCPS Sultana Kamal said, "We're opposed to building coal power plant in any where in the country as developed countries has been shutting down coal power plant considering its higher pollution."

NCPS, Doctors for Health and Environment and Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan jointly organised the conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium on Friday to reveal the international study conducted by Lauri.

Bangladesh's Forest and Environment Ministry allowed the Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) for building Rampal coal power plant by complying 59 conditions.

Sultana Kamal also said the coal-fired power plant is being diagnosed as a most harmful one to the ecosystem. "Most of the countries are avoiding setting up of coal-fired plant anew," she added.

The study by the Greenpeace expert also feared that some 600 babies would be born underweight every year, thanks to the adverse impact of the air-pollution caused by the plant.

Joining the event in Dhaka through video conference, Lauri Myllyvirta said the plant would emit high levels of mercury, a potent neurotoxin that damages children's brains and nervous systems.

The expert said the mercury pollution could affect fish production.

"Over its operational lifetime, the plant's emissions will increase the risk of stroke, lung cancer, heart and respiratory diseases in adults, as well as respiratory symptoms in children," stated the study report.

Dr Abdul Motin, Sharif Zamil and physician and child specialist Nazmun Nahar and Abu Sayeed also spoke at the function.


5 SSC examinees commit suicide

Staff Reporter :

Five Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinees, who failed to get pass marks in this year's examinations, reportedly committed suicide in Magura, Feni and Pirojpur districts on Thursday and Friday.

In Feni, Jessica Akhter, 16, daughter of Fakhrul Islam from Sonagazi upazila, and Tahmina Akhter, 16, daughter of Mintu Mia from Fulgazi upazila, could not pass in the examination and for that reason they committed suicide on Friday.

In Pirojpur, a Dakhil examinee Pori Akhter, 17, daughter of Mahbubur Rahman Khan from Kawkhali upazila, took her life by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in the house around 5:30pm on Thursday.

She was taken to the Upazila Health Complex where the doctor declared her dead, said Md Moniruzzaman, Officer-in-Charge of Kawkhali Police Station. Pori was a student of Parsaturia Salekiya Dakhil Madrasha at Kawkhali.

In Magura, two examinees who could not accept their results cut short of their lives in grief.

The deceased were identified as Arifa Begum, 17, daughter of Mohon Mandal from Sreepur upazila, and Hridoy Biswas, 16, son of Kumaresh Biswas from the Sadar upazila.

The body of Arifa, a student of Dariapur High School, was found hanging from a tree after the publication of the SSC results on Thursday, said Rezaul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Sreepur Police Station.

In another incident, Hridoy killed himself in the same way as he could not get pass marks in the SSC examination, said police.
Labour markets being shrunk

Efforts on to get new destinations: BAIRA President

Reza Mahmud :

The Bangladeshi manpower exports to the traditional markets in the Middle-East and far-eastern countries are being shrunken day by day.

Although the stake holders are venturing for new markets abroad, they are yet to get any positive result. However, they are hopeful of getting new destinations soon.

"We are trying our best to expand our labour market abroad. As the traditional labour markets in the Middle-East and far-eastern countries are being shrunken, we are working to introduce with new countries to export our manpower. We are hopeful to get new destinations soon," said Bangladesh International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) President Benjir Ahmed.

The government and the manpower exporting agencies are trying to create new destinations for Bangladeshi workers in the Europe, Africa and other countries. They are also trying to reopen the Middle-Eastern and other old markets, he said.

"The possible new labour markets like Japan and Europe want skilled workers. Right now we have very few skilled workers to export. We are trying our best to make our manpower skilled," Nurul Islam, Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, told journalist recently.

Sources said, the labour markets in the Middle-Eastern countries are in unstable conditions for long. Saudi Arabia, the largest Bangladeshi immigrant workers market was closed about seven years. The government of Saudi Arabia has recently opened the door for Bangladeshi workers. But the recruiting agencies said the employers of that country have added condition to send 25 percent female workers along with male there.

"If we fail to send 25 female workers then we must not get visa for 75 male workers. But it is not easy to get sufficient number of female workers in our conservative society," Shariful Islam, an executive of Dynamic Trade Syndicate, a recruiting agency, told The New Nation.

Besides, the Saudi government has now banned recruitment of foreign workers in the country's shopping malls to secure their own manpower's job market. On the other hand, the country threatened to send back several thousand Bangladeshi workers working there illegally if they fail to get legal work permit within few days.

The other countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain have stopped recruitment of Bangladeshi manpower for last seven years.

The United Arab Emirates, the second largest labour market for our workers, has opened their door only for female workers. The UAE is recruiting very few male workers from our country.

According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), a total 1,123 Bangladeshi workers have been sent to the UAE. Among them, 942 were female and only 181 male manpower.

Among the far-eastern countries, only Malaysia's market has been open after seven years for us. But the companies of that country are collecting Bangladeshi workforce slowly and in very few numbers. The labour markets in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam are also closed for long,

According to BMET, 875,055 workers were sent abroad in 2008. After that year the manpower export market collapsed. 475,274 Bangladeshis got job in foreign countries in 2009. 390,702 in 2010, 568,062 in 2011, 607,798 in 2012, 409,253 in 2013, 382,298 in 2014, 538,667 in 2015, 757,731 in 2016 and 272, 973 in January- March in this year.


Capital flight is not development

In a stunning disclosure the Washington based Global Financial Integrity (GFI) on Monday made the disclosure that Bangladesh has lost between $6 billion and $9 billion through illegal capital flight in 2014.



The report covering 150 countries highlighted Bangladesh position at 28 in a low estimate while based on a high estimate the country position in capital flight stands at 21 away from 51 in the previous list sometime ago.



What appears to be quite devastating is that the country lost about $75 billion from 2005 and 2014 in illegal transfer mainly using over invoicing of trade bills and other unrecorded transfer.



The highest outflow occurred in 2013 ahead of the Parliamentary Election as political uncertainty and violence had gripped the nation. Over $8.97 billions were illegally transferred on high estimates in that year; which is about Tk 73,000 crore in local currency and enough to build three Padma Bridges.



Economists fear political instability may again flare in the run up to the next Parliamentary Election in early 2019 and Bangladesh economy is likely to suffer yet another spate of worst capital flight again. The point is that people making illegal money fear the safety of their ill-earned income and prefer to move out this money using protection of corrupt government people at all levels.



Bangladesh is a country of immense potentials but the volume of capital flight suggests corrupt leadership and an equally inefficient and corrupt bureaucracy is halting back its growth as a prosperous nation. .



Even Awami League General Secretary and Communication Minister Obaidul Quader last week warned party men of unsafe future as they are spilling up illegal money. Though he uttered the warning demanding partymen to avoid factional fights and work hard for the party to keep it in power, his warning of safety against illegal money lost no point to the nation.



It is no secret that big business houses and politically powerful people are regularly transferring money they acquire by illegal means such as facilitating government deals and supply contracts. We have a system of government where corruption is growing faster than anything. The informal economy is much larger than we have ever thought about.



Experts blamed political leadership as complicit to the crime and government regulatory bodies such as Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Bangladesh Bank (BB) and National Board of Revenue (NBR) to name a few is no match to hold it in check



Big money laundering cases in recent years from the State owned banks and even robbery of Bangladesh Bank fund and the shadow identity of persons involved in such cases suggests government leaders are not in the dark about who are doing it and where they are moving out the money.



Many Customs Officials are complicit to misuse of import bills for illegal transfer of fund. What is surprising is that the ACC is very powerful to dig out big financial crimes but only going after small people to make their own fortune. BB and NBR have their own intelligence wings to check capital flight and yet the money is regularly going out to raise the question why they are failing.



We have a growing debate weather the government should formally allow big businesses to transfer fund to make investment abroad. But the reality is that many business houses have already set up industries; particularly garment factories abroad or bought real estate to raise question how they moved out money.



So capital flight is not anything to have suddenly emerged; what is surprising is the volume of money leaving the country while the government is indifferent about it. It appears that Bangladesh economy has lost the protected border as illicit money is flowing out and also coming into the country.



What is sensational is that if Bangladesh lost 6 to 9 billion in 2014 through illegal transfer, around $4.06 billion also entered the country illegally to suggest that there is no control over the underground economy.



Free flight of capital does not mean economic or political stability. Such transfer of money abroad cannot be seen also as faith in the government's ability to create confidence among our investors. That has not stopped the government to claim credit for development.


ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- The Senate Intelligence Committee has urged Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump's presidential campaign, to fully cooperate with its inquiries related to his communications with Russian officials, in light of a letter Page sent Thursday suggesting he may not provide all the information they requested.



Mr. Page has indicated in correspondence to the Committee that he looks forward to working with us on this matter, and that our cooperation will help resolve what he claims are false allegations. For that to happen, Mr. Page must supply the requested documents to the Committee, the panels top members, Chairman Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, and Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Virginia, wrote in a statement.



In a letter dated April 28, the committee asked for a list of all meetings between Page and any Russian official or representative of Russian business interests between June 16, 2015, and January 20, 2017. It also asked for a list of all meetings between any individual with the Trump campaign and Russians, any records about Pages communications with Russians, and any information regarding his financial and real estate holdings in Russia.



The committee has requested that all of this information be provided in advance of his in-person interview with the committee. There are two deadlines: one on May 9, for the list of Pages meetings, and May 19 for everything else.



In his written response, Page calls the committees requests a cumbersome chore and suggests it first consult the Obama administration for its records of conversations monitored while Page was under FISA surveillance.



As a lone individual, I can assure you that my personal administrative capabilities pale in comparison to the clerical juggernaut represented by the numerous staff in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. Government which have heretofore been allegedly involved in this unscrupulous surveillance for many months on end, Page writes in the letter dated May 4.



The subject line of the letter is Response to your request for even more irrelevant data.



The Washington Post originally reported that the FBI obtained a FISA warrant to put Page under surveillance last summer as part of its investigation into possible links between Russia and the Trump campaign.



Page later told ABC News that he had no recollection of discussing Trumps willingness to ease up sanctions on Russia but that something may have come up in a conversation.



In its statement Friday, the Senate Intelligence Committee said that if Page chooses not to provide the material requested, it would consider its next steps at that time.



Asked about the Senate statement that said he is not cooperating, Page replied, Tied up on the more substantive matters today. He offered no further comment.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
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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
Rep. Kenny Havard, R-St. Francisville, said his HB 648 was incomplete as drafted and that the amendments he needed to get the legislation into the right posture were still being put together.





Legislation that started to get a closer look by Capitol players late last week, due to its intent to lower the corporate income tax rate, failed to get a full hearing on Monday before the House Ways and Means Committee because its author asked for more time to tweak the proposal.

Rep. Kenny Havard, R-St. Francisville, said his HB 648 was incomplete as drafted and that the amendments he needed to get the legislation into the right posture were still being put together. He added that his goal is to get back in front of the committee by next week at the earliest with the finalized measure.

With his legislation Havard wants to lower the top corporate rate of 8 percent, which he called the highest in the nation, and move the state toward a flat tax. Havard is calling his concept the Business Flat Tax, and he told committee members it would not apply to Subchapter S corporations or limited liability companies.

The idea came under fire last week by Stephen Waguespack, the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, who called it the governors backup plan.

It was a clear reference to Gov. John Bel Edwards failed commercial activity tax on gross receipts.

Havards bill deals instead with gross margins.

It will apply to profit and not receipts, making it completely different from the governors plan or the CAT tax, says Havard. Its going to be completely different than that.

He added that the legislation, once properly amended, would eliminate loopholes and remove or reduce certain tax credits and exemptions. If certain financial triggers are met, under Havards plan, even the franchise tax would be rolled back completely.

Havard offered an overall mission for the legislation in one sentence for the committee: That all of our profitable corporate taxpayers pay at least little something so that other companies and individuals dont have to make up the difference.
Dave Welch

Independent oil and gas exploration and production company Stone Energy Corporation, which emerged from bankruptcy last month, announced on April 28 that President and CEO Dave Welch has retired. Welch, who had been with the Lafayette-based company for 13 years, also informed the board that he was stepping down as a director.

James M. Trimble, an independent director for the company, was elected interim president and CEO by the board of directors. The board also appointed Keith Seilhan, formerly the companys senior vice president  Gulf of Mexico, to the new post of chief operating officer.

In a press release, board Chairman Neal P. Goldman thanked Welch for his years of dedication to the company. He led the company with integrity and prioritized safety and environmental protection in all of Stones operations, Goldman said, adding that the board is confident Trimble 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.

Trimble has more than 35 years of energy industry experience, having served as president and CEO of PDC Energy from 2011 to 2015, a period the press release describes as exceptional growth and value creation for PDC shareholders. Before that he founded and/or led several private oil and gas companies focused primarily on drilling in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Trimble served as the senior vice president of exploration and production for Cabot Oil and Gas for 17 years. He has a degree in petroleum engineering from Mississippi State University.

Seilhan was named senior vice president-Gulf of Mexico in January 2015 after serving as vice president-deep water for the two prior years and deep water projects manager beginning in July 2012. Before joining Stone Energy, Seilhan filled various senior leadership and operations roles for Amoco and BP over his 21-year career with those organizations.

Stone (NYSE: SGY) also has offices in New Orleans and Houston.
House leaders plan to complete their work on the state budget on Thursday and send the funding bills to the Senate where they will, no doubt, be reworked. There are no committee meetings scheduled today and the Senate has adjourned for the week, awaiting House action on the budget.

Photo by Robin May

It will be all budget all the time that the House is in session today. How long they stay in session will depend on how many attempts are made to amend HB1 and the six other bills that deal with funding state government operations in the new fiscal year which begins on July 1.

The budget process this year has been different than prior years, with the Appropriations Committee breaking into subgroups tackling the budgets of specific categories, departments and agencies. As a result, there have been fewer public meetings of the committee itself. The final meeting the committee held on the budget lasted only about four hours and it consisted of brief discussions of amendments to the executive budget. Over 40 amendments were approved, including deep cuts to the Louisiana Department of Health and a proposal to shift a portion of the flood disaster relief money targeted for homeowners to a flood control project in the Baton Rouge area.

In all, the HB1 that emerged from the Appropriations Committee contained about $600 million less spending than the executive budget submitted by Gov. John Bel Edwards earlier this year. The state budget is comprised of state General Fund dollars (those dollars generated by tax revenues), other fees and payments received by the state, and funding from the federal government for various programs that it supports in Louisiana.

HB1 spreads the remainder of the budget cuts across departments. It funds the college tuition assistance program TOPS at 100 percent.

HB1 is the first special order of the day dealing with state spending.

Only one amendment had been pre-filed before Speaker Taylor Barras gaveled the House into session at 9 a.m. That amendment was by Rep. Malinda White and it specifies the funding that the Louisiana Department of Health would provide to the private providers who now operate what was the LSU Hospitals System. HB1 as it emerged from the Appropriations Committee set general parameters on the spending. Rep. White's amendment would set the specific amounts and the sources for that spending.

The Picard Group of Lafayette represents the private providers who are branded as Alliance of Public Private Partnerships. It's members include Lafayette General Medical Center, Ochsner Health System, Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center and Lake Charles Memorial Health System.

The House is sitting as the Committee as a Whole. Each member has the opportunity to submit amendments and speak in support of it. Rep. Pat Smith of Baton Rouge and Rep. White sought to reinstate funding for positions in the Department of Children and Family Services. In separate amendments, Smith and White argued that eliminating positions that are currently vacant amounts to cuts in essential services for children who may be victims of abuse.

White told her colleagues that case workers in Louisiana's department has the largest case load of child service workers in any other state. She also said that because of low pay and stress related to the work, turnover is high. She maintained that the state would save money by not having to retrain workers to fill those jobs. Her amendment sought to save the positions and to give those workers a raise. White says the state is spending $54 million retraining workers each year to fill vacancies who leave.

Both amendments were rejected likely setting the tone for the rest of the day.

Republican patience was apparently limited. After Rep. White's amendment failed, Rep. Nancy Landry of Lafayette moved to have the House limit comments to five minutes by legislators per amendment. Her motion was approved.

Six of the seven bills up for consideration today list Rep. Cameron Henry as the author as he is chair of the Appropriations Committee and he led his committee's approach to dealing with the budget.

HB64 deals with ancillary expenses of state government. Those include funding for the offices that enable the state to conduct business like the Office of State Procurement, Office of Risk Management, offices of property services which track the use of state and federal government properties in the state, Prison Enterprises (which uses prison labor to provide goods and services to state and local governments), and two clean water revolving loan funds which help communities build water systems.

HB403 is a budget housekeeping bill. It directs the state treasurer to deposit $25 million from General Fund into the Budget Stabilization Fund. The bill also transfers $7,582,927 from the Future Medical Care Fund to the state Self-Insurance Fund.

HB620 provides funding for the state courts. The state provides for state courts ranging from district courts up to the Louisiana Supreme Court. The bill provides a total of $187,394,369 for the courts. That includes $84,921,583 for the Supreme Court and the statewide legal, judicial and court programs run through the court. The bill appropriates $47,551,252 for the state's five courts of appeal which includes five chief judges and 48 appellate court judges. District courts will receive $48,881,924 for the 204 judges that sit on the state courts across the state and for a portion of the operation of those courts.

HB624 provides for sharing of state spending among various political subdivisions across the state. The state will share $90 million with local governments and political subdivisions. The 45-page bill sets the splits of the money in each parish.

HB625 is the state's supplemental appropriations bill. The bill directs the allocation of interagency transfers, self-generated revenue, statutory dedications and some federal dollars across a range of offices and programs. The bill affects about $450 million, most of that is federal money.

HB665 is Speaker Taylor Barras' bill. It provides funding for the operation of the Legislature, including the staff of both the House and the Senate, the Louisiana State Law Institute, and the salaries of legislators in both chambers. The bill appropriates $62,472,956 which represents a $10 million cut in funding for the Legislature from the previous year.
Rep. Valerie Hodges' attempt to use disaster relief funding to complete the Comite Diversion Canal was stripped from HB1 following an extended debate on the House floor.

Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The House voted to strip from the state budget a proposal to use up to $190 million of the state's $1.7 billion in disaster relief funding from HUD. The money was primarily targeted to help the 36,000 homeowners who were affected by flooding in Louisiana in 2016.

Early in the debate on HB1 on Thursday morning, Rep. Patricia Smith of Baton Rouge proposed an amendment to strip that provision in the state budget which had been inserted into the budget during consideration of the budget by the House Appropriations Committee on Monday.

Rep. Valerie Hodges of Denham Springs had convinced the committee to divert a portion of the state's disaster funding to complete the Comite Diversion Project, a flood control project that was developed in the wake of flooding in the East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension parish area in the 1980s. Voters in the three parishes had voted to tax themselves to fund the local component of the project in the late 1990s. The property taxes went into effect in 2000.

The federal government has not provided funding for the project over the years, saying their cost/benefit analysis of the project never made it a top priority in the state. Flooding in those three parishes resulting from the heavy rains in August 2016 flooded 36,000 homes in the Capitol Region, Hodges says.

Smith prefaced her amendment by saying she supports construction of the Comite project but objected to taking money from the program targeting relief for homeowners to pay for it.

Smith's amendment sparked a 30-minute flood debate.

"Taking this money from the disaster funding meant to help homeowners across the state would affect relief for 4,000 homeowners who are struggling to get back into their homes," Smith told her colleagues.

The $1.67 billion in HUD money is targeted to provide relief for 100,000 homeowners who were affected by floods throughout 2016. That includes flooding in North Louisiana tied to high water on the Red River and storms in northeast Louisiana, as well as the floods of August 2016 that affected homes from Southwest Louisiana into the Florida parishes.

Rep. Walt Leger of New Orleans and Rep. Sam Jones of Franklin pointed out that changing the action plan upon which the disaster relief funding was based would require going back to HUD for approval. They argued that doing that would bring funding to a standstill and could produce an additional delay of three to six months before funds reached homeowners.

A number of legislators rose from the floor to lament the fact that they had flood control projects in their districts that needed funding. They also pointed out that they have constituents who are awaiting HUD funding to get back into their homes.

Hodges rose in defense of her proposal.

"It would be irresponsible to help people get back into their homes and not deal with the root of the problem," Hodges declared. "We know what the problem is and have known about what the problem is for 30 years. Our people have paid taxes to have this project built. The federal government has not funded this project. These disaster funds are federal dollars. I think these funds can be put to this use."

Hodges explained that the HUD funds include categories for infrastructure repair and mitigation.

"It was never my intention to take money away from homeowners," Hodges said. "I believe we can take money from those other categories and get this project built."

Hodges says that in the three days since her amendment was added to HB1, she had received pledges of support from parishes in the region. She said that one parish had committed $75 million of its mitigation money toward the project.

"Actually, I'm asking for $84 million now, not $190 million," Hodges said.

Hodges and Appropriations Committee Chair Cameron Henry conferred while other legislators spoke on the issue.

After nearly 30 minutes of debate and small conferences near the podium, Hodges withdrew her objection to Smith's amendment.

"I withdraw my objection, members," Hodges said. "I believe we can work something out with the Senate to get the money needed to get this project started."

Hodges said she's been told the project could be completed within three years once it is funded.
The Cane Fire Film Series screens Frantz on Monday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Downtown Lafayette.

For May, the monthly Cane Fire Film Series presents director Francois Ozons elegiac foreign drama Frantz.

Frantz is a haunting tale of love and reconciliation begins in a small town in Germany in the immediate aftermath of World War I when a young woman named Anna mourns daily at the grave of her fiance Frantz, who was killed in battle in France. One day a young Frenchman, Adrien, also lays flowers at the grave. His presence so soon after the German defeat ignites passions.

The Cane Fire Film Series screens Frantz on Monday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in Downtown Lafayette. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information, visit AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org.
Amendments to three bills in Senate Judiciary C on Tuesday reshaped those parts of the Justice Reinvestment Task Force legislative package. Supporters of the reforms were taken aback but remain committed to securing reform this year.

A series of amendments made to three bills that are part of the Justice Reinvestment Task Force in Senate Judiciary C Committee on Tuesday were made without some members of the coalition backing the reforms having been part of the negotiations that produced them.

Three days after the amendments were made (66 to one bill alone) supporters are still sorting out what the impact of the amendments will have on the goals of reducing the economic and social costs of Louisiana being the incarceration capitol of the United States (and world). The bills that the committee amended and approved were SB220, SB221 and SB139.

The Justice Reinvestment Task Force reforms have the backing of a broad if unlikely coalition of liberal and conservative groups. The Pelican Institute, Right on Crime and the Louisiana Family Forum are working with the American Civil Liberties Union, the Southern Poverty Law Center and Louisianans for Prison Alternatives in support of the bills that aim to reduce Louisiana's prison population through a combination of law, sentencing and parole reforms.

Elain Ellerbe, state director for Right On Crime, says she remains optimistic that the coalition will be successful in getting a reform package thorough the Legislature, even in this abbreviated 60-day session that must end by 6 p.m. on June 8.

"I've been working with the incarcerated for 20 years," Ellerbe says. "We're working to get Louisiana to join the 34 other states that have undertaken similar reforms."

She says Louisiana is different from other states, but not so different that reforms that have proven successful elsewhere won't work here.

"People have got to get hold of the idea that these are data-driven and evaluated policies," Ellerbe explains. "Using the data-driven approach, you get good policies that work."

Ellerbe describes Right On Crime as "the conservative voice on state criminal justice reform." The organization started in Texas.

Abhay Patel is interim executive director of the Pelican Institute, a conservative think tank based in New Orleans. Patel has only been on Pelican's board for a few months and was thrust into his current role after the previous interim director Will Booher left to accept a position in the Trump administration.

Patel says Pelican's team is still evaluating the impact of the amendments made in Judiciary C.

"We want to ensure that we are still getting significant savings from these bills," says Patel, who spoke with The Independent in a Friday morning phone call.

Patel says Pelican and its legislative team headed by Southern Strategies Group's Liz Mangham were aware of the negotiations between Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana District Attorneys Association that produced the amendments that were presented and approved on Tuesday in committee. Pete Adams, executive director of the LDAA, told The Independent earlier in the week that the amendments, which narrowed the focus of the legislation to concentrating on non-violent offenders, will still enable task force backers to achieve 86 percent of the savings they are seeking. Adams said he based that on data submitted by task force supporters.

"We are still working our way through the amendments to determine exactly what their impact will be," Patel explains.

Will Harrell, Southern regional policy director for the ACLU, says his group was shut out of the negotiations process. He pointed out that the task force worked in public for more than a year, reviewing the data on Louisiana's criminal justice system, then using that data to craft reforms. He disagrees with Adams' assessment of how much savings the state can achieve by limiting the focus of the reforms to non-violent offenders.

"I think we're going to find that the amendments reduce the savings by 20 percent or more because they remove that part of the reforms that focus on the state's most expensive inmates  geriatric prisoners," Harrell says. He spoke with The Independent in a Thursday phone call.

"Extreme sentences are the major drivers of cost for the Department of Corrections in Louisiana," Harrell explains. "The amendments removed geriatric parole which means the cost of keeping those older prisoners behind bars will continue to grow and grow and grow, even as the prospect that they can do any harm to anyone has disappeared."

Harrell says that eliminating the possibility of parole for those older prisoners puts the full burden of providing for the medical care of those prisoners fully on the state.

"If they could be paroled, they could become eligible for Medicaid which would at least let the federal government pay for the bulk of their healthcare costs," Harrell offers.

Harrell believes Adams and the district attorneys have been distorting the content of the reforms in order to continue some of the practices that have produced Louisiana's prison load.

"There is nothing anywhere in any of these bills that mandates the release of any offender  violent or non-violent," Harrell says. "The bills produce eligibility but those inmates must still show proof that they have reformed and rehabilitated themselves."

Harrell has worked on similar criminal justice reform efforts in eight other states. He points out that Texas adopted similar reforms several years ago. "Texas had three new prisons on the drawing board before they enacted these reforms," Harrell says. "They were able to cancel those three projects and close two existing prisons."

Harrell notes that other Southern states that have implemented criminal justice reforms have lower crime rates than Louisiana. He says that is proof that reforms can work here.

"If having people in jail is reducing crime, Louisiana should be the safest place on the planet," Harrell says. "Clearly we're not."

Ellerbe, Patel and Harrell all remain committed to advancing the reform process but note that it's important that the bills keep making their way through the process.

"It would be sad to lose all the time and resources we've put into this effort to let it be stopped," Ellerbe says.

The amended bills that emerged from Senate Judiciary C now await consideration by the full Senate. That could happened as early as Monday when the Senate reconvenes at 3 p.m.
House Republicans cut $234 million in funding for the Louisiana Department of Health. That cut could trigger deep cuts in programs funded by Medicaid support based on a state/federal cost split.

When the House approved HB1 on Thursday afternoon, it included a $234 million cut in support for programs administered by the Louisiana Department of Health. Gov. John Bel Edwards and the department say the deep cut jeopardizes essential health services because Medicaid, which provides funding for most of those programs, is jointly funded by the state and the federal governments.

The LDH budget as it emerged from the House Appropriations Committee on Monday was $12.6 billion dollars, down from the $12.8 billion total for the current fiscal year. Total direct General Fund appropriations for LDH in the current budget is $2.1 billion. The federal government's share of the LDH budget is $9.3 billion. A combination of dedicated funds, fees and other state funds also go to LDH.

Robert Johhannessen, LDH's communications director, says in an email to The Independent that the cut to LDH funding is far deeper than the budget figure indicates.

"In Louisiana, the general ratio is that the state pays 38 percent of the cost of Medicaid while the feds cover 62 percent," Johhannessen explains. "Thus for every state dollar that is reduced, the Medicaid program loses two more dollars. Therefore, a funding reduction to LDH of $235 million in state General Fund dollars equates to an almost three-quarters of a billion dollar overall spending reduction to Medicaid-funded programs."

A reduction of that magnitude will send significant ripples across the state, according to Jan Moller of the Louisiana Budget Project.

"So, when the Legislature cuts $235 million from Medicaid they are actually taking around $750 million from healthcare services that otherwise would support doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other providers in every region of the state," Moller says.

Moller points out that the Medicaid expansion program that provides healthcare coverage to working people living just above the poverty line is 95 percent funded by the federal government.

HB1 does not specify where the cuts are to be made, leaving the choices that would need to be made if the cuts stand up to the Edwards administration, which opposes them.

In a Tuesday press conference after the House Appropriations Committee voted to make the cut but two days prior to the vote of the full House, Edwards administration leaders outlined the kinds of cuts that would result from reductions of that magnitude being made in LDH's budget.

Included on the list of programs that would be jeopardized by the funding cut were prescription drug coverage for 600,000 Louisiana adults (including disabled adults), elimination of more than 120 psychiatric beds across South Louisiana, eliminating the state's public health program to combat the insect-borne Zika virus, ending school based health programs, and deep staff cuts in the department, which would reduce support for other programs.

During the floor debate on the LDH cuts and a $69.8 million cut in funding for the Department of Children and Family Services, Democrats like Rep. Sam Jones of Franklin and Rep. Malinda White of Bogalusa argued that staffing cuts amount to reductions in services. The House Republican majority was not moved, repeatedly rejecting amendments that would have restored funding for now vacant staff positions in both departments.

In a statement issued on Thursday after the House voted to approve HB1 and the cuts, Edwards attacked the House budget:

Their budget guts health care, children's services and veterans services to levels that endanger the health and welfare of the people of Louisiana. When politicians craft policies without the input of experts in the field, you know you're getting a bad deal, and that's how this budget was drafted. It's time to craft a bipartisan, sustainable solution for Louisiana. I look forward to working with the Senate to craft a responsible budget that we're adequately funding the people's priorities.

HB1 will now go to the Senate where it will be referred to the Senate Finance Committee, which is chaired by Ville Platte Sen. Eric LaFleur. House leaders say they got the bill to the Senate earlier this year than in previous years, giving the upper chamber more time to work on it.

One notable aspect of this year's budget action in the House has been the new degree of discipline over the process when compared to 2016. In 2016, Rep. Cameron Henry's first year as Appropriations Chair, the budget that emerged from his committee underwent a fairly drastic transformation by way of amendments approved in House floor debate.

On Thursday there was debate, but the only substantive change made to HB1 was to strip an attempt by Rep. Valerie Hodges to divert $190 million in federal disaster relief money targeted for homeowners to fund a flood control project in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The discipline in the House this year indicates that the Republican majority under the leadership of Rep. Lance Harris of Alexandria has tightened its grip on control of the House and the various levers of power there. The extent of that control will truly be tested in the final weeks of the session when the Senate completes its work on HB1 and sends what is likely to be a sharply revised bill back to the House for concurrence.

A conference committee settlement of the differences in the two version appears certain, although what that might look like is not in any way clear now. It remains to be seen how much the House can impose its brand of fiscal discipline on the Senate, if at all.
White Facebook

Lamar White Jr. has the Midas touch. The Louisiana blogger and bane of conservative politicians best known for his widely read CenLamar blog, has pulled off a coup in the emerging realm of nonprofit online journalism by securing a content agreement with The Daily Kingfish ahead of the launch of The Bayou Brief.

The former is an award-winning, frequently visited progressive blog devoted to Louisiana politics that has been publishing for more than a decade and has attracted the attention of 650,000 readers as well as The Washington Post, The Rachel Maddow Show, Mother Jones, Roll Call and other media outlets.

White announced this week that The Bayou Brief has acquired The Daily Kingfishs content, including thousands of archived articles, and will roll the Kingfishs thousands of followers and email subscribers into The Bayou Briefs email and social media fold, creating what will be the states largest, most robust progressive news and opinion web operation.

When we decided to launch The Bayou Brief, we recognized the importance of putting all hands on deck, publisher Lamar White, Jr. says in a release announcing the acquisition. We promise to be faithful stewards of the important work that The Daily Kingfish published. Its a part of Louisianas history, and its audience are a part of our future.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Areas of patchy fog early. Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High near 80F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 64F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
MURPHYSBORO  By mid-afternoon Thursday, Todd Hughes had already made four trips back and forth across Carbon Lake in Murphysboro, ferrying neighbors to dry land for work and school.

He doesn't normally travel by boat across Carbon Lake  he'd actually prefer the road that leads to his home. But, right now, that street is impassable by car or truck, buried under several feet of water. Down the watery roadway, on the other side of dry land are parked at least seven trucks and cars and a van, some right at water's edge, where a barricade warns people to not cross.

He and some of his neighbors must now use a boat or canoe to travel from their homes to dry land, an incidental byproduct of this past week's rains and flooding. Two empty boats were seen off the lake area, one parked near where Hughes left his, another belonging to Brett Basden, anchored near a street sign that appeared to be buried under at least four to five feet of water.

This is the third time that Hughes said he has experienced such flooding off Carbon Lake, but the first time for his friend, Hillary Blackmon.

"I think it's an adventure," Blackmon said. "It's my first time experiencing it. A few days from now, I might not be saying that. But right now, it's an adventure."

Hughes, who works in construction, is away from work now because of the rain and weather. He has life jackets in his boat for any passengers wanting to wear them.

A lake 8 to 10 feet higher

On Thursday afternoon, brisk temperatures had people bundled up in jackets. Hughes gave a tour around the lake, motoring past one home in which the porch appeared to be inches away from the swollen lake water and another home a few yards away from the lake's edge.

Across the lake, he pointed out his own home, hidden behind a thick canopy of trees, a swing seemingly suspended in the water that he said one could simply walk out to. Near the middle of the lake he pointed out a lake clubhouse, whose bottom floor he said was covered by the water he estimated had risen 8 to 10 feet.

Another Carbon Lake resident, Roy Sumner, said he's been kayaking across the lake since Tuesday morning. Though Carbon Lake Road has been flooded about seven or eight times in the 22 years he's lived on the lake, he and others could drive out on an old railroad bed that was converted into a road, what he said Hughes calls "high street." The last time both the Carbon Lake Road and the high street roads were covered by water was in the flooding of 2011.

While he's paddling, he said he's thinking about how fortunate he is.

"Im thinking Im glad my house is on high ground," Sumner said, "and I feel bad for people who are on Highway 3 or some of the lower-lying areas cause its a nightmare."

"Our houses are not in danger," Sumner said, "Were just inconvenienced  When Im paddling across the lake, thats what Im thinking "

During the past few days, when he went to his vehicle, he ran into a neighbor he hadn't seen in a while.

"There are kayaks, boats and canoes all over the place, Sumner said. Neighbors you havent talked to in a while, you get a chance to visit with them. Thats a nice positive.

A common flood occurrence

Though some in emergency management said it is not uncommon for people to resort to using boats and canoes to maneuver through life during times of flooding, they didn't have information on how often that has happened or is happening this time.

Ryan Buckingham, director of Franklin County Emergency Management, said it was not uncommon in his region, although he was only aware of about one family in rural West Frankfort who might currently be using a boat to travel.

In Union County, at least one or two families in Fair City, an area about eight miles south of Jonesboro, are using boats to travel from their homes to drier land and back, according to Dana Pearson, director of the Union County Emergency Management Agency. In the years he's been with the EMA, he said he's not heard of any incidents with flood-time boaters, but is aware that is does happen.

"It's not uncommon," Pearson said.

He noted, though, that last summer, county engineers constructed an alternate road into and out of Fair City for times such as this, making the gravel-topped road that withstood the recent rains.

While other areas are more focused on the flooding created from this past weekend's and past few days rains, officials in the Union County area have their eyes fixed on the Mississippi River and the Missouri River, the latter of which flows into the Mississippi, Pearson said. He said rains and water from farther north are flowing into and trickling into these rivers, which could cause them to overflow levees in the Union County area.

Life with the water

This area is expected to gain another inch of rain from rainfall expected overnight into Friday morning, according to Robin Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. On Thursday, 67/100 of an inch of rain was recorded in the Carbondale area, he said.

The weather forecast over the next few days is expected to be dry, with Friday expected to be partly sunny with high winds and a high of 62 degrees and Saturday having "pleasant" temperatures with sunny/partly cloudy skies. Over the next few days, the temperatures are expected to be in the high 60s and low 70s, possibly reaching 80 degrees on Tuesday, Smith said. The dry weather is expected to last until Wednesday, when rain can return, Smith said.

Throughout the area, emergency management officials are still watching the weather forecasts and staying aware of the crests of rivers and lakes. Smith said based on figures from the Mississippi River at Chester and Cape Girardeau, the river at Grand Tower is expected to continue to rise until at least Sunday morning.

Perry County declares disaster

On a recommendation from Emergency Management director Chuck Genesio, Perry County Board Chairman James Epplin declared "a state of disaster" in the county Thursday.

In a news release, Perry County officials noted that "multiple roadways had sustained considerable damage and some continue to remain closed due to flooding and wash outs." Several homes in Du Quoin, Pinckneyville and elsewhere in the county have been impacted by the damage, according to the news release.

Meanwhile, in Jackson County, officials closed the Big Muddy River to recreational boat traffic until further notice. Thursday afternoon, the water beneath the Big Muddy River Bridge on Illinois 13 appeared to be 10 to 12 feet beneath the bottom of the bridge. A few blocks away, the flood waters appeared a few inches shy of being level with the Route 127 roadway.

Jackson County officials have also restricted access to the Big Muddy and Mississippi levees to levee commission personnel only. Jackson County officials reported in a news release they "remain cautiously optimistic" with recent forecasts on the Big Muddy and Mississippi rivers, noting that the Big Muddy River was expected to crest Thursday evening, two inches below its record of 40.5.

"County officials, in coordination with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, have been in regular contact with local levee commissioners and representatives from the Village of De Soto, City of Grand Tower, City of Murphysboro, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the National Weather Service, to insure situational awareness," read part of the Jackson County news release.

In Franklin County, Emergency management director Ryan Buckingham noted that Friday would be the final day for the Disaster Resource Center, a sort of one-stop shopping central for people needing information and questions answered about the recent flooding.

Until 6 p.m. Friday, people can visit the West Frankfort Police and Fire Department, at 201 Nolen St., and seek information from such agencies as the Franklin County Health Department; the American Red Cross; and Baptist Disaster Relief.

People are reminded to not drive around barricades or through flooded roadways. For information on a particular county's Emergency Management Agency's forecasts and other news, visit http://tinyurl.com/ILemas.
CHESTER  Officials at Chester Community Unit School District 139 have decided to tack on another day to their school calendar this year, making up time missed last year for the funeral of a Chester Police Officer who died in the line of duty in October.

Hundreds of people gathered in the Chester High School gym on Nov. 3, for the funeral of Officer James Brockmeyer, 22, who died from injuries he suffered in a crash after a high-speed chase. Students were dismissed early one day and did not attend school another day, so the community could prepare for the wake and funeral.

The decision to make May 19 the districts final day of attendance was finalized during the school boards April meeting. It comes after the Illinois State Board of Education decided earlier this year that the one full day and one partial day the school was not in session in November for the funeral did not qualify as an interrupted school day. As a result, the school could have lost nearly $20,000 in state funding next year.

Superintendent for CUSD 139, Rick Goodman, met with Tony Smith, the state superintendent of schools, which led to the state board recommending the district seek a waiver, which would petition both the state Senate and House of Representatives to provide funding citing special circumstances.

They think we would have a chance to get it, so thats kind of what we decided to do, Goodman said.

It was a gamble if the waiver would go through or not, he said, adding that the uncertainty made them go ahead with the calendar change.

Adding just one day wont actually make up the full time missed last year. Because the school was only in attendance for three hours one of the two days in question, the state considered it to be a full day of non-attendance. However, Goodman and Mitch Hammel, school board president for CUSD 139, said they have their hopes pinned on House Bill 1254, which would allow for emergency use of schools for funerals to qualify for an interrupted day. Should this bill pass, the school could still receive partial funding, but there are no guarantees.

Goodman said getting at least one of the two days of funding is crucial. He said the district can barely afford to lose $1, let alone close to $20,000  all the more reason they added the extra day.

Ill be quite honest with you, we operate in the red. So, we just figured we better take the guess work out of it and go ahead and make the day up, Goodman said.

Goodman and Hammel both said while this whole process has been frustrating, they would not change a thing.

Goodman explained that after Brockmeyer died, a lot of discussions were had as to where the funeral could be held locally. He said there was a need to hold 700 to 900 first responders on top of the large expected community turnout.

Chester High School was the only place that could do that.

However, Goodman said that once they decided to open the school up for the service, it was out of his hands. Police officials were then in charge of planning the event.

The term they use is, commandeer, Goodman said, explaining they were given orders to step back. While he was happy to do so, Goodman said this took away their ability to choose dates and times that would impact the school the least.

By doing that we did not have any flexibility as far as the times that things could occur, he said.

Goodman explained that how the school reacted was in line with what the community wanted and needed them to do.

This, if you get right down to it, is a facility that is ran and operated by local taxpayers, Goodman said. There was never any thought in mind to say no.

Hammel said he hopes the school will never to have make such a decision again, but if it does, he knows it will not do anything different.

If we have a situation like this we would not hesitate to do the same thing as what we did, Hammel said.
CARBONDALE  Crews worked through the night Thursday in Union County to contain a large sand boil on the Mississippi River levee near Wolf Lake.

On Friday morning, Dana Pearson, director of Union County Emergency Management Agency, said the boil was contained, and staff will continue to monitor the site.

A sand boil occurs when pressure on the water side of a levee forces water and soil or sand to the surface of the other side of the levee. Sand boils can lead to levee failure.

A few small sand boils popped up this morning, but that is to be expected with the river levels we have, Pearson said Friday. At 7 p.m. tonight, if nothing changes, we will suspend operations and be in a monitoring mode.

Union County Sheriff and EMA advised residents in low-lying areas to consider evacuating until river stages fall to safe levels. Those remaining are asked to gather items of personal need, such as medication and forms of personal identification, to aid in quick evacuation in the case of a levee breech.

Until further notice, normal siren testing in the county has been suspended. In the event of a levee breach or flooding situation, the tornado sirens will be active three minutes to warn residents of Wolf Lake, Ware and the surrounding areas.

The river is predicted to crest 12 feet over flood stage. With no rain in the weather forecast until Thursday, Pearson is hopeful that river levels will begin to recede after the crest.

Alexander County Highway Department is fighting a sand boil near McClure, but everything seems to be holding, according to Bob Lindsay, of the highway department.

We are holding our own right now, Lindsay said.

The river rose 6 to 10 inches Thursday night, and county officials were expecting it to rise another 6 to 10 inches Friday.

Derek Misner, Jackson County Emergency Agency director, said the situation there remained the same on Friday as it had in previous days. The Big Muddy River is closed to recreational traffic, and access to all Big Muddy and Mississippi levees is restricted to levee commission personnel only.

The good news is that we dont have anything new to report, Misner said.

The Big Muddy River has crested at Murphysboro. Misner said it will hold at its current level for a bit, then begin to drop.

For now, flooding in Randolph County seems stable. Larry Willis, public information officer for Randolph County Emergency Management Agency, said the bridge across the Mississippi River at Chester remains closed. The river is expected to crest at 45 feet Saturday or Sunday.

All of the roads that normally go under went under, Willis said.

He added that flood waters came up fast and appear to be receding quickly.

Residents in low-lying or flood-prone areas are asked to stay vigilant until rivers return to safe levels.
CARBONDALE  Former Gov. Jim Edgar, speaking on the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus Thursday evening, said that House Speaker Michael Madigan is not the villain hes often made out to be in the media and by his political opponents.

He should be maligned a little bit but the long serving speaker from Chicago has been overly maligned, Edgar said.

He is not the problem, said the former Republican governor who held Illinois highest office from 1991 to 1999, all but two years of which Madigan served as speaker. He might be a little bit of the problem, but he is not the big problem.

Who does Edgar think is the problem?

While he never mentioned Gov. Bruce Rauner by name, his analysis of the political standoff between Rauner and Madigan that has stretched on for 23 months and wreaked havoc on SIU was popular with much of the audience gathered in a Student Center ballroom to hear his talk sponsored by the SIU Paul Simon Public Policy Institute.

Edgar went on to say that its a myth that Madigan is the most powerful person in Illinois government. Even a weak governor has far more power than the speaker does, Edgar said, altering his words mid-sentence. Not weak  there is no weak governor. Illinois is a strong governor state. Even a somewhat incompetent governor has more power than Mike Madigan.

As Edgar paused momentarily  and then settled on the word incompetent - there was a brief yet boisterous eruption of applause and laughter among the crowd. Edgar provided this critique of the ongoing budget stalemate in response to a question from Jak Tichenor, the policy institutes interim director, following Edgars prepared remarks.

First noting that Edgar had worked with Madigan and a Democratic Senate president while he was governor, Tichenor then asked him what the secret was to working across party lines, and with Madigan, given that the current political climate makes a full budget deal seem ever more elusive.

Edgar acknowledged that Madigan could be extremely difficult to negotiate with. He joked that when he had to undergo quadruple bypass in his first term and while he was running for a second, that he dedicated one of those to Madigan.

But, he added, Mike Madigan is not the bad person that hes made out to be. Is he difficult? Yes. Is he wrong? Yes. Often. But its not all his fault. And, I found in my last years as governor  he was much more supportive of my efforts to balance the budget than my two Republican leaders were, Edgar said. The former governor said he used to complain to the Republicans that legislators belonging to both parties wanted to spend more money than the state had, but at least the Democrats were willing to raise taxes to foot the bill.

You guys just want to spend money  not maybe for health care or for some of the things for the poor, but for other things  but you dont want to raise the taxes to pay for it, Edgar said he recalled telling Republican members of the House and Senate.

Asked what advice he would give to the current power players who can't seem to work out their differences, Edgar suggested they stop making it personal.

Edgar was invited to campus to deliver the keynote speak of the institutes spring 2017 event schedule celebrating the 20th anniversary of the institutes founding in 1997. Edgar signed the documents creating the institute at SIU Carbondale on Sept. 18, 1995, two years before the late Simon retired from the U.S. Senate in 1997.

Mike Lawrence, Edgars press secretary and senior policy adviser, joined the institute as associate director in 1997 and worked under Simon. From opposing political parties, Simon and Lawrence emphasized bipartisanship in the institutes community outreach, research and guest speakers.

Lawrence, also a longtime state government reporter well regarded in his field, was named director in 2004 following Simons death. After Lawrences retirement in 2008, renowned Iowa-based political reporter David Yepsen, an expert on the presidential caucus campaigns in that state, was named executive director, a position he held from 2009 until his retirement in 2016. Tichenor, a noted Illinois veteran broadcast journalist, was tapped to serve as interim director following Yepsens retirement. There have only been four full-fledged directors in the institutions history, in addition to a few interim directors.

Its been close to 14 years since Simon passed away, but his legacy lives on in the institute he founded and those who followed as director in his footsteps, Edgar said Thursday. He said the institute is much to credit for the impressive list of high-profile people who have visited SIU over the years.

Further, Edgar said that hes been impressed with the research-based body of work coming from the institute that has offered practical solutions to real problems  such as the need to improve access to dental care for children in rural Southern Illinois, he mentioned as one example. Too often, he said, the work of academic research sits on a shelf and is never read because it lacks a practical application.

This institute has served SIU, the state of Illinois, the people of Southern Illinois, excellent  better than anyone could have ever hoped for.

And Im sure someplace up there, wherever Paul is, hes looking down tonight and hes extremely proud of what this institute has done, Edgar said in closing his prepared remarks.

But also knowing Paul Simon, hes not going to dwell too much on the accomplishments. Im sure hes saying, All right, now what are we going to do for the next 20 years?
The measure would automatically register qualified voters when they visit Secretary of State's offices and a handful of other state agencies unless they decide to opt out. It moves to the House after a 48-0 vote in the Senate on Friday. Democratic state Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill is sponsoring the measure. He says it would streamline voter registration and bolster participation.
HARRISBURG  About 100 people gathered Thursday, May 4, in Harrisburg for the 7th Annual Saline County Walk Around the Block, an annual event held in recognition of National Childrens Mental Health Awareness Day.

Mayor John McPeek welcomed the attendees with a short speech acknowledging that childrens mental health issues were of nationwide concern. McPeek expressed pride in the community for showing support for this challenging issue, and thanked law enforcement and community officials for attending.

Holly Frymire, Event Coordinator, met participants at the door to the Harris-Pruett Building on Church Street and gave them green ribbons to wear to support of youth mental health.

I wish the weather were better, but we have a great turnout, Frymire said.

Frymmire said originally participants were to gather in front of the courthouse to listen to speakers and circle the square before releasing green balloons.

According to the Child and Youth Mental Planning Partnership, the color green is worn to associate a new refreshing meaning with the colors link to mental health issues. According to the group, in the 1800's, the color green was used to single out people who were labeled insane.

Angie Hampton CEO of the Egyptian Health Department said she has been fortunate to be the Director of the department for each of the seven years the event, which includes events in Harrisburg, Carmi, Shawneetown and McLeansboro.

We are excited this program is expanding, and are happy to have Hamilton County participating this year, Hampton said.

Hampton said the department is grateful for the support of SAMSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a Federal Behavioral Health Agency that funds the departments childrens mental health initiative called Project Connect 2.0.

About one in five kids experiences a diagnosable mental health disorder, but unfortunately, there are about 10 years between the time when the symptoms start and when the child gets help, Hampton said. We want to lessen that time period, so we work bring awareness to these issues.

Dr. Matt Buckman, Clinical Director of the Child & Adolescent Division at EHD said that people generally acknowledge disorders, like ADHD because they are behavioral and tend to present symptoms outside the body, but kids who are afflicted with anxiety or depression are suffering inside, but no one really notices.

Many kids are suffering from trauma, Buckman said. A lot of our families have experienced adversity, and unfortunately, long term exposure to stress does affect the chemicals in our brain, and that affects our bodies.

Buckman said children affected by disorders like anxiety or depression may seem like they are completely getting it, and totally paying attention or are the best kids in the classroom, but they are suffering, and the symptoms might be as simple as their grades going down.

Buckman said that EHD has several different initiatives ongoing in the region. Recently they offered a youth mental health first aid training to teachers in the Harrisburg School District, in Hamilton County, and in several different counties throughout Southeastern Illinois.

We are trying to see that mental health is an issue that affects all of us, Buckman said. And we want to look for it, identify it, and help people to get help.

Buckman said that their trainings help people to begin to notice certain symptoms that may be indicators of mental health challenges.

For instance, if we notice a child having extreme emotional reactions to things that may be beyond what other kids are experiencing, whether that is in reaction to poor grades, or someone not wanting to be friends with them, then that emotion may be a sign and we might want to to do something a little bit different for that child.

Other indicators might include acting out, fighting, bullying at a young age.

And of course, expressions of self harm, are to be taken seriously.  Buckman said.

For more information about the services provided by the Egyptian County Health department visit their website at Egyptian.org and click on the tab for the child and adolescent services division.

More information about mental health issues and how they affect the community can be found at www.systemcare.org.
To the Editor:

Rep. John Shimkus promised that he and Rep. Mike Bost would carry ideas back from the Future of coal in Southern Illinois" forum (The Southern" April 24) to Washington.

The biggest problem Illinois coal faces is unfair competition from Wyoming Powder Basin Coal because of the lack of enforcement of federal regulations.

The Powder Basin Coal is from Federal Land. St. Louis Peabody and Arch have contracts to mine the coal. The federal taxpayer is supposed to get a fair return for their coal. The companies illegally cooperate to keep the bids low. The coal companies set up shell companies to illegally reduce their royalties. They sell the coal to the shell company at a cheap rate and pay the royalty on the cheap rate, and then the shell company sells the coal to the end user at a much higher rate. Shimkus and Bost should insist that the government enforce the laws.

By burning Wyomings low sulfur coal, coal plants can avoid installing scrubbers. However, Illinois coal company owners have said they would install the scrubbers if the power plants would burn their Illinois coal.

It is up to Shimkus and Bost to insist that Peabody, Arch, and the other companies mining our public land coal in Wyoming pay the royalties that are due. This is one of the best ways they can promote the future of coal in Southern Illinois and the coal communities. Tell your Illinois Congressman to fix the royalty problems so we can burn Illinois coal.

Ronald G. Trimmer

Mitchell
To the Editor:

On April 29, Carbondale City Council member Navreet Kang shared a video on Facebook depicting a group of protesters blocking a road, and then being run over by a car. His caption began, If you protest in the middle of the road, you deserve to be run over.

Its sickening to see that the first reaction to a protest is to run the participants over, possibly maiming or killing people over an inconvenience. Kang and other commenters insisted that he is not advocating immediate violence toward protesters; however, they then went on to praise the driver and muse about running over people themselves.

As a participant in the Womens March in January, I witnessed several cars rev their engines at stragglers who werent able to cross the street, in the crosswalk, as fast as they thought they should. Its frightening to see Kangs supporters become gleeful at the idea of running over protesters.

This isnt a political issue  its a safety issue. Kang is contributing to a threatening and hostile environment, whether directly or indirectly. We can not accept an elected official that puts us in danger for exercising our rights.

Michelle Peek

Carbondale
Community members gathered at First Presbyterian Church in Orangeburg on Thursday, joining millions of others across the country who took the time to pray for the nation during the National Day of Prayer.

The church was open for 24 hours for silent prayers and meditation for this years observance.

We just feel like its important to remember where all of our blessings come from, and they obviously come from God. This is the least we can do. I just think that the more of us that pray, the more opportunity we have to demonstrate Christs love, Christian Education Director Kaye Borgstedt said.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman.

The Rev. Danny Massie, interim pastor at First Presbyterian, led a devotion at noon Thursday, admonishing those gathered to not underestimate the power of prayer.

The foundation stones of democracy and freedom are both spiritual and moral, Massie said. They rest upon truths that were given and exemplified by Christ.

He read from Psalm 67, which reads in part: God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

Let us resolve to do what we can do to preserve the truth, share the truth and live by the truth in our own lives, Massie said. The U.S. must not lose its foundational truths that involve praying continually for the betterment of the nation and world.

In his own prayer, Massie thanked God for the blessed privilege of prayer and asked that God purge hatred from every heart and give individuals the wisdom, courage and love to live in peace with themselves and their neighbors.

The Rev. Will Harper, pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Orangeburg, said he attended the service as an intentional way to gather in prayer with fellow Christians.

Basically our lives get so busy that you have to be intentional. And I have to be intentional to really set aside time to deepen my prayer life. One of the reasons I came is to respond to that, Harper said.

He added, Life is difficult. As the pastor said, we need grounding. We can lose our grounding sometimes. I dont always take part in the National Day of Prayer because I think it can be politicized too much, but I just find its harder and harder in our culture to find support and confidence.

Its important for Christians to spend time together and to pray together. So Im going to do everything that I can to help my prayer life in that way.

Massie said, I think one of the things we really enjoy doing  and we dont do it often enough  is doing things ecumenically with other congregations in the community. But I think this congregation really loves doing that. We have more things in common than we have different.
One of Orangeburg's two Bi-Lo grocery stores is closing.

Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Bi-Lo, announced it will be closing its store at 365 Riverside Drive in June. The exact date of the closure is uncertain.

"This decision was not made lightly. From time to time, the successful execution of our strategy will require us to make the difficult decision to close underperforming stores, Southeastern Grocers Regional Vice President Frank Archer said.

The store employs about 73. Archer says the employees were the first to learn of the closure and opportunities for all associates are being actively pursued at nearby stores."

"Until the store closes, we will work hard to continue delivering the great service and value our customers have come to expect," Archer said. "While closing stores is never easy for any retailer, we have made this tough decision so we can reinvest in what matters most for our customers  providing the quality, service and value they have come to expect from us."

The store at the Grove Park shopping center at 1370 Chestnut St. will remain open. The Bi-Lo stores in St. Matthews and Bamberg will also remain open.

Orangeburg resident Chris Smith said he shops at the Edisto Village Bi-Lo all the time, with Wednesdays being his main shopping day.

"It is a shame," Smith said. "I like Bi-Lo."

He does not have any plans to shop at the other Bi-Lo in town, saying it is a little too far away.

John Johnson said the store closing "is not going to be too good."

"Im here a two or three times a week," he said. Johnson does not know where he is going to shop now.

"I have been shopping in Bi-Lo for years. I can come in here and I can go right to things that I want to get. You know where everything is, he said. It is close to me and I like to come in here and shop."

Bi-Lo is the anchor store in the Edisto Village shopping plaza. Georgia-based Malon D. Mimms Co. LLC owns the property.

"Malon D. Mimms Company has had a longstanding relationship with Bi-Lo, and we are sorry to see them leave Edisto Village," Malon Mimms General Counsel Betty Nasuti said. "As the owner of nine retail shopping centers in South Carolina, Malon D. Mimms Company remains committed to this market."

"Our talented team of leasing agents, which specializes in back filling vacant space previously occupied by national retailers and grocery stores, is aggressively working to bring another quality anchor to the center," Nasuti said.

The store has been at the location since at least the 1980s. The Bi-Lo moved into the space formerly occupied by the Sky City store.

Other stores located in the shopping plaza include Rainbow, CitiTrends, Badcock Furniture, Maxway, a Rent-A-Center and a Check-Into-Cash.

The loss of the shopping center's Bi-Lo comes about two years after the Family Dollar left the plaza for a free-standing building across the street.

Walmarts Neighborhood Market opened across the street from Edisto Village shopping Center in 2015.
A bill designed to merge Orangeburg Countys three school districts into one hasnt raced through the House with the same speed it moved through the Senate.

With only one week left to consider it, some lawmakers are hoping theyll have more time to examine the bill.

Rep. Jerry Govan said, This is the absolute worst time of the year to send across a bill.

Theres so many other things that are going on, the Orangeburg Democrat added. We havent had a chance to talk about it yet.

Orangeburg Countys senators introduced the bill last week to consolidate the countys districts on July 1, 2019. The Senate passed the bill, with the House receiving it this week.

The bill has now been referred to Orangeburg County delegation members with only one week of work remaining in Columbia.

Lawmakers spent Thursday working on several other pieces of legislation and had not even looked at the consolidation plan, meaning the next opportunity to discuss it will not be until next week, Govan said.

Rep. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, said lawmakers will be discussing it Monday and may need to make changes to the bill before we are comfortable passing it.

We all have some areas within the bill that we have some questions about, he said. If the legislation is going to pass this year, it would probably require some amendments.

Ott said he will be reading through the bill over the weekend and wants the delegation to hear from constituents as well.

Ott wants a change made to the wording in the bill regarding any future school closings.

The bill currently states that no elementary or middle school may be closed until two public hearings are held at least two weeks apart within the affected attendance area.

A high school may not be closed without holding the same public hearings. In addition, the affected attendance area also has to first approve of the closing by a referendum.

I want it to be a referendum across the board, Ott said.

He added that the board composition is an issue for me as well.

The bill would create a single school board with members elected from nine single-member districts.

Ott said rather than follow the districts outlined in the bill, hed prefer to have the school board districts mirror the districts of County Council.

Seven members coming from the districts of the County Council members, he said. You wouldnt have to argue about board district lines because theyre already there.

Ott said these seven members plus two at-large members would ensure fair representation for the rural parts of Orangeburg County.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said there is still a possibility the bill could get passed before lawmakers end their work for the year.

I think that depends on how the Senate responds, she said. It would be up to the Senate to accept any changes that are made.

The local delegation will need to discuss concerns with the current bill and make any needed amendments.

Cobb-Hunter said lawmakers will be taking into account the concerns constituents expressed the last time a consolidation bill was introduced, during the 2013-2014 session.

We well remember the opposition from before and the reasons for that, she said. The House will try to address those concerns.

If any amendments are made to the bill, it will be sent back to the Senate to either concur with the proposed changes or deny them.

Ott said he is supportive of consolidation in theory but added, I dont want to be forced to make a decision based on a deadline.

The bottom line for me is, I want to make sure we take our time and get it right, he said. I am for whats in the best interest of the students.
On Saturday 22nd April, 2017, ten GHS Young Leaders travelled, with four teachers, to Canouan, where seven of them provided their services as dancers, M.Cs, decorators and photographers at two weddings there.





The remaining three girls journeyed to Mayreau to work as photographer and finger food chefs/servers at a wedding on that island.





In the true spirit of volunteerism, Uncle Chenny offered the Canouan team free transportation in his taxi, and Uncle Albert, also a native of Canouan, volunteered his services to transport the three Young Leaders in his boat, Gotta Go, to Saline Bay, Mayreau.





The varied tasks undertaken by the Young Leaders ensured that each couples day flowed as smoothly and beautifully as possible.





For Mr. Brannay and Charleen Francois, the girls decorated the church, performed dances and hosted their reception. The other couple from Canouan, Mr. Gale James and Mrs. Caniesha James, had the Young Leaders decorate their reception venue.





At the wedding of Mr Voistin George and Hazel Ann George on Mayreau, the Young Leaders served finger foods, which were provided by the Young Leaders team, and made the wedding programmes.

Wedding photo and video albums of the weddings were prepared by a GHS Young Leader, and presented to the brides on Sunday before the girls returned to mainland St. Vincent.





No doubt, the highlights of the Canouan and Mayreau volunteering experiences were the cultural activities, which involved the dancing of the flags and the wedding cakes. Usually, the bride will assign a family member, God parent or villager to dance her cake and flag, and the groom will do likewise.





These age-old Grenadine traditions involve the young and the old in the communities where the brides and the grooms live, and commonly take place on the morning of the wedding, with the brides flag and cake being danced from one side of the village, and the grooms flag and cake from the other side of the village. The flag and cake dancers, accompanied by string band music (drums and guitars), finally meet at a pre-arranged place  quite often the location where the reception will be held later on in the day.





Villagers, family members and bride and groom are involved in the procession through the village, and there is an air of festivity. An important part of the tradition, the dancers carefully dance and hold the grooms flag and cake purposefully higher than those of the bride  symbolizing the wifes submission to her husband, i.e.the husbands dominance in the union of marriage.





One Young Leader was fortunate to have participated briefly in the dancing of the grooms cake in Canouan. As instructed, she ensured that she did not drop the cake while dancing.





The flights to and from Canouan were sponsored by members of the GHS New York alumnae. The GHS RBTT Young Leaders Team sends a special thank you to them for their generosity.
Randy Shallow and Friekesha Douglas (left), in separate testimonies, claimed to have been beaten by police officers during a raid on their apartment, which resulted in the seizure of the guns and ammunition below.





Twenty-three-year-old Friekesha Douglas, charged in connection with a major gun and ammunition haul at Lowmans Bay on January 18, 2017, claims she and her boyfriend, Randy Shallow, 31, were brutally beaten by the police officers who raided their home, and the blows caused her pregnancy to come to a pre-mature end.





Douglas leveled the allegation under cross-examination by Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche, as the trial continued at the Serious Offences Court on Tuesday.





Douglas and Shallow, both of Lowmans Leeward, are charged jointly with possession of a prohibited weapon, to wit, a submachine gun, and having a component part of a prohibited weapon, to wit, a magazine of an AK47 rifle.





The couple is also charged jointly with possession, without licences, of a .38 revolver, a glock pistol, 14 rounds of .40 ammunition, 42 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one round of .38 ammunition and one round of 7.62 ammunition.





Attorney Grant Connell is representing the couple.





In her testimony on Tuesday, Douglas told the Court that she was beaten by two of the police officers who raided their Lowmans Bay apartment that morning, while Shallow was beaten by about five.

She said a male officer struck her in her back, causing her to fall to the ground, and while she was getting up, the officer struck her on her left side.





"I turn to him (officer) and told him I was pregnant, suppose he mek me lose the child. He said, so, me nah (expletive) care.





She claimed she was also slapped by a female officer whom she identified as Asursha Miller.

The woman said that the other officers beat her boyfriend for about 15 to 20 minutes causing him to bleed from his mouth.





According to her, Shallow did not resist, as an officer she identified as Sergeant Morgan administered the blows.





Morgan, Douglas recalled, had also shouted to a police officer, who was holding a gun to her boyfriends head, and ordered the officer to "kill him.





Douglas added that she was handcuffed, while Shallow was handcuffed and shackled around his ankles. They were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Central Police Station, and it was then she realized she was bleeding from her vagina.





When questioned by the Senior Prosecutor, Douglas said she was pregnant when the officers were beating her, but did not know how far she was into her pregnancy.





According to her, she last had her menstrual cycle on November 3, 2016.





"How did you know you were pregnant? Delpleche asked the accused, who explained that she did a test.

Douglas however added that she was no longer pregnant, when further questioned by the prosecutor.

"What curtailed the pregnancy? Delpleche asked the woman who replied, "The lashes I got.

But Douglas admitted that she did not receive a medical report to that effect.





Shallow, who had testified just before Douglas, told the Court that there were about ten police officers on the raid, but only about seven entered their apartment, and he was never shown a warrant. He claimed to being struck in his face, when he asked to be shown a warrant.





Both defendants said two officers walked into their bedroom with two guns and told them, "Watch what we found.





Shallow said five officers beat him for about 20 minutes, using their hands, feet, guns and flashlights, after which he was handcuffed, shackled by the ankles and accused of killing a police officer some years ago.

Shallow said P.C Chambers and a female officer did not strike him, but were instead beating his girlfriend.

"They (officers) were telling me to own the guns. I said, I cant own what I dont know about, Shallow testified.

The couple said they were not shown any ammunition until they got to CID, where they were also shown two ski masks which the police said they had found at their apartment.





They both told the Court that they were medically examined, but were not issued injury forms.

The prosecutions evidence was that the guns, ammunition and magazines were found on a window ledge inside the couples bedroom.

Both defendants, in their testimonies, denied knowledge of any of the items they are charged with having in their possession.





The arresting officer, Constable Philbert Chambers, admitted, in his testimony on April 3, that Shallow and Douglas had to be restrained because they were behaving aggressively, and Shallow had started to get violent.

The matter has been adjourned to May 10.
Garfield Sinclair - President of Cable and Wireless Communications Caribbean  during a meeting with media personnel here.

Garfield Sinclair, Jamaica born, is president of Cable and Wireless Communications Caribbean, trading as FLOW., assumed the post January 1, 2017.





He left here last week Wednesday after a one-day visit, during which he engaged in a series of activities. One of those was a meeting of media personnel at the St. Vincent Business Unit.





He described his swing through the region as a matter of introduction, as well as one to share his plans for the enhancement of the (technological) network that serves the SVG market.





He praised the Vincentian staff, especially Country Manager Wayne Hull, for their role in managing and maintaining the platform for technological service and enhancement here.





He alluded to his companys position in the region as being that of the biggest broadband and wireless services.

Sinclair will not be resting on his laurels. He will continue to ensure that top quality telecommunication services are available throughout the Caribbean market his company serves, and he is anxious to maintain his companys position, not as a "monopoly but as the "sole provider, as is the case in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines.





He is aware of the issues surrounding small island nations like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and he echoed the sentiment that his institution "has nothing to gain from disgruntled customers.





The Kingston born executive expressed the view that Cable and Wireless/FLOW was experienced, and that it was bent on ensuring customer satisfaction.





While here, Sinclair also met with Information Technology Minister Camillo Gonsalves, a meeting he described as "amicable. (WKA)




Left:Minister Camillo Gonsalves called on Dr. Godwin Friday to admit to the public that he had erred. Right:Dr. Godwin Friday, has made the issue of Governments lack of accountability a priority area of concern for him and his New Democratic Party.

The Leader of the Opposition has erred.





This is the assessment of Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Minister of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information, etc. as he commented on Dr Godwin Fridays claim that the International Airport Development Company (IADC) was a statutory body, and therefore, the financial statements ought to be presented in Parliament.





Friday has been calling for those statements for some time now, and as recent as last month, issued a press release in which he claimed that the IADC, established as far back as 2004, had not made public a single audited financial statement.





But Gonsalves, while speaking to members of the media last Friday, addressed the matter, saying that he was doing so in his capacity as the Minister of Information. He produced documented evidence from the Commercial and Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) where statements of the IADC 2006 through to 2013 are lodged.





"I try not to interfere with his (Fridays) publicity tour, however, what the Leader of the Opposition said about the IADC and about the absence of accounts is simply incorrect, Gonsalves said.

According to Gonsalves, Friday said that because the IADC was a statutory body.





"But it is not a statutory bodyhe made an error or he was being disingenuous, he said, and explained that it was, then would have had to be created by an Act of Parliament.





The opposition NDP has opposed the construction of the airport, Gonsalves said, and now they have moved on to say that there were no financial records for the IADC.





In short, the minister said, Friday should have indicated to the public that he erred. (DD)




Left:Robert Bermudez served as Chairman of the Board atBermudezGroup of Companies, of which the Bermudez Biscuit Co. is a subsidary. Right: Dr. George Alleyne, Mr. Bermudezs predecessor, was at one time the UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean Region.

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is pleased to announce that Mr. Robert Bermudez has been appointed as its 6th Chancellor.





The appointment came after members of the University Council accepted the recommendation of the Search Committee for the Chancellor at the Councils annual business meeting, held on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at The UWI Cave Hill Campus in Barbados. The appointment of the Chancellor of the regional university is always made in accordance with the Universitys Statute 4 which vests this responsibility solely in the Council-the highest governing body of the University.





Now formally Chancellor Designate, Mr. Bermudez is expected to serve a seven-year term beginning on July 16, 2017. He succeeds Sir George Alleyne who has served as Chancellor since 2003. The Chancellor holds the highest office in The UWI system, and its powers and responsibilities are laid down in The UWI Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations. The Search Committee selected Mr. Bermudez as the best candidate to fit into the diversity of roles assigned to this office.





Mr. Bermudez, a national of Trinidad and Tobago, has been an entrepreneur for over 40 years. He has led the growth of his family-owned business to a regional business throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, and has enjoyed a distinguished career in business, serving as either Chairman or Board Director for several other corporate bodies in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. His vision for the University outlines a keen sense of the mission, effectiveness, relevance and interdependence of academia and the economy. His professional experience as a Caribbean-wide entrepreneur with business acumen garnered from across the region, suggests that he will continue the distinguished tradition of Chancellorship that this University has maintained throughout its history.





Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Bermudez stated, "The University has had the benefit of a series of very impressive Chancellors who have provided vital insights into its governance. Maintaining the ethical order of the institution is a task not to be taken lightly. To be considered as a successor to Sir George Alleyne is in itself an honour.





In extending congratulations to the Chancellor Designate, Sir George remarked, "It is a privilege to have served as the Chancellor of my University for the last 13 years, and I was happy to preside over my final meeting of the University Council at which Mr. Robert Bermudez was appointed as Chancellor. I assured Mr. Bermudez that I will be at his service to provide any help he may wish as he transitions into his new role. I am confident that The UWI made the right choice. (Source: UWI)
Left:The Court has handed Rupert Patterson a chance to set his lifes journey along a proper and upright path. Right:Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleches assessment that Rupert Patterson was not beyond redemption held sway with the Magistrates final decision.

Rupert Austin Patterson, a 16-year-old student who pleaded guilty to firearm and ammunition possession March 13 this year, received a 3-year suspended sentence last Friday, April 28, for the crimes.





The teenager was charged with having in his possession a .22 revolver and four rounds of .22 ammunition, without licences.





Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne handed down the penalty at the Serious Offences Court following a social inquiry report on the accused, prepared by the Family Affairs Division in the Ministry of National Mobilisation.





Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche told the Court that having read the report, he formed the view that the Vermont youngster was not beyond redemption.





Though Delpleche acknowledged that the charges were serious, and the boy could be sent to prison, as he was not a juvenile, he did not recommend a penalty. He instead asked the Court to consider whether it would be more beneficial to send the boy to prison or to allow him to continue his education.





Lawyer Jomo Thomas, who mitigated on the boys behalf, asked for a non-custodial sentence.





The facts revealed that on March 12, this year, police who were on patrol in Gun Hill, Lowmans Leeward, met Patterson waking in the area of the Maryfield Hospital, coming from Ottley Hall. A search was conducted of his person, and the gun with four rounds of ammunition was found in one of the front pockets of his jacket.





When cautioned and questioned, Patterson told the police that a friend, whom he identified by an alias, had given him the gun to protect his (friends) and himself (Patterson).





When Patterson had initially appeared at the Serious Offences Court on March 13, and just after the guilty plea was entered, Prosecutor Station Sergeant Elgin Richards requested a social inquiry report on the youngster before sentencing, and the Chief Magistrate granted his request.





The boy had indicated that he was a secondary school student, but did not attend school regularly, when asked by the Magistrate. (H.H)




The Airbus A319 aircraft (pictured) is set to serve the Air Canada Rouge Winter Schedule between Toronto and SVG.

Air Canada, Canadas largest domestic and international airline, is heading for the Argyle International Airport.





According to an Air Canada Release over the weekend, the airline has added St. Vincent and the Grenadines to its Winter Schedule, December 2017 to April 2018.





The release stated that weekly flights to St. Vincent and the Grenadines have been scheduled beginning December 14, 2017 and ending on April 12, 2018, through Air Canada Rouge, the vacation and leisure airline subsidiary of Air Canada.





Bookings for the Toronto  SVG route are now open, and travellers are assured travel on Air Canadas Airbus A319 aircraft, which seats up to 142 passengers.





This is more welcomed news for SVG, following Caribbean Airlines announcement of its decision to offer direct flights between Miami and SVG, throughout the month of June, 2017.





CAL is currently offering twice weekly (Friday and Sunday) flights between Trinidad and Tobago and SVG.

The Air Canada and CAL announcements have been greeted with much excitement by persons concerned with tourism and the Argyle International Airport here.





Since it opened the international airport on February 14, 2017, other than a few chartered international flights for that occasion, SVG has found it difficult to secure commitments from major airlines, as far as providing a service to SVG is concerned.
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Permanent Mission to the United Nations says it has led the successful adoption of a UN resolution on World Creativity and Innovation Day.





St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador to the UN, I. Rhonda King, said on Friday that the resolution was successfully tabled by her Mission the day before and adopted by the UN General Assembly.





"This resolution calls for the international recognition of April 21 as the day to highlight the role of creativity and innovation in problem-solving and, by extension, the implementation of the [UN] Sustainable Development Goals and, ultimately, achieving the future we want, King said.





"Beyond the obvious call for the recognition of the day internationally, the resolution also intends to initiate a discussion around the options available to countries, especially developing countries, in addressing the many issues that they grapple with in their quest for development, she added.





King said that, while developing countries, such as those in the Caribbean, are "unfairly seen as too dependent on aid from developed countries, the application of creative thinking and the use of available technologies can provide solutions to some of their most pressing problems, such as poverty eradication, the elimination of hunger and job creation.





The UN diplomat pointed to the construction of the Argyle International Airport in her native land as "a prime local example of the use of creativity in a large scale, macro infrastructural project that was otherwise, and through business as usual methodologies, seen as an insurmountable challenge.





In a statement before the adoption of the resolution, King pointed to recent research that explored the role of creative expression in problem-solving and innovation.





She said that Scott G. Isaken, at the Norwegian Business School "focused on the development of methodologies aimed at deliberately nurturing creative thinking, and mirrored the creative process "in ways that allow individuals and groups to explicitly call on and employ their creative faculties.





"Developed and developing countries around the world are recognizing the utility in these research findings and are embracing the idea that our creative capital is our most valuable asset today, King said. "We agree also that it is an asset that should be deployed in the implementation of [UN] Agenda 2030.





King said the resolution received widespread support from Member States of the United Nations, stating that more than 85 countries joined St. Vincent and the Grenadines as co-sponsors, "signaling their support for this initiative and choosing to claim ownership of the resolution by their co-sponsorship.





The Vincentian envoy said the adoption of the resolution will be followed by the launch of a website in the summer of this year that will be dedicated to the promotion of examples and best practices that highlight the use of creative thinking and technologies toward the achievement of sustainable development.





She said St. Vincent and the Grenadines, through the UN Permanent Mission, will act as the coordinating agent for events at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on April 21 annually, beginning with a World Creativity and Innovation Summit on April 20, 2018 to celebrate the first official World Creativity and Innovation Day, April 21, 2018.




St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC) is hosting a series of activities during the month of May in observance of Environmental, Health and Safety Awareness Month. The main objective of the month is to heighten awareness among employees on matters relating to Environmental Sustainability, Safety and Health and Wellness.





An official ceremony to signal the start of the month was held on Tuesday (May 2nd) at the Cane Hall Engineering Complex. The event heard remarks from Environmental, Health and Safety Officer (EHSO) Mr. Anthony Patterson and Chairman of VINLECs Board of Directors, Ms. Rene Baptiste. Mr. Patterson outlined the Companys Safety Policy, noting that in order to have exemplary safety records, there must be commitment both at the individual and team levels. He said Safety is about people and personal well being.





Chairman Baptiste used the opportunity to commend VINLECs work in Environmental, Health and Safety, and noted that the Company is a pioneer in this field. She complimented the Companys management for its consistent effort in ensuring that staff is kept abreast with emerging issues in Occupational Health and Safety. According to Ms. Baptiste, Safety in the organisation is critical at all stages namely, personal, team, management and at the Board level. She encouraged the staff to support and participate in the activities for the month.





In addressing the gathering, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thornley Myers, reiterated that for the Company to have a sound Safety record, there must be a commitment by employees at all levels throughout the organisation. He called on employees to work towards shifting the culture of Safety in a manner that enhances the Company.





Mr. Myers said that the term "Safety Culture should not just be a statement, but that it should be evident in all that is done. He noted that there are a number of key steps to creating an effective Safety Culture including management commitment, employee engagement, reporting systems, safety rules and procedures, training and safety communication. The CEO said that EHS is a priority for the Company, and noted that VINLEC will provide the necessary resources to ensure employees execute their duties in a safe work environment.

There were cultural performances by the Companys Choir VINCOICES, as well as the VINPAN group.





The discussion on the Environmental, Health and Safety Awareness continued throughout VINLEC on Tuesday afternoon at Safety Stand-Down sessions across the Company. The discussions were held at seventeen different locations, and the focus was on how the employees and the Company can work together to improve the Safety practices in every area of work.





A number of activities are listed on the Calendar, including a Department Public Speaking Competition, National Occupational Safety and Health Bill Presentation, Health and Wellness Day and Safety competitions. The theme for the month is "Re-energising Our Commitment to Safety. (Submitted by VINLEC)
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By Trend





The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue has kicked off in Baku.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed the quests, voicing his gratitude to all participants for joining the forum. President Aliyev reminded that the initiative to organize the forum was proposed six years ago, and the forum was held in Baku for the first time then.

"Since that time, the forum has transformed into a global international event, addressing one of the most important issues on the global agenda - intercultural dialogue," said the President.

He went on to add that the importance of every international event and every forum is judged not only by the topics of discussions, but also by the list of participants.

"We are very happy that more than 800 guests representing more than 120 countries are participating today at the forum," said the President. "This, first of all demonstrates the importance of the forum, and the importance of the discussions that we will have today and tomorrow," he said.

"We are proud that the number of partners of the forum, organizations, which are organizers of the forum, is also growing," President Aliyev said, adding that the government of Azerbaijan is organizing this forum in partnership with UNESCO, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, ISESCO, the Council of Europe, and the World Tourism Organization.

"I am sure that the discussions and exchange of views during the forum will contribute to promotion of intercultural dialogue," the President continued.

"Azerbaijan, for centuries was a place where civilizations and cultures met. Our geography, our history and development in Azerbaijan demonstrate that intercultural dialogue is one of the most important issues," said President Aliyev, adding that without it, the world would be a much more dangerous place.

"Our history, our traditions, our geography actually dictated that Azerbaijan could be and should be an area where civilizations meet," the president said. "And for centuries, people inhabited in Azerbaijan, are living in a diverse environment. Multiculturalism, ethnic and religious diversity is our history and today's reality. And we're proud of that. Today Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional country, and representatives of all the ethnic groups and religions live in peace and harmony," President Aliyev said.

He went on to add that the country's historical monuments also clearly demonstrate the cultural diversity of Azerbaijan and its ancient history. The President stressed that Azerbaijan is proud to have one of the oldest mosques in the world, built in 743 in one of the ancient cities of Azerbaijan, Shamakhi. The president further said that one of the oldest churches, the Church of Ancient State of Caucasian Albania is also located in Azerbaijan, in another ancient city of the country -- Sheki.

"In Baku, the Fire Temple which belongs to religion of Zoroastrianism, also demonstrates our cultural and religious diversity. Today, mosques, churches, synagogues which exist in Azerbaijan are protected by our state and many of them were built with the state financing. It demonstrates our history and also our policy," said the president.

President Aliyev went on to add that multiculturalism is a state policy in Azerbaijan, and at the same time, a lifestyle in the country.

"Though the word multiculturalism is relatively new, and sometimes very difficult to pronounce, the ideas of multiculturalism have always existed in our country. Regardless of the time of history, regardless of the political system in Azerbaijan, our people have always been active defenders and promoters of multiculturalism inside Azerbaijan and beyond our borders," he said.

President Aliyev noted that in 2011 the decision to organize a forum that would address intercultural dialogue, was motivated by Azerbaijan's history, realities and also by wish to create a broad format to address these issues.

"Today we need to do it maybe more than ever before, because unfortunately, now some concerning tendencies in the world lead sometimes not to intercultural dialogue, but to alienation. We see it regularly that in different parts of the world - conflicts, confrontations, civil wars are generated by lack of understanding between representatives of different religions and ethnic groups," said the president.

President Aliyev went on to say that Azerbaijan's policy of multiculturalism is fully supported by the country's people.

He went on to say that 2016 was announced the year of multiculturalism in the country, and 2017 has been announced the year of Islamic Solidarity.

"The combination of these two events is important element of Azerbaijan's day to day life," the president said. "First of all it demonstrates the status of our society, our state policy and also leads to more understanding in the region."

Further on, the president said that Azerbaijan held several important international events, addressing particularly this issue.

"Five times already Azerbaijan has organized the International Humanitarian Forum. Several years ago we organized the World Religious Leaders summit. Last year, the seventh Global Forum of Alliance of Civilizations was very successfully held in Baku, and of course, for the fourth time we've gathered to address the issues of intercultural dialogue, said the President.

"All this helps us to find ways how to reduce tensions, how to reduce risks, how to create better understanding between peoples and religions," said the president.

"I think that history of Azerbaijan and its today's development are good examples that it is possible to achieve success," he said.

The president went on to say that there are different views on multiculturalism.

"We sometimes hear from different public figures, politicians, country leaders, different skeptical views on that. I think that if we unite our efforts -- and today representatives of absolute majority of international community are here -- we can demonstrate and prove that multiculturalism is alive," President Aliyev said.

He further said that alternatives to multiculturalism are xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism, discrimination.

"Multiculturalism is not only a trend, it is the only way to show how to make the world safer, and I think that your presence at this forum and the topics of discussions clearly demonstrate our common will and our policy, our approach to promote these values," he said.

President Aliyev informed the quests that in 2008 the country initiated a very important process that was later labeled the "Baku Process", which is now highly appreciated by the international community.

According to the president, this initiative was backed up by the fact that Azerbaijan is one of the very few countries that are members of both the Islamic Cooperation Organization and the Council of Europe.

President Aliyev went on to say that Azerbaijan invited the ministers of cultures of the Islamic Cooperation Organization to a meeting of the ministers of culture of Council of Europe which took place in Baku.

"This was the first time when such a big gathering of representatives of more than 100 countries came together to address important issues of intercultural relations," said the president.

President Aliyev further noted that Azerbaijan hosted the ministerial meeting of the ministers of cultures of the Islamic Cooperation Organization in Baku in 2009, and invited the ministers of culture of the Council of Europe.

"This initiative and this format was later called the Baku Process. We're proud of that, first of all, because it was our initiative, second, because Baku deserves to be the center of intercultural dialogue," said the president.

"Next year we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Baku Process. The government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations launched an initiative to create a "Baku Process Award" for leadership in cultural dialogue, which will be presented to those, who play a very active role in promotion of the dialogue of cultures and culture of civilizations," said the president.

The president went on to say that another important initiative launched by Azerbaijan was the organization of the European Games in Baku.

"Unlike other continental games, the European Games were never held before, and when the European Olympic Committee decided to organize these games, there weren't many bidders. And frankly speaking, Azerbaijan was the only country which made the proposal to organize these games in Baku," the president said.

The president went on to say that 2015 was the year of the First Inaugural European Games held in Baku, with participation of more than 5,000 European athletes.

"These games were of course a sports event, and at the same time, I think, it was symbolic that the First European Games were organized in a Muslim country," he said.

"It was a demonstration of multiculturalism, religious tolerance, and the games were organized on a high level," said the president. "The athletes, guests were satisfied and happy with the organization and also with the reception of people of Azerbaijan, who showed their traditional hospitality."

President Aliyev reminded that this year, just in one week, Azerbaijan will hold the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games with participation of all the Muslim countries and more than 3,000 athletes.

"So in two years, in one city, both the European Games and the Islamic Games - this is the demonstration of our policy and our intentions," said the president. "And again, this is not just a sports event. Of course, I am sure there will be very strong competition, but this is also an event that unites people."

"We need unity, first of all in the Muslim world. Unfortunately, it is the Muslim countries that suffer the most from terrorism," he said. "Azerbaijan plays a very important role in promotion of Islamic values," said the president. "We organized different international events in European capitals, presentations, exhibitions to demonstrate the ancient Islamic culture, and we are one of the most active countries to fight against Islamophobia and attempts to connect Islam with terror."

"So we need unity in the Muslim world in order to make our region safer, and at the same time we need active communication between the Islamic Cooperation Organization, Council of Europe, other international organizations, to reduce tensions," he said.

"Therefore, when we are talking about intercultural dialogue, we clearly understand that the impact of success of this dialogue can be seen in every area - political life, areas related to security, economic cooperation," the president said.

He went on to add that without predictable partnership and relations based on mutual respect, today it will be very difficult to achieve goals every country puts in front of itself.

"Therefore, these initiatives and I think, the success story of Azerbaijan as one of the international centers of multiculturalism, demonstrate that we are not only on the right track, but we're moving successfully," said Ilham Aliyev. "By the way, Azerbaijan has created the International Center of Multiculturalism."

"Today's forum, which embraces the whole world, is a clear demonstration of our intentions," he said.
By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

The next stage of joint exercises of the Azerbaijani and Turkish Armed Forces was held on May 4 with participation of high-ranking observers from Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia.

The stage was held in accordance with the agreement reached during the meetings of defense ministers of the three countries held earlier in the trilateral format.

Within the framework of the "Day of High-Level Observers", a delegation of countries led by Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Commander of the corps of the Turkish Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mehmet Ozoglu, and Commander of the brigade of the Georgian Defense Ministry, Colonel Zurab Khvichia, watched the next stage of the exercises.

The high-ranking guests were fully briefed on the exercises on the basis of the terrain model board. Then, having familiarized with the military personnel and military equipment participating in the exercises, they observed the practical accomplishment of the tasks.

The units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey participating in the exercises successfully completed all assigned tasks.

After the successful completion of the next stage of the exercises, the guests met with the military personnel. Distinguished servicemen were awarded, and a joint photo was taken.

The joint exercises of the Azerbaijani and Turkish Armed Forces started in Azerbaijan on May 1 in accordance with the agreement on military cooperation between the two countries.

The aim of the exercises is to improve coordination through the exchange of experience between the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as to achieve the interoperability of the military units of the two countries through joint headquarters planning, improving the readiness and capabilities of the units to conduct operations.

The joint exercises involve military personnel, armored vehicles, artillery launchers and mortars, military and transport helicopters of the Air Force, as well as air defense units and anti-aircraft missile units equipped with modern defensive systems to protect groupings from the air.

The exercises will last until May 5.

The Azerbaijani Army, which today is considered the most modern army in the Caucasus, consists of Air Force and Air Defense Forces, the Navy, and the Land Forces.

Today, Azerbaijani Army is one of the most powerful, highly disciplined armies in the world and the leading army in the region, which is equipped with modern military machinery.
By Azernews





By Rashid Shirinov

The world community should be properly informed of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and massacres committed by Armenians, said Emin Ozkara, Vice-President of the Parliament of the Brussels-Capital Region.

Ozkara made the remarks as he met with Azerbaijans Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov in Baku on May 4.

During the meeting, Ozkara praised Azerbaijan`s development, saying President Ilham Aliyevs successful policy lies at the heart of the countrys achievements.

Hasanov, in turn, gave detailed information about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reminding that 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories were occupied and over a million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of Armenian aggression.

Hasanov expressed regret over the OSCE Minsk Groups failure to produce any tangible results in the conflict resolution.

There has not been any progress in the settlement of the problem for 25 years. The four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council have not yet been implemented, the Deputy PM stressed.

He also hailed relations between Azerbaijan and Belgium, pointing out good prospects for expanding the bilateral cooperation.

Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied a fifth 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.

Despite a ceasefire agreement achieved between the sides, Armenia regularly shells the Azerbaijani positions in an effort to tense the situation. Ignoring the calls of Azerbaijani side, as well as the international community to follow the armistice, Armenia continues its destructive actions hereby showing its disrespect to the peace process.
A former Casper Re-Entry Center employee pleaded not guilty Friday to two felony charges that allege she had a sexual relationship with an inmate.

Prosecutors charged Andrea Morgan, 45, with one count of second-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree sexual assault in January. She pleaded not guilty to both of those charges at her arraignment Friday morning in Natrona County District Court.

Morgan is the second former Casper Re-Entry Center employee this year to face charges for allegedly having a sexual relationship with an inmate.

Per Wyoming law, it is illegal for an employee of a correctional institution to have sex with any inmate, regardless of age or consent. The Casper Re-Entry Center is a private company that the Wyoming Department of Corrections contracts with to provide rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment to inmates before they are released from custody.

Investigators with the Department of Corrections began looking into the allegations in April 2016. Morgan had worked as a contract health services administrator at the privately owned corrections facility until March 31, 2016.

In interviews with an investigator, Casper Re-Entry Center employees and inmates said that the inmate spent a lot of time with Morgan in the medical department and the two sometimes shared meals.

Morgan told investigators that she and the inmate were in a relationship but that the relationship started very recently. She said that she submitted her resignation on March 4, 2016, and that it would become effective April 1 of that year.

She said that the inmate stayed with her at her home for a few days after he was released on March 30, 2016. She denied that the two ever had sexual or romantic contact.

But when investigators interviewed the inmate later that day, he said that they had kissed and held hands multiple times while he was at the Re-Entry Center.

Investigators re-interviewed Morgan about a week later and she admitted that she had touched the inmates penis while he was at the Casper Re-Entry Center and that they had sex the evening he was released from the facility, on March 30, 2016.

In a later interview, the inmate confirmed Morgans admissions and said that she had touched his genitals and that the two had sex the night he was released. He was still on probation when he was released.

Morgan faces sentences of up to 20 years in prison for the second-degree sexual assault charge and up to 15 years for the third-degree charge. She remained free on $5,000 bond Friday.

Another former Casper Re-Entry Center employee also faces sexual assault charges for allegedly having a sexual relationship with an inmate. Tamara Buckles, a former resident manager at the facility, pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual assault in February.
ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- For the second time in just over three months, President Donald Trump's pick to serve as secretary of the Army has withdrawn from consideration, the White House has confirmed.



Mark Green, who was nominated for the senior civilian post within the Department of Defense in April, stepped aside Friday after critics accused him of making bigoted statements and supporting anti-LGBTQ legislation as a Tennessee state senator.



In April, the Civil and Human Rights Coalition sent a letter to the Senate Armed Services committee asking it to reject Green's nomination. Earlier Friday, a group of 10 retired officers also put out a statement calling him unfit to serve as the next Secretary of the Army, citing his history of demeaning LGBT Americans, Latinos, and Muslims, and of denying basic healthcare to women.



Green, a retired Army flight surgeon who served for two decades after his graduation from West Point, worked as the CEO of a health care company in Tennessee in addition to his duties as a state senator. He was selected by Trump after billionaire businessman Vincent Viola withdrew from the confirmation process, citing an inability to remove himself from business ties.



"Mr. Viola has informed President Trump that he will be unable to accept his nomination to serve as Secretary of the Army as the challenges of separating Mr. Viola from the organizations that he has built over the last thirty-five years have proven insurmountable," a spokesman for Viola told ABC News at the time.



In addition to the two choices for secretary of the Army, Philip Bilden, Trump's first nominee to be secretary of the Navy, withdrew in February for reasons related to his family's financial holdings.



"After an extensive review process, I have determined that I will not be able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics requirements without undue disruption and materially adverse divestment of my familys private financial interests," Bilden said in a February statement.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
A law requiring that Wyoming school districts train administrators and teachers in suicide prevention has had a positive response from local educators in the three years since its passage, officials said.

There are certain things that have a universal appeal, a universal understanding, said Bruce Hayes, a consultant for the state Department of Education. Theres a love, a concern, a human interest in other peoples lives.

The Jason Flatt Act, named after a Tennessee teenager who killed himself in 1997, has been passed by more than a dozen states. Generally, it requires that schools provide training for at least some staff on suicide prevention. Wyomings version of the measure, passed in 2014, requires teachers and administrators have eight hours of training every four years through state-approved materials.

Hayes said that training includes helping staff recognize warning signs for potentially suicidal behavior, and making it easier for staff to talk about suicide with students or other district employees. Starting that conversation can be a daunting and difficult barrier for people to overcome, he said.

On Monday, the state Department of Education released a memo to district superintendents to let them know that the Jason Foundation, founded by Flatts father, had released more training materials. Like the other 18 department-approved training modules, the new resources were first reviewed and accepted by the Wyoming Suicide Prevention Review Team.

The group, composed of experts in the field, was formed by the education department to select training materials for districts after the bill was passed.

Were not the worlds preeminent experts on suicide prevention, Hayes said, which is why the department created the review team.

He said that given how deadly suicide is among young people  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said its the second-leading cause of death nationwide for people age 15 to 19  the law was needed in Wyoming.

Suicide is not something thats inevitable, he said. If it can be avoided ... what are we doing to avoid this kind of tragedy?

While the law requires eight hours of training every four years and that administrators and teachers take part in the process, Hayes said some school districts have gone above the requirements.

In Natrona County, the school district has expanded the training to every employee. District spokesman Allen Bruggman said that included him and other employees of the district who might not have regular or direct contact with students. That way, everyone from a secretary to a playground supervisor to media relations representatives can spot a student in distress, he said.

If a district employee believes a child may be suicidal, that staff member would likely reach out to school counselors, Hayes said, who could then bring the childs parents into the conversation. That process varies from district to district, he said.

Because the law doesnt require that districts report back to state education officials on how the training is going, Hayes and Bruggman both said its difficult to be specific on how local educators feel about the law or what tangible impact the training has had on students lives. But Hayes said the state department has received no pushback, and Bruggman said that Natrona County officials are satisfied three years into the laws existence.
WHAT: The Stotesbury emerald, a six-sided Colombian gem of 34.4 carats, has been celebrated since the early 1900s for its size, shape, color and quality. Set in a platinum ring by haute jeweler Harry Winston in the 1940s, and framed by pear-shaped six-carat diamonds, the emerald disappeared into a private collection after it last sold in 1971. When it surfaced for sale recently, the stone fetched nearly $1 million.

MORE: The story behind the gem is as sensational as the stone. Its earliest history is unknown, but circa 1908 the emerald belonged to Evalyn Walsh McLean, best known as owner of the Hope diamond. McLean wore the emerald as part of a necklace designed for her by Pierre Cartier. Then, the stone hung above her 94.8 carat Star of the East diamond.

Three years later, when Cartier showed her the 45.52 carat blue Hope, McLean tried to negotiate a swap of her necklace for the Hope; but things got ugly, a lawsuit ensued, and at the end Cartier had the emerald.

SMART COLLECTORS KNOW: The emerald has its name from the next owner Eva Stotesbury, a bankers wife who commissioned an emerald suite from Cartier; it became the center piece of a necklace. In 1946, she sold the set to Harry Winston; he removed the stone, putting it into a ring that later sold to newspaper heiress May Bonfils Stanton. In 1971, it was last seen at the sale of Stantons estate.

HOT TIP: Fine Colombian emeralds of such quality are no longer mined. When great old stones do come to market, bidding is frantic and worldwide.
As part of its ongoing recognition of Israel's 69th anniversary of independence, the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, will host a free family fun day 3 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7.

The Tucson JCC has partnered with the Weintraub Israel Center and the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona to put on these events.

The event includes an Israeli picnic, music and folk dance, according to press materials. Contact the Tucson Jewish Community Center at 299-3000 or visit tucsonjcc.org/tucson-celebrates-israel for more information.

The Jewish community here is also recognizing the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.

The month-long Tucson Celebrates Israel events also include a free talk by Israeli Canadian journalist and author Matti Friedman, starting with a light buffet at 5 p.m. May 14 at Congregation Chofetz Chayim, 5150 E. Fifth St., according to press materials.
PHOENIX  Republican legislative leaders were working late into Thursday night to give final approval to a new state budget.

House Speaker J.D. Mesnard made enough deals with hesitant Republicans to get the necessary 31 votes in his 35-member caucus to adopt the $9.8 billion state spending plan because no Democrats in the House were expected to support the overall budget.

Potentially more significant, those deals also bought Mesnard the votes he needed to approve the proposal by Gov. Doug Ducey to allow state universities to borrow up to $1 billion for 25 years with the promise that the state would give the schools the money for repayment of the debt.

The Senate gave its own approval to the budget along strictly party lines. But that still left President Steve Yarbrough to try to line up the votes for that university borrowing plan.

The fear the university bonding package could fail had Eileen Klein, president of the Arizona Board of Regents, reminding lawmakers of their constitutional obligation to raise the funds to insure the proper maintenance of all state educational institutions and to provide for their development and improvement. And the legal option for that, she said, is through the courts.

Weve chosen to take another route because we think we should be partnering with the state to address these critical issues, Klein said, meaning the bonding plan. But she said that at some point the universities cannot deal with nearly $700 million in repair needs without help.

We take very seriously the constitutions word, Klein said.

Were doing everything we can, she continued. But we cant be diverting a bunch of money, particularly tuition money to educate students to keep up with the building maintenance that the states supposed to be paying for.

Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, criticized Republican leaders for making what he said are often-expensive deals to line up votes in their own caucus for the university bonding package.

Farley pointed out the budget deal decreases by $100 the amount that Arizona residents have to declare in computing their state income taxes. That provision, which will save the richest taxpayers just $4.54 a year, reduces state revenues by $10 million.

But Farley said that for just $1.4 million the Legislature could have fully restored a state welfare program, one of the Democrats priorities.

Republicans also added $1 million each for the University of Arizona and Arizona State University to expand funding for so-called economic freedom schools that were set up with seed money from foundations run by the Koch brothers. The schools already are getting $5 million in ongoing cash, first approved last year.

The governor would rather give more money to Koch brothers schools than to teacher raises, complained Farley who supports a 4 percent hike versus the 2 percent, two-year increase in the budget.

It wasnt just major issues that slowed progress Thursday on enacting the budget. Individual lawmakers had their own complaints.

For example, Sen. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, is miffed about language in the budget that would have the state insert itself into a dispute between Marana and Pima County over a proposed project called Cascada Development. The dispute is over where land is to be set aside by a developer for the project that is in Marana. Petersen said this is strictly a local matter and the state should not be involved.

Yet other delays to final budget approval surround issues where Republicans and Democrats agree.

Rep. Kirsten Engel, D-Tucson, said one reason the state spends so much money on incarceration is that some laws do not distinguish between violent and nonviolent offenders.

She specifically cited one statute that says inmates earn one day of release credit for every six days served. She proposed leaving that in place for those convinced of serious or violent offenses but said other inmates should be able to earn a day off their sentence for every three days of good behavior.

Rep. David Stringer, R-Prescott, said Engel is on the right track. He said its time to stop incarcerating, at great cost to our taxpayers, people who are not a threat to public safety.

But Stringer said, though, he could not support Engels effort to put that language into the budget package because it wasnt part of the final deal approved by legislative leadership. But he promised to work with her next session.

There also was grumbling by some Republicans about the fact the budget deal allows the state to once again divert $30 million from gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees to instead fund the Department of Public Safety.

Rep. Noel Campbell, R-Prescott, pointed out that state law limits such transfers to $10 million. But rather than address that law, legislative leaders simply inserted a provision in the budget saying that law can be ignored for yet another year.

We have the ability to stop that withdrawal, Campbell complained, saying the road needs of the state are too great to allow this practice to continue.
A Tucson woman has been arrested on child abuse charges, a week after her boyfriend was charged in connection with injuries to the woman's 3-year-old daughter, authorities said.

Valerie Pastran, 21, was booked into the Pima County jail Thursday on one felony count of child abuse, said Sgt. Pete Dugan, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.

Last Thursday, Pastran's boyfriend, 30-year-old Gilbert Cuhen turned himself into police and was charged with two counts of child abuse.

On April 26, Pastran and Cuhen were at home with her 3-year-old daughter and the couple's 6-month-old girl. Pastran told police that she heard a commotion from a back room in the house and when she went to investigate, she found the 3-year-old unresponsive and Cuhen in the room, Dugan said.

The woman left to drive the girl to the hospital, but pulled over and called 911 along the way when the girl's breathing became labored, Dugan said.

Paramedics with Tucson Fire Department noticed signs of external physical abuse while they were rendering first aid, and doctors at the hospital also found internal injuries that they say came from child abuse, Dugan said.

Cuhen left for New Mexico the day that the girl was injured, but returned to Tucson the next day and turned himself into police.
A website specializing in all things Arizona has taken on the monumental task of ranking the state's best Mexican restaurants, and two Tucson spots found themselves on the list.

El Charro, a Tucson classic, earned high praise from the writer, who said that even though the restaurant is nearly 100 years-old, it's "handcrafted recipes still feel fresh" with "practically every Mexican entree" on the menu.

Anothe, Tucson-based El Guero Canelo, is up next and also receives high praise.

"This Tucson staple is known for serving authentic tacos, burritos, tortas, and caramelos," the article says, followed by a mention of El Guero's role in the creation of the Sonoran Dog.

Check out the list here.
SOUTH PARIS, Maine  A TV weatherman who took his life last month after serving as a celebrity judge at a ski resort's margarita competition was a suspect in a rape that happened days before his death, law enforcement officials said Thursday.

The assault happened the evening of April 1 in a private home near Sunday River ski resort after WCSH-TV employee Tom Johnston participated in the margarita mix-off, and there was enough evidence to charge him if he were still alive, Sheriff Wayne Gallant said. Johnston was a meteorologist at KOLD News 13 in Tucson from 1997-2002, according to internet posts.

Johnston was reported missing April 3 by his girlfriend in Old Orchard Beach after he failed to return home from Sunday River.

His body was found days later in woods in Auburn; an autopsy indicates he cut wrists and died from hypothermia, officials said.

The accuser told police she'd gone to Sunday River in Newry to attend Springfest. She said she'd been drinking before she decided to take a nap and then awoke to find the 46-year-old Johnston in bed with her, according to an affidavit. Police said she didn't know Johnston before the attack but recognized him as the popular meteorologist from WCSH-TV in Portland.

Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant told reporters on Thursday that he thinks Johnston was aware that he was a suspect in the sexual assault because people at the Newry home confronted Johnston, who hastily dressed, ran outside and drove away.

Brian Cliffe, president and general manager of WCSH-TV, said the revelation was disturbing.

"We share in the community's shock and our thoughts are with the victim and the families involved," Cliffe said in a statement posted online.

Police say Johnston was seen after the assault in a restaurant in Newry, where he had some food and performed a weather skit for patrons.

Later, he bought some razor blades at a convenience store and sent his girlfriend a few text messages, including one of hands clasped in prayer, police said.
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TCN News

Aligarh: Noted film and stage actor and director, also a Padma awardee Naseeruddin Shah delivered today the Professor Zahida Zaidi Memorial Lecture in Aligarh Muslim Universitys Kennedy Hall Auditorium. The program was organized by Universitys Cultural Education Center.

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While talking about the journey from being an AMU student attending the Varsitys Department of English to his illustrious career, Shah pointed out that he owes his success to Professor Zahida Zaidi.

He recalled that she was a feisty lady in the English department of Aligarh Muslim University, who introduced him to Oliver Goldsmiths She Stoops to Conquer, Eugene Ionescos The Lesson and The Chairs, Edward Albees Zoo Story, Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot, Anton Chekhovs A Proposal and many other Continental plays.

I still remember Zahida Apa (Prof Zahida Zaidi) for her perceptiveness and intellectual capacity, who introduced me to literature I might not otherwise have read, said Shah.

Shah pointed out, At the age of 17, I was sure to become an actor, but didnt know how to pursue an acting career.

My parents wanted me to follow footsteps of my elder brothers, but I knew I couldnt join IIT or qualify NDA, said Shah adding that I was lucky to join AMU and have a teacher like Professor Zahida Zaidi, who took me to the National School of Drama (NSD) in Delhi and urged me to join NSD after graduating from Aligarh Muslim University.

Prof Zaidi had then urged me to pursue a career in theaters and acting as she recognized my talents, said Shah. He added that Prof Zaidi taught him that the real idea of theatre is to send across a message to the audience, which need not be done with music, set designs and all the glamour.

He further said that theatres have started replicating films by depending on set designs to show different scenes and somewhere the basic message of the theatres has been lost. Shah said that Prof Zaidi once told him that theatre has been present since the days of early humans, who use to narrate hunting experiences in dramatic ways and the real theatre continues to be the same where the message is presented in a one-to-one way by the protagonist to the audience.

During the conclusion of his lecture, Shah said that the definition of remarkable people is that when they have more knowledge than other, they want to share it. Prof Zaidi is no doubt the most remarkable person, I have ever come across in my life, said Shah.

While presiding over the function, AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt General Zameer Uddin Shah (Veteran) said that often people ask him as to how his brother, Naseeruddin Shah became an actor. I always quipped that my brother ran away from home to become an actor, but the reality is that he was lucky to attend AMU under the guidance of his teacher, Professor Zaidi, who showed him the right path to his career, said General Shah.

He added that he can proudly say that his brother is best and the most versatile of actors in India and he never misses any of his movies.

General Shah pointed out that the success, Naseeruddin Shah has received is because of the values, he learnt as a student in AMU.

While concluding his speech, General Shah pointed out that we have laid the foundation of progress in AMU and soon the University will reach the number one rank in Indian universities.

During the welcome address, Professor Seemin Hasan, Chairperson, Department of English, AMU pointed out that her association with Zahida Zaidi goes back to 40 years and it is matter of honor that today Professor Zaidis student, Naseeruddin Shah is delivering the first Professor Zahida Zaidi Memorial Lecture.

While conducting the program, Professor F S Sheerani, who was the program coordinator said that MAO College Theatre Society was established by the University founder Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and on one of the occasions; Sir Syed acted in a play held at Aligarhs Annual Exhibition to collect funds for the University.

Meanwhile, the Raleigh Literary Society associated with the Department of English, AMU staged a play, The witches and other Confusions- A comedy of Terrors in the Kennedy Hall Auditorium.
Child sexual abuse can be a most traumatic experience, yet Indian society refuses to discuss or even acknowledge the issue. We shame the victims, we tell them to shut up, but almost never help them speak out. For Shweta Goswami, the founder of Nirmal Initiative, this issue needs to be addressed in newer, more direct ways. Her aim is to spread awareness among the children about child sexual abuse using a variety of tools and processes, including color books.

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Child sexual abuse covers a vast spectrum, and one cant bind it in some definitive terms. In most of the cases, a perpetrator is a person who is familiar and that becomes a major trauma for trusting anyone, she says.

Goswami, a 29-year-old from Mathura, came across cases of child sexual abuse when she started working with Food for Life, a Vrindavan-based organisation after her Masters from Miranda House, Delhi University. Currently enrolled in M.Phil-Ph.d. at Center for Philosophy at JNU, Goswamis work for Food for Life mostly involved research and assessment of these cases.

In 2013, Shweta noticed that most of the organisations were either not coming upfront about the cases, or were lacking a proactive approach to the issue. This led to her setting up Nirmal Initiative, which seeks to print thousands of color books and distribute them among children for free.

The book concerns the issues which will make it easier for caring adults to talk about personal safety with children and increase the outreach. Since children learn better when they are engaged in activities of learning, not simply by hearing a lecture. Most importantly the book will stay with children forever that will enable them to revisit the learned skills whenever needed, says the text on her fundraiser page, where she is trying to raise Rs 5 lakh for the project.

For Goswami, this project is part of a journey that began in 2010, and in the seven years, she has seen the devastating effects of child sexual abuse. Goswami will soon present a paper on the issue in Copenhagen, where she will talk about sexual abuse.

She says, Sexual violence against children is, in most of the cases, not based on gender. Boys, as well as girls, have faced it. But it has always been more traumatic for girls because all the taboos and rules of the society applies on them. You might notice that boys rarely, if ever, get any advice about sexual abuse from their parents.

According to a report released in 2017 by the Government of India, 53% of children reported having faced one or more forms of sexual abuse that included severe and other forms. Among them 52.94% were boys and 47.06% were girls. The data suggests that every second individual in the country is living with the wounds and bruises of sexual violence, yet it stays a non-issue due to the conversational gridlock caused by multiple taboos, and the notion of shame attached to it, she adds.

Shweta recalls such a case of child abuse which was followed by constant fear. She recalls, It was a case where a 14-year-old Dalit girl was sexually abused. The case was registered under POCSO and SC/ST act. But when the girl returned to her village, boys started harassing her.

In an attempt to correct the situation, her mother married her off at the same age of 14. Now after POCSO and SC/ST act, she became a victim under Child Marriage Act too, said Shweta.

Shweta added, The girl faced two abortions in next two years of the marriage. This is the fear which the girls feel most because all of the taboos and limitations imposed by the societies.

Talking in detail about her plans for printing books, Goswami says, We will take our color books and travel to far and remote villages. We have volunteers who have promised to support our work.

The color book has been prepared with the help of Juan Hernandez, a cartoonist based in Colombia and Kartikeya Goswami, who is an assistant professor at Manipal institute of Mass Communications. It talks about all three kinds of touches: the good, the bad and the secret (also bad) touch.

To encourage more such initiatives, the book has been made available in English and Hindi for free on the internet. The funds raised, according to Goswami, will be used to print these books. Contributors who give more than Rs 2,000 will receive stop the abuse bracelet made by the widows of Vrindavan.
Help India!

By Jaspal Singh

A forum on hate crimes against Indians and peoples hailing from South Asia is being held at MIT on Saturday May 6,2017 .It is being organized by Indian American Forum for Political Education. Many community,religious and other organizations in the greater Boston area are supporting it, reflecting the anxiety of the community. More than 140 such incidents have taken place in 2016 alone, in which many have been killed by racist attacks, raising the question of racism amongst the communities.

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Attacks on people from India and South Asia are not new. One of the most notorious attack was in 1908 in Oregon, when a hostel in which Indian workers were living was burnt and several men were killed by racist gangs amidst the shouts of  Hindus go back. People from India were not allowed to bring their families and were not allowed to marry white women. Only in early forties of last century, they were allowed to become citizens. In 1980s there was a racist gang in New York, called Dot Busters, that would attack the Indian people , specially women. Police would not do anything, which is the common experience of blacks in this country. So the youth in the community organized and defeated this gang in the streets.

Many people in the community, intoxicated by their success in the USA have been deluded and believed that they are  Model Minority and that there is no racism here.So blacks are in their condition because of their own laziness and inherent criminal characteristics. They have been drinking toxic Cool Aid by the gallons. But now they realize that their success is no guarantee against racist attacks, and they are like sitting ducks in their million dollar homes in suburbs and downtowns. Their kids are considered  niggers and  sand niggers by white supremacists , who attack with impunity. I remember such a successful man used to do a radio program years ago and would blame the community for not  assimilating . He would claim that there is no racism here, our people do not want to assimilate. They wear their own clothes, eat their own food and thus invite attacks because they stand out. One evening he was coming home after his radio show. He stopped at a gas station and was attacked by a racist gangs. Then he would not stop from screaming that there is racism every where.

After 9-11 when Muslims were being attacked some of these successful people started talking that we have to educate the Americans that we are not Muslims. But white supremacists who have impunity do not discriminate, as long as you are not white, you are a target. I remember a racist proclaiming, whether you are from Timbaktu or Tokyo, you are a nigger. Racism in the US is systemic and endemic. This country was built on racism and genocide and it has not come to terms with it, just like India has not come to term with caste. When Indians come here, they come into a racist condition, structure and ideology. I remember a very bright Sikh kid, when he was in school his teachers would put him in remedial classes without testing. He topped the engineering test in the whole of USA. I used to teach math in a black neighborhood when I was a student. I would prepare my students, who were all black, for a test. When I tested them they did well. But when they went to take the test downtown, they were given a higher level test, as a result all my students would flunk. Such is structural racism.

Of course the second and third generation kids of South Asians do not drink the  cool aid . Racism has been a daily experience for them and a living reality. So they work together with all communities of color, specially with black community to affirm the rights of all. Subdrift an organization of South Asian youth, is a good example of this consciousness. They meet once a month and highlight this cooperation. One of these young men who is a doctor at a very prominent hospital asked me about this forum,  uncle what are the organizers of this forum smoking? They have invited the chief of Boston police to the forum. Dont they know that Boston police department is alleged to be one of the most racist departments in the country. All they need to do is to google about police brutality in Boston. They also do not raise their voice when atrocities on Dalits are committed. I replied,  my dear it is all Brahman, there are still people who believe that earth is flat . But then I said, seriously, they are our people and we have to engage with them, I hope you will go and put your point across. Discussion is good for everyone.

South Asians have to stand in shoulder to shoulder with all irrespective of caste,creed,color, gender,or life style for the affirmation of their Right To Be , their security lies in this struggle for rights. Young South Asians are playing important role in the movement for rights which are under attack. They are building bridges across communities and collectives who are fighting for their rights, for a life of dignity and justice without racism and all forms of discrimination.
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By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

Saharanpur district of western UP remains tense after Thakurs of the area tried to take a procession parade on Maharana Pratap in the region.

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Violence started after the Thakur community of Shimlana village took out a procession march to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap, and it moved towards a Dalit dominated village Shabbirpur.

At Shabbirpur, residents raised objection and as a result of that a verbal spat started between the two groups. The whole argument led to spark of violence which was supported by stone pelting and burning of private as well as public properties.

After a Dalit woman was hit badly by the stone, the Dalit community also started stone pelting. Things turned out more ugly and Thakurs allegedly broke Ravidas temple and a statue of Ambedkar.

During the altercation, a stone hit 25-year-old Sumit s/o Dharmpal on the head and he was declared dead when taken to the hospital.

When the news of the death reached the clash site, members of Thakur community set ablaze 25 houses of the Dalit community.

Moreover, the police was also targeted this time the mob. A fire engine was broke down and three police vehicles were set on fire.

Chaman Singh Chavda, CO Deoband, also got injured when he intervened into the matter. Violence came to a halt after District Magistrate NP Singh and SSP Subhash Dubey reached the spot with security forces from adjoining districts.

SSP Dubey said, The situation is tense but in control. To maintain the peace is our priority.

Earlier on April 20, situation in Saharanpur got communally tense when Saharanpur MP from BJP Ram Lakhan Pal Sharma tried to take out a procession March in remembrance of Dr. BR Ambedkar without permission from the government.

Sharmas brother Raghav Lakhanpal Sharma started beating police personnel while Ram Lakhanpal Sharma started shouting on Police to shoot Muslims. FIR was lodged against both of them.
Help India!

TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

India is a pluralist society that creates magic with democracy, rule of law and individual freedom, community relations and [cultural] diversity.

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With these words, Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) Karnataka wing has launched its yearlong campaign on the theme Many religions one India.

At a gathering with guests Veerabhadhra Chennamalla Swamy, Nidumamidi Mutt; Rev. Manohar Chandra Prasad, Pastor, CSI Church; S. Parab Joth Singh Bali, President, Gurudwara Bangalore; Maulana Maqsooq Imran Rashadi, Imam-Khatheeb City Jamia Masjid; K. M Ashraf, State Secretary JIH Karnataka and Mohammed Rafeeq, President, SIO Karnataka, on May 2, 2017 at Press Club, Bengaluru, statement was passed that it is high time that we pledge to safe guard the idea of India. This requires us to unite as a nation in spite of our inherent diversity.

Sense of Belonging comes through the experiences of justice, brotherhood and equality of opportunities. As our beloved nation marches ahead, let us realize that we are human beings first, said the statement.

It further read as, Let our conviction be a humane society with justice as its soul and let our actions be emblem of mercy, forgiveness, brotherhood & sustainable co-existence. Our tomorrows cannot be complacent repeats of our yesterdays, not anymore, but rather creations of our knowledge & learning, our convictions & proof of our humanitarian instincts.

Let us realize that our constitution provides equal rights to 80% majority and 20 % minority and together we form a Republic. Let us join hands to strengthen the bond of unity.

Statement reads from the declaration of independence ,We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Owing to some socio-political developments, this magnificent diversity appears to be endangered. Mindless nationalism, non-understanding of the value of democracy, erratic media, prejudice, declining space for debate & dissent, ideological chauvinism and cultural dogmatism, has resulted in our discourse hitting the abyss and becoming grotesque.

With communalization getting institutionalized, communal riots have increased and lynching seems to be a new norm. The components of justice, equality & tolerance are absent from our present body politic.

In the backdrop of these developments oppressed and marginalized communities continue to feel further marginalized & excluded. Reconfigured & re-reutilized current political vocabulary has the tendency to pit an Indian against an Indian, until the last election is won.

The joint statement further said , Spread of abuse and circulation of hateful content has resulted in brutal and violent riots between communities who once lived peacefully as neighbors, resulting in loss of precious human lives as well as damage to economy and to property both public as well as individual.

The campaign is organized in order to create a wave of peace and brotherhood in this country. Various activities and programs like, street plays, dramas, film shows, seminars and conferences will be organized throughout this campaign.
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New Delhi, (IANS): While admitting misuse of the anti-Romeo squads, UP minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi has said the Yogi Adityanath government may reconsider re-framing and remodelling the programme introduced to curb instances of eve-teasing.

In an interview to CNN-News18 to be telecast on Saturday, the Lucknow Cantonment MLA, who switched from the Congress party to the BJP last year, said her old party did not have the energy and will to improve.

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Our intention was never to trouble family members, willing boys and girls or males and females moving together, the State Women and Child Welfare Minister said.

There have been several allegations of the anti-Romeo squads indulging in moral policing and harassing couples.

It is not an issue of vigilantism. It may have been misused in the beginning. The Chief Minister (Adityanath) has directed all the officials that they should not take law into their own hands, she said.

May be some of them (police personnel) are misusing the power given to them. I would personally not want this programme to go off but there should be no trouble or moral policing, she said.

She said the government will gather public opinion including views of the girls.

If they are happy with this then okay, if they feel that their privacy is being impeached upon, then maybe we will reconsider how to reframe this programme and remodel it, said the 67-year-old politician.

She also disapproved of cow vigilantes taking the law into their own hands.

There are groups (gau rakshaks) which are trying to prove themselves to be the saviours or custodians of the thought process of their communities but this is wrong.

If you go to the previous regime in UP, things were worse than they are, she said.

Talking about the Congress, Bahuguna said: I wish they had not lost the direction. I think they lacked good leadership at regional and district levels and the intention also. They do not have the energy and will to improve their own lot.
If you have been wondering where kellyanne conway is, you are not alone For those who dont know who she is or have forgotten her words of wisdom, she is (or was) one of Donald Trumps trusted advisers, his defender, and spokesperson. Lately, however, we have not been hearing much from her. Where is she now and what has she doing?

Remembering Kellyanne Conway

Kellyanne Conway was a Republican party campaign manager, pollster, and strategist. She initially supported Ted Cruz in the Republican primaries but was appointed a senior adviser to Trump after Cruz withdrew from the race.

After running a successful election campaign she was appointed Counselor to the President. A regular spokesperson for the Trump administration, Kellyanne has had many missteps and her recent silence has led to questions about her current status

A controversial strategist

It would prove to be a tumultuous job for Conway, who was often known to make some outrageous statements in her role as defender of all things Donald Trump. When Trump exaggerated the turnout at his inauguration, she described it as alternative facts. She stated that Michael Flynn had the full confidence of the president just hours before he was fired. She referred to a Bowling Green Massacre which never happened and endorsed Ivanka Trump's clothing line on TV.

Media sources questioned her integrity and many banned her from further interviews.

The media in her crosshairs

Kellyanne Conway is indeed absent  from the media at least but she is still having her say  unofficially. Lately, she has been following in the footsteps of her boss in heaping criticism on the media. Appearing at a conference at the Newseum museum in D.C, she described reporting of the Presidents 100 Days as presumptively negative media coverage and said that some reporters are out to prove that they were right all along about Donald Trump.

Conway gave a reason for why the President would not attend this years correspondence dinner  he is unhappy with the way the administration is covered.

She's back

More recently. on Sunday, Kellyanne Conway emerged to have her say on Trumps 100 days. Talking on "Fox & Friends Weekend," she said that the Presidents Pennsylvania rally on Saturday proved that Americans appreciated the president was keeping his promises and making the country safer and more prosperous.

Then on Tuesday night, the counselor to the president took to Twitter to respond to Hillary Clintons claim that her loss was due to outside forces. She seems to be back - on social media at least. In true Kellyanne fashion, she tweeted; "You Ignored WI," "Called us deplorable/irredeemable," "Had oodles of $$ & no message," "Lost to a better candidate," She signed the tweet, "From: Woman in the White House."

Ignored by the Media?

The fact that we only hear from Kellyanne Conway rarely these days leaves one to ponder whether she is still active in her role as counselor to the president. Could it be that she is being ignored by the media or that she is silenced in light of the numerous embarrassments to the administration caused by her statements. You would be hard pressed to find any substantive interviews or statements from her in recent times, leading to the question, where was Kellyanne Conway and is she back?
US President Donald Trump has pledged that the United States will help out in peace talks between Israel and Palestine, the infamously conflicting nations. Trump wants to be the one to broker a peace deal between the two countries, which would really look great on his legacy in the history books if he can pull it off (if he cant, then it wont look so great).

We will get it done

Trump invited Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas over to the White House where Abbas was met with a warm welcome and they sat down to talk about Israel. Trump has a good relationship with Israel and with the Jews and with Benjamin Netanyahu, dating back to his election campaign when he promised to help them out, and now hes making good on that promise by speaking to Palestine about a possible peace deal.

During their conversation, Trump promised Abbas, We will get it done. Attempts at a peace deal between Israel and Palestine have failed miserably in the past, time and time again, but Trump aims to settle the conflict, which dates back tens of years, once and for all. Trump said that from what hes been told over the years, a peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians is quite possibly the toughest deal to make.

So, Donald Trump, author of The Art of the Deal, is looking to prove them wrong and make such a deal. It seems more Trumps style not to prove them wrong, but rather to prove them right. Look at me, they said it was the hardest deal in the world to make and I went and made it, arent I great?

kind of thing. He insisted that against all odds, America, working in cooperation with Israel and Palestine, will get it done, meaning get Israel and Palestine working in cooperation with each other.

Abbas had to speak through a translator at the meeting

Abbas, himself not an English speaker, had to speak to Trump via a translator.

It seemed as though Abbas shared Trumps whimsical, upbeat demeanour, although this couldve been entirely down to how the translator was acting or feeling that day. Abbas told Trump that he thinks that he and his people over in Palestine will be able to be true partners to him in the process of bringing forth a historic peace under (Trumps) stewardship. Good news or what, right?

Its been just over two months since Trump had Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, over at the White House, and now hes got Abbas over. Its a crazy timetable  hes not wasting any time getting these guys back together. The President came out to meet Abbas on the lawn of the White House before taking him into the Oval Office to have a chat about Israel.

Trumps relationship with Palestine wasnt always this peachy

Presidents of the United States have tried to bring about peace between Israel and Palestine since the 1970s, and all have failed. It is a long shot, to be fair. They really, really hate each other. But Trump thinks hell be the one to do it  hes determined  despite the fact it didnt get off to a great start back in the early days of his Presidency.

You see, back then, Trump relinquished support for Palestine and pledged to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, which would violate two doctrines of US foreign policy that had been in place for a very long time. He didnt care. But now hes definitely changed his tune and hes been getting pally with Abbas and promising a peace deal.

In fact, Trump may be being nice to Abbas, but he still hasnt changed his intentions with the embassy. According to his Vice President, Mike Pence, the President is still giving serious consideration to the idea of relocating the US embassy in the area from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. That certainly wont gel with Abbas if it goes forward, so well just have to see how this develops.
Throughout the election campaign, Donald Trump vowed to repeal Obamacare and was in jubilant mood after the House of Representatives approved the American Healthcare Act. Though this was only the first step toward the scrapping of Obamacare, President Trump was quick to tweet about his victory.

It was a GREAT day for the United States of America! This is a great plan that is a repeal & replace of ObamaCare. Make no mistake about it. pic.twitter.com/fYtghBlXxS  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 5, 2017

The reaction of doctors, hospitals, and even medical insurers has been exceedingly negative, as many fear that millions of Americans could lose medical cover.

Significant cuts to Medicaid could potentially also price many people out of purchasing medical cover in state marketplaces.

Medical insurers join doctors in opposition to Healthcare Act

In a perhaps surprising move, the Trump Healthcare Act victory is also seen as disastrous by a large number of medical insurers whose businesses largely depend on Medicaid and Medicare.

Michael J. Dowling, chief executive of Northwell Health reacted by saying, "To me, this is not a reform. This is just a debacle."

Following Thursdays' vote, two of the health insurance industries' main trade groups called on legislators to increase tax credits in an effort to help people afford medical cover, especially the elderly, those on low incomes and people living in high-coast locations.

Sharp reductions in Medicaid are of particular concern, even to insurers no longer focused on the individual market, as many of them now may risk losing a substantial part of their revenue.

Impact of Trumpcare

If passed by the Senate in November, the American Healthcare Act, now nicknamed Trumpcare by some Democrats, has far-reaching implications.

States would be free to seek waivers from providing certain benefits, employers could sharply reduce health contributions, and small businesses could opt out of providing coverage altogether without facing any penalties.

As a result, many people on low incomes, the self-employed, and contract workers are likely to struggle to afford medical cover under the new legislation.

Doctors, hospitals and medical insurers seek significant changes to legislation

Following the vote, medical professionals, consumer groups, and medical insurances have united in urging legislators to make significant changes to the legislation. While Thursday's vote has been hailed a victory for president Trump, many believe that getting the American Healthcare Act approved by the Senate will be a difficult task. Many Republican senators are said to be critical of the legislation and may not be willing to support the bill.

Undoubtedly, we are in for several months of discussion and debate, and it remains to be seen whether the Republican senators will unite in their support for the new Amercian Healthcare Act.
US President Donald Trump has, in the space of just a couple of months, invited both the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas over to the White House (not together, of course  were not quite at that stage yet) to discuss a possible peace deal between the two nations. Trump promises, We will get it done.

Dennis Ross begs to differ

Trump may be eager to get it done, but Dennis Ross, a former White House official, has other ideas regarding the matter. According to Ross, inviting Abbas to the White House was a sign that he wanted to help him, but he fears that Palestine distrusts Israel too much, and vice versa, for Trump to make this peace deal happen.

He believes that the mutual distrust between the two nations will be too difficult of an obstacle to overcome.

In fact, Ross said that hes quite possibly never seen the conflict between Israel and Palestine quite as heated as it is now. In his own words, The gap between the parties has probably never been greater. So, Trump has his work cut out bringing them together and making peace. Good luck to him, especially as he mulls over needlessly moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which would serve to do nothing else than p*ss off Abbas  yeah, thatll help peace talks. Ross may be onto something here.
As US President Donald Trump met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at the White House to talk about a potential peace deal with Israel, the Republican brass had other ideas for what they should talk about.

Three Republican Senators who carry a lot of weight (and with it, a lot of influence) in the United States government got together to press Trump to try to convince Abbas to stop providing funds to Palestinian prisoners and their families. Naturally, as right-wing politicians, they hate prisoners and want to deprive them of all human rights (even if theyve committed, say, a non-violent drug-related offence, which is basically nothing).

Funding the prisoners is well-liked legislation in Palestine

This would be sure to get the pot boiling, as Abbas is facing a declining popularity in Palestine as it is and rival factions are rising up to take him down, and cutting that funding would only further complicate things for him on the domestic front, but its what the Republicans want, and the Republicans are helping him reach a peace agreement with Israel  another thing his people dont want. Poor Abbas, he cant do anything right. Meanwhile, there are murmurings that Trump could be heading over to the Middle East this month...
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 [VIDEO] was released in UK cinemas last week and it has been a huge hit. Indeed, it currently has a score of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. While the consensus is that it is not as great as the original Guardians of the Galaxy, the Film is proving to be popular with the public and critics alike. It is the fifteenth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a franchise which has given us some great films. In honour of this latest release, lets discuss some of the best films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy, which was released in 2014, is probably the most unique film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is because it is not as connected to the other films in the MCU as, for example, Iron Man or Captain America: Civil War are. Guardians of the Galaxy is also the least serious film in the MCU.

Certainly, Guardians of the Galaxy is a very fun, original and fresh film and, because of this, it is many peoples favourite film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The ensemble cast, which includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper and Dave Bautista, are fantastic too. They have great chemistry and provide a lot of laughs in a brilliant film that really separated itself from the other films in the MCU.

A film that achieved a similar feat was

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier was released in 2014 and is the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger. One of the films greatest achievements was its ability to transcend the MCU. While a superhero film, it is also a political thriller that is very suspenseful which widens the appeal of the film.

Chris Evans stars as Captain America in a film which has a lot of character development. Additionally, it has a villain, played by Robert Redford, that is one of the best in a franchise where the villains are quite underwhelming. There are a lot of great elements in The Winter Soldier for you to appreciate. Yet, if you prefer the films in the MCU that are more of an ensemble piece such as Guardians of the Galaxy, then you might prefer

The Avengers

The Avengers was released in 2012 and was the last film released in Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This film was the pay-off for what had been set up in previous films in Phase One such as Iron Man and Thor. Our heroes came together in a film which had a great blend of action and comedy. Joss Whedon set the bar very high for future films in a franchise that went from strength to strength after The Avengers.

Additionally, this film is littered with great performances from Mark Ruffalo while Robert Downey Jr. was, as always, brilliant. The success of this ensemble film arguably set the foundation for films such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to succeed to the extent that they did.
It began as a triumphant celebration of freedom in Mexico that has evolved over the years to become a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage in the U.S. It has truly become a multicultural event. Cinco De Mayo commemorates the defeat of the French soldiers in the historic Battle Of Puebla. It celebrates the pride of the Mexican people, bringing a rich Latin culture to the celebrations in America and other parts of the world.

A struggle for freedom

Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday, rooted in the French occupation of Mexico and the struggle of ordinary men and women for freedom.

Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for Fifth of May, the day of the celebration and a national holiday in Mexico. The victory is celebrated today in Mexico on a smaller scale than in the United States and is commemorated with much pomp and splendor, and with great pride at the accomplishment of the Mexican people

The battle of Puebla

The Mexican army defeated occupying French forces on May 5th 1862, in the Battle of Puebla, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. It was a truly David and Goliath experience as the vastly outnumbered Mexican army achieved victory over the more superior French army of Napoleon III. The courageous soldiers, who fought in the battle of Pueblo, did much to boost the pride of the Mexican people.

French occupation came to an end in 1867.

In the original battlefield of Puebla in Mexico, you will now find a statue of General Zaragoza on horseback. There are also several remnants of the original forts, one of which has been converted into a war museum. On display in this museum are hundreds of toy soldiers arranged to re-enact the battle on that fateful day.

Cinco de Mayo transforms the city of Pueblo celebrating the event with colourful decorations, parades, dance, music and food.

The biggest Cinco de Mayo celebrations

Los Angeles hosts several Cinco de Mayo parties and events. Included in the festivities are benefits for local charities, art workshops, and a variety of music including Mexican, jazz and other genres.

One of the largest Cinco De Mayo celebrations in the world is the one held in Los Angeles, the Festival de Fiesta Broadway. Here you can enjoy Mariachi bands, magnificent parades, Latin music and dancing for all ages. Candy filled piatas, Mexican arts and crafts, as well as music and dance are common features of the festivities. California also hosts several Cinco de Mayo parties as does pretty much any major city in the United States. The celebration of culture and heritage can last for several days.

In Denver Colorado, the celebration of Mexican culture and heritage is a two day event that attracts nearly half a million people who participate, or come for the cultural events, parades, music and food.

Southern California has a rich Mexican heritage and it shows in the massive Cinco de Mayo celebrations in various locations.

The Mercado

One highlight of the celebration is the Mercado. Here you will experience a wide variety of traditional Mexican foods that include beans and rice, tacos, tostados, and empanadas. However, there will be variations from one celebration to the next. In the United States Cinco de Mayo is definitely a blend of two cultures, the American and the Mexican.
Even though a fidget spinner is more than likely in the hands of every elementary school and middle school child, don't think the craze is just for students. Adults play with them too, and they are everywhere you look.

A fidget spinner is a small gadget used to relieve stress. The spinner is held in one hand, and when pinched with a thumb and forefinger, the prongs spin. People who have used the gadget for a while can be seen doing different tricks, such as sending it from one hand to the other or balancing it on a finger. However, based on its name, the main function of a fidget spinner is to fidget with it.

Most people fidget with something anyway. For instance, they click a ballpoint pen while talking on the telephone. Some adults use the fidget spinners when they are in boring meetings.

Gadget or toy?

Some people call the fidget spinner a gadget, and some people call it a toy. Before December 2016, no one had ever heard anything about the item. Now the term is trending on social media, however, not all the news about it is positive. Teachers have posted of their dislike for the gadget in their classrooms. They say students have become addicted to them. Some administrators are so tired of the distraction that the gadget has been banned in some schools in the United States.

Inventor of the fidget spinner

The fidget spinner is such a hot item that stores can't keep them on their shelves. They are on back order at Amazon, Walmart and Target. One would think that that would be good news for the woman who invented the toy. It has been reported that Catherine Hettinger hasn't made one cent from the item she invented back in the 1990s.

That's because her patent expired earlier this year.

Therefore, her invention was up for grabs, and she has seen many large companies make a version of her product. It is a sad story, but Hettinger is trying to make a comeback. She is planning to sell her original circular fidget spinner that does not include the prongs. She is selling her Florida house to raise money to fund her product.

She is also beginning a Kickstarter campaign.

Hettinger attempted to provide a product to help children and adults calm their nerves and relieve stress. She sold about two thousand units of the item on her own at fairs around Florida where she lives. The inventor consulted Hasbro, but the toy company did not accept her invention.
When #Marine Le Pen, the far right wing French presidential candidate called out #Emmanuel Macron, her centrist and EU positive opponent, for having an offshore account on Wednesday's televised debate, the nation was shocked and startled.

Macron had been incorrectly called out for an offshore account many times in the past week. This, mostly by far right Fake News Sites and other publications believed to be tied to Russian interference. But it was Le Pen's vociferousness and her Verbal Aggression that shocked the world and many watching in France.

She seemed to show herself up as a bullying right-wing agitator instead of a concise, clear-headed and pragmatic candidate. The centrist and pro-EU candidate was seen as appearing more powerful and victorious in the televised debate, which precedes this Sunday's vote.

The next morning, prosecutors based in the French capitol opened an investigation about ultra-conservative Le Pen's untrue statements. Macron told the press on Thursday that he won't hesitate to prosecute people who repeat false information, referring to incorrect information appearing on right-wing fake news sites. He even claimed that the sites were possibly linked to Russian operatives.

The new investigation creates a clear message that those wanting to repeat the lie will be seen in court, according to the BBC website.
Fbi Director and registered Republican James Comey, standing before lawmakers Wednesday from both parties, defended his actions to alert Congress about an investigation into Hillary Clintons email  just days before the 2016 Presidential Election.

Comeys formal reveal to Congress that email messages existed that were deemed by him to be pertinent to the investigation of Secretary Clinton's email server threw an eleventh-hour pall over the election, vaulting Donald Trump into the Oval Office.

Comey feels ill over his actions, but says would do it again

Despite the admission from the former US Deputy Attorney General that he feels mildly nauseous over the notion that his actions swayed the election, the 56-year-old Comey said he stands by his decision.

It was a hard choice, I still believe in retrospect the right choice, Comey told senators gathered at a judiciary oversight committee. I can't consider for a second whose political fortunes will be affected.

DOJ sharply warned Comey not to send his letter to Congress

Still, it would be incongruous to think that Comey would be blinded to the political impact his actions would have. Even his own Justice Department policy  as well as lawyers within the DO  sternly warned Comey about proceeding with his planned letter to Congress.

Despite the warning from senior Justice Department officials, Comey went rogue.

According to an October 2016 article from the Washington Post, an unnamed Justice Department official plainly stated that Director Comey understood the long-standing policy of the department not to take any action that could be construed as election manipulation.

He heard it from Justice leadership, the official said. It was conveyed to the FBI, and Comey made an independent decision to alert the Hill. He is operating independently of the Justice Department. And he knows it.

Comey ended the investigation, then reopened it two weeks before the election

In July of 2016, Comey concluded that the FBI would not be filing any criminal charges against Clinton over her email controversy.

Comey conceded that Clinton and her aides had been extremely careless, but ultimately the FBI decided that no reasonable prosecutor would pursue charges.

In spite of the Attorney Generals office considering the issue closed, less than two weeks prior to the election, Comey sent his inflammatory letter, even though the FBI had not as of yet received an approved warrant to even pull and review any of the questionable emails. At the time, Comey claimed that not advising Congress would be misleading to the American people.

Clinton blames Comey for the election loss

Clinton herself this week also directly connected her loss to Comeys obtuse decision-making.

I was on the way to winning until a combination of Jim Comeys letter on October 28 and Russian WikiLeaks raised doubts in the minds of people who were inclined to vote for me but got scared off, Clinton said.
Speculate no more. NBC has confirmed that MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Joe Scarborough proposed to his co-host Mika Brzenzinski over the weekend while in Monaco and the south of France, celebrating Brzezinski's 50th birthday, which was on Tuesday. The cable news couple have long-been rumored to be a romantic item. In fact, Donald Trump ousted their secret romance last year after the two made a remark that he did not like. Its been said that several months ago, Donald Trump, as President, offered to marry the former congressman and his co-host should they ever become engaged.

Reportedly, Scarborough, 54, got down on one knee and asked for Brzenzinski's hand in marriage at the Bar Bellini at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. One source stated that Mika, who has been divorced since last year, wants to move forward in her life, spending it with Joe. Another source added that Joe is the happiest he has ever been with Mika. She shares two adullt daughters with ex-husband James Hoffer. Joe Scarborough has been married twice and has four children.

A bipartisan match made in heaven

Lately, rumors had been floating around about the couple making the nature of their relationship known to the public. Last month, Scarborough told the Hollywood Reporter that he and Mika had a crackling on-air and off-air chemistry.

That was the first hint. A second hint may be the fact that Mika placed a few of her homes on the market recently. During the airing of Thursday morning's program, guest panelists Harold Ford, Jr. and Willie Geist gave them a cryptic on-air congratulations for having a ratings hike in their show. The cat was nearly out that bag.

Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski have worked together on "Morning Joe" since 2007. Politically speaking, Mika is a Democrat while Joe is a ruby red Republican. Dinner conversations are sure to stay interesting.

All is fair in television love and war

Just before taking off for their celebratory getaway, Joe and Mika almost took off each other's heads in an on-air tiff on "Morning Joe" one day last week.

He called her rude and snotty due to her interruptions. The next day, Willie Geist announced that the pair would be out until Tuesday. Tongues immediately got to wagging, assuming they were sent home to cool down. Not so. Alas, nothing says kiss and make up like a diamond on a girl's finger. There is no word yet regarding a wedding date.
North Korea has made an unusual move by criticizing china for "unwavering objections" to the state nuclear program, Bloomberg reports. China is the largest North Korean trading partner and main ally. China blocked imports of coal from North Korea in accordance with UN sanctions and has recently called on its traditional ally to cease nuclear activities.

The Korean Central News Agency announced yesterday: "We hear a series of absurd and disrespectful remarks from China, which only exacerbates the bad situation." The article noted that Chinese state media are blaming the worsening bilateral relations in North Korea and "miserable utterances for blind obedience to the United States".

China is able to repay anyone who exerts

"China should stop testing the boundaries of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It is better to think about the serious consequences of its unwavering act of abolishing the foundations of the relationship between China and the DPRK," the article states. The article is not attributed to any governmental agency or officer, and the author is identified only as Kim Chol. For North Korea, it is very unusual to criticize China directly.

Chinese state media have recently started to regularly and sharply criticize North Korea's behavior. The Global Times warned that it jeopardizes the 1965 unconstitutional agreement between the two states. Tabloids called for a regime to cease nuclear tests.

"China will not allow North Korean nuclear activities to endanger its northeastern region," The Global Times writes. Earlier, the same newspaper warned that China was able to reverse the blow to "anyone who exaggerates" and to impose an oil embargo on North Korea when it would carry out additional testing. Chol in the article states that China is the one who "exaggerated".

The embassy never warned people before

China has allegedly urged citizens living in North Korea to return to their country due to the fear of ever-increasing tensions between Pyongyang and Washington, the Korea Times writes. The Chinese embassy in North Korea allegedly began last month to advise the citizens to return to China because of the fear of the US-led invasion on North Korea's military provocation.

Radio Free Asia has announced that the embassy has begun to invite people to this move on the eve of the 85th anniversary of the North Korean Army.

The anonymous source told them that he visits China every month and that they told him last time to "stay there for a while". He decided to leave a month earlier than he planned. "The embassy has never warned people in this way. I was in a hurry to leave the country," the radio source said.

This week, the US re-demonstrated military power by sending a nuclear carrier to Korean waterways and carrying out military exercises along with Japanese and South Korean forces.

A few days ago, North Korea threatened to submerge an American nuclear submarine deployed in South Korea's waters. They claim that the US is bringing the region to the edge of the nuclear war, which has prompted China to warn both states to "stop irritating each other".
With 217 votes, the Republicans passed the health care repeal in the House today. Now the bill will head to the Senate, and if passed, 30 million people will lose coverage. Not only that, the House voted to yes to the health care exemption for their coverage, which means they keep ObamaCare for themselves. Immediately after, Hillary Clinton responded by encouraging Americans to get out and "fight back." The American Health Association issued a statement stating that this bill should never have passed.

The House passes the health care bill

Many representatives admitted that they passed to repeal ObamaCare without reading the bill.

They read parts of it and felt it was a good replacement.

20 House Republicans broke with their party to vote against the American Health Care Act's passage. https://t.co/GL5bUl6dlW pic.twitter.com/XujVSQIetf  ABC News (@ABC) May 5, 2017

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said the Senate would not be as easy to pass as they want to read it, add amendments to it, and wait for the Congressional Budget Office to analyze the document. Graham expressed that President Trump celebrated a tad too early because it's possible that it won't pass in Senate.

American Medical Association responded with a desire statement

According to Occupy Democrats, the AMA released an urgent message after learning the House passed the Trumpcare bill.

Andrew Gurman, president of the AMA, said that the bill would result in million losing their health insurance. He added that the bill allows insurance providers to go back to a time where they could have sky high premiums, making coverage out of the question for millions of people.

Gurman urges the Senate to go their homework.

He begs them to research the bill and keep the poverty to middle class in mind, knowing that this plan could send 30-40 million people off insurance.

Hillary Clinton responded

Clinton has been silent for months. Just recently she has stepped out to speak out against Trump's regime. It seemed fitting that the person that helped President Obama develop the Health Care Act would speak out and give her opinion about it.

AMA Doubles Down On Obamacare Repeal Criticism After House Vote https://t.co/hAMJKoqRbN pic.twitter.com/wrfd0tBtoy  Zesty Left Wing News (@zesty_leftwing) May 5, 2017

Hillary Clinton, who lost her bid for the White House in November, said that the Republican vote to repeal ObamaCare is "shameful, a failure, and immoral."

Hillary stated that now is not the time to sit back. The country needs to band together and resist these changes that will hurt millions of people. She urges Americans to really examine what Trump is trying to pass and to fight back.

A shameful failure of policy & morality by GOP today. Fight back on behalf of the millions of families that will be hurt by their actions: https://t.co/yPy2ZW74mw  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 4, 2017

Clinton added that Trump's camp is planning on the resistance tiring out.

This is when the battle is important, and she urged the anti-Trump resistance to keep fighting because in the end, "We will win!"

Elizabeth Warren, 'People will die under TrumpCare'

Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke out about the House passing the Trumpcare bill. She revealed that the plan would devastate millions of Americans. They would lose coverage and not be able to get treatment for life-threatening illness. The truth is she feels that this bill would kill millions of people.

Warren shouted to a crowd of people that this document that the House passed is not a Health Care Bill, it destroys coverage for the poor and middle class. She claims that it is the SAME bill, without any changes, that the House denied weeks ago.

She added the bill still cuts Medicaid and takes the funding away from the states to battle opioid addiction!

The @HouseGOP just voted to strip health care away from millions. We can whimper, we can whine  or we can fight back. #AHCA pic.twitter.com/UuwfcSWkag  Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 4, 2017

Elizabeth had a word of advice to the president. She said that this isn't a scorecard that you cheer when you win. Every decision that is made has a serious consequence. They are playing with peoples lives. Warren said that disease and old age hits every income level. Americans should not have to decide if they are going to pay the rent or mortgage or their medications.

The Senate said they would examine the bill for a few weeks and wait for the budget committee to give their report on the bill.
Kim Kardashian, 36, disappointed her followers with the dress she wore at Met Gala as it was extremely simple. Fashion critics say the dress is more suited for a sunset on the beach than for an event as important as the MET Gala. The gown was designed by Vivienne Westwood, 76, a British artist who stands out for creating avant-garde design dresses, much better than the one she made for the socialite. Kim's dress, white and tight, had nothing to do with the amazing style to which the reality superstar has accustomed us. Many began to wonder why the celebrity used a style so different to the one she usually flaunts and many believe it is due to the changes that Kim applied in her personal life.

Reasons

Kim's life changed a lot after she suffered a violent robbery in Paris last year. From that moment, she began to give more importance to family and less to material goods. The white dress reflects the simplicity Kim prefers for her life these days. In fact, she didn't wear jewelry this important MET Gala event. In a recent interview she gave at the Ellen DeGeneres Show, the reality superstar confessed that she is now less materialistic than before, "thanks" to the robbery she suffered in France. Although she thinks it is right to want to have certain material goods and to work hard for them, she no longer believes that is the most important thing in life.

What happened to Kanye West?

For the first time, Kim attended the MET Gala alone and everyone wanted to know why her husband, Kanye West, 39, was absent at such an important party.

The truth is that the music mogul stayed at home, taking care of their children North, 3, and Saint, 1. The decision was taken by him as he wanted to spend more time with them. In addition, the rapper wants to avoid situations of high exposure as they are not good for his mental health. In November of last year, West suffered a temporary psychotic outbreak due to stress and sleep deprivation.

The doctors recommended he work less and rest more. West is a workaholic man, so it was impossible for him to follow that advice. He continued to create music and design clothing for Adidas. In addition, he added a new activity to his daily life: he is designing jewels for Jacob & Co. The collection consists of twelve pieces of rings and necklaces. Kim is his greatest inspiration when it comes to creating jewelry. The socialite is proud of him and loves all his creations.
It's fair to say that Donald Trump and the majority of celebrities don't see eye to eye. While some stars in Hollywood keep their political thoughts to a minimum, comedian Louis C.K. doesn't appear to be holding back.

C.K. on Trump

Ever since Donald Trump first announced his campaign for president, it was made clear not long after that he would not be on the same page with the more politically left-leaning Hollywood. As the election moved forward, Trump was often made the butt of the joke when it came to satire, most notably on "Saturday Night Live." Other comedians, like Bill Maher, have voiced their opposition to the former host of "The Apprentice" on an almost weekly basis.

Since Trump was sworn to office last January, backlash against him has only increased, which has contributed to the president's quick decline in popularity in recent polls. During the April 4 edition of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," comedian Louis C.K. gave his thoughts and didn't mince words.

Joining host Stephen Colbert on "The Late Show" on Tuesday night was Louis C.K. and the popular comedian made his thoughts perfectly clear about Donald Trump. "Sometimes people lie, right? Then theres somebody who lies because they cant quite stay inside the boundaries of truth," C.K.

said. "Then you have a liar, somebody who its almost like a problem, they lie a lot," he continued.

Comedian Louis C.K. calls Trump a "lying sack of s--t" https://t.co/DUTPq4eOPF pic.twitter.com/SG19Lm4Fk2  The Hill (@thehill) April 5, 2017

"Then you have a lying sack of s**t," Louis C.K. pointed out. "Thats somebody who...they just lie, they like it.

He (Trump) likes it," he said, before continuing to mock Donald Trump. "Its just an insane. Its just gross. Hes just a gross, crook, dirty, rotten, lying sack of s**t," C.K. said. The comedian then went on to explain that he didn't feel lied to by Trump because he didn't buy into what he was selling, but rather those who voted for him were the ones conned by the billionaire real estate mogul.

Next up

Louis C.K. and others share similar thoughts, which have only become the norm in recent weeks as the scandals in the White House continue to become part of the daily routine in the news media. While Donald Trump has kept his thoughts about most celebrities to a minimum since taking on the role as president, it wouldn't come as a surprise if he responded to the comedian's remarks.
Recently, the wonderful folks over at FOX, dropped their latest press release for their upcoming hit drama, "Empire" episode 13 of season 3. From it, we got an official synopsis that delivers up three storyline spoiler teasers that sound very intriguing and possibly drama-filled as we get the arrival of Giuliana who is supposed to give Cookie a run for her money! We're going to see an epic, 21st birthday bash for Hakeem and a high alert get sounded off, and more!

It's "My Naked Villainy"

They, of course, let us know what this one is labeled. The producers decided on the name: "My Naked Villainy," as the title.

They started off the press release by putting in, all caps, that Hakeem will be celebrating his big 21st birthday. After that, they went on to elaborate by telling us that we're going to see Hakeem make some epic moves for his 21st birthday party bash by deciding to actually live stream the whole, damn thing on Empire Xstream. Will it be as huge as they're making it sound? Or will something go wrong? Those are some interesting questions for that storyline. It seems like this storyline will get a lot of attention focused at it, since it was put in all-caps. We'll see.

Anika Suspicions

Next, they let us know that the Anika situation will rear its ugly head at some point by telling us that there's going to be some major suspicions that arise about what her true motives are, and they will be so intense that they will actually cause the Lyons to get put on high alert!

What will this high alert situation entail? How will it effect the storyline? One thing that we do know for sure, is it should deliver up some very dramatic scenes for us.

Giuliana arrives

Lastly, we've got a storyline that lets us know that Cookie is going to get some stiff competition when Giuliana arrives on the scene, telling us that she is going to give Cookie a run for her freaking money.

Will Cookie be able to come out on top when this is all over? Or will Giuliana edge her out? Unfortunately, they kept things very vague, so they didn't give up that intel. It'll definitely be real interesting to see how all that plays out.

Alright, that wraps up this spoiler session for episode 13, but definitely keep your eyes peeled or the new spoiler/preview clip that's expected to release after episode 12 gets done airing ,tonight, because it will certainly give extra insight into what's going to take place. We can also confirm that episode 13 is due to air next Wednesday night, April 12th,2017 at 8pm central time on FOX. Stay tuned.
Throughout the entire 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump clashed with various Hollywood stars. While many celebrities have spoken out against the president, none have been as vocal as legendary actor Robert De Niro.

De Niro on Trump

When Donald Trump first announced his campaign for president, he quickly received backlash for referring to illegal immigrants from Mexico as "rapists" and "murderers." During the next year and a half, the more left-leaning Hollywood made their case against the former host of "The Apprentice," using their popularity in an attempt to derail his campaign.

Even recent award shows have turned into a platform to bash Trump over his policy proposals and rhetoric whether he likes it or not. While their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, Hollywood has not backed down in voicing their opposition to the new commander in chief. As reported by Fox 5 in New York on April 5, Robert De Niro is still not a fan of Trump.

(De Niro's comments start at 00:50 in the above video.)

Robert De Niro was in New York City to promote this year's TriBeCa Film Festival and sat down with the local Fox affiliate on Wednesday. While speaking to reporter Rosanna Scotto, the award-winning actor was asked about his current feelings on Donald Trump and the job he's done since being sworn into office last January.

Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal Talk Tribeca, VOD and Festivals in the Age of Trump https://t.co/SK4ccV5SUP  Variety (@Variety) April 5, 2017

I can't articulate it well enough other than to say it's ridiculous. It's idiotic," Robert De Niro said of Donald Trump. "This is guy has sullied the presidency, he's debased the presidency," the actor continued, before adding, "It's just beyond surreal what this guy has done." In regards to his previous criticism of the billionaire real estate mogul, De Niro stands by every word he's said in the past.

"He's a mutt," Di Niro said in regards to Trump, while concluding, "Every word I said then I mean today. He has not changed."

Next up

Though Donald Trump has toned down his war of words with Hollywood stars since moving into the White House, celebrity critics of the president don't appear willing to back down anytime soon. With people like Robert De Niro sounding off, the president won't be making friends on the red carpet at any point in the near future.
CPA Australia executive Ivan Au is on an endless mission. He tells Duan Ting he'll not waver in striving for global recognition for the thousands of members the organization represents.

Seasoned accountant Ivan Au knows his onions - his profession and doing business are cheek by jowl.

He has no regrets about having changed course before embarking on his tertiary education in Australia, adamant that business still holds great sway in life, unfazed by the fact that a great number of his family members had gone very much in another direction - the media.

"Accounting is tied to the numbers game to reflect business in a financial way. It's the language of business and it tells stories about business," says Au, divisional president for Greater China at CPA Australia - the Melbourne-based group that's one of the world's largest accounting bodies with more than 160,000 members from across the globe.

"We're relentless in our resolve to win greater recognition for our members around the globe and help them win leadership roles.

"The value of being recognized as a CPA Australia member is that it provides international recognition, a platform to network across different positions and industries," he tells China Daily.

CPA Australia's involvement in Asia has been protracted, dating back to the 1950s following its founding 131 years ago, with the goal of lending greater impetus to the accounting profession in the Asia Pacific region. Thus, it's not oblivious to the momentous economic growth in China over the years that has nudged many Chinese mainland enterprises to "go out", offering great openings for the accounting industry.

The push has been accentuated by President Xi Jinping's much-hyped Belt and Road Initiative that has further encouraged more mainland companies to spread their tentacles overseas.

"Along with the mainland's rapid economic growth, the need for accountants has grown in tandem. We certainly aim to grow fast and we expect more members. There are lots of opportunities ahead as mainland companies continue to go international," Au stresses.

"The other very fundamental value of CPA Australia is efficacy. We certainly value our members' efficacy in important matters, including policy matters affecting the economy and the professionals."

According to CPA Australia's China Human Capital Survey conducted in 2015, half of the respondents reckoned there's an acute shortage of skilled accounting professionals on the mainland, and the job market for accountants there holds great promise.

Those polled believed that the key factors contributing to the shortage included a mismatch in education, employers' needs, the growing sophistication of local companies, increased compliance requirements, and more mainland enterprises expanding abroad.

"One of the things I do is outbound investment. I help lots of Chinese companies invest overseas. As a CPA Australia member, I'm in a very good position to help them with the international recognition and global knowledge I've garnered from my membership and be a kind of a bridge between Chinese businesses and their overseas counterparts," says Au.

Facing the challenges

An international qualification in accounting, plus extensive working experience dealing in international cases, will stand out in the race, he believes.

"The CPA program, being a contemporary and internationally relevant program, ensures that our members are well-equipped to tackle any challenge regarding accounting, finance or business in today's global marketplace. Providing them with more than a technical accounting focus, the program goes beyond the numbers, teaching them the skills to help them reach the next level in leadership, strategy and business."

"Knowledge and networking are our strong focuses and we want our members to be well known for that."

Au recalls that, as a CPA Australia member, world recognition and knowledge have given him the ammunition to communicate with many mainland companies concerning their investments overseas.

With 18 years of accounting and assurance experience under his belt, Au has seen a sea of change in the industry in terms of the standards and regulatory environment worldwide, such as in technology - a sector in which the Chinese mainland has surged ahead with enormous speed.

"We've seen destructive changes brought about by technology, including artificial intelligence and big data, in the finance and accounting sectors," he says.

"In our industry, lots of people are talking about artificial intelligence and big data. How to make use of technology and make accounting efficient and more transformational is important to companies. The very fundamental value of accounting revolves around useful information, which means the information is relevant, reliable, accurate and timely."

Tech knowledge

CPA Australia has also been actively promoting technology within the organization to allow its members to gather the knowledge anytime, anywhere.

It has an online learning platform called "My Online Learning", which allows members to update their skills and help them study the CPA program.

According to Au, when CPA Australia started off in 1886 in Australia, it had only 45 members. It has since turned into one of the world's largest professional accounting organizations that now boasts having more than 160,000 members working in 118 countries and regions, 25,000 of them in senior leadership roles.

The Australian government launched the Colombo Plan in the 1950s - a bold initiative designed to strengthen the country's ties with Asia. It provided opportunities for students in Hong Kong to travel to Australia to study accounting. "Many of them have since returned to Hong Kong and become forefathers in supporting and expanding their accounting profession in Hong Kong."

CPA Australia (formerly known as the Australian Society of Accountants, or ASA) supported the plan and actively encouraged returning graduates to become members of CPA Australia so they could maintain their links with Australia.

Demand to obtain Australian CPA designation has grown steadily in the past six decades and, in 1955, a local Committee of Advice and a representative were appointed. Their Hong Kong office was formally set up in 1990 and the number of members has expanded significantly since.

"In the old days, a lot of our members were in the traditional industries, but now they're from a broader spread, including the technology and innovative sectors. And, they're not just accountants, but also business leaders and CEOs in management roles," says Au.

CPA Australia has been running its first representative office in Beijing since 2002. To strengthen its commitment and cooperation with the accountancy profession on the mainland, the organization opened offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou in 2006 and 2012, respectively, and set up a liaison office in Macao in 2007.

Currently, the group has more than 17,000 members in China, with 12,000 in Hong Kong and 5,000 on the mainland.

"Accountants need to be all-rounded rather than being too specialized in one thing, and be able to see the big picture. They need to have strong analytical skills and embrace technology, such as in big data, the right way."

Contact the writer at tingduan@chinadailyhk.com
CPA Australia executive Ivan Au says the demand for accountants has grown in tandem with the Chinese mainland's rapid economic growth. Parker Zheng / China Daily

Initially, Ivan Au, divisional president of Greater China for CPA Australia, thought that advertising and marketing might have been his cup of tea as several of his family members were already in the media business.

He later changed his mind and joined the University of Sydney, Australia, with the ultimate goal of becoming a businessman. He opted for marketing and accountancy, and went on to obtain a Master of Commerce (accounting and finance) degree at the university.

"This is the language of business and it tells stories of business," he argues.

Upon graduation, Au realized it's more important to qualify as an accountant and so he looked to CPA Australia. He says he's grateful having had a good mentor who did accounting and had worked for a professional accounting firm and who shared with him lots of advice.

Au subsequently joined accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) after working at the University of Sydney as an associate lecturer for nearly two years. He's now an assurance partner at PwC.

Au has more than 18 years of accounting and assurance experience, specializing in multi-location assurance projects relating to China's outbound investments, initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions.

Joining CPA Australia in 2000, Au thinks it's an excellent platform for networking and has since been working in various committees within the organization.

As divisional president for Greater China, Au speaks on behalf of CPA Australia as an advisor - contributing ideas on the strategy and direction of CPA Australia for the benefit of its members, providing them the forum for professional debate on relevant issues, including accounting, finance, law and ethics and promoting the skills, qualifications and professionalism of members.

Along with fellow members, he also helps to develop informed viewpoints on matters impacting members and the profession.

Au founded the Young Achievers Committee in CPA Australia as he's passionate about nurturing the future generation of accountants, and very much enjoys sharing his industry experience and knowledge with young people. The Young Achievers Committee was started in 2012 as a working group, and transformed into a committee a year later. As an advisor to the committee, he says he always tries to combine work with fun during training or networking events, and encourages young members to be involved in the community and sports.

To those from the younger generation who would like to take the plunge in the accounting industry, his advice is they should also focus on networking as one of its values is that communication generates intellectual information which enables them to pick up knowledge beyond their own horizon.

In management, Au says having a clear direction is vital and the path taken should be adored by every team member, while the management should make sure that everyone in the team does have a say.

tingduan@chinadailyhk.com
A worker displays a gold bar at a department store in Beijing. JIANG DONG / FOR CHINA DAILY

China's demand for gold bars and coins soared 30 percent year-on-year to 105.9 metric tons in the first quarter of this year, the fourth strongest quarter on record, according to a report released by the World Gold Council on Thursday.

Overall demand for gold in the Chinese market grew 8 percent year-on-year to 282.4 tons, making China the world's top gold consumer, according to WGC data.

Global demand for gold in the quarter was 1,034.5 tons, an 18 percent year-on-year decrease from the record high level recorded for the first quarter of 2016.

Analysts said demand for bullion was often adjusted in alignment with the overall economic picture.

In the Chinese market, investors wishing to preserve value and hedge their risks amid market uncertainty and currency volatility have driven demand for gold, according to the WGC report.

"Investors, particularly individual investors, who wish to diversify their portfolio because of concern about the outlook for real estate and stock market, are having more interest in gold," said Roland Wang, WGC China managing director.

For a similar reason, gold ETFs in China are also getting increasingly popular among institutional investors who are re-recognizing gold as a tool for risk hedging when they are no longer focusing only on yield and allocating more resources on risk management, said Wang.

Gold bars display at an expo in Beijing, Nov 22, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

Strong demand for gold and limited growth of supply, he said, had caused an imbalance, which had led to a high premium in China over the global spot price.

That premium in the Chinese market averaged around $4 per ounce over the global spot price in recent years, but shot up to an average of $17 per ounce at the end of 2016. The WGC research found that it persisted in the first quarter this year at average of $14.2 per ounce amid limited imports and a gap between supply and demand.

China Gold Association data showed that China's output of gold in the quarter was 101.2 tons, a 9.29 percent year-on-year decline, while consumption excluding exports and investments grew 14.73 percent year-on-year to 304.1 tons.

Commercial banks, for example, have launched interest-bearing, online-tradable gold products with a minimum entry point of 1 gram, which also enables investors to withdraw physical gold through their bank networks.

"Fintech companies are also tapping into gold-backed products that reach young investors, which effectively popularizes goldan investment conventionally believed to be a favored investment tool for senior-age investors," said a research note from Sinolink Securities Co.

The Shanghai Gold Exchange continued to gain market share, as high-net-worth individuals increasingly buy one-kilogram gold bars using the exchange's services at low margins.

The WGC said it expects China's demand for gold in 2017 to be between 900 tons and 1,000 tons. The world's second-biggest gold consumer India is expected to demand gold of 650 tons to 750 tons in 2017.
Workers assemble subway trains at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co in Changchun, Jilin province. WANG HAOFEI / XINHUA

China Railway Rolling Stock Corp, the country's railway vehicle and equipment manufacturer and exporter, announced on Thursday that it will build a plant in Canada to further expand its marketing channels in North America.

The train maker said in a statement that the new facility, located in Moncton in New Brunswick, will create more than 200 jobs in the first phase and generate more than $1 million in tax revenue for the local government annually. The plant is capable of manufacturing heavy load, special railway vehicles and railway vehicle brakes.

The plant was jointly set up by Sichuan-based CRRC Meishan Co Ltd, a freight train maker under CRRC, Moncton-based ARS Canada Rolling Stock Inc, a local railcar manufacturer and service supplier, and a CRRC subsidiary in Hong Kong. They gained approval from the Canadian government in June 2016.

CRRC said the establishment of this facility will enhance its market presence in North America. However, the company's headquarters in Beijing did not disclose the total investment amount and designed manufacturing capacity.

The new company's main business is to carry out sales of cargo trains, research and development work for freight trains that can be operated in North America, as well as manufacturing freight trains including open-top wagons, covered wagons, tankers and flat cars.

The statement said that CRRC's long-term goal is to assemble freight trains and provide after-sale services to clients in Canada.

"Canada is rich in commodity goods including copper ore, nickel ore, iron ore, petroleum, wheat, soybean and other agricultural products. It is a good growth point for Chinese cargo train manufacturers to carry out a localization strategy in the country," said Feng Hao, a rail transportation researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission.

Feng said as CRRC's other subsidiaries such as CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co Ltd and CRRC Changchun Co Ltd have built manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Massachusetts to produce passenger trains in the United States, so it is possible for its Canadian facility to supply cargo trains to the markets in the US sooner or later.

CRRC Meishan so far has shipped more than 5,000 freight trains to the global market. It also produces special vehicles for clients in resource-rich countries such as Australia and Argentina.

Pan Shuping, general manager of CRRC Meishan, said it is necessary to conduct research and development in fast-growing markets such as Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, because they have different standards in railway infrastructure and services.
Visitors examine a Ford SUV at the Guangzhou auto show in November 2016. [Li Fusheng/China Daily]

Ford and its joint ventures sold nearly 94,000 cars last month in China, 11 percent more than the same month last year.

Overall, their China sales in the first four months totaled 349,228 units, down 12 percent from the same period last year.

The sales decline, which many international carmakers have seen in China, is largely due to the reduction of a purchase tax incentive which stimulated too much consumption last year, according to analysts.

Peter Fleet, vice-president of Ford Asia Pacific, said the Chinese market is showing signs of rebounding and expects Ford's growth momentum will continue.

Of Ford's April sales, Changan Ford contributed the most, with 62,382 units sold, up 6 percent from the same month last year.

The company said most of its sedans, including Focus, Escort, Mondeo and Taurus, saw their sales grow 10 percent year-on-year, and SUVs continued their popularity, with the sales of Edge up 19 percent.

Another joint venture, Jiangling Motors, delivered 25,404 cars in the month, up 15 percent.

Ford's premium brand Lincoln saw the fastest growth. It sold 4,533 cars in the month, almost doubling sales in April 2016.

The figure has brought Lincoln's sales to 16,264 cars in the first fourth months of the year. Lincoln was the fastest-growing premium car brand in the Chinese market in 2016.

Based on its success, Lincoln announced in March plans to build its first China-made SUV by late 2019. Lincoln said the model will be sold exclusively on the Chinese market, and will continue to import vehicles for Chinese customers.
Tourists in Suining county, Central China's Hunan province, have a chance to gather with local Miao Ethnic people to celebrate their annual Women's Day, which falls on Friday - the 8th day of the 4th lunar month.

The Miao Ethnic people's Women's Day is a festival that commemorates a heroine named Yang Liniang in Song Dynasty (960-1279AD).

Listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage, the festival is nowadays celebrated in the border areas of Central China's Hunan province, Southwest China's Guizhou province and South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
HOHHOT -- A forest fire was extinguished Friday after burning for three days in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, local authorities said.

By noon Friday, the emergency response team, consisting of more than 9,400 firefighters, police and civilians, had put out the fire, which broke out Tuesday in Bilahe Beidahe Forest in the Greater Hinggan Mountains, according to the local fire authority.

The fire spread across more than 11,500 hectares of forest.

Authorities said the blaze was caused by dumped smoldering coal and a suspect is currently in police detention.

Steps are now being taken to prevent the fire reigniting.
Nisreen El-Hashemite says men and women are born free, and have to remain free. Provided to China Daily

Iraqi princess is fighting to correct a shortage of women in the field of science and their unequal pay

If Nisreen El-Hashemite has things her way, the winners of the Hollywood Oscars next year will be presented by leading women scientists from around the world. This is part of her bigger dream to help her colleagues gain the international recognition they deserve.

El-Hashemite is the executive director of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust, a nonprofit organization "dedicated to promoting excellence in education and science". She is also a medical doctor and scientist in her own right.

Using RASIT as a platform, she has devoted herself to championing science technology and medicine education and research.

"I am very happy that you want to talk about my scientific work  thank you very much for focusing on me as a human being," she said in an interview with China Daily, given before she addressed the CRIB Summit 2017 in Singapore, an event in March which focused on women leadership and entrepreneurship.

The statement might seem a little strange, until you realize that El-Hashemite is of royal lineage. She is the granddaughter of King Faisal (I) bin El-Sharif Hussein, the first king of Iraq and founder of the modern state of Iraq. She belongs to the Hashemite family, whose lineage can be traced to the Prophet Muhammad.

"Most people want to talk about me being a princess, but the real me is the scientist," said the 48-year-old.

A look at her resume shows a list of scientific publications two and a half pages long.

Research she has done includes developing techniques for diagnosing single gene disorders from one cell  a technique known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis and now used as a preventive procedure in more than 100 centers worldwide.

While working at the Brigham and Women's Hospital  a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital  from 2001 to 2006, she conducted research on sex differences in tuberous sclerosis-related cancers, which has led to new therapeutic strategies and early detection of major types of cancer through accurate blood tests.

In all, she spent a decade doing medicine and scientific research before leaving it behind in 2007 to work at RASIT. Motivating her was the desire to correct income gap. "In the UK, women who work in science are paid less than men by up to 40 percent. It's a violation of gender equality."

She first realized the imbalance three months after receiving her first pay check back in 1997. It was 2,100 pounds ($2,690 at today's rates)  less than what her male counterparts were paid.

"This is a violation of human rights. Why am I being paid less when I am doing the same job as a male colleague who has the same qualifications?" she asked herself.

"Men and women were born free, and have to remain free. When it comes to employment, whoever is best for the job should be given the opportunity."

Equally vexing for her is the knowledge that women are underrepresented in science.

According to a report released in March by UNESCO, only 28.8 percent of researchers in the world are women. In East Asia and the Pacific, the figure drops to 23 percent.

Through her work at RASIT and its affiliate programs and divisions, El-Hashemite has worked hard against gender inequality and encouraged more girls and women to join her chosen field.

Two years ago, she made a breakthrough.

She presented a resolution to the United Nations to create an International Day for Women and Girls in Science in 2015. The intention is to encourage women and girls to pursue their interest in science and understand what stands in the way of those dreams.

The following year, the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution and Feb 11 was earmarked for the international day. Since then, a day-long conference has been held annually at the UN in New York.

"It is the only day in the UN calendar that combines women and girls," she said. "Unlike International Women's Day, which started because of the agony of women, the one I proposed is to recognize the happiness and achievement of women and girls in science."

This ranks as one of her proudest achievements to date. Another is her science degrees, including a PhD in human genetics from University College London. "I am the first royal princess to have four of them; I attained them by myself and for myself," she said.

Equally satisfying to her is being the founder president of the UN-hosted World Women's Health and Development Forum in 2014.

An independent program of RASIT, it aspires to "(promote) excellence in education and science, and (is) intent on playing an influential role in regional and international women's and girls' health and research policy".

"You cannot develop a woman without health and education," she explained.

El-Hashemite's love for science can be traced back to her childhood. As the youngest of four children, she was constantly trailing after her three brothers.

"They were my mentors and my teachers. I learned about chemistry, physics, engineering and mathematics through them, as they were doing their homework, even before I started studying these subjects in school."

The decision to become a medical doctor came easily to her. What was challenging was finding a university to accept her when the time came to apply.

"I was told repeatedly that science is not for royalty."

This, despite the fact that she had straight A's and would consistently give correct answers at admissions interviews.

"I remember telling the deans of the universities that I am proud to be a princess and born into this family. I said being a princess is harder than being a doctor. If they accept me, they will have the honor of having the (university's) first royal princess."

Eventually a British university  though which one she declines to reveal  accepted her and she continued her education.

Her perseverance is admirable. "My mother brought us up with the idea that you do not live on a title, you live on your achievements," she said.

While at medical school, an encounter with a young patient went on to define her specialization. "I wanted to be a pediatrician because I like children very much, but I later changed to human genetics because of a little girl I met."

Natasha was a 4-year-old orphan who had been diagnosed with thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder.

"When I was treating her, she asked me to promise her to help children like her. She said to me if I don't keep my promise, Allah will send me to hell.

"When she passed away six months later, I knew I had to live up to my word and changed my specialization. My masters thesis was dedicated to her."

El-Hashemite said of the life purpose she has found in serving humanity: "This is my mission, the honor that God gave me."

It is why she is so vocal about her fight against gender inequality and pushing for more women to become scientists and researchers.
Huang Xiangmo, founder and chairman of Yuhu Group (Australia)

When Huang Xiangmo migrated to Australia in 2011 he was relatively unknown outside of the local Chinese community.

In a few short years he has managed to establish a successful development company and become an influential figure in Sydney business and political circles.

A significant donor to parties on both sides of Australian politics, he has also given more than A$6 million ($4.5 million) to charities and established the high-profile Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, headed by former foreign minister Bob Carr.

Huang himself has become a frequent contributor to publications in China, expressing his views on issues that affect relations between Australia and China.

His 15th-floor office in North Sydney is flooded with natural light from two large floor-to-ceiling windows. From here he can look straight up Sydney Harbour to the Heads  the mouth of the world-famous harbor  and to the left get a glimpse of the beachside suburb of Manly.

Wearing a white open-neck shirt and blue suit, the softly spoken founder and chairman of Yuhu Group (Australia) gave a warm welcome as he ordered tea.

His office is long, with black furniture, white walls and gray carpet. On the walls are framed photographs of him presenting checks or being presented with plaques for his donations to various charities and universities.

Despite his close relationship with key powerbrokers in the Australian Labor Party, Huang describes himself as a private person and rarely gives interviews, saying: "I am just an ordinary businessman."

While still living in China, with the help of his family and some close friends, he managed to raise enough money to start the Shenzhen Yuhu Investment Development Company in 2001.

Specializing in property development, the company quickly earned a reputation for quality villas and high-rise apartments. Today it is not only involved in development but has branched out into agricultural production, electricity generation and mining.

Seeking to expand his business, Huang migrated to Australia in 2011 and established Yuhu Group (Australia) a year later.

"I had looked at other countries to expand the business but found Australia to be very welcoming," he said. "The people are warm and friendly and the air is clean, very clean."

Another factor favoring the move Down Under was his children, or as he put it, "the next generation".

"I want them to take advantage of the opportunities Australia has to offer," Huang said.

Australia has been an important move in the groups internationalization strategy, where it plans to raise its global profile and target investment opportunities through expanding its business, particularly in the real estate, agriculture and medical research sectors.

Huang said the company has a set plan for expansion, but no time frame. The first phase, he said, is to focus on the real estate sector and the development of residential, commercial and mixed-use land, as well as commercial property management.

"That is our main priority," he said. "But we still have an eye on other areas of investment in Australia such as agriculture and medical research."

In 2013 the company bought the Eastwood Shopping Centre in Sydneys northwest and is in the process of refurbishing the complex. It is one of five residential/commercial projects the company is currently involved in around the city.

Huang has also made his mark as a philanthropist, donating millions to universities and medical research in Australia.

In December 2015 he donated A$3.5 million to the Western Sydney University for the establishment of a new Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture.

He sees the institute as an important point of access to Chinese culture, providing resources, support and expertise for those wanting to study one of the worlds oldest and most enduring societies. He also sees it providing opportunities for cultural exchange.

The donations follow similar gifts in 2013 to the Childrens Medical Research Institute (A$1 million) and an endowment of A$1.8 million over three years to establish the innovative China-Australia relations program at the University of Technology Sydney.

"Australia has been very good to me," Huang said. "This is my way of giving something back and to help create a better understanding between our two countries. The best way for that to happen is through education," he said.

"While the two universities may not be among Australias top universities, they attract a lot of overseas students, many of whom are Chinese. And they have strong ties with China."

It was through education that Huang managed to free himself from poverty. He was born in 1969 in a poor, semi-rural township outside of Jieyang, in South Chinas Guangdong province.

"For my mother and father, life was a struggle, especially with five children to feed," he recalled.

Leaning back in his chair, he looked around his office and said: "We lived in a room about half the size of this. Despite the hardships we were a close family."

When Huang was 15, his father died suddenly. "I had to pull out of school to help the family. But that lasted for about one year, then it was back to school," he said.

"My parents believed education was the passport to a good future."

Huang said his mother was the bedrock of the family.

"She instilled in us certain values such as being kind to people and being thrifty and tolerant  these are values which have made China great," he said.

Contact the writers at karlwilson@chinadailyapac.com
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After intense days of pressure from constituents and House leaders, all 14 California House Republicans joined their colleagues Thursday to vote for a GOP rollback of the Affordable Care Act. Here are all of their votes:





The American Health Care Act, which government estimates have said could lead to 24 million fewer Americans with health insurance and could substantially affect both those on Medicaid and those with employer-provided insurance, passed the House 217 to 213. It will now move on to the Senate, where it is expected to face multiple stumbling blocks.





More than

were among the members who were leery of the bill when it was changed to accommodate the far-right Freedom Caucus, including

But an
The two sides should increase exchanges between vocational training schools, thus improving the quality of Cao Bangs human resources in the fields of economic management, medicine, culture, tourism and education, said Cao Bang officials.



In reply, Baise citys representatives suggested expanding education collaboration, especially in student exchange and vocational training, noting that the two sides need to accelerate the grant of 40 full scholarships as signed.



In recent years, the friendship and cooperation between Cao Bang and Baise have been maintained and developed in various fields such as agriculture, trade, import-export, culture, tourism and education-training.



Between 2015 and 2017, Cao Bang sent 27 students to Baise for study, 25 of whom learned Chinese in ten months. Two Chinese teachers from Cao Bang were also dispatched to the Chinese city for student management cooperation.



The authorities of Guangxi province have also provided 13 scholarships for Cao Bang officials and students.

VNA/VNP
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan receives Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Oshima Tadamori in Hanoi__Photo: VNA

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Enhancing ties with Japan is one of the priorities in Vietnams foreign policy, National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan told Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Oshima Tadamori in Hanoi on May 4.The Vietnamese leader said the visit would contribute to fostering the relationship between the two countries and the two legislatures in particular.Ngan suggested the two sides closely coordinate in organizing activities to mark the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2018.Appreciating the two countries determination to double their 2016 trade of USD 30 billion by 2020, she stated that Japan has become Vietnams leading important economic partner as it is the largest official development assistance (ODA) provider, the second biggest investor with 3,355 valid direct investment projects worth USD 42.49 billion, and the fourth largest bilateral trade partner.At present, more than 1,600 Japanese businesses are investing in Vietnam.According to the top legislator, the two sides have carried out a number of large-scale projects in the fields of infrastructure and energy in Vietnam. The Japanese hallmarks have been seen in many infrastructure facilities such as roads, seaports, airports, hospitals and schools.The completed projects have played an important role in Vietnams socio-economic development, culture and tourism, she stressed.She noted that in the coming time, Vietnam encourages Japans major corporations to get involved in the restructuring of State-owned enterprises as well as the banking system under the form of public-private partnership (PPP).Expressing her thanks to Japan for assisting Vietnam in overcoming war consequences, the NA Chairwoman wished Japan to provide non-refundable ODA for Vietnam to implement a joint project on dioxin treatment at the Bien Hoa Airport.Vietnam also hopes to further cooperation with Japan in high technology, support industry and agriculture, especially in climate change response, she added.On this occasion, Ngan suggested the Japanese House of Representatives and Speaker Oshima Tadamori facilitate the activities of the Vietnamese community in Japan, thus contributing to the socio-economic development in each country as well as bridging the Vietnam-Japan friendship.For his part, Speaker Oshima Tadamori affirmed his wish that the two sides continue increasing collaboration between their legislative bodies as well as exchanges between friendship parliamentarians groups. He also suggested both sides further step up relations in politics and economy.Numerous Japanese businesses have invested in Vietnam, he said, adding that many others also show their wish to do business in the country in the coming time.Speaker Tadamori agreed with Chairwoman Ngan about the need to boost labor cooperation in which Japan should increase the number of Vietnamese apprentices it receives in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and construction on the basis of Japans new law, which will take effect in November 2017.Japan will provide favorable conditions for foreign workers to study and work in the country, he said, adding that the new law on this field will help enhance people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.In terms of trade ties, he asked the countries to implement regulations in global trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and hoped that they will continue discussion to promote this trade pact.At the talks, both sides highly valued cooperation between the two parliaments, friendship parliamentary groups, and parliamentarians of Vietnam and Japan. They voiced their hope that mutual visits and meetings between parliamentary leaders will be maintained while cooperation, dialogue and opinion and experience sharing between legislative agencies should be fostered.The House of Representatives of Japan supports the realization of the countries high-level agreements, Tadamori affirmed, asking the two parliaments to step up supervising the implementation of joint programs and projects between the Vietnamese and Japanese Governments, ministries and sectors.Speaker Tadamori and Chairwoman Ngan appreciated the two friendship parliamentary groups efforts to promote the establishment of the Vietnam-Japan University, which has recorded good initial activities.They noted with satisfaction that in 2016, nearly 700,000 Japanese tourists visited Vietnam while more than 200,000 Vietnamese people chose Japan as their holiday destination. They said the two sides will encourage their tourists to visit each others nations in the time ahead.Japan also wants to cooperate with Vietnam in culture and sports, Tadamori said, adding that his country will host an international film festival in the near future and looks forward to Vietnams participation in this event.At the talks, the legislators also exchanged views on some regional and international issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue. They emphasized the need to maintain peace, stability, safety, security and freedom of navigation and over-flight in and above the East Sea, peacefully settle disputes, respect diplomatic and legal processes, and adhere to international law.-
HA NOI  The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) voted to extend anti-dumping duties on the import of frozen warmwater shrimp for five more years on Tuesday.

As a result, existing duties on the import of shrimp products from Viet Nam, China, Thailand and India will remain for another five years. Only Brazilian shrimp exports are fortunate to overcome this "barrier."

"The revoking of the existing anti-dumping duty orders on the import of frozen warmwater shrimp from China, India, Thailand and Viet Nam would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time," according to an official statement of the commission.

This verdict is the outcome of the second five-year sunset review asking the United States Department of Commerce (DoC) to revoke an anti-dumping or countervailing duty.

USITCs decision has provoked different reactions.

Southern Shrimp Alliances executive director John Williams praised ITCs decision as good news for the United States shrimp industry, then emphasised that if countries were subject to anti-dumping duties focusing on "fair trade," the barriers would be lifted.

He also explained anti-dumping orders have not been extended to Brazil because this South American country has not exported shrimp to the United States for a very long time.

The American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) also welcomed the extension of the anti-dumping orders by USITC on shrimp from China, India, Thailand and Viet Nam for an additional five years.

However, representatives of the United States major wholesalers, such as the Performance Food Group, Costco and Publix Super Markets, which consume some 100,000 tonnes of shrimp per year, argued that expansion of anti-dumping duties should not be imposed on the import of frozen shrimp, according to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Washington.
HCM CITY  With the glut of pigs forcing local pork prices down to levels comparable with imported ones, some food processing firms in HCM City have suspended imports and increased local purchases.

A spokesperson for Cau Tre Export Goods Processing Joint Stock Company said the company normally uses both local and imported pork for processing, but with local prices plunging, it has temporarily stopped imports. The company plans to buy 200-250 tonnes, equivalent to three months requirement, and stockpile, he said.

Nguyen ang Phu, deputy general director of Vissan Co Ltd, said his company has stopped pork imports and is buying more pigs from Long An Province.

But the pigs must meet VietGap standards, should be bred under the Livestock Competitiveness and Food Safety Project (Lifsap), and must be from farms participating in a HCM City programme to trace their origins, he said.

Vissan has increased its buying from 1,500 pigs a day to 1,800 in the last 10 days, he said.

The HCM City Department of Industry and Trade held a meeting with food processing firms and retailers on Wednesday to discuss ways to stimulate consumption of pork.

It told the meeting that pig prices in the south are VN25,000-30,000 a kilogramme (US$1.10-1.32), a drop of VN13,000-15,000 from a year ago. The prices of pigs bred without following VietGap standards or being part of the Lifsap or origin-tracing programmes have fallen the most.

A survey by the department in provinces like Long An, Tra Vinh, ong Nai, Vinh Long, and Ben Tre found that a majority of pig farmers are small households who fail to keep abreast of the market. They mainly sell their pigs to traders for cash and are afraid of tying up with businesses.

Pig exports have been hit due to various difficulties in recent years, but farmers have not reduced the sizes of their herds, leading to oversupply.

Boost consumption

Retailers told the meeting they have rolled out promotions to stimulate pork demand, which has increased significantly as a result.

A Saigon Co.op executive said 10-20 per cent discounts since April 25 have increased pork sales at Co.opmart and Co.op Food by 20-30 per cent.

Ho Quoc Nguyen, PR director of Central Group Vietnam, said within a week of offering 20-30 per cent discounts on pork, sales at Big C have picked up by more than 30 per cent.

Lotte Mart supermarkets are also offering discounts of 10-20 per cent.

Nguyen Huynh Trang, the departments deputy director, said besides working with producers and distributors in HCM City, the department is also in touch with its counterparts in other provinces to explore ways to boost consumption.

It seeks to establish close links between farmers and businesses and develop an efficient supply chain for the pig breeding sector, she said.

Trang and others at the meeting agreed that the Government needs to have development plans for the sector to avoid a repeat of this situation in future.  VNS
HCM CITY  Building a strong relationship with franchisees is the basis for success in the franchise business, delegates said at a seminar in HCM City yesterday.

Nguyen Phi Van, chairwoman of Retail and Franchise Asia, said franchising was a common strategy that companies choose when expanding their business.

Franchsing in the food and beverage industry has developed strongly in Viet Nam, especially in the fast food segment, she said.

Before starting a franchise, businesses need to evaluate their financial efficiency and the feasibility of their target market.

They should also build a good internal labour force so they can effectively support their franchisees.

There are six development phases involved in a relationship between franchisors and franchisee, according to Van.

They include the glee phase (when franchisees are pleased with franchisors); fee (franchisees experience practical business operations and feel pressure of expenditures); and me (franchisees feel they have explicit knowledge of trading and think that the management role of franchisors is no longer important and does not contribute much to their success).

The next phase is the free phase in which franchisees do not want to be managed. This is the period in which the franchise relationship can break down if the two sides do not have ways to retain their relationship, she said.

If they pass the free phase, they will come to the see phase (the two sides will sit down and admit each others value and find ways to build a better relationship for mutual benefit).

The last phase is the we phase, which is the peak in the relationship, when the two sides combine their strength to develop their brand.

Franchisors must understand the various phases in developing the businesses and adopt support plans and training programmes for franchisees in each phase, Van said.

To have a sustainable franchise, businesses need to understand that the most important aspect in a franchise is building a good relationship, she said.

To make sure the franchisor and franchisee relationship does not break down, the two sides must adhere to the terms of the franchise agreement, she said.

Le Thi Ngoc Thuy, director of IP Plus Group, which franchises Viva Star coffee brand, said the company entered into a franchise business in 2013 and has 63 franchised Viva Star coffee shops plus two of its own. Some disagreements arose when franchisees tried to intervene to deeply in the management of franchised shops and did not agree about maintenance fees, she said.

Lawyer Ho Huu Hoanh said franchisors should clearly state their franchise policies, fees and other terms in their agreements so that franchisors can avoid disputes later.

Regarding difficulties faced by franchisees, Hoang Son, a franchisee of the US Smoothie Factory, said it faced difficulties in sourcing raw materials for the Smoothie Factorys product formula in Viet Nam. The two sides gradually solved the problem, with the franchisor helping his company import materials from the United States, he said.

Huynh Ngoc Hoa, a franchisee of Viva Star Coffee, said the franchisor typically uses a common management process for its entire franchise chain, but should consider adjusting it to suit each region.

Franchisors should collect feedback from franchisees to better develop the franchise system, he said.

The seminar is part of a series of seminars included in the Vietnam Retail and Franchise Show 2017 to be held at HCM Citys Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre from June 1-3.  VNS
HCM CITY  More than 100 new models are on display at the 2017 Vietnam Motorcycle Show which opened in HCM City yesterday.

The second annual event has the theme Free Your Wheels.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment ang Huy ong said, The show, in its increasing scale and quality, has truly become one of the most important and anticipated events for motorcycle lovers and technology enthusiasts across the country.

It is also a sign indicative of the evolution of various motorcycle brands and the growth of the industry in Viet Nam.

With a display area of nearly 10,000sq.m, the event showcases over 100 of models in various segments: commercial, sports, high-performance and concept.

Honda, Piaggio, Suzuki, SYM, Yamaha, Benelli, Ducati, Kawasaki, Peugeot, and Harley Davidson have brought their vehicles.

At the event, many new and special models have been introduced to customers such as Scrambler, Monster, XDiavel, Multistrada of Ducati.

For the first time in Viet Nam, Harley-Davidson is showing its 2017 models of the Street RodTm and CVO Street Glide.

Peugeot brings to the event two models of Peugeot Satelis.

Kawasaki has its limited edition versions of Ninja H2 Carbon and Ninja ZX-10RR.

Also present at the event are 50 companies in supporting industries, making items like gears and accessories, related industries like tyre, lubricant, and helmet and service suppliers like banks and insurance companies.

According to Yano Takeshi, chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers  the exhibition organiser  the four-day event is expected to attract 150,000 visitors.

It is on at the Sai Gon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7 till May 7.

The motorcycle market last year reached a sale of around 3.1 million units in 2016, up by 9.5 per cent year-on-year.

The growth is attributed to the steady economic growth and rising incomes.  VNS
PARIS  Viet Nam wants to attract investment in hi-tech and environmentally-friendly fields, which are strengths of French investors, Le Cong Thanh, Counsellor in charge of investment in France told a roundtable discussing Vietnamese investments and exports.

During the event, organised by the enterprise club of the Association of Enterprises in the Ile-de-France region (MEDEF Ile-de-France) on Thursday, representatives of Vietnamese trade and investment promotion agencies in France discussed the strengths of Viet Nams investment climate, including its stable political system, positive and sustainable growth prospects, competitive labour costs and high domestic demand.

Several French enterprises also shared their experience in doing business in Viet Nam.

Michel Jonqueres, Chairman of the International Committee under MEDEF Ile-de-France, said that three remained untapped potentials for the two countries to accelerate bilateral economic and investment relations. Frances exports to Viet Nam were valued at 1.7 billion euros (US$ 1.89 billion) last year, accounting for only 1 per cent of Viet Nams imports, he said, suggesting French businesses should expand operations in the Southeast Asian nation.

Currently, 300 French businesses are operating in Viet Nam, creating about 26,000 local jobs.  VNS
Ngoc Bich

YOKOHAMA  How can Asian countries continue an impressive economic growth to move from a low-income to middle-income position, a seminar held by the Asian Development Bank heard on Friday.

According to the Asian Development Outlook 2017 produced by the Asian Development Bank, as of 1991, more than 90 per cent of Asians lived in low-income economies, but now the vast majority of the regions population lived in middle-income countries, presenting a remarkable turnaround.

The regions strong growth seen in recent years has been motivating optimism about its ability to reach high income. However, the transition from middle-income to high income will not be driven by the same factors that lifted economies out of low income, the report highlighted.

ADBs Governor for Indonesia-cum-Indonesian Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that Asia had adopted good policies for the past 50 years, "but it does not mean that it will be a shock-free or crisis-free region".

She said that most of the Asian countries were pursuing the model of export-oriented and investment-led growth. They were getting rich by their trade openness and competitive advantages as they were using labour-intensive manufacturing while paying low wages.

However, to successfully move up to a higher ladder of development, the countries would need to improve their productivity by investing more in human capital and education.

It is not only about increasing your budget spending in education, but also about how you design the education system to allow an improvement in skills, Indrawati said.

ADB chief economist Yasuyuki Sawada, who is also the Director General of ADBs Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, told a Viet Nam News reporter that the key determinant for Asian countries to avoid being trapped in the middle-income category would be to foster productivity to sustain economic growth.

According to Sawada there are three productivity-enhancing factors, including innovation and technological progress, human capital quality, and advanced infrastructure.

As an economy matures, productivity growth has to come increasingly from innovation. Therefore, it is necessary for middle-income economies to shift their attention to areas that foster innovation and create positive productivity spill-over.

He suggested that middle-income countries should learn lessons from some Latin America countries such as Brazil which is considered to have fallen into the middle-income trap, as well as learn from success stories like South Korea of which the road to high-income spanned only 23 years.

Good governance

Besides productivity, Indrawati added, governance and quality of an institution is very important to ensure that countries avoid the middle-income trap.

Change in governance and institution has not matched up with the expectations of the public sector, thus the trust in the public sector in government is at the lowest level.

The role of governments is very important. It can become a source of a problem but also be a real facilitator for the countries to move up, Indrawati said.

To gain public trust, from my own experience, you have to show you really mean it. You have to clean staff with being seen as corrupt, create an open business process and increase accountability by asking outside stakeholders to watch, criticise and supervise you.

ADBs Alternate Governor for India Shaktikanta Das agreed with Indrawati saying that Asian countries governance and institution have to be strengthened and structural reform measures need to be undertaken.

Das, who is Secretary at the Department of Economic Affairs in the Indian Ministry of Finance, gave an example that India has reduced human interface in all tax authorities by using online procedures and simplifying rules.

He said that Asian governments should focus on three other areas in the years to come to remain where they are, to grow further, and to lift living conditions of people.

First, they need to continue anti-poverty programmes. Second, they should focus on infrastructure enhancement. Thirdly, they need to reorient public expenditure with a focus on areas providing good growth and creating more employments because governments in the region cannot borrow excessively and increase their debt to GDP ratio.

He also urged each Asian country not to retreat into a shell of protectionism because opening trade over the last two decades really helped global growth and Asian development.

ADBs Governor for Norway Tone Skogen noted that the private sector is an instrument driving development so, We need to make sure of a conducive business environment with long-term and predictable framework for the private sector to invest and create jobs.
The Ha Noi Peoples Court yesterday sentenced Pham Van Luat, a resident in Hai Phong City, to 12 years in prison for illegally transporting ivory, a banned good under Clause 1, Article 155 of the Penal Code.  Photo baophapluat.vn

HA NOI  The Ha Noi Peoples Court yesterday sentenced Pham Van Luat, a resident in Hai Phong City, to 12 years in prison for illegally transporting ivory, a banned good under Clause 1, Article 155 of the Penal Code.

On August 12, 2015, anti-smuggling police and the customs force at the Noi Bai international airport in Ha Noi carried a check of Luats luggage after he arrived on a flight from Luanda ( Angola ). They found in his suitcase 24 chunks of ivory and a number of ivory bangles, weighing 50.6 kg in total.

When the ivory was detected, Luat fled the airport. More than a year later, on December 22, 2016, he handed himself in to police and admitted his violation of law.

Luat told the police that he was paid US$200 to carry the ivory from Luanda to Viet Nam by a man named Quang, who he made acquaintance of while working in Angola .

The seized ivory was found to be tusks of the Loxodonta Africana elephant, a species listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

A separate investigation will be launched into the man named Quang, as the police has not obtained accurate information on his identity and address.  VNS
HA NOI  Poor planning and management of sand mining has led to a stunning but unsurprising warning: Viet Nam is very likely to run out of sand in less than 15 years.

A report by the Department of Construction Materials (DoCM) of the Ministry of Construction says the demand for sand in 2015 stood at 92 million cubic metres, and will surge by some 40 per cent to about 130 million in 2020.

The driving force behind the increase is the construction frenzy across Viet Nam, a developing nation pouring more and more cash into infrastructure investment, especially in cities.

But legally licensed sand mining can only meet some 60 to 65 per cent of the need of big cities, according to the DoCM.

The gap, consequently, was filled with the sand exploited illegally from several rivers under the eyes of local authorities for years. They refused to tighten their grip on the sand mining until a recent crackdown ordered by the central government following an expose by Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper about illegal sand mined in Viet Nam was shipped to Singapore.

The crackdown on illegal sand mining, plus a suspension of activity in legal mines for a thorough review of the industry, has further strained sand supplies to the market, resulting in prices immediately shooting over the roof in the following months and showing no signs of stopping.

Prices on fire

According to Tuoi tre, sand prices in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta nearly doubled compared to two months ago. Yellow sand, for example, is sold in Can Tho City at VN100,000 (US$4.4) a cubic metre instead of just VN65,000 back in March.

A construction material seller in Vinh Long Province, meanwhile, said that the price of the particular sand used for leveling ground increased by about 40 per cent in just one day, from VN80,000 on May 2 to VN115,000 a cubic metre the following day. He told Tuoi tre that the sand supply was becoming very scarce and everything was sold out despite.

HCM City  the economic hub of the south  saw a rocketing three-fold price hike. The yellow sand used for mixing mortar is sold at more or less VN600,000 a cubic metre, compared to just VN180,000 a month ago.

Alternative materials

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has also voiced concerns over the sand resource, warning that there was a real risk of sand running out for construction and alternatives must be seriously considered.

One option, according to the natural resources ministry, was to use artificial sand created by crushing rocks. The material was in fact used in some construction, like the Son La and Lai Chau hydropower plants.

Hoa Binh Construction and Real Estate Corporations Supplies Division Head Huynh Nhan Quang suggested looking for factory-produced mortar instead of following the traditional way of mixing sand and cement. The supply of ready mixed mortar in Viet Nam is limited, though, for the demand of the construction market, Quang said.

Given the almost total reliance on sand until now, Ha Tien Cement Company, the biggest mortar producer in Viet Nam, even decided last year to suspend dry mortar manufacturing, feeling there was insufficient demand, he said.

We hope that (mortar) manufacturers soon reevaluate the market to develop sand alternative products in order to meet the upcoming wave of market demand, he said.  VNS
HCM CITY Life about young Vietnamese living in urban areas is the topic of new shows produced this year by television stations and film studios in Ha Noi and HCM City.

A 46-part series, Nguoi Phan Xu (The Punisher), portrays the lives of young businesspeople who face challenges working in corporations.

The series focuses on a group of senior managers who lose themselves in career promotion.

Produced by Viet Nam Televisions Film Company (VFC), the TV series captivated viewers when it started broadcasting in March.

It has attracted some seven millions viewers on YouTube with each episode release.

The series lead, actor Viet Anh, spent several months talking with young entrepreneurs in different fields, listening to their stories.

Overcoming many rivals to land the role, Anh, a native of Ha Noi, said it was a great opportunity to play the role of Phan Hai.

Although experienced, he said he was still nervous because of the serious issues that the series feature.

"Young businesspeople play a role in the countrys economic development during a time of globalisation. Their life and work are hot topics for Vietnamese youth, Anh said.

Nguoi Phan Xu airs on Viet Nam Televisions (VTV) VTV3 and is rebroadcast on provincial TV stations.

Urban life

Apart from VFCs new series, every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night on VTV1, thousands of enraptured viewers are watching a show about urban women.

The 32-part series Song Chung Voi Me Chong (Living with Mother-in-Law) highlights the ambition of young women who work hard to balance their career and family.

The series features women and their difficulties in balancing work and marriage.

Directed by Vu Truong Khoa, the show is making waves with domestic audiance with each episode attracting over ten millions of viewes on YouTube.

"My family and I like the TV series Song Chung Voi Me Chong because it provides us with a quality plot, interesting scenes and knowledge about urban peoples thinking and lifestyle," said a viewer from ong Nai Province.

Vu Thi Bich Lien, director of Song Vang Producing and Advertising Company, said this year TV stations and film studios have invested in making quality shows to capture viewers, particularly young people.

We plan to produce 200 episodes this year while the number was 700 in previous years. Weve worked carefully in choosing screenplays, directors and actors and have paid more money to improve production quality, she said.

Female film producer Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy of Sena Film, a private film studio of HCM City, said: Audiences are tired of watching game shows on television. I think serious films will capture their interest.

Through our productions, which mostly feature urban life, we want people to learn about the difficulties in life and work that people and their families face every day," she said.

Thuys latest project, Ho So Lua (Black List), a 1,110-part series, is co-produced with Cong An TP HCM (HCM City Police) newspapers film studio Nguoi Bao Ve (Guardian).

The series is about the challenges and conflicts in work that police face daily. It focuses on their lives and sacrifices.

Its screenplay was written by Lai Van Long, author and reporter ate Cong An TP HCM, who spent more than 25 years writing about the criminal police.

The filming began late last year. The first part, Mat Danh 9 (Code 9), was directed by Vo Ngoc and stars young actors Binh Minh, Khuong Ngoc, Hoang Phuc and Vo Thanh Tam.

It aired last month on Today TVs SCTV14 and left a very strong impression on audiences.

The HCM City-based drama actor Cong Ninh believes urban youth and their issues are hot topics among filmmakers.

Quality shows in the field, Zippo, Mu Tat Va Em (Zippo, Mustard and You) and Nang Som Mua Chieu (Sunny and Rainy), broadcast last year attracted a number of viewers, many of them urban youth.

Ninh said that to lure audiences away from Korean and Indian productions, both State-owned and private filmmakers should give priority to such new films.  VNS
LOS ANGELES  French choreographer Benjamin Millepied will make his cinema directorial debut with a musical adaptation of Carmen, his publicist announced Thursday.

The dancer, who is married to actress Natalie Portman, will also be creating the choreography for the film, which centers on a womans journey from the deserts of Mexico to Los Angeles in search of freedom.

"Im beyond grateful to be supported by the film community in my directing debut," Millepied said in a statement.

"The incorporation of music and dance in film is a corner stone of my creativity and having such an experienced and talented team by my side gives me confidence that we will beautifully capture the story told in Carmen," he added.

Millepied was choreographer for Darren Aronofskys Black Swan, in which he also performed with Portman, whom he later wed. The couple recently had their second child.

He was recently also featured in Reset, a documentary about his work at the Paris Opera Ballet, which he left last year to return to Los Angeles, where he is artistic director and co-founder of L.A. Dance Project.

Millepied will be working with top names in the industry for his film, including Oscar-nominated Nicholas Britell (Moonlight) who will compose the original score.

Dimitri Rassam (The Little Prince) will be partnering with Helen Estabrook (Whiplash) to produce the movie.

"Its a project that Benjamin has been thinking about for a long time and which I am very enthusiastic about," Rassam said.

"The publics appetite for Carmen has never waned. Its a powerful and visceral work," he added.

Shooting is expected to begin in 2018 in Los Angeles.  AFP
HA NOI  Vietnamese magician Huy Nguyen has been honoured with the Merlin Award, which is presented to magicians who have achieved the highest level in their craft on the national and international stage.

The Merlin Award is to magic what the Oscar is to the movies or the Grammy is to the music industry. Several famous magicians worldwide have won the award, including David Copperfield (United States), Lu Luchen (China) and Cosentino (Australia).

Other Vietnamese magicians who have received the award are Palmas Nguyen and Ngoc Minh Quang.

Receiving this honour does not mean we are the best. It means we have to try harder and make greater efforts, Huy said at the ceremony. I hope more Vietnamese magicians will join hands to develop Viet Nams magic.

Born in the central province of Khanh Hoa, Huy began pursuing his passion for performing magic tricks in 1994, but took up magic as a profession in 2012 after qualifying for the semi-final of Vietnams Got Talent.

He is currently a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the International Magicians Society. He is also vice manager of the magic club at the Youth Cultural House in HCM City.

Many of his shows, such as Nguoi Bay (Flying Person) or anh Trong Ao (Virtual Drum), have been performed on stages nationwide, receiving high appreciation from the audience. He has impressed the audience with his humourous, skilful and unique tricks.

Huy has said he plans to conduct more magic shows at public places within HCM City, such as parks, book streets or Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, to entertain more people.  VNS
President Tran ai Quang meets withMost Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) on the occasion of the Buddhas 2561st Birthday Festival 2017 yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

HA NOI  President Tran ai Quang paid a visit yesterday to Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue, Supreme Patriarch of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) on the occasion of the Buddhas 2561st Birthday Festival 2017.

On behalf of the Party and the State, President Quang extended greetings to Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue and all Buddhist dignitaries, monks and nuns and followers in the country.

The President spoke highly of the practical and significant contributions the VBS and all monks, nuns and followers have made to the nations great unity, national defence and development over the past years.

He stressed that Buddhism has established a firm position in the countrys history since it was first introduced to Viet Nam nearly 2,000 years ago, thanks to its spirit of safeguarding the country, bringing peace to the people.

Building on its tradition, the VBS has encouraged monks, nuns and followers across the nation to lead an upright religious life, observe the Partys policies and the States laws, and actively participate in patriotic emulation campaigns and charity activities, he said.

The President affirmed that the Party and the State continue to respect and protect the freedom of religion and belief for all people, and facilitate religious practice of religious people and dignitaries, including Buddhists.

He noted that the 8th National Buddhist Congress for the 2017-2022 will take place this year, when the VBS will review their work, set future orientations and elect the Patronage Council and the Executive Council for the new tenure.

In this spirit, President Quang expressed his hope that Most Venerable Thich Pho Tue will continue leading the VBS under the motto of Religion  Nation  Socialism while actively contributing to the nation building and development.

Viet Nam is now home to more than 12 million Buddhist followers and 50,000 Buddhist monks and nuns, who are practicing the religion in over 17,000 Buddhist places of worship.

Buddhism is the religion with the oldest roots and largest number of followers in Viet Nam.-VNS
Twenty countries registered to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)s symposium for the Asia-Pacific region on climate change response to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from May 11-13, organisers reported yesterday.  VOV Photo

HA NOI  Twenty countries registered to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)s symposium for the Asia-Pacific region on climate change response to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from May 11-13, organisers reported yesterday.

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said the symposium, co-organised by the IPU and the Vietnamese legislature, will discuss legislators actions to realise sustainable development goals (SDGs) amid climate change.

The head of the NA Committee for External Relations and deputy head of the organising board, Nguyen Van Giau, said the symposium will focus on the SDGs and the role of parliaments; promotion of gender equality and public health when adapting to climate change; challenges and opportunities facing countries in the region; international commitments and requirements for legislators; and mobilisation of resources for realising the SDGs.  VNS
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.  VNA/VNS Photo Van iep

HA NOI  Viet Nam adamantly opposes and rejects Chinas unilateral ban on fishing in the East Sea from May 1 to August 16, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang told the media at a regular press conference yesterday.

She elaborated that Viet Nam has sufficient legal foundation and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago as well as the legitimate rights over Viet Nams sea areas defined in line with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Chinas ban violated Viet Nams sovereignty over the Hoang Sa Archipelago as well as Viet Nams rights and legitimate interests in its sea areas. That action also infringed international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and relevant international legal documents, and ran counter to the spirit and wording of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed by ASEAN and China in 2002.

The fishing ban neither suits the development trend in the two countries relations nor benefits peace and stability in the region, Hang stressed.

In response to a question about the East Sea issue in the Chairmans Statement of the 30th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines last week, the spokeswoman said the statement highlighted ASEANs consistent common viewpoint on the East Sea issue.

It reaffirmed that all countries are responsible for maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and over-flight in and above the East Sea. They must exercise self-restraint, not threaten or threaten to use force, fully respect legal and diplomatic processes, peacefully resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, fully implement the DOC, and work towards a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea, Hang noted.

She also said Maintaining peace, stability, security and safety of navigation and over-flight in and above the East Sea is the interest and also a common responsibility of all countries both inside and outside the region, when replying to queries on Chinese-US ties and relations between China and some regional countries.

The diplomat stressed that countries need to protect and realise this common target by persistently settling the East Sea issue through peaceful means on the basis of international law and complying with diplomatic and legal processes.

She emphasised Viet Nams policy of independence, autonomy, multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations, active and proactive integration with the rest of the world, and being a friend and a trustworthy partner of all countries around the globe.

Viet Nam supports countries co-operation for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world, the spokesperson said.  VNS
WASHINGTON DC  Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung proposed several priorities in ASEAN-US co-operation in his speech to the ASEAN-US Special Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Washington DC on Thursday, the first such meeting since US President Donald Trump took office.

The priorities include developing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting innovation, digital economy and marine co-operation, people-to-people exchanges and responding to non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism and cyber attacks.

Dung underscored the need to protect Mekong River water resources and respond to climate change.

The Deputy FM said continued US support for ASEANs central role in the regional architecture is significant to peace, stability and connectivity.

On the East Sea (South China Sea) issue, he expressed concern over recent developments and emphasised the importance of peace, stability, security, maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea, affirming that it is of shared concern of countries in and outside the region, including the US.

Speaking at the event, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pledged to continue the ASEAN-US Connectivity Cooperation Initiative, facilitate sustainable and equitable economic growth and maintain training courses for ASEAN youngsters and women such as the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative and Fulbright scholarships.

At the event, ASEAN and the US committed to work together to counter trans-national challenges such as terrorism and cyber security.

They expressed concern over recent developments in the Korean Peninsula and the East Sea, and underscored the significance of peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea.

They called for exercising restraint, peacefully settling disputes in line with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, diplomatic and legal process in the region, full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

At the 30th ASEAN-US Dialogue on Wednesday, the two sides reviewed plans for ASEAN-US co-operation, preparations for the ASEAN-US Ministerial Meeting, the fifth ASEAN-US Special Summit and celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the ASEAN-US ties.

The US has become the blocs fourth largest trade partner with two-way trade of US$212 billion in 2015, and is the top investor with total registered capital of $274 billion. Bilateral economic ties have generated more than 5 million jobs in the US.  VNS
HA NOI  The citys Drug Crime Investigation Police Department announced on Thursday the arrest of Duong inh ang, who was suspected to be leader of a large-scale drug trafficking ring.

City police had issued a special wanted order for ang, 30, who had been allegedly trafficking large quantities of drugs from the northwest region and northern Quang Ninh Province to sell in the city.

Police also seized two loaded guns, three drug packets, VN147 million in cash at a house in the city where ang was hiding.

At the police office, ang, living at Tho Quan Ward, ong a District of the city, allegedly declared he had transported 4.4kg of synthetic drugs in connection with other northwest rings to develop drug trafficking in the city.

On September of 2016, police forces apprehended two suspects of angs drug trafficking ring when they were transporting 1.4kg of synthetic drugs in Gia Lam District.

According to the two suspects testimony, police seized exhibits, drugs, five telephones, two cars, and a gun from their ring.

Pham Van Minh, 43, living at Quang Ninh Provinces Mong Cai City and Nguyen Van Tung, 37, living at Ha Nois Soc Son District told the investigative body that they were transporting drugs under angs direction.

Police are now expanding their investigation.  VNS
LAO CAI  Muong Luong is highly recommended as a tourist destination in the north-western uplands.

Located at the foot of Khau A Mountain 30km north-east of Lao Cai, Muong Luong Valley is surrounded by mountains and home to the ethnic Tay.

Here tourists can enjoy a tranquil place with a cool climate and fresh air and learn about local culture, which the Tay have preserved through their traditions.

Visitors can eat local dishes and take a look at some 100 traditional homes on stilts along the Nam Luong stream, which make for a magnificent sight. The houses are 60-70 years old.

Through the year travellers can take leisurely walks to explore the daily activities of villagers. The Tay, who are friendly and hospitable people, are ready to perform folk dances to entertain guests.

Visitors can also drop in to a stilt house for a closer look.

Muong Luong is attractive to tourists also thanks to its unique cuisine. Some of the dishes visitors should try are ga xao kieu (chicken fried with pickles), canh la chua (sour soup), and ca suoi nuong (grilled spring fish).
ROME  Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Thursday hailed NGOs striving to rescue migrants off the coast of Libya, shrugging off a prosecutors claim that some groups are colluding with people traffickers.

"I thank the volunteers, the coast guard and the navy for saving lives day after day. We are proud of them," Gentiloni said in parliament.

His comments came as 561 migrants were rescued off the coast of Libya, and the body of a teenager was discovered in a boat, according to the Italian coast guard and NGOs.

Maltese organisation MOAS cited witnesses who said the boy had been shot by traffickers who were after the cap he had been wearing.

NGOs deny a claim Sicily-based prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro made last month that some charity boats rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean are colluding with traffickers amid Europes worst migrant crisis since World War II.

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano last week added to the controversy by saying he "agreed 100 per cent" with Zuccaro.

Italian media reported meanwhile that the public prosecutor at Trapani in western Sicily had last year opened an investigation against an unnamed non-governmental organisation for "aiding illegal immigration."

The prosecutors office did not immediately confirm the allegation, reportedly based on trafficker statements, that the NGO had had contact with the people smugglers.

At Catania in eastern Sicily, prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro has made several declarations, including on Wednesday to a parliamentary commission, alleging NGO-trafficker complicity, albeit without opening an official enquiry.

With support from Alfano as well as the anti-immigrant Northern League and the populist Five Star Movement Zuccaro has called for the monitoring of satellite telephone conversations and for the Italian navy to shadow ONG vessels.

Another Sicilian prosecutor, Francesco Paolo Giordano, for his part told a parliamentary commission he had interviewed "hundreds of people" without uncovering any trace of links between traffickers and ONGs.

Backing his view was admiral Vincenzo Melone, head of the Italian coast guard coordinating the bulk of rescue operations, who told the commission that NGOs and Italys marine authorities were working in concert.

Predicting the migrant crisis would not go away soon, Gentiloni concluded that "in the long term it will be necessary to create development and growth in the countries of origin. In the short term, one must break the traffickers monopoly on (migrant) flows."

Some 550,000 migrants, making a perilous journey in barely seaworthy craft, arrived in Italy between 2013 and 2016, 37,000 since the start of the year.  AFP
Letitia A. Long, of Arlington, Virginia, the first woman to lead a major U.S. intelligence agency, will receive Virginia Techs University Distinguished Achievement Award for 2017.

The award recognizes achievements of national distinction in any field of enduring significance to society. It is presented at University Commencement each year. This year's event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 12 in Lane Stadium.



Long directed the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from August 2010 until October 2014, culminating a career that spanned all aspects of organizational leadership, business functions, and global operations at the agency.

Longs distinguished service as a civilian in the Department of Defense and the intelligence community started even before she earned her bachelors in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech in 1982. She began as a civilian intern with the U.S. Navy in 1978, transitioned to the Office of Naval Intelligence, and served in multiple leadership positions, including deputy director of naval intelligence.

Long served as the first deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence (policy, requirements, and resources), was the first chief information officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency, and later became deputy director of that agency.

Long has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive, two Presidential Rank Awards of Meritorious Executive, two Department of Defense Medals for Distinguished Service, and three National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medals.

She has been decorated with the Medal of Merit by the King of Norway, appointed to the rank of chevalier in the National Order of the Legion of Honor of France, and awarded the Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Long has served on numerous boards, including those of the School of Public and International Affairs within Virginia Techs College of Architecture and Urban Studies, and Virginia Techs Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology.

She sits on the board of Raytheon Company, Urthecast Corporation, Noblis Inc., and D-Wave Government Systems, and chairs the board of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance. She is on the board of the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation and is an executive in residence with Brookings Executive Education.

Long earned a masters in mechanical engineering from the Catholic University of America and was awarded an honorary doctorate of strategic intelligence by the National Intelligence University.
DES MOINES  A Polk County judge denied a request Thursday for an emergency injunction blocking provisions of new abortion restricctions Gov. Terry Branstad was expected to signed into law Friday morning.

However, attorneys for Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union said they expected to file an appeal with the Iowa Supreme Court as soon as they receive District Judge Jeffrey Farrells written order in their hopes of halting implementation until the dispute can be decided at trial.

The judge issued a verbal ruling from the bench saying the plaintiffs failed to show the new law would create an undue burden by requiring a 72-hour waiting period for abortions at any stage of pregnancy.

The bill passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature this year, Senate File 471, also requires an additional clinic appointment for women seeking abortions that the challengers say is unnecessary.

The lawsuit  filed by the ACLU of Iowa and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America on behalf of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland  contends the measure contains provisions that are unconstitutional violations of womens equal protection and rights to legal abortion.

However, Branstad on Thursday praised the Legislature for passing the bill and a separate measure earmarking state money for family planning at clinics that do not provide abortions.

I think this is something that a lot of Iowans have been looking for for a long time, the governor said. Im looking forward to signing the bill and Im very hopeful that it will be upheld by the courts. A signing ceremony was slated for this morning at the state Capitol.

In arguing for the temporary injunction, Planned Parenthood attorney Alice Clapman said 44 women who had appointments at Iowa clinics would be adversely affected by the new laws mandatory three-day waiting period, and one woman already had to delay a two-hour medical procedure Thursday due to uncertainty over the law that would take effect upon the governors signature.

She said the states mandate of a three-day, two-trip delay would be irreversibly and severely harmful for low-income clients and women facing abusive domestic situations.

This is going to delay women for longer than 72 hours, she said.

Clapman also noted there is no other medical procedure where the state mandates a similar waiting period.

However, Iowa Solicitor General Jeffrey Thompson of the state Attorney Generals office argued the state has a legitimate responsibility in regulating medical provisions in Iowa, and that interest is served by the creation of an informed consent statute.

Theres never been a case like this and therefore nothing in Iowa case law indicating SF 471 is invalid or unconstitutional, Thompson told the judge. Additionally, he said many of the barriers cited by the challengers were self-imposed by Planned Parenthoods business decisions, rather than created by the new law.

The lawsuit filed this week does not challenge a separate ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy that also is part of the measure.

After the hearing, Suzanne de Baca, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, issued a statement expressing disappointment with Farrells decision to deny the temporary injunction.

While we have made the needed adjustments to ensure we are fully compliant with the new law, we hope the court will ultimately rule on the side of women and protect their continued access to this safe medical care guaranteed under the Iowa constitution, de Baca said. We are still here for our patients, dozens of whose lives will be immediately impacted once Gov. Branstad signs this into law.
WATERLOO -- The Men of Faith of Crystal Cathedral of Faith Southern Baptist Church, 3040 Hammond Ave., will host a boys to men fellowship breakfast at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Theme is "Men of God: Seated at the Head of the Family Table." Russell Jones II, a business major at Grand View University, will be the young adult speaker. The keynote speaker is the Rev. Lovie Caldwell, pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church.

All are welcome to attend.

WATERLOO -- The Women's Day committee of Crystal Cathedral of Faith Southern Baptist Church, 3040 Hammond Ave., will host a kick-off at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Alice Rowe will be the speaker. Theme is "The Promise and Covenant of the Rainbow." Attire is colors of the rainbow.

Everyone is welcome.

CEDAR FALLS -- Jason Andriana and the Biscott Brass will provide special music at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday service at St. Paul Lutheran Church, at the corner of Pleasant and Willow.

The musical group, made up of University of Northern Iowa students, has been a popular favorite at area churches and events

All are welcome.

WATERLOO -- The Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ will celebrate its 67th church anniversary at 4 p.m. Sunday at 1107 Linden Ave.

Everyone is welcome. Pastor is the Rev. O.G. Evans.

WATERLOO -- Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 432 Newell St., will have its annual tea at noon Saturday.

Theme is "Blessed and Highly Favored." Speaker is Amber Robinson, of Corinthian Baptist Church.

Cost to attend is a donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.

For more information or tickets, call Laura Teague at 235-1345, Hattie Graves, 504-8040, or Purline Robinson, 235-7294.

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 Avenue 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. Sunday 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.

WATERLOO -- The Apostolic Pentecostal Church, 1645 Downing Ave., will change Sunday service times for the summer.

Beginning Mother's Day, May 14, Sunday school will be at 10 a.m. with worship service at 11 a.m. There will not be an afternoon service.
Decorah author

hosts C.F. event

CEDAR FALLS -- Decorah author Robert Wolf will discuss and sign his new book, "Building the Agricultural City: A Handbook for Rural Renewal," at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Hearst Center for the Arts.

The event is free and open to the public.

Wolf contends the centralized economy doesnt work for most Americans, particularly rural Americans. He is an advocate of regionalism as a means of rural economic development.

Sons of Norway

to meet May 16

CEDAR FALLS -- The Sons of Norway will meet at 6:30 p.m. May 16 at the Cedar Falls Woman's Club.

A Norwegian meal will be served. For reservations, call 277-2294 by Thursday. Members are invited to bring Norwegian pastries to share.

Program will be "sharing our stories" to reflect on traditions, tales and remembered experiences. There will be an opportunity to share stories about Solglimt Lodge.

The center is at 304 W. Seerley Blvd.

Museum to host

Civil War event

NASHUA -- The Old Bradford Pioneer Village Museum, 2729 Cheyenne Ave., will host a Civil War re-enactment featuring the Shenandoah Valley Battles from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 20-21.

Admission is free; donations will be accepted.
FOREST PARK, Ill.  A Waterloo native was shot to death while sitting in his car in a suburb of Chicago.

Rodney Duane Reed, 25, of Forest Park, Ill., was pronounced dead just after 1 a.m. Saturday at an Oak Lawn, Ill., hospital, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Reed was born and raised in Waterloo, the son of Rodney Seals and Virginia Reed-Wilder, and attended Central Middle School. He had been working as a train conductor with Union Pacific, according to Sanders Funeral Service.

A visitation for Reed is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Antioch Baptist Church. Funeral services will be Saturday at the church, with burial in Fairview Cemetery.

According to the Tribune, Reed was shot several times around 9:20 p.m. Friday while in his vehicle in University Park, Ill.

No one has yet been arrested in his shooting.
As Gov. Terry Branstad went through the confirmation process this week to become U.S. ambassador to China, others were left home squabbling like juvenile siblings over a recently vacated bedroom.

The vacancy wont be the governorship. We know who is taking over that position  current Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.

However, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, an elected Democrat, surprisingly reversed course last week. On Monday, Miller issued a formal position, while Reynolds will be governor, she will not have the authority to appoint her replacement as lieutenant governor.

Thats a complete turnaround from five months ago. This was the language directly from Millers office Dec. 13, 2016: Our office has researched the law and consulted with the Governors office. We concur with the Governors conclusion that, upon resignation of Governor Branstad, Lt. Governor Reynolds will become Governor and will have the authority to appoint a new Lt. Governor.

It would be a fair assumption this assurance was one factor playing into Branstads decision to leave the governors office if confirmed for the federal post.

Miller said his latest conclusion was based on an Iowa Constitution provision addressing a governors resignation, which states,  the powers and duties of the office  shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor.

However, Miller said his reading of the constitution led him to conclude once this happens with Reynolds, her office becomes vacant.

In other words, upon a governors resignation, the lieutenant governor will hold both the offices of governor and lieutenant governor. There is no vacancy to be filled, according to the opinion.

The reversal has Republicans fuming, and were finding it hard to blame them. Wed have to agree the timing is suspect. Was the attorney general derelict in his duties earlier, or is this latest decision linked to partisan politics? Whichever way this is answered, it wont be an endorsement.

Branstad has stated nothing has changed in the facts or the law since Miller provided a crystal clear position in December.

Tom Miller has allowed politics to cloud his judgment and is ignoring Iowa law, Branstad said in a statement. This is disappointing.

The National Lieutenant Governors Association chimed in Tuesday, also calling Millers decision disappointing.

Meanwhile, Reynolds says she has been moving forward in her transition planning from the position she would appoint her successor.

Now, five months later, just one day before Governor Branstad testifies before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the attorney general has reversed himself, but the law hasnt changed.

Ben Hammes, Branstads communications director, said the power of a governor to appoint a new lieutenant governor was put into the law and signed in 2009  all under Democratic control.

Now, just because the Democrats do not control the governors office, Attorney General Miller wants to pretend like this law does not exist, and issue a non-binding opinion. Quite frankly, this is what Iowans are sick and tired of. The attorney general should be upholding the law, not ignoring it.

Meanwhile, the Democratic leader in the state Senate, Rob Hogg, of Cedar Rapids, said he expects the courts to eventually get the matter.

If it does end up in court, its not clear who would bring such a case. Miller has stated he would not challenge an appointment himself. Why he would flip-flop on the issue, then decline to defend his latest decision is another matter worth questioning.

However, it obviously leaves the door open for others to challenge an appointment, should Reynolds go ahead and make one.

One thing is certain: Should this issue become another drawn-out legal process, Iowa taxpayers stand to lose.

The combination of the circumstances, the reversal and the timing scream partisan politics. At the very least, its a case where the lack of clarity leads to the perception of partisan tactics.

Should this issue end up in the courts, with Iowa taxpayers footing the bill, the language of how these positions are filled  covering all cases of how they may be vacated  needs to be plainly spelled out to avoid similar situations in the future.
WATERLOO  Six people were hurt and a Cedar Falls driver charged following a crash south of Waterloo early Thursday.

The Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office said the crash was reported about 12:30 a.m. near the intersection of Weiden Road and Rottinghaus Road in rural Waterloo. Upon arrival, deputies learned a pickup truck being driven by Jesse Hall, 19, of Cedar Falls, was northbound on Weiden Road when he lost control of the truck, causing it to enter a ditch and roll over.

There were six passengers in the vehicle, five of whom were transported to Covenant Medical Center for various injuries that are all believed to be non-life threatening. The sixth passenger refused medical treatment at the scene. They were not identified.

Hall was taken to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries. He was then transported to the Black Hawk County Jail where he was charged with driving with a revoked drivers license and driving with a suspended drivers license. He also was cited for failure to maintain control of the vehicle.

The Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the La Porte City Police and Fire Departments, the Gilbertville Fire Department and the Covenant Ambulance crews.

Man accused

of enticement

OSAGE  An Osage man police say solicited a boy for sex via text message has been arrested.

Dakota Schulz, 21, of Osage, is slated to appear in court this month for one count of felony enticement of a minor.

He was arrested last month after an Osage woman showed police text messages sent to her 11-year-old sons cell phone.

Schulz later told police hed sent the boy messages in an attempt to try to get the boy to have sex with him, according to court documents.

Wellsburg home

damaged by fire

WELLSBURG  A Wellsburg home was damaged by fire Tuesday night.

Firefireghters were called to the John Flessner residence, 720 S. Adams St., on a report of smoke in the upstairs about 6:25 p.m.

Firefighters from Holland and Steamboat Rock assisted.

The Grundy County Sheriffs Office said the preliminary cause of the fire was a portable electric heater and rug in the upstairs. Interior damage included fire, smoke and water damage. The Red Cross is assisting the owners.
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Acclaimed Swiss architect Peter Zumthor has unveiled plans for the Fondation Beyeler's new extension, creating a new public park in the heart of Riehen, Switzerland - just located outside of the city of Basel.

The new extension will be constructed on the previously private land of the Iselin-Weber Park, which will expand the Fondation Beyeler. Paino's plans show that the scheme will create a new public park in the heart of Riehen, by doubling the size of the park as part of the development plan.

The extension project of the Fondation Beyeler by Atelier Peter Zumthor House for Art and Pavilion, view from the west along the Bachtelenweg in the direction of Baselstrasse. Image courtesy of Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner

With Piano's new vision, the Fondation Beyeler creates a group of museum buildings that satisfies the needs of a visitor-friendly museum. The $100-million complex is composed of three relatively small buildings, distributing functions around this scheme.

The extension will feature new gallery spaces and a series of event spaces feeding the existing museum, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW) -a modern and historic museum opened in 1997.

The extension project of the Fondation Beyeler by Atelier Peter Zumthor House for Art, view from the Iselin-Weber Park. Image courtesy of Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner

Renzo Piano's complex is inspired by Riehens "village-like character" and organisation and the scheme features sandstone-coated buildings that adapt the Beyeler's existing scale. A group of buildings is harmoniously integrated into the natural environment.

Zumthor will also add a simple service building for administration and deliveries, a transparent pavilion for events and a House for Art. Together, they will create a subtle link between the two parks, which were designed by the same landscape architect, Jean-Francois Caillat, in the early 19th century.

The extension project of the Fondation Beyeler by Atelier Peter Zumthor House for Art, view from the Iselin-Weber Park. Image courtesy of Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner

The extension project (acquisition of the land and existing buildings, funding of the new building, and operating and maintenance costs for the first ten years) is being privately financed.

"An amount of CHF 50 million has already been firmly committed. Generous donations from the Wyss Foundation and the Daros Collection of the Stephan Schmidheiny family provide the cornerstone for the projects realisation," stated the Fondation Beyeler in a press release.

The extension project of the Fondation Beyeler by Atelier Peter Zumthor House for Art, exhibition Space. Image courtesy of Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner

"I want to create buildings that are loved" said Peter Zumthor, adding "having the chance to do so in Basel, the city of my youth, is a particular honor for me."

"The extension project is an important step in the development of the Fondation Beyeler and will increase the facilities available to visitors. Above all, it is a major gift for Riehen", is the enthusiastic comment of Hansjorg Wyss, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Beyeler-Stiftung and the President of the Assessment Board, as well as the projects initiator.

The extension project of the Fondation Beyeler by Atelier Peter Zumthor House for Art and Pavilion (right-hand side), view from the Berower Park. Image courtesy of Atelier Peter Zumthor & Partner

"Peter Zumthor brings great experience to the construction of cultural buildings and has the necessary sensitivity to build a museum of outstanding quality in this very special spot in the heart of Riehen. The interaction between human beings, nature, art and architecture that has always characterized the Fondation Beyeler will be as successfully achieved as it was twenty years ago by Renzo Piano", stated Sam Keller, the Director of the Fondation Beyeler.

Last year, Peter Zumthor was unanimously selected among from eleven renowned architectural firms from all over the world. In addition to these, the Fondation Beyeler announced that starting from today, the new park will be accessible to all the inhabitants of Riehen and admission to the museum will be free of charge.

The Atelier Peter Zumthors project with plans and models will be exhibited for two weeks in the Town Hall of Riehen, Wettsteinstrasse 1, 4125 Riehen from May 10 to May 23, 2017.

> via The Fondation Beyeler
A startup needs to test an idea quickly. For this, an MVP is created. MVP, Minimal Viable Product  a test version of a product or service with a minimum set of functions (up to one or two), which allows you to see the product's value for consumers and the market. MVP is created to test hypotheses and check the viability of the intended product: is it worth developing the project further, what changes should be made? The sooner a startup brings its MVP to market and tests the idea, the better. This article will look at how no-code technology can help founders achieve their business goals.

This article will try to cover everything that a founder needs to know about no-code at the initial stage of creating a startup.

What is no-code?

No-code, zero-code platform is a tool for creating websites, applications, chatbots, and other programs without the need for direct code writing by programmers. No-code is a valuable alternative to traditional development.

No-code is confused with low-code, but there is a difference in these terms. Low-code includes no-code and the ability to "finish code", add parts of code and the functionality.

A user of a no-code platform usually does not need to know layout, programming languages, or hire a team of programmers. The user of the no-code tool creates an application using a visual block constructor, which he fills with the necessary content and functions, and the no-code platform itself does the processing of requests, compiling the application and other "magic." It generates code using AI and/or contains blocks of code pre-written by programmers.

No-code allows the startup founder to create an MVP himself, entrust it to his employee with basic technical literacy and understanding of the project, or hire a no-code developer. Even in the case of hiring a no-code developer, the cost of creating an MVP will be significantly lower than with classical development with programmers. For example, you can read the interview of a startup and no-code developer on our website, who initially worked as a Product Manager and was able to master no-code for his project himself.

Benefits of no-code for a startup founder

There are the following key advantages for a startup founder in using no-code technology:

a large selection of no-code tools, platforms, and their integrations at the moment  already in 2022, there are many tools and platforms for creating an MVP, a larger project, or even a finished product on no-code, but few people still know about them, and others are far from all startups and founders use their potential;

cost  no-code development saves the money by speeding up the development process, not hiring professional programmers or no need to maintain a developer department, monitoring functions and quick bug fixes, avoiding or reducing the growth of technical debt;

speed is the main advantage over classical development  no-code allows you to build a simple application in a weekend, and a more complex one can be built in a month. In this way, you can test an MVP and even several versions of an MVP very quickly;

low entry threshold  to master a no-code platform, you often do not need technical education at all, but only an understanding of a company's business processes or product from the inside. In the case of pro-level no-code platforms, technical education is required, but you can get used to it hundreds of times faster than with any programming language. This makes no-code available to almost everyone who wants to work with technology;

ease of use  no need to write hundreds of code lines  just move the blocks and assign links between them. Work on a project can be entrusted to your employee without communicating with a team of third-party developers. You can speak "in your language" without the need to understand the "inner kitchen" of developers;

flexibility  with the help of no-code, it is easy for a startup founder to add new functionality and new features right during a project or a MVP testing without a significant increase in development costs.

Possible disadvantages of no-code for a startup founder

As often, any property can be, under certain conditions, both a disadvantage and an advantage. In no-code, many of the benefits with the wrong choice of tool can turn into disadvantages:

no-code is not always a budget solution for a project. Sometimes in a no-code development package, you get unnecessary functions and additions (on AppMaster.io you can separately connect the frontend and pay only for the backend or only for those functions that you are using); if you do not understand the needs of your project, then you can make a mistake with the choice of a no-code tool and not be able to implement the necessary functions on it, or it will be too difficult to implement them; often, no-code tools fail to ensure proper data security and contribute to data leakage (but AppMaster.io allows you to host a finished application on any server); no-code tools often do not provide the ability to upload source code or provide uploading in an inconvenient format, which makes it difficult to move to another tool or to your development. You have to choose a no-code tool "once and forever immediately" (AppMaster. io gives you the ability to download the source code. Also, we generate human-readable code and you will not have any difficulties with its transportation); most no-code tools on the market are not suitable for creating a finished product, and there are significant difficulties with scaling the project if the MVP is successful (AppMaster.io is a professional no-code platform and our capabilities allow us to implement and support the finished product and scale it in the future).

Forewarned is forearmed. Choose your no-code tool wisely and take full advantage of your choice.

Types of no-code platforms

Conventionally, all no-code tools can be divided into several types: no-code devices with a low entry threshold (you can create frontend and not very powerful backend on them), integrators that help connect applications and services, and professional no-code platforms (they strive to replace the code completely, provide the ability to create a robust backend and high bandwidth).

The basic principle of operation of your MVP and the choice of a no-code platform depend on such a conditional division into types. For example, if you make a simple application like a diary, you can limit yourself to a no-code tool with a low entry threshold and a beautiful design.

If your application has powerful potential, high bandwidth, multi-user interface, and works with large amounts of data or real-time data, it is better to choose a professional no-code platform like AppMaster.io or Direcual.

If you use several services at once, link them on integrators like Integromat and Zapier.

Adalo

An easy-to-learn designer with a relatively user-friendly interface. The free version is helpful for learning. The free version contains Adalo watermarks and does not allow you to upload your applications to GooglePlayMarket and AppStore. Beginners often choose this no-code platform to create their first applications with simple logic.

Bubble

It will take more time to learn Bubble , but the platform allows you to work with the backend, databases, business processes, and layout. There are many plugins. The free plan allows you to master the tool, and you can start developing at the middle rate. The price increase is due to the rise in the number of users.

Integromat

It is an integrator. Experts talk about it as a simple and affordable platform for linking applications and services. Scenarios can be created personally, or you can use templates. If you need to connect an application with a service not from the Integromat database, fill out the form and connect to its API via HTTP.

Zapier

This is an integrator for linking applications with each other or with other external services. You can transfer data between thousands of applications. There is a script constructor (one event starts a chain of necessary actions).

Directual

The no-code platform positions itself for creating MVP applications (Minimal Viable Product, minimum viable product) and full-fledged applications of finished products. Scenarios are the backbone of the platform. Using scripts, you can automate the backend logic of the application, create and combine workflows. The Directual catalog includes out-of-the-box connectors, HTTP requests, webhooks, database listeners, and integration with popular services.

AppMaster.io

No-code next-generation platform for creating native and web applications on a real backend. Visual drag-and-drop designer, user-friendly business process designer, one-click app publishing to AppMaster Cloud, or integration with any cloud platform. Push notifications, authorization using social networks. Networks, email, and more. Connect applications to hundreds of services or programmatically access them using APIs. The ability to upload source code and documentation in a human-readable format and transfer it to your servers. Documentation auto-generation. Modern and fast language GoLang at the core.

No-code perspectives for startups

No-code development is gradually gaining popularity around the world. There are already more than 500 no-code tools for creating websites and various types of applications.

According to the forecasts of IT world experts, no-code will develop more and more actively and capture parts of the market responsible for medicine, small online business, small business, and all niches where it is possibly necessary to optimize and automate development processes.

The mass shift of businesses and their customers online and to gadgets has increased the demand for the fast and inexpensive creation of mobile applications that would work according to a single quality standard and have a simple, understandable, user-friendly interface.

Conclusion

No-code is visual programming in the form of a constructor without directly writing code. Usually, basic knowledge in development is enough to build applications on no-code.

The logic of no-code constructors is intuitive: the application interface is assembled from blocks, icons, buttons, and text which are connected to the database. Usually, you can choose a suitable template or do everything from scratch. Speed and economy are the main advantages of no-code tools.

No-code is suitable for creating an MVP, testing an idea or new features in a product, saving time for solving standard tasks. PRO level no-code platforms can provide you with a finished product, an application.

If you don't have an account on AppMaster.io yet, join us. After registration, you will be given a free trial period for 14 days, in which all the basic functionality of the platform is available. It will allow you to learn the intricacies of working with a professional-level no-code platform and understand its potential.


Last night, Siva, the director of Tamil superstar Thala Ajiths ongoing spy thriller Vivegam, announced that the films teaser will be unveiled on the 18th of this month. But heres some exciting news for all the ardent fans of Ajith.

Vivegams teaser has been preponed by a week and it will now be released on the 11th of this month. Apparently, Ajith wanted the teaser to be out when the crew would still be shooting in Bulgaria.

Kajal Aggarwal is the films leading lady, while Akshara Haasan and Vivek Oberoi will be seen in important roles. Hotshot music composer Anirudh Ravichander is scoring the films soundtrack.

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May 5, 2017 | By Tess

The digital conservation movement, which seeks to capture artifacts and monuments (often using 3D scanning technology), is growing quickly across the world. In the Middle East, efforts such as #NEWPALMYRA are using advanced technologies like 3D scanning and 3D printing to digitize and effectively preserve cultural structures that have either already been destroyed or are under threat of destruction.

And while digital conservation has seen a critical surge in certain conflict areas, the technology is also being used elsewhere. In Japan, for instance, researchers from the Chiba University have been using 3D scanning to capture 3D models of Buddhist statues and other cultural artiffacts. The effort, which is being done primarily to preserve the objects in case of deterioration or theft, is also serving a touristic purpose.

According to the researchers, some local communities are using the 3D models to make miniature models of the Buddhist statues, which are then sold as special charms to tourists, and some artists are using the models to make specialty jewelry and mementos.

The preservation initiative was started by Professor Akira Ueda from Chiba Universitys graduate school of engineering in 2013. At the time, Ueda reached out to a number of temples and shrines to see if theyd be interested in having their landmarks preserved digitally. At the sign of interest, Uedas team brought a portable 3D scanner to 10 sites (including the Kyodo Shiryokan local history museum in Kamogawa), where it proceeded to capture the 3D data of roughly 40 different pieces.

Scanned objects consisted of a number of Buddhist statues and wood carvings, including the Komatsuji temples Kisshoten and Bishamonten statues, and the famous A woodcarving, originally made by famous Japanese sculptor Yoshimitsu Goto.

"The data could also be useful for preservation, repairs, and restoration of cultural assets," explained Hironobu Aoki, a doctoral student working on the digital preservation project. "I hope more people become aware that such endeavours are under way, so we can collect even more data.

In Minamiboso (located in southern Chiba Prefecture), the Komatsuji temple has been standing for roughly 1,300 years. Now, thanks to scanning and 3D printing technologies, the temple is offering tourists small 3D printed replicas of its famous Kisshoten and Bishamonten statues, which date back as far as the Heian period from 794 to the late 12th century.

(Images: Yomiuri Shimbun)

The small reproductions, which measure about 2.5 centimeters in height and are packaged in small pouches made from Japanese cotton, are being sold on special occasions at the temple, such as dedicated viewings of the Buddhist statues.

Artist Hiroshi Deguchi, who specializes in metalworking and engraving, has also benefited from the 3D reproductions of Japanese artifacts, as he has been producing silver jewelry based on the A woodcarving. The original piece, which was created by Yoshimitsu Goto during the early modern period, is a lion woodcarving that stands at the Konrenin temple in Tateyama.

The original woodcarving is quite large, with dimensions of 31 cm in height, 48 cm in width, and 31 cm in depth. For his jewelry, however, Deguchi has scaled down the 3D model significantly (to about 3 cm in width). In making his pieces, the artist first 3D printed a miniature model of the lion and proceeded to make a casting mold with it. With the mold, Deguchi was able to make small silver charms for bracelets, pendants, and rings.

Recently, an exhibition held at the local history museum in Kamogawa displayed a collection of woodcarvings from the Awa region (where the A carving comes from) and juxtaposed the originals with their 3D printed counterparts. Visitors of the exhibit also got the chance to see Deguchis silver jewelry based on the 3D prints.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Helen Lewis at The New Statesman:

When the anarchist Louise Michel was tried by the French government after the collapse of the Paris Commune in May 1871, she demanded to be executed. Since it seems that every heart that beats for freedom has no right to anything but a little lump of lead, I demand my share, she told them. If you are not cowards, kill me!

The council of war refused and instead sent her to New Caledonia, an archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Her revolutionary fervour remained undimmed during her seven years there; she supported the local Kanak people in their rebellion against the French in 1878.

Michels imprisonment and exile are the subject of Paul Masons new play, Divine Chaos of Starry Things, whose title comes from Victor Hugos poem about her. Performed at the tiny White Bear Theatre, it has just six actors (four women playing French prisoners and two men playing Kanaks) and minimal scenery and staging. A few scraps of fabric underpin the narrative  the women remove their formal outerwear as time passes on the sweaty island and climb the hill every year to wave a red flag to the men in the next-door prison camp.

more here.
On the contrarywe often choose immediate rewards over higher future benefits. We take the path of least resistance, typically by going with the status quo or simply doing nothing.

Seduced to Act

Take saving for retirement. We all know it's important, yet studies show that many of us haven't done a good job of it. Enter behavioral economics. One of its most successful applications has been to get workers to participate in retirement savings plans. For decades, employers cajoled workerseven offering generous matching contributionsto sign up for the 401(k). But human inertia often won out, and many workers didn't join.

Then employerswith a green light from Uncle Samstarted to automatically enroll workers in the plan; some even gradually increased employees' contributions over time. Workers can opt out, of course.

But inertia, now working in favor of savings, stops them from doing so. Vanguard, an investment firm that administers 401(k) plans for employers, found that when companies auto-enroll workers, the participation rates among new hires more than double, to about 90 percent.

The good news is that a growing number of employers, companies and nonprofits are using behavioral insights in similar ways to influence choices to make people better off. Here are six examples.

Making investment decisions easier

Too many 401(k) investment choices can overwhelm, causing workers to put off making any decision.

And even when they do select investments, human inertia often causes them never to revisit their choices. Over time, their portfolios can end up being heavily weighted in riskier stocks, putting their nest egg in jeopardy.

The solution: target-date retirement funds. Workers need to select only a single fund with the date closest to their retirement, and a professional money manager does the restinvesting aggressively when workers are younger and gradually becoming more conservative as they near retirement. Target-date funds are usually the default option when employers automatically enroll workers in 401(k)s and now are found in 9 out of 10 workplace plans, according to Aon Hewitt, a benefit consulting firm.
Seeking to justify large increases in premiums for older adults under the proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA), the Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee released a short paper last month entitled The Myth of the Senior Tax. But the paper fails to grasp the severe consequences of weakening the current law that prevents insurers from charging older consumers more than three times what younger people pay.

The AHCA would raise that limit: Premiums for older people could jump to five times the amount insurers charge younger consumers, from the limit of three times the younger consumers rate under the current law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Such a change would significantly increase financial burdens on millions of older adults, but the shift in costs would do little to get more young consumers to enroll. Key points to consider include:

Significantly increasing premiums for older adults would only marginally lower costs for younger adults. The Joint Economic Committee paper incorrectly claims that weakening the limit on age rating to a 5-to-1 ratio would not penalize any age group. The burden of such a policy change would actually fall heavily on older adults, according to Milliman research commissioned by AARP. Under the AHCA:

Average premiums would increase for all ages starting at about age 46.

for all ages starting at about age 46. Premiums for 60- to 64-year-olds would increase by an average of $3,200, amounting to average unsubsidized premiums of almost $18,000 per year. Meanwhile, 20- to 29-year-olds are expected to see significantly smaller average savings, of only $700 per year, giving them average unsubsidized premiums of $4,010 per year.

Weakening the limit on age rating would not encourage greater enrollment of younger adults. Modeling by Milliman found that:

A 5-to-1 age rating change would have minimal impact on overall enrollment, including among younger adults.

Net enrollment would increase by only 2 percent . Such a small change would have very little impact to reduce premiums.

The Maine case does not support a move to a 5-to-1 age rating. The Republican staff paper mischaracterizes Maines experience with age rating. Prior to the ACA, Maine was one of five states that required guaranteed issue and protections for people with preexisting conditions. Maine also limited age rating to a 1.5-to-1 ratio. However, a critical piece was missing: There was no law to incentivize participation in the market, such as the ACAs individual mandate. As a result, fewer healthier individuals chose to enroll, accounting for high premiums prior to the ACA. In addition, prior to enactment of the ACA, the individual health insurance market in Maine had not yet benefited from the laws key provisions, such as federal tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, consumer protections, and federal premium stabilization programs. Once the ACA was implemented, the age rating in Maine was modified to meet the federal rule of 3 to 1.

Pre-ACA, older adults faced significant obstacles to coverage in the individual market. The report fails to acknowledge that prior to the ACA, older adults faced difficulty getting or affording coverage in the individual market. Health insurance companies in the individual market were typically free to set significantly higher and often cost-prohibitive premiums based on an individuals age, preexisting condition, gender and other factors. Insurance companies could also deny coverage to people who had a preexisting health condition. The report also fails to point out that people who receive coverage through their employer (or other group coverage) are typically charged the same rate, regardless of age. The 3-to-1 limit on age rating in current law is already a compromise and is very different from group coverage, where all ages are typically charged the same rates.

Forty percent of older adults ages 50 to 64 have a declinable preexisting condition. Allowing insurance companies to charge higher rates to older adults is a proxy for allowing insurers to charge more for people with preexisting conditions.

Proposed age-adjusted tax credits fail to offset AHCA premium increases that would accompany the 5-to-1 age rating. The report states that a premium tax credit that increases with age could help keep premiums affordable for older adults. However, under the AHCA:

Proposed tax credits for adults age 60 and over are only twice the amount adults under 30 would receive ($4,000 vs. $2,000), but premiums for older adults due to the 5-to-1 age rating could be five times as high.

as high. Lower- to moderate-income older adults would also see dramatic premium increases as a result of combined age rating and tax credit changes, by as much as $8,400 in 2017.

Conclusion: The provision in the American Health Care Act to weaken the 3-to-1 limit on age rating would have significant harmful impacts on older adults and would fail at its central goal of improving overall enrollment.
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Player to watch on every South Dakota HS football state final team

A few of the players expected to play big roles in their teams' pursuit of a South Dakota high school football state title this weekend.


MAGNOLIA LNG RECEIVES FERC NTP

Perth, May 5, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Liquefied Natural Gas Limited ( ASX:LNG ) ( LNGLY:OTCMKTS ) (LNGL or the Company) is pleased to advise that its wholly owned subsidiary, Magnolia LNG LLC (Magnolia) has received Notice to Proceed (NTP) from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to commence Initial Site Preparation activities for the Magnolia LNG project.



"We are appreciative to FERC for the issuance of the NTP on our request for authorization to commence initial site preparation activities. FERC's comprehensive review of our submittals and concurrence that we have complied with Conditions for these initial activities as required under the April 15, 2016 FERC Order demonstrate the project's readiness", said John Baguley, Chief Operating Officer for Magnolia.



Greg Vesey, Managing Director & CEO of LNGL, added, "The FERC NTP for initial site preparation is a key milestone for the project and underscores our position as 'Shovel Ready'. Nevertheless, the pacing item for our Final Investment Decision (FID) and initiation of construction for Magnolia remains the finalization of our LNG offtake agreements, and our team remains fully engaged in advancing this activity".





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.




New York, May 5, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - NetworkNewsWire Editorial Coverage: When it comes to ecommerce, integrated payment solutions provide consumers more flexibility in their shopping than ever before. The conveniences of these solutions have long been in the making (the first online payment services started in the 1990s) and today promise to be the future of payments.



For consumers, integrated payments mean the capability to initiate a transaction on a smart device, complete the buying process online, and finalize the transaction in store or via home shipment. For merchants, this translates to streamlined accounting, stronger customer relationships, integrated payment acceptance into next-generation and legacy point-of-sale systems, customer management systems, and more selling and marketing opportunities through business data analytics and loyalty programs.



The companies driving this improved consumer experience include Net Element, Inc. ( NASDAQ:NETE ) (Net Element Profile), (which offers an array of omni-channel payment solutions, as well as Vantiv Inc. ( NYSE:VNTV ), Global Payments Inc. ( NYSE:GPN ), Amazon.com, Inc. ( NASDAQ:AMZN ) and Alphabet, Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOG ).



Payment processing integration saves merchants time by eliminating manual processes such as entering credit cards. It also has the potential to reduce human error, increases cash flow, and reduces labor costs. Integrated payments can also allow merchants to accept payments across multiple sales channels such as: face-to-face, online, mobile, smart televisions and in-application. In doing so, integrated payments can improve customer service as the merchant can spend more time on customer interaction, satisfaction, marketing and other vital business components.



As a global provider of multi-channel payment technology solutions and value-added transactional services, Florida-based Net Element (NETE) recognizes the potential of omni-channel, integrated payment solutions. In 2016, Net Element was named one of the fastest-growing technology companies in South Florida Journals 2016 Technology Awards. Its PayOnline subsidiary, for example, manages electronic commerce through a simplified approach to enterprise online transaction and mobile payment processing. It addresses payment acceptance, processing, risk prevention and security, operating as a single software-as-a-service suite. Among many other features, PayOnline's recently launched "Instant Credit" service allows online merchants to sell goods and services on credit. Consumers benefit from the ability to interact directly with integrated credit institutions to secure instant access to loans, while merchants have the means to achieve higher conversion rates at checkout and increase average ticket size.



The solution is ideal for the ecommerce of high-priced items such as digital technology and household appliances for which consumers may need credit. In addition, PayOnline offers mobile payment acceptance across all mobile devices, including Apple iOS, Android and Microsoft. PayOnline's proprietary Pay-Travel solution integrates the exiting financial instruments already used by the travel industry into a best-in-class, multi-channel, Global Distribution ("GDS") platform, which allows users to effectively manage all aspects of their payment needs in a flexible, easy-to-use solution integrated with popular GDS solutions such as Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport. In 2016, PayOnline was named the best processing gateway by Tagline, and was recognized for its payment services by Markswebb Rank & Report, ranked as a Top 5 payment acceptance company.



Net Element's Unified Payments subsidiary, recognized in 2012 by Inc. Magazine as the #1 Fastest Growing Company in America, offers a secure mobile point-of-sale system designed to help small businesses drive revenue and profitability. Unified Payments facilitates quick payment acceptance and allows product inventory to be used to build orders. Customer details can be recorded instantly, and the service comes with an EMV-compliant bankcard reader and smart payment terminals. Through an online business analytics dashboard, Unified Payments Insights focuses on big data to give merchants the chance to compare current revenue, social media activity, and online reputation. The platform allows businesses to see what customers are saying about them on websites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor, manage customers from acquisition to retention, monitor the competition with alerts and feedback, manage social media activity, and analyze business performance. In addition, Unified Payment offers its merchants fully integrated an omni-channel gift and loyalty platform, which enables small-to-medium size businesses to centralize their customer data spanning in-store, online, social and mobile channels.



Additionally, through its partnership with Planet Payment, Inc. ( NASDAQ:PLPM ), a leading provider of international and multi-currency payment processing services, Unified Payments offers online merchants Planet Payment's Multi-Currency Pricing. This offering enables merchants to more effectively expand into foreign markets by displaying pricing and accepting payments in a variety of local currencies. The gold in this capability goes back to the consumer desire for convenience. Multi-Currency Pricing provides online merchants the tools needed to create an enhanced shopping experience for international customers.



Net Element's Digital Provider subsidiary offers a large portfolio of customizable payment solutions that enable organizations to monetize their goods and increase conversions. With Digital Provider, customers can charge their purchases directly to their cell phone bill using just their mobile number- no credit cards or sensitive bank account information is required for the purchase. Ultimately, this capability simplifies the pattern of interaction between customers that visit a business' online store and all other online services. These services are coupled with call center rentals, automated mass payments, and a package solution that provides organizations the chance to fund raise for charitable cause.



Net Element (NETE) technologies are also making waves in the restaurant and retail industries:



Net Element ( NASDAQ:NETE ) Addressing $783 Billion Restaurant Industry's Need for Speed, Accuracy with Aptito



Phone, mobile device, online and point-of-sale terminal payments are all processed by Net Element's single payment processing platform, but the company isn't the only player in the integrated payment space. Vantiv (VNTV) offers in-store and online point-of-sale solutions that also support both methods. As part of its strategy to bolster its ecommerce technology capabilities, Vantiv recently announced a plan to purchase Paymetric, which provides electronic payment solutions for the enterprise to streamline the order-to-cash process, reduce the scope and financial burden of achieving PCI compliance and improve return on electronic payment acceptance. Paymetric integrates ERP and CRM systems with robust payments capabilities to help companies optimize workflows, save time and reduce costs.



Vantiv recently reported total first-quarter revenues of $928.2 million, an increase of 13% compared to the year prior, and expects continued growth as it forecasts full-year 2017 revenues to increase 9-11% year-over-year.



Global Payments (GPN), also a recognizable force in omni-channel payment solutions, currently serves 2.5 million merchant locations. A member of the S&P 500, the company has merchants and partners in North America, Europe, Brazil and the Asia-Pacific region spanning 30 countries. The Atlanta-based organization offers e-commerce, onsite payments, cross-border, development, and integrated solutions.



The company recently unveiled its new vertically integrated TouchNet(R) OneCard VIP(TM) platform for campus-wide transactions. According to the press release, the platform is represents new cloud-based campus ID software designed to simplify student life by maintaining student access privileges and enabling payment transactions across colleges and universities. This is yet another example of how today's leading companies are rising to meet the demand for omni-channel solutions that create a unique user experience.



Perhaps the most familiar name in integrated payment systems is Amazon.com (AMZN) Amazon Pay keeps customer information secure and transactions fast for small and large companies. It now reportedly has over 33 million customers worldwide (as of April 2017), doubling in a year, and was recently expanded to Italy, France and Spain. Aside from supporting plug-ins to connect with e-commerce partners such as Shopify, BigCommerce, and PrestaShop, Amazon Pay lets businesses brand the checkout experience, increase conversions, and grow their operations. A global partner program helps connect merchants with e-commerce platform providers, professional developers, and agencies. The company also said the Pay with Amazon button is seen on about 10 percent of top U.S. e-commerce sites, not only representing consumer demand but opportunities for retail investors looking to take on the market.



Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOG ), a conglomerate of companies that includes Google, recently established an agreement with PayPal Holdings ( NASDAQ:PYPL ) to combine Google's digital wallet with PayPal for Android smartphone users, who can now take advantage of the most popular payment method (PayPal is available on 70 percent of e-commerce sites). Alphabet is also now the publicly-traded entity, as all shares of Google (now a wholly owned subsidiary) were converted to the same number of shares as the company. The agreement opens the door to making PayPal available in stores and may boost the mobile payment efforts of Google, which the company has been trying to get off the ground for some time.



On the user side, the agreement enables consumers to link PayPal accounts to Google's digital wallet - Android Pay. Anyone using the digital wallet will be able to use PayPal to purchase products at large retail chains. Ongoing efforts and deals are transforming PayPal from a website tool to a versatile system for in-store payments, transferring money overseas, and shopping using smartphones. It's yet another example of how electronic payments are becoming a standard in consumer shopping, no matter where a purchase is made.



Net Element, Vantiv, Global Payments, Amazon, and Alphabet are all onboard to satisfy the demand for simple and secure integrated payment solutions. Retailers, consumers and shareholders will only continue to benefit as these brands compete for market share and develop global networks. Building its presence in developed and emerging markets, Net Element stands out from the rest as it caters to the demand for fully integrated online payment solutions. These solutions are allowing people to complete purchases online, have products shipped to them, or start the process on the Internet and end it at the store.



For more information on Net Element ( NASDAQ:NETE ) please visit: http://www.netelement.com



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Russia, Iran and Turkey on Thursday signed an agreement to set up four safe zones in Syria that the United Nations described as a promising step to wind down the brutal six-year war.

The United States however gave an extremely cautious welcome, citing Irans role as a guarantor even as it expressed hope that the deal could set the stage for a settlement.

Several members of the rebel delegation left the room shouting in protest as the signing ceremony got underway in the Kazakh capital Astana, angry at regime ally Iran, an AFP reporter saw.

The plan for the de-escalation zones was discussed on Tuesday by US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone conversation that the White House described as a very good one.

The agreement provides for a ceasefire, a ban on all flights, rapid deliveries of humanitarian aid to the designated areas and the return of refugees.

Russia and Iran, which back Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces in the war, and Turkey, a supporter of rebel forces, hope to build on a ceasefire deal they reached in December.

The Syrian government and rebel delegations are not signatories to the deal.

We are not supporting this agreement. It is an agreement between the three countries, said Usama Abu Zeid, a rebel spokesman. We do not at all agree that Iran .. is a guarantor of this accord.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, who was in Astana as an observer, described the agreement as an important promising positive step in the right direction toward de-escalation.

A working group will be set up within two weeks to resolve technical issues and the three countries agreed to set up the four areas by June 4.

The first zone included the whole of Idlib province along with certain parts of neighbouring Latakia, Aleppo and Hama provinces. The second will encompass certain parts in the north of Homs province and the third will be comprised of some areas of Eastern Ghouta, outside of Damascus.

The fourth zone will include parts of the Deraa and Quneitra provinces in southern Syria, according to the memorandum seen by AFP.
Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately recall two Maharashtra ministers, who are on a junket as part of a legislative delegation visiting Australia, Singapore and New Zealand, in the backdrop of protests across the state over Tur dal procurement.

Tur farmers in Maharashtra are facing a crisis due to a bumper production of the commodity and resultant low prices. In a letter to Modi dated May 4, Chavan said that after PMs appeal for increasing pulses production, farmers from the state responded with a record production of Tur dal.

Sadly, the government procurement system has badly let them down, the former Maharashtra Chief Minister rued. Tur producing farmers are agitating for procurement at MSP (minimum support price) throughout the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions in the state and the number of farmer suicides is rising, he wrote.

Chavan said that instead of personally attending to this crisis, Agriculture minister along with the Food and Public Distribution minister in the state have gone abroad as part of a legislative delegation led by the Speaker to Australia, Singapore and New Zealand. It is appalling that these two ministers directly responsible for handling the current farm crisis have gone on a 15-day junket along with their family. The timing could not be worse. Farmers in the state are shocked, Chavan charged.

The former CM said, I am sure you are aware that as per rules of business, specific sanctions from the Chief Minister and the PMO is mandatory before any minister of the state government is permitted to travel abroad. Surely, these two ministers have obtained prior permission before leaving. He said, I request you to ask the Chief Minister to immediately recall these two ministers back to their duty. The legislative delegation led by the Speaker can continue on their visit. I am sure you will appreciate the seriousness of the matter and take appropriate steps.

Chavan posted this letter on his Twitter handle and tagged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in it. Agriculture Minister Pandurang Phundkar, Food and Civil Supplies minister Girish Bapat are part of the delegation led by Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde. Legislators cutting across party lines are part of the tour, which is part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Half of the tour cost is borne by the members and the remaining by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Earlier this week, on May 2, Fadnavis had directed officials concerned to complete the procurement of tur in the next five to six days. He had asked officials to work in two shifts and complete the procurement of tur on war footing. Also, the state government has decided to call for a global tender to auction tur. Till April 22, 40 lakh quintal tur worth Rs 1839 crore was procured by Maharashtra at Rs 5050, including bonus of Rs 425, from 2,58,341 farmers.
Important note from the editors. The vax/unvax study is now-officially published in a peer reviewed journal. The full text is available on line HERE at the Journal of Translational Science.

The .pdf is HERE: Mawson et al 2017 vax-unvax Jnl Translational Science



By Mark Blaxill

In a development that autism parents have long anticipated, the first-ever, peer-reviewed study comparing total health outcomes in vaccinated and unvaccinated children was released on line yesterday. According to sources close to the project, the study had been reviewed and accepted by two different journals, both of which pulled back on their approval once the political implications of the findings became clear. Thats largely because, as parents have long expected, the rate of autism is significantly higher in the vaccinated group, a finding that could shake vaccine safety claims just as the first president who has ever stated a belief in a link between vaccines and autism has taken office.

Working in partnership with the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), Dr. Anthony Mawson led a research team that investigated the relationship between vaccination exposures and a range of over 40 acute and chronic illnesses in home schooled children, a population chosen for its high proportion of unvaccinated children. Surveying families in four states--Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oregonthe study (officially titled Vaccination and Health Outcomes: A Survey of 6- to 12-year-old Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Children based on Mothers Reports), reported a number of startling findings.

Vaccinated children were significantly more likely than the unvaccinated to have been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder: most notably, the risk of being affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was 4.7 fold higher in vaccinated children; as well, ADHD risk was 4.7 fold higher and learning disability risk was 3.7 fold higher. Overall, the vaccinated children in the study were 3.7 times more likely to have been diagnosed with some kind of neurodevelopmental disorder.

Vaccinated children were also significantly more likely to be diagnosed with an immune-related disorder. The risk of allergic rhinitis (commonly known as hay fever) was over 30 times higher in vaccinated children, while the risk of other allergies was increased 3.9 fold and the eczema risk was increased 2.4 fold.

With respect to acute illness and infectious disease the outcomes were in some respects surprising. As might be expected, unvaccinated children were significantly (4-10 times) more likely to have come down with chicken pox, rubella or pertussis. Perhaps unexpectedly, the unvaccinated children were less likely to suffer from otitis media and pneumonia: vaccinated children had 3.8 times greater odds of a middle ear infection and 5.9 times greater odds of a bout with pneumonia.

The study was based on a survey with participants recruited in a process led by NHERI and coordinated through 84 state and local homeschool groups. The survey itself was, according to the authors, nonbiased and neutrally worded.

These findings in a study population of 666 children, 261 of whom (39%) were unvaccinated, are sure to stir controversy, in part because it is the first of its kind. The scientific literature on the long-term effects of the vaccination program is virtually silent. Most studies on the safety of vaccines only consider immediate or short-term effects. There was no obvious explanation for the differences in health outcomes observed between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups of children other than vaccination itself.
After two decades in hiding, Hezb-i-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar returned to Kabul on Thursday, pleading for peace as he was welcomed by the Afghan government at the presidential palace.





The controversial commander's arrival in the capital - a city his forces had shelled with thousands of rockets during the Afghan civil war - came after his largely dormant group signed a peace deal with President Ashraf Ghani's government in September.





A former prime minister, Hekmatyar was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s and stands accused of killing thousands of people from 1992 to 1996.





A convoy of dozens of white pickup trucks carrying armed men and draped in Afghan flags and green banners made its way through the capital as it brought Hekmatyar from Jalalabad, the eastern city where he has been based for the past few days.





Calling his former allies in the Afghan Taliban "brothers", Hekmatyar, whose address at the presidential palace was frequently interrupted by shouts of acclamation, portrayed himself as a

.





That, he said, would remove the justification for the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan.





"The most important issue for me is to end this war and rescue the country from crisis," said Hekmatyar, calling on neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Iran not to interfere.





The Hizb-i-Islami leader said he had accepted the constitution drawn up following the US-led campaign that ousted the Taliban in 2001, but wanted it amended and said a parliamentary system was not appropriate for Afghanistan.





"I am not here for partnership. I have no conditions, I don't want ministries," he said. - More




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May 5, 2017

CAIRO  Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour and his visiting Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry agreed to work together April 20 to control the ongoing exchange of hostility in the news media caused by the mounting political tensions between the two neighbors.

Despite the important outcomes of the April 20 meeting, which included the drafting and signing of a media charter of honor and a commitment to continuing consultations on arising political issues between the two countries, the animosity continues. On April 25, the Sudanese Journalists Union called on the government to expel all representatives of the Egyptian media hours after Egyptian authorities deported a second Sudanese journalist at the Cairo airport.

Shoukry's visit to Khartoum aimed to de-escalate existing and renewed disputes between the two countries regarding ownership of the Halayeb triangle and Sudan's support of Ethiopias construction of the Renaissance Dam, which Cairo opposes. The two sides exchange accusations of supporting opposition groups in each other's countries. The meeting focused on the implementation of the Four Freedoms Agreement signed by the two countries in September 2004. The visit came following Sudan's April 7 decision to require Egyptian men ages 18 to 50 to obtain visas for travel to Sudan. In September 2016, Sudan banned imports of fruit, vegetables and fish from Egypt.

Recently, the Sudanese-Egyptian media war spread to the Meroe pyramids in Begrawiya in northern Sudan. On March 13, the mother of the emir of Qatar, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser, visited the pyramids. In the wake of her trip, Egyptian news outlets slammed Qatari coverage promoting the Sudanese pyramids while ignoring the Egyptian ones.

Things took a turn for the worse on March 19, when the Sudanese ambassador in Cairo, Abdel Mahmoud Abdel Hamid, accused the Egyptian media of ridiculing the history of his country. TV host Mohammed al-Ghaiti had said March 16 on his show Sah el-Nom, broadcast on the LTC TV channel, that the sheikha's visit to the Sudanese pyramids was just "womens teasing" and that she had taken a photo near two Nesto triangles (a cheap processed Egyptian cheese sold in triangle-shaped pieces), mocking the Sudanese pyramids.

In a March 19 press conference, Sudanese Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal Othman falsely claimed that the Sudanese pyramids are 2,000 years older than the Egyptian ones.

According to an April 19 statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Egypt hopes the media charter of honor with Sudan will help deter irresponsible media coverage.

Sudanese journalist Mujahid Abdullah told Al-Monitor, The current tense atmosphere caused by the media in both countries forced the two countries governments to urge the media institutions to reach a charter of honor, mainly aiming to stop mutual negative criticism and to come up with a plan to highlight positive issues and activities.

He denounced the Egyptian authorities' ban on Sudanese journalists from entering Egypt, saying it dealt a blow to the good impression left by Shoukry's visit. He maintained his erroneous claim that the Meroe pyramids, discovered by Swiss archaeologist Charles Bonnet, are older than the Giza pyramids, adding that the Qatari sheikha's visit to Sudans pyramids stirred already existing tension, given the bad relationship between Cairo and Doha.

Egyptian parliamentarian Mustafa Bakri, who is also the chief editor of Egypt's Al-Osboua newspaper, told Al-Monitor, The media charter of honor between Egypt and Sudan should stress the commitment by both countries to prevent media outlets from offending the other country and from interfering in each others internal affairs.

Commenting on the ban on Sudanese media figures from entering Egypt, he said, This is absolutely unacceptable, while objecting to freedom of the press as a defense for coverage that damages relations between the people of the Nile Valley.

Ahmed al-Mufti, the director of the Khartoum International Center for Human Rights, told Al-Monitor that the Egyptian foreign ministers visit to Sudan calmed Sudans fury toward Egypt at the popular and official levels. He stressed the importance of holding more ministerial visits to cool escalating political and media tensions over issues, including the disputed Halayeb triangle, the Four Freedoms Agreement, exports, antiquities and the Renaissance Dam.

Negotiation, no matter how difficult, is the best way to resolve these disputes, he said, adding that neither Sudan nor Egypt can falsify history for its own benefit and that the dispute over the pyramids must be managed objectively.

Mufti continued, "Every country has the right to promote its history and seek international support, whether from Qatar or elsewhere, and another country should not have any problem with this.

Parliament member Tariq al-Kholi, who is also secretary of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, told Al-Monitor, Countries such as Qatar and Turkey are working to disrupt relations between Egypt and Sudan, given Sudan's importance to Egypt's national security."

Egyptian lawmakers and other political figures see Qatar and Turkey as hostile parties that seek to destabilize their country in order to reduce Egypts role on the international scene and in regional hot spots such as Libya, Syria and Palestine.

Some Egyptians accuse Turkey and Qatar of rapprochement with Nile countries, such as Sudan, to incite them against Egypt, which would threaten Egyptian national security and undermine its role in Africa.

He added, A media charter of honor between Egypt and Sudan will not stop the Qatari and Turkish media circus from fueling strife between the two countries. This issue requires further vigilance and a deep awareness at all levels between the two countries.

Kholi explained that it is in Egypts best interest to have good relations with Sudan, noting that tensions have been cynically stirred from time to time by the Sudanese regime since the June 30 Revolution and the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. He added, The Sudanese regime politically exploits the Halayeb triangle dispute from time to time, though it is fully aware that it is an Egyptian territory. Why would the Sudanese media talk about Egypts pyramids and compare them to the Meroe pyramids during Sheikha Mozah's visit, if not to politically spite Egypt?

Egyptian media sources told Al-Monitor that the Egyptian authorities warned the Egyptian media to exercise caution in dealing with Egyptian-Sudanese relations so as to cool the media war.
May 5, 2017

Foreign policy has traditionally come second to domestic issues in Iranian presidential elections. Yet ever since the 2013 presidential election, foreign policy debates have come to the fore. Four years ago, Hassan Rouhani ran for president with a symbolic key to open the doors to resolve Irans mainly economic challenges.

During the 2013 election, Rouhani argued that many difficulties were rooted in the countrys foreign policy, declaring that its time for foreign policy to serve Irans economy. He also said in yet another highly symbolic sentence that the spinning of uranium enrichment centrifuges is valuable once the economys wheels also spin. Therefore, his foreign policy agenda focused on resolving both the nuclear issue and easing tensions with Irans Arab neighbors. Nonetheless, resolving the nuclear issue through engagement with six world powers came first, paying off with the signing of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The JCPOA was a result of both parties lowering their maximalist goals. For instance, Iran shipped out most of its low-enriched uranium, halted enrichment at its Fordow facility and accepted a robust verification mechanism. In return, Irans nuclear file was brought out of the UN Security Council, nuclear-related sanctions were lifted and Iran was allowed to rejoin the global economy  all, as Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has repeatedly stated, within a discursive framework in which the JCPOA was portrayed as a win-win."

Rouhanis critics, however, saw it as surrendering Irans inalienable rights. In their view, the six world powers did not accept any serious commitments in return for major sacrifices on the part of Iran. This point is expected to come up during the campaigning and especially the upcoming presidential debate on foreign policy, which will be broadcast live on Iranian state television May 12.

Indeed, Rouhanis Achilles heel is the practical outcome of the nuclear deal. To rally his supporters during the negotiations leading up the accord, he elevated public expectations of its impact. Those very expectations, which helped push for the deal, have over the past two years gradually been turned into a weapon against Rouhani in the hands of his opponents. Facing these criticisms, Rouhani has argued that the JCPOA freed us and broke the enclosure of Iran. He is right. The JCPOA has ended many restrictions. Nevertheless, economic opportunities stemming from the JCPOA have remained below expectations. This will increasingly come up as election day nears  and Rouhani will have to answer. In other words, for Rouhani, the reality versus expectations dichotomy of the economic impact of the nuclear deal is in essence a self-made challenge.

But this damaging dichotomy is not the whole story. The administration of former US President Barack Obama and his Secretary of State and chief negotiator John Kerry has been replaced with the radical team of President Donald Trump and his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and its hostile attitude toward Iran.

Rouhanis critics quote Zarif, who served as Irans chief nuclear negotiator, as saying that Trump is not committed to the JCPOAs spirit and letter  not to endorse Zarif, but to criticize Rouhanis policy toward the United States. In this equation, Trump has in effect created a sort of ambiguity that acts to impede the reintegration of Iran into the global economy  an ambiguity that will arise in the presidential debate on foreign policy. Rouhanis main counterargument is that regardless of the ambiguity, Irans reintegration into the international economy, however gradual and slow, is continuing.

As such, the JCPOA has given rise to criticism against Rouhani: that his trust in the United States was a huge mistake, that the nuclear deal was thus based on strategic miscalculations and the practical outcome of the JCPOA is not what was expected. The question remains of whether deal critics can translate their arguments into votes and if Rouhanis arguments can defuse their rationale.

Rouhanis regional policy is also coming under the spotlight, with the main criticism leveled at his administrations focus on internationalism rather than regionalism. This is rooted in two old approaches in Irans foreign policy. According to the first approach, Iran needs an internationalist policy to overcome regional challenges. This argument is based on the assumption that Irans Arab neighbors are dependent on outside powers, and as such, will fall in line once Irans challenges with international actors are resolved. The second approach  namely that of Rouhanis critics  prioritizes regionalism, assuming that all Muslim nations have to work together to counter international challenges against Muslims, such as Trumps policies.

Rouhanis critics charge that his prioritization of internationalism has intensified differences between Iran and Arab states. Yet Iranian-Arab tensions go beyond that dichotomy. For instance, significant differences over Iraq, Syria, Bahrain and Yemen rendered Rouhanis initial efforts to enhance ties with Saudi Arabia ineffectual. In this equation, it should be noted that Rouhani harshly criticized those who stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in January 2016, suggesting that in addition to harming Irans image, their actions helped Riyadh escape international pressure over its executions of dissidents, which triggered the embassy sacking in the first place. In this vein, Rouhani promptly called for the embassy attackers to be brought to justice. Rouhanis core argument on the tensions with Saudi Arabia is based on the notion that Riyadh has not been willing to engage. The Iranian publics wrath against Saudi Arabia, over its war on Yemen and the 2015 hajj stampede, which left hundreds of Iranian pilgrims dead, helps resonate his argument.

Despite the criticisms, there are four reasons to believe that Rouhani has the upper hand in the foreign policy debate.

First, he has a clear foreign policy vision and agenda. While this can make a clear shot out of him for his critics, it affords him a robust attitude and rhetoric during the campaigning, including the important presidential debates.

Second, a good part of the foreign policy shortcomings under Rouhani go beyond his administrations wishes. Trumps election and Saudi Arabias aggressive posture would arguably have troubled any Iranian governments policy in the same way, and Rouhani has shown repeatedly that he can use this point effectively.

Third, criticism of the JCPOA and Rouhanis regional policy has reached exhausting levels over the past two years, and at this point, it is far-fetched to believe that his critics will be able to come up with new and appealing arguments that the administration has not already answered.

Fourth, Rouhanis personality and rhetorical capabilities impact voters. His key sentences, such as foreign policy should serve the economy and that the JCPOA has freed us, have been very effective in terms of impacting voter sentiment. This capability will come to his aid during campaigning, and especially the debates.
May 4, 2017

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and prominent Reformist lawmaker Mohammad Reza Aref have reached a consensus on setting up a committee to do preparatory work for what has been dubbed the National Dialogue Plan. The initiative has been discussed in recent months by members of the Hope (Omid) faction, a Reformist parliamentary bloc led by Aref.

As its running theme, the plan encourages a dialogue-based solution to discrepancies and disputes between political groups in a bid to reduce factional tension and sniping.

The fact that Larijani, a Principlist heavyweight, has agreed to join the initiative is particularly promising. A similar call for a national dialogue by former Reformist President Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) earlier this year was deplored and roundly rejected by hard-liners in the Principlist camp.

Khatami had said "nobody should get stuck in the past" while emphasizing to his supporters that this shouldn't be taken as an effort "to appease [political opponents] and forgo our rights." Explaining the timing of his call, Khatami cited concerns over the future of "the country, and its ruling establishment, national interests and prestige." However, Khatami's call was scuttled by skepticism among hard-liners who believed that his inner circle aims to re-enter national politics after being sidelined because of the unrest following the 2009 presidential elections, dubbed the "sedition" in state discourse.

Although both of the national dialogue plans are similar, they are different in scope. Unlike Khatami, Larijani and Aref intend to give substance to the idea on a limited scale, with only political groups initially involved. A more inclusive, nationwide version of the initiative would then be on hold until there is fertile ground for it to grow.

The national dialogue framework urges political groups to discuss sticking points seriously and face to face. "The reason why we can't reach a constructive agreement on solving problems is lack of direct negotiations. Instead, we usually talk about problems in public and this creates conflict," Bahram Parsaei, spokesman for the Omid parliamentary faction, told Al-Monitor.

"Raising the national dialogue issue aims to replace controversial fights in public with direct, face-to-face talks," he added.

Larijani is the first Principlist to have formally embraced the push for what has been called national reconciliation. It notably comes less than a year after Larijani's successful battle against Aref to become parliament speaker once again. Since then, Aref has been presiding over a 120-member bloc of Reformist lawmakers in the 290-seat parliament. Larijani is considered as the leader of the Principlist and independent groups in parliament.

The nascent effort to forge cross-factional engagement between the rival Principlist and Reformist factions is of great consequence because it has not occurred over the past 20 years, a timespan which has been characterized by partisan hostility and conflict. A reduction in conflict was rare even when parliament was primarily dominated by Principlists, with the legislature often turning into a stage for clashes between center-rightists and rightist lawmakers. In the eighth (2008-12) and ninth (2012-16) parliaments, Gholam Ali Hadad Adel and Larijani steered hard-line and center-right parliamentarians respectively. It was during this time that Larijani slowly distanced himself from the Principlist camp, tilting toward the rival Reformist wing. In the February 2016 parliamentary elections, the moderate-Reformist coalition counted Larijani on their ticket even though he announced that he would run as an independent.

Ahmad Mazani, a Reformist lawmaker who has worked on the national dialogue plan, told Al-Monitor that Larijani's turn away from the Principlists was due to their view of all issues through a political lens at the expense of rational approaches. This is after Reformists considered Larijani as their key rival for a decade (1994-2004) when he led the state broadcasting agency. Larijani was widely accused of utilizing the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting to pursue factional interests and depict a distorted image of the Khatami administration, which was in power from 1997 to 2005.

In this context, Larijani's decision to join hands with Aref to give substance to the national dialogue initiative is a strong hint that he is moving away from the Principlist current. Over the past four years, the influential speaker has thrown his full support behind the Reformist-backed administration of President Hassan Rouhani.

Although Larijani has not directly endorsed Rouhani, who is seeking another term in office in the May 19 presidential elections, the speaker's close center-right comrades fully back the moderate president. Previously, Behrouz Nemati, spokesman for the parliament's presiding board, and Kazem Jalali, head of the parliament's research center, both endorsed Rouhani  an indirect message that Larijani shares their stance.

Moreover, Larijani's maneuvering also makes sense when considering the backdrop of events that caused other senior Principlist figures to move away from the camp. Prominent examples include Ali Akbar Velayati, the current chairman of the Center for Strategic Research and former foreign minister (1981-1997) and Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, speaker of the fourth (1992-96) and fifth (1996-2000) parliaments and current head of the supreme leader's inspection office.

Larijani's extended hand of friendship to his former Reformist rival to set in motion the "national dialogue" scheme indicates that Iran's classic political scene is undergoing key changes.

The Principlist front has practically broken down as it faced fundamental, conceptual clashes and serious challenges during the second term of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2009-2013), when moderate elements of the camp turned toward Reformism.

This internal discord was perhaps most evident during the 2013 presidential elections, when the Principlist camp was represented by five candidates, all of whom competed separately against Rouhani, who had the joint backing of the Reformists, moderates and other center-right principlists. A similar scenario took place in the last parliamentary elections in February 2016. The pattern emerging in the run-up to the May 19 presidential election is quite similar.

Larijani's cooperation with Aref to embark on a new national agenda is a step forward in strengthening the emerging political coalition-building in the country. It may also be an indication that some traditional rightists have felt the imperative for such a move.

Yet, the national dialogue push is fledgling and is being raised only months after the death of one of its originators, Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who vociferously deemed it necessary to foster national reconciliation on two occasions: once after the 2009 presidential elections and later in 2011. The veteran politician pressed ahead with this agenda until his death in January, and was the most consequential figure  particularly over the last decade  to bring the state together with Reformists and critics of the establishment.

Ever since Rafsanjani's death, the question of how to fill the vacuum has been hotly debated. The national dialogue initiative can be one alternative. In fact, Khatami issued the call for national reconciliation just three weeks after Rafsanjani's death.

But only time will tell whether Larijani and Aref can lay the groundwork for the stalled national dialogue agenda proposed by Rafsanjani and Khatami.
May 4, 2017

Former Tehran Mayor and head of the Reformist Executives of Construction Party Gholam Hossein Karbaschi is under fire for doing what few of Iran's active or former politicians or even journalists do: criticize Irans approach to the seven-year Syrian civil war. During an April 29 speech in Esfahan province in support of President Hassan Rouhanis re-election campaign, Karbaschi said, We too want peace in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, for the oppressed to be defended and the Shiites to be supported. But this cannot be done by giving money, buying arms and killing.

On May 2, Karbaschi was indicted for insulting the martyrs of the defenders of the shrine. Iranian soldiers who fight in Syria are referred to as defenders of the shrine, in reference to the Shrine of Zeinab in Damascus. Ahmad Khosravi Vafa, Esfahans chief justice, said that Karbaschi will soon be summoned to court.

Karbaschi said May 3 that he has not yet received a summons. He neither backed away from the comment nor defended it when asked about it by Iranian journalists. Rather, he said that his comments on the topic were about two minutes long, but only 28 seconds were shown by media outlets. The short video clip went viral on social media.

In the full text of the speech, Karbaschi presented an argument for diplomacy. Let us use the power of diplomacy to resolve regional issues, he said. The power of diplomacy, with which six superpowers sat and resolved the biggest issue, which was the United Nations Security Council sanctions. 

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the final say on the countrys foreign policy. Given the decadelong impasse on the nuclear file, Rouhani and his administration were given the authority to work out a comprehensive nuclear deal primarily between Iran and the United States, to which all members of the United Nations Security Council finally agreed and which reduced Irans nuclear capabilities in return for sanctions relief.

Karbaschis suggestion that the diplomacy approach be used is in stark contrasted to the one currently used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has sent military advisers and fighters to back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Dozens of Iranian volunteers have died so far. Their funerals are public events and Khamenei has even visited the families of those killed in the war.

Karbaschis argument may have been a public endorsement of Rouhanis attempt to negotiate with regional countries through diplomacy. But his criticism of the current approach was so direct that even Bahram Ghassemi, Rouhani's spokesman, distanced the administration from it. You have to speak with terrorists through strength and power, not diplomacy, Ghassemi said May 1.

Conservative media outlets and officials, which have been overwhelmingly in favor of Irans support for the Assad regime, were extremely critical of Karbaschis statement. Mansour Haghighatpour, a parliamentary adviser, said that if not for Irans presence in Syria, Karbaschi would be hiding in a hole today. Rajas coverage of Karbaschis statements was headlined, Karbaschis invite for the Islamic State to attack Iran. Hassan Shamshadi, a correspondent for Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting who often reports from Syria, wrote an open letter criticizing Karbaschi for the comments, calling Iranian soldiers defenders of the shrine and defenders of national security and martyrs of the shrine.
May 4, 2017

For several months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been battling the soon-to-be-launched Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation. During one of the highlights of this saga, Education Minister Naftali Bennett lashed out at Netanyahu, saying, "You're talking like the Herut Party [mother party of Likud] back when Mapai [mother party of the Labor Party] was still in power  except this time, you've been in power for 40 years. Stop whining!"

Bennett made these remarks during a testy July 2016 Cabinet meeting. Netanyahu was trying to shut down the new broadcasting corporation, claiming that it was controlled by the left. In his vitriolic response, Bennett targeted Likud ministers, who claimed, one after the other, that public representation within the new entity was discriminatory (against the Likud). The most outspoken of these was Minister of Culture Miri Regev. She wondered what was the point of the new corporation, if it wasnt to be controlled by the Likud.

Bennett's remarks were lost in the heat of the debate, where they were intended as a political attack against his rivals. Nevertheless, they were an expression of a deep insight, which deserves further consideration. How is it possible that leaders and supporters of the Likud, which has governed the country for most years since the electoral revolution of May 17, 1977, still claim to face discrimination by the left-wing media and still fight against the legal elites, which they claim to be dominated by the "left"? Why do they still act as if they are the underdog and not the ruling party?

This month marks 40 years since the electoral revolution, which changed the face of Israel forever and brought an end to Mapai domination of the country's political scene after 29 years. The pragmatic left-wing party had formed all of Israel's governments from independence (1948) until that night, when the Likud, headed by Menachem Begin, took power after many long years in the opposition. Since then, Labor only won two elections: in 1992, when Yitzhak Rabin won, and again in 1999, when Ehud Barak came to power briefly. Other than that, the various iterations of Mapai and Labor, once a large and robust left-wing party, has been on the decline and unable to return to power.

Nevertheless, this sense of persecution and victimhood continues to characterize the Likud and even its leader Netanyahu, the man who has led the party to a series of consecutive electoral victories since 2009.

Presenting Likud supporters as facing discrimination by the left-wing elites in the media and the legal system is part of a larger political strategy. It serves the interests of Netanyahu and other senior party officials to maintain this sense of victimhood as a political motivator. Time and again, it has been proved effective. It is a strategy that served Begin, too. In his day, it was the basis of an "alliance of those rejected by Israeli society," including Mizrahi Jews, which eventually brought about the electoral revolution.

But this is more than just an effective political tool. This sense of discrimination among many traditional Likud voters and their leaders is completely authentic. Netanyahu is a prime example of this. He was raised on this sense of discrimination at home. His father, historian Benzion Netanyahu, was convinced that he was denied advancement in his career by the left-wing elites of the academy.

"The paranoid can also be persecuted," Herzl Makov, the head of the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, told Al-Monitor. Makov agrees that criticism over these claims  of long-ruling Likud complaining against left-wing hegemony  is understandable. Yet he argues that these claims are not entirely detached from reality. As he explained it, the first 29 years of Israeli independence under Mapai continue to leave their mark on Israeli society today.

"It was total government in the sense that all branches of government were controlled by the same party. It was not just the government itself but the Histadrut Workers Union, the local authorities, the legal system, the economy and the media," he said. "When the Likud came to power in 1977, they made the mistake of thinking that once they control the government, they control the country, too. A country is like an aircraft carrier. It cannot be turned 90 degrees all at once. That is why so many people on the right were left feeling frustrated."

Makov added, "Likud didnt completely understand what it means to be in power, and that society is affected by more than just the government. They didn't realize how powerful the establishment is outside the government. They started complaining about how the left controlled the major publishing houses, but what can you do when those publishing houses were founded by the [socialist] kibbutzim?"

It is no secret that Netanyahu has a very heated relationship with the media. Ever since he was a young politician, he claimed that he has been persecuted by them. Three decades have passed since then, and the Israeli media has become much more decentralized, especially over the last decade. Netanyahu has a newspaper of his own (Israel Hayom, owned by Netanyahus political patron Sheldon Adelson), which serves as his home front in the media. And that does not even take into account the powerful presence he has on social media. Also, over the years, he managed to increase his grip on other media outlets such as Walla website, which is controlled by his associate Shaul Elovitch and offers Netanyahu positive coverage. Most of all, Netanyahu is advancing with his strategy of controlling public broadcasting. Nevertheless, claims of persecution by the left-wing media can still be heard from senior Likud officials with the same passion as in the 1950s.

According to Makov, here, too, the situation is complicated, and claims that left-wing elites still dominate the media are not completely detached from reality. He said, "While religious nationalists have entered the media in relatively significant numbers; they are not Likud supporters per se. When it comes to representation on the screen, it is fair to say that producers and editors in the [digital] media still identify with the center left. As for Israel Hayom, it is more of a personal newspaper rather than a pro-right-wing paper. As for other media outlets like Makor Rishon newspaper or Channel 20, they are immediately branded as right-wing media outlets."

Makov also believes that Regev has a "case," when she complains of ethnic discrimination against Mizrahi Jews and claims that the periphery has been denied budgets for cultural events and development. "The reason for the war against her is that the old establishment is afraid of losing funding," he said.

According to Makov, the electoral revolution, which began on the night of May 17, 1977, was just the beginning of an intense process that carries on until today and that continues to shape Israeli society and its institutions. One very clear expression of this can be found in the past two years  ever since Netanyahu won the 2015 election. It seems as if all inhibitions have been cast to the wind. The war against the media, the legal system and the Ashkenazi elites has become unusually brusque and replete with exaggerated claims of persecution and victimhood. All of that hardly seems to be what Begin intended.
May 4, 2017

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The National Bank (TNB) announced April 17 the inauguration of the Dahiat al-Barid branch in al-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem, in a first for banks in Palestine since 1967 after the annexation of East Jerusalem to Israel. Hundreds of Palestinian customers residing in Jerusalem have been flocking to the branch to open bank accounts and have their banking transactions executed by a Palestinian bank.

TNBs move encouraged two other banks to take the same step. The Bank of Palestine and the Bank of Jordan obtained approval by the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) but are waiting for equipment requirements to be met to start operating in the city of Jerusalem. The opening of bank branches aims to facilitate banking operations with the Palestinian Jerusalemites living on the other side of the separation wall, in light of the difficulty of movement from Israel to the West Bank to reach Palestinian banks.

Since the beginning of our work, we have been looking forward to serving the residents of Jerusalem. We obtained the initial approval from the PMA two years ago, but we encountered some hindrances and procedures that delayed the opening, said TNB general manager Ahmad al-Haj Ali. He told Al-Monitor that TNB had to meet several conditions set by Israel concerning the entry of supplies and equipment in order to open its new branch.

Last year we obtained the needed approvals and permits from Israel, mainly the license to work in premises suitable to be operated as a bank, he added, pointing to the difficulty of obtaining permits for Palestinians to construct new buildings in Jerusalem amid strict Israeli procedures and obstacles.

He said TNB rented a house dating to 1967 that, after some renovation and restoration, works for customers in Jerusalem.

He said TNB faced difficulties in bringing in devices, equipment and cables to connect the branch with the TNB head office in Ramallah, which required coordination with more than one Israeli authority. The opening of this branch is a great achievement at the national, economic and commercial levels, he said.

Haj Ali indicated the bank decided to open the new branch due to the longstanding lack of services for the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, pointing out that many Palestinian Jerusalemites have been forced to deal with Israeli banks, as they had no other option in the absence of a Palestinian alternative.

As for the economic outcome expected from this step, he said the branch will contribute to financing the residents small- and medium-sized projects, which could curb unemployment and poverty.

He also noted that TNB launched a program to empower women economically by granting loans that will enable women to achieve their ambitions and projects, which could directly improve households income and help integrate Jerusalemite women into the labor market, pointing out that the poverty rate among Arabs has reached about 53%, according to 2016 statistics by the National Insurance Institute of Israel.

He said loans and financial aid will empower Jerusalemites to survive life crises with a better quality of life, which would encourage them to remain in Jerusalem and claim their right to the land.

Haj Ali asserted that the residents of Jerusalem and its environs have substantial financial and banking needs. They are in dire need of Palestinian banks to meet these needs. The residents of Jerusalem had to travel for several hours and cross Israeli checkpoints to reach Palestinian banks in the Palestinian territories for a simple financial transaction that would have taken them few minutes if a branch existed on the Israeli side. Since the opening, customers have been flocking to open accounts, although the branch did not resort to any advertising activity.

He said the branchs ATM is connected to the Palestinian national monetary system and customers of other Palestinian banks can use it; he said opening a TNB branch will facilitate the opening of branches of other Palestinian banks.

He also said the financial institution will be on the lookout for any illicit banking activity. Israeli citizens shall be treated as foreigners. Before accepting to execute any transaction for Israeli citizens, we must identify the reasons why they chose to deal with us in order to avoid any money laundering or tax evasion attempts.

He said the Palestinian banking system is weak and limited in the absence of an official currency and cannot compete with the strong and solid Israeli banking system.

The governor of the PMA, Azzam al-Shawwa, told Al-Monitor, The approval granted by the PMA to three Palestinian banks in al-Ram comes as part of the PMA's efforts to deliver banking services to all citizens in different governorates. Al-Ram is a vital economic zone in Jerusalem, one of the most densely populated governorates with a population estimated by official bodies at about 430,000 people.

He indicated that providing banking services to the residents of Jerusalem, home to several religious landmarks, many companies, and commercial and industrial enterprises and hotels, is economically profitable and falls within the scope of the PMAs objectives to provide and distribute banking services across the country.

He pointed to the PMAs constant efforts to support the people of Jerusalem by facilitating their access to sources of funding to enable them to develop their abilities to contribute to economic and community development.

Shawwa said that when licensing bank branches, the PMA takes into consideration the extent to which the bank applies best practices when it comes to equipping branches and takes additional security and safety measures in areas not under Palestinian control to prevent customers personal information from being leaked to Israeli authorities.

Palestinian banks also hope to see the PMA exert more efforts to expand the distribution of Palestinian bank branches across the Palestinian territories so as to boost the economy and promote development.

In the meantime, all eyes are on the newly opened or to-be-opened branches in Jerusalem to see if the facilities on offer will enable Palestinians to battle poverty and establish projects that contribute to the improvement of their economic and social life to support the Arab presence in Jerusalem.
May 4, 2017

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) has had the city of Tal Afar surrounded for months, awaiting approval to launch a siege against the Islamic State (IS). That approval, however, might never come for the controversial group.

Some officials are worried about what might happen if the largely Shiite PMU leads the liberation of the predominately Sunni Arab and Turkmen city, which has been under IS control since June 2014. There are different theories as to why no action has been taken yet.

Haider al-Tamimi, a PMU leader, told the media April 27 that the forces are on the periphery of Tal Afar, which is about 40 miles west of Mosul. But in a decision that could be more political than military, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said that for now they must not enter the city.

In fact, Abadi bluntly declared as far back as November, The PMU will be excluded from the battle of Tal Afar, as the fighting will be entrusted to fighters from the city and the forces of the army.

After his forces liberated Al-Hadar district south of Mosul on April 27, PMU Deputy Commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis said, The PMU is ready to break into Tal Afar, despite the objection demonstrated by some."

Jawad al-Talibawi, another PMU leader, said April 25 that some members blame the PMU restrictions on internal and external political pressure on Abadi. Iraqi Hezbollah was more explicit, calling on the government not to yield to the US and regional pressures.

Parliament member Nahla al-Hababi, a Tal Afar native, told Al-Monitor these pressures led to a dispute between the government and the PMU factions on the priorities of the liberation process and the extent of the PMU participation in it.

Abadi is trying to avoid another military and political battle with Turkey, which threatened Baghdad [that it would] intervene militarily in Tal Afar if the PMU took part in the operation, Hababi said.

"The government does not want to give Turkey the opportunity to settle scores with its opponents, mainly the Kurdistan Workers Party, inside Iraqi territory. However, Turkeys influence is likely to diminish if Washington and Baghdad agree on a deadline and the best way to liberate the city, she added.

Dishwar Faqir, the spokesman for the Yazidi's Sinjar Resistance Units, told the media April 27 that the Turkish attacks against Kurdish-led forces fighting IS on Sinjar Mountain benefited IS in Mosul and Tal Afar. He added, "Turkey is planning to wipe out Shiites from Tal Afar."

In the same vein, writer and journalist Jaafar al-Talafari, who was displaced from the city, told Al-Monitor, [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogans statements against the PMU are an indication of his will to control Tal Afar, as he believes PMU entry to the city would mean it will be controlled by Iranian Shiites.

Commenting on the extent of disagreement between Abadi and the PMU over the liberation of Tal Afar, PMU leader Karim al-Nuri told Al-Monitor, The dispute between the two sides is exaggerated, as the PMU is now [surrounding] Tal Afar from all sides. In light of this situation, Abadi was working on easing up lots of international, Gulf and regional pressure, as he kept the different stakeholders in check as to the field situation.

Nuri added, Abadis response to these pressures  delaying the liberation operations  does not mean there is a dispute with the PMU.

Part of the delay is due to the preparation time needed for the battle, he said. Liberating al-Hadar beforehand helps "pave the way to entering Tal Afar because Hadar was used by IS to supply its forces" in Mosul and Tal Afar.

At the tactical, technical and military levels, Brig. Gen. Yehia Rasul, the spokesman for the joint operations, told Al-Monitor, There have been no measures on the ground to try to isolate the PMU or prevent it from liberating Tal Afar, especially since it is part of the military system.

He added, Any decision taken by the prime minister is a response to the field situation, as well as regional and international positions. The battle of Tal Afar and Mosul entails regional dimensions as it is part of the fight against global terrorism. Preparing for such a battle should not create any domestic and sectarian problems, as this could benefit the extremist forces."

Saad al-Hadithi, the spokesman for the Iraqi prime minister, told Al-Monitor, The participation of any Iraqi faction in the battle against IS and the liberation of Tal Afar is bound to a sovereign decision, which has nothing to do with any external party." According to Hadithi, "Abadi's position regarding PMU participation in any battle is clear. He informed the international parties that the PMU is part of the armed forces and has a duty to liberate the lands, be it in Tal Afar or elsewhere.

Regardless of the scale of PMU participation in Tal Afar's liberation, the battle is subject to local and regional political calculations, as the city is home to different sects and ethnicities, though Turkey views it as having a Turkmen/Sunni bent. Some observers also believe that an expanded PMU role would help its Iran-backed Shiite components implement Iran's agendas in Syria through the city, given its location.
May 4, 2017

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Washington this week to convey the utter desperation of Palestinians who see no light at the end of the Israeli occupation tunnel.

Hoping to get Trump personally engaged in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Abbas entered the White House on May 3 with a team that included his senior negotiator, Saeb Erekat; his head of intelligence, Majid Faraj; and Deputy Finance Minister Mohammad Mustafa.

Noting US President Donald Trumps desire for personal recognition, Abbas heaped praise on the American businessman-turned-politician, calling him courageous and wise in his pursuit of the ultimate deal in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. However, an in-depth look at Trumps public positions is not so encouraging to Palestinians.

An examination of the statements shows clearly that, other than flowery language about wanting peace, the US president made no substantive remarks. He didnt speak of the two-state solution, didnt mention any freeze on Israeli settlements and was totally silent on the issue of Jerusalem  even though Abbas called East Jerusalem the capital of the hoped-for state of Palestine.

Perhaps the best example of the absence of genuine support for Palestinian statehood is the use of the asymmetrical terms Israel and the Palestinians, which implies Palestine is not a state. It should be Israelis and Palestinians, or Israel and Palestine. During the 1991 Madrid peace conference, when former US Secretary of State James Baker wanted to overcome this problem, he ordered that all signs used to identify the various participants were consistent: Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians and so forth.

Anyone who has experienced or followed Israels public statements since 1967 will be very familiar with what Trump experienced. All Israelis, no matter their political positions, will publicly declare that they support and want peace. When it comes to details, thats where things get rough.

Some of the Israeli talking points were stated shortly after the press conference during the daily White House briefing.

Press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that some of the topics discussed included preventing incitement to violence, particularly [by] media outlets directly associated with the Palestinian Authority. It is highly unlikely that, if this issue was indeed discussed, Abbas did not bring up Israels role in incitement. But Spicer didnt mention that.

Since taking office in 2005 after the death of Yasser Arafat, Abbas has been publicly and organizationally working on what he calls cleaning up Palestinian TV. The entire issue is reflected in a 2014 paper issued by the PLOs Negotiations Affairs Department.

When the issue came up in November 2015 under the administration of then-President Barack Obama, it was agreed to revive the tripartite committee set up in 1998 and made up of Americans, Palestinians and Israelis. The mandate of this committee was to check incitement by both sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has repeatedly avoided agreeing to a meeting of the anti-incitement committee. In 2014, the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post quoted an Israeli official admitting that Israel didnt want a meeting because the Palestinians would use it to claim that Israel was also engaged in incitement.

Despite the absence of anti-incitement committee meetings, the PLOs Department of Culture and Information publishes a monthly report rebutting Israeli claims and reporting on Israeli incitement against Palestinians.

Trump also seems to have fallen for another diversionary Israeli tactic. Spicer adopted Netanyahus words from days earlier, telling the press that Trump raised concerns about the payments to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who have committed acts of terror and to their families.

The irony is that the Israelis themselves have not stopped social benefit payments to the families of Palestinian prisoners who are Israeli citizens or residents of East Jerusalem. In fact, Netanyahus own party attempted in 2014 to pass a law to stop social welfare benefits, but the Israeli Knesset rejected the proposal, saying it would have constituted collective punishment of innocent families.

The fact is, 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israel, led by Marwan Barghouti, a leader from Abbas own Fatah movement, are on the third week of a hunger strike that began April 17, calling for basic humanitarian treatment. Amnesty International, the Red Cross and Israeli human rights organization Btselem have publicly supported the prisoners' humanitarian demands: the right to regular family visits and to have books brought in, and for Israel to stop detaining Palestinians without charge or trial.

Most Palestinians have very low expectations of a breakthrough, leading the Abbas administration to use the kind of exaggerated praise Trump likes. But if Trump found in his first 100 days that being president is hard work, he will soon discover that getting Israelis to concede occupied Palestinian territories as part of a land-for-peace ultimate deal is much, much harder than he ever expected.
May 4, 2017

WASHINGTON  On his first foreign trip since becoming president, Donald Trump will travel this month to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Rome, in what the White House described as an effort to rally the world  and the three major faiths symbolized by those locales  together to battle intolerance that has given rise to extremist groups such as the Islamic State (IS).

The itinerary reflects what White House officials described as a way to translate Trumps America First agenda into confident American leadership on the world stage, to reinvigorate old alliances and seek new opportunities for cooperation.

White House officials, in describing the thinking behind the trip, offered a fascinating glimpse into how they see Trump conducting foreign policy largely through building personal relationships and conducting personal diplomacy, and as someone who is ideologically flexible, and not doctrinaire, and willing to adjust plans as the facts change. They also said they have come to see his perceived unpredictability on foreign policies as being an asset that keeps allies and foes alike slightly uncertain.

Good if they are nervous, one official described the advice he was given after Trump was elected about countries not knowing what Trumps foreign policy positions would be.

Trump is expected to depart May 19 for Saudi Arabia, then travel to Israel and then to Rome, where he will meet with Pope Francis, before traveling, as previously announced, to attend a NATO summit in Brussels and then a G-7 leaders meeting in Sicily, Italy, the White House said.

He chose those three places to unify everyone and the world against intolerance, and focus on how we can unite  against radicalism, a senior administration official, speaking not for attribution, told foreign affairs reporters and columnists at a White House background briefing May 4.

The three faiths [can] work together, a second senior administration official said. At the core [of those faiths] is a belief in tolerance.

President Trump has accepted the invitation of King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, the custodian of the two holy mosques, to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia later this month, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement May 4. The visit will  allow the leaders to discuss issues of strategic concern, including efforts to defeat terrorist groups and discredit radical ideologies.

President Trump has also accepted the invitation of President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Israel, where he will further strengthen the United States-Israel partnership, Spicer said. Trump will also meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss ways to advance peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, as well as efforts to unlock the potential of the Palestinian economy.

Contrary to the impression that Trump is cool to alliances such as NATO, his demand for more burden-sharing and to adapt those alliances to contend with current challenges such as terrorism will reinvigorate them and make them stronger, his advisers said.

The conventional wisdom is that [Trump] is weak on alliances, a third senior administration official, speaking not for attribution, said. Actually hes strong on alliances.

Trump will prioritize multinational forums when it is in our interests, and renegotiate the terms when they are not, the third official said. The trip will help solidify the resurgence of American strategic confidence.

The top officials described Trumps conduct of foreign policy as involving a lot of personal diplomacy, and forging relationships with leaders to try to advance US interests with allies and even foes. Its a sophisticated approach to take, the third official said.

The president is disruptive, but not doctrinaire, the third official said. He is willing to leave behind old policies and create new ones.

Trump is willing to confront bad actors, but also look for opportunities for cooperation, the third official said, citing Trumps May 2 call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lets take steps together  to try to resolve the war in Syria, the third official said, describing Trumps thinking on trying to work with Russia to de-escalate the Syrian war. We tend to look at divergent cultures. The president stresses our common humanity and our common interests.  American leadership is able to unlock opportunities.

Trumps unpredictable positions can be an asset in foreign policy since they keep allies and foes alike slightly off-balance and uncertain as to what exactly he will do, the officials said.

It creates a lot of opportunities [that] a lot of people dont know what our foreign policy is, the first senior administration said.

He is not dogmatic, the first official said of Trump. Trump will come up with a plan and keep adjusting, as the facts change.

He does not fit into any orthodoxy, the official added.

On Saudi Arabia's being the first stop on the trip, the officials said Saudi Arabia reached out after the election to Jared Kushner and others, and in subsequent engagements, have conveyed their commitment to fighting radicalism, as well as their concern about what the officials described as an "emboldened Iran."

We find a lot of alignment between President Trump and the leaders of the Arab world, an official said.

The officials outlined four objectives they hope to advance on the trip: 1) uniting the world to fight intolerance and ideological extremism over the long term; 2) stopping money flows to terrorists; 3) better burden-sharing; and 4) countering Iran and defeating IS.

On the last goal, the top Trump advisers seem to have internalized the view, prevalent in the Sunni world, that IS is an outgrowth of Sunni anxiety about Iran.

Asked if they may have leaned too far in adopting the views of their Sunni interlocutors and if they may have missed that the situation with Iran is somewhat more complicated, the first senior official said that Iran supports Hezbollah and sends weapons to support the Houthi rebels. The Trump administration will demonstrate its dissatisfaction with Irans behavior in the region with actions, he said. But if Iran wants to talk about it, Islamic Republic officials can pick up the phone and call us, he said, stressing, however, that the administration is focused on actions, not words.
May 4, 2017

On a flight back from India this week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the West for criticizing Turkeys state of emergency, in place since the botched coup attempt in July 2016. Speaking to journalists accompanying him on the trip, he said, The West, which fails to see the state of emergency in France, is attempting to criticize a process that we are carrying out in tranquility. What has the state of emergency in Turkey done? Has it taken away anything from [businesspeople]? Has it affected businesses? He argued that without the state of emergency, the authorities would have failed to have struggled as well as they have against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and followers of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara calls the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO) and holds responsible for the coup attempt.

Given the suspension of basic rights and freedoms, associating the state of emergency with social peace is simply ironic, not to mention that Ankara is flouting even the constitutional limits for the use of emergency-rule powers. For Turkish citizens of a certain age, todays atmosphere evokes the scary climate of the military rule after the 1980 coup, when the campaign of suppression was called a tranquility operation.

Erdogan may claim the state of emergency is conducted in peace, and even without harming anyone, but the toll is out there as plain as day. On April 2, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu offered the following summary of the crackdown on Gulenists or dissidents accused of being such: So far, 113,260 people have been detained in connection with FETO. The number of those who remain arrested today is 47,155, which is a significant number. There are 41,499 people who have been released on the condition of judicial control, while 23,861 others have been freed (without any further action). Those arrested include 10,732 police officers, 7,463 soldiers, including 168 generals, 2,575 judges and prosecutors, 26,177 civilians and 208 administrative chiefs.

This, however, is only a partial picture that omits the toll of the crackdown on the Kurds. The state of emergency has seen the detention of some 9,000 members of the Kurdish-dominated Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), about 3,000 of whom remain behind bars. Eleven HDP lawmakers, including both of the partys co-chairs, are also in jail. The HDPs sister party, the Democratic Regions Party, which runs 103 local administrations in the mainly Kurdish southeast, has seen 84 of those municipalities handed over to government-appointed trustees and 89 of its co-mayors arrested.

Scores of academics who had signed declarations criticizing Ankaras Kurdish policies have been expelled from universities across the country, while the number of gagged newspapers, magazines and internet sites is beyond counting.

So one thing is obvious: Those punished through emergency-rule instruments are not armed terrorist groups, as Erdogan claims, but members of civic society and political parties. In other words, the measures have targeted legitimate representative and civic structures, bypassing democracy and the law.

There is no doubt now that this chilling policy is a systematic one. Erdogan and the government got what they wanted from the April 16 referendum, and have shown no intention of softening or moderation in its aftermath. This is clearly manifested in the new waves of detentions and suspensions that have followed the vote.

On April 26, the authorities issued detention orders for 3,224 alleged Gulenists. Two days later, 9,000 police officers were suspended from duty on the same grounds. On May 2, the government issued two legislative decrees to expel some 4,000 public employees, including 1,000 military officers and 485 academics, bringing the total to more than 102,000 expulsions since the state of emergency took effect.

The moves indicate that the government sees its narrow victory in the referendum as a vote of confidence for its authoritarian policies. This, in turn, represents the first convergence between the existing authoritarian practices and the aspired populist institutionalization.

One cannot help but wonder whether the governments war on the Gulen community is a bottomless pit, a saga that will never end. The situation has come to resemble a two-way authoritarian trap. If the presence of Gulenists in the state is a threat to the rule of law, the ferocious and often arbitrary measures against them have become another.

No one can really tell where the truth lies exactly. If the Gulenists have really entrenched themselves to an extent that justifies this massive toll, Turkey does face a predicament that will be difficult to overcome. Alternately, if the Gulenists power is exaggerated and the governments actions stem from a mix of concern, suspicion and a desire to consolidate power, Turkey faces an equally lasting problem. In either case, the blows to democracy are bound to produce the same outcome: perpetual suspicion, perpetual purges and therefore perpetual disregard of the law. The experience thus far shows that each new suspicion triggers a fresh wave of detentions and expulsions. This is so much so that some public servants, recruited to replace expelled Gulenists, have themselves faced suspension after a while.

Another alarming problem is that this atmosphere has spawned a self-spinning cogwheel that can function without political push. The onslaught on suspected Gulenists and PKK supporters has rested on tip-offs, assumptions and guesses rather than evidence and corroborated suspicion, creating a logic and a mentality of its own. All members of the state apparatus  prosecutors, judges, public functionaries and the bureaucrats drawing up the expulsion lists  are acting under the influence or the pressure of this atmosphere, sometimes as its executioners and sometimes as its victims. The banality of evil  Hannah Arendts famous concept on the normalization of human wickedness  is springing to life in Turkey, nourishing authoritarianism from inside the system.

This is also the reason for Turkeys growing introversion and international alienation. The April 25 decision of the Council of Europes Parliamentary Assembly to put Turkey on its watch list was precisely because of the rights violations and arbitrary rule that the state of emergency has produced.

The definition of freedom that Erdogan made earlier this year is perhaps the best illustration of the icy rift between Turkey and the West today. Referring to big infrastructure projects by his government, Erdogan said, Hey West! Freedom is not [what you advocate]. Freedom goes through the Marmaray Tunnel. Freedom goes through the Eurasia Tunnel. Freedom goes through the Osmangazi Bridge.
May 3, 2017

AIN ISA, Syria  Summer has come to Raqqa province. The extreme heat makes outdoor living difficult. Temperatures driven up by sandstorms often exceed 122 F (50 C). There is not much green space  but there are ample minefields.

I came to Ain Isa, about 35 miles north of Raqqa city, to meet with members of the newly established Raqqa Civilian Assembly, but first I stopped at tent cities there where Raqqa's displaced are housed. I spoke with families who had been caught in a violent sandstorm while fleeing Raqqa. Hussein Jassim, from the village of Kubush west of Raqqa, said, To avoid [the Islamic State (IS)] we escaped to the desert, and slept in the open for four days. We got caught in a sandstorm. Nobody came to help us. Twenty-three people died there.

For some time, there have been media reports that Arab tribes oppose having the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US ally, involved in liberating Raqqa. IS is said to be telling Raqqa Arabs that the SDF will come and torture them. But the refugees were willing to take the risk: What could be worse than their lives under IS?

With a child in his arms, Juma al-Wiladah said: Look. This is my 5-year-old son. He apparently said some things when playing with his friends. Guess what? [IS] raided my house to capture and take my son away to execute him. They claimed the boy had said nasty things about God and religion. Many people intervened to save my boy.

His wife, Fatima, spoke up: We suffered a lot. They trampled on our dignity and security in our own house. Somebody should save us. We have no strength to put up with this any longer.

Apart from fighters and refugees, I saw only a few people outside at Ain Isa. In the Raqqa Civilian Assembly headquarters, some members had gathered for a meeting. Raqqa-born Leyla Mustafa, an assembly co-chair, said she is a civil engineer by profession. The other co-chair is Sheikh Mahmoud Shawakh al-Bursan, leader of the Al-Weldeh Arab Tribes Union. Al-Weldeh is the biggest Raqqa tribe.

When asked about the refugees' situation, Mustafa replied: We have massive numbers of refugees. So far, 115,000 refugees have reached here. Tens of thousands more are looking for ways to flee Raqqa town. We house the refugees in the tent cities.  Help from humanitarian organizations is about zero. The coalition countries have not provided any humanitarian assistance. The other day 23 of our people died at Jub al-Shair because we couldnt reach them in the sandstorm.

I asked Mustafa about the assembly's objectives. After large segments of Raqqa province were liberated from [IS], we felt the need for such a body. Today, apart from the Raqqa town center, most of the province is liberated from [IS]. It badly needs a civilian administration," she said.

"After liberating the town, the SDF will hand over administration to our assembly. That is why they participated in our constituent assembly.  They will be responsible only for the defense of the province. Law and order in the town will be handled by the newly established Raqqa police.

The Raqqa Civilian Assembly was set up April 18 with 110 members present. Omer al-Khamri from al-Weldeh tribe, who has been acting as a deputy speaker for the assembly, said there are more than 200 members. Not all of them can acknowledge their membership because their relatives still cant get out of Raqqa. "If we had announced their names, [IS] would have rounded up [their families] and hurt them, he said.

Another deputy speaker is lawyer Ibrahim Hasan from the Turkmen village of Hamame. He said the assembly includes representatives of various religions and all ethnic groups, "whether Arab, Turkmen, Kurd or Armenian  though Arabs are the majority."

All assembly members I talked with emphasized the role of Arab tribes. Arab tribes constitute the base of the social structure of Raqqa. It is important to maintain a balance among them and ensure that they are represented, Hasan explained.

Mustafa noted, however, that though there are many positive elements of tribal structure, it can also hold acute dangers. [IS] hatched schemes to set the tribes against each other, and wrecked the social and cultural balances we always had," she said. "Today, we are afraid blood feuds and revenge-taking will erupt among tribes. One key objective of the assembly is to ensure social peace, which members hope to achieve in part by empowering women, she added.

I asked assembly members about their contacts with Kurds in northern Syria. Hasan said they have had no relations with them so far. The only support we got was from the Syrian Democratic Assembly," the SDF's political arm.

As I spoke with them, we could hear TV reports about Turkeys air attack against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) media center at Karachok. Hasan was upset.

Turkey is violating international legal norms daily against our people," he said, but those efforts ultimately will be unsuccessful. "Turkey has lost because it did not favor a solution in Syria. We will stand by our people and oppose Turkeys designs for occupation.

Khamri added, Where was Turkey before the SDF? For six years we waited for Turkeys support. But we found out that Turkey supports our enemy [IS].

In addition to minefields and booby-traps, IS is leaving in its wake people who are also petrified by Turkeys threats. They worry deeply about what might happen if the US agrees to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's constant demands to be part of the city's liberation instead of Kurdish groups.

But what about the Syrian opposition groups that Turkey supports, such as the Free Syrian Army? What does the assembly expect from those groups? "Nothing," Hasan said. "Sadly, the opposition supported by Turkey has never represented the Syrian people. Their function is to serve Turkeys interests and political projects. That opposition has no place in Raqqa.
May 4, 2017

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey  Developments in northern Syria, which has a large Kurdish population, have long been on Turkeys agenda. Turkey considers the growing power of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in the region seriously disturbing.

Turkey has consistently warned that it could intervene militarily in the region. But the prevailing view was that Turkey refrained from military action so as not to confront the United States and Russia. That restraint ended April 25 when Turkish jets bombed YPG facilities at Mount Karachok, near the Syrian town of Derik, and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets near Iraqs Sinjar.

The target in Syria was the YPG command headquarters. The YPG said 20 of its militants were killed. The air attacks were followed by small-scale skirmishes on the border. Neither the Kurds nor the allies were expecting such an attack from Turkey. But the real surprise came a few hours later.

After the Turkish airstrikes, the sounds of airplanes were suddenly heard above the region the Kurds call Rojava. The sounds went on for a long time without a break. People in the region at first thought the Turkish planes were back, but a bit later helicopters started to fly over the area  the reality began to emerge later. The planes and helicopters belonged to the anti-Islamic State (IS) international coalition. They crisscrossed the region for several hours, giving the impression of a de facto protection zone. Shortly afterward, action began on the ground. Armored vehicles flying US flags began patrolling the Turkish border. A heavy US armored presence was seen in areas close to Turkeys key deployment points.

To find out what was going on, Al-Monitor reached a source close to the YPG. This source, who did not want to be named, confirmed that the jets and helicopters were patrolling above them. Actually, I can see the helicopters now as we are talking, he said.

Abdul Karim Omer, co-chair of the Foreign Relations Council of the Jazeera Canton (unofficially the foreign minister), also confirmed the patrol flights by coalition airplanes. Omer told Al-Monitor the United States had to defend the region. We dont have an agreed arrangement between us. There is nothing official, but today some coalition commanders came and checked this area, especially at Dirbesiye bombed by the Turks, he said.

They moved around with their tanks and vehicles and deployed their tanks at the border. They came to Karachok also. Their visit has political significance. Clearly, they are upset with what Turkey did. There is no official no-fly zone, but they are here. Their tanks are on a road very close to the Turkish border. They expressed their displeasure. We are not happy with the situation. We are fighting terror against an organization threatening the world, and Turks come and attack us. The coalition cannot remain silent on this. But airstrikes could not have taken place without US knowledge. The United States doesnt want to upset Turkey.

Nasreddin Ibrahim  secretary-general of the Syrian Kurdistan Democratic Party, which doesnt identify with the PKK  also observed the coalition overflights. He told Al-Monitor, American planes showed up after Turkeys attacks at Karachok and Sinjar and flew between the Iraqi border and Kobani. On the ground, their tanks were moving around in the three areas, flying their flags. One of their units was moving in the area between Kobani and Serekani. Another was between Serekani and Grespi, and the third was between Serekani and Andiwar on the Iraqi border  all close to the Turkish border.

"East of the Euphrates River until the Iraqi border is the US zone of domination. There is a partnership between the United States and the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF]. The YPG is the main SDF force. Then, there are the Russians in the west of the Euphrates. These two superpowers are protecting Rojava  Russia the west of Euphrates, and the Americans east of the Euphrates. They have forces in three cantons. They now have airfields where their big planes can land. They must now set up official safe zones. Turkish and regime planes must be banned from entering these zones. It must be an official ban. Last year, there were clashes between the YPG and the Syrian regime. If the United States had not intervened, the regime would have leveled this region.

Air patrols have ceased for the time being, but armored units flying US and Russian flags are showing up along the Turkish border  American flags east of the Euphrates and Russian flags west of it.

Just as the situation was cooling off, Turkeys presidential adviser, Ilnur Cevik, triggered a new argument when he said, If they push it further, our troops may not care about Americans anymore.  Suddenly, by accident, a few rockets may well hit them.

But everyone knows these words have relevance to the ground. People wonder how such a statement might affect the forthcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

What is happening now resembles the days when the Kurdish autonomous region was being set up after the first Gulf War. The region emerged with US support despite Turkeys fervent opposition. Today, we also have Russia on the stage. Both the United States and Russia clearly are not going to give up on the Kurds. The most likely scenario will be for Turkey to modify its policies accordingly. We are likely to see frequent photographs of Kurds waving to armored vehicles flying the US flag.
Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

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Publicly traded companies are required each year to disclose the salaries of their top executives with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each year, we round them up.

Here's what the CEOs of companies headquartered in Alabama that are currently publicly traded earned in 2015.

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. (AUBN)

CEO: E. L. Spencer, Jr.

Base Salary: $25,082

Total Compensation: $153,251

City: Auburn

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

First US Bancshares (FUSB)

CEO: James House

Base Salary: $328,800

Total Compensation: $396,017

City: Thomasville

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

National Security Group, Inc. (NSEC)

CEO: William L. Brunson, Jr.

Base Salary: $256,620

Total Compensation: $401,658

City: Elba

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

Otelco Inc. (OTEL)

CEO: Robert J. Souza

Base Salary: $350,002

Total Compensation: $517,778

City: Oneonta

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Robin Conn

National Commerce Corporation (NCOM)

CEO: John Holcomb, II

Base Salary: $335,000

Total Compensation: $845,289

City: Birmingham

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TAMIKA MOORE

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (SFBS)

CEO: Tom Broughton

Base Salary: $400,000

Total Compensation: $961,076

City: Birmingham

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Bill Starling

Computer Programs and Systems, Inc. (CPSI)

CEO: J. Boyd Douglas

Base Salary: $630,000

Total Compensation: $1.45 million

City: Mobile

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Hibbett Sports, Inc. (HIBB)

CEO: Jeffry O. Rosenthal

Base Salary: $515,000

Total Compensation: $1.5 million

City: Birmingham

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation (IPCC)

CEO: James Gober

Base Salary: $575,000

Total Compensation: $1.79 million

City: Birmingham

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Bob Gathany

ADTRAN, Inc. (ADTN)

CEO: Thomas R. Stanton

Base Salary: $612,850

Total Compensation: $3.6 million

City: Huntsville

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ProAssurance Corporation (PRA)

CEO: W. Stancil Starnes

Base Salary: $950,236

Total Compensation: $3.97 million

City: Birmingham

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Beverly Taylor

Energen Corporation (EGN)

CEO: James T. McManus

Base Salary: $884,000

Total Compensation: $4.99 million

City: Birmingham

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (MPW)

CEO: Edward K. Aldag, Jr

Base Salary: $950,000

Total Compensation: $5.5 million

City: Birmingham

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

HealthSouth Corporation (HLS)

CEO: Jay Grinney*

Base Salary: $1 million

Total Compensation: $7.3 million

City: Birmingham

*Grinney retired at the end of 2016. Mark Tarr is currently the CEO.

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Kelly Poe | kpoe@al.com

Vulcan Materials Company (VMC)

CEO: J. Thomas Hill

Base Salary: $941,670

Total Compensation: $7.53 million

City: Birmingham

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(Michelle Williams/AL.com file)

Regions Financial Corporation (RF)

CEO: Grayson Hall

Base Salary: $1 million

Total Compensation: $14 million

City: Birmingham

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Companies have to disclose this information every year. To see what these executives earned last year, click here.
Here are some of today's top AL.com business headlines:

Hundreds of millions of dollars are to pour into defense and justice projects in North Alabama as Congress passed various appropriations bills Thursday.

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Mobile-based shipbuilder Austal will have to wait years before finding out if it will be awarded a contract to build the U.S. Navy's next generation of frigates.

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Paper products giant Kimberly-Clark has announced plans to build a $75 million combined heat-power plant at its Mobile mill, which they say will increase the plant's efficiency while decreasing long-term costs and emissions.

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Shipt is expanding in Florida, which includes its Costco delivery service.

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Last month, G Momma Cookies took honors in the Alabama Launchpad Competition, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama which funds and mentors aspiring entrepreneurs in hopes of fostering job creation.

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A well-known Huntsville entrepreneur faces two arrest warrants after an early morning incident during a party celebrating the first human to fly in space.

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The hotel in the historic Empire building on First Avenue North has a new name: the Elyton Hotel, named for the former town of Elyton, a center for trade and government in central Alabama until the county seat until 1873.

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Tesla has plans to add six stations around Alabama as part of an aggressive national and international strategy to up its charging power.

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Arab's Cold Box Express has been fully operational for about a year, and interest is growing in the company, which rents climate-controlled shipping containers from depot sites around the country.

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If you're preparing for college or thinking about a change, there are some jobs you may want to avoid.

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For more news, visit AL.com/business.
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The barbecue stuffed baked potato is one of the more popular items on the Full Moon Bar-B-Que menu. (Photo courtesy of Full Moon Bar-B-Que)

Birmingham-based Full Moon Bar-B-Que is expanding into Montgomery, where it plans to open its 14th Alabama location late this summer.

The 5,000-square-foot restaurant will be located at 7660 Eastchase Parkway, behind the Target shopping center.

Chris Woodward will be the owner-operator.

"I have been part of the Full Moon family for 10 years, working alongside owners David and Joe Maluff learning the characteristics of being a successful franchisee and business owner," Woodward said in a media release. "It is such a tremendous opportunity to fulfill my dream of owning my own business and bringing the Full Moon brand to barbecue lovers in the city of Montgomery."

The Montgomery restaurant will offer quick-service dining, and the menu will feature barbecue pork, ribs, smoked chicken, chicken tenders, catfish, Buffalo wings and stuffed baked potatoes, as full as Full Moon's popular chow-chow and Half Moon cookies.

Pat James and his wife, Eloise, opened the original Full Moon Bar-B-Que on Birmingham's Southside in 1986, nicknaming it "The Best Little Pork House in Alabama." The Maluff brothers bought the business in 1997 and have since grown it to include 12 locations across Alabama.

The 13th location is scheduled to open in Pelham on May 22, and the Montgomery restaurant will be the 14th.

In 2014, Full Moon was chosen one of the 12 Best Barbecue Joints in America by the readers of Ebony magazine, and in 2016, Men's Journal magazine included Full Moon's riblet fries on its list of the 17 Most Inventive French Fries in America.

The original restaurant celebrated its 30th year in business this past November.

Also, AL.com named the Full Moon turkey sandwich one of the 6 BBQ Sandwiches That Will Make You Rethink Your Definition of Barbecue and included Full Moon on its list of 50 Essential Birmingham Restaurants.

For a full menu and more information, go to www.fullmoonbbq.com.
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First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham had a tree fall on it this morning, a month after Montevallo Presbyterian Church had a tree fall on it.

(Photo by Greg Garrison/AL.com)

The Rev. Shannon Webster, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, stood by as a tree was lifted off the church roof Thursday afternoon, May 4, 2017.

First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, founded in 1872, had its historic 1888 building damaged when a large tree fell on it this morning as a result of high winds.

The tree fell on a chapel near the front of the building at the corner of Fourth Avenue North and 21st Street. It damaged parts of the bell tower.

"The shock of the tree hitting has buckled the walls," said the Rev. Shannon Webster, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham. "The stained-glass windows are buckling."

A work crew used a crane to lift the tree off the church roof early this afternoon.

"Our first concern was to get the tree off the roof and get a tarp over it so we don't get water damage," Webster said.

Webster said the damage will likely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. "We already had a capital campaign going," he said. "This is going to add to our woes. It's one of those things that happen."

First Presbyterian has average weekly attendance of about 175 people on Sundays. Services will not be disrupted, Webster said.

"The sanctuary is still usable," he said.

Jane Clayton, clerk at Montevallo Presbyterian Church, stopped by to watch a tree being removed from the roof of First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham on Thursday afternoon, May 4, 2017. Clayton serves as vice-moderator of the presbytery, and Montevallo Presbyterian was hit by a tree last month. Shannon Webster, pastor of First Presbyterian, is moderator of the presbytery.

A similar incident happened at Montevallo Presbyterian Church on April 3, when a tree fell and tore open the sanctuary.

"Trees are falling on the Presbyterians," Webster joked.

Members from Montevallo Presbyterian stopped by this afternoon to watch as the tree was lifted by a crane off First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham.

"This is such a beautiful, historic church," said Jane Clayton, clerk of the session at Montevallo Presbyterian. "We had to come down and talk to Shannon and say, 'Welcome to the fellowship of tree-destroyed churches.'"

The Montevallo church was so badly damaged it hasn't been used since. "It destroyed the whole sanctuary," Clayton said. "The front wall is so unstable we can't go in there."

In addition to serving as pastor of First Presbyterian, Webster also serves as moderator for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, the regional body for the Presbyterian Church (USA). Clayton, the clerk at Montevallo Presbyterian, serves as vice-moderator.

But the Presbyterians are not worried that it's some kind of spiritual warfare.

"We prefer to think it's just nature taking its course," Clayton said. "I pray anyway."
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 the Tuckers in Monroeville, Alabama.

Whitman, Alabama site | On Facebook

On the day we filmed, Carly was visiting with her grandmother Mary. It was really fascinating to watch them interact -- watching each assert her own personality alongside the other. Clearly these two are close and each is who she is.

In the video you see Carly rub her toes against her grandma's ankle, nestle her head against her shoulder when she gets sleepy ... And when Carly wraps her arms around her grandma's neck and yells "Save me!" Mary's smile is large and she's there for the embrace.

Mary seemed poised and reserved. Carly, cheeky and funny. The wise grandparent and the just as wise grandkid. Teacher and student. Serious and goofy. With all this, Carly said that she and her grandma are a lot alike.

"We both like to read," Carly said. "And she likes grammar and so do I. Because it's all about people and things and places and what people do ... every time I go there, she has a LOT of books for me."

Carly's favorite book is Cam Jansen and the Mystery of Flight 54. (Coincidentally, over 35 years ago, I also adored the Cam Jansen series of books.) Cam's a super sleuth in the fifth grade with a photographic memory. She's a strong, smart, tells-it-like-it-is young person. I think Carly allowed our cameras to capture pretty clearly why she is drawn to that character.

Both of them also took the process of reading Verse 46 of "Song of Myself" very seriously.

"It was a great experience," said Mary. "I love poetry, and I taught Whitman when I was teaching high school, and it just took me back to those days."

"Every day either I [practiced the verse] in the morning and then I did it in the afternoon and before I went to bed," said Carly. "I was kind of nervous at first," she said, "and after I got done with it, I was very excited. Because everybody was telling me I had done so well!"

By filmmaker Jennifer Crandall as told to writer Liz Hildreth
A Chinese national who pleaded guilty in 2015 to murdering a Jacksonville State University student in 1996 was released from prison on Tuesday and placed on probation, court records show.

Chen Shi received a 20-year sentence in a plea deal, which gave him credit for serving nearly four years in Calhoun County, following his 2011 arrest. The remaining 15 years and 102 days were to be served under supervised probation, the Anniston Star reported.

Since his guilty plea, Shi has been waiting deportation to China in an Etowah County facility.

Jacksonville Assistant Chief Bill Wineman told the newspaper that he received a call last month that Shi was to be released because "China refused to take him back."

Shi was indicted in the murder of Zihui "Linda" Liu in 2005, but he wasn't arrested until 2011.

The decomposed body of Liu was found Dec. 16, 1996, in a ravine near a roadside in Glencoe by utility workers. A computer science major who had worked security in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Liu, 27, had been missing for nearly two months when her body was found.

Investigators zeroed in on Shi almost immediately after her disappearance, but he left town and stayed on the run for almost 15 years. Though authorities caught up with him several times, he was able to elude capture by working in restaurants throughout the country with undocumented workers, taking his pay in cash, authorities said.

He was finally arrested in a Chinese restaurant in Minnesota.

Wineman said Shi entered the country on a student visa, but he hasn't been a student for 21 years.

Calhoun County Chief Assistant District Attorney Lynn Hammond told the newspaper that Shi had to be deported or placed on probation in accordance to his plea agreement. She didn't know why he wasn't deported.

Shi has requested to have his probation moved to New York where his family lives.
UW Clemon speaking at ASU May 5 2017.jpg

Former U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon speaks at a press conference at Alabama State University.

((Mike Cason/mcason@al.com))

Officials and former officials with Alabama State University said today the university suffered damage to its finances and reputation and lost enrollment because of an investigation that lasted about five years and was closed without any finding of wrongdoing.

They spoke at a news conference today at the university, three days after the state attorney general's office announced its investigation, which was conducted in coordination with a federal investigation, was closed.

Alabama State President Emeritus William Harris said it takes many years to build a reputation but only a short time to destroy one. He and the others said the restoration process at ASU has started.

"Even after five years from hell, there is no implication of any wrongdoing now by anybody associated with Alabama State University. It should be a proud day, a proud time, and ASU must be involved now in building upon this," Harris said.

The investigation was launched in 2012 following questions about university contracts raised by former ASU President Joseph Silver.

Then-Gov. Robert Bentley, who was ex-officio chairman of the ASU Board of Trustees, hired a firm to conduct a forensic audit. In October 2013, Bentley's office released a preliminary report on the audit that raised allegations of fraud and waste. The report stated that the audit was ongoing and that its findings were not final.

Harris said it became an all-consuming task to defend the university during the blitz of negative publicity.

"I committed myself to doing whatever necessary to protect the integrity of the university during this period and to show when the period was over that there was nothing to those allegations at all, something we had known for years," Harris said. "Yet during the process, we were vilified."

State Rep. John Knight, who is retired from his position as executive vice president and chief operating officer at ASU, said the historically black university contends with long-standing resentment about its achievements and its goals of competing on every level with other universities.

Knight was a lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed in 1981 over segregation of higher education in Alabama and recounted some of that history today. The case resulted in court-ordered changes to address vestiges of segregation in the system.

"I know the future is bright because what we did and our vision for Alabama State was the right vision," Knight said. "I'm a man of faith and I believe that it's divine that Alabama State University will overcome everything that has taken place thus far."

Former U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon, hired as an attorney to represent the university in the investigation, said the investigation damaged ASU in multiple ways, including causing a lowering of the university's bond rating.

"And of course we suffered the infamy in the press and in other high places. And as it turns out, there was no good cause for any of it," Clemon said.

Former Attorney General Luther Strange recused himself from the ASU investigation and appointed Chris McCool as acting attorney general to oversee it.

Special Prosecutions Division Chief Matt Hart had a special grand jury empaneled in Montgomery.

The special grand jury heard from dozens of witnesses and reviewed thousands of items of evidence before declining to take action on any allegation, McCool announced on Tuesday.

Knight said the investigation was thorough to the extent that it was like being asked to stand "butt naked."

"We knew all along that nothing had taken place here that was wrong in any way," Knight said.

Alfreda Green, Chairwoman of the ASU Board of Trustees, said it was time to leave the investigation behind.

"With the closure of the audit, we can fully focus on increasing enrollment, increasing financial support, creating new and reestablishing partnerships and celebrating our university's 150-year rich history," Green said.
Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said tonight progress has been made on developing a plan to build new state prisons.

McCutcheon said he expects a plan to build three new men's prisons and a replacement for Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women to be discussed in a House committee next week.

In March, the Senate passed a bill authorizing up to three new men's prisons and renovations to other prisons, including Tutwiler.

Local authorities would have to commit to building at least two of the three, which they would lease to the state, using the lease payments to pay off bond issues. Most of the existing men's prisons would close.

McCutcheon said the House has been in discussions with Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn, Gov. Kay Ivey and the Senate about revisions to the Senate plan.

McCutcheon said he believes a new women's facility would be a better option than further renovations to Tutwiler.

"We realize it's still an old building and it's not adequate," McCutcheon said. "So why continue to invest money in that facility when it's time to build a new one?"

McCutcheon said the House bill would incorporate the Senate's concept of having local authorities build prisons according to state specifications and leasing them to the state.

Six days remain in the legislative session, which must end by May 22.

McCutcheon said it's a priority to do something about the state's prisons, which are overcrowded and face federal court challenges over the quality of mental health care and medical care.

"I think the court is going to expect the state of Alabama to take some kind of initiative to fix the problems," McCutcheon said.
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(Alabama Attorney General's Office)

Jennifer Flynn Cataldo (SCSO)

A Shelby County woman is accused of faking terminal cancer and fraudulently receiving $38,000 in donations through online fundraising campaigns.

Jennifer Flynn Cataldo, 37, of Sterrett, was arrested Thursday and charged with two counts of first-degree theft by deception, jail records show. She is being held in the Shelby County Jail on $100,000 bond.

The Alabama Attorney General's Office began a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation into Cataldo's online fundraising on April 13.

The investigation of Cataldo centered around her use of two online GoFundMe fundraising campaigns, where she received more than $38,000 from donors wanting to help her with medical bills and a family vacation to Disney. The fundraising campaigns identified Cataldo as a terminal cancer patient.

Investigators learned that Cataldo didn't have cancer, though, according to a news report, she claimed to have had the disease for nearly seven years. According to the AG's Office, Cataldo acted alone in the scheme.

Alabama Political Reporter columnist Josh Moon this morning wrote that he had been contacted by Cataldo's parents who claimed their daughter was bilked out of a $17 million legal settlement by then-Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange and then-Gov. Robert Bentley.

Cataldo's parents, Moon reported, had burned through their savings supporting their daughter and requested Moon report on the situation but he soon found the fraud was being perpetrated by Cataldo, not Bentley or Strange.

"I can't understand why she would've done it," Cataldo's father said Thursday afternoon in a phone interview with Moon. "I just don't know what would drive someone to do something like that. And I don't know how she could keep us fooled for so long."

A spokesperson for GoFundMe said donors to Cataldo's fundraising campaign will get their money back.

"First, our platform is backed by the GoFundMe Guarantee, which means that in the rare case that GoFundMe, law enforcement or a user finds campaigns are misused, donors will get their money back, GoFundMe spokesperson Bobby Whithorne said.

He said misuse of the fundraising platform is rare.

"With that said, there are unfortunate and rare instances where people create campaigns with the intention to take advantage of others' generosity," Whithorne said. "In the small handful of cases where misuse occurs, GoFundMe takes action to resolve the issue. The user has been banned, and we are working with law enforcement officials to make sure donors get their money back."

Anyone with information or who may be a possible victim of Cataldo is asked to contact the Criminal Trials Division by calling 334-353-1875.
The Birmingham Police Department has declared Operation Eagle a success.

The department launched the 30-day police saturation, an effort to reduce crime in the city's hot spots on April 3.

Birmingham police Lt. Sean Edwards said violent crime, including homicides, robberies, felony assaults, sex crimes and shootings, dropped by 21 percent during the operation. And, gunshots detected by ShotSpotter dropped 26 percent from the previous month.

"We believe Operation Eagle was a success," he said in a statement. "The decrease in violent crimes is a strong indication that prevention became a reality. We are currently back at the planning table to discuss ways of reengaging."

Birmingham Mayor William Bell issued this statement: "We will not be satisfied until the homicide rate is significantly reduced or eliminated all together.

When they announced the initiative last month, Birmingham police Chief A.C. Roper and Bell said Operation Eagle was designed to improve public safety, increase police visibility and partner with the residents of various communities to improve the quality of life.

"We want to send a message to the bad guys that we're not going to tolerate some of the actions that are taking place in our streets,'' the mayor said last month. "We're going to do all that we can to take guns and drugs off the streets of Birmingham, but more importantly to reassure the public that we are aware of the situation, and we are putting in these proactive measures to address these issues to make the streets of Birmingham safe."

Operation Eagle was an "all hands on deck" approach to combating crime. During any given shift, there were 50 to 100 additional officers on the streets.

Officers were put on temporary assignments, off days were adjusted and overtime was used to put people and resources in the targeted areas overnight.

Officers were told to especially look for groups of people gathered at convenience stores, where several high-profile crimes have happened throughout the city this year.
The Alabama capital murder trial of Justin "Pop-A-Molly" Butler, a man already serving a 55-year sentence for a South Carolina killing, has been postponed.

Justin "Pop-A-Molly" Butler

Butler, who goes by the name "Pop-A-Molly," was scheduled for trial to begin Monday in Lauderdale County for the killing of a Muscle Shoals man. Butler, a 25-year-old convicted murderer, is charged in the Nov. 10, 2013 fatal shooting of Eric Watkins, 32.

Watkins was found in his vehicle off Chisolm Road in Florence, police have said. A motive hasn't been released.

The trial was postponed after the defense filed a motion listing conflicting cases on the lawyer Jeffrey B. Austin's court schedule. A hearing has been set for August 8 at 11 a.m.

Butler was convicted in 2016 of shooting two brothers over a car purchase in Lexington County, South Carolina, The Times and Democrat newspaper reported. One of the brothers, 29-year-old Tycus Metricus Toland died, according to the newspaper in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

Butler and his acquaintance, Terry McClure, broke into the brothers' home on April 26, 2014 in relation to a discussion about buying a car, according to reports.

It's unclear whether McClure was convicted.

In Lauderdale, prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, District Attorney Chris Connolly has said. If convicted, Butler could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Alabama's popular Forever Wild land conservation program could be required to reimburse state and county governments for an estimated $3.6 million in lost property taxes -- plus $500,000 every year going forward -- under a proposed measure in the Alabama Legislature.

The bill, HB 502, would require Forever Wild to "reimburse the amount of any ad valorem tax revenue lost as a result of property previously subject to ad valorem tax being acquired by the Forever Wild Land Trust."

Gunter Guy, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said he estimates Forever Wild would have to pay approximately $500,000 each year on lands the program has already purchased, plus a significant back taxes bill.

"The measure also requires a one-time retroactive reimbursement related to tax years prior to enactment," Guy said in an email. "We estimate the total amount of ad valorem taxes associated with acreage dating back to creation of the program to be approximately $3.6 million.

"DCNR is opposed to HB 502 and believes that it would negatively impact the Forever Wild Land Trust by creating a perpetual financial burden that will ultimately deplete funding for future acquisitions and shut down the program."

The actual amount due would be calculated each year by the county tax official, and thus was difficult to estimate precisely, Guy said. The payments would be a "first priority payment" for Forever Wild according to the bill, and the county tax officials would distribute the collected payments in the same manner as other tax revenues.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mark Tuggle (R-Alexander City), did not return calls and emails seeking comment about the bill.

Forever Wild uses 10 percent of the royalties paid to the state from offshore oil and gas drilling operations to purchase sensitive lands throughout the state. Forever Wild owns approximately 195,000 acres and has secured public access to more than 60,000 additional acres with long-term lease agreements.

Forever Wild properties include popular outdoor spaces like the Walls of Jericho and the Cathedral Caverns State Park expansion in north Alabama, Turkey Creek Nature Preserve and Ruffner Mountain in Birmingham, and Weeks Bay Reserve and the Perdido River Wildlife Management Areas in the southern part of the state. Many of those properties are hot spots for hiking, hunting, fishing or other outdoor recreational activity.

The program was created by a state constitutional amendment in 1992, with approval of more than 80 percent of Alabama voters. It was reauthorized in 2012 with 75 percent of the vote.

"The voters have already spoken, multiple times, about Forever Wild and public land in Alabama," said Tammy Herrington, executive director of Conservation Alabama, a nonprofit group which is organizing opposition to HB 502.

Despite the demonstrated level of public support, a number of bills in the cash-strapped Alabama Legislature have targeted Forever Wild in recent years, including a measure in 2015 that would have redirected the Forever Wild funds to the Alabama State Parks System. That bill was withdrawn after public outcry.

"Voters continue to tell our elected officials that they overwhelmingly support this program and our elected officials keep coming back after the program," Herrington said. "So it seems like there's a disconnect."

Herrington said it was frustrating that legislators targeted Forever Wild lands, when many other properties are also exempt from those ad valorem taxes.

"All state-owned lands come off the tax roles, so no state-owned property pays these ad valorem or property taxes," Herrington said. "You're not paying property taxes on the governor's mansion or the state-owned University system properties, so why are we starting with this public lands program that has been proven to bring economic benefits to the state?"

Herrington cited a recent study by the Trust for Public Land that found Alabama's Forever Wild program generated $5 in natural goods and services to the state for every $1 invested. That study found Forever Wild lands supported tourism and outdoor recreation industries, particularly hunting, recreational fishing, and wildlife viewing. It also cited benefits such as wildlife habitat, flood control, and water quality protection.

HB 502 is a proposed constitutional amendment, so it would require a referendum before it could be enacted.

Herrington said the bill may sound innocent enough, but would limit future land purchases and "start the clock," on the end of the program.

"At some point it would tip the scale, and you'd have to use all the Forever Wild funding to pay taxes on the lands rather than buy additional lands," she said. "When you start talking about ad valorem taxes, people's eyes glaze over, and it would be confusing and expensive to explain to people exactly what they were voting on."
Passage of the House's health-care bill gives the Obamacare repeal effort new life after months of wrangling, but key Republican senators are already pushing it aside to write their own bill with no clear timetable to act.

The narrowly passed House measure can't get anywhere near the 51 votes needed as is, even though Republican senators insist they're united on delivering on their seven-year vow to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Instead, they want to write their own bill.

Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who chairs the Senate health committee, Rob Portman of Ohio, and Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of GOP leadership, described the plan even as the House was celebrating passing its repeal after weeks of back-and-forth.

"We'll write our own bill," Alexander said in an interview, although he said senators would consider pieces of the House bill. "Where they've solved problems we agree with, that makes it a lot easier for us."

The decision will delay the prospect of any repeal bill reaching President Donald Trump's desk. Before the failure of the House bill in March, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had talked of taking it up and passing it in a week.

A senior White House official said the administration is ready for a slower, more deliberative debate in the Senate, where the main sticking point is expected to be how to address Obamacare's expansion of Medicaid.

The House bill, which squeaked through the House on a 217-213 vote Thursday, became an even tougher proposition for the Senate with changes made in recent weeks to win over conservatives. Those revisions raised potential procedural hurdles, and also sparked new Republican concerns over how the measure would affect coverage of people with pre-existing conditions.

"If any senator's got a better idea, I wish them well," House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana told MSNBC on Friday. "What they're going to find is you have to find consensus. We put 217 votes on the board and it took weeks and weeks to do it because everybody's got good ideas. Some of them don't work for other people."

Suddenly, Senate Republicans are doing their best to downplay expectations for quick action.

Chuck Grassley of Iowa, a senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said it will take weeks or maybe months for the Senate to develop a plan because many lawmakers in the chamber haven't yet engaged on the issue.

"There hasn't been any health care discussion over here," Grassley said.

Vice President Mike Pence tipped to that notion on Sunday, when he said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he hoped a final version from Congress would get to the president to sign "before the end of the year."

Grassley also said the Senate GOP's goal should be to attract some Democratic support, even though Republicans are trying to use expedited measures that would allow the bill to pass with only 51 votes.

"As I said with Obamacare, anything that affects so many people and such a big part of the economy should have a solution that can attract bipartisanship," he said. "Obamacare didn't achieve that."

Democrats will negotiate only "if this is about improvements, repairs, reforms, advances" to Obamacare, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, the party's vice presidential candidate in 2016, told CNN on Friday. "If it's just about politics," he added, "no, we're not going to participate in slashing health care for millions just to give tax cuts to the richest."

Alexander, whose Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will have a major role in drafting the Senate version, is beginning to lay out his objectives for the eventual measure.

"Our goals are to rescue the people who won't be able to buy insurance in 2018, to lower premiums, to gradually move Medicaid to the states without pulling the rug out from people, and make sure that people that have pre-existing conditions are covered," Alexander added. "We're going to go to work on it."

Blunt said Republicans will look to see what they can take from the House version, H.R. 1628, as they write their own measure, but before holding a vote they'll need to see estimates from the Congressional Budget Office for its cost and how it would affect insurance coverage.

Portman said a growing working group including himself, conservative Texas Senator Ted Cruz, leadership and committee chairmen has been meeting about once a week to try to find a path to 51 votes.

"It's an attempt to write our own bill," he said. "We all have ideas and so do a lot of our colleagues so let's get them all together."

Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, who has been very critical of the House bill, said Thursday she hopes the Senate starts with "a clean slate."

Her focus is on cutting premiums and protecting the Medicaid expansion in her state far more than enacting all of the tax cuts in the House bill.

"In Alaska people are a lot more concerned with cost and access" than the tax cuts, she said.

To get some kind of bill through his chamber, McConnell will need to unite moderate and conservative wings of the party that want to pull the measure in entirely different directions. The GOP controls the chamber 52-48, meaning he can lose no more than two Republicans and still pass it, given the united Democratic opposition.

A number of moderates were unhappy with a Congressional Budget Office estimate showing an earlier version of the House measure would have resulted in 24 million more people without insurance within a decade.

That wing is led by Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor who worked for decades in a charity hospital, and Susan Collins of Maine. Together they crafted a more moderate plan that kept the Affordable Care Act's taxes in place instead of repealing them.

Other senators who have expressed concerns about the House bill include Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Cory Gardner of Colorado, who both hail from states that have benefited from Obamacare's Medicaid expansion. The House measure included an $800 billion-plus cut to Medicaid.

That cut also led Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Portman and Murkowski to object to the House bill. It's unclear whether they would be satisfied by reallocating some of the spending, shrinking the tax cuts, or some combination. Senators have been meeting in small groups and discussing possible amendments.

On the party's right flank, Cruz and Rand Paul of Kentucky will try to pull any measure closer to a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act while adding conservative planks. It's not clear how they can do so and still get enough votes to pass the final product.

Cruz said Wednesday he is talking with senators and the administration about ways to improve the bill and bring down premiums. One provision he hopes to add is an amendment allowing insurers to sell coverage across state lines to boost competition. That's something Trump promised during the campaign, but it could run into procedural objections and political resistance.

Paul, meanwhile, may be the toughest vote to get on the right. The libertarian-minded senator has criticized the House bill for continuing some tax credit payments to insurance companies.
An American service member was killed during operations in Somalia, U.S. military officials announced Friday morning.

U.S. Africa command said the service member died during May 4 operations against al-Shabaab near Barii, Somalia, approximately 40 miles west of Mogadishu. Two other U.S. personnel were reportedly wounded.

American troops are in Somalia to assist local military in their fight against Al-Shabaab, an affiliate of al-Qaeda.

"U.S. forces are assisting partner forces to counter al-Shabaab in Somalia to degrade the al-Qaeda affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America," the U.S. Africa Command says in a statement.

The identity of the service member has not been released.

CNN is reporting the service member was part of a Special Operations Team that came under a small arms attack.

The incident is the

Two U.S. troops were killed April 27 in the northeastern Nangarhar province where the U.S. deployed the massive ordnance dubbed "the mother of all bombs" earlier in the month. Another soldier, a U.S. paratrooper, was killed while on patrol outside Mosul, Iraq on April 29.
A 24-year-old Northport man was killed early Friday morning in a rollover crash.

Christopher Brady Watts, 24, was partially ejected when the 1998 Jeep Cherokee he was driving left the roadway and overturned, according to Alabama state troopers.

Watts, who wasn't wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash occurred at around 1:15 a.m. on Alabama 171, about seven miles northwest of Northport.

Troopers continue to investigate.
Kay Ivey Sworn In as Alabama Governor

Gov. Kay Ivey makes her first speech as Alabama governor after the resignation of former Gov. Robert Bentley Monday, April 10, 2017, at the Capitol in Montgomery, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

(Julie Bennett)

Jessica Morgan

By Jessica Morgan, a student at the University of Alabama majoring in gender and race studies, the secretary of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and an advocate for URGE, Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity

After years of ethics scandals - including last year's political scandal involving former House Speaker Mike Hubbard - Alabamians are ready to move forward with a government that works for them. However, I have reservations about Governor Ivey due to her politics surrounding reproductive rights, including abortion. The last thing that we need right now is a government that is going to pursue a divisive agenda that will waste our state's time and money.

Alabama has already passed a house bill to add a constitutional amendment that states that life begins at conception. Potentially, this amendment would outlaw abortion, in addition to some forms of birth control and fertility treatments.

This new bill is blatantly unconstitutional as it directly conflicts with Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that gives women the right to abortion. The impending addition of this amendment to Alabama's constitution would certainly be bound for years of court battles, wasting taxpayer money in the process. As an Alabamian, I do not wish for our state to repeat the same failed policies with new Governor Ivey, nor do I wish for the implementation of policies that negatively impact the citizens of Alabama.

Currently, Alabama has some of the harshest anti-abortion rhetoric written into the state's constitution in the United States. Unfortunately, these policies align to Ivey's opinion of abortion. In 2013, Governor Ivey supported an Arizona law banning abortion after 20 weeks. Fortunately, the 9th Circuit denied the law's constitutionality.

In response to the court's denial to make this law valid, Governor Ivey stated that the law was "common sense." However, for several marginalized groups of women, these laws don't make sense; they just keep them from accessing the reproductive care they need. With abortion already so difficult to access in our state, we don't need more barriers for Alabamians to access the resources that they need.

Instead of focusing directly on abortion policies in Alabama, Governor Ivey should use Alabamians' time and tax money more constructively by implementing sex education programs. Presently, Alabama law does not mandate sex education, but if schools choose to offer sex education, they must teach, "Homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public." This harmful, discriminatory language should be repealed. All students deserve respect in schools, but the legal mandate currently in place prohibits discussion of LGBTQ relationships in a positive way and requires that teachers stigmatize and shame their students.

Many of Alabama's sex programs emphasize abstinence only for school-aged children. Countless studies have shown that sex education that focuses on abstinence rather than giving young people the proper tools to make healthy sexual choices are not effective. Through funds allocated to properly train faculty and staff on effective sex education - including for LGBTQ students - young Alabamians will be empowered to take responsibility for their health.

I have great hopes for the state of Alabama. However, if Governor Ivey chooses to enact the same divisive policies that don't benefit our state, Alabama will unfortunately be in the spotlight again for all the wrong reasons. We need a Governor that will bring us together rather than waste state funds trying to defend something as blatantly unconstitutional as banning all abortions. Partisan stunts are not going to move Alabama forward from the mess Governor Bentley left behind.
Ostrich Alabama Bible.jpg

A promotional image of the new Alabama politician edition of the Bible, complete with commentary from Congressman Mo Brooks.

(Matt Mitchell)

Matt Mitchell is the creator of The Ostrich, Walker County's least trusted news source, and was the 3rd round draft pick of the Denver Nuggets. Roughly half of what he writes is untrue.

Citing changes in the way many elected officials in Alabama interpret the scriptures, Christian publisher Thomas Nelson announced the release of the highly anticipated Holy Bible: Alabama Politician Edition yesterday.

The newest translation of the Bible, which is available in both crimson and burnt orange, has only "minimal alterations" to the original text according to Lee Ballard, a spokesman for Thomas Nelson. But the one section where these changes will be most evident is the New Testament, especially in the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

"The Alabama politician edition of the New Testament actually begins in the third chapter of Matthew," explained Ballard. "There was just no way to translate the story of three Middle Eastern refugees successfully seeking asylum in another country, even if one of them was Jesus."

After that glaring omission, Ballard insists the modifications are limited to phrasing.

"The terms 'blind, leper, and paralytic,' will now be referred to as 'preexisting conditions,'" added Ballard. "The scripture still states that Jesus heals them of their ailments, but a special annotation provided by Congressman Mo Brooks, R-Hunstville, explains that people who lead good lives wouldn't need healing in the first place."

The bonus commentary from actual Alabama politicians like Mo Brooks is just another reason why this special version of the Bible is a must-have for all Alabamians. Following the Gospel of Mark's account of Jesus feeding the multitude, readers will be treated to a note from Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, who explains how mandatory drug testing would have helped curb widespread abuse of the disciple's free loaves and fish program:

"All of these people followed Jesus to this remote place and only one little boy managed to pack a lunch. Before you know it, this boy becomes the next redistribution of wealth victim as his food is passed around to feed 5,000 other people. Some of these able-bodied Galileans were clearly taking advantage of the system, and drug testing could have put a stop to it."

Another notable change includes the very first miracle of Jesus, R-Nazareth, where he turned water into wine but limited the sale of that wine to certain jurisdictions, except on Sunday, where the sale was further restricted to only nine counties and the Greenetrack Greyhound Racetrack.

In addition to all of these exciting changes, Thomas Nelson will offer three versions of the Holy Bible: Alabama Politician Edition, including standard print, large print, and Rick Burgess print, where passages instructing believers to "teach disciples to obey the commandments" is written in bold font, and scripture warning Christians "not to judge others" will be written in Wingdings font.

The Holy Bible: Alabama Politician Edition is available now wherever books are sold, or you can wait until this summer for the book signing tour with Roy Moore, which will be held at select Walmart locations across the state.

[This is a work of satire. All content is the creation of Matt Mitchell, the Ostrich.]
Despite two years of war, Yemeni couples are continuing to defy numerous challenges to get married.

Sanaa  As guests arrived at the strikingly decorated wedding hall, the atmosphere was euphoric.

It was a happy day for 26-year-old Amer Almontasir as he embarked on a long-awaited new chapter in his life. In spite of the war that has ravaged Yemen and his hometown of Ibb, Almontasir was marrying his college sweetheart.

I feel love is stronger than war, and I should not surrender to the consequences of war and destruction, he told Al Jazeera. I cannot change the situation. I can adapt to it.

READ MORE: Key facts about the war in Yemen

Yemen has been engulfed in a civil war since March 2015, when fighting erupted between Houthi rebels loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and an Arab coalition fighting for President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

According to the United Nations, more than 10,000 people have died in the two years of conflict. But although the ongoing tragedy has shattered the dreams of many Yemeni youths, for others, love has triumphed.

Newlywed Ahmed Mokaiber, 25, graduated from Sanaa University with a communications degree in late 2014, hoping to marry a few months later. But then the war broke out, delaying his dream.

I was longing to begin my married life. Unfortunately, war came to delay the sweet days, Mokaiber told Al Jazeera.

Earlier this year, however, he finally celebrated his marriage after overcoming a number of difficulties  including the fact that his wedding was scheduled in Taiz, one of Yemens hardest-hit cities. He managed to save up $3,000 to pay for the ceremony, working for a private company despite the ongoing fighting.

My wedding was a beautiful day. It rid me of loneliness and stress. I am happy now, and our life is full of love, respect and understanding, he said. My happiness will grow when the war comes to an end.

He worries, however, about the toll the war could still take on his wifes future goals: Like me, she has a plan to pursue higher studies, a Masters degree and PhD. I do not know if we can do this because the war is a dream killer.

WATCH: Is peace in Yemen possible? (24:59)

Although he rejoiced in his own wedding ceremony, Almontasir felt that the special day was incomplete.

Not all my friends and relatives were with me on my wedding day. Some died because of the war and others were abroad and were unable to come back. Thats why I had mixed feelings, he said. Recently, married couples like me are worried about the future. They do not know what lies in store for them.

Samar Qaed, a Sanaa-based journalist who covers social issues, noted that some engaged couples had postponed their marriages while awaiting an end to the war. He also observed that the number of guests invited to wedding halls these days is smaller than in the past: Some families dont bother to book a hall for wedding ceremonies. They just celebrate in their homes. They struggle with financial restrictions, and they are also worried because halls can be shelled.

Last October, air strikes hit a funeral hall in Sanaa, killing more than 140 people and wounding more than 500.

Qaed also cited other differences between todays wedding traditions and those prior to the war.

Before the war, the couple used to spend a lot of money on wedding halls and furnishing their apartments, he said. This is no longer done; war has made them less able to spend.

As in other countries, weddings in Yemen can be quite costly, with the grooms family expected to pay a bride price and all other ceremonial expenses. Almontasir said that he spent more than $5,000 on his wedding.

It is fascinating that marriage rituals continue despite the deteriorating economic situation of families in the country. People are keen to smile in the face of poverty and war, Yemeni sociologist Hanan Ali told Al Jazeera. The bride price is a big burden. Some families struggle to pay even part of it. War has cost the people a lot, yet it has not stolen the spirit of joy from all of them.
Paris, France  Women of Muslim background are the most talked-about minority in France.

From conversations about the discrimination towards those who wear the hijab, niqab and burkini, to the sensitive discussions over French females who join hardline groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)  an issue raised by centrist presidential candidate and frontrunner Emmanuel Macron in a televised debate on Wednesday with his far-right rival Marine Le Pen  they are rarely far from the headlines.

They are often grouped together as a homogenous entity, and the focus tends to be on younger women.

Have they always experienced discrimination? And what does the older generation think of todays situation?

Al Jazeera spoke to two women  Djima Bouraima, 77, a retired chartered accountant, and Salika Amara, 67, an author, activist and feminist  about the country they call home, the complexities of immigration, racism, and the forthcoming election.

This is Djima Bouraimas story. (Salika Amaras story can be read here.)

Djima Bouraimas story:

I arrived in France from Benin in 1963 to attend business school. Forty years later, we had a reunion. I didnt recognise anyone, but all of them recognised me. I had been the only black student.

The reunion was during the 2007 presidential election. One of my former classmates had become a senator, and was supporting Francois Bayrou, a centrist candidate. He said: You have to pray for him. If he wins, he will nominate you as a minister.

When you come to France, youre happy to come here. I was a little star.

When my son was born, if every single person who touched his face, his hair, had given me one franc, I would be a rich person. A black baby. White people were amazed to see a black baby for the first time. by

When my son was born, if every single person who touched his face, his hair, had given me one franc, I would be a rich person. A black baby. White people were amazed to see a black baby for the first time.

I was very well-integrated. I was well-received by everyone. Back then, I was not praying.

There were two Moroccans at the business school. It was winter, Ramadan, and very cold when I arrived. I was fasting by myself, which was hard. I ate alone at night, and was hiding in the schools corners to pray. When the Moroccans saw me praying, they said I was crazy. Dont pray here, they said. In our country we pray because we were poor.

I was 23 and a bit naive. I believed them. I went along with what they were suggesting.

I had been living with a French family. The Moroccans said if I carried on, I was going to die from the hardship. It was something of a relief when they said that. It removed my troubles. I forgot Islam from that point on.

I was drinking, smoking. It was like another life. The only thing I didnt do was eat pork.

I became a chartered accountant. I was doing very well, had no issues. The government back home wanted to appoint me as a minister in Benin. I attended gatherings with former presidents and prime ministers  Giscard dEstaing and Raymond Barre.

And then a few years later, when I was 42, I started practising Islam. I had had an operation, and started reflecting on my mortality. I had some kind of epiphany and thought about God. Whenever I was screaming in pain, the medical staff came to give me injections, but I thought that the one who is going to save me is God. I made a promise that whenever I left hospital, I would never not pray five times a day.

I was sent to a recovery ward to a room with another woman. I started praying in that room, and the woman told the nurses I was crazy. The nurses said: Its OK, shes a Muslim.

It wasnt until 2003 that I started wearing the hijab. Thats when there was a controversy in France about the veil. I started hearing about it, how women were being targeted, and started wearing it. It raised my interest in finding out more and made me realise I had to wear it, for God. I believed women had to cover.

I was lucky to have passed my exams before practising because I didnt have to go through the struggles of wearing a hijab while needing to get a degree and professional experience.

At work, there was a lot of small discriminations. This was an important one.

The boss gave me an office on the basement floor. All of the other employees were on another floor. Once, a client visited so I went upstairs to the main floor to explain some issues. The boss shouted at me and said: Youre not allowed to come to the main floor. You have no right to speak directly to the clients. You have to go to the basement. He didnt even have a degree. He wanted my expertise, but he didnt want me to be visible.

Thats by 

. The whole experience made me feel as though I needed to be independent. I left the next day.]

Thats when I realised why I had been put in the basement. I was discriminated [against]. The whole experience made me feel as though I needed to be independent. I left the next day.

I was lucky to have my degree. It enabled me to open my own business.

Im very active in the community. We have sister groups in my house. Someone died yesterday and I organised some prayers. Ive been to Mecca seven times for pilgrimages, and I have financed the trips for seven people including my mother, grandfather and uncle. I built a mosque in my hometown in Benin, and bought a field which I gave to the Muslim community living there. They will build a school there which will have my name. And I have another field which I will donate so a cemetery can be built. Im also going to provide water and electricity, where there is none.

The last time the far-right was in the second round in 2002, I was like all French people  shocked.

This time around, I received two leaflets in the post  one of Macron and one of Marine [Le Pen]. I thought, Why do I have to look at this woman?

With Macron, I make sujud [prostration prayer position]. I am praying for Macron. I fear that Le Pen will win, but at the same time I dont believe that French people are ready to be governed by a woman.

I was in the market, and an Arab told me I have to vote or else I will lose out. Its obvious that the main feeling is the rejection of Le Pen.

Ive been in France since [Charles] De Gaulle.

[Francois] Mitterand started like Le Pen, with 2 to 5 percent of the vote, which increased progressively.

In the 1960s, De Gaulle used to laugh at Mitterand. He wasnt doing well. When Mitterand became president, I remembered the days when he was being mocked by De Gaulle.

I fear that Le Pen will win, but at the same time I don't believe that French people are ready to be governed by a woman. by

Thats how I see it with the Le Pens as well. They are rising to power. Le Pen started from nothing, and since the beginning, when [Marine Le Pens father and founder of the Front National Jean-Marie Le Pen] was not doing much, I was always comparing him to how Mitterand got into power. I saw it coming.

The Le Pens are against us, as dual nationals, and we are all scared.

As for the situation in France now, there are social problems. To live you need a minimum  a house, work, money to dress. The state should provide the basic minimum.

And the situation for Muslim women is even harder. Some who wear the veil have to take off their hijabs before going to school [where it is banned]. They cant pray at the office. Its a dramatic situation.

In some ways, I consider it safer now that there is a ban on the niqab. As women dont have to wear it, and they are not targeted.

In Islam they say you have to respect the law of the country. If you cant, you have to leave the country. But everything depends on your own life situation.

A dirty n****r and a dirty white is not the same. One is much more powerful than the other. All of the differences are there. by

In 1963, it was better. There was not all this hatred from French people. French people were more welcoming. They were more helpful. There was more solidarity towards minorities.

Now, we have to beg them to help us. They blame us when things go wrong.

The solution is integration. Thats the only way to get protection. If people know you, they are more likely to stand up for your rights. Mixing cultures keeps the peace.

There should also be solidarity among Muslims  they should support each other. People should not become fundamentalists. I know of a woman who was being denied work for wearing the hijab, so someone found her a job.

The situation is now difficult. You have to be strategic. White French people can reject us, but we cant afford to reject them. You have to be clever.

A dirty n****r and a dirty white is not the same. One is much more powerful than the other. All of the differences are there.

Additional reporting by Naima Bouteldja.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Some of the survivors of the Khan Sheikhoun attack share with Al Jazeera their stories of sorrow and helplessness.

On April 4, a suspected chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province left 91 people dead and at least 557 wounded.

Among the dead were at least 29 internally displaced Syrians, according to the Syrian civil defence group the White Helmets.

Some of the victims were as young as nine months old.

Can you imagine waking up early in the morning and seeing your children, convulsing, foaming and unable to breathe, said Zaher Sahloul, a Syrian-American doctor, in an interview over the phone.

It [the gas] affects your breathing muscles. You are completely alert but unable to breathe in or out. Thats why this is the worst type of death, explains Sahloul, who still remembers pictures of the first chemical attack on his home city of Homs in 2012.

The Khan Sheikhoun attack was yet another bloody chapter of the conflict in which Syrian civilians have been targeted with barrel bombs, phosphorous bombs, cluster munitions, bunker busters, chlorine, mustard gas and nerve agents, all intended for maximum casualties.

The Syrian American Medical Society, based in Washington DC, where Sahloul works, has documented at least 175 cases of chemical attacks since the beginning of the war in 2011.

Any monster who justifies that and any monster who defends the person who uses it [poisonous gas] doesnt deserve to be called a leader in this world, Sahloul says.

Last Monday, a Human Rights Watch report blamed the Assad regime of using nerve agents on at least four occasions since December 2016, the deadliest attack being in Khan Sheikhoun. Syrian opposition groups and activists also blamed the sarin gas attack on the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Although the Syrian military has rejected the accusations, Western governments hold the Assad government responsible for the deadly attack.

Survivors of the attack say many of them knew that the death of their loved ones in the course of the war that ravaged their country was a real possibility but no one thought it would come this way.

Al Jazeera spoke to some of the survivors who shared their stories of sorrow and helplessness.

Displaced and bombed

Jamal Al Qasem, 57

We arrived in Khan Sheikhoun three years ago from Mourik in Hama province. There was nothing left in my town, where most houses were destroyed by incessant bombings, and almost everyone had left. The regime was constantly bombing us and the frontline in Hama was slowly getting closer. One day, I decided, we had to leave. We carried nothing with us except a dim hope for our safety.

Since we arrived in Khan Sheikhoun, we have been at the mercy of strangers, living on charity. Last year, during Ramadan, someone told me that its safe to go back because the rebels had captured the city. When we returned, we found our home destroyed due to the fighting. But I was happy to be there. I tried to clear the dust and debris of one room where the bricks were still tethered together to live with my family.

It was my house, after all, in my city where I was born, close to our familys pistachio farms where I spent my happiest days working and playing with my children. It didnt matter that the regime had destroyed everything in the city, including the drinking taps. We were at home.

Our relief, however, was short-lived. We could only spend 20 days there till the regime started bombing us again, and we were displaced one more time.

We returned to Khan Sheikhoun, where strangers opened their doors to us yet again, but our neighbourhood was under constant attack. We kept moving from one neighbourhood to the other for safety.

Last month, I decided to go to a refugee camp close to the Turkish border, but it didnt have enough tents. So I left my son, his family and my daughter back in Khan Sheikhoun till I could find somewhere safe for them to stay. But no place is safe in Syria.

It was 8:30 in the morning on April 4. My neighbour called to say there was an attack right outside where my family lived. He told me this attack was different from others. I jumped into my car and drove for 120km back to Khan Sheikhoun.

There was chaos in the hospitals. Heaps of clothes were piled on the floors. Everyone was naked, lying on the floor. Their bodies were wet from the sprinkling of water in the wake of the gas attack. The dead were stacked in the hallway along with the injured, who looked like they were dead, with pale skin and red eyes. As I raced from one hospital to the other; the hope to see my children alive was slowly fading.

When I first saw their bodies, I thought someone had poisoned them. Thick foam was coming out of their nostrils and mouths. I lost my daughter, my son, his wife, and my sister.

My daughter, Fatima, was only 15.

I worked for the government for 27 years till I retired in 2005. I support the Syrian revolution because I was tired of the police state. I have never carried a gun in my life.

I have heard what they have been saying about these attacks. We are used to the lies of the regime and Russia by now. I think they lie to help themselves sleep at night.

The yellow mist

Kusai Al Yousef, 34

It was early in the morning. I was asleep with my wife and three children when suddenly I heard the sound of jet followed by a loud bang which woke me up. I thought it was just another air strike. I quickly asked my family to run towards the basement and rushed out to help others.

When I reached the neighbourhood, I was surrounded by a yellow mist. My nose started to bleed. I keep vomiting, even now, and have trouble breathing.

We are used to the bombings but no one expected this. There was panic everywhere, no one knew what to do. Everyone was gasping for breath.

I saw a small child foaming from his mouth. I scooped him up and put him in the trunk of my car along with three others who also needed help, and rushed to the hospital in another city. After dropping them there, I went back to see if my family was OK.

When I returned after four hours, they were all taken to a hospital in Reyhanli, Turkey. I received a text on WhatsApp that my brother had died. I lost nine members of my family that day.

Then I heard that the hospital I was at had also been bombed. It was a blur. Everything was happening at once.

My life has changed. I cant sleep. I havent slept for days, not even for a minute. When I am not crying over my brother, I am worried about my mother, my kids and my family who are being treated in Turkey. This is the worst a man can endure, knowing that you cant do anything to help your family, that you cant protect them.

Before the revolution, I used to work as a government employee, and I continued till I got fired after the rebels liberated our area in Idlib. My brother and I set up a small shop and thats how we could feed our families. I am a regular man. I dont care about politics. I didnt care about the revolution.

Malhum was my only brother. He was my best friend for 35 years and my business partner. Im left with nothing of him but his four children whove been orphaned by this war.

Birds in heaven

Abir Al Saleh: 32

Four years ago, my husband promised to bring us to Turkey after finding a job and a house. The last time I heard from him he was leaving me to marry another woman there.

I have four children: 12-year-old Hadeel; Batul, 10; Ruba, seven; and the youngest child, Mohamed, who is four.

I have been working as a labourer in a local farm to feed my children. Usually I start at 5:30 in the morning and work two shifts a day, barely making enough to feed my children. Ruba suffered from thalassemia. I scraped and saved every penny to pay for her blood transfusions. It was hard.

I was working in the fields that morning. Someone told me there had been an attack. I rushed back home as soon as I heard it but I couldnt find any of my children. I was desperate and thought I would lose my mind. I started running on the streets like a mad woman, fearing the worst, asking anyone I could find if they had seen my kids. An old man told me that theyd been taken to a hospital but he didnt know the name.

Hours later, just before sunset, while we were running from one hospital to the other, someone told me my children were dead.

I felt my heart breaking into pieces inside me. I knew they were gone but a tiny voice in my head kept saying: What if they are still alive? I felt like the world was spinning around me. I wanted to throw up. I fell unconscious.

For the past six years since the war began, I have never felt safe. I always knew I could lose someone close to me at any time, at any moment. The fear is constant. Its what we wake up to and feel in our hearts each time we go to bed. We have nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. This is our reality. I made peace with the idea of death during this war but never in my wildest imagination did I think I would lose my four children all at once. I have lost my will to live.

I keep thinking of Ruba, my poor Ruba, who was suffering so much all her life. She found peace at last. Her death brought an end to her suffering. I guess thats my only relief  that my children have now become birds in heaven.

A ghost town

Muhamed Al Mansour, 36

The pain I feel in my heart is more than the pain that hurts my lungs each time I breathe. I havent slept properly for even a day since the attack happened. Every time I close my eyes, I feel like I am choking.

Even now as I speak, I can hear two Russian jets flying overhead. They usually come in pairs  the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun have just been bombed right now.

I used to drive trucks before the war. Three years ago, I left Allatamna in Hama province with my entire family. The constant fighting there was unbearable. I moved to Khan Sheikhoun and started working as a volunteer for the civil defence group.

On the morning of the attack, the bomb fell right in front of my brothers house. Omar was my only brother. I heard the bomb falling on his neighbourhood and rushed there to help.

When I got there I felt sick. My nose started bleeding. My eyes burned and my head was throbbing with pain. I looked around and saw people foaming from their mouths.

My brother had died instantly because he was very close to where the bomb fell.

Khan Sheikhoun is under constant bombardment. Its close to the Hama frontline. Theres been intense fighting for the past month in Hama. I didnt know it was a chemical attack till I got there. The people who were trying to help the injured were collapsing on the ground.

As a White Helmets volunteer I have seen hundreds of people dying. I have helped people with their limbs blown off. I have dug mangled bodies out of debris but this was the first time when I felt completely helpless. I didnt know what to do. There were dozens of people on the ground but I didnt know how to save them. I took their clothes off to let them breathe.

Khan Sheikhoun, which according to activists sheltered nearly 100,000 people, now looks like a ghost town. People are terrified. The internally displaced people are scared of coming here. Life seems to be standing still. People have disappeared from street corners. The residents who lived in the neighbourhood that was attacked have moved to a different one.

I have lost my only brother but I will keep walking the same path in helping people. What else can I do?

I was released from the hospital a couple of hours ago and as soon as Im back on my feet Ill go back to doing my job as a volunteer for the White Helmets. I will go to every neighbourhood thats been bombed. After my brothers death its all the more reason for me to help the victims.

Nightmares

Qutaiba Al Zuhouri, 32

I keep dreaming about the small boy that I saw. He was gasping for breath. He tried slowly to stagger towards me, asking for my help. But before I could do anything, he fell on the ground. He was dead. Thick foam was slowly trickling out of his mouth. Its one of the many nightmares that keeps waking me up.

I work in Zaitounah charity organisation, based in Hama. We help children who have been orphaned in this war and provide aid to hospitals and internally displaced people. I was in Khan Sheikhoun with other volunteers to help people who were forced to leave their homes in Hama.

There are many newly displaced people, mostly women and children, who are fleeing the frontline in Reef Hama after coming under constant regime bombardment. Khan Sheikhoun is the nearest town in rebel-held areas.

I was in that neighbourhood when the attack happened. We were getting ready to get inside our cars to receive the internally displaced people who were supposed to arrive that morning. I heard a loud bang. Suddenly I couldnt see anything except a yellow mist. We were not prepared for what was to come. I still have trouble with my vision. I feel nauseous all the time. I cant sleep.

I keep waking up because I cant breathe. The nightmares are relentless. I keep dreaming about the dead children that Ive seen and couldnt help. Seeing a child dying in front of you and not being able to help them is perhaps the worst thing that can happen to you.

In that attack, I lost one of my colleagues, Amer Nayaf, who was a civil rights lawyer. Five years ago we started the organisation together to help the victims of the war.

I am slowly recovering now in Reyhanli, Turkey. As soon as Im back on my feet, I am going back to Syria. After this attack, I believe in our purpose even more. As long as Assad is the president, we will keep fighting our cause, even if the whole word stands against us. We will keep moving forward.

The following names were provided by the White Helmets:

Molham Jehad Al-Yousef

Yaser Ahmad Al-Yousef

Ammar Yaser Al-Yousef

Mohamed Yaser Al-Yousef

Sanaa Haj Ali

Abdel-Kareem Ahmad Al-Yousef

Ahmad Abdel-Hameed Al-Yousef

Ayah Abdel-Hameed Al-Yousef

Dalal Ahmad Al-Sah

Ibrahim Mohamed Hasan Al-Yousef

Mohamed Hasan Al-Yousef

Hend Tourki Al-Yousef

Khaled Halawa

Mohamad Awad

Nouhad Ahmad Al-Yousef

Malak Turki Al-Yousef

Nour Nouhad Al-Yousef

Hasan Mohamad Al-Yousef

Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Yousef

Emad Eddine Mohamad Al-Kadah and his three children

Tourki Al-Kadah and his two children

Nour Al-Azrak

Hind Tourki Al-Kadah

Rajaa Mohamad Al-Mohamad

Anas Al-Khaled

Anas Al-Khaled

Fatima Al-Sousi

Alaa Anas Al-Khaled

Shahd Anas Al-Khaled

Abdel-Rahman Anas Al-Khaled

Khadija Anas Al-Khaled

Shourouk Halawa

Ahmad Khaled Halawa

Shaimaa Ibrahim Al-Jowhar

Ahmad Shohoud Al-Reem Abu Mhanna

Najeeb Al-Johar

Safiyya Al-Haj Yousef

Mayar Al-Marhee

Mohamad Mohee Al-Deen Najm Al-Sayed

Seham Mohee Al-Deen Al-Sayed

Olaa Mohannad Makhzoum

Rahaf Sohail Al-Yousef

Ahmad Ezzo Najm Al-Sayed

Abdel-Ghafour Meratee

Abdallah Ghassan Al-Shehna

Riyadh Khaled Al-Kerawan

Maram Hasan Halawa

Faisal Abdel-Razek Al-Raslan

Badran Abdel-Rahman Al-Rahmoun

Ahmad Hosrum

Amer Al-Nayef

Alaa Al-Nayef

Mohamad Al-Nayef

Alaa Mohamad Al-Nayef, his wife and sister in law

Derar Al-Elewi Abu Emad

Ahmad Omar Al-Ramadan

Jamela Hafez Al-Qasem

Mohamad Jamal Al-Qasem Al-Hmoud

Fares Mohamad Saeed Al-Barhoum

Maher Mohamad Saeed Al-Barhoum

Soha Al-Qasem

Fatima Jamal Qasem Al-Hmoud

Hayan Abdallah Al-Debes

Sarah Al-Solaiman

Ahmad Hayyan Al-Debes

Mohamad Hayyan Al-Debes

Yamen Al-Shayeb

Sham Al-Shayeb

Joud Al-Shayeb

Mohamad Al-Shayeb

Sarah Mansour

Mostafa Al-Azkour

Samer

Mosa Al-Husein

Asmaa Al-Husein

Ruba Ahmad Al-Saleh

Hadeel Ahmad Al-Saleh

Batul Ahmad Al-Saleh

Mohamad Ahmad Al-Saleh

Khitam Abdel-Hameed Halawa

Hassan Youssef

Asma Hayek
Tamil Nadu, India  The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has been reeling under its worst drought in more than 100 years.

It has plunged the state into an agrarian crisis, with reports of distressed farmers committing suicide.

In the coastal town of Vedaranyam, facing the Bay of Bengal sea, however, some farmers have overcome the drought with simple but innovative practices.

Farmers in this important coastal agricultural region in Nagapattinam district have gone back to traditional crops and farming methods to fight the lack of irrigation water as well as soil salinity.

The salinity has increased as sea water has intruded over the years.

The Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, an NGO in the district, has been giving technical support to farmers for more than two decades, helping them to switch from chemical to organic farming.

It has supplied drought-resistant, traditional crops that consume less water and helped farmers to build ponds to store rain water.

This year, farmers using chemical fertilisers lost their crops completely.

Traditional crops, which once ruled this agricultural landscape, faded with the onset of the green revolution  the boost in crop production after the application of hybrid seeds and chemical fertilisers in the 1970s.

Today, farmers are going back to traditional crops such as coconuts, vegetables and pulses, with rising consumer demand for such produce in India .

The traditional crops have medicinal value, are well-suited to the local soil conditions and can survive drought.

In Vedaranyam, where cases of farmers committing suicide have been reported, traditional organic farming offers a ray of hope in the fight against crop failure.
In February, Pakistan sealed all border crossings with Afghanistan for over a month after a wave of attacks across Pakistan killed more than an 100 people.

Attacks were followed by frequent skirmishes between Pakistani Taliban fighters and Pakistans military along the 2600 km border.

The Pakistan and Afghanistan border have two main crossings which are main avenues of trade for both countries. There are several smaller crossings which are heavily patrolled or remain closed most of the time.
EFFs Malema is following in Zumas steps, but that might not necessarily get him to the presidency.

In recent years the relationship between South African President Jacob Zuma and Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has dominated South African politics.

With an almost 40-year age gap, their partnership has played a profound role in shaping the tone and bent of post-apartheid politics. Although they were initially close allies, in recent years Zuma has served as an effective punching bag for the young leader. Malema has made a meal out of Zumas shortcomings and his mistakes. He has used each fresh scandal related to the presidents alleged misuse of state funds, or his relationship with wealthy benefactors such as the Gupta family, or his relationships with women, to demonstrate to the electorate that Zuma is unworthy of their votes.

Startling similarities

Yet despite their differences, the men are startlingly similar. Indeed, it was Malemas ability to mobilise, cajole and cause strategic political chaos that helped to bring Zuma to power. Malema was the snarling pitbull whose presence allowed Zuma to play the even-keeled and charming elder statesman.

Over time, Malemas adversarial approach to politics (and Zumas implicit support for the conduct) became emblematic of a new riotous culture in the ruling party  one in which booing, populism and loyalty to personalities rather than policy positions became the norm. Malema may have been expelled from the ruling party, but his tactics of disruption and conflict have continued to mar elective conferences and major events.

While less overtly confrontational than Malema, Zuma has also stamped his imprimatur on the political landscape. Like Malema, Zuma has encouraged factionalism, maintaining a firm grip on those who are loyal to him, quashing dissent through political favours. Zuma has also been able to change tack quickly and with agility when required.

Both Zuma and Malema can turn on the charm. Throughout most of his first term of office, Zuma was often referred to as the peoples president. Similarly, Malema is able to draw large crowds and inspire his followers with his common-sense appeals. More worryingly, both men have been embroiled in legal cases that have required them to fend off allegations of corruption and abuse of state connections and resources.





Importance of demographics

Despite these similarities, there are two key differences between the two men. It is these differences that will determine Malemas political future in a post-Zuma South Africa. The first lies in the demographics they attract. The second relates to their commitment to constitutionalism.

In terms of demographics, as a rural African man with a poor education and humble beginnings, Jacob Zuma has risen to the highest office in the land in what is seen by many in his base as a clear sign that the politics of the apartheid era are over. Similarly, Malema also comes from humble beginnings  his roots are in the township of Seshego in the province of Limpopo. However, the young leader offers an equally powerful and perhaps more resonant example of the post-apartheid dream. His rise from the streets of his township, to being one of the most powerful political figures in the country, is as meteoric as Zumas rise from cattle-herder to president.

It is not just Malema's age that works in his favour, it is that those who support him are young themselves; they represent the future. by

However, Zumas base  indeed the base of the African National Congress (ANC)  is dying. Appealing to the rural poor in a country that is rapidly urbanising holds little strategic value.

The EFF, on the other hand, is attractive to the exploding youth demographic: those under the age of 30, whose numbers are on the rise. In this sense, then, Malemas future is bright. His core constituency is young and urban.

This, above all else, marks the difference between Malema and Zuma. It is not just Malemas age that works in his favour, it is that those who support him are young themselves; they represent the future. Whereas those who are being considered for the top position in the ANC are in their mid-to-late 60s, Malema will still be under 40 in 2019 when Zuma steps down.

Defending the constitution

Still, at a more substantive level, what matters most is how similar the two men are when it comes to defending or trampling on the countrys iconic constitution. Zuma has already demonstrated his contempt for the rule of law and for the spirit of the constitution in the past five years and has been sanctioned by the constitutional court in a judgment that ordered him to pay back some of the costs of building his village palace in Nkandla.

Malema, on the other hand, began his career by undermining democratic processes within his party and has faced a number of corruption and fraud court cases.

OPINION: South Africa, EFF and political vulgarity

In recent times, however, as he has taken on Zuma, the young leader has spoken eloquently in defence of democracy, accountability and the constitution. Those who are skeptical of his about-turn say a leopard doesnt change its spots. They worry that after 2019, without Zuma in the top spot, Malema may move into a central position within the ruling party. Firmly ensconced there, he may forget his allegiance to democracy.

These anxieties are not unfounded. Yet they diminish the agency and sophistication of the South African voters. South Africa is a country whose citizens are torn between old loyalties to the liberation movement and a deep commitment to democracy on the basis of their apartheid past. How Malema chooses to negotiate these competing interests will determine his future, and in the process, the future of the country.





He must play his cards right because there is a real risk that, fed up with the sort of charismatic populism that Zuma and the ANC have represented in recent years, the electorate in 2019 may see Malema as too deeply embedded in the very culture of cronyism and populism that they wish to escape. If this is the case, voters may punish not just the ANC but also the combative, disrespectful and machismo style of leadership and politics that Zuma and Malema have represented. In so doing they may decide to reject Malema, opting instead for a fresh start with a candidate who is yet to emerge.

There is no question that even in such a scenario Malema has a long career ahead of him. In the end, the battle for the hearts and minds of South Africans will not come down to age or political party affiliation or a struggle between two men who have shadowed each other for years. All indications are that after nearly a decade of infighting and political decay, it is the politician most closely aligned with the values espoused in the constitution for which so many South Africans fought and died for, who will win the day. Malema would do well to keep his eye on this political reality.

Sisonke Msimang is a South African writer and political commentator who focusses on race, gender, popular culture and democracy. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Newsweek, and a range of other publications.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
National Liberation Front secures majority in national assembly, but loses quarter of seats in Thursdays vote.

The party of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and its coalition ally have won a clear majority in parliamentary elections, according to the interior ministry.

Bouteflikas National Liberation Front (FLN) won 164 of the national assemblys 462 seats in a poll overshadowed by low turnout, public disillusionment over a tepid economy and allegations of political corruption.





The FLN, which has dominated the North African nations politics since its 1962 independence from France, lost a quarter of the seats it won in 2012 polls, according to preliminary results from Thursdays vote announced by Interior Minister Nourredine Bedoui on Friday.

But the FLN preserved its majority thanks to its ally, the Rally for National Democracy (RND), which won 97 seats, up from 68 in the last election.

The Movement of Society for Peace came in third with 33 seats. The remaining seats have gone to other parties and independent groups.

It was the worst result ever for the opposition since Algeria first held multi-party elections in 1990.

The official results will be announced by the constitutional council after any appeals.

The ministry said turnout was 38 percent, down from just over 43 percent in the 2012 election.

READ MORE: Algerian media faces hostile environment

Thursdays vote was marked by voter disillusionment over what many see as broken government promises on the economy and a political system tainted by corruption.

Mohamed Kirat, an Algerian professor of mass communications at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera: The voters, especially the young ones, see that there is no change. They go to vote and still the same figures, the same political parties come again and again to power. The life standards of ordinary people remain the same.

Officials spent weeks before the poll trying to drum up enthusiasm among electors, launching a campaign dubbed Let your voice be heard.

But many voters were put off by a scandal involving candidates accused of paying to have their names added to party lists.

Voters have also been put off by perceived stagnation in the political system and speculation over the health of their 80-year-old president, who has rarely been seen in public since a 2013 stroke.

Bouteflika voted from a wheelchair at a polling booth in Algiers on Thursday in what was his first appearance before the international media since he was sworn in for a fourth term in April 2014.

Algeria weathered the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings with massive spending on wages and subsidies that depleted government coffers.

But a 2014 slump in crude oil prices forced the government to raise taxes and mothball many public projects.

Today, in a country of 40 million where half the population is under 30, one young person in three is unemployed.
Single-aisle plane can carry up to 168 passengers and is meant to rival Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

The first large Chinese-made passenger jet has taken off on its maiden flight, a key milestone for a country seeking a place in the global aviation market.

The C919 single-aisle jet, which can hold up to 168 passengers, soared over Pudong international airport in the commercial hub Shanghai as a crowd of thousands cheered.

China is one of the biggest aviation markets, but relies on foreign-made aircraft and has long sought to enter the lucrative global jet market, which is estimated to be worth $2 trillion over the next 20 years.

The maiden test flight had been pushed back at least twice since 2014 due to production issues. Fridays flight included a skeleton crew of five people and carried no passengers.

#C919 took off from Shanghai Pudong Intl Airport at 1400LT. pic.twitter.com/aIHjHqj0fY  ChinaAviationReview (@ChinaAvReview) May 5, 2017

Aviation analyst Tom Ballantyne told Al Jazeera that Fridays flight represented a huge moment for China.

It is important for the Chinese government to show that its industrial processes are on par with the West or are heading in that direction, he said.

C919 must prove itself

While the 39-metre long plane is made in China, foreign firms are playing key roles by supplying systems as well as engines.

The Chinese plane is touted to rival to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, but a spokesman for the aircrafts maker said it cannot compare.

You cant compare us to Boeing or Airbus, theyre in a different strategic stage  We took half a century to solve the first strategic issue [of plane development], it will also take many years to solve the second [market] problem, Jeff Cheng, a spokesman for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), told Reuters news agency prior to the maiden flight.

Ballantyne said it will be years before the C919 will be able to fully compete with Western-made planes.

This Chinese aircraft will have to prove itself in operation before any Western airline will even consider purchasing it, he said.

Ballantyne added that it is very unlikely that it will be able to compete in terms of technology and economics with the new-generation aircraft produced by of Boeing and Airbus.

Hundreds of orders

If Fridays maiden flight is successful, COMAC, the aircrafts maker, will seek certification from Chinas civil aviation authority and foreign regulators.

COMAC has already received 570 orders and commitments from 23 customers, mainly Chinese-owned carriers and leasing companies.

The safety certification of the new plane  which state media says will have a catalog price tag of around $50 million, less than half that of a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320  could be among the biggest issues for the C919 internationally.

READ MORE: Soaring demand for Chinas low-cost airlines

Questions remain regarding the safety approvals needed for the C919 to secure a foothold outside of China.

Chinese airlines are expected drive demand over the next two decades, buying nearly 7,000 planes  mostly from Boeing and Airbus.

China has dreamed of building its own civil aircraft since the 1970s when Jiang Qing, leader Mao Zedongs wife and a member of the notorious Gang of Four, personally backed an attempt to do so. But the Y-10s heavy weight made it impractical and only three were ever made.

Chinas first domestically-made regional jet, the twin-engine regional ARJ21, flew its passengers in June 2016, eight years after its first test flight.

The development of the C919 a key step on the path laid out by Chinese leaders to transform the country into a creator of profitable technology.
The results give the British Prime Minister Theresa May a boost before next months Brexit-dominated general election.

Theresa Mays Conservative Party made strong gains in local elections in the UK on Friday, giving the British prime minister a boost in advance of next months Brexit-dominated general election.

After results were declared for some 2,000 council seats across England, Scotland and Wales by early afternoon, the Conservatives had gained 230 seats, while its biggest rival, Labour, had lost about 110.

The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, were down by nearly 30, while the UK Independence Party (UKIP) had lost all of the 41 seats it held in the previous elections.

If the trend continues, it could put the Conservatives on course to win dozens of parliamentary seats from its Labour in a snap general election on June 8.

READ MORE: Theresa Mays snap election  Smart, risky or cynical?

Turnout was low; dipping below 30 percent in some of the polls, which were held for 88 of Britains 418 local councils.

The Conservatives were careful not to overplay their expected victory next month, which could reshape the British political landscape for years to come.

(They are) encouraging results. but I am cautious about predicating the general election on them, Defence Minister Michael Fallon told BBC radio.

Labour also played down its losses. Finance spokesman John McDonnell described the results as tough, but it hasnt been the wipe out that some people predicted, or the polls predicted, reported the Reuters news agency.





Al Jazeeras Barnaby Phillips, reporting from Westminster, said it was striking that the Conservatives had made gains in Scotland, pushing Labour  once the dominant political force in Scotland  into third place, behind the Scottish National Party and the Conservatives.

Phillips said Labour would try to take comfort from the low turnout, expected to be doubled in a general election.

People dont necessarily choose the same options in local council elections that they will when it comes to electing their member of parliament, said Phillips.

But he added that the opposition typically performs better in local elections: So none of that augurs well for the Labour Party.

Phillips said the scale of the eurosceptic UKIPs losses were also striking.

It seems that the Theresa May and the Conservative Party have consolidated their grip on the right wing of the British electorate, and they are very much the party that is trusted to deliver Brexit, said Phillips.

UK-EU tensions

May succeeded David Cameron as prime minister last year. Cameron resigned following his failed campaign to keep Britain in the European Union in a June referendum.

May has asked voters to back her leadership of the country and her plans for negotiations with EU leaders.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker took a swipe at Britain on Friday, saying he would not give a speech in English because the language was becoming less significant following Britains decision to leave the bloc.

Slowly but surely, English is losing importance in Europe, Juncker told a conference in Florence before switching into French and drawing applause from his audience of EU officials, local leaders and Italian students.

READ MORE: Brexit is still happening, just not the way May hoped

The conference on the state of the EU comes at a time of tensions between Brussels and London before formal negotiations over Britains withdrawal from the 28-nation bloc, or Brexit.

May earlier this week accused the EU of trying to influence the UKs general election.

The prime ministers comments followed leaked comments in the British and European press suggesting the EU thinks the UK is not being realistic about the conditions of its EU exit and the complexity of the negotiations ahead.

If there is an increasingly confrontational attitude between Westminster and Brussels, the [local election] results today suggest that Theresa May is the political winner domestically of that process, said Al Jazeeras Phillips.

One note of caution, said Phillips. There are four and a half weeks of campaigning still to go before the June 8 general election.
Afghan and Pakistani forces accuse each other in deadly cross-border battle during Balochistan population census.

At least 15 people have been killed and dozens others wounded after a cross-border battle between Pakistani and Afghan forces during a Pakistani population census near the border, officials from both countries said.

The attack on Friday left dozens of people wounded and happened near the Chaman crossing point in Balochistan province prompting security forces to ask people to evacuate villages on the border.

Nine Pakistanis and six Afghans were killed in the clashes, which lasted for several hours.

Chaman, one of the two main border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, was closed in the wake of the incident, with firing ongoing, Pakistani military spokesman Asif Ghafoor said in a statement.

Since April 30, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area, on Pakistani side of the border, the statement said.

READ MORE: Clashes hit Pakistan-Afghanistan border

Afghanistans foreign ministry said it had warned Pakistan against conducting the census in the villages in the border area, which remains disputed between the two countries.

This area of dispute the imaginary Durand line is not clear and according to the government of Afghanistan the villages (where the clashes happened) are located on the Afghan side of the border. Pakistan claims that these villages are on their side of the Durand line, Ahmad Shekib Mostaghni, spokesman for the Afghan foreign ministry, told Al Jazeera.

They were warned that they should not conduct the census in the disputed areas and they (Pakistan) have also promised us that they would not conduct the census there, Mostaghni said.

The violation was committed by Pakistan as the Pakistan armed forces entered the villages of Loqman and Haji Nazar which are located on the Afghan side of the Durand line and areas are elated to the Spin Boldak of Kandahar province. Their defence is the duty of the Afghan national defence forces, he added.

Pakistan census

Pakistan is currently conducting the second phase of its first door-to-door population census in 19 years, with more than 100,000 enumerators and 200,000 troops taking part in the exercise.

The lead-up to the census has been marked by political debate on how the results may show changing demographics  potentially redrawing electoral constituencies  across the country.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share a roughly 2,500km-long border, which runs through mountainous terrain and remains largely unpoliced.

Recent Pakistani attempts to establish fences and border posts along the border to curtail the movement of Taliban fighters into Pakistan have been met with resistance from Afghanistan, which disputes the border.

In February, Pakistan sealed all border crossings with Afghanistan for over a month after a wave of attacks across Pakistan killed more than 100 people.

Those attacks were followed by frequent skirmishes between Pakistani Taliban fighters and Pakistans military along the border in the Mohmand, Khyber and other districts.

On March 20, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the reopening of the border crossings.

Since the census was launched in March, government census teams have also come under attack from Taliban fighters.

On April 5, a census team was hit by an explosion in the eastern city of Lahore, killing at least six people.

Two government census workers were also killed when a blast hit a passing passenger van in the northwestern Kurram district on April 25.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban claimed responsibility for both attacks.

Additional reporting by Al Jazeera Web Correspondent Asad Hashim in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim.
Daily Telegraph depicted Mohamed as the proverbial three wise monkeys, claiming he didnt condemn 2015 Paris attacks.

Australias grand mufti has won a defamation case against The Daily Telegraph newspaper over claims that the scholar failed to condemn the 2015 Paris attacks that left more than 100 people dead.

The Sydney-based tabloid, which is owned by Rupert Murdochs Newscorp, published the articles about Dr. Ibrahim Abu Mohamed in November last year, depicting him in a front-page spread as the proverbial three wise monkeys, calling the scholar the unwise mufti.

The publication lead to widespread condemnation and outrage in Australias Muslim community.

The Grand Mufti is pleased to announce that the matter has now been resolved, and the Supreme Court of New South Wales has recorded a verdict in his favour, The Australian National Imams Council said in a statement on Friday.

It is hoped that the outcome of the proceedings is the first step towards improved harmony between Australian Muslims and the media in the future, the statement added.

Lesson for the media

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Sydney, Moustafa Kheir, the muftis lawyer, said the details of the settlement will not be made public.

We are pleased the matter has settled and that a verdict has been entered in favour of the mufti, Kheir said.

The Egypt-born cleric, Australias highest ranking Sunni Muslim, condemned the Paris attacks and sent his condolences to the families and friends of those killed before the tabloid published its controversial articles.

Mohamed argued in court that the articles suggested he had failed to condemn the deadly attacks.

In one of its front page articles, the paper used three photographs of the Muslim leader, based on the famous see no evil, hear no, speak no evil proverb. But the paper replaced the words with sees no problem, hears no concerns, speaks no English. The article was headlined: The unwise Mufti.

In a second publication, the tabloid run an article headlined: Even Hamas condemn the Paris attacks so why wont Australias Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohamed?
The United Nations atomic agency has expressed concern about the nuclear programme of North Korea, saying satellite imagery suggests that the country is moving ahead with its nuclear efforts.

In an interview published on Thursday, Yukiya Amano, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told German daily newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung that the agency has concrete information that the nuclear programme is going ahead just as North Korea is publicly stating.

The IAEA is basing its conclusions on satellite surveillance of the communist country, as its inspectors were evicted from North Korea in 2009.

READ MORE: Why is North Korea testing nuclear weapons?

Inspectors have since continued to collect and evaluate information from satellite imagery, open-source and trade-related information.

All available clues show that North Korea is making progress, and that worries us, Amano added, pointing out that the security risks would apply beyond the region.

On Thursday, US-based analysts also said that satellite images provided to them indicated that activity had resumed at North Koreas nuclear test site.

READ MORE: Interview with a North Korean defector

It is unclear if this activity indicates that a nuclear test has been cancelled, or that the facility is in stand-by mode, or that a test is imminent, researchers from the monitoring group at Johns Hopkins Universitys US-Korea Institute said.

Pyongyang says it has conducted five nuclear weapons tests since 2006. Two of them are supposed to have taken place last year. Furthermore, the country is repeatedly breaching UN resolutions and testing various missiles.





On Monday its foreign ministry warned that the country was prepared to carry out a nuclear test at any time and at any location set by its leadership.

US President Donald Trump has been trying to increase pressure on North Korea and is counting on Chinas support to do so.

Trump said that all options were on the table in the case of Pyongyang, but lately toned down his statements, mentioning he would even be inclined to meet North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, under certain conditions.

Amid tensions and belligerent rhetoric from North Korea, the US test-fired an unarmed ballistic missile from an airbase in California.

READ MORE: IAEA chief: North Korea continues nuclear test efforts

The Minuteman 3 is an intercontinental missile capable of transporting nuclear warheads. The US air force has about 450 such weapons, part of its nuclear arsenal.
People with pre-existing conditions take to Twitter to express anger and concern that they could lose health coverage.

The Republican push to replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has raised special concern among one group of Americans  those with pre-existing conditions.

In insurance language, that means diseases, injuries or conditions that affected a patient before he or she got a health insurance policy.

Obamacare banned insurers from charging risk premiums based on pre-existing conditions. Before the law, people with such conditions could be denied health insurance coverage, or be charged very high premiums.

This could be about to change, as the American Health Care Act bill is headed to the Senate.

After the House of Representatives narrowly passed the bill, people took to Twitter to talk about their pre-existing conditions and fears of losing health coverage.

Diagnosed w/breast cancer at age of 44. I paid 6,500 ded, insurance billed 170k+, paid 70K. Paid 4,800 in premium. #IAmAPreExistingCondition  Sondra (@BucIGrl) May 4, 2017

I survived breast cancer once, currently fighting it again at 36, I fear 4 my future, but mostly 4 others w/worse #IAmAPreexistingCondition  Sarah DeJarlais (@SBDJ2381) May 4, 2017

One controversial part of the Republican-drafted bill is the MacArthur amendment, which would give states the chance to seek a waiver from the requirement that insurers charge customers with pre-existing conditions the same as those without.

As compensation, a pool of money would be set aside to help people with pre-existing conditions afford coverage  but critics say that amount is far from enough.

The bill allows insurance companies to refuse to cover those with pre-existing conditions, or charge them more for coverage, meaning that conditions ranging from asthma to pregnancy to cystic fibrosis could completely devastate a family financially and leave those who need care unable to access it, the American Academy of Pediatrics said.

https://twitter.com/ashleysager81/status/860211897257271296

Some social media users were angered by Republican Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks comments implying that people with pre-existing conditions simply are not living their lives the right way.

30 y/o,doesn't smoke,exercises 5-7 days a week,but was born with Crohns Disease.But I'm not living "the right way" #IAmAPreexistingCondition  T    D  S     (@MrDeSando) May 4, 2017

I survived a heart transplant and live with PTSD. #IAmAPreexistingCondition  Faith Anne (@faith_anne) May 4, 2017



https://twitter.com/WeeumBasha/status/860214451118714880

https://twitter.com/cynicaljeremy/status/860300891840061440
Supreme Court upholds death penalty for four men convicted of rape that sparked widespread protests and condemnation.

Indias Supreme Court has upheld death sentences against four men who fatally gang raped a woman on board a bus in 2012, a crime that sparked widespread protests and drew international attention over violence against women.

The four had challenged a 2013 court ruling that they should be hanged, which was later upheld by an appeals court.

Its a barbaric crime and it has shaken the societys conscience, Justice R Banumathi told a packed courtroom on Friday.

READ MORE: A dark trade  Rape videos for sale in India

Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student, was raped and left for dead by a gang of five men and a teenager after she boarded a private bus while going home from the cinema with a male friend.

She died from grievous internal injuries 13 days later.

Of the six people arrested, one committed suicide in prison in 2013, while the juvenile was sentenced to three years in a reform facility and released in 2015.

The rape, and Singhs determination to survive long enough to identify her attackers to police, triggered large-scale street protests over the high levels of violence against Indian women and children.

READ MORE: Women in Uttar Pradesh are still waiting for justice

In 2015, more than 34,000 cases of rape were reported in the country, according to the countrys National Crime Record Bureau.

Womens rights activist Binalakshmi Nepram said violence against women is a trend in India.

The rise of violence against women will not end with any one case, Nepram told Al Jazeera. India will take 100 more years to treat its women with the respect they deserve.

She added that there needs to be a change in mindset in the country.
UN employee taken captive just before UN Security Council ambassadors arrive to show support for peace deal with FARC.

An employee of the United Nations has been kidnapped by a dissident rebel faction in southern Colombia, marring a visit by UN Security Council ambassadors to show support for the South American nations recent peace deal.

President Juan Manuel Santos administration said that the Colombian national was working on a crop substitution project in the southern state of Guaviare when he was taken captive late on Wednesday.

Rodrigo Pardo, the presidents top aide for post-conflict planning, said the captors are a unit of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who refused to lay down their weapons as part of a peace deal last year.

These people live thanks to drugs and they want to continue living that way, Pardo said, adding that the incident would not stop the government in its goal of eradicating cocaine crops in areas once dominated by the FARC.

A group of UN officials in coordination with Colombian authorities was attempting to negotiate the workers release.

Obviously the situation when someones been kidnapped, the less we say the better, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said when asked about the hostage.

What I will tell you is that were obviously in touch with the Colombian authorities to help secure the persons release.

Peace process going slow

Santos met on Thursday with ambassadors to the UN Security Council who are in the country to demonstrate their commitment to ending a half-century war that has caused more than 220,000 deaths and displaced nearly six million people.

Al Jazeeras Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota, called it a historic event as it is the first time the whole Security Council has travelled to a Latin American country.

It comes at a time when the peace process is suffering delays in its implementation and also amid a return to violence in some areas that were once under FARC control, Rampietti said.

The 15 ambassadors will meet Colombian politicians, members of civil society and victims of the conflict, and also travel to one of the FARC disarmament zones.

In January, the Colombian government and the FARC jointly asked the United Nations to monitor any ceasefire and disarmament process  a rare request to the UN for help.

Currently, some 450 UN observers are spread out over more than 20 rebel camps nationwide, overseeing the laying down of weapons by the guerrillas.

But the process is slow and has run into logistical hurdles as well as delays by the government in approving and implementing legislation mandated by the peace deal.

FARC leader Ivan Marquez said in an interview this week with Red Mas Noticias that if needed, the two sides would extend the May 31 deadline to complete the demobilisation process, adding that the rebels will not begin turning over their arms until the government follows through on its commitment to free hundreds of jailed rebels subject to an amnesty.

British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, who is co-leading the visit, said the UN would remain in Colombia as long as it takes to secure peace.
Eight countries, including Brazil and Mexico, condemn Caracas crackdown on protests, as death toll rises to 36.

Eight Latin American nations, including Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, have collectively denounced Venezuelas excessive use of force against civilian protesters after the death toll from anti-government unrest in the country rose to 36.

The group of nations, also including Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Paraguay, condemned the increase in violence in the oil-producing country and urged its government to respect the human rights of its citizens.

We condemn the excessive use of force by Venezuelan authorities against civilians who are protesting government measures that affect democratic stability and cause the loss of human life, the countries said, according to a statement from the Mexican government.

Al Jazeeras Latin America editor Lucia Newman, reporting from the capital, Caracas, said protesters were keeping up the pressure on the government.

The last 24 hours have seen some of the worst street confrontations in more than a month of non-stop anti-government protests, especially in Caracas, Newman said.

Government opponents are increasing the pressure, at least on the streets, since President Nicolas Maduro responded to their demands for early presidential elections, with a decree to rewrite the constitution, she added.

READ MORE: The end of autocracy in Venezuela?

Costa Rica said late on Thursday that it had recalled its highest-level diplomat in Venezuela, charge daffaires Ana Patricia Villalobos, for consultations.

Venezuelans, already on tenterhooks after the unrest that has killed protesters, government supporters, bystanders and security officials, were shaken on Thursday after rumours about the health of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez.

Maduros leftist government, facing a wave of major opposition protests since last month, later issued a short proof of life video in which Lopez said he was fine.

Protesters are demanding immediate presidential elections and blame Maduro for an economic crisis that has led to shortages of food, medicine and basic goods in the South American nation.

Maduro accuses the opposition of attempting a coup, and has responded with an initiative to rewrite the constitution.

More than 400 people have been injured and over 1,000 arrested since the unrest began in early April.
Government issues proof of life video after rumours spread that jailed Leopoldo Lopez had died.

Supporters of jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez have held a vigil outside his prison demanding to see him after rumours about his health rattled the protest-hit country.

Lopezs wife and mother rushed to a military hospital in Caracas and then the hilltop Ramo Verde jail overnight to Thursday, after a journalist tweeted Lopez had been taken to a medical centre without vital signs.

President Nicolas Maduros leftist government, facing a wave of major opposition protests since last month, later issued a short proof of life video in which Lopez said he was fine.

Officials accused Lopezs family of stirring up a media frenzy to get attention and further stoke the protests.

Today is May 3, its 9pm.  Im sending a message to my family and my children that I am well, said Lopez, 46, standing cross-armed in front of cell bars and looking healthy in a sleeveless white T-shirt.

But Lopezs wife Lilian Tintori, who says she has not been allowed to see him in over a month, rejected the video as false and spent the night outside the jail.

The only proof of life that we will accept is to see Leopoldo, she tweeted, as she and Lopezs mother faced a line of green-clad National Guard soldiers at the prison. They later rotated out with some supporters to get sleep.

Fresh protests

Protests continued on Thursday, in the capital Caracas and elsewhere.

Gunfire erupted at a student gathering in El Tigre, a city southeast of Caracas, leaving Juan Lopez, 33, dead and three others injured, according to the chief prosecutors office.

Preliminary reports indicate an assailant fired at the student leader towards the end of the meeting and then fled on a motorcycle.

His death brought to at least 37 the number killed in Venezuelas ongoing political turmoil, including protesters, government supporters, bystanders and security officials.

READ MORE: Venezuelas crisis, explained

Earlier on Thursday, authorities announced a 38-year-old police officer in the central state of Carabobo had died of his injuries after being shot during a Wednesday protest that had hundreds of thousands of people on the street nationwide.

Venezuelans were shaken by the rumours over Leopoldo Lopez,who is Venezuelas most prominent imprisoned politician. He was jailed in 2014 during the last major round of protests.

The US-educated economist and leader of the hard-line Popular Will party is accused of inciting violence, and in 2015 was sentenced to almost 14 years behind bars.

The government says he is a dangerous agitator, pointing to his involvement in a brief 2002 coup against the late Hugo Chavez, when Lopez even helped arrest a cabinet minister.

Theyre inventing that something or other has been done to Leopoldo to put together a big, pretty show, so that we forget the 43 deaths he caused, said Socialist Party No. 2 Diosdado Cabello, in reference to those killed during unrest in 2014.
US serviceman dies during operation near Barii, about 64km west of the capital, Mogadishu, says US Africa Command.

The US military said on Friday that a US military member was killed in Somalia during an operation against the armed group al-Shabab.

A statement from the US Africa Command said the military member was killed on Thursday during an operation near Barii, about 64km west of the capital, Mogadishu. The statement said US forces were conducting an advise-and-assist mission with Somalias military.

A spokesman for al-Shabab, which is fighting to overthrow Somalias western-backed government, said that its fighters had killed several US soldiers.

[The US soldiers] came in helicopters. Our Mujahideen fighters responded to the attack, al-Shababs military operations spokesman Abdiaziz Abu Musab told Al Jazeera.

We killed several American fighters. We also wounded many. We captured weapons from them too. They ran back to their helicopters.

In the past, al-Shabab has exaggerated the number of soldiers it has killed during clashes.

OPINION: From a fishing village to al-Shababs most wanted

A Somali intelligence official confirmed the US military operation, saying US forces in helicopters raided an al-Shabab hideout near the Somali capital on Thursday night and engaged with fighters.

The official, who spoke to the Associated Press news agency on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the helicopters dropped soldiers near Dare Salaam village in an attempt to capture or kill fighters in the area.

The official said the fighters mounted a stiff resistance against the soldiers.

According to the US army, the fatality appears to be the first death of a US serviceman in combat in Somalia in more than two decades.

US Africa Command spokesman Patrick Barnes said that we do not believe there has been a case where a US service member has been killed in combat action in Somalia since the incident there in 1993, according to AP.

The US pulled out of Somalia after 1993, following the Black Hawk Down incident, when two helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets.





Military operations

Both the US and Somalia in recent weeks have declared new efforts against al-Shabab.

Somalias new president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed last month declared a new offensive against al-Shabab, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks elsewhere in East Africa  including in neighbouring Kenya.

US President Donald Trump has approved expanded military operations against al-Shabab, including more aggressive air raids and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.

Also last month, the US military announced it was sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the country in roughly two decades. The US Africa Command said the deployment was for logistics training of Somalias army.

The US in recent years has sent a small number of special operations forces and counter-terror advisers to Somalia and has carried out a number of air strikes, including drone strikes, against al-Shabab.
Iraqi army says it hit an ISIL bomb factory in Mosul, but ISIL says raid killed 68 people, mostly women and children.

The Iraqi military has admitted bombing a disused school in western Mosul, but denied targeting civilians  saying the building was being used by ISIL as a bomb factory.

The armys statement on Friday came a day after ISIL said that an air raid late on Thursday had killed 68 people who were sheltering in the building, including 47 children and women, and wounded 86 others.

ISIL, which stands for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and is also known as ISIS, blamed US-led coalition forces for the air attack, according to a statement carried on its Amaq website.

The Iraqi army did not confirm the number of casualties in Thursdays air raid, but said that ISIL has used civilians as human shields in the past.





Earlier, a source in the Iraqi federal police had told Al Jazeera that at least 80 people, including women and children, were killed on Thursday in an air raid in western Mosuls July 17 neighbourhood  the same area where ISIL said the air raid had taken place.

[The source said] that these were people that were fleeing the clashes, the fighting [that is] going on between Iraqi security forces and ISIL in that neighbourhood of western Mosul, and that they had taken refuge in a school house in that area, Al Jazeeras Mohammed Jamjoon, reporting from Erbil in northern Iraq, said.

He added that the source could not confirm whether the Iraqi air force or the US-led coalition was responsible for the raid.

The US-led coalition has been backing Iraqs forces during an eight-month offensive to recapture Mosul, Iraqs second city, from ISIL, which seized it in 2014.

Al Jazeera also tried to get confirmation on the air raid from the US Department of Defense, but they have not yet commented on the incident.

As hundreds of thousands of civilians are still in Mosul, anti-ISIL forces have had to limit their use of aerial attacks and artillery in the city. Nevertheless, hundreds of civilians have been killed by coalition air raids and shelling, as well as in the counter-attacks launched by ISIL.

The US-led coalition bombing ISIL positions in Iraq admitted that it carried out air raids in March at a location in west Mosul where officials and residents say scores of civilians were killed.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee their homes in Mosul as the military offensive to re-take the city rages on.

Since the push to regain control of the western half of Mosul began on February 19, the Iraqi government estimates that more than 220,000 people have been displaced.

READ MORE: Mosul civilians  Who knows who was shooting?

On Thursday, an Iraqi armoured division began trying to advance into the city from the northern side.

ISIL is now besieged in the northwestern corner of Mosul, which includes the historic Old City centre and the medieval Grand al-Nuri Mosque and its landmark leaning minaret.

The mosque is a hugely symbolic prize as it is where ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made a rare public appearance in July 2014 and declared the groups self-styled caliphate, after the armed group seized almost one-third of Iraq.

According to Iraqs authorities, ISIL now controls less than seven percent of Iraq.
Here is what we know about North Koreas nuclear capabilities and motivation.

Who is in range of its missiles?

The entire mainland of the US is within the range of our nuclear weapons and the nuclear button is always on the desk of my office, said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his 2018 New Years address.

The Hwasong-15, North Koreas furthest-reaching intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), could theoretically travel about 13,000km. This potentially puts the whole world within range, except for:

Latin America

Antartica

This theoretical range was estimated based on the Hwasong-15 performance in a test-launch on November 29, when it flew for about 53 minutes before landing in the sea.

Earlier in July, North Koreas test-launched the Hwasong-14, with a theoretical range of 10,400km. The missile flew for about 45 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan.

On September 15, North Koreas also tested its mid-range Hwasong-12 missile which travelled about 3,700km over Japan, and has a range potential of 4,000km, which includes Guam, a US territory in the Pacific Ocean.

Can the missiles be shot down?

The US, South Korea and Japan are equipped with anti-missile systems that could potentially intercept and destroy ballistic missiles fired from North Korea, although missile intercept failures are common.

The US anti-missile system was declared ready in 2004, but since then many intercept tests have failed.

South Korea has six Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) batteries deployed in Seongju, south of Seoul, and Japan is also equipped with the Patriot and the Aegis anti-ballistic missile systems.





Can it launch a nuclear attack?

North Korea claims that it can mount miniaturised nuclear warheads on its missiles, but these claims have not been independently verified.

To launch a nuclear attack, North Korea would need to produce nuclear devices small enough to fit on its missiles  this is not known to have been successfully developed and tested.

In January 2018, CIA Director Mike Pompeo predicted that North Korea will be capable of striking the US with nukes within a handful of months.

In March 2016, North Koreas KCNA news agency released a photo of Kim Jong-un in front of a small, ball-like object which it said was a miniaturised nuclear warhead.

In September 2017, KCNA released a photo of the North Korean leader inspecting what it said was a hydrogen bomb that can be loaded on an ICBM.





How many nukes does it have?

While North Korea asserts it will keep building up its nuclear arsenal in quality and quantity, US officials estimate it has 60 nuclear weapons, whereas independent experts estimate it has enough uranium to produce six new nuclear bombs a year.

In September 2016, Siegfried Hecker of Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, estimated that North Korea produced enough highly enriched uranium to make six additional nuclear bombs a year. Hecker had toured North Koreas main Yongbyon nuclear facility in 2010.

Experts and governments estimate plutonium production levels from tell-tale signs of reactor operation in satellite imagery.





Does it have the H-bomb?

In September 2017, North Korea carried out its sixth nuclear test, this time detonating what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb (also known as an H-bomb).

The yield of the nuclear blast was estimated at about 100 kilotons, and was first detected as an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude with a depth of 23km.

The tremor was also felt in China, 400km from the test site.

An H-bomb can be 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb the US dropped on Hiroshima in World War II.

In January 2016, North Korea claimed to have detonated its first hydrogen bomb, but nuclear scientists examining the impact of the test questioned if the test was really that of an H-bomb.

How North Korea's latest nuclear test compares to the largest detonations around the world https://t.co/lKXVAPlm4F pic.twitter.com/WvHEanXnot  Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 5, 2017

How did it get nuclear weapons?

North Korea seems to be pursuing the development of nuclear weapons capability on its own, and may be helping other countries to do so.

Soviet reactor: North Koreas nuclear programme started in the Soviet era with the construction of a nuclear reactor in Yongbyon in 1965.

Although the Yongbyon nuclear facility was built with help from Soviet engineers, the Soviet Union and China have denied supplying North Korea with nuclear weapons or helping it to build them.

China fought alongside the North Koreans in the 1950s Korean War, but in the interest of political stability in the region, claims to strongly oppose North Koreas nuclear weapons programme.

Nuclear development: Since 2006, North Korea has carried out six nuclear tests, the latest of which was in 2017 at the Punggye-ri site in Yongbyon.

The experiment had been expected as satellite images showed workers pumping water out of a tunnel believed to have been prepared for a forthcoming nuclear test.

North Korea has a rich source of fissile material, both plutonium from its Yongbyon nuclear reactor and highly enriched uranium from other sites, US-based researchers claim.

A 2018 UN report claimed that Pyongyang has been assisting Syria in developing a nuclear weapons programme, and has provided Myanmar with ballistic missiles.

Pakistan and India have both been linked to North Koreas nuclear programme.

In 2004, Pakistans lead nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, was put under house arrest for transferring nuclear technology, including centrifuges, to North Korea and other countries.

A 2016 UN report accused an Indian technology institute of violating sanctions on North Korea by providing specialised training on  space instrumentation to a North Korean student, later involved in the Unha-3 rocket launch in 2012.

Why does it test nuclear weapons?

Analysis of the North Korean governments statements suggest that the leadership in Pyongyang sees in nuclear weapons the following benefits:

1. Guaranteeing security of the state

2. Economic development and prosperity

3. Gaining respect and prestige in the international arena

In April, North Koreas vice foreign minister said: Weve got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a US pre-emptive strike.

Pyongyang suspects that the annual joint drills between the US and South Korea are a rehearsal for an invasion of North Korea.

North Koreas deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Choe Myong-nam, referred to those drills to justify his countrys nuclear pursuits: It is because of these hostile activities on the part of the United States and South Korea that we strengthen our national defence capability, as well as pre-emptive strike capabilities with nuclear forces as a centrepiece.

North Korea also accused the CIA of plotting to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-un, while CIA Director Mike Pompeo announced a dedicated Mission Centre for the serious threats  emanating from North Korea.

Has North Korea declared war?

North Korea has not gone to war with any country since 1950, but has threatened to launch a great war of justice for [Korean] national reunification and to attack the US mainland in full-out war under the situation where the US hurts the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] by force of arms.

Following UN sanctions which North Korea considered a violent violation of our sovereignty, Pyongyang has also threatened to attack Guam.

The Korean Peninsula was divided after World War II in 1945. Nearly five years later, North Korea invaded South Korea, starting the three-year Korean War. The war ended in 1953 with an armistice (not a peace treaty) which means that North Korea is still technically at war with South Korea.

The US has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, while the Korean Peninsula has been divided by a 4km-wide demilitarised zone stretching 250km along the border.

This year, several shows of force and provocative threats have been exchanged between the US and North Korea since the joint military drills with South Korea began in March.

On August 29, four South Korean fighter jets bombed targets in North Korea after its latest ballistic missile test-launch while in September, it simulated an attack on Norths latest nuclear test site.

North Korea has defiantly carried out missile test-launches despite regional and US condemnation and continues to develop its nuclear weapons capability.
De-escalation zones in Syria will be closed for warplanes of US-led international coalition, Russian envoy says.

The safe zones that regional powers have agreed to create in Syria will be closed for military planes of the international US-led coalition, Russias envoy to Syria talks said.





Turkey and Iran agreed on Thursday to Russias proposal for de-escalation zones, a move welcomed by the United Nations but met with scepticism from the United States and Syrian rebel groups.

Speaking from the Syria summit in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on Thursday, Russian envoy Alexander Lavrentyev said that Syrian government fighter jets are also not expected to fly over the de-escalation zones for six months.

Russian military aircraft will refrain from flying over such areas, he added, unless there are what he described as attempts to destabilise the situation.

Read More: Life on hold  Stories of Syrian refugees

Al Jazeeras Jamal Elshayyal said the de-escalation zones are likely to be created in Idlib, the Turkmen mountains, parts of Homs governorate, areas on the outskirts of Damascus  including Ghouta  and in Deraa in the south.

With the air space closed over these so called safe areas, they would become de facto no-fly zones. Calls for such a measure have been made numerous times by opposition members, but it has never been imposed until now.

Previous regions considered for no-fly zones were the border areas with Jordan and Turkey.

Military analysts estimated that the no-fly zone imposed over Iraq in 1991 helped save countless lives. It is unclear though who will be responsible for policing the air space and what the consequences would be for breaking the interdiction.

The latest round of Syrian peace talks in Astana is sponsored by opposition supporter Turkey and Syrian government backers Russia and Iran.

Neither the Syrian government, nor the opposition had signed the de-escalation zones agreement. Representatives of several rebel groups say they cannot accept Iran as a guarantor of the deal.

Syrias civil war, currently in its seventh year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people and has drawn in world powers on all sides.

The negotiations in Astana are viewed as complementary to broader United Nations-brokered talks in Geneva on a political settlement, but neither have yielded real progress as of yet.
Russia says it will be a month before de-escalation zones are fully established, as Syrian opposition voices concern.

An agreement to set up de-escalation zones in Syria came into effect at midnight on Friday, but it will be at least another month before all the details are worked out and the safe areas are fully established, according to Russian officials.

The plan was agreed by Russia, Turkey, and Iran during Syria talks in Kazakhstans capital, Astana, on Thursday, but sharply criticised by the Syrian opposition which rejected Irans role as guarantor in any deal.

It envisions establishing four safe zones that would bring relief for hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians and encourage refugees to return, Russian military officials said on Friday.

FOUR DE-ESCALATION ZONES IN SYRIA:  The first one includes Idlib, as well as northeastern areas of Latakia province, western areas of Aleppo province and northern areas of Hama province. There are more than one million people in the zone.  The second one is in the north of Homs province. It includes al-Rastan and Talbiseh, as well as nearby areas controlled by the opposition groups. There are about 180,000 civilians in the zone.  The third one is eastern Ghouta, home to about 690,000 civilians. This zone does not include the area of Qaboun.  The fourth zone is located in the south of Syria and includes areas of Deraa and Quneitra provinces. Up to 800,000 civilians live there. Russian defence ministry

There were limited reports of bombing in northern Homs and Hama, two areas expected to be part of the de-escalation zones, after midnight. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Russia, Turkey and Iran are to enforce the zones, but Russian general staff official Sergei Rudskoi said that other countries could participate. He did not elaborate on which those countries might be.

The plan, which has not been published, calls for all aircraft to be banned from flying over the safe zones.

Syrian, Russian, Turkish and US-led coalition aircraft operate in overlapping areas across Syrian airspace.

According to media reports, the plan allows for Russia, Turkey and Iran to continue fighting ISIL, as well as al-Qaeda-affiliated groups inside the safe zones.

Previous ceasefires have collapsed as Russian and Syrian jets continued to hit civilians under the premise of targetting hardline rebels.

Syrias government has said that although it will abide by the agreement, it would continue fighting terrorism wherever it exists, parlance for most armed rebel groups fighting government troops.

Reacting to the announcement that the de-escalation zones will be closed to military aircraft from the US-led coalition, Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said the US military has not changed or altered our mission in any way.

These de-escalation zones, as I have seen them on the map, are in western Syria and not in areas where ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] is active, he said. Our operations are focused on ISIS, which are farther east.

Vague and illegitimate

The latest round of Syrian peace talks in Astana was sponsored by opposition supporter Turkey and Syrian government backers Russia and Iran.

Yet, the de-escalation zones agreement was not signed by the Syrian government, nor the opposition.

Representatives of several rebel groups in Astana said they could not accept Iran as a guarantor of the deal.

READ MORE: Life on hold  Stories of Syrian refugees

The High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the main Syrian opposition umbrella group, criticised the plan as vague and illegitimate.

The Riyadh-based HNC, which includes political and armed groups, cautioned against attempts to partition the country through vague meanings of what has been called  de-escalation zones, in a statement on Friday.

Mohammed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group, said Russia was merely playing political games and making declarations.

He said rebels doubted Russian or Syrian government warplanes would stop striking rebel-held areas after the deal takes effect.

This is not the first time, he added, referring to several mediated ceasefires that have unravelled in Syrias multi-sided conflict.

Al Jazeeras Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Moscow, said the Russian Ministry of Defence had set out some of the details that would be established next; including making specific maps of the zones, establishing coordinates, and setting up buffer strips and checkpoints which would allow civilians freedom of movement and the access of humanitarian aid.

[Russia] did mention that, if there is any military activity, there could be repercussions. How exactly that is going to play out  we dont know the details, said Dekker.

Chris Doyle, the director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, told Al Jazeera that the agreement is a step forward, but there are so many spoilers in this.

Doyle said there are huge question marks over the commitment of various actors to reducing violence and over how the plan will be enforced. He said confidence measures and further agreements will be needed to back up the agreement.

If you are going to make these areas in any way safe on the ground, youre going to need a significant military deployment and youre probably going to need third parties who will have the trust of all sides, said Doyle.

Were nowhere near that sort of situation at the moment because nobody has been able to demonstrate that the violence is going to be able to recede to the sort of levels that are necessary.

The United Nations, the United States and Saudi Arabia have welcomed the deal, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said in comments carried by state news agency TASS.

The US state department said that it supports any effort that can genuinely move towards peace but voiced scepticism about the new agreements ability to create safe zones.

With the airspace closed over these so-called safe areas, they would become de facto no-fly zones. Calls for such a measure have been made numerous times by opposition members, but it has never been imposed until now.

Previous regions considered for no-fly zones were the border areas with Jordan and Turkey.

Syrias civil war, currently in its seventh year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people and has drawn in world powers on all sides.

The negotiations in Astana are viewed as complementary to broader United Nations-brokered talks in Geneva on a political settlement, but neither have yielded real progress as of yet.
A Saudi royal decree allowing women greater access to government services without the consent of a male relative has drawn positive, but cautious, responses from human rights advocates.

The decree by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, issued last month but first reported on Thursday, said women should not be required to obtain consent for services unless there is a legal basis for the request in accordance with the provision of the Islamic [law], according to local media.

Womens rights activists said the memo codifies the rights of Saudi women to access a job, higher education or medical procedures and to exit prison, among others, without a guardians permission.





There are no specific laws barring women from these services, but some government bodies previously requested that a male give his consent first.

Sahar Nasief, a Jeddah-based activist who campaigns for an end to the guardianship system, welcomed the decree, which is to come into effect in three months, as a first step towards equal rights.

Women are very happy, men too, she said. Everyone is talking about it.

She said she hoped the order would put a stop to what she called arbitrary demands by government officials for permission from male relatives, which she said is often based on local customs and not on religious teachings.

It [the decree] is not vague, its very strong, she said. If something is not in the law, we can demand it.

But she also struck a cautious note: Lets hope it works, and its not just on paper.

Nasief said women would still require a male relatives consent to travel, as well as obtain and renew passports.

Our goal is full equality between girls and boys, she said.

READ MORE: Let women drive, says Saudi prince

The decree relaxing guardianship, which applies to all government bodies, was made based on proposals made by the Saudi cabinet aimed at resolving problems related to womens rights, according to a statement issued by the Saudi Human Rights Commission on Thursday.

The directive also instructs relevant government agencies and affiliated bodies to review current procedures related to public services provided to the kingdoms female citizens.

Maha Akeel, a womens rights campaigner and a director at the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, described the decree as an opportunity to start a debate about guardianship rules.

Now, at least it opens the door for discussion on the guardian system, Akeel told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Women are independent and can take care of themselves.

She added: Male guardianship is un-Islamic and humiliating for women  Some [men] take advantage of this male guardianship for their own benefit and abuse it.

Adam Coogle, a Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch, called the directive a real step forward.

Its a very clear acknowledgment from the king himself that this is a problem, Coogle told Al Jazeera by phone.

But Ebtihal Mubarak, a Saudi journalist based in New York, said the decree was nothing but a scam, calling it a ploy to divert attention from recent abuses of women.

It [Saudi Arabia] issues these royal decrees without enforcement mechanisms and no real repercussions of noncompliance, she told Al Jazeera.

Meaning these decrees are not meant to change anything at the institutional level, but to create the aura of an action, to escape or divert attention from human rights scandals.

READ MORE: Rio 2016  Saudi runner aims to break barriers

The new directive is the latest in a series of moves in Saudi Arabia, one of the most gender-segregated nations in the world, to include more women in the workforce as it moves to diversify its economy and cut reliance on oil, according to analysts.

The trend started in 2011 when the late King Abdullah allowed women onto the government advisory Shura Council.

Women can now vote in municipal elections and work in some retail and hospitality jobs. In 2012, they were allowed to compete in the Olympics for the first time.
Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
11 arrests of vessels fishing illegally have occurred in just three weeks of joint surveillance with local authorities in West African waters. This is out of 13 fishing regulation infractions identified during the two month Hope in West Africa ship tour, which also included fisheries monitoring and civil society and political engagement in a total []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
With a decade-long history of yielding to Islamic demands and recent, more alarming submissions, San Diego city schools appear to be ground zero for Islamic indoctrination within American public schools. The current capitulation includes an Islam-centric curriculum with input and resources from a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated organization, which raises First Amendment issues as well as serious concerns of favoritism toward Muslims students over students of other faiths.

The San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) history of accommodation to the demands of Muslim students began in 2007. That year, Carver Elementary School in East San Diego ignited controversy when 100 Somali Muslim students transferred from a closed charter school. To accommodate these new students, the school rescheduled its recess periods to allow a 15-minute break each afternoon for Muslim prayer. The school also added Arabic to its curriculum and removed pork and other non-halal food from the cafeteria. The outcry forced the school to rescind the break, but it simply shifted the lunch hour to accommodate Muslim prayer. SDUSD wasn't as accommodating to a Christian student in 1993 and was successfully sued when it denied a high school student's request for a lunchtime Bible study group.

This past week, SDUSD, in collaboration with the Council on American Islam Relations (CAIR), instituted an anti-bullying campaign aimed specifically at protecting Muslims students. In launching the initiative, SDUSD cited an unsubstantiated study by CAIR claiming that 55% of American Muslim students surveyed in California said they were bullied because of their religion. The new program will include adding lessons on Islam to the social studies curriculum that emphasize prominent Muslims in history, creating Muslim-only "safe spaces," adding Muslim holidays to the school calendar, and providing support and resources for Muslim students during Ramadan.

According to Stan Anjan, SDUSD's executive director of family and community engagement, the new program will focus on promoting a positive image of Islam. Special disciplinary measures will also be created for the so-called bullying of Muslims cited by CAIR. Instead of detention, the school plans a "restorative justice" program in which students dialogue with each other about perceived bullying words or actions. Educational materials on Islam and resource listings will be provided to parents and school personnel as well.

CAIR, "a radical fundamentalist front group for Hamas," according to terrorism expert Steve Emerson, was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a Hamas terror-funding case brought by the Justice Department in 2007. CAIR operatives have repeatedly refused to denounce terrorist groups Hamas and Hezb'allah, and several CAIR executives have been successfully prosecuted and incarcerated for terrorist activities. CAIR was designated as a terrorist group by the UAE in 2014.

In 2015, Kevin Beiser and Michael McQuary, two members of the SDUSD Board of Education, issued a formal proclamation in support and recognition of CAIR San Diego, citing ten years of "constructive civic engagement" in San Diego and Imperial Counties. They praised the organization's work to "promote not only religious and cultural tolerance and understanding but also justice and equality for all who live in the United States."

CAIR director Hanif Mohebi was specifically complimented for his commitment to "promoting equitable educational opportunity for all students and preparing them to succeed in a culturally diverse society." The trustees recognized a community partnership with CAIR in mediating school situations involving "discrimination and other behavioral issue[s]" and announced CAIR's upcoming tenth anniversary banquet, centered on the theme "Strengthening Our Voices, Advancing Together."

CAIR, billing itself as a benign Muslim civil rights organization, has long been at the forefront in pressuring schools and businesses to accommodate the special needs of Muslims. In 2009, CAIR complained of favoritism when Christian students in Roseville, a Detroit suburb, were given permission slips to attend off-site Bible study classes. Yet CAIR pushed in 2012 for Dearborn public schools to accommodate Muslim prayer on school grounds and early Friday dismissals for Jumu'ah prayers. The organization has pressured schools to have a say on textbook selection and to feature its own lecturers for school assemblies. When a public school teacher in Concrete, Washington referenced the Taliban and Hamas while citing examples of the use of violence to bully people, CAIR cried "racism" and called for a federal investigation, saying the teacher had veered off topic to make anti-Muslim statements. The school district responded that the teacher's comments were taken out of context.

Mohebi, the head of CAIR San Diego, has been pushing the "anti-Islamophobia" program. He recently tried to prevent the San Diego Police Department from attending a training session on Islamic terrorism featuring Ryan Mauro, national security analyst for the Clarion Project, a nonprofit dedicated to exposing the dangers of Islamic extremism. Mohebi said officers would be learning "conspiracy theories" from Mauro. Further, Mohebi importuned that no taxpayer dollars should pay for the training and that the SDPD should not confer continuing education credits for attendance. In a further attempt to control police training on Islam, Mohebi requested the ability to monitor police training to vouch for its accuracy and to provide clarifications throughout the session.

CAIR's recent activity and its incursion into the San Diego schools' curriculum has been criticized by Charles LiMandri, president and chief counsel of the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund (FCDF). LiMandri said the San Diego program represents a "wholesale realignment of school curricula and the students' learning environment to the recommendations of a religious organization whose stated mission is to "enhance the understanding of Islam" and "empower American Muslims."

The FCDF maintains that the First Amendment prohibits a government agency from attempting to effect a secular goal by the propagation of religious concepts. LiMandri points out the litigious pitfalls of a curriculum which could easily be construed as a governmental endorsement of a religion. He also cautions that CAIR's interpretation of the term "bullying" could extend to the stifling of criticism of Islam, further impinging on First Amendment protections.

Citizens for Quality Education San Diego, a non-partisan group of citizens concerned about public education, voiced their opposition to the new Islamic-friendly curriculum and characterized it as an attempt to implement at local schools "anti-American sharia law," incompatible with the U.S. Constitution. The group criticized the blatant singling out of the Muslim religion for special accommodations and demanded that the policy be rescinded. Despite widespread community outcry, the district seems to be moving ahead.

If allowed to stand, the SDUSD anti-bullying program  geared specifically to the CAIR-identified needs of Muslim students  could mark a dangerous departure from treasured constitutional principles and First Amendment protections. This case warrants serious attention, as it has grave implications for the direction of education and the supremacy of Islam in the nation.
Life is full of puzzles and wishful thinking. As the great philosopher Chico Marx said in the film Duck Soup, "Who are you going to believe: me or your lying eyes?" For many years, countless people have reported sights of the nonexistent Loch Ness Monster. Now, a new documentary informs us that Venus is being used as a secret base by aliens or by NASA as an intergalactic outpost. Its structures of a rectangular kind suggest an intelligent presence. Not surprisingly, there has been a media blackout of this information and of the fact that Venus is a perfect location for secret bases. However, so far, there is no knowledge of a signpost on Venus that indicates, "This is the way to the secret base."

On May 1, 2017, the world was confronted with a more mundane form of verisimilitude with the release in Doha, capital of Qatar, of the Document of General Principles and Policies, a revised and nuanced charter of the Palestinian Hamas group. The new document attempts to be more palatable to Western opinion with its affirmation that the problem for Hamas is not Jews, but "Zionists" and "occupiers."

The naive must wonder, is the terrorist Hamas seeking a peaceful path, and even more, does it herald a peace settlement? This document, according to Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, demonstrates "our political vision." The original charter of 1988 represented the Hamas vision at the time: "this one represents the Hamas vision now." A major part of that "vision" is that Hamas is not waging a struggle "against the Jews because they are Jewish but against Zionists who occupy Palestine."

More likely, the document is politically oriented. It is a direct appeal to Western audiences that are hostile but not violent toward Israel. It may also represent an indirect challenge to the authority of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is due to visit the White House on May 3, 2017. The present crisis of legitimacy is the bitter struggle among the factions of the PLO, the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Sixty-nine years after the State of Israel was established by a proclamation in Tel Aviv on the eve of Sabbath, May 14, 1948, the Palestinian Hamas organization implies that it has dropped its call for the extermination of the State. It formally accepts the idea of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital in territories captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of June 1967, and the return of refugees, as a starting point and as a "national consensus formula." However, Hamas maintains its refusal to recognize Israel and still expects to take over all the territory that is really Palestine, "from the river to the sea." Consequently, it will not engage in direct negotiations with Israel, whose establishment Hamas says was entirely illegal.

It is useful to parse Mashaal's explanation of the document. "Hamas advocated the liberation of all of Palestine but is ready to support the Palestinian state on 1967 borders without recognizing Israel or ceding any rights." In essence, his statement is a rejection or ignoring of the Oslo Accords. Resistance for the liberation of Palestine will remain a legitimate right, a duty, and an honor. Violence is not renounced. Armed resistance is the strategic choice for protecting the principles and rights of the Palestinian people. In reality, the 1988 charter will not be dropped, but only receive additions.

Life moves fast among Palestinians. A month ago, the Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barboum said, "To the world, our message is that Hamas is not radical." Yet it was only on March 28, 2017 that Mahmoud Al-Zahar, a member of the Hamas political bureau, wrote that "our land is all of Palestine, including the land that is under occupation[.] ... [E]stablishing a state in the West Bank and Gaza is a tactical step that does not harm the right of the Palestinians to all the land of Palestine."

By contrast with its rival Hamas, the main Palestinian organization Fatah, of the PLO, appeared to be more moderate. The PLO, at the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995, which brought the Palestinian Authority into existence, did recognize the State of Israel, while Israel recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people. But though there is strong enmity between the two organizations, as the 82-year-old Mahmoud Abbas, now in the twelfth year of his four-year term as president of the P.A., has said, "there is no disagreement between Fatah and Hamas about belief, about policy, about resistance."

Fatah as well as Hamas is dedicated in theory to armed resistance against Israel, but less militant, though its adherents have been responsible for attacks and suicide bombings in cities in Israel. Nevertheless, it is Hamas that evolved from the Muslim Brotherhood, and was founded in 1987, that calls for the destruction of Israel. After an intra-Palestinian conflict with Fatah, and a victory in the Gaza Strip, Hamas took control of the Strip in 2007 and has ruled it since then. From the Gaza Strip, Hamas has been responsible for hundreds of attacks and introduced suicide bombings, and continuously fired rockets into Israel, and fought three wars. In 2014, Hamas fought a 50-day air and ground war with Israel; 2,200 Palestinians were killed, as were 70 Israeli soldiers and civilians.

Yet the more immediate struggle of Hamas is with its rival Fatah and its leader Abbas, who wants Hamas to cede control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. To exercise some control, Abbas in April 2017 cut salaries to state employees, teachers, doctors, and workers in Gaza and said the P.A. would not continue to pay electricity supplied by Israeli plants to the Gaza Strip. Abbas has threatened to cut education and health care, but it is enlightening that he is not cutting the salaries of terrorist prisoners to be released or those still in Israeli prisons. This is a reminder that the P.A. has been paying salaries to terrorists.

In the intra-Palestinian struggle, it is evident that Hamas leader Mashaal has wanted Hamas to appear more moderate  not only for world opinion, but also in the effort to replace Abbas and Fatah in control of the P.A. and the Palestinian organization. Yet the militancy and extremism of Hamas is evident. It is still insisting on the Palestinian right of return, the digging of tunnels to attack Israel, the launching of missiles, and a school curriculum in which children have textbooks hating Israel.

Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2008. It is time for peace. It must renounce its policy, as stated by Hamas foreign minister, Mahmoud al-Zahar, that Palestine in its entirety is Islamic waqf land which cannot be relinquished and that there is no compromise.

Compromise has not been helped by the international community, which disgraced itself when UNESCO on May 2, 2017 passed a resolution called "Occupied Palestine" by a vote of 22-10, with 26 abstentions. It voted to condemn Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem and called on Israel to rescind any legislative and administrative measures and actions to alter the character and status of Jerusalem. The only gratifying feature is that the U.S. was one of the countries voting no, while France abstained.

It is encouraging that the new Hamas document omits references to its religious roots in the Muslim Brotherhood, now disliked and feared in a number of Arab countries, especially Egypt. No genuine effort at peace between Israel and the Palestinians should be neglected, but the amended Hamas charter is not one of them. No attempt to claim moderation can explain the insistence on armed struggle, viewed as a "legitimate right guaranteed by divine laws, customs, and international laws." Nor is it a helpful sign that an extremist terrorist, Yehya al-Sinwar, has been appointed leader of Hamas in Gaza. Hamas has not yet changed and is not a partner for peace.
As a great supporter of President Trump, I was saddened to see the leader of the free world welcome to the White House the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, who has been a tyrant, Holocaust denier and the cofounder of modern Islamic terrorism. What is the most disturbing is the fact, that this meeting has elevated the untrustworthy Abbass prestige and credibility and made him relevant at the time when he is a weakened political figure who is unpopular among his own people and the moderate Sunni states who see the Palestinian issue as an obstacle to getting closer to Israel and America in a united front against Iran.

How do you explain the fact that Trump said during the meeting that it was an honor to have the Palestinian president, who was the cofounder of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and modern Islamic Terrorism, and who was second in command to the notorious Yasser Arafat, whose sole purpose was the total and complete destruction of the Jewish state?

How do you explain the fact that Trump greeted Abbas, the unelected figure of a dysfunctional, corrupt, nonstate entity outside the West Wing of the White House in the same way he greeted the democratically elected prime minister of the state of Israel and one of Americas closest allies, Benjamin Netanyahu? Abbas has stayed in power for the last nine years without holding any new elections and recently consolidated his power by jailing journalists.

How do you explain President Trump having lunch in the White House with a Palestinian leader who has been the author of fake news and history as an infamous Holocaust denier? Mr. Abbas in 1982 argued in his PhD dissertation that the Zionists collaborated with the Nazis and incited violence against the Jews, living under Nazi rule, to spur more Jewish immigration to Palestine and denied that six million Jews were murdered.

Why does Trump believe that peace is possible with the head of the Palestinian Authority, who in 2010 instituted government regulations stipulating that the amount paid to terrorists families, would be on the sliding scale, with the highest payments going to those who proved the most brutal in murdering Jews? For the last few years, the Palestinian Authority led by Abbas paid over 1 billion dollars to imprisoned terrorists and dead terrorists families.

Why did Trump express confidence in the chances of an Israeli Palestinian peace agreement to Abbas, who sponsored a new 2016-17 Palestinian school curriculum, which includes textbooks for children in grades 1-4, teaching them to be suicide bombers, demonizing the Jews as rodents and monkeys, denying the existence of the Jewish state, rejecting peace, and focusing on the return of all Palestinians to an exclusively Palestinian state, without Israel?

For those with short memories, Abbas, like Arafat, was a founding member of Fatah, the PLO's main faction since 1969. While Arafat was the face of the PLO, Abbas was always number two to Arafat and the main financier of numerous terrorist attacks which have maimed and killed thousands of Israeli civilians as well as 54 Americans in airplane hijackings, school massacres, suicide and bus bombings, and more.

In the autobiography of former PLO official Muhammad Daoud Oddeh, published in France in 1999, he wrote that the plan to murder the Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972 was concocted in Rome at a meeting he held with senior PLO officials, including Mahmoud Abbas, who, he said, was responsible for securing the funding for the massacre.

Since then, most of the PLO terrorists involved in the Munich attack have been executed by Israeli Mossad agents. But Mahmoud Abbas has not been held accountable.

The time has arrived for Mahmoud Abbas not to be invited by any U.S. president or treated as a legitimate, civilized leader but to be held responsible by the United States for his involvement in the Munich Olympic Massacre and his long history of sponsoring anti-American and anti-Israeli terror and inciting and indoctrinating his own people including children to hatred and martyrdom.

For many years, previous U.S. governments, the West as a whole, and the media has chosen to play a preposterous game of presenting Abbas as the new, credible, and moderate Palestinian leader with whom Israel and the West could trust to at last bring peace through negotiations.

It seems that President Trump has convinced himself to join this game by attempting to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal to prove himself as the ultimate deal maker. But President Trump should be aware that, in reality, Abbas has walked away from previous peace deals offered by different Israeli governments under the sponsorship of different American presidents.

Abbas was second in command to Arafat, when the Palestinian Authority (PA) rejected Israeli Prime Minister Baraks offer of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital in the year 2000 and through the subsequent five years of Arafats war of terror against Israel which killed over 1000 Israelis from 2000 to 2005. After the death of Arafat in 2004, Abbas became the chairman of the Fatah branch and the PLO and as president of the Palestinian Authority he again rejected another offer of peace made this time by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in 2008. In the spring of 2014, after nine months of negotiations and an Israeli settlement freeze, Abbas refused again to respond to a proposed framework for a peace agreement offered by President Obama, which granted the Palestinians a state based on the 1967 borders. and chose instead to form a unity government with the terrorist group Hamas, which two months later coordinated the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers and instigated another war in Gaza with Israel.

As a great negotiator, President Trump should have been aware that appeasing and honoring Abbas while pressuring Israel, will simply encourage him to further bad behavior. Just two week ago, Mahmoud Abbas, among many other actions encouraging terrorism, failed to condemn the murder of a 21-year-old British theology student in Jerusalem by a Palestinian terrorist on Good Friday and rewarded the terrorist with a salary of more than 1000 dollars a month.

As the most politically incorrect president in American history, I had hoped that Trump, after meeting Abbas and hours of self-reflection, would admit that Abbas has been and still is the face of evil. However, in reality, a few hours after the meeting, Trump tweeted It was honor to host President Mahmoud Abbas at the House White, today. Hopefully, something terrific could come out it between the Palestinians and Israel.

Shoula Romano Horing is an Israeli born and raised. Her blog: www.shoularomanohoring.com
I am not a rabbi, but I know that throughout Jewish history, many holidays begin with "They tried to kill us, but we survived. Let's eat." As history continues to repeat itself, "they" still want to kill us, and by allowing undocumented immigrants from any country into the U.S., we are inviting danger for dinner.

Recently, almost 2,000 American rabbis wrote a letter to President Trump and congressional officials to "ensure that our refugee program be maintained and strengthened, not halted, paused or restricted." Although Jews are known for tikkun olam, repairing the world, this request does not use our Jewish noodle  only our bleeding heart. If President Trump and Congress admit unidentified immigrants, they will be derelict in their most important duty: to keep America safe.

The April edition of Fortune Magazine published a poll concluding that 83 percent of Americans do not want to loosen immigration laws. The rabbis' letter states that we cannot "ignore those seeking deliverance." There are many ways to assist refugees that will not endanger our population: food donations, clothing, and funding safe zones and security outside Syria, just to name a few. The most logical solution to help the Syrian refugees is to assist their safe immigration to a place where they will be familiar with the language, culture, and laws in nearby Muslim countries. Of the two dozen Muslim countries, none has stepped up to the plate to assist their people. It is the European countries who open their borders for the floods of refugees  into Germany, Britain, France and others, causing a dramatic rise in crime and cultural and social problems.

Countries such as Poland and Hungary are criticized for monitoring their borders. But ten years from now, there will be a dramatic difference between countries who make the decision to secure their population and those liberal countries waving a "come one, come all" sign.

Now I sit on a train in Munich, wondering what locals think about this issue. It is controversial. Much like the rabbis, one person on the train stated that European countries must assist the refugees even if they bring their own values and don't follow the laws of Germany. I learned from a Turkish man that it is not about the refugees, but he worries that the country is politically leaning to the right. Another stated that he doesn't want refugees because they have more rights in Germany than the average citizen. A Polish resident stated that refugees cannot cross the border into Poland, and many are leaving to obtain jobs in Germany.

The rabbis' letter states, "We must be engaged, passionate and energized about what matters to us." I wholeheartedly agree: what matters to me above all else is the safety of my children. While Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to assist almost a million refugees into Germany, at least three Islamist terrorist attacks were traced directly to these asylum-seekers. Similarly, peaceful Sweden has become a terrorist haven for over 100,000 radical jihadi-Islamists who attack locals and do not assimilate.

The American public must learn from the mistakes of our European allies across the pond and not repeat them. If we do not have proper documentation, the risk of the unknown is insufficient to give a green light for entry. It is gravely problematic to allow Salafi jihadists to enter Western countries, since their American dream includes enforcing sharia law in place of the U.S. Constitution. The home of the brave belongs to those brave enough to protect their home.

Attempting to create moral equivalency between extremist Islamist refugees who perpetrate terror and Jewish refugees fleeing for their lives during the Holocaust is repugnant. While there may be some refugees who do not adhere to the radical jihadi viewpoint, until we are sure that Americans' safety is not compromised, we are not at liberty to make that judgment. While some Americans are willing to risk their lives for unknown refugees, I prefer to protect my children. Call me a bigot, a racist, or an Islamophobe for choosing my children's safety over the unknown stranger  and tell that to American parents who have lost children to terrorism.

Making another grave immigration mistake today will not vindicate the immigration mistakes of the past. Were Jews who sought to escape religious persecution by seeking asylum in the U.S. during WWII ever deemed a possible danger or physical threat to Americans? Never. Did Jews threaten to blow up, ram with cars, behead, or stab Americans? Never. Or was there ever a question that Jewish refugees fleeing persecution might not assimilate or accept the U.S. Constitution? Never.

"Never again" means opening our eyes and protecting ourselves from harm. Radical Islam is here. Where is the outcry from American Jews to "deliver" the French Jews currently fleeing religious persecution? Let us not forget the English, Danish, and German Jews who are suffering attacks. Recently, the Coptic Christians were persecuted in Egypt. Where is the outcry?

Supporting a policy of open borders is a dangerous and a grave mistake. Shame on us if we allow those who want to destroy us and our way of life the proximity to do so.

God bailed out the Jews in Egypt, and by the grace of God, we survived Hitler's attempt at complete extermination. Will we stand up against radical Islamism, or will we depend on God to save us once again?

Valerie Leiser Greenfeld is the author of Backyard Caliphate: Radicalization in Our Neighborhood.
It's so normal now for universities to surrender when confronted with the fear of force coming from the left that what follows is only local story on Channel 8 in Salinas:

Students protesting what they believe is a "hostile climate" toward black students at the University of California Santa Cruz were locked inside an administrative building for three days until they scored a sweeping victory Thursday. Members of the university's African/Black Student Alliance organization took over Kerr Hall Tuesday, locked all of the doors, covered the windows with slogan-filled posters, and vowed to not leave until their demands were met. "If the university fails us, there will be no business as usual," A/BSA told the university's newspaper.

That's a pretty explicit threat of disruption by force.

But don't worry: a heroic surrender was on the way.

Despite fearing for his safety, Chancellor George Blumenthal sat down at a negotiating table with 10 protesters at 4 p.m. Thursday. Blumenthal declined to meet protesters inside Kerr Hall because he had received threats. Instead, the meeting was moved to the biology building, and Blumenthal agreed to meet all four of the group's demands. The student's primary demand was over the Rosa Parks African-themed house, as well as combating racism at the university.

As far as the Rosa Parks residence house, some of what was demanded could have been discussed and probably achieved with much less trouble. They wanted control of the lounge. Fine. Just ask. They wanted the university to repaint the house in their own bright colors. How about offering to repaint it yourselves, instead of demanding that the university spend a lot of money hiring people to do it? You'll get it done the way you want it, and self-reliance is a virtue that even Kwanzaa pays lip service to.

The fourth of the four demands is more troubling:

We demand that all new incoming students from 2017-2018 school year forward (first years and transfers) go through a mandatory in-person diversity competency training in the event that the online module is not implemented by JUNE 2017. We demand that the training be reviewed and approved by A/BSA board every two years. We demand that every incoming student complete this training by their first day of class.

Handing over control of mandatory brainwashing sessions to a group that has resorted to the threat of force is another step toward handing control of the university over to organized mobs, enforcing heartless indoctrination sessions.

I was a spectator of the late 1960s/early 1970s takeovers of many campus buildings by leftists, and I watched as the consequences of the surrenders that followed unfolded. That is how academia took its left turn, with recruiting handed over to the activists, who staffed up two generations of leftists and brought us today's academy.

The latest round of surrender to the mob can only make matters worse.
Democrats have long been the masters of messaging, adept at churning out emotion-packed sound bites, endlessly repeated, to drown out any viewpoint but their own.

But on the subject of Obamacare repeal and replacement, congressional Democrats have reached new levels of hysteria and hyperbole.

Consider the thoughtful reactions of Democratic party luminaries to the Republicans' American Health Care Act (AHCA) that passed the House Thursday afternoon.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.): "House Republicans are going to tattoo this moral monstrosity to their foreheads." Followed by: "This is a scar they will carry."

Digging further into her bag of shop-worn cliches, Pelosi continues: "Republicans are maliciously again attempting to destroy health care and coverage for the American people."

Finally, Pelosi strikes a Halloween theme on Republicans: "You will glow in the dark on this one." And on the AHCA bill: "It's come back like a zombie, even more scary than before."

Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez: "Trump and Republicans will own every preventable death, every untreated illness and every bankruptcy that American families will be forced to bear if this bill becomes law."

Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren (Mass.): "A bill that destroys health care for millions to shovel cash to the rich isn't a health care bill." And for good measure: "Families will go bankrupt. People will die."

New Jersey Democratic senator Corey Booker: "[T]he craven bill that I see coming to vote tomorrow is just cruel and just wrong." And: "[T]his is clearly not just worse; it's a death knell."

Democratic Senate minority whip Dick Durbin of Illinois: "I will fight this Republican health care repeal in the Senate until Hell freezes over."

Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, in a note of comic relief: Republicans should "work with Democrats to improve our health care system in a bipartisan way."

And independent senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont predictably adds: "It really has nothing to do with health care. It has everything to do with an enormous shift of wealth from working people to the richest Americans."

The party's lesser lights were quick to add their own assessments of impending doom:

Maryland Democratic rep. John Delaney: "This legislation is illogical, immoral, and wrong for the country."

And Democratic rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, echoing a Pelosi theme: "The passage of Trumpcare is a dark stain on the history of the House of Representatives."

Even though the president campaigned heavily on repealing and replacing "the disaster known as Obamacare," and even as the Obamacare system slowly implodes, Democrats seem to think they can ride any Republican dismantling of Obamacare to victory in 2018, as reuters.com recounts:

As Republicans crossed over the vote threshold to pass the bill, Democrats in the House began singing "Na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye," a rowdy reference to their belief Republicans will lose in the 2018 midterm elections due to their vote.

Rush Limbaugh points out from time to time that Democrats tell you whom they fear by whom they attack most savagely. Democrats also tell you what they fear by what they attack most savagely.

Even a partial legislative dismantling of Obamacare looms as an existential crisis for liberal Democrats, despite the Republicans' tendency to fumble on the one-yard line, and the barrage of Democrat attacks will continue as long as some form of repeal and replace is up for vote.

Hillary and the Russians will be deprived of media oxygen because there is nothing bigger to Democrats than maintaining their Obamacare beachhead into single-payer government-run health care for all Americans.

Obamacare was to be the pinnacle of progressive government in America, the monumental achievement of the Obama era. And now a ragtag bunch of rabble-rousing Republicans, led by a blustering president who shouldn't be in the White House in the first place, are threatening to pull the joker out of the Obamacare house of cards.

The Democrats should have no credibility whatsoever on Obamacare, as the president tweeted on Thursday:

I am watching the Democrats trying to defend the "you can keep you doctor, you can keep your plan & premiums will go down" ObamaCare lie.

What the Democrats have not yet realized is that their reign as the masters of messaging is coming to an ignominious end. They are being reduced to hysteria and hyperbole as President Trump, the master communicator, settles into the White House bully pulpit. The Democrats do know, however, that if the Trump-era Republicans manage to pass an Obamacare repeal and replace bill, along with a major tax cut bill, it will be a long time before Democrats regain control.

Prepare for further hysteria and hyperbole.
A study written by the FBI on last year's police killings reveals some shocking conclusions about the state of America's police forces.

What the report revealed is a sea change in attitudes by police toward their jobs and the anger directed toward politicians who have exploited high-profile police shootings of civilians for political gain.

Bottom line: The concept of "de-policing" is real. A vast majority of officers have drastically reduced "proactive" police measures to avoid confronting suspects for fear of getting caught up in the anti-police hysteria among certain populations.

Washington Times:

The report, "Assailant Study  Mindsets and Behaviors," said that the social-justice movement sparked by the 2014 death of 18-year-old Michael Brown at the hands of an officer in Ferguson, Missouri, "made it socially acceptable to challenge and discredit the actions of law enforcement." FBI spokesman Matthew Bertron said the study was written in April. "Nearly every police official interviewed agreed that for the first time, law enforcement not only felt that their national political leaders [publicly] stood against them, but also that the politicians' words and actions signified that disrespect to law enforcement was acceptable in the aftermath of the Brown shooting," the study said. As a result, "Law enforcement officials believe that defiance and hostility displayed by assailants toward law enforcement appears to be the new norm." The report examined 50 of the 53 incidents last year in which officers were killed in the line of duty, excluding the three cases that involved minors or perpetrators who remain unknown. Most of the assailants who used deadly force against officers did so in an effort to avoid being taken into custody, but 28 percent were motivated by hatred of police and a desire to "kill law enforcement," in some cases fueled by social and political movements. "The assailants inspired by social and/or political reasons believed that attacking police officers was their way to 'get justice' for those who had been, in their view, unjustly killed by law enforcement," the study said. The perpetrators said their animus toward police was based on their own experiences as well as "what they heard and read in the media about other incidents involving law enforcement shootings." Those charged in the July 2016 shootings of police in Dallas and Baton Rouge "said they were influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement, and their belief that law enforcement was targeting black males," the report said. Five officers were killed in the Dallas ambush, which coincided with a protest against police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota, while three officers died in the Baton Rouge massacre.

It should be noted that representatives of Black Lives Matter visited the White House during the Obama administration.

Liberals and supporters of BLM have blood on their hands. The hysterical overreaction to the tragic killings of young black men by police  fanned by activists and politicians  has resulted in the death of police officers. Accusing police of "targeting" black males for death has had real-world consequences, not only making police targets themselves, but also leading to reduced policing on the streets where proactive police measures are most needed to reduce crime and safeguard the lives and property of citizens.

When the president of the United States enables the kind of rhetoric that directly leads to violence against police, there is a breakdown in public order. Police are human. They have families they want to return to every night. When politicians attack them, they feel there is no recourse but to avoid situations where they may be targets, or where the possibility exists of confrontations with the minority community.

This is a crisis with no end in sight. As long as activists receive notoriety in the press for their wild, unsubstantiated charges of police "terrorism," and as long as politicians see an advantage in promoting the ideas and agenda of Black Lives Matter, American police will be walking around with a bulls-eye on their backs.

And you and I will suffer because of it.
There is a popular sentiment circulating throughout high schools and colleges that the original colonists were only secular, irreligious, rapacious. However, their own testimonials, from two primary sources, show that they were not. True, they made mistakes, and some were greedy, but they repented of their flaws after twelve years of hardships.

First, they tried early on to build a church of brick but settled for one made of wood: "true it is that there was a Brick Church intended to be built, but not so much as the foundation thereof ever finished, but we contenting ourselves with a church of wood[.]"

Next, they thanked God for the help of the natives:

[S]o that had not God, by his great providence, moved the Indians, then our utter enemies, to bring us relief, we had all utterly by famine perished. How unable so small a Company of people, so poorly sent over, were to make way for such as should follow, may easily be judged.

Unfortunately, in 1622, the natives attacked the colonists and wiped out one quarter of them because the natives saw that the new arrivals were taking their land. That's simply what happens in all migrations to the New World and even around the globe  even the Puritans and pilgrims fought with the natives over land disputes. But by and large, the leaders in the Virginia colony tried to get along with the natives at first and whenever possible.

For example, Capt. John Martin took some possessions from the Indians, and the Assembly, America's first true democratically elected institution because its members were voted for out of various districts and plantations, rebuked Martin:

It was also ordered by the Assembly the same day that in case Captain Martin and the gang of his shallop could not thoroughly answer an accusation of an outrage committed ... he should from henceforth take leave of the Governor [Sir George Yardley] as other men and should put in security that his people shall commit no such outrage anymore [against the Natives]. (Source)

In other words, Capt. Martin could not become a "lone ranger" and trade with Indians without permission, since the English-native relations were precarious and especially since he committed an "outrage" against them, which the governor, his council, and the Assembly corrected.

And finally, in this passage, the Virginia colonists acknowledge their greed as a sin:

But amidst this happiness was the hand of God set against us, in great part, no doubt, for the punishment of our ingratitude in not being thankful but forgetful that by his mercy we were delivered from such bondage and calamity as before time we had suffered [from the first governor,John Smyth]. Justly likewise were we punished for our greedy desires of present [immediate] gain and profit, wherein many showed themselves insatiable and covetous[.] (Source)

Their theology was simple, perhaps simplistic: the hand of God turned against them because they were not thankful, but covetous. Regardless, their hearts turned back toward God.

No, the original colonists did not achieve moral perfection, but who ever does? Not even the natives could achieve it. But the colonists set themselves on the right path during extremely difficult times and hardships.

James Arlandson's website is Live as Free People, where he has posted original sources on Jamestowne.
In southeast Estonia, in the municipality of Varska Parish, lies a peculiar border irregularity. A small piece of Russian land called the Saatse Bootso called because of its boot shaped intrusion juts into Estonian territory as the Russian-Estonian border twists and turns through the lake and forest landscape of this region. It so happens that this piece of foreign land lies directly between two small Estonian villagesLutepaa and Sesnikiand traditionally, the only way to reach Sesniki from Lutepaa, and vice-versa, is to go through Saatse Boot, that involves crossing the international border twice.

When the Russia-Estonia border was drawn in 1945, Estonia was part of the Soviet Union so crossing borders wasnt a big issue. But when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, and Estonia joined the European Union, Saatse Boot became a thorn in Estonias bum.

Fortunately, both countries were able to resolve the issue amicably. According to the agreed terms, Estonians can continue using the road through Saatse Boot without requiring a Russian visa, provided they did not travel on foot. The road can only be driven through (riding on a donkeys back is allowed), and one cannot stop to pick mushrooms (there are a lot of wild mushrooms in Saatse Boot) or stop to take photographs.

Despite being forbidden, many tourists dare to pose for photographs in front of the very signs disallowing such activities, leading to their arrests and detention at the nearest Russian border post. Violators are only let off after payment of fines. If a car breaks down inside the Boot, the Russian border guards will conduct an inspection. If they are satisfied that the breakdown is genuine, they will authorize the Estonian border guards to tow it back to Estonia.

Lutepaa and Sesniki are situated about 1200 meters apart. The section of the road connecting this two villages through Saatse Boot is about 900 meters long. Until 2008, this was the only road available. That year, a new road was opened making it possible to reach the villages without passing through the Saatse Boot. But its a 1520 km detour if going from the village of Varska, situated north of Lutepaa, so villagers still use the old road through Russia.

In 2005, Russia agreed to straighten out the border and transfer the area of the boot to Estonia in exchange of some patches of Estonian land. This will put an end to this geographic oddity, but the new treaty is yet to be ratified. Until that happens, Saatse Boot will continue to attract tourists for the unique opportunity it provides of visiting a Russian territory without visa.

The gravel road through Saatse Boot. Photo credit: estonia-paradise-of-the-north.blogspot.in

Sources: www.voxeurop.eu / ITN / Wikipedia / Atlas Obscura
No 10 Australia

People are silhouetted against the Sydney Opera House at sunset in Australia, November 2, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

Southeast Asia and Japan were popular destinations for Chinese travelers during the May Day holiday, which lasted from Saturday to Monday, a latest industry report showed.

South Korea, which ranked first last year, fell out of the top 10 most popular foreign destinations list, according to a report released by Ctrip, a leading online travel agency, and the China Tourism Academy.

During the May Day holiday, the number of Chinese travelers going to South Korea's Jeju Island, one of the most popular travel destinations for Chinese visitors, plumped 82 percent to 4,960, compared with 27,917 last year, South Korea local media reported.

In comparison, the number of tourists heading for Southeast Asia and Japan saw a surge, with Thailand topping the rank.

Here are the 10 hottest destinations for Chinese travelers in May Day holiday.
(ANSA) - Rome, May 5 - A girl whose mother shaved her head because she refused to wear the Muslim veil is to stay in a shelter for children, sources said Friday.

Judges said further investigations had proved the family's hostility and so their appeal was rejected.

The girl, 14, was taken away from her parents in Bologna at the end of March.

The girl, who was born in Bangladesh but has been in Italy for years and is studying at a middle school in the Emilian capital, has been put into the care of the local social services along with her sisters.

The parents have been cited for mistreatment.

The girl's teachers reported what happened to the Carabinieri police.


(ANSAmed) - FLORENCE, MAY 5 - Italy has "saved Europe's honour" on migrant rescue and reception, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told The State of the Union conference in Florence Friday. "So we must show solidarity with both Italy and Greece which are not responsible for their geographical position.

They are where they are and we have to take that into account," he said. "Faced with the consequences of the migratory flow, the European Council took a decision by qualified majority, but there is a certain number of member countries that do not accept this decision: if Europe starts not respecting legal norms in this field, we will be lost," Juncker went on in reference to countries that have refused to take in their share of migrants.

"I'd like a certain number of member States to understand: it's a question here of putting into practice, and translating into law, the idea we have of Europe and humanity. You can't say 'we won't let coloured men and women enter our territory, or who aren't Catholics: that does not belong to the real nature of Europe".

Premier Paolo Gentiloni thanked Juncker at the same conference later on Friday, but stressed that the EU must do more regarding the Mediterranean asylum-seeker crisis.

"A serious common policy on migration is needed," Gentiloni said. "I listened from Rome to the words EU Commission President Juncker used and I thank him. "Merci Jean-Claude for saying that Italy defended the Union's honour. But if it is a question of honour, honour should be defended together".
(ANSA) - Florence, May 5 - Italy has "saved Europe's honour" on migrant rescue and reception, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told The State of the Union conference in Florence Friday. "So we must show solidarity with both Italy and Grece which are not responsible for their geographical position.

They are where they are and we have to take that into account," he said. "Faced with the consequences of the migratory flow, the European Council took a decision by qualified majority, but there is a certain number of member countries that do not accept this decision: if Europe starts not respecting legal norms in this field, we will be lost," Juncker went on in reference to countries that have refused to take in their share of migrants.

"I'd like a certain number of member States to understand: it's a question here of putting into practice, and translating into law, the idea we have of Europe and humanity. You can't say 'we won't let coloured men and women enter our territory, or who aren't Catholics: that does not belong to the real nature of Europe".


Italy 'proud' of migrant rescue work says FM Put citizen at centre of Europe, Alfano tells State of the Union

(ANSAmed) - FLORENCE, MAY 5 - Italy is "proud" of its migrant rescue work in the Mediterranean, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said at The State of the Union conference in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio Friday.



Alfano added that "Mediterranean challenges are an opportunity for common (EU) defence".



The EU must try to place the citizen "at the centre of the European agenda", he added. Alfano also said that it would be a "mistake" to consider the EU's "conquests" as "irreversible".



"The challenge is to save Europe, and we are ready," he said.




(By Denis Greenan).



ROME - Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating to save migrants off Libya said Thursday they were transparent and could prove they had no links to human traffickers.



One NGO, MOAS, which has saved over 35,000 migrants in the Mediterranean since 2015, told the parliamentary Schengen committee that "we perform search and rescue operations at sea under the coordination of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the Italian Coast Guard, in full compliance with the laws and obligations of the sea and in cooperation with Italian authorities.



"We have always been transparent and cooperative," MOAS stressed.



The Supreme Council of Magistrates (CSM), the judiciary's self-governing body, meanwhile said it supported a probe into NGOs by Catania prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro, but said it would summon the prosecutor to hear his case.



The CSM will give "every support possible" so that Zuccaro's probe into suspected links between some NGOs involved in migrant rescues and traffickers takes place "with the maximum efficiency," Giovanni Legnini, the head of the Italian judiciary's self-governing body, said.



Zuccaro said last week that he had heard that traffickers may be funding some NGOs with the aim of destabilising the Italian economy, sparking a furore.



The CSM may summon Zuccaro to explain those comments, although he does not risk a transfer, at least at the moment, sources said. The judiciary's self-governing body has also ordered the opening of the procedure to "set with urgency new guidelines on the relations with the media" of magistrates, sources said. The move follows the "frequent repetition" of statements by magistrates that caused public "concern". The CSM will also set rules that make it possible to intervene "effectively" against those who breach the obligation for "moderation and control". Trapani prosecutors who have opened a probe into a migrant-rescuing NGO are to be heard by the Senate defence committee, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) said Thursday. Assistant prosecutors Ambrogio Cartosio and Andrea Tarondo will testify on their probe into the unnamed NGO which reportedly picked up migrants without getting an SOS signal or being sent into the area by the Italian Coast Guard. The M5S said: "For weeks the M5S has been attacked simply for calling to shed light on some NGOs and their action off the Libyan coast, and now this probe proves that our legitimate concerns were right".



The blog of M5S leader Beppe Grillo said that the anti-establishment group was right to raise the issue of possible links between NGOs involved in migrant rescues and traffickers.



"Today two important national dailies published excerpts of the report upon which the Catania prosecutors' investigation is based," the post read.



"It is a 20-page confidential document, dated April 10, once again from EU border agency Frontex. "The document shows that the 5-Star Movement is right: it is necessary to keep investigating the NGOs and it is necessary to respect and protect the work of courageous magistrates like Catania Prosecutor Zuccaro.



"Today some people should apologize - to the whole 5-Star Movement and, in particular, to (Deputy Lower House Speaker) Luigi Di Maio, who was attacked in a cowardly way by all the parties and the media".



Frontex, meanwhile, said it had never accused NGOs rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean of being in cahoots with human traffickers.



"Frontex has never accused non-governmental organisations of collusion" with traffickers, spokesperson Izabella Cooper said.



"Our organisation does not have a mandate to carry out probes. They can only be conducted by the judicial organs of single States," she said, explaining that the agency's role is to "offer technical assistance to countries" and to "gather information on human traffickers". Cooper said "the information gathered is shared with the Italian police and Europol, which can conduct investigations and execute arrests". She said "any information or evidence that Frontex gathers in the course of Operation Triton is directly passed on to the Italian police".



Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso, for his part, said that he was confident magistrates will shed full light on possible links between NGOs involved in rescues in Mediterranean and traffickers. "I am certain that the judiciary and the police will shed full light on any eventual opacity and punish any crimes that have been committed," Grasso said as he opened the The State of the Union conference organised by the European University Institute in Fiesole near Florence.



"However, this must take place with rigorous respect of the rules and the confidentiality needed to guarantee the success of the probes".



Grasso said that European Union agencies should be doing the job that NGOs involved in migrant rescues in the Mediterranean are performing. "The non-governmental organizations have had a key role in the European and Italian system of rescue and reception, in close synergy with many central and regional institutions," Grasso said. "They have effectively performed a public function for the Union, guaranteeing services that should have been provided by institutional interventions of a European nature".



The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Thursday that its Rome coordination office for the Mediterranean had came under a "vandalism" attack by supporters of the Forza Nuova (New Force) far-right group. It said about 10 activists occupied the space outside the office, hung up a banner against NGOs that conduct rescue operations in the Mediterranean, set off flares, shouted anti-migrant slogans and taunted a migrant who was entering the office.
FLORENCE - Italy is "proud" of its migrant rescue work in the Mediterranean, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said at The State of the Union conference in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio Friday.



Alfano added that "Mediterranean challenges are an opportunity for common (EU) defence".



The EU must try to place the citizen "at the centre of the European agenda", he added. Alfano also said that it would be a "mistake" to consider the EU's "conquests" as "irreversible".



"The challenge is to save Europe, and we are ready," he said.
ANSAmed - Weekly diary from May 8 to May 14

(ANSAmed) - ROME, MAY 5 - Weekly diary of the main events scheduled in the Euro-mediterranean area from May 8 to May 14: MONDAY MAY 8 VARIOUS CITIES - World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.



ROME - Hotel Cavalieri - Festival of Media Global kicks off (also 9/5).



PIACENZA - Biodiversity exhibition sponsored by the Piacenza Mosque with the Museum of Natural History (through 4/6).



ROME - Lower House press room, 14:30 - Press conference for citizenship for second-generation Italians.



TUESDAY MAY 9 ROMA - FNSI headquarters, corso Vittorio Emanuele II - 17.30 - Presentation of the book 'Syria, the Last Genocide' by Riccardo Cristiano.



WEDNESDAY MAY 10 TUNIS - Seminar titled 'The Future and the Challenges in Bilateral Relations and Cooperation Between Italy and Tunisia' where topics to be discussed will include the strengthening of cooperation between ANSA Italian news agency and TAP Tunisian news agency.



BRUSSELS - EU, bilateral meeting between European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Oelik Celik, chief negotiator for Turkish accession to the European Union.



ROME - Tor Vergata University - 17:00 - Seminar titled 'The Turkish Constitutional Referendum: An Analysis'.



THURSDAY MAY 11 SIRACUSA - Sabir Festival of Mediterranean Culture begins (until 13/5).



BARI - EU, Commissioner Pierre Moscovici participates in meeting of Finance ministers and G7 central bank governors (until 13/5).



BRUSSELS - EU, meeting of foreign ministers.



FRIDAY MAY 12 RABAT - National Theatre - Mawazine music festival begins, opened by Charles Aznavour (until 20/5).



SATURDAY MAY 13 DJERBA (TUNISIA) - Traditional Jewish pilgrimage to the ancient synagogue of Ghriba (until 14/5).



ROME - Lower House - Opening session of Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean with High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini.



SUNDAY MAY 14 NO MAJOR EVENTS SCHEDULED (ANSAmed).




TUNIS - The three-day "Res4Med" (Renewable Energy Solutions for the Mediterranean) seminar on Italy-Tunisia cooperation in renewable energy concluded on Friday, highlighting the role of renewable energy in Tunisia's future and the importance of increasing energy sector dialogue between the two countries.

The event - a partnership between the Tunisian Agency for Energy Management (AMNE) and Tunisian electric utility STEG - brought together an international network of companies and technology providers as well as consulting firms and the academic world, all united around the theme of spreading renewable energy in the Mediterranean.

Tunisian Energy Minister Hela Cheikhrouhou emphasised the positive effect that renewable energy project development has had on employment.

Antonio Cammisecra, CEO di Enel Green Power, gave a talk at the conference and said that Enel Green Power is "ready to cooperate in the organisation of a transparent and efficient market for long-term and sustainable development of renewable energy".

The importance of Italy-Tunisia cooperation was also reinforced with regard to the "ELMED" strategic interconnection project, a joint collaboration between Italian utility Terna and Tunisia's STEG, backed by the countries of both governments. Members of Res4Med that participated in the seminar included: Enel Green Power, Poyry, Italgen, Enertronica, Fimer, Convert, Steg, Steg Er, Terna, Saet, and Santerno.

Res4Med is a non-profit association of 28 leaders in the energy sector, including utilities, investors, industry, consulting firms, and universities.


MOSCOW - The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Friday that four de-escalation zones in Syria will go into effect at midnight.



General Sergey Rudskoy, chief of the main operational directorate of the general staff of the Russian armed forces, said "if there's the need, based on the development of the situation, the memorandum" for the creation of the safe zones in Syria "allows for the formation of additional de-escalation zones".



He said the largest of the four de-escalation zones covers Idlib province, the northeastern part of Latakia province, the eastern areas of Aleppo province and the northern areas of Hama province.



The second de-escalation zone is in the northern area of Homs province and includes the cities of Al-Rastan and Tel-Biss; a third zone is in eastern Ghouta; and a fourth zone is in southern Syria, on the borders of Daraa and Quneitra provinces.



Russia, Turkey and Iran, the guarantor countries of the Syrian ceasefire, agreed during talks in Astana to monitor the de-escalation zones, but Rudskoy said "forces from other parties could be involved with the agreement of the guarantor states".



He also said the guarantor countries would establish a joint work group within two weeks to draw up by June 4 the exact borders of the de-escalation zones and safe zones, as well as plans to separate armed opposition groups from terrorist groups.



Once the memorandum goes into effect, the Russian air force will "continue to support" Syrian government troops "in their operations to eliminate ISIS militants", Rudskoy said.



He said they will concentrate on the offensive in eastern Palmyra and on retaking Deir ez-Zor and the southeastern areas of Aleppo province.


ROME - The outgoing coalition between the Front de Liberation Nationale (Fln), the party of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the Rassemblement National Democratique (Rnd), has won national elections Thursday in Algeria.

According to Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui, who was quoted by Liberte-Algerie, preliminary results showed that FLN won 164 seats, followed by Rnd (97 seats). Other parties lagged behind with Alliance Msp coming third with 33 seats, followed by the independents with 28. Voter turnout was low at 38,25%.


Festival of Media in Rome features best in industry Conferences, awards and networking from May 7 to 9

(ANSAmed) - ROME, MAY 5 - The Festival of Media is set to take place in Rome from May 7 to 9, for a three-day event of conferences, awards and networking with top experts in the media field, including ANSAmed as official news agency partner.



Over 850 participants took part in last year's event, including some of the most influential international CEOs as well as more than 200 brands, in one event focused on the latest trends in the media marketplace.



This year's event will be held at Rome's Cavalieri Hotel and will feature the Brand Learning Programme, a space dedicated exclusively to brands, as well as the Emerge Programme, which will highlight the hottest ad tech startups of the moment.



Festival participants will learn and compare notes with the most influential CEOs and CMOs on the global media stage, sharing best practices and keeping up-to-date on the latest trends.(ANSAmed).




France: Macron-Le Pen gap widens to 62%-38%, poll Both candidates visit cathedral, protests against Le Pen

(ANSAmed) - PARIS, MAY 5 - A survey carried out by Elabe on behalf of BFM-TV and published on Friday said the gap between French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen has widened by 3% to 62% and 38% respectively from a poll conducted ahead of the televised debate between the two contenders Wednesday night. According to the director of political studies of Elabe institute, Yves-Marie Cann, the centrist former economy minister has gained the backing of voters who chose radical left candidate Jean-Luc Melanchon in the first round of the vote: ''54% of those who voted for Melanchon have expressed the intention of voting in favor of Emmanuel Macron, a 10 point increase on a few days ago''.



Meanwhile on Friday both candidates visited a cathedral.



Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front made a surprise visit to the cathedral of Reims, a symbol of Christianity in the north-east and was booed by protesters while her rival Macron visited another historic cathedral in Rodez. ''Our culture keeps us together - Macron wrote in a Tweet -. Visit to the cathedral of Rodez, which is part of our millennial history''.



Protesters booed Marine Le Pen in the eastern city of Reims, where the National Front candidate made a surprise visit with her ally from Debout la France, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan.



Demonstrators threw eggs, booed and chanted slogans against the Front National. The far-right candidate walked into the cathedral escorted by her security detail. (ANSAmed).




FLORENCE - Italy has "saved Europe's honour" on migrant rescue and reception, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told The State of the Union conference in Florence Friday. "So we must show solidarity with both Italy and Grece which are not responsible for their geographical position. They are where they are and we have to take that into account," he said.

"Faced with the consequences of the migratory flow, the European Council took a decision by qualified majority, but there is a certain number of member countries that do not accept this decision: if Europe starts not respecting legal norms in this field, we will be lost," Juncker went on in reference to countries that have refused to take in their share of migrants.

"I'd like a certain number of member States to understand: it's a question here of putting into practice, and translating into law, the idea we have of Europe and humanity. You can't say 'we won't let coloured men and women enter our territory, or who aren't Catholics: that does not belong to the real nature of Europe".

Italy is "proud" of its migrant rescue work in the Mediterranean, Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said at the conference. Alfano added that "Mediterranean challenges are an opportunity for common (EU) defence".

The EU must try to place the citizen "at the centre of the European agenda", he added. Alfano also said that it would be a "mistake" to consider the EU's "conquests" as "irreversible". "The challenge is to save Europe, and we are ready," he said.
NGOs say migrant rescues transparent CSM says supports probe, but Zuccaro to be summoned

(By Denis Greenan).



(ANSAmed) - ROME, MAY 5 - Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating to save migrants off Libya said Thursday they were transparent and could prove they had no links to human traffickers.



One NGO, MOAS, which has saved over 35,000 migrants in the Mediterranean since 2015, told the parliamentary Schengen committee that "we perform search and rescue operations at sea under the coordination of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the Italian Coast Guard, in full compliance with the laws and obligations of the sea and in cooperation with Italian authorities.



"We have always been transparent and cooperative," MOAS stressed.



The Supreme Council of Magistrates (CSM), the judiciary's self-governing body, meanwhile said it supported a probe into NGOs by Catania prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro, but said it would summon the prosecutor to hear his case.



The CSM will give "every support possible" so that Zuccaro's probe into suspected links between some NGOs involved in migrant rescues and traffickers takes place "with the maximum efficiency," Giovanni Legnini, the head of the Italian judiciary's self-governing body, said.



Zuccaro said last week that he had heard that traffickers may be funding some NGOs with the aim of destabilising the Italian economy, sparking a furore.



The CSM may summon Zuccaro to explain those comments, although he does not risk a transfer, at least at the moment, sources said. The judiciary's self-governing body has also ordered the opening of the procedure to "set with urgency new guidelines on the relations with the media" of magistrates, sources said. The move follows the "frequent repetition" of statements by magistrates that caused public "concern". The CSM will also set rules that make it possible to intervene "effectively" against those who breach the obligation for "moderation and control". Trapani prosecutors who have opened a probe into a migrant-rescuing NGO are to be heard by the Senate defence committee, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) said Thursday. Assistant prosecutors Ambrogio Cartosio and Andrea Tarondo will testify on their probe into the unnamed NGO which reportedly picked up migrants without getting an SOS signal or being sent into the area by the Italian Coast Guard. The M5S said: "For weeks the M5S has been attacked simply for calling to shed light on some NGOs and their action off the Libyan coast, and now this probe proves that our legitimate concerns were right".



The blog of M5S leader Beppe Grillo said that the anti-establishment group was right to raise the issue of possible links between NGOs involved in migrant rescues and traffickers.



"Today two important national dailies published excerpts of the report upon which the Catania prosecutors' investigation is based," the post read.



"It is a 20-page confidential document, dated April 10, once again from EU border agency Frontex. "The document shows that the 5-Star Movement is right: it is necessary to keep investigating the NGOs and it is necessary to respect and protect the work of courageous magistrates like Catania Prosecutor Zuccaro.



"Today some people should apologize - to the whole 5-Star Movement and, in particular, to (Deputy Lower House Speaker) Luigi Di Maio, who was attacked in a cowardly way by all the parties and the media".



Frontex, meanwhile, said it had never accused NGOs rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean of being in cahoots with human traffickers.



"Frontex has never accused non-governmental organisations of collusion" with traffickers, spokesperson Izabella Cooper said.



"Our organisation does not have a mandate to carry out probes. They can only be conducted by the judicial organs of single States," she said, explaining that the agency's role is to "offer technical assistance to countries" and to "gather information on human traffickers". Cooper said "the information gathered is shared with the Italian police and Europol, which can conduct investigations and execute arrests". She said "any information or evidence that Frontex gathers in the course of Operation Triton is directly passed on to the Italian police".



Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso, for his part, said that he was confident magistrates will shed full light on possible links between NGOs involved in rescues in Mediterranean and traffickers. "I am certain that the judiciary and the police will shed full light on any eventual opacity and punish any crimes that have been committed," Grasso said as he opened the The State of the Union conference organised by the European University Institute in Fiesole near Florence.



"However, this must take place with rigorous respect of the rules and the confidentiality needed to guarantee the success of the probes".



Grasso said that European Union agencies should be doing the job that NGOs involved in migrant rescues in the Mediterranean are performing. "The non-governmental organizations have had a key role in the European and Italian system of rescue and reception, in close synergy with many central and regional institutions," Grasso said. "They have effectively performed a public function for the Union, guaranteeing services that should have been provided by institutional interventions of a European nature".



The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Thursday that its Rome coordination office for the Mediterranean had came under a "vandalism" attack by supporters of the Forza Nuova (New Force) far-right group. It said about 10 activists occupied the space outside the office, hung up a banner against NGOs that conduct rescue operations in the Mediterranean, set off flares, shouted anti-migrant slogans and taunted a migrant who was entering the office. (ANSAmed).




Tunisia-UN: Agreement to protect women against violence Nine Tunisian ministries involved with six UN offices, society

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, MAY 5 - An agreement to improve a support network for women and girls victims of violence has been forged in Tunis by Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui and UN resident coordinator in Tunisia, Diego Zorrilla.



The program is part of the foreign ministry's objective to ''intensify efforts to guarantee the implementation of human rights to improve support for women and girls victims of violence and ensure their access to adequate healthcare, social and judicial services'', according to a statement issued by the ministry.



Six UN offices and nine Tunisian ministries are involved in the protocol, along with many civil society associations.



(ANSAmed)
Embraer scored the four-digit mark in business jet deliveries in an impressively short period of time. NetJets has been integral to our success story by co-creating a premium product to meet the discerning tastes of their distinguished Owners, said Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO of Embraer Executive Jets. We are committed to delivering the most value to our customers, with superior products that offer a unique combination of comfort, performance and operating costs, coupled with an unmatched experience throughout their journey, including the best customer support in the industry.

Adam Johnson, Chairman and CEO, NetJets said: The Phenom is one of the most outstanding light cabin jets in the industry. It meets our Owners and our own high standards for performance and safety, and offers custom enhancements for well-appointed travel. We are proud to have Phenoms in our fleet, and were excited to celebrate this milestone delivery with our industry partner.
The BBJ1 had been out of service for a number of years before it was sold to the owner and subsequently refurbished.

The same long-range Boeing Business Jet was also outfitted by Jet Aviation in 1999  and happens to be the first BBJ Completions contract the company was ever awarded. The aircraft was recently sold with low air-miles to the current owner, who decided to refurbish it entirely.

The full interior refurbishment was completed without making any structural changes. Some of the wood marquetry was removed and replaced, such as that of the valances. All of the chairs, sidewalls and carpets were replaced, and the entire exterior was painted. The effect completely transformed the unique VIP interior to a light and elegant cabin with high-end modern amenities and systems throughout.

In addition to the refurbishment, C-1 check and general defect rectifications, the maintenance facility installed a new Rockwell Collins VenueTM Cabin Management System (CMS), activated Swift Broadband, upgraded the Future Aircraft Navigation System (FANS) and configured ADS- B Out. It also improved the soundproofing using its new targeted sound prediction technology and implemented a number of service bulletins, including a Low Cabin Altitude modification.

Industry standards and systems capabilities have risen over the years, said Estelle Thorin, director of Large Aircraft Maintenance. Customers want all the same bells and whistles in their aircraft that theyre accustomed to at home, and we at Jet Aviation work closely with all the vendors to ensure they receive the best and latest solutions on the market. Our improved soundproofing technology, for example, uses high-performing materials we did not have 20 years ago.

Simon Koenig, supervisor of Maintenance Interior Design at Jet Aviation in Basel, added: This combined refurbishment and maintenance project demonstrates Jet Aviations impressive capabilities that are backed by great teamwork and commitment to the highest standards. As an old aircraft with old documentation, it was a challenging project thats produced terrific results. The aircraft is like new!
Founded in 1986, FAI operates from its base in Albrecht Durer International airport in Nuremberg, Germany. With over 30 years of experience in business aviation, FAI is one of the largest General Aviation operators in Europe. A market leader in intercontinental air ambulance patient transport, FAI offers continuous worldwide air ambulance services staffed with qualified medical personnel and state of the art medical technology. Its aircraft fly more than 13,000 flight hours annually and its clientele include the worlds leading insurance- and assistance companies, NGOs and prominent health authorities in the wider GCC region.

Mahmood H. Alkooheji, Mumtalakats chief executive officer, said: It has perhaps never been as important as it is today to support rapid aviation response to crisis situations. Over the last 30 years, FAI has significantly grown its capabilities and service offerings, establishing stable and lasting relationships across a diverse set of customers, helping critical aid services reach people across the world.

He added: This investment is aligned with our objective to invest in companies with strong track records of growth and experienced management teams. Aviation is a key component of our portfolio and we aim to leverage our sector knowledge and expertise to add value to the company and support its potential expansion into the wider GCC region.

FAIs chairman, Siegfried Axtmann, added: We are pleased that our specialised expertise in aviation services is globally recognised and delighted about the opportunity to cooperate with a powerful partner such as Mumtalakat. Together we will expand FAI as the leading player in the sector and increase our share in the General Aviation Market in the Middle East, adding value to the corporate and humanitarian sectors alike. Safety, efficient delivery and environmental protection are at the heart of our business.

Siegfried Axtmann
Followers were encouraged to share a special memory or experience they had with Oman Air for the chance to win 50,000 Sindbad miles - enough miles to purchase a return Economy class flight to any destination on Oman Airs network.

The competition asked entrants to upload photos or videos of a special experience with Oman Air along with a caption of no more than 200 words. A small committee then selected four favourites, according to how well the image or video fitted theme, how special and unique the memory was and how well the caption told the story of the memory.

The final winners chosen, who will have 50,000 Sindbad miles credited to their accounts, are Tina Nigel, Kevin Watson Tsai, George Thomas and Ibrahem Khalil.

Mohammed Al Shikely, vice president marketing said: As Oman Air celebrated its 24th anniversary we wanted to mark the special occasion with a competition that rewarded our loyal customers with the chance to win enough Sindbad miles to redeem on any route of their choice. Selecting the winners was extremely difficult, as the quality of the entries was very high and really displayed the great relationship between the airline and our flying guests. Congratulations to all the winners, we are delighted to award them the 50,000 Sindbad miles to travel to any of our destinations onboard our award winning services.
The new daily service is operated by an Airbus 330-200 and is the airlines second flight connection to the UK following the current double daily service between London Heathrow and Muscat. The new flight signals the latest move in the airlines ambitious and dynamic programme of fleet and network expansion and boosts Omans connection to the UK, an important trading partner.

Paul Gregorowitsch, chief executive officer, Oman Air said: The addition of this flight to and from Manchester is a pivotal development and demonstrates our commitment to the UK market. Oman Air is the only carrier operating direct flights to the Sultanate outside of London, offering British and Omani travellers the convenience of flying direct between the north of England and Muscat. There is of course also the opportunity to connect with Oman Airs global network, over 27 destinations have connectivity inside of three hours in both directions, and our extremely keen pricing means that Oman Air offers a really attractive option for travellers to Manchester or those visiting Oman.

The inaugural WY105 flight departed Muscat at 14.00hrs on May 1 and arrived in Manchester at 19.05hrs, where guests were warmly greeted at a welcome ceremony by officials from Manchester Airport and the Lord Mayor of Manchester. The ceremony, which included a cake cutting, was attended by the CEO of Oman Air Paul Gregorowitsh and a host of Omani dignitaries.
STB executive director Sherin Francis said the agreement, which was renewed at the Arabian Travel Market event held last week, would fortify the board's marketing effort with potentially good results for the overall tourism industry.

To date Emirates remains the airline which brings the biggest share of visitors to our island nation. It is therefore important for us to maintain this relationship. The partnership provides Seychelles with additional visibility advantages through attendance of marketing activities such as annual tourism trade shows and expos," Francis said.

Trade familiarisation visits, product presentations and workshops are among the activities lined up for to promote Seychelles through the collaboration.

Emirates senior vice president of commercial operation for Africa Orhan Abbas said the relationship with Seychelles was a key driver of their business in the Indian Ocean Rim.

Our success on this route to the island destination is the result of relentless marketing efforts by all parties. Our joint activities have been fruitful and this can be demonstrated by the fact that we operate a double-daily service between Dubai and the Seychelles, Abbas said.

According to the Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 24,000 tourists from the United Arab Emirates visited Seychelles in 2016, up from around 20,400 in 2015. Emirates connects the Seychelles to Dubai and 150 other destinations in the Middle East, Asia, Australasia, the Americas and Europe.
Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has disclosed that they have selected TAV Airports, in partnership with Al Rajhi Holding Group, for operating Qassim and Hail International Airports for 30 years. Upon the closing of the selection process, the number of airports operated by TAV worldwide will reach 17 and the company will be operating four airports in Saudi Arabia.

TAV Airports President & CEO Sani Sener said: TAV has become one of the world's highly-preferred brands thanks to the know-how acquired in airport construction and operation business. TAV's success in the Madinah Airport project, which was the first airport privatization project in Saudi Arabia, opened new doors in this country. In the last two months, TAV has been selected by the Civil Aviation Authority of Saudi Arabia for the development and operation of three more airports. With the addition of Qassim and Hail to our portfolio, the number of passengers in Saudi Arabia will increase to 10.5 million per annum; while the number of passengers at all airports abroad will reach 25 million. TAV has its signature in the capital city airports of six countries in the Gulf Region, which is the most challenging market of the world. We sustain our growth in the region by working in harmony with our local partners. Furthermore, we continue seizing the opportunities at various regions worldwide."

Providing service to approximately 2.5 million passengers last year, Qassim and Hail airports will reach approximately 6.5 million passenger capacity per year thanks to the new investments.

Located in the center of the Arabian Peninsula, Qassim is one of the 13 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia. Qassim Airport is the gateway to the region, where the majority of the country's agricultural production takes place and is a significant tourism destination, and 12 airlines including Turkish Airlines launch scheduled flights to the airport.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The coalition agreement between the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) will be probably signed after May holidays, ARF faction secretary Aghvan Vardanyan told the reporters during the ceremony of receiving parliamentary mandates at the National Assembly.

Aghvan Vardanyan also commented on the media reports that allegedly the ARF has some problems with the Premier of Armenia Karen Karapetyan. Such reports are absolutely groundless, Armenpress reports Vardanyan saying.

The MP gave no more details on the coalition memorandum. He advised the reporters to be patient for a short period after which they will receive the answers of all the questions.
The British Museum has received only a single request to borrow one of the Parthenon Marbles since the sensational loan of a sculpture to [the Hermitage in] Russia in December 2014  [which] was the first time that any of the Parthenon Marbles had left the British Museum since arriving in London in 1807.
The School District of Philadelphia has over 1,000 broken musical instruments, from flutes with bent keys to trombones missing slides. Some of their fixes are easy, others complex, yet due to funding cuts in the city, the district doesnt have a budget for either. But a Temple University professor had an idea for making music with them as-is, using that as a way to raise money to start fixing them.
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Labuan is an offshore, Malaysian island, which has the benefit of low tax regimes while still retaining the protection of Malaysias laws and regulations. This means Labuan entities benefit from nearly all the Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) Malaysia has signed with over 70 countries while profiting from tax exemptions under the Labuan International Banking and Financial Center (IBFC).

Considered the pearl of Borneo, Labuan is located off the coast of the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah and borders Brunei by sea. The territory is strategically located in close geographical proximity to financial capitals like Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. Labuan is technically comprised of seven islands  Labuan Island proper and six smaller satellite islands  and enjoys tropical weather. Labuan offers multiple ferry connections to mainland Malaysia and Brunei; its airport is served by two daily flights to Malaysias capital Kuala Lumpur and one daily flight to Kota Kinabalu, the Sabah state capital. The island has a deep sea port and is planning to further develop its airport.

With a population of just under 100,000 residents, Labuan offers a highly skilled workforce.

Economic Profile

Since its establishment as a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in 1990  now referred to as Labuan IBFC  Labuan has become a premium offshore financial center for regional companies looking to expand internationally as well as for global companies entering Asian markets.

Though prominently a financial hub, Labuan has five main industries: financial services; oil and gas; tourism; halal products; and fishing.

Financial Services

Labuan offers comprehensive banking, insurance, factoring, and money brokering. In tandem with conventional banking, the Labuan IBFC also boasts well-developed Shariah compliant financial infrastructure. While Labuan is an offshore entity, the island is attempting to diversify into a midshore role by offering niche areas with high potential growth such as leasing, captives, commodity trading and wealth management.

Oil and Gas

Labuan is surrounded by oil and gas fields. Offshore oil and gas are handled by the Labuan Crude Oil Terminal and Labuan Gas Terminal. The Malaysian Government declared Labuan one of the countrys petro-chemical hubs. Petrochemicals account for more than 70 percent of Labuans total exports, approximately US$3.3 billion. Petronas Chemicals Methanol is the largest methanol producer in Southeast Asia and the fourth largest in the world. The majority of oil and gas are transported by freight. Being a duty-free island, Labuan does not impose import duties on goods and most services as opposed to mainland Malaysia where duties are applicable  a major incentive for processing oil and gas.

Tourism

Labuan brought in 673,000 tourists in 2015 (notably over 6 times to local population). The majority of these tourists are considered to be domestic, though no official figures are readily available. In hopes of transforming Labuan into an international tourist destination, the local authority of Labuan recently sold 24 hectares of land at the Rancha-Rancha industrial zone for tourist development. Labuans natural beauty offers tourists opportunities for water activities like snorkeling, sport fishing, and diving (including dive tours through historic sea wrecks). The Malaysian government is also looking to make Labuan a cruise hub which would dramatically increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals.

Developing halal hub

Though originally slow to begin proper developments, Labuan is investing technology and infrastructure into developing halal products, hoping to benefit from its proximity to fish resources while servicing a rapidly growing market.

Fishing

The Malaysian government has identified the tuna industry as a growing sector with potential to generate US$112 million. Consequently, the government plans to invest US$4.5 million to upgrade Labuans fishing infrastructure, specifically deep sea fishing. Labuan Fisheries estimates that approximately four tons of tuna are brought to the island daily. Out of this, three tons are exported and the remaining ton is used for domestic consumption. Labuan is already attempting to increase the domestic appetite for tuna with new tuna-based dishes released on a regular basis.

Investing in Labuan

According to the Labuan Financial Services Authoritys 2017 Annual Report, there are currently 14,201 companies registered in Labuan with an additional 52 trust companies and 151 foundations. Labuan FSA in 2017 approved three investment banking licences bringing the total number of approved banks to 54. This was an increase of 5.9 percent over the previous year. Of the total approved, 53 banks are currently in operation. Labuan FSA in 2017 approved 14 insurance and insurance-related licences, comprising six captives, four brokers, two reinsurers, one life insurer and one general insurer. This brings the total number of approved Labuan insurance and insurance-related entities to 203, which, however, was a decline of 0.5 percent from the previous year. Finally, Labuan has 380 leasing companies.

Setting up a company in Labuan

As per Section 7(5) of the Labuan Companies Act 1990, both residents and non-residents of Malaysia are allowed to establish Labuan companies. Furthermore, a company only requires one director, one shareholder, and one resident secretary  the director is not required to live in Malaysia. Labuan-based companies are offered the option of either paying a flat corporate tax of Ringgit 20,000 (US$4784) or at a rate of three percent of net audited profits. With effect from January 1, 2019, however, Labuan-based companies will not be allowed to exercise the option of paying the flat amount as tax. They will, however, be permitted to pay tax at the three percent rate even if they carry out business transactions in the Malaysian Ringgit or do business with Malaysian residents. Currently, they are eligible for the three percent tax rate only when they carry out transactions in currencies other than the Ringgit and among Labuan-based businesses or with foreign companies. While Labuan enjoys nearly all the DTA benefits of Malaysia, there are 14 countries which do not recognize Labuan as part of Malaysia because of its status as an IBFC. These countries include:

Australia

Chile

Germany

India

Indonesia

Japan

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Seychelles

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom

Labuan companies wishing to tap into DTAs with the above mentioned 14 countries can, however, do so by opting to be taxed under the Malaysian Income Tax Act, 1967 (ITA). Under the ITA, a Labuan companys net profit would be taxed at 25 percent instead of the regular three percent Labuan tax.

Conclusion

This may be a viable option for a trading company as there is no significant taxation differences between Labuan and Malaysia in foreign sourced passive income (i.e. interest, dividends, royalties) or capital gains. Though the oil and gas sector has cooled down on the island, Labuans economy is diversified and has been working to increase its niche financial services, fishing sector, tourism, and halal industry. Government projects working to develop the fishing industry as well as increase the number of foreign tourists is a positive step towards a more dynamic economy.

Labuan is considerably more affordable than Hong Kong or Singapore as an offshore destination. The island is well situated between China and India as well as many of ASEANs financial hubs to take advantage of trade by sea as well as offshore services. As Labuan continues to diversify its financial portfolio of offerings, the island will become less dependent on oil and gas and begin catering to a wider array of needs. Labuan has the additional advantage of tailoring financial services to both conventional and Shariah-compliant forms. Companies looking to establish themselves in ASEAN and Asia more generally can look to Labuan as an establishing platform.

Editors Note: This article was first published on April 14, 2017 and has been updated on November 28, 2018 and December 12, 2018 as per latest developments.
The move came amid US accused top Indian IT firms of unfairly cornering the lion's share of H-1B visas.

Bengaluru: Head Hunters India, an executive search firm, today termed the Infosys' move to hire 10,000 Americans as an act to 'appease' US President Donald Trump's administration which has tightened the rules of H-1B visa programme to stop its 'abuse'.

Head Hunters India Founder-Chairman and Managing Director K Lakshmikanth also said local hiring in the US was very costly and would lead to offshore job cuts in India. The move by the Indian software major came amid US accusations that top Indian IT firms, including TCS and Infosys, were unfairly cornering the lion's share of H-1B visas by putting extra tickets in the lottery system.

Trump recently signed an executive order for tightening H-1B visa rules to stop its 'abuse' and ensure they are given to the 'most-skilled or highest paid' petitioners, a decision that would impact India's USD 150 billion IT industry.

Lakshmikanth said the move to hire 10,000 American workers in next two years "can be seen as an act of Infosys to appease Trump's administration, which could file legal suites against IT companies, including Infosys for 'misuse' of H-1B work visas programme."

He also said the Infosys' announcement came after Acting Assistant Attorney General of Civil Rights Division Tom Wheeler's statement that the Justice Department will not tolerate employers misusing the H-1B visa process to discriminate against US workers.

"The announcement of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to deter and detect what it described as fraud and abuse of the H-1B work visas is indicative of US government's intentions to go tough and stringent in approval of H-1B visas this year," Lakshmikanth told PTI.

Infosys had on May 3 announced it will hire 10,000 Americans in the next two years and open four new centres in the US as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of H1-B visa curbs.

The move was welcomed by the Trump administration as a "political victory" which it said was achieved as a result of US government's "pro-growth economic agenda." To a query, Lakshmikanth said it needed to be seen how soon it will take Infosys to ramp up local hiring in the US.

"All said and done, according to me, Infosys will take time to ramp up local hiring as it is very costly. The company needs to pay a minimum of $80,000 (Rs 52 lakh) per year to a skilled American techie.

For the same amount, it can hire four software engineers in India for its offshore development work, he said. Currently, an Indian IT firm pays $60,000-65,000 per year for techies working in the US on H-1B visas and they return after three years of onsite work.

Lakshmikanth also said if Infosys hired about 500 Americans techies, it will result in a loss of 2,000 jobs in India for offshore operations. "Automation and artificial intelligence will reduce hiring by another 30-40 per cent," he added.

On April 24, Nasscom had come out in defence of its members - TCS and Infosys - saying the two accounted for only 8.8 per cent of the approved H1B visas in 2014-15. The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. Indian technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations.
The actor said that he has already shot a segment of the reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Mumbai: Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone made headlines by venturing into Hollywood and we are now all set to see a male actor also hobnobbing with the international stars.

After Priyanka , who debuted with the popular television series Quantico in Hollywood, its Sushant Singh Rajputs turn to fly down there.

The actor, who recently got temperatures scorching with his oh-so-hot Towel Series picture with an international photographer, gets yet another feather attached to his hat.

So, Sushant is all geared up to set ablaze the Kardashian's show Keeping Up With The Kardashians with his witty intellect level and magnificent screen presence.

In fact, in an interview to a leading tabloid, he even spilled the beans about this news and said that he has already shot a segment of the reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Well, of late, we have been seeing the sizzling and sensuous pictures of the actor with Victorias Secret supermodel Kendall Jenner for a photoshoot.

Sushants bonding with the supermodel has undeniably gotten him his ticket to Hollywood.

Talking about Kendall, the actor told the same tabloid, I would have loved to show her (Kendall) around, but couldnt due to security issues. The palace where we stayed for the photoshoot was huge and the food was great too. I ended the shoot with a nice conversation with Kendall and team.

Many congratulations Sushant!
The Indian delegation was led by home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi while the UK side was headed by Patsy Wilkinson.

New Delhi: Both India and United Kingdom have agreed to co-operate and share more intelligence inputs, on real time basis, on all terror related issues with special focus on activities of Islamic State (ISIS). The two sides also stressed on the need for further strengthening mutual support to counter cyber crimes which have witnessed a sharp increase in recent times.

The Indian delegation was led by home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi while the UK side was headed by Patsy Wilkinson, the second permanent secretary in the British home office.

During the two-hour long discussion, it was decided that security agencies from both countries will share information on ISIS, both on territories held by them and modules smashed in India, UK and other parts of Europe.

The vexed issue of expediting extradition request from both countries were also discussed in detail even though home ministry adviser Ashok Prasad clarified that individual cases, including that of Vijay Mallya, was not taken up during the meeting. Ministry sources said it was decided that specific agencies from the two countries will discuss their extradition requests.

The discussions primarily focused on how bottlenecks in extradition procedures can be removed and how the process can be improved further,Mr Prasad said. UK has also agreed to examine Indias concerns regarding presence of some Khalistani militants and their activities, he added

The two sides also agreed to work jointly to deal with the issue of illegal migrants and formalise the process of sending back Indians overstaying in UK. Mr Prasad said Indian side also raised the issue of visa difficulties being faced by Indian students and skilled professional. Some dependants of Indian diplomats were also facing the same problem and UK assured to resolve the issue. The two countries also examined various aspects to make the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) more effective.
The Centre is keen on using the film to promote Indian cinema abroad and exhibit local technical and movie expertise.

New Delhi: The information and broadcasting ministry may showcase the Bahubali series as a Make in India success story.

Sources said the is keen on using the film to promote Indian cinema abroad and exhibit home-grown technical and movie expertise.

They said the Bahubali series, which set a landmark in revenue earned in India, are likely to be showcased in the international film market as an example of the Make in India programme.

Bahubali films have been able to establish India as a destination for high-tech technology like visual effects and computer-generated imagery, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

With the cost of such technology lower in India, this can easily be used to our advantage, the person said.

Baahubali is a trendsetter in all respects and bears testimony to the scale and grandeur of Indian films. It is a shining example of Make In India, essentially a home-grown feature produced by home-grown talent and technology, I&B minister M Venkaiah Naidu had said at the 64th National Film Awards on Wednesday.

India produces some 1,500 movies a year and releases 25-30 every week.

As part of the ease of doing business initiative, the I&B ministry set up the film facilitation office to ease single-window clearance for foreign filmmakers.

The government has been working overtime to help foreign film crews and create an enabling environment for them.

It had also introduced film visa, which this newspaper first reported on March 1. The film visa has been created as a separate category under the liberalisation, simplification and rationalisation of visa regime in India.
The party said the CBI officers also raided the health department's office at the Delhi Secretariat.

New Delhi: With the CBI carrying out searches at the residence and office of former Delhi Health Secretary, the AAP on Thursday alleged that the probe agency officials were looking at the files pertaining to mohalla clinics.

The party said the CBI officers also raided the health department's office at the Delhi Secretariat.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, who is executing the AAP's flagship project - mohalla clinics termed these raids as politically motivated.

Talking to reporters, AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said the raid is nothing, but an attempt to instill fear in the minds of the officers and the party leaders to discourage them from doing "good work" for the people.

However, there was no direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the intensity of the attack was also toned down.

In December 2015, the CBI had raided the office of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar.

Kejriwal had then launched a scathing attack on Modi, calling him a "psychopath" and a "liar".

The CBI carried out searches at the residence and office of Tarun Seem, former Delhi Health Secretary in connection with alleged irregularities in hiring three private firms for security of city government hospitals.

A case of corruption has been registered against Seem, a 1992-batch IRS officer, security firms - Knightwatch, Innovision and SIS India - and other unidentified persons.

It is alleged that irregularities were committed in the engagement of the three private security agencies for augmenting security in the emergency area of the hospitals of Delhi Government, CBI sources said.

"This is not a new thing. The CBI, ACB, Income Tax, which are not under our control, have been conducting raids at premises of AAP ministers and Delhi government officers.

"I have been told the officers were trying to looking for something in files pertaining to mohalla clinics. But we will not concede defeat and complete our mission," Bharadwaj said.

Meanwhile, Senior BJP leader Vijender Gupta alleged the "involvement" of AAP government ministers in hiring of the private security agencies.

Gupta, who is the Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly also alleged a "scam" in hiring of private security agencies by Delhi government in November last year.

"The private agencies were hired without any tender process or seeking approval of the Lt Governor, with the involvement of the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Health minister Satyender Jain," Gupta alleged in a statement.

He also claimed that the "irregularities" in hiring the three security agencies caused a "loss" of Rs 10.5 crore to the exchequer.
According to the post-mortem report, they were killed on April 2.

Pune rural police, which is probing the matter, has till now questioned 600 people, including college staff, students, and friends and relatives of Sarthak and Shruti.

Pune: Parents of the two engineering students, who were murdered near Bushi dam in Lonavala a month ago, have sought handover of the murder probe to CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) so that their children get justice. The parents have made the demand in view of the fact that Pune rural police, which is investigating the case, has made no headway so far.

Sarthak Waghchoure and Shruti Dumbare, both fourth-year engineering students of Sinhgad Institute of Technology in Lonavala, were found murdered and in a naked state near INS Shivaji air force station and Bushi dam on April 3.

According to the post-mortem report, they were killed on April 2.

Pune rural police, which is probing the matter, has till now questioned 600 people, including college staff, students, and friends and relatives of Sarthak and Shruti. The police has gone through over one lakh call records of the area at the time of the incident. However, not a single arrest has been made and the police is nowhere near cracking the case.
Mr Vijayvargiya said the BJP will not allow anyone to raise slogans against India.

BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya addresses a protest rally at College Square on Thursday as party leaders Locket Chatterjee, Rupa Ganguly and others look on. (Photo: Abhijit Mukherjee)

Kolkata: The BJP on Thursday accused the Trinamul Congress of not respecting the Opposition and killing democracy in West Bengal.

In a democracy the Opposition plays an important role. But in Bengal the Mamata Banerjee-government bulldozed the Opposition. Here the rule of law does not prevail, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said.

He was speaking at a meeting to protest against alleged kidnapping and forcing of the Naxalbari tribal couple, who had hosted BJP president Amit Shah during his recent visit, to join the TMC.

He said that BJP workers had gone to the Naxalbari police station to file an FIR and alleged that the police did not even register it.

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh had stated yesterday, We had reports that they were being threatened by the TMC goons. They had been missing for the last two days. They were kidnapped by the TMC and forced to join the party. We condemn such an act.

Mr Vijayvargiya, who hailed from Madhya Pradesh, said, The BJP was in opposition in that state when the Congress was in power but the Congress used to give us respect.

But in Didis Bengal, there is no respect for the Opposition. Violence was unleashed against opposition party workers, he said, adding, We are not scared. We cannot be cowed down. The BJP is the worlds biggest political party. We will not say eye for an eye but we have to save democracy.

The BJP leader alleged that chief minister Mamata Banerjee was practicising appeasement politics for garnering votes. The students were facing problem in performing Saraswati puja in educational institutions and restrictions were imposed on immersion of Durga idols. The people also faced difficulty in taking out Ram Navami processions, he alleged.

Mr Vijayvargiya said the BJP will not allow anyone to raise slogans against India.
While committing the act, three women were raped and of them, Bano was five months pregnant.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday rejected the appeals of all the 11 convicts against their conviction and punishment in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case. The high court not only upheld the conviction and life imprisonment of these 11 persons but also set aside the acquittal of five policemen and two doctors and convicted them for destruction of evidence.

The division bench of Justice V.K. Tahilramani and Justice Mridula Bhatkar termed the investigation done by the Limkheda police station (under whose jurisdiction place of incident fell) and Gujarat CID as callous. While holding policemen guilty of destruction of evidence, the bench observed, This is a case where the police wanted to help the accused by suppressing their names. The police were not passive towards investigation but they were very active in destroying the case of the prosecutrix (Bano).

The trial court had acquitted six policemen Narpatsingh Patel, Idris Sayed, Bhikabhai Patel, Ramsingh Bhabhor, Somabhai Gori and Ramabhai Bhagora and the high court convicted all of them except Gori, as he died while the appeal was pending in the HC. The court also held Dr Sangeeta Prasad and Dr Arun Prasad guilty of destruction of evidence but sentenced them for the period they have already undergone in prison in the past. The court has imposed a fine of Rs 55,000 each on the convicts and has directed that the fine amount deposited be paid to the victim (Bano) by way of compensation. The CBI had requested the high court to enhance the punishment of Jaswantbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai and Shailesh Bhatt from life imprisonment to death. CBI counsel Hiten Venegaonkar and Arfan Sait for the state had argued before the court that this is not a case where leniency can be shown because it is a rarest of rare case because at one time, 14 helpless persons including children and women were brutally murdered by these accused

While committing the act, three women were raped and of them, Bano was five months pregnant and one more woman was in her advanced stage of pregnancy.

The bench in its order said, We do agree that it is a rare massacre manifesting ugly animosity and hostility. However, the bench also held, We have carefully gone through the elaborate discussion of aggravated and mitigating circumstances and the principles laid down by the SC in a previous case. We do agree that the crime is uncommon and a large number of persons from the Muslim community were murdered, however, the sentencing policy is also required to be balanced on the scale of proportionality.

The bench further said, We also cannot be unmindful of the fact that the incident occurred in 2002, 15 years have elapsed since then. These accused have been in custody all this while. Looking to this fact, after a gap of 15 years, we are not inclined to enhance the sentence.

Mar 3, 2002: Bilkis Bano and her family is attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village, Ahmedabad after Godhra riots. Seven members of her family are killed. Ms Bano, who was five months pregnant at the time, is gang-raped.

2002-2003: Local police refuses to register a case and threatens Ms Bano with dire consequences. Ms Bano approaches the NHRC, India and submits a petition in the Supreme Court. The apex court directs the CBI to start a probe into the matter.

Aug 2004: SC directs this trial to be shifted from Ahmedabad to Mumbai after Ms Bano expresses apprehension that witnesses could be harmed and evidence could be tampered.

Jan 21, 2008: A special court convicts and sentences to life imprisonment 11 accused.

2009: Accused approach the Bombay HC against their conviction.

Dec 2016: Bombay HC reserves its judgment in the appeals filed by the 11 convicts and also the appeal filed by CBI for capital punishment to three of them.
Sources said that a Pakistani agent who was based in Delhi named Meherban Ali had asked Naviwala to give money to Aftaab Ali.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Thursday arrested Javed Naviwala, an alleged hawala trader whose employee Altaf Qureshi was on Wednesday arrested by the counter-terror agency on suspicions of being an agent of the Pakistani spy agency Inter Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI). Naviwala and Qureshi have been accused of sending funds to another alleged ISI agent based in Faizabad of Uttar Pradesh, Aftaab Ali, who was arrested on Wednesday.

According to ATS sources, it has been found that Naviwala and Qureshi were involved in illegal hawala transactions with Aftaab Ali, the UP-based ISI agent who was arrested on Wednesday by the UP ATS.

Sources said that a Pakistani agent who was based in Delhi named Meherban Ali had asked Naviwala to give money to Aftaab Ali.

According to ATS sources, Naviwala got a call a few days ago stating that a friend needed some money in UP for charity so he should send `15,000 to an account number that was given to him. Naviwala relayed the instructions to Qureshi and he then sent the money to the account, which was Alis. The Maharashtra ATS is currently obtaining details of all bank accounts held by Qureshi and Naviwala and examining the bank statements, after which the duo will be questioned as to the transactions that they have made over the years.

A source that knows angadia (human courier) traders told The Asian Age, I know Javed Naviwala as a hawala and angadia trader since three years. I never heard of him having any terror links. I have heard from Naviwala that he may be having relatives in Pakistan.

In the transit remand copy Maharashtra ATS officials had said that Qureshi (33), who was arrested from Pydhonie by the UP ATS on Wednesday night, was employed with Naviwala and had sent money to Ali, arrested in Faizabad, on Naviwalas instructions. The officials needed custody of the duo as they want to learn about from where they had received money. Also, officials have recovered some suspicious messages from Naviwala.

According to ATS officials of Mumbai, Naviwala and Qureshi both hail from Dhoraji and Qureshi had come to work for Naviwala in Mumbai in 2009. The duo worked together till 2014, when Naviwala had to shut down his business due to some problems. He restarted it in 2015 and Qureshi came back to work for him.
State may lose Rs 14,000 crore after GST comes to force.

Mumbai: Maharashtra finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar chaired an important meeting for the Goods and Service Tax (GST) bill that will be tabled for passage in a special session of the Assembly from May 20 to May 22.

Mr Mungantiwar met with senior officers from the finance, planning and revenue team as well as state ministers of housing and law. The state government is likely to arrange for a special workshop for members of the legislature to update them about the new tax system on May 9.

According to an initial estimate, the state may lose Rs 14,000 crore after the GST comes to force. However a GST council set by the Union government assured states of compensation in case of losses. In the Thursday meeting, Mr Mungantiwar took stock of preparations to minimise revenue loss in this backdrop. The state has already started planning of funds for this year.

Mr Mungantiwar has also asked officials to make a detailed note on their departments, which could be used in the coming workshop. Not only Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party but also the Shiv Sena has raised a few questions especially regarding losses of municipalities due to the implementation of GST. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday questioned implementation of the GST, and warned that it should not affect the revenue of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other municipal bodies.

At Sena Bhavan on the sidelines of a party programme, Uddhav said, We have cleared our stand on the GST. We will keenly observe its implementation when it comes into force. If municipal corporations are losing their autonomy to the Centre, we will have to rethink the GST.

He reminded the state that autonomy of the BMC and other municipal corporations should remain intact.If the corporations have to beg for revenue before the government, we will oppose the GST, he added.

Sena has been raising apprehensions about GST since the beginning. Its MPs have raised the issue in Parliament as well. With the Centre approving the GST act in the last Parliament session, the state will be implementing it from July this year.
Isolated Pakistan claims it was kept out of project.

New Delhi: In a stunning development, India completely isolated Pakistan among the Saarc countries on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a joint video conference with the leaders of all Saarc countries minus Pakistan on the occasion of the successful launch of the South Asian Satellite. In a veiled barb at Pakistan but without naming it, Mr Modi said the satellite launch that will benefit South Asia symbolises cooperation, not conflict, and development, not destruction. He noted that the South Asian Satellite tells us that even the sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation among like-minded countries. The GSLV-F09 with the South Asia Communication Satellite was successfully launched on Friday by the Indian Space Research Organisation from Sriharikota.

In what is seen as a victory of Mr Modis diplomacy with the rest of the Saarc region despite Pakistans hostility, he was joined at the video conference by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, Nepalese PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, in what the external affairs ministry described as an unprecedented video-conference held to mark the launch. In a telling comment, also seen as a barb against Islamabad, Afghan President Ghani said at the video conference: The gap between talk and action is bridged today. The advantages of cooperation outweigh the advantages of competition.

[The Pakistan government on Friday blamed India for its exclusion from the project, saying New Delhi was not willing to develop it on a collaborative basis. During the 18th Saarc summit, India offered to gift a satellite to Saarc member states, to be named the Saarc satellite. Subsequently, however, India made it clear it would build, launch and operate the satellite solely, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said, a PTI report from Islamabad adds.]

Mr Modi had earlier on Sunday described the South Asia Satellite as Indias priceless gift to its neighbours and on Friday again said it was part of the sabka saath, sabka vikas (cooperation from all, development for all) concept. Pakistan reportedly refused to join the project as it did not want the gift from India. Just a month after he assumed office, Mr Modi had said in June 2014 that India will offer a satellite to Saarc countries to meet their socio-economic development and welfare needs through space technology.

In his remarks on the benefits the satellite would bring, Mr Modi said: This is first of its kind project in South Asia. And, through this, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India will together achieve: effective communication; better governance, better banking and better education in remote areas; more predictable weather forecasting and efficient resource mapping; linking people with top end medical services through tele-medicine and a quick response to natural disasters. The satellite would provide services specific to individual countries as per their own needs and priorities, as also common services.

He went on to add: Today is a historic day for South Asia. A day without precedent. Two years ago, India made a promise. A promise to extend the advanced space technology for the cause of growth and prosperity of our brothers and sisters in South Asia. The successful launch of the South Asia Satellite marks the fulfilment of that. With this launch we have started a journey to build the most advanced frontier of our partnership. With its position high in the sky, this symbol of South Asian cooperation would meet the aspirations of economic progress of more than one-and-a-half billion people in our region. And extend our close links into outer space.

He then said: I am immensely grateful to my fellow leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka for joining me today to celebrate this launch. I also deeply appreciate the strong and valuable support extended by your governments, without which this project would not have been possible. Our coming together is a sign of our unshakeable resolve to place the needs of our peoples in the forefront. It shows that our collective choices for our citizens will bring us together for: cooperation, not conflict; development, not destruction; and prosperity not poverty.

The MEA, in a statement, referred to the PM saying the project will touch the lives of the people of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India through regional cooperation in space technology applications in telecommunications and broadcasting, tele-medicine, tele-education, e-governance, bank/ATM services, cellular back-haul, meteorological data transmission, disaster response and the networking of academic and research institutions.
The upcoming mid-range processor is a successor to the Snapdragon 625 and will have Quick Charge 4.0

The Snapdragon 660 is supposed to be the successor to the popular Snapdragon 625 chipset that is used in some of the popular mid-range smartphones of 2017.

Every year, the world looks at one of the semiconductor industrys leaders  Qualcomm, for the fastest processors of the year. The Snapdragon 835 was released last year to run the flagship smartphones of 2017. Now, Qualcomm is ready to announce one of its fastest mid-range processors for 2017  the Snapdragon 660.

Qualcomm has sent out press invites to Chinese media to possibly announce the SD660 chipset. The company is also expected to release the SD630 and SD635 processors as well, although it hasnt been confirmed yet.

The Snapdragon 660 is supposed to be the successor to the popular Snapdragon 625 chipset that is used in some of the popular mid-range smartphones of 2017. Following in its footsteps, the SD660 will be based on the 14nm finFET manufacturing process that will aid in better heat management and optimal power efficiency. The Snapdragon 660 chipset will include four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.3GHz for handling intensive tasks and four Cortex-A53 cores running at a speed of 1.9GHz for pushing through the day with lighter tasks. There will be an Adreno 512 GPU chip for rendering the visuals.

The chipset will host the X10 LTE modem and will employ UFS 2.1 flash storage for faster read-write operation in the memory department. The SD660 will support dual-channel LPDDR4X RAM modules clocked up to 1866MHz. There will be a support for the Quick Charge 4.0 as well.

The SD660 could be a part of the popular mid-range handsets from manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, Lenovo Moto and other Chinese manufacturers as well.
The ministry said the spy agencies ideologically corrupted and bribed a North Korean citizen to carry out the attempt.

Seoul: North Korea has accused the US and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong Un involving bio-chemical weapons.

North Korea's Ministry of State Security said Friday in a statement carried on state media that it will "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" the "terrorists" in the CIA and South Korean intelligence agency for targeting its supreme leadership.

North Korea frequently lambastes the United States and South Korea, but its accusation on Friday was unusual in its details.

The ministry said the spy agencies "ideologically corrupted and bribed" a North Korean citizen who had been working in Russia to carry out the alleged assassination attempt involving a "radioactive" and "nano poisonous" substance.

Officials at South Korea's National Intelligence Service weren't immediately reachable for comment.
At least 3 children are among the injured and 2 of the victims are said to be in critical condition.

Chaman (Pakistan): Nine have been killed and 45 injured, as Afghan forces fired at Frontier Corps (FC) personnel detailed for the security of a census team, early Friday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

During the cross-border attack, mortar shells fired from the Afghan side hit houses in a village of Kali Luqman.

At least three children are among the injured and two of the victims are said to be in critical condition.

The injured have been shifted to Civil Hospital Chaman, where an emergency has been imposed, Express Tribune reports.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) tweeted confirming the attack and sharing a ISPR press release stating, "Since 30th April, Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in [the] conduct of census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area, on Pakistani side of the border. This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of census. Exchange of fire continues. Chaman crossing closed."

Recently, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also turned down Pakistan's invitation to visit the country.

During a BBC interview, the President's deputy spokesperson Dawa Khan Mina Pal said Ghani was invited by Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and parliamentarians to visit the country.
Janjua reaffirmed Pakistans readiness to make constructive contributions to the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Islamabad: Pakistan is committed to resolve all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute, with India through talks, foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua said.

Janjua made the remarks on Thursday during a delegation-level meeting with Japanese minister of state for foreign affairs Nobuo Kishi in Islamabad, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

She briefed the Japanese delegation on Pakistans efforts to reach out to Afghanistan and India as part of the Prime Ministers vision for a peaceful neighbourhood, it said.

She also reiterated Pakistans commitment to dialogue with India for the resolution of all outstanding issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, it said.

Janjua reaffirmed Pakistans readiness to make constructive contributions to the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

She also apprised the delegation of Pakistans credentials for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), while emphasising the need for a criteria based and non-discriminatory approach for new members.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the state of bilateral relations and the evolving peace and security scenario in their respective regions.

The foreign secretary highlighted the importance that Pakistan attached to its relations with Japan and underscored the need to further strengthen mutually beneficial economic partnership with focus on promoting trade and investments.

During the two-day visit, Kishi also called upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the National Security Adviser and the ministers for defence, water and power.

His visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Japan. It also marks the 60th anniversary of his grandfather Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishis visit to Pakistan in May 1957.
Baoding is the most affected with PM10 reading of over 1,900 micrograms per cubic metre. Shanghai authorities issue advisories urging residents to keep windows closed, stay indoors and wear face masks. The sandstorm is expected to last until tomorrow.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  As a sand continues to envelope Beijing for a second day, aggravating the already poor air quality, Chinas latest sandstorm is making its way towards Shanghai.

In the coastal metropolis, local authorities have issue advisories urging residents to keep their windows closed, avoid outdoor activities, and wear face masks. The dust bowl will last at least until tomorrow.

The sandstorm, the seventh affecting China this year hit Central and western parts of Inner Mongolia, as well as cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, the worst with visibility in some areas dropping to less than 100 metres, this according to the National Meteorological Centre.

The dust storm has affected nearly 17 per cent of the country, by Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has reported.

Baoding, in the northern province of Hebei, is among the worst affected, with a PM10 reading of over 1,900 micrograms per cubic metre.

Meanwhile, in Beijing, a man was injured in Haidian district after he was hit by heavy debris thrown into the air by strong wind. Falling trees also hit some vehicles, causing severe traffic jams in downtown areas.
For Fr. Rafic Greiche Francis has "erased" the distances between people and faiths. A visit of "immense importance" after the attacks on churches: "It has brought joy to everyone". Too soon to say if it will change something with al-Azhar but "we are on the right path". Muslims affected by the "modesty" of "a man of God". For Catholics, an invitation to "unity".

Cairo (AsiaNews) - The great legacy left by Pope Francis's apostolic visit to Egypt last weekend is "the gift of peace," the testimony of a shepherd who "creates bridges" and "erases distance" between people and among faithful of different religion. Fr. Rafic Greiche, spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church, comments in an interview with AsiaNews on the visit of the pontiff to the Land of the Pharaohs. During the two days in Egypt, Bergoglio met with the president of the Republic al-Sisi, the great imam of al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayeb, and celebrated a mass in front of tens of thousands of faithful.

"A visit of immense importance and great significance [political and spiritual] - adds the priest - especially after the bombings of two churches, attacks, mourning and suffering. The Pope has brought a new wave of peace and joy to all. "

Fr. Rafic was among the first to welcome Pope Francis at the airport in Cairo on April 28, just a few minutes after the flight landing in the Egyptian capital (pictured, the priest greeting the pontiff). "As soon as he approached," the priest said, "I have welcomed him and told him," We are happy to welcome You. " He replied in Italian, 'I'm also happy to be here and to see you'. The Pope then confirmed the 'great desire' to come to Egypt. "

The most obvious fact about the visit is that "Francis did not come as a political leader and was not received as Obama, Putin or other world leaders." All Egyptians, he adds, Muslims and Christians have realized that "he is a man of peace" and this is "important on a spiritual level, especially for Muslims." There are those, Fr. Rafic confirms, "who looked at Pope Francis with different eyes than political leaders, religious or dignitaries who had come in the past."

It was a "special event", which received a "huge echo" among people and the media. "Even newspapers - he stresses - have spoken and written about the visit, and they continue to do it even these days. The media celebrated the pope of peace, who came to the land of peace to bring fresh air, new air to Egypt. " "For Christians - said the spokesman for the Egyptian Catholic Church - it was not just the Pope's visit. The faithful have felt the presence of Jesus Christ, not a religious leader, but as something coming from heaven. For us Christians, but also for the Muslims themselves and with all the people, a deep bond, a mutual affection has been created in these two days. "

Meeting with Pope Francis, looking closely at the gestures and listening to the words, explains Fr. Rafic, "Egyptian Muslims felt as if they were in the presence of a man of God." Statements "also reaffirmed yesterday by some newspapers," he adds, when the echo of the visit should have been almost nil. "That's why this is a very important event." In addition, the Muslim community [the vast majority in the country, almost 90% Sunni] "was impressed by his modesty, by choosing to travel in a non-luxurious car to cross the stadium threshold for mass without protection, in an open car. To confirm a man who is not afraid, but is strong in the faith and in the protection of God. "

If the Pope's journey struck the Muslims deeply, it is "too early" to say whether it "will change something" in relations with the highest Islamic institutions, first of all the al-Azhar University in Cairo. "We need to look closely at how relations will develop," warns the spokesperson of the Egyptian Catholic Church - but we are on the right path, dialogue and fraternal collaboration. We must remain open to ideas and confrontation."

Finally, the hope that this trip will bring greater attention from the world's politicians and leaders "to the fate of Christians" in Egypt and throughout the Middle East." Communities that have "thousands of years" behind them and "do everything to preserve" this land, so that it is not "emptied of the Christian presence." And for Catholics, concludes Fr. Rafic, the hope is they will "start thinking about themselves as one thing, because the many Catholic institutions in Egypt, work in isolation, instead we hope they can discover the value, strength, and the importance of unity."
After 13 years in prison without trail, under harsh conditions, he was the "witness of hope", a theme to which he dedicated thoughts and writings. John Paul II said he spent a life in coherent and heroic adherence to one's vocation", whilst Benedict XVI quoted him twice in Spe Salvi.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  One more step has been taken toward the altars for Cardinal Phanxico Xavie (Francois Xavier) Nguyen Van Thuan. Today in fact, Pope Francis issued a decree recognising his heroic virtues.

Few have been as heroic as him, in our time, above all in the virtue of hope. After 13 years in prison, without trial and under harsh conditions, he was the "witness of hope" to which he dedicated thoughts and writings.

John Paul II said that he spent a life in coherent and heroic adherence to one's vocation". Pope Benedict XVI quoted him twice in Spe Salvi to reiterate the view that whoever hopes is never alone. The German pope noted that, placed in isolation, the cardinal did not feel alone but was united to God in the prayer of hope, united to the pope, the Church, the diocese of which he was a pastor, united to all humanity.

The Servant of God Phanxico Xavie Nguyen Van Thuan, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, was born in Hue on 17 April 1928 and died on 16 September 2002, experienced martyrdom through the history of his own family, which was wiped out when their village was torched in 1885 because it was Christian. Only his maternal grandfather survived.

Brought up as a Christian, Van Thuan entered the seminary at the age of 13 and became a priest on 11 June 1953. He graduated in canon law in Rome in 1959 and returned to Vietnam to teach, run a seminary and act as vicar general in the Diocese of Nha Trang, of which he became bishop in 1967, at the age of 39. In 1975 he was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Saigon, a few days before the city fell to North Vietnam.

On 15 August 1975, the feast of the Assumption, he was arrested. He was dressed only in his cassock, and had a rosary in his pocket. By October, he was writing messages in jail, on a sheet of paper that a seven-year-old child, Quang, smuggled in. Those pages eventually became books, with hope as their central theme.

He spent 13 years in prison without trial. From Saigon, he was moved shackled to Nha Trang, then to the Vinh-Quang re-education camp in the mountains. Those were hard times.

He was held in solitary confinement for nine years, watched by two guards only for him. Since he could not have a Bible, he scrounged for whatever paper he could find to transcribe about 300 Gospel passages he knew by heart.

He celebrated Mass using the palm of his hand as chalice with three drops of wine and one of water. He got the wine from his family, saying it was to treat his stomach ache. His relatives realised what he meant and sent him a bottle of wine with the label "medicine against stomach ache". He kept consecrated bread crumbs in cigarette packs.

He was still in isolation in Hanoi when he got a fish to cook, wrapped up in two pages of "LOsservatore Romano", which police confiscated when it arrived by mail. He cleaned out the two page and dried them in the sun, as a sign of union with Rome and the pope.

The authorities were concerned about his goodness and his attitude of love towards his persecutors, fearing that the guards might be won over. For this reason, they were changed every two weeks.

In one prison, a guard allowed him to carve a piece of wood into a cross. In another he got a piece of electric wire with which he made a chain to carry his cross. Nguyen Van Thuan never separated from that cross and that chain. Not even in Rome, when he was a cardinal.

He was released on 21 November 1988 and later expelled. He arrived in Rome in 1991. John Paul II appointed him as head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, calling him in 2000 to perform the spiritual exercises to the Roman Curia and in 2001 made him a cardinal.

He died on 16 September 2002 after a long battle with a rare form of cancer. He said once, "I dream a Church that has in the heart the fire of the Holy Spirit. Wherever the Spirit is, there is freedom, sincere dialogue with the world, and especially with young people, with the poor and marginalised."

His process of beatification began at the diocesan level in 2007, ending on 5 July 2013. The Vietnamese government does not want him to be beatified.

A witness to the process, literary critic Nguyen Hoang Duc was invited to the Vatican for the final ceremony marking the end of the diocesan phase. However, he was prevented from embarking on the plane. It would seem that hope and faith continue to cause fear. (FP)
The activist challenges the statement by the Indian delegate at the UN Human Rights Council. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which monitors religious freedom internationally, says that religious minorities and Dalit communities face discrimination and persecution in India.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  Speaking at the 27th session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group at the United Nations Human Rights Council, the head of the Indian delegation, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, said that the Indian constitution makes no distinction between caste, creed, colour or religion of a citizen. However, for Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), the erosion of the "spirit of secularism" that appears to be happening in India creates a sense of discouragement and despair among Christians and other minorities.

India is a secular state with no state religion, Mr Rohatgi said. Indeed, he noted that the Indian constitution guarantees freedom of religion to every individual. The right to free speech and expression occupies its rightful place in the core of the Indian Constitution. Various provisions exist for the protection of the rights and interests of minorities.

Our people are conscious of their political freedoms and exercise their choices at every opportunity, the Indian delegate went on to say. We believe in peace, non-violence and upholding human dignity. As such, the concept of torture is completely alien to our culture and it has no place in the governance of the nation, he added.

India, he noted, has made significant strides in addressing the special needs of persons with disabilities through its Accessible India Campaign, and by overhauling its legislative framework on the rights of persons with disabilities and the rights of persons with mental health issues.

India seeks to ensure inclusive development and the protection of rights of vulnerable groups and it has enacted a range of laws to address sexual assault and other gender based crimes.

What is more, India has been at the forefront of recognising transgender rights. The Supreme Court gave a landmark judgement in 2014 directing the government to guarantee them rights like marriage, adoption, divorce, and inheritance.

At the same time, India has taken various steps to ensure a safe and dignified work environment for women and facilitate their overall socio-economic empowerment. It also considers as a priority poverty eradication and achieving inclusive sustainable development, Mr Rohatgi said.

As evidence of this, he cited major initiatives like Smart Cities, Make in India, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao--Celebrate the Girl Child and Enable her Education, Swachh Bharat--Clean India, Jan Dhan Yojana--Bank Accounts for All, Digital India, Skill India, Start up India etc. mirror the targets of the Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals for achieving the 2030 Agenda.

Reacting to Rohatgis statement, Sajan K George noted that denying Dalit Christians reservation status is a clear sign of state discrimination against the countrys largest Christian group, which raises questions about its secular credentials.

In fact, about 50 per cent of Indias 29 million Christians are Dalit (Scheduled Castes), excluding tribal Christians. Unlike Sikhs and Buddhists, Dalit converts to Christianity do not receive government aid.

According to Constitutional and Legal Challenges Faced by Religious Minorities in India, a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Indias religious minority communities and Dalits face discrimination and persecution. Overall, hate crimes, social boycotts and forced conversion have escalated dramatically in the country since 2014.

"Since the BJP assumed power, religious minority communities have been subject to derogatory comments by BJP politicians and numerous violent attacks and forced conversions by affiliated Hindu nationalist groups such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Sangh Parivar, and Vishva Hindu Parishad," the report says.

"Under BJP-led governments, religious minority communities and Dalits, both have faced discrimination and persecution due to a combination of overly broad or ill-defined laws, an inefficient criminal justice system, and a lack of jurisprudential consistency. In particular, since 2014, hate crimes, social boycotts, assaults, and forced conversion have escalated dramatically," it adds.

Quoting India's Home Ministry figures, the report notes that in 2015, India experienced a 17 per cent increase in communal violence, when compared to the previous year. In 2015, there were 751 reported incidents of communal violence, up from 644 in 2014.

Anti-conversion legislations, euphemistically called Freedom of Religion laws, adopted by several Indian states, are a serious challenge to religious freedom as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and enshrined in international human rights instruments.
by Umida Hashimova

Strategic partnership agreements signed by Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan mark a turning point for Central Asia. As the region moves towards greater cooperation after years of "atrophied" relations, it will do so on its own good time. Courtesy of the Jamestown Foundation.

Washington (AsiaNews)  It takes three separate diplomatic efforts for three countries to sign three bilateral strategic partnership agreements. That is exactly what happened over the past four years in Central Asia: first Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan signed a strategic partnership in June 2013; then Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan concluded one during Uzbekistani President Shavkat Mirziyaevs first foreign trip to Turkmenistan on March 6, 2017; and a little over a month later, the latest agreement was signed between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan (Tengri News, June 14, 2013; Gazeta.uz, March 6, 2017; Tengri News, April 18). Cumulatively, these two-way agreements have led to the emergence of a Central Asian strategic trianglea first for the region (Kun.uz, April 22). What exactly does it mean for these countries to have elevated their cooperation to the strategic level, and why did they take such a step at this time?

Overall, in the global practice of diplomacy, strategic partnerships vary greatly in their specific intensity and content. They range from aligning the vital interests of the signatory countries in areas such as security, defense and the economy, to simply expressing a commitment to a greater degree of diplomatic engagement. For the three Central Asian countries in question, signing these strategic partnership agreements at this point has been akin to confirming the absence of major issues in their bilateral relations, the absence of disagreements, and a readiness to start building deeper relations focusing on economic cooperation. Indeed, while bilateral border issues, along with transboundary water issues, are major stumbling blocks in amicable relations across Central Asia, these three countries were able to resolve most of their border issues and are now even discussing simplifying cross-boundary procedures to ease the movement of people and goods (Tengri News, April 18, 2017; Gazeta.uz, December 26, 2016). In other words, the signed strategic partnership agreements announce that these three countries are each others close partners and expect relations to continue to grow deeper.

The actual shape their relationships take will undoubtedly depend on the policy goals of the individual countries themselves. At this early state, transportation and trade seem most likely to result in closer cooperation (Tengri News, March 23; Altyn Asr TV Channel, November 5, 2016). Notably, these strategic partnership agreements may be particularly useful in ensuring that the ongoing progress being made in strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia retains a lower visibility and appears less potentially provocative to some outside players.

The triangular web of strategic partnership agreements may be a conscious replacement for the failed earlier attempt to establish an intra-regional integrationist organizationthe Central Asian Union. Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbaev and then-President Islam Karimov launched the Central Asian Union in 1994; the organization functioned, though imperfectly, until its disbandment in 2005, following Russias accession to the group (Cacianalyst.org, January 7, 2015). After burning their fingers on that experience, the Central Asian countries are, perhaps unsurprisingly, now eschewing similar high-profile endeavors. Instead, they are focusing on alternative bilateral cooperation options and, in particular, strategic partnership agreements.

Such strategic partnership agreements will likely be how all Central Asian countries move forward in terms of regional cooperation. Until that can happen, however, some of the regions most contentious bilateral disputes will still need to be resolvedparticularly the ones between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. That said, outside the strategic partnership triangle countries, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan had already signed a similar agreement in 2015. And all Central Asian countries have successfully concluded multiple strategic partnerships with countries outside the region with which they have close relations and similar interests (Asia Plus, September 21, 2016). For example, China had signed strategic partnership agreements with all five of these Central Asian republics (EurasiaNet.org, May 13, 2014).

As the strategic partnership triangle countries increasingly cooperate with each other, their interests can be expected to converge more and more. And in the future, the regional triangle will likely graduate to four- and then five-way strategic cooperation. For those watching these developments in the region from the outside, no one should expect the Central Asian states to move too quickly in this direction or for their regional cooperation efforts to necessarily culminate in a regional integrationist organization. The countries still have to do a lot of homework and relearn how to work with their neighbors after their relations atrophied following independence from the Soviet Union. Based on current trends, the cycle of strategic partnerships will likely lead to significant regional unity, but this will happen on the Central Asians termnot according to the will or design of outsiders.

Although these above-mentioned strategic partnerships might seem like an insignificant or a nominal gesture between the countries, nonetheless in the regional context it illustrates an important level of bilateral trust and confidence. Also, the fact that the countries arrived at these strategic partnership as a result of their own volition is particularly noteworthy. Only a decade ago, the sovereignty of some of these countries was doubted and now they are comfortably signing multi-million-dollar trade agreements, easing joint border crossings, building bridges across their borders, and establishing not only interstate, but inter-regional road and transportation systems. These processes themselves are worthy of filling entire chapters in modern history books.
More than 890 rural communities are in danger of extinction by 2040. 8.05 million males, 7.67 million females. Children account for 12.4% of the total population. The Tokyo Prefecture is in contradiction with the rest of the country. Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi: "This trend can affect the very existence of parishes."

Tokyo (AsiaNews) - Japan's birth-rate continues to plunge. Starting from 1 April, the number of children under 15 years of age stands at 15.71 million, down 170,000 compared to the previous year, the worst since 1950.

According to a government survey released today marking National Children's Day, the figure reported a contraction for the 36th consecutive year and represents nearly half the peak in 1954, equal to 29.88 million. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has estimated the figure based on the national census data.

Children account for 12.4% of the total population. The percentage dropped to almost a third from 35.4 percent in 1950, the highest ever recorded. Of the 15.71 million children, 8.05 million are males, while 7.67 million are females.

In contrast with the rest of the country, the Tokyo Prefecture is the only one to record year after year an increase in the young population. The aging of society is in fact a problem that is aggravated in rural areas.

A 2015 government expert's report on demography in Japan showed that by 2040, the decline in the population could force more than 890 rural communities into extinction. Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, bishop of Niigata, commented on the data with great concern for the life of the Catholic Church in the country.

"This trend may affect the very existence of the parishes," Msgr. Kikuchi told AsiaNews. "Given that the recent economic situation in Japan is not conducive to raising many children, it is irresponsible for the Catholic Church to impose a policy of more children, while many families are suffering from financial difficulties caused by childrens education without the support of the government."
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appreciates the commitment of Russia, Turkey and Iran to try to "end" the use of weapons. Four de-escalation areas. They will remain in force for at least six months. But the Syrian delegation and the rebels representatives in Astana refuse to sign. In Sochi Turkey and Russia relaunch bilateral cooperation.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "encouraged" by yesterday's agreement between Russia, Iran and Turkey, under which "security zones" will be set up in effort to promote a "de-escalation" of the conflict in Syria. "It will be crucial to see this agreement actually improve the lives of Syrians," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The governments of Moscow, Tehran and Ankara at the conclusion of the peace talks yesterday in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, signed a document that sanctions the creation of four security zones. This is a further step in the direction of the ceasefire that came into effect at the end of December.

The agreement includes a ceasefire, a ban on overflying, the immediate supply of humanitarian aid and the return of refugees. The areas affected will be implemented June 4 and cover parts of the Homs province, in the center of the country, in the south and in the Ghouta enclave, and east of the capital.

Aware of the positive outcome of the negotiations, the UN Secretary-General expressed "appreciation" for the commitment shown in trying to "put an end to the use of all weapons, especially air raids" and the rapid provision of medical and humanitarian aid.

The United Nations is in favor of a de-escalation of the conflict, as pointed out by the UN Special Envoy for Siria Staffan de Mistura, present at Astana talks. For de Mistura, the deal is "an important, positive and promising step in the right direction" in the context of a conflict that flared up in March 2011 and which has caused 320,000 deaths so far.

The US opinion is more cautious, expressing doubts about Iran's role but also hope that the deal may point to a further stage in negotiations. Within the next two weeks a working group will be called to solve technical issues.

Diplomatic sources in talks in the capital of Kazakhstan say that "security zones" will remain in force "for the next six months with the possibility of further extension." However, the agreement was not signed either by the Damascus delegation nor by the rebels spokesmen in Astana. Oussama Abou Zeid, spokesman for the rebels, said that "Iran is the guarantor of the agreement".

In the meantime, the Sochi summit on the Black Sea, concluded between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Both, while supporting different fronts in the context of the Syrian conflict and starting from opposing views, have stressed the desire to continue on the path of peace.

The leader of the Kremlin said that relations between Moscow and Ankara are "fully restored" after a period of turmoil as a result of the shooting down of a Russian jet by the Turkish army on the Syrian border. Confirming the new partnership, trade agreements were signed by the two governments and the lifting of certain sanctions on Turkish agricultural products such as wheat and sunflower oil.
Leaked Images Reveal New Fitbit Smartwatch, Earbuds

Someone Leaked Pics Of The New Fitbit Smartwatch, And People Are Not Impressed

Its been a long and sometimes frustrating build up to an expected fall release, but Fitbit might finally have its much-anticipated smartwatch and Bluetooth earbuds ready for the public. Thats according to Yahoo Finance, which published the first images of both products earlier this week.

The result, according to some, is, well, underwhelming. Because it doesnt look a whole lot different than the Blaze, Fitbits previous watch that came out early last year.

One source told Yahoo Finance, It was very retro-looking with the lines and stuff  definitely not sexy. Several employees who saw the design complained about it.

Still, the new product, which goes by the codename Higgs within the company, is an upgrade on the Blaze. Its color display matches the Apple Watch Series 2 in brightness at 1,000 nits, has a built-in GPS, heart-rate monitor and touchless payments. It can also store and play music from Pandora and, perhaps best of all, has a four-day battery life. Its aluminum housing will let users switch watch bands as they wish.

And while Fitbit has had some software troubles before, Higgs is supposedly coming with software that will allow customers to match their user interface (UI) with their Blazes.

Still, as The Verge notes, if Fitbit wants to seriously compete with Apple in the wearable tracker market  the Apple Watch Series 2 is said to be a reliable fitness tracker in its own right  it will have to up its game, particularly regarding waterproofing and app support. Those are two areas where Apple already performs well.

Its also worth noting that Fitbit chose to design Higgs with its own internal in-house team, and not the outside firm that did the Blaze. A sign of confidence, perhaps?

As for the earbuds, codenamed Parkside, they are said to resemble Beats and Apples Beats X earbuds, with metallic coloring and in-ear molds that will help drown out ambient noise. So far, only two colors are confirmed: Nightfall Blue and Lunar Grey.

Higgs is expected to retail for around $300, Parkside for $150.
Guy Shows How 'Douchebags' Looked In Every Decade Since The 1940s

Trending News: Watch This Guy Nail Impressions Of D-Bags From The Last 8 Decades

Quick Take

There are three certainties in life  death, taxes and douchebags  or something like that.

Seriously though, there always seems to be one male style that by the end of each decade  or perhaps even sooner  that becomes extremely painful to see as it's often worn by the worst of the worst humans.

Case in point, these guys from the 2000s:

Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

But d-bag styles goes back way further than the bros from Jersey Shore.

With the help of a fashion stylist, YouTuber Matthew Broussard demonstrates what douchebags looked like in the 1940s onto now  and it's incredibly accurate.

From the pencil moustache of the 1940s (no bigger d-bag than Hitler himself), to the frat boy sandals with socks bro of the 1990s to the manbun of today, sigh, Broussard gets the most hated styles of the decade down to a T.

The only question I have is what'll come next? The mullet? The only neck beard? I hope to hell not.

To rock a style that won't make you look like a douche, try one of these hairstyles for 2017.

Drop This Fact

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is facing serious jail time for tax evasion.
Preparing for a road trip: 10 things to check before you hit the road

Driving a long distance this holiday season? Here are 10 things to know before you do.

2,21,947 Views Follow us on

First, lets get the obvious out of the way  get your car serviced and make sure everything is as it should be; top up or replace oils, coolant, lights, wiper blades and tyres; and carry all your cars documents. Okay, now that we are now done with that, lets talk about some not-so-obvious guidelines to make your drive safer and more comfortable.

This is the most important point in this article. Everyone in the car, including rear-seat passengers, must be belted up at all times. Not only can it save your lives in an accident, it will also save you from getting bruised if you speed over an unmarked speed breaker (found aplenty in India) and hit your head on the roof or those hand grips over the windows.

Its always good to have a second driver, just in case you fall ill on the way or get tired. You wouldnt want your passengers to get stuck in the middle of nowhere, is there is no one else to take over. This is especially important if its a long drive, or a challenging one, like the drive to Ladakh.

Carry a spare key, but dont keep it in the glove box or in a bag stored in the boot. Keep it with you, but dont keep both the keys together. Its a good idea to let someone else hold on to the spare key.

Carry a couple of old newspapers as they make excellent window cleaners and also act as effective carpets for muddy shoes.

Preserve the toll receipts till the end of the trip. Thats because if you are stopped by the authorities for driving an out-of-state registered vehicle, the toll receipts will prove that you are passing through and not a permanent resident of that state. Yes, your driving license and car papers should prove that, but keep the toll receipts too as another line of defence.

Follow all the rules of traffic. You wouldnt want to get your license confiscated by the traffic police so far away from home. Also, some places might have particular rules that you may be unaware of. For example, in Chandigarh you can be fined for smoking while driving. Motorists have been stopped by the Gujarat traffic police for not having a yellow strip on their headlamp. In Karnataka, pillions are prohibited on bikes with less than a 100cc engine capacity.

If you want to reach your destination faster, making fewer stops is more efficient than stepping on the throttle. So try and minimise your stops if you want to make time. Carry liquids and snacks to have on the go. Though you will find fuel pumps along all major national highways, finding pumps on state roads might not be so easy. Get your tank topped once the needle drops below half a tank. Actively scout for a pump if your fuel level drops to a quarter of the tank. Also remember that all pumps will have diesel, but some of them may not have petrol.

Heres a rough rule of thumb to plan your drive with respect to the time it will take. On the highway, you will take an hour for every 50km, so a 200km drive should take about four hours. This is just an approximation. And while on the subject of planning your drive, its a good idea to leave at first light, as the traffic is lighter and the weather will be better. Moreover, it will give you a buffer time in case you have a breakdown or a puncture.

While we have some fantastic roads criss-crossing the country, whats missing are clean washrooms. While it may not be too much of an issue for men, it can be a real issue for women. So when you come across a clean washroom, make use of it because you dont know when you will find the next one. And yes, carry toilet paper. Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs. Dont throw anything out of the car. Please keep a bag inside for all your waste and dispose it when you reach your destination.

That brings us to the most important point in this article. Indian roads are the most dangerous in the world. Its a fact, accept it. Vehicles will come at you from the wrong side, bikers will suddenly swerve across the road in front of you, there will be unmarked obstructions, pedestrians and animals will jump out on the road from behind bushes and no amount of shouting profanities at them will help. What you can do is stay vigilant every moment. Leave your ego and anger at home. Keep yourself calm and patient. Remember, you want to have a nice holiday and not spend your time at the police station, a workshop or a hospital. Have a safe driving holiday.

Copyright (c) Autocar India. All rights reserved.
Gets only a five-speed manual gearbox; waiting period of one month for lower variant and 45 days for top-spec trims.

The demand for Hondas new cross-hatch, the WR-V, is on a steady rise, with dealers stating that the lower variant has a waiting period of close to one month while the top-spec trims take about 45 days for delivery. The WR-V was launched in March and as per Honda's latest press release, it has clocked 12,000 bookings in less than two months.



Interestingly, there is a skew in the demand based on colour as well. Carnelian Red seems to be the most popular shade and it has a waiting period of one month, while white WR-Vs are available immediately.

The WR-V comes with a 1.5-litre diesel and a 1.2-litre petrol motor and is priced starting at Rs 7.75 lakh for the base petrol, going up to Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the top-spec diesel. Between petrol and diesel, its the latter thats more popular as it is fitted with goodies like cruise control and a push-start button. The WR-V gets a five-speed manual gearbox only.

There have been many enquiries for an automatic variant too, but there is no news of Honda bringing an auto gearbox to the market anytime soon. There seems to be a good demand for customisation as well and some dealers are offering a contrast roof option for around Rs 25,000.

The WR-Vs direct rival is the Hyundai i20 Active which commands a waiting period of two weeks for the petrol and around one month for the diesel, at most locations.

Read our Honda WR-V review
Spy shots of a KTM 390 Duke with an electric powerplant certainly seem to suggest so.

KTM is no stranger to electric motorcycles. Its E-Ride series has been able to blend great off-road (and supermoto) performance with zero-emissions riding for the past few years now. This line-up includes the Freeride E-XC, E-SX and E-SM, all powered by a liquid-cooled synchronous electric motor with peak power output at 22hp (15hp of constant output) and 42Nm of torque. The easily replaceable 260-volt battery pack is compact and good for a range of a few dozen kilometres.

But, recently, UK-based publication MCN managed to shoot pictures of a KTM 390 Duke fitted with an electric motor. Now its a little tricky to confirm whether this bike was actually being tested by KTM, especially since the branding decals have been left intact  something the Austrian bike maker never does for its test mules. It could very easily be a company that specialises in electric powertrains testing a prototype system in an existing production bike. Plus the fact that the rider isn't fully kitted up the way KTM test riders usually are doesnt bode well for this being something from Mattighofen.

But at this point, until more details appear, it might be reasonable to assume that KTM is testing a new electric powertrain for small-sized road-going electric bikes  a Duke-E of sorts. A closer inspection of the spy pics makes it clear that the basic running gear of the 390 Duke seems to be maintained. This includes the final drive bits like the sprockets and chain along with the gearbox. The pictures also reveal a gear shifter. Now this goes against what KTM has done with its E-Ride series, which feature a fixed transmission ratio. Of course, its not like an electric motorcycle with a manual transmission hasnt been done before  the now defunct Brammo being the biggest name here.

The Dukes trellis frame, however, is missing, and in its place is a massive aluminium battery box. With the trellis gone, this bike has a unique, long subframe for mounting the seats and the tail section. It uses the swingarm from the 390 Duke, but it has been mounted to the chunky electric motor. A slim, vertically stacked radiator on the right seems to indicate that this motor is liquid cooled. No information is available on the power output or the capacity of the batteries, but their massive size coupled with a manual transmission might just equate to a range of over a hundred kilometres on a single charge.

Apart from this, the brakes, wheels, suspension and pretty much every other bit looks like it has come from the previous-generation 390 Duke. The instrument cluster, however, seems to be a bit different and almost feels like it could be from the new 2017 KTM 390 Duke. An indication that this could actually be KTM testing out this electric bike can be seen near the instrument cluster. The bike seems to be using KTMs proprietary multifunction instrument from the E-Ride bikes that allows riders to select different riding modes and shows battery indications.

If these pictures are accurate, it looks like KTM is working on a small-sized, mass-market electric motorcycle. And given the companys track record for making any sort of motorcycle more exciting, we are naturally thrilled at this prospect.
Slated for launch on May 11, the Isuzu MU-X will come with 2WD and 4WD variants.

A few days ago, we brought you spy shots of the India-spec Isuzu MU-X SUV, which is slated to hit showrooms on May 11, 2017. The MU-X is a rugged contender from Isuzu which is likely to take segment stalwarts like the Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour head on.

Dealers have begun accepting bookings unofficially for the Isuzu MU-X, with the booking amount varying from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000. The Isuzu MU-X will be sold in India initially with only one engine option, a 3.0-litre diesel good for 163hp and 380Nm torque. Transmission duties will be handled by a sole five-speed automatic gearbox. Isuzu will offer two drivetrain options though, a 2WD and a top-spec full-time 4WD option.

Dealer sources also suggest that Isuzu is planning to further expand the MU-X line-up later in the year, which means more variants like the 2WD and 4WD MT and a less-powerful 150hp, 1.9-litre engine option could be on the cards.

The Isuzu MU-X will be assembled at Isuzu's Sri City plant in Andhra Pradesh. This facility currently assembles the Isuzu D-Max and the V-Cross lifestyle pick-up truck which is a sister model to the MU-X. Isuzu recently unveiled a facelifted version of the MU-X internationally. However, in India the pre-facelifted MU-X will come first and the refreshed model will follow later.

There is no word on the MU-X pricing yet. However, dealers suggest that the SUV will be priced below the popular Toyota Fortuner and also may have a starting price of around Rs 24 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) for the 2WD variant.

Update

As stated by us here, Isuzu has indeed priced the MU-X below the Toyota Fortuner. Click here for more details.
Photo courtesy of EveryCarListed via Flickr.

The average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in April reached 25.3 mpg, which was a 0.1 mpg increase from March, according to the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute.

The value is up 5.2 mpg since October of 2007 and down 0.2 mpg from the peak of 25.5 mpg reached in August of 2014, according to Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle, who compile the report.

The University of Michigan Eco-Driving Index (EDI)  an index that estimates the average monthly emissions of greenhouse gases generated by an individual U.S. driver  was 0.85 in February, up 0.01 from the value for January 2017 (the lower the value the better).

This value indicates that the average new-vehicle driver produced 15% lower emissions in February than in October of 2007, but 7% higher emissions than the record low reached in November of 2013.
The 2019 Ford Ranger is definitely one of the best pickup trucks as it gets officially released. This upcoming Ranger is expected to be more powerful and capable than its outgoing model, as it comes with notable upgrades and improvements.

The 2019 Ford Ranger, first and foremost, is expected to ride on a revised version of the current T6 platform which underpins Euro-spec Ranger. It is also reported to underpin the equally famous and highly-anticipated Ford Bronco which will be built at Ford's Wayne, Michigan production facility.

The upcoming Ford Ranger's power will come from both EcoBoost four- and six-cylinder engine. Industry experts are hoping for a diesel variant, which has yet to be confirmed. The direct-injected biturbo EcoBoost V-6 may be the range-topping engine of choice. However, the new 10-speed automatic which is co-developed with GM will come in standard. Both two and four-wheel-drive options will also be made available.

The 2019 Ford Ranger came in heavily camouflaged as it was recently spotted, offering limited information on its actual look. However, the Ranger heading to the US is reported to come with more distinctive design to meet the requirements of its North American buyers. It is expected to sport styling cues inspired by current F-150, with both Crew Cab and Super Cab available.

The upcoming Ranger's front nose retains the same hexagonal shape, however, the US Ranger may come sporting a four bar horizontal grille design compared to the three bar grille seen in the Australian Ranger. Chrome side view mirrors were also spotted as part of the US Ranger, with black wheel versions of the 18-inch split-spoke hoops of Wildtraks.

The 2019 Ford Ranger is highly anticipated and industry experts just have to wait one more year for its official debut. It is expected to be officially introduced to the market sometime 2018 as the 2019 model.
General Motors has confirmed that public tours at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky will be suspended for 18 months (1 year and a half). Although unconfirmed, reports point to the preparations of the new Corvette as one of the reasons for the tour suspension.

The Bowling Green Daily News reported that according to the Katie Frassinelli of the National Corvette Museum, public tours at the assembly plant are being suspended to allow the facility to have a chance for "extensive changes." So, if you want to grab that tour, better head out to Kentucky as final tours will be on June 16, Friday.

Now, conspiracy theories have been circling all over regarding the reason behind such a long time for an "extensive change" to the plant. Thus, reports point out that according to an internal GM document, the company is adding a new 6.2-liter DOHC V8 engine to the Corvette lineup for the 2018 model year.

However, it hasn't been confirmed which specific model the new engine will be placed in. In other words, the tour suspension of the Kentucky Corvette plant would give ample time for GM to retool the powertrain without anyone snapping photos. Complete secrecy!

And there's the theory surrounding the upcoming C7 Corvette ZR1, which has been seen running around at the 'Ring. They might want to hide and complete this upcoming beast in secret, once again.

Regardless, the sizable amount of time for the public tour suspension highly suggests that something fishy is going on, or not so fishy. Probably, the plant will finally shift toward a new layout and work on that mid-engine.

But before the Corvette plant tour re-opens, we should expect the track-devouring Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to release soon enough. Public tours at the General Motors Kentucky plant will end on June 16. In the meantime, check out this video of the ZR1 shooting flames at the Nurburgring.
Apple Inc., Tesla, and Alphabet's Waymo encouraged the state of California to tighten up its proposed policy on testing self-driving cars. This move would end up in a more public data that could help the tech giants catch up to rivals in the self-driving space by giving a much better window into their strengths and weaknesses.

Through a letter made public on Friday, Apple stated some changes to the policy that is under development and they are looking forward to working with California and other states "so that rapid technology development may be realized while ensuring the safety of the traveling public." Other companies such as Ford Motor Co, Uber Technologies Inc, and Toyota Motor Corp. had already filed comments suggesting the said changes.

"We're encouraged by the DMV efforts to develop regulations for autonomous vehicles that would help California remain a leader in the development of self-driving cars," Waymo said in a statement. "Waymo looks forward to deploying this life-saving technology in the state."

The state of California replied on Tuesday stating that it would review the comments before they decide whether to change the policy that will allow companies to test vehicles with the traditional steering wheels and controls or human backup drivers. California is now in a race to develop autonomous vehicles, and the proposed changes from large automakers and tech companies could help provide insight into current efforts.

Meanwhile, Tesla stated that California shouldn't also bar testing prototype autonomous vehicles that are weighing 10,000 pounds or more. The weight cap will not affect passenger car but would affect commercial vehicles.

Tesla is planning to reveal an electric semi-truck this coming September, and it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine the company that is trying to apply its autonomous-driving tech to the big trucks. According to the Master Plan for Tesla, Musk mentioned a vehicle that can function as an autonomous bus, but with riders hailing it via an app instead of waiting at bus stops.

Waymo and General Motors also made comments about liability policies. Liability is one of the largest question marks circling self-driving cars, as manufacturers, regulators, and insurance companies haven't yet figured out who is responsible when an autonomous vehicle crashes. These companies manufacturing the said vehicles will surely put pressure on regulators to limit their liability as much as possible.
It is often rare to find a Lamborghini Sesto Elemento up for sale, especially if it only has 123 miles on its odometer. In fact, this up for sale Lambo is priced at around $2.6million and is in Dubai.

Being a limited edition, as there were only 20 lightweight super machines ever built by Lambo, it's such an awesome sight to see that one is being sold with its original mileage. Talk about garage display. The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is equipped with a 5.2-liter V10 engine from Gallardo mated to a 6-speed automated manual gearbox. It delivers 570 horses and 400 lb-ft of torque.

With just a curb weight of over 2,200 pounds, this Lambo uses extensive carbon fiber. In fact, its driveshaft, chassis, body, and parts of its suspension are made from lightweight materials. And if you think about it, the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento's low mass and high output allow this beast to reach a 0 to 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds.

There is also an engineering company, the seller claims to have contact with, to convert the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento into a road-legal vehicle from its original track-only. Well, if you have $2.6million to spare right now, why not go for it?

But don't just stop there. And if you have around $309,000, which is cost for transforming the McLaren P1 GTR into a street-legal vehicle by Lanzante Motorsport (for reference only), then you'd be the very first owner of a Sesto Elemento that can cruise along the street, legally, in the world. But the listing didn't specify which engineering firm would perform the conversion.

However, MotorAuthority pointed out something odd about the Sesto Elemento that's up for sale. According to the report, this Lambo is being offered by Knight International and says that the hypercar is in Dubai. But the pictures look similar as those of a for sale Sesto Elemento on Craigslist, which was in Seattle, Washington, and only has 118 miles on its odometer.

The asking price for that Sesto Elemento was $4.5 million. So, could they be the same Lamborghini Sesto Elemento? Regardless, a $2.6 million price tag is better than that $4.5 million though. To remind yourself of what this car was like, check out this video of the sexy Sesto Elemento.
Ignoring U.S. concerns, Azerbaijan on Thursday succeeded in forcing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to close its office in Yerevan that has promoted political reforms in Armenia.

The office has faced an uncertain future since Baku vetoed late last year a further extension of its mandate, objecting to a humanitarian demining program implemented by it in Armenia.

The Azerbaijani delegation to the OSCE headquarters in Vienna insisted in a January statement that the program can strengthen the capacity and skills of relevant Armenian structures in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It accused Armenia of seeking to misuse the OSCE Office in Yerevan against legitimate interests of Azerbaijan.

Armenia shrugged off those allegations. It said that Baku is simply keen to force the closure of the Yerevan office after having a similar OSCE office in Baku shut down in 2015. OSCE decisions on opening such missions and extending their activities have to be unanimously approved by all 57 member states of the organization.

Baku did not drop its objections even after the Armenian government agreed later in January to exclude demining from a wide range of OSCE activities in Armenia. That prompted a stern warning from the United States, with a senior U.S. diplomat saying in February that the closure of the Yerevan office would reflect poorly on Azerbaijan.

A representative of Austria, the current holder of the OSCE presidency, told the OSCEs Permanent Council in Vienna on Thursday that the Azerbaijani government remains adamant in demanding the office closure.

The United States regrets the impending closure of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Kate Byrnes, the charge daffaires of the U.S. mission to the OSCE, said at the meeting. We lament the loss of the last OSCE field operation in the South Caucasus.

Armenia, in the spirit of compromise, agreed that the Office in Yerevan would end these [humanitarian demining] activities, she stressed.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Bakus uncompromising stance on the issue. The ministry spokesman, Tigran Balayan, said Azerbaijans authoritarian leadership is highlighting its dismal human rights record and deepening the gap between itself and the international community.

Byrnes also praised the Armenian governments long-running cooperation with the OSCE and its Yerevan office in particular. The offices promotion of human rights, tax and police reforms, gender equality and press freedom has brought about positive results, she said.

The American diplomat went on to urge the organizations Austrian chairmanship to explore new ways of maintaining an OSCE presence in Armenia and throughout the South Caucasus.

Balayan said in that regard that the authorities in Yerevan are open to new avenues of implementing OSCE projects in Armenia.
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You need to use or bank your old 5 notes today before shops stop accepting them.

The Bank of England will be withdrawing legal tender status of the old 5 note, featuring prison reformer Elizabeth Fry on the back, when the clock strikes midnight.

That means that you have just a few hours left to use or lose your old fivers before retailers start to refuse them, with around 155 million of the notes still in circulation.

Some banks and building societies may continue to accept the old notes after Friday, according to the Bank of England, but this will be at their own discretion.

(Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

The Bank of England, based in London, will also continue to exchange the old notes even after May 5.

Old paper fivers have been replaced by the new polymer note featuring Sir Winston Churchill, which has been in circulation since it was first issued by the Bank last September.

The introduction of the new Bank of England polymer banknotes allows for a new generation of security features which make them even harder to counterfeit.

The note is resistant to dirt and moisture and so remains in better condition for longer.

The strength of the polymer material means that the new fiver is also expected to last at least 2.5 times longer than the paper note  around five years.

However, it has been controversial as it emerged that traces of animal-derived additives were used in its production.

(Image: Joe Giddens - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

What to do if you still old fivers after May 5

Here is what some major account providers have said about whether people can still deposit 5 notes after May 5:
Three brothers are celebrating a graduation trifecta.

Saturday is big day for Rojelio, Daniel and Jose Guzman-Ramos

Brothers will graduate from USF

2 will get degrees in exercise science; other in industrial engineering



Rojelio, Daniel and Jose Guzman-Ramos will get their college degrees from the University of South Florida on Saturday.

"I am looking forward to graduation," 21-year-old Jose Guzman-Ramos said. "I'm counting down the days."

It wasn't planned, but the triple celebration means a lot.

They are the children of migrant workers and will be the first in their family to graduate from college.

"Not everybody graduates with siblings, and to graduate with my two siblings is really an honor," said 24-year-old Rojelio Guzman-Ramos.

"I'm excited to give my parents something to smile about," said Daniel Guzman-Ramos, 22.

"There was a point in my life where college wasn't even in the back of my head, so now to say I finally did it with my brothers, it's a blessing," said Jose Guzman-Ramos.

This weekend, Rogelio and Jose will receive their bachelor's degrees in exercise science. Both plan to attend graduate school.

Daniel will receive a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. He will work as an analyst at Accenture in Washington, D.C.

The three were able to pay for school with scholarships.

The brothers hope to earn enough money to keep their parents from working in the fields.

They also hope their story inspires other children of migrant workers to continue with their education.
Better than television is how one resident described an explosive Madeira Beach meeting Thursday evening. This after the mayor asked for the City Manager, Shane Crawford to be fired.

Raucous Madeira Beach commission meeting

Mayor Maggi Black announced the firing of City Manager Shane Crawford

People in the audience screamed out during meeting

The citys newly elected Mayor, Maggi Black said Crawford was less than truthful about trying to hire a financial director. She said leaders lost confidence in Crawford and accused him of undermining her and two other newly elected commissioners, Nancy Oakley and John Douthirt, since they took office.

City Commissioner, Terry Lister said he was shocked at the firing. He said Crawford has done a good job for the city and he blamed the mayor for the surprise termination.

Lister said he was notified at the last minute and at one point he ripped up the paperwork with the motion to terminate Crawford and threw it in the mayors direction.

The outbursts continued from there. People in the audience screamed out as the mayor got confused on how to state a motion. Another yelled that the new leaders are embarrassing and referred to them as cartoon characters.

One man asked for newly elected commissioner Nancy Oakley not to vote.



"I really think Nancy, after the debauchery that went on with Shane and the face licking, she should recuse herself from the vote," he said. "Because I dont see how she could vote fairly."



Crawford backed up those claims but Oakley had no comment and voted to terminate him.

In the room of about a hundred residents there were about a quarter of people who sided with the mayor and the two commissioners.

Stand firm. Move forward. Clean house and get on with doing business," yelled one woman in support of the mayors decision.

Another man told leaders, Its wrong. Shane has done a wonderful job, he said.

Crawfords wife who is also the city clerk initially refused to call the roll for commissioners to vote on his firing. But she ended up calling it at the end of the meeting and broke down in tears as leaders voted 3-2 to fire him.

Crawford defended himself during the meeting about several allegations. Including one woman who said he did a bad job and violated rules. I just want to go on record and say everything that woman said is false and I can prove it, Crawford said.

In the end the mayor got the majority of the votes and Crawford is out of a job if the firing process goes according to their plan.



For now hes suspended.

The city attorney says Crawford will be allowed to request a public hearing. After a series of meetings his termination will be final.
A Possible Political Solution for Syria

Syria's religious and ethnic minorities are faced with difficult choices as the Syrian conflict shows no sign of abating. They, along with the rest of the country, have suffered at the hands of the Assad regime, which has unrelentingly assaulted the civilian populace and persecuted any political, religious or intellectual figure that dares question the Assad family's legitimacy to rule Syria. Rich in diversity, Syria hosts a significant number of Syriac [Assyrian] Christians and other Christian denominations, as well as a Kurdish community that under Baathist rule was marginalized. Many pro-Iran media outlets in the West continue to push the narrative that without the Assad regime, Syria's minorities will face almost sure destruction. In Washington, this narrative has gained much currency among a vast spectrum of politicians. One of Congress' most colorful proponents of the Assad regime, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, from California, recently used this tired canard while attempting to block additional congressional sanctions on the regime. And while it may be easy to laugh off characters such as Rohrabacher, American social media are packed with fake news sites claiming that the Assad regime defends Christians and other minorities in Syria. I was recently in Cairo where I had the chance to talk with Syrian Christian, Arab and Kurdish opposition figures. On May 3, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jarba, a Shammar tribal leader and a leading Syrian opposition figure, led a conference of the Syrian National Democratic council hosted by Cairo. Al-Jarba is leading a group of Arab fighters in the eastern Syrian countryside who are helping the Kurds and other Syrian rebels battle Daesh. This gathering was a sign of Kurdish-Arab and Muslim-Christian solidarity. Al-Jarba was joined by the head of the Syrian Kurdish National Council and the head of the Syriac Council. The Syrian National Democratic Council and its diverse members want to impress that the Assad regime does not put Syrian Christian interests above all. According to Rudaw, an English language Kurdish news service, Al-Jarba has raised a tribal force of approximately 3,000 Syrian Arab fighters to battle Daesh in the Raqqa countryside. US special forces recently agreed to provide training and support to Jarba's Syrian Elite Forces that seek to encircle the remaining pockets of Daesh fighters and cut them off from the group's self-declared capital Raqqa. A formula that may be successful in the fight against Daesh will require Arab-Kurdish cooperation, as well as the cooperation of Syriac fighters from Christian villages in northeast Syria. President of the Kurdish Regional Government in Iraq Masoud Barazani could, under one scenario, lend the support of Kurdish peshmerga to help Sunni Arab forces and allies not only defeat Daesh in Raqqa, but also to ensure that Daesh does not re-emerge. This would first necessitate an end to the fight against Daesh in Mosul. Compounding the difficulty of finding a sustainable strategy against Daesh, US forces partnered in Syria mainly with the problematic PYD, which the Turkish government considers a terror group. Moreover, there is no real plan for after Raqqa. When asked this week who will administer Raqqa once Daesh is defeated, a US military representative failed to come up with a clear answer. The PYD will attempt to place proxies to administer the city, and this could be problematic, for it could offer a reason to the Assad regime and Iran -- who both cooperate from time to time with the PYD -- to eventually take over Raqqa and launch a campaign to retake the rest of eastern Syria. At this time, a sustainable peace agreement for Syria is nowhere near the horizon. The ongoing discussions in Astana, Kazakhstan, for cease-fire parameters do not offer much hope in the long run. Although a deal appears to have been struck on "zones of de-escalation," neither side can agree on the details of a cease-fire nor on a true enforcement mechanism. Indeed, the Russian government remains stalwart in its denial that the Assad regime used chemical weapons in Khan Sheikhun, which makes it difficult to see how Moscow could prevent future Assad regime attacks against civilians in the prescribed zones. It also means that the fighting will continue for some time to come. So the question is how to ensure that Syria's Christians and Kurds are protected, not only from the extremist Daesh excesses but also from an Assad regime that is now totally dependent on Iran-backed Shiite extremist militants? A three-prong approach is in order. First, ensure that the final push to liberate Raqqa and the strategic city of Deir Ezzor is not undertaken without a clear political framework. Two, ensure that Sunni Arab tribes are offered the necessary tools and military support to defeat Daesh and hold liberated territory. And three, ensure that any political solution for Syria includes groups such as the National Democratic Council, to show the world that Kurds and Christians can coexist with Arab countrymen in Syria without the need for Assad's rule.
Pacific City Talk / Hike Event Remembers Landmark Oregon Coast Moment

Published 05/04/2017 at 6:53 PM PDT - Updated 05/04/2017 at 6:59 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Pacific City, Oregon)  Another landmark moment that led to the signing of the Beach Bill in the '60s will be commemorated on Mother's Day, May 14, with the Mother's Day March event in Pacific City.

It was a key moment in Oregon's campaign to make Oregon coast beaches public, happening on Mother's Day 1966. Back then, hundreds joined a march in the Pacific City area to protest the building of a highway straight through estuaries and other fragile shoreline areas, urged along by State Treasurer Bob Straub  who would years later become governor. The march was yet another milestone towards the beach bill changing the Oregon coast for the better.

On this May 14, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition sponsors a beachwalk and history talk to honor the famous event.

First, the public gathers at 10:30 a.m. at the Kiawanda Community Center (34600 Cape Kiwanda Dr.) in Pacific City. After refreshments and a few brief reminiscences, the group will head to the nearby entrance of Bob Straub State Park at 11 a.m. and walk down the Nestucca Spit. The walk will take place rain or shine, although its length will depend on the weather.



As the walk concludes, organizers bring the group back to the Kiwanda Center for talks and a potluck picnic. First up is a presentation about former Gov. Bob Straub, the original Mother's Day March, and the subsequent battles to get the beach bill signed into law. The speaker will be Charles K. Johnson, author of Standing at the Waters Edge: Bob Straubs Battle for the Soul of Oregon.





Then, it's fun times with the potluck picnic, either on the beach or inside the Kiawanda Center, depending on weather. There is no charge for the event; bring something to share if staying for the picnic. The Pelican Pub will be providing free beer, while the Grateful Bread restaurant will be bringing coffee and baked goods.

When Straub was still state treasurer, he took the reigns of a desperate effort to prevent an environmental disaster on the Oregon coast. What was then called the State Highway Department (before it became ODOT) was planning to move part of Highway 101 south of Cape Lookout to create a straightened stretch where drivers could see the ocean from their vehicles. That new alignment of highway would've cut into the Nestucca Spit, created a bridge over the Nestucca River mouth and destroyed beach areas down to about Cascade Head.

With Straub taking up the cause and becoming the prominent face of the campaign, opponents to the highway project organized against in a very grass-roots manner and eventually won. One of the key ways to bring public attention to the subject was the march on the Nestucca Spit. It worked, and much of Oregon's population became supportive of the effort to keep the highway out. The plan was killed.

At the time, Straub addressed the Highway Commission on the importance of keeping the beauty of the Oregon coast.

Our beach resource is a limited resource. The demand for it, the need for it, the value of its beauty is stronger and stronger every day. A few individuals, a few short-sighted promotional type organizations are beating the drums for this beach route as a way for them to make a quick dollar and destroy, in the process, their most valuable asset. Gentlemen, they would sell out too quickly and too cheaply."

The event is the first in a series that the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition will hold in 2017 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Oregon Beach Bill, which preserved the states entire shoreline for the public. This initial activity, though, honors an occasion that preceded the Beach Bill campaign, but served as a prelude to the struggle to keep Oregons beaches open, natural, and public.

Future Gov. Straub and the group he founded, Beaches Forever, played a key role in the battle to reserve the states beaches and rocky shores for public use and enjoyment. Straub's role in the entire campaign is not known nearly as well as the efforts by Gov. Tom McCall and and Oregon Shores' founder Bob Bacon, which prompted Oregon Shores to create this celebration of Straub's role in Oregon coast history.

Historian and keynote speaker Johnson said Straub's vision was a big part of the success of the Oregon Beach Bill story.

"Without Bob Straub's early warning, highway crews would have scarred beautiful stretches of Oregon's northern coastline with development from Winema Beach to Cape Kiwanda and the Nehalem Spit to Manzanita, Johnson said. The citizen movement that Bob Straub started became a wave of protest that swamped Gov. McCall's beach highway plan. It was the precursor to the tsunami of public outrage that descended on the State Legislature over plans to privatize Oregon's beaches and led directly to the Beach Bill. On this issue and many others, Straub's early challenges helped Tom McCall find his voice as Oregon's environmental champion."

For more information about the May 14 Mothers Day March, or other plans for celebrating the Beach Bill, contact Phillip Johnson, Oregon Shores executive director, 503-754-9303, [email protected], or Oregon Shores board member and local organizer Graham Klag, (971) 998-6604, [email protected] Pacific City Hotels, Lodging for this event - Where to eat - Map and Virtual Tour









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Anthem and Cigna are readying for an impending legal battle concerning their possible post merger breakup, the CTMirror reports.

Here's what you should know.

1. The two payers have another case scheduled in Delaware May 8.

2. The case will potentially allow Cigna to free itself from the merger deal and collect its breakup fee and other possible damages.

3. If the merger isn't completed, Anthem owes Cigna $1.85 billion. Cigna is suing Anthem for approximately $14 billion in additional damages.

4. The CTMirror reports that Anthem is still considering asking the Supreme Court to review its case. Several experts believe the Supreme Court will not review the case.
Longmont (Colo.) United Hospital, part of Centennial, Colo.-based Centura Health, is closing its primary care practice in Lyons, Colo., Aug. 1.

Hospital officials said Centura Health Physician Group Primary Care  Lyons is closing due to financial losses caused by a decrease in patient volume.

"This decision was due to annual financial losses since opening the practice as well as a decreased utilization of services from the population in closest proximity to the Lyons practice," states a press release from Centura. "In order to provide the best overall experience for our patients and streamline services, CHPG will be focusing on locations where most of our patients reside." Centura said many of the patients who use the clinic in Lyons live in Longmont.

Longmont United Hospital Vice President of Operations Peter Powers said patients who live in Lyons will still have access to primary care services. "Our primary care providers will be available at practices throughout the Longmont area and these locations are accepting new patients," he said. "We are ready to meet the healthcare needs of the patients currently receiving care at our Lyons facility."

Staff at the clinic in Lyons will be placed at other facilities within the Centura network, according to the news release.

More articles on healthcare finance:

Tenet sees net loss narrow to $53M, inks deal to sell 3 hospitals to HCA

OIG: Mount Sinai Hospital overbilled Medicare by $41.9M

LifePoint eyes new acquisitions as profit rises
Campbellton-Graceville (Fla.) Hospital is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to lower its high debt load, according to WHJG.

The hospital will remain open during the bankruptcy process, but officials told employees at a meeting Friday some jobs will be cut and other positions will have their hours reduced, according to the report.

Campbellton-Graceville Hospital has struggled with its debt load for years. In April 2015, the hospital was on the verge of closing, but was able to keep its doors open after receiving a capital infusion from People's Choice Hospital in Oak Brook, Ill., a company that specializes in turning around financially distressed facilities.

In a statement to WHJG, the Campbellton-Graceville board of trustees said various factors pushed the hospital into bankruptcy, including pending litigation against People's Choice Hospital. Campbellton-Graceville has accused People's Choice of wrongfully misappropriating hospital funds and breaching its management agreement.

"[T]he board made the decision to file for Chapter 11 to provide the hospital with the greatest opportunity to work through these ongoing issues and to preserve the hospital and as many of the jobs for the hard working and dedicated individuals that work at the hospital as possible," the hospital board said.

More articles on healthcare finance:

Advocate Health Care to make $200M in cuts amid financial pressure

CHS records $199M net loss, says divestiture spree is over

OIG: Mount Sinai Hospital overbilled Medicare by $41.9M
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will not move forward with plans to reconfigure South Dakota-based Black Hills VA Health Care System  at least for the time being, according to a Rapid City Journal report.

VA Secretary David Shulkin, MD, told a delegation of lawmakers this week he is still examining the closure decision. In the meantime, he said clinical operations in Hot Springs will continue, at least temporarily, and the VA is moving forward with bringing in workers for the new onsite call center, according to a news release.

"I thank Secretary Shulkin for agreeing to revisit the previous administration's decision to close the Hot Springs campus and keep the facility open while it conducts a nationwide evaluation of all VA facilities," U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said in the release. "I support Secretary Shulkin's goal of focusing on quality of care for veterans during this new evaluation. While the Hot Springs campus is no longer an immediate target, it is still in a larger pool of all VA facilities which could be reconfigured."



In January, the VA finalized its decision to reconfigure Black Hills by shutting down inpatient services at its Hot Springs campus. The decision followed a December 2016 meeting with the delegation of lawmakers, which includes Mr. Rounds, as well as Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D. During that meeting, lawmakers urged then-VA Secretary Robert McDonald "to thoroughly consider the input he received from veterans, staff and other community stakeholders," according to the release.

Ultimately, the Obama administration decided to reconfigure the Black Hills system and cease inpatient services in Hot Springs, although the Hot Springs facility was to remain open as an outpatient care and dialysis center. According to the report, the move would have left 100 hospital jobs in Hot Springs, and 300 healthcare jobs would have gone to a new facility in Rapid City, S.D.

More articles on healthcare finance:

Advocate Health Care to make $200M in cuts amid financial pressure

CHS records $199M net loss, says divestiture spree is over

OIG: Mount Sinai Hospital overbilled Medicare by $41.9M
Athenahealth shares dropped 17 percent on April 28 after the company posted its 2017 first quarter financial results, according to the Boston Business Journal.

In its financial results, athenahealth opted to adjust its full-year revenue projections based on its lower-than-expected first quarter performance. The company reported $285.4 million in revenue with a net loss of $1.4 million, due to low claims and collections revenues and a lack of new clients.

During an April 23 conference call, athenahealth CEO and Co-Founder Jonathan Bush suggested the company's disappointing first quarter was also partially attributable to uncertainty in the healthcare industry. He noted people are unsure how President Donald Trump will change federal healthcare laws, Boston Business Journal reports.

Another factor negatively affecting business is high-deductible health plans preventing consumers from accessing medical care, according to Mr. Bush.

"Deductibles every year having materially larger share  beneficiaries with high deductibles have an increasingly higher share of the covered base, and so they're increasingly sheepish about going to the doctor, particularly in [the first quarter] when everybody's deductibles are refreshed," Mr. Bush said in the call, according to Boston Business Journal.
A sophisticated phishing scam concealing itself as a Google Docs file made waves online Wednesday. The attempt hit so many users that the hashtag #PhishingScam was trending on Twitter by the afternoon, NPR reports.

Here are five things to know.

1. The phishing email, which invites the target to edit a file in Google Docs, might be sent from an acquaintance or a stranger's account, according to NPR.

2. Unlike a real Google Docs invitation, the phishing email does not display the Google Docs logo. The phishing email is also addressed to a username with a string of Hs, NPR reports.

3. Should the target attempt to open the file, the phishing scam prompts the user to sign into their account and asks for permission to access and manage all account information, according to USA Today.

4. If a user clicked the link, there is still a way to deny the phishing scam future access, according to Vice. An affected user should visit the "permissions" section of their Google account's page, where they can remove the malicious "Google Docs" app.

5. Google has disabled offending accounts, according to a statement the company released May 3.

"We've removed the fake pages, pushed updates through Safe Browsing, and our abuse team is working to prevent this kind of spoofing from happening again," the company said in a statement to USA Today.
Glendale (Calif.) Memorial Hospital President Jack Ivie is retiring, effective June 30. The hospital is a part of San Francisco-based Dignity Health.

Here are four takeaways:

1. Mr. Ivie is ending a 42-year career in healthcare, beginning as a licensed physical therapist at St. John's Hospital in Oxnard, Calif., in 1975.

2. He has held senior leadership positions with acute care hospitals in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

3. During his tenure as Glendale Memorial president, the hospital won numerous honors, including the 2016 Armenian American Medical Society Legacy Award.

4. Glendale Memorial Hospital is a 334-bed, acute care, nonprofit facility, established in 1926.
The GOP's American Health Care Act cleared a significant legislative hurdle Thursday when the House passed the bill.

Here are 17 reactions from healthcare industry leaders, provided via statements.

"The bill passed by the House today will result in millions of Americans losing access to quality, affordable health insurance and those with pre-existing health conditions face the possibility of going back to the time when insurers could charge them premiums that made access to coverage out of the question. Action is needed, however, to improve the current healthcare insurance system. The AMA urges the Senate and the administration to work with physician, patient, hospital and other provider groups to craft bipartisan solutions so all American families can access affordable and meaningful coverage, while preserving the safety net for vulnerable populations."

 Andrew Gurman, MD, president of the American Medical Association

"Over the past several weeks, nurses from across the country expressed their strong disapproval of this bill which would negatively impact the health of the nation. Today, Congress not only ignored the voice of the nation's most honest and ethical profession and largest group of healthcare professionals, it also ignored the almost 15 million people in the United States with pre-existing conditions who will now have no protection from insurer discrimination."

 American Nurses Association President Pamela Cipriano, PhD, RN

"The American College of Physicians is extremely disappointed that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act today. This vote makes coverage unaffordable for people with pre-existing conditions, allows insurers to opt-out of covering essential benefits like cancer screening, mental health and maternity care, and cuts and caps the federal contribution to Medicaid while sun-setting Medicaid expansion. As a result, an estimated 24 million Americans will lose their coverage, and many more will be at risk of paying higher premiums and deductibles."

 Jack Ende, MD, President of the American College of Physicians

"Critics of the bill need to remember the status quo isn't working. Under Obamacare, competition has decreased while premiums have increased by a double-digit growth rate year after year and deductibles have skyrocketed. Making matters worse, insurers are fleeing the failed marketplaces leaving one-third of all U.S. counties with only one insurer to choose from in the individual market.

Obamacare's mandates combined with a lack of competition results in people being forced to buy plans with benefits they don't want or need, at a price they can't afford. Changes have to be made, and the House Republican bill is a big step in the right direction.

The House bill repeals Obamacare's onerous mandates, promotes competition, and provides access to the type of plans people actually want at a price they can actually afford. Additionally, the House bill provides $880 billion in tax relief and provides states the much needed flexibility they have requested for years. Under this bill, states are back in control over Medicaid and can tailor the program to best fit the needs of their constituents."

 Lindsay Bealor Greenleaf, Director at ADVI Health

"Today is the first of what I am confident will be many historic days ahead as we move toward patient-centered healthcare instead of government-centered healthcare.

I have worked in the field of Medicaid for 20 years and have heard from many mothers like myself who have shared their struggles and their hopes for a more affordable, more sustainable healthcare system. It is important that our most vulnerable citizens, the aged, the infirm, the blind and the disabled have more choices, greater access and peace of mind when it comes to their healthcare.

The bill that was passed today is a great first step achieving this goal."

 CMS Administrator Seema Verma

"In short, the AHCA deals primarily with shifting the cost of care. Unfortunately, as it stands, it appears most of the cost burden would shift to people with pre-existing conditions. House Republicans want to replace the protections Obamacare provides for those with pre-existing conditions with federally-funded high-risk pools; however, it is unclear whether the amount allocated is enough to provide affordable access to care to everyone who needs it.



That's why our focus should instead be on innovative models and approaches that enable us to reduce the cost of healthcare so that it isn't so expensive to begin with. We know we can drive down costs and still achieve high-quality health outcomes when providers and hospitals form partnerships to coordinate all aspects of patient care and share financial risk. We've seen it work first-hand. Statistics from CMS show that BIDCO achieved $55 million in savings while improving care quality for Medicare patients.



Let's not lose sight of the extraordinary innovation that we've developed here in Massachusetts and across the nation. We must continue to work to ensure that problems identified in the ACA are addressed, but in a thoughtful way that guarantees affordable coverage for all Americans."

 Jeffrey Hulburt, President and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization, a value-based physician and hospital network and an ACO in Massachusetts

"As you know, the House of Representatives just passed the American Health Care Act of 2017 by a narrow, party line vote of 217-213 with all Democrats opposing. This feels like the same thing that happened when the ACA was passed by a party-line vote with all Republicans opposing. The action is certainly consistent with about seven years of House Republicans promising to repeal 'Obamacare' but it's important to note that this vote is just one step in the legislative process. The bill now moves to the Senate where it is virtually certain that the bill will be modified significantly if it passes the Senate at all.

My reaction to this is sadness not so much because of this vote but mostly because this is just one more example of our elected officials refusing to compromise and work together for the good of the country. As I have said many times over many years  healthcare should not be political  it's personal  it's about life and death. No healthcare legislation approved by only one party will last the test of time. Good and sustainable legislation should come out of debate, compromise and the involvement of the experts  in this case, healthcare professionals.

What the passage of this bill today will do is to continue the uncertainty about the future of healthcare and how it is going to be funded and it will cause confusion and fear with patients and healthcare providers. I will continue my plea to our elected officials to stop this partisan bickering about healthcare policy and instead, come together and work together to design a healthcare policy and plan that will increase coverage and access and help our country improve quality and outcomes while reducing the cost of care. We healthcare providers stand ready to help."

 Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health (San Diego)

"Consistent with our mission, Solera is focused on healthcare solutions that work. With the narrow House passage of the American Health Care Act, we hope all individuals who need quality, evidence-based, affordable care will be able to access healthcare and that providers will be properly compensated for delivering life-saving care.

We encourage members of the Senate to carefully consider the House bill, with special attention for individuals with pre-existing conditions and those receiving Medicaid benefits, and work in earnest towards a solution that benefits all Americans."

 Brenda Schmidt, CEO of Solera Health, an integrator of chronic disease prevention and management solutions

"AHIP believes that every American deserves coverage and care that is affordable and accessible, including those with pre-existing conditions. The American Health Care Act needs important improvements to better protect low- and moderate-income families who rely on Medicaid or buy their own coverage. We stand ready to work with members of the Senate and all policymakers, offering our recommendations for how this bill can be improved to ensure the private market delivers affordable coverage for all Americans."

 Marilyn Tavenner, president and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans

"America's hospitals and health systems are deeply disappointed in the House passage of the AHCA because it will jeopardize health coverage for millions of Americans.

Despite last-minute changes, the proposal eliminates essential protections for older and sicker patients, including those with pre-existing conditions, such as cancer patients and the chronically ill. It does little to help the 24 million Americans who would be left without coverage following repeal and makes deep cuts to Medicaid, which provides essential services for the disabled, poor and elderly people in this country.

As the backbone of our nation's health safety net, America's hospitals and health systems  which include more than 270,000 affiliated physicians and 2 million nurses and other caregivers  believe it's vital that Medicaid be protected.

We urge the Senate to restart and reset the discussion in a manner that provides coverage to those who need it and ensures that the most vulnerable are not left behind."

 Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association

"We have serious concerns that the proposed legislation would cause harm to patients, the healthcare delivery system, the state budget and the state economy.

More than one million Illinoisans have coverage under current law, enabling them to get the healthcare they need when they need it. The AHCA would eliminate coverage for hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans, and possibly jeopardize coverage for patients with pre-existing conditions. The bill would also repeal enhanced federal funding for expanded Medicaid coverage and impose a cap on federal funding to the states for Medicaid."

 A.J. Wilhelmi, president and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association

"Republicans have set their sights on repealing and replacing the ACA so today's vote is disappointing, but not surprising. As passed by the House of Representatives, the AHCA fails to protect the health coverage and access to care for so many Americans. It also makes it more difficult for hospitals to deliver the care we all rely on. With these concerns top of mind, FAH could not support the House legislation today.

We are committed to engaging in a forward looking dialogue with policy makers as the process moves to the Senate.

As caregivers our policy goals are simple: to ensure that the healthcare delivery and financing legislation improves access to health coverage for Americans with individual insurance; protects and strengthens the Medicaid program for the most vulnerable  especially in rural areas where more people depend on the program; and restores needed Medicare funding so community hospitals have sufficient resources to continue to deliver high quality care to seniors, the disabled, and the uninsured among us."

 Chip Kahn, president and CEO of Federation of American Hospitals

"Texas hospitals are disappointed with the vote today from the U.S. House of representatives to approve the American Health Care Act. We believe the bill will increase the number of uninsured Texans and hospitals' uncompensated care costs, yielding clinical and financial outcomes that are bad for Texas.

We also are concerned with the bill's radical changes to federal Medicaid financing. Texas has long operated a cost effective and efficient Medicaid program. But, the unintended consequence of the AHCA's use of per capita spending caps will be to punish Texas for that efficiency. As a result, Texas will have insufficient funds, particularly compared with other states, to fairly and appropriately administer its Medicaid program."

 Ted Shaw, president and CEO of the Texas Hospital Association

"We oppose the AHCA for the following reasons:

It would increase by 24 million the number of uninsured nationwide; placing 2.7 million New Yorkers at risk;

It would upend the Medicaid program, stripping hospitals and health systems of needed resources while they care for more uninsured and underinsured patients; and

It would weaken federal protections for New Yorkers with pre-existing conditions.

All New York Democrats in the House voted against this bill. HANYS thanks these members and also thanks Representatives Dan Donovan and John Katko  New Yorks only GOP members to oppose the bill  for standing up to protect healthcare for their constituents."

 Bea Grause, president of the Healthcare Association of New York State

"There's a long road ahead before the bill might head to President Trump's desk. Here are three key things to know about what could happen with the AHCA and how the bill's potential passage should and shouldn't affect provider strategy. First, the revised bill passed today likely still would negatively impact provider finances through a combination of cuts to Medicaid and reduced coverage in the individual market. Secondly, the bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate and  even if it does eventually pass  is highly likely to be significantly modified to comply with Senate rules and garner sufficient support. And for providers, passage of the AHCA underscores the need to double down on efforts to improve efficiency, elevate performance and expand patient access."

 Chas Roades, chief research officer at Advisory Board

"Passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) by the House of Representatives does not advance CHAs long-standing goal to expand health care coverage to all Californians.

California leads the nation in expanding health care coverage, with 91 percent of all Californians now covered. If the current version of the AHCA is enacted, some of this gain could be undone, resulting in a loss of healthcare coverage for many Californians. The plan calls for $880 billion to be cut from the Medicaid program nationwide  an amount that will undermine this vital program. More than 14 million Californians - including children, seniors and low-income families - are currently enrolled in Medi-Cal, Californias version of Medicaid."

 C. Duane Dauner, president and CEO of the California Hospital Association

"The AAMC and our member medical schools and teaching hospitals are deeply disappointed by todays House passage of the American Health Care Act  a flawed bill that would likely result in 24 million more uninsured Americans.

We encourage the Senate to take a different approach that fixes current problems without creating new ones. Key to this approach is committing to high-quality, affordable, comprehensive coverage for all, including maintaining Medicaid expansion and protecting individuals with preexisting conditions, as well as other vulnerable patients who depend on the nations teaching hospitals and physicians for their care.

The AAMC stands ready to engage with the Senate to find ways to improve health care for all Americans.

 Darrell Kirch, MD, president and CEO of Association of American Medical Colleges
Kansas City-based University of Kansas Health System and Nashville, Tenn.-based Ardent Health Services plan to form a joint venture company to acquire 378-bed St. Francis Health in Topeka, Kan.

St. Francis Health was facing closure after Denver-based SCL Health announced in April it would cease operating the hospital this summer, regardless of whether another owner or operator was found.

Following the news that St. Francis would shutter without a new owner, several organizations expressed interest in acquiring the facility, and SCL Health ultimately chose KU Health and Ardent.

The joint venture company formed by Ardent and KU Health will infuse $50 million into St. Francis in the first year. The company will establish a local board of trustees for the hospital, and Ardent and KU Health will have equal representation on the joint venture board of directors.

KU Health and Ardent will immediately begin working with SCL to finalize the deal, with the goal of completing the transaction within two months of signing the letter of intent.

More articles on healthcare industry transactions:

HCA to add 7 hospitals, looks to M&A for more growth

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LifePoint eyes new acquisitions as profit rises
While the number of nursing jobs increased by 6 percent from 2012 to 2016, and is poised to increase an additional 7 percent from 3.6 million positions in 2017 to 3.9 million positions in 2021, the nursing skills gap is also growing, according to a market analysis conducted by CareerBuilder.

In analysis of job postings, CareerBuilder found 1,749,900 registered nurse job postings in the first quarter of 2017. However, among these postings, only 178,586 were unique, meaning each unique posting was uploaded an average of 10 times, which is indicative of a highly competitive job market. With employers struggling to fill nursing job vacancies with qualified candidates, the workload for staffed nurses has increased, which may contribute to burnout.

A survey involving more than 3,000 private sector employee, including 93 nurses, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of CareerBuilder found 7 in 10 respondents reported feeling burnout in their current roles. Still, despite high levels of emotional stress, nurses are largely satisfied with their jobs overall. Seventy-six percent of nurse respondents reporting job satisfaction and 33 percent reported dissatisfaction with their career progress.

"Nurses, the backbone of U.S. healthcare, often handle life or death situations, so this high level of stress may come as no surprise," said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. "However, high levels of stress sustained over a long-period of time can be a major detriment to one's health. Employers must ensure their nurses are getting the support they need, such as flexible schedules, expanded headcount or tools to deal with stress."

The American Nurses Association has designated this year's National Nurses Week  held May 6 to May 12  the "Year of the Healthy Nurse" with a theme of "the balance between mind and spirit" to place an emphasis the health and well-being of these essential frontline providers.

To download the ANA's National Nurses Week Toolkit, which includes materials to aid in the promotion of the event, click here.

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Hospitals add 4k jobs in April

8 healthcare organizations adding jobs

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From Indianapolis-based Anthem asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review its blocked merger with Hartford, Conn.-based Cigna to a Florida physician being convicted of 67 counts of Medicare fraud, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.

1. Anthem brings rejection of Cigna deal to Supreme Court

Anthem filed a petition Friday calling for a U.S. Supreme Court review of a decision made by the U.S. Court of Appeals denying a $54 billion merger between Indianapolis-based Anthem and Hartford, Conn.-based Cigna.

2. Florida physician convicted on 67 counts of Medicare fraud

After three days of deliberation, a jury convicted Salomon Melgen, MD, a Florida ophthalmologist, on 67 counts of Medicare fraud April 28.

3. Quest Diagnostics agrees to pay $6M False Claims Act settlement

Madison, N.J.-based Quest Diagnostics will pay $6 million to settle allegations its subsidiary, Alameda, Calif.-based Berkeley HeartLab, violated the Anti-Kickback Statute of the False Claims Act.

4. Partners, Brigham and Women's to pay $10M to settle research fraud suit

Boston-based Partners HealthCare and Brigham and Women's Hospital agreed to pay $10 million to resolve allegations that a Brigham and Women's stem cell research laboratory fraudulently obtained funding from the National Institutes of Health.

5. IU Health, HealthNet pay $18M to resolve false billing allegations

Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health and HealthNet, a federally qualified health center that primarily provides care to low-income populations, agreed to pay the federal government and Indiana a combined $18 million to resolve False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute allegations.

More articles on legal and regulatory issues:

How technology can help hospitals base malpractice reserves on more than a gut feeling

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Michigan hospital pays $791k to resolve false billing allegations
Maryland insurers are looking to significantly increase rates for individual health plans sold on the state's ACA exchange in 2018, reports The Baltimore Sun.

The insurer proposing the largest increase in rates is CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. CareFirst, the state's largest insurer, seeks state approval to increase rates by an average of more than 50 percent on individual health plans sold on the ACA exchange in Maryland, according to the report. More specifically, CareFirst asked the Maryland Insurance Administration for an average 50.4 percent increase on its health maintenance organization plans and an average 58.8 percent increase on its preferred provider organization plans.

CareFirst CEO Chet Burrell cited higher costs as the primary driver of the proposed rate increases in an interview with The Baltimore Sun. He told the publication the insurer has not been able to find a good enough balance between the number of sick people and healthy people buying plans, leading to increased costs. Although CareFirst has dealt with financial losses, he noted the insurer currently has no plans to stop selling health plans on Maryland's ACA exchange.

"We are committed to the market and think it is fundamental to our mission," he told The Baltimore Sun."We think that people need the coverage and we would make every attempt to continue it."

CareFirst is not the only insurer seeking approval to raise rates in Maryland. Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co., Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States and Evergreen Health, have asked the state for an average 37.36 percent increase, an average 18.08 percent increase and an average 27.8 percent increase, respectively, according to the report.

The proposed rate increases in Maryland come as the House passed the American Health Care Act Thursday with a 217-213 vote. A final decision on the requested rate increases is expected this summer, Al Redmer Jr., commissioner of the Maryland Insurance Administration, said in a statement obtained by The Baltimore Sun.

More articles on payer issues:

Iowa ACA marketplace hangs by thread as last major insurer threatens exit

Failed Aetna merger boosts Humana's Q1 profit

Florida Blue billing glitch causes overcharges for 9,500 members
Six U.S. Senators on May 3 introduced bipartisan legislation to expand telehealth and remote patient monitoring services to Medicare patients.

The Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies for Health Act of 2017 aims to increase the use of virtual healthcare services in community health centers, rural health clinics and in populations with chronic conditions and mental illnesses. The bill would also lift many existing telehealth restrictions, including those related to originating site, geographic location and covered codes.

Sens. Brian Schatz (D.-Hawaii), Roger Wicker (R.-Miss.), Thad Cochran (R.-Miss.), Ben Cardin (D.-Md.), John Thune (R.-S.D.), and Mark Warner (D.-Va.) introduced the bill, nicknamed the CONNECT for Health Act of 2017.

More than 50 organizations have voiced their support for the CONNECT for Health Act of 2017, including the American Medical Association, the American Telemedicine Association and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

Click here to view the full bill.
Here are 13 key notes on orthopedic and spine device companies from the past week.

Medtronic notified the FDA of two patient deaths following spine surgeries where the NavLock Tracker was used with non-Medtronic instruments as part of the procedure.

Medtronic's Vice President for Global Affairs Pat Shrader visited Congress to discuss the FDA plant inspection process and request changes.

Smith & Nephew reported revenue was flat at $1.1 billion for the first quarter of fiscal year 2017.

K2M reported total 2017 first quarter revenue hit $61.9 million, reflecting a 9.9 percent increase year-over-year.

SeaSpine reported $31.9 million in revenue for the first quarter of 2017.

Johnson & Johnson was awarded a $260.5 million contract to supply the U.S. Defense Department with orthopedic devices.

Implanet earned the CE Mark for its JAZZ Standalone implant.

Macron, Ga.-based Coliseum Northside Hospital began using Mazor Robotics' Mazor X system for spine surgery.

Expanding Orthopedics announced first quarter of 2017 was their largest revenue quarter to date.

Orthofix International launched JuniOrtho to improve care for pediatric orthopedic and congenital deformity patients.

EOS imaging announced the 50th installation of its EOS system in France.

NuVasive launched a monthly podcast, MAGEC Matters, which will highlight interviews with pediatric deformity surgeons.

Vertebral Technologies partnered with Medikon to distribute its InterFuse products in Turkey.
The physicians of Indiana Spine Group announced the opening of the Indiana Spine Hospital in Carmel.

Here are five things to know:

1. The 50,000-square-foot addition includes three operating rooms and 20 beds.

2. The facility is fully physician owned.

3. Construction began in November 2015 and is located adjacent to the spine group's offices. It's a full service spine hospital with an approximately 50-member staff.

4. The Indiana Spine Hospital opening was celebrated on April 30.

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Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for May 4, 2017.

Medtronic to revise spine device indications after 2 deaths

Medtronic notified the FDA of two patient deaths following spine surgeries where the surgeon used its NavLock Tracker as part of the procedure. In the two patient death cases, surgeons used third-party surgical stereotaxic navigation instruments that the FDA has not cleared for use with the NavLock Tracker. In response to the patient deaths and other injuries, Medtronic is updating NavLock's product labeling, clarifying the indications for using non-Medtronic instruments with the product.





Do overlapping neurosurgeries have worse outcomes?

A new Phoenix-based study examines whether overlapping neurosurgeries yield different outcomes compared to non-overlapping procedures. Patients who underwent overlapping surgeries reported significant benefit in outcomes measures including length of stay, return to the operating room and disposition status. The procedure length was the only measured outcome with significant differences; the overlapping cases were longer and more senior residents staffed them. Researchers found the outcomes weren't worse among surgeons who performed overlapping procedures; in several cases, the outcomes were actually better.





Johnson & Johnson, US Defense Dept. reach $260.5M deal on orthopedic devices

Johnson & Johnson and the U.S. Defense Department entered a $260.5 million deal for orthopedic devices. J&J will supply the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies with orthopedic products. The one-year contract includes four additional one-year options.





1st-ever dual robotic surgery performed in Israel

Surgeons at Jerusalem, Israel-based Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem used Siemens' Artis Zeego and Mazor Robotics' Renaissance Guidance System to perform spine surgery. The surgery represented the first time surgeons used the two robotic technologies in tandem for spine surgery. Surgeons performed the three-hour procedure on April 23 to repair a patient's severe spinal fracture.





Zimmer Biomet CEO addresses implant production slowdown amid tripling Q1 earnings

Despite huge profits in 2016 for Zimmer Biomet, the company experienced a production slowdown as it worked on quality and manufacturing systems issues related to integrating Biomet after acquiring the company in 2015. Zimmer Biomet reported first quarter earnings at $299 million, nearly tripling earnings from the first quarter last year, despite production slowing. But CEO David Dvorak is not deterred and remains optimistic about the company's future. Read his thoughts here.





Aurora Spine reports 2016 revenue of $6.8M

Aurora Spine reported financial results for the 2016 fiscal year, citing revenue of $6.76 million. In 2016, Aurora Spine's net loss decreased to $1.7 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to $2.9 million in 2015. U.S. sales accounted for about 96 percent of the company's revenue in 2016.





SI-BONE iFuse patients 11x less likely to take opioids compared to non-surgical patients

SI-BONE reported results studies revealing the iFuse Implant System's impact on opioid use. A six-year study, published in Neurosurgery, found iFuse patients were 11 times less likely to take opioids at the last follow-up, than those patients who received either conservative care or radiofrequency ablation.





North American vertebroplasty market to fall from $72M in 2016 to $29.4M by 2023

The North American vertebroplasty market will likely witness a 12 percent negative compound annual growth rate through 2023, according to a GlobalData analysis. The market is set to drop from $72 million in 2016 to $29.4 million by 2023. Analysts noted procedure adoption is inconsistent because of sparse data demonstrating vertebroplasty's efficacy. The risk of cement leakage and damage to the surrounding spinal canal and nerves deters wide adoption of the procedure.





https://www.beckersspine.com/orthopedic-a-spine-device-a-implant-news/item/36536-medtronic-to-revise-spine-device-indications-after-2-deaths-5-things-to-know.html
Seven spine surgeons discuss the latest trends in spine procedures performed in the outpatient setting.

Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.

Next week's question: Would you recommend spine surgery to the younger generation of surgeons? Why or why not?





Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, May 10, at 5 p.m. CST.

Question: What are the key trends in outpatient spine surgery?

J. Brian Gill, MD, MBA. Nebraska Spine Hospital (Omaha): The overall trend is trying to move more procedures to an outpatient setting. This varies on a state-by-state basis as each state has its own regulations. Some states define outpatient stays as 23 hours, so an overnight stay is acceptable. Other states mandate that patients must be discharged before midnight the day of the procedure. These legislative regulations dictate what can and cannot be done in an outpatient setting. Yet more insurers and health systems want more procedures performed in outpatient settings.

Innovative procedures, smaller procedures and multi-modal pain management techniques are enabling more procedures to be done in an outpatient setting. Moreover, patients want to go home from a procedure the same day or the following day. Patients are buying into outpatient procedures as a better, safer and more cost-effective delivery of healthcare and this is also driving the trend.

Kern Singh, MD. Co-Director of Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (Chicago): As developments continue to occur in minimally invasive spine surgery, more procedures can be offered in the outpatient setting. Many new options are becoming available for patients instead of procedures that traditionally require a longer hospitalization. These minimally invasive procedures not only allow patients to return home the same day, but also have faster recovery times. This trend towards minimally invasive spine surgery improves patient satisfaction while reducing healthcare costs.

Richard Kube, MD. Founder and CEO of Prairie Spine & Pain Institute (Peoria, Ill.): I think the bundled payment models are on their way. There are multiple companies now all trying to act as third-party administrators for the self-insured groups. The concept of doing [outpatient] spine cases is becoming more mainstream. As the self-insured folks start to realize that ambulatory settings are safe for spine procedures, I think there will be an even greater shift of elective spine cases to this setting. Value provision is in the wheelhouse of ambulatory spine, and we are only starting to scratch the surface of what can be done in terms of volume.

Vladimir Sinkov, MD. Spine Surgeon at New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center (Nashua): As the postoperative pain management techniques and less invasive procedures become more advanced, more spine procedures are going to be done in an outpatient setting. This will drive down the cost of care and will shorten postoperative recovery. Endoscopic procedures will become more accepted as the techniques and the instrumentation become more simplified and reliable.

Brian R. Gantwerker, MD. Founder of the Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: The key developments revolve around increasing the number of cases being done as outpatient. As surgery centers provide a superior patient experience for less cost, we will see them become more profitable while being in network. Fewer ASCs will be out of network and I think the hospitals' appetite for the ASCs will increase as larger systems will try to acquire them. My belief is not all of these systems know how to let the ASCs do what they need to stay in the black.

Neel Anand, MD, Clinical Professor of Surgery and Director of Spine Trauma at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles: The key trends that I am seeing are consolidation, in-network contracting as well as single-level fusion procedures and more complex surgeries being gradually moved to and performed at the outpatient surgery center.

Payam Farjoodi, MD. Spine Surgeon at Center for Spine Health at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center (Fountain Valley, Calif.): Increasing minimally invasive techniques have allowed more types of spine surgery to be done in an outpatient setting. It is common now to see not only decompressions done in surgery centers, but also simple single-level fusions or disc replacements in young healthy patients. I think as more outcomes data is collected, we will see this shift accelerate if it demonstrates significant benefit to the patients and the health systems.
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Liberty IT has been named one of the United Kingdom's best places to work for the fourth year in a row (stock picture)

Northern Ireland company Liberty IT has been named one of the United Kingdom's best places to work for the fourth year in a row for policies including agile working.

The IT firm, which is based in Belfast, was listed at number 34 in a 56-strong list of the UK's Best Workplaces - its sixth appearance on the list.

Liberty IT, which looks after IT services for US insurance giant Liberty, features in the category of medium-sized workforces of up to 499 staff.

The lists are compiled by organisation Great Place to Work based on an employee survey and an audit into management and HR practices.

The IT firm, now situated at Adelaide Exchange in Belfast, has operated in Northern Ireland for nearly 20 years and was one of the first major US business services firms to set up here. It has around 430 staff.

It said "innovative, creative and effective" HR policies had led to its successful workplace culture with a high rate of staff retention.

Overall, the working environment was characterised by allowing staff agile working and flexibility, while the company also encouraged staff to pursue personal and professional interests.

A new style of office space had also encouraged more collaborative thinking.

Managing director William Hamilton, who has led the company since 1997, said: "We are proud of our established tradition as one of the UK's Best Workplaces for the sixth time, and owe our place on this list to our outstanding team of staff as well as our thriving company culture.

"Our continued presence on this list shows how we are not only leading the way in workplace culture locally but are constantly adapting and looking to the future to ensure we remain as a major player in the IT industry."

Tom O'Byrne, Great Place to Work chief, said the company's place on the list "is a validation of the strength of their leadership and their commitment" in attracting and keeping talent.
Manufacturing work has begun on 65 new Virgin Trains Azuma trains for the East Coast Main Line (Hitachi/PA)

Manufacturing work has begun on 65 new trains for the East Coast main line.

Virgin Trains' Azuma fleet will provide an extra 12,200 seats, increasing capacity into London King's Cross by 28% during peak times.

Work on the body shells has begun in Kasado, Japan, before the trains arrive in the UK to be built at Hitachi's factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, from this summer.

Up to 22 minutes will be sliced off East Coast journeys as they will accelerate from 0-125mph around a minute quicker than current trains.

Direct routes to destinations such as Middlesbrough and Huddersfield will be launched o nce the fleet enters service next year , and services to locations such as Harrogate and Lincoln will be significantly increased.

Virgin Trains East Coast managing director David Horne said: "We are very excited to be moving closer to the day when our fantastic new train comes into service.

"The arrival of Azuma in 2018 will mark another milestone on our journey towards totally transforming travel for our customers, and the work happening now in Kasado and beginning in the summer at Newton Aycliffe are important steps on that journey."

Hitachi Rail Europe managing director Karen Boswell said: "The new Azuma fleet will be a combination of Japanese design and British manufacturing.

"The trains are built using Japanese bullet train technology, world famous for its quality and reliability.

"We are proud that our Newton Aycliffe team, based a short distance from the East Coast main line, will work on pioneering trains used by millions of passengers."
A Turkish man who carried out an "unprovoked" and "brutal" attack which claimed the life of promising young west Belfast boxer Eamonn Magee Junior was motivated by jealousy and anger, a court heard on Friday.

As details surrounding the murder emerged for the first time, Belfast Crown Court heard it was the Crown's case that the fatal attack started in the back yard of a house in Summerhill Park before continuing onto the street.

Mr Magee - an engineering student and part-time personal trainer - was stabbed six times as he went to check on a pizza delivery being made to his girlfriend's house.

As the 22-year old walked out the back of Courtney Ward's Twinbrook home, he was attacked by Orhan Koca, who is Ms Ward's former husband and the father of her three children.

Koca, who is 34 and who at the time of the murder was effectively homeless, initially denied killing Mr Magee but pleaded guilty to stabbing him to death at a court hearing in March this year.

While it's the Crown's case that Koca used a knife from the bar where he worked to stab Mr Magee, he told Probation that he inflicted the fatal wounds with a pair of broken shears he found lying in the back yard of his former home.

The court heard on Friday that as Mr Magee went to check where the pizza delivery was at around 2.30am on Saturday May 30, 2015 he was stabbed repeatedly and killed by Koca, who had just finished a shift in a nearby bar.

Crown prosecutor Charles MacCreanor QC said Mr Magee sustained six stab wound - two of which were fatal. Mr Magee's blood was found on a child's slide in the back yard and on a gate. His blood-soaked glasses were later located lying at the bottom of the gate, while there was also blood on his mobile, also found outside.

In addition, Mr Magee's blood was found on a car parked out on the street and along the route from the back yard to the kerb, where he fell and was found by Ms Ward.

Despite being rushed to hospital, the promising young boxer died from the wounds he sustained in the unprovoked attack.

Telling the court it was the Crown's case that Mr Magee was murdered "because of his connection to and relationship with Courtney Ward", Mr MacCreanor said Koca was "motivated by jealousy and was very possessive of his wife ... he was an aggressive man in that context."

Mr MacCreanor said Koca and Ms Ward had been married, that the relationship broke down late 2014 and that by March/April 2015 Koca had moved out of the family home.

Ms Ward joined the gym were Mr Magee worked around January 2015 and by April of that year, they were in a relationship.

The prosecutor said that prior to murdering Mr Magee, Koca had spoken to a friend about his ex-wife's new relationship with a 'boxer called Magee.' Koca also had pictures on his phone of Ms Ward and Mr Magee which he had taken from her Facebook page.

In a subsequent statement she made, Ms Ward said Koca was a jealous man who accused her of having affairs.

On Friday May 29, Ms Ward and Koca had a conversation during which she said he questioned her about Mr Magee. She said: "I told Orhan I didn't love him any more, that I was in love with someone else. He asked who it was but I didn't tell him."

Ms Ward also stated she felt she was being stalked by her ex-husband, and that he told her he would be "watching the house."

In the early hours of the following morning, Koca stabbed Mr Magee to death.

After murdering Mr Magee, Koca returned to the bar where he worked and where he sometimes slept, and placed his blood-soaked jeans beside a cooler. They were later recovered by police investigating the murder.

Mr MacCreanor concluded by saying it was "plain to see the suffering and difficulties" faced by Mr Magee's family in the wake of his murder.

The victim's mother, father and other relatives sat in the public gallery and heard defence barrister Arthur Harvey QC pay tribute to the dignity they have displayed in the wake of murder.

Mr Harvey, representing Koca, said his client's plea was "motivated by a recognition of the undoubted overwhelming tragedy he had visited upon the family of Mr Magee".

The barrister said it was also recognised that instead of the Magee family "watching a young life grow to full fruition and development ... that void will be filled with eternal grief and their suffering."

Setting out his client's background, Mr Harvey said Koca came to Northern Ireland from Turkey, and that he and Ms Ward married in 2010. Describing his client as a "hard-working family man", Mr Harvey said Koca was traumatised by the breakdown of his marriage - but continued seeing his three children on a daily basis.

The barrister told Mr Justice Treacy that at the time of the murder Koca was "to all intents and purposes, homeless", Mr Harvey said Koca was "heartbroken" when he saw the Facebook pictures of Mr Ward with Mr Magee.

Regarding the murder, Mr Harvey said Koca went to his old home and it was "inconceivable he could have known that Mr Magee would be outside ... awaiting a pizza delivery at 2am", adding it was "an alignment of random chance factors" which resulted in the stabbing.

Mr Harvey refuted the Crown's claims that Koca pre-armed himself with a knife from the bar which he then used to kill Mr Magee - saying "knifes go missing from kitchens, especially if they are good knives" - and reiterated Koca's claim that he found a pair of broken shears in the back yard.

Mr Harvey also told the court Koca had no previous convictions either in Northern Ireland or Turkey, felt isolated in prison and was a man with "moderately impaired" intellectual ability.

After listening to submissions from the Crown and defence, Mr Justice Treacy said he would fix the tariff next Friday, when Koca will be informed how many years he will spend in prison before being considered eligible for release.

As he was being led from the dock, Koca turned to face Mr Magee's family and said "I'm sorry for your loss."
Europe's chief Brexit negotiator is to travel to the border and see first-hand where the UK split from the European Union is likely to be most keenly felt.

During a two-day visit to the Republic, Michel Barnier will also address a joint sitting of the Irish parliament next week.

This is a privilege normally only afforded to visiting heads of state and prime ministers, and he joins esteemed speakers such as Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and John F Kennedy.

Mr Barnier will appear before the joint sitting of the Dail and Seanad next Thursday, when he will deliver a speech on his priorities for the Brexit negotiations.

It will be the first such address since the President of the EU Parliament Martin Schulz addressed the houses five years ago. In the past decade, it has occurred only four times.

While in the Republic, it is understood Mr Barnier will make a journey to better understand the risks to Europe's only land border with the UK.

Meanwhile, a high dependency on migrant labour along the border counties has been highlighted in new academic research examining the potential impact of Brexit.

The Ulster University findings were presented at a conference in Co Fermanagh bringing together local authorities from both sides of the border.

The border councils commissioned the analysis to inform the debate about what could lie ahead when the UK leaves the European Union.

As expected, it flagged potential risks to trade and movement of goods and services, particularly in the agri-food sector.

Lead researcher Eoin Magennis said a "surprising finding" was the number of non-UK/Irish workers employed in the border counties.

"That is an area of exposure - depending on how the issue of freedom of movement plays out," he said.

The research found that in the manufacturing industry, 33% of the workforce along the border was neither Irish nor British.

For Northern Ireland as a whole, it is about 25% and the Irish Republic's average is closer to 20%.

Mr Magennis, senior economist at Ulster University's economic policy centre, said difficulties sourcing the required staff locally had led to the reliance on migrant labour.

"Companies have struggled to find the skills locally and that is one of the issues going back over a long period," he said.

The conference at the Lough Erne Resort near Enniskillen was held as the Irish government published a survey indicating that three in four small to medium businesses south of the border predicted a future Brexit impact.

While 65% of the 1,045 enterprises surveyed recorded no or minimal effect to date, they were less confident about the road ahead.

Only a quarter felt there would be no impact in the next 18 months.

Those identified as most at risk were small businesses with 50 employees or fewer; firms in the border counties; and those involved in food exports.
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has called the forthcoming General Election an opportunity for the party to "challenge the disaster that is Brexit", and accused both unionists and the Government of ignoring the "disastrous" impact of the referendum decision for the UK to leave the EU across the island of Ireland.

Speaking at the launch of Sinn Fein's election campaign in Newry, Co Down, he insisted that the whole of the island must remain within the EU.

Last year Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU by a majority of 56% to 44%.

"This election is an opportunity to put forward our alternative and to point out that the Democratic Unionist Party and the Ulster Unionist Party are ignoring the vote of the people of the North, their people," the Sinn Fein president said.

He added: "It is especially crucial that we stand up to and challenge the disaster that is Brexit.

"We believe that the interests of citizens on this island requires that the North be designated a special status within the EU.

"All of Ireland would remain within the EU and the North would have full access to the EU, including to the Common Agricultural Programme and the Peace programmes."

He said Brexit will have a "detrimental effect" on jobs and businesses, especially in the agriculture and agri-food sector, and accused Prime Minister Theresa May of having no "Irish interests of any kind".

"Her only interest is Brexit. Her only interest is British or English national interest," he said.

Mr Adams added: "Last June the majority of citizens in the North voted to remain.

"We have to defend that democratic vote.

"Our task must be to challenge those parties that support Brexit."

Mr Adams said that Newry, where last night's event took place, is "a border town that relies on the free movement of business, and people and goods".

"Brexit threatens the prosperity of Newry and of the entire border region," he said.
The starting guns have been fired in the election. With Parliament formally dissolved, the battle has officially begun to elect the next one.

The Belfast Telegraph asked the main parties to spell out what they believed the central theme of the election would be.

The DUP insisted the contest was about securing the restoration of Stormont.

But Sinn Fein argued it was about changing the face of politics here to end arrogance and disrespect.

The Ulster Unionists, however, warned the weeks ahead would see an attempt to "destabilise" the Union.

And the SDLP insisted the results could reinforce the province's vote to remain within the European Union.

Alliance, meanwhile, blasted the last parliamentary term as the most "self-destructive" in living memory.

With five weeks to go before polling day on June 8, the parties will be wary of peaking too soon. They have to sustain the interest of the public, which has already had two elections in the last year, as well as the European referendum.

DUP MP Gavin Robinson said: "This election is an opportunity for people to vote for the Union, and with the DUP they can elect a party with real influence at Westminster to stand up for them.

"Only the DUP can secure the best deal for Northern Ireland as we leave the European Union.

"Whilst the talks at Stormont have been paused, a vote for the DUP is a vote to support the restoration of the Assembly and the Executive.

"It is wrong that key decisions on health, education and issues impacting on people's lives are held back because of one party's refusal to move forward."

But Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd argued: "In the most recent Assembly election, people came out in huge numbers to make their voice heard (and) sent a clear message that they wanted an end to the politics of arrogance, disrespect and allegations of corruption.

"By voting for Sinn Fein, people showed they wanted equality, integrity and respect.

"Their votes made a difference and now, in this Westminster election, they can make a difference again.

"A vote for Sinn Fein sends a clear message to Theresa May and her Brexiteer allies that we will not accept Brexit, borders or Tory cuts."

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said, however: "This election is not a re-run of last year's referendum on membership of the EU - that boat has sailed. Instead, we should be concentrating on coming together to get the best deal possible for Northern Ireland as part of the Brexit negotiations and resist those who are attempting to use this election as an attempt to destabilise the Union.

"That means electing Ulster Unionist politicians who will speak up for all the people of Northern Ireland and give them a voice in Westminster.

"There is no point in electing people who won't turn up but are quite happy to keep claiming the expenses."

In contrast, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood pointed out his party was prepared to "take the fight" on Brexit to Westminster.

"Theresa May called this election to strengthen her hand for a hard Brexit," he said.

"If she wants to reinforce the referendum result, then let's reinforce the decision made by people in Northern Ireland and let's return as many pro-Europe MPs as possible who will defend the interests of our people.

"You can't fight Brexit by staying at home and you can't fight it if your MP won't turn up.

"We're prepared to take the fight to the Tories at Westminster."

And Alliance's Paula Bradshaw argued: "This parliamentary term has been the most self-destructive in living memory.

"As well as seeing some regressive social policies, Parliament then voted for a process liable to lead to a hard Brexit without due consideration to the devastating effect it would have on both the UK as a whole and the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland in particular.

"The next parliamentary term established after the election needs to have a more progressive outlook, with MPs working in the interest of all."
Professor Andy Meharg -one of the world'S leading experts in his field.

Parents should avoid giving rice to young children, scientists in Belfast have said, after a study found almost three quarters of rice-based products sold as baby food contained illegal levels of arsenic.

A maximum level of arsenic allowed in rice used for baby food was introduced by the EU in January 2016 to reduce childrens exposure to the harmful toxin. But when researchers at Queens University, Belfast tested 73 different rice-based products often given to babies, they found almost 80% of rice crackers, 61% of baby rice and 32% of rice cereals flouted the regulations.

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The researchers tested 13 types of baby rice, 29 packets of rice cakes and 31 types of rice cereal from nine different brands or manufacturers, from 17 different shops in Belfast.

They also compared the level of arsenic in urine samples from babies who were breast- or formula-fed before and after weaning.Inorganic arsenic contaminates rice while it is growing as a result of industrial toxins, and pesticides and can impact the development of young children, professor Andy Meharg, who led the study, said. Were talking about immune development, growth, IQ. Theyre all impacted at the levels of consumption youd get from rice consumption, he added.

Im not scaremongering. EU laws have been passed and what were doing is saying these laws arent being met.

Among the products specifically marketed for children, 73% contained more than the EU limit 0.1 milligrams of arsenic per kilogram of rice, while 56% exceeded this.

Earlier this year, professor Meharg raised concerns about harmful levels of the chemical left in rice cooked through a common method  simply boiling it in a pan until the water has steamed out.

By testing three different ways of cooking rice, the biologist found the best way to remove arsenic was to soak the rice overnight, which reduces toxin levels by 80%.

While Arsenic is carcinogenic, the professor said youd have to eat rice over your lifetime for the excess cancer risk and young children are more likely to be impacted by the chemicals contained in their food.

Babies have five times higher exposure to inorganic arsenic through their weaned foods, which are primarily rice-based, than before they are weaned, he said. There are warnings on most cartons of rice milk specifically, he added. They say not suitable for children under the age of five years.

If rice milk has a warning, why shouldnt it be done for other rice products?

Concern among parents about childrens gluten intake means rice-based baby foods are more popular than ever, but families should consider alternatives such as oat porridge instead of rice porridge, the professor added.

Mary Fewtrell, a professor of paediatric nutrition at UCL, told The Independent: Because of infants small size, they can be exposed to high levels of inorganic arsenic on a per body weight basis compared to an older child or adult.

So its wise that the products they consume should contain as little inorganic arsenic as can be achieved.
A car has 'exploded' and went on fire outside a Primary School in Bangor.

A car has 'exploded' and went on fire outside a Primary School in Bangor.

A car has 'exploded' and went on fire outside a Primary School in Bangor.

A car has caught fire outside a primary school in Bangor, Co Down.

It happened on Friday afternoon as parents were arriving to collect their children from school.

An eyewitness said the car "exploded".

The vehicle which appeared to have overheated produced a loud bang before catching fire.

The driver emerged unscathed and no-one else in the vicinity is believed to have been harmed.

Simon Maltman told the Belfast Telegraph he had been collecting his daughter from the nursery unit at Towerview Primary School in the seaside town when the incident took place.

He said: "The school is in the middle of a residential area so no-one could get up or down the street.

"When I got there the car was still on fire, but the lady driving got out safely. There was nothing sinister about the incident, it seems there was just something wrong with the car."

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident outside Towerview Primary School at 2.26pm.

One crew from Bangor Station attended the accidental car fire. There have been no injuries reported.

The incident was finished just before 3pm.
The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement said they have concerns about the arrest and detention without trial of Tony Taylor in Maghaberry jail

Cross-party politicians in the Republic are writing to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland over concerns about prisoners.

The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement said they have serious concerns about the arrest and detention without trial of Tony Taylor in Maghaberry jail near Lisburn.

Committee chair Kathleen Funchion, a Sinn Fein TD in Carlow-Kilkenny, said they also heard a number of concerns about conditions for both prisoners and staff in the prison.

She said they wanted to have a meeting with James Brokenshire on the issue.

"The committee will be writing to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to request a meeting as soon as possible to discuss prisoner issues," she said.

Taylor, from Derry city, is a republican who was convicted of a bomb attack in Derry in the 1990s before being released under licence following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

The committee met his family recently.

In early 2014 Taylor admitted possession of a firearm and later that year he was released from Maghaberry having served three years on remand in custody with another five years to be served on licence.

That licence was revoked in March 2016.

A private parole hearing for Taylor was held during the week in Belfast and he remains in custody.

He is due for release in August 2019 if his licence is not reactivated before then.
The DUP has distanced itself from comments made by one of its councillors who said he will "continue to pray" that Sinn Fein's Gerry Kelly will "very soon face the one true judge, just like Marty".

Ballymena councillor John Carson made the comments on social media after an appearance by the north Belfast MLA on The View.

Last week Mr Kelly said, during a debate with DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson on the BBC programme about the prosecution of former British soldiers for Troubles killings, that "there should be equality under the law, there should be no immunity for anybody".

He said: "If you believe in the law that's the way you should approach it."

Gerry Kelly, who was handed two life sentences after being convicted for his role in the IRA's Old Bailey bombing in 1973, was given a Royal Prerogative of Mercy in the mid-1980s as part of a legal deal to secure his extradition back to the UK from the Netherlands.

Mr Kelly was arrested in Holland three years after his 1983 escape from the Maze paramilitary prison in Northern Ireland.

He was extradited back to Northern Ireland in 1986 and spent three more years in the Maze before his release in 1989.

Taking to Facebook Mr Carson hit out at his comments and appeared to reference the death of the late Martin McGuinness.

Mr McGuinness passed away following a short battle with illness in March.

Mr Carson posted that the comments were "rich" coming from Mr Kelly.

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He said: "Tell you what Gerry lead by example give up your letter and face the court, but some of us are wise enough to know that will never happen, so we continue to pray that very soon you will face the one true Judge, just like Marty."

Sinn Fein MLA Caral Ni Chuilin said the DUP should distance itself from the comments "immediately".

She said: "The comments made on social media by DUP councillor John Carson in relation to Gerry Kelly were disgraceful, tasteless and crass.

She continued: "There can be no place for abusive or offensive comments online or anywhere else and I am calling on the DUP leadership to distance itself from these remarks immediately."

A DUP spokesman said: "The comments by Councillor Carson do not represent the Party's view."
A special relationship between a liver transplant patient and her donor's family will be at the centre of an event to raise awareness of the life-saving procedure.

Daryl Turley died aged 13 in 2009 when he was knocked down by a motorbike but his family quickly decided his death would not be in vain.

His heart, kidneys, liver and his lower bowel were able to be donated to help people such as Cara Hearst, who developed acute liver failure at 17.

Now fully recovered and training to be a nurse, Ms Hearst has developed a strong bond with Daryl's mother Lily and they are to join other donor families and recipients to mark recent progress at an event in Glasgow.

It comes after recent figures showed a record number of Scots received a life-changing organ transplant last year.

A total of 133 people who died in Scottish hospitals became organ donors, up from 99 the previous year, said NHS Blood and Transplant.

That meant 348 people who were waiting for a transplant were able to have the surgery they needed.

Ms Hearst, now 26 and from Belfast, said: "I will be forever grateful for what the Turley family has done for me.

"Without the transplant I had days to live, and because of the decision they made in their darkest hour, I now have a future.

"I'm delighted to have been given the opportunity to recognise each and every donor that has changed the lives of so many as part of this event. It's an honour to stand with Lily and mark their incredible contribution."

Ms Turley, from Hamilton, said: "When we heard there was nothing that could be done to save our boy, within minutes we decided as a family to let organ donation go ahead.

"Daryl's heart, his kidneys, his liver and his lower bowel were able to be donated to those in need. For me, knowing Daryl's death wasn't in vain has helped us deal with the pain of losing him.

"I've never, ever had second thoughts or regretted our decision, and I think of Cara as our hero. She has her whole life ahead of her and that shows the power of organ donation. I feel immensely proud of Daryl, a feeling I'm sure many other donor families at the event will share."

Public health minister Aileen Campbell will join NHS staff at the organ donation event.

Lesley Logan, regional manager for Scotland at NHS Blood and Transplant said: "This event is about recognising those who have helped save more lives in Scotland through organ donation and transplantation, and thank them for all they have done.

"Organ donation touches lives in many ways. By looking at it from the perspective of donor families, transplant recipients and those whose job it is to ensure as many people benefit from transplant surgery, it's humbling to see the generosity, gratitude and dedication that exists in Scotland."
The search operation in a forest in France for the body of Seamus Ruddy

The sister of a teacher murdered and secretly buried during the Northern Ireland Troubles has travelled to the French forest where a search for his remains is under way.

Seamus Ruddy, from Newry, Co Down, was abducted from Paris, killed and buried by the republican paramilitary group the INLA in 1985.

He became one of the "Disappeared" victims of the conflict.

His sister Anne Morgan visited the forest at Pont-de-l'Arche outside Rouen in northern France where fresh searches began this week.

The operation is being carried out by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR), which was set up during the peace process by the UK and Irish governments to recover the bodies of those murdered and secretly buried, mainly by the IRA, in the 1970s and 1980s.

There have been three previous searches in the forest area for Mr Ruddy, the most recent by the ICLVR in 2008.

The commission's experts, who require those with knowledge of the crimes to come forward and provide information without fear of prosecution, are hopeful the 500 square metre area they are focusing on this time does hold Mr Ruddy's remains.

Mrs Morgan met two French magistrates involved in facilitating the search during her private visit to the site.

Jon Hill, from the commission, said the operation could last for a month.

"We are happy with how the search is progressing," he said.

"We haven't met any unanticipated issues in it and we will continue to work as we have been and are hopeful of a successful conclusion."

Despite extensive and painstaking searches, the bodies of four out of 16 people the commission was tasked to find have never been recovered.

In addition to Seamus Ruddy, the remains of Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey and Robert Nairac have yet to be found.

The commission has asked anyone with information to contact them in complete confidence on 00800 555 85500, by writing to ICLVR, PO Box 10827, Dublin 2, or via the website www.iclvr.ie
Police found 34,000 in the back of the man's car.

A submachine gun seized from a house on the outskirts of Belfast as part of a police operation into paramilitary activity is capable of firing 850 rounds a minute, the High Court heard on Friday.

Prosecutors said the weapon and ammunition discovered at Damian Black's home last week was of the type used in dissident republican attacks on police.

Details emerged as the 47-year-old electrician, from Lagmore Glen in Dunmurry, was granted bail.

Black is charged with possessing a Skorpion submachine gun and five rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances.

He faces a further count of having a firearm designed or adapted so that two or more missiles can be discharged without repeat pressure on the trigger.

Officers found the weapon, bullets and magazine inside a blue bin in his garage on April 28.

They were located under a TV stand, tarpaulin and a dart board, the court heard.

A Crown lawyer disclosed: "It was a proactive operation into paramilitary activity."

Manufactured in the 1960s to be used by the Czechoslovakian army and special forces, he said the submachine gun can discharge up to 850 rounds a minute.

"Due to it's small caliber it's described as being very accurate when being fired in fully automatic mode," the barrister continued.

"At a distance of 15-20 metres police say the majority of rounds fired will be placed in a man-sized target."

Weapons of this type have been deployed in Northern Ireland by terrorist organisations including the Provisional IRA, INLA and IPLO, the court heard.

"Most recently such weapons have been used in attacks on the PSNI by dissident republican groupings," according to the prosecutor.

Stressing its dangerousness, he contended: "It's the police view... that it can only be used to cause death or very serious injury."

Forensic examinations have not established any link between Black and the weapon.

It was also confirmed that the father-of-two had declined to answer questions about the submachine gun, or to say if he had stored it under duress.

Opposing bail, the Crown lawyer added: "It's my submission that the weapon, if it was to be used, was to be used for violent criminal activity."

Dessie Hutton, defending, argued there is no evidence connecting his client to the gun.

Black has a clear record and faces no paramilitary-related charges, he emphasised.

Mr Hutton said: "At no stage during the interview process was it put to this applicant that he was a terrorist, affiliated to or a supporter of any organisation."

Granting bail, Mr Justice Colton ordered the accused to abide by a night-time curfew.

He must also surrender any passport and is banned from leaving Northern Ireland.
Conservative James Palmer has become the first regional mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Mr Palmer achieved a total of 88,826 votes, while Lib Dem Rod Cantrill had 67,205. Counting included second-preference votes as no candidates achieved more than 50% in the first-preference round.

Turnout in the election was 33.57%, with 204,363 verified votes cast out of a total eligible electorate of 604,960.

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South Cambridgeshire had the highest percentage turnout, of 42.43%, while the lowest percentage turnout of the six constituent councils was Peterborough City with 24.71%.

Mr Palmer said: Fairness is something that I believe in very strongly, and as mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough I aim to make this whole area a fairer county with opportunities for all, giving the chance to spread the wealth from the south of the county to the north, east and west, making sure that everybody gets the chance to have apprenticeship schemes, of having a skilled job so they can take advantage of the Cambridge effect.

What we have here in Cambridgeshire is almost unique. We have the building blocks of success, we just need somebody to put it together.

Improving the infrastructure in the city of Cambridge, linking the great city of Peterborough to Cambridge and bringing Fenland into the fold are all absolutely vital if we are to be a success.

He said he would work with Theresa May for the people of the area, and he was immensely proud to be the areas first metro mayor.
Editor-in-Chief, American Vogue and Artistic Director Dame Anna Wintour after receiving her Dame Commander from Queen Elizabeth II at an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour congratulated the Queen on her husbands service to the country as she was made a Dame Commander.

Wintour, who has spent almost 30 years editing the fashion bible, described the Duke of Edinburgh as an inspiration to us all following the announcement that he will retire from public service in the autumn.

The 67-year-old removed her signature sunglasses shortly before entering the ballroom of Buckingham Palace, where she received an honour for services to fashion and journalism.

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But the Queen struggled to attach the insignia to the editors pink belted Chanel outfit during the ceremony.

Wintour told the Press Association: She couldnt find where to put the brooch. I congratulated her on Prince Philips service because obviously thats so remarkable and such an inspiration to us all.

Wintour, who was born in London, was editor of British Vogue between 1985 and 1987 before taking the helm of the US magazine in 1988.

Known for her flawless sense of style and trademark bob haircut, she earned a reputation as a formidable force in fashion. She said it was wonderful to receive the honour from the Queen for her services to the industry, watched by her daughter Bee Shaffer.

Obviously this is a city that I grew up in, a city that I have so much affection and love for, she said.

Its always wonderful to get an award but this one is extra special.
Katie Curtis is listed on the Hertfordshire Constabulary's 'wanted' list online

An 18-year-old woman has been dubbed the UK's most "beautiful" suspect after police released her mugshot.

Katie Curtis is listed on the Hertfordshire Constabulary's 'wanted' list online after she failed to show up in court on drug charges.

Curtis had been arrested for alleged possession of drugs.

One person wrote online; "You don't see many criminals that look like her", while another described her as "beautiful".

Her mugshot makes the rounds on social media three years after a mugshot of US criminal Jeremy Meeks, dubbed the "world's hottest felon", went viral.

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Megan McCullough also hit headlines when she was wanted for driving under the influence in the US.

An image of her mugshot with the quote, "Wanted in 50 states.... for breaking entering your heart" was shared thousands of times online.
The US Africa Command said a service member was killed on Thursday during an operation near Barii in Somalia

A US service member has been killed in Somalia during an operation against the extremist group al Shabab in the first US combat death in the country in more than two decades.

It comes as the United States steps up its fight against the al Qaida-linked organisation in a country that remains largely chaos. The military says two other US personnel were wounded.

"We do not believe there has been a case where a US service member has been killed in combat action in Somalia since the incident there in 1993," US Africa Command spokesman Patrick Barnes said.

The United States pulled out of Somalia after that incident in which two helicopters were shot down in the capital, Mogadishu, and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets.

A Somali intelligence official said US forces killed at least six people during the raid on a building housing the al Shabab group's Andalus radio station.

The official says the dead in the attack on a farm included al-Shabab journalists.

In a statement, the US Africa Command said the service member was killed on Thursday during an operation near Barii, about 40m (64km) west of Mogadishu.

It said US forces had been conducting an advise-and-assist mission with Somalia's military.

Al Shabab, via its Shahada News Agency, said "an air landing operation by US special forces was thwarted in Lower Shabelle province and a number of their soldiers were killed and wounded", SITE Intelligence Group reported.

Both the United States and Somalia have declared new efforts against al Shabab.

US president Donald Trump has approved expanded military operations, including more aggressive air strikes and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.

A Somali intelligence official confirmed the US military operation, saying US forces in helicopters raided an al Shabab hideout near the Somali capital and engaged with fighters.

The official said the helicopters dropped soldiers near Dare Salaam village in an attempt to capture or kill extremists in the area.

The official said the fighters mounted a stiff resistance against the soldiers.

Somalia's new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last month declared a new offensive against al Shabab, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks elsewhere in East Africa.

Also last month, the US military announced it was sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the country in roughly two decades.

The US in recent years has sent a small number of special operations forces and counter-terror advisers to Somalia and has carried out a number of air strikes, including drone strikes, against al Shabab.

The extremist group, which was chased out of Mogadishu years ago but continues to carry out deadly attacks there, has vowed to step up the violence in response to the moves by Mr Trump and Mr Mohamed.

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Jeremy Corbyn has made it clear that, if he becomes Prime Minister in June, he would suspend UK air strikes in Syria.

I would like to see PM Jeremy Corbyn ending air strikes in Syria and in every other country in the world.

I would like Corbyn, as PM, to take the UK out of Nato, cancel Trident, ban UK arms fairs, ban the sale of arms abroad, close all UK arms factories and disband the UK armed forces. He could also employ the British intelligence services in actually protecting UK citizens against terrorism.

Following the break-up of Libya in 2011, MI6 worked alongside the CIA in funnelling arms to Jihadist terrorists in Syria.

I'm quite sure Corbyn would make a different type of PM and would not tolerate any kind of support for terrorists.

LOUIS SHAWCROSS

Hillsborough, Co Down
The father of Indian gang-rape victim Nirbhaya speaks to reporters as he leaves the Supreme Court in New Delhi, May 5, 2017.

Indias Supreme Court showed no mercy Friday in upholding death sentences for four men convicted of gang-raping a woman who died of injuries from the 2012 assault, in a case that shocked the nation and led to tougher penalties against rapists.

The sexual assault committed aboard a moving public bus in the capital New Delhi was so gruesome and committed with the highest viciousness that it was a case where human lust was allowed to take such a demonic form, the court said in its 429-page verdict.

In handing down the ruling, the three-judge bench of the nations highest court said it did not have even a hint of hesitation in deciding against sparing the lives of the four convicts by converting their sentences to life in prison, and noted that crimes like the one before us cannot be looked at with magnanimity.

On Dec. 16, 2012, the 23-year-old victim, a medical student who was later given the name Nirbhaya, or fearless, by the Indian media, was gang-raped inside a bus in front of a male friend who was accompanying her.

There were six perpetrators in all, including a minor. The assailants repeatedly inserted iron rods into the victim, causing her intestines to gush out before they threw the woman and her friend off the bus.

The rape victim, who cannot be identified by her real name as per Indian laws, died of her injuries two weeks later at a Singapore hospital where she was flown for treatment.

I am satisfied. We now finally see a glimmer of hope that the culprits would soon get what they deserve  to be hanged, Asha Devi, the victims mother, told BenarNews on Friday.

During the hearing, I felt that the court understood our plight, she added.

Ram Singh, the victims father, said he will now be able to sleep in peace.

She [Nirbhaya] would have turned 28 on May 10 if she had lived. Todays verdict is a gift for her, Singh told reporters as he stepped out of the courthouse in New Delhi with his wife.

I am happy that the court has heard our voice and understood the suffering our daughter underwent, he said, adding the culprits should be hanged as soon as possible.

Amid nationwide outrage and a raging debate over the treatment of Indian women that followed his daughters fatal gang-rape, the government in March 2013 approved tougher anti-rape laws, allowing culprits to be sentenced to death if they were repeat offenders, or depending on the brutality of the assault.

Death is certainly not the answer

The four men sentenced to death are Akshay Thakur, 31, Vinay Sharma, 23, Pawan Gupta, 22, and Mukesh Kumar, 29. Another defendant, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Delhis Tihar Jail in March 2013, while the sixth person, a juvenile, was sentenced to three years in a reform home.

In 2013, a trial court sentenced Thakur, Sharma, Gupta and Kumar to capital punishment. The verdict was upheld by the High Court in 2014, following which the convicts appealed to the Supreme Court for leniency.

The convicts now have the right to file a petition before the Supreme Court to review its verdict. If that is rejected, only the president of India has the authority to commute their death sentences to life imprisonment.

While some womens rights activists came out in support of the verdict, others had a different opinion.

Justice in this kind of crime was certainly needed but death is certainly not the answer. This method of punishment needs to be debated, gender-rights activist Sarita Barpanda, director of the New Delhi-based Human Rights Law Network, told BenarNews.

By giving them death, you have not given them any scope for repentance, she added.

Lawyer M.L. Sharma, who defended the convicts, said the verdict was a grave error on the part of the Supreme Court.

I am shocked by the verdict. Undoubtedly, the person who commits a crime should be punished but not innocent people. The verdict is a result of a media trial, Sharma told BenarNews.

It was the courts duty to deliver its verdict based on truth and evidence and not based on socialist or political agendas, he said.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson welcomes Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers to Washington.

The United States pushed Southeast Asian nations Thursday to step up sanctions against North Korea for developing nuclear weapons and missiles in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson prodded his counterparts from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to fully adhere to U.N. calls for sanctions on North Korea, officials said.

Secretary Tillerson and the ASEAN foreign ministers discussed the tensions on the Korean Peninsula caused by the [North Korean] nuclear tests and missile launches, and the grave threat posed to regional stability, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.

They recognized the need for full implementation of all relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, she said.

Before the meeting on Thursday, U.S. diplomats had reiterated Tillersons recent call at the Security Council for countries to sever diplomatic and financial ties with Pyongyang, warning that failure to curb North Koreas nuclear and missile abilities could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Patrick Murphy, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state to East Asia, told reporters after the talks that Washington was not encouraging ASEAN states to formally cut diplomatic ties with Pyongyang, but to examine the North Korean presence where it clearly exceeds diplomatic needs, Reuters reported.

He said some countries were already doing this and also looking at the presence of North Korean workers, a significant revenue earner for Pyongyang, Murphy said.

We are communicating with all countries to implement the U.N. Security Council resolutions and, most importantly, deny North Korea the revenue streams it has used to advance its provocative programs. ... We are encouraging continued and further steps across all of ASEAN, Murphy said.

We think that more can be done, not just in Southeast Asia.

Diplomatic relations

All ASEAN members  Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam  have diplomatic relations with North Korea and five have embassies in Pyongyang.

In February, Malaysia downgraded relations with Pyongyang and withdrew from a visa waiver program for North Koreans following the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns estranged half-brother at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 that month.

Since January 2016, North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests, more than 30 launches using ballistic missile technology, and various other activities relating to the nuclear and ballistic missile programs in clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The council in December 2016 unanimously imposed its toughest-ever sanctions on North Korea by fixing a limit on the reclusive states key coal exports.

North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006. Previous sanctions notably targeted North Korean weapons exports and access to financial markets. North Korea insists its nuclear weapons are a deterrent to U.S. aggression.

Tillerson also told his ASEAN counterparts that the Asia-Pacific region was a top priority for President Donald Trumps administration and that ASEAN is an essential partner, Nauert said in her statement.

Trump is scheduled to visit the Philippines and Vietnam in November to attend regional summits.
Civil rights groups and internet group-chat administrators said Malaysias new guideline for social media and messaging platforms is a tool to silence government critics and obstruct freedom of expression.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) late Wednesday released a list of six dos and six donts targeted to administrators of WhatsApp and other platforms including Facebook, WeChat, Viber and Telegram.

Such guidelines are intrusive into the privacy of citizens and their freedom of speech and certainly inconsistent with democratic practices, Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen told BenarNews on Friday.

He called the guideline unnecessary and pushed for the MCMC to tackle real internet crimes, including criminal intimidation and scams.

The dos outlined by the MCMC include: administrators should make clear the reason for the chat group; establish ground rules; comment on posts to ensure the discussion stays on track; consider removing those who consistently post inappropriate content; and cooperate with by enforcement agency investigations.

Its donts for administrators include: dont be absent from their groups; dont breach conditions set by the platform providers; dont encourage or incite offensive posts; dont allow discussions to wander off topic; dont be afraid to deal with trolls; and dont hinder investigations by enforcement agencies.

Warning issued

The guideline followed a warning by Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Jailani Johari on April 27 that WhatsApp group-chat administrators would face legal action for failing to stop the spread of fake news.

MCMC clarified his statement by adding other social media groups to the warning and said investigations would be carried out only if complaints were made about content being shared by the group.

It should be stressed that any investigation will not differentiate between an administrator and a member of the group. If the administrator or any member of the group were found to spread false information, then legal action can be taken against them, MCMC stated at the time.

Wednesdays guideline targeted administrators only.

Critics pointed out that punishment provisions exist under the Communication and Multimedia Act targeting the spread of fake news, libel, fraud and exposure of classified information under the Official Secrets Act. The new guideline does not establish new or additional punishments.

It is an excuse to crackdown and intimidate government critics, rather than a sincere or practical attempt at addressing real issues, Paulsen said.

On Friday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said MCMC merely was advising users and has no involvement in any activities of spying conversations.

Hence, beware of fake news, he told The New Straits Times.

Shamini Darshni, the executive director of Amnesty International Malaysia, disagreed, saying these platforms should be places to freely express beliefs and ideas without fear of interference.

The MCMC guideline does nothing to protect the shrinking space for free expression, she told BenarNews. The guidelines purpose is unclear and there should be an explanation.

A Whatsapp administrator, who asked to be identified as Patrick, asked whether a special team will snoop into peoples private conversations.

If the action is taken based on complaints, what if there is a snitch in my group who lodges a false complaint against me with the authorities? Will I be hauled up for that?" the marketing executive who manages several WhatsApp groups among family and work colleagues told BenarNews.

Another administrator had similar concerns.

Often, those who share unverified news in my family group are the elderly family members. I have often corrected them, saying it is a hoax, but when they keep doing it, how can I warn them, or kick them out of the group?" an administrator of several Whatsapp groups who asked to be identified as Sheena told BenarNews.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak review an honor guard upon Najibs arrival in Ankara, April 17, 2014.

Malaysian authorities are investigating two Turkish citizens in custody for suspected links to the Islamic State terrorist group, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Thursday.

Turgay Karaman and Ihsan Aslan, whose arrests were announced a day earlier, are being investigated for allegations of helping to fund IS and are being held under an anti-terror law that allows authorities to hold suspects for 28 days without charge, Zahid told reporters in Putrajaya.



Zahid, who is also Malaysias home minister, said the two Turks had been under police surveillance and were arrested under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012, also known as SOSMA.

The anti-terrorism unit under the polices special branch has been closely following the movements of several individuals involved in the spreading of influence and the funding of activities related to Daesh, Zahid said, using another name for IS.

Zahid gave more details about the arrests, a day after Human Rights Watch raised concerns about the prospect of the Turkish citizens being arrested and tortured if Malaysia deported them to their home country. Karaman is a principal at an international school in the Malaysian state of Perak, and Aslan is a businessman who also lives in Malaysia.

The Malaysian police Counter Messaging Center intercepted communications, which had links to Daesh (IS), by both men, Zahid said.

We had followed the movements of some individuals who are involved in spreading and providing funds to IS-related activities, including two Turkish citizens, the deputy prime minister added, without elaborating.

He promised humane treatment for the detainees.

Do not worry, he said, we will not oppress anyone if they are not involved or their levels of involvement are minimal. But he added: if there is strong evidence, detention will be made in accordance with existing legislation and we will confirm with Turkish authorities.

Separately, Malaysian Police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar said the arrests were made without any pressure from the Turkish government.

No, no. There is no request from anybody, he said. It is due to their own wrongdoing.

Khalid declined to give details on the mens alleged IS links.

I do not want to talk much, he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. We do not welcome people who are causing problems here. We do not welcome foreigners here to cause any problem to our people and our country.

He also did not respond to questions about whether the pair would be deported.

Commenting on the case of the Turks who had been reported missing earlier in the week, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, urged Malaysian authorities to make sure that under no circumstances they be forcibly removed from Malaysia and sent to Turkey.

There is little doubt that if they are returned to Turkey, they will face torture in detention, and if charged with crimes there, be subjected to a trial that will fall far short of fair trial standards, he said.

Other IS suspects

The Turks arrests were among several arrests in Malaysia of people with suspected links to IS that were announced this week.

Police on Wednesday publicized the arrests of six Malaysians with suspected ties to IS, who were taken into custody through counter-terrorist operations launched in several states from late March to late April. A seventh suspect with IS links fled to neighboring Thailand, police said.

The six suspects in custody are also being held under SOSMA, according to Khalid, the police inspector-general. Since 2013, Malaysian authorities have arrested at least 300 people suspected of having links to the Middle East-based terror group, of whom 66 have since been freed, according to the latest figures obtained from the government by BenarNews.

Connections to Gulen?

On Wednesday, Khalid broke the news about the arrests of the two Turks, saying in a message posted on Twitter that they were picked up because they threatened the security of Malaysia.

But he was not more specific.

The wives of the Turks denied the allegations.

They have never hurt anyone, the Star newspaper quoted Ayse Gul Karaman, the 38-year-old wife of Karaman, as saying Thursday.

Anadolu, the Turkish state news agency, said the pair was believed to be linked to U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who faces accusations of organizing a failed coup in Turkey last year.

Gulen, whose Hizmet movement runs about 2,000 educational establishments around the world, lives in exile in the United States. His movement has been branded a terrorist organization by the government of President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan. It has accused Gulen of being behind an attempted coup in July 2016, during which 265 people, including 161 civilians, were killed.

Forces loyal to Erdogan quickly crushed the putsch as he declared a state of emergency and ordered troops to detain thousands of people accused of involvement in the bid to overthrow him. The crackdown included Gulens alleged supporters.

Gulen has gone on the record to condemn terrorism committed by IS.

I deplore the brutal atrocities being committed by the ISIS terrorist group hiding behind a false religious rhetoric , the cleric said, referring to IS by a different acronym, after the group disseminated an online video showing the beheading in 2014 of captured American journalist James Foley.
President Rodrigo Duterte praises police officers for their role in his anti-drug campaign, during a speech in Maguindanao in the southern Philippines, May 5, 2017.

The Philippines voiced anger Friday over a surprise visit by a United Nations special envoy on extrajudicial killings, saying it was meant to discredit President Rodrigo Dutertes war on drugs days before Filipino officials were set to explain the deadly campaign in Geneva.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the visit to Manila by U.N. Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard sent a clear signal that she is not interested in getting an objective perspective on the countrys war against drugs.

Earlier this week, police reported 2,692 drug suspects have been shot dead since Duterte came to power 10 months ago. About 5,700 drug-related killings, many of them carried out by unknown vigilantes, are being investigated by police.

Rights groups have said the killings were sanctioned by police, a claim officials have denied.

Private forum on drugs

Callamard, who was in the Philippine capital to attend a privately organized forum on drugs, has been asking the government since last year to allow her to investigate these killings in her official capacity as U.N. envoy. Duterte has said he would only agree to this if she also allowed to be questioned in public, a condition that Callamard rejected.

In September, the Philippine government wrote to Callamard inviting her to get our perspective on the drug menace confronting our country, Abella said.

The fact that Dr. Callamard did not respond to our invitation showed that she would not be approaching her review of allegations concerning our country objectively or comprehensively, Abella said.

Abella said Callamards trip circumvents all recognized United Nations protocols for such visits, adding that a Philippine delegation that was expected to attend a Universal Periodic Review of the U.N. Human Rights Council, scheduled for May 8, would raise the issue.

Our position is very clear: If Dr. Callamard is committed to ensuring due process to our government and a truly objective assessment of our record on an issue of tremendous importance to our nation, she should be in Geneva meeting with our representatives, he said.

But the circumstances surrounding her visit have made it clear that the U.N. official is not approaching her assignment professionally or objectively, he said.

This is a matter we have asked our representatives at the United Nations to take up with their United Nations counterparts and it is something our delegation in Geneva will certainly be raising during their current visit, he added.

But Callamard said she was on a private trip and came to Manila upon the invitation of the organizers.

She told a forum at a Manila university that the drug problem had become a global issue funding corruption and heavily affecting governments worldwide.

But while governments have come together to denounce the problem, they also recognized that drug dependency has become a disorder that needs a health-care approach, she said.

What governments did not commit to last year was the war-on-drugs approach. Quite the contrary. They called what amounts to a balanced, multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary approach, and they placed great emphasis on health, rights and justice, she said.

The war-on-drugs approach does not work, according to Callamard.

It fosters a regime of impunity infecting the whole justice sector and erodes trust in public institutions and ultimately leading people to despair, she said.

She also praised Filipinos who had spoken out against the killings, saying she had followed closely the developments here.

I have heard debates between politicians, explanations by government officials, and indeed I have watched footage too of police and military men  and all are saying there are other ways, better ways. Other options, better options, the U.N diplomat said.

In a speech on Thursday, Duterte sought to clarify that he had not personally killed anyone despite repeatedly threatening drug addicts.

The sudden change of tune  he clearly told reporters earlier that he had killed at least three people  came after two former aides with personal knowledge of the killings filed a case of mass murder against him at the Hague-based International Criminal Court.

Meanwhile, the governments drugs war continued this week with deadly consequences. Eight people were slain in the south and in Manila, including a mother and her two young children accidentally shot by police raiding a drug den.
Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he had spoken by phone with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping after U.S. President Donald Trump asked him to discuss the nuclear threat on the Korean Peninsula with Beijings leader.

Duterte said he called Xi on Wednesday and told him that the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc and Trump were of the same position that you can do something to help ease geopolitical tensions around the situation on the peninsula.

The telephone diplomacy came after Trump spoke to him days earlier to ask me if President Xi Jinping could do something about the situation regarding Kim Jong Un, Duterte said in the southern city of Davao.

Actually, the biggest contribution of all others is your intervention, Duterte said he told Xi.

Duterte said he expected the American president to call him again and that he would report to Trump on what had transpired.

But definitely we are getting the help of everybody here, he said, adding that he knew that their phone conversation was recorded.

Of course, China was listening. Of course Russia was listening. Everybody is listening. Even now everybody is listening.

Budding friendship

On Wednesday, Xi and Duterte announced that they had a telephone conversation in which they both agreed to move forward with a newfound bilateral momentum.

The two agreed to push for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and to resolve the problem through dialogue with Pyongyang and all other concerned parties were urged to exercise restraint, according to a transcript of the conversation released by Chinas state-run Xinhua News Agency.

Dutertes call came two days after the Chinese destroyer Chang Chun docked in the southern Philippine city of Davao, the first time in seven years that a Chinese vessel had done so.

Apart from the Korean Peninsula, Xi and Duterte also discussed overlapping claims in the South China Sea, which analysts in the region have said could be a potential flash point of conflict pitting China against its smaller neighbors.

Taiwan and ASEAN states Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam claim the sea region as well.

China insists it has sovereign rights over the region and the dispute risked blowing into a full-blown military confrontation among claimants, with Beijing recently believed to have enhanced its defense capabilities on islands it has claimed.

Xi noted the improving bilateral relations with Manila, according to the transcript.

The dialogue channels on the South China Sea issue have also been established. This is in full accord with the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples and is fully affirmed by the Asian neighbors and the international community, Xi said.

He said Beijing and Manila should stick to the general direction of good-neighborly and friendly cooperation moving forward, a clear reference to the territorial wrangling.

The Philippines, Xi said, is a friendly neighbor of China and an important partner.

For his part, Duterte said he was happy relations between the two have been rapidly resumed and advanced, according to the transcript.

The Philippine side is willing to work with China to maintain the improvement and development momentum of bilateral relations, he said.
The disappearance of a plaque in Bangkoks Royal Plaza memorializing the 1932 Siamese Revolution that marked the beginning of constitutional democracy in Thailand, and its replacement with a pro-royalist plaque, has spurred debate in the country, April 15, 2017.

The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand canceled a panel discussion this week about a missing plaque marking the birth of Thai democracy after police said the event would threaten national security, FCCT officials said.

The cancellation is the latest twist in the case of the missing plaque, which has spurred debate about free speech and democracy in military-controlled Thailand. Junta leaders have told people not to raise questions about the missing object that was mysteriously replaced with a pro-royalist plaque, and have even taken some into custody who allegedly did not heed that warning.

Authorities this week arrested and charged six Thais on suspicion of violating the nations strict royal defamation law by sharing a Facebook posts about the missing plaque, according to reports.

Officials at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok on Wednesday night announced their decision to cancel the program, Memories of 1932: The Mystery of Thailands Missing Plaque, scheduled for that evening, saying they had received a letter from the district police asking the club to call off the event.

Police told the FCCT that relevant officials had contacted the local police station about the matter, club officials said in a statement.

In the letter the police said these officials believed that the event posed a threat to national security, and that it could be used by unscrupulous individuals to stir up disorder, the club said.

The FCCT disagrees with this assessment. Our events are always well-moderated and allow for constructive and civilized discussions, it added.

The club noted it was led to understand that the police request to cancel the program came through orders from the National Council for Peace and Order  the official name for Thailands junta.

Related arrests

The discovery of the missing plaque was reported in the Thai press on April 14.

The small bronze plaque was embedded in the pavement in Bangkoks Royal Plaza near the kings palace. The plaque is a much cherished symbol of constitutional democracy in Thailand, which began 85 years ago when the 1932 Siamese Revolution brought about an end to absolute monarchy.

News of the missing plaque surfaced only eight days after King Maha Vajiralongkorn signed into law the countrys 20th constitution since 1932. The new charter has set a timetable for the nations first elections under the current junta, which seized power three years ago this month.

Those could take place as late as November 2018. The charter, however, allows the military to influence the process and retain a grip on government, critics say, although the generals have promised to put Thailand back on a path to democracy.

On April 18, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha urged people not to stage street protests over the missing plaque and said they should stop drawing attention to the object.

I would like to remind you that, no matter what you do in the meantime, I do not want the country to go nowhere, Prayuth told reporters. For that matter, I do not want it to be an issue ... we have a democracy for more than 80 years, and I have affirmed that I am pro-democracy, so it is up to us to move our country forward.

On Wednesday, police announced that six people, including Thai human rights right lawyer Prawet Prapanukul, were arrested under the royal defamation law known as Lese-Majeste.

Anon Nampa, a leader with local NGO Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, said the six were accused of violating that law because they had shared Facebook posts about the missing plaque that were written by Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a Thai historian who lives in France, according to reports.

On April 12, the Thai government blacklisted Somsak as one of a trio of outspoken critics of the Thai monarchy, and banned its citizens from interacting over the internet with any of those three.

And eight days later, two pro-democracy activists were detained and sent for so-called attitude adjustment sessions after they had filed a complaint urging police to search for the missing plaque, Thai news website Prachatai reported.

Prawet, who also faces three counts of sedition, could face up to 150 years in prison if convicted on 10 counts of royal defamation, the Reuters news agency quoted Anon Nampha as saying on Thursday.
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For Immediate Release, May 4, 2017

Contact: Amy Atwood, (503) 504-5660, atwood@biologicaldiversity.org

Stuart Pimm, Ph.D., (646) 489-5481, stuartpimm@me.com

Nick Surgey, (608) 628-1668, nick@prwatch.org Trump Administration Continues Attack on Science, Scrubs Data on Climate Change From Interior Department Websites Conservationists, Scientist Fight Back With Freedom of Information Act WASHINGTON As the Trump administration continues to censor science, the Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Media and Democracy and scientist Dr. Stuart Pimm today launched a novel legal strategy to force the Department of the Interior to restore climate change information that was deleted from the agency's website. Scrubbing information about climate change will not make it any less dangerous, said Amy Atwood, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. We're going to fight the Trump administration's efforts to bury the science showing the dangerous impacts of climate change at every turn. Under a seldom-utilized provision of the Freedom of Information Act added in 2016, when federal agencies receive requests for the same records three or more times, they must make the records freely available to the public on their websites. The groups and Dr. Pimm today each filed information requests for the information from the deleted webpages in order to force the Interior department to restore them. The public has a right to know important scientific information, particularly when it threatens to unravel the web of life we all depend on, said Stuart Pimm, Doris Duke professor of conservation ecology at Duke University. I continue to be deeply troubled by the Trump administration's efforts to bury the irrefutable science of climate change. As has been widely reported, Interior's website formerly included detailed information about how human activities are the primary cause of climate action, the consequences of climate change, the federal government's strategies to respond to climate change and the consequences of inaction. The website now includes just one paragraph about climate change. The Trump administration is attempting a giant scam, said Nick Surgey, director of research at the Center for Media and Democracy. Trump officials routinely mislead by saying the science around climate change isn't settled, all while implementing policies to purge the web of the actual science. The Center has now found that in addition to the Interior Department's own website, the websites of multiple agencies within the Interior Department  including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Climate Science Centers, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey  have also deeply cut information about climate change from their webpages. The BLM site on climate change, for example, is now a dead link.



The Centers and Dr. Pimm have now submitted Freedom of Information Act requests for all the data scrubbed from these websites, as well as from the Environmental Protection Agency, which has also removed climate change information from its website. These requests add to others filed in March that sought to ensure thousands of data sets on oil and gas projections, energy use, climate data, human population and the status of scores of endangered and threatened species and other wildlife remained publically available on agency websites. By invoking the little-used provision of the Freedom of Information Act, the Centers and Dr. Pimm are ensuring that the lost data are made electronically available to the public once again.
Wild & Weird: Want to Hook Up With a Rhino on Tinder? For many millennials Tinder isn't just part of the dating scene -- it is the dating scene. Swiping right engages chatting and opens users up to a wide world of romance (or not in some cases, it's a wide world of creeps).



But there's at least one gentleman on Tinder who's worth his weight in swipes: Sudan, the last male northern white rhino in the world.



Sudan needs a mate for his species to continue, so the Ol Pejeta Conservancy has partnered with Tinder to raise money for a breeding campaign, including the development of in vitro fertilization technologies. Tinder users around the world can now swipe right on Sudan's photo and be taken to a donation page to help out the most eligible (and horny!) bachelor around.



Read more at LiveScience.
The 2017 summit brought together agencies and consultants to cover the issues, challenges and trends facing the global advertising and communications industries, with industry leaders presenting their views on the challenges they face in the different markets in which they operate. More than 40 international consultants visited more than 25 agencies during summit week.

Day 1

Case studies from IBM Watson, 3G Capital and McWhopper were shown to illustrate what is possible. Siefert sees client conflict that might arise due to the transformation being handled simply and with greater trust levels  as agencies move to become more like other professional services organisations such as legal firms or accounting firms or even management consultancies. The overriding impression of the agency is one of thoroughness and professionalism at top level.

Day 2

Wunderman First up was Wunderman and we met with Global CEO Mark Reed, who had told us at the last meeting 18 months ago, of the plans for Wunderman. It was terrific to see that those plans have all come to fruition, so they were able to share some excellent case studies  including a magnificent example from client Investec. South Africa and South Africans are big in Wunderman, who recently merged WPP acquired Acceleration into the Wunderman fold. Creatively driven and data inspired, Wundermans purpose is to inspire people to take action. They are also observing that marketers are trying to understand consumers more than brands.With 7,000 people in 170 offices in 60 markets, Wundermans largest set up is in the EMEA. Their top global team members have been attracted into Wunderman from other major networks. Their three case studies  Investec, T-Mobile and GSK  perfectly illustrated what Wunderman is achieving. Their client remits are expanding as the successes that Wunderman is demonstrating through data are encouraging clients to give them more of their strategic marketing communications work. Wunderman can now handle all aspects of advertising, except media buying. Wunderman is now much more than just a direct marketing agency. They seem to have simplified a complex world, and found a way to handle client conflict. They regard confidentiality as more important than exclusivity for clients and have built their agency accordingly.

Moving Picture Company Next was Moving Picture Company (MPC), owned by Technicolor. They were the first of many content producers that we met during AdForum this time. They work mainly with premium clients via their agencies and are producing content, which will support brands on multiple platforms. Innovation is in our portfolio is their positioning and they have done pioneering work with virtual reality (VR) for brands such as John Lewis and Adidas.Collaboration is easy for them. Sometimes their suppliers are competitors too. It all depends on the remit.

Vice (and Virtue) Vice is a production and media company set up for youth markets. They have their own TV channel  Viceland  and are the company that understands millennials. Founded 11 years ago, they now produce 6 000 pieces of content per day.

Vice and Virtue Agency

With 600 plus staff in 36 offices, they can produce content in 22 languages. The company is a warren of production studios producing original shows and content for their channel and others - very impressive set up.Virtue is the agency born out of Vice. It was created in response to marketers requests. With the belief that brands have to think and act like media channels, Virtue has organised itself into an agency able to produce branded content based on tighter brand led briefs. As one of the other agencies said to us, this agency is writing the book on how things should be done in the new era.

The founders believe that if you dont have anything interesting to say as a brand, then you are just a product and content is the new brand strategy. Case studies for Belvedere Vodka and Diesel were shown to us in order to illustrate their capability. Other brands they work with include YouTube, Unilever, Samsung, Red and Coke  a good mix of older and newer ones.Virtue competes in pitches with Droga, Mother and 72&Sunny, so the competitive set is clear.

Big Spaceship We met this agency about two years ago when they presented to us in a speed-dating session. This time they showed us their new agency premises, talked about their growth, which has been considerable, and showed us live case studies in smaller groups, which made the afternoon much more interesting as we met the agency teams as well.Heres an agency with a learning culture that does not stop changing. They believe in culture and behavior over technology and platforms. Their four principles are:

Take care of each other

Collaborate inside and out

Speak up (no silent disagreement)

Do great work

They position themselves as a modern partner to ambitious brands.

Anomaly We ended Day 2 with one of the most exciting agencies globally and an AdForum favourite. With their no timesheet strategy, this agency enjoyed 58% organic growth in 2016 and 42% growth in new business. AdAge voted them Agency of the Year in 2016 and they are expanding from their 6 offices and 600 people across Europe. Berlin will be their seventh office. As well as being a strong growth agency, they have set up a separate division called ACE, which produces content for brands, branded entertainment and a TV series.

Summary My takeout is simple. If an agency these days does not have in-house content production  to the highest standards  they are not an agency of today. Production, production, production. Clients want it and agencies are best placed to do this  in-house is faster and more cost efficient. It is the name of todays game.
The FEPE International Congress, with its theme, A Time of Revolution - Earning the Right to Win,' will be held in Stockholm from Wednesday, 7 June 2017 - Friday, 9 June 2017. Amongst the speakers are Barry Louth, head of UK media planning of European pay-TV leader Sky and Richard Brooke, media operations and strategy director of Unilever (Europe).

Other speakers include Carat global president, William Swayne, who will give the keynote address to open the congress and new FEPE board member, Noomi Mehta of Selvel One who will discuss the rapidly expanding Indian Out of Home (OOH) market.

Louth will discuss the importance of OOH to the UKs biggest advertiser, alongside Paul McCormack of Rapport, Skys OOH specialist agency. Brooke will outline how the rapidly expanding global OOH industry should address the issue of sustainability, a key plank of Unilevers corporate and marketing philosophy.

Other speakers include Eric Newnham and Adrian Skelton, from specialist agency Talon, who will give an insight into one of the UKs biggest, and most successful OOH agencies and the issues the wider industry faces.

Programmatic advertising

Barry Frey, president and CEO of the Digital Place Based Advertising Association (DPAA) will reveal how digital OOH is overtaking home-based TV and video as the medium of choice for farsighted advertisers. Also on the subject of digital, FEPE International executive director designate Bob Wootton, former head of advertising at the UKs ISBA advertiser association, will a chair a panel on the live issue of programmatic advertising with representatives from all sides of the industry.

FEPE international executive director, John Ellery says, We believe this is the strongest line-up of speakers we have assembled at congress, with people from all sides of the industry able to give delegates valuable insights into the issues facing the global OOH industry and show clearly how we can move forward successfully together.

For more information, click here.
The Cannes Lions 2017 Jurors have been announced. Encompassing a diverse spectrum of creative and international talent, 390 people from 50 countries across all juries are confirmed and two new countries, the Dominican Republic and Vietnam, join the panels. The number of women on the juries has doubled in the last five years, from 21% in 2012 to 43& in 2017.

Terry Savage, chairman of Cannes Lions, said, Our juries are developed in consultation with the industry and the progress weve achieved so far by working together is transforming the jury gender mix. We know the work doesnt stop at gender and we look forward to working with the industry to tackle other representation issues.

Madonna Badger, CCO/founder of Badger and Winters and Cannes Lions See It Be It ambassador, commented, Cannes Lions commitment to diversity and equality shines a light for the entire industry. Whereas only 11% of creative directors are women, Cannes has increased the number of women on juries to 43% this year. The more the juries represent the ratio of men and women in the world, the better the awarded work will be.

Jose Papa, MD of Cannes Lions, added, The job of the jury is to identify and award the very best in global creativity, recognising and celebrating work made by all people from all corners of the world. The make-up of this years juries marks another step forward in the festivals mission to improve diversity among its judges, and is something were committed to continuing in 2018 and beyond.

South African jurors
MOSCOW, Russia - A Russian cartoon channel said on Thursday that it would not air a The Simpsons episode about playing a game similar to Pokemon Go in a church that has been criticised by Orthodox clerics.

"We don't show content that can compromise the channel or provoke an ambiguous reaction in society, that to put it simply breaks the country's legislation," the public relations director of Russia's 2x2 channel, Anastasia Shablovskaya, told AFP.

In an episode of the popular Fox series aired in the US on 30 April, Homer, the father in the Simpsons family, plays a fictional game called Peekemon Get in church.

The episode appears to be based on an ongoing criminal case in Russia against video blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky, who faces up to three-and-a-half years in jail after filming himself playing Pokemon Go in a church.

Valmir Abreu Braz Junior   123RF.com

The verdict is expected next week.

In Russia, offending religious believers was made a crime after the Pussy Riot performance group sang a song critical of President Vladimir Putin in a Moscow church in February 2012, for which the members received two-year prison sentences.

The Simpsons episode prompted criticism from some Russian Orthodox clerics.

The episode "could shake (children's) moral foundations," a senior priest from the Ivanovo-Voznesensk diocese, Hieromonk Makary, told the Tass state news agency.

He suggested that parents should "shield children from viewing" the show.

Another senior cleric, Archpriest Andrei Novikov, told TASS the Simpsons episode was "clear evidence" of "powerful propaganda" through "media products".

But Shablovskaya denied that the channel's ban on the episode was related to the church's criticism.

"The church has nothing to do with this," she said, adding that "the Russian Orthodox Church did not contact the channel directly".

The 2x2 channel, which caters to an adult audience, has previously run into trouble for showing The Simpsons and the cartoon South Park, and was accused by prosecutors in 2008 of promoting extremism.

Source: AFP
#OneShow2017: That South African One Show direct link

FCB Africa's creative director, Suhana Gordhan, shares exclusive insights into judging the One Show's direct marketing entries and how even this reflects the organisation's strong drive for better diversity across the industry.

One Show 2017s Creative Week kicks off from Monday, 8 May until the final part of the two-night gala awards ceremony showcasing the gold, silver and bronze winners across all disciplines on Friday, 12 May. I chatted to some of the South Africans involved in this annual international festival in celebration and support of the global advertising and design industry in terms of diversity, education and leadership. First up is Gordhan. Shes a true inspiration and role model to many, because in addition to her creative role at FCB Africa, Gordhan is also the current Loeries chairperson and part of this years One Show direct jury. It doesnt get more top-level than that. SOUTH AFRICA #OneShow2017: Suhana Gordhan's judging pick of the day 23 Mar 2017 Gordhan shares insights into her One Show judging experience, as well as how diversity forms a golden thread through all the One Show touches Describe the One Show judging experience. Describe the One Show judging experience. Suhana Gordhan: FCB Africas creative director, Loeries chairperson and 2017 One Show direct juror. Gordhan: I was live with the rest of the jury in Bermuda. Its always an honour and a privilege to judge an awards show. It was my first time judging at One Show and I found the experience truly rewarding  not only because you get to see a range of work from all over the world but also because you get to meet jurors whose work precedes their names.

It also makes a welcome change from your day-to-day. Where you might be pulled in a hundred different directions on a usual work day, when judging, you get to spend an entire two days immersed in one thing only  the viewing of work and deciding on the merit of each piece.

Each judging experience is different and offers an opportunity to sharpen your critical acumen. Kevin Swanepoel, CEO of The One Show, asks that when you comment on a piece of work, you avoid personal opinion and respond based on facts. I think this an interesting process and doesnt allow anyone to slate any work.

Viewing some of the worlds greatest pieces of advertising is always inspiring and a good measuring tool upon which to judge your own work. Being in the company of great work and great people in a beautiful setting makes for an unforgettable experience!

We can only imagine. Diversity is a hot topic in advertising at the moment, particularly in SA  luckily thats also one of the One Shows key talking points. Was this reflected in the judging? We can only imagine. Diversity is a hot topic in advertising at the moment, particularly in SA  luckily thats also one of the One Shows key talking points. Was this reflected in the judging?

Gordhan: Absolutely, and rightly so. It feels strange to still be discussing the topic of diversity in the 21st century, but here we are. Global CEO of FCB, Carter Murray says, When you put great people in a room, you get great work.

And those great people need to be interesting and overtly different. They need to come from all walks of life and bring with them their lived experiences. Its comforting though, to know that the topic of diversity is not just a South African one. It is on the minds of our global friends, too. The bottom line is, you cannot make unique work if you dont have unique insights that come from unique people from diverse backgrounds.

The One Show is behind diversity and transformation and the panels reflected that. Of the 12 jurors on the direct panel, 5 were women. The work that the One Show does with regard to diversity does not limit itself to the way the panels are considered. The One Show also has The Creative Womens Leadership Series, a program in which top women in the industry mentor young professionals as well Creative Boot Camp, which is a series of inclusion and diversity workshops for college students.

Theres also an annual multicultural career fair in New York, attended by over 700 young and aspiring creatives.

Without giving too much away, talk us through the quantity and overall calibre of the direct marketing entries you saw. Without giving too much away, talk us through the quantity and overall calibre of the direct marketing entries you saw.

Gordhan: With all awards shows, theres a lot of sifting to get to the great work. There are always some bad pieces and some really brilliant and enviable pieces of work.

In the direct category, there were a total of 1,200 entries. Some of the work that made it to the top is already well known and has been awarded at other shows, which proves that outstanding work will always find its place in the spotlight.

For me, the best pieces of work in the category were those that had the following qualities: a degree of difficulty and risk, flawless, effortless execution and born from a really simple idea  but not so simple that they were lacking in awe.

The piece that was awarded Best of Show in our category is a piece Ive always loved because it is brave, displays ingenuity in its solving of a business problem and was also highly effective.

Colour us intrigued! List a few key direct marketing trends that stood out from the entries you judged. Colour us intrigued! List a few key direct marketing trends that stood out from the entries you judged.

Gordhan: The trends that I noticed across some of the really remarkable pieces of work was fresh and interesting use of SEO and social listening tools. A few brands took the simple notion of search and listening algorithms and utilised those technologies in really surprising and effective ways. Some of those pieces include Canadian Down Syndrome Answers, Ikeas Retail Therapy and Snickers Hungerithm:

All those pieces used great insight first and the ideas were simple, big ideas that made the technology behind them seamless and almost invisible. While the tech was integral to the idea, the idea is at the forefront not the tech.

Sounds like truly diverse world-class creativity, we cant wait to see the winning work. Well have more from the other South African advertising and design educators who took part in the One Show's Young Ones judging early next week. Click here for schedule highlights. You can also follow The One Club on Twitter and click through to our One Show special section for the latest updates!
BRUSSELS, Belgium - The EU said on Thursday that Amazon had bowed to its demands and agreed to drop clauses requiring e-book publishers to disclose information about their deals with the US retail giant's rivals.

laurentiu iordache via 123RF

In order to avoid potentially huge fines, Amazon "will no longer enforce or introduce these clauses in agreements with publishers," the EU Commission said in a statement.

"The clauses may have led to less choice, less innovation and higher prices for consumers due to less overall competition" in the EU, it added.

In a battle dating back to 2015, the EU argued that Amazon's contracts with e-book publishers violated the bloc's anti-trust laws because publishers were required to reveal their other deals with rivals. They were also compelled to give Amazon equal or better terms than they offered to rivals.

But Amazon has now agreed to amend those clauses, Brussels said. Amazon said in a statement it was "pleased" to have reached an agreement with the commission.

"We will continue working to help authors and publishers reach more readers, improve the digital reading experience, and bring our customers the best possible prices and selection," it added.

The case ends as Amazon is fighting a far bigger anti-trust case with the European Commission over its tax affairs in Luxembourg.

Source: AFP
Metropolitans score of 82.6, saw it finish ahead of Old Mutual with 80.3 (up 2.3 points), while Liberty scored 78.1 (up four points), Sanlam and Momentum were on par with the industry at 77.5 points each (up 2.6 and down 1.8 respectively). Discovery was the only company to score below the industry average of 79, with a score of 74 points (down one point since 2015 and still below its 2014 score of 74.8).

Professor Adre Schreuder, CEO: Consulta

In this category, there isnt a wide gap between the leaders and the laggards, compared to other industry benchmarks in the SAcsi. In other sectors such as short term insurance, medical insurance and retail banking, the difference in satisfaction is much more varied as customers deal with the services more frequently and would be more cognisant of poor customer service., says Consulta CEO, Professor Adre Schreuder.

The sample included 2,460 customers who were randomly selected for inclusion in the 2016 survey.

Service quality

Still, there has been a consistent improvement in the service quality of companies such as Metropolitan and Old Mutual, leading to their high scores. Discovery, on the other hand, fell short in both perceived quality and value, leading to it falling short on meeting demanding customer expectations.

Loyalty

The average customer loyalty across the industry recovered slightly with a score of 69.5, having dipped to 67.6 in 2015 from a high of 73.6 in 2014. The current economic climate has placed pressure on South African households, and therefore some insurers are predicting an increase in policy cancellations. However, those who remained have a low price-increase tolerance of 66.3, meaning they may cancel their policies should there be any increases in cost relative to value.

Metropolitan enjoyed the highest customer loyalty score of 72.9, an increase from 68.5 in 2015. Momentums loyalty score was in line with the industry at 69.6, while Old Mutual and Sanlam each scored 68, followed by Liberty with a score 67.7 and Discovery with a score of 64.5.

It was interesting to see that while Metropolitans number of complaints is above the industry average, it also had the best complaint handling. They turned the tide of criticism into an opportunity to show customers that they care about them, says Schreuder.

Net promoter score

An important metric for insurance providers is the net promoter score (NPS), which measures the likelihood that customers will recommend a brand to their family and friends, becoming promoters, compared to customers who would actively discourage a relationship with an insurer, known as detractors.

Metropolitan achieved the highest NPS score of 46%, which beat the industry average by 8.6 points. Old Mutual scored 36%, Sanlam scored 33%, while Liberty and Momentum scored 30%. Discovery scored a NPS of 24%.

Metropolitan is the only brand to have consistently increased its NPS since 2014, having seen a massive jump from 34% in 2015.

Treating customers fairly

In anticipation of pending regulatory changes, life insurers were measured against the six principles of the Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) code, elements of which are included in the Twin Peaks legislation. Expected to come into effect mid-2017, TCF is a regulatory framework intended to improve market conduct in financial services. The score measures the perception of customer on how well financial services providers have incorporated TCF outcomes and a more customer-centric approach into their value propositions.

For the past five years, the SAcsi has shown a significant statistical correlation in perceived fairness and customer satisfaction. Metropolitan was the highest performer in this metric, with a TCF score of 85.8 compared to an industry average score of 81.1, while Discovery yielded the lowest TCF score of 76.

There is very little differentiation (at least not sustainable) in the type of life cover offered by the each of the life insurers. The difference lies in the quality of customer experience and the level of engagement each brand provides, concludes Schreuder.
At the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa , being held in Durban, Mastercard released the ', estimated at R23 billion or 0.52% of the country's GDP in 2015. Low-income earners carry the highest costs of cash, forfeiting 4% of their earnings compared to the national average of 1.1%.

Despite an increase in the number of banked adults from 63% in 2011 to 77% in 2015, cash transactions still account for more than 50% of the total value of all consumer transactions. This suggests that being formally banked may not be enough of a driver for consumers to move away from cash.

Adoption of products is an important first step for financial inclusion but usage is equally important, says Mark Elliott, division president of Mastercard, Southern Africa. From the consumers perspective, the perceived benefit of using cash is largely driven by the misconception that cash is cheap. While South Africans are generally aware of the direct fees associated with accessing cash such as bank transaction fees, they do not consider the indirect costs such as travelling to cash-in and cash-out points, the often billable time lost spent accessing cash, as well as the risk of theft.

Conducted by Genesis Analytics, the study measures both the direct costs of cash (ATM, branch costs and cash-back at point of sale) and indirect costs of cash (travel costs, time-related costs, foregone interest and theft) for consumers across low, middle and upper-income segments, taking into account the different behaviours and preferences of each group.

Invisible costs of cash

The study found that the indirect cost of using cash accounted for 61% of the total cost of cash to consumers, with low-income earners carrying a heavier burden than middle- to high-income earners. This is largely driven by the higher indirect costs, including travel time, travel costs and low access to alternative channels, such as internet banking, which is generally cheaper than traditional ATM and branch withdrawals.

Cash is the enemy of financial inclusion and of the poor. Too many South Africans still need to trade off the demands of an hourly job with the need to travel long distances to access cash or stand in line to pay a bill. Many consumers also face the dangers of being robbed when they come home with their wages, says Elliott.

The study further reveals that low-income earners  46% of whom are banked  tend to use cash because of very limited card acceptance at micro-merchants, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities where there is no alternative to cash.

This slow adoption of alternative channels is also evident in remittance payments. The cost to remit cash both locally and to the rest of Africa accounted for 8% of the total cost of cash to the consumer, with the bulk of the cost comprising informal remittance channels, which are most dominant in remittance flows to the rest of Africa.

Elliot concludes, If we are to accelerate the migration of South African consumers to a cashless and financially inclusive society, the payments industry must focus on:

 improving accessibility to alternative payment channels

 educating consumers and merchants on the true costs and danger of cash

 looking at behavioural interventions such as offering immediate and tangible rewards for using a card to change peoples bad habits
NUMBI - In the lush hills of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the trade in rare minerals has long fed unrest, miners complain that recent US rules against "conflict minerals" have bitten into their meagre income.

"Since they brought in this law, things did get worse," said miner Ombeni Chikala in South Kivu, the troubled mineral-rich eastern province of DRC.

Introduced in 2010, section 1502 of Washington's Dodd-Frank law - known to the self-employed miners as "Obama's law" - requires companies listed on the US stock exchange to report any use of conflict minerals to regulators.

Source: Capital FM Kenya

However the US government this year said the law was under review.

Situated to the west of Lake Kivu, the green hills surrounding the small mining town of Numbi in South Kivu are dotted with mining sites - some just holes in the ground, others large hills reduced to quarries.

Chikala, 32, digs for cassiterite and coltan near Numbi in sites validated as free of conflict minerals by the United Nations and USAID. Cassiterite (used for tin) and coltan (for tantalum), along with gold ore and wolframite (for tungsten), are the four most common "conflict minerals" extracted by tens of thousands of Congolese miners.

Trade in the minerals, which power the world's consumer electronics, have helped fund and trigger foreign and local wars in region in which millions of people have been killed and displaced in the last decades.

"In the past you could dig 100 kilos (220 pounds), you could take it wherever you want and sell it to anyone you want," said Chikala.

But under the new rules, the miners must comply with a traceability scheme set up by British organisation ITRI Ltd under which minerals are sold down the consumer chain via a system of "bag-and-tagging".

"This tagging system really is killing us," said Chikala's co-worker Byamungu Kabyona, 42.

"In the past we used to work freely, you can dig your stones," Kabyona said.

"You get your stones or you buy your stones, you can sell them to anyone you want, you can take them wherever you want as long as you have the card from the mining ministry and other documents from the government," he added.

Others argue however that the new system helps the small-scale miners.

A repeal of the US regulation would be "a tragedy for the artisanal mining sector," said Fidel Bafilemba, founder and director of the Support Group for Traceability and Transparency in the Management of Natural Resources, known by its French acronym GATT-RN.

"The region has been known for violent artisanal exploitation and if we have made any improvements, it's solely due to the pressure of this US law," he said.

But local miners are not the only critics.

The immediate consequences of Dodd-Frank were "completely chaotic", said John Kanyoni, managing director of mining company Metachem Sarl and vice president of the Chamber of Mines.

He said economic activity had slumped, with loans lost and "thousands and thousands" of diggers out of work.

In 2014, Kanyoni helped draft a letter signed by 70 industry representatives, researchers, journalists and members of civil society criticising section 1502 and calling for a "more nuanced and holistic approach" with greater local consultation.

Though he acknowledged that the bill had been a "kind of catalyst" for positive change, he stressed that it was often the diggers who had to bear the costs of traceability and transparency.

"In the end, the diggers (are) the ones who will be losing more," said Kanyoni.

"If you're getting two dollars more, three dollars more, this money will be going to the traceability, due diligence and certification schemes.".

Bafilemba, of GATT-RN, agreed, saying self-employed miners earn less for the minerals they sell because of ITRI fees imposed on exporters.

"This money is ... charged back to the miners. So in principle, it's the miners who are paying this money. It's not fair. It should be on the end-users, the giant electronic companies to pay this amount," Bafilemba said.

But while digging near Numbi, 33-year-old Salomon Kahizi said that though the prices had dropped, the area was safer nowadays for these lone miners, who had frequently been victims of robbery in the past.

"When you'd be digging or working they might show up and take everything... But nowadays, those kinds of attacks, we don't see them anymore," Kahizi said.
A Western Cape High Court judgement, handed down on 4 May, ruled against the The South African Agency for Promotion of Petroleum and Exploitation (PASA), The Minister of Mineral Resources and Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa (Pty) Ltd on an application for exploration rights in Northern KwaZulu-Natal on more than 800,000ha's

jwigley via pixabay

Hailing the ruling as a massive victory for the local farmers who took legal action against the application for exploration, Kwanalu CEO Sandy La Marque said: Todays court decision is a huge relief for farmers not only in the northern parts of KZN but the entire province. We commend those farmers involved for their hard work and determination in achieving this result.

Rhino Oil and Gas submitted their Notice of Application for exploration in two areas  one in the KZN Midlands, the other in Northern KZN, in late 2015 and early 2016 respectively. Both applications covered a total area of more than 1,600,000ha and in excess of 15,000 farms.

Exploration could come at a huge cost to the environment

Gas and mineral exploration could come at a huge cost to the environment  with the potential to contaminate our already scarce water resources, as well as being associated with serious health problems and threatening to destroy livelihoods and businesses which could lead to job losses and economic instability.

Kwanalu was quick to take a proactive stance against exploration and potential fracking, raising the alert to its members and the KZN public in 2010 and again in 2015 stressing the need to take action by participating in the processes as determined. When Rhino Oil and Gas first submitted their Notice of Application for exploration in KZN, Kwanalu expressed its concerns about the business and environmental impact and the potential health implications associated with the extraction process known as fracking, explained La Marque.

Commenting on the court ruling, Sean Hoatson, the farmer behind the legal action, said: We are satisfied with the judgement and will abide by the court ruling.

Urging everyone to look at the bigger picture, La Marque said: Gas and mineral exploration could come at a huge cost to the environment  with the potential to contaminate our already scarce water resources, as well as being associated with serious health problems and threatening to destroy livelihoods and businesses which could lead to job losses and economic instability.

Legal intervention regarding KZN Midlands exploration

Fracking is considered to be one of the single biggest agricultural, socio-economic and environmental threats facing South Africa so, we are very pleased to see the ruling today. This bodes well for everyone to work within the legislation that has been put in place to govern the processes and procedures associated with mineral and gas exploration in this country, she said.

Offering reassurances to farmers in the KZN Midlands about the outstanding application for exploration in their area, La Marque said: We are at the advanced stages of instituting legal intervention regarding the Midlands exploration application brought by Rhino Oil and Gas.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is still losing just more than a quarter of all its treated water to leaks but the losses are down from three months ago and rescue measures are starting to take good effect.

That is the message from municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki who provided The Herald with a water management scorecard compiled in terms of International Water Association criteria.

The scorecard shows the metro lost 22,700,680-megalitres (ML) of water through leaks from July to March. This loss volume was 29.1% of the 77,898,210ML of water treated by the metro, 2.5% down from the 31.6% for January.

As a first step towards fixing the leaks, the metro had detailed 13 different problem points, from burst pipes and underground leaks to stolen pipes and leaking taps, meters and fire hydrants. At the same time, it was working to reduce its leak intervention turnaround time, which presently stood at 15 to 20 days, and it had introduced a range of measures aimed at improving efficiency, Mniki said.

These measures included the employment of two superintendents and one more senior superintendent in the water management department since the new metro team took over in August.

Mayoral committee infrastructure and engineering head Annette Lovemore said yesterday the municipality had also taken on seven more plumbers, swelling their ranks to 28.

"We are hoping to add another six plumbers this financial year and then 10 [in the] next financial year and to have the plumber shortage completely sorted in three years' time," she said. "Until we've achieved this we're making use of external capacity."

Lovemore said the metro was aware the water loss volume was still way too high. "It's costing us half-a-billion rand ... that's higher than our entire capital budget," she said. "So it has been important to publicly admit the size of the problem."

It had taken Cape Town's DA-led metro team a decade to bring down their water loss volume from 40% to 12%, she noted.

Mthubanzi said metro teams were also working overtime to fix leaks and address complaint logs generally, and intensifying their assistance in poor communities where residents could not afford to fix household leaks. High-consumption schools had been served notices and demand management devices would be installed at some schools to stop water abuse.

The metro's water distribution director, Joseph Tsatsire, said another measure taken was the installation of 58 pressure devices. "These devices reduce pressure in the water reticulation system when it's not needed, especially during the night."

The metro was making available non-potable water from a Coega Kop borehole, and the commissioning of another groundwater scheme at Coega Kop to supply potable water was being finalised, Tsatsire said.

Source: Herald
African governments should invest in agriculture, giving particular attention to the small-scale farmers on whom the sector and the continent's economic transformation are premised. Speaking during a debate here yesterday on leadership in an era of disruption, Oxfam International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said it was critical for governments and the private sector to invest in irrigation equipment, infrastructure such as dam and roads, and the availability of finance facilities to ensure that the sector reaches its potential.

John Wollwerth via 123RF

Agriculture as a strategy to eradicate poverty, create jobs, reduce effects of climate change

Agriculture creates at least 60 percent of Africa's revenue while it ensures food security. "Investment in agriculture can reduce poverty five times more than any other economic sector. So put resources into this sector and stop people from dying," she said.

Although the sector was threatened by climate change, it was critical that measures be put in place to confront such challenges as droughts. The continent needed to put in place measures to adapt to the changes taking place in the sector while also embracing new technology.

The session, the first plenary of WEF 2017, was moderated by Zimbabwean Vimbai Kajese, a TV personality and entrepreneur based in China. She raised Zimbabwe's flag high. Nigeria's Tony Ofumelu stressed the importance of viable agriculture as a strategy to eradicate poverty. "How can you talk of development when you can't feed yourself?" We need to ensure food security through investment," he said.

Ofumelu lamented the fact that measures were adopted even at African Union level to bolster agriculture and other sectors of the economy but many of these were hardly implemented. "In Africa, the narrative should change. Africa should call on all its leaders to improve the business environment... to deal with poverty. The people who grow economies are SMEs," he said.

Agriculture also has the highest potential to create job and to reduce the rural to urban migration that has created more challenges for most of the continent's cities. Therefore, investing in agriculture would help reduce poverty while reducing the effects of climate change. Most economies on the continent are anchored on agriculture.

Resourcing agriculture

Zimbabwe is one country that has embarked on an aggressive programme to resource agriculture through the Command Agriculture project lately. The land redistribution programme was also an initiative to ensure Zimbabwe had access to land, one of the critical factors of production. The mechanisation programme launched a few years ago and other efforts to capacity farmers are expected to consolidate agriculture's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product. This is expected to foster a rebound of Zimbabwe's economy and the restoration of its breadbasket status.

Food security is also one of the main pillars of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

More than 1,000 delegates are gathered here to deliberate how the continent can achieve inclusive growth through responsive and responsible leadership.

President Mugabe is leading Zimbabwe's delegation that includes Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Industry Minister Dr Mike Bimha, Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Dr Obert Mpofu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mumbengegwi. Private sector representatives include WEF global shaper country representative and entrepreneur Mr Rinos Mautsa, Vimbai Kajese and renowned entrepreneur Farai Gundani, among others.
Turkey and six African countries signed cooperation deals in agriculture, fisheries, and livestock in the Mediterranean resort province of Antalya. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Turkey's Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Faruk Celik recalled Turkey's ongoing efforts to develop agricultural cooperation with the continent since 2005.

As a result of these efforts, Turkeys trade with Africa increased from $5bn to $18bn, Celik said. In terms of agriculture, our trade has increased from $418m to $2.5bn. We know that these figures are not sufficient. We are all aware of this. The aim of all these meetings is to raise our trade volume, especially in the area of agriculture and to further develop our relationships in every field, the Minister added.

Friday (28 April) was the last day of the Turkey-Africa First Agriculture Ministers Meeting and Agribusiness Forum. Organised by the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock, the two-day event hosted more than 300 participants, including ministers, from 54 African countries.

Deals were signed with Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Guinea, Rwanda, and Gambia.

Agriculture a must for the African continent

Celik underlined that agriculture was a strategic sector and a must for the African continent. The African continent holds one-fourth of all arable land in the world. That is why it is not possible to ignore the agricultural potential of Africa, he said, adding Turkey was extending its hand to Africa not to take something from it, but to make sure that Africa stands on its own feet. Celik noted that participating agriculture ministers addressed significant topics and problems regarding the sector in their countries.

The meetings will create an opportunity to resolve the countrys problems, he said. We have seen that it is possible for countries to develop themselves when their agricultural supplies and demands match, he added.

The main important thing is to have arable land and to ensure that that land can be irrigated. All other issues can be solved through qualified technical means and staff, Celik said.

Africa and Turkey working towards cooperation

Sacko Josefa Leonel Correa, African Union commissioner for rural economy and agriculture, said that African countries and Turkey worked towards cooperation. We are now witnessing political will in Turkey. This is highly important for the development of the agriculture sector and for the development of African countries. We are aware of the effort, Sacko said.

The commissioner underlined that they were working in the fields of livestock, fisheries, environment, irrigation and sanitation.

During the meetings, we listened to different presentations and projects. I believe that we are on the right path, she said. Sacko praised Turkeys experience in the area of agriculture as one of the largest exporters of agricultural commodities. Thus, we have a lot to learn from you and we can benefit from your experiences, she said.

Original article by: Anadolu Agency, Daily Sabah
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
What is a servitude and how can it impact the value of a property? According to property legislation, a servitude is a registered right that someone has over the immovable property owned by another person. The servitude affords the holder the right to do something with the property, even if it may infringe upon the rights of the person who owns it.

By Ollem lins  Wikimedia Commons

If a servitude is held on a property, the owner of the property will be unable to exercise their entitlement to the property in the full capacity. The servitude implies that the property does not just serve the owner, but also another property or person. Because of this, the owners rights are somewhat diminished. An example of a servitude would be someone having the right to travel over a portion of another persons property to get to their property. While not commonplace in metropolitan areas, servitudes are common in rural areas with farms and smallholdings.

Cause minimal inconvenience

In principle, the holder of the servitude has priority. Essentially this means that the owner of the property may exercise all their usual rights of ownership, provided it does not impede the rights of the servitude holder. The owner cannot exercise any rights that are contrary to the servitude, or grant another servitude which infringes the existing one. While the holder of the servitude has the right to perform all acts necessary to utilise the servitude, they must do so in a manner that causes minimal inconvenience to the owner of the property. It is also vital that the burden on the property is not increased beyond the express or implied terms of the servitude.

While it may not be an issue for some, many buyers are turned off by the fact that a servitude is held on a property. As a result, servitude can reduce the demand for a property which in turn can have a negative impact on its perceived value in the market.

Praedial and personal servitudes

Servitudes are divided into two main categories, praedial and personal. How a servitude is classified depends on whether it benefits successive owners in their personal capacity or if it favours the land itself. Praedial servitudes are vested in the successive owners of a piece of land, known as a dominant tenement. The piece of land derives a benefit from another piece of land on which the servitude is held. If the land is sold, the servitude will be passed over to the new owner of the land. If the owner of the property on which the servitude is held decides to sell, they are not required to get permission from the servitude holder, however, the new owner of the property will be required to honour the servitude agreement.

A personal servitude differs in that it is in favour of one specific person and not successive owners. Once the specified individual passes away or moves on  the servitude falls away. A personal servitude cannot exist past the holders lifespan or be transferred to someone else.

Buyers who would like to find out whether there is a servitude registered over a property can do so by examining the title deed. Otherwise, they will be able to request that information from the estate agent who is marketing the property.
Cheapflights has given 'Esc' keyboard keys new meaning with the launch of its innovative EscEscape (pronounced Escape Escape') browser extension tool, launching in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and South Africa. By giving the 'Esc' key two taps, users are served with a range of short getaway options.

Shortcut to escaping

EscEscape is a free-to-install extension for Google Chrome users. When a user taps their keyboard Esc key twice, a live flight search runs to find the cheapest, quickest and smartest return flights to nearby destinations. Results are pulled from Cheapflights own search engine API and the users nearest airport is detected as their departure airport. The flight results open in a new browser tab and will be the cheapest option for a weekend break in the next eight weeks. The user is then free to go ahead and book if they like the look of what they see  if not, another double tap of the Esc key throws up a new option.

We want people to rediscover their Esc key, and make it their shortcut to escaping for real - double tap quick, comments Andrew Shelton, Cheapflights managing director.

Initially, a choice of five destinations will be featured each day, selected at random from the top 200 searched-for holiday hot spots on the Cheapflights website and app, per market. For the UK, US, Canada, and South Africa, only flights within a five-hour flight time are selected. For flights departing from Australia and New Zealand, flights within an eight-hour flight time are selected, giving people popular getaway destinations such as Fiji.

Shelton continues, We can spend hours every day tapping away at a keyboard, dealing with dozens of unread emails, thinking it's Thursday when its only Tuesday. According to our research, thats enough to drive over half of us to search for flights when were at work. With EscEscape, weve made that much easier to do. We want this neglected keyboard function to become the biggest and most important key people tap each day.

The extension is available for free from today from the Chrome Web Store. A version of the extension for Safari users is planned shortly.
Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu's office has presented a damning picture of Department of Transport entities including the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), saying they are on a path that will miss the targets set out in their strategic plans.

The auditor-general flagged the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) as being among entities that will miss targets.

These entities are either in the process of pushing significant legislative reforms in their subsectors or are preparing to undertake major infrastructure programmes.

The auditor-general said the Department of Transport was also on its way to receiving a qualified audit opinion because of the continued bungling of the transfer from Tasima of the electronic national administration traffic information system (eNatis).

The department said it took over the management of the system only in April.

Assesed programmes

Tshego Singo, a representative of Makwetu's office, told Parliament's portfolio committee on transport this week that the auditor-general had assessed the entities' programmes on administration, road, rail and public transport.

The office had also looked at the integrated transport programme after the department requested it.

"We found that targets for RSR, Samsa, Prasa, Sanral and RTIA were not reliably timebound. Targets were not specific and measurable," said Singo.

However, she said that although the review and findings were reliable indicators of performance they would not necessarily affect the department's 2016-17 audit outcomes. "It will be used as an early warning system and, if acted upon appropriately, should not be reflected in the audit outcomes."

"Did not understand the department"

Collins Letsoalo, Prasa's former CEO and the department's erstwhile director, who was at the meeting, disputed Singo's presentation, saying the auditor-general's assessment showed that it "did not understand the department" or its entities.

"We have never accounted for eNatis as an asset before, but last year, the [auditor-general] said we must. It's not a correct reflection," said Letsoalo.

The department's acting director-general, Mathabatha Mokonyama, said: "Qualification of the department has to do with eNatis and nothing else. When we went up and down with the auditor-general, we were told by the auditor-general to take this audit opinion. I told the minister that I had a big problem."

Source: Business Day
Local carpooling app company, uGoMyWay, has launched Carpool Wednesdays, an initiative to help South African motorists save money and time and do their bit for the environment, as petrol prices increase again.

Understanding that it might be too much for South Africans to carpool their frequent trips, every day of the week, Carpool Wednesdays encourages regular road users to try sharing a ride with one another, even if it is just for one day a week, says co-founder and product developer, Chris Megan.

By downloading the app and finding a match (currently the company is reporting that over 90% of its users find an excellent match  meaning less than a 5-minute deviation from normal routing), car-poolers can share the cost of the journey. Payments are settled via the app, negating the need for sometimes, uncomfortable conversations around money.

The added benefit of using the app is that uGoMyWay has also committed to planting trees every month.

For every car removed from the road, the time it takes to travel to the destination is reduced (just think school holidays and how free the roads are when there are fewer cars around). To top it all off, there are environmental pluses too; a reduction of cars reduces emissions.

Download the app from either the Google Playstore or Apple iTunes, log a trip, find a match, chat securely, exchange details, agree on a cost per kilometre (uGoMyway recommends R1) and carpool. It is as simple as that.

The company is encouraging car-poolers to take a selfie with their fellow car-poolers and post and tag uGoMyWay on the image on both Facebook and Instagram @uGoMyWay with the hashtag #CarpoolWednesdays.
Energy access remains a huge problem for most people living on the African continent. More than 600 million out of a population of about 1.3 billion people in sub-Saharan Africa don't have reliable electricity access

Although sub-Saharan Africa has about 13% of the worlds population, about 48% are without energy access. Only seven countries in the sub-region  Cameroon, Cote dIvoire, Gabon, Ghana, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa  can boast of 50% access rates.

And, with the exception of South Africa, the energy consumption rate is 150 kilowatt per capita, way below emerging market estimates.

Its been projected that sub-Saharan Africa will require approximately 1,600 terawatt-hours of electricity by 2040. This estimate is four times more than 2010 usage. Its based on a fivefold increase in GDP, a doubling of the population, electricity-access levels reaching more than 70% by 2040, and increased urbanisation.

At current deployment rates it will be 2080 before every African has access to electricity. But that can change if governments make it easier for entrepreneurs to enter the arena.

Entrepreneurs in the energy space

The African region currently gets the bulk of its energy supply from fossil-fueled power generation (60%). Other sources include hydroelectric dams (32%) and bio-fuel (7%). Wind, solar and geothermal sources constitute approximately 1% of the energy mix .

Increasing pressure on the grid has seen many African countries diversify their energy sources. Clean coal, gas-powered thermal plants and off-grid solar solutions are becoming increasingly important.

On top of this Africas energy potential remains under-exploited. In an era where private investors and public funds are receding entrepreneurship is vital to Africas economies. With a swathe of technologies opening up, entrepreneurship poses a big opportunity for African innovators.

The energy entrepreneur is well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the sector. But where can they realistically get involved?

Solar offers one potential area. Projections are that by 2050 solar PV will represent 16% of the total global electricity mix. Its estimated that small-scale off-grid projects operating in rural areas have the potential to power half the world.

Solar PV offers sustainable investment opportunities for entrepreneurs due to advances in solar PV technologies.

Entrepreneurs are already beginning to seek out opportunities. The most successful are those with local knowledge whove identified appropriate solutions specifically for their communities.

One example is Off-Grid Electric in Uganda. It provides low-cost, environmentally-friendly power sources for lighting, cooking and for charging phones. It reaches 50,000 people each month.

Theres also M-Kopa Solar in Kenya. It provides for mobile phone charging and a boasts a solar powered radio. M-KOPA claims 450,000 homes solar instalment in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Shatki Energy is a South African energy startup producing lighting to support 2.3 million off-grid users. One of its main products is the Nuru LED light which when fully charged can produce up to 20 hours of lighting.

These success stories shouldnt overshadow the fact that being an energy entrepreneur is a lot tougher than it seems.

Providing energy is generally the governments job. That alone is enough to dissuade new entrepreneurs. Governments have traditionally subsidised and collaborated with large utilities and grid-based electricity provision. But they havent done much for the small-scale off-grid or micro-grid solutions.

There are several ways in which governments can help redress this imbalance.

Changing policies

One is clear and active about grid extension planning. This would mean off-grid or microgrid entrepreneurs would not be undermined by new extension projects. Keeping small-scale operators in the loop and allowing them a voice is crucial.

Regulatory clarity and opaque policy formulation is also needed. In the right environment, small-scale energy providers can use their agility and on-the-ground knowledge to create successful businesses to meet local demand conditions. But this will require regulatory innovation and new administrative processes.

There are also issues with subsidies, levies and duties. Governments must make sure that, at the very least, energy entrepreneurs operate on equal terms with established energy businesses. One simple step, recommended by the World Resources Institute, would be to shift subsidies from specific fuels, like kerosene, to energy services, like lighting provision.

They must also ensure there are no disincentives for financiers to invest in small-scale energy start-ups.

Another, recommended by Lighting Africa, is to take a close look at import duties on equipment like solar panels. Given developments in the sector many import taxes may no longer be appropriate.

And finally governments must make it easier for entrepreneurs to start businesses. For instance, with the exception of Mauritius, no other country in sub-Saharan Africa appears on the World Bank Global Index when it comes to the ease of doing business.

Attracting funders

I have learnt some valuable lessons from working with the Ghana Climate Innovation Center, a technology hub thats part of the World Bank Climate Innovation Centres programme.

The project aims to help businesses develop and commercialise innovative solutions to climate change. It provides local companies with the knowledge and resources to prototype, develop and market innovative clean technologies in sectors like climate smart agriculture, waste management, water purification and energy efficiency systems.

The project is in its early stages and the clients are mainly green entrepreneurs focused on climate related needs.

These can be spaces where potential funders meet entrepreneurs, explore their operating space and the validity of their ideas. And entrepreneurs can also get the basic training to run successful commercial enterprises.

Its also crucial to be realistic. Inevitably some energy access projects will fail while others will thrive. But thats what entrepreneurship is all about.

Its time governments on the continent step up and give Africans the opportunity to help themselves.
SAP has announced the launch of its SAP Rural Sourcing Management solution - an integrated, cloud-based solution running on the SAP Cloud Platform - connecting smallholder farmers and suppliers in rural areas with global agribusiness' supply chain and consumer products companies.

Image Supplied

This solution enables agribusinesses as well as consumer products companies to track their produce from the farm to the factory through a combination of mobile and desktop access, supporting the digitisation and simplification of both producer and farmer operations.

Mobile access to business applications provides critical information to producers, enabling them to capture information from small-scale farmers who generally operate in remote areas where other forms of technology might be limited. Farmers can, in turn, access their own business transactions, enjoy increased transparency to pricing, utilise mobile instead of cash payments and have added traceability, all aimed at closing the information gap between farmers and producing companies.

Tailor-made to support the growth of smallholder farmers

A predecessor of the solution was developed and piloted by an SAP research division, in a development partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the framework of the develoPPP.de programme on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Before the solution became generally available, SAP and Barry Callebaut, manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, cooperated in a custom development project helping Barry Callebaut enable sustainable cocoa farming.

According to Brett Parker, MD at SAP Africa, the SAP Rural Sourcing Management solution is tailor-made to support the growth of smallholder farmers in developing nations and meet the world's need for sustainable food production. "By 2050, the world's population will approach 10 billion people. To sustain such a large global population, the planet's agriculture output per acre must double while at the same time maintaining the highest sustainability standards to meet consumer demand. In fact, fair trade sales are expected to triple to USD25bn by 2020, creating a huge challenge for governments, retailers and large multinational food producers."

Image Supplied

Meeting global sustainable food demand

Based on available data, 500 million smallholder farmers produce nearly 80% of all food consumed in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Agriculture is the foremost employer in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total labour force. However, smallholder farmers often lack access to technology and financial services, limiting their ability to grow their business and increase productivity and output. SAP Rural Sourcing Management links farmers digitally to the agriculture value chain through a suite of mobile business applications running on SAP Cloud Platform that support inclusive agricultural chains.

Strategic Alliance with GIZ, expanding development partnerships

In December 2016, a strategic alliance was announced between the BMZ, GIZ, and several private sector partners - including SAP - working together to strengthen smallholder agricultural businesses in Uganda. This new strategic alliance will focus on improving agricultural productivity and quality, supporting and monitoring business processes of smallholder farmers, and improving their access to financial services. Participating SAP Rural Sourcing Management customers can access local implementation services including master data preparation, system configuration, and configuration of mobile phones. With the support of GIZ, producer organisations can also access training for their staff end-users.

The strategic alliance is based on previous successful partnerships between SAP and GIZ starting in 2009 with the African Cashew Initiative, which aimed to improve farmer incomes and livelihoods, advance African cashew nut quality and production, increase local processing capacity and improve market linkages along the value chain. The initial project saw a rural sourcing management prototype implemented in Ghana and Burkina Faso. Further initiatives in Uganda, e.g. with the Uganda Coffee Farmers Alliance and an expanded African Cashew Initiative in Ghana, secured the involvement of a total of 17 supplier organisations across nine countries. The projects involved 100,000 small-scale producers growing six crops: cashew, shea, coffee, cocoa, rice, and sesame.

"The partnership between SAP and BMZ effects a marked improvement on the income and livelihoods of small-scale farmers by bringing transparency, efficiency, and accountability to agricultural value chains. With the central collection and monitoring of real-time data, the initiative has also opened the door to financial services for African smallholder farmers. With more than half the African population involved in agriculture, we are confident that initiatives such as these will bring about lasting positive change to the lives of Africa's citizens," says Parker.
Africa's CEOs will need to focus on their business strategies and processes and will be expected to play a part in the broader community, according to PwC which spoke on the challenges and opportunities facing Africa's CEOs at the World Economic Forum on Africa 2017, in Durban, South Africa, this week.

Dion Shango, CEO for PwC Southern Africa.

Notwithstanding the current economic and socio-political uncertainty, numerous companies in Africa are still positive about the growth potential of the continent. PwC research across the continent shows that 91% of CEOs are confident about their own companies growth prospects in the medium term.

This is the highest level of confidence since we started our research on CEOs in Africa in 2012, Hein Boegman, CEO for PwC Africa, says.

Boegman was speaking on the challenges and opportunities facing Africas CEOs at a press briefing held by PwC at the World Economic Forum on Africa 2017 in Durban.

One of the reasons why Africa CEOs are positive is that they tend to look to the upside and seize on the opportunities uncertainty brings. Facing a climate of muted growth at best, CEOs recognise that while they focus on organic growth and cost reductions, they also need to prioritise investment in strategic alliances and joint ventures to expand their markets and grow their customer bases.

Despite the level of optimism for growth, CEOs are concerned about uncertain economic growth and the impact this will have on their business. The returns for doing business on the continent are high, but so are the risks. Africas CEOs are operating in difficult times  infrastructure on the continent remains a challenge, finding and retaining the right talent for their businesses, dealing with many of the hurdles that come with working with governments, and managing growth plans across the continent, Boegman comments.

Given the major changes we are currently seeing in the world  such as the recent US elections and the UKs vote to leave the EU  a key feature of the current environment is just how difficult it is to read. A single event can trigger a need for wholesale strategic changes. A case in point is the recent political and policy uncertainty in South Africa, and more particularly the recent downgrade in the countrys sovereign debt to junk status. Exchange rate volatility, an increasing tax burden, social instability resulting from inequality, and corruption remain problems in many countries.

It is no longer enough for business leaders to steer their organisations through a complicated and challenging environment  they will need to adapt swiftly to change, says Dion Shango, CEO for PwC Southern Africa. CEOs will need to focus on their business strategies and processes and will be expected to play a part in the broader community. CEOs will also need to consider the changing expectations and demands of current and future stakeholders.

For CEOs, their customers, government and competitors have a big influence on business strategy. Understanding their needs and working towards addressing them can help build trust, maintain reputation and lend a licence to operate.

Anne Eriksson, regional senior partner for PwC in East Africa, says, regulatory policy can also restrain growth, and in some cases, necessitate cost reduction by the businesses affected. On the other hand, changes in regulation can also prompt strategic developments in business. Eriksson points out that regulatory change in Kenya has helped the countrys financial services sector to pay more attention to its customers. A number of multinational companies have also committed to building capacity and improving transparency and regulatory frameworks through engagement with government. Where there has been progress, economies have benefitted and the result is more inward investment, innovation and organic growth.

Notwithstanding the slowdown, Africa is also experiencing a number of advances economically and socially. There are significant trends that could offer new opportunities and benefits for businesses, governments and the population. In the past year, global megatrends such as demographic change, increase in urbanisation, shifts in global economic power and technological innovation are favourable to development on the continent.

Across all sectors, the pace of innovation in Africa is driving greater collaboration and convergence. A number of multinational companies have committed to building capacity and improving transparency and regulatory frameworks through engagement with governments. Where there has been progress, markets have benefitted and the result is more inward investment, innovation and growth. But in order to grow and expand to its potential, Africa will need to face the political and economic repercussions of climate change, as well as safety and political instability in some areas.

The business leader of today must deliver seamless strategy and operational excellence. Africas CEOs will need to overcome a number of challenges to truly transform their organisations. In the process, business needs to recognise and manage its responsibilities and dependencies, Boegman concludes.
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But this is changing fast, as Panghsang, now officially known as Pangkham, capital of the Wa Self-Administrative Division, led the ethnic leadership from 7 EAOs officially declared a non-NCA-based peace negotiation approach on April 19, 2017 that is totally new by rejecting the government-led NCA-based peace process that so far has been the only game in town.

The government insistence that all the EAOs must sign the NCA first or else they would not be allowed to participate in the UPC-21CP have effectively left out all the EAOs participants in Pangkham.

They are the Pangkham-led 7 EAOs military-political alliance that includes the United Wa State Party/Army (UWSP/UWSA), United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA), Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/KIA), Palaung State Liberation Front/Taang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), Myanmar National Truth and Justice Party/Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNTJP/MNDAA), Peace and Solidarity Committee/National Democratic Alliance Army (PSC/NDAA) and Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).

The alliance recently said to be named Federation of Ethnic Alliance (FEA) held meetings in Pangkham by the UWSP/UWSA for the third time in February 22 to 24 and recent fourth time from April 15 to 19. The Wa also hosted the first Pangkham Summit in May 2015 and the second one in November of the same year.

Although the government is keen to have the UWSA, NDAA and SSPP included in its NCA-based peace process, it is bitterly against the MNDAA, TNLA and AA, it considers that they are relatively new groups that enter the fray without real political motive and unspoken, official attitude that they are directly or indirectly linked to the big neighboring country as proxies, rightly or wrongly.

And to complicate the matter, KIO is involved in the military alliance, which the said excluded 3 EAOs are members, calling itself Northern Alliance  Burma (NA-B) delivering running battles with the government troops, also known as the Military or Tatmadaw, since last year. Apart from that, the KIO is also a leading member of the other 7 EAOs military-political alliance, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC).

Like the KIO, SSPP, a militarily formidable group, is also involved in both the Pangkham initiated peace approach which is also a member of the UNFC.

The UNFC is in the process of bargaining with the government on how to make amendment to the present existing NCA so that it could sign the agreement and enter the UPC-21CP as a fully fledged participation group.

Thus, question arises on whether the KIO and SSPP would would follow the Pangkham-initiated or government-initiated NCA-based peace process. However, it should be noted that the UNFC is now only in the process of bargaining to amend the NCA to make it a more equitable setting, which in other words means the creation of a level playing field is still under negotiation.

Against this backdrop, on one track the government is trying to pick up its lost momentum which the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has started as UPC-21CP, a few months after its NLD-led regime took over from the former Thein Sein government at the end of March last year; and the other, a new Pangkham-initiated peace approach, which rejected the governments NCA-based process coupled with a new ceasefire proposal deal to end the war in ethnic states first, followed by political negotiation that would lead to possible political settlement and conflict resolution.

The ongoing government-led UPC-21CP seems to be a fraudulent with lots of failure, such as it is not at all an all-inclusive peace initiative; the process being completely taken over by the government although it is supposed to be a jointly owned one together with the other EAOs or stakeholders; and above all, the whole peace process not catering to the level playing field norms that should be at the heart of any conflict resolution.

Rejection of the NCA-based peace process

The UNFC and as well the Pangkham alliance rejection of the NCA is first and foremost the issue of all-inclusiveness of all the EAOs. To date, only 8 from 21 EAOs have signed the NCA and the remaining 13 EAOs still havent been involved. The reason for not signing the NCA for the UNFC, and as well the Pangkham alliance, being the exclusion of the MNDAA, TNLA and AA that have been militarily engaging the Tatmadaw in northern Shan State.

But with the Pangkham alliance rejecting the governments NCA-based peace process, of which the said three EAOs are members, the all-inclusive demand of the UNFC might now become irrelevant.

The second reason is the NCA that was signed by the 8 EAOs on October 2015 is being hijacked by the then Thein Seins Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) government and also taken over as it is by the present NLD regime, which means the NCA that is supposed to be a joint-process between all the EAOs and the government has become solely the government owned one, as could be seen on how the peace process is being handled. Besides, the partial-ceasefire nature comprising of only 8 EAOs could hardly speak for all the EAOs that are still outside the NCA fold.

The third reason is the inability to create a level playing field, as could be seen by the composition of UPC-21CP participation quota. According to the NCA, the government and the parliament each has 75 representatives, 150 altogether; the Military 150; the EAOs 150; political parties 150; ethnic representatives 50; and selected individuals 50; making it a grand total of 700 representatives altogether.

The ethnic nationalities as a whole sees this as an imbalance participation composition quota and demands a tripartite dialogue, which should include only three groups: the government, parliament and the Military; the EAOs; and the political parties; that would be equally represented, so that a level playing field participation be made possible.

On top of all these, the Pangkham alliance considers that the NCA is a lopsided document that seeks to replace the Panglong Agreement of 1947 which it sees as a political and historical legacy of the ethnic nationalities, embedded or anchored in the ethnic rights of self-determination, equality and democracy.

Pangkham initiated peace deal

From April 15 to 19, the 7 EAOs, numbering 27 representatives met in Wa State, Pangkham, hosted by the UWSP/UWSA and supported by the PSC/NDAA.

The new Pangkham initiated peace deal spelled out its eight-point statement, following the end of fourth ethnic armed revolutionary leaders meeting.

The statement confirmed the formation of Union Political Negotiation Committee (UPNC) to negotiate with the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, together with the approved lists of secretariat and a body of negotiation representatives.

A common document guidelines based on ethnic armed revolutionary organizations general principles and position on political negotiation was agreed upon and the proposal on how to overcome the present difficulties that are evident in the ongoing peace process is documented, which accordingly would be made known to the government as soon as possible.

The statement further stressed that the UPNC door is always open for any ethnic armed revolutionary organization, political party and influential individual, that accepts the rules and regulations of the ethnic armed revolutionary organizations general principles and position on political negotiation, announced during the third Pangkham meeting.

Perspective

Given such a backdrop, we could now venture into a more deeper speculation on which of the two game plans could benefit the people of Burma and the country as a whole.

First, it is clear that all contending parties and all stakeholders are of the same opinion that peace is crucial to the achievement of national unity, reconciliation and development of the country. If this is really the case or outgoing point and all are determined to strive for it, there should be a way out from this debacle.

From the point of UNFC and the Pangkham alliance the NCA-based peace process failures are the inability to hold all-inclusiveness participation that involve all EAOs; government abandoning the joint-peace-process and taking the lead alone without adequate consultation with other stakeholders; non-conformity to adhere to equality or level playing field configuration at all negotiation levels; and above all, ignoring the ethnic nationalities historical-political legacy embedded in Panglong Agreement of 1948.

Thus, it could be taken that if the said flaws were to be corrected the NCA could become acceptable for many of the EAOs that remain outside the NCA-based peace process fold, including the Pangkham alliance. In this sense, the flexibility and accommodation from the part of the government, and of course with the cooperation of the Military, would be essential and should be the way to go.

Now if we look at the Pangkham initiated peace approach proposal, it primarily seeks to end the ongoing wars in all ethnic states, signs a new ceasefire deal between the government and its alliance members, and finally entering the peace negotiation process.

Principally, this could be adjustable, if the regime would employ a double-track or parallel approach. Why shouldnt the government be able to leave the existing NCA signatory 8 EAOs, as a resolved portion of peace process participants, while negotiating a new set of ceasefire deal with the Pangkham alliance and allowing them to enter the peace process?

To blend in or incorporate the two game plans would open a new venue of cooperation, only the imposition of the rigid stance to sign the NCA first, before the parties could be allowed to participate in the peace process, should be totally abandoned.

The main and crucial point though is to get all warring parties to come to the negotiation table, no matter how it is achieved.

But to be able to pull this first crucial step, courage, political will and altruism will be needed, especially from the part of the government, including the Military, as a stronger party among all stakeholders involving in the conflict.

If this could be done, the Pangkham alliance might also tone down its demand of achieving a confederation type of solution  a proposition which definitely would throw the government off-balance  and would probably opt for a genuine federal union settlement instead.

There is even a saying to support this argument, Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star.

By all means, this particular double-track approach is worth trying and might even be a viable solution, after all these years of continuous fighting and numerous, fruitless, attempted negotiations.
Kangana Rocking The Royal Look; Spotted In Sabya Couture Fashion Trends Staff

One of the most awaited films, Manikarnika had its poster release last evening in Varanasi. Kangana who plays Rani of Jhansi in the upcoming movie was seen wearing a Sabyasachi couture for the event. She wore the same attire for her visit to the Ganges which followed up with the poster launch event.

Like always, Kangana looked amazing in the Sabya styled outfit and as usual Sabya's creation rocked the show.

Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee has been Bollywood's eminent actresses' favourite. Earlier we have seen how Rani Mukherji or Vidya Balan has rocked a Sabya couture look. Looks like Kangana has joined the queue too and has pocketed the outstanding designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's collections in the list of her favourites.

Without any hesitation, she looks amazing!

She flaunts her peach coloured gorgeous saree and undoubtedly looks stunningly beautiful in it. The saree is designed with ornamental embroidery all over the body and mainly at the borders. The 'anchal' of the saree is covered with peach and green coloured floral embroideries and the saree looks fabulous on the even-more-fabulous Kangana Ranaut.

The shimmery silver sleeveless green blouse evenly complements the saree. The shiny upper layer of the narrow sleeveless blouse complements the lower body of the saree where it is studded with glittery ornaments.

We love the look and feel and how it seamlessly fits the ravishing Kangana Ranaut.

She decided to team up gorgeous jewellery with the saree and alike you, we too think that it carries a royal look. Got to serve the purpose, right? Hence, a royal lookbook for a royal character she is playing in her upcoming movie.

The smaller necklace she is flaunting is a Jadau jewellery piece and it signifies royalty. According to history, they were introduced by the Mughals.

The longer necklace she is wearing is the thicker one with stone studded over the entire body.

She carried the whole look very elegantly and as she ditched wearing anything on her wrists or anywhere else, contradicting the heavy necklaces she is already wearing, we love her more.

She tied up her hair in a tight bun and wore very light makeup. She wore kohl complementing the Indian tradition, a lighter shade of peach and completed the makeup with a small bindi that makes her even more admirable.

Then, there were the jootis which looked incredibly stylish on her. The royal-looking pair of jootis made her lookbook an awesome one.

We are head-over-heels in love with the look!
Meet The Judge Who Makes Unique Judgements! Pulse oi-Syeda Farah

When a person is under a trial period, there are many things that go on in the mind of the person and this is the time when they decide and make up their minds as to what they wish to do.

This is something a judge from Painesville, Ohio, namely Michael Cicconetti has understood. This is why he has his unique way of suing the criminals and petty issues in the courtroom like a boss.

Check out on how this judge handles his cases and he is famous for his impromptu decisions. He generally allows the prosecutors to decide their own sentences between prison and any of Cicconetti's inventive alternative punishments.

Also Read: Why Do Judges Break The Nib After Signing A Death Sentence?

Reports claim that the cases of people whom he has handled and judged have not done any crime since then. Isn't it great?

Read some of his unique judgements below...

#1 A couple was taken to court after they were caught having sex in a public park. Their punishment was to clean the whole park, including all the used condoms that people had thrown in the park. They also had to buy an advertisement in the local newspaper and apologise to the whole city about their act! #2 A woman had left around 35 kittens alone in a forest in winter. Apart from making the woman pay a fine, he also gave her a taste of her own medicine by making her spend a night in the woods in the middle of winter-without food, water, or a tent. But since the temperature of the place fell sharply that very evening, he was lenient, as he allowed the woman to make a fire. #3 A man had insulted the cops and he cat called them as "pigs." As a punishment, he had to stand around a street corner with a 350-pound pig and hold with a sign saying "This is not a police officer." #4 He sent a drunk driver to the nearest morgue as a punishment! When he was there, he was forced to look at the bodies of two victims of a drunk-driving accident. #5 A woman was convicted of failing to pay for a taxi ride. Judge Cicconetti punished her by making her walk for more than 30 miles (48 km). This was the exact distance she travelled in the taxi. Also Read:Funny Facts About Laughing That Will Kill You #6 A man had to spend a day homeless on the street, as he had stolen a box of money from the Salvation Army that was meant to help the homeless! #7 A bunch of high-school students were caught slashing the tires of a school bus. Due to their action, the elementary school class had to reschedule its planned field trip to the following day. His judgement was really cool, as he asked the guilty teens to organise a picnic for the school children who had suffered from the same. #8 Two teens were forced to lead a donkey through the city while dressed as Mary and Joseph, as they were found guilty of writing 666 on a Jesus' statue from a local nativity scene.

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Botswana Innovation Hubs icon building within its Science Park-in Gaborones Block 8 suburb is now at an advanced stage. Business Reporter, Portia Nkani visited the construction site recently.

Driving into the Science Park which is just behind the state-of-the-art DTCB, one sees a fenced grassy plot, but in the heart of the plot lies the structure of the iconic building which is under construction.

The Botswana Guardian team enters the site and gets to meet the Botswana Innovation Hub executive team of Tshepo Tsheko- Director of ICT and Marketing, Tigele Mokobi Communications Manager; later joined by Leungo Molomo-BIH Director Real Estate Property and Facilities Management.



We get into a temporary structure painted white and blue which currently serves as the site offices. Without wasting any time, Mokobi introduces his superior, Tsheko and the interview starts right away.

Tsheko speaks passionately about the Science Park, how it is going to transition the Botswana economy into a knowledge based economy. The groundbreaking of the Science Park,a 57ha plot was first done in 2010 and the construction of the iconic building commenced in August 2014 with an expectation to be completed in 2016.

Its central buildings are a world class, iconic masterpiece of architecture whose designs won the 2013 Auto Desk Design Awards. With 23 000m2 of commercial development space, the building will house both local and international innovative businesses and institutions thereby creating a network that fosters entrepreneurship, technology transfer and innovation.

As the interview progresses, Tsheko confirms that the project is now over 80 percent complete and the land leased for developments, which is 41 plots, is currently at 31 percent. Of the lettable space there are anchor tenants, start-ups, partners and business support services.



Tsheko explains that their anchor tenants include Dimension Data which is an ICT company expanding its regional activity and hubbing it in Botswana and will be moving into the icon building to scale. Another anchor tenant,Alpha Direct best known as an insurance company, is moving into a telematics space as a driver to the use of technology to improve the value as an insurer to its clients.

Alpha Direct is also setting up a 100-seater call centre. The third is RPI company that deals with nuclear technologies and will be setting up a lab to test the use of nuclear technology and they will be a regional lab here in Botswana, they are working with the IAEA which is an accrediting body for the use of such.

Tsheko also discloses that they will also house over 250 start-ups (one of BIH core spaces) some of which are the youth companies in the space of ICT. Amongst those confirmed are WorldQs, Ditech and Modisar. Microsoft are partners in the icon building, Cobit will also be in the building as well as Liquitelecom.

Concerotel, Bofinet, PureData Centres, a 5-star hotel which could not be disclosed, form part of those that have leased part of the 41-plot land to set up their own structures within the Science Park.

We have already embarked on a marketing drive to attract appropriate tenants to occupy the icon building, says Tsheko.

Mokobi adds that, everything will be within reach for all the companies that will be operating in the Science Park. The BIH ran adverts in the media last year for other amenities of which some have been evaluated and some are under evaluation. We are in talks with commercial banks to set up their ATMs here and we will also have gyms amongst other services, reveals Mokobi.



No cost overruns in the project

As close sources allege that this project has had cost overruns of about P100 million, Tsheko indicated that, the disbursements on the contract sum are in line with the milestones of the development.

..but we cannot obviously speak to the final account until we have done the project closure when the building is commissioned and running, we then will be able to bring everything to balance. Currently there hasnt been any over disbursement because it is guarded against the milestones, the contract sum is P643million, according to Tsheko.



Why the project is delayed

From a design perspective,the icon building is not a typical building, atleast according to Tsheko. Its an ambitious building - a symbol that Botswana is part and parcel of the innovation agenda. He says if one rates it as a typical building then there will be more questions than answers regarding progress of the development.

The building, which was supposed to have been completed in 2016, is at 82 percent complete and the reason it is behind schedule is due to a (Cantilever); which is a rigid unsupported 30m extension structural element of the central building, says Tsheko.







The three-building icon project is connected by bridges. The central building at the front of its cantilever required as per the engineers; they realised the building because of other floors compounded on top of the extension needed further strengthening, so to be able to bear the load.

The central building in question is going to house the auditorium, restaurant and BIH offices. These were the three activities affected by the delayed works of the 30m extension of the cantilever.

The building is a green building where they are going to plant on top of the building. Tsheko explains that, the engineers felt because this has never been done before, the soil loads and the live loads; the building would require further strengthening.



As they were loading they realised that it was deflecting beyond the tolerance initially calculated. This area makes up the 29 percent of the structural works which are behind. The partitioning works are said to have already commenced.

Explaining further on what contributed to the delays of the project, the building enclosure is a facade, based on the dune and delta which regulates how cold and how hot without spending on the normal aircons. When the sun hits on the glass which has specialised gel in between, the building will give a stable temperature.

The procurement of this facade was very complex with some of it made overseas and assembled in Cape Town and sent here and further assembled with each coded. According to Tsheko, when the facade process was started, the waterproofing (spray being used) had to be redone; its works was affecting the ability to install these glasses (facade) as it stained the glass.

Had it been planned it could have run concurrently. The waterproofing had to be completed before installing the glasses. Further delays were on the issue of electrical and mechanical, the mechanical is based on the thermo deck technology. The strengthening controls the ultimate date of the handover.

But what we have done and reported through the His Excellency President Ian Khama briefing, we are seeking for the three buildings to delink them from one date. Bar 1 and 3 are ready and it is now working towards a sectional occupation which we are targeting in September-October 2017. The back of bar 2 is almost ready as well, he explains. The handover will happen once the whole building is done.



About the icon building

The cultural significance of the dune and delta to Botswana has been embraced in the design of the icon. These have been the conceptual drivers since inception of the project.

The embodied characteristics of these landscape features have remained visible and prominent in the form of the project most notably with the building massing, the facade expression and landscape planning.

On a site tour, Molomo explains on the processes involved in the construction. The men on site are busy at work doing various installations and partitioning. Botswana Guardian can confirm that the icon building is at an advanced stage of completion, hoping that indeed it will be delivered in 2017 as anticipated.
Choppies Enterprise Limited has announced that Vice Chairman and Executive Director, Farouk Ismail, has shifted his role to that of Non-Executive Director. However, he will keep his Vice Chairman role, deputising Chairman former President Festus Mogae. According to Choppies website, Farouk is the founder of the Ismail Group of Companies, the group now known as Choppies Enterprises.



He opened the first store in Wayside, Lobatse in 1986 and has witnessed the exponential growth of the group since. Given his presence in the Choppies Group since its inception, he has a strong understanding of the target market of Choppies and how to address market requirements, said the website of the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) and Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed grocery group.



Ismail steps down from the day to day operations at a time when the group is struggling to grow its bottom line. In Botswana, the company is facing tough competition from old and new players as well as weak economic growth, while in SA its revenues will be affected by that countrys junk sovereign credit rating status




The fresh aroma of plants does not only awaken life and flowers are indeed the most divine creations with their sweet-smelling scent. Khumo Keoagile of Cumie Fragrances is of the view that wearing a perfume completes dressing up for someone and she believes in the saying, You are never fully dressed without perfume. Keoagile makes her own oil-based perfumes under the brand Cumie Fragrances, inspired by international leading brands. She buys the oil from South Africa. She admits that this brand is a dream come true, because she grew up obsessed with perfumes and aspired to have her own brand one day.



Keoagile told BG Style that her mother is the main inspiration that she ended up having what she has at hand. My mother (MHSRIP) sold Delance Products, including perfumes, colognes, body lotions and bath salts, and I got my inspiration from that. We would take turns to go for her stock and every time I went, I would see those white people and wonder how exactly they made all those things. I could see it made money, and it was fun also having them around! I thought, I so wish one day I could be like them, she says.



Keoagile shares that a perfume might be viewed as a luxury by some people, although it is a special necessity, especially to women, as they like good things. She added that just a perfume can give one confidence to walk tall and do anything. A perfume boosts ones confidence; one needs to be sure that they are going to make an impression, and a good one, when moving in and about, and a good scented perfume is the answer to this, she says.







She further says that she chose to deal with oil-based perfumes because oil last longer than alcohol based perfumes, and therefore longer-lasting fragrance is the thing needed most by anyone who uses a perfume. She also explained that oil keeps the skin hydrated if the perfume is sprayed onto the body, while alcohol based perfume evaporates quickly, leaving the skin dehydrated.

On the other hand Keoagile is obstinate that oil-based perfumes are user friendly prior to those people that may claim to have allergies with perfumes compared to alcohol-based perfumes. Oil gives them a cool, pleasant smell, so most people use them despite the conditions that may deter people from associating with other perfumes. she boasts that the long-lasting fragrance in her products keeps her business going as her customers always come back and makes her products unique. One of these products users confirmed that talent and the world of style is growing abroad in Botswana as she does not need to buy any international brand perfumes when there is the replica of them produced home. The scent really lasts longer. Taking out my clothes for washing or even ironing after washing, the scent would still be there, she says.



Khumos target audience is anyone interested, particularly women who buy to re-sell. She acknowledges that social media has been helpful, as people from all parts of the country notice her work and support her as they order for resale from her page, Cumie Fragrances. She recently added body lotions that carry the same scent as the perfumes.

She also intends to add bath salts and bath foams in the future. Her perfumes are a selection for both males and females. She explains that she always tries to conduct her business ethically. Since I sell perfumes carrying almost the same scent as the international leading brands, I avoid plagiarism and start the names with a phrase *inspired by. Her perfumes are influenced by perfumes including Alien, Be Delicious, Black Opium, Fantasy, Gucci Guilty, Gucci Rush, Hypnotic Poison, Lady Million, Pink Friday and Tomy Girl for her and; 1 Million, 212VIP, Black XS, Dunhill, Desire Blue and others, she explains.

The lady of beautiful scents is also known as Kayly Kay on online business media, says that she appreciates the positive feedback that she has always got from the people across the country. She can be contacted for further details on Whatsapp; 75215451.
The second instalment of the Mascom Live Sessions 2017, held this past Friday at BotswanaCraft, captivated all in attendance and the performances left the audience begging for more. The curtain raiser, the ever stylish and gregarious Lizibo, gave everyone their moneys worth with a performance that lived up to expectation. He performed songs that include the popular Mosadi.

During the performance he asked legendary guitarist John Selolwane to act as the uncle who hands over Lizibos wife. The wife turned out to be none other than Sadi Dikgaga who Lizibo referred to as his better half and bestowed her as Mrs. Simon. The two later sang a duet, True Love, which is featured on Lizibos latest album.

Sadi undoubtedly proved that she is more than a pretty face as she has oodles of talent. The media personality, who is also brand ambassador for Glambition Hair and Gene Media, looked radiant on stage and swayed seductively in a black body-forming halter neck gown as she serenaded the crowd with her smooth melodic voice. Lizibo closed his set by singing Malebeswa, the same title of his album. The song has a reggae feel and upbeat tempo and the audience bopped their heads and jived to the jam.







The main attraction, musician and composer, Selaelo Selota, who has six albums under his belt, pranced onto the stage dressed to the nines in a pin-striped blue, black and white jacket, white shirt and pants, complete with formal Italian shoes. A chocolate fountain of flesh and muscle, the Limpopo-born man stunned with his chiselled physique, which shows that he works out religiously.



The energetic Selota took to humping in the air, much to the excitement of some women in the audience, who screamed excitedly, perhaps bedazzled by his eyebrow raising crotch acrobatics. But it was his strumming on the guitar that left many mesmerised. Selota is a musical beast; it is like he was born strumming away on the guitar. His fingers moved magically and effortlessly as he kept his head in the air, eyes half-closed, as if transported to another world and occasionally contorting his face into strange facial expression like he is being electrocuted. He was clearly on a high. The original guitarist who is known to be calm off stage but a crazy ball of energy on stage, performed songs such as Le le kae, Thrrr phaa and Lolita. The nostalgia classic song, Dali wa tsamaya, which is a crowd favourite, had the audience singing along happily.



Selota later introduced his backing vocalist, Surprise Malanga-Mathabela, as his vocal protege. A regal woman, dressed in an African print boob-tube top and skinny jeans with court heels, her slender frame and smooth skin gave her the appearance of someone who takes regular milk baths and enemas. She is also quite a lady; she danced in a proper manner, not lifting her legs up too high nor jumping up and down, that by the time she got off the stage, she was still as put together as when the performance started.



Selota told the audience that he was in awe when he first heard her sing. I met her about three months ago and realised that she had to share her gift. She is very talented you should look out for her, he said. There was a moment of silence when the lady belted out in tune.



Her hauntingly beautiful rich voice left the audience spellbound. She sang effortlessly but her voice filled and riverberated across the venue. The band members were also on steroids. The pianists hammered the keyboard with unmatched passion, the percussionist was on a musical high and the drummer hit notes like his life depended on it.



At some point it was like a competition of amazing noise as all four keyed, strummed, drummed and stomped in wild unison taking the audience into a wild frenzy. Selota also took a moment to pay homage to local jazz artists such as Sereetsi and the Natives, Zeus and Shanti Lo, among others, before calling Lizibo back onstage for what appeared to be an impromptu vocal duet that closed the show.
WeduK Creations has recently set the trend through their elegant and unique clothes made up of German print. From way back, German Print has been given first class when it comes to dressing up for African occasions. In the 1960s for example, women believed that for a woman to be considered stylish, they had to have at least one item made of German Print in their wardrobe. It is now 2017 and enter 24-year-old talented fashion designer and stylist, Wedu Kwambala. She has transformed the German print fashion in Botswana with her amazing stylish clothing. Kwambala makes sophisticated tops, stunning dresses and fashionable skirts. She sources her fabrics form Zambia.



Interestingly, Kwambala did not study design, which shows that she is naturally talented. It also took a bit of time for her to find her true calling. After graduating in something else from the University of Botswana in 2015, she struggled to find a job. At the time, she did not know that she could sew or even mend a skirt hem. But like most women, she did like clothes and fashion. She was pushed to her destiny when she started going on Pinterest and Youtube to follow tutorials on designing. Her passion was sparked.

When I was still unemployed I prayed to God not to particularly give me a job but to direct my paths, to show me my purpose and I promised to do His will. That is how I found my passion for making clothes began. I did not know even how to fix my torn dress before but I learnt, she recalls. After all the video clips and tips that she got on the Internet she decided to give it a try, and everything surprisingly turned out well. She boasts that she only tried it out with her mothers fabric, needle and thread to make herself a skirt that amazed her.





I rocked the skirt to a New Years lunch and the compliments that I got encouraged me to keep going more especially that my mother and my aunt Gaone Mabote never doubted me, she says. Kwambala then decided to get one month lessons from one of the family tailors to learn how to make patterns, since You Tube did not provide much. Gaone is the main reason why WeduK is as impressively as it is because all our tops are accessorised by off-shoulder trend, which was her idea and people just cant get enough of the work.

The feedback is just overwhelming and keeps me going, she says. WeduK designs for both the young and the old and she is of the view that a person is never too young or too old to be fashionable and look good. She also emphasises that they are currently designing clothes that are beginner friendly but are also quite unique. At WeduK we design to meet the fashion need of people focusing on style, we take that and come up with designs that no one has made before, and we add an African feel to it by using African print and making our customers to stand out. Also the prices are customer friendly.They do not hurt the pocket.



Kwambala notes that her mother is her trusted supplier who brings her fabrics from Zambia. They currently operate from home in Gaborone in Phase 4 and in Francistown Block 8 at home as well. They are open from 8am to 6 pm from Monday to Friday, and 9 am to 1pm on Sunday.



Kwambala says that people should look out for her winter designs soon and also expect a lot from her in the future. I would like to go to fashion school, to learn more about designing because there is a lot to learn, especially for a newbie like me who has never attended formal training. I want to grow my business and buy industrial machines since I am currently using domestic sewing machine and an over locker. People should look out for our winter collection, which is coming out this week, she says.



They can be accessed on their Facebook page; WeduK Creations or be contacted on 76599405.
After all those doubly deep musical excursions I suggested for Thursday and Friday, I believe that Saturday will provide an opportunity to return forcefully and formidably to planet Earth for some good, old-fashioned, no holds barred, simple and spectacular rocanrol music. The venue next door to Alibi HQ, Sister (407 Central NW), is famous for its rock proclivities, and they'll be in full force on May 6 when The Bombpops play a show with local legendsand honest-to-god, working-class punksRussian Girlfriends. You probably already know heaps about the Girlfriends. They're poptastic, genuine and have skills that kill, including the presence of one of the most engaging rock front men this town has ever seenwell since Jon Little of the Ant Farmers was dancing and frolicking on the stage of Launchpad all those years ago. For realz, Adam Hooks' singing and on-stage persona are well worth the price of admission. And the rest of the band ain't slouches either. The guitar playing of Ian Jarrell and Colin Dowell has a surprising, melodically authentic punk gravitas attachedwhile still being fun to listen to. The band's rhythm section (bassist Jeremy Keith and drummer Sasha Horn) keep the whole affair ahead of the rock and roll ball, delivering beats that can be brutally big or scathingly subtle. The Bombpops meanwhilean outfit outta San Diegobalance and blast out their pop-based pronouncements through the efforts of co-frontwomen Jen Razavi and Poli van Dam; they're touring on the strength of their latest recording on Fat Wreck Chords, Fear of Missing Out. Don't miss out on this demonstration of local and regional punkified power; $5 in advance or $10 at the door plus a valid 21+ ID will get you into a show that goes off at 9pm.




NEW DELHI (PTI): The armed forces are not getting their due share of resources, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said Thursday, pitching for increased defence spending to enhance India's strategic clout.



Amid mounting tensions with Pakistan and China, Rawat insisted on the country looking for new friends and allies to deal with neighbours along the western and northern borders, apparently referring to the two nations.



Pitching for investing more in strengthening India's armed forces, Rawat, addressing a defence think tank, spoke of China to drive home the point that India's true potential will be realised only when both economic growth and might of the military go hand-in-hand.



"While we are developing our economy, the military is not getting its due share. I think here we need to draw a lesson from China," he said, adding military and economic growth should be "conjoint" as they are two tenets of national power.



India's defence budget for 2017-18 was Rs 2.74 lakh crore which is 1.63 per cent of GDP. China's military spending for 2017 has been pegged at US$ 152 billion, which is close to around three per cent of the country's GDP and three times higher than that of India's defence budget.



There has been a feeling among security experts and the defence establishment that the modernisation of armed forces is taking place at a very slow pace and that the government has not been allocating adequate funds for it.



Talking about the evolving security situation in the region, Gen Rawat said India must have close ties with countries like Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan considering the security matrix. He said such a policy will recreate the outreach India had before partition.



The Army Chief said such a strategy will not only create a two-pronged dilemma for India's western neighbour Pakistan, but also help in tackling issues with the other difficult northern neighbour China.



"We have to start looking at how do we carry out counter-encirclement for our future adversaries. Developing alliances, developing friends to overcome the (current) deficiency is important. That must be part of our strategic thought process," he said.



The Army Chief said that time has come for India to have a say in all major issues at the United Nations and the country must work hard to attain permanent membership of the UN Security Council.



"We must create alliances and friends also so that we find a rightful place at the UNSC. Time has come for India to have a say in all that happens in UN," he said.



Referring to India's security challenges, Gen Rawat said the drafts of national military strategy and national security strategy were ready to deal with pressing issues coherently.



"We should be able to identify our own national military strategy. We do not have a national military strategy as of now. Directorate General of Perspective Planning has been tasked to come out with it.



"We are also coming out with the national security strategy which will be given to the government. Both the draft documents are ready and hopefully we will be releasing them very soon," he said after unveiling 'Strategic Yearbook 2017' at the United Service Institution, a national security and defence think tank.



Holding that a strong military is essential for India's forward march, he said the general thinking among people is that expenditure on defence "is a burden" on the economy.



He said a "very strong military" is key to economic development.


Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This weekend marks the start of a whole new ball game for the Manitoba Liberal Party, Burrows (Winnipeg north end) MLA and leadership candidate Cindy Lamoureux said.

Tonight, the party kicks off its weekend AGM at Brandons Victoria Inn, where the Liberal Party of Canada (in Manitoba) will also host its AGM as part of a joint effort between the two organizations.

Their shared theme will be Growing our future.

Taking the stronger united than divided approach, the two political organizations are striving to move forward more collaboratively, Lamoureux said.

If we can show that there is that synergy, that people believe its a provincial government to work collectively with the federal, it could be very beneficial for not only the country but the province in particular, Lamoureux said by phone on Thursday.

The main thing is getting the big Liberal family together, both provincial and federal members  Were hoping to celebrate each other.

With the federal Liberals securing a national win during last years election, theyll have more to celebrate than their provincial counterparts, who are in the midst of a transition period.

Still, the provincial Liberals did manage to secure three seats in last years election, a two-seat increase from 2011 a smaller momentum than their federal counterparts, but still a momentum worth latching onto, AGM co-chair Stephen Montague said.

Also a member of both the provincial Brandon East and the federal Brandon-Souris Liberal Constituency associations, Montague said that this weekends AGMs are about harnessing this momentum and solidifying a policy network and an overall direction that solidifies the Liberals status as a worthy alternative in the publics eye.

This rings clearest in Brandons provincial constituencies during recent elections, where the Liberals have trailed far behind both the Progressive Conservatives and the Manitoba NDP.

The federal election of 2015 found Liberal candidate Jodi Wyman place second in the polls behind Conservative Larry Maguire in Brandon-Souris.

Provincially, weve seen our government jump from NDP to Progressive Conservative since the 50s, with both governments blaming each other for all of the problems theyve had to deal with, Montague said.

Enough with that, Montague said. Theyve had their chances, and frankly none of them have done a very good job.

The trick will be dispelling the notion of strategic voting in the next provincial election, he said, adding that a vote for a Liberal candidate is not a vote taken away from a Manitoba NDP candidate, but is a vote for a viable Liberal win.

The framework that dictates where the provincial Liberals will differ from the Manitoba NDP and Progressive Conservatives will be drafted, in part, this weekend.

We need a very strong policy and strategy, and thats what a lot of our weekend will pertain, Lamoureux said, adding, I think that there are a lot of unique ideas being brought forward, which is a wonderful thing because we need new, unique ideas.

These unique ideas include a basic income pilot project for Manitobans a policy resolution being proposed by the provincial constituency associations of Morris and Burrows.

The three-year program would find basic income payments distributed at pilot sites, during which various data would be collected for analysis.

Other policy resolutions to be considered during this weekends meetings include, but are not limited to, increased awareness and resources as it relates to mental health, public transportation and seniors care, the introduction of child-resistant cannabis packaging, opposing the provincial governments relaxation of hog barn restrictions and replacing the opening prayer in the Manitoba legislature with a moment of silence.

Until theyre debated and voted on this weekend, these resolutions remain proposals of membership, Lamoureux said, adding that theyd know whether they find support this weekend.

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
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This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Murray Holden left the Deloraine-area family farm hed grown up on about 24 years ago, he didnt exactly rip off the Band-Aid.

It was more a soft departure, with the Holden family trucking the house they had built on the farm in 1980 to their new property at the west end of Brandon.

They also brought along a 1928 Ford Model A, which is the same model Holden learned to drive on at the farm as a kid  a model that he considers a staple at area farms.

Tyler Clarke/The Brandon Sun Local classic vehicle enthusiast Murray Holden is seen behind the wheel of his 1928 Ford Model A  the same model he learned to drive on at his familys farm near Deloraine.

About 10 years ago, Holden also secured from his brother the very same 1959 Case 211-B tractor that his father had used on the farm. He has also repurchased the 1976 Mercury Colony Park station wagon hed bought brand new back in the day.

His home and triple-vehicle garage highlight Holdens nostalgia-driven hobby, with his collection of classic vehicles keeping him busy during his spare time, particularly the Mercury, which is a recent addition hes currently in the early stages of fixing up.

His first acquisition was the Model A, which he found locally in Brandon but which had previously come from Newdale. The vehicles body wasnt in too terrible of shape, but the mechanical side of things was a mess.

Thankfully, this is Holdens speciality, so he was keen to fix it up. The process took up about two years worth of his spare time, during which he said that he amassed enough spare parts from other vehicles to pretty well build a second vehicle.

He built not only one original factory model four-cylinder motor, but two of them, with the spare sitting in his basement in the event he comes to need it in the future.

Proudly stored in his garage, the vehicle is in perfect running order and physical shape, complete with a quail hood ornament whose back features a gauge that displays the engines temperature  a decorative touch that draws the eye.

Tyler Clarke/The Brandon Sun Murray Holden is seen in his Brandon garage, where he fixes up classic vehicles in his spare time, such as the 1928 Ford Model A pictured in the background.

An original kind of guy, Holden salvaged all of the parts from other Model A vehicles, including enough components to deck it out with all of the options you can get for that years model.

In addition to its place in both Holdens garage and heart, the vehicle has also become a staple at local area car shows, which he drives it out to on a regular basis throughout the summer months.

His Case tractor, stored in the same garage bay, also makes an appearance at area shows and is a sentimental companion piece to the Model A.

The Case is another vehicle he completely restored, with Holden describing the job as replacing every nut and bolt, every bearing and everything.

When I got it, it probably should have been a parts tractor because it was let go too long, but I restored it and everythings original, he said, adding, Theres nothing thats been altered or anything like that.

While it would have been easier to have used the vehicle for parts only while depending more heavily on another tractor, Holden said that he didnt have the heart to junk it, with this tractor the very same vehicle his father had purchased in 1960.

Tyler Clarke/The Brandon Sun The quail hood ornament of Murray Holden's 1928 Ford Model A.

Retaining this piece of his familys history wasnt an easy task and required Holden to scavenge pieces from throughout North America until hed finally compiled everything he needed.

A self-described packrat, he said that, like his Model A, he practically has enough parts in his garage to build a second tractor.

A 1981 Mercedes Benz and 1969 Ford XL convertible have since joined his collection, with his current project the 76 Mercury, which had fallen into disrepair during the years since hed sold it.

Holdens original vehicle was a lost cause, so he purchased a new body and is using whatever parts from his original that he can.

The Mercury currently fills whatever spare time he has when not working his day job in automotive sales, which is only his latest automotive job after having owned and operated a Midas automotive shop in Brandon from 1982 until about five years ago.

Through it all, the family farm he was raised at and spent the majority of his adulthood at, minus a 10-year stint after running away with his wife at age 17 to Calgary and later Saskatoon, has remained his nostalgic focus.

Tyler Clarke/The Brandon Sun Murray Holden, with the very same 1959 Case 211-B tractor his father used at his familys farm, which Holden fixed up, using original pieces he managed to scavenge.

He grew up there, raised his four kids there with his wife, and has now managed to retain as much of the farm as he could within Brandon city limits.

 tclarke@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A petition to save Brandons blood donor clinic has been submitted to Canadian Blood Services with more than 1,700 signatures.

Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire launched the petition at the end of March, and surpassed his goal of 1,000 signatures within 24 hours. Since then, hundreds more have signed on, and it is now at 1,708.

Westman residents are serious about keeping our blood clinic open, Maguire stated in a press release. There isnt a day that goes by that someone hasnt raised this issue with me.This petition shows that there is a large and active support base for the clinic to remain open and the mobile clinic to visit rural communities.

The Brandon clinic will be closing in June, to be replaced by a twice-monthly mobile blood donor clinic that will drive in from Winnipeg, beginning June 15. Seventeen staff members will lose their jobs. The 11 Westman-area mobile blood donor clinics that are currently serviced out of the Brandon office will be discontinued during a scattering of dates leading up to the local offices June 8 closure.

Since the announcement, Maguire met with Canadian Blood Services representatives in his parliamentary office to stress the need for the Brandon and Westman clinics.In that meeting, Maguire said he reiterated his position that they should reverse their decision to permanently close the clinic and layoff the staff.

I will always stand up in Ottawa for issues that are important to Westman. I believe we must continue to advocate for the reversal of the decision on the blood clinic in Brandon and ensure that it remains open.

Canadian Blood Services said a reason for the closure is that the Brandon office has not been collecting its targets for at least four years, only getting 75 to 85 per cent of the 5,000 units of blood per year theyd set as their goal.

Maguire is still encouraging those who want to keep the clinic open to contact the Canadian Blood Services directly at feedback@blood.ca, and to CC his personal email Larry.Maguire@parl.gc.ca.

 The Brandon Sun
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If anyone orders Merlot, Im leaving. I am not drinking any fing Merlot!

That one line, uttered by the lead character in the hit 2004 movie Sideways, had a tremendous  tremendously bad  effect on the sale of that particular varietal. According to Wikipedia, a 2009 study by Sonoma State University determined that the film substantially slowed sales of Merlot and caused its price to fall, and a 2014 study by Vineyard Financial Associates estimated that Sideways cost Merlot farmers more than $400 million in lost revenue.

And all for a line that was essentially taken out of context.

The lead character was a Pinot Noir fan (and sales of Pinot went through the roof in the western U.S. after the movie was released), and it wasnt that he didnt like or respect Merlot. It was that Merlot was the favourite varietal of his ex-wife, for whom he still carried a torch. And simply put, the mere mention of Merlot broke his heart all over again, which prompted the expletive-containing line at the beginning of this column.

Finally, and happily, Merlot has recovered from its unintentionally and undeservedly sullied reputation, is on the upswing, and now very much in demand.

Winemakers have embraced the grape once more and are producing some wonderful wines, many of which Ive sampled lately.

I love Merlot, especially with pork, and since onion-baked pork ribs are my moms signature dish, I always take a bottle or two of Merlot when were invited there for dinner and I know her ribs are on the menu.

While the pickings were slim for the last decade or so, for the reasons mentioned above, everywhere I turn these days, there seems to be a new Merlot on offer. And three I tried in recent months are so good, I just had to share my thoughts about them.

First off, Ghost Pines Merlot ($19.99) from Californias Napa and Sonoma valleys, which never went away even with the Sideways-induced reduction in Merlot popularity, is lovely. Aromas of dried black cherry, moist tobacco and toasty oak are melded with notes of plum and black currant, resulting in a full, rich wine with well-balanced tannins.

The Ghost Pines was the familys favourite at our Easter gathering at Moms, and I knew it would be. But while I love it too, I was also smitten by the 2014 Sandhill Merlot from the Okanagan. I think I say this in every column in which I mention Sandhill wines, but winemaker Howard Soon is a genius as far as Im concerned. I just adore the entire Sandhill line. Truly, I love the entire Ghost Pines line too, as well as the one Ill discuss in a moment.

Anyway, Soon is marvellously adept at what he does, and his Merlot is one of many beverages that proves exactly that. With a bouquet of blackberry, plum, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, the taste follows through with red and black fruit, blueberry and baking spices, as well as a definite note of black tea. I think thats what my family was not as enamoured by  that and the powdery tannins  and its precisely those two elements that made the Sandhill a real standout for me. This wine, too, is $19.99 a bottle, and went well, as did the Ghost Pines, with the pork. I think the Sandhill, however, might be a great pairing with mushrooms, whether with steak, atop a burger, or a fabulous mixed-mushroom ravioli with a brown sauce.

And finally, the 2014 Black Mail Merlot was the least expensive of these three, but not much less at $18.75. However, this wine is an absolute standout. Its dusty and aggressive, full-bodied, gutsy  this is definitely not the Merlot of old. With tons of cassis, dark raspberry and the blackest of cherries, theres definitely some oak (my husband, for whom Merlot has always been a favourite varietal, detected some caramel, too, which likely came from the vanilla oak), as well as the faintest hint of barnyard in the very best way. The finish was full of bramble and I noted a lot of cedar  it felt like I was taking a bite out of a sauna (not that Ive ever done such a thing!). But this is one heck of a wine, with multitudinous layers that just keep on giving. Careful, though  it packs a punch with 15 per cent alcohol. Maybe thats another reason I absolutely loved the Post Houses Black Mail Merlot.

Since price cant be a determining factor here, I suggest, if youre fond of the varietal  and even if youre not  giving all three of these Merlots a try. Each one is a lovely, impressive wine, and theyve become staples in my wine larder. I need to be prepared for the next time Im invited for Moms ribs!
Opinion

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This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BY Anne Applebaum

Ive 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 its a lifestyle that Ivanka Trump has been selling, for profit, for most of her life.

But when Trump appeared on a podium in Berlin last 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 Americas image but to Americas reputation as a serious country, even to Americas 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 Trumps daughter.

There are sinister precedents here. Daughters have long been used cynically to humanize thuggish men. The presidents 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. Journalist Sarah Kendzior has laid out the remarkable similarities between Trump and Gulnara Karimova, the Uzbek dictators 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 Ivanka Trump is not what she and her husband, Jared Kushner, contribute to the presidents 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 Ivanka Trump did, on the same day 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. Former first lady Hillary Clintons 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, Ivanka 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.

 Anne Applebaum writes a biweekly foreign affairs column for The Washington Post. A version of this column recently appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press.
Opinion

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This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Its good news for the project of democratic renewal that the Liberal government has abandoned the most controversial and misguided elements of its proposed package of parliamentary reforms. The remaining parts of the plan are largely sensible and should pass. But the Liberals should not, as they are now threatening to do, force through these welcome democratic reforms by undemocratic means.

The government deserves credit for listening to the critics, the Toronto Star among them, who expressed concern that many of the proposals it floated in March would have weakened, not strengthened, our democracy. These reforms would have made it easier for government to govern, but harder for Parliament to hold government to account.

A proposal to limit debate by strictly scheduling the stages of a bills passage, for instance, would likely have increased expediency, but at what cost to democracy? Same goes for measures that would have eliminated opposition filibustering and removed other tools for delaying government legislation or alerting the public to problems. These changes would have been particularly problematic in a democracy such as ours, where, when the government has a majority, the opposition has few tools as it is.

So it was encouraging to see the government back off these proposals this week, especially as the package that remains is largely to the good. A measure that would allow the Speaker to hive off portions of omnibus bills, for instance, would remove one of governments most powerful shields against scrutiny, as would new rules governing parliamentary prorogation. A proposal to dedicate one day a week of Question Period to interrogating the prime minister, as the British House of Commons does, would also be welcome, as long as the PM shows up on most other days, too.

These reforms would go a long way toward addressing the democratic gaps in our parliamentary procedures exposed with particular clarity by the Harper government at its most autocratic. Yet, in its approach to passing the reforms, the government seems sadly set on undermining the very principles the proposals espouse.

House Leader Bardish Chagger said on Monday that the government will use so-called time allocation, a tool to curtail debate, to push through the package before the House rises in June. Such an approach can be legitimately used when the opposition seems intent on keeping government from acting in the public interest, especially where theres some urgency. But, as it limits parliamentary, and thus public, scrutiny, it should be seen a last resort, not least when the proposals in question affect the functioning of Parliament itself.

In this case, there is no urgency. While opposition parties have said they will use all the tools at their disposal to delay passage of the rule changes, the key measures, on omnibus bills and prorogation, could be informally adopted by the government now. That is, it could decide to act is as if the rules were already in place.

If the prime minister wants to ensure these reforms survive a change of government, as he claims, there is no better guarantee than substantial cross-party support. The Liberals should do all they can to earn it. The government is not yet two years into its mandate; the rules have plenty of time to pass. Justin Trudeau should not treat our democracy lightly as he seeks to enrich it.

 Toronto Star
By David Raleigh

A Lithuanian burglary gang lieutenant, who used cars loaded with concrete blocks as battering rams to smash into retail stores, stealing expensive women's clothes and perfumes, has been jailed at Limerick Circuit Court for five and a half years.

Aurimas Petraska, a senior member of the Eastern European gang, of which other members are being pursued in an international police hunt - involving Gardai, Interpol, and Europol - was a key cog in the gang's operations, the court heard.

Aurimas and others "dressed in army fatigues and balaclavas" and "executed the job with military precision", judge Tom O'Donnell said.

"They were in and out" of each premises, in "six minutes", he added.

"They were highly sophisticated," added prosecuting SC Michael Collins.

Petraska transformed "cheap" cars into missiles, capable of smashing through secure premises.

He purchased the vehicles on second-hand car sale websites before spray painting the windows and replacing the car seats with concrete blocks.

This, the court heard, ensured the cars were heavy enough to mount footpaths and crash through shopfronts.

Handing down sentence, judge O'Donnell said Aurimas, a father of one, had steered a "professional job".

"It was premeditated and planned to the last detail."

He commended gardai, led by Cork Detective Inspector Joe Moore; Det Gda Michael Brosnan, and Det Gda Ailish Murphy, for their "painstaking" investigative skills in tracking the gang over a two-year period.

"They were involved in searching through thousands of hours of analysis of CCTV footage; phone records; and car sales receipts," he added.

Targeting the remaining gang members remains a priority for gardai, the court heard.

"The investigation had several layers within other layers, and it is ongoing; substantial garda resources have been used," the judge said.

"There are several dimensions to the garda investigation, including local gardai; national units; as well as (support) from Europol and Interpol," the judge added.

Previously the court heard Aurimas was arrested when members of the armed garda Regional Support Unit (RSU) intercepted him in a car near Shanagolden, on June 29, 2016.

During the course of the arrest, another man "accompanying" Petraska was shot in the face after a garda's gun fired "accidentally", said Mr Collins SC.

The man spent several months in hospital to treat his serious injuries.

Petraska did not disclose to gardai the identify of his boss, however he told officers he was paid between 2,000-3,000 for each burglary.

Aurimas, 32, with an address at Church Street, Rathkeale, pleaded guilty to a string of burglaries which involved the theft of 150,000 worth of women's clothes, and Chanel beauty products.

During a raid at O'Briens Pharmacy, Cahir, Tipperary, 20,000 worth of Chanel products was stolen.

In a burglary at O'Connor's Pharmacy, Kinsale, Cork, 50,000 worth of Chanel products was taken, and 10,000 damage was caused.

Petraska also admitted stealing 80,000 worth of high-end women's clothes from Isobel Boutique, Adare Co Limerick.

In a victim impact statement, Isobel owner Kay Mulcair, said she lost 240,000 in revenue.

"She is struggling to keep the business open (because of the loss)," the judge said.

The high-end dresses stolen from the Isobel store were conveyed to a Dublin logistics company where they were to be shipped onto containers headed for Lithuania.

Kieran O'Connor, O'Connors Pharmacy, Kinsale, wrote in a victim impact statement, he spent 40,000 on security after the robbery there.

He said he installed anti-ram bars installed outside the front of his premises.

Aurimas had several previous convictions for theft in Holland and Norway, as well as a conviction for public order in his native Lithuania.
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has called on the Government to introduce an Animal Welfare and Responsible Pet Ownership module into primary school curriculums, to reduce cases of cruelty and neglect involving animals.

A similar model was introduced in many Educate Together schools over two years ago.

ISPCA CEO, Dr Andrew Kelly said: The ISPCA believes that education is key to better animal welfare and responsible pet ownership and should be included in every primary school curriculum across Ireland.

Last year, over 16,000 calls were made to the National Animal Cruelty Helpline resulting in 3,200 investigations, 995 animals seized or surrendered and 32 prosecutions instigated under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.

The vast majority of animal welfare cases was due to a lack of understanding of animal welfare needs and pet owners legal responsibility under the animal health and welfare act.

This is where improved animal welfare education can play an import role in cutting those numbers.

A simple measure like this could improve the welfare of tens of thousands of animals in the future.

Speaking today, Green Party Deputy Leader, and member of the Oireachtas Education Committee, Catherine Martin TD, said: The Green Party is delighted to support the ISPCAs call for animal welfare to be taught in our schools.

The welfare of animals is an important aspect of our society, and if we can educate our children from an early age how best to look after their pets, then we are teaching them some important moral values which they will hopefully nurture in other aspects throughout their lives.

Green Party Spokesperson on Animal Welfare Pippa Hackett said: Such a scheme has been successfully applied in Educate Together schools with the assistance of the ISPCA, and we are calling on a nationwide launch in all primary schools.

Developing childrens compassion for animals is hugely beneficial as it teaches them to think about the world around them and how we must care for it.

The ISPCA is today calling on members of the public who care about animals and would like to see animal welfare taught in all primary schools across Ireland to sign our petition here.
Joan Burtons adviser has told the Jobstown Seven trial she is embarrassed by some of the language she used while surrounded by protesters in Dublin.

Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six others deny falsely imprisoning Karen OConnell and the former Tanaiste during a water charge protest in 2014.

On one video clip, taken from Joan Burtons phone inside a Garda jeep she was in, Karen OConnell could be heard saying "this always happens at the end of a protest, the f***ing dregs decide not to finish it".

They were moved to the jeep from an unmarked Garda car after protesters surrounded it outside a church in Jobstown where the then Tanaiste had attended a graduation ceremony.

Under cross-examination, Ms OConnell said she was embarrassed by the language used but said the word dregs simply meant the end of something

She accused the defence barrister Padraig Dwyer of trying to insinuate she had used it to describe the crowd and denied that was the case.

She said she was fearful and upset at the time and while she was not proud of her choice of words, she said it was only human in a situation like that

Ms OConnell has now been cross-examined by five of the defence teams and will take questions from the remaining two when the trial resumes on Monday.
Update 6pm: The Health Minister said he intends to write to every student nurse graduating this year offering them a permanent job.

Simon Harris made the announcement this afternoon on the final day of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation conference in Wexford.

The HSE is to provide three reports to Minister Harris by the end of the year on the progress it is making recruiting nurses.

Minister Harris said his position is clear.

I intend to write to each and every student nurse who is about to graduate this year, telling them that there is a permanent job on offer here in Ireland for them.

To any student nurse who is in their final year - you will be receiving a letter from the health service saying we want you to work in this country, we need you to work in this country and here is how you go about applying for a job.

We need nurses to stay in this country.

Earlier: The HSE is to provide three reports to the Health Minister by the end of the year on the progress it is making recruiting nurses.

Simon Harris made the announcement this afternoon on the final day of the INMO conference in Wexford.

These quarterly reports will examine progress under the 2017 National Service Plan - which deals with the recruitment and retention of nurses - and are to be shared with the INMO and lodged with the WRC.

Minister Harris outlined the process to South East Radio.

"We signed up to an agreement with the nursing union to deliver 1,208 additional nursing posts this year.

"For my part I'm taking a pretty extraordinary measure, signing what's called a Section 10 Directive under the Health Act, which is basically instructing the HSE that they must go ahead now and recruit 1,208 additional nurses and they most report three times to me this year and I'll lodge that report with the WRC," he said.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney says he does not support proposals that would allow abortion on demand in Ireland.

Minister Coveney says any referendum on the 8th amendment could potentially run on the same day as one on voting rights for emigrants.
Two men were arrested and 300,000 was seized in Dublin yesterday.

The arrests were made as part of ongoing investigations targeting serious criminal activity in Dublin.

The arrests were made by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau after a planned search in Sandyford, Dublin.

Media reports state that the raid was targeting the Kinahan gang.

Gardai investigating the Kinahan crime gang arrest two men and seize over 300,000 in cash along with money counting machines  RTE News (@rtenews) May 5, 2017

Along with the 300,000 cash, cash counting and packaging equipment was also seized.

It is understood the two men arrested are brothers and they are suspected of committing money laundering offences.

A man in his 30s is currently being detained at Blackrock Garda Station under provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Cash seized by Gardai yesterday as part of an angoing operation pic.twitter.com/y4NeXHesVb  Garda Info (@gardainfo) May 5, 2017

A second man was arrested in Clondalkin after follow-up searches in the area.

He is also being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
Firefighters in Limerick are battling a large blaze at Raheen Industrial Estate.

It is the second large fire in Limerick in the last two days.

There are no injuries reported.

Limerick City Fire and Rescue have stated that they now have the fire under control having worked throughout the morning and afternoon.

They said that dampening down will continue throughout the evening.
India's top court has upheld the death sentences of four men convicted of the fatal gang rape and torture of a medical student on a moving bus nearly five years ago.

The court held that the diabolical nature of the crime in the Indian capital, which triggered massive protests across the country, made it a fit case for the death penalty.

The 23-year-old victim's father said he was happy with the court judgment and demanded that the convicts be hanged quickly.

"The court heard our voice and gave justice," Badri Singh said.

Prosecutors said Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh took their victim to the back of a private bus in New Delhi, raping her and then damaging her internal organs with an iron rod.

She died two weeks later of injuries in a hospital in Singapore, where she was taken for treatment.

The outrage over the New Delhi attack prompted quick action on legislation doubling prison terms for rapists to 20 years and criminalising voyeurism, stalking and the trafficking of women.

Indian politicians also voted to lower to 16 from 18 the age at which a person can be tried as an adult for heinous crimes.

Defense lawyer AP Singh, representing three of the men, said the court should have given them a chance to reform and avoided the death penalty.

He said he would seek a review of Friday's judgment from the Supreme Court.

Ram Singh, the bus driver and fifth suspect in the crime, was found hanging in his cell in Tihar prison in March 2013, months before the suspects were convicted.

The sixth suspect was just months short of 18 years old when the crime took place.

He walked out of a correction home in December 2015 after serving three years - the maximum punishment for minors - sparking public outrage and an overhaul of the juvenile law.

Indian courts are notorious for delays as more than 30 million cases are pending. After massive protests, the Indian government put the gang rape case on a fast-track trial.

Swati Maliwal, chief of the New Delhi Commission for Women, said people were not scared of committing crimes because of long delays in bringing them to justice.

"The fact is that the road to justice is very, very long in this country," she said.

"Even in this case, it has taken five years. But at least in five years, we are coming to a conclusion. There are women in the country who have been fighting court battles for 10 to 15 years."

At least six rapes take place in the Indian capital every day, she said.

"Nothing much has changed because there is no fear among people that if they do something wrong, they will be punished," she said.

- AP
A US service member has been killed in Somalia during an operation against the extremist group al Shabab in the first US combat death in the country in more than two decades.

It comes as the United States steps up its fight against the al Qaida-linked organisation in a country that remains largely chaos. The military says two other US personnel were wounded.

"We do not believe there has been a case where a US service member has been killed in combat action in Somalia since the incident there in 1993," US Africa Command spokesman Patrick Barnes said.

The United States pulled out of Somalia after that incident in which two helicopters were shot down in the capital, Mogadishu, and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets.

A Somali intelligence official said US forces killed at least six people during the raid on a building housing the al Shabab group's Andalus radio station.

The official says the dead in the attack on a farm included al-Shabab journalists.

In a statement, the US Africa Command said the service member was killed on Thursday during an operation near Barii, about 40m (64km) west of Mogadishu.

It said US forces had been conducting an advise-and-assist mission with Somalia's military.

Al Shabab, via its Shahada News Agency, said "an air landing operation by US special forces was thwarted in Lower Shabelle province and a number of their soldiers were killed and wounded", SITE Intelligence Group reported.

Both the United States and Somalia have declared new efforts against al Shabab.

US president Donald Trump has approved expanded military operations, including more aggressive air strikes and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.

A Somali intelligence official confirmed the US military operation, saying US forces in helicopters raided an al Shabab hideout near the Somali capital and engaged with fighters.

The official said the helicopters dropped soldiers near Dare Salaam village in an attempt to capture or kill extremists in the area.

The official said the fighters mounted a stiff resistance against the soldiers.

Somalia's new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last month declared a new offensive against al Shabab, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks elsewhere in East Africa.

Also last month, the US military announced it was sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the country in roughly two decades.

The US in recent years has sent a small number of special operations forces and counter-terror advisers to Somalia and has carried out a number of air strikes, including drone strikes, against al Shabab.

The extremist group, which was chased out of Mogadishu years ago but continues to carry out deadly attacks there, has vowed to step up the violence in response to the moves by Mr Trump and Mr Mohamed.

AP
Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has said she can pull off a surprise victory in France's high-stakes run-off election on Sunday.

Centrist front-runner Emmanuel Macron accused Ms Le Pen of exploiting voter fears as a hostile and angry campaign came to a close.

Ms Le Pen told the Associated Press that, win or lose, "we changed everything" as she claimed an "ideological victory" for her populist, anti-immigration world-view that has dominated a contest that could change Europe's direction.

Mr Macron acknowledged French people are exasperated by the government's ineffectiveness but dismissed Ms Le Pen's vision of an infuriated country, telling RTL radio that she "speaks for no-one. Madame Le Pen exploits anger and hatred".

The candidates must stop campaigning at midnight on Friday to give voters a day of reflection before the election.

Tensions marred the race right to the end as anti-Le Pen crowds disrupted her visit to a renowned cathedral in Reims in Champagne country.

The campaign has been unusually bitter, with voters hurling eggs and flour, protesters clashing with police and candidates insulting each other on national television - a reflection of the widespread public disaffection with politics.

Ms Le Pen, 48, has brought her National Front party closer than ever to the presidency, riding a wave of populism and growing frustration amid working working-class voters with globalisation and immigration.

Even if she loses, she is likely to be a powerful opposition figure in French politics in the coming parliamentary election campaign and beyond.

"Even if we don't reach our goal, in any event there is a gigantic political force that is born," she told AP in her campaign headquarters.

Her party managed to "impose the overhaul" of French politics and set the tone of the election, she said.

The 39-year-old Mr Macron, too, played a key role in that, with his wild-card campaign outside the traditional party structure.

Voters chose Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen in the first-round vote on April 23, dumping the traditional left-right parties that have governed modern France.

Students protesting both candidates on Friday blocked high schools and marched through Paris.

Ms Le Pen, who was pelted with eggs on Thursday in Brittany, was met by hecklers at the Reims cathedral.

She left via an unmarked door, putting her arms over her head as if to protect herself from projectiles and diving into a black car.

Returning to her headquarters, she denounced the critics for disrupting a sacred place during her final campaign stop.

The site has special meaning for her National Front because it is the cathedral where Clovis was crowned in the presence of Joan of Arc - the party's icon.

The pro-business Mr Macron, who topped all vote-getters in the first-round but is widely disliked, also has been booed and heckled frequently as he visited blue-collar workers.

Violent protests erupted in Paris earlier this week against both candidates, with several police officers injured.

Critics also decried the bitter tone of Wednesday's presidential debate.

Ms Le Pen acknowledged to AP that she became angry at the debate but said she was reflecting the mood of France.

"My words were nothing but the reflection of the anger that will explode in this country," she told RTL.

AP
The Republican-led US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted to impose new sanctions on North Korea, targeting its shipping industry and use of slave labour.

Members approved the measure 419-1 as tensions continued to mount over Pyongyang's advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Admiral Harry Harris Jr, the top American military officer in the Pacific, has warned it is a question of when, not if, North Korea successfully builds a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the US.

The Senate must take up the measure next.

The bipartisan legislation is aimed at thwarting North Korea's ambitions by cutting off access to the cash the regime needs to follow through with its plans.

The measure is sponsored by Rep Ed Royce of California, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep Eliot Engel of New York, the committee's senior Democrat.

The bill bars ships owned by North Korea or by countries that refuse to comply with UN resolutions against it from operating in American waters or docking at US ports. Goods produced by North Korea's forced labour would be prohibited from entering the United States, according to the legislation.

Anyone who uses slave labour that North Korea exports to other countries would be subject to sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the bill states. At times when the nation is facing unusual or extraordinary threats, the President has wide authority under the law, including the power to block or prohibit transactions involving property located in the US.

Mr Royce said companies from Senegal to Qatar to Angola import North Korean workers, who send their salary back to Pyongyang, earning the regime billions of dollars in hard currency each year

"This is money that Kim Jong-un uses to advance his nuclear and missile programme, and also pay his generals, buying their loyalty to his brutal regime," he said. "That is what the high-level defectors that I meet with say. So let's squeeze his purse."

The bill also requires the Trump administration to determine within 90 days whether North Korea is a state sponsor of terrorism. Such a designation would trigger more sanctions, including restrictions on US foreign assistance.

In a separate but related move, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pressed South-East Asian governments during a working lunch to ensure "leak-proof" enforcement of sanctions against North Korea and to prevent the pariah nation's diplomats from conducting business that could benefit its weapons programmes.

Mr Tillerson called on foreign ministers of the 10-nation Association of South-East Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to "minimise" diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, "so that North Korea does not gain benefit from its diplomatic channels for its nuclear and missile aspirations," senior State Department official Patrick Murphy said after Thursday's meeting at the State Department.

That was the latest salvo in the Trump administration's push to get the international community to intensify diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme before it can pose a direct threat to the American mainland.

Last weekend, a North Korean mid-range ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch, the third test-fire failure this month but a clear message of defiance. North Korean ballistic missile tests are banned by the United Nations because they are seen as part of the North's push for a nuclear-tipped missile that can hit the US mainland.

The launch comes as both sides in the escalating crisis are flexing their military muscle. President Donald Trump has sent a nuclear-powered submarine and the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to Korean waters. North Korea last week conducted large-scale, live-fire exercises on its eastern coast.

The US and South Korea are installing a missile defence system and their two navies are staging joint military drills.

- AP
The ACT government has refused to give cops more power to punish pubs and pubs that turn a blind eye to drugs.

Last year ACT Policing expressed concern over venues that were known loopholes for sneaky drug deals.

Shorty's venue manager Zac Graham believes venues should do what they can to stop people from doing drugs on their premises, but it's too difficult to prove if they're not. Credit:Jamila Toderas

They called for a criminal offence for licenced venues to "knowingly allow or deliberately turn a blind eye" to the possession, sale or supply of illicit drugs - with maximum penalties of $7,500 for a venue and a hefty $37,500 for an individual. This offence is in place in other jurisdictions, including NSW.

But the recommendation was nowhere to be seen in the ACT government's much-awaited liquor reform law reform package released in March.
A boy savagely mauled by two dogs who played tug-of-war with his body at a government housing property in 2010 has lost a case against the ACT government over the attack.

A judge found on Friday while the woman living in the house would "clearly be liable" for Jack Hartigan's injuries, the government was not.

Jack Hartigan, through his parents Patrick Hartigan and Joanna Mangan, filed civil action against the ACT Government. Credit:Melissa Adams

But there had been no point in the boy taking action against the woman, because it was unlikely she'd be able to pay, the court had heard.

It means for now Jack will not be compensated for his injuries.
The man who turned himself into police and confessed to lighting fireworks in two Canberra nightclubs told a judge on Friday he had met God since the explosions and wanted to apologise.

Scott Wyatt, 31, handed himself in to Gungahlin police station in January - six years after the explosions on February 13, 2011.

The now-closed ICBM was one of the nightclubs involved.

The Penrith man had been a suspect at the time, but he denied the acts in a formal police interview and he was never prosecuted.

He was charged with two counts of arson after handing himself in.
The St Edmund's College community is mourning after Brother Don Gallagher, a beloved and "iconic" former arts teacher died on Monday, aged 91.

Principal Daniel Lawler said Br Gallagher was an icon at the school who served at the college for 45 years.

Brother Don Gallagher, of St Edmunds College, in his gallery and studio. Credit:Marina Neil

"You don't get figures like that in schools any more," Mr Lawler said.

"Someone who devotes that length of time to a school and he gives his life to the school, essentially. That level of dedication, single minded commitment: it's a very rare thing."
Two Canberra men faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday accused of blackmailing and threatening a man after a dispute over "missing" drugs.

It's alleged Barry Avery, 34, and Cameron Sharp, 20, together committed the offences over several hours in Palmerston on April 9.

Police arrested the pair at a home in Palmerston on Thursday.

They were kept in custody after separate appearances in court.

Mr Sharp appeared first and did not apply for bail. Mr Avery appeared second and applied for bail, which was opposed by prosecutors.
Transport safety investigators have recommended additional checks be made of ATR turboprop aircraft which fly from Canberra to Sydney and some regional routes following a potentially "catastrophic" incident in 2014.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau made the recommendation in its second interim report into a Virgin Australia flight from Canberra to Sydney on February 20, 2014.

The Virgin Australia ATR72 turboprop aircraft taxiing onto the bay at Sydney Airport on February 20, 2014. Credit:ATSB/Sydney Airport

The ATR72 aircraft sustained a "pitch disconnect" while descending into Sydney when the left and right elevator control systems uncoupled.

Pilots noticed the airspeed rising higher than expected. The first officer reduced engine power and used touch control steering to temporarily disconnect the autopilot before manually raising the nose to control the speed.
Qantas has launched a new credit card promising more frequent flyer points at the same time as its loyalty scheme has helped power the airline's share price to an almost 10-year high.

Qantas on Friday confirmed long-speculated plans to offer its own credit card through a tie-up with Mastercard and investment bank Citi.

Qantas Loyalty chief executive Lesley Grant said the card was a response to the strong consumer demand for points as part of everyday spending.

"Around 35 per cent of credit card spend in Australia earn Qantas Points, which shows strong interest in this type of reward but also plenty of room for growth," said Ms Grant.
Ferrari achieved a rare feat by generating profit margins on par with Apple, as the rich clamor for powerful and pricey supercars like the $US2.1 million ($A2.8 million) LaFerrari Aperta.

In an industry where double-digit margins are exceptional, Ferrari entered unprecedented territory with its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation climbing to 29.5 per cent of sales in the first quarter from 26.3 percent a year earlier. That compares with a 31.6 per cent profit margin at Apple and about 36.5 per cent at luxury goods icon Hermes International SCA.

LaFerrari Aperta, Salone di Parigi 2016.

Ferrari's automotive peers don't come close. Former parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV's margin is about 11 per cent and General Motors about 13 per cent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

"Those profit margins show how Ferrari fishes in the same pool as the luxury brands," said Massimo Vecchio, an analyst with Mediobanca in Milan. "It simply uses its cars as bait."
Australia's grand mufti hopes his defamation win against two News Corp articles on Friday becomes "the first step towards improved harmony between Muslims and the media".

Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed took legal action in the NSW Supreme Court last year over two stories published in Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper, which attacked his response to the terrorist attacks in France 18 months ago.

Ibrahim Abu Mohammed, grand mufti of Australia, arrives at the NSW Supreme Court on Friday. Credit:Daniel Munoz

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks around Paris in November 2015, killing more than 130 people.

The grand mufti alleged two stories, including a front page depiction of him as three "unwise" monkeys, wrongly implied he was an apologist for the incidents, and had sought to shift blame away from the perpetrators.
After losing the tip of her middle finger to cancer, Amanda Alger is keen to shine a light on melanomas that are not caused by the sun.

Groundbreaking new Australian research has found that forms of melanoma found on the hands and feet (known as acral) and inside the body (mucosal) are not linked to UV rays.

Wollongong woman Amanda Alger is recovering after surgery in February to amputate the tip of her finger, after she was diagnosed with a rare form of melanoma. Credit:Adam McLean

While the advice to "slip, slop, slap" remains  with the sun's harsh rays to blame for most skin melanomas  the research will change the way these rarer melanomas are diagnosed and treated.

Ms Alger, who comes from Wollongong, hopes the study, published in Nature this week, will encourage others to be aware of any changes such as lines or other markings on their fingers and toes.
Tributes have flowed on social media for 21-year-old Stuart Reddan, who was tragically killed during a defence force training exercise on Thursday.

The former Mountain Creek State High School student was killed when he was struck by a tree branch during the exercise at Shoalwater Bay, near Rockhampton, on Thursday morning.

Stuart Reddan was killed during a defence force training exercise at Shoalwater Bay Credit:Facebook

In a statement, Mr Reddan's family paid tribute to the young soldier, who joined the Army cadets when he was 14, saying they were "unbelievably saddened" by the death of their loved one.

"We will always remember Stuart as a charming, happy, fun-loving young man.



"He died doing what he loved. Stuart was very, very passionate about being a soldier and he loved every moment in the Army and his mates.



"We would like to thank everyone for their loving words, their happy memories of Stuart and their support.



"We would also like to thank the soldiers who provided first aid to Stuart and were with him at the time. We send our heart felt thanks out to these soldiers. We know you did your best to save him."
Homes across south-east Queensland could be added to the list of flood-prone properties as councils get handed data to devise new flood-management plans.

The Brisbane River Catchment Flood Study, released on Friday, used 170 years of rainfall data and 11,340 scenarios that influence flooding, to guide local councils towards the crucial first step of developing strategies and flood resilience options.

The study was recommended by the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry, which probed the 2011 floods in which 35 people died, as there was no single flood model councils could use.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said more than 50,000 computer simulations were used when developing the study, which was Australia's first ever whole-of-catchment flood study.
Queensland prawn farmers are out of action for the next 18 months, as part of a plan to eradicate white spot disease announced by the federal government on Friday.

However, the state government said it continues to shoulder the burden of supporting local farmers, after the federal Coalition accused them of not doing enough in response to the outbreak.

A green prawn with white spot disease.

Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said affected producers would receive $20 million of federal compensation to cover lost revenue during the shutdown.

"This additional funding of $20 million will be delivered directly to the prawn industry, with $4 million to be repaid by prawn farmers through an industry levy once affected producers are back on their feet," he said.
Accused murderer Vincent O'Dempsey quickly packed up his belongings and moved from his rented unit without notifying his landlord in the days after his victims disappeared, his trial has heard.

Barbara McCulkin and her two daughters disappeared from their Brisbane home on January 16, 1974 and six days later Adrian Burton went to collect rent from the Rosalie units he owned and noticed the one rented by Mr O'Dempsey was empty.

Barbara McCulkin with one of her daughters.

"I did see Mr O'Dempsey and the three other gentlemen leave the premises, they were carrying what I'd call dark garbage bags," he told the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday.

In about an hour, the men had packed and removed Mr O'Dempsey's possessions, he told the jury.
Queensland's chief number-cruncher has given the green light to a government plan to dip into the public service super fund to build infrastructure and pay down debt.

The State Actuary's report found the government's plan to take around $4 billion out of the $10 billion available in "overpayments" from the defined benefit scheme should continue, as the scheme was in a "very healthy position".

Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has defended raiding public service super. Credit:Glenn Hunt

The plan last year attracted harsh criticism from the Liberal National Party opposition, which labelled it a "raid" on public servants' superannuation.

But Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt said the Actuary's report vindicated the move.
Building a rail project is proving just as difficult as building a political bridge for the Queensland and federal governments ahead of the federal budget, with a fight continuing over funding for the Cross River Rail.

The on-again, off-again proposal for a second rail crossing to the Brisbane CBD, first mooted in 2010, looks like it may be delayed again.

Artists impression of a prosed new entrance to Roma Street station for the yet-to-be funded Cross River Rail Mark 3.

Queensland's Labor government has this week been calling on the Turnbull government to "at least" match its commitment of $850 million to the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project in Tuesday's budget.

However the prime minister, while saying he was committed to the project, seemingly brushed aside the request on Wednesday and insisted "methodical, consistent" planning was needed.
Reports that dummy candidates were paid to run in last year's council elections are now under investigation by the local government watchdog.

On Friday the watchdog issued notices to several candidates in the 2016 Wyndham City Council election in an attempt to confirm their eligibility.

Credit:Andrew Meares

A number of candidates have already been interviewed and cleared by the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate, but others still need to account for the way they ran their own campaign.

"The inspectorate has gathered evidence that raises concerns about several candidates having unlawfully nominated or received payments to nominate," said Chief Municipal Inspector David Wolf. "We need to understand if this is a broader issue or confined to these specific candidates in this election."
A half-brother of the man accused of mass murder in Melbourne's Bourke Street has admitted driving dangerously in the city but tried to stop the case being reported.

George Gargasoulas, 32, attended Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday for a hearing.

Magistrate John Bentley said Gargasoulas was facing "serious matters" including reckless conduct endangering serious injury, resisting police and failing to stop when asked.

Charge sheets allege Gargasoulas committed the offences on March 24, 2016.

Gargasoulas asked that journalists not be given access to the documents or be allowed to report the case.
The body of a 33-year-old mother was in three pieces when it was recovered from a mineshaft, a Melbourne murder trial has been told.

Forensic pathologist Linda Isles said Simone Quinlan's head, pelvis and torso were discovered in a mine shaft near Bendigo in 2015 and her remains had been burnt and covered with tape.

Simone Quinlan at the Caltex service station where she was last seen.

Wayne Marmo is on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court for Ms Quinlan's murder, having shot her in the head five times and dumped her body in a mineshaft near Bendigo. He also used petrol to set her body on fire on August 25, 2015.

However, his defence says Ms Quinlan was already dead when Marmo shot her, making him guilty instead of the lesser crime of attempted murder.
A 28-year-old man has been charged with causing $450,000 worth of damage to telecommunication sites throughout Perth's northern suburbs over a three month period late last year.

The man set fire to three separate locations in Malaga, Dianella and Morley between July 30 and October 29.

Police released this photo of the man last year. Credit:WA Police

The damage sparked an investigation by WA Police and the Arson Squad, who began searching for the culprit in November last year.

A police spokesman said the man had forced his way into a number of various sites, before starting a fire inside the communication huts.
Colombian police released this photo of Cassandra Sainsbury with the drugs she is said to have smuggled. Credit:Colombian National Police Ms Youngers was candid that, although there was a general dearth of hard evidence, her many years of first-hand experience on the ground on the continent leads her to believe a shift is happening. The numbers that do exist seem to paint a picture of a trend as well. According to a 2011 study in Argentina, nine out of every 10 foreign women in prison for drug offences at the federal level in Argentina were there for serving as mules; 96 per cent were first-time offenders. "There does seem to be a trend for foreign women to be incarcerated for carrying drugs across borders in Latin America," Ms Youngers said. "A lot of time, the women don't understand the risk they are taking. They don't understand that if they get caught they are going to end up in prison, with penalties that are extremely high."

There seems to be a silver lining, though, with judges across Latin America handing down softer penalties where appropriate and permissible. "My impression is that judges [in mule cases], where they have flexibility and don't need to enforce mandatory minimums, seek out the lower range of sentences. They are a bit more lenient on foreign women." However, Ms Youngers said those penalties could still range on average from eight to 20 years in prison. "These prisons are very unpleasant. Often there is not enough food and medicine available, so it has to come from family outside, family that this women often won't have in-country," she said. Colombian prison statistics included in a 2010 report from the Transnational Institute showed that, of the 320 foreigners in custody in the 2007-2009 survey period, 237 (74 per cent) were there for drug-related offences.

According to a 2016 WOLA Report, the population of women prisoners in Latin America climbed 51.6 per cent between 2000 and 2015, compared with 20 per cent for men. In Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica and Peru, more than 60 per cent of female prisoners are behind bars for drug-related offences. "The population of women incarcerated for drug offences climbed 271 per cent in Argentina between 1989 and 2008; and 290 per cent in Brazil between 2005 and 2013," the report reads. Why use foreigners? "Women have long been used in drug smuggling and foreigners have often been used because they can face less scrutiny than others," said Dr Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow of foreign policy at US think tank The Brookings Institution in email correspondence with Fairfax Media. "The visa-free requirements for many foreigners helps in travel and often they are more credible tourists and thus can receive reduced scrutiny at airports."

To delve deeper, Fairfax Media talked to the woman who literally wrote the book on the subject. In 2014's Drug Mules: Women in the International Cocaine Trade, Jennifer Fleetwood, lecturer in criminology at the University of Leicester explored how women become involved in trafficking, focusing on the lived experiences of women as drug mules. In her research, she spoke to the people whose job was to target and recruit mules. "In a nutshell most drug mules are male. Trafficking is male-dominated across the board, but [across Latin America] 30 per cent of arrests are women," she said. "Previous research done in the 1990s and early 2000s found that recruiters were looking for people who already had valid reasons for travel." Dr Fleetwood said all the recruiters told her that, when it came to setting up an unsuspecting dupe to carry drugs, they had all heard of "someone else doing it", but not done it themselves. "There are already plenty of people out there willing to do this work and many things can go wrong if the person you use doesn't know they are carrying drugs," Dr Fleetwood said.

So what can travellers do to protect themselves, beyond not coming into contact with recruiters in the first place? "I can put my hand on my heart and say I've unthinkingly taken packages for other people, but, if there's one golden rule: don't take packages for other people, just don't," Dr Fleetwood said. A day in the life of a foreign, female drug mule A woman profiled in a 2016 piece by Broadly, a channel of Vice, is a living, breathing example of the human cost of the trade. Known as Sylvia A, the Slovak woman now shares a cell with another four English-speaking foreign women, serving four years in an Argentinian prison. Sylvia A was found out by Argentine police before she even got to the airport: She had cocaine strapped to her body and another kilogram in her stomach. She took the risk so that she would be able to send her son to school. Instead, she now talks to him from a cell on the other side of the Atlantic.

The Peru Two Another famous case of foreign, female mules in Latin America garnered world-wide attention: two British women dubbed the "Peru Two". Melissa Reid and Michaella McCollum were jailed in 2013, at the ages of 18 and 20 respectively, after 11 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated 1.5 million ($2.6 million) was found in their luggage at the international airport in Lima, Peru. Reid and McCollum originally faced a maximum of 15 years in prison if found guilty but decided to plead guilty in the hope of getting a lighter sentence. They were jailed for six years and eight months in December 2013. They were released and expelled from Peru three years ahead of schedule because of good behaviour and international pressure.

Even with serving a reduced sentence, there was still a readjustment for Read. "'I think it will take quite a lot of time to sink in and for me to readjust to normal life. I was 19 when I was arrested and now I'm 22  there is a big gap to come to terms with," she told Britain's Daily Mail in June 2016. What next? Loading Across the continent, dozens, if not hundreds of foreign women languish in prison, while the next round of recruits are taken on board.
Paris: Security was stepped up at the Eiffel Tower on Friday ahead of Sunday's presidential election in France after Greenpeace activists scaled the Paris landmark and hung out a big political banner.

The early morning escapade in which activists used mountaineering helmets, ropes and shackles prompted the Paris police chief to call an emergency meeting where the new security measures were decided.

Separately, police officers arrested a "radicalised" man near a military airbase near the town of Evreux northwest of the French capital in an incident that judicial sources said was related to a counter-terrorist inquiry.

Security chiefs, after attacks by Islamist militants, have already announced extra police for patrolling key areas on voting day on Sunday when a centrist politician meets a veteran from the far-right after a turbulent and at times angry campaign.
Leading French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron's campaign says it has been the target of a "massive" computer hack that dumped its campaign emails online just days before the vote.

Mr Macron, 39, who extended his lead in the polls over Marine Le Pen, 48, on Friday, is seen as the frontrunner in an election billed as the most important in France in decades.

About nine gigabytes of data were posted by a user called EMLEAKS to Pastebin, a document-sharing site that allows anonymous posting.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for posting the data or if any of it was genuine.
Washington: A US Navy SEAL was killed on Thursday during a raid against the Islamic militant group known as al-Shabab in Somalia, Pentagon officials said.

Defense Department officials said the service member was in Somalia as part of an advise-and-assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army. He was killed in an operation near Barii, around 40 miles west of Mogadishu, according to a statement from the US Africa Command.

Members of a Navy SEAL team participate in infiltration and exfiltration training at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Credit:NY Times

The member was in Somalia as part of an advise-and-assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army. He was killed in an operation near Barii, around 70km west of Mogadishu, according to a statement from the US Africa Command.

"We continue to support our Somali and regional partners to systematically dismantle this Qaeda affiliate, and help them to achieve stability and security throughout the region as part of the global counter terrorism effort," Africa Command said in the statement.
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

Firstmac has announced that its nationally-renowned after party will now be held at the Finance Brokers Association of Australias ( FBAA s) national conference.This marks a dramatic change as the event had been held at the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australias ( MFAA s) national conference since the early-2000s.Firstmac founder and managing director Kim Cannon said the decision was made after the MFAA switched to state-based conferences in 2016.Theyve cut out things like the annual conference, he told Australian Broker. One of the things that annoyed me about that is the annual conference was an industry-wide event and not just a broker event.It was an annual get together of the industry to talk shop and if brokers did turn up you could network with the various brokers and mortgage managers that were there, he said.The MFAA is an industry association. Somewhere along the line, somebodys decided its purely there for the brokers and no one else.For this year, the same legendary Firstmac After Party Band will come together for the occasion, Cannon said.Itll start at 11 oclock and finish at 5 in the morning. The bands booked and were just figuring out where to get a venue that allows us to have the music up loud all night.
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Its art thats good enough to drink!

A trio of artists inspired by alcohol will showcase their whiskey-filled work at Sunnys Bar in Red Hook, as part of an ongoing fund-raising effort to preserve the endangered waterfront watering hole. Among the artists at the Booze Arts party on May 8 will be Brooklyn Heights artist John Tebeau, displaying five of his handmade prints of beloved local bars. Tebeau says that each print is a sort of love letter to his favorite saloons  including Sunnys, his home away from home.

I loved it because it was such a throwback to the old Brooklyn, one of the few places that still had that old waterfront feel to it, said Tebeau, who has been drinking at Sunnys since 2010. I loved it because it was off the beaten path.

Tebeau has created a series of silk-screened posters and prints of iconic liquor-slinging spots around the city, and a hardcover collection of his pub portraits, titled Great Good Places of New York, will be published early next year, he said. Among the other Brooklyn gin joints Tebeau will feature in the Booze Arts show will be Rubys Bar and Grill in Coney Island, and Monteros and the Long Island Bar in Brooklyn Heights.

But the booze is not what gives Tebeau his artistic buzz  it is the atmosphere inside a saloon that gets his creative juices flowing, he said.

Fill er up: Artist Jill DeGroffs To Have and Have Another will be on display at the Booze Arts fund-raising show on May 8. Jill DeGroff

Its more about the feel of a place, thats what inspires me. I love places and I love having my different spots where I feel at home outside of home, said Tebeau. Having a good cocktail is fantastic, a cold beer is wonderful  the artwork and the book that Im doing are more about loving the place.

Joining Tebeau for the show at Sunnys will be artist Jill DeGroff, who portrays barflies and other nightlife figures in paintings and caricatures, and painter Nicole Desmond, who creates classical still lifes of tiki drinks.

A portion of the proceeds from the party and arts sale will go towards helping Sunnys owners purchase the building so it can remain a neighborhood institution, said Tebeaus wife Colleen, who organized the event.

Were just fans of Sunnys  its a magical place, she said.

Booze Arts at Sunnys Bar [253 Conover St. between Reed and Beard streets in Red Hook, (718) 6258211 www.booze arts.com ]. May 8 at 9 pm. Free. Art on display through June 20.

Island time: Tiki aficionado Nicole Desmonds painting Mai Tai. Nicole Desmond
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Live coverage: Bucks County results are in

Pennsylvanians will choose their next governor and US senator, as well as new state representatives and state senators.
State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) presented a check to Yardley Borough Police Chief Joseph Kelly for $68,600 for the purchase of a new police vehicle and motorcycle during a visit to the station. Our police put themselves on the line every day to keep our community safe, said Sen. Santarsiero. Dating back to when I was a Lower Makefield Township Supervisor more than...
One would have to wonder when this mystery group that showed up in season 6 would be taken down on Scandal. And while everyone can breathe a sign of relief that the terror is over, I cant help but wonder what is next for Olivia and the gang as they pick up the pieces and try to run the country again. In The Box, Fitz and Olivia beg Eli to help find Peus as he threatens the country with drones that hes randomly detonating in major cities.

Scandal Poll: Does Olivia Have the Upper Hand Against Peus?>>>

A Drone Attack

Shortly after Mellie announces Luna as her vice president-elect, suspicious drones appear in nine metropolitan cities across the country. And while Fitz gets briefed in the war room by his officials, Olivia gets a call from Peus. Of course, hes behind it. He tells Olivia that she inspired him with her drone stunt, except that his drones are fully armed and ready to detonate randomly whenever he wants. He detonates one in Dallas as they speak, and says he plans to continue to detonate them until he gets Mellie and Samantha, his associate, back.

As Olivia speaks with her father to try and get answers, Fitz orders help in the cities. He also asks that David Rosen issue a search of the Fund for American Renewal, the group that Peus works under, offices. Eli tells Olivia he just wants to run, and he wants her to go with him. She, of course, refuses and says shes not done fighting.

The Boxes

Jake goes to interrogate Samantha. She doesnt budge with information, but he figures out that she has a tracker and he digs it out of her neck. He gives the tracker to Huck, who tries to reverse the data to find Peus, but as he gets close, it shuts down. Peus calls Olivia and tells her that shes annoying him. He then sets off another bomb in Philadelphia.

Fitz is disgusted with the body count as it rises in the second blast. He goes to see Eli, and they get into a heated match because Eli refuses to help him. Fitz thinks that Eli is somehow involved with the group and that him being captured is all part of their plan. Olivia knows this isnt true.

When David Rosen gets back, he says he didnt find much in his raid, but he pulls Olivia aside and gives her a folder full of invoices. Apparently the group sent 23 boxes to Eli at the lab. Olivia asks Huck to pull up surveillance footage from the lab. Each time Eli gets a box, he opens it and gets scared. In one video, its revealed that each box contains a brick, the same weight every time  between 9 and 11 pounds.

Olivia tells Fitz about the boxes, and he goes to see Eli again. He brings him a drink and he tells Eli he understands how he doesnt like being in control. After a heated speech by Eli, he finally tells Fitz that he was terrified when he opened each box. He says that the group threatened to put Olivias head in a box if he didnt comply with them or if they thought he wasnt complying. He was terrified of losing Olivia.

Quiz: Who Is Your TV Boss?>>>

Another Approach

While all of this is going down, Cyrus manages to earn Fitzs trust again. He suggests lying to Samantha to get her to talk. Jake heads in and tells her that they have Peus and have offered him a deal if he talks. At first she doesnt believe him, but after Jake tells her that shell be a prisoner forever, she says shell reveal information for a deal to set her free.

Jake has David Rosen bring the immunity deal to Samantha to sign, at her request. She reveals to David that her real name is Grace. Then she asks him if hell give their relationship a second chance. He tells her he hates her. Then he falters, and she figures out that they dont have Peus, so she rips up the deal.

Just as Fitz is ready to give up, despite Olivia saying they have to win this, Eli asks for a meeting with Fitz. He first apologizes and then tells Fitz he has a plan to get information out of Samantha/Grace.

Olivia brings Eli down to Samanthas cell. He turns and apologizes to her, before he grabs a guards gun and tells Samantha that hell free her if he can be free himself. She agrees, and the two flee. Back at the lab, Peus arrives. Eli says hes out and wants his freedom back. Peus complies, and as soon as he and Samantha leave the room, Eli makes a call.

The call is to Fitz and Jake. His plan, that he didnt reveal to Olivia, is gaining Samanthas trust before taking them down. Jake finds Peus and kills him in his control center. Meanwhile, Eli uses a fossil dinosaur tooth to kill Samantha. As Eli completes his dinosaur replica, everyone at the White House celebrates.

Take It Back

While all the drama is unfolding, Abby is mopey in her office. She lets Cyrus follow Fitz around, and she thinks shes being punished. Eventually Cyrus tells her to suck it up and earn her way back to the top.

So, Im pleased that this mystery group is taken down. However, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. The main one being who is this group exactly? Are we supposed to believe they were just some random group that wants to run the country? Who else is in this group, as Peus and Samantha couldnt be the only ones? And what happens now on Scandal? The only conflict now is getting Mellie ready to run the country.

Are you pleased the mystery group was taken down in The Box? Do you think well see more of the group in the future? What do you think the group actually wanted, besides a presidential puppet? Let us know in the comments below.

Scandal airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC. Want more news? Like BuddyTVs Scandal Facebook page.

(Image courtesy of ABC)
50 women who have raised the profile of sports in South Jersey

To mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX, we're spotlighting 50 women who have raised the profile of sports in South Jersey.
Recently returned from a tour of Kenya, Sydney-based luxury PR Mira Comara Alexander recounts her adventures

It is difficult not to be awstruck by the grandeur of the wild plains of Africa. With its sheer, never-ending scale and humbling cycle of life, Kenya offers an extraordinary safari experience and a fusion of old-world colonial elegance that is entirely enchanting and impossible to find anywhere else.

STAY



Giraffe Manor, Nairobi

Set in the outskirts of Nairobi, Giraffe Manor is one of Kenya's most iconic buildings. The boutique hotel dates back to the 1930s and is peppered with colonial charm. Set amongst almost 150-acres of forest, the estate also serves as a giraffe sanctuary, with a herd of resident Rothschild giraffes who frequently join guests for breakfast and dinner.

Giraffe Manor, Gogo Falls Road, Nairobi; +254 20 2513166

Boutique lodges

Accommodation comes in all forms and luxuries. There is an abundance of boutique lodges which cater to an authentic experience whilst also offering support and protection to the local environment. Lion's Bluff Lodge, located in Tsavo, has 14 thatched cottages which are wonderfully rustic and are set amongst 125,000-acres amidst the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel further north and the landscape changes dramatically. The Samburu National Reserve is drier and more desert-like and the area is renowned for more exotic species of animals. The Safari Collection manages the Sasaab Lodge which is located in the Northern Frontier District with views of Mount Kenya and the Laikipia plateau.

Lion's Bluff Lodge, Lumo Community Wildlife Sanctuary, Tsavo, Kenya; +254 733 222420

Sasaab Lodge, Samburu, Kenya; +254 20 892234

EAT



Carnivore, Nairobi

For exotic meats, (Think: crocodile, ostrich, camel) as well as something more traditional - lamb and chicken for the faint of heart - Carnivore offers a jovial, rustic atmosphere. Keep the flag at the end of your table flying for a steady supply but when you finally concede defeat, lower the flag and retreat to a nearby bed to sleep off the food coma.

Carnivore, Nairobi; +254 733 611608

Pilipan, Watamu

This little haven is the perfect place for sundowners. Surrounded by mango groves and overlooking the Mida Creek, the restaurant serves an impressive array of local curries, fish and delicacies. Full disclosure: The cocktails and caramel tarts are worth the visit alone.



SEE

Tsavo National Park

The largest game reserve in Kenya, the area was made famous by the man-eating lions that stalked it at the turn of the 19th century, terrorising and devouring the local population. 120 years on, the area remains rich in local wildlife and the park is home to giraffes, zebras, buffalos, elephants, leopards and over 500 species of birds.





Malindi

Far from the bustle of Nairobi, on the Kenyan coast is Mida Creek, a UNESCO heritage biosphere reserve located near the town of Malindi. The area has been a melting pot for different cultures and is the perfect place to sip cocktails as you sail amidst fragrant mango trees on the traditional Arab dhow.

Watamu National Marine Reserve

One of the most beautiful parts of the Kenyan coast, the Watamu Marine Reserve is particularly worth a visit. The beach transforms at low tide as kilometres of white sand and shallow, turquoise water suddenly appear.
State-owned is planning to conclude an agreement with the government of Bangladesh this year to start export of coal to that country.
said its plans to hire thousands of workers in the United States would enable faster deployment of staff in areas such as big data and cloud, dismissing concerns about additional labor costs.
The on Thursday announced a special anniversary discount on base fare for travel on both domestic and international sectors as it turns 24 on Friday.

The one-day offer, of 24 per cent discount on base fares, is for both Economy and Premiere class passengers on all destinations on the airlines' international network, as per the airline.

Domestic passengers flying economy on selected routes will also be benefited from this offer, Jet added.

The special fares will be valid only for individual bookings for travel on the airline's direct flights from June 16.





"For guests travelling domestic, an identical offer is applicable to everyone travelling economy on select sectors from the airline's extensive network of 45 domestic destinations," the company said in a statement.

"Reservations made under the offer will have a travel validity with effect from June 16, 2017."

Jet Airways, which has a fleet of 112 aircraft, operates flights to 65 domestic and international destinations, including India and overseas.
A verdict in Missouri awarded $US5.4 million in compensatory damages to a woman in Virginia and said J & J was 99 per cent at fault as the woman developed cancer after four decades of daily use of talc-containing products produced by J & J, specifically the well-known Johnsons Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder.

was ordered by a St. Louis jury to pay more than $110 million to a Virginia woman who blamed her ovarian cancer on the companys talcum products. Imerys Talc America, which provided the talc to J&J, was ordered by the jury to pay about $100,000. Imerys Talc is a unit of Paris-based Imerys SA.

St. Louis plaintiff Lois Slemp, 62, said she used J&Js baby powder for more than 40 years before her diagnosis with ovarian cancer in 2012. J&J sold its Shower to Shower brand in 2012.

"Once again weve shown that these ignored the scientific evidence and continue to deny their responsibilities to the women of America, said Ted Meadows, one of Slemps attorneys. They chose to put profits over people, spending millions in efforts to manipulate scientific and regulatory scrutiny."

Slemp's claim

Slemp, whose cancer has since spread to her liver, also claims J&J talc was contaminated with asbestos (a clause Johnson and Johnson has categorically denied), a rare allegation in these cases.

The company faces trial in another talc claim in St. Louis city court next month, brought by the family of a former competitive figure skater who died of ovarian cancer. The trial after that is set for July in Los Angeles.

J&J didnt warn women of studies linking talc to ovarian cancer to protect the companys image, Allen Smith, Slemps attorney, told jurors.

Slemp, a retired nurses assistant, is undergoing chemotherapy and was too ill to attend the trial.

Johnson & Johnson's tragic reality

What is the corporate image of "Its a mother and baby"

For millions of people who rely on Johnson & Johnson, this case reveals a tragic reality. The company has always showcased itself as one dedicated to childcare and women, but thousands of lawsuits have proved that J&J like any other pharmaceutical firm, is primarily a profit oriented company.

According to a report published in Bloomberg, there are more than 3,000 lawsuits accusing the pharma giant of ignoring studies linking its baby powder and Shower to Shower talc products to ovarian cancer and failing to warn customers about the risk.

J&J lost jury verdicts of $72 million, $55 million and $70 million last year, while winning the first trial in 2017. J&J, based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, is appealing the trial losses. A New Jersey state court judge last year threw out two talc cases set for trial, finding inadequate scientific support for the claims. That decision is also on appeal.

The cancer-causing chemical lurking in Your shower

A 2008 survey found that the chemical was in 46 percent of personal care products that were tested. The toxic substance - 1,4-dioxane - is used in a number of bath products including most pharmacy-stocked shower gels, lotions and even hand soaps.



Despite being identified as a carcinogen, are not required to list it on their product labels.

Chemical 1,4-dioxane is a clear liquid that easily dissolves in water. It is used primarily as a solvent in the manufacturing of chemicals and as a laboratory reagent (a substance used to cause a chemical reaction). The toxin is generated through a process called ethoxylation, in which ethylene oxide - a known breast carcinogen - is added to other chemicals to make them less harsh.

While the US FDA encourages manufacturers to remove 1,4-dioxane, it is not required by federal law.

Earlier this month, US Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand called on the US FDA to ban it, saying it doesn't have a real purpose in cosmetics, according to Daily Mail.

'The fact that 1,4-dioxane, a potentially dangerous chemical, is hiding out in everyday products expected to make us clean is very disturbing, and to make matters worse, likely carcinogens like this one can be even more harmful to kids,' Schumer said in a statement.

A number of have agreed to stop using 1,4-dioxane including Johnson & Johnson, which reformulated its baby bath products in 2014.





Johnsons baby powder allegedly causes cancer. 110 Million USD awarded to the patient. https://t.co/0UCtrvYYWs via @SCMP_News  GC (@gauravchoubey) May 5, 2017

In breaking has been ordered to pay US$72 million ($A100 million) to the https://t.co/fUQ8B2OV7T  Soulla Chamberlain (@staraniseorg) May 5, 2017

The FDA regulates medical devices to help ensure they are safe. Johnson & Johnson controversy, however, has driven home a pertinent point: How safe are US FDA approved drugs and cosmetics?

According to a report published by Boston Globe, "Critics worry faster FDA drug reviews could compromise safety".
Norways $940-billion sovereign wealth fund excluded Bharat Heavy Electricals, placed PetroChina Co and Leonardo SpA under observation and said it will follow up with Eni SpA and Saipem SpA on the risks of corruption.
It was the early 2000s, and as a reporter I was on the trail of the country's biggest food marketer venturing into categories as diverse as pizzas, ice-cream mixes and value-added milk confectionery. There was a bravado in the way the top team of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) -- popularly known for and as Amul after its larger-than-life brand -- was dismissive of multinational firms dominant in the new markets it was entering.
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on Friday dismissed reports that its foreign minister put off his visit to New Delhi last month to attend an RIC meeting to protest India's decision to allow the Dalai Lama to travel to Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of Southern Tibet.

The meeting of foreign ministers of Russia, India and (RIC) to be held in New Delhi in April was put off as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declined to attend it.

"About the meeting that was to be held last month, as far as I know the reason is not China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here when asked about Beijing's reported refusal to the attend the trilateral meeting.

He said pays attention to the trilateral cooperation mechanism under which the three foreign ministers meet annually to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues.

"We have actively participated in the meeting of foreign ministers and also other activities under the framework," Geng said.

"According to my information, the three countries are now talking about the schedule of the next foreign ministers meeting. They are maintaining communication and consultation," he said.

Chinese officials said Wang could not confirm his participation in the meeting due to scheduling problems.

China last month lodged a diplomatic protest with India over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as part of Southern Tibet. The Chinese official media carried a torrent of articles criticising India for permitting the Tibetan spiritual leader to the area. China has also released "standardised" Chinese names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh to butters its claims.

Geng today said China objects to foreign leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama when asked about reports that Beijing has asked US President Donald Trump to not meet the Tibetan spiritual leader like his predecessors.

The Dalai Lama's meetings with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama and former US presidents have drawn protests from China.

Asked whether China has made the specific request to Trump, Geng said that Beijing is firmly opposed to any foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama.

"The 14th Dalai Lama is not a simple religious figure, but has long engaged in anti-China separatist activities. He is a political exile.We firmly oppose any foreign countries allow him to visit them or any foreign official having any official exchange with him," he said.
The Enforcement Directorate, Chennai, has provisionally attached property worth Rs 33,74,92,000 belonging to J Sekhar Reddy and his associates, in connection with the exchange of old notes for new currency notes under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
In order to strengthen ties in the South Asian region, India has launched a communication satellite for the use of six neighbouring countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists.

James Baldwin, the author, playwright and social critic, whose life is depicted in the remarkable 2016 film I Am Not Your Negro , once said: It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have. Alongside Baldwins commentary, the work of Hannah Arendt teaches us about the banality of evil: that everyday, ordinary people are capable of acts of barbarity, cruelty and injustice if the leaders and circumstances around them normalise those behaviours. She famously said:
Shortly before 5 pm on Friday, the Indian Space Research Organisations (Isros) heaviest rocket, the Geo-Synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), will blast off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota for the eleventh time. This time, the GSLVs mission will be to place into orbit the so-called South Asia Satellite, a pure communications satellite called GSAT-9, which will provide linked communications to seven regional countries  the entire membership of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), less Pakistan. India is bearing the Rs 450 crore cost of the launch.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard.
Indians have voted Indore in Madhya Pradesh as the cleanest city, while Gonda in Uttar Pradesh has been found to be the dirtiest, the government said on Thursday.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is all set to launch the South Asia Satellite, or GSAT-9, which will be India's gift to its neighbouring countries, at 4.57 pm on Friday. The rocket is set to blast off from Sriharikotta space station.
Some 20 villages in South were cordoned off on Thursday as thousands of security personnel were pressed into a hunt for militants believed to be present in the area. The massive operation comes after a spate of attacks on security personnel and bank robberies in the area.
On August 22, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a visiting delegation of Kashmiri opposition parties led by Omar Abdullah and unequivocally stated that dialogue was a must for bringing an end to the (then) weeks-long unrest. He added that We need to find a permanent and lasting solution to the problem within the framework of the constitution. It has taken the government eight months to even broach the subject again.
The Supreme Court will on Friday deliver the much-awaited verdict in the December 16 Nirbhaya gang rape at around 2 pm.

The matter is being heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.

The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh - challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows.

Earlier, the trial court also had sentenced all the four convicts to death penalty.

In December, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home.
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence on all four convicts in the vicious Nirbhaya gang-rape of December 2012 that led to her death and caused outrage. It has been more than four years since the 23-year-old medical student was brutalised by a gang of six men on a moving bus in New Delhi.


With alcohol out of bounds for people in Bihar, rodent denizens of police stations are on a binge defying the ban and guzzling down seized liquor as the role of the police too came under a cloud.

With the rats running riot and the men in uniform not above suspicion, policemen in police stations would now be subjected to random breath analyser test to check whether they too had a swig or two of the confiscated booty, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told PTI today.

Maharaj who met new Patna range Deputy Inspector General of Police Rajesh Kumar said the police would approach courts to seek permission for destroying the heap of alcohol bottles kept in police stores at small intervals.

Regular audit of "malkhana" (store room in police station) is another remedy thought to check any misuse of the stocked liquor, Maharaj said.

Meanwhile, the state police headqquarters has ordered a probe into the incident.

"We have asked Patna zonal IG to inquire into the matter. Based on his findings, the state police headquarters would initiate further action," Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) S K Singhal told PTI today.

The fact that rodents were making merry in the dungeons came to light following media reports that they had overrun the ''Malkhana'' (store) of the police stations and had guzzled down a large amount of the more than 9 lakh litres of alcohbol seized by the police.

Media reports said that in the last 13 months, a whopping 9.15 lakh litres of alcohol, domestic as well Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), have been seized in Bihar following the ban.

It emerged at the recent crime meeting of the state police that while a major portion of the seized liquor got destroyed on way to police stations, an equally large amount was consumed by rodents in the store of the police stations.

Meanwhile, the police arrested President of Bihar Police Men's Association on charge of consuming liquor.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said that a police team arrested Police Association President Nirmal Singh and a member of the Association Shamsher Singh today from police line for consuming liquor.

The two were produced in the court of Judge of Special Excise Court Ravindra Nath Tripathi and have been remanded in judicial custody till May 18.

The two have been taken to Beur jail under new Excise Act 2016 on the basis of the court order.

The Nitish Kumar government clamped total prohibition in Bihar since April last year. In order to enforce the liquor ban, a special drive has been launched by the police as well Excise department across the state.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Police apprehended four suspected Naxals in connection with the deadly .

One of the four arrested is a juvenile. The arrested suspects have been handed over to the state police.

On Wednesday, the CRPF troops along with the state police carried out a search operation at the forest area of Bulbul in Lohardaga district of Jharkhand, following which a massive ammunition cached was recovered.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir on Thursday visited the CRPF personnel injured in the deadly Sukma Naxal attack.

"We are making efforts to prevent such kind of incidents in the future. We will try to finish this issue as soon as possible," said Ahir after meeting the soldiers in the hospital.

He further said that a meeting will be held on May 8 to review the situation and further course of action will be discussed.

Earlier, on May 1, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the security situation in with country's top security officials.

As many as 26 CRPF personnel were killed and five others were injured in the encounter with Naxals in Sukma on April 24.

The CRPF's 74th Battalion was ambushed by the Naxals when it was manning a road construction project.
Pankaj Kumar Mishra, a CRPF paratrooper who posted a video on social media ranting against Home Minister after a relative died in the Sukma Maoist attack, on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court saying he wanted to surrender and sought protection to his life.

Kumar, who claimed to have been detained by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), said he ran away from the battalion after fearing threat to his life.

Kumar approached the court saying he wanted to surrender and his life be protected after his surrender.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar asked the Director General CRPF to accept Kumar's surrender and deal with the case as per law.

The court asked Kumar to report to DG CRPF on Saturday and also directed the department not to assault him.

Mishra, of the CRPF 221 battalion stationed at Durgapur in West Bengal, had posted a video on Facebook after his relative Abhay Kumar was killed in the Maoist attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, in which 25 CRPF personnel lost their lives.

In his video, Kumar had said: "They should not forget that these CRPF jawans provide security to leaders like Amit Shah. We voted for Modiji and not BJP, and leaders like are misleading the Prime Minister." He requested Singh to meet the family members of slain CRPF personnel.
I am not particularly a fan of Shobhaa De. But this is one time she has actually hit the nail on the head. In her column in a Mumbai-based tabloid, she recently wrote, From the day a decision was taken to offer Eman a new shot at a comparatively healthier existence, not a single detail was spared to publicise her risky, challenging journey from Egypt to India, where she was promised free treatment and all the possible medical care...This unusual and generous offer was personally made by Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, a media-savvy, photogenic bariatric surgeon on behalf of the Saifee team, when he flew to Egypt with the offer. The hospital has spent over Rs 2 crore on her treatment so far. True. But it has also generated crores worth of international publicity for itself and Dr Lakdawala. Shobaa got trolled.



The doctors at Saifee, especially Lakdawala (Muffi to friends) got very agitated. And miffed. Shobhaa, however, was right: the case is grabbing headlines all over the world; and Indias global showpiece of medical tourism is suddenly turning into a heavyweight PR nightmare!



Brought to Mumbai from Egypt in early February with the promise of a never-before bariatric procedure, the world's heaviest woman, Eman Ahmed, has seen her weight go from 500 kg to some 175 kg or so. But what should have been the celebration of a medical miracle is now mired in controversy with the patient's sister Shaimaa Salim alleging that:

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard.
In Uttar Pradesh, the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is keen to break a 10-year-old tradition of state politics. Unlike his immediate two predecessors, current Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi would seek direct election to become a member of the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
In a bid to curb the activities of inter-state vehicle lifters' gangs in the capital and to keep a tab on resale of stolen vehicles, the Delhi Police has directed the insurance companies to take appropriate measures, a senior police officer said on Thursday.
Over the last few months, the Indian twittersphere has been awash with citizens concerned about government websites leaking millions of individual digital ID numbers.
Chinas ambassador to India, Luo Zhaohui, has spelt out a four-step road map to implement a long term vision for China-India relations, that would reduce tensions at a time when Beijing has reacted strongly to the Dalai Lamas recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh.
The finance ministrys principal economic advisor, Sanjeev Sanyal, played a key role in helping draft the new Ordinance to deal with nearly Rs 7 lakh crore worth of non-performing assets. In an exclusive interaction with Arup Roychoudhury, Sanyal said the RBI now has the tools to break the deadlock in terms of new lending activity. He also said Delhi (the central government) will in no way interfere in the decisions made in Mumbai (the RBI and banks). Edited excerpts:
In his latest border-closing move, US President Donald Trump issued an April 18 executive order to review the H1-B visa program, which enables educated migrants with specific skills to work temporarily in the US.Silicon Valley was critical of Trumps move, saying that there is a shortage of qualified Americans working in the industry. US companies, especially those in the technology sector, often employ H1-B visa holders to fill positions that are difficult to recruit for within the country.

Beyond hurting American tech companies, the executive order would disproportionately impact one international ally: India. Over 70% of all H1-B visas issued each year are given to Indians, and 85% of H1-B visas in the technology sector go to Indians.
The government plans to empower domestic airlines to ban unruly passengers for up to two years in a move that comes about one-and-a half months after a Shiv Sena member of Parliament beat up an Air India staffer.
The new framework for non-performing assets (NPAs) will allow state-owned banks to conduct open auctions of NPAs, wherein cash-rich public sector companies will be encouraged to buy such assets in their sector.
The four-day long Naval Commanders Conference concluded on 05 May 17 wherein the top-level leadership of Navy reviewed major operational, training and administrative activities undertaken in the last six months. The conference reviewed INs readiness to deploy over the entire range of missions in the maritime domain. .

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The Honble Defence Minister addressed and interacted with the Naval Commanders on the opening day of the Conference. The Defence Minister complimented the IN for its professionalism and commitment towards protecting the maritime interests of the country, including its immense maritime boundary and furthering the countrys defence diplomacy requirements. He urged the Commanders to be prepared at all times emphasising that preparedness would be the best deterrent. Lauding the INs efforts in indigenisation, he urged the Commanders to continue furthering the build up of domestic expertise. .

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Chairing the conference, the CNS addressed the Naval Commanders on issues pertaining to operational readiness, capability enhancement, maintenance, op logistics, infrastructure development and human resource management. He emphasised the need for continued efforts towards modernisation, indigenisation and expanding the Navys operational footprint so as to be a stabilising force in IOR. .

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The Commanders also had an opportunity to interact with senior government officials, as also with the Chiefs of Indian Army and IAF, who shared their views on the current security situation and the way ahead to enhance Tri-Service synergy and jointmanship. The Foreign secretary also interacted with the Commanders on the geo-political developments with key focus on the Indian Ocean Region and outlined key imperatives pertaining to our foreign policy and diplomatic initiatives. .

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Focussed attention was also accorded to associated aspects that included a review of the security measures and mechanisms for Coastal Defence, infrastructure/ force development and logistics support management. .

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In his closing address, the CNS while complimenting the officers for their commitment and professionalism exhorted the Commanders to give focussed attention to address all challenges with the singular aim to be combat ready at all times. He emphasised the importance of quality maintenance and efficient Operational Logistics towards ensuring combat effectiveness. .

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A delegation of Nepali community, represented by Nepali Sanskriti Parishad" and led by its President Shri Ashok Chaurasia, called on the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh here today and sought his intervention for redressal of some issues facing the community. .

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The members of the delegation apprised Dr Jitendra Singh that in NCR Delhi itself, there is about 35 lakh pollution of Nepali community, whereas in whole of India, the population is over 2.25 crore, out of which around one crore are non-residents working in India. This, they said, is a huge number, considering the fact that the total population of Nepal is just about 3.5 crore which also includes several of the non-Nepali residents. .

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The Nepali community, according to Shri Chaurasia, has always enthusiastically participated in mainstream activities. The members of delegation also submitted documents to the Minister relating to the broadcast of All India Radio bulletin in Nepali language. .

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Dr Jitendra Singh gave a patient hearing to the members of delegation and said that the nation is proud of the contribution made by the community in the social and cultural life of India. Describing it as a highly patriotic and brave community, he said, the members of the community have made a very valuable contribution to the Indian Army and Paramilitary Forces, and have served the nation in the most difficult times. The stories of their bravery, valour and patriotism are an example for others, he added. .

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Dr Jitendra Singh assured Shri Chaurasia and others that he will take up the issues raised by them with the concerned departments. .

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He said that he has also received a request to set up an educational institution by Nepali community in Sikkim with the funding from the Ministry of DONER. .

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Chinese Finance Minister skipped a trilateral conference with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts on Friday to attend an emergency domestic meeting, a senior Japanese finance ministry official said.

The Japanese official told reporters at a ministry press briefing that Xiao's absence was not related to any diplomatic matters, adding that Xiao was expected to attend the Japan-China finance dialogue in Japan scheduled for Saturday. He did not elaborate on the nature of the minister's emergency meeting.

The Chinese-minister's non-attendance came as commodity prices took a beating, and Chinese stocks fell to three-month lows as concerns about tighter financial regulations weighed on banking shares.

At the trilateral meeting, the finance leaders agreed to resist all forms of protectionism, taking a stronger stand than G20 major economies against the protectionist policies advocated by US President Donald Trump.

The senior Japanese finance official said he did not see any diplomatic implications from Xiao's absence, saying the minister was likely to arrive in Yokohama Friday evening.

"I don't think this is rude," the official said, when asked about Xiao's absence.

"I heard an emergency meeting was called and the Chinese finance minister had to attend," he said. "We can understand the situation. We don't see any deeper diplomatic meaning to this."

Xiao will join a bilateral Japan-China finance dialogue scheduled for Saturday, in which the two sides are expected to discuss their economic cooperation, Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said earlier on Friday.

An official in the news department of China's Ministry of Finance confirmed to Reuters that Xiao had missed the trilateral meeting, which took place on Friday morning, but that he had departed for Japan in the afternoon. The ministry official did not say why Xiao missed the meeting.

Officials at South Korea's finance ministry could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Resisting Protectionism

The trilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank's annual gathering in Yokohama, eastern Japan. China's increasing presence in infrastructure finance and the threat that poses to Japan's economic influence in the area are expected to be a topic of debate at the conference.

A Japanese Ministry of Finance official said the Chinese delegation was represented by its deputy finance minister and a senior official from the Chinese central bank at the trilateral summit where finance officials from the three countries met and pledged to resist protectionism.

In an attempt to reduce the region's vulnerability to dollar swings, Japan also proposed forming $40 billion in bilateral currency swap arrangements with Southeast Asian nations that would allow it to provide yen funds in times of financial stress.

"We agree that trade is one of the most important engines of economic growth and development, which contribute to productivity improvements and job creations," the finance leaders and central bank governors of the three nations said in a communique issued after their meeting.

"We will resist all forms of protectionism," the communique said, keeping a line that was removed  under pressure from Washington  from a G20 communique in March when the group's finance leaders met in Germany.

The talks came amid escalating tensions in North Korea, which moderated some of the optimism policymakers held over Asia's economic outlook.

While the meeting's communique said Asian economies were expected to maintain "relatively robust growth," it warned remaining downside risks meant policymakers would require all necessary tools to achieve strong growth.

China has positioned itself as a supporter of free trade in the wake of Trump's calls to put America's interest first and pull out of multilateral trade agreements.

Japan has taken a more accommodative stance toward Washington's argument that trade must not just be free but fair.

China's showed signs of slowing in April as authorities step up their battle to cool the overheated property sector and slow credit growth to rein in financial risks.

Analysts have predicted China's would slowly lose steam in coming months after a strong first quarter, when it expanded by a faster-than-expected 6.9 per cent.
The prospect that the centrist, pro-European Emmanuel Macron will become the next French president has fuelled hope that renewed Franco-German leadership of the European Union may be on the horizon. After Germanys general election in September, it is hoped, a more stable EU could begin to make much faster progress towards unity and integration.
Cloudflare, a major content delivery network that has a variety of white supremacist websites as clients, has said it will change its policies to allow people to more safely lodge complaints about the material on the hate sites.
Global banks have warned they could move thousands of jobs out of Britain to prepare for the expected disruption caused by the country's exit from the European Union, endangering London's status as a major financial centre.

Financial services firms need a regulated subsidiary in an country to offer their products across the bloc, and this could lead some to move jobs out of Britain if it loses access to the European single market.

Many of the top financial firms have begun drawing up plans. Following are some details and reports on the subject:

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered is in talks with regulators about making Frankfurt its European base to secure market access to the European Union when Britain leaves the bloc.

HSBC

Stuart Gulliver, CEO of HSBC, Europe's biggest bank, said it would relocate staff responsible for generating around a fifth of its UK-based trading revenue, or around 1,000 people, to Paris.

Chairman Douglas Flint has told lawmakers that banks without operations elsewhere in the will likely trigger migration plans immediately after divorce talks begin, estimating "tens of thousands" of jobs are linked to EU "passporting" rights.

BARCLAYS

Banks in Britain will start shifting some operations to continental Europe reasonably soon to avoid disrupting links with customers after Brexit, Barclays Chief Executive Jes Staley said.

He added that obtaining a licence to trade on the continent and changing financial contracts to another jurisdiction took a year to 18 months.

The bank is preparing to make Dublin its EU headquarters after Brexit, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Staley previously told BBC Radio that Barclays would keep the bulk of its activities in Britain after Brexit and any changes to how the bank operates would be small and manageable.

UBS

Swiss bank UBS would have to "move 1,500 people" from London to an EU destination in order to retain full passporting rights across the EU, according to UBS chairman Axel Weber. That would be more than a quarter of its current 5,500 staff in London.

Separately, Chief Executive Sergio Ermotti has said UBS has a degree of flexibility if its UK outpost looks set to lose its ability to operate across the EU.

The world's biggest wealth manager has also set up a bank in Frankfurt to consolidate most of its European wealth management operations, after the Brexit vote dashed London's chances of being the host city.

Credit Suisse

Credit Suisse's Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam said in September his bank was relatively well placed to deal with the impact of Brexit and that only around 15-20 percent of volumes in the investment bank would be impacted.

Lloyds Banking Group

Lloyds Banking Group, Britain's largest mortgage lender and the only major British retail bank without a subsidiary in another EU country, is close to selecting Berlin as a European base to secure market access to the EU after Britain withdraws.

Goldman Sachs

US bank Goldman Sachs is considering moving up to 1,000 staff from London to Frankfurt because of concerns over Brexit, Germany's Handelsblatt newspaper reported in January, citing financial sources.

Goldman Sachs will begin moving hundreds of people out of London before any Brexit deal is struck as part of its contingency plans, the Wall Street firm's Europe CEO said in March.

Three people familiar with the matter told Reuters in November that Goldman Sachs was considering shifting some of its assets and operations from London to Frankfurt.

Morgan Stanley

US bank Morgan Stanley has identified many of the roles that will need to be moved from Britain after Brexit, sources involved in the processes told Reuters.

Morgan Stanley, which bases the bulk of its European staff in Britain, will have to move up to 1,000 jobs in sales and trading, risk management, legal and compliance, as well as slimming the back office in favour of locations overseas, one source told Reuters.

Morgan Stanley may initially shift 300 staff from Britain following its exit from the EU, and is scouting for office space in Frankfurt and Dublin, Bloomberg News reported in February.

Citigroup

Citigroup, which has also identified roles that will need to be moved out of the UK and has a large banking unit in Dublin, will need to move 100 posts in its sales and trading business, sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Separately, Citigroup's European chief said the U.S. bank would make a decision on its Brexit contingency plans in the first half of the year and choose from a number of potential EU countries to relocate some investment banking business.

JPMorgan



JPMorgan plans to move hundreds of London-based bankers to expanded offices in Dublin, Frankfurt and Luxembourg, Daniel Pinto, head of investment banking at the Wall Street firm told Bloomberg on May 3.

CEO Jamie Dimon had previously said the bank was not planning to move many jobs out of Britain in the next two years.

Before the vote, Dimon said the bank would be forced to move 4,000 of its 16,000 staff currently based in Britain if the country loses access to the single market.

Bank of America Corp

Bank of America Corp said in August its businesses and results could be adversely affected and it may have to incur additional costs if Brexit limited the ability of its UK entities to conduct business in the EU.

Dublin is Bank of America's default option for a new base within the EU, but other centres are on the table and no decision has yet been made, an executive said in Germany on March 14.

Deutsche Bank

Deutsche Bank warned on April 26 up to 4,000 UK jobs could be moved to Frankfurt and other locations in the EU as a result of Brexit - the highest potential move of any bank.
Family members of San Bernardino terror attack victims are suing Facebook, Google and Twitter, accusing the of providing platforms to aid terrorists.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles said the allowed the Islamic State group to spread propaganda, recruit followers and raise money.

Authorities say the Islamic State group inspired the husband and wife who killed 14 people and wounded 22 in the December 2, 2015, shooting.

The suit from the relatives of three victims mirrors claims made against social media providers for other attacks, such as the 2016 massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Some of those lawsuits have been dismissed because federal law shields online providers from responsibility for content posted by users.

The didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
A California family says they were forced off a plane and threatened with jail after refusing to give up one of their children's seats on a crowded flight.

A video of the April 23 incident was uploaded to Facebook Wednesday and adds to the list of recent encounters on airlines that went viral, including the dragging of a passenger off a United Express plane.

Brian and Brittany Schear of Huntington Beach, California, told KABC-TV that they were returning from Hawaii with their two toddlers when they were removed from the plane.

In the video, Brian Schear explains that he wants to put one of the toddlers in a seat originally purchased for his 18 -year-old son.

policy generally prohibits passengers from using a ticket bought in another person's name.




After almost 20 years in exile, the once internationally-wanted militant made on April 29 a public re-emergence in Afghanistan as part of a peace deal his faction Hezb-e Islami signed with the Afghan government last year.
Shares of aviation companies were trading higher by up to 9% on the BSE in an otherwise weak market as oil prices fell to its lowest level in over five months, erasing all of the gains since the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to cut production at the end of November.
After the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) took steps to regulate the gold manufacturing business in India, by making it

mandatory for gold dore refiners to get BIS certificate, the has begun inculcating the best business practices for sourcing of dore or unrefined gold.
dipped 4% to Rs 420, extending its Thursdays 2.3% fall on BSE, after the company said Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) reported 2.3% decline in retail sales of 40,385 units in the month of April.
Agartala is gearing up to welcome Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah who will be visiting Left Front-ruled state on May 6.

The city which during the last two decades, majority times, have witnessed red flag of Communist parties is now being decorated with the BJP's bicolour flags with the lotus at the centre.

Beside flag and festoon, large size cutouts and flex of BJP leaders are being installed throughout the capital city.

During his two-day visit, Shah will prepare a roadmap on how to win the next assembly elections, due in the first half of 2018.

The BJP president will hold a series of meetings with the party's state unit president, senior party leaders and senior tribal leaders of the state.

After the meetings, the party president is expected to prepare a roadmap on how to oust the Marxist government in Tripura which has been in the power since 1993.

At the meetings, the senior party leaders will make a presentation of the party's performance in the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the state.

On May 7, Shah will leave for Kumarghat in Unakoti district to address a party rally.

BJP state observer Sunil Deodhar said, "We are expecting around 30,000 party workers from three districts in general to listen to Shah at Kumarghat."

The BJP chief will visit all states by September-end as part of his campaign to strengthen the party as it readies for another round of assembly polls and the Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hours after senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav announced the formation of the 'Samajwadi Secular Morcha', former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday pitched for a secular brand politics.

"The nation needs a government which is secular and would promote development. We should encourage secular politics," Akhilesh said at a cultural meet here.

Taking a dig at Shivpal, he said, "We are politicians, we can easily identify 'Aasteen ke Saanp' (foe in the disguise of a friend)."

Shivpal Yadav had earlier announced the formation of the 'Samajwadi Secular Morcha' to be led by Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"In order to restore his (Mulayam) lost dignity and to bring all Samajwadis together, there will soon be an announcement of this secular front in Lucknow," Shivpal told ANI.

Shivpal will soon be meeting state and level leaders regarding the same. The party will also include minorities, farmers and youth.

Earlier in April, Shivpal had urged Akhilesh to embrace Mulayam as the party head again.

Shivpal asserted, that Akhilesh should first unite the party and the family.

"He should unite the whole family and the party. He should fulfill what he had said. He should fulfill his moral duty. Akhilesh should now embrace Mulayam Singh as the chief of the party again," said Shivpal.

In April, Mulayam had blamed Akhilesh for the Samajwadi Party's poor performance in the assembly elections and said that his son had insulted him and the voters understood that "one who is not loyal to his father, cannot be loyal to anyone" which led to the party's poll debacle.

"I was badly insulted, which I had never faced in my life. Nevertheless, I tolerated it. No leader of any party in India has made his son a chief minister during his lifetime, but I made Akhilesh the Chief Minister of UP," he said.

The Samajwadi Party got only 47 seats out 403 in the Uttar Pradesh elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi Police on Thursday night took the father and the younger brother of the woman, accused in the honey trap case of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP KC Patel, into custody.

Earlier this week, the Delhi Police had arrested the woman from her residence in Ghaziabad, and taken her in for questioning.

Patel had filed a complaint with the police against the woman and her gang alleging he was honey-trapped and filmed in an objectionable position after being given a spiked drink.

Patel alleged that the woman threatened to leak the video clips online if she was not paid Rs 5 crore, police said.

The woman has also approached a Delhi court alleging that she was raped by the MP.

Patel in his complaint to Delhi Police Commissioner, Amulya Patnaik, has alleged that the gang was being operated by the woman, who took him to her house in Ghaziabad.

A case was registered against the woman and her gang in North Avenue police station on Saturday.

"KC Patel alleged that the woman gave him a spiked drink in her residence and later filmed him in objectionable positions after he got unconscious. She later started to threaten him to make those clips viral. She demanded Rs. 5 crore from him," a senior police officer said.

The woman, who had also approached a Delhi court, has accused Patel of raping her at his official residence on March 3. She alleged that she was raped on several other occasions in various places by Patel, the officer added.

She claimed that she approached Delhi Police but it refused to register her FIR.

Denying allegations, Patel said, "These are all false allegations against me. I have full faith in the law. I will cooperate in the investigation with police."

The police have registered a case of extortion against the woman and her gang.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Putting aside their rough start after a particularly testy phone exchange, President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met for the very first time aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid in Manhattan.

"We get along great. We have a fantastic relationship, I love Australia, I always have," reported the New York Times quoting Trump.

The two leaders attended a dinner aboard the Intrepid, which is now turned into a museum docked in the Hudson River.

Earlier in February, Trump abruptly ended a phone call with Turnbull as things got heated between the two leaders over the former's objection to an agreement about the U.S. receiving refugees.

According to CNN, Trump's apparent dispute with Turnbull came on the same day that he held phone calls with four other leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The disagreement came as the two leaders discussed an agreement, reached under the Barack Obama administration, for the US to accept refugees from Australia who are living on islands in detention centers off the mainland due to strict government policies. Many of them are from the seven countries affected by Trump's travel ban.

According to sources, the U.S. President insisted that it was a very bad deal for Washington to take 2,000 refugees and that one of them was going to be the next Boston bomber.

Turnbull repeatedly told Trump that the agreement was for 1,250 refugees, not 2,000. He also said Australia was asking to submit them to the U.S. for refugee screening and if the refugees did not pass the screening process, they would not come.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress MLA Prithviraj Chavan on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to recall the set of ministers who had gone abroad in wake of the agitating Tur dal farmers.

"I request you to please ask the Chief Minister immediately recall the two ministers back to their duty. The legislative delegation led by the Hon. Speaker could continue on their official visit. I am sure you will appreciate the seriousness of the matter and take appropriate steps," stated the letter.

His appeal further said that the tur producing farmers are agitating and numbers of them have committed suicide for procurement at MSP throughout the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, which is a serious issue and demands the government's attention.

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister, Pandurang Fundkar and Food and Public Distribution Minister have gone abroad as a part of the Legislative Delegation which is led by the Speaker to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Earlier, the Central government had refused to extend the deadline for procurement of the crop at the minimum support price to prevent loss to the farmers.

The government has procured only around 3.99 lakh tonnes of the total production of 20.35 lakh tonnes in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The finalists for 2017 Benzinga Global Fintech Awards have been announced and Finvasia has been nominated as a finalist for this premier award event.

Finvasia is India's only Fintech company to be nominated as Finalist for these awards. As an exhibitor of this event, the company will be showcasing its upcoming artificial intelligence-based products SMART and SCALPERT, an advanced charting and trading platform during the demo sessions.

This event will also see the company becoming India's first and only NSE commercial clearing member that offers zero clearing and trading services all foreign portfolio investors (previously known as FPIs, Foreign Institutional Investor).

In its third year, Benzinga Global Fintech Awards are dedicated to celebrate the accomplishments of the disruptive businesses and innovators reshaping the capital markets around the world. With over 350 nominations, the winners will be selected by a panel of expert judges from a pool of 225 finalists.

The finalists will be ranked by the judging panel, comprising of over 30 leaders from every Fintech vertical, in terms of how innovative their products are and their potential to reshape the finance industry.

Winners will be announced at the event on 11th of May, 2017. Over 500 Fintech influencers and innovators will gather in New York City to celebrate the achievements of the dynamic people and Fintech businesses from across the globe. Various executives from Press and Media such as WSJ, Forbes, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, CNBC as well as various Venture Capitalists, PE and industry leaders will grace the event.

Fifty Fintech companies will exhibit their products and offering to an audience of Founders, C-Suite executives, directors of some of the biggest Fintech companies, brokerages, banks, Quants, hedge funds, VCs and more. The conference with commence with panel discussions and product demo sessions by few Fintech companies, followed by the awards ceremony and networking dinner.

Speaking about the event, Tajinder Singh (Natty Virk) CEO and Sarvjeet Singh Virk, (Managing Director) Finvasia said "We're pleased and excited to be part of the Benzinga Fintech Awards. The event will provide us a strong voice and vital network to show the global Fintech community how digital India is transforming the financial sector. With more retail investors looking to diversify their portfolio, AI and Robo-advisory combined with machine learning tools shall widen their options to new opportunities. We plan to exhibit and give demo of our various Fintech products ranging from digital account, in-house charting & trading software along with other AI based platforms. The best part is Everything at Zero commission".

"India being one of the fast moving Fintech spaces, we are looking forward to see the innovation and disruptive ideas to be shared. Our mission is to bring together the most provocative thought leaders, innovative start-ups, and global superpowers to discuss & showcase the changes that are rapidly transforming capital markets. The event is even larger this year with over 200 start-ups in attendance and an array of innovative institutions", said Jason Raznick, CEO Benzinga.

2017 Benzinga Global Fintech Awards planned at Tribeca 360, New York City (USA) on 11th May 2017, will host various speakers and special invitees from the financial industry across the globe.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that it was necessary to empower the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in relation to specific stressed assets, since it was doubtful that whether the language of Section 35 A (of which act) covered the respective empowerments.

"It was necessary to empower RBI in this direction. The ordinance passed by the Honorable President seeks to incorporate issuances of Government of India authorizing the RBI to initiate the insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings in relation to any stressed assets," Jaitley told reporters here.

"Secondly, it relates to directions of forming committees to deal any matter related to insolvency and bankruptcy," he added while stressing that the RBI and the govt. will continue to work together to overcome the challenge of stressed assts.

He further elaborated on the government's plan to sign various Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs') with public sector banks (PSBs'), which will seek capitalization.

"The specific provisions will include immediate cash release initiatives such as sale of assets, closure of non-profitable branches, reduction of overheads and several others," Jaitley added.

President Pranab Mukherjee earlier today approved a government ordinance to act against Non-Performing Assets (NPA).

The ordinance will give greater powers to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to tackle mounting bad loans, according to an official in the finance ministry.

Earlier, the Union Cabinet had approved promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Banking Regulation Act for resolution of the non-performing asset ( NPA) crisis.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to the National Steel Policy- 2017 which targets to achieve 300 Million tonne of steel making capacity by 2030 with an additional investment of ten lakh crore rupees.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched the South Asia satellite, space strategist on Friday hailed it as a path breaking and incredible step, while saying that it would invite all the neighbour countries on the same grid.

"I think this is an incredible and path-breaking step for many reasons. We are trying to get our neighbours on the same grid as we are. We are trying to do space diplomacy in which we are trying to help our neighbours. It will get all our neighbours looking at us for help in the region of space," space strategist P.K. Ghosh told ANI.

Meanwhile, Surendra Pal, Vice Chancellor of Defence Institute of Advanced Technology lauded the ISRO's move while saying that it would be marked as a golden day in Indian history.

"It's a golden day for India. What India has developed it can be shared by our friendly nations. They can use it for TV connectivity. They can also have collaboration with India. They can use the transponders for any purpose. We can now launch three to four tonne satellite. This speaks the high confidence," Pal told ANI.

Asserting that launching a satellite is not an easy task, he further said that India could earn foreign exchange and boost the trade by it.

The GSAT-9 or the 'South Asia' satellite was earlier in the day launched by the ISRO.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV F-09 carrying the communication and broadcasting satellite took from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota at 4.57 p.m.

Six of India's neighbours including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Srilanka and the Maldives are participating in the space-based regional communication project.

The satellite weighing 2230 kilogram during lift off and carrying 12 Ku-Band transponders has been developed at a cost of about 235-crore rupees and the total cost of the project including the launch is worked out to be about 450-crore rupees.

The intended operational life of the satellite is more than 12 years and it cost Rs. 235 crore.

The GSAT-9 is a Geostationary Communication Satellite and data from it will be shared with the other five countries.

It will help to meet the growing telecommunications and broadcasting needs of the region.

All participating nations will have access to at least one transponder using which they can telecast their own programming.

The satellite is expected to provide communication channels between countries for better disaster management as the region is prone to natural disasters.

The space agency ISRO uses the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage in this flight of the GSLV for the fourth time. In total, it would be the 11th flight of the GSLV.

In short, as envisaged by Prime Minister Modi, it is a satellite sans frontiers, for the nations to grow together.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, infamous as the 'butcher of Kabul', should be held accountable for his crimes during the Afghan civil war.

According to Tolo News, Patricia Gossman, a senior researcher of HRW in Afghanistan said Hekmatyar, like other warlords, does not feel accountable for what he has done in the past.

Gossman also criticised Hekmatyar's repeated remarks against the media and said the achievements of the past 15 years should be preserved.

Hekmatyar returned to Kabul city on Thursday after 20 years after a 25-point peace deal signed in September 2016 with President Ashraf Ghani.

Under the agreement, the Hezb-e-Islami leader will adopt a political role.

The peace agreement between the Afghan Government and the terror group gives Hekmatyar and his followers' immunity for past actions and grants them full political rights.

Hekmatyar was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s. He is accused of killing thousands of people when his fighters fired on civilian areas of the capital city during the 1992-1996 civil war.

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Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital on Friday for a discussion over the current security situation in the Valley.

The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the continuous unrest in parts of the Kashmir valley was brought up for discussion.

Vohra's meeting with the Prime Minister comes after his meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the similar issue.

Amid the current turbulent situation in the Valley, a recent spurt of violence and robberies are being witnessed in the past few weeks.

Yesterday, two Army personnel and a civilian were left injured after terrorists attacked an Army patrol party in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.

The security forces cordoned off more than 20 villages in Shopian in the wake of recent terror attacks in the Valley.

The Indian armed forces, comprising nearly 3,000 security personnel, are undertaking a major operation in the valley to sniff out terrorists.

Earlier on Tuesday, suspected terrorists barged inside a police post guarding the court complex of southern Shopian.

The terrorists decamped along with five service rifles including four INSAS rifles and an AK-47 rifle.

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Congress party president on Friday Sonia Gandhi welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict to uphold the death sentence of the four convicts involved in the December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya gang-raoe and murder case.

"Four years after the heartbreaking Nirbhaya case that agonised the soul of India, justice has been delivered. I feel deeply for the courageous family of this brave daughter of India, who rose to become a symbol of every woman's fight against sexual violence," Sonia said.

"The court's judgement is a reminder to each one of us to work tirelessly towards building a safe and secure environment for women," she added.

Resonating similar views, the Maharashtra Congress chief and former chief minister Ashok Chavan said the Supreme Court's verdict will provide huge relief to the parents of the girl.

"The decision taken by the apex court in the matter is difficult case in the entire country. We welcome the court's decision," Chavan told ANI.

Rashtriya Janata Dal member and former Bihar chief minister Rabri said, "This is a great decision by the Supreme Court. People who commit such crimes should be given such strict punishments only."

Earlier,Justice Dipak Misra upheld rape as depravity and not curable and recently passed a woman friendly judgment saying that "no woman can be compelled to love; she always has right to say no".

In December, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home.

The lawyer of the accused A.P. Singh claimed that he will file the review petition after reading the order.

"Justice is not done. We will file a review petition after reading the order. You cannot give a death sentence to anyone for a message to the nation. The meaning of punishment is improvement. There is a right to live. In this, the human rights have been neglected, Mahatma Gandhi's ideology has been neglected as this is violence," Singh said.

The matter was heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.

The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh - challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows.

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It was a day of upset for the visitors as Malaysia walked away with a 1-0 win against India here at the 26th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Tournament 2017 on Friday.

Backed by a boisterous home crowd, Malaysia held India right till the final quarter until Shahril Saabah (51') helped take the lead and eventually won the match.

With Great Britain winning their match against New Zealand 3-2 and jumping to the second position in the points table, India had to beat Malaysia by a margin of two goals or more to ensure their spot in the final, however, they failed to pull off victory after the hosts put up an intense fight.

After having gone into the first break in a stalemate, India earned a penalty corner (PC) within seconds of the second quarter.

But Malaysian keeper Kumar Subramiam successfully padded away a powerful sweep by India's ace dragflicker Rupinder Pal Singh.

Subramiam was busy all throughout the quarter. He made an important save when Talwinder Singh, assisted by Affan Yousuf, took a shot on goal in the 22nd minute.

A back stick on the ball by Malaysian defender in the striking circle saw India win their second PC in the 23rd minute, but the Malaysian rushers did well to deny Rupinder Pal Singh a goal. The hosts' defence continued to impress as India's third attempt on PC was denied too ending the second quarter goalless.

Malaysia played a determined game with good defence that continued to test the Indian players.

They won their first PC of the match in the 34th minute, a handy work by Faizal Saari who found Sardar Singh's foot in the circle but a goal was denied.

Malaysia won another PC, but defender Rupinder Pal Singh ensured the flick didn't reach the post. With the clock ticking away, India were desperate for a breakthrough.

Entering the final quarter, Malaysia continued to enforce pressure on India.

India's won a PC in the 49th minute, but they couldn't convert with the flick going wide. They won another PC when Fitri Saari found Manpreet Singh's foot in the circle.

Malaysia was able to capitalize this opportunity with Shahril Saabah successfully converting the PC in the 51st minute to take a 1-0 lead.

A PC in the 56th minute brought some hope for India. It was SV Sunil who helped win the PC, but a goal was denied after Harmanpreet Singh's flick was saved by Malaysian defenders.

Another PC came India's way with just three minutes for the final hooter, but a variation in set piece saw Rupinder pass to Sardar Singh who couldn't find the post, thus ending India's hope to earn the final berth.

India will now take on New Zealand on Saturday to determine the third and fourth position in the match.

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Despite Marcus Rashford firing Manchester United to a first-leg advantage against Celta Vigo, manager Jose Mourinho has said that he was not at all satisfied with the result of Europa League semi-final tie.

Striker Marcus Rashford's superb free-kick in the second-half helped his side beat Celta Vigo 1-0 at Balaidos to gain the upper hand in their last-four clash.

In-form Rashford, who also scored a dramatic extra-time winner against Anderlecht in the quarter-finals, scored a bending a free-kick into the corner in the 67th minute to ensure United take an away goal and a massive advantage going back to Old Trafford in a week's time for the semi-final second leg.

Mourinho, however, said that although he was happy with his side's performance against Celta Vigo, he does not feel the same way about the result.

"I am very pleased with the performance but not with the result. We played well enough to have [the] result closed but we have to go and play at Old Trafford. At half-time [it] should have been three or at least two, but the result is open," goal.com quoted Mourinho as saying.

While United hold the advantage going into next Friday's second leg at Old Trafford, Mourinho believes the tie could have been already over had his side made full use of their chances.

"We tried to win the match. We missed chances but the team played well, they were compact against a team who are difficult to play against. Let's hope Old Trafford want us to win because when Old Trafford wants it, we win," the Portuguese manager added.

With the Jose Mourinho's side outside the Premier League's top four, the Europa League perhaps represents their best chance of earning a place in next season's Champions League.

United will next take on Arsenal in their Premier League clash on Sunday, while Celta will lock horn with Malaga on the same day.

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Indian Navy Admiral Sunil Lanba on Friday urged the naval commanders to expand the Navy's operational footprint so as to be a stabilising force in the Indian Ocean Region and emphasised the need for continued efforts towards modernization and indigenization of weapons.

His comments can be seen in reference to China's efforts to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean Region.

Admiral Lanba, who was speaking on the concluding day of the four-day long Naval Commanders' Conference, asked top Navy commanders to remain combat ready to effectively deal with all possible security challenges facing the country in the maritime domain.

The Conference was also attended by Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar.

"The Foreign Secretary also interacted with the Commanders on the geo-political developments with key focus on the Indian Ocean Region and outlined key imperatives pertaining to our foreign policy and diplomatic initiatives," the Navy said in a statement.

Admiral Lanba also exhorted the Commanders to give focussed attention to address all challenges with the singular aim to be combat ready at all times.

"He emphasised the importance of quality maintenance and efficient Operational Logistics towards ensuring combat effectiveness," the statement added.

The commanders also interacted with Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief B. S. Dhanoa who shared their views on the current security situation and the way forward for enhancing tri-services synergy and jointmanship.

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Lauding the Supreme Court's verdict in the Nirbhaya gang rape case, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said that though justice was delayed but the decision was good.

"It has taken time but the decision is good. It will give a good impact. The effect will be such that whoever will try to commit such crime will fear before doing it", Nitish told ANI.

Meanwhile, women rights activist and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav hailed the apex court's verdict, while expressing happiness over the punishment awarded to the rapists.

"I am very happy to hear the Supreme Court's decision. The judgement came late. It should have come sooner. I will also fight for the girls who are still awaiting justice," she told ANI.

Dubbing rape as heinous and devilish act, Aparna said that the criminal should be treated with the same mentality.

Earlier in the day, the apex court upheld the earlier order of death sentence to four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gang rape case.

The matter was heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.

Justice Dipak Misra observed in its order that 'it's a story of some different world'.

"Taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committed by th3e convicts, we are upholding the sentence," the order said.

The next option for the convicts is to appeal against their death sentence to President Pranab Mukherjee.

The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh had challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows.

Earlier, the trial court had also sentenced all the four convicts to death penalty.

In December 16, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dynamic and customer focused mobility start-up on Friday launched its latest smartphone Omicron.

Bollywood actress Sagarika Ghatge launched the phone along with Anshuman Atul, chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director of and Arjun Gupta, chief operating officer (COO) and co-managing director, .

Omicron showcases groundbreaking features that will build a new paradigm for the mobile experience. Smoothly adapting with the fast pace and ever demanding lifestyle of the present consumers, the smartphone boasts about its high-quality and futuristic traits. All India distributors attended the unveiling program as well. Along with them, several other notable personalities were part of the presentation too.

OKWU believes in enabling every stage of the population with the latest the mobile industry has to offer. The company is constantly working towards developing and launching smartphones that promise the best experience and are within the reach of the consumers.

Its latest device offers the perfect juxtaposition of features to adapt with the heavy duty workload of the user without compromising the design and look of the smartphone.

"Post launch of our first model OKWU Pi , we generated huge market response that has helped us expand into east and south India and has also developed colossal market traction in Maharashtra. With OKWU Omicron we plan to accelerate our growth in operating regions and also look to open operations in northern India," said Anshuman Atul.

"From a team of 10 people to 100 today, in the span of six months, reflects the strength of our product besides deep understanding, strategy and collective hardwork," he added.

"With Omicron we enter into the most competitive and exciting price bracket of Rs 9,000 to Rs 12, 000, which garners the maximum sales for smartphones in India," said Atul.

The company focuses on shaping the future of smartphone market, making breakthrough technology easily available and accessible to the masses.

OKWU smartphones will be manufactured and assembled in Shenzhen, China and the company plans to have their own assembly unit in India ahead. The company is also in talks with Amity University for developing Research and Development facility.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has criticised the Bombay High Court's order in the Bilkis Bano case and urged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to re-appeal demanding death sentence for the convicts.

Dubbing the High Court's order as 'unfair' Owaisi took to Twitter to vent his anger in the regard.

"# Double Standards Death Penalty Bilkis case Accused raped killed her 3 yr daughter ,mother,sister,14 others No Death WHY CBI must Appeal," tweeted Owaisi.

"Yesterday the Honourable Supreme Court said Death penalty for raping and killing 4 year old why not for Bilkis Bano accused," he added.

The Bombay High Court yesterday ruled out death penalty to three out of 11 people accused of in the brutal gang-rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

The CBI said that five new convicts in this case are police officers and are currently convicted under Sections 201 and 218 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Earlier this week, the High Court also set aside acquittal of five persons, including doctors and policemen, and convicted them for tampering of evidence in the case.

The investigating agency had appealed against the acquittal of five Gujarat Police officers, who connived with the convicts by fudging documents and compromising the inquest report.

Last year, the CBI named it as the rarest of rare cases and said that death penalty must be awarded to three convicts.

The 11 convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court in 2008, had moved the Gujarat High Court against their conviction.

The Supreme Court later moved the case from the Gujarat High Court to Bombay High Court, which upheld the conviction of the 11.

On March 1, 2002, Bilkis Bano was gang-raped and left for dead alongside 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter, during the Gujarat riots. She was then five months pregnant, when Hindu rioters attacked her in Vadodara .

In 2008, she won the first-ever conviction in a riot-related rape case against 13 men.

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Manchester City have been fined 300,000 pounds and banned from signing academy players for two years after breaching Premier League transfer rules.

City were found to have approached the family of two young players, who were registered with other clubs.

The players in question were an 11-year-old who joined City from Everton last year and a 15-year-old midfielder from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Premier League club now cannot sign youngsters aged between 10 and 18 who have been registered with Premier League or EFL clubs in the past 18 months.

Part of the ban will only come into effect if the club reoffends in the next three years.

Last month, Liverpool were fined 200,000 pounds and banned from signing youngsters for two years.

It was ruled the Reds had broken Premier League rules by offering inducements to the family of an 11-year-old Stoke City player.

"The Premier League has sanctioned Manchester City FC for breaches of its Youth Development Rules," goal.com quoted the Premier League as saying in a statement.

"The breaches concern approaches to two separate Academy players whilst they were each registered with another club," the statement added.

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Terming it as a rarest of the rare cases, the Supreme Court on Friday said the December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case was a crime that was brutal, barbaric and diabolic in nature.

The apex court said the case amounted to a devastation of social trust and completely destroyed the collective balance, inviting the indignation of society.

Recalling the immense torture that the victim had to go through, the top court said the acts itself demonstrated the mental perversion and inconceivable brutality of the convicted.

It also said the intention to run the bus over the victim after committing the heinous crime suggested that all possible efforts were made to destroy the evidence.

"The casual manner with which she was treated and the devilish manner in which they played with her identity and dignity is humanly inconceivable," the judgement read.

"It sounds like a story from a different world where humanity has been treated with irreverence," the judgement further read.

The court further said that it is manifest that the wanton lust, the servility to absolutely unchained carnal desire and slavery to the loathsome beastility of passion ruled the mindset of the appellants to commit a crime which can summon with immediacy a "tsunami" of shock in the mind of the collective and destroy the civilised marrows of the milieu in entirety.

The court said that after 'consciously' weighing the aggravating circumstances and the mitigating factors, it concluded and held that the high court had correctly confirmed the death penalty and that it saw no reason to differ with the same.

Justice R. Banumathi also termed it as a 'case of barbaric sexual violence against women'.

In December, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus.

After intensive care and treatment in ICU in Delhi, the victim was airlifted to a hospital in Singapore by an air ambulance where she succumbed to her injuries on December 29, 2012.

The incident shocked the nation and generated public rage.

A committee headed by Justice J.S. Verma, Former Chief Justice of India was constituted to suggest amendments to deal with sexual offences more sternly and effectively in future.

The suggestions of the committee led to the enactment of Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 which, inter alia, brought in substantive as well as procedural reforms in the core areas of rape law. The changes brought in, inter alia, can broadly be titled as under:-

 Extension of the definition of the offence of rape in Section 375 IPC.

 Adoption of a more pragmatic approach while dealing with the issue of consent in the offence of rape.

 Introduction of harsher penalty commensurating with the gravity of offence.

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Former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict in the Nirbhaya gangrape case and said the apex court has taken the decision based on several facts.

"The Supreme Court must have considered all the factors and come to the conclusion. The accused cannot get away so easily," Sorabjee told ANI.

West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi said, "Supreme Court has taken the decision as per the law. There is no need to comment on apex court's decision."

The apex court upheld the death sentence of the four convicts involved in the December 16, 2012 gang rape case.

The matter was heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.

Justice Dipak Misra observed in its order that 'it's a story of some different world'.

"Taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committed by the convicts, we are upholding the sentence," the order said.

The next option for the convicts is to appeal against their death sentence to President Pranab Mukherjee.

The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh- had challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows.

Earlier, the trial court had also sentenced all the four convicts to death penalty.

In December 16, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday assured a man of providing assistance to his daughter, who met with an accident in Netherlands.

A engineer named Bhaskar Basu had urged Sushma on Twitter to provide help in Netherlands to his daughter Meghna, who was injured in an accident involving a Dutch driver.

He tweeted mentioning Sushma's Twitter handle: "@SushmaSwaraj Madam, my daughter Meghna, studying at Groningen University had been hit by car driven by Dutch,hand fractured her leg. Today (sic)".

The External Affairs Minister on Thursday night replied and mentioned her Additional Private Secretary's Twitter handle for further action: "I will ask Indian Embassy in Netherlands to extend all help. Plz do not worry. @vijaypdwivedi (sic)".

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With the Supreme Court set to deliver the much-awaited verdict in the December 16 Nirbhaya gang rape case today, here is a timeline of crucial developments in the case so far

May 5, 2017: The Supreme Court to pronounce its judgment in infamous 2012 Delhi gang rape case.

March 27, 2017: The Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case.

March 6, 2017: All the accused submit additional affidavits in the Court.

February 3, 3017: The Supreme Court decides to re-hear the case on the sentencing aspect, after the petitioners contend that there have been violations in procedure.

January 6, 2017: The Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused.

November 28, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Sanjay Hegde argues against reliability of evidence in the case.

November 7, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside.

September 16, 2016: Former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Delhi) Chaya Sharma, who was transferred to Mizoram post the Delhi gang rape case, attends the hearing.

September 2, 2016: Advocate M. L. Sharma concludes his submissions.

August 29, 2016: High drama in the courtroom as allegation of the police tampering with evidence is made.

April 8, 2016: Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae.

April 3, 2016: Hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V. Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph to hear the case.

December 18, 2015: Delhi High Court refuses to stay release of the minor-accused, who walks free after three years in a juvenile home.

March 15, 2014: The Supreme Court stays execution of the accused after allegations of a denial of fair trial.

March 13, 2014: Delhi High Court Bench of Justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani upholds the trial Court verdict.

September 13, 2013: Four remaining accused sentenced to death by Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna.

January 29, 2013: The Supreme Court dismisses transfer petition.

August 31, 2013: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) presided over by Principal District Magistrate Geetanjali Goel finds the juvenile accused guilty of rape and murder of the medical student, sentences him to three years in Special Home.

March 11, 2013: Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar jail.

December 16, 2012: Six men, including the 17-year-old juvenile, gang-rape a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The girl and her friend were returning home after watching a movie when they were coaxed into the bus by the accused, who then beat up her friend before taking turns in raping her.

The girl succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh - challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Child Line team members along with state administration and police rescued the sold child and handed over to his biological mother.

"We we to Dhansai Reangs house and after rescuing the child handed over him to his mother," said Child Line member Mrinalini Rakshit adding, "No step has been taken against Dhanasai and we came to know that the child was given to him by the mother so that she can go to work in the jhum.

Similar was the version of government officials post at Gandacherra.

SDM Gandacherra Govekar Mayur Ratilal claimed that the child was given to an extended family member while the SDPO Gandacher Jahar Lal Debbarma reiterated the same story but confessed that there was monetary transaction.

However, he could not explain that if giving a child against any payment is not selling then what it means.

The police have not taken any case against the incident.

The news of a tribal mother selling her two year old son for mere Rs. 200 in remote Gandacherra subdivision of Tripura had hit headlines of and international media much to the embarrassment of Communist government that is ruling Tripura over two decades.

Meantime, the state Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Bijita Nath denying any such incident happening in the sate alleged that it is just a scandal to defame the government.

She said, "A section of people are spreading rumours about incidents of child selling in Tripura but ultimately we did not find any monetary transaction in this incident. So there is no scope of any child being sold and the system does not allow that and if it is proved then there is provision for severe punishment."

According to the Minister the child was just kept with a distant relative because her stepfather was not willing to keep him.

But on the contrary the incident was exposed only after the father had opposed and complained against the mother's decision to sell the child and ultimately the village chief in a kangaroo court had ordered to get back the child.

Meantime, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised the issue and criticized the government.

They viewed that a sorry state of affairs is going on in Left ruled Tripura and the condition of the tribals are worst.

BJP state observer Sunil Deodhar alleged that in spite of the centre giving huge amount for the development of the tribal people the money does not reach them as because of the rampant corruption being indulged by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

Two weeks back in a similar incident a tribal woman sold her 11 day old son for Rs. 5,000 to bear the cost of for treatment of her ailing husband at Rangia Tilla of Haldia ADC village under Teliamura police station in West Tripura.

During the last two years at least five incidents of child selling by poor tribal families has been reported from Tripura.

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The United States Senate has approved a USD 1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September.

The 79-18 vote on Thursday, now sends the legislation to President Donald Trump's desk, local media reports said. Trump is likely to sign the bill before Friday deadline.

The Trump administration on Wednesday moved one step closer to avoiding government shutdown after the House of Representatives approved a USD1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September.

After Trump's signature, $598.5 billion for defence will be allocated, which is roughly $25 billion above 2016 levels.

The developments so far portend this would be the first major legislative victory for Republican President Trump.

Earlier, Trump had called for a 'good shutdown' in September to fix the "mess" in the Senate.

He said that the legislation needs 60 votes in the Senate because of the filibuster and suggested that it would be necessary to elect more Republicans or "change the rules."

"The reason for the plan negotiated between the Republicans and Democrats is that we need 60 votes in the Senate which are not there! We.... either elect more Republican Senators in 2018 or change the rules now to 51%. Our country needs a good "shutdown" in September to fix mess!" Trump said in a series of tweets.

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Woody Allen and his New Orleans jazz band will perform a one-off show at the Royal Albert Hall on July 2.

According to the venue's website, the performance will be an "energetic collection of improvisations" and that there will be "no playlist, nor do the musicians know what song Allen, in collaboration with band director Eddy Davis, will call out next."

As reported by The Independent, the seven-piece formed more than 35 years ago, playing music that draws on jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, George Lewis, Johnny Dodds and Jimmie Noone.

While the director-musician plays regular slots with the group in New York, their last visit to the UK took place in 2004, at the Eventim Apollo.

While he is best known for his films, Allen's passion for music has often coincided with movies.

In 2012, Allen even missed accepting his Academy Award for best original screenplay (for 'Midnight in Paris') because he was performing a concert the same evening.

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Emami fell 2.28% to Rs 1,084 at 11:41 IST on BSE after consolidated net profit rose 1.47% to Rs 83.32 crore on 4.2% decline in total income to Rs 586.90 crore in Q4 March 2017 over Q4 March 2016.

The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 4 May 2017.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 212 points or 0.7% at 29,914.21

On BSE, so far 16,000 shares were traded in the counter as against 30,422 shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 1,099.05 and a low of Rs 1,069.70 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,260.80 on 4 November 2016. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 937 on 23 December 2016.

The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 22.70 crore. Face value per share is Re 1.

Emami is one of the leading personal and healthcare businesses in India, with portfolio of household brand names such as BoroPlus, Navratna, Fair and Handsome, Zandu Balm, Mentho Plus Balm and Fast Relief.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

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Members of a five country international delegation called on Shri C K Mishra, Secretary Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. They interacted with the Health Secretary to learn more about the global best practice of eVIN (electronic vaccine intelligence network) project of the Health Ministry and to understand how it is being implemented in the country and the ways in which it be replicated in their own countries.

Shri Mishra said that the Ministry is ready to provide support and collaborate with other countries to strengthen their capacities and scale up their programs. He also stated that this is a big boost for the Digital India and Make in India initiatives of the Government. This sets a benchmark in the field of immunisation, he said. The delegation shared the experience from their countries of the immunisation projects, and expressed the shared view that the India visit shall enrich them to strengthen their own country programs.

Stating that India has a lot to share in terms of best practices and new learning, Mr.

Jaco Cilliers, Country Director, UNDP stated that such visits provide an opportunity to other countries to learn from these best practices of India in the field of immunisation and strengthen their own programs.

Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Addl. Country Director, UNDP stated that while the country is working towards enhancing the coverage of immunisation, quality of vaccines through maintenance of the right temperature is also a critical component to for the quality and efficacy of the vaccines. eVIN is a step towards ensuring that, he stated.

eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network) is an indigenously developed technology system in India that digitizes vaccine stocks and monitors the temperature of the cold chain through a smartphone application. The innovative eVIN is presently being implemented called across twelve states in India. eVIN aims to support the Government of India's Universal Immunization Programme by providing real-time information on vaccine stocks and flows, and storage temperatures across all cold chain points in these states. The technological innovation is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

eVIN aims to strengthen the evidence base for improved policy-making in vaccine delivery, procurement and planning for new antigens in India. eVIN provides an integrated solution to address widespread inequities in vaccine coverage by supporting state governments in overcoming constraints of infrastructure, monitoring and management information systems and human resources, often resulting in overstocking and stock-outs of vaccines in storage centres.

The integrated solution combines:

Technology: to facilitate evidence-based decision-making by making available online real-time information on vaccine stocks and storage temperature through the eVIN application software and temperature loggers;

Governance: to ensure efficient vaccine logistics management by systemizing record keeping through standardizing stock and distribution registers; identifying gaps and improving clarity on vaccine cold chain network; drawing attention to infrastructure upgrades; developing standard operating procedures; and encouraging good practices;

Human Resources: to empower the state cold chain network by building the capacities of government cold chain handlers; and deploying vaccine and cold chain managers in every district for constant support to estimate vaccine requirements, supervise cold chain handlers and coordinate with cold chain technicians across the district.

eVIN empowers the cold chain handlers by building technical capacities and providing a robust decision-making tool for cold chain managers through a complete overview of vaccine replenishment times, supply and consumption patterns.

By streamlining the vaccine flow network, eVIN is a powerful contribution to strengthening health systems and ensures equity through easy and timely availability of vaccines to all children.

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Sales rise 13.57% to Rs 1358.27 crore

Net profit of Hindustan Construction Company declined 4.13% to Rs 20.91 crore in the quarter ended March 2017 as against Rs 21.81 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2016. Sales rose 13.57% to Rs 1358.27 crore in the quarter ended March 2017 as against Rs 1195.99 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2016.

For the full year,net profit declined 37.30% to Rs 59.41 crore in the year ended March 2017 as against Rs 94.76 crore during the previous year ended March 2016. Sales rose 0.12% to Rs 4195.94 crore in the year ended March 2017 as against Rs 4190.89 crore during the previous year ended March 2016. ParticularsQuarter EndedYear EndedMar. 2017Mar. 2016% Var.Mar. 2017Mar. 2016% Var.Sales1358.271195.99 14 4195.944190.89 0 OPM %16.5017.54 -17.9619.29 - PBDT86.7282.13 6 243.46320.92 -24 PBT58.3950.39 16 118.18168.45 -30 NP20.9121.81 -4 59.4194.76 -37

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Tata Motors declined 2.57% to Rs 435.30 at 11:25 IST on BSE after the company's British luxury car unit Jaguar Land Rover reported a 2.3% fall in retail sales at 40,385 units in April 2017 over April 2016.

The announcement was made during market hours today, 5 May 2017.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was down 135.25 points, or 0.45%, to 29,990.96.

The stock has dropped 4.91% in four sessions to ruling price of Rs 435.30 from a close of Rs 457.80 on 28 April 2017.

On the BSE, 5.18 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far, compared with average daily volumes of 5.9 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 438 and a low of Rs 423.75 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 598.60 on 7 September 2016. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 376.05 on 11 May 2016.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 4 May 2017, falling 7.22% compared with Sensex's 0.72% gains. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, dropping 16.46% as against Sensex's 6.68% rise.

The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 577.47 crore. Face value per share is Rs 2.

Retail sales of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) for the month of April were up in North America (32.5%), China (10.1%) and Europe (2.7%), but down in the UK (34.6%) and in other overseas markets (19.7%) in April 2017 over April 2016.

Andy Goss, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Group Sales Operations Director said that April was a solid sales month with a strong performance from Jaguar led by the award winning F-PACE. A small decrease in sales was seen due to two factors. In the UK, customers purchased vehicles before the increase in vehicle tax on 1 April 2017.

In addition, the run-out of the previous Discovery model accounted for a decrease in Land Rover sales. Sales will increase from May month as the all-new Discovery model continues to go on sale across the world, particularly in China and North America, two of Jaguar Land Rover's biggest markets, he added.

Jaguar had a record April, with retail sales jumping 54% to 12,310 vehicles in April 2017 over April 2016, led by continuing strong sales of the F-PACE, XE and the long wheel base XFL from the China joint venture.

Retail sales for Land Rover fell 15.8% to 28,075 vehicles in April 2017 over April 2016, primarily reflecting the run-out of the Discovery and softer sales of other models, which were only partially offset by sales of the all-new Discovery and solid sales of Range Rover.

Jaguar Land Rover is investing around 3.5 billion annually to extend its model range and manufacturing footprint, including the investment in a new plant in Slovakia and recently launched models including the all-new Discovery, Range Rover Velar and the long wheel base Jaguar XFL for the Chinese-market, the company said.

Over the past six years, Jaguar Land Rover has doubled sales and employment, more than tripled turnover, and invested more than 16 billion in new product creation and capital expenditure. The company will invest in new products and facilities in Fiscal 2018 and beyond. Jaguar Land Rover is one of the UK's largest exporters and generates around 80% of its revenue from exports.

On 1 May 2017, Tata Motors reported that total sales of passenger and commercial vehicles fell 21% at 30,972 units in April 2017 over April 2016.

Tata Motors' consolidated net profit fell 96.2% to Rs 111.57 crore on 2.2% decline in net sales to Rs 66855.18 crore in Q3 December 2016 over Q3 December 2015.

Tata Motors is a market leader in commercial vehicles in India. The company's British luxury unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) sells premium luxury cars.

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At least nine people were killed and dozens injured when Afghan border forces fired at a census team in Pakistan's Balochistan on Friday  a day after the Afghan President turned down invitations to visit Islamabad.

Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent, Akhtar, said in a statement that five children and three women were among those killed in the firing in Chaman area. Police said that four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were among the injured.

The Afghan forces used heavy artillery to fire at the Pakistani side of the border, the Inter-Services Public Relations said, adding that border forces retaliated to the firing in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir areas of Chaman.

"Afghan border police opened fire on FC detailed for security of population census team," the military's media arm said.

Mortar shells fired from the Afghan side also hit houses in a village of Kali Luqman. At least three children were among the injured, who were shifted to Civil Hospital.

An emergency was imposed in Chaman.

The gunfight prompted authorities to shut the Chaman border crossing, one of the two major crossing points along the disputed frontier.

"Since April 30, Afghan border police has been creating hurdles in conducting census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area on Pakistani side of the border," it said.

"This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conducting census."

The country embarked on the enormous task of conducting its first census in almost two decades in March.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office expressed serious concerns over the unprovoked firing, and summoned the Afghan Charge d' Affairs to lodge protest over the firing.

"The Afghan Charge d' Affairs was conveyed the unprovoked firing from the Afghan side not only led to the loss of precious lives and injured many, but has also disrupted the census in areas," a Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.

Zakaria said the border between the two countries is clearly demarcated and Pakistani teams were conducting the census drive in their own area, which is the country's sovereign right.

If such incidents do not stop, Pakistan reserves the right to respond to preserve its sovereignty and protect its civilians, he added.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also condemned the firing as "unfortunate".

"It is the responsibility of the Afghan government to ensure that such incidents are permanently stopped," Sharif said.

The attack came a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani turned down Pakistan's invitation to visit the country. The president's deputy spokesperson Dawa Khan Mina Pal said Ghani was invited by Pakistan's Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and parliamentarians to visit the country.

The two nations are divided by the Durand Line, a 2,400 km frontier drawn by the British in 1896 and disputed by Kabul, which does not officially recognise it as an border.
Actor-producer Brad Pitt's parents had warned him rock concerts were "the Devil" but didn't ban him from attending.

The "Moneyball" actor says that he wasn't banned from going to gigs, but was warned off, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"I remember going to a few concerts, even though we were told rock shows are the 'Devil', basically. Our parents let us go. They weren't neo about it. But I realised that the reverie and the joy and exuberance, even the aggression, I was feeling at the rock show was the same thing at the revival," Pitt told GQ Style magazine.

"One is Jimmy Swaggart and one is Jerry Lee Lewis, you know? One's God and one's Devil. But it's the same thing. It felt like we were being manipulated. What was clear to me was 'You don't know what you're talking about'," he added.

The actor says that this did not spoil him of "f**k" him up but it led to "some eating questions at a young age."

The 53-year-old actor grew up in a more traditional Christian household, but his parents moved towards a more unorthodox way of worship when he was a teenager.

--IANS

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The chief executive of Goldman Sachs, the world's second-largest investment bank, has warned that London "will stall" because of the risks from Britain's exit from the European Union (EU), the media reported on Friday.

Lloyd Blankfein, in an interview with the BBC, said that his US-based firm which employs 6,500 people in the UK, had "contingency plans" to move people depending on the outcome of the negotiations.

Blankfein said he hoped the bank would not have to trigger the plans.

He wants to keep as much of its activities in the UK as possible.

The chief executive said both sides in the negotiations were playing for very high economic stakes and that there would need to be an implementation period of at least "a couple of years" once the exit deal is agreed by 2019.

"We are talking about the long-term stability of huge economies of hundreds of millions of people and livelihoods at stake and huge gross domestic product," he told the BBC.

Regarding London going into reverse because of the process, Blankfein said, "I don't think it will totally reverse...It will stall, it might backtrack a bit, it just depends on a lot of things about which we are uncertain and I know there isn't a certainty at the moment."

The chief executive revealed the firm has also held discussions with different cities across Europe and had looked at increasing office space in a number of locations, thought to include Frankfurt, the financial capital of Germany, and Dublin, Ireland.

More than one million people work in the financial services sector in the UK and it pays over 70 billion pounds a year in taxes to the government.
China on Friday opposed unilateral sanctions on North Korea by Washington, a day after the US House of Representatives approved a law granting more power to the executive to take such a step.

"China firmly opposes any country's imposition of unilateral sanctions on any other country according to their own domestic law," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.

Geng described the situation on the Korean peninsula as "very complex and tense" and called for restraint to prevent a major conflict from breaking out, Efe news reported.

On Thursday, the lower house of the US Congress approved a law conferring more power on President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on North Korea and the companies of any country that sell materials to Pyongyang which allow it to develop its nuclear and missile programmes.

The bill, which will go to the Senate for final approval, prohibits North Korean ships or those from any other country, including China, that refuse to comply with the resolutions of the UN Security Council condemning the ballistic missile launches from operating in US waters or docking at US ports.

Geng added that Beijing fully complies with these resolutions despite doubts surrounding China's actions with regards to North Korea.

Although China has publicly distanced itself from Pyongyang and insists it has halted coal imports, some experts believe the two countries are still trading through the "livelihood purposes" clause that allows trade to ensure the survival of the North Korean people.

--IANS

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China on Friday said it cannot be blamed for the cancellation of a tripartite meet between the Foreign Ministers of India, China and Russia after Beijing reportedly refused to take part in the meeting over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

"About the meeting that was to be held last month, as far as I know the reason is not in China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, insinuating that the visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh was the reason behind Foreign Minister Wang Yi not attending the meet.

According to a news report, China did not send Wang to attend the trilateral meet in April in India after New Delhi allowed the Tibetan spiritual leader to visit Arunachal Pradesh in April.

The Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal angered Beijing, which considers the Tibetan Buddhist leader a separatist and claims India's northeastern state as its own.

The meeting on April 14, to be hosted by India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, was cancelled after China told India that Wang had a busy schedule.

"About the Russia, India and China Foreign Ministers meeting, China pays attention to the trilateral cooperation mechanism. We have actively participated in the Foreign Ministers meeting and also other activities under the framework," Geng said.

"According to my information, three countries are now talking about the schedule of the next Foreign Ministers meeting. They are maintaining communication and consultation," Geng said.

(Gaurav Sharma is the IANS Beijing-based correspondent. He can be contacted at sharmagaurav71@gmail.com and gauravians@yahoo.com)

--IANS

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As many as 4,500 openings for teachers are expected to be advertised for Delhi University (DU) colleges in a few days' time to address the longstanding issue of vacant seats, a university official said.

"There are only a few colleges left which are yet to make corrections in their 'reservations roster', we are in correspondence with them. We had called a meeting of all college principals on May 3 and had asked them to make corrections.

"In a few days, when the reservation rosters will be cleared for all the colleges, vacancies will be advertised," DU Dean of Colleges Devesh Sinha told IANS.

He, however, refused to specify the number of days the colleges could take to complete the process and advertise the vacancies.

"For all I know, it may be done tomorrow, or may take some more time. But in all likelihood, it is a matter of few days... Colleges are autonomous, they have independent governing bodies. They are the appointing authorities," Sinha said.

Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) President Nandita Narain expressed her satisfaction at the prospect of fresh vacancies being announced, but demanded that the recruitment process should be more considerate towards ad-hoc teachers.

"We want this to start at the earliest and want it done simultaneously with the admissions. Nothing should come in the way of the recruitment process.

"We also want the Executive Council (of DU) to devise a mechanism wherein ad-hoc teachers of vintage can be absorbed without their having to go through interview, which they already have gone through once, when they were first hired," Narain told IANS.

She added that it had happened before in 1979 and an exception could be made since DU's was a peculiar case where the university "hasn't held interviews for many years".

With respect to the impending students' admissions, Narain said they were likely to commence from the first week of June, but could not say with certainty since "none of the elected members of the Academic Council has been included in the admission committee this year".

"This is unprecedented," she added.

Earlier, in a communique, the university had informed that out of 26 colleges where principals have to be appointed, 14 have advertised the vacancy. The university said it had written a letter to the others to start the process "at the earliest".

The other 41 DU colleges had regular principals, Sinha said.

A college is required to have a regular principal and a governing body at the time of faculty recruitment.

-- IANS

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A top minister has accused the European Commission of "trying to bully the British people" following negative stories about negotiations over UK's exit from the European Union (EU), the media reported on Friday.

Brexit Secretary David Davis in a BBC interview late Thursday said a "line was crossed" when stories suggested the UK could face a 100 billion euro "exit bill".

"Clearly what was happening was the commission was trying to bully the British people - and the British people will not be bullied, and the government will not allow them to be bullied," Davis said.

Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday accused Brussels of interfering in the UK general election, which is scheduled for June 8.

"Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials," she said.

Following May's comments, European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: "Brexit talks difficult enough. If emotions get out of hand, they'll become impossible. Discretion, moderation and mutual respect needed", Efe news reported.

May officially informed the EU of the UK electorate's wish to withdraw from the bloc on March 29, which sparked a two-year period of Brexit negotiations.

London and Brussels are to begin negotiations from June, following the election, on the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in other EU member states after Brexit, as well as the nation's economic obligations.

May hopes to be able to establish the UK's future trade relationship with the EU during talks, but Brussels has said this is not its priority at the negotiating table.

--IANS

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Over four years have passed since the 2012 brutal gang rape of a para-medical student in Delhi that shook the collective conscience of the country. But, for many women, the national capital is yet to instil a sense of security in them.

With sexual predators prowling around in buses, metros and public places, both women activists and commoners feel Delhi is far from being safe for them.

On a day when the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty for all the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape case, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Jaihind said the women are not at all safe.

"Women are not at all safe in Delhi. Even after four years of Nirbhaya case, not much has changed," Jaihind told IANS.

"Between 2012-2014, only 146 people have been convicted out of 31,446 cases related to crime against women," she said buttressing her claim.

She said the DCW helpline on a daily basis receives 1,500-2,000 calls relating to women issues.

She said until "swift, strict and exemplary punishment" was ensured, such heinous crimes would continue.

Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) leader Brinda Karat also said the city is unsafe.

"I wish I could say it is safer for women, but unfortunately Delhi is not at all safe for women," Karat told IANS.

"No recommendation of the Justice J.S. Verma committee has been implemented in its true spirit," she said referring to the three-member panel that reviewed laws for sexual crimes in the country.

Nidhi Sharma, a fashion stylist echoed the views.

"Women don't feel safe in Delhi. There are lots of factors behind such a state of affairs," she told IANS, lamenting the lack of adequate police presence in public places and transport.

"Delhi Metro, which is considered safest, shuts down around 11.30 p,m.-11.45 p.m. Late night commuting for women is a major security concern," she said pointing to several cases of rape and molestation in cabs, auto-rickshaws and buses.

"Plans of installing CCTV cameras and lighting up dark spots are still on paper. Taking public transport is a risky affair," she said.

According to the Delhi government, there are around 40,000 dark spots across the city.

Atmaja Chowdhury, who works in a multinational company, also lamented the government's failure to ensure adequate security measures particularly in public transport.

"Government talked of deploying marshals in buses but I am yet to see them," she said.

The 23-year-old Nirbhaya was brutalised inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012, which led to her death due to internal injuries 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.

However, for Mudita a journalist, initiatives like one-stop centres or women helpline numbers are not enough and things will not change until the "nasty mindset of men" changes.

"Our values, attitudes, customs, expectations and institutions are patriarchal in nature. This country needs a big revolution against that. Eve-teasing in metros, buses and other public places is a routine affair," she said.

"I don't feel free. I don't feel safe. I have to protect myself all the time," she said blaming women equally for encouraging patriarchy.

Talking about women security measures in Delhi, Jaihind said a special task force has been formed headed by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.

"Since the Delhi Police is under the Centre, we had recommended setting up a high-level panel comprising the Union Home Minister, Delhi Chief Minister, the LG and the DCW chief, entrusted exclusively to deal with crimes against women.

"I have been pitching for this for quite a long time but to no avail. However, a special task force under LG has been formed," she said.

Women activist Kamla Bhasin said women were equally unsafe inside their houses.

"When we talk about women safety, we should also talk about the crimes being perpetrated on them within their houses," Bhasin told IANS referring to incidents of domestic violence, dowry cases and sexual assault by family members.

"Law should of course be strong enough to deal with such crimes, but there is a dire need to change the mentality. You cannot stop crime only by installing CCTV cameras," she added.

(Ashish Mishra can be contacted at ashish.m@ians.in, Anurag Dey can be reached at anurag.d@ians.in)

--IANS

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Accidental dialling of the newly introduced single emergency number 112 has triggered a problem of sorts for the Goa Police.

According to Deputy Inspector General (Police Control Room) Rupinder Kumar, "accidental and unintentional" dialling of the 112 number by mobile phone users has forced the Goa Police to increase their phone lines from seven to 30.

"The Goa Police hereby appeals to the general public that users of mobile phones be cautious and careful while pressing panic button and that it should not be repeatedly pressed thereby unnecessarily keeping engaged dial 100 helplines at the state police control room," Kumar said at a press conference in Panaji.

"Unnecessarily interfering with Dial 100 helpline disturbs the public utility service of Dial 100 and further prevents the help seekers to get help in time of emergency," Kumar also said.

The 112 number, India's equivalent of the 911 emergency services in the United States was introduced earlier this year for those requiring to make a distress call. The calls on 112 are automatically routed to 100 helpline.

But accidental dialling of the new number appears to have caused distress to the police themselves.

"To overcome this problem on a temporary basis, the number of telephone lines in the state police control room has been increased to 30 lines from the existing seven lines. But this is not a solution unless there is awareness among general public regarding pressing of panic button is an emergency response system," Kumar said.

--IANS

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Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Friday voiced her happiness after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of all convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case.

"I am happy that the Supreme court has reconfirmed the death sentence of these rapists. It was truly a heinous crime," Gandhi told CNN-News18 channel.

She said the rape laws were tightened after the December 16, 2012 gang-rape incident that had shocked the nation.

"The fifth one (juvenile accused) got away because of his age. The terrible crime and suffering endured by Nirbhaya resulted in tightening of rape laws. In the Juvenile Justice Act the age is reduced to 16. So we can catch more offenders in future," she said.

She added that the five years taken by the judicial system to reach this point was a long time. "But in the history of Indian law, it is actually a short time," she said.

She said her ministry was going to open a portal for women to register complaints against sexual harassment.

--IANS

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Akshay, a convict in the fatal 2012 gang rape of a 23-year-old paramedical student, deserved the death sentence, his family members said after the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty for him and three others in the case on Friday.

"We have ended our relationship with him; Akshay is no more our family member; we have nothing to do with him," a close family member told IANS over telephone from Lahang Karma village in Aurangabad district, about 150 km from here.

"Please, we do not want to talk about him, he is our past, not present," said another family member, as most of the family members of Akshay termed the apex court's decision "right".

People in his village refused to talk about him as he brought disrepute to the village. "Our village was defamed due to Akshay's involvement in the infamous case. We don't want to discuss anything to defame our village any further," Satender Kumar Singh, a villager said.

However, according to a neighbour of Akshay's family, the entire family and some relatives were glued to the television set on Friday, "hoping against all hope that the apex court would overturn the death penalty."

"They were hopeful against all hope for some relief. It proved useless as Akshay's fate was sealed the day he was convicted. The apex court only upheld it," a villager said.

The four -- Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur -- were convicted for raping and assaulting the 23-year-old paramedical student inside a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012.

The rapists, six in all, pounced on the young woman who had boarded the bus with her boyfriend to go home after seeing a movie "Life of Pi".

As the bus moved on south Delhi roads, the convicts pulled out her internal organs with a rusted L-shaped iron rod used with a wheel jack. This led to her death due to internal injuries 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.

After committing the crime, they dumped the woman and her friend on the side of a road. Some onlookers alerted the police. The sheer brutality of the crime led to nationwide revulsion and street protests.

A fifth accused, Ram Singh, committed suicide in Tihar Central Jail in the national capital. The sixth, a juvenile, who was accused of ripping apart the woman's intestines, was sent to a correction home and has been released after serving his probation period.

--IANS

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Actress Deepika Padukone, who has been mistaken for Priyanka Chopra by the foreign media in the US multiple times, says it's racist and ignorant for people to assume that people with similar skin tones are the same.

A video doing the rounds on social media shows a foreign paparazzo constantly referring to Deepika as "Priyanka, Priyanka" while she makes her way out of an airport in the US.

Deepika, who made her Hollywood debut with the Vin Diesel starrer "xXx: Return of Xander Cage" earlier this year, has strong views about facing this 'identity crisis' and about how the Indian media needs to deal with it maturely.

In an interview to IANS over phone from Mumbai, the actress said: "To me it's racist and ignorant. And as a fellow Indian, you (the media) should also be not very happy about. I think just because people have similar skin tones, doesn't mean they are same people.

"As people in a place of power that the media has, instead of creating a tabloid piece of out it, people should be educating them further."

Just back from attending the famed fashion fiesta Met Gala 2017 in New York, Deepika is now looking forward to visit the French Riviera. She will attend the prestigious Cannes Film Festival on May 17-18 as a brand ambassador for cosmetic giant L'Oreal Paris.

"I am very very excited. I am looking forward to the entire experience of being there and taking it all in," said the actress, who had last attended the fest in 2010 for another brand.

"I would happily forget that experience maybe, and start afresh," quipped Deepika, who doesn't wish to reveal her two looks for the Cannes red carpet appearance just as yet.

Earlier this week, she stepped out in a white Tommy Hilfiger gown for the Met Gala in a look which didn't find much appreciation by the international foreign police. But Deepika is not bothered -- she says being on the red carpet is all about having fun.

"I've had an amazing team of people that help me put my look together, and sometimes people might like it, sometimes they may not. And that's completely okay. The idea is really to have fun with every experience that I've had and I think the only time I will worry about not being appreciated about my look, is when my mother or my girlfriends tell me so," said the 31-year-old.

At the Cannes red carpet, where Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor will also make a fashion statement, Deepika is looking forward to have plain "fun".

"What is the red carpet without having fun? I know there is a lot of focus on the clothes, the hair and the make-up, but from all of that, I think the most important thing is that everyone who walks that red carpet must have fun with all of that and that experience."

It's the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, and no Indian film is on the list. So, apart from government officials at the Indian Pavilion at gala, only the three actresses and beauty icons will be representing the country at the platform.

"I think that's an achievement in itself," Deepika said, adding: "But having said that, I think for me the two things are completely different. I feel proud that we have Indians who can represent not just at Cannes, but the world over, who represent us as a community and as a country in different walks of life."

"Yes, being an actor, one always looks forward to a film going to Cannes as well. In fact, Sanjay (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) and I have been speaking about it for years... We wanted to take 'Bajirao Mastani' to Cannes. When it comes to taking Indian films to Cannes, he has done it in the past ('Devdas') and he has done it beautifully," said the actress, who features as the central character of the filmmaker's next movie "Padmavati".

(Radhika Bhirani can be contacted at radhika.b@ians.in)

--IANS

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The students of the Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) here have received opportunities to pursue global legal internships in the US, Britain, China, Australia and Abu Dhabi, it was announced here on Friday.

"They have been invited to work in international law firms, NGOs and government agencies, besides being given an opportunity to work as judicial clerks with the Supreme Court of Hawaii," a statement said.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for practical learning of global regulatory practice for JGLS students. The international exposure will help provide our students with an in-depth understanding of international laws and justice framework," said founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University, C. Raj Kumar.

This year alone has seen several international internships and clerkship opportunities added to an already impressive range of practical training opportunities that JGLS offers to its students. The notable ones added this year include Australia's leading corporate and IP law firm Mitry Lawyers and the Attorney General's Department (AGD) of Australia, the statement said.

The existing bouquet of international internships at JGLS include the leading US international law firm, White & Case at their London & Abu Dhabi offices, the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii in Honululu (US) and Zhicheng Public Interest Law Firm in Beijing.

"We are committed to growing the international recruiter and internship organisation base at JGLS so that our students can learn and gain strong grounding for taking up global leadership roles within law and beyond," said Assistant Dean of Careers Anuranjan Sethi.

The international internships apart, over 115 leading organisations have now signed up for recruitments through the university-organized recruitment process, the statement said.

--IANS

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Independent centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen are making a final push for votes on Friday, the last day of campaigning ahead of the French presidential runoff on Sunday, the media reported.

Macron - who has a substantial lead in opinion polls - is set to visit the southern city of Rodez to campaign later in the day, the BBC reported.

They started their day with separate interviews on France's RTL radio station where Le Pen said with European Union rules in place, banks can tap into people's savings accounts to bail themselves out.

Macron, on the other hand, told the radio station that Le Pen "exploits fear and hate", Efe news reported

An opinion poll, carried out by Elabe for BFMTV and L'Express magazine, found support for Macron has risen to 62 per cent, compared to 38 per cent for his far-right rival.

An separate poll by the Odoxa Institute for France Info predicted Sunday's election would have the lowest turnout of any second-round presidential vote in France since 1969.

The institute reported that far-left voters were particularly unlikely to vote.

Meanwhile Macron has filed a lawsuit over online rumours that he had a secret bank account in the Caribbean, reports the BBC.

He has strongly denied the allegations, which were mentioned by Le Pen during Wednesday evening's final TV debate between the two contenders that saw both trading insults.

While Macron branded Le Pen ill-informed, corrupt, dangerously nationalistic and a "hate-filled" liar who "fed off France's misery" and would bring "civil war" to France, The Guardian reported.

She in turn called the former Economy Minister an arrogant, spoilt, cold-eyed, "smirking banker" who was colluding with Islamists, complacent on terrorism and intent on "butchering France" in favour of "big economic interests".

Also on Thursday, former US President Barack Obama endorsed Macron in a video message, praising his "liberal values" and saying he "appeals to people's hopes and not their fears", the BBC added.

However, many supporters of Jean-Luc Melenchon's far-left 'France Insoumise' (Unbowed France) movement have vowed to abstain in the vote and have demonstrated under the slogan "ni Macron, ni Le Pen", neither Macron nor Le Pen.

If Macron comes to power, he will be the youngest French leader since Napoleon while Le Pen would be the first female head.

--IANS

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A man, suspected of having regularly attacked the campaign website of French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, has been arrested by French cyber crime police, officials said.

"We have identified several of these hackers and have sent all the relevant data to the police in the context of a complaint," said Le Pen's campaign manager David Rachline and communication chief Gaetan Bertrand of Le Pen's National Front (FN) party in a statement on Thursday.

"Throughout the presidential campaign, and especially since the beginning of 2017, our campaign site has been the subject of regular and targeted cyber attacks, using different methods well known to hackers," said the statement, indicating that the individual could be "close to extreme left-wing circles".

The prosecutor's office in Nanterre, a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, confirmed that a young man had been arrested this week and that he had "admitted the facts" during his custody, Xinhua news agency reported.

The seized computer is still under further investigation, the prosecutor's office said.

A preliminary inquiry was opened last weekend after the far-right party lodged a complaint about the alleged attacks, according to local newspaper Le Figaro.

--IANS

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With Indore and Bhopal declared the top two cleanest cities in the country and as many as 21 cities of Madhya Pradesh featuring in the list of 100 most clean Indian cities, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is a happy man.

Writing in his blog on Thursday night, the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude towards the people of the state for making this happen.

Chouhan wrote: "Indore has emerged as the cleanest city in 'Swachh Survekshan-2017' while capital Bhopal has been ranked second. Besides, 21 cities have been listed among the 100 cleanest cities of the country. This is a matter of great pleasure for me."

Hailing the people's participation in the cleanliness drive, he wrote: "This rare feat achieved by the state is an outcome of an honest joint effort of the people. The momentum needs to be maintained, so that Madhya Pradesh soon becomes the cleanest state of India."

The Chief Minister said a campaign called "Hamara Shahar Number One" (My City Number One) had been launched in the state and was yielding good results.

"We have set the target to make all 379 cities/towns open defacation-free (this) year. While 194 cities have already been declared open defacation-free, the work is going on for the rest," Chouhan added.

--IANS

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At a time when hate crimes are increasing, a Muslim family has donated their land for the upgradation of a temple in Bihar's Gopalganj district, officials said.

Tabarak Dewan and his son Manu Dewan, residents of Ahirauli Dubauli Tola Takia under Gopalpur police station, have donated their land near the NH 28, for construction of the main gate of the historical temple at Bathanakuti.

They had purchased the land for Rs 12 lakh for setting up a business a few months ago.

"By donating their costly land, the Muslim family has helped us to beautify the historical temple at Bathanakuti, which is under renovation. If they had refused to donate their land, it would have been impossible to construct the main gate of the temple. Thanks to their gesture now the temple's main gate will be constructed on their donated land," Amrender Kumar alias Pappu Pandey, ruling JD-U legislator of Kuchaikot, said.

According to Pandey, another Muslim, Aali Raza also donated land for the construction of the same temple. Raza, resident of Ramaina village in Kushinagar district in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, termed it a symbol of communal harmony.

"We have been living here for decades and taking care of each other. It is a gesture for communal harmony. We have decided to donate land for a good cause. All religions are the same," Manu Dewan said.

This is not the first such case. Two years ago, some Muslims in Bihar's east Champaran district, in a demonstration of communal harmony, donated land to help build the world's largest Hindu temple which will have the capacity to seat 20,000 people.

"Muslims have not only donated land, they have also provided land at a nominal rate for construction of the world's largest Hindu temple. Without help of Muslims, it would have been difficult to realise this dream project," Acharya Kishore Kunal, secretary of the Patna-based cash-rich Mahavir Mandir Trust that is undertaking the ambitious project, said.

Muslims have also helped build a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Durga in Bihar's Gaya district, through donations and also by supervising the construction.

Similarly, a Muslim donated his land for constructing a temple to Lord Shiva in Begusarai district. Mohammad Fakhrool Islam had given land for the temple in Muslim-dominated Bachwara village.

Over three decades ago, some Hindus donated a piece of land for the construction of a mazar in the same village.

Bihar has been by and large free from any major communal trouble, barring a few reported cases of tension, in the last few years.

Muslims form 16.5 per cent of Bihar's 105 million population. In the Seemanchal region, they account for nearly 67 per cent in Kishanganj, 37 per cent in Purnea, 43 per cent in Katihar and nearly 40 per cent in Araria.

--IANS

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A US delegation led by Democratic Party leader in the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi will meet the Dalai Lama next week in this Indian town, an official said on Friday.

Seven US Congressmen are accompanying Pelosi, a long-time supporter of the Tibetan cause. They are Jim Sensenbrenner, Eliot Engel, Jim McGovern, Betty McCollum, Judy Chu, Joyce Beatty and Pramila Jayapal.

China views the Dalai Lama as a hostile element bent on splitting Tibet from China.

The Congressmen will be in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile, on May 9-10, a Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) spokesperson told IANS.

Besides meeting the Dalai Lama, they will meet CTA functionaries, including Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay.

Pelosi, who last visited Dharamsala in March 2008 as Speaker of the US House of Representatives, was a prime mover in the 2007 decision to honour the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal.

China had protested against the move.

"The CTA is honored to welcome the first visit by a high-level bipartisan delegation of the US Congress to Dharamsala and the second visit of Nancy Pelosi," Prime Minister-in-exile Sangay said.

The CTA is organising a public felicitation in honour of the Congressional delegation's visit. The Dalai Lama will grace the public felicitation on May 10 at the Tsuglakhang temple, located close to the spiritual leader's palace.

The Dalai Lama lives in exile along with some 140,000 Tibetans, over 100,000 of them in India. Over six million Tibetans live in Tibet.

The Tibetan exile administration is not recognised by any country.

--IANS

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The needs to expand its footprint to be a stabilising force in the Indian Ocean Region, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba said during a four-day-long Naval Commanders Conference that concluded on Friday.

The Navy chief addressed the Commanders on issues pertaining to operational readiness, capability enhancement, maintenance, op logistics, infrastructure development and human resource management, an official statement said.

The Navy chief emphasised on the "need for continued efforts towards modernisation, indigenisation and expanding the Navy's operational footprint so as to be a stabilising force in Indian Ocean Region."

On the first day of the conference, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar interacted with the Naval Commanders on the geo-political developments with key focus on the Indian Ocean Region and outlined key imperatives pertaining to Indian foreign policy and diplomatic initiatives, the said.

India has been concerned over China's growing aggression in the Indian Ocean Region.

Army chief General Bipin Rawat and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa also interacted with the Naval commanders, and shared their views on the current security situation and the way ahead to enhance Tri-Service synergy and jointmanship, the statement said.

The Naval Commanders' Conference started on Tuesday.

Top-level leadership of the Navy reviewed major operational, training and administrative activities undertaken in the last six months.

The Commanders also reviewed the security measures and mechanisms for coastal defence, infrastructure, force development and logistics support management and the Indian Navy's readiness to deploy over the entire range of missions in the maritime domain, the statement added.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley addressed the commanders on the first day of the conference and urged the Commanders to be prepared at all times emphasising that preparedness would be the best deterrent.

In his closing address, the Navy chief also exhorted the Commanders to pay "focussed attention" to address all challenges with the singular aim to be combat ready at all times.

He also emphasised the importance of quality maintenance and efficient Operational Logistics towards ensuring combat effectiveness.
Chikankari is one of the finest traditional embroideries of India, a symbol of Lucknawi culture and a just released book by an Italian author brings to life the history of this unique craft tradition.

Paola Manfredi's "Chikankari: A Lucknawi Tradition", (Niyogi Books/252 pages/Rs 2,495) is in the true sense a book dedicated to the incredible Chikankari style of embroidery, which remains relatively unknown in the west.

The book was jointly launched by activist, author and Indian handicrafts curator Jaya Jaitly; along with fashion designers and film producers, Meera Ali and Muzaffar Ali.

"The book charts the journey of Chikankari with so much care and dedication that it is going to Bible for us. Paola has gone into such great detail to document the craft. I give this book full marks for coming in the horizon and guiding us in the future," said Muzaffar Ali after unveiling the book.

Born in Italy, Paola Manfredi lived and worked in India for over thirty years. Her beautifully illustrated book showcases unknown gems from personal and public collections, and brings to life the history of this unique craft tradition.

"The book beautifully takes the readers to the lives of the craftsmen as well as the craft. Paola tells us how we can successfully bring the reality to the fore. I am thrilled to see the way this book has come out," commented Jaya Jaitley.

Combining scholarly approach and design interactions, she has worked with craftspeople and their traditional skills to promote the excellence of South Asian craftsmanship particularly in Aary, Chikankari from Lucknow and Nakshi Kantha from Bangladesh.

The author said that the research of the book involved a tedious journey through the many streets of Lucknow and that she was happy at the way it has come up.

"This book is a product that took many years to be compiled and yet working on it raised many more answers than I was able to find answers to. Chikankari is a very evocative word, it is an expression of Lucknow. It embodies the very idea and concept of aesthetics," Manfredi shared.

Various chapters of the book describe the mysterious origins of the craft, the range of costumes, the inspirations behind common Chikankari motifs, the time-honored elaborate production process, and the bewildering array of stitches that raised this craft to its status as a truly exceptional art form.

Chikankari appeared in Lucknow in the late 18th century and its exquisite aesthetic and craftsmanship has sustained the tradition to this day, through changing patronage and market trends.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nine days after it shut 13 polluting industries along Bagad river in Uttar Pradesh, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday fined Rs 10 lakh each on three of the industries.

A NGT bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar found that Gajraula-based ASP Sealing Products Ltd, Dairy India Pvt Ltd and Umang Dairies Ltd were discharging untreated effluents into the river and contaminating ground water.

The industries would remain shut till further orders.

The bench asked the three industries to deposit Rs 10 lakh each and will soon take a decision on the other 10 industries it ordered closed on April 26.

The fine is to be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board.

The tribunal also slammed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board for granting permission to such polluting industries.

Earlier, a high-level committee inspected the 13 industries dealing in various products, including chemicals.

A committee report pointed out that the industries used fresh water for dilution, dumped their effluents outside without treating a major part and thus caused huge environmental and groundwater pollution.

The Central Pollution Control Board in a 2013 report said that the Ganga was linked by 138 drains that carry a discharge of 6,087 million litres a day.

Most drains were in West Bengal (54), followed by Uttar Pradesh (45), Bihar (25) and Uttarakhand (14).

--IANS

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Nirbhaya and her male friend had just finished watching American survival drama "Life of Pi", little knowing that their own lives will change forever after moving out of the south Delhi theatre on the cold and dark night of December 16, 2012.

As the 23-year-old physiotherapist intern and Awindra Pratap Pandey waited at Munirka in south Delhi looking for an auto-rickshaw to reach their home in Dwarka, an off-duty charter bus, with six male occupants, including the driver, stopped by and offered them a ride.

The bus moved in a direction which was off the route. The unsuspecting friends noticed something was wrong as the doors of the vehicle had been shut tightly.

Pandey, who spoke about the incident later, objected. He was shouted down. But he resisted and a scuffle broke out as the men, who were drunk, began molesting Nirbhaya - the name given to the woman later by the media which means fearless.

Nirbhaya's friend was knocked down with an iron rod.

What happened later shook the nation, sparked off widespread protests and led many women to break their silence over sexual violence that goes widely unreported in the country.

As Pandey lay half unconscious, the drunk men dragged Nirbhaya to the rear of the moving bus and took turns to rape her. As she fought back, one of attackers - a juvenile - inserted a rusted, L-shaped rod - used with a wheel jack - into her private parts, pulling and ripping her intestines apart. Her medical reports later revealed that she had septic injuries on her abdomen and genital organs also.

Done with the savagery, the attackers then threw the two out of the moving bus and even tried to run the vehicle over the half-naked blood-soaked woman. But her friend, himself injured, pulled her aside on to the pavement.

A passerby found the two laying half dead and informed Delhi Police. Doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital found the woman with only five per cent intestines left inside her body.

The crime triggered massive protests across the country. Angry young men and women took to the streets in Delhi. On December 21, thousands gathered at India Gate and Raisina Hill seeking justice for Nirbhaya as she battled for her life. The protests went on and on.

Nirbhaya, born and brought up in Delhi to parents from an Uttar Pradesh village, was flown to a Singapore hospital. She died there on December 29. Her friend survived after being treated for broken ribs.

As the nation demanded women's safety, the dreams of her parents lay shattered. Her father, who worked in a private company in Delhi, had sold ancestral land to help his daughter continue her education. She herself took tutions to earn extra money.

The incident shook the Manmohan Singh government and a judicial committee headed by former Chief Justice of India J.S. Verma was set up to propose stiff laws to deal with rape cases. Fast-track courts were introduced and even stalking, voyeurism and intentional touching were listed as crimes.

The accused were quickly caught and identified as Ram Singh, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Gupta, Pawan Gupta, Akshay Thakur and a juvenile. Ram Singh, the bus driver, committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the trial.

The juvenile was sent to a correction home and has been released since. The four others were sentenced to death in 2013 and their capital punishment was upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday - four-and-a-half years after the incident.

It may still take months before the punishment is meted out.

But Nirbhaya's parents feel that justice has been served -- not only to their daughter but for everyone in a country where, according to official statistics, nearly 34,000 rape complaints and 84,000 sexual harassments cases were registered in 2015.

--IANS

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The central government announced a Nirbhaya Fund with a corpus of Rs 3,000 crore in 2013 to support initiatives towards ensuring safety of women, following nationwide outrage after the December 2012 gang rape. But since then, there hasn't been any information from the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry about utilisation of the fund.

The Supreme Court even issued a notice to the Centre and all the state governments questioning the non-utilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund in May 2016.

Due to various accusations regarding the underutilisation of the fund since 2013, the government issued a clarification in January 2017, saying that the Ministry of Finance has issued guidelines from time to time for administration and operationalisation of the fund.

In that clarification, it gave a list of schemes like a project of Railways -- Integrated Emergency Response Management System (IERMS), the Home Ministry project -- Emergency Response support System (ERSS), Abhaya Project Proposal in Andhra Pradesh, Chirali Friends Forever in Rajasthan etc.

The Railways project at a cost of Rs 500 crore has been approved to provide round the clock security to women passengers in 983 railway stations by strengthening of security control rooms, according to the WCD ministry.

It said that for creation of the Home Ministry's project, a total cost of Rs 322 crore has been approved.

"There hasn't been any feedback from the ministries whether the fund allocated to them has been utilised," a WCD official told IANS on Friday.

The proposal of Abhaya Project is for ensuring the safety of women and the girl child during transportation (auto- rickshaw). It has been proposed by Andhra Pradesh with a cost of Rs 139 crore, according to the ministry.

It explained Chirali as a scheme to constitute Community Action Groups in seven districts of Rajasthan covering a total of 2,071 Gram Panchayats. The cost of the project is Rs 11 crore, it said.

The amount allocated to different projects is approximately Rs 1,530 crore so far and the expenditure incurred is approximately Rs 400 crore (as per the information available with the Ministry of Women and Child Development).

While the ministry records show the allocation of the fund to different ministries and NGOs but there is no material on where the fund has been utilised.

The clarification just proves that the schemes and projects under the Nirbhaya Fund have been drafted but have not been manifested on the ground level.

Post the January 27 clarification, there has been no more information from the ministry about the utilisation of the fund.

A WCD ministry official on Friday had the same information to share with IANS that was issued three months back.

--IANS

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The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, notified on Friday, is expected to facilitate bankers to adopt resolutions for NPA (non performing assets) accounts, a banker said on Friday.

State Bank of India's Chief General Manager (Kolkata Circle) Partha Pratim Sengupta said: "In most of the large accounts it was a difficult task for bankers to take a resolution. With the ordinance, the Reserve Bank of India is expected to ease that problem."

A clear picture will emerge once the details of the ordinance come out, he said on the sidelines of an event organised by Bengal National Chamber of Commerce.

Having completed the merger of five associate banks and the Bharatiya Mahila Bank with it, the SBI will rationalise 24 of its branches in Kolkata circle by September, he said.

Kolkata circle comprises Bengal, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

"As many as 49 branches of associate banks and three branches of the Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) were merged in Kolkata circle. Twenty-four branches will be rationalised," Chief General Manager (Kolkata Circle) Partha Pratim Sengupta said.

"As much as Rs 12,000 crore of deposits and Rs 11,000 crore of advances were merged in the circle," he added.

The country's largest lender started functioning as a unified entity from April 1 post merger of its five associate banks, besides BMB.

The associate banks merged with the SBI are the State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala and the State Bank of Travancore.

With the merger, the SBI joins the league of top 50 banks globally in terms of assets.

--IANS

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A record number of South Koreans participated in early voting for the presidential election set to be held next week, poll officials said on Friday.

As of 1 p.m., about 7.72 million people, or 18.17 per cent of the electorate, cast their ballots since the two-day advance voting began on Thursday, the National Election Commission (NEC) said.

This is already higher than the overall early voting rates of 12.2 per cent for the parliamentary elections in 2016 and 11.5 per cent for the local elections in 2014, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Turnout in the nation's first early voting for a presidential election was the highest in South Jeolla province, a liberal stronghold, with 25.21 per cent, and the lowest in the traditionally conservative city of Daegu with 15.42 per cent, the NEC said.

Early voting is being conducted at 3,507 polling stations across the country. It will end at 6 p.m.

Over 42.4 million people are eligible to cast ballots in the upcoming election, marking the largest number of voters in the country's history.

All votes cast in advance will be kept sealed with those locked overseas to be brought here for official counting following the end of the presidential election on May 9, the election watchdog added.

Currently, 13 hopefuls are vying for the presidential office after two candidates dropped out of the race.

The latest poll published on Wednesday showed Moon Jae-in of the liberal Democratic Party in the lead with 42.4 percent, followed by two runner-ups -- Ahn Cheol-soo of the centre-left People's Party and Hong Joon-pyo of the former ruling Liberty Korea Party -- who were tied at 18.6 per cent.

--IANS

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The clash between Nepal's judiciary and legislature took a new turn on Friday as the Supreme Court issued an interim order directing the Parliament to put on hold the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Sushila Karki and allow her to return to work right away.

Political parties however termed the court ruling an attack on the authority of parliament and the executive.

Responding to a writ petition against the move, the bench of Justice Cholendra Shumsher JBR issued the order stating that the impeachment motion was against the spirit of Nepal's Constitution.

The bench termed as baseless the accusations made in the motion against Karki, the first woman to hold the top legal post, that her verdict in the case pertaining to promotion of Nepal Police's Inspector General was against the standard legal practice.

"Though it appears, other charges have been levelled against Karki based on the promotion of Nepal Police Inspector General, it is clear that the impeachment motion is void," said the court verdict.

The petition has claimed that the impeachment move contravenes the Constitution's Article 105, which says: "No discussion shall be held in either House of the Federal Parliament on any matters that may cause adverse effect on the dispensation of justice on any cases which are sub judice in any courts of Nepal and on any judicial acts done by judges in the course of performance of their duties."

Karki was automatically suspended from her post after over 249 lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-Maoist Centre registered an impeachment motion against her on April 30, following her staying the appointment of the new police chief.

The filing of the motion also led to Deputy Prime Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, who holds the Home portfolio, resigning to protest the fact that he was not consulted while registering the impeachment motion as appointing the police chief comes under the jurisdiction of his ministry.

However, after a patch up with Prime Minister Pushpa Kumar Dahal 'Prachanda' has agreed to return in job from Sunday.

However, the Nepal government, particularly the two ruling parties, came under huge national and external pressure after the impeachment motion was lodged in Parliament including from the UN Human Rights Council, Geneva.

--IANS

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Scientists will launch on Friday a sounding rocket 320 kms up into the atmosphere, where in just five minutes, it will take 1,500 images of the Sun, NASA said.

Sounding rockets take their name from the nautical term "to sound," which means to take measurements.

The NASA-funded RAISE mission -- short for Rapid Acquisition Imaging Spectrograph Experiment -- is designed to scrutinise split-second changes occurring near the Sun's active regions -- areas of intense, complex magnetic activity that can give rise to solar flares, which eject energy and solar material out into space.

The launch window for RAISE opens at 2:25 p.m. EDT at the White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The precise timing of the launch depends on weather conditions, and coordinated timing with other space observatories, the US space agency said.

Several missions continuously study the Sun -- such as NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, or STEREO -- but certain areas of the sun demand especially high-cadence observations in order to understand the rapid changes occurring there. That is where RAISE comes in.

"Dynamic processes happen on all timescales," said Don Hassler, principal investigator for the RAISE mission at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado.

"With RAISE, we'll read out an image every two-tenths of a second, so we can study very fast processes and changes on the Sun. That's around five to 10 times faster than comparable instruments on other sounding rocket or satellite missions," Hassler said.

RAISE images are used to create a data product called a spectrogram, which separates light from the Sun into all its different wavelength components.

By looking at the intensity of light at each wavelength, scientists can assess how solar material and energy moves around the Sun, and how that movement evolves into massive solar eruptions.

"RAISE is pushing the limits of high-cadence observations, and doing so is challenging," Hassler said.

"But that's exactly what the NASA sounding rocket program is for," Hassler said.

The flight of a sounding rocket is short-lived, and has a parabolic trajectory -- the shape of a frown. Most sounding rocket flights last for 15 to 20 minutes, and just five to six of those minutes are spent making observations from above the atmosphere, observations that can only be done in space.

In RAISE's case, the extreme ultraviolet light the instruments observe cannot penetrate Earth's atmosphere. After the flight, the payload parachutes to the ground, where it can be recovered for use again.

--IANS

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Pakistan, which has opted out of the South Asia Satellite project, termed the satellite launched on Friday as solely made by India and therefore it cannot be called a regional project.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said: "Pakistan has its own space programme at an advanced level and is ready to share its expertise and technological know-how and was keen to participate in the (Indian) project."

But India had made it clear that it would build, launch and operate the satellite solely, the spokesperson added.

He said India offered to "gift" a satellite to Saarc member states, to be named as the "SAARC Satellite". But it was not willing to develop the project on a collaborative basis, so it was not possible for Pakistan to support it as a regional project under the umbrella of Saarc."

The South Asia Satellite on Friday blasted off aboard an Indian rocket. The satellite is intended to address the region's "economic and developmental priorities".

--IANS

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South Asian leaders on Friday hailed India for the successful launch of the India-initiated South Asia Satellite.

"On today's auspicious occasion, I congratulate the Government of India (for the successful launch)," Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was quoted as saying by the Indian Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

"Happy to be able to talk to PM Narendra Modi and other esteemed leaders," she said, according to a series of tweets by the PMO.

An Indian rocket with the over two-tonne South Asia Satellite or GSAT-9, intended to address the region's "economic and developmental priorities", blasted off from the Sriharikota spaceport on Friday evening.

Precisely at 4.57 p.m., the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) rose into the sky from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the spaceport in Andhra Pradesh.

The 49 metre-tall, 415-tonne rocket will sling into orbit, the 2,230 kg South Asia Satellite, intended as an 'Indian Gift' for use by its fellow South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) nations save Pakistan, which had opted out, stating "it has its own space programme".

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tasked the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a satellite for use by the Saarc countries.

Hasina also said that "betterment of our people can happen through fruitful engagement".

Stating that development must be citizen centric, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Friday's development "is child centred and women centred, it makes governance accessible."

"Through this cooperation, we have to work for the poor and the deprived," the PMO quoted Ghani as saying.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said: "Launch of this satellite, our satellite, augurs well for our region and for nations like Bhutan."

He expressed his gratitude to "visionary leader" Modi "for dedicating it to the common progress of the South Asian region."

"This gift from India is an example of true friendship and cooperation. It will bring common progress of our region," Tobgay said. "Launch of the South Asia Satellite (is a) historic moment for the world, it ushers in a new era of regional cooperation."

"'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', says President Abulla Yameen," the PMO cited the Maldives President as saying.

"This launch is an example of India's 'neighbourhood first policy'," Yameen said.

Congratulating Modi and the Indian government for the launch of the satellite, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" said this would enhance connectivity.

"This will be helpful to provide communication services in the mountain and hilly regions of Nepal," Prachanda said.

The PMO also quoted Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena as saying that this initiative would "support people in all regions, enhance economic conditions and help in eliminating poverty".

"This initiative will provide assistance to many priority areas of the region," Sirisena said.

"It is an honour to congratulate you on this historic occasion," he told Modi.

Costing around Rs 235 crore, the satellite was initially known as the Saarc satellite but with Pakistan deciding to keep out, it is now called the South Asia Satellite. Its life span is over 12 years.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on Friday said it has rescued eight children from the clutches of a human trafficking gang in Bihar's Sitamarhi district.

In a joint operation with NGO Child Line, personnel of the paramilitary force rescued the minor children, while apprehending the three traffickers, as they were boarding a train from Sitamarhi railway station, the SSB official said.

Of the eight rescued children, five were being taken to Mumbai on the pretext of providing employment in textile factories whereas three were to be handed over to a person, the official said.

He said that the children have been handed over to the NGO for their rehabilitation while the traffickers were handed over to the Government Railway Police's custody.

"All the children and the traffickers are the residents of Sitamarhi."

According to the officer, the SSB's action came as the outcome of a road map started by the force's Director General Archana Ramasundaram to curb menace of human trafficking from Indo-Nepal border.

The SSB this year so far has registered 44 cases of human trafficking and rescued 209 victims, while arresting 61 traffickers.

--IANS

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Justice R. Justice Banumathi, who gave a separate but concurring judgment in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case on Friday, said the testimony of the rape victim must be appreciated in the court and the notion that it has to be corroborated by other evidence must be removed.

Justice Banumathi made several suggestions on the role of judiciary in dealing with rape cases.

* While dealing with cases of rape, the court must act with utmost sensitivity and appreciate the evidence of prosecutrix (victim) in lieu of settled legal principles.

* Examine the broader probabilities of a case and it should not be swayed by minor contradictions and discrepancies in appreciation of evidence of the witnesses which are not of a substantial character.

* Courts should not attach undue importance to discrepancies, where the contradictions sought to be brought up from the evidence of the prosecutrix are immaterial and of no consequence. Minor variations in the testimony of the witnesses are often the hallmark of truth of the testimony. Trivial discrepancies ought not to obliterate an otherwise acceptable evidence.

* Persisting notion that the testimony of victim has to be corroborated by other evidence must be removed. To equate a rape victim to an accomplice is to add insult to womanhood.

* The testimony of the rape victim must be appreciated in the background of the entire case and the trauma which the victim had

undergone. When the victim was in such a condition, the victim cannot be expected to give minute details of the occurrence. Non-mention of minute details cannot be termed as a material omission.

* Dying declaration is a substantial piece of evidence provided it is not tainted with malice and is not made in an unfit mental state.

* In cases where there are more than one dying declarations, the court should consider whether they are consistent with each other. If there are inconsistencies, the nature of the inconsistencies must be examined as to whether they are material or not.

* In cases where there are more than one dying declaration, it is the duty of the court to consider each one of them and satisfy itself as to the voluntariness and reliability of the declarations. Court has to examine the contents of dying declaration in the light of various surrounding facts and circumstances.

Her observations came as the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentences of all four convicts in the fatal 2012 gang rape of Nirbhaya in a moving bus, a "rarest of rare" crime that sparked nationwide outrage over violence against women in the country.

While a bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Banumathi upheld the death sentence to all the convicts, Justice Banumathi gave a separate but concurring judgement with additional reasoning for concurrence.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump has invited his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos to the White House for talks, administration officials said.

The meeting, scheduled for May 18, will discuss bilateral and regional issues, including implementation of a peace accord reached between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, Xinhua news agency quoted the officials as saying in a statement.

The two leaders will also talk about engagement on shared security objective.

In addition, the meeting will cover topics including "countering democratic lapse in Venezuela", the statement said.

According to the Colombian Embassy in Washington, Santos will also meet with US Vice President Mike Pence and other Congressional leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan.

--IANS

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US President Donald Trump met with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turbull and praised the country's universal healthcare system, just moments after a Republican health care bill was passed to repeal and replace Obamacare, the media reported.

"It's going to be fantastic health care," CNN quoted Trump as saying during a press conference with Turnbull on Thursday, referring to his new healthcare plan.

"I shouldn't say this to our great gentleman and my friend from Australia because you have better health care than we do."

Australia has a universal healthcare system, known as Medicare, which gives citizens free access to doctors and public hospitals paid for by the government.

Australia's healthcare system is mostly funded by the government while relying on private health insurance for some services.

Meanwhile, the new Republican bill which was passed in the House of Representatives on Thursday evening by a vote of 217-213 will significantly cut the amount of government support for Medicaid, which provides healthcare support to some US citizens.

Trump and Turnbull also downplayed a testy phone exchange that began their working relationship as they met face to face aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid in Manhattan, The New York Times reported.

"We get along great. We have a fantastic relationship, I love Australia, I always have," Trump told reporters who witnessed a portion of the meeting between the two leaders in a room near the ship's main dining area.

Their earlier encounter, the phone call in February, was spoiled by Trump's hostile reaction to a deal with Australia that former President Barack Obama negotiated in the final weeks of his second term.

During the call, Trump told Turnbull that the agreement would hurt his new administration politically and the President also called the deal "dumb".

However, during their meeting on Thursday, Turnbull said: "We can put the refugee deal behind you and move on", reports The New York Times.

In response Trump said: "We had a great telephone call. You guys exaggerated that call. That was a big exaggeration. We're not babies."

Trump returned to New York on Thursday night for the first time since he took office on January 20.

--IANS

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European Council President Donald Tusk called for "mutual respect", a day after British Prime Minister Theresa May claimed that "bureaucrats" in Brussels was trying to affect the upcoming snap election in Britain and ruin Brexit talks.

"Brexit talks difficult enough. If emotions get out of hand, they'll become impossible. Discretion, moderation and mutual respect needed," Xinhua news agency cited a tweet by Tusk on Thursday, alluding to May's remarks.

"At stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the Channel," he added

A spokesperson of the European Commission earlier also brushed aside May's claim, saying the EU is too busy to care about British election.

"This election in the United Kingdom is mainly about Brexit, but we here in Brussels, we are rather busy with our policy work, we have too much to do on our plate," said Margaritis Schinas, the European Commission's chief spokesperson.

"When we have a British government immediately after the UK election, we'll be very busy in engaging constructively in Article 50 negotiation for which we are ready," he added.

May on Wednesday made her most stinging remark so far against EU "bureaucrats" in Brussels, accusing them of trying to ruin Brexit talks.

"The European Commission's negotiating stance has hardened. Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials," May said.

The British prime minister said these acts had been deliberately timed to affect the result of the upcoming general election.

--IANS

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The government on Friday announced draft rules for a national no-fly list that proposes a flying ban from three months to two years or beyond for unruly passengers on domestic flights.

Civil Aviation Minster Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey sought consulations from public and the industry stakeholders over the draft policy guidelines.

According to the proposed rules, airlines can impose a ban on an unruly passenger in the time range of three months to two years or beyond depending upon the level of misbehaviour.

"We have put instances of unruly behaviour into three categories," Choubey told reporters.

"Level 1 represents unruly behaviour such as verbal harassment, physical gestures... Level 2 includes physically unruly behaviour such as pushing, kicking, inappropriately touching," he said.

Level 3 will be "life threatening" behaviour of a passenger such as damage to aircraft operating system, physical violence like choking or murderous attempt or assault to flight compartment, he said.

Choubey said for level 1, unruly passengers would be suspended for three months, for level 2 suspension would for six months and for level 3 it would be for two years or beyond.

He said the proposal also provided an appeal provision for passengers.

Every airline will be asked to have a three-member committee that would look into the complaint filed by the crew and a decision on the ban should be taken within 10 days of the complaint.

The set of draft guidelines followed Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad's misbehaviour with an Air India employee in March. Gaikwad was barred from flying by all domestic airlines before the ban was revoked.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government on Friday announced draft rules for a national 'no-fly list' that bans unruly passengers from domestic air travel from three months to two years or beyond depending on the level of offense.

Civil Aviation Minster Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha and Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey sought consulations from the public and the industry stakeholders on the draft guidelines.

The ministry has put forth the proposal to garner public views and comments, which have been invited over one month starting from Friday, May 5, 2017, so that the draft guidelines can be finalised by the end of June 2017.

According to the proposed rules, airlines can impose a travel ban on an unruly passenger in the time range of three months to two years or beyond depending upon the level of misbehaviour.

"We have put instances of unruly behaviour into three categories," Choubey told reporters.

"Level 1 represents unruly behaviour such as verbal harassment, physical gestures... Level 2 includes physically unruly behaviour such as pushing, kicking, inappropriately touching," he said.

Level 3 will be "life threatening" behaviour of a passenger such as damage to aircraft operating system, physical violence like choking or murderous attempt or assault to flight compartment, he said.

Choubey elaborated that for level 1, unruly passengers would be suspended for three months, for level 2 suspension would for six months and for level 3 it would be for two years or beyond.

The proposed mechanism mandates setting up of a three-member committee that would look into the complaint filed by the airline and a decision on the ban will have to be taken within 10 days of the complaint.

Choubey explained that the proposal also provided an appeal provision for passengers. However, individuals put under the 'no-fly list' by the security agencies would not be given any right to appeal.

Besides, he informed that other airlines as well as international air passenger carriers were free to take the cognizance of the 'no-fly list' and extend ban to the concerned individual or group of individuals.

Currently, rules only allow airlines to refuse boarding or off-loading of a passenger whose behaviour is deemed as unruly or disruptive to the safety of flight operations.

The draft guidelines followed Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad's misbehaviour with an Air India employee in March. Gaikwad was barred from flying by all domestic airlines before the ban was revoked.

After the incident, the flag carrier had placed a ban on flying the Shiv Sena MP.

Other private air passenger carriers' also imposed a similar ban on the Shiv Sena MP which was subsequently lifted on advice of the Civil Aviation Ministry after Gaikwad expressed "regrets" in the Lok Sabha over the March 23 incident.

Last month, sources in Air India revealed that the airline was working on a set of guidelines to deal with unruly passengers, which included hefty fines of up to Rs 15 lakh.

AI sources disclosed that the guidelines and proposed penalties were awaiting approval from Air India's Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani's office.

AI's proposed guidelines envisaged arming Air India's airport managers with more powers to deal directly with unruly passengers, while hefty fines of up to Rs 15 lakh have also been proposed to be levied on passengers who delay flight operations.

The guidelines detailed a fresh penalty structure through which an unruly passenger can be fined Rs 5 lakh for delaying a flight by an hour, Rs 10 lakh for delay beyond an hour and Rs 15 lakh for delay beyond two hours.

Commenting on the draft rules, Amber Dubey, partner and India head of aerospace and defence at global consultancy KPMG told IANS: "The draft..is a welcome development. The industry has been demanding it for several years now. With growing congestion at the airports and packed flights, we expect more incidents of unruly behaviour."

"A no fly list is therefore urgently required."

Global airline association International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that it is reviewing the draft policy to provide feedback to ensure the proposals are aligned with the industry's position.

"Unruly passenger incidents affect airlines around the world on a daily basis. The Indian government has already signed the Montreal Protocol 2014 and we now urge India to ratify it as soon as possible to enhance the deterrent against unruly and disruptive passenger incidents," said Albert Tjoeng, Assistant Director, Corporate Communications, Asia Pacific at IATA.

--IANS

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Accra, May 5 (IANS/MAP) Signatories to the Paris climate accord have been urged to step up their support for global climate change mitigation efforts, in the light of the US' regression in its support for such efforts under President Donald Trump.

Bill McKibben, Co-Founder of 350.org, a grassroots climate campaign based in the US, said on Thursday that the rest of the world now had to choose one of two options in the light of Trump's stance on climate change.

The American administration has been cutting down on its commitments to address climate change, which Trump has openly described as a hoax.

There is currently a potential that Trump would withdraw America from the Paris Climate Accord.

McKibben said most Americans were opposed to Trump's stance and actions on climate change issues, with several marches organised in Washington DC to resist Trump on these issues.

"He may withdraw America from the Paris climate accord. If that happens, the rest of the world has a choice. It has one of two options: It can either say if Americans won't work on this, we don't have to work on this either."

McKibben noted, however, that this choice would mean that climate change would continue to progress, with the poorest countries being the hardest hit by the situation.

"The other option for the rest of the world, is to say 'we're going to step up and we're going to do more because we have no choice' and I hope that that's what happens," he stated.

McKibben urged other world leaders to demonstrate more commitment to addressing climate change.

"It is a real moment for the rest of the world to demonstrate that the US is not the most important country in the world and that the world can figure out how to do things even when the US is going backwards," he said.

--IANS

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Shortly before the gruesome beheading of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistani army this week what was Sajjan Jindal, head of JSW Steel, Indias second biggest private steel producer, doing consorting with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Murree? Was he perhaps enjoying a glass of chilled beer proffered by Mr Sharif from the hill stations famous brewery  far from the heat and dust of the plains, the mud and blood of the LoC?
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said today that Congress vice president has the potential to become the Prime Minister of the country adding that the time was also right for a generational change in the party.

The Punjab chief minister said he had always found the AICC vice president "extremely perceptive and decisive".

There was a "deliberate" attempt to undermine Rahul's image by calling him names and he has potential to become the Prime Minister of the country, Amarinder said.

The time was right for a generational change in the Congress to cater to the aspirations of the over 70 per cent youth population of the country, he said.

Referring to incidents along the LoC, the chief minister said while killings and skirmishes had been going on for long, the kind of brutality we see now was not there earlier.

Incidents like the recent mutilation of the bodies of two Indian jawans were understandably provoking the wrath of the people and the Indian Army needed to counter such acts effectively, he asserted.

However, striking a note of caution, he said that in the long term, both India and Pakistan needed to think about peace and the future of the coming generations.

The chief minister exuded confidence over the response by investors and industry to the change in dispensation in the state, saying his government had, in just six weeks, been able to build their confidence.

He endorsed his claim by adding that the Bathinda refinery was all set for a Rs 20,000 crore expansion.

Amarinder said his government had succeeded in creating the right enabling environment for the elimination of drugs, which were now becoming increasingly less available, as was evidenced in the spike in their prices.

The number of youth going to rehabilitation centres was another indication that his government had successfully broken the backbone of the drugs mafia, said the Chief Minister.

However it would be difficult to wean youth completely away from drugs without giving them employment, to which his government was committed, Amarinder said.

With 90 lakh youth in Punjab either unemployed or underemployed, his government was going all out with efforts to generate employment, he added.

Referring to the state of agriculture in Punjab, the Chief Minister said his government was working to encourage farmers, about 70 percent of whom were small farmers, to diversify and shift from paddy to high cash crops.

Such small farmers, with less than 5 acres each of land, could not survive imposition of taxes, he added referring to a suggestion by NITI Aayog member Bibek Debroy to tax farm income.

However NITI Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya had said that the question of levying taxes from agricultural income does not arise.

Amarinder gave credit to the previous Akali government in the state for creating surplus power.

He however came down heavily on the Shiromani Akali Dal leadership for the huge debt they had left behind, leaving the Congress government with no money to pay salaries or for development.

The state government was working to improve education and health in the state, said Captain Amarinder, adding that without good schooling, higher education remained a problem, which was also reflected in the fact that Punjabis were not faring too well in competitive exams, including those for Army recruitment.

Without mincing words, Captain Amarinder once again repeated that Khalistani sympathisers sitting in Canada were misleading people with false information and he would not allow the peace and stability of Punjab to be destroyed by such elements at any cost.

The Chief Minister said while Punjabi language accorded due prominence, it was important also to promote English to enable the youth to find jobs in the competitive global market.
The much imminent split in the Samajwadi Party materialised on Friday, with senior party leader Shivpal Yadav announcing that his elder brother Mulayam Singh Yadav would head the Samajwadi Secular Morcha, to be guided by the tenets of social justice and secularism.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) is ready to support any secular alliance for the presidential poll, which is a few months away, its president Akhilesh Yadav said today.

"If there is any secular alliance (for the presidential poll), my party will support it," he told reporters at the SP headquarters here.

His remarks came against the backdrop of CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury recently meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi to explore the possibility of fielding a joint candidate for the presidential poll, even as RJD boss Lalu Prasad talked about cobbling together a Bihar-style 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too has called for a larger unity among the regional parties ahead of the presidential election.

Significantly, senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav today announced that party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will head a "new, secular front" to be formed by him.

The presidential election is scheduled in July and opposition unity for contesting it may well be a precursor to an anti-NDA front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar had recently ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with the SP for the upcoming local bodies polls in the state. Akhilesh though played it down saying, "Our friendship with the Congress will continue." He, however, did not elaborate.

The Congress has decided to go it alone in the urban bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The move is being seen as an impending end to the SP- Congress alliance, which was forged before the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

The alliance suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the BJP in the UP polls. It managed to secure only 54 seats (SP 47, Congress seven) as opposed to the BJP-led NDA's 325.

In the aftermath of the dismal poll performance, speculation was rife that the allies might part ways for the urban bodies polls as the local Congress leaders had voiced opposition to the continuance of the tie-up.

On the Bulandshahr lynching incident, in which a Muslim man was allegedly beaten to death by the workers of the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), a right-wing group formed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after an inter-faith couple eloped, Akhilesh said they (HYV) should also prepare a list of those BJP leaders, who have had similar marriages.

"The people should know how many BJP leaders have had such marriages. The HYV should go to Delhi and prepare such a list," he said.
At least one person was killed and 17 others injured today in south-western Pakistan due to cross-border firing by Afghan forces, officials said.

The Afghan troops started shelling in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir area of Chaman district of Balochistan province.

Security officials said that the purpose was to target two Pakistani check posts in the area. Pakistan forces retaliated to the fire.

One person was killed and 17 injured when a mortar fired by Afghan hit a house in Kali Luqman village, according to a security official.

It was not known immediately why the firing started. Some reports suggested that intermittent firing was still going on.

Pakistan sealed the Friendship Gate at the Chaman border crossing for all kinds of transportation due to the fire.

It is second time this year that the Chaman border crossing was sealed.

In February it was closed along with other crossings after a series of terrorist attacks, which Pakistan said were launched by militants hiding in Afghanistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fourteen people were today killed and 28 others injured when a truck carrying a marriage party lost control and fell into a canal here.

The incident took place near Sarai Neem in Jalesar area here, nearly 230 km from the state capital of Lucknow, at around 3 AM when the truck was returning from Agra, the police said.

Etah is four hours drive from the national capital.

The deceased have been identified as Girand Singh (65), Prashant (12), Lavkush (21), Mukesh (23), Nerapal (25), Padam Singh (50), Omveer (19), Shaitan Singh (50), Padam Singh (40), Bani Singh (45), Rajendra (60), Vijay (22), Pravendra Fauji (35) and Sanju (25).

All of them died on the spot. The injured have been rushed to hospital.

Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured in the accident.

"My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the accident in Etah, UP. May those injured in the accident recover quickly," the prime minister said.

The incident comes a few months after 15 children were killed and over 20 others injured in January when their school bus collided with a lorry amid dense fog on Aliganj-Patiyali road in Etah.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Afghan forces today opened fire on Pakistani security personnel in the restive Balochistan province, killing at least three persons, including a woman, and injuring 17 others, officials said.

The Afghan troops started shelling in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir area of Chaman district. Security officials said that the purpose was to target two Pakistani check posts in the area. Pakistan forces retaliated to the fire.

Medical Superintendent of Chaman Civil Hospital Akhtar said three persons including a woman died and 17 others were injured in the firing from the Afghan side.

Pakistan army's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), earlier released a statement saying Afghan Border Police opened fire on Frontier Corps (FC) personnel detailed for the security of a census team in Chaman.

It was not known immediately why the firing started. Some reports suggested that intermittent firing was still going on.

Pakistan sealed the Friendship Gate at the Chaman border crossing for all kinds of transportation due to the firing.

It was the second time this year that the Chaman border crossing was sealed.

In February, it was closed along with other crossings after a series of terrorist attacks, which Pakistan said were launched by militants hiding in Afghanistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Authorities say at least five people are dead in northeast Nigeria in an attack by two female suicide bombers.

Murtala Ibrahim with the Borno police command confirmed the attack last night in the Borno state capital of Maiduguri.

The violence came a day after three other female bombers tried to attack a military outpost but were killed by soldiers.

The Boko Haram extremist group, which has ties to the Islamic State group, has increasingly used girls and young women to carry out attacks on marketplaces, checkpoints and other targets.

Some young women who escaped Boko Haram have said girls are drugged and forced to carry out suicide missions. Boko Haram was founded in northeast Nigeria and is now active in Chad, Niger and Cameroon as well.

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An accused in a murder case being probed by Aurangabad police was arrested in the neighbouring Thane city today.

Officers of Thane crime branch arrested Santosh Mahadeo More (29) near Cinewonder mall in Majiwada area this morning.

More, resident of Narayannagar in Aurangabad, is accused of murdering Anil Hawalsingh Sharma (32) at a hotel on Ahmednagar-Aurangabad road in January last year.

He suspected that Sharma was having affair with his wife and hence murdered him, according to the police.

More allegedly shot Sharma with a revolver, and later decapitated the body with the help of some others. The body and the severed head were dumped in separate places.

Aurangabad Rural police arrested More and nine others a few days after the murder, but More fled from police custody when he was being taken to court for remand hearing. One of the policemen on escorting duty was arrested for dereliction of duty.

Aurangabad police recently got a tip-off that More was living in Mumbai region and alerted Thane police who arrested him today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 22-year-old ad film actor from Bengaluru was killed in an early morning road accident at Natrampalli in this district today, police said.

Rekha Sindu was killed on the spot when the driver of the car she was travelling "dozed off" and rammed the vehicle into the median, Natrampalli police said.

The incident happened on the busy Chennai-Bengaluru highway and three other occupants of the car, including the driver, sustained injuries, police said.

The victim was on her way to Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, in an apparent case of mistaken identity, some reports claimed that another Kannada actor, Rekha Krishnappa, was the one who was killed in the mishap, prompting her to issue a clarification.

Krishnappa, also seen in some Tamil TV serials, said she was in Sringeri.

"I am all fine guys.....At present in Sringeri sharada peeta temple," she wrote on her Facebook page and also put up a video.

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The party of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and its coalition ally have won a clear majority in parliamentary elections, the interior ministry said today.

Bouteflika's National Liberation Front (FLN) won 164 of the national assembly's 462 seats in a poll marred by low turnout, public disillusionment over a tepid economy and allegations of political corruption.

The FLN, which has dominated the North African nation's politics since its 1962 independence from France, lost a quarter of the seats it won in 2012 polls, according to preliminary results from Thursday's vote announced by interior minister Nourredine Bedoui.

But the FLN preserved its majority thanks to its ally, the Rally for National Democracy (RND), which won 97 seats, up from 68 in the last election.

Two opposition Islamist lists won 48 seats between them -- their worst ever result since Algeria first held multi- party elections in 1990.

"For political observers, there are no surprises," analyst Rachid Tlemcani told AFP. "The ruling parties take the top two places and the Islamists are on the bottom step of the podium."



The official results will be announced by the constitutional council after any appeals.

The ministry said turnout was 38 percent, down from just over 43 percent in the 2012 election.

Thursday's vote was marked by voter disillusionment over what many see as broken government promises on the economy and a political system tainted by corruption.

Officials spent weeks before the poll trying to drum up enthusiasm among electors, launching a campaign dubbed "Samaa sawtek" ("Let your voice be heard").

Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal even told an all-female audience in the eastern city of Setif to wake their husbands early, refuse them coffee and "drag" them to voting booths.

"If they resist, hit them with a stick," he said.

But many voters were put off by a scandal involving candidates accused of paying to have their names added to party lists.

Voters have also been put off by perceived stagnation in the political system and speculation over the health of their 80-year-old president, who has rarely been seen in public since a 2013 stroke.

Bouteflika voted from a wheelchair at a polling booth in Algiers on Thursday in what was his first appearance before the international media since he was sworn in for a fourth term in April 2014.

Many Algerians pay little attention to parliamentary polls in a opaque system dominated by the office of the president.

"It's normal to vote for the president, but I don't see the interest in MPs," said Mourad, a 45-year-old engineer.

Algeria weathered the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings with massive spending on wages and subsidies that depleted government coffers.

But a 2014 slump in crude oil prices forced the government to raise taxes and mothball many public projects.

Today, in a country of 40 million where half the population is under 30, one young person in three is unemployed.

Tlemcani said the disconnect between the elite and the youth had worsened in recent years.

"People are disappointed by the previous legislature, which has done nothing," he said.

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BSF Director General K K Sharma today termed the beheading of two Indian jawans by Pakistani Army as "unsoldierly" and said he hoped that such incident would never happen again.

"The action of the Pak Army was unsoldierly because they mutilated the body and beheaded them. I wish such things should not happen again," Sharma told reporters here.

Stating that the BSF and the Indian Army are prepared for any eventuality, Sharma said, "we'll give them a befitting reply to any misadventure on their part."



"They (Pakistan Army) keep on sending terrorists and we keep on fighting them and so far we have successfully countered all their nefarious attempts," he said.

The soldiers killed were Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh of 22 Sikh Infantry and Head Constable Prem Sagar of 200th Battalion of BSF on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on May one.

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The officer in-charge of a police station in Bihar's Muzzafarpur district was arrested for consuming liquor despite the total prohibition in force in the state.

Town Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashish Anand said an excise department team visited Kazi Mohammadpur police station today following complaints received late last night.

The team found the officer-in-charge Rameshwar Singh in an inebriated state and tried to catch him. There was pushing and shoving and Singh even tried to run away when he was being taken for medical test to ascertain that he had consumed liquor, he said.

Other policemen of the police station gave him a hot chase and nabbed him, Anand added.

The arrest of the OC came a day after the president of Bihar Police Mens Association Nirmal Singh and another official of the association Shamsher Khan were caught in Patna from the police line on charge of liquor consumption.

Total prohibition is in force in Bihar since April last year.

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An International New York Times opinion piece criticising the powerful Pakistani army was censored by its local publisher today, replaced by a blank space in a country where it can be dangerous to speak out against the military establishment.

The online version of the piece by Mohammed Hanif, a high-profile satirist and novelist whose critiques of Pakistani society regularly appear in the New York Times, was trending on Pakistani social media by this afternoon.

In the article, entitled "Pakistan's Triangle of Hate", he savaged the military for parading a former Pakistani Taliban spokesman before television cameras to claim that the militants are bankrolled by Islamabad's arch-nemesis India.

"With his appearance, the Pakistani Army seemed to be sending this message: You can kill thousands of Pakistanis, but if you later testify that you hate India as much as we do, everything will be forgiven," Hanif wrote.

"Do we really need to enlist our children's killers in our campaign against India?"



A note on the blank page clarified the decision to censor the article was taken in Pakistan, and the newspaper "had no role in its removal".

"While we understand that our publishing partners are sometimes faced with local pressures, we regret and condemn any censorship of our journalism," a spokeswoman for the New York Times told AFP on Friday.

The former Taliban spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, is the man who claimed responsibility on behalf of the Taliban for shooting schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai in the head in Swat Valley in 2012.

He also spoke for the group in claiming responsibility for Pakistan's deadliest ever extremist attack, in which gunmen stormed a school in northwestern Peshawar and killed more than 150 people, most of them children.

Last month the army announced that Ehsan had given himself up to the military, but gave no details on the circumstances or timing of his surrender.

It later released a video of Ehsan stating the militants were given financial and logistical assistance by the intelligence agencies of India and Afghanistan -- a claim often made by the army.

Hanif's words echoed the feelings of many in Pakistan repulsed by the publicity surrounding Ehsan -- though others have rejoiced at the accusations against India.

Friday's censorship was the second day in a row that the Express Tribune had blanked out a piece in the Times.

On Thursday, it removed a piece on an anti-gay crackdown in Chechnya entitled "Chechnya's anti-gay pogrom".

In 2016, it censored a Times image of a man in China giving his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. Later that year it blocked an article in the paper entitled "Sex Talk for Muslim Women".

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Nine Chadian soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram attack on an army post in the Lake Chad region today, local and security sources said.

Some 40 Boko Haram jihadists were also killed as the army responded to the attack on the Kaiga post, sources said on condition of anonymity. A military official confirmed the attack without giving a toll.

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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker today described as a "tragedy" that had happened partly as a result of the European Union's past mistakes.

In a speech in Florence, the head of the EU's executive arm warned of tough negotiations to come but also struck a more conciliatory tone after the first round of contacts on a deal degenerated into a cross-Channel war of words.

"Our British friends have decided to leave, which is a tragedy," the former Luxembourg Prime Minister told the European University Institute's State of the Union conference.

"I don't want anyone to underestimate the real importance of this sovereign decision of the British people. It is not a small thing but we must and will negotiate in all 'fairness' with our British friends.

"But I would like to recall here that there should be no doubt that it is not the EU abandoning the UK, it is the oppposite. They are abandoning the EU and this is a difference of status that must and will be felt over the next few years."

In a nod to longstanding British complaints about Brussels bureaucracy and perceived meddling in national affairs, Juncker acknowledged that the EU "has some weaknesses which can partly explain the outcome of the referendum in the UK."

"In the past, the EU has done a little too much, even the Commission: too many rules, too much interference in the daily lives of our citizens."

Juncker said his Commission had slashed the number of legislative proposals put to EU governments from 130 a year to 23 and was concentrating on the environment and programmes to boost trade, growth and jobs.

The only comment that could have been interpreted as a barb at Britain came at the start of his speech, when he briefly spoke in English to say it would be delivered in French.

"Slowly but surely English is losing importance in Europe," he said with a rueful smile, before explaining: "The French will have elections on Sunday and I would like them to understand what I am saying about Europe and about nations."

Juncker's speech came at the end of a week which has seen Prime Minister Theresa May accuse Brussels of meddling in the British election campaign and another government minister describe the Commission as trying to "bully" London.

The spat was sparked by the leaking of details of a Downing Street dinner May hosted for Juncker, which exposed frustration in Brussels about the British government's "delusions" over the divorce proceedings.
French centrist Emmanuel Macron sought to cement his frontrunner status today on the last day of campaigning for the weekend's election run-off after a bruising and divisive race.

Pro-European Macron and far-right anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen have offered starkly different visions for France during a campaign that has been closely watched in Europe and the rest of the world.

At the end of a battle that has only increased in intensity in the final days, both candidates made final campaign appearances and toured radio and TV stations.

Macron was visiting the southwest city of Rodez while Le Pen headed for Reims in northern France as they sought to win over voters before Sunday's run-off.

Polls showed that 39-year-old former investment banker Macron has stretched his lead over Le Pen to 22 points after he was seen to have emerged the strongest from a bad-tempered TV debate on Wednesday.

Macron said he had already chosen the name of his future prime minister -- but even the person concerned had not been informed.

"Yes, this choice has been made 'in petto'," he told Europe 1 radio, using an Italian expression meaning "in my heart".

Macron said he would only announce his choice after he took over from President Francois Hollande, if he wins.

"I will not announce it before," he said.

Le Pen has said she would appoint eurosceptic ally Nicolas Dupont-Aignan -- who was knocked out in the first round of the presidential election -- as her premier if she wins.

In a major security breach, Greenpeace activists partially scaled the Eiffel Tower in Paris to hang a giant anti-Le Pen banner saying "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" and "#resist".

The Paris police department said Friday's protest had exposed "flaws" in the security of the world-renowned monument that needed to be addressed.

It came at the end of a campaign in which Le Pen sees her rise as the consequence of growing right-wing nationalism and a backlash against globalisation reflected in the election of Donald Trump in the United States and Britain's shock vote to leave the European Union.

Le Pen has said she wants to copy Britain's example of holding a referendum on France's EU membership, sending alarm bells ringing in Brussels.

She has sought to soften the image of her National Front party over the past six years -- but without fully banishing doubts about the party's core beliefs.

Le Pen has tried to portray Macron as being soft on Islamic fundamentalism, playing to the concerns of many of her supporters after a string of terror attacks in France that have killed more than 230 people since 2015.

Although polls show her slipping, she told supporters Thursday she would sweep to power.

"France cannot wait five more years to hold its head high," she said in the northern village of Ennemain.

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A businessman and his wife were killed after their car fell into a gorge on the Vikasnagar- Barkot road in Uttarkashi district.

The accident occurred last evening at Sarigad, between Naugaon and Damta, when Rajendra Jain (57) lost control of the car he was driving and it fell into a gorge, said a senior official.

Jain and his wife Rekha (55), both residents of Mori block in Uttarkashi, were killed on the spot, Barkot Sub- Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Rohit Meena said.

Rs 9 lakh in cash and a large quantity of gold jewellery were recovered from the mangled remains of the car, he said, adding that the couple was returning from Dehradun to their village.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has expressed grief over the accident.

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China's first homemade large passenger jet today successfully completed its maiden flight, heralding the Communist giant's entry into the highly-competitive global aviation sector dominated by Boeing and Airbus.

The 158-seater C919 aircraft painted white, green and blue, took to the skies from Shanghai Pudong International Airport in eastern China.

The 80-minute flight was greeted with applause by more than 1,000 spectators on the tarmac, including Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai and Shanghai Communist Party chief Han Zheng.

The twin-engine plane departed with five crew members on board but without any passengers.

"The maiden flight was exciting," said Wu Guanghui, C919's chief designer, adding that it was a major breakthrough in China's civil aviation history, as well as the start of a new era of advanced manufacturing in the country.

The successful flight of the indigenously-made aircraft made China the world's fourth jumbo jet producer after the US, Europe and Russia, the state media reported.

The "C" in the aircraft's name stands for both China and COMAC, while 9 symbolises "forever" in Chinese culture and 19 represents the maximum 190 seats capacity.

With a standard range of 4,075 kilometres, the narrow- body jet is comparable with updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737, signalling the country's entry into the global aviation market, Xinhua agency commented.

It also marks a milestone for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of the C919, it said.

China in recent times has been making big breakthroughs in aviation with new fighter aircraft, including a stealth aircraft, but this is the first time it came out with a passenger plane.

China's first amphibious aircraft, stated to be the largest in the world,successfully conducted its first glide test on April 29 in Chinese city of Zhuhai and braced for its maiden flight.

China began to develop its own jumbo passenger jets in the 1970s and the first one, the Y-10, had a successful test flight in 1980. But the project was abandoned later.

In 2007, the State Council, China's Cabinet, approved plans to develop a large passenger jet. In November 2015, the first C919 jet rolled off the assembly line.

Theplanepassed expert technical appraisal this March.

The aircraft was given the go-ahead in April to begin a series of high-speed taxiing tests, the final step before its maiden flight. More than 200,000 technicians worked on the project.

The jet was designed and produced in China and made with resources from around the world. It is an achievement in global cooperation, said Wu.

The C919 incorporates parts from over 30 global suppliers such as Honeywell International Inc. Its engines were made by a joint venture between General Electric and Safran Aircraft Engines.

COMAC has received 570 orders from 23 foreign and domestic customers, including from China's national carrier Air China and leasing company GE Capital Aviation Service.

China's new passenger planes pose no immediate threat to Western aviation companies such as Boeing and Airbus.

"The Chinese government is interested in establishing independence and self-sufficiency in all aspects of aviation," Douglas Royce, an aerospace expert at Forecast International, an aerospace market research firm, told Xinhua.

It is engaged in a long-term process of catching up to Europe, the United States, and Russia in commercial aircraft, he said.

Royce predicted that demand for the C919 will be cantered in the Chinese market and a few satellite markets in the early years of service.

Both Airbus andBoeinghave assembly plants in China considering the growing demand for new aircraft.

Airbushaddelivered 153 aircraft to Chinese operators in 2016, its seventh consecutive year of more than 100 deliveries, AirbusChina said earlier this year.

A recent Boeing forecast saidthat China will need 6,810 new aircraft in the next 20 years at an estimated cost of USD one trillion.

By the end of 2016, 21 customers had placed orders for more than 500 C919 aircraft, and COMAC expects to sell at least 2,000.

China's first regional commercial aircraft ARJ21 began commercial operation in June 2016.

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The Congress today questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the "dangerous" situation in Jammu and Kashmir, while asking the government whether it is in favour of a military solution or dialogue to resolve the issue.

AICC spokesperson Kapil Sibal mocked the BJP-led NDA government, remarking that "Terror and dialogue cannot go together, but terror and birthday cake can go together", referring to Modi's impromptu visit to Pakistan to attend his counterpart Nawaz Sharif's birthday in 2015.

He accused the Modi government of not having a policy on Kashmir or on Pakistan which was responsible for the rising number of terror incidents in the valley and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control.

"Somewhere the policy of the government is not clear. They don't have any clarity in their policy... They have no policy on Kashmir, they have no policy on Pakistan," he said.

"Do they want a military solution or do they want a dialogue?" he asked.

Sibal said the situation in the state was "disturbing" as for the first time youth in the valley were coming out on the streets with no one leading them.

"This is a dangerous situation," he said, noting that it was a leaderless movement and wondered how the situation came to such a pass.

He also expressed serious concern over rise in bank robberies in the valley, while noting that there have been 13 such robberies.

Questioning the prime minister's silence on Kashmir, he said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks on several issues. We want to hear him speak on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He has, however, maintained a surprising silence on the issue".

Sibal drew a comparison to the situation in Kashmir during the Congress-led UPA regime and claimed it was "far better" than now.

Referring to the combing operation underway in Shopian in south Kashmir, the Congress leader said the last time it was done was in 1990.

He claimed former prime minister Manmohan Singh never went to Pakistan during his 10-year term, still the situation was not as bad as it is now.

The Congress leader also expressed concern over ties with China and said it had pulled out of trilateral talks with India and Russia.

"There is a big mismatch between the thought and what was happening on the ground," he said, alleging that the government prefers not to seek views from the opposition nor take it into confidence on such matters.

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The courtroom clapped, but not everybody is applauding. Some, in fact, are raising questions not just about the death penalty, but about the definition of "rarest of rare" cases.

The Supreme Court verdict today confirming the death sentence awarded to four convicts in the December 16, 2012, gangrape case, and the ensuing reactions, have left some lawyers and activists bemused.

Senior advocate Rebecca John, who describes herself as a "staunch opponent" of the death penalty, said she could not help but notice the judicial system's "difference in approach" in the Delhi case and that of a pregnant Bilkis Bano, who was gangraped in the Post-Godhra violence of 2002.

"What were the mitigating circumstances there? In Bilkis's case, she lost a baby girl. Her head was crushed with a stone. I find it very disturbing that offences committed in other contexts, which are equally brutal, are treated differently," she told PTI.

The Bombay High Court yesterday rejected the investigating agency CBI's appeal seeking the death sentence for three convicts in the Bilkis gangrape case. However, it upheld the conviction and life sentence to 12 people involved in the case and set aside the acquittal of seven others.

Supreme Court lawyer Karuna Nundy believes that the "collective conscience" of the people is bound to be "subjective".

"The problem with the collective conscience standard is that one bench decides it is outraged for Nirbhaya, another does not for Bano," she tweeted.

John said apart from the usual moral and ethical questions, there was also no evidence to suggest that the death penalty acted as deterrence.

Instead, she said, it could act as an "incentive" for a criminals to commit a murder in a rape case to suppress evidence, since both crimes could lead to a death sentence.

"Equating death with justice is something we need to evolve out of. It is understandable when the parents and the loved ones express such a demand, but I cannot understand why society bays for blood. And more disturbingly, that outrage is mostly selective," she said.

Activists hold that a death sentence also indicates a class, caste or religious bias.

The Death Penalty India Report prepared by the National Law University (NLU) - Delhi, released last year, observed that nearly two-thirds of people on the death row belonged to the backward classes, religious minorities or were Dalits and Adivasis.

"We should closely look at the class of people who get the death penalty. It is a middle class mentality that if you do away with a certain class of people, crime will come down," Enakshi Ganguly, who runs the HAQ Centre for Child Rights, said.

John said the NLU study showed that people who were sentenced to death were not defended adequately in lower courts and by the time they were given good legal support in the higher courts, the damage was done.

John and Ganguly stressed that the real deterrence to crime would come from a quick and robust prosecution. That will serve the ends of justice, John said.

Amnesty International India's Senior Campaigner Gopika Bashi said what was needed was far-reaching "procedural and institutional" reform and called for the implementation of recommendations made by the Justice Verma Committee, which suggested quicker trials and enhanced punishment for criminals committing sexual assaults.

Bashi said there was need for police training and reform, preventive measures and changing the way reports of sexual violence were registered and investigated.

"These measures will take effort and time, but will be more effective in the long run in making India safer for women," she said.

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Authorities say gunbattles between rival drug gangs in the Mexican border city of Reynosa have left 12 people dead.

The security spokesman for the northern state of Tamaulipas said five people were killed in two gunbattles yesterday. Another seven people were killed earlier in the violence that began Tuesday.

The disputes between rival factions of the Gulf cartel follow the killing of leader Julian Loisa Salinas, known as "Comandante Toro," by military personnel in late April.

In another incident involving drug traffickers, Mexican federal police announced Friday they caught four suspects who allegedly used hidden compartments on buses and trucks to smuggle narcotics to the United States.

The suspects were caught on Mexico City's outskirts with about 400 pounds (185 kilograms) of cocaine and 13 pounds (5.8 kilograms) of heroin.

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Comedian-actor Krushna Abhishek says the recent tiff between Kapil Sharma and Sunil Grover was natural as people go through lots of ups and downs in friendship.

Grover quit Sharma's comedy show after being allegedly slapped by the latter on a flight. The actor didn't return to shoot for any episode of the show post the incident in March.

When asked about the row, Krushna told reporters, "That's their personal matter. They're friends, so fights happen in friendships. Kapil had held together the team for four years. You should see that too. They've been working for so long... Not everyone can handle people, so sometimes there are fights."



The actor was speaking at the launch of new Colors' reality show "India Banega Manch", here last evening.

The show is shot on the streets and the participants are given a limited time to attract as many people as they can with their skills.

Krushna says he was instantly attracted to the show because of the format which involves "no judges, no sets, no votes" and the winning performance is purely decided by the live audience watching the act.

He will co-anchor the show with TV actress Mona Singh, and Krushna is thankful that his equation with her is fantastic.

"It is very important to have an understanding with your co-host. If you bring someone like me on stage, chances are he may get into the trap of one-upmanship. Hence, you need positive people. Mona and I both entertained each other, supported each other, so it was a fantastic experience."



The show is set to air on Colors from May 7.

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Social media today went abuzz with excitement as the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentence given to four men convicted in the December 16, 2012, gangrape of a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern.

"Finally, justice for Nirbhaya," posts and tweets said, almost assuming anthemic proportions.

Social media sites reacted to the dramatic capping of events stretching for nearly five years that saw, by turns, an outraged nation spilling on to the streets, a riveting legal battle which brought the spotlight on capital punishment, and eventually a significant verdict by the apex court.

"Finally! Justice for #Nirbhaya," tweeted a user of a popular Twitter handle, using the words that had become a rallying cry during the tumultuous protests after the incident.

The user also posted a picture of the victim's mother paying tribute to her daughter at a memorial, with a caption that read -- "After 4 years, 4 months, 18 days, many protests tears, pain & struggle, the soul of the daughter of India & sister of Indians will rest in peace."



Another user tweeted, "This is justice for #Nirbhaya but justice in true sense would only be when society doesn't allow another #Nirbhaya to happen! Jai Ho."



A tweeter said, "We don't want another daughter of India to be raped & molested. We really don't. I hope SC will give justice to India's daughter #Nirbhaya."



The court room today broke into applause as the verdict was read out, with judges describing the incident as "most brutal, barbaric and diabolic" which could create a "tsunami of shock" to destroy a civilised society.

The sentiments were almost mirrored on social media sites as people took to Twitter and Facebook to hail the judgement, which some believed would deter crime.

A journalist tweeted, "Entire court room broke into applause as judge announced the verdict, not something I've seen covering courts #Nirbhaya."



Some netizens demanded that she be addressed by her actual name, as also desired by her parents, and not as Nirbhaya, a name given by the media.

"Her name is..., not #Nirbhaya or #Damini, call her by her own name as justice is done in her memory & her convicts hanged," tweeted another user.

But a section of people also asked why Bilkis Bano and Ehsan Jafri -- victims of anti-Muslim violence in Gujarat in 2002 -- could not be treated similarly.

"Problem with 'collective conscience' standard is that one bench decides it is outraged for Nirbhaya, another does not for Bano," said Supreme Court advocate Karuna Nundy in her tweet.

"A desire for death penalty & justice for #Nirbhaya do u also agree on death penalty for those who gangraped Bilkis Bano & killed her child," asked another Twitter user.

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At least five persons were killed and 11 other injured in a pile-up involving two trucks and a mini bus in north China's Shanxi Province.

The accident happened yesterday near a highway toll gate in the city of Linfen, as a truck ran out of control and hit bus going in the same direction.

The truck, carrying 23 people, then crashed into another truck in front, said a spokesman with the local government.

Three people were killed on the spot and another two succumbed to their injuries, the spokesman said.

Injuries of another two are serious but not life- threatening, state-run Xinhua agency reported today.

Initial investigations showed the accident was caused by braking malfunctions of the first truck, the report said.

Around 200,000 people die on Chinese roads each year, the World Health Organisation had said.

In a bid to improve road safety, the government recently cracked down on the overloading of trucks.

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A former Burkina Faso president, Michel Kafando, has been appointed the new UN envoy for Burundi, where efforts to end a political crisis over President Pierre Nkurunziza's rule have stalled.

Kafando, 74, has "more than three decades of extensive experience in high-level international diplomacy and politics," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Friday in announcing the appointment.

A former foreign minister and UN ambassador, Kafando was president from November 2014 to December 2015 during Burkina Faso's transition to civilian rule following a military takeover and the resignation of long-serving leader Blaise Compaore.

Kafando will replace Jamal Benomar, who held the post since November 2015 and who had come under heavy criticism and calls to resign from the Bujumbura government.

Relations between Burundi and the United Nations nosedived after a report by UN rights experts in September blamed state police and security forces for the violence tearing the country apart since April 2015.

Hundreds died, hundreds more have disappeared and 390,000 people fled after Nkurunziza announced plans to run for a third term, which he went on to win.

The Security Council last month threw its weight behind a proposal by mediator Benjamin Mkapa, the former president of Tanzania, to hold a regional summit to press the government and the opposition to start negotiations.

But east African leaders appear divided on the way forward and there has been no progress towards holding talks.

Kafando will be based in Ouagadougou and travel to Burundi for his peace mission.

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The Goa Health department is planning to introduce two-wheeler ambulances from July to help people meeting with accidents in tourist spots across the state.

Para-medics will ride the two-wheeler ambulances mounted with essential medical equipment which can reach the accident or casualty spots quickly, according to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.

All equipment required to provide preliminary care to the patient would be mounted on these vehicles, Rane told PTI after reviewing the working of '108' ambulance services in the state.

Rane said such an ambulance service is already in place in Karnataka and Goa would be the second state to do so.

"Twenty two-wheeler ambulances would be procured in July and would be pressed into services immediately," he said.

"Facilities like oxygen cylinder, injections which are required to stabilise the patient would be mounted on these two-wheelers," Rane said.

Also, 10 new four-wheeler ambulances would be procured and provided with equipment needed to stabilise a person suffering from cardiac arrest.

"The cardiology department of Goa Medical College is preparing a protocol required to be followed while treating such patients in these new ambulances," he said.

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Actors Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell were honoured with dual stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

After 33 years of being together, this was the first time the couple had a wedding-like ceremony.

Goldie's daughter Kate Hudson, actress Reese Witherspoon and filmmaker Quentin Tarantino attended the event, reported Ace Showbiz.

The pair shared a kiss at the podium before starting their speeches.

Goldie, 71, said, "Can we just get married? We've never had a celebration like this before."



She then continued by thanking her family.

"Thank you to my beautiful daughter and my other beautiful daughter," she said, before adding, "That star is part of 'yes.' I really went through something then because I didn't know what it meant to be a star when people didn't know who I was. I said yes to Kurt Russell. I said yes to Bill Hudson and without Bill I wouldn't have had Katie and Oliver. I wish my mom and my dad could see me."



Kurt, 66, also thanked his family, particularly his mother and sisters who were present.

"I owe a special debt of appreciation to my family. Thanks to my kids Boston, Oliver, Kate and Wyatt. Any father would be blessed to be gifted with the lifetime you have brought me," he said.

"Goldie, to you, I owe my wonderful life. I cherish you. All of the stars in the sky or the boulevard don't hold a candle to that. There's no one else I'd rather be next to than Goldie Hawn.

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The government is eyeing close to Rs 30,000-crore investment for expansion of production and distribution network in next three years as it widens cooking gas coverage by giving out a record number of connections.

A record 3.45 crore connections were given during the fiscal ended March 31, 2017, including 2.2 crore free connections to poor women, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters here.

As many as 6 crore connections have been given in last three years, taking to 72.84% of the population. The LPG coverage was just over 50% when the NDA government took office in May 2014, he said.

Increasing LPG coverage is part of the government's plan to cut on the use of polluting firewood and liquid fuel as the medium of cooking. The use of LPG not just help the environment but also increases productivity and prevent health hazards.

"When we took office, there were about 14 crore active LPG connections. In three years, this has gone up to 20.08 crore," he said.

The main reason for the vast expansion is the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana of providing free cooking gas connection of below poverty line (BPL) women.

Under the scheme, the government bears the cost of Rs 1,600 for getting the connection.

"PMUY was launched on May 1, 2016, with a target to provide 5 crore connections in three years. The first year target was 1.5 crore. But we have done 2.2 crore connections in the first year," he said.

Pradhan said his ministry is looking at raising the target of free LPG connections but a decision will be taken after consulting the finance ministry which has to provide the financial support.

For the 5 crore connections, Rs 8,000 crore was provisioned.

The ministry is targeting 3 crore connections including 1.5-2 crore under PMJY during the 2017-18 fiscal and another 4 crore in the following year. This would help take LPG coverage to 95.49% of the population.

He said PMJY initially targeted less LPG coverage states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

As many as 56.05 lakh connections under PMJY have been distributed in Uttar Pradesh, taking LPG coverage to 74.5% of the state population from 53% previously. The state now has LPG coverage higher than the national average.

In Bihar 28.97 lakh new connections have taken the coverage to 45.5% and West Bengal now has a coverage of 67% after 29.12 lakh new connections were released. Madhya Pradesh saw 22.91 lakh new connections to take the coverage to 56%.

Pradhan said LPG consumption is growing in double digits with half of the demand being met through imports.

"To cater to this, we envisage an investment of the order of Rs 25,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore in laying LPG pipelines, expanding bottling capacity and increasing import capacity," he said.

Also, 10,000 new LPG distributors are envisaging to be added. Of these, 4,600 have already been appointed, he said.
The Centre today released draft rules for a "national no-fly list" of unruly passengers for all domestic carriers, proposing a ban on flying from three months upto an indefinite period.

The move follows an incident involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad who hit an Air India staffer "25 times" with a slipper for not being allowed to fly business class in an all-economy plane.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has proposed a "national no-fly list" which will comprise passengers identified as unruly after an inquiry by a committee constituted by that particular airline.

A person identified as a threat by security agencies will also be included in this list.

While the list is characterised as "national" and will compile data on disruptive passengers from all airlines, the ban recommended by the committee is not mandatory for all airlines to follow.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha termed this move a trailblazer.

"There is no other country in the world with a no-fly list based on safety. There are no-fly lists based on security where people are seen as grave threats and they are not allowed to fly. India is blazing a new trail in this regard," Sinha said at a media briefing.

The government has recommended three levels of unruly behaviours, each with a corresponding duration of flying ban.

The first level of misdemeanour includes disruptive behaviour such as physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly behaviour because of inebriation. This level of offence will carry a flying ban of three months.

The second level comprises physically abusive behaviour such as pushing, hitting, grabbing, inappropriate touching or sexual harassment. This degree of misconduct will carry a ban of six months.

The third category consists of life threatening behaviour such as damage to aircraft operating system, physical violence such as choking or murderous assault and attempted breach of flight crew compartment. This will carry a flying ban of two years or more without limit.

If a passenger repeats the same degree of offence he/she will be banned for twice the period of the previous ban.

"It is open to other airlines to use that list and simultaneously prohibit that person from flying for that period. It is not mandatory for other airlines," Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said.

The nature of misdemeanour and the punishment will be decided by a standing committee constituted by an airline. The committee will have to come out with its findings within 10 days during which the passenger will not be allowed to fly with the airlines.

It will be a three-member committee comprising a retired district/sessions judge, representative of a different airline and a member from passengers' association/consumer association/a retired consumer forum official.

A passenger can also challenge the ban and approach an appeals committee which will be set up by the Civil Aviation Ministry and headed by a high court judge.

However, passengers blacklisted from flying because of a security threat do not have the provision of approaching this committee.

The government is also examining ways to track passengers recognised as unruly through an identity document. There is, however, a lack of consensus on whether an Aadhar card will be used for this purpose.

"We will be identifying passengers on the basis of identity verification, either through an Aadhar card or passport. This will ensure that we have a secure way of identifyng a passenger and linking their secure authentication to their PNR," Sinha said.

However, Choubey said that this is still being examined.

"We are examining this. It should be possible for us to do this with any detail of passenger document, not necessarily Aadhar," Choubey said.

While the no-fly list is applicable for domestic carriers, Choubey said there was nothing to stop international airlines from implementing it.

The draft is an amendment to the existing Civil Aviation Requirement, a set of rules on unruly and disruptive passengers.

These are being placed in the public domain for 30 days for comments and feedback from stakeholders following which the government will come out with final amendments by June 30.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Upset by the doctors' strike in government hospitals for the last two weeks, the Madras High Court today wondered if the Essential Services Maintenance Act could not be invoked against striking doctors.

A bench of justices N Kirubakaran and V Parthiban posed the query before the state health secretary and other senior government officials, whom the court had ordered to be present today to apprise it of the situation arising out of the stir.

Taking exception to the ongoing doctors' strike, a bench of justices N Kirubakaran and V Parthiban had earlier ordered the personal appearance of top officials, including Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare Department) J Radhakrishan, who were present in the court today.

Observing that the doctors should realise the importance of their profession to the society, the bench expressed hope that they would call off the stir as the matter is pending before the court.

The bench expressed the displeasure over the doctors' strike while hearing an advocate's plea seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors' Association to roll back the stir.

The petitioner had pointed out in his plea that the government hospital doctors have been on strike for the past two weeks seeking reservation of 50 per cent of seats in the PG courses in private medical colleges.

Appearing before the bench, Health Secretary Radhakrishnan submitted that necessary steps are being taken by the government to defuse the situation.

He, however, said despite many discussions with the doctors, there has been no fruitful result and the medical students too have joined the stir.

The bench, which recorded the submission, at one stage observed as to why ESMA should not be invoked against the striking doctors.

"As the matter is sub judice before this court in which the state government is also supporting the striking doctors, this court hopes that the striking doctors would understand the reality and return to work," the court said.

The court said there was no moral or equitable justification for the doctors to go on strike and they cannot hold the society to ransom by going on strike.

"If at all they are aggrieved, they can very well resort to the machinery provided under different statutory provisions to redress their grievances," it said.

The doctors should bear in mind that their strike will affect the society as a whole and particularly the innocent poor patients who entirely depend upon the public health care system, it said.

"This court hopes that the doctors will call of strike and return to duty to continue their service. Despite negotiations and dialogues and the court verdict, if the doctors still go on strike, the matter will be viewed seriously and it is open to the government to act and take appropriate action in accordance with law.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government plans to raise up to Rs 1,224 crore by selling equity shares in the HUDCO's initial public offer (IPO) that will hit the capital market on Monday.

State-owned Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), a 'Miniratna' firm which provides loans for housing and urban infrastructure projects, will launch the IPO on May 8 where the government is offering 204,058,747 shares for sale.

HUDCO has fixed the price band of Rs 56-60 per equity share. The issue will close on May 11.

"We will raise about Rs 1,200 crore at upper band. Money will go to the government of India," HUDCO chairman and managing director M Ravi Kanth told reporters here.

The government will dilute 10.19 per cent of holding through this IPO, he added.

The central government has set an ambitious target of raising Rs 72,500-crore from disinvestment in the current financial year, 2017-18.

Kanth said the company had an outstanding loan of Rs 36,385 crore as on December 31, 2016 and highlighted that it has been able to contain its NPA level despite turbulence in the financial market.

HUDCO's CMD said the company will focus on housing finance business, particularly affordable housing segment.

He said the new real estate law will help the overall sector including HUDCO. "Our money as well as investors money will be safe now."



HUDCO's Director (Finance) Rakesh Kumar Arora said, "This is the first IPO under the disinvestment process since 2012,"



The company has appointed IDBI Capital Markets, SBI Capital Markets, Nomura and ICICI Securities as the book running lead managers to the issue.

The shares of the company are proposed to be listed on the BSE and the NSE.

Out of total outstanding loan of Rs 36,385 crore as on December 31, 2016, HUDCO has financed 69 per cent to urban infrastructure projects and 31 per cent to housing sector.

During the April-December period of last fiscal, the company has disbursed over Rs 20,000 crore and disbursed Rs 3,748 crore loans.

In the entire 2015-16 fiscal, the sanction loan amount and disbursal stood at Rs 30,700 crore and Rs 8,200 crore.

HUDCO posted a net profit of Rs 496 crore over a total income of Rs 1,169 crore during April-December period of last fiscal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More than 300 protesters marched in New York against a scheduled visit by President Donald Trump as the House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.

"Hey hey, ho ho Donald Trump has got to go!" members of the group shouted, protesting his policies as they marched up 12th Avenue toward a decommissioned aircraft carrier serving as a museum where Trump was scheduled to dine with the Australian prime minister yesterday.

"Trump listen, we're in the fight!" they sang in Spanish. Some protesters banged on pots and pans.

"Protect Americans, Save Obamacare," one placard read.

"I'm just here to protest everything Trump," real estate broker Nina Horowitz said. "It just gets worse and worse and he's just not president material by any stretch of the imagination."



The Republican-controlled House of Representatives yesterday narrowly passed a Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, which will now head to the Senate, where it faces substantial opposition.

"We're hoping it can get defeated in the Senate," Horowitz said. It's just shocking to me."



Multiple groups are organising protests to mark Trump's first visit to his hometown since becoming president. The Republican's policies are heavily disliked in the largely Democratic city, where 80 percent of the electorate voted for his opponent Hillary Clinton last November.

His moves to restrict immigration, roll back federal protections for transgender students and assault Obamacare are all widely unwelcome in America's most populous city, and one of its most liberal.

The massive police presence and huge cost necessary for securing his Trump Tower home -- where the first lady and the couple's 11-year-old son have continued to live through the school year -- are also deeply unpopular.

"I'm here to show my discontent with Donald Trump and the example that he's setting and the way that he's leading this country based on hate, bigotry and divisiveness," said one of the march organisers, Flav Maximus, 39.

"He's an anti-intellectual who's not qualified for the job and I believe he contradicts what America is supposed to be about.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan today ruled out any role for India in the peace process in Afghanistan, saying it is "part of the problem and not a solution" as New Delhi is using Afghan soil to destabilise Pakistan.

At a Foreign Office briefing, spokesman Nafees Zakaria also attacked India on the Kashmir issue claiming the current situation in the Valley is "one of the worst episodes of human tragedy in living history" which has attracted attention of the entire international community.

Asked about India trying to seek greater role in Afghanistan, Zakaria said, "We have continued to underline that India is part of the problem and not a solution. India is also using Afghan soil for its nefarious designs to destabilise Pakistan and spoil Pak-Afghan relations."



When asked about Afghan President Ashraf Ghani linking his visit to Islamabad with Pakistan taking action against militants, he said the problems of Afghanistan are internal.

"Externalising Afghanistan's problems and blaming others for the continued instability in their country does not help. It would be in the interest of everyone that such accusations are avoided as they serve no purpose," he said.

Ghani has declined invitations extended by top civil and military officials to visit Pakistan, saying he would not visit until Islamabad hands over the perpetrators of terror attacks in Afghanistan.

Attacking India on the Kashmir issue, Zakaria said the human rights situation in Kashmir has further deteriorated after the Srinagar by-elections.

"The recent video of a Kashmiri youth tied to an Indian army jeep as a 'human shield' against the stone pelting young people has put India's claims of democracy to shame," he said.

He said Pakistan is raising the issue of human rights situation in Kashmir with countries bilaterally and on multilateral forums and demanding implementation of UNSC Resolutions on Kashmir.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India needs to "take care" of Beijing's concerns, including those on the Dalai Lama and the South China Sea (SCS), a senior Chinese official said today, maintaining that India only talks about its concerns over JeM head Masood Azhar and the NSG.

Asserting that China has no "strategic will" to contain the rise of India, which is an emerging power and an important partner to it, the official said in the next few months, Chinese warships will pay a "goodwill" visit to India.

Asked about the strong reaction by Beijing, which has warned India of consequences over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh last month, the official said China has good ties with the Modi government and it was not expecting that it will "facilitate" the visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader.

He (Dalai Lama) is a guest in India and not an Indian national, the official said, adding he should not be allowed to bad mouth Chinese leadership.

The Dalai Lama is a "sting" in the China-India ties and leaves a "hurt" for China, the official added.

India has always been talking about its concerns -be it Azhar's banning by 1267 UN Sanctions Committee, or entry into the NSG, it also "needs to take care of Chinese concerns over" Tibet, Taiwan and the SCS, the official said.

If India cannot side with China on the SCS, least it can do is to be neutral, the official said while referring to statements by India on the disputed region.

Maintaining that China has not changed its position on either India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) or banning of Jaish-e-Mohammed head and Pathankot terror strike mastermind Azhar by the UN as a global terrorist, the official said the two sides are in consultation.

On the NSG, the Chinese Director General of Department of Arms Control is in consultation with his Indian counterparts to discuss the issue and the two-step formula, the official said, adding on Azhar, it was talking to both India and Pakistan.

Beijing scuttled India's efforts to get into NSG in the plenary last year on the ground that it was not a signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)



China blocked India's proposal at the UN to get Azhar designated as global terrorist last year. It also rejected a fresh US proposal for the same early this year.

However, the official maintained that the NSG and Masood Azhar issues should not "overshadow" the bilateral ties that are witnessing cooperation on various sectors, including counter-terrorism and on economic front.

"Chinese warships will visit India soon...In next few months on a goodwill visit," the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian-American lawmakers have supported Obamacare over a bill that aims to replace the landmark overhaul achieved by Barack Obama, alleging that the new legislation passed by House of Representatives would kick off 24 million Americans of healthcare plans.

All the four Indian-American lawmakers from the Democratic Party - Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Raja Krishnamoorthi - voted against the bill, which was hailed by US President Donald Trump and the Republican leadership.

"While the House Republicans celebrate at the White House, millions of hardworking Americans are worrying about whether they will be able to stay on their healthcare plans," said Congressman Bera.

Before serving in Congress, Bera practiced internal medicine, served as Sacramento County's Chief Medical Officer, and taught at the UC Davis School of Medicine.

"I don't want to go back to a time when my patients would have to make healthcare decisions based on their insurance coverage, and this bill is going to make it a lot harder for people with treatable diseases like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and survivors of cancer and assault to get healthcare," he said.

"We cannot play politics with people's lives, and what happened today put political goals ahead of the lives of hardworking Americans. The fact that this bill was rushed through with no budget analysis or public debate shows just how bad it is. This is a sad day for America's patients, and for the public's trust in Congress," Bera said.

Jayapal alleged that it is a dereliction of duty that Republicans passed this "immoral, unconscionable" bill that strips 24 million Americans of their healthcare, cuts USD 880 billion from Medicaid, and strips coverage from 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions.

"This bill will raise premiums and deductibles for millions of Americans across our country to transfer almost USD 1 trillion in tax cuts to millionaires, billionaires and corporations," she said.

The first Indian-American woman lawmaker said that she intends to continue to fight every single day to protect and expand health care and to hold those accountable who do not do so.

Khanna said this afternoon, congressional Republicans chose to halt the progress made on improving the nation's health and livelihood, and instead put the country on a path to higher costs, less coverage, fewer protections, and larger premiums.

"All for a massive tax cut for millionaires and billionaires," he said.

"Today, the House had a choice. We could cast a vote to uphold our country's values and keep people healthy, keep them secure, and keep improving care. Or a vote could be made that places corporate interests ahead of working families' livelihood. I am disappointed to say that latter happened," Khanna said.

"We lost today but that doesn't mean we have to like it. We can still stop," Krishnamoorthi said.

In an interview to MSN, Bera said that the passage of the bill would politically hit the Republican lawmakers.

"I think a lot of them know this was a very difficult vote that's going to hurt a lot of their own constituents," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gurgaon-based no-frills airline IndiGo today commenced an air service to Qatar from India with a direct flight to the capital city Doha from New Delhi.

With the launch of this new flight, IndiGo now flies to four destinations --Sharjah, Dubai, Muscat and Doha -- in the Middle-eastern region.

The same flight from Doha will fly to Mumbai from where it will be operated as Mumbai-Doha service, the airline said in a release.

From Doha, it will fly back to New Delhi, it said.

IndiGo also plans to operate direct flights from Chennai and Kozhikode to Doha from July 20 onwards, the release said.

"It gives us immense pleasure to add Doha to our growing network...It also reinforces our commitment towards the Middle-East region," IndiGo Chief Commercial Officer Sanjay Kumar said.

At an inaugural ceremony held at the Hamad International Airport (HIA), the maiden flight was welcomed with the traditional water cannon salute followed by a ribbon cutting attended by HIA officials, the release said.

Doha also became IndiGo's seventh international destination.

With the launch of daily direct flights, IndiGo offers convenient option on two of the busiest sectors from India to and fro Doha-- Delhi-Doha and Mumbai-Doha, the airline said.

Following the roll out of the new flight to Doha, HIA now has a total of 25 weekly flights operating to Bombay and 35 weekly flights operating to Delhi, Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer, Badr Mohammed Al Meer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Head Hunters India, an executive search firm, today termed the Infosys' move to hire 10,000 Americans as an act to 'appease' US President Donald Trump's administration which has tightened the rules of H-1B visa programme to stop its 'abuse'.

Head Hunters India Founder-Chairman and Managing Director K Lakshmikanth also said local hiring in the US was very costly and would lead to offshore job cuts in India.

The move by the Indian software major came amid US accusations that top Indian IT firms, including TCS and Infosys, were unfairly cornering the lion's share of H-1B visas by putting extra tickets in the lottery system.

Trump recently signed an executive order for tightening H-1B visa rules to stop its 'abuse' and ensure they are given to the 'most-skilled or highest paid' petitioners, a decision that would impact India's USD 150 billion IT industry.

Lakshmikanth said the move to hire 10,000 American workers in next two years "can be seen as an act of to appease Trump's administration, which could file legal suites against IT companies, including for 'misuse' of H-1B work visas programme."



He also said the Infosys' announcement came after Acting Assistant Attorney General of Civil Rights Division Tom Wheeler's statement that the Justice Department will not tolerate employers misusing the H-1B visa process to discriminate against US workers.

"The announcement of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to deter and detect what it described as fraud and abuse of the H-1B work visas is indicative of US government's intentions to go tough and stringent in approval of H-1B visas this year," Lakshmikanth told PTI.

had on May 3 announced it will hire 10,000 Americans in the next two years and open four new centres in the US as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of H1-B visa curbs.

The move was welcomed by the Trump administration as a "political victory" which it said was achieved as a result of US government's "pro-growth economic agenda."



To a query, Lakshmikanth said it needed to be seen how soon it will take Infosys to ramp up local hiring in the US.

"All said and done, according to me, Infosys will take time to ramp up local hiring as it is very costly. The company needs to pay a minimum of $80,000 (Rs 52 lakh) per year to a skilled American techie.

For the same amount, it can hire four software engineers in India for its offshore development work, he said.

Currently, an Indian IT firm pays $60,000-65,000 per year for techies working in the US on H-1B visas and they return after three years of onsite work.

Lakshmikanth also said if Infosys hired about 500 Americans techies, it will result in a loss of 2,000 jobs in India for offshore operations.

"Automation and artificial intelligence will reduce hiring by another 30-40 per cent," he added.

On April 24, Nasscom had come out in defence of its members - TCS and Infosys - saying the two accounted for only 8.8 per cent of the approved H1B visas in 2014-15.

The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. Indian technology depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today described the launch of the South Asian Satellite by India as a "historic moment" and said it opens up new horizons of engagement in the region, a view that was shared by leaders of six other countries of South Asia.

Modi, who has projected the satellite as India's "priceless gift" to its neighbours, said the "unprecedented" development sends out a message that "even sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation".

The launch was celebrated jointly through a video conference by Modi, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutanese Prime Minister Thering Tobgay, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Srisena.

Pakistan is not a part of the project as it had refused to accept India's "gift", which Modi had proposed soon after becoming the Prime Minister in 2014.

"Successful launch of South Asian Satellite is a historic moment. It opens up new horizons of engagement," Modi tweeted immediately after the GSLV-F09 carrying South Asia Communication Satellite lifted off from Sriharikota spaceport.

"Today is a historic day, a day without any precedence," he said later while addressing the video conference.

Underlining the concept of 'sabka sath, sabka vikas' (cooperation of all, development for all), he said the development marked fulfilment of India's promise made two years back to advance its space technology for the growth and prosperity of South Asia.

Noting that this was the first of its kind project in South Asia, Modi said the satellite would help the individual countries in meeting their own needs with regard to development, better governance, poverty eradication and disaster mitigation.

He said India wanted growth, development and peace in the region and was keen to utilise technology to pursue this goal for the shared prosperity.

Hailing the scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for ensuring the flawless launch, he said the satellite will greatly benefit South Asia and the region's progress.

"This (launch) tells us that even sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation," he said.

"This symbolises our unshakeable resolve to place the needs of our peoples in the forefront," Modi said.

He said the mantra was "Cooperation, not confrontation, development, not destruction and prosperity, not poverty."



"Sabka sath, sabka vikas can be the guiding light for action and cooperation in South Asia and a befitting way for us to achieve our shared priorities of economic prosperity for our people," the Prime Minister said.

"And in this, you will find a strong and committed partner in India that truly believes in the strength of this choice and principle," he told leaders of Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan which are a part of the project.

"We are a united family of South Asian countries, united in our pursuit of peace, progress & prosperity of our region and the entire humankind," the Prime Minister said.

Ghani described the launch as "South Asia's giant step towards regional cooperation" and said it makes the region's integration a reality.

Hailing India's "pioeneering" endeavour and Modi's vision, he said, "cooperation outweighs confrontation".

Hasina, while congratulating Modi and ISRO for the launch, said it will "change the face of South Asia".

With the launch, the cooperation among the South Asian nations has expanded from land, water, air to space, she said.

Tobgay described it as a "historic moment for the world" and said the "gift from India reflects true cooperation".

Thanking India and Modi for the "very priceless gift", the Bhutanese leader said the free use of the data from the satellite will greatly benefit his landlocked country which does not have the capacity on its own to launch satellites.

Yameen said the "very special gift" symbolises vision and commitment of Modi towards the region.

Noting that the satellite will serve to improve the lives of people of entire South Asia, the Maldivian President said, "I call upon all South Asian friends to seize this opportunity", perhaps a message to Pakistan which has refused to join the project.

Dahal, popularly known as 'Prachanda', thanked Modi and India for "the thoughtfulness" of sharing the data of the satellite with other countries of the region.

"This is a testimony of South Asia becoming self-reliant in space technology. Nepal looks forward to the best use of the data," the Nepalese leader said.

He said he looked forward to India's help in developing the human resources of Nepal in usage of the satellite's data.

Srisena described the occasion as "historic" and said the development signifies inclusiveness and friendly cooperation.

Modi, soon after taking over as the Prime Minister in 2014, had made a unilateral proposal of India launching the satellite whose data would be shared with the SAARC countries for their development and prosperity.

Initially, it was to be named as 'SAARC Satellite' but its name was changed to South Asia Satellite after Pakistan refused to join the project.

The satellite will provide a significant capability to each of the participating countries in terms of DTH, certain VSAT capacity plus linking among the states for both disaster information transfer and also in terms of library type of things.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actress Lena Dunham is in recovery after being rushed to the hospital with a complication from her endometriosis surgery in April.

The "Girls" creator was forced to make a quick exit from the Met Gala in New York City on Monday after suffering the medical complications that came with her long-term battle with the disease, in which body tissue found inside the uterus grows outside it, reported People magazine.

Dunham, 30, took to Instagram to share a photograph from her hospital bed and she thanked fans for their love and concern.

"Although I'm much healthier than I was a year ago, complications arose from my most recent endometriosis surgery. When the healthcare of so many American women, especially our trans sisters, is at-risk- or already nonexistent- I am lucky to be in the position to seek help when I'm in pain.

"To those in that privileged spot- never forget that we are blessed and can pay it forward by supporting Planned Parenthood and LGBTQ clinics like Callen-Lorde with our money and time.

"I also want to remind all the women suffering from chronic illness that we aren't weak- quite the opposite, actually. We do our jobs with skill even when we're struggling. We care families even when we can hardly care for ourselves. We serve major face on a red carpet when we feel like lying face down would be more appropriate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A live grenade found during the cleaning of a well in the Red Fort complex was safely removed by National Security Guard (NSG) commandos today.

Officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had found the grenade during a cleaning operation last evening. The discovery of the explosive in the 17th century monument visited by hundreds of tourists and locals led to panic in the area.

A cordon was thrown around the area and the NSG was called in after ASI officials alerted the police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), said a senior police official.

"The grenade was safely removed today by the NSG. How old it is can only be ascertained once a detailed report is received from the NSG," said DCP (North) Jatin Narwal.

The incident comes just a few months after a similar incident in February when explosives and live cartridges were found in a well in the complex during a cleaning exercise.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Development of London's financial centre will "stall" owing to Brexit, but is unlikely to "totally reverse", Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein said today.

"It will stall, it might backtrack a bit, it just depends on a lot of things about which we are uncertain, and I know there isn't certainty at the moment," the head of the US investment banking giant told the BBC.

"I don't think it will totally reverse," said Blankfein.

The British government will soon start negotiations to set the terms of its departure from the European Union.

Britain plans to leave the single market but hopes to agree a trade deal, and protecting its crucial financial sector is a main priority.

UK-based banks and other financial firms face losing "passporting" rights to sell services to clients operating in the European Union once Britain officially quits the EU in March 2019 unless a deal can be reached.

Blankfein said the bank was "trying to avoid" a large- scale move out of London.

"Obviously, a lot of people elect to have their European business concentrated in a single place, and the easiest place, certainly, for the biggest economy in the world (the US) to concentrate would be the UK -- the culture, the language, the special relationship -- and we are an example of that," he said.

However, the bank would have to reconsider if unable to sell services on the continent.

"If you cannot benefit from access to the EU from the UK, and nobody knows what those rules and determinations will be, then the risk is there will be some adjustment that will cause some people to have a smaller footprint in the UK."



A number of banks have already announced plans to shift a few thousand jobs from London to other European financial centres such as Frankfurt, Dublin, Luxembourg and Paris.

Goldman Sachs has already said that it will create hundreds of positions elsewhere in Europe.

Britain's finance sector employs 2.2 million people in the UK, seven percent of the country's entire workforce.

London's financial sector alone employs 750,000 workers is home to many of the world's top banks.

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Donald Trump has helped the Los Angeles bid for the 2024 Olympic Games but they are cautious about asking the US President to attend the decisive vote in Lima in September, bid chairman Casey Wasserman said Thursday.

Wasserman told a small group of journalists he had heard the "very bad" stories from the 2009 vote in Copenhagen when some Olympic Committee (IOC) members were said to be furious to be kept waiting outside the venue whilst then President Barack Obama's security detail swept the building having flown in to give his support to Chicago.

It is said to have cost Chicago votes.

Obama  whose wife Michelle turned up to court IOC members in the days before the vote  spoke at the final presentation but to little avail as Chicago were humiliatingly eliminated in the first round of voting with just 18 votes.

"We heard very bad stories about that (Obama)," said Wasserman.

"We are very wary of those stories as our job is to earn trust and make friends and we don't want a movement of a president or head of state to get in the way of that."



Wasserman, who is the biggest contributor to the privately-financed bid that has cost $60 million, admitted Trump had been extremely obliging in helping the campaign who face one rival in Paris.

The vote is due to take place in Lima on September 13th.

"Trump as leader of our federal government has done everything we asked him to do," said Wasserman.

"He has written letters, he has made phone calls including a 25 minute call with Thomas Bach (the IOC President) which I helped co-ordinate and went very well.

"The federal government has been supportive of the bid before and since he was elected."



-'Incredible magical experience'



Wasserman, who equated the bid campaign like that of running for high school president with a similarly select electorate of around 100 and based on establishing personal relationships, is adamant if they lose out for the 2024 Games they will not bid for the 2028 edition.

"You'd have to ask the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) about another American bid but we LA won't bid again," said Wasserman.

"We have to pay for the bid privately and raising $60million from private individuals is a tough road and it won't happen twice.

"If there is one it won't be with this mayor (Eric Garcetti) or this chairman."



There could yet be a way out with the IOC looking into the viability of awarding both the 2024 and 2028 Games to the two bidders as the bid process has become somewhat toxic with Budapest and Rome withdrawing from the contest through popular disenchantment.

Wasserman, who says there is no problem with popular support in Los Angeles with even independent polling saying it is as high as 88%, said they would let the IOC get on with their consultations on the matter as they await the visit of the IOC Evaluation Commission next week.

"Both cities had very very brief meetings about this in Aarhus (at the Sport Accord Convention) and we have gone back to being focussed on the 2024 Games," said Wasserman.

Wasserman, grandson of the late Lew Wasserman a legendary Hollywood agent and studio mogul, said a 2024 Games in Los Angeles would mark another step in the city's progress like the two prior occasions the 'City of Angels' had hosted them in 1932 and 1984.

"1984 is recent enough history," he said.

"I was 10 years old, the mayor was 13 and either you were there or a friend was there or a work colleague or a grand parent and it was an incredible magical experience.

"In Los Angeles its very much part of our history.

"Our mayor describes it really well. In 1932 it was the middle of the depression and really put LA on the map as an American city.

"1984 put LA on the map as a global city and 2024 will establish it as one of the two or three great cities of the world.
A man created a ruckus by climbing atop an overhead water tank in an inebriated condition and threatening to commit suicide if the government did not avenge the beheading of two soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.

Raju Singh (40), a resident of Nadbai town, had climbed atop the tank at Gandhi Park in Bharatpur, around 185 kilometres from the state capital here, yesterday.

It took the police close to four hours to bring the drunken man down.

Singh told the police he wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take revenge for the beheading of the two Indian Army soldiers in the hands of the Pakistani army earlier this week.

He has been booked under section 60 of the Police Act (punishment for certain offences on road), DSP Avadan Ratnoo told PTI.

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North Korea today accused the CIA and Seoul's intelligence services of conspiring to assassinate the isolated country's leader Kim Jong-Un with a biochemical weapon, amid heightened tensions in the region.

In a statement the powerful ministry of state security, said it had foiled a "vicious plot" by a "hideous terrorists' group" to attack the North's "supreme leadership".

The accusations come with the US and North trading threats over the latter's nuclear and missile programmes, and as Washington considers whether to re-designate Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism.

That follows the killing of Kim's estranged half-brother Kim Jong-Nam by two women using the banned nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur international airport.

Both Malaysia and South Korea have blamed the North for the assassination, which retorts that the accusations are an attempt to smear it.

The security ministry statement, carried on the North's official Korea Central Agency (KCNA), said the CIA and the South's intelligence had suborned, bribed and blackmailed a North Korean citizen named only as Kim to carry out the attack.

Possible locations included the mausoleum where Kim Jong-Un's father and grandfather - the North's founder - lie in state, or a military parade.

Such an operation would be extremely difficult to prepare and carry out successfully. The North's leader is surrounded by tight security at all times, and Pyongyang maintains a gigantic surveillance system over its own population that is ingrained at every level of society, where open dissent is unknown.

The CIA told its agent Kim it had access to radioactive and "nano poisonous" substances whose lethal results would appear only after six to 12 months, the statement said.

Kim - described as "human scum" - received payments totalling at least USD 740,000 and was given satellite transceivers and other materials and equipment, it said.

He had multiple contacts with South Korean intelligence personnel, and an accomplice who had a Chinese-sounding name, Xu Guanghai of the Qingdao Nazca Trade Co.

Checks on China's National Enterprise Credit Information system show that a company of that name was formed on March 7 this year, with a Xu Guanghai named as its legal representative, and business areas including "chemical products".

No details were given in the ministry statement of how the supposed plot was uncovered, or of Kim's fate. But in a potential sign of an internal purge, it said that the ministry will "ferret out and mercilessly destroy the terrorists".

The lurid accusations come with Pyongyang and Washington at loggerheads over the North's banned weapons programmes, which have seen it subjected to multiple sets of United Nations Security Council sanctions.

Pyongyang, which says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against invasion, has carried out a series of missile launches and threatened a sixth atomic test, while the administration of new US President Donald Trump has said that military action was an "option on the table" - raising fears of a spiralling conflict.

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The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched a probe into what could have been a major accident in the Delhi skies when the distance between two aircraft was reduced to just 400 feet.

On April 21, the Jet Airways flight 9W 597 was scheduled to land at Indira Gandhi International Airport here but it decided to abort the landing.

As a result, the distance between it and the flight UK 811, which had been okayed for take-off, reduced to less than required, triggering a warning in the cockpits of the aircraft to maintain a safe distance.

There were 148 passengers on-board the Airbus A320 aircraft, which was bound for Bengaluru, while Jet Airways Boeing 737 was coming here from Muscat with 174 people on board, a source said.

The incident is being investigated by the Civil Aviation Ministry's apex probe body -- Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the source said.

According to the source, Jet Airways flight 9W 597, was flying at a much higher speed than was required for the landing. However, the Delhi ATC cleared it for landing after its flight crew said it will "slow down".

At the same time, the ATC okayed the flight's takeoff from the runway where the said Jet Airways aircraft had to land.

However, the Jet Airways plane aborted the landing due to its "high speed," and opted for a go-around, the source said.

At this stage, both the Vistara and the Jet Airways flight were taking off almost simultaneously, with the vertical separation between the two aircraft was just around 400 feet.

"This triggered a Resolution Advisory (RA) by the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which averted the possible collision between the two aircraft," the source said.

The TCAS is an on board equipment that advises pilots about traffic in the proximity of the aircraft and also prescribes what action the pilots can take to maintain desired separation between the aircraft.

Both the Vistara and the Jet Airways confirmed the incident.

Defending its pilot's decision to abort the landing at the last minute, a Jet Airways spokesperson said it was done to attain the "desired approach and landing."



The spokesperson in a statement termed the decision as "in the interest of safety".

The Jet Airways also said "during the execution of the manoeuvre, another aircraft was aligned for departure on the same runway and as their activation envelope overlapped, the on board automatic traffic alert and collision avoidance system issued appropriate guidance to keep both the aircraft at a safe distance from each other."



"The flight crew followed the guidance and landed safely," the airline said.

The matter has been reported to the regulatory authorities besides an internal investigation into the incident is also being carried out, it added.

When contacted, the Vistara spokesperson said its aircraft took off only after it had the required permission form the ATC and that the airline followed all the procedures correctly.

"We have offered our full support to the relevant authorities in their investigation and hope the occurrence of such incidents can be reduced going forward," the spokesperson told PTI.
Nepal's Supreme Court today reinstated the country's first woman chief justice Sushila Karki and directed Parliament to halt her impeachment as the tussle between the legislature and the judiciary took a dramatic turn.

Just hours after the Supreme Court's interim order, Chief Justice Karki returned to office this evening.

Supreme Court assistant spokesperson Bishwo Raj Paudel said, "She will start legal work from Sunday."



A single member bench of Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana issued the order stating that the impeachment move was against the spirit of Nepal's Constitution.

His order came in response to a writ petition against the motion to impeach Karki.

Advocates Kanchan Krishna Neupane and Sunil Ranjan Singha had moved the apex court a day after the impeachment motion was registered at the parliament secretariat on April 30.

The court decision has put the government in an awkward position, analysts said.

The impeachment motion against Karki was registered in Parliament by two major ruling parties that accused her of "interfering" with the executive and issuing "prejudiced" verdicts.

A total of 249 lawmakers from the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) signed the motion.

Karki, 64, who has done her Masters in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University, was automatically suspended from the post after the registration of the motion.

As a fallout of the impeachment motion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi had resigned over his dissatisfaction with the move.

Also, Nepal's Rastriya Prajatantra Party had quit the Prachanda-led government, a day after withdrawing its support to it over the impeachment motion against Karki.

Karki had assumed office as Nepal's first woman Chief Justice on August 1 last year.

The developments come at a time when the ruling coalition struggled to secure a two-thirds majority to pass the Constitution amendment bill.

Nepal, which has been witnessing political instability for some time now, is scheduled to hold local-level polls on May 14.

Some Madhes-centric parties have opposed the elections until the Constitution is amended to accommodate their views -- more representation in Parliament and redrawing of provincial boundaries.

The Nepal government has tabled a new Constitution amendment bill in Parliament to address the demands of the agitating Madhesi parties ahead of the local elections.

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Nepal today said it will officially recognise Sherpa guides who scale mountains including Mount Everest, reversing a controversial decision to stop issuing summit certificates to the mountain guides.

The government is positive on granting summit certificates to Sherpa guides, a Tourism Ministry official said.

Last year, the government announced that it would stop issuing summit certificates to Sherpas and only officially recognise the climbs of foreigners who pay permit fees, which comes around USD 11,000, for permission to summit the Everest.

Nepal receives USD 3 million from climbing royalty and the Sherpas are the backbone of the country's mountaineering industry. Without the help of the Sherpas it will be almost impossible for foreign mountaineers to reach the peaks of the high Himalayas.

"A proposal was recently forwarded by the Department of Tourism to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation for providing certificates to the Sherpas and the ministry is positive in this regard," said Joint Secretary Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, who is also the spokesperson at the ministry.

Hundreds of Sherpa guides staged a sit-in earlier this week at Mt Everest base camp demanding recognition to their climbs by the government.

Nearly 400 foreign climbers are currently embarking on their climb to the 8,848-metre peak and the help from the Sherpas will be crucial for their successful attempt to summit in the coming weeks.

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More than 7.2 million metric tonnes of have arrived in the mandis of Haryana till Thursday.

The five government procuring agencies have purchased over 7.2 million metric tonnes while traders have purchased more than 6,834 metric tonnes at the minimum support price.

Stating this here today, a spokesperson of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department said the procurement process was running smoothly in the mandis.

Giving details of the procured by government agencies, he said that more than 1.78 million tonnes of have been procured by Food and Supplies Department, whereas HAFED has purchased more than 2.59 million tonnes.

The official said that Food Corporation of India has purchased more than 850,000 tonnes, Haryana Agro Industries Corporation purchased more than 661,000 tonnes and over 1.33 million tonnes have been procured by Haryana Warehousing Corporation.

He said that district Sirsa was leading, which accounted for more than 1.03 million tonnes of wheat that so far arrived in the mandis.
Amid the heightened tension at the border after the mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers, the Shiv Sena today said merely angry rhetoric against Pakistan was not enough and it needed to be "crushed" now.

In a scathing editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana,' the Sena also said despite India having given substantial proof to Pakistan over Hafiz Saeed's involvement in the 26/11 terror attack, the Pathankot airbase attack, the Uri attack and the recent beheading of two jawans, the neighbouring country has shirked all its responsibility.

It is poking fun instead at India saying we have a habit of blaming Pakistan for everything that happens here, it added.

"This is going on for many years now. Everybody knows that the ISI, the Pakistani military and the terror outfits based there are behind the terror attacks in India," the Sena mouthpiece said.

"Despite throwing ample proof on their face each time, the terrorism emanating from Pakistan and violence in Kashmir has refused to cease. The banks are being looted in the valley and the soldiers are being killed. But the government only summons (high commissioner of Pakistan to India) Abdul Basit, gives him proof against his nation and lets him off with a warning," it said.

It said the nation is tired of hearing about the revenge that will be taken against Pakistan.

"The anguish of the families of the martyred soldiers numbs all senses. Had the families of the martyred jawans been called when Basit was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry, they would have peeled his skin off. He would not be able to smile in front of the mediapersons then," it said.

"The continuous use of words like shameless for Pakistan will not be enough now. It needs to be crushed. The country was expecting 50 heads (of the Pakistani soldiers) for every Indian killed. But here, it seems that revenge is only taken by summoning Basit and warning him," the Sena said.

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Top Democratic leader is leading a bipartisan Congressional delegation to India and Nepal focusing on strengthening bilateral economic and security relations, her office has said.

The delegation will also visit Germany and Belgium with an aim to focus on global economy, bilateral and multilateral relations and human rights.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman to be elected to the US House of Representative, will be accompanying Pelosi on the trip, a statement said on Thursday.

"Our bipartisan delegation travels at a vital time in the US relationship with India, Nepal and our NATO partners," said Pelosi, who is also former Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

"Our delegation looks forward to meetings on how we can strengthen our economic and security relationships, as well as addressing challenges ranging from regional Russian aggression to global human rights," Pelosi said in a statement, without giving the details of the trip.

Other members of the Congressional delegation are Jim Sensenbrenner, Eliot Engel, Jim McGovern, Betty McCollum Judy Chu and Joyce Beatty.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which operates a weekly flight between Mumbai and Karachi, will suspend its service from May 11.

The flag carrier of Pakistan operates the flight on Thursday.

"Pakistan International Airlines, in a communication to authorities concerned, has said that its Karachi-Mumbai flight will not be open for sale (bookings) from May 11," a company associated with the flight operation said in Mumbai.

However, the PIA communication did not specify the reason for suspension of its flight service, a company official said.

"Apart from the current situation (prevailing tension between India-Pakistan), the suspension of the service might be due to commercial reasons as well," the official said.

The airline did not operate its service yesterday as well, he said.

However, the Pakistan airline had informed the relevant authorities about the non-operation of service on May 4 in a communication last month, the official said.
The police have arrested the prime accused in the April 30 road rage case in which a 30-year-old property dealer was gunned down in Vasundhara area.

Two groups had clashed with each other after Sanjeev's car brushed against Amandeep Singh Dhillon's car parked outside a roadside eatery late at night on Sunday.

Superintendent of Police Aakash Tomar said Meerut-based property dealer Dhillon and his friend Aman had come to dine at the eatery, where Sanjiv and his friend Prince Singh were having dinner.

When Dhillon was going back, his car bushed against Sanajiv's car, which led to an argument between them.

Flying into a rage, Dhillon hit Sanjiv on the head with a brick. Retaliating, Singh fired his licensed pistol and a bullet hit Dhillon in the chest, killing him on the spot.

Sanjeev was arrested on the night of the incident, while Singh was at large since then.

Acting on on a tip-off, the police nabbed Singh from near a school in Vasundhara and seized a .32 bore pistol used in the crime and live cartridges from his possession.

The police said Singh was in the past jailed for looting a jewellery shop in Sector-18, Noida.

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Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today set up a two-member committee to prepare a de-addiction and rehabilitation plan for drug addicts in the state.

The committee has been set up after studying the outreach model suggested by an eminent American drug therapist and consultant.

Underlining his commitment to eradicate the menace of drugs, backed by rehabilitation of the patients, the Chief Minister acted on the recommendations of Dr Kanwar Ajit Singh Sidhu to announce the setting up of a panel to study and consider the feasibility of the implementation of the Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) programme, proposed by the US-based expert.

Amarinder has asked the two-member committee, comprising Principal Secretary, Medical Education and Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, to work closely with PGI specialists to develop a focused strategy to strengthen the state's network of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.

The decision followed a presentation to the Chief Minister by Dr Sidhu, who said the proposed OOAT model, focused on cure through compassion, was completely safe and designed to prevent future relapses.

The model envisages a system of specially trained Duty Medical Officers to be deputed at each de-addiction and rehabilitation centre for the supervision of the 5-stage OOAT treatment process, consisting of induction, stabilisation, maintenance, termination and follow-up.

The Chief Minister agreed with Dr Sidhu's observations, saying the victims of drug abuse need to be treated with compassion in order to bring them back into the mainstream of the society and enable them to lead a life of dignity.

The low-cost model proposed by Dr Sidhu envisages a separate division to run the programme, which will involve the services of nearly 200 counsellors, besides outreach services of Asha workers, MPW/ANM and peer volunteers.

Training for the workers would be provided by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Dr Sidhu informed the Chief Minister, according to an official spokesperson.

As of 2016, Punjab has 33 government sponsored de-addiction centers and 5 tertiary care centers having a combined capacity of 600 beds with additional 1100 beds at rehabilitation centers.

The treatment provided at these centers is primarily based on the abstinence model (demand reduction) which starts with detoxification and abstinence based healing strategies.

Opioid agonist treatment is used minimally and is concentrated to district headquarters only where psychiatrist is available.

In addition, there are around 70 private de-addiction centers in the state where both inpatient and opioid agonist treatment is available. These facilities are highly inadequate to tackle the problem of rehabilitation of the drug addicts - a gap which OOAT will fill, according to Dr Sidhu.

With opioid addiction widespread over the state, an extensive outreach programme is needed with easy access to patients rather than being limited to select centers that are accessible to few, he said.

Notably, eradication of drug menace and mafia listed among the top poll promises by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in the run up to state Assembly elections.

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Gujarat police today said that Altaf Qureshi, the suspected ISI agent held from Mumbai two days ago, had been arrested during a communal riot at Dhoraji in Rajkot district of the state in 2002.

After Qureshi was arrested from south Mumbai by Anti Terrorism Squads of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, Rajkot police started probe into his links in Gujarat, said Rajkot Superintendent of Police Antrip Sood.

Qureshi (37), accused of working for Pakistan's spy agency ISI, had been arrested and charge-sheeted in a rioting case at Dhoraji town, his native place, back in 2002.

"On checking past records, we found out he was arrested as well as charge-sheeted in a case of rioting and attempt to murder during incident of communal violence in Dhoraji. He was part of a mob which damaged property," Sood said.

Qureshi's family still lives in Dhoraji.

"We have learned that Qureshi moved to Mumbai a few years ago. Upon learning about his arrest, we formed several teams to investigate whether he had any connections here," Sood said.

According to ATS, Qureshi deposited money in the bank account of Aftab Ali, another ISI agent, in Lucknow for carrying out espionage activities. Aftab was arrested from Faizabad in UP on May 3.

Acting on leads provided by Aftab, the UP ATS picked up Altaf and Javed Iqbal from Mumbai. The three were part of an espionage ring with links to the Pakistan High Commission, ATS officials said yesterday.

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: The city corporation today fixed Rs 300 as minimum daily wages for temporary sanitary workers.

The wages would take effect from April last year.

A decision to this effect was announced by Corporation commissioner Dr VIjayakarthikeyan at a meeting here today.

The workers union representatives welcomed the announcement, claimed to be the highest wages in any Corporation, and thanked the commissioner for their long awaited demands, an official release said here.

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Terming it an attack "most brutal, barbaric and diabolical", the Supreme Court today upheld the death sentence for four men convicted of the savage rape and murder of a young woman who came to be known by an outraged nation as "Nirbhaya", the fearless.

Signalling closure for the sensational case that had galvanised the country and triggered a change in India's rape laws, a three-judge bench termed the December 16, 2012 gang- rape and murder a "rarest of rare" case that had sent a "tsunami of shock" all over.

Applause broke out in the courtroom as the unanimous verdict -- from the bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan -- was announced and the victim's parents, lawyers and other litigants present in the room stood up in appreciation.

Justice Misra wrote the judgement for himself and Justice Bhushan, while Justice Banumathi wrote a separate but concurring verdict upholding the Delhi High Court ruling, which in turn had concurred with the trial court.

The four convicted men are Mukesh (29), Pawan (22), Vinay Sharma (23) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31). They can appeal today's verdict in the apex court, and finally seek presidential mercy.

A fifth accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail in March in 2013 and the sixth, a convicted juvenile was sentenced three years of punishment in a reform home, and released in 2015.

The six men had assaulted Jyoti Pandey, the 23-year-old paramedic student, and a male friend in a moving bus as it drove through the streets of New Delhi. She was thrown out of the bus -so grievously injured that her insides were spilling out - along with her male friend near the airport. A fortnight later, on December 29, 2012, she succumbed in a Singapore hospital.

Almost five years later, her parents, Badri Nath Singh and Asha Devi, said they were at peace after the verdict. Her father, Badri Nath Singh, said he could finally sleep well tonight. Their daughter, too, now rests in peace, the couple told PTI after the judgement.

"She would have turned 28 on May 10 if she had lived. Today's verdict is a gift for her," Singh said.

"What about justice for others whose cases are pending in courts?" Singh asked. But the apex court verdict, he added, would give a boost to rape survivors seeking justice.

"At times I would feel weak, wanting to give up the fight. But then my daughter's face would flash in front of my eyes and I would pull myself up," Asha Devi said.

The parents, who have started the Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust to help rape victims, also stressed that their daughter should be identified by her name. "Those who commit such crimes should hang their heads, not us," Singh said.

In its hard-hitting verdict running into almost 500 pages, the court said the convicts had treated the victim as an object of enjoyment, with the single purpose of ravishing her.

The apex court said the aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances like the poor family background, young age of accused, good conduct in prison marital status and small children.

The bench also said the nature and the manner of the crime had devastated social trust and it fell in the 'rarest of rare' category, warranting death penalty.

Reacting to the verdict, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was a victory of the rule of law. His colleague, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, added that the verdict would act as a deterrent against heinous crimes.

"It has been five years, but in this country getting justice takes decades. So justice definitely has been done," she told reporters.

Taking a different view, senior advocate Rebecca John, a "staunch opponent" of the death penalty, referred to the verdict in the Bilkis Bano case yesterday where the Bombay High Court upheld life imprisonment for 11 people and noted the judicial system's "difference in approach".

"What were the mitigating circumstances there? In Bilkis' case she lost a baby girl. Her head was crushed with a stone. I find it very disturbing that offences committed in other contexts, which are equally brutal, are treated differently," John told PTI.

Apart from the usual moral and ethical questions, John said, there is also no evidence to suggest that death penalty acts as a deterrence. Instead, it "acts as an incentive" for criminals to commit murder in rape cases.

"When you have death in the penal provisions the chances of the criminal murdering the victim rises manifold to suppress evidence," she explained.

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West Bengal Women's Commission chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee today welcomed the Supreme Court verdict upholding the death sentence for four men in the December 16 gangrape case and said it will send out a message to those committing crimes against women.

Terming the apex court verdict as "exemplary", she told PTI, "Though I cannot say that I support capital punishment, being the chairperson of the commission, still I will say the apex court has taken the right decision. People must think twice before committing such a crime."



Asked whether the verdict would bring a positive change in the society, Mukherjee said, "We have to keep on spreading the message."



Asserting that she was against the convicted juvenile walking free after serving a three-year term in a reformation home, the women's panel chairperson said, "He was not a juvenile in mind and has committed the heinous crime."



"The verdict has come after over four years and after trials in two courts. I wish this could have come a bit earlier," she said.

The Supreme Court today upheld the death penalty to four convicts in the sensational December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder of the 23-year-old paramedic student, saying the "brutal, barbaric and diabolic nature" of the crime could create "tsunami of shock" to destroy a civilised society.

The West Bengal Human Rights Commission's former chief, justice Ashok Ganguly (retd), however, said he is against death sentence considering that all the four accused were young and they could have been reformed.

"I do not accept death sentence. Every crime is cruel. But, that does not mean that the punishment will be also as severe.

"These persons are young and how can we say that they have gone beyond any scope of reform and they are a menace to society? How they are awarded death sentence, I do not understand," Ganguly, a formed Supreme Court judge, said.

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A Senate committee investigating Moscow's interference in last year's election has asked several of President Donald Trump associates to turn over information about possible contacts with Russian officials or businessmen.

Former Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page responded on Friday calling the congressional probe a "comically fake inquiry" but pledged to cooperate.

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Republican strategist Roger Stone also are among those who have received letters from the Senate intelligence committee asking for information and documents related to the committee's investigation.

The committee would not disclose which individuals it is targeting, but in an email to The Associated Press, Stone said he intended to comply with the committee's requests.

"I am eager, indeed anxious, to testify in full public session, have requested no immunity and am ready to go," Stone wrote. He also said that he "rejects" the claim that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Guccifer 2.0 are Russian assets. He said the US government has offered no proof to support that assessment.

Stone communicated through Twitter direct messages with Guccifer 2.0, a hacker who has claimed responsibility for breaching the Democratic National Committee. Stone has said that he was unaware at the time that U.S. Officials believed the hacker had ties to Russia.

The letters to Stone and Page, which were shared with the AP on Friday, were virtually identical. The committee asked them to provide emails, text messages, letters, phone records or any other relevant information they have about meetings or contacts that they or any other individual affiliated with the Trump campaign had with Russian officials or representatives of Russian business interests.

The requests seek information about any contacts that occurred between the day Trump announced his candidacy, June 16, 2015, and his inauguration on January 20.

It also asks for information about Stone and Page's financial and real estate holdings related to Russia, including financial securities or holdings they might have sold or divested during that period.

In a written response to the committee's request, Page argued that the panel was conducting a "comically fake inquiry." At the same time, Page pledged to cooperate with the committee to "help resolve all of the false allegations which led to this fanciful witch hunt in the first place.

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Bangladesh and India today expanded their cooperation from land, sea and air to space with the launch of the South Asia Satellite (SAS), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said.

India today successfully launched the satelliteto provide communications and disaster support to neighbouring countries, a space initiative described as a "giant and historic step" in boosting regional cooperation.

"With the launching of South Asia Satellite, Bangladesh and India (in particular) have expanded connectivity from land, water and air to space. I'm sure that cooperation in space will definitely lead us to the ambitious technological enhancement for the benefit of the region," she told Prime Minister Narendra Modi and her six other South Asian counterparts through a video call.

Hasina added: "I strongly believe that the betterment of the people of South Asian region depends on fruitful engagement in various fields of cooperation between the countries of this region".

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also joined the video conference call from their respective countries.

"We want to cooperate with all countries for creating an area of peace in South Asia where we can live as good neighbours and pursue constructive policies for the benefit of our peoples, as envisioned by our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," Hasina added.

Hasina said Bangladesh and India have jointly achieved many successes in connecting the countries and expressed confidence that launching of the satellite will change the face of South Asia".

"I'm glad that just a few days ago we have signed Orbital Frequency Agreement for cooperation in South Asia Satellite," she said.

India launched GSAT-9 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh



The project is funded entirely by India.

The cuboid-shaped 2,230 kg satellite will enable a full range of services tothe neighbours, including in telecommunication,television, direct-to-home, VSATs, tele-education andtelemedicine. The South Asian Satellite (SAS) mission life is 12 years.

Seven of the eight SAARC countries--India, SriLanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives--are part of the ambitious project. Pakistan has opted out of the project, saying it has itsown space programme.

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A fresh round of tussle may erupt in the Aam Aadmi Party as its MLA Amanatullah Khan, who was recently suspended from the party for attacking senior leader Kumar Vishwas, has been appointed the chairman of a panel of the Delhi Assembly.

Khan, the MLA from Okhla, has also been appointed a member in seven newly constituted committees, including the Special Inquiry Committee, of the House by the Speaker.

The move is seemed to have been taken to placate Khan, considered as a prominent Muslim face in the party.

An MLA, who had spoken in favour of Vishwas, termed Khan's appointment as a "promotion".

The members to these committee are appointed with tacit approval of the ruling party. The party said the appointment of members to these committees was the "prerogative" of the Speaker.

Khan had accused Vishwas of being an "RSS-BJP agent" and plotting a coup in the party.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia had to convince Vishwas who had insisted on stern action against Khan. He had also threatened to quit the party.

By suspending Khan, a "mask", Vishwas had tried attacking the "coterie" who was hatching "conspiracy" against him.

By suspending Khan, the party also averted a major crisis.

Sisodia had visited Khan at this residence, just hours after his suspension from the party.

However, with the appointment of Khan to these committees, the party could face a fresh crisis as many MLAs were believed to be backing Vishwas.

Sources in the party said all AAP legislators including Somnath Bharti, Alka Lamba and Bhavna Gaur, who had backed Vishwas, have been accommodated in the Library Committee.

It is, however, not considered as prestigious with the panel having little work to do.

Bharti, who had openly advocated a greater role for Vishwas in the party, was removed as the Chairman of the Privileges Committee and Kailash Gehlot appointed in his place.

Sources close to Vishwas declined to react to this development, but indicated that the leader, who was pacified just two days ago, is unhappy over the development.

"With this development the leadership has sought to send a message that it backs Amanatullah and has given him a promotion. Whoever gave statements in favour of Vishwas have been cut to size," an MLA who had backed Vishwas said.

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Tata Coffee today said it has infused over Rs 30 crore as equity in subsidiary firm Tata Coffee Vietnam Company Ltd.

In December, the company had announced setting up of a new freeze dried instant coffee facility in Vietnam of 5,000 tonne capacity per annum through a subsidiary firm with an estimated project cost of USD 50 million (about Rs 350 crore).

The company today informed BSE that it has "infused an amount of USD 4.75 million (about Rs 30.49 crore) in the equity capital of 'Tata Coffee Vietnam Company Ltd' (TCVCL)."



TCVCL is incorporated as a single member limited liability company in Vietnam. As a result, it has became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.

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Private steel major Tata Steel opened yet another Non-Residential Bridge Course (NRBC) centre for school drop-outs at Katepada village in adjoining West Singhbhum district today.

Geeta Koda, MLA Jagannathpur graced the occasion as chief guest and inaugurated the NRBC centre in the presence of R P Mali, chief of Noamundi, Tata Steel, K C Das, Head, Administration (OMQ),Tata Steel, a Tata Steel press release said.

This is the fifth NRBC centre inaugurated in Jagannathpur Block.

Tata Steel has partnered with ASPIRE, a Delhi based NGO working in the field of education to run this project.

The objective of the NRBC centre is to identify the school dropout children in the Blocks and mainstream them in the formal school system.

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Tata Trusts today signed a pact with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for setting up a cancer centre in Tirupati to address increasing cases in the region.

"Given the rising cancer burden in the region, Tata Trusts has joined hands with TTD to address this concern by bringing affordable cancer care closer home to the people of the region," Tata Trusts and TTD said in a joint statement.

The centre will strive to provide care to the patients without denying it to those with financial constraints, it added.

It will be constructed on 25 acres of land provided by the TTD, the statement said.

As per the MoU, Tata Trusts will set up a project management vehicle that will be responsible for all aspects of construction, execution and operationalisation of the facility.

The Trusts will also rope in a team of experts from Tata Medical Center, Kolkata and Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai to provide technical assistance to the project, it added.

Tata Trusts Managing Trustee R Venkataramanan said: "Our aim is to ensure the provision of equitable, affordable, high quality cancer care for the masses. We are positive that this centre will be a landmark institution in this part of the country".

TTD is happy to welcome an institution like Tata Trusts to work on this pressing issue of rising cancer prevalence in the region, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Executive officer Sambasiva Rao said.

The centre to begin with will address the increasing numbers of cancer cases in the region and will evolve to become a centre of excellence in oncology education and research as well, the statement said.

"Today is another important milestone where the Tata Group and primarily the Tata Trusts are embarking on another important project - a charitable state-of-the-art cancer hospital, which will help patients in Tirupati and outside", Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran said.

"We have worked together with them to make the pilgrim experience better through technology," he added.

The proposed facility will be a comprehensive centre, with in and out-patient facilities, diagnostics, therapeutics, rehabilitation and other such support services.

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A Chennai-based scrap dealer was allegedly abducted by three persons, including two women, who also demanded a ransom of Rs 90 lakh for his release, following which they were arrested, the police said today.

J Shyam Kumar (52) was rescued late last night. The accused, Aashi (35), Sarju (32) and Shakir (34), were arrested today, the Pahari Police said.

The accused had been corresponding with the victim from several days for executing a scrap deal. Finally, Kumar decided to settle the deal and came to Jaipur on the evening of May 3.

He was abducted from the Jaipur International Airport (JIA) and taken to Pahari town in Bharatpur division where the accused thrashed him and demanded a ransom of Rs 90 lakh, DSP Kama Rai Singh Beniwal told PTI.

He said that following negotiation, the victim's family in Chennai got the ransom money of Rs 20 lakh deposited in the provided bank account numbers.

SHO Pahari, Mukesh Chand said Rs 10 lakh each were deposited in bank accounts in Ajmer and Makrana.

"We had got a tip-off regarding the abduction following which we laid a trap and arrested the accused. Few others involved in the kidnapping are yet to be arrested. We have recovered the ransom amount from the bank accounts," Chand said.

Further arrests are likely in the case, the police said.

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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has pressed Southeast Asian governments to ensure "leak-proof" enforcement of sanctions against North Korea and to prevent the pariah nation's diplomats from conducting business that could benefit its weapons programs.

Tillerson called on foreign ministers of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to "minimise" the diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, "so that North Korea does not gain benefit from its diplomatic channels for its nuclear and missile aspirations," senior State Department official Patrick Murphy said after yesterday's meeting at the State Department.

That was the latest salvo in the Trump administration's push to get the international community to intensify diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program before it can pose a direct threat to the American mainland.

Although China, North Korea's traditional ally and main trading partner, is viewed as the key lever of international influence, Southeast Asian nations have diplomatic relationships with Pyongyang and small-scale trade ties, and have sometimes served as conduits for North Korean activities that violate UN sanctions.

A recent UN report found that North Korean diplomats often play key roles in commercial activities banned under Security Council resolutions aimed at starving it of technology and revenue for its nuclear and missile programs.

"North Korea in many countries has a diplomatic presence that clearly exceeds their diplomatic needs," Murphy told reporters.

He said, without providing specifics, that "considerable common ground was identified" between the US and ASEAN on North Korea. He said that the February assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's estranged brother at a Malaysian airport, using a chemical agent, illustrated the threat it posed "in the heart of ASEAN." He said this has galvanised concern in the region.

Enrique Manalo, acting foreign secretary of the Philippines, said the way forward with North Korea was through dialogue and de-escalation of tensions. He said China has an "important role" to play, and ASEAN has not really yet discussed reducing the presence of North Korean diplomatic presence in their countries.

"That's probably something we'll look at," Manalo told reporters. "Our immediate concern is that the tension in the (Korean) peninsula does not increase, because the more it increases the more danger of some kind of miscalculation. The last thing we would really like to see is to have a conflict break out."



Southeast Asia's top diplomats are clearly seeking better ties with Washington, amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's trade policy and its dealings with China.

They have been heartened by President Donald Trump's plans to attend an ASEAN-hosted summit in the Philippines in November and a regional economic summit in Vietnam.

Eight foreign ministers and two other senior officials from the 10 nations travelled across the world for the face- to-face with Tillerson.

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The Tamil Nadu government today submitted to the Madras High Court its scheme to regularise the unapproved plots and the new rules to convert the use of agricultural land to other purposes.

The government submitted its plot regularisation scheme and the land use conversion rules to a bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, complying with its order given yesterday.

The bench had asked Additional Advocate General Ayyadurai yesterday to submit it the new rules and circulate them to the stakeholders also to enable them submit their views.

The counsel submitted to the bench the government order (GO) passed by the Housing and Urban Development Department dated May 4, notifying the "Regularization of Unapproved Plots and Layouts Rules 2017."



The Tamil Nadu Change of Land Use (from Agriculture to Non-Agriculture purposes in Non-Planning Areas) Rules 2017 too was submitted.

The new rules, which came into force from immediate effect, exempts all unapproved layouts and plots, where any or all plots were sold and registered on or before October 20, 2016 from the purview of the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971.

Various guidelines have to be followed for the change of land use from the agriculture to non-agriculture purposes in non-planning areas by authorities including the collectors.

On September 9, 2016, the bench of erstwhile Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul had ordered a blanket ban on registrations of all unapproved layouts and change of agricultural lands into housing plots.

The court had said it was necessary to prevent further development of unauthorised layouts and conversion of agricultural areas for non-farm use.

It would also help save ecology and prevent flooding, the court had said giving time for the government to come out with the necessary policy and the legislative changes.

During the proceeding yesterday, the bench of Chief Justice Banerjee had also been told that as many as 9,760 unapproved plots and house sites converted from agricultural land had been registered in Tamil Nadu from September 9, 2016 till March 28 despite a blanket ban. The matter was posted to May 12.

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India International Exchange, a subsidiary of BSE, today witnessed a trading volume of more than USD 100 million in one single day.

India International Exchange or India INX offers trading in gold, silver and copper futures.

"Trading volume crossed USD 100 million today for the first time in a single trading day," India INX said in a statement.

India INX is the first international exchange to become operational at the International Financial Service Centre (IFSC) at the Gift City in Gujarat.

Although the rival bourse NSE too has got the licence, it is yet to kickstart operations.

The exchange went live on January 16 and recorded a trading volume worth USD 4,30,520 on the first day of trade.

India INX has been one of the most advanced technology platforms with a turnaround time of 4 micro seconds. It operates 22 hours, six days a week, to allow global investors and NRIs to trade from anywhere.

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President Donald Trump's five- nation trip to Europe and the Middle East this month is aimed at reversing US' disengagement with the world, establishing a new partnership with Muslim leaders and finding a long-term solution to extremism, a top administration official has said.

Trump is to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican, Brussels and Italy on his first overseas trip as president later this month. The dates have not been announced yet.

The planning for the visit to Saudi Arabia began soon after the November election results came and Riyadh approached then president-elect Trump with the message that they wanted to start a new relationship with the United States.

This would be probably for the first time that a US president would make his first overseas trip to Saudi Arabia.

The official said that these new partnerships can deliver improved security and prosperity, better lives for children across all major religions and across the people of the world.

"I think what the president has demonstrated already, and will be able to demonstrate even further on this trip, is that 'America First' is fully compatible with American leadership in the world," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"Circumstances in the Middle East, that have bled over, as we all know, into Europe and globally, associated with radical, Islamist terrorist groups - Salafi-jihadist groups that are victimising so many in the region and beyond, as well as the problems associated with these terrorists groups, combined with Iran's subversive and malign behaviour across the region, have aligned interests in a way that could lead to new partnerships enabled by American leadership," he said.

"The different objectives he laid out for us was, one, is to come up with a long-term fix for radicalisation. How do you fight the ideological battle for the long term? Two is, how do we stop funding for terror and terror-related organisations and organisations that are radicalising youth?" he said.

The official said the third and the fourth objectives respectively were burden sharing: figuring out ways to get out partners in the region to do more to counter the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and Iran, and to "figure out how we could win the actual wars that are there today."



Trump yesterday announced his trip and said these visits will take place ahead of the NATO G-7 meetings. His tour will begin with a "truly historic gathering in Saudi Arabia with leaders from all across the Muslim world."



"Saudi Arabia is the custodian of the two holiest sites in Islam," he said, adding, "Our task is not to dictate to others how to live, but to build a coalition of friends and partners who share the goal of fighting terrorism and bringing safety, opportunity and stability to the war- ravaged Middle East. We all pray that we can make a difference."



The official said this demonstrates that Trump "is willing to and has embraced his leadership role in multinational forums when they serve the interests of the American people and American security."



"He has also demonstrated that he'll renegotiate terms when he thinks that those multinational organisations and those relationships aren't delivering what they need to for the American people," the official said.

Contrary to the conventional wisdom associated with Trump's approach to alliances, he has done a tremendous amount of work to strengthen alliances, the official said.

"So if you think about NATO, for example, where most of the countries within the alliance are doing much more now to contribute to security within the context of the alliance, an alliance in which members or a partnership in which members are doing their fair share, are shouldering their share of the responsibility and the burden, is a much stronger one than an alliance in which members are not sharing their fair share of the responsibility and the burden," the official noted.

The trip will also reverse the trend of US' disengagement with the world and some of its biggest problems.

"America's large disengagement from some of these problems has aided and abetted those who were really fomenting violence and perpetuating human suffering across the Middle East in particular," the official said.

Trump will also advance US interests in the area of trade and economic development during his trip to the countries.

"What we've seen is that reciprocity is a model that works, and one that the president is advancing in connection to access to markets and so forth," the official said.

He said the trip will demonstrate that the US is "regaining strategic" confidence. It will also demonstrate that the US has a lot to do with the ability to combine diplomacy with economic strength and "with the willingness to use military force when it is necessary," the official said.

According to the official, Syria was a "great example" ahead of his trip. The situation called for the use of force after the Bashar al-Assad regime was committing further mass murder of its own people using the most heinous weapons.

"But that wasn't just a one-off strike. It was the opportunity for the president to emphasise what was necessary to begin to reduce the suffering of the Syrian people," he said.

The US had struck a Syrian airfield with 59 Tomahawk missiles in April in response to the chemical weapons attack.

In a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump followed up on diplomatic efforts to address the Syrian civil war, the problem associated with the IS in particular and its control of territory and resources there.

But he also looked for areas of cooperation. An example of that is a higher level of participation in the Astana conference that is going on now that could lead to ceasefires that can then bridge into the political process in Geneva.

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US President Donald Trump met Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for a patch-up meeting and said all issues had been "worked out" after a January telephone spat between the leaders had soured ties.

Trump said he had a "productive discussion" with Turnbull on a wide range of issues in New York after he returned to the city for the first time since taking office.

He said they discussed the future of the two countries from the perspective of national security and trade to immigration and enhanced economic cooperation.

"We affirmed the tremendous friendship between the US and Australia," Trump said, adding that the reports that they had a rough telephone call on January 28 was exaggerated.

"It's all worked out. It's been worked out for a long time," Trump said, adding, "We had a great telephone call. You guys exaggerated that call. That was a big exaggeration. We're not babies."



Trump's showering of praise came in stark contrast to what was reportedly a verbal spat between the two leaders over accepting refugees. Trump claimed the acrimonious call with Turnbull early in his White House tenure had been "fake news".

Turnbull was among the first foreign leaders with whom Trump spoke with after taking office on January 20. Trump was reportedly irritated because he was expected to honour a deal made by his predecessor Barack Obama to accept more than 1,200 refugees.

The US president had abruptly hung up the call with the Australian premier after merely 25 minutes, rather than an hour the call was supposed to last.

Last month, Vice President Mike Pence visited Australia on a fence-mending visit. Although he too made it clear that Trump was not happy with the refugee deal, the US nonetheless would honour it.

At the patch-up meeting, Trump delivered a charm offensive through his speech at an event to honour the 75th anniversary of Australian and US victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Trump said for nearly a century Americans and Australians have "fought together, bled together."



"Our brave warriors have fought shoulder to shoulder in every major conflict together," he said.

"Our two nations were born as the rebellious children of the same parent. Americans have had no better friends than the Australians, I mean that,"he said.

Trump thanked Australia, saying the US was "profoundly grateful" for its role to limit the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Turnbull underscored the closeness of the two countries. "We are always more assured of winning when we are fighting together," he said.

On the refugee deal, he said, "We can put the refugee deal behind you and move on."



He also supported the American stand on the North Korean issue. "Today and together we condemn and resist the reckless provocations of North Korea. We fight together in Iraq and Afghanistan to defeat and destroy the terrorists who threaten our way of life. Today Australians and Americans stand shoulder to should defending our freedoms," he said.

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Turkey's judicial authorities today announced the sacking of over 100 more judges and prosecutors deemed to be followers of the alleged mastermind of the July 15 failed coup, in a purge that shows no sign of letting up.

The Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) said that 107 judges and prosecutors were being fired in the latest wave of the purge against alleged supporters of the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen.

They are also the target of an arrest warrant but it was not clear if any had been detained so far.

Turkey accuses Gulen of masterminding last year's failed bid to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but the reclusive preacher denies the charges.

Some 47,000 people have been arrested under the state of emergency imposed after the coup, while tens of thousands more have lost their jobs.

Only last weekend, Turkey dismissed almost 4,000 public officials under the state of emergency while over 9,100 police were suspended on April 26.

According to Anadolu, 4,238 judges and prosecutors have been fired over alleged links to Gulen since the start of the state of emergency.

The latest sackings underline that there is to be no let-up in the anti-Gulen purge after Erdogan won a April 16 referendum on expanding his powers.

Under the new presidential system, the HSYK is itself due to be reformed with its members reduced to 13 from 22, of whom seven will be chosen by parliament and six either directly or indirectly via the president.

Opponents fear that the changes will bring the judiciary under Erdogan's direct control but supporters insist they are needed for efficient governance.

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Two persons were killed after sustaining bullet injuries at a place in Kangpokpi district of Manipur, police said today.

The two bullet-riddled bodies, which are yet to be identified, were found near the fringes of a nearby forest by locals today, following which the nearby Saparmeina police station was alerted.

Additional police force was rushed to the spot and investigation was on, a police officer said.

The bodies were being brought to Imphal for post-mortem, from the site, which is located 47 km from the state capital.

Locals said that the two persons were killed in a factional fight between suspected Kuki militant outfits.

Of late, Kangpokpi district has witnessed incidents of violence.

Last month, two transporters were injured after gunmen fired at a convoy of Imphal-bound oil tankers in two separate incidents.

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is encouraged by the agreement signed by Turkey, Russia and Iran to set up safe zones in Syria and de-escalate fighting, his spokesman said.

"It will be crucial to see this agreement actually improve the lives of Syrians," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Russia, Iran and Turkey yesterday signed the agreement to set up the four safe zones following talks in the Kazakh capital Astana on shoring up a ceasefire agreed in December.

Russia and Iran back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the war while Turkey is supporting rebel forces.

The agreement provides for a ceasefire, a ban on all flights, rapid deliveries of humanitarian aid to the designated areas and the return of refugees.

Guterres "welcomed the commitments to ceasing the use of all weapons, particularly aerial assets" and to quickly deliver medical aid and basic necessities, said the spokesman.

The United Nations will support de-escalation, said the spokesman but he did not elaborate.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, who was in Astana as an observer, described the agreement as "an important promising positive step in the right direction" toward a halt in the fighting.

The United States however was extremely cautious, casting doubt over Iran's role even as it expressed hope that the deal could help set the stage for a settlement.

A working group will be set up within two weeks to resolve technical issues and the three countries agreed to set up the four areas by June 4.

The four areas include key territory held by anti-Assad forces.

The first zone includes the whole of Idlib province along with certain parts of neighbouring Latakia, Aleppo and Hama provinces.

The second will encompass certain parts in the north of Homs province and the third will be comprised of some areas of Eastern Ghouta, outside of Damascus.

The fourth zone will include parts of the Deraa and Quneitra provinces in southern Syria, according to the memorandum seen by AFP.

More than 320,000 people have been killed in Syria since the country's war began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

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Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says 46 parties to conflict are "credibly suspected" of committing rape or other forms of sexual violence in 2016 including seven designated as "terrorist groups" for links with the Islamic State extremist group and al-Qaida.

The list was included in a report to the UN Security Council circulated yesterday.

It includes mainly opposition and rebel groups from nine countries but also government military and police forces in Congo, Somalia and South Sudan and armed forces in Sudan and Syria. Also on the list is Boko Haram, which operates in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

The report says sexual violence as a war tactic was widespread in 2016 with rapes allegedly committed by several parties to conflict, mostly in conjunction with other crimes from killings to looting and forced displacement.

The UN chief said "the strategic nature of the violence was evident in the selective targeting of victims from opposing ethnic, religious or political groups, mirroring the fault lines of the wider conflict or crisis."



He said patterns of sexual violence have also been seen in urban warfare during house searches, operations in residential areas and at checkpoints.

For example, the report names 13 rebel groups in Congo as well as the army and national police.

In 2016, it said the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo verified 514 cases of conflict-related sexual violence against 340 women, 170 girls, three men and one boy.

During the same period, it said the UN population agency reported 2,593 cases of sexual violence in conflict-affected provinces.

In South Sudan, which has been engulfed in conflict since December 2013, the report said the UN peacekeeping mission documented 577 incidents of sexual violence including rape, gang rape and sexual slavery.

"The survivors included 57 girls, several of whom were below 10 years of age, with two being less than one year old," it said.

The report said the overall trends "point to an alarming increase in the number of rapes, with 20 per cent more victims seeking services following sexual assault."



The UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic recorded 179 cases in 2016, mainly by groups fighting for power and the Lord's Resistance Army, the report said.

The incidents included 151 rapes, of which 54 were gang rapes, as well as six forced marriages and four cases of sexual slavery, the report said.

"The victims included 92 women, 86 girls and one boy although the actual number is suspected to be far higher than the figures reported," it said.

"Victims of conflict-related sexual violence were generally assaulted in their homes, en route to markets or fields, and in and around displacement camps.

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The UN human rights chief today harshly criticised Nepal's efforts to impeach the country's first female chief justice, warning the move appeared to be aimed at undermining judicial independence.

Nepal's government filed a motion to impeach Sushila Karki after the two main parties in the coalition accused her of interference following a Supreme Court ruling last month overturning Kathmandu's choice for chief of police.

"I urge the Nepal authorities to respect the independence of the judiciary (and) to withdraw what appears to be a politically motivated impeachment motion," United Nations rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement.

The impeachment motion was filed days after the court revoked the government's appointment of Jaya Bahadur Chand as police chief, ruling that the government had violated existing processes and regulations.

Zeid pointed out that Karki had been "instrumental in a number of high-profile and politically sensitive decisions," and warned that "the attempt to remove her gives rise to serious concerns about the government's commitment to transitional justice and the rule of law."



Karki's supporters say she has taken a strong stance against corruption during her year-long tenure as head of the supreme court.

A committee is being established to investigate the allegations of bias, after which parliament will vote on whether to impeach her.

But the process is unlikely to get that far as she is due to retire in June when she turns 65, and Zeid warned this would mean she would be unable to participate in a number of scheduled politically sensitive cases.

"Recent rulings by the Supreme Court have been critical in advancing human rights in Nepal, assisting victims seeking justice for the crimes and serious human rights violations committed against them," he said.

He pointed, for instance, to the court's decision to overturn a government decision to withdraw criminal charges against people accused of serious crimes during Nepal's civil war, which ended in 2006.

Zeid urged the government "to commit to the processes of transitional justice and accountability that are so important if Nepal is to overcome the tragic legacy of its decade of conflict.

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The US military today said a service member has been killed in Somalia during an operation against the extremist group al-Shabab as the United States steps up its fight against the al-Qaida-linked organisation.

A statement from the US Africa Command said the service member was killed Thursday during the operation near Barii, about 64 kilometers west of the capital, Mogadishu. The statement said US forces were conducting an advise-and- assist mission with Somalia's military.

Both the United States and Somalia in recent weeks have declared new efforts against the extremist group. President Donald Trump has approved expanded military operations against al-Shabab, including more aggressive airstrikes and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.

A Somali intelligence official confirmed the U.S. military operation, saying U.S. Forces in helicopters raided an al-Shabab hideout near the Somali capital on Thursday night and engaged with fighters.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the helicopters dropped soldiers near Dare Salaam village in an attempt to capture or kill extremists in the area. The official said the fighters mounted a stiff resistance against the soldiers.

Somalia's new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last month declared a new offensive against al-Shabab, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks elsewhere in East Africa.

Also last month, the U.S. Military announced it was sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the Horn of Africa country in roughly two decades. The U.S. Africa Command said the deployment was for logistics training of Somalia's army.

The U.S. In recent years has sent a small number of special operations forces and counter-terror advisers to Somalia and has carried out a number of airstrikes, including drone strikes, against al-Shabab.

The extremist group, which was chased out of Mogadishu years ago but continues to carry out deadly attacks there, has vowed to step up the violence in response to the moves by Trump and Mohamed.

Pressure is growing on Somalia's military to assume full security for the country as the 22,000-strong African Union multinational force that has been supporting the fragile central government plans to leave by the end of 2020.

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The Madras High Court today reserved its order on fixing norms for according incentive marks to the in-service government doctors in PG course admission, an issue which had yielded the court's split verdict early this week.

Justice M Sathyanarayanan, whom the issue had been referred to after the split verdict by the division bench of justices K K Sasidharan and S M Subramniam, reserved his order for tomorrow after hearing arguments by various counsel.

The division bench had on May 3 delivered the split verdict on appeals challenging a single judge order which had upheld the Medical Council of India regulations on awarding incentive marks and reserving 25 per cent of seats to in- service candidates for the PG medical admissions.

Appearing for the MCI, counsel Vijay Narayan argued that the incentive marks for the government doctors for admission to the post-graduate medical courses was all right, but not the reservation of seats for it.

Reserving 50 per cent of the seats in government quota for the in-service candidates would directly impinge on the MCI's mandate to maintain standards.

He also submitted that linking the incentive marks with NEET-PG marks obtained by candidates concerned is a must.

Stating that if it was not done, each state would form its own system of allotment of marks ranging from one to 10 which would affect the MCI's objective on standardisation.

Arguing that the MCI's word to give 10 to 30 per cent marks linked to NEET-PG score was final, he said no state government could have different norms.

Referring to the Clause 16 of the state prospectus, which was quashed by one of the judges of the division bench, he submitted that the clause is illegal because it allots one mark per year to all candidates, irrespective of whether he is in government service or private service which is against the MCI norms.

"You need not work in rural areas, nor need to be in the government service, you will still get full 10 marks at the end of 10 years," he said.

Assailing Clause 33 of the prospectus, which reduces all marks to 90 per cent, he said it was clearly discriminatory.

A fresh non-service candidate would suffer 10 mark difference, as his mark too would be reduced to 90 though he would get zero as experience incentive, he argued.

Responding to the arguments, senior advocate P Wilson said the prospectus had not been challenged at all. Therefore one of the two judges who delivered the split verdict ought not to have quashed three clauses in it, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bombay High Court sought to know from the Maharashtra government if over 600 acres of land in Nagpur was allotted to Ramdev's Ayurveda at a throwaway price and on what grounds "concession", if any, was given to the company.

A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice G S Kulkarni was hearing a petition filed by Congress Mumbai chief Sanjay Nirupam alleging irregularities in the allotment of land to the company for setting up a food park in the Multi-Modal International Hub Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN), Nagpur.

The bench on Friday directed the state government to file an affidavit in response to the petition within six weeks.

The court said the affidavit shall contain all papers and details pertaining to the land allotment.

"We want to only know on what grounds concession, if any, was given to the company. We want to know if land was given at a throwaway price," Chief Justice Chellur said.

"We want to know if any farmers' land was taken and allotted to the company," the court said, adding the affidavit shall also include the proposal submitted by the company to the government.

Nirupam in his petition alleged that Maharashtra government favoured and flouted all tender norms to allot the land to yoga guru Ramdev company's



It claimed that the allotted land is part of a reserved forest area.

The petition also claimed that the land was allotted at a concessional rate causing heavy monetary loss to the public exchequer.

Nirupam has alleged that while the current market value of the said land is at least Rs 100 crore per acre, Ramdev's Ayurveda received it at a throwaway price of Rs 25 lakh per acre.

The plea sought an inquiry into the land allotment and urged the court to restrain Patanjali Ayurveda from using the land, pending a final order from the court.
By Rishika Sadam

- Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and said it would beef up hiring in the United States, a move that comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump's tough stance on the H1-B visa rules.

Cognizant gets more than 75 percent of its revenue from North America and relies heavily on workers on H1-B visas to provide IT services to clients. H1-B visas are non-immigrant visas that allow U.S. companies to temporarily employ foreign workers.

The majority of Teaneck, New Jersey-based Cognizant's roughly 260,000 employees are based in India.

Trump has ordered a review of the U.S. visa program that brings high-skilled foreign workers into the country, potentially affecting hiring plans of technology firms and outsourcing companies.

Cognizant plans to hire significantly more in the United States, expand delivery centers and reduce its dependence on H1-B visas, President Rajeev Mehta said on a call with analysts.

"We applied for less than half the number of visas we saw last year and we expect to further reduce our need for these visas going forward," Mehta said.

Cognizant said it hired 4,000 people in the United States last year. The company, however, down played concerns about pressure on costs and margins due to U.S. hiring.

"I do not anticipate any significant increase in costs as a result of training and re-training," Chief Executive Francisco D'Souza told . "I do not see training having a substantial impact on our margins going forward."

Indian IT firms have also been hit hard with Trump's visa review. Infosys Ltd said earlier this month it plans to hire 10,000 U.S. workers in the next two years and open four technology centers in the United States.

Wipro Ltd is also looking to hire more people in the United States. Both companies have reduced H1-B visa applications this year.

Cognizant said it expected current-quarter revenue in the range of $3.63 billion to $3.68 billion. Analysts on average had expected revenue of $3.65 billion, according to Thomson I/B/E/S.

Last year, The company cut its forecast thrice amid a tight cap on spending by its clients, especially in the financial and healthcare sectors.

The company sees promising demand from the sectors in 2017, D'Souza said.

Cognizant's profit rose 26.3 percent to $557 million, while revenue rose 10.7 percent to $3.55 billion.

Excluding items, the company earned 84 cents per share. Analysts' were expecting 83 cents.

Cognizant's shares were up 2.2 percent at $62.12.

(Reporting by Rishika Sadam in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Rania El Gamal

DUBAI (Reuters) - OPEC and other countries that agreed to cut crude production are converging on the need to extend the pact beyond June to help to clear a supply glut, Saudi Arabia's OPEC governor said on Friday.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers agreed last year to curb production by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) for six months from Jan. 1.

Oil prices have risen but stockpiles are still high and production from countries that have not agreed to the cut, including the United States, has been rising, keeping crude below the $60 level that OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and others would like to see.

"There's an emerging consensus among participating countries on the need to extend the production agreement reached last year," Adeeb Al-Aama told .

"Based on today's data, there's a growing conviction that a six-month extension may be needed to rebalance the market, but the length of the extension is not firm yet," he said.

A formal decision will be made when OPEC ministers and non-OPEC producers meet in Vienna on May 25.

The Saudi OPEC governor was speaking by telephone from Vienna where he is attending a meeting of OPEC's governing board along with his counterparts from the 13-country OPEC - which accounts for a third of global oil production.

Such meetings are for informal consultations, but they deal with administrative matters and do not decide policy.

Al-Aama said he had accompanied Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih on a visit last week to some of the non-OPEC producers that are party to the pact, and "all have expressed their commitment to the deal." Al-Falih was due to visit more countries next week, he said.

Compliance with the cuts has been rising every month, reaching "an impressive 98 percent in March", Al-Aama said. This is higher than OPEC achieved during its last cut in 2009.

Al-Falih spoke with Russian energy minister Alexander Novak on Thursday to discuss the status of the oil market and their planned meeting in Beijing within 10 days, Al-Aama said.

"The two ministers expressed their satisfaction with the market fundamentals evidenced by the gradual drawdown of global inventories and agreed on the need to continue working with all participants to guide oil markets towards rebalancing," he said.

Novak has said Russia is inclined to prolong the accord.

(Reporting by Rania El Gamal; editing by Susan Thomas and Jane Merriman)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Lisa Lambert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Thursday requested a 60-day pause in a case involving MetLife Inc, the country's largest life insurer, and how regulators designate certain companies as "too big to fail," a major reform arising from the 2007-09 financial crisis.

MetLife had asked for a delay in the case last month, saying the court should wait until President Donald Trump's administration finishes its financial regulation review.

The Republican president has ordered Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to look into the designations and the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law that established how to identify "systemically important" firms so big they could devastate the financial system if they failed.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council, chaired by Mnuchin, said in a court filing it did not take a position on waiting until Treasury reports the review's findings.

It said, however, that council members, including Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and new Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Jay Clayton, needed "additional time for deliberation."

The council will delve into the designation process and Trump's review at a meeting next Monday, according to a notice from Treasury.

In March 2016, U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer struck down the FSOC's designation of MetLife as "systemically important," saying it was "arbitrary and capricious."

The administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama appealed and the two sides squared off in court last October, with a decision expected this month.

Some companies are wary of the "too-big-to-fail" designation because it forces them to hold on to capital and creates extra oversight they say is burdensome.

The only two nonbanks now carrying the label are American International Group, which received a $182 billion bailout during the crisis, and Prudential Insurance. MetLife is not considered designated during the appeal.

Critics of the designations have said the Trump administration should be able to withdraw the appeal or the court should at least consider the new president's views and his review's findings, which are expected to call for changes to designations.

(Reporting by Lisa Lambert; Editing by Peter Cooney)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act enforces a set of consumer-centric laws to compulsorily prescribe the registration of all real estate projects. The Act imposes a range of measures and penalties on those real estate promoters and developers who flout the measures of transparency and timely completion of projects to protect the interest of home owners and buyers.

For those who apply for Home Loan after May 1, 2017, as well as those who already have a Home Loan, RERA seeks to improve the overall experience of buying a new home. Some benefits that the Act will introduce are as follows:

Improved Transparency : With regulations governing real estate activities, the Act seeks to make home owners and buyers aware of the practices of builders and other parties involved in the real estate process. This will also improve the discipline of the builders working on projects due to the increased clarity.

Healthy and Equitable Relationships : The Act will lead to improving the trust between developers and homebuyers, taking into account deadlines for possession of the house, payments and other transactions between the two parties.

Increase in Demand : With improved confidence of the consumers in the process, it will increase a demand for homes in the Indian market, thus boosting the real estate industry.

Provisions Offered by RERA

The successful regulation of RERA opens up a range of provisions for consumers. These are as follows:

- A separate escrow account has to be maintained by any promoter of a real estate development firm.

- A total of 70% of the money from investors and buyers is to be deposited in the account and be available for use only for land purchase and construction.

- According to this Act, it is mandatory for builders to submit the original approved plans for projects and provide details of the revenue collected, the way funds are utilised, the timeline for completion and more to bring more transparency to the process.

- It will be the responsibility of each state regulator to register real estate projects and real estate agents operating in their state under RERA. The details of all registered projects will be put up on a website for public access.

Issues to be Addressed by RERA



- Initially the risk of non-completion of the project and delays were borne by the customer, but RERA ensures that these costs are to be borne by the developer.

- Earlier regulatory authorities had a limited role in the whole process. However, RERA has given regulatory authorities the right to intervene, thus bringing more accountability into the picture.

- RERA has also helped address delayed delivery caused by diversion of funds to new projects. The Act enforces developers to create separate accounts for each project, and use funds in each separate account only for a single project.

If you are looking to take a Home Loan or a joint Home Loan to buy your dream home, RERA makes your home buying experience much more transparent and clear. It puts the responsibility of completing the construction on deadline on the shoulders of developers and builders, charging penalties in case of delays. It also ensures that homebuyers get what they are initially promised by builders and increases accountability, bringing fair practices to the otherwise unorganised real estate sector.

With RERA coming in practice from May 1, 2017, in a few cities across India (with more to join by the end of the year), the time is ripe for you to consider buying that dream home. Before taking a loan, make sure to check your lenders credentials and the value of your home. Use a Home Loan Calculator like this one to calculate your EMI to see how much you can afford to pay and check your CIBIL score to make sure you will get a low interest on your Home Loan.

In your search for the right Home Loan, choose a trustworthy lender like Bajaj Finserv, who offers different types of Home Loan to suit various needs.
Coal India, the world's largest coal miner , is considering a listing on the London Stock Exchange and has had early discussions with the LSE, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Thursday.

A listing by the state-controlled miner would be a boost for the LSE as it looks to attract companies following Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

Coal India and LSE officials met in London in December to discuss the matter but there is no guarantee a listing will happen, two sources said.

The sources requested anonymity as they were not authorised to talk to the media.

"Coal India is examining the proposal, it has come from them," one of the sources said, adding that the idea was looked on favourably by the British government.

LSE spokeswoman Alexandra Ritterman declined to comment on "speculative future listings".

The LSE, which hopes to attract a listing from Saudi Aramco, has said it sees longer term prospects from India.

Coal India had no immediate comment. It was also not possible to immediately confirm whether Coal India had appointed any advisers on the potential LSE listing.

Kolkata-based Coal India, which is listed in Mumbai and has a market capitalisation of around $27 billion, has been holding road shows including in London to seek buyers for a 10 percent stake.

Almost all of the company's assets are in India but it is trying to buy assets in Australia and South Africa as it looks to secure supplies of coking coal used to make steel.
The government has empowered the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to push banks to resolve stressed assets by invoking bankruptcy code against defaulters and also set up committees on a case by case basis, or sector specific committees to decide on restructuring which also includes deciding the quantum of haircuts or one time settlements. This is yet another step in the right direction. But it's not the final word or the solution to resolve the stress in the system. Here are some issues that need attention:

i) The sheer size of stressed assets is humongous

The Rs 14 lakh crore of stressed assets in the system are huge. In fact, they are equal to the combined asset size of two large private sector banks - ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank. While the stress in the system is largely contributed by 30-50 cases or few sectors like steel, power and infrastructure and they are likely to get the attention of the RBI, the rest of the stressed companies that runs in lakh also needs a resolution. These companies are either a supplier to large companies or standalone companies. Take for example, there are many small steel plants operating in the country that needs equal attention. There are experts who question; does RBI have the bandwidth in terms of understanding of the sector or company to issue borrower specific instruction for a bankruptcy?

ii) Bankruptcy is not the final answer



The banks already had a good legal framework of Bankruptcy Code to deal with the problem. In fact, the bankruptcy code is not just bank dependent. The code is for everyone including foreign lenders. So non-bank lenders like a supplier also has the power to trigger it. But it was not explored because not all cases needs to be taken to bankruptcy. The first step is to find a solution through various current schemes. So saying that the RBI would push for bankruptcy will be a forced one on the stakeholders.

The bankruptcy code should be invoked by RBI in cases where there is a suspicion of a willful default or where one of the lenders accuses the borrower of willful default. Today, the outstanding loan where willful default cases are on is around Rs 70,000 crore.



iii) Not all the bank lenders are on the same page on quantum of haircut

The other big issue that comes in the way of banks is the quantum of haircut. Every bank takes its own call based on the commercial assessment. In many large cases, there is a need for deep haircuts, which means lenders taking a big hit impacting their profitability and capital. Barring the SBI and couple of large banks, the Indian banking sector especially PSBs are not in a position to take deep haircuts. At a time RBI as a regulator is worried about banks weak balance sheet, the issue of protecting bank from further deterioration in its profitability parameter would also come in the way in many large cases.

iv) Where are the buyers of distressed assets

Under the strategic debt restructuring (SDR), the RBI had allowed banks to take majority stake by conversion of debt into equity and throw management out. The banks did acquire majority stake in some cases, but failed to sell it to a new promoter. There are no buyers for these assets or even if they are there, they want it cheap. The valuation issue is again going to be a stumbling block. The economic environment is itself challenging as there is excess capacity everywhere.

v) Bank recapitalization

The biggest constraint for PSBs today is the capital. Many PSBs are operating today at a bare minimum capital levels, which means they are putting brakes on fresh lending. While asset deteriorating continues, the capacity of banks to take hard measures to get rid of assets is also limited as it would require higher provisioning and also of capital. Along with new resolution tools or guidelines, the banks urgently needs to be recapitalized.


Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday handed over release order of Rs 1,263 crore to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for different projects in the state. Naidu reviewed the progress in implementation of various central schemes in the state and handed over the release order of Rs 375 crore for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Rs 442 crore for Smart City Mission and Rs 446 crore for Lucknow Metro project.

He said that with the coming of the Yogi government, Uttar Pradesh has joined the 'Mission Modi', an acronym for "Making of Developing India". "Uttar Pradesh lagged behind in implementing the schemes of the central government and the reason is that the previous government did not have the intention to do so. I'm not levelling any allegation but stating a fact, people have already given them a reply," he said in a joint press conference with the chief minister.

Lucknow has been given Rs 119 crore, while Rs 107 crore each has been given to Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi, Naidu said, adding that Rs 2 crore have been given to Meerut and Rae Bareli for sending a proposal under the smart city mission. The Union minister said that 61 cities of the state, including Ayodhya, have been included in AMRUT to work on three main components of potable water, sanitation and solid waste management.

The recommendation for Noida and Greater Noida metro rail project of 29.7 km, worth Rs 5,503 crore, will soon be okayed and there is also a proposal before the NCRTC board of Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system on a 90 km stretch, worth Rs 32,000 crore, Naidu said. To a question on some banned channels telecasting visuals in Jammu and Kashmir, Naidu, who is also the Information and Broadcasting Minister, said action has to be taken by respective district magistrates.

"We have reviewed it and asked for taking strong action and will monitor it," he said. To a question on whether there is any move to give pension to victims of triple talaq, Naidu said the issue is not connected to pension but is a social problem.

"The entire society should work to find a solution to it and our stand is known and that is there should be no discrimination with anyone on religious grounds. Soon a decision will be given by the apex court, he added.
The Bombay High Court on Friday sought to know from the Maharashtra government if over 600 acres of land in Nagpur was allotted to Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda at a throwaway price and on what grounds "concession", if any, was given to the company.The bench directed the state government to file an affidavit in response to the petition within six weeks.

The court said the affidavit shall contain all papers and details pertaining to the land allotment.

"We want to only know on what grounds concession, if any, was given to the company. We want to know if land was given at a throwaway price," Chief Justice Chellur said.

"We want to know if any farmers' land was taken and allotted to the company," the court said, adding the affidavit shall also include the proposal submitted by the company to the government.

Nirupam in his petition alleged that Maharashtra government favoured Patanjali and flouted all tender norms to allot the land to yoga guru Ramdev company's It claimed that the allotted land is part of a reserved forest area.

The petition also claimed that the land was allotted at a concessional rate causing heavy monetary loss to the public exchequer.

Nirupam has alleged that while the current market value of the said land is at least Rs 100 crore per acre, Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda received it at a throwaway price of Rs 25 lakh per acre.

The plea sought an inquiry into the land allotment and urged the court to restrain Patanjali Ayurveda from using the land, pending a final order from the court.
Japan is known for its fast bullet trains in the world, but the country has added another feat to its credit with the launch of a new luxury train service between Tokyo and Hokkaido.

The East Japan railway company has started Shiki-Shima luxury train which offers sky views, lounge, bathtubs and dark wood interiors to well-heeled tourists.

Train Suite Shiki-shima is a 10-car train with two observatory cars, nine glass-walled cars (offering prime views), a shared lounge car and dining room car, and six private suite cars including one Shiki-shima suite and deluxe suite car.

The top suite on the 10-car "Train Suite Shiki-shima" sells for $10,000 per person for a four-day trip from Tokyo to Hokkaido, East Japan Railway Co said.

The train, which left with 33 passengers on its maiden voyage from Tokyo this week features traditional tatami rice straw mats and bathtubs made from hiroki cypress wood in its executive suites.

The journey includes stops in the northeast Tohoku region, which was hit by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

"We also want to empower the disaster-hit northern Japan for their recovery effort through the operation of Shiki-shima," East Japan Railway Chief Executive Tetsuro Tomita said at the launch.

With just days into its launch, the train is fully booked until March 2018 and passengers who fill out a forms for the once-in-a-lifetime ride are chosen through a draw of lots.

The train provides concierge and butler services to the passengers. The stunning views outside the train is part of the Train Suite Shiki-shima experience. The glass walls and ceiling offer breathtaking views of the forests, fields and coastline as you pass through eastern Japan's diverse scenery.

The train suites boast traditional Japanese aesthetics with a futuristic spirit. Food connoisseurs can taste delectable cuisine from eatern Japan especially curated by Michelin star Chefs.

(with inputs from Reuters)
"Is entrepreneurship for you?". This was the question that Senapathy Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder Infosys and chairman, Axilor Ventures tried to address for the students of the Indian School of Business (ISB) on Friday, May 5th in Hyderabad. Gopalakrishnan's talk was part of the ISB Dean's speaker series launched last year where in thought leaders are invited to the campus to share their views.

In his talk, telecast live to the school's other campus in Mohali, Gopalakrishnan said there were few questions that aspiring entrepreneurs need to keep in mind. These, he said, relate to aspects like asking if there is an alignment of purposes between the co-founders and if their goals are similar. This, in the founding team, he said is important as they would be embarking on a journey together and no one will then drop off. Giving the example of Infosys, he said, when it started all shared the goal of creating a globally respected organization. Second question has to be on identifying who your heroes are in the field of business? This, he felt, was important "because it tells you of the qualities you want to see in yourself and want to aspire to become." Then, it is the question on the environment to start a business. Here, he said, "you typically need to ride a wave. For instance, when Infosys was started in 1981, personal computer was introduced by IBM, proliferation of computers was started in 1981 and IBM had quit India after 1977 opening up opportunities for many start ups ."

What is important for budding entrepreneurs today is that the IT revolution is far from over. "I personally believe that the next 30 years are going to be even more exciting because it is not just about IT now. It is about use of IT in every aspect of our life and every industry that we can think of. The automotive industry is going to transform because of things like self -driving vehicles. In alternative fuels, lot of innovations are happening , the healthcare industry is getting transformed because of precision medicine and personalized medicine, newer technologies and Internet of Things (IoT). There is revolution taking place in the Fin-Tech space. When every industry is getting transformed and getting disrupted, it is the best time to think about starting your own business."

This, he felt, was also important because, "by and large, disruptive ideas come from new businesses , existing businesses focus on defending their turf , working with their existing customers and protecting their revenue streams and profitability." What is more, the location is also ideal because India is the best place to start a new business because in India you can leapfrog and think of the new model. He also added that "if you want to get funded then it may be better to start a company with co-founders than being a single individual backed entity." About Axilor, he said, it was to help start ups (as an accelerator and seed fund) improve their odds of success.

On the founder's challenge of disconnecting after leaving

Being able to disconnect after leaving. How big is this as a challenge before a founder? Ask Kris Gopalakrishnan and he says: "There are no right or wrong answers . You canot emotionally walk away from something that you have built over your lifetime - say over 33 or 35 years but you also prepare yourself because that is what you said you will do and that is what need to do and want to do to create a second innings , get involved in something else. That is what I did personally. But then, if there is any news about Infosys, I am the first one to read about it. In India, most of the businesses are family run or family-owned and you transfer the ownership to the next generation. But if you want to step down and handover to somebody else, please make sure that the process is defined and managed properly so that there is no hiccup in the business. His comments seem important in the context of the recent developments in Indian businesses with some concerns around the level to which founders are able to disconnect after they step down.


A wave of protectionism is washing over the world. From Donald Trump's America First emphasis to Brexit and rise of nationalists elsewhere. It has meant that Indian Information Technology companies which acted as the services back office to the world face many challenges. Irrespective of the claims to the contrary, a large part of Indian IT's advantage - though not the only one - was labour arbitrage.

ALSO READ: Wipro to go for local hiring in the US



In regular speak, it means that cost of hiring a software engineer in India was a fraction of doing so in the US or the UK. So doing work in India, paying employees in rupees, but billing clients in dollars or euros or pounds made it a very profitable business.

The announcement by Infosys that it will hire 10,000 people in the US (onsite) means that it recognizes the business operating environment has changed in that country. Other Indian players or MNC's who followed the India model, whether they announce publicly or not, will follow suit -- if they are not already doing that. It is not a voluntary choice.

What does this mean for Indian IT? There are several strengths of the Indian IT players beyond labour arbitrage, including deep domain expertise, relationships with clients built over years and others.

Being forced to hire more expensive workers in onsite locations does not mean their business will end. It just means that the 20 per cent plus net profit margins they have enjoyed for a couple of decades will end.

This is also likely to impact their valuations. Also the great Indian middle class IT dream of an international work stint will also be affected. Hiring, which already has been buffeted by automation and other forces, will take a further hit.

Indian IT has evolved over the years to adapt to technological shifts. The question now is will it do a seamless transition and adapt to change in political and business environment ? How well they do that will determine their continued success.


The public tries the new Aggie Ice Cream flavor for the first time.

LOGAN  A new Aggie Ice Cream flavor was debuted in honor of tonights inauguration of Utah State University President Noelle Cockett. Students gathered on the west end of the Quad at noon to surprise the unsuspecting Cockett with the announcement.

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (CAAS) Senator Heather Lieber announced the flavor will be forever known as Inauguration Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch.

We are proud to present a peanut butter ice cream with a fudge ribbon and chocolate covered pretzel, she said.

Each person in attendance had the chance to try the new flavor.

{{tncms-asset app=editorial id=da2338aa-30fb-11e7-8f4b-233c89bc99c5}}

Lieber said CAAS ambassadors and council members were asked months ago to contribute ideas for a new ice cream flavor, though they werent told why.

We were provided a list of base flavors and mix-ins to choose from and were told to be creative, she said. Six ideas were submitted and the Deans Office and Creamery narrowed it down to four.

Of those six flavors submitted, four were produced and sampled by the colleges ambassadors and counselors, which determined the chosen flavor.

Cocketts inauguration address will take place at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Ellen Eccles Theatre. A reception will be held after where the public will have the opportunity to meet with Cockett and eat  you guessed it  Aggie Ice Cream.
Has France had enough of the Front National?

Published on May 5, 2017

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Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron will go head-to-head in the polls this weekend. Faced with the prospect of the far-right Front National taking power, unions have sprung into action to block her. But unlike in 2002, when France mobilised against Le Pen's father, Monday's demonstration drew much smaller crowds.

Parades, rallies and demonstrations: this year's May Day marches were a reflection of the divisions in France during this election season. At the rue Rivoli, Jean-Marie Le Pen paid fiery homage to Joan of Arc. While the former FN leader reaffirmed his support for his daughter, three major French unions called on supporters to vote for her opponent, Emmanuel Macron, in a march symbolically reminiscent of May 1, 2002; when the French people overwhelmingly backed Jacques Chirac when faced with the threat of Le Pen Senior. Now, that threat has resurfaced: Marine Le Pen has made it to the second round of elections, just three points behind the leader of En Marche!. However, this week's marches were a pale imitation of the rallies in 2002. What's changed in 15 years?

Dediabolisation de facade

The success of the Front National in 2017 is not the political coup de tonnerre that it once was. In fact, Le Pen has long been a part of the French political landscape. The FN's image has been slowly sanitised with every election. For Mathieu Molard, the editor-in-chief of Streetpress and a journalist who specialises in covering the Front National, there are lots of different factors at play: chief among them, a political disenchantment among a French electorate faced with "a lack of fit examples among the personalities in the run-up to the first round of voting." There's also the issue of polls, which seemed to paint Le Pen's victory as "inevitable" when it was announced she had made it to the second round.

But this "banalisation" of the FN can only be explained in context. It's been the FN's long-term plan for years, and one that many thought would be impossible. The plan, led by Marine Le Pen's number 2, Florian Philippot, consists of removing certain radical elements of the party in order to give it a wider appeal. "That's not to say the party has really deradicalised itself," says Molard, pointing to the swift ascension through the party ranks of some former members of Groupe Union Defense (an extreme right-wing student organisation known for its violent protests), who are now part of Le Pen's inner circle. "The FN wanted to make itself look less scary for voters," says Marwan, a 22-year-old protestor. "That's how they've been able to get a bigger share of the vote today."

"A racist, xenophoic, anti-feminist, anti-liberal party"

The unions wanted to nip that trend in the bud. Under the marble statue of Marianne (the symbol of France, they sent out the call for protesters. Those who answered set forth on the narrow Avenue de la Republique, the chants from their sound systems making a deafening racket.

"We have to fight the FN for the sake of progress," says Philippe Martinez, secretary general of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT). "The FN is a racist, xenophobic, anti-feminist and anti-liberal party." However, the Worker's Force (FO) weren't given similar instructions; which is emblematic of the paradox at the heart of these protests. Here and there are references to Donald Trump and to Brexit, less-than-flattering comparisons between the FN's former leader and other European populists. But these shouts are drowned out by the mixed messages of the groups present. The Union of European Federalists marches side-by-side with a group marching in opposition to the state of Israel. Communist flags and effigies of Mao and Stalin are visible everywhere. In their tight rows, led by a minibus, they seem to be marching in an entirely different protest. The FN's opposition is so scattered that they seem to have lost the primary point of the demonstration itself.

The march drags itself on. Close to Bastille, it suddenly lurches to a halt. We check our social media feeds and read the news: balaclava-clad activists from the Black Bloc - radical, anti-fascisct anarchists - have hijacked the march. According to Interior Minister Matthias Fekl, "6 police officers have been injured, including one with a badly injured hand and another with serious facial burns." It's a stark contrast with the genial ambience of the rest of the protests. Yet it's enough to bring a bitter aftertaste to proceedings.

Has the movement against the FN been successful. We'll find out on Sunday night.

Story by Veronica Di Benedetto Montaccini Safouane Abdessalem Du piano classique a la presse ecrite. Pour Cafebabel, je m'interesse particulierement aux questions sociales, economiques et culturelles, tout en gardant un il sur la politique etrangere. Biculturel, binational & bidouilleur.

Translated from La France emmerde-t-elle le Front National ?
| BY Lynchy |

Spinach, Melbourne has launched a campaign for Australian Unity Health Insurance using a thirty-something blogger named Zoe to tell the world about the virtues of the company.

Spearheaded by a 30-second TVC launched this week, it seeks to move away from the traditional rational campaigns within the category, and go straight to the heart of what someone like Zoe wants.

Frank Morabito, partner and ECD of Spinach explained: Its about usingsimple real life scenarios from the characters life to emotionallyconnect with the target.

Natalie Sneddon, senior marketing manager at Australian Unity Health Insurance said: We wanted to show that Australian Unity Health Insurance is useful and practical and that were easy to deal with. It acknowledges what the target currently thinks about the category and it offers a solution.

The campaign will roll out a series of 30 and 15 second TVCs each depicting different snippets from Zoes life. The ATL work will be supported by Zoes blog that will elaborate on some of the insightful messages delivered in the TV, and give added reasons to consider switching to Australian Unity.

Executive Creative Director: Frank Morabito

Art Director: Melinda Pritchard

Director: Amanda Jane
Friday, May 5, 2017 at 3:28AM

Henry | Oculus Story Studio

The award-winning Oculus Story Studio is going to be shuttered by Facebook so it can focus more on supporting third-party creators. The two-year-old unit was behind the short film Henry, which won an Emmy in 2016 for Outstanding Original Interactive Program. But recognition doesnt seem to be what Facebook wants to focus on. According to Oculus Vice President of Content Jason Rubin, Weve been looking at the best way to allocate our resources to create an impact on the ecosystem. After careful consideration, weve decided to shift our focus away from internal content creation to support more external production. As part of that shift, well be winding down Story Studio.

Rubin, in a blog post, emphasizes that Oculus isnt giving up on producing VR film and other creative content for the platform. He says theyve even invested US$250 million last year on third-party content creators. Were going to carve out $50 [million] from that financial commitment to exclusively fund non-gaming, experiential VR content. This money will go directly to artists to help jumpstart the most innovative and groundbreaking VR ideas.

Source: CNET
Greg Cummins said the company has no records as to who sent in the submission backing the controversial proposal to the inquiry, which is also word-for-word identical with submissions from three other Canberra businesses.
"I've lived in Canberra for 40 years, I've rented privately and lived in apartment complexes with privately tenanted properties where neighbours have behaved in exactly the terms you have outlined who are private tenants so the observation is made that it is only public tenants who get involved in unsavoury activities, the facts certainly don't bear that out," Mr Barr said.
"This is a remarkable story, it's simply unbelievable," he said. "When Laurie first got in touch I didn't doubt what she was telling me but I still struggled to believe it. Here's a university professor, an incredibly learned person, and some people would assume the last person who would become a poker machine addict. And she fell as far and landed as hard as anyone . It just went to show how dangerous Australia's high-intensity poker machines are and how intensely addictive they are."
The funeral will be at 3.30pm on Thursday in the main visitors centre . The arboretum was Mr Burgess' passion and he helped shape it out of the hills above Canberra, even down to planting the first tree.
"And it really hurt, from all the pain of them stretching me. And then the one on my leg let go and went onto my face."
He said before turning himself in he had come to Canberra and told his parents what he'd done and what he planned to do.
Mr Joyce has been criticised for "pork barrelling" in the most controversial move, that of the pesticides authority to the heart of Mr Joyce's electorate in northern NSW, and Mr Byron said there were plenty of opportunities for the Coalition to bolster its electoral fortunes, closer the the capital
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 ...
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.

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IIT Bombay is offering a short term course on space flight mechanics. It is a week long programme that covers topics such as space missions and other technicalities involved in the space. Space systems are being increasingly deployed for various purposes in the last two decades and this course will enlighten participants on various concepts and help them upgrade their knowledge about such things.

Key points covered

Introduction to space missions

Role of ascent

Orbital and return missions

Mathematical model for general ascent mission

Rectilinear and gravity turn trajectories

Single and multi-stage launch vehicle systems and their configuration design

Introduction to basic orbital problem

Two-body problem formulation and Kepler's laws

Classical orbital elements

Orbit determination from initial conditions

Position & velocity prediction from orbital elements

Different types of orbits

Perturbation due to Earth oblateness

Solar radiation pressure effect on orbits

Non-Kepplerian formulation including elements of restricted 3-body problem

Sphere of activity and Roche limit

Introduction to orbital manoeuvres

Introduction to inter-planetary missions

departure and arrival concepts including planetary capture manoeuvre

Launch to orbit (SSTO, TSTO missions)

Rendezevous and docking manoeuvres

Launch window concept and re-entry trajectories

Who can attend?

Faculty members of degree level engineering colleges recognized by AICTE are eligible to attend the course.

Fees

The registration and the course is held for free. However, the candidates need to make a caution deposit of Rs 2000.

Benefits for the participants

Participants are entitled for II class or III AC railway fare to and fro by the shortest route from college to IIT Bombay.

All participants will be given auto rickshaw fare from Kanjurmarg/ Andheri to IIT on the dates of arrival and departure.

Local participants will be paid second class railway fare or BEST Bus fare. Boarding and lodging will also be provided free of cost.

Accommodation will be provided in the students Hostels or Guest House on sharing basis.

Note:

Since accommodation is limited, family members of the participants cannot be accommodated.

When

June 19 - 23, 2017

How to apply for the short term course?

Candidates interested in applying must confirm their participation by sending a Demand Draft of .2000/-  in the name of "Registrar IIT Bombay"

Deadline

The last date to apply for the course is 26 May 2017

Visva Bharti University Launches Chinese Language Certificate Course for the Army
Agartala, May 5, 2017: A dearth of investments, poor infrastructure and lopsided planning affect higher education in the Northeast, though the region has enough potential, meritorious students and teachers, experts and academicians say.

However, compared to last year when the exercise was first begun, universities and technical institutions in the northeastern states have slightly improved their positions this year in rankings released recently by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

Nine universities, four engineering colleges, two management institutions and two institutes of pharmaceutical sciences and a college in northeast India featured in the best institutions named in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

Former Gauhati University Dean Usharanjan Bhattacharjee said: "The northeastern states have huge potentiality in all respects. Students of this region are doing excellently when they pursue studies and research in other parts of India and abroad."

"Lack of proper infrastructure and poor investment are badly impacting the higher education sector in the northeastern region," Bhattacharjee told IANS.

Citing an example, the renowned academician said that three decades ago, a study-cum-training centre was set up in Gauhati University for potential candidates for the Indian civil services examinations, but it is almost inactive and unproductive while some retired teachers have been engaged by it.

"To demonstrate artificial credit, often without any proper planning, various courses have been started in the universities and technical institutions, but after a few years, these become non-existent," Bhattacharjee said.

The observation was echoed by the Tripura government-run Maharaja Birbikram University Vice Chancellor Gautam Kumar Basu.

"Investment for the development of infrastructure of higher education institutions in the region is far below expectations. Meritorious students are not properly taken care of by the appropriate authorities," Basu told IANS.

"After completion of higher education, there is a huge gap before proper placement or engagement of the youth. During this transitional period there is no suitable scope for study and research, leaving the energetic youth dejected."

"Due to the huge development of information technology, knowledge is now accessible at your fingertips but after completion of higher education, there must be scope for further studies and research either in the country or abroad," Basu added.

He suggested concerted efforts for improving academic standards, filling of vacancies of teachers and giving enough time to top university functionaries for teaching.

Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Ram Shankar Katheria had said here earlier that the government will try to bring in foreign faculty to improve the quality of higher education in the northeastern region.

"The government will do everything, including bringing of foreign faculty and development of infrastructure, to improve the quality of higher education in the northeastern states," Katheria had told IANS.

"The northeast region is a priority area for the central government. We will make all-out efforts for the development of higher educational institutions in the region," he had added.

Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (8th), Gauhati University (43rd) and Tezpur University (48th) in Assam, Meghalaya's North Eastern Hill University (77th) and Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management (99th) and Mizoram University (94th) have figured among the top 100 universities across the country in rankings released recently by the MHRD.

Silchar's Assam University, Dibrugarh University and Arunachal Pradesh's Rajiv Gandhi University have also found a place.

Besides, three National Institutes of Technology in Silchar (Assam), Manipur and Meghalaya also find a place.

Among 100 best colleges in India, J.B. College in Jorhat (Assam) is the only college in the northeastern region to feature at 64.

Of the eight northeastern states, higher educational institutions of Tripura, Nagaland and Sikkim failed to feature in the rankings.

IANS
Bentley CEO Wolfgang Durheimer has confirmed the company is considering several new Bentayga variants.



Speaking with Autocar, Durheimer said Bentley is exploring a number of different options and two possible candidates include a Bentayga coupe and a high-performance variant. Nothing has been green-lighted as of yet but the executive is fully committed to expanding the Bentayga lineup.

As Durheimer explained, The customers that are buying in this market are keen to have the latest design out there. This will prove more challenging in the future as the ultra-luxury crossover segment will see new entries from Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce. When these models arrive, the Bentayga will become old news and Durheimer is betting the new variants could spark some renewed interest.

The strategy will be familiar to Bentley fans as the company offers four different versions of the Flying Spur and ten versions of the Continental. This doesnt even include the handful of special editions which are unveiled every so often.

Besides talking about the Bentayga, Durheimer said the company is still considering which model to add to Bentleys lineup. The EXP 10 Speed 6 concept previewed one possibility but Durheimer himself favors another crossover.

Photo Gallery
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened up a criminal investigation into Ubers use of a tool that allowed it to track users and evade regulators.



The software tool, dubbed Greyball, allowed the ride-hailing service to track select users and show them a different version of the app. Additionally, Greyball obscured the real location of Uber cars, allowing it to slip through government officials clamping down on the service in certain U.S. cities including Portland.

Alongside these features, Greyball gathered credit card information and location data of users and was able to determine if a user had a credit card account affiliated with a credit union used by police. It also checked a users social media profiles to determine if they were in law enforcement.

According to Portland transportation officials, Uber used Greyball to evade 16 Portland Bureau of Transportation officials and denied them rides before the ride-hailing service was authorized to be used in the city.

Reuters says that the criminal investigation into the use of Greyball is still in its early stages and its not yet known if anyone will be charged.

PHOTO GALLERY
Autonomous driving vehicles are advancing faster than the laws that govern them so it comes as little surprise some basic questions still havent been resolved.



The latest example comes from California where the executive director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, Tilly Chang, asked the states department of motor vehicles to define how law enforcement officers will interact with [autonomous] vehicles in situations such as parking and traffic violations.

As reported by Arstechnica, Chang also called on the DMV to force automakers to hand over all autonomous technology data and/or video recordings in an event that an autonomous vehicle is involved in an accident.

Automakers and trade groups, on the other hand, want California to relax its regulations and let the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration handle the government response.

As the manager of the Association of Global Automakers, Paul Scullion, explained Our concern is that if each state were to impose [its] own regulatory regime [this] would delay the deployment of lifesaving technology. Scullion also noted the patchwork of individual state laws could make a car perfectly legal in one area but against the law in another.

Both sides pose some fair questions but unfortunately everyone is still waiting for a government response.
Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

The trial for a Penticton man charged of attempted murder with a firearm is tentatively set for June.

The matter was brought up at what was supposed to be a pre trial conference for Matthew James Cameron in Penticton court on Thursday.

The conference was adjourned, however, because the defence lawyer did not show up.

Cameron is facing charges in connection to a July 2015 incident in Penticton.

At the time, RCMP said they responded to a home on the 2000 block of Lindsay Road for a shots fired call. A victim, then 31, was taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Investigators determined that the two sides were known to each other.

Cameron was arrested shortly after the incident, but was released on bail with several conditions.

John Swanson has been acting as Crown prosecutor on the case.

There was some confusion in court as to whom is the designated defence lawyer.

The two week trial for Cameron is supposed to start on June 5, before a judge and jury.
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.
Photo: Vernon Community School

Students from the Vernon Community School have the chance to prototype design ideas with a UBC engineer this weekend at the STEM Show & Shine Fair.

STEM, meaning science, technology, engineering and mathematics, aids in the development of design, research and critical thinking skills in students. It is a feature of B.C.s new K-12 curriculum.

The STEM fair is the first of its kind at UBC Okanagan, and asks students to identify a real-world problem and then work on a STEM solution.

A panel of engineering and education professors will select the project ready to prototype further, offering the students the opportunity to work with an engineering mentor to develop their designs in a lab.

More than 70 students, between 11 to 17, will have the opportunity to display their work to a panel of judges, who will evaluate the students designs, selecting those projects that are ready to be taken to the next level.

Sample problems the students are working on include:

how hard is it to lower your carbon footprint in one week?

how do processed foods affect your body?

"We believe that by fostering students creative and critical thinking skills, we will be educating the next generation to find unique solutions to real-world problems," said Susan Crichton, associate dean in the Faculty of Education.

The event takes place on Saturday, May 6, at the Charles E. Fipke Centre, UBC Okanagan, 3333 University Way, Kelowna.

Students will display their designs from 9:30-11 a.m., with judging and awards to follow.

The public is welcome to attend.
Photo: Kate Bouey

A union boss and NDP candidates in the North Okanagan and Shuswap took direct aim at the B.C. Liberals Thursday, blaming the Christy Clark government for mill closures across the province and the loss of thousands of jobs.

Our industry is in trouble, said Pat McGregor, president of United Steelworkers Union local 1-423. Under the Liberal government over 100 mills have shut down.

McGregor stood outside the Tolko Industries sawmill in Armstrong Thursday afternoon, flanked by members of his union. Also there were the NDP's Shuswap candidate Sylvia Lindgren and Vernon Monashee candidate Barry Dorval who are both running for office in the May 9 provincial election.

McGregor said that despite the shutdown of the Tolko mill in Merritt last year logging trucks are flying through the Valley.

He blamed the closure on the Liberal government's policy of allowing raw logs to be shipped overseas.

McGregor also took aim at Liberal election attack ads against the steelworkers union for a big financial contribution to the NDP's provincial campaign.

They make us out to be a big, bad American union. Well, the steelworkers are working people like we have here today, McGregor said.

And the union leader questioned Christy Clark's ability to negotiate with a hardline U.S. government over sofwood lumber tariffs and the NAFTA agreement.

No thanks, we don't want her negotiating anything for us.

The NDP has a plan to use B.C. wood to make B.C. buildings, said Barry Dorval.

It's time to keep raw logs in B.C. to create good sustainable jobs rather than shipping them south, he said.

Sylvia Lindgren stressed the importance of the local sawmill to Armstrong.

What it means is we have sustainable family-supporting jobs right here in our communities. It means families will be able to afford a home here.
Photo: CTV

Police have boxed in a stolen ambulance in an unfolding incident in Vancouver.

The ambulance was reportedly stolen near Vancouver General Hospital.

Three police cruisers surrounded the ambulance on Oak Street. Its passenger window was smashed in.

Police used a beanbag gun to stun the driver and take him into custody.

A person in handcuffs was seen being loaded onto a stretcher.

 with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: CTV

The Duncan SPCA on Vancouver Island was broken into and looted late Wednesday.

Thieves stole cash and donations, and damaged property.

Luckily, no animals were harmed during (the) incident, RCMP Const. Jeannine Beattie said.

Anyone with information is asked to call North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

 with files from CTV Vancouver Island
Photo: Google Maps

A Vancouver Island land owner is threatening to put in a pig feedlot if he cant have his property removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve.

If that doesnt happen, residents will have to put up with a stinky neighbour next to their homes, and across the street from a hotel.

The land owner is in a position where if it has to stay in the ALR, he has to find a means of farming it. Its as simple as that, his representative, Stephanie Davison, told council in Sooke. Its not a threat. Its not a bullying tactic. Its the position hes in.

The owner claims the land hasn't been farmable for decades.

Seems like a game to me, kind of pushing and shoving, neighbour Kathy Collings told CTV.

To remove the land from the ALR, the city must first support the move, but so far council has been unwilling.

 with files from CTV Vancouver Island
Photo: Contributed

Aislynn Hanson was reported missing on February 20, 2017 and is still missing.

There was a possible sighting of Hanson, May 4, at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Hillside Drive close to Cooperhead Drive in Kamloops.

Hanson is described as a 17 year old white female, 54, 125 lbs with blonde long hair and light blue eyes.

Please contact Kamloops RCMP if you have any information which may assist in locating Aislynn Hanson.
Photo: Business2Community

Im too busy.



How many times have you caught yourself saying that?



The age-old challenge seems to raise its head more and more in my world. In reality however, I am too busy is not a good excuse for poor time management.



Many years ago, I realized that I could get a higher volume of important tasks done in a day if I were organized and had a plan.



It led to the ability to be able to take on more tasks and also focus on what is important in my life. We have to juggle many priorities, business, marriage, parenthood, etc. Knowing the plan within each of those contexts allows us to say no a lot more than we traditionally would do.



That is exactly what has saved my bacon a few times.



Local motivational speaker Hugh Culver, in his book Give Me A Break, talks about how much time we waste in a given day.



Hugh talks about the Big three time killers being:

email

distractions (social media perhaps)

meetings (many of which are not necessary or too long at best!).

His calculations might surprise you. On a 250 day working year (normal), if we spend 1.75 hours per day on email, one hour per day with interruptions, and one hour per day in meetings, then we have used 23 weeks of our year, largely unnecessarily.



At best we can be more efficient.



How many of you work with lists?



My dad was a list guru. He would give me lists for everything. As soon as I looked at one, another one would arrive and so I am not a big fan of lists.

However, one of my mentors used the concept of MIT  Most Important Tasks.

What do you really want to get done by the end of the month perhaps?



You should never have more than two or three MITs and 80 per cent of your focus should be on achieving those critical tasks. Everything else plays second fiddle to your critical tasks.



So what do you do with the rest? Don't do it, outsource it or find some time from somewhere else to make it happen.



The best filing cabinet I have is the trash can. Saying no to a task can be challenging but wisely used, it can park most of the urgent jobs in the bin where they belong so that you can focus on the important jobs  the MITs.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Dustin Godfrey

Castanet News is sitting down with each of the candidates in the Penticton riding for one-on-one interviews to talk about the issues as they see it. You can find our interview with B.C. Green Party candidate Connie Sahlmark here, and our interview with Dan Ashton can be found here.

For B.C. NDP candidate Tarik Sayeed, there are three major issues for the Penticton riding heading into the next election: youth mental health, education and affordability.

In a one-on-one interview with Castanet, Sayeed said he's also confident that, as a first-term city councillor, with his current experience, he's ready for the job of MLA, when his main opponent, B.C. Liberal candidate Dan Ashton, had been a councillor, a two-time mayor and a regional district board director.

"When (Ashton) was the mayor, I was managing a large corporation in management. So, not only do I have the 16 years of management experience, but I do understand the local issues that is happening right now in Penticton," he said. "I am more connected with the citizens and I am more involved and engaged with the citizens right now."

As the riding, along with many others in B.C., continues to age, school enrolment is likely sink further, which could lead to further community crises like last summer's school closure issue, which rallied communities in the South Okanagan.

But Sayeed says the province needs to look at more than just enrolment when it's considering school closures.

"Having and deciding which schools are closed based on the number of students we have, I think it could be done better," Sayeed said. "It should be a different model of deciding how the school closures should be, or whether we should have more funding for these schools."

On the issue of affordability, Sayeed and the B.C. NDP have promised to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour over the course of a four-year term.

Proponents of the $15 minimum say the bump wouldn't hurt small businesses  on the contrary, they say the extra money for the lowest-paid in the community would add more to the local economy, helping small business.

Still, local businesses remain mixed on the subject, with some saying they're open to the idea, while others remain skeptical. Sayeed, however, pointed to those in the business community who are in favour, though he didn't say to which businesses he was referring.

"I had those conversations, and what they told me is, 'Tarik, we do support it, but the only request we have is that you don't do it overnight,'" Sayeed said.

"We did not come up with the $15 minimum wage on the fly. We took feedback, we took engagement sessions."
Photo: Twitter

NDP Leader John Horgan says he's been crisscrossing the province speaking to voters and thinks British Columbia can't afford another four years of a Liberal government.

While campaigning in Richmond Thursday for next week's election, Horgan said he's heard about the issues that matter most to voters and he's looking forward to the election results.

The question of affordability was also raised by Liberal Leader Christy Clark on the campaign trail.

She told supporters at a campaign rally in Victoria that an NDP government would raise taxes, making it hard for British Columbia to compete with businesses south of the border.

But some experts say it's the Green party the other candidates should be watching out for.

Hamish Telford, a political science professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, says Green Leader Andrew Weaver has presented himself as a credible alternative to the traditional parties and is aiming to gain three more seats for his party when voters head to the polls on Tuesday.
Photo: Contributed

Husky Energy says the company will continue to delay reinstating its dividend because of uncertainty in the oil markets and recently slumping world crude prices.

Some analysts had predicted the Calgary-based energy company would use the release of its first-quarter results Friday to reinstate the dividend it cancelled in late 2015 because of low oil prices.

However chief executive Rob Peabody said while Husky (TSX:HSE) has its net debt under control and is generating enough free cash flow, it's unclear whether commodity prices going forward will support a sustainable dividend.

"There's uncertainty around whether an extension of the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) cuts, if in fact they are extended, will be enough to offset the impact of growing U.S. shale production," Peabody said.

"In short, the market's not yet stable or in balance."

Peabody said he's also concerned about whether President Donald Trump's administration will erect trade barriers to Canadian oil exports to the U.S.

Benchmark West Texas Intermediate oil prices have fallen from just under US$55 per barrel to just over US$46 dollars in the past month.

In a report earlier this week, GMP FirstEnergy commodity analyst Martin King said oil prices "continue to trend sideways" as traders are confused over whether oil inventories in the U.S. and around the world will tighten and lead to higher oil prices.

Husky said Friday it earned $71 million or six cents per share in the first quarter on higher commodity prices and improved refining margins, versus a loss of $458 million or 47 cents per share a year ago.

Gross revenue totalled $4.58 billion, up from $2.68 billion a year ago.

Production in the quarter averaged 334,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day.
Photo: Shelley Breen Flooding in Cherry Creek area

Heavy rains have increased the pace of movement on an unstable hillside near Kamloops.

The city says sloughing in the Palmer-Forsyth area had slowed during recent dry weather and remained steady overnight. But, this morning, the slide appears to increased its pace of movement.

The city says that pace is slow, but consistent. Diversionary piping has been installed to counteract future rainfall impacts.

Elsewhere around Kamloops, Campbell Creek in Barnhartvale has seen water levels recede slightly, though flows remain high. About 6,500 sandbags and sand have been delivered to residents, and flaggers are controlling traffic in the area.

About 7:30 a.m., Noble Creek breached its banks on the 6200 block of Westsyde Road.

No homes or infrastructure are currently threatened, however, sand and sandbags have been delivered as a precautionary measure.

Kinder Morgan is on site monitoring and undertaking precautionary measures as its pipeline runs through the area.

Rodeo Drive in Cherry Creek has been closed, and the district is working with the Ministry of Transportation on alternative access routes.

The various incidents have prompted activation of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Emergency Operations Centre, which is co-ordinating response efforts.a
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
Thirteen people are behind bars Wednesday after a short car chase, for being in the country illegally.

Midland agents notice a suspicious white suburban heading East on I-20, authorities attempted to stop the suburban but the driver sped away.

Department of Public Safety Troopers joined the chase as the suburban was in the Odessa area.

The driver then pulled into a gas station where the driver and passengers jumped out from the car and fled the scene.

Two were caught and taken into custody, where authorities found they were U.S. citizens from Alabama, the other 13 are believed to have entered the country near Presidio.

The case has since been turned over to Homeland Security for further investigation, the two U.S. citizens will be charged with Alien Smuggling.
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10 Famous TV Personalities Born In Ethiopia Ethiopia is a country best known for its fast athletes like Dibaba and Bekele, breathtaking models like Liya Kebede and of course Haile Selassie but there are also famous TV personalities who are doing a great job in entertainment and pushing the country to civilization. The following is a list of ten most famous TV ...

Top 10 African Authors of All Time The pace of present African literature is moving at a high-speed; more defiant in both style and tone than those of the great independence writers generation. Here, the subjects of taboo are widely explored. The emerging African authors of this generation are not afraid to go further afield for the literary fodder. Meanwhile, since the birth ...

Maina Kageni Biography  Daughter, Salary and Gay Rumors Maina Kageni is one of those Kenyans who has remained as interesting as ever in the eyes of the public. A strong Red devil fan and lover of football, the man is currently a Breakfast Show presenter with Mwalimu Kingangi on Nairobis Classic 105 Radio Station. Many questions have always emerged on the man in serious ...

Kalekye Mumo  Biography, Boyfriend and Salary Kalekye Mumo has been described as someone who is as vibrant as she is beautiful, a Kenyan radio queen, TV host and media personality, movie actress, Musician, businesswoman, and fashionista but what else is there to know about this Kenyan icon, Kalekye Mumo and her co-host Shaffie Weru have been among the most listened to radio presenters ...

Julie Gichuru Bio  Age, Husband & Children In Africa, women have a long history of bringing under control obstacles to keep their heads above the water. So, it comes as no surprise whenever African women are recognized and decorated across the continent and globe for performing brilliantly well in their various fields of endeavor. In Kenya for instance, a list of national ...

Jeff Koinange Biography  All About His Age, Wife  Shaila Koinange & Family Jeff Koinange is a well-known Kenyan journalist. He currently hosts Jeff Koinange Live on KTN. Koinange has served as a journalist in the United States and has also worked for a few U.S. broadcasters. He was born in Kenya but attended college in the United States, which may explain his accent. There are several interesting ...

Caroline Mutoko Biography  Age, Daughter & House Caroline Mutoko is a Kenyan radio presenter, famously known for hosting a morning breakfast show on Kiss 100 FM. The station is based in Nairobi and ranks among the highly-rated radio stations in Kenya with online streaming services as well. Learn more about the Kenyan-born journalist. Caroline Mutokos Age and Bio Born on January 4, 1973, Caroline is ...

The Most Stunning News Presenter In Kenya Discloses Her Real Age  You Would Not Believe It In modern African societies, it is often regarded as impolite or outright lack of disrespect to ask a woman of her age. We also have seen celebrities lie about how old they are when asked their age. People, mostly women have refused to let people know their real age, despite being public figures. The few ...

Demystifying Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies Biography, Husband & Education Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian novelist, non-fiction writer, short story writer and actress. As a seasoned Nigerian writer, she has been called the most prominent of a procession of critically acclaimed young anglophone authors that is succeeding in attracting a new generation of readers to African literature. She has been making Nigeria proud in the global scene ...

Wole Soyinka  Biography, Wife, Children, Family, Quick Facts Professor Wole Soyinka, a great and brilliant Nigerian writer and political activist, who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. The name, Wole Soyinka, is a household name both in Africa and beyond especially in the field of literature. With over 50 pieces of work, his writing includes poems, novels, memoirs ...

5 Most Vulgar Kenyan Radio Presenters It appears being vulgar is the real deal nowadays especially for the fact that the world is becoming more exposed and civilized. Sadly, but true, young people are constantly being exposed to images, discussions, and content that most people would deem detrimental to the African culture and moral statutes. This is because most of us ...

6 Sexiest News Anchors In Kenya Some news anchors have been stealing eyes every time they appear on-screen. Most of us hardly concentrate on the programme they present as our entire focus is usually on their striking physique and beautiful faces. It is common knowledge that Kenyan women are amazingly beautiful. From the celebrities to the everyday woman, they are all in ...

Interesting Oprah Winfrey Quotes To Keep You Motivated Oprah Winfrey is one of the worlds most powerful women in the media and business sectors. Her life is the typical success story that motivates and lifts ones morale. One amazing thing about this media mogul is her sincerity about past hurts, mistakes, healing, and success. The renowned talk show host and media personality is the first ...

Chinua Albert Achebe Biography- Family, Net Worth & Death Chinua Albert Achebe, of blessed memory, was a Nigerian prolific author best known for his inventive style of writing and simplicity of expressions. Famed as one of the finest writers Nigeria has ever produced, Achebe lived and died an international hero and a literary giant, who left behind unforgettable legacies and footprints in the sands of ...

Steve Harvey  His Wife, Kids & Height Steve Harvey is an American comedian, actor, radio and TV show host, producer and an author of different relationship advice books. Steve Harveys Early Life Born in Welch, West Virginia, on January 17, 1957, as Broderick Stephen Harvey, Steve was the last of five children. His family relocated to Cleveland when he was young and there, he attended Glenville High School from ...

Intriguing Things You Should Know About Danny Kokers Rise to Fame and Who His Wife Is Danny Koker is popular as the star of the History Channel reality TV series, Counting Cars. Prior to him appearing on the show, the TV personality was a musician who had embarked on a number of national tours with his rock group, Counts 77. He and his group have released quite a number of songs ...

Fun Facts You Didnt Know About Andy Cohens Rise to Prominence and His Partner Andy Cohen is one of Americas top media personalities who gained prominence after helping to bring the Bravo network back to life. He also hosted a couple of shows on the network, including the popular nightly series Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. After rising to the position of head of production and development at ...

Tracing Isha Sesays Career Until CNN, Her Worth And Why She Divorce Her Husband As far as journalists of African origin go, Isha Sesay is one of the most famous on the continent  and by extension, the world. The Sierra Leonean and British journalist has had a successful career since she joined the industry in 1998. In that time, she has worked for a host of major media ...

Open Secrets of How Joanna Gaines Balances Her Career With Being a Wife and Mother Joanna Gaines is the co-founder of Magnolia Homes, a business she runs with one goal: converting houses to homes. She doubles as the lead designer of the company which she co-owns with her husband, Chip Gaines. Lady Gaines gained massive popularity when she became a co-star with her husband on the HGTVs show, Fixer Upper. ...

Juicy Details of Ayesha Currys Love Story With Stephen, Her Family Members and Recent Pursuits When your husband is one of the greatest basketballers that the NBA has ever seen, then it bestows on you the status of a celebrity wife  and may not even demand that you do anything extra to maintain that status. However, Ayesha Curry, the wife of multiple NBA champion, Steph Curry, is not one ...

What Is Tarek el Moussas Ethnicity, Why Did He Divorce His Wife and Who Is He Dating? Tarek El Moussa has made himself one of the most recognizable men on reality television, especially to fans of HGTV. Thanks to his expertise in the world of real estate, Tarek has become a national star. But even to his hardcore followers, there are questions about Tarek El Moussa that remain unanswered, such as his ...

Fun Facts About Natalie Beckers Lonely Childhood and Eventual Career Success Natalie Becker is an actress of South African descent who became famous for her appearance in films like The World Unseen and The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. A multitalented individual, Natalie is also a television/radio presenter. She is also a co-founder of the Thought Leader Global Media which she runs together with ...

Top 3 Female CNN News Anchors You Didnt Know Were Africans CNN is one of the leading news agencies in the world. The satellite and cable news network was founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and has been one of the best sources of news for a number of years. It also boasts of the best journalists and presenters all around in media broadcasting. The company is a ...

Channels That Aided Katie Pavlichs Growth as a Journalist and All About Her Marriage To Friedson If you have ever come across any Fast and Furious featuring Barack Obama, it is the handiwork of Katie Pavlich. The book which claims to have exposed Obamas bloodiest scandal and the shameless cover-up thereof, has been earning Pavlich much praise and fame ever since it was published in 2012. Nonetheless, Pavlich is more famed ...

Is Oprah Winfrey Married? Husband, Children, Biography, House, Facts Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire philanthropist, talk show icon, producer, actress, and writer. The media icon famously dubbed The Queen Of All Media owns and hosts the highest-rated television program in the media circle. Read more about the powerful television star below. Oprah Winfrey Biography Oprah was born as Orpah Gail Winfrey on January 29, 1954, to a ...

Who Is Arsenio Hall, What Happened To His Talk Show and Why Do Fans Think He Is Gay? He is one of the funniest beings to have graced the comedy constituent of the American entertainment industry. Arsenio Hall has a reputation for the rib-cracking disposition always portrayed in his comedy roles. He is not just a comedian; he is also an actor and a former talk show host for his popular show, The ...

What Is Woah Vicky Famous For and Who Are Her Family Members? Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Woah Vicky is one of those stars that have utilized the internet as a powerful tool to propel themselves to instant fame. The social media space, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc., offers lots of people the right opportunities and potentials to become superstars overnight. Not everyone achieves ...

Where Is Michael Strahan Since His Retirement From The NFL and Who Is His Partner? Michael Strahan is a retired American football player turned media personality. He played the defensive lineman position and holds the record for most sacks in a single NFL season. He also only played for the New York Giants throughout the entire 15-year professional career that saw him win a Super Bowl ring. In February 2014, ...

How Wendy Williams Went From Being a College DJ to Having Her Own Talk Show and More About Her Divorce Wendy Williams is a former radio personality, now talk show host, who is known for her outspokenness and brash no-nonsense attitude. She gained fame and notoriety for her on-air clashes with celebrities before moving on to host her own talk show. Since 2008, Williams has hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show, The Wendy Williams Show. ...

Who is Sunny Hostin? Her Husband, Family & Net Worth Sunny Hostin is no ordinary Latina  American lawyer but also a successful columnist, multi-platform journalist, and social commentator. A happily married woman and mother of two, Hostin is the Senior Legal Correspondent and Analyst for ABC News and co-host of ABCs popular morning talk show, The View. She is a legal expert popularly known as a former ...

Who Is Robert Costa and Is He Married, Who Is His Wife? Robert Costa is a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC who is regarded as being part of Americas next generation of journalists. The University of Notre Dame graduate, who is of Italian/Portuguese descent, has been lauded for his fresh political perspectives in an industry full of old heads. In addition to his work listed above, Costa ...

Team Valor Pokemon Go  7 Key Facts You Need To Know Team Valor Pokemon Go  The craze of the new game Pokemon Go is one that took the gaming world by storm sending teenagers and adults alike into a frenzy and one of its teams Team Valor, has proven to be instrumental in making it so. Before the game was created, Pokemon was a cartoon ...

Sheryl Underwood  Husband, Family & Net Worth She is known for her trademark smile which can be described as the brightest and broadest smile ever seen on planet earth. She is none other than Sheryl Underwood the comedian, actress, and TV host whose funny wits has left America in great awe. Although Sheryl has risen to become an important personality in the industry, ...

Team Mystic Pokemon Go: 7 Facts You Need To Know And Signs You Are One Team Mystic of the break out game Pokemon Go is a team that is full of sass and chivalry. With an enchanting monicker, Team Mystic stands out from the rest of its counterparts and deserves to take the crown as champion in the Pokemon gaming-verse. To be a member of this exceptional team of Pokemon battle ...

Exploring Guy Beahms Dr Disrespect Persona, Wife and Why He was Banned Permanently From Twitch Guy Beahm who is popularly known by his online alias  Dr DisRespect, is an award-winning Twitch.tv streamer. He has leveraged on the Twitch platform to become an internet personality that is quite widely known. His online success is just more proof that anyone who is good at what they do can attain celebrity status ...

Critical Facts About Lee Ann McAdoo  The Infowars Anchor Lee Ann Mcadoo is a conservative journalist and television host whose interests in conspiracies and astrology has established her as a famous American reporter. Often referred to as Wonder Woman, McAdoo is a reporter who works for InfoWars.com, a controversial right-wing website run by radio show host, Alex Jones. Who Is Lee Ann McAdoo? Lee Ann McAdoo was born on 7 ...

Millie Weaver  Age, Husband & Infowars Career Millie Weaver is an American model, journalist, political activist, and social commentator. The young and beautiful journalist rose to fame working as a reporter for a controversial right-wing website InfoWars.com. Also known as Millennial Millie, Weaver is a social media influencer with over 100,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and over 35,000 followers on Twitter. Who Is Millie Weaver and What Is ...

Is Jessica Tarlov Married? What Are Her Height & Weight? Jessica Tarlov is an American political consultant, strategist, and analyst whose influential and regular TV presence has made a popular figure. A good example of beauty with brains, Tarlov has appeared on various TV networks, mostly the FOX News Network where she is known for her liberal views on political analysis and insights. She is also the senior director ...

Who Is Kelly Rebecca Nichols  Alex Jones Ex-Wife? Kelly Rebecca Nichols is the ex-wife of controversial American radio show host, Alex Jones. She got nationwide attention following her divorce and subsequent custody battle with her estranged husband. Nichols, who worked with PETAs public relations department, was herself no stranger to controversies as she was involved in several publicity stunts of the non-profit animal rights ...

Who Is Bree Morgan  Cole Sprouse Ex-Girlfriend And What Is She Up To Now? Although Bree Morgan became famous through the Instagram, she also sapped some dose of popularity from Disneys sweetheart, Cole Sprouse of the Sprouse brothers. She is not only an Instagram star but also a YouTube vlogger whose popularity has long exceeded the ordinary level. Bree is conspicuously prominent on the internet and has her digital savviness ...

Does Vanna White Have Husband or Children, What Is Her Net Worth / Salary? For over three decades, Vanna White has been a household name, famous as the co-host and letter turner of the iconic NBC game show Wheel of Fortune. The talented and beautiful television personality is also an actress with several TV series and films to her credit. Since making her Wheel of Fortune debut in 1982, she has become one ...

Liz Wheeler  Biography, Husband & Net Worth Liz Wheeler is the kind of girl who sets the room on fire whenever she comes around. In this situation, however, she sets our screens on fire each time she appears as the host of One America News Tipping Point. She is, therefore, a presenter, publisher, consultant and a member of the Board of Zoning ...

Betty White  Net Worth, Children & Husband The entertainment industry will remain indebted to personalities like Betty White who brought something extra to the table and kept the world entertained for donkey years. The comedienne, actress, and writer graced the big screens in the early 50s as a show host and has been a delight since then. She is the queen of ...

Is Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Dead or Alive, What Are His Net Worth & Education? Everyone will always remember Bill Nye as the Science Guy. Besides his TV show Bill Nye the Science Guy, he is well-known for his Netflix show Bill Nye Saves the World which started airing in 2017 as well as his appearances in many famous media projects as a science educator. The star studied mechanical engineering ...

Is Cesar Millan Dead, Who Is The Wife & What Is His Net Worth? Cesar Millan is the famous dog whisperer who often stirs up mixed emotions. The Mexican-American is precisely speaking, a dog behaviorist; he has been in the game for over 25 years. His Emmy-nominated television series, Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan further pushed his method and tactics into the limelight. The series was produced from 2004 ...

Is Thomas Sanders Gay and Does He Have A Boyfriend? By the time Vine was shut down in January 2017, Thomas Sanders was already popular within and beyond the internet community for his heavy involvements on the online video hosting platform. After the tragic shutdown of Vine impacted on the growing career of the multi-talented personality, he immediately switched over to YouTube where he continued to upload ...

Is Shepard Smith Gay, Who Is The Boyfriend & What Is His Net Worth? There are only a few media personalities who are as bold and confident as Shepard Smith. Apart from his impressive stint at Fox News Channel which includes but not limited to his classic news delivery, upfront stance on virtually every issue and much more; he loves his job as much as he loves his personality. Smith ...

Is Milo Yiannopoulos Gay? His Husband and Net Worth Milo Yiannopoulos is a popular writer, journalist, polemicist, public speaker, and political commentator who is also known as the founder of The Kernel, an online blog. He has been said to be among the list of 100 weird and influential people in the United Kingdom. He appeared on this list as a result of personal beliefs and ...

Does Ryan Seacrest Have A Wife Or Girlfriend, What Is His Net Worth? From radio to television, Ryan Seacrest is a household name and a force to be reckoned with in showbiz. The radio personality, television host, and producer is best recognized as the host of the popular TV talent search contest American Idol. Heres how the media personality who always knew what his lifes ambition was and diligently pursued ...

Is Anderson Cooper Gay, Who is The Boyfriend or Husband? For many, the thought of becoming a millionaire by writing and talking about other people appears unachievable but this is the reality of the prominent American journalist Anderson Cooper who gathered millions of dollars for conducting accurate political analysis and other vital reports on TV. He is the main anchor of the CNN news show Anderson ...

Is David Muir Gay or Does He Have A Wife, What Is His Salary? David Muir is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for the ABC broadcast-television network and anchors the ABC World News Tonight with David Muir program while also co-anchoring the magazine program 20/20. The Ithaca College graduate, whose show has become the most-watched newscast in America, has covered stories from all across America and the world; reporting ...

Joel Osteen  Divorce Rumors, Net Worth & Family Members Joel Osteen is an American Televangelist, Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church based in Houston, Texas, a husband and a father of two. He is an author of many books, seven of which are New York Times Best Sellers and his televised sermons capture more than 7 million viewers per week and 20 million every month ...

Who Is Todd Chrisley? What To Know About His Children, Gay Rumors & Net Worth Premiered on the USA network in 2014, Chrisley Knows Best is one of the most watched family reality TV shows in the U.S. The series which is currently in its sixth season is centered around U.S real estate mogul Todd Chrisley and his family. The show reveals Todd the patriarch of the Chrisley family as a strict dad who rules ...

Who Is Shannon Bream Of Fox News? Her Husband, Children & Net Worth Shannon Bream who hosts the iconic primetime program started her journalism career in the late 1990s debuting as the evening and late-night news reporter for the CBS affiliate, WBTV. The beauty from America currently works for the Fox News Channel and she is best known for anchoring the primetime program. She also hosts Americas News ...

Is Troye Sivan Gay, Who Is His Boyfriend and What Is His Net Worth? Troye Sivan is an Australian singer and songwriter best known for songs like Happy Little Pill, Youth, Heaven (with Betty Who) and The Boyfriend Tag (with Tyler Oakley) which have all garnered him different awards and ranked on the Billboard Charts. Sivan, who was born in South Africa but now resides in the United States, is ...

Did iDubbbz Have Cancer, Is He Gay and Who Is His Girlfriend Now? iDubbbz is one YouTuber who has made a career out of courting controversy. Renowned for his absurdist channels and comedy video series, the Los Angeles based personality is the owner of two channels, iDubbzTV, and iDubbzTV2, as well as the brains behind comedy video series such as Content Cop, Kickstarter Crap, Gaming News Crap, and ...

Inside Greg Gutfelds Love Story With Wife Elena Moussa and Why Fans Thought He Was Gay Greg Gutfeld is a seasoned American television producer whose career in the media industry has spanned over a decade. He is a man of many talents who makes extra income through comedy, journalism, and editorial works. Gutfeld regularly appears on Fox News Channel as a panellist and co-host of the political talk show The Five ...

Works That Made Bo Burnham A Household Name and How Much He Is Worth Now One of YouTubes first viral stars and the worlds most exciting young comedian, Bo Burnham, has always amazed critics and comedy aficionados alike. Often regarded as the Justin Bieber of comedy, thanks to his fresh looks, floppy blond hair and hoodies, he has a multi-faceted career bigger than many comedians twice his age. It wouldnt ...

Is Louie Anderson Gay And What Is His Net Worth? Louie Anderson has one of the most abstract faces in the industry and equally knows how to use it to his advantage. He is not only a stand-up comedian but also an actor and television host who is known for his distinctive comic wits. Some of his notable projects include Family Feud, where he was ...

Is Don Lemon of CNN Gay, Who is His Partner and What Is His Salary? Don Lemon has risen to become one of the most recognizable faces on CNN over the past few years. The fiery journalist, who anchors CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, is liked and somewhat disliked for his strong and candid opinions on a variety of matters that do not just include politics but also race, significantly, matters that ...

Is Rachel Maddow Gay, Who is the Wife and How Much Does She Earn in Salary? Rachel Maddow is an award-winning American journalist, political commentator, and television news anchor. She is best known for hosting the popular nightly TV show The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC. Prior to this, she hosted a talk radio program on Air America Radio from 2005 to 2010. As of now, the TV sensation co-anchors MSNBCs ...

Demystifying Pokimane  Her Real Name, Ethnicity & Boyfriend Like most social media celebrities in this digital era, Pokimane Thicc is one of those stars who took advantage of the internet to make a name for herself. Given the unlimited potentials which the social media space offers, many people have been instantly propelled to fame just by posting creative online contents. Not only has ...

A Breakdown of Kris Jenners Net Worth, Sources Of Income and Relationships Over The Years Standing outside and looking in, Kris Jenner looks like the oil that greases the wheels of the entire Kardashian/Jenner machine. She has been dubbed a momager and rightfully so because she seems to have had a part to play in the trajectory of each and every one of her daughters individually and the Kardashian brand ...

Pursuits That Brought Liza Koshys Fame To its Zenith and Her Love Life Since David Dobrik Liza Koshy is an American actress who has leveraged YouTube as a platform to promote her comedy while also serving as a television host on occasions. She is talented and funny and has gathered a lot of fans from around the world. Koshy started on Vine in high school and was able to get millions of ...

Alex Aiono Biography  Inside The Life Of The American Singer Not everyone who started from the streets has attained the heights where Alex Aiono is currently. His story could be referred to as the perfect definition of rising from Grass to Grace. He came into the limelight after he started out as a YouTuber, singer, and producer. One fascinating thing about the young YouTuber is ...

Virginia Vallejo Biography And Her Love Story With Pablo Escobar Virginia Vallejo can be referred to as one of the oldest whistleblowers in history after her involvement with Pablo Escobar which made her famous. Over the years, many questions have been raised about her relationship with the drug lord and why she endangered her life to be with him despite his notorious acts. The death ...

Princess Love Bio  Ethnicity, Real Name & Parents For many people, Princess Love is simply Ray Js wife but there is so much more to this feisty lady than meets the eye. She is a star in her own right and has many feathers on her cap. Princess Love is a reality TV star, a model, video vixen, and fashion designer. She and her ...

Who is Papa Franku Also Known As Filthy Frank or Joji, Where is He Now? The social media as we all know today has given people the opportunity to be creative and innovative and at the same time, make something of themselves. YouTube is one of the known social platforms we have today that makes it possible for people to express their God-given talents and post videos they created to ...

Who Is Molly Qerim, How Did She Become a Famous Sports Anchor and Who Is Her Husband? Molly Qerim is an American sports anchor popularly known for moderating First Take, a highly rated sports talk show, on ESPN. Prior to joining ESPN, Qerim hosted Fantasy Live and NFL AM on NFL Network. It is quite obvious that the widely acclaimed television personality is in a class of her own when it comes ...

Safiya Nygaard  Height, Parents & Net Worth Safiya Nygaard is an American YouTuber, writer, content producer, and director who is popular for posting makeup, beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. Her videos regularly top at least one million views, thanks to her lively character as well as her willingness to experiment with outrageous outfits and different beauty products. Here are the things to ...

The Rigors of Sunlen Serfatys Career Journey Until CNN and Fun Facts About Her Personal Life CNN correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty is an Emmy Award-winning journalist known for covering a broad range of breaking news stories, national news, and Washington politics. She has been able to garner widespread recognition for herself which even goes beyond the sphere of her work. Her profile also increased with the extensive work she did in covering ...

Demystifying Jazz Jennings Real Name, Boyfriend & Family Of One The Youngest Transgenders Jazz Jennings is an unusual personality who became famous as a transgender activist and was recorded as the youngest documented public figure to be seen as transgender. She is also a YouTube personality and spokesmodel for brands, her fans, and other transgenders. She fought for acceptance in her high school with her super supportive family for over ...

Inside Fred Armisens Life  Ethnicity, Romantic Relationships and Gay Rumors Fred Armisen is an award-winning American comedian, he is also a writer, an actor as well as a musician. He was a cast member of the legendary comedy show, Saturday Night Live for 13 years and also one of the brains behind the successful satirical show Portlandia. Find out more about this incredibly talented guy ...

Ed and Lorraine Warren Biography: Cases, Kids, and Family Life Have you ever woken up with fear you could not explain, or felt a strange presence that made the hair at your nape rise or even experienced strange occurrences around you? Well, these were some of the promptings that made the well-known paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren delve into trying to explain the ideas ...

Truth About Tony Romos Wife, Kids and Life Since His NFL Retirement Tony Romo grew from the field as a quarterback to the screens as an American Football Analyst. He was a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the richest football league in the world (NFL) before retiring. As a junior, he was honored as an All-Ohio Conference Member, an Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and ...

Who is Brittany Venti, The Controversial Game Streamer and YouTuber? In recent times, many people live stream themselves playing video games. This has become a popular pastime on the internet and many highly skilled gamers have become internet celebrities through this means. However, some of them rather than becoming renowned for their gaming skills and great commentary, have become controversial and infamous. A good example ...

Rob Dyrdeks Family: His Kids And Relationship With Wife Bryiana Noelle Flores A multi-talented star and an elite pro skateboarder, Rob Dyrdeks success story began at a remarkably young age. Yet another proof that schooling doesnt always correlate with success, Rob has established himself not just as a phenomenal sportsman but also as a successful entrepreneur. Besides perfecting his skill as a natural talent on the board, ...

xChocobars  Biography and Everything You Should Know About Her Having distinguished herself and recorded massive successes in an industry notably dominated by men, it is very safe to say that Xchocobars deserves all the attention and cash she makes from her career. A household name on Twitch (a smart live streaming video platform), the online-gamer is popularly known for streaming classic games such as Stardew ...

Everything To Know About Mary Padian, Her Boyfriend and Net Worth Mary Padian is a famous American television reality personality best known for her involvements on the Reality show Storage Wars. She also has her own shop called Mary finds where she displays her antique collections. Since her childhood, Padian has been a creative learner. At the time, she used to create new items out of reusable ones and ...

Betsy Woodruffs Family Life: Is She Married or Related To Bob Woodruff? An old name in the world of journalism, Betsy Woodruff has warmed her way into the hearts of many with her impressive talents. Through hard work, Woodruff has carved a niche for herself in a very competitive field. Betsy has strong family and work values and is also an advocate for equal opportunities for everyone ...

Matpat (Matthew Patrick)  Wife, Height & Net Worth As far as internet business is concerned, Matpat remains one of the most dynamic and seasoned figures. He boasts a wealth of experience that has helped him in growing his business from one level of greatness to another. Like most successful people, MatPat started out small but today, he makes millions of dollars from his ...

Facts About Ricegum  His Girlfriend, Real Name & Net Worth Ricegum is an online gamer and YouTube sensation who ditched college; took advantage of the digital era, and made a name for himself on the internet. Though he began as a gaming YouTuber, Ricegum soon gained recognition as a controversial internet star following his many diss tracks. Here is everything you need to know about the youngster ...

Joy Taylor Once Married MLBs Richard Giannotti  Inside Look At Her Love Life and Family The erosion of the sexist idea that women have no business in sports broadcasting created a host of women celebrities who attained fame outside of modeling and acting. One of them, Joy Taylor, a radio personality and TV host for Fox Sports 1, has been in the industry since 2009, becoming one of the most ...

What To Know About Conan OBriens Wife, Kids & Family Today The name Conan OBrien is one that jumps right at you almost immediately you start talking about the most popular television hosts in the USA and this is no surprise because the man behind that name has risen to become one of the most admired men in the business. Known for hosting the late-night talk ...

David Letterman  Net Worth, Wife & Son In all of American, one man whose face has been seen frequently by late night TV talk show lovers is none but David Letterman. The comedian and TV show veteran has been hosting late night talk shows for more than three decades. His Late Night with David Letterman show began on February 1st, 1982 aired ...

Demystifying Sssniperwolfs Family Background And The Boyfriends Shes Had Since she launched her eponymously named channel in 2013, Sssniperwolf has been on the rise when it comes to video game influencers. She is one of the biggest names in the online gaming subgenre of YouTube videos. Real name Lia Shelesh, she started with Call of Duty: Black Ops II but has diversified with other ...

Lester Holt  Wife, Family & Net Worth Lester Holt is a multiple award-winning journalist, newscaster, reporter, and actor who has worked for notable media houses like WCBS TV, CBS, MSNBC and among others. His remarkable feat in journalism has endeared him to the hearts of many and earned him some awards and recognitions. Read on to get acquainted with his biography, ethnicity, ...

What Is Louis C.K. Doing Now, Where Are His Family And How Much Is His Net Worth? It is not easy to make it in comedy. It takes more than a funny bone and the ability to elicit a few giggles from a listening audience. For all the complexities that go into making a successful career in comedy, Louis C.K, the Washington D.C-born comedian, did it. For years, he was at the ...

The Progression of Hoda Kotbs Career, Her Ancestry and Family Life Hoda Kotb gained fame as a television host and news anchor for NBC. She anchors the shows signature show Today, and it has been an excellent vehicle for her skills in front of a camera. Kotb has won several awards, including Daytime Emmys and Peabody Awards. Simply put, she is one of the most successful ...

Jerry Seinfelds Family: All About The Amazing Comedians Wife and Kids Apparently one of the highly important entertainers in America, Jerry Seinfeld is a man of many talents. A very funny man, he is considered to be one of the most successful comedians in the USA who has been in the business as a professional rib-cracker for more than 40 years. As an actor, he has ...

The Rigors Of Sarah Silvermans Rise To Prominence And Rundown Of The Men She Has Dated A comedian, writer, and actress, Sarah Silvermans art and craft is as unique as you would ever find. Her poignant use of comedy to discuss social issues such as race, sexism, politics, and religion has gained her an impressive following. As unorthodox as her style is, so is her life experiences. She previously suffered from epiglottitis ...

Who Is Hannibal Buress, Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend & Why Was He Arrested? Making people laugh when they are tense or not in the mood is a tough order and to ply the trade, it must indeed take some guts and expertise, this is what the humor maker, Hannibal Buress has been able to achieve and sustain after his inital teething process. The African-American is a screen writer, stand-up ...

The Success of John Mulaneys Career Efforts Since His Work On Saturday Night Live and Facts About His Wife John Mulaney had been working as a professional comedian for years before Saturday Night Live changed his status for life and like many who are now his fans, you probably did not know of him then. However, that changed when he joined the sketch comedy show in 2008. Since then, he has been one of ...

Jeff Dunham  Wife, Children and Net Worth Ventriloquism is a very subtle method of making an inanimate object (like a puppet, doll or dummy) appear to be saying words which are actually coming from the person (holding the inanimate object). In effect, the individual throws his/her voice to the puppet and can even appear to be having a conversation with it. Not ...

Ellen DeGeneres  Net Worth, Wife  Portia de Rossi & Parents Ellen DeGeneres is an American female standup comedian who has proven that whatever a man can do, a woman can also do. Since her journey as a standup comedian started in 1981, she has held swirl as one of the finest comedians America and the world at large has seen. She is often referred to ...

Revisiting Joan Rivers Death  The Daughter, Husband & Net Worth She Left Behind Joan Rivers was a renowned American comedian, TV host, writer, and actress. Her brand of comedy consisted of scathing one-liners and no individual or topic is spared. She hosted her own talk shows in the 80s and 90s and was a pioneer for women in stand up comedy. She was the first woman to host a late night ...

The Struggles of Margaret Chos Childhood, How It Influenced Her Career Growth and Love Life Margaret Cho is best described as a comic star who knows how to maneuver everything related to life into a rib-cracking joke. She is also known to criticize every social and political problem, especially those involving race and sexuality. Apart from her talents as a comic actress, she does amazingly well as a singer and ...

Where Is Eric Bolling Today? Who Is His Son & What Is His Net Worth? Eric Bolling who was once a notable figure on Fox News, is an American TV personality, an author, and versatile Journalist. As a political and financial analyst/commentator, he anchored discussions bothering on finance for Fox Business Channel. Here is everything there is to know about his career, family, and allegations that led to his exit ...

Who Is Chelsea Handler and Does She Have A Husband or Boyfriend? Chelsea Handler is one of Americas top female comedians. She is also an actress, writer, television host, producer, and activist. She is known to be very outspoken even with things that are very personal. In separate interviews with The New York Times, Handler revealed that she had an abortion twice when she was 16. She has authored five books ...

How Did Laura Lee Achieve Fame, How Much is She Worth and Who is Her Husband? Laura Lee is a popular American YouTuber, make-up artist and beauty blogger. From posting videos of her makeup routines on Instagram, Lee has transformed into a beauty influencer and a YouTube sensation. Today, her YouTube Channel has over 630 million views and 4.5 million subscribers. Asides having millions of followers across all social media platforms, ...

Madison Gesiotto Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Measurements Madison Gesiotto is no ordinary woman; although she excelled in quite a number of pageants and competitions while she was in school, it is her views on politics and issues in America that has made her name known to most people. She possesses beauty and intelligence in a seemingly equal measure and has been able ...

Who Is Lil Tay? Parents, Brother, Sister, Age, Net Worth, Ethnicity Child stardom is nothing new in the entertainment world. With the advent of social media, we have seen more stars made from the internet than ever before, and Lil Tay is one of them. Her uploaded rap videos trademark is cursing, swearing, cash-throwing, and use of obscene languages. Her fame went wild after she dropped ...

What To Know About Tig Notaros Wife, Kids and Family Today Tig Notaro is an American stand-up comic star, writer, actress, and radio analyst. Since she started her career in 2001, she has become one of Americas best comedians, particularly when it comes to observational comedy. One prominent aspect of her routine involves her family, which includes a wife and two children. Interestingly, Tig Notaro is part ...

Who Is Chantel Jeffries? What To Know About Her Age, Ethnicity & Net Worth Chantel Jeffries is a lady of many talents. Beyond being celebrated as a DJ, she has fared well as a model, an actress, musician, and as an artist. She first rose to fame on Instagram where she has a large following. However, in recent times, she has hit the spotlight for her rumored relationships with some ...

Is Ellen DeGeneres Married, Who Is The Brother  Vance DeGeneres and Family Members? Ellen DeGeneres is one of a kind celebrity in todays world as she has used her wealth for the greater good for many people. She has served a host of famous awards shows like the Grammy, Primetime Emmy and Academy Awards. Moreso, she is probably one of the most decorated entertainment personalities around the world and ...

Carli Bybel Bio  Height, Boyfriend & Net Worth Video blogging is now on the rise and YouTube is the place where most of it happens. If you are a lady who cares about her looks or a guy who likes to help his woman out with her looks, then one person whose name rings a bell when it comes to giving beauty tips ...

Who Is Lexy Panterra? What To Know About Her Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth Lexy Panterra is one of the YouTube personalities whose breakout came through the Twerk dance videos she posted on her social media handles and YouTube which has so far generated over 13 million views for her. From there on, she created her LexTwerkOut workout program in 2014. She is sure very talented as she as moved ...

Who Is AnneMunition? What Is Her Ethnicity & Does She Have A Girlfriend or Boyfriend? AnneMunition is a professional gamer and content creator of American origin. She is one of the most sought-after streamers on Twitch  a popular online platform for watching and streaming videos, especially video games. AnneMunition has almost half a million followers on Twitch and her channel has accumulated at least 13 million views. Her favorite games ...

Norm MacDonald  Former Wife, Son & Net Worth Recently, 59-year-old former Saturday Night Live stand-up comic Norm MacDonald caused a not-so-funny stir when he expressed his personal opinion about the #MeToo movement speaking in defense of Louis CK and Roseanne Barr. Following the backlash of his actions, he is diligently doing damage control for his questionable opinion by posting a public apology on ...

Inside Iliza Shlesingers Life With Husband and How Much She is Worth Now Witty, spontaneous, and truly humorous, Iliza Shlesinger is an American comedian who is clearly proving that the stereotypical claim that women are not really funny is not only incredibly wrong but completely outrageous. Having been in the game for more than 10 years, Shlesinger has grown bigger with each step, stunning fans with her incredible ...

Who Is Nessa Diab? Details of her Parents, Ethnicity & Relationship With Colin Kaepernick Nessa Diab has gained more fame as the girlfriend of different footballers than in her career. She is currently with the popular National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, and has stood by his side during his most trying times. Also known for her mononym, Nessa, she recently engaged in a tweet battle with the ...

Samantha Bee  Inside the Life of Full Frontal Comedian and Presenter We have over the decades seen various brands of humor and personalities who have walked the ropes. One of the formidable forces in the world of comedy is no other than the iconic Samantha Bee of the Daily Show who now runs her own television show on TBS channel. She is a Canadian-American political commentator, ...

What Happened To Jessica Williamss Boyfriend And Which Are Her Best Works? Jessica Williams is a woman who has a lot of feathers in her cap  and keeps acquiring more. The former senior political correspondent of the comic Daily Show, who is also a comedian and actress whose recent movie appearance include starring as a playwright just recovering from a recent split with her boyfriend, Damon, and ...

Who is Nicole Byer? Here are 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Comedian Nicole Byer, an American comedian, actress, and writer, made a name for herself after she played supporting roles on MTVs prank show Ladylike and the reality show Girl Code. The latter was a series that featured comedians who analyzed in minute details, all the issues that young women deal with daily, from period to dating, to weird friendship dynamics and questions about sex. Currently, ...

A Closer Look At Bart Kwans Ethnicity, Height & Personal Life Bart Kwan is one of few Asians who is known for being successful in the comic industry at an international level. His fame broke out after the YouTube channel which he created with his close pal Joe Jo garnered up massive followings. The talented duo has been running the channel since 2007 and their success ...

Heres How VanossGaming Achieved Fame Online, His Worth and Other Facts About The Gamer For many years, the decision to drop out of college to pursue an online career was considered to be foolish and self-destructive by conventional wisdom. It was no different when Evan Fong, popularly known as VanossGaming, dropped out of college to pursue a YouTube career. However, that radical move paid off, and he stands shoulder to ...

Desi Perkins  Ethnicity, Net Worth & Husband YouTube is littered with videos of makeup tutorials by different people but if you are interested in learning how to do your makeup like a pro, there is just one person on that platform who you must follow. She is none other than Desi Perkins! She is a popular make-up artist, Instagram star, and vlogger. Desi, ...

The Phases of Casey Neistats Pursuits and His Love Story With Candice Pool YouTuber, vlogger, filmmaker, and creator extraordinaire; these are just a few hats that Casey Neistat wears and the story of how he got here is incredible. A native of Connecticut, Neistat started out by making refreshingly-authentic short films and videos that featured content that was based on everyday life and called attention to serious issues. He ...

Connor Franta  Inside The Life of American YouTuber YouTube has produced a lot of young celebrities in modern times and Connor Franta happens to be one of them. Apart from being a YouTuber, the young American is also an entrepreneur, entertainer, and writer. His journey to fame began almost a decade ago when he started a self-named YouTube channel where he uploads content ranging ...

Rhett and Link  Bio, Who are Their Wives, Net Worth and Family Facts Rhett and Link refer to an American comedy duo who are very popular on YouTube. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. Good Mythical Morning is the most watched daily show online, averaging 100 million views in a month. The show has featured guests such ...

A Walk Through The Maze of Ryan Higas Career Pursuits And Relationship With Arden Cho Ryan Higa is not only celebrated as a YouTube star, but he is also famed for appearing on television screens as an actor and comedian. Nigahiga, his Youtube channel, has gathered over 20 million subscribers and billions of views with his different comic acts, short films, and music videos uploads. With the rise in his career, ...

What to Know About The Shows That Made Craig Ferguson a Star and His Family Ties Rising to the top of your profession can sometimes be a hard and difficult process. It requires days and nights of working consistently hard to be better than what you were yesterday. It requires not giving up when all of your experiences seem to be pushing you to quit. It is because of these challenges ...

David Dobrik Married Liza Koshy for One Month  Inside His Family and Relationships David Dobrik is a YouTube sensation who has garnered fame not just for his vlogs but his love life too. Given his career as a YouTuber, his channel is one place where he shares his romantic escapades. With a cute boyish look like his, this Slovakian young man is definitely a good catch, and not ...

Merrell Twins Bio  Ethnicity, Parents & Boyfriend One of the beautiful things about modern life is social media. As rudimentary as it might seem, it could turn out to be the greatest thing that would be invented in the next 50 years because of its impact on human life. Very few tools have revolutionized human behavior and culture as much as social ...

Who Is Bunny Meyer, Is She Married & What Is Her Net Worth? Bunny Meyer is a YouTube celebrity who has amassed over 8.8 million subscribers with 1.5 million viewers on her channel. She is popularly known as Grav3yardgirl and is one of the highest-paid YouTubers in the world. She initially started out as a fashion designer and later chose the path of a YouTuber. Grav3yardgirl has used her knowledge on fashion, makeup, ...

Ninja  Inside The Life of The American YouTuber and Internet Personality Ninja is a talented video game player known for his mastery of Fortnite and other seemingly difficult games he plays with ease. The video gamer made a career out of what is ordinarily the hobby of many people and has since then amassed a huge online following. Find out about him here, including the controversies that ...

What Is Eva Gutowskis True Sexuality and How Did She Rise So Fast As an Influencer? Ever since Eva Gutowski joined YouTube in 2011, it has been an interesting journey for her, moving from one milestone to the other. Backed by an army of young women and teenage girl fans known as Evanators, she has risen to become one of the most-talked-about personalities in the digital stratosphere. She has also leveraged ...

Emma Chamberlain Biography  Age, Height & Net Worth Before now, people in the entertainment industry could only achieve popularity after many years of dedication and hard work but since social media came into the scene, massive success and overnight popularity became possible. That is the story of Emma Chamberlain who encountered fame as a fifteen-year-old. Emma is one of the many young people who became ...

Anna Akana  Ethnicity, Boyfriend & Net Worth There is a new crop of YouTubers known by their different contents with a very strong uniqueness that stands every one of them out, some upload video games, some fashion while some others have comedy video contents to showcase on their channels. Anna Akana has used her platform to showcase her comedy contents to the ...

Revealing Truths About Lilly Singhs Ethnic Background, Family and Her Relationship With Yousef Erakat Lilly Singh is an Indian-Canadian YouTube personality, actress, and comedian also known as Superwoman. She kicked off her YouTube career in 2010 with the launch of her channel IISuperwomanII and followed it up with a vlog channel in 2011. This paved the way for her fame and success which led to a world tour. The ...

Who Is Andrea Constand, Is She Married and What Is Her Connection With Bill Cosby? Many people got sexually molested but could not voice out due to the stigma victims suffer and what will become of them thereafter. Very few of the victims danm every consequence to seek justice and bring the perpetrator to the book, like Andrea Constand. She never got any media buzz, not until her friend cum molester; ...

Who Is Lazarbeam (Lannan Eacott)? Here Are Facts You Need To Know Lannan Eacott became a person of interest after his YouTube channel, LazarBeam pulled him to the limelight. Initially, he started with uploads of Madden Challenge videos before deciding to build his own channel in January 2015. Within the space of three years, his YouTube channel had gathered over 7 million loyal subscribers. Today, he has not ...

Puzzling Facts About Wengies YouTube Success and More About Her Fiance Among the many YouTubers who have succeeded in winning the hearts of millions of people is Wengie. She is a Chinese-Australian YouTube personality, vlogger, singer, and voice actress. Wengie is famous for a lot of things, from her simple life hacks, DIYs, craft ideas to fun experiments, tricks and pranks. Her content portfolio also includes hair tutorials, diet & fitness tips, lookbooks, ...

Is Jeffree Star A Billionaire and How Much Does He Make On YouTube? If looks can be deceptive then theres no other person who proves this maxim better than Jeffree Star. A quick look at Stars pictures would likely leave you wondering whether or not to tag him a male or female. But who says being controversial has to be a curse? For Star, his looks have caught ...

The Place of Rosanna Pansinos Career Hats In Her Rise To Fame and Facts About Her Personal Life There are a few phrases that could summarize Rosanna Pansinos rise to fame. None of them can do it better than the famous axiom, no knowledge is lost. Her popularity YouTube comes out of her foray into other professions, specifically acting. Although acting now occupies one of the major professional hats in Rosannas resume, it was ...

Muselk (Elliott Watkins) Biography  Age, Girlfriend and Net Worth The new and best in-thing in terms of career is video gaming and we have over time seen young men and women make massive income from an activity that was purportedly designed to serve as a hobby or a relaxation activity. One of such individuals is the Australian-born YouTube Celebrity and Twitch streamer, Muselk, whose ...

PopularMMOs Biography: 5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know We have over the years seen social media millionaires, especially on the YouTube social platform. These celebrities cum millionaires have made names for themselves after carving out niches on the internet, and a typical example of one of such exciting media personality on the YouTube is American Minecraft gamer and YouTube star, PopularMMOs whose channel ...

Jason Nash Once Married Marney Hochman  What To Know About His Ex-Wife and Kids The now-defunct video-sharing app Vine was the path that led Jason Nash to fame. With it, he built an audience of over two million followers, which he parlayed into a significant YouTube career. That move has seen him become one of the most popular personalities on the internet, with the cash income to go with ...

Where Does Dantdm Live? What Do We Know About His Net Worth, Wife and Brother? Most parents buy video games for their kids to occupy their time leisure, while other parents frown at their kids when they play video games. Despite the disparity, every parent would be proud of their child if he/she eventually turns a celebrity or millionaire through playing video games like Dantdm. Biography of Dantdm Dantdm was born Daniel ...

LaurDIY  Biography: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTuber LaurDIY is the YouTube channel of Lauren Riihimaki which she created on December 1, 2011, when she was still a college undergrad with the sole aim of giving Do It Yourself (DIY) as well as practical fashion and beauty tips to her followers. She has used the channel to establish herself as a YouTube personality ...

Lachlan Ross Power  Bio And Family Life Of Australian The YouTube Star It is amazing the varied sources of income that the internet has made possible in this day and age. Internet fame can get its holder a whole lot of monetary and social benefits, but it must be noted that it does not come easy or cheap. For those who desire fame, content is the sacrifice ...

Alfie Deyes  Bio and Net Worth: Everything You Need To Know Alfie Deyes is one internet personality you definitely would like to know about. He boasts of over 10 million subscribers on three of his YouTube channels and has three bestseller books to his name. He is probably the most renowned young personality on YouTube today and his vlogging empire continues to grow by the day. ...

Colleen Ballingers Love Story With Husband Erik Stocklin and How Much She Is Worth Now Colleen Ballinger is an American comedian and YouTuber who is a very funny, adventurous, and highly talented woman. She is also an actress, singer, and writer. Collen is widely known for her work on YouTube where she posts content on her channel, Miranda Sings. The comedian has gained many subscribers over the years and has ...

Who Are The Dude Perfect Members and How Much Are They Worth? Entertainment in the 21st century can be digested in many forms and with platforms like YouTube, the creators and purveyors of entertainment have been democratized. Today, one of the most popular platforms to exhibit ones creative talents is YouTube, even though there are other platforms like Twitter, Facebook, who suffer in comparison to YouTube because ...

Who Is Rudy Mancuso, What Is His Earning Power and What Do We Know About His Girlfriend? Rudy Mancuso started his internet journey on Vine. He would later transition to YouTube where he solidified his place among the internets most beloved comedic creators. He is now regarded as one of the renowned internet personalities in the world, with a presence in mainstream TV and film projects like Comedy Centrals Drunk History and ...

Vsauce (Michael Stevens) Biography and Net Worth: All You Need To Know The advent of YouTube and the internet as a whole revolutionized how human beings consume information. With each passing year, the percentage of learning that is done in a traditional classroom decrease as a seismic shift to internet-based learning happens in our education industry. From open courses online to YouTube classes and videos, there are ...

How did Jake Paul Make His YouTube Big Break and Who is His Wife? One of the most interesting Social Media personalities of the 21st century is the young and popular Jake Paul whose elder brother is the famed Vine star, Logan Paul. Jake has utilized the power of the internet to bring himself to the limelight with a channel named JakePaulProductions that has amassed up to six billion ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About Reaction Time (Tal Fishman)  The American YouTuber Before 2015, the leading meaning of reaction time was the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus, until Tal Fishman started his channel, Reaction Time on YouTube and the dominant meaning changed. Today, a google search of Reaction Time would deliver Tal Fishmans videos and YouTube channel link with a few physics ...

Grace Helbig  Net Worth, Boyfriend and Family Life of The YouTuber Grace Helbig is an American internet personality, comedian, actress, and writer. She became popular due to her daily vlog series, DailyGrace, which ran on My Damn Channel from 2008 to 2013. Helbig is also popular for her own indie series on YouTube, ItsGrace, which she launched in 2014. Her vlogs which feature random stuff such as ...

Mark Wiens Bio  Ethnicity, Wife and Parents Food is a great way to connect with people. We all love to eat, if not for the pleasure of food, the satisfaction of quenching hunger, and the very process of providing and sharing that food is part of the strongest bonds that bind humanity together. Maybe it is our historical connection to food, where ...

Is Filthy Frank Dead, What Happened To Him and How Much Is He Worth? As George Kusunoki Miller, he was a nobody. However, as Filthy Frank, George was one of the most famous internet personalities on the planet. The Filthy Frank Show, a sketch series on his YouTube channel, TVFilthyFrank, was one of the platforms most influential creations. He is the reason a crazy dance song, Harlem Shake, made it ...

CaptainSparklez Bio  Net Worth, House and Cars of The Famous YouTuber Sometimes, what society wants from its citizens is quite different from what the citizens want for themselves. This is evident in the life and career of video blogger and American YouTube personality, Jordan Maron famous for his YouTube channel CaptainSparklez. He dropped out of school after discovering his talent in playing an online game called Minecraft. ...

Who is Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg)? Here are Facts You Must Know Canadian Youtube personality, Simply Nailogical (Cristine Rotenberg) originally started out polishing and designing nails even before it became a trendy culture in the social media. Simply Nailogica started out her showbiz career in her early days as a child actress, acting in commercials for game and toy companies. Aside from acting, she is blogger, vlogger, specializing ...

5 Interesting Facts You Need To Know About Huda Beauty In the world of entrepreneurship, it is interesting when an individual has a mentor who he/she looks up to, this yield more productivity on the part of the individual. The iconic and rich American beautician and makeup artist Huda Kattan nicknamed Heida is the founder of the Huda Beauty blog which is number one Instagram beauty blog ...

Is Dino MasterChef Gay? Details About His Ethnicity, Girlfriend, Where He Is Now Food, for the better part of the early years of human life, was nothing more than what we needed for survival. There was no artistry or curation to the method of cooking. The scarcity of food left no room for artistic expression until we figured out agriculture and we could make as much as we ...

Who Is Gabbie Hanna And How Did She Become Famous? As the world shifts to digital media and depends more and more on streaming services for its news and entertainment content, YouTubers have become one of the leading creators in the new media world. Their understanding of the online audience: how to create, maintain, and increase followers, are all handy skills that have primed them ...

Jacksepticeye  Height, Girlfriend & Net Worth Jacksepticeye is a YouTuber and actor who gained popularity with a series of gaming videos he uploads on his channel to the delight of millions of his subscribers. He is Known primarily for his comic video game series titled Lets Play and his vlogs. His channel was formerly ranked 46th in the list of most subscribed ...

Chris Heria Personal Details: About His Wife, Height & Ethnicity Background In this generation, keeping fit has become one of the major criteria for being hale and hearty. In fact, most occupations these days are majorly concerned with ones body mass, weight and looks. Unlike the past where most people have to register in a gym to keep fit, social media has made it quite easy ...

Everything You Need To Know About Game Grumps Gaming is becoming incredibly popular on YouTube these days with game vloggers make millions of dollars out of them yearly. One of the most popular up-coming gaming YouTube channels is Game Grumps. The Lets Play series was created in 2012 and celebrated its fifth anniversary on July 18th, 2017. In six years of its existence, the ...

Daithi De Nogla Biography, Girlfriend and Net Worth YouTube has created an avenue for many to make wealth and become famous from the comfort of their homes while having fun. Many have built a career out of the platform, uploading numerous videos that have earned them the admiration of viewers across the globe. For Daithi De Nogla, he is loved for his humorous commentary on ...

Does Phoebe Robinson Have A Boyfriend or Husband and What Do We Know About Her Family? Phoebe Robinson is a New York-based comedian, writer, and actress. She is best known as the co-creator and co-host of the WNYC Studios podcast 2 Dope Queens. Just like some other female comedians, she never had any original plans of becoming a stand-up comedian even though, according to her, she took a class on a whim at Carolines on Broadway. After ...

Who Are Lex and Alana from Listed Sisters? What Is Their Ethnicity & Is the Show Cancelled? America is a country built on diversity. Everywhere you look all over the country, a countless number of immigrants or children of immigrants have become an integral part of the fabric of the country. From entertainment to business, immigrants are creating a niche for themselves and climbing to the summit of their respective professions. One ...

Riveting Facts About Danielle Lombard And What She Is Best Known For The American entertainment industry is one that provides many avenues for aspiring hopefuls to express their talents and become famous. From films to television shows and game shows, there is no shortage of ways for men and women who desire fame to pursue and earn it in the United States of America. Another tested medium ...

Unearthing New Details About The YouTube Success And Personal Life of Alex Burriss of Wassabi Productions Wildly hilarious and truly audacious, Alex Wassabi is an American YouTuber who has become a very popular face on the video-sharing platform after having garnered millions of subscribers over the years by keeping people glued to his channel with his witty parody video releases. If you have always loved parody videos, there is every chance ...

Everything You Need To Know About H2O Delirious H2O Delirious whose full birth name is reported to be Jonathan Gormon Dennis has successfully kept himself mystified by hiding his face behind the masks leaving his loyal fans speculating who he really is for many years. The American YouTube star is easily identified by the Jason Mask Style with make-up which he wears on his ...

Who Is HolaSoyGerman and What Happened To Him? German Garmendia has certainly seen it all when it comes to internet success. His channels, HolaSoyGerman and JuegaGerman are in the top twenty most subscribed channel on YouTube. The Chilean YouTuber found a way to tap into one of the worlds greatest inventions and make a living from it. He has been able to build ...

Who Are Glenn Becks Family, What Is His Net Worth And What Happened To Him? The American political commentary space is filled with different personalities. A few of them, through their rhetoric, charisma, and resources have been able to build a large following of men and women who listen to them for insight and direction for various political and social issues in the United States. For Conservatives, the story is ...

Following Charissa Thompsons Rise Through The Ranks Of Sports Casting and All About Her Boyfriend Superstar TV host and sportscaster, Charissa Thompson, has been hailed as one of the highest-profile women journalists in America, and the reason is there for all to see. She has worked for popular establishments such as Versus, Yahoo! Sports, ESPN, GSN, and Big Ten Network. She currently hosts the popular pre-game show, Fox NFL Kickoff, ...

Is Chris Kattan Gay or Does He Have A Wife? What Is His Net Worth? Chris Kattan is a popular American comedian and actor. He has appeared in several comic movies and TV series such as The Middle, A Night at the Roxbury and Bunnicula. Kattan is, however, most popular for his six-year stint as a cast member of Saturday Night Live. During his time on the legendary show, he ...

Everything You Should Know About the Rise of Insta Star Claire Abbott and Why She Gave It All Up A lot of young Americans have shot into the limelight for uploading different kinds of videos on YouTube. Some of these young stars include Connor Franta, Desi Perkins, Emma Chamberlain, the Dolan Twins (Ethan and Grayson), and Claire Abbott. The latter became a social media celebrity for uploading sexy bikini pictures of herself on social media. Apart from ...

5 Facts You Need To Know About The YouTube Channel  h3h3Productions H3h3Productions is a YouTube channel that specializes on Comic responses or reactions of other contents or trendy stories. The celebrity couple that created the channel has over time racked up sizable views for their commentaries and contents. Even though they had their own fair share of copyright cases, thankfully they scored an unprecedented victory in all ...

Lilypichu Bio  Height, Brother and Love Story With Albert SleightlyMusical Chang Like most popular internet celebrities, Lilypichu is one of those Twitch streamers who spend their lives on camera. From daydreaming about the possibility of becoming a full-time professional streamer, she grew to live out her dreams on the popular live streaming platform where people play games, make crafts, and showcase their day-to-day activities. Given the rise of ...

KSI  What To Know About His Girlfriend, Brother  Deji Olatunji & Net Worth Assuredly, when Internet inventors Vint Cerf and Bob Khan created the technological masterpiece, they probably did not know how massive the creation will be harnessed by many for different purposes including as a platform for earning money through content creation. One of such person who smiles to the bank regularly today for spending time creating ...

The Interesting Progression and Highlights of Carrie Keagans Career as a Host and Actress Carrie Keagan has garnered huge fame through her various stints on television. She is not just your regular TV host but one with a difference. Keagan has hosted several high profile events and TV shows, including VH1s Big Morning Buzz Live and Fox News Channels Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. However, not many know she ...

The Gist On Elise Jordans Marriages And Her Rise To Prominence Political commentaries tend to be boring when it is handled by someone who does not have a knack for it. However, when you see the likes of Elise Jordan run the same commentary, you will have a lot of reasons to look forward to watching her again as the journalist is well-versed in the field ...

What Is Timmy Thick Best Known For and How Successful Is The Star? Thanks to the internet, many people whose talents would have ordinarily gone unnoticed have become famous. A very good example of this modern-day internet celebrity is Timmy Thick, an American social media star. He became popular on Instagram due to his penchant for posting raunchy pictures of himself. He also often posted videos of himself ...

What Does Heather Storm Do For a Living and Who Is She Dating? Reality Television is a great way to make a name for oneself as well as amass a fortune. Heather Storm can attest to this as she is one of those who have made a name and earned a lot from reality TV. She made her name appearing on shows like Car Fanatics, Awesome Autos, and, ...

Matt Carriker Biography  Net Worth, Wife & Height Unlike your regular veterinary doctor next door, Matt Carriker chose to spice up his noble profession with the unusual. Though he is known to many as a medical practitioner, Carriker is better renowned as a YouTube star and an animal lover. Having recorded huge successes on his various YouTube channels, the vet doctors name and ...

Jillian Mele of Fox News Career Achievements, Husband & Measurements There are quite a good number of presenters on radio and television who listeners and viewers may never wish to miss any of their shows because of their sensational golden voice, beauty or the special way or artistry they anchor their shows. Jillian Mele is one of such. She has been at the top of ...

Who is Gillian Turner of Fox News? Her Fiance or Husband and Net Worth Gillian Turner is well-known as a news correspondent for Fox News Channel but before she became a TV personality, she built an intimidating resume working for different institutions, including the American government. She served in different capacities at the White House National Security Council during the administration of former US Presidents  George W. Bush and Barack Obama. ...

Gloria Govan Bio  Age, Ethnicity & Height Even as Gloria Govan is famous as an American actress, author, a TV host, and reality television star, shes more popular as the wife of the former NBA player, Matt Barnes. She became known after appearing on the Florida version of the reality television series, Basketball Wives and later, Basketball Wives: LA  after Matt was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Sadly, ...

Michael Fishmans Interesting Start as an Actor and Why He Divorced His Wife of Many Years When one door closes, another one opens. As silly as that axiom may seem, it is the story of the resurgence of Michael Fishman, who plays D.J Conner on the popular show, Roseanne. Having played the character for several years as a child actor into his teenage years; when the show originally ended, Michael did ...

Who Is October Gonzalez  Tony Gonzalezs Wife? All You Need To Know October Gonzalez is a popular American TV host and media personality. Additionally, she is also a model. Gonzalez has hosted several TV shows such as Beat Shazam, Entertainment Tonight, and Rachel Ray. She has also featured in several reality TV shows. Gonzalezs fame is not just due to her profession but also because of her ...

Who Is Tony Berlin  Harris Faulkners Husband: His Children and Family Facts Tony Berlin is a popular American media guru. He has variously worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer for some of the biggest TV networks in America. They include CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC (where he hosted the popular Good Morning America). Berlin has now diversified into public relations and owns his own PR firm. ...

The Progression of Gianna Tobonis Journalism Career and Details About Her Marriage to Kyle Buckley Gianna Toboni may not be your ideal newscaster but her unusual reporting is what made her a household name. The American journalist is renowned for her hard-hitting and authentic reportage. A motivator and activist for total press freedom, Gianna loves to explore pervasive cultural issues. Not only does this unique and ambitious journalist call for all ...

Dog The Bounty Hunters Family Including Details of His Late Wife and Kids Popularly known as Dog, a name which he got from the television series, Dog The Bounty Hunter, Duane Chapman, an American bounty hunter, and one-time bail bondsman, went from being convicted for a felony to being a reality TV star. He was brought to the limelight following the capture of the convicted criminal, Andrew Luster in 2003 and this eventually made ...

Vicky Karayiannis, Chris Cornells Wifes Bio, Children and Family The world of showbiz is made up of different people who serve different roles, and function in a variety of capacities, and one of the most important people are those in the background. Publicists are undoubtedly one of these background people yet they are vital to the life and fame of most of our favorite ...

Joe Rogan Has A Step-Daughter and 2 Other Kids With Wife Jessica Ditzel  Meet His Family Joe Rogan is a popular American stand-up comedian and TV host. His journey to stardom began in the late 80s and has seen him host several shows, the most popular is the game show titled Fear Factor. The exciting show dares contestants to face some of their greatest fears and embark on challenging stunts. The ...

Josh Gates and Wife Hallie Gnatovich Have 2 Kids But Who Has the Higher Net Worth? Best known for his explorations and adventures, Josh Gates, is a television presenter with a voracious appetite for seeing the world and the beauties in it. Some of that beauty, however, is in his home, in the form of two children he shares with his wife, Hallie Gnatovich. Not excluded is their marriage which has lasted ...

Holly Sonders Wiki, Plastic Surgery & Why She Divorced Her Husband  Erik Kuselias After trying everything within her capacity to have a low key wedding, Holly Sonders was drawn to the public because of her husbands controversy at his workplace. Well, the two are rumored to be divorced but the article below will give more light on how true these rumors are. Meanwhile, Holly Sonders is yet to ...

Nadeska Alexis Bio  Age, Boyfriend & Net Worth Journalism is one diverse profession that allows the practitioners to choose their area of specialty, build a career on it by reporting the truth and facts which in the long run will distinguish them as deserving commendation and recognition among their peers. Some choose to specialize in political journalism, while to others it is sports ...

Media Platforms Charlamagne Tha God Has Explored and All The Controversies He Has Courted Charlamagne Tha God is an American on-air personality, radio presenter, and more recently, author. He is popularly known as a co-host on New York radios nationally syndicated show, The Breakfast Club, a program he has been hosting alongside DJ Envy and Angela Yee since 2010. However, his early years had no connection to his current career ...

A Look At Jimmy Fallons Net Worth and Family Including His Wife & Kids Sometimes, a childs passion for something is a pointer to what he/she would become in the future. As a child, Jimmy Fallon was literally obsessed with watching the late-night comedy program, Saturday Night Live (SNL). Then, his parents would tape the clean parts for him to watch and later, he and his sister would re-enact sketches from the ...

Kay Adams Biography  Does The Sportscaster Have A Husband or Boyfriend? When you hear the phrase sports enthusiast, women are hardly the first group that comes to mind. Well, thats changing pretty fast. Especially with the rise of female sports analysts and broadcasters like Kay Adams who is famed for knowing more about sports than most men do. And why not, shes paid handsomely for it ...

Ben Shapiros Family  Meet His Wife, Kids and Sister Who is Popular for the Wrong Reasons A multi-talented man, Ben Shapiro is a man of controversial nature, an attribute that has made him an unusual public figure. An intellectual whose career path was clearly defined even before he became a man, the Jewish conservative commentator has always had his way with words. He became popular by sharing his critical and often ...

QVC Shawn Killinger Bio  Husband, Net Worth & Facts To Know Shawn Killinger is a prominent TV personality who has worked her way to the top. Though not initially a journalist by training, she defied the odds and today has established herself as a household name, as well as, worked alongside some industry legends. More than just being a reporter, newscaster, and anchor, heres all you ...

Liv Lo  Dissecting the Ethnicity, Parents and Personal Life of Henry Goldings Wife While many are aware that Liv Lo is the better half to Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, only a few understand why his beautiful wife appears increasingly endearing to fans. A former model turned TV personality, and fitness star, Liv has an impressive resume which when combined with that of her statuesque spouse is considered a perfect ...

Stpeach Age, Husband and Other Facts About The Twitch Streamer Lisa Vannatta, famously known by her online alias, STPeach is a Canadian video game streamer cum vlogger who has garnered fame through her appearances on different video-sharing/social networking platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Twitch, Reddit, and Twitter. The beautiful lady got her career to a start in August 2015 when she joined the live streaming video platform, Twitch. She rose to ...

Insights into Seth Meyers Wife, Family and What His Net Worth Is Celebrities are mostly remembered and known for the work they do. For Seth Meyers, his career as a comedian, writer, actor, TV host, and producer is his biggest identifier. He was on Saturday Night Live SNL show as a head writer and cast member for more than ten years during which he built a reputation ...

Who Is Jessica Gadsden  Age, Net Worth & All About Charlamagne tha Gods Wife Jessica Gadsden is an American fitness coach as well as a personal trainer. She is better known as the spouse of popular American media personality, Charlamagne Tha God. Charlamange Tha God is a well-known TV and radio personality in the U.S. He has featured in several shows (both on the radio and TV) and is ...

Who Is Collins Tuohy  Michael Ohers sister ? Her Wedding, Husband & Net Worth Collins Tuohy is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, blogger, and social media personality. She is also better known as the adoptive sister of NFL player, Michael Oher, whose life story inspired the Hollywood blockbuster The Blind Side. The Blind Side tells the true life story of Oher who grew up in an impoverished background consisting of a ...

Eye-Popping Facts About The Personal Life And Career Success Of Sportscaster Heidi Watney Heidi Watney is a media personality who has created a niche for herself as a sportscaster. Starting out as a radio presenter, the brilliant young lady has gone on to work for several prominent sports networks, and currently, she is with the MLB. The sportscaster is also known to have been an avid sports lady right ...

Marty Lagina Bio  Siblings (Martina and Rick Lagina), Net Worth and Wife Marty Lagina is an American engineer and businessman who has risen to fame as a reality TV star. This is thanks to his involvement in the adventure TV series, The Curse of Oak Island. The Curse of Oak Island is a long-running TV series which airs on the history channel. The show aims to solve ...

Is Jordan Schlansky Just A Character or a Real Life Person and What Does He Do? The world of late-night television is an interesting one. Shows during that time are geared towards giving viewers comedic relief from a long day at work through interviews and comedy sketches. The often charismatic host of this show requires the balancing talent of a producer whose primary job is to deliver great episodes. It is ...

Heres How Wealthy Jimmy Kimmel Is From All The Phases of His Career, Marriages and Sons Health Jimmy Kimmel is a renowned late-night talk show host known for his charm, wit, and the A-list guests he features on his show. As the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! On ABC, Jimmy has been serving comedy to television viewers for years which played a pivotal role in launching him into mainstream fame and enabled ...

Natasha Bertrand Biography  Is She Married? Who Is the Husband & What Is Her Age? Natasha Bertrand is not just a young prominent journalist but a first-rate investigative reporter. With her natural beauty and smile, Natashas sharp, insightful political commentary also makes her a thorough reporter. Her sound political perspective and coverage in the country have made her a force to be reckoned with in the profession. Renowned for her ...

What Happened to Shane Kilcher? His Injury Update, Net Worth and More Shane Kilcher is well-known thanks to the Discovery Channel series Alaska: The Last Frontier. It is a show that documents the daily lives of the extended Kilcher family, people who live without plumbing or modern heating. The episodes follow their routines as they rely on hunting and farming for their nutritional needs as well as ...

Is Stephanie Gosk Gay or Lesbian, Who is the Wife or Partner  Jenna Wolfe? In August 2013, NBCs Today viewers were greeted with two shocking news. Today weekend anchor, Jenna Wolfe, announced that she was as a lesbian, introducing her partner as NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk, and said the two are expecting their first child. A long time has passed since then and certainly, a lot of things ...

Nikki Mudarris  Bio and Net Worth: 5 Interesting Facts You Need to Know Nikki Mudarris, also known as Miss Nikki Baby, is a reality television star, model and fashionista. Shes best known for VH1s reality TV series Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood. Her entrepreneurial skills enable her to create and run a successful lingerie line Nude by Nikki. Not only that, but Nikki has also successfully run the Las ...

5 Interesting Things You Need To Know About Kelly Nash Ever heard of the lady who gained national prominence for taking a selfie with a dangerous ball just a few inches away from hitting her? Its no other person than Kelly Nash, an American sports broadcaster currently working as host of The Rundown show which airs on MLB Network every weekday at 2 pm ET. ...

Understanding The Height of Fame John Oliver Achieved With The Daily Show and How He Met His Wife Without knowledge of who he is and his exemplary career, John Oliver cuts an unassuming figure of a regular man but he is one of the most influential personalities in America, especially on television. Since he began his career in 1998, he has been a loud and unapologetic agent of change, using his wit and ...

Why Did Big Chief Leave Street Outlaws, Where Is He Now And Why Did He Divorce His Wife? Justin Shearer, otherwise known by his professional name Big Chief is a famous street racer and television personality. He is famously known for being one of the main characters on the racing reality television series, Street Outlaws. Justin, who had been a significant part of the show since its premiere in 2013, appeared in a ...

Who is Josina Anderson of ESPN? Her Husband and Family Facts There has been a gradual paradigm shift in the world of sports which has today produced the likes of Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and other female athletes that are pulling great feats in different sporting fields. Their achievements have also been followed by the emergence of female sports journalists such as Jillian Mele, Eboni Williams, ...

Is Brittany Wagner Married, Who Is The Husband, How Old Is She? Brittany Wagner has been an inspiration to a lot of sports youngster. She has won the hearts of many athletic students with her role as a life coach and an academic counselor. She is well groomed in her career and has worked over a decade for The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and The National ...

Tati Westbrook Bio  Age, Husband & Net Worth With five videos dished out every week, alongside running her own brand, beauty guru, and YouTube superstar Tati Westbrook has proved to the world that theres utterly no impossibility or limit to whatever one is passionate about. Tati is best known for being the owner and manager of the worlds most-viewed beauty and lifestyle YouTube channel, ...

Cathy Areus Long Road to Becoming a Freelance Journalist and What to Know About Her Kids An American freelance journalist, news analyst, and author, Cathy Areu has built a lasting reputation for herself on cable television. Popular for her skillful and sassy presentation of professional views on varying topics including cultural and feminist issues, Cathy is an inspiration to many women across the globe. In addition to being a journalist, she ...

Tucker Carlsons Love Story With Wife Susan Andrews, their Children and Net Worth Today On the TV screens, Tucker Carlson is that fiery fellow who passionately dishes out his conservative and often controversial views on issues of national importance. Such brazenness has fetched him many enemies, especially on the left-wing, but it has also helped him cement a reputation as one of the foremost broadcast journalists in America. His ...

Paige Wyatts Net Worth, Boyfriend and Where She Is Now Paige Wyatt became popular after the Wyatt family began running the reality television show, American Guns. The Wyatt family comprises Rich Wyatt (father), Renee Wyatt (mother), Paige and Kurt Wyatt (children). Rich Wyatt originally ran a gun shop, the Gunsmoke Guns in Wheat Ridge, Colorado which is outside of Denver. The business which he ran together ...

The Progression of Howard Sterns Career As A Media Personality And Why He Divorced His First Wife Howard Stern is a legendary American radio host, who has also done some notable work as an actor, producer, author, as well as photographer. The radio personality achieved worldwide fame as a result of his self-titled radio program, The Howard Stern Show. As a professional radio personality, he has worked in different radio stations. Since 2006, ...

Lisa Joyners Biography  Ethnicity, Net Worth and Other Key Facts Lisa Joyner is an American Journalist, TV talk show host, and actress. Some of her well-known works are her correspondences for the Los Angeles based TV KCBS, inFANity show, Find My Family Show including her film and television appearances in Brimstone, American Sweetheart, The Bold and The Beautiful among others. Lisas passion for reconnecting people with their biological families ...

Amanda Balionis Rise Through the Ranks of Sportscasting and the Identity of Her Boyfriend Amanda Balionis is an American sportscaster currently working as a golf broadcaster for CBS Sports. Among so many of her works in the field of sports reporting, Amandas PGA Tour coverage seems to be the most popular so far. She covered the Super Bowl working with CBS Sports social media team in Atlanta, where she ...

Dissecting Charles Paynes Sexual Allegations, Its After Effects and More About His Wife Charles Payne had a respectable career as an analyst on Wall Street before he made the transition to television and became a contributor and later a host on Fox. In that time, his expertise has come under scrutiny, and he has been at the center of at least one major controversy. The major controversy in question ...

Erik Asla And Tryra Banks Split: Everything You Need To Know Tyra Banks and Erik Asla have called it quits! The couple, who began dating in 2013 and have a son named York Banks Asla, has decided to end what everybody taught was the perfect relationship. Neither person has come out to give a reason for the breakup, but what is obvious right now is that ...

What to Note About Dr Terry Dubrows Qualifications, TV Works and Marriage to Heather Kent In the realm of people that we expect to see regularly on our screens, medical doctors are closer to the bottom of the list. Aside from the fact that their work has little correlation with TV, they are presumably too busy to pursue life as TV personalities. Yet, a few of them have usurped this ...

Jessica Goch  Bio: 5 Things You Didnt Know About Ninjas Wife Jessica Goch is the Schofield-born American Social Media Influencer who has worked as a model but is now better known as a host and interviewer of prominent Electronic sports celebrities at popular gaming events/tournaments. The screen queen also serves as the manager of her famous husband Ninja aka Tyler Blevins whose exploits on Twitch and Fortnite has ...

CNNs Chris Cuomo Biography  Wife, Family & Net worth Chris Cuomo needs no elaborate introduction as he has starred graced many prominent Television cable networks and his voice has been heard through acknowledged radio shows. He is a television journalist and Lawyer who has previously worked for ABC News as Chief law and justice correspondent as well as a co-anchor on 20/20. If you still ...

Neil deGrasse Tyson  Family, Religion & Net Worth Neil deGrasse Tyson is a distinguished American astrophysicist and author who has been able to achieve so much after falling in love with astronomy at the age of 9. He has since attended and become an alumnus of prestigious universities such as Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia, and also recorded numerous achievements in his field of ...

Is Simon Cowell Gay? Does He Have A Wife or Girlfriend and Why is He Famous? Simon Cowell is a well-known talent show judge, TV producer, entrepreneur and one of the most popular TV personalities that Britain has ever produced. In conjunction with his company, Syco, Cowell is the brain behind hugely successful talent hunt shows such as The X-Factor UK, The X-Factor US, Britains Got Talent, Americas Got Talent and ...

Everything To Know About Joanna Gaines Life With Chip Gaines, Their Business Pursuits and Kids Joanna Gaines and her husband Chip Gaines became celebrities after their television show Fixer Upper began airing back in 2013. The show which was about home renovation and decoration ran for about 6 seasons with a total of 79 episodes before the couple bade farewell to it in April 2018. Apart from their appearances on ...

Who Is Larry The Cable Guy? What To Know About His Wife And Net Worth Larry the Cable Guy is a self-professed country kid renowned for his trademark Southern accent and sensational catchphrase Git-R-Done! The famous comedian who talks about anything under the sun has gone on to become one of the most memorable characters in comedy history. Join us in unearthing lesser-known facts about the former on-air-personality, standup comedy superstar, movie ...

Who Is Patrick Starr, What Is His Net Worth and Gender? The make-up industry over the years has grown to become a billion dollar industry not just because there are probably more women wearing make-up but because a whole lot of men, especially the young ones, have become bold enough to wear it unlike before. A few of these men, like Patrick Starr, have even gone ...

How Did Chris Jansing Become a Senior Correspondent at MSNBC and Who Is Her Husband? An award-winning American television news reporter and journalist, Chris Jansing has succeeded in carving a spectacular niche for herself in the field of TV journalism. Outstanding for not just her excellence in journalism, Chris is also cherished for her incredibly gorgeous looks post 60! For close to four decades, Jansing has continued to soar in her ...

Jaclyn Glenn Biography  Age, Height & Ex-Boyfriend American Youtuber, Jaclyn Glenn, rose to prominence through her self-titled YouTube channel Jaclyn Glenn. She has remained an acclaimed atheist and continues to air her views on hot issues from politics, religion, animal rights, to atheism. During the heated 2016 US Presidential elections, Glenn featured in Hump Trump: Official Donald Trump Song. Her parallel acting career ...

Is Pat Sajak Married to a Wife or is He Gay With a Partner? Pat Sajak is one of the most popular TV game show hosts in America. He commenced his career as a radio disk jockey as well as a TV weatherman before being tapped to host Wheel of Fortune, the longest-running syndicated game show in the United States. Sajak has hosted the popular game show from 1983 ...

Nayyera Haqs Bio  What To Know About Her Husband, Parents And Family Nayyera Haq can take anyone on political debates as well as discussions on social issues affecting many. Her ability to masterfully deliver her stance on every issue or political debate has made her a regular face in morning and evening news media platforms. This is not a common feat especially for someone from her kind ...

Inside Guy Fieris Family With Wife, Kids and Sister Who Died of Cancer Over the years we have seen men dominate the kitchen and churn out amazing delicacies from it. Some do it way better than their female counterparts and one of such men is Guy Ramsay Fieri  an American TV host, celebrity chef, restaurant owner, bestselling author of four culinary books, and game show host. His ...

Meet Phil Mudd of CNN  The Former CIA and FBI Exec, Is He Married, Who Is The Wife? When it comes to discussing issues surrounding terrorism, American Counterterrorism and National Security Expert, Phil Mudd, occupies a globally significant position. He has voiced his interest in the fight against terrorism and insecurity on many popular media platforms, both print and broadcast, such as CNN, BBC, CBS, MSNBC, al-Jazeera, ABC, NBC, Fox, The New York Times, ...

Jim Hoffer: Biography, Wife  Mika Brzezinski, Children and Net Worth Jim Hoffer is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who works as an investigative reporter for Eyewitness News, New York City. In his over two decades of investigative journalism, Hoffer has been at the front lines of several crucial stories from the 9/11 attack to the crash of American Flight 587 to the 2003 Blackout. On top of ...

The Ups and Downs of Erin Mcpikes Journalism Career and Other Facts About Her Personal Life Erin McPike is a journalist working for the Independent Journal Review (IJR) as a White House Correspondent but she gained widespread recognition for her coverage of general news. Whether its breaking news or some mainstream story, McPike has a reputation of baring the facts. As a journalist, her work as a White House Correspondent for Independent ...

Bert Kreischer Is Married To LeeAnn Kreischer With 2 Kids  Meet His Family Those familiar with Bert Kreischer mainly have the image of a large-bellied party man whose college life inspired the National Lampoon film, Van Wilder. It is an image that one would not naturally associate with a wholesome family. The standup comedian still maintains his wild party animal image on stage. But, back at home, he is ...

How Brendan Greene Became a Game Designer to Look Out For and Facts About His Failed Marriage The name Brendan Greene may not easily ring a bell in the larger society but for gaming enthusiasts, he is considered a god and this is because of his invention of the video game, Player Unknowns Battlegrounds, also called PUBG. Based on the popular last-man-standing/battle royale concept, Greenes creation has taken the gaming world by ...

WFAAs Sonia Azad Bio  Does The Reporter Have A Husband Or Boyfriend? Emmy Award-winning journalist and Health & Wellness reporter Sonia Azad is on the news segment News 8 Daybreak for the television station WFAA-TV in Dallas, Texas, a channel which she joined in October of 2015. Besides her time on the news, Azad is also a marathon runner and a certified yoga instructor. She has covered major news ...

This Is Everything You Should Know About Caroline Heldman, Her Career Portfolio and Other Facts Love it or hate it, there is no escaping the fact that feminism has come to stay in our world. The movement has continued to garner momentum over the years and this is due to the sustained push by several women, and even men, including the likes of Caroline Heldman. A Professor of Politics at ...

Understanding The Enigma That Is Gavin McInnes, The Controversies He Has Stirred and All About His Wife Gavin McInnes is a polemical English-born writer and TV personality, who is best known for his racist and fascist ideologies, as well as his co-ownership of Vice Media and Vice Magazine. He is also an actor a
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On May 5 press conference of Lieutenant-General Levon Mnatsakanyan  Defense Minister, Defense Army Commander of the Republic of Artsakh, was held in Stepanakert.

May 5, 2017, 15:30 Azerbaijan had to seek Moscows mediation with the request to establish a ceasefire. Defense Minister

STEPANAKERT, MAY 5, ARTSAKHPRESS: At the start of this press conference, Mnatsakanyan presented the 25-year history of the defense army of the Republic of Artsakh.

Subsequently, he reflected on the military aggression which Azerbaijan had unleashed against Nagorno-Karabakh, in April of the year past. In this connection, he noted that even though the adversary had used its entire arsenal during this large-scale attack, the Artsakh defense army had managed to foil all plans by Azerbaijan, and therefore, just like in May 1994, Baku was forced to seek Moscows mediation, with a request for establishing ceasefire, also in April 2016.
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When the buai ban was in place, politicians like David Arore and Kelly Naru still chewed betel nut while attending the parliamentary sessions. What have you done to them?

Yet, they are escorted around as if they have committed nothing.

The real criminals are our politicians and top public office holders. Under the shadow of development, they defraud and rob Papua New Guinea and its people by stealing millions of kina and diverting it into their personal accounts.

WHICH part of the Police Act or Buai Ban Act gives National Capital District police officers the authority to punch innocent unarmed citizens or lawbreakers who cannot fight back? Did they rob a bank?

Even the outgoing health minister and Port Moresby Open MP Michael Malabag still goes around chewing betel nut. What have you done to him for failing to adhere to the policy?

The yoga prophet Powes Parkop has already removed the useless buai ban after the lives of a number of citizens were lost in what was no more than cold blooded murder.

If our citizens fail to adhere to NCDC instructions, just charge them. They are not your punching bags.

Do you have a mother? Do you have a father? You must come from a well-off family so it is easy for you to lay your punch on them.

You have done it to ordinary citizens. You have done it to members of civil society. You have done it to students.

When will you stop? Is punching unarmed and ordinary Papua New Guineans falls part of the six months training you receive at Bomana Police College?

The queue of unemployed is getting bigger and bigger every year. Some parents must do street sales to meet the school fees and daily needs of their children attending secondary and tertiary institutions.

Have some respect. It is easy to take them to the police station and lay appropriate charges than punching them.
Crews are working to fill and deploy sandbags as flooding begins to impact the village of Fair Haven, Mayor Jim Basile said Friday.

Basile said there have been 10,000 sandbags distributed to shoreline properties and he expects 25,000 bags to be filled by the end of the weekend. The village also has a large enough backup supply to fill 50,000 sandbags if needed.

The sandbagging program launched Wednesday. A day earlier, Basile told The Citizen that the village had the sand and bags, but hadn't started to deploy the bags and build levees to contain the rising water.

Niel Rivenburgh, deputy director of the Cayuga County Office of Emergency Services, said the sandbagging began after the wind shifted overnight Tuesday and pushed water back toward the village. The wind shift caused a five-inch increase in water levels.

The sandbags were initially distributed to people who needed them, but officials and volunteers began assisting business and property owners once they saw that the levees weren't being built properly. Foot-high levees have since been installed on several properties in low-lying areas, Rivenburgh said.

The emergency response has been operating on a 12-hour schedule, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., since Wednesday. That's expected to continue through Saturday.

The various county and village agencies have been assisted by dozens of volunteers. Rivenburgh estimated that as many 80 people have helped fill sandbags or serve meals. He urged local residents to continue to help their neighbors, but having individuals volunteer at the Fair Haven office or working with other parts of the flooding response can be a liability issue for the village.

"The outpouring of support has been fantastic," he said. "We're doing OK right now."

The response involves several local agencies, including the village's Department of Public Works and the Cayuga County Office of Emergency Services. The Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Department is also assisting along with other volunteer organizations from across the county.

State government officials are aware of the conditions in Fair Haven. Flooding has been reported in other communities along the lake, including Monroe and Wayne counties. Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a state of emergency this week covering Cayuga and several other counties along the lake.

Basile said he toured the flooding response operation Thursday night with Kevin Wisely, director of the New York State Office of Emergency Management.

"I think that the state has their finger on the pulse," Basile said.

While much attention has been paid to other communities along the lake experiencing flooding, Fair Haven has been overlooked. But Basile cautioned residents that flooding is a serious concern.

"Some people think we're not in that much trouble, but we are and we're staying ahead of it," he said.

For now, there isn't an evacuation order for any homeowners along the lake. The village is prepared if residents need to be evacuated. A shelter will be established at the Fair Haven Volunteer Fire Department.

The International Joint Commission said this week that Lake Ontario rose 17.3 inches in April  the third-largest increase recorded in the month of April since 1918.

Lake Ontario's overall water level was at 247.77 feet, which is the highest since 1993.

Some elected officials and residents have blamed Plan 2014, a Lake Ontario water level management strategy adopted by the commission in December. But the commission said the high water levels are due to "exceptionally wet weather," not Plan 2014.

Rain is in the forecast for Fair Haven over the next five days. Basile said they'll continue to monitor the situation and hope the sandbags are effective.

"I think we've done everything we can do to prepare and to establish a safe zone," he said.

The major concern, though, is the wind. Light winds help ease the flooding, but heavy winds exacerbate the problem.

Rivenburgh said a wind shift and increase in gusts could generate another water level surge in Little Sodus Bay. Crews are prepared to deploy more sandbags and respond to flooding if water levels continue to rise.

"We're staying ahead of it," he said.
SKANEATELES FALLS  Welch Allyn is growing.

A groundbreaking ceremony Friday marked the beginning of construction at Welch Allyn's Skaneateles Falls facility. The expansion will include a 100,000-square-foot addition containing offices, warehouse space and research and development facilities.

The additional space will allow the medical device manufacturer, which is owned by Hill-Rom, to add more than 100 jobs in central New York. Hill-Rom CEO John Greisch said about half of the jobs will be research and development and engineering-related jobs. The remaining positions will be support staff.

Roughly 35 research and development positions are being moved from Sweden to Skaneateles Falls, but Greisch added that the goal is to hire local residents for the jobs.

The expansion project is expected to be completed in 2018.

"Today's investment here in this site is the next step in our commitment to build upon the history of Welch Allyn," Greisch said.

Hill-Rom, which is based in Chicago, acquired Welch Allyn for $2.05 billion in 2015. Shortly after the acquisition, Welch Allyn cut 80 employees, including 50 at its Skaneateles Falls facility.

The acquisition drew the attention of local and state officials, who were concerned about the future of Welch Allyn, a major employer in the area.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul recalled being dispatched to central New York along with other state officials to meet with Hill-Rom executives. She admitted that state leaders were nervous because, in the past, companies that were purchased by larger firms usually left New York.

"I'm so proud that era is over," she said.

The state provided economic development incentives for the expansion project, including a $6 million grant provided through central New York's share of Upstate Revitalization Initiative funding. There's also $6.3 million in tax credits that are linked to job creation goals.

Keeping Welch Allyn in New York was the state's goal, but the expansion project was a bonus. And Hochul praised Hill-Rom for investing in its central New York facility and for adding more jobs in the region.

"Our heritage is built on people who are smart, they're trained, they know what they're doing, they're creative," she said. "But if the company will take care of them, they will reward the company with hard work and loyalty and they will stay."
Seven years ago, then-U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri had a decision to make.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was nearing a vote in the House of Representatives. Arcuri, a moderate Democrat, could either support the bill backed by his party's leadership, or vote against it.

Arcuri voted for the Democrats' initial proposal in the House. But he raised concerns about the final version of the bill.

Days before the vote, Arcuri released a statement announcing his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, which is now known as Obamacare. He didn't like the bill's tax on so-called "Cadillac" health insurance plans. The measure also didn't allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices or remove the anti-trust exemption for insurance companies, he said.

"I am not convinced that after months of listening, studying and debating that the current bill benefits the people in my district in the best possible way, and that's why I cannot support it," Arcuri said in March 2010.

The House passed the Affordable Care Act by a 219-212 vote. Arcuri was one of 34 Democrats who voted against the measure.

Despite his vote against the Affordable Care Act, Arcuri still faced political repercussions. Because he opposed the health care law, the progressive Working Families Party withdrew its support. The decision left the Utica congressman without a minor party line for his re-election bid until he formed one of his own, NY Moderates.

For Republicans, Arcuri was an easy target. With nearly 28,000 more Republicans in the district, he was a vulnerable Democrat. The combination of the GOP wave and concerns about the health care law led to his ouster.

Arcuri lost his re-election campaign against Republican challenger Richard Hanna. Hanna, R-Barneveld, won by six points.

Fast forward seven years and U.S. Rep. John Katko, a moderate Republican, finds himself on a different side of the health care debate.

Katko, R-Camillus, supports repealing and replacing the 2010 health care law. It was one of the top issues he discussed during his first campaign for Congress in 2014.

With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House, repealing the Affordable Care Act is a high priority. Getting rid of the law was impossible under President Barack Obama. With Donald Trump as president, Republicans think they can achieve their goal of dismantling Obamacare.

The first attempt failed. Republicans pushed the American Health Care Act, but conservatives and moderates, including Katko, didn't support it. As the House was on the verge of voting in March, House Speaker Paul Ryan withdrew the legislation.

Last month, talks between the conservative House Freedom Caucus and moderate Tuesday Group heated up. Compromises were made. The product of those discussions was an amendment that targeted the Affordable Care Act's "Essential Health Benefits," which require insurance companies to cover preventive care, mental health treatment and other services. The amendment also would weaken protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

Katko's position didn't change. He reiterated his opposition to the bill and voted against it Thursday.

The political ramifications of the House vote likely won't be felt until next year, when Katko and his colleagues are up for re-election. The impact of the vote will depend on other factors, including whether Congress can negotiate an agreement that will be signed by President Trump. Some senators have already raised concerns about the House bill, including the elimination of the Medicaid expansion.

Katko hasn't ruled out supporting a modified version of the health care bill.

Regardless of what happens over the next 18 months, Katko is in a tough position. Conservative radio host Bob Lonsberry said he would support a primary challenge against the GOP congressman if he voted against the health care bill.

For now, Katko doesn't have a primary challenger. That could change as the election nears.

Democrats also have their sights set on Katko. Even though he won by 20 points in 2014 and 22 in 2016, he's still viewed as a top target. The current 24th Congressional District has 4,626 more active Democratic voters. Hillary Clinton won the district by nearly four points last year.

The reality is that moderates, whether Democrats or Republicans, are easy targets. They tend to represent swing districts. Before Katko's win in 2016, the 24th was a swing district. It had changed parties every two years since 2008.

Arcuri voted for the Affordable Care Act and paid the price. He lost his re-election bid more than seven months later. Could Katko face the same fate? Time will tell.
With the federal government rolling back internet privacy regulations, Illinois is moving forward with legislation to protect personal information collected online.

The state Senate on Thursday approved the groundbreaking Right to Know Act, a measure that would require online companies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon to disclose to consumers what data about them has been collected and shared with third parties.

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The bill, sponsored by Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Tinley Park, now heads to the Illinois House after passing on a 31-21 vote.

"I think this is a step forward for Illinois in terms of data privacy," Hastings said Friday. "It gives people the right to know what information (internet companies are) selling to a third party."

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Illinois is taking center stage in the national debate over internet privacy legislation, which is shifting from the federal to state level. Congress voted in March to undo the Federal Communications Commission's broadband privacy rules, which were adopted last fall under the Obama administration and set to go into effect this year.

President Donald Trump on April 3 signed the measure that repealed the broadband privacy rules.

The FCC protections would have required internet service providers, such as Comcast, Verizon and AT&T, to disclose what personal information they collect and share and would have required consent from consumers before sharing more sensitive information.

Privacy advocates believe Illinois and other states must step up to fill the void left by the shift in federal policy.

The Right to Know Act would require the operator of a commercial website or online service to make available "certain specified information" that has been disclosed to a third party and to provide an email address or toll-free telephone number for customers to request that information.

Similar proposals are under consideration in Alaska and Rhode Island, which, along with about a dozen other states, are also considering separate privacy legislation affecting internet service providers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Major internet companies have been pushing back against the Illinois initiative, ramping up lobbying efforts as the privacy legislation advanced through the Senate, Hastings said. Online trade associations, including CompTIA, the Internet Association and NetChoice, also met with Hastings to voice opposition to the measure.

Opponents to the privacy bill gave voice to industry concerns Thursday during a debate on the Senate floor.

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Sen. Chris Nybo, R-Elmhurst, questioned the value to consumers, and the potential burden it might place on e-commerce businesses in Illinois, if it passes into law.

"Every technology company that I've spoken to, from Microsoft down to Uber, Lyft ... is opposed to this bill," Nybo said. "People are watching across the country what happens on this bill. I think it sends the wrong message."

Meanwhile, Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, suggested internet privacy regulations were better left in the hands of federal regulators.

"The federal government has a system of rules and regulations to handle internet traffic," Barickman said. "I think we, as one of 50 states, (need) to let them handle those issues and not create additional burdens for our many people and businesses here in Illinois."

The Senate bill will head to committee in the House before it can be brought to a vote. A House committee approved a similar measure last month.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com

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Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin (R) and National Economic Director Gary Cohn speak about President Donald Trump's new tax reform plan during a briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 26, 2017 in Washington. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

If you are counting on 401(k) savings to keep a roof over your head when you retire, don't take your eye off tax reform negotiations in Washington.

Your 401(k) is vulnerable. And worse yet, if tax changes play out as some are proposing on Capitol Hill, you may have the extra burden of picking up the tab for millions of Americans who will go into retirement without enough saved to cover food, housing and other basic needs.

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In the halls of Congress, one frequently mentioned way to raise more tax money for the federal government is to drastically change the way about half of Americans save for retirement. Roughly 54 percent of Americans have 401(k)s or other retirement savings plans at work, and the government currently tries to entice workers to participate in those plans by rewarding savers with a tax deduction on whatever they sock away. But the deductions could be on the chopping block as Congress looks for revenue sources to make up for other tax cuts.

The possibility came up in 2014, as Congress looked at tax reform and government researchers calculated more than $144 billion in new revenue over 10 years if some 401(k) deductions were cut, said Brigen Winters, an attorney for Groom Law of Washington, D.C., which lobbies for groups that want to retain the current 401(k) structure. Winters told employers gathered in Chicago for the annual Plan Sponsor Council of America conference Wednesday that "we keep hearing whispers" in the halls of Congress that the 401(k) proposals remain alive. The council is a nonprofit trade group supporting employer-sponsored retirement plans.

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There are other possibilities too, such as freezing maximum 401(k) contributions so that workers won't shelter additional money from taxes in the future. Deductions for Individual Retirement Accounts also could be cut.

While there is nothing formal on the table now, Congress can't make tax cuts unless the cuts are offset by finding other sources of tax revenue, Winters said. And retirement funds are the second-largest potential source of revenue, behind the exclusion employers are given for providing health insurance to workers, he said.

Meanwhile, the only deductions the Trump administration has promised to preserve are those for home mortgages and charitable contributions.

Still, although getting rid of retirement saving deductions could instantly give the government a huge new revenue source, there could be costly consequences for taxpayers. Already the nation is facing a looming retirement crisis because millions of workers aren't saving enough to cover basic needs like food and housing when they can no longer work. Ultimately, if these people need welfare, Medicaid or other aid, taxpayers could be asked to pick up the burden.

The Employee Benefit Research Institute has estimated that workers currently between the ages of 35 and 64 are on their way to being short over $4 trillion in retirement money. And that estimate assumes that those with 401(k) plans keep saving as they have been doing.

It's clear that if the government cuts out the carrot that entices employees to put money into 401(k)s, many people will stop saving or will save less, said Jack VanDerhei the director of research for the institute, a nonpartisan group.

In an institute survey, 88 percent of people said getting a tax break on their 401(k) contributions was important to them. And moderate- and lower-income people  who currently save less than more-affluent people on average  are likely to cut back even more, VanDerhei said.

"The more budget constrained they are, the bigger the negative effect" if they don't get to lower their taxes, he said. "If you are barely scraping by and putting $2,000 into a 401(k), and you lose the deduction and have to come up with an extra $200, you may decide against it."

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In the past, both Democrats and Republicans have been tempted to cut back tax deductions for 401(k) contributions. Some Democrats have argued that because affluent people are able to save more in 401(k)s than middle-income workers, 401(k)s give the rich a bigger tax benefit.

But VanDerhei said that's short-sighted and ignores behavior. In surveys, lower-income people seem to be as anxious to get a tax deduction as higher-income people.

While the possibilities for change remain numerous at this point, Winters said a compromise that's been discussed would alter some 401(k) deductions. He said individuals could be required to put half of their contributions in Roth 401(k)s and the other half in traditional 401(k)s. The Roth contributions wouldn't be eligible for a tax deduction.

gmarksjarvis@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @gailmarksjarvis
Pullman Brown Ale from Flossmoor Station claims to be a traditional English brown ale, but its a bit more robust than that. Notes of toffee, burnt caramel and a trace of bitter molasses add a welcome depth and complexity. (Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune )

What it is: The year 1996 was a big one for craft beer in the Chicago area. Two Brothers opened in Warrenville. Three Floyds opened just over the border in northwest Indiana. And in an old train station in suburban Flossmoor, the Flossmoor Station brewpub opened. Flossmoor Station was once an essential source of beer in the city, and among the early national leaders when it came to aging beer in bourbon barrels (along with its neighbor 30 miles north, Goose Island). Among Flossmoor's most renowned beers was its flagship, Pullman Brown Ale. In the crush of competition and a failure to grow (plans to start a production brewery in 2014 were abandoned), Flossmoor Station's place in the orbit of Chicago beer has diminished considerably. Yet Pullman Brown remains a Chicago beer landmark.

In the can: Pullman Brown claims to be a traditional English brown ale, but it's a bit more robust than that. Notes of toffee, burnt caramel and a trace of bitter molasses add a welcome depth and complexity to the lovely deep brown ale atop notes of slight nuttiness and deeply roasted coffee beans. I detected the buttery off flavor diacetyl in several canned Flossmoor Station beers, and maybe even a touch in the brown ale. But while diacetyl rips through (and ruins) an IPA, in a chilled brown ale, a small amount is difficult to detect and not much of an issue. Some people even enjoy it in a malt-forward beer.

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Alcohol: 6.3 percent

Drink it with: Brown ale is typically a versatile food beer, especially for hearty dishes like jambalaya.

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Find it: Available on draft year-round at Flossmoor Station (1035 Sterling Ave., Flossmoor) and in four-packs of 16-ounce cans at the brewery.

jbnoel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @joshbnoel






My colleague Joseph Hernandez wrote recently about kalsarikannit, a Finnish word for chilling out at home, by yourself, preferably with lots of wine and no pants. I've got some next-level kalsarikannit for you: lots of wine, no pants and fried chicken.

Seaside's recently joined the lineup of delivery options in my neck of Lincoln Park  in fact, the new restaurant, an offshoot of Oyster Bah, only delivers, from a small menu inspired by partner Bill Nevruz's summers at the Jersey Shore. Growing up in Wisconsin, I spent zero summers on any shores, so this chicken ($15 for a half bird, $28 for a full) is not nostalgic for me, but here's what it is: really good fried chicken. The meat, Amish chicken from Miller Poultry in Indiana, is impressively juicy, and the double-batter fry makes for an extra-crispy outside, even after the delivery journey (in my case, about a mile).

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It's worth the $4 to kick in an order of sous-chef Donny Farrell's hot sauce, a rotating cast of characters that may include smoked Fresno, jalapeno, habanero and/or Hatch chile. Find Farrell walking around Oyster Bah sometime, and if you ask, he'll talk your ear off about the ins and outs of making hot sauce: not mixing peppers, sugar versus honey, mustard versus vinegar. The guy has a passion.

Not in the Seaside's delivery range? You can walk into Oyster Bah (1962 N. Halsted St.) for carry-out; unfortunately, pants are required.

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Seaside's, www.seasideschicago.com

mconrad@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @marissa_conrad






Cafe Marie-Jeanne, run by husband-wife partners Michael Simmons (chef) and Val Szafranski (front of house), is, Simmons says, "the very definition of a mom-and-pop; except neither one of us is a mom or pop."

But "mom-and-pop," or some young and modern iteration thereof, fits the restaurant reasonably well. It's an intensely personal operation, one whose easygoing attitude and excellent kitchen work make the 16-month-old Humboldt Park spot a neighborhood treasure.

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Simmons and Szafranski are putting in extra-long hours to make it all happen. The restaurant opens at 7 a.m. weekdays (Simmons and Szafranski "sleep in" and open at 8 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays), locks its doors at 10 or 11 p.m. and serves most of the menu all day long. Breakfast omelet at 9 p.m.? No problem. Duck in the morning? It might take a few minutes, but you'll get it.

Don't ask for Marie or Jeanne at the door; a Marie-Jeanne is a large-format bottle, holding the equivalent of three standard bottles of wine. "The name conveys the spirit of shared good times and conviviality," Simmons said. "Most of the (large format) bottles have masculine, tough-guy names like Nebuchadnezzar and Jeroboam; this is beautiful and feminine, and it sounds pretty when you say it."

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The wine list, a short but carefully chosen selection (hat tip to sommelier James McLennan), doesn't offer any bottles in the Marie-Jeanne size ("they're hard to find, and people who have them won't give them up," Simmons said), so think of Marie-Jeanne as less a state of wine and more a state of mind.

The single-page menus (one for breakfast/brunch/lunch, one for dinner) offer a handful of dishes; the rest can be found on the wall-mounted chalkboards, which list cheese and charcuterie offerings and daily features. "The regular menu doesn't change much, except maybe for a soup or vegetable side," Simmons said. "The chalkboard makes it easier to throw new items up there; if we get a late delivery, we can offer it right away."

On the chalkboard, look for oysters and razor clams, the latter served raw in the shell or plancha-grilled with drips of olive and chile oils. (Raw seafood items typically arrive over ice, inside cool-looking fish tins.) You may also find grilled sardines with salsa verde or sauteed mushrooms over toast, with an egg-thickened sauce  visually a mess, but great eating.

Regular menu strengths include hollow curlicue fusilli col buco noodles supporting tender octopus, cured Provencal olives, chopped finocchiona and Spanish sofrito sauce  a delightful Mediterranean excursion.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Star dishes include the smoked chicken, cut into large pieces and offering crisp lacquered skin and fine, smoky flavor, aided by herbes de Provence. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Star dishes include the smoked chicken, served in quarter- and half-portions ($12 and $18, respectively; get the big portion), cut into large pieces and offering crisp lacquered skin and fine, smoky flavor, aided by herbes de Provence. Duck frites, which began as a special, has worked its way up to signature status. Served on a large platter, the dish mixes sliced breast and roasted leg-thigh pieces (a half duck overall) with duck pate (foie gras available) and plenty of duck-fat fries.

From time to time Simmons brings in dry-aged beef, serving it in massive portions (30 ounces or more), intended to serve the entire table and priced at or near $100. We were somewhat disappointed with our 45-day rib-eye, heavily charred on the outside but extremely rare within (I'd requested medium-rare). The steak had great flavor, but the meat required the sort of knife assistance that Marie-Jeanne's meager flatware could not provide. We did enjoy the accompaniments  compound herbed butter and bone marrow  and because the steak was served in thick slices with the bone detached, for once I requested a doggy bag that was, in fact, doggy-bound.

Dessert is not a kitchen strength, but there are a couple of nice bites at the end, and there are always those fine cheeses. There's a fun cake-and-ice-cream play on affogato, served in a Delft cup and saucer with minty ice cream, marasca cherries and espresso, and a nice almond financier with honey and delice de Bourgogne cheese.

Husband-wife partners Michael Simmons and Val Szafranski co-own the restaurant, where Simmons is chef. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

The dining room, which can be impenetrably dark in the evening (I'm talking can't-see-doneness-level dark), is positively cheerful in the daytime. Late morning and early afternoon can be the best times to visit, when sunlight floods the space and there is room (and free Wi-Fi) to get some work done while noshing on pastries, sandwiches or a meat-and-cheese assortment. I love the breakfast sandwich option, consisting of egg, cheese and any two of nearly three-dozen toppings, ranging from the expected (lox, various smoked fish, bacon, duck confit) to the novel (calf brains, shad roe and, lately, softshell crabs). Sandwiches are served on toasted country wheat bread or English muffin, and servers can advise newbies on killer ingredient combos.

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Szafranski runs a laid-back but precisely functioning front room, abetted by very good service. For locals, Cafe Marie-Jeanne is a dream.

For visitors, well, my advice is to build 15 extra minutes into your travel time to find parking. Besides housing the cafe, the corner of California Avenue and Augusta Boulevard also is home to Haywood Tavern, Spinning J and The California Clipper; factor in side-street parking restrictions, and the area can get pretty crowded. As the weather improves, expect more traffic.

"A lot of people are moving into the neighborhood," Simmons said. "Every week, we see new faces. We're trying to see if we can figure out valet parking, but that's down the road. But we're also hoping that our clientele doing a lot of eating and drinking are taking cabs."

Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.

pvettel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @philvettel

Cafe Marie-Jeanne

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1001 N. California Ave.

773-904-7660

www.cafe-marie-jeanne.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: Breakfast, lunch dinner Wednesday to Monday

Prices: Main courses $12-$35

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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.






LONDON  We are so ready for this. Director Marianne Elliott's production of the two-part Tony Kushner epic "Angels in America" at the National Theatre's Lyttelton is one of the year's most anticipated London theater openings  not least because of its starry cast  and it doesn't disappoint. But this also feels like the perfect political moment for a revival.

In his self-styled "gay fantasia on national themes," Kushner takes us on a hurtling flight over Reaganite America, alighting on ideas about identity and morality, sex and love, death and faith. God has deserted heaven, leaving a coterie of reactionary, bureaucratic angels in charge. Lady Justice is not only blindfolded, she seems to have had both eyes gleefully poked out. The government looks the other way as AIDS ravages and kills, and the hole grows in the ozone layer; selfish individualism is regarded as a strength, perhaps even a virtue.

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If all that looked apocalyptic in the early '90s, when the plays premiered, one can only imagine what horrifying harbingers Kushner might have depicted hovering in today's skies. It's a ghastly sign of the times that the current president had a cozy, 10-year association with the real-life version of Kushner's diabolical villain, the ravening, corrupt lawyer and McCarthy aide Roy M. Cohn.

If the diptych still wields an extraordinary force and relevance, though, it's also a compelling period piece. Its portrayal of the terror, suffering and ignorance around HIV and AIDS in the mid-'80s is every bit as harrowing as it has to be, reminding us, despite today's miraculous advances in treatment, how swift a fearful, divided society is to marginalize and stigmatize. Yet Kushner brilliantly balances trauma with humor, devastation with dazzle.

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This is a whirling, freewheeling, exuberantly and unashamedly theatrical work, crazy and beautiful, sensual and verbose. Elliott's staging, designed by Ian MacNeil, rises inventively to its flamboyant challenges, with a little sci-fi, a little homespun rough magic and a lot of high camp. For many, the big box-office draw will be Andrew Garfield, famed for his "Spider-Man" movies and Oscar nominated for "Hacksaw Ridge." But this is an ensemble piece and the acting, across the formidable company, is stunning.

For the first part, "Millennium Approaches," MacNeil cleverly carves teeming New York City out of the large Lyttelton stage. Housed inside revolving blocks, like fragments of pollution-stained, weather-worn buildings, are apartments, offices and hospital rooms. The actors glide between them as their dreams and realities intersect and collide.

There's a sense of decay and dilapidation, yet details are picked out in threads of bright neon, hot pink or acid green. Later, for "Perestroika," with the thawing of the Cold War as background to the action, snowy wastes melt into lashing rain and glimmers of wintry sunshine. There are visions of Antarctic tundra, mirror balls and a dance floor filled with purple smoke, swags of red velvet. We are encouraged to glimpse the mechanics behind the illusion  by the final moments, the house lights are up and the characters occupy a virtually naked stage. Sometimes the visuals are cluttered or untidy. Yet the overall effect has a grubby, tacky splendor.

Garfield is Prior Walter, a 30-year-old gay man who, from the moment he finds his first lesion  "the wine-dark kiss of the angel of death"  dreads desertion by his lover, Louis (James McArdle). McArdle and Garfield are a riveting partnership, Garfield by turns glittering, waspish, agonized and enraged, while McArdle makes us feel Louis' guilty torments without stinting on his cowardice and self-regard.

Meanwhile, Denise Gough, bitterly anguished as Harper, the Valium-addicted wife of a closeted Mormon legal clerk, wanders desolately through her consoling fantasies  and into the dreams of the increasingly sick and medicated Prior. Her husband, Joseph (Russell Tovey), becomes the protege of Nathan Lane's monstrous Cohn, and tremulously finds his way into Louis' bed.

Susan Brown brings compassion and the desolation of a life lived in crushing loneliness to the role of Hannah, Joseph's emotionally repressed mother. She's also a scary, steely presence as the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg, hovering vengefully beside the deathbed of Cohn, who sent her to the chair. Lane is as repulsive as he is horribly entertaining, in full-throated denial of his own homosexuality while eyeing Joseph and murmuring "delectable," and greedily hoarding AZT for a disease he insists (as did the real Cohn) on labeling "liver cancer." The scenes in which he's cared for by Nathan Stewart-Jarrett's Belize  an exquisitely regal nurse and former drag queen  are brutally funny and fiercely moving.

Belize is clearly a ministering angel of sorts  but what about the celestial being who crashes through Prior's ceiling, declaring him a prophet? Here, played by the elfin Amanda Lawrence, she's a scraggly creature, her fluffy white hair like the feathers of a molting bald eagle, a rotting flag wrapped around her hips, her huge, tatty, articulated wings manipulated by a gaggle of insectlike creatures in black that scurry around her filthy feet.

Truth be told, her first appearance  in the tumultuous closing minutes of "Millennium Approaches"  doesn't seem quite the awesome, wondrous climax it should. But she's entirely in keeping with the production's aesthetic, and there's adroit wit in the movement and puppetry in "Perestroika," as she wrestles with the wide-eyed Prior, or heads a team of inky-winged angelic administrators in a heaven that's reached via a glowing ladder. And she's the motif of nearly eight sprawling hours of rich, provocative, thrilling theater. It's gloriously imperfect  and it's transporting.

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"Angels in America" is at the National Theatre, London; more at www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. "Millennium Approaches" will be broadcast internationally as part of NT Live on July 20; "Perestroika" on July 27; including at select cinemas in Chicago and Evanston; details at http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk.

Sam Marlowe is a freelance writer.

ctc-arts@chicagotribune.com

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Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation and Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the James Beard Awards in Chicago on Monday, May 1, 2017. Ungaro hosted a panel talking about how Chicago can build its global-city status using its culinary soft power on Sunday. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Last Sunday night, a group of America's most prominent chefs, restaurateurs and marketing executives gathered at Vermilion, the remarkable River North restaurant renowned for owner Rohini Dey's fusion of Indian and Latin American cuisine. The James Beard Foundation Awards  the Oscars of the culinary arts  were to be presented the following night. Monday would be for the winners (and losers). But this event, helmed by Susan Ungaro, the foundation's president, was a night for deep thinking, lubricated by some of Vermilion's signature cocktails.

The announced topic: How does Chicago build its global-city status using its "culinary soft power"?

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It was a fascinating and revealing night, but not for the reasons you might think.

The Second City has a preoccupation with the phrase "global city" because it constantly worries that it is not sufficiently thought of as one, even though the obvious global cities (London, Paris, New York) rarely use the term. It also implies a binary where none exists: presumably, the alternative is "provincial," or maybe "hicksville," neither of which anyone actually claims. Still, marketing is important in our competitive world and Chicago has a food scene that is the envy of the vast majority of the planet. So stipulated.

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And what is "culinary soft power?" It's not a reference to the texture of what's on your plate, despite the implication. It's a buzzword that references the use of culture (in this case, restaurants, but you can apply it just as well to rock bands or art museums or theaters) to gain economic benefit, political influence, international prestige and, well, power. It's related to what's been called "gastrodiplomacy."

It's not that hard to understand on a national level: The government of Thailand, for example, has put public money behind the promotion of Thai restaurants on the grounds that every time you eat Thai food you interact with Thailand's national identity, and that as a massaman curry disappears into your mouth, you probably love Thailand, and want to visit or help Thailand, in that moment a whole lot more than when you are chomping on a bratwurst.

It strikes me as a bit trickier to pull off on the level of a particular city  and, believe me, no one at Vermilion, especially not the Chicago tourism chief David Whitaker, was talking about leveraging the cultural soft power of dipped Italian beef or deep-dish anything. Boil down the topic and it really meant, "How does Chicago leverage all of its really great restaurants?"

A good question.

But since the panel was full of really smart people  famous chef/entrepreneurs/personalities such as Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel, chef Daniel Boulud, restaurateur Stephen Starr and Dey herself  the conversation inevitably simmered around the actual source of the power.

As with all of the arts, the gastronomic world reflects the divide between the populists and progressives who argue that the culinary soul of any city is found in its street food (the culinary equivalent of folk art or street theater) and the high-art denizens who just as forcefully insist that to practice a craft at its highest level, and thus gain the most respect from your peers and audience, you must receive long and arduous schooling in the craft.

Street food is hot (Zimmern hosts a show called "Bizarre Foods") and a lot of chefs, especially the balder, burlier males, fashion themselves as Anthony Bourdain-like explorers, leading you through strange, dangerous, primal and rewarding worlds.

That's exactly how this panel went down, as everyone argued over which city had the best street food (Delhi or Singapore?), only for Boulud, surely reflecting the French school of haute cuisine, to butt in and note that while that was all very well, the best chefs had sweated for years learning from the masters.

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That argument wasn't solvable here, and nor was another that arose.

Can a restaurant be said to just be three Michelin stars or zero, good or bad  in the way that a movie either is Oscar-worthy or not at all?

Yes, you might say. Much of the criteria are the same. On the other hand, we all consume meals far more individually than we do the other art forms. Who is to say that, for the guy in the market in Shanghai, that familiar stall with the bones and the broth isn't a better experience than Vermilion would be?

Eventually, the microphone passed to a woman in the audience. She had to make herself heard over the comments of Julian Niccolini, the famously controversial co-owner of The Four Seasons in New York.

Her name is JoAnn Clevenger. A James Beard nominee, Clevenger is the owner of the Upperline restaurant in New Orleans which she has run since 1983 (she has lived in the French Quarter since the 1950s). Clevenger is famous in Louisiana and beyond for her one-on-one hospitality.

"A great restaurant," she said, as all the men finally stopped talking, "must be restorative."

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(Hence the word itself).

In that moment  and a little later, when Clevenger explained her ideas to me in more detail  this seemed quite the radical point of view. Clevenger was preaching the precise opposite of the topic of the panel. She was uninterested in global cities or culinary soft power, but saw her profession as really all about bringing people back to a place of equilibrium after a really tough day.

And most of our days are tough.

It's not about being entertained or blown away by a chef's artistry or innovation, she said, but about being restored, as surely as if you had been to a therapist or the emergency room.

She also said that it's not about finding a joint where they know your name, but about how they treat you when they don't know your name.

She repeated her mantra: "restoration."

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At that point, one of Dey's servers came by. Earlier in the night, as I stood watching the panel, this same server told me to wake up. I had obliged. A little later, she asked if I was doing all right and told me I looked tired.

"Restoration," the server said, and went about her business.

As I was leaving, I asked the server for her name. She said it was Gina Riley. I asked if she agreed with what Clevenger had to say. She laughed.

"You know what we are, and by we I mean your waitstaff and barstaff, the people who were not being asked to speak up there?" she asked. "We are your first responders."

In the case of Riley, a very fine one. And with that, the server and bartender went back to work.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

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cjones5@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ChrisJonesTrib

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The House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday that would eliminate key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, a law that was adopted in 2010 and one of President Barack Obama's signature achievements.

Here is some of the reaction to passage of the GOP bill:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

"Ultraconservatives in Washington have pushed through the House an unconscionable piece of legislation that threatens to tear apart our health care system. Far from improving our health care, the Republican plan will strip millions of Americans of their coverage, raise costs for the sick, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions, and penalize progressive states that protect the rights of women.

"Sadly, some representatives in New York have sold their vote and turned their backs on the very constituents they represent. This bill is a targeted assault against our values, punishing New Yorkers because we support women's reproductive rights and including the Collins/Faso amendment which would devastate the states health care industry, put millions of New Yorkers at risk, and increase the total cost of this bill on New York to $6.9 billion.

"Despite the vocal opposition of the American people, radical conservative ideologues are still advancing a disastrous bill. I urge all Americans to call their Senators and tell them to stand with the people they represent by voting no on this reprehensible legislation."

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie

Today the United States House of Representatives voted to strip our nations most vulnerable citizens of the basic protections that they have come to depend on under the Affordable Care Act. Their plan would raise premium costs for the elderly, allow discrimination against individuals with pre-existing conditions, and threaten the accessibility of the essential reproductive healthcare that millions of women, particularly low income women depend on.

While many lawmakers in Washington try to fool Americans into believing this bill will offer millions of dollars in savings, the sad fact is that those savings will only be for millionaires. Their narrow victory represents a tremendous loss for New Yorkers and Americans alike, and we must continue to be outspoken advocates for our healthcare. We must now all call upon the United States Senate to do what is right for Americans and worry less about insurance companies and millionaires.

Regardless of the outcome of this atrocious bill in the Senate, the New York State Assembly will continue to fight to protect the care that New Yorkers so desperately need and deserve.

Robin Chappelle Golston, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York State

A vote for the AHCA is a vote against everything we are supposed to stand for as a country, said Robin Chappelle Golston, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York State. Shame on those congressional members who chose politics over peoples health and turned their backs on their communities, all for a misguided campaign promise.

New York Nurses Association Treasurer Pat Kane

"The 'Yes' votes in the House of Representatives today, passing the American Health Care Act, constitute an appalling setback for the nation. This vote will go down in history as a defeat for patients across the country, as they will receive less care and get sicker if it becomes law. As nurses we must express our outrage at this assault on the public's health and overwhelming concern for the future of our communities. We will fight for the defeat of the AHCA in the Senate and for any and all attempts at keeping quality care from our patients, said Pat Kane, RN, Treasurer, New York State Nurses Association.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

The healthcare bill passed today by House Republicans is a threat to the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers. In addition to the devastating impact this bill would have on every New Yorkers access to affordable healthcare, the legislation that passed the House today is unconstitutional in several critical respectsand I stand ready to challenge it in court.

First, House Republicans attempt to effectively deny women access to reproductive healthcare services is a cruel and unconstitutional attack on womens rights - especially the most vulnerable.

Further, the Collins-Faso Amendment is a cynical ploy by House Republican leadership and President Trump that exceeds Congresss authority by interfering with how New York has long elected to fund its Medicaid program.

This bill threatens to slash essential healthcare services for millions of New Yorkers who need them the most.

For these reasons, if this disastrous and unconstitutional healthcare bill is ultimately signed into law, I will challenge it in court.

National Health Law Program Executive Director Elizabeth Taylor

The measure approved by the House is austerity run amok, Taylor said. If allowed to stand it will result in millions losing access to vital health care coverage, including the most underserved individuals and populations in this country. The president did not campaign on wrecking the health care system; indeed he loudly claimed no one would lose health care coverage under his plan.

Mara Youdelman, managing attorney of National Health Law Program's Washington office

The AHCA is a deeply flawed measure that disproportionately harms the most vulnerable among us to pay for policies that coddle the wealthy and big business. Slashing $840 billion from Medicaid funding will decimate a program vital to the health of women, people of color, people living disabilities, people with pre-existing conditions, and people seeking care for substance use disorders. All of us will be harmed  including our state economies  by reverting to days when access to health care was restricted and insurers were permitted to reap great rewards at the cost of consumers from all walks of life.

Communications Workers of America President Chris Shelton

Todays vote told us everything we need to know about the Republican members of the House of Representatives who supported this bill. They voted to strip basic health care protections from working families and allow insurance companies to sell health care plans that dont cover essential care or necessary treatment, like chemotherapy.

They voted to allow the states to do away with coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. That means premium costs for the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions would explode. Millions more would find it impossible to obtain health care at any price.

This isnt a health care bill, its a half a billion dollar tax cut for corporations, insurance executives and the wealthiest Americans. At least 24 million people will lose their health care and Americans age 50 and older will see their costs skyrocket under the age tax the bill institutes, all to provide a big tax break for corporations and the wealthy. Union members fortunate enough to keep their coverage will be punished with higher costs under the Cadillac tax that Republicans left in place. Thousands of members of my union and other health care workers will lose their jobs.

This legislation is built on lies, and the American people know it. Come Election 2018, many Republican House members will realize how badly they miscalculated today. The House leadership and the Republican members who supported this bill ignored their constituents and they will pay the price. We expect that members of the U.S. Senate wont make the same mistake.

U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice

The Republican health care bill was awful in March, and the version that passed today is even worse. It still completely decimates Medicaid to finance a huge tax cut for the rich, it still increases costs on seniors, and its still an attack on women that would de-fund Planned Parenthood. Now, it also allows insurers to discriminate against people with preexisting conditions, and it allows states to opt out of essential health benefit requirements for things like maternity care and drug addiction treatment.

House Republicans rushed to pass this bill before anyone could know how many more people would lose coverage  just to fulfill a campaign promise, give President Trump a so-called win, and dump this disaster off on the Senate. Some members even admitted that theyd vote for it just so the Senate can change it and send back a completely different bill. Todays vote was a win for the wealthy and the Washington way of doing business, and a devastating loss for everyone else in America.

My constituents spoke out emphatically against this bill, and I will keep fighting to defeat this effort and advance real solutions that will actually make health care more affordable for everyone. We may have lost today, but our fight will continue.

Megan McLemore, senior health researcher at Human Rights Watch

The American Health Care Act, if enacted, would be a devastating setback for access to health care for those who can least afford it. The attacks on Medicaid alone  cuts in funding, turning it over to the states, and ending expansion  will harm millions of low-income and older people and those living with disabilities by reducing coverage and quality of care. Eliminating Medicaid reimbursement for Planned Parenthood will hurt millions of women who depend on Planned Parenthood for a range of health services, from cancer screenings to services after sexual assault. Weakening protection for pre-existing conditions will place the health, well-being, and the lives of millions of the most vulnerable Americans at risk. Doing away with requirements that both private insurers and Medicaid cover  essential benefits such as mental health care (including drug treatment) and preventive services  will harm individuals, families, and communities. Make no mistake: lives will be lost, and we call upon the Senate to reject this legislation as an unacceptable attack on the right to health care and services for all, particularly those who need it most.

MomsRising.org CEO and Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner

The vote today in the House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is irresponsible, damaging and a shameful instance of lawmakers putting partisan interests ahead of the countrys interests. The bill the House passed would take coverage away from 24 million people, decimate our nations cherished Medicaid program, and gut protections for those with pre-existing conditions. It would make health insurance less affordable, less accessible and less comprehensive for the families that need it most. It is nothing less than an assault on our health. Moms demand that the Senate reject this bill.

The MacArthur and Upton amendments made a bad bill even worse than the version considered in March, when House leadership couldnt garner enough support to bring it to a vote. These amendments would allow states to opt out of requiring insurance providers to cover essential health benefits and offer coverage to people with pre-existing conditions at a reasonable price. In addition, about half of the countryincluding those on employer planscould lose protections that limit out-of-pocket costs for catastrophic illnesses. This will bring us back to the pre-ACA days when people went bankrupt because of medical bills, insurance companies didnt have to cover the care people need most, and women and people with pre-existing conditions could be charged more for coverage.

The worst components of the original bill remain and the amendments just made this terrible bill worse. The bill still defunds Planned Parenthood, cutting off essential preventive services to millions of people. It still would lead to higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs, especially for seniors. And it still guts Medicaid, which would cause states to ration care for some of the most vulnerable people in our country: Black, Latinx, Asian, Native American, LGBTQ+, and middle to low-income families; as well as pregnant women, people with disabilities, rural communities, and the elderly.

In the past several months, thousands and thousands of MomsRising members have called, testified, signed petitions, and written letters urging members of Congress to do whats best for the country by protecting and improving the ACA rather than repealing it. Every representative who voted for this bill prioritized a partisan political agenda over the health and wellbeing of constituents. Its now up to the Senate to reject this destructive bill and protect health care for moms and their families.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver

"The vote to repeal ObamaCare and defund Planned Parenthood is a victory for the American people," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "A few days ago, Senate Democratic leaders said with excitement that they had defeated President Trump's agenda. Today, those same people are sad puppies. Obama's so-called legacy is melting before our eyes," said Staver.

"Going forward, the Senate Republican leadership must do away with the filibuster rule. It makes no sense to need 60 votes to pass legislation. The only possible sense in having a filibuster is to temporarily delay a vote to have more time to consider the bill. But to allow a filibuster to permanently block a vote makes no sense. Fortunately, today's action by the House is not subject to the filibuster rule in the Senate," said Staver.

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

"The Republican health care bill is reckless and damaging for our nation and for New York.The bill means far fewer New Yorkers would have insurance, penalizes those who suffer from pre-existing conditions and potentially punches a big hole in our state budget. Members voted for this disastrous bill without knowing its true cost and impact, leaving millions of Americans behind with no options. New Yorkers deserve better from Washington.

Citizen Action of New York Executive Director Karen Scharff

House Republicans just proved that their only concern is satisfying their wealthy donors no matter the cost to their constituents. Trumpcare will strip millions of people of health coverage, bankrupt families and make it harder for people to get the medical care they need. Members of Congress like Faso, Tenney, and Stefanik had a chance to stop it, but they chose tax cuts for the wealthy over health care for their constituents.

When Donald Trump and Republican leadership tried to pass the American Health Care Act in March, it was soundly rejected. Working families arent happy with the idea of taking away health coverage from 24 million people, giving huge tax cuts to the super-rich, and big kickbacks to insurance executives. Despite hearing from hundreds of thousands of constituents urging them to drop this plan, Republicans passed a bill that hurts, even more, people than the original.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Ben Ray Lujan

Representative Tenney just voted to increase your health insurance premiums and deductibles, toss 24 million Americans off of their insurance, and to slap you with an age tax if youre age 50 to 64  and robbed Medicare while doing it. If thats not bad enough, Tenney also voted to let health insurance companies charge you more if you have a preexisting condition. That means if you, your kids, or your parents are sick with cancer, diabetes or any other illness, insurance will not be affordable.

Make no mistake about it: Tenney must face the music, look her constituents in the eye, and answer for the mess she created. There is no question that this bill will cause incredible pain for hardworking Americans, particularly those fighting to make ends meet, and this vote will haunt Tenney through Election Day.

Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice

The passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) in the House is a dangerous and irresponsible step that threatens access to healthcare for at least 24 million Americans. It violates Christian and Catholic faith teaching and the values of our nation.

The AHCA cuts $880 billion from Medicaid to give large tax cuts to the very wealthiest. This is far from the Gospel mandate to care for our most vulnerable sisters and brothers. It takes away access to healthcare for the most vulnerable and widens the gaps in inequality in our society. This vote was a vote against the millions of children, elderly, people living with disabilities, and people experiencing poverty who are supported by Medicaid.

In order to appease the Freedom Caucus, the bill was amended to strip crucial protections for the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. The recent changes also gutted the Essential Health Benefit requirements that have expanded access to real, quality, health coverage. Despite these drastic changes, Congress rushed this terrible policy through without a Congressional Budget Office score to know the true consequences and without listening to the needs of the American people, who overwhelmingly oppose the AHCA.

This was not the faithful way forward. We are hurting our people and rewarding the rich through tax breaks disguised as a healthcare reform bill. This is literal blood money. The blood of those who are denied coverage will be on the hands of those who voted for this bill.

NETWORK published our 10 Commandments of Healthcare Reform based on our faith teaching to protect the most vulnerable. The bill that Speaker Ryan pushed through Congress today fails every single commandment. This is not faithful.

The Republican party must change its priorities. Rather than preferencing the millionaires and billionaires, they need to begin to listen to their ordinary constituents. Ordinary people want to improve the healthcare we have, not destroy it.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

The Trump health care bill that passed today on a party-line vote is atrocious and must be defeated in the Senate. Health care shouldnt be about politics  it is about people  and this bill would harm people. The only beneficiaries of this bill are big insurance companies and the wealthiest among us, with the price tag being paid by everyone else through higher premiums, less coverage, and millions of vulnerable Americans losing their insurance.

- Older Americans will be forced to pay more for their health care through an age tax that lets insurance companies charge those aged 50-64 higher premiums.

- Up to 24 million Americans with insurance today could lose that coverage.

- Individuals with pre-existing conditions could lose their protections against premium discrimination granted under Obamacare.

Obamacare isnt perfect. Health insurance is still too costly for most Americans, and Congress should fix that. There are two ways to do that. Subsidize insurance companies further with taxpayer dollars or create a not-for-profit public option that cuts insurance companies and their profits out of the equation to lower premiums, drug prices, and out-of-pocket costs for everyone. I believe we should fight for that public option  but until then, I will work as hard as I can to defeat this misguided and purely political effort that will hurt New York families.

Priorities USA Chairman Guy Cecil

TrumpCare is so heartless and ill-considered that it calls into question why these members of Congress entered public service in the first place. House Republicans just voted to shred the guarantee of coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions and gut funding for Medicaid in exchange for tax cuts for millionaires and insurance companies  and its imperative that they be held accountable. Priorities will work relentlessly to inform voters of their representatives support of the bill, which our research has shown will be deeply harmful to their re-election prospects in 2018, as well as to ensure it remains an issue for upcoming Senate and Governor races.

Greater New York Hospital Association President Kenneth Raske

217 House members voted for the AHCA today with the full knowledge that they were voting to strip health insurance from tens of millions of Americans and wreck many state budgets. The Congressional Budget Office previously estimated that the AHCA would cut Federal Medicaid spending by nearly $840 billion. With health care representing one-fifth of the US economy, do they think this cut wont harm the overall economy?

Hospitals and health systems are the largest employer in community after community across the United States. What will those who voted for the AHCA say to their constituents when the AHCA causes health care jobs in their districts to disappear?

The worst health care bill in American history now goes to the Senate. The hospital community will continue to aggressively oppose it for the sake of our patients and employees.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner

Todays vote is a disappointing action. More than 75,000 people in the Syracuse area are reliant on the Affordable Care Act for their health coverage: these are our neighbors, our friends, and our family members who have struggled to make ends meet and pay for expensive healthcare costs. This bill lacks both reason and compassion, jeopardizing the access to care for millions of Americans who have pre-existing conditions.

By passing the AHCA without waiting for the Congressional Budget Office to evaluate its impacts on coverage or the federal budget, congressional Republicans have chosen political expediency over sound public policy. It is my hope that the U.S. Senate does not follow their lead does not take this destructive bill up for a vote.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik

Throughout this process, I have worked to make sure our district has had a seat at the table. I have kept one of my first promises that I made to you, which is that any law we pass applies to Members of Congress just as it would any citizen. Thats why Ive coauthored successful legislation to ensure that Congress lives by the same rules in this bill as everyone else. I have also worked to have additional funding added for maternity care and language included to reduce the Medicaid mandate on our local counties.

The American Health Care Act is not perfect, but it is an important step in reforming our broken healthcare system to help families in our district. As this legislation moves to the Senate, I will continue to work to strengthen the support for those with pre-existing conditions.

This House vote is the first step in a long legislative process. I am committed to achieving a 21st century healthcare system that lowers costs, improves access and increases quality for hard working North Country families.
Three Chicago-area couples who got legally married upon meeting explored their personality differences on Thursday's episode of "Married at First Sight."

Nate Duhon, 26, and Sheila Downs, 31, seemed to be at odds after falling off their fast jet ski while on their Caribbean honeymoon.

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"It is crazy because I wasn't expecting it, and I'm starting to get (expletive) off. I just want to take it slow, and Nate just has no, like, panic button," said Downs, who lives in Arlington Heights and works as a facility manager in Round Lake. "He's just so high energy, it's just too much."

The couple sought guidance from relationship specialist Rachel DeAlto and appeared to patch up their differences -- for now. A preview shows Duhon saying, "The future of our marriage is not looking too good."

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Duhon also revealed to Downs that he lives with his brother in Hyde Park, but she took that news in stride and they agreed to all live together.

Meanwhile, Ashley Petta's sister seemed to again get in the way of her marriage to Anthony D'Amico. The West Town marketing executive wanted to going kayaking on their Bahamas honeymoon, but Petta wasn't enthused. She said her sister Lauren told her about sharks in the water.

"I need to talk with this Lauren because she has already voiced her opinions when it comes to my marriage," said D'Amico, 33. "Letting family and friends really chime in on the relationship too much can be harmful to it. Just stay out of her head."

The relationship between Cody Knapek, 26, and Danielle DeGroot, 30, seemed to be smoother sailing, until Knapek admitted he has never been in love before.

Said DeGroot: "It worries me, because I want to build something real with him and it makes me also question if he takes love seriously as I do."

The fifth season of "Married at First Sight" airs 8 p.m. Thursdays on Lifetime. The couples have eight weeks after the wedding to decide if they will stay married.

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Bill Chunowitz, left, and Charlie Marino pose with Ronald McDonald at the charity's 40th anniversary gala April 22. See more photos from the event.

While the House was voting to dismantle the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, I was on the phone with Charlie Marino, the man responsible for bringing the first Ronald McDonald House to Chicago.

We didn't talk politics. I have no idea what his are, and I don't need to. His story is a reminder of the human capacity to recognize each other's pain, and to work like crazy to alleviate it.

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In 1975, Marino's daughter, Gage, was diagnosed with stage 4 leukemia. When Marino was 11, he watched his 4-year-old brother die from a similar diagnosis. But that was 1945, and medicine had advanced in 30 years to a place where leukemia wasn't an immediate death sentence.

Ed Baum, Gage's oncologist, told the Marinos they could try to save her life with a clinical trial that involved nine chemotherapy drugs plus radiation. She was 6 years old at the time.

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"As he put it, it was like trying to kill a mouse with an elephant drug," Marino said. "It was a horrific barrage. But we went with it because there was no other hope for her."

The treatments ravaged her immune system. She developed a lung condition that threatened to suffocate her. She spent months in the hospital, during which time the Marinos met families who traveled from all over the Midwest to see specialists at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital.

"We saw all these parents sleeping on chairs, living out of suitcases," Marino recalled. "We asked Dr. Baum, 'Has anyone ever thought of buying a house nearby where people can sleep?' He said, 'Oh, people have been talking about that for years.' "

The Marinos began hunting around Lincoln Park, where the hospital was located, for an inexpensive property. They were close to purchasing a three-bedroom cottage for around $35,000, but the deal fell through. A short time later, Baum told the Marinos about the new Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, where he'd recently traveled for a medical conference.

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Jim Murray had worked with McDonald's to raise money for a place to host families of kids with cancer after a player's daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. It opened in 1974.

The Marinos flew to Philadelphia to tour the house. "It was perfect," Marino said. "My wife said, 'You don't have to reinvent the wheel. We've seen what it needs to be. Just don't mess it up.'"

With help from Murray and Baum, the Marinos set to work raising money and hunting for a location. Chicagoland McDonald's Association President Bill Chunowitz committed to raising $150,000, Marino said, and a couple of dozen families volunteered to hunt down furniture, carpeting, fixtures, you name it.

They purchased the convent from St. Clement's Church at 622 W. Deming Place, which had 17 bedrooms, three kitchens, a laundry room and plenty of play spaces. It opened in 1977 bearing the name Ronald McDonald House  the second in the nation.

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Today there are close to 400 Ronald McDonald Houses in more than 60 countries.

"Charlie is the closest person you'll find to a saint," Dayle Morrissey told me.

"I'm surprised he's not canonized," added her husband, Richard Morrissey.

The Morrisseys were the first family to stay at the Deming Place Ronald McDonald House. Their baby girl, Kathey, was diagnosed with cancer at 10 months old. She went through two years of chemotherapy at Children's Memorial.

"She was such a young child, and we hated to leave her alone at the hospital," said Dayle Morrissey, who slept in the waiting room most nights  on the couch if it was free, on a chair if not. There was no place to shower.

"I was in the hallway one day, and Kathey's oncologist, Dr. Baum, said, 'Dayle, how would you like to stay at the Ronald McDonald House?' " she recalled. "I said, 'What's a Ronald McDonald House?' I had never heard of it. He said, 'Get your suitcase, and I'll walk you over there.' I'm telling you, it was wonderful."

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In addition to proximity, the house offered community.

"Back then, you really didn't hear about childhood cancer," Dayle Morrissey said. "You just felt so alone. So when the house opened and we could stay with other families and have a meal and talk about it, it really helped."

"You learn not to be proud," Richard Morrissey said. "You learn to ask for help, ask for prayers, ask for support. You get a sense of empathy you never even considered until you see a child diagnosed with cancer. It was very reassuring to be around people who could relate."

Kathey is now 42 and living in Minnesota.

"We're one of the lucky ones," Dayle Morrissey said. "We went through a lot to save her life, but she's here."

Gage Marino lived to be 35, when she died of stroke complications. She was an artist and a teacher.

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"We're very grateful," Charlie Marino said. "Gage got through three years of horrendous treatment and went on to live a very full life for 29 more years. It's not the happiest ending, but we're grateful for those 29 years of a very good life and the pleasure she gave my wife and myself."

Marino's wife, Jean Gage Marino, passed away in 2012.

The Morrisseys and Marino continue to donate time and money to Ronald McDonald House Charities, which relies heavily on volunteers.

"We couldn't do what we do every day if it wasn't for thousands of volunteers," Holly Buckendahl, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities, told me. "We had 41,000 people volunteer last year in some way, shape or form. We budget no money for food, so every night of the week there's a group that brings in a home-cooked meal."

Families volunteer to tackle household repairs, put up holiday decorations, shop for toiletries, bake desserts.

"Whatever you do in your house, we do in ours on a much larger scale," Buckendahl said. "Whatever talent and skills you think you have to offer, we can probably use."

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It's a brilliant, beautiful system, and I'm inspired by the resilience and generosity at the heart of its founding.

I'm awestruck by people like Charlie Marino who look beyond their own suffering  in the midst of their own suffering  and see other people's needs. Not just see their needs, but work to meet them.

Our conversation left me longing for a few more leaders  they're called public servants, after all  who display a similar capacity to care and the energy to turn that care into action.

We need look no further than Marino for an example of how it's done.

hstevens@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @heidistevens13

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Anthony Porter after his release from death row in 2003. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

Anthony Porter, a former death row inmate at the center of one of the most controversial wrongful conviction cases in Illinois history, failed to show at his scheduled deposition this week in a lawsuit alleging he was the real killer all along, according to a court filing Thursday.

Porter was ordered to give sworn testimony Monday in the bombshell case brought by Alstory Simon, who has accused Northwestern University, its former star professor David Protess and others of conspiring to free Porter and convict Simon for an infamous 1982 double murder.

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But Porter, who was served with a subpoena in April, was a no-show at the Loop law office where the deposition was supposed to take place, attorney Terry Ekl, who represents Simon, alleged in the court filing.

Ekl asked U.S. Magistrate Judge David Weisman to question Porter about the failure to appear and possibly hold him in contempt if he does not have a good excuse.

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According to court records, Porter has recently been staying at the Inner City Youth-Adult Foundation in the 4500 block of South Michigan Avenue.

Maurice Perkins, one of the charity's co-founders, told the Tribune that Porter missed his deposition because he'd been unable to secure a lawyer in time to accompany him. Perkins said Porter has been making ends meet by sweeping up at a nearby gas station.

"It's been hard for him, but Anthony is a survivor," Perkins said.

Porter was just one of several key players in the notorious case who have been ordered by the judge to give sworn testimony.

Former Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine, who in the wake of Protess' student-led investigation decided in 1999 to free Porter and prosecute Simon, is scheduled to give a video recorded deposition later this month, Ekl said Thursday.

Thomas Gainer, a former prosecutor under Devine who is now a criminal court judge, had been scheduled to testify next week, but that deposition has been postponed, Ekl said. Records show Gainer led the grand jury probe that ended in an indictment against Simon.

Protess taught investigative reporting at Northwestern's prestigious journalism school and founded the Medill Innocence Project, a key engine of the often successful local movement to unearth injustices.

He left the school in 2011 amid controversy over tactics allegedly employed by his students, including giving witnesses money for drugs, lying about their identities and flirting with witnesses.

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Simon's $40 million suit alleges Protess and private investigator Paul Ciolino manufactured bogus evidence, coaxed false statements from witnesses and intimidated Simon into confessing to the August 1982 murders of Jerry Hillard and Marilyn Green in a South Side park.

Northwestern, Protess and Ciolino are all fighting the allegations.

Porter, who at one point had come within days of execution for the murders, was still on death row at the time of the dramatic revelation that Simon had confessed on video to Ciolino.

Confronted with the video, prosecutors quickly agreed to Porter's release. Simon pleaded guilty to the slayings and tearfully apologized before a judge sentenced him to 37 years in prison.

Porter's release helped spur then-Gov. George Ryan to halt executions, a step toward the abolition of the death penalty in 2011.

But the case was again upended in 2014 when Cook County prosecutors agreed to throw out Simon's conviction, citing questions about the methods used to obtain his confession.

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In his lawsuit, Simon alleged Ciolino impersonated a police officer, showed him a video of an actor falsely claiming to have seen Simon fire the fatal shots and told Simon he could avoid the death penalty if he confessed to shooting the victims in self-defense.

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Ciolino also promised Simon legal representation and large sums of money from book and movie deals if he gave a statement, the suit alleged.

Porter, meanwhile, was awarded about $150,000 by the state in 2000 for his wrongful imprisonment and also was given a certificate of innocence. But his $24 million lawsuit against the city and two Chicago police detectives fizzled at trial when a Cook County jury sided with the police and awarded him no damages.

According to the court filing Tuesday, the investigator serving the subpoena on Porter found him April 11 "sweeping up the area in front of the gas station" at 47th Street and Michigan Avenue, two blocks from the foundation where he lives.

"He became very irate and refused to accept the subpoena," the investigator, James Delorto, wrote in his proof of service form. "He yelled obscenities at me and said he won't go to a deposition."

Ekl said Porter could be arrested if Weisman orders him to appear in court and he fails to show up.

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The first clue to who might want Michael Smith dead was found lying next to his bullet-riddled body.

Tucked inside the pocket of Smith's suit coat was a subpoena for him to testify at the trial of Comfort Robinson, a career criminal who, if convicted, faced a 30-year prison sentence on a gun charge.

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Robinson had been set to go on trial before a judge that morning, Jan. 27, 2016, for an incident inside a Chicago nightclub where Smith worked as a security guard.

Unexpectedly, as Smith sat ready to testify, Robinson asked for a trial by jury, delaying his case.

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Smith walked out of the courthouse shortly after 11 a.m. and headed home for lunch with his wife and child. An hour later, he was dead. A gunman fired nine rounds into Smith in front of his suburban Chicago home as his 3-year-old son stood along the kitchen window. Bullets ripped into Smith's head, neck, chest and pelvis.

Prosecutors said Robinson, a high-ranking gang member and drug dealer, orchestrated Smith's killing while out on bond, hoping to derail the gun case against him by murdering the state's key witness.

Robinson had been free for months after a cousin put up $20,000 toward his bail, even though he had allegedly threatened to kill Smith and others at the nightclub, had a criminal arrest record that spans more than two decades and had served time in state prison for robbery, drug dealing and multiple weapons charges.

His case illustrates how the state's bond system has become a revolving door for the defendants who pose the greatest threat to public safety: violent gang members arrested on gun charges.

While police and politicians have pressed for harsher prison sentences for those convicted of gun crimes, too often those arrested multiple times on felony weapons charges cycle in and out of jail before their trials, easily posting bond with suspected gang money, only to commit new crimes long before their original case is resolved.

A Tribune analysis of five years of booking data at Cook County Jail found that at least 1 in 10 of those who were arrested and bonded out on gun charges committed serious crimes within a year  then bonded out of jail yet again. The vast majority of suspects were arrested on new gun charges.

The analysis also found that gang members facing felony gun charges often had little problem coming up with the cash to get out of jail, while nonviolent thieves and others languished behind bars, unable to post much lower bonds.

And prosecutors rarely ask where the money came from. By contrast, in major drug cases, they routinely request hearings to determine the source of bail money.

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A Tribune review of 50 gun cases from 2012 through 2016 with the highest bond amounts uncovered four instances in which tens of thousands of dollars were posted by people who had recently filed for bankruptcy, and one instance in which a relative said $20,000 in bond money came from recent casino winnings.

Now, one lawmaker is pressing for change.

State Sen. Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, this year introduced a bill that would allow for a defendant to be held without bail in a variety of gun crimes if, after a court hearing, a judge determines that releasing the defendant back into the community would create "a real and present threat" to public safety.

Cunningham's legislation could deny bond to violent felons and gang members charged with possessing a gun, and to armed habitual criminals  those picked up on a new gun charge and who have at least two prior felony convictions for violent, drug or weapons offenses.

"It would slow down at least, or perhaps stop, the revolving door effect of violent gun offenders being released back to the streets and committing new crimes," Cunningham said. "Violent individuals need to remain behind bars."

Cunningham's bill, which unanimously passed the Senate on Friday and now heads to the House, came at the request of Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who runs one of the nation's largest jails and has seen defendants with lengthy criminal histories cycle in and out of incarceration.

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Dart said his office found that about 1 out of every 4 defendants facing gun charges in 2016 bonded out of jail within 45 days. He said high bond amounts, like that set for Robinson, are not a deterrent to organized gangs.

"If nothing else, this sort of shows you the insanity of the system," Dart said, speaking about the Robinson case. "This speaks louder than anything that certain people, based on the charges, shouldn't be out."

Sam Adam Jr., a defense lawyer who represented Robinson on the nightclub gun case, said his client was entitled to have bail set under current laws. A judge set Robinson's bail at $200,000. But to get out of jail, typically only 10 percent of that is paid.

"Just because you are charged with something doesn't mean you are to be held without bail," Adam said. "You have a gun case where no one is hurt and it's set at $200,000. That's a significant bond. I don't want anybody in a nightclub with a gun. But you can't set aside the Constitution because you don't like the guy."

Many legal experts say the cash bond system distorts the delicate balance judges must strike between granting personal liberty and ensuring public safety  that it allows dangerous people with access to cash out on the street, while keeping poor nonviolent defendants behind bars, where they are effectively punished before being convicted of a crime.

Other jurisdictions are pushing for reform. California, Colorado, Kentucky, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., have sharply curtailed the use of bail or have taken steps in that direction. Experts said the changes eliminate some of the bias in the system.

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"There are some people who should be detained," said Stephen Saltzburg, a criminal law expert who teaches at George Washington University Law School. "For almost everybody, you can make a call: This person should be released, or this person should be detained. Money should have nothing to do with it. An ability to pay should have nothing to do with who is released."

Big Mike

Michael Edmund Smith, 33, was an imposing figure. Known as "Big Mike," his 6-foot-3-inch, 372-pound body belied his gentle nature and contagious smile, his friends said. He lived with his wife and son in a one-story apartment complex on a secluded street in west suburban Brookfield, just a few wooded blocks south of the Brookfield Zoo.

"He was a big, intimidating guy. But he could make small talk to anyone and leave a smile on their face," said Michael Leinartas, a friend since childhood.

Leinartas said Smith was artistic and would make detailed drawings of comic book superheroes like Batman and dreamed of one day working as a comic book artist. He said that after they graduated in 2001 from Oak Park and River Forest High School, Smith struggled to find his way. Smith took classes at Triton College in River Grove, Leinartas said, and drove a delivery van before taking a job with Advanced Security Solutions, a private security company in north suburban Des Plaines.

"When he settled into the security job, he stopped with the fantasy stuff," Leinartas said. "He seemed to be a lot more grounded."

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Smith was proud of his work as a security guard. Leinartas said Smith regaled him with a story about his exploits in assisting Chicago police after a party bus shooting in December 2015. Smith, who was working security in the area, jumped into the street and the bus's path while another security guard summoned police.

"He had the impression that the (police) were very happy with what he'd done in the situation," Leinartas said. "He reported that one officer said something to the effect of, 'You're good enough to be one of us,' which, I'm sure, was music to his ears."

An ominous encounter

On March 8, 2015, Smith was working security inside The Shrine nightclub when his path crossed that of Comfort K. Robinson. The Shrine, a troubled hip-hop club in the South Loop that is now closed, was a magnet for armed gang members.

Security guards threw Robinson out of the club after, they said, he urinated on the dance floor. Police reports and court records state that once outside the club, Robinson pulled out a loaded 9 mm Sturm Ruger handgun and "threatened to kill everyone involved in his arrest."

Chicago police quickly arrived and took Robinson into custody as an armed habitual criminal. Police, in their report, noted that Robinson was a member of the Conservative Vice Lords, one of the oldest and largest gangs in Chicago.

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The next day, Robinson was in bond court, where he would learn how much money he needed to get out of jail.

Bond is meant to ensure that a defendant appears in court as his case winds through the criminal justice system. Typically, the more serious the charge the higher the bond amount.

Under some circumstances, a defendant can be held without bond if a judge determines there is too great a risk that the accused will not appear in court, or if the defendant is seen as a threat to public safety.

Robinson's rap sheet shows a tortuous life of crime with 34 arrests and a dozen convictions  including four prior firearms convictions. The judge set Robinson's bond at $200,000. But to get out of jail, he did not need the full amount. State law allows him to put up 10 percent, or $20,000.

Three days after the incident at The Shrine, Robinson was back on the streets. Bond records show that Yahonest Fields, a cousin of Robinson's, posted the money. Fields declined to comment.

Although he was free on bond, Robinson still faced the daunting prospect of a trial that could cost him a lengthy prison sentence.

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Standing between Robinson and freedom was Smith, who had signed the police complaint and was expected to testify about what happened that night at The Shrine.

Robinson hired a rival gang member to do the killing, according to prosecutors. They said Robinson chose Jermaine Douglas, a Gangster Disciple, hoping to "throw off police because they would have no prior contact."

The price tag for Smith's life? $10,000, prosecutors say.

On Jan. 15, 2016, according to court records, Douglas posted on his Facebook page: "I done some bad things in my life I promise someone that I love very much that I will never go back to being that person but for bro I'm gone make an exception."

On Jan. 21, in the early morning hours, Douglas was in Smith's Brookfield neighborhood, according to cellphone records obtained by law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors allege Douglas was scouting the area.

Meanwhile, Robinson's gun trial was set to start Jan. 27. As Robinson drove to the courthouse that morning from his south suburban Matteson home, Douglas sent him a text message and called him, according to records.

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Shortly before 10 a.m., Robinson walked into Courtroom 202 at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Smith was there and ready to testify.

Robinson, however, announced that he had changed his mind. He no longer wanted a bench trial and wanted a jury to determine his fate, a last-minute change that would delay the case.

Judge Charles Burns told Smith he would have to return to court at a later date. "I apologize. The case is not going today," the judge said, according to a transcript of the proceedings. "The defendant is now asking for a jury trial."

As he drove home, Smith was being followed. Street cameras along the route he took captured a blue Hyundai trailing his movements, according to court records. On his way home, Smith stopped to buy a couple of slices of pizza to share with his wife and son at lunch.

Shortly before noon and minutes before Smith arrived home, Douglas met with another Robinson associate, DeJuyon Johnican, in the parking lot of a nearby White Castle restaurant. Johnican's cousin is married to Robinson, and Johnican was with him the night of the incident at The Shrine.

During the White Castle meeting, prosecutors allege in court records, Johnican gave Douglas money for the hit and a handgun.

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Smith's daily habit was to park his car in front of his yellow-brick apartment building rather than pulling into the lot behind it. A neighbor, who asked not to be identified because of safety concerns, said Smith sometimes sat in his car for as long as 30 to 40 minutes before heading inside. His reason for doing so was not known.

Smith, unaware he had been followed home, sat in his car watching an animated video on his cellphone.

The neighbor was in his garage working on a vehicle when he heard the revving engine of a speeding car. He said he heard someone shouting and cursing. That was followed by two gunshots, a pause, and then several more shots. The neighbor said he looked out his garage door and saw a dark-colored vehicle speed off. He called 911 and then ran to the car, finding Smith slumped behind the wheel of his silver 1998 Mercury Marquis.

As the blue Hyundai sped away, Smith's wife came running out of the house. His son had been looking out the window, waiting for his father when the shooting unfolded.

That evening, Johnican used his cellphone to read an online story published by the Chicago Tribune about Smith's killing, according to court records.

It was the first homicide in Brookfield since 2010.

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A trail of evidence

Brookfield police, assisted by the FBI and other police agencies, launched what would become a 10-month investigation.

Law enforcement authorities gathered cellphone records that showed numerous calls and text messages among Robinson, Johnican and Douglas before and after Smith's slaying, court records show. Police said the blue Hyundai was owned by Douglas' girlfriend.

Chicago police apprehended Douglas, 25, on Nov. 15 after a chase that ended with Douglas crashing his car. That same day, police arrested Johnican, 30, without incident near his west suburban home in Broadview. Robinson, 40, was arrested Nov.18 and held without bond.

Days later, Robinson was back in court asking that his bond be reduced. Prosecutors objected, arguing he was dangerous and should be kept behind bars.

Assistant State's Attorney Dan Groth spelled out the details of Smith's killing and Robinson's alleged involvement  Smith's role as a witness, the numerous phone calls and text messages between the defendants, and Robinson's criminal past. He said Robinson had forfeited bond at least six times previously.

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"Judge, we are asking for a mandatory no bail here because of the predatory, the calculated nature of this crime, especially a murder-for-hire of a state witness as the defendant was awaiting trial as an armed habitual criminal," Groth said, according to a transcript of the hearing.

Judge James Brown disagreed. While acknowledging the state's concerns about Robinson, he noted that one of Robinson's co-defendants, Johnican, had bail set at $250,000.

"I don't think it's a no-bail situation considering the co-defendant  has been given bond of $250,000," Brown said, according to transcripts. "I think that's an appropriate bond in this case."

Court records show that Fields, Robinson's cousin who had posted his bond previously, wrote a check for $25,000. As a condition of his release, Robinson was to have no contact "with the deceased victim's family."

On Nov. 23, Robinson was back on the streets, but his freedom would not last long.

Days later, prosecutors, reiterating the seriousness of the killing of a state's witness, hustled back into court seeking a new hearing on their request. This time, a different judge agreed that both Johnican and Robinson should be held in Cook County Jail without bail. Douglas, the shooting suspect, was already being held with no bail.

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Records show Robinson was back in custody by Dec. 12, charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder along with his co-defendants. It was the 16th time Robinson had been booked into the jail.

Groth declined to comment. Judge Brown did not respond to multiple messages left with his office.

Johnican, who prosecutors said has two previous felony convictions, denied any role in Smith's killing. In a jailhouse interview with the Tribune, Johnican claimed that evidence against him was fabricated or misinterpreted by police. He said the security video that shows him near the crime scene on the day of the killing, as well as interacting with other accused people, has been misconstrued.

Johnican said he was at the White Castle restaurant that day to sell drugs  not as part of some murder plot. He said he sensed something was wrong and drove off without making the deal. He said he has never seen Douglas before.

"Pretty much, they got me tied into something I didn't have nothing to do with," Johnican said. "They said they had proof of something that never happened."

Robinson and Douglas did not respond to messages seeking comment.

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Smith's widow declined to comment for this article, saying in a text message that the family was concerned for its safety and referring questions to police.

Police and prosecutors declined to discuss many details of the investigation but said they were outraged by Smith's slaying.

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"This was a brazen act of extreme violence in a peaceful community. Pure evil taking the innocent life of a devoted husband and father," said Brookfield police Deputy Chief Ed Petrak. "This was an attack on the entire criminal justice system."

Smith is buried in a suburban cemetery. At the top of his black tombstone is an image of the Batman distress signal; at the bottom are the words Our Hero Always.

Chicago Tribune's Jason Grotto contributed.

tlighty@chicagotribune.com

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Tooba Hanif, 10, left, and Brittany Jones, 9, work together in their writing workshop an accelerated class in October 2008. Teachers at Passages Charter School on the North Side voted to authorize a strike in May 2017. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

For the third time this school year, teachers at a Chicago charter school are threatening to walk off the job.

Teachers at Passages Charter School in the North Side Edgewater community voted Thursday to authorize a strike, organizers said, but no strike date has been set and contract negotiations continue with the school's operator, Asian Human Services.

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The school enrolls about 470 elementary students, of which close to 40 percent have limited English skills, according to Chicago Public Schools statistics.

Forty-three of the school's 46 bargaining unit members voted to authorize a strike, organizers said.

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"The primary reason we formed a union at Passages in the first place was so that we could have more voice in decisions that affect our students. And now we're demanding a contract that allows that," third-grade teacher Gina Mengarelli said in a statement.

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Like several other charter schools in Chicago, Passages teachers are represented by the Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff, a branch of the American Federation of Teachers that oversees the city's unionized charter school teachers.

Unionized teachers negotiate with the charter operator, not CPS.

The vote at Passages represents the latest labor challenge to independently run school systems in the city. Teachers at the Aspira network of charter schools reached a contract agreement in March, about a week before a threatened strike. In October, a last-minute deal averted a walkout by teachers at the UNO Charter School Network.

The Chicago Teachers Union also came close to a strike before accepting a deal with the school board in October.

In March, teachers at the city's Noble Network of Charter Schools announced their intent to form a union.

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Twitter @PerezJr
CHICAGO  A federal judge has called gun trafficking "the biggest public safety issue" in Chicago as he sentenced a 53-year-old Post Office worker to 24 days in prison and three years' probation for buying three guns stolen from a Norfolk Southern train yard.



Lori Shelton told Thursday's hearing she bought them because she needed them for self-defense in her high-crime Englewood neighborhood. The mother of two insisted she was "only protecting" her family.



But Judge John Tharp said buying stolen guns only encourages the violence "tearing" her "neighborhood apart."



He cited her otherwise clean record for the lenient sentence. He said she'd serve her prison term on weekends so she won't lose her day job. But for her own good, he said she needed to know the "bitter taste" of prison.




Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown votes at Jesse Owens Park during the morning of the Illinois primary March 15, 2016. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

A onetime top aide to Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown has been charged with lying to a federal grand jury when asked in two separate appearances about pay-to-play allegations in the clerk's office.

The indictment of Beena Patel, a former associate clerk who supervised close to 500 employees, sheds new light on the direction of the ongoing federal probe into alleged bribes involving hiring and promotions in Brown's office.

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Among the issues under investigation is if Patel and other employees routinely helped raise money for Brown's campaign by hitting up co-workers for tickets to fundraisers, according to the charges. Patel also pressed Brown's chief of staff to promote an employee whose brother had made hefty political donations to Brown, the indictment alleged.

In her grand jury testimony in July 2016, Patel denied ever selling the tickets herself or knowing of other employees doing the same, the charges alleged. She also denied speaking to Brown's chief of staff about the 2015 promotion.

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"No, I would never do that," Patel told the grand jury, according to testimony quoted in the indictment.

Later, a prosecutor asked Patel if she recalled telling the employee  identified only as Individual D  that Brown was going to personally call her about the raise and that she should "act surprised," according to the transcript.

"I don't think so," Patel said, according to the charges. "I would never do that. Why?"

Patel, 55, who left the clerk's office in August 2016, was indicted on three counts of making false declarations before a grand jury. The indictment was unsealed Friday, and an arraignment has yet to be scheduled. Her attorney, Walter Jones Jr., did not return calls seeking comment.

Brown has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has not been charged. She won a fifth term as clerk last year even though the Cook County Democratic Party had dropped its endorsement of her after the federal investigation was disclosed.

Brown's office had no comment Friday on the specific allegations in the indictment against Patel but praised the former employee's honesty.

"Mrs. Beena Patel was a longtime, excellent employee of the Clerk's Office, and is a person of honesty and integrity," Brown's spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.

While the indictment marked the first time Patel was publicly named as part of the investigation, records show she has been at the center of the probe for several years and that her cellphone was seized by the FBI in 2015  about the same time agents also confiscated Brown's phone.

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According to the charges, Individual D's brother had made two $5,000 contributions to the Friends of Dorothy Brown campaign fund on specific dates in 2007 and 2009. State election records identify a 40-year-old Skokie architect as the only donor who made contributions of that size on both dates. He could not be reached for comment.

In April 2015, Individual D communicated to Patel, Brown and her chief of staff that she wanted a promotion, according to the indictment. The charges do not name the chief of staff, but public records show Wasiu Fashina held that post then and still does. Fashina, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, could not be reached for comment Friday.

That July, Patel texted Fashina that he should "help" Individual D because the employee had "done a lot for us including her brother," according to the indictment.

"(My) job is to support you and vice versa," Patel said, according to the charges.

Two months later, Patel texted Individual D that Brown had just called her to let her know that the promotion had been approved, the indictment alleged.

"Keep mum. Love you She will call you," Patel allegedly wrote, later adding in another text, "Don't tell her that you know this act surprise."

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When asked about the circumstances of the promotion in front of the grand jury, Patel testified that she "wouldn't know" whether Individual D got the raise or not, according to the charges. She also said she didn't recall Brown letting her know that the raise was happening.

"I wouldn't know because I don't remember this," Patel said, according to the transcript.

The Tribune has reported that Brown first came under investigation after the sale of a North Lawndale building owned by Patel's brother, Narendra, a west suburban businessman and longtime campaign donor to Brown who is now deceased.

Narendra Patel gave the 2,275-square-foot, triangle-shaped property on South Pulaski Road to Brown's husband, Benton Cook III, at no cost in June 2011, records show. Within months, Brown's husband put the property in the couple's name. Later, they transferred it to the Sankofa Group LLC, a for-profit company Brown had set up years earlier out of her Chicago home.

The couple then sold the run-down building for $100,000 to developer Musa Tadros, county documents show.

Over the years, Narendra Patel and his company, Medstar Laboratory Inc., contributed more than $86,000 to Brown's campaign, state records show. Beena Patel herself had given nearly $2,700 to Brown's campaign fund from 2003 to 2008, records show.

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The first indication that the probe had widened to include pay-to-pay allegations in Brown's office came in October 2015 when FBI agents seized her cellphone as she was coming out of her South Side home.

The next month, an employee of Brown's office, Sivasubramani Rajaram, was indicted on charges he falsely testified to the grand jury that he had not talked with Brown after his 2014 hiring.

Prosecutors alleged that to secure the job, Rajaram had paid a $15,000 bribe to Brown disguised as a loan to Goat Masters Corp., a goat meat supply company that Brown and her husband had recently founded.

Brown's criminal defense attorney, Edward Genson, has previously said the money paid by Rajaram was a legitimate loan that had "nothing to do" with his hiring.

"It certainly wasn't a bribe," said Genson, adding that the money has since been paid back.

Information from Brown's phone showed she had Rajaram's number stored in her contacts list and had exchanged 26 text messages with him between August 2014 and January 2015, according to prosecutors. She also made three outgoing calls to Rajaram's cellphone and received two calls from him.

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Rajaram pleaded guilty last year to one count of perjury, admitting in a plea agreement with prosecutors that he'd also lied to the grand jury when he said he had spoken only "three or four times" to Patel.

In fact, it was Patel who had "suggested" Rajaram make the loan to Brown in order to be hired and then helped him get the money to Brown's company, according to court records.

In asking for 15 months in prison for Rajaram, prosecutors said that by lying to the grand jury, he'd not only sought to protect himself and his job but also to divert the investigation from Brown.

Rajaram, meanwhile, told U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman that he feared retaliation from Brown and other high-ranking members of the office.

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"These were high-powered people politically," Rajaram said. "My motivation is to protect myself and my family, nothing else."

Coleman sentenced Rajaram in February to three years of probation.

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According to the indictment unsealed Friday, Patel was asked about her communications with Rajaram when she first came in to the grand jury in October 2015. She falsely testified that she'd last spoken with him two months earlier, when Rajaram had been transferred to the branch courthouse in Skokie.

Patel had actually spoken to Rajaram as recently as Sept. 20, when he was served with a grand jury subpoena, according to the indictment.

Chicago Tribune's Hal Dardick contributed.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jmetr22b
Several pounds of heroin with an estimated street value of nearly $700,000 were seized during an arrest in Crystal Lake, authorities said.

The McHenry County Sheriff's Department said its narcotics task force starting investigating Roman Castro, 47, after "receiving information that Castro was holding a large amount of heroin" in his Crystal Lake apartment.

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Detectives recovered 3,462 grams, or about 7 pounds, of heroin, scales and packaging materials from the residence and arrested Castro on Tuesday, charging him with unlawful possession and delivery of a controlled substance, the sheriff's office said in a news release.

The heroin seized could have been divided into about 35,000 doses of about a tenth of a gram each, McHenry County Assistant State's Attorney John Gibbons said.

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The seized drugs are being tested to determine their chemical makeup.

Castro was ordered held in lieu of $2 million bail, officials said.

In a separate arrest in recent days, another Crystal Lake man was charged with unlawful possession and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance after authorities said they found 36 bags of heroin and cocaine during a traffic stop in Algonquin.

The charges against Paul Benzinger, 29, came four months after he was released from prison boot camp, according to authorities and Illinois Department of Corrections records. Benzinger spent six months in the boot camp in lieu of an 8-year prison sentence he received for a 2016 conviction for manufacture and delivery of cocaine, records show. He was on parole at the time of his arrest, authorities said.

Benzinger was arrested Monday after authorities were tipped off by "concerned citizens" to alleged drug dealing, according to the McHenry County sheriff's office.

Authorities said they seized from "his person or in the vehicle" the 36 bags containing a total of about 3.6 grams of heroin worth about $750, as well as 0.1 gram of crack cocaine and additional items of drug paraphernalia.

Benzinger is being held on $120,000 bail.

According to a motion by prosecutors seeking to increase Benzinger's bail to $250,000, a confidential informant told police that Benzinger was making "frequent trips to Chicago" to obtain heroin.

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On Monday, McHenry County sheriff's deputies tailed Benzinger as he went to Chicago for an alleged heroin purchase, according to the motion.

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The motion also stated that, based on information provided by a confidential informant, the heroin that Benzinger was accused of selling may have contained fentanyl and may be linked to at least one recent overdose death in McHenry County.

Assistant State's Attorney Mary Ann Scholl wrote in her motion "the only way to protect the community is to substantially increase his bail."

Benzinger's lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Kim Messer, acknowledged her client's criminal record but argued for a lower bond, saying the amount of drugs allegedly recovered was more consistent with "personal use" than with selling.

McHenry County, like many areas of the region and the country, have seen an increase in opioid-related deaths in recent years.

"Everyone in law enforcement agrees that heroin and heroin derivatives have become a plague in our communities," said Sheriff Bill Prim said in the release.

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Community members are asked to report suspected drug dealing and other suspicious activity to the McHenry County sheriff's office at 815-338-2144 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers of McHenry at 800-762-7637.

Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.
The Auburn Police Department on Thursday recovered a puppy that was reported to have been stolen earlier in the week during a burglary at the SPCA.

The Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York said that someone broke into the shelter at 41 York St. sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning and stole an 8-week-old pit bull called Little Jed.

Executive Director Carol Russell said the puppy came into the shelter in April but was too young to receive all of the required puppy vaccines and so was not yet available for adoption.

According to Russell, Little Jed was last seen in his kennel at around 5 p.m. Tuesday when the shelter closed for the night. Staff realized he was missing Wednesday morning while cleaning the kennels.

The APD said Thursday that numerous tips from the public helped police locate the puppy and return it to the SPCA. Police said that the investigation into the puppy's apparent theft was still under investigation and that further details would not be immediately available.
A Markham police officer helping with a traffic stop shot a motorist who attempted to flee and "dragged" the officer, authorities said early Friday morning.

Both the officer and the motorist were taken to hospitals for treatment. Their conditions were not available.

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The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force is investigating the shooting, which took place at 167th Street and Western Avenue, Markham police Chief Mack Sanders said in an emailed statement.

"The driver was asked to step out of the vehicle, at which time he attempted to flee ... with (the) assisting officer being dragged," Sanders said. "As a result ... the officer discharged his weapon, striking the driver."

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Check back for updates.
Chicago police Sgt. Arshell Dennis listens to Detective Brendan Deenihan and Superintendent Eddie Johnson at police headquarters May 5, 2017, as they give details of the charges against Anthony Moore, the teen accused of fatally shooting Dennis' son, Arshell Dennis III. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune) (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

A gunman who fatally shot a Chicago police officer's son and wounded his friend last summer mistook them for rival gang members, police officials said Friday in announcing a break in the investigation.

Arshell "Trey" Dennis III, who was about to start his junior year studying journalism at St. John's University in New York City, had returned to his Southwest Side home for a few days last August to visit his parents at their Wrightwood neighborhood residence.

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Police said Anthony Moore, 18, has been charged as the gunman who killed the 19-year-old and wounded his 20-year-old friend on the Dennis family's front porch in the 2900 block of West 82nd Street about 12:05 a.m. on Aug. 14. A third friend was uninjured.

Moore, of the 7900 block of South Sawyer Avenue, was already in custody on a charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle when officials charged him in Dennis' slaying.

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Cmdr. Brendan Deenihan, who supervised the Area Central detectives investigating the shooting, said Moore, a reputed Gangster Disciples gang member, had picked up six arrests in the three months after he turned 18 in November.

Dennis' father, police Sgt. Arshell "Chico" Dennis, attended the news conference announcing the charges, but he declined to comment to reporters. In a soft-spoken voice, he could be heard thanking detectives who had been working on his son's slaying over the past nine months.

"Every officer in this department took his murder personally," said a teary-eyed Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who worked years ago with the elder Dennis in the South Side's Gresham patrol district when both were patrol officers. "And we vowed not to stop until we found his killer."

Deenihan told reporters that Moore wrongly assumed that the younger Dennis and his two friends were members of an opposing gang when he opened fire on them.

Deenihan said neither Dennis nor his two friends were in or affiliated with gangs.

Deenihan said Moore and at least one other suspect were parking some stolen vehicles nearby before emerging from a gangway and opening fire on Dennis and his friends.

Moore "basically saw three male blacks in their late teens or early 20s sitting on a porch, and they decided this was an opposing gang and ... decided to shoot these individuals," Deenihan said.

After the shooting, Moore and at least one other suspect fled the scene in the stolen vehicles, Deenihan said.

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Detectives need to investigate further before any additional charges might be brought, Deenihan said.

Deenihan said Moore was "bragging to friends" and "speaking to other individuals" about "killing an opposing gang member."

Detectives also reviewed video evidence that helped them make the arrest, Deenihan said.

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Dennis was shot in the chest and pronounced dead less than an hour later at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. His one friend sustained wounds to his arm and side of his body and was treated at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Dennis was among the more than 760 homicide victims of Chicago's most violent year in two decades.

He had been in Chicago for three days to see his mother, who was ill, and planned to return to New York on that Sunday afternoon, but the shooting happened hours earlier that day.

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Johnson said he knows there is nothing the department could do to make up for what happened.

"But I hope this will help bring some sort of peace and closure to the family," Johnson said as he turned to his left and looked at the elder Dennis.

jgorner@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @JeremyGorner
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 (updated Friday at 3:40 p.m. with print version)

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's early re-election campaign is trying to thread the needle on the issue of wealth as billionaire Democrat J.B. Pritzker ramps up his bid for the office.

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When Pritzker launched the first TV ad of the Democratic primary campaign last week, the Rauner-subsidized Illinois Republican Party responded with a critique that contended Pritzker was a "hotel scion" who was "using his inherited wealth to push for an inherited agenda."

Rauner's campaign followed up with a minute-long digital ad commemorating the governor's visits during Small Business Week. The video touted Rauner's jobs as a youth cooking burgers and later parking cars and working in the dining hall at college.

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"But this self-made businessman would go on to earn an MBA from Harvard, joining an investment startup and building a reputation as a business pioneer," the narrator says in the ad.

The back-to-back messaging from the governor's forces casts Rauner's wealth as "self made" and Pritzker's as "inherited." Whether voters are going to make the same distinction on wealth between a Republican who may or may not be a billionaire and a Democrat who is one remains an open question, however.

Rauner is a former equity investor whose most recent income tax filing showed he earned $188 million in 2015. He poured $50 million of his own money into his campaign fund at the end of last year.

Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, is an entrepreneur and investor. He's worth an estimated $3.4 billion, good for 208th place on Forbes' list of richest Americans, just behind his brother and business partner Tony Pritzker. The Democrat's $7.2 million in personal funds makes up his campaign war chest so far.

On Friday, Rauner declined to discuss his re-election campaign's efforts to contrast his wealth to Pritzker's. "I'm not going to comment on whatever the Republican Party does or what any other candidates for office (do)," Rauner said.

The Illinois Republican Party, however, has become synonymous with Rauner, who personally or through his campaign fund has given the state GOP two-thirds of what it has raised since he won the 2014 primary nomination for governor. (The raw numbers: $29 million out of $43.3 million.)

Asked to respond to the Rauner camp's characterizations on wealth, Pritzker spokeswoman Galia Slayen responded with an attack on the involvement of Rauner's former equity firm in public employee pension fund investments and the governor's subsequent effort to try to "tear apart" public employee unions after he was elected.

"J.B. is proud of his work in business and the causes he's been a part of like building a technology incubator in Illinois and being a national leader in early childhood education," Slayen said. "Bruce Rauner has been a complete failure as governor, and his time would be better spent focusing on how generations to come will be inheriting the disaster he'll leave behind."

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Trying to highlight the differences in how they made their respective fortunes is at least worth a shot, said Christopher Mooney, director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois.

"Conventional wisdom is that any time an incumbent governor is running for re-election, it's a referendum on him and his record. With Rauner, they have all this money and time, but there's nothing they can do about his record with his money. What they can do are things like this  to try to define the opponent, to try to establish (Pritzker's) brand," he said.

If Rauner is successful painting Pritzker as "Daddy Warbucks" and portraying himself as "Horatio Alger," Mooney said, "that might on a margin help him."

"All that being said, that's a big 'if,' if Rauner can make it stick," Mooney said. "The other side is going to do the exact same thing and try to brand Rauner in a way that's more conducive to their message. It's a battle of the brands, Coke versus Pepsi."

Wealth already is an issue in the Democratic primary for governor.

Businessman Chris Kennedy, an heir of the iconic Massachusetts political family, has sought to attack Pritzker's vow to use his wealth as akin to Rauner using personal funds to control Republicans. It was Kennedy, with a personal donation of $250,100 to his campaign in March, that lifted contribution limits for the race for governor.

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Two other Democratic candidates, state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston and Northwest Side Ald. Ameya Pawar, have sought to appeal to populist grassroots progressives to counter the wealth of Pritzker and Kennedy.

The primary election isn't until March 2018 and the Democratic winner won't face Rauner until November 2018. Mooney also noted it was unusual for Rauner to go with an introductory biography in his campaign's digital ad when he has been governor for more than two years.

"I don't know if it's a sign of trouble, but it is certainly unusual. His introductory period he's way past now. But then again, they have so much money, they might as well try it," he said. (Rick Pearson)

What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel's will host a naturalization ceremony with Mexico City Mayor Miguel Mancera.

*Gov. Rauner will talk about the potential sale of the Thompson Center along with House Republican leader Jim Durkin at a news conference...at the Thompson Center.

*The Illinois Senate is in session.

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*Happy Friday. Beware the Friday afternoon news dump.

From the notebook

*Musical chairs: As Gov. Rauner pushes his plan to sell the James R. Thompson Center, one of the many factors his administration has to consider is where exactly the state will relocate some 20 agencies and 2,200 government employees who currently work in the Loop office building.

In a Tribune story published Thursday detailing the many complexities of selling the Thompson Center, the Rauner administration declined to provide an estimate for how much it would cost to relocate workers. The governor's staff also declined to provide a breakdown of how many of those employees would be moved to other state buildings or how much space in private buildings the administration might have to rent.

The governor's office does, however, have some tentative moving plans in place.

The Chicago offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller and treasurer would move across LaSalle Street into the state-owned Michael A. Bilandic Building, according to a source familiar with the plans. The offices of all four legislative caucuses and the Illinois Supreme Court would remain in Bilandic, but Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office is too large to fit in that building and would have to be moved to an as-yet undetermined location, the source said.

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Rauner aides have said that Illinois law requires the administration to move employees to government-owned property first. Michael Hoffman, acting director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, said the state has had talks with Cook County about space in the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building and with the city about space in the Richard J. Daley Center.

Cook County already leases space in the Dunne building to six state agencies, but there is little available space open at the building, said county spokesman Frank Shuftan. But, he said, the county is consolidating the use of its own space, and some may come available for the state to lease. Less than 1 percent of the Daley Center is available, a total of 12,000 square feet on the 13th and 17th floors, a city spokesman said. (Bill Ruthhart)

*Another attempt to free up state money: Senate lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday to a bill that would ensure people who have been wrongfully convicted of a crime are paid by the state during the budget impasse.

Under current law, people who obtain a certificate of innocence are eligible to receive compensation from the state. But because of the budget impasse, the Court of Claims hasn't been able to make about $2.9 million in payments to 18 people who have been exonerated. The amount of the payouts is based on a formula that considers how long inmates were incarcerated, typically helps them begin a new life, get job training and medical care, and take advantage of educational opportunities.

Those still owed money include Angel Gonzalez, who was released in 2015 after being cleared in a 1994 rape and abduction case.

To remedy the issue, the bill from Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, would make sure the court automatically receives money for these payments regardless of whether lawmakers have approved a state budget.

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James Kluppelberg, who spent nearly 25 years in prison for arson murders he did not commit, told the Senate panel that this money is crucial to helping the wrongfully convicted get back on their feet. He said people who are released walk out of prison with nothing and in some cases lose their support systems while they're in prison. Kluppelberg left prison in 2012 and received his compensation from the state in 2014.

"The money in today's times may not be a large amount, but for someone in my position, it is life-saving, and I cannot stress enough how critical it was for me to make it," he said. "It was the bridge that I needed to be able to have something as simple as a suit for a job interview."

The bill cleared committee with unanimous support, but not before one lawmaker raised concerns that it could prompt other agencies and programs starved of state funding during the budget stalemate to request the same assistance.

But Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, contended compensating exonerees is different than agreements the state makes to pay for certain services.

"In this case, you didn't enter into an agreement with us, right?" he said. "We did something to you and then have indicated that when we realize that we did something wrong to you, we owe you for that." (Haley BeMiller)

*Biss' swing and a miss: Democratic governor hopeful Sen. Daniel Biss on Thursday tried to pass a bill to allow political campaigns in cash-strapped Illinois to be funded by taxpayers.

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The legislation initially was approved 30-23, the bare minimum needed to move over to the House. But Republicans challenged whether everyone recorded as voting in favor were actually on the floor. At least one senator was not, dropping the tally to 29-23.

Biss used a procedural move that will allow him to call the bill for a vote in the future. But for now, he was denied being able to crow about a victory and blast out a press release.

*Cook County CFO to go: Cook County's widely respected chief financial officer will be departing next month to take a similar post at the University of Chicago.

The university announced this week it is hiring Ivan Samstein as a vice president and CFO starting June 26. Samstein has been county CFO since early 2013, when he was promoted to the post, and has led the county through some tough financial straits. He's expected to leave in four to six weeks.

During his tenure, County Board President Toni Preckwinkle pushed through a penny-on-the-dollar sales tax increase to restore financial health to the county workers pension system and a penny-an-ounce tax on sweetened beverages to meet other government funding obligations  even as she was credited for reducing the overall size of county government and reducing the local taxpayer subsidy for the county's vast public health system.

"Ivan has been a critical member of our senior management team for more than five years, and I have relied greatly on his advice and counsel," Preckwinkle said in a statement. "He has done more than just help us navigate the difficult financial environment we have faced; under his leadership, we now have a three-year financial plan, a best practice and one which will make our budgeting process less challenging."

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Samstein, in turn, called working for Preckwinkle "an incredible experience" and added: "The move is bittersweet as I will greatly miss the people I have worked with over the these last five years. I am proud to have been part of the president's and (Finance Committee) Chairman (John) Daley's efforts to place the county on a stable fiscal path going forward even in the face of significant external challenges amidst the dysfunction in Washington and Springfield."

Samstein, a former public finance director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and assistant vice president at Moody's Investors Service, said he was attracted to U. of C. for its academic strength and the role it plays in the area's economy. (Hal Dardick)

*The Sunday Spin: On this week's show, Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson's guests include Mike Reever, vice president of governmental relations at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Democratic state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz of Chicago and Tribune reporter Bill Ruthhart. The "Sunday Spin" airs from 7 to 9 a.m. on WGN-AM 720.

What we're writing

*What's really holding up a Thompson Center sale? Zoning, money, politics.

*How Illinois congressmen voted on health care bill (and the politics that ensued). And what the bill might mean for Illinois consumers.

*Aviation Commissioner Evans says CPD, not aviation cops, will respond to airplane disturbances.

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*Illinois Senate roundup: Law enforcement immigration bill passes, taxpayer-funded campaigns fails.

*Emanuel noncommittal on Burke idea of more police long gun training following shooting of CPD officers this week.

*Obamas pledge $2 million for summer jobs, apprenticeships.

*Will County weighs options on $195 million courthouse.

What we're reading

*From 300 feet below Joliet to 67 stories above Chicago, the journey of the city's concrete.

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*Fewer people going hungry in Cook County, but many still need help.

*Lagunitas to complete sell out, sell off to Heineken.

Follow the money

*Democratic candidate for governor Chris Kennedy reported $111,200 in contributions.

*Track Illinois campaign contributions in real time here and here.

Beyond Chicago

*Obamacare repeal stories: NYT. WaPo. Politico. Also: How they voted.

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*Next step for health care bill is a skeptical Senate, NYT reports.

*Vulnerable House Republicans struggle with health care vote, says WaPo.

*Trump to visit Israel, Saudi Arabia in first foreign trip.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth speaks during a town hall meeting on April 11, 2017, in Palatine. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth on Friday joined the growing Democratic opposition to President Donald Trump's Army secretary nominee, and he withdrew from consideration later in the day as criticism continued to intensify.

Mark Green stepped aside amid condemnation of his remarks about LGBT Americans and Muslims, making him the second Trump nominee for Army secretary to withdraw.

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Green said in a statement that "false and misleading attacks" against him have made his nomination a distraction. He said his life of public service and Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized for political gain.

Earlier Friday, Duckworth said in a statement that the Senate confirming Green to the Army post "would send the wrong message to brave and selfless Americans who simply wish to serve their nation." In opposing Green, Duckworth joined other Democrats who have denounced him.

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"Though I respect Dr. Green's record of service, he is not fit to lead the Army and made the right decision to withdraw his name from consideration," Duckworth, who lost both legs in combat during the Iraq War, said after Green stepped aside.

Green is a physician and Tennessee state senator who graduated from West Point and received the Bronze Star and other awards during three combat tours in the Middle East, the White House said last month.

Earlier this week, another Illinois lawmaker with military experience had endorsed him for the spot.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon threw his support behind Green, signing a letter with 10 other House Republicans sent this week to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Kinzinger is a pilot in the Air National Guard.

Confirming Green for the post "will only enhance America's war fighting capability and build on the mutual trust that exists between soldiers and their leaders," the letter reads.

The Associated Press contributed.

kskiba@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @KatherineSkiba
SPRINGFIELD  Senate Democrats pushed through a measure Thursday that would prevent state and local police from making arrests due to a person's citizenship status, an effort supporters say is designed to build trust between law enforcement and communities living in fear following the immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump.

The bill would prohibit police from searching, arresting or detaining a person because of their immigration status absent a federal criminal warrant. It also would create so-called safe zones in state-funded schools, health care centers and secretary of state facilities, and block state and local law enforcement agencies from creating registries based on race, religion and national origin.

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Sponsoring Senate President John Cullerton said the bill is about providing stability for the estimated half a million people in Illinois who are undocumented and "fear that they're going to all be deported."

"They're part of our economy, they go to our schools, they're working, they're paying taxes. While the federal government is going to determine their status, they're in our community," said Cullerton, a Northwest Side Democrat.

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Republicans questioned the wisdom of interfering with the federal government, saying it could represent a risk to national security.

"I just didn't want to lose the irony of the moment that we're going to pass a law to tell law enforcement not to enforce the law," said Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon.

The bill now heads to the House after passing the Senate 31-21, with one member voting present.

In other action, a measure to allow political campaigns to be funded by taxpayers failed to pass the Senate amid debate about the influence of money in politics as Illinois gears up for what's expected to be another costly campaign for the governor's office.

Under the proposal, candidates could choose to raise money on their own or participate in a public matching program. The total amount of money spent would be limited to $50 million statewide every two years.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston, one of five Democrats seeking to unseat Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has parked $50 million of his own money in his campaign fund. Biss also has taken aim at Democratic candidate J.B. Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune who recently put $7 million into his primary run.

Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, asked if the legislation would help Biss during his campaign. Biss said it would take several years to put the program in place and would not affect the 2018 race.

Democrats questioned the opposition of Republicans who have benefited from Rauner's wealth, with Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, saying it was time to move away from "the ugly era of government that is dominant by folks who are able to put millions in a campaign fund and hang it over certain legislators heads to say. 'Either be with me or I will find somebody to replace you.'"

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Sen. Chris Nybo, R-Elmhurst, said it was "offensive" to suggest Republicans voted in lockstep with the governor without considering their own beliefs.

The legislation initially passed 30-23, the bare minimum needed to move over to the House. But Republicans challenged whether everyone recorded as voting in favor were actually on the floor. At least one senator was not, dropping the tally to 29-23. Biss used a procedural move that will allow him to call the bill for a vote in the future.

mcgarcia@chicagotribune.com

hbemiller@chicagotribune.com
Senate lawmakers again advanced legislation Friday that could automatically register many Illinoisans to vote, a victory for now for supporters who saw a similar effort last year vetoed by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Both Democrats and Republicans voted for the revamped proposal after sponsoring Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, incorporated changes pushed by Rauner  a rare attempt at compromise in a statehouse that's been marked by years of dysfunction and partisan bickering.

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"That is without question going to lead to more people, more citizens of our state, regardless of where they live, regardless of party affiliation, participating in our electoral process," Manar said. "And regardless who wins an election, we all win as citizens of the state of Illinois."

Rauner's office, though, didn't fully commit Friday to the new version, which now moves to the Illinois House and could be changed. Last year's automatic voter registration proposal was approved by the House and Senate with overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans alike, but the governor vetoed the bill citing concerns about voting fraud and conflicts with federal law.

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"We continue to work with stakeholders to address concerns with the legislation that passed last year," Rauner spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis said in a statement. "We hope our remaining concerns will be addressed in the House."

Under the measure, Illinois residents seeking a new or renewed driver's license or state ID would be automatically registered to vote unless they opt out. As it stands now, motorists seeking services at secretary of state facilities are asked if they want to register to vote or update their registration, requiring them to choose to take that extra step. Backers contend the bill would save money and streamline the registration process, which they say will boost turnout at the ballot box.

Changes aimed at winning Rauners approval include requiring an applicant to affirm they are eligible to vote, and giving people the option to opt-out of registering at the time they are getting their license renewed or updated. The latest proposal also adds the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to the list of agencies that could register voters.

In other action, lawmakers approved an initiative of Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart that aims to crack down on repeat gun offenders who sometimes post bail and return to the streets before their trials. The bill would allow a bond court judge to deny bail to defendants in a variety of gun crimes if the judge determines that releasing the defendant would create a "real and present threat" to public safety.

The Tribune previously reported that the legislation could deny bond to violent felons and gang members charged with possessing a gun, and to armed habitual criminals  those picked up on a new gun charge and who have at least two prior felony convictions for violent, drug or weapons offenses.

The bill would also allow state's attorneys to request a hearing to inquire about the source of bail money that's been posted for gun crimes.

"It is encouraging to see Illinois move towards much needed criminal justice reform," Dart said in a statement, adding the bill "will ensure that violent gun offenders do not return to the streets and further the violence in our communities."

Senators also passed a measure that would prevent people accused of murder from using the victim's sexual orientation as a mitigating factor to reduce their possible punishment. The bill is designed to combat the so-called "gay panic defense," in which those accused of murder contend they acted out of passion after learning a victim was gay.

The Senate also voted to extend the life of tax credits that benefit the live theater and film industries. Proponents say these credits help lure more productions to the state, which in turn creates jobs.

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hbemiller@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @haleybemiller
Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to sell the James R. Thompson Center, state governments Loop home. Such a sale would face a host of challenges. (Bill Ruthhart And Jonathon Berlin/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday tried to ratchet up pressure on Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Democrats in Springfield to get behind his plan to sell the Thompson Center, putting forward new legislation that would earmark future property taxes collected from the site for Chicago Public Schools.

Emanuel's office quickly dismissed the idea as an attempt by the governor "to distract from his own failure to fund education fairly."

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The back-and-forth was the latest in the ongoing finger-pointing war around the Republican governor's slow-moving attempt to sell state government's deteriorating Loop headquarters.

Rauner, who has been pushing the idea for more than a year, said Emanuel and House Speaker Michael Madigan, both Democrats, were engaged in a "tag team effort" to delay the plan. That came a few days after the mayor suggested the delay is in part due to him wanting to ensure that the state or a private developer will be on the hook for any changes to the CTA station on the site.

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On Thursday, the Chicago Tribune reported that negotiations between the state and city are centered on the specifics of a zoning change that would allow more development than currently permitted on the parcel bordered by Lake, LaSalle, Randolph and Clark streets in return for tens of millions of dollars in payments to Emanuel's new fund for projects in economically challenged neighborhoods on the South and West sides.

Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said Friday that he was "not sure what today's outburst was about." The speaker's staff has been meeting with staff from the mayor's and governor's offices "multiple times a week on trying to move this project along," Brown said.

That the idea to sell the notoriously dilapidated office building, and the prime city block on which it sits, has become a sparring ground for the Republican governor and his Democratic adversaries is the latest sign of the deep political stalemate that's overtaken Illinois.

Democrats agree with Rauner that the Thompson Center, which is used as office space for about 2,200 state employees, is a troubled building. Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton moved their offices and staffs to a nicer building across the street years ago.

"I don't think there's any disagreement by the speaker's office or the staff that the state could do better than (the Thompson Center)," Brown said.

But the latest attempt to sell the building came from Rauner, whose relationship with Emanuel and Democrats in Springfield is strained.

On Friday, Rauner summoned reporters to a basement room that houses a decrepit heating and cooling system for the building, which the governor's office says must be replaced in the next two years, at an estimated cost of as much as $80 million.

As he accused Emanuel of throwing up "artificial roadblocks, artificial diversions" to delay the sale, Rauner announced a new Republican-sponsored bill that would earmark for CPS the property tax dollars that are raised from the building's new owners. The legislation doesn't specify, however, if the requirement would apply to taxes levied on a new building erected in the Thompson Center's place.

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The new bill provided a vehicle for Rauner and House Republican leader Jim Durkin to position themselves as attempting to help CPS with its ongoing financial troubles. For Emanuel, it was an opportunity to remind that Rauner recently blocked a $215 million cash infusion from the state to CPS.

"Suddenly he's interested in funding CPS? That's rich," Emanuel spokesman Adam Collins said in a statement. "This (is) a fraction of the amount of funding the governor vetoed for our school children a few months ago."

Rauner has estimated that the state could reap as much as $300 million from selling the Thompson Center and the land below it. The administration says the price tag for making needed repairs to keep the building is higher than that. The administration also estimates that selling the building could generate as much as $45 million in property tax revenues, a figure the mayor's office disputes.

kgeiger@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @kimgeiger
The young mother started getting advice early on from friends in the close-knit Somali immigrant community here. Don't let your children get the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella - it causes autism, they said.

Suaado Salah listened. And this spring, her 3-year-old boy and 18-month-old girl contracted measles in Minnesota's largest outbreak of the highly infectious and potentially deadly disease in nearly three decades. Her daughter, who had a rash, high fever and a cough, was hospitalized for four nights and needed intravenous fluids and oxygen.

"I thought: 'I'm in America. I thought I'm in a safe place and my kids will never get sick in that disease,' " said Salah, 26, who has lived in Minnesota for more than a decade. Growing up in Somalia, she'd had measles as a child. A sister died of the disease at age 3.

Salah no longer believes that the MMR vaccine triggers autism, a discredited theory that spread rapidly through the local Somali community, fanned by meetings organized by anti-vaccine groups. The advocates repeatedly invited Andrew Wakefield, the founder of the modern anti-vaccine movement, to talk to worried parents.

Immunization rates plummeted and, last month, the first cases of measles appeared. Soon, there was a full-blown outbreak, one of the starkest consequences of an intensifying anti-vaccine movement in the United States and around the world that has gained traction in part by targeting specific communities.

"It's remarkable to come in and talk to a population that's vulnerable and marginalized and who doesn't necessarily have the capacity for advocacy for themselves, and to take advantage of that," said Siman Nuurali, a Somali American clinician who coordinates the care of medically complex patients at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. "It's abhorrent."

Although extensive research has disproved any relationship between vaccines and autism, the fear has become entrenched in the community. "I don't know if we will be able to dig out on our own," Nuurali said.

Anti-vaccine advocates defend their position and their role, saying they merely provided information to parents.

"The Somalis had decided themselves that they were particularly concerned," Wakefield said last week. "I was responding to that."

He maintained that he bears no fault for what is now happening within the community: "I don't feel responsible at all."

MMR vaccination rates among U.S.-born children of Somali descent used to be higher than among other children in Minnesota. But the rates plummeted from 92 percent in 2004 to 42 percent in 2014, state health department data shows, well below the 92-94 percent threshold needed to protect a community against measles.

Wakefield, a British activist who now lives in Texas, visited Minneapolis at least three times in 2010 and 2011 to meet privately with Somali parents of autistic children, according to local anti-vaccine advocates. Wakefield's prominence stems from a 1998 study he authored, which claimed to show a link between the vaccine and autism. The study was later identified as fraudulent and was retracted by the medical journal that published it, and his medical license was revoked.

The current outbreak was identified in early April. As of Thursday, there were 41 cases, all but two occurring in people who were not vaccinated, and all but one in children 10 and younger. Nearly all have been from the Somali American community in Hennepin County. A fourth of the patients have been hospitalized. Because of the dangerously low vaccination rates and the disease's extreme infectiousness, more cases are expected in the weeks ahead.

Measles, which remains endemic in many parts of the world, was eliminated in the United States at the start of this century. It reappeared several years ago as more people - many wealthier, more educated and white - began refusing to vaccinate their children or delaying those shots.

The ramifications already have been significant. A 2014-2015 measles outbreak infected 147 people in seven states and spread to Mexico and Canada. In California, high school students were sent home because of infected classmates. One patient who was unknowingly infectious visited a hospital and exposed dozens of pregnant women and babies, including those in the neonatal intensive care unit. Another adult patient was hospitalized and on a breathing machine for three weeks.

Federal guidelines typically recommend that children get the first vaccine dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second when they are 4 to 6 years old. The combination is 97 percent effective in preventing the viral disease, which can cause pneumonia, brain swelling, deafness and, in rare instances, death.

Minnesota's Somali community is the largest in the country. The roots of the outbreak there date to 2008, when parents raised concerns that their children were disproportionately affected by autism spectrum disorder. A limited survey by the state health department the following year found an unexpectedly high number of Somali children in a preschool autism program. But a University of Minnesota study found that Somali children were about as likely as white children to be identified with autism, although they were more likely to have intellectual disabilities.

Around that time, health-care providers began receiving reports of parents refusing the MMR vaccine.

As parents sought to learn more about the disorder, they came across websites of anti-vaccine groups. And activists from those groups started showing up at community health meetings and distributing pamphlets, recalled Lynn Bahta, a longtime state health department nurse who has worked with Somali nurses to counter MMR vaccine resistance within the community.

At one 2011 gathering featuring Wakefield, Bahta recalled, an armed guard barred her, other public health officials and reporters from attending.

Fear of autism runs so deep in the Somali community that parents whose children have recently come down with measles insist that measles is preferable to risking autism. One father, who did not want his family identified to protect their privacy, sat helplessly by his daughter's bed at Children's Minnesota hospital last week as she struggled to breathe during coughing fits.

The 23-month-old was on an IV for fluids and had repeatedly pulled out the oxygen tube in her nose. Her older brother, almost 4, endured a milder bout. Neither had received the MMR vaccine.

The children now have antibodies to protect against measles, but they still need the vaccine to prevent mumps and rubella. Their father, who is 33 and studying mechanical engineering while working as a mechanic, wants to wait. His worry: autism. A colleague has a son "who is mute."

"I would hold off until she's 3 . . . or until she fluently starts talking," he explained.

His wife no longer harbors doubts, however. As soon as both children are well, she said, "they are going to get the shot."

The pervasive mistrust was evident Sunday night during a meeting, sponsored by several anti-vaccine groups, that drew a mostly Somali crowd of 90 to a Somali-owned restaurant here. Patti Carroll, a member of the Vaccine Safety Council of Minnesota, described its goal as giving parents more information, including their right to refuse to vaccinate. People have been "bullied big time" by doctors and public health officials, she said.

The presentation by anti-vaccine activist Mark Blaxill drew cheers and applause. Blaxill, a Boston businessman whose adult daughter has autism, played down the threat of measles and played up local autism rates.

"When you hear people from the state public health department saying there is no risk, that [vaccines] are safe, this is the sort of thing that should cause you to be skeptical," Blaxill said.

Two pediatricians in the audience stepped up to a microphone to denounce the claims.

"I am very concerned, especially in the midst of a measles outbreak, to have folks come into a community impacted by this disease and start talking about links between MMR and autism," said Andrew Kiragu, interim chief of pediatrics at Hennepin Medical Center in Minneapolis. "This is a travesty."

He and the other doctors were interrupted by boos and yelling.

"For God's sake, I want to know if vaccines are safe," Sahra Osman shouted. She has a nearly adult son who received an autism diagnosis when he was 3. "My people are suffering! We're not ignorant. I read a lot. I know a lot. I educate myself. . . . You don't know what you are talking about."

While scores of studies from around the world have shown conclusively that vaccines do not cause autism, that is often not a satisfactory answer for Somali American parents. They say that if science can explain that vaccines don't cause autism, science should be able to say what does.

But researchers don't really know. A growing body of evidence suggests that brain differences associated with autism may be found early in infancy - well before children receive most vaccines. Other studies have found that alterations in brain-cell development related to autism may occur before birth. There are some genetic risk factors for autism, and advanced parental age has been associated with the condition.

Meanwhile, the ongoing spread of the anti-vaccine message is making it harder to control the burgeoning number of measles cases.

The groups continue advising parents, "in the middle of their crisis," on how to opt out of vaccines, said pediatric nurse practitioner Patsy Stinchfield, an infection-control expert leading the outbreak response at Children's Minnesota. That message is "exactly the opposite of what clinicians and public health officials are urging, which is to get vaccinated as soon as possible."

Staffers at her hospital have been working around the clock to vaccinate hundreds of people who may have been exposed; an MMR dose given within 72 hours of exposure can prevent measles.

When their two sick children are well, Suaado Salah and her husband, Tahlil Wehlie, plan to talk to friends and acquaintances to spread the word that the anti-vaccine groups are wrong and that all youngsters should get immunized.

"Because when the kids get sick, it's going to affect everybody. It's not going to affect only the family who have the sick kid," she said. "They make sick for everybody. That's when you wake up and say, 'Okay, what happened?' "

But she understands the apprehension that fed the outbreak. With a parent whose child has autism, she said, "It's something that you're looking for an answer for how it happened and what happened to your kid."
This undated photographreleased from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on May 5, 2017, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting defensive positions on Jangjae Islet. (KCNA)

SEOUL, South Korea  North Korea on Friday accused the U.S. and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong Un involving biochemical weapons.

In a statement carried on state media, North Korea's Ministry of State Security said it will "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" the "terrorists" in the CIA and South Korean intelligence agency responsible for targeting its supreme leadership.

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North Korea frequently lambasts the United States and South Korea, but its accusation Friday was unusual in its detail.

The ministry said the spy agencies in June 2014 "ideologically corrupted and bribed" a North Korean citizen who was working in Russia to carry out the alleged assassination on Kim after returning home.

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It said South Korean agents gave money and satellite communication equipment to the North Korean to attack Kim during a public event using a biochemical weapon such as a delayed-action radioactive or "nano poisonous" substance.

The ministry said after a series of contacts and payments, the agents told the North Korean last month that the type of biochemical substance had been decided and would be supplied by the CIA.

The statement, carried by North Korea's official news agency and read on state TV, didn't describe how the alleged plot was broken up or give the full name of the North Korean suspect, identifying him only by his surname, Kim, and didn't say whether anyone else was in custody.

In Washington, the CIA declined to comment, and officials at South Korea's National Intelligence Service did not answer repeated phone calls.

The alleged plan to use a biochemical agent on a member of North Korea's ruling family resembles the assassination earlier this year of Kim Jong Un's exiled half brother at a Malaysian airport. That attack, using the chemical war agent VX, was widely blamed on North Korea and led to calls in the United States to relist the North as a state sponsor of terrorism. North Korea denied involvement.

In the statement Friday, the ministry said in response to the alleged plot on Kim Jong Un, a "Korean-style anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organizations of the U.S. imperialists and the puppet clique," referring to South Korea.

The ministry demanded that the United States and South Korea apologize and execute the intelligence agents involved in the "heinous" plot.

The North Korean statement comes during a period of tension on the Korean Peninsula over concerns that the North is preparing another nuclear test or missile launch, including a possible test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Such moves would be a step toward the country's goal of developing nuclear-armed missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

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Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann in Washington contributed to this report.
Hope Waters, left, her brother Jeremiah, center rear, and their mother Yulise, center right, light candles with Linda Abrasion Evans, right, during a candle light vigil for Jordan Edwards in Balch Springs, Texas on May 4, 2017. (Tony Gutierrez / AP)

DALLAS  A white Texas police officer faces a murder charge in the shooting of a black teenager after being fired earlier in the week over the incident, authorities said Friday.

Roy Oliver turned himself in Friday night, just hours after the Dallas County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for his arrest in the April 29 death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards. Oliver, a former officer in the Dallas suburb of Balch Springs, was later released after posting bail at the Parker County Jail in Weatherford, about 95 miles west of Dallas. His bond had been set at $300,000.

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The sheriff's office said in a statement the warrant was issued based on evidence that suggested Oliver "intended to cause serious bodily injury and commit an act clearly dangerous to human life that caused the death."

Oliver fired a rifle at a car full of teenagers leaving a party, fatally shooting Edwards, who was a passenger in the vehicle. The teen's death led to protests calling for Oliver to be fired and charged. On Tuesday, the same day that the officer was fired, news broke of the Justice Department's decision not to charge two white police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the shooting death of a black man in 2016. And a white officer in North Charleston, South Carolina, pleaded guilty that day to federal civil rights charges in the fatal shooting of a black man in 2015.

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This undated family photo provided by Edwards family attorney Lee Merritt shows Jordan Edwards, left, posing for a photo with his father, Odell Edwards. Jordan Edwards shot and killed by a white police officer while riding in a vehicle leaving a party. (AP)

Edwards and his two brothers and two other teenagers were leaving an unruly house party in Balch Springs when Oliver opened fire on their car with a rifle. The bullets shattered the front passenger-side window and struck Edwards. It took a few moments for Edwards' 16-year-old brother, who was driving, and other passengers to notice that he was slumped over in his seat.

Police had said the teenagers' car was backing up toward officers "in an aggressive manner," but later said body camera video showed the vehicle actually driving away from the officers.

The investigation into the shooting "will continue and does not conclude with the arrest," sheriff's spokeswoman Melinda Urbina said.

Attorneys for Oliver and the family of Edwards didn't respond to requests for comment.

Oliver's firing Tuesday was for violating department policies in the shooting.

Records show that Oliver was briefly suspended in 2013 following a complaint about his conduct while serving as a witness in a drunken-driving case.

Personnel records from the Balch Springs Police Department obtained by The Associated Press show Oliver was suspended for 16 hours in December 2013 after the Dallas County District Attorney's Office filed the complaint. Oliver also was ordered to take training courses in anger management and courtroom demeanor and testimony.

The personnel records also included periodic evaluations that noted at least one instance when Oliver was reprimanded for being "disrespectful to a civilian on a call." That evaluation, dated Jan. 27, 2017, called the reprimand an isolated incident and urged Oliver to be mindful of his leadership role in the department.

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Roy Oliver faces a murder charge in the April 29, 2017, shooting of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards. Oliver was fired from his job as a Balch Springs Police officer on May 2, following the review of video from a body camera. ( Parker County Sheriff's Office)

The complaint from the prosecutor's office said the office had a hard time getting Oliver to attend the trial, he was angry he had to be there, he used vulgar language that caused an assistant district attorney to send a female intern out of the room, and he used profanity during his testimony.

"In an email from one of the prosecutors he states you were a 'scary person to have in our workroom,'" then-Balch Springs Police Chief Ed Morris wrote in the suspension findings.

Oliver joined the Balch Springs department in 2011 after being an officer with the Dalworthington Gardens Police Department for almost a year. A statement from Dalworthington Gardens officials on Wednesday included details of that and previous intermittent employment as a dispatcher and public works employee between 1999 and 2004.

He received an award for "meritorious conduct" as a dispatcher and there were no documented complaints or disciplinary action in either his work as a public safety officer or dispatcher, according to the statement. Between his employment as a dispatcher and officer in the Dallas suburb, Oliver was in the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of sergeant while serving two tours in Iraq and earning various commendations. He served for two years in the Texas National Guard reserves through 2012.

After the Dallas County Attorney's Office complained about Oliver's behavior, Morris suspended the officer for 16 hours, which Oliver completed by forfeiting two sick days.

Weissert reported from Austin. Associated Press writers Terry Wallace, Paul J. Weber in Austin and Juan A. Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.
CARACAS, Venezuela  Students battled tear gas-throwing police officers in demonstrations across Venezuela's capital Thursday as a two-month-old protest movement that shows no signs of letting up claimed more lives.



"We are students, not terrorists!" a mass of students chanted as they marched in Caracas.



Soldiers bathed hundreds of protesters in tear gas at the Central University of Venezuela, with medics in gas masks attending to students with bloodied faces and limbs.



"Do you know how many dead there are?" Rafaela Requesens, a student leader, shouted at a wall of National Guard officers standing shoulder-to-shoulder and stopping protesters from advancing. "They are your victims."



Gunfire erupted at a student gathering in El Tigre, a city southeast of Caracas, leaving Juan Lopez, 33, dead and three others injured, according to the chief prosecutor's office. Preliminary reports indicate an assailant fired at Lopez toward the end of the meeting and then fled on a motorcycle. Lopez was the president of a university federation.



The student leader's death brought to at least 37 the number killed in Venezuela's ongoing political turmoil.

Earlier Thursday, authorities announced a 38-year-old police officer in the central state of Carabobo had died of his injuries after being shot during a Wednesday protest that had hundreds of thousands of people on the street nationwide. Wednesday's protest also left a 17-year-old student and musician dead.



More than 700 others have been wounded, no small matter in a country with crippling medical shortages. Opposition leaders said 30 were injured in Thursday's student demonstrations. Overall, more than 1,000 have been arrested.



West of Caracas in Valencia, there were reports of looting at several businesses and at least one factory, the thieves taking off with plastic crates filled with bottles and even a forklift.



Protesters are demanding immediate presidential elections. President Nicolas Maduro accuses the opposition of attempting a coup, and has responded with an initiative to rewrite the constitution.



Walking through an agricultural expo where he pet goats and sampled cheese Thursday, Maduro repeatedly reiterated his call for a special assembly tasked with defining Venezuela's future. He added that the yet-to-be-created constituent body would decide the South American nation's destiny "for the next 50 years."



International pressure on Maduro to hold elections is continuing to escalate amid his call for a constitution rewrite. A group of bipartisan U.S. legislators sent a letter to President Donald Trump Thursday urging him to apply new sanctions against individuals responsible for human rights violations and to push for the delivery of humanitarian relief.



Eight Latin American nations issued a statement decrying the excessive use of force by Venezuelan authorities against protesters, saying such actions only, "polarize Venezuelan society even more."



And Venezuelan classical music maestro Gustavo Dudamel spoke out against events in his country, calling on Maduro to listen to the protesters.



In an online essay titled "I Raise My Voice," he urged Maduro to reduce political tensions.



"We must stop ignoring the just cry of the people suffocated by an intolerable crisis," said Dudamel, who is serving as the Los Angeles Philharmonic's musical director.



Venezuelans and fellow classical music performers have blasted Dudamel in the past for being cozy with Maduro.
The North Korean flag is seen flying in backdrop of barbed wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur on March 11, 2017. (Manan Vatsyayana / AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Determined to exert greater economic pressure on North Korea, the Republican-led House on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang targeting its shipping industry and use of slave labor.

Lawmakers approved the measure on a 419-1 as tensions continued to mount over North Korea's advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Adm. Harry Harris Jr., the top American military officer in the Pacific, has warned lawmakers that it's a question of when, not if, Pyongyang successfully builds a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the U.S.

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The Senate must take up the measure next.

The bipartisan legislation is aimed at thwarting North Korea's ambitions by cutting off access to the cash the regime needs to follow through with its plans. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Ed Royce of California, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, the committee's senior Democrat.

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The bill bars ships owned by North Korea or by countries that refuse to comply with U.N. resolutions against it from operating in American waters or docking at U.S. ports. Goods produced by North Korea's forced labor would be prohibited from entering the United States, according to the legislation.

Anyone who uses the slave labor that North Korea exports to other countries would be subject to sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the bill states. At times when the nation is facing unusual or extraordinary threats, the president has wide authority under the law, including the power to block or prohibit transactions involving property located in the U.S.

Goods produced by North Korean forced labor would be barred from entering the United States, under the bill.

Royce said companies from Senegal to Qatar to Angola import North Korean workers, who send their salary back to Pyongyang, earning the regime billions of dollars in hard currency each year

"This is money that Kim Jong-un uses to advance his nuclear and missile program, and also pay his generals, buying their loyalty to his brutal regime," he said. "That is what the high-level defectors that I meet with say. So let's squeeze his purse."

The bill also requires the Trump administration to determine within 90 days whether North Korea is a state sponsor of terrorism. Such a designation would trigger more sanctions, including restriction on U.S. foreign assistance.

In a separate but related move, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pressed Southeast Asian governments during a working lunch to ensure "leak-proof" enforcement of sanctions against North Korea and to prevent the pariah nation's diplomats from conducting business that could benefit its weapons programs.

Tillerson called on foreign ministers of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to "minimize" diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, "so that North Korea does not gain benefit from its diplomatic channels for its nuclear and missile aspirations," senior State Department official Patrick Murphy said after Thursday's meeting at the State Department.

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That was the latest salvo in the Trump administration's push to get the international community to intensify diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program before it can pose a direct threat to the American mainland.

Last weekend, a North Korean midrange ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch, the third test-fire failure this month but a clear message of defiance. 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 launch comes as both sides in the escalating crisis are flexing their military muscle. President Donald Trump has sent a nuclear-powered submarine and the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to Korean waters. North Korea last week conducted large-scale, live-fire exercises on its eastern coast.

The U.S. and South Korea are installing a missile defense system and their two navies are staging joint military drills.

The missile defense system, known as THAAD, employs six truck-mounted launchers that can fire up to 48 interceptors at incoming missiles detected by the system's x-band radar.

Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  The Senate voted on Thursday to approve a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund government through September, preventing the risk of a government shutdown.

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the measure, which passed 79 to 18. It includes more than $15 billion in new defense spending and $1.5 billion in money for U.S. border security, ahead of a deadline to keep the government open past Friday.

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The spending measure was the result of weeks of bipartisan negotiations where Republicans ultimately backed away from Trump's demands for money to begin construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Instead, GOP leaders agreed to Democrats demands that the new border-security money comes with strict limitations requiring the Trump administration to use funds only for technology investments and repairs to existing fencing and infrastructure.

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The measure also includes about $5 billion in new domestic spending, including $295 million to help Puerto Rico continue making payments to Medicaid, $100 million to combat opioid addiction, and increases in energy and science funding that Trump had proposed cutting.

Republicans say their greatest victory was securing the additional $15 billion in defense money from an off-budget war fund. They have also touted trims and changes to approximately 150 programs as a sign that they were able to secure some of their priorities in the five-months spending agreement.

Among the bipartisan victories in the bill is $407 million in wildfire relief for Western states and a decision to permanently extend a program that provides health-care coverage for coal miners.
President Donald Trump greets the Little Sisters of the Poor before signing the Executive Order on Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty during a National Day of Prayer Event on Thursday, May 4, 2017, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery / TNS)

With hundreds of executive branch jobs yet to be filled, the Trump administration needs a lot of people. One person it especially needs is Goldilocks, who might save the president from his habit of doing too much or too little but seldom getting anything just right.

In the executive orders he signed Thursday titled "Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty," President Donald Trump had a rare opportunity to pursue a small yet significant change that would have accomplished both of his stated purposes. Instead, he ceremoniously unveiled a heaping platter of nothingburgers.

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In February, at the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump extolled religious freedom and promised: "I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution. I will do that. Remember."

If you're not familiar with the Johnson Amendment, don't feel bad. It's safe to assume Trump wasn't either until he ran for president. Enacted into law in 1954, it prohibits churches and other nonprofit organizations from taking part in political campaigns, on pain of losing their federal tax exemption.

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The basic reason for it is sound. Political contributions are not tax-deductible, because Americans don't want to indirectly subsidize them. If churches were allowed to engage in active electioneering, citizens could give money to churches to help their favored candidates and then deduct those "religious" donations on their 1040s.

This policy would have a couple of bad effects, besides the loss of revenue. One would be to encourage churches to become partly or solely political entities, at the expense of real political entities. In fact, it would be only a matter of time before partisan activists would form "churches" that hold no services and need no pews. They would exist purely to help candidates get elected.

That would work to the detriment of real churches, fostering cynicism about their true function. It would jeopardize popular support for their tax treatment, which was granted partly in deference to the separation of church and state.

We've long had a rough bargain between religious institutions and government. The deal is that because they, unlike other organizations, are not allowed to get financial aid from the government, neither should they be required to provide financial aid (in the form of taxes) to the government. The exemption also encourages charitable activities, by secular as well as religious groups, which are seen as good for society because they help those in need and lessen the burden of public aid.

But the Johnson Amendment also bars political activities that don't cost a dime. If a pastor recommends a vote for a candidate during the course of a Sunday sermon that would be given regardless, no money is spent, and no indirect government subsidy occurs. As a literal matter, though, that pastor's statement violates the law.

"It doesn't evade campaign finance regulation, it doesn't create a path for deductible campaign spending, and it ought to be protected," University of Virginia law professor Douglas Laycock told me. It's pure political speech, which the First Amendment was designed to cover.

Securing this zone of freedom is what Trump might have proposed but didn't, quite. His fuzzy order directs the Treasury Department not to "take any adverse action" against a religious leader or church who has "spoken about moral or political issues from a religious perspective."

It's the equivalent of strumming an air guitar. The Internal Revenue Service has long taken a relaxed view of the Johnson Amendment, cheerfully ignoring sermons that veer into political endorsements. But Trump didn't even explicitly reaffirm that tolerant policy.

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The reasonable answer is to write it into law  leaving no doubt about what is permitted and shielding clergy against any future IRS decision to get tough. What Trump did, though, was an empty gesture.

Even his usual defenders couldn't defend him this time. The National Organization for Marriage said it "falls far short of what is needed." Heritage Foundation Fellow Ryan T. Anderson dismissed the executive order as "weak" and "woefully inadequate."

The American Civil Liberties Union, which had been preparing to go to court to challenge Trump's order, decided there was no need. "Today's executive order signing was an elaborate photo-op with no discernible policy outcome," it said, amounting to "a textbook case of 'fake news.'"

Trump is no Goldilocks, and in this instance, he's not even the Big Bad Wolf. He huffed and he puffed, but nothing came down.

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

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Twitter @SteveChapman13
Amanda Knox cries following the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roomate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, Italy, Monday Oct. 3, 2011. (Associated Press)

Donald Trump supported me during the worst crisis and most vulnerable moment in my life, defending my innocence when I was on trial in Italy for murder. He is now the president of the United States and reportedly "very upset" with me because I didn't vote for him.

Do I owe him my loyalty?

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Trump's remarks were reported by The New York Times in a profile of his neighbor George Guido Lombardi. Yet I received negative backlash from his supporters even before Lombardi's comments were published. They felt that I owed Trump my allegiance and were outraged at columns I wrote in which I criticized his policies and explained my reasons for endorsing Hillary Clinton. One person commented:

"I'm sorry I ever supported you. You have turned into a left wing lunatic. I see your experience in Italy has left you completely ungrateful to be an American.  Donald Trump stood by you, but now you turn around and indirectly attack him? You should be ashamed of yourself."

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Another wrote that, while I needn't endorse Trump, my criticism of him wasn't "nice."

The message was clear: Trump defended me in the past; how dare I not defend him now? Never mind that Trump doesn't share my values. If I won't endorse him, at the very least I should keep my "left-wing lunacies" to myself.

This conviction is both undemocratic and dangerous. Just as a person's support of me should not be based upon my politics or identity, hinging instead on the fact of my innocence, so should my politics hinge on the merits of policy, not personal loyalty.

In "The Righteous Mind," Jonathan Haidt describes loyalty as one of the moral foundations that conservatives feel more strongly than liberals. It's part of what makes morality "a force that binds and blinds." Loyalty can bind people together under a common cause, but it can also blind people as to whether or not their cause is just.

I discovered just how blinding loyalty could be when, in December 2009, an Italian court convicted me of a murder I didn't commit. That judgment rested heavily on the court's bias in favor of the prosecution, which represented the Italian people and the Italian state, over the defense, which represented a foreigner.

This is loyalty taken too far. And it calls to mind the party-over-policy approach that currently plagues our own politics.

Yes, Trump donated to my defense. And yes, Trump defended my innocence, recognizing that coercive interrogations produce false testimony authored by the interrogators themselves, a well-studied and documented fact.

But Trump claimed the exact opposite in the Central Park Five case, calling for the death penalty even though the accused teens' rape convictions rested solely on coerced false confessions. Even now he views them as guilty, years after they were exonerated based on DNA evidence.

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Trump recognized me as a fellow American who deserved to be assumed innocent until proven guilty, but he condemned the Central Park Five as "other"  guilty until proven innocent. Loyalty motivated Trump to call for all Americans to boycott Italy, even though, ironically, it only served to amplify anti-American sentiment in the courtroom, stacking the deck against me.

There is a kind of loyalty I wholeheartedly support: loyalty to our ideals of due process, equal protection under the law, the freedom to speak one's mind and to vote according to one's principles. Only in banana republics do political leaders dole out favors to citizens in exchange for their silence and their vote. By holding personal loyalty above all else, Trump and some of his supporters create a political environment where reason and justice hold little sway. He was probably right when he said he could "stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" and not "lose voters"  that's what happens when personal loyalty is paramount.

I know many Republicans who recognized the danger of Trump's worldview, and broke party loyalty this past election. My dad was one of them. It's to their credit that they could be critical of their own party for the sake of the country.

And it's to Italy's credit that the Italian Supreme Court ruled against the popular opinion of the Italian people when they acquitted me. I owe my freedom to those people who saw reason beyond loyalty.

What do I owe Trump? A thank you for his well-intentioned, if undiplomatic, support. So for the record: Thank you, Mr. President.

But the more important question is, what do I owe my country? Civic engagement, careful consideration of issues that affect my fellow citizens, and support for policies that deserve support, even if it makes the president "very upset."

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For the Los Angeles Times

Amanda Knox is the author of "Waiting to be Heard: A Memoir."

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Donald Trump sees government as a series of deals. That's because he's an oligarch.
House Republicans squeaked through an Obamacare replacement bill Thursday, prompting President Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan to break out the smiles and declare victory.

Not yet. Action now shifts to the Senate.

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How should Americans view this fitful process? Three things we know:

The House bill is a beginning, not an end. There almost surely aren't 51 senators who will buy this version intact. Expect much to and fro. Will that process deliver a new law? Maybe, maybe not. That said, you can disparage elements of this plan, but you also have to acknowledge the larger imperative here: Obamacare is flopping. Every discussion about what's happening in Washington should start with that admonition. Congress got yet another dose of reality in recent days when insurance giant Aetna pulled out of Virginia's health exchanges for 2018.

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All eyes are on pre-existing conditions. Obamacare is simple: Insurers have to cover people with pre-existing conditions and can't charge them more. The GOP bill is more complicated. Insurers still would have to cover people with pre-existing conditions. But states could apply for waivers so insurers could charge more to customers with pre-existing conditions  if those people let their insurance coverage lapse. States that waive the pre-existing condition rule also would have to set up high-risk pools for the sickest people, or participate in programs that subsidize insurance companies to lower premiums for everyone. This isn't a radical notion; before Obamacare, Illinois and many other states had these pools.

The GOP bill includes more than $100 billion for state-run high risk pools over several years. Will that be enough to cover everyone who needs it? Unclear. Senators, get an answer to this key question. People with serious pre-existing conditions that require expensive treatment need help paying bills more than they need low-premium insurance coverage. The flip side: With pools covering the highest-cost patients, premiums for other citizens could fall. In sum, high-risk pools can work  if they are adequately funded.

All eyes should also be on Medicaid. Medicaid soon could cost Illinois more  but that's not news. Obamacare's generous federal assistance enticed Illinois and many other states to massively expand their rolls. That federal honey pot couldn't last. The new GOP plan phases out that increased federal assistance starting in 2020. Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says the GOP bill "continues to be of deep concern." One reason: the potential impact on 650,000 residents who gained coverage via that Obamacare Medicaid expansion. Bottom line: Illinois needs to rethink its Medicaid program. Under Obamacare or its replacement, Washington likely won't be willing or able to keep paying nearly all of the expansion costs.

So, Senators, get to work. We've supported this effort because it provides Americans far more flexibility to buy the more affordable policies that people demand  not coverage the government mandates. Under this bill, for instance, states can redefine the "essential" health benefits insurers must offer. That could also trim costs substantially and lure young, healthy people to get insured.

We'll soon have an updated Congressional Budget Office estimate of how many Americans would be able to buy insurance under this legislation. That should help guide the Senate. CBO estimated that under an earlier House bill, 24 million fewer Americans would have insurance by 2026. That's daunting.

The even worse alternative: Lawmakers could stand back and let more insurers flee Obamacare. Let premiums, deductibles and co-pays keep rising. Let people keep losing access to their doctors and hospitals. That is, let Obamacare collapse. And let all those people scramble to find coverage, if they can.

A fourth thing we know: No one wants that.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.

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The GOP health care bill is nothing more than smoke and mirrors designed to fool the public, with not much more covered than free snake oil.

States can opt out from 10 essential benefits and protections under Obamacare. If a state opts out, then the employer-based plans could also opt out. Around two-thirds of the state governments are under control by the GOP. This should really concern people, since so many Republican governors have already tipped their hand about how they feel about protecting their constituents by rejecting Medicaid expansion under Obamacare.

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Let's be honest, many of these governors just don't care if their constituents die prematurely and unnecessarily. What will Illinois do? Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan don't talk to one another and can't pass a budget  not a very comforting prospect if you have pre-existing conditions.

How does moving people with pre-existing conditions into subsidized high-risk pools save the health care system, as a whole, any money? If taxpayers have to pay more to subsidize high-risk pools in order to keep down the cost of insurance premiums, there is no cost-saving unless these high-risk pools are woefully underfunded  and they will be. The GOP plan could cut out $600 billion in health care funding to be given away as a tax cut; this will somehow improve our health care system? By this logic we can strengthen the military by cutting the defense budget. Let's see how many Republicans would go along with this notion.

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Tom Price, secretary of Health and Human Services, assured us that all people would have "access" to health insurance. "Access" certainly does not mean affordable. According to the Center for American Progress, surcharges on top of premiums for a 40-year-old under the GOP health care bill could cost: $140,000 for metastatic cancer; $73,000 for lung, brain, and other severe cancers; $17,000 for pregnancy; $26,000 for rheumatoid arthritis; $5,600 for diabetes; and so on.

You can have your choice of unaffordable health care insurance plans  some choice. This is as good as nothing at all. In reality, pre-existing conditions and lifetime caps will metastasize and come roaring back under this bill. Maybe this is why the American Medical Association and most major medical associations, as well as the AARP, opposed this awful bill.

 Tom O'Brien, Lincolnwood
Winner: "Duct, duct, Bruce!" - Lynda Housa, Chicago

Extras:

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"Darn! I was supposed to catch MADIGAN on tape!"

Paul Lockwood, Woodstock

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"No one told me that this job would be so sticky"

Mike Scala Jr., Palatine

"If all else fails, read directions".

Jay Miklavcic, LaSalle

"Who gave Mendoza the duct tape?

Jim Burke, Indian Head Park

"I shoulda gone with the band-aid analogy."

Larry Bury

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"Outtakes from the Governor's latest political television spot!"

"This looked a lot easier in the television ad!"

Ted Pawela, Geneva

"No! I will NOT give up my seat!"

Crystal Sonin, Niles

"May we do another take? Duct tape commercials aren't as easy as they look."

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Bob Murphy, Aurora

As stated in the April 28,2017 Tribune by columnist Eric Zorn:

"How's that shakey-uppy stuff workin' out for ya?"

Mark Michaels, Arlington Heights

"This is very complicated! Who knew?"

Bob Anichini, Chicago

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"If it looks like a duct and walks like a duct....."

Mike Rourke, Chicago

"This government is duct'd up."

Richard Anderson, Chicago

"No wonder there isn't a state budget after two years - too many loose ends!"

Bob Ory, Elgin

"I've got this... Hold my beer!"

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Tim Van Nuys,, Mundelein

"Give me credit for my sticktoitiveness."

Pat Foley, Homer Glen
SENNETT  About 4.5 miles long and touching both Onondaga and Cayuga counties, Cross Lake sometimes gets forgotten, downstream of six of the larger Finger Lakes. The state Department of Environmental Conservation defines it as "basically a widening of the Seneca River," but that widening has multiple campgrounds and communities surrounding it, and they're becoming overrun with floodwaters.

Carl Wiezalis, a representative of the Central New York Waterways Inc., told members of the Cayuga County Water Quality Management Agency during its Thursday meeting that over the last month the lake's summer navigation levels were as high as 10 feet above normal. He drove in two feet of water to get to his camp site, which was flooded in several inches of water.

"It is pretty bad, which means the septic tanks are all flooded," he said. "The leach fields are all flooded, you know, and you have to deal with whatever the consequences of those organisms in the watershed might be. It's not inconsequential, and it costs the landowners thousands of dollars, and I think there's an attitude that if you can afford to own a camp on the lake, you can afford to absorb the costs associated with it, but it's finite, and most people do not have flood insurance. It's very, very, very uncomfortable."

The flooding is mostly a problem on the Cayuga County side, he said, because the elevation is lower. As of late the flooding has receded somewhat  now about five or six feet above summer navigation levels instead of 10, but Wiezalis sounded exasperated, unsure who to go to or what to do about the flooding. Mostly, he said, residents blame Cayuga Lake.

"We see it as a control issue, a coordination issue," he said. "The lake is really part of a big system, and the system has many ailments."

The Seneca River carries water discharge from Skaneateles, Owasco, Cayuga, Seneca, Keuka and Canandaigua Lakes, and all six of those lakes are operated by different organizations. For example, Cayuga Lake's discharges, said Bruce Natale, environmental engineer for the county, are controlled by the state Canal Corporation. Owasco Lake's are controlled by the city of Auburn, and the city of Syracuse controls Skaneateles Lake.

"That's one of the problems," Natale said, "is nearly every control point is run by someone else."

Hydroelectric power could also be a factor, he added. That's something Wiezalis had wondered about, considering that those operations benefit from certain water levels. He said he knows mother nature is playing a role with heavier rains and snow melt, but he's hoping the larger lakes will pay more attention to their discharges and how those contribute to the levels downstream.

With the Central New York Waterways' spring open house coming up later this month, Wiezalis said he fears it will turn into a Cross Lake complaint session. But, he said, there's a general feeling from residents that something can be done. That meeting, which will include guest speaker Howard Goebel, a canal hydrologist with the state Canal Corporation, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 17 at the Jordan Elbridge Community Center, 1 Route 31, Jordan.

In other news:

 The DEC's Finger Lakes Water Hub staff is now complete, Watershed Coordinator Aimee Clinkhammer announced on Thursday. Scott Cook, who has been with the DEC for many years and most recently with the Region 7 Water Resources, will be the director of the hub. His start date was Thursday, though he will be going through a transition period. Cook has been instrumental in leading the agency's Nonpoint Source Program, she said.

Also newly hired is a second research scientist, Anthony Prestigiacomo. Prestigiacomo comes to the DEC from the Upstate Freshwater Institute. He and Cook join Clinkhammer and Lewis McCaffrey, who is also a research scientist.
Low pressure moving up the Ohio River Valley dumped 3- to 4-inch rains downstate Thursday that ran off saturated soils into already swollen or flooded rivers. Up to an inch of rain kept many rivers in flood just south of Interstate 80.

On Friday, as the center of intensifying low pressure moves northeast through Ohio, strengthening north to northeast gales on Lake Michigan will drive 6- to 9-foot waves onto the Illinois and Indiana shoreline. Twelve- to 15-foot waves are possible mid-lake.

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Overnight, a cold front approaching from the north out of Canada will merge with the strong winds on the backside of the departing low pressure system, passing through our area toward morning, and preceded and accompanied by widespread showers. Cold temperatures in the 40s area-wide and gusty north winds will prevail Saturday.
Review: Texican

869 N. Larrabee St. 312-877-5441

Rating: ** stars (out of four)

Everything I know about Tex-Mex cuisine, I learned from Chi-Chi's. That a now-defunct (in the U.S.) chain founded in Richfield, Minn., was a source of Mexican culinary inspiration is weird, I know. But because of Chi-Chi's, guys like Rick Bayless had to explain why they didn't serve free chips and salsa at their authentic regional Mexican restaurants. For a Michigan kid like me, the only thing greater than free chips and salsa was endless Cheddar Bay biscuits at Red Lobster.

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I used to go to Chi-Chi's after homecoming dances with my high school posse, and my wife and I had our first date at the Ann Arbor Chi-Chi's. The chain still dishes up sizzling fajita platters in the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, China and Luxembourg. Someday, I will book a plane ticket to Belgium to relive my youth, but for now, I am only left with pasty Chi-Chi's brand grocery salsa to go with chips made by Hormel. Given all this, when I heard about Texican, a new spot where "Tex meets Mex" opening in West River North, I had visions of enchiladas dancing in my head.

The chef: Texican owner and chef Kim Dalton, formerly of the now defunct Fulton Market cult hot spot Dodo, is a self-taught cook.

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"I really learned from my mom," Dalton said. "She was really strict with the sweets, but if we helped her in the kitchen, we might be able to score a batch of brownies in the deal. She'd halve recipes and we'd learn to do the math to make them."

Her mother was Korean and her father was a "Swedish Irish Bostonian," and Dalton grew up with all kinds of interesting ingredients.

"I had a friend over once, and there was an octopus in our sink. My friend freaked out a little and told everyone about it at school. I was mortified," Dalton said.

Though she doesn't hail from Texas or Mexico, Dalton isn't half-assing some kind of bastardized Ladies Home Journal version of Tex-Mex.

"When we did Mexican at Dodo, people loved it," she said. "I love it. It's so comforting. So I read a lot and studied the cuisine. I'm not doing cream of mushroom soup King Ranch casserole, which was a Lady Bird Johnson recipe back in the day. Ours has tomato, red pepper, chicken stock and a little masa for thickening."

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The food: Indeed, the Texican King Ranch casserole ($8.50) is like a light Mexican lasagna. Rather than a gloppy creamy mess, it features crispy layers of El Milagro tortilla sandwiching silky tendrils of braised chicken breast redolent with sour cream and cheddar tang. It has a soulful carb-infused comfort that satisfied my Chi-Chi's yearnings.

Tacos feature flaky toasted quesadilla-like tortilla shells stuffed with plump butterflied Gulf shrimp ($9.95 for two) swimming in chipotle crema topped off with onion, cilantro and a side of limey neon pink slaw. There are also breakfast tacos ($3 each) overflowing with creamy scrambled egg curds and salty bits of queso fresco. Red and green table salsas at many Mexican spots are often oversalted, chili-riddled liquids that sear your tongue. But the ones at Texican, a creamy green chili and spicy but not overpowering red, are complex and balanced.

There are very few great chilis served in or near Chicago, even though if a corner shack pours it from a tin can into a warmer, the joint will declare that their chili is Chicago's award-winning best ever. My favorite until now has been Chuck's Red from Chuck's Southern Comfort's Cafe in Burbank. So thank the lord for Dalton's version ($6 cup; $7.50 bowl) which has a heady spice islands perfumethe result of toasting pasilla, guajillo, ancho and New Mexico chiles, blending them with fresh ground top round and throwing in some cumin, coriander and a funky touch of fish sauce. The bowl is topped with an island of sour cream, plump scallion rounds and tangles of shredded cheddar. A complimentary bag of Fritos is supplied for crunchy garnish. It is truly the best bowl of chili I have had in Chicago.

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The drink: Coffee freaks will appreciate the fresh-brewed La Colombe on offer, while soda and juice enthusiasts can have their fill of Mexican Coke or Boing! Juice, which packs an explosion of mango flavor.

French Toast bread pudding at Texican (Texican Chicago / Handout)

Dessert for breakfast: Though not Tex or Mex, the French Toast bread pudding ($7.50), featuring baked croissants oozing with bright lemon curd, fat blueberries and a vanilla-bean-spiked creme anglaise will fulfill all your sweet dessert and brunch fantasies.

Bottom line: Fusion cooking is often confusion cooking, but chef Kim Dalton of Texican has found a sweet spot melding the best of Texas and Mexico at Texican. Her food is nourishing, comforting and a bright spot in what has become a bit of a food desert following the closing of Japonais, Brasserie Ruhlmann and others. I used to work a few blocks away from Texican. If I still worked there, I'd probably drop by every day. Of course, Texican isn't Chi-Chi's. It's better.

Michael Nagrant is a RedEye freelancer. Reporters visit restaurants unannounced and meals are paid for by RedEye.
A Kendall County jury has ruled that the sheriff's office did not discriminate against former Corrections Deputy Carrie Warren based on her gender in firing her for untruthfulness.

"We are pleased the two-week trial is completed and the jury ruled in favor of the Kendall County Sheriff's Office, denying all of the plaintiff's claims," Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird, who was not yet sheriff when Warren was fired, said in a written statement.

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By the time it went to trial, the suit, which originally included more individual defendants, named Kendall County, along with four people: Cmdr. Sabrina Jennings, Chief Deputy Scott Koster, Baird, and former Sheriff Richard Randall, who held the office when Warren was fired.

Warren was terminated in March 2014 for lying about when she actually became aware she was released from jury duty, according to court filings. She was also untruthful regarding her knowledge of rules about jurors' use of cell phones, according to the complaint.

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During the trial, which concluded April 28, Warren's attorneys argued that she was fired over something for which a man would have received lesser discipline, while the defense maintained she was treated fairly.

"This is a situation where the (sheriff's office) terminated Ms. Warren because she lied," sheriff's office attorney Julie Bruch said in closing arguments, according to court transcripts.

Bruch, Bhairav Radia and Karin Anderson, all with the firm O'Halloran Kosoff Geitner & Cook LLC, worked on the defense, according to federal court records. Warren was primarily represented by Colleen M. McLaughlin and Gregory Scott Dierdorf, both with McLaughlin's law offices.

From the beginning, McLaughlin framed the case as being about two workplace rules: One, an employer can't treat employees differently because of their gender; and two, employers can't retaliate or allow management to retaliate against employees who exercise their right to report or complain about a workplace condition.

In the final day of the trial, Dierdorf said the sheriff's office disciplined Warren more harshly than men who engaged in similar conduct.

"The parties will never see eye to eye on what happened here," Dierdorf said, echoing McLaughlin's earlier statement that the case involved classic "he-said, she-said" situations.

In the complaint, filed in January 2015 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, Warren accused the sheriff's office of violating part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discriminating against her based on gender and retaliating against her for complaining about the alleged discrimination, along with a hostile work environment. Warren sought both relief and damages.

"Throughout her entire employment at the KCSO, Warren was subjected to sexist language designed to demean and humiliate women," the complaint alleged.

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In their answer, lawyers for the sheriff's office denied any discrimination or retaliation against Warren, along with her claims about the work environment.

"The sheriff's office held Ms. Warren accountable for her deliberate misconduct, and you need to support that decision and the future integrity of the sheriff's office," Bruch told the jury in closing, asking them to return a verdict in her party's favor.

After less than three hours of deliberation, the verdict was returned, with the jury favoring the sheriff's office on all claims and leaving the "damages" page blank.

"The sheriff's office thoroughly investigates complaints of misconduct and takes prudent and reasonable action to protect the rights of all parties involved while holding employees accountable and issue discipline where warranted," Baird said.

Employees participate in a training and education program that includes best practices in law enforcement and workplace conduct, according to the statement.

Warren's attorneys did not return messages seeking comment.

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hleone@tribpub.com

Twitter @hannahmleone
The West Aurora School District 129 board will return to the drawing board for the demolition of a building to make way for a new early learning center.

The facility is planned on the new district campus on West Downer Place on the city's West Side using funds from an $84.2 million building referendum approved by voters in April 2015.

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The campus has the district administrative offices at 1877 W. Downer Place. The Weisner Family Career Technical Center is planned as well for the campus.

Aurora-based architects Cordogan Clark & Associates has recommended the district reject three bids for the interior demolition of the old Advocate Dreyer Medical Clinic facility because the bids came in higher than anticipated. The new early learning center would go on that site.

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The architect recommended revising the project to bring the cost in line with what the district has budgeted for the demolition.

"A revision to the documents and scope of work is recommended to better align the cost with the budget," the letter said.

The lowest bid received for the project was $1,000,069 from KLF Enterprises of Markham. The next two low bids were from LJ Dodd of Oswego at $1,009,000 and Lite Construction of Montgomery at $1,017,515, according to the architect's letter.

Angie Smith, assistant superintendent of operations, said the proposed timelines and the level of details pertaining to asbestos abatement in the bid specifications likely impacted the higher-than-anticipated bids.

"We are going to provide more information, lengthen the timelines so it won't require as much overtime and rebid the project," Smith said.

Smith said a vast majority of the interior of the old clinic will be demolished and renovated for educational purposes.

Smith said it was explained during the referendum that the district has more of a demand for prekindergarten education than the district has available space. Uncertainty in state funding will be a factor in the district's offerings.

"Prekindergarten is currently not mandated by the state of Illinois, but we have been able to use both state and federal grant funding to grow our program over the last few years," Smith said.

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"It is unclear right now what the future of that funding looks like as both at the state and federal levels, there has been talk about changes in education funding. Since we don't currently have a state budget for this year or next, it's hard to know what prekindergarten funding might look like once the center is open," Smith said.

She said the building is roughly 90,000 square feet. In addition to the early learning center, it will house the district's transition programming for students with special needs that receive district programming until they turn 22 years old. The district's Success Academy, which is an alternative school, will be housed in the building, as well as other programming, such as the Pathways to Prosperity classes.

The Weisner Family Career Technical Center will be housed in a newly built structure on the district campus.

The center will host classes with more specialized equipment and larger space needs such as welding.

"We are working on the exact scope of programming with our local business and industry leaders," Smith said.

Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
Buffalo Grove resident Brenda Field works as an English teacher and journalism adviser at Glenbrook South High School. (Courtesy of Brenda Field / HANDOUT)

Buffalo Grove resident Brenda Field can quote whole sections of text from memory when asked to explain Illinois laws on high school students' free-speech rights and student journalism.

Field, who works as an English teacher and journalism adviser at Glenbrook South High School overseeing the annual production of the school's yearbook, The Etruscan, did help write a state law that expanded student journalists' rights.

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And on April 28, Field was one of the inductees to the Illinois Journalism Education Association's Hall of Fame, along with Stan Zoller, a journalism instructor at Lake Forest College.

Both contributed to the "Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act," which was signed into law last summer and strengthened the ability of teens to report controversial stories in school-run media.

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The association last month also honored Field with its James A. Tidwell Award for Excellence in Scholastic Media Education.

Despite her penchant for memorization, when asked to explain what an Etruscan was, Field relied on a common tool used by journalists  the internet. With a few clicks, she learned about an ancient civilization that covered the area around Tuscany, Italy, called the Etruscans.

Q: Student journalism will always be a tough balance because the kids are using computers and newsprint purchased by the taxpayers. How do you show your students that, yeah, the administrators might hold the power?

A: That's a complicated question, and it's very situational. Our job as advisers really is to teach kids the foundational principles and help kids make ethical decisions on a case-by-case basis as they present themselves.

Q: The GBS mascot is a Greek deity. Was an Etruscan some kind of god?

A: I'm not really sure why they made that leap when they were naming the yearbook other than I found a piece of paper when we were doing the 50th anniversary book, and they had a school-wide vote. And this was a civilization that really cared about learning. It really has nothing to do with titans, other than, you know, it's ancient.

Q: How does it feel to be in an actual, legitimate hall of fame?

A: There's some pictures on a wall at the journalism department at Eastern Illinois University. To be honest, the thing that's meant the most to me is the work we did on this law. A lot of legislators came out during our meetings and said, 'I was on my student newspaper,' and they talked about what student journalism has done for them.

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Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.

rwachter@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer
A car moves south on Milwaukee Avenue past where Tower Parkway will meet the new Riverside Road. Construction is ongoing to add new lanes and traffic lights to the intersection. (Ronnie Wachter / Pioneer Press)

Although motorists driving near the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Riverside Road in Lincolnshire may encounter partial lane closures for the next few months, a recently started road construction project shouldn't burden village taxpayers, according to officials.

That's because the upgrades tied to a new residential development in the area are being paid by the developer of the new residences, said village engineer Wally Dittrich.

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"It's great any time we can get brand new infrastructure at no cost," he said. "The developers are paying for all of this."

Crews started work April 24 near the intersection after village board members last year approved the relocation of Riverside Road's intersection with Milwaukee Avenue.

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The new entry to Riverside Road now will be about 100 feet to the south, joining an existing intersection with Tower Parkway that is controlled by traffic lights, Dittrich said.

For the road project, the Illinois Department of Transportation agreed to install a right-hand turn lane from northbound Milwaukee Avenue into the new Riverside entry, along with a new left-hand turn lane on southbound Milwaukee Avenue.

The existing traffic lights that have long regulated the intersection of Tower Parkway and Milwaukee Avenue also will be replaced with newer models and more arrows to control the wider intersection, he said.

Construction on the project could take up to three months, Dittrich said. Crews will do their best to keep the packed route open during rush hours and are trying to limit partial lane closures near the intersection to between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., he said.

The road work is tied to a nearly completed 86-unit, 20-acre residential development called Camberley Club that is being built by Pulte Homes at the new southeast corner of Riverside Road and Milwaukee Avenue.

The land previously had been unincorporated, while the road had been maintained by Vernon Township. But Lincolnshire trustees annexed both to move the residential project forward.

Construction on a second residential development, immediately east of Camberley Club and toward the dead end of the mile-long Riverside Road, also soon could be happening.

KZF Development and Stack Real Estate LLC have won preliminary approval from the Lincolnshire Village Board for their proposed Lincolnshire Trails, which could bring 44 new townhouses to 14600 Riverside Road.

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For the ongoing roadwork, Pulte Homes agreed to pay $825,000 for the work to Milwaukee Avenue and $250,000 for the work to Riverside Road, Dittrich said. The developer agreed to cover the work last year through impact fees, as part of its deal with Lincolnshire officials.

Pulte also is planning to rebuild and widen the aging blacktop surface on Riverside Road, from its new entry east to where Lincolnshire Trails could be added, to accomodate two full lanes, he said

If KZF Development and Stack Real Estate win final approval for their project, Dittrich said, they will be responsible for a similar widening, back to the dead end of Riverside Road at the Des Plaines River Trail jogging path.

"When you have new development, you want to make sure that the developer pays for what they're bringing," he said.

His crews simultaneously are overseeing an upgrade of a different jogging trail, just north of Route 22, which connects with the Des Plaines River Trail. Once those two projects are complete, Dittrich said the remaining local construction projects for the summer should be simple.

"It's just maintenance after this," he said.

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rwachter@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer
Sean Mahoney performs in "Syzygy," one of the pieces Paul Taylor Dance Company will present May 13 at Moraine Valley Community College's Fine and Performing Arts Center's Dorothy Menker Theater in Palos Hills. (Photo courtesy of Paul B. Goode)

At age 17 Sean Mahoney juggled high school commitments with auditioning for New York-based Paul Taylor Dance Company.

Although he did not make that cut, he was an inaugural member of Taylor 2, a small company established in 1993 by choreographer Paul Taylor to perform his work worldwide.

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"I happened to be one of the guys they requested. It was a bit of a shock. I graduated on June 20th. June 21st we left for tour," said Mahoney via phone while on tour in San Francisco.

He made it to that point thanks, in part, to an aunt, who used to dance for Pilobolus, suggesting he pursue dance; his construction worker father, John, taking adult beginner ballet and performing in "The Nutcracker" with his son; and his mother, Cynthia, working at Princeton Ballet School to pay for tuition.

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Mahoney is one of the senior members of Paul Taylor Dance Company, which performs May 13 at Moraine Valley Community College's Fine and Performing Arts Center's Dorothy Menker Theater in Palos Hills.

"Starting with the company, you're just wide-eyed and eager. You want to do anything 110 percent the whole way. The older you get, the more mature you become while you're dancing. You realize there are nuances to Taylor that you don't find anywhere else," Mahoney said.

"It's very subtle at first if you're not quite sure what you're looking for or how to even explain it  the use of the back, the groundedness, the spirals and the swings you create with your body. You understand there's a reason behind it.

"You can't tell somebody what that is. As a mature dancer, it's about being efficient. It's about showing grace and beauty with the ability to then take off costumes and 10 minutes later you're back on stage in a completely different realm."

Billed as among the greatest living pioneers of American modern dance, Taylor has choreographed more than 144 dances since creating his dance company in 1954.

"Reading music, you see it and you can interpret it any way you want regardless of what the composer has asked for," said Mahoney who accompanies classes at the Taylor School as a musician and is also bassist for the rock band Heroes Die.

"With Paul Taylor, he forces you to see music in a different way."

Three dances will be performed in the Southland.

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First performed in 1978, "Airs" is set to music by George Frideric Handel.

"It's gorgeous, beautiful music. As I'm dancing I notice there's other things I wouldn't have heard if I was stepping on the beat. It's the ghost notes that happen in the background," said Mahoney, who began dancing at age 12 and trained with Fred Knecht.

"I don't know if Taylor does it on purpose or it's just a feeling he has or the need to have us off-balance and not to be too comfortable so we are actively participating in the movement."

"Lines of Loss" was first performed in 2007.

"There's a lot of emotion involved in the dance but it's not about emotion. It's just a big thing like loss of control, loss of self, loss of ideals and goals," said Mahoney, who was a featured dancer for American Repertory Ballet where he began as an apprentice.

"One of the hardest things to do is tell a nonnarrative story without the use of text. In this case there are solos and duets and where you feel this certain uneasy tone. The more you watch it, you realize this is the theme. It must be other regret or sadness."

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"Syzygy" was first performed in 1987.

"The last dance is one of my favorites. Syzygy is the alignment of two or more celestial bodies so that's more of a galactic scale, a universal scale," said Mahoney, who debuted with Paul Taylor Dance Company in January 2004.

"For anybody who isn't familiar with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, this performance is amazing. It starts off with a classical modern dance, then to the obscure and finally it's thrown in your face with crazy movement," Mahoney said.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

"It's so energetic. This is an incredible program to check out and see what other types of modern dance are out there."

Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

Paul Taylor Dance Company

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When: 7:30 p.m. May 13

Where: Moraine Valley Community College's Fine and Performing Arts Center's Dorothy Menker Theater, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills

Tickets: $30 general public; $25 students, senior citizens and staff

Information: 708-974-5500, www.morainevalley.edu/fpac (click Mainstage Series under Season Overview) or www.ptamd.org
Family and friends gathered to celebrate the life of 17-month-old Semaj Crosby. May 5, 2017. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

Family, friends and community members on Friday morning comforted one another as they paid their last respects at services for a 17-month-old girl found dead last week in her Joliet Township home.

Hundreds of mourners filed past the body of Semaj Crosby, which was in a white casket at Prayer Tower Ministries Church of God in Christ in Joliet.

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The girl's parents, Sheri Gordon and James Crosby, hugged one another as they stood before their daughter's body. Choir members sang songs, and letters of support for the family sent from other area churches were read.

Pastor Warren Dorris told the mourners that they should "not let (Semaj's) life be in vain."

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The girl's death remains under investigation, according to the Will County sheriff's office.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 11 Family members of Sema'j Crosby cry and hug upon the closing of her casket during her funeral at Prayer Tower Ministries in Joliet on May 5, 2017. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Authorities discovered her body under a couch in her home in the early hours of April 27. The girl was first reported missing April 25, and authorities believed she had wandered off. Authorities, family and volunteers spent two days searching for the girl before she was found.

The girl's death prompted criticism of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from a Will County judge and others. The agency had been investigating complaints of neglect involving the family and had been at the home on Louis Road just hours before Semaj disappeared.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Before the service, Dorris called for accountability in the girl's death.

"Whatever happened to this child, whoever is responsible for this ... needs to be held accountable," he told reporters before visitation began.

Authorities have not charged anyone in the girl's death. After an autopsy was conducted last week, officials said additional information, including toxicology reports, was needed before the coroner's office could rule on a cause of death. Will County sheriff's officials said there were no visible signs of blunt-force trauma on the girl's body.

Dorris said the death should prompt the community to challenge itself "to do better."

Mourners expressed their sadness over Semaj's passing.

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"I'm just heartbroken," said Lisa Conrad, who said the family once stayed in the hotel where she works. "I just can't imagine."

This article has been updated to reflect Semaj Crosby's correct age.
Rima Najia from Arab American Family Services talks about immigrant rights during a recent presentation at Richards High School in Oak Lawn while Richards science teacher Shurook Abdeljaber assists a community member. (Bob McParland photo)

Teachers in a southwest suburban high school district noticed their immigrant students have been worried about being harassed or deported since they heard about President Donald Trump's plans to clamp down on immigration earlier this year.

So staff members at Community High School District 218 banded together to bring an immigration rights coalition, a social service agency and education organizations to Richards High School in Oak Lawn recently for a Know Your Rights workshop.

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The workshop included tips on what families and school officials should know if they have any encounters with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

"I know it's a worry they have. I also know from our Latino population that some are worried about their parents as well," said Rahaf Othman, a social studies teacher and Unity Club sponsor at the school who suggested the workshop to administrators. "As a teacher, if my students are concerned, I am concerned."

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Othman said many of her Muslim students also felt "targeted" because of recent efforts at the federal level to enact travel restrictions on people from some Middle Eastern countries. Othman said she and her colleagues hoped to help educate people about their rights and "hopefully ease some fears in the process."

"If the government ever tries to come to get you, even if you are here legally, you still want to know what your rights are and how to respond to the government (agents)," Othman said.

Several dozen parents and community members attended the workshop, which was organized and run by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Arab American Family Services, the National Education Association and the Illinois Education Association. The workshop was held in Arabic in one room and in Spanish with an English translation in another to accommodate families in the district.

Luis Huerta-Silva, a regional trainer with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said people have basic rights under the U.S. Constitution, regardless of their immigration status.

If dealing with ICE agents, Huerta-Silva said, people should give only their name and date of birth, not answer questions about nationality and not open the door unless they were shown a warrant for arrest.

"Just watch what you say because whatever you say can be used against you," Huerta-Silva said. "Don't ever sign any document you don't understand."

He also told the audience to memorize English phrases they might need, such as "I wish to make a phone call" and "I wish to speak with a lawyer."

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People also should have an action plan, including designating a family member to take care of children and storing medical and immigration documents in a safe place, Silva said. He gave attendees the coalition's "rights card," which has helpful English phrases and a hotline number for help.

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After listening to Rima Najia, immigration and development coordinator for Arab American Family Services, give a similar talk in Arabic, several attendees said the session helped reassure them about their rights.

District officials plan to consider a resolution drafted by the National Education Association and immigrant groups to create a "safe school zone" for immigrants, with a clause stipulating that requests from ICE agents be given to the superintendent's office to determine if entry is legal.

"Our goal is to empower and educate our communities about their rights so they can better advocate for their families," said Gladys Marquez, an English-language learner teacher in the district as well as a National Education Association board member. Marquez recently won a civil rights award from the Illinois Education Association for her efforts to fight deportations deemed as unfair and create a "safe and nurturing environment" for students.

National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen Garcia said the workshops, which are taking place nationwide, are crucial.

"We believe that all students deserve the support, tools and opportunity to learn and thrive with safety and dignity," Garcia said. "That's because we know a child's chances for success should not depend on living in the right ZIP code or on where they or their parents were born."

Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Kathleen Barber's novel, "Are You Sleeping" is set in fictional Elm Park, Ill., which bears a strong resemblance to her hometown of Galesburg. And it is about a hit podcast that reopens a murder case and threatens to unravel the life of the victim's daughter.

I was eager to read the novel because I, too, grew up in Galesburg and, interestingly enough, produced a true-crime podcast that rose to No. 2 on the iTunes charts this year.

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Needless to say, the book spoke to me.

Barber is a delightful writer who has produced a taut thriller that will leave you wondering the identity of the killer.

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My prediction: the book is destined for the New York Times best seller list.

The book revolved around the murder of Elm Park College Professor Chuck Buhrman. (The fictional liberal arts college seems an awful lot like Galesburg's Knox College.)

When I asked Barber about the apparent similarities between our hometown and the setting of the book she said, "You write about what you know. Many things in the book don't reflect my experiences. For example, I have a wonderful mother. But I found it helpful to base the town on a place I knew."

And for a Galesburg native many of the places were easy to discern. For example, the hoity toity people living in McMansions on a nearby lake reminded me of a few swells I know residing near Galesburg's Lake Rice. Oh, and the Last Call tavern sounds an awful lot like the Cherry Street Restaurant and Bar in the 'Burg.

But for me the most intriguing figure was Poppy Parnell the journalist who produced a podcast investigating Professor Buhrman's murder. She becomes convinced that Warren Cave, the neighbor convicted in the murder, is innocent.

And Parnell hunts down the various parties in the case to find out the truth. Parnell is not only one of the book's most interesting characters, she is also its most annoying.

I see a bit of Parnell in myself.

As the protagonist, Josie, and her twin Lanie mourn the unexpected death of their mother. Parnell peppers them with questions not only on the phone and on their front porches  but at their mother's visitation.

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I feel for Parnell. While creating the podcast "Suspect Convictions" with the NPR affiliate WVIK, I too, investigated a murder. My case revolved around the death of a 9-year-old Rock Island girl named Jennifer Lewis, who died in 1990.

The 17th and final episode of this season of Suspect Convictions comes out this month. It has been downloaded more than 2.5 million times.

While gathering information for this podcast, I knocked on many doors. Sometimes I was welcome and sometimes not. But you never know unless you knock.

I'm sure I asked many annoying questions, just like the book's Polly Parnell. Does that bother me? Nope. That's what good reporters do.

Polly Parnell is vindicated at the end. I hope I am as well.

"Suspect Convictions can be downloaded for free on iTunes and most other podcasting platforms. And "Are You Sleeping" can be preordered on Amazon now and will be available in bookstores Aug. 1.

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Scott Reeder, a veteran statehouse journalist, works as a freelance reporter in the Springfield area and produces the podcast Suspect Convictions.
The Rev. John Rochford, who served as pastor of St. Emeric Catholic Church in Country Club Hills from 1972 until his retirement in 1991, is shown in an undated photograph. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown)

One way to measure the strength of a community is by how well it takes care of its elders.

Older people have a lot to share: Wisdom, experience, knowledge. People who value such traits show they care about others, that they want to build upon past accomplishments to create a better future.

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A local faith community on Sunday is celebrating a former pastor's 70 years in the priesthood. St. Emeric Catholic Church in Country Club Hills is honoring the Rev. John Rochford with a Mass and reception.

I met Rochford, 95, on Wednesday, the 70th anniversary of his 1947 ordination. He's the last surviving member of his class at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.

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I visited Rochford where he resides at Holy Family Villa in Palos Park, a 129-bed nursing and rehabilitation center administered by Catholic Charities. It's a beautiful setting bordered by forest preserves. On nice days, some residents sit outside and enjoy the peaceful sounds of birds and other wildlife.

Rochford gets around in a wheelchair these days, but he's in relatively good health. He seemed sharp, witty and friendly as we carried on a 30-minute conversation. I asked him to what did he attribute his longevity.

"It runs in the family," he told me. "My mother died at 97. They've always told me the Rochfords seem to last a long time. Maybe that's because we don't cause any trouble."

Rochford was born in 1921 on Chicago's South Side. He attended St. Joachim's Grammar School at 700 E. 91st St. and Quigley Preparatory Seminary. He shared a funny story about a time he returned to St. Joachim for a confirmation ceremony conducted by the Chicago Archdiocese's late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin.

"Cardinal Bernardin told a story that broke up the whole place," Rochford said. "He was going up the elevator with a young lady who was going to make her confirmation."

When the cardinal mentioned the name of her school, Rochford said the girl told Bernardin, "Your eminence, when we say Joachim, at the same time we usually punch somebody."

Rochford said his family didn't have a lot of money when he was a child growing up during the Great Depression. But, he said, they did OK. His father always had a job and worked for many years as a streetcar motorman.

"I remember him stuffing paper into his galoshes during cold weather because he was out in front," Rochford told me. Later, he said, his father worked as a security guard at Mercy Hospital on south Michigan Avenue.

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"He kept working all his life," Rochford said.

I imagined what it must have been like for Rochford to begin working as a priest at age 25 in 1947, soon after the end of World War II. A lot has changed in the Catholic Church since then. Prior to the Vatican II reforms of the 1960s, priests used to say Mass in Latin, with their backs to the congregation.

A biography in a program for Sunday's celebration said Rochford's first assignment was at St. Mark Church in Chicago. He then served at St. Bartholomew, St. Raymond de Penafort in Mount Prospect and was chaplain at Alexian Brothers Medical Center.

I asked Rochford about how greater numbers served in the priesthood back then, when several priests typically were assigned to a parish and shared a rectory.

"We always had several priests living together in a house," he said. "That was a lot of fun."

Rochford seemed modest and humble, like a dutiful servant who did his job well but was reluctant to sound boastful about any accomplishments.

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"I was fortunate to have easy jobs," he said. "I was not too heroic. The parishes I worked at were all reasonably funded. I never had to do a huge fundraising operation. I never had to build a church, or school, or even a rectory. Maybe a new roof. It wasn't too difficult."

St. Emeric Parish was founded in 1960, and Rochford was its second pastor, according to a history published on the church's website. Rochford was pastor from 1972 until his retirement in 1991.

"Father Rochford's years were marked by racial change in Country Club Hills," according to the website. "While many were threatened by this, others were anxious to welcome all believers to Saint Emeric. This is the greatest part of Father Rochford's legacy to our parish."

I asked Rochford about how he is credited for leading by example and spreading a message of inclusiveness.

"We managed to convince some of the black Catholics they should take part in different activities  serve as Eucharistic ministers and ushers," Rochford recalled. "They became part of the community. A lot of parishes were losing people back then and combining with other parishes."

Embracing the community's newer residents was a way to ensure the parish's survival, he told me.

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"You didn't have as many Catholics going to Mass anymore," Rochford said. "We decided we weren't going to resist, but rather to welcome."

I learned of the celebration for Rochford from Mike and Marge Gleason, longtime St. Emeric parishioners.

"Father Rochford is a humble, spiritual leader who did many things quietly to help others. He continues to inspire us," Marge Gleason said.

"He is a man of many talents that led the faith community of St. Emeric with dedication and respect to all," said Mike Gleason, who Rochford asked to join the parish's council and finance committee in1975. "I witnessed his pastoral leadership over the 19 years he served St. Emeric."

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At age 95, Rochford is among the oldest living priests in the Chicago Archdiocese, but not the oldest. That designation belongs to the Rev. George McKenna, 97, who lives at the Bishop Lyne Residence, a facility adjacent to Holy Family Villa where Rochford lived until 2012.

After his retirement from St. Emeric in 1991, Rochford continued to serve weekend Masses for many years at St. John Catholic Church in Glenwood.

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The Mass celebrating Rochford's 70 years in the priesthood is at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at St. Emeric, 4330 W. 180th St., Country Club Hills. A $25 donation is requested for the reception in the church hall following the Mass.

At the end of our conversation, a caregiver at Holy Family Villa asked Rochford if he had any words of wisdom to share with readers.

"God is good," he said. "Count on it, and trust in God."

tslowik@tribpub.com

Twitter @tedslowik
From left, University Park Trustees Larry Brown and Milton Payton, newly elected Trustee Curtis McMullan and Trustee Joseph E. Roudez III engage in an awkward exchange on May 3, 2017. McMullan asserted he should begin his term of office that night but agreed to silently observe after trustees told him he could not participate in a village board meeting. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown)

Watching a south suburban village board in action this week felt like glimpsing a future where, if elected representatives constantly fight with one another, basic government services could break down.

I think the situation in University Park shows how bad things can get when elected officials don't get along.

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Over the past five years, the village board has split into factions. The conflict has apparently led to bickering and a lack of civility among board members, I witnessed during a special board meeting Wednesday night.

The repercussions are serious. A review of board meeting minutes for the past five years reveals high staff turnover with what seems like a revolving door of village attorneys, finance directors, village managers and other senior administrators.

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A lack of fiscal restraint by village leaders has meant years of budget deficits, which has led to borrowing and a deterioration of services. Several village streets are in bad shape and weeds grow tall on village property. Signs of disrepair are plainly visible.

A stronger tax base would help the community of 7,000 residents, but minutes show disagreements among elected leaders apparently has discouraged business and economic development.

The village board meets in a former Family Dollar store in a largely vacant retail center next to village hall. Residents spoke Wednesday night about how good folks are moving out and apparent troublemakers are moving in.

Some spoke of hearing gunfire more regularly and mentioned the weekend shooting homicide of Rodney Reed, a 25-year-old University Park native and Crete-Monee High School graduate.

I was most impressed by residents who seemed determined to take back their community. They chastised trustees for apparent financial mismanagement and poor decision-making.

"It's an embarrassment," said Diane Green, who added she is rebuilding her home after it burned down in December. Looters broke into the fire-damaged residence and stole copper piping and appliances, she said.

"I don't come to meetings often but when I do there's a lot of arguments, there's a lot of disrespect for this mayor," Green said.

"You guys stink," she told trustees. "You are useless. There's no reason in this world we should be in the bind we're in, especially when we pay $10,000 a year in taxes. It's ridiculous."

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A majority of trustees have been at odds with Mayor Vivian Covington and recently called for her resignation. Covington was first elected in 2011 and her current term expires in 2019.

Residents took advantage of the opportunity to vent frustration during public comment.

"You're supposed to be here to solve problems, not act like children, little spoiled kids," resident Johnny Rice told the board. "Enough's enough. I'm glad to get new people in here."

The "new people" are three incoming independent trustees who defeated three Democratic incumbents during the election April 4. Curtis McMullan  the top vote-getter  Theaplise "Theo" Brooks and Elizabeth "Liz" Williams are set to be sworn in May 9 during the board's next regularly scheduled meeting.

An awkward exchange unfolded before the start of Wednesday night's special meeting. University Park election results were certified April 25 by clerks in Cook and Will counties, verifying that trustees Larry "L.B." Brown, Joseph E. Roudez III and Keith J. Griffin lost their bids for re-election.

The Illinois Municipal Code states, "the terms of elected municipal officers shall commence at the first regular or special meeting of the corporate authorities after receipt of the official election results from the county clerk."

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That would seem to mean the new trustees should have taken the oath of office Wednesday night, and McMullan asserted his election victory by taking a seat at the board table. Other trustees told McMullan he could sit there but not participate, and McMullan silently observed proceedings alongside the outgoing trustees.

A representative of Attorney General Lisa Madigan said no formal complaint was made challenging the legality of Wednesday's meeting.

"We have not received a request for an opinion on that issue," Annie Thompson, Madigan's press secretary said in response to my query on the matter.

The Municipal Code goes on to say newly elected municipal officials can be sworn in as late as June so long as the municipality approves an ordinance setting a later inauguration date, though University Park did not approve such an ordinance.

At the meeting, village officials acknowledged improperly borrowing from tax increment financing, or TIF, funds.

Towns can borrow from TIF funds so long as they approve ordinances formalizing the fund transfers, Johnna Townsend, University Park's acting village manager, told trustees Wednesday night. The board voted 4-2 Wednesday to borrow $1,820,000 in TIF revenues to pay for a forensic audit and other bills.

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"In the past we did not borrow from TIFs properly," Townsend said. "We're starting down the right path."

The ordinance, as written, called for borrowing $1.7 million. Trustees, however, noted a mistake in the draft that neglected to include $120,000 for the forensic audit in the total.

Trustees discussed borrowing $40,000 each from three different TIF funds, but an error in the subtotal put the amount at $80,000 instead of $120,000, and the ordinance had to be amended to add the $120,000 to the total.

The forensic audit is being conducted to determine to what extent the village improperly borrowed from TIF funds over the years, Townsend said.

One of the those funds  TIF V  was created in 2010 when Clorox International relocated a facility to University Park from Minooka. Clorox is now suing University Park, seeking $4 million it says the village owes in rent reimbursements as part of the 2010 agreement.

U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman on April 28 signed an order enjoining University Park "from distributing or transferring any funds" from the TIF V account, pending resolution of the legal dispute with Clorox.

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My review of meeting minutes shows that on Jan. 24, representatives of IRH financial consultants met with the board to update their review of bank statements, TIF accounts and other fiscal issues from mid-2014 through the end of 2016.

"IRH President Irma Holloway reported that they have been working diligently to get our financial records up to date, noting that our financial records were in a mess," the minutes said.

I found evidence of disputes among elected trustees dating back at least five years. On March 26, 2013, Trustee Milton Payton sought to table approval of minutes from the board's March 5, 2013 session, claiming the meeting violated the Open Meetings Act.

Payton recommended "to Mayor Covington that they sue the majority" of trustees, and that "the majority would not be able to use the village attorneys," and "that the village would not have to pay for their attorneys since it is their claim that the majority acted outside their duties," the minutes said.

Payton's motion to table approval of minutes was voted down.

A month earlier, on Feb. 12, 2013, minutes show Covington vetoed two ordinances the board majority approved to terminate leases with two businesses  PK's Restaurant and Banquet Hall and PK's Christian Learning Center  located in the shopping center where the village board holds its meetings.

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Covington said "the village board did not engage in any reasonable negotiations with the tenants at these facilities or offer them reasonable terms and conditions to remain in their facilities," and that "simply kicking active businesses out of the Town Center is not in the best interests of this community," minutes said.

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I think it's going to be difficult for University Park to right its ship, get its financial house in order and attract new businesses that will help get the community back on track. More recent actions indicate the village is critically low on cash.

Minutes show the board held an "emergency" meeting on Feb. 1 for the sole purpose of transferring $77,000 from its Town Center Fund to the Payroll Fund, and another "emergency" meeting on Jan. 14 to transfer $100,000 from the Employer's Expense Tax Fund to the Payroll Fund.

I didn't have the opportunity to question Covington or members of the board majority about the village's problems Wednesday night. The board wanted to discuss personnel matters in executive session. Since the space in the former Family Dollar store has no separate room for private discussions, a police officer asked residents and others attending the meeting to leave.

Despite the fiscal challenges, several University Park residents seem determined to correct past mistakes in their community. The town has tremendous potential. It's home to Governors State University, and a new interchange on I-57 at Stuenkel Road should encourage future economic development.

"I hope you work hard to get us back to where we were 10 years ago," Green told village officials.

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tslowik@tribpub.com

Twitter @tedslowik
Four Chicago college students recently learned a bit about Elgin's historic housing stock and had a chance to practice their videomaking skills as part of a project for Landmarks Illinois, an historic preservation non-profit.

The Kennedy-King College Media Communications Program students focused on the Bungalow Thematic Historic District. It is one of eight productions in the project, called "People Saving Places: Stories About the Importance of Place," showing how people are leveraging historic preservation to boost economic development, attract cultural heritage tourism, and increase pride of place, said Kaitlyn McAvoy, Landmarks Illinois communications manager.

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Four student interns -- Monique Harvey, Cedric Barksdale, Ennis Young and Jesse Ledbetter -- along with Kennedy-King College teaching assistant Laveta Moore and Landmarks Illinois staff traveled to Elgin on March 10.

"I didn't get to make the trip, but from working on this project, my impression of Elgin is the people involved pay amazing attention to detail and are committed to saving and preserving a piece of history," instructor Enid Wells said.

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Barksdale, who had been to Elgin before, said the project confirmed that the city is a warm place where people involved with preservation are passionate, trying to find resources and working to make such work inclusive.

Harvey worked as a camera operator, which gave her the opportunity to hone skills such as keeping still for at least 10 seconds while setting a shot and getting enough footage for illustrating points made in the piece.

Young said he enjoyed how the Elgin streets allowed for creating nice panning shots of the bungalows. Ledbetter oversaw interviews with those involved in the creating the historic district. Among the interviewees were Elgin History Museum Director Liz Marston, Elgin Historic Preservation Planner Christen Sundquist, Steve Stroud, who created www.elginbungalows.com/, an online database of historic bungalows, and bungalow owners Rebecca Hunter and Len Govednik.

"The students were good interviewers and made me feel comfortable in front of the camera," Marston said.

"The whole process was really exciting," Sundquist said. "The Kennedy-King College students were very professional and were so easy-going, which helped calm some nerves."

The video was ready in time for an April 21 screening in Ottawa, where it placed second among audience favorites, McAvoy said. Wells noted that each intern spent about 200 hours on the project.

"The logistics of bringing all those people together on one day so the students could travel to Elgin and capture all the footage they needed for the video took some serious planning. I will say, too, that it was windy and cold the day we were shooting in Elgin, and the students had to be outside for long periods of time to capture footage of the exteriors of the many bungalows in Elgin we wanted to showcase," McAvoy said.

Landmarks Illinois provided background information and research, helped formulate interview questions and planned all the behind-the-scenes logistics, but ultimately gave the students creative control on how to put the story together, she said.

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Other videos include a look at the restoration of Turner Hall, a former YMCA in Belleville; the preservation of the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home in Carbondale; the creation of a neighborhood conservation district in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood; the creation of cultural heritage tourism in the Starved Rock region around LaSalle and Ottawa; the rehabilitation of the Cornerstone Building in Peoria; Quincy residents Clare and Ken Goerlich preserving historic homes in their town; and the restoration of the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood.

"We ultimately chose projects that we believe demonstrate the wide variety of historic preservation efforts happening throughout Illinois and that tell the creative and inspiring stories of people saving places that add value to their lives," McAvoy said. "Not only were we able to capture different historic preservation stories this way, we gave the student interns an opportunity to see and experience new places in their state."

The interns were paid, with funding from Illinois Humanities and The Richard and Julia Moe Fund for Statewide and Local Partners, a fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, McAvoy said. Landmarks Illinois staff donated time to the effort, she said.

"The cost to Landmarks Illinois to produce the eight videos was about $27,000, or $3,400 each," McAvoy said, adding it plans to use them to advocate for historic preservation in Illinois and is encouraging local organizations to use them as a fundraising tool. They also are up on the group's YouTube channel.

The Elgin History Museum is using the movie segments on Facebook with a surprising number of views -- over 1,000, Marston said.

Landmarks also plans to using the videos to create adventures via the Vamonde app.

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"This is an urban storytelling app that uses videos, audio and text to tell stories and allow people to experience a place in a unique way," McAvoy said.

"In Elgin, we hope our video can help spread the word about the Thematic Historic Bungalow District and inform Elgin bungalow homeowners that they could apply to be included in the district and therefore be eligible for certain grants available through the city to help restore and maintain the historic character of their homes," she said.

Sundquist explained that a thematic historic district is not limited to a specific boundary as the more common historic district. It can be based on a type or style of architecture, such as a bungalow, or a function, such as firehouses or banks, she said.

Elgin's bungalow district was adopted by the city council in August 2015 and includes seven homes.

"The district brings awareness to Elgin's rich inventory of well preserved, turn-of-the-century bungalows," Sundquist said.

mdanahey@tribpub.com
BUFFALO  A quarter-century ago, only the most wild-eyed, optimistic, maybe slightly crazy visionary could have imagined the Buffalo of today: a modern, tech-oriented city that has transformed rubble into revitalization, taken a tired waterfront and made it a breathtaking walkway, and watched its museums grow from local treasures into major national attractions. This weekend, a forbidding 145-year-old mental institution reopens as a glittering hotel. With its General Mills plant and its colleges, Buffalo is more than ever a city of grain elevators and brain elevators. Optimism, along with the smell of Cheerios, is in the air.

It's a transformation that gives hope in an era of despair. For while distress, even hopelessness, is all around us, from Syria to North Korea and on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, Buffalo offers us a reminder that this is an unusual period of unresolved issues.

We have faced periods of difficulty, where the ultimate resolution of our challenges was never clear, many times before. We now know that the Union was preserved in the middle of the 19th century, but in 1861 that was no safe bet. We now know that the Allies prevailed in World War II, but in early 1942 that was not the least bit apparent. We now know that the walls of segregation, and the walls of Soviet-style communism, would fall, but in 1963 that was no sure thing.

So here are some of the open questions to which our grandchildren will know the answers, and, if we are lucky, may even wonder what all the worry was about:

 Global warming. Let's agree where there is broad agreement: Climate change is real, and a real threat to our lifestyle. High water, indeed a foot and a half higher than usual for springtime, along Lake Ontario in nearby Niagara County is causing grave concern around here, and while climate change may not be the reason  water-level controls and an especially wet spring may be the culprit  the effects are broadly similar: dramatic erosion of the lake bank, flooding at yacht clubs and boat slips, beach staircases swept away, a state of emergency in four lakeside towns.

President Donald J. Trump and environmentalists are at loggerheads (though  speaking of change  we should remember that the last major log drive in the continental United States occurred more than four decades ago in Maine, rendering that metaphor a historical artifact). Even so, the perils and opportunities are clear. Continued warming is a real danger, not to be underestimated; some populations of birds, fish and mammals have declined by more than half in about a half-century. But from Great Britain also comes small glimmers of hope based on conservationists' success in saving the saiga antelope, the echo parakeet and the giant panda. Small victories, but perhaps precursors.

 Confrontation with North Korea. President Barack Obama told his successor that North Korea, its angry fists full of nuclear weapons, would be his biggest challenge. He was right. The isolated nation probably does not have the capacity to reach even Hawaii by missile today, but soon will, with the West Coast vulnerable before the decade is out.

This is a serious threat to American security and to the American way of life, which would be shattered beyond recognition by a credible threat of nuclear attack. Washington knows that, but so does Pyongyang. Thus, this is what the Israelis call an existential crisis. It is imminent, and it may be unavoidable.

Right now we have no idea how this crisis will be resolved. It is likely that Trump and his North Korean counterpart have no idea either. But barring an unforeseen crisis elsewhere this may be the defining confrontation of the Trump administration. Like so much in this age of the digital and the disruptive, it is a problem that is essentially binary, the result being triumph or tragedy.

 The Trump presidency. The new president is caught between three competing interpretations: that his improvisational style and combative iconoclasm represent a meeting of the man and the moment; that he and Republican congressional leaders will be able to forge an uneasy but productive peace; and that his manners and impulses, political and personal, are a disgraceful aberration from presidential tradition.

His supporters point to the precedent of Harry Truman, often reviled during his presidency as out of his element, but now regarded as an elemental force and a successful chief executive. His detractors object to any argument that seeks to "normalize" his behavior. This represents the great divide in American life today. A solid majority of Americans, according to the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, disapprove of his performance. The gap between his approval and disapproval rates among independents has nearly tripled since February. That doesn't necessarily speak to his historical ratings, but it will affect his ability as president to perform well enough to boost his profile in history.

 America's role in the world. The president has spoken often of an "America first" approach to diplomacy, but in the past month has shifted dramatically, reacting to horrific pictures of victims of chemical-weapons attacks by intervening with air attacks.

 Whatever other virtues the 45th president possesses, he lacks the ability to craft a sharply defined philosophy. In this regard, but probably in no other, he resembles Franklin Roosevelt, whom Walter Lippmann derided as having a second-class intellect but who, as the 1930s financial crisis deepened and as world war approached and was prosecuted, developed strong thematic views.

It is no smarter to define Trump's worldview after 100 days than it would have been to define the worldview of John F. Kennedy after 100 days  a period that included the Bay of Pigs fiasco, followed in June by a disastrous summit with Nikita S. Khrushchev, who by Kennedy's own admission "beat the hell out of me," producing what the president told New York Times reporter James Reston was the "worst thing in my life. He savaged me."

It is the next several months, and perhaps the next year, that will provide hints of the Trump view of diplomacy and national security. My guess is that that view will be unrecognizable to today's analysts. That does not mean they will be comforted. It only means that they will be surprised.
Forest Preserve Commissioner and Diversity Committee Chairman Audrey Nixon (left) and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Percy Johnson (right), give the invocation during the 34th Annual Profiles In Excellence Black History Month Program on Sunday, February 5, 2017 at the Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago. (Mark Kodiak Ukena/Lake County News-Sun) (Mark Kodiak Ukena / Pioneer Press)

Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor will wait until after former board member Audrey Nixon's funeral this weekend to nominate her replacement.

"We will release info on Monday after the memorial and funeral events have passed," said county spokeswoman Jennie Vana in a text message Thursday.

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Nixon, who had been the longest-serving member of the board, was found dead in her North Chicago home April 27. She had dealt with several health issues in the last year. Lawlor remembered her as a "kind, diligent and gracious leader" who served on the board for more than 30 years. She joined the board in 1982 and was the longtime chair of the Law and Judicial Committee.

Nixon will lie in state Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Greenbelt Cultural Center at 1215 Green Bay Road in North Chicago. Community members are invited to pay their last respects, according to a news release from the county.

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A celebration service is scheduled to be held Saturday at First Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church at 1529 Elizabeth Ave. in North Chicago, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. and the service starting at 11 a.m. Lawlor will speak, along with Illinois Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. and former County Board member Angelo Kyle.

Lawlor, a Republican, must choose a Democrat to replace Nixon on the board, as Nixon was a Democrat. The board would then vote to confirm Lawlor's nomination.

Board anticipates more cuts

Anticipating cuts resulting from the ongoing state budget standoff in Springfield, Lake County will likely once again ask its departments to slash their spending by about 2 percent this year, said Barry Burton, the county's top administrator.

The County Board made the 2 percent department-wide cut last year, as well, and chose to un-freeze its property tax levy due to the uncertainty surrounding finances in the state capital. About $130 million in revenue comes to Lake County from or through the state, Burton said, and the county is anticipating that social service programs especially will be affected.

"We've been trying to be very fiscally conservative  and then be in a better position when the state solves their budget dilemma," Burton said.

The county's Financial and Administrative Committee also agreed to put a moratorium on new program requests from board members and county departments as leaders continue to try to tighten their belts. And the county last year offered veteran employees an early retirement incentive and planned on either eliminating the positions or replacing the workers with lower-paid entry-level employees.

"We're going to need to make some hard decisions," said committee member Steve Carlson at an April 26 meeting.

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The board approved its current $503 million budget, which included a $326 million operating fund, in November.

Committee approves road maintenance

With summer  and hence construction season  approaching, the Lake County Board is preparing to hand out millions of public works dollars for projects that will improve roads in communities such as Lake Villa, Gurnee and Round Lake.

The county's Financial and Administrative Committee on Wednesday approved a list of contracts and appropriations for plans to resurface and rebuild roads and improve drainage systems, forwarding the projects to the full board. Those projects would join a slew of similar transportation improvements the board passed last month.

Among the items approved in committee Wednesday were:

A contract with Peter Baker and Son Co. of Lake Bluff worth nearly $848,400 to resurface Greenleaf Street between Route 120 and Washington Street in Gurnee and Park City.

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Another contract with Peter Baker and Son for more than $1 million to resurface Grass Lake Road between Route 83 and Deep Lake Road in Lake Villa.

A contract for nearly $5 million with the Libertyville-based limited-liability company Lake County Grading to rebuild and widen Cedar Lake Road from Route 120 to Nippersink Road in Round Lake. The reconstruction will include a multi-use path, a water main, sanitary sewer work and stream bank stabilization.

An appropriation of about $2.3 million to resurface Darrell Road from Illinois Route 176 to Burnett Road, and Bonner Road from Darrell Road to Route 12 near Island Lake and Wauconda.

An appropriation of $1.6 million for the resurfacing of Delany Road from Route 41 to Sunset Avenue in Gurnee.

An appropriation of $1.8 million to resurface Fairfield Road from the Lake Villa Township line to Route 134.

The next full board meeting is Tuesday.

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lhammill@tribpub.com

Twitter @lucashammill
A homeless couple who targeted elderly women outside a Waukegan grocery store, where they attacked them and stole their purses, are now in custody, police said.

Joseph Ribaudo, 37, was being held Thursday on $300,000 bail on charges of burglary, two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of robbery, according to Cmdr. Joe Florip of the Waukegan Police Department.

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Jaclyn Marquardt, 28, was being held without bond on the same charges, and she is also charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and being a fugitive from justice in Wisconsin, where she is wanted on drug charges, Florip said.

Jaclyn Marquardt, 28. (Waukegan Police Department / HANDOUT)

According to Florip, the first incident was on Jan. 1, when police were called to the Jewel in the 3100 block of North Lewis Avenue. A woman in her 70s told police she was loading groceries into the car when she was suddenly slammed against her vehicle and her purse was taken by a woman, Florip said, adding that the woman suffered minor injuries, but was not taken to a hospital.

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In the second incident on April 30, police were called to the same store, where a woman in her 80s reported she was forcefully knocked to the ground by a man and her purse was stolen inside the store while she was shopping, Florip said. He added that the victim suffered a facial laceration and a head injury, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Florip said the department's criminal investigations unit found that the incidents were related because the same type of vehicle was used in both robberies. Investigators worked with the Lake County Sheriff's Office Warrants Division and the United States Marshal Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force to apprehend both suspects, he said.

According to Florip, Ribaudo and Marquardt were taken into custody together without incident on Wednesday in the 3000 block of Belvidere Road in Park City in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant. They were in a vehicle that fit the description of the vehicle in both attacks, he said.

Both are due to appear in court May 22.

fabderholden@tribpub.com

Twitter @abderholden
Outgoing Waukegan District 60 school board member June Maguire received a rocking chair made by Waukegan High School students in honor of her nearly 36 years on the board. Maguire decided to not run for another term and attended her last official meeting April 25. (Emily K. Coleman / Lake County News-Sun)

The Waukegan board member with what's thought to be the longest tenure on the panel  and also the shortest  has stepped down.

June Maguire, who is set to turn 80 this year, decided not to run for re-election again after nearly 36 years on the board.

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School board President Michael Rodriguez called Maguire a "pillar of the community (and) a rock on this board" who has "given her life to this school district."

"As much as I tried talking her into running again, she decided that her 35-and-a-half years on the board have been enough, and that she has given enough time and years of her life to the school district, and that now it's time to call it quits," Rodriguez said. "This is a very sad event for me."

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Former school board member and current Waukegan Park Board member Pat Foley described Maguire as a "very helpful helpmate" with similar ideas on how to help students in terms of courses, access to technology and making sure student discipline was applied fairly.

"She was very straightforward in giving her answers, and people liked that," said Foley, who spent 16 years on the board with Maguire. "She did not hesitate to speak her mind  with delicacy, don't get me wrong."

While Maguire said she's still interested in helping out at the schools and being involved in the community, she's looking forward to going on vacation without looking at the calendar.

Attendance is something Maguire prides herself on, once phoning into board meetings even though she had surgery that same day, and during a term as board president, proposing the switch to committee-of-the-whole meetings where all board members attend all committee meetings instead of divvying them up.

Waukegan District 60 school board President Michael Rodriguez and Superintendent Theresa Plascencia present longtime board member June Maguire at her last official meeting on April 25. (Emily K. Coleman / Lake County News-Sun)

Maguire had been appointed to the board in 1981 to fill out the last two months of Pamela Bernardi's term. Because candidates had already submitted their petitions to run for a seat, the board decided to go with someone who wasn't on the ballot.

But just two days after the new board was sworn in, Maguire got another call.

One of the board members had to move out of state for work and they needed to fill the vacancy. She's been there ever since.

"It seems like it keeps on changing, and sometimes it takes back some of the things we did before," Maguire said. "You wonder, well, really, which way is better? The old way or the new way?"

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Maguire, who went straight from Waukegan High School to secretarial work in mostly Waukegan-based law firms, got involved with Waukegan schools when her oldest son  she has three children, Michael, Susan and Patrick  started school at Greenwood Elementary in 1964.

Like a lot of parents, she joined the parent-teacher association, serving in various roles and eventually becoming its president. She continued to serve on the PTAs, following her kids up to middle school and eventually high school, and also on a district-wide citizens advisory council.

"Other than what happened at the school and what [happened] at work, I didn't have a lot of other activities when [my children] were younger, because I felt that was my job and the most important thing to do," Maguire said.

She was also asked to sit on the committee that led to the transformation of Andrew Cooke School into a magnet school as part of efforts to desegregate the district, which had once seen separate elementary and high school districts.

The idea was to draw children from all over the city into a neighborhood that had become predominantly black and Hispanic, according to Chicago Tribune reports.

A combination of segregated housing and how boundaries were drawn for neighborhood schools led to most schools being either predominantly white or predominantly black, especially in the 1960s.

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A lawsuit filed 1965 noted that Clearview, Glenwood and Hyde Park elementary schools were 100 percent white. Glen Flora was 98 percent white and two percent black, and Whittier Elementary School was 15 percent white and 85 percent black.

That lawsuit, filed on behalf of seven children, led to the Illinois Supreme Court ordering Waukegan Grade School District 61 to develop a desegregation plan, according to News-Sun reports. Parents were given the choice to send their children to other Waukegan schools.

Parents like Barbara Gordon and Edith Smith told the News-Sun in 2004 that they worried that the quality of education was lower at Whittier, and that they got the less-experienced teachers or teachers who were near the end of their careers.

"Our concern was that Whittier would become a school  like so many black schools across the country  where the learning level was low, where the expectations were low, where they would have inferior equipment and supplies," Smith said in the article.

When asked what she thought of what was happening with desegregation, Maguire said she hadn't been watching the issue as close as she would have been had she been on the board, but she paid attention just as an interested citizen. She was interested to see how the district would handle the issue, because most of the schools were neighborhood schools, and busing was nearly nonexistent for elementary-age kids.

Maguire said she thought a lot of the differences between the schools came from how involved parents could be. Some schools with robust PTAs would have more after-school activities and clubs, including at her children's schools, where they offered crocheting and knitting, stamp collecting and French language classes.

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One of the things Maguire finds unusual about her 36 years on the board is that, in all that time, the district only had one new building built.

After a period of falling enrollment, Waukegan saw its student population start to climb again in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Maguire said. They needed to move the middle school students out of the Washington Street campus to turn it back into a high school.

When then-superintendent Alan Brown saw a building on Butrick Street and pointed it out to Maguire, who was then board president, she remembered the 1945 movie "The Bells of St. Mary's" where the nuns work to save their deteriorating school by reaching out to a wealthy businessman.

The district asked a representative of the company that owned the property, who also worked with the district on partnership programs, if the company would donate the property, Maguire said. AT&T offered to sell the district the property at a good price, and the district eventually built East Middle School, now Miguel Juarez Middle School, at the site.

The new building was built with all the amenities that other area districts had, including air conditioning and eventually wireless Internet access, Foley said.

"We all had our ideas on how the end should happen," Foley said, "and fortunately, a good percentage of the time, we could reach a consensus."

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emcoleman@tribpub.com

Twitter @mekcoleman
Kelley Sohler (pictured) was a corporate attorney until she came to Barrington High School in 2004 to teach history and law. (Courtesy of Barrington School District / HANDOUT)

Nearly two years after she stopped practicing corporate law in Minneapolis and Chicago, Kelley Sohler decided in 2004 to teach classes on law and history to students at Barrington High School.

She now teaches "Living Law," an introductory course teaching students how to study law, the judicial system and the effects both have on the lives of people. The class involves law professionals and by the end of it, students have to participate in two mock trials.

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Before working at Barrington High School, Sohler said, she earned a master's degree in teaching at Roosevelt University in Schaumburg after graduating from law school at the University of Minnesota in 1990.

Q: Why did you go into teaching?

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A: I come from a family of educators and always wanted to be a teacher. I was getting close to 40 years old and said, 'Gosh, if I want to do a change, I better do it now.'

Q: How was the change to teaching?

A: It felt natural to me, and I knew that's where I wanted to be. What I love about teaching is seeing kids learn. I work well with teenagers.

Q: Talk about your class, 'Living Law.'

A: We offer it every semester for sophomores, juniors and seniors. At the end of a semester, it culminates into mock trials for four days with two separate trials. For the second trial, we bring in lawyers and judges to preside over it. It's really a fun and exciting opportunity for the kids. They get to be attorneys, witnesses and jurors. These kids have fantastic abilities to analyze factual situations, and determine how best to present evidence and prove cases.

Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.

tshields@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @tshields19
One of the proudest moments of my early academic career was the day I learned to write my name  in cursive.

I practiced writing my name for days, working to perfect the capital R and the lower case r exactly the way I was taught. It was an important step on my way to adulthood.

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But cursive handwriting is going the way of the rotary telephone  an ancient relic of modern communication. Because it is no longer modern, some schools have dropped the idea of teaching cursive to their young charges.

I think this is a mistake.

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And so does the Illinois House of Representatives, which passed a bill recently that would require cursive handwriting be taught in all Illinois public schools.

The reason for requiring cursive seems feeble  so young people can read historic documents, so they can sign their name and so they can read notes from their parents and grandparents. But in this age of texting and keyboarding, I think it is necessary.

There is a better reason to teach cursive in our schools and it is this: An educated person knows how to pick up a pen and write someone a personal note or letter in their own handwriting.

Texting is a useful tool that conveys information and immediacy. Is it functional? Yes. Is it necessary in this day and age? Probably. But that's it. It's a function of modern society, but it is not elegant, it is not fanciful and takes little effort.

Cursive is an antiquated idea, a throwback to a former era. It conveys information, too, but also a certain care and concern for the recipient. Through cursive, you can add emotion and flair, items unnecessary to modern life, but so needed in this modern day and age, and so much more fulfilling to the nurturing of relationships. They say President George H.W. Bush rode handwritten notes to the presidency.

Yes, sometimes it comes in handy to read historic documents. A hot hobby right now is genealogy, As more and more historic documents come online for regular people to research their ancestors, it will be important to be able to read cursive. You want to understand grandma's birth certificate or great-grandpa's particulars on a ship's passenger list.

You also definitely need to be able to write your name to sign legal documents. And it's helpful if that signature is legible.

That's a problem for two-thirds of my kids. The one that went through Catholic school has very nice handwriting, reminiscent of the examples of the nuns who taught me.

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But the other two? Forget it.

They went through a good suburban public school and their handwriting is the worst I've ever seen. I sometimes wonder if the notes they leave me are in English. I sometimes ask my wife to translate: The boys either took the dog for a walk or got a new dog that can talk.

And when it comes to signing their names on birthday cards? Let me just say if I ever forget their names, I'm in big trouble.

So yes, I think cursive should be taught in schools.

It might not really be necessary, but it is one of those superfluous things that makes life worth living.

Besides, if Russia knocks us out with their secret electro-magnetic pulse or North Korea nukes us first, it will be us fogies who know cursive that will salvage what's left of civilization.

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Randy Blaser is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.
Employees of the city of Napervilles communications section donated $555 to Autism Speaks through their Charity Dress Down Days initiative. (City of Naperville / handout)

Charvat named to Friends of Forest Preserve board

Naperville resident Karyn Charvat has been appointed to the board of directors of the Friends of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the district's nonprofit support group.

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Charvat is the executive director of PowerForward DuPage and serves on the board of Choose DuPage, Chamber 630 and the Illinois Solar Energy Association. She also serves on the board of directors for the General Federation of Women's Clubs headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Cizek inducted into Phi Beta Kappa

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Naperville resident Anna Rose Cizek was one of 29 students in Mercer University's College of Liberal Arts to be inducted into the Zeta of Georgia Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, a national academic honor society.

Cizek is a senior majoring in international affairs, French and global health studies at the Macon, Ga., university.

Phi Beta Kappa inductees are usually seniors among the top 10 percent of their graduating class who have completed a broad range of liberal arts and sciences coursework, including foreign language study and mathematics.

Cizek was recently accepted into the Teaching Assistantship Program in France and will teach secondary English at the Academie de Nancy-Metz for seven months during the 2017-18 academic year. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in international affairs or language interpretation and translation.

Ertel hired at Design Resource Center

Chris Ertel has been hired by Naperville's Design Resource Center as the agency's director of brand strategy.

Ertel previously worked at Bluedog Design as a senior brand consultant and strategist. He also spent time at Kaleidoscope and Landor.

Locals among Grantham University graduates

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Three Naperville residents graduated from Grantham University after completing the university's online degree and certificate programs.

Jae Ahn received a master of business administration; Tony Thur earned a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice and Jared Zufelt earned an associate of arts degree in business administration.

Keller named member of Society of Collegiate Scholars

Naperville resident Amari Monet Keller, a 2016 graduate of Metea Valley High School, has been accepted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

The organization is among the Association of College Honor Societies and an interdisciplinary honors organization for first- and second-year college students. Membership is by invitation only.

Keller is a freshman at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and is an arts major.

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Li receives calculus award

Naperville resident Kelly Li received the First Year Calculus Award from Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Va.

The award is given to a freshman with the highest grade in the Introduction to Calculus and Analytic Geometry I and II courses. The award is funded by the mathematics department to encourage women in mathematics.

Miami University students study abroad

Several Naperville residents were part of a study abroad group during the winter semester at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Patrick Ramatowski studied in Australia, Jasmine Leechuy studied in France, and Andrew Cores and Zachary Goldstein studied in England.

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Mullinax inducted into honor societies

Naperville resident Madison Mullinax has been inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

The group is a national leadership honor society that recognizes scholarship, leadership and character.

Mullinax was also inducted into the Mortar Board honor society at the University of Alabama, a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for superior achievement in scholarship, leadership and service. The University of Alabama's chapter is one of the oldest in the nation.

Naperville team supports Autism Speaks

The city of Naperville's communications section donated $555 to Autism Speaks through its "Charity Dress Down Days" initiative.

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The event allowed staff to wear casual apparel twice a month in exchange for a $5 donation to be given to charity.

The group selected to donate the money raised to Autism Speaks, an organization that helps people with autism and their families and works to increase awareness and help research into causes and interventions for autism.

The communications section is made up of Naperville's Public Safety Answering Point, which provides emergency and nonemergency radio and telephone communications for all public safety departments, and City Dispatch, which serves the city's departments of public works and public utilities.

Pestrak awarded outstanding principal

Regina Pestrak, a Naperville resident and principal of St. Matthew Catholic Parish School in Glendale Heights, is the recipient of the eighth annual Diocese of Joliet Bishop Roger L. Kaffer Outstanding Principal Award.

The award is sponsored by the Lewis University Institute for the Advancement of Catholic and Lasallian Education.

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Pestrak was given the award for her work to transform a struggling school into a thriving faith-focused institution, according to a news release from the Diocese of Joliet.

She revised the elementary school's curriculum, upgraded technology and improved electrical infrastructure. She has also designed and implemented a new preschool program that grew from eight students to more than 40 students within two years.

Schulte presents research at symposium

Naperville resident Jillian Schulte presented her research at Cornell College's 21st annual Student Symposium on April 22.

The symposium features students' original research, which are initiated by students and take several months to prepare.

Tamras receives chiropractic degree

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Naperville resident Andrew Tamras received a doctor of chiropractic degree from National University of Health Sciences in Lombard.

 Michelle Mullins
The Craftsman by Two Brothers on Jefferson Avenue is one of three downtown restaurants that have expressed an interest in serving alcoholic beverages to outdoor diners. (The Craftsman)

Downtown Naperville's bars and restaurants would be allowed to serve alcoholic beverages to outdoor diners under a proposed ordinance change to be considered by the Naperville City Council.

Members of the city's liquor commission Thursday unanimously recommended creation of an "all-encompassing outdoor seating" permit under which the sale of food and alcoholic beverages would be authorized on specially-designated portions of sidewalk adjacent to restaurants and nightclubs that already have city liquor licenses.

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Commission members last month mulled combining the existing outdoor seating permit -- which allows for liquor sales on private property -- with the sidewalk seating permit, which regulates the sales of food and nonalcoholic beverages on a public right of way.

Outdoor alcohol sales would end at 10 p.m. daily under the proposal, which must be approved by the city council. Permit applicants would have to allow city inspectors to review their site plans and the placement and usage of such equipment as heaters, security cameras and music amplifiers.

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All outdoor seating areas would have to "be clearly designated, with a permanent or semi-permanent barrier as approved by the city." All public ways would be "kept free from refuse at all times, (with) no food preparation permitted on the public way."

The proposal also specifies "items placed on the public way for the operation of an outdoor seating area shall be located so that a clear path of at least 5 feet (is) provided for passage of pedestrians."

One change to the permit language dealt with music or other "amplified sound" being broadcast onto the sidewalk and into the street by a bar or restaurant. Such sounds are "not be plainly audible at 50 feet" of the bar's or restaurant's "originating property's lot lines."

Panel members concurred with commission chairman Mayor Steve Chirico, who said music or other sound should only be allowed to create "ambience" for the business.

Commissioners also decided "service and consumption of alcohol on the public way" must be "incidental to the service and consumption of meals."

The owners of three downtown businesses have indicated they would like to provide outdoor seating and food and liquor sales to their customers. The three are The Craftsman by Two Brothers, at 16 W. Jefferson Ave.; the neighboring Front Street Cantina, at 15 W. Jefferson Ave.; and Sullivan's Steakhouse of Naperville, at 224 S. Main St.

Permits would cost $500 for outdoor seating on a public way with liquor service; $300 for outdoor seating on private property with liquor service; and $100 for outdoor seating on a public way with no liquor service.

A total of 24 liquor licenses are held by Naperville businesses. City Prosecutor Kavita Athanikar said last month several more downtown businesses could ultimately qualify to use the new outdoor seating permit.

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wbird@tribpub.com
Elmwood fourth-grade teacher Beth Zamora balances on the knee of "American Ninja Warrior" athlete Nicholas Coolridge during a demonstration Thursday at Elmwood Elementary School in Naperville. (Jane Donahue / Naperville Sun)

"American Ninja Warrior" athletes Travis Brewer and Nicholas Coolridge dropped into Elmwood Elementary School Thursday -- literally.

Making their entrance from the roof of the Naperville school, the pair bounded onto the playground for an action-packed outdoor assembly that left the kids cheering.

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"Our message is simple: you can overcome any obstacle just like a ninja warrior and you can become anything you want to be," Brewer said. "We want the kids to know that they can do anything."

Brewer and Coolridge, who is also known as "Modern Tarzan," are part of a nationwide school tour created to spread the word about the importance of exercise, eating well and living a healthy lifestyle. Both competed on NBC's "American Ninja Warrior" show.

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In addition, the ninjas shared stories of perseverance and how it's important to follow your dreams.

"You have to learn one lesson and that's to never give up," Brewer told the students. "If you fail, learn from that failure, grow from it and you will become better. That's what we did and that is why we are here today."

Sponsored by Utah-based health-food company Sunwarrior, the athletes held two assemblies at the Naperville school. This was the third stop on the tour and the only one in Illinois.

"I enjoyed watching them doing all the flips the most and climbing all over the playground," 10-year-old Camryn DeBora said.

Along with discussing the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, Brewer and Coolridge took questions from the kids and shared their personal stories about how they became world-class athletes.

They performed stunts on the playground that seemed to defy gravity, and invited dozens of students to join them for a firsthand lesson in ninja tumbling on cushioned mats brought in for the demonstration.

The students weren't the only ones to get in on the fun.

Fourth-grade teacher Beth Zamora earned a round of applause when she joined them on the playground and was suspended at an angle while standing on one foot just above Coolridge's knees.

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"It was definitely scary at first but it was amazing," Zamora said. "It's kind of like they told the kids, sometimes you think you're not going to be able to do something but with some determination and teamwork, you can."

Jane Donahue is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
When Jesus Christ sent out his disciples to spread his teachings in what the Bible calls the Great Commission, they might not have envisioned going out on motorcycles to do it.

But, that is exactly what the Rev. DeDe Duncan-Probe  the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, the first woman to hold that position  does and what she will do next weekend when she participates in the annual Blessing of the Bikes at Christ Episcopal Church in Jordan.

The event is slated to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13 at the church, 25 N. Main St., Jordan, with a brief worship service in which the bishop will bless the riders and their motorcycles. Then, she will join them on her black Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S  a birthday gift from her husband, she said  and take part in the one-hour ride before returning to the church.

Riders are expected back at the church by 12:30 p.m. for a barbecue lunch, and all bikers, family and friends, and motorcycle enthusiasts are invited to participate in the family-friendly event. There is no charge, but donations are welcome. People may call the church office at (315) 689-3141 for more information.

"We often separate out faith from every other aspect of God," Duncan-Probe said, noting she sees the event as a ministry opportunity as much as a leisure activity. "People who ride motorcycles, there's all types, and it's a great commonality, so I'm glad to have the opportunity to pray with people who I wouldn't otherwise get to see and make connections with people. ... It's a good opportunity to expand people's ability to connect with the church."

The bishop said her motorcycle license was actually the first license she held, obtaining it when she was 15 years old. Her father and brothers got interested in riding and owning motorcycles, but her father did not want her riding on the back of one  so he had her get her own license instead.

"I actually did not want to get my license it turns out. I was a little bit afraid of them, but he insisted I get my license so that I would not be on the back," Duncan-Probe said. "It turns out it was a great thing because riding a motorcycle has a very spiritual aspect for me. It's something that is very centering."

She rode motorcycles on and off for most of life since then, with a span of about 15 years where she did not ride at all. Years went by, she said, and then living in Virginia at the time, she heard the Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride  which demonstrates on behalf of prisoners of war and missing in action  go by and "just felt that yearning to ride again."

Still, the bishop said, it is not something that she talks about often  "I don't know of many bishops who ride motorcycles, to be honest," she said  and it was always something she did just on her own as part of her own re-centering.

It was during a walkabout with the diocese during Duncan-Proble's interview process that her hobby came up when she was asked what she does to keep herself spiritually centered. She said she mentioned "the usual things," such as retreats and praying, but then talked about being out in nature kayaking or riding her motorcycle.

Then, shortly after getting her new Harley last year, Duncan-Probe said she was on her way to the dealership to have a new piece installed when she inadvertently ended up in a parade of motorcycles that turned out to be a similar blessing event.

When she became bishop and found out that she could participate in such a ride in her own diocese, Duncan-Probe said she jumped at the chance, noting the Rev. Joseph Bergin, Christ Episcopal's priest, gave the blessing before last year's ride.

Duncan-Probe said she will not only bless the motorcycles but take part in the ride  as long as it doesn't rain.

"I'm not your typical motorcycle rider. I go the speed limit. I don't ride unless I have on my full gear. I'm very, very safety conscious," she said. "I don't fit at all with motorcycle culture, and yet they welcomed me with open arms and it was such a gift of grace for me."

Another gift of grace for the new bishop has the experience learning "what it means to love God and serve one another" in her first five months in the role.

"I'm learning a lot about how the church can empower faith and places where the faith can do a better job of empowering people's faith and ministry and then also just learning a lot about ministry as a whole," Duncan-Probe said. "I've been inspired by the ministries, the parishes where faithful people are gathering together and accepting one another and loving one another despite our differences."

Since becoming bishop five months ago, Duncan-Probe noted that she comes into her position at a time when the world seems to be more and more divided, yet she feels blessed to be involved in a denomination that is crossing divisions and seeking reconciliation.

"Right now in the world, there's so much division and so much hostility with people who don't agree with us or look like us," she said. "Part of the work of Episcopal Church is welcoming all people and coming together across those places of division and seeking to serve Christ and all people."

And it is a work that the bishop hopes to extend to those who attend the Blessing of the Bikes event and a message she hopes that they hear.

"Each person is a blessed child of God, and there's a place in the church for them," Duncan-Probe said. "God loves us as we are. We don't have to change to be loved by God. We're loved as we are. ... One thing I hope people experience, those who attend the bike blessing, is a sense of acceptance, that God cares about them wherever they may be, on a motorcycle or at the office or wherever life may take them."
For years Naperville's Katie Uram has been passionate about the language and culture of China. After four visits to that ancient land, she's been looking for an excuse to return.

Thanks to a federal academic grant, she'll get her wish in August.

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Uram, a 2016 graduate of Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., won a Fulbright award that will send her to China to conduct anthropological research. Her study will build upon previous research of Chinese artisans who specialize in batik handicrafts. Batik is a Chinese traditional folk handicraft for fabric printing and dyeing.

A 2012 graduate of Neuqua Valley High School, Uram will spend 10 months at China's Guizhou Normal University, where she will focus on Miao women and the preservation of their batik handicrafts in a rapidly changing cultural climate of modern China.

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Uram became interested in the artisans after a previous visit to China while she was a student at Lawrence, she said. When she initially began her research, she planned to focus on women who moved from rural to urban settings in China and how they adapted to the transition. In the course of her research, she met numerous Batik artisans and her research veered down a new path and became the focus of her senior honors thesis, "Evolving Patterns: Conflicting Perceptions of Cultural Preservation and the State of Batik's Cultural Inheritance Among Women Artisans in Guizhou, China."

Uram said she is unsure how the research will progress because there are not many English language sources about the preservation of the Batik style. She hopes her research could become a definitive source, she said.

"This (trip) will be priceless in terms of opportunities that will come down the road," she said.

Carla Daughtry, an associate professor of anthropology at Lawrence and Uram's senior adviser, said Uram will be a "one-of-a-kind Fulbright scholar" who will make "valuable contributions to Chinese and East Asian Studies and anthropological understandings of the complex effects of globalization on ethnic Chinese handicrafts."

Uram's interest in China began in high school, beginning with a Chinese language program she took and expanding when her family hosted a Chinese exchange student. Her first trip to the country was to visit the exchange student, who lived in Shanghai, an experience she called a watershed moment in her life.

While Uram is enthusiastic about her research, she said she is also excited about getting to see friends she made on previous trips to China.

"She's really familiarized herself with the country," said Rick Peterson, associate director of communications at Lawrence.

Uram is one of about 1,900 students to receive a Fulbright award and study abroad during the 2017-18 school year. The scholarship is sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build connections between the people of the United States and of other countries.

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Uram graduated from Lawrence with a double major in Chinese language and literature and East Asian Studies. She has a minor in anthropology and hopes that her work in that field could lead to an eventual career.

"I'm not sure what I'll do, but I'll probably always be looking for an excuse to go back to China," Uram said.

Alex Keown is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
Northbrook police said they arrested a 19-year-old man Thursday in connection with the burglary of a house while the resident was home.

Anthony Miller, of the 3800 block of North Sawyer Avenue in Chicago, was being held without bond on felony burglary charges in Cook County Jail Friday, authorities said.

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Police said he was arrested in relation to case the afternoon of April 4, which a resident encountered a man he did not know on the second floor of his house in the 1400 block of Arbor Lane. He said the stranger told him he was a painter, but he had not invited any painters to look over the house, police said.

Authorities said the two walked downstairs and out of the house while the intruder pointed out areas in the house that needed painting. The "painter" then climbed into a blue minivan occupied by another man, authorities said. The homeowner called the police about two hours later, authorities said, and later found that jewelry was missing from the upstairs bedroom.

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Police said that Miller had been arrested Wednesday by Morton Grove police on burglary charges in that village, and that Miller matched the description given by the Northbrook resident.

That description, at the time, identified the suspect as a Hispanic man in his late 20s to early 30s, 5 foot 6 to 5 foot 8 inches tall, with shaved dark hair. Miller is 5 foot 7 inches tall, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Authorities said Miller is due to appear on the Northbrook charge on May 11 in Cook County Circuit Court, 5600 Old Orchard Road.

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Twitter @IrvLeavitt
The village of Northbrook's police headquarters, which once housed a fire station, too, is now said to be too small. (Irv Leavitt / Pioneer Press)

A Northbrook Village Board committee has taken the first step toward possible construction of new police and fire stations and a village fleet repair facility.

A board committee recently ordered Village Manager Rich Nahrstadt to seek prices from consultants for reports describing how much space state-of-art new buildings would require.

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"We're not looking for palaces, like two I've seen go up in neighboring communities," said Northbrook Trustee A.C. Buehler, a member of the ad hoc facilities committee.

He said "the palaces" he referred to are the 121,000 square foot Wheeling Public Works building, built in 2008, and the 84,000 square foot Glenview police station, built so big in 2006 that the Glenview village government later moved in, too.

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Trustee Bob Israel, chairman of the committee, said that he envisioned the process to build new buildings to be similar to the way the village plans for its flood-control projects: decide on whether they're needed and affordable, put them on schedules, and build them when the money is available, and when other issues, like land availability, are solved.

"The tank at Wescott Park was on the books for years," said Israel, an engineer who served for years on the village Stormwater Management Commission before being elected to the Village Board in 2011. That $10 million, 7.5 million-gallon underground flood control vault was completed last year.

Committee members said they were aiming mostly at learning about replacing the fleet garage, built in 1956, and the police station, built in 1974. The main Fire Station 11 at 740 Dundee Road was not a first priority, but was seen as a possible replacement for the fleet garage, and under that scenario, it would be gone, too. So its replacement size is also being studied.

The fire station is not exactly new, either: it dates back to 1971, with a 1988 addition to add offices. There's been talk of replacing it for about 20 years, but officials said some of its problems, such as windows, driveways and backup power, have been solved through remodeling and repair.

Officials have said the main sources of trouble are at the other two facilities, included in tours attended by committee members in recent months.

"I was there when the tower ladder was there (for repairs), and it couldn't get in there," said Trustee Kathryn Ciesla, referring to the 11,250 square-foot fleet garage at 1227 Cedar Lane, just east of Village Hall.

In addition to the size concerns, the building  added on to in 1967  needs a new roof within three years, plus tuck-pointing of the facade, according to village staffers. Officials say there are no fire sprinklers, and it has no heat in the basement, and no locker room or washroom facilities for women.

Trustees discussed rebuilding the fleet garage in 2001, but backed off, not just because of the estimated cost  a then-low $2.5 million  but also, they said, because of the cost of replacing some of the giant hydraulic lifts that can pick up fire trucks. That issue, Village Manager Rich Nahrstadt said, is less of a factor now, with the improvement in transportable above-ground lifts. The village bought six of them April 25 for $67,000, when one of the big hydraulic lifts at the garage failed after 25 years of service.

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The police station has short-term needs that the committee said might have to be handled long before a larger structure is addressed. Its jail and prisoner-intake areas need remodeling to make it safer for prisoners and officers, according to the department.

Longer-term needs include bringing together related functions that are now spread throughout its 42,000 square feet. Locker rooms are reportedly undersized, and no washrooms serve the detectives' interview rooms. Pipes and floors are deteriorating, according to officials.

In 2014, a police station replacement was estimated by the department at $17 million.

"It's a nonstarter," Trustee Michael Scolaro, head of the village administration and finance committee, said then. "There's no way we're going to spend $17 million on a new police station. We're going the wrong way, getting a punch list like it's nobody's money."

Scolaro is retiring this month after three terms. Trustee Kathryn Ciesla, the third member of the committee, suggested recently that one way that police space issues could be solved is not by looking to buy land, but by constructing an addition cantilevered over the large parking lot to the east of the building at 1401 Landwehr Road.

If the fire station is used for a new fleet garage, it would have to be replaced somewhere close to where it is now. The committee briefly discussed the possibility that land for a new Station 11 could possibly be pried away as a concession from the developers of the nearby Green Acres Country Club, who will meet with Northbrook leaders this month to talk about their plans. Nahrstadt said that was premature, adding that discussions with Farpoint development about building on the 125-acre parcel might take years.

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Committee members also discussed the possibility of dual-use buildings, combining, for instance, the fleet garage with the police department. And Ciesla suggested that the village could seek a partnership with an adjoining village for fleet maintenance.

That concept was discussed four years ago by Northbrook Village President Sandy Frum and Glencoe Village President Larry Levin.

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Twitter @IrvLeavitt
Three Park Ridge buildings on the National Register of Historical Places could be on their way to becoming locally recognized landmarks as well.

The Park Ridge Historic Preservation Commission on May 3 recommended the City Council approve historic landmark designation for Solomon Cottage, Emery Cottage and Wohlers Hall at Prospect Park, 733 N. Prospect Ave.

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The buildings, originally part of the Illinois Industrial School for Girls, which housed children in the cottages, were built between 1908 and 1910, according to an application submitted by the Park Ridge Park District, which now owns and oversees the structures.

The 11-acre campus was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 based on "two areas of significance," the park district said. These were the building architecture and the fact that the campus "exemplified the major child care trends in the United States," according to the park district.

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Prior to the park district purchasing the land, the buildings were part of the Park Ridge Youth Campus, a group home for troubled adolescent girls.

Park Ridge Park District Executive Director Gayle Mountcastle said local landmarking is a requirement under an agreement that exists between the park district and National Park Service and Illinois State Historic Preservation Office involving the redevelopment of Prospect Park. The agreement states that the park district "shall not object to local landmarking of remaining buildings on the campus, should the local historic preservation commission so decide to pursue that option," Mountcastle explained.

The application submitted to the commission by the Park Ridge Park District refers to the buildings as "legacy cottages" that "represent the oldest surviving example of colonial revival architecture in Park Ridge." All three were designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Holabird and Roche, which also designed five other campus buildings constructed in the early 1900s, the park district said.

The local historical significance of the cottages was also noted in the application. Chicago businessman Julius Rosenwald, part-owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company, is credited with providing the funds needed to build Solomon cottage after the Illinois Industrial School for Girls moved from Evanston to Park Ridge, according to the city. The cottage is named for Hannah Solomon, president of the school and founder of the National Council of Jewish Women.

"Her dedication to the welfare of dependent children made her an acknowledged community leader in Chicago, with close connections to Jane Addams at Hull House," the park district's application noted.

Solomon Cottage is currently undergoing interior renovations for use by the Park Ridge Historical Society as a history center.

Wohlers Hall, originally known as the Straut School of Domestic Economy Building in recognition of the donors who helped build it, was the original school for the children who lived on the grounds, the application said. It currently serves as the park district's administrative headquarters.

Emery Cottage, named for Marjorie Wilder Emery, a member of the school's governing board for more than 40 years, is "being preserved for unknown future use by the park district," according to the application.

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Judy Barclay, chairwoman of the Park Ridge Historic Preservation Commission, said if local landmark designation is granted for the buildings, any changes proposed for the exterior must be reviewed and approved by the commission.

There are currently 12 locally recognized landmarks in Park Ridge, the majority of them single-family homes. The additional three buildings at Prospect Park will boost the number to 15.

"I think people out there are beginning to become aware of how nice it is to have these sites in town," Barclay said.

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Twitter: @Jen_Tribune
PHOENIX  Republican legislative leaders gave final approval late Thursday to the key provisions of a new state budget.

House Speaker J.D. Mesnard made enough deals with hesitant Republicans to get the necessary 31 votes in his 35-member caucus to adopt the $9.8 billion spending plan. None of the Democrats in the 60-member House supported the package.

Potentially more significant, those deals also bought Mesnard the votes he needed to approve the proposal by Gov. Doug Ducey to allow state universities to borrow up to $1 billion for 25 years. That includes a promise to the schools the state would provide the money as needed for repayment.

One of those is a change in laws about when cities can have their elections.

The Senate gave its own approval to the budget along strictly party lines. And after some coaxing the Senate finally gave its blessing to that university borrowing plan, with even some Democrats agreeing to go along.

The fear earlier in the day that the university bonding package could fail had Eileen Klein, president of the Arizona Board of Regents, gently reminding lawmakers of their constitutional obligation to raise the funds to insure the proper maintenance of all state educational institutions and to provide for their development and improvement. And the legal option for that, she said, is through the courts.

We've chosen to take another route because we think we should be partnering with the state to address these critical issues, Klein said, meaning the bonding plan. But she said that at some point the universities cannot deal with nearly $700 million in repair needs without help.

We take very seriously the constitution's word, Klein said.

We're doing everything we can, she continued. But we can't be diverting a bunch of money, particularly tuition money to educate students to keep up with the building maintenance that the state's supposed to be paying for.

Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, criticized Republican leaders for making what he said are often-expensive deals to line up votes in their own caucus for the university bonding package.

Farley pointed out the budget deal decreases by $100 the amount that Arizona residents have to declare in computing their state income taxes. That provision, which will save the richest taxpayers just $4.54 a year, reduces state revenues by $10 million.

But Farley said that for just $1.4 million the legislature could have fully restored a state welfare program, one of the Democrats' priorities.

Republicans also added $1 million for each the University of Arizona and Arizona State University to expand funding for so-called economic freedom schools which were set up with seed money from foundations run by the Koch brothers. The schools already are getting $5 million in ongoing cash, first approved last year.

The governor would rather give more money to Koch brothers' schools than to teacher raises, complained Farley who supports a 4 percent hike versus the 2 percent, two-year increase in the budget.

Yet other delays to final approval actually surround issues where both Republicans and Democrats agree.

Rep. Kristen Engel, D-Tucson, said one reason the state spends so much money on incarceration is that some laws make no difference between violent and nonviolent offenders.

She specifically cited one statute that says inmates earn one day of release credit for every six days served. She proposed leaving that in place for those convinced of serious or violent offenses but said other inmates should be able to earn a day off their sentence for every three days of good behavior.

Rep. David Stringer, R-Prescott, said Engle is on the right track. He said it's time to stop incarcerating, at great cost to our taxpayers, people who are not a threat to public safety.

But Stringer said, though, he could not support Engle's effort to put that language into the budget package because it wasn't part of the final deal approved by legislative leadership. But he promised to work with her next session.

There also was grumbling by some Republicans about the fact the budget deal allows the state to once again divert $30 million from gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees to instead fund the Department of Public Safety.

Rep. Noel Campbell, R-Prescott, pointed out state law limits such transfers to $10 million. But rather than address  and debate  that law, legislative leaders simply inserted a provision in the budget saying that law can be ignored for yet another year.

We have the ability to stop that withdrawal, Campbell complained, saying the road needs of the state are too great to allow this practice to continue.
Why these young voters in Pueblo want to get more youth involved in voting
The recently released 2016 China bilateral trade figures may not yet herald a shifting trade dynamic for global procurement, but there are warning signs that Chinas traditional trade partners in the US and EU may be coming under increasing pressure. The figures, released by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), show significant reductions in both US and EU trade figures, with a counter-balance being provided by ASEAN and the OBOR routes, which both increased.

The decline in US and EU trade is significant, and is one reason why Western governments have been calling for Beijing to allow more market access to Chinese consumers. To date, Beijing is not really playing ball. It should be noted that China does not have free trade agreements (FTA) with either the US or EU. A decline in trade is therefore not entirely unexpected  negotiations have been dragging on for years. There are a number of pertinent questions that come to mind when reviewing the current US and EU trade position with China:

How well are US and EU manufacturing really geared towards Chinas needs?

How competitive are US and EU manufacturers compared with alternative sources in Russia, India, and Southeast Asia?

China wants win-win situations  does such trade provide this?

In terms of China, there are a number of basic parameters that need to be understood when it comes to its need for trade. These are directly linked to government stability and the need for the CCP to deliver. These basics are:

Energy;

Food;

Security;

Inexpensive consumer products.

The bad news for the West is that China has been very busy over the past decade in securing energy supplies. Very little comes from the West. Instead, China has been making inroads with increasing supplies from Russia (much of Russian bilateral trade with China is in energy), Central Asia, the Gulf States, and Iran, as well as exploring  often controversially  in the South China Sea.

In terms of agricultural products, food is an on-going and pressing concern for China; the country has 20 percent of the global population yet only five percent of its arable land. Russia, long a massive agricultural giant in the Soviet era, is now starting to recover this position and is experiencing a resurgence in agricultural development as it seeks to diversify its economy. Russia, in contrast, has about two percent of the global population and 13 percent of globally available arable land. Put simply, China needs Russian agricultural exports. The Russia-China agricultural space is an obvious match and investment opportunity, and especially so given the US and EU sanctions placed on the country. This also impacts on new Agro technologies. China is sourcing these from Russia and Asia, not the West. This means that two of Chinas key critical needs are increasingly being serviced via Moscow. China also buys significant quantities of food from its ASEAN neighbors.

In terms of consumer products, Chinese consumers need to be kept happy and entertained. Although China-India trade still lags far behind where it ought to be, the reality is that only India has the workforce able to match Chinas rising middle class demands. China needs Indias manufacturing capacity, and certainly at a juncture when Indian wages are a third of those payable in China.

Both the US and EU are pointing at high-tech and innovation solutions to woo Chinese buyers. However, India and Russia are also fast moving IT driven economies, and have a great deal of talent at their disposal, as does China itself. The hard question then starts to arise  what can the US and EU sell to China that it cannot either develop itself or buy elsewhere?

This issue is further compounded when one starts to analyze Chinas longer term trade intentions. These can be measured against the FTAs China is actively putting into place in the absence of any such deals with the US and EU.

These include an already implemented, proven, and successful FTA with the ASEAN bloc of nations (for a full overview of this, please click here), as well as ongoing FTA negotiations with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)  which includes Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus, amongst others  in essence opening up the entire overland OBOR routes to free trade all the way from China to the EU borders with Poland and Lithuania. India is also negotiating an FTA with the EAEU. It should be noted that the recent trains journeying through to various European rail freight terminals have transversed this exact route. Those goods will become a lot more attractive once an FTA is signed off, with zero duties payable until they reach EU borders.

If anything, it suggests that the trade deficit between China and the EU is going to get worse, and that EU manufacturers currently competing with China are going to be in for a very tough time.

The options for US and EU manufacturers then are stark. Unless you are in a business that the Chinese absolutely need, competition from China, India, and Russia in particular is going to heat up. So what are the options?

Relocation to China

Given that neither the US or EU have, or are likely to have, any FTA with China soon, the option when faced with competition is the old adage  if you cant beat them  join them. It is going to be very tough to compete with China while paying American and European overheads. Its worth bearing in mind that Indian and some ASEAN nations wages are far lower still.

If selling to China is your game, then now more than ever foreign manufacturers need to consider doing this directly in China. After all, the China success story is obvious and most US and EU based manufacturers will know someone who already conducts such business in the country. China, however, is a huge country, and both overheads and deliverables can differ depending upon location. But there are options, and while China may be an obvious choice, it makes sense to have operational costs and deliverables compared with other potential locations.

Relocation to ASEAN

China has an FTA with ASEAN, as does India. The ASEAN trade bloc, as concerns business activities, is essentially manageable from Singapore, already home to several thousand US and EU businesses who conduct trade throughout the region. Singapore has a British common law system and is in compliance with US FCPA banking and financial standards.

ASEAN includes the six Asian tigers of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, in addition to less developed nations such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Brunei, the tiny Sultanate, makes up the ten, yet is essentially an oil play. That spread of ASEAN wealth means the region will be competitive for some time to come as lower overheads are available in less developed members, and the use of intra-ASEAN labour is permitted. Setting up a manufacturing base in ASEAN allows free trade access to ASEAN itself as well as to China and India.

Relocation to India

As mentioned, India has an FTA with ASEAN and is also negotiating with the EAEU. It is the only Asian country that can compete with China in terms of available labour. India also has a dynamic middle class consumer market worth about US$500 billion per annum, set to grow 50 percent by 2020. The country offers huge potential, like China, both for export manufacturing to ASEAN as well as domestic sales.

Relocation to Russia

Given the current political stresses between Russia and the West, this may appear a long shot, but sanctions have moved the Russian economy to put greater emphasis on trade with Asia. Russia is also a huge energy and agricultural power, and has a significant IT and e-commerce market.

Businesses wishing to be involved in the development of Chinas OBOR plans, for example, and especially the overland routes may wish to consider Moscow, as China is pumping billions of investment dollars into the country. It is not without significance that the China-Europe freight rail services are managed by a Russian-German joint venture, nor that the Chinese want to extend the High Speed Rail service from Moscow to Kazan all the way to Beijing. Russia also wants to develop its Arctic Ports and open up the Northern Sea Passage, which would link Asia and Europe. These are multi-billion dollar investments. Russia may not be a fashionable play right now, but when sanctions are lifted the demand for Russian expertise and market access will increase dramatically.

Accessing OBOR Projects

At present this is a China play; by definition, OBOR projects involve Chinese businesses. Beijing is specifically pushing this; over 700 Chinese companies signed OBOR related projects in Q1 this year. Tax guidelines have been issued by Chinas Ministry of Commerce to support this.

While tax incentives are more likely to manifest themselves via the upcoming China-EAEU FTA, at present the most likely route to OBOR project participation  construction, transportation, energy, communications  are likely to be via a Chinese or Russian joint venture partner. It makes good commercial practice to be aware of which companies would be potentially suitable partners should your business have relevant equipment or technologies to offer.

Summary

The lack of any FTA between the US and EU with China is beginning to manifest itself as China has taken steps to actively compete anyway. The China-ASEAN FTA, has had a dramatic impact on trade flows, something the now dead TPP was geared to take advantage of but has been effectively killed off, leaving US businesses out of this loop. Meanwhile, the still under negotiation China-EAEU FTA, which will open up free trade from China all the way to EU borders, will have a huge impact on EU manufacturers.

Unless domestic US and EU manufacturers can cope, this means competition is going to steadily increase, and not just from China. Given the dearth of free trade deals  the current Washington administration is not exactly friendly towards them, and the EU has its own political problems  a strategy for survival needs to be planned out. Geography here is key. Even though a company may be US or EU invested, it can still take advantage of an FTA such as the ASEAN and EAEU agreements as long as it is domiciled in one of the pertinent locations. The message is simple: it is time to join them, and if that means relocating, thats what will need to be done to survive.



About Us Chris Devonshire-Ellis is the Chairman of Dezan Shira & Associates and has overseen a 25 years practice development throughout China, India, ASEAN and the OBOR routes. The firms clients are typically US or EU based manufacturers. For further information please email asia@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com

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.

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 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 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.

Silk Road and OBOR Business Intelligence

Dezan Shira & Associates Silk Road and OBOR investment brochure offers an introduction to the region and an overview of the services provided by the firm. It is Dezan Shiras mission to guide investors through the Silk Roads complex regulatory environment and assist with all aspects of establishing, maintaining, and growing business operations in the region.

Assisting Foreign Investors into Russia

Dezan Shira & Associates Russian investment brochure offers an overview of the services provided by the firm  both foreign investment into Russia and Russian investment into Asia. It is Dezan Shiras mission to guide investors through Russias complex regulatory environment and assist with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing business operations in the region.

Dezan Shira & Associates
Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd announced on Thursday that a second homegrown large aircraft will roll off its assembly line this year, but the commercialization of the C919 will take two to three years.

Cai Jun (center), captain for the maiden flight of China's passenger jet C919, and other crew members pose for a photo by the plane in Shanghai. The flight was scheduled for Friday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

The C919 will go through a series of flight tests, with the maiden flight scheduled for Friday, and it will take two to three years to go to the market, said Fu Guohua, one of C919's designers.

"With the rapid development of China's economy, there is demand for at least 2,000 of the aircraft," Fu was quoted by the Shanghai Securities News as saying.

Zhou Guirong, deputy chief designer of the C919, said more than 50 percent of its parts and components were domestically made, either by Chinese companies or joint ventures in China.

C919 is the joint outcome of global cooperation and global talent. Through consistently researching mature aircraft models, adopting scientific methods, and utilizing the resources of the industry, and technology and talent from all over the world, COMAC managed to create its own passenger jets, said He Dongfeng, vice-chairman and president of COMAC.

Zhou also said COMAC has applied strict evaluation standards on all its suppliers, and every detail of the experiment has been verified. If the suppliers cannot reach the requirements technically, COMAC won't introduce their parts or technology. "So the safety of the C919 is guaranteed," he said.

During the research and development of the C919, researchers made 102 technological breakthroughs in areas including integrated design of engines and system control, the Securities Times reported.

Most of the large components of the C919 are manufactured by Aviation Industry Corporation of China.

The front fuselage is made by AVIC Jiangxi Hongdu Aviation Industry Group Corp Ltd, the wings produced by AVIC Xi'an Aircraft Industry (Group) Co Ltd, and the back fuselage and vertical tail made by AVIC SAC Commercial Aircraft Co Ltd, and the front and main hatches are from AVIC Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Co Ltd.

Five named to man plane's 1st flight

Five test pilots have been chosen for the maiden flight of the Chinese-built passenger jet C919 on Friday.

The C919 is a single-aisle commercial aircraft built for medium-haul flights, with up to 174 seats and twin engines. Its maiden flight was scheduled to take off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

The five pilotsCai Jun (captain), Wu Xin (co-pilot), Qian Jin (observer), as well as Ma Fei and Zhang Dawei (engineers)have long flight experience, the newspaper Jiefang Daily reported. They are from the test center of Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd, the maker of the C919.

During the preparatory stage, Cai, Wu and Qian were involved in the evaluation of the cockpit. They also carried out two mock flights ahead of the first test flight, and completed slow, medium and high-speed taxiing tests.

Before joining the test center six years ago, Cai was a pilot at China Eastern Airlines. So far, he has flown 10,300 hours. As a test pilot, Cai said that flying is only part of his work. He also takes part in finalizing flight plans and verifying flight data.

Besides the five test pilots, the center said it has also prepared a backup team, and will decide the final team on Friday.
China Railway Rolling Stock Corp, the country's railway vehicle and equipment manufacturer and exporter, announced on Thursday that it will build a plant in Canada to further expand its marketing channels in North America.

The train maker said in a statement that the new facility, located in Moncton in New Brunswick, will create more than 200 jobs in the first phase and generate more than $1 million in tax revenue for the local government annually. The plant is capable of manufacturing heavy load, special railway vehicles and railway vehicle brakes.

The plant was jointly set up by Sichuan-based CRRC Meishan Co Ltd, a freight train maker under CRRC, Moncton-based ARS Canada Rolling Stock Inc, a local railcar manufacturer and service supplier, and a CRRC subsidiary in Hong Kong. They gained approval from the Canadian government in June 2016.

CRRC said the establishment of this facility will enhance its market presence in North America. However, the company's headquarters in Beijing did not disclose the total investment amount and designed manufacturing capacity.

The new company's main business is to carry out sales of cargo trains, research and development work for freight trains that can be operated in North America, as well as manufacturing freight trains including open-top wagons, covered wagons, tankers and flat cars.

The statement said that CRRC's long-term goal is to assemble freight trains and provide after-sale services to clients in Canada.

"Canada is rich in commodity goods including copper ore, nickel ore, iron ore, petroleum, wheat, soybean and other agricultural products. It is a good growth point for Chinese cargo train manufacturers to carry out a localization strategy in the country," said Feng Hao, a rail transportation researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission.

Feng said as CRRC's other subsidiaries such as CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co Ltd and CRRC Changchun Co Ltd have built manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Massachusetts to produce passenger trains in the United States, so it is possible for its Canadian facility to supply cargo trains to the markets in the US sooner or later.

CRRC Meishan so far has shipped more than 5,000 freight trains to the global market. It also produces special vehicles for clients in resource-rich countries such as Australia and Argentina.

Pan Shuping, general manager of CRRC Meishan, said it is necessary to conduct research and development in fast-growing markets such as Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, because they have different standards in railway infrastructure and services.
U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson delivers a speech to State Department employees in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, May 3, 2017. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday the United States was preparing new sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) if Pyongyang takes steps that warrant new sanctions. [Xinhua/Bao Dandan]

China, like the rest of the world, remains concerned about rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Washington insists that its policy of "strategic patience" is now exhausted and it's now ready to go even as far as nuclear war against the DPRK, although there's a lot of ambiguity coming out of Washington.

With the longest-lasting annual military exercises continuing as a possible dress rehearsal for something drastic, an American aircraft carrier group placed within firing range of Pyongyang, the "operationalization" of the dangerous U.S. THAAD missile system in Seoul, U.S. B-1 bombers from Guam flying "test drills" with Korean fighter jets, and Pyongyang's repeated reminders it can launch a pre-emptive missile strike against American targets, alarm bells are sounding in not only South Korea and Japan, but also as far away as Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

For more than mere geopolitical reasons, China has every reason to be concerned about the escalation of military tensions so close to home.

Beijing has repeatedly warned - the latest being by Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the United Nations Security Council in late April - that there will be no winners from another Korean war.

All the warnings are clearly being ignored, even as South Koreans themselves are protesting against the deployment of the missile system which the U.S. says is supposed to protect them.

Washington and its allies on the U.N. Security Council are unfairly leaning on Beijing to pressure Pyongyang, without any similar calls on the U.S. to also curb its own war actions in the area.

China has voluntarily imposed sanctions against both the DPRK and ROK, while trying hard to convince reluctant war hawks on all sides that only a peaceful solution will work in a crisis involving nations that fought a devastating war over six decades ago, eventually agreeing to ceasefire but never signing a peace treaty.

Amid the current hysteria, memories are being revived of the 1964 "Gulf of Tonkin" incident in Vietnam - when President Johnson used it to mislead Congress and deepen American involvement in the Vietnam War. Decades later, the search for "weapons of mass destruction" that never existed also led to the devastating Iraq war.

Any such "mistake" in the Korean Peninsula today can lead to yet another catastrophic conflagration that could not only destroy Seoul, Pyongyang and Tokyo, but also involve other regional armies, navies and air forces - and their international backers.

The only country that has ever used nuclear bombs in history again today has its finger hovering over the button, and likewise the only other nation is ever-ready to defiantly test its own armed nuclear capability. But the human and materials costs of any nuclear war today will far outweigh anything we saw at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The DPRK continues the irrational ratcheting-up its defiant rhetoric; likewise the war hawks in Washington. Intensification of overall bellicose language and confrontational actions by both sides are worse than ever.

President Trump's warm proclamations about China and the global optimism since his Mar-a-Lago summit with President Xi Jinping are often cooled and clouded by his contrary and contradictory words and tweets. But by his own admission, Beijing and Washington have a way to create avenues and mechanisms to reduce and eliminate differences, build bridges and heal wounds.

China maintains that efforts towards non-proliferation and promotion of dual-track settlement talks must be strengthened to bring the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue to a peaceful settlement.

While U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson continued to wave the American war flags at North Korea, President Trump has said he is not averse to talking to his DPRK counterpart in the right circumstances. Here again, he is sending mixed signals some of which one can only hope are sincere.

The possibilities of another war between the North and South are more real now than ever before. But the world has repeatedly learned that war never results in true peace. Therefore, if a clear strategy of patience was ever necessary in and around the Korean Peninsula, it's now.

Earl Bousquet is a contributor to china.org.cn, editor-at-large of The Diplomatic Courier and author of an online regional newspaper column entitled Chronicles of a Chronic Caribbean Chronicler.

For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/earlbousquet.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday voiced his support for Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old centrist candidate in the running towards French presidency.

In a video posted on Facebook by Macron, Obama delivered the message facing the camera, saying that he's always grateful for "the friendship of the French people", and "the work we did together when I was the president of the United States".

"I'm not planning to get involved in many elections now that I don't have to run for office again but the French election is very important for the future of France and the values that we care so much about," Obama said in the video embedded with French subtitles. "Because the success of France matters to the entire world."

He said that Macron "has stood up for liberal values," adding that the candidate "appeals to people's hopes and not there fears."

Obama then ended the message with "En Marche (On the Move)", the name of Marcon's new party, and "Vive la France (Long live France)."

On his Facebook post Macron said "the hope is on the move", and thanked Obama for his support.

Obama's unprecedented endorsement came one day after Macron debated the other candidate, Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front party on live television.

The video quickly sparked controversy on social media, with some opponents calling it interference in another country's presidential election.

Marcon and Le Pen came out on top in the first round of the election on April 23, and will face off in a runoff vote on May 7.
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Hakainde Hichilema, opposition leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), speaks to the media after casting his vote at a polling station at Kabulonga Boys Secondary School in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, Jan. 20, 2015. [File photo / Xinhua]

The case in which Zambia's leading opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has been charged with treason will now proceed for trial in a high court, according to a certificate of committal submitted in a lower court on Thursday.

Hichilema and five of his supporters were arrested on April 11 and charged with treason and have been in detention since then because treason is a non-bailable offense in Zambia.

They have been appearing in court for preliminary issues and waiting for the Director of Prosecutions (DPP) to issue consent for the case to proceed for trial in a high court because the lower court has no jurisdiction to preside over treason cases.

According to the certificate, the opposition leader, while acting together with others, is alleged to have conspired to mobilize an advance party to ensure that he was accorded the status of Zambian president at a ceremony in the western provincial capital of Mongu and that his convoy did obstruct President Edgar Lungu's motorcade, an act that was likely to cause death or grievous harm to the Zambian leader in an attempt to usurp executive powers.

But his lawyers objected to the move to commit the case to the high court for trial because the lower court had ordered for a preliminary inquiry into the viability of the treason case.

The lawyers argued that the preliminary inquiry must continue in order to determine whether the opposition leader committed treason or not.

The lawyers further argued that the certificate of committal was null and void because it was not signed by the DPP in accordance with the law and should be disregarded.
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On a frisky spring day in eastern Turkish town of Ardahan, construction workers unearthed an old Christian coffin which held a well-preserved body of what experts say is an imposing Russian officer.

Lask week, excavation workers on a construction site discovered the casket bearing a Russian orthodox cross in the town of some 100,000 inhabitants near the Georgian and Armenian borders.

According to the Turkish press, the dead man is believed to be a Russian officer, perhaps a general, buried there when the town was under Russian control during the late 19th and early 20th century.

The study into the identity of the corpse is still underway.

"There is in fact some work underway but it is really early to determine all the facts but we are trying to determine his rank in the Russian army. In the past several coffins were found in this region but never in such good preservation form," an official from the Turkish ministry for tourism and culture told Xinhua .

"He might be a Greek officer who served in the Russian army," Levent Kucuk, an associate professor from Ardahan University, told the daily Sabah newspaper, as some Greeks lived in the eastern part of the Ottoman Empire before 1923.

Ardahan was once occupied by the Russian army before it fell back to the modern Turkish republic in 1921.

Necmettin Alp, head of the Kars archaeological museum of Kars, where the unearthed body is being placed, told local reporters that researchers are working hard to identify the corpse.

"The serviceman was buried according to Christian ritual. There were only his body and his clothes and boots in the coffin, nothing else, nothing precious," said Alpa.

"There are three stars and the number 20 is written on his uniform, it is probably his service number," he added.
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Denmark will be given the command of NATO's fleet in the North Atlantic from the beginning of 2018, local media cited Defense Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen as saying on Thursday.

Frederiksen made the announcement during a visit to the Danish frigate Peter Willemoes, which is currently helping to fight IS as part of a U.S. carrier group in the Persian Gulf, according to English newspaper The Copenhagen Post.

"We know the Baltic Sea is becoming a more and more important area in light of the Russian escalation, and we can see we need a more powerful presence in our own region," the minister said.

"We see a military escalation at the border of the Baltic nations and Poland. It's important we are visibly present, so they know that provocation will have consequences," he added.

NATO's fleet in the North Atlantic, known as the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), consists of several ships from various nations.

Denmark will take over SNMG1 command from Norway in what Frederiksen said as a vote of confidence in the Danish Navy, the paper said.
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A 30-year-old man was arrested Thursday night at London Heathrow Airport by officers from the Metropolitan Counter Terrorism Command.

The man was arrested as he disembarked at Heathrow on a flight from Istanbul, Turkey.

A spokesman at New Scotland Yard, headquarters of the Met said: "The man has been arrested on suspicion for preparing for terrorist acts and terrorist training contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006. He has been taken to a south London police station where he is detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence."

The spokesman said officers were at present searching a residential address in east London.

Meanwhile the Met gave an update Thursday night on a group of people arrested in an anti-terror swoop on an address in Harlesden Road in northwest London in which a 21-year-old woman was shot and wounded by armed cops.

The Met said police had been granted warrants to continue the further detention of six women, including the shot, arrested by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.

The other women still detained include women aged 20, 43, a 19-year-old and two 18-year-olds.

All six were arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorist acts and detained under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Warrants of further detention, for up to a further seven days, were granted Thursday at Westminster Magistrates' Court in respect of all six women whilst enquiries continue.

Two men, aged 21 and a 16-year-old boy arrested on April 27 either in or close to the Harlesden Road address, have been released without charge.
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A man, suspected of having regularly attacked the campaign website of French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, has been arrested by French cyber crime police, Le Pen's National Front (FN) party announced on Thursday.

"We have identified several of these hackers and have sent all the relevant data to the police in the context of a complaint," said David Rachline, Le Pen's campaign manager, and Gaetan Bertrand, communication chief of FN in a statement, indicating that the individual could be "close to extreme left-wing circles".

"Throughout the presidential campaign, and especially since the beginning of 2017, our campaign site has been the subject of regular and targeted cyber attacks, using different methods well known to hackers," said the statement.

The prosecutor's office in Nanterre, a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, confirmed that a young man had been arrested this week and that he had "admitted the facts" during his custody.

The seized computer is still under further investigation, the prosecutor's office said.

A preliminary inquiry was opened last weekend after the far-right party lodged a complaint about the alleged attacks, according to local newspaper Le Figaro.

Le Pen is to face off with centrist candidate and former minister of economy Emmanuel Macron in a runoff vote of the presidential election on May 7.
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U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars of spending bill to fund federal government through September.

In a vote of 79-18, the Senate approved the bill which increases defense spending while keeps some Democratic priorities in place.

The House already passed the bill Wednesday in a 309-118 vote. The bill will now head to President Donald Trump for signing.

The bill includes 15-billion-dollar increase in funding for the defence, and 1.5 billion dollars for border security, but does not include funding for the construction of border wall with Mexico which Trump has required.

The bill also increases funding for NASA, medical research and federal law enforcement agencies.

"Tireless efforts led to a constructive bipartisan agreement that protects important programs like federal disaster relief and avoids dangerous reductions in funding for our armed forces," said Shai Akabas, director of fiscal policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

It's clear that continuous introduction of stopgap funding bills are a barrier to federal agencies operating efficiently and effectively, said Akabas.

U.S. Congress passed at least one temporary funding bill every year since 1997.

"Hopefully fiscal year 2018 will not be the 21st straight fiscal year in which such stopgap measures are used," said Akabas.

After the approval of the bill, the next big budget challenge will now be passing legislation to fund the government for fiscal year 2018 which starts Oct. 1 this year.
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The second batch of materials sponsored by China for Laos to combat locust plague has been handed over to the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) on Thursday in Lao capital Vientiane.

Economic Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Laos Wang Qihui and Director General of MAF's Department of Agriculture Vilaysouk, on behalf of the two governments, signed the handover document.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lao Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Lien Thikeo said whenever Lao people encounter difficulties, the Chinese government always provides prompt support.

In the past year, thanks to the first batch of materials sponsored by China to eliminate locusts, as many as one third of the areas impacted by locust plague have been under control. Laos will continue taking the best use of the materials to eliminate locusts, so that farmers can soon return to normal production and life.

In order to help Laos fight locust plague, under the consensus reached by the two governments, the Chinese government agreed to provide emergency aid for Laos to deal with the plague. The materials handed over this time include cars, manual sprayers, backpack sprayers, protective suits, and computers.

The first batch of materials sponsored by the Chinese government for Laos to combat locust plague was handed over to Laos in May 2016.
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British Queen Elizabeth II (L) and Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh view the fly-past on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Queen's 90th birthday celebrations in London, Britain in this file photo taken on June 11, 2016. British (Xinhua/Han Yan)



British Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, is to retire from royal duties this fall, Buckingham Palace announced Thursday.

Staff from royal residences were summoned to an emergency meeting at the palace to be told of the decision.

Prince Philip, who is just weeks away from his 96th birthday, will continue to fulfill his engagements until he withdraws from public life, and will continue as a patron or member of more than 700 charitable organizations.

The summoning of staff to the palace led to fevered speculation about the royal family, but officials assured that the decision would not be about the health of a member of the royal household. Prince Philip was said to be in good form and looking well during public engagements in London on Wednesday.

The palace, in an official announcement, said the decision was made by Prince Philip himself with the support of Queen Elizabeth II.

In the statement, the palace spokesman said Prince Philip may still choose to attend certain public events from time to time.

His face is one of the most recognized in the world, as he accompanied Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest serving monarch, on royal duties around Britain and across the world.

Royal watchers had been wondering how long the royal couple would continue with their schedule of appointments in their advancing years.

In recent times, younger members of the royal household, including Prince William and his wife Princess Catherine, as well as William' s younger brother Prince Harry, have been undertaking more royal duties.

Heir to the British throne, Prince Charles and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, also carry out royal duties, increasingly on behalf of the Queen.

It has enabled the monarch and her husband to reduce their workload in recent years.

In Thursday's announcement, the palace said Queen Elizabeth II will continue a full program of engagements.

The Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, married Prince Philip in the late 1940s, succeeding to the throne when her father, King George VI, died in 1952. They will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their marriage this coming November. As the world's most famous royal couple, they have visited every continent, and carried out tens of thousands of engagements.
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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Friday that it had foiled an attempt by U.S. and South Korean spy agencies to assassinate the country's top leader Kim Jong Un, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

According to the report, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States and South Korea's Intelligence Service (IS) attempted to murder DPRK's Kim last month with bio-chemical and radio-active substances.

The Ministry of State Security of the DPRK said in a statement that CIA recruited a DPRK citizen in Russia's Far East in 2014 and trained him to stage the assassination against Kim when he was making public appearances on April 15 during celebrations of the 105th birthday of DPRK founding leader Kim Il Sung.

The KCNA said the spy, surnamed Kim and a resident of Pyongyang, was given equipment, money and instruction to carry out the plot.
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Over a quarter of South Korean voters cast ballots in early voting for the presidential election set to be held next week, the election commission said Friday.

During the two-day early voting period, 11,072,310 voters cast ballots ahead of the official presidential election day on May 9, according to the National Election Commission.

It took up 26.06 percent of the country's combined 42,479,710 voters.

The unusually high rate of early voting heralded a heavy turnout on the official election date.

Public attention to the country's first by-election for new president is relevant to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye over corruption allegations that increased demand for the transfer of power.

Moon Jae-in of the biggest Minjoo Party, a clear frontrunner in recent months, garnered 42.4 percent of support in the last opinion survey by local pollster Realmeter before the election day.

Under the election law, no opinion polls conducted after Tuesday can be published. The last survey was based on a poll of 1,016 voters conducted from Monday to Tuesday.

Ahn Cheol-soo of the centrist People's Party and Hong Joon-pyo of the former ruling Liberty Korea Party tied for the second with a support rate of 18.6 percent.

The early voting system was first introduced in 2013. The early voting rate posted 11.5 percent in the 2014 local elections and 12.2 percent in the 2016 general elections respectively.

The early voting was conducted from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday in 3,507 polling stations nationwide. The vote was made available in district offices as well as train stations and airports.
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Activists from the environmental group Greenpeace on Friday unfurled a banner against French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen on the iconic Eiffel Tower.

The message on the banner included the French republican slogan "liberty, equality, fraternity" and the word "resist" with a hashtag, which is widely used on social media by opponents of the far-right candidate.

The banner, 30 meters in width and 10 meters in length, was hung early Friday morning between two pillars of the famous French monument.

The unauthorised action came on the last day of campaigning for the French presidential election.

The aim of this action is to "warn against the project of Le Pen and the risks that it represents for the associations and beyond," said Jean-Francois Julliard, head of the French branch of Greenpeace.

"Greenpeace is concerned about the resurgence of nationalism and the risk of restricting freedom of association. It is our mission to oppose it," he added.

The Paris police department reacted shortly after the incident, saying that it revealed "dysfunctions in the security system of the monument," while France is still in a "state of emergency" due to lingering security threats.

A meeting was called Friday morning to analyze the case and determine who's responsible for it, the police department said in a press release.

Twelve persons suspected of being involved have since been held in custody, the police added.

The city council of Paris also issued a statement following the incident, saying that "a monument like the Eiffel Tower, the emblem of Paris" was used for "political purposes," and questioned the security system put in place around the monument.

The city also condemns the "illegal action" of Greenpeace although it shares "a number of causes" defended by the group, according to the statement.

Le Pen is to face off with centrist candidate and former minister of economy Emmanuel Macron in a decisive second round of the election on May 7.
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U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with European Union (EU) chiefs during his first overseas trip later this month since taking office, a spokesman of European Council President Donald Tusk confirmed on Friday.

"Confirmed. @eucopresident and @JunckerEU will meet @realDonaldTrump in Brussels on 25 May," spokesman Preben Aamann tweeted, referring to Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Days after Trump took office on Jan. 20, Tusk branded the new U.S President's "worrying declarations" as an external threat, which, along with other factors, "make our future highly unpredictable".

"Particularly the change in Washington puts the European Union (EU) in a difficult situation, with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy," Tusk said in a letter to leaders of EU member states in Jan. 31, ahead of the Valletta Summit.

Trump is scheduled to attend NATO summit in Brussels and G7 summit in Italy later this month.

The White House announced Thursday in a statement that Trump's trip will include additional stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel and the Vatican.
A Zhongfu Wanmin Church member managed to capture this

photo of the officers conducting the raid on May 3. (Photo:

ChinaAid)

ChinaAid

(Dongguan, GuangdongMay 5, 2017) Police officers raided a house church meeting in Chinas southern Guangdong province on Wednesday evening, detaining 30 of the members in attendance including the pastor and an American couple with two children.

More than 20 officers broke into Zhongfu Wanmin Church approximately a half hour into their evening service on May 3. The church members attempted to take pictures of the raid, but officers confiscated all cell phones, ID cards, and bank cards.

How could the police take away their bank cards? a local pastor asked while recounting the events to a ChinaAid reporter. This is a very recent [change in behavior for officers.]

During the raid, the pastor, Li Peng, was beaten by officers for trying to take pictures. Li was detained with the 30 other members taken away from the church and interrogated overnight, but while most of the detainees were released the following morning, Li was not.

Huang Xiaorui, Lis wife, went to the police station in the morning, but officers refused to give her information or let her visit Li.

They didnt let me see my husband, Huang said. I insisted that I was there for a justification. I wanted justice. I waited at the police station all morning, to no avail. The other brothers and sisters were released in different orders and each of them were questioned for a very long time. I myself was interrogated for more than an hour. The oldest believer they detained is a grandmother, more than 80 years old. There were also children [among the detainees.]

Because an American couple and their two children in attendance at the meeting, authorities accused the church of accommodating foreigners and illegally gathering because the church was not a registered meeting place.

The American family was detained after police summoned them from their hotel, according to Huang.

We never accommodated any foreigners, Huang said. We live in Tangxia. A couple in our church are Americans, but they are registered as Hong Kong residents. They joined the Tangxia Church more than a decade ago, and they merely wanted to have a look at our church this Wednesday.

Zhongfu Wanmin Church, established in 2002, has faced intense persecution from local authorities for a long time, with a spike in severity during May and June of 2016. In those two months alone, church members reported seven separate raids by authorities. During one incident, officers broke open the churchs donation box and confiscated 2,888 Yuan (U.S. $439).

ChinaAid reports on persecution events such as the raid against Zhongfu Wanmin Church in order to promote religious freedom and rule of law for persecuted Christians in China.

ChinaAid Media Team

Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985

Email: [email protected]

For more information, click here
BEIJING - A music education alliance along the Belt and Road was set up on Friday in Beijing to promote cooperation and exchange.

Presidents of conservatories, musicians and scholars from 16 countries attended the three-day inauguration conference, which began Friday at China's Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

The conference will examine exchange mechanisms for conservatories for Belt and Road countries and strengthen the research on and development of music heritage, said Guo Shulan, Communist Party chief of China's Central Conservatory of Music.

Music concerts and music instrument exhibitions will be organized during the event.

Participants come from India, Thailand, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran and Turkey, among other countries.

Yu Feng, president of China's Central Conservatory of Music, proposed that a Silk Road international music forum could be held every three years by conservatories in different countries.

Beijing will host the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on May 14-15.
Police in Belize are said to be questioning a Canadian citizen in connection with the strangulation death of Toronto-area woman Francesca Matus and her boyfriend Drew DeVoursney. The suspect is already charged with an unrelated burglary and is on the radar of local cops because they believe Matus and DeVoursney were targeted by persons familiar to them. The pair had been dating for several months and were living at Francescas vacation home in Belize. They disappeared on the drive home from a bar after a farewell drink with friends. Matus was to fly back to Toronto the following morning. They were found strangled, with their hands duct-taped, in a sugarcane field. Previous here and here

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BEIJING  China will encourage bond issuance to facilitate public-private-partnership (PPP) projects, the country's top economic planner announced Wednesday.

The government will accelerate approvals for bonds issuance in PPP projects and issue favorable policies to firms with high credence ratings, according to a guideline released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

The guideline aims to make more financing options available for PPP projects in the areas of infrastructure and public service, said NDRC.

NDRC requires bond issuers to disclose information including possible risks, and protection mechanisms to investors before trading.

China has been looking to PPP, a collaborative investment model between government and private companies, as a way to fund infrastructure projects amid concerns over high local government debt.

Last year, the number of signed PPP projects and total investment more than quadrupled from 2015, with private enterprises participating in more regions and sectors than ever before.

The strong momentum continued into the first quarter of 2017, which saw 28 percent more PPP projects inked year-on-year.
An engineer at the electrical noise testing center of Midea Group in Foshan, Guangdong province. YU GE / FOR CHINA DAILY

Overseas push puts Midea on high-growth trajectory R&D centers, acquisitions turn appliance maker into tech major

The establishment of overseas plants, research and development centers and the acquisition of a number of international intelligent automation solution makers have helped expand the business of Midea Group, a Chinese appliance maker, according to its senior executives.

Based in the manufacturing hub of Foshan, Guangdong province, in the heart of the Pearl River Delta, Midea currently has 17 R&D centers in eight countries. It has invested over 20 billion yuan ($2.89 billion) in R&D over the past five years, according to the company.

The company is planning to set up more R&D centers in Austria, Germany and Singapore in the near future, aiming to tailor-make its products as per local needs. That's part of its larger goal to make them globally competitive.

Midea has 12 overseas plants already, covering major home appliance goods and automation solution products.

"We are more willing to build joint ventures in overseas markets, especially countries and regions along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road," said Fang Hongbo, chairman and president of Midea Group.

China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.

Since the establishment of its first overseas plant in Vietnam in 2007, Midea has efficiently expanded its operations. It has been offering its products in global markets over the past few years.

According to Midea's annual report, the group's overseas sales reached 64 billion yuan, accounting for nearly half of the company's total sales in 2016.

Its overseas sales revenue is expected to reach more than half of the company's total revenue in 2017, according to a company source.

Fang, its chairman, said: "Growing market demand in emerging countries and regions, along with an improving domestic demand for smart home appliances, will help boost sales in the years ahead".

Gu Yanmin, vice-president of Midea, said the overseas acquisitions had helped expand its business to new industrial areas, amid intensifying competition in the domestic home appliances market.

"We are now more likely to identify ourselves as a leading technology company, not only in the area of home appliances, but also in industries like heating and ventilation, robotics and automation solutions," Gu said in an early interview with China Daily.

In recent times, it effected a series of international acquisitions.

Midea took a majority stake in German robotics manufacturer Kuka GA last year. It bought more than a 50 percent stake in Israeli motion solution provider Servotronix Motion Control Ltd earlier this year.

"We have been seeking another growth path beyond home appliances, changing our business model driven by mass production at low cost to scientific and technological innovation," said Gu.

Midea also took a large stake in Italian air conditioner maker Clivet SpA and an 80 percent stake in Japanese home appliance manufacturer Toshiba Corp's white goods business last year.
Visitors examine Hisence TVs at the CES in Las Vegas, the United States. XINHUA

Sector hit by rising costs of raw materials which have been passed on in prices

China's television industry has seen a downturn in the first quarter, with major TV manufacturers witnessing a drop in net profits and sales affected by the rising price of raw materials.

Sichuan Changhong Electronic Co Ltd said its revenue was 16.63 billion yuan ($2.41 billion) in the first three months, up 7.93 percent year-on-year, but net profit plunged 84.75 percent to 32.98 million yuan in the quarter, marking the biggest earnings fall among the companies that released financial reports.

Qingdao-based Hisense Group posted a revenue and profit decline in the first quarter. Its revenue dropped 5.98 percent to 6.7 billion yuan, while net profit slipped to 269 million yuan, down 49.53 percent compared with same period last year.

Hisense blamed the rise in the costs of raw materials and shrinking production for the decline.

Another home appliance manufacturer Shenzhen-based Konka Group Co Ltd said its gross margins from TVs and white goods, which include air conditioners and refrigerators, witnessed a decline in the first quarter due to the price rises of raw materials.

In March, the TV sales of Skyworth Group Co Ltd in the Chinese market dropped 25 percent year-on-year. TCL Corp said sales of LCD TVs fell 7.7 percent to 2.22 million units in the first quarter.

Statistics from Sigmaintell Consulting Co Ltd, an industry consultancy, showed shipments of TVs in the Chinese market reached 11.69 million units in the first three months, down 14 percent year-on-year.

Six major Chinese TV manufacturersincluding Hisense, Skyworth and TCLsold 8.16 million units from January to March, accounting for a 70 percent market share, according to Sigmaintell.

Analysts said the price rises of TV panels drive the growth of overall TV prices, which causes a decrease of consumers' purchasing intentions.

Liu Buchen, an independent researcher in the home appliances sector, said the price rise of panels had continued for nearly three quarters.

"In the past, the price of panels often rose 10 percent, but the price grew 40 to 50 percent this time," Liu said.

Panels account for more than 50 percent of TV costs, Liu explained. "The increase in TV prices lagged for several months, causing major TV brands to suffer a loss."

Moreover, internet television companies, such as LeTV Holdings Co Ltd and Xiaomi Corp, are facing more pressure. Sun Taitong, an analyst from industry watcher China Market Monitor, said the internet TV brands grew rapidly last year, but their sales had a downturn in the first quarter.

Chinese TV manufacturers have entered into a period of adjustment. Konka hired new senior management personnel. Skyworth Digital appointed Liu Tangzhi as its CEO.

TCL, meanwhile, started to reorganize its panel business and initiate new overseas M&As.
China officially launches its second - and the first domestically developed - aircraft carrier on April 26, 2017, in Dalian, Liaoning province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The launch of China's first domestically developed aircraft carrier is expected to boost the country's shipbuilding sectorespecially military vessels, analysts said.

According to a research note from Guosen Securities, the market for the various military vessels which are in the aircraft carrier fleets could reach 100 billion yuan ($14.5 billion), while the maintenance and upgrade of the equipment would be a larger market.

"Our second aircraft carrier is designed, constructed and equipped independently," said Hu Wenming, chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Corp, at the launching ceremony in Dalian, Liaoning province.

"It underscores that we have forged a team for building aircraft carriers," Hu added.

The company is China's biggest manufacturer of naval products. It is able to design and build different types of naval ships including submarines, missile destroyers and fleet support vessels.

One of its listed companiesChina Shipbuilding Industry Co Ltdpublished its annual report on April 26, revealing that its annual revenue reached 52.064 billion yuan in 2016 and total profit was 1.094 billion yuan, a big turnaround from the loss of 2.931 billion yuan for the year before.

The turn from loss into profit stands out given that the country's shipbuilding sector was influenced by the gloomy international shipping industry.

"In 2016, the integrated development of the military and civilian products has become an important impetus. All the major military tasks had been implemented smoothly according to the plan," the annual report indicated.

In addition to the aircraft carrier, the company also delivered several naval vessels, such as lightly-armed frigates and coast-guard ships. It said major breakthroughs were made in submarine military trade projects.

On April 21, China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co Ltd, the trade arm of the CSIC, signed a contract with a Malaysian shipbuilding company, the company said on its website.

According to the contract, the CSOC will design and construct for the Royal Malaysian Navy four Littoral Mission Ships, primarily used for maritime patrol, coastal security and search and rescue operations.

It is Malaysia's first significant defense deal with the Chinese company.

It is assumed that China will construct more aircraft carriers following the official launch of the second one. Ministry of National Defense spokesman Yang Yujun said that the nation will form an overall plan for the development of carriers and key supporting infrastructures. But he did not reveal how many aircraft carriers China will construct at the ministry's regular news conference on April 27.
View of a property transaction and registration service center (left) and high buildings in Zhengzhou, Henan province, May 19, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

BEIJING - In its latest efforts to cool runaway housing prices, Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province, put restrictions on property sales in more counties, effective Thursday.

Local authorities have stipulated that houses in eight counties purchased after May 3 cannot be sold within three years after purchase.

More than 20 cities - mainly second- and third-tier cities in China - have introduced restrictive policies to intensify property market regulations since April.

The new regulation in Zhengzhou will slash speculative demand in the local property market and boost stable development, said Yan Yuejin, senior researcher with E-house China R&D Institute.

Zhang Dawei, a senior analyst with Centaline Property, said that speculative capital is flowing to hot areas without sales restrictions due to tightened regulations, especially in large cities, which will lead more cities to step up regulatory measures.

"Ten more third- and fourth-tier cities around Xiongan New Area have rolled out house purchase restrictions," said Yang Kewei, researcher with property research center CRIC, adding that cities like Zhuhai, Dongguan and Jiaxing, which surround first-tier cities, have scaled up their purchase bans recently.

Restrictions on property sales have become a trump card for many cities. So far, over 20 cities have rolled out similar restrictions.

"Sales restrictions are local governments' new method to regulate property markets, featuring the latest round of tightened regulation beginning in March," said Zhang.

Yang also pointed out that sales restrictions are going to be part of the long-term mechanism of property market regulation, combined with purchase bans and credit limits.
Rail tracks are laid on a route in Nantong, Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

BEIJING - China's central government has flashed red on irregular behavior in public-private-partnership (PPP) projects and local government investment funds.

"Local governments are encouraged to form public-private-partnerships with private companies, but local governments and private companies must cooperate on a benefit and risk-sharing footing," the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said Thursday in a statement.

Local governments can set up investment funds alone or jointly with private companies, but such funds must operate on a legal and market-oriented basis, it stressed.

The statement was released on the heels of a joint notice issued Wednesday by several governmental agencies including the MOF to ask provincial authorities to examine their financing practices as soon as possible and to rectify all irregularities by the end of July.

"Unless agreed by the central government, local governments and their subsidiary agencies are forbidden to promise to buy back private companies' investments, and may not undertake investment losses of private capital in any form," noted the statement.

Local governments are not allowed to promise a minimum return on investment to private companies in any form, and they are forbidden to undertake all the risks in such projects, it added.

Local governments have been looking to government-supported investment funds and PPP, a collaborative investment model between government and private companies, as ways to fund infrastructure projects as concern rises over local government debt and the central government tightens its grip on local financing platforms that were previously widely used.

By the end of last year, combined debt of central and local governments in China stood at 27.3 trillion yuan ($4 trillion), with a debt-to-GDP ratio of around 36.7 percent and the total outstanding local government debt climbing to 15.3 trillion yuan.

"The authorities are strengthening supervision of both capital source and capital use in PPP projects and local investment funds," said Zheng Chunrong with Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

"PPP projects picked up momentum in 2016, but problems including the uneven sharing of risk among participants are emerging," said Li Qilin, a senior analyst with Lianxun Securities.

Last year, the number of signed PPP projects and total investment more than quadrupled from 2015, with private enterprises participating in more regions and sectors than ever before.

PPPs will become the main financing model for Chinese local governments in infrastructure investment up to 2020, with State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to play the leading role, global ratings agency Fitch predicted in a recent report.

The PPP model is in its infancy in China and SOEs have emerged as the main partners of local governments, rather than private investors, Fitch cautioned.

Financial regulators are increasing financial risk control and de-leveraging, as solid GDP growth in the first quarter provided more room for such adjustments, conducive to long-term growth.

"The document has further standardized local government debt management. They are not allowed to increase debt in the name of PPP projects," said Li with Lianxun Securities.

Li predicted that private companies will be more prudent in cooperation with local governments, and this will help improve quality of joint projects.
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BEIJING - The central government will encourage insurance funds to invest in public-private-partnership (PPP) projects to boost the economy, the country's top insurance watchdog announced Friday.

Insurance funds can finance PPP enterprises under their infrastructure investment plans by means of debt, equity or a combination of the two, according to a statement released by China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC).

CIRC will speed up approvals for financing PPP projects related to programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative, development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River economic belt and the Xiongan New Area, and poverty-alleviation projects.

The central government is looking to PPP, a collaborative investment model between government and private companies, as a way to fund infrastructure projects amid concerns over high local government debt.

Last year, the number of signed PPP projects and total investment more than quadrupled from 2015, with private enterprises participating in more regions and sectors than ever before.

The strong momentum continued into the first quarter of 2017, which saw 28 percent more PPP projects inked year on year.
BEIJING - China's homegrown large passenger plane, the C919, took to the skies on Friday in the eastern city of Shanghai, marking a great improvement of China's innovative capability and high technology in aviation and aerospace industry.

Departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at around 2 pm (0700GMT) with five crew members on board but no passengers, the twin-engine plane signals the country's entry into the global aviation market as a strong competitor.

China's efforts in aviation

Within only 10 days, China has successively launched its first home-made aircraft carrier and large passenger plane, showing its determination to implement "Made in China 2025," a plan to transform China from a manufacturing giant into a world manufacturing power.

Douglas Royce, an aerospace expert at Forecast International, an aerospace market research firm, told Xinhua that "the Chinese government is interested in establishing independence and self-sufficiency in all aspects of aviation, so it is as much a national project as it is a commercial venture."

In 2007, plans to develop a Chinese-built large passenger jet were approved by the State Council. In November 2015, the first C919 jet rolled off the assembly line.

The "C" in the aircraft's name stands for both China and COMAC, while 9 symbolizes "forever" in Chinese culture, and 19 represents the 190 seats at maximum capacity.

With a standard range of 4,075 kilometers, the narrow-body jet is comparable with updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737.

Royce believed that "the Chinese government is engaged in a long-term process of catching up to Europe, the United States, and Russia in commercial aircraft. This is one step in that direction."

Michel Merluzeau, director of Air Insight Research, an aerospace & defence market analysis and consulting group, based in Seattle, told Xinhua that he was impressed by the role of the Chinese government and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the manufacturer of the C919, to accelerate innovation and implement innovative programs.

Accessing to international market

So far, 23 foreign and domestic customers, including China's national carrier Air China and leasing company GE Capital Aviation Service, have placed orders for 570 aircraft, according to COMAC.

Merluzeau anticipated that by the mid-2030s, COMAC is going to become an important partner to the global aerospace supply chains, owing to the growth of supply chains in China proper and partnership and the importance of market. "It cannot be ignored," he said.

However, "at least in the early years of service, demand will be centered in the Chinese market and a few satellite markets," Royce commented on C919's competitiveness with Airbus and Boeing, which are competitive rivals for China's jet and have spent decades competing fiercely against each other.

In Merluzeau's view, Western certification is a major challenge facing the Chinese passenger jet now. Getting European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification would be a huge win for the program as it carries different weight comparing with China's certification recognition.

"If achieved, I think it will greatly enhance the accessible market of C919," he said.

Royce anticipated that the COMAC is likely to become a major player in the airline segment over a very long term.

"It's not something that will happen over the next decade, but rather is a long-term process that will require ongoing support from the Chinese government," he said.
Attendees visit the General Motors Co (GM) Cadillac booth at the Auto Shanghai 2017 vehicle show in Shanghai, April 20, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

CHICAGO - General Motors (GM) announced on its website Thursday that the US automaker and its joint ventures in China sold 272,770 vehicles in China in April this year, down 1.9 percent year on year.

Overall, GM's sales in China in the first four months of this year dropped 4.5 percent.

The Detroit-based automaker attributed the sales decline to an earlier Chinese holiday and the reduction of a purchase tax incentive.

However, luxury Cadillac and Baojun brands set sales records in April.

To be specific, sales of Cadillac brand in China soared 98 percent year on year to 13,903 units in April; that of Baojun climbed 58 percent to 60,000 units.

Sales of GM's luxury vehicles, SUVs and multi-purpose vehicles rose 14 percent year on year and accounted for about half of GM's total sales in China in April.

China is GM's largest sales market overseas. GM plans to launch 18 new or significantly modified vehicles in China this year, half of which are SUVs and multi-purpose vehicles.

As for other brands, Buick sales totaled 84,162 units in China in April, down 15 percent year on year; Wuling sales came to 82,679 units, down 16 percent; and Chevrolet sold 32,044 units, down 9.6 percent.
Amin Nasser, president and chief executive officer of Saudi Aramco. BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES

Saudi Aramco chief says new deals and joint ventures could be in the pipeline

Having served more than three decades at the world's biggest oil producer, few know better than Amin Nasser about Saudi Arabian Oil Company, also known as Saudi Aramco.

Nasser, with a strong background in petroleum engineering and upstream operations, is detailed in his explanation and presents information cogently.

He has a lifelong affinity to the energy industry and is a strong believer in insightful and thorough long-term strategies.

"Our investment always takes a long-term view," Nasser said. "That has helped Saudi Aramco to be a stable and a reliable supplier of energy," he said in an interview with China Daily.

At the helm of Saudi Aramco, Nasser has dedicated his energies to backing technological innovation with long-term investment, and preparing his company's planned public listing in 2018.

In China, the company is pressing ahead, looking for local partners to establish joint ventures in downstreamintegrated refining, chemicals, retail and distribution.

Nasser said the company's investments are geared for the long-term in China's downstream sector. That's because it is not only trying to match such businesses with its export volumes of oil to the market place, but has a holistic approach incorporating R&D and innovative technologies that benefits the environment.

Recently, Amin Nasser shared his perspectives on Saudi Aramco's strategies, prospects and business opportunities in China. The following are edited excerpts of the interview:

What business opportunities do you see as China promotes the Belt and Road Initiative?

There are many opportunities, I believe, for Chinese companies and Saudi companies to partner in different areas. Bilateral relations are very strong between Saudi Arabia and China and some of the opportunities in the Kingdom are in the construction and infrastructure industries.

For example, we expect to attract more Chinese companies to invest in Jazan Economic City, in the Jazan Province of the Kingdom. It's positioned to be an excellent hub for trade with the North African region as well as with Europe. It ties in very well with the Belt and Road Initiative.

What are the focus areas for the company?

Saudi Aramco will continue to invest in the long term. We have a program to maintain our maximum sustained capacity of 12 million barrels a day by continuing to invest in exploration and to offset any decline in our resource base.

In gas, we currently have a program to almost double production to 23 billion barrels of oil equivalent by 2030 and in chemicals, we are working on building up the portfolio and we plan to increase fourfold from more than 10 million metric tons currently by 2050.

Have you set any goals for Aramco China in terms of business segments this year?

We continue to identify opportunities for growth, and at the same time we are working to expand across the integrated downstream value chain. Of course that starts with crude oil shipments from Saudi Arabia to China, which are currently at about 15 percent of China's total imports of crude oil, and I believe any new investments we will make will see an increase in those numbers.

What are Aramco's strengths in the current business environment?

Saudi Aramco's major strength is that we have one of the lowest cost structures, thanks to our geology, technology and operational efficiency. At the same time, our investments are always based on a long-term horizon.

We are cognizant to market cycles but even during a down cycle like in 2015 and 2016, Saudi Aramco's investment program was one of the biggest in the history of the company. It shows that during these cycles, our investment takes into consideration the long-term view and in expanding our integrated portfolio.

What's your perspective on the exploration of shale? Do you see blue skies or dark clouds ahead?

I am an optimist by nature and see opportunities even during turbulent times. Industry downturns are not new to us and we emphasize continually on building our capabilities and resilience to overcome challenging market conditions.

It's not surprising that shale will come back and rig counts will increase because of additional demand from shale producers.

But there are still challenges for producers, be they conventional or unconventional and that is why resilience through operational and capital efficiencies is crucial to overcome those challenges.

Can you speak about your plans for R&D and technology investments?

Three years ago we started to expand our technology portfolio. We have 11 technology centers in Saudi Arabia and across the globe, including three in the US, one in France, one in South Korea, one in the Netherlands, and one in China for research and development. All of these centers work closely with Saudi Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran.

Technology is a focus area, not only in the Kingdom but also out of Kingdomfor Saudi Aramco to leverage our competitive strengths with world-class institutions and organizations to enable or create breakthrough technologies in various areas. For example, our technology center in France is focused on the auto industry, targeting fuel innovation, engine performance and efficiency. (In China) we have an upstream research center, aiming to raise productivity and efficiency of our fields.

What did you discuss with Chinese officials? What's your plan in China?

During our visit to China in March, we signed a memorandum of understanding with Beijing-based China North Industries Group Corp for cooperation in refining venture. And in another MOU, we collaborate with equipment supplier Aerosun Corp from Nanjing, to manufacture reinforced thermoplastic pipes, which are commonly used for cable protection and liquid and natural gas transportation.

I also met company executives of China Petroleum and Chemical Corp and China National Petroleum Corporation to identify further downstream opportunities and we aim to establish new joint ventures in China.

Saudi Aramco is reportedly being planning to go public in 2018. How is it going?

It is progressing smoothly and as planned. More details will be disclosed in the coming months since the process of the IPO is under way.

How do you describe your leadership style?

A person's leadership style is usually reflected by the performance of a company. I believe the true measure of leadership is based on results, growth, opportunities and the success of a company.

Development is key for us at this stage, as Saudi Aramco is moving at a rapid pace and we're striving to grow even bigger. We will continue to make sure that we're developing our people and to continue to build up from our low-cost structure.
Chen Chi, CEO of Xiaozhu Inc [Photo provided to China Daily]

Home-sharing company Xiaozhu Inc has launched China's first shared-house service for business travelers, driven by the increase in startups and the changing structure of the workforce.

Established in 2012, Xiaozhu is one of the first Chinese home-sharing platforms and has around 150,000 shared-house sources in 306 cities in China.

"We will provide about 80,000 homes for business trips in over 50 cities by the end of this year, starting from Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu," said the company's CEO Chen Chi.

Rooms for business travelers, priced at 300 to 400 yuan ($44 to $58), are equipped with office supplies and an invoice is promised to be provided within 11 working days.

Another new service designed for business travelers is monthly settlement and company accounts, but the company admitted it needs the support of a stronger IT system. When asked about the reason to start such a new product, Chen said "last year, more than 15 percent of our users chose our service for business trips".

In 2015, business travelers accounted for 36.5 percent of overall home-sharing users, while half were individual tourists, according to a report by Beijing-based internet consultancy Analysys.

Chen said the service initially targeted young employees in startups and SMEs, but some large enterprises have also showed an interest.

So far, a dozen internet companies, maker spaces and co-working offices have signed cooperation agreements with Xiaozhu.

As young people born in 1990s become the major part of the labor force and with the growth of startups, business trip demand is becoming more diversified and personalized, he said.

His goal is to team up with 5,000 corporates and serve 100,000 users within this year.

Tang Wu, a young entrepreneur who operates a dozen shared homes in Shenzhen, said many of his clients are business travelers.

His first "home" was located right behind a five-star hotel near the city's exhibition center. In future, he plans to provide space of 170 to 200 square meters, and supply visual equipment and meeting facilities.

Dang Jianwei, an expert on innovative economies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said startups and SMEs, who are highly sensitive to costs, may be interested in such new services.

However, the challenge is to win large enterprise users who need guaranteed standardization of services, he said.
Tram cables at Gulu village, Sichuan province, will soon begin carrying cars that can hold 40 passengers.[Photo/Xinhua]

CHENGDUResting in a level spot between precipitous cliffs, and hundreds of meters above the roaring Dadu River in Sichuan province, Gulu village has existed in isolation and poverty for hundreds of years.

Chang Zhaolin is among some 400 Yi ethnic residents of the community, known as the "village on the ladder to the sky". The name "Gulu" is said to come from the sound of a rock falling from a mountain.

In the past, before the government cut a zig-zag path through the cliffs to the village, residents used a ladder to leave the village.

"When I was little, we used to climb down the cliff with a ladder made of sticks and cane," recalled Chang, 50. "The wind was usually quite strong and often made the ladder dangle. When we looked down, our legs would be shaking."

The path, less than a meter wide, was carved out in 2003 to the cliff's base before snaking up the other side of the canyon. It takes more than six hours to make a round trip to or from the village.

"On a market day, we set off before dawn and always get back to the village at night," Chang said.

Soon the treacherous journey will be a thing of the past. A cable crossing the gorge has been installed, and tram operations will begin soon.

The cable is about 650 meters long and 700 meters above the river. Cable cars can hold up to 40 people each. A trip that once took three hours will now take only three minutes.

"We are currently looking for a company to operate the tram," said village official Luo Yunlian. "We will not only facilitate transportation for fellow villagers but also try to attract tourists to boost the local economy through the tram."

Legend has it that more than 400 years ago the forefathers of Gulu villagers had a fight with two other big families in Tianba town, and only six of the ancestors survived. Two of them climbed over the mountains and crossed Dadu River before reaching the cliff. They settled into the dangerous landscape, realizing that the spot was easy to guard and hard to conquer. They could overlook their hometown from the top of the mountain.

For now, elementary school students in the village have to walk three hours down the narrow mountain path to go to school. Chang Zhaolin said that anyone walking the road must exercise great care, especially when carrying heavy baskets of goods on their backs.

"Everybody gets nervous when they go on the narrow path," he said.

In 2013, authorities began discussing how to tackle the village's transport problem.

Experts suggested that a cross-canyon cable would be a better choice than a road to connect the village to the outside world, but the idea met strong opposition.

"People were suspicious because no one had tried a cable car before," Chang said.

The villagers finally accepted the plan, and with government funding of 24 million yuan ($3.5 million), construction began in August 2015.

The tram uses two parallel cables, which keep two cable cars stable even in strong winds. A separate cable has been installed near the main one for use by safety personnel in case of emergencies.

The tram underwent testing late last year. During the test runs, curious villagers came to the site every day.

"I didn't expect the journey out of the village to be so easy," villager Li Shucai said. "It will be fun to travel in the air."

Authorities plan to develop tourism to boost the local economy and eliminate poverty. A tourism service center has been set up near the tram station, and the local government has helped renovate traditional houses and build village roads and public restrooms to create what they call a "land of idyllic beauty".
Construction of the world's first panda-themed library is expected to start early next year at a primary school in Chengdu, Sichuan province, with the facility expected to open about six months later.

"People worldwide will have free access to it online," said Zhang Mingrong, headmistress of the Chengdu Panda Road Primary School.

The school has a three-story building, the second floor of which currently serves as a convention center. It will be turned into a studio for videos about pandas. The third floor, currently a library, will be designed with five boat-shaped sections symbolizing swimming in the sea of knowledge.

"Each section symbolizes a continent. The five sections will house publications and audiovisual materials about pandas from Asia, Europe, America, Africa and Oceania," Zhang said.

The school is asking for donations of books, literary works and audiovisual information about pandas from different parts of the world.

The idea to build the 1,000-square-meter library on the school's second and third floors started with third-grade students. When the new semester started in February, they studied a book about cute animals in their Chinese class. They were asked to write a composition about their favorite animals after finishing their reading.

"Some students said they liked the giant panda best but didn't know enough about iteven though they had visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding," Zhang said. "They came up with the idea for a library with publications and audiovisual products about pandas."

Located on the same road as the panda base, the school is China's only one named after the giant panda, said Li Jie, a base information officer.

Staff members from the base have given lectures on pandas at the school, and students served as guides at the base in January for 15 UN designees from 14 countriesthe United Nations Panda Champions for the Global Goals.

The group stayed in Chengdu for five days after winning an online contest co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme and the base.

Patrick Haverman, deputy country director for the program, said pandas symbolize the plight of the world's diminishing wildlife in the face of climate change and loss of natural habitat.

He praised the students who initiated the panda-themed library idea.

When a person gains knowledge about pandas, what follows is greater awareness of nature and the environment, and the need for preservation, Haverman said.
It is common in China to see a crowd of pedestrians or nonmotorized vehicles crossing a street even when the light is red. Now the authorities will know who they are.

Traffic police in Jinan, Shandong province, recently installed facial recognition equipment at street intersections to go after jaywalkers and other violators.

"When pedestrians or drivers of nonmotorized vehicles run a red light, the equipment will take four snapshots and a 15-second video," said Wei Jinghuo, director of the Jinan traffic police technology service center. "Jaywalkers can usually be identified the same day by comparing the images with those in the databases of the public security authorities.

"The technology enables us to recognize the image of each jaywalker in a crowd."

The move is part of a 100-day campaign that will start soon in the city.

Once identified, jaywalkers will be notified by the traffic police and asked to accept punishment at local traffic police branches. Jaywalkers will be subject to fines as high as 50 yuan ($7.20).

Those caught by police on the spot will be given a choice: half an hour of education on traffic rules or 20 minutes of volunteer work assisting police in traffic guidance.

For those who refuse to take their punishment, the police will inform employers or residential communities by letter, and their information will be published in the media.

Information on jaywalkers will also be uploaded to the traffic credit system Jinan plans to create before the end of next year. Once it's completed, jaywalkers' information will be included in personal credit archives, which will increase the cost of future violations of traffic rules.

Wei said the punishment details are still being developed, as the snapshot system has only been on trial for a month.

A number of Chinese citiesincluding Mianyang, Sichuan province, and Fuzhou, Fujian provincehave also started using facial recognition to clamp down on jaywalkers.

In Mianyang, data captured by the facial recognition equipment are displayed on a screen next to the street.

Dong Xiaoxia, an employee of a State-owned enterprise in the energy industry in Jinan, said more time is needed to know whether or not the system works.

"It depends on whether the authorities can enforce it," Dong said. "Can the police authorities really expose jaywalkers' information in the media? How will traffic credit records influence the jaywalkers?"

Zhang Qihua, a senior student at a university in Jinan, said the campaign shows authorities' attitude toward clamping down on uncivilized behavior.

"It is a good trend. Like the crackdown on drunken driving, I think a crackdown on jaywalkers will also work," Zhang said.
Fan Yang, a 24-year-old life sciences graduate, wets the ground in a farm shed to maintain the humidity. He started a company to grow edible fungus in a community in Jingjiang, Jiangsu province.[Photo/Xinhua]

Many hours of hiking over rugged hills to visit families living in poverty has been Liu Hai's routine since graduating from college and becoming a junior officer in a small county in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

In 2014, Liu, 29, left Beijing Institute of Technology after receiving his master's degree and began working on poverty-relief as deputy secretary of the Youth League Committee in mountainous Nandan county.

He has visited 151 villages there, including 47 in poverty.

"I made up my mind in high school to work in China's most remote and difficult places and to devote myself to their development," Liu said.

He said there were more than 1,000 college graduates like him in Guangxi. They received their educations at big-city universities and then voluntarily chose to work in underdeveloped areas, where they were most needed.

It has not been an easy job for them to gain villagers' trust and fully understand their needs. Liu even needed a translator at the beginning.

"The solution was clear. Experience the difficulties of real life and offer true help," Liu said: "Many of them did a better job than me. I want to follow their example."

The young officer admits that what he does is not much related to his university major.

"What we learned in school was mainly scientific thought and thinking patterns. We graduates need to be practical and understand where we can give full play to our ability," Liu said. "What we are doing here is maybe just small things, but it matters to the locals. By gaining experience in handling small things, we can accomplish something big in the future."

He has never regretted turning down other appealing offers of employment upon his graduation, including some from international companies and State-owned enterprises.

"My parents could not understand my decision at that time," he said. "Since then, I've told my family about my life and work here, and they have become quite supportive."

Like Liu, 28-year-old Abulimit did not choose to work in Beijing after graduation in 2016, but returned to his hometown, Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, where he felt needed and fulfilled.

Abulimit said that what he learned at school was gratitude. He was exempted from tuition for his bachelor's and master's degree studies. Now he is returning the favor.

He has worked as a Uygur translator in local government for more than half a year. In February, he was dispatched for translation to a village in Kashgar city, where he also taught the farmers Chinese.

The son of a welder in Urumqi, Abulimit enjoyed talking to villagers and making friends by offering help.

"I like working in remote areas and doing what I can do for villagers. I feel happy for them when I see their lives improving," Abulimit said.

Liu and Abulimit are among the thousands of university graduates in China who have chosen to work in remote regions, where poverty is more common. This year, the central government issued a guideline to encourage more college graduates to work at the community level.

Graduates were encouraged to find employment in rural areaswith rural cooperatives and helping to develop tourism and e-commerce.

The guideline encouraged college graduates to work in the central and western parts of the country, in the northeast and in other less-developed and remote areas.

The government estimates that about 7.95 million college students will graduate this year, accounting for over half the newly added urban labor force.
The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope has become a popular tourist attraction in Guizhou province's Pingtang county.[Wu Dongjun/For China Daily]

Standing beneath the world's largest radio telescope, Yang Tianjue can still make out the site of his old house, which was demolished 10 years ago to make way for the telescope.

"There was a water cellar, and I planted an osmanthus tree beside it," said Yang, 42, pointing somewhere near the feed cabin of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, which began operations in September.

The telescope is located at the Dawodang depression, a natural karst basin below Kedu town in Guizhou province's Pingtang county. Dawodang was once inhabited by 12 families, who were relocated after the site was chosen for the telescope more than a decade ago.

Last month, 12 former residents paid a visit to Dawodang at the invitation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the provincial government.

"The feed cabin collects all the information gathered by the telescope, helping people to better explore the universe," explained Peng Bo of the National Astronomical Observatories and a leader of the FAST project.

Peng said Dawodang was chosen out of more than 900 depressions, and the decision was made after the National Astronomical Observatories spent 10 years on investigation and analysis.

"More than 10 years ago, several scientists came to Dawodang and we heard that a big caldron would be built here, through which we would be able to see outer space," Yang said.

He was so thrilled at the news that he could not sleep for several nights. "I volunteered to show the scientists around as they carried out their survey," Yang said.

He remembered that the survey lasted three years. The villagers had doubts that the project would actually come to fruition until, one day, engineers brought five drilling machines to Dawodang.

The beginning of construction meant that the local farmers had to leave their hometown.

"Of course it was hard to say goodbye to the place where seven or eight generations of our family had lived," Yang said.

However, the relocation allowed them to lead better lives. Yang said Dawodang was once a remote and underdeveloped place with no road connecting it to the outside world.

There were only about 1.3 hectares of paddy fields, which couldn't feed everyone, so they were forced to cultivate the barren mountains nearby.

Some farmers raised pigs, but it was hard to get the pigs out of the mountainous region to sell them, as there was no adequate transportation, Yang said.

When they moved out of Dawodang, each of the 12 households was given a three-story house in Kedu and a subsidy ranging from 520,000 to 3 million yuan ($75,000 to $435,000), depending on how much land they previously held.

Yang opened a store selling tires, which is now the largest of its kind in the town, with annual revenue of about 300,000 yuan.

According to the county government, in addition to the 12 households in Dawodang, more than 8,000 residents within 5 kilometers of the telescope should also be relocated. Currently, more than 2,300 people within a 3-km radius have already moved out.

Liu Pinyang, an official in Kedu's Jinke village, said that a decade ago, more than half of the villagers were living in poverty, but now more than 90 percent of them are no longer poor, due to having been relocated.

The villagers will also benefit from the development of tourism, Liu said.

Earlier this year, Guizhou announced that 5 billion yuan will be spent on building a tourist resort there. A dozen projects, including a learning center on radio astronomy, a geological park and a science fiction-themed hotel, are scheduled for construction.

Huang Zhangqing, 54, was formerly a teacher at a primary school in the county. Both his home and the school were relocated, and he is now preparing to open a family-run hotel, hoping to cash in on the tourism boom.

Yang said, "The telescope will help broaden the horizons for visitors, while moving out of the mountains has helped broaden the horizons for us."
Barefoot doctor He Xinglong has made 170,000 trips in the mountains, covering more than 400,000 kilometers, to visit patients at home in the past 17 years.[Sun Ruisheng/China Daily]

Motivated by the death of his grandpa, a barefoot doctor has made patients in a poor mountainous region his priority

Letang, a poverty-stricken mountain village that sits beside the Yellow River in Shanxi province's Daning county, is home to about 500 farmers. As a local saying goes, "Letang is the last place in the world a woman should look for a husband."

Today, most young people from Letang work elsewhere, leaving only about 200 villagers-mostly age 60 or olderto live a hand-to-mouth existence in loess cave dwellings.

However, He Xinglong, a barefoot doctora healthcare worker trained to attend the basic medical needs of villagersin his mid 30s, is an exception. He chose to stay in Letang after graduating from a local nursing school in 1999, and finds great satisfaction in providing medical services to villagers in the area.

He said many people called him crazy when he first decided to stay in Letang, but that during the years, they have changed their mind and now appreciate his dedication to local communities.

In the past 17 years, He has made 170,000 trips in the mountains, covering more than 400,000 kilometers, to visit patients at home, and he has treated more than 4,600 people in 28 villages.

He does not demand payment for his trips, diagnoses or treatment, asking only for the basic cost of the medicine he provides, if needed.

After graduating, he refused offers from a county hospital in Daning, where his performance as an intern won recognition, and a pharmaceutical company in Taiyuan, the provincial capital.

"The villagers donated a total of 3,000 yuan ($435) of their hard-earned savings to pay for my college tuition fees after I received my school's letter of admission," he said.

He's grandpa, who raised him, passed away when he was 12. "If there had been a doctor in the village, he would not have died from a fever," He said. "That's why I was so determined to become a doctor for the people of my village."

Letang is 35 kilometers from the county town. Previously, it took several hours to walk through a difficult mountain pass to the nearest hospital. "When farmers got sick, they just waited and hoped they would recover from their illness. If not, they died," he said.

He was able to realize his dream when his father sold all his corn and his only two sheep in exchange for 900 yuan to buy his son some simple medical apparatus and instruments, and some common drugs, while He opened his clinic in a loess cave that was dug for his marriage.

At first, the villagers did not believe He had enough experience to be a doctor. To overcome the obstacle, he offered to treat them free of charge, gradually winning their trust.

Although he is only be able to treat some common illnesses, it makes a big difference to the villagers, as He is available around the clock.

"We can call him at any time and just wait for him to arrive," said Feng Jianzhong, a farmer from nearby Yunju village.
SHANGHAI -- China sent its homegrown large passenger plane C919 into sky on Friday, becoming one of the world's top makers of jumbo aircraft.

The flight makes China the fourth jumbo jet producer after the United States, Europe and Russia. It also marks a milestone for the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of C919.
Officials unveil the sculpture on May 4, 2017. [Photo by Xin Ping For China Daily]

A memorial statue to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC) was unveiled on Thursday in Shanghai.The bronze sculpture, designed by Shanghai Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute, depicts a pair of hands forming the image of Magnolia, the city flower, and a pigeon. The base of the statue is inscribed with the word "friend" in different languages.The event also featured a networking activity for foreign youth, college students and young representatives from the SPAFFC. About 60 participants got to enjoy a musical performance and tea reception.SPAFFC President Zhang Xiaosong said at the ceremony that his association has constantly championed the value of friendship, cooperation, peace and development since it was established in 1956.He added that the organization has helped foster cooperation between the city and other nations in a variety of arenas, including political, economic, cultural, educational, scientific and technological.He Qi contributed to this story.
Liu Shanghe at work. [File photo/81.cn]

An academic at the China Academy of Engineering and founder of electrostatic safety research in China, is renowned as the first person to determine the highest static potential of the human body. Liu Shanghe even went so far as to prove his conclusion with an experiment on his own body.

The 80-year-old scientist's fight with the invisible "ghost" static began in 1983 when he taught fundamental physics at Ordnance Engineering College in North China's Hebei province. Shocked by a series of tragedies caused by static, Liu became keenly aware that weapons and ammunition safety can only be ensured by solving problems caused by static.

Already in his 40s, Liu shifted his research focus from semi-conductors to static and ammunition.

Speaking about his decision, Liu said that "to explore this unknown area, I was willing to learn from the beginning like an elementary school student."

Through unremitting efforts, he published a scientific paper on how to alter polymeric material to make it static-free in a few years. That was a finding proposed for the first time in China and also gained international acknowledgment.

Based on a large quantity of experimental data, he and his colleagues invented five instruments including an electrostatic potential dynamic testing instrument.

Through both theoretical calculation and precise experiments with the instrument, Liu's conclusion on the highest level that human body's static potential can reach is higher than those determined by experts in the United States and United Kingdom.

In 1992, Liu boldly decided to experiment on his own body and finally reached the number 71,000 volt.

He would never forget his days spent working in the lab. Long-time exposure to hazardous gas and radiation caused his white blood cells to plummet to 2000 from the normal level of 5000. And over-work made this 1.8-meter-tall man shrink to as thin as 60 kilograms.

In his wife's eyes, he has little concept of free time. Even at home, most of his time was spent in his study continuing his research.

Liu has received many awards for his achievements, including the highest ones of science and technology in the country.
Oysters wreak havoc on Denmark's seashore. [Photo/Royal Danish Embassy in China]

The Danish minister for environment and food says the Nordic country will consider exporting oysters to China, after the species spread become a hot topic in China.

The Danish government is mapping how many invasive oysters there are, and how they affect the country's environment and fishery stocks, said Esben Lunde Larsen on Friday. He is on a delegation to China along with Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen.

When the mapping is completed, the country will be able to pursue the issue on a solid foundation, he said.

Larsen made the comments after a post on social networking site Weibo about the invasion of an exotic oyster, known as the Pacific oyster, generated a flurry of enthusiastic responses from Chinese people.

The Danish Embassy had posted the article on April 24 to raise awareness about the threat the species posed to the country's environment and fisheries.

The embassy made a small joke in the story inviting Chinese people to eat oysters in Denmark, but was not expecting such a strong reaction from readers. One person even proposed to "eat the species to extinction."

However, oysters are not on the list of aquatic products being exported from Denmark to China at the moment.

Larsen added that the food ministry and industry of Denmark would work closely on the potential of exporting oysters to China, but the two countries had not yet signed any oyster agreement.

He also said Chinese tourists were "welcome to come to Denmark on oyster safaris".

Related: Chinese bombard Denmark with oyster crisis solutions
GUIYANG - Li Chengyun, former vice governor of southwest China's Sichuan province, stood trial Friday on charges of taking bribes.

The people's procuratorate of Liupanshui City in southwest China's Guizhou province alleged that Li took advantage of his posts in Sichuan between 2001 and 2012 to assist entities and individuals in commercial bids and real estate development.

Prosecutors said Li accepted bribes worth 6.36 million yuan (about 920,000 US dollars) directly or through his wife.

Li made a statement to the court in which he pled guilty and expressed remorse.

The court has adjourned to decide on sentencing.
An advertisement is displayed at the entrance of a so-called youth apartment by Chinese developer Mofang Apartment in Shenzhen, China April 26, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

China's sky-high apartment prices and its footloose generation of millennials are fuelling demand for rental apartments, driving investment by foreign private equity funds and Chinese real estate developers.

The country has been very much a home-owners market since opening up to the outside world in the 1980s and its home ownership ratio is now one of the highest in the world at about 90 percent.

But that is beginning to change as home price gains far outpace income growth, making the prospects of buying a home an increasingly distant dream for many young Chinese. Newer generations of tech-savvy workers also want to be able to move quickly without being tied down by a property if a better job opportunity opens up in another city.

A typical two-bedroom new home in Beijing costs around 6 million yuan (674,155 pounds), about 69 times the average per capita disposable income in the city, much higher than the ratio of less than 25 times for New York City. It is a similar tale in many of the largest Chinese cities, such as Shanghai and Shenzhen.
A scene from Kung Fu Panda (2008) [Photo/Mtime]

An amateur cartoonist who falsely claimed to be the creator of Kung Fu Panda has been sentenced to two years in prison for fraud, according to a Guardian report.

Jayme Gordon, 51, from Massachusetts, US was ordered Wednesday in a federal court in Boston to pay more than $3 million in damages.

Gordon filed a copyright lawsuit in 2011 alleging that DreamWorks Animation had stolen the characters and story from him for the 2008 animated comedy. He proposed the company settle for $12 million.

DreamWorks confronted him with evidence showing Gordon had traced his drawings from a 1996 Disney coloring book.

According to the indictment, Gordon revised his Panda drawings after seeing a trailer for Kung Fu Panda in early 2008. He then registered his cartoons under the title of Kung Fu Panda Power with the Copyright Office in May 2008, one month prior to the release of the animated film.

In addition to fabricating and backdating drawings, he also deleted evidence from his computer and lied under oath.

The litigation has cost the studio $3 million in legal fees.

Related:

'Transformers 4' producers ordered to pay to Chinese scenic area

Top singing competition renamed due to legal trouble
Chinese actress Zhou Xun plays the role of Yi Ural in the drama. [Photo/Official Weibo account of Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace]

Reputed as the sequel of Empress in the Palace, a star-studded costume drama titled Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace has gained major attention from the public since shooting began.

On May 2, the 90-episode drama was a wrap after nine months of shooting.

Starring Chinese renowned actress Zhou Xun and Taiwan actor Wallace Huo, the drama tells the romantic love story of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and his empress Ruyi.

At the same time, the costume drama will explore complicated human relationships and ancient intrigue.

The long-anticipated TV series is expected to air at the end of 2017.
Beijing plans to recruit 30 junior high school students and train them into becoming professionals at restoring cultural relics for the Forbidden City amid a shortage of such talents, according to Beijing Youth Daily.

Beijing Union University, Beijing International Vocational Education School and the Palace Museum this year jointly launched a pilot education program to train professional restoration experts.

The students will study cultural relic reconstruction at the Beijing International Vocational Education School for three years, followed by two years of vocational education at Beijing Union University. After further study, they can be awarded bachelor's degrees.

The pilot program is aimed at cultivating more local professional talents. Shan Jilin, the curator of the Palace Museum, once told Chinese media that insufficient career paths for young people had resulted in a lack of professional restoration experts. The hukou, or household registration system, makes it hard for young experts to work in the museum.

To restore all of the cultural relics in the Palace Museum with existing experts will take at least 100 years, according to the museum.

In order to cultivate more professionals in the field, the museum launched the major in cultural relic repair with the Beijing International Vocational Education School in 2015, and recruited about 20 students in the first year. So far, 35 students have been recruited.

Besides general courses including Chinese, math and politics, the students also learn professional knowledge about relic repair, including basic knowledge of cultural relics, the history of arts and the basic methods of relic protection, according to Qian Weidong, the director of the Beijing International Vocational Education School. Teachers were mostly from the Palace Museum, Qian added.

Professional restoration experts have attracted widespread attention from the general public after the success of the three-episode TV documentary, Masters in the Forbidden City, which premiered on China Central Television at the beginning of last year.
[Photo/CCTV

A tomb complex likely used by nomadic people to bury their dead was recently discovered in Yinxu archaeological site in Anyang city, Henan province.

Over 90 tombs were excavated, among which 18 were believed to have been the final resting place of a nomadic group. From soil samples and some of the items unearthed, the tombs are believed to be around 1,800 years old, according to the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Anyang station.

Shen Wenxi, with the station, said evidence has been found that indicates that Dasikong village, the area where the tombs are located, had been a human settlement since as early as the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC -1046 BC). The 18 nomadic tombs, which are relatively small and made from brick, were likely built after the Shang Dynasty.

The burial objects include two-handled bronze and iron pots, iron short swords and agate beads on strings -- all typical items of nomadic people of the time. Experts believe that the 18 tombs could belong to the northern nomads who settled down in Central China.

Among the remains was a well-preserved human skeleton, which was initially confirmed to be a male over 160 cm tall. Anthropologists will test the remains and hopefully shed light on the origins of these nomadic people, said Shen.

In the 1950s, a tomb containing similar burial items was discovered in Dasikong. This discovery, however, was the first time such a large nomadic tomb complex has been discovered in Anyang. Further exploration will continue.

Yinxu, or the Ruins of Yin, is one of China's oldest archaeological sites. Named after the last capital of Shang, the Ruins of Yin was where the earliest written Chinese characters were discovered, etched on bone and tortoise shell.
MA XUEJING/CHINA DAILY

The first round of the French election turned out much as expected: the centrist Emmanuel Macron finished first, with 24 percent of the vote, rather narrowly beating the right-wing National Front's Marine Le Pen, who won 21.3 percent. Barring a political accident of the type that befell the former frontrunner, conservative Francois Fillon, Macron will almost certainly win the second-round runoff against Le Pen on May 7. The European Union seems safefor now.

But this is no time for complacency. Unless Europe addresses flaws in growth patterns and pursues urgent reforms, the longer-term risks to its survival will almost certainly continue to mount.

As has often been noted, the French election, like other key votes over the past year, represents a rejection of establishment political parties. But unlike last year's votes for Brexit in the United Kingdom and Donald Trump in the United States, which were driven by middle-class, middle-aged voters, in France, the young led the way in rejecting the establishment.

This trend is not exclusive to France. In Italy, the anti-establishment, Euroskeptic Five Star Movement has surpassed the center-left Democratic Party in recent polls, with the young comprising a significant share of that support. And the fact that parties and candidates that reject the status quo are gaining ground, particularly among young people, reflects profound political polarization, which generates governance challenges that could impede reform.

Yet reform is precisely what is needed to address these trends, which reflect fundamental problems with today's prevailing growth patterns. In France, Italy and Spain, growth is too slow, unemployment is high, and youth unemployment is even higher. In France, the youth-unemployment rate is about 24 percent, and trending downward only slowly. The youth unemployment rate in Italy stands around 35 percent and exceeds 40 percent in Spain.

These are countries with substantial social-security systems. But those systems protect labor-market incumbents much more than new entrants. And the reforms that have been implemented, in order to ease entry into work, are not sufficient in the context of weak overall growth.

Without deeper reform, the demographic arithmetic suggests the disenfranchised and anti-establishment share of the population may grow (unless today's young people change their stripes as they age). The question is whether this trend will lead to a genuine disruption of the status quo or merely to political polarization that weakens government effectiveness.

The solution to European economies' woes seems clear: a set of reforms that encourages more vigorous and much more inclusive growth patterns. After all, while globalization and technology lead to job displacement, sufficient growth can ensure that overall employment is sustained. To that end, reforms are needed at both the national and EU levels.

While each EU country has its own specific features, some common reform imperatives stand out. In particular, all countries need to reduce structural rigidity, which deters investment and hampers growth. To boost flexibility, social-security systems have to be largely disconnected from specific jobs, companies and sectors, and rebuilt around individuals and families, income, and human capital.

The remainder of the domestic reform agenda is complex, but its goal is simple: enhance private-sector investment. Under this heading are items like regulatory reform, anti-corruption measures and public-sector investment, especially in education and research.

At the EU level, the most important recent development is the weakening of the euro since mid-2014. This has caused the eurozone to run a substantial surplus and helped to restore some competitiveness in the tradable sectors in France, Spain and Italy. In all three countries, tourism is an important sector for employment and the balance of payments, and expenditures have been rising when measured in euros.

Also needed is EU-level action on immigration, which has emerged as a major economic and political issue. Faced with inflows of huge numbers of refugees from the Middle East and Africa, the EU may need to modify the free movement of people for a period of time.

After Germany, France is the most important country in the eurozone. If a Macron victory is treated as an opportunity to pursue aggressive reforms targeted at boosting growth and employment, the French election may amount to an important turning point for Europe. If, however, it is treated as a validation of the status quo, it will produce only a short reprieve for a besieged EU.

The author, a Nobel laureate in economics, is a professor of Economics at New York University's Stern School of Business and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution.
A visitor poses for a photo on the glass bridge, in August. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Editor's note: During the just-concluded May Day holiday, "glass paths" became the new buzzword in the tourism sector. Two experts share their views with China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang on the mushrooming of glass-bottomed walkways over gorges in scenic spots across China.

Are the 'glass paths' worth the trouble?

Glass-bottomed bridges were first built between two cliffs so that people could enjoy the scenery around while being aware of the scary depth of the ravine below. For example, in Baishi Mountain Geological National Park in Baoding, North China's Hebei province, a 95-meter-long, 2-meter-wide glass-bottomed walkway was built at an average altitude of 1,900 meters to allow visitors to experience the beautiful but stomach-churning scenery below.

The problem is that glass-bottomed walkways have mushroomed across China. Search glass-bottomed walkways on domestic tourism website tuniu.com, and you will find that 24 cities have built such "glass paths" as their tourist sites. And since a majority of the "glass paths" have been built across valleys bereft of natural beauty, one cannot but question the wisdom to build them.

The rush to build "glass paths" shows the officials in the domestic tourist sites lack creativity. Instead of using the inherent advantages of the tourist sites, they are busy copying ideas and examples from others. Such homogenization fails to meet tourists' diversified demands.

More importantly, the glass needed for the glass-bottomed walkways is expensive and the total cost of such a bridge can run into several million yuan, and some tourist sites may fail to earn enough revenue to cover the expenses, let alone make profits, which would be a waste of tourism resources. And any compromise with the quality of the glass or the overall glass-bottomed bridge could spell trouble.

Liu Simin, vice-president of tourism at Beijing-based Chinese Society for Future Studies

Such bridges need total safety system

No major accidents have been reported from glass-bottomed walkways. And many tourism sites claim double-or multi-layered armored glass, which is three to four times stronger than ordinary glass, have been used to build such walkways.

But good safety records do not necessarily guarantee safety in the future. There is a national standard for the glass used in outer parts of structures (as a curtain wall for a building for example) but no special standard for the glass used in glass-bottomed walkways. I do not mean to raise unnecessary alarm, but without a national standard no one can ensure safety forever on the "glass paths".

Besides, people tend to equal the risk with glass-bottomed bridges to the cracking of glass and people falling into the ravines. But that is not the only risk.

On April 9, the overcrowding on a glass-bottomed bridge in Mulanshengtian tourism zone in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, amidst heavy rainfall caused an accident in which one person died and three were injured. The incident should be a lesson for us. Regular safety checks must be conducted to test the strength and durability of such walkways, while the maintenance and supervision staff should be fully trained to know under what conditions the walkways should be closed and how to deal with emergencies.

Besides, not everybody is fit to walk on such "glass paths", because looking down into a deep ravine might raise a person's blood pressure, increasing the risk of a heart attack. In fact, several reports have said tourists started crying out in fear on such walkways. The tourist sites with such walkways should therefore display clear safety instructions so that visitors know the risks and people with unfavorable health conditions stay away from them.

Only a comprehensive safety system can ensure tourists' safety on glass-bottomed bridges.

Gong Jian, an associate professor at Wuhan Branch of China Tourism Academy
Two technicians inspect an engine on the C919, China's first domestically produced single-aisle passenger jet, after a taxiing test on Wednesday.[Photo by Yin Liqin/China Daily] Editor's note: China's passenger jet C919 is due to make its debut flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Friday. Gao Zhenghong, a professor at the School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, who led the team that designed the airfoil for the C919, explains the importance of the aircraft to China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang.

Many people have pinned hopes on the C919, because it is the first domestically-built large passenger plane and could be put into operation between 2020 and 2022. Can you name a few advanced technologies it uses?

I will give only one example. An essential quality index of modern passenger jets is the percentage of third-generation aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) alloy, a common material in the aircraft-making industry, and advanced composite materials used in a plane. Al-Li alloy comprises 8.8 percent and advanced composite materials 12 percent of the total materials used in the C919. And on both scores, the C919 is an improvement on the ARJ21, another domestically designed and built commercial aircraft.

More importantly, advanced composites have been used to build some load-carrying structures of the plane, such as the empennage (rear part of the body) and the horizontal stabilizer. That shows the development of domestic aircraft-making technology.

Some Western media outlets claim China "assembled" rather than "manufactured" the C919, as it has used many foreign technologies. Would you like to comment on that?

It's true we have used some foreign technologies in building the C919. For example, the aircraft has double CFM LEAP-1C engines, which are made by CFM International, a US-France joint venture. But that does not change the fact that the C919 was domestically made. Domestic research teams worked out its design, structure, aerodynamic layout and so on. That's why China has "independent intellectual property rights" over the C919.

Is the making of the C919 a milestone in the history of China's manufacturing industry?

I think so. A quite high percentage of its parts were made in China, which in turn required high-level domestic industries. Since the procedure for even assembling all the parts to build an aircraft is very complex, successfully completing it is a milestone in itself.

So what industries will the C919 promote?

There are so many: Metallurgy, material science, electronics and integrated circuits. For example, the C919 needs more reliable airborne equipments, and researchers will work out how to make them. It needs lighter but firmer materials and better structural design, which will help propel the material science and structural design sectors.

And although the engines installed in the C919 are foreign made, we cannot rule out the possibility of it using domestically made engines in the future. That will come as a challenge which, if successfully met, will boost the fortunes of engine-making companies.

Certain media outlets have said that thanks to the C919, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China poses a challenge to Boeing and Airbus, the two giants of the aviation industry.

I cannot say that. In my opinion, the building and debut flight of the C919 is more of a startup for the domestic aviation industry, because we have for the first time built such a passenger jet. It should give us the confidence to move forward.

Just like the Chinese saying, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and the C919 is the first step. We now know how to proceed further and accelerate our pace. With more support from the State and society, the domestic aviation industry will develop smoothly.

So what will be development direction of the domestic aviation industry now?

That's a national strategy, not an individual choice. The building of large passenger jets should be a State-level project, rather than a mission that can be completed by one or two groups. But I'm confident that with more support, China's aviation industry will surely prosper.
Models of residential buildings are seen at a sales center in Zhengzhou, Henan province, September 23, 2016.[Photo/VCG]

According to a recent report published by the National Bureau of Statistics, China had 281.71 million migrant workers by the end of 2016, an increase of 1.5 percent from the previous year's figure.

However, of these migrant workers, 113.37 million were employed in the province where their home is, an increase of 3.4 percent as compared to the figure for 2015. Those workers saw a faster per capita income growth than those who found jobs in other provinces in 2016, the report shows.

The increasing number of migrant workers employed in their home provinces may help solve some of the social problems caused by migrant workers going to work in other provinces and leaving their parents and children behind.

Whether migrant workers choose to stay or leave their home provinces to work is mainly determined by such market factors as job opportunities and wage levels. In this sense, that more migrant workers choose to work in their home provinces to some extent reflects the fact that local employment is becoming more attractive and development across the country more balanced.

Other criteria, such as how receptive a place is to migrant workers and what services they offer, also affect their decisions on whether to stay or go.

The restrictions imposed on so-called low-end nonlocal people by some big cities in China, and in some cases their exclusion, have dampened migrant workers' enthusiasm to swarm into the big cities. So instead, they seek a job not far away from their hometowns.

The authorities have repeatedly stressed that China should actively advance people-oriented urbanization and perfect its household registration system so more migrant workers can become permanent residents in the towns and cities where they work, with the same rights and interests as local residents.

This also means the governments of the less-developed central and western regions should work harder to improve local living conditions and service levels to attract local migrant workers.
SOME AIR TICKET agents and airlines charge high fees, up to 80 percent of the ticket price, if a consumer seeks a refund for a ticket they want to cancel. Some will even not accept claims for discounted tickets. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

The agents and airlines argue that when consumers buy a ticket, they are informed of the refund clause in advance, and in doing so agree to the terms. If the ticket holder refuses to pay the refund fee, they are in breach of the agreement.

However, in cases where people have taken their claims to court, the exorbitant refund fees are judged to lack legal support and infringe upon consumers' interests, and the agents and airlines are urged to lower their refund fees to a reasonable level.

The court rulings indicate these controversial refund policies are unfair and must be revised according to the law and relevant rules.

The regulations covering refund fees stipulate that the ceiling for the fee should be 20 percent of the original ticket price, and if the transportation enterprises can resell the tickets they should not ask for a refund fee.

The question is why since these regulations were introduced over a decade ago, the unfair refund policies have continued to be executed without grabbing attention of the authorities?

The pricing, business and aviation administrative departments, which should have heeded the consumers' complaints a long time ago, still sit idle as if the disputes are none of their business. Their dereliction of duties must be addressed by the discipline authorities and the law.
Actor Wu Gang plays the role of Li Dakang in the TV adaptation of In the Name of People. [Photo/Mtime]

It might be evidence of the globalization of Chinese culture that I finished watching In the Name of the People before seeing a single episode of House of Cards. As with all Chinese series, I started with the good and reasonable intention of improving my language skills but ended up binge watching.

To foreigners, especially those with knowledge of Chinese history, politics and culture, watching In the Name of the People can be quite entertaining. Like most Chinese series, it highlights inclusiveness, combining action, romance, education and comedy in one plot with diverse characters, including the monkey (Hou Liangping), the snake (Gao Xiaoqin), tigers and flies.

When it comes to language, besides useful phrases in the sphere of politics, the shows dialogue is filled with idioms and historical references. When Zhao Donglai persuades Lu Yike, the object of his desire, to join a poetry club with him, he describes this opportunity as jinshui loutai, xian deyue. This expression reveals the beauty and profoundness of the Chinese language. Literally translated as the pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first, it means that a person in a favorable position gains special advantages, adding another facet to the leitmotif of the series: corruption is human.

In the Name of the People provides a clear solution to this dilemma: zhidu, the system and moral conduct. Its concept of moral conduct is a mixture of communist and Confucian values, interpreted in a way perfectly matching Chinas modern society. It introduces the frugal official, the loyal student and the obedient housewife. The characters are clearly defined, and throughout the series, their moral standards are challenged. Those who decide to act morally right are eventually rewarded.

I once heard somebody say: it is easy to be moral, if you are rich enough to afford it. This sounds similar to Victor Hugos great novel Les Miserables, where common people with good intentions constantly fall short of their moral standards and are severely punished by a cruel system.

The circumstances of their lives do not allow them to be good. This narrative is being reversed by the creators of In the Name of the People, with ordinary people depicted as being most capable of leading a moral life and blaming misconduct on the corruptive effect of power and wealth.

However, the fate of the common people remains in the hands of the powerful, as they depend on having their voices heard by someone influential. The primary message is people need to be led.

The role of linking the common people to the good side of the force is designated to Lao Chen, who dies at the end of the series. Who will follow in his footsteps and speak out in the name of the people?

Another important point, the portrayal of women is upsetting. Whether its the reckless businesswoman, the obedient housewife or other female characters, they are all depicted as supplements to their husbands.

But is it really the shortcoming of the series to lack figures of independent women, which could serve as a source of inspiration for female viewers, or is it simply a reflection of Chinese reality?

The show also critiques Chinas present state as being too pragmatic and calculating. The underlying message  that China needs ideals, dreams and true feelings  apparently hit a nerve with Chinese viewers, explaining why the character of Li Dakang is so popular among the Chinese audience.

For a story that stresses the importance of the system, the plot heavily relies on the moral standards of influential individuals. Still, it seems bold to reveal these weak points of Chinas political system, whether overly simplified or well-coordinated. China as well as other countries can without a doubt benefit from a vibrant debate on the topic of corruption.
The war against malaria has made progress over the past decade, but there is still a long way to go, and Chinese researchers are leading the way on more than one front.

Roughly half of the world's population - 3 billion people - still remains at risk.

In 2006, there were 266 million cases a year leading to 750,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

By 2015, the numbers had diminished, but remained huge - 212 million cases, 429,000 deaths.

And a staggering 90 percent of all cases are in Africa.

Dr Deng Changsheng, manager of the department of science and technology at Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, told a group of 27 journalists visiting from Africa recently, that strategy used to cause a major decline in malarial regions of China is showing promise in Africa.

The approach is called fast elimination of malaria by source eradication (FEMSE). It involves mass drug administration (MDA) of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) - in other words, clearing an affected population of the malarial parasites by mass drug administration.

Artemisinin, by the way, is the drug that won 85-year-old Chinese pharmacologist Tu Youyou the 2015 Nobel Prize for Medicine. She had mined the recipe, derived from the sweet wormwood plant, from the annals of ancient Chinese medicine. Today it saves hundreds of thousands of lives a year in Africa alone.

The drug has not been cheap, but Deng said the cost could be brought to as low as $15 per person over the next decade. Today it's about $40, according to Deng.

Thanks to a worldwide push, ACT treatments rose from 187 million in 2010 to 311 million in 2015.

The big fear facing the effort right now is that the parasites are showing signs of developing a resistance to artemisinin, the same way some strains of tuberculosis are shunning off some of modern medicine's most potent antibiotics.

"The spread of artemisinin resistance in Africa would be a major setback in the fight against malaria, as ACT is the only effective and widely used anti-malarial treatment at the moment," writes Professor Arnab Pain of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"Therefore it is very important to regularly monitor artemisinin resistance on a worldwide scale," he added.

The study, led by Jun Cao of the Institute for Parasitic Diseases in China, found drug-resistant malarial parasites in a Chinese patient who had been in Equatorial Guinea and returned to China. The ACT therapy, which usually takes three days to rid the patient of the disease, took five days in this case.

This "partial resistance", they said, has been noted in other parts of Southeast Asia, and the great fear is that "partial" morphs into "complete".

"This is one of the great challenges facing us in the fight against malaria," the World Health Organization says on its website.

The holy grail of that fight, of course, remains a vaccine, and The Associated Press reports that three African nations have just been chosen to test the world's first malaria vaccine.

WHO announced Monday that Ghana, Kenya and Malawi will begin piloting an injectable vaccine next year with hundreds of thousands of young children, who have been at highest risk of death.

The vaccine, which has partial effectiveness, has the potential to save tens of thousands of lives if used with existing measures, WHO's regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said in a statement. The challenge is whether impoverished countries can deliver the required four doses of the vaccine for each child.

The vaccine will be tested on children 5 to 17 months old to see whether its protective effects shown so far in clinical trials can hold up under real-life conditions. At least 120,000 children in each of the three countries will receive the vaccine, which has taken decades of work and hundreds of millions of dollars to develop.

Kenya, Ghana and Malawi were chosen for the vaccine pilot because all have strong prevention and vaccination programs but continue to have high numbers of malaria cases, WHO said. The countries will deliver the vaccine through their existing vaccination programs.

WHO is hoping to wipe out malaria by 2040, despite the increasing resistance problems to both drugs and insecticides used to kill mosquitoes.

The vaccine was developed by GlaxoSmithKline, and the $49 million for the first phase of the pilot is being funded by the global vaccine alliance GAVI, UNITAID and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Contact the writer at chrisdavis@chinadailyusa.com.
It was a sweltering Saturday afternoon when the mercury hit 90 degrees around 3 pm; Nikki White was one of the many sitting on the edge of the sidewalk across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.

She was one of tens of thousands of protesters in Washington participating in the People's Climate March on Saturday.

The protesters started from Capitol Hill around 12:30 pm and marched on Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House, ending at the Washington Monument.

White said she was quite disappointed in US President Donald Trump for doubting climate change.

"So he won't fund it; he takes away funds from it," she told China Daily, referring Trump's plan to cut funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

White noted that climate change affects every country. "A decision made in the US affects Canada," said White, who is originally from the US but moved to Canada. She was visiting her family in Washington.

"Anything he stands for has nothing to do with what I stand for. It's the opposite," White said.

During his presidential campaign, Trump called climate change a "hoax" created by the Chinese and said he will pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement. Since taking office, his administration has rolled back some Obama-era regulations on fossil fuels.

On Friday, the EPA removed some climate change information from its website. In a press release, the EPA said the website is undergoing changes to reflect the agency's new direction under Trump and administrator Scott Pruitt.

In a rally on Saturday evening in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Trump said he will make a big decision regarding the Paris accord next week, but did not provide details.

An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 people took part in the rally in Washington on Saturday, according to The Washington Post, quoting the number given to the National Park Service by march organizers. Saturday was Trump's 100th day in office.

The same People's Climate March, which originated in New York in September 2014, also took place on the same day in many other US cities as well as some cities outside the US.

Robert Labaree came from Boston to join the rally in Washington. He said his wife participated in the Boston rally.

"The administration is just too deep in the pocket of large corporations, especially the fossil fuel industry. It seems quite clear," he told China Daily. He also took part in the tax rally on April 15 and science march on April 22, both in Boston.

Marching in the procession included a brass band. Some were dancing while holding their signs. The signs were mostly colorful. One blue sign read "Protect Water" while a red one said "Planet on Fire".

One man, with a white beard and wearing a green cap, held a sign that proclaimed "Oceans Are Rising, So Are We."

An elderly woman sitting in a wheelchair held a sign that reads: "I am 91, Mother Earth is even older than me, Respect your elders."

Another woman, her body wrapped with a US national flag, held a sign stating "Climate Patriot."

A Gallup poll released on March 14 shows that a record percentage of Americans are concerned about global warming, believe it is occurring, consider it a serious threat and say it is caused by human activity.

The perceptions are up significantly from a 2015 poll. Some 45 percent of Americans now say they worry "a great deal" about global warming, up from 37 percent a year ago and significantly higher than the low point of 25 percent in 2011.

Another 21 percent say they worry "a fair amount" about global warming, while only 18 percent say they worry "only a little"; 16 percent said they worry "not at all".

Randy Orwig, from North Carolina, told China Daily that he went to the protest to make sure the environment is taken seriously.

Orwig said he doesn't believe Trump represents the long-term interests of the United States and the world.

"We are going to resist. We are going to find ways to work around him. We are going to be working in the local governments, municipal governments and continue to make climate important," he told China Daily.

China and the US are the two largest carbon emitters in the world, but per capital carbon emission in the US is more than twice that in China.

Contact the writer at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
A South Korean soldier casts a preliminary ballot at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, May 4, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea began early voting on Thursday in the election to replace ousted president Park Geun-hye.

Early voters can cast ballots at about 3,510 polling stations across the country before the election next Tuesday, the National Election Commission said in a statement.

It's the ROK's first presidential election with early voting after introducing it for parliamentary and mayoral elections in recent years, the statement said.

Pre-election surveys show liberal candidate Moon Jae-in comfortably leading his two main rivals - a centrist and a conservative.

The winner will be sworn in as the new president immediately, forgoing the usual two-month transition. Park's impeachment and removal from office changed the ROK's election schedule, so the new president will serve one full five-year term.

Park is currently jailed at a detention center near Seoul awaiting her trial on allegations that she extorted money from businesses, took kickbacks from some of those companies and committed other wrongdoing, all in collaboration with a longtime confidante. The trial is to formally start later this month.

A commission-run website showed about 4 million people had voted by midafternoon. The ROK has 42,479,710 eligible voters, according to the election commission.

Higher turnout

Many observers believe disquiet over the recently installed US missile defense system, known as THAAD, may have a major role to play in the election, especially among younger voters.

A higher turnout, especially among those in their 20s to 40s who have historically been indifferent to politics, is seen boosting Moon, who wrote in a book published in January that the ROK should learn to say "no to America".

Unless there's a major upset, Moon, who advocates a moderate approach on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and criticizes conservatives and their hardline policies, will become the next president.

A Gallup Korea poll published on Wednesday shows him with 38 percent support in the field of 13 candidates, with centrist Ahn Cheol-soo his nearest challenger at 20 percent.

"Sometimes I feel our government is bending over backwards trying not to upset the alliance with the United States," said Jason Lim, a 36-year-old South Korean engineer living in Washington.

"I want our president to be someone who isn't afraid to say what's best for Korea."
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, Russia, on Wednesday.Alexander Zemlianichenko / Reuters

SOCHI, Russia - Russia and Turkey have agreed to lift nearly all remaining trade restrictions imposed in the aftermath of Ankara's downing of a Russian warplane in 2015, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.

"You asked when we can speak about the lifting of the restrictions that emerged some time ago. We can speak of that today," Putin said at a news conference alongside his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"We agreed on a comprehensive solution to all these problems linked to the restrictions."

Relations between Moscow and Ankara hit rock bottom after Turkey's shooting down of a Russian warplane in Syria, which Putin at the time labeled a "stab in the back".

In the wake of the incident, Moscow slapped a range of sanctions on Ankara, including an embargo on some Turkish food products, as well as a ban on charter flights and sales of package tours to the country and the reintroduction of visas for Turkish visitors.

But Putin said on Wednesday that Russia's embargo on the import of tomatoes from Turkey and its visa restrictions on Turkish nationals will remain in place for the time being.

He did not provide a timeline for the lifting of these two restrictions.

"Now we can say with certainty that the recovery period in Russo-Turkish relations is over," Putin said. "We are returning to a normal cooperation partnership."

Putin last year ordered that the government normalize trade ties with Turkey as he lifted the ban on the sale of packages tours in Turkey.
An ad for the Chinese telecom giant Huawei in the center of Warsaw. Chen Xu / China Daily

When China identified Poland as a key European player in the Belt and Road Initiative, many in the Polish business world saw dollar signs.

They reasoned that enhanced political engagement would surely mean an injection of Chinese money into the Polish economy. To an extent, this has been the case: in 2014, Chinese funding accounted for 0.25 percent of total foreign investment in Poland, and last year, it rose to 1.2 percent.

Last year, 880 Polish companies received Chinese capital, according to a report in the economics journal Rzeczpospolita. The country's energy, machinery, electronic manufacturing, business and trade services, real estate and biomedical industries were all targeted by Chinese investors.

China's Everbright was involved in one of the biggest deals, paying 123 million euros ($134 million) for a majority stake in the Polish waste management company Novago, while LED manufacturer Hongbo Clean Energy announced plans to build a new high-tech complex in the town of Opole.

However, in terms of monetary value, Chinese investment into Poland was just 420 million euros last year. That was dwarfed by the 2.1 billion euros Chinese investors pumped into Hungary, far less than the 741 million euros that went to Romania, but on a par with the much smaller Greek economy, which received 405 million euros, according to Rzeczpospolita.

Poland is open to "brave and bold Chinese investment projects", according to Slawomir Majman, managing director of Europe strategic investments at the Warsaw office of multinational law firm Dentons, which merged with Dacheng, a Chinese counterpart, in 2015.

"We are very much dedicated to the Belt and Road Initiative, which President Duda has called the greatest geopolitical concept of the 21st century," said Majman, who also heads the Polish Council on the New Silk Road.

He identified key areas where Polish and Chinese investment aspirations need to be aligned. Poland heavily promotes green field investment, where companies establish operations from the ground up, as Chinese telecom giant Huawei has done in Poland, where it employs 500 people. Majman said this contrasts with the majority of Chinese investors who look to Europe specifically for mergers and acquisitions.

That sentiment was echoed by Damian Wnukowski, analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs.

"The case of Novago is quite interesting because the company has a lot of innovation in waste management and alternative fuels," he said. "It's something that can be put in the framework of Chinese interest in companies in modern economies. These are high-value-added companies and we don't have so many of them, so we are not so attractive from this point of view."

Majman said another issue is the lack of information and exchanges between the business communities in the two nations: "Proper exchanges have only happened during the last decade, our shared business relations and human resources are not so developed."

Bogdan Goralczyk, a diplomat and sinologist at the University of Warsaw, said the lack of information and exposure is an issue. He is lobbying to establish a Polish think tank that will focus on the Far East.

"We are still in the process of getting to know each other. China is not covered well by the Polish media, and there is no pro-Chinese lobby in parliament whatsoever," he said. "I think that it is absolutely necessary to have expert eyes advising politicians on issues concerning China."
In the process of untangling the many storylines concerning Poland's involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative, every person I spoke with offered the same piece of advice: "You have to visit Warsaw's 'Chinatown'."

I soon discovered this was a misnomer. Poland's Chinese Trade Center is located in Wolka Kosowska, about 25 kilometers outside the capital, and it is anything but a tourist hot spot.

Far from my temporary base among the pedestrianized streets and beautiful redbrick buildings of central Warsaw's reconstructed Old Town, I approached a huge industrial estate, busy with trucks offloading goods at giant warehouses.

Delicious, authentic Chinese food is available at the restaurants, though they serve the center's thousands of employees rather than travelers.

Poland is the European Union's least diverse country, yet scores of workers from China, Turkey and East and South Asia were whizzing around the massive property on scooters.

The center is the largest Chinese trading market in Central Europe, according to Felix Wang, deputy CEO of GD Poland International, which owns the facility.

Built in the early 1990s by a group of Chinese entrepreneurs looking to establish a regional foothold for exporters, the center houses 850 shops that sell wholesale to supermarkets and retailers across Poland. Shoes, clothing, watches, beach balls, mannequins - pretty much anything is for sale, and 90 percent of the goods come from China.

"Most of the goods arrive by ship from China," Wang said.

He estimated that about 2,500 people work at the center, many of them living in nearby accommodation built especially to serve the facility.

The retailers operate independently so it's difficult to calculate the volume of goods that pass through the gates every day, but Wang anticipates that the initiative will boost business.

"The local market needs these products," he said. "We are sure the initiative will help us and our clients. It will make trade and business easier, quicker and cheaper."
The country is building a framework for far-reaching political and diplomatic changes to promote the 'new Silk Road'. Angus McNeice reports from Warsaw.

Editor's note: This is the eighth in a series of reports focusing on the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, China's proposed trading route linking Asia, Europe and Africa.

At the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing this month, Poland will be represented by an enthusiastic supporter of China's international development and infrastructure project.

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo has been clear in her assessment of the Belt and Road Initiative. "It's in the best interests of our countries," she said, during President Xi Jinping's visit to Poland last year. She also spoke about the "numerous agreements" the countries have signed to "take the next step toward practical realization of the idea of the 'new Silk Road'".

Building on existing rail and maritime links between the nations, the leaders of China and Poland are in the process of constructing a political and diplomatic framework that will ease the path for key development projects.

A number of state visits have boosted Sino-Polish ties in recent years. The countries entered a strategic partnership in 2011 during President Bronislaw Komorowski's visit to China. Wen Jiabao, China's premier at the time, travelled to Warsaw in 2012.

Polish President Andrzej Duda, Komorowski's successor, visited China in 2015, and the following year Xi delivered a speech in Poland that directly addressed the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, known together as the Belt and Road Initiative.

Bogdan Goralczyk, a diplomat and sinologist at the University of Warsaw, said the visits launched the countries into a "new era".

"Probably for the first time in the country's long history it is in China's interest to come to Central and Eastern Europe, especially to Poland," he said. "From a geostrategic perspective - between Berlin and Moscow - it's the best location you can imagine."

Poland is perhaps the most broadly involved European Union member participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. It was one of the first countries to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and it signed a memorandum of understanding on the initiative in 2015.

With the exception of China, Poland is the largest economy in the "16+1" initiative created to increase cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.

Despite deep engagement and a raft of agreements, flagship Sino-Polish Belt and Road projects still have a long way to go.

Launched in April 2013, and now incorporated under the initiative's banner, the rail link between Chengdu in Sichuan province and Lodz in central Poland is the most notable infrastructure achievement involving the two countries. In September 2013, the Warsaw-Suzhou link started running, while the Lodz-Chengdu railway was extended to include Xiamen, Fujian province, in 2015. A direct container sea service between Gdansk and Shanghai commenced in 2010.

According to Justyna Szczudlik, China analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, it's difficult to say if more specific projects were launched after the initiative was announced.

A number of proposals were sketched out during Xi's visit to Poland, including a new airport, a high-speed rail system, industrial parks and logistics hubs along the Lodz-Chengdu route.

From a Polish perspective, collaboration on the initiative presents three major opportunities: to expand exports to China and mitigate a 12-to-1 trade imbalance; to attract Chinese investment; and, crucially, to link the Belt and Road to its own national development initiative, the Morawiecki Plan.

That point was underlined in June, when the countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Point four of the 11-point document signed by Xi and Duda was dedicated to coordinated implementation of the initiative and the Morawiecki Plan.

One of the most ambitious proposals is the construction of a new international airport near Warsaw. However, the capital's two main airports, Chopin Okecie and Modlin, have comparatively low numbers of connections, which is seen as a significant handicap in the ongoing competition with Prague and Vienna for tourism and business.

The huge price tag for construction - estimates vary between 7 billion and 12 billion euros ($7.6 billion and $13 billion) - is the biggest sticking point.

During a visit to Beijing in April last year, Witold Waszczykowski, Poland's minister of foreign affairs, held a meeting with the National Development and Reform Commission, after which he confirmed the Chinese were interested in participating.

Chinese investment in Poland's infrastructure was discussed by Duda and Xi during the Chinese president's visit to Poland. The deepening of Sino-Polish ties over the Belt and Road Initiative has pushed the airport closer to becoming a reality, but it remains in the discussion phase.

The slow-moving nature of initiative-related projects in Poland was highlighted by Waszczykowski during his visit to Beijing: "Many Chinese companies have great experience in building such infrastructure. Some of them could benefit from our tenders and join in the implementation of such projects in our country."

According to Szczudlik, tenders and the drawn-out process of public procurement for infrastructure projects in Poland and other EU member states has frustrated some Chinese investors.

"We're told by departments all the time that it's difficult for the Chinese to understand the tender procedures," she said.

"The Chinese want assurances straight away that we can't give them. That's part of the reason we have memorandums of understanding and agreements, but no specific projects. With Poland, China is in the process of learning by doing."

Contact the writer at angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com




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United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks at Financing for Peace: Innovations to Tackle Fragility session during the IMF/World Bank spring meetings in Washington, US, April 21, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that he was encouraged by the signing of a new agreement on Syria, adding it will be crucial to improving the lives of Syrians.

The agreement was reached by guarantor countries Iran, Russia and Turkey to de-escalate violence in key areas in Syria, noted a statement issued here by UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"The secretary-general welcomes the commitments to ceasing the use of all weapons, particularly aerial assets; to rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access; and to creating conditions for the delivery of medical aid and meeting civilians' basic needs," the statement said. "The commitments made should not affect the rights of Syrians to seek and enjoy asylum."

On Thursday, Russia, Iran and Turkey signed a memorandum in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on the creation of four safe zones in war-torn Syria. The countries will outline the maps by June 4.
Mother Raquel Barbosa holds her daughter Eloa, who has a twin sister named Eloisa, both eight-month old and both born with microcephaly, on Christmas day in Areia, Paraiba state, Brazil, Dec 25, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

QUITO -- Around 400 pregnant women have been contaminated by the Zika virus in Ecuador since April 2016, the Minister of Public Health, Veronica Espinoza, said Thursday.

In a press conference, the minister said that nine other cases had been found of vertical transmission from mother to fetus, and three of birth malformations linked to the virus.

Zika is a virus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is also a carrier of dengue and chikungunya.

Only around 20 percent of infected adults will even show symptoms but it is dangerous for pregnant women as the virus can be transmitted from mother to fetus, or through sexual relations or blood transfusions, said Espinoza.

It can lead to babies being born with microcephaly or a range of other malformations.

Espinoza asked the population to strengthen their efforts to protect pregnant women from contracting the virus.

The Ministry has led a campaign against the mosquitoes across the country by spraying chemicals, destruction of areas in which mosquitos could lay eggs.
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Thursday played down the strained ties between him and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in the past and praised a "tremendous friendship" between the two countries.

"We had a good telephone call," said Trump after his first meeting with Turnbull in New York on the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Intrepid to mark the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, referring to a reported acrimonious phone call back in January.

Later during a gala dinner, Trump acknowledged that the phone call was "a little bit testy."

"They said we had a rough phone call. We didn't really have a rough phone call," said Trump.

Trump spoke by phone with Turnbull shortly after taking office in January. However, the exchange soon reportedly went sour after Turnbull expressed expectation that Trump would honor an Obama-era deal with Australia to help resettle up to 1,250 refugees from Africa, the Middle East and Asia, who are housed in immigration camps on the Pacific island nations of Nauru and Papua New Guinea.

The phone call, supposed to last for one hour, ended after 25 minutes and Trump told Turnbull that "this was the worst call by far," reports said.

After the call, Trump tweeted that the refugee resettlement deal was a "dumb deal."

However, during a trip to Australia in April, US Vice President Mike Pence said that the United States would "honor" the refugee deal.
Jewelry artists Lori Blaylock and Cindy Lou Randall, and Magpie Jewelry Gallery owner, Sam Randall, will discuss the craft of creating and marketing handmade jewelry on Tuesday, May 9 as part of the Artful Women series at the Billings Public Library.

The event runs from 6 to 7 p.m.

Blaylock is a fourth-generation Montanan. She has an art degree with concentration in drawing, watercolor and ceramics. She started her company, originally called 2Dog Studio, in 2009. Her studio is in Billings, and you can find her jewelry at select stores in Montana and online.

"I hope that every woman who puts on one of my pieces feels like she can conjure the elements or rule the world! I want to encourage other women to find their own wildness and to reconnect to the earth," Blaylock said.

Cindy Lou Randall's love of making jewelry began at age 14, when she would string beads for all her friends and family.

Later, Cindy Lou Randall became enchanted with the power of crystals and authentic gemstones. Combining her love of both has brought her to the work she does today.

Cindy Lou Randall believes that the stones, created from our earth and sea have unique energies and the power to heal. When worn by a woman, she is instantly transformed by these elements and becomes more beautiful and intriguing. No two pieces are alike and they are crafted by hand with the finest gemstones and precious metals.

Sam Randall grew up in Billings and graduated from Senior High School and MSU Bozeman with an art degree in 1988. After 20 years of owning and operating a restaurant business with her husband in Albuquerque, she returned to Billings in 2015 to be closer to her family.

While in Albuquerque, she began taking small metals classes and began selling her work after just a few years. This new adventure became a full-fledged passion upon returning to Billings. Seeing a need for a dedicated art gallery that specialized in representing well-crafted jewelry from a variety of artists, she opened Magpie Jewelry Gallery in November 2016. Today, Magpie represents over 20 artists and is continuing to grow.
When Kalena Hungerford-Ciervo was a young child, getting sunscreen put on was a suffocating experience.

"It felt like they just put a whole bottle of ketchup on me," the Riverside Middle School eighth-grader said.

Such experiences hardly endear sunscreen to kids, who are often bombarded by marketing featuring deeply-tanned models. But one teacher at Riverside has made the science behind sunburns an emphasis in her teaching, and has the life experience to back it up.

In 2012, eighth-grade science teacher Katy Lefler was diagnosed with a skin melanoma on her back and subsequently had it removed. When she thought about her skin damage, childhood sunburns stood out.

That's the case for most people, said Billings Clinic dermatologist Dr. Sam Reck, who spoke to Lefler's class Thursday. Traditional sun damage wisdom says 80 percent of skin damage occurs before age 18.

"That's when you go out and play," he said.

Lefler's class learned about how UV rays work and conducted experiments using light-sensitive paper to determine the effectiveness of different sunscreens. It's a topic that's in the science curriculum each year, but Lefler puts a special emphasis on it.

"It's not just textbook-driven science," she said.

Even with education, a level of comfort  avoiding that ketchup-doused feeling  is important, Reck said.

"If you hate it and it's super greasy, you're not going to wear it and it's not going to be helpful," he said.

In a state like Montana, where outdoor activities are popular, it becomes even more important, especially at high altitudes.

Reck had a handful of kids in the room stand up to demonstrate their 1-in-5 odds of getting skin cancer. In some sun-doused countries, like Australia, the odds of skin cancer jump to 2-in-3.

"That's basically the odds of getting acne as an American teenager," he said.

Reck explained that a tan is still skin damage that can lead to cancer.

"A healthy tan is an oxymoron," he said. "It doesn't exist."

Students peppered Reck with questions ranging from cancer concerns about swimming pool visits to spray tans.

The spray tans are OK, but avoid tanning beds, the dermatologist said.

"They're dangerous. You're more likely to get skin cancers, more likely to get melanoma. ... It's great for business."
The rise of the Islamic State has caused as many as 1.5 million Christians to be displaced from Iraq, which has caused fears that Christianity may be totally wiped out from the region.

According to Christian lawyer Josef Sleve, 14 years ago, there were nearly two million Christians in Iraq. There are now only 500,000 to 850,000 left.

This means that over the past 14 years, some 1.5 million Christians have emigrated to other countries," said Sleve, according to Christian Today.

Although the Islamic State has been a main contributing factor to the mass exodus of Iraqs Christian population, many Iraqi Christians began fleeing their homeland even earlier when conflict in the early 2000s drove them out.

The huge number of Iraqi Christians who have left their country has caused many Christian leaders to question the future of Christianity in the region.

Given this tsunami of emigration...what future is left for the Church? What will become of our homeland? What will become of our parishes and institutions? asked Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III in 2015.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who is visiting the Holy Land this week, expressed sympathy for the plight of Iraqs Christians:

The Iraqi Christians I met yesterday say they feel the world has forgotten them, because the focus of the international community is now on Syria. Iraqis, they say, are at the bottom of the list when it comes to resettlement or support.

As Iraqi forces, aided by a coalition of allies, including U.S. forces, are fighting to drive the Islamic State out of Iraq, and particularly Mosul, the Islamic States last major stronghold in the country, some Christians are returning to their homeland, but with fighting continuing, the future of Iraqs Christian population remains uncertain.

Photo: An Iraqi family who have fled fighting as Iraqi forces advance into Islamic State controlled west Mosul, March 4, 2017. Iraqi forces have encountered stiff resistance with improvised explosives, heavy mortar fire and snipers hampering their advance.

Photo courtesy: Martyn Aim/Getty Images

Publication date: May 5, 2017
A Georgia college has banned a student after he preached the gospel in a designated free speech zone.

Although student Chike Uzuegbunam preached the gospel in a zone that was supposed to be dedicated to free speech, Georgia Gwinnett College officials apparently do not consider the gospel as included in free speech.

Uzuegbunam was removed from campus, according to a report from God TV, and his discussion of faith was labeled as fighting words which incite hostility.

Although Georgia Gwinnett College bills itself as a place of diversity and openness, that openness apparently does not extend to discussions of Christian faith. The college reportedly has students from 91 nations around the world, but free speech on the campus is confined to two small free speech zones which are only available 18 hours a week.

Uzuegbunam is filing a lawsuit against the school with the support of Alliance Defending Freedom. Uzuegbunam and his legal counsel argue that his free speech rights were violated. They allege that the colleges restriction of free speech ends up silencing students.

The First Amendment guarantees the right to free speech, although the Supreme Court has made exceptions when the free speech in question has been deemed likely to incite an immediate breach of peace, or commonly understood as personally abusive and likely to provoke a violent reaction.

Uzuegbunams exercise of free speech, however, did not involve any display of violence or breach of peace.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: May 5, 2017
Christian workers at a Pakistani hospital are reportedly being forced to attend morning readings of the Quran, and one worker was even physically abused for refusing to attend.

Christian Today reports that Christians who are on staff at Mian Mir Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan were told they had to attend Quran readings, and when one Christian paramedic refused, he was reportedly slapped by Dr. Muhammad Safraz, the hospitals superintendent.

Another doctor testified to this incident: Such behavior is embarrassing for all hospital staff, the discrimination is not only limited to this incident; we are witnessing discrimination against Christians staff members daily.

Another hospital paramedic--a Muslim--condemned the discrimination: I don't know why the administration is forcing our Christian brothers to do this. This is totally unacceptable.

Those who refuse to attend the meetings are regularly marked as absent from work and end up not being paid.

Christians, who make up only 1.6 percent of Pakistans population, are often discriminated against by Muslims who are the majority in Pakistan. Pakistans strict blasphemy laws are also often used by Muslims to target Christians.

The issue of Mian Mir hospital is just a small manifestation and also serves as an alarm bell, said a senior law enforcement official who asked to remain anonymous.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: May 5, 2017
Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act, legislation promoted by President Trump that would repeal and replace Obamacare. Marking the National Day of Prayer, the president also issued an executive order strengthening religious liberty.

Meanwhile, a third news story involving Mr. Trump has received less notice: he is coming to Israel. A US delegation sent to prepare for an upcoming visit arrived in the Jewish homeland yesterday.

I have been to the Holy Land many times over the years and am leading a tour of Israel this week. If I were in charge of the presidents schedule, there is a surprising site I would urge him to visit.

Our group traveled yesterday to Caesarea Philippi. The area was home to the worship of Pan, the Greek half-man, half-goat. His worshipers believed that Pan was born in a massive cave at this site. A spring brought water into this cave from a depth the ancient world was never able to measure. As a result, they called it the gates of the underworld or the gates of hell.

Standing here, Jesus told his disciples, On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). Why did he begin his church here?

Fourteen temples to Baal worship were scattered throughout the area. A massive white marble temple for the worship of Caesar stood at the mouth of the cave. A giant temple for the worship of Zeus stood adjacent to it. Niches carved in the rock wall held every idol imaginable. Worshipers of Pan engaged in unspeakable sexual sin.

Jesus chose to begin his church, not in Jerusalem or Capernaum or Nazareth, but at Caesarea Philippi. Not at the Temple or a synagogue, but standing before symbols for all that was immoral and ungodly in his day. As he established the church, he stated that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

I would bring President Trump here to show the world that Christianity exists to attack all that is evil. Whatever the cost, whatever our Lord asks, wherever he leads.

Standing in the Fire is the latest book from my dear friend, Tom Doyle. He and his wife JoAnn are long-term missionaries to the Middle East with e3 Partners. Tom tells the story of eight Christians who are currently standing in the fire for Jesus.

One was a Sunni Muslim leading the rebellion against Bashar al-Assad in Syria. This man came to Christ after nearly dying in a bomb attack. As a result of his conversion, he was sentenced to die by firing squad.

The official in charge of his execution was so impressed by his faith that he arranged for him to escape. He now lives in a monastery in Syria, where he spends his days memorizing the New Testament, praying for his family in Lebanon, and working for Jesus. Stories such as his prove that the courage of early Christians can still be ours today.

The church is not a denomination, a building, an institution, or a set of activities. It is an army attacking an enemy: We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). When we attack hell, we are the church. When we do not, we are not.

How will you attack the gates of hell today?

Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/gorsh13

Publication date: May 5, 2017

For more from the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, please visit www.denisonforum.org.

Do you want to live a life in whole-hearted pursuit of loving God and others?

Read today's First15 at www.first15.org.
Amid increasing attempts to suppress religious activities, Chinese authorities have detained, fined, and imprisoned Christians for public worship, buying and selling devotionals, and group Bible study.



In late April, a court in Xinjiang convicted five Protestants who attended a Bible study in 2016, charging them with gathering a crowd to disrupt social order, Asia News reported. The verdict came with five-year prison sentences for two pastors, and four- and three-year sentences for three others. They plan to appeal.



Earlier in April, authorities raided a Christian concert and arrested those attending. Taiwanese Pastor Xu Rongzhang was singing Jesus Loves You when the raid took place, China Aid reported. Before releasing them, officials forced the Christians to say they would not organize large gatherings again and told Xu not to hold any meetings of more than 10 people.



A Chinese court also recently convicted prominent Christian human rights lawyer Li Heping on charges of subverting state power. Judges sentenced Li to three years in prison but suspended the sentence for four years. If he does not reoffend during that time, Li will stay out of prison.



Since 1997, Li has defended dissidents, victims of forced evictions, and members of the banned Falun Gong religious group. Officials detained him and nearly 250 others in 2015, in what Amnesty International condemned as a nationwide crackdown against human rights lawyers and activists. Amnesty said the Communist Partys official newspaper described it as an attempt to destroy a major criminal gang.



Several of those lawyers and activists remain in detention, even though Western governments urged Beijing to release them.



Earlier this year, officials in Xinjiang targeted a network of Christian house churches and arrested more than 80 people. They fined and later released them, according to China Aid.



All these incidents illustrate the worsening persecution of Christians under President Xi Jinpings crackdown on religious activity and human rights. Critics say he wants to eradicate any potential opposition to the ruling Communist Party.



Because religious freedom in China continued to erode in 2016, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) called on the U.S. State Department to keep China listed as a country of particular concern in its recently released 2017 report.



USCIRF reported Chinas government revised regulations to more tightly control religious groups, increased penalties against illegal Christian churches and activities, and formally prohibited any religion from harming national security concerns.



A campaign to remove crosses from churches has continued, and officials targeted and imprisoned Christians who spoke out against it, including Pastor Bao Guohua and his wife, Xing Wenxiang. Not even members of state-sponsored churches were safe from persecution.



China also continues to suppress other religious groups, including Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong, while continuing to forcibly repatriate North Korean refugees, according to USCIRF.



It is crucial that the U.S. government not only integrate human rights messagingincluding on freedom of religion or beliefacross its interactions with China, but also consistently make clear that it opposes Beijings overt violations of international human rights standards, USCIRF said in its report.

Courtesy: WORLD News Service

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: May 5, 2017
I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up.
National Day of Prayer 2017 Honors U.S. Military with Historic Prayer by Verna Linzey Contact: Dr. David Wagner, 267-250-1222, info@militarychaplains.org



MISSION VIEJO, Calif., May 5, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Thursday, May 4, 2017, a crowd of 4,000 Christians representing 90 Southern California churches gathered to honor the US Armed Forces and pray for the nation.



Photo: U.S. Capitol by David Iliff. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0.



Various military chaplains were invited to attend. Among them, Dr. James F. Linzey who is a retired US Army chaplain with the rank of Major, and who is the managing editor of the New Tyndale Version Bible translation, was invited by Rev. Mike Maiolo to give the prayer for the US Armed Forces, military members, and veterans. Rev. Maiolo who organized the event is the senior pastor of Mission Viejo Christian Church.



In preparation for the event, Jim spent considerable time preparing a prayer. Then, upon reflection, he felt led by the Spirit to set his prayer aside and pray a historic prayer written by Dr. Verna Hall Linzey, who was the wife of a Navy chaplain, the mother of three military chaplains, the grandmother of a Navy chaplain, and who was made an honorary military chaplain by the Coalition of Spirit-Filled Churches and the Military Bible Association, and who was the great, great grand-daughter of Chaplain George Hall who was a chaplain in George Washington's Army. She is also the chief editor of the New Tyndale Version Bible translation.



When Jim shared his mother's background with the audience of 4,000 people, they broke out in thunderous cheers and applause. Jim energized the crowd more, shouting, "Yes, let's hear it for Verna Linzey." After a hush gradually fell over the audience, Jim invited the audience to bow their heads in prayer as he read Verna's prayer for the US Armed Forces and Veterans: Almighty God and most merciful Father, we ask You to impart by Your Spirit to the men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces, as well as to our veterans, an illumination of their spirits and minds, revealing to them the need for the Savior Jesus Christ; convict of sin, O Lord, those who stray from righteousness, chastising them as only a loving Father would do, until they receive the atonement that is only wrought by the blood of Jesus Christ, who alone provides for the propitiation of their sins, and repentance brings them to the foot of the cross, and Your Spirit reigns in and through their mortal flesh. Let freedom of the one, true religion of faith in Christ alone, and salvation in no other name under heaven, be expressed freely and openly in the United States military once again, throughout the ranks, without fear of reprisal, that all military men and women may hear the Gospel, and draw nigh unto You, O Lord, and be saved. We ask for an eternal reward for those who have served. Bless our veterans, meeting all their needsthose and their loved ones who have sacrificed everything, so that we may enjoy freedom of religion throughout the land, upon which all other freedoms emanate. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Few military prayers match the theological depths as Verna's. The accolades given in honor of Verna Linzey included many requests for copies of the prayer, which Jim had on hand. Special remarks were given by Mission Viejo Council Member Brian Goodell. Other participants included various church worship bands, choirs, and pastors. The event concluded with the audience breaking out into small groups to pray for one another as Jim joined pastors at the altar to pray for people coming forward for personal prayer requests.



The event was supported by a broad spectrum of denominational churches and independent churches, including the Assemblies of God, Baptist, Calvary Chapel, Catholic, Church of God in Christ, Evangelical Free Church, Lutheran, Messianic, Methodist, Presbyterian, the Salvation Army, the Vineyard, and congregations such as Mariners Church and South Shores Church, and dozens of others.



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home US Appeals court revives gay couple's damages claim against Kim Davis

A federal appeals court has ruled that a gay couple can sue Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis for damages for refusing to sign their marriage licenses in 2015 due to her Christian beliefs.

The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati overturned a lower court judge who tossed out the damages claims of David Ermold and David Moore as moot in August 2016 after Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin issued an executive order allowing marriage licenses to be printed without the clerk's name.

Davis, a clerk in Rowan County and a born-again Apostolic Christian, said she was willing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, but she asked for a religious exemption to not sign her name on them because she believes that it would constitute an endorsement of homosexuality.

The gay couple eventually obtained a marriage license, but the three-judge appeals court ruled that they could sue Davis due to her initial refusal to grant one, following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June 2015 which stated that the Constitution guaranteed the right to same-sex marriage.

"The district court's characterization of this case as simply contesting the 'no marriage licenses' policy is inaccurate because Ermold and Moore did not seek an injunction-they sought only damages," Circuit Judge Karen Nelson Moore wrote, according to Reuters.

"The record does not support an argument that (their) damages claims are insubstantial or otherwise foreclosed," the judge added.

The appeals court sent Ermold and Moore's case back to U.S. District Judge David Bunning in Covington, Kentucky.

"The ruling keeps the case alive for a little while but it is not a victory for the plaintiffs," said Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, a Christian advocacy group representing Davis. "We are confident we will prevail," he added.

Bunning was the same judge who sent Davis to jail for contempt of court in September 2015 due to her refusal to sign marriage licenses for gay couples.

The judge ordered her release from jail on Sept. 8 on the condition that she does not "interfere in any way" regarding the issuing of marriage licenses to homosexuals.

Davis dropped her request for religious accommodation after the Kentucky legislature and senate approved a bill in June 2016 to remove county clerks' names, personal identification, and authorization from state marriage licenses.

Michael Gartland, a lawyer for Ermold and Moore, noted that damages claims based on past harm often survive mootness challenges.

"Do I think it's a million dollar case? Probably not," Gartland said. "The next step will be to go to discovery and go to trial, where I am confident we will obtain a judgment against Davis," he added.
home World Ashers Bakery refuses to bake another cake that promotes gay marriage

Ashers Baking Company, a bakery owned by a Christian couple, has reportedly refused to bake an engagement cake that contains a slogan celebrating same-sex marriage.

Grainne McCann, a London-based woman from Northern Ireland, said she placed an online order for an engagement cake for her friend, Joe Palmer, who is marrying his partner, Andy Wong, this summer.

The order came just six months after a court in Northern Ireland ruled that the bakery violated equality laws for rejecting a previous order for a gay marriage cake.

"The wording we requested was 'Gay marriage rocks! Happy engagement, Andy and Joe! Lots of love xxx.' We were thrilled when Ashers accepted our online order, and full payment of 23.40 plus 20 P&P, but the next day they sent the cancellation note and a refund," said McCann, as reported by Belfast Telegraph.

"My gut instinct told me the cake was refused because it celebrated gay marriage," she added.

McCann decided to prove her point by ordering a christening cake for her goddaughter Leila.

"Ashers couldn't have been happier to make that cake," she recounted. "A woman from the company even offered to drive it to its destination in Dublin as a favour, because she was going that way," she went on to say.

McCann managed to purchase a cake from a London bakery, but she said that she felt angry about Ashers' different attitude towards gay people

She expressed her belief that the Ashers risks being sued again because of its decision to turn down an order based on the sexual orientation of the customer.

However, McCann said that she and her friends have no plans to sue the bakery because they want to focus on the wedding.

The owners of Ashers, Daniel and Amy McArthur, were found guilty of illegal discrimination in 2015 for refusing to bake a cake that contained a slogan promoting gay marriage. In October, Belfast's Court of Appeal upheld the lower court decision, arguing that baking a cake with such a slogan does not signify a support gay marriage.

Daniel said that he was disappointed with the ruling because the court did not consider how the conscience of Christians affect how they run their business.

The McArthurs insisted that they are not homophobic, and they vowed to continue standing by their Christian beliefs.
home US 'Bible Answer Man' slams Bill Nye's suggestion of penalizing parents for having 'extra kids'

Hank Hanegraaff, also known as the "Bible Answer Man," has denounced Bill Nye's suggestion that families should be penalized for having "extra kids."

In the 13th episode of the Netflix show "Bill Nye Saves the World," Nye and several panelists discussed the issue of population growth and how it affects the earth.

During the discussion, Nye asked the panel, "Should we have policies that penalize people for having extra kids in the developed world?"

Travis Rieder, a bioethicist at Johns Hopkins University, responded by saying he believed it was a good idea that should be considered. Earlier in the discussion, he claimed that children in developed countries like the United States typically used 160 times more resources than those elsewhere.

Hanegraaff, who has 12 children, took to Facebook on Thursday to criticize Nye for asking the controversial question.

"Bill Nye raised his anti-science rhetoric to a new decibel level in the final episode of Bill Nye Saves The World--suggesting that people (like me) living in the developed world should be penalized for having 'extra kids.' Why? Because in his view we are woeful contributors to climate change," Hanegraaff wrote.

"In truth, whether one has 2 or 12 (as in our case) is less important than whether my children grow up to be selfless producers as opposed to merely selfish consumers," he added.

Hanegraaff has previously stated that he has received many questions about whether people should control the number of children that they have.

In a 2010 article for the Christian Research Institute, he narrated that he initially did not want to have a huge family because he wanted to focus on his ministry, but his wife did. He said he was glad that he listened to his wife because he "cannot imagine life" without his kids.

Other panelists on Nye's show shared their concern about penalizing families for having more children.

Dr. Rachel Snow, chief of population development of the United Nations Population Fund, took issue with the idea of incentivizing fewer or more children.

Nerys Benfield, an abortionist who practices at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, pointed to the history of compulsory sterilization in America, which was in place as recently as the 1970s. She said that the issue of sterilization had not been approached from a position of "justice" in the past, and she asked whether it would be just if it is applied today.

In an interview with CNN last week, Nye defended his views, saying he wanted people to address the issue of climate change so that everyone can participate in taking care of the planet.
I was asked about gangs in Billings the other day. How bad is the gang activity, how many gang members are in Billings, what are some of the gang names, and what are gangs involved in? Some may be surprised by the answers.

First, there are somewhere between 300 and 750 gang members in Billings as you read this. The number depends on how you define a gang member, what time of year it is, and even what is happening in Billings at any one time. The gangs go by various names, including:

Bloods, Surenos, Piru Bloods, LVL (Little Valley Locos), Neighborhood 5 Star Bloods, MS-13, Rez Bloods, Latin Kings, Crips, Juggalos, Mockpaw Crips, Modern Outlaws, 18th St. Crips, Folk Nation-Gangster Disciples, 300 Block Crips, MT Front Working Class Skins, Nortenos, White Supremacists, Peckerwoods, North Side Locos, Mexican Mafia, Northern Barrio Locos, Skinheads and Varrio Catorce.

Some of these gangs are hybrids (a cross between gangs and neighborhood cronies), some are junior high kids claiming colors, some are gang wanabees, and some are genuine bad guys looking to make money in a place they see as open due to opportunity, lack of police manpower, and lack of competition. All are looking for a sense of belonging.

Some gangs are into graffiti, some participate in petty crime, such as vandalism and theft, and some are looking to make money in the drug trade. Most gangs wear colors, often bandanas hanging out of their pockets. Most gangs also have symbols, such as a star, crown, numbers, a pitchfork, or a pyramid.

We have gang members from other states, often California, who move here or transfer their probation here to start a business such as drug trafficking, prostitution, or something similar. According to my law enforcement source for this article, who wanted to remain anonymous, we will see a lot more gang activity as we grow. This source also mentioned the lack of manpower the BPD and Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office have to nip this problem in the bud.

I recall about two decades ago when gangs such as the Bloods and Crips first came to town, law enforcement would arrest them if they jaywalked, littered, or had a taillight out. They got the picture they were not welcome, and many left. Law enforcement is currently having a hard time keeping up because of stretched resources. The jail is well over capacity so where to put criminals is an issue. This opens up our city to gang exploitation.

Lest I not leave you with all bad news, we do have a Yellowstone County Gang Task Force who meet monthly to strategize on how to use the resources available to combat the gang problem. These unsung heroes make a difference.

While this picture of gangs in Billings is not a pretty one, and may even come as a shock to some, forewarned is for armed, and it is better to be aware of what is occurring so we can have a city wide discussion on how to deal with this gang issue we all face, directly or indirectly.
home US Bill Nye sparks outrage for asking whether families should be penalized for having 'extra kids'

Reuters/Aaron P. Bernstein

Bill Nye, popularly known as "the Science Guy," is being criticized for asking during a panel discussion in his new Netflix show "Bill Nye Saves the World" whether families should be penalized for having "extra kids"

In the 13th episode of the show titled "Earth's People Problem," Nye and several panelists discussed how they think population growth affects the earth, Life News reported.

Prior to the panel discussion, Nye explained that women who have access to education and professional opportunities tend to have fewer children. The TV host asserted that women have fewer children when they are in power, and more resources can be devoted to their children.

The panel reportedly included Nerys Benfield, an abortionist who practices at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, and Dr. Rachel Snow of the United Nations Population Fund, which has been linked to coercive abortion practices in China.

During the discussion, Nye asked the panel, "Should we have policies that penalize people for having extra kids in the developed world?"

Travis Rieder, a bioethicist at Johns Hopkins University, responded by saying he believed it was a good idea. "I do think that we should at least consider it," he told Nye.

"Well, 'at least consider it' is like 'Do it,'" Nye replied.

Snow took issue with the idea of doing "anything to incentivize fewer children or more children," while Benfield pointed to the history of compulsory sterilization in America, which was in place as recently as the 1970s.

Benfield further noted that the issue regarding sterilization had not been approached from a position of "justice" in the past, and raised the question whether it would be just if applied today.

Some viewers took to Twitter to express their outrage over the suggestion that families should be penalized for having more children.

"Wow! @BillNye the eugenics guy? He wants to punish people for having 'extra kids.' What's an extra kid?" one Twitter user wrote, as reported by the New York Post.

Another Twitter user referred to the popular TV host as "Bill Nye the Hitler Guy."

Nye's new show have been praised by some viewers, but many criticized it for being provocative and biased.

"Bill Nye, you should reboot your old show so adult fans can introduce their kids to science...instead of taking a big sat in their mouths," a Twitter user suggested.
home World Catholic church rejects 'Cathedral of Faith' that took ex-monk over 50 years to build

It took a former monk more than 50 years to build a cathedral from scratch in the Spanish town of Mejorada del Campo, near Madrid's Barajas airport. However, the Catholic church does not seem to be interested in using the building as a place of worship.

Justo Gallego, 91, has devoted most of his life to building the "Cathedral of Faith" after he was forced to leave the monastery when he contracted tuberculosis.

The former monk has single-handedly built the cathedral using recycled masonry and household rubbish items such as bottles cans and old tires, according to The Telegraph.

"I do it out of faith; there is no other reason," he said of the cathedral that he started building in 1961 without any plans or sketches. "It's all in my head," he added.

Despite the lack of legal permits, he managed to construct an extensive complex that includes a cloister and a cupola that is almost 40 meters high.

However, Gallego is already suffering from ill health, and no one seems to be interested in completing the building.

EncarnaciAn MartAn, the town's local planning chief, acknowledged that Gallego's building is "emblematic," but she said the town has no money to spend on a construction that does not have a permit and could be unsafe.

She said that the town had tried to ask assistance in making it legal and safe, but the Spanish government, Madrid's regional authorities and Spain's College of Architects did not want to get involved.

The Church also did not want to be involved in Gallego's project, saying the town already has "enough places of worship."

Gallego has already written a will leaving the cathedral to the Bishopric of AlcalA de Henares, but a spokesman said that the bishop was not aware of this plan nor any attempt by the former monk to seek assistance or advice from the church.

"It's an amazing effort this man is making, but we at the moment have two churches in Mejorada that cover the needs of the Church. It is up to civil institutions to ensure that the building is technically sound," the spokesman said.

The cathedral is still missing a roof and the cupola is yet to be finished, but it has already attracted tourists, and Gallego has earned the respect of the town's inhabitants.

The former monk said that he was motivated to build the cathedral after he saw the desecration of churches during the Spanish Civil War.

"I saw the Communists destroy all the churches here, with people laughing and dancing in the ruins," he said, according to the New York Times.

"But when you believe, you can then also rebuild with your own hands a beautiful new place," he added.

Gallego has estimated that it will take 15 to 20 more years to complete the building, and he is now relying on friends and volunteers to help him with the construction.

He still has no timetable and not even a single sketch for the project, but he is relying on his trusted assistant, Angel LApez, to take over the works when he passes away.

"The only plan is made in my head, drawn day by day. But Jesus Christ is the one who makes the real plans and decides what eventually should happen," Gallego said.
home World Chinese court convicts Christian lawyer of subverting state power in secretive trial

A prominent Christian human rights lawyer has been convicted by a Chinese court of subverting state power in a secretive trial in China's northern Tianjin municipality on Friday.

Li Heping, who defended political dissidents as well as members of the banned Falun Gong meditation sect, was found guilty of "subversion of state power" after almost two years of arbitrary imprisonment, China Aid reported.

The Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate People's Court stated that the trial was held behind closed doors because the case involved state secrets. It said that since 2008, Li had been using the internet and interviews with foreign media to discredit and attack state power and the legal system.

It also stated that he colluded with lawyers, "individuals engaged in illegal religious activities" and "professional petitioners" to attack the constitutionally based system.

Additionally, Li allegedly used foreign funds to intervene in high-profile legal cases and intentionally provoke dissatisfaction with society among "some people who don't know the fact of the matter."

The court sentenced him to three years in prison with a four-year suspension, and it stripped him of his political privileges. He may not have to serve his three-year sentence if he does not commit any other offenses during the suspension period. However, authorities often re-arrest individuals serving suspended sentences for arbitrary infringements, including taking part in interviews with foreign media.

According to China Aid, the government also tried to coerce Li to contact his wife, Wang Qiaoling, to convince her to travel to Tianjin and collect him so that the authorities could arrest her upon her arrival.

Wang reportedly said that she is scared of losing her freedom and told her husband to come home to Beijing if he had truly been released.

Li was one of the hundreds of people who were detained in July 2015 in the crackdown against human rights lawyers and activists. During the first six months of his detention, he was reportedly tortured by the authorities using various methods, including electric batons.

The court released a statement saying Li would not appeal his case. Li reportedly thanked the court after the proceedings and expressed regret about his supposed crime. The court said that it gave the lawyer a suspended sentence due to his "relatively small" number of crimes and his expression of regret.
home World Christian rights lawyer remains in detention in China despite receiving suspended sentence

Christian human rights lawyer Li Heping still remains in detention even after a Chinese court gave him a four-year reprieve on his three-year jail sentence on Friday.

Li was convicted of "subversion of state power" in a closed-door trial at a court in the northeastern city of Tianjin last week, Hong Kong Free Press reported.

He was sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year reprieve, allowing him to be released. However, he could be imprisoned again if he breaks the law during the probation period.

Li's wife, Wang Qiaoling, said that her husband has not been allowed to return home despite the reprieve.

"I'm very happy that Li Heping is alive. But he is not free! He is being held by the authorities using a different method," said Wang, who has been campaigning for his release despite harassment from authorities.

Wang had denounced Li's secret trial and conviction, saying she was not notified of the trial until state security informed her about the sentencing.

"For a political prisoner like him, a three-year sentence with a four-year reprieve implies that his personal freedom will be limited for seven years," she noted.

The court stated that the trial was held behind closed doors because the case involved state secrets, and said Li had used overseas funding to "provoke dissatisfaction among people who do not understand our country's social system."

Human Rights Watch noted that Li's lawyer was also not present in the courtroom during the verdict announcement.

Li's attorney, who was assigned by the police after they forced Li to fire the lawyer hired by his family, reportedly traveled with the authorities to Beijing to help them pressure Wang to go to Tianjin to meet her husband. However, Wang refused the request, fearing that she will be put under house arrest.

Li, who is known for defending practitioners of the banned Falun Gong meditation sect, was one of the hundreds of people who were detained in July 2015 as part of China's crackdown on human rights lawyers and activists.

According to China Aid, he was tortured by the authorities using various methods, including electric batons, in the first six months of his detention.

The court issued a statement saying Li would not appeal his case. It noted that it gave Li a suspended sentence due to his "relatively small" number of crimes and his expression of regret.
home World Christian UN envoy urges Trump to cut UNESCO funding over resolution disputing Israel's claim to Jerusalem

A Christian special envoy to the U.N. has urged Trump to cut funding for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after it declared Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem to be "null and void."

On Tuesday, the Steering Committee of UNESCO voted to adopt a resolution that declared all the legislative and administrative measures taken by Israel regarding the character and status of Jerusalem as null and void.

The resolution, titled "Occupied Palestine," was submitted by Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Sudan, according to Western Journalism.

Twenty-two nations voted in favor of the resolution, while 23 others abstained. Only 10 countries, including the United States, opposed the resolution, which also labeled Israel as an "occupying power" due to its presence in Jerusalem.

Laurie Cardoza-Moore, the Special United Nations Envoy for the World Council of Independent Christian Churches, denounced the resolution as a "blatant anti-semitic statement," noting that the vote took place on Israel's Independence Day.

"UNESCO's vote to deny the Jewish people's sovereignty over Jerusalem on Israel's Independence Day is not a coincidence. It is a blatant anti-Semitic statement," Cardoza-Moore stated.

"It is also an outrageous attack on millions of Jews and Bible-believing Christians worldwide who recognize that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel and the Jewish people and has been for over 3,000 years," she added.

Cardoza-Moore called on the U.N. Secretary General to condemn the "absurd vote in the highest of terms." vote. She also urged U.S. President Donald Trump to cut funding for UNESCO and move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to express its support for Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also denounced the resolution and vowed to cut $1 million in payments to the U.N.

"In the wake of the resolution, I have instructed Foreign Ministry Director-General Yuval Rotem to deduct $1 million from the funds that Israel transfers to the UN. Israel will not sit by while the organization calls for the denial of our sovereignty in Jerusalem," the Prime Minister said, as reported by Times of Israel.

This was not the first time Netanyahu had announced the slashing of payments to the U.N. In December, he ordered to cut $6 million from Israel's payment to the organization after the Security Council passed a resolution calling on the Jewish state to cease all settlement activities in the West Bank. The Prime Minister cut an additional $2 million in March after the Human Rights Council approved five anti-Israel resolutions.
home US Christians with college degrees are more likely to attend church regularly, says Pew study

American Christians with college degrees are more likely to attend church regularly compared to less-educated believers, a new study has found.

According to the study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 52 percent of Christians with a college degree say they attend weekly religious services, compared with 45 percent of Christians with some college experience and 46 percent with a high school degree or less.

The findings stand in contrast to the idea that more education would mean less religious belief.

The study noted that higher levels of education are linked with lower levels of religious commitment among American adults as a whole. However, the case is not the same when it comes to Christians.

The survey results suggested that Christians with higher levels of education are just as religious as those with less schooling.

It indicated that 70 percent of Christians who have college degrees have a "high level of religious commitment" compared to 73 percent of those with some college experience and 71 percent who have no college experience.

When broken down by denominations, the findings showed that 36 percent of mainline Protestants who are college graduates are more likely to attend church once a week, compared to 31 percent of those with a high school diploma or less.

Eighty-seven percent of evangelical Protestants who graduated college had a high level of religious commitment, compared to 83 percent who had some college education and 82 percent with a high school education or less.

Among Catholics, 45 percent of those who graduated from college are more likely to attend mass, compared to 39 percent who only had high school education or less.

Overall, 46 percent of all college graduates say religion is "very important" in their lives, compared with 58 percent of Americans with only a high school education. Eleven percent of college graduates identified themselves as atheists or agnostics, compared to four percent of adults with high school education or less.

A full three-quarters of college graduates are still affiliated with some religion, which is not different from those with some college experience (76 percent) and those with high school education (78 percent).

Pew explained that the study does not attempt to explain why Americans with more education are less likely to profess belief in God. It also does not try to explain why college-educated Christians tend to go to church more than their less-educated counterparts.

The statistics were based on Pew's 2014 U.S. Religious Landscape Study involving over 35,000 American respondents who were reached on randomly dialed cell phones and landlines.
home World Cuban court sends pastor to prison for homeschooling his children

A Cuban court has sentenced a pastor to a year in prison on Tuesday for not sending his two children to state schools and opting to teach them at home instead.

Ramon and Adya Rigal were arrested in February for "contributing to the delinquency of minors" after they decided to homeschool their children earlier this year to "remove them from an environment where they were being bullied and indoctrinated in the state school system."

During the three-hour trial, Ramon attempted to present evidence that the children were learning, but he claimed that he was not allowed to speak in his own defense.

"I brought evidence that my children were learning-notebooks and materials-[but] they didn't care," Ramon said, according to World Net Daily.

"When I tried to tell the judge about my evidence or to say that the government was acting unfairly, the judge told me that if I continued to speak she would have me removed from the courtroom," he continued.

Ramon also stated that he tried to bring his witnesses to the trial, but the judge would tell them to leave the courtroom.

He contended that the trial was just a platform to denounce alternatives to state education, noting that the court relied on scripted testimonies from school officials to affirm that only trained teachers have the qualifications to instruct children about socialist values.

Mike Donnelly, the director of International Relations for Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), said he was distressed to hear about the details of the trial, but he was not surprised by the ruling.

"It was just about what one expects from the communist courts of Cuba: anything but justice," said Donnelly. "Their jurisprudence reflects a disregard for accepted principles of due process and the rule of law, as well as Cuba's international human rights obligations," he added.

Apart from Ramon's one-year prison term, the court also sentenced Adya to one year of house arrest.

Ramon said he would prefer to remain in Cuba, but he is hoping that the family would be able to take refuge in the U.S. since the Cuban authorities are determined to jail him rather than allow the children to be homeschooled.

HSLDA, a non-profit organization focusing on defending the rights of parents to direct the education of their children, has pledged to support the Rigals, and it has launched a petition calling on the Cuban government to respect the rights of the family to teach their own children at home.
home US Democratic lawmakers propose nationwide ban on gay conversion therapy

Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill that seeks a nationwide ban on a form of therapy that purports to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act of 2017 was proposed by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), along with Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), according to The Gospel Herald.

The legislation, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate on Tuesday with the support of 70 other Democratic members of Congress, would allow the Federal Trade Commission to "classify conversion therapy and its practitioners as fraudulent."

"The bill is very simple," Lieu told The Washington Post. "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 organizations," he went on to say.

A number of approaches to changing an individual's sexual orientation have been developed since 1952, when homosexuality was included as a mental illness in the first edition of the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Some therapists have recommended electric shock treatments while others told their patients to wear a rubber band on their wrists and snap it whenever they have "same-sex erotic" thoughts.

Conversion therapy has been labeled by numerous organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Psychiatric Association (APA), as harmful and dangerous.

Only the District of Columbia and seven states, including New Mexico, California, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, and New Jersey, have passed laws banning the controversial practice. However, the laws are mostly focused on banning the therapy for minors rather than for all people.

Lawmakers have tried to introduce the legislation to ban the practice nationwide in 2016, but it never received a formal hearing.

Evangelist Franklin Graham took issue with the assertion that "LGBTQ people were born perfect," saying all people are "born imperfect, with sinful natures." He contended that the Democrats are "misled" in their efforts to ban conversion therapy.

"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," Graham wrote on Facebook on Friday.

Conversion therapy has been criticized by other Christian leaders such as Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who said that "reparative therapy is not the way to go." He said that Christians have historically sinned against homosexuals by "reducing a massive human struggle to simplistic explanations."

The proposal is expected to be debated by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. President Donald Trump will be able to veto the bill even if it is approved by the legislature.
home US Dutch abortion activists launch website advising American women how to self-induce abortions

A Netherlands-based abortion activist group has launched a new website that teaches American women how to terminate their own pregnancies with the use of abortion-inducing drugs.

The website, created by the group called Women Help Women, advises American women on how to use the abortion drug misoprostol and tells them where they can obtain it illegally.

Misoprostol is commonly used with mifepristone, which blocks hormones necessary to sustain a pregnancy. The FDA recommends that the two drugs be taken together with medical supervision and an in-person follow-up appointment.

Although misoprostol is less likely to induce abortions without mifepristone, the success rate is still high.

An ultrasound is often necessary to assess how many weeks a woman has been pregnant because misoprostol is less effective and requires a different regimen later in the first trimester. Using the drug at a high dose in the second trimester could result in serious medical complications.

Americans United for Life, a pro-life group that has lobbied states to require strict medical supervision for the use of abortion medications, expressed concern about the dangers of distributing the drug.

"These drugs are dangerous. They are deadly. If they are mishandled, they result in serious injury," said Kristi Hamrick, the group's spokeswoman. "To just distribute them and put them in an automatic dispenser like a can of soda is absolutely medical malpractice," she added.

Susan Yanow, the U.S. spokeswoman for Women Help Women, asserted that women in the U.S. are using the pill "without good guidance."

"If a woman is anxious and has the pills in her hand, and doesn't know what to do ... we can help her understand what to do. We can help her understand what signs to look for, and what's going on," she said, according to The Guardian.

Guides for taking misoprostol are widely available online, but the group's website stands out because it would connect American women with counselors who can provide step-by-step instructions and answer their questions in real time.

Medical professionals will also advise women on how to recognize complications, such as excessive bleeding, which could occur after they leave the clinic.

Women Help Women executive director Kinga Jelinska said that the U.S. version of the site was launched because of President Donald Trump's pro-life platform.

"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," she told The Washington Post.

Several states have made it illegal for anyone apart from medical professionals to administer abortion-inducing drugs and at least 18 women in the U.S. have been charged with attempting to induce their own abortions.
home US Federal agents raid Dallas headquarters of Benny Hinn Ministries

IRS agents and inspectors with the U.S. Postal Service conducted a raid on the headquarters of Benny Hinn Ministries in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Grapevine, Texas on Wednesday morning.

Around 40 to 50 federal agents were reportedly involved in the search that started around 9:00 a.m. U.S. Postal Service inspectors and IRS criminal investigators returned on Thursday to continue searching the offices of the ministry, according to NBC 5.

The agents at the scene did not disclose the nature of the investigation, but they said their unit is primarily responsible for investigating Title 26, which is tax evasion and general fraud against the government.

Investigators noted that most of the employees went home, and Hinn himself was not at the office. A schedule posted on the ministry's website indicated that Hinn is in Paris, France.

Hinn, who is known for his "Miracle Crusades" and his energetic preaching style, was one of the six well-known televangelists who were investigated by the Senate Finance Committee beginning in 2007.

The inquiry raised questions about the personal use of church-owned planes, luxury homes and credit cards by pastors and their families. There were also concerns about the lack of oversight of finances by boards, which were often filled by Hinn's relatives and friends.

The committee cleared Hinn and the other televangelists of any official wrongdoing after more than three years of investigation.

At that time, Hinn maintained that he complied with tax regulations for nonprofits and that he had made changes to how he ran his ministry and set compensation after the investigation.

The pastor is considered to be a "prosperity gospel" preacher and has been repeatedly criticized for living extravagantly.

In a 2009 interview with ABC's Nightline, Hinn responded to the criticism, saying the Holy 'Spirit gives him the "anointing" to heal diseases like cancer. He revealed at the time that his salary was more than $500,000, but he did not give an exact figure.

Following Wednesday's raid, the ministry issued a statement, saying it will fully cooperate with the IRS' investigation.

"As has been widely reported, Benny Hinn Ministries is cooperating fully with the governmental entities that are reviewing certain operations of the Church," the ministry stated in a Facebook post.

"The ministry has undergone intense scrutiny over the years, and we remain confident that there will again be a positive and speedy outcome in the days ahead," it added.
Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) does not mean there would be cheaper medicines. Repeal just raises premiums for people especially in their 50s and 60s and for many with pre-existing conditions. In last weekend's debate, Greg Gianforte responded to a question about how to lower the obscene prices of medications. He implied repealing and replacing Obamacare would do this. Untrue. While Obamacare does nothing to address the prices of medication, neither does the House GOP plan. Trump had promised to do something about the prices but he caved and instead is just giving drug companies more tax breaks.

It is the Democrats who have a bill in the Senate S771 that:

1. Allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices

2. Makes the drug pricing process more transparent.

3. Allows the importation of meds from countries with safeguards in place.

Importation finally makes sense because so many of our own meds aren't as safe as they could be since they are manufactured in China. Of the three the GOP might support No. 2, but staunchly oppose the other ones. Rob Quist has expressed support for these measures, but not Gianforte, who owns 12 stocks in pharmaceutical companies, most of which gouge patients. One example is stock that profits from the skyrocketing price of insulin. For cheaper meds VOTE QUIST and call Sens. Jon Tester and Steve Daines to support S771, the Improving Access to Affordable Drugs Act. Lesson premiums with measures like this.

Don't repeal the ACA, making insurance lepers of those with pre-existing conditions or who happen to be pre-Medicare age.

Ieva Bailey

Billings
home US Following Obamacare vote, House Republicans to focus on tax reform

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives plans to turn to tax reform in earnest, after concluding a lengthy healthcare debate this week with a vote to repeal and replace Obamacare.

But even as Republicans predicted that tax reform would succeed before year-end, lawmakers encountered new uncertainties about what a final tax package might contain, as well as doubts about whether Republicans will be able to enact reforms without Democratic help.

President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have pledged to complete the biggest tax reform since 1986, when President Ronald Reagan was in office, before the end of 2017. But they face an uphill battle, mainly over policy differences within their own ranks.

Thursday's 217-213 House vote on healthcare legislation raised confidence in the Republican-controlled chamber's ability to move major legislation after two earlier pushes ended in failure.

But to move forward on tax reform, the House, Senate and Trump administration must agree on where to set tax rates, how to pay for cuts and whether the final package should add to the deficit or pay for itself, all areas where common ground may be hard to find.

A plan to enact reforms without Democratic support will also require Republicans to pass a 2018 budget authorizing the parliamentary process known as reconciliation. But a new budget agreement poses a daunting task given Republican opposition to Trump demands for deep domestic spending cuts.

"That may prove to be one, if not the most difficult votes of the tax reform process," Jonathan Traub, a managing principal at the consulting firm Deloitte Tax LLP.

Meanwhile, the need to reach agreement between the House, Senate and White House will likely delay introduction of a tax reform bill, which had been expected in early June.

But Republicans say it will ultimately make it easier to enact reforms before the end of the year.

The House Ways and Means Committee, which will unveil the initial tax bill, is still aiming for a revenue-neutral package that raises $2.4 trillion for tax cuts through a new border adjustment tax and elimination of business deductions for net interest payments, both controversial measures.

Panel chairman Kevin Brady told reporters that revenue neutrality is necessary to ensure bold, permanent changes to tax policy that can drive economic growth.

"That's the argument and the case we're going to make to the Senate and the Trump administration," he said.

But Representative Mark Meadows, who chairs the conservative Freedom Caucus that helped block Trump's first healthcare bill, voiced opposition to a revenue neutral approach.

"If it's revenue neutral, you're not really lowering taxes. You're shifting the burden," Meadows told reporters.

The Trump tax plan unveiled last week calls for steep tax cuts financed by government revenues that officials say will result from higher growth. Some fear the plan could add trillions of dollars to the deficit if growth does not materialize.

Meadows said tax cuts should be offset by cuts to entitlement programs including Social Security and Medicare, which Trump has promised not to touch.
home World ISIS trained children to behead victims using doll's head attached to mannequin

New reports have revealed that the Islamic State trained children as young as six years old to behead their victims using a doll's head attached to mannequins.

The mannequin with a rubber child's head was discovered face-down in the ruins of the Iraqi city of Hatra, which was liberated from ISIS last week.

"This figure was for teaching children how to slaughter people. They showed them how to use a knife to sever the head on this figure, so they would know how to do it on a real person," Iraqi special forces soldier Ahmed told The Daily Mail.

"Then they taped the head back onto the mannequin to give the children further practice," he added.

Iraqi soldiers found a similar mannequin with a removable head inside a temple, lodged on top of an ancient statue that was beheaded by the militants. The priceless statue had been used by the militants and its recruits as a target for practice.

"They chopped off all the heads of the statues here and they shot out the sculpted faces of ancient gods and goddesses high up on the walls that they couldn't reach," Ahmed noted.

The historic city was liberated on Thursday after Iraq's Hashd Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU) launched a surprise attack on the area that has been under the control of ISIS for almost three years.

The militants used the mannequins as training aides while also banning its use in clothes shops, telling shopkeepers that such figurines were idolatrous.

Uniforms with a velcro patch showing the ISIS black flag that were designed to fit a child as young as six or seven years old were found near the ancient Pagan temple of the Sun Goddess, where they are trained to be cold-blooded killers.

The terror group has released several videos showing the children, dubbed the "Cubs of the Caliphate," training with weapons and carrying out brutal executions of adults.

A video released in January featured a 10-year-old child cutting the throat of a victim at an abandoned amusement park in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor.

Special Forces soldier Ammar said that ISIS recruited children as well as adults because they know that Iraqi forces will hesitate to kill children.

Residents in the adjacent modern town of Hatra said they had effectively been held as prisoners for almost three years because they are prohibited from leaving except to visit relatives in nearby ISIS-controlled towns.

UNESCO welcomed the liberation of Hatra, saying the ancient site, which is what remains of the capital of the Arab Kingdom, had been "one of the symbols of the cultural cleansing plaguing the Middle East."

The organization said that an emergency assessment mission will be sent to the site as soon as security conditions allowed.
home US Jim Caviezel says he wants to work with Mel Gibson on 'Passion of the Christ' sequel

Hollywood actor Jim Caviezel, who is best known for playing Jesus in the 2004 film "Passion of the Christ," said that he is looking forward to the possibility of working with Mel Gibson again to play the same role in the movie's sequel.

In an interview with Pastor Greg Laurie in August, Gibson dropped some hints about the possibility of a follow-up to "Passion of the Christ," which he said would be called "The Resurrection."

Gibson noted at the time that he discussed the project with Randall Wallace, whom he described as a "brilliant writer" and a "great director."

In an interview with the Polish publication Polityce, Caviezel revealed that the role of Christ was the most difficult thing that he had done, but he said that he wants to try taking on the role again.

"The thought of doing it again feels like a nightmare. However, when I come to a country like Poland and see the places of martyrdom and sacrifice, I come to realise that only love can save the world. The love of the Christ," said Caviezel.

"If The Passion of the Christ inspired so many people to do good, why don't we try again? I feel like there is a purpose in my life again," he added.

In the interview, Caviezel recounted that he stopped being one of the most popular Hollywood actors after he played the role of Jesus, but he considered the rejection as just another "cross" that he had to bear.

The actor also spoke about his Catholic faith and how Pope John Paul II influenced his life. He recalled that the late pope "always called young people to break away from contaminated and demoralized civilization."

He recounted that the Polish pontiff had encouraged people to try to live like saints, and contended that it is not impossible.

Caviezel and his wife had adopted three children who were abandoned and unwanted. He said that two of them had brain cancer while the other one had sarcoma.

The actor revealed that he struggles with his faith sometimes, but he noted that throughout his career and through the various roles he had played, he never forgets the name of Jesus.

He said that he considers it his duty to live in accordance with the Gospel each day and "give witness to the truth."
home US Kansas archdiocese parts ways with girl scouts due to link with Planned Parenthood

The Archdiocese of Kansas City has ended its partnership with the Girl Scouts, citing its ties to Planned Parenthood as one of the reasons for the decision.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann issued a statement on Monday, saying he has asked the pastors of the Archdiocese to "begin the process of transitioning away from the hosting of parish Girl Scout troops and toward the chartering of American Heritage Girls troops."

Naumann said that Girl Scouts of USA (GSUSA) is no longer a compatible partner with the church because of its promotion of programs and materials that are "reflective of many of the troubling trends in our secular culture."

The archbishop alleged that the organization contributes more than a million dollars each year to World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGS), which he said is tied to International Planned Parenthood.

The Catholic church's partnership with the GSUSA goes back more than 100 years, but it has become strained in recent years due to the scouting organization's purported support for abortion and LGBTQ members. However, GSUSA stated on its website that it does not have an official position on reproductive rights and sexuality issues. The group also denied that it is affiliated with Planned Parenthood.

Naumann called on priests back in January to put an end to Girl Scout cookie sales in Catholic schools in the archdiocese after the 2016a2017 school year.

The decision drew criticism from scout leaders and parents in the archdiocese, calling the move punitive and unfair. They argued that Girl Scouts is a respected program that helps raise strong girls who become good stewards.

"This is frustrating; parents are very irritated," said Maria Walters, a former scout leader and mother of two Girl Scouts.

"I don't know why you would take an organization out of a school when it provides an option for girls to feel like they're part of a group," she added.

Walters said that some Girl Scout members switched to the American Heritage Girls (AHG), which is described as a "Christ-centered character development program for girls ages 5 to 18."

AHG, which is based in Cincinnati, has 1,005 troops and more than 47,000 members, according to Patti Garibay, national executive director and founder of AHG.

She said that the organization was started 22 years ago as "a little club" for her daughter.

AHG has become an attractive option for the archdiocese because of its opposition to abortion. Some of its troops have participated in protests and prayer vigils outside abortion clinics, according to Kansas City Star.

Deacon Dana Nearmyer, the archdiocese's director of evangelization, said that the response to adopt the AHG program has been positive. He said that about 150 to 200 girls in the archdiocese have already signed up to join AHG.

"But we're kind of ramping up to try to support folks as it comes online, because those numbers will swell." he said.
home World North Korea tortures orphans for their Christian faith, defector says

A human rights advocate who defected from North Korea said that orphans who were discovered to be Christians were "tortured harshly" by the dictatorial regime.

Several human rights advocates revealed some of the struggles of orphaned children in North Korea during a panel discussion that was part of the week-long North Korean Freedom Week. The said event was hosted at Georgetown University, according to The Christian Post.

During the discussion on Wednesday, Lim Hye-Jin of the New Korea Women's Union narrated a story, through a translator, how the North Korean government treated 17 orphans who tried to defect.

The orphans were able to make their way to China, but they were arrested and forced to repatriate to North Korea. Three of the 17 orphans were sent to a political prison camp after it was discovered that they were Christians.

Lim noted that minors are not supposed to be sent to a political prison camp under North Korean law. But the three orphans were arrested and sent to a camp because the authorities discovered that they were Christians who had been in a church. The security agents found out that they were believers because of the calluses on their knees, as they had been praying for a long time.

The defector noted that the three Christian children were "tortured harshly" while the other orphans have been sent to a re-education camp with other children. The 14 orphans were told that the three Christian children were sent back to an orphanage in North Korea. However, the orphans told Lim that if that was true, the Christians would try to escape from the orphanage because they were "100 percent sure" that they will starve to death if they stay. Lim said that the children have a better chance of survival if they begged in the streets.

Suzanne Scholte, founder and president of the Defense Forum Foundation, who co-hosted the panel, said that North Korean refugees are different from refugees elsewhere because they can be immediately resettled in South Korea as a citizen under the South Korean Constitution.

"There's no reason for China to continue this brutal inhumane policy of how they deal with the North Korean refugees and the orphans," she said.

She contended that the problem could be resolved overnight if the Chinese government abides by its international treaty obligations.

The persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA has ranked North Korea as the most oppressive country in the world for Christians. Some believers have to hide their faith even from their own family to avoid being discovered by government officials.

Scholte said that the Kim regime has used some doctrines of the Christian faith to establish its dynasty.

She claimed that Kim Il Sung recognized the power of faith since many Koreans who stood up to the Japanese oppressors were Christians. Believers were also instrumental in the Korean independence movement even though they were just a small minority of the population.

Scholte said that Christianity has been perverted by Kim Il Sung for his own purposes, and he had set himself up as God. His son was appropriated as a Christ figure, and "Juche," which means "self-reliance," stands for the Holy Spirit. The regime's creed, which declares religious allegiance to the dictatorship, was patterned after the Apostles Creed, according to Scholte.

"So if you're a Christian and you believe in God [and not the dictator] that's a direct threat to the regime," she said.
home World Pakistan hospital forces Christian staffers to recite verses from Quran

The administrators of a hospital in the Pakistani city of Lahore have reportedly forced its Christian and other non-Muslim staffers to either recite verses from the Quran or attend a daily morning assembly. According to reports, those who do not comply with the orders are marked as absent for the entire day.

The paramedical staff of Mian Mir Hospital protested against the administrators of the facility after Medical Superintendent Dr. Muhammad Sarfraz allegedly slapped a Christian staffer for not attending the morning assembly, The Express Tribune reported.

A Christian paramedical staffer named Marshal said that he asked religious scholars to intervene because the hospital administration was pressuring them to quit their jobs. "This act of the MS is a violation of the Constitution of Pakistan," he remarked.

Fahad Ahmed, another staff member, said that Muslims and Christians at the facility were working in harmony. "It is professional workplace; I don't know why the administration is forcing our Christian brothers to do this. This is totally unacceptable," he contended.

The hospital, which is being run by the City District Government Lahore, was named after Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Mir, who is known to be a big proponent of interfaith harmony during the time of Mughal emperor Jehangir.

The staffers called on the authorities to launch an investigation and fairly question the Medical Superintendent over his conduct. Activists and law experts have considered the incident as a manifestation of the proliferation of religious extremism.

Center for Social Justice Chairman Peter Jacob pointed out that religious freedom is guaranteed to all under Article 20 of the Constitution of Pakistan. "This act goes against the constitution and should be dealt with accordingly," he said.

City District Government Lahore Health CEO Dr. Muhammad Saeed said that a high-level committee had been created to investigate the matter, and a strict departmental inquiry would be launched against anyone found guilty.

Experts have noted that extremism in public hospitals has become a massive concern for law enforcement agencies. A senior law enforcement official who requested anonymity said that the incident is just a "small manifestation" of the phenomenon of extremism among doctors and other paramedical staff. He noted that the phenomenon was nothing new, but he urged the health department to frame a code of conduct to avoid similar incidents in the future.
home World Pakistan's Supreme Court denies request for early hearing of Asia Bibi's blasphemy case

Pakistan's Supreme Court has denied the request for an early hearing of the appeal of Asia Bibi, a Christian mother who was sentenced to death over allegations of blasphemy.

Bibi's lawyer, Saiful Malook, filed a request in mid-April for the case to be heard in the first week of June. However, the Supreme Court rejected his request for an early hearing, The Express Tribune reported.

"Today I have been informed that the plea was declined by the CJP," Malook said.

Joseph Nadeem, executive director of the Renaissance Education Foundation, which has been supporting Bibi's family since she was imprisoned in 2009, said that the group will apply for another request for an early hearing.

"This is very unfortunate. Her husband became quiet when he heard the latest developments. We shall again apply for the hearing and keep struggling for justice," said Nadeem, according to Radio Vaticana.

"There are many factors at work behind the slow pace of judiciary. Her case has been in the doldrums due to huge pressure. There will be a strong reaction if Bibi is freed. Opposing groups have made it a matter of honor and ego," he added.

In the request for an early hearing, Bibi claimed innocence and noted that she has been imprisoned for the last eight years. She also highlighted that she is the mother of two daughters.

Bibi was sentenced to death in 2010 after her co-workers accused her of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. She maintained her innocence and claimed that she was falsely accused because of a personal dispute with the accuser.

She appealed her death sentence to the Lahore High Court, but the case was delayed numerous times before the court upheld her sentencing in October 2014.

A three-judge bench took up her case in October 2016, but the hearing was quickly adjourned after Justice Iqbal Hameed-ur-Rehman, a member of the bench, recused himself because he was part of the bench in the murder case of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who was assassinated in 2011 for supporting Bibi.

Bibi, a 51-year-old Christian fruit picker from Sheikhupura, could become the first woman in Pakistan to be executed for blasphemy if the Supreme Court upholds her sentence. Her only option would be to appeal to the president for clemency.

Persecution watchdog groups have referred to Bibi's case as the "best example" of how blasphemy laws can be abused. Organizations such as International Christian Concern and Open Doors USA, have noted that Pakistan's blasphemy laws are often used to target Christians and are also used as a means to settle personal feuds.
home US Planned Parenthood rejects Ivanka Trump's advice to create separate organization to avoid defunding

Planned Parenthood has reportedly rejected Ivanka Trump's advice to create a separate organization that performs abortions so that it could continue receiving its taxpayer funding.

Politico reported last month that Ivanka met privately with Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards shortly after her father, Donald Trump, took office.

During the meeting, Ivanka suggested that Planned Parenthood should be split into two organizations, with a smaller arm that provides abortions and a larger one dedicated to providing women's health services.

Planned Parenthood officials called Ivanka's proposal "naive" and said that she has failed to understand that reproductive choice is central to the organization's mission, according to The New York Times.

Richards also criticized Ivanka for not publicly opposing the Republican health care bill that failed in March.

A White House official said that Ivanka was instrumental in preserving and increasing funding for women's health in the government spending deal that was devised over the weekend. However, there are concerns about a new bill that aims to repeal the Affordable Care Act as it would likely include a provision that would cut off Planned Parenthood's funding.

During the campaign period, President Trump had repeatedly vowed to defund Planned Parenthood unless it quits performing abortions. In March, he made an informal offer to the organization to allow it to keep its funding if it stops providing abortion services.

The offer was rejected by Planned Parenthood officials who maintained that abortion was an integral component of its services.

"Offering money to Planned Parenthood to abandon our patients and our values is not a deal that we will ever accept. Providing critical health care services for millions of American women is nonnegotiable," Planned Parenthood Federation of America Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens stated in March.

American Life League President Judie Brown asserted that Planned Parenthood's rejection of the offer signified that it only cares about abortion.

"Planned Parenthood's president, Cecile Richards, is convinced that abortion is so sacred that the organization is willing to give up government subsidies rather than stop its deadly 'service,'" Brown said at the time.

"Planned Parenthood is dehumanizing women and their babies by offering anything but selfless support for expectant mothers. Nobody can ever say again that Planned Parenthood's income is its priority. Killing is number one for this organization!" she went on to say.
home US Pro-life leaders disappointed over spending bill that continues funding for Planned Parenthood

Pro-life leaders have expressed their disappointment over a bipartisan spending bill that would allow Planned Parenthood to continue receiving Medicaid funds until September.

Republican and Democrat lawmakers have reportedly reached an agreement to advance a $1 trillion spending deal that would fund the federal government through the end of the federal fiscal year on Sept. 30.

The deal has been considered as a victory for Democrats, who have maintained that they will not vote on the spending bill if it cuts funding for Planned Parenthood.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, said that the proposed legislation was "beyond frustrating," given that Republicans have made significant gains in the November elections running on a pro-life platform.

"The Republican Party is the only party with an anti-abortion platform and whose candidates ran specifically on the promise to defund Planned Parenthood, yet, here we are, watching them pass a bill that funds Planned Parenthood even though they control the House, Senate, and White House," she said in a statement, as reported by Washington Times.

Negotiators in Congress struck a deal on the spending bill on Sunday to avoid a looming government shutdown. The deal is not official yet, but both the House and Senate are expected to vote on the legislation this week.

The proposed legislation will not withhold funds from Planned Parenthood, which receives over $500 million in federal funding each year.

"With pro-life Republican majorities in both houses, it is incredibly disappointing that any Republican spending bill would contain continued funding for Planned Parenthood," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, according to Life Site News.

"This makes it imperative that Republicans also move quickly on a reconciliation bill that redirects the abortion giant's funding to community health centers," she added.

The reconciliation bill would only require a simple majority to pass the Senate while the omnibus bill needs 60 Senate votes to pass.

In a press conference on Tuesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced that "Planned Parenthood is not funded" in the budget reconciliation bill that would only require 51 votes to get through the Senate.

The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers have failed in passing a bill that would have repealed the Affordable Care Act and stripped most of the federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

However, in February, the House voted to overturn a last-minute Obama regulation that forced individual states to fund Planned Parenthood under Title X family planning grant program. Vice President Mike Pence cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate to rescind the regulation, and it was later signed by Trump.

"That effort to undo Obama's parting gift to the big abortion industry proves that the votes are there using reconciliation," Dannenfelser noted.
home US Purdue professor says displaying images of aborted fetuses constitute 'child pornography'

A professor at Purdue University has argued that showing images of aborted babies constitutes child pornography since pro-lifers believe that unborn fetuses are human beings.

During a debate about abortion rights, David Sanders, an associate professor of Biology at Purdue, accused his pro-life opponent, Seth Drayer, of participating in child pornography activities for showing images of aborted fetuses, Campus Reform reported.

Sanders pointed out that Drayer belongs to the pro-life group Created Equal, which frequently shows images of fetuses.

"What would you call the public display of a butt naked body of a child?" Sanders asked. "I would call it child pornography. Do they have their permission? Do they have the permission of the fetus? Obviously not," he went on to say.

The professor also questioned whether Created Equal obtains "the permission of the parents to show these images of children," which prompted a member of the audience to point out that he basically admitted that the fetus is a child.

"I didn't admit it. I'm using his language. He thinks it's a child. I do not," he replied.

In response to Sanders' remarks, Drayer contended that federal courts have long considered the display of dismembered fetuses in public as "protected political speech."

"Federal law defines child pornography as 'any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor.' By all accounts, images of abortion victims do not even come close to meeting that definition," Drayer explained.

Sanders disputed his opponent's interpretation of the relevant statutes and said that he "has misrepresented federal law."

In another part of the debate, Sanders argued that the Bible does not condemn abortion, and asserted that the high number of miscarriages would make "God the greatest abortionist."

The debate, which took place on April 24, was hosted by Boilermakers for Life student organization. The full debate was recorded and posted on YouTube by Created Equal.

The professor claimed that the video violated the terms of the debate, saying he had "explicitly demanded" that the recording should not be made. He also accused the organizers of the event of lying about the issue of recording the debate.

Created Equal contended that Sanders did not object to the recording of the debate until he arrived a minute late for the event. The group also noted that it was not involved in the negotiation of terms for the debate with the professor.
A Lame Deer man accused of sexually assaulting a minor denied federal charges this week in Billings.

Lenray Jess Two Two, 51, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to an indictment charging him with aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact.

Prosecutors allege the sexual assaults happened in Lame Deer in the fall of 2016 and continued into January. The victim had not yet reached the age of 12, the indictment said.

The aggravated sexual abuse charge carries a penalty of a minimum mandatory 30 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Abusive sexual contact carries a penalty of a maximum life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan ordered Two Two to remain in custody. The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters.
home US Rare coin that was donated to Indiana church fetches $517K at auction

An extremely rare coin donated by an anonymous woman to a church in Indiana to help finance a new building for its congregation has been sold for $517,000 at an auction on Thursday.

The value of the 1866 proof Liberty Head double eagles coin that was donated to GracePoint Church in Valparaiso was initially estimated at $300,000, but it fetched $517,000 at a public auction in Illinois.

GracePoint, which was founded in 2009, has been conducting its services at an elementary school. The anonymous woman donated the coin earlier this year as "seed money" for the construction of its own church building, NBC 5 reported.

According to mint records, only 30 proof Liberty double eagles were struck in 1866, and the coin donated by the woman was one of only 10 survivors.

"The coin is one of only 10 known surviving Liberty Head double eagles from 1866 with the 'In God We Trust' motto engraved in it," Sarah Miller, director of numismatics for Heritage Auctions, stated.

"It is expected to sell for $300,000 or more in a public auction in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois and online, April 27, 2017," she noted in a news release earlier this month.

Prior to the auction, Heritage wired $150,000 as an advance payment toward the final price of the coin, enabling the church to begin construction on the new building.

The church was able to avoid missing a crucial financial deadline for the project because of the donation. However, the donation almost did not happen as someone tried to steal it from the donor's home four years ago.

Ben Lamb, the church's pastor, said that the woman considered the coin as a "thorn in her side," but he described it as an "incredible gift in God's story."

The woman told CBS News that the coin was bought for $125,000 decades ago by her late husband who was an avid coin collector.

"Although this gold piece brought grief to the widow for many years, ultimately it brought incredible joy," he said.

"It's ironic that the last few hours before our financial deadline, the congregation had to do exactly what the coin's motto said over a hundred years ago: trust God," Lamb added.

Plans for the new church building include an auditorium for more than 500 people, a kid's center, and a lobby.
home US Rebellious North Carolina Catholic group defies Vatican's ban on ordaining female priests

A rebel Catholic group has ordained a 64-year-old woman to be a female priest in the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, in defiance of the Vatican's long-standing ban on ordaining women to the clergy.

Abigail Eltzroth, a divorced mother of two grown children, was ordained on Sunday by the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP), which is opposed to the Church's ban on female clergy.

The ordination ceremony was held in Asheville at Jubilee! a non-denominational faith community, and it was presided by Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan, the Charlotte Observer reported.

David Hains, the spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, said that the ordination will not be recognized by the church, adding that Catholics who receive the sacrament from a female priest would be committing a sin.

"I hope that Catholics in the diocese will understand that it would be sinful to receive a fake sacrament from a woman priest and that includes attending a fake Mass," Hains said.

Eltzroth was the second woman to be ordained by the group in North Carolina. She expressed her intentions to start a Catholic worship community in Asheville.

"It's time for a change and we're in the forefront, leading the charge. We expect that eventually everybody is going to follow us," said Eltzroth, who has previously served as a prison chaplain and a pastor of two churches in Nebraska.

She noted that she invited Bishop Peter Jugis, who heads the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, to her ordination, but she received no response.

The ARCWP has ordained 250 female priests in 10 countries, with 65 of them serving in "inclusive churches" in the U.S., according to a news release from the group.

A Pew Research Poll conducted in 2015 has indicated that six in 10 American Catholics are in favor of allowing women to be Catholic priests, but the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy has stood by its longtime prohibition on the ordination of women to the clergy.

In 2007, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under Pope Benedict XVI, decreed automatic excommunication on anyone "who attempts to confer a sacred order on a woman, and the woman who attempts to receive a sacred order."

Last year, Pope Francis suggested that the ban on female priests would likely last forever. He cited the 1994 apostolic letter written by Pope John Paul II which stated that ordaining women was not possible because Jesus only chose men to be his 12 apostles.

Eltzroth, who grew up Presbyterian but became Catholic in her 50s, said she expects to be excommunicated by the Church.

"I'm sure that I will be (excommunicated) if I haven't been already. But there are plenty of saints who have been excommunicated. So that's not going to stop us," she said.
home US Satanic Temple gets permission to erect monument beside Christian memorial at veterans park

The Satanic Temple has announced its plans to install a monument beside a Christian memorial at Veterans Memorial park in Belle Plaine, Minnesota.

City leaders have granted the Temple permission to erect a memorial, which is dedicated to soldiers killed in action, next to a Christian monument that depicts a soldier kneeling before a cross and a Bible.

The Christian memorial was removed in January following threats of a lawsuit from atheists. City residents protested against the removal, prompting the city officials to designate an area in the park as a "free speech zone" to allow other religions and organizations to install their own temporary monuments.

According to Star Tribune, the Satanic Temple, based in Salem, Massachusetts, is now planning to set up a memorial that has been described as a "black cube, inscribed with inverted pentagrams and crowned by an upturned helmet."

Chris P. Andres, who designed the memorial, explained back in February that it partly represents "humanistic perfection through curiosity and reason."

"The four pentagrams recall the four corners of the Earth a they serve as a reminder to the viewer of the satanic/pagan symbols/ideas sacred to soldiers that sacrificed. The black is a cold memory in mourning and a field of mystery and imagination. The gold is a Luciferian light reflecting light onto the view like a sacred icon," he said.

Reason Alliance, the Temple's nonprofit fundraising arm, said that the memorial is intended at honoring nonreligious service members, and it would include an inscription that pays tribute to Belle Plaine veterans "who fought to defend the United States and its Constitution."

City Administrator Mike Votca said that the Satanic Temple's application was swiftly approved as the proposed memorial met all of the town's requirements.

Temple founder Doug Mesner said that the group had been prepared to sue if the application was denied.

Belle Plaine residents said they were no longer surprised that groups such as The Satanic Temple would want to put up their own monuments at the park.

Andy Parrish, who led the charge to restore the Christian monument, said that the Satanic Temple's move was "more annoying than it is offensive."

When the Christian memorial was taken down, protesters occupied the park each day for nearly a month. Many have put up their own handmade crosses into the ground out of defiance, and small wooden crosses appeared in business windows, on mailboxes and front lawns.

Katie Novotny, who supported the move to keep the Christian cross, noted that many residents have accepted that there will be new additions to the park.

"If you're truly a Christian, how can you be offended by someone wanting to honor our veterans even though they don't believe in the same things we believe in?" she remarked.
home US Senate Committee renews its recommendation to investigate Planned Parenthood for sale of aborted baby parts

The Senate Judiciary Committee has renewed its recommendation to investigate Planned Parenthood over its alleged involvement in the trafficking of fetal body parts.

Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made the first referral for the criminal investigation of Planned Parenthood to the DOJ and FBI in December 2016.

"I don't take lightly making a criminal referral," Grassley said at the time. "But, the seeming disregard for the law by these entities has been fueled by decades of utter failure by the Justice Department to enforce it," he added.

Grassley expressed his concern that the sales of baby body parts will likely continue unless everyone involved renews their commitment to stop the practice.

After reviewing more than 20,000 Planned Parenthood documents, the committee concluded that the abortion organization was turning a blind eye to its affiliates that are engaging in the sales of fetal body parts. According to Life News, the committee also found that the DOJ had failed to enforce the law that bans the buying and selling of tissue.

Grassley noted that his initial request was made during the transition period when President Barack Obama was still in office. He has renewed the request to investigate Planned Parenthood and has asked the new agencies to provide written confirmation by May 8.

The referrals came after the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released a series of undercover videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale of aborted baby body parts. However, the committee has maintained that the videos played no part in the investigation into the abortion provider.

"While the impetus for the investigation was the release of a series of videos regarding transfers of fetal tissue by the Center for Medical Progress, the committee's analysis and findings are based strictly on the documents obtained independently from tissue procurement companies and Planned Parenthood," a press release stated at the time.

In late March, California's new Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed felony charges against CMP project lead David Daleiden and his associate Sandra Merritt for the undercover videos. The two pro-life activists were charged with 14 counts of illegally recording conversations without consent and one count of conspiracy.

In late April, CMP released another video showing a Planned Parenthood executive negotiating with an undercover journalist over the price of fetal body parts.
home World Sharia court in Nigeria upholds forced marriage of Muslim tailor to church leader's 16-year-old daughter

A Sharia court in Nigeria has forced the 16-year-old daughter of a Christian church leader to convert to Islam and marry her Muslim boss.

Janet Habila, who has been working as an apprentice to a tailor identified only as Nasiru, was forced to marry her Muslim boss without her parents' consent.

Habila was enrolled by her father in Nasiru's tailoring school in the Erena district of the Shiroro Local Government Area after she refused to further her education beyond primary school.

The 16-year-old girl had served as the leader of Sabo Rayi (new life) group in church, while her father, Habila Gambo, is a devoted church leader with the United Mountain of Grace in Shundna village, according to the Nigerian newspaper The Sunday Sun.

Habila's parents said they enrolled their daughter in Nasiru's school last year in order to empower her in the trade of fashion design, but they were surprised when they received notification on March 16, 2017 that she had been married off to the tailor instead.

A source close to the girl's family told The Sun that Nasiru may have arranged a Muslim man and a women to pose as Habila's parents in court so that the marriage could take place.

Gambo reportedly warned that unless the Sharia court's decision is reversed, "it will eventually lead to a possible religious crisis in Erena."

"I told the Sharia court judge that as a father of Janet, I was not aware of such arrangement because my daughter never discussed anything like that with me. Therefore, I was not going to accept it and I would not be part of it," Gambo narrated.

"But to my surprise the judge told me that the court only wanted to inform me and that was all. He said that the marriage would go on as planned even without my consent," he continued.

Habila said that she was afraid to tell her parents about Nasiru's intention to marry her "because of the consequences."

The 16-year-old girl was turned over to her parents, but when they returned to the police station five days later, Habila said that she wanted to return to Nasiru.

The father wept uncontrollably as the police handed Habila over to Nasiru because only the same court that pronounced them husband and wife could dissolve the marriage.

Habila's mother, Asabe Gambo, came to visit her later in Nasiru's home, but she was reportedly beaten by the man's relatives who described her as an unbeliever who came to poison the mind of the teenager.

Daniel Harris, a regional manager for the Christian persecution watchdog International Christian Concern, said that as many as 12 northern Nigerian states have adopted Sharia law. He also noted that in 2016, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria stated that over 1,000 girls have been entered into forced marriages with Muslims in northern Nigeria.
home US Supreme Court dismisses appeal that challenges California's ban on gay reparative therapy

The United States Supreme Court has struck down an appeal that challenges California's ban on "gay conversion" therapy for minors.

The High Court declined on Monday to hear the Welch v. Brown case, which attempted to overturn a 2012 state law that prohibited state-licensed mental health counselors, social workers, and psychologists from offering homosexual reparative therapy to minors.

The challenge to the ban was filed by Donald Welch, an ordained minister and licensed family therapist who oversees counseling at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego.

Welch is joined in the suit by a Catholic psychiatrist and a man who underwent conversion therapy and now wants to perform it on others, according to Reuters.

The Supreme Court had also rejected a previous challenge to the law in 2014, which argued that the ban was a violation of free speech.

After the rejection of their free speech challenge, the plaintiffs pressed their claim that the law violates their religious freedom. The San Francisco-based Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected their arguments last October.

The ban on sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) therapy for minors was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2012. Similar laws have been passed in New Jersey, Illinois, Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia, according to Church Militant.

The therapy often involves counseling, hypnosis, dating skill training, and in some cases, aversive techniques that induce pain or electric shocks in response to same-sex erotic images. Such treatment is said to originate from the belief that homosexuality is a mental illness, which the state says has been discredited for decades.

While proponents of the ban argue that reparative therapy is harmful, some licensed counselors disagree.

Christopher Doyle, an ex-gay who uses SOCE therapy to help his clients, opposes certain methods promoted under the guise of "Christian counseling," but he maintains that SOCE does not include the abusive methods highlighted in media reports.

"Licensed, ethical therapists do not force or coerce teenagers to change, nor do they manipulate desperate parents to send their kids away to be reformed," he wrote in an op-ed for The Christian Post in March.

Doyle argued that attempts to ban reparative therapy are "particularly unconscionable" because "minors often struggle with same-sex attractions as a result of rape or molestation by pedophiles."

"To propagate their lies, gay activists have made outrageous claims that this therapy involves electroshock and other forms of aversive methods, but they have yet to offer any proof of this. Contrary to their claims, this counseling is simply talk therapy," Doyle said.

"Homosexual activists would rather keep these young people locked in a lifetime of hopelessness a and silence a than allow them to find healing from rape or molestation," he added.
home US Texas megachurch resumes financial contributions to SBC's Cooperative Program

A Texas megachurch that threatened to withhold funds from the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) earlier this year has announced that it will resume its financial contributions to the convention's Cooperative Program.

Prestonwood Baptist Church, a 40,000-member congregation in Plano, Texas, was one of the congregations that threatened to escrow its contributions to the SBC over significant disagreements with Russell Moore, the president of SBC's policy wing, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).

Last week, the megachurch announced that it will resume its contributions to the SBC through the Cooperative Program after two months of evaluating its support of the convention's missions and ministries, Baptist Press reported.

"For more than 40 years, Prestonwood has been a steadfast supporter of the Cooperative Program and its mission to advance the Gospel through this vital giving program. We are grateful for the Southern Baptist Convention and our longtime ministry partnership and look forward to fulfilling the Great Commission together in the days ahead," Prestonwood executive pastor Mike Buster said in a statement.

Tensions within the SBC emerged during the 2016 presidential election when Moore criticized then-candidate Donald Trump and alleged that those who were supporting his candidacy cared more about having political influence than the furtherance of the Gospel.

In December 2016, Prestonwood pastor Jack Graham, a former SBC president, accused Moore of being disrespectful toward Trump's evangelical supporters.

In March, Moore apologized in a statement, saying he had been "overly broad or unnecessarily harsh," adding that he failed to make important distinctions during the tumultuous political year. Shortly after Moore released the statement, Graham said that his apology was "gracious and unifying."

In a statement to Baptist Press on April 26, Moore commended Prestonwood for its decision to resume its contributions to the SBC. "I'm grateful to God to partner with them as we seek to reach our world for Jesus Christ," Moore said about the megachurch.

SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page also expressed gratefulness about Prestonwood's decision.

"I am so delighted to hear of this news," Page told Baptist Press. "In an earlier conversation with Dr. Graham, he promised that Prestonwood would be back in to CP sooner than later, and he is a man of his word," he added.

Prestonwood's decision to escrow prompted the Executive Committee to form an ad hoc panel to study and find solutions to the issue of Southern Baptist churches either escrowing or discontinuing Cooperative funds. A report is expected to be presented at the September 2017 Executive Committee meeting.

The Executive Committee had also received reports of other churches taking actions similar to Prestonwood's, according to Baptist Press.
home US Trump appoints pro-life leader Charmaine Yoest to top HHS post

President Donald Trump has picked Dr. Charmaine Yoest, the former CEO of Americans United for Life, to a senior role in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Yoest, who actively supported Trump during his campaign, has been appointed to be the Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at the HHS.

She will be replacing Kevin Griffis, who is now serving as the vice president of Communications at Planned Parenthood, Life Site News reported.

Pro-abortion groups have decried Yoest's appointment, which does not require Senate confirmation.

"Charmaine Yoest has spent her whole professional life opposing access to birth control and a woman's right to a safe, legal abortion," said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood, according to NBC News.

"While President Trump claims to empower women, he is appointing government officials who believe just the opposite," she added.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, described Yoest as "one of the pro-life movement's most articulate and powerful communicators."

Yoest, who began her career serving under Ronald Reagan in the Office of Presidential Personnel, has been vocally opposed to the HHS mandate that required religious employers like the Little Sisters of the Poor to provide for their employees' contraception.

She has also frequently spoken out against Planned Parenthood and has urged Congress to defund the abortion provider.

"Planned Parenthood deceptively holds itself out as protecting women's health, as it cuts legitimate health care in favor of abortion sales, while lobbying for more taxpayer largesse," Yoest said in 2015.

"The time is now for Congress to defund Planned Parenthood and invest taxpayers' hard-earned money in real healthcare that saves lives and safeguards women's health," she added.

According to Yahoo News contributing writer Jennifer Gerson Uffalussy, Yoest is also closely linked with the Center for Medical Progress (CMP), which released the undercover videos that purportedly show Planned Parenthood executives participating in the sales of aborted baby body parts.

Under Yoest's leadership, Americans United for Life backed many pro-life state bills, including a measure that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and a bill that would require women seeking abortions to undergo a sonogram.

Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) said that Yoest's appointment demonstrates the Trump administration's dedication to the pro-life cause.

Yoest said in a tweet that she is honored to serve Trump and HHS Secretary Tom Price in her role as the department's new assistant secretary of public affairs.
home US Trump picks pro-life advocate to lead national family planning programs

President Donald Trump has appointed a law professor with an extensive pro-life background to oversee federal planning programs within his administration.

Teresa Manning, who has previously worked for pro-life organizations such as the Family Research Council and the National right to Life, will be named as the new deputy secretary for population affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services.

In her new role, Manning would be in charge of overseeing the disbursement of funds for Title X, which is the only federal grant program dedicated to providing family planning and related services.

Planned Parenthood, which receives some of the Title X grants, decried Manning's appointment in a statement on Monday.

"It is a cruel irony to appoint an opponent of birth control to oversee the nation's only federal program dedicated to family planning," said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood, according to Life News.

About $286 million in Title X grants are given out for contraception, STD screenings, pap smears, sex education and other services.

Pro-abortion activists called on Trump to withdraw the appointment, saying his choice could jeopardize the federal programs responsible for preventing millions of unplanned pregnancies.

Manning, formerly Teresa Wagner, has previously voiced her skepticism about the efficacy of female contraception.

"Of course, contraception doesn't work," she said in an NPR interview in 2003. "Its efficacy is very low especially when you consider over years, which you know a lot of contraception health advocates want, to start women in their adolescent years when they're extremely fertile, incidentally. And continue for 10, 20, 30 years, over that span of time the prospect that contraception would always prevent the conception of a child is preposterous," she added.

She was also criticized for calling abortion "legalized crime," and highlighting the link between abortion and breast cancer.

Manning, a law professor at George Mason University, had sued the University of Iowa for job discrimination in 2012, claiming that the school refused to hire her because of her hardline positions on abortion and politics. But a federal jury ruled in favor of the school in 2015.

Her appointment came just days after Trump picked another pro-life leader, Charmaine Yoest, for a key position in the HHS Department.

Yoest, the former president of Americans United for Life, was appointed as the new assistant secretary of public affairs, a position that oversees the communications efforts for the entire agency.
home US Trump will enact 'morally sound' policy protecting religious freedoms, says transition adviser

Ken Blackwell, a key member of President Donald Trump's transition team, has said that it is only a matter of time before the present administration enacts a new policy that would protect religious freedoms.

In February, a four-page draft of a potential executive order that would protect religious liberty was leaked to The Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute and was also widely reported by news media. But the White House said that the leaked draft was one of hundreds of proposals that are circulating through the administration.

Many have been pressuring the president in the past few months to sign an executive order to protect Christians and other organizations who believe in traditional marriage and who are against LGBT nondiscrimination laws.

Earlier this month, Several Republican members of Congress sent a letter to Trump asking him to sign the order.

"Because religious liberty is of such importance and under such threat, we believe that the draft executive order should be signed without delay and that all the protections discussed in this letter should be enshrined permanently in our laws," the letter read in part.

Blackwell, who served as the chief domestic policy advisor to the Trump transition team, noted that the current administration is working on a policy to protect religious liberty, but they are expecting it to be "aggressively challenged."

"I am confident that those of us who have the ear of the president and who have engaged with folks who don't necessarily hold our point of view, I think we will win the day," Blackwell told The Christian Post when asked about the order.

"Folks who are framing this are not novices. They know that it is going to be immediately and aggressively challenged. I think what we are seeing now is the desire to make sure it is as tight and as sound as it possibly can be," he continued.

Blackwell said that it is not a matter of "if" but "when" the Trump administration will enact such a policy.

Last month, a senior White House official told USA Today that the administration is working on a policy to protect religious freedoms, but the president is still trying to find a middle ground between protecting the LGBT community from discrimination and protecting the rights of people to freely express their religious beliefs.

Laura Durso of the progressive Center for American Progress argued that the First Amendment already protects the freedom of religion. She warned that any efforts to provide additional protection could create "a license to discriminate across a wide range of federal programs."

In late March, Trump rescinded the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces order, issued by President Obama in 2014, which required federal contractors to prove that they are in compliance with other laws that prohibited discrimination against workers on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
MISSOULA  Tuition and fees for students at the University of Montana would jump 13 percent for resident freshmen and sophomores, but those costs at UM also would be equal to Montana State University, unlike the current setup.

And, the total annual cost of tuition and fees in Montana still would be $1,500 less than the regional average, according to the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.

The proposal for tuition equalization between the flagship campuses came Thursday from the Commissioner's Office to the Montana Board of Regents. The regents will consider final  and possibly modified  tuition recommendations later this month.

The recommendations include tuition increases at some but not all campuses, flat mandatory fees, and restructuring to equalize tuition and fees at the flagships. Commissioner Clayton Christian said the budget strategy also includes cuts to programs and services.

"I think that this is a budget that is not going to be overly pleasing to anyone in particular," Christian said.

The proposal comes after a tight budget season at the Montana Legislature that reduced funding across the board.

The recommendations also come in response to the previous trend in higher education that generally froze tuition and increased overall state support, according to Kevin McRae, deputy commissioner for communications in the Commissioner's Office.

"We will continue to advocate as strongly as we can for state funding in the future, but it would be irresponsible for us to just assume that state funding will continue to rise at the level it has in Montana," McRae said Thursday after the public conference call with regents announcing the recommendations.

"Tuition revenue is going to be much more important than it has been over the last 10 years."

So it's especially important to have clarity of price, he said. In the past, UM charged different rates for lower division  freshmen and sophomores  than upper-division residents, and UM and MSU didn't have the same tuition and fees.

The initial recommendation from the Commissioner's Office is that the flagships have the same tuition and fees across the board for resident undergraduates: $7,047. The total includes a freeze on mandatory fees.

The proposed amount represents a 13 percent tuition increase for lower division residents at UM, who this year paid $6,238; it represents a 5.2 percent increase for upper division residents, who this year paid $6,699.

The amount represents a 2.3 percent increase for all MSU students, who paid $6,887 this school year in tuition and fees.

Equalization

This time around, the equalization recommendation is limited to the flagships.

The Commissioner's Office has recommended tuition and fee bumps of varying degrees at most of the other campuses, and it recommended costs remain flat in a handful of cases. As proposed, the highest increase in tuition and fees would be at UM-Western; the hike would be 28.4 percent, from $4,284 to $5,502.

The goal for the long run is that all similar campuses in the Montana University System charge the same tuition and fees, McRae said. As planned over the next six years or so, he said, the four-year regional schools will cost the same, as will the two-year colleges.

(McRae said the exception is Montana Tech, a highly specialized science and engineering institution that includes a mining school.)

Currently, he said some of the differences create a system that is cattywampus within Montana and in the region. For example, he said tuition and fees at MSU-Billings, a four-year school, cost nearly as much as they do at MSU in Bozeman, a doctoral research university.

"It's sensible from both a management perspective but also a public expectation perspective that we pay attention to peer institutions," McRae said. "And like institutions should have like funding streams."

Filling the gap

The proposal aims to fill an $18.8 million gap in funding for the university system, McRae said.

In the most recent fiscal year, educational units received roughly $193 million from the state, he said. However, they will receive less in 2018 and 2019, at $189 million for each fiscal year.

He broke down the gap as follows:

$13.3 million in inflationary costs,

$300,000 for the pay plan increase,

$1 million due to system-wide enrollment projections of a 2 percent decline in residents and 1 percent increase in nonresidents, and

$4.15 million less from the state.

On the conference call, Christian said Montana is one of only three states that have not experienced significant reductions to higher education in recent years. But he said campuses must be committed to efficiency, and the Commissioner's Office is looking for ways to consolidate services.

"Revenue in the future remains challenging, and while I would like to think that what we experienced in the 2017 budget in terms of reductions is the exception, not the rule, I certainly lay awake a bit concerned that may be more of the rule," Christian said.

Christian also said campuses must not lose sight of prioritizing programs, and Regent Bill Johnstone stressed the importance as well, especially for "campuses that are more challenged." UM has been challenged with enrollment for a decade.

"I hope that the board is committed to that, and the commissioner and campuses are committed to moving forward on that program prioritization initiative as urgently as possible," Johnstone said.

In an email, UM spokeswoman Paula Short said the plan outlined Thursday by the Commissioner's Office represents only a slight change in UM's budget projections. She said UM's general fund for the upcoming fiscal year is estimated to be $145 million, down from $146.6 million in the current fiscal year based on an "apples to apples" comparison.

The Commissioner's Office will be taking comments on the proposal at tuition@montana.edu, which should be active by Friday afternoon. Regent Martha Sheehy also recommended in-person listening sessions at the campuses.
home US United Methodist top court says election of lesbian bishop is violation of church law

The United Methodist Church's (UMC) highest court has ruled that the election of an openly lesbian clergywoman to the position of a bishop was a violation of the denomination's law.

In a 6a3 decision on Friday, the United Methodist Judicial Council ruled that the Western Jurisdiction violated church law when it elected Karen Oliveto as the bishop of UMC's Mountain Sky Area, which includes churches in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, and a church in Idaho.

"It is not lawful for the college of bishops of any jurisdictional or central conference to consecrate a self-avowed practicing homosexual bishop," the council stated in the decision, according to United Methodist News Service.

"Under the long-standing principle of legality, no individual member or entity may violate, ignore or negate church law," it continued.

The Judicial Council noted that Oliveto will remain as bishop until an administrative or judicial process takes place.

John Lomperis, the United Methodist director of the Institute on Religion & Democracy, expressed disappointment that Oliveto was not removed from office. However, he said that he celebrates the council's ruling because it would now be easier to "bring accountability for pastors who choose to violate biblical standards for sexual self-control."

"We are slowly but increasingly strengthening biblical accountability in our church," he said, according to Religion News Service.

Oliveto, who became the first openly gay bishop of the UMC last July, has faced several complaints about her election.

Dixie Brewster, a lay delegate to last year's regional South Central Jurisdictional Conference, filed a motion asking the Judicial Council to decide whether the nomination, election, assignment or consecration of an openly gay or lesbian bishop is lawful under the Book of Discipline, the denomination's law book.

The Book of Discipline states that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching," which means that "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" cannot be ordained as ministers.

Although Brewster did not name Oliveto in the motion, the bishop became the focus of the council's open hearing in Newark on Tuesday.

The complaint about Oliveto's election was part of the UMC's overall debate on its stance on homosexuality, which the denomination labels "incompatible with Christian teaching."

Last week, the UMC announced that it will hold a General Conference in February 2019 to discuss the ordination of LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage.
home World Violent attacks on Christians in India increasing at alarming rate

Violent attacks against Christians in India have increased at an alarming rate in 2016, with one attack occurring every 40 hours, according to a new report.

The report, published by All India Christian Council (AICC), indicated that the attacks against Christians were up by 20 percent in 2016. It also noted that physical violence against believers rose by 40 percent and murders have doubled.

"The attacks have become severe and more frequent. Incidents used to be confined to a few states. Now the violence has spread to 23 states," it stated, noting that the sharpest rise was in the northern Uttar Pradesh state and the southern state of Telangana.

The report titled "Atrocities on Christians in India" highlights incidents of church workers being threatened, beaten and killed, as well as churches and Christian schools being vandalized, torched, bombed, and demolished. Other attacks include forced conversions of Christians to Hinduism and the disruption of church services and prayer meetings.

The rise in the attacks coincides with the victory of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the national election in 2014.

The BJP, which is believed to be the political wing of the chief Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, propagates the Hindutva ideology, which envisions the Hinduism as the dominant culture in India, according to The Christian Post.

"Fanatics have become more common, attacking minorities, boys and girls who are dating and the Dalit community," according to a partner of Release International, which supports persecuted Christians around the world.

Five Indian states have implemented anti-conversion laws, and there have been efforts to introduce a nationwide legislation aimed at outlawing evangelism to prevent Hindus from converting.

In Uttar Pradesh, Hindu extremists shaved off the hair, eyebrows, and mustache of a Christian who was accused of converting Hindus, before they paraded him through the town.

In Chhattisgarh, the fanatics doused a pastor and his seven-month pregnant wife with petrol and threatened them with swords, demanding that they chant "Hail Lord Rama."

In the same state, a 14-year-old Christian girl who was on her way to school was gang raped and murdered, but the authorities have not taken any action against the perpetrators. Her family was excommunicated by the villagers for accepting the Christian faith.

A total of 108 incidents has been recorded by the AICC, while the Evangelical Fellowship of India have noted in a separate report that there were more attacks against Christians in India in 2016 than in the two previous years combined.
home US West Virginia school district files motion to dismiss 'Bible in the Schools' lawsuit

A West Virginia school district has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to end its "Bible in the Schools" program, which has been in place in county schools since 1939.

The lawsuit was filed in January by the Wisconsin-based group Freedom From Religion Foundation (FRFF) against the Mercer County Board of Education, Mercer County Schools and Superintendent Dr. Deborah Akers, Bluefield Daily Telegraph reported.

The FRFF alleged in the lawsuit that the program "endorses one religion, improperly entangles public schools in religious affairs, and violates the personal consciences of nonreligious and non-Christian parents and students."

The group filed the suit on behalf of an unnamed parent, who was referred to in the lawsuit as "Jane Doe," who wants to raise her child without religion.

A first amended complaint (FAC) was filed on March 28 to add another plaintiff, Elizabeth Deal, whose daughter attended Mercer County schools from 2012 to 2016 before transferring to Virginia schools.

Both parents were concerned that their children risked facing ostracism if they do not attend the optional Bible classes.

The FFRF contended in its lawsuit that the Bible lessons were taught like a "Sunday school" class rather than a secular class.

The FAC points to lesson I as an example, which "prepares students for the type of moral teachings they will be receiving throughout the rest of their Bible lessons ... instructs students to listen to the directions and warnings that are given in the Bible and to follow them in their own lives."

The program is administered by the Mercer County School Board, but it is funded by private donations. Parents and community members donate nearly $500,000 each year to pay for the program.

The board's motion contended that the FFRF added Deal as a plaintiff because Doe's child was not eligible to attend the classes when the lawsuit was filed.

David Dorey, an attorney for O'Melveny & Myers, which represents the school board, said that one of the key legal points is that the suit seeks to put an end to the program altogether.

The motion filed by the school board stated that the lawsuit is an attack on the constitutional right to offer optional Bible classes in public schools.

"The Constitution does not prohibit schools from teaching about religion or from using materials that have a religious basis," the motion stated.

"The Bible may constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like," it added.
E Contractors

E Contractors has started construction on a two-story office building in Sugar Land that could serve as a model for developments in other suburban communities.

On 1.5 acres near the northwest corner of Texas 6 and U.S. 59, Egrets Landing Sugar Land will be a glass and steel building with 22,000 square feet including a shared meeting room for tenants. The building, at 16554 Creek Bend Drive along Brooks Lake in walking distance to Hyatt Place, will serve as offices for E Contractors and its Oakdale Group affiliate.
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A capital murder charge has been filed against a Houston man for the Feb. 23, 2017, fatal shooting at a Subway sandwich shop in southeast Houston.

Jeffery Cordero Archangel, 25, is suspected in the shooting death of 18-year-old Javier Flores, a law enforcement official confirmed.

TRAGIC: Family, friends mourn dead Subway worker as a hero

Archangel was still being sought overnight.

Flores was killed when he tried to get between an armed robber and his mother, a fellow employee at the Subway shop on Broadway near the Gulf Freeway. They were the only two employees in the store at the time.

They were preparing for closing just before 9 p.m. when two gunmen burst in.

Flores' mother was toward the front of the shop, continuing last-minute cleaning, when one of the assailants pointed a pistol at her. Her son vaulted over the counter to get between his mother and the gunman, police said.

Flores was struck by gunfire and fell to the ground. He was rushed to an area hospital where he died.

A LEAD: Police release composite sketch of shooter in Subway restaurant killing

The gunmen fled the scene. Less than two hours later, robbers struck at another Subway store on San Jacinto, about seven miles away.

The robbers got away with food and an undetermined amount of cash, but they were caught on surveillance video. A witness later identified Archangel as one of the robbers, and a store employee later identified him in a photo-line up, according to court documents.

He was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery in connection with the second Subway hold-up. He was later released after posting a $30,000 bond, according to court records.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS or Houston police at 713-308-3600.
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Police found a man dead Friday morning in southeast Houston possibly following a gang-related shooting, according to police.

Houston Police Department officers headed to the corner of Westover Street and Mount Caramel Drive shortly after midnight to find the man's body lying near the curb. An officer nearby said he heard two gunshots.
A man who had been deported to Mexico after a 2009 felony conviction in Fort Bend County is now facing eight year in federal prison after authorities accused him of fighting with an immigration agent.

Daniel Alejandro Gonzalez, 33, was indicted Wednesday in federal court for assaulting a deportation official with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and illegally entering the country in April 2017 after having been previously deported, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Beaumont.
Three years after New Orleans resident Jared Sternberg formed Gondwana Ecotours, a travel company that organizes cultural and environmental excursions to such far-flung places as Ecuador and Rwanda, he decided to start a similar business in Louisiana. Late last year, the 31-year-old graduate of Tulane University Law School opened Beyond the Bayou, which bridges a gap between the Big Easy and the less-visited destinations outside the city that are rich with culture and nature. Offerings include kayaking in Atchafalaya Basin northwest of the city, the country's largest river swamp at nearly 1 million acres; visiting local enterprises deep in Cajun Country; and a tour of the Whitney Plantation on the Mississippi River in Edgard, which is focused solely on telling the story of slavery.

Q. You grew up in Southern California. What were your first impressions of New Orleans when you moved there in 2010?

A. I remember thinking that the people were warmer and the culture felt richer - and, of course, the food was amazing. But I also remember thinking that the nature was not that impressive. For one thing, I didn't have a car, so I was always in the city. Later, after I started exploring more and had access to boats and kayaks and canoes, I realized how gorgeous the swamps are and how amazing the nature is. A major turning point was when I went to a friend's fishing camp on this spectacular swamp, managed by an old Cajun guy I could barely understand.

Q. Why did you decide to start tours in Louisiana, when you specialize in international travel?

If you go Beyond the Bayou 5126 Frankin St., New Orleans 504-264-2519 beyondthebayoutours.com Half-day trips start at $59 per person, not including transportation; full-day outings, including transportation, range from $159 to $199 per person; overnight trips range from $549 to $1,499, including transportation, lodging and meals. See More Collapse

A. For one thing, people kept asking me why I didn't offer something closer to home. But mostly it's because there's so much more to see than what is in the city, and I want to share that. So many people come here to visit and they listen to world-class music, go to the French Quarter, eat beignets and they have a wonderful impression of New Orleans - as they should - but not any true impression of Louisiana.

Q. You make a point of telling visitors that your guides on the water don't feed the wildlife, especially alligators. Is that an issue?

Story continues below...

A. I work with several local guides because, in cases where something already was offered, I didn't want to compete with existing companies. While I was researching potential partners, I went on or called several mud boat tours. Those are flat-bottom boats for going through shallow water. They all fed the wildlife. They throw out marshmallows and hot dogs so the tourists can take photos of alligators. One of them even passed around a baby alligator with its mouth taped shut with electrical tape so everyone onboard could feel it and take a photo. If someone asks me if they'll see an alligator on one of our tours, I say, "Well, it depends on nature. Maybe you will, maybe you won't."

Q. How else do you put the "eco" in your tours?

A. When we're on the water, we also tell people about wetlands loss. We have materials on that and other things in the car if they want to read about it while we're driving to the swamp. We also give guests reusable water bottles and local fruit. In the future, I hope to carbon offset all the trips. Our employees participate in local waterway cleanup efforts, and we direct guests who are interested to organizations where they can donate or become involved in saving the waterways.

Q. Do fun-loving tourists in New Orleans want that kind of educational tour?

A. I do think there's a market for it, and though it's not the biggest, I think it's growing. I look at that not as a hindrance but as an opportunity. For instance, I've seen postings online by people looking for swamp tours that don't feed the alligators.

Q. What are some of your cultural stops?

A. A favorite has been our "Roots of Creole Culture Tour," which includes a tour of the historic Treme neighborhood to learn about African-American history and the musicians who started there. We also go to the Whitney Plantation, which is devoted to telling the story of the slave trade and plantation life. It leaves a big impact and pays tribute to what a plantation was really about. That's the real history of what happened in our country, and you can't sweep it under the rug. If you don't understand where racism came from, how are you going to understand where it is today?

Q. How do you introduce people to the Cajun culture?

A. Basically, we're finding the vanguards of culture and supporting them the best we can because Cajun culture is disappearing, just like the wetlands. We have overnight tours around Lafayette, where we visit Marc Savoy, an accordion player, and he talks about the history and culture of zydeco music; and we also visit Guidry Farms, an organic pecan farm, where we have a little tour and learn how they make pecan butter and oil. We also have a chef that gives us cooking lessons at our B&B. We're going to start having him meet us at the farm to have a seafood boil. One of our tours is for four days, which I never planned to do, but after going out there and seeing how deep and rich that culture is - I could easily do a week trip.

Q. Your other tour company has offered trips to several destinations on three continents. How does Southern Louisiana compare?

A. A really great example is I went to Ecuador again with my trip in December. So we go all the way there to see the Amazon and I see some of the exact same species we see in the swamp here - and a lot of scenery in Louisiana looks fairly similar. It's not as grand, but honestly, in some places, it's comparable in terms of natural beauty and richness. I think Louisiana is, for my money, the most unique place in the United States and, without a doubt, on par with other destinations in terms of culture.

- - -

Daniel is a writer based in the Netherlands. Her website is bydianedaniel.com.
Amanda Knox hit back at President Donald Trump after it became known that Trump was reportedly "very upset" with Knox because of her support for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election.

In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, Knox wrote that Trump supporters had been harassing her after a she was mentioned in a New York Times profile of Trump neighbor George Guido Lombardi last month.

More for you President Trump reportedly 'very upset' with Amanda Knox

In the New York Times piece, Lombardi referenced the now 29-year-old Knox when discussing Trump's interest in Lombardi's native Italy:

"Mr. Trump's interest centered on showing the innocence of Amanda Knox, an American college student accused of murder in Perugia. Mr. Trump often spoke out and posted on Twitter in support of Ms. Knox, and asked Mr. Lombardi to look into her case during a trip to Italy. Now, Mr. Lombardi said, the president is 'very upset' with the ingratitude of Ms. Knox, who supported Hillary Clinton."

In her op-ed, Knox discussed the backlash she received from Trump supporters after the Times article and dismissed the notion that she owed Trump any loyalty based on his support.

"By holding personal loyalty above all else, Trump and some of his supporters create a political environment where reason and justice hold little sway," she wrote (emphasis hers). "He was probably right when he said he could 'stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody' and not 'lose voters' -- that's what happens when personal loyalty is paramount."

In 2009, Knox and boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were convicted of murdering her roommate Meredith Kercher two years earlier, while Knox spent a year studying abroad. Knox and Sollecito were then acquitted in a second trial in 2011, and she was able to return to her native West Seattle. The pair was again convicted in 2013, but an Italian high court threw out the convictions after finding "stunning flaws" in the prosecution's case.

Trump repeatedly expressed support for Knox and disdain for the Italian legal system on Twitter during her trials. But during and after the 2016 presidential election, Knox denounced Trump, instead expressing her support for Clinton.
The Liberty-Dayton Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Administrative Professionals luncheon on April 26 with around 200 enjoying the festivities.

While there was no special speaker for the event, everyone was entertained with the gift-giving, which began almost immediately, even while some were still in line for food.
A Lame Deer woman accused of killing two people while driving drunk near Busby last year denied federal charges on Thursday.

Thyanna Faith Littlesun, 24, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with two counts of involuntary manslaughter and with assault resulting in serious injury.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sullivan said in the indictment that Littlesun was driving under the influence of alcohol on Sept. 10, 2016, near Busby when she killed S.K. and J.W. She also is accused of assaulting a third person, identified as C.F.

If convicted, Littlesun faces a maximum 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the assault charge, and a maximum eight years and a $250,000 fine on the manslaughter count.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan ordered Littlesun to remain in custody. The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters.
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Eating out this week? Here are your best bets if you're keeping up with what's new in Houston dining:

Better Luck Tomorrow, 544 Yale: Serial bar owner Bobby Heugel and James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Yu just put down roots in the Heights with a colorful new place to enjoy a menu of innovative dishes and smart cocktails. The drinks are seasonally inspired and topped with creative garnishes. The food ranges from a classic patty melt to a burrata and bagna cauda-topped scallion pancake dubbed the "Not A Pizza." The playfully named menu offerings echo the bar's fun atmosphere, including its neon-lit geometric bar shelf that looks like a well-stocked '80s throwback.

>>See the gallery above for a peek at the new offerings, and a guide on where to eat in the Heights.

Goode Co.'s Armadillo Palace , 5015 Kirby: This Houston staple, which has been operating for roughly 13 years, welcomed a comprehensive remodel and is now re-opened with a fresh look and menu. The modern honky tonk is now three times larger and features an updated menu of both new offerings and several of Goode Co.'s signature dishes. Adding flavor to the Upper Kirby stalwart is a new live-fire rotisserie and wood-burning grill.

GET READY: Giant East Houston barbecue and beer joint opening soon

Helen in the Heights, 1111 Studewood: A second location of the Rice Village's successful Helen Greek Food & Wine replaced Italian-American restaurant Arthue Ave in April. Sommelier Evan Turner, who helped launch both concepts, joins executive chef William Wright in forming a menu of classic Greek dishes and a selection of varied Greek wines.

Star Fish,191 Heights: Executive chef Armando Ramirez helms the kitchen at this new Heights restaurant, which offers a menu of mostly Gulf seafood dishes, several with a Cajun/Creole slant. Star Fish was launched in late April by ace restaurateurs Lee Ellis and Jim Mills, owners of Lee's Fried Chicken & Donuts, Pi Pizza, and State Fare Kitchen & Bar. The Cherry Pie Hospitality partners' new spot is housed in the old Bradley's Fine Diner space and features an extensive drinks menu.

Piggy's Kitchen & Bar, 3412 W. Lamar: Launched by the Creek Group, this River Oaks establishment is a more polished version of the company's collection of rustic restaurants with Hill Country atmospheres. "The Creeks are known for their great patios, classic food, and bar scenes. Piggy's brings all of those things to the table and more," owner Gary Mosley said. Expect the same comfort food as the group's other spots, as well as the same extensive selection of Houston-brewed beers on tap.

WELCOME TO HOUSTON: Dallas & Austin restaurants invade Houston's dining scene

Honorable mentions: Tacodeli at 1902 Washington is an Austin import with an emphasis on responsible sourcing and health-conscious ingredients, think non-GMO corn and organic masa. Vegetarians have plenty of options here, including a taco of Portobello mushrooms, jack cheese, onion and poblano.

For the carnivores among us who never believed the bacon-with-everything movement was a mere trend, Bacon Bros. Public House is now ready to serve you. The Sugar Land establishment marked the South Carolina-based restaurant's first foray into the Texas market. Owned by Cypress native Travis Cook, it has a menu of Southern comfort dishes, plenty with bacon, plenty without.

Bonus: The Heights location of King's BierHaus opens Monday, May 8, at 2044 E. TC Jester. Hans and Philipp Sitter's new outpost will feature an expansive roster of German/Austrian dishes and German beer. Get the scoop here.

See the video above for a look at what to buy (and not buy) this month.
The sole criminal court judge to publicly endorse the federal lawsuit challenging Harris County's bail system took another public stand against the county's stance Friday, asking officials if he can settle with a group of indigent plaintiffs who sued last year on allegations that costly bail for misdemeanors violates the law.

This time County Criminal Court at Law Judge Darrell Jordan wrote a letter to County Judge Ed Emmett asking him to allow him to settle the case immediately.

Jordan, who became a defendant in the year-old suit when he took office in January, is among a number of public officials sued by the defendants. He was one of two county officials who took the stand during a contentious injunction hearing in March and outlined what they saw as unjust consequences of cash bail. The other defendant who took the stand was the newly elected sheriff, Ed Gonzalez. Two other newly elected Democrats, Kim Ogg and Rodney Ellis, submitted statements to the court in favor of ending a bail system they said unfairly punishes poor defendants.

A month later U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal ruled that subjecting misdemeanor defendants to bail they cannot not afford violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution. She said the two civil rights groups and the local law firm that argued the case were likely to prevail at trial. She ordered the county to begin releasing pretrial misdemeanor defendants who don't have other warrants or holds on May 15.

Since then, county officials are taking steps to implement Rosenthal's order and simultaneously mulling whether they should settle or appeal the case. The county attorney's office has set an agenda item before Commissioners Court May 9 to discuss these questions in executive session and advise how officials about how to proceed. But Jordan said Friday he simply doesn't want to wait any longer.

He told the Chronicle he is ready to settle, and he asked his lawyer on Monday to set up a conference call with the plaintiffs' lawyers to express his stance. His assigned lawyer, a staffer at the county attorney's office, told him she cannot settle without permission of Commissioner's Court.

So Judge Jordan decided to take the matter into his own hands. He emailed and then hand-delivered a one-sentence letter to County Judge Ed Emmett Friday which said, "In light of Judge Rosenthal's order, I'm requesting permission to sign a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs."

Emmett spokesman Joe Stinebaker explained the office's response to Jordan's letter: "Judge Emmett has no authority whatsoever to allow or prevent any of the defendants in this suit from taking any action they deem appropriate."

These formalities were of little import to Jordan, who said it seemed obvious what the county needed to do now that Rosenthal has said the indigent defendants were likely to prevail. He wants the county to settle immediately and move on.

"I just see it as the right thing to do. It's time to settle," Jordan said in an interview Friday. "Before it was a question as to whether the practices at the courthouse were unconstitutional. But based on the judge's ruling, she's saying there is very little chance the defendants will be successful in a trial on the merits."

So, he said he wants to know, "How are we going forward? What are we fighting for?" He didn't think it was necessary to wait until Tuesday for an answer.
A man was found dead with stab wounds in his neck Friday morning outside of a bar in southwest Houston following a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Houston police headed around 5 a.m. to the El Viajero Sports Bar in a strip center on Wilcrest Drive off of the Southwest Freeway.
Boerne school trustees have selected Thomas Price, currently a deputy superintendent in the Humble Independent School District, as the sole finalist to succeed Superintendent David Stelmazewski when he retires June 30.

Dr. Price is an educator who possesses a wide range of leadership experiences, said Donna Sharp, president of the Boerne Independent School District board, which selected Price as its finalist Wednesday. His record of success is impressive.

The finalist designation triggers a 21-day waiting period, required by Texas law, before Price, 54, can be formally named to the position.

He was among six candidates picked for interviews from among more than 60 applicants for the post. Stelmazewski held it from December 2011 after serving three years as principal of Boerne Champion High School.

Im just honored that a progressive, exciting community like Boerne would be interested in me, said Price by phone Thursday from Humble, where he is deputy superintendent/chief academic officer, a job he has performed since 2012.

What appealed to me about Boerne was its reputation for having great students who are very successful because the community there has such a student-first attitude, Price said. Thats very attractive to any administrator.

Price was attending an awards banquet Wednesday in Humble and was unable to attend the special meeting in Boerne where he was the unanimous choice as superintendent finalist.

If hes hired in Boerne, as expected, Price said he hopes to begin work there in June to gain insights from Stelmazewski before he retires.

Prior to his tenure at Humble ISD, Price served as superintendent at Splendora ISD, Sealy ISD and Anderson-Shiro CISD, and an assistant superintendent at West Orange-Cove CISD, according to a Boerne ISD announcement. It noted Anderson-Shiro and West Orange-Cove are so-called Chapter 41 districts that must operate under the same Robin Hood provisions as Boerne ISD.

Price attended the University of Houston as an undergraduate and earned a masters degree and doctorate degree in education from Lamar University.

Through a collaborative process Boerne trustees began in January, which included assistance from the Texas Association of School Boards, Sharp said, We can say with confidence that we found in Dr. Price someone who matches the qualities and characteristics expressed by the community as desirable in our next superintendent.
A bizarre crash involving a heavy truck that included a man-sized flying piece of metal piercing a passing car will keep northbound Interstate 69 closed this weekend northeast of downtown.

Crews are working now to open the freeway for the rush hour, after it was closed around 8:45 a.m. Friday morning at Loop 610, said Danny Perez, spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation in Houston. All lanes of I-69, also U.S. 59 in the Houston area, and one eastbound lane of Loop 610 remain closed as crews clear the overturned truck and temporarily replace a damaged segment of guardrail.
On Saturday, voters who live within the Houston ISD will go to the polls to determine how - or if - the district will pay the state millions in "recapture" fees. Whatever voters decide on Proposition 1, the Houston ISD will take a financial hit, officials say.

Recapture, and school finance, can be difficult to grasp. To help, here are the answers to some questions about the ballot measure.

Q: What is recapture?

A: Recapture is the process by which so-called property wealthy school districts pay the state a fee that is then redistributed to school districts that raise little through local property taxes of their own.

Q: Why is recapture back on the ballot?

A: After 62 percent of voters asked the district last fall not to pay the state's recapture fee, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath threatened to "detach" some of Houston's most valuable commercial properties from Houston ISD and give their taxes to a property-poor district, such as Aldine ISD. In February, three HISD trustees said lawmakers and others in Austin were furious at the district for refusing to pay recapture and hinted at vindictive action. Those fears, and the fears about what could happen if the state detaches commercial properties from a district, spurred the board to vote 5-3, with one abstention, in favor of holding a second referendum on May 6.

Q: Do other states use recapture, and why does Texas use it?

A: Texas and Vermont are the only two states that use recapture to fund schools equitably, according to Mike Griffith of the nonprofit Education Commission of the States. Texas established recapture in 1993 after a court ruled that the state must find a way to ensure its schools are equitably funded in rural, urban, property-wealthy and property-poor districts. Texas relies on recapture because other options such as instituting an income tax or creating a statewide property tax are prohibited by the state's constitution.

Q: How much would Houston ISD owe if it pays the recapture fees, and how much would it lose if the state "detaches" some of its commercial properties?

A: State officials have told Houston ISD that they owe $77.5 million in recapture fees this year. But that amount would balloon in coming years, costing HISD about $376 million by the 2019-2020 school year. If the state "detaches" some of Houston's commercial properties, it could lose an estimated $98.4 million this year and perhaps as much as $413.2, though that figure could rise, fall or stay the same based on changes in property values. In either scenario, the district could lose more than 15 percent of its budget in coming years.

Q: What does a "for" vote mean, and what does an "against" vote mean?

A: The new referendum reads: "Authorizing the board of trustees of Houston Independent School District to purchase attendance credits from the state with local tax revenues." A vote "for" purchasing attendance credits would mean the district would willingly pay the state's recapture fee. A vote "against" would mean the state would detach some local commercial property.

Q: How did the state decide Houston is property value-rich when more than 70 percent of its students come from low-income families?

A: State officials use "weighted average daily attendance" figures that take into account the number of low-income and other students. For example, Houston ISD's weighted average daily attendance is a little more than 260,000, even though the district only serves about 214,000 students. A district's total property value is divided by the weighted average daily attendance, and if those numbers are greater than a state-set threshold, the district will likely be subject to recapture payments.

Q: How many other districts pay recapture fees?

A: Of Texas' more than 1,200 school districts, as many as 379 could pay recapture fees this year. When recapture started in 1993, only 34 school districts paid recapture fees. Other districts in the Houston area will have to pay the fees this year, as well.

Q: Are state lawmakers looking at changing recapture and school finance laws?

A: After Houston voters opted not to pay the state recapture fees in November, the Texas Senate created a work-study group to look into overhauling the state's school funding formula. But that committee could take years to produce meaningful recommendations to the state. Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, also proposed a bill that would pump $1.6 billion into Texas public schools and would lessen the amount of money that property-value wealthy school districts pay in recapture. While that bill passed the House, it has not yet made it out of a Senate committee.
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The man charged with capital murder in the Feb. 22 fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Subway restaurant employee turned himself in to Houston police shortly after noon Friday. The suspect claimed he had evidence pointing to another person as the shooter, but the police chief said investigators are confident they found the right man.

Jeffery C. Archangel, a 25-year-old resident of Houstons Alief area, was charged Thursday with killing Javier Flores when the teen intervened during an armed robbery at the 3933 Broadway location to protect a fellow employee  his mother.

THE SEARCH: Police release composite sketch of shooter in Subway restaurant killing

Archangel turned himself in at the Houston Police Departments downtown headquarters at 1200 Travis, accompanied by community activist Quanell X. Archangel did not comment to reporters.

After a police officer handcuffed Archangel, Quanell told reporters Archangel was adamant that he was not the shooter. The activist, who got involved after Archangel called him early Friday, said Archangel has an audio recording that features the real shooter describing the crime in detail.

Story continues below...

"This young man maintains his innocence. He says he was not even there," Quanell said of Archangel, who said he was at a recording studio at the time of the fatal shooting. Archangel raps under the name "Skylar."

However, Chief Art Acevedo said a few hours later that police believed they had the right suspect.

"We're pretty confident," Acevedo said at a 3:30 p.m. news conference. "We've got witnesses, we've got good ballistics, we've got the murder weapon."

VICTIM REMEMBERED: Friends recall 'hero' teen slain saving mom in botched Subway robbery

Archangel had been out on a $30,000 bail bond after he was charged early last month with the robbery the same night of another Subway restaurant, this one at 4807 San Jacinto in the Museum District.

An investigator had received information that defendant Jeffery Archangel was a possible suspect, according to a sworn statement filed April 5. The detective then put Archangels photo in a six-image photo spread, from which the robbery victim picked it out. The investigator wrote that Archangels facial features resembled the suspect in the video.

Acevedo said homicide investigators had multiple witnesses who put Archangel at the scene of both robberies. However, police did not have enough information early last month to charge him with murder as well as aggravated robbery, so he was able to make bail.

We live in a society and a nation where you cant just keep somebody behind bars because theyre suspected, Acevedo said in response to a question about why Archangel was able to leave jail.

CHARGES FILED: Suspected shooter faces capital murder charge

Archangel has no convictions on his criminal record and never previously was charged with a felony. Archangels court-appointed attorney in that case, Shannon Brichelle Baldwin, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Quanell said he had not spoken with Archangel about the robbery charge.

When asked about Quanells role in the case, Acevedo said that anytime you can take a murder suspect off the street ... without anyone getting hurt, thats a win.

Acevedo added that police are still looking for at least one more suspect, whom prosecutors could charge with murder regardless of who pulled the trigger, thanks to Texas felony murder rule and law of parties that implicates all accomplices to a crime.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call HPD Homicide at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
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The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report Thursday that includes new details about the horrific Uvalde bus crash that killed 13 people and injured two others in March.

On March 29 a white 2007 Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Jack Young struck a bus carrying 14 members of the First Baptist Church in New Braunfels north of Uvalde on U.S. Highway 83.

NTSB officials analyzed a 14-minute video taken by a witness and found Young's driving to be erratic.

RELATED: Pot found in truck that hit church bus near Leakey, DPS says

The report states that Young, a 20-year-old Leakey resident, crossed over the edge line on U.S. Highway 83 headed east 37 times, and entered the grass alongside the road at least five times before crashing into a Turtle Top Vanterra medium-sized bus.

Additionally, Young crossed over the double yellow center line into the opposite lane 19 times, according to the report.

At one point, Young "traveled completely onto the wrong side of the road prior to the crash," reads the report.

Investigators also found Young traveled at a consistent 67 to 71 mile-per-hour speed. The highway has a marked 70 mile-per-hour limit.

Jody Kuchler, the driver traveling behind Young whose girlfriend captured Young's sporadic movements on video, said the 20-year-old told him just after the crash: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was texting on my phone."

Young told NTSB officials he was checking his phone for a text at the time of the accident. Investigators plan to review Young's phone records in the coming weeks.

He also told officials he'd taken prescription medications before the crash. Toxicology tests for Young are still pending.

Court records obtained by mySA.com in April show that Young had taken two Clonazepam pills, and the generic forms of Ambien and Lexapro. Additionally, he had marijuana in his truck at the time of the accident.

All of the bus passengers were wearing seat belts and investigators found no evidence that the bus had any mechanical defects.

An employee at the Uvalde District Attorney's Office said Wednesday the investigation into the crash was still ongoing. Uvalde County District Attorney Daniel Kindred did not immediately respond for comment concerning possible charges against Young.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
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AUSTIN  A bill on the legality of knives in Texas was postponed from debate and a vote in the House on Friday after concerns were expressed over the timing, just days after a University of Texas student stabbed multiple classmates on campus, killing one and injuring three others.

The Texas House will likely vote on the bill next week, which would remove knives from the list of illegal weapons in state law. The bill's author, Rep. John Frullo, told the Austin American-Statesman on Thursday that he would not delay consideration of the bill, but by Friday morning, that had changed.

"In light of just everything going on right now," Frullo said. "Now is not the right time for this to come before this body."

FACT CHECK: Rumors of gun-wielding student helping subdue UT attacker debunked

The Travis County delegation, part of which represents Austin, asked Speaker Joe Straus and Frullo to delay consideration of the bill. Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, said she told Straus, "This was not the time to be debating this legislation."

Before the decision was made to postpone the bill, House lawmakers voted on a memorial resolution Friday morning in honor of UT student Harrison Brown  the victim who died in Monday's knife attack on the UT-Austin campus. The resolution was authored and introduced to the House by Rep. Drew Springer, a Muenster Republican who is also a joint author on the knife bill. Brown's family are Springer's constituents in the city of Graham.

Springer had hoped the House could separate their feelings on the UT stabbing and the bill that would remove a section of state law that defines "illegal knives" as those with a blade longer than 5 and a half inches, Bowie Knives, daggers, swords, spears or a "hand instrument designed to cut or stab another by being thrown."

"I know it puts a dark cloud over the bill ... " Springer said. "We've just got to see if the body can separate the two today and have a discussion on it and figure out if it's the right thing to do to go forward."

AFTER THE RAMPAGE: Affidavit reveals what suspected UT killer told police

House Bill 1935, authored by Frullo, Springer and a handful of bipartisan lawmakers, would also remove knives from the list of weapons that is illegal to sell those younger than 18, and gives public schools the option to expel students who bring a knife on campus or to a school-sponsored event.

According to an analysis of the bill, those in favor of the bill say "properly enforcing certain prohibitions against illegal knives has become difficult because of confusion among citizens, law enforcement and the courts over what constitutes an illegal knife."

In Texas, it is legal to openly carry pistols, rifles or other long guns in public. Texans can also carry concealed handguns on public college campuses.

KENDREX WHITE: Here's what we know about UT-Austin stabbing suspect

But state law still prohibits Texans from carrying several types of knives, including the popular Bowie Knife. The Texas Legislature attempted similar legislation last session but failed.

In a statement Friday, UT-Austin President Gregory Fenves asked lawmakers to consider how university students and staff would feel about the law. As written, the bill does not address carrying knives on university campuses.

"I think allowing knives on campus is a bad idea," Fenves said. "As events this week showed, this is a very real issue for our campus. I urge legislators considering this law to talk with members of our community and see how they feel about it."
Republican-supported legislation banning so-called "sanctuary cities"' proved controversial to the very end, as the Texas Senate played out the final drama before approving and sending to the governor a House version that includes a "show your papers" provision.

Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to soon sign the measure into law, despite threats from immigration groups and Democrats to try to overturn the new statute in court.

That was far from the only drama this week under the Pink Dome.

In the Senate, Sens. James Huffines and Royce West, both from Dallas, tussled verbally over a bill regarding the Dallas County school district that became personal and, at the end, drew an apology -- before the legislation passed.

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

In the House, Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, literally cussed out some Republican colleagues over their move to derail passage of a bill regarding cosmetologists and what role they should play in her ongoing war against human trafficking.

The issue of Chinese steel imports brought fervent debate, as well.

Plaintive cries could be heard from both chambers as deadlines for passing bills began approaching, as literally hundreds of House and Senate bills -- some important, some not -- began dying because they had not been assigned to a committee, or they had not received a public hearing or they had not been approved by a committee.

With the end of the legislative session less than a month away, those cries will increase in coming days.

One that may still make it: A bill that repeals mandatory state safety inspections for personal vehicles, a step that more than a dozen states already have taken. The Texas bill was passed by the Senate, and is bound for the House.

Get the lowdown on all the fighting and political intrigue in Austin in this week's Texas Take, the leading political podcast in the Lone Star State, where you get the inside scoop on the Legislature in simple language every Texan can understand -- unvarnished straight talk, as they say.

From Mike Ward, the Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, Texas' best online newsletter for political insiders.
Jedi are coming to Bismarck to check out the city's first Comic Con.

The free event is slated for 1-4 p.m. Saturday at Bismarck Public Library, which is collaborating with the owner of Juke Joint Comics, a local comic book store.

Bismarck's Comic Con, which coincides with national free comic book day, won't be set up like a traditional comic book convention, but is geared toward families and comic book lovers alike. It will feature a costume contest with prizes, themed rooms and "geeky" trivia.

Mike Swenson, owner of Juke Joint Comics, said he decided to join the library's event with hopes it would boost business at his store.

Right now, unfortunately, were trying to prevent closing by the end of May," Swenson said.

The winter storms that dumped a record seasonal total of more than 50 inches of snow in the Bismarck area prevented Swenson's store from getting any new product in time for the holidays.

We had no sales in December, and that set me back way too much," said Swenson, who started a GoFundMe page to make up for declining revenue.

Traci Juhala, head of the library's youth services, said the library will encourage Comic Con-goers to visit Swenson's shop, and Swenson will send customers to them.

Library staff have been planning Comic Con since January, but have been talking about it for much longer, according to Juhala.

We are all interested in Comic Con, and we know that other libraries across the country have done it," she said.

Themed rooms include fantasy (think "Lord of the Rings") and Harry Potter, as well as a sci-fi room for fans of "Star Wars" and "Star Trek," including two Jean-Luc Picard cutouts and a handmade cardboard TARDIS, a fictional time machine.

There will also be a chance for the community to see the library's newly renovated Teen Center, which will have video games and anime.

Everyone has their passions, so its nice to create a venue  not only for the staff to express it, but anyone in the community, Juhala said.

Participants are encouraged to dress up, even if they don't want to enter the costume contest, which will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Dress as a favorite book character, superhero or even Snow White, Juhala suggested.

Matt Hovland, head of circulation, said the event will highlight the library's expanding comic book collection. The Teen Library has a growing manga collection, and adult and children graphics novels are flying off the shelf, too.

Hoovland attributes the growing interest in comic books and graphics novels to their wide appeal.

They have comic books about all sorts of things now; its not just superheroes  the graphic novels are their own kind of literature, Hoovland said.

Several costumed participants are expected to make an appearance Saturday. Rick Carman, a member of the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club, said he and other members will be at Bismarck's Comic Con.

The Mandalorian Mercs is a group with more than 1,200 members and more than 50 chapters worldwide, according to its website. Members wear customized Mandalorian armor, designed from the "Star Wars" comic books. The group is a registered nonprofit in the United States that does various fundraising and volunteer events.

Carman has been a member of the Mandalorian Mercs for about two years. He came across the group while researching how to make his own costume, a mixture of metal and plastic that took more than a year to construct.

Carman said there are nine official members in the North Dakota and South Dakota chapter, and the group is "steadily growing."

"Two years ago, when I got my first official status, there were only two of us in Bismarck. And since then, weve gotten six in Bismarck and weve spread to Jamestown, Dickinson, some in Minot," he said.

Carman said cosplaying, short for costume play, has become a "family thing." His son, Skyler, 15, has armor just like his dad, but in different colors. His wife, Tessa, a teacher in Fort Yates, is working on a Jedi costume.

At Saturday's Comic Con, there will be three Mandalorians, a stormtrooper, Darth Revan, a biker scout and two or three Jedi.

This is a huge opportunity in the city for people who dont even know about comic books, he said. "It also shows that you can be a nerd and still be cool."

Many are hoping Bismarck's Comic Con will not only draw more people into the library, but serve a niche in the community.

Libraries jobs are to serve our communities, Hoovland said.

More than 600 people have indicated on the library's Facebook event page that they're interested in attending.

Swenson said his store, just a few blocks from the library, will be giving out free comic books, first-come, first-served, from noon to 5 p.m. Free comic book day has been his business's biggest day of the year  seeing more than 300 people last year and a line down the block at opening.
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.
Encouraging better pipeline construction is just one initiative for the man who will oversee North Dakota's new environmental regulatory agency.

Dave Glatt, chief of the North Dakota Department of Health Environmental Health Section, said, becoming its own agency, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, will allow it to set its own priorities. And as the head of this transition, he brings a philosophy of openness and cooperation in service to the public interest.

Glatt said, years ago, environmental health and public health issues went hand in hand.

The environmental movement has really exploded over the years; its really changed, he said.

While operating under the umbrella of the state Health Department, Environmental Health often has found itself in competition with medical matters for funding. And, until the oil boom, Environmental Health often took lower priority, according to Glatt.

Glatt sees it as an opportunity to be more visible, and more accountable in some cases, to the public.

I got the sense the public really didnt know what we did, he said. Were open now, but I got the sense people want more.

The Environmental Health Section collects a lot of data, including air quality measurements from electronic monitors around the state. Glatt said he hopes to improve the availability of that data and its interpretation.

For example, he is aiming to tackle the state database of oil industry spills to make it more reader friendly. Right now, to get the full information on spills, people have to click on each report one at a time.

Glatt also brings his own take on regulation.

Regulation, in and of itself, is not bad, said Glatt, adding he favors regulating in a way that prioritizes working with industry to find solutions. Hell strive to maintain and enhance employee presence in the field, not necessarily in an enforcement capacity, but to build understanding and help solve problems.

Glatt said he can come to an industry, saying something is a problem. How do we fix it? In his experience, industry has stepped up to the plate. And without constraints on how to address an issue, they often come up with better, more creative solutions.

We want protection but freedom on how to get there, Glatt said.

One area he is setting his sights on is pipeline monitoring, encouraging companies to increase their efforts to build in places with less environmental impact and putting more importance on monitoring systems to improve leak response and control.

Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said he expects the creation of the new department to be one of the more influential changes made my lawmakers this legislative session  a change which he expects is for the better.

In the more immediate future, Glatt is facing a possibly drastic funding change. Fifty percent of the Environmental Health Section budget is derived from federal money, which the Trump administration proposes to cut significantly.

"I believe you can find efficiencies in every budget," said Glatt, pointing out that indiscriminate across-the-board cuts would hurt programs on which states rely.

Glatt will begin the process of changing to an independent agency by taking public input. He indicated the department has essentially been operating separately from the Department of Health for many years, so day-to-day activities aren't likely to change.
Canada Lifts Visa Requirement for Eligible Romanians, Bulgarians, and Brazilians CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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As of May 1, 2017, eligible citizens of Romania, Bulgaria, and Brazil are no longer required to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) if they are flying to Canada. Travelers from these countries who have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years, or who currently hold a valid United States visitor visa, must instead apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) in order to enter Canada by air for a short visit, generally of up to six months, such as for a business visit or a vacation.

However, travelers who do not meet these conditions are still required to obtain a TRV in order to travel to Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced this change in anticipation of the expected lifting of the visa requirement for all Romanian and Bulgarian citizens. IRCC intends to lift this requirement on December 1, 2017  at that point, citizens of Romania and Bulgaria would be required to obtain an eTA in order to board a flight to Canada. The government has not yet confirmed if it will extend the lifting of the visa requirement to all citizens of Brazil as well.

This news is likely to be greeted with enthusiasm by citizens of these three countries, as the recent  and proposed  changes will significantly reduce wait times and costs to obtain the document needed in order to enter Canada. If the proposed changes move ahead, as of December 1, 2017, temporary workers and international students would be included in the TRV exemption. Currently, despite the May 1 changes, international students and temporary workers who hold a Romanian, Bulgarian, or Brazilian passport are still required to obtain a TRV in order to enter Canada.

The lifting of the visa requirement on citizens of Romania and Bulgaria is timely, as these two countries were the only countries in the European Union (EU) whose citizens were still required to obtain a TRV. When IRCC announced in October, 2016 that it intended to lift the visa requirement for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens, former Canadian Immigration Minister John McCallum said, Romania and Bulgaria have worked very closely with us, and we will continue to collaborate on the transition to visa-free travel in order to ensure that once the visa lifts occur, they are sustainable over the long term. Lifting the visa requirements for Romania and Bulgaria will mean visa-free travel to Canada for citizens of all EU member states. We will all benefit from the increase in travel and trade that results.

It is also significant that Brazil is included in this regulation change. Prior to May 1, Chile was the only country in South America whose citizens do not require a TRV in order to enter Canada. The easing of entry requirements for certain Brazilian citizens marks an expansion of Canadas relationship with the continent. Canada is a popular destination for Brazilian visitors and businesspeople, and expanding eTA eligibility would make it easier and faster for many Brazilians to come to Canada, said Rick Savone, Canadas Ambassador to Brazil, when the announcement of the lift was made in October, 2016. Easier travel between our two countries will lead to more opportunities to strengthen our vital people-to-people, tourism and business ties.

Exemptions

IRCC clarified that, Travelers who already have a valid Canadian visa do not need an eTA to fly to Canada and can continue to travel with their visitor visa until it expires. Furthermore, if a traveler holds dual citizenship of Romania, Bulgaria, or Brazil, and another country whose citizens are exempt from the requirement to obtain a TRV, the traveler may obtain an eTA in order to enter Canada  this has been the case since the introduction of the eTA requirement, and is not affected by the recent regulation change. For example, if a traveler holds dual citizenship of Romania and the United Kingdom, whose citizens do not require a TRV in order to enter Canada, the traveler could obtain an eTA using the details of his or her UK passport and enter Canada with that travel document.

Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, cannot apply for an eTA and are required to present a valid Canadian passport in order to fly to Canada.

The eTA

First launched on August 1, 2015, the eTA system became mandatory for visa-exempt travelers to Canada in November, 2016. The eTA provides a way for Canada to pre-screen individuals for admissibility before they enter Canada, with the goal of improving security and streamlining the travel process for low-risk travelers. More than 3.6 million eTAs have been issued to visa-exempt travelers since the introduction of the system.

The eTA process requires individuals to fill out some personal information and answer a few basic questions relating to criminality or medical issues. The process is entirely online, and requires:

a valid passport from a visa-exempt country,

a credit card to pay the $7.00 CAD fee,

a valid email address, and

access to the internet and a few minutes of time.

In most cases, the eTA may be issued within minutes. However, some cases may take several hours or more, and travelers are advised to apply for the eTA with plenty of time before their intended flight. It is not possible for a visa-exempt foreign national who requires an eTA to board a flight to Canada without an eTA. The eTA will be valid for a period of five years from the day on which it is issued to the applicant or until the earliest of the following days, if they occur before the end of that period:

the day on which the applicants passport or other travel document expires,

the day on which the electronic travel authorization is cancelled, or

the day on which a new electronic travel authorization is issued to the applicant.

The eTA includes the applicants name, date and place of birth, gender, address, nationality, and passport and/or travel document information. If the applicant is unable to make the application by means of the electronic system because of a physical or mental disability, it may be made by another means, including a paper application form.

If a Romanian, Bulgarian, or Brazilian citizen holds a United States Green Card, he or she may obtain an eTA to enter Canada, rather than a TRV. All Green Card holders are considered visa-exempt, regardless of their citizenship.

To determine what you need to do to visit Canada, use the Visiting Canada Tool.

For a list of frequently asked questions regarding the eTA, visit the comprehensive eTA FAQ page.

 2017 CICNews All Rights Reserved
Slow-smoked meats, classic sides, sweet tea and free ice cream all have the makings of Mandans newest barbecue joint, Dickey's Barbecue Pit.

Owners Randy Rhone and Ben Zachmeier plan to open the eatery in early June at 4524 Memorial Highway, Suite 103, in the Memorial Square Shopping Center off of Mandans "Strip." "We want to give back to this community, its a great community and its growing," said Rhone.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit is a national franchise that has been around since 1941, according to their website. Rhone said he discovered the company three years ago while driving through Minneapolis and told his neighbor, now business partner, Zachmeier about his experience. "When I walked into it I was like, 'wow,' delicious meat, fast service and just a great environment," said Rhone.

Zachmeier said he discovered the restaurant the year before and they agreed that it was a one-of-a-kind dining experience. So the duo decided to get the ball rolling on the first franchise in North Dakota and in May 2014 Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Minot opened.

The Mandan eatery will include a full menu, 12 tap beers and craft brews, complimentary ice cream, catering services and a conference room that can seat 60 people, equipped with televisions and projectors, said Rhone.

"Eighty percent of the total population of both cities is within a 10-minute drive time of this center," said Rhone, noting the centralization of the Memorial Square Shopping Center. There will be customer to-go and online orders.

Rhone, a businessman for a number of years, also owns the Little Caesars Pizzas in Bismarck, Mandan, Minot and Dickinson as well as Edible Arrangements in Bismarck. A Center native, Rhone says he's been in the food industry most of his life.

Zachmeier worked for a local utility company for 20 years before changing careers and going into business with Rhone. "It's an opportunity for me to build a legacy for my family," said Zachmeier.

Zachmeier said the best part about bringing the franchise to Mandan is "being able to provide back to the community that has provided for you."

Rhone and Zachmeier say their wives play a major part in helping to run the franchises. Amanda Zachmeier spent a month in Dallas attending "Barbecue University" at Dickey's corporate office, making her a certified pit master. She also is the chief purchasing agent for goods and services at both the Minot and Mandan locations. Lisa Rhone provides office and bookkeeping support for the two restaurants.

Mandan's Dickey's Barbecue Pit will be open seven days a week, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information on Dickeys, visit www.dickeys.com. To reach Rhone or Zachmeier call 701-663-4227.
Copiii cu nevoi speciale din Stefan Voda au conditii de reabilitare mai bune, datorita UE si Fundatiei Soros Moldova
The land between the Elkhorn Ranch and the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park was identified as a potential test site for better oil field development practices, allowing industry to drill while also protecting the North Dakota Badlands.

The idea for a pilot area came from the Badlands Advisory Group, a task force made up of representatives from ranching, government, conservation and industry sectors and formed in 2016 with the goal of creating an action plan for Badlands oil drilling.

The need for this planning was identified by a Covenant Consulting Group survey of Badlands stakeholders, funded by the World Wildlife Fund, which asked about concerns when it comes to oil development and how it affects the livelihood and recreation activities of residents and visitors.

With the advent of fracking and horizontal directional drilling came a wash of oil producers into the state drilling all across North Dakotas rugged Badlands, staking their claims with hopes of hitting black gold. The boom happened so fast no vision was ever created for development.

Surveyors interviewed 71 people, including ranchers, government officials, conservation groups and oil companies. The response showed people appreciated the jobs and community revitalization that came with the boom, but the survey also revealed widespread support for protection of surface assets. The idea is better planning and communication could help it happen in a more cohesive manner that protects the region's natural resources.

Advisory group members Gene Veeder, who represented the ranching industry, and Blaine Hoffman, a retired member of the oil industry, said many practices, like better reclamation practices and communication with landowners, have already been improved upon since the start of the boom. The action plan would take those best practices learned and apply them to future projects, starting it off from a better place and looking for even more ways to improve.

"You've got to have a plan rather than just rubber stamping project after project," thinking more in terms of the cumulative affect on cities, on roads, on water, on land use  thousands of wells have on the landscape, said group member Bill Schaller, a former North Dakota Game & Fish Department employee. "It has to do with everything, not just one well pad out there."

When it comes to the idea for a pilot area to try out these concepts, some criteria would be:

 A multitude of landowners  state, federal and private  to test cooperative measures;

 An undeveloped area within the Badlands that includes at least one Area of Interest, designated by the North Dakota Industrial Commission for their historic or scientific value, with a limited number of oil companies leasing in the area and suitable to reclamation research.

Group members called for landscape planning on a larger scale rather than on a unit-by-unit basis so one unit would not be adversely affected by a neighbor. They would also like to see shared infrastructure to reduce the footprint of development, as well as state funding to research reducing pipeline disturbances in the Badlands sensitive soil and landowner education on reclamation best practices.

Hoffman provided the example of the Corral Creek Unit in Dunn County, the largest spacing unit in the Bakken to date. The plan was controversial but Hoffman said it achieved many of the goals identified by the advisory group. For example, because it was larger and only involved one driller, less infrastructure was required for its development and the landscape of the larger area was taken into consideration.

A wildlife habitat improvement program could be another step. Some possible sites for this could include abandoned well or industrial sites, areas that no longer fit into normal farming or ranching practices or that are segregated from landowners operations. Wellsite footprints also could be reduced after drilling is complete.

The group suggested a coordinating entity, such as the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust, for this program. To make the recommendations a reality, the group suggests the governor establish a task force of agencies to coordinate efforts or establish an energy sub-cabinet to do so.

Hoffman said he believes there are a number of things of value to the state and industry within the action plan. As far as development of a long-term strategic plan, that will depend on the governor.

"I think a lot of people are looking to Governor Burgum to lead the way to more orderly oil development," Schaller said.

Rod Backman, of Covenant Consulting, said the advisory group is seeking feedback, gauging reactions before taking it to the state Industrial Commission. The governor has been briefed on the groups findings, as well as North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness, North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms and a multitude of lawmakers.

Were hopeful we get a positive response, said Backman, pointing out that hes already had interest in the pilot project from a couple oil companies. Were optimistic.

To view the full plan, go online to www.ndstakeholders.org.
A Cause for Claws Thrift Store (701-751-5828)  Seeks volunteers to sort, test, repair and set up store displays. All profits support a low-cost spay and neuter clinic.

Abused Adult Resource Center (701-222-8370)  Volunteers advocates needed to help answer the crisis calls in the evenings and on weekends. An advocates role is to listen, offer support and give options. Free training provided.

AID Inc. (701-663-2122 or 701-663-1274)  Adults to sort clothing, sort other donations, pricing, cashiering, cleaning, organizing, hanging clothes, sorting, testing and repairing electrical items and other various tasks.

American Cancer Society (701-433-7582)  Volunteer drivers for Road to Recovery Program.

American Red Cross (701-223-6700)  Disaster and Health and Safety Services to teach CPR/first aid courses, aid in disaster response locally and nationwide, training provided. Adults and youth 16 and older.

Arc of Bismarck (701-222-1854)  Work in the thrift store.

Augusta Place Prospera Community (701-323-3274)  Assist residents with activities, bingo and Sunday visits.

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Bismarck-Mandan Chapter of SCORE (701-328-5861)  Volunteer management counselors to provide free and confidential mentoring and counseling for those who wish to start a small business. Call or stop by the office at the Bank of North Dakota building on Memorial Highway.

Buckstop Junction/Missouri Valley Historical Society (701-250-8575)  Conduct tours of historic buildings, help with The Shoppe, building or grounds maintenance, general office work, Corn Feed/Old Settlers Day, publicity or adopt a building.

Burleigh County Senior Adult Program (701-255-4648)  Deliver meals to homebound elderly individuals and assist as nutrition servers, gift shop attendants, Wii bowling scorekeeper and answering phones.

Central Dakota Humane Society (701-667-2020)  Provide companionship, exercise and socialization to the dogs and cats; assist with basic animal care; assist with special events.

Charles Hall Youth Services (701-255-2773, ext. 303)  Volunteer mentors needed to commit to supporting, guiding and mentoring at-risk youth. Mentors serve as positive role models, teaching youth healthy and safe ways to have fun and to meet positive academic, career and personal goals. Mentors must be minimum of 21 years of age. Training provided.

CHI St. Alexius Health (701-530-7159)  Deliver mail and flowers, escort patients, help with the gift shop.

CHI St. Alexius Home Health & Hospice (701-530-4500)  Share your time, energy and compassion while enriching your own life and lives of others. Help with a variety of activities such as companionship, errands, respite care, administrative and bereavement support. Volunteers who are a veteran, can play an instrument for music therapy and/or perform pet therapy are particularly needed.

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Dakota Zoo (701-223-7543)  Accepting applications for adult volunteers to provide animal conservation programs and animal handling for educational programs. Training provided. Also looking for general volunteers for light building and repair projects. Carpentry, mechanical and fencing skills are a plus but not needed.

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Make-A-Wish (701-280-9474)  Help with upcoming special events.

Manchester House (701-223-5600)  Be a mentor for youth. Must be at least 18.

Mandan Golden Age Services (701-663-6528)  Pick up prepared meals at Mandan Senior Center and deliver them to the homes of the elderly.

McLean Family Resource Center (701-462-8643)  Assist with crisis line.

Mental Health America of North Dakota (701-255-3692)  Help with data entry, various office duties.

Neighbors Network Program (701-323-4277)  Volunteers with pickups to help move donated furniture items to clients homes.

New Song Church (701-258-5683)  Janitorial and light maintenance work. For details, email erickson.e.michael@gmail.com.

North Dakota Operation Lifesaver (701-223-6372)  Help spread the message about railroad safety.

Pride Inc. (701-258-7838)  Support people with disabilities in social and recreational activities, especially between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, Monday-Friday, also evenings and weekends. Staff on site to assist at all times.

Public Health Emergency Volunteer Reserve Corps/Medical Reserve Corps (701-328-1334)  Accepting registration of volunteers to assist with public health emergencies. Medical and non-medical volunteers needed. Choose to help only in own county, in the surrounding counties, statewide or anywhere in the U.S. Register at www.ndhealth.gov/EPR/volunteer.

Ruth Meiers House (701-222-2108)  Sorting donations, stocking food pantry shelves, dining room servers, childrens learning center aides, baby boutique program assistants and special event help. More information: www.ruthmeiers.org.

St. Vincents Care Center (701-323-1974)  Entertainers for background music for Sunday social events.

Salvation Army (701-223-1889)  Assist with meals, activities and tutoring in the youth program; stock food pantry shelves; light maintenance work.

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Sanford Health Hospice (701-323-8400)  Volunteers needed to assist terminally ill patients. Assistance commonly includes visiting, reading and taking walks; child care assistance; bereavement support; and administrative/clerical work. Orientation, training and support provided.

Seeds of Hope store (701-222-8370)  Greeters, price clothes, stock and straighten shelves, Diggers Delight and more. Creative people needed for designing gift baskets and store displays.

Tracys Sanctuary House (701-258-5889)  Perform daily housekeeping tasks, answer phones, stock kitchen and food pantry.

Volunteer Care Givers for the Elderly (701-223-9290)  Assist with transportation, yardwork, light housekeeping, respite care, errands and shopping and other companionship activities with the elderly.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders just thanked President Donald Trump for a remark he made about health care  no, really.

The self-proclaimed Democrat socialist from Vermont  an advocate of universal health care in the United States  jumped Thursday on a comment Trump made to Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Just hours after Trump celebrated the House's vote to pass a divisive bill to overhaul the U.S. health care system, he praised the Australian health care system, which provides universal coverage and has both public and private services.

Trump made the comment after he outlined his goals for the GOP bill, which faces a tough test in passing the U.S. Senate in its current form.

"It could get maybe even better. It's a very good bill right now. The premiums are gonna come down very substantially," Trump said, sitting next to Turnbull in New York City.

"The deductibles are going to come down. It's going to be fantastic health care. Right now Obamacare is failing. We have a failing health care  I shouldn't say this to our great gentleman, my friend from Australia cause you have better health care than we do."

Shown the clip on MSNBC's "All In with Chris Hayes" on Thursday, Sanders laughed before signaling that he will hold the comment over Trump's head.

"Thank you Mr. President ... Let us move to a Medicare for all system that does what every other major country on Earth does, guarantee health care to all people at a fraction of the cost per-capita that we spend. Thank you Mr. President. We'll quote you on the floor of the Senate," Sanders said.

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The maiden test flight of the C919 airliner made a successful takeoff, and landing, after a 90-minute flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Friday, according to a livestream via Twitter carried on China's official news agency Xinhua.

The plane's flight was watched by a large crowd gathered at the airport.

The C919 has more than 150 seats and a range of 4,075 kilometers (2,532 miles), and is meant to compete with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, among the most popular commercial planes flying in the skies.

Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, the state-owned company behind the plane, said 21 customers had placed orders for more than 500 planes by the end of 2016, and it expected sales to exceed 2,000, state media said.

Livestream Tweet

China is making a big push to become a global aviation player, looking to compete with the likes of Airbus and Boeing . Establishing itself in this industry has been hailed a "strategic move" by President Xi Jinping, according to written remarks published by state media outlets. Beijing has also identified domestic development and production of engines and planes as a major goal.



Friday's maiden flight will be a key milestone for the C919, which has been plagued by delays. Final ground tests only concluded a few weeks ago, much later than the original schedule of a first flight in 2014, and aircraft delivery in 2016.



Still, it will still be a while before travelers can board the plane  the C919 still needs to undergo other safety and certification checks.



China is expected to beat the U.S. as the world's largest aviation market by 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association. And it's going to be big business for a range of sectors, from tourism to airplane makers as the country's airlines buy more planes and add more routes.



Boeing has estimated that China will need to buy up $1 trillion worth of planes  about 6,810 sets of wings  over the next two decades in order to meet demand.

 Barry Huang contributed to this story.
Counterfeits are a painful thorn in the side of luxury fashion brands but they can be even more of a headache for digital re-sellers. Consumers on the hunt for high-end clothing at a cheap price often seek out well-preserved second-hand pieces online but hunting for legitimate goods in the global $460 billion counterfeit industry  according to OECD data  is no easy task.

A shop selling counterfeit Chinese made luxury brand ladies bags at an outdoor market in the Golden Triangle, situated along the Thai- Burma border in Tachiliek, Myanmar. Chinese copies boasting well known brands flood this market allowing Thai shoppers and tourists to travel over the border to buy everything from fake iPhones, designer purses, watches and sunglasses. Paula Bronstein / Getty Images

Given the ubiquity of fakes among re-sellers, buyers often examine pre-owned fashion to deduce authenticity, often analyzing the stitching, font size and interior labels. But sometimes, a copy is just so well-made that the human eye can't tell it from the original. That's where technology can help. Entrupy is a portable scanning device that instantly detects imitation designer bags by taking microscopic pictures that take into account details of the material, processing, workmanship, serial number, and wear/tear. It then employs the technique of deep learning to compare the images against a vast database that includes top luxury brands and if the bag is deemed authentic, users immediately get a Certificate of Authenticity. After launching as a paid service in September 2016, the New York-based venture now has over 130 paid customers, almost all of whom are American businesses drawn to the 97.1 percent accuracy rate, explained Entrupy CEO Vidyuth Srinivasan. Other investors include New York University, deep learning pioneer Yann LeCun, and Japanese venture capital firm Accord Ventures. "We're choosing to start with second-hand re-sellers initially as we see a huge lack of trust in the luxury goods space, especially online," Srinivasan told CNBC. In 2015, Singapore-based e-tailer The Fifth Collection, which specializes in secondhand luxury fashion, became one of Entrupy's early investors. At the time, founders Nejla Matam-Finn and Michael Finn were self-funding The Fifth Collection and hadn't even paid themselves a salary but they called the Entrupy investment a no-brainer.

"Authentication is core to our business and we have always strived to be at the cutting-edge of the field," the husband and wife duo explained. "This (Entrupy) was consistent with that vision and we felt it was worth the risk both for us and for the betterment of the second-hand luxury ecosystem." The sole player in Asia to possess Entrupy, three-year old The Fifth Collection says it has always guaranteed product authenticity thanks to an in-house curation process so it wouldn't be fair to charge customers for the verification service. "This technology adds a new scientific dimension to our authentication arsenal but the fundamental promise remains unchanged  why would we charge more for continuing to do exactly what we said we would do?" Instead of an immediate return, The Fifth Collection gains an opportunity to become a leader within a new generation of luxury re-sellers committed to combat piracy, explained Matam-Finn and Finn. Entrupy isn't the sole authentication technology on the market but its simplicity and ability to learn from every scanned item was a major draw for The Fifth Collection. But what happens if Entrupy falls into the hands of a counterfeiter?

Street vendors, known as 'manteros' display their goods in Sol on February 16, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. The 'manteros', mostly African immigrants who offer counterfeit handbags, cheap t-shirts and shoes, engage in a continuous hide-and-seek game with the police trying to prevent their illegal activity. Horacio Villalobos / Corbis / Getty Images
If you have a child in high school  or one even younger  it's a good time to check your college planning strategies. It's a big month for college prep: Seniors passed the Decision Day deadline for making a final college enrollment choice, and high schoolers are taking their advanced-placement exams in the hopes of scoring some money-saving college credit.

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Whether you're just starting to save, or ready to start scheduling campus tours and winnowing down your application choices, here's how to make sure you're on track to win at college planning:

1) Benchmark college savings

It's all too easy to go into sticker shock on college pricing, especially when you're trying to gauge future costs for a younger child. (What? You don't think you can come up with half a million bucks by the time your new baby is 18?) Fidelity's new '2K' rule provides a quick gut check on whether you've saved enough. The math: Multiply your child's age by $2,000. If you have at least that much, you're on track to cover half the average cost of a four-year, public university.

To make the most of your savings, revisit the 529 plan. These tax-advantaged plans are getting more popular, but they're still misunderstood. There are lots of 529 misconceptions, such as thinking you have to use the plan in your home state (false), and that you lose the money if your kid doesn't go to college or gets a scholarship (not true). "This is the best way to save for a child or grandchild's education, period, end of sentence," Young Boozer, chair of the College Savings Plans Network and state treasurer of Alabama, explains to CNBC. Resources to read: 10 hidden benefits of 529 plans

Use the '2K' rule to save for your kid's college education

2) Cast a wide net on colleges

Look at a wide range of schools that could be a good financial fit, as well as a good academic fit. The College Board found that nearly three quarters of full-time students receive grant aid to help cover the cost of college  meaning that sticker price doesn't reflect what you could really expect to pay. Some colleges have made low tuition a hallmark of admittance. How low? Try $0. (And New York, of course, recently enacted legislation to make tuition free at public colleges for families earning $125,000 or less.)

Sturti | Getty Images

3) Have the student debt talk
Apple became the largest wearable vendor in the first quarter of 2017, overtaking struggling fitness tracker maker Fitbit , according to new research.

Wearable shipments reached 22 million units in the first three months of the year, up from 18.2 million in the same period in 2016, Strategy Analytics said in a report released on Thursday.

Apple shipped 3.5 million Apple Watches, up from 2.2 million the year before, capturing 15.9 percent of the entire wearable market. The U.S. technology giant clinched the top spot for the first time since the third quarter of 2015.

Fitbit, which has consistently been at the top in terms of market share, fell dramatically. The company, which makes products such as the Flex 2 fitness tracker and Blaze smartwatch, shipped 2.9 million devices in the first quarter, down 35 percent from the year before. Meanwhile, its market share slipped to 13.2 percent, down from 24.7 percent in the first quarter of 2016. Fitbit's official numbers showed that it in fact shipped 3 million devices in the first quarter. This still leaves it in third place.
Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett told CNBC he's sold about a third of his IBM holdings. Buffett said IBM did not perform the way he had expected when he bought the stock six years ago.

Buffett brushed off softer iPhone sales, saying Berkshire owns Apple stock for the long haul. Buffett said he sees U.S. economic growth at about 2 percent. And Buffett said Berkshire has $90 billion in cash and he's looking to "buy a big business." But nothing is on his list, he added. (CNBC)

Amazon (AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos unloaded 1 million shares of Amazon stock in the last three days, totaling $940.74 million, according to a filing with the SEC. (CNBC)

The U.S. Department of Justice has begun a criminal investigation into Uber's use of a software tool that helped its drivers evade local transportation regulators. (Reuters)

Family members of three victims of the December 2015 shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California, have sued Facebook, Google and Twitter, claiming that the companies permitted Islamic State to flourish on social media. (Reuters)

Facebook virtual reality content production unit, Oculus' Story Studio, is shuttering its doors to shift focus on supporting external content makers, two years after the in-house studio launched. (Reuters)

YouTube adds seven new series in a move to get more TV ad dollars, including shows from Kevin Hart, Ellen Degeneres and Demi Lovato. At HBO, "Game of Thrones" nearing its end, but the pay service has commissioned top screenwriters to come up with potential spinoffs. (CNBC & USA Today)

Delta Air Lines (DAL) apologized after a couple said they were kicked off an overbooked flight with their two toddlers so their seats could be given to waiting passengers. (Reuters)

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) was ordered by a jury to pay $110 million in a case involving its talc-based feminine hygiene products. The payment goes to a Virginia woman who told the court she developed ovarian cancer after using the products for several decades. (Reuters)

The Republican replacement plan for Obamacare just narrowly cleared the House  but the bill will almost certainly face more skepticism in the Senate. Some senators are signalling they may want to start from scratch on health care. (CNBC & NBC News)
This potentially means areas of contention between both countries will not be resolved, raising the possibility of interference by Russia in the upcoming elections in September. With no proof of the opposite, Guttenberg told CNBC's Squawk Box . He added that "there is some rather harsh discussion ongoing in Germany [on] whether this is accelerating."

While both Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to the necessity of dialogue, "they mainly agree to disagree on, more or less, every single topic that was at stake  maybe Syria, maybe the Ukraine, maybe the question of potential interference in elections," according to Karl-Theodor Zu Guttenberg, who served as minister of defense from late 2009 to early 2011 in a Merkel-led government. He resigned over a plagiarism scandal.

The possibility of Russian interference in German elections is "not too comforting," a former German defense minister told CNBC, adding that polls later this year will be a testing ground as relations are tense.

In early May, Merkel made her first bilateral visit to Russia since the annexation of Crimea in 2014 from Ukraine. The visit comes ahead of the a G20 summit in July and the German federal elections in September, which early polls suggest she is poised to do well enough in to form a new coalition government.

This worry comes on the back of Russia allegedly having a hand in swaying the U.S. elections.

"We've heard the debates in France, we have seen what has happened or maybe not happened, from a Russian perspective in the U.S. It is something which is being put into perspective, [and] is not too comforting," he said.

The lack of difficulty in swaying public opinion is an increasing worry by German politicians. In the last two years, approximately one million refugees have arrived in Germany. Almost simultaneously, the proliferation of "fake news" and racism has risen.

However, Guttenberg said Merkel's party, the Christian Democartic Union, has no reason to be threatened and are "regarded as the front runners." While he would not exclude the idea that the Alternative for Germany party is likely getting support from Russia, they have "stagnated over the last two months."

Even so, there are a few more months to the German elections and Guttenberg cautioned that "a lot of things can happen. There are some words that we might face another wave of refugees heading to Germany this summer. You'll never know whether there will be another terror attack. So that could play out badly for her."

Furthermore, Russia still has a stake in Europe and that gives them reason to watch the EU and the countries within it.

"I think Russia is still highly dependent on the European market and a lot of people in Russia have a cultural affinity towards Europe," Guttenberg said, "I think there is prevailing interest to keep the Europeans, at least at a healthy length."

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Centrist French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron may be leading in the polls, but his postelection honeymoon will likely be short-lived, foreign policy expert Benn Steil told CNBC on Friday.

Macron, who wants closer European cooperation and an open economy, faces far-right rival Marine Le Pen in Sunday's election. Le Pen advocates closing the borders and quitting the euro.

The most recent polls show Macron on course to win 63 percent of the vote, with Le Pen expected to score 37 percent.

"His biggest enemy right now is apathy," the senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations said in an interview with "Closing Bell."

"If you look at the first round of French presidential voting, you had 50 percent of the French electorate supporting a candidate who was broadly euroskeptic."

If Macron wins, he will have to rally his new party, En Marche, for the parliamentary elections in June. While En Marche will likely emerge has the biggest party in those elections, the traditional-right center and its allies are also polling strong, Steil pointed out.

That means Macron could possibly wind up governing with a prime minister from another party, explained Steil.

"This is going to be a tough period."

And if he fails to be effective, the far right may come back even stronger in the next elections, he predicted.

However, Philippe Le Corre, a fellow at The Brookings Institution, pointed out that Macron, who has never held elected office, is a different type of candidate for France. Neither right nor left, he'll put together a grand coalition in the style of the German government, he told "Closing Bell."

"This is very new for French politics, which are very divided between left and right since World War II," he said. "We should give him a chance before saying he already failed."

 CNBC's Laura Petti and Reuters contributed to this report.
A key part of congressional Republicans' tax reform plan, the border adjustment tax, is "not productive," retail veteran and former Varsity Brands CEO Matt Rubel told CNBC on Friday.

He believes the provision, which would slap a 20 percent tax on imports, will have a negative impact on the economy, of which consumers are the biggest part. That's because it will raise prices on imported goods, he explained. Rubel serves on an advisory committee for trade policy, and was first appointed under former President Barack Obama in 2014.

"If consumers haven't had income growth over a long period of time and then you go and move to a border adjustment tax as it's articulated by Congress, it will only move things out of the range of where people can buy them," said Rubel, also the former CEO of Collective Brands, in an interview with "Power Lunch."

"Adding that to the current environment would actually lead to more unemployment and would lead to a tremendous disruption," he added.

The U.S. House of Representatives is now expected to turn its attention to tax reform in earnest after passing the GOP's health-care bill on Thursday.

President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have pledged to complete the biggest tax reform since 1986, when President Ronald Reagan was in office, before the end of 2017.

However, there already appear to be differences within the party, including the controversial border adjustment tax.

House leaders believe the tax is crucial to helping keep the plan revenue-neutral. However, the White House doesn't appear to support the measure, which was not included in the outline of Trump's plan released last week.

Last week, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the administration doesn't think the provision works in its current form.

"We're going to continue to have discussions with them above revisions," he said in an event hosted by The Hill.

While retail executives have been outspoken in their criticism of the tax, General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt on Thursday supported the idea.

"All of our global competitors have some form of a border adjustment," he said. "Isn't it worth a debate?" he said in a speech at Georgetown University.

He also warned the administration to avoid protectionist policies.

Correction: Matt Rubel serves on an trade advisory committee. He does not advise President Donald Trump directly.

CNBC's Jacob Pramuk and Reuters contributed to this report.

Watch: CEO concerns over border tax
Ping An Insurance Group , China's largest insurer by market value, is launching its first overseas fund to invest in financial technology (fintech) and health care tech worldwide.

Headed by Jonathan Larsen, an 18-year veteran of Citigroup, who joins as chief innovation officer, the $1 billion Ping An Global Voyager Fund will be run out of Hong Kong.

The fund will look for investments in early stage fintech and healthcare technology firms around the world, according to a statement released on Thursday, and comes as part of Ping An's attempt to expand beyond its home market and target overseas growth as China's economy slows.

The Shenzhen-based financial group plans to invest in the fund over the next three to four years as part of an ongoing drive to build up its expertise in the fintech and health care monitoring tech arenas. It already has fintech experience via its Lufax subsidiary, which is China's biggest peer-to-peer (P2P) lending and wealth management platform.

Ping An Ventures, the insurer's existing venture capital firm, mainly focuses on early-stage investments in China and isn't focused purely on the fintech and health care sectors, as the new fund will be.

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Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Apple could use its massive cash hoard to buy Netflix or one of six other major U.S. companies, to the benefit of shareholders, according to a Citigroup analysis. On Tuesday, Apple reported another increase in its cash holdings to a new record of $256.8 billion, 93 percent of which is overseas. Many analysts speculate Apple could soon bring back those profits if the Trump administration follows through on a proposed cut to the tax rate on those returning funds. Mergers and acquisitions "may make the most sense for some (or all) of Apple's excess cash" since Apple would likely take "too long" to use its cash for accelerating its pace of share repurchases, Citi's Jim Suva said in a Friday note.

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"We identified a handful of potential M&A targets. Three are media firms: Netflix, Disney and Hulu. Three are video game developers: Activision , Electronic Arts and Take-Two . And, one is an auto maker: Tesla . Each target confers some strategic benefit to Apple," Suva said. He has a buy rating on Apple. Investors in Apple could see as much as a 20 percent gain from an Apple acquisition of Disney, or 7 percent from a purchase of Tesla or Netflix, Suva said. The iPhone maker could also use part of the cash to increase buybacks, he said in the note, resulting in "a significant 20 percent lift" in the share price. Attractiveness of acquisition candidates (deal size, probability, impact to Apple shares) Source: Citi Research Apple did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment. Management said on the earnings call that it was difficult to speculate on what might happen on tax reform. The Citi report is also not the first time analysts have speculated about the tech giant buying companies like Netflix or Tesla. Suva's team of analysts found that Netflix was the most logical target after examining five factors: strategic fit, global scale, transaction size, few non-strategic assets and likely impact on Apple's share price.

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"Like Apple, Netflix is global, has no non-core assets (like Disney) and is disrupting the global video ecosystem. Apple could help accelerate this disruption," Suva said. Non-core assets refer to those not essential to a company's operations. To be sure, respected Wall Street academic on corporate valuations Aswath Damodaran told CNBC earlier this week that the best thing for the iPhone maker to do with the cash is "probably nothing." "Cash is not the problem. It's what they could do with the cash that could potentially be a problem," Damodaran said. "It can become a problem if people stop trusting management and you know what could cause people to stop trusting management? A big acquisition." The iPhone maker has also avoided large acquisitions. The only transaction over $1 billion during the last six years was a $3 billion purchase of Beats Electronics in 2014, according to the Citi report. WATCH: Traders debate what the best use is for corporate cash stockpiles.
Legislative leadership was still caucusing their members Thursday to see if theres any appetite for returning to Bismarck to override any items vetoed earlier this week by Gov. Doug Burgum. Some early support was emerging for $16.1 million in appropriations to non-oil-producing townships statewide.

Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, said about a handful of members in the Senate GOP caucus indicated they were on board to return for a one-day veto override session. Several others appeared OK with returning as long as support was strong enough to override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Wardner spoke Thursday with about two-thirds of Senate Republicans and intends to contact the remaining third today.

One of Burgum's vetoes was a line item in Senate Bill 2013, the Department of Trust Lands budget. A $16.1 million appropriation would have provided non-oil producing townships with $10,000 each. The money would come from the State Disaster Relief Fund and the remaining dollars from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund.

In Burgums letter outlining his rationale for the veto, he said no specific case was laid out for an across-the-board appropriation to statewide townships. He said taking from the State Disaster Relief Fund in a budget crunch wasnt prudent, either.

That would be the one that might have an override, said Wardner, adding that a number of lawmakers say the funds would help municipalities with the heavy cost of clearing snow or other infrastructure needs.

House Minority Leader Corey Mock, D-Grand Forks, further validated those sentiments.

This is going to have a significant impact on many rural communities, Mock said.

Legislative Management could wait until a May 31 meeting already scheduled to take up the question of returning for a veto override session or set a meeting prior to that, according to Wardner.

Burgum delivered line-item vetoes of provisions in eight agency budgets this week as well as one other full bill. Altogether, Burgum vetoed 13 bills.
President Donald Trump may have started a trend.

Since the businessman  who had never held public office or served in the military  was elected in November, rumors have swirled about other CEOs possibly running for president. The latest rumbling came Friday, when Axios reported that Disney CEO Bob Iger is getting urged to run in 2020 and "is clearly intrigued by the idea."

That follows other reports that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz or media mogul Oprah Winfrey could consider making bids for president, all of them most likely on the Democratic side.

There is no indication that any of those executives will launch a bid. The speculation, though, underscores the belief that Trump's electoral success may have opened the door for more candidates who have business experience, rather than government experience.

Trump ran largely on the argument that his business background made him an outsider from an entrenched political class and would lead to him negotiate good deals for the American people. Others whose policy views differ from Trump could conceivably take up that same framework regardless.

The 66-year-old Iger does face one possible hurdle to launching a campaign. He is under contract with Disney until July 2019. Disney did not immediately respond to CNBC's request to comment on this story.

Zuckerberg has set a goal of visiting every state in the country, fueling speculation that he is laying the groundwork for a run for office. Still, the 32-year-old CEO has denied that he wants to make a bid for the presidency.

The 63-year-old Winfrey created a stir when, in a video clip released by Bloomberg earlier this year, she suggested that Trump's election had made her think she could be more qualified for office than she thought. Later in the interview, though, she said a run "won't be happening."

Starbucks, where the 63-year-old Schultz still serves as executive chairman, did not respond to a request to comment on this story.
Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

International Business Machines  Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett told CNBC that he has sold about a third of his IBM holdings. Buffett said IBM did not perform the way he had expected when he bought the stock six years ago.

VWR  The life sciences company agreed to be bought by privately held Avantor for $33.25 per share in cash, or $6.4 billion. The price is below Thursday's close, but the stock had spiked earlier in the week when reports of the talks first surfaced.

Cigna  The health insurer reported adjusted quarterly profit of $2.77 per share, compared to estimates of $2.45 a share. Revenue also beat forecasts and Cigna raised its full-year forecast, as well. Its results were helped by customer additions in its commercial insurance business.

Moody's  The credit rating agency came in 23 cents a share above estimates, earning an adjusted $1.47 per share for its latest quarter. Revenue beat by a wide margin, as well. Moody's benefited from an increase in bond issuance during the quarter.

Avon Products  Activist investor Barrington Capital is calling on the cosmetics company to fire CEO Sheri McCoy, following a surprise quarterly loss for the company. Barrington and Avon had agreed to a settlement last year which shook up the company's board of directors.

CBS  CBS beats estimates by nine cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of $1.04 per share. Revenue beat Street forecasts, as well, boosted by content licensing and subscription fees.

Shake Shack  Shake Shack came in two cents a share above estimates, with adjusted quarterly profit of 10 cents per share. Revenue was also above consensus, however comparable-restaurant sales fell 2.5 percent and the company also gave lower-than-expected revenue guidance.

Zillow  Zillow reported adjusted quarterly profit of 11 cents per share, six cents a share above estimates. Revenue also scored a beat. The real estate website operator raised its full-year revenue guidance, but is predicting a wider loss than analysts were anticipating.

Herbalife  Herbalife surpassed consensus estimates by 35 cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of $1.24 per share. Revenue was slightly above forecasts. The nutritional products maker also raised its full-year earnings guidance above current consensus.

Zynga  Zynga shares are getting a pre-market boost after forecasting current-quarter bookings above forecasts. The online gaming company's results are being helped by strong performances by games such as Words With Friends.

Syngenta  Syngenta shareholders have tendered enough shares to clinch ChemChina's deal to buy the agricultural chemical maker for $43 billion. The deal is scheduled to close on May 18.

Johnson & Johnson  J&J was ordered by a jury to pay $110 million in a case involving its talc-based feminine hygiene products. The payment will go to a Virginia woman who told the court she developed ovarian cancer after using the products for several decades.

Facebook  Facebook's Oculus unit is shutting down its film studio in order to focus on supporting external virtual reality content producers.

Activision Blizzard  Activision reported adjusted quarterly profit of 31 cents per share, 10 cents a share above estimates. The video game maker's revenue also topped forecasts. The company is seeing strong results for its "Overwatch" game and said anticipation among fans is high for debuts of new versions of "Call of Duty" and "Destiny" later this year. Activision did give a full-year forecast that fell below consensus estimates.

LendingClub  LendingClub lost two cents per share for its latest quarter, one cent a share smaller than expected. Revenue topped forecasts. The lender raised its revenue forecast for the full year, but also reported higher expenses and a drop in loan originations.
As soon as the flawed GOP Obamacare replacement narrowly passed the House of Representatives Thursday, Washington Democrats began a combination celebration/war dance as they prepared to defeat the measure in the U.S. Senate.

Not so fast my friends.

Yes, the current Republican bill has enough landmines to anger Senate liberals and conservatives alike. But the way some Democrats and their allies in the media are responding to the measure threatens to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Instead of continuing the same old jeering chorus of Trump-bashing, the Senate Democrats have a unique chance to use this bill to switch to a winning strategy in the health debate and beyond.

Before we look at the smarter way to go, let's just confirm the over-the-top response to the House bill that's already making the Democrats look ridiculous. Senator Elizabeth Warren is the best example. She launched a series of critical tweets against the bill filled with the usual liberal talking points but she also included an off-the-rails "people will die" statement that sullied the whole affair:

Warren's hyperbole is a predictable misstep for the Democrats and all anti-Trump forces who are missing opportunities to advance their agenda because of their uncontrolled rage at the president himself.

The fact is most of the Republicans in Congress have already surrendered to the reality of Obamacare and voted for a bill that retained about 90 percent of the ACA. The AHCA does not repeal Obamacare's cost driving insurance benefit mandates. It doesn't eliminate the "community rating" that keeps insurance premiums rising.

The bill actually boosts subsidies for Americans with pre-existing conditions in a way that would make that pre-existing fund grow exponentially in the coming years. The best anti-Obamacare activists can say is that the bill allows for a complicated limited waivers process where the states can try to opt out of some of current requirements. Big deal.

Instead of declaring victory, the Democrats are responding the same way they would had the House GOP really repealed Obamacare. And that's the loser's move. Here are three things they should do instead:

1) It's all in the branding. Start calling this GOP bill what it really is

The Democrats should start thanking the Republicans for finally accepting their version of reality and working to slightly amend Obamacare rather than killing it. Couching the GOP efforts in just that way will simultaneously delight the Democrat base and enrage conservatives just enough to undermine Republican Congressional agenda on this issue for a long time. And you wouldn't have to just take their word for it. Republicans from the reddest of states are now parroting what used to be words uttered by leftist activists on health care. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana just told the New York Times: "There's a widespread recognition that the federal government, Congress, has created the right for every American to have health care."

Hey Democrats! With enemies like Senator Cassidy, who needs friends?

What's going to be more impressive to the swing voters and moderates in 2018 and 2020? Will it be the fact that the Democrats in Congress shouted the loudest nasty things about President Trump and the Republicans? Or will it be the fact that they easily manipulated the opposing majority party to adopt and advance their agenda?

I'm betting on the latter.

2) Go beyond pre-existing conditions. Get President Trump to clearly promise no one will lose their coverage

The Republican fears of the bad press they'd get from potentially nixing coverage for people with pre-existing conditions got them to promise not to do that before the bill was even written. And it wasn't until that special added fund to guarantee that coverage (now at $8 billion) was slapped onto the bill earlier this week that the GOP earned enough of their own frightened members' votes to pass the AHCA. Democrats made that happen without even having to say a word.

The logical next step is for the Senate liberals to insist President Trump and the Republicans promise that no one currently covered by Obamacare will lose coverage. Of course it would be an impossible promise to truly keep, but if the GOP and the White House don't think costlier patients should lose their coverage, then how can they deny less costly patients the same "rights?"



Getting that kind of promise in a tweet or a speech from either President Trump or Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would be the best Republican endorsement of Obamacare they could ever hope for.

3) Admit to the public that Obamacare needed fixing

The Democrats have been in denial for years about the problems with Obamacare like sharply rising premiums and insurers bailing out. Therein lies the final trap the Senate Democrats must avoid. They can push the GOP to preserve as many part of Obamacare they want, but they should explain that they're doing this in a general effort to improve the ACA.

Some experts believe the Republicans will now get the blame for all of Obamacare's failures, but that's not a bet the Democrats should take. It would do them more good if at least some of them appeared to be working with the GOP to get a good bill passed. When Democrats like Bill Clinton took that approach on taxes and welfare reform with the Republicans in 1995, it helped reverse his slide in the polls and secure his re-election a year later. That's a path the Democrats should be emulating now... if they want to win future elections, that is.

So the Democrats have a choice. They can continue join in an angry, vitriolic, and loud protest chorus or they can bank the victory they've already won on Obamacare and more prudently move the ball down the field.

Commentary by Jake Novak, CNBC.com senior columnist. Follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.

For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker addressed an audience in French on Friday, claiming that the English language is losing its importance as tensions with the U.K. intensify.

"I'm hesitating between English and French," Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the European Commission, which will hold talks with the U.K. over its decision to leave the EU on behalf of the other countries, told an audience in Italy.

"I made my choice. I will express myself in French because slowly but surely English is losing its importance in Europe and then the French will have elections next Sunday and I would like them to understand what I'm saying about Europe," he said.

There's been a tense exchange of words between Brussels and London over the last few days following a meeting between Juncker and U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May last week. The British premier said she will be a "bloody difficult" woman in the upcoming negotiations and accused the EU of interfering with the U.K. general election in June. May also said that there are people in the European institution who want Brexit to fail.

Media reports suggested that the meeting between both leaders was a disaster, with a clear clash over key issues. President allegedly left London "10 times more skeptical" than he was before after the meeting.

The war of words between Juncker and May has raised concerns among other EU officials. President Donald Tusk of the European Council, who represents the 27 heads of state, said on Twitter on Thursday afternoon: "Brexit talks difficult enough. If emotions get out of hand, they'll become impossible. Discretion, moderation and mutual respect needed."

Tweet 1

Speaking in Italy Juncker added that Brexit is a "tragedy" and "not a small event."



"We will negotiate with our British friends in full transparency. But there should be no doubt whatsoever that the EU is not abandoning the U.K. It is the opposite, they are abandoning the EU and this is a difference that will be felt over the next few years," he said.

Official Brexit negotiations are expected to start after the election of a new U.K. government in June.

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European markets closed higher on Friday afternoon after a jobs report in the U.S. beat analysts' expectations.

The pan-European closed 0.65 percent higher on Friday, with most sectors edging higher. The benchmark was 1.72 percent higher on the week. The German DAX jumped 2.15 percent on the week and the French CAC also rose 2.93 percent. The CAC 40 in Paris closed at a new nine and half year high and the DAX in Frankfurt closed at a record high.

Basic resources stocks were the best performers after copper prices recovered from a five-month low.

On the other hand, insurance fell into negative territory Friday as the future of London's financial center faced uncertainty. Early Friday Goldman Sachs ' CEO told the BBC that the risk of Brexit was likely to hurt the U.K.'s financial hub and could prompt the relocation of jobs at the world's second-largest investment bank.

However, banks recovered after lunchtime following news that the U.S. economy added 211,000 jobs in April, which supports arguments favoring a tighten monetary policy by the Federal Reserve. The U.S. jobs report led Wall Street higher, with the Nasdaq composite up by 0.25 percent to trade within striking distance of its all-time intraday high.

Oil and gas also recovered on Friday afternoon as oil prices began to soften earlier losses.

Elsewhere, telecoms made a slight recovery, though hampered by losses for Telefonica and Inmarsat. The pair were seen at the bottom of the benchmark, down 6.9 percent and 7.7 percent respectively. The latter made losses after shareholders voted against the company's pay policies, prompting a remuneration review Thursday.

Retail, travel and leisure were also trading higher Friday. Marks and Spencer was near the top of the benchmark, up 4.9 percent, after announcing former Asda boss Archie Norman as its new chairman and former Halfords CEO Jill McDonald as the head of its clothing arm.

Looking at individual stocks, shares in the education group Pearson spiked 12 percent on new restructuring plans, including the potential sale of its U.S. arm. The firm hit the top of the European benchmark.
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer's reported $186 million payout after the company's sale to Verizon is on the "egregious side," former Yahoo President Sue Decker told CNBC on Friday.

In an interview on "Squawk Box," Decker explained that she does not know the ins and outs of the Yahoo-Verizon merger deal and when Mayer's pay package was negotiated.

"Given what happened in the performance of the company, it seems on the egregious side," Decker said.

According to reports, Mayer stands to make $186 million in the event that Yahoo sells its internet business to Verizon, though that total could change based on Yahoo's stock price.

Yahoo did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.

Verizon and Yahoo are closing in on their $4.4 billion merger deal, which was first in July and has been delayed as Yahoo assesses the fallout from two data breaches disclosed last year. Yahoo agreed to cut the price tag of its acquisition deal following the discovery of the cyberattacks.

Verizon, the No. 1 U.S. wireless carrier, had been trying to persuade Yahoo to amend the terms of the agreement. Under the new terms, the companies will split cash liabilities related to some government investigations and third-party litigation related to the breaches.

Yahoo shareholders will vote on the deal on June 8.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Disclosure: CNBC has a content-sharing partnership with Yahoo's finance site.
Foreign miners in Southeast Asia's largest economy must prove their businesses are advantageous to the country, warned Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, as her government faces allegations of resource nationalism.

"This is supposed to be mutually beneficial ...You need to be able to explain to the people of Indonesia what the value of (your) investment is," Indrawati told CNBC on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank's 50th annual meeting in Yokohama.

Her comments amid a heated dispute between Indonesian President Joko Widodo's administration and miner Freeport-McMoRan , who operates one of the world's largest gold and copper mines in the Indonesian province of Papua.

A change in Indonesian mining rules in January led to a standstill in Freeport's copper concentrate exports. In order to comply with the new regulations, miners in Indonesia must now obtain a special contract  a rule that Freeport says violates its existing contract.

The company has threatened arbitration but Indonesia's mining minister said on Thursday that both parties are close to reaching a deal that would allow Freeport to resume exports, Reuters reported.

"We are communicating directly with Freeport ... It's a normal negotiating process in which both parties have good intentions of maintaining mutually beneficial relationships," Indrawati said. "We want to say to all investors in Indonesia that if you have agreed to enter negotiations, we will enter with goodwill."
Marine Le Pen, French National Front (FN) political party leader and candidate for French 2017 presidential election, celebrates after early results in the first round of 2017 French presidential election, in Henin-Beaumont, France, April 23, 2017. Pascal Rossignol | Reuters

Muslims preoccupy Jennifer Troin. "I'm worried about my nieces having to wear the veil," said the soft-spoken 29-year-old. This fear has helped propel the young mother to the far-right of the political spectrum ahead of Sunday's key presidential election  and into the arms of the hard-line National Front party. More from NBC News: California family kicked off Delta flight, threatened with jail, foster care for refusing to give up tot's seat

Prince Philip is retiring but Queen Elizabeth II won't abdicate: Experts

China's C919 passenger jet makes maiden flight in challenge to Boeing, Airbus Troin sells children's clothes at a store in Cogolin, a town of 11,000 a few miles from the jet-set resorts of the French Riviera. In 2014, Cogolin became one of a handful of communities nationwide to elect mayors from the National Front, which is also known by the acronym FN. Troin told NBC News that it wasn't just the FN's stance on Islam and immigration that attracted her, but also the party's populist take on the economy. But most of all, it was the party's charismatic leader, Marine Le Pen, who captured Troin's loyalty. "She fights for women's rights against Islam," she said. "I vote because of Marine." Troin is part of a quiet army of female National Front supporters, who could well tip the balance of this weekend's election and give the presidency to the hard-right. Last month's first-round vote was close with with Le Pen polling 21.5 percent of the vote and centrist Emmanuel Macron nudging his way ahead on 23.8 percent. An FN victory would rewrite the continent's political playbook, given the party's pledge to take France out of the European Union. Were it to win, it would not have been an easy ride for a movement that previously peaked in 2002 when founder Jean Marie Le Pen  Marine Le Pen's father  reached the second and final round of the presidential election. French voters flocked to the polls in the runoff to ensure Le Pen did not win, instead electing former President Jacques Chirac with a resounding 78 percent of the vote. Most pollsters expect a similar outcome in Sunday's second-round vote, predicting moderate voters to rally once again to shut out the FN. But few doubt that the party's anti-immigrant and anti-establishment platform is resonating. The Front's anti-Islamic message is especially potent in France, whose 4.7 million Muslims make up around 7.5 percent of the population. Islamist militant attacks have killed more than 230 people over two years and plunged the country into a long-term state of emergency. This anxiety deepened on the eve of the first round after a gunman ambushed three Parisian police officers on the Champs-Elysees late Thursday, killing one and wounding two others. ISIS claimed responsibility for the shooting and French President Francois Hollande said it was likely a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, the FN's influence has spread from its heartlands along the Mediterranean coast and in the rust-belt north, into rural "forgotten" France.

'Marine is different'

Polling institute Elabe recently predicted that 30 percent of women would vote for Le Pen in the second round Sunday  just a fraction more than the number of men, and almost 13 percent more than the number who voted FN in 2012. With just days to go, the far-right candidate is predicted to win 38 percent of the vote while Macron is ahead on 62 percent, according to French polling institute Elabe. The FN's ability to motivate French women could be decisive. Traditionally, it has struggled to attract female voters amid accusations of sexism, racism and anti-Semitism. In its early years under Jean-Marie Le Pen, the party advocated a traditional image of women, opposed abortion rights and developed a reputation for a macho, strongman culture. This bias showed. The FN was far less successful at attracting women than men. During Jean-Marie Le Pen' time in charge, around 12 percent of French women supported the party compared with 17 percent of men, according to Sciences Po Cevipof, a political institute based in Paris. Marine Le Pen changed this. Since taking over in 2011, she has softened the party's image, steering the FN away from some of its overtly anti-Semitic and racist rhetoric in an effort to broaden its electoral base. In 2015, she expelled her father after he repeated his view that the Holocaust was a "detail of history." In the run up to the this year's election, Le Pen dropped her last name from campaign handouts, referring to herself simply as Marine. Last week she temporarily resigned as leader of the National Front in an attempt to broaden her supporter base. She has also specifically targeted the female vote. She has published special pamphlets and a campaign video that describes her as a woman and a mother and shows her flicking through family photo albums. She has also changed the party's logo from a flame to a blue rose.

For Troin, the children's clothes seller in Cogolin, her interest in the National Front has grown with Marine Le Pen's rise. While immigration, job security and her fear of Islam remained underlying motivators, she was also attracted to the party's re-brand. For her, the former leader "was too outspoken, too offensive. He was a Hitler-like figure," Troin said. "But Marine is different." In the last presidential election in 2012  the first with Marine Le Pen as leader  the party's gender gap closed to 1.5 percentage points. It's what Cevipof professor and FN expert Nonna Mayer called the "Marine Le Pen effect." The party has long advocated clamping down on immigration and securing borders, and throughout her campaign Le Pen has consistently made the country's Muslims a target. "In France we respect women, we don't beat them, we don't ask them to hide themselves behind a veil as if they were impure. We drink wine when we want, we can criticize religion and speak freely," she said during a rally last month, comments clearly aimed at Muslims. During the rally, Le Pen pledged to suspend all visas from non-European migrants hoping to join their families in France  often code for immigrants from mainly Muslim North Africa and the Middle East. After last month's attack in Paris, she again singled out what she sees as the threat posed by Islam. "It is a war in which there can be no retreat because all our population and all our territory are exposed," she said. And for all her rebranding, Marine Le Pen can also fall back into the older, harsher style of messaging. Cathy, a 50-year-old dental assistant who was shopping for groceries in Cogolin, said she was all set to vote FN but was taken aback by Le Pen's recent comments that the French were not to blame for the anti-Jewish policies of the government during the Nazi occupation in World War II. Referring to the "Vel d'Hiv" roundup of Jews by French police in July 1942, in which nearly 13,000 were detained and deported to concentration camps, Le Pen told French radio last month she thought France was "not responsible." Cathy, who didn't want to be identified by her second name, said Le Pen's remarks had made her pause. "Perhaps she has the same ideas as her father but they're just hidden behind good PR skills," she said. "So I'm still thinking." Others needed no time to reflect. "The FN is xenophobic, racist and anti-feminist," said retired teacher Mireille Escarrat. "For me it feels like the 1930s. We're going backwards."

'I don't talk politics here'
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Friday as traders digested the release of a stronger-than-expected jobs report.

The U.S. economy added 211,000 jobs last month.Economists polled by Reuters expect the U.S. economy to have added 185,000 jobs last month versus 98,000 in March.

Average hourly earnings rose 0.3 percent and the unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent.

In oil markets, Brent crude traded at around $48.17 a barrel on Friday, down 0.43 percent, while U.S. crude was around $45.22 a barrel, down 0.66 percent.

Oil prices struck a new 2017 low on Thursday as mixed U.S. stockpile data compounded bearishness that has permeated the energy complex in recent weeks.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell below $46 and international benchmark Brent breached $49, both sinking to the lowest level since Nov. 30, the day the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to cut output.



In Europe, the pan-European Stoxx 600 Index was around 0.1 percent lower on Friday morning.



On Sunday, French voters will head to the polls for the second round of their presidential election, with the independent centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron facing off against the far-right Marine Le Pen.

In Asia, the Shanghai Composite closed 0.77 percent lower.

CNBC's Tom DiChristopher contributed to this report.
Lloyd Blankfein, CEO of the world's second-largest investment bank, told the BBC Friday that the firm has been in talks with different cities across Europe and has considered expanding office space in a number of locations if Brexit talks turn sour.

The boss of Goldman Sachs has said that the City of London will "stall" because of the risk of Brexit as he revealed plans to relocate jobs from the U.K.

The comments come after the CEO of Goldman Sachs International, Richard Gnodde, told CNBC in March that it would be shifting jobs from London and bulking its European presence by "hundreds of people." However, the bank also confirmed at the time that this movement away from London would not necessarily result in a net reduction of workers in the U.K.

Relocation destinations are thought to include Dublin and Frankfurt, though Blankfein said he hoped the bank would not have to trigger plans.

Blankfein said negotiations between the EU and the U.K. would need to include an implementation period of "a couple of years" to ensure that the financial services industry can continue to operate once negotiations conclude in early 2019.

"We are talking about the long-term stability of huge economies with hundreds of millions of people and livelihoods at stake and huge gross domestic product," he told the BBC.

"So, if it takes a little while - I'd rather get it right than do things quickly."

Read the full story on the BBC's website here.

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The greatest achievement of Donald Trump's first 100 days as president was that there was a 101st. If things continue this way, he will finish out his term and then the nation, like someone after a boozy night, can right itself and get on with its business. We will restore the environment, repair alliances, recognize science, welcome immigrants, cherish honesty, value knowledge and return dignity to a White House where Jefferson may have dined alone but where Trump was joined by Sarah Palin. More than a fresh coat of paint is needed.

The passing of the first 100 days was simultaneously cause for mockery and relief  and both for the same reason: Trump accomplished next to nothing. The courts held firm, so did much of the bureaucracy, and the press not only remains free, it has a new bounce to its step. Most of all, Trump seemed dazed by reality. All sorts of policies were pirouetted  China, Iran, Russia, Syria and Israel, among others  and Trump, like the junkie he is, scorned the news media while craving it dearly. He held it up like a mirror: Am I great? Am I pretty? Am I popular?

And so the alarms have been muted. The Great Fascist Threat has receded, and it is considered both gauche and ahistorical to compare Trump to dictators of the past  you know their names. I quibble with that, because we can always learn from even extreme examples, but the Trump prototype that now seems most relevant is yet another German: Kaiser Wilhelm II. During his reign, World War I began.

That war, more than the greater one that followed, continues to intrigue historians because its cause is so hard to isolate. By Armistice Day, four empires were no more, about 17 million people were dead and the stage was set for a further calamity. But what started it? There are many explanations, but one factor, certainly, was the bellicosity and idiocy of the German kaiser.

Anyone who turns to Christopher Clark's book about the run-up to WWI, "The Sleepwalkers," will recognize a Trump-like figure. The kaiser was a tweeter before his time, firing off letters, telegrams and orders without pausing to wonder about contradictions or policy or even common sense. (He demanded plans for invasions of Cuba, Puerto Rico and New York.)

"There can be no doubt about the bizarre tone and content of many of the kaiser's personal communications in telegrams, letters, marginal comments, conversations, interviews and speeches on foreign and domestic themes," Clark writes. "The kaiser spoke, wrote, telegraphed, scribbled and ranted more or less continuously "

Clark then wonders whether "such utterances connected with the world of actual outcomes." His answer is both frightening and reassuring. In the end, the kaiser was king but not dictator. He was considered a fool and widely ignored within his own government. Other governments had a harder time figuring him out. He often contradicted himself. He often seemed not to understand what he was saying and he felt that he had no need to. "I am the foreign office," he proclaimed. "I am the sole master of German policy."

My nifty likening of Trump to Wilhelm suffers from one compelling problem: The American president is much more powerful than the German kaiser ever was. Trump's response to Syria's use of the sarin nerve agent  swift but bracketed by contradictory policy statements  would not have been possible for Wilhelm. His ministers would have mulled it over, possibly blocked it said yes, sir, clicked their heels  and then done nothing. (Richard Nixon's aides took the same approach to many of his harebrained schemes.) The kaiser benefited from a lazier technology. Mobilization took time and a tomahawk was a hatchet, not a missile.

More disturbing than the similarities between Wilhelm of Prussia and Trump of Queens are their differences. The kaiser was the product of an archaic monarchical system  the bad luck of the draw. Trump, however, was elected in a democratic process, and yet the result has been distressingly similar. All Trump lacks is a pickelhaube, the familiar spiked helmet.

Whatever the cause of World War I, it is clear that the Europe of 1914 needed stability. The arrangements of the 19th century were crumbling, Germany and Britain were warily eying each other, and the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires were coming apart. The kaiser, with his chaotic mind, was only making things worse. The world needed consistency, clarity, wisdom  instead, it got the juvenilia of a deluded leader. Not much has changed.
British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses supporters at an election campaign rally on May 1, 2017 in Mawdesley Village Hall near Ormskirk, England. Christopher Furlong | Getty Images

Britain's governing Conservative party made significant gains in local elections across the U.K., early results showed on Friday, in what was largely viewed as a bellwether for June's snap general election. British voters headed to the ballot box Thursday to elect thousands of local-level government seats throughout the U.K. with less than five weeks to go before turning out once again to potentially elect a new prime minister. As of 12 p.m. London time, the Conservatives had accrued more than 786 council seats, a net gain of 215, and would assume control of at least 10 local authorities, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, Labour, Britain's center-left opposition party had the control of five authorities and 517 council seats, a net loss of more than 159 on Friday morning. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May and her ruling Conservative government appeared on course for a sweeping victory on June 8, early local election results suggested.

Outcome could be seen as 'foregone conclusion'

In April, May announced a sudden change of mind to hold a surprise general election, seeking to take advantage of her opponent's perceived weakness in the polls and strengthen her mandate in order to begin Brexit talks with the European Union with more political freedom. John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University, told CNBC he expected the Conservatives to win by a "landslide". May's Conservatives currently boast a runaway lead of around 48 points, according to the latest opinion poll by Kantar research firm, while support for Jeremy Corbyn's Labour stood unmoved at 24 percent. However, the results from Thursday's regional elections do not necessarily act as a direct proxy for next month's general election. Typically, the governing party could expect to lose ground to opponents when the electorate cast their vote on a national scale. "There is a danger that voters will consider the outcome a foregone conclusion and turnout (next month) could be low, maybe around 65 percent," Larissa Brunner, analyst for Western Europe at think-tank Oxford Analytica, told CNBC.

Key litmus test
President of the political movement 'En Marche!' (On the move!) and candidate for the French presidential election Emmanuel Macron makes a statement after his visit to the 'Memorial des Martyrs de la Deportation' (Deportation Memorial) on April 30, 2017 in Paris, France. Chesnot | Getty Images

A large trove of emails from the campaign of French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron was posted online late on Friday, a little more than a day before voters go to the polls to choose the country's next president in a run-off against far-right rival Marine Le Pen. Some nine gigabytes of data were posted by a user called EMLEAKS to Pastebin, a document-sharing site that allows anonymous posting. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for posting the data or whether the emails were genuine. In a statement, Macron's political movement En Marche! (Onwards!) confirmed that it had been hacked. "The En Marche! Movement has been the victim of a massive and co-ordinated hack this evening which has given rise to the diffusion on social media of various internal information," the statement said.

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In its statement on Friday, En Marche! said that the documents released online only showed the normal functioning of a presidential campaign, but that authentic documents had been mixed on social media with fake ones to sow "doubt and misinformation". "The seriousness of this event is certain and we shall not tolerate that the vital interests of democracy be put at risk," it added. Comments about the email dump began to appear on Friday evening just hours before the official ban on campaigning began. The ban is due to stay in place until the last polling stations close on Sunday at 8 p.m. An interior ministry official declined to comment, citing French rules which forbid any commentary liable to influence an election, and which took effect at midnight French time on Friday. Former economy minister Macron's team has already complained about attempts to hack it systems during a fraught campaign, blaming Russian interests in part for the cyber attacks. On April 26, the team said it had been the target of a series of attempts to steal email credentials since January, but that the perpetrators had so far failed to compromise any campaign data. In February the Kremlin denied that it was behind any such attacks, even though his camp renewed the charges against Russian media and a hackers' group operating in Ukraine.

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Self-made billionaire Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is well-known for his shrewd deal-making on ABC's "Shark Tank." Over the years, Cuban has also made a name for himself as someone who likes to give advice on a broad range of subjects.

1. On launching your career

Cuban has some solid advice on how to approach finding the career that's right for you. It's all about having a passion for the field. Then, once you find it, commit yourself to being great.



"Once you have found out what you love to do, there is only one goal," writes Cuban in a blog post . "How can you be the best in the world at it. It doesn't matter if you are a filing clerk, an athlete, an accountant or a bartender. All that matters is that you do whatever you can to be the best."



2. On self-confidence



Cuban, known for exuding a brash confidence, advises others to follow his example. "Stay focused and believe in yourself and trust your own ability and judgment," he says .

That, in turn, will help others respect your advice and ability to manage.

3. On pushing yourself to succeed

To be as successful as Cuban obviously takes a great deal of hard work. "Sweat equity is the most valuable equity there is," he says . "Know your business and industry better than anyone else in the world."
YouTube lost 5 percent of its U.S. and Canadian top ad clients during the month of April after reports that some ads were running next to inappropriate content, according to ad analytics platform MediaRadar.

The April dip followed a report in late March which showed that ads for companies including Mercedes-Benz and Waitrose were running next to neo-Nazi and jihadist content on YouTube and on websites whose advertising was placed by Google-owned platforms.

Following that revelation advertising agency Havas pulled its U.K. clients, and several brands including L'Oreal , McDonald's , Audi , Starbucks , Pepsi, Dish Network and General Motors said they were pulling advertising from YouTube, with some removing more or all ads on other Google platforms. (The number of advertisers on YouTube increased the first three months of the year, according to MediaRadar.)

MediaRadar  which works with more than 1,600 publishers including The New York Times, BuzzFeed, and Bloomberg  uses artificial intelligence to track advertising and sells that data to companies.

The 5 percent were customers of Google Preferred, YouTube's program for advertising on its top-tier videos. It is bought in an "upfront" style, meaning companies commit advertising money before programming runs. But that doesn't mean they can't back out.

"Securing ad space in advance is not a promise to run ads no matter what," MediaRadar CEO Todd Krizelman said. "Advertisers and their agencies can immediately cancel or put campaigns on hold if they are worried about brand safety."

Five percent is not insignificant, but it would require more defections for the company to really feel the impact. Mizuho said if 10 percent of brands pulled their ads, it would decrease the company's earns per share by $0.15 cents this year or a little under 1 percent of the value.

(Google's most recent earnings report, on April 27, would not reflect April's decline in advertising since it covered the first quarter of 2017.)

Google did not respond to a request for comment. YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said on Thursday during Brandcast, Google's annual presentation of upcoming content for advertisers, it was working on fixing the ad adjacency issue with more technology, giving brands more control over where their ads run and bringing in third-party companies like comScore and Integral Ad Science to monitor content.

Brands that pulled advertising seem to be coming back as well. YouTube said at the event that Johnson & Johnson  which initially pulled ads after the adjacency problems  would sponsor an upcoming talent competition series produced by Ryan Seacrest.

"We apologize for letting some of you down," Wojcicki said. "I'm here to say that we can and we will do better."

Note: CNBC parent company NBCUniversal is an investor in BuzzFeed.
Protesters hold signs and shout at lawmakers walking out of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2017 after the House of Representatives narrowly passed a Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, delivering a welcome victory to President Donald Trump after early legislative stumbles. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images

An abortion provision in the Republican health-care bill has set up a Catch-22 for California and New York residents that could leave millions of them ineligible for federal aid to help pay for health insurance. Both states currently mandate that individual health plans sold in the states cover abortion services. But the GOP's Obamacare replacement bill would bar federal subsidies from being used to help pay premiums for health plans that offer coverage for abortions in most cases, except for ones involving rape, incest or where the life of the mother is in danger. "All their state residents may find themselves unable to use the subsidies," said Adam Sonfield, senior policy manager at the Guttmacher Institute, a sexual and reproductive rights organization. And that would mean that California and New York residents  men as well as women  would "have to pay thousands of dollars extra" for individual health plans because "they would lose that tax credit," Sonfield said.

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"So what you end up with is a situation where you're either harming New York and California residents, or the federal government is forcing state governments to change their law," Sonfield said. "Neither situation is a good situation." And because individual plans would not cover abortion services if the bill becomes law, female customers of those plans would have to pay for such services totally out of pocket. The conflict between the bill and the two states' rules led one Republican congressman, rep. Dan Donovan of New York City, to vote against the GOP Obamacare replacement on Thursday. "As written, the AHCA [American Health Care Act] would impose a tax hike on city residents to fund tax cuts elsewhere in the state," Donovan said on his website. "My constituents would also be unable to use the bill's tax credits because of New York's rules on insurance coverage." The bill, which passed by a narrow 217 to 213, is now headed for consideration in the Senate, where it faces likely alteration. Alina Salganicoff, vice president of women's health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, said California and New York have been exceptions to a trend since passage of Obamacare toward restricting insurance coverage for abortion services. "They are states that strongly ... support abortion access," Salganicoff said. Obamacare premium tax credits, which can only be applied to plans sold through government-run marketplaces such as HealthCare.gov, cannot be used now to pay for abortion services, Salganicoff noted. But people who receive such aid can pay a surcharge for insurance plans that cover the cost of abortion services, she said. However, Obamacare lets states decide whether to ban plans that offer abortion coverage from being sold on government-run insurance exchanges. Twenty-five states had decided to ban abortion coverage through the marketplaces' plans, Salganicoff said. "Ten of those states also banned abortion coverage through their individual market," Salganicoff said.

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In other words, in those states no individual health plan can be sold, either on the Obamacare exchanges or outside of them, that cover abortions . Unlike Obamacare, which limits the subsidies to customers of exchange-sold plans, the GOP's health-care bill would offer premium subsidies to people who buy individual plans either on the exchanges or outside of them. But the provision in the bill would bar the subsidies from being used for plans that cover abortions, regardless of whether the plans are sold on or off the exchange. "What's interesting is that a lot of the language and the support that the Republicans have generated is that they want to give more choice to the states to [design] their own benefits, and the AHCA sets up waivers to do that," Salganicoff said. "But in the case of abortion, they specifically say that they must be excluded, and it would no longer give the states the option to include abortion" for plans eligible for subsidies, she said. Salganicoff said that inclusion of the abortion provision in the bill reflects the fact that "restricting abortion is a priority for the Republican Congress and the Trump administration." Watch: GOP passes health care bill
Oil prices plunged below $44 a barrel overnight in a matter of minutes, putting the market on edge as futures tested yet another key technical level. Traders blamed forced margin calls and computer trading for the so-called flash crash but were not quite sure what caused the drop.

At about 11:17 p.m. ET, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was trading at $45.36. By 11:31 p.m. ET, it had plunged 3 percent to a low of $43.76, the lowest price since Nov. 15. Futures then rebounded slightly back above $44 and stayed there for awhile until rallying back above $45 by 4 a.m. ET.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures 2-day performance

The flash crash was frightening to traders who bet on higher oil prices, "but it looks to be anomalous even in a market that is technically very weak and searching for strong fundamentals," said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at Oil Price Information Service.

"So for now, it looks to be more of a brief nightmare than a template for the next couple of days," he told CNBC in an email.

Futures have plunged through a number of key levels this week. The sudden drop brought it within striking distance of another "major support zone" at $42.70, which Seaport Global Securities flagged on Thursday.

A close below $44 a barrel could trigger technical targets in the neighborhood of $40.50 a barrel, Kloza said.

John Kilduff, founding partner at energy hedge fund Again Capital, said the overnight plunge looks like forced margin-call selling. Kilduff added that he would not be surprised to hear that a hedge fund "blew up," meaning it was forced to sell its positions.

International benchmark also extended losses overnight, dropping to $46.64 a barrel after breaking below $50 on Thursday for the first time in six weeks.
If you are not ready to give it 110 percent every day, day in, day out, then running a business isn't for you. Garrett Marrero co-founder of the Maui Brewing Company

"I have had the comment, 'Oh, it must be nice,' sometimes. And I hear that, from someone and I am like, 'You know what, yeah, it is nice. We have a nice home, it's great to run a company like we do and to work with the people we do but the sacrifice that we put in? It meant no vacation, it meant being broke," says Marrero. "If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. And it's much easier to be on the other side of the fence pointing back at a successful business saying, 'Oh yeah, that would have been so nice, I wish I would have done something like that.'"

After college, Marrero lived in San Francisco and worked in finance. His vacations to Hawaii convinced him he had to live there. He moved in 2004 and, with his then-girlfriend and now-wife and business partner, Melanie Oxley, he launched the Maui Brewing Company, first as a small brew-pub, in 2005. A few years later, they expanded to retail sales.

By 2013, the Maui Brewing Company hit $10 million in sales. In 2016, it did between $12 and $16 million in revenue (Marrero declined to be more specific) and this year, it expects to do $20 million in sales. Currently, it has almost 400 employees. By the end of 2018 or early 2019, it plans to have opened additional restaurants and be employing 700 people. Maui Brewing Company's success was buoyed by the rise in popularity of craft beer in the time since it opened, says Marrero. In 2005, there were 991 brew-pubs, 354 microbreweries, and 49 regional breweries, according to the Brewers Association, an industry organization. In 2016, there were 1,916 brew-pubs, 3,132 microbreweries and 49 regional breweries.

Building Maui Brewing Company required serious commitment from all of its employees. "I don't think there is a single person who works with us who hasn't made a sacrifice at some point to contribute to the success of our company, whether that be [someone was] supposed to go out on a date but has to cover someone's shift because the work has got to get done," says Marrero. "Or it's my wife and I, not taking a vacation for the first six years of this operation and nearly costing us our marriage a couple times. It's the sacrifices you make. And if you are not willing to do that, you are not going to be a successful small business owner."

When Maui Brewing Company sold some of its old production space to two couples getting ready to launch a start-up craft brewery on island, Marrero let them know what they were in for. "I was very clear, I said, 'This is going to be the hardest work you have ever done,'" he says. "'You are going to cry, you are going to bleed, you are certainly going to sweat here. Just be prepared, this is not going to be easy. You look at what we have today, that's not the way it was five, six, seven, 10 years ago. If you are not ready to give it 110 percent every day, day in, day out, then running a business isn't for you.'"

In addition to putting everything you have into a business, Marrero says, you have to be convinced that you can accomplish your goals. When Oxley saw their beer on a shelf halfway across the world in Brooklyn, N.Y., she commented, "Did you ever think we would see our beer this far away on a store shelf?" Marrero's response: "Yeah, kind of!"
Chamath Palihapitiya speaking at the Sohn conference in New York, May 4, 2016

It's been almost exactly a year since the 21st annual Sohn Conference, with some of the most prominent hedge fund managers delivering their prescient investing advice to an audience of hundreds. In advance of the 22nd annual event next week, CNBC calculated how last year's picks stacked up.

Of the 16 recommendations last year, 10 were directionally accurate, based on comparisons between the prices on May 3, 2016, (the day before last year's conference) and the closing prices on Thursday. That marks a success rate of about 63 percent.

Among the specific stock suggestions, David Rosen of Rubric Capital Management, recommended a long position in Kraton . That stock is 49 percent higher since May 3.

It's a similar story for Chamath Palihapitiya, the Social Capital founder and CEO, who recommended investors buy Amazon shares, which are up 40 percent since.

"When you think about Amazon, you have to think about the long secular trends that are in its favor," he told CNBC at the conference last year. "The first is that people want to buy things more conveniently, and so that has an immediate tail wind to the retail business that we think is going to be worth at least a trillion dollars in 10 years."

Amazon's market cap is currently about $444 billion, and Palihapitiya will be attending Sohn this year again.

John Khoury of Long Pond Capital and also Richard Deitz, founder of VR Capital Group, both had long picks that resulted in double-digit gains. Khoury recommended Hyatt Hotels , a stock that's up 15 percent, while Deitz was bullish on Greek bank stocks. Alpha Bank , which Deitz considered the best among the group, has gained about 13 percent.

Not all predictions turned out to be accurate. Carson Block of Muddy Waters called for a short on the Bank of Ozarks , but that stock is up more than 22 percent.

David Einhorn, who will also be attending this year, recommended that investors short Caterpillar , but those shares have risen 30 percent.

Some accurate predictions spanned beyond that of individual stock picks.

In May 2016  six months before the election, Jeffrey Gundlach of DoubleLine Capital, said, "He's going to win and he's very comfortable with debt, we know that about Donald Trump. Gundlach will also be attending this year.

Proceeds from the event go toward finding a cure for pediatric cancer. To date, the foundation has raised more than $75 million.

-- With reporting by CNBC's Amanda Lasky and Dawn Giel.

Correction: John Khoury is with Long Pond Capital. An earlier version misstated the firm's name.
Just hours before France's ill-tempered presidential debate on Wednesday, trolls and bots on Twitter began spreading unsubstantiated claims that centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron had a secret offshore bank account.

Mr Macron's campaign immediately accused his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen of enjoying patronage from the masters of online dark arts  Vladimir Putin's Kremlin, previously accused of interfering in last year's US polls. For his part, Mr Putin has frequently said that Russia does not interfere in elections elsewhere.

Ahead of Sunday's run-off in France, there has been speculation about the extent of Mr Putin's influence. In Wednesday's debate, Mr Macron accused Ms Le Pen of being "subject to the diktats of Mr Putin".

Over the past several years, the Russian leader and the far-right politician, who share a similar nationalist outlook, have developed close ties. These links have been cemented by complex financial arrangements and overwhelmingly positive coverage of Ms Le Pen in the Russian state-backed media.

For the Russian leader, a victory for Ms Le Pen would offer an opportunity to sow dissent in the west. Mr Putin's backing has helped the French politician present herself as a global leader.

"We are being vigilant about any attempts by foreign powers to influence this election," said a senior French intelligence official. "It is clear that Russia is sympathetic to Le Pen in the election."



More from Financial Times:

Trump celebrates House vote to repeal Obamacare

May drops Tory brand to play personality politics

Liberte, egalite or stay away? French prepare to abstain

Ms Le Pen's allies in the National Front and Moscow say that her ties to Russia and the support she enjoys there reflect a natural affinity with the Kremlin rather than any systematic or organised covert subversion campaign. "We share a similar vision of the world," says Bertrand Dutheil de La Rochere, an FN strategist.

These ties have become so close that Ms Le Pen met Mr Putin in a surprise visit to Moscow in March. Given that FN's other foreign allies are limited to fellow far-right parties, this was seen as a coup for the French politician.

Florian Philippot, Ms Le Pen's deputy, said the meeting proved Ms Le Pen was a "global politician".
Razer, the U.S. gaming hardware company, earlier this year acquired smartphone-maker Nextbit, but on Thursday, its chief executive officer was tight-lipped about plans to move into the mobile space.

Speaking to CNBC at the sideline of the Innovfest Unbound conference in Singapore, Razer co-founder and CEO, Min-Liang Tan, underscored the importance of the mobile platform to the company, and the gaming industry.

"The mobile category is incredibly important to Razer," he said. "It's one of the biggest segments, in terms of gaming at this point of time, but like with all Razer products, we'll announce it when it's ready."

He added, "I've got no comments about our mobile ambitions at this point of time."

While he was mum on mobile, he explained Razer plans to expand its reach into categories beyond gaming laptops and other peripherals. Two years ago, the company introduced Razer Nabu, a smartwatch; virtual reality (VR) is also on Razer's radar and Tan said the company is "investing a lot in the next generation of VR experiences."

"We think there's a huge amount of potential in VR, and of course, AR at the same time," he said, adding it was only a matter of time before a 'killer app' was developed for VR, propelling the sector's popularity even further.

To be sure, other gaming hardware providers, like Sony, have already made headway into VR  the PlayStation VR, with a massive, potential market of PlayStation users, is one of the top-selling high-end VR devices.

Another popular sector Razer has entered is the virtual currency and payments space by introducing zGold, a virtual currency for gamers. Users top up their zGold using credit cards and then use the currency to purchase games and other products on Razer's platform. It goes in tandem with zSilver, the existing loyalty rewards point system by Razer.

"What we really want to do is to create a single currency that will allow gamers everywhere  our 35 million users  to go out and exchange it for virtual currencies of other games."

With over 35 million active users, and valued at more than $1 billion, Razer remains a prominent name in the gaming hardware space and Tan explained the business was evenly spread across the U.S., Europe and Asia.
A sharp drop the number of oil barrels Saudi Arabia loaded onto tankers in April appears to deliver what the market has been awaiting: a big decline not just in crude output, but exports.

Data from transportation tracking firm ClipperData indicate that the number of barrels the kingdom put on tankers for shipment around the world fell by more than 670,000 per day in April from October, the reference level for OPEC's deal to cut output. That would mark the sharpest decline this year and a reversal of March's increase.

Members of the OPEC have achieved historically high compliance with a deal to cut their combined production by 1.2 million barrels a day. But the oil cartel hasn't really taken that crude off the market because exports remain high, said Matt Smith, director of commodity research at ClipperData.

OPEC's combined water-borne shipments of nearly 24 million barrels a day in March were up slightly from October levels, before OPEC hammered out the deal to cut output. They jumped to about 24.3 million barrels a day in January, the month the deal was implemented.

According to Smith, consistently high exports have prevented the output cuts from achieving their goal: shrinking huge stockpiles of crude oil around the world.

Crude in storage at U.S. facilities has fallen in recent weeks, but stockpiles remain near all-time highs. In its latest monthly report, the International Energy Agency estimated inventories in developed countries were 336 million barrels a day above the five-year average in February.

Those elevated inventory levels have weighed on sentiment in recent weeks, contributing to a sell-off in the oil market that shaved about $8 off the price of benchmark U.S. crude in the last three weeks.

Prices are now below $50 for both international benchmark and U.S. crude less than three weeks before OPEC meets to weigh extending the cuts for another six months.

Iranian export loadings appear to be dropping in April, as well, but this appears to be a Saudi story for the moment. Saudi Arabia's cut to outward shipments gives them leverage heading into this month's OPEC meeting, according to Smith.

"It's all about this meeting on May 25, and so they'll be going into that meeting knowing that they have cut exports by far more than they said they would. [They'll] go in there and bang the table and try to get everyone else in line," he said.

Watch: Slowing crude demand in Asia
Sheryl Sandberg and the co-author of her latest book spoke in San Francisco this week to deliver some practical advice to people who are hurting -- or know others who are.

"If you don't know what to do, do something," Sandberg told an audience of 1,400 people packed into the city's Castro Theater Thursday night, to hear her and Adam Grant share stories of grief and how to heal from it.

The gathering came two years after the sudden death of her husband, David Goldberg. She wrote a book with Grant about how she dealt with the loss, called "Option B," and was in San Francisco to promote it.

Sandberg's nudge toward action recalled a famous quotation from Winston Churchill, who struggled with depression and self-doubt in his storied life and once advised: "If you're going through hell, keep going."

As the chief operating officer of one of the world's most valuable companies and the author of a previous best-seller, Sandberg's bereavement has been far more public than most. The book, subtitled "Facing Adversity, Building Resilience and Finding Joy," was the top-selling title on Amazon the day it debuted last month, aided by Sandberg's notoriety and a lot of advance emotional work.
You might have heard: The House finally did it. They passed the American Health Care Act, 217 to 213.

Now it's the Senate's turn.

The House plan is going to run into a lot of land mines in the upper chamber, as I reported today  though top senators are saying they will write their own bill.

More from Vox:

The many obstacles awaiting the Republican health care bill in the Senate

Cinco de Mayo, explained: how a Mexican battle cry became an American holiday

4 winners and 4 losers from the Republican vote to replace Obamacare

Republican senators don't like the AHCA's Medicaid cuts. They're worried about the consequences for people with high medical costs. A few of them oppose defunding Planned Parenthood, as the House bill does. We have a long way to go.

There are fewer lawmakers to keep track of in the Senate, thank goodness. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and key committee chairs Lamar Alexander and Orrin Hatch will play a big role, of course.

Here are the other senators you should be watching:

Susan Collins of Maine: Collins opposes defunding Planned Parenthood and told me this week she's worried about how people with preexisting conditions would be affected by the House bill.

Rob Portman of Ohio: Portman spearheaded a letter in early March criticizing the initial House bill for its Medicaid cuts. He is working on an amendment to change the Medicaid expansion phaseout, though we don't yet know how.

Lisa Murkowski of Alaska: Murkowski signed the Portman letter, opposes defunding Planned Parenthood, and is worried that the House bill could uniquely harm her home state.

Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia: Capito also signed the Portman letter. She told me this week she still has issues with the AHCA's Medicaid cuts.

Cory Gardner of Colorado: The fourth signer of the Portman letter.

Bill Cassidy of Louisiana: Cassidy has been an enthusiastic participant in the early days of the health care debate. He drafted a bill with Collins that would let states decide whether they wanted to stick with Obamacare or create their own health care program.

Dean Heller of Nevada: Heller said after the House vote that he would not support the bill as written over his concerns about the Medicaid cuts and its effect on people with preexisting conditions, as my colleague Jeff Stein reported. He is also already facing attacks from Democrats because the House bill defunds Planned Parenthood.

Tom Cotton of Arkansas: Cotton is a staunch conservative, but his state expanded Medicaid through Obamacare, and he has signaled he wants to see people covered by the expansion taken care of.

Rand Paul of Kentucky: Paul was a fierce critic of the original House bill, even leading reporters on a romp through the Capitol to find it after House leaders refused to release the text.

Mike Lee of Utah: Lee, like Paul, attacked the original version of the House bill from the right. Whether he was satisfied by the changes to the bill that won over House conservatives, or whether he pushes for more, will be an important question.
Chinese 100 yuan notes in Beijing. Fred Dufour | AFP | Getty Images

Political relations between the United States and China may be rocky these days, but some U.S. political leaders are actively courting investment from the world's No. 2 economy. And on the Chinese side, many companies would like a piece of President Donald Trump's $1 trillion infrastructure proposal. "There's a tremendous amount of capital in China that's looking for a place to be deployed, in a safe, reliable environment. The United States affords that opportunity," Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said during an international finance and infrastructure cooperation forum in New York last week. "There is tremendous infrastructure need in this country." "The two largest economies in the world and the most powerful are that of the United States and China," Bevin said. "The idea that we would not work together seems inconceivable." Like Trump, Bevin comes from a business background. He spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the event, co-hosted by Bloomberg and the China General Chamber of Commerce - U.S.A. The National Governors Association helped organize the event.

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While U.S. news media have recently focused on Trump's health care and tax policies, Chinese think tanks and business leaders are concerned with potential investment opportunities the administration may create. Trump "wants to have good relations with China. And so I would think that would certainly have something to do with how China can participate," real estate mogul Richard LeFrak said in response to a CNBC question. He wouldn't put a specific number on how much China might contribute to infrastructure projects. Chinese companies tripled their investment in the U.S. last year to $46 billion, according to consulting firm the Rhodium Group. So far this year, investment from China has slowed due to Beijing's efforts to limit capital outflows. Some in the U.S. federal government have also discussed increasing scrutiny on Chinese deals for security reasons, and the idea of cooperation with China may not fly in some voting districts. But many analysts expect Chinese authorities to loosen capital controls and remain confident that Chinese money will continue to flow into the United States. "In the end, it doesn't matter who opens a new factory in Kentucky, South Carolina, Idaho or wherever. Someone is investing in their community," said Adams Lee, an international trade lawyer at Harris Bricken. Despite a recent lull, "I think there's going to be more Chinese investment in the U.S. across all sectors," he said. The congressional district that includes Louisville, Kentucky, was among the top 5 recipients of Chinese foreign direct investment from 2000 to 2016, according to an April report from Rhodium and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. One of New York City's districts heads the list, followed by one in Chicago.

Chinese jobs, American workers

Chinese-owned companies added about 50,000 U.S. employees last year, for a total of more than 140,000 American workers, the study found. By metropolitan area, Louisville topped the list with 6,020 jobs at Chinese companies, followed by Charlotte, North Carolina, with 5,680 jobs. Bevin said Kentucky's next big project is in cooperation with Ohio to rebuild the Brent Spence Bridge, a major trucking route crossing the Ohio River. The project will reportedly cost $2.5 billion and directly create 2,200 jobs, according to a document from the Trump administration obtained by The Kansas City Star.

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President Donald Trump suggested Friday that Obamacare is so awful that it has left the United States with the absolute worst health-care system in the entire world.

"Of course the Australians have better healthcare than we do  everybody does," Trump tweeted on a rainy afternoon in New Jersey, where he is staying at his mansion there.

"ObamaCare is dead," the president continued. "But our healthcare will soon be great."

@realDonaldTrump Of course the Australians have better healthcare than we do --everybody does. ObamaCare is dead! But our healthcare will soon be great.

While America's health-care system has many problems, no serious analyst has suggested it is the worst in the world.

Trump's tweet came less than 24 hours after he dropped jaws  yet again  during an event in New York City with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, where he told Turnbull, "You have better health care than we do."

That comment was surprising for several reasons.

One is that Australia has a universal health-care system. The government there pays the lions' share of health costs. Individuals, particularly people with higher incomes, can also buy private insurance.

The United States does not have a universal health-care system. And Republicans in Congress and elsewhere are adamantly against a government-run health-care system for everyone.

In fact, the Obamacare replacement bill approved by the GOP majority in the House on Thursday  hours before Trump's meeting with Turnbull  would scale back federal spending on health coverage from what is being spent under the Affordable Care Act.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist from Vermont, burst out laughing on Thursday night as he watched Trump praise Australia's health-care system.

"Wait a minute!" Sanders chuckled during his appearance on "All in with Chris Hayes" on MSNBC.

"The president has just said it, that's great," Sanders said. "Let's take a look at the Australian health-care system, and let's move  maybe he wants to take look at the Canadian health-care system, or systems throughout Europe. Thank you, Mr. President. Let us move to a Medicare-for-all system that does what every other major country on Earth does: guarantee health care to all people at a fraction to what we spend."

While more than 130 million Americans are enrolled in some form of government coverage, such as Medicare and Medicaid, the majority of non-elderly people get private health insurance through a job.

Fewer than 12 million people are currently enrolled in Obamacare plans sold on government marketplaces, and several million more buy individual health plans sold outside of those exchanges.

Another 10 million or so have gained health coverage through Medicaid as a result of Obamacare rules that allowed more poor adults to sign up. Fewer than 10 percent of Americans, or about 23 million people, lack insurance  a historically low figure that occurred because of Obamacare.

So the total number of people enrolled in health coverage as a result of Obamacare  and subject to price increases related to their places  is quite small relative to the total number of people with insurance nationally.

The United States for years has received bad grades for its health-care system relative to other wealthy industrialized countries. But the problems predate Obamacare.

The Commonwealth Fund, in a series of annual reports dating back more than 15 years, has found that Americans pay much more than people in other wealthy Western countries, but get far less back in terms of terms of results.

"In comparison to adults in the other 10 countries, adults in the United States are sicker and more economically disadvantaged," the latest Commonwealth Fund report comparing the countries found last November.

"The U.S. spends more on health care than any other country, but what we get for these significant resources falls short in terms of access to care, affordability, and coordination," said Commonwealth Fund President Dr. David Blumenthal.

The report noted that, "the major coverage expansions of the [Obamacare] law were launched only in 2014 and are thus still in a ramping-up period."

"In addition, there are ongoing barriers to coverage, including the fact that  as of November 2016  19 states have not chosen to expand eligibility for their Medicaid programs, the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from both Marketplace and Medicaid coverage, low awareness of coverage options, and concerns about affordability among those who remain uninsured."

However, things could shift if Trump's health-care bill is signed into law. Under an earlier version of the GOP's Obamacare replacement bill, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget office predicted that 24 million more Americans would be uninsured by the year 2026 than would be the case under the ACA.

The version of the American Health Care Act that passed the House on Thursday contained several amendments that could impact that forecast, but it has not yet been evaluated by the CBO.
President Donald Trump Joshua Roberts | Reuters

President Donald Trump upset South Korea at precisely the wrong time.



Trump shocked the longstanding U.S. ally and trading partner in an interview with Reuters last Thursday with two unexpected announcements: He wants Seoul to pay for a missile defense system the United States is deploying there, and he wants to renegotiate the existing free trade agreement between the two countries. The comments came against a high-stakes backdrop: Tensions are rising around North Korea's nuclear threat, and South Korea is on the cusp of a presidential vote on Tuesday  with a lot at stake not just for South Korea but also for the shape of its future alignment with the United States.



"In terms of South Korea's diplomatic politics, this came at a very bad time," said Scott Snyder, director of the program on U.S.-Korea policy at the Council on Foreign Relations. "It creates an opportunity for [the missile defense] issue to be even further politicized in South Korea in ways that will not serve U.S. or South Korean interests."

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"I don't think Trump did this intentionally, but [he] exposed a gap that may be widened," Snyder said. It "may be an opportunity for North Korea to exploit." The White House did not respond to a CNBC request for comment. The crack in the U.S. relationship with South Korea reduces the pressure on North Korea to denuclearize, just as China  which has the most leverage on Pyongyang  was just beginning to grudgingly step up economic constraints on the state. Chinese authorities suspended coal imports from North Korea in February.



Meanwhile, the Chinese have retaliated against South Korean companies to punish Seoul for allowing the U.S. to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the region.



"One of the reasons we tried to quickly finish THAAD deployment [is] because we believe the U.S.-South Korea relationship was a firm alliance," said Hyun-Wook Kim, professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul, a school for South Korean diplomats. "But then Trump  gives me some internal debate about what to do with China and the U.S."

Election could go against US interests

If U.S. strategy against Kim Jong Un's North Korea is to squeeze the little connection Kim's isolated country has with the rest of the world, that may be more difficult now: South Korea looks more open to working with the dictatorship, especially after Trump's comments. Seoul could become even more open to talking with Pyongyang if the coming South Korean election goes the way it appears it will. Already last month, South Korean protesters had begun demonstrating against what they saw as a U.S. rush to get THAAD deployed before the election. Then Trump increased their ire by suddenly raising the idea that their government should pay for it.

His biggest risk may be people in North Korea will start pricing in his bark is far much worse than his bite. Really, the biggest unknown in this situation may well be Trump, not Kim Jong Un. Scott Seaman director, Eurasia Group

South Koreans head to the polls Tuesday to elect a new president, after President Park Geun-hye was impeached and arrested for alleged corruption. Since Trump's remarks, analysts say the scales have tipped further in favor of candidate Moon Jae-in, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate. Moon is a liberal who has opposed THAAD and supports more engagement with the North, rather than relying on economic sanctions. His opponent, centrist candidate Ahn Cheol-soo, supports a more traditional, tougher diplomatic path, including reviving the six-party talks. "There could be some more coordination between Seoul and Beijing that could be different from how Washington wants to pursue" North Korean denuclearization, said John Park, director of the Korea Working Group at the Harvard Kennedy School. "Trump's statements have helped Beijing in its efforts to reverse or slow THAAD deployment in South Korea," Park said.

Business negotiation tactics in geopolitics

As president, Trump has applied negotiating tactics of the business world to foreign policy. After first criticizing China for stealing U.S. jobs and threatening the "One China" policy with a phone call with Taiwan's president, Trump then welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago in April. Trump also praised Xi in the Reuters interview last week for "trying very hard" to pressure North Korea. "When I look at this, what it seems like is one of the most volatile and confusing players is Trump," said Scott Seaman, who analyzes Japan and South Korea for consulting firm Eurasia Group.



"No one really knows what his intentions are. His biggest risk may be people in North Korea will start pricing in his bark is far much worse than his bite," Seaman said. "Really, the biggest unknown in this situation may well be Trump, not Kim Jong Un."

US gives mixed signals on THAAD

The U.S. began deploying THAAD in March, and officials from South Korea said last Wednesday that the process was moving ahead smoothly. The following day, Trump said to Reuters: "I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. It's a billion-dollar system." Then South Korea said last weekend  and U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster reaffirmed  that the United States would cover the bulk of the cost.

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If you're anxious about stocks in the U.S., don't expect global diversification to save you.

That's what Aswath Damodaran, professor of finance at New York University's Stern School of Business, warned in a Thursday interview on CNBC's "Trading Nation."

Damodaran was responding to the point another prominent finance professor, Robert Shiller of Yale, made on the show the week prior. Shiller was presenting his now-familiar case that U.S. equity valuations have gotten a bit out of hand.

Valuations are sufficiently high that the market "looks dangerous now," Shiller said. He did not suggest pulling out of stocks, but did advise: "It's right now a good time to look at one's portfolio and ask if it's diversified enough. There's Europe over there, there's Asia over there, and I think most Americans are not well-diversified globally."

A high level of valuation engendered by great enthusiasm is "primarily a U.S. effect, and you can solve that problem by diversifying around the world."

Damodaran, known as a foremost expert on corporate finance and valuation, doesn't quite see things that way.

"The part I agree with is that we should all be more diversified. But the part that I don't get is, how is diversification going to protect you if there's a market crash?" he asked rhetorically, when presented with Shiller's comments.

"It's not the 1980s, where the U.S. market can be down 40 percent and the European market is going to be up 10 percent. If we [in the U.S.] are going to crash, we're all going to crash. Being diversified is not going to bail you out," Damodaran said.

Indeed, diversification notoriously does least when investors need it most  a statement that is becoming more and more true, as the world becomes increasingly global both in terms of trade flows and capital flows. If the U.S. falls into a recession, it is likely to hurt many exporting companies based in other countries.



And as investors look to preserve their remaining money after a crash  or are forced to sell assets that would otherwise be unaffected in order to raise funds  global equities may feel the pain.

In 2008, for instance, the Euro Stoxx 50 index plunged 44 percent  thus faring worse than the . And the 100-session correlation of daily moves between the two indexes rose from 0.3 in early 2008 to above 0.8 in late 2009. In hindsight, it is clear that investors who diversified into European stocks in anticipation of a U.S. crash didn't do themselves much of a favor.

"The only way you can mitigate your losses is by getting almost entirely out of financial assets," Damodaran said. The problem, however, is that "the cost of staying out of the market is often greater than whatever you might benefit by staying out of the next crash."

Given this philosophical backdrop, Damodaran has little choice but to be sanguine.

"There's always a correction coming; it's only a matter of time," he said. "The real question you have to ask yourself is: Is it worth it to actually reallocate your portfolio to try to avoid that correction when you don't know when it will come, how it will come and what form it will take?"

"I have never been able to make that prediction solidly enough to reallocate my portfolio," Damodaran continued. "Maybe there are others who are better at timing the market than I am, so I'm not going to stop other people from making their own judgment. But for me, market timing has never worked."
Pitching an idea to seasoned venture capitalists, and asking for their money, can be a nerve-wrecking experience in public speaking and deal-making for first-time entrepreneurs. Startups that play their cards right can hope however that it opens the doors to the billionaires' club for the founders. But standing out in a room full of other aspirants and grabbing an investor's attention can be tricky. At the sidelines of the Innovfest Unbound conference in Singapore, CNBC spoke to a number of venture capitalists (VC), with existing portfolio investments in China, Japan, the United States, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, Israel and other places, and asked them about factors that influenced their investment decisions.

Xavier Arnau | Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, the viability of an entrepreneur's idea was important, but most VCs said they placed a greater emphasis on the founder's personality, and on his team. Taizo Son, the brother of SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, is the founder of Mistletoe, a venture firm that also is partly an accelerator and incubator. As a seasoned investor into startups, including the successful southeast Asian company Garena, Son said he preferred backing founders over business ideas. He told CNBC, "My criteria to invest are the founders. So I won't check any business plans, any economic projections, spreadsheets; but (instead) I focus on the founder's mindset (and) passion." To be sure, Son also favors unique ideas and technologies that can differentiate well from the competitors, but he emphasized that passion  one that founders will not give up on during trying times  influenced his bets. Veteran Israeli entrepreneur Yossi Vardi, who has invested in 86 startups, of which 30 made exits, told CNBC in his experience a good idea with poor execution would not go anywhere. But an average idea with great execution could become successful. "When I started, I thought ideas were overrated and now I think ideas are irrelevant. It's about execution and the personality of the people, rather than about the idea," Vardi said. To be sure, having a great personality that can convince investors does not mean guaranteed success for startups. The norm is that for every Facebook, Snap or Alibaba, there are thousands of failed businesses  a common figure cited by many says startups have a 90 percent or more failure rate within five years.

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So what makes a business succeed? While having a technology or a product that can change the industry, or create a new one, is an advantage, investors say there are several reasons even the most promising startups can fail. Lagging behind the market One key reason why some startups lag is that they are too slow to bring their product to the market, or offer updates and adapt to competition, according to Tina Cheng, a partner at Cherubic Ventures - an early stage technology VC firm that has invested in over 100 companies in the U.S. and Greater China. While five or 10 years ago, a company could get away with offering the same product or service for a few years, Cheng said today the pressure to innovate is tremendous. To be sure, that pressure is not unique to startups  for example, in the smartphone industry, players are expected to push out new flagship handsets, with improved features and services, annually. "If a company is doing well, it will be in the press. And the next thing you know, there will be a lot of copycats. One skillset that successful startups have is how do they always stay ahead of their competition?" Cheng told CNBC. Poor management and lack of communication Delegation of tasks, hiring the right people for the job and managing the team is also important, according to VCs. "We found that many of the founders do not know how to delegate  (and)  they do not know how to hire the right person for the right job," said Isaac Ho, founder of VentureCraft Group. He added that integrity was also a common problem, where founders would hide the real situation of the company from stakeholders.

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After the small town of Buffalo, Wyo., population less than 5,000, hosted the 2012 Rocky Mountain International International Roundup, the community saw a 300 percent increase in international visitors.

While the bump may not be quite that high, Rocky Mountain International CEO Mathias Jung expects Bismarck-Mandan, the host of this years roundup, to see a similar effect.

Rocky Mountain International is an international tourism marketing cooperative encompassing Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and, as of three years ago, North Dakota. RMI, which has held its International Roundup for 23 years, chose North Dakota for the first time as the site for the annual event.

About 40 international tour organizers are present at this years roundup, many of which have never been to North Dakota before, including Corrina Flink, a tour organizer for Netherlands-based Go America.

Flink flew into Fargo before making the drive to Bismarck this week.

When I drove into (downtown Fargo), I immediately liked it, said Flink, adding that it had a quintessential downtown feel like something straight out of the movies that her clients would appreciate.

From there, Flink headed west, stopping at the National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown and the Black Leg Ranch near McKenzie, a working cattle ranch that hosts guests in a remodeled log lodge.

Flink said this would provide her clients with lodging that would offer a specialized experience. From there, they could continue west to Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The roundups 90 vendors, 19 of which are from North Dakota, are given a chance to reach international markets with tour companies from 10 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia and Denmark, in attendance.

Jung said international visitors often want help from tour companies when traveling to this region because its less well known than other destinations, such as New York City. And its hard to sell a place if a tour company has never been there.

Tour operators were given a better feel for Bismarck-Mandan on Wednesday with a tour that included Fort Abraham Lincoln, a riverboat ride, dinner at local restaurants and drinks at local brew pubs, such as Laughing Sun Brewing.

Herve Duxin, general manager of RMI-France, was in Bismarck a year ago for the United Tribes Technical College International Powwow.

That was amazing, he said of the experience, which exactly matched the type of travel French visitors expect when they come to the western United States.

He said 1.6 million French travelers visit the region annually, with an 8 percent increase expected this year. He said RMI, which started with no French tour operators in the region, is seeing more and more interest from French travelers  up to 65 in the region today  and North Dakota stands to benefit.

Jung said he thinks the timing of the roundup in Bismarck is appropriate as the state deals with budget cuts and is looking for value where it can get it.

Tourism is the third-largest industry in the state and international tourism is particularly lucrative because such travelers tend to spend more and stay longer, according to Jung.

International travelers spend an estimated $130 million in RMI member states, $2 million of which is in North Dakota. The cost of membership to RMI is $300,000.

I dont know many industries with that return on investment, said Jung, who expects North Dakota to see even better returns once its international tourism market develops in the next two to three years.
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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Democratic Reps. Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Grace Meng and Jerry Nadler are scheduled to discuss the federal government's reimbursement of Trump Tower security costs.

The spending bill that funds the government through Sept. 30, which President Donald Trump plans to sign into law Friday, sets aside about $120 million for Trump family security.

Roughly half of that will go toward paying back New York City and Palm Beach County, which have borne extra costs since Trump took office. Trump's wife, Melania, and youngest son, Barron, still live in New York City.
Beth Deisher, ICTAs director of anti-counterfeiting, says the quality of the counterfeit coins emanating from China is continuing to improve, posing an increasingly serious threat to the numismatic industry and hobby.

The Industry Council for Tangible Assets Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force has gained the attention of federal authorities and may be prompting them to take a more aggressive role in combating the infiltration of counterfeit coins into the United States and the numismatic hobby, says Beth Deisher, ICTAs director of anti-counterfeiting and spokesperson for the task force.

During an April 28 public meeting held in conjunction with the Central States Numismatic Society 78th Anniversary Convention in Schaumburg, Ill., Deisher said educating law enforcement on the federal, state and local levels about the threats from counterfeit coins is paramount. Deisher retired in 2012 after 27 years as editor of Coin World.

The task force traces its genesis to a 2016 CSNS convention effort to draw numismatic professionals and others into a concentrated effort. The task force is operating solely on donations, Deisher said.

The task force comprises an 11-member steering committee with eight work groups of three to five people each to address specific issues.

Reaching out to agents

While the U.S. Secret Service has traditionally been legislatively empowered to pursue anti-counterfeiting investigations and prosecutions, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks changed those responsibilities, Deisher said.

Enforcement of counterfeiting violations has fallen into the hands of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection to stop the distribution of counterfeit coins and paper money before they enter the country, Deisher said.

Deisher said she and some members of the task force have met more than once with Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection officials to educate them on the threats to collectors and the general public that the counterfeits pose.

Deisher said that during one of those sessions, federal authorities indicated their efforts were focused on stifling the dispersal of counterfeit $100 Federal Reserve notes because of their high face value. During that same meeting, Deisher said, she showed investigators an example of an American Eagle 1-ounce gold bullion coin struck by the U.S. Mint.

Not only did those authorities not know the coin was struck by the nations coin bureau, they also believed the coins actual value was its $50 legal tender face value, Deisher said. Deisher said that she explained to the agents that, based on the spot price at the time for the 1 ounce of gold in the coin, plus the added premium, the actual value of the coin was $1,300.

Seeking trial experts

Deisher said federal law enforcement officials have asked for participation of dealers and other numismatic experts in each state who can be vetted and are willing to testify at trials, if prosecutions from investigations reach that stage of the legal process.

Deisher noted that the counterfeits, many of which are imported from China, replicate U.S. and world collector coins, bullion pieces, and commemorative issues. Most of the issues are made of plated base metals, with tungsten the metal of choice to be plated, especially for bullion issues like the American Eagles and issues from Canada, South Africa, Australia, Great Britain and Austria.

The quality of the counterfeits has greatly increased in recent years compared with the crudely executed issues that appeared in abundance almost a decade ago, Deisher said.

Some of the counterfeit production is created on coinage presses that once served U.S. Mint production but were scrapped for metal salvage, she said.

Numismatic Bookie tackles how an 1804 dollar appeared in a Budapest book before any were struck: Inside Coin World: This week, we find an 1804 dollar in a book two years before any of the coins were struck, a reader questions

Deisher talked about Alibaba.com, the online website that some have referred to as the Chinese eBay over which many counterfeit items, including coins, are offered.

Deisher said ICTAs Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force has identified a number of opportunities to combat counterfeit coins and other numismatic items:

??Providing information about foreign counterfeiters, their products, capabilities, production locations, and business processes.

??Providing information about suspect distribution networks in the marketplace.

??Providing local expertise to law enforcement officials conducting current investigations.

??Providing expert witnesses to testify in counterfeiting cases.

??Reimbursing travel expenses for expert witnesses.

??Providing specialized training for local, state and federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors.

??Identifying and revising law enforcement and prosecutorial policies that are impediments to the prioritization of coin counterfeiting cases.

For more information, visit ICTA's website.
The 1942 Lincoln cent is struck on a brass planchet intended for an Ecuador 20-centavo coin. It is graded NGC MS-63.

The Netherlands 25-cent planchet on which 1943 Lincoln cent dies were used to strike it is composed of .640 fine silver. The U.S. Mint error is graded NGC MS-61.

The 1943 copper alloy Lincoln cent is from wartime circulating coinage production at the Philadelphia Mint. It is grade Mint State 62 brown by NGC.

This is the only 1943 copper-alloy Lincoln cent known to exhibit a major die break.

The major obverse die break along the bottom border is evidenced on the reverse, nearly obliterating some of the letters in PLURIBUS.

The NGC Mint State 61 brown copper alloy 1943 Lincoln cent with major obverse die break is valued in the NGC Price Guide at $575,000.

Two previously unreported copper alloy 1943 Lincoln cents, one exhibiting a major obverse die break, have surfaced and been authenticated, graded and encapsulated by Numismatic Guaranty Corp.

The two coins are among four wrong-planchet Lincoln cent errors  three dated 1943 and one 1942  that Florida collector Michael Pratt inherited upon the 1992 death of his father, Albert Michael Pratt, a former die setter at the Philadelphia Mint. Michael Pratt says he has no evidence of how the wartime cents came to be in his fathers possession, since he doesnt recall his father discussing the coins while he was alive.

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The intended alloy for Lincoln cents struck in 1943 was zinc-coated steel, since copper was needed for military applications during World War II.

Planchets composed of the 1942 alloy  first of 95 percent copper, 3 percent zinc and 2 percent tin, and later 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc  presumably remained in hoppers that were eventually filled with zinc-coated steel planchets. The planchets of different alloys were subsequently fed into the coinage presses and struck into coins.

Copper-alloy 1943 Lincoln cents were struck at the Philadelphia, San Francisco and Denver Mints.

With the certification of the two Pratt 1943 cents, the number of copper alloy Philadelphia Mint strikes increases to more than 12. The exact number is not known because of duplicate listings and grading service resubmissions.

Only one copper-alloy 1943-D Lincoln cent is known, along with six examples of copper-alloy 1943-S Lincoln cents.

The four Lincoln cents certified for Michael Pratt by NGC are:

??A copper alloy 1943 Lincoln cent, graded NGC Mint State 62 brown.

??A copper-alloy 1943 Lincoln cent with major die break, graded NGC MS-61 brown. The major die break, referred to in the error specialty field of the hobby as a cud, occurred when a portion of a coin die broke and separated from the die. During striking, the planchets metal flowed into the resultant cavity, creating a raised featureless blob on the resultant coin, in place of the missing design elements. The cud on this piece appears along the truncation of the bottom of Abraham Lincolns coat with the bottom border. The NGC Price Guide lists a value of $575,000 for the error.

??A 1943 Lincoln cent struck on a planchet intended for a Netherlands 25-cent coin, graded NGC MS-61. The composition of the planchet is .640 fine silver. The Philadelphia Mint was contracted by foreign governments to strike coinage for their respective countries during World War II.

??A 1942 Lincoln cent struck on a planchet intended for a 20-centavo coin of Ecuador, graded NGC MS-63. The composition is brass.

All four NGC grading labels bear an Albert Michael Pratt pedigree.

The 1942 coin struck on the 20-centavo planchet has been purchased for an undisclosed sum in a private transaction by Florida dealer John A. Zieman Jr. of Z-mans Coins. Zieman said he is retaining the coin for his personal collection with his daughter, Alexandrea, who is an NGC grader.

The elder Zieman arranged for Pratts submission of the four coins to NGC for authentication and grading.

According to Zieman, he was still discussing with Michael Pratt possibilities for the disposition of the copper-alloy 1943 Lincoln cent with major obverse die break, the 1943 cent struck on a Netherlands 25-cent planchet and the NGC MS-62 brown 1943 Lincoln cent.

News of the discovery jolted the collecting community. 1943 cents struck on bronze planchets are one of the Holy Grails of U.S. numismatics says David J. Camire, NGC grading finalizer, error coin specialist and co-author of 100 Greatest Mint Errors, which ranks the 1943 copper alloy cent struck at the Philadelphia Mint as the No. 4 coin. It is very exciting to see two examples in a single submission, especially the unique example featuring the die break on the obverse.

Almost discarded

The four cents that Albert M. Pratt possessed for nearly five decades before his 1992 passing were almost discarded, according to his son.

Pratt said during the executing of their fathers estate, Michaels eldest of two sisters, who was executor of the estate, told her siblings to take whatever remained in cardboard boxes stored in their fathers garage, because otherwise the boxes and their contents would be sent to the landfill.

It was then that Pratt discovered a small wooden box with a sliding lid inside one of the cardboard boxes he chose from the garage. Inside the wooden container were the four cents, each wrapped in paper.

The nondescript wooden container was the right size to hold a single cigar. Michael Pratt said his father smoked cigars.

Michael Pratt said he initially made attempts to have the pieces authenticated, but the professionals to whom he showed either the coins or pictures of them questioned their authenticity.

Pratt said he didnt aggressively pursue detailed analysis of the pieces at the time. He said he subsequently moved from New Jersey to Florida, bringing the coins with him and storing them.

Pratt said he didnt become a coin collector until circa 2005, when he began a collecting interest in Walking Liberty half dollars, small U.S. cents and American Eagle silver coins.

Despite his father having spent a nearly 25-year career at the Philadelphia Mint, Pratt said, his father introduced him to philately (collecting stamps).

Albert Pratt began his employment at the Philadelphia Mint on Dec. 26, 1941, as a machine operator, and was promoted to die setter on June 4, 1944. He retired from the U.S. Mint effective June 30, 1971.

The Treasury Department recognized Pratt with the Albert Gallatin Award, the departments highest career service honor. The award is named after Albert Gallatin, who served the longest tenure as Treasury secretary, from May 14, 1801, to Feb. 8, 1814, spanning the presidencies of Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Only 18 months ago, Michael Pratt, while thinking about his father and his legacy, rekindled his interest in those wartime Lincoln cents his father had left behind.

Pratts initial contact with John Zieman occurred in January 2017 in Florida at the West Hernando Coin Club coin show, when Pratt showed Zieman the copper-alloy 1943 Lincoln cent with major obverse die break.

I got out my loupe and took a closer look, Zieman said. First thing I noticed was the rather large die break (CUD) on the obverse. My thoughts were if someone was trying to counterfeit this coin why would they complicate it by adding a cud? I then told Mike that if a fake, it was the best fake 1943 copper I have ever seen.

Zieman said he preliminarily examined the remaining coins Pratt owned during several subsequent encounters at flea markets where he was set up.

I was stunned

During the opening day of the ANA National Money Show in March 2017 in Orlando, Zieman showed the copper alloy 1943 Lincoln cent with the major die break to error coin specialist Fred Weinberg.

I was stunned, Weinberg said. I looked at it carefully with a magnifying glass, and couldnt see any potential casting marks, pitting on the surface, or any hint that it was plated. The weight was correct, the surfaces looked good, but I was quite excited to see in-hand what might have been a genuine 1943 copper cent struck with a large cud on it.

Zieman then presented to Weinberg for examination the 1942 Lincoln cent struck on the Ecuador 20-centavo planchet and told Weinberg his client had two more 1943 cents that Weinberg would likely be interested to examine. Zieman also explained to Weinberg the origin of the coins.

Weinberg said he advised Zieman to take his client and all of the coins to NGCs offices in Sarasota, Fla., along with the supporting Treasury Department documentation on the clients fathers Philadelphia Mint employment, and deliver them to Camire.

The following day at the National Money Show, Weinberg said Pratt came to his bourse table and showed him the other copper-alloy 1943 Lincoln cent and the 1943 cent struck on the Netherlands 25-cent planchet.

Weinberg said he first examined the copper-alloy 1943 cent.

Numismatic Bookie tackles how an 1804 dollar appeared in a Budapest book before any were struck: Inside Coin World: This week, we find an 1804 dollar in a book two years before any of the coins were struck, a reader questions

I weighed the first 1943 copper cent and the weight was correct, Weinberg said. As I had done the day before with the cud copper cent, I looked carefully with a glass for any indication that the coin might be a struck counterfeit and could not find any indication of this.

Weinberg said he then weighed the 1943 cent struck on the Netherlands 25-cent planchet. The coin, much darker than the ones he had previously examined, weighed 3.6 grams, 0.5 gram heavier than the 3.1 grams it should have weighed if struck on a normal copper alloy Lincoln cent planchet.

Weinberg said he re-emphasized to Pratt the same recommendation he had made to Zieman the day before to hand deliver all of the coins with documentation to Camire at NGC.

They subsequently did.
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.
Ashley Fox is an MEP for South West England, and is the leader of Britains Conservative MEPs.

The corridors and coffee bars of the European Parliament have been buzzing with speculation for weeks about what the election might mean for the future of the European Union and Brexit.

However, it was the occupant of the Elysee Palace, not 10 Downing Street, who was being discussed over the croissants and cappuccinos until Theresa May made her surprise announcement of a General Election on 8th June.

The Prime Ministers move caught officials here, and I suspect in many EU27 capitals, on the back foot. Hence the insistence by European Commission first Vice-President Frans Timmermans a few days later that the election changed nothing. He was trying to settle nerves.

But make no mistake, May has altered the atmosphere in the run up to the start of negotiations over Britains departure from the EU in ways that I believe can benefit both sides.

A clear Conservative victory on 8th June will remove any doubt that the UK is going to honour the outcome of the referendum, something still questioned by a minority in the EU, an organisation which has a history of responding to unwelcome votes by simply telling the public to try again. That, in turn, removes the temptation for EU negotiators to take a hard line in talks in the belief it may prompt the British Government to change its mind.

Angela Merkels CDU party colleague, and chairman of the Bundestags foreign affairs committee, Norbert Rottgen has acknowledged as much, noting: For the first time the Prime Minister is programmatically committing the Tories to Brexit.

Consequently, the intensely political decision to call an early election could help de-politicise the forthcoming talks and optimise the chances of striking a deal that works for people in the UK and across the EU.

By acting so decisively, May has deepened the respect in which she is already held in Brussels. Politicians here are well aware that currently a dozen or so MPs acting with the Opposition can cause the Prime Minister trouble in the Commons. They also recognise that both sides have to enter the negotiations able to make decisions without constantly consulting Westminster, in the Prime Ministers case, and 27 national capitals if you are Michel Barnier. A clear election victory delivers that for May.

The need for a strong leader with a rock solid mandate to represent Britains interests has been highlighted by the predictable but frustrating leaks of the past few days, which prompted the Prime Minister to accuse some at the EU of attempting to interfere in the election. This is not a one-off. The EU will continue probing for areas of weakness over the next two years and we must be ready to respond firmly.

Meanwhile, domestically, a large Tory majority will further the process of reuniting our country and sideline the referendum result deniers.

So the General Election can be a huge positive for Brexit but we must not take the result for granted. Jeremy Corbyn would be a disaster for Britain and we need to work hard for every vote to deliver an increased Conservative majority.

And what about that other ballot which is occupying pundits in the Brussels bubble?

Unlike some, I am cautiously optimistic. If the polls are correct and Emmanuel Macron becomes President on Sunday, the Prime Ministers decision in February to invite the then contender to meet her at Number 10 could prove a diplomatic masterstroke. It was his first major meeting with a foreign leader and much appreciated by Macron, who subsequently talked of defending the special relationship between Great Britain and Europe.

The Prime Ministers understanding that such gestures matter could be key in the coming months.
CORNWALL, Ontario  Charles Richard-Hamelin will be concluding the 2016-2017 Cornwall Concert Series this Saturday, May 6. Regarded as one of the most important pianists of this generation, he was a silver medalist and laureate of the Krystian Zimerman award for the best sonata at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2015.

Winning second prize at the Montreal International Musical Competition, Richard-Hamelin also won third prize and special award for the best performance of a Beethoven sonata at the Seoul International Music Competition in South Korea.

Artsfile recently described him as arguably the best and most complete pianist under the age of 30 in Canada, stating that his work ethic and consistency have allowed him to maintain the momentum.

Having just performed with Les Violons du Roy in Quebec City, the NAC in Ottawa, Richard-Hamelin also participated in Les Moments Musicaux de lHermitage in La Baule, France. Following his appearance in Cornwall, he will be playing a concert in Montreal with I Musici; a portrait of the artist Marc Chagall in music. His latest recording Beethoven, Enescu & Chopin: Works for Piano (Live), was nominated for a Juno award this year.

Not to be missed, this concert entitled Chopin and Romantic Composers, will be held at Aultsville Theatre, 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 6.

Single tickets ($30) for all performances may be purchased in advance (cash or cheque) at these locations: TD Canada Trust, Cornwall Square and Caisse Populaire de Cornwall, 840 Pitt Street. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the evening of the performance based on availability. For further information, visit www.CornwallConcertSeries.com.

For more information: charlesrichardhamelin.com
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Mama June Shannon's weight loss surgery brought a lot of changes in her life. Read on for more details plus the first look at her "Baywatch" photoshoot.

Mama June Becomes A Baywatch Beauty For A Shoot

30-year-old Shannon has come along way from weighing 460 pounds to a smashing 137 lbs. this year. According to People, her recent photoshoot serves as a living proof of her amazing body transformation.

The former "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" star recently showcased her slim figure, complete with the iconic red swimsuit and a matching safety float device. However, this is not the first time that she channeled her inner Pamela Anderson from "Baywatch." She previously picked the theme when she was still 400lbs. in 2015.

Mama June underwent a series of procedures, including a gastric sleeve surgery worth almost $75,000. The doctors focused on removing loose skin and fat from her back, chest, neck, and arms. Aside from these, she also went under the knife for a breast augmentation and new veneers.

"I can promise you Im never going back to my old size," she said. Im happy where Im at. Her two daughters were also happy about her "Marilyn Monroe" look as well.

Shannon And Her Amazing Weight Loss Surgery And Body Transformation

She and her daughters returned to their reality TV roots on "Mama June: from Not To Hot" on WE. This is their latest appearance, since their fallout with TLC few years ago. They got their first taste of stardom when the network made a spinoff featuring Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson and her unique family.

"Mama June: from Not To Hot" focused on her fitness journey towards her goal. It all started as a form of revenge against her ex, "Sugar Bear" Thompson. But now, she has finally accepted herself and even attended his wedding.

She had been maintaining her fit self after her weight loss surgery with the help of Kenya Crooks, E! Online reported. But it was not easy. She added, "And now I feel like becoming the person on the outside that I always felt like on the inside."

In other news, Shannon may have found someone famous who might follow her footsteps. Former "Dance Moms" star, Abby Lee Miller has expressed her interest in starring in her own series that has a similar theme with the former's show.

This is the latest news on Mama June's weight loss surgery. Stay tuned for more updates,

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
North Dakotans who rely on state-funded vouchers to access treatment for substance use wont see a lapse in services after recent action by state legislators.

The substance use disorder treatment voucher program, established by the 2015 Legislature, ran out of money in February and was at risk of being inadequately funded for 2017-19.

But legislators decided to put an extra $200,000 toward the program to sustain it through the end of June. Starting in July, the voucher program will be expanded with nearly $2.8 million in funding.

The vouchers through the Department of Human Services can cover counseling, inpatient or outpatient treatment and other services.

The vouchers can address gaps in coverage or barriers that might prevent someone from seeking treatment, such as helping to pay for a high insurance deductible or reimbursing for room and board while receiving treatment, said Pamela Sagness, director of the Behavioral Health Division.

The expanded program will also cover the cost of medication such as methadone, which wasnt previously covered through the vouchers, Sagness said.

Obviously thats pretty significant when were in the middle of an opioid crisis and medication-assisted treatment is one of the most effective forms of treatment for opioid use disorder, Sagness said.

Chris Jones, executive director of the Department of Human Services, said the Legislature decided to provide more money for the program because of its success and the flexibility it has to provide dollars for direct care.

The thought was really to double-down on one program instead of having multiple programs, Jones said.

At the states first methadone clinic, Community Medical Services in Minot, about 40 percent of clients have used the vouchers to help them access treatment.

Clinic manager Mark Schaefer said the program had not stopped taking applications, but had warned clients about a possible lapse in funding.

We didnt know how many weeks we had or months, Schaefer said. Knowing that its going to continue, it helps a lot of people.

The methadone clinic recently opened a location in Fargo, serving 18 clients in the first two weeks, he said. Most will likely qualify for the vouchers, he said.

The need has just been overwhelming, Schaefer said.

To date, the voucher program has served 146 individuals. Eight private providers from around the state are approved for the program and 11 more are in the process of becoming approved, Sagness said.

Rep. Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo, said the funding for the voucher program was one of the major successes of the 2017 legislative session.

This really will make a difference, she said.

Nearly $1.8 million for the program comes from the tobacco prevention control trust fund and $1 million comes from the states general fund, Jones said.
Last August, the Delaware Supreme Court seriously misinterpreted the U.S. Supreme Court's decision inv.. In this post at the time, I asked, "Does Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn have the requisite vertebrae to petition for certiorari?" Regrettably, the answer was no.A bill to "fix" the system that isn't actually broken has passed out of committee to the floor of the House, Ian Gronau reports for the Delaware State News. A floor vote scheduled for today has been postponed and is expected Tuesday, WMDT reports Regrettably, the bill would adopt what I call a "single-juror veto" law as opposed to a true unanimity law. Single-juror veto laws have resulted in gross miscarriages of justice, including the Aurora theater shooting case in Colorado and the Carnation murders in Washington State. See also this post
In late April German authorities arrested a Swiss national and charged him with espionage, according to German reports. The individual, operating on behalf of Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS), had penetrated the North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) tax authority. He had, in a word, recruited a mole with the NRW government.

In a brief announcement, the German Attorney General announced the arrest of a 54-year-old Swiss citizen, Daniel M. in Frankfurt Am Main. The Attorney General indicated the individual had been working on behalf of the intelligence service of a foreign power since 2012.

Why would the Swiss wish to penetrate a German states tax authority? The Swiss FIS engaged in classic counterespionage activity, in order to identify an insider breaking trust, you recruit an insider from within the entity that has penetrated the organization which you are protecting, the Swiss banks.

The Swiss banks have seen a continuous stream of their non-public banking information being provided by trusted insiders to NRW tax authorities (and other German tax entities). According to Blick, a Swiss publication, since 2006 German tax authorities have paid millions to purchase Swiss bank data CDs (compact discs) containing information on German tax evaders. The German state of NRW has been particularly active in the acquisition of Swiss bank data. In 2012, the data from Swiss bank, UBS, identified accounts owned by German nationals whose combined assets totaled 2.9 billion euros.

German publication, The Local, quotes Swiss Minister of Parliament, Corina Eichenberger (vice president of the parliamentary committee supervising the FIS) as saying, counterespionage is part of the FIS remit. She noted how in 2012, the Swiss Attorney General issued arrest warrants for three NRW tax investigators for violation of Swiss law, engaging in economic espionage. These arrest warrants were based on the information garnered by the individual arrested by the Germans.

Is NRW the only entity paying for Swiss bank data? Not according to Russian media site, Sputnik News, who notes that in 2015, the Dusseldorf finance ministry had spent 5 million euros to purchase a CD containing identifying information on 70 billion euros worth of transactions which evaded German taxation. Sputnik News continued as to how more than 120,000 Germans have been charged with tax evasion because of the successful efforts by the various German tax authorities in acquiring Swiss bank information.

The Swiss, demonstrating that a good defense, requires a strong offense, decided the risk of discovery by the Germans of the Swiss espionage activity was worth the gain, identifying who was providing inside bank information to the German tax authorities.

What is the German perspective?

The NRW Finance Minister, Norbert Walter-Borjans described the German perspective best when speaking to Tagesschua, a German language publication, The scandal reaches new proportions when spies sign up informers in the finance administration, in order to spy on successful NRW tax investigators and play into the hands of people who make billions in profit at the expense of society. It's hard to believe that such a spy thriller took place not on the screen but on our own doorstep."

That is until at least 2018, when this type of spy-vs-spy activity surrounding Swiss bank account ownership and the German tax authorities will no longer be necessary. Blick pointed out how the Swiss parliament had authorized the exchange of this type of information to begin in 2018, rendering the German activity moot, as the information will be shared automatically between the Switzerland and the German tax authorities.

In conclusion, we have cases of trusted insiders on both sides of the equation breaking trust with their employers and assisting foreign entities in advancing the entitys agenda. In the case of the Swiss, they clearly believe the NFW tax investigators are violating Swiss laws by illegally Swiss bank account data. If they successfully identify the individuals, they may be able to identify their sources within the Swiss banks.

Germany, by neutralizing this Swiss national, who had recruited sources within the NRW Finance Ministry, have successfully neutralized the Swiss FIS counterintelligence efforts. The damage assessment on the Swiss activities, may indicate the current crop of tax investigators and some/all of their sources may have been identified. This does not preclude a new cadre of investigators being launched into Switzerland to rejuvenate the clandestine collection effort.
The following essay appeared Friday, May 5, 2017, at Crux.

In a recent message by Pope Francis to the Pontifical Academy of Social Science he outlines some moral concerns about a phenomenon he sees as invading (his term) high levels of culture and education in both universities and in schools, namely libertarian individualism.

On the first day of my philosophy classes, the professor admonished us that if we want to have an intelligent discussion or debate, we must begin by defining our terms. Exchanges can become heated and rambunctious but ultimately pointless without observing this first step in clarity.

So lets consider the popes own definition of what he is criticizing. Like the word capitalism, the word libertarian is encrusted with numerous definitions, broad and narrow as well as nuanced and blunt. What, then, is the pope talking about?

When the pope speaks of libertarian individualism, he has in mind something which he says exalts the selfish ideal, whereby it is only the individual who gives values to things and interpersonal relationships and where it is only the individual who decides what is good and what is bad.

This result, he says, is a belief in self-causation, which I take to mean the denial of any givenness in human nature in favor of a radical autonomy in which morality is no longer a question of free adherence to the truth about good and evil but rather simply a matter of whatever I will it to be.

All of this, the pope contends (and I agree), denies the common good. One could add that it also denies the entire tradition of natural law via an exaltation of subjectivity and the detachment of conscience from the truths knowable via faith and reason.

But the most interesting part of Pope Franciss comments arise when he states that libertarian individualism denies the validity of the common good because on the one hand it supposes that the very idea of common implies the constriction of at least some individuals, and the other that the notion of good deprives freedom of its essence. This, then, is anti-social at the root.

At one level, the pope is expressing concern about the type of mindset that denies that there are conditions which enhance human flourishing (which is how the Catholic Church understands the common good) through the acceptance of common constraints (the rule of law being a good example).

He also seems to be critiquing any ethical system that sees freedom, in the sense of absence of constraint, as its own end and finality. For Catholics and other Christians, liberty is more than just negative freedom or the capacity to will X rather than Y.

All this is standard Catholic teaching. The question that remains is whether the pope is offering a fair or accurate definition of libertarianism.

Consider, for example, that there are many schools of libertarianism  Lockean libertarians, bleeding heart libertarians, Nozickian libertarians, Hayekian libertarians, Randian libertarians, even Rothbardian anarcho-capitalists, to name just a few.

By no means do they agree about everything. As interesting as it might be to examine the differences between these positions, I think it is more productive to outline some concepts to which I suspect all serious believers could subscribe and see if these can provide an alternative to the specific kind of libertarianism the pope is denouncing but also inoculate us against collectivist alternatives that some might believe the pope could be advocating.

Human beings are not simply individuals, even if we colloquially employ this word to describe people. Certainly, human beings enjoy the kind of legitimate liberty and distinctiveness which some (e.g., Aristotle and Aquinas among others) refer to at times as an expression of individuality.

Even the Vatican IIs Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes speaks of private property as conferring on everyone a sphere wholly necessary for the autonomy of the person and the family, and it should be regarded as an extension of human freedom.

We also know, as a matter of natural reason and natural science, that from the moment of conception, each human being is biologically distinct from his father and mother. Their DNA, for instance, is different. Yet at the same time, that very same individual human being is in relation to his mother and father.

In short, the human person is both individual and social simultaneously. Perhaps in this light it is better to speak of human beings not so much as individuals but as persons.

The social reality of persons to persons is what constitutes a human community. This is a bond  one which certainly comes with some constraints, but one which cant be reduced to constraints.

This brings me to the popes concern about bonds and constraints in relation to human freedom. In this regard I have long found the writings of the sociologist Robert Nisbet to be helpful, particularly the distinction he draws between power and authority.

Both power and authority are forms of constraint, Nisbet explains. Power is a form of constraint external to the person. This means that a constraint is forced upon a person without regard to that persons free will, such as an act of violence to conform anothers behavior.

Authority, on the other hand, is a form of constraint interior to the person, some overarching code that the person himself believes in and to which he acquiesces, as begrudgingly as the case may be, such as abstaining from meat on Friday.

Most of us freely submit to all sorts of authority, in Nisbets sense of the word, and rightly resent what Nisbet regards as impositions of power.

Another form of authority long recognized by the Church is, of course, legitimate law and the legitimate acts of sovereign governments. Law and government certainly impose constraints upon people but they also create particular bonds between particular groups of people.

From this standpoint, we start to see that many of the debates engaged in by people of all political persuasions  including self-described libertarians  concern when a bond has become an illegitimate constraint; or where a constraint, however necessary, is mistaken for a bond.; or when societies are relying too heavily on constraints to do the work of what is normally undertaken by bonds.

Alexis de Tocqueville summed this up in one succinct question when he asked, How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie is not strengthened in proportion as the political tie is relaxed?

These are the questions which are, and should be, engaged in by societies that seek to take liberty, justice, and the common good seriously. They are also perpetual works in progress.

The irony, however, is that we live in a time when a concern for liberty  especially in the specifically Christian sense of the term  far from invading our cultures, is under siege.

In some parts of the world, it is threatened by the type of populism that has done so much damage in Pope Franciss Latin America (and is presently destroying Venezuela). In other countries, it is being slowly strangled by the bureaucracies which rule European social democracies.

Then there is the jihadism that is destroying the freedom of many, and literally killing thousands of Christians ever year.

So while the popes warnings against the radical individualism against which the Catholic Church has always cautioned are important, lets hope that his words dont distract attention from some of the profound violations of freedom occurring across the world.
DERBY-In April it was paper towels and tissues.

And more than 200 rolls of the towels and 70 boxes of tissues were collected at City Hall.

Now Marc Garofalo, the city/town clerk said the May needs at the St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank are cans of clear broth and packages of saltines.

Anyone wishing to donate can bring them to his office on the first floor of City Hall, 1 Elizabeth Street or directly to the St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank, 237 Roosevelt Drive. The bank serves Valley residents.
The Hearst Connecticut Media Group honored 10 local nurses on Wednesday, May 3 as part of its annual Salute To Nurses initiative. The nurses had been nominated for the exceptional care they provide their patients and their dedication to the nursing profession.

The 10 recipients  Judy Ahern, Stamford Hospital; Elizabeth Brice, Norwalk Hospital; Winter DeFeo, Bridgeport Hospital; Eileen Dolenk, Northeast Radiology; Susan Goncalves, Sacred Heart University School of Nursing; Jeffrey Johnston, Danbury Hospital; Kathy LiVolsi, Stamford Hospital; Janie Mezzatesta, Griffin Hospital; Patrick Murray, St. Vincent's Medical Center; and Gloria Nogueras, Sterling Care  were selected by an independent judging panel from more than 100 nominations from former patients, colleagues and administrators.
MILFORD  On Thursday, May 11, a talk, Understanding Islam: Promoting Healing in These Uncertain Times, will take place at the Milford Public Library, 57 New Haven Ave., at 7 p.m.

The lecture by Imam Sami Abdul Aziz, Wesleyans Muslim Chaplin, is being co-hosted by Milford Speaks Out and the Milford Public Library.
BRIDGEPORT  Planned Parenthood would be hit hard if the American Health Care Act is passed, an official with the organization said Friday.

Susan Yolen, vice president of policy and advocacy for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, said clients would be hurt by a provision in the bill that would suspend Medicaid reimbursements to the nonprofit for one year.

The AHCA won House approval by a slim margin of 217-213 votes, and is now in the hands of the U.S. Senate.

Of the 60,000, give or take, patients in Connecticut every year, about 30,000 come to us with Medicaid as their payer, so thats obviously quite a lot of impact to both those 30,000 folks and to Planned Parenthood, Yolen said.

Back in December, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized regulation to protect agencies like Planned Parenthood, Yolen said.

(It) put in place whats referred to as guidance, Yolen said. (It included) language that protects agencies that perform abortion care from discrimination when it comes to federal funding.

But once President Donald Trump took over office, he signed the reversal of that guidance, Yolen said.

And though that reversal was a step backward for Planned Parenthood, Yolen said it didnt necessarily have an immediate impact.

It didnt defund us, but it said that we could be discriminated against, Yolen said.
WASHINGTON  Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy fear they might be on the outside looking in as the Senate crafts its own health care legislation in the wake of the House passing an Obamacare replacement.

Im hopeful we can find common ground (with the Senates GOP majority), but we havent gotten single smoke signal from Republicans that theyre interested in doing that, Murphy, D-Conn., said in an interview Friday.

A day after House Republicans pulled out their long-promised repeal and replace victory on a 217-213 vote, Senate Republicans committed themselves to writing their own bill and raised a collective eyebrow at the House approach.

Judging by the number of Republican colleagues rolling their eyes and their holding noses, I agree this bill is dead even before arrival in the Senate, Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in an interview Friday.

The House bill cuts an estimated $880 billion out of Medicaid, a key component of Obamacares coverage of 20 million who had been uninsured. Although House Republicans rushed it through before the Congressional Budget Office had a chance to assess its impact, a CBO report on the bills earlier iteration found it would cover 24 million fewer people by 2026 than if Obamacare remained in place.

They may not know it, but a lot of Republican House members walked the plank yesterday, said Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., who voted against the bill.

Himes said hed talked to worried health care providers, including executives at Stamford Hospital and the Norwalk Community Health Center.

He added that he fears not only the loss of Medicaid coverage but a new tax-credit formula and age-ratio for premiums that could end up hurting older and sicker patients.

Health care providers are very nervous about this, he said.

Even if the House bill does not survive, the prognosis for Senate passage of its own bill remains shrouded in uncertainty.

Senate rules may  or may not  permit Republicans to pass a measure through reconciliation, a Capitol Hill buzzword for a simple 51-vote majority on tax, budget and spending matters.

That would ensure passage if the Senates 52-seat Republican majority hangs together  which it may not.

Led by Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York, Blumenthal, Murphy and other Democrats will fight to ensure the bill is subject to regular rules on policy changes that require 60 votes  well within the filibuster capacity of the Senates 46 Democrats and two independents.

To say that repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and denying health insurance to 24 million affects only spending and taxes is to twist and distort the rules beyond recognition, Blumenthal said.

And if a more moderate bill does make it through the Senate, it may get stymied in negotiations with conservative Freedom Caucus members of the House, whose votes were necessary for passage Thursday.

Its possible Republicans may never be able to thread the needle, Murphy said.

Four GOP Senators have already expressed their disapproval of the House bills Medicaid provisions. Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., wrote a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., complaining that the Medicaid cuts could result in a reduction in access to life-saving health care services.

Portman has already announced that he is working on amendment to tweak Medicaid, and so has Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La.

Laura Castro Lindarte contributed to this report.

dan@hearstdc.com
Leading conferences such as TechCrunch Disrupt are like heaven for entrepreneurs. However, the $1,995-2,995 price tag plus travel are a lot less divine, and can be hard to justify, especially when it comes to ROI for startups with limited resources.

The startup ecosystem is already saturated, making it hard to attract the attention of the media, investors and potential partners through normal channels, but standing out from the crowd becomes even trickier when you place thousands of eager competitors from a range of industries under the same roof at the same time. Bumping into Steve Wozniak or making eye contact with Elon Musk are cool stories which will provoke green eyed envy amongst fellow tech-heads, but they are not going to help you scale your business, or make you more appealing to VCs.

While rubbing shoulders with industry leaders opens the door to potentially profitable chance encounters, other less flashy options like accelerators, smaller networking events and startup competitions offer the same -- if not more -- access to resources, with less competition and for a fraction of the price. Thats not to say that startups cant benefit from conferences.

I spoke to Leo Lax, founder of SAAS accelerator L-Spark and Dave Tyldesley, co-founder of Cube Business Media, joint-organizers of the SAAS NORTH conference in Ottawa, about how to create a conference which really offers value and ROI to startups.

Related: 6 Ways Introverts Can Avoid Feeling Shy at Conferences

1. Go niche

What smaller events may be lacking in brand and reputation, they tend to make up in relevance for attendees. While a quick browse of booths at a globally-renowned conference will reveal an Aladdins cave of mind-boggling new technology and innovation catering to whatever weird and wonderful use cases you can imagine, opening your eyes to the seemingly infinite limits of the human imagination, the value to a startups growth, product or business model will be minimal.

Industry specific events allow startups to showcase their products or services to people who really understand their context, receive inspiration (or motivation) from what competitors are doing and meet valuable contacts. Rather than just acting as a "show and tell" event, founders should be able to walk away with a better idea of the market fit for their product, what consumers and investors are really looking for and what they are doing better or worse than other players.

VCs and angel investors often focus on specific industries. It goes without saying that, the chances of you meeting someone who is interested in writing about, partnering with, buying from or investing in a startup like yours is much higher at a conference which only caters to that specific industry.

2. Choose your location wisely

If you decide to hold your conference in San Francisco, New York or another global tech hub the chances are you will be able to fill seats, but you also put yourself up against the hundreds of other events taking place in that city that year.

Choosing a location which is off the beaten track reduces competition, improves your chances of engaging the local startup community, media, investors and local sponsors, but it also allows you to craft a more inclusive conference experience. While you dont want to go too far -- placing your event in the Amazon rainforest or Greenland -- a change of scene can motivate people to immerse themselves in all of the event, not just the main speakers, and offers an attractive and interesting location which can sway people towards investing the time and resources to attend.

Basing our conference in Ottawa allowed us to motivate the local tech community but also attract a large audience from out of town. When people are forced to leave their nest, they naturally get more involved in events and social meetups because they dont have the pressure of shooting back to the office in-between presentations, or having to cut off early to get home to their families, said Tyldesley.

By placing your conference in a smaller city, with more limited options for accommodation than the tens of thousands of options available in a bustling metropolis, you also improve the chances that attendees will book hotels which are close to the event and mingle outside of the conference organically, rather than just at organized networking or social events when they need to compete with hundreds of other attendees. This adds a social element, as people connect and build relationships not only in the conference, but also in the hotel lobby or bar.

Tyldesley states that forcing people to leave their usual work environment creates a sort of "holiday camp" psychological effect by which people meet interesting new contacts from around the globe, but are naturally drawn to people from their own cities or states.

When someone meets another founder or investor from Vancouver in Vancouver its an everyday occurrence, but if they both meet at a conference in Ottawa they seem to make a stronger bond and go back and do business, says Tyldesley. When they arrive back home they realise how much value they got from being continuously involved in the conference, and make a point of following up with people they met.

3. Put content first

For startups with their eyes firmly set on scaling as quickly as possible, it is easy to look at conferences as "catwalks" where they can strut their stuff in front of the right people and shake the right hands. While sales and marketing are obviously key concerns for businesses of all sizes, it is important to listen as much as you talk at events, and try to take away as much as possible. There are always things to be learned from other entrepreneurs experiences.

Launching an industry-specific event allows organizers to target specific groups of experts and provide concrete takeaways for startups operating in the same field.

Accelerators and big tech conferences always focus on networking, but we didnt try and replicate the same thing. We tried to make content the focus, and offer insights into every aspect of the SAAS industry, from product design to alternative funding, said Lax. Shareability is a big concern for us, we are going to put all of the content online, release all of the videos, try to push all of the material as far as possible to educate the next generation of startups.

Big names might grab headlines, but a conference which really adds value will offer startups presentations and workshops from experts covering all stages of the startup process. Try to invite VCs, alternative funders, CEOs, marketing experts, PR and media representatives and add a wide variety of topics and themes, all linked to the same industry.

A conference shouldnt just focus on showcasing products. If you look behind the scenes at successful businesses its about teams, infrastructure, governance, funding, to name a few, said Lax. We wanted to have a mechanism where we could educate startups about of these and attract a more varied and widespread network of attendees, not just SAAS techies.

Related: Conferences Are Good for Networking but Great for Marketing

It is also important to make your speaker list as inclusive as possible. The tech world is dominated by white males, but encouraging experienced female experts and contributors from other ethnic backgrounds to get involved offers a positive and inspirational example to attendees. Promoting equality in the tech and conference industries requires a culture change from within, by which people feel empowered to apply to events, based on their experience and expertise, not their role in a company, gender or ethnicity.

4. Use tech to maximize engagement and free up time for learning

Networking is an important element for startups during conferences, a chance to showcase their product, meet potential new clients, investors and industry partners. However, while networking offers the chance of direct ROI from attending a conference, it can also take up all of peoples time and limit the amount of presentations and workshops someone can attend.

While the hustle factor of being able to work a room, and target specific experts who can push your business forward is undoubtedly important, conference organizers can streamline the process of networking using technology, allowing attendees to use some of their time learning and contributing at the event, too.

For instance, the SAAS NORTH app featured a networking tool which included all of the attendees and speakers profiles, with a photo, basic contact information and a direct messaging tool. This allowed attendees to reach out to people they wanted to connect with, and also to follow up with people they might have met or spoken to at a previous event or during a social activity.

The profiles should also include a byline for their company, a link to their website, and social media handles. Social media allows attendees to connect on the spot via Twitter or LinkedIn rather than collecting piles of business cards which will probably just sit in their pocket until the next conference.

Related: 10 Tips for Planning a Successful Company Conference

By making it a part of the signup process, and an essential tool for navigating internal events organizers can nudge users in the right direction. If there are no paper maps and timetables available, people will quickly download the app out of necessity.

Planning a successful event that makes a profit is different from organizing an event which adds real value to its attendees. A flash line-up of tech superstars will sell tickets, and allow people to network with other like-minded and interesting entrepreneurs, but events should be about learning and growing, as much as mingling and pitching. For startups with limited resources every expenditure needs to come down to the ROI for their company, so aim to create an environment which brings together all of the important social and networking aspects, while also providing education and mentorship which can continue making a difference once the conference curtains close.

Related:

4 Ways to Organize a Conference That's More Than Just Networking

18 Must-Attend Social Media Conferences in 2017

Shortlisted: 10 Startups To Look Out For At STEP Conference 2017



Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
French citizens will choose a new president this Sunday, and one of them  Emmanuel Macron  recently announced that, if elected, he will urge the European Union to impose sanctions against the nation of Poland. Polish writer Marcin Rzegocki asks Does Macron want the EU to punish Poland for its charity or its success? in a new commentary for Religion & Liberty Transatlantic.

Macron said he would ask the EU to punish Poland for its refusal to admit its prescribed share of mostly Muslim refugees fleeing war-torn Syria. Instead, the nation of Poland came up with a more personal, more effective, private charitable undertaking to aid refugees of all religious backgrounds. Pope Francis recently commended it.

The French presidential candidate apparently believes this to be insufficient. But Rzegocki brings to light the economic subtext behind Macrons threat, little reported elsewhere. He writes:

To understand Macrons remarks, it is crucial to understand their context. The conference took place in a Whirlpool plant in Amiens just before it is relocated to odz in central Poland. Candidate Macron accused Poland and Hungary of doing nothing in face of the refugee crisis which threatens the Old Continent. It is clear that Macron intended his tough talk to raise his popularity among French workers.  Thanks to the free movement of people and capital inside the EU, central European countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary became competitive against countries like France and Italy due to lower costs of employing its workforce, lower taxation, well-educated professionals, and other resources. This led to the problem  as the French and Italians see it  of businesses relocating further to the East. According to Eurostat, as of December 2016, the unemployment rate in Poland was 5.9 percent, while in France it was 9.6 percent. Instead of fighting against the real problems underlying this situation, both French presidential candidates opt for short-term interventionist policies and political sanctions.

This confirms the classical liberal notion that economic engagement flowers into positive foreign relations, and vice-versa. Charity can do the same, if handled correctly, Rzegocki notes. Polands alternate plan to help refugees seems to accomplish this:

The charitable organization Caritas Polska launched another program aiming to help the people in need in Middle East called Rodzina Rodzinie, which means Family for Family in Polish.  The program has already won plaudits that anyone would covet  from the Holy See. During the April 23 Regina Caeli prayer in Vatican, Pope Francis commended the Rodzina Rodzinie program and thanked Caritas Polska for this initiative. I greet the Polish pilgrims and express heartfelt appreciation for the initiative of Caritas Poland in support of many families in Syria, Pope Francis said.  Muslim families in need are also included in the Christian program  which is often surprising to them.

This helps refugees where they live, something supported by most Syrians, as well as their Christian leaders. For instance, the Orthodox Christian Patriarch of Antioch, John X, told the president of Poland last year, Christians, to survive, need help, on site, in the Middle East. This satisfies concerns from the Polish government  and the Polish church  that the immigrants may harbor Islamist sentiments. In all countries receiving refugees, the programs aimed at the integration failed completely. Therefore, we believe that this program is the best solution, said Bishop Krzysztof Zadarko of the Polish Episcopal Conference.

In his essay, Rzegocki details Polands Rodzina Rodzinie program, which helps the vulnerable where they live, without societal upheaval, and with tremendous economic efficiency  something no government is known for.

You can read his full essay here.

(Photo credit: Ecole polytechnique Universite Paris-Saclay. This photo has been cropped. CC BY-SA 2.0.)
NORWALK  Students across all 17 of Connecticuts state colleges and universities are now formally allowed to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity as well as use a preferred  rather than legal  name on all non-legal school documents and records.

The changes come as the Connecticut Board of Regents adopted two separate policies in April addressing issues that transgender or gender nonconforming people on campuses across the country say they have been forced to deal with for years.

Our focus is and always will be on developing successful, engaged students and to do that we must continue to provide a learning environment that encourages personal growth for everyone, said Mark Ojakian, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities president, in a statement. Transgender students are part of the CSCU community and we want to make sure they feel valued and empowered to pursue their education.

The new bathroom and locker room policy came in response to an executive order issued by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in February after President Donald Trump rolled back Obama-era federal guidelines that protected transgender students in public schools.

It also follows a 2011 state law that prohibited public institutions from discriminating based on gender expression or identity.

The state college and university system has remained in compliance with that law since, according to its communications director, Maribel La Luz, but this policy formally recognizes that its restrooms and locker rooms are public accommodations and therefore prohibits controlling or otherwise limiting people who are transgender or gender nonconforming access to those spaces.

Requiring a transgender or gender nonconforming person to use a separate, non-integrated space, potentially identifies that person as well as potentially marginalizes a person, the new policy states. Such treatment fails to recognize that restroom and locker room facilities on the campuses as public accommodations and that denial of access may result in the deprivation of an equal educational or employment environment.

Locally, at Norwalk Community College, the policy wont change things at all, said Cheryl DeVonish, chief diversity officer for the school.

DeVonish said Norwalk Community College already maintains a policy that allows students to use facilities that correspond with their gender identity. She called the new policy simply a reaffirmation of what the school has been doing.

The move to adopt a preferred first name policy came after the Board of Regents Student Advisory Committee requested earlier this year for the governing body to address the issue.

The new policy allows students to use their preferred name on all non-legal documents, including course rosters, student ID cards, email addresses and awards. Preferred names will still be excluded from legal documents, such as diplomas and transcripts.

DeVonish said Norwalk Community College also has a system in place that allows professors to identify students in the classroom according to their preferred name.

In the new policy, the Board of Regents has directed representatives of each college and university to establish the appropriate forms, procedures and timelines to facilitate students requests to use a preferred name.

It also directed representatives to prepare similar materials needed for students requests to change their legal name. Such a request though, according to the policy, requires the student to present an original or certified copy of a court order to change their legal name.

In regards to any pushback the school may face due to these policies, DeVonish said so far she hasnt heard of any.

If anything she said, students have a lot of questions and are interested in learning more.

Crystal Nyante, a 20-year-old sophomore at the school, didnt take issue with the new policy.

I think anyone who is transgender should be able to use the bathroom of their choice, Nyante said.

She acknowledged that doing so may make others feel uncomfortable, and that may be an issue, but seemed undeterred by it personally.

Juan Ramirez, a 19-year-old freshman at the school, agreed.

Every single person is different, Ramirez said, and has different beliefs.

Ramirez seemed to believe it wasnt up to others to make decisions for a person in regards to their own identity.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203-354-1049; @kevinedschultz
Cuba and Gabon strengthen bilateral ties

Submitted by: Juana

Havana

international

Politics and Government

05 / 05 / 2017



Bruno Rodriguez, Cuban Foreign Minister, welcomed Pacome Moubelet, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, La Francophonie, Regional Integration, and Gabonese Abroad, who is on an official visit to the Caribbean island, reports Prensa Latina.

During the meeting, Rodriguez expressed his government's willingness to strengthen ties with that African nation, and thanked Gabon's support for Cuba's demands for lifting the trade, economic and financial blockade imposed by United States.

The African visitor considered that the Cuban welcome, rather than a sign of friendship, symbolizes the fraternity between the two countries, and said he intends to expand those links by signing agreements between both foreign ministries.

The Gabonese chancellor congratulated Cuba for its resilience to adversity and its achievements in the field of science, a sector in which it is a world reference.

We hope to expand collaboration in all spheres and make good use of all the advantages Cuba can offer, he said.

Moubelet noted that this, his first official visit to Cuba, will serve as prelude for a future meeting between Cuban President Raul Castro and his Gabonese counterpart Ali Bongo.

An Agreement for Regular Diplomatic Consultations between Cuba and Gabon was signed by the ministers of both countries which main purpose is to promote the development of bilateral relations, as well as the expansion of inter-chancellor contacts, diplomatic missions and other representations of both ministries.

Cuba and Gabon established diplomatic relations in 1974 and their bilateral bonds have the greatest expression in the fields of health, education and sport.
CultNews101.com: news, links, resources. Cults101.org: resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics. CultMediation.com: offers resources designed to help thoughtful families and friends understand and respond to the complexity of a loved ones cult involvement. Intervention101.com: to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement. CultRecovery101.com: assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.
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 ...
It might take a few days to see unofficial results in Pa. Here's why
Democratic election commission photo.jpg

The Democratic Executive Commission sat around the table Friday morning at City Hall in Moss Point to recount the votes from Tuesday's primary election. (Tyler Carter/tcarter@al.com)

MOSS POINT, Miss. -- After numerous calls were placed to the Secretary of State's office requesting a recount of votes from Tuesday's municipal elections, the Moss Point Democratic Executive Committee spent time on Friday conducting a state sanctioned recount of votes.

Multiple candidates through social media questioned the validity of Tuesday's election after three ballots allegedly ended up within the Sue Ellen Gym voting box instead of its correct polling location voting box.

Conversation on social media also alluded to the notion that Mayor Billy Broomfield attempted to tamper with the election by not allowing for those votes to be opened.

City Clerk Stephanie Coleman told the Mississippi Press there is no evidence to substantiate those claims.

Members of the committee also said they were not sure how ballots ended up in the wrong box.

The committee began counting at 8 a.m. and concluded around 12:43 p.m. After Coleman confirmed the numbers, an interesting dynamic existed for the Ward 1 alderman seat. Incumbent James C. Smith and challenger and former alderman Sherwood Bradford race ended in a tie.

The only option to decide if Smith will retain his seat or if Bradford will take over the seat will be decided by coin flip around 4 p.m. Friday evening.

After conversation was held, it was decided that both candidates would be added to the May 16 runoff roster.

Incumbent Shirley Chambers vacated the Ward 4 seat after alderman at-large Houston Cunningham decided to run for mayor. Democrat Ennit Morris received 50 percent of the vote, but not the necessary plus one to solidify the seat. He will face Willie Mena Martin in the runoff.

Tuesday's primary numbers in the Democratic nominee for mayor, as well as wards 2, 3, 5, 6 and alderman at-large aligned with Friday's recount, which will consist of the May 16 runoff and the June 6 general election.
The Brexit saga has all the ingredients of an Agatha Christie thriller  money, politics, intrigue, conspiracy, blackmail, and a strong, stable female central character

The Brexit saga has all the ingredients of an Agatha Christie thriller  money, politics, intrigue, conspiracy, blackmail, and a strong, stable female central character.

Following this weeks news that Murder On The Orient Express is being remade, who better to sort out this unholy mess than Hercule Poirot himself?

It will need the considerable skills of the celebrated Belgian detective to unravel the plot and get to the truth.

We join the drama as Poirot gathers the suspects in the dining car of the Brexit Express, as it leaves Brussels for the very last time bound for London. (It helps if you do the voice.)

Mesdames et messieurs, you are probably wondering why I have invited you all here this morning.

Sacre bleu, Poirot. Ive not had my petit-dejeuner yet. I could murder un grand cognac et un bacon banjo.

All in good time, mon cher Jean-Claude Drunker. Ze buffet, it will be open shortly. In the meantime, Captain Astings will relieve you all of your mobile telephonic devices. We dont want any leaks to ze newspaper sensationelle Deutschland Uber Alles.

Just get on with it, you irritating French dwarf. You have the charisma of a damp rag and you dress like a pox doctors clerk.

Mind your language, sil vous plait, Monsieur Farage. I shouldnt need to remind someone with your surname zat I am Belgian, not Francais. And I have been resident in London for many years.

Not for much longer, chum. Were taking back control of our borders.

Be careful what you wish for, Farage. Poirot is your best hope of getting out of the EU alive. Zat is why Inspector Japp of Scotland Yard has asked me to apply my little grey cells to zis case.

Just get on with it, you irritating French dwarf. You have the charisma of a damp rag and you dress like a pox doctors clerk, fumes Nigel Farage in Murder on the Brexit Express

Very well, but hurry up and open the bar. Im gasping for a pint of Bombardier and a large gin and tonic chaser.

Allow me to summarise the situation. There has been an attempt, most serieux, to steal the result of the Brexit referendum from under ze noses of the British people.

That is an outrageous suggestion, Poirot. We are merely trying to prevent a hard Brexit.

Not so outrageous, Monsieur Clegg. You and your fellow conspirators have resorted to methods most foul to rob the British people of their democratically expressed destiny. As you know perfectly well, a so-called soft Brexit means no Brexit at all.

We are only trying to save the poor, deluded fools from themselves. They didnt know what they were voting for. They bought the fake news peddled by the Right-wing Press.

Unlike the fake news peddled by Project Fear, the BBC and the Financial Times, nest-ce pas? Ze editor of the FT got the French Legion dHonneur for services to Europe, did he not? Pink Un by name, pinko by nature.

Now look here, Poirot, youre Belgian, for heavens sake. Whose side are you on?

Poirot, he is on the side of truth and justice, a concept which seemingly is lost on Remoaniers like you, Monsieur Blair.

Steady on, Poirot. Everybody knows Im a straight kinda guy.

Then I suggest you get yourself a good lawyer, Monsieur Blair. And I dont mean votre femme, la Witch Wicked

As straight as a corkscrew, Monsieur Dossier Dodgy. And in case you have forgotten, Poirot still intends to get to the bottom of the death of Dr Kelly.

Careful, Poirot. I know my human rights.

Zen I suggest you get yourself a good lawyer, Monsieur Blair. And I dont mean votre femme, la Witch Wicked, from Les Nonces Sommes Nous.

Sorry to interrupt, Poirot.

What is it, Astings?

Weve just heard that the line is blocked at Calais. Apparently, a few thousand of those migrant chappies are trying to cross the Channel before Britain pulls up the old drawbridge.

The British people didnt know what they were voting for in the EU referendum. They bought the fake news peddled by the Right-wing Press, exclaims Nick Clegg in Murder on the Brexit Express

I knew there would be an attempt diabolique to derail the Brexit Express. Zis is your fault, Frau Merkin.

Ow iz it mein fault, Poirot?

You left the back door wide open and invited into our safe European home millions of undesirables Arabistes and jihadists Islamique. I should have Inspector Japp charge you with the assisted suicide of an entire continent.

You are forgetting zat you are addressing ze most powerful woman in Europe.

Not for much longer, Frau Merkin. Permettez-moi to introduce Frau May, la Iron Lady Marque Deux, la Boadicea de Brexit.

Bonjour, Hercule. Bonjour, Angela.

Whats she doing here, Poirot?

Ive been on a hiking holiday in the Swiss Alps and I was determined not to miss the last train out of Brussels. Brexit means Brexit, deal or no deal.

Im not even discussing a deal unless you write a cheque for 100 billion euros immediately, payable to the European Central Bank, Frankfurt.

Thats blackmail. Cant you arrest her, Poirot?

Un moment, Madame May. But first, you, too, still have some questions to answer.

Oh, very well. But I warn you Poirot, I can be a bloody difficult woman.

Im not even discussing a deal unless you write a cheque for 100 billion euros immediately, payable to the European Central Bank, Frankfurt, says Angela Merkel in Murder on the Brexit Express

You say that Brexit means Brexit, but where were you in the six months leading up to the referendum? Hiding behind the chaise-longue, nest-ce pas? If Poirot is not mistaken, you were for Remain.

That was before I saw the chance to become Prime Minister.

How do we know that youre not part of the conspiracy to stop Britain leaving the EU?

Oh, for heavens sake, Poirot. Ive called a General Election to strengthen my negotiating hand. You should be investigating Drunker and his chums for trying to influence the election.

Pardon, Madame. Their clumsy attempts to interfere will only make a Tory victory more likely. You know full well ze British people dont like being held to ransom, especially by foreigners.

And your point is?

I submit, Mrs May, that you have asked your friends Frau Merkin and Monsieur Drunker to threaten Britain most dastardly because it plays into your hands.

Why on earth would I do that?

Oh, for heavens sake, Poirot. Ive called a General Election to strengthen my negotiating hand. You should be investigating Drunker and his chums for trying to influence the election, says Theresa May in in Murder on the Brexit Express

If you get a big majority, you can then turn round and announce that Brexit was a big mistake and Britain will be staying in the EU after all. And the 17.4 million who voted Leave will have been screwed royalement.

You cannot be serious.

Nor can you, Madame. Otherwise, you wouldnt have made Bonquing Boris your Secretaire Foreign.

Er, Poirot . . .

What is it now, Astings? I was just getting to ze denouement.

Well, the good news is that theyve cleared away the migrants at Calais.

Excellente.

The bad news is that someone has driven a sort of shepherds hut packed with explosives into the Channel Tunnel and is threatening to blow it up unless theres a second referendum on Brexit.

I knew it, zey are all in it together and think they can get away with murder. Inspector Japp, arrest them all!
Brad Pitt isnt the only admirer of Angelina Jolie who enjoyed a drink.

A thirsty previous lover, actor Billy Bob Thornton, pictured with her, admitted he was plastered throughout the filming of his best-known movie, Bad Santa.

Jolies No 1 British admirer, ex-foreign secretary William (now Lord) Hague, 56, boasted of drinking 14 pints of beer a day in his youth.

Might the lovely if intensely self-absorbed Angelina, 41, encourage many of us to order up a cocktail or two?

A thirsty previous lover, actor Billy Bob Thornton, pictured with her, admitted he was plastered throughout the filming of his best-known movie, Bad Santa

When David Cameron met the Queen in 2015 to discuss the dissolution of Parliament, a courtier said: We look forward to seeing you again in a few weeks, Prime Minister.

Presuming this meant after youve won the election, Cameron thanked the official.

Stony-faced, the flunkey explained that, as PM, he was obliged to come back before polling day, if only to return the seals of office.

Why the haste to get royal staff to London for an important announcement, reported exclusively by the Mail and prompting overnight speculation about Prince Philip?

The PM, Theresa May, and the Queen discussed the retirement of Philip, 95, from royal duties during their audience for the dissolution of Parliament on Tuesday.

Why the haste to get royal staff to London for an important announcement, reported exclusively by the Mail and prompting overnight speculation about Prince Philip?

Should it be announced after the general election  or yesterday, during local elections?

Opting for yesterday  with broadcasters observing a moratorium on local election coverage  proved to be astute.

Philips retirement did not impinge on the political debate and was given handsome play on TV and radio.

A senior court source notices a major (in royal terms) faux pas in next weeks BBC production of King Charles III: The late Tim Pigott-Smith, playing Prince Charles, is seen wearing a double-breasted suit with flaps over the jacket pockets.

Flaps!? Charles orders his bespoke suits sans flaps so he can effortlessly thrust his hands into the pockets.

Prince Philip, who avoids this habit by clasping his hands behind his back, has long given up trying to wean his eldest son off this slovenly practice.

Prince Charles orders his bespoke suits sans flaps so he can effortlessly thrust his hands into the pockets

Further to my note about Radio 4s birdsong recording, ex-BBC correspondent Michael Cole, 73, remembers hearing a poignant, 1942 Corporation broadcast of nightingales that was interrupted by Wellington and Lancaster bombers flying overhead en route to Mannheim, Germany.

An engineer, realising the live programme might warn listening Nazi spies of the impending attack, stopped the recording but some of it survives.

On the first side, the 197 outgoing bombers are heard; on the second, the 186 that came home.

Today the Badminton Horse Trials, attracting around 200,000 spectators annually, opens at the Duke of Beauforts impressive Gloucestershire estate.

With the Duchess of Cornwall handing out prizes, tweedy folk enthuse: Whats not to like?

Yet metropolitan news-broadcasting tsars snub the event.

They prefer to get down with the often drug-addled youth at the nearby (and smaller) Glastonbury pop festival in June.
Devotion: Prince Philip deservedly steps back from the front line in the autumn with an extraordinary record of public service behind him carried out with vigour and good humour

It was with his trademark wit, and in typically blunt terms, that the Duke of Edinburgh yesterday explained his reasons for retiring.

When a guest at St Jamess Palace wished him well, he quipped: Well I cant stand up much longer!

And it is one of the many reasons why he will be so sadly missed. After nearly seven decades of hard work, and selfless devotion to duty, to this country, and above all to the Queen, he will deservedly step back from the front line in the autumn with an extraordinary record of public service behind him.

But what is remarkable, actually, is how long he has continued with such vigour and good humour, despite his advancing years. Every bout of ill health seemed to make the Iron Duke more determined to charge on regardless.

Indeed, it is a testament to his incredible fortitude and work ethic that he ploughed on to an age when his contemporaries are approaching 30 years of retirement. Last year he kept up an official engagements schedule that, at 110 days, put the younger royals to shame.

Only now, a month before his 96th birthday, has he accepted he must slow down, although  as Buckingham Palace made clear  he will still attend events from time to time. His appearances will be all the more cherished for their rarity.

Of course, the news was greeted with great sadness  tinged with a sense of inevitability.

But in all the tributes, one overwhelming sentiment came to the fore: gratitude.

It came from the 785 charities, universities and other organisations who enjoy his patronage to this day, on causes from muscular dystrophy to literacy in Africa to the environment.

It came from winners of the Duke of Edinburgh awards, which he founded in 1956 and which spread to 144 nations around the world, giving countless young people the experience of outdoor pursuits.

It is a sentiment the Mail endorses wholeheartedly. This country, the Commonwealth, and millions of people around the world have much to thank him for.

He has been a great ambassador for this nation, tirelessly promoting our industry, interests and values.

Unselfish: The duke gave up a glittering career in the Navy that could have taken him to the very top on merit

During World War II he did sterling service, and was mentioned in despatches while on battleship HMS Valiant in 1941.

Unselfishly, he subsumed personal ambition to royal duty, giving up a glittering career in the Royal Navy that  on merit  could have taken him to the very top.

After the Queen came to the throne, and with no model to follow, he created his own role and pursued it with unstinting dedication. He was, as he pledged to be, her liege man of life and limb.

He has been a model consort, and it is to him who she turns first when she needs an honest counsellor. She, more than anyone, will miss the reassuring presence that was always one discreet step behind her on countless public engagements over the years.

Enjoying every minute: The Duke made a memorable appearance at the Diamond Jubilee pageant in 2012

While she made no public comment yesterday, in her Golden Wedding speech, delivered at the Guildhall in 1997, the Queen spoke lovingly about the importance of their enduring partnership and his unstinting devotion.

All too often, I fear, Prince Philip has had to listen to me speaking, she said.

Frequently we have discussed my intended speech beforehand and, as you will imagine, his views have been expressed in a forthright manner.

He is someone who doesnt take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.

Of all his public appearances in recent years, perhaps the most memorable was during the Thames Pageant. Over the Diamond Jubilee weekend, he stood for hour after hour in the pouring rain on the royal barge in his Lord High Admirals uniform, appearing to enjoy every single minute.

When, the following day, an infection meant the Queen took to the stage without him, the hundreds of thousands of people lining the Mall chanted Philip, Philip  proof beyond doubt of the great affection the public hold for him.

Sensitive: The Duke wrote a series of tender letters to Diana as her marriage with Charles broke down

Despite his bluntness, the Duke is also a man of considerable sensitivity, as the tender letters he sent to Princess Diana showed. As her marriage to his son was unravelling, he wrote that he would always do my utmost to help you and Charles to the best of my ability. She clearly felt fondly for him, addressing him Dearest Pa and praising his great understanding and tact.

The Mail trusts he will continue to give advice and support to his eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. This paper also trusts retirement will not stop this man of strong opinions continuing to play an important role by expressing his views behind the scenes. Indeed, other members of The Royal Family could learn from his discretion.

As his role diminishes, and the axis of the Royal Family tilts, it is an opportunity for the younger royals to pull up their socks and take on their share of the work.

They have a lot of catching up to do, and should look to their grandfather  who embodies self-sacrifice, devotion to duty and family values  for an example.

With many passions, from oil painting to carriage driving, it is hard to imagine Prince Philip putting his feet up  but no one has more richly earned the right.

The Mail  along with every patriotic Briton  wishes him a long and happy retirement. Truly, a nation salutes you, sir.
When it comes to mane maintenance, the women I know tend to fall into two camps: there are those who wash their hair everyday without fail, wrinkling their noses in disgust at the thought of even the slightest hint of a greasy scalp.

Then, there are those who stretch it out for days on end, relying on dry shampoo and creative styling to eke out an extra day... slicked top knot anyone? Guilty.

But now, there is a new trend taking up the middle ground. Low Shampoo is a quick and convenient product that gently cleanses AND conditions your hair in one step. Sound too good to be true? I thought so to, until I tried it.

Smooth: Leaving her hair to dry naturally after showering, Andrea was impressed with the condition of her hair, which typically is frizzy and fluffy without styling it with products

I typically wash my hair every second day, shampooing twice to get rid of grime and pollution, lathering it up for a couple of minutes.

I like my hair to feel squeaky clean before wringing it out and applying conditioner from mid-lengths to ends.

But all this takes time, and sometimes I think Im over-washing it and I dont want it to lose its lustre.

No need for conditioner: The Low Shampoo was an effective detangler, making it easy to comb fingers through locks, and felt just like it had a leave-in treatment in

To tackle this problem, L'Oreal have formulated Colour Protect Low Shampoo.

The sulfate-free cleansing creams promise to wash, nourish and detangle in just one step. Its gentle and leaves hair feeling soft and refreshed. For me it feels not unlike the way you lovingly hand-wash that delicate cashmere jumper, instead of just throwing it in the washing machine.

Celebrity hairdresser and L'Oreal Paris ambassador Syd Hayes, who takes care of Lara Stone and Helen Mirren's hair, says: 'My clients with oily hair are concerned about washing their hair too much - and most definitely my clients with coloured toners - as they dont want it to lose its lustre.

Celebrity hairdresser Syd Hayes, who takes care of Lara Stone (pictured), says: 'My clients with oily hair are concerned about washing their hair too much as they as they dont want it to lose its lustre'

Fresh and clean: Andreas hair felt fresh and looked soft and shiny

'Low Shampoo allows my clients, who wash their hair all the time, another option.'

I tried out L'Oreal Elvive Colour Protect Low Shampoo two days after my usual shampoo and conditioner.

The instructions advised using 10 to 15 pumps from roots to ends, which seemed excessive, but I slathered it on and worked it into my scalp and through the lengths.

With a creamy consistency and no lather or foaming, it felt just like conditioner. I worried it would make my roots greasy as I usually avoid conditioning my scalp, and the lack of lathering felt really strange, as though I'd missed a step in the process. I left it in for three minutes while I finished showering.

Go low: If you are an everyday washer, why not try replacing your usual shampoo and conditioner with Low Shampoo twice a week?

Syd's tip? 'Try not to treat Low Shampoo like a regular shampoo and gently massage, rather than scrub,' he says.

I noticed as I rinsed the Low Shampoo out that it does a great job of detangling, as it was much easier to comb my fingers through my hair. The caring formula left my hair feeling extra conditioned, and it felt a bit like I'd left a conditioning masque in.

Any concerns about my hair not actually feeling washed after using the product were banished as it dried, looking and feeling fresh and clean.

Firstly I let my hair air dry without styling or using any products directly afterwards to see it in its natural state, and was impressed my hair was smooth and soft which doesnt always happen if I leave it alone after my usual shampoo and conditioner routine. My hair felt almost perfect.

When I styled it, my hair looked sleek, vibrant and shiny, and didn't feel at all weighed down as it can sometimes after using heavier formulas.

If you are an everyday washer, try Low Shampooing twice a week to give your locks a break from having to use both shampoo and conditioner

For those with very dry hair, the Extraordinary Oil Low Shampoo, enriched with six luxurious flower extracts, leaves hair feeling beautifully nourished.
I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! could soon be swapping the jungle for the beach as part of a proposed shake-up of the reality show.

ITV bosses said they would be 'happy to consider' a new location for the programme when the contract comes up for renewal after government officials from South Australia lobbied to move filming to the state's picturesque Kangaroo Island.

Advertising mogul Bill Muirhead, the London-based Agent General for South Australia, wrote a tongue-in-cheek letter to ITV bosses describing how contestants could tuck into 'feral cats' and 'chlamydia-infected koalas' while the crew sip 'world class wine' on 'pristine beaches'.

On the move? ITV bosses are being lobbied to move the show from its current location in New South Wales when the contract comes up for renewal. Pictured, show hosts Ant and Dec

Idyllic: Officials from South Australia want filming to be relocated to Kangaroo Island, pictured, which lies of the coast of Adelaide, after more than a decade in the jungle

New neighbours? Bill Muirhead, the Agent General for South Australia, wrote to ITV bosses to highlight the benefits of the island, including its native kangaroos, pictured

Speaking to FEMAIL, Mr Muirhead said the move would give the show an opportunity to revamp its image, adding: 'It has been in the same location for 14 years. It's time for a change.'

The proposed 2020 move would end the long-running production stint in Springbrook National Park, in New South Wales, where the show has been based since its second season in 2003.

Season one was filmed on a smaller site at King Ranch, near Tully, in the north-eastern state of Queensland.

In the letter to an ITV executive, Mr Muirhead wrote: 'Looking forward to 2020, could it be time for a change? I ask you to consider Kangaroo Island, a place pulsating with all the wonder and weirdness Australia has to offer, an island with a name that seems straight out of a story of buccaneers and bushrangers.

Goodbye to the camp? Contestants are usually banished to a jungle in New South Wales

He continued: 'With a third of the island covered by national parks, Kangeroo Island is teeming with creatures not found anywhere else, most of which were more than happy for people to eat on TV.

'While the contestants and Ant and Dec (should you wish it) are tucking into the chlamydia infected koalas and cunning feral cats, the producers will be kicking back on Australia's most pristine beaches, drinking world class local wines and soaking up sunsets the contestants would die for.'

Speaking to FEMAIL, Mr Muirhead said Kangaroo Island would make the 'perfect' location because it is 'like a mini Australia'. He said: 'If you have a look at what is there, it's got everything.'

Vibrant: Seals, koalas and possums are among the animals that call Kangaroo Island home

Indeed as well as a dizzying array of creepy crawlies, the island is also home to seals, penguins and, as the name suggests, kangaroos, potentially giving producers inspiration for new tasks and Bushtucker Trials.

He added: 'It is such an iconic place and it is an island - which are popular - and it has got the best beaches in Australia... It's got world class wine and this very nice Mediterranean climate.'

Mr Muirhead is understood to have received a response from one ITV executive suggesting he would be 'happy to consider a move in the future'.
Upcoming Netflix film The Swimmers (pictured, right) tells the real-life story of two sisters who were forced to flee Syria after the civil war broke out - before one went onto become an Olympian. Sarah, now 26, and Yusra Mardini, now 24,(pictured, left) left their home in Damascus in August 2015, four years after the conflict started in March 2011, in a bid to reach Europe. They planned to fly to Istanbul, before travelling to Greece via sea, then on land to Germany. But the journey nearly ended in tragedy when the motor on the dinghy they took across the Aegean Sea stalled, leaving its 18 occupants in peril. The sisters realised that the boat, which was designed to carry only seven people, couldn't take the weight of everyone onboard, and so they jumped into the icy waters. After making their way to Germany, and finding a swimming coach, Yusra took part in the Rio 2016 games (pictured, inset) as part of the newly formed refugee team. Now Netflix has immortalised their story in its film directed by Bafta winner Sally El Hosaini, and executive produced by Stephen Daldry.
In addition to avant-garde gowns, celebrities showed off major hair transformations on the Comme des Garcons-themed Met Gala red carpet Monday night.

To name a few: Chrissy Teigen more than doubled the length of her hair for the occasion seemingly overnight, Jennifer Lopez's lob grew from shoulder-grazing to rib-grazing and Megyn Kelly's choppy crop appeared to have morphed into a thick, Rapunzel-esque ponytail.

With so many stars employing extensions (no, they didn't wake up like that) in one night, it wasn't surprising to discover that according to a Hollywood Reporter interview with pro hairstylist Priscilla Valles, an estimated 97 percent of female celebrities regularly rely on faux hair pieces to lengthen and pump up their natural look.

 Slide me  Not so real: Jennifer Lopez, 47, stepped out with a curly long bob on April 27 (left) and then arrived at the Met Gala on May 1 with a long and voluminous look (right)

 Slide me  Bobs away: Chrissy Teigen, 31, wore beachy waves to both a charity event on April 25 (left) and to a Met Gala after party on May 1 (right), but at the latter, the look was a lot longer

 Slide me  Rapunzel, Rapunzel: Megyn Kelly, 46, was pictured with a choppy bob (left) just four days before hitting the Met Gala red carpet with a lengthy ponytail (right)

While it can be pretty obvious when celebrities use extensions - i.e. instances like those from the Met Gala mentioned above - many still don't want to admit it.

'When I started doing extensions 16 years ago, I was signing confidentiality agreements daily because no one wanted anyone to know they had them in,' Priscilla told Hollywoodreporter.com.

Even now, in an age where A-listers are opening up about their flaws, insecurities and beauty tricks on social media, the hairstylist says that half of her celebrity clients want to keep that information private.

Hairstylist Jennifer Johnson, who works on the television show Scream Queens, has had a similar experience in the industry. 'Now we talk about using them, but I still will not say any names of actresses who wear extensions all the time,' she said in the article.

Behind the scenes: Celebrity hairstylist Clayton Hawkins Instagrammed his set-up, which included extensions, before tending to Elizabeth Banks' hair for Monday's Met Gala

Show and tell: Zendaya (left), 20, and Khloe Kardashian (right), 32, are open about their use of extensions and wigs

Then there are the refreshing celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Khloe Kardashian who aren't afraid to pull back the curtain on their use of extensions.

Chrissy, who wore extensions for the Met Gala, recently documented her attempt to remove faux strands to no avail on Snapchat, and Khloe has a video on her website in which she details how she organizes her impressive fake hair collection.

Hair chameleon Zendaya is open about it, too.

In a video on her YouTube channel earlier this year, the actress explained the differences between extensions, weaves and wigs and revealed her personal preferences. 'I wear [wigs] when I want a completely different look - if I want my hair color different, or just something more dramatic,' she said.

There's nothing to be embarrassed about, says hairstylist Jen Atkin who works with the Kardashian crew. In an Instagram post addressing extension shaming, she wrote, 'Do whatever makes YOU happy and let's all just be grateful we have the option!'
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards has revealed her strategy for dealing with mansplainers, and it's surprisingly simple: just let them embarrass themselves.

The activist explained her position on mansplaining - which occurs when a man condescendingly attempts to explain something to a woman - on the Employee Of The Month podcast last week.

She was asked to reflect on an incident from 2015, when Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz tried to grill Richards on female healthcare during a hearing with the House Oversight Committee.

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Just let them talk: Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards (pictured) explained her simple strategy to deal with mansplainers on a podcast last week

Chaffetz, a U.S. representative from Utah, displayed a graph that claimed the number of abortions provided by Planned Parenthood had skyrocketed, while cancer screenings and other prevention services had plummeted.

But Richards said the graph was actually based on dubious numbers provided by Americans United for Life, an anti-abortion group, which effectively shut down Chaffetz's argument.

The moment is cited as a memorable instance of mansplaining, and Richards looked back on it on the new podcast episode.

Asked how she handles incidents of that kind, the Planned Parenthood president replied: 'I just think when someone is making a fool of themselves, you just gotta let them rip. They really did not need a lot of assistance in that hearing.'

Her comment was met with cheers from the audience.

Efficient: 'I just think when someone is making a fool of themselves, you just gotta let them rip. They really did not need a lot of assistance in that hearing,' Richards (pictured Tuesday) said

Looking back: Richards was asked to reflect on an incident dating back to 2015, when Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz (pictured then) tried to grill her on female healthcare

Look at the source: Chaffetz displayed a graph (pictured) that claimed the number of abortions provided by Planned Parenthood had skyrocketed - which had the name of an anti-abortion group as the source for the data

Chaffetz, as Richards pointed out, has recently announced he would not run for re-election in the House or any office in 2018, indicating he might end his time as Congressman earlier than expected.

Richards, whose organization has faced persistent threats of federal de-funding by President Donald Trump's administration, said she was not surprised by the 2015 incident.

'These are the same folks who are now trying to basically repeal the Affordable Care Act and block millions of women from coming to Planned Parenthood,' she told host Catie Lazarus.

'Nothing's changed. The only thing that's changed is now they have an ally in the White House, and that's really scary.'
One is the Queen of the Aga Saga, the other is the undisputed Queen of Twitter.

Now Joanna Trollope has fired what is bound to be the first salvo in a right royal war of words - blasting Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling for her insatiable obsession with social media.

Trollope, whose hit novels about country life include A Village Affair and The Choir, which became a BBC series starring Jane Asher and James Fox, claims Rowlings egotism is turning her into the next Kim Kardashian and risks damaging their industry.

Joanna Trollope has blasted Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling for her insatiable obsession with social media

I dont do anything on social media, deliberately. A lot of authors are quite suited to it, but Im not.

Some writers like J. K. Rowling have this insatiable need and desire to be out there all the time, and thats entirely driven by their ego, Trollope tells me at the Hatchards Authors Of The Year party in Piccadilly.

My view is that Im saying everything I need to say in my books.

The twice-divorced 73-year-old, who lives in South London, has no social media presence except a Facebook page, managed by her agent.

She has an estimated wealth of 15 million compared with Rowlings 600 million.

Creating this mass following and tweeting several times a day is like wanting to be Cheryl Cole or Kim Kardashian, she adds.

Trollope, whose hit novels about country life include A Village Affair and The Choir, which became a BBC series starring Jane Asher and James Fox, claims Rowlings egotism is turning her into the next Kim Kardashian and risks damaging their industry

Its a ludicrous aspiration. I have no interest in people I will never meet, though I know thats quite old-fashioned.

'Its so depressing to think that aspiring authors will look at famous writers with millions of followers, and think that that is how you have to operate. Its not, and actually, its the opposite.

With more than 10.3 million followers, Rowling is one of the most influential celebrities on the micro-blogging platform.

Her 7,670 tweets cover everything from Brexit to Donald Trump.

I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of regret about the invasion of privacy that social media creates, reflects Trollope.

Theres a lot of talk about how privacy doesnt exist any more, but it always will exist  if we protect it.

TVs Stephen Fry has used a four-letter word to describe the U.S. President in an interview with Varsity, the Cambridge students newspaper. Its so easy to mock Trump, for heavens sake  theres never been a more obvious c***! Some might say its just as easy to mock the liberal luvvie.

Collins clan turns out for Jackie

Dame Joan Collins, 83, was flanked by her daughters Katy Kass and Tara Newley at a private view of the late Jackie Collinss possessions at Bonhams auction house

Dame Joan Collins, 83, was flanked by her daughters Katy Kass and Tara Newley at a private view of the late Jackie Collinss possessions at Bonhams auction house.

Katy, 45, far left, is the former Dynasty stars daughter by her third marriage to the late Beatles record exec Ron Kass.

Tara, 52, by Dame Joans second marriage to Anthony Newley, married a second husband last year.

Shes got some way to go before she catches up with her mothers tally of five marriages.

Although one of the BBCs most reliable newsreaders, Sophie Raworth does slip up occasionally.

Id be lying if I said I didnt make mistakes, she admits. Im just lucky no one has noticed.

Years ago on Breakfast, the most common one was introducing a guest who wasnt that guest at all and theyd say, No, thats not me - and Im thinking, Well, who are you? All you can do is apologise - and keep going.
From eating food slowly to getting in touch with nature, Naomi Simson has shared her tips on how business owners can create rhythm and balance in daily life.

The Australian entrepreneur, motivational speaker and founder of RedBalloon recommends getting 'back to basics' to make the most of every week.

'Wake up early. Enjoy the sunrise. Enjoy the quiet pace of the early morning. Use this time to reflect, meditate and create the day,' Naomi wrote in a recent blog post.

Naomi Simson (pictured) has shared her tips on how to create rhythm in business and daily life

The Australian entrepreneur, motivational speaker and founder of RedBalloon recommends getting 'back to basics' to make the most of every week

'Go for a walk and enjoy nature. I am fortunate because I catch a ferry to work, but no matter your mode of transport - make your commute your thinking time.'

The Shark Tank judge, 53, told her followers not to rush through meals because, as her mother taught her, eating is a 'time for connection or reflection.'

'Eat your food slowly and enjoy the tastes and textures. It is not fuel alone. Be really present to your food and sustenance (put away the devices),' she wrote.

'Wake up early. Enjoy the sunrise. Enjoy the quiet pace of the early morning,' Naomi wrote in a recent blog post

'Have a creative outlet, mine is painting. When I get the paints out and have a blank canvas I move into a different realm,' she said

'Have a creative outlet, mine is painting. When I get the paints out and have a blank canvas I move into a different realm.'

When I get the paints out and have a blank canvas I move into a different realm.

Naomi also urged people to book family holidays at the beginning of the year, always making time for friends and doing one thing at a time.

'What is the one thing in your personal life that when you get it done everything will become easier? Multitasking is not always the most productive way forward,' she wrote.

Naomi started RedBalloon in 2001, running the company from her home and gradually building it up into the iconic business it is today

Naomi said that rhythm is crucial for business owners as 'it is the rhythm with our own wellbeing that will support us'.

The popular entrepreneur started RedBalloon in 2001, running the company from her home and gradually building it up into the iconic business it is today.

She has been recognised by the business community for her approach, winning multiple awards including the 2005 Westpac NSW Entrepreneur of the Year and the National Telstra Business Women's Award for Innovation in 2008.

She is also the author of Live What You Love, a book designed to help readers identify their passion and pursue it.
Mott, Brown collage.jpg

Charles Mott (left) and Jessica Brown

(JCSO photo)

MOBILE, Alabama -- A man who escaped from a Jackson County patrol car last month has been captured in Mobile, according to Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell.

On April 12, an informant provided information that Charles "Bo" Mott was in possession of stolen a truck at a home on Coda Road in the Helena community of Jackson County. Deputies arrived on the scene with a warrant for Mott on a charge of receiving stolen property.

Mott was taken into custody and placed inside a patrol car. While deputies searched the house, Ezell said the informant, 27-year-old Jessica Danielle Brown, opened the patrol car door, allowing Mott to escape.

The U.S. Marshals Task Force ultimately tracked Mott to an apartment complex in Mobile and arrested him there Wednesday night. At the time of the arrest, he was driving a vehicle reported stolen in Mobile. A female passenger with Mott was also taken into custody on warrants from Bayou La Batre, Ala.

In addition to the original receiving stolen property charge, Mott is now charged with felony escape. He is also facing charges from other agencies for various crimes, including narcotics violations.

Brown was charged with felony aiding escape. She posted bond and was released from the Jackson County Adult Detention Center, but is now in the George County Regional Jail on other unrelated charges.
Hankies out, everyone, because here comes Hollywoods latest tragic figure  Sad Dad Brad.

The estranged husband of Angelina Jolie and now semi-detached father to their six children has given his first divorce-era, post-therapy interview to GQ magazine.

While flicking through the glossy pages, poring over Sad Brads lachrymose declarations of remorse, I began to think: never mind his emotions because I just . . . I just dont know if I can take much more of it myself. Sob.

Sob Story: Brad Pitt has six children with estranged wife Angelina Jolie

You see, its not that Brad likes smoking pot and drinking too much that caused the end of his marriage. Well, actually it is  but apparently he only spliffs up and boozes on down because he grew up in Missouri where men were men, cowboys were cowboys and no one admitted to having feelings, even if they fell head-first off a bucking bronco or stubbed a toe on the front porch, no siree.

Clearly, this is what his new therapist has told him, along with the updates that he is an emotional retard who is running away from his feelings; a man who won the lottery but threw it all away; a fool who chased hollow pursuits while self-medicating with pacifiers  or cigarettes, as you and I call them.

You have to wonder why this, no doubt lavishly remunerated, counsellor didnt just say, listen you 53-year-old, multimillionaire, chronically pampered man-baby, why dont you try growing up? And instead of feeling sorry for yourself, start taking responsibility for yourself?

It has been six months since Angelina kicked him out and, of course, Sad Dad Brad has been using his time wisely.

First, he has stopped drinking, which is excellent news. He has also visited three U.S. national parks, in which he posed for a lavish set of GQ photographs doing tumble tots, crying prettily and literally standing in a swamp because, like, he is standing in a metaphorical swamp of life, geddit?

He was also snapped in a complicated clingy pink silk outfit which made him look like a sad sausage that had escaped its casing.

In many ways, the dramatic developments of recent months  during which Angelina filed for divorce, with Pitt accused of drinking and smoking marijuana too much  dont quite stack up. Can his behaviour really have come as such a shock?

The GQ issue featuring an interview with Pitt

Pitts first wife, Jennifer Aniston, claimed years ago that her then husband would lie on the sofa smoking pot all day. Ms Jolie revealed she had been planning the divorce for months  but hadnt she noticed his bad habits in the decade they were together before all this happened?

One might think someone with Angelinas demons would be a little more sympathetic. She has a history of severe substance abuse and was once diagnosed with a personality disorder of her own.

And after all their efforts to make and adopt their rainbow alliance of six children, one might hope these two demi-adults would try harder to be good parents and keep their complicated family unit intact. Apparently not.

Today, Sad Dad Brad is thinner, greyer, haunted-looking and says everything is his fault.

Like other Hollywood sad dads, including Ben Affleck (reportedly slept with the nanny) and Tobey Maguire (hangdog after splitting from his wife), the defence strategy seems to be to present himself as a sorry, repentant fool.

In the meantime, he has consoled himself by taking up sculpture  of course he has  and spends up to 17 hours a day trying to find a moment of bliss with the clay while listening to ballads. Prince George does much the same thing with Play-Doh.

Is it wrong to imagine that this artistic output consists of giant female statues wearing pointed black hats moulded by Brads own trembling hands? Perhaps the word WITCH sprayed on the studio wall in a really artistic way.

Has he started wearing a beret? It can only be a matter of time.

Oh come on. I am not unsympathetic to the breakdown of his marriage but this is all so terribly . . . teenage.

A twice-married father of six, sleeping on a friends floor  yeah, right  while amusing himself by growing interesting beards and distracting himself with a blizzard of new hobbies?

Sad Brad also says he gets solace from building a fire every morning and evening.

Most of us had grandparents who did exactly that every cold day of their lives, without getting all noble and lonesome prairie about it.

However, if you are a guy who hasnt washed a teacup or picked up your own socks since you rose to fame in Thelma & Louise, well, then you might get to thinking this makes you some kind of home-making hero.

You know, therapy really is a wonderful thing.

However, something corrosive has happened to the very concept of psychotherapy these days, elevating it to a position of sacred eminence which cannot ever be criticised.

Therapy is represented as a cure-all for everyone, be you a duchess with complicated feelings following the birth of your second child, a serial axe murderer hungry for victim number 17 or a Hollywood film star who has just been dumped.

Sad Dad Brads indulgent psychobabble makes him sound worse, not better. Like a man on the run from himself and his obligations and not someone who understands his dreary role in the painful failure of a marriage.

He cant be ordinary! Yet he has admitted his faults and is seeking redemption, which makes him an all-American hero once more.

In the process, Sad Dad Brad has revealed a great deal about himself  but Hollywood privacy is only privacy when it is something stars like him want to hide. It does not apply when their reputations are at stake.

In the world of the Hollyweirds, he wants to show his pain for popular gain.

St Angelina, its over to you.

Kate's girl takes a trip down nepotism alley

Kate Mosss half-sister Lottie has become a model and now Kates 14-year-old daughter Lila Grace has landed her first campaign, too.

How marvellous for them both to have such impeccable connections!

In Mossys in-house posse, the family resemblance is there if you look hard enough. Both her sister and her daughter have the same smooth, even features and that blank-eyed marmoset look that plays so well in the world of beauty.

Braid-y bunch: Kate Moss's daughter Lila Grace has landed her first modelling campaign

Yet does either of them possess the incandescent spark that made Kate one of the worlds highest-earning supermodels? Doubtful. They seem blankly pretty but nothing more.

Mother and daughter have already done a Vogue cover and its clear that Lila is a lovely girl. Yet in her first campaign to promote hair braids she looks sulky and alien.

As we cruise once more down Nepotism Alley, one wonders where it can all go from here.

Perhaps Brooklyn Beckham can shoot her next campaign, Gordon Ramsays daughter Tilly can do the catering and Princess Beatrice can . . . well, you get the picture.

Pity the McCanns, frozen in unending despair

Madeleine McCann disappeared ten years ago this week.

Who could have imagined that a decade on from the fateful night, police forces from two countries and investigators from around the world would still be no farther forward in discovering what happened to the little girl, who was almost four years old. No one has a clue. Literally.

Gerry and Kate McCann gave a television interview this week.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about them is that they are still together, that their marriage did not crack under the strain.

Kate and Gerry McCann marked the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine on Wednesday

However, while his career as a specialist heart surgeon has flourished, her life in particular has seemed frozen.

She stopped practising as a GP, she had no more children, she subsumed herself in their twins, now aged 12, and the search for her daughter.

You dont have to look hard to see the effect the tragedy has had. Both of them look hard-fired and brittle  glazed in some kiln of despair.

The level of odium still heaped on them by many members of the public is shocking and I dont suppose this weeks Panorama on Wednesday helped.

BBC reporter Richard Bilton revealed that, back in Praia da Luz ten years ago, supporters of the McCanns had asked him to act as a spy regarding the movements of one-time suspect Robert Murat, who was subsequently cleared of any involvement in the disappearance. I declined, he said, clearly quite pleased with his own contribution to this sorry tale.

Far worse than this smuggery was his harassing of locals and questioning of former Ocean Club employees  based on absolutely no evidence  including one man who clearly had mental health problems.

Did you have anything to do with her disappearance? he would cry, waving his boom mic in their direction.

It was utterly shameful.

Don't reward drugs mule with celebrity

Can Channel 5 really be considering Peru drugs mule Michaella McCollum as a contestant in Celebrity Big Brother?

One can see it might be starting to dawn on Michaella that, even though she has reformed, few potential employers will trust her.

'One can see it might be starting to dawn on Michaella that, even though she has reformed, few potential employers will trust her'

And that her real struggle began once her jail sentence was over.

For a TV station to foster the idea that criminality has compensations  and one of them might be celebrity  is surely irresponsible.

The former One Direction member Zayn Malik is worth an estimated 30 million  yet this week he urged his Twitter followers to stump up for his friends mums medical treatment.

She has stage four cancer everywhere and is convinced expensive treatment in Germany will help her.

However, that is not the issue here. The problem is that if Zayn cares so much, why doesnt he just give her the 120,000 she needs?

It would be chump change to him, but he asks his schoolgirl fan base to dig into their piggy banks instead. What lazy, ghastly, oily impudence.

But after all those years of beseeching fans to shell out on One Direction songs and merchandising tat on social media, perhaps he just cant get out of the begging habit.
Chloe Gera was hoping to get a breast enlargement four years ago when a tragic brain tumour diagnosis halted her plans.

The 25-year-old South Australian local appears on the first episode of Channel Nine's Operation Thailand which tracks the progress of 30 men and women undergoing cosmetic procedures in Thailand.

CosMediTour hosted Miss Gera in Amari Resort, Phuket, post-surgery where she said the service and staff was 'second to none'.

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What a change! Miss Gera shows her chest before surgery at a B-cup (left) and after surgery as a D-cup (right)

he 25-year-old South Australian local appears on the first episode of Channel Nine's Operation Thailand which tracks the progress of 30 men and women undergoing cosmetic procedures in Thailand

But this wasn't the first time Miss Gera had hoped to undergo the breast augmentation.

'I was a full-time flight attendant at Qantas when I was 21. Seeing the other slender women working there with larger breasts than my own made me want to get a little bigger,' the 25-year-old told Daily Mail Australia.

After careful research she travelled to Thailand to meet with Dr Veerawat who she ultimately hoped would complete the surgery.

After careful research she travelled to Thailand to meet with Dr Veerawat who she ultimately hoped would complete the surgery (pictured before the surgery)

The show describes how Miss Gera received tear drop implants that bumped up her chest to a D-cup and she couldn't be happier with the result (pictured left pre-surgery and right post-surgery)

'When I got there I wasn't feeling very well and actually started lactating. I kept thinking "I can't be pregnant" but it wouldn't stop so I decided to go back to Australia,' she said.

As soon as she returned the 21-year-old Miss Gera booked in to see her doctor who explained that a brain tumour was sitting on her pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland controls our hormones and was the reason Miss Gera began lactating.

For the second time Miss Gera went to Thailand to perform the surgery on her B-cup breasts. One of her conditions remained that she would see Dr Veerawat (pictured) who she describes as having a really 'lovely and caring demeanor'

'Apparently it's common in people who have experiences with post traumatic stress or mother's after they've given birth. But neither of those apply to me,' she said (pictured Miss Gera's tumour)

'Apparently it's common in people who have experiences with post traumatic stress or mother's after they've given birth. But neither of those apply to me,' she said.

Miss Gera was prescribed high doses of cabergoline to shrink the mass on her brain but it had side effects of weight gain and nausea.

'I had to quit my dream job at 23 and just felt so detached from my body. The on and off lactating really shrunk my breasts and was actually the reason I applied for the show.'

'I had to quit my dream job at 23 and just felt so detached from my body. The on and off lactating really shrunk my breasts and was actually the reason I applied for the show,' she said

'Last meal in Phuket!': The 25-year-old spent time recovering in Amari Resort, Phuket, after the surgery (pictured)

She heard that her application to be on Operation Thailand was successful just one week before flying to Phuket and therefore was forced to go alone.

'A lot of my friends are flight attendants too so nobody could get time off work,' she said.

For the second time Miss Gera went to Thailand to perform the surgery on her B-cup breasts. One of her conditions remained that she would see Dr Veerawat who she describes as having a really 'lovely and caring demeanor'.

'I would hate to think people would see me as just a blonde girl superficially wanting larger breasts. It might have been like that in the beginning but the tumour changed my outlook completely.

'I would hate to think people would see me as just a blonde girl superficially wanting larger breasts,' she said

'I did this for confidence reasons more than anything else,' she said (pictured with a friend after arriving home from Phuket)

'I did this for confidence reasons more than anything else,' she said.

After initially being worried that Dr Veerawat would not be able to perform surgery because of the medication she was on the team at CosMediTour were able to go ahead with the operation after a blood test.

The show describes how Miss Gera received tear drop implants that bumped up her chest to a D-cup and she couldn't be happier with the result.

'It has completely changed my life and my confidence. I would still really love to be part of the Qantas group again one day but it's such a competitive industry.

'At the moment I'm just pleased to be the face of another brand I believe in - CosMediTour,' she said.
At just 15, Hastie-May Brakels knew she wanted to be a barber.

Although she began to cut, style and tease her own hair since she was three, it was men's hair that captured Hastie-May's imagination completely.

But one of her teachers told her that women could never be barbers and that she wouldn't get anywhere in the barbering industry.

Now Hastie-May is the head barber at Tommy Guns Barber Shop in the Sunshine Coast. And she's only 19.

Hastie-May Brakels, 19, is the head barber at Tommy Guns Barber Shop in the Sunshine Coast

Hastie-May has watched the popularity of old school barbering rise and hopes to see more men embrace the unique style

Hastie-May, who also works as a pin-up model, was once told by her teacher that a woman could never be a barber and that she would never get anywhere in the industry

Hastie-May has come a long way from the early days when she would play with her grandmother's rollers and give herself haircuts before school pictures.

When she began her apprenticeship at the age of 15, Hastie-May instantly knew she wanted to focus on men's hair and barbering, she told Daily Mail Australia.

She was especially interested in old school barbering, which incorporates a rockabilly style made famous by 1950s rock stars like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.

Hastie-May, who also works as a pin-up model, loved how barbering had more techniques behind each cut, and the speed and precision that they required.

Although she was qualified to work when she was 17, Hastie-May initially found it hard to find anyone who would hire her because of her age and, sometimes, gender.

'I was still a teenager and supposed to be in high school,' she said. 'It was hard to get people to take me seriously.'

But Hastie-May's current employer at the Tommy Guns Barber Shop took a chance on her and gave her a job at one of his Brisbane shops.

'He already had female employees so for him that was no issue, and age wasn't an issue because he saw my qualifications,' she said.

When Hasite-May began her hairdressing apprenticeship at the age of 15, she instantly knew she wanted to focus on men's hair and barbering

Although she was qualified to work when she was 17, Hastie-May initially found it hard to find anyone who would hire her because of her age and, sometimes, her gender as well

Hastie-May juggles her time between her barbering job and pin-up modelling career, which also includes pageants and festival appearances

'It was so hard getting anyone else to take me seriously, but it wasnt even a remote issue for him. He was happy to give me a trial and give me a chance.'

After he opened up a Tommy Guns Barber Shop on the Sunshine Coast, Hastie-May was made Head Barber and now directs five barbers and two apprentices under her.

Now Hastie-May is gearing up to compete at the Barber Wars in Sydney, where she will compete against 11 other barbers from around the country.

Hastie-May will have to do two haircuts, getting half an hour to do a skin razor fade and another half hour to complete a hair cut of her choice.

She plans to create a big pompadour, bringing her old school barbering style to both stand out from the crowd and promote rockabilly.

Hastie-May has loved the rockabilly culture since she was an early teen, going to festivals, listening to the music and watching barbers do those huge haircuts.

'Once you're in the culture, it becomes your entire lifestyle,' she said. 'It's such a fun and happy culture, there's no discrimination it in.'

Now Hastie-May is gearing up to compete at the Barber Wars in Sydney, where she will have to do two haircuts in an hour - including a skin razor fade (pictured is one of her past looks)

She also plans to create a big pompadour, bringing her old school barbering style to both stand out from the crowd and promote rockabilly

'It's such an accepting culture of anyone of any age, and the pin-up is so accommodating to every woman of every shape and size.'

It was the rockabilly style that helped launch Hastie-May's pin-up modelling career, which began with a few photoshoots that landed her spreads in magazines.

Now Hastie-May is the face of Sunshine Coast muscle car dealer Adults Only Car Shop and has worked with clothing and hair companies and appeared at festivals.

She will also compete in the Miss Pinup Australia finals for the title of Miss Perfect Pinup next month.

Hastie-May has watched the popularity of old school barbering rise in 'the last 18 months or so' and said she hopes to see more men embrace the unique style.

Although her plate may seem full for a 19-year-old, Hastie-May absolutely loves what she gets to do for a living

'I think a haircut is like a suit,' she said. 'You have to have it perfectly tailored to fit you.'

'If you wear it straight off the rack and it's the same as everyone else has, it's not going to be the best for you and it's not going to be flattering on you.'

'Every man looks great in a well-tailored suit, and every man looks good with a well-tailored haircut.'

Although her plate may seem full for a 19-year-old, Hastie-May absolutely loves what she gets to do for a living.

'Slinging cutthroat razors is my passion,' she said.

'I just love being a part of it. I'm surrounded by people I love who I work with. Even on my days off, I go into work.'

'It's just a job where you feel constantly appreciated - and it's just so great.'
Experts claim it's better than a facelift for your skin, and celebrities are queuing up to have their own blood injected into their faces.

But just what is the Vampire Facial, or Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), beloved by everyone, including Bachelor star, Keira Maguire, who visited a Sydney clinic on Thursday?

FEMAIL spoke to Brittney Ringrose from the MediSpa Clinic, where Keira went for the treatment, to find out why the vampire facial is so hot right now.

The clinic also revealed why women of every age are ideal candidates.

Bachelor star Keira Maguire (pictured) had a vampire facial done in Sydney on Thursday - but just what goes into the gruesome treatment?

Kim Kardashian is a fan of the vampire facial (pictured in 2013) - FEMAIL spoke to the MediSpa Clinic, where Keira went for the treatment, to find out why the vampire facial works

Experts claim that the controversial facial is better for your skin than a facelift (pictured: Kim Kardashian at the Met Gala)

THE VAMPIRE FACIAL * The vampire facial, or Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), involves extracting a vial of a patient's blood from their arm and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the plasma - the fluid part - from the red and white blood cells. * The concentrated plasma, which is rich in platelets - the part of the blood rich with growth factors - is then injected into the face. * The procedure claims to remove wrinkles, dull skin, acne scarring and more and can be performed on any age group. * The procedure is pricey - it can cost around AUD $1,000, but experts claim it's better than a facelift for the skin. Advertisement

According to the MediSpa Clinic website, the Factor 4 Vampire Facial - which is the one Keira opted for on Thursday - is brilliant for your complexion:

'We harvest blood from your own body which is then taken through an incubator and centrifuge to draw out your very own plasma for enhancing fresh-faced, natural beauty,' the site writes.

Ms Ringrose added that it's also good for your blood flow and brilliant as an anti-ageing tactic:

'There is no bad candidate for this facial - whether you're 20 or 50,' she told FEMAIL.

'If you've got normal skin, you'll probably need three to four treatments. If you have acne scarring, it's probably more like between six and ten.

'Each treatment should be spread out and take place every four weeks.'

'We harvest blood from your own body which is then taken through an incubator and centrifuge to draw out your very own plasma for enhancing fresh-faced, natural beauty,' the MediSpa site writes (pictured: Keira Maguire)

The clinic told FEMAIL that it's a brilliant anti-ageing trick and will help to brighten dull skin (pictured: Keira Maguire)

The vampire facial works by taking a vial of blood from your body and then getting it re-injected into your face (pictured: Kim Kardashian)

This speeds up collagen production and gets the blood flowing. It is often used treat wrinkles, dull skin, dark under-eye circles and even stretch marks (pictured: Kim Kardashian)

MediSpa clinic told FEMAIL that the procedure is not as painful as it looks - though the clinic added that it will take one to two days to recover (pictured: Keira Maguire)

The vampire facial works by taking a vial of blood from your body and then getting it re-injected into your face.

This speeds up collagen production and gets the blood flowing. It is often used treat wrinkles, dull skin, dark under-eye circles and even stretch marks.

'I promise you it looks a lot more painful than it really is,' Ms Ringrose said.

'Once you've had the facial, your skin will need about two days to recover.

'Your complexion will look its best after six weeks, once the cells have had a chance to turn over.'

Israeli model Bar Refaeli (pictured) is also a fan, as is British actor, Rupert Everett

'Your complexion will look its best after six weeks, once the cells have had a chance to turn over,' MediSpa said

Kim Kardashian made headlines when she tried the treatment as far back as 2013 (pictured)

Kim Kardashian made headlines when she tried the treatment as far back as 2013, but she's not the only one indulging in the bizarre beauty treatment.

Others, including British actor, Rupert Everett, and Israeli model, Bar Refaeli, are devoted fans of the gruesome procedure.

Indeed, Keira Maguire is just the latest in a long list of celebrity followers.

Ready for your gruesome (but eventually beautiful) close-up? It'll cost you.

At the MediSpa Clinic, Ms Ringrose said it will set you back AUD $880. Elsewhere, a vampire facial can cost as much as $1000.

For more information about Vampire Facials, visit the MediSpa clinic site here.
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She battled Hodgkin's lymphoma in the public eye, without ever showing anything less than grace and humility.

And now, the acclaimed Australian actress, Tessa James - best known for her role as Nicole Franklin on Home & Away - has opened up about her family life and her secrets to success, as she poses for a candid Country Road campaign in honour of Mother's Day.

'An important thing that I've thought about in the last few years and since not being very well, is that I have tightened the people that I surround myself with,' Tessa told Country Road's publication.

'[I want to] ensure those in my life are inspiring souls from all walks of life, the ones that I just love to be around.'

Australian actress, Tessa James (pictured in a Country Road slip dress and trench coat), has opened up about her family life ahead of Mother's Day - as she posed in a candid Country Road campaign

In the stunning black-and-white photographs accompanying Tessa's interview, she can be seen wearing a velvet slip dress and draped trench coat, as well as a bell sleeve knit in another shot.

The 26-year-old's hair is scraped back and pinned, while she wears minimal makeup and dark lipstick.

'The women that I surround myself with at this point in time are definitely women that mentor and inspire me greatly,' Tessa explained.

The Melbourne-born actress also used the interview as an opportunity to pay tribute to her mother:

'My mum really is the most positive force, she has been through a lot, but she has always led by example. She has just started studying architecture, which just proves that you can do whatever you set your mind to and whenever.'

'An important thing that I've thought about in the last few years and since not being very well, is that I have tightened the people that I surround myself with,' Tessa told Country Road's blog (pictured in a Country Road bell-sleeve sweater)

Tessa James - best known for her role in Home & Away - was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2015

'My mum really is the most positive force, she has been through a lot, but she has always led by example. She has just started studying architecture, which just proves that you can do whatever you set your mind to and whenever,' Tessa explained

The Home & Away star has returned to acting since she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2015, appearing in the hit series, Love Child, two years ago, and on stage in the gripping Australian play, Blackrock, earlier this year.

'In terms of success I've realised that it's sometimes best to just take the pressure off yourself,' Tessa said.

'I think the secret to achieving goals is purely about focusing on what you love to do, working hard and being happy.'

'In terms of success I've realised that it's sometimes best to just take the pressure off yourself,' Tessa said - 'I think the secret to achieving goals is purely about focusing on what you love to do, working hard and being happy'

Tessa James isn't the only inspiring woman Australian clothing store, Country Road, have tapped ahead of Mother's Day next Sunday.

Former Vogue editor Nancy Pilcher, stylist Naomi Smith and illustrator Adriana Picker all also feature in the beautiful campaign.

All of the items featured in the campaign are already on sale, with Tessa's trench coat retailing for AUD $349, the slip dress for $229 and bell-sleeve knit, $159.

To read Tessa James's interview in full, click here.
Her controversial Pepsi campaign came under fire earlier this month and it seems that things aren't getting better for Kendall Jenner.

The model-of-the-moment, 21, was chosen as Vogue India's 10th anniversary cover star - but fans of the fashion bible aren't happy.

Men and women quickly took to social media to discuss how 'disappointed', 'disgusted' and 'shocked' they were that the title had selected Kendall to grace its cover over an Indian model.

One woman took to Twitter to share her outrage, writing: 'Vogue India really put Kendall Jenner on their anniversary cover over an actual Indian model. I don't know whether to laugh or cry,', whilst another called for the magazine to 'stop whitewashing everything.'

Cover girl: Kendall Jenner was chosen as the cover star of Vogue India this month, posing for a stunning shoot in the beautiful Samode Palace, outside of Jaipur, but fans weren't happy and said the fashion bible should have chosen an Indian woman instead

Men and women quickly took to social media to discuss how 'disappointed' and 'shocked' they were that the title had selected Kendall

Plenty of social media users made their own suggestions for alternative cover models, including Priyanka Chopra, Deepika and Neelam Gill.

The users also made reference to Vogue Arabia choosing Gigi Hadid as the cover star of its first-ever issue, which came under fire.

Kendall's best friend was accused of 'cultural appropriation' by furious commentators who were unhappy about her sporting a veil in the magazine shoot.

The supermodel, who is half-Palestinian and whose father is Muslim, sparked a backlash on social media with some accusing her of reducing the hijab to a 'fashion statement'.

Plenty of social media users made their own suggestions for alternative cover models, including Priyanka Chopra, Deepika and Neelam Gill. One lady even said that she was 'disgusted'

Critics blasted Gigi for using the veil, worn by millions of Muslim women around the world, as a 'trend' rather than religious dress.

MailOnline has contacted Vogue India and a spokesperson for Kendall Jenner for comment.

Kendall poses on the cover and inside pages of VOGUE India in a stunning shoot in the beautiful Samode Palace, outside of Jaipur.

To kickstart celebrations leading up to Vogue India's 10th anniversary this Autumn, Mario Testino has guest edited the May issue, choosing Kendall as his leading lady.

Kendall, pictured on the catwalk in New York, posed on the cover and inside pages of VOGUE India in a stunning shoot in the beautiful Samode Palace, outside of Jaipur

Priya Tanna, Editor of Vogue India, commented: 'Mario Testino is to fashion what Milan is to fashion weeks - simply indispensable. As the editor of a fashion magazine, I've always admired Mario's repertoire.

'To work with him, and share his creative vision was nothing short of spectacular. Seeing India through his lens offers a fresh perspective of the familiar.

The controversy over Kendall's latest cover comes after details of the disastrous Fyre Festival were revealed, as well as her Pepsi commercial was pulled

'With over 100 pages of pure art, this collaboration has been so incredible that the May issue of Vogue India is undoubtedly a collector's special.

Mario explained: 'Different elements of India have influenced my world  and in turn this issue. It's the people, the art, the colours, the elephants and everything in between.

'I wanted to bring my world truly to this amazing nation, by shooting the issue in India. I wanted it to stay true to the Indian spirit.'

To celebrate Testino's takeover of Vogue India's May issue, the renowned photographer is selling a limited edition print in support of local charity, Girl Rising India.

The controversy over Kendall's latest cover comes after details of the disastrous Fyre Festival were revealed.

The Fyre Festival organisers blew millions of dollars on their celebrity guests, private planes and yachts to promote their 'luxe' event - and yet failed to pay their caterers or even order toilets until last month, sources have said.

Kendall Jenner was paid $250,000 for one Instagram picture alone, while the event paid out hundreds of thousands for other top names such as Bella Hadid, Elsa Hosk, Emily Ratajkowski and Rose Bertram. In fact, even the smaller Instagram stars and social media influencers were not paid less than $20,000 each.

Meanwhile, many of the festivals' suppliers claim they are still waiting to be paid for their services.

Earlier this month her Pepsi ad was lambasted on social media before the soft drink corporation pulled it altogether amid jokes and complaints that it foolishly used imagery linked to ongoing social protests to sell soda.
Their USP is catwalk-inspired items at purse-friendly prices, but Primark's latest bargain offering is causing chaos online.

The fast fashion retailer has rolled out a new 8 mule that's strikingly similar to a Prada shoe and comes at a fraction of the price.

While the Italian luxury label's suede slipper will set you back 470, Primark's cut-price version is flying off shelves thanks to its price tag.

Its pointed bow mule, which comes in three colours - nude, black and denim - made its Instagram debut on Wednesday and already has shoppers scouring stores up and down the country to track down a pair in their size.

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Most coveted: Primark's pointed bow mule, which comes in three colours - nude, black and denim - is already sold out in several stores with savvy fashion fans snapping up multiple pairs

In fact, such is its popularity, people as far away as the US are begging British shoppers to buy them a pair and ship them across the pond - despite the postage costing substantially more than the shoe itself.

One enterprising shopper has even listed a pair on eBay for 25 - a mark-up of more than 300 per cent.

A spokesperson for Primark told Femail: 'Our team of designers take great pride in bringing our customers the latest trends at affordable prices.'

On Instagram, one desperate shopper said she had searched stores in London, Nottingham, Burton and Birmingham for the mules to no avail.

Another divulged that she had heard her local store in Dudley would shortly be expecting a 'big delivery' of all the colours.

Hot off the runway: The fast fashion retailer's new 8 mule is strikingly similar to a Prada style and shoppers as far away as the US have begged shoppers to ship them a pair

The real deal: While the Italian luxury label's suede slipper (pictured) will set you back 470, Primark's cut-price version is flying off shelves thanks to its 8 price tag

One lucky shopper admitted to snapping up all three colours at a Bristol store in February, while another gushed: 'These are near enough identical to the Prada mules.'

The latest Primark fashion frenzy comes after a gingham dress from the store sold out in record time.

The bell-sleeved, button-down midi frock went on sale in early April and sold out across the country within days, but canny shoppers who managed to get their hands on one decided to sell their purchase on eBay - for more than twice the price.

One enterprising shopper even listed a pair on eBay for 25 - a mark-up of 300 per cent. So called 'fashion flippers' buy items in bulk and then list them online at hugely inflated prices

The pointed bow mule made its Instagram debut on Wednesday and already has shoppers scouring stores up and down the country to track down a pair in their size (pictured)

The latest Primark fashion frenzy comes after a gingham dress sold out within hours. The bell-sleeved midi frock went on sale in early April and sold out across the country within days

Those who bid on the dress in an auction faced paying even more, as one was already priced at 40, plus 2.90 postage, with four days of bidding to go.

It's likely that rather than sacrificing their own wardrobe, people snapped up more than one of the dresses - and the mules - in store.

So-called 'fashion flippers' buy items in bulk and then list them online at hugely inflated prices.
Her poker face and icy glare have earned her a reputation as one of the steeliest women in fashion.

But Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, let her frosty facade drop as she was made a Dame Commander by the Queen at Buckingham Palace today.

The formidable magazine chief, 67, smiled as she posed for photographs after receiving the honour in recognition of her services to fashion and journalism.

Speaking afterwards, she revealed how she thanked the Queen for Prince Philip's 'inspirational' service following his retirement from royal duties yesterday.

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Cracking a smile: Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue, was made Dame Commander at Buckingham Palace today in recognition of her celebrated journalism career

Honoured: Ms Wintour looked humbled as she received the damehood from the Queen

Family affair: Daughter Bee Shaffer, 29, was on hand to celebrate her mother's achievement

Bee shared this photo of her mother after the ceremony, captioning it 'Dame AW'

Ms Wintour said: 'I congratulated her on Prince Philip's service because obviously that's so remarkable and such an inspiration to us all.'

The mother-of-two, who was joined by her glamorous 29-year-old daughter Bee Shaffer, also told how the Queen had struggled to attach the medal to her pink Chanel coat during the ceremony.

'She couldn't find where to put the brooch,' she said.

Ever stylish, Ms Wintour wore the calf-length coat with nude pumps and finished the look with a pair of signature oversized black sunglasses.

However she adhered to royal protocol and removed the shades as she received the damehood, offering the public a rare glimpse of her eyes.

Proud: Ms Wintour smiled as she displayed her medal following the investiture service today

Rare glimpse: The editor-in-chief removed her sunglasses during the royal ceremony

Signature look: But the shades were firmly back in place when she posed for photos outside

Born in London, Ms Wintour is the daughter of of Charles Wintour, the famed then-editor of the London Evening Standard, and philanthropist Elinor Wintour.

She said: Obviously this is a city that I grew up in, a city that I have so much affection and love for. Its always wonderful to get an award but this one is extra special.

Her journalism career started at Harpers & Queen magazine in 1970. In 1983 she joined Conde Nast as creative director of American Vogue, beginning her relationship with the iconic brand.

Ms Wintour returned to London to serve as editor of British Vogue between 1985 and 1987 before rejoining American Vogue in her current position in 1988.

In March 2013 Ms. Wintour was named the artistic director of Conde Nast.

Recognition: Ms Wintour has served as editor-in-chief of American Vogue for nearly 30 years

Chic: Ever stylish, Ms Wintour wore a blush pink belted Chanel boucle coat

Engaged: The magazine chief looked animated as she briefly spoke to the Queen
A gun-toting policewoman has become a social media sensation because she protects people on the dangerous streets of Brazil by day and posts scantily-clad bikini snaps by night.

Mari Ag, 30, is a highway patrol cop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one of the most dangerous countries in the world that has nearly 60,000 murders a year.

The toned policewoman decided to pursue a career as a police officer when she was a child as she wanted to help protect her community from the criminals and gangs that she says is 'so powerful and terrible in Brazil.'

Highway patrol cop Mari, 30, from Brazil, has become a social media sensation thanks to her gun-toting and bikini snaps

The Brazilian policewoman fits in some very scantily clad bikini shoots around patrolling some of the world's most dangerous streets

She says her country is in a state of civil war and protecting innocent people is her goal.

She said: 'The place I work has the worse criminality in the city, so we fight against heavily armed gangs that rob, kill, rape and terrify the community and the users of the federal highway.'

Brazil has nearly 60,000 murders a year, more than some warzones, and boasts 21 of the world's 50 most dangerous cities.

The job is so dangerous that only last week two of her fellow officers were shot while on patrol.

The policewoman has become a social media sensation because she protects people on the dangerous streets of Brazil by day and posts scantily-clad bikini snaps by night

Mari works one of the most dangerous countries in the world that has nearly 60,000 murders a year

The toned bikini babe loves to stay in shape and flaunt her physique. She says her country is in a state of civil war and protecting innocent people is her goal

The fitness fanatic explained that she made up her mind to become a police officer when she was a child as she wanted to help protect her community from the criminals and gangs that are 'so powerful and terrible in Brazil'

Mari is pictured practicing her best shot in an indoor shooting range

Mari has amazed over 13,000 followers on Instragram and keeps them hooked with pictures like this

As well as working hard to fight crime by day, Mari has an enviable lifestyle away from the office

Mari has amazed over 13,000 followers on Instragram and keeps them hooked with pictures of her work life and her real life.

She works hard so she likes to play hard, as her jaw dropping bikini clad holiday shots show.

She likes to keep her mind and body healthy through travel and exercise, and keeps her body beach ready because, as she says, 'in Brazil, we're all about bikinis.'

Mari works hard so she likes to play hard, as her jaw dropping bikini clad holiday shots show

Speaking about her job, she said: 'The place I work has the worse criminality in the city, so we fight against heavily armed gangs that rob, kill, rape and terrify the community and the users of the federal highway'

She likes to keep her mind and body healthy through travel and exercise

The job is so dangerous that last week two of her fellow officers were shot while on patrol

Mari keeps her body beach ready because, as she says, 'in Brazil, we're all about bikinis'

Highway patrol cop Mari from Brazil also carries a gun around when she isn't at work

The policewoman likes to stay active and keep fit by boxing in her local gym
A jet-setting couple have married three times this year - because they couldn't decide where to hold the ceremony.

Jack Penny, 30, from London, and Minami Toma, 27, from Japan, met at a gym in Tokyo three years ago but when it came down to choosing where to wed, the couple couldn't decide.

They tied the knot officially in a Tokyo registry office before having a 'lovely' elaborate Japanese ceremony on Minami's birthday.

A week later, the couple flew their guests 6,000 miles to North Devon for an English ceremony.

Jack and Minami have tied the knot a total of three times in one year after struggling to agree on a wedding venue after they met in Tokyo three years ago (pictured at their firs t wedding)

Lynmouth's entire taxi service was mobilised to ferry guests, who had come in from Japan, Dubai, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, America, around the town.

Jack's mother Sharon Plant, 63, said: 'They were both very clear that they wanted traditional weddings and determined to do it in two places.

'Jack wanted a very English wedding and Minami wanted a very Japanese ceremony, so they just did both.

'They first got married about six weeks ago in a cubicle with neon lights - none of us went to that one.

'But the two other ones could not have gone better. You always hope your children's weddings are happy - this was the happiest wedding service I've been to.'

In the space of a week the multi-national wedding party jetted from Tokyo to the remote North Devon Town of Lynmouth for double ceremonies, in what could have turned out to be a wedding planner's nightmare.

After their first two weddings in Tokoyo, the couple flew their guests 6,000 miles to North Devon for an English ceremony

The couple wore traditional Japanese clothing for their first two weddings in Tokyo, before flying back to the UK with family and friends for their nuptials in Devon

The first of the three events took place in a registry office in Tokyo in keeping with Japanese custom and was a low key affair.

It was followed by an elaborate Japanese ceremony held on the bride's birthday at a Shinto shrine in Tokyo.

The entire service was held in Japanese and the complex religious ceremony invoked the gods and requested them to bless and support the marriage.

'There was a lot of beating of drums, and we drank sake, and they have this type of wand they wave as part of the blessing,' said artist and novelist Mrs Plant.

The first of the three events took place in a registry office in Tokyo in keeping with Japanese custom and was a low key affair, followed by a ceremony at a shrine (pictured)

The pair pose with family at the elaborate Japanese ceremony, held on the bride's birthday at a Shinto shrine in Tokyo. The entire service was held in Japanese

During their second wedding, the couple's complex religious ceremony invoked the gods and requested them to bless and support the marriage

Discerning couple: Jack's mother Sharon Plant, 63, said, 'They were both very clear that they wanted traditional weddings and determined to do it in two places'

'We then formed a procession through the gates of the shrine and drank salt water and orange blossom. The whole thing was utterly beguiling.'

Less than a week later the revelers flew to the UK and made their way to North Devon for the next round of celebrations.

The marriage was blessed at St John the Baptist Church, in Lynmouth by Reverend Jean Loveday in English.

'It was certainly a logistical feat,' said Mrs Plant. 'But it all went surprisingly smoothly. It's wasn't stressful but I did feel some trepidation about getting everyone to-and-fro.

Huge affair: Lynmouth's entire taxi service was mobilised to ferry guests, who had come in from Japan, Dubai, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, America, around the town

Less than a week after their registry office wedding, the revellers flew to the UK and made their way to North Devon for the next round of celebrations

The low-key Devon wedding (pictured) was a far cry from their first ceremony that contained 'beating of drums', plenty of sake and traditional blessings

'Our concern was that everyone understood everything in the ceremony,' said Mrs Plant. There were about 12 of us who flew over to Japan for the Shinto ceremony.

'I don't speak Japanese and Minami's mother's English is not good either. But in the end it was fascinating experience for everyone involved.'

Although originally from London, Jack, an illustrator and writer, was set on having the British ceremony in North Devon.

Mrs Plant added: 'I thought he would want it in London where all his friends are, but he loves Devon comes to visit at least twice a year. It was very important to him that the whole event was very English.'

The pair's marriage was blessed at St John the Baptist Church, in Lynmouth by Reverend Jean Loveday in English, after they flew back to the UK from Japan

Matt's mother Sharon called the third wedding a 'logistical feat', adding: 'It's wasn't stressful but I did feel some trepidation about getting everyone to-and-fro'

Although originally from London, Jack, an illustrator and writer, was set on having the British ceremony in North Devon

Bride Minami, who works in finance, said: 'The highlight was experiencing the wedding blessing ceremony in Devon and walking down the church aisle.

'In a beautiful old church, surrounded by the smiling faces of my new family, I felt very special.'

The couple are now enjoying their honeymoon in Lake Como after which they are heading back to Tokyo to continue a 'quieter life in finance, teaching, translating, designing, illustrating and writing.'
The bill Gov. Chris Christie vetoed would have stopped the sale in New Jersey of dogs from the worst puppy mills in the nation. Photo by Amie Chou/The HSUS

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is a morally inconsistent mess when it comes to animal welfare. Although in the past hes signed important legislation to ban horse slaughter and to crack down on the ivory trade and the trade in trophies, among other positive actions, hes also been a strong proponent of trophy hunting of bears in New Jersey. Two years ago, quite infamously, he vetoed a popular bill to ban gestation crates in his state, and in doing so suffered a devastating prime time takedown by comedian Jon Stewart, who noted Christies pandering to Big Ag interests in Iowa.

On Monday, Christie added to the ledger of strongly adverse actions hes taken against animals by vetoing bipartisan legislation advanced by lawmakers Raymond Lesniak and Daniel Benson, that passed the Assembly and Senate by wide margins. The bill would stop the sale in New Jersey of dogs from the worst puppy mills in the nation.

With just months left in his tenure, Christie vetoed S. 3041, but used a mechanism to amend it that makes it seem like he split the difference between proponents and opponents. But make no mistake, he gutted this bill, removing every key provision and adding language that would protect puppy mills and their sales outlets. In his veto letter, he made outlandish and inaccurate claims, showing he either misunderstood the bills provisions or hes intentionally falsely framing the issue. His so-called changes would even weaken a pet store disclosure and sourcing restriction law, the Pet Purchase Protection Act, which Christie himself signed two years ago.

Around the country, 230 local governments have banned the sale of puppy mill dogs in their communities  partly as a way to stop the suffering of mill dogs, but also to limit the costs of animal care and control that are exacerbated by the infusion of puppies from mills. In New Jersey alone, nearly 100 municipalities have passed ordinances banning the sale of puppy mill dogs in pet stores within their borders, and nine counties have passed resolutions condemning puppy mills. One pet store chain, Pets Plus Natural  which has stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania  stopped selling puppy mill dogs and moved to a shelter-dog-adoption model in all its stores. They replicated programs at the biggest pet store chains  including PetSmart and Petco  in refusing to sell dogs from puppy mills.

When the USDA removed inspection reports for animal facilities, including puppy mills, from its website, the move was met with a massive uproar from the media and the public. On the left, Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann blasted the removal of welfare reports. On the right, Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson did so too, proving that common decency and compassion for animals can transcend partisanship. Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill denounced the takedown of data gathered thanks to the support of taxpayers. So when Christie defends the mills, hes taking on people on the left and the right who think something needs to be done to protect dogs in the United States.

In Illinois, Tennessee, and Georgia, pro-puppy mill legislation that would have stripped localities of the right to regulate pet stores was defeated, in large part due to a public outcry. A bill in Florida that would have banned any local regulation of businesses, and would have voided 53 pet store ordinances, failed to gain traction. All of these actions remind us of the deep unpopularity of puppy mills, and how Christie took action at odds with public sentiment throughout the nation.

Last week, Inside Edition aired an investigation into dog DNA that shows how pet stores, which often source dogs from puppy mills, dupe consumers. Along with a member of our puppy mills team, an undercover reporter visited puppy stores in New York City. Inside Edition then purchased a puppy who was advertised as a purebred Coton de Tulear. But as the investigation showed, DNA tests proved the puppy was really a cross between two other breeds. The fact that consumers are being cheated into buying expensive purebred dogs that are really just adorable mutts is just the tip of the iceberg. It makes you wonder what else the pet stores are hiding, or what problems they are failing to examine in their supply chains.

If you live in New Jersey, call your state lawmakers and ask them to override the veto of S. 3041.

P.S. In a good-news update on a subject I hit on the blog some months ago, a Canadian court dismissed a case against animal activist Anita Krajnc, who was charged with interference after the merciful act of giving water to a pig on a slaughterhouse truck on a hot summer day. Her story of compassion and bravery has inspired several other Pig Save groups in other cities, who hold regular vigils outside slaughterhouses, and continue to give water to thirsty pigs on the last day of their lives. We celebrate the verdict, and the global attention this lawsuit brought to the issue of cruel farm animal confinement and transport.
Board members and donors at the Metropolitan Museum of Art are not thrilled  to put it lightly  that so many celebrities were lighting up at the Met Gala on Monday night.

Smoking was banned in New York's restaurants, bars, and commercial establishments in 2003, but quite a few celebrity smokers seemed to think they were above

the law at the fancy fete earlier this week, with a crowd slipping into the ladies' room to puff away throughout the party.

Now, according to Page 6, several Met VIPs are calling for stars like Bella Hadid, Dakota Johnson, Behati Prinsloo, Marc Jacobs, and Frances Bean Cobain to be fined  and at least one complained directly to Anna Wintour on the big night.

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Caution to the wind: Dakota Johnson was one of the many stars snapped breaking the New York smoking at the Met Gala on Monday

Time out: Bella Hadid puffed away near Lara Stone, Paris Jackson, and Ruby Rose

Lighting up: Behati Prinsloo (center) also smoked near Taylor Hill (left) and Hailey Baldwin (right), despite a 2003 law banning smoking indoors in NYC

Rule breakers: Stars like designer Marc Jacobs and Frances Bean Cobain could face fines of up to $400 for the offense, should it be reported to 311 and investiaged

'As a donor to the Met, I was so insulted to see all these "celebrities" smoking and taking selfies of themselves in the bathroom,' a source told Page Six. 'Mostly, i's disrespectful to the art collection, which needs to be kept 100% smoke-free. I would honestly like to see these people fined by the city.'

The New York City Smoke-Free Air Act prohibits smoking in nearly all indoor workplaces, and calls for a fine of $200 to $400 for first-time violators.

Second violation within the first year carry a $500 to $1,000 fine, while third or subsequent violations within a year carry a$1,000 to $2,000 fine.

In addition to Bella, Dakota, Behati, Marc, and Frances Bean, several other revelers were seen with cigarettes in hand in pictures and video that have gone up on social media.

Say cheese: Sources say several donors and even at least one board member are furious over behavior of celebrities like Slick Woods (right) for puffing inside the museum

Lighting up: Internet users also called out people like Mr. Robot actor Rami Malek for being disrespectful around priceless works of art

Mr. Robot actor Rami Malek was puffing in one snap, as was Slick Woods and a few men in tuxes.

When the pictures and video surfaced on Tuesday, many social media users  and DailyMail.com commenters  were outraged by the stars' behavior, noting that they were releasing chemicals and smoke into the air incredibly close to many priceless works of art.

'Hold them accountable and fine them,' wrote one. Another added: 'What "classy" people. Lets hope they'll be hit with a fine. That bathroom must stink to high heavens. Absolutely gross.'

Beside the complaining donor, a female board member at the Met was outraged by the behavior, and took it up with Vogue editor Anna Wintour herself.

Uh-oh! A board member who caught the action complained directly to Anna Wintour's team

Consequences? It's unclear if any of the celebrities will face penalties

Inside the Met Gala: The bathroom was host to a sort of side-party with stars smoking and taking plenty of selfies

'The board member stormed right out [of the bathroom] and complained right away to Anna Wintour's team. It is so disrespectful to the museum,' a source told the Post.

Besides smoking openly in the bathroom at the museum, many stars took no pains to hide the behavior on social media.

Indoor smoking was first banned in NYC in 2003, and the law was later expanded to include public beaches and parks.
Bristol Palin has revealed that her husband Dakota Meyer is traveling for work with just a few days left before she gives birth.

The 26-year-old, who is over nine months pregnant, took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon to share a throwback photo of herself sitting on the 28-year-old Medal of Honor recipient's lap.

'MISSING THIS HANDSOME MAN! Last two work trips before the baby!! I'm getting so excited to see him with our tiniest!! #4daysout,' she captioned the image, hinting that will be welcoming her third child on Sunday or Monday.

Look of love: Pregnant Bristol Palin shared a throwback photo of herself sitting on her husband Dakota Meyer's lap just days before her due date

Almost there: Bristol revealed she is only four days away from her due date

Too cute: Bristol, who is more than nine months pregnant, is pictured tucking in her one-year-old daughter Sailor Grace

The sweet selfie sees the couple wearing matching black T-shirts while sitting cuddled up on a lawn chair.

For the past few weeks leading up to her due date, Bristol and Dakota have been living in a suburb of Austin, Texas, with their one-year-old daughter Sailor Grace and her eight-year-old son Tripp, her only child with her ex-fiance Levi Johnston.

While he is away, Dakota has been sharing photos of his travels on Instagram Stories, but he also paid tribute to his pregnant wife earlier this week.

Looking back: Earlier this week, Dakota shared a throwback photo of him and Bristol after they first got engaged

Love of his life: Dakota said his 'beautiful wife' is always his 'Woman Crush Wednesday'

On the road: Dakota has been sharing photos on Instagram Stories while he is traveling for work ahead of the baby's arrival

Sharing a throwback photo of them from their engagement before their temporary split, Dakota called his wife his 'Woman Crush Wednesday', writing: '#wcw ALWAYS to my beautiful wife Bristol.'

The pair first got engaged during a Rascal Flatts concert in Las Vegas in early 2015, planning a wedding in his native Kentucky.

But less than a week before the ceremony, Bristol announced the wedding would not take place and a month later she revealed she was pregnant with Sailor, although she initially refused to say whether Dakota was the father.

Sailor was born on December 23, 2015, and after a brief custody battle, the two rekindled their relationship before getting marred in a secret ceremony in 2016.

'Dying right now': The expectant mom shared a snapshot of the surprise 'push present' Dakota got her from Louis Vuitton earlier this week

Almost there! Bristol posted a new photo of herself sitting on Dakota's lap last week

Less than a year later, Bristol is expecting her third child  her second with Dakota  and the two recently announced that they are expecting another baby girl.

On Tuesday, Bristol shared a photo of a Louis Vuitton box on her Instagram stories, revealing that Dakota has already gotten her a surprise 'push present' ahead of the birth of their second daughter.

'How did @dakotameyer0317 even know what that is?! Dying right now!' she captioned the photo, which sees the brown box wrapped with a royal blue ribbon and sitting on their bed.

Too cute: On Tuesday, Bristol took to Instagram to share a photo Sailor wearing the outfit her father Dakota picked out for her

Almost there: Bristol is due to give birth to her third child  her second with Dakota  this May. She shared this picture on April 16 when she was three weeks away from her due date

Although Bristol feigned surprise that Dakota would even know what Louis Vuitton is, this isn't the first time he has headed to the French luxury label to treat his wife of almost a year.

Back in September, around the time she learned she was pregnant, she posted a photo of a Louis Vuitton shopping bag, revealing that it was a gift from Dakota.

'I do not even begin to deserve this man,' she wrote.

The soon-to-be mother-of-three is often seen carrying around a Louis Vuitton handbag, which was presumably a gift from her doting husband.

Despite her excitement over her latest present, it appears as though she is waiting until she gives birth to open it.
Anyone who doubts that racism is still alive and well in America need only to look at the shocking text exchange between one white Arkansas father and his teenage daughter regarding her prom date.

Anna Hayes, a high school senior from Lake Village, Arkansas attended prom last week with a male friend, Phillip Freeman  who happens to be black.

When her father  whom she does not live with  saw the photos, he was livid, and sent her a long tirade of racist, sexist text messages telling Anna that he was disowning her and calling both her and her date heartbreakingly offensive names.

Cute kids: Anna Hayes from Arkansas went to prom this year with her friend, Phillip

In photos shared on Facebook, Anna and Phillip look picture-perfect on their way to the big dance. Anna wore rad lipstick to match her lacy scarlet mermaid gown, and Phillip layered a matching red suit jacket over a black button-down and slacks.

Anna said that though Phillip is just a friend, he's also 'really funny' and 'super cute', so she snatched him up as her prom date.

Unfortunately, Anna's dad  whom she says has always been vocally racist  saw the snaps online and wasted no time sharing his disappointment with her in an incredibly abusive manner.

'We are done,' he texted her. 'I won't be coming to your graduation. Nor will I pay for your college. Go live with the n*****s.'

Awful: Her father, whom she doesn't live with, saw the pictures and went on a racist rant

Despicable: He called her and the boy she went to prom with names, and said his daughter was dead to him

Anna explained to BuzzFeed that she and her dad have had a strained relationship for years. Her parents are divorced, and though she lived with him briefly as a child, she's been in her mom's house since her early teens.

His tirade, however, seems to have gone beyond any uncomfortable words they'd shared in the past.

Responding to his initial texts, Anna wrote: 'I went to prom with a black guy so that's a problem ... racist much.'

'Yes I am,' her dad wrote back unabashedly before continuing with the grammatically incorrect pronouncement: 'Your dead to me.'

'Don't ever contact me again we are through,' he added. 'Go ahead be a F***IN wh*** leave me out of it. [sic].

Anna said she knew her dad was racist but was still upset when he texted her such cruel things

He also told her that he was cancelling her cell phone and her car insurance, to which she replied, 'I didn't do anything wrong.'

'Shut the f*** up you have no right to talk to me anymore. Go live with the F***IN n*****s. Your pictures are already off my walls.

'You can go to hell. What the f*** is wrong with you? ... You want to mingle with Subhumans I'll treat you accordingly. [sic]'

Anna knew of her father's opinions, though she still found it 'incredibly sad' when he reacted so vitriolically.

The teen said it is important for people 'to see that racism is very much alive'

'He has told me that if I ever dated a black guy that I will and would be dead to him,' she told BuzzFeed. 'I stood my ground for what I believe in. He has called me several horrible things before.'

She added: 'This just hurt more because I can not believe how anyone can hate someone they don't even know because of their skin color...

'My mother was horrified and felt terrible but there isn't anything she can do.'

Her date, Phillip, also shared screengrabs of the exchange on Twitter, where they've been steadily earning attention and horrified reactions.

'It's important for people to see that racism is very much alive,' she said.
Thousands of breast cancer patients will receive a ground-breaking drug for free while the NHS decides whether to fund it.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer yesterday said it would provide palbociclib for five months while rationing watchdog NICE assesses the treatment.

The unprecedented decision, which could benefit 2,400 UK patients, will increase pressure on officials to make the drug routinely available when they announce their ruling later this year.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer yesterday said it would provide important breast cancer drug palbociclib for five months while rationing watchdog NICE assesses the treatment

Palbociclib is considered one of the most important advances in breast cancer medicine in the past 20 years.

The daily pill stops the most common type of advanced breast cancer in its tracks, freezing the growth of aggressive tumours. This delays the need for gruelling chemotherapy, enabling many women to lead normal lives for years.

Yet in February, NICE published a draft decision rejecting the drug due to its 38,350-a-year cost.

Officials accepted it could make a huge difference to womens lives, even allowing them to keep working after diagnosis. But they said the cost was too high and demanded that Pfizer lower the price.

The company last night insisted it was providing the drug free of charge so that patients did not miss out during delays to the appraisal process.

The daily pill stops the most common type of advanced breast cancer in its tracks, freezing the growth of aggressive tumours. This delays the need for gruelling chemotherapy, enabling many women to lead normal lives for years

But by doing this for a limited time, Pfizer will heap pressure on NICE to reverse its earlier decision and approve the drug.

If officials, who are due to publish final guidance at the end of September, continue to refuse to fund the drug it will mean roughly 6,000 women a year will miss out.

Drugs firms are becoming increasingly frustrated with rationing and belt-tightening in the NHS. The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry last week claimed companies would abandon the UK unless ministers increased spending on healthcare by 20billion.

And last month Ben Hickey, UK general manager of pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb, said England is now one of the worst places in Europe to get cancer because patients cannot access the best new medicines. He said archaic and inflexible methods used by NICE were to blame.

In February, NICE published a draft decision rejecting the drug due to its 38,350-a-year cost despite officials accepting it would make huge difference to womens lives, even allowing them to keep working after diagnosis

Palbociclib works on advanced forms of the most common type of breast cancer, HER2-negative. Trials have shown taking the pills alongside a drug called an aromatase inhibitor stops the disease progressing for just over two years  ten months longer than the standard treatment.

But some patients have experienced even better results.

Pfizer has agreed that those who take the drug during the free period will not be taken off it if NICE rejects the treatment again. But no new patients would be able to access it without paying.

Fiona Hazell, of the charity Breast Cancer Now, said: This is an unexpected lifeline for thousands of women living with this type of breast cancer. While only an interim measure, more than 16 women every day could have their lives changed by this drug during this window. Palbociclib can offer a large proportion of patients with incurable metastatic breast cancer significant extra time ... that can be truly invaluable to them and their loved ones.

David Crosby, of Breast Cancer Care, said: While people with incurable breast cancer who need this ground-breaking treatment immediately will breathe a sigh of relief, this decision will only add to the anxiety of those who may need it in future.

There remains looming uncertainty about whether the drug will be available in the long term.
Babies given drugs to stop them suffering reflux are more likely to suffer broken bones later in life.

A study has found medications prescribed by doctors to children under one year old may increase their chances of suffering fractures by almost a third.

The treatments are for babies who bring up milk during or shortly after feeding  known as reflux or spitting up.

Babies given drugs to stop them suffering reflux are more likely to suffer broken bones later in life

It happens because a babys oesophagus, or food pipe, is still developing and normally stops by their first birthday when the lower ring of muscle has grown enough to stop the contents of their stomach leaking.

But the drugs prescribed by doctors were found, looking at almost 900,000 healthy children, to raise the risk of broken bones by up to 31 per cent.

That could be because they reduce stomach acid which is needed to absorb calcium, allowing it to be used by young bodies to build strong bones.

Dr Laura Maldochi, who led the study at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, said: With many antacids easily available over-the-counter for adults, these medications may seem benign.

However, our study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting antacid medications are not safe for children, especially very young children, and should only be prescribed to treat confirmed serious cases of more severe symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease, and for the shortest length of time needed.

Acid reflux affects up to two-thirds of infants, who spit up the milk they have just swallowed.

It is different from vomiting, where their muscles forcefully contract to expel the contents of their stomach.

The same drugs are used as those given to adults for heartburn, which is also caused by acid reflux, but these are not available in chemists for children.

Instead, doctors prescribe the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) which cut the production of stomach acid.

A study has found medications prescribed by doctors to children under one year old may increase their chances of suffering fractures by almost a third

The US study looked at 874,447 healthy children born within the Military Healthcare System from 2001 to 2013, of whom approximately 10 per cent were prescribed these drugs in their first year of life.

Children prescribed PPIs had a 22 per cent increased likelihood of suffering broken bones, when followed up over at least two years.

Children who took PPIs and H2 blockers had a 31 per cent increased risk.

A similar problem has been found in adults taking the drugs for heartburn, with previous research suggesting this is because stomach acid is needed to transfer calcium and create strong bones.

The researchers found the number of bone fractures children experienced increased with the number of days they took the drugs for acid reflux.

The younger a child first began using the medication, the higher their fracture risk.

Those started on antacid medications before they were six months old had the greatest increased fracture risk.

However taking them after the age of two appeared to be safer, with children given antacids after this age suffering no more broken bones than children not prescribed them at all in their first five years.

The study was presented at the 2017 Paediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco.

It follows recent research showing PPI and H2 blockers may raise adults vulnerability to food poisoning, while women who take them may raise their childs risk of developing asthma.
Putting a special skin patch on a stroke patients arm on the way to hospital could slash their risk of dying by half, researchers have discovered.

The 39p patch contains drugs that lower blood pressure and relax veins and arteries, improving the circulation to the brain.

Experts believe it can improve survival rates and reduce the effects of a stroke dramatically if administered quickly.

Putting a special skin patch, which costs 39p and is the size of 50p, on a stroke patients arm on the way to hospital could slash their risk of dying by half, researchers have discovered

In a pilot study by the University of Nottingham, patients who were given the patch by paramedics had a 16 per cent risk of dying  less than half the 38 per cent mortality rate among those not given the patch.

But the trial only involved 40 patients, so for a more reliable assessment, the team is setting up a bigger study to confirm their preliminary findings.

The major project, funded by the British Heart Foundation, will involve 850 patients, seven of Englands ten ambulance services and 47 NHS hospitals. Study leader Professor Philip Bath said: We believe that by improving blood flow in the brain in stroke patients we can dramatically improve their survival chances and recovery.

This patch enables us to do this within minutes.

A stroke occurs when a clot blocks an artery or there is bleeding in the brain, reducing blood flow. Rapid treatment to restore blood supply to the brain is crucial, involving either anti-clotting drugs, removal of the blockage using a wire, or surgery. But the Nottingham team discovered that administering drugs through the skin could improve blood flow before the patient arrives at hospital.

The patch  the size of a 50p  can be applied by paramedics to the shoulder or arm to deliver glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), which is usually used to treat angina and very high blood pressure.

But researchers suspected its ability to lower blood pressure could also help stroke victims.

Around 150,000 Britons have a stroke each year, a third of whom die within 12 months. Half the survivors have paralysis, speech problems, personality changes and other disabilities

Around 150,000 Britons have a stroke each year, a third of whom die within 12 months.

Half the survivors have paralysis, speech problems, personality changes and other disabilities. Access to a simple stop-gap treatment could also help those patients who do not receive hospital treatment quickly.

Any delay in the critical first few hours after a stroke can have a devastating effect, increasing the likelihood of the patient being permanently disabled or dying. Yet nearly 6,000 people, a twelfth of those admitted to English hospitals with a stroke last year, had to wait more than 12 hours at hospital before having their first scan.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: Current treatment for stroke is fairly limited and patients are dying or suffering life-changing disabilities as a result.

If successful, this patch could revolutionise treatment.
Scientists have created a baker's yeast which could lead to powerful new antibiotics that combat deadly superbugs.

They have engineered a version of the yeast to produce penicillin - the common antibiotic that tackles various infections.

It comes as many seemingly harmless bugs are becoming resistant to antibiotics already available, causing experts to seek new ways to tackle them.

Deemed to be one of the biggest threats to humanity, the World Health Organization issued a warning over the crisis earlier this year.

It said new drugs urgently needed to be developed to battle 12 families of bacteria that have evolved, including one the new yeast was tested on.

But despite being in its early stages, researchers believe their yeast shows promise in the quest for super-strength drugs.

The scientists' version of the yeast produces penicillin, allowing it to combat various fungal and bacterial infections

Developed at Imperial College London, the team also believe it could lead to a whole new range of powerful antibiotics.

They were able to demonstrate their penicillin-producing yeast had beneficial properties against streptococcus bacteria.

The common bugs, which can be the cause of a sore throat or even sepsis, are known to be growing resistant to many antibiotics used to treat them.

The yeast was created using nonribosomal peptides that are normally produced by the bugs - much like other antibiotics.

Dr Tom Ellis, from the university's Centre for Synthetic Biology, said: 'Humans have been experimenting with yeast for thousands of years.

'From brewing beer to getting our bread to rise, and more recently for making compounds like anti-malarial drugs, yeast is the microscopic workhorse behind many processes.

Many of these are becoming resistant to antibiotics already available, causing experts to seek new ways to combat them

'The rise of drug-resistant superbugs has brought a real urgency to our search for new antibiotics.

'Our experiments show that yeast can be engineered to produce a well-known antibiotic.

'This opens up the possibility of using yeast to explore the largely untapped treasure trove of compounds in the nonribosomal peptide family to develop a new generation of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.'

For many years, pharmaceutical companies have experimented with nonribosomal peptides to make conventional drugs.

WHAT IS ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE? For decades, antibiotics have been so overused by GPs and hospital staff that the bacteria have evolved to become resistant. Doctors claim medicines including penicillin no longer work on sore throats, skin infections and, more seriously, pneumonia. Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies claimed last year that the threat is as severe as terrorism  with patients dying from minor cuts after succumbing to drug-resistant bugs. As a result, it is estimated that the rise of superbugs will cause up to ten million deaths a year by 2050. Experts warn medicine will be taken back to the 'dark ages' if antibiotics are rendered ineffective, with even minor operations becoming impossible without drugs to turn to. Advertisement

But the rise of antibiotic resistance means there is a pressing need to find new techniques to fight superbugs.

Because of how easy baker's yeast is to produce, the scientists have turned their attention to this potential method.

They are able to simply insert DNA from bacteria and fungi into yeast and carry out a range of experiments.

This offers them a viable new host for antibiotic production research, according to the study published in Nature Communications.

Dr Ali Awan, co-author from the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London, said: 'Fungi have had millions of years to evolve the capability to produce bacteria-killing penicillin.

'We scientists have only been working with yeast in this context for a handful of years, but now that we've developed the blueprint for coaxing yeast to make penicillin, we are confident we can further refine this method to create novel drugs in the future.

'We believe yeast could be the new mini-factories of the future, helping us to experiment with new compounds in the nonribosomal peptide family to develop drugs that counter antimicrobial resistance.'

However, the authors are keen to point out that the research is still in its early stages.

While it appears to show promise, they have so far only produced penicillin in small quantities.

More research needs to be done to see if it can be adapted to finding other compounds and to get production up to commercially viable quantities.
Many of us are counting down the days to retirement, to leaving the rat race and finally booking that Mediterranean cruise.

But being retired is no less stressful than working, except for those leaving high-powered jobs.

A study has found stress levels in retired lower-ranking employees remain much the same as when they had to set their alarm for 7am and head off on the morning commute.

Those who have left top jobs are less stressed, based on saliva tests measuring the stress hormone cortisol, but for the lower-paid the pressure of making ends meet on their pension appear to almost cancel out the joys of retirement.

These are the findings of a study led by Manchester University, examining 1,143 high, middle and low-grade civil servants working in London.

A study has found stress levels in retired lower-ranking employees remain much the same as when they had to set their alarm for 7am and head off on the morning commute

Lead author Professor Tarani Chandola said he was 'surprised' by the results, adding: 'This may be because workers who retire from lower status jobs often face financial and other pressures in retirement.

'This study suggests that people's stress levels are not just determined by immediate circumstances, but by long-run factors over the course of their lives.'

The first study to actually measure stress levels before and after retirement, rather than asking people how they felt, took five saliva samples from them throughout the day.

Generally, we are most stressed half an hour after waking in the morning, with stress levels falling throughout the day and bottoming out at bedtime.

This 'slope' is steepest in people who are relaxed, but flatter for those whose stress levels remain high during the day.

Retired people from lower-ranking jobs, including clerical workers, office support staff and porters, showed slopes barely differing from when they worked.

But stress levels fell significantly among those in the top jobs, including policy managers and permanent secretaries.

The researchers, who analysed data from the Whitehall II civil servants study, suggest this has less to do with the top earners' previous high-pressure jobs than their bumper pensions, financial security and what they can afford to do in their twilight years.

For the lower-paid, the pressure of making ends meet on their pension appear to almost cancel out the joys of retirement

These may help counteract even the loss of status which comes with giving up a high-powered job title.

The study, published in the Journal of Gerontology, states: 'Civil servants working in the highest grades would normally receive higher pensions and may be more able to enjoy the leisure and social participation and activities in retirement due to their higher levels of resources and better health than those retiring from low-grade occupations.

This study suggests that people's stress levels are not just determined by immediate circumstances, but by long-run factors over the course of their lives Professor Tarani Chandola, University of Manchester

'Qualitative interviews among lower grade civil servants suggest that they worry about their reduced income in retirement.'

The study concludes that low-grade employees see 'no apparent benefit' when they retire, which could put their health at greater risk in greater life.

Retirement is the point at which the health and stress inequalities between rich and poorer people reach their peak.

The difference in stress hormones between high and low-ranking retirees was linked with an approximately 20 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease in the next six to eight years.

It means having a higher pension could reverse some of the health problems caused by a stressful job.

Professor Chandola added: 'Retirees from higher grade jobs are more able to afford more leisure time activities- indeed-others have found that the period right after retirement is associated with greater levels of physical activity, which in turn has got stress-reducing effects.'
A 26-year-old man's legs have swollen to enormous proportions as a result of a disease that should have killed him years ago.

Liu Zhongqiu, from Fuxing City, China, was told he would not live to see his 20th birthday because of his elephantiasis.

It was caused after parasitic roundworms entered his body through a blood-sucking mosquito as a child, local reports suggest.

Despite defying doctors expectations, it has left him unable to urinate and caused his legs to weigh around 323lbs (150kg) - roughly the same as a Giant Panda.

Mr Liu claims to have given up all hope of his legs ever returning to normal, and now only wants to extend his prognosis.

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Liu Zhongqiu, from Fuxing City, China, was told he would not live to see his 20th birthday because of his elephantiasis

But the disease is worsening as each day passes, with the swelling beginning to reach his abdomen, slashing his chances of survival.

Mr Liu, whose greatest fear is one day waking up to find both of his legs have 'exploded, said: 'They told me I wouldn't live past 20, but it's now been seven years. I believe I am a miracle.'

Known in its fuller form as lymphatic filariasis, more than 120million people are currently infected, figures suggest.

It is characterised by massive enlargement of an area of the body and is caused by the obstruction of the lymphatic system.

Despite defying doctors expectations, it has left him unable to urinate and caused his legs to weigh around 323lbs (150kg)

This results in the accumulation of fluids in the affected part of the body, medical literature states.

Mr Liu told reporters in his hometown that his condition all started after he was bitten by a mosquito as a child.

His genitals instantly began swelling to such a degree that he had to have his testicles relocated into his stomach.

Ever since being told he would never live to see 20 back in 2000, he has been travelling to different provinces in China in an attempt to look for best doctors to treat the symptoms of his disease.

He is now begging on the streets of Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei Province, and using the money he gets to visit hospitals in the city.
Thousands of soldiers and paramilitaries were Thursday engaged in a huge anti-militant operation in Indian-administered Kashmir, where armed rebels have repeatedly attacked government forces in recent weeks.

Police said government forces had surrounded at least 20 villages in the drive, launched early Thursday in Shopian district in the volatile south of the disputed Himalayan region.

'It is an unprecedented operation,' deputy inspector general of police S P Pani told AFP.

Rebel groups have fought for decades the roughly 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in Kashmir, demanding independence or a merger of the entire territory with Pakistan

'It is impossible to capture the militants, but we hope there will be contact (exchange of fire) with them in the course of the day.'

Suspected militants are frequently killed in shoot-outs with government forces in Kashmir, but are only rarely captured alive.

A civilian driver was killed and two soldier were injured after a private hired by the army to transport troops came under fire, a senior police officer told AFP late Thursday.

'The civilian driver of the vehicle was injured and later died. Two other soldiers in the vehicle also received bullet injuries,' the police officer said.

Thousands of Indian soldiers and paramilitaries engaged in a huge anti-militant operation in Indian-administered Kashmir

Witnesses said hundreds of residents came out onto the streets in two villages, Sug and Tarkwangan, during the search operations and threw stones at the soldiers.

One said soldiers had attacked private homes in his village with sticks and rocks.

'It was scary. Many houses were damaged,' the villager told AFP by phone, requesting anonymity.

Witnesses said army helicopters were hovering above the area as the search operations were going on.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947, but both claim the territory in its entirety.

Rebel groups have fought for decades against the roughly 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the Himalayan territory, demanding independence or a merger of the entire territory with Pakistan.

Witnesses said hundreds of residents came out onto the streets in two villages, Sug and Tarkwangan, during the search operations and threw stones at the soldiers (file pic)

Officials say the rebels' ranks have swelled since July, when the killing of a popular leader by security forces sparked widespread unrest that left at least 100 civilians dead.

Since then armed encounters between rebels and government forces have been more frequent.

The latest operation comes after five police were shot dead this week in a raid on a bank van carrying cash -- the latest in a series of bank robberies in the region carried out by suspected militants.

Last week militants killed three soldiers in a pre-dawn assault on a garrison near the de-facto border known as the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

The Kashmir valley has been tense since early April, when election day violence kicked off a series of anti-India protests including by students.

Popular support for the militants has also risen and villagers now regularly come out onto the streets during operations to throw stones at government forces.


A Dream in Red Mansions

(Poetry)

 

5







Chapter 1

Zhen Shiyin saw Lingtong Jade in dream

Jia Yucun secretly fell in love with a girl





There was a Renqing Lane in the bustling Gusu City.

An ancient Hulu Temple was standing in its center.





Beside the temple existed a family whose master was Zhen Shiyin.

His wife Feng was virtuous and the whole family lived a happy life.





He had a three year old girl named Ying Lian.

It could be said that the family was well to do.





Shiyin was reading in his study in a summer day.

He was tired and fell asleep at the writing desk.





He met a monk on the way with a Taoist beside him.

The Taoist seemed to think and then asked the Monk:





I saw you bring a stupid thing, where are you going?

Without thinking too much the monk blurted out:





Young men and women in love are unable to fulfill their passion.

They vied with each other going to mans world to get married.





They will experience things in the mans world only for pleasure.

Its better to let the stone go with them so as to gain knowledge.





The Taoist was not satisfied and asked questions constantly:

You have an evil chance to undergo disaster in mans world?





The monk laughed and said: Its really interesting and unique.

Near Sansheng Stone on the bank of the western Linghe River,





Theres Jiangzhu grass that has undergone storms.

And Tongling Stone hid itself in the Qinggeng Peak.





A magic stone is to be a servant girl named Shen Ying.

She waters Jiangzhu grass affectionately day and night.





Through self-cultivation Jiangzhu grass became a fairy maiden at last.

She wants to repay the watering grace to Shen Ying and made a vow.





Fairy maiden Ying Huan came here to ask Jiangzhu grass:

Are you willing to go to the mans world to requite favors?





Fairy maiden Jiangzhu said: the magic stone watered me.

Even if the water is not magic water she is till quite kind.





Today she undergoes a disaster and goes to the mans world.

Im willing to go with her to repay favors with tears in my life.





This matter is really curious with many stories coming out.

After hearing all these stories the monk said continuously.





People talk about love but in fact theyre eating forbidden fruit.

They date each other secretly and elope yet this is only a dream.





These infatuated young ones pour out love in the mans world.

Maybe this is a true love but not sweet words coming to naught.





The monk invited the Taoist to make a tour of the mans world.

On after seeing can one know whether a real love exists or not.





The Taoist was extremely delighted and happily said he could go.

He was willing to go with the monk to make a clear observation.





Shiyin did not know what the real meaning of the stupid thing was.

He kept asking the monk constantly and the two ones were smiling.





The monk said nothing about the stone but let him to have a look.

Shiyin took it over and had a look and found that it was a nice jade.





Four characters were carved in the jade with interest and charm.

Lingtong were carved in front side and Baoyu were in back side.





There were still more characters but they were too small to tell.

Shiyin wanted to look carefully but the monk did not allow him.





The monk said it was terrible because Fairy maiden Jinghuan came.

A great sound could be heard clearly and Shiyin was scared to death.





The sweet dream was fully broken he found he was still at home.

The burning sun was shining and the banaca leaves got withered.





The wet nurse came over to him with Ying Lian in her arms.

Taking over Ying Lian Shiyin carried her and walked outside.





Meeting odd things at the door he saw a monk and a Taoist.

With disheveled hair and dirty faces they talked mad things.





The monk saw Ying Lian and then madly cried and yelled immediately.

He said she was out of luck and would hurt her parents sooner or later.





He said Ying Lian was too young and it was better to let him have her.

Shinyin felt strange and hurriedly went back home without hesitation.





The monk laughed and chased him muttering incantations

Be vigilant when fireworks finished after Lantern Festival.





On hearing these Shiyin felt it was quite an ominous omen.

He was going to walk out and ask the reason of this matter.





But the Taoist said to the monk quite unexpectedly:

We can temporarily part without thinking too much.





Wed better do our own things with no need to be in a hurry.

After things are well done Ill go into Moungshan Mountain.





After you find me we can go together.

We make a tour in the Taoxuhuanjing.





The two ones vanished at once after saying that.

Recalling the dream Shiyin cried over split milk.





Who could expect that they were two immortals!

He was very upset because he couldnt find them.





All of a sudden he saw a man going out of the neighbor.

He turned out to be a lodger with the name of Jia Yucun.





Yucun was a scholar in a family declined in wealth and position.

He came here alone and then led a penniless and desolate life.





Running out of travelling expenses he lived in the temple.

He made a living by selling calligraphy and writing articles.





Seeing Shiyin, Yucun stepped over greeting and asking:

Youre leaning on door with any news for me to learn?





With a smiling face Shiyin said that he had no news at all.

He walked out with his daughter only to relieve boredom.





Boring and lonely he couldnt but invite Yucun.

He asked Yucun to sit in his study for a chatting.





A visitor was reported to come and Shiyin left temporarily.

When patiently waiting Yucun read books to kill boredom.





While reading books he found a little girl outside the window.

With a pretty face she picked and inserted a flower in her hair.





Who was the girl? She turned out to be a servant girl of Zhen family.

Picking flowers, she wanted to leave but looked at into the window.





She caught sight of a scholar whose looks were rather uncommon.

With shabby old clothes yet he had a dignified appearance anyway.





The girl looked back and wanted to avoid meeting him.

Yucun delightedly thought she had a mind to love him.





He looked at Zhen Shiyin who was still busy accompanying the visitor.

Waiting for too long a time he felt boring and so sneaked back home.





Just in the night of mid-autumn festival Shiyin entered the temple.

He came to invite Yucun to drink some wine and relieve boredom.





In a state of drunken ecstasy Yucun exclaimed over the dog's life he led.

He had no money to go to the capital to take the imperial examinations.





On hearing it Shiyin had mercy immediately upon Yucun.

He asked the servant boy to take over some relief silver.





The silver summed up to fifty liang with cold protective clothing.

Yuncun felt deeply grateful and left for home already at midnight.





Time passed like flowing water and Lantern Festival came again.

The Zhen Family ordered a family retainer to carry Ying Lian out.





They came out to enjoy the sight of fireworks and festive lanterns.

Seeing the nice scene of flowing light and color they were happy.





It was over mid-night the family retainer went to the toilet.

When he was back a few minutes later a disaster fell down.





Little Ying Lian vanished no one knew her whereabouts.

Shiyin and his wife fretfully looked for her everywhere.





Shiyin did his utmost to look for Ying Lian yet without seeing her at all.

He missed his daughter so deeply that he got sick and fully bedridden.





As the saying goes misfortunes never come singly.

His neighbor caught fire on the fifteenth of March.





The temple turned to dust and ashes and so did Zhen Family.

Shiyin and his wife sadly went to his father-in-law for shelter.





As a scholar how could Shiyin be qualified for management?

His father-in-law Feng Su was good at cheating and bullying.





Deeply missing his daughter Shiyin was too miserable.

He led a hard life with too many problems to deal with.





Meeting bad eggs he deeply regreted and always heaved sighs.

Depression made him seriously sick and to suffer unspeakably.





With the help of a walking stick Shiyin strolled in the street.

Occasionally raising his head Shiyin found a laming Taoist.





Wearing humble clothes, the Taoist was dirty and crazy.

He was muttering incantations in a sorrowful melody





All know immortal is good an only feats-fame are unforgettable.

Where are generals an ministers? Tombsre overgrown by grass.





All know immortal is good an only gold an silver are unforgettable.

Gathering is too little but eyesll close when having much gathering.





All know immortal is good but only the pretty wife is unforgettable.

Say grace everyday when hes alive but go with others on his death.





All know immortal is good and only descendants are unforgettable.

Therere too many infatuated parents yet with too few dutiful sons.





On hearing it Shiyin asked: What did you say?

Just now I only heard you say so many good.





The Taoist answered him very clearly in no hurry.

Its good for you to have heard the word of good.





You must know that countless things exist in the world.

The word of good means finish and finish means good.





If its not to finish and that wont be good.

If you want a good and a finish is needed.





The Taoist isnt so simple he said thats a song of good.

On hearing this Shiyin realized a large church at once.





Floating in the air he followed the Taoist going far away.

On learning this news his wife wailed with great sorrow.





The young servant girl Jiao Xing walked out to buy needles and thread.

She saw the new county magistrate Yucun come to take his new office.





Yucun did not forget grace and entertained the people of Feng Family.

He gave them four pieces of exquisite silk satin with two packs of silver.





The father-in-law of Shiyin received a letter.

Yucun wanted Jiao Xing to be his concubine.





Who was this Little Jiao Xing? She was the then servant girl.

He didnt forget she once picked flower outside the window.





Yucun parted with Shiyin years ago to take the imperial examination.

Chosen as Jinshi he was the new county head with power in hand.





But Shiyin was not here and Ying Lian disappeared.

Heaving a sigh he was laden with great anxiety now.





Unexpectedly Jiao Yucun had all his goods in the window.

He couldnt enjoy popular support because of corruption.





His term of office was less than a year and was dismissed.

It seemed that he had nothing wrong but he felt ashamed.





He left his post and sent the property to his native place.

He had a travel faraway and disappeared from the scene.






As India approaches three years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance, his first real game-changer mission - 'Swachh Bharat (Clean India)' - is turning out to be something of a genuine success.

By making India's cities go toe-to-toe to become the top-ranked 'cleanest' city, Modi's mission has become an innovative way to bring in 'a healthy competition among cities vying for urban planning'.

In the first of its kind, a Swachh Bharat Mission survey compiled by the Union urban development ministry in 434 cities, the results indicate a fresh interest among planners and civic body managers in various cities to get rid of the usual 'dirty picture' and showcase a clean image.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wields the broom during a surprise visit to the Mandir Marg Police Station after launch of 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' in New Delhi

Interestingly, the survey unveiled by Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu puts Indore as the cleanest and New Delhi (Lutyens Zone) among the top 10 clean cities in India.

In Delhi's backyard, Faridabad has emerged as a fast mover among big cities.

While Uttar Pradesh's most iconic landmark - Varanasi has taken a quantum leap in Swachh Bharat rankings - from 418 in 2014 to 32 in 2017, as many as 25 of its cities rank among 50 worst places in terms of cleanliness.

Perhaps, new chief minister Yogi Adityanath has a task already at hand to clear the state of 'dirty picture tag'.

Naidu told Mail Today, 'Indore is the cleanest with Bhopal another one in top 10 making Madhya Pradesh second to Gujarat, which are the top movers and shakers.

Closely following these two states are Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for having significantly improved their rankings from that of the survey conducted in 2014.

About 12 cities of Gujarat, 11 of MP and eight from Andhra Pradesh are among the top 50 clean cities.' Naidu added, 'All the cities surveyed in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand have substantially improved their rankings over that of 2016 and 2014.

Besides Indore, the top 10 included Bhopal, Visakhapatnam, Surat, Mysuru, Tiruchirapally, NDMC, Navi Mumbai, Vadodara and Chandigarh.'

'Such is the mission interest among the cities and the stiff competition that some cities have taken a slide from their earlier rankings despite no fall in sanitation standard.

'Mysuru, for example, came down to fifth place this year, but there is no decline in sanitation standards.

'The next two years are crucial. We all need to remind ourselves that a resurgent New India cannot be imagined without hygiene,' he further said.

And the mission has significantly boosted the tourism image of India abroad and within the country, claimed Union tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma.

'When PM Modi gave the first call for Swachh Bharat Mission in his speech from Red Fort and talked about clean toilets and improving sanitation, a beginning was made by the top leadership, which was earlier not even thought of.

'His consistent thrust on cleanliness around historic monuments, public places and landmark cities, including heritage places like Varanasi, Mathura, Agra and Lucknow have worked in changing public view about our tourist places,' he said.

No wonder, India has improved its position by 12 places in the global travel and tourism competitive index. Modi's own constituency of Varanasi is a revelation, but not without collective planning and 24/7 monitoring by officials of all ranks.

'We took it as a challenge after our ranking in 2014 showed us at 418. We made an action plan and listed the gaps, which were many - lack of community toilets, dustbins, garbage dumpers to defunct solid waste plants.

'We started with door-to-door garbage collection, roped in private parties and launched a Swachh Bharat App, which had received thousands of complaints from locals and tourists on which we respond at the earliest.

'Garbage should not be visible is the simple mission we have in mind and that helped in this year's ranking,' said Nitin Gokaran, Varanasi's development commissioner.

'Naidu, however, cautioned states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab and Kerala to 'substantially step up efforts to improve sanitation-standards in urban areas'.

India can now see and smell just how dirty Delhi has become

India's capital Delhi is behind other metropolitan areas and even tier II cities in Modi's mission for a clean India.

Not-with-standing the emphasis on Swachh Bharat, the civic bodies in the country's power capital have finished poorly in the government's cleanliness ranking announced on Thursday.

In the Swachh Bharat reckoning of 434 cities for 2016-17, areas coming under the three municipal corporations are at a low - the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) at 196, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) at 202 and North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) at 279.

A view of five-star Taj Mansingh hotel in New Delhi

The Delhi Cantonment Board is ranked at 172, while the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area, which houses the country's power corridors and was the only corner of Delhi high up in the survey results, has slipped to seventh from the fourth position last year.

In 2016, out of 73 cities, areas under the north, south and east Delhi municipal corporations had finished at 43rd, 39th and 52nd positions respectively.

The 2017 survey also has a category of '72 million plus cities' in which the position of EDMC has slightly improved to 45th from the 52nd slot last year (for this population category).

The north corporation, in the '72 million plus cities' category has fallen to 65th from 43rd position while the SDMC has dropped to 47th from 39th slot last year.

The NDMC area had ranked 15th in the 2014 survey of 476 towns and cities.

The capital's pricey Lutyens' Zone falls in the area administered by the council, which has bungalows of Union ministers and parliamentarians. Many top industrialists also stay in the area.

Parliament House, buildings of all the ministries, the Supreme Court, the high court and residences of Supreme Court and high court judges, senior bureaucrats and senior military officers are in also in NDMC areas.

The urban development ministry had commissioned the survey for 434 cities and towns with population of one lakh and above in January and February this year.

West Bengal did not participate in the survey. The first survey in 2014 was launched before the announcement of Swachh Bharat Mission in October 2014.

The last survey was conducted in 2016 which covered 73 cities with over 10 lakh population each and capital cities.
The badlands of Najafgarh have taken a turn for the worse as a new breed of trigger-happy and tech-savvy mobsters are ready to spill blood and drop bodies at the slightest provocation.

The battle for supremacy over large swathes of turf in the national capital region has led to a spate of bloody gang wars over the past two decades.

Residents of the Jat-dominated Mitraon and Dichaon Kalan villages, just 2km apart in Najafgarh, have borne the brunt of the feuding factions.

Sonu alias Satyawan (below) is wanted in several cases of extortion & murder, including killing of rival gangster Bhupendra (above)

Satyawan alias Sonu is alleged to be one of the new stars on the horizon of the Capital's underworld.

On Sunday night, his gang allegedly gunned down rival Bhupindra alias Monu Dariyapur who was out on parole and was travelling with police protection in outer Delhi's Mianwali Nagar area.

Satyawan alias Sonu is alleged to be one of the new stars on the horizon of the Capital's underworld

An assistant sub-inspector was also killed in the attack.

The two gangsters were buddies but they fell out after Monu married Sonu's cousin.

Since the bride and groom were from the same area and gotra (clan), elders considered them siblings.

Sonu had threatened Monu years ago and once earlier tried to kill him and his wife.

Cops are also trying to determine if this was a case of so-called 'honour' killing.

Satyawan alias Sonu gunned down rival Bhupindra alias Monu Dariyapu in outer Delhis Mianwali Nagar. Police are probing if this was honour killing since Monu had married Sonus cousin.

Meanwhile, Sonu has remained out of clutches of police force so far. Law enforcement sources say the younger crop of mobsters is difficult to keep tabs on as the bandits don't follow any set modus operandi.

They often communicate through WhatsApp calls and messages, and even Skype.

These apps are often encrypted and make it harder for police to track their movement.

While Mitraon is the stronghold of the Anoop-Balraj gang, Dichaon Kalan is dominated by the Krishan Pehalwan gang.

Disputes over territory were previously the main trigger for clashes, but now other considerations have entered the equation.

Like Sonu and Monu, Balraj and Krishan Pehalwan were friends till the mid 1990s, and they collected commission or protection money from municipal contractors.

But then Balraj was jailed in a murder case. After his release, he tried to recover his clout and threatened Pehalwan, who by then had formed his own gang.

The two then became sworn enemies and their gangs turned bitter rivals. In 1998, Pehalwan gunned down Balraj and a close aide.

The two gangsters were buddies but they fell out after Monu married Sonu's cousin (pictured - Bhupendra)

In 2015, Pehalwan's younger brother, Bharat Singh, who was the Najafgarh MLA at the time, was killed by a gang led by Udaiveer Singh of Dichaon Kalan.

Cops believe Pehalwan and Udaiveer had an enmity over land, which had led to the killings of Udaiveer's father and brother in 2007.

Locals say lack of education and insufficient job opportunities prompt youths from the area to join gangs.

Sonu is wanted in cases of robbery, extortion, murder, and carries a reward of Rs1 lakh. Among other criminals from the neighbourhood who are on police's most-wanted list is Ashok Gahlot.

He has been booked in several cases of murder and carries a bounty of Rs 50,000. Ashok extorts money from businessmen and operates in southwest delhi.

Deepak Dabas has seen a meteoric rise in the Neeraj Bawana gang. The 37-year-old, who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, escaped from police custody last year while cops were taking him to Sonipat for a court hearing.

He then went on a crime spree but was arrested three months later in north Delhi's Burari area.

Sources say the gangs also utilise their members lodged in prison by providing them cellphones, sim cards and other forms of support as the inmates can stay under the radar of cops searching for mobsters out on the streets.
A crackdown by authorities on WhatsApp groups in the Kashmir Valley has left separatist and militant outfits stuck between a rock and a hard-up place.

While their efforts to communicate with each other and contact supporters through the instant messaging cellphone application have been thwarted, the funds they received from their Pakistan-based administrators on the basis of the memberships they gather for these WhatsApp groups have also taken a hit, say sources.

Last month, local police along with the central intelligence agencies had carried out a massive onslaught on the members and administrators of close to 300 such groups for spreading misinformation about Indian forces and gathering stone-pelters at encounter sites to hinder operations.

A masked Government Polytechnic student throwing stones on police personnel during clashes which erupted after a protest rally against the police action on students in the Kashmir Valley in which dozens of students were injured, at Gooji Bagh in Srinagar

A crackdown by authorities on WhatsApp groups in the Kashmir Valley has left separatist and militant outfits stuck between a rock and a hard-up place

'Every locality in the Valley had three to four WhatsApp groups for coordinating with the local youth as the social media application has a restriction that a maximum of 256 members can be there in one group,' sources in Jammu and Kashmir said.

According to officials, the groups were given numbers: for instance, in Langate locality of the valley, the four groups operated were named Langate 1, Langate 2, etc.

'More active members were placed in the main group and would be paid around Rs 7,000-Rs 8,000 for gathering people and actively motivating the others in the locality for joining them while the ordinary members would be paid around six to seven thousand rupees for doing the job,' they said.

Young boys took to throwing stones in mass demonstrations that rocked Kashmir Valley in 2008 and 2010.

Since then, it has become a popular way for youths to express their anger against the government, and authorities have been constantly looking to stamp out any repeat.

The Valley has seen a ban on social media that will last for a month

The administrators of the WhatsApp groups, more than half of whom were Pakistanis, were able to monitor the activities of the group members sitting in faraway locations and also marked their presence on locations through the groups only.

'With the closure of these groups and ban on internet services in the state, gathering of stone-pelters has been slowed down to a large extent and their payments have also been adversely affected,' the sources said.

After the social media crackdown, the state home department headed by chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also ordered a ban on internet services in Kashmir Valley for one month.

The sites that were blocked include Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, QQ, WeChat, Qzone, Tumblr, Google+, Baidu, Skype, Viber, Line, Snapchat, Pinterest, Telegram and Reddit.

WhatsApp groups have become preferred options for terrorists and separatists to gather stone-pelters against security forces as well as hinder operations against militants in different localities.

'With no internet services, the speed of mobilisation has been slowed down drastically as earlier they were gathering at sites more than 10 kilometres away in no time and would pelt stones in large numbers,' the sources said.

Stone-pelting on security forces near the encounter sites has been causing major operational problems for the law enforcing agencies over the past year.

More than half a dozen youths have been killed in such incidents in the first quarter of 2017.

Stone-pelting on security forces near the encounter sites has been causing major operational problems for the law enforcing agencies over the past year

Social media applications have become a big tool of spreading misinformation about Indian forces and government in Kashmir as morphed pictures of police atrocities on locals and videos are spread to instigate local youth, say sources.

Organising the youth in no time and giving them directions to reach nearby places was getting easier through WhatsApp, but the crackdown has hit the momentum hard.

Last month, Pakistan-based WhatsApp groups were also found circulating fake videos purportedly showing Indian Army personnel assaulting and abusing local Kashmiri youth for pelting stones, forcing the Army headquarters in Delhi to issue a denial.
Marks & Spencer has made its second senior hire this week in Archie Norman.

Marks & Spencer shares jumped 5 per cent this morning, as its second top-level hire of the week was revealed - with the signing up industry veteran Archie Norman to be its new chairman.

Norman has held a string of senior roles in Britain's big businesses, most notably being chief executive at Asda, from 1991 until 1999.

He will join former Halfords boss Jill McDonald, who M&S announced on Wednesday would run its struggling clothing division.

Investors have responded well today, but M&S shares have been in favour since the end of February, with the share price up about 15 per cent to 377.5p.

So is this the start of the long-awaited turnaround for shareholders?

'The second high-profile appointment has been particularly well received, with Archie Norman's reputation having been strongly enhanced by association during the ITV recovery story', says Richard Hunter, of Wilson King Investment Management.

'Although the food part of the Marks & Spencer has been outperforming for some years, the general merchandise unit has been extremely difficult to galvanise, and M&S is clearly hoping that these management changes will help revitalise the fortunes  and, indeed, the image  of its troubled clothing ranges.'

Why are investors cheered by Archie Norman?

Rumours of Archie Norman's arrival have been circling the City for some time, as we reported in March.

His reputation was forged at Asda, where Norman is widely credited with being key to the company's turnaround as it went from being in financial trouble to one of the 'big four' UK supermarket chains.

He has held roles at retailer Kingfisher, investment bank Lazard and craft retailer Hobbycraft, and is a former MP, representing the Conservatives in Tunbridge Wells in the 1990's.

Norman's other very high profile job was as chairman of ITV, a role he relinquished last year, and another in which he was credited with leading a turnaround - this time with Adam Crozier, the former FA chief executive.

Norman will start his M&S job on 1 September succeeding Robert Swannell, who will retire from the board on that date. Swannell had said in December he would retire in 2017, having served six years in the role.

'Having conducted a very rigorous appointment process, it was clear to us that Archie was the best person to be chairman,' said Vindi Banga, M&S' senior independent director.

Norman said: 'I am looking forward to taking on the role of the chairmanship of Marks & Spencer as the business under Steve Rowe's leadership faces into the considerable challenges ahead in a rapidly changing retail landscape.'

M&S shares have shot up about 15% from their levels at the start of March

Zoom out on the share chart, however, and it is clear why investors are hoping for better

What next for M&S shares?

Investors have responded well to Norman's appointment and also liked what they saw earlier this week, when another senior appointment was revealed.

That was the news on Wednesday that Marks & Spencer had hired Halfords boss Jill McDonald to run its struggling clothing division. She filled the role left by Steve Rowe when he became chief executive.

Reviving the stores' fortunes will be a tough gig and the key to this will be making the rest of the business perform as well as the food section has done.

Shares are up substantially from when rumours of Norman's appointment began, but zoom out on the charts, however, and M&S' share price performance looks less impressive.

While shares have bounced 19 per cent off their recent lows of just under 320p last summer, they are down substantially on the 580p that they stood at two years ago.

Shareholders who bought in at that recent peak would currently be nursing a 35 per cent loss.

At the moment, M&S shares are trading at a similar level to where they were at the end of 2009, as markets were reviving themselves from their slump in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

Since December 2009, the FTSE 100 has risen by 34 per cent, while M&S shares are flat, albeit with a sizeable spike in the middle of that period.

Share data website Stockopedia shows M&S shares trading on a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12.4, putting broadly in the middle of the retail field, while the shares yield a chunky 5.3 per cent.

Signs under new boss Steve Row have been promising with M&S reporting improved market share in clothing and home for the first time in seven years after Christmas. He has already taken drastic action by scrapping more than 500 head office jobs and slimmed down layers of senior management.

Investors will be hoping that Archie Norman can help get profits moving, the valuation re-rated, and shares back on an upwards trajectory towards where they once were.

'The man who shook up M&S's foods business so effectively seems to be assembling an all-star cast for the planned turnaround, and as is always the case with M&S clothing will be the main area of focus,' noted Hargreaves Lansdown's Nicholas Hyett.

'Recent trading in the division has actually been slightly better than many had expected and Jill McDonald is a sensible, if somewhat surprising, choice to take on the baton. A bit of McDonald's marketing zip is exactly what M&S's dowdy clothing offer needs.'

'We also think she's done pretty well at Halfords  certainly the focus on upskilling the workforce there suggests she understands the need for high street retailers to offer something their online competitors can't.'

'Archie Norman is obviously a very high profile appointment, and he was at pains in his comment accompanying today's announcement to make it clear that Steve Rowe remains firmly at the helm,' Hyett continued. 'However, it would be a big surprise if the man who turned around Asda in the 90s, and oversaw ITV's expansion into content creation, didn't want to get his hands dirty.'
A turnaround king and former Tory MP has been appointed as chairman of Marks & Spencer.

Archie Norman, credited with saving Asda from bankruptcy, will take over from Robert Swannell, who retires on September 1.

Norman, 63, has also been chairman of ITV and fund manager Lazard London.

Retail hero: M&S' new CEO Archie Norman is credited with saving Asda from bankruptcy

He marks the latest change to the top team at the retailer, where struggling clothes sales have dented profits.

This week M&S poached Halfords boss Jill McDonald, 52, to run its struggling clothing business. Chief executive Steve Rowe, 49, took over last year.

Cambridge graduate Norman joined then-struggling retailer Asda in 1991 and sold it eight years later to WalMart for 6.7bn.

He was chief executive of the Tory party and MP for Tunbridge Wells for eight years, stepping down in 2005.

In November Marks and Spencer announced a wide-ranging restructure amid falling profits.

Rowe announced that he would shut 53 stores across ten international markets.

Clive Black, retail analyst at Shore Capital, said: Mr Norman is a formidable appointment.
The oil price has fallen nearly 20 per cent in less than four weeks on the back of a drilling boom in the United States.

Crude dropped as low as $46.64 a barrel in London yesterday  its lowest level since November  having been trading above $56 in mid-April.

It later recovered but remained below $50 as hedge funds and other speculators abandoned bets on future oil price rises.

Dropping: The oil price has fallen nearly 20%

We have well and truly entered the capitulation stage, said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

Thursday was one of the busiest ever days for oil trading globally with options on 520m barrels changing hands as prices tumbled.

This weeks sell-off  described as extremely violent by oil analyst Olivier Jakob at Petromatrix  sparked claims that fuel prices are not falling fast enough on petrol forecourts across the UK.

Supermarket Morrisons said it was cutting prices by another 2p a litre having already reduced diesel by 2p and unleaded by 1p earlier in the week.

The RAC welcomed the move but added that many petrol stations are guilty of rocket and feather pricing where fuel prices rise like a rocket when the oil price goes up but fall like a feather when the oil price goes down.

Supermarket Morrisons said it was cutting prices by another 2p a litre

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: The unwillingness to cut further and faster this week sadly is proof that rocket and feather pricing does exist and motorists are being ripped off at the pumps. Motorists deserve to be treated fairly.

A surge in production in the US, driven by drillers flocking to American shale basins, at a time of subdued global demand has sent the oil price tumbling in recent weeks.

Investors are particularly worried about slowing Chinese demand as shale output in the US soars.

US oil production has risen by 840,000 barrels a day since last October to 9.3m barrels, with output up by 28,000 barrels a day in the final week of April, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The US Energy Department expects production to hit 9.7m barrels a day in 2018  breaking the record set in 1970.

Figures from industry experts Baker Hughes show the number of oil rigs operating in the US has more than doubled in the last year, rising by 450 to 870.

Stressed: Speculators betting on rising oil prices have thrown in the towel after awful few days on oil market

The rig count in Canada has also risen, by 48 to 85, but it is down by 42 to 943 in the rest of the world.

The surge in production in North America has overshadowed efforts by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq to limit production by its members in order to prop up prices.

Opec member Libya resumed production from its largest field last week, adding more than 200,000 barrels a day to its production.

The cartel is plotting to extend the agreement reached in November to cut production beyond June as the US floods the market with cheap oil from the shale revolution.

Star oil trader Pierre Andurand, who runs hedge fund Andurand Capital, recently predicted that the price of crude would rise to $70 a barrel this year.

But having suffered heavy losses betting on rising prices, he has now reduced his exposure to oil, according to Reuters.

The 1.2bn Andurand Commodities Fund lost 11.6 per cent of its value in the first quarter of the year having delivered gains of 22 per cent last year.

Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said speculators betting on rising oil prices have thrown in the towel after an awful few days on the oil market.

He added: The rout increases the pressure on both Opec and non-Opec members to try and agree something if only to try and put a floor under prices.
A former Weather Underground radical who was denied parole on April 21 said the decision was 'communally painful' for fellow prisoners.

Judith Clark said other inmates had 'connected their sense of hope' to her, in an interview with The New York Times published Wednesday.

Clark only became eligible for parole after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo shortened her prison sentence from 75 years to 35 years following a meeting with her in December.

Clark drove the getaway vehicle during a 1981 armored car robbery that led to the deaths of Peter Paige, a Brink's guard, and Sergeant Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly Brown of the suburban Nyack Police Department in New York.

Clark is escorted by police in New York on November 24, 1981

'People here want to believe that ... what we do wrong matters, and that what we do right matters,' Clark said, at the maximum security Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.

'They had connected their sense of hope to me.'

About 10,000 people had signed a petition urging that parole be denied for Clark, who had told the court in 1983 that, 'Revolutionary violence is necessary.'

'I thought of myself as a symbol of revolutionary fervor and commitment,' she said this week. 'I didn't think about my child. I didn't think about the families sitting in that courtroom. Because it was all about symbols, and not people.'

Clark is shown here in police custody in Nanuet, New York on October 21, 1981

Cuomo, who met her in prison before making his December commutation decision, said Clark had made 'exceptional strides in self-development.'

'It was a hard political decision,' Mr. Cuomo said, speaking about the order for commutation of Clark's sentence at a funeral for Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin in March, as quoted by The New York Times.

'I could hear Jimmys voice saying, "She made a mistake  we all do. She learned, she paid the price, she spent her life in a cage, and she is now different. Jesus would pardon her. Who the hell made you better than Jesus?"'

She also was visited twice by Steven McDonald, the late New York Police Department officer who devoted his life to peace after forgiving the teenage gunman who paralyzed him in 1986.

This front page of the Chicago Police Department Daily Bulletin issued April 9, 1970 shows Clark (bottom, 2nd from L) among seven other radical activists who were wanted at the time

The parole board commended Clark's accomplishments behind bars, but declared in April that she is 'still a symbol of violent and terroristic crime.'

Clark has been a chaplain's assistant; an educator for prisoners with AIDS; a leader of prenatal and newborn classes; and a trainer of dogs used by veterans and law enforcement.

'... I try to reckon with the fact that I am responsible for those people dying,' Clark said. 'I am someone who once believed in violence and now believes in respecting human life.'

The Weather Underground Organization was near the top of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Most Wanted List in the late 1960s and early 1970s for their use of dynamite bombs and other violent means to protest war policies, racial unfairness and corporate greed.

Clark's next parole hearing is scheduled for April 2019.
The Iraqi army has launched a 'final push' to defeat ISIS in Mosul - five months after it was supposed to have retaken the key 'caliphate' stronghold.

Troops opened up a new front from the north yesterday in a bid to drive the last remaining extremists from Iraq's second city.

The massive offensive to retake Mosul, involving some 30,000 Iraqi troops, was launched in October and Iraqi leaders originally pledged that Mosul would be retaken before 2017.

But the operation has been delayed by months with ISIS using civilians as a human shield and launching deadly car bomb counter attacks. Up to 400,000 residents are now trapped in the Old City amid fierce fighting, according to the UN.

The Iraqi army has launched a 'final push' to defeat ISIS in Mosul - five months after it was supposed to have retaken the key 'caliphate' stronghold. A huge tower of smoke was seen during clashes at the frontline in the north west of the city this morning

Troops opened up a new front from the north yesterday in a bid to drive the last remaining extremists from Iraq's second city

The massive offensive to retake Mosul, involving some 30,000 Iraqi troops, was launched in October and Iraqi leaders originally pledged that Mosul would be retaken before 2017. Displaced residents were pictured fleeing from their homes today

Iraqi soldiers are now attacking from the north of Mosul in a bid to drive ISIS out of the city's western districts. Elite forces are pushing up from the south

The northern city is where Iraq-born ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - who has urged his men to defend Mosul to the death - made his only public appearance in 2014.

The front lines in western Mosul have inched forward for months as ISIS fighters have used a claustrophobic battle space and hundreds of thousands of civilians as human shields to slow Iraqi troops.

On the southern edge of Mosul's west, Iraq's federal police are just a few hundred meters (yards) from Mosul's al-Nuri mosque.

The mosque is a hugely symbolic prize as it is where al-Baghdadi made his rare public appearance in July 2014.

But the building lies inside Mosul's old city where some of the toughest fighting is expected to unfold due to the narrow streets, according to coalition officials. Iraqi forces now appear to be moving to surround the old city before launching an operation to clear it.

The fight for Mosul's west has been slow and deadly to Iraqi forces and civilians caught in the crossfire. The battle is believed to have left 774 Iraqi security forces dead and 4,600 wounded. Iraq's military does not release casualty information for its forces.

Smoke is seen as members of the Iraqi Army clash with ISIS fighters at a frontline in north west Mosul

Troops opened up a new front from the north yesterday in a bid to drive the last remaining extremists from Iraq's second city. Am Iraqi soldier is pictured in the besieged Old City area of Mosul

Mosul residents were pictured fleeing from their homes as Iraqi forces advanced into western areas of the city today

The latest assault is aimed at sealing the siege of the Old City, where die-hard jihadists holding huge numbers of civilians hostage are preparing for a bloody last stand.

The army is moving in from the north in an attempt to meet up with elite Counter-Terrorism Service and Federal Police troops advancing from the south.

Forces from the army, the interior ministry and the police had 'began breaching the western side from the north,' the Joint Operations Command (JOC) coordinating the war against ISIS said in a statement.

'Now your sons are fighting and striking the enemy's defences... They rejoice in victory or martyrdom for the sake of liberating the rest of the city of Mosul from Daesh (ISIS) terrorists,' it said.

The JOC said the targets of the latest push were northwestern neighbourhoods on the edges of Mosul called Musharifah, Kanisah and Al-Haramat.

The federal police issued a statement confirming the new operation, which comes after a relative lull in fighting around the Old City where most remaining jihadists are believed to be holed up.

It said Iraqi forces had already captured a small outlying village called Hsunah and a nearby gas factory.

The army is moving in from the north in an attempt to meet up with elite Counter-Terrorism Service and Federal Police troops advancing from the south

The fight for Mosul's west has been slow and deadly to Iraqi forces and civilians caught in the crossfire

A member of the Iraqi security forces sits in the courtyard of a house on the front line in Mosul's Old City earlier this week

Thursday's operation opens a new front in the effort to wrest back west Mosul from ISIS which started in mid-February and saw thousands of Iraqi forces retake most southern and western neighbourhoods.

An advance from the north will eventually leave the jihadists completely trapped in the narrow streets of the Old City, albeit with a large civilian population they have been using as human shields.

The United Nations said up to 400,000 people might be trapped in the densely populated Old City, which lies just west of the Tigris River that divides Mosul.

The Iraqi immigration ministry said this week that the number of people who were displaced since the start of the offensive on Mosul on October 17 had topped 600,000.

The vast majority of them fled homes on the west side of the Tigris, where the fighting has been more intense than in east Mosul, which was declared retaken by the government in January.

Of the more than 120,000 people displaced from east Mosul, the ministry said only 42,000 were still in camps.

The recapture of Mosul by the Iraqi security forces would deal a death blow to the 'caliphate' ISIS proclaimed over large parts of Syria and Iraq nearly three years ago.

The recapture of Mosul by the Iraqi security forces would deal a death blow to the 'caliphate' ISIS proclaimed over large parts of Syria and Iraq nearly three years ago

Of the more than 120,000 people displaced from east Mosul, authorities said only 42,000 were still in camps

The Iraqi immigration ministry said this week that the number of people who were displaced since the start of the offensive on Mosul on October 17 had topped 600,000. An Iraqi girl displaced by the fighting carries water at a camp in Hammam al-Alil

It would represent a major symbolic setback for the group whose unprecedented experiment in jihadist statehood was heralded by the conquest of Mosul in June 2014.

According to the authorities, ISIS now controls less than seven per cent of Iraq, down from more than a third of the national territory in 2014.

The jihadists have in recent days carried out diversionary attacks against security forces from their desert hideouts in the western province of Anbar.

At least 26 members of the army, police, tribal forces and border guard died in the attacks but the jihadists' 'state' has looked doomed for months.

Observers have warned that, with other anti-ISIS forces also pressing a major offensive on their last major Syrian bastion of Raqqa, the jihadists could increasingly revert to guerrilla tactics and bombings of civilian targets.
The woman who Barack Obama proposed to  twice - before he met Michelle was seen quietly getting on with academic life this week after revelations about their relationship emerged in a new presidential biography.

Sheila Miyoshi Jager, 53, appeared in good spirits as she walked with a female friend on the campus of liberal arts Oberlin College where she is a professor of East Asian studies.

Jager revealed she was the former presidents first love in Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama by Pulitzer prize-winning biographer David J. Garrow.

She shared secrets of their relationship including that she continued to see Obama on and off for at least a year after he met the First Lady.

I always felt bad about it, Jager told Garrow.

Jager, 53, associate professor and director of the East Asian program at Oberlin College in Ohio, is the woman who Barack Obama proposed to  twice - before he met Michelle

Jagr was seen quietly getting on with academic life this week after revelations about their relationship emerged in a new presidential biography

She shared secrets of their relationship including that she continued to see Obama on and off for at least a year after he met the First Lady. I always felt bad about it, Jager told Garrow

Jager and husband Jiyul Kim. a Korean-American who served in the military and is now a professor at Oberlin

Even after Obama began dating Michelle, he continued to see Sheila throughout the 1990-91 academic year

Her husband, Jiyul Kim, said that his wife did not wish to speak about the book when contacted by DailyMail.com at their home.

Jager, who is of Dutch and Japanese descent, received her Ph.D in anthropology from the University of Chicago, where she was studying in the mid '80's when she met Barack Obama, then a community organizer.

The couple dated for a couple of years and met each others families before splitting up.

Yet Jager was almost entirely omitted from Obama's own biography, Dreams of My Father, where she was simply combined with his other white exes into one character.

According to Rising Star she played a huge role in Obama's formative years. So much so that even after Barack met his wife-to-be Michelle, he kept seeing Jager on and off for at least a year, the book claims.

The couple were very much in love in the late-1980s when they were living together in Chicago, according to Jager, who described them as being 'an island unto ourselves.'

They even had a cat together named Max.

Their relationship quickly progressed and in the winter of 1986, while visiting Sheila's parents, Barack popped the question, Jager told Garrow.

But Jager's parents were concerned that she was too young - Jager was 23 and Obama was 25 - and she had to turn down his proposal.

They remained together, and Jager began to realize her then-boyfriend's 'deep-seated need to be loved and admired.'

Jager told Garrow that Obama became 'so very ambitious very suddenly.'

'I remember very clearly when this transformation happened, and I remember very specifically that by 1987, about a year into our relationship, he already had his sights on becoming president.'

But Obama believed he needed to 'fully identify as African American' to fulfill his political ambitions - and believed that having a non-black spouse could damage his prospects, according to the book.

This reportedly put pressure on Obama's relationship with Jager who is of Dutch and Japanese heritage.

Kim, 59, served in the U.S. Army for three decades and was on duty at the Pentagon during 9/11

By the time he was getting set to leave for Harvard Law School, their relationship was rocky.

But Obama was not ready to give up on Jager, and proposed to her for a second time - asking her to join him in Harvard.

Again Jager turned him down.

She believed that his proposal was 'out of a sense of desperation over our eventual parting and not in any real faith in our future.'

According to Garrow, Obama made emotional judgments on political grounds. A close mutual friend of the couple recalls Obama being concerned about running for president with a white wife.

Friends recall a summer weekend trip to Madison, Wisconsin around this time when there was 'unusual tension' between the couple.

Related one of their friends: 'it's the summer...these houses are old. You'd die if you closed the windows.

'They went back and forth, having sex, screaming yelling, having sex, screaming yelling.'

Sheila could be heard yelling: 'That's wrong! That's wrong! That's not a reason.'

Obama cared for her, Garrow writes, 'yet he felt trapped between the woman he loved and the destiny he knew was his.'

'Barack's political destiny meant that he and Sheila could not have a long-tern future together, no matter how deeply they loved each other.'

But she refused to accept his rationale, writes the author, the fact that it was ultimately her race that would prevent them from being together.

In the days before Barack left Chiacgo for Harvard the couple joined friends Jerry and Kellman for a farewell dinner. They had a question for their friends.

'Could you please keep the cat?,' they asked.

The Kellmans agreed to give Max a home, Sheila explaining to the author, 'Barack was not sad to give Max away.'

The book claims that Barack kept on seeing Jager for the first year he was dating Michelle - in the 1990-91 academic year- but said it stopped after the couple married in 1992.

Garrow claims that Jager and Barack continued to see each other on and off after she arrived at Harvard for a teaching fellowship. Garrow describes Obamas as having 'two powerful, overlapping relationships'

The professor has lived quietly in the pretty college town of Oberlin, Ohio for the past 20 years. She is married to retired Army veteran, Col. Jiyul Kim, who is also a professor at Oberlin specializing in military history in East Asia and U.S. foreign policy.

It is also possible that Obama cheated on Jager with an Hispanic single mother of three he had met through his work as a 'community organizer'.Garrow says that Mary Ellen 'Lena' Montes became an 'intimate friend'.

She was a divorced young mother who had become a prominent activist in Chicago.

In the August after Obama first moved to Chicago, Jager visited her family and he spent time with Lena.

'Obama would remember some intense making-out,' Garrow writes, 'while Lena explained: 'I'm a passionate person.''

After he moved in with Jager, Lena had the impression that it was 'because of convenience'.

Indeed, her existence may have precipitated his split from Jager, as Garrow recalls how after an argument, she found Obama's journal under his bed and looked through it.

She was upset about 'someone' in the journal, Lena recalled later - although Lena did not know if she was the person Jager was upset about.

'I just remember him saying that she was leaving... because of this journal,' Lena said.

According to Rising Star, by David J. Garrow, (left) Jager (right) played a huge role in Obama's formative years

Regardless of whether he was faithful to Jager, Obama went to law school then met Michelle. The couple quickly fell for each other and began dating.

But Garrow claims that Jager and Barack continued to see each other on and off after she arrived at Harvard for a teaching fellowship. Garrow describes Obamas as having 'two powerful, overlapping relationships'.

'I always felt bad about it,' Jager said.

After Barack and Michelle married in 1992, Jager says that they stopped seeing each other and their contact was limited to the odd letter or phone call.

Sheila had met a 33-year-old Korean-American graduate student and U.S. Army office Jiyul Kim from Boston.

'Sheila's relationship with Jiyul quickly began to blossom just as Barack's final weeks of law school approached,' Garrow writes.

'Sheila's relationship with Jiyul quickly began to blossom just as Barack's final weeks of law school approached,' Garrow writes

Sheila told the author, 'As much as I loved him [Barack] I was relieved when our paths finally parted.'

She added, 'I traveled to some really dark places during that period of my life.'

Jager is a sought-after expert on the Korean peninsula and has written a number of books on the subject.

The professor has lived quietly in the pretty college town of Oberlin, Ohio for the past 20 years. She is married to retired Army veteran, Col. Jiyul Kim, who is also a professor at Oberlin specializing in military history in East Asia and U.S. foreign policy.

Kim, 59, served in the U.S. Army for three decades and was on duty at the Pentagon during 9/11.

The couple have three children. Their eldest son, Isaac, 23, graduated from West Point military academy last year, according to social media, while their daughter, Hannah, 21, attends Oberlin College.

The Obamas have not publicly responded to the claims in the book.
Tragic hen party newlywed Kirsty Maxwell was in the holiday suite where she plunged 100ft to her death for just 40 seconds, it is claimed.

She entered the apartment seemingly looking for her friends and before falling from the tenth floor balcony, the Briton arrested has told police.

Joseph Graham, 32, claims 'disorientated' Mrs Maxwell climbed over the hotel balcony deliberately and jumped towards the swimming pool because she misjudged the height.

He told detectives the 27-year-old, from Livingston, near Edinburgh, said nothing as she walked through the first open door to the bathroom before making her way to the Juliette style balcony with sliding doors.

Reliving the ordeal, Mr Graham told police of the moment he realised Mrs Maxwell had fallen and screamed: 'She's jumped'.

Tragic: Kirsty Maxwell, pictured right on another hen trip to Benidorm, died when she fell from a tenth floor balcony at the Apartamentos Payma hotel in Costa Blanca at 8am on Saturday

Death plunge: Mrs Maxwell, second from left, was in the hotel room where she fell 100ft to her death for just 40 seconds, a British man arrested over the incident has told police

Homicide probe: Mrs Maxwell, pictured left on another hen-do, had gone to the flat early on Saturday morning, seemingly to find her friends, Briton Joseph Graham, 32, has said

Newlywed: Mr Graham, said Mrs Maxwell, pictured in a white veil at her own hen party, searched the apartment in silence before she fell from the tenth floor balcony in Benidorm

Couple: Mrs Maxwell, from Livingston, in West Lothian, Scotland, married husband Adam in September last year. Adam, pictured, paid tribute to his 'beautiful' wife as he thanked people for raising 30,000 to fly her body home from Spain

The source said one of the other four British men in the apartment called for help when they saw her body lying near the pool at the Apartamentos Payma hotel in Costa Blanca at 8am on Saturday.

Mrs Maxwell, who only wed husband Adam eight months ago, died instantly after falling 100ft to her death.

CCTV footage, now in the hands of the police, captured her landing a few metres from the small swimming pool.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, a source close to the investigation, said: 'The young lady fell feet first. The CCTV does not show her falling from the room but it shows her landing.'

The source, who has seen statements from those quizzed by police, gave Mr Graham's account of what he claims took place in the moments leading up to the tragic death.

Mrs Maxwell had been at the Costa Blanca resort with 30 other party guests. Her room was directly below that of Mr Graham and his friends, who were in a separate party.

She had spent the first night of the hen party at the resort known as 'Little England' popular with British holidaymakers.

Hotel room: Mrs Maxwell was staying on the ninth floor of the Apartamentos Payma hotel. This is the room where she was staying directly below the room where she fell. The rooms have a Juliette style balcony with sliding doors, pictured

Harrowing: Pictured is the terrifying view from a balcony looking down at where Mrs Maxwell fell to her death. Joseph Graham told Spanish police he believes she jumped from ledge to reach the swimming pool, but misjudged how high up she was

CCTV footage, now in the hands of the police, captured her landing a few metres from the small swimming pool, pictured

Hotel: Mrs Maxwell was staying in the Apartamentos Payma block (pictured) with a group of around 30 female friends who had been out on the first night of the hen party

Mrs Maxwell, who married husband Adam in September last year, went to bed at 4am and woke up shortly before 8am.

Fully dressed, but not wearing any shoes, she walked up a flight of stairs from her room on the ninth floor and knocked on the door of the room directly above hers.

Mr Graham claimed she was disorientated and thought she was calling on her friends who were sleeping in a room on the tenth floor.

The source said: 'She walked into the bathroom and made as if trying to get out of a window. She then walked out and down a corridor to the window. She never said a word to anyone and was in the apartment for no more than 40 seconds.'

'Disorientated': Police sources believe Mrs Maxwell, pictured with a male friend, had gone to Mr Graham's suite on the floor above because she was trying to find her friends

Holiday: Mrs Maxwell (bottom right wearing green jacket) was pictured with a hen party before before leaving the airport for Benidorm in Spain

Spanish trip: Mrs Maxwell, pictured in 2014, had been at the Costa Blanca resort with 30 other party guests. She had been to Benidorm a number of times with her close group of friends

Mr Graham has told police he did not see Maxwell fall over the metal railings because he was in another part of the two bedroom flat.

But, he said, when he looked across and could not see her, he screamed.

The source went on: 'Some of his friends who were in their rooms thought he was playing some kind of joke. They came out and saw her at the bottom by the pool. One of them called the police.'

Quizzed: Joseph Graham, pictured, 32, was held for two days before being released without charge befre being allowed to fly home to Nottingham

The five men, who told police they had been drinking, gave statements to police.

One of the men staying there was Ricky Gammon, 31, a British kickboxing champion and cage fighter, who was part of the party on a birthday holiday.

Another of the men was Anthony Holehouse, 34, who was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in 2014 over a 153,000 fraud, The Sun reported.

A spokesman for Benidorm Criminal Court of Investigation told MailOnline: 'There are no current indications of the participation of other people.'

Mr Graham was arrested, as he was the only one who had any contact with Maxwell during the short time she was in his apartment.

As Mrs Maxwell landed so close to the pool, police are probing the theory that she had attempted to jump into the water.

'It is likely that she was disorientated and might have thought the water was much closer and not realised she was on the 10th floor. No one will know for certain,' said the source.

Other theories being considered by police include Mrs Maxwell was sleepwalking or may have been intimidated by the men in the room and so afraid she jumped over the balcony.

Mr Graham, an account manager for recruitment firm Transline Group, was quizzed on suspicion of homicide and spent two nights in a police cell before being allowed to return to his Nottingham home on Tuesday.

Hotel: Mr Graham told police that Mrs Maxwell, pictured with husband Adamm, had been in his suite for only 40 seconds before she fell from the tenth floor balcony

Investigation: Mr Graham said 27-year-old Mrs Maxwell said nothing as she made her way to the Juliette style balcony with sliding doors. Reliving the ordeal, Graham told police of the moment he realised Mrs Maxwell had fallen and screamed: 'She's jumped'.

He later issued a statement through his partner Harriet Burley declaring his innocence of any involvement in Mrs Maxwell's death.

The statement said: 'I have been advised by my Spanish lawyer that despite me not being charged with any wrongdoing, the investigation into this tragic accident is still ongoing, and therefore sub judice that I am unable to say anything at this time other than that I am innocent of any wrongdoing.'

His lawyer Roberto Sanchez said mr Graham is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Mr Sanchez is pressing for the case to 'archived', which under Spanish law means no further action will be taken.

Toxicology tests for drugs have been taken and the results are likely to be known in three months.

Prosecution: Mrs Maxwell's family are thought to have hired a private lawyer in Spain where victims' relatives can conduct parallel prosecutions to those of state prosecutors

Denial: Mr Graham later issued a statement declaring his innocence of any involvement the newlywed's death. Pictured: Mrs Maxwell with husband Adam

Mrs Maxwell's family has hired a local lawyer to try and bring a prosecution against Graham as they are convinced he played a part in her death.

But police in the resort have said they do not consider any criminality in Mrs Maxwell's death.

Their report will be sent to the examining magistrate who is likely to rule later this year what action will be taken.

Her heartbroken husband Adam yesterday thanked well-wishers, who raised 30,000 to fly his 'beautiful' wife's body home.

He added: 'I know anyone that has come into contact with Kirsty over the years would struggle not to love and adore her. Kirsty was my wife, my best friend and my world. I will never stop missing her.'
Sexual assault charges will be dropped against two undocumented immigrant students accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a bathroom of a high school in Rockville, Md.a case that stoked the national debate on immigration.

The case captured the attention of the White House, sparked fear among parents, and raised questions about public schools legal obligation to educate students regardless of immigration status. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer cited it as an example of why President Donald Trump is cracking down on illegal immigration.

Henry Sanchez Milian and Jose Montano, both undocumented immigrant male students from Central America, were jailed for more than a month, charged with forcing a 14-year-old female student into a boys bathroom and repeatedly assaulting her.

The teenagers came to the United States on their own within the last year to join relatives already living in the country. They enrolled at Rockville High soon after in specialized program for English-language learners.

Defense lawyers for both the teenagers maintained that the sex acts were consensual and that text messages and school surveillance videos did not substantiate the girls claims.

The accused teenagers are not off the hook though.

Milian will face a charge of child pornography for lewd images found on his cellphone and Montano will be turned over to the juvenile court system, the Washington Post reports .

The sexual assault allegations forced the Montgomery County, Md., schools to spend as much time explaining their legal duty to enroll students regardless of their immigration status and urging the public not to judge an entire immigrant community based on one disturbing incident. Hispanic students make up 30 percent of the enrollment in the 159,000-student district.

Rockville High and its immigrant students were the targets of racist and xenophobic phone and email threats in the days after the alleged assault occurred, school officials said.

First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Rockville High School community, particularly the female student who has been at the center of this, schools Superintendent Jack Smith wrote in a statement after news broke of the assault charges being dropped.

The safety and security of every student in each school is our first priority and a responsibility that we take very seriously. We have and will continue to work every day to ensure our schools are safe places to learn. Learning is our core mission and central purpose.

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Michelle Obama repeatedly pressured her husband to quit politics and make money in the early days of their marriage, a new biography of the ex-president has revealed.

She told him 'get a good job' while he tried to make his way in Illinois Democratic politics - and he confided to a friend: 'Michelle wants money.'

Details of the Obamas' marital strains and financial troubles emerge in the 1,078-page biography Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama, by David Garrow, to be published on May 9.

It details once, after the couple had brunch at the Washington D.C. home of one of his Harvard Law School classmates, she said to him: 'When are we going to have a life like that?'

And it tells how he almost quit politics entirely in 2000, after the strain of losing a bid for Congress and the birth of their first child, Malia, a year earlier took its toll on their marriage.

It also tells how the then-aspiring politician bemoaned the fact that he was worse off than his former classmates who were making more money than him at law firms.

In the late 1990s, Obama had taken a board position working for free at a Chicago public school reform project as he tried to get his foot in the door of politics.

But Michelle quickly grew tired of her husband's electoral aspirations.

Humble beginnings: The early years of Barack and Michelle's political careers were described as 'stressful' by former colleagues who said the couple was living beyond their means while trying to raise baby Malia

Rising Star: A former colleague revealed Obama became 'demoralized' after his congressional loss in 2000 and was ready to throw in the towel and settle for a job as a lawyer

Ken Rolling, who was on the school reform project board with Obama, told Garrow that the future president's life was 'stressful,' and he would often vent about his wife's demands that they make more money.

'She's on me. Michelle wants money,' Obama told Rolling.

'Why don't you go out and get a good job? You're a lawyer - you can make all the money we need,' she'd tell him.

According to the book, in 1997 the Obamas had a combined income of $168,903.

Yet, Rolling said money was 'always a big issue because they were in debt and living on the edge,' while raising baby Malia.

The financial stress took a toll on Obama who once lashed out at Rolling for calling him at night about a pending decision for the board.

'God damn it, I'm not getting paid for this. I can't spend my time on this,' he shouted on the phone.

But it was his congressional loss in 2000 that led him to almost hang up his boots and settle for a job as a lawyer.

He admitted to Rolling that he was considering 'chucking this whole thing', and that he was 'going to get myself a good job and make some money.'

A former colleague said the outcome of the race left Obama feeling 'demoralized.'

During tough times, Obama had also bemoaned the fact that his former Harvard classmates were making more cash than he was - even though he had edited the Harvard Law Review, one of the most prestigious positions available at the law school.

'You probably make more money than I do!' he told one former classmate; many were already partners at law firms.

A former colleague recalled that the future first lady had been 'pushing' Obama to switch his focus towards a more sustainable career and told him: 'Let's take care of our family. This is not worth it.'

Friends and colleagues told Garrow that there 'was no question as to who's the boss of that household,' referring to a time when Michelle chided her husband for forgetting to pack his suitcase for their trip to Washington.

'We didn't forget our suitcase! I packed for me and Malia, you forgot your suitcase!' she said.

Desperate to pursue his career as a politician, the future president was also relying on a potential $40,000 book deal for his first memoir, Dreams of My Father.

The book revealed money was 'always a big issue' for the couple 'because they were in debt and living on the edge,' while raising baby Malia

Success story: During their eight years in the White House, the first family spent $96Million in vacations, flights, and security detail

Barack and Michelle had been living in their first home, which they bought for $277,500 - a 2,200 square foot, four-bedroom condo in East View Park of Chicago.

His grandmother had helped them put down a 40 per cent down payment - they had no savings of their own.

Otherwise, the couple was struggling with a student loan payments that were 'more than our mortgage combined'.

The Obamas' money worries were largely solved by, first, the financial success of his memoir, and then by his victory as senator in 2005 and three years later as president.

By 2007, the family had a reported income of $4.2million.

During their eight years in the White House, the first family cost taxpayers $96 million in vacations, flights, and security detail, according to conservative watchdog Judicial Watch.

The family took eight trips to Hawaii as part of their annual Christmas tradition which reportedly cost tax payers a total of $35million.

Out of office they have little to worry about financially.

Earlier this year it was reported that bidding for the rights to Barack and Michelle Obama's new books have reached a record-setting $60million.

He is charging $400,000 for speeches, with one already made to the Wall Street bankers he derided as 'fat cats', while his wife is charging $200,000 an appearance.

They are living in a rented $5.3 million nine-bedroom home in Kalorama, Washington D.C.'s most upmarket area, and still own their detached home in the tony Kenwood section of Chicago.
The bodybuilding fiance of accused drug smuggler Cassandra Sainsbury is due to address the media about her detention.

On Thursday, Scott Broadbridge, 23, was approached by media at his Moana home in Adelaide's south and said Ms Sainsbury 'wasn't doing great' before saying he would speak more the following day with a lawyer present.

Ms Sainsbury was arrested at El Dorado International Airport on April 12 after 5.8 kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found hidden inside 18 headphone boxes in her suitcase.

Mr Bainbridge, who showed off his newest 'Illuminati' tattoo on social media on Sunday while his fiance languishes in prison, will speak to the media about her detention in Adelaide on Friday.

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Scott Broadbridge, the fiance of accused drug smuggler Cassandra Sainsbury (both pictured), is due to address the media about her detention

On Thursday, Scott Broadbridge, 23, was approached by media at his Moana home in Adelaide's south and said Ms Sainsbury 'wasn't doing great' before saying he would speak more the following day with a lawyer present

Mr Broadbridge, left, showed off his new ink, alongside his younger sister Jasmine in a post to Instagram on Sunday

On Sunday, Mr Broadbridge featured on his younger sister Jasmin's Instagram, showing off some 'fresh ink'.

'So me and brother boi just got matchy tats,' Jasmin's caption read.

His partner, Ms Sainsbury, is currently awaiting trial after being found with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine while allegedly trying to fly home to Australia from El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia on April 11.

On Thursday, Mr Broadbridge said he was 'scared for her' and 'worried about her future'.

The 22-year-old told family she thought the 18 packages were headphones she had purchased in bulk for her wedding in February.

Mr Broadbridge has been quiet since his fiancee's arrest, ignoring requests from Daily Mail Australia for comment.

The bodybuilder, who continues to stay in the home he shared with Ms Sainsbury, has dreams of adding more tattoos to his body.

The most recent artwork chosen by Mr Broadbridge and his sister Jasmin features the sign of the 'Illuminati' which is supposed to reference enlightenment.

The tattoo was drawn by Adelaide artist Dan Mawdsley who 'specialises in all thing pop culture'.

The brightly-coloured piece appears to be on Mr Broadbridge's right lower-forearm, it is highlighted in blue while his sister's is highlighted in hot pink.

His partner Cassandra Sainsbury, 22, faces 25 years in jail after she was arrested with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine at an airport in Colombia, pictured

Scott Broadbridge, 23, the fiance of accused drug smuggler Cassandra Sainsbury, has made time to get a new tattoo as his wife-to-be languishes is a Colombian prison

The bodybuilder added this defqon inspired piece to his arm two weeks before he became engaged to Ms Sainsbury and claimed it was the beginning of a sleeve

Apart from the colouring the tattoos appear to be of the same design  featuring all elements of the 'Illuminati'. Another coloured tattoo is visible just above the newest addition.

In September 2016 the tattoo enthusiast got the Defqon logo placed on his left forearm following a visit to the popular Sydney music festival.

'So the new addition to my ink that I'll be turning into a sleeve,' Mr Broadbridge wrote.

'Some people will love it, some people will hate it, I don't get tattoos for people's approval.'

The reveler went on to confess 'hardstyle' music changed his life and made him who he is today.

'My first idea was to get a small defqon tattoo on my a**e but when I saw this I knew it was perfect.'

The bodybuilder pictured in front of a 'cheat' meal late last year

Mr Broadbridge pictured on the Pacific Islands cruise where he proposed to the accused drug smuggler, Ms Sainsbury

The couple's relationship was made 'Facebook official' after she accepted his proposal

Mr Broadbridge is pictured on his friend's shoulders at the music festival just weeks before he was back in Sydney to go on a cruise with his father Peter, and Ms Sainsbury.

The man proposed during the 10-day cruise which saw the couple travel to the Pacific Islands. It wasn't until Ms Sainsbury said 'yes' that the couple, who had reportedly been dating for 18 months became 'official' on social media.

Mr Broadbridge, who lives 'just 300 metres from the beach', has barely spoken since news of his fiancee's arrest sent shockwaves across Australia.

He briefly raised his head to correct Ms Sainsbury's sister Khala's claims the 22-year-old was in Colombia to promote her fitness brand.

'Although Cassie is a PT she is not currently personal training and hasn't been for six months,' he wrote.

Ms Sainsbury could now miss the couple's February wedding date

Mr Broadridge posted these photos showing the two-week period where he became engaged but has since deleted his social media presence

'She helped manage a commercial cleaning business that had both national and International clients.

'Unfortunately it's very easy for tourists to get targeted, especially in Colombia.'

The comments were posted on a fundraising page set up by Ms Sainsbury's sister following a barrage of insults directed at the former personal trainer.

'Just be respectful, we're trying to get an innocent girl back home where she belongs,' Mr Broadbridge said.

The bodybuilder deleted his social network profiles shortly after coming to his fiance's defence and has declined to comment since.

The man is believed to be living in the couple's home caring for their three husky dogs and a cat 'Cassandra wanted'.

Mr Broadbridge has refused to comment to the press over his fiancee's imprisonment but did leap to her defence on a page raising funds for her

Ms Sainsbury posted these snaps, in happoer times, on the couple's trip to Vanuatu in October 2016

Ms Sainsbury's with one of the couple's three dogs - which are now at home with Mr Broadbridge

The rest of Cassandra's family have commented on the young blonde's imprisonment - most recently her father Stuart who first claimed he wanted nothing to do with the situation.

On Tuesday afternoon Mr Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia he was aware of his daughter's arrest.

'I don't want to be tied up in all this,' the father, motorcycle enthusiast and fisherman said.

When prompted about how he felt about the young woman being held in a Colombian prison after allegedly being found trying to leave the country with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine he refused to comment

'Listen, whatever is going on has nothing to do with me, and I have nothing to say about it.'

'You can ring my lawyer if you don't understand me. It's got nothing to do with me.'

Stuart Sainsbury, Cassandra's father, told Daily Mail Australia he didn't want to be 'tied up with' Cassandra's drug smuggling charges

Ms Sainsbury (pictured background) at her father's birthday celebrations in 2015

Mr Sainsbury then spoke on camera to Nine News claiming to 'love her unconditionally'.

'Shes just my kid, what parent thinks of her kid as a drug mule,' he said.

'I just love her, I cant change whats happened I just have to be here when she comes home.'

Ms Sainsbury was stopped at Bogota's El Dorado International Airport on April 11 after X-rays picked up 18 packages of cocaine in her luggage.

She drew the attention of the DEA when her plane ticket home to Australia via London was reportedly purchased last minute by an 'unknown party' in Hong Kong.

'We found her because of an alert from the DEA,' Bogota airport's head of narcotics, Commander Rodrigo Soler, told News Corp Australia.

Mrs Sainsbury with his wife Michelle, Cassandra Sainsbury's step mother

Channel Seven reports that Colombian authorities had been forwarded her passport details as early as April 5 - six days before she was arrested at El Dorado International Airport.

The young blonde from Adelaide told family members she thought the packages contained headphones she had bought cheaply off a 'nice Colombian man'.

Ms Sainsbury was heading home to Australia with the packages, via London in an 'all expenses work trip' which saw her visit China and LA before her time in the south American country where she now awaits trial.

Ms Sainsbury has been living in Adelaide since she left her home town of Yorketown after the collapse of her gym Yorke fitness in 2015.

Shortly after her arrival in Adelaide, three hours from her home town and failed fitness business, the young blonde met now fiance Scott Broadbridge.

Ms Sainsbury left Yorketown after the closure of her gym, pictured, in 2015

Mr Broadbridge claims the young woman has not been a personal trainer for six months - despite her sister Khala's claims she was in Colombia to promote herself as a personal trainer.

Khala faced the media following her sister's arrest to ask for donations to help free her sister from prison and bring her home to Australia.

'Our hearts break, because we know she is innocent, but stands little chance of proving it in such a corrupt country,' Khala Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia.

'The trip was at least in part to promote her personal training business.'

Her mother Lisa Evans labelled her daughter as naive and also spoke to the media.

'I'm devastated that my little girl is in this place. I'm scared to death for her. Our family just wants her home safe,' she said.

The woman went on a cruise in October, 2016, followed by a work trip to Canada in January. Her trip to Colombia recently started with time spent in China and America

The young woman posted to Instagram a week before she was stopped in a Colombian airport to tell her followers about her trip which also took her to Las Angeles and China

She was arrested with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed in small packages wrapped in black plastic (pictured)

Daily Mail Australia recently revealed the 22-year-old woman's lavish globetrotting lifestyle which saw her visit the Pacific Islands, Canada, China and North and South America in just six months.

Colombian police claim a tip-off led to the arrest of an Australian woman who was found with 18 bags of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.7 million.

On April 3 she posted a photo of LAX - Los Angeles International Airport - with the caption 'going from China's lovely 27 degree weather to LA's 7 degree weather is killing me'.

On April 8, she posted a photograph of some buildings indicating she was in America.

'Can't complain about an all expenses paid work trip which is mainly holiday and very little work,' she wrote.

The young woman used a variety of hashtags including the words work, holiday and fitness in her social media posts.

Fresh reports from inside the prison where the accused drug smuggler awaits trial reveal she is still in the same clothes three-weeks after arriving.

According to the Daily Telegraph the 22-year-old has reportedly not stopped crying since she was transferred to the overcrowded and dangerous El Buen Pastor prison.

An American woman who was released from the prison on Tuesday and helped look after Cassandra on the inside said she was not coping with the horrific conditions.

'Because she is so young there are a lot of people trying to take advantage of her,' the woman said.

'Not only that, when she was at the police station they took most of her stuff  all of her clothes, her money,' the former inmate told the publication.

'She's just wearing a sweater and pants and a top, the same ones. I offered her something but she said no thank you.'

Khala said her sister (pictured) found a Colombian lawyer but he suggested pleading guilty to lesser charges to avoid an up to 25-year jail sentence

Her family says she is innocent and being 'set up' - but Colombian anti-narcotic police believe she may have been a drug mule

A message on the fundraising site from her fiance Scott Broadbridge. The fundraiser was cancelled after it received hundreds of negative comments

On Tuesday Colombian police released photographs of Ms Sainsbury standing behind 18 black packages of cocaine.

Ms Sainsbury was handcuffed in the images - she could face 25 years in a South American jail if found guilty of drug smuggling.

The 22-year-old told her family she thought the packages were 15 headphones a local man posing as a translator had arranged to buy for her at a discount.

Lt Colonel Jorge Triana, head of anti-narcotics police at the airport, told Daily Mail Australia he didn't believe Cassandra's headphone story.

Lt Colonel Triana said drug mules often feigned ignorance when they were caught.

Top drug cops in Colombia say her explanation is not credible. It's understood there were never any headphones in the packages (pictured) and they only contained concealed cocaine

In Australia, six kilograms of cocaine has a street value of almost $2 million

Pictured are the headphones that Cassandra believed she was buying from a man she had just met. Her family claims the man offered to be her translator and find gifts for her family

'It's a commonplace strategy that narco traffickers use to take drugs out of the country,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Her explanation is not credible. Everyone we catch says they didn't know it was in their luggage, but they know what they were doing.'

Daily Mail Australia also understands there were never any headphones in the package and it only contained concealed cocaine.

Lt Colonel Triana said even if Cassandra didn't know about the drugs she likely faced jail time either way.

'She recognised the luggage as hers so whether she knew there were drugs in it or not, it doesn't excuse her actions,' he said.

He said foreigners were increasingly being lured into becoming drug mules by the promise of big payoffs when they made it to their destination - with 19 caught leaving Colombia this year alone.

Her mother, Lisa Evans, has maintained her daughter is innocent, saying she had been 'naive' in trusting a Colombian man to help her get a good deal on headphones

A snap showing the woman on holiday in the Gold Coast last year

Cassandra's family insisted she was an innocent victim being 'set up' by a man she had just met.

Jorge Mendoza, the ports and airports director for Colombia's anti-narcotic police, told AAP that Cassandra could have been working as a drug mule.



'She could possibly be a drug mule,' he told ABC radio through an interpreter on Tuesday.

'In going through security we found she had 18 packets inside her luggage which even before opening it we found covered in plastic.'

Australian author Rusty Young, whose book Marching Powder was based on the three months he spent with an English drug smuggler in prison in Bolivia, has lived in Colombia for eight years and says he doesn't believe authorities there will make an example of Ms Sainsbury.

'Basically, the bigger traffickers are the ones they are after,' he told the Seven Network.

The first photos have emerged of Cassandra standing in handcuffs next to her luggage

Cassandra was arrested in Colombia after an airport X-Ray search allegedly revealed something suspicious in her luggage (pictured)

'Small traffickers are just an annoyance for the country.

'Colombia loves foreigners coming in. One of their major industries now is tourism. They do not want the name. They don't want the media attention for drug trafficking.'

In Australia, six kilograms of cocaine has an estimated street value of almost $2 million.

Cassandra's fiance Scott Broadbridge was also understood to be concerned about the impact public attention, and rumours on social media, might have on her case.

The couple are due to be married in February.

The young woman's family raised $4,000 of their $15,000 goal and continue to claim she was tricked by the Colombian local who offered to find her cheap headphones for wedding gifts on her trip.

The former personal trainer from Adelaide was denied bail and is being held at the overcrowded El Buen Pastor women's prison (pictured) until her hearing in two months
Twitter, Google and Facebook are being sued for knowingly aiding ISIS by families of some of the victims of a terrorist attack in San Bernarndino, California that left 14 people dead.

The relatives claim the tech giants have allowed the group to build a major online presence and push its extremist beliefs, as well as enlist recruits and promote attacks like the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California.

Without defendants Twitter, Facebook and Google (YouTube), the explosive growth of IS over the last few years into the most feared terrorist group in the world would not have been possible, the suit alleges.

The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday at the US District court in Los Angeles by the families of Sierra Clayborn, Tin Nguyen and Nicholas Thalasinos, three of the 14 people gunned down on December 2, 2015 by Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik.

Syed Rizwan Farook, left, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, right, killed 14 people in the December 2015 shooting. Victims of the shooting are now suing tech giants Facebook, Twitter and Google for allegedly allowing the Islamic State to build a large online terrorist that helped inspire terrorists like Farook an d his wife

The couple targeted a Christmas party being held in a banqueting room at San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. Twenty-two other people were injured in the shooting.

For years, Defendants have knowingly and recklessly provided the terrorist group IS with accounts to use its social networks as a tool for spreading extremist propaganda, raising funds, and attracting new recruits, reads the complaint, filed by lawyers Keith Altman and Theida Salazar.

Even if Farook and Malik had never been directly in contact with IS, its use of social media directly influenced their actions on the day of the San Bernardino massacre, the lawsuit added.

FBI Director James Comey said immediately after the shooting that although there was no evidence the couple was directed by a terrorist group, there were clues pointing to potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organisations.

The Internet allows the opportunity for people to consume poison and radicalise, he added.

The internet giants have faced growing outrage over the material they provide access to, including child abuse images and instructions for terrorist acts - which Google profited from through YouTube adverts - as well doing little to prevent online bullying.

And this week Facebook bowed to pressure to crack down on live broadcasts of murders and suicides on the social network.

The web giant is to hire 3,000 more staff to police what users post, joining 4,500 already in place to stamp out violence, hate speech and child abuse images.

The company was forced to act after an outcry over a number of disturbing incidents broadcast via Facebook Live, its streaming service that lets users put whatever they like directly on the network.

A recent survey by the NSPCC found 80 per cent of 11 to 18-year-olds believe social media firms fail to protect them from harmful content.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the lawsuit contends the companies are liable for aiding and abetting acts of international terrorism, wrongful death and providing material support to a designated foreign terror group among other charges.

The legal action mirrors similar lawsuits filed by families following deadly attacks at an Orlando nightclub last June and the slaying of five police officers in Dallas a month later. The father of a victim from the Paris massacre sued the same three companies for providing a platform to ISIS.

The suits challenge the interpretation of the Communications Decency Act, a US law that states that Internet platforms are not liable for what their users post on their sites.

While legal experts claim the lawsuit is unlikely to succeed in court and the statute has protected social media sites in the past, lawyers are claiming the secretive algorithms used to curate content can be open to abuse.

In previous cases, Google, Facebook and Twitter have said they are sympathetic to victims of such attacks but are not liable for what happened.

Asking for the Orlando lawsuit to be dismissed in court papers filed last week, the companies argued that accepting such an unbounded theory behind the Pulse nightclub attack that left 49 dead would have staggering consequences, exposing every online platform to possible liability for terrorist violence anywhere in the world, at any time, simply because terrorists who committed the attack may have been loosely affiliated with some of the platforms billions of users.

A Facebook spokesperson said the company was committed to providing a service where people feel safe when using Facebook.

Our Community Standards make clear that there is no place on Facebook for groups that engage in terrorist activity or for content that expresses support for such activity and we take swift action to remove this content when its reported to us. We sympathize with the victims and their families, the statement added.

Twitter and Google have also said they are working to prohibit the promotion of terrorism. Among the initiatives is a shared industry database of unique digital fingerprints linked to terrorism.
The winner of the Miss Black University of Texas pageant has received criticism from people who questioned whether she is African American.

Rachael Malonson, 22, is biracial and was crowned 'Miss Black University of Texas' on Sunday at the event hosted by the historically black fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi.

When they announced her win by posting Malonson's photo, she started receiving criticism by individuals who pointed out how light her skin is.

The winner of the Miss Black University of Texas pageant, Rachael Malonson has received criticism from people who questioned whether she is African American

When the fraternity announced her win by posting Rachael Malonson's photo, she started receiving criticism by individuals who questioned whether or not she is even African American

One Twitter user said that in the Miss Black pageant, 'they still chose the most light-skinned'

Another wrote that: 'Her father may be black but socially I see she doesn't even claim it unless when it's convenient for her. That's that s*** I don't like'

One Twitter user pointed out that in the Miss Black pageant, 'they still chose the most light-skinned.'

Another wrote that: 'Her father may be black but socially I see she doesn't even claim it unless when it's convenient for her. That's that s*** I don't like.'

This argument was echoed by a number of Twitter users, many of whom brought up Rachel Dolezal as an example of someone who used 'blackness' for her own advantage.

Malonson, who has a black father and a white mother, said that she was taken off guard by the criticism.

'I didn't realize that even after I received the title I would still have to explain myself, that there was still ignorant people out there who are asking me to prove myself,' she told Fox.

'Just because I have straight hair and olive skin tone doesn't mean I'm not black... I don't have to look a certain way to be black.'

The 22-year-old, who is a senior and a broadcasting and journalism student at the University of Texas, took the criticism in stride, though.

Malonson, who has a black father and a white mother, said that she was taken off guard by the criticism

In a Twitter post, she thanked everyone who came out and supported her, especially those in the African American community

In a Twitter post, she thanked everyone who came out and supported her, especially those in the African American community.

'The beautiful thing about this is all the people here who have come out and defended me. It shows I have a beautiful support system here,' she wrote.

Malonson also said that she has long struggled with her mixed heritage because nobody could figure out where she was from, reported the Daily Texan.

She said that many people thought that she was Hispanic, and that growing up it made her feel insecure.

In a Facebook post after her win, she even wrote that at first she was reluctant to take part in the pageant because of her mixed race.

Additionally, her brother Greg Malonson shared a photo to Facebook that showed his sister after she won the pageant along with one of the pair together, writing that it 'sickens me that members of our Black community would attack their own because she is biracial. 'Instead of hating each other, we should unite and uplift each other.'

'I challenged myself by vulnerably expressing obstacles I face as a biracial woman and was not going to leave the stage without letting others know that my blessings and strength are in Christ alone,' she wrote.

Malonson also said that social media attacks will not ruin her moment, telling Dallas News: 'For me, I've always had to battle "I'm not black enough." But to not just place, but win the title is truly rewarding'.

Additionally, her brother Greg Malonson shared a photo to Facebook that showed his sister after she won the pageant along with one of the pair together, writing that it 'sickens me that members of our Black community would attack their own because she is biracial.

'Instead of hating each other, we should unite and uplift each other.'
The day before Farhad Jabar murdered Curtis Cheng outside Parramatta police headquarters, his sister fled Australia to Syria.

Seen for the first time, images taken from security cameras at Sydney Airport show Shadi Jabar, then 20, pushing a trolley loaded with luggage through the departure terminal.

Prosecutor Paul McGuire, SC, told Downing Centre Local Court she was on her way to boarding a Singapore Airlines flight on a trip that would eventually deliver her to Syria - where she married an ISIS fighter before being killed, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The three images show her dressed in a headscarf and lugging a polka dot backpack and a black carry bag.

Those bags were packed and prepared by an accused terrorist, the court heard, before her 15-year-old brother Farhad handed them to her as she stepped into the taxi that took her to the airport.

Shadi Jabar (pictured), was pictured on CCTV camera at Sydney airport fleeing Australia for Syria, the day before her brother Farhad shot dead Curtis Cheng outside Parramatte police HQ

Images taken from security cameras at the airport show Shadi, then 20, pushing a trolley through the departure terminal loaded with bags and luggage

The Downing Centre Local Court heard those bags had been packed by an alleged terrorist and had been handed to Shadi by her brother Farhad before she hopped in a taxi to the airport

On Thursday, one of the men accused of supplying the murder weapon to the teenage killer, allegedly said Farhad had 'died for the sake of Allah', .

Raban Alou allegedly consoled 15-year-old Jabar's distraught older brother Farshad Jabar two days after the teenager shot Mr Cheng dead before being killed by police in an exchange of gunfire.

A recording of the alleged October 4, 2015, conversation was played on Thursday at a committal hearing for the group of men accused of aiding Jabar.

'He will be with the prophet,' a man who prosecutors say is Alou can be heard in the recording telling an audibly distressed man, said to be Farshad Jabar.

'He died for the sake of Allah. You should be happy.'

A grief-stricken Farshad Jabar can be heard to say: 'Everybody knows how much I love my brother' and 'my family's heartbroken'.

Raban Alou allegedly consoled 15-year-old Jabar's (pictured) distraught older brother Farshad Jabar two days after the teenager shot Mr Cheng

Police officer and shooting victim Curtis Cheng (left) pictured together with his family

Farshad Jabar is told that his brother is in 'jannah' (paradise) and that 'he's better than one hundred thousand Muslims ... he's better than every Muslim in Australia', according to the recording that was played in the Downing Centre Local Court.

Alou, 19, is accused of giving Jabar the pistol he used to shoot 58-year-old police accountant Mr Cheng outside the NSW Police Parramatta headquarters on October 2, 2015.

Prosecutors say 24-year-old Talal Alameddine supplied the gun to Alou and Mustafa Dirani, 23.

Milad Atai , 21, is also accused of involvement in the plot.

NSW Police worker Curtis Cheng's teenage killer Farhad Jabar (pictured) 'died for the sake of Allah', one of the men accused of supplying the murder weapon allegedly said

A photocopy of the bloodstained note left by the alleged murderer of Curtis Cheng

On Thursday the court also heard evidence that Alou knew he was under surveillance and expected being charged after Mr Cheng's murder.

A female associate was allegedly recorded in Alou's car on October 3, 2015, telling him, 'don't ever confess' and 'they will try and say you brainwashed him'.

Alou allegedly said: 'They know me, I'm on the radar, ASIO, they know what I stand for. They know everything.'

He also allegedly said: 'They will accuse me of accessory to murder and inciting terrorism' and 'they will go hard ... they will pump me they will pump my mum they will pump my brothers'.

The hearing continues.
Forget cow milk and goat milk - the latest promising dairy craze reaching Australia comes from the udder of a camel.

Camel milk is a lucrative industry for one Victorian farm which sells milk, soap, moisturiser, lip balm and even laundry powder made from the unusual mammal.

Megan Williams, who co-owns Camel Milk Australia in Kyabram, Victoria with her husband Chris, said camel milk is fast becoming the preferred dairy alternative for thousands of Australians.

'Camel milk has so many health benefits as it is low in fat and lactose and our handmade products are fantastic on skin,' Ms Williams told Daily Mail Australia.

Megan Williams (pictured) runs the camel farm with her husband in Kyabram, Victoria

The calves (pictured) at Camel Milk Australia are weaned from their mothers around 15 to 18 months of age just like in the wild

'Production has been growing so much we have moved from a 180 acre farm with only a handful of camels to a 200 acre property with over 200 camels.'

Camel Milk Australia was the first farm in Victoria to commercially produce camel milk and is one of only few across the country.

The appeal of camel milk is it has 30 per cent less fat and 40 per cent less lactose than cows milk. It is also higher in potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc and sodium and lower in cholesterol.

People who are lactose intolerant have also been known to be able to drink camels milk without problem and the milk is safe for children to drink.

The taste of camel milk is described by Ms Williams as 'just like cows milk with a slightly salty after taste'.

The demand for camel milk is so strong both domestically and internationally Camel Milk Australia has exploded in the Asian market.

Ms Williams said she is now filling bulk orders from Thailand, Singapore, China and Brunei with a fresh interest in her camel milk powders, soaps and hand creams.

Camel Milk (pictured) is much like cows milk as it lasts for over two weeks when stored below five degrees

Ms Williams sells handmade camel soap, lip balm and laundry powder (pictured) which she says are fantastic on skin

However the cost of producing camel milk is significantly higher than cow milk as camels yield far less milk than their cattle counterparts.

A 500ml bottle of camel milk retails for $10 and 1 litre bottles for $19. Soap is sold for $9 for a 150g bar, laundry powder at $22.50 for 1.25kg and a 10g lip balm will cost $9.

But despite the high cost of production Ms Williams said her business has been unaffected by the recent trauma experienced by dairy farmers across Australia.

'The impact price cuts had on dairy farmers has been devastating, and luckily it has not affected camel milk or our farm,' she said.

'Coming from a dairy background I know how difficult it is to turn a profit and to make ends meet in this industry.'

'Please, buy branded milk to support these struggling farmers,' Ms Williams added.

The husband-and-wife farming duo have garnered so much international interest in the unusual milk they changed the name from Camel Milk Victoria to Camel Milk Australia - and are launching a brand new website to celebrate.

Chris Williams (pictured) runs with farm with Megan and the duo have enjoyed international success
Students are cheating with invisible ink (file)

Students are cheating in university exams by smuggling in secret notes written with invisible ink, an official report reveals.

The latest deception technique was revealed in the annual review of the higher education ombudsman amid concerns of a growing epidemic of cheating in universities.

Experts say students are becoming increasingly more desperate to achieve high marks because of growing competition between graduates in the job market.

The report, by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, revealed one law student last year was able to smuggle notes into the exam via a statute book.

The book was allowed under exam conditions, but students had to show invigilators at the entrance that they contained no extra notes.

However, the guilty student was able to use an invisible ink pen to make 24 pages of notes beforehand  and sneakily use a tiny ultraviolet (UV) torch to read them during the exam.

The report said: She had annotated a law statute book with invisible UV ink, creating 24 pages of unauthorised notes which she took into her examination.

She was seen using the notes by other students and the invigilator, who retained the statute book as evidence.

The report, by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, revealed one law student last year was able to smuggle notes into the exam via a statute book which included invisible ink (file)

The university then failed the student in all of her modules as a punishment  a judgment she tried unsuccessfully to appeal.

The case comes amid mounting evidence of students using ever more bizarre techniques to cheat in exams.

Alan Smithers, professor of education at the University of Buckingham, said: Students will pull out all the stops to get the highest marks they can and it looks as if they are becoming ever more imaginative.

The pressures on them these days are great. In the past, students were at university as much for the experience as they were there for the result.

From an employers perspective, the fact that you had a degree was more important than the actual degree class.

Now many employers will only consider applicants with a 2:1 or above.

Universities need to be a little bit more alert to these practices.

The people that are caught are probably the tip of the iceberg.

Alan Smithers, professor of education at the University of Buckingham (pictured), said: Students will pull out all the stops to get the highest marks they can and it looks as if they are becoming ever more imaginative.'

Last month, an investigation revealed technology-enabled cheating incidents had increased 42 per cent since 2012 and now represents a quarter of those found guilty of cheating.

Other devices used have included ear pieces which can play back digitally recorded voice notes.

Baroness Wolf, a cross-bench peer and professor at Kings College London, suggested at the time that universities may have to consider installing airport-style metal detectors.

Universities UK, which represents vice chancellors, said yesterday: Universities take cheating extremely seriously and have severe penalties for students found to be cheating.

Academic misconduct is a breach of an institutions disciplinary regulations and can result in students being expelled from the university.

Universities have become more experienced in detecting and dealing with all forms of cheating.

It has become increasingly important to engage with students from day-one to underline the implications of cheating.

University support services are there to help vulnerable students struggling with anxiety and stress around examinations and coursework deadlines.

Simon Bullock of QAA, the UKs independent quality body for higher education, said: A minority of dishonest students will always look for new ways to cheat. Universities and colleges need to take account of increasingly sophisticated ways of cheating when invigilating exams and checking assessments.
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The Conservatives have surged to historic gains in Scotland as Nicola Sturgeon's gamble on a second independence referendum backfired.

Theresa May saw her candidates gain more than 160 seats north of the border - including areas such as Glasgow and North Lanarkshire where the Tories have not been competitive for decades.

This brought their total up to a staggering 276 seats - over a dozen more than Labour.

But despite inflicting devastating damage on Ukip and Labour across the country, the Prime Minister delivered a stern warning to her troops against complacency tonight, saying they should not take victory on June 8 'for granted'.

Meanwhile, Miss Sturgeon attempted to put a brave face on the situation, defying evidence of dipping popularity to insist the SNP was 'holding firm'.

The first wave of results from Scotland added to a dismal night for Jeremy Corbyn's party just a month before the general election. Labour lost control of a slew of councils - including its Glasgow stronghold for the first time since 1980 - and more than 330 seats across the UK.

Ukip has been obliterated, losing all but one of the scores of seats it was defending. Former MP Douglas Carswell declared the party 'over' today.

The Conservatives' haul of 562 gains so far leaves them on track to record the best performance for a governing party since 1974. They also pulled off huge shocks by emerging triumphant over Labour in the West Midlands and Tees Valley mayoral contests.

Senior Labour figures have squarely blamed Mr Corbyn for their 'disastrous' showing, with complaints that he is 'radioactive' on the doorstep.

But shadow chancellor John McDonnell risked ridicule by blaming the media, saying voters were only just 'getting to know' Mr Corbyn two years after he took the job. He claimed Labour's solid defeat in the West of England was a 'good' outcome.

The electoral fortunes of Nicola Sturgeon (pictured with SNP Councillor Susan Aitken in Glasgow today) appear to be on a downward trajectory after her demand for a fresh independence referendum

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, pictured celebrating in Edinburgh today, taunted the SNP that if they wanted her to stop talking about independence they should drop demands for a referendum

Theresa May, pictured on a visit to Brentford tonight, warned against taking the general election result 'for granted' despite the strong poll results

In a night that underlined the potential for the Conservatives to put Labour to the sword in just over a month's time:

The Ukip vote appears to have swung fully behind Mrs May after she appealed for a strong mandate to push through Brexit. The shift could be catastrophic for Labour at the general election.

Experts said the Ukip vote share had plummeted to 5 per cent nationally in these contests, down from 22 per cent four years ago. They were even destroyed in Lincolnshire where Paul Nuttall is running on June 8.

The Conservatives raided Derbyshire council from Labour, and seized control of Norfolk among 10 gains of authorities.

The Tories rocked Mr Corbyn by winning the West Midlands and Tees Valley mayoral races. One-time John Lewis chief Andy Street upset the odds to defeat MEP Sion Simon in the former race. The Conservatives also took the job in the West of England.

Labour shipped support in Wales, losing control of key councils including Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil.

In Scotland Labour lost control of its last remaining citadel in Glasgow for the first time since 1980. Initial results from Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh showed Tory gains from both the SNP and Labour in Scotland.

In a stark sign of just how bad Labour's woes are, it will become the first Opposition party to record a net loss of council seats for three years in a row.

The BBC projected Labour's national vote share will be 27 per cent - the lowest for any Opposition at an election.

Mrs May sought to cool expectations of an overwhelming Tory general election victory during a visit to a factory in Brentford, west London this evening.

She said the vote on June 8 would be about 'real people' going out to cast their ballots rather than remote figures.

'I will not take anything for granted and neither will the team I lead, because there is too much at stake,' Mrs May said.

'This is not about who wins and who loses in the local elections, it is about continuing to fight for the best Brexit deal for families and businesses across the United Kingdom to lock in the progress we've made and get on with the job of making a success of the years ahead.

'The reality is that today, despite the evident will of the British people, we have bureaucrats in Europe who are questioning our resolve to get the right deal.

'And the reality is that only a General Election vote for the Conservatives in 34 days' time will strengthen my hand to get the best deal for Britain from Brexit.'

How the results stand after declarations from 23 councils, based on change in seats since 2012-13

Miss Sturgeon dismissed the Tory gains north of the border, and denied the SNP was on a downward trajectory.

She pointed to her party's achievement in robbing Labour of control of Glasgow - although it failed to secure overall control of the council.

'What we've seen across Scotland today of course is the SNP vote holding firm. The SNP hasn't lost ground across Scotland today, what we've seen is the collapse of Labour and that's the reason for the increase in the Conservative vote,' Miss Sturgeon said.

'I think Labour really have a lot of soul searching to do, not just because of the result in Glasgow but because of their results across the country.'

Former SNP leader Alex Salmond accused Mrs May of 'eliminating Ukip by becoming Ukip'.

'Scotland will be the only place where the Conservatives have been beaten. That is to say the objective in an election campaign is to win more votes and more seats than any other party,' he said.

'We are confident the SNP will do exactly that in Scotland. So when it comes to the general election we want to reinforce this trend.'

But Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: 'Wherever you are, from the border to the highlands, the only party strong enough to lead the fightback against the SNP is the Scottish Conservatives.

'There is a simple way for (the SNP) to stop us talking about independence, and that is for Nicola Sturgeon to respect the result of the 2014 referendum.'

Conservatives Andy Street (left) and Ben Houchen (right) secured stunning victories in the races to be West Midlands and Tees Valley mayor's today, humbling the Labour Party on home ground

Counting (pictured in Manchester today) continues today as the final results come in from the local elections across the country today

Asked what the result meant for June 8, Ms Davidson told the BBC: 'I think we have got to continue to work hard and take nothing for granted.'

NOT AGAIN DIANE! ABBOTT HUMBLED IN NEW CAR CRASH INTERVIEW Diane Abbott gave another shambolic interview today as she did not know how many seats Labour had lost Diane Abbott suffered more cringeworthy confusion over figures today as she claimed Labour had only lost 50 council seats. The shadow home secretary gave another car crash interview just days after claiming putting 10,000 more police on the streets would cost just 300,000. In her latest shambolic performance, Mrs Abbott floundered desperately after being asked what the party's net losses were so far in local elections. 'At the time of us doing this interview, I think the net losses are about 50,' she said. The miffed ITV journalist replied: 'They are actually 125 net losses so far.' But Ms Abbott said: 'Well the last time I looked we had net losses of 100 but obviously this is a moving picture.' The figure for losses has now risen over 200. Mrs Abbott was humiliated in an LBC radio interview earlier this week when she said it would cost just 300,000 to pay for an extra 10,000 police officers. She later upper this to 80million, but this would still fall far short and only give each policeman an annual salary of 8,000. The policy is actually costed at 300m a year by 2021/22. Advertisement

As the first results emerged this morning, Labour was dealt a severe blow in the south Wales valleys, with independents taking control of Blaenau Gwent and the result on a knife edge in Merthyr Tydfil - where the final three seats will be declared on June 8. The party needs to win them all to stay in charge.

Bridgend, which was toured by the PM at the end of last month, went from Labour to no overall control.

However, the party has managed to cling on in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea - avoiding some of its worst fears - and most of the pain was inflicted by independent candidates.

Things could get worse for Labour when declarations begin in Scotland around lunchtime, with experts forecasting heavy losses.

Mr McDonnell admitted that his party had a 'tough night'.

'There have been some disappointments, but there have not been the wipeouts in some areas that people had been predicting,' he said.

Bizarrely, the close Corbyn ally insisted that defeat in the South West mayoral election had been a 'good result' as the party did not get thrashed by more.

Despite Mr Corbyn having been leader for nearly two years, Mr McDonnell said people were only just starting to 'see his real character'.

'Now we are in the general election campaign, and the media are forced to give some balance, the televised broadcast media, I think what you are seeing is that we are picking up support, and as Jeremy gets more media time, people are seeing the real character of the man, this decent, honest, strong leader, in terms of principles and how to go forward,' he said.

The ousted chairman of Warwickshire County Council's Labour group, Philip Johnson, told BBC Radio 4: 'People have been saying to us that Jeremy Corbyn's style has been putting them off voting Labour.

'It's not the policies. When the policies are explained they do receive a degree of support.

'But Jeremy Corbyn isn't coming across well with the public. I think that's fairly well known.'

One Labour candidate told The Times: 'He is radioactive on the doorstep,' they said.

'Local campaigns have been desperate for him not to come and campaign for them.'

In Harlow, which Jeremy Corbyn visited last week, the Tories took all four seats - three from Labour and one from Ukip.

Cumbria remains under no overall control, but the Conservatives overtook Labour as the largest party.

The Conservatives comfortably fended off a Lib Dem challenge in Somerset, which will be a key battleground in the election next month.

Tim Farron's party has taken a hard line against Brexit, and the area voted heavily for Leave in the EU referendum.

The Lib Dems have lost around 30 seats in England and Wales to this point.

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured in Liverpool with new mayor Steve Rotheram tonight) is facing claims his leadership is 'putting people off voting Labour' according to Warwickshire County Council's defeated head of the party

Meanwhile, Theresa May (pictured today in Brentford) hailed the Tory victory but warned her activists against complacency with the general election still four weeks away

The Conservatives have surged in councils across the country at the expense of Ukip, Labour, and the SNP

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell insisted today that voters were only just 'getting to know' Mr Corbyn two years after he took the job, and claiming Labour losing in the West of England was a 'good' showing

Jeremy Corbyn congratulated Labour activists in Wales for holding on to what would previously have been regarded as rock-solid seats for the party

Brendan Toomey, who was Labour leader of council Merthyr Tydfil but lost his seat, told Raid 4: 'It's the birthplace of Labour, we are having a very disappointing evening to say the least.

'It is quite clear that huge numbers of the public aren't entirely happy, to say the least, with the way the Labour Party is going at the moment. There's no doubt about that.

'NO POINT' IN UKIP AFTER LOCAL ELECTIONS CRASH Ukip leader Paul Nuttall Ukip has been branded 'pointless' after failing to hold onto a single council seat. Paul Nuttall's party lost all its seats in Lincolnshire, Hampshire and Essex - key battlegrounds for Ukip at next month's General Election. The results augur badly for Mr Nuttall's prospects in Boston & Skegness, where he is standing for parliament. Experts predicted Ukip's share of the national vote could fall as low as 5 per cent, down from 22 per cent in the same contests in 2013. Tory big beast Mr Duncan Smith said he believed Ukip had now run its course. 'The thing that Ukip were set up for was to get the referendum and let the British people decide,' he told Sky News. Ukip's leader in Wales, Neil Hamilton admitted his party's vote had 'collapsed'. But he urged supporters to 'keep calm and carry on'. Advertisement

'But I would say it goes a lot deeper than that.'

But he claimed local MP Gerald Jones would be re-elected on June 8 'without any shadow of a doubt'.

Wrexham and Flintshire have also stayed as no overall control, but Labour lost seats in both, although they managed to keep control of Newport.

Labour's campaign chief, Andrew Gwynne, admitted the picture looks grim and is already turning his focus to improving results at next month's General Election.

'There are challenges for the Labour Party round the country. I'm not going to hide from that,' he told Sky News.

'The one thing we really need to look at here is how we take forward the Labour campaign going into the general election.'

He added: 'This is a unique situation. We have never in my lifetime had a set of local elections in the middle of a general election campaign.

'I'm conviced the Labour campaign going forward will learn from those areas where clearly we have got challenges.'

Predictions from Ukip's former leader Nigel Farage that his party would endure a torrid night are coming to pass.

Speaking on his LBC radio show, the MEP said: 'It's not just Labour that's going to lose seats tonight  and I'm very glad I'm coming off air in a moment.'

Ukip has so far only managed to secure a single seat, having lost 108.

The wipeout in Lincolnshire augurs badly for leader Paul Nuttall - who is standing for parliament in Boston and Skegness, reputed to be the most Eurosceptic seat in the country.

The BBC projected Ukip's share of national vote could fall as low as 3 per cent, down from 22 per cent in the equivalent contests in 2013.

The Conservatives were on 38 per cent, while Labour languished on 27 per cent - the lowest for any Opposition party since the corporation started producing the estimates in 1982.

Tory big beast Mr Duncan Smith said he believed Ukip had now run its course. 'The thing that Ukip were set up for was to get the referendum and let the British people decide,' he told Sky News.

'And the irony is that a year ago the British people did make that decision, they decided they wanted to leave, and the Conservative government under the brilliant leadership of Theresa May has actually now said we are going to leave ...

'The choices that are coming forward are about strong, stable leadership delivering a Brexit which is a good deal for the UK.

This graph of the change in the vote share in England lays bare the scale of the Tory surge, with Ukip votes seemingly transferring directly to Theresa May's party

Conservative candidate for Chelmsford Central, Dick Madden, celebrates with colleagues after retaining his seat

The Conservatives won the first new mayoral contest, with Tim Bowles (pictured in Bristol today) triumphant in the West of England

Former Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith said he believed there was 'no point' in Ukip today after its dramatic collapse in the local elections

Nigel Farage (pictured in Westminster today) had warned that Ukip was set to endure a torrid night in local elections - and early results proved him right

'And of course that means Ukip have really no skin in this game anymore. Because what's the point?

'The real point is that you have a government going to deliver on what the British people want.'

Leader Paul Nuttall tried to put a brave faced on the dismal results and claimed Ukip was a 'victim of our own success'.

'In the local elections yesterday many excellent UKIP representatives lost their seats on county councils despite campaigning hard for re-election,' he said.

'Frankly, there is nothing they could have done in the face of a big national swing to the Tories.'

The embattled leader added: 'If the price of Britain leaving the EU is a Tory advance after taking up this patriotic cause then it is a price UKIP is prepared to pay.

'We are the victims of our own success and now we pick ourselves up and go on to further success in the future.'

But former Ukip MP Douglas Carswell declared simply: 'It's over.'

In the first mayoral vote of the night, Mr Bowles emerged the victor in the West of England.

After second preference votes were counted he defeated Labour's Lesley Mansell by 51.6 per cent to 48.4 per cent.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson (pictured at her polling station in Edinburgh) is looking to make gains from Labour and the SNP at today's council elections

Nicola Sturgeon turned out to vote at Broomhouse Community Hall polling station in Glasgow with her husband Peter Murrell today (pictured)

In recent weeks, senior Labour figures have played up the importance of the local elections , and challenged Labour's poll ratings

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was pictured voting in Glasgow yesterday and her party is expected to top the poll in Scotland. But opponents said they were on a 'downward trajectory'.

SUCCESS FOR THE RUBBISH PARTY A candidate for the Rubbish Party has been elected to East Ayrshire Council. Sally Cogley has taken the seat in Irvine Valley along with Labour's George Mair and the SNP's Elena Whitham. The Rubbish Party was set up on a platform to tidy up the local area, clamping down on litter, dog fouling, fly tipping and pollution. Ms Cogley has been organising clean-up events in the local area. Advertisement

A candidate for the Rubbish Party has been elected to East Ayrshire Council.

Sally Cogley has taken the seat in Irvine Valley along with Labour's George Mair and the SNP's Elena Whitham.

The Rubbish Party was set up on a platform to tidy up the local area, clamping down on litter, dog fouling, fly tipping and pollution.

Ms Cogley has been organising clean-up events in the local area.

One bright spot for Labour is expected in Manchester where Andy Burnham should complete a straightforward victory in the race to be mayor.

But there is a too-close-to-call race in the West Midlands, where Tory Andy Street could pull off a surprise victory in Labour-dominated territory.

The patchwork of results will not directly reflect voters intentions on June 8 but will be pored over for evidence of what might happen.

A recent poll by Rob Hayward, a Conservative peer and pollster, suggested Labour is likely to lose control of Glasgow council  which it has held for 30 years - in its former heartland.

Elections expert Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said it would be 'very very surprising if Labour retains control of any council in Scotland'.

Tory Tim Bowles emerged triumphant in the West of England mayoral contest on a good night for the party

Defiant Jeremy Corbyn admits Labour had a 'difficult' local election but says he can STILL win on June 8 despite losing more than 360 seats in humbling local polls

A defiant Jeremy Corbyn insisted he could still win the general election tonight despite a humiliating set of local elections.

Labour lost more than 360 councillors, lost control of six local authorities and was humbled in mayoral races for the West Midlands and in the Tees Valley.

The Labour leader raced to Liverpool to celebrate the victory of Steve Rotheram in the city's mayoral race but the contest was as close to a foregone conclusion as any in UK politics.

Mr Corbyn admitted it had been a 'difficult' time for Labour as the results of yesterday's elections were declared overnight and through today.

Labour lost more than 360 councillors, lost control of six local authorities and was humbled in mayoral races for the West Midlands and in the Tees Valley

Addressing supporters in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn said: 'We've had some difficult results overnight. Some of them have been very good, we have gained seats in some places, we have held councils that many predicted we wouldn't.

'And others unfortunately have not been elected.'

He added: 'We have now got four weeks until the General Election. Four weeks to get our message out there.'

Tories make history as Andy Street wins the West Midlands in a second stunning mayoral win in the Labour heartlands for Theresa May

The Conservatives have won an historic victory in the race to be the first West Midlands Mayor.

Former John Lewis boss Andy Street saw off Labour's Sion Simon by just a handful of votes to win on the second round with 50.4 per cent.

Mr Street's victory was the second stunning victory for the Tories in the six elections yesterday to the new Metro Mayor posts.

Mr Street, whose high-profile election campaign is reported to have cost almost 1 million, gave up his business career last year to stand for the newly-created mayoral post.

Earlier Ben Houchen won the powerful post on the second round of counting, squeezing out Labour's Sue Jeffrey.

Former John Lewis boss Andy Street (pictured after he was declared the winner today) saw off Labour's Sion Simon by just a handful of votes.

The victories come in strongly pro-Brexit territory but Labour will be horrified to lose on territory which has traditionally been Labour.

In 2015, Labour won 21 of the 28 constituencies covered by the huge West Midlands combined authority won by Mr Street - but many of them also endorsed Brexit.

The area won by Mr Houchen includes Hartlepool - Peter Mandelson's old constituency - and the steel town of Redcar.

The new mayors will have control over significant budgets and devolved powers over transport, policing and other services.

NEW METRO MAYORS ELECTED TO SIX REGIONS UNDER DEVOLUTION DEALS Metro mayors have been elected to six regions of England today under devolution deals pioneered by George Osborne as Chancellor. The elections mean Liverpool, Manchester, Tees Valley, the West Midlands, the West of England and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough all have a powerful new figure head. Liverpool: Labour's Steve Rotherham wins on the first round with 59 per cent

wins on the first round with 59 per cent Manchester: Labour's Andy Burnham wins on the first round with 63 per cent

wins on the first round with 63 per cent Tees Valley: Tory Ben Houchen wins on the second round with 51.2 per cent

wins on the second round with 51.2 per cent West of England: Tory Tim Bowles wins on the second round with 51.6 per cent

wins on the second round with 51.6 per cent West Midlands: Tory Andy Street wins on the second round with 50.4 per cent

wins on the second round with 50.4 per cent Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: Tory James Palmer wins Metro mayors will chair a combined authority that has agreed to a Devolution Deal They have powers and responsibilities to make strategic decisions across whole city regions. The new mayors have powers in areas such as housing, transport and skills Advertisement

Labour pain in Wales as they face losing control of Keir Hardie's Merthyr Tydfil stronghold

Labour suffered bruising losses in Wales as voters deserted the party for nationalist, independents and Tory candidates.

A severe blow fell in the south Wales valleys, with independents taking control of Blaenau Gwent and the result on a knife edge in Merthyr Tydfil - where the final three seats will be declared on June 8. The party needs to win them all to stay in charge.

The outcome in Merthyr Tydfil was particularly embarrassing as it was the stronghold of Labour Party founder Keir Hardie.

Bridgend, which was toured by the PM at the end of last month, went from Labour to no overall control.

The outcome in Merthyr Tydfil was particularly embarrassing as it was the stronghold of Labour Party founder Keir Hardie

However, the party did manage to cling on in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea - avoiding some of its worst fears - and most of the pain was inflicted by independent candidates.

Brendan Toomey, who was Labour leader of council Merthyr Tydfil but lost his seat, told Raid 4: 'It's the birthplace of Labour, we are having a very disappointing evening to say the least.

'It is quite clear that huge numbers of the public aren't entirely happy, to say the least, with the way the Labour Party is going at the moment. There's no doubt about that.

'But I would say it goes a lot deeper than that.'

Stephen Kinnock, MP for Aberavon before Parliament was dissolved, admitted it was a pretty 'disastrous picture'

'The fact of the matter is that Jeremy's leadership does come up on the doorstep,' he said.

'We have to make this general election about more than leadership  about the future of our country.'

A spokeswoman for Plaid Cymru said the loss of Bridgend, where the nationalist party gained two seats, increasing its total there to three, was 'quite embarrassing' for Welsh Labour and undermined the status of Mr Jones.

She said: 'The concept of Labour safe seats in Wales is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

'Plaid Cymru is encouraged by the progress we are making in all parts of Wales.'

Elsewhere, the Conservatives gained control of Monmouthshire from no overall control and Ceredigion remains under no overall control, with Plaid Cymru retaining its position as the largest party.

Ahead of the election, Labour held 536 seats and had outright control of 10 of the local authorities, but was facing challenges from Plaid Cymru, Tories, Lib Dems and Ukip.

Plaid Cymru had 177 councillors and was fielding 549 candidates, while the Tories held 103 seats and put 621 names on ballots across the country.
A Fox News reporter claims she was fired less than 24 hours after trying to submit an internal complaint about workplace sexism, according to a lawsuit filed on Thursday.

Jessica Golloher, a foreign affairs correspondent for Fox News Radio, said she was out of a job shortly after she contacted a law firm that Fox had hired to handle internal employee grievances - a decision Golloher claims was 'retaliation' for her complaints.

But Fox denies the claim, saying that Golloher's department was earmarked for budget cuts - and as the only reporter in it, she was automatically up for the chop.

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Lawsuit: Jessica Golloher (pictured) is suing Fox News Radio. She says they fired her after she contacted the company's lawyers about alleged workplace discrimination and sexism

The lawsuit is the latest public relations crisis for the network, which is also facing a class action racial discrimination suit and sexual harassment allegations from some of its top female stars.

It also comes just weeks after Fox News was forced to terminate its leading host, Bill O'Reilly, amid revelations that he paid millions to settle a string of sexual harassment claims.

Golloher's lawsuit claims she routinely faced gender discrimination, and when she complained she was told to just 'fly under the radar.'

A spokesperson for Fox News told Dailymail.com that Golloher's allegations are unfounded.

'Jessica Golloher's claims are without merit. Her allegations of discrimination and retaliation are baseless. We will vigorously defend the matter,' said the spokesperson.

According to the complaint, Golloher's bosses replaced her with a male reporter while she was in Sochi covering the Olympics because they wanted 'a man as the voice of Fox during the Olympics.'

She says she was relegated to 'secretarial' work and reporting on Moscow's decision to ban lace panties.

'Ms Golloher to [was told to] spend time on the ridiculous and frivolous "panty protests" in Russia,' said the complaint, calling the decision a 'humiliation.'

Golloher also claims her bosses complained that she looked 'horrible' in company photos and said she should provide better pictures because she was 'much better looking in person.'

She said the company often turned down her story ideas 'using such pretexts as dangerous conditions or expense of traveling for the story, yet male reporters were sent to the precise locations she had pitched.'

Denial: The company denied the claims, saying that it axed the Jerusalem bureau for budget reasons, and as its only reporter she was inevitably going to be fired

The lawsuit claims Golloher complained to her superiors a number of times, but her grievances were ignored.

According to the filing, when she complained about a male anchor's allegedly 'rude and disparaging' behavior, she was told there had been similar complaints about the anchor but that she should just 'fly under the radar.'

The response was 'a subtle warning that Ms Golloher would be retaliated against if she chose to push the issue,' the lawsuit claims.

In April, after news broke about the multiple sexual harassment complaints against O'Reilly, Fox News sent out a company-wide email telling employees to contact the Paul Weiss law firm with any workplace complaints 'so that we can attempt to address your concerns promptly and confidentially.'

Golloher claims that she tried to do exactly that and was fired within a day.

She emailed the law firm on April 17: 'I'm having some issues at FOX. Is it feasible to give you a call this week? I'd really appreciate it.'

A lawyer responded back a few hours later to set up a next meeting. But the next day, Golloher's boss allegedly told her that she would be terminated in August due to budgetary constraints.

The lawsuit claims Golloher was fired as 'retaliation' for her trying to file a complaint.

'[I]t was clear that Ms Golloher was intending on reporting the discriminatory behavior in the workplace,' said the suit.

Trouble: Golloher contacted the lawyers after Fox set up an in-house complaints line as a result of high-profile sexual harassment claims. Bill O'Reilly (pictured) was one Fox employee accused of such harassment

Douglas Wigdor, an attorney for Golloher who is also representing other employee lawsuits against Fox News, called the case 'yet another indication of [Fox's] lack of oversight and retaliatory animus for those that are brave enough to report unlawful conduct.'

Wigdor claimed on Tuesday that several of his other clients were also 'threatened' with legal action by Fox News's lawyers prior to filing lawsuits.

'Hours before we amended [a racial discrimination class action suit against Fox] to add nine new Plaintiffs and Class Action allegations, we received a letter from Fox's Counsel, Epstein, Becker & Green, PC ('EBG'), threatening our clients and our Firm should certain clients go public with their claims,' said Wigdor.

'Specifically, EBG, on behalf of Fox, threatened to 'seek sanctions and other remedies in the appropriate forum.'

A person familiar with the matter told Dailymail.com that Golloher's termination was unrelated to her contacting Foxs law firm, Paul Weiss.

The source said Golloher's contract, which was scheduled to expire in August, was not renewed for budget reasons after the company decided to eliminate its radio operations in the Jerusalem bureau due to budget cuts across Fox News Radio. Golloher was the only radio reporter stationed in the Jerusalem bureau.

The source also said the Paul Weiss law firm attempted to follow up with Golloher twice after she contacted them, but she never replied.
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Malcolm Turnbull has been left with his hand dangling after US president Donald Trump failed to notice the Australian PM's attempted handshake.

The two leaders met in New York on Friday, Sydney time, for the first time. The meeting comes after the infamous tetchy phone call in February between the two leaders that rattled ties between the allies.

There was another awkward moment in New York, when Mr Turnbull stuck out his hand to congratulate Mr Trump during a photo call in front of media cameras. But Mr Turnbull's outstretched hand went unnoticed as Mr Trump faced the cameras.

The moment passed quickly when Mr Trump soon afterward offered his hand, and the men shook hands warmly and smilled.

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Trump (left) was too busy smiling for the cameras to see Mr Turnbull's (right) hand dangling in front of him

Malcolm Turnbull has been left with his hand dangling in the air after US president Donald Trump failed to notice the Australian PM's attempted handshake

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appeared to be overly excited at the much-awaited meeting with US President Donald Trump

This was the first time the pair had met since a tetchy phone call rattled ties after Trump took office, when he 'objected' to the deal that the US would take in refugees from Australia's Pacific island detention centres

In the awkward moment, Mr Turnbull extended his right hand toward Mr Trump and said: 'Well congratulations on your vote today.'

At that moment Mr Trump was smiling for the cameras, and apparently did not see Mr Turnbull's hand dangling in front of him.

But the Australian PM quickly diffused the situation by continuing the conversation.

'Yes it was a big day,' said Mr Trump.

Malcolm Turnbull and President Donald Trump have shaken hands and sat down together for the first time - and the Australian Prime Minister appeared to be very excited at the much-awaited meeting.

Mr Trump addressed the phone call on Thursday on board a decommissioned aircraft carrier in New York, saying it 'was a little bit of fake news' and that they 'weren't babies'.

Photos show the pair exchanging hand shakes, smiles and at one point Mr Turnbull appeared to clench his fists in excitement while chatting with the leader

Mr Trump described February's tense phone call with the Australian Prime Minister as 'a bit of fake news'

'You guys exaggerated that call. That was an exaggeration,' Mr Trump said.

Trump reportedly exploded and cut short the call when he was told about a deal to move some refugees from Australia to America.

Thursday's meeting was delayed by almost three hours with the President running late after remaining in Washington to pass a bill on Obamacare.

'We get along great. Always do,' Mr Trump, with Mr Turnbull sitting next to him on the USS Intrepid, told reporters.

When asked about Australia, Mr Trump raved: 'One of the most beautiful places on Earth.'

Photos show the pair exchanging hand shakes, smiles and at one point Mr Turnbull appeared to clench his fists in excitement while chatting with the leader.

Trump reportedly exploded and cut short the call (pictured) when he was told about a deal to move some refugees from Australia to America

The meeting onboard was delayed by almost three hours with the President running late after remaining in Washington to pass a bill on Obamacare

'We get along great. Always do,' Mr Trump, with Mr Turnbull sitting next to him on the USS Intrepid, told reporters

Mr Turnbull was still beaming as he spoke to Mr Trump and his wife Lucy at a dinner after the meeting

Mr Trump described Australia as one of the most beautiful places in the world and said he wants to visit.

The meeting was supposed to take place at a Manhattan Hotel, but the pair instead sat down on the decommissioned aircraft carrier on the Hudson River for 30 minutes.

Before the meeting, numerous immigrant and other groups, including Rise and Resist, were protesting Manhattan streets, aiming to disrupt Mr Trump's homecoming.

It is the president's first trip back to his home city since departing for Washington DC on January 19 for his inauguration.

Rally organisers are encouraging participants to bring pots and pans to bang in the hope Mr Trump will hear.

Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) speaks during a dinner aboard the USS Intrepid docked on the Hudson River in New York

President Donald Trump (left) embraces media mogul Rupert Murdoch (right) at the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea

The United States President and the Australian Prime Minister shook hands for the first time, with Mr Turnbull appearing to be excited for the meeting

Mr Trump also described Australia as one of the most beautiful places in the world and said he wants to visit. Mr Trump is pictured here boarding the Air Force One on Thursday before the meeting

As Mr Trump spoke on board the USS Intrepid in New York, the Australian Prime Minister was all smiles

'We get along great. Always do,' Mr Trump, with Mr Turnbull sitting next to him on the USS Intrepid, told reporters

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull listened intently to Mr Trump as they spoke to reporters in New York on Thursday

'We want to get as close as possible so they hear us inside,' Nelini Stamp of the Working Families Party told the New York Times.

Mr Turnbull and his wife, Lucy, touched down in New York on Wednesday evening and received a multi-car NYPD escort to their Manhattan hotel.

Mr Turnbull also met with Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US Pacific Command, and officials from the NYPD-FBI anti-terrorism task force on Thursday.

After their bilateral meeting, Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump will deliver speeches on the decommissioned USS Intrepid aircraft carrier, the site of Thursday's 75th Anniversary Battle of the Coral Sea commemorative dinner.

Four Australian and three US veterans, aged in their 90s, who fought in the pivotal battle against the Japanese will attend.

The leaders were all smiles as they were photographed during their first meeting on Thursday

Malcolm Turnbull and Lucy Turnbull (pictured behind) smile as they are snapped walking behind US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump (pictured in front)

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania, Mr Turnbull and his wife Lucy were seen arriving at an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea after the meeting

US President Donald Trump (pictured) pumps his fist as his presence is acknowledged at an event with veterans

U.S. President Donald Trump (pictured) delivers remarks at an event with veterans and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea

Before the meeting, numerous immigrant and other groups, including Rise and Resist, were protesting Manhattan streets, aiming to disrupt Mr Trump's homecoming

Rally organisers are encouraging participants to bring pots and pans to bang in the hope Mr Trump will hear

The President was due to meet Mr Turnbull at a Manhattan hotel but instead they met on board a decommissioned aircraft carrier
In Letters to a Young Education Reformer , I distinguish between big R and little r school reform. My point is that reformers can get so enamored with enacting grand, proper-noun solutions that they shortchange the stuff that actually delivers for real kids in real classrooms. I say this not to encourage some kind of anarchistic rejection of policy change, but to highlight that reformers admirable passion and urgency can work at cross-purposes with their hopes and aspirations. In Letters, I offer some insights and advice that may help reformers better navigate those shoals.

This all comes to mind because yesterday, at AEI, we hosted conversations exploring Hard Lessons in School Reform. The discussion featured a raft of savvy voices, including KIPP co-founder Mike Feinberg, Center for Education Reform chief Jeanne Allen, the iconic Howard Fuller, former New Schools for New Orleans CEO Neerav Kingsland, Newark supe Chris Cerf, Education Post founder Peter Cunningham, New Mexico state chief Hanna Skandera, and many others. You can watch the event video here . One fascinating exchange was about how to strike the right balance between promoting coherent teaching and learning, on the one hand, and inadvertently creating smothering bureaucracies along the way, on the other.

Chris Cerf argued for the critical role of big system changes around things like accountability, standards, and teacher evaluation. Micromanagement generally doesnt work, he cautioned, and you cant change anything with a Powerpoint. You have to defer to those on the ground. But, he emphasized, Big ideas have inherent value, warning reformers against shrinking from those endeavors. And big ideas sometimes involve useful prescription. He pointed out that high-performing charter schools have adopted more prescriptive curricular models and pedagogies over time, and that looking for a thousand flowers to bloom has a long and storied history of failure in American schooling.

Jeanne Allen pushed back, noting that the search for big ideas has led school reformers to pivot too quickly from one idea to the next. She argued, Reformers say, Thats the new thing! We should do it. But someone has to write a law, someone has to regulate it, the ideas wind up in the hands of people who werent part of the original conversations, and the whole endeavor goes south. She said, In college, were taught not to say, I think. But I wish wed say, I think, more often, because we often speak as if we know things that we dont actually know. I dont think the evidence suggests that letting 1,000 flowers bloom fails. You may think that, but saying I know suggests you know something that you dont actually know.

Mike Feinberg weighed in with some pithy wisdom from the classic film Spinal Tap, observing, Theres a fine line between clever and stupid. At KIPP, he noted, For our first 180 schools or so, we let them bloom. Some were beautiful, some were duds. But now were at 200 existing schools, and its no longer a blank canvas for the school leader. Its not paint-by-numbers, either; its not like any dummy can do it. But we give leaders a framework and a set of tools, without suggesting that weve got it all figured out. Feinberg said KIPP still wants leaders who feel empowered to figure new things out, but we dont need everyone to reinvent the wheel when it comes to school number 201.

However, Feinberg admitted that he wrestles with making sure that KIPP get this balance rightthat they stay on the right side of that fine line between being clever and stupid. He said, We spend a lot of time thinking about what if the next version of [co-founder] Dave [Levin] and me were two teachers in our schools. Feinberg recalled the tale of his early efforts back when he was a teacherhow, after encountering waves of bureaucratic resistance, he ultimately resorted to sitting on Houston superintendent Rod Paiges car for five hours just to get permission to launch KIPP. He said, I hope to God that we havent created a structure where the young guns who have a great idea feel like they need to get out from under the man. We make it a point to keep asking ourselves, Have we become the man?

Its a good question with no simple answer. But I think the way Chris, Jeanne, and Mike reflected on it illustrates how we can sort through the real challenges of school improvement. Its not by getting lost in abstract debates, but rather by grappling with the need for a healthy balance between dynamism and coherence, between reinventing the wheel and devising better answers.
HG Wells pictured in 1937 describing what he described as the curve of war to journalists

The War of the Worlds is one of the best-read science fiction books in history - so it is something of a surprise that it has never been adapted for British television.

But, 120 years after it was first published, that is finally set to change.

The BBC is planning a three-part adaptation of H G Wells novel, which imagines a catastrophic alien invasion.

Whilst previous big screen adaptations have been set in America, this version will stay true to the original book and unfold in London and Surrey - where marauding Martians are attacking humans.

The tentacled aliens use sophisticated fighting machines known as tripods and chemical weapons dubbed Black Smoke to lay waste to as many people as possible, in order that they can suck their blood.

The novel will be adapted by Peter Harness, the screenwriter behind Wallander and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and broadcast next year.

Damien Timmer, head of Mammoth Screen - the production company which will make the show  said that his adaptation will remain faithful to the original.

This huge title - the original alien invasion story  has been loosely adapted and riffed on countless times, but no one has ever attempted to follow Wells and locate the story in Dorking at the turn of the last century.

We hope Peters adaptation will be the definitive adaptation of one of the great classic novels.'

Author Herbert George Wells (pictured) was born in Bromley in 1866 to parents who were shopkeepers in Kent. He died in 1946 and suffering from diabetes set up The Diabetic Association which later became Diabetes UK in the years before his death

Mr Harness said: Im feeling phenomenally lucky to be writing The War of the Worlds, and blowing up gigantic swathes of the Home Counties at the dawn of the twentieth century.

Who was HG Wells? Author Herbert George Wells was born in Bromley in 1866 to parents who were shopkeepers in Kent. His first novel was The Time Machine, but his most famous work was The War of the Worlds. It was seen as a revolutionary vision into the future. He died in 1946 and suffering from diabetes set up The Diabetic Association which later became Diabetes UK in the years before his death. Advertisement

The War of the Worlds has been dramatised numerous times over the years  but it has almost always been set in America.

One of the most famous versions was the 1953 film starring Gene Barry, which placed the action in California

In the late eighties, Paramount made a series for American and Canadian television imagining what would have happened there after the novel finished.

And, more recently, in 2005, the HG Wells book was turned into a major Hollywood blockbuster directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Cruise as an American father trying to save his family.

According to insiders, British broadcasters have wanted to do a faithful retelling of HG Wells book for some time.

However, it was difficult to get the rights from Paramount  and it was considered too expensive to make.

Recent advances in technology mean that it is now much cheaper.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes attend a special fan screening of Paramount Pictures' War of the Worlds at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood June 27, 2005

Piers Wenger, the BBCs new drama boss, said: Up until now, TV has not been able to achieve the same production values as film, and that is no longer the case. We think this is a way of exploring period drama in a really new, and surprising way.

He added that The War of the Worlds was one of a number of new series that will make the BBCs output feel more British  so that in five years time it feels like a celebration of British authorship, identity and life in all its most diverse forms.

A classic sci-fi novel The War of the Worlds is a science fiction novel by HG Wells, which was first published in 1897 as a serialisation in Pearson's Magazine in the UK and Cosmopolitan in the US. A year later it was published in book form and tells the tale of two brothers as England is invaded by Martians. It was an instant hit and has been adapted numerous times. The most famous of which was Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast, which went out as a news bulletin and caused widespread panic. Jeff Wayne launched his musical interpretation of the story in 1978 and Tom Cruise starred in a Steven Spielberg-directed movie in 2005. Advertisement

I want a strong streak of Britishness to run through the centre of everything we do. It gives us distinctiveness in a crowded landscape and a strong identity internationally. I think its the individuality, chutzpah, determined vision and tireless curiosity at the heart of Britains creative community which has played a huge part in turning drama from the UK into such a valuable cultural export, he said.

But not everything on the BBCs new slate of dramas quite lives up to that billing.

The corporation is also planning a new version of Little Women, the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott which follows the story of the four March sisters growing up in 19th century America.

Call The Midwife writer Heidi Thomas will adapt the book for a three-part series expected to air later this year or in 2018.

Miss Thomas said: Little Women is one of the most loved novels in the English language and with good reason. Its humanity, humour and tenderness never date, and as a study of love, grief and growing up it has no equal. There could be no better time to revisit the story of a family striving for happiness in an uncertain world, and I am thrilled to be bringing the March girls to a new generation of viewers.

Little Women has been dramatised numerous times since its publication in 1868. The first was in 1933 starring Katharine Hepburn as the tomboy of the sisters, Jo March. It was a role reprised by Winona Rider in 1993.
An obvious spelling error on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald has come at an unfortunate time - as hundreds of staff strike in protest of proposed job cuts.

In the headline for its lead story on household debt on Friday, the publication misspelt the word 'economy' as 'ecomomy'.

The glaring typo was picked up by radio personality Amanda Keller and shared to her followers on Instagram with the caption: 'I guess spellcheck is on strike too!'

The error comes amidst revelations there are just 10 staff attempting to keep Fairfax Media's publications afloat while journalists strike against far-reaching redundancies.

The Sydney Morning Herald misspelt economy as 'ecomomy' on the paper's front page

The glaring typo was picked up by radio personality Amanda Keller and shared to her followers on Instagram - as hundreds of staff strike for seven days against mass redundancies

Empty desks and chairs lined the deserted offices at Sydney Morning Herald and The Age after journalists staged a walk off on Wednesday morning.

A photograph of The Age's Melbourne offices showed deserted workspaces after journalists at Fairfax Media metropolitan mastheads voted to strike for seven days.

Reporters also walked out of the Canberra press gallery. The strike means the Fairfax reporters will not be working on the night of the Federal Budget next Tuesday.

Canberra Times journalists voted in solidarity with affected colleagues. They will not strike but will not do additional work to fill the gaps left by striking comrades.

WA Today and Brisbane Times journalists have also voted to strike and walked off the job on Wednesday. Newcastle Herald journalists will strike for 24 hours.

The typo comes amidst revelations there are just 10 staff attempting to keep Fairfax Media's publications afloat while journalists strike (Melbourne office of The Age pictured)

Staff at The Age newspaper are pictured with copies of the newspaper torn in protest to the announced redundancies

Marcus Strom, the Science Editor at Sydney Morning Herald and a board member at MEAA union, told Daily Mail Australia the decision to strike in response to 'unprecedented' cuts was not taken lightly.

'The seven day strike reflects the feeling that we regard these cuts as an existential threat to the journalism we do, which is in the interest of a democratic society.

'We're not just concerned for our jobs. We're actually concerned for journalism, and being able to hold politicians and businesses to account - which is what we do every day.

'We want to send the message that you can't do decent journalism without decently funded newsrooms.'

Mr Strom told 9 News that a handful of journalists legally exempt from striking were left to maintain the publication, as hundreds protested outside Fairfax's Pyrmont office.

'We heard they tried to call in a lot of freelancers for the week but were told they aren't available,' Strom told the publication.

'There's a skeleton staff in there right now mainly using wire copy to put together stories. Literally a handful, like 10 people who are exempt from striking in their agreements.'
EU President Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured yesterday) appeared drunk at a UN Peace summit, it is alleged

EU President Jean-Claude Juncker was reportedly 'drunk and bumping into furniture' at a UN Peace Summit during critical talks.

Juncker was said to be 'very visibly p**ed' during talks over Cyprus, which has been split between Greece and Turkey for decades, in Geneva.

A diplomat also said that the 62-year-old's familiar behaviour with some young aides was 'embarrassing'.

A source told The Sun: 'He was bumping around into things, and going up to junior members of staff for conversations.

'It was odd behaviour, and a little bit embarrassing for everyone'.

Allegations of his drunken behaviour during the January talks come amid tentative negotiations over Brexit between the EU President and Theresa May.

Brussels yesterday mocked the Prime Minister's claims bureaucrats were meddling in the General Election, countering that they were 'too busy' to interfere.

A spokesman for EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Brussels has 'too much to do on our plate' to dwell on Brexit.

While at a separate press conference yesterday, EU Council President Donald Tusk pleaded for 'mutual respect'.

In an apparent swipe at Theresa May, he warned that politicians should not let their 'emotions get out of hand' during the crucial talks.

And President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani also denied claims by Theresa May that Brussels tried to meddle in the election with damaging leaks about Brexit.

Donald Tusk, pictured last week at a press conference in Brussels, pleaded for mutual respect and warned politicians not to let their 'emotions get out of hand' during Brexit talks

A spokesman for Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured right today with the Estonian PM Juri Ratas) said Brussels was 'too busy' to interfere in the election

The comments came amid heightened tensions after Mrs May made an blistering speech on the steps of No 10 calling out EU officials over aggressive leaking about Brexit.

The PM hosted a delegation from the European Commission at a dinner last week, but leaks from Brussels suggested she was out of her depth.

Mr Juncker's spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, brushed off Mrs May's comments.

He told reporters in Brussels: 'We are not naive, we know that there is an election taking place in the United Kingdom. People get excited whenever we have elections.

The President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani (pictured with the Prime Minister on April 20) today denied claims by Theresa May that Brussels tried to meddle in the election with damaging leaks about Brexit

After seeing the Queen, Theresa May last night delivered an extraordinary assessment of the 'threats and misrepresentation' coming out of Brussels (pictured)

'This election in the United Kingdom is mainly about Brexit. But we here in Brussels, we are very busy, rather busy, with our policy work.

'We have too much to do on our plate. So, in a nutshell, we are very busy. And we will not Brexitise our work.

'To put it in the words of an EU diplomat, the 30-minute slot that we are going to devote to Brexit per week, for this week it's up.'

Pressed on whether Mrs May was right to claim that EU figures were using 'threats' to influence the election, Mr Schinas said: 'I said that we are not naive and we know that it is time that elections happen.

'People get excited over elections, it's normal, so things are said.

'We don't Brexitise our very important policy work. We are too busy now to engage in these comments on who said this or that.'

Speaking at a museum opening in Brussels today Mr Tajani said: 'No one is trying to influence the outcome the election campaign in the United Kingdom.'

He added: 'It is better to have an interlocutor who is not constantly looking for votes because they have had the election, in order to work towards a good solution...

'If you have an election campaign, the rhetoric gets sharper and more robust. I don't think there is any question of influencing the campaign.'

Meanwhile, at a separate press conference Mr Tusk pleaded for calm and mutual respect in the looming Brexit negotiations.

He said: 'These negotiations are difficult enough as they are.

'If we start arguing before they even begin they will become impossible.

'The stakes are too high to let our emotions get out of hand because at stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the channel.

'We must keep in mind that in order to succeed we need today discretion, moderation, mutual respect and a maximum of goodwill.'

In a reference to poisonous briefing coming out of the top ranks of the EU, Mrs May said she believed there were efforts to skew the election

Poisonous briefing followed the visit to No10 by Jean-Claude Juncker (left) and Michel Barnier last week. They are pictured in Brussels today

In her extraordinary speech this week, Mrs May appealed for the backing of voters so she can 'fight for Britain' despite the interference

She said: 'Britain's negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press. The European Commission's negotiating stance has hardened.

THE BRUSSELS THREATS THAT DREW THE PM'S WRATH German chacellor Angela Merkel Aides to EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker briefed that PM was 'deluded' and 'in another galaxy' after meeting her for talks last Wednesday night. Sources branded the meeting a 'disaster' and revealed he told Mrs May: 'I'm leaving Downing Street 10 times more sceptical than I was before.' German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the Bundestag last week: '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. 'I have to say this clearly here because I get the feeling that some people in Britain continue to work under illusions, and that is a waste of time.' EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier jibed at Mrs May today: 'Some have created the illusion that Brexit will have no material impact on our lives or that negotiations can be concluded quickly and easily.' He warned that failure to pay a divorce demand - expected to be as much as 90billion - would have 'explosive' consequences. Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator, mocked Mrs May's 'strong and stable' election slogan. 'Any Brexit deal requires a strong and stable understanding of the complex issues involved,' he said. 'The clock is ticking  it's time to get real.' Advertisement

'Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials.

'All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the General Election that will take place on June 8.'

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has insisted he 'deeply respects' Mrs May as a 'tough lady' in an apparent attempt to cool the growing row between Brussels and London.

The extraordinary speech on the steps of Downing Street came after Mrs May went to see the Queen following the dissolution of parliament.

It was warmly welcomed by Brexiteers - but drew howls of anguish from pro-EU politicians such as SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and the Jeremy Corbyn.

Miss Sturgeon accused Mrs May or trying to 'poison the well' ahead of the Brexit talks, while the Labour leader said she was playing 'party games' with the issues.

The premier lashed out witheringly at the 'coalition of chaos' that was being offered by Mr Corbyn.

But she saved her most vicious language for senior EU figures, after a brutal spat threatened to kill off the Brexit negotiations before they even began.

Relations have plunged to new lows after a detailed account emerged of a Downing Street dinner with EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and chief negotiator Michel Barnier last week.

The briefing, thought to have come from Mr Juncker's chief of staff Martin Selmayr, accused Mrs May of being clueless and put the chances of talks falling apart at 50-50.

Mr Barnier unveiled a hard-line stance for the talks today, warning that Britain will face 'explosive' consequences if it does not pay a Brexit divorce bill that has been doubled to around 90billion.

Mr Juncker and Mr Selmayr appeared to be trying to take some of the heat out of the row tonight with more conciliatory remarks praising Mrs May's efforts to navigate the EU divorce.

But the PM, who vowed yesterday to be a 'bloody difficult woman' in the looming talks, said the public were seeing quite how difficult the Brussels club would be over the coming years.

'The events of the last few days have shown that whatever our wishes and however reasonable the positions of Europe's other leaders, there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed, who do not want Britain to prosper.'

EU Council President Donald Tusk pleaded for 'mutual respect' this afternoon and warned the rows over Brexit could get 'out of hand'

The Russian Embassy Twitter account strikes again - by mocking Theresa May's warnings about meddling in Britain's General Election on June 8

Politicians officially ceased being MPs at midnight and are now candidates once again, as the country prepares to elect a new House of Commons.

However, the PM - and her ministers - remain in post to run the government during the period.

Mrs May has described the ballot as the 'most important' in her lifetime, and a strong Tory majority is essential to secure the best possible Brexit deal.

She warned today that people's livelihoods are on the line if the talks with the EU are not conducted effectively.

'If we don't get the negotiation right, your economic security and prosperity will be put at risk and the opportunities you seek for your families will simply not happen,' she said.

'If we do not stand up and get this negotiation right we risk the secure and well-paid jobs we want for our children and our children's children too.

Russian Embassy Twitter account joins in the mockery of Theresa May The Russian Embassy Twitter account risked enraging Britons by joining in the mockery of Theresa May. The account, which has gained a reputation for ruthlessly poking fun at Western leaders online, tweeted a picture of a newspaper front page carrying the PM's warning that 'Brussels is meddling in our election'. Alongside the picture was a message reading 'Praise God it's not Russia this time '. The comment is likely to have been a reference to Mrs May's revelation earlier this week that Britain had taken steps to prevent Putin's Russia hacking into or interfering with the looming election. Asked about the threat Vladimir Putin may pose to the June 8 vote, she said: 'Relatively recently the Government opened the new cyber security centre which is a very important step forward. 'That centre has already been working with the political parties, offering them advice on how they can protect themselves against the possibility of cyber intrusion. 'But as far as I am concerned, we do everything we can to ensure that the elections here in this United Kingdom are free and fair.' Advertisement

'If we don't get the negotiation right, if we let the bureaucrats of Brussels run over us, we will lose the chance to build a fairer society with real opportunity for all.

'The choice the country faces now is very simple. Because there are only two people who can possibly be Prime Minister after June 8 to negotiate Brexit.

'It is a choice between me  and Jeremy Corbyn.'

Mr Corbyn said the PM was using Brexit for a 'political game'.

'Theresa May is playing party games with Brexit in the hope of winning advantage for the Tories in the General Election,' he said.

'By winding up the public confrontation with Brussels, the Prime Minister wants to wrap the Conservative party in the Union Jack and distract attention from her government's economic failure and rundown of our public services.

'The Prime Minister is right that there are those in Brussels who don't want a deal. But that is also true of leading figures in the Tory party, who want to use Brexit to turn Britain into a low wage tax haven.

'The Prime Minister says that no deal would lead to a different economic model for Britain.

'In plain terms, that means wiping out employment rights and consumer protections and giving still more tax breaks to the rich and big corporations.

Miss Sturgeon, who has been looking to exploit Brexit to secure Scottish independence and tear the UK apart, said Mrs May was 'deliberately seeking to poison the well will make the negotiating task ahead even harder'.

'This is an irresponsible, gratuitous attack on our European neighbours, which is aimed at diverting attention from the Tories' dismal record on health, the economy, austerity and welfare by painting the EU as a bogeyman,' she said.

The PM, pictured walking back into No10 after her speech, appealed for the backing of voters so she can 'fight for Britain'

Mrs May saved her most vicious language today for senior EU figures, after a brutal spat threatened to kill off the Brexit negotiations before they even began

Miss Sturgeon, who has been looking to exploit Brexit to secure Scottish independence and tear the UK apart, said Mrs May was 'deliberately seeking to poison the well will make the negotiating task ahead even harder'

'Insulting our neighbours simply makes the Brexit mountain much harder to climb, but unfortunately it is par for the course from Theresa May.'

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry described Mrs May as a 'hybrid of Nixon and Cersei Lannister' - the latter being a reference to the notorious Game of Thrones character.

Mr Juncker told a press conference today that he was 'sorry' about the leaks from the Downing Street dinner.

And his chief of staff, Mr Selmayr, attempted to cool the issue this evening by hailing Mrs May as an 'impressive woman and a very impressive negotiator'.

HOW THE EU WANTS TO INFLATE THE BREXIT DIVORCE BILL EU states have been piling on demands as they realise the scale of the hole about to be left in the bloc's finances by the departure of its second biggest contributor. The key elements of the divorce demand from Brussels include: The UK should keep paying into EU coffers until 2020 - after we formally leave - because that is when budgets have been set until.

Farm subsidy payments and EU administration fees for 2019 and 2020.

Britain should fund agreed loans that have already been agreed to poorer EU states.

UK to be denied a share of the bloc's assets, such as buildings, which could have brought the sum down.

Other costs include generous pensions for thousands of Eurocrats.

Although the estimated 100billion total would be payable up front, some of the money would be expected to come back over the decades. Advertisement

'That's the way we have come to know her, and I don't think that's going to change,' he said.

'We need a very strong negotiator who unites the whole nation behind her and then in a very strong and tough way leads the negotiations.'

Mr Selmayr admitted that the leaks of last week's dinner had created 'a lot of havoc', but insisted that the EU side were treating the negotiations 'professionally'.

'Certainly there is much ado about this, but that doesn't change anything in principle for the President of the Commission, the EU and Michel Barnier,' he said.

'We will be going about this very professionally.'

He added: 'Brexit will never become a success, of course, because it is a sad and sorry event.

'But as I have set out, it can be managed in a professional and pragmatic way.'

Mr Selmayr suggested Mr Juncker will be spending only about 'half an hour a week' on the Brexit.

Speaking from Brussels, Mr Juncker added: 'I deeply respect the British Prime Minister, I like her as a person.

'I have noted that she is a tough lady, so this is not for the future, this is the real-time description.'

Polls suggest the Conservatives are on track for a huge victory on June 8.

New research by Panelbase today shows the Tories 17 per cent ahead of Labour, which would translate to a majority of more than 100.

Meanwhile, a Cantar poll gave Mrs May a massive 24 point lead.

Even previously safe Labour seats are thought to be vulnerable to a collapse in the Ukip vote and Tory surge.

But the country is in for an attritional struggle as Mrs May relentlessly hammers home her core message.

In a classic moment of British pomp and ceremony, the Prime Minister made the journey earlier today from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace

The Queen arrived at the Palace at around 14.45 (pictured) - just a quarter of an hour before the PM pulled up in her car

The stakes on the election were underlined today as the EU set out a tough line for the looming negotiations.

Mr Barnier warned that Brexit will be be painful as he insisted the UK will have to abide by the bloc's terms.

In a clear jibe at Mrs May, he cautioned that 'some have created the illusion' that the process could be quick and painless.

The PM was greeted by an equerry as she arrived at Buckingham Palace after the short drive from No10 today

Mrs May spent around 30 minutes inside the palace before heading back for her blistering speech outside No10

Mrs May's official Jaguar made the short trip from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace and back this afternoon

He bluntly stated that was 'simply not telling the truth' and there would be 'consequences' - warning that Britain will be forced to 'settle' an exit bill that could run to more than 90billion.

He also insisted the European Court of Justice would settle disputes over the relationship in future.

At a press conference in the Belgian capital, Mr Barnier said: 'Some have created the illusion that Brexit will have no material impact on our lives or that negotiations can be concluded quickly and easily.

'That is not the case.'

He said there had to be a 'legal' process that covered all the technical points of the separation. That had to be settled before a future trade deal could be considered.

The PM's car went through the famous gates of Buckingham Palace before she went inside to meet the monarch

The latest polls suggest the Conservatives are on track for a huge victory on June 8

Although parliament only officially dissolved at midnight, in reality the campaign is well under way - with the Tories unveiling this poster today

Jean-Claude Juncker's henchman dubbed the Monster is accused of leaking dirt on Downing Street dinner Brutal: Martin Selmayr He is referred to as the 'monster' by his boss Jean-Claude Juncker and privately boasts about manipulating journalists to get his own way. So it is perhaps unsurprising that the controversy over a Downing Street dinner between Theresa May and EU bosses has been declared the dirty work of Martin Selmayr. The German lawyer has developed a fearsome reputation in the European Commission, where he has an iron fist as Mr Juncker's chief of staff. Despite being relatively unknown outside Brussels, the 46-year-old is regarded as the brains behind major EU decisions. But he has garnered a wide range of enemies with his brutal style. Former Commission vice president Kristalina Georgieva blamed her resignation on his no-holds-barred approach, which she branded 'poisonous'. Colleagues and acquaintances have nicknamed him Lenin, Darth Vader and Rasputin. Advertisement




An NYPD traffic cop who drove head-on into a pillar on the Williamsburg Bridge, killing a 21-year-old friend who was in the car after celebrating her birthday, has been indicted on numerous charges.

Stefan Hoyte, 26, was drunk and driving 111 miles per hour before the crash, say police. The speed limit on the bridge is 35mph.

Hoyte reportedly told police he was going 55 or 60mph, but an investigation found otherwise.

Traffic cop Stefan Hoyte, 26, is charged in the death of Amanda Miner, 21, who was thrown from his car after he crashed into a barrier on the Williamsburg Bridge

Devastated family of Miner, who was out celebrating her 21st birthday that night, leave the courtroom

He is charged with manslaughter in the second degree, vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, according to a statement released by the New York County district attorney's office.

On March 16, at approximately 3.12am, Hoyte was driving the victim and her boyfriend home to Brooklyn from a Manhattan bar, say police.

Heading south on the Williamsburg Bridge, Hoyte, who was at the wheel of a 2013 Infiniti G37, plowed into a pillar, throwing birthday girl Amanda Miner, who was in the backseat, from the car.

Hoyte had been drinking for three hours that night and tested at .12 alcohol content, well above the legal limit, said the prosecutor

Hoyte was drunk and driving 111 miles per hour right before the crash, said investigators

Miner's family leaves the courthouse after Hoyte is indicted in her death

Ejected: The college student was ejected from the sedan on impact and pronounced dead at the scene on the bridge span

Boyfriend and fellow traffic agent Michael Camacho, 24, who was in the front seat, was also injured.

'In this horrific case, the defendant is charged with drunkenly slamming into a pillar in such an unwieldy, uncontrolled manner and at such a dangerously high speed that the impact severed the victim in two,' said District Attorney Vance.

The driver had his foot '100 per cent on the acceleration' said prosecutor Christina Ante in Manhattan Supreme Court on Thursday.

After the crash, Hoyte said he and Camacho looked for Miner, who'd been in the backseat.

Miner's tearful family leaves the Manhattan courthouse. Miner was a social worker known for her good works with homeless families and the victims of Hurricane Katrina

Miner's heartbroken mother had said she was looking forward to her daughter, who majored in social work, graduating from college

'We both looked back into the backseat and saw that the back of the car was gone and we could see straight through to the outside,' he told cops, according to the New York Daily News.

Hoyte had been drinking for three hours before the crash, said Ante. She said obtained video showed Hoyte as he was drinking throughout the evening.

'You can literally count how many drinks the defendant was drinking,' Ante said. 'Six test tube shots of vodka, two shots of vodka, and one to two mixed drinks that contained vodka.'

Birthday girl: Amanda Miner, pictured left and right, was killed in a car crash in New York City after celebrating her 21st birthday

Police said Hoyte had told them after the crash that he'd 'hit black ice' and had 'one or two drinks.'

His blood alcohol level was .12, well above the .08 legal limit. According to court documents, he asked the officer administering the breathalyzer: 'Am I over the limit? What's the limit?'

His lawyer blamed the accident on bad weather conditions and an obstruction on the bridge that someone in an apartment overlooking the bridge had called 311 to complain about hours before the accident.

Horrifying impact: This is a screenshot from a video shot by a passing motorist showing the aftermath of the deadly crash on the Williamsburg Bridge

Ripped apart: The 2013 Infiniti was traveling from Manhattan to Brooklyn when it smashed head-on into a barrier on the bridge, splitting the vehicle in two

Miner was a social worker who worked with homeless families and had volunteered to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

Video recorded by a passing motorist captured the aftermath of the deadly crash, with a large chunk of the mangled 2013 Infiniti rolled into a ball.

According to her Facebook page and reporting by multiple news outlets, Amanda Miner was a junior at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, majoring in social work.

Miner's heartbroken mother, Virginia Cabrera-Miner, told the New York Post the 21-year-old was the youngest of her three daughters and she was looking forward to seeing Amanda graduate from college next year.

'Before' picture: This photo shows Stefan Hoyte's 2013 Infiniti before the collision

Buddy cops: Hoyte (left), the 26-year-old driver of the car and an NYPD traffic officer, was injured along with his colleague and friend, 24-year-old Michael Camacho (right)

DUI case: Hoyte has been charged with driving while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide

Prior to joining the NYPD as a traffic officer, Hoyte had worked as a mechanic for Honda and a clerk at a Pathmark supermarket, according to his social media account.

His mother, Jennifer Hoyte, described the 26-year-old to the Post as a 'good son' and a good father to his 5-year-old daughter. She noted that Stefan was not a heavy drinker.

Michael Camacho is a graduate of Onondaga Community College in upstate New York.

Miner, who had celebrated her 21st birthday that night, was ejected from the sedan and was pronounced dead at the scene
Former Australian rugby star Justin Harrison has opened up about considering suicide after the breakdown of his first marriage.

Harrison is best known for stealing the line out in the dying minutes of the third test against the British and Irish Lions on his debut for the Wallabies in 2001.

The 43-year-old said a chance meeting with a complete stranger in a New York bar saved his life.

Justin Harrison (pictured) has opened up on considering suicide after the breakdown of his first marriage (Harrison is pictured at a press conference in Sydney in 2005)

The 43-year-old said a chance meeting with a complete stranger in a New York bar saved his life (Harrison celebrates after the Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney in 2003)

Harrison is best known for stealing the line out in the dying minutes of the third test against the British and Irish Lions on his debut for the Wallabies in 2001

Within three months of joining Ulster Rugby team in Ireland in 2005 Harrison's marriage began to break down, he told The Telegraph.

His life started falling apart as he turned to alcohol, sleeping tablets and anti-depressants to cope.

'For a period of time I was looking for answers in all the wrong places. It became easier to drink to forget, it became easier to justify taking sleeping tablets because then I had less chance of dreaming or remembering my dreams,' Harrison said.

Harrison was released from his contract with Ulster and allowed to return to Australia to focus on his family.

But after his marriage ended he returned to Ireland to play the next season.

But by Christmas he slipped back into old habits and said he started to consider suicide.

Harrison said when his life started falling apart he turned to alcohol, sleeping tablets and anti-depressants to cope

Harrison has organised an all-star game at Allianz Park, in north London on June 30 in support of mental health awareness

He took some time off over summer and travelled to New York on his own, but didn't expect a complete stranger to turn his life around.

He was recognised in a bar by an Australian fan, Peter Maiden.

'I was in the bar watching some sport when Peter came over. He asked what I was doing and explained it to him and about two or three hours later we had got across most of the things that I had done and was contemplating doing and he was with me for the next two weeks I stayed in New York.'

Harrison said the new found friendship helped him out of depression. And 10 years on he has remarried and lives in France with his wife and two sons.

But when he heard his former Wallaby team-mate Dan Vickerman took his own life at 37-years-old, Harrison felt compelled to speak out.

Vickerman took his own life in his Sydney family home in February, leaving behind his wife of more than a decade, Sarah, and his adored sons, Joseph and Xavier, aged seven and three.

With the help of former Saracens and England prop Matt Stevens, Harrison has organised an all-star game at Allianz Park, in north London on June 30.

The match will be held to support RestartRugby of the Rugby Players' Association and its #LiftTheWeight initiative aimed at raising awareness of mental health.

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14.

Anyone across Australia experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide can contact Lifeline.

Wallaby team-mate Dan Vickerman (pictured) took his own life at 37-years-old, Harrison felt compelled to act
A Sydney doctor has been jailed for at least 20 years and three months for murdering his second wife with a lethal dose of insulin.

Brian Kenneth Crickitt, 63, was found guilty in December of murdering wife Christine in their Woodbine home in Sydney's southwest on New Year's Eve, or early New Year's Day in 2010.

Crickitt gave no visible reaction after Justice Clifton Hoeben handed down the maximum 27-year sentence on Friday.

But the victim's brother David called out 'hear hear judge', while people around him clapped.

Sydney doctor Brian Kenneth Crickitt, 63, was sentenced to 27 in jail on Friday for murdering his second wife

The family of victim Christine Crickitt leave the Supreme Court in Sydney on Friday after Crickitt was sentenced to 27 years in jail

Crickitt's third and current wife Julie leaves Supreme Court and is mobbed by camera crews, after her husband was sentenced

The judge found Crickitt tricked his wife into being injected in the buttock with insulin for health reasons, despite not being a diabetic.

He used a lethal dose of fast-acting insulin after becoming fed up with his marriage and besotted with his new lover, Linda Livermore.

Justice Hoeben said a breach of trust was involved because Crickitt was both the victim's husband and treating doctor.

'The deceased was left to die a painful death alone by someone whom she trusted to care for her,' he said.

'The offender's motivation to murder his wife was essentially based on self-interest and what he perceived would make his life better in the future.'

The judge referred to the need for a strong element of 'general deterrence' in delivering the sentence.

'The abuse of trust which characterised this offence is not to be tolerated in our community,' he said.

'Medical professionals and doctors, such as the offender, who misuse the trust placed in them by those to whom they provide treatment and care by committing serious criminal acts against them, should know that they will be held accountable and will be met with heavy punishment.'

The judge found Crickitt tricked his wife Christine (pictured) into being injected in the buttock with insulin for health reasons, despite not being a diabetic

During the sentence hearing in March, the victim's daughter Tracey Wiggins told the court she was forced to meet her stepfather's mistress Linda Livermore (pictured) the day she found out her mother died

Justice Hoeben said a breach of trust was involved because Crickitt was both the victim's husband and treating doctor. Pictured: Crickitt arrives at court with third wife Julie during his trial in November

During the sentence hearing in March, the victim's daughter Tracey Wiggins told the court she was forced to meet her stepfather's mistress the day she found out her mother died.

Ms Wiggins said - in a statement read by her husband - that she felt nauseated when she saw Ms Livermore drive her dead mother's car to the morgue in a 'heartless' act.

'The deception and the betrayal is incredibly debilitating,' she told the court.

Ms Wiggins said she felt guilty about the murder because she knew their marriage was troubled and her mother was worried by Crickitt's strange behaviour.

'What a deplorable...waste of my lovely mother's life,' she said in the statement.

The judge found Crickitt was fed up with his marriage and besotted with a new lover when he killed his wife

'My mother's death broke my heart.'

Defence barrister Tim Gartelmann SC told the court there was evidence the doctor suffered mental health problems for decades and may have a tougher time than most in jail due to his age.

Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi SC said the crime constituted a serious betrayal of trust because Crickitt was not only his wife's partner, but also her general practitioner.

He said Crickitt would have known his wife would die relatively slowly and that he killed her around New Year's Day because he knew the autopsy would be delayed.

Crickitt - who has since married a third wife Julie - will be a nonagenerian when he is eligible for parole in 2037.
The fiance of accused drug mule Cassie Sainsbury says he has no doubt the 22-year-old is innocent - but refused to answer questions from media in a press conference.

Scott Broadbridge, 23, fronted reporters on Friday with his own lawyer Steven Kenny - Cassie's second legal representative - to clear the air about his wife-to-be.

But aside from a short prepared statement declaring his love for Cassie and intention to marry her, Mr Broadbridge did little to set the record straight about the conflicting stories emerging about why she was alone in Colombia in the first place.

The bodybuilder repeatedly said 'no comment' when asked by reporters about the cleaning company he claimed Cassie worked for overseas - at odds with her own family's assertion she was there in part to promote her personal training business.

He also kept quiet about questions regarding Cassie's plane ticket home to Australia, which was reportedly bought last-minute in Hong Kong by an 'unknown party'.

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'No comment': Scott Broadbridge, the fiance of accused drug mule Cassandra Sainsbury, kept tight-lipped during his own press conference on Friday

The 23-year-old delivered a short statement declaring his love for Cassie but fielded most questions to his lawyer Steven Kenny - who admitted he 'didn't have answers' to many of the questions that were asked

'Cas is the delight of my life': Mr Broadbridge said he intended to marry Cassie and stressed that he believed she was innocent of smuggling drugs

Instead, it was up to his newly-appointed lawyer - who openly said he 'did not have answers to many of the questions being asked' - to field a range of media inquiries.

Mr Kenny said he was confident the Australian woman would get a fair hearing in the Colombian courts.

'We have great faith in the Colombian legal system and will be doing everything we can to provide her with the best possible defence,' he said.

He added that he had been 'unable to identify' the cleaning company Cassie had been working for in Colombia, but stressed it was 'a matter of significance.'

'I would like to remind you, there is plenty of people in the past that have been judged by the media to be guilty, only to be found innocent later. We hope that will be the case in this matter,' he said.

Ms Sainsbury was arrested at El Dorado International Airport on April 12 after 5.8 kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found hidden inside 18 headphone boxes in her suitcase.

She reportedly told a Colombian lawyer that she was tricked and given the headphones by a man she knew only by Angelo or Tom.

The man offered to buy her the headphones for a cheap price and brought them to her at the airport.

Mr Kenny said he was confident Ms Sainsbury would get a fair hearing in the Colombian courts

Mr Broadbridge repeatedly said 'no comment' when asked by reporters about the cleaning company he claimed Cassie worked for overseas

'Cas and I are engaged to be married and I intend to marry her. Cas is the delight of my life,' Mr Broadbridge said at the start of the conference.

'I know that she's not involved in the drug trade. And I know that she was not deliberately taking drugs orcarrying drugs anywhere.

'I know there are many unanswered questions in this case. And I intend to work with the lawyers to get to the bottom of them.'

Mr Broadbridge said it was 'extremely stressful' and 'very difficult' for Cassie to adjust to life behind bars in Colombia, adding that he hoped to be able to fly over soon.

Mr Broadbridge kept quiet about questions regarding Cassie's plane ticket home to Australia, which was reportedly bought last-minute in Hong Kong by an 'unknown party'.

Mr Broadbridge was approached by media at his Moana home in Adelaide's south on Thursday and said Ms Sainsbury 'wasn't doing great' before saying he would speak more the following day with a lawyer present

Mr Broadbridge, left, showed off his new ink, alongside his younger sister Jasmine in a post to Instagram on Sunday

Mr Broadbridge has been quiet since his fiancee's arrest, ignoring requests from Daily Mail Australia for comment.

The bodybuilder, who continues to stay in the home he shared with Ms Sainsbury, has dreams of adding more tattoos to his body.

The most recent artwork chosen by Mr Broadbridge and his sister Jasmin features the sign of the 'Illuminati' which is supposed to reference enlightenment.

The tattoo was drawn by Adelaide artist Dan Mawdsley who 'specialises in all thing pop culture'.

The brightly-coloured piece appears to be on Mr Broadbridge's right lower-forearm, it is highlighted in blue while his sister's is highlighted in hot pink.

His partner Cassandra Sainsbury, 22, faces 25 years in jail after she was arrested with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine at an airport in Colombia, pictured

Scott Broadbridge, 23, the fiance of accused drug smuggler Cassandra Sainsbury, has made time to get a new tattoo as his wife-to-be languishes is a Colombian prison

The bodybuilder added this defqon inspired piece to his arm two weeks before he became engaged to Ms Sainsbury and claimed it was the beginning of a sleeve

Apart from the colouring the tattoos appear to be of the same design  featuring all elements of the 'Illuminati'. Another coloured tattoo is visible just above the newest addition.

In September 2016 the tattoo enthusiast got the Defqon logo placed on his left forearm following a visit to the popular Sydney music festival.

'So the new addition to my ink that I'll be turning into a sleeve,' Mr Broadbridge wrote.

'Some people will love it, some people will hate it, I don't get tattoos for people's approval.'

The reveler went on to confess 'hardstyle' music changed his life and made him who he is today.

'My first idea was to get a small defqon tattoo on my a**e but when I saw this I knew it was perfect.'

The bodybuilder pictured in front of a 'cheat' meal late last year

Mr Broadbridge pictured on the Pacific Islands cruise where he proposed to the accused drug smuggler, Ms Sainsbury

The couple's relationship was made 'Facebook official' after she accepted his proposal

Mr Broadbridge is pictured on his friend's shoulders at the music festival just weeks before he was back in Sydney to go on a cruise with his father Peter, and Ms Sainsbury.

The man proposed during the 10-day cruise which saw the couple travel to the Pacific Islands. It wasn't until Ms Sainsbury said 'yes' that the couple, who had reportedly been dating for 18 months became 'official' on social media.

Mr Broadbridge, who lives 'just 300 metres from the beach', has barely spoken since news of his fiancee's arrest sent shockwaves across Australia.

He briefly raised his head to correct Ms Sainsbury's sister Khala's claims the 22-year-old was in Colombia to promote her fitness brand.

'Although Cassie is a PT she is not currently personal training and hasn't been for six months,' he wrote.

Ms Sainsbury could now miss the couple's February wedding date

Mr Broadridge posted these photos showing the two-week period where he became engaged but has since deleted his social media presence

'She helped manage a commercial cleaning business that had both national and International clients.

'Unfortunately it's very easy for tourists to get targeted, especially in Colombia.'

The comments were posted on a fundraising page set up by Ms Sainsbury's sister following a barrage of insults directed at the former personal trainer.

'Just be respectful, we're trying to get an innocent girl back home where she belongs,' Mr Broadbridge said.

The bodybuilder deleted his social network profiles shortly after coming to his fiance's defence and has declined to comment since.

The man is believed to be living in the couple's home caring for their three husky dogs and a cat 'Cassandra wanted'.

Mr Broadbridge has refused to comment to the press over his fiancee's imprisonment but did leap to her defence on a page raising funds for her

Ms Sainsbury posted these snaps, in happoer times, on the couple's trip to Vanuatu in October 2016

Ms Sainsbury's with one of the couple's three dogs - which are now at home with Mr Broadbridge

The rest of Cassandra's family have commented on the young blonde's imprisonment - most recently her father Stuart who first claimed he wanted nothing to do with the situation.

On Tuesday afternoon Mr Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia he was aware of his daughter's arrest.

'I don't want to be tied up in all this,' the father, motorcycle enthusiast and fisherman said.

When prompted about how he felt about the young woman being held in a Colombian prison after allegedly being found trying to leave the country with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine he refused to comment

'Listen, whatever is going on has nothing to do with me, and I have nothing to say about it.'

'You can ring my lawyer if you don't understand me. It's got nothing to do with me.'

Stuart Sainsbury, Cassandra's father, told Daily Mail Australia he didn't want to be 'tied up with' Cassandra's drug smuggling charges

Ms Sainsbury (pictured background) at her father's birthday celebrations in 2015

Mr Sainsbury then spoke on camera to Nine News claiming to 'love her unconditionally'.

'She's just my kid, what parent thinks of her kid as a drug mule,' he said.

'I just love her, I can't change what's happened I just have to be here when she comes home.'

Ms Sainsbury was stopped at Bogota's El Dorado International Airport on April 11 after X-rays picked up 18 packages of cocaine in her luggage.

She drew the attention of the DEA when her plane ticket home to Australia via London was reportedly purchased last minute by an 'unknown party' in Hong Kong.

'We found her because of an alert from the DEA,' Bogota airport's head of narcotics, Commander Rodrigo Soler, told News Corp Australia.

Mrs Sainsbury with his wife Michelle, Cassandra Sainsbury's step mother

Channel Seven reports that Colombian authorities had been forwarded her passport details as early as April 5 - six days before she was arrested at El Dorado International Airport.

The young blonde from Adelaide told family members she thought the packages contained headphones she had bought cheaply off a 'nice Colombian man'.

Ms Sainsbury was heading home to Australia with the packages, via London in an 'all expenses work trip' which saw her visit China and LA before her time in the south American country where she now awaits trial.

Ms Sainsbury has been living in Adelaide since she left her home town of Yorketown after the collapse of her gym Yorke fitness in 2015.

Shortly after her arrival in Adelaide, three hours from her home town and failed fitness business, the young blonde met now fiance Scott Broadbridge.

Ms Sainsbury left Yorketown after the closure of her gym, pictured, in 2015

Mr Broadbridge claims the young woman has not been a personal trainer for six months - despite her sister Khala's claims she was in Colombia to promote herself as a personal trainer.

Khala faced the media following her sister's arrest to ask for donations to help free her sister from prison and bring her home to Australia.

'Our hearts break, because we know she is innocent, but stands little chance of proving it in such a corrupt country,' Khala Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia.

'The trip was at least in part to promote her personal training business.'

Her mother Lisa Evans labelled her daughter as naive and also spoke to the media.

'I'm devastated that my little girl is in this place. I'm scared to death for her. Our family just wants her home safe,' she said.

The woman went on a cruise in October, 2016, followed by a work trip to Canada in January. Her trip to Colombia recently started with time spent in China and America

The young woman posted to Instagram a week before she was stopped in a Colombian airport to tell her followers about her trip which also took her to Las Angeles and China

She was arrested with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine concealed in small packages wrapped in black plastic (pictured)

Daily Mail Australia recently revealed the 22-year-old woman's lavish globetrotting lifestyle which saw her visit the Pacific Islands, Canada, China and North and South America in just six months.

Colombian police claim a tip-off led to the arrest of an Australian woman who was found with 18 bags of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.7 million.

On April 3 she posted a photo of LAX - Los Angeles International Airport - with the caption 'going from China's lovely 27 degree weather to LA's 7 degree weather is killing me'.

On April 8, she posted a photograph of some buildings indicating she was in America.

'Can't complain about an all expenses paid work trip which is mainly holiday and very little work,' she wrote.

The young woman used a variety of hashtags including the words work, holiday and fitness in her social media posts.

Fresh reports from inside the prison where the accused drug smuggler awaits trial reveal she is still in the same clothes three-weeks after arriving.

According to the Daily Telegraph the 22-year-old has reportedly not stopped crying since she was transferred to the overcrowded and dangerous El Buen Pastor prison.

An American woman who was released from the prison on Tuesday and helped look after Cassandra on the inside said she was not coping with the horrific conditions.

'Because she is so young there are a lot of people trying to take advantage of her,' the woman said.

'Not only that, when she was at the police station they took most of her stuff  all of her clothes, her money,' the former inmate told the publication.

'She's just wearing a sweater and pants and a top, the same ones. I offered her something but she said no thank you.'

Khala said her sister (pictured) found a Colombian lawyer but he suggested pleading guilty to lesser charges to avoid an up to 25-year jail sentence

Her family says she is innocent and being 'set up' - but Colombian anti-narcotic police believe she may have been a drug mule

A message on the fundraising site from her fiance Scott Broadbridge. The fundraiser was cancelled after it received hundreds of negative comments

On Tuesday Colombian police released photographs of Ms Sainsbury standing behind 18 black packages of cocaine.

Ms Sainsbury was handcuffed in the images - she could face 25 years in a South American jail if found guilty of drug smuggling.

The 22-year-old told her family she thought the packages were 15 headphones a local man posing as a translator had arranged to buy for her at a discount.

Lt Colonel Jorge Triana, head of anti-narcotics police at the airport, told Daily Mail Australia he didn't believe Cassandra's headphone story.

Lt Colonel Triana said drug mules often feigned ignorance when they were caught.

Top drug cops in Colombia say her explanation is not credible. It's understood there were never any headphones in the packages (pictured) and they only contained concealed cocaine

In Australia, six kilograms of cocaine has a street value of almost $2 million

Pictured are the headphones that Cassandra believed she was buying from a man she had just met. Her family claims the man offered to be her translator and find gifts for her family

'It's a commonplace strategy that narco traffickers use to take drugs out of the country,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Her explanation is not credible. Everyone we catch says they didn't know it was in their luggage, but they know what they were doing.'

Daily Mail Australia also understands there were never any headphones in the package and it only contained concealed cocaine.

Lt Colonel Triana said even if Cassandra didn't know about the drugs she likely faced jail time either way.

'She recognised the luggage as hers so whether she knew there were drugs in it or not, it doesn't excuse her actions,' he said.

He said foreigners were increasingly being lured into becoming drug mules by the promise of big payoffs when they made it to their destination - with 19 caught leaving Colombia this year alone.

Her mother, Lisa Evans, has maintained her daughter is innocent, saying she had been 'naive' in trusting a Colombian man to help her get a good deal on headphones

A snap showing the woman on holiday in the Gold Coast last year

Cassandra's family insisted she was an innocent victim being 'set up' by a man she had just met.

Jorge Mendoza, the ports and airports director for Colombia's anti-narcotic police, told AAP that Cassandra could have been working as a drug mule.



'She could possibly be a drug mule,' he told ABC radio through an interpreter on Tuesday.

'In going through security we found she had 18 packets inside her luggage which even before opening it we found covered in plastic.'

Australian author Rusty Young, whose book Marching Powder was based on the three months he spent with an English drug smuggler in prison in Bolivia, has lived in Colombia for eight years and says he doesn't believe authorities there will make an example of Ms Sainsbury.

'Basically, the bigger traffickers are the ones they are after,' he told the Seven Network.

The first photos have emerged of Cassandra standing in handcuffs next to her luggage

Cassandra was arrested in Colombia after an airport X-Ray search allegedly revealed something suspicious in her luggage (pictured)

'Small traffickers are just an annoyance for the country.

'Colombia loves foreigners coming in. One of their major industries now is tourism. They do not want the name. They don't want the media attention for drug trafficking.'

In Australia, six kilograms of cocaine has an estimated street value of almost $2 million.

Cassandra's fiance Scott Broadbridge was also understood to be concerned about the impact public attention, and rumours on social media, might have on her case.

The couple are due to be married in February.

The young woman's family raised $4,000 of their $15,000 goal and continue to claim she was tricked by the Colombian local who offered to find her cheap headphones for wedding gifts on her trip.

The former personal trainer from Adelaide was denied bail and is being held at the overcrowded El Buen Pastor women's prison (pictured) until her hearing in two months
Four Atlanta gang members have been found guilty of killing a 31-year-old father who was dressed up as a mime, after mistaking him for a member of a rival gang.

On September 23, 2014, Antonio Clements drove into a gang ambush at the Chevron gas station in Southwest Atlanta.

Now, Durrell Marco Muse, 29, Tequila Danae Forehand, 31, Darious Harris, 23, and Jujuane Harris, 19, have been found guilty of several charges, including murder, reported WSB-TV 2 Atlanta.

On September 23, 2014, Antonio Clements (pictured) drove into a gang ambush at the Chevron gas station in Southwest Atlanta while dressed as a mime

Now, the four defendants, Durrell Marco Muse (top left), 29, Tequila Danae Forehand (bottom left), 31, Darious Harris (top right), 23, and Jujuane Harris (bottom right), 19, have been found guilty of several charges, including murder, reported WSB-TV 2 Atlanta .

They were convicted on charges of participation in criminal street gang activity, murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and related gun charges, and are set to be sentenced Friday at 10am.

Surveillance video showed the four people, armed with one AK-47 and several handguns, appearing to talk to one another before Clements' car pulled into the gas station.

When he drove into the parking lot, the shooters yelled: 'There they go!' before shooting at his car, according to witnesses.

More than 59 shots were fired, and Clements died of a gunshot wound to the neck from the AK-47 rifle.

Through the investigation, detectives determined that the victim had been mistaken for a rival gang member.

At the time of his death, Clements left behind five children (he is pictured with them in two family photos)

When he was killed, Clements had just started a mime dance ministry with his brother. The two performed in churches around Atlanta.

Speaking to WSB-TV in October 2014, Tomiko Clements described the moment she faced her son's killers in court, saying: 'They just looked like they didn't do nothing. No remorse, no nothing'.

At the time of his death, Clements left behind five children, including a four-year-old daughter.

His girlfriend, Kendra Clopton, was in the car with him when he died and was grazed by a bullet. She told the news channel that: 'I want them to know they really took someone special from this world'.
A cheeky local has poked fun at Sydney's booming property market with a hilarious 'sold' sticker on a recently sold inner-west house.

Underneath the signboard on a house in Pearl Street, Erskineville, which sold for $1.7million on 29 April, someone stuck a red sticker which read: 'SOLD!!! F**K YEAH! MO $$ B***HAZ'.

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photograph of the vandalised board on Thursday, but real estate agent Ray White Erskineville asked them to take the post down.

The real estate signboard of the recently sold property on 1 Pearl St in Erskineville was defaced with the hilarious red sticker

The leafy two-storey house has three bedrooms and one bathroom

'The agent has contacted us pleading for us to remove this post, but it's too funny! Clearly the agent doesn't have a Newtown sense of humour!'

The community page was started by a group of locals who 'love Newtown' but also post about the surrounding suburbs of Erskineville, St Peters, Darlington, Camperdown, Enmore and Stanmore.

Ray White said it was a prank and was not pleased with the attention the post garnered.

'Someone defaced our signboard and the red sticker has now been removed'.

The house features spacious living areas and the rear lounge room flows into a lush green yard

The downstairs bed can be used as office, featuring a private entrance through French doors

The property boasts a luxe spa bathroom with a leafy outlook

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photograph of the vandalised board on Thursday, but real estate agent Ray White asked them to take the post down

Ray White Erskineville said it was a prank and was not happy with the attention

The Republic of Newtown posted an update: 'The red sticker has been removed and the agent has contacted us twice to tell us'

The Republic of Newtown posted an update: 'The red sticker has been removed and the agent has contacted us twice to tell us'.

Above the red sticker is the legitimate black sticker which indicates it was sold by a Ray White agent.

It is unclear as to who the culprit is.

The post was shared 139 times and liked by 528 people since it went up on Thursday.

The leafy two-storey house has three bedrooms and one bathroom.

It also has a secluded alfresco dining courtyard with a warehouse backdrop

The contemporary eat-in galley kitchen with timber flooring and fresh sunlit interiors

The house on Pearl St (pictured) was sold on April 29 for $1.7 million

The red sticker was posed on the signboard of the Pearl St property

It read: 'SOLD!!! F**K YEAH! MO $$$ B***HAZ' below the real 'sold by' sticker

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photo of the sign

The real estate agent Ray White Erskineville said it was a prank and removed it

The leafy two-storey, three-bedroom house sold for $1,701,000 on 29 April

: Vandal pokes fun at Sydney's property frenzy with a VERY cheeky addition to the sign on a modest home in a trendy suburb bought for an eye-watering $1.7MILLION

A cheeky local has poked fun at Sydney's booming property market with a hilarious 'sold' sticker on a recently sold inner-west house.

Underneath the signboard on a house in Pearl Street, Erskineville, which sold for $1.7million on 29 April, someone stuck a red sticker which read: 'SOLD!!! F**K YEAH! MO $$ B***HAZ'.

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photograph of the vandalised board on Thursday, but real estate agent Ray White Erskineville asked them to take the post down.

The real estate signboard of the recently sold property on 1 Pearl St in Erskineville was defaced with the hilarious red sticker

The leafy two-storey house has three bedrooms and one bathroom

'The agent has contacted us pleading for us to remove this post, but it's too funny! Clearly the agent doesn't have a Newtown sense of humour!'

The community page was started by a group of locals who 'love Newtown' but also post about the surrounding suburbs of Erskineville, St Peters, Darlington, Camperdown, Enmore and Stanmore.

Ray White said it was a prank and was not pleased with the attention the post garnered.

'Someone defaced our signboard and the red sticker has now been removed'.

The house features spacious living areas and the rear lounge room flows into a lush green yard

The downstairs bed can be used as office, featuring a private entrance through French doors

The property boasts a luxe spa bathroom with a leafy outlook

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photograph of the vandalised board on Thursday, but real estate agent Ray White asked them to take the post down

Ray White Erskineville said it was a prank and was not happy with the attention

The Republic of Newtown posted an update: 'The red sticker has been removed and the agent has contacted us twice to tell us'

The Republic of Newtown posted an update: 'The red sticker has been removed and the agent has contacted us twice to tell us'.

Above the red sticker is the legitimate black sticker which indicates it was sold by a Ray White agent.

It is unclear as to who the culprit is.

The post was shared 139 times and liked by 528 people since it went up on Thursday.

The leafy two-storey house has three bedrooms and one bathroom.

It also has a secluded alfresco dining courtyard with a warehouse backdrop

The contemporary eat-in galley kitchen with timber flooring and fresh sunlit interiors

The house on Pearl St (pictured) was sold on April 29 for $1.7 million

The red sticker was posed on the signboard of the Pearl St property

It read: 'SOLD!!! F**K YEAH! MO $$$ B***HAZ' below the real 'sold by' sticker

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photo of the sign

The real estate agent Ray White Erskineville said it was a prank and removed it

The leafy two-storey, three-bedroom house sold for $1,701,000 on 29 April

: Vandal pokes fun at Sydney's property frenzy with a VERY cheeky addition to the sign on a modest home in a trendy suburb bought for an eye-watering $1.7MILLION

A cheeky local has poked fun at Sydney's booming property market with a hilarious 'sold' sticker on a recently sold inner-west house.

Underneath the signboard on a house in Pearl Street, Erskineville, which sold for $1.7million on 29 April, someone stuck a red sticker which read: 'SOLD!!! F**K YEAH! MO $$ B***HAZ'.

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photograph of the vandalised board on Thursday, but real estate agent Ray White Erskineville asked them to take the post down.

The real estate signboard of the recently sold property on 1 Pearl St in Erskineville was defaced with the hilarious red sticker

The leafy two-storey house has three bedrooms and one bathroom

'The agent has contacted us pleading for us to remove this post, but it's too funny! Clearly the agent doesn't have a Newtown sense of humour!'

The community page was started by a group of locals who 'love Newtown' but also post about the surrounding suburbs of Erskineville, St Peters, Darlington, Camperdown, Enmore and Stanmore.

Ray White said it was a prank and was not pleased with the attention the post garnered.

'Someone defaced our signboard and the red sticker has now been removed'.

The house features spacious living areas and the rear lounge room flows into a lush green yard

The downstairs bed can be used as office, featuring a private entrance through French doors

The property boasts a luxe spa bathroom with a leafy outlook

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photograph of the vandalised board on Thursday, but real estate agent Ray White asked them to take the post down

Ray White Erskineville said it was a prank and was not happy with the attention

The Republic of Newtown posted an update: 'The red sticker has been removed and the agent has contacted us twice to tell us'

The Republic of Newtown posted an update: 'The red sticker has been removed and the agent has contacted us twice to tell us'.

Above the red sticker is the legitimate black sticker which indicates it was sold by a Ray White agent.

It is unclear as to who the culprit is.

The post was shared 139 times and liked by 528 people since it went up on Thursday.

The leafy two-storey house has three bedrooms and one bathroom.

It also has a secluded alfresco dining courtyard with a warehouse backdrop

The contemporary eat-in galley kitchen with timber flooring and fresh sunlit interiors

The house on Pearl St (pictured) was sold on April 29 for $1.7 million

The red sticker was posed on the signboard of the Pearl St property

It read: 'SOLD!!! F**K YEAH! MO $$$ B***HAZ' below the real 'sold by' sticker

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photo of the sign

The real estate agent Ray White Erskineville said it was a prank and removed it

The leafy two-storey, three-bedroom house sold for $1,701,000 on 29 April

: Vandal pokes fun at Sydney's property frenzy with a VERY cheeky addition to the sign on a modest home in a trendy suburb bought for an eye-watering $1.7MILLION

A cheeky local has poked fun at Sydney's booming property market with a hilarious 'sold' sticker on a recently sold inner-west house.

Underneath the signboard on a house in Pearl Street, Erskineville, which sold for $1.7million on 29 April, someone stuck a red sticker which read: 'SOLD!!! F**K YEAH! MO $$ B***HAZ'.

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photograph of the vandalised board on Thursday, but real estate agent Ray White Erskineville asked them to take the post down.

The real estate signboard of the recently sold property on 1 Pearl St in Erskineville was defaced with the hilarious red sticker

The leafy two-storey house has three bedrooms and one bathroom

'The agent has contacted us pleading for us to remove this post, but it's too funny! Clearly the agent doesn't have a Newtown sense of humour!'

The community page was started by a group of locals who 'love Newtown' but also post about the surrounding suburbs of Erskineville, St Peters, Darlington, Camperdown, Enmore and Stanmore.

Ray White said it was a prank and was not pleased with the attention the post garnered.

'Someone defaced our signboard and the red sticker has now been removed'.

The house features spacious living areas and the rear lounge room flows into a lush green yard

The downstairs bed can be used as office, featuring a private entrance through French doors

The property boasts a luxe spa bathroom with a leafy outlook

Facebook community page 'Republic of Newtown' posted a photograph of the vandalised board on Thursday, but real estate agent Ray White asked them to take the post down

Ray White Erskineville said it was a prank and was not happy with the attention

The Republic of Newtown posted an update: 'The red sticker has been removed and the agent has contacted us twice to tell us'

The Republic of Newtown posted an update: 'The red sticker has been removed and the agent has contacted us twice to tell us'.

Above the red sticker is the legitimate black sticker which indicates it was sold by a Ray White agent.

It is unclear as to who the culprit is.

The post was shared 139 times and liked by 528 people since it went up on Thursday.

The leafy two-storey house has three bedrooms and one bathroom.

It also has a secluded alfresco dining courtyard with a warehouse backdrop

The contemporary eat-in galley kitchen with timber flooring and fresh sunlit interiors
Advertisement

Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull trailed behind US President Donald Trump and his glamourous wife Melania as they arrived at a gala dinner in New York on Thursday.

Images show the Australian prime minister awkwardly following the US pair with a cheesy grin on his face.

Mr Turnbull's wife Lucy joined them aboard the USS intrepid, a decommissioned aircraft carrier docked in the Hudson River in New York as they commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea during WWII.

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Malcolm Turnbull and Lucy Turnbull (pictured behind) smile as they are snapped walking behind US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump (pictured in front)

President Donald Trump, first lady Melania, Mr Turnbull and his wife Lucy were seen arriving at an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea after the meeting

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appeared to be overly excited at the much-awaited meeting with US President Donald Trump

This was the first time the pair had met since a tetchy phone call rattled ties after Trump took office, when he 'objected' to the deal that the US would take in refugees from Australia's Pacific island detention centres

In the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders, Australia's Prime Minister appeared to be very excited by the much-awaited encounter.

It was a chance for the pair to repair damage caused by the tetchy phone call between them shortly after Trump took office, when the president 'objected' to a deal in which the US would take in refugees from Australia's Pacific island detention centres.

During Thursday's media session aboard a decommissioned aircraft carrier in New York, Mr Trump addressed that phone call, saying it 'was a little bit of fake news' and that they 'weren't babies'.

'You guys exaggerated that call. That was an exaggeration,' Mr Trump said.

An angry Mr Trump reportedly cut short that call - angry about the refugee deal his administration inherited.

Thursday's meeting was delayed by almost three hours with the President running late after remaining in Washington to pass a bill on Obamacare.

'We get along great. Always do,' Mr Trump said, with Mr Turnbull sitting next to him on the USS Intrepid.

Photos show the pair exchanging hand shakes, smiles and at one point Mr Turnbull appeared to clench his fists in excitement while chatting with the leader

Mr Trump described February's tense phone call with the Australian Prime Minister as 'a bit of fake news'

Trump reportedly exploded and cut short the call (pictured) when he was told about a deal to move some refugees from Australia to America

The meeting onboard was delayed by almost three hours with the President running late after remaining in Washington to pass a bill on Obamacare

'We get along great. Always do,' Mr Trump, with Mr Turnbull sitting next to him on the USS Intrepid, told reporters

Mr Turnbull was still beaming as he spoke to Mr Trump and his wife Lucy at a dinner after the meeting

When asked about Australia, Mr Trump raved: 'One of the most beautiful places on Earth.'

Photos show the pair exchanging hand shakes, smiles and at one point Mr Turnbull appeared to clench his fists in excitement while chatting with the leader.

Mr Trump said he intended to visit Australia.

The meeting was supposed to take place at a Manhattan Hotel, but the pair instead sat down for a meeting on the decommissioned aircraft carrier on the Hudson River for 30 minutes.

Before the meeting, numerous immigrant and other groups, including Rise and Resist, were protesting Manhattan streets, aiming to disrupt Mr Trump's homecoming.

It is the president's first trip back to his home city since departing for Washington DC on January 19 for his inauguration.

Rally organisers encouraged participants to bring pots and pans to bang in the hope Mr Trump will hear.

Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) speaks during a dinner aboard the USS Intrepid docked on the Hudson River in New York

President Donald Trump (left) embraces media mogul Rupert Murdoch (right) at the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea

The United States President and the Australian Prime Minister shook hands for the first time, with Mr Turnbull appearing to be excited for the meeting

Mr Trump also described Australia as one of the most beautiful places in the world and said he wants to visit. Mr Trump is pictured here boarding the Air Force One on Thursday before the meeting

As Mr Trump spoke on board the USS Intrepid in New York, the Australian Prime Minister was all smiles

'We get along great. Always do,' Mr Trump, with Mr Turnbull sitting next to him on the USS Intrepid, told reporters

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull listened intently to Mr Trump as they spoke to reporters in New York on Thursday

'We want to get as close as possible so they hear us inside,' Nelini Stamp of the Working Families Party told the New York Times.

Mr Turnbull and his wife, Lucy, touched down in New York on Wednesday evening and received a multi-car NYPD escort to their Manhattan hotel.

Mr Turnbull also met with Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US Pacific Command, and officials from the NYPD-FBI anti-terrorism task force on Thursday.

After their bilateral meeting, Mr Turnbull and Mr Trump delivered speeches at the 75th Anniversary Battle of the Coral Sea commemorative dinner.

Four Australian and three US veterans, aged in their 90s, who fought in the pivotal battle against the Japanese, attended.

The leaders were all smiles as they were photographed during their first meeting on Thursday

US President Donald Trump (pictured) pumps his fist as his presence is acknowledged at an event with veterans

U.S. President Donald Trump (pictured) delivers remarks at an event with veterans and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea

Before the meeting, numerous immigrant and other groups, including Rise and Resist, were protesting Manhattan streets, aiming to disrupt Mr Trump's homecoming

Rally organisers are encouraging participants to bring pots and pans to bang in the hope Mr Trump will hear

The President was due to meet Mr Turnbull at a Manhattan hotel but instead they met on board a decommissioned aircraft carrier
Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginias largest school district, is far more likely to hire a white teacher than a black teacher, even when controlling for advanced degrees and years of classroom experience, according to a study conducted by a team of researchers at George Mason University .

Discrimination is a powerful word and one that is often avoided because of what it connotes, the studys authors wrote. In this district, black applicants, though having many attributes similar to their white counterparts, encountered a significantly lower likelihood of being offered a job, replicating discriminatory employment patterns documented across a range of industries.

The GMU researchers, who examined the districts 2,012 job application data, found that while black applicants had, on average, more degrees and more time in the classroom, they were less likely to pass the districts screening process than white teachers. That year, black applicants made up 13 percent of the candidate pool, but only received 6 percent of the job offers; white candidates accounted for 70 percent of the pool and received 77 percent of the offers. The researchers also found that when black applicants did get job offers, they were usually at the high-performing districts high-poverty schools where there were large numbers of nonwhite students.

Its just disturbing. Its 2017. We should have moved past this, a black high school teacher, who asked for anonymity, told The Washington Post . It shouldnt come down to race. If they have a higher degree and more experience, thats what translates in the classroom, not skin color.

While the GMU researchers didnt name the district, current and former officials from Fairfax County Public Schools have confirmed that Fairfax was the subject of the study, reports The Post. The newspaper reports that Fairfax County Public Schools has released a statement saying that the school system has overhauled its hiring practices since 2012 and that the percentage of nonwhite teachers in the district has climbed from 16 percent in 2012 to 18 percent in 2016. The district told The Post that more than 28 percent of the teachers they hired this year are nonwhite, though officials didnt say how many were black.

Eric Hanushek, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, told The Post that the study offers suggestive but not conclusive evidence of hiring discrimination.
A man who violently attacked two foreign backpackers at South Australia's Salt Creek has been found not guilty of raping a woman he met on a dating website.

The verdict was handed down in the Supreme Court on Friday, after the 60-year-old's trial on charges of rape and unlawful detention. Justice Trish Kelly found him not guilty on both of the charges.

The woman had come to Adelaide from Tasmania to stay with the man over the 2016 new year and the court was told she woke one night to find him tying her hands to the bed before she was raped.

Police at the campsite at Salt Creek, which is in a remote spot 200km south-east of Adelaide and is popular with campers

Prosecutor Jim Pearce said the woman had 'stuck to her guns' during her evidence to the court.

But defence counsel Bill Boucaut described her as a "woman scorned" who had been rejected by the love of her life.

In court on Friday, Justice Kelly ordered the man return to court next week for sentencing submissions on a third matter, that he attacked another backpacker in 2014.

The man recently pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault in that case.

He hit a German woman over the head with hammer several times before ramming her with his 4WD

In the Salt Creek case the man, who can't be identified, was convicted of attacking two young backpackers on a remote SA beach in February 2016.

He picked them up at a railway station and drove them to sand dunes in SA's Coorong National Park, where he violently attacked them.

He tied up a Brazilian woman with rope and sexually assaulted her before hitting a German woman in the head with a hammer several times and repeatedly ramming her with his 4WD.

A jury in March found him guilty of six charges, including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life.
Two tourists who had only just arrived in New Zealand have died after the campervan they were travelling in crossed the centre line and smashed head-on into a ute.

Police were called to the crash-site in Bankside, 50km from Christchurch, just after 1pm on Thursday afternoon.

Senior Sergeant Pete Stills said the man and woman killed who are believed to be in their mid 20s to early 30s were driving a Juicy rental van.

Two tourists who had only just arrived in New Zealand were killed in a car crash on State Highway 1

Police say their rental van smashed head-on into an oncoming ute in Bankside

'There's no immediate intersection so the campervan has rounded the bend on Main South Rd and then for some unknown reason has crossed the centre line and is entirely on the wrong side of the road when it struck the northbound vehicle,' Sergeant Stills told Stuff.

He said it was another 'very sad, tragic consequence' to an incident where a vehicle crossed the centre line.

'If you've recently arrived in the country, perhaps sleep is the priority before driving, if that's the case  and I'm not pre-empting anything  and being familiar with our road rules,' he said.

Fairfax reported it is understood the pair were foreigners who possibly arrived in New Zealand the same morning they died, however police were unable to confirm that.

The pair died when the campervan they were travelling in crossed the centre line

The pair died at the scene and a third person was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police are looking into the identity of the victims and will release their names once their next of kin have been notified of their deaths.
Australia's landmark 'plain packaging' law on cigarettes looks set to stay, with a five-year legal battle expected to be ruled in favour of the controversial .

The ruling at the World Trade Organization will not be handed down until July, but a confidential draft indicates Australia's laws are a legitimate public health measure.

Such a ruling from the WTO is widely anticipated to give the green light for other countries to roll out similar laws, on not only tobacco but also alcohol and foods.

The 'plain packaging' law introduced by the Gillard government in 2010 goes further than advertising bans and graphic health warnings enforced by other countries.

Australia's landmark 'plain packaging' law on cigarettes looks set to stay, with a five-year legal battle expected to be ruled in favour of the controversial law

The ruling at the World Trade Organization will not be handed down until July, but a confidential draft indicates Australia's laws are a legitimate public health measure

Banning flashy logos and distinctive-coloured cigarette packaging, they favour drab olive packets with brand names only printed in small standardised fonts.

Some of the world's biggest tobacco firms said under the laws their trademarks were being infringed.

Cuba, Honduras, Dominican Republic and Indonesia complained at the WTO that the rules constituted an illegal barrier to trade.

A spokeswoman for British American Tobacco declined to comment on the ruling until it was publicly released, but suggested the complainants would keep fighting.

'As there is a high likelihood of an appeal by some or all of the parties, it's important to note that this panel report is not the final word on whether plain packaging is consistent with international law,' she said.

A spokeswoman for Japan Tobacco International also declined to comment on the ruling, but the fact that the draft had been leaked was disconcerting and a breach of WTO rules.

'Such breaches completely undermine the integrity of the process, which has not yet run its full course,' she said.

Trade experts said they expected arguments on trademarks to go Australia's way, but the complainants were battling to discredit the data used to support its case.

The 'plain packaging' law introduced by the Gillard government in 2010 goes further than advertising bans and graphic health warnings enforced by other countries

Australia had the backing of the World Health Organization, and many other countries began announcing similar legislation, a sign that they expected the WTO to rule in Australia's favour.

The plodding pace of WTO decision-making prompted Australia to complain that its challengers were deliberately stalling the proceedings, producing a 'regulatory chilling' effect on other countries wishing to follow its example.

Britain, France and Hungary went ahead with their own legislation, while Ireland, Canada, and South Africa are considering following suit.
A glamorous party girl who once admitted to keeping meth in her bra during the height of a nasty drug addiction - which saw her stealing credit cards and mail and then storing them in her Gucci handbag - will likely spend time behind bars.

Amanda Arbib, from Bellevue Hill, strutted into Sydney's Downing Centre court in towering platform stilettos on Wednesday, puffing on a cigarette outside after the hearing as she clutched her Louis Vuitton handbag.

Magistrate Greg Grogin told the 26-year-old former private school girl she could 'no longer hold her head high in society' as a result of her criminal record.

He admitted she was 'getting her life back on track' after a rough five years, while her lawyer added she was in a healthy relationship and had been clean for five months.

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Amanda Arbib, 26, will likely face jail or house arrest for stealing credit cards during a period she was addicted to the drug ice. Her lawyer says she is now clean and in a stable relationship

The former student of $30k-a-year Moriah College arrived at court in towering platform stilettos and a dark pair of sunglasses, with a Louis Vuitton handbag

Smoking: Arbib lit up a cigarette outside of Sydney's Downing Court on Wednesday (left) and after an earlier hearing in April (right)

'Her behaviour while committing these offences was one of complete disregard to other people, the offences were done with complete disregard to their possessions,' he said, reported the Daily Telegraph.

'She must understand if she is not suitable for intensive correction then the court is bound by a term of imprisonment,' Magistrate Gronin said.

Magistrate Gronin referred her to be assessed for home detention as alternative in May.

Arbib has previously pleaded guilty to a string of charges relating to stealing credit cards and keeping them in her Gucci handbag, and other petty crime.

During a prior offence, she admitted to police she was 'keeping a bag of meth in her bra', police facts tendered to the court said.

Arbib's lawyer said his client had been a 'quintessentially drug addict' in the 'worst of the worst' situation when they met. He claimed she had been clean for five months

During a prior offence, Arbib admitted to police she was 'keeping a bag of meth in her bra'

Magistrate Gronin said there was 'no other appropriate sentence than a term of imprisonment'

The magistrate referred Arbib to be assessed for home detention next month as an alternative

In an April hearing, her lawyer Eidan Havas told the court he was 'utterly proud' of his client, saying she had been a 'quintessentially drug addict' in the 'worst of the worst' situation when they met, with her day revolving around getting her 'next fix'.

'She's since got herself into rehab, she's got herself cleaned up and in 10 days it'll be five months since the day she took drugs,' he told the court.

Mr Havas said it was 'very hard' to kick the habit, 'and that's where these offences arose.'

Another one of her lawyers, Ahmed Dib, previously told the Downing Centre Local Court Ms Arbib suffered 'severe' depression following the death of her father.

In January, Mr Dib told the court she 'fell in with the wrong crowd' and became addicted to the deadly drug.

Police facts tendered to the court show she was also once found out the front of a 'well known drug den' with a plastic Coke bottle which reeked of GHB.

Ms Arbib - who attended the exclusive $30,000 a year Jewish school Moriah College - previously made headlines in 2015.

She was named when a Mercedes 4WD belonging to her family was firebombed on her street.

Ms Arbib smoked outside court as she awaited her appearance last month. She's pictured on right in a candid mirror selfie from several years ago

Ms Arbib has been enrolled in a rehabilitation program since the alleged offences were committed

She entered the courtroom wearing a towering pair of platform stilettos, revealing two tattoos on either ankle

Ms Arbib (with friends) has pleaded guilty to a string of charges relating to stolen credit cards and more
Cops are turning away from proactive policing after high-profile shootings of unarmed black men led to a wave of anti-police sentiment, the FBI has reported.

The bureau, which looked at the slayings of officers in 50 incidents last year, said cops are now 'scared', 'demoralized' and frightened to do their duty because they worry about being filmed by witnesses.

That has led to suspects becoming more likely to fight back, putting the cops' lives at risk, the report - obtained by The Washington Times - claimed.

Scared: Police are now scared to do their jobs after years of growing anti-cop sentiment following high-profile shootings of unarmed black men, an FBI report says. Pictured: An activist in Baton Rouge protesting police in 2016

Shot: Alton Sterling (left) was shot despite being unarmed and restrained in 2016. Michael Brown (right) was unarmed when he was shot in 2014. Both were high-profile deaths

The report claimed that police are less inclined to interact with communities or perform 'pretext stops' - in which cars are searched for drugs or guns on the pretext of a minor traffic violation - making them purely reactive.

Some refused to fight back even when being beaten up, for fear of how it might look in the media, it claimed.

The FBI looked at 50 of the 53 incidents of fatal violence against cops last year; the others were excluded because they involved minors or unknown perpetrators.

It found that a just under a third of the killers were motivated by a desire to 'kill law enforcement' - as in the deadly attacks against police in Dallas and Baton Rouge.

All of them said they were distrustful of police due to their own experiences and a string of reports of killings of black men by white cops.

Disquiet: The blowback from protesters like these (seen in 2014) - and the filming of fatal cop shootings - has led to police feeling victimized and scared to use force, the FBI report said

The apparent wave of disquiet against police began with the fatal shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown in 2014, the report said.

The belief - discredited by authorities - that Brown, 18, had his hands up when he was shot inspired the Black Lives Matter chant 'Hands up, don't shoot.'

Frustration escalated with a string of shootings of unarmed black men last year, including Alton Sterling, who was shot in the back despite being held down by two white cops at the time, the report said.

The high-profile nature of the killings, many of which were filmed by bystanders, also led to police being afraid to fight back when confronted with violence, it said.

The report cited one officer who was thrown to the floor and beaten by an assailant, but refused to shoot because he feared for how it might look.

The cop told their boss they 'chose not to shoot because [they] didn't want his/her "family or department to have to go through the scrutiny the next day on the national news,"' the study said.

Fear: Frightened cops are less likely to interact with communities, stop suspicious cars or do other pro-active policing, the FBI said. Pictured: cops in Ferguson, 2014, after Brown's death

Just as damaging to police confidence was a belief that politicians were no longer standing by them in the wake of Brown's shooting, it was claimed.

'Nearly every police official interviewed agreed that for the first time, law enforcement not only felt that their national political leaders [publicly] stood against them, but also that the politicians' words and actions signified that disrespect to law enforcement was acceptable,' the FBI said.

That in turn led to a belief among police that assailants were now feeling empowered to 'question, resist and fight law enforcement'.

It added that cops 'believe that defiance and hostility displayed by assailants toward law enforcement appears to be the new norm.'

The report also pointed the finger at decriminalization and lowered penalties for drug convictions, leading to a 'turnstile justice system' which is 'releasing criminals at a faster and faster pace.'

That leads to the belief 'that consequences no longer exist for criminal acts, especially drug offenses,' the report claims.

As a result, 'assailants with a history of drug offenses were more prone to be non-compliant while under the influence,' it said.

Much of the report was based on the beliefs and observations of police officers rather than concrete data.
Dr. Kiersten Cerveny died of acute cocaine poisoning after a night on the town with a former HBO producer friend, she died in or around James Holder's apartment

A doctor and mother-of-three who died from a cocaine overdose in a drug dealer's apartment was a 'victim of her own poor choices,' a New York court has been told.

Dermatologist Dr Kiersten Cerveny, 38, died after a night of partying with dealer James 'Pepsi' Holder and HBO executive Marc Henry Johnson.

The two dragged Cerveny's body away from Holder's apartment and dumped her near the entrance before anonymously calling 911 and fleeing.

Holder, 61, has already pleaded guilty to distributing drugs from his Manhattan apartment, but said he did not sell the drugs which killed Cerveny.

Yesterday a judge said he needed more time to decide whether Cerveny was legally a 'victim'. Her family will not be able to sue unless she is ruled to be a victim of Holder.

Holder's lawyer has argued Cerveny's family should not be entitled to compensation from him because he was not the source of the lethal cocaine. The doctor died on October 4, 2015, in his Chelsea building.

Holder had been due to be sentenced at Manhattan Federal Court yesterday, but Judge Jesse Furman adjourned the case until May 11 to consider legal arguments, reported Newsday.

Ex-con James Holder was also taken into custody after being arrested in New York's Lower East Side. He was detained following a DEA investigation that has lasted for months

Holder's lawyer, however, said Cerveny was only a victim of herself.

'She was a victim of her own poor choices, she was a victim of decisions she made,' defense lawyer Matthew Kluger told the judge.

Holder pleaded guilty to distributing drugs from his apartment but not the drugs that killed Cerveny.

'But to state that she was a victim of Mr. Holders apartment... I dont see the proximate cause,' the lawyer argued.

TV executive Marc Henry Johnson (pictured) pleaded guilty to giving cocaine to a mother-of-three who died of an overdose. He is seen above leaving Manhattan federal court in May 2016

The doctor was found unresponsive in the vestibule of Holder's building and pronounced dead at the hospital. She was determined to have died from acute cocaine poisoning.

Holder and Johnson, 52, anonymously called 911 and fled the scene when EMS arrived.

Prosecutors are seeking a six-and-a-half-year sentence for Holder's years of drug dealing from his apartment.

In the hours before she died, Cerveny met up with Johnson before going back to Holder's apartment. She had told her husband and the father of her three children, Andrew (pictured), that she was going to meet girlfriends in the city

'People cant use cocaine just anywhere,' the prosecutor said. 'It was James Holder who provided that place' and that Cerveny 'could have lived to see another day' if he hadn't.

If Cerveny is determined to be a victim of Holder, that could leave him being financially responsible for her lifetime earnings, likely with any money going to her children.

An autopsy found Cerveny died from an acute mix of cocaine and alcohol intoxication. Cerveny, according to the criminal complaint, had already been doing cocaine before she met up with Holder.

The judge asked both sides to submit briefs arguing whether Cerveny was a 'victim' and rescheduled the sentencing for May 11.

Johnson originally faced drug conspiracy and accessory charges that could have landed him in federal prison for up to 10 years.

But instead prosecutors will recommend that he serve between 18 and 24 months, according to the New York Daily News.

The dermatologist was found dying in a doorway of a building (pictured) in New York's Chelsea neighborhood

Johnson (left) and ex-con James Holder (right) pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the overdose of Kiersten Cerveny

She had told her husband and the father of her three children, Andrew, that she was going to meet girlfriends in the city.

Surveillance video from the building showed Johnson and Holder taking the doctor's limp body downstairs around 8.30am that morning.

Police had searched for Johnson in the immediate aftermath of Cerveny's death, after the friend called 911 but left when emergency workers arrived and tried to revive her.

Holder, who previously served time for drug and weapons charges, also fled down 26th street.

Authorities later found baggies and what is suspected to be cocaine in the apartment he lived in, according to the New York Daily News.

Cerveny was pronounced dead upon arrival at a local hospital.

Johnson was the producer of HBO's The Deuce, a pilot about New York's porn industry in the 1970s and 80s starring James Franco, but left the project after Cerveny's death.

Cerveny met her husband while the pair were in medical school. Friends said they looked happy together in the days leading up to her death

Pictured is the lavish home the married couple shared in Long Island, New York

The doctor, who attended Duke University on scholarship after winning an America's Junior Miss pageant and graduated magna cum laude, left behind a life in which friends say she had 'everything'.

The New Jersey native, who was formerly a professor at Cornell Weill Medical School and chief dermatologist at The Brooklyn Hospital, met her husband, Andrew, when they were in their medical residency.
The Australian Army soldier killed after a tree branch fell on his armoured tank during a 'routine training exercise' on Thursday was only 21 years old, it has been revealed.

Stuart Reddan from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, was killed at around 8.20am on Thursday during an incident while training in the state's north.

Family and friends of Mr Redden flooded social media in the hours after his death to remember the young soldier as 'one in a million', while photos showed him wearing his uniform proudly alongside his mother.

Stuart Redden (pictured) has been revealed as the Australian Army soldier killed after a tree branch fell on his armoured tank during a 'routine training exercise' on Thursday morning

The 21-year-old from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, was killed at 8.20am on Thursday in an incident while training (Mr Redden is pictured with his mother)

In one tribute, Mr Redden's brother Tom wrote: 'Love you always my little Bro. R.I.P.'

Another tribute from a fellow army cadet described him as 'a caring, gentle, honest man, who was unfortunately taken too soon'.

The Australian Defence Force confirmed the soldier's death in a statement released on Thursday.

Mr Redden was a passenger in an M113 armoured personnel carrier when he was hit by the tree branch during training in Shoulwater Bay, Rockhampton.

Family and friends of Mr Redden (left) flooded social media in the hours after his death to remember the young soldier as 'one in a million'

The soldier was a passenger in an armoured personnel carrier when he was struck by the tree branch at a training area in Shoulwater Bay (pictured) on Queensland's central coast

Fellow soldiers performed CPR in an attempt to save the man, and paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead at the scene. No other soldiers were injured.

'The Army and broader ADF community extends its deepest sympathies to the soldier's family and friends,' the Australian Defence Force said.

The exact nature or circumstances surrounding the death have not been released.

The Queensland Police Service is investigating the incident and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
A woman who stole an Arizona deputy's pickup truck while naked and went on a high-speed chase in January was sentenced Thursday.

Lisa Luna, 31, was caught on a cop's bodycam walking around naked at a gas station in Gila Bend. She told the officer she had been raped - a claim she later recanted - and stole his truck when he went to get a blanket.

Luna, who claimed to have felt 'possessed' at the time, pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced to two years in prison, AZCentral reported.

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Lisa Luna, 31 (pictured left in bodycam footage and right in a mugshot) was sentenced to two years in prison Thursday for stealing an Arizona deputy's car in Gila Bend on January 5. Luna was credited for 119 days served

Luna, whose prison sentence was credited with 119 days served, will also have three years of probation when she gets out.

Both prosecutor Scott Blum and Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone expressed sympathy for Luna, who had struggled with mental illness and drug abuse before her bizarre theft.

That occurred on January 5 when Deputy Francisco Campillo was called to the Shell gas station at Gila Bend after sightings of a naked woman.

Luna would later claim that she had been high on meth and spice - but still later changed her claim to say she had been poisoned by a relative and felt 'possessed'.

She is seen in Campillo's bodycam footage at around 9am, telling the officer : 'I was raped... but I'm OK.'

Campillo tries to keep talking to her but Luna walks towards the back of the vehicle without responding.

She asks him for a jacket or something else to cover herself with, at which point the deputy goes to fetch a pink blanket at the back of the vehicle.

The bodycam footage shows Luna telling the officer she has been raped - a claim she recanted. She had trouble with mental illness and drug abuse before the incident, a court heard

She stole the truck when the officer went to get her a blanket. She later said she felt like she had been 'possessed'. She will serve three years' probation after she is released

But when he returns, Luna is in the driver's seat and starts the pickup truck.

She then took off, injuring Campillo, who had held onto the door handle, although he was not permanently harmed.

Luna then led multiple agencies on a chase along Interstates 8 and 10 at speeds up to 100mph.

Police deployed traps to burst her tires, but the chase didn't end until she crashed into another vehicle containing a family near Eloy.

Luna later recanted her claim of sexual assault, telling police drugs made her take the van.

But she recanted that version too, during a media interview from jail, saying she had been poisoned by a relative.

During an interview in jail (pictured), Luna denied her initial claim that she had been on drugs and told reporters that she had been poisoned by a relative after arguing about identity theft

A news chopper caught the moment Luna was loaded on a stretcher into an ambulance after she crashed the car. She drove for 70 miles at speeds of up to 100mph

'I don't know what it was, but all of it started after I confronted her about identity theft and poisoning me,' she told ABC 15.

'Right before that I remember my skin burning like I couldn't handle it, my skin was on fire. I started taking off my clothes, I felt like I was going to die,' Luna said.

She told reporters some of her memories of the incident were blurry.

'Like I felt like I was... I want to say possessed, like I didn't have control, like I didn't remember the whole ride until I had sobered up again,' she said.

Luna has a prior criminal history that includes failing to remain at an accident scene, driving without a valid license, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, criminal damage, theft and assault.

She was also wanted on an outstanding warrant before her arrest, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
A man is suing American Airlines for $100,000 after he was crushed by two obese passengers during a 14-hour flight and left with permanent back and neck injuries.

Michael Anthony Taylor, 67, claims airline staff refused to let him change seats on the flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, despite his desperate pleas to move.

The Wollongong man says he was forced to crouch, kneel, brace and stand throughout the lengthy flight, which also aggravated his existing condition of curvature of the spine.

Michael Anthony Taylor, 67, is suing American Airlines for $100,000 after he was crushed by two obese passengers during a 14-hour flight and left with back and neck injuries

Mr Taylor claims staff refused to let him change seats on the flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, despite his desperate pleas to move (stock image)

Mr Taylor was sitting in a window seat, but was unable to enjoy the view as his fellow passenger was taking up part of his 43-cm wide seat.

'I don't hold any malice towards the people in the seats next to me, they'd paid for a ticket too,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

'The airline could have put me in a crew seat or moved people around but they did nothing.'

Now American Airline could be facing a substantial payout as the 67-year-old is seeking more than $100,000 in damages following his injuries.

The lawsuit could have a significant impact on airline industry, according Shine Lawyers transport law manager Thomas Janson.

The Wollongong man says he was forced to crouch, kneel, brace and stand throughout the lengthy flight, which also aggravated his existing condition of curvature of the spine (stock image)

American Airlines has 28 days to formally respond to the statement of claim filed in the Federal Court of Australia on Wednesday

The lawsuit could have a significant impact on airline industry, according Shine Lawyers transport law manager Thomas Janson

'If Michael is successful, this throws open the doors to potentially a large amount of cases against airlines and how they've designed their seating and how they seat passengers,' Mr Janson told the Daily Telegraph.

'There will be a huge outcry against the way airlines furnish their cabins, particularly in economy.'

The airline has 28 days to formally respond to the statement of claim filed in the Federal Court of Australia on Wednesday.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted American Airlines for comment.
Aldi Australia has been approved to sell bottles of wine for as little as $2.79 at a store in Perth.

The German supermarket's Harrisdale store was given the green light to sell the dirt-cheap alcohol despite initial rejections over its wine retailing for less than $3.

Three varieties of wine will be sold at the WA outlet for the low price - but police have warned it could prompt people to drink more and increase alcohol-fuelled crime.

Aldi Australia's Harrisdale store, south east of Perth has been granted approval to sell wine for as little as $2.79 (stock image pictured)

Aldi Australia is approved for the sale of 60 wines, 16 beers, 15 spirits and four ciders, - but it is conditional on the bottles not being refrigerated, the section being monitored by CCTV and being clearly separated from the stores grocery items.

When asked when the $2.79 bottles will be available for purchase in store, Aldi stated: 'We do not currently have a confirmed date for ALDI Liquor in WA.'

Daily Mail Australia enlisted the expert opinion of famed wine connoisseur James Halliday - and he said he has 'tasted some' Aldi wine and agrees it is of good value.

Aldi has also applied to sell alcohol at its Rockingham and Kalamunda stores in Western Australia.

The supermarket giant is currently advertising online several varieties of its Precious Earth wine for $2.69, while other bottles are sold at prices between $4.99 and $19.99.

Aldi advertises bottles of wine for $2.69 - and other brands retail for as low as $3.99 and $4.99 each

Aldi has also applied to sell alcohol (pictured) at its Rockingham and Kalamunda stores in Western Australia

Aldi, Coles and Woolworths control more than 70 percent of wine sales in Australia, selling $24billion worth of liquor every year.

An oversupply of wine and an overdrive of demand means Australian consumers don't have to look too far for a cheap drop.

But West Australia Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said the low-priced booze has the potential to encourage crime and violence.

'There has been research done on the impact of the cost of alcohol and it was found the lower the price of alcohol the higher the consumption and the higher the flow on problems for alcohol related crime,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'It impacts family and domestic violence, anti-social and other criminal behaviour and only time will tell whether there is an impact from this latest court decision.'

However the Liquor Commission of Western Australia found the social risks of the Harrisdale store selling cheap alcohol to be minimal.

'The locality is not experiencing alcohol related harm at rates higher than other areas,' it stated.

'There is no specific evidence to suggest that the granting of the licence will result in harm and ill-health to a level that would be deemed to be unacceptable.'
When school wraps up in about a month for students in the Berwyn South 100 school district in Berwyn, Ill., all 4,000 of them will have the opportunity to take part in some sort of summer school program.

This preK-8 school district about 11 miles away from Chicago doesnt view summer school as simply a chance for students who are behind to catch up. School leaders believe its about making sure all students can keep learning and get the support they need, whether thats remedial help or enrichment.

All students need to continue learning throughout the summer to avoid the summer slide, said Allison Boutet, the districts summer school coordinator and principal of Heritage Middle School in Berwyn.

Boutet expects about 1,000 students to participate in a summer school program, with about one-third choosing to take part in a virtual learning experience.

Logistics

The district began offering a virtual summer school option four years ago. Students in the program attend class on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. During that time they work on reading, math, and writing with the opportunity to participate in a science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, activity as well.

The rest of the time they work independently on school-issued iPads.

It offers students who may not be able to participate in a daily program due to other activities in the summer or vacation, it allows them to continue their learning, and it provides them access to reading and learning resources, said Boutet.

Teachers who lead classes through the virtual summer school program communicate with students throughout the week and maintain online systems, but because theyre not required to be at school as often, the program allows the district to save some money. Boutet says the district spends about $700 dollars less on teachers in this program.

This type of program is not without its critics. In a recent Chicago Tribune article about virtual summer school programs , Rena Shifflet, an associate professor at Illinois State Universitys School of Teaching and Learning, expressed concerns about the effectiveness of these programs for young learners.

Especially with the younger child, just expecting them to be put in front of the computer and that theyll do what theyre really supposed to do, theres really no guarantee that thats going to happen, Shifflet said.

One of Four Options

Virtual learning is not the only option for students in the district. In addition to the virtual summer school program, the district also offers three other summer school options, including one that meets three days a week, a leadership camp, and whats called a step-it-up camp for middle school students that focuses on social and emotional learning.

Students are recommended for the program thats best suited to their needs.

I dont think virtual summer school is probably meant for everyone, said Boutet. Some students do better in other settings, and were able to offer that. Theres never a one-size-fits-all when it comes to students learning.

Photo: A student works on a math problem at school through the Berwyn South 100 school districts virtual summer school program. (Credit Allison Boutet)
Eighteen members of a now-shuttered fraternity at Penn State University and the frat itself are facing criminal charges in the death of a student who was fatally injured in a fall during an alcohol-fueled pledge night.

Eight frat brothers at Beta Theta Pi and the frat are accused of involuntary manslaughter.

The other charges range from evidence tampering to furnishing alcohol to minors.

Police had said hazing and excessive drinking at the private chapter house on February 2 contributed to the death of Timothy Piazza, 19, a sophomore engineering student from Lebanon, New Jersey.

Penn State permanently banned Beta Theta Pi on March 30, accusing it of a 'persistent pattern' of excessive drinking, drug use and hazing.

Police had said hazing and excessive drinking at the private chapter house on February 2 contributed to the death of Timothy Piazza (seen left and right with his girlfriend), 19, a sophomore engineering student from Lebanon, New Jersey

Help for Piazza apparently wasn't summoned until about 12 hours after he was injured during events surrounding a pledge acceptance ceremony.

Piazza was found unconscious on a couch on the main floor when paramedics arrived after a call for help.

He died two days later at a hospital.

The coroner determined that Piazza died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries sustained from the fall. The death was ruled an accident that was entirely preventable, according to Daily Collegian.

Fraternity members turned over security camera footage to police but later asked the court to return it.

Since Piazza's death, chapter alumnus Donald Abbey, a California real estate magnate, has sued the fraternity.

Jim and Evelyn Piazza (right) stand by as Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller (left) announces the results of an investigation into the death of their son Timothy Piazza in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, on Friday

Parks Miller embraces Evelyn Piazza (left) as Jim Piazza stands near an enlarged photo of his late son

Eight frat brothers at Beta Theta Pi (among them Joe Sala, left, and Nicholas Kubera, right) and the frat are accused of involuntary manslaughter

Luke Visser (left) and Jonah Neuman (right) were also among the eight frat members charged with involuntary manslaughter

He wants more than $10million he says he loaned the chapter to fix up the house and shore up its finances.

The charges against the 18 fraternity pledges were announced during a news conference held Friday by Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller and her special deputy in the case, prosecutor Bruce Castor, according to PennLive.com.

'This has been a very intense investigation,' she said.

'I am not sure we have charged as many people at one time in one case.'

The news conference was attended by Piazza's parents, who made the 200-mile drive from their home in New Jersey to Bellefonte.

'We are devastated,' said Piazza's father, Jim.

'He was an incredible young man and an excellent student. He was an amazing son, brother, boyfriend and friend. We are going to miss him terribly. He just wanted to make people laugh and be a good friend.'
A Brooklyn coffee shop is claiming that Starbucks ripped off their idea when they came out with the Unicorn Frappuccino.

'The End Brooklyn' in Williamsburg has filed a $10million trademark infringement lawsuit against the coffee chain, reported the New York Post.

The hipster coffee shop's co-owners believe that Starbucks ripped off the idea for their latest drink sensation from a colorful unicorn latte drink that they serve.

The End Brooklyn in Williamsburg has said that Starbucks stole their idea for the Unicorn Latte (left) in their Unicorn Frappuccino (right) in a $10million trademark infringement lawsuit against the coffee giant

Co-owners and 'head unicorns' of The End in Brooklyn Madeleine Murphy and Bret Caretsky (left and right) created the drink in December 2016 and decided to apply for a patent January 20

Even worse, the co-owners and 'head unicorns' Madeleine Murphy and Bret Caretsky claim that their customers assumed they were the ones serving the 'knockoff' beverage.

The End began selling their 'Unicorn Latte' in December 2016, which court papers refer to as a 'successful and popular product'.

Recognizing the popularity, cafe owners applied to trademark the name on January 20, records show. The application, which is public on the US Patent and Trademark Office's website, is still pending.

The blue-hued $9 latte is a dense super food drink with no processed sugars or syrups, and is finished with a dusting of super fruit powders and vegan sprinkles.

Speaking to Lonely Planet, Murphy, who also owns Montauk Juice Company with Caretsky, said: 'Because who doesn't love sprinkles? Being healthy doesn't have to be so serious.'

Even worse, the owners claim that their customers assumed they were the ones serving the 'knockoff' beverage

Starbucks introduced its much less healthy take on the rainbow-colored blended drink on April 17 and it became an instant sensation.

The End's lawsuit claims that 'the size and scope of Starbucks' product launch was designed so that the Unicorn Frappuccino would eclipse the Unicorn Latte in the market, thereby harming [The End] and confusing their customers'.

Additionally, fans of the Starbucks treat started using the hashtag #unicornlatte when posting on social media, according to the suit, reducing the actual Unicorn Latte to an 'also ran' anecdote.

Neither of the drinks contain coffee, though the End's Version has a list of incredibly healthy ingredients, such as maca root, cold-press ginger, and dates, while the Starbucks' version contains milk, artificial sweeteners, and color additives.

Additionally, fans of the Starbucks treat started using the hashtag #unicornlatte when posting on social media, according to the suit, reducing the actual Unicorn Latte to an 'also ran' anecdote

The End is seeking compensation for 'infringing, diluting and otherwise diminishing' intellectual property, and a public apology

Further, not only is there a similar name, but 'Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino shares visual similarities to the Unicorn Latte in that both were brightly colored and featured the colors pink and blue prominently'.

Though Starbucks' Unicorn Frappuccino had a limited run and is no longer available, The End claims that enough damage was done in that short period of time.

The Brooklyn coffee shop claims that Starbucks' 'conduct has diluted the distinctive quality of the famous Unicorn Latte mark and has and is likely to continue to confuse customers.'

The End is seeking compensation for 'infringing, diluting and otherwise diminishing' intellectual property, and a public apology.

A Starbucks Spokesman, Reggie Borges, told the Post: 'We know about the claims and believe they are without merit'.
A 16-year-old boy is in hospital after being trampled by a stampede of cattle on his parents' Queensland farm.

Paramedics were called to a property in Goganga - 90km west of Rockhampton about 9.20am Friday.

The boy received 'multiple trample wounds' after being caught in the path of a cattle stampede, according to Queensland Times.

A 16-year-old boy is in Rockhampton Hospital (pictured) after he was trampled by a stampede of cattle at his parents' rural property on Friday morning

He reported having blurred vision, dizziness, and back pain when paramedics arrived.

A rescue helicopter was dispatched to the property shortly after 10am to airlift the boy to Rockhampton Hospital.

He was stabilised by RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue crews before being airlifted about 11.30am, the newspaper reported.

He was treated for back pain but is in a stable condition, a Queensland Ambulance Spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
A mother who stabbed eight children to death inside her family home emptied the contents of her house and scrubbed it completely clean before her murder spree.

Raina Thaiday, thought she was 'saving' her seven children and one niece when she attacked them with a knife at her home in Cairns, Queensland, in December 2014.

And now mental health reports presented to the court reveal the full extent of the 37-year-old's schizophrenia and religious delusions, which led to a judge ruling that she wouldn't face trial as she was of 'unsound mind' at the time of the attack.

In a submission to Queensland's Mental Health Court, the report revealed Thaiday's behaviour in the weeks leading up to the murders was unusual and a sign that she was 'unwell' - particularly her cleaning efforts.

'It was not a normal spring clean. All the furniture from the house was taken outside and put in the yard,' the report by psychiatrist Frank Varghese detailed.

Raina Thaiday (pictured) thought she was saving the eight children from the end of the world when she stabbed them to death

'And inside the house was cleaned in a most unusual way, including scrubbing the ceilings and the walls.

'A lot of Mrs Thaidays possessions were thrown away and a lot of them were quite valuable possessions that she threw away at this time.'

Thaiday's religious delusions began about one month before the stabbing.

The court heard she believed she was the 'Chosen One' and became obsessed with cleansing to protect her and her family from demons.

The night before the attack, neighbours overheard Thaiday talking to herself as she walked up and down the street outside her house.

'You hurt my kids, I hurt them first. You stab my kids, I stab them first. If you kill them, I'll kill them,' she was overheard muttering.

The next day, Thaiday heard a 'dove call' telling her it was time to act.

The mother first killed the family's pet duck, then turned on the children - four boys and four girls, aged between two and 14 years.

Malili (standing left) and Daniel (standing right), along with (sitting, from left) Rayden, Petronella, Rodney and (far right) Azariah were allegedly killed by their mother. A cousin (second from right) is not a victim

A fence surrounds the house in which eight children were stabbed to death in Manoora, Cairns

Quickly realising what she had done, Thaiday stabbed herself 35 times and waited to die. Her adult son Lewis Warria found her and called triple zero.

'Mrs Thaiday admitted that it was she who had killed them to police really as soon as police arrived,' the report read.

'I think it is one of the features of this case that right from that first contact, Mrs Thaiday has always acknowledged what she has done, and she has given I think an honest and consistent account of herself, as I say, 20 really from that first contact,'

She was charged with eight counts of murder.

But Justice Jean Dalton last month ruled Thaiday suffered a psychotic episode and was of 'unsound mind' at the time of the attack.

'To her way of thinking at that time what she was doing was the best thing she could do for her children, she was trying to save them,' Justice Dalton said.

Police attend the crime scene at the Manoora home after the eight children were found dead

Local residents line the road as a hearse carrying one of the coffins of eight children drives by Murray Street in Manoora, Cairns, where the children were stabbed to death

The report by Dr Varghese detailed that the night prior to her committing the murder she was awaiting one of her children and a godchild to return home by 10pm.

When they did not she began walking outside her house and talking.

'She was worried for the childrens safety, and she was also concerned that they had disobeyed her.'

'One of the pieces of evidence is a telephone call that Mrs Thaiday made to police demanding, really, that they find her children and bring them home.

'It is Dr van de Hoef I think in one of her reports who says that you can see and hear in this phone call that Mrs Thaiday is indeed mentally unwell at the time she made that call.'

Several psychiatrists agreed Thaiday's persistent cannabis abuse triggered her schizophrenia despite the illness usually manifesting in the younger years of life.

Thaiday did give up drugs and alcohol as part of her obsession with cleansing but by then it was too late, the symptoms had acquired 'a life of their own'.

Mourners attend a floral tribute for the eight children near the crime scene, just days after the stabbing

Mourners, believed to be relatives, grieve at the scene after Thaiday stabbed the eight children to death

A man believed to be the father of some of the eight children stabbed to death is held up by family members two days after the attack

The court heard Thaiday had no criminal history and had not been in contact with psychiatric services despite previous disturbing episodes.

Justice Dalton ordered Thaiday continue to receive involuntary treatment and be allowed escorted leave on the grounds of the high-security health facility where she is being held.

She said she was impressed that Thaiday had acknowledged what she'd done and appreciated her rehabilitation was being hindered by grief and post-traumatic stress disorder.

'Her children were the things that had given her the most happiness in life,' Justice Dalton said.

A woman cries during a memorial service for the eight children - Malili Warria, Vita Thaiday, Shantae Warria, La'Torrence Warria, Azariah Willie, Daniel Willie, Rodney Willie and Patranella Willie

The Mental Health Act prohibited Justice Dalton's decision, made on April 6, from being published for 28 days.

National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple zero.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.
The mother of two young children who were the victims of cruel pranks by their father and stepmother for the popular DaddyoFive YouTube channel says her kids were 'abused.'

'[Their father] is abusing my kids, hurting my kids and making them feel bad about themselves,' she told ABC News' Nightline.

Rose Hall gained emergency custody this week of Cody, 9, and Emma, 12, the children of Mike Martin and star of the popular YouTube channel DaddyoFive.

Rose Hall, mother of Cody and Emma, uploaded a video with her lawyer, Tim Conlon, saying she'd gotten custody back of her kids

Hall showed an award Cody had gotten for completing a behavioral class, which she said she made sure to take from the house when the kids were taken with the help of local police

Martin and his second wife, Heather, have 760,000 subscribers and millions of views and make an estimated $200,000 to $350,000 a year from what many say is emotional and psychological abuse of the two children.

'It was very painful,' Hall said of watching the videos. 'I cried. I had an anxiety attack. Hes bullying the other kids to hurt my two kids.'

She said the pair were lucky she wasn't there when the abuse was happening.

Emma and Cody (above) are now 'deprogramming' with their mom, Rose (right) who lives in North Carolina

'Im glad I wasnt in the same room as Mike and Heather at the time they did that to my children,' she said.

The popularity of the channel is due to the 'pranks' the pair constantly play on Cody and Emma.

Pranks have involved telling Cody he has been adopted out to another family, accusing him of spreading ink all over his bedroom carpet when he didn't, smashing his X-box with a hammer, refusing to take him to Disney World with the rest of the family, and often screaming and swearing at him until he breaks down in tears or throws things. To a lesser extent, Emma received the same treatment.

Mike and Heather Martin uploaded a video in April apologizing for an earlier 'prank' video of Mike's son, Cody

The couple, who had earlier dismissed criticism of a particularly brutal prank video, now were tearful and said the family was in therapy

Cody, nine (above), was the most 'pranked' member of the family, often being screamed at and sworn at, and he would frequently end up in tears or throwing things

Usually while the father torments Cody, an older brother, son of Heather, films the action for the channel.

On Monday, Hall uploaded a video with her lawyer, Tim Conlon of the Custody Place, saying that she had won emergency custody of the kids.

'They're doing good,' Hall says on the video. 'They're getting back to their playful selves.'

'The kids are in a deprogramming sort of mode in the moment,' said Conlon.

'Very heartbreaking and disturbing to see my kids abused,' said Hall.

The pair thanked people on YouTube who persisted on trying to get the children taken away from the couple.

The couple told GMA that much of the footage of pranks were staged and 'scripted'

According to another YouTuber who was at the forefront of criticizing the couple, Joy Sparkle, Hall's lawyer, Conlon told her he had taken on the case pro bono.

Yet Mike and Heather Martin insisted the action was staged and the kids were not only in on the 'pranks' but enjoyed them.

'Some stuff was real, some stuff was acted out and scripted,' Heather told ABC News. 'We were going for shock value.'

Mike insisted that that he was doing it all for his kids. 'When my kids looked at me, I was their hero,' he said.

The Martin's lawyer Laurie Wasserman refused to comment.

Good Morning America's legal analyst Sunny Hostin said that Mike and Heather should not get custody back of the children.

'As a mom I was horrified, but as a lawyer what I saw was clear child abuse,' she said. 'This is psychological, emotional child abuse.'

Maj. Tim Clarke of the Frederick County Sheriff's Department told ABC News that the investigation is ongoing.

An online petition drew over 19,000 signatures to get CPS to investigate the family. The family lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

'Pranks' the couple made on youngest son Cody included telling him he'd been adopted out to another family, smashing his X-box with a hammer, and accusing him of smearing ink all over a room

There had been a previous Child Protective Services investigation, but Hall's sister, Crystal Reynolds, told New York Magazine that the agency had determined that the behavior was '[appropriate] corporal punishment.' CPS could not confirm nor deny an investigation by law.

Hall also said she told CPS about the disturbing YouTube channel in October. Martin County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina confirmed for the outlet that a complaint about the videos was lodged October 17.

Hall claims the children were taken from her illegally in 2014 when Mike and Heather forged her signature on custody documents.

On April 22, the couple uploaded an 'apology video' for an earlier video that caused a huge scandal. In it, the couple berate Cody for messing up his room with ink. In reality, it was Heather who smeared the ink around, and it was invisible ink.

'This has been the absolute worst week of our life,' Heather says in the video. 'We realize we have made some terrible parenting decisions.'

'I understand and acknowledge and respect how everyone feels,' says Mike. 'We put things on the Internet that should not be there and did things we should not do.'

The kids' mother, Rose, left, appeared with her lawyer Tim Conlon, to say she had gained emergency custody of the children and they were being 'deprogrammed'

In the video that caused Internet consernation, Heather Martin explains that she's going to trick her son Cody by spraying disappearing ink on the floor of his room and blaming him

'You're writing a thousand sentences,' Mike Martin yelled in a prank video 'I'm gonna have to sell all your Pokemon stuff!'
Accused drug mule Cassie Sainsbury was being chased by Colombian narco agents for a week before she was caught at Bogota Airport with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine in her suitcase.

The 22-year-old from Adelaide, South Australia, was initially reported to have been caught at Bogota airport after a last-minute tip-off from the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

But it has now been revealed local police were put on alert about the alleged drug smuggler on April 5th - seven days before her arrest on April 11.

In an interview published by SBS, the ports and airports director for Colombia's anti-narcotic police, told a journalist authorities had been placed on high alert about Ms Sainsbury.

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Accused drug mule Cassie Sainsbury, 22, was wanted by Colombian federal police for a week before being caught at an airport with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine in her suitcase (pictured)

It has been revealed police were aware of the alleged drug smuggler prior to her arrest, with a tip-off on April 5 alerting them to Ms Sainsbury a week before she was arrested on April 12

Jorge Mendoza, the ports and airports director for Colombia's anti-narcotic police, told a journalist authorities had been placed on high alert and were searching for Ms Sainsbury

Jorge Mendoza told the journalist authorities were all aware of Ms Sainsbury's name, nationality and appearance, and were confused when she failed to turn up on travel logs.

Left stranded in their search for a potential cocaine smuggler, it wasn't until the U.S. DEA provided the last minute tip when Ms Sainsbury's ticket was bought in Hong Kong by an unknown person that they tracked her down.

Mr Mendoza refused to speculate on whether the Australian woman is guilty, saying earlier this week he doubted she wasn't aware of the drugs in her suitcase.

'Her explanation is not credible. Everyone we catch says they didnt know it was in their luggage,' he said.

It comes as Ms Sainsbury's fiance told media he had no doubt about her innocence, but refused to answer questions during a press conference on Friday.

Scott Broadbridge, 23, fronted reporters on Friday with his own lawyer Steven Kenny - Cassie's second legal representative - to clear the air about his wife-to-be.

But aside from a short prepared statement declaring his love for Cassie and intention to marry her, Mr Broadbridge did little to set the record straight about the conflicting stories emerging about why she was alone in Colombia in the first place.

It comes as Ms Sainsbury's fiance Scott Broadbridge told media he had no doubt about her innocence, but refused to answer questions during a press conference on Friday

Mr Broadbridge kept tight-lipped during his own press conference on Friday (The pair are pictured together on holidays)

The 23-year-old delivered a short statement declaring his love for Cassie but fielded most questions to his lawyer Steven Kenny - who admitted he 'didn't have answers' to many of the questions that were asked

'Cas is the delight of my life': Mr Broadbridge said he intended to marry Cassie and stressed that he believed she was innocent of smuggling drugs

The bodybuilder repeatedly said 'no comment' when asked by reporters about the cleaning company he claimed Cassie worked for overseas - at odds with her own family's assertion she was there in part to promote her personal training business.

He also kept quiet about questions regarding Cassie's plane ticket home to Australia, which was reportedly bought last-minute in Hong Kong by an 'unknown party'.

Instead, it was up to his newly-appointed lawyer - who openly said he 'did not have answers to many of the questions being asked' - to field a range of media inquiries.

Mr Kenny said he was confident the Australian woman would get a fair hearing in the Colombian courts.

'We have great faith in the Colombian legal system and will be doing everything we can to provide her with the best possible defence,' he said.

He added that he had been 'unable to identify' the cleaning company Cassie had been working for in Colombia, but stressed it was 'a matter of significance.'

'I would like to remind you, there is plenty of people in the past that have been judged by the media to be guilty, only to be found innocent later. We hope that will be the case in this matter,' he said.

Ms Sainsbury was arrested at El Dorado International Airport on April 12 after 5.8 kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found hidden inside 18 headphone boxes in her suitcase.

She reportedly told a Colombian lawyer that she was tricked and given the headphones by a man she knew only by Angelo or Tom.

The man offered to buy her the headphones for a cheap price and brought them to her at the airport.

Mr Kenny said he was confident Ms Sainsbury would get a fair hearing in the Colombian courts

Mr Broadbridge repeatedly said 'no comment' when asked by reporters about the cleaning company he claimed Cassie worked for overseas

'Cas and I are engaged to be married and I intend to marry her. Cas is the delight of my life,' Mr Broadbridge said at the start of the conference.

'I know that she's not involved in the drug trade. And I know that she was not deliberately taking drugs orcarrying drugs anywhere.

'I know there are many unanswered questions in this case. And I intend to work with the lawyers to get to the bottom of them.'

Mr Broadbridge said it was 'extremely stressful' and 'very difficult' for Cassie to adjust to life behind bars in Colombia, adding that he hoped to be able to fly over soon.

Mr Broadbridge kept quiet about questions regarding Cassie's plane ticket home to Australia, which was reportedly bought last-minute in Hong Kong by an 'unknown party'.

Mr Broadbridge was approached by media at his Moana home in Adelaide's south on Thursday and said Ms Sainsbury 'wasn't doing great' before saying he would speak more the following day with a lawyer present

Mr Broadbridge, left, showed off his new ink, alongside his younger sister Jasmine in a post to Instagram on Sunday

Mr Broadbridge has been quiet since his fiancee's arrest, ignoring requests from Daily Mail Australia for comment.

The bodybuilder, who continues to stay in the home he shared with Ms Sainsbury, has dreams of adding more tattoos to his body.

The most recent artwork chosen by Mr Broadbridge and his sister Jasmin features the sign of the 'Illuminati' which is supposed to reference enlightenment.

The tattoo was drawn by Adelaide artist Dan Mawdsley who 'specialises in all thing pop culture'.

The brightly-coloured piece appears to be on Mr Broadbridge's right lower-forearm, it is highlighted in blue while his sister's is highlighted in hot pink.

Scott Broadbridge, 23, the fiance of accused drug smuggler Cassandra Sainsbury, has made time to get a new tattoo as his wife-to-be languishes is a Colombian prison

The bodybuilder added this defqon inspired piece to his arm two weeks before he became engaged to Ms Sainsbury and claimed it was the beginning of a sleeve

Apart from the colouring the tattoos appear to be of the same design  featuring all elements of the 'Illuminati'. Another coloured tattoo is visible just above the newest addition.

In September 2016 the tattoo enthusiast got the Defqon logo placed on his left forearm following a visit to the popular Sydney music festival.

'So the new addition to my ink that I'll be turning into a sleeve,' Mr Broadbridge wrote.

'Some people will love it, some people will hate it, I don't get tattoos for people's approval.'

The reveler went on to confess 'hardstyle' music changed his life and made him who he is today.

'My first idea was to get a small defqon tattoo on my a**e but when I saw this I knew it was perfect.'

The bodybuilder pictured in front of a 'cheat' meal late last year

The couple's relationship was made 'Facebook official' after she accepted his proposal

Mr Broadbridge is pictured on his friend's shoulders at the music festival just weeks before he was back in Sydney to go on a cruise with his father Peter, and Ms Sainsbury.

The man proposed during the 10-day cruise which saw the couple travel to the Pacific Islands. It wasn't until Ms Sainsbury said 'yes' that the couple, who had reportedly been dating for 18 months became 'official' on social media.

Mr Broadbridge, who lives 'just 300 metres from the beach', has barely spoken since news of his fiancee's arrest sent shockwaves across Australia.

He briefly raised his head to correct Ms Sainsbury's sister Khala's claims the 22-year-old was in Colombia to promote her fitness brand.

'Although Cassie is a PT she is not currently personal training and hasn't been for six months,' he wrote.

Mr Broadridge posted these photos showing the two-week period where he became engaged but has since deleted his social media presence

'She helped manage a commercial cleaning business that had both national and International clients.

'Unfortunately it's very easy for tourists to get targeted, especially in Colombia.'

The comments were posted on a fundraising page set up by Ms Sainsbury's sister following a barrage of insults directed at the former personal trainer.

'Just be respectful, we're trying to get an innocent girl back home where she belongs,' Mr Broadbridge said.

The bodybuilder deleted his social network profiles shortly after coming to his fiance's defence and has declined to comment since.

The man is believed to be living in the couple's home caring for their three husky dogs and a cat 'Cassandra wanted'.

Mr Broadbridge has refused to comment to the press over his fiancee's imprisonment but did leap to her defence on a page raising funds for her

Ms Sainsbury posted these snaps, in happoer times, on the couple's trip to Vanuatu in October 2016

Ms Sainsbury's with one of the couple's three dogs - which are now at home with Mr Broadbridge

The rest of Cassandra's family have commented on the young blonde's imprisonment - most recently her father Stuart who first claimed he wanted nothing to do with the situation.

On Tuesday afternoon Mr Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia he was aware of his daughter's arrest.

'I don't want to be tied up in all this,' the father, motorcycle enthusiast and fisherman said.

When prompted about how he felt about the young woman being held in a Colombian prison after allegedly being found trying to leave the country with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine he refused to comment

'Listen, whatever is going on has nothing to do with me, and I have nothing to say about it.'

'You can ring my lawyer if you don't understand me. It's got nothing to do with me.'

Stuart Sainsbury, Cassandra's father, told Daily Mail Australia he didn't want to be 'tied up with' Cassandra's drug smuggling charges

Ms Sainsbury (pictured background) at her father's birthday celebrations in 2015

Mr Sainsbury then spoke on camera to Nine News claiming to 'love her unconditionally'.

'She's just my kid, what parent thinks of her kid as a drug mule,' he said.

'I just love her, I can't change what's happened I just have to be here when she comes home.'

Ms Sainsbury was stopped at Bogota's El Dorado International Airport on April 11 after X-rays picked up 18 packages of cocaine in her luggage.

She drew the attention of the DEA when her plane ticket home to Australia via London was reportedly purchased last minute by an 'unknown party' in Hong Kong.

'We found her because of an alert from the DEA,' Bogota airport's head of narcotics, Commander Rodrigo Soler, told News Corp Australia.

Mrs Sainsbury with his wife Michelle, Cassandra Sainsbury's step mother

Channel Seven reports that Colombian authorities had been forwarded her passport details as early as April 5 - six days before she was arrested at El Dorado International Airport.

The young blonde from Adelaide told family members she thought the packages contained headphones she had bought cheaply off a 'nice Colombian man'.

Ms Sainsbury was heading home to Australia with the packages, via London in an 'all expenses work trip' which saw her visit China and LA before her time in the south American country where she now awaits trial.

Ms Sainsbury has been living in Adelaide since she left her home town of Yorketown after the collapse of her gym Yorke fitness in 2015.

Shortly after her arrival in Adelaide, three hours from her home town and failed fitness business, the young blonde met now fiance Scott Broadbridge.

Ms Sainsbury left Yorketown after the closure of her gym, pictured, in 2015

Mr Broadbridge claims the young woman has not been a personal trainer for six months - despite her sister Khala's claims she was in Colombia to promote herself as a personal trainer.

Khala faced the media following her sister's arrest to ask for donations to help free her sister from prison and bring her home to Australia.

'Our hearts break, because we know she is innocent, but stands little chance of proving it in such a corrupt country,' Khala Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia.

'The trip was at least in part to promote her personal training business.'

Her mother Lisa Evans labelled her daughter as naive and also spoke to the media.

'I'm devastated that my little girl is in this place. I'm scared to death for her. Our family just wants her home safe,' she said.

The woman went on a cruise in October, 2016, followed by a work trip to Canada in January. Her trip to Colombia recently started with time spent in China and America

The young woman posted to Instagram a week before she was stopped in a Colombian airport to tell her followers about her trip which also took her to Las Angeles and China

Daily Mail Australia recently revealed the 22-year-old woman's lavish globetrotting lifestyle which saw her visit the Pacific Islands, Canada, China and North and South America in just six months.

Colombian police claim a tip-off led to the arrest of an Australian woman who was found with 18 bags of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.7 million.

On April 3 she posted a photo of LAX - Los Angeles International Airport - with the caption 'going from China's lovely 27 degree weather to LA's 7 degree weather is killing me'.

On April 8, she posted a photograph of some buildings indicating she was in America.

'Can't complain about an all expenses paid work trip which is mainly holiday and very little work,' she wrote.

The young woman used a variety of hashtags including the words work, holiday and fitness in her social media posts.

Fresh reports from inside the prison where the accused drug smuggler awaits trial reveal she is still in the same clothes three-weeks after arriving.

According to the Daily Telegraph the 22-year-old has reportedly not stopped crying since she was transferred to the overcrowded and dangerous El Buen Pastor prison.

An American woman who was released from the prison on Tuesday and helped look after Cassandra on the inside said she was not coping with the horrific conditions.

'Because she is so young there are a lot of people trying to take advantage of her,' the woman said.

'Not only that, when she was at the police station they took most of her stuff  all of her clothes, her money,' the former inmate told the publication.

'She's just wearing a sweater and pants and a top, the same ones. I offered her something but she said no thank you.'

Khala said her sister (pictured) found a Colombian lawyer but he suggested pleading guilty to lesser charges to avoid an up to 25-year jail sentence

Her family says she is innocent and being 'set up' - but Colombian anti-narcotic police believe she may have been a drug mule

A message on the fundraising site from her fiance Scott Broadbridge. The fundraiser was cancelled after it received hundreds of negative comments

On Tuesday Colombian police released photographs of Ms Sainsbury standing behind 18 black packages of cocaine.

Ms Sainsbury was handcuffed in the images - she could face 25 years in a South American jail if found guilty of drug smuggling.

The 22-year-old told her family she thought the packages were 15 headphones a local man posing as a translator had arranged to buy for her at a discount.

Lt Colonel Jorge Triana, head of anti-narcotics police at the airport, told Daily Mail Australia he didn't believe Cassandra's headphone story.

Lt Colonel Triana said drug mules often feigned ignorance when they were caught.

Top drug cops in Colombia say her explanation is not credible. It's understood there were never any headphones in the packages (pictured) and they only contained concealed cocaine

In Australia, six kilograms of cocaine has a street value of almost $2 million

Pictured are the headphones that Cassandra believed she was buying from a man she had just met. Her family claims the man offered to be her translator and find gifts for her family

'It's a commonplace strategy that narco traffickers use to take drugs out of the country,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Her explanation is not credible. Everyone we catch says they didn't know it was in their luggage, but they know what they were doing.'

Daily Mail Australia also understands there were never any headphones in the package and it only contained concealed cocaine.

Lt Colonel Triana said even if Cassandra didn't know about the drugs she likely faced jail time either way.

'She recognised the luggage as hers so whether she knew there were drugs in it or not, it doesn't excuse her actions,' he said.

He said foreigners were increasingly being lured into becoming drug mules by the promise of big payoffs when they made it to their destination - with 19 caught leaving Colombia this year alone.

Her mother, Lisa Evans, has maintained her daughter is innocent, saying she had been 'naive' in trusting a Colombian man to help her get a good deal on headphones

A snap showing the woman on holiday in the Gold Coast last year

Cassandra's family insisted she was an innocent victim being 'set up' by a man she had just met.

Jorge Mendoza, the ports and airports director for Colombia's anti-narcotic police, told AAP that Cassandra could have been working as a drug mule.



'She could possibly be a drug mule,' he told ABC radio through an interpreter on Tuesday.

'In going through security we found she had 18 packets inside her luggage which even before opening it we found covered in plastic.'

Australian author Rusty Young, whose book Marching Powder was based on the three months he spent with an English drug smuggler in prison in Bolivia, has lived in Colombia for eight years and says he doesn't believe authorities there will make an example of Ms Sainsbury.

'Basically, the bigger traffickers are the ones they are after,' he told the Seven Network.

The first photos have emerged of Cassandra standing in handcuffs next to her luggage

Cassandra was arrested in Colombia after an airport X-Ray search allegedly revealed something suspicious in her luggage (pictured)

'Small traffickers are just an annoyance for the country.

'Colombia loves foreigners coming in. One of their major industries now is tourism. They do not want the name. They don't want the media attention for drug trafficking.'

In Australia, six kilograms of cocaine has an estimated street value of almost $2 million.

Cassandra's fiance Scott Broadbridge was also understood to be concerned about the impact public attention, and rumours on social media, might have on her case.

The couple are due to be married in February.

The young woman's family raised $4,000 of their $15,000 goal and continue to claim she was tricked by the Colombian local who offered to find her cheap headphones for wedding gifts on her trip.

The former personal trainer from Adelaide was denied bail and is being held at the overcrowded El Buen Pastor women's prison (pictured) until her hearing in two months
Former federal Labor MP Janelle Saffin watched on in horror as her son was jailed for nine years for sexually assaulting another man.

Ms Saffin's 32-year-old son Edward John Saffin guilty of 13 offences relating to the sexual assault of a man on the NSW north coast in 2015.

The man sexually assaulted another male despite him crying 'no, no', the court heard.

Janelle Saffin (pictured) watched on in court as her son was jailed for nine years for 13 offences relating to sexual assault

Ex-Labor MP Saffin (pictured) sat on the Australian House of Representatives seat of Page from 2007 until 2013

The assaults occurred inside and outside a car in an isolated area in Lismore, NSW over a number of hours and included penetration and oral sex, it was found.

At the NSW District Court on Friday Judge Peter Whitford handed down a total effective sentence of 14 years with a non-parole period of nine years and four months.

Delivering his judgment, Judge Whitford described the assault as 'accompanied by repeated instances of humiliation' and violence, also describing it as 'degrading', the Lismore Echo reports.

Saffin's actions also caused substantial psychological harm to the victim, who was described as 'crying, distressed, hysterical (and) aggressive' following the assault, Judge Whitford said.

Mr Saffin's victim, who cannot be named, also attempted suicide since the 2015 attack, the court heard.

His mother was present in court during the sentencing alongside several other of Mr Saffin's supporters.

Janelle Saffin was a member of the Australian Labor Party and sat on the Australian House of Representatives seat of Page from 2007 until 2013.
A British pensioner has died after plunging into a reservoir in a horrific skydiving accident.

Veteran skydiver James McConnell was in Pattaya, Thailand, when the accident happened on Wednesday.

The 69-year-old great-grand-father, originally from Duntocher, Dunbartonshire, jumped from a plane from British-owned firm Thai Sky Adventures before being killed in the freefall.

It is not yet clear whether his parachute opened and it is also unknown whether he was killed during the jump or on impact with water.

One theory is that he may have had a heart attack while he was descending.

British pensioner James McConnell (pictured) has died after plunging into a reservoir in a horrific skydiving accident

The intended landing site had been the Thai Sky Adventures airstrip but the father-of-one crashed into the waters of the adjacent Nong Kho reservoir.

Mr McConnell, who had lived and worked in Thailand for some 20 years, was pulled from the water by paramedics after the jump at around 3pm local time but he was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

The standard height for jumping excursions run by the business is 13,000ft, with freefall speeds reaching up to 125mph.

Mr McConnell, who worked as a piping engineer, was an experienced and qualified skydiver with his own equipment who had made more than 1,000 jumps.

His sister Maria Harkins, 67, paid tribute to him from her home in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, calling him 'laid-back, unassuming' and a 'quiet gentleman'.

She said: 'He was an experienced skydiver. We don't know if his parachute opened or what happened, but he always took his own kit and packed it himself and used a camera on his helmet. It's a shock because he wasn't ill a day in his life.

'Nobody knows what happened, but he was very experienced. He had done over 1,000 skydives. He skydived for charity, doing exhibition skydives and he loved the thrill.

The 69-year-old great-grand-father, originally from Duntocher, Dunbartonshire, jumped from a plane from British-owned firm Thai Sky Adventures before being killed in the freefall

'He skydived every weekend when he was here at Strathallan. I have been crying all day.'

She also explained that his oil rig worker son Mark, 43, was offshore when he was contacted by one of his father's friends in Thailand with the devastating news.

He was airlifted to the mainland on Wednesday to begin a journey to Thailand from his home in Forfar, Angus.

James McConnell's brother-in-law John Harkins, 68, said: 'His son Mark picked up the mantle from his dad and also lives for skydiving. Mark now has to deal with the news and we will have to see about bringing James home.

'It's such a shock because it was so unexpected. We are waiting for an investigation to see what happened and to ascertain the cause, whether it was a heart attack or what.'

In addition to his son Mr McConnell leaves behind two grown-up grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, both toddlers.

On Wednesday, Colonel Chonnapat Nawalak of the police in Chonburi said that officers had launched an investigation into the death.

He said: 'We're still checking the cause of his death. He jumped from the plane and landed in the water, so we have to check whether he died from the jumping or from drowning.

'Officers were at hospital with him and the family. Paramedics tried to save him but he died.

'There are lots of different accounts of what happened. The foreign man landed in the water next to the runway. He should not have landed there but why we do not know.

'We're investigating with the owner of the centre to find out exactly what happened.'

The British owner of Thai Sky Adventures, pilot Harry Harrison, confirmed someone had died during a jump but refused to comment further.

Last night, the British embassy in Bangkok could not be contacted for comment.
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It's the property which has played host to infamous gangster 'Squizzy' Taylor and the last woman to be hanged in Australia, and soon you could be staying in the very same rooms as the notorious criminals.

The former Carlton police station, complete with some of Melbourne's oldest jail cells, has hit the market but it's not exactly going for a steal - you will need $4 million to get yourself in.

If the walls of the Drummond Street property could talk, they would tell the story of how violent 1920s Melbourne gangland figure 'Squizzy' Taylor, the subject of the 2013 'Underbelly' television series, spent time locked up for his criminal misdemeanours.

Convicted murderer Jean Lee, the last woman executed in Australia, in 1951, passed through the station with her accomplices Robert Clayton and Norman Andrews, while members of the notorious Carlton Crew, some of which were also the focus of an 'Underbelly' series, were rumoured to be regular visitors.

The former Carlton police station, complete with some of Melbourne's oldest jail cells has hit the market- but it's not exactly going for a steal

Law abiding citizens will have the chance to sleep in the very same cells that once housed some of Melbourne's 'Underbelly' figures

Notorious 1920s Victorian gangster 'Squizzy' Taylor (pictured) is one of a host of criminals who have passed through the Carlton Police Station over the years

'Squizzy' Taylor (pictured) and his misdemeanors were the subject of the 2013 'Underbelly' television series

Jean Lee (pictured) was the last woman to be executed in Australia, in 1951, and also spent time at the former Carlton police station

Spend the rest of your life in prison: Carlton police station, complete with cells is on the market for $4million

The old police station has of Melbourne's oldest jail cells (pictured)

Agent Simon Shrimpton from Jellis Craig told Domain the property could be utilised a number of different ways.

'The first thing that comes to mind is it would be an amazing single residence,' he said.

'It's very difficult to find a property within the inner city, let alone in Carlton, on such a large block of land.

'Walking further down the commercial path, it could be utilised as offices, a restaurant, a hotel or an arts or craft precinct.'

Built in 1878, the heritage-listed complex's two building were designed in Victorian Classical Revival-style and feature round-headed windows.

The historical and architecturally significant location would have once housed sergeants' and married constables' quarters and a dormitory, along with its many criminal inhabitants.

The property has six jail cells and 19 rooms and operated as the Carlton police station for more than 120 years, until its last lockup in 2010.

It's expected to sell for between $3.8million and $4.1million.

Agent Shrimpton is taking public tender offers until June 6.

Agent Simon Shrimpton from Jellis Craig told Domain the property could be utilised a number of different ways

Built in 1879, the complex's two building were designed in Victorian Classical Revival-style

The property has six jail cells and 19 rooms and operated as the Carlton Police Station for more than 120 years, until its last lockup in 2010

The unique property is expected to fetch between $3.8million and $4.1million
An ISIS leader in Egypt has warned Muslims to stay away from Christian gatherings in a signal that there are more massacres to come.

In April, two ISIS suicide bombers killed at least 45 people at churches in the cities of Alexandria and Tanta, one of the bloodiest attacks the country has experienced in years.

An unnamed ISIS commander in Egypt has now urged Muslims to stay away from Christian events as well as government, military and police facilities, suggesting that the militant group will keep up attacks on what he referred to as 'legitmate targets'.

'We are warning you to stay away from Christian gatherings, as well as the gatherings of the army and the police, and the areas that have political government facilities,' the leader, who was not named, said in an interview in the ISIS Al Naba weekly newspaper published on Telegram.

An ISIS leader in Egypt has warned Muslims to stay away from Christian gatherings in a signal that there are more massacres to come (file picture)

In April, two ISIS suicide bombers killed at least 45 people at churches in the cities of Alexandria and Tanta (pictured), one of the bloodiest attacks the country has experienced in years

Islamist militants are increasingly targeting religious minorities, a challenge to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has promised to protect them from extremism.

ISIS has been turning its sights on targets outside its base in the Sinai, putting more pressure on the government and presenting extra challenges for security services.

Interviews with residents of North Sinai and reviews of ISIS videos suggest the group's local affiliate, known as Sinai Province, is seeking to impose its hardline interpretation of Islam on the local populace for the first time.

According to Sinai Province videos reviewed by Reuters, the group has created a morality police force, known as a Hisba, to enforce strict rules against such behaviour as smoking, men shaving their beards or women exposing their faces.

Coupled with a sharp increase in attacks on Christians inside and outside its predominant area of operations in North Sinai, the developments mark a significant change of tactics for Egypt's ISIS affiliate. Previously, the group had mostly attacked police, soldiers and their informants.

Three church bombings since December, in Cairo, Tanta (pictured) and Alexandria, have claimed about 70 lives and have had a traumatic effect on the Coptic minority

The group's widening geographical reach and shift in focus present a challenge for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who came to power in 2013 vowing to eradicate Islamist extremism and restore security.

Despite government crackdowns that have seen hundreds of militants and protesters killed and thousands jailed, ISIS is still mounting deadly attacks in Egypt.

The developments reflect how ISIS is expanding operations in the Arab world's most populous country as the extremist group faces setbacks in Syria, Iraq and Libya, say analysts.

While the group has failed to capture territory in Egypt, it is trying to stoke sectarian tensions and social unrest. An examination of what's happening in North Sinai, a region rarely accessible by reporters, shows the strategy is scoring some success.

A 25-minute video posted in late March on an internet channel often used by ISIS showed jihadists announcing the creation of a Hisba in North Sinai, modelled on religious police units operating in parts of Iraq and Syria controlled by the extremists.

The video denounced Christians and Sufi Muslims, and showed enforcers, wearing jackets identifying them as Sinai Province Hisba, burning confiscated cigarettes and drugs and destroying tombs and shrines, which they consider un-Islamic.

Despite government crackdowns that have seen hundreds of militants and protesters killed and thousands jailed, ISIS is still mounting deadly attacks in Egypt. Mourners are pictured carrying the coffin of a victim of an ISIS attack on a church in Alexandria, Egypt

In the video, an unmasked young militant warns that the Hisba will punish dissenters according to its interpretation of Islam.

Enforcers are shown hitting one man with plastic tubing and beheading two elderly adherents of Sufi Islam, accusing them of sorcery and apostasy.

Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the video, which has since been removed from the internet.

Egypt's military spokesman declined to comment on the incidents in North Sinai, the thinly populated but strategic peninsula between the Suez Canal, Israel and Gaza where a legacy of government neglect has created fertile ground for radicalisation among disenfranchised locals.

A security source downplayed concerns that the militants were capable of spreading the kind of sectarian violence that has torn apart Iraq.

'They are trying to have an impact, and we are not saying we have completely eradicated them, but they are weak,' he said.

The latest shift in militants' tactics began in December, when an ISIS suicide bomber killed 28 people at the main Coptic Christian cathedral in the heart of the capital Cairo. In February, Sinai Province declared in another video its intent to wipe out Egypt's Christians, who account for about 10 per cent of the 92 million population.

Christians have long faced sporadic attacks in Egypt, usually sparked by disputes over land, church-building or inter-religious love affairs.

But the murder of seven Christians in North Sinai in the three weeks from January 30 was different, more systematic and more insidious, officials and rights groups said at the time.

About 175 families fled the area. Some of them told Reuters that hit lists of local Christians had been circulated online and pushed under doors.

Last month, ISIS militants killed at least 45 people in two church bombings on Palm Sunday, prompting Sisi to declare a state of emergency.

Mokhtar Awad, research fellow in the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, said the new campaign against Christians was an effort to tear at the fabric of society and state when other means had failed. 'A confluence of factors has seen this escalation happen now,' he said. 'They hope that this is the first step to basically unravel the country.'

As well as launching attacks in major cities like Cairo, Alexandria and Tanta, where the church bombings took place, militants are ranging further afield inside North Sinai. Where fighting once centred around the cities of Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid, near the Gaza border, militants have carried out more attacks in and around Arish, the provincial capital about 32 miles further west.

Since 2014, when homegrown Sinai militant group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis pledged allegiance to ISIS, Egypt has resorted to ever more destructive means to root out the jihadists.

It has smashed a network of tunnels used to smuggle weapons in from Gaza; razed hundreds of homes to create a no-man's land; and mounted numerous air strikes.




Dear Readers,

On the 28th of January, 1950, two days after India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic, the Supreme Court came into being. The inauguration took place in the Chamber of Princes in the Parliament building which also housed India's Parliament, consisting of the Council of States and the House of the People.

It was here, in this Chamber of Princes, which the Federal Court of India had sat for 12 years between 1937 and 1950. This was to be the home of the Supreme Court for years that were to follow until the Supreme Court acquired its own present premises.

I must admit, that I am truly impressed with the judges from the Indian judicial system, and strongly believe they deserve a standing ovation from the citizens of India, in appreciation, that they have managed to achieve what no other countries could achieve, and nor would anyone ever try to accomplish, Which is a total of more than 31.28 Million cases pending, across India and these files may never see the light of day.

These numbers are the highest compared to any country in the world. This back log would take 320 year to clear, which is if someone decides to wake up and work on them instead of sitting on them.

A recent study indicated that the number of new cases has direct relationship with increasing literacy rate and awareness,



Citing examples of Kerala, a high literacy state, with awareness, 28 new cases per 1000 population per annum have been added, whereas, Bihar with relatively low literacy rate the figure stands at just three.

However, study also shows that crimes increased when the law and order mechanism is weak.

There is about 1 lac pending rape cases in 2012, only 14% disposed of. The people of this country or rather people with vested interest have blamed the government and police, for law and order problems, but the real cause for increase of crimes is the judges who refused to bring justice on criminals.

Thousands and thousands of criminals are walking the streets of India just because our legal system refuse or delay timely judgment.

They (Judges) have denied scores of Indians their fundamental right as Indian citizens, and the law in which they took an oath to uphold must now be brought down onto to them.

I recently spoke to a widow who filed a case of cheating in the year 1995. She said she was cheated of 1.19 lac and it took her Rs19000 more as court fees just to file a case, its now been more than 20 years and nothing has happened. She said she does not dream the legal system of ever getting her money back and would be happy if they (the company) gave her whatever they felt like.

What hurt me more is not me getting cheated of my money, its me getting cheated by the legal system.





In the aftermath of the infamous Delhi gang rape case, the Centre had requested the Chief Justices of the high courts and state chief ministers to set up fast track courts for speedy trial of pending rape cases in district or subordinate courts with high pendency and to monitor the progress of the cases to ensure their timely disposal.

It took brutal gruesome sexual assault on a young girl and the outcry of public in the aftermath to force the government and the judicial system to bring this change, and the Change happened and it proves that it could have been done before, but there was no will from either parties (Government and Judicial) not affected by the system.





"If one considers the total pendency of cases in the Indian judicial system, every judge in the country will have an average load of about 2,147 cases," Justice Rao said, while delivering the keynote address on E-Governance in Judiciary.

India is crossing the 1.2 billion population mark and a judge to make a remark, that all the judges are over worked is a mockery to anyones intelligence. When work load increases the only option is to increase staffing does the Judges of our country need lessons on man power management or perhaps a session on time and motion study would help them work more efficiently.

In India, we have an independent and integrated judicial system. Unlike other federations, India has a single and unified judicial system for the entire country. There are High Courts at the State level and further below are subordinate courts. The question of infighting does not arise when there is a central chain of command. The question does arises is what have they been doing all these years denying justice that was promised by our constitution?



India has 14,576 judges as against the sanctioned strength of 17,641 including 630 High Court Judges. This works out to a ratio of 10.5 judges per million populations, Justice Rao said.



The Apex court in 2002 had suggested 50 judges per million population, he reinstated.



If the norm of 50 judicial officers per million becomes reality by 2030 when the country's population would be 1.5 to 1.7 billion, the number of judges would go up to 1.25 lakh dealing with 300 million case.



The system is breaking down slowly but surely, denying justice by delaying riots affected justice, bringing shame onto rape victims, let off corporate companies run free with peoples money, politicians with scams are some of the cases that fill the justice system's cupboards.

The people have lost hope and when hope is lost there can only bring room for chaos.

The law states The Supreme Court can punish anyone who is found to indulge in contempt of the court. Contempt of court includes criticism of a judgment of the court, criticism of judges and the court, passing derogatory remarks against the court, refusing to abide by the decisions of the court, etc.

I wonder if I am in contempt for bringing up the deeds of the Supreme Court on this blog, or should I have kept quite because the law says I should even in the face of injustice.

If I am in contempt then my charge for sedition could be after 320 years according to the back log of cases, I understand this in not on a first come basis but I dont think what I said is a lie, and if I have not lied and no crime was committed, then I have broken no law, and if its really is on a first come basis and justice is served onto me than the court in contempt of itself by choosing to bring the law onto its citizen when it suits their need?
Kim Jong-un has inspected an artillery unit used to bombard South Korea in the last deadly clash between the two countries.

The North Korea ruler visited the 'Hero Defence Detachment' on Mu Islet on Friday, telling troops to 'keep highly alert to break the backbone of the enemy', the state-backed Korean Central News Agency reported.

Kim also praised the unit's 2010 shelling of South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island, which killed four including two civilians, as 'the most delightful battle'.

Kim Jong-un inspected the artillery unit on Mu Islet on Friday which was used during the last deadly attack on South Korea back in 2010

Kim praised the unit's last attack on the South, which killed four including two civilians, as 'brilliant military service' saying it was an example to 'hand down through the generations'

Kim said the unit must 'keep highly alert to break the backbone of the enemy' and will be crucial in 'the future battle', state-backed media reported

The dictator branded the shelling 'brilliant military service' saying it was an example to 'hand down through the generations', a state media release said.

His visit was to assess the 'combat readiness' of the unit as fears of a fresh and bloody conflict in the region grow.

State media said Kim inspected new fire plans to be used in 'the future battle', and 'confirmed that all positions are fully ready for combat and to go into action.'

North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeong in November 2010 came as the result of what it called a 'provocative shelling by the South Korean puppet warmongers'.

The North Korean dictator 'confirmed that all positions are fully ready for combat and to go into action', according to state media

Fears of fresh conflict between the North and South have been growing in recent weeks after President Trump vowed to 'solve' the Korea issue

Pressure has increased on Kim's regime in recent weeks as China has backed calls for further sanctions, leading to fears the dictator could lash out

South Korea had been conducting a drill on Yeonpyeong in which it fired live shells into the ocean. North Korea accused Seoul of shooting into its territorial waters, a claim the South disputes, and returned fire.

In total 170 rockets and shells were fired at the island, which was then home to around 2,000 people, destroying multiple buildings and military installations.

Two members of the South Korean military were killed, along with two 60-year-old constructions workers.

Seoul said it retaliated against the North, hitting several gun positions on Mu Islet. North Korea made no mention of anyone being killed.

Kim reviewed fire plans drawn up by the artillery unit which will be used in the event of an attack on the South (islands pictured in the background)

While on the island Kim also toured vegetable gardens being used to feed the troops there, and a desalination plant being used to provide fresh water

The artillery battery on Mu Islet fired 170 rockets and shells at Yeonpyeong Island back in 2010, killing two members of the military and two civilian construction workers

The shelling, which sparked anti-regime protests in the South and condemnation from around the world, was called 'the largest crisis since the end of the Korean War' by the UN.

Russia and China have sent troops and tanks to their borders with North Korea in recent weeks after President Trump sailed an 'armada' into the region, threatening to 'solve' the North Korea issue.

The two countries are believed to be preparing for an influx of refugees from the North in the event that Trump carries out preemptive strikes as a result of a sixth nuclear test, which observers believe North Korea has been preparing for at one of its underground testing sites.
Ruth Blakeley, a professor at the University of Kent, said the airline is using gendered language

A professor has criticised British Airways for using 'out-dated' and 'sexist' language after finding she couldn't change address details in a joint account because she was not the 'head of the household'.

Ruth Blakeley a professor of international relations at the University of Kent, tried to change her address on her joint Executive Club account with the airline, but couldn't because her husband was the designated head of the household.

The 39-year-old said she was 'shocked' that BA had chosen that term to name the lead account holder as it 'reinforces gender stereotypes'.

But a British Airways spokesperson pointed out that the term is gender neutral and the couple could have appointed Professor Blakeley as the 'head of the household' if they wished.

Professor Blakeley, from Kent, said: 'I want British Airways to look at their error message again and reconsider their phrasing.

'Probably like a lot of 21st century couples, we don't think of things as if there's a "head of the household". We both earn, we both pay the bills, we both contribute.

'I've already used their online complaints form to say this phrasing was a bit backwards and I emailed them, but there's not been a response.

'Who says "head of the household" in the 21st century, apart from maybe my granddad?

'It's all of these collective things that add up.

'Even my husband was shocked by the term "head of the household". He said "who says that anymore?" It was a bit of a shock to see it.'

Professor Blakeley wrote to the company to address their views on relationships, and later added that neither she or her husband see themselves as the 'head' of the household

The international relations professor has worked widely on gender equality issues as part of her research in human rights and terrorism.

However she acknowledges that British Airways aren't the only company that ask for a lead account holder and states that the issue is the phrasing, not their policy.

Professor Blakeley and her husband Steven joined their separate executive accounts together in order to make the most of the points scheme, but the professor did not know that because her account effectively joined her husband's, he would be 'head'.

She says they didn't appoint either of them as the 'head' when the accounts merged, and her issue is with the phrase, not with the need for a lead person.

Professor Blakeley, who works at the University of Kent, said: 'The term has very negative connotations. Of course, British Airways are not the only company that say they want a lead account holder.

'I don't want to go over the top about it, there are much worse things happening to women all over the world, but it is still important to highlight.

'In the wider scheme of things, this isn't a big deal - I have a sense of perspective. We do need to make sure, though, that we don't reinforce gender stereotypes.

'British Airways are using language and they can't see why it is gendered.

Professor Blakeley tweeted the company saying the phrase 'head of the household' is not as neutral as they believe it to be - and later said it harks back to the 1950s

'I want them to take more notice of how they are using language or phrasing and choose a term that doesn't carry all that baggage around with it.

'It reinforces traditional gender roles. We're not in the 1950s and it has connotations of the time when women were stuck at home looking after the kids.

'I was surprised to see that term being used because generally companies are much more careful and they do try to be more gender neutral.'

In her original tweets, the professor wrote: '@BritishAirways will not allow me to update postal address in my account.'

The second tweet read: 'I have written to @BritishAirways to complain about their outdated sexist assumption about 21st century relationships.'

In response to her complaint, British Airways claimed that the phrase 'head of the household' was in fact gender neutral.

A spokesperson for the airline said: 'A 'household' account allows up to six British Airways Executive Club members who live at the same address to collect and pool their Avios to spend on future flights, car hire or hotel accommodation.

'We ask for one member of the household account to be nominated as the main contact.

'The term "head of household" bears no relation to gender.'
ISIS is encouraging jihadists to use websites like Craigslist and eBay to lure victims to their property to take them hostage and kill them.

A recent edition of the Islamic State magazine, Rumiyah, has published tutorials on vehicle, knife and arson attacks for lone jihadists, who it praised as having 'set heroic examples with their operations'.

The magazine, which is published online in ten languages, encourages terrorists to buy guns at shows and to 'create as much carnage and terror as one possible (sic) can' when taking hostages.

Meanwhile, ISIS is also creating a social media site where fanatics will be able to recruit others and share extremist material, a top EU official has said.

The Islamic State magazine, Rumiyah, has published tutorials on vehicle, knife and arson attacks for lone jihadists, who it praised as having 'set heroic examples with their operations'

The magazine article says that the objective of taking hostages is 'not to hold large numbers of the kuffar hostage in order to negotiate one's demands'.

Instead, it says to create terror with 'the language of force, the language of killing, stabbing and slitting throats, chopping off heads, flattening them under trucks, and burning them alive, until they give the jizyah [tax] while they are in a state of humiliation', according to PJ Media.

The magazine suggested that terrorists take people hostage at malls, movie theaters, night clubs, ice-skating rinks, restaurants and college campuses.

But they were also encouraged to lure hostages through online advertisements on Craigslist, Gumtree, eBay and Loot.

One suggested lure was to advertise a studio apartment for rent, small enough not to 'attract large families', and trap and kill interested renters.

'It might even help to include in the ad that the apartment is 'ideal for students',' ISIS writes.

The magazine also suggests listing things for sale online and 'specify that collection and payment is only available in person and that only cash is accepted. Also, the item being advertised should be something that requires the victim to enter one's property'.

'It is likewise important to be realistic when advertising and not advertise something far below its valued price, as this can attract the attention of authorities searching for stolen goods or possibly attract other suspicions,' the article states.

The article states that terrorists 'should not initiate his attack until the target has fully entered the property and is comfortable, so as to avoid any struggle and prevent the chance of him fleeing'.

The magazine suggested that terrorists take people hostage at malls, movie theaters, night clubs, ice-skating rinks, restaurants and college campuses. But they were also encouraged to lure hostages through online advertisements on Craigslist, Gumtree, eBay and Loot

Operations with fewer jihadists are encouraged to pick targets with fewer exits and suggests terrorists to perform acts on 'days on which police and other security forces might be preoccupied with national or local events'.

Meanwhile, Europol Director Rob Wainwright says a social media for fanatics that could rival Facebook is on its way.

Wainwright said the new online platform was uncovered during a 48-hour operation against Internet extremism last week.

'Within that operation it was revealed IS was now developing its very own social media platform, its own part of the Internet to run its agenda,' Wainwright told a security conference in London. 'It does show that some members of Daesh (IS), at least, continue to innovate in this space.'

During a Europol-coordinated crackdown on IS and al Qaeda material, which involved officials from the United States, Belgium, Greece, Poland, and Portugal, more than 2,000 extremist items were identified, hosted on 52 social media platforms.

Jihadists have often relied on mainstream social media platforms for online communications and to spread propaganda, with private channels on messaging app Telegram being especially popular over the past year.

Technology firms, such as Facebook and Google, have come under increasing political pressure to do more to tackle extremist material online and to make it harder for groups such as Islamic State to communicate through encrypted services to avoid detection by security services.

However, Wainwright said that IS, by creating its own service, was responding to concerted pressure from intelligence agencies, police forces and the tech sector, and were trying to found a way around it.

'We have certainly made it a lot harder for them to operate in this space but we're still seeing the publication of these awful videos, communications operating large scale across the Internet,' he said, adding he did not know if it would be technically harder to take down IS's own platform.
Around 350 ISIS fighters have returned to the UK from Syria, creating a nightmare for security services, it emerged today.

MI5 has previously said around 850 extremists from Britain travelled to the Middle East as the terror group took control of Syria and parts of Iraq.

But with ISIS now being pushed out, jihadists with British passports are fleeing back to the UK, where authorities fear they may unleash a new wave of attacks.

Hundreds of British ISIS fighters have returned to the UK and pose a terror threat. File photo

Police and security services are said to be stretched to the limit trying to monitor extremists

Many of those returning were trained in the use of explosives and firearms as they took part in ISIS's bloody rampage,The Times reports today.

The paper states that intelligence gathered on them is often covert or sensitive meaning it cannot be used in court.

The flood of new jihadists is stretching the UK's security security services to breaking point, with up to 30 officers required to provide 24-hour monitoring of just one suspect.

It comes after a British defector from the group told how up to 300 British members of ISIS remain in the Syrian warzone.

Experts believe they may be in communication with those who have returned, raising the fear of further plots.

Tarik Hassane, nicknamed 'The Surgeon', plotted to kill UK police officers are returning to London following a trip to Syria and Sudan in 2013

Olivier Guitta, managing director at risk consultants GlobalStrat, told the Daily Telegraph this week: 'Many who joined Isil have returned to the UK and they could be awaiting instructions. It is very likely that there is communication.'

MI5 have previously said around 3,000 violent Islamist extremists are operating in the UK.

Erol Incedal was found bomb-making manual after he came back to Britain from Syria

British anti-terror police have stepped up arrests since Muslim convert Khalid Masood killed four pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a police officer to death outside Parliament in March.

Masood is understood to have travelled to Saudi Arabia before the attack, but it is not believed he ever visited any ISIS-held territory.

A series of other terror plots whose perpetrators have travelled to the warzone have been thwarted, including that of so-called 'Surgeon' Tarik Hassane, who wanted to attack police.

ISIS is currently facing multiple offensives in both Iraq and Syria, with US-led airstrikes, Russian and Syrian forces as well as Kurdish and other groups pushing them back.

Iraqi forces said on Tuesday that they had retaken full control one of the city of Mosul's largest neighbourhoods.

Syrian forces have meanwhile entered Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS's so-called 'caliphate'.
This is the dramatic moment armed police arrested three men at gunpoint after swooping in on a vehicle which contained class A drugs and a knife.

Two police vehicles stopped a black Alpha Romeo after shooting its tyres and pointed their guns at those in the vehicle before arresting three men.

Video footage of the tense moment was captured by Mohammed Jehad, 23, who said eight armed officers were part of the operation in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Officers then recovered class A drugs and a knife from the vehicle and the men were driven away in the police cars.

The dramatic moment was captured on camera and the men - aged between 22 and 28 - are in police custody

Three men inside the vehicle were arrested after officers found class A drugs inside the car

Mr Jehad, from Solihull, West Midlands, said: 'It was quite dramatic. I had just popped into Select Express to get a drink and when I came out saw four unmarked police vehicles and a marked police car which stopped a black Alfa Romeo.

'Armed police then got out of the vehicles and were pointing the guns at the car. There were about eight armed officers.

'Three men then got out of the vehicle and were arrested before being put in police cars. Officers were searching the car including the boot and then another car with detectives turned up.

'The road was blocked while the arrests were made and we weren't allowed to move. It was very dramatic.'

The men got out of the vehicle and were apprehended and taken away in a police vehicle

Officers arrived at the scene in Birmingham and shot the tyres on the black Alfa Romeo (pictured)

A West Midlands Police spokesman said :'Three men have been arrested after a car containing Class A drugs was stopped on the Hagley Road on Wednesday.

'Police stopped the car on the Hagley Road, close to the junction with Monument Road at 11.30pm.

'As part of the operation, vehicle tyre deflation rounds were discharged directly into vehicle tyres by trained firearms officers.

'A quantity of drugs and a knife were recovered from the car. Two men, aged 23 and 28 were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a controlled substance.

'A 22-year-old man was arrested for possession of a bladed article. All three are currently in police custody and will be interviewed by officers in due course. Enquiries are on-going.'
A crofter has died in what is being described as a 'horrific incident' involving a bull.

Alistair Maclean was killed at his remote property in Bettyhill, the northern coast Scotland, on Monday in a tragic accident.

The exact circumstances surrounding the 76-year-old's death are not yet known.

But sources said the scene at his croft was 'horrific'

Alistair Maclean was killed at his remote property on Monday in a tragic accident involving a bull

A Police Scotland spokesman said officers had been called to Mr Maclean's address and are now liaising with the Health and Safety Executive but there were no suspicious circumstances.

Shocked community leaders have paid tribute to the retired milkman, who was well known along the coast.

Strathy and Armadale Community Council chairwoman Janette Mackay said: 'I was very, very sad to hear about Alistair's death. He was a very pleasant gentleman and was very well liked.

'We initially heard that he was found dead at the peat stack and it was a heart attack but now we are hearing that there was a bull involved.

'We are thinking about his family at this time.'

A Golspie Technical School pupil, Mr Maclean began his working life aged just 15 with his building contractor father, Sandy.

But he moved on to join a haulage business and worked on contracts for Sutherland District Council across the Highlands, including the first tarring of Strathmore road.

He lived near the village of Bettyhill in the northern coast Scotland, and members of the community are said to be shocked by the tragedy

The major part of his career was spent as a milkman, delivering to customers along the A863 and its side roads from Tongue to Thurso.

He bought over the milk round in 1990, having previously worked alongside the owner, Donald Mackay.

He retired in September, 2010, having clocked up nearly two million miles.

Mr Maclean was married to Jean, who worked for many years as a district nurse in the area.

He is survived by her and their three children, Billy, who works at Armadale Farm, merchant seaman Andrew, and Iona.
Jean-Claude Juncker made yet another bad tempered jibe at Britain today by declaring 'English is losing importance'.

The EU Commission President insisted he would make a major speech on the state of the EU in French because of Brexit.

Mr Juncker's bizarre jab is the latest in a series of heated exchanges between Britain and Brussels after leaks from his office triggered a bitter row with Theresa May over the talks.

In a belligerent speech in Florence today, he branded Brexit a 'tragedy' and accused Britain of 'abandoning' Europe.

Mr Juncker, who is a native Luxembourgish speaker, said: 'I will express myself in French not English because slowly but surely English is losing importance.'

Jean-Claude Juncker, pictured speaking in Florence today, made yet another bad-tempered jibe at Britain today by declaring that 'English is losing importance'

Mr Juncker made his bizarre jab at the UK despite leaks from his office triggering a bitter row with Theresa May over the talks.

David Davis (pictured on BBC Question Times last night) has claimed threats of a 100billion Brexit bill 'crossed the line' and was 'bullying' as he warned Britain would not be cowed

But English is spoken and understood by hundreds of millions more people than French.

According to one estimate, English is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world with 340 million native speakers.

English vs French - how do the languages compare? English is believed to be the fourth most widely spoken language in the world, with 340 million native speakers. While some 510 million people speak English at some level. In contrast, French is only the 18th most widely spoken language in the world with 67 million native speakers. While 130 million speakers know French at some level. Advertisement

While some 510 million people speak it at some level.

In contrast, French is only the 18th most widely spoken language in the world with 67 million native speakers and 130 million speakers at some level.

Labour's Croline Flint, who is standing for re-election in Don Valley, tweeted a picture of a map of Europe showing that far more European know English than French.

The latest salvo comes amid heightened tensions between Brussels and Britain.

Mrs May made a blistering speech in Downing Street on Wednesday to accuse Brussels of trying to meddle in the general election.

And Brexit Secretary David Davis last night called out the EU for 'bullying' Britain over Brexit and warned the nation would not be cowed.

He said: 'The British people will not be bullied, and the Government will not allow them to be bullied.

'So she made the point she made, and she was right to do so.'

Meanwhile, at the press conference in Italy today the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said trade talks cannot begin until the rights of EU nationals in the UK are resolved.

Labour's Caroline Flint, who is standing for re-election on June 8, was quick to point out on Twitter just how ridiculous Mr Juncker's comment was

He said: 'We will not discuss our future relationship with the UK until the 27 member states are reassured that all citizens will be treated properly and humanely.

'Otherwise, there can be no trust when it comes to constructing a new relationship with the UK.

'And I know, for this new partnership with the UK to be solid and to be sustainable, we have together to build it on the base on mutual trust.'

Mrs May has repeatedly tried to get an early resolution to the issue, but has been rebuffed by European leaders.

But Mr Barnier tried to blame the British for the uncertainty.

He said: 'Some in the UK have tried to blame member states for the continued uncertainty that citizens have been confronted with for 10 months now.

'That is wrong. The only cause of uncertainty is Brexit.'

Last night EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Brussels has 'too much to do on our plate' to dwell on Brexit.

While at a separate press conference , EU Council President Donald Tusk pleaded for 'mutual respect'.

In an apparent swipe at Theresa May, he warned that politicians should not let their 'emotions get out of hand' during the crucial talks.

The comments came amid heightened tensions after Mrs May made an blistering speech on the steps of No 10 calling out EU officials over aggressive leaking about Brexit.

The PM hosted a delegation from the European Commission at a dinner last week, but leaks from Brussels suggested she was out of her depth.

Mr Juncker's spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, brushed off Mrs May's comments.

He told reporters in Brussels: 'We are not naive, we know that there is an election taking place in the United Kingdom. People get excited whenever we have elections.

'This election in the United Kingdom is mainly about Brexit. But we here in Brussels, we are very busy, rather busy, with our policy work.

'We have too much to do on our plate. So, in a nutshell, we are very busy. And we will not Brexitise our work.

'To put it in the words of an EU diplomat, the 30-minute slot that we are going to devote to Brexit per week, for this week it's up.'

THE BRUSSELS THREATS THAT DREW THE PM'S WRATH German chacellor Angela Merkel Aides to EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker briefed that PM was 'deluded' and 'in another galaxy' after meeting her for talks last Wednesday night. Sources branded the meeting a 'disaster' and revealed he told Mrs May: 'I'm leaving Downing Street 10 times more sceptical than I was before.' German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the Bundestag last week: '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. 'I have to say this clearly here because I get the feeling that some people in Britain continue to work under illusions, and that is a waste of time.' EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier jibed at Mrs May today: 'Some have created the illusion that Brexit will have no material impact on our lives or that negotiations can be concluded quickly and easily.' He warned that failure to pay a divorce demand - expected to be as much as 90billion - would have 'explosive' consequences. Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator, mocked Mrs May's 'strong and stable' election slogan. 'Any Brexit deal requires a strong and stable understanding of the complex issues involved,' he said. 'The clock is ticking  it's time to get real.' Advertisement

Pressed on whether Mrs May was right to claim that EU figures were using 'threats' to influence the election, Mr Schinas said: 'I said that we are not naive and we know that it is time that elections happen.

'People get excited over elections, it's normal, so things are said.

'We don't Brexitise our very important policy work. We are too busy now to engage in these comments on who said this or that.'

Speaking at a museum opening in Brussels today Mr Tajani said: 'No one is trying to influence the outcome the election campaign in the United Kingdom.'

He added: 'It is better to have an interlocutor who is not constantly looking for votes because they have had the election, in order to work towards a good solution...

'If you have an election campaign, the rhetoric gets sharper and more robust. I don't think there is any question of influencing the campaign.'

Meanwhile, at a separate press conference Mr Tusk pleaded for calm and mutual respect in the looming Brexit negotiations.

He said: 'These negotiations are difficult enough as they are.

'If we start arguing before they even begin they will become impossible.

'The stakes are too high to let our emotions get out of hand because at stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the channel.

'We must keep in mind that in order to succeed we need today discretion, moderation, mutual respect and a maximum of goodwill.'

In her extraordinary speech last night, Mrs May appealed for the backing of voters so she can 'fight for Britain' despite the interference, the premier said: 'Britain's negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press. The European Commission's negotiating stance has hardened.

'Threats against Britain have been issued by European politicians and officials.

'All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the General Election that will take place on June 8.'

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has insisted he 'deeply respects' Mrs May as a 'tough lady' in an apparent attempt to cool the growing row between Brussels and London.

The extraordinary speech on the steps of Downing Street came after Mrs May went to see the Queen following the dissolution of parliament.

Donald Tusk, pictured last week at a press conference in Brussels, pleaded for mutual respect and warned politicians not to let their 'emotions get out of hand' during Brexit talks

A spokesman for Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured right today with the Estonian PM Juri Ratas) said Brussels was 'too busy' to interfere in the election

The President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani (pictured with the Prime Minister on April 20) today denied claims by Theresa May that Brussels tried to meddle in the election with damaging leaks about Brexit

After seeing the Queen, Theresa May on Wednesday night delivered an extraordinary assessment of the 'threats and misrepresentation' coming out of Brussels (pictured)

In a reference to poisonous briefing coming out of the top ranks of the EU, Mrs May said she believed there were efforts to skew the election

Poisonous briefing followed the visit to No10 by Jean-Claude Juncker (left) and Michel Barnier last week. They are pictured in Brussels today

It was warmly welcomed by Brexiteers - but drew howls of anguish from pro-EU politicians such as SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and the Jeremy Corbyn.

Miss Sturgeon accused Mrs May or trying to 'poison the well' ahead of the Brexit talks, while the Labour leader said she was playing 'party games' with the issues.

The premier lashed out witheringly at the 'coalition of chaos' that was being offered by Mr Corbyn.

But she saved her most vicious language for senior EU figures, after a brutal spat threatened to kill off the Brexit negotiations before they even began.

Relations have plunged to new lows after a detailed account emerged of a Downing Street dinner with EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and chief negotiator Michel Barnier last week.

The briefing, thought to have come from Mr Juncker's chief of staff Martin Selmayr, accused Mrs May of being clueless and put the chances of talks falling apart at 50-50.

Mr Barnier unveiled a hard-line stance for the talks today, warning that Britain will face 'explosive' consequences if it does not pay a Brexit divorce bill that has been doubled to around 90billion.

Mr Juncker and Mr Selmayr appeared to be trying to take some of the heat out of the row tonight with more conciliatory remarks praising Mrs May's efforts to navigate the EU divorce.

But the PM, who vowed yesterday to be a 'bloody difficult woman' in the looming talks, said the public were seeing quite how difficult the Brussels club would be over the coming years.

'The events of the last few days have shown that whatever our wishes and however reasonable the positions of Europe's other leaders, there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed, who do not want Britain to prosper.'

EU Council President Donald Tusk pleaded for 'mutual respect' this afternoon and warned the rows over Brexit could get 'out of hand'

The Russian Embassy Twitter account strikes again - by mocking Theresa May's warnings about meddling in Britain's General Election on June 8

Politicians officially ceased being MPs at midnight and are now candidates once again, as the country prepares to elect a new House of Commons.

However, the PM - and her ministers - remain in post to run the government during the period.

Mrs May has described the ballot as the 'most important' in her lifetime, and a strong Tory majority is essential to secure the best possible Brexit deal.

She warned today that people's livelihoods are on the line if the talks with the EU are not conducted effectively.

'If we don't get the negotiation right, your economic security and prosperity will be put at risk and the opportunities you seek for your families will simply not happen,' she said.

'If we do not stand up and get this negotiation right we risk the secure and well-paid jobs we want for our children and our children's children too.

Russian Embassy Twitter account joins in the mockery of Theresa May The Russian Embassy Twitter account risked enraging Britons by joining in the mockery of Theresa May. The account, which has gained a reputation for ruthlessly poking fun at Western leaders online, tweeted a picture of a newspaper front page carrying the PM's warning that 'Brussels is meddling in our election'. Alongside the picture was a message reading 'Praise God it's not Russia this time '. The comment is likely to have been a reference to Mrs May's revelation earlier this week that Britain had taken steps to prevent Putin's Russia hacking into or interfering with the looming election. Asked about the threat Vladimir Putin may pose to the June 8 vote, she said: 'Relatively recently the Government opened the new cyber security centre which is a very important step forward. 'That centre has already been working with the political parties, offering them advice on how they can protect themselves against the possibility of cyber intrusion. 'But as far as I am concerned, we do everything we can to ensure that the elections here in this United Kingdom are free and fair.' Advertisement

'If we don't get the negotiation right, if we let the bureaucrats of Brussels run over us, we will lose the chance to build a fairer society with real opportunity for all.

'The choice the country faces now is very simple. Because there are only two people who can possibly be Prime Minister after June 8 to negotiate Brexit.

'It is a choice between me  and Jeremy Corbyn.'

Mr Corbyn said the PM was using Brexit for a 'political game'.

'Theresa May is playing party games with Brexit in the hope of winning advantage for the Tories in the General Election,' he said.

'By winding up the public confrontation with Brussels, the Prime Minister wants to wrap the Conservative party in the Union Jack and distract attention from her government's economic failure and rundown of our public services.

'The Prime Minister is right that there are those in Brussels who don't want a deal. But that is also true of leading figures in the Tory party, who want to use Brexit to turn Britain into a low wage tax haven.

'The Prime Minister says that no deal would lead to a different economic model for Britain.

'In plain terms, that means wiping out employment rights and consumer protections and giving still more tax breaks to the rich and big corporations.

Miss Sturgeon, who has been looking to exploit Brexit to secure Scottish independence and tear the UK apart, said Mrs May was 'deliberately seeking to poison the well will make the negotiating task ahead even harder'.

'This is an irresponsible, gratuitous attack on our European neighbours, which is aimed at diverting attention from the Tories' dismal record on health, the economy, austerity and welfare by painting the EU as a bogeyman,' she said.

The PM, pictured walking back into No10 after her speech, appealed for the backing of voters so she can 'fight for Britain'

Mrs May saved her most vicious language today for senior EU figures, after a brutal spat threatened to kill off the Brexit negotiations before they even began

Miss Sturgeon, who has been looking to exploit Brexit to secure Scottish independence and tear the UK apart, said Mrs May was 'deliberately seeking to poison the well will make the negotiating task ahead even harder'

'Insulting our neighbours simply makes the Brexit mountain much harder to climb, but unfortunately it is par for the course from Theresa May.'

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry described Mrs May as a 'hybrid of Nixon and Cersei Lannister' - the latter being a reference to the notorious Game of Thrones character.

HOW THE EU WANTS TO INFLATE THE BREXIT DIVORCE BILL EU states have been piling on demands as they realise the scale of the hole about to be left in the bloc's finances by the departure of its second biggest contributor. The key elements of the divorce demand from Brussels include: The UK should keep paying into EU coffers until 2020 - after we formally leave - because that is when budgets have been set until.

Farm subsidy payments and EU administration fees for 2019 and 2020.

Britain should fund agreed loans that have already been agreed to poorer EU states.

UK to be denied a share of the bloc's assets, such as buildings, which could have brought the sum down.

Other costs include generous pensions for thousands of Eurocrats.

Although the estimated 100billion total would be payable up front, some of the money would be expected to come back over the decades. Advertisement

Mr Juncker told a press conference today that he was 'sorry' about the leaks from the Downing Street dinner.

And his chief of staff, Mr Selmayr, attempted to cool the issue this evening by hailing Mrs May as an 'impressive woman and a very impressive negotiator'.

'That's the way we have come to know her, and I don't think that's going to change,' he said.

'We need a very strong negotiator who unites the whole nation behind her and then in a very strong and tough way leads the negotiations.'

Mr Selmayr admitted that the leaks of last week's dinner had created 'a lot of havoc', but insisted that the EU side were treating the negotiations 'professionally'.

'Certainly there is much ado about this, but that doesn't change anything in principle for the President of the Commission, the EU and Michel Barnier,' he said.

'We will be going about this very professionally.'

He added: 'Brexit will never become a success, of course, because it is a sad and sorry event.

'But as I have set out, it can be managed in a professional and pragmatic way.'

Mr Selmayr suggested Mr Juncker will be spending only about 'half an hour a week' on the Brexit.

Speaking from Brussels, Mr Juncker added: 'I deeply respect the British Prime Minister, I like her as a person.

'I have noted that she is a tough lady, so this is not for the future, this is the real-time description.'

Polls suggest the Conservatives are on track for a huge victory on June 8.

New research by Panelbase today shows the Tories 17 per cent ahead of Labour, which would translate to a majority of more than 100.

Meanwhile, a Cantar poll gave Mrs May a massive 24 point lead.

Even previously safe Labour seats are thought to be vulnerable to a collapse in the Ukip vote and Tory surge.

But the country is in for an attritional struggle as Mrs May relentlessly hammers home her core message.

In a classic moment of British pomp and ceremony, the Prime Minister made the journey earlier today from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace

The Queen arrived at the Palace at around 14.45 (pictured) - just a quarter of an hour before the PM pulled up in her car

The stakes on the election were underlined today as the EU set out a tough line for the looming negotiations.

Mr Barnier warned thatBrexit will be be painful as he insisted the UK will have to abide by the bloc's terms.

In a clear jibe at Mrs May, he cautioned that 'some have created the illusion' that the process could be quick and painless.

The PM was greeted by an equerry as she arrived at Buckingham Palace after the short drive from No10 today

Mrs May spent around 30 minutes inside the palace before heading back for her blistering speech outside No10

Mrs May's official Jaguar made the short trip from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace and back this afternoon

He bluntly stated that was 'simply not telling the truth' and there would be 'consequences' - warning that Britain will be forced to 'settle' an exit bill that could run to more than 90billion.

He also insisted the European Court of Justice would settle disputes over the relationship in future.

At a press conference in the Belgian capital, Mr Barnier said: 'Some have created the illusion that Brexit will have no material impact on our lives or that negotiations can be concluded quickly and easily.

'That is not the case.'

He said there had to be a 'legal' process that covered all the technical points of the separation. That had to be settled before a future trade deal could be considered.

The PM's car went through the famous gates of Buckingham Palace before she went inside to meet the monarch

The latest polls suggest the Conservatives are on track for a huge victory on June 8

Although parliament only officially dissolved at midnight, in reality the campaign is well under way - with the Tories unveiling this poster today
Delta Air Lines is offering refunds and compensation to a California family that says they were forced off a plane and threatened with jail after refusing to give up one of their seats.

A video of the April 23 incident was uploaded to YouTube on Wednesday and added to the list of recent encounters on airlines that have gone viral, including the dragging of a bloodied passenger off a United Express plane.

Brian and Brittany Schear of Huntington Beach, California, told KABC-TV in Los Angeles that they were returning from Maui, Hawaii with their two-year-old son and one-year-old daughter.

Delta has issued an apology and offered a refund to Brian (pictured) and Brittany Schear, a couple who were booted from a flight from Maui to Los Angeles last month

Video shows a Delta staff member threatening Mr Schear with arrest if he did not give up his two-year-old son's seat

They wanted to put one of the children in a seat they had bought for their 18-year-old son, who instead flew home on an earlier flight. Delta's website says tickets cannot be transferred.

'We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta,' the company said in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Schear claims a member of airline staff told him: 'You have to give up the seat or you're going to jail, your wife is going to jail and they'll take your kids from you.'

They were due to travel from Hawaii to Los Angeles last week when they were told to relinquish the seat of young son Grayson.

Mrs Schear told ABC: 'As a mother, you have a one-year-old and a two-year-old - it doesn't matter whether that's true or false. It put fear in me.'

They were told Grayson - who had a car seat on top of his seat - would have to sit on one of his parents' knees.

Mr Schear had bought the seat for his older son, who went home on an earlier flight. He thought he could give the seat to his younger son, but the airline said tickets can not be transferred

After a long debate they agreed to this, but say they were then told to get off the plane.

They did not get a refund, Mr Schear said, and were forced to book a hotel room that night before buying three more plane tickets the following day.

They filmed the encounter with airport staff and posted it on YouTube. Mr Schear is heard asking a staff member: 'I'm going to be in jail?'

Mr Schear can be heard stating: 'Well, you should have thought of (that) before you oversold the flight. I bought that seat.'

Mr Schear (left)claims a member of airline staff told him: 'You have to give up the seat or you're going to jail, your wife is going to jail and they'll take your kids from you'. Pictured on the right is his wife Brittany

He told CBS2: 'We never thought it was going to get to the point where they were actually getting us all off the flight. As we were leaving the plane, theres four or five passengers waiting for our seat. The bottom line is, they oversold the flight.'

Initially the two youngest children were going to sit on their parents' laps, but when their teenage son opted to travel on another flight - having had a seat booked - they seated Grayson in his seat instead.

This comes nearly a month after United Continental Holdings Inc sparked outrage for dragging a passenger by his hands, out of an overbooked flight. However, the airline reached a settlement with the passenger last month.

Following the United incident, Southwest Airlines Co said it would stop overbooking its flights.

American Airlines Group Inc also experienced its own public relations fiasco last month when a video went viral, showing an onboard clash over a baby stroller.
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There is a German history behind Tsingtao beer, which has survived colonialism, civil war and Communist revolution

It's the beer that thousands of Britons and Americans order when they go out to enjoy a Chinese meal.

But the fascinating story behind Tsingtao beer goes back to the late 19th century - and its name is also associated with the only First World War battle in the Far East, which crushed Germany's dreams of empire.

The Siege of Tsingtao saw 1,500 British troops sent in to ally with Japan to take German territories in the Shandong province of eastern China in October and November 1914, shortly after the war began.

However, despite the crucial battle, its location is more commonly referenced nowadays in relation to the beer of the same name, which was first made by the Tsingtao brewery founded by German settlers in 1903.

The Germania-Brauerei was established with funding from German and British investors - six years after Germany established a foothold in Tsingtao - and the beer is still drunk around the world.

Tsingtao's story goes back to a humiliating era for China when Western powers and Japan were carving up parts of the country as the Qing dynasty tottered after more than two and a half centuries in power.

Two years after Japanese troops took control of Tsingtao in 1914, the firm was bought by Dai Nippon Brewery, a precursor of Asahi. And Japan's Second World War defeat saw China's Nationalists take control of the company.

Just four years later, the Communists won the country's civil war and Tsingtao entered yet another new phase. Under Mao Tse-tung, China had a Soviet-style planned economy, but Tsingtao was allowed to export from 1954.

Japanese landing equipment is pictured at Lungkou in Shandong province of eastern China. The sheer scale of the operation is evidenced by thenumber of ships in the photograph, which is included in a new book about the 1914 Siege of Tsingtao

A Japanese artillery piece in the siege lines. The Siege of Tsingtao saw 1,500 British troops sent in to ally with Japan to take German territories in the Shandong Province of eastern China in October and November 1914, shortly after the war began

Prince Heinrich of Prussia, who was Grand Admiral of the German Imperial Navy and a grandson of Queen Victoria, is pictured at the head of the 3rd Naval Battalion complete with band, He secured German hold on the port of Tsingtao in 1898

The railway battery (Intermediate Battery No. 4) was extemporised by mounting two 88mm guns on railway trucks. The Siege of Tsingtao was known for being the only First World War battle in the Far East - and it crushed Germany's dreams of empire

Sales to the US started in 1972, the year of president Richard Nixon's landmark visit to China. When Deng Xiaoping instituted transformative economic reforms later that decade, the business was well-placed to take advantage.

It listed on the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges in 1993  the first mainland Chinese company to do so  and now sells beer to more than 80 countries and regions.

Tsingtao Brewery is today state-controlled but partly Japanese-owned, despite strained political ties between the two countries. It is the second-largest beer company in China behind Snow.

Now, a new book has shed light on the Siege of Tsingtao more than a century ago, with rare photographs showing Japanese forces as they laid siege to Tsingtao - now known as Qingdao - in order to wrest it from German control.

Other pictures show the German and Chinese naval men who tried to defend Tsingtau, and Kapitanleutnant Gunther Pluschow whose Rumpler Taube plane was the only viable source of airpower available to the defenders.

A worker inspects bottles of Tsingtao beer rolling out from one of the four breweries in Qingdao in 2006. Tsingtao's story goes back to a humiliating era for China when Western powers and Japan were carving up parts of the country

A man takes a photograph in front of a showcase of bottles as he visits the Tsingtao Beer Museum in Shandong. Tsingtao Brewery is today state-controlled but partly Japanese-owned, despite strained political ties between the two countries

A view of the floating dock with three vessels inside. The two outer ones appear to be the Taku (left)and S-90 (right). The siege in 1914 was known for pioneering seaborne air raids - and a new book has shed light on the war more than a century ago

One of the 280mmcoastal artilleryhowitzers theJapanese emplacedas part of their siegetrain. The Siege of Tsingtau was the first encounter between Japanese and German forces and also the first Anglo-Japanese operation of the war

Charles Stephenson, who wrote The Siege of Tsingtau, said: 'The book demonstrates that Japan, Britain's only formal ally at the time, entered the First World War out of naked self-interest.

'The outbreak of war in Europe gave Japan a "one in a million chance" both to secure her existing position in China and the Pacific and extend her economic and political influence by taking control of Germany's possessions and investments.

'As Marquis Inoue Kaoru, one of Japan's most senior statesman, put it, August 1914 was a moment of "supreme opportunity" for Japan.'

'It was undoubtedly the most serious incursion into Chinese affairs since the Sino-Japanese War of 1894 to 1895, and was closely followed by the infamous "Twenty-One Demands" of January 1915.'

The Siege of Tsingtau took place between October 31 and November 7, 1914 against Imperial Germany. It was the first encounter between Japanese and German forces and also the first Anglo-Japanese operation of the war.

Pre-war manoeuvres are pictured as members of the 3rd Naval Battalion move a heavy machine gun through therough terrain around Tsingtau - now known as Qingdao - which is in the Shandong Province of eastern China

Lieutenant General Kamio Mitsuomi of the Imperial Japanese Army (left) andMajor-General Nathaniel Barnardiston (right), who commanded the 1,500 troops sent by British, pose for a photograph after the victory some 103 years ago

German sailorsposing with some ofthe local inhabitants of Tsingtao. The legacy of German settlers there lives on today, with the Tsingtao brewery which they founded in 1903 still producing a popular beer that is drunk around the world

A Japanese soldier stands beside a smashed gun mounted on a siege carriage. Such carriages allowed theweapon to fire over a tall parapet as shown. Japanese forces laid siege to Tsingtao in order to wrest it from German control

The core of the book is based largely on four volumes that were published by the General Staff of the Japanese Army. Mr Stephenson explained how the extension of Japanese power threatened more than just Germany.

He said: 'In strategic terms, Japan's conquest of the German territories in Micronesia extended the Imperial Navy's perimeter by several thousand miles, threatening to render the US Navy's "War Plan Orange" ineffective.'

'It was not only the United States that was rendered more vulnerable and disadvantaged by the extension of Japanese power; Australia, New Zealand and, by extension, Britain perceived themselves threatened too.'

The Germans were given a 99-year lease on Tsingtao as a colony by the Chinese government in 1898 following the murder of two German missionaries there in the late 19th century.

Tsingtao was then established as the main German installation in the Far East after a port was built there and it was garrisoned by 4,000 troops, before the Japanese decided in August 1914 to launch a siege.

Members of 3rd Naval Battalion deploy a machine gun in the field in eastern China. The Siege of Tsingtau took place between October 31 and November 7 1914 against Imperial Germany and dashed the Germans' hopes of building an empire

Members of the crew on SMSScharnhorst, a Hamburg-built armoured cruiser of the Imperial German Navy, pose for agroup photograph. In 1911 she was deployed to Tsingtao to help form the spearhead of the German Asiatic Squadron

Damaged rollingstock hit by splinters. The core of the Siege of Tsingtau book by Charles Stephenson and published by Pen and Sword is based largely on four volumes that were published by the General Staff of the Japanese Army

A posed photograph of an infantryman of the 3rd Naval Battalion (left) and a member of the 5th (Mounted) Company of the same battalion (right). The company were mounted infantry rather than cavalry - the horses conveying mobility

Damage was caused to civilians' property in Tsingtau following the bombardment. The legacy of colonisation is still clear in the present day thanks to the various German-style villas found around the city, which lies 400 miles south east of Beijing

That came a day after the Japanese Prime Minister gave the German government an ultimatum to remove its warships from Japanese and Chinese waters - and to give Tsingtao to Japanese control.

In the book, Mr Stephenson expanded on the role of Kapitanleutnant Gunther Pluschow - later dubbed 'The Kaiser's One-Man Air Force' - during the Siege of Tsingtau and his remarkable escape from British capture.

'Pluschow records that he was provided with extemporised "bombs" made of tin boxes filled with dynamite and improvised shrapnel, but that these devices were largely ineffectual,' the author explained.

'He claimed to have hit a Japanese vessel with one, which failed to explode, and to have succeeded in killing 30 soldiers with another that did.

'It was during this period that he became engaged in air-to-air combat, of a type, with the enemy aeroplanes.

'Indeed, if Pluschow is to be believed, he succeeded in shooting down one of the Japanese aeroplanes with his pistol, having fired 30 shots. Being airborne allowed him to escape Tsingtau and attempt to return to Germany.

A photograph shows the wire entanglements at the northern end of the Boxer Lines ditch where the Haipo River entered Kiautschou Bay concession, a German leased territory existing in Imperial China between 1898 and 1914

German and Chinese personnel pose at the stern of a torpedo boat in the floating dock. Mr Stephenson said Japan wanted to secure its existing position in China and extend its influence by taking control of Germany's possessions and investments

The damage to the bombardment on the Bismarck Hill German fortifications near Tsingtao, as photographed by the Japanese following the surrender in November 1914. The fortress was crumpled by Japanese and British shells

Arkona Island and lighthouse with Tsingtau in the background. To the Chinese the isle had been Green Island (Tsing Tau), which the Germans took for the name of the town in Shandong province, which is known as Qingdao in the present day

KapitanleutnantGunther Pluschow and his Rumpler Taube aeroplane represented the only viable source ofairpower available to the defenders. Thebesiegers devoted great efforts to downing bothman and machine, but they were unsuccessful - andPluschow managed both to escape from Tsingtau before the capitulation and make his way back to Germany

A bird's eye view of Tsingtau from the signal station. Now known as Qingdao, the location is a port city of skyscrapers, parks and beaches. It literally means 'Green Island' and is also known for its range of historic German and modern architecture

'Astonishingly he made it as far as Gibraltar before being captured then, even more astonishingly, became the only German prisoner of war in World War One to escape from Britain back to Germany.'

At the time of the siege Britain and Japan were joined together in the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, which ran from 1902 to 1923 to stop Russian expansionism in the Far East and safeguard their interests in China and Korea.

Japan's involvement in the First World War was with the Allies, but Britain no longer feared Russian encroachment in China after the conflict - and wanted to become closer with the US, which saw Japan as a rival in the Pacific.

The Alliance then lapsed after a failed attempt to bring the US into it at the Washington Conference of 1921 to 1922. But by the Second World War Japan became enemies of Britain and the US as part of the Axis alliance.

The Axis alliance, which also included Germany and Italy, recognised Japan's domination over East Asia and the Pacific  and the Japanese war with China in the Pacific was initiated after it invaded in July 1937.

The Siege of Tsingtau by Charles Stephenson is published by Pen and Sword and available in hardback for 25
Wind and thunderstorms had delayed the Hindenburg's arrival in New Jersey from Germany on May 6, 1937.

The father of 8-year-old Werner Doehner headed to his cabin after using his movie camera to shoot some scenes of Lakehurst Naval Air Station from the airship's dining room.

'We didn't see him again,' recalled Doehner.

Now 88, Werener Doehner is the only person left of the 62 passengers and crew who survived the fire that killed his father, sister and 34 other souls 80 years ago.

'Oh! The humanity': This photo was taken almost the split-second the giant German airship burst into flames, while radio commentary was provided by Herbert Morrison - whose on-scene description became synonymous with the disaster

Terrified onlookers on the ground can be seen fleeing as the lighter-than-air craft sinks to the ground

Werner Doehner (pictured front) was on the Hindenburg with his family, on his way home after a holiday in Germany

Doehner and his parents, older brother and sister were returning from a vacation in Germany.

They'd planned to travel on the 804-foot-long Hindenburg to New Jersey, then fly to Newark and board a train in nearby New York City to take them home to Mexico City, where Doehner's father was a pharmaceutical executive.

The kids would have preferred the decks and public rooms of an ocean liner because space was tight on the airship, Doehner said in a rare telephone interview this week from his home in Colorado.

Their mother brought games to keep the children busy. They toured the control car and the catwalks inside the hydrogen-filled Hindenburg. They could see an ice field as they crossed the Atlantic Ocean, he remembered.

As the Hindenburg arrived at its destination, flames began to flicker on top of the ship.

The airship's hydrogen helped the fire spread quickly, consuming the craft in barely a minute

Many of the survivors, including Doehner, suffered horrifying burns from the fire

Hydrogen, exposed to air, fueled an inferno. The front section of the Hindenburg pitched up and the back section pitched down.

'Suddenly the air was on fire,' Doehner said.

'We were close to a window, and my mother took my brother and threw him out. She grabbed me and fell back and then threw me out,' he said.

'She tried to get my sister, but she was too heavy, and my mother decided to get out by the time the zeppelin was nearly on the ground.'

His mother had broken her hip.

'I remember lying on the ground, and my brother told me to get up and to get out of there.' Their mother joined them and asked a steward to get her daughter, whom he carried out of the burning wreckage.

A bus took the survivors to an infirmary, where, Doehner said, a nurse gave him a needle to burst his blisters.

A survivor is taken to hospital. Doehner suffered burns to his face, hands and leg and had to remain in hospital for three months - before going to another hospital for skin grafts

From there, the family was taken to Point Pleasant Hospital. Doehner had burns to his face, both hands and down his right leg from the knee. His mother had burns to her face, both legs and both hands. His brother had several burns on his face and right hand.

His sister died early in the morning.

He would remain in the hospital for three months before going to a hospital in New York City in August for skin grafts. He was discharged in January, and the boy, a German speaker, had learned some English.

So what caused the Hindenburg disaster? A soldier guards the dirigible's wreck German and American scientists believe the Hindenburg disaster was caused by static electricity, which built up after the ship flew into a thunderstorm. The electricity in the air charged the iconic airship with static, while a broken wire or gas valve leaked hydrogen into the ventilation shafts. When ground crew members ran to take the landing ropes they effectively 'earthed' the airship causing a spark. The fire is believed to have started on the tail of the airship, igniting the leaking hydrogen. The gas is highly flammable, which meant the fire spread throughout the ship in barely a minute. There have been numerous disproved conspiracy theories about the Hindenburg, such as that there was a bomb on board or that fire started because of a the airship's paint. Advertisement

The family returned to Mexico City, were funerals were held for Doehner's father and sister, who were among the 35 fatalities of the 97 passengers and crew aboard the airship. A worker on the ground also died.

The U.S. Commerce Department determined the accident was caused by a leak of the hydrogen that kept the airship aloft. It mixed with air, causing a fire. 'The theory that a brush discharge ignited such mixture appears most probable,' the department's report said.

Eight decades later, Doehner is the only one left to remember what it was like on the Hindenburg that night. A ceremony commemorating the disaster will take place at the crash site Saturday night.

35 passengers and crew, along with a worker on the ground, died in the disaster. It signaled the end of airship transportation.

The photos that captured the disaster as it unfolded were on the front page of newspapers across the country

'Only two others who ever flew on the airship are alive,' said Carl Jablonski, president of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society. 'But they weren't on the last flight.'

Interest in the disaster remains strong as ever, Jablonski said.

'The internet and social media has exposed and attracted the interest of a younger generation,' he said.

The Hindenburg, Doehner said, is 'something you don't forget.'
General Saw Kyaw Than Htay from the JMC (Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee) and General Saw Sein Win from the UPDJC (Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee) are the key players among the representatives, DKBA Commander-in-Chief General Saw Mo Shay told KIC News after the DKBAs May 3 commander conference.

But its unclear how many other ethnic armed groups will be attending the upcoming peace talks, slated to begin on May 24.

According to the Irrawaddy, government peace negotiators have asked the United Nationalities Federal Council  a power bloc of ethnic armed groups  to commit to attending the upcoming Panglong meeting. But the UNFC has repeatedly said it will not attend if it is only given observer status.

The second 21st-Century Panglong Conference was initially slated for February. It was delayed among contentions about who could attend, and whether the conference would involve debates, or only paper presentations, as occurred at the largely symbolic first conference. In the intervening months, the peace process has seen a swelling crisis of faith. In April, seven ethnic armed organizations led by the United Wa State Army announced their rejection of the NCA, and called for the document to be redrafted.

The government has been pressing all ethnic armed groups to swiftly sign the NCA.

According to General Saw Mo Shay, at the May 3 meeting the DKBA, one of the eight NCA signatory groups, confirmed its intent to continue engaging in peace discussions with the government.

The DKBA plans meet with the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Armys Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC) before the 21st-Century Panglong Conference in order to ensure consistency but no overlap in the papers they submit.



Translated by Thida Linn

Edited by Laignee Barron
The Georgia Bureau of Investigations says a new drug, that is seven times more potent than heroin, is so dangerous that it can kill when someone touches it.

Furanyl fentanyl, an illicit, designer version of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that is similar to morphine, is said to have caused 9 deaths in Georgia from 2016 to 2017.

The GBI have become so worried by the figures that it issued a public safety alert on Thursday warning people from using the Schedule I drug, a rating reserved for drugs with high potential for substance abuse.

Touch: Furanyl fentanyl can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and is extremely toxic in the smallest quantities

GBI staff suffered a scare in January when it was called to a pill factory where it found 10 kilos of pills and powder that were labeled mistakenly as oxycodone, another opiod. The pills turned out to be the deadly furanyl fentanyl.

'When I found out what I actually had, (I was) definitely a little scared because of the amount that was submitted. Anything could have happened, but luckily with the protective gear and the staff that I had, everything went OK,' Gwinnett County Deputy Shannon Volkadov told Fox25Boston.

'Oxycodone to touch it is still going to be very safe. To touch furanyl fentanyl could absolutely be fatal, just through the skin,' GBI Crime Lab chemist Dineen Kilcrease said.

The new statement from the GBI reads: 'In the last four months, 17 deaths have been caused by the drugs U-47700 (another opioid analgesic) and/or furanyl fentanyl, equal to the number for all of 2016.

'U-47700 and furanyl fentanyl are both Schedule I drugs and used in the same manner as heroin.

'Schedule I drugs have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical treatment use in the United States. The drugs are distributed in either powder or tablet form.

'The GBI Crime Lab has received approximately 50 cases containing U-47700 and furanyl fentanyl this year. Many of the cases contained three or four different additional opiates.'

The GBI said that both substances are lethal at very low doses and warned that law enforcement workers and the public should use caution when handling them as they can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and are extremely toxic in the smallest quantities.

Danger: At least 128 confirmed countrywide fatalities have been linked with furanyl fentanyl, according to the DEA

White: The drugs are distributed in either powder or tablet form

Furanyl fentanyl, which may cause symptoms such as shallow breathing, pinpoint pupils, nausea or vomiting, loss of consciousness, and heart failure, was assigned to the Schedule I category last November by the Drug Enforcement Agency.

At least 128 confirmed fatalities have been linked with furanyl fentanyl, according to the DEA, including 49 in North Carolina, 41 in Maryland, 36 in Illinois, and 1 in New Jersey and in Ohio. This number includes overdoses deaths in 2015 and 2016.

The drug's use has been reported in states across the US with fentanyl surpassing heroin as the most commonly detected drug in fatal opioid overdoses in Long Island, according to the medical examiners' records.

In Connecticut fentanyl was involved in at least 188 fatal drug overdoses, a sharp rise from 2014 and 2013, which had 75 and 37 fatal overdoses including fentanyl, figures from the state's Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James state.
Ian Doney, 51, (pictured) was targeted online and ended up sending money to a person he thought was his girlfriend

A lonely bachelor killed himself after he was targeted by cruel internet fraudsters who posed as his 'girlfriends' to get thousands of pounds from him, an inquest heard.

Ian Doney, 51, died penniless after he sent money online and paid for flights for a person who he believed was his girlfriend to come to the UK.

The vulnerable shop worker, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, even changed his Facebook status to 'in a relationship' after talking to the person online.

An inquest heard how Mr Doney, who had worked for high-street retailer Wilkinson's for 19 years, resorted to starving himself so he could afford to meet the incessant demands of his online 'partners.'

Recording the death as suicide, assistant coroner Jane Eatock warned of the dangers of being sucked into such scams and described the case as 'a really tragic story.'

She told his family: 'I know everyone feels difficult about things like this but actually you couldn't have done more to help him.

'In the end he's chosen a way which wasn't the right way and actually there's not much anyone could have done to stop that. It's a really, really tragic story.'

The inquest heard how Mr Doney had visited a website for single people looking to travel abroad when he began speaking to an individual online in the summer of 2015.

His sister, Gillian Doney, told the court how he was intending on meeting them during the trip but the rendezvous never materialised.

After returning home, Mr Doney changed his Facebook status to 'in a relationship,' despite never actually meeting the woman behind the messages.

By this time he had already started sending money to the fraudster without his family's knowledge.

Miss Doney told the inquest how her brother desperately wanted to meet up with the recipient of his messages and had hopes of getting married and starting a family.

She explained that Mr Doney, who was described as 'not being able to separate fact from fiction,' had even paid for a plane ticket so his 'girlfriend' could travel over to the UK.

Mr Doney, who worked at Wilkinson's (pictured), changed his Facebook status to 'in a relationship'

He waited at the airport all day but she never arrived and claimed this was because she had suffered an 'accident'. Mr Doney agreed to pay for the medical bills.

His sister said: 'He thought she was going to come over here and that they were going to get married and have children.

'He had not had a relationship with anybody. He just wanted a family.

'He was borrowing money to send over there. He wasn't eating properly and he was starving himself. Anything he could sell, he sold it.'

She added: 'If we ever questioned it he told us that we didn't know what we were talking about.'

The court heard how Mr Doney later took an overdose of painkillers after blaming the apparent accident on himself.

And as the demands for money continued, Mr Doney caused further harm to himself, firstly by cutting his wrists in April 2016 and then later when he sparked a police search after leaving his home following threats to take his own life.

Mr Doney was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and received support from staff at Harrison House in Grimsby.

But just as he was beginning to turn his life around, he began messaging several other dubious characters online, one of which was traced back to Nigeria.

Mr Doney was found hanging at his home on August 30 last year.

A note found at the scene read: 'I'm sorry. Sometimes a bad situation is the only solution to my problems.

The inquest heard how Mr Doney (pictured) had visited a website for single people looking to travel abroad

'Sorry I've hurt you all but I can't see any other way out. No one can help me now, it's my own fault.'

Giving evidence at the inquest held at Cleethorpes Town Hall, Martin Newton, senior operational manager at Navigo, said there was little more they could have done for Mr Doney because he was judged to have had capacity to make his own decisions.

Concluding the inquest, Jane Eatock asked Mr Newton to look into what more could be done to support individuals who are vulnerable to such instances of fraud and recommended the police send evidence of the correspondence between Mr Doney and the scammers to the UK's cyber crime reporting centre, Action Fraud.

She said: 'It's quite clear that the mental health difficulties stem from these really unfortunate relationships with fraudsters. It is a huge problem.

'Ian's capacity as a fully functioning, adult, intelligent, male was sucked away from the last 12 months and he really was in the grip of what has been described as a fantasy.'

If you have been the victim of a scam, report it at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 1232040.
A mother who smokes cannabis claims she has cured her dog's anxiety and arthritis by making biscuits with oil from the drug.

Marianne Dickson said her rescue dog Honey used to cower from other dogs, and was nervous before she baked the treats with a dose of CBD oil six months ago.

Although her pooch's vet has not recommended the treatment, Marianne thinks the change in her dog's mental health was noticeable 'within days'.

She said Honey is 'more dog' than ever.

Marianne Dickson, left, said she started giving her rescue dog Honey, right, doggie biscuits she makes at home with CBD oil, to help her anxiety

Honey is a collie English bulldog cross, who suffered with stiffness from arthritis as well as a crippling anxiety problem that made it hard for Marianne to take her to the park

CBD oil is derived from the cannabis plant, but does not contain the psychoactive substance THC, which cannabis oil does, in varying levels.

Marianne, a mother-of-two, claims she wants to promote the 'many health benefits' of cannabis and CBD oil - for man and dog alike.

Marianne, from Edinburgh, Scotland, said: 'Honey was a rescue dog, and I think her past has made her very anxious. She was an anxious dog from when I got her.

'Before I started giving her the CBD she would always stay away from people with other dogs when we were out on walks. She would snarl and bark because she was so nervous.

'But now when we're out she's going up to them and sniffing.

'She's so much more "dog" now, showing more dog behaviours. She's a lot more playful.

'She's really hyperactive, people keep asking if she's a puppy and I have to tell them she's 10.

'She'll have one a day with her breakfast. To start with I'd hide the biscuit underneath her breakfast to see if she'd eat them.

'Family and friends have noticed the difference too, some people have asked for a couple to try for their dog too.'

The 43-year-old, who says she has smoked the drug for 30 years, claims she whips up big batches of the alternative doggie treats at home, following an online recipe.

Once scared of other dogs, Honey is now excited to run up to other pooches and make friends during walks in the park

Marianne said the biscuits have also helped with Honey's pain, after painkillers from the vet 'left her flat out'

She says she will put 'a couple of drops' of CBD oil into the mixture during preparation, and then when she has finished, puts them in the freezer.

Marianne said: 'They are easy to make and I can make a batch that lasts for about six months in the freezer.

'I'll just put a couple of drops of the CBD in, not too much. It's non-psychoactive as well.'

She also claims the CBD oil has provided effective pain relief for the 10-year-old pooch, who has apparently suffered with arthritis for the last four years.

Marianne said: 'She was so stiff before we tried the CBD oil, now she just doesn't seem to get that stiffness.

'She had been prescribed pain killers by the vet but I didn't give them to her because she'd be flat out when she had them.

WHAT ARE CBD AND CANNABIS OILS? CBD oil is an oil derived from the flowers of the Cannabis Sativa L plant. CBD is a cannabinoid that is not 'psychoactive' unlike other strains within the drug. CBD oil does not contain THC, which is the principal psychoactive in cannabis, but cannabis oil does. Cannabis oil is taken from the same part of the plant, but contains CBD and THC, of which the latter is psychoactive. Neither are legal in the UK, and are listed as a Class B drug. CBD oil is one of the most frequently used forms of cannabis for medical purposes, with users either applying it to their skin or drinking it. CBD oil can work very quickly, with people experiencing relief within 15-30 minutes. The tiny amount needed means it's easier to take too much. Supporters claim there's even evidence it can help cure cancer. It has also been shown to help with nausea and depression. Source: Medical Marijuana UK Advertisement

'If she's in pain, she seems to look at the biscuits, it's like she's telling me what she wants and she knows the biscuits are helping her.

'The vet doesn't know that she's been having the CBD but I would say if she needed to go again.'

Marianne suffers with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a condition that causes inflammation of the spine and leaves her in a lot of physical pain and with reduced flexibility.

Due to suffering from a long-term condition, she has been interested in the 'health benefits' of cannabis from a young age.

Having smoked the drug for more than 20 years, she says she decided to try CBD oil last year when doctors apparently raised concerns about the amount of medication she was taking.

She claims a drop of the non-psychoactive product in a milky coffee each day has allowed her to reduce her medication and become more active.

And following her own positive experience of the alternative remedy, Marianne decided to investigate the possibilities of how it could help Honey with her mental and physical problems.

Marianne, who is unable to work due to her illness, said: 'I've been smoking cannabis for 20 or 30 years, I've been interested in it since I was young.

'I'd been looking online and came across two vets in Australia who had been using CBD oil on cats and dogs.

'So I thought, I'm going to try it with the dog.

'And we're both walking proof that it works. Before I took it I was doubled up in pain.

'I'm quite an open book, I've had half and half when it comes to people's reactions when I tell them about it.

Marianne, left, bakes a big batch of the cookies, right, before storing them in the freezer so they last a few months. She follows a recipe she found online

Marianne and Honey, who is 10, have even petitioned and protested at the Scottish Parliament, calling for the legalisation of the drug

'It's not going to work for everyone, and if she didn't want to eat the biscuits I wouldn't give them to her.'

Marianne and Honey have joined fellow cannabis advocates in pushing for the plant to be legalised and formally recognised as a medical treatment.

They even joined crowds outside of the Scottish Parliament last month to demand the decriminalisation of the drug.

Marianne said: 'On communities on Facebook I've counted about 70 different illnesses and conditions that people say CBD has helped them with.

'I'd like to see cannabis accepted as a medicine and offered in pharmacies, just provided as an option for people.'

Although Honey's vet doesn't know about and hasn't backed the treatment, Marianne said she'd have no trouble letting him know should she have to return for another check-up

Gudrun Ravetz, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: 'Dogs and other pets are far smaller than humans so their toxic levels are reached much quicker than ours.

'We believe that any treatment or medicinal product given to an animal must be supported by a scientific evidence-base; have undergone thorough testing to ensure its safety and effectiveness; and be under the direction of their local vet or vet nurse.

'If owners are concerned that their pet is showing anxiety or suffering from arthritis, or any other health or welfare condition, please speak to your local vet for advice on the best way of treating the issue.'
Marks & Spencer has appointed former Asda boss Archie Norman (pictured) as chairman

A 'turnaround king' who saved Asda from bankruptcy and was tasked with saving the Tory party during Tony Blair's premiership has been appointed as the new boss of M&S.

Arhie Norman, a former Tory MP who has made a career out of transforming struggling businesses, will take over as chairman of the chain from Robert Swannell on September 1.

The father-of-one, a Cambridge graduate who studied business at Harvard, has reportedly twice turned down the sought-after retail position, including once in 2004.

But he has now agreed to join M&S at a critical time for the company, as its food business thrives, but its clothing arm struggles to deliver growth.

Mr Norman, 63, said: 'I am looking forward to taking on the role of the chairmanship of Marks & Spencer as the business under Steve Rowe's leadership faces into the considerable challenges ahead in a rapidly changing retail landscape.'

Best known for turning Asda around in the 1990s, Mr Norman has also served as chairman of ITV, Lazard and Hobbycraft, as well as stints at Kingfisher and Energis.

When he joined Asda as CEO in 1991, the supermarket was on the brink of bankruptcy, but he transformed the business, introducing the 'George' range of clothing, before, as chairman, selling it to Wal-Mart in 1999.

The executive, who studied economics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, is also well-connected politically.

Mr Norman, the son of doctors, was a former Tory MP, who represented Tunbridge Wells, Kent, for eight years at the behest of his former colleague William Hague.

He went on to become chief executive of the Conservative Party but left in 2005 to return to the business world.

M&S shares were 4.3 percent higher as investors welcomed Mr Norman's appointment, recognising his experience and track record.

But some analysts said there was a danger he could go beyond the chairman's brief of running the M&S board.

The father-of-one (pictured with Philip Green in 2006), a Cambridge graduate who studied business at Harvard, has reportedly twice turned down the sought-after retail position

'It will be interesting to see how much of a 'back-seat driver' Archie Norman is to Chief Executive Steve Rowe,' said independent retail analyst Nick Bubb.

Clive Black, retail analyst at Shore Capital, insisted was a 'formidable appointment'.

'Alongside Steve Rowe, who is CEO of M&S, means that there are two very strong characters at the helm of a once great British label that is trying to refind its purpose and relevance to the British shopper to profitable effect,' he said.

Vindi Banga, the senior independent M&S director who led the selection process, said: 'Having conducted a very rigorous appointment process, it was clear to us that Archie was the best person to be chairman.

'Archie is one of the most respected business leaders in the UK with extensive experience as both CEO and chair, and a proven record in retail and other areas.'

The announcement comes days after M&S revealed it has poached chief executive of Halfords Jill McDonald and put her in charge of shoring up its embattled clothing arm

The announcement comes days after M&S revealed it has poached the chief executive of Halfords and put her in charge of shoring up its embattled clothing arm.

The high street bellwether said on Wednesday that Jill McDonald had been recruited into the new role of managing director for clothing, home and beauty, joining the retailer this autumn.

Ms McDonald has previously worked at Colgate Palmolive and British Airways, where she became head of global marketing, before joining McDonald's in 2006.

She became UK chief executive for the fast food chain in 2010 - overseeing 3,300 restaurants in seven countries.

The 52-year-old, who is mother to two teenage boys, was then made chief executive of Halfords in May 2015.

Ms McDonald, who is paid a basic salary of 510,000 at Halfords, takes over the responsibility of running of M&S's clothing division from Mr Rowe.

He has remained in charge of the operation since his promotion to the top job in April last year, but will now focus on the overall group.

Among his plans are to improve under-pressure sales in its clothing arm, as well as overseeing a wide-ranging overhaul which will see it shut stores and revamp its product ranges and prices.

M&S was given a boost at the start of the year when like-for-like sales in its clothing and home division rose 2.3% in the 13 weeks to December 31 - the first growth since the January to March quarter in 2015.

However, Mr Rowe stressed at the beginning of 2017 that there was more work to do in its efforts to revive clothing sales and suggested the quarterly rise may not mark a return to sustained sales growth.

Chief executive Steve Rowe, formerly in charge of clothing, will look after the overall group

Yesterday, M&S unveiled a 'radical' new ad campaign in a bid to 'remain relevant' and woo new customers.

The 'Spend it Well' drive, a departure from the retailer's usual marketing style, launched with an uplifting film reminding customers that life is short.

It urged shoppers to wear their best clothes, light the expensive candles, and reject uncomfortable knickers.

The new brand philosophy is the result of the high street giant moving to a new ad agency after 16 years, and is the first time its food and clothing divisions have been advertised together under one slogan.
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For centuries, the Asaro 'Mud Men' of Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, have adorned themselves with mud, clay masks and bamboo finger extensions to look like evil spirits.

While the masks have different origin stories, it is believed that in the 1800s, tribesmen would raid other villages - for their women or pigs - while intimidating their enemies with large masks and bamboo spears.

Some say the masks stem from the villagers' desire to intimidate enemies with their macabre appearances in the late 1800s.

The masks have evolved over the years and are now become thick, heavy headdresses that can be worn for only a few minutes as part of brief cultural performances.

Members of the clan can still be found in Waghi Valley, in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, a country made up of more than 2,000 indigenous clans.

Led by a Melpa clan member from the Waghi Valley, a photographer visited the Mud Men in a rain-forest village in Pogla, about 31miles from Mt Hagen, earlier this year.

Naked apart from a leafed thong covering their genitals each warrior was covered in thick grey clay, a heavy, almost demonic, clay mask on their head.

For centuries, the 'Mud Men' of Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea, adorned themselves in clay masks and bamboo finger spears to raid other villages for their women, or pigs. The masks have different origin stories from the late 1800s. Some say they stem from the villagers' desire to intimidate enemies with their macabre appearances

Naked apart from a leafed thong covering their genitals each warrior was covered in thick grey clay, a heavy, almost demonic, clay mask on their head. The masks have evolved over the years to become heavy and thick headdresses that can be worn for only a few minutes as part of brief cultural performances

For centuries, the Highlands peoples of Papua New Guinea fought over land, women and pigs. Sorcery and battle skills could elevate a clan to Bigmanship, where the bigger the presentation, the bigger the man. Clans therefore would paint their bodies and create fearsome masks as part of their psychological warfare against the invasion of their territory by other clans

There is a legend that suggests that centuries ago the Mud Men of the Waghi Valley were attacked and forced to flee into a nearby muddy river where they took cover. They waited until dusk before leaving the waters but by this time were covered from head to toe in thick grey mud. The opposing clan saw them in this state but thought they were spirits.

Most clans in Papua New Guinea are extremely scared of spirits so the enemy took flight and the Mud Men were victorious. So for years afterwards, the members of the clan would coat themselves with mud, put on their clay masks and terrorize the surrounding villages

Now, however, the masks are only used for cultural performances and the Mud Men are rarely seen outside Papua New Guinea's Eastern Highlands. To find the clan, people to travel to the rain-forest village in Pogla, about 31miles from Mt Hagen. Compared with the intense heat and humidity of the coastal region, Mt Hagen has a comfortable alpine climate and though it rains an average of 150in a year, there are few mosquitoes and consequently no malaria.

Although Mt Hagen, the town closest to where the Mud Men live, is the third largest town in the country it has a reputation of being 'the wild frontier' of the Highlands and more often is referred to as simply Hagen, a German name that acknowledges the presence of Lutheran missionaries who settled in the area almost a century ago
The Chinese army has come up with a new way of recruiting new people by showing off some of its current handsome soldiers.

In the patriotic footage, toned shirtless soldiers can be seen flexing their muscles in a video dubbed 'the Power of China'.

Adverts for the Chinese army often show toned good looking soldiers who later become social media celebrities.

The video starts off with a shirtless toned man flexing his muscles for the camera

Footage also shows the fit soldiers training using combat skills and kung-fu

Viewers are told that young people can #leave adolescent frivolity behind' by joining

The video is part of a recruitment drive to bring in more young blood to the army.

At the beginning of the footage, a young shirtless soldier can be seen flexing his muscles.

He is then seen putting on his uniform and holding a rifle.

The video then cuts to soldiers in various situations - in front of tanks, helicopters and what appears to be the South China Sea.

Chinese rock music then kicks in accompanied by patriotic footage of soldiers saluting.

The video tells viewers: 'Dust off your clothes, become a soldier' and 'leave the adolescent frivolity behind.'

The video then cuts to soldiers in various situations - in front of tanks and planes

Aircraft and pilots can also be seen in an area thought to be the South China Sea

Soldiers can then be seen training, carrying tyres and also taking part in an assault course.

The message continues telling viewers: 'You are the power of a new era for China's prosperity and strength.'

It then says 'Camouflaged uniform is covered in sweat but still looks good.'

The video has proved popular on social media site Weibo.

One user said: 'I will watch the clip but I will not join the army!'

While another commented: 'They are liars! There won't be that many muscular guys.'

And one user wrote: 'More weapons should be shown in the video.'

Soldiers can then be seen training, carrying tyres and also taking part in a display

Viewers are told: 'You are the power of a new era for China's prosperity and strength.'

China often uses its most toned and 'handsome' soldiers as part of promotional activities.

There are many adverts with armed police and soldiers that have become popular across Chinese social media.

One member of the armed police surnamed Yang became famous after he blew a kiss to the camera in an advertisement.
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China's first domestically built passenger plane completed its maiden flight today.

The narrow-body, twin-engine C919 successfully took off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 2pm local time (7am BST) amid much fanfare.

The single-aisle aircraft has been billed as China's answer to the Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 as the nation aims to take on western airlines.

The C919 flight is Beijing's first step toward independence from Boeing and Airbus as it attempts to replace all 6,000-6,800 of its western aircraft at a cost of around $1 trillion.

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China's first domestically built passenger plane completed its maiden flight today. The narrow-body twin-engine C919 (pictured) successfully took off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 2pm local time (7am BST) amid much fanfare

The single-aisle aircraft has been billed as China's answer to Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 as the nation aims to raise its profile in the global aviation market. A view from inside the cockpit of China's new COMAC C919 aircraft

China's new aircraft has a large wingspan of 116 feet (35.4m) and can carry more than 150 passengers at time. It took a decade of research to develop costing more than 5 billion ($6.5 billion)

The narrow-body C919 jet - white with green and blue stripes - disappeared into the clouds after taking off from Pudong international airport today in the commercial hub Shanghai as a crowd of thousands cheered, including top officials

New and glitzy: The narrow-body single-aisle plane is set to carry 158 to 168 passengers and is built by a state-owned firm

Getting ready: The plane took off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 2pm local time and landed at 3:20pm

A comparison of the C919 with similar models offered by Boeing and Airbus. Estimates predict that China's new model is significantly cheaper than 737 and A320

China is a massive battleground for Boeing and Airbus, with the country's travel market expected to surpass the United States by 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Both companies congratulated COMAC on the flight.

But aviation experts have warned that getting the craft from test flight to mass production is likely to be difficult.

They have questioned how much value China will get from the billions of dollars it has spent developing the craft because the C919 may not obtain the European and US certification needed to fly in most international markets.

C919's maiden flight lasted an hour and 20 minutes.

Sporting white, green and blue livery, the single-aisle aircraft reached 10,000 feet with a maximum speed of 170 knots (196 miles per hour or 315 kph).

Chinese media, including state broadcaster CCTV and news portal Sina, broadcast C919's first flight live online.

The aircraft had no passenger seats installed. Instead, it carried 'a large number of devices' to collect 44,000 data points during the maiden flight, according to Huanqiu.com, an affiliation to People's Daily.

A five-member team operated the C919 during the first flight, including two pilots, one observer and two engineers, said Huanqiu.

The made-in-China airliner is built by Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), a Chinese state-owned aviation manufacturer based in Shanghai.

But the company sourced many of the C919's most important parts from European and US companies such as GE, Safran and Honeywell.

The airliner, which has taken 11 years to develop, can fit 158 to 168 seats.

In comparison, different models of Boeing 737 can seat 85 to 215 passengers; while an A320 can accommodate 100 to 240 people.

A symbol of China's ambitions to muscle into the global jet market, the C919 is estimated to be worth 1.5 trillion ($1.95 trillion) over the next two decades, reported Reuters.

'The significance is huge, it's the first ever large-frame aircraft made in China,' Xiong Yuexi, a plane design expert at Beihang University in Beijing told Reuters ahead of the launch.

'It has a great impact for the Chinese people and the domestic market.'

COMAC has built one C919 so far and is in the process of assembling the second and third.

The company has received 570 orders for the aircraft from 23 domestic and overseas clients, said state newspaper People's Daily.

Much fanfare: Spectators took photos as they watched the C919 coming in for a landing on its maiden flight today in Shanghai

It's a success! Members of staff waved as they step out of China's home-grown C919 passenger plane. A five-person team operated the aircraft, including two pilots, one observer and two engineers, according to Chinese media

Time to celebrate: Onlookers waved at the C919 during its maiden flight. China and its people view the aircraft as a symbolic milestone in the nation's long-term goal to break into the Western-dominated aircraft market

Taking to the skies: China's self-developed C919 passenger plane completed its maiden flight today in Shanghai

CHINA'S RIVALRY WITH AIRBUS AND BOEING The C919 was built as part of a government-mandated drive to reduce dependence on European consortium Airbus and US aerospace giant Boeing. China is a massive battleground for Boeing and Airbus, with the country's travel market expected to surpass the United States by 2024, according to the International Air Transport Association. Airbus and Boeing estimate that Chinese airlines will need between 6,000-6,800 aircraft at a total price of around $1 trillion. Both companies congratulated COMAC on the flight. But aviation experts have warned that getting the craft from test flight to mass production is likely to difficult. They question how much value China will get from the billions of dollars it has spent, especially as it may not obtain the European and US certification needed to fly in most international markets. C919, China's first self-developed airliner, is often compared to Boeing 737 (file photo pictured) Advertisement

Highly anticipated: A C919 taxied on the tarmac as it prepared to take off from the Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Sky high ambition: China hopes to break into the global civil aviation market with its home-built narrow-body C919

THE COMAC C919'S MAIDEN FLIGHT The C919 successfully completed its maiden test flight today, marking a key milestone on the country's ambitious journey to compete with the world's leading aircraft makers. The narrow-body C919 jet - white with green and blue stripes - disappeared into the clouds after taking off from Pudong international airport in the commercial hub Shanghai as a crowd of thousands cheered, including top officials. It successfully landed some 80 minutes later and the five-member crew was handed flowers, with captain Cai Jun describing the flight as 'very satisfactory.' 'China's big commercial jet project made a huge breakthrough. It is a major milestone of China's aviation market,' China's State Council said in a statement. State media said the plane flew at an altitude of around 3,000 metres (9,800 feet), some 7,000 metres lower than a regular trip, and at a speed of more than 186 miles per hour (300kph). Advertisement

Last month, the Chinese state TV released a time-lapse video to show the building process of the highly anticipated aircraft.

The video, released by China Central Television on April 20, captured how the first C919 was assembled.

In the time-lapse clip, workers are seen spending 72 days putting together the aircraft at COMAC's factory in Shanghai. Parts were sent in from four Chinese cities.

The Chinese aircraft is also set to rival Airbus 320, which is dubbed 'the work horse of the sky'. Above is a file picture of an A320 used by IndiGo

Proud product: The single-aisle aircraft has been billed as China's answer to Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 as the nation aims to raise its profile in the global aviation market

All set: It has been estimated that a C919 would be 30 per cent cheaper than a Boeing 737 or an Airbus 320

China has spent 45 billion yuan (5 billion or $6.5 billion) on the research and development of C919, according to current estimates.

The aircraft has a flight range of up to 3,451 miles (5,555 kilometres), which means the aircraft can fly non-stop from Shanghai to Jakarta or from Paris to Montreal.

Although the country has much ambition to challenge the world's current aviation giants, C919's maiden flight has been postponed for a number of times due to technical reasons.

The aircraft has a flight range of up to 3,451 miles (5,555 kilometres), which means the aircraft can fly non-stop from Shanghai to Jakarta or from Paris to Montreal. Above, a C919 was seen in the hanger in Shanghai on May 4

Big plane, big dream: Employees worked at Manufacturing and Final Assembly Center of state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) as media toured the venue on May 4

On its maiden flight, C919 reportedly carried 'a large number of devices' to collect 44,000 data points for further analyses

C919 made its worldwide debut in November 2015.

On the debut ceremony, COMAC's chairman, Jin Zhuanglong, said: 'The roll-out of the first C919 aircraft marks a significant milestone in the development of China's first indigenous aircraft.'

COMAC is yet to release the price tag of the jet, but a report by China National Radio predicted that C919 was likely to be priced at 33 million ($43 million), cheaper than a Boeing 737 or an Airbus 320 which each cost around 62 million ($80 million) and 77 million ($100 million) respectively.

Hard working: The aircraft is developed and built by the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC). The company is based in Shanghai, but has factories around the country. Above, workers stand outside the cockpit section of a C919 passenger plane at the Chengdu Aircraft Industry plant in Chengdu

Building China's aviation dream: A worker stands outside the cockpit section of China's third C919 passenger plane at the Chengdu Aircraft Industry plant in Chengdu. COMAC has built one C919 and is assembling the second and third

At glimpse into the factory: Technicians work on door panels for China's third C919 passenger plane at the Chengdu Aircraft Industry plant in Chengdu on May 4

CHINA'S DREAM OF BUILDING ITS OWN PASSENGER PLANE China has dreamed of building its own civil aircraft since the 1970s when Jiang Qing, leader Mao Zedong's wife and a member of the notorious 'Gang of four', personally backed an attempt to do so. Y-10, a four-engine passenger jet, started developing in 1970. But due to the project's high financial commitment, the development was halted by the central government in 1986. Only three Y-10s were ever made. While China's COMAC is building the C919, many of the craft's most important parts from European and US companies such as GE, Safran and Honeywell. Advertisement

COMAC also plans a wide-body plane, the C929, in cooperation with Russia's United Aircraft Corp.

Speculation is mounting that China will create a new aero-engine entity to try to produce the powerful jets needed for large civil aircraft.

In a report released in October, 2016, The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects that 7.2 billion passengers would travel in 2035. The figure nearly doubles the number of air travelers in 2016, which is 3.8 billion.

Previously, Airbus' Global Market Forecast predicted that the world would need around 32,600 new passenger and freighter aircrafts in the next 18 years to meet the growing demands.

China will become the leading country for passenger air traffic with its domestic traffic set to become the world' s number one within eight years, said the the same Airbus report.
Under-fire United Airlines has been forced to admit a 'horrible failure' which saw a woman allowed to get on the wrong flight in a 28 hour ordeal.

Lucie Bahetoukilae, who speaks no English, thought she was getting on a flight to Paris from Newark.

But she was horrified when she ended up in San Francisco.

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Lucie Bahetoukilae, who speaks no English, thought she was getting on a flight to Paris from Newark

After getting onboard the plane, she even showed her boarding pass to a member of the crew after finding someone in the seat she thought was hers.

Instead of spotting the error and helping Ms Bahetoukilae find the correct aircraft, the crew member instead directed to another seat on the same flight.

She was unaware that United had changed the gate number, and she said no announcements were made in French, and she was not emailed, ABC reports.

She was unaware that the gate number had changed, and boarded the flight, showing her boarding pass to cabin crew members (stock picture)

The airline has now settled a confidential lawsuit.

Her niece, Diane Miantsoko told the network: 'If they would have made the announcement in French, she would she have moved gates. Of course, because she speaks French she would've moved to another gate.'

After traveling 3,000 miles in the wrong direction, Ms Bahetoukilae had to wait for 11 hours in San Francisco before she could be put on a flight which would take her to France.

Ms Miantsoko said: 'They didn't pay attention. My aunt could have been anyone. She could have been a terrorist and killed people on that flight, and they didn't know they didn't catch it.'

United awarded the passenger a refund - although she had not asked for one - and given her a voucher for another journey. The company said it is taking steps to ensure it does not happen again.

The embarrassment comes weeks after footage of passenger Dr David Dao being dragged off a plane in Chicago sent shockwaves across the world.

United chief executive Oscar Munoz later told a committee of the House of Representatives it was a 'mistake of epic proportions'.

On April 19, the company had further negative publicity following the death of a giant rabbit, named Simon, in the cabin hold of a flight from London.

It was forced to pay a five-figure sum in compensation following the animal's death.
An elderly couple who locked five children up in a basement 'dungeon' and tortured them over three decades of sickening 'abuse, neglect and cruelty' have been jailed for 21 years.

Valerie Stannard, 73, held a boy's hands over a stove flame and stuffed lit paper down a boy's pyjamas while her husband Roy, 74, punched a youngster 'as if he was punching a man.'

The children were thrashed with a bamboo cane or belt in the basement at the Stannards' home in Stoke Newington, north London.

The youngest victim was just a toddler when he was tied to his highchair and locked in a cupboard with the couple's dogs because he cried, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

Roy Stannard, 74, was jailed for 12 years while Valerie Stannard, 73, was jailed for nine years

The Stannards were convicted of 18 out of 22 charges in March relating to five youngsters involving sexual abuse and child cruelty between 1969 and 1985.

Valerie was jailed for nine years and Roy for 12.

Valerie Stannard would draw a line on their milk bottles to mark how much had been drunk and she would beat them if she caught them taking more, the court heard.

Roy Stannard also sent them out to steal objects for him to sell on his market stall.

He stripped one of the girls naked for his sexual pleasure on six occasions.

One victim said the couple would force soap down their throats, and said they were forced to watch as other children were tortured.

Valerie and Roy Stannard (pictured outside court) were convicted of 18 out of 22 charges relating to five youngsters involving sexual abuse and child cruelty between 1969 and 1985

The elderly couple sat emotionless and stared at the public gallery throughout mitigation and sentencing, before waving to family members as they were led away.

The month-long trial heard heartbreaking evidence from the victims as they described the catalogue of abuse they suffered at the hands of the Stannards.

One victim said: 'We were not living, it was just an existence.'

Sally-Ann Hales, QC, prosecuting, said: 'Their lives routinely involved physical abuse, neglect and cruelty, and in the case of Mr Stannard involves sexual abuse of two of the children.

'They describe a miserable childhood characterised by cruelty of both defendants and Ms Stannard in particular.

'Each experienced or witnessed physical abuse, cruelty or neglect on an almost daily basis.

'They lived in fear of speaking out or standing up for themselves or each other.'

Describing another incident of cruelty, she said: 'He had a coat hanger and put it in his jumper and hung him up on the door making him choke.'

One of the girls was made to do household chores and treated 'like a skivvy'.

Social services visited their property, but the Stannards were adept at covering their abuse, renting clothes from a shop for the visit and returning them later.

'Valerie had a stick and cane and a belt which belonged to Roy was used for the same purpose,' said Miss Hales.

'They were never fed properly. When social services visited the house they were required to behave as if everything was fine.'

The prosecutor added: 'She saw Valerie light paper in his pyjamas. When punishments were given Valerie would make the other children watch.

'Even if they hadn't done anything wrong they would find a reason to hit you.'

The month-long trial heard heartbreaking evidence from the victims as they described the catalogue of abuse they suffered at the hands of the Stannards

One of the boys remembered being caught taking a slice of bread at night.

'Valerie got the children out of bed into the kitchen,' said the prosecutor.

'She grabbed the boy's hand and held it over the cooking flame, saying "this is what thieves get". He remembers screaming with pain.'

Police finally launched an investigation into the couple in July 2014.

Roy Stannard said in a statement: 'They are all going to stick together and they have got this planned. They are trying to get back at us.'

He denied the allegations of abuse during the trial and said it was a 'very different time back then'.

Robert Dacre, defending Valerie Stannard, said: 'Your honour may take the view that the real test is what sentence is justified in the circumstances.

'I do not seek to minimise the psychological impact that the victims had in later life.

'But my point is a simple one: Mrs Stannard is ageing and of ill health.

'She continues to suffer from asthma and has ongoing heart issues, including hypertension. It is likely that prison will be very very difficult for her.'

Michael Hayton, defending Roy Stannard, said: 'It is right to say that he was put in a house in the 70s that was extremely challenging. Clearly there was a large number of issues going on in the background.

'Mr Stannard was out of the house for large parts of the week and weekends. In most cases he was used as an enforcer.'

Roy Stannard was convicted of four counts of child cruelty and six of indecent assault. Valerie Stannard was convicted of eight counts of child cruelty.

The couple, who now live in Barge Lane, Bow, denied all the charges.

The couple, who now live in Barge Lane, Bow, denied all the charges at Snaresbrook Crown Court (pictured)

Judge Alastair Hammerton said: 'The victim statements reveal the devastating impacts of your crimes.

'Valerie Stannard your ill treatment was often and severe, leaving marks on the children.

'You punished a boy by putting a newspaper down his pyjamas then lit it.

'You punished another boy by putting soap down his throat. He thought he was choking and was going to die.

'The evidence from a number of witnesses was that on at least one occasion you put a boy in an unlit cupboard while he was still in his high chair.

'Roy Stannard your ill treatment was also rather frequent and severe, including hitting a boy with a closed fist 'like a man'.
A defiant Jeremy Corbyn insisted he could still win the General Election tonight despite a humiliating set of local elections.

Labour lost more than 380 councillors, lost control of six local authorities and was humbled in mayoral races for the West Midlands and in the Tees Valley.

The Labour leader raced to Liverpool to celebrate the victory of Steve Rotheram in the city's mayoral race but the contest was as close to a foregone conclusion as any in UK politics.

But Labour politicians said the results are 'simply not good enough' and blamed the left-winger for leading their party to the crushing defeat.

Mr Corbyn admitted it had been a 'difficult' time for Labour as the results of yesterday's elections were declared overnight and through today.

A defiant Jeremy Corbyn (pictured in Liverpool with new mayor Steve Rotheram tonight) insisted he could still win the general election tonight despite a humiliating set of local elections

Labour lost more than 360 councillors, lost control of six local authorities and was humbled in mayoral races for the West Midlands and in the Tees Valley

Addressing supporters in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn said: 'We've had some difficult results overnight. Some of them have been very good, we have gained seats in some places, we have held councils that many predicted we wouldn't.

'And others unfortunately have not been elected.'

He added: 'We have now got four weeks until the General Election. Four weeks to get our message out there.'

In a statement later released at the end of a day of humiliating local election defeats he bizarrely insisted Labour is closing in on the Tories.

He said: 'The results were mixed. We lost seats but we are closing the gap on the Conservatives.

'I am disappointed at every Labour defeat in the local elections. Too many fantastic councillors, who work tirelessly for their communities, lost their seats.'

Labour's Stephen Kinnock, who is standing for re-election as MP for Aberavon in Wales, laid the blame for the party's losses squarely at the leader's door.

He said: 'It's simply not good enough for a party that's been in opposition for seven years that's heading towards a General Election in five weeks to not be picking up seats and not be making forward progress.

'What we need to do is recognise that we have got a mountain to climb over the next five weeks and it's about time we started climbing it.

'I think we can't just put a spin on this - the fact of the matter is that Jeremy's leadership does come up on the doorstep on a very regular basis.

'What we have to do is make this election about more than leadership, we've got to make it about the future of our country.'

While Labour's Sion Simon, who suffered a shock defeat in the race to become West Midlands mayor to the Conservatives' Andy Street, said national politics overshadowed the local race

He said traditional Labour voters are becoming disillusioned with the party.

He said: 'I won't pretend that we didn't hear - coming back from doorstepping the areas we did win, in our heartlands, - a message from Labour voters that their confidence is waning in our strength as a party..

'I'm talking about values. The issues that came back on the doorstep were about values, about our regional campaign overshadowed by national political issues all the time.

'We should have been talking about transport and housing and taking back control of our region form London which has let us down, and running it ourselves.

'But we ended talking about defence, immigration and Brexit.'

Labour has lost more than 300 seats across the UK and surrendered control of a string of authorities - including Glasgow Council for the first time since 1980.

And the party took a battering in many of its Welsh heartlands, surrendering control of councils in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil - where the party's founding father Keir Hardie served as MP until his death in 1915.

Although they beat expectations to cling on in Cardiff.

There was more bad news for Labour as they were beaten in a number of the mayoral races.

A cheery Jeremy Corbyn emerged in front of the cameras today as his Labour Party woke up to huge losses in the local elections

Tory Ben Houchen beat the Labour favorite Sue Jeffrey to become mayor of the Tees Valley in what the victorious politician dubbed a 'political earthquake'.

While Conservative Tim Bowles has been elected as the first West of England combined authority mayor.

And Labour had a dismal night in Scotland too, losing dozens of seats across the region while the Scottish Tories surged.

Senior Labour politicians have played down the grim results but many will see warnings for the party ahead of next month's general election.

The Tories are on track for their best performance in decades just a month before the snap general election.

Labour has already lost more than 100 seats in England and Wales and been defeated in the West of England mayoral race

Mr McDonnell insisted that Labour's vote 'held up' in areas of Wales where Jeremy Corbyn had campaigned, and said there were signs that voters were developing more confidence in the party leader as he had the chance to get his message across.

He repeated Labour's challenge to Mrs May to take part in TV debates, contrasting Labour's 'open engaging' campaign with the 'robotic' appearances by the Prime Minister.

'So far, it's been a tough night, but it hasn't been the wipeout that people expected,' said Mr McDonnell.

Shadow cabinet minister Barry Gardiner said it had been a 'really disappointing night' for Labour but he insisted there were local reasons for some of the losses.

The results of the election show the Tories up by more tha 500 seats and Labour down by 127

'In Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr I think it's right to say that most of the problems we have had there - losing control where we were in control - were through the splits within the Labour Party itself and the independents,' he told BBC Radio 4.

Labour was dealt a severe blow in the south Wales valleys, with independents taking control of Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil - where the final three seats will be declared on June 8 with Labour needing to win them all to regain a majority.

In Bridgend - the stronghold of First Minister and Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones - the party lost control

Mrs May had targeted Bridgend with a campaign visit in an effort to boost the Tory presence in Wales.

In the contests for new metro-mayors, Conservative Tim Bowles defeated Labour's Lesley Mansell in the run-off for the West of England post, covering Bristol and Bath.

Labour beat expectations in Cardiff (pictured is the count in the city) but suffered heavy losses in the Welsh valleys

Senior Labour politicians have played down the grim results but many will see warnings for the party ahead of next month's general election.

After the redistribution of votes from candidates eliminated in the first round, Mr Bowles had 70,300 votes to Ms Mansell's 65,923.

Later today former Labour cabinet minister Andy Burnham hopes to begin life after Westminster by winning in Greater Manchester.

He is regarded as the favourite in the contest which will result in new decision-making and spending powers being in the hands of the winner.

A far more intriguing result is expected in the West Midlands, where two million people across Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Dudley, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton will be eligible to cast a vote for the region's first directly-elected metropolitan mayor.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell (pictured on the BBC today) insisted that Labour's vote 'held up' in areas of Wales where Jeremy Corbyn had campaigned

Former John Lewis boss Andy Street is running for the Conservatives while Sion Simon hopes to secure the role for Labour.

With full results declared by 19 of the 88 councils holding elections in England, Scotland and Wales, the Tories had control of nine authorities, including five gains.

Mrs May's party had 441 councillors, a net gain of 113, while Labour had 308, a net loss of 58.

Among the authorities which had declared their final results, Labour had control of two councils and had lost control of two.
Students of Avondale High School in the Detroit neighborhood of Auburn, MI are currently sitting in in the hallways of their school to protest the announcement that 6 of their teachers were to be laid off.



One of the students is leading a lively discussion on Reddit, where shitty grownups are accusing the students of just wanting to avoid class and also accusing teachers of being overpaid sucklers at the public teat, displaying the cynical poverty of imagination of the American right.



"We sit in silence to show how we've felt all year. Silenced. Claims have been said that we have a voice, but in reality our voice is never heard. So today. We're done talking. The once happy, welcoming culture of this school has diminished, and today we are doing exactly what they really want us to do. Be silent," read a letter submitted to the administration from the students.

Students hold peaceful sit-in at metro Detroit high school

[WXYZ]
North Korea on Friday accused the CIA of plotting with South Korea to assassinate the isolated country's leader Kim Jong-Un, amid soaring tensions in the flashpoint region.

The CIA and Seoul's Intelligence Services have 'hatched a vicious plot' involving unspecified 'biochemical substances' to assassinate the hermit state's young leader during public ceremonial events in Pyongyang, the Ministry said in a statement carried by state media.

For the CIA 'assassination by use of biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance is the best method that does not require access to the target, their lethal results will appear after six or twelve months,' the North Korean Ministry said in a statement carried by state media on Friday.

The North Korean Ministry vowed to launch an 'anti-terrorist' attack against the United States and South Korea following its claims about the assassination plot.

'We will ferret out and mercilessly destroy to the last one the terrorists of the U.S. CIA' and South Korea's National Intelligence Service 'targeting the dignity of the DPRK supreme leadership,' North Korea's Ministry of State Security said.

'A Korean-style anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organizations of the US imperialists and the puppet clique.'

The accusation comes amid claims that Kim could be planning an attack on South Korea after he inspected an artillery unit used to bombard the country in the last deadly clash between the two countries.

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North Korean officials have accused the CIA of creating an assassination plot to kill the country's leader, Kim Jong-Un (pictured center)

The CIA and Seoul's Intelligence Services have 'hatched a vicious plot' involving unspecified 'biochemical substances' to assassinate the hermit state's young leader during public ceremonial events in Pyongyang, the Ministry said in a statement carried by state media

Pyongyang has issued increasingly belligerent rhetoric in a tense stand off with the Trump administration over its rogue weapons program.

The war of words between the West and the reclusive regime has spiked in recent weeks, and Pyongyang has threatened to carry out a sixth nuclear test that would further inflame tensions.

The CIA and Seoul's Intelligence Services (IS) have 'ideologically corrupted and bribed a DPRK citizen surnamed Kim' who worked as a lumberjack in the Khabarovsk Territory of Russia to carry out the attack on Jong-Un, the statement said.

'They hatched a plot of letting human scum Kim commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership during events at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and at military parade and public procession after his return home,' KCNA said.

'They told him that assassination by use of biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance is the best method that does not require access to the target, their lethal results will appear after six or twelve months.

'Then they handed him over $20,000 on two occasions and a satellite transmitter-receiver and let him get versed in it.'

The statement said that the plot to kill Kim was tantamount to 'the declaration of a war'.

'We will ferret out and mercilessly destroy to the last one the terrorists of the US CIA and the puppet IS of South Korea,' the statement said.

It added: 'The heinous crime, which was recently uncovered and smashed in the DPRK, is a kind of terrorism against not only the DPRK but the justice and conscience of humankind and an act of mangling the future of humankind.'

The statement did not give any information on how the plot was foiled or what happened to the alleged spy.

Also on Friday, Kim inspected an artillery unit used to bombard South Korea in the last deadly clash between the two countries

Kim praised the unit's last attack on the South, which killed four including two civilians, as 'brilliant military service' saying it was an example to 'hand down through the generations

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul and South Korea's National Intelligence Service were not immediately available for comment. The U.S. military has said CIA director Mike Pompeo visited South Korea this week and met the NIS chief for discussions.

North Korea conducted an annual military parade, featuring a display of missiles and overseen by top leader Kim Jong Un and his right-hand men on April 15 and then a large, live-fire artillery drill 10 days later.

KCNA, which often carries shrill, bellicose threats against the United States, gave lengthy details about the alleged plot but said it could never be accomplished.

'Criminals going hell-bent to realize such a pipe dream cannot survive on this land even a moment,' it said.

North Korea maintains extensive surveillance operations over its own population, and open dissent against the regime is considered extremely difficult.

Meanwhile, Kim visited the 'Hero Defence Detachment' on Mu Islet on Friday, telling troops to 'keep highly alert to break the backbone of the enemy', the state-backed Korean Central News Agency reported.

Kim also praised the unit's 2010 shelling of South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island, which killed four including two civilians, as 'the most delightful battle'.

The dictator branded the shelling 'brilliant military service' saying it was an example to 'hand down through the generations', a state media release said.

His visit was to assess the 'combat readiness' of the unit as fears of a fresh and bloody conflict in the region grow.

'Kim said the unit must 'keep highly alert to break the backbone of the enemy' and will be crucial in 'the future battle', state-backed media reported. The North Korean dictator 'confirmed that all positions are fully ready for combat and to go into action', according to state media

Fears of fresh conflict between the North and South have been growing in recent weeks after President Trump vowed to 'solve' the Korea issue

State media said Kim inspected new fire plans to be used in 'the future battle', and 'confirmed that all positions are fully ready for combat and to go into action.'

North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeong in November 2010 came as the result of what it called a 'provocative shelling by the South Korean puppet warmongers'.

South Korea had been conducting a drill on Yeonpyeong in which it fired live shells into the ocean. North Korea accused Seoul of shooting into its territorial waters, a claim the South disputes, and returned fire.

In total 170 rockets and shells were fired at the island, which was then home to around 2,000 people, destroying multiple buildings and military installations.

Two members of the South Korean military were killed, along with two 60-year-old constructions workers.

Seoul said it retaliated against the North, hitting several gun positions on Mu Islet. North Korea made no mention of anyone being killed.

Meanwhile, the Republican-led US House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to impose new sanctions on North Korea this week, targeting its shipping industry and use of slave labor.

Members approved the measure 419-1 as tensions continued to mount over Pyongyang's advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Admiral Harry Harris Jr, the top American military officer in the Pacific, has warned it is a question of when, not if, North Korea successfully builds a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the US.

Pressure has increased on Kim's regime in recent weeks as China has backed calls for further sanctions, leading to fears the dictator could lash out

Kim reviewed fire plans drawn up by the artillery unit which will be used in the event of an attack on the South (islands pictured in the background)

The Senate must take up the measure next. The bipartisan legislation is aimed at thwarting North Korea's ambitions by cutting off access to the cash the regime needs to follow through with its plans.

The measure is sponsored by Rep Ed Royce of California, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep Eliot Engel of New York, the committee's senior Democrat.

The bill bars ships owned by North Korea or by countries that refuse to comply with UN resolutions against it from operating in American waters or docking at US ports.

Goods produced by North Korea's forced labour would be prohibited from entering the United States, according to the legislation.

Anyone who uses slave labour that North Korea exports to other countries would be subject to sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the bill states.

At times when the nation is facing unusual or extraordinary threats, the President has wide authority under the law, including the power to block or prohibit transactions involving property located in the US.
Raiders stormed a man's home and nearly severed his leg with a machete during a terrifying attack in Manchester.

A silver Jeep is said to have pulled up outside the property in the Harpurhey area of the city yesterday afternoon before three men launched the horrific assault.

As well as cuts to his leg, the man suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to hospital where he is now described as 'stable'.

Police were called to this house in Manchester after a man was attacked with a machete

Witnesses say the three assailants forced their way into the man's house before the attack.

One local resident said: 'They attacked him with a machete. One leg was nearly severed. He also had various cuts to his head and body.

'There were two cars involved and two attackers. They approached the house. There was a scuffle.

'There was a confrontation between two men and another man outside the front door.

'It went into the house and out again. A weapon was used.'

Forensics officers combed the scene today as the man was described as 'stable' in hospital

Greater Manchester Police has launched an investigation and cordoned off the property in Kingscliffe Street for several hours. Forensics experts were at the address this morning.

A police spokesman said: 'Three men arrived in a silver Jeep and forced their way inside a property on the street before attacking a man with a machete.

'He suffered serious leg and head injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment where he remains in a stable condition.'

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said: 'We were called to a private address.

'We received a call at 1.33pm. We sent two rapid response vehicles and an ambulance to the scene and we have taken a patient to hospital.'
A 'fun-loving' retired couple died in a car crash just hours after dancing together in a hotel while on a dream holiday in the Cayman Islands.

Ian and Pamela Mansell, from Dockenfield in Surrey were killed when a Honda Accord ploughed into their hire car.

Pamela's sister Marlene Wright also died in the horror crash.

Ian and Pamela were described by friends as fun-loving and were said to always be the first people to get up to dance

A holiday video shows the couple, who were 'always first on the dancefloor', having the time of their lives and joyously dancing together on the beautiful island just 24 hours before tragedy struck.

Cayman police revealed the car that hit them was driving above the speed limit, contained a number of conch shells and carried two passengers believed to be travelling in the open trunk.

Conch shell fishing season is believed to run until April 30 - two days before the crash.

The driver, a 22-year-old Jamaican, died in the crash. An 11-year-old boy is in a stable condition at the Cayman Islands Hospital along with a 26-year-old who's in a serious but stable condition.

The pair were on holiday with Pamela's sister Marlene, in blue, who used to travel with them after her husband died a few years ago. All three died in the smash

The couple did not have children, but friends have told of how they were involved in village life and were well-thought of by neighbours

Today the trio, who regularly went on holiday together after Marlene's husband died a few years ago, were described by devastated friends as people who 'lived life to the full'.

Retired police officer and former president of the Rotary Club of Farnham Weyside Bob Lampard described the pair as a 'fun couple' who loved to explore on holiday together.

Bob, 66, said: 'I thought they were a really fun couple and enjoyed everything they did and were very, very keen dancers.

'It was very poignant to see footage of them dancing together on that holiday - just 24 hours later they were dead.

'It's such an awful shock.

The crash involved their hire car and another being driven by a 22-year-old who also died. Police said they struggled to think of a worse crash on the island

'Pam's sister Marlene used to go on holiday with them quite a bit since losing her husband a few years ago.

'They were very keen on wildlife and would go off to Africa and see the animals.

'They were very well liked in the village of Dockenfield and were much part of village life.'

Bob from Farnham, Surrey, said he'd known the 'fun-loving' couple for 16 years ever since Ian joined the Rotary in 2001.

Bob said: 'They were people at the top of the list who you would want at a dinner party.

'They would always be first up on the dancefloor and very much lived life to the full.'

Just the night before the crash, the pair were showing off their dance moves in the hotel. They were said to always be the first on the dance floor

Retired major in the Royal Tank regiment Frank Golding, from Farnham, Surrey, knew the couple for 16 years.

Frank, 79, said: 'They were much liked and respected people who enjoyed life and didn't deserve to die in such tragic circumstances.

'They were a very vibrant sort of couple - very much alive.

'Ian was a fun person and his wife Pam was lovely. They were a happy and friendly couple - I think everybody in the community is rather lost for words at what's happened.'

Ian, 72 and Pamela, who was 74, did not have children.

Pamela, above, and her husband Ian had just celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a big party

Marlene Platt, office supervisor at Morritt's Resort in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, said staff at the three-star resort were 'devastated' by what had happened.

Poignant footage shows the pair happily dancing on the hotel dancefloor, just 24 hours before they were involved in the horror smash.

Ms Platt, 42, said: 'It's pretty much traumatised everyone at the resort. Mr and Mrs Mansell had been coming here for a while.

'I've known them since 2006 - they were not only guests to us but more like family, it's very sad.

'Even this morning when I drove past the area where the accident happened it brought tears to my eyes. It's very heart rending - it's such a horrific scene.

'They were such sweet people. They loved to dance, it's such a tragedy.'

Chief Inspector Frank Owens from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said in his 20 years in Cayman, he was 'unaware of a worse accident on Cayman's roads'.

Chief Inspector Owens said: 'A Black Honda Accord travelling towards Bodden Town along Austin Connolly Drive was being driven by a 22-year-old male from Jamaica.

'[He was] accompanied by two passengers, a 26-year-old male who is currently unconscious in a serious but stable condition at George Town Hospital and a 11-year-old passenger who is in a stable condition and conscious.

'A Silver Kia Rio rental vehicle travelling towards East End along Austin Connolly Drive driven by a 72-year-old male accompanied by a 74 and 68-year-old females, all deceased, U.K. nationals on vacation, believed to be the wife of the driver and a close family relative.

'The black Honda Accord and the silver Kia Rio were travelling in opposite directions when a head on collision occurred.

'A police vehicle was travelling towards East End when the black Honda Accord travelling in the opposite direction towards George Town was recorded on police mobile radar travelling at excessive speed.

'The single-crewed police vehicle stopped, activated the blue lights and on turning around the Honda Accord was out of sight, a short time later the police officer came upon the vehicle collision, there was no police pursuit.

'Police can confirm reports that the Honda Accord did have several conchs on board.

'Early indications are that the two male passengers in the Honda vehicle were travelling in the open trunk of the vehicle.'
A winner of America's Next Top Model claims she was sexually harassed while working for a Hollywood boutique and has filed a lawsuit.

Naima Mora, won the series' fourth season (cycle four) in 2005, says she was targeted with inappropriate comments and unwanted advances by the manager of Alberta Ferretti in West Hollywood while working as a sales associate for 4 months in 2015, reported TMZ.

Mora, 33, claims the situation reached boiling point on October 1 of that year when the manager spanked her behind after a staff meeting, in full view of her colleagues.

Naima Mora won America's Got Talent fourth season (cycle four) in 2005

She also says he physically assaulted her by shoving her head and that despite consulting the store's human resources the harassment only worsened.

In the lawsuit the model, who has a twin, claims she started suffering panic attacks on the way to work and had to resign as a result.

Since winning the show Mora modelled for a number of publications such as Cover Girl, ELLE Magazine and US Weekly. While she also appeared at New York Fashion Week in 2007 and in 2012 released a book, Naima Mora's Model Behavior.

Alberta Ferretti is an Italian fashion designer and dressmaker. Her company has a number of boutiques across the world opening the Hollywood flagship store in 2008.
A kidnapper who shoved his victim in a pit told her 'You're mine now', a court has been told.

Jennifer Elliott said her neighbor, Dennis Dunn, also said 'I love you' as he left her buried in the hole under his shed.

Elliott, testifying at a preliminary hearing in Ohio, said: 'When he closed the shed door, he said, "I love you". I remember banging on the dirt and screaming.'

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Jennifer Elliott said she feared she was going to die in the pit beneath Dennis Dunn's garden shed

Dennis Dunn (pictured left in his mugshot, and right, being arrested last Monday) is accused of kidnapping a woman who was trapped in a small pit in his backyard, police said

Elliott was trapped in a pit under the floor of Dunn's backyard shed (pictured). The hole measured about two feet squared and 40 inches deep

And she continued, WCPO reports, that she thought she was going to die in the pit.

'He would make threats and call me a piece of s***', she said.

She was found in a small pit with a wooden board covering the opening. Heavy objects pinned the board down, making it impossible for her to escape, police said.

During her rescue, at 4am on April 26, she appeared to suffer a seizure and was unable to speak.

Dunn will face trial by grand jury and his bail has been set at $1 million

Elliott's mother reported her missing from a home on the same street hours before Dunn's neighbor heard crying from the shed and called the police (pictured, Dunn's house in Ohio)

Dunn, 45, was arrested the same day, and will go before a grand jury charged with kidnapping. His bond was set at $1million.

Elliott's mother reported her missing from a home on the same street hours before Dunn's neighbor called the police at around 4am, reporting that he heard cries emerging from Dunn's shed at 113 Central Avenue.

The responding officer also heard the cries and later found Elliott trapped in a pit measuring about two feet squared and 40 inches deep.

Elliott has previously been the victim of threatening calls from Dunn, police said after his arrest, Fox19 reports.
The judge presiding over accused cocaine smuggler Cassie Sainsbury's case has disputed claims she could serve time behind bars in Australia if convicted.

A recording has surfaced of the 22-year-old Adelaide woman's first appearance in a Colombian courtroom in which she denies trying to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine.

Judge John Jairo Zambraro has contracted her lawyer, and says she will have to serve all of her sentence in one of Colombia's most notorious prisons if convicted, reports 9News.

Ms Sainsbury's fiance Scott Broadbridge, 23, has defended her innocence as it's revealed she was hunted by Colombian narco agents for a week before she was arrested at a Bogota international airport.

Meanwhile, lawyer Orlando Herran, says she is 'permanently crying' behind bars at El Buen Pastor prison.

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The judge presiding over accused cocaine smuggler Cassie Sainsbury's (pictured) case has disputed her lawyer's claims she could serve some time behind bars in Australia if convicted

Judge Zambraro revealed she had to serve all of her sentence in one of the country's most notorious prisons if convicted

In her first appearance in court, Ms Sainsbury maintained her innocence.

'My name is Cassandra Leigh Sainsbury. I'm an Australian, I was staying at Hotel Interbogota,' s soft-spoken Ms Sainsbury can be heard saying in the court recording.

'I do not accept the charges filed by the prosecutor.'

Judge Zambraro said he felt she was too young to be caught up in a drug smuggling operation.

'What caught my eye was her age, she was 22. Too young to be caught up in something like this.'

Her lawyer, Mr Herran, said she was suffering in the overcrowded El Buen Pastor prison and that he was pushing to have her relocated to Australia.

'I can see that she's very affected psychologically. She [is] permanently crying, very sad,' Mr Herran said.

Her lawyer, Orlando Herran, said she was suffering in the overcrowded El Buen Pastor prison

A recording has surfaced of the 22-year-old Adelaide woman's first appearance in a Colombian courtroom

The young woman was being hunted by Colombian narco agents for a week before she was nabbed at the airport last month

The allegations she tried to smuggle 5.8 kilograms of cocaine out of the country have landed her in the notorious El Buen Pastor prison (pictured)

'It is a possibility to make an agreement for the special case of Cassandra.'

However Judge Zambraro cast doubt on his comments, saying she would serve the sentence where she committed the alleged crime.

'The system is clear - do the crime in Colombia, do the time in Colombia,' he said.

The 22-year-old from Adelaide, South Australia, was initially reported to have been caught at the airport after a last-minute tip-off from the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

But it has now been revealed local police were put on alert about the alleged drug smuggler on April 5th - seven days before her April 11 arrest.

In an interview published by SBS, the ports and airports director for Colombia's anti-narcotic police, told a journalist authorities had been placed on high alert about Ms Sainsbury.

udge Zambraro cast doubt on his comments, saying she would serve the sentence where she committed the alleged crime if convicted

It has been revealed police were aware of the alleged drug smuggler prior to her arrest, with a tip-off on April 5 alerting them to Ms Sainsbury a week before she was arrested on April 12

It comes as Ms Sainsbury's fiance Scott Broadbridge told media he had no doubt about her innocence, but refused to answer questions during a press conference on Friday

'Cas is the delight of my life': Mr Broadbridge said he intended to marry Cassie and stressed that he believed she was innocent of smuggling drugs

Jorge Mendoza told the journalist authorities were all aware of Ms Sainsbury's name, nationality and appearance, and were confused when she failed to turn up on travel logs.

Left stranded in their search for a potential cocaine smuggler, it wasn't until the U.S. DEA provided the last minute tip when Ms Sainsbury's ticket was bought in Hong Kong by an unknown person that they tracked her down.

Mr Mendoza refused to speculate on whether the Australian woman is guilty, saying earlier this week he doubted she wasn't aware of the drugs in her suitcase.

'Her explanation is not credible. Everyone we catch says they didn't know it was in their luggage,' he said.

It comes as Ms Sainsbury's fiance told media he had no doubt about her innocence, but refused to answer questions during a press conference on Friday.

Scott Broadbridge, 23, fronted reporters on Friday with his own lawyer Steven Kenny - Cassie's second legal representative - to clear the air about his wife-to-be.

But aside from a short prepared statement declaring his love for Cassie and intention to marry her, Mr Broadbridge did little to set the record straight about the conflicting stories emerging about why she was alone in Colombia in the first place.

Mr Broadbridge kept tight-lipped during his own press conference on Friday (the pair are pictured together on holidays)

The 23-year-old delivered a short statement declaring his love for Cassie but fielded most questions to his lawyer Steven Kenny - who admitted he 'didn't have answers' to many of the questions that were asked

The bodybuilder repeatedly said 'no comment' when asked by reporters about the cleaning company he claimed Cassie worked for overseas - at odds with her own family's assertion she was there in part to promote her personal training business.

He also kept quiet about questions regarding Cassie's plane ticket home to Australia, which was reportedly bought last-minute in Hong Kong by an 'unknown party'.

Instead, it was up to his newly-appointed lawyer - who openly said he 'did not have answers to many of the questions being asked' - to field a range of media inquiries.

Mr Kenny said he was confident the Australian woman would get a fair hearing in the Colombian courts.

'We have great faith in the Colombian legal system and will be doing everything we can to provide her with the best possible defence,' he said.

He added that he had been 'unable to identify' the cleaning company Cassie had been working for in Colombia, but stressed it was 'a matter of significance.'

Mr Kenny said he was confident Ms Sainsbury would get a fair hearing in the Colombian courts

Mr Broadbridge repeatedly said 'no comment' when asked by reporters about the cleaning company he claimed Cassie worked for overseas

'I would like to remind you, there is plenty of people in the past that have been judged by the media to be guilty, only to be found innocent later. We hope that will be the case in this matter,' he said.

Ms Sainsbury was arrested at El Dorado International Airport on April 12 after 5.8 kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found hidden inside 18 headphone boxes in her suitcase.

She reportedly told a Colombian lawyer that she was tricked and given the headphones by a man she knew only by Angelo or Tom.

The man offered to buy her the headphones for a cheap price and brought them to her at the airport.

Mr Broadbridge kept quiet about questions regarding Cassie's plane ticket home to Australia, which was reportedly bought last-minute in Hong Kong by an 'unknown party'.

'Cas and I are engaged to be married and I intend to marry her. Cas is the delight of my life,' Mr Broadbridge said at the start of the conference.

'I know that she's not involved in the drug trade. And I know that she was not deliberately taking drugs or carrying drugs anywhere.

'I know there are many unanswered questions in this case. And I intend to work with the lawyers to get to the bottom of them.'

Mr Broadbridge said it was 'extremely stressful' and 'very difficult' for Cassie to adjust to life behind bars in Colombia, adding that he hoped to be able to fly over soon.

Mr Broadbridge was approached by media at his Moana home in Adelaide's south on Thursday and said Ms Sainsbury 'wasn't doing great' before saying he would speak more the following day with a lawyer present

Ms Sainsbury's with one of the couple's three dogs - which are now at home with Mr Broadbridge

The woman went on a cruise in October, 2016, followed by a work trip to Canada in January. Her trip to Colombia recently started with time spent in China and America

Daily Mail Australia recently revealed the 22-year-old woman's lavish globetrotting lifestyle which saw her visit the Pacific Islands, Canada, China and North and South America in just six months.

Colombian police claim a tip-off led to the arrest of an Australian woman who was found with 18 bags of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.7 million.

On April 3 she posted a photo of LAX - Los Angeles International Airport - with the caption 'going from China's lovely 27 degree weather to LA's 7 degree weather is killing me'.

On April 8, she posted a photograph of some buildings indicating she was in America.

'Can't complain about an all expenses paid work trip which is mainly holiday and very little work,' she wrote.

In Australia, six kilograms of cocaine has a street value of almost $2 million
A pair of elderly lovebirds have become Britain's oldest newlyweds with a combined age of 165 - despite the groom being unable to get down on one knee.

Retired engineer Peter Barratt, 82, fell for former secretary Nancy Evans, 83, after locking eyes with her at a church club in Chard, Somerset.

He popped the question three months after they met and pursued his lady 'like a dog with a bone' for two years before she said yes.

The grandmother-of-nine, joked that her husband did not get down on one knee because 'he wouldn't be able to get back up again'.

Peter Barratt and Nancy Evans (pictured on their wedding day) have become Britain's oldest newlyweds

She initially declined the offer because she feared she would lose her independence but changed her mind after he bought her flowers every week and took her out for romantic meals.

The pensioners, who live at separate care complexes a mile apart in Chard walked down the aisle on Easter Monday.

Her grandson Daniel Evans, 29, gave her away in the emotional ceremony at their local church, which was attended by 80 friends and relatives.

The whole affair cost just 600 - with the reception being held at her care home - but the beaming bride said: 'The Savoy couldn't have beaten it.'

And for their honeymoon, the couple travelled an hour to Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, where they shared a suite at the Premier Inn.

The mother-of-three said: 'I was happy in my life before I met Peter and I didn't want a man.

'I like my own space and I wasn't looking for love but I have accidentally found it.

'I had been on my own for 20 years but I just happened to see this chap looking over at me at church club.

'After a couple of months, maybe about three months, Peter said about getting married. Peter loves wedding cake.

'He didn't get down on one knee, because he wouldn't be able to get back up again.

The whole wedding cost just 600 - with the reception being held at her care home (pictured)

'It took a while, but he was like a dog with a bone and he just kept on going. It took me about two years to accept, but then we got engaged.

'The wedding day was marvellous. It really overwhelmed me with all the affection and the friendship, the presents and cards.

'I'm very now happy. Everybody loves Peter and he is very gentle. Every time I look at him we giggle.

'We love being close. It is not a sexual thing but we can hold each other and he always kisses me.

'It certainly wasn't love at first sight. Peter said, "The moment I saw you I knew it", and there was me pushing him away, but now I love him to bits.'

The wedding was organised by care workers at St Gilda's sheltered accommodation, where Nancy lives.

The couple walked to the ceremony, at the local catholic church, before returning to St Gilda's, part of Yarlington Housing Group, for the reception.

Mr Barratt, a triple divorcee who suffers from chronic pain condition polymyalgia rheumatica, added: 'It is very much a romance.

'I am a romantic and at our age it is wonderful because we weren't looking for it. We are very much in love.'
US-led coalition warplanes will be barred from flying over four 'safe zones' in Syria from tomorrow as part of a Russian plan to reduce the violence there.

Sergei Rudskoi, a Russia military leader, said four 'de-escalation' zones in rebel held territory in Idlib, Homs, a suburb of Damascus and between Daraa and Quneitra provinces will be established under a pact that comes into force from tomorrow.

As a sign of intent, he said Russia warplanes had already stopped bombing the areas in an armistice which he claimed started on May 1.

The Russian plan was signed by Iran and Turkey on Thursday and is backed by the UN. Moscow said that it was talking to 'Jordan and a number of other countries' to sign up as backers of the initiative.

Sergei Rudskoi said a pact to establish safe zones in Syria will come into force from tomorrow, potentially banning coalition aircraft from carrying out raids there

Alexander Lavrentyev (right, pictured with UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, left) has said coalition warplanes will be barred from flying over 'safe zones' to be established in Syria

Lavrentyev signed a deal with Turkish and Iranian counterparts (pictured together) on Thursday which proposes the creation of four no-fly and ceasefire zones in Syria

The signatories have given themselves a month to map out the exact borders of each safe zone.

It is still not clear exactly who will be policing the zones, which Russia says will include military checkpoints on the ground, or what the penalty will be for those found to be in violation.

Russia's military underlined that it will keep on fighting against the Islamic State group and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as Al-Nusra, including inside the 'de-escalation zones'.

Rudskoi said that Syrian government troops freed up after the safety zones come into force will be sent to fight IS in central and eastern Syria and along the Euphrates river with Russian air support.

Meanwhile Assad's regime has vowed to keep fighting 'terriorists' - a term it uses to describe dozens of rebel groups within Syria - wherever it finds them.

Alexander Lavrentyev, a Russian official, said earlier on Friday that the zones will be closed to all military aircraft but 'especially the forces of the international coalition'.

Coalition air forces are made up of aircraft from the US, Australia, Netherlands, France, Germany, Jordan the UK and is due to include Iraq from later this year.

The deal is designed to allow refugees to return and for aid to be sent in.

President Putin said on Wednesday that he had a 'very good' talk over the phone with President Trump, in which his American counterpart had agreed to the deal.

A delegate representing Syrian rebel groups stormed out of talks over the zones, angry that Iran - which backs the regime - was acting as a guarantor

The White House confirmed that the conversation had taken place, but did not mention any agreements being reached.

As the agreement was being signed in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, some members of the Syrian opposition delegation shouted in protest and walked out of the conference room.

The opposition was protesting Iran's role as a guarantor of the agreement, accusing it of fueling the sectarian violence that has killed some 400,000.

Iran supports Bashar al-Assad's regime, alongside Russia, while Turkey backs several rebel groups.

The walkout underlines the huge difficulties of implementing such a deal.

The Syrian government has said it will abide by the agreement, but would continue fighting 'terrorism' wherever it exists - phrase it uses to describe all rebel groups.

Idlib, where the first of the zones is to be located, is under rebel control and was the site of the recent gas attack which was blamed by the West on Assad's regime.

Homs is largely under the control of government forces, though there is still fierce fighting with ISIS in the area.

Meanwhile the eastern district of Ghouta, in Damascus, is held by a warring selection of rebel factions.

Wednesday's agreement followed on from the Astana talks in December last year which brokered a largely failed ceasefire.

One such zone will be situated in Idlib province (pictured, a hospital that was bombed there last week), under plans drawn up by Moscow and backed by the UN

The nations say the aim is to provide places for refugees to return to, while allowing aid to flow in (pictured, a town in Homs, the proposed site of another safe-zone)

Kazakhstan's foreign minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said: 'Over the past two days, the participants in the Astana talks reviewed the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the cessation of hostilities.

'As a result the guarantor countries agreed to sign a memorandum on the creation of de-escalation zones in Syria.'

The aim is to 'put an immediate end to the violence' and 'provide the conditions for the safe, voluntary return of refugees' as well as the immediate delivery of relief supplies and medical aid, the document said.

Damascus supports the Russian plan, Syrian state news agency SANA reported.

More than 320,000 people have been killed in Syria since the country's war began with anti-government protests in March 2011.
A McDonald's order was pinched in the 'fastest robbery ever' after a shrieking thief ran past at lightning speed and grabbed a bag full of food.

It was being passed from the drive-thru hatch to a waiting car when the burger bandit struck at the branch in Britain.

In video of the bizarre incident the McDonald's employee behind the counter is seen looking shocked after the thief snatches the bag straight from her hand.

The McDonald's order was being passed from the drive-thru hatch to a waiting car when the burger bandit struck

The clip has been viewed more than 160,000 times racking up thousands of shares and comments on Facebook

The McDonald's employee behind the counter is seen looking shocked after the thief snatches the bag straight from her hand

The unidentified woman moves 'faster than light' as she sprints in and pinches the bag before immediately running off.

It is not known where the clip was recorded but it was uploaded to the popular 'Meanwhile In Britain' Facebook page.

The video was captioned: 'Fastest McDonald's robbery ever in the UK - this girl moved faster than light.'

The unidentified woman moves 'faster than light' as she sprints in and pinches the bag before immediately running off

The video was captioned: 'Fastest McDonald's robbery ever in the UK - this girl moved faster than light'

It has been viewed more than 160,000 times racking up thousands of shares and comments on the social network.

Viewer Deborah Bonney commented: 'Is that why it's called fast food? That was definitely to go.'

Matthew Abbott said: 'The hamburglar strikes again!' Ricky Hutchinson added: 'The calories don't count if they are nicked.'
A top Sydney lawyer accused of indecently assaulting a university student on a coastal walk has had the charge dismissed.

Carl Harrap, 40, had pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting a 20-year-old university student on the Clontarf Track in December last year.

In Manly Local Court on Friday, he testified that he 'collided' with the woman by accident on a narrow path as he tried to pass her.

Sydney lawyer Carl Harrap, 40, (pictured), who was accused of indecently assaulting a university student on a coastal walk, has had the charge dismissed

Mr Harrap (pictured right with his wife) pleaded not guilty to indecently assaulting a 20-year-old university student on the Clontarf Track in December last year

The woman told the court she was running up some stairs when she felt 'a grab from behind' between her legs.

'I turned around and looked at him and then he bolted,' she said.

Magistrate Christopher Longley dismissed the charge, saying there was doubt 'in terms of the totality of the evidence'.

The fact that Mr Harrap immediately ran from the scene was not evidence of guilt, he said.

The lawyer said he only ran away because the woman, who can't be named, was shouting 'what the f**k' repeatedly in an aggressive manner.

Mr Harrap's barrister Winston Terracini SC submitted that the stairs at the track were very narrow and often slippery.

The woman told the court she was running up some stairs when she felt 'a grab from behind' between her legs. Pictured are the shores of Sydney's Middle Harbour

The woman told the court: 'I turned around and looked at him and then he bolted'. Magistrate Christopher Longley said just because Mr Harrap ran from the scene it wasn't an admission of guilt

Leigh Amity told the court he and his wife found the distressed woman on the path after hearing her scream and she told him she had been touched by a jogger.

'She said "I've just been groped by a runner",' Mr Amity said.

Mr Amity then chased Mr Harrap down and brought him back to the scene, where the woman yelled at him 'you grabbed my f***ing vagina'.

Mr Harrap's lawyer told the court he ran away from the woman because she was repeatedly shouting 'what the f**k' in an aggressive manner

The woman testified she was in shock afterwards and told Mr Harrap 'you can't just do that'.

Mr Harrap, a senior partner at FPA Patent Attorneys in Sydney, was arrested a short time later.

A police officer present at the arrest told the court Mr Harrap had stumbled over his words when initially asked what had happened.

Mr Harrap had said he may have bumped into the woman and then reserved his right to silence.
A hedge fund boss accused of 'systematically bullying' his wife and repeatedly assaulting her at their 3.4million home was cleared of wrongdoing today.

Former Deutsche Bank derivatives expert Guy Mitchinson ran Castilium Capital with ex-Merrill Lynch trader Alicia Vidler, who said she was a prisoner in her own home.

But Mitchinson, 38, told Isleworth Crown Court in West London that the claims were invented by his wife who wanted to escape the failing business and the marriage.

Former Deutsche Bank derivatives expert Guy Mitchinson (left) ran Castilium Capital with ex-Merrill Lynch trader Alicia Vidler (right), who said she was a prisoner in her own home

Today the jury found him not guilty of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour after less than three hours' deliberation following a two-week trial.

Ms Vidler, 37, was an equity derivatives trader with Deutsche Bank in Sydney before moving to the UK, where she studied for a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College.

Privately-educated Ms Vidler, who attended Sydney's Ascham school, founded Mayfair's Castilium Capital in January 2012 with Mitchinson.

The couple shared a home in exclusive Knightsbridge, but after being charged last year Mitchinson moved to a flat four miles away in West Hampstead.

He also was banned from directly contacting his ex while on bail. He was served with divorce papers when he arrived at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court for the first time.

In the witness box, arthritic Ms Vidler denied her account was 'fabricated and exaggerated'.

The couple had a 3.4million home in Knightsbridge, where Ms Vidler said she was a prisoner

Caroline Paul, prosecuting, had told the jury: 'This trial is about a man systematically bullying his wife in order to control her and he became more controlling and violent between January and July, last year.

'His wife became his virtual prisoner and he began to interfere with her medical care, forcing her into taking a course of medication when the the side effects were severe.

'He wanted her to put more hours into the business when she was sick and in a wheelchair and to travel abroad when unwell.

'He insisted on knowing her precise movements and would call her three to four times an hour to check in on her and insisted knowing all the passwords to her electronic devices.'

During one row she tried to leave, the jury were told. Miss Paul said: 'He pulled her back by her handbag strap, blocked the doorway and slammed her against the wall and repeatedly kicked her in the legs, causing bruising to her elbows and knees.'

There was allegedly another row before a matinee theatre trip with friends. Miss Paul added: 'Mr Mitchinson jabbed her in the stomach with a dinner plate, grabbed her by the arm and pushed her against the wall screaming insults.'

But at Isleworth Crown Court today, Mitchinson was unanimously found not guilty of one count of controlling or coercive behaviour between January and July last year.

He was also cleared unanimously of three counts of assaulting Ms Vidler at their home address on dates between January and July.
Brussels is 'crossing its fingers' for a victory for Emmanuel Macron after EU officials broke with protocol to support the centrist French presidential candidate.

The EU has pinned its hopes on pro-European Macron beating the eurosceptic Marine Le Pen in Sunday's French run-off vote.

A host of top Brussels figures led by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have broken with their usual protocol of not interfering in national elections and have openly backed the centrist former banker.

In the European Union's corridors of power, Macron is seen as more than just a frontline defence against populism as seen with Brexit and the rise of Donald Trump in the US.

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Brussels is 'crossing its fingers' for a victory for Emmanuel Macron (pictured today) after EU officials broke with protocol to support the centrist French presidential candidate

The EU has pinned its hopes on pro-European Macron beating the eurosceptic Marine Le Pen (pictured today) in Sunday's French run-off vote

To many, the 39-year-old represents a breath of fresh air that could offer the embattled bloc a sorely needed chance to push ahead with unifying new projects after years of crisis.

'We are crossing our fingers,' one senior EU official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Macron's gruelling televised debate with Le Pen on Wednesday was 'watched widely' at the highest levels of the European institutions, 'including by non-French colleagues', the EU official said.

'Of course we see Macron in a positive way. We have the feeling that we can work with Macron because his project isn't to destroy the EU as with Le Pen,' the official added.

This week EU Brexit negotiator and former French minister Michel Barnier said he would vote for Macron, saying that France would 'stay European' under him.

Le Pen's disdain for Europe runs deep. She has long wanted France to drop the euro single currency and return to the franc, and also leave Europe's Schengen visa-free travel zone.

Macron's (left) gruelling televised debate with Le Pen (right) on Wednesday was 'watched widely' at the highest levels of the European institutions, 'including by non-French colleagues', the EU official said

She has predicted the EU 'will die' and has vowed to hold a 'Frexit' referendum on France's membership of the European Union.

Macron, also a former economy minister, wants to bolster the EU and the eurozone. He wants to set up a separate budget for the 19 countries that use the common currency. He also proposes giving the eurozone its own parliament and finance minister.

'Macron's victory would bring a huge sigh of relief because of all the candidates, he is the one who backed further EU integration: no ifs or buts,' said Vincenzo Scarpetta, senior policy analyst at Open Europe.

In one of his last interviews before Sunday's run-off, Macron stressed that in case of victory, 'I cannot keep Europe as it is'.

'We need a Europe that is more efficient, that protects, and that is less boring to people in their everyday lives,' he told French daily Le Parisien.

It was this pro-Europe enthusiasm that led the EU's most senior figures to openly show their excitement when Macron narrowly beat the second place Le Pen in the first round of the French vote on April 23.

Greenpeace activists were able to unfurl a huge banner under the Eiffel Tower saying 'liberty, equality, fraternity'

'Good luck,' tweeted European Commission chief Juncker only a few hours after the result, in a rare break with Brussels protocol. Juncker's spokesman said France was choosing between European values and 'the destruction of Europe.'

A spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe's most powerful leader, took a similar approach, wishing Macron the best for the next two weeks of campaigning.

EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini even praised Macron for speaking against a backdrop of the European Union's blue-and-gold starred flag on the night of the first round.

But analysts warned against such unmitigated enthusiasm.

'Reforming the EU may sound good on paper but Macron's ideas are bold,' said Open Europe's Scarpetta.

'But how much of this is realistic in practice as any of these would require changing the EU treaties,' he said, adding that powerful Germany would also have to be on board.

Analyst Henrik Enderlein of the Hertie school of governance in Berlin said that Macron left his mark in Germany as French minister, including with Wolfgang Schaeuble, the EU's most influential economic official.

'It's totally against the grain to get elected in 2017 saying I want more Europe and that is what has made an impression in Germany,' Enderlein told AFP.

Still, turning this into deliverable policies remained a major challenge given the divisions on major issues with Berlin, including security and the economy, he added.
A billionaire oil baron who made his fortune as the Soviet Union collapsed has had a wing of the Tate Modern named after him for 50million - but only after a millionaire business rival announced he was leaving the world famous gallery's board.

Ukrainian-born Len Blavatnik, 59, who is worth 11.59billion, has been dubbed 'Britain's philanthropist in chief' having given away at least 130million to charities and universities across the UK in recent years.

Last night it was announced that the Tate Modern's futuristic new extension is being named the Blavatnik Building, which opened in June 2016.

The 50million he pledged to the gallery has been accepted six years after it was first offered and just before the gallery's chairman of trustees Lord Browne steps down in July.

Lord Browne and the billionaire, who has American and British citizenship, are said to have clashed in the early 1990s when he was BP boss and father-of-four Mr Blavatnik battled him for control of an oil company being sold off as the Soviet Union fell.

Len Blavatnik, 59, pictured with his wife Emily, has had a wing of the Tate Modern named after him as old rival Lord Browne was about to leave

Done deal: The Blavatnik Building's name was announced six years since the tycoon pledged 50million towards the wing, pictured, which already opened to the public in June 2016

His business TNK won and in his autobiography Lord Browne, who is worth around 45million, claimed the court battle was rigged, adding: 'a lot of people were clearly in cahoots', according to The Times.

Years later Odessa-born Mr Blavatnik, who is married to former ballerina Emily Blavatnik, moved to London and outbid Roman Abramovich to buy a 15-bedroom Kensington mansion for 41million in 2004.

At one point he topped the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of 13billion, with money invested in oil ventures and also various media businesses including music giant Warner.

He has also invested in the music streaming service, Spotify and Beats audio products and is the richest music billionaire in world with an estimated 11.59billion fortune.

But at the same time he also began pledging money to good causes including 50million for the Tate Modern in 2011.

Today as the gallery extension was named the Blavatnik Building bosses insisted that it was a coincidence the announcement came as Lord Browne was about to leave.

Outgoing Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota said: 'The generosity of this gift is almost unprecedented in Tate's history.

'The transformation and extension of Tate Modern was hugely ambitious and relied on many people to bring it to fruition, but Len Blavatnik's enthusiastic support ensured the successful realisation of the project and I am delighted that the new building now bears his name.

'The six million visitors who have already experienced the Blavatnik Building know what a huge difference it has made to Tate Modern and to London.'

Star investor: Mr Blavatnik has topped the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of 13billion, with money invested in oil ventures and also various media businesses including music giant Warner (pictured with artists Rita Ora and Katherine Jenkins)

Grand: The famous Tate Modern - a former power station - sits on the bank of the Thames and its new Blavatnik wing on the right of the picture

Mr Blavatnik said: 'My family and I are honoured to support Tate, and to be linked to this exceptional building. Tate provides incomparable service to the arts, culture and education throughout the world.'

He is the richest music billionaire in world with an estimated 11.59billion fortune

The major international industrialist and philanthropist, was born in the Soviet Union and emigrated to the US with his family in 1978, becoming a US citizen in 1984, and a UK citizen in 2010.

The billionaire gave Oxford 75million  one of the biggest donations in the institution's history  to set up the Blavatnik School of Government in 2012.

The school unveiled new premises designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the architects behind the Tate Modern, in the same year.

Critics tried to derail the naming and accused Oxford of failing to investigate whether Mr Blavatnik was involved in alleged state-sponsored harassment of BP staff in Russia.

Signatories to an open letter including academics, human rights activists and Russian dissidents, called on the university to 'stop selling its reputation and prestige to Putin's associates'.

The signatories included Pavel Litvinov, one of eight people who protested in Red Square in 1968 against Moscow's invasion of Czechoslovakia. He was exiled for five years to Siberia.

The letter was also signed by Vladimir Bukovsky, jailed by the KGB. Mr Bukovsky, who lives in Cambridge, exposed the Kremlin's use of psychiatric treatment against dissidents.

Mr Blavatnik's family foundation has funded projects and exhibitions at several arts venues in Britain, including the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of London, the Imperial War Museum, the British Museum and the Royal Opera House.

In 2016, his foundation funded the new Hall at the V&A redevelopment.

The Tate Modern extension was also funded by 50 million investment from the Government, 7 million from the Greater London Authority and 1million from Southwark Council as well as a number of private individuals, trusts and foundations.

The extension, to the south of Tate Modern's vast Turbine Hall, opened to the public in June 2016.

Prince William talks to Len Blavatnik during a tour of the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford, which was opposed by some

Deal maker: The oil mogul outbid Roman Abramovich to buy a 15-bedroom Kensington mansion for 41million in 2004

Transparency International told The Times that institutions accepting large donations can face risks, including money laundering. There is no suggestion that Mr Blavatnik is doing or ever has done this.

Executive Robert Barrington told the newspaper: 'The influx of money of dubious origin from overseas has gone hand in hand with a rise in reputation laundering and naming rights.

'Those who accept substantial donations need to make sure they have done a thorough due diligence check and have the courage to put principle above financial advantage'.

Tate says it carries out due diligence on all major offered donations, which also goes through its ethics committee.

A spokesman said: 'Mr Blavatnik has a well-known track record for philanthropy, in particular for his support for education, scientific and cultural institutions internationally. Tate's ethics committee approved the acceptance of this generous donation.

Lord Browne was pivotal in securing the generous donation by Len Blavatnik to the project. Lord Browne is the Chair of Tate Trustees. His tenure continues until 31 July 2017. There is no connection between the timing of this announcement and his tenure. Lord Browne also chairs the Advisory Board of the Blavatnik School of Government.
Over 20,000 people have been recruited by the Chinese government to create the country's own version of Wikipedia which is set to launch in 2018.

However unlike the popular website Wikipedia, visitors will not be able to edit entries meaning it's incredibly unlikely that sensitive issues such as the Tiananmen Square incident will be included.

At present, the main rival to the project is Baidu Baike, often referred to as the Chinese Wikipedia. It allows people to edit entries under close observation from the country's cyber monitors.

Bai Chunli, deputy director of the project (pictured) says it will be 'on par with the world's best'

A woman walks past cabinets holding a print version of the China Encyclopedia (File photo)

The biggest rival to the new project will be Baidu baike which allows people to edit entries

Yang Muzhi, executive editor-in-chief of the project said the projects biggest competitor is Wikipedia despite the fact that the site is blocked in China, the BBC reported.

Yang Muzhi, also described the Chinese Encyclopedia as 'a Great Wall of culture' according to the People's Daily Online.

The scholars involved in the China Encyclopedia project are hand-picked from the country's state universities and were handpicked especially by the government.

According to Bai Chunli, deputy director of the project and president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the aim of the project is to 'compile an internet-based digital encyclopedia on-par with the world's best.'

There is already a print version of the China Encyclopedia.

According to the scholars, truth is their guiding light and a committee has been set up to argue differences of opinion.

While Zhang Baichun, chief editor of the history of science and technology section told AP: 'Of course science does not come from democratic votes, to convince others you will have to present the most convincing proof.'

The Central Propaganda Department is in charge of the project which will see around 300,000 entries covering science, literature, politics and history.

It will include entries on political leaders, the history of the Communist Party along with information on the European Union and virtual reality.

Yang Muzhi, executive editor-in-chief described the project as a 'Great Wall of culture'

Wikipedia is blocked in China along with other sites such as Facebook and Twitter

Unlike Wikipedia, users will not be able to edit entries.

Currently, the site's main competitor is Baidu, dubbed 'China's own Wikipedia', It has more than 14 million entries with more than 6 million people have edited it. However it is under close watch of the country's cyber monitors who delete many entries that are deemed unsuitable.

China has blocked many websites including Facebook and Twitter. There is a Chinese language version of Wikipedia however it is blocked on the mainland.

Qiao Mu, an independent media analyst in Beijing told AP that the new Encyclopedia would differ from Wikipedia because of the need to toe the line on political taboos.

He said: 'If it's not blocked in China, the publisher must accept censorship, either self-censorship or censored by authorities.'
A former New Jersey police officer has been convicted in a wrong-way drunken-driving crash in New York that killed a fellow officer and another man although he claims he can't remember anything from the evening.

A jury on Thursday found 29-year-old Pedro Abad guilty of nine charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter in the deaths of Joseph Rodriguez and police officer Frank Viggiano.

He was also convicted of counts of aggravated vehicular assault and second-degree assault for the injuries to Patrik Kudlac.

A jury on Thursday found 29-year-old Pedro Abad guilty of nine charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree manslaughter

In addition, Abad was convicted of reckless endangerment for the threat caused to a truck driver he passed on the highway before he crashed into the tractor-trailer. The truck driver also testified.

On the most serious charge of aggravated vehicular homicide Abad could receive anywhere from eight to 25 years in prison.

Prosecutors say the former Linden officer had been drinking at a Staten Island strip club on March 20 2015 before his vehicle collided head-on into a tractor-trailer while he was driving on the wrong side of the road.

Abad was later fired because his injuries prevented him from returning to work while Linden officer, Kudlac, was critically injured and forced to retire from his department as he couldnt continue in his post.

'I don't even intentionally fully know that this is my fault,' Abad said outside court on Thursday, claiming he only found out about the crash two months later while recovering in hospital.

'I swear on my life I don't remember anything at all, I don't remember having dinner with them, I don't even remember having that car.'

Linden officer Frank Viggiano (left) and Abad's friend Joe Rodriguez (right) were killed in the horrific crash on March 20 2015

Abad crashed into the tractor-trailer in the horror smash

'My intention - which this probably won't happen - if I am able to walk out of here Scott free, I want to do big things, starting with the families,' he said.

'Have a foundation of some sort, in Joe Rodriguez's name, and Frank Viggiano, something big, as something of a repayment of some sort,' he said. 'Nothing is ever going to be good enough, but I'll at least try. I'll say I'm sorry to the families.'

Abad's attorney said the guilty verdict was not surprising.

'The man that enters into the arena knowing that his fate is going to be that way is a tough man. Pedro knew going into this this was going to be a very difficult case,' Mario Gallucci said.

'I explained to him this is going to be a devil case. He wanted to roll the dice and he did.'

Following the verdict, Linden Police Chief Jonathan Parham released a statement, saying the victims were taken too soon.

'While these proceedings may be behind us, there is no verdict that can take away the emptiness and pain we feel,' he said.

'We continue to pray for the Viggiano and Rodriguez families, and hope that all of those affected by this tragedy can find some closure in this decision as they continue to cope with this loss.'

Abad (left) was drunk driving when he caused a wrong-way crash that killed another officer and a friend. Abad and Patrik Kudlac (right) were critically injured

'I hope this brings closure to a very sad chapter in our city's history,' Linden Mayor Derek Armstead added.

Hours before the fatal smash, Abad had posted a photo on his Instagram page of three shot glasses filled with what he identified as 'Jack Daniels Fire on the house'.

Tests show Abad's blood alcohol content was 0.24; three time the legal limit in New York.

Abad posted a photo on his Instagram page of three shot glasses filled with what he identified as 'Jack Daniels Fire on the house' hours before the crash

Abad has a disabled arm and a speech impediment due to 'diminished mental capacity', as a result of the crash. He used crutches and wheelchair in the months immediately after the collision.

Galluci claims authorities didn't properly obtain a blood sample and couldn't prove intoxication and those at the scene first did not note any evidence of intoxication.

'They have nobody who can say they could smell alcohol ... (or) say they saw him driving,' he said.

However Assistant District Attorney Frank Prospero told jurors on Monday that former Linden officer Pedro Abad went the wrong way on a street at 73 miles per hour (117 kilometers per hour) because of how much he had alcohol he consumes.

'It was nothing but his intoxication that caused him to go the wrong way on the West Shore Expressway at a high rate of speed,' Prospero said.

'This was a horrific crash with devastating injuries and the loss of the lives of two young men.'

Jury deliberations took just over three hours after a three-week trial.

Abad was remanded to jail until his sentencing June 8.
There is nothing more brave than knowing when to walk away.

Something I failed at miserably in my first marriage. And continue to fail at in many aspect of my life until someone shouts at me on email 'for god's sake woman, drop it' - usually in caps lock.

But I see others doing it. Knowing when the argument is done and shutting up. Knowing more words will lead someone to say something they regret for a long time. Brave leaders stepping down in the face of a disaster not of their making, because they know that to show moral leadership you sometimes need to leave so others may stay.

UKIP, whose leader Paul Nuttall is pictured speaking in Westminster yesterday, has lost everything they've been trying to defend

Today, it is time for UKIP to do the same. It is time to walk away.

Bad things come in threes. And last night this proved to be the case for the party;

One: UKIP's top tier in Rotherham resigned in protest at the direction of the party under Paul Nuttall's leadership, the Yorkshire Post reported.

Two: UKIP lost ten seats in Lincolnshire, where party leader Mr Nuttall has decided to run in the General Election. It lost a further eight seats in Hampshire and six seats in Essex.

Three: Elections expert Michael Thrasher said UKIP's share of the national vote could fall as low as three per cent, down from 22 per cent in the same contests in 2013.

UKIP has lost everything they've been trying to defend.

As the results came through UKIP-0 was trending on Twitter, much to the amusement of weirdos and vegan liberals whose only pleasure is the suffering of others.

As the results came through UKIP-0 was trending on twitter, much to the amusement of weirdos and vegan liberals whose only pleasure is the suffering of others

Many of the party faithful are depressed by this nonsense, having to listen to the mocking of the bitter Remainers, to the press pointing out the obvious that the night was a disaster.

But loyal UKIPers should not feel this way, they should not feel brow-beaten. The very opposite is true.

They have made change happen. They are the epicentre of the most seismic shift in British politics in half a century. They are the quake that is still shaking Europe.

Nigel Farage and his swaggering band of merry men should be proud, triumphant, jubilant in fact

One man - Nigel Farage - and his swaggering band of merry men, have managed to heave this lumbering old tanker of a Kingdom - with all its inefficiencies and irritants - on to a new patriotic course for the future.

They should be proud, triumphant, jubilant in fact.

And for that they need to be set free. For Farage to give one last speech disbanding the party he embodies. (No one listens to Nuttall anyway).

A speech thanking the membership for their hard work, praising the voters for their support, and reminding the party faithful that they are the authors of the book we are all now reading.

UKIP supporters need to be set free to celebrate. Not tied to failure at the local elections. Or no-hope Nuttall's inevitable failure at the general ones too.

Free to be proud of what they have achieved for Britain. And for the 52 per cent who voted for Brexit.

As a conservative, the best day in my love affair with politics, was when the BBC reluctantly conceded everything they predicted was wrong, and Brexiteers had won.

The best night of my life (no offence, husband) was listening to the voting regions being called, and seeing the map turn blue. Watching the rest of my country tell the Establishment, London and liberals exactly what they thought of rich people's politics.

We were given a master-class by the Duke of Edinburgh (pictured at St James's Palace yesterday) this week, as he retired from royal duties with his typically jolly style

And that 'best day' in Conservative history was not of the Tory party making. But UKIP's.

UKIP set the 52 per cent free. Set the Tory party back on track to Brexit. Set us against the unelected bureaucrats bleeding us dry to fund their cushy pensions and Claude-Junker's subsidised bar.

There is no shame in knowing when to call time. And for UKIP, that time is now.

It is time for UKIP to be free to celebrate their monumental success without the shackles of perceived humiliation at the polls.

To be free to enjoy watching Theresa May romp home to victory on election night. Knowing that she has taken over the baton and is standing up to Brussels; knowing that she best represents the hard working majority.

To be free to support Theresa May telling Junker exactly where he can stick his demands, and his fantasy divorce bill. And that she is now reconciled with her image as a 'bloody difficult woman' and thanks, in part, to the people of UKIP she is perfectly prepared to be one.

Now UKIPers need to make their vote count too as we work together, to vote with Theresa May (pictured) and make all that we campaigned so passionately to defend, becomes a reality

On the steps of Number 10 - after a week of listening to Junker acting like a well hung baboon on steroids, she said:

'Making Brexit a success is central to our national interest. And it is central to your own security and prosperity. Because while there is enormous opportunity for Britain as we leave the European Union, if we do not get this right, the consequences will be serious. And they will be felt by ordinary, working people across the country.

This Brexit negotiation is central to everything'.

UKIP lost ten seats in Lincolnshire, where party leader Mr Nuttall has decided to run in the General Election

Make no mistake, this was Theresa May talking to UKIP, and to every proud Brexiteer who went into the polling booth to support their single aim of getting us out of Europe.

She went on:

'You must make your vote count.

'Every vote for me and my local candidates in this election will be a vote to demonstrate that unity of purpose.

'Every vote for me and my local team will strengthen my hand when I negotiate for Britain in Europe.

'Every vote for me will mean we can get on with delivering my plan for a stronger Britain'.

The message is clear. UKIP have made Brexit central to our success, and central to our government. UKIP have made change happen. And now UKIPers need to make their vote count too as we work together, to vote with Theresa May and make all that we campaigned so passionately to defend, becomes a reality.

As I said, knowing when to call time can be hard. But we were given a master-class by the Duke of Edinburgh this week, as he retired from royal duties with his typically jolly style.

'I'm sorry to hear you are standing down' the mathematician Sir Michael Ativan told him. 'Well, I can't stand up for much longer' he replied.

UKIP need to do the same. Being brave does not have to mean you keep on fighting. True courage can really be about knowing when to get out of the way.
A bee caused a driver to lose control of his truck and plough into a tree when it flew into his truck.

The unlikely crash took place at about 9.30am in Pinjarra, Western Australia, when the truck veered off the road and became wedged under a tree.

Emergency services attended the scene and cut the driver from the wreckage before he walked to a waiting ambulance.

The driver lost control, veered off the road and slammed intro a tree

The unlikely crash took place at about 9.30am in Pinjarra, Western Australia

The driver, who escaped serious injuries, was treated by St John paramedics, police said.

He was admitted to hospital but discharged by the afternoon.

Police shared an image of the mangled truck on social media, explaining the driver's life was saved by his seatbelt.

'Truck V Tree Pinjarra. Driver walked to @stjohn_wa once freed by @dfes_wa. Seatbelts save lives. Distracted by a bee in the cab,' WA Police wrotre pon Twitter.

Some commenters speculated if the driver may have had a bee allergy that caused him to panic.

'For some people bees can be a death sentence, that would cause him to panic.'

Emergency services attended the scene and cut the driver from the wreckage before he was treated at the scene
A breast surgeon convicted of performing unnecessary operations on thousands of patients has emerged for the first time since his trial in a t-shirt calling himself a 'ray of sunshine'.

Ian Paterson, who was found guilty of wounding 10 patients after duping them into surgery appeared to think nothing of wearing the top reading 'I'm just one big freaking ray of sunshine'.

It is the first time he has been seen since his conviction last week.

Ian Paterson, 59, wore a t-shirt saying 'I'm just one big freaking ray of sunshine' when he took his dog out for a walk on Thursday

He faces a possible life sentence for his crimes.

The surgeon would exaggerate the extent of cancer within patients to refer them to the private surgery where he worked, profiting from their unnecessary operations.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced there would be an inquiry into what happened yesterday, after it was revealed concerns from whistleblowers were ignored.

Paterson, 59, who was said to have a 'God complex', was convicted last week of harming ten patients he conned into having surgery. Lawyers believe he could have had more than 1,000 victims.

Paterson duped patients into going under the knife for cancer treatment, and wounded 10 people in the process. Right, outside court

Patricia Welch and Frances Perks said Paterson enjoyed playing God with patients' lives

NHS bosses face questioning over why they ignored the concerns of whistleblowers and failed to carry out a thorough investigation.

According to the Mirror, the surgeon kept a low profile in Altrincham, Manchester, after the conviction, but emerged yesterday with his dog.

The slogan will be a slap in the face for the women who faced problems after being convinced to go under his surgical knife.

He wept in the dock when he was convicted, but a remark made under his breath, to call one victim a 'lying b****' appeared to have given an insight into his character.

Mr Hunt said: 'The conviction of Ian Paterson, and recent disclosures about the seriousness and extent of his malpractice, are profoundly shocking.

'A highly qualified medical professional, with a duty of care for his patients, totally neglected that duty and instead performed unnecessary procedures on a huge number of women.

'If returned to government [in June's election], we will hold a comprehensive and focused inquiry to ensure that any lessons are learnt in the interests of ensuring patients are protected in future.'

The inquiry has been welcomed by the doctor's victims.

DCI Caroline Marsh from West Midlands Police speaking outside Nottingham Crown Court alongside one of the doctor's victims

Lesley Cuthbert, victim of surgeon Ian Paterson, speaks after his conviction. The inquiry into what happened has been welcomed by victims

Debbie Douglas (right) is comforted by a friend (left) after the conviction. The doctor faces life in prison

Susan Everett, who was given a false cancer diagnosis, said the inquiry was excellent news.

But Barbara Lewis, 62, who has terminal breast cancer after undergoing a cleavage sparing mastectomy, said: The victims and families will only get satisfaction if its out in the open. If its behind closed doors, its the old boys act again. We wont get to the truth.

Jurors at his trial were not told Paterson is at the centre of a major scandal after carrying out 1,207 experimental mastectomies in the NHS.

Nor were they made aware that 675 of those who had his cleavage saving mastectomies (CSMs)  in which he failed to remove all the tissue  have since died. They were not told compensation claims have already cost the NHS nearly 18million and hundreds of his patients were recalled.

Emma Doughty, clinical negligence solicitor for Slater and Gordon, said: God knows how many this actually affects. There are hundreds if not thousands of claimants  people who havent come forward, people who have died.

Sharon Hollings from Birmingham, one of those who was operated on by the dodgy surgeon, who kept a low profile after his conviction

Marian Moran left, said her life was ruined by the unnecessary procedure and right, Mother-of-two Michelle Flavelle is one of a number of Paterson's former patients who have died since his controversial treatment

Paterson, who was granted legal aid, was convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent, for which the maximum sentence is life, and three of unlawful wounding.

The jury in Nottingham agreed with the prosecution that he carried out life-changing operations for no medically justifiable reason.

Paterson, who faces a jail sentence, worked at hospitals run by the Heart of England Foundation Trust in Birmingham and at private hospitals in Solihull and Sutton Coldfield.

He was suspended by the General Medical Council in 2012 for carrying out needless operations on hundreds of women.

He could have been struck off after almost killing Mrs Dallow. Instead he was allowed to reinvent himself as a breast cancer specialist. In 2002-03, two cancer experts raised concerns about Paterson to his boss but were not taken seriously.

The trust eventually launched a confidential inquiry in 2007 but failed to report Paterson to the General Medical Council.
Amanda Knox has hit back at Donald Trump, saying she doesn't owe the president her loyalty or support even though he defended her innocence years ago.

Trump declared in 2011 that Knox was 'totally innocent' when she was tried for murdering her roommate Meredith Kercher in Italy - and even donated money to her defense fund.

When Knox endorsed his election rival Hillary Clinton years later, Trump was reportedly 'very upset', according to a New York Times profile of his Trump Tower neighbor George Guido Lombardi published last month.

In an op-ed published in the LA Times on Thursday, Knox disputed the idea that she 'owed' the president, writing: 'Only in banana republics do political leaders dole out favors to citizens in exchange for their silence and their vote.'

Amanda Knox has hit back at Donald Trump saying she doesn't owe the president her loyalty or support even though he defended her innocence years ago

Trump declared that Knox was 'totally innocent' when she was tried for murdering her roommate Meredith Kercher in Italy - and even donated money to her defense fund

Knox was famously arrested and tried for murder after Kercher was stabbed to death on November 1, 2007 in a student apartment she shared with Knox in Perugia, Italy.

Trump maintained that Knox was 'totally innocent' and donated money to her defense fund even after she was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

The case dragged on for eight years, and Knox was cleared in 2011 and freed after the prosecution's key evidence collapsed.

In 2015, the appeals process finally came to an end and her acquittal stood in a final verdict.

Following the ordeal, Knox worked as a columnist for the West Seattle Herald, where she voiced her support for Clinton during the 2016 elections.

Trump was reportedly upset by Knox's endorsement, according to Lombardi, the president's neighbor at Trump Tower who also has contacts among European far-right political circles.

Trump supporters also lashed out at Knox for being 'ungrateful', and she wrote: 'The message was clear: Trump defended me in the past; how dare I not defend him now?'

But she slammed the conviction as 'both undemocratic and dangerous', going on to write: 'Just as a persons support of me should not be based upon my politics or identity, hinging instead on the fact of my innocence, so should my politics hinge on the merits of policy, not personal loyalty.'

Knox was famously arrested and tried for murder after Kercher was stabbed to death on November 1, 2007 in a student apartment she shared with Knox in Perugia, Italy

After she was acquitted (pictured in 2015), Knox worked as a columnist for the West Seattle Herald, where she voiced her support for Clinton during the 2016 elections.

Knox went on to highlight the dangers of loyalty - which she claimed played a crucial role in her 2009 conviction.

She wrote: 'I discovered just how blinding loyalty could be when, in December 2009, an Italian court convicted me of a murder I didnt commit. That judgment rested heavily on the courts bias in favor of the prosecution, which represented the Italian people and the Italian state, over the defense, which represented a foreigner.

'This is loyalty taken too far. And it calls to mind the party-over-policy approach that currently plagues our own politics.'

Knox heralded Clinton as a 'champion of nuance, and complexity, and reality' in one of her columns

While Knox thanked Trump for defending her innocence during the 'most vulnerable moment in my life', she pointed out that he did the exact opposite in the Central Park Five case.

'Trump recognized me as a fellow American who deserved to be assumed innocent until proven guilty, but he condemned the Central Park Five as "other"  guilty until proven innocent,' Knox wrote.

She added: 'By holding personal loyalty above all else, Trump and some of his supporters create a political environment where reason and justice hold little sway.'

Instead of a personal loyalty, Knox pledged her allegiance to 'loyalty to our ideals of due process, equal protection under the law, the freedom to speak ones mind and to vote according to ones principles'.

She concluded: 'What do I owe Trump? A thank you for his well-intentioned, if undiplomatic, support. So for the record: Thank you, Mr. President.

'But the more important question is, what do I owe my country? Civic engagement, careful consideration of issues that affect my fellow citizens, and support for policies that deserve support, even if it makes the president "very upset".'
Diane Abbott suffered more cringeworthy confusion over figures today as she claimed Labour had only lost 50 council seats.

The shadow home secretary gave another car crash interview just days after claiming putting 10,000 more police on the streets would cost just 300,000.

In her latest shambolic performance, Mrs Abbott floundered desperately after being asked what the party's net losses were so far in local elections.

Diane Abbott gave another shambolic interview today as she did not know how many seats Labour had lost

'At the time of us doing this interview, I think the net losses are about 50,' she said.

The miffed ITV journalist replied: 'They are actually 125 net losses so far.'

But Ms Abbott said: 'Well the last time I looked we had net losses of 100 but obviously this is a moving picture.'

The figure for losses has now risen over 350.

Mrs Abbott was humiliated in an LBC radio interview earlier this week when she said it would cost just 300,000 to pay for an extra 10,000 police officers.

She later upper this to 80million, but this would still fall far short and only give each policeman an annual salary of 8,000. The policy is actually costed at 300m a year by 2021/22.

Diane Abbott's latest embarrassing broadcast interview Interviewer: Do you know the number of net losses so far for Labour? Diane Abbott: At the time of us doing this interview I think the net losses are about 50. Interviewer: There are actually 125 net losses so far. DA: Well the last time I looked we had net losses of 100 but obviously this is a moving picture.

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The Prime Minister said the blunder was no laughing matter and shows the chaos that lies ahead if Jeremy Corbyn is elected PM on June 8.

Ms Abbott was left stuttering stuttering as she failed to answer the simple question of how much it would cost to implement Labour's policing pledge.

The toe-curling appearance on LBC radio raises fresh questions a bout the basic competence of Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet team.

Although Mr Corbyn tried to claim he had not been 'embarrassed' by his senior colleague.

Asked how much the policy would cost, Ms Abbott said: 'Well, erm... if we recruit the 10,000 policemen and women over a four-year period, we believe it will be about 300,000.'

Presenter Nick Ferrari replied: '300,000 for 10,000 police officers? What are you paying them?'

Diane Abbott winced as her shambolic interview with LBC was played back when she appeared on the BBC's Daily Politics earlier this week

A confused Ms Abbott replied : 'Haha, no. I mean... sorry. They will cost... they will, it will cost, erm, about... about 80million.'

Ferrari suggested even that would mean paying each police officer just 8,000 over four years - or 2,000 annually. The average salary of an officer is around 30,000.

A floundering Ms Abbott, who was not in the studio but could be heard frantically leafing through papers, said: 'We get to that figure because we anticipate recruiting 25,000 extra police officers a year at least over a period of four years and we're looking at both what average police wages are generally, but also specifically police wages in London.'

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn stepped in to try to clear up the mess his close ally had made as he campaigned in Southampton today
Adonai Gutierrez from Woodland, California turned seven years old last week - and he couldn't have been more thrilled.

'I got super excited. I was like is it my birthday today, or today or today. Because I wanted my birthday to come,' Adonai told KXTV.

But after his mother, Maria Lopez, planned an elaborate party for Adonai at Woodside Park, complete with gift bags, cupcakes and a picnic table spread, no one bothered to show up for his birthday.

Adonai Gutierrez's mother, Maria Lopez (pictured) threw him a seventh birthday party last week - but no one showed up

200 people decided to throw him a 'do-over' party this Sunday - and Adonai was even driven to the event in a green hot-rod

Even hours later, Adonai's close family members were still the only ones around to watch him blow out his candles.

'I was like, why did I even have a birthday if nobody came?' Adonai said.

Luckily his aunt, Melissa Chave, knew people who could help her nephew celebrate the milestone right. She posted on the 'Good Neighbors of Woodland' Facebook page for help.

Her posting got hundreds of comments, and soon Adonai was flooded with cards and presents. And this past Sunday, about 200 people showed up to throw Adonai a 'do-over' birthday party.

'Nana, when I got out of the car, I had to hold on to you because it felt like I was going to fall over,' Adonai told his grandmother (pictured)

One person in the Facebook group who didn't know the family, Ryan Boone, planned it all.

Bouncey houses, three birthday cakes and tons of food were donated, and the birthday boy himself was brought to the park in a green hot-rod.

'Nana, when I got out of the car, I had to hold on to you because it felt like I was going to fall over,' Adonai told his grandmother.

The only downside about the outpouring from the community? It might be hard for Adonai's eighth birthday to top this year's; he said the second party made this the best birthday he's ever had.
Katie Curtis is wanted by cops for possession of drugs and was snapped pulling a pouty look in her police mug shot

An 18-year-old woman has been branded Britain's most attractive suspect after police issued her 'beautiful' mugshot online.

Katie Curtis is wanted by police for failing to turn up to a court appearance last month to answer a change of possession of drugs.

The tanned brunette pulled a pouty look in her mugshot which has received a number of comments online.

Police often publish a 'most wanted' list as an appeal for the public's help in finding wanted suspects.

But often the alleged crooks look much less sultry than Curtis' blue-eyed pose in her arresting mugshot.

The brunette did not show up to Stevenage Magistrates' Court on March 6 and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Her picture was posted online by Hertfordshire Constabulary on Friday and it has received a number of comments.

Malcolm Poskett commented online: 'Don't say anything.'

A Twitter user with the name Manic wrote: 'I wouldn't grass her up - I would root for her though.'

One Watford resident added: 'You don't see many criminals that look like her. I'll help the police to find her if they want.'

Jeremy Meeks (pictured) saw his life change when he was arrested for gun possession and his mug shot went viral

Another resident said: 'Yet another beautiful young life destroyed by drugs. She must have Britain's most beautiful mugshot though.'

The teen is said to have links to London and Scotland so police believe she could be in one of these locations.

In 2014 American criminal Jeremy Meeks' life changed when he was arrested for gun possession and his mug shot went viral.

Since his release from prison he has been signed by a modelling agency.

In 2012 Meagan McCullough was wanted for driving under the influence in the US and was 'wanted in 50 states...for breaking and entering your heart'.
The public got to hear from late President John F. Kennedys only grandson for the first time on Friday.

Jack Schlossberg is the 24-year-old son of JFKs only surviving child, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, and her husband, exhibit designer Edwin Schlossberg.

The young Schlossberg, born John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, who appeared alongside his mother during an interview on NBCs TODAY show, praised former President Barack Obama.

Schlossberg said he was inspired by Obamas vision for America and all the promises he laid out for our country when he ran for president in 2008.

The interview was intended to promote the Profile in Courage Award ceremony in Boston on Sunday, when Obama will receive the prize.

Jack Schlossberg (right) is the 24-year-old son of JFKs only surviving child, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (left), and her husband, exhibit designer Edwin Schlossberg

He graduated from Yale in 2015 and is planning to go to Harvard Law School

Jack's full name is John Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg, his mother and maternal grandmother's maiden names both featuring

The public got its first glimpse of Schlossberg on TV, who is JFK's only grandson, on Friday

The interview was intended to promote the Profile in Courage Award ceremony in Boston on Sunday. The award is handed out annually by the JFK Library

The Profile in Courage Award is an honor given by the JFK Library in Boston to public figures who take risks similar to those described by the 35th president in his famous book, Profiles in Courage.

The event will air live on NBCs sister station MSNBC.

The Kennedy Library will honor Obama with the award for his role in overseeing passage of the Affordable Care Act  also known as Obamacare; his decision to restore ties with Cuba; and his commitment to combat climate change.

Schlossberg, who graduated from Yale University in 2015 and who is about to attend Harvard Law School, was a member of the committee that voted to pick Obama.

He has two older sisters, Tatiana and Rose and spent his year after college working in Japan.

Caroline Kennedy is seen above with her son as they attend a gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday in New York City. Matt Lauer applauded her brave in choice in dress

Strong genes: Jack bears a striking resemblance to his late uncle JFK Jr at about the same age. He's seen left in 1986 when he was just two years old than Jack is now

Kennedy (seen above with her husband, Edwin Schlossberg) is JFK's (right) only surviving child. She recently returned to the United States after spending three years in Tokyo as US ambassador to Japan

This award recognizes that he made tough choices over the last eight years to execute on a vision for America, to give people health care, to get serious about climate change, and to reach out to international partners and really improve Americas standing in the world, Schlossberg told Today hosts Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie.

That takes political courage.

Though he never mentioned President Donald Trump by name, Schlossberg implicitly criticized the 45th president.

In drawing a distinction between Obama and his Republican successor, the young Schlossberg said: I think were seeing today that its pretty easy to criticize without offering solutions.

President Obama did not do that. He had the courage to govern responsibly.'

The award further cements the close ties between Obama and the Kennedy dynasty.

It was JFKs brother, the late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, who is credited by many with changing the course of the 2008 election when he endorsed the young Obama over Hillary Clinton in the bitterly contested Democratic primary.

After Obama won re-election in 2012, he named Caroline Kennedy to be US ambassador to Japan.

Now that she has returned stateside after three years in Tokyo, there is speculation that she plans to run for political office.

Former President Barack Obama (left) will receive the Profiles in Courage Award in Boston on Sunday. His ties to the Kennedy clan were first forged when late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy (seen right in 2008) endorsed Obama over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary

Jack has two older sister, Tatiana Schlossberg, left, and Rose Schlossberg, pictured here with their parents in 2013

There have been whispers that Kennedy, 59, could mount a challenge to incumbent New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in 2018.

Insiders say that Caroline Kennedys dream is to follow in the footsteps of her late uncle, Robert F. Kennedy, and become senator from New York, according to the New York Post.

When asked if he would like to see his mother run for office, Schlossberg said: I will support my mother in anything she does. Thats her decision and Ill leave it at that.

Caroline Kennedy artfully dodged the question of whether she or her son plan to enter politics.

Sporting the signature Kennedy looks, thick hair, and good cheekbones, the emergence of the handsome Schlossberg on the public stage is also likely to fuel speculation that he will one day enter politics.

When asked on Friday if he has any intentions on going into the family business, Schlossberg said: Im inspired by my familys legacy of public service. Its something Im very proud of.

Stay tuned. I dont know what Im going to do.
A United States service member was killed Thursday and two injured in Somalia during an operation against the extremist group al-Shabab, the US military said Friday.

The mission was part of US efforts to step up its fight against the al-Qaeda-linked organization.

The service member was a Navy SEAL, a Department of Defense official told the New York Times, and was killed near Barii, about 40 miles west of the Somalian capital, Mogadishu, a statement from the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said.

They were ambushed by fighters, reports NBC, and the attackers were 'neutralized'.

A United States service member was killed Thursday in Somalia during an operation against the extremist group al-Shabab; Gen. William 'Kip' Ward, then-Commander of the US Africa Command, is shown here with Sailors during the establishment of a US military harbor security force at the Port de Djibouti in August 2008

'The service member was struck by small arms fire while conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somalia National Army,' Mack said.

The injured service members are receiving proper medical attention, she said.

They were taken to neighboring Djibouti for care.

Both the United States and Somalia in recent weeks have declared new efforts against al-Shabab.

President Donald Trump has approved expanded military operations against the extremist group, including more aggressive airstrikes and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.

US forces in helicopters raided an al-Shabab hideout near the Somali capital on Thursday night and engaged with fighters, according to a Somali intelligence official who confirmed the US military operation.

The service member was a Navy SEAL and was killed near Barii, about 40 miles west of the Somalian capital, Mogadishu

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the helicopters dropped soldiers near Dare Salaam village in an attempt to capture or kill extremists in the area.

The fighters mounted a stiff resistance against the soldiers, the official said.

Somalia's new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last month declared a new offensive against al-Shabab, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks elsewhere in East Africa.

Also last month, the US military announced it was sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the Horn of Africa country in roughly two decades.

Both the US and Somalia have recently declared new efforts against al-Shabab; Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo (L) is shown here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May 3; US Marine Corps General Thomas D. Waldhouser (R), commander of the US Africa Command, is shown here in an undated photo provided by the US Department of Defense

AFRICOM, led by US Marine Corps General Thomas D. Waldhouser, said the deployment was for logistics training of Somalia's army.

The US in recent years has sent a small number of special operations forces and counter-terror advisers to Somalia and has carried out a number of airstrikes, including drone strikes, against al-Shabab.

The extremist group, which was chased out of Mogadishu years ago but continues to carry out deadly attacks there, has vowed to step up the violence in response to the moves by Trump and Mohamed.

Pressure is growing on Somalia's military to assume full security for the country as the 22,000-strong African Union (AU) multinational force that has been supporting the fragile central government plans to leave by the end of 2020.

The US military has acknowledged the problem. The AU force will begin withdrawing in 2018. If it leaves before Somalia's security forces are capable, 'large portions of Somalia are at risk of returning to al-Shabab control or potentially allowing ISIS to gain a stronger foothold,' Commander General Waldhauser has said.

Fighters linked to the Islamic State group are a relatively new and growing challenge in the north of the country, which has seen a quarter-century of chaos since dictator Siad Barre fell in 1991.

The US pulled out of Somalia after 1993, when two helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets.
A 61-year-old U.S. man is believed to have fallen overboard from a cruise ship which arrived in Sydney this week.

A steward aboard the Golden Princess liner raised concerns about the man's whereabouts on Wednesday after he joined the South Pacific cruise in Noumea, New Caledonia more than a week ago.

New South Wales Police and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority were alerted after a thorough search failed to find the missing passenger, a Princess Cruises spokesman told AAP on Friday.

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A 61-year-old U.S. man is believed to have fallen overboard from a cruise ship (stock image pictured)

New South Wales Police and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority were alerted after a thorough search failed to find the missing man (stock image pictured)

'Having ruled out other possibilities, this is being treated as a man overboard incident,' he said in a statement.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest's family in America with whom we have communicated directly since he was reported missing.'

The man was travelling alone.

The Golden Princess arrived in Sydney on Thursday after completing a 13-day round-trip cruise to Fiji and other South Pacific destinations.

It was cleared to depart the city again on Thursday night bound for Papua New Guinea.

The ship's CCTV footage has been reviewed.
Congress could soon throw a monkey-wrench into Barack Obama's retirement finances, yanking his presidential pension since he is reportedly cashing in with six-figure speaking fees.

Former presidents currently receive $207,800 per year, the same amount cabinet secretaries are paid.

But lawmakers are considering a move to shrink that payment  dollar for dollar  for Oval Office retirees who collect more than $400,000 in income.

Last year Obama vetoed a bill that did just that.

Former president Barack Obama will see his presidential pension vanish if Congress passes a law that he vetoed last year

'The Obama hypocrisy on this issue is revealing,' Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz told USA Today. 'His veto was very self-serving.'

Chaffetz and Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst plan to reintroduce the legislation soon.

The ranking Democrat on the House Oversight committee, Elijah Cummings, likely won't stand in their way.

'Cummings definitely supports the concept, and if we can work out the technical issues with the bill that arose late in the last Congress, we expect he would strongly support it again,' his spokeswoman Jennifer Hoffman Werner said.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz says he will reintroduce the bill this year

President Donald Trump has said he will not accept a salary during his time in office. It's unclear whether he could collect a pension after his tenure comes to an end.

Obama is collecting $400,000 per speech. And he and former first lady Michelle Obama have reportedly signed a two-book publishing contract worth $65 million.
Wife charged: Andrea Vazquez-Hernandez, 37, of Illinois, is headed to trial on charges of aggravated battery and domestic battery in the May 2016 attempted poisoning of her husband's out-of-wedlock 17-month-old daughter

A married mother from Illinois is headed for trial for allegedly trying to poison a toddler her husband had fathered with another woman by pouring nail polish removal into the child's milk bottle.

Andrea Vazquez-Hernandez, 37, of Carol Stream, was arrested last May on charges of aggravated battery and domestic battery after she allegedly tried to harm her romantic rivals 17-month-old daughter.

On Thursday, a DuPage County judge ruled that prosecutors will be allowed to present evidence attesting to Vazquez-Hernandezs strained relationship with her husband's ex-girlfriend during the woman's trial, which is scheduled to get under way on May 17.

The case began unfolding on May 29, 2016, when Vazquez-Hernandezs husband called the Carol Stream Police Department to report that his young daughter possibly ingested nail polish remover.

Officers were dispatched to the family's home in the 600 block of Hearth Lane and spoke to the father, who told them that he tried giving his 17-month-old daughter a bottle of milk but she immediately spat out the liquid.

Tainted drink: Vazquez-Hernandez is accused of pouring an inch of nail polish remover into the milk bottle of her husband's out-of-wedlock child (stock photo)

The toddler was then taken to a hospital and was released home after receiving a clean bill of health.

An investigation later determined that the father's wife, Vazquez-Hernandez, had allegedly spiked her stepdaughter's milk with an inch of nail polish remover earlier that day, reported the Chicago Sun-Times.

At the time of the woman's arrest last May, law enforcement officials did not offer a possible motive behind the attempted poisoning, but court documents filed this week by prosecutors, and cited by the Chicago Tribune, shed light on the circumstances surrounding the incident,

According to the prosecution, Vazquez-Hernandez and her husband, who have a 7-year-old daughter together, had separated for two years.

During their time apart, the husband fathered a child with another woman, who was born in December 2014.

The arrival of the baby girl led to martial problems for Vazquez-Hernandez and her spouse, according to prosecutors.

The incident took place in May 2016 inside family's home in the 600 block of Hearth Lane in Carol Stream, Illinois (general view seen above)

During the trial, they plan to present evidence that a month before the attempted poisoning, the couple came to blows over the husbands relationship with his ex-lover.

In the days leading up to the incident, Vazquez-Hernandez contacted her rival, telling her to stop texting her husband unless there was an emergency with their daughter.

In the prosecutions version of events, to Vazquez-Hernandez the 17-month-old tot was 'a constant reminder of a forbidden relationship.'

Following her arrest in late May 2016, the stepmom was alleged to have told detectives that she wanted to 'punish' her husband and his ex-girlfriend.

Vazquez-Hernandez has been jailed on $250,000 bond from the time of her arrest nearly a year ago. Her bench trial is expected to last two days.
Tributes have poured in for a Victorian university student who died suddenly from meningococcal disease on Wednesday night.

Emma-Kate McGrath, 19, had studied at Loreto College before enrolling at the Australian Catholic University campus in Ballarat.

Loreto College issued a statement saying they were 'mourning the loss of a much-loved past pupil'.

Tributes have poured in for Victorian university student Emma-Kate McGrath (pictured) who died suddenly from meningococcal disease on Wednesday night

'Our Loreto College community is in mourning as we grieve the tragic loss of our much loved past pupil, Emma-Kate McGrath (Class of 2016),' the statement read.

'Emma-Kate was a wonderful role-model for her peers through her active engagement in all aspects of school life. She was a most vibrant, compassionate and genuine young woman who strived to be the best she could in all areas of her life.

'In the words of one of her teachers, 'She was full of life and her enthusiasm at times seemed to just bubble over and fill the room'.

'Her loss is deeply felt by the Loreto College Community. We pray for God's loving blessing on Emma-Kate and her family, their extended family and friends.'

The 19-year-old (pictured) had studied at Loreto College before enrolling at the Australian Catholic University campus in Ballarat

The Department of Health and Human services said testing is now underway to determine the strain of the disease.

A department spokesman said there was a small chance the infection may have been spread to others and anyone who has been in close contact with the victim has been offered antibiotics.

'The department is working closely with Ballarat Base Hospital, and is undertaking all necessary public health actions,' the spokesman said on Friday.

Friends of the victim have taken to social media to pay tribute to the teen.

'You didn't deserve this, one of the most beautiful girls I've ever met. Rest in peace, you will always be in our hearts,' Gabby Kernick wrote on Facebook.

A tribute from her former school (pictured) described her as 'a most vibrant, compassionate and genuine young woman who strived to be the best she could in all areas of her life'

One of the teachers at Loreto College (pictured) said: 'She was full of enthusiasm for life and at times it just seemed to bubble over and fill the room'

'RIP. We'll all miss you. I hope all friends and family are alright,' Candace Martin wrote.

One person wrote: 'You were a woman full of life who could light up a room with just a smile. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. Rest easy Em xx.'

Another said: 'Such an amazing girl. A lovely, kind, generous girl, beautiful inside and out. I was so incredibly lucky to have known you Em. You'll forever have a place in my heart. So much love - Rest In Peace my gorgeous girl.'

A spokeswoman from ACU said the university would not be making a statement regarding the death.

Victoria has had 23 confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease so far this year.

Last year Melbourne teen Matthew Wilkins died of meningococcal disease less than two weeks after completing his Year 12 exams.
A former paramedic has been jailed for the sexual abuse of young girls he had targeted through social media sites by posing as a teenage boy.

Jason David Brooker, 49, was sentenced to 13 years' jail by Judge Deborah Richards in the Toowoomba District Court, Queensland, on Friday.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to 57 charges, ranging from making and possessing child exploitation material to maintaining a relationship with a child under 16, ABC News reported.

Brooker groomed his 22 female victims through sites such as Facebook, Kik and Tagged, with the youngest girl aged just 11.

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Jason David Brooker (pictured) has been sentenced to 13 years jail after pleading guilty to 57 charges including maintaining a relationship with a child under 16

His offending occurred over a 10-year period, from his home in Warwick, where he posed online as a teenage boy.

Brooker would make threatening statements to his victims, scaring them into sending him naked images of themselves.

'You said: "If you don't send me nudes I'll track down your address and hurt your family" - she was 11-years-old,' Judge Richards said.

It was not until 2015 that Brooker's offending ceased, when one victim alerted police and his property was raided.

Brooker targeted his young victims through social media sites such as Facebook (stock image posed by a model)

There, police found a disc which had 83 photos of a 14-year-old girl undressing.

He had met up with that girl, who he lured by posing as a 16-year-old boy, and videoed the pair's sexual encounter.

In a victim impact statement read out by that girl, she told the court how Brooker had a devastating impact on her life.

'I feared for my life and my family's too - I was made to feel like a disgusting human being,' the statement said.

Brooker will be eligible for parole in January 2021.
People have just hours to spend old paper 5 notes before they lose their legal tender status.

Today marks the final day that the banknote featuring prison reformer Elizabeth Fry can be accepted in shops. Around 150 million of the notes remain in circulation.

The Bank said some banks and building societies may continue to accept the old notes after today, but that it would be at each the discretion of each branch.

The new Bank of England fiver (pictured) is stronger than its predecessor and boasts new security features making it harder to counterfeit

Meanwhile, there have been reports that some major shops are refusing to accept the old note in transactions today, despite them not being removed from circulation until midnight.

Several major banks and building societies have said that customers can continue to deposit old fivers after today.

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY OLD 5 NOTES? TODAY: People have until the end of today to use their old 5 notes in shops. After that, they will not be accepted. IF YOU MISS THE DEADLINE: Shops will not accept the tender, but banks and building societies will still accept the old 5 notes, although the rules will vary. The Bank of England will exchange the notes forever. Advertisement

But some warned it would be 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 its branches will accept the notes as a deposit into any main UK bank account after the deadline.

Martin Kearsley, banking director, Post Office, said: 'We offer free cash withdrawal and deposit services for customers of all main UK banks.

'We'd like to reassure people that there's no end date to depositing paper 5 notes into bank accounts at local Post Office branches, we will still accept them after the deadline.'

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.

People have just hours to spend old paper 5 notes (bottom) before they lose their legal tender status. They have been replaced by the new polymer fiver (top)

OUTRAGE OVER 'NON-VEGAN' BANK NOTES Vegans and vegetarians pledged to boycott the 5 note when it was released after it emerged it contained tallow, a type of animal fat. The Bank has since said that it may use palm oil as an alternative - although environmentalists were not happy about that either. Controversial palm oil, often found in peanut butter, has been linked to deforestation on a large scale as trees are cleared to make way for plantations. The Bank of England said it was the 'only practical alternative'. Advertisement

The 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.

The new fivers hit the headlines again last month when some were left so battered that the security features rubbed away, prompting police to think they were fake.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney is pictured with the new 10 polymer note featuring author Jane Austen, which will be issued in September

Officers issued an alert to the public after notes circulating in Wadebridge, Cornwall, were found without two of the main currency security features - a security hologram and an image of Big Ben.

PAPER NOTE RECYCLING Every year around 700 million notes are withdrawn from circulation because they are too old, worn or dirty to be recirculated, and are therefore deemed unfit. All of the notes returned to the Bank of England are destroyed  and up until 1990, they were incinerated and the energy generated helped to heat the Bank. The bank then started taking the notes off site from the early 1990s and they were incinerated for energy recovery. However in the early 2000s it started to recycle old notes using a composting treatment as used in the treatment of food waste. And since 2011, all of the Bank's paper note waste has been recycled using this method to became a soil improver for agriculture. But composting is not suitable for polymer notes, which will be turned into pellets before being transformed into plastic items such as plant pots. Advertisement

The notes looked so different that police urged the public to be on the lookout for counterfeit currency and flagged their concerns to the Bank of England.

But the Bank of England insisted the notes - which were only released in September and feature Winston Churchill - were real currency that had accidentally been damaged due to 'extreme use' such as 'prolonged washing at high temperatures'.

The security features include two clear holograms on the front - one at the top and one at the bottom - as well as a gold picture of Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben.

There is also a portrait of the Queen in the window and special microlettering which experts say would be almost impossible to forge.

The Bank of England also said it was more hardy than the old notes and would last twice as long is circulation.

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.'

WHERE CAN I DEPOSIT 5 NOTES IF I MISS THE DEADLINE? The deadline for spending old paper 5 Bank of England notes is today. Here is what some major account providers have said about whether people can still deposit 5 notes after the deadline: Post Office: All Post Office branches will accept the notes as a deposit into any main UK bank account even after the notes cease to be legal tender. In January, the Post Office launched a service with banks that enables their customers to perform everyday banking services in all post offices across the UK. As a result 99% of UK bank account holders can undertake deposits, withdrawals and balance enquiry services in any of the Post Offices 11,600 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. 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 will replace them with new ones. Santander: It does not intend to swap the old series notes, however its customers will be able to deposit the notes into their accounts indefinitely HSBC: It has said it will continue to accept the old 5 notes from its customers. Advertisement
This is the terrifying moment a truck smashed into the back of a car, causing a 14 vehicle pile-up including a bus with 23 passengers.

The lorry driver lost control after a brake failure and rear-ended his vehicle near the city of Zhigulevsk in Russia.

Footage shows the car slamming into a van in front before turning into the path of a yellow truck.

The lorry driver lost control after a brake failure and rear-ended his vehicle near the city of Zhigulevsk in Russia

The window shatters with the impact, sending glass showering onto the dashboard.

Four people were injured after the pile-up, although a group of children in one of the vehicles were unharmed.

The accident happened on April 27 and was filmed on dashcam.

It is not known whether police are investigating the incident or if any arrests were made.

Footage shows the car slamming into a van in front before turning into the path of a yellow truck
A truck driver in Germany was seriously injured after taking part in an unauthorised private test drive with an anti-terrorist blockade.

The 48-year-old, who has not been publicly named, hit the barrier - like those created following attacks in Nice and Berlin - in Furstenhagen on April 22 and was flown to a nearby hospital in Gottingen.

The accident occurred during a private test performed by an Ulsar-area entrepreneur that wanted to test a self-developed blockade, which he called a Nizzasperre.

A 48-year-old, who has not been publicly named, was seriously injured after hit a barrier in Furstenhagen, Germany, and was flown to a nearby hospital in Gottingen

The accident occurred during a private test performed by an Ulsar-area entrepreneur that wanted to test a self-developed blockade, which he called a Nizzasperre

The test took place on an empty but public street and had not been authorised by police, officials said

The truck can be seen driving at just over 30mph before smashing into the barrier in a video uploaded to YouTube on Thursday.

The test took place on an empty but public street and had not been authorised by police, according to HNA.

The public prosecutor's office in Gottingen has launched an investigation into the test, and whether it caused negligent bodily harm or caused dangerous interference with road traffic.

In terrorist attacks in Nice and Berlin in July and December of last year, respectively, attackers drove trucks into crowds of people, killing a total of 98.

After the attacks, anti-terrorist blockades were set up in Germany to prevent such attacks from occurring again.

The truck can be seen driving at just over 30mph before smashing into the barrier in a video uploaded to YouTube

The public prosecutor's office in Gottingen has launched an investigation into the test, and whether it caused negligent bodily harm or caused dangerous interference with road traffic

In terrorist attacks in Nice and Berlin (pictured) in July and December of last year, respectively, attackers drove trucks into crowds of people, killing a total of 98

Since the attacks, officials have put security barriers in place in hopes of stopping terror attacks from happening in the future

An entrepreneur from Ulsar had wanted to create his own design after tests carried out by the MDR magazine Umshau showed that the concrete blocks havent provided sufficient protection.

In the magazines tests, a truck had been accelerated by a traction device and there was not a driver in the vehicle.

In the Ulsar-area companys unauthorised test drive, the driver was sitting behind the steering wheel of the short-haul truck in a self-built cage.

He drove about 100 yards toward the barrier, and several firefighters had to pry the man out of the vehicle after it crashed.

He was released from hospital on Thursday and was taken to a rehabilitation clinic in Hessisch-Lichtenau.
An airline passenger has been arrested by Spanish police following an 'altercation' with cabin crew on an easyJet flight from Newcastle.

The passenger was met by police in Alicante after being 'abusive' towards a female flight attendant and 'banging a toilet door in her face'.

A spokesperson for the budget airline confirmed it had contacted the police due to a 'disruptive passenger'.

An airline passenger has been arrested by Spanish police following an 'altercation' with cabin crew on an easyJet flight from Newcastle. Officers are pictured going onboard

They said: 'easyJet can confirm that, as a result of a passenger behaving disruptively during flight EZY6417 from Newcastle to Alicante on 4 May, the captain requested for police to meet the aircraft on arrival in Alicante.

'Upon landing the aircraft was held on the runway for a short period of time before police requested that the aircraft park on a remote stand so they could attend.

'Police attended and removed the passenger and the aircraft taxied to stand for all other passengers to disembark.

The statement went on: 'easyJet's cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time.

'Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously, do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour on board.

'The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always easyJet's priority.'

easyJet refused to confirm the nationality of the passenger.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed an official check into reported attacks on gay and bisexual men in Chechnya.

President Putin agreed to a proposal from Russia's human rights ombudsman to investigate what is happening to gay people, which he referred to as having a 'non-traditional sexual orientation', in Chechnya.

Reports from the Chechen republic claim that homosexuals are being rounded up and killed on the orders of leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

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Putin today agreed to a proposal to investigate claims of attacks on gay men in Chechnya

It comes just two days after German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked him to take action

Russia's human rights ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova asked Putin today to support her request to create an investigation group that would look into the treatment of gay and bisexual men in the southern Russian republic.

Moskalkova investigates human rights abuses in Russia however she is widely seen as a loyalist establishment figure.

Putin's change of stance comes just days after German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the issue with the Russian President, urging him to help protect LGBT rights in Chechnya.

Reports from the Chechen republic claim that homosexuals are being rounded up and killed on the orders of leader Ramzan Kadyrov (pictured)

The abuse was first reported in April by the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which said around 100 suspected gay men were rounded up and tortured.

Horrifying testimonies from survivors of Chechen concentration camps say victims are being tortured and their families are summoned to the camps to kill them.

A survivor told France24: 'They tell the parents to kill their child. They say, "Either you do it, or we will". They call it "cleaning your honour with blood".

'They tortured a man for two weeks [then] they summoned his parents and brothers who all came.

'The authorities said to them: "Your son is a homosexual  sort it out or we'll do it ourselves."'

Ramzan Kadyrov is claimed to have threatened to eliminate the LGBT population in Chechnya, following reports that gay men were being rounded up and killed

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov last week denied rounding up and murdering homosexuals and insisted one man declared dead was 'in good health and at home'

And another survivor, identified only as Anzor, told the Associated Press how he had been tortured in one of the camps.

He said: 'It's a feeling like they are breaking every bone of every joint in your body at the same time.'

After his ordeal, Anzor fled Chechnya and is now in hiding in Moscow, fearing not only for his own life but for the safety of his relatives.

Another victim of the anti-gay brutality said: 'For 20 to 30 seconds they spin the handle, you feel the electricity, then you fall down, they stop it, and then immediately you come back to consciousness and you are ready again for a new discharge. And it goes on five, six, seven times.'

Western governments and rights groups have urged Russian authorities to investigate.

Sir Alan Duncan told MPs that the treatment of homosexuals in the Russian Chechen Republic is 'utterly barbaric'

Chechen officials vehemently deny not only the reported torture of gays, but sometimes their very existence.

'There are no homosexuals in Chechnya. You cannot detain and persecute those who do not exist,' Alvi Karimov, a spokesman for Chechen leader Kadyrov, told the Interfax news agency.

Last week Sir Alan Duncan told MPs that the treatment of homosexuals in the Russian Chechen Republic is 'utterly barbaric', with Kadyrov accused of rounding up LGBT people and executing them.

And he said that the fundamentalist leader had threatened to eliminate the homosexual community by the start of Ramadan on May 26.

Speaking about the recent round of arrests in Chechnya, Mr Duncan told Parliament: 'One of the most disgusting things I have seen is a Chechen security source stating that these arrests are part of what he called a preventative clean-up.'

And he continued: 'Human rights groups report that these anti-gay campaigns and killings are orchestrated by the head of the Chechen republic, Ramzan Kadyrov.

'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. Such comments, attitudes and actions are absolutely beyond contemptible.'
The father of French far-Right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen spent more than 7,000 on fine wines  and sent the bill to the European taxpayer.

Jean-Marie Le Pen's extraordinary bill from an upmarket wine merchant included dozens of bottles of Bollinger, Dom Perignon and Laurent Perrier champagne.

It is claimed that the 88-year-old firebrand wanted specially made 'European Parliament' labels stuck on all of them so that they could be passed off as a legitimate expense.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen, spent 7,000 on fine wines and champagne before charging it to his Brussels expense account, documents show

In total Mr Le Pen had 100 bottles delivered to his address in Paris with a special request to put European Parliament labels on them so they could be claimed on expenses

Bordeaux grand crus such as Pomerol Chateau Vieux Ferrand were among the 100 bottles delivered in December to Montretout, the Le Pen family mansion in the upmarket Paris suburb of St-Cloud.

The total bill including delivery was for 8500 euros (7200) and it was immediately sent by Mr Le Pen to the European Parliament, where Mr Le Pen remains an MEP.

All the paperwork is today published by leading Paris investigative news site Mediapart, which has spent many months exposing corruption at the heart of the Le Pen family party, the National Front.

Mr Le Pen, a convicted racist and anti-Semite, is the founder and current honorary president of the party and is backing Marine, 48, to become President of France in Sunday's election.

She has publicly claimed there is a rift between father and daughter, but many suspect this has been staged to make her more attractive to moderate voters.

Mediapart writes that Mr Le Pen has used 'public funds theoretically made available to parliamentarians to cover secretarial and related expenses' to buy the wine.

All of it came from Lavinia, an upmarket wine merchants in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, and was sent on 28th December 2016  well in time for the start of the current election campaign.

Sources close to the case suggest that much of the wine will have been consumed celebrating the first-round election victory of his daughter, Marine

Le Pen is due to face off against Emmanuel Macron in the second round of voting on Sunday in a race that she is widely expected to lose

Mr Le Pen asked the merchant to apply special 'European Parliament' labels to the bottles, but it is not clear whether the Lavinia actually did this.

Other sources close to the case  which will now be the subject of an EU parliament investigation  said Mr Le Pen was in 'party mood' at the time.

The sources said he is likely to have already drunk a lot of the wine to celebrate his youngest daughter getting through the first round of the election last Sunday week.

She is now in the second head-to-head with independent candidate Emmanuel Macron, who is widely expected to win, according to all polls.

Neither Mr Le Pen nor her father's party has so far commented on the scandal involving party finances.

French prosecutors have launched an investigation into another alleged scam in which Ms Le Pen is said to have given party members fake jobs in the European Parliament.

The members were said to have been paid the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of pounds in taxpayers' money for doing nothing in Brussels whatsoever.

The controversial Mr Le Pen himself reached the second round of the French presidential election in 2002, but was defeated by a landslide vote for the conservative candidate, Jacques Chirac.

Marine Le Pen bundled to safety on campaign trail

Marine Le Pen was bundled out of the back door of a cathedral by bodyguards to avoid a jeering crowd of protesters in Reims.

The far-right candidate was rushed to a waiting car after hundreds of supporters of her rival Emmanuel Macron gathered at the entrance.

She later took to Twitter to accuse the crowd of 'violence', having 'no dignity' and disrespecting a 'symbolic and sacred place'.

Marine Le Pen is surrounded by her bodyguards after leaving the cathedral in Reims via a back door as supporters of Emmanuel Macron gathered outside

Television images showed her leaving the cathedral via an unmarked door, putting her arms over her head to protect herself and diving into a black car as a small crowd gathered around, shouting epithets. The car quickly sped away.

Four new polls on Friday showed Macron on track to win 62 per cent of the votes in the second round compared to 38 per cent for Le Pen, his best score since nine other candidates were eliminated in the first round on April 23.

Le Pen's hostile reception at the cathedral came hours after protesters were able to unfurl a giant campaign banner under the Eiffel Tower - despite heightened terror fears in Paris.

Although security has been boosted around French tourism sites, Greenpeace activists strung up a banner saying 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' and '#resist' in protest at the programme of Marine Le Pen.

Crowds of young people gathered in front of the main entrance during the visit of Marine Le Pen at the Cathedral in Reims today
A one-day sweep in which over 150 high school students were suspended for dress code violations is bringing new criticism to a district of predominantly Hispanic and black students.

The students, summoned dozens at a time, were called out of class at Wilby High School in Waterbury, Connecticut by loudspeakers on April 21 and ordered to sit out the next school day for wearing hoodies, forbidden colors or other violations.

The school district was already under scrutiny for having low numbers of minority teachers.

Among those caught up in the sweep at Wilby High School two weeks ago were first-time offenders like Allyanna Jones, a 16-year-old honors student.

'I said, "I'd rather be cold than suspended,"' Allyanna said of her offer to remove a sweat shirt. 'They said, "It's only a day. You'll get over it."'

In one day 150 students were called out of class at Wilby High School in Waterbury, Connecticut and suspended for one school day for wearing hoodies, forbidden colors or other violations; Allyanna Jones stands outside Wilby High School in Waterbury, Connecticut on May 3; The 16-year-old junior was among more than 150 students suspended for dress code violations on April 21

The district office later wiped the suspensions from students' records, noting schools are supposed to issue lesser punishments for first violations.

But activists say they reflect deeper problems with the climate at the high school, where half of all students received at least one suspension last year.

'This is the purest example of promoting discipline over academic performance,' said Robert Goodrich, a co-founder of Radical Advocates for Cross-Cultural Education in Waterbury. He likened it to 'broken windows' policing, which aims to keep peace by cracking down on minor offenses.

The Wilby High dress code calls for boys to wear black or green shirts, with their pants or shorts worn or belted at the waist. Skirts, dresses, pants and shorts for girls are required to be navy blue, black, gray or khaki. Hats, caps and hoodies are forbidden.

Nationwide, school districts have been revising policies to reduce suspensions and expulsions.

The Wilby High School (pictured) dress code calls for boys to wear black or green shirts, with their pants or shorts worn or belted at the waist; Skirts, dresses, pants and shorts for girls are required to be navy blue, black, gray or khaki. Hats, caps and hoodies are forbidden

Federal government studies have shown blacks and Hispanics are far more likely to face such harsh punishments, and as a result of more police involvement with schools, instances more frequently lead to arrests in what is known as the 'school-to-prison pipeline.'

Darren Schwartz, the Waterbury district's chief academic officer, says it has been making progress in curbing suspensions. By working to understand the root causes of behavioral problems and intervening when possible, he said, the district has achieved a 12 percent reduction in suspensions over the past five years.

Last year, the district of 18,862 students had 12,810 suspensions.

At the urging of the NAACP, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities has been looking into faculty hiring practices in Waterbury. The commission has been working with the district on developing best practices, and the findings of its yearlong investigation are expected within a month.

At Wilby High, 84 percent of the students are Hispanic or black, while 83 percent of educators are white. Some critics say the discipline rates reflect a lack of cultural sensitivity among the faculty.

A Wilby High junior, Abbie Soto, said that the teachers from Waterbury generally connect well with students but that the same cannot be said for some others.

'The NAACP has been fighting tirelessly to get more cultural sensitivity in Waterbury and all throughout the state,' said Scot X. Esdaile, president of the Connecticut NAACP. 'For them to do this at the end of the school year is totally absurd.'

Brian Collazo, a 16-year-old student, said if it were up to him there would be no dress code. But, 'some people do take it a little too far,' he said.

The district has been putting more emphasis on recruiting minority teachers, Schwartz said, and is developing a long-term strategy to interest more students in teaching.

'We have a long way to go with that,' he said.
Lindsay Lohan, who was once one of the highest paid actresses in the world, has been ordered to pay $28,000 after blowing off a lawsuit that claimed she ignored invoices from her former driver.

Court papers obtained by DailyMail.com reveal a New York judge hit the 30-year-old with a default judgment on May 3 after the actress never showed up to court.

Back in 2015, Edson Ricci sued the Mean Girls actress, accusing her of screwing him out of almost $30,000 while working for her.

What court date? Lindsay Lohan was spotted in Mykonos, Greece days before she was ordered to pay $27,839 in a default judgment after she never showed up to court

He claimed despite numerous demands Lohan refused to pay invoices for transportation costs and for the times he fronted her money to pay her hotel bill.

Ricci said he was hired by Lohan to provide not only her transportation services for her but also for her family, friends and business associates.

The driver sent multiple invoices for payment to Lohan that totaled $43,900. The bill was for his services from August 21, 2012 until October 23, 2012.

He claimed the actress never disputed the amount owed and even had a check sent for $17,500, leaving an unpaid balance of $26,400.

To make matters worse, Ricci said she asked him to pay her hotel bill during a stay at the Soho Grand Hotel in New York. He agreed to front her the money and paid the $1,439.18 bill. He claims she never paid a dime back to him.

Edson Ricci (pictured) said Lindsay Lohan only paid him $17,500 of her $43,900 bill in 2012. He filed a lawsuit against Lohan in 2015 but she never showed up to court

Lindsay Lohan posted this selfie two days after a New York judge issued a default judgment that ordered her to pay her former driver Edson Ricci $27,839

Ricci sued demanding the entire $26,400 owed for transportation services plus the hotel bill for a grand total of $27,839.18 plus interest.

The case has dragged on for over a year with Lohan never showing up to court or responding to the allegations in the complaint. She was served with the legal papers back in 2015.

Then on May 3, the judge came back with his decision and granted Riccis motion for default judgment due to Lohans non-appearance in the case.

He said Lohan is liable for the grand total of $27,839. The case was closed the same day.

In October, Lohan was hit with a lawsuit in London after she stopped paying rent on her $4.5million (3.5million) flat.

Lindsay Lohan said she doesn't have a chauffeur because it is 'expensive.' She was forced to pay her former driver the remainder of what she owed her months after her London landlords said she had to pay the $100,000 she owed in rent or they would petition for her bankruptcy

Lawyers for the landlord of the property in the exclusive Knightsbridge area demanded the payment of $100,000 (77,600).

She had to leave the property, but her spokesman confirmed she was able to pay off her housing debts. The landlords would have petitioned for her bankruptcy if she refused.

In a March interview on British talk show 'John Bishop: In Conversation With...' the actress said she couldn't afford a driver.

Lohan said: 'Paparazzi in LA are hired to get into your car to see your first reaction. They're hired specifically to do that,' she said on the 'John Bishop: In Conversation With...'

'People are just like, ''Don't drive Lindsay, get a driver!'', but it's expensive!'
Senseless death: Luis Campos, a married father-of-five, was killed with a single punch to the face in Las Vegas, where he had traveled from California for his brother's bachelor party

A married father-of-five from California traveled to Las Vegas last week for his brothers bachelor party, but his life ended abruptly as a result of a single punch to the face delivered by a complete stranger.

The fatal altercation took place early Sunday morning outside a nightclub in the 500 block of the iconic Fremont Street, where 45-year-old Luis Campos was enjoying a night out with his younger brother.

Police responded to the scene at 1.30am after getting reports of a fight and found Campos lying unconscious on the sidewalk with what appeared to be a life-threatening head injury.

The victim was taken to UMC Trauma Center, where on Thursday he succumbed to his injuries.

According to a statement from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Campos had been standing in line with his brother to enter a nightclub when he was approached by two men.

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Hotspot: Campos, 45, was waiting for his younger brother to enter Vanguard Lounge on April 30 when two men came up to him and one of them punched him without any provocation

Evidence: On Thursday, Las Vegas police released this surveillance video on YouTube showing the suspects running away after the confrontation with Campos

Wanted: The pair were described as Hispanic males in their 20s; no arrests have been made

'A brief verbal altercation occurred, one of the suspects punched the victim, and both suspects fled the scene on foot,' the press release from the police stated.

Speaking to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, one of Campos' siblings, Drake Garibay, shed light on the circumstances surrounding the chance encounter that resulted in his brother's death.

Garibay said he and Campos had been drinking on Sunday night but were not drunk when they got in line to enter Vanguard Lounge.

The pair were in town for their siblings bachelor party ahead of his wedding, in which Campos was supposed to be the best man.

The pair were standing quietly next to a wall when two strangers walked up to Campos, according to Garibay, and the taller of the pair confronted the father-of-five, telling him something to the effect of, 'What are you looking at? '

Garibay, 30, said a second later, the man sucker-punched his brother in the face, causing him to collapse unconscious to the ground amidst a dense crowd of revelers.

Final photo: This is said to be the last photo showing Campos (far right) alive, enjoying a meal with his brother and friends

Parent's agony: Joyce Garibay, Campos' mother (pictured right in the hospital), rushed to her son's bedside after the attack and was able to bid him goodbye

He didnt even get a chance to say anything, Garibay told the Review-Journal. It wasnt even like they squared up. My brother turned his head, he didnt say one word, and [the stranger] struck him.

The siblings' mother, Joyce Garibay, told the station Las Vegas Now that when she got the tragic news, she jumped in her car and drove six agonizing hours from her home in California to Las Vegas so she could say goodbye to her son.

She said Campos' two youngest children, aged one and two, will never get to know their father. His three oldest children are in their teens.

On Thursday, Las Vegas police released a surveillance video on YouTube showing the suspects in the deadly attack, described only as Hispanic males in their 20s, running away after the confrontation with Campos.

Patriarch: Campos' two children, aged one and two, will never get to know their father (second from right). His three oldest children are in their teens

One of the men in the CCTV footage is seen wearing a white cap, white pants and dark shirt, and the other is dressed in a dark shirt and tan pants.

The suspects ran east on Fremont Street and then turned north on 6th Street.

As of Friday morning, the two men in the video have not been identified and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information on the suspects is being asked to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section at 702-828-3521.
One of them menacingly raises a hammer in his gloved hand, while the other drives his moped straight at helpless pedestrians.

But this pair of marauding thieves were not on the lawless streets of some far-away city - they were bringing fear to the heart of London.

Clutching a crowbar, the thieves circled victims outside the BBCs landmark headquarters, just off Oxford Street.

But this is by no means an isolated incident, with dozens of similar crimes unfolding in the capital in recent years by a core group of around 200 offenders.

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Criminals: This is the shocking moment weapon-wielding moped raiders brought terror to the heart of London - grabbing at least one iPhone from the hand of a pedestrian while clutching a hammer (circled)

Shocking: The four thieves roared around the West End, waving their weapons, including a crowbar, pictured, to deter any have-a-go heroes from trying to tackle them

On this occasion, at least one iPhone was stolen from a woman in her 40s when it was snatched out of her hand as she waited to cross the road.

Police are desperate to catch the menacing thugs who use stolen mopeds to mug pedestrians and smash and grab valuable goods from trendy shops.

Photographer Alex Lentati said he was almost knocked over by one of the mopeds when it mounted the pavement.

At first I thought it was just bad driving, but then he mounted the pavement and started coming at me at fairly high speed, he told the Evening Standard.

Id just come off the phone and was putting it in my pocket. As the bike got closer it rode at me on the pavement, then whizzed past me on the inside next to the wall.

The audacity of it was that another one turned up and then they went round the block and came back again tearing down Great Portland Street.

When they came round the second time one of them brandished the hammer, like they didnt want anyone to chase them or get close. It felt very brazen.

The BBC has sent internal memos to staff warning them to be vigilant for moped gangs and to keep their valuables out of sight.

Radio 4 reporter Andrew Bomford said he saw the thieves almost crash into a man as they targeted him on a pedestrian crossing.

He said: They almost clipped him as they were going past. He threw his hands up in the air and started running after them. They turned up the street towards the BBC.

The guy that had been almost hit was chasing after them, and they came past me. Someone on the second bike was waving a hammer in his hand.

It seemed to me like it was a warning to not try and follow them or grab them, or he would hit you. Its completely brazen, and its happening all the time, and its the same thing each time.

Police are desperate to catch the menacing thugs, who work in pairs, pictured, and use stolen mopeds to mug pedestrians and smash and grab valuable goods from trendy shops

Warning: The latest incident came yards from Broadcasting House (file picture) and the BBC has sent internal memos to staff warning them to be vigilant for moped gangs and to keep their valuables out of sight

Police are desperate to catch the menacing thugs who use stolen mopeds to mug pedestrians and smash and grab valuable goods from trendy shops.

The culprits, dubbed pavement pirates because of their disregard for the law, are responsible for a worrying crime wave.

Investigators suspect many are controlled by Fagin-style masterminds who arrange for the mopeds to be stolen and stored before selling on the spoils.

They are responsible for a crime wave in which offences involving mopeds has risen seven-fold in two years, from 1,053 in 2014 to 7,668 last year.

In Islington alone, the worst hit borough, more than 300 phones were being snatched every month at the height of the crime wave.

Some victims have been told by frontline officers that they are reluctant to chase suspects on two-wheels after the tragic death of a teenager three years ago.

They are also difficult to identify as they wear helmets, masks and gloves to beat CCTV cameras and avoid leaving forensic traces.

Targeted: There were 1,240 crimes in London involving suspects on mopeds or motorbikes in 2014. Pictured above, a phone was stolen out of the hands of an innocent woman in Farringdon, London in February last year

Police say around 200 people are responsible for a crime wave in which offences involving mopeds has risen seven-fold in two years, from 1,053 in 2014 to 7,668 last year

But a determined crackdown, in which Scotland Yard launched a dedicated unit to identify those responsible has led to a series of high-profile convictions.

They believe there is a hard-core of around 200 people who are responsible for the vast majority of crimes.

In recent years hundreds of terrifying attacks have taken place across the capital.

In one case a moped muggers was caught red-handed after being tracked by helicopter as he tried to escape by riding the wrong way up the M11.

WHY POLICE WON'T CHASE MOPED CRIMINALS When criminal motorcyclists take off their helmets, police can no longer pursue a chase to catch them. And criminals have been using this loophole in a bid to escape being caught. Scotland Yard admitted officers 'rarely chase' helmetless riders because of the prospect they might die if they fall. The strategy was developed following the death of moped rider Reece Leon Robinson-Webber, 15, from Streatham. He was killed in West Norwood, Lambeth during a police chase in August 2008. The Independent Police Complaints Commission produced a report which said it had 'overall concerns about the standard of training made available to officers and staff in relation to motorcycle pursuits'. Scotland Yard brought in a number of changes following IPCC recommendations. Scotland Yard say it has a 'moral duty' to protect the lives of offenders, as well as those of the public. Advertisement

A Freedom of Information request revealed there were 1,240 crimes in London involving suspects on mopeds or motorbikes in 2014.

Previously the Met Police were accused of 'going soft' on moped gangs, due to a law change which prevents offenders who aren't wearing helmets from being chased.

In February last year, shocking CCTV footage emerged showing thieves on a moped stealing phones from two people in quick succession.

Security cameras outside live music venue, The Piano Works on Farringdon Road, London filmed the alarming thefts drive past a couple on their phones, before snatching the items out of their owners' hands.

In September a young woman was mowed down by two thugs on a moped after ignoring their catcalls.

Pagan Lilley Motlagh-Phillips, 19, from Newham in east London, was on her way back from a shopping trip with her brother when she was targeted.

The teen was travelling through Havering, after visiting Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex, when a man allegedly shouted over to her, 'are you alright, darling?'

In a terrifying assault he then revved up his moped and drove at Pagan and her brother, knocking her to the ground and leaving her unconscious.

She was rushed to Lakeside Shopping Centre's hospital where she received treatment for injuries.

She slammed the Met Police for their handling of the case, and said they were not taking it seriously.

Chief Superintendent Peter Ayling, head of policing in Westminster, said: We are working hard to keep the public safe.

We have been made aware of this serious incident and it is a top priority to identify and arrest these reckless offenders.

Attack: A gang tore through Wimbeldon in London terrorising pedestrians with a extinguisher and filming the stunt for social media in April

Just last month moped gang tore through city streets terrorising pedestrians with a extinguisher and filming the stunt for social media.

Footage, filmed by the gang, shows them spraying restaurant diners, commuters and a police car with white powder as they mount pavements and drive erratically through streets in south London.

One rider is heard laughing as he films the attacks on a helmet-mounted camera.

The video, which was posted on Instagram, also shows the gang douse drinkers outside a Wetherpoon pub in Wimbledon with powder.

At one point, the riders, who are all dressed all in black, mount the pavement to spray a group of people eating outside a restaurant.

One diner appears to take a direct hit in the face as the gang speed past.

Merton police said at the time they are aware of the video and were investigating.
A boyfriend ran his girlfriend off the road and killed her in an argument over a motorbike she had bought him as a present.

Sophie Taylor, 22, died after her BMW smashed into a wall in a three car chase with her boyfriend Michael Wheeler, 22, and his jealous ex-girlfriend Melissa Pesticcio, 23.

Wheeler has admitted causing Sophie's death by dangerous driving, and causing serious injury to her passenger, Joshua Deguara last summer.

Sophie Taylor, 22, died after her BMW smashed into a wall in a three car chase with her boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend

But Pesticcio, who drove her own white BMW, denies the same charges, as well as two additional counts of dangerous driving, and is on trial.

Wheeler 'barged' into Sophie's car causing her to spin into a wall, killing her and leaving her passenger with life-changing injuries.

The pair had been arguing after he cut off contact with her when she bought him a motorbike, that she had borrowed 6,500 to buy.

She repeatedly tried to get him to give her the bike back, but in her final attempt to retrieve it, she was allegedly pursued by Wheeler and Pesticcio in a car chase.

Melissa Pesticcio, left, is on trial at Cardiff Crown Court after denying causing death by dangerous driving and three other charges. Michael Wheeler, right, has admitted causing Sophie's death

A collisions expert told Cardiff Crown Court damage on Sophie's car suggested a 'deliberate' turn by Wheeler's black Vauxhall Corsa into Sophie's black BMW One Series.

PC Gareth Davies said: 'From what you see on the CCTV and with corroboration from the witness, a deliberate turn of the wheel is the probable cause of the collision.'

PC Davies described Wheeler's driving as 'aggressive and dangerous.'

The court earlier heard Pesticcio's police interview when she described ex-boyfriend Wheeler 'barging' into Sophie's car.

She was asked by the interviewing officer if Wheeler had attempted to 'run her off the road', to which Pesticcio replied: 'It looks like.'

The court heard Pesticcio was driving the car behind Sophie's for the majority of the alleged chase, before Wheeler overtook her before the fatal crash.

Joshua, the passenger in Sophie's car, suffered 'life-changing' injuries after the crash in Adamsdown, Cardiff on August 22 last year.

Pesticcio, from Marshfield, Cardiff, denies causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving as well as two counts of dangerous driving.

The trial continues.
The partner of a former scriptwriter for The Bill told a fake hitman he thought about throwing her off the cliffs every day of their holiday in France, a court heard today.

David Harris, 68, allegedly offered 200,000 to get rid of Hazel Allinson so he could get his hands on her money and 800,000 home in Amberley, West Sussex.

But his dream of moving to the south of France with girlfriend Ugne Cekaviciute, 28, was scuppered after a 6ft 4in tall prospective hitman, who went by the name of Zed, reported him to City of London Police, jurors were told.

Zed - real name Duke Dean - then got Harris to meet undercover police officer 'Chris' in a Sainsbury's car park in Balham, south London, on November 11 last year.

David Harris (pictured left alongside his partner Hazel Allinson) is accused of trying to pay Duke Dean (right) to carry out a hit

Harris (pictured with Ms Allinson and their pet dogs) was filmed on a secret video camera which was played to the court

The officer gave evidence in Harris' Old Bailey trial behind a screen as an hour-long covert video of their meeting in his car was played to jurors.

In the clip, Harris told the fake hitman he would be 'sad' about Ms Allinson's death, but was 'deadly serious'.

He told Chris: 'We were down in the south of France a month ago. Every day I was waking up thinking, is this the day I can get her on the edge and close enough to bump into her.'

When the officer asked him if he meant 'on the cliffs', Harris replied: 'Yeah.'

During the sting operation, Chris repeatedly asked Harris what he wanted him to do exactly, how he could get the money and whether he was really serious.

Prosecutors say Harris wanted his partner dead so he could be with Ugne Cekaviciute (pictured)

Explaining why he should deal with him alone from now on, the officer said: 'I have been in this game a long time and the reason I have not been caught by the Feds is it's a closed shop.'

Harris told him he wanted him to arrange 'some kind of accident', like a carjacking or mugging, which would be 'as serious as it can get'.

The defendant explained that he was 'strapped for cash' but could get hold of 'a monkey' - 500 - in advance and hand over the rest 'at the end of the rainbow' from the sale of Ms Allinson's house.

He explained that she held all the 'purse strings' and he could not get large amounts of money without it looking 'extremely suspicious', but afterwards, he would set up an off-shore account to pay up.

He said: 'I want this to happen. I don't want to look over my shoulder for the rest of my f****** life.'

Harris went on to explain Ms Allinson's routine, including evening gym classes and choir practice, and promised to give him the registration of her Saab convertible.

He went on: 'An accident is a difficult thing to set up. I know it's a difficult thing to set up because I used to arrange stunts for movies. I spent 18 years on a show called The Bill.

'If you can do what I want with the deal I'm offering, then that's great. That's all I can say.'

On how he would get away with it, Harris told the officer: 'Her purse strings are so tight, it's unbearable. I know the grief that's required.

Prosecutors say Harris promised the would-be assassin his fee would come from the sale of her 800,000 house

'I will be sad about it but as long as there is nothing to look for, there's no problem. I will be suitably distressed because I will be distressed, there's no doubt about it.

'I know what I'm asking, I know there's no coming back, but likewise there is no way out for me, that's the bottom line.'

Asked again if he knew what he was getting into, he said: 'I've never been more deadly serious about anything.

'I want the next five years with a girlfriend living by the sea. She knows nothing about it at all. It's something I never thought would happen to me. It's been going on for five years.'

The couple lived together in her house in the upmarket village of Amberley, West Sussex

The officer told him he did not want any 'blurred lines' in their deal, and Harris replied: 'I'm 100% sure. Whatever happens, it's got to be fatal.

'I cannot turn back. It will be the saddest thing in my life, there's no question about it, but I am not the kind of guy who will walk away. If you see me through, I will see you through. That's the bottom line.'

Harris then arranged to text the fake hitman to set up another meeting when he had got the details he needed to plan the murder, the court heard.

The defendant, of Amberley, West Sussex, denies soliciting murder and claims he was not planning to kill Ms Allinson, but was simply researching a thriller novel.

The trial continues.
A man who woke up next to a dead prostitute and then sealed her body in concrete under his basement over fears that he might have unknowingly committed a murder has been sentenced to a short prison term.

The criminal court in Leoben, a city in the Austrian state of Styria, found a 40-year-old man only identified as Christian T. guilty of disturbing the dead.

In an exceptionally short trial, the man from the Styrian village of Mariazell confessed to hiding the body and was sentenced to ten months in prison.

The man had brought a 42-year-old Hungarian sex worker to his home for an all-night drugs and sex orgy last December, but when he awoke in the morning to find her dead body in his bed, he was terrified that he might have killed her while he was high.

Hungarian sex worker, Andrea Agis Leichnam, is believed to have died from natural causes brought on by drug use in December 2016 while at the home of a man only identified as Christian T

When Christian T woke up next to the dead prostitute at his home (pictured), he feared that he killed her while high

The terrified suspect mixed concrete in the basement and sealed the woman's body under several layers after digging a grave. Pictured above, police at Christian T's home

The sex worker, identified in local reports as Andrea Agis Leichnam, is believed to have died of natural causes brought on by drug use.

After the man drove his 17-year-old daughter to work, he returned home and entombed her under his basement staircase.

Chief police investigator Anton Kiesl revealed that the 40-year-old man said he found the body when it was 'already cold'.

Kiesl said: 'She was only wearing a bathrobe. He panicked.'

The terrified suspect mixed concrete in the basement and sealed the woman's body under several layers after digging a grave.

Prosecutor Gerhard Ressi described how the accused first tried to cut the woman into pieces with a chainsaw but as he could not manage he hid the body under his cellar.

Prosecutor Gerhard Ressi described how the accused first tried to cut the woman into pieces with a chainsaw but as he could not manage he hid the body under his cellar. Pictured above, police at Christian T's home

Christian T was sentenced to ten months in prison for disturbing the dead after police found no sign of foul play in the woman's death

He then burned the woman's underwear and told police he had wanted to butcher her body into pieces and incinerate it but'shuddered to think about it.'

Judge Peter Wilhelm asked the defendant: 'How in the world did you get the idea to entomb the corpse?'

Christian T answered: 'Because I did not know what happened in the night.'

His defender spoke of a 'psychological exclusion situation' in which Christian T found himself.

Head public prosecutor Walter Ploebst confirmed to local media that there is no evidence of foul play and that an autopsy had found the woman had been using drugs when she died.
A 24-year-old man killed his ex-girlfriend's parents and held her younger brother hostage before he was shot dead by the police.

Mirza Tatlic and Rachel Prabhu ended their relationship last year, but the mentally ill 24-year-old posted images to Instagram in April likening her to the 'devil' and writing 'F*** u b****'.

Tatlic, who appeared to be driven by revenge, fatally shot Prabhu's father Naren Prabhu, a Silicon Valley tech executive, in the doorway of his San Jose, California, home, before he killed his ex's mother inside.

Rachel lives in another state and was not home at the time of the shooting, which began around 9pm on Wednesday.

Tatlic also used Rachel's 13-year-old brother as a human shield during an ensuing two-hour standoff with the police before the 24-year-old was killed by a special tactics marksman, CBS reported.

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Mirza Tatlic (left) killed his ex-girlfriend's parents at their San Jose, California, home on Wednesday. Pictured right, victim Naren Prabhu and his wife, whose has not been identified

Mirza Tatlic and Rachel Prabhu (above) ended their relationship last year, but the mentally ill man posted images to Instagram in April likening her to the 'devil' and writing 'F*** u b****'

Rachel's family had a restraining order against Tatlic, but he appeared at their home on the 1000 block of Laura Valle Lane on Wednesday night and fatally shot Naren Prabhu and his wife, whose identity has not been released.

Their 20-year-old son ran outside and called 911 at 9.01pm, telling police his father had been shot, while his mother and teen brother were still inside the house. He added that his mother may have also been shot.

Police officers along with a special tactics team descended on the residential street, where neighbors were told to stay inside.

Courtesy of KRON4

At one point during the two-hour standoff, Tatlic told the police he killed Rachel's parents to cause her pain in retaliation for the break up, according to a source who spoke toMercury News.

Tatlic, who used his 13-year-old hostage as a human shield at one point, also borrowed the teen's cell phone and called Rachel during the standoff, CBS reported.

The gunman eventually released the distraught teen, who could be heard crying and asking the cops, 'What am I going to do with my life now?', Jacob Borysewicz told Mercury.

When the gunman appeared at a window inside the house and pointed a handgun at the police, a special tactics marksman opened fire and killed him.

The veteran policeman, who has served on the San Jose police force for 17 years, has been placed on a routine administrative leave.

Rachel's family had a restraining order against Tatlic, but he appeared at their home on the 1000 block of Laura Valle Lane on Wednesday night (pictured, police at the scene)

At one point during the two-hour standoff, Tatlic told the police he killed Rachel's parents to cause her pain in retaliation for the break up. Pictured, Rachel with her mother

Naren Prabhu (pictured with his wife, who was also killed in the shooting) was an executive at the tech giant Juniper Networks

Garcia, who called it 'a tragic incident perpetrated by evil', said Tatlic had a history of mental illness, domestic violence and driving under the influence.

The police chief said: 'He had choices. He didnt give this family a choice. He didnt give my officer a choice.'

It remains unclear where Tatlic got his gun, but Garcia said it was not licensed to him.

Tatlic shared a disturbing string of posts on Instagram in the lead up to the shooting.

On April 24, the gunman posted a picture of Rachel captioned: 'The devil smiles but the eyes sell the evil.'

Another caption to a Facebook messenger exchange with Rachel read 'No mercy on the ones that love you most' before the rambling post ended with 'F*** u b***'

Tatlic, who police say had a history of mental illness, shared a disturbing string of posts on Instagram in the lead up to the shooting. This post ended with 'F*** u b****'

A final post showed a pack of cigarettes, captioned: 'Hope I get more than just onethe real Mirzatsucks this cost me my lyf.'

Garcia said 'the extent of how [the breakup] really got to this individual remains to be investigated and thoroughly vetted out.'

Juniper Networks issued a statement following Naren's death, saying they were 'saddened by the recent loss of a long-time employee'.

Naren was an executive at the tech company, which develops routers and network security products.
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Around 250 prisoners have broken out of an overcrowded prison on Sumatra Island, Indonesia.

The men had been allowed out of their cells to pray earlier on May 5 when they escaped from the prison complex by tearing down a gate.

It's thought that the prisoners had become frustrated with their treatment at the prison in Pekanbaru, Riau province.

The race is on to recapture the prisoners after they escaped the jail in Sumatra, Indonesia before Friday prayers. As of writing, 130 of the men have been found by officers with blockades and checks installed around town

Police escort escapees following riots at the prison on May 5. Police and locals have managed to recapture 130 of the inmates so far. It's thought that around 200-250 broke out of the prison

Images show prisoners escaping from their cells in protest at treatment in the prison. According to an official, there were 1,800 men inside the jail which has a capacity of 361

Prisoners tore down a gate near a mosque inside the prison complex after they were allowed out of their cells for Friday prayers earlier today. They broke through a wire fence to make their escape after failing to get through the site's main door

The prison has a capacity of up to 361 inmates but at the time of the mass breakout it had been home to around 1,800 prisoners, police spokesman Guntur Aryo Tejo told reporters.

He estimated that around 200-250 prisoners escaped from the detention centre.

Around 130 of them have since been recaptured by both police and residents. Some residents found the inmates trying to steal their motorbikes.

Local television reports show hundreds of prisoners fleeing and scaling fences, trying to avoid recapture.

Prisoners tore down a gate near a mosque inside the prison complex after they were allowed out of their cells for Friday prayers.

According to AFP, they headed to the main door of the jail and tried to break though it. When this failed they headed for the side entrance and broke through a wire fence.

Police escort prisoners back to the detention centre after they escaped when they were let out of their cells to attend Friday prayers. They broke through a fence after failing to escape through the main door

According to Ferdinand Siagian, head of the regional office of the Law Ministry, inmates had complained about their treatment in the jail and had accused some guards of being violent towards them. They made their escape in protest

There has been a heavy police presence in the town after the breakout from the prison in Indonesia. Road blocks in the city have been installed to help capture the men as quickly as possible

A plainclothes policeman detains a prisoner who escaped from the Sialang Bungkuk jail on Sumatra Island on May 5. It's reported that the inmates were unhappy about their treatment and claimed that guards has been violent towards them

Indonesian police catch a prisoner who escaped from a detention centre on May 5. As many as 250 prisoners escaped with around 130 recaptured so far. Police presence has been upped in the nearby city as they try to locate the remaining escapees

According to Ferdinand Siagian, head of the regional office of the Law Ministry, inmates had complained about their treatment in the jail and had accused some guards of being violent towards them.

While in the capital, Jakarta national police spokesman Brigadier General Rikwanto said the jailbreak was sparked by overcrowding.

He said: 'A riot occurred in one of the cells inhabited by 100 people because of overcrowding. That led to a physical clash among the inmates that could not be controlled by the prison guards.'

Police have put up road blocks in the city to look for the inmates still on the run.

Police and locals worked together to help capture 130 of the prisoners so far. Locals found some of the escapees trying to steal their motorbikes and alerted police

A man is detained by locals and police after breaking out of the Sialang Bungkuk prison on May 5 in Riau, Indonesia

Police officers armed with tear gas launchers stand guard outside Sialung Bungkuk Prison following the escape of hundreds of inmates who were allegedly angry at their treatment by guards

Dramatic photos show the police and locals' attempts to recapture those who had escaped. Prisoners can be seen tied with make-shift handcuffs

Other images show prisoners left with cuts to their faces after they were caught by locals following their escape from the prison in Sumatra, Indonesia

A man holds an escaped prisoner up against the wall while holding a gun. The man had his hands tied together using make-shift rope

AFP has reported that more than a thousand inmates who did not flee the prison are refusing to return to their cells unless the head guard is replaced.

An additional 400 police and military personnel have been deployed to guard the prison.

Dramatic photos show the police's attempt to recapture those that had escaped. Prisoners can be seen with cuts to their faces as they are dragged back into custody.

Other captured prisoners can be seen tied up with make-shift handcuffs.

In other images, villagers can be seen beating prisoners found in the streets.

Dramatic photos show the police's attempt to recapture those that had escaped. Prisoners can be seen with cuts to their faces as they are dragged back into custody

Indonesian police catch prisoners who escaped from the detention centre. It's thought that the prisoners had become frustrated with their treatment at the prison in Pekanbaru, Riau province

An Indonesian soldier and a plainclothes policeman detains a prisoner who escaped from the Sialang Bungkuk jail in Pekanbaru on Sumatra Island

Residents beat a prisoner who escaped from Sialang Bungkuk Detention Station. Around 130 prisoners have been recaptured after they escaped before Friday prayers
Andy Burnham won the Manchester mayoralty by a landslide today in a rare bright spot for Labour - but he snubbed his own victory rally in a fresh humiliation for Jeremy Corbyn.

The Labour leader raced over to Manchester to address party supporters at a hastily-arranged event to celebrate the former health secretary's election.

But Mr Burnham decided not to turn up and was pictured enjoying a glass of champagne with supporters at a nearby bar instead.

The snub came after a day of humiliation for Jeremy Corbyn, who led his party to a crushing defeat in the local elections.

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured at today's Manchester rally, ploughesd ahead with the event despite Andy Burnham's snub

Corbyn, pictured at today's Manchester rally, was left humiliated after crushing electoral defeats

There were shouts of 'Where's Andy' from several members of the crowd in Manchester as they clocked that the winning candidate had failed to turn up.

Mr Corbyn told the crowd that he 'has been in touch with Andy and he is already hard at work' as he ploughed ahead with the event regardless.

But it also emerged that the local Labour MP Lucy Powell was not invited to the rally. Mr Corbyn's office later apologised to her saying the oversight was a 'simple mistake'.

Mr Burnham won 63 per cent of the vote, easily seeing off his rivals in the first round of counting.

But otherwise Labour was devastated by the loss of more than 380 councillors across the UK.

Andy Burnham has won the Manchester mayoralty by a landslide today in a rare bright spot for Labour in a humiliating set of election results

Former health secretary Mr Burnham won 63 per cent of the vote, easily seeing off his rivals in the first round of counting

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted his congratulations to Mr Burnham.

But the embattled leader was not mentioned in Mr Burnham's victory speech in Manchester.

Mr Burnham used his speech to vow he would tackle homelessness blighting Manchester and other towns in the region, and combat the 'London-centric' politics he claimed dominated the country.

He added: 'I've got a big job to do - I'll give it my all and I won't let you down.

'I will be a mayor for you - for the people.'

Mr Corbyn tweeted: 'Congratulations to Andy Burnham, who has served the Labour Party as a fine, campaigning MP and will do the same as Manchester's new Mayor.'

The former Cabinet minister and MP for Leigh took more than 60 per cent of the poll with 359,352 votes, well ahead of Tory candidate Sean Anstee in second place, who won 128,752 votes.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (pictured leaving home this morning) tweeted his congratulations to Mr Burnham but was not mentioned by the new mayor

Mr Burnham becomes the first Metro Mayor of Greater Manchester, one of the newly created posts aimed to aid devolution - taking more powers from Whitehall to give to the biggest cities and regions outside London.

Out of an electorate of 1,982,343 in the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, 573,543 votes were cast - giving a turnout of 28.93 per cent.

The 110,000-a-year role gives new metro mayors powers over policing, fire, housebuilding and transport, as well as influence over other areas - such as health and social care.

The mayor will also have a say on big strategic issues for the region, while individual councils carry on with day-to-day decisions.

And it will also give Mr Burnham a considerable voice on the national stage.

NEW METRO MAYORS ELECTED TO SIX REGIONS UNDER DEVOLUTION DEALS Metro mayors have been elected to six regions of England today under devolution deals pioneered by George Osborne as Chancellor. The elections mean Liverpool, Manchester, Tees Valley, the West Midlands, the West of England and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough all have a powerful new figure head. Liverpool: Labour's Steve Rotherham wins on the first round with 59 per cent

wins on the first round with 59 per cent Manchester: Labour's Andy Burnham wins on the first round with 63 per cent

wins on the first round with 63 per cent Tees Valley: Tory Ben Houchen wins on the second round with 51.2 per cent

wins on the second round with 51.2 per cent West of England: Tory Tim Bowles wins on the second round with 51.6 per cent

wins on the second round with 51.6 per cent West Midlands: Tory Andy Street wins on the second round with 50.4 per cent

wins on the second round with 50.4 per cent Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: Tory James Palmer wins Metro mayors will chair a combined authority that has agreed to a Devolution Deal They have powers and responsibilities to make strategic decisions across whole city regions. The new mayors have powers in areas such as housing, transport and skills Advertisement

Grinning Corbyn emerges as Labour wakes up to massive losses in local elections - but his allies claim voters are still 'getting to know him'

A cheery Jeremy Corbyn emerged in front of the cameras today as his Labour Party woke up to huge losses in the local elections.

Labour has lost more than 250 seats across the UK and surrendered control of a string of authorities - including Glasgow Council for the first time since 1980.

And the party took a battering in many of its Welsh heartlands, surrendering control of councils in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil - where the party's founding father Keir Hardie served as MP until his death in 1915.

Although they beat expectations to cling on in Cardiff.

There was more bad news for Labour as they were beaten in a number of the mayoral races.

A cheery Jeremy Corbyn emerged in front of the cameras today as his Labour Party woke up to huge losses in the local elections

Tories make history as Andy Street wins the West Midlands in a second stunning mayoral win in the Labour heartlands for Theresa May

The Conservatives have won an historic victory in the race to be the first West Midlands Mayor.

Former John Lewis boss Andy Street saw off Labour's Sion Simon by just a handful of votes to win on the second round with 50.4 per cent.

Mr Street's victory was the second stunning victory for the Tories in the six elections yesterday to the new Metro Mayor posts.

Mr Street, whose high-profile election campaign is reported to have cost almost 1 million, gave up his business career last year to stand for the newly-created mayoral post.

Earlier Ben Houchen won the powerful post on the second round of counting, squeezing out Labour's Sue Jeffrey.
Police in New York City are searching for a perpetrator who was caught on surveillance video savagely beating and sexually assaulting a German tourist during a violent robbery in Harlem.

The brutal attack took place at 2.50am on Thursday as the 31-year-old victim walked back to her Airbnb rental at West 146th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.

Surveillance video released on Friday by the New York Police Department shows the thug yanking away the woman's bag.

Cowardly attack: A survielnace camera captured the moment a mugger accosted a German tourist from behind in Harlem Thursday morning. The 31-year-old woman was heading back to her Airbnb rental

Thief: The thug is seen in this screenshot yanking away the woman's bag

Violent turn: The perpetrator then punches the tourist in the head and she falls to the sidewalk

Brutalized: He continues to hit her as she lies unconscious on the concrete, leaving her with several missing teeth

He then punches her in the head and she falls to the sidewalk. He continues to hit her as she lies unconscious on the concrete.

According to investigators, the perpetrator struck the woman with such force that he knocked out several of her teeth and left her face bruised and swollen.

Police say he also tore off the tourist's pants and sexually assaulted her.

The victim was later taken to an area hospital in serious but stable condition.

Detectives suspect the same man carried out a strikingly similar attack in nearby Hamilton Heights last week.

Vile crime: Police say he also tore off the tourist's pants and sexually assaulted her

This image made from undated surveillance video provided by the New York City Police Department on Friday shows the suspect walking

In that incident, which took place at 4am on April 24, police say the suspect accosted a 35-year-old woman at West 145th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue - just four blocks away from Thursdays robbery - and snatched her bag while pretending he was armed with a gun, reported ABC 7 NY.

The thief then hit the victim in the face several times, pulled down her pants and grabbed her groin before fleeing on foot.

The unnamed attacker was described as a 20-year-old black male, standing at 5 feet 8 inches sand weighing 175lbs. He was last seen wearing grey sweatpants, white sneakers and a dark-colored hoodie.

Do you know this man? Those are screenshots from surveillance videos taken from various stores showing the wanted man in a bright green track suit and headphones

The 32nd Police Precinct, which is spearheading the search for the assailant, has released screenshots from surveillance videos taken from various stores showing the wanted man in a bright green track suit and headphones.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce tells CBS New York police tracked a credit card stolen in the first April robbery and identified the wanted man.

Once he is taken into custody, police plan to put him in a lineup to see if he was behind both attacks.
An inquest into the gangland-style execution of Perth brothel madam Shirley Finn 42 years ago will finally be held in September.

Ms Finn was wearing a ball gown and sitting in her parked car near the freeway in South Perth in 1975 when she was shot four times in the head at close range.

A fresh investigation was launched in 2014 after a cold case review.

An inquest into the gangland-style execution of Perth brothel madam Shirley Finn (pictured) 42 years ago will finally be held in September

Ms Finn (pictured) was wearing a ball gown and sitting in her parked car near the freeway in South Perth in 1975 when she was shot four times in the head at close range

Rumours have swirled about the case, with an investigator at the time of the murder linked to notorious NSW corrupt cop and convicted killer Roger Rogerson.

They were fuelled in 2015 after local author Juliet Wills said a retired WA policeman broke his 40-year silence for her book to reveal Ms Finn was at a police station shortly before her murder.

The man, only known as Brian, alleged he had just finished his shift as a traffic patrol officer when he saw two detectives walk in with two well-dressed women.

In the following days, after he learned of Ms Finn's murder, he recognised her as one of the women he saw in the station's canteen.

Rumours have swirled about the case, with an investigator at the time of the murder linked to notorious NSW corrupt cop and convicted killer Roger Rogerson

Brian claimed that two days after he informed senior officers, he was knocked off his motorbike while on patrol by four men in a car, one of whom pointed a gun at him and said he'd be killed if he didn't shut up.

Brian said he was also threatened by men in his driveway after again approaching police about the allegations.

Ms Finn was being investigated by the tax office over a $100,000 bill and had threatened to name people she had been involved with or paid kickbacks to.

Former Liberal WA premier Ray O'Connor, who was jailed for six months in 1995 as part of the WA Inc scandal and died in 2013 aged 86, was forced to publicly deny any link to the crime.

The rumours about Ms Finn's death were fuelled in 2015 after author Juliet Wills said a retired WA policeman broke his silence for her book, revealing Ms Finn (pictured) was at a police station shortly before her murder

Ms Finn's daughter Bridget Shewring has long campaigned for an inquest into the death of her mother (pictured) before it is too late, as there is an ageing list of potential people of interest

Ms Finn's driver Leigh Beswick told Australian Story in March his former employer had a close relationship with Mr O'Connor and had threatened to take him 'down' with her three days before her death, when he was the police minister.

Her daughter Bridget Shewring has long campaigned for an inquest before it is too late as there is an ageing list of potential people of interest. Some have died.

She was present at the WA Coroner's Court on Friday when the date was set, telling reporters she was pleased an inquest would finally be held and the family could hopefully get some answers.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan has previously said the crime will be difficult if not impossible to solve.

The inquest will be held for two weeks starting September 11.
The woman at the centre of a high profile Sydney rape trial has vented her 'heartbreak' in an emotional social media response.

Luke Andrew Lazarus, 25, was on Thursday found not guilty of raping the then 18-year-old virgin in a laneway outside his father's Kings Cross nightclub in 2013.

The woman on Friday penned the Facebook post about her 'frustration' with the verdict and the anguish she says she has suffered since the night in question.

'There's something I need to get off my chest. I've spent far too long feeling embarrassed and ashamed. The 18 year old in the story is me,' she said in the post.

Luke Lazarus leaves the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney, on Thursday,after he was found not guilty of the rape of a teenager in a Kings Cross alleway

The woman at the centre of the high profile case has vented her 'heartbreak' in an emotional social media response

'I am mad and frustrated and heartbroken  I feel let down and confused,' she wrote.

The woman said she 'lost something' that night and has been 'searching for it ever since'.

She thanked friends for their support and police for their efforts with the case.

'At this point I'd like to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who's supported me through this sh***y part of my life, but especially to a particular detective (who knows who she is) for pouring more time, effort and care into this case than anyone.'

She also spoke of her relief at asking for help from loved ones after the night in question.

'Nothing has ever made me feel better than admitting I needed help. At first I felt like I needed to be happy and it would all just go away.'

CCTV footage from outside Mr Lazarus' father's Soho nightclub showed him leaving the bar with the woman Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4472422/Luke-Lazarus-not-guilty-rape-Kings-Cross.html#ixzz4gDl1EVvd Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Mr Lazarus approached the woman at 3.59am after making eye contact on the dance floor. He told her his family owned the night club, took her to a VIP area and minutes later they were having sex

She also told of seeing the good in people, and how she hoped sharing her feelings would help in her healing process.

'At times like this when I'm feeling sh***y, and down, and so so so tired, I remember that for every d***head human there are a million more filled with love, light and kindness and that lifts my heavy heart,' she wrote.

'I'm hoping that putting my thoughts and feelings on paper will help with the long process of moving on.

Judge Tupman found the woman 'did not say stop or no' and Mr Lazarus genuinely believed she had given consent, even though the encounter was 'quick and unromantic'.

Judge Robyn Tupman found alleged victim 'did not say stop or no' to Mr Lazarus

A jury found Mr Lazarus guilty of the same charge in March 2015 and the following month he was sentenced to at least three years' jail, with a maximum term of five years.

But the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed that conviction in April last year, and ordered a re-trial, which was heard by Judge Tupman without a jury.

There has never been any dispute the pair had sex. Consent has been the only issue.

Mr Lazarus said he and the woman had anal sex in an alley behind the club about 4am on May 12, 2013, and that the woman was down on all fours.

In this latest trial, Mr Lazarus told the court it was not the only time he had sex in the laneway behind Soho (pictured), or the first time he had sex with a woman minutes after they had met

There has never been any dispute the pair had sex, consent has been the only issue in the two trials (Mr Lazarus is pictured)

The court heard the pair had gone outside his father's club Soho into Hourigan Lane, Potts Point, within three minutes of meeting on the dance floor.

In both trials, the now 25-year-old pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent, saying the woman was encouraging and never told him to stop.

In this latest trial, Mr Lazarus told the District Court it was not the only time he had sex in the laneway behind Soho, or the first time he had sex with a woman minutes after they had met.

He insisted he had every reason to believe the 18-year-old was happy to have sex with him and that her mood only changed when he asked her to add her name to a 'trophy list' in his phone.
It started with a 500 birthday gift from his grandmother which he quickly tripled during his first dalliance in the markets at the tender age of 14.

Now, Preston-born Michael Platt is the richest hedge fund manager in Britain, with the 300million he netted in the last year bringing his estimated wealth at a cool 2.4billion.

The 49-year-old financier has seen his assets soar at the helm of BlueCrest Capital in a turbulent year for investors, while some of his rivals fell victim to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

Michael Platt, now Britain's richest hedge fund manager, started out thanks to some shares his grandmother gave him

Mr Platt has indicated the kind of work ethic that has got him to such an elevated position, and how he has strengthened his position in the Sunday Times Rich List.

When asked about what he looked for in traders, he once said it was 'the type of guy who gets up at seven o'clock on Sunday morning when his kids are still in bed, and logs on to a poker site so that he pick off the US drunks coming home on Saturday night'.

He added: 'I hired a guy like that. He usually clears five or 10 grand every Sunday morning before breakfast taking out the drunks playing poker because there not very good at it, but their confidence has gone up a lot.'

Platt was brought up in a relatively modest household in Lancashire before his hedge fund success saw him move across the globe.

His father taught civil engineering at the University of Manchester while his mother was a university administrator.

Robert Miller and his daughter Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece are the second richest bosses. Their collective wealth is said to to 1.5billion

Another hedge fund manager, Crispin Odey, lost an eye-watering 125million last year

In 2010, he moved from London to Geneva, Switzerland to save on tax before reportedly relocating to Jersey while basing the hedge fund in nearby Guernsey for tax purposes.

Who are the richest hedge fund managers in Britain? 1. Michael Platt, BlueCrest Capital. Wealth- 2.4bn (up 300m) 2. Robert Miller and Princess Marie-Chantal, Search Investment Group. Wealth -1.58bn (unchanged) 3. David Harding, Winton Group. Wealth - 1.3bn (up 150m) 4. Sir Michael Hintze, CQS. Wealth - 1.28bn (unchanged) 5. Alan Howard, Brevan Howard. Wealth - 1.04bn (unchanged) 6. Sir Chris Hohn, TCI Fund Holdings. Wealth - 820m (up 100m) 7. Crispin Odey, Odey Asset Management. Wealth - 775m (down 125m) 8. Chris Rokos, Rokos Capital Management. Wealth - 700m (up 40m) 9. John Armitage, Egerton Capital. Wealth - 540m (up 40m) 10. Sir Paul Marshall and Ian Wace, Marshall Wace. Wealth 505m each (up 40m) Advertisement

A lover of contemporary art, he has built a sizeable personal collection while also ploughing 5million into a fund, All Visual Arts, with well-known-gallerist Joe La Placa.

Mr Platt has a private showroom in the crypt of a deconsecrated church at One Marylebone, which displays a selection of art by, among others, taxidermist Polly Morgan, the Turner Prize-winning sculptor and installation artist Keith Tyson and Reece Jones.

The controversial collection includes a black Christ in an electric chair beside skulls, stag heads, five-billion- year-old meteorites, a Japanese girl riding a walrus and the levitation of St John the Baptist.

Mr Platt has also splurged some of his wealth on a Bombardier Challenger private jet.

Platt credits his late grandmother, herself a serious equity trader, with getting him 'addicted' to investment.

She gave him the means to put his first wager on a little-known British shipping line named Common Brothers while he was still at school, which quickly trebled to 1,500.

After graduating at the London School of Economics, he worked his way up to become a managing director at JP Morgan before co-founding BlueCrest with William Reeves in 2000.

While Mr Reeves has since retired to Hawaii, Mr Platt oversaw a change in strategy at BlueCrest which saw the fund shut its doors to outside clients in order to focus on the wealth of partners and members.

David Harding, founder and chief executive officer of Winton Capital, saw his wealth increase by 150million

The move seems to have worked with the fund reporting a 50 per cent gain during 2016, according to the guide for wealth which is published tomorrow (Sunday).

Another hedge fund manager, Crispin Odey, has suffered a stark contrast of fortunes.

His pessimistic bets on the UK economy following the Brexit referendum backfired when the market rallied.

Sir Chris Hohn, who was involved in one of the UK's most expensive divorces, managed to increase his wealth by 100million

Despite being a prominent supporter of the Leave campaign - which included a 870,000 donation to campaign groups - Odey Asset Management lost an eye-watering 125million last year.

Elsewhere, co-founder of the Hong Kong-based Duty Free Shoppers chain, Robert Miller and his daughter Princess Marie-Chantal, kept second spot with their unchanged 1.58billion, as part of their fund, Search Investment Group.

Cambridge-educated physicist David Harding moved up a place to third after netting up to 150million in the last year while Sir Chris Hohn, who had to fork out 337million to ex-wife Jamie Cooper when they divorced in 2014, saw his wealth rise by 100million.

The top 10, whose wealth now totals almost 11billion, saw their collective wealth rise by 500million in the last 12 months.

Robert Watts, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, said the differing fortuned reflected the 'astonishing events' of the last 12 months.

'Brexit has created some golden opportunities for the hedge fund world  and some massive pitfalls,' he said.

'It will be interesting to see how many hedgies in our list follow Michael Platt's lead and quit managing other people's money and choose only to manage their own fortunes, which is most instances would appear quite a task.'
Theft has been ruled out as the motive in the brutal double murder of a US marine veteran and his Canadian girlfriend in Belize.

Ever since the bodies of Drew DeVoursney and Francesca Matus were found in a sugar cane field in the Central American country, speculation has centered on robbery.

But Belizean police say that whoever murdered the couple did not take his wallet or her jewelry - and nothing was stolen from the home where they were staying.

Drew DeVoursney, 36 (left), and Francesca Matus, 52 (right), had been missing for almost a week in Corozal, Belize when police discovered them dead in a sugar cane field on Monday

DeVoursney, 36, and Matus, 52, were last seen leaving Scotty's Bar and Grill in Corozal, a small oceanside town near the Mexican border, on April 25.

They had been missing for almost a week in Corozal, Belize, when police discovered their badly decomposed bodies in a sugar cane field on Monday.

The corpses showed signs of being strangled and their wrists were duct-taped.

However, nothing was stolen from either them or their homes, and Matus's white Isuzu Rodeo was found abandoned some distance from their bodies in a cane field in Corozal.

Local media in Belize reported that with the robbery theory out the window, some other possible motives include jealousy or even a real estate deal that may have gone sour.

Two men so far have been detained and questioned about the couple's deaths, but no one has been charged, said Raphael Martinez, a Belize police spokesman.

'It seems the motive was not theft,' Martinez said.

'I'm hoping later on, down the road, we can get somebody arrested and charged.'

The couple was last seen leaving Scotty's Bar and Grill in Corozal, near Matus's home. Her car was found abandoned in a sugar cane field but police say the bodies were found 'nowhere near the truck' (Drew DeVoursney pictured)

An autopsy report on Tuesday revealed their wrists were duct-taped and they had been strangled (Francesca Matus pictured)

The couple had been dating for six months after meeting in Belize.

DeVoursney was due to return to his family in Atlanta this month, while Matus was supposed to fly home to Ontario on April 26 after living in the country for the winter.

Suspicions first arose when Matus's friend, Joe Milholen came to collect her and bring her to the airport.

'When I arrived there to pick her up, the gate was closed and the car was gone,' he told CBC News.

DeVoursney (left) was a former Marine due to return home next week to Atlanta, Georgia, and Matus (right) was meant to fly home to Ontario on April 26, the day before she went missing

DeVoursney's family is preparing to cremate his remains in Belize and bury them in Nashville National Cemetery in Tennessee, near where he grew up and graduated from high school, said his mother, Char.

DeVoursney enlisted in the US military after the 9/11 terror attacks and served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

His mother said he was overcoming post-traumatic stress disorder from his time abroad.

She added that she was heartened to learn from the US Embassy in Belize that the FBI are assisting with the investigation. The FBI had no comment.

'I'm wondering if with the FBI being involved will we ever be able to get to the bottom of who did it,' she told the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

'That is my number one question and also whatever reasons or why it happened.'
Indian paramilitary soldiers used catapults to shoot glass marbles at Kashmiri protesters during unrest in Srinagar.

Thousands of government forces cordoned off at least two dozen villages in southern Kashmir yesterday while they hunted for separatist militants believed to be hiding in the area.

They called off the operation after about 10 hours without finding any, police said.

Indian paramilitary soldiers were spotted using catapults to shoot glass marbles at Kashmiri protesters during a protest in Srinagar

Thousands of government forces cordoned off at least two dozen villages in southern Kashmir yesterday while they hunted for separatist militants believed to be hiding in the area

A young Kashmiri protester throws stones at the government forces, who called off the operation after about 10 hours without finding the militants, according to police

Rebels later ambushed and shot at an army patrol as it was returning from the operation in the Shopian area, according to police. The soldiers retaliated but the attackers fled from the area.

A civilian driver hired by the army was killed in the ambush and at least two soldiers were reportedly injured.

Police said the operation, launched after a spate of rebel attacks and anti-India protests, was the biggest in recent years in the disputed Himalayan territory.

Indian soldiers, paramilitary forces and police searched house-to-house for militants believed to be hiding in Shopian, known for its vast apple orchards.

Helicopters and drones hovered over the villages while ground forces stood guard at village entry points. Schools were closed early.

Villagers expressed surprise as soldiers directed them to assemble in central areas.

Villagers have increasingly protected the rebels by hurling rocks, and abuse, at Indian troops when they enter their areas. At least five civilians have been killed by government forces during such clashes this year

'We don't know what is going on,' said Mohammed Subhan Mir, head of Darazpora village. 'There are soldiers all around us, moving everywhere as if it is war.'

Police said some residents resisted the search, and clashes erupted in at least two villages. No injuries were reported.

Authorities said they were trying to find militants as well as choke off support from a sympathetic public.

Villagers have increasingly protected the rebels by hurling rocks, and abuse, at Indian troops when they enter their areas. At least five civilians have been killed by government forces during such clashes this year.

FIGHT FOR KASHMIR'S INDEPENDENCE Rebel groups have been fighting since 1989 for Kashmir's independence or merger with neighboring Pakistan, which also claims the mountainous region. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting and the ensuing Indian crackdown. India has accused Pakistan of arming and training the rebels, which Pakistan denies. The nuclear-armed nations have fought two wars over their rival claims to the territory. Rebel groups have largely been suppressed by Indian forces in recent years. However, public opposition to Indian rule remains deep and is now principally expressed through street protests marked by youths hurling stones at government forces. Advertisement

Locals said the soldiers were mainly trying to terrify the residents and damaged many homes while withdrawing from the villages.

Senior police officer S.P. Pani said the troops didn't find any militants.

'Still, it was a successful operation as we could sweep through so many villages with a bare minimum of local resistance.'

Another officer who was part of the operation and spoke on customary condition of anonymity said the troops were lifting their siege of the Shopian villages and were shifting to the neighboring Kulgam area.

Both Shopian and Kulgam have become militant hotbeds in the past year since Indian forces killed a popular rebel leader.

The rebel's death triggered a massive surge in anti-India protests in the mostly Muslim region, and police say dozens of young people from these areas have joined the rebel ranks.

Last week, several videos showing about 30 militants with rifles marching through an apple orchard appeared on social media sites despite a ban imposed by Indian authorities on 22 such sites and applications.

Police said they believed the militants were in Shopian, where several banks were also recently looted in attacks blamed on militants.

Meanwhile, students chanted pro-freedom slogans and threw rocks at government forces, who responded with tear gas in the northwestern town of Sopore, as students continued anti-India protests for a third week.

At least 10 students were reported injured.

Young students in school uniforms have clashed increasingly with government forces across Indian-held Kashmir after troops raided a college in the southern town of Pulwama last month.
A 'radicalised' ex-soldier with an ISIS flag in his car has been arrested at a military airbase near Paris after guns and ammunition were discovered nearby, just two days before the country's presidential election.

French authorities found an allegiance pledge to the Islamic State group, a copy of the holy Quran book and several flags in the car of the suspected radical, sources said.

The pledge was on a flash computer drive in his vehicle, which was parked close to Evreux-Fauville airbase near Paris. Guns were also found hidden in bushes near the facility.

Suspect: French authorities found an allegiance pledge to the Islamic State group and several of its flags in the car of the suspected radical close to Evreux-Fauville airbase, pictured above, close to the country's capital Paris

Local media reported a 34-year-old former serviceman was arrested at around 5.30am this morning and has been taken into police custody.

The alarm was raised after locals became suspicious of a car parked near the site at around midnight on Friday.

Police arrested the man and according to sources close to the case, found ISIS flags, a copy of the Quran and a pledge to extremist group IS.

The man is understood to be on the French watchlist for extremists.

Paris anti-terror prosecutors are investigating, but it is not clear why the suspect was near the base as he is no longer serving in the military.

French voters head to the polls Sunday to pick their next president in a bruising and divisive campaign overshadowed by security worries.

Karim Cheurfi, a 39-year-old Frenchman, shot and killed a police officer and wounded two others on the Champs Elysees avenue days before the first round of voting, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

Cheurfi was killed in return fire.
Florida Memorial University will award Trayvon Martin a posthumous Bachelor of Science Degree in aviation five years after the black teenager's death

A university will award Trayvon Martin a posthumous Bachelor of Science Degree in aviation, five years after the black teenager was fatally shot by a member of a community watch group in a central Florida neighborhood.

An announcement on Florida Memorial University's official Facebook page says Martin's parents will accept his degree in aeronautical science during a May 13 commencement ceremony.

The late teen's mother Sybrina Fulton, 51, is an alumnus of the historically black school and co-founded the Trayvon Martin Foundation - housed by Florida Memorial's Department of Aviation and Safety - along with his father Tracy Martin after her son's death in 2012.

Martin, who would have been 22 years old this year, took aviation classes during his junior year at Dr. Michael M. Krop High School in Miami-Dade County, Florida and the university's statement says it will honor the steps he took toward becoming a pilot.

'Of special significance is awarding posthumously the Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation to Trayvon Martin,' president of the university, Dr.Roslyn Artis said.

'Sybrina, our alum, epitomizes strength and dignity as she uplifts other victims of violence while effecting change for a more equal and just society.'

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Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton, 51, (pictured right) is an alumnus of the historically black school awarding her late son and has been vocal about police brutality along with the late teen's father Tracy Martin (pictured left)

Martin (left) was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer Zimmerman (right) on February 26 2012 after he said the teen looked 'really suspicious'

On February 26 2012, Martin went out to a local store in Twin Lakes, Florida, to buy a packet of skittles. On his way back home, he was spotted by George Zimmerman, a member of the community watch at the time.

Zimmerman, 33, called 911 to report 'a really suspicious guy' who was 'looking at all the houses in a neighborhood'.

He then fatally shot Martin, then 17 years, as the teen returned to his father's home and claimed self-defense. A jury acquitted Zimmerman of second-degree murder in 2013, sparking nationwide protests and kick starting the Black Lives Matter movement.

Since their son's death, Mr Martin and Ms Fulton have been vocal about police shootings of unarmed black men. The late teen's parents wrote the book Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin: A Parents Story of Love, Injustice, and the Birth of a Movement.
The first woman and second African-American to hold the position of White House chief usher has been fired.

No reason was given for Angella Reid's dismissal, which was confirmed by White House officials.

'We are very grateful for her service and wish her the very best,' an official told the Washington Post, refusing to give details about Reid's firing.

Angella Reid was fired from her position as chief usher for the White House on Friday

The chief usher is responsible for managing the residence, staff and overseeing events.

The position is not political so it's highly unusual for someone to be fired from the position at the beginning of a new administration. There have only been 10 chief ushers since the position was officially created at the turn of the 20th century.

Reid, appointed to the position by President Obama, had only had the job for six years.

Stephen Rochon, who was chief usher from 2007 to 2011 and was the first black usher, told CNN that the Trump transition team asked him to come back to 'run the house' but that he declined.

Trump wasn't at the White House on Friday when staff were informed of the firing. He attended an event in New York City Thursday night (above) and is spending the weekend at his golf club in New Jersey

Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University, hypothesized that Reid was fired over Trump's paranoia.

'The Trump administration seems worried about Obamas spies, and there may have been a feeling that she wasnt on page with the Trumpians,' he told the Washington Post.

White House staff were notified Friday morning that Reid was no longer employed.

Former White House staffers, such as Obama's deputy chief of staff Alyssa Mastromonaco, were outraged by Reid's dismissal.

'This is really some s***. Please RT so people know who 45 thinks is disposable," she tweeted about the Post's report.

Reid oversaw daily operations at the 132-room mansion and its staff of over 90 plumbers, electricians, butlers, cooks and others.

The chief usher coordinates closely with the first family, and helps ensure things run smoothly at the Easter Egg Roll, state dinners and other events.

Reid joined the White House from the Ritz-Carlton hotel chain, where she was general manager of the Pentagon City location.

In an interview with CNN last year, Reid gushed about her job.

'What I think about most when I walk around the house is who has been here, who has done what in this particular space,' Reid told CNN last year. 'Because, you know, just to think that I am able to walk here now when 100 years ago, a president or first lady did, or other guests did, or some of my ancestors did.'

She added: 'It gives me a sense of awe, the fact that slaves built this house and I now work in this house as a leader, something out of my wildest dreams.'

President Trump flew to New York City on Thursday for an event with the Australian prime minister. He is spending the weekend working out of his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
A charity that encourages vehicle donation is being accused by authorities of misleading donors by using proceeds collected from them to fund a Jewish youth camp, CBS News reported on Friday.

Kars4Kids, a non-profit that is exempt from paying some federal income taxes, solicits donated cars from the public.

It is known for its jingle, which has young children singing the 1-877-KARS4KIDS phone number along with its slogan 'Donate your cars today.'

The jingle has been universally panned for its simplicity - so much so that listeners often find it difficult to get rid of it once they hear it for the first time.

While the charity ostensibly uses the donated vehicles to raise money for kids, it neglects to mention that 90 percent of the funds are used to benefit Oorah, an organization founded by Rabbi Chaim Mintz.

Based in New Jersey, Oorah seeks to 'give Jewish children and their families opportunities to connect with their rich heritage and traditions,' according to its web site.

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Kars4Kids, a non-profit that is exempt from paying some federal income taxes, solicits donated cars from the public. It is known for its jingle, which has young children (above) singing the 1-877-KARS4KIDS phone number along with its slogan 'Donate your cars today'

An investigation conducted by Minnesota's attorney general, Lori Swanson (above), revealed that while Minnesotans donated a total of $3million to Kars4Kids between 2012 and 2014, less than $12,000 of that money went to benefit children in the Gopher State

An investigation conducted by Minnesota's attorney general, Lori Swanson, revealed that while Minnesotans donated a total of $3million to Kars4Kids between 2012 and 2014, less than $12,000 of that money went to benefit children in the Gopher State.

'I think it's important when people donate to a charity, that they have information in terms of where their money is going,' said Swanson told CBS News.

Swanson revealed that Oorah has even used money raised through Kars4Kids to invest in real estate.

She said that the charity has a responsibility to disclose the fact that it lost approximately $10million in real estate transactions.

'Oorah invested the money and then lost the money. And we think that, too, is something important for people to know,' Swanson said.

In a statement, Kars4Kids defended its practices.

'Since we are headquartered in the northeast, many of our programs and recipients naturally come from this area,' the statement reads.

'We believe Minnesota residentsappreciate that their generous donations to Kars4Kids help children both in and out of state.'

Minnesota joins Oregon and Pennsylvania, two more states who accused the charity of misleading donors.

Attorneys general from those states accused Kars4Kids of violating the terms of its tax exempt status by offering 'free vacations' to potential donors.

In 2009, Kars4Kids reached settlements with both Pennsylvania and Oregon in which it agreed to be more up front about its religious affiliation, according to AOL.

Representatives for Kars4Kids and Minnesota officials are said to be in talks.
The Spanish Government has been accused of 'completely unacceptable' behaviour after a military aircraft strayed into Gibraltar's air space today.

A British Airways passenger jet was delayed after the Spanish military P3 Orion flew within two miles of the Gibraltar coastline, a statement said.

The British Government confirmed that at 12pm this afternoon the anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft flew within the boundaries of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo described it as the Spanish taking the 'harassment of Gibraltar to new heights.'

A Spanish military P3 Orion (stock image) flew within two miles of the Gibraltar coastline at about 12pm

The British Government confirmed that at 12pm this afternoon the anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft flew within two miles of the Gibraltar coastline (pictured)

He said: 'It is no secret that Spain has been deliberately causing problems for Gibraltar at our border and through its incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

'Today's incursion into Gibraltar's airspace, in the middle of a busy day when several civilian flights were scheduled to arrive and depart from the Gibraltar International Airport, takes the Spanish harassment of Gibraltar to new heights.

'It is completely unacceptable that the Spanish military have interfered with the movement of civilian aircraft in this dangerous manner.

'Gibraltar International Airport is an extremely busy base for civilian passengers who are significant contributors to the tourism economy of the campo area.

'Delays caused by the politically-motivated manoeuvres of the Spanish military are intolerable but thanks to the swift action of Gibraltar's Air Traffic Control, delays were the only consequence. Today's incident could have ended much worse.'

The Spanish aircraft was being controlled by military in the Seville ACC control centre, a UK Government spokesman said.

A BA plane scheduled to depart from Gibraltar at 11:50am was delayed by eight minutes while the Spanish Military aircraft left the area (stock photo)

A BA plane scheduled to depart from Gibraltar at 11:50am was delayed by eight minutes on the runway until Gibraltar air traffic control were certain that the Spanish Military aircraft had left the area.

Yesterday it was revealed leaked documents showed Spain was planning to use its Brexit veto over Gibraltar to tell the Rock how to run its economy.

Madrid wants to end what it describes as the Rock's 'unjustified privileges', according to a leaked Spanish foreign ministry document.

Spanish officials said Gibraltar's low-tax status effectively means it enjoys 'unfair competition' and has vowed to crack down on the 'tax haven'.

It is believed the Spanish Government will also demand a 'new accord' over flights into Gibraltar's international airport.
A father was shot dead while he was waiting at traffic lights with his young family in his car by two gang members who have since been charged with murder.

Jose Sahagun, 44, of Norwalk, Los Angeles County was shot multiple times while at a crossing in La Mirada in front of his wife and young children, aged four and seven years-of-age.

Jose was the only fatality of the shooting spree, held across three cities in Los Angeles County, on Saturday April 29. His family escaped death by 'sheer luck' officials said.

Father of two Jose Sahagun is the sole casualty of the shooting spree

The SUV was later found abandoned (not pictured)

Known gang members and couple Alejandro Lazo, 21, and Reyna Gomez, 27, have since been charged with one count of murder each, 14 counts of attempted murder, and one count of carjacking for the rampage.

Jose, a social worker, who formerly worked as a teacher, was sprayed with bullets as he sat in his vehicle with his family at traffic lights, police say.

In a written statement Jose's sister Maria Del Rosario Sahagun said he was the fifth child in a family of 10 and described him as 'a responsible, honest, giving and an all around good-to-the-bone person.'

'Growing up, he was jokingly known amongst his six brothers and myself as the 'Bank of Ricardo,'?' Sahagun wrote. 'Regardless of the amount of money he made, he was the go-to-money-man and was always willing to lend a hand.'

Three others were injured during the rampage although their current conditions have not yet been disclosed. Gomez was also charged with one count of torture, prosecutors added.

Sheriff's Department Capt. Christopher Bergner said at a news conference Thursday: 'In a matter of three hours, these known gang members were involved in five shootings, four in which individuals were struck by gunfire and a carjacking.

'These are senseless acts of violence -- acts committed on innocent people that were merely enjoying the day, running errands in what they believed was a safe area.'

The pair, who are thought to have links to gangs, were taken into custody last Saturday evening outside a motel in Whittier hours after the raids, according to Sgt. Vincent Plair.

Officials said the apparently random shootings began at 1pm on Saturday when a pedestrian was shot in the leg.

Around ten minutes later the pair carjacked a woman at gun point in Pico Rivera, accruing her Nissan Pathfinder.



Maria Del Rosario Sahagun, sister of the murdered Jose, speaks to press earlier this week

Another pedestrian was shot in the groin about 3:35 p.m. in Whittier by one of the Pathfinder's occupants.

Authorities then received reports of shots fired at two motorists six minutes later in the neighboring Colima Road.

Lazo and Gomez allegedly then proceeded southeast in the Pathfinder to the intersection of Imperial Highway and La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, where a third person was shot in an arm.

Sheriff's deputies responding to that shooting quickly learned of another shooting at in La Mirada, which claimed the life of Jose.

The hijacked car was found later that evening abandoned.

Lazo and Gomez are being held on $16 million bail each. Authorities did not release booking photos of the suspects but said they had gunshot wounds to their torsos when they were found.

If convicted as charged, they face a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.

Investigators say additional suspects aided in the shooting rampage and expect to make additional arrests.

The criminal duo had been released from prison in November with Lazo convicted of extortion and assault and Gomez for auto theft and receiving stolen property, officials said.
Cleared: Henry Sanchez-Milian, 18 (pictured), and his co-defendant Jose Montano, 17, had rape charges against them dropped due to lack of evidence Friday

Maryland prosecutors have dropped charges against two immigrant teens accused of raping and sodomizing a classmate in a high school bathroom.

Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy told a judge Friday that after an investigation, authorities are dropping rape and sex offense counts against 17-year-old Jose Montano, who was charged as an adult.

He and 18-year-old Henry Sanchez-Milian were charged in the alleged assault on the girl at Rockville High School in March.

Defense attorneys said the sex was consensual. They pointed to text messages in which the girl agreed to a sexual encounter; an explicit video the girl sent one of the teens; and security camera footage, which they said shows the girl running to meet one of the teens and willingly entering the restroom with him.

McCarthy said at a news conference this morning that the same charges against Sanchez-Milian also are being dropped due to lack of evidence.

'We have concluded that the facts in this case do not support the original charges filed in this matter,' he told reporters. 'Due to the lack of corroboration and substantial inconsistencies from the facts that we have obtained from multiple sources since the filing of the original charging document, the original charges cannot be sustained, and prosecution on those charges is untenable.'

The pair were accused of sexually assaulting and sodozming a 14-year-old girl inside a men's room at Rockville High School in March

The prosecutor said the case was closed following a through two-month 'painstaking' investigation, which includes a review of medical, phone and computer records, school security videos, and interviews with witnesses, reported the Washington Post.

Sanchez-Milian, who was living in the US illegally, now faces new charges of child pornography possession and distribution.

Prosecutor John McCarthy said during a press conference on Friday the charges were dropped because of 'substantial inconsistencies'

Attorney Maria Mena says Montano also faces child pornography charges in juvenile court, which she called 'egregious.'

The new criminal counts are stemming from explicit photos defense attorneys say the girl sent to Montano, which he then shared with Sanchez-Milian.

Andrew Jezic, Sanchez-Milian's defenses lawyer, slammed the decision to charge his client with possession of child pornography as 'selective prosecution of elective promiscuity.'

The rape case sparked national headlines after the White House called it an example of why President Donald Trump wants to crack down on illegal immigration.

The pair were arrested on March 16 after the 14-year-old girl went to the police claiming that Montano and Sanchez-Milian took turns raping her inside a boys' bathroom after she rejected their sexual advances.

At Friday's White House briefing, spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked whether the White House unfairly jumped to conclusions in the case. She said White House spokesman Sean Spicer 'was speaking about what he knew at the time.'

According to court documents filed in the case at the time, the freshman knew only one of the teens, Montano, who allegedly asked her for a hug, then slapped her butt and asked her to walk with them.

Montano's attorney Maria Mena (pictured) told reporters it was 'egregious' that prosecutors have charged her client with child pornography possession

As the trio were passing by a boys' bathroom on the way to the gym, the 17-year-old Montano repeatedly asked the girl to have sex with him and his friend, and when she refused they allegedly forced her into the restroom.

The probable cause document described the assault in extremely graphic detail, recounting how the alleged victim grabbed onto a sink to avoid being forced into a stall, but the two suspects shoved her inside.

Once in the stall, the document stated that Montano allegedly opened the girl's top and 'pulled her breasts out to play with,' then unbuckled her pants and pulled them down.

The two teenagers then allegedly proceeded to take turns holding down the young girl while forcing her to perform oral sex on them and raping her both vaginally and anally on the toilet multiple times while communicating with one another in Spanish.

Throughout the ordeal, the document stated, the victim screamed out in pain and repeatedly told her friend Montano, and Sanchez-Milian to stop.

The allegations of raped rocked the Rockville community and made national headlines after the White House weighed in on the case

Police are pictured outside the school where the incident was reported in March

After the attack, police said Sanchez-Milian covered the victim's head with his coat and led her out of the bathroom as Montano ordered her to be quiet.

The freshman girl immediately reported the assault to school administrators and law enforcement officials were summoned to the scene to investigate.

Montgomery County Public Schools has been besieged by hundreds of racist and xenophobic calls in the wake of the incident. In response, schools beefed up police presence in an attempt to reassure the anxious community.

During a preliminary hearing in late March, Andrew Jezic, Sanchez-Milian's lawyer, told the court that the sexual encounter between his client and the girl was 'pre-planned' and consensual.

Sanchez-Milian, who is from Guatemala, came to the US illegally in August and was encountered by a US Border Patrol agent in Texas, federal immigration officials said.

He was eventually released to live with his father, Adolfo Sanchez-Reyes, 43, who was taken away by ICE agents in late March for illegally immigrating to Jessup, Maryland, from Guatemala.

Montano came to the US from El Salvador to live with relatives who are US citizens after his adoptive grandmother died in El Salvador, leaving him alone there, his lawyers said.

Mena said Friday that immigration proceedings have been initiated against him, but they will fight to keep him in the country.
Racquel Rochester assaulted her boyfriend after seeing him dining with someone else

A jealous ex-girlfriend went on the rampage in a Nando's and punched her former partner after she spotted him enjoying a meal with his new love, a court heard.

Racquel Rochester, 28, smashed glasses and a plate in her fury at the restaurant in Croydon, south London.

She then leapt at her ex-boyfriend, Chris Lamont, punching him in the chest and kicking him in the stomach before hurrying away, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Oliver Wellings, prosecuting, described Mr Lamonts account of seeing Rochester angry that he was with another woman before she marched over to where they were sitting.

He said: The offences all relate to an evening when the complainant, Mr Lamont, was having dinner in Nandos on Croydon High Street.

He refers to an ex-friend of mine but it is understood they had been in a long-term relationship.

There is obviously a long history between them.

He says she started to smash glasses that were on the table by picking them up and throwing them on the table.

The carer was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay 200 costs as well as a 20 surcharge

He also says she picked up a plate and smashed that as well.

He says that the confrontation continued outside Nandos where he was pushed and punched in the face and chest.

Len Furlong, defending said: 'Unfortunately Mr Lamont did not inform her that the relationship was over so when she saw him the red mist came up.

Rochester, who works as a carer for elderly people, denied criminal damage and assault on the evening of July 28 last year but was convicted after trial in the magistrates court.

The Nando's branch in Croydon where Rochester went on the rampage

Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said the defendant had been overwrought having seen [Mr Lamont] with another woman.

Sparing her jail, he added: It seems to me this was an outburst in the heat of the moment - it is as simple as that.

You are a woman of good character, you have a good job and it seems as though you do good in the job that you do.

Rochester, of Croydon, was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay 200 costs as well as a 20 surcharge.
Donald Trump's ongoing feud with TV networks not named 'Fox News' has clicked into a new gear as ABC, CBS and NBC have all joined CNN in refusing to run an ad from the president's re-election campaign committee.

The ad shows hosts from all four networks under a banner that reads 'FAKE NEWS.'

It's the Trump campaign's first commercial since winning the White House, and although it is three years out from the next election, it declares the nation has 'rarely seen such success.'

The ad blasts the 'fake news' media for failing to see things that way  and includes CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Also included are MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and Andrea Mitchell, CBS's Scott Pelley and ABC's George Stephanopoulos in its rogues gallery.

Nowhere to be found is the right-leaning Fox News Channel, Trump's favorite network.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

The first big planned ad buy from Donald Trump's re-election campaign blasts 'fake news' from (left to right) MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell, CNN's Wolf Blitzer, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, ABC's George Stephanopoulos and CBS's Scott Pelley  but none of the networks will run the spot

Donald J. Trump for President wanted to put $1.5 million behind the ad buy, marking his first 100 days in office

The president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, says the four networks are engaging in 'an unprecedented act of censorship'

Presidential daughter-in-law Lara Trump, a consultant to the campaign organization, said in a statement that '[a]pparently, the mainstream media are champions of the First Amendment only when it serves their own political views.'

'Faced with an ad that doesn't fit their biased narrative, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC have now all chosen to block our ad. This is an unprecedented act of censorship in America that should concern every freedom-loving citizen.'

In an appearance Thursday night on the Fox News Channel's 'Hannity' program, she called the move 'really ridiculous' and 'really sad.'

CNN was the first to take a pass on airing the ad, a move that generated news stories and publicity  and drove millions of eyeballs to the 30-second spot without costing the campaign a cent.

It was to spend $1.5 million to put the ad on the air.

President Trump has repeatedly referred to the 'fake news' media and has clashed with correspondents and anchors on nearly every network

The ad has all the hallmarks of an early campaign push, including Trump's ubiquitous slogan

The network 'requested that the advertiser remove the false graphic that the mainstream media is "fake news," a CNN spokeswoman told DailyMail.com this week.

'The mainstream media is not fake news, and therefore the ad is false and per policy will only be accepted if that graphic is deleted.'

The statement didn't dispute any of the ad's other claims lauding Trump's moves to slash regulations, create jobs, and confirm Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

The Trump camp didn't shy from CNN's pushback  blasting it out in a press release to its base of supporters and contributors.

'It is absolutely shameful to see the media blocking the positive message that President Trump is trying to share with the country. It's clear that CNN is trying to silence our voice and censor our free speech because it doesn't fit their narrative,' said Michael Glassner, the campaign's executive director.

It yet another release making hay out of the blowup, Glassner piles on. The email missive is headlined: 'CNN EPITOMIZES MEANING OF FAKE NEWS, CENSORS TRUMP CAMPAIGN AD.'

'This is censorship pure and simple,' he says in the email. 'By rejecting our ad, CNN has proven that it supports censorship is biased and fears an opposing point of view. President Trumps loyal supporters know the truth: The mainstream media mislead, misguide, deceive, and distract.'

Glassner concludes: 'CNN epitomizes the meaning of fake news and has proven it by rejecting our paid campaign ad.'

The four-network shoving match comes less than a week after the president engaged in long-distance sparring with the media during the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, which he did not attend.

Trump instead held a rally in Pennsylvania where he blasted the media in front of nearly 10,000 screaming fans.

'We are not fake news, we are not failing news organizations and we are not the enemy of the American people,' said WHCA president and Reuters correspondent Jeff Mason during his remarks at the dinner.

Titled 'First 100 Days,' the highlights Trump's initial achievements in office and blasts 'fake news' for downplaying them.

'You wouldn't know it from watching the news,' a moderator scolds  as huge red letters screaming 'Fake News' cover the faces of TV personalities.

'America has rarely seen such success, the ad's narrator says.

'A respected Supreme Court justice confirmed. Companies investing in American jobs again. America becoming more energy independent. Regulations that kill American jobs eliminated. The biggest tax cut plan in history.'

'You wouldn't know it from watching the news,' it continues.

At that point the ad flashes the words 'FAKE NEWS' on-screen, complete with pictures of five TV news anchors.

The ad touts the 'biggest tax cut in history'  which hasn't happened yet since Congress is still wrangling over the details

The half-million jobs 'created' include many recorded during the first 19 days of January  when Barack Obama was still president

Trump's campaign ad touts his biggest achievement to day, successfully shepherding a Supreme Court justice's nomination through the U.S. Senate

The ad buy, announced Monday, is paid for by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., and was to air in major markets throughout the country in addition to targeting specific voting groups online.

A statement from the campaign said the ad is part of Trump's 'approach of reaching out to the American people directly by highlighting his work over the first 100 days and fighting back against the continued media bias.'

'I'm Donald Trump and I approved this message,' the commercial concludes in the president's voice  just like the campaign ads Americans saw non-stop.

'America is winning,' the voice-over says, 'and President Trump is making America great again.'
The jokes are on him.

President Donald Trump has been the subject of far more jokes than his predecessors, coming in for more than 1,000 jokes on late night television, according to a new analysis of evening comedy routines.

Trump was the target of 1,060 jokes during his first 100 days, during a time period where he tried to rack up legislative accomplishments and drew widespread global coverage for his initiatives and his early stumbles.

The jokes were more than his predecessors in office drew during their entire first years.

Barack Obama, who like Trump took office in an election that caused a media sensation, was the subject of 936 jokes during his first year, according to the analysis, by George Mason University's Center for Media and Public Affairs.

TAKE MY CABINET, PLEASE! President Donald was the target of 1,060 jokes during his first 100 days, more than any of his predecessors

George W. Bush drew 546 jokes in 2001, and Bill Clinton got 440 jokes in 1993.

Even at the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, in 1998, Bill Clinton was the subject of 1,717 jokes  a number Trump is on track to beat.

That makes him the most joked about president the center has encountered, with a review going back to 1992.

Still to be determined is whether all the late-night ribbing has a political impact. Trump stood at 42 per cent in the latest Gallup tracking poll.

The comedians, concentrated in New York, where Trump still has a home, have gone after his foibles, his physical appearance, and policies ranging from his stalled immigration order to his push to repeal Obamacare.

The study was reported by Politico.

The study covered monologues in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Trump was the target of 1,060 jokes during his first 100 days from comedians including Jimmy Kimmel

'Late Night' Jimmy Fallon has hosted Trump on his show, but also joined other comedians in making a slew of jokes at the president's expense

AIMING HIGH: Trump is on track to surpass Bill Clinton when it comes to the number of jokes sustained during a single year from late-night comics

The study covered monologues in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

After Trump during a press conference asked a black reporter to line up a meeting between himself and the Congressional Black Caucus, comedian Jimmy Kimmel quipped: ' You know its a bad press conference when assuming all black people know each other wasnt even the worst part of it.'

Were just 10 days in and it feels like its total chaos at the White House. This is supposed to be the honeymoon. How could Trump blow the honeymoon? Hes had three of them,' said comedian Stephen Colbert.

'Today, Trump held a press conference to honor African American luminaries like the two black people he knows, Ben Carson and Omarosa,' quipped Colbert in February, according to a Washington Post roundup of jokes.
A New Jersey man who planned to set off a pressure cooker bomb in New York City is charged with attempting to support ISIS, prosecutors said Friday.

Gregory Lepsky, 20, of Point Pleasant, was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Investigators say he had also praised the Islamic State group's leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, in online messages.

Lepsky, a US-born citizen, was arrested in February after investigators said he stabbed and threatened to kill his family dog because it was considered 'dirty' in his view of Islam.

While searching the home, officers found a pressure cooker stored behind a roll of bubble wrap in his bedroom closet. They also searched his phone.

'Lepsky expressed regret for having tried to kill the family dog because, according to him, if he had not done so, the police would not have discovered his plan,' FBI agent Tara Jerussi wrote in a complaint filed Friday.

Lepsky, who told authorities he had joined ISIS and pledged allegiance to Allah, also had the terorrist organization's flag on his cell phone background (file pic, an ISIS supporter with flag)

A family member called the police on February 21, saying Lepsky was armed with a weapon and threatening to kill the dog, according to a criminal complaint.

When police arrived at the New Jersey home, they instructed him to step out of the house, and Lepsky eventually complied.

Lepsky was bleeding from the arm, and while paramedics were treating him, the 20-year-old volunteered that he planned to kill his mom.

He also told the authorities that he joined ISIS, pledged allegiance to Allah, and purchased plane tickets to Turkey.

When authorities searched the home, they found a stainless steel pressure cooker in his bedroom closet, along with books like Martydom in Jihad versus Suicide Bombing.

'Lepsky stated that he was going to take a pressure cooker, use it to make a bomb, and place it in a busy area in New York City in order to kill as many people as possible,' the criminal complaint states.

Lepsky faces an initial court appearance Friday afternoon. There was no phone listing for him. If convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Between January 14 and February 4 of 2017, Lepsky conducted online searches 'relating to ISIS propaganda, terrorist attacks and beheadings' (pictured, some of the searches)

Authorities said a search of his computer, phone, and social media yielded evidence Lepsky planned to detonate a bomb and fight on behalf of the Islamic State group.

'I linked up with some guy I met on a chat website and he wants me to become Muslim and join ISIS,' Lepsky said in text message. 'I really wanna go join ISIS.'

Law enforcement also said they found a series of instructions on how to build a pressure cooker bomb and a message forwarded by Lepsky from another Islamic State group supporter stating that if a Westerner could not travel to Syria to fight, 'he could conduct a terrorist attack in his home country using improvised explosive devices.'

A search of his phone also found an image of a flag used by the Islamic State group and a photo of him holding firearms with his finger making a gesture used by Islamic State group members and supporters, investigators said.

He said in another Facebook message that his father was a Muslim from Chechnya, but stopped being religious when he moved to America.

'But I want to be different,' investigators said he wrote. 'I want to be religious and grow up and be a martyr.'

When the recipient of his message responded saying that doing so would be 'insane', Lepsky responded he was serious, according to the criminal complaint.

He wrote: 'I'm actually not joking this time I usually just f*** with you but I actually want to die for the sake of God because when you do you get automatic heaven.'

Point Pleasant is 12 miles north of Seaside Park, where a pipe bomb exploded before the start of a charity military run last year.

Ahmad Khan Rahimi, of Elizabeth, faces charges that he set off that bomb and planting two pressure cooker bombs in Manhattan that injured more than 30 people. He was arrested the next morning after a shootout with police in Linden, New Jersey.
'Merciless' rogue builders who conned Jude Law's grandmother and other vulnerable pensioners into paying huge bills were jailed yesterday.

The actor's late relative Meinwen Parry, an 89-year-old retired biology teacher from north Wales, had memory problems and was bullied into handing over 60,900.

Roofer Steven Jones, 38 - who swindled almost 750,000 from elderly homeowners - tricked her into giving him cheques for thousands of pounds between 2012 and 2014.

Jones is one of three other builders who were condemned for their 'deceit of vulnerable people in their own homes and convicted of money laundering on Friday.

Jude Law's late grandmother Meinwen Parry, 89, had 'severe' memory problems and was bullied into handing over 60,900 by roofer Steven Jones (right), 38

Jones tricked Ms Parry into giving him cheques for thousands of pounds. Ms Parry died aged 89 in July 2015 after a fall (pictured, Jude Law at her funeral)

Jones took advantage of Miss Parrys severe short-term memory problems, Caernarfon crown court in North Wales heard.

He was found out after bank staff came suspicious and alerted trading standards.

Officers began to visit her regularly and in June 2014, Jones was seen at the pensioner's door.

She appeared distressed and his fingerprints were found on an invoice.

Analysis of her bank account showed that Ms Parry paid a total 60,916 in 17 cheques to Jones between September 2012 and June 2014.

Ms Parry died aged 89 in July 2015 after a fall.

Law attended her funeral, telling mourners: 'Im sad about what has happened but very proud of her role in the community.'

Other clients affected by the builders include an 84-year-old ex-school caretaker from Llandudno, who had health and mobility problems and 'could only shuffle to the door'.

He was swindled out of his 656,000 life savings between August 2009 and September 2015 for unnecessary and substandard roofing work to his detached three-bedroom bungalow. He had been told his roof had collapsed.

A third victim, aged 84 and from Holyhead, lost 1,000. An attempt was also made to cheat a woman of 78 from Anglesey, of 3,500, prosecutor Elen Owen said.

Bedwyr Roberts, 34, pleaded guilty to money laundering a total of 680,000 and was jailed for six years. His partner Caryn Owen, 51, the oldest defendant, was jailed for 20 months for money laundering just under 70,000

Other victims include an 84-year-old ex-school caretaker who was swindled out of his 656,000 life savings, Caernarfon crown court heard (pictured)

Jones, 38, a professional roofer of Llangefni, who admitted fraud, was one of those who worked on the Penrhyn Bay bungalow. He was jailed for eight years.

Judge Huw Rees told Jones he had defrauded victims of almost three quarters of a million pounds, with at least two of them suffering significant ill health.

The judge told him he'd been involved in 'a prolonged and planned course of conduct from 2009 to 2016.'

Defence barrister Andrew McInnes said he was 'remorseful and ashamed of his involvement.'

Bedwyr Roberts, 34, a security guard, swindled 300,000 through 39 cheques from the elderly man between May 2011 and December 2014.

He pleaded guilty to money laundering a total of 680,000 and was jailed for six years.

His counsel, Brett Williamson, said what weighed down upon him the most was that he had involved his partner Caryn Owen. He didn't have a lavish lifestyle and became involved because of misguided loyalty.

Daniel Taylor, 34, of Llangefni, got a two-year sentence for fraud, the judge saying he had played a leading role in obtaining false paperwork

His partner Caryn Owen, 51, the oldest defendant, was jailed for 20 months for money laundering just under 70,000. The court heard she was now likely to lose a job in the Post Office after 30 years.

Daniel Taylor, 34, of Llangefni, got a two-year sentence for fraud, the judge saying he had played a leading role in obtaining false paperwork.

Six other defendants got suspended sentences for money laundering roles and were ordered to carry out unpaid work.

The judge asked that the Chief Constable should be told about the 'detailed and meticulous investigation' carried out by two detective constables - Catherine Walker and Gwyn Williams.

Welcoming the sentences, investigating officer DC Walker said: 'This case has demonstrated just how low some people will sink to exploit the vulnerable in our community.

'These were despicable acts where elderly, vulnerable people were deliberately targeted and deprived of their life savings. They do so with absolutely no conscience or thought of the damage they inflict.

'Money that was needed to ensure a comfortable retirement has seemingly vanished and at this point there seems little hope in tracing and returning it to its rightful owner. Sadly, one of the victims has since passed away.

'North Wales Police will relentlessly pursue and prosecute those few who prey on the vulnerable but our success rests with communities passing information and suspicions to us.

'We must continue to work together and so I'd encourage the public to let us know of their suspicions. Information, no matter how little, may be the missing link which results in an investigation commencing.'




Venice is known as the 'City of Canals' and the 'Floating City' - and it can now add another name to that list: 'City of No New Kebab Shops'.

Local authorities have banned new fast-food outlets, including those selling kebabs, from opening in the romantic tourist destination to 'preserve Venice's cultural heritage'.

The new law, which came into effect yesterday, also sets a limit on the number of shops which can sell slices of pizza.

Local authorities in Venice have banned new fast-food outlets, including those selling kebabs, from opening in the tourist destination to 'preserve [the city's] cultural heritage'. The law, which came into effect yesterday, also sets a limit on the number of shops which can sell slices of pizza

'We want to put the brakes on types of activities which are not compatible with the preservation and development of Venice's cultural heritage,' said Paola Mar, the city's tourism chief, according to The Guardian.

She added that the Italian city did not object to kebabs or fast foods in principle, and stressed she did not have a problem with people eating outside.

'The problem is that with a tourist city like ours, there is a risk of it losing its identity. There are local products that we must try to promote,' she continued.

However, to discourage tourists - who visit in their millions each year - from eating takeaway food in hotspots, Mar said there were plans to establish picnic areas.

Quanto? Brits charged 54 for four cones in Rome ice cream parlour An ice cream parlour in Rome which charged British tourists 54 for four cones in 2013 took out a newspaper advert justifying its high prices. The Antica Roma gelataria charged brothers Roger and Stephen Bannister and their wives the sum when they stopped at the outlet near the city's famous Spanish Steps. When the unlucky tourists complained, they were told the cost would have been double if they had eaten their gelatos at a table instead of standing up. One Rome councillor called the prices a scandal. They had ordered three scoops of ice cream each to take away from the Antica Roma cafe near the Spanish Steps, and were charged 64 (54) for their snacks. The family complained about the cost to a national newspaper - reigniting a debate over high prices faced by tourists in parts of Italy. But the firm responded by taking out a full page advert titled 'the price is right,' in which it justified the cost of its products. Advertisement

Artisanal ice cream will be exempt from the new rules, as it is a firm favourite of the city's mayor, Luigi Brugnaro.

Last November, the Mayor of Florence was sued for $20million (15m) by McDonald's after he refused to let them open one of their restaurants in the shadow of the city's famous Duomo.

The American fast-food giant wanted to open an outlet in the Piazza del Duomo, deep in the heart of renaissance Florence.

But the Mayor, Dario Nardella, told the city council earlier in 2016: 'McDonald's has the right to submit an application, because this is permitted under the law, but we also have the right to say no.'

Mr Nardella's decision was upheld by a panel of conservationists who are in charge of preserving the city's most historic areas.

But the company, which has more than 36,000 diners around the world and is worth $37billion, did not accept his ruling.

McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Italy in 1986, near the Spanish Steps in Rome, and now has dozens around the country.

And in October last year, it was reported that the Vatican was not keen on plans to open a branch in a piazza near St Peter's Square.

McDonald's said the decision to turn down its application in Florence would cost it millions of euros in lost income over the next 18 years.

In a statement to the BBC, McDonald's said: 'We completely agree that the cultural and artistic heritage and the Italian historical town centres have to be protected and guaranteed, as well as the traditions and the historical small shops, but we cannot accept discriminatory regulations that damage the freedom of private initiative without being advantageous to anyone.'
A Cambridge University poetry professor who had more than 2,000 child abuse images - including one of a baby - has walked free from court.

Professor Simon Jarvis, 53, was found with the vile images on various computers and in online accounts when his city home and college room were raided by the National Crime Agency in September, but a judge said he posed a 'low risk' to children.

Of the almost 2,000 indecent images found, 45 were in the most serious Category A.

Professor Simon Jarvis (mugshot, left, and leaving court, right), 53, was found with the vile images on various computers and in online accounts

Yahoo chat logs containing 'extremely graphic' child abuse fantasies and software allowing access to the Dark Web were also found on some of the four computers seized, the court heard.

Other images shows 'pubescent and pre-pubescent' girls as young as 10 being sexually abused, and one of a baby.

He also posed pictures at the lower category C on a page on the Tumblr microblogging website under a pseudonym, the court heard.

Dressed in a smart grey suit the Gorley Putt Professor of Poetry broke down in tears as he heard his crimes being recounted at Cambridge Crown Court.

Jarvis pleaded guilty to four charges of making and two of distributing indecent images of children, five charges of possessing prohibited images and one of possessing extreme pornography, at Friday's hearing.

Jarvis, 53, was found with the vile images on various computers and in online accounts when his city home and college room were raided

Sentencing him, Judge David Farrell QC said: 'You are an intelligent man, a professor of English literature at the University of Cambridge.

'As such, in my judgment, you must have know that by accessing and viewing indecent images of children you were indirectly encouraging the abuse of children.

'You were looking at these images for your own perverted sexual gratification.'

Judge David Farrell QC called the defendent 'an intelligent man' and said he posed a 'low risk' to children

Jarvis' 12-month sentence was suspended for two years, with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and 670 in prosecution costs.

But, the judge added, Jarvis had been open with police about 'what has been described as having an addiction to porn that progressed and included indecent images of children'.

He said Jarvis posed a 'low to moderate risk' to children and had taken steps since his arrest to get help, and would receive better treatment and rehabilitation if he was not immediately jailed.

Jarvis' 12-month sentence was suspended for two years

The court heard while the oldest charged related to material from 2011 he admitted to NCA officers to viewing child abuse material online since 2000.

After his arrest he told investigators he had sexual fantasies about young girls, sometimes as young as four.

Prosecutor Mark Weekes said during police interview, Jarvis admitted to police that his interest in children began after seeing a naked nine-year-old girl on a beach.

He then admitted he 'had slipped and had looked at nude images of children', while shopping online.

Mr Weekes said computer analysts also found Jarvis had exchanged more than 5,000 lines of 'exceptionally graphic' messages about role-play sex with children to another paedophile.

Professor Martin Millett, Head of the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Cambridge, said: 'It is hard to put into words just how shocked the University community is by this type of behaviour.

'Our thoughts are with the victims of these terrible crimes, who are created every time these images are made, viewed or shared online.

'We would like to thank the police for their thorough investigation.'

A former student of Jarvis', who wished to remain anonymous, added: 'Simon Jarvis supervised my poetry dissertation around the same time that he was committing these offences.

'He was a good supervisor who had a deep knowledge of his subject and seemed genuinely committed to helping his students do well.

'I was shocked and saddened when I heard about what he had done.'
A Senate committee investigating Moscow's interference in last year's election has asked several of President Donald Trump associates  including axed former security advisor Mike Flynn  to turn over information about possible contacts with Russian officials or businessmen.

Former Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page responded on Friday calling the congressional probe a 'comically fake inquiry' but pledged to cooperate.

Flynn and Republican strategist Roger Stone also are among those who have received letters from the Senate intelligence committee asking for information and documents related to the committee's investigation.

The committee would not disclose which individuals it is targeting, but in an email to The Associated Press, Stone said he intended to comply with the committee's requests.

Axed former National Security Advisor Gem. Mike Flynn (c), pictured with Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly at the White House, is among those who got letters from the Senate Intelligence Committee seeking information

'I am eager, indeed anxious, to testify in full public session, have requested no immunity and am ready to go,' Stone wrote. He also said that he 'rejects' the claim that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Guccifer 2.0 are Russian assets. He said the U.S. government has offered no proof to support that assessment.

Stone communicated through Twitter direct messages with Guccifer 2.0, a hacker who has claimed responsibility for breaching the Democratic National Committee. Stone has said that he was unaware at the time that U.S. officials believed the hacker had ties to Russia.

The letters to Stone and Page, which were shared with the AP on Friday, were virtually identical. The committee asked them to provide emails, text messages, letters, phone records or any other relevant information they have about meetings or contacts that they or any other individual affiliated with the Trump campaign had with Russian officials or representatives of Russian business interests.

The requests seek information about any contacts that occurred between the day Trump announced his candidacy, June 16, 2015, and his inauguration on Jan. 20. It also asks for information about Stone and Page's financial and real estate holdings related to Russia, including financial securities or holdings they might have sold or divested during that period.

Carter Page speaks in Moscow, Russia. Page, one of President Donald Trump's former foreign policy advisers said Friday, May 5, 2017, that the Senate committee investigating Moscow's interference in last year's election has asked him to turn over information about contacts he, or any other campaign associates, had with Russians during Trump's race for the White House

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

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

Forced out: Michael Flynn with Donald Trump

In a written response to the committee's request, Page argued that the panel was conducting a 'comically fake inquiry.' At the same time, Page pledged to cooperate with the committee to 'help resolve all of the false allegations which led to this fanciful witch hunt in the first place.'

The committee also asks that Page and Stone appear for closed interviews with intelligence committee staff. Lawmakers set a May 9 and May 19 deadline for various materials to be provided to the committee.

Page told the committee that the material he has will be 'minuscule in comparison to the full database of information' the Obama administration collected during 'last year's completely unjustified' secret warrant. Page said law enforcement officials under the Obama administration obtained a sealed order from a secretive intelligence court last summer to monitor his communications to investigate whether he was acting as a Russian agent.

Page said the warrant put him under 'unscrupulous surveillance for many months' and targeted him for exercising his First Amendment rights both in 2016 and earlier.

Page met with a Russian intelligence operative in 2013 and provided him documents about the energy industry, according to court documents from a 2015 prosecution alleging a Cold War-style spy ring in New York. Page, referred to in the filing as 'Male-1,' is not accused of wrongdoing and said in a statement that he shared 'basic immaterial information and publicly available research documents.'

Little is known about Page's role in the campaign.

In March, Trump personally announced that Page was part of a newly minted foreign policy advisory team. But as questions began swirling about Page's ties to Russia, the campaign started moving away from the investment banker. Trump has since said he has no relationship with him.

'I originally joined the Trump movement and eventually volunteered for a small, unpaid, informal role in the campaign since I knew our candidate would finally help lead this country and the world toward peace through strength,' Page said in his letter to the committee.

Flynn, Trump's ousted national security adviser, also received a letter from the committee asking him to turn over information and documents related to the committee's investigation into potential ties between Trump campaign associates and Russia. A person with direct knowledge of the letter's contents confirmed Flynn received it. The person demanded anonymity to discuss the information because of its sensitive nature.
New Tory councillor James Lusted was today elected as the Conservative partys shortest politician - at just 3ft 7in tall.

James, 29, hopes to stand up for the little people as he takes up the ballot box battle.

The part-time pantomime actor pledges to measure up to the challenge of politics - despite being more than two feet shorter than 5ft 8in PM Theresa May.

James Lusted, 29, has become the Conservative Party's shortest politician at just 3ft 7in tall after he was today elected county councillor in his hometown of Rhos on Sea in Conwy, North Wales

He was today elected as a county councillor in his hometown of Rhos on Sea in Conwy, North Wales.

James said: 'I will ensure that I listen to the residents, not just the younger or the older generation, but every generation from whatever background - everyone will have a voice.'

Married James is a committed Christian and also performs in Christmas pantomimes of Snow White.

He famously stood on a step ladder to marry his wife Chloe last November

Chloe said that their height difference did not get in the way of their relationship: 'There may be a 2ft height difference but when you are in love little things like that don't matter'

He hit the headlines when he took his own step-ladder to church to stand next to his 5ft 7in bride, trainee teacher Chloe in November last year.

The ceremony was filmed for the BBC Wales show Born Small: The Wedding.

Chloe said that their height difference had never bothered her.

The politician wanted 'everyone to have a voice', regardless of age or background

She said: 'There may be a 2ft height difference but when you are in love little things like that don't matter.'

The couple now plan to have a family. They would have an increased risk of having a baby with dwarfism if Mrs Lusted also carries the gene, but she said they are not concerned.

'Family is the key that we can't wait to have,' Chloe said before her wedding. 'We don't have any concerns if there's a chance of having a baby in Jay's position.

'I'm not even prepared to take the test to see if I have the gene because I think that at the end of the day it won't change my mind about having kids either way.

'We would love it the same as any other baby that we would have.'

James was born with a rare genetic condition called Diastrophic Dysplasia.

Both his parents are of average height but carried a rare gene. His older brother Phil is also a dwarf.
The man pictured throwing a tear gas can back at police during the Ferguson, Missouri protests of 2014 was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound late on Thursday night.

The body of Edward Crawford, 27, was identified at the morgue by his parents Friday morning, his father, Edward Crawford, Sr, said.

Crawford was in the midst of negotiating a plea deal over charges partially stemming from his actions depicted in the iconic photo and had missed a meeting with his attorney Jerry Christmas to discuss the matter scheduled for 4.00pm Central on Thursday, according to HuffPost.

Robert Cohen shows Edward Crawford returning a tear gas canister fired by police who were trying to disperse protesters in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014. The riots were sparked by the death of teenager Michael Brown

'I was going to discuss with him a resolution that they had offered, or we were going to go to trial,' Christmas said. 'I thought the deal that they offered was not a bad deal.'

If Crawford agreed to plead guilty, Christmas said, the charges would have been dropped after he completed community service.

'I didnt throw a burning can back at police,' Crawford told the Post-Dispatch in August 2015, after he came forward as the man in the photo and was subsequently cited under two county ordinances for interfering with a police officer and assault.

'I threw it out of the way of children,' he said, subscribing the action at the time to instinct.

A court date was set in the matter for later in May, St Louis County Counselor Peter Crane said, who declined to discuss the matter further citing that plea deal negotiations are confidential.

Crawford's death was reported as a suicide at 11.46pm Central Thursday according to the medical examiner's office, but the official causing of death is pending the results of an autopsy, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Crawford was in the backseat of a car travelling through the 1400 block of Salisbury Street, in the Hyde Park neighborhood of St Louis when the wound was inflicted.

He was with two women in the car at the time.

Crawford had begun talking about how distraught he was over 'personal matters' before he was heard rustling around in the backseat, seemingly looking for something, the women told police.

Crawford's father, 52, said he does not believe his son intentionally shot and killed himself.

Crawford's body was identified at the morgue by his parents Friday morning; Crawford is seen here in a photo posted to social media

'I don't believe it was a suicide,' he said.

He added that investigators had not said much to him regarding the tragedy.

When Crawford, Sr, saw his son two days ago, he was in good spirits, he said.

'He was wonderful, great, always in a good mood,' the father said. 'He just got a new apartment and was training for a new job.'

He had four children, his father said, who he 'loved to death.'

Crawford had been living in the University City neighborhood of St Louis, on Dover Court's 7000 block.

Crawford became an iconic images of the 2014 Ferguson protests when he was photographed throwing a smoking tear gas cylinder fired by police back at them.

The Ferguson protests erupted after the shooting and death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown, 19, by former police officer Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014 in the northern suburb of St Louis.

After state and federal investigation, Wilson was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing and in March 2015 the US Department of Justice concluded he had shot Brown in self defense.

Many have publicly shared sentiments about what Crawford meant to them following the news of his death, Missouri state Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal, a Democrat reresenting University City among them.

'He is #Ferguson's hero,' Chappelle-Nadal tweeted Friday. 'For those of us tear-gassed, he was our local champion.'

The photo of Crawford with the tear gas can in hand was taken by Post-Dispatch photographer Robert Cohen.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was torn to pieces after he shared his 'racist' Cinco de Mayo plans on Twitter.

He wrote: 'For Cinco de Mayo I will drink an entire jar of hot salsa and watch old Speedy Gonzales cartoons and speak Spanish all day. Happy CdMayo!'

Social media users lamented his stereotypical depiction of Mexican culture, branded him a racist and roasted the failed GOP presidential candidate in a vicious attack.

Writer and music critic Dan Ozzi tweeted: 'Stick to celebrating your people's culture of wearing khakis from Sears and taking rights away from minorities.'

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was torn to pieces after he shared his Cinco de Mayo plans on Twitter

Some Twitter users were baffled, asking whether it was a joke, while James Grebey wrote: 'yo what the f*** is wrong with you?'

Writer and music critic Dan Ozzi tweeted: 'Stick to celebrating your people's culture of wearing khakis from Sears and taking rights away from minorities' while others piled it on

Huckabee, who appears to think of himself as quite the comedian on Twitter, shared his Cinco de Mayo plans only to face a barrage of criticism in response.

Some Twitter users were baffled, asking whether it was a joke, while James Grebey wrote: 'yo what the f*** is wrong with you?'

Gabe Graziani asked: 'Why did you feel like saying something super racist was a thing you ought to do today?'

When another Twitter user said, 'I think that's always on his to-do list thought', Graziani seemed genuinely puzzled and asked: 'What's the gain here?'

Others took a more creative approach and blasted the former governor in a no holds barred attack.

Others were left baffled and confused by the tweet. Gabe Graziani asked: 'Why did you feel like saying something super racist was a thing you ought to do today?'

Kurt Eichenwald berated Huckabee, tweeting: 'Your casual racism here is astounding'

Twitter user @rstevens wished food poisoning upon Huckabee and wrote: 'Hope the salsa has botulism! Enjoy!'

PR Exec Danny Deraney wrote: 'So essentially you want your a**hole to know what it's like to be you.'

Publicist Jaime Primak wrote: 'Dear Jesus - I read this and my 1st thought was "I hope he chokes".... I need you more than ever. #takethewheel

She also tweeted: 'Remember the rules people if you're for the ban or the wall...you are not allowed to celebrate #CincoDeMayo2017 you can't have it both ways'

While Twitter was having a field day with Huckabee, his daughter Sarah Huckabee Sanders (above) stepped in for White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on Friday

Others ribbed Huckabee through his son, with Courtney Enlow tweeting: 'How do you say "your son is a dog murderer" in Spanish?'

Enlow referred to an incident involving Huckabee's son David Huckabee, who was fired for killing a dog when he was a 17-year-old Boy Scout camp counselor.

It remains unclear whether the dog was tortured or simply put of its misery, but Twitter users took the opportunity on Friday to use the incident against the politician.
Michelle Obama enjoyed lunch in Greenwich Village with a host of celebrities supporters after a morning of speaking to students at College Signing Day inNew York.

The former first lady said Friday that her departure from the White House won't end her passion for education.

She made the comment at a New York City event marking College Signing Day, a nationwide tradition she began participating in as first lady to encourage young people to seek higher education.

Scroll down for video

Michelle Obama enjoyed lunch in Greenwich Village with a host of celebrities after a morning of speaking to students at College Signing Day in New York

The Former First lady is pictured leaving the restaurant. She spent her morning at the Public Theater in Manhattan speaking to students about the importance of higher education

The MTV hosted event was held at the The Public Theater, and was a star-studded affair. Numerous celebrities such as Sherri Shepard, pictured

'I might not live in the White House anymore, but Barack and I are going to keep on celebrating you all and supporting you and lifting you up no matter what house we live in,' Michelle said.

'Our belief in the power of education to transform your lives is real and it's going to be at core of everything that we do going forward.'

The MTV hosted event was held at the The Public Theater, and was a star-studded affair.

'I might not live in the White House anymore, but Barack and I are going to keep on celebrating you all and supporting you and lifting you up no matter what house we live in,' Michelle said. She is pictured hugging a student onstage at the event

Celebrities such as Billy Eicher and Bella Hadid also attended the College Signing day at the Public Theater in New York

Most of the people in attendance wore shirts matching their Alma maters. Pictured left to right are Tamron Hall, Soledad O' Brien and Robin Roberts in their college gear

It was the fourth year that Michelle has attended, and this year she was also joined by celebrities such as Nick Cannon, Bella Hadid, Andy Cohen and Ashley Graham.

The former first lady donned a t-shirt with her Alma mater, Princeton University, and everyone else in attendance wore clothing signifying where they attended or plan on attending college.

Also in attendance were 'Good Morning America' anchor Robin Roberts, former NBC news anchor Tamron Hall, actor Billy Eichner and designer Nate Berkus.

During her brief remarks, Michelle Obama avoided addressing politics or President Donald Trump, but did offer the students some wise words regarding social media.

'The number of acceptance letters you get should be more important than the numbers of followers you have on social media,' she said.

During her brief remarks, Michelle Obama avoided addressing politics or President Donald Trump, but did offer the students some wise words regarding social media. She is pictured on stage in her Princeton shirt with Nick Cannon and a student

Models Ashley Graham and Bella Hadid speak onstage about going to college and achieving a higher education. Graham attended the University of Nebraska, and Hadid attended Parsons School of Design in New York

The former first lady had a legacy of encouraging students to achieve higher education.

While in Washington, she spearheaded the Let Girls Learn initiative in 2015 which was 'to expand educational opportunities for girls - including in areas of conflict and crisis.'

However, last week the Trump administration made a move to roll back some of her initiatives, such as her healthy school lunches and the Let Girls Learn program.

The former first lady was joined at the event by a slew of celebrities such as Andy Cohen (left) and model Christy Turlington

Michelle Obama is pictured with emcee Nick Cannon at the College Signing Day event

Black Thought (left) and Questlove (right) are photographed on the blue carpet at the National College Signing day with Michelle Obama. The former first lady had a legacy of encouraging students to achieve higher education

As his first major action in office, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the department will delay the requirement on lowering the amount of sodium in meals while continuing to allow waivers for regulations that all grains on the lunch line must be rich in whole grains.

He said those standards are too restrictive and that they will work on new long term solutions to help schools.

As for the Let Girls Learn initiative, in a letter to Peace Corps employees first revealed by CNN, its acting director Sheila Crowley said 'we will not continue to use the Let Girls Learn' brand or maintain a stand-alone program'.

'We are so proud of what 'Let Girls Learn' accomplished and we have all of you to thank for this success,' Crowley said.
This astounding drone footage shows the fascinating process of unearthing a mountain road out of ten feet of snow in Norway.

Every year diggers and snowploughs are sent to the Trollstigen serpentine pass in Rauma Municipality to make it usable for the summer season.

The road connects the town of Andalsnes with the village of Vallda and is noted for its spectacular views.

Snow limit: The vehicles carve their way through ten foot high ice walls to unearth the road

It is vulnerable to avalanches and for this reason the pass is closed by the Norwegian authorities every November for the winter.

Eventually the road becomes completely covered in several feet of snow.

To make it available to vehicles again workers from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration first have to locate the road on a huge white canvas.

They begin work in the spring and the process of unearthing the tarmac takes about a month.

The drone footage shows the road as just a thin snaking line through a blank landscape

The snowplough fires fountains of snow into the air. The process takes place every year and lasts about a month

The footage shows fountains of snow sprayed high into the air as the NPRA get to work in a beautiful landscape.

The end of the clip shows the camera pulling away to show the vast area that still needs to be carved.

Trollstigen was opened in 1936 by King Haakon VII and is used by thousands of tourists in the summer, who enjoy it for its 10 per cent decline and numerous hairpin bends.
Nicholas Green was just seven when ruthless killers shot him dead during a family holiday in Italy in a random act of horror in 1994

Nicholas Green was just seven years old when ruthless killers shot him dead in a random act of horror during a family holiday in Italy in 1994.

His selfless parents Maggie and Reg decided to donate Nicholas' heart to Andrea Mongiardo, an Italian teenage boy in desperate need of a transplant.

The act of kindness kept Mr Mongiardo alive for 22 more years until his death in February - meaning their beloved son's heart only stopped beating this year.

But the American couple did not stop there - Nicholas' organs went on to save the lives of five Italians, while his corneas saved the sight of two others.

The gesture, as well as national horror at the random murder of a child, led to Italy's organ donation rate tripling in a decade - a result hailed as the 'Nicholas effect'.

Tragedy struck the Green family in October 1994 as they were driving through southern Italy towards their holiday apartment in Sicily.

Mrs Green was dozing in the front of the car while their two children Nicholas and Eleanor, then four, were asleep in the back.

Mr Green began to feel anxious when he spotted a car tailing them closely - but assumed it must be the police.

However instead of overtaking them, the motor pulled up alongside them and they heard angry shouts yelling at them to stop.

Mr Green sped up in fear, trying to race his family to safety.

Seconds later, a bullet shattered the window where the children were sleeping, and a second bullet smashed the driver's window.

'How that bullet missed us I will never know,' Mr Green, now 88, told The Telegraph.

It emerged that the attackers were involved in a jewellery heist and mistook Mr Green's rental car for the motor that was delivering the jewellery.

After the horrifying attack, the car sped off again into the night.

Not realising that Nicholas was injured, the family stopped by an ambulance attending a road accident.

His selfless parents Maggie and Reg (top left)donated Nicholas' heart to Andrea Mongiardo (third from top left), a Roman teenage boy in desperate need of a transplant

'We pulled in and when the interior light came on, I saw that Nicholas's hand was sticking out slightly and there was a trace of vomit on his chin. He was not moving,' Mr Green recalled.

The sleeping youngster had been hit in the back of the head by one of the bullets but he had not made a sound.

'In death, as in life, he was no trouble to us,' Mr Green said.

'For the first time we realised something terrible had happened. The shock of seeing him like that was the bleakest moment I've ever had,' he told the BBC.

The youngster was operated on in hospital - but two days later he was pronounced clinically dead.

'I think it was Maggie who said: 'Now he's gone, shouldn't we donate the organs?',' Mr Green told the Telegraph.

'Until that moment, I saw only bleakness. How was I going to get through the rest of my life without him?'

He said he saw it as a way to 'alleviate the horror' of their son's death by helping save the lives of others.

Four of the recipients of his organs were teenagers and two others the parents of young children.

The act of kindness kept Mr Mongiardo alive for 22 more years until he died in February

Andrea, a 15-year-old boy, had had five operations on his heart, all of which had failed and could barely walk.

Domenica was going blind and had never seen her baby's face clearly. Sportsman Francesco was also blind and could not see his children play games.

Two of the teenagers, Tino and Anna-Maria, had lived on dialysis machines for years and did not know if they would make it to adulthood.

Silvia, a diabetic who had suffered many comas, was going blind and couldn't walk on her own.

Maria Pia, 19, had liver failure and was in her final coma. Her mother and brother had died of liver disease and her family expected the worst.

The Italian media tracked each ice box containing a transplant organ to its recipient as the country rallied to support the donations in tribute to Nicholas' tragic death.

'In that hushed hospital room in Messina', said Mr Green, 'these people were pure statistics to us; statistics on a waiting list. We could not visualise them.'

'Nicholas was a kindly boy who always looked for the best in things so, when you were with him, you always wanted to be your best,' his father explained to the BBC.

'I know that at seven years old he probably wouldn't have been able to comprehend but, I know, as he grew up this is just what he would have wanted us to do - there's no doubt about that.'

Nicholas' heart went to Mr Mongiardo, who was just 15 at the time. Living in Rome, he had been in and out of hospitals because of a defective heart.

Several operations had failed to help, and at the time of Nicholas' death, he was receiving transfusions of blood products twice a week and 'struggling to survive'.

His desperate parents knew a transplant was his only hope - but in those days, the rate of organ donations in Italy was among the lowest in Western Europe.

After the transplant, Mr Mongiardo lived for two more decades - and died of lymphoma in February this year.

'His heart was still functioning,' his longtime doctor told Mr Green, 'but the lungs were fibrotic because of drug toxicity related to chemotherapy treatment received three years ago after diagnosis of lymphoma.

'The final cause of death was respiratory failure.'

It is still not clear whether Nicholas' killers were robbers, or hitmen who attacked the wrong car in a case of mistaken identity.

It has been reported that one of the men may have Mafia connections.

'The killing of a seven-year-old American boy in a country where violent death is commonplace has plunged Italy into national soul-searching,' the Times reported.

Nicholas was shot in the back of the head in a carjacking gone wrong while his family were driving on the motorway in Calabria (pictured) back to their holiday apartment in Sicily

Mr Green told the BBC that Italian criminals rarely kill children as it often leads to a huge police investigation to catch the murderers.

In Nicholas' case, a national manhunt led to the arrest and conviction of two men - Francesco Mesiano and Michele Iannello.

Mr Green believes that the idea of an innocent child being shot while on holiday struck a chord with many Italians, who felt organ donation would be a way to make amends.

'Perhaps they do not realize how rare that gesture is in our country,' said Gregorio Botta, a columnist in the newspaper La Repubblica.

'Perhaps they do not realize that half the children with heart ailments in Italy do not make it and die while awaiting a transplant.'

In 1993, the year before Nicholas was shot, 6.2 people per million donated an organ - but by 2006 that number had reached 20 per million.

In 1999, Italy moved to an opt-out system - which means that when someone dies it is presumed that their organs will be donated unless they have specified otherwise.

Portugal, France, Greece and Spain also use an opt-out system, while the US and UK (apart from Wales) continue to operate an opt-in system.

Mr Green, who returns to Italy each year to raise awareness for organ donation, called the meteoric rise in donations 'astonishing'.

He went on to meet the people whose lives were saved by Nicholas's organs, which he described as 'overwhelming'.

Mr Green recalled that some were smiling and other were emotional - and admitted it was gratifying knowing that they had changed someone's lives for the better.

Mr and Mrs Green, who married in April 1986, went on to have twins Laura and Martin - who will turn 21 in May - to ensure their daughter Eleanor did not grow up alone.

Despite always feeling a 'sadness' that would never go away, Mr Green felt grateful that the seven organs his son donated led to thousands of people being alive today.
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Heavy rains brought flash floods that are likely to hamper the afternoon commute home in the New York metropolitan area on Friday.

Transit officials are reporting delays caused by flooding while those traveling by air may have to wait up to four hours at any of the three local airports.

The heavy rain prompted officials to shut down the main Seventh Avenue entrance to Penn Station in midtown Manhattan.

Water has also been seen accumulating at subway stations of City Hall, Borough Hall in Brooklyn, and the World Trade Center.

A New York Police officer stands in the flooded West Side Highway after heavy rain soaked Manhattan on Friday afternoon

Emergency alerts were sent to cellphones in the city at about noon Friday with a warning about flash floods

Cars drive by along the FDR Drive amid flooding in Manhattan on. Heavy rain caused flooding and numerous road closures throughout the New York City metro area on Friday afternoon

Heavy rain and strong winds battered the tri-state area Friday, flooding parts of New York City and New Jersey within minutes and prompting up to 4-hour delays at tri-state airports

Water is seen coming out of a drainage pipe along a soaked Manhattan street on Friday. Rain was likely to soak much of the region through the early afternoon. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible

A man braves the heavy rain by donning a waterproof coat and riding his bicycle through the streets of Manhattan on Friday

By 1:10pm, two inches of rain had already accumulated in Central Park, according to the National Weather Service

A man is seen above walking through Manhattan on Friday. Residual scattered showers are possible over the course of the weekend

Though the worst of the rain appears to be over, it will take several hours for water to recede and residual complications are expected as the area dries out

Workers clean up the flooding that forced a shut-down of the main strairway entrance to New York's Penn Station on Friday

An employee is seen above standing against a wall at Penn Station to try and keep out of the rain in midtown Manhattan on Friday

Heavy rains brought flash floods that are likely to hamper the afternoon commute home in the New York metropolitan area on Friday. Two people are seen standing in a flooded street in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Friday

The flash floods are wreaking havoc with the roadways, as officials are urging motorists not to drive unless absolutely necessary

Water has also been seen accumulating at subway stations of City Hall, Borough Hall in Brooklyn, and the World Trade Center. The effects of the rain on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Station in Jersey City is seen above

New Jersey has also been hit hard by flash floods.

Cars driving along some parts of Route 440 in Jersey City were completely submerged.

Police in Hoboken are urging motorists not to drive unless its an emergency.

Social media users posted images showing cars almost entirely covered by a few feet of water.

Forecasters are predicting more precipitation as the evening progresses on Friday.

Thunderstorms and showers are possible later Friday and into Saturday.
Horrifying surveillance footage shows the moment a gas station clerk was violently stabbed in Tennessee.

Dylan Hilton was arrested by Grundy County Sheriff's deputies Thursday afternoon after he went behind the store's counter and stabbed Satish Patel.

Patel had just finished serving a customer and sat down on a stool near the cash register when Hilton walked over and stabbed him multiple times.

Horrifying surveillance footage shows the moment gas station clerk, Satish Patel (pictured in red) was violently stabbed in Tennessee by carjacking suspect Dylan Hilton (pictured in blue), according to police

The shocking video shows Hilton walk right up to Patel behind the counter and proceed to stab him multiple times

Patel was able to fend off Hilton and suffered minor injuries. Police said Patel was stabbed twice in the face area and at least three times in the back

The shocking video shows Patel trying to fend Hilton off as he escapes from behind the counter and heads for the door.

Hilton is seen in the video grabbing a pack of cigarettes before making off with some cash from the register.

Authorities told News Channel 9 that Hilton tried to carjack a man while he was getting gas before he stabbed the clerk at least three times.

Police said a fight ensued before Hilton fled the scene and there was some minor damage to the man's vehicle.

Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum said Patel was treated for minor injuries. Authorities said Hilton, who had blood streaming down his face, was arrested after police chased him down and crashed into a tan SUV that he was driving.

He will be charged with attempted auto burglary and attempted car jacking, in addition to charges from the stabbing incident.

Hilton is seen in the video grabbing a pack of cigarettes before making off with some cash from the register (pictured). Authorities said the suspect tried to carjack a man while he was getting gas before stabbing the clerk

Authorities said Hilton (pictured) was arrested after police chased him down and crashed into a tan SUV that he was driving
It's meant to relieve stress. But a gadget which has become the latest playground craze is doing no such thing for teachers and parents.

Fidget spinners have become the must-have toy for youngsters, with retailers quickly selling out.

The pocket-sized gadget is a modern version of an old spinning top, with a three-pronged piece of plastic or metal, which moves around a central weighted disc.

Fidget spinners are taking the country by storm, 20 years after they were originally designed by Catherine Hettinger

However, schools across Britain and the US are banning the devices because of the distraction and noise they cause in lessons.

They are marketed as tools for children with autism and ADHD  but are now being brought into class by pupils who do not have learning difficulties.

This is because they cost as little as 99p on eBay  which is easily bought with pocket money.

YouTube videos demonstrating tricks to do with them are currently receiving millions of hits.

Someone is clearly making money on the back of the devices, but its inventor certainly isn't. It emerged yesterday that the woman who came up with the spinner design couldn't afford the 310 fee to renew the patent.

Fidget spinners are now the must-have item for children - who can now customise and trade the devices

Catherine Hettinger, 62, from Florida, created the spinner two decades ago as a way of keeping her seven-year-old daughter, Sara, entertained. She held the patent for eight years but had to surrender it in 2005 because she could not pay the renewal charge.

Chris Hildrew, head of Churchill Academy in Somerset this week he shared a letter from a pupil complaining about disruption from spinners.

The unnamed girl wrote: 'If someone around you has one, you kind of get attracted to it because they are trying to do tricks and everyone else is looking at it. This means I am not doing my hardest on my work so I get less done.'

Mr Hildrew posted the letter on Twitter with a message saying: 'We have banned fidget spinners from lessons  here's why. So proud of our students!'

Interest from toy companies dipped, forcing Hettinger to relinquish the patent. Now, two decades later, their popularity among children is booming

All Hallows RC High School in Salford was among the first to ban the toy. Parents were texted with a message saying: 'They are a distraction to learning and can be dangerous.' However, some parents of children with special needs complained about the hardline stance.

Nikki Ashcroft, from Wigan, bought a spinner for her ten-year-old son who has ASD (autism spectrum disorder). She said: 'It's unfair if a child with special needs already has them and is not allowed because others have them purely for enjoyment.'

The National Autistic Society has previously said there is anecdotal evidence from parents that fidget spinners are beneficial.

But Dr Mark Rapport, of the Children's Learning Clinic at the University of Central Florida, told Dailymail.com: 'Using a spinner-like gadget is more likely to serve as a distraction than a benefit for individuals with ADHD.'
New Mexico native Charles Curtis, 53, has been charged with attempted murder for shooting a man - who has yet to be identified - he was visiting in the chest

A New Mexico native has been charged with attempted murder after an incident in the hot tub led to a shooting.

Charles Curtis, 53, is facing charges for shooting a man - who has yet to be identified - he was visiting in the chest after the homeowner found Curtis in the tub with his long term girlfriend at his home in Medford, Oregon.

The victim was sent to a local hospital on Wednesday where he is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries and the suspect was also taken to different hospital.

Police say when they arrested Curtis he was 'co-operative'.

'The suspect in this case was very co-operative and we took him in custody,' an Oregon police officer said.

'And we found a male in his late 50s suffering from a single gun shot wound to his upper extremities.'

Curtis was visiting the couple from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was found with the owner's girlfriend on Wednesday night.

When the homeowner arrived to see the pair, he fought with Curtis before asking him to leave .

Several minutes later, he found his guest still naked in the tub and a second fight ensued. During the brawl, Curtis 'shot' the Oregon resident in the upper chest.

Neighbors heard a woman screaming around the time of the shooting , according to KDR TV.
A US Military Academy cadet has been found of guilty of sexually assaulting a female classmate during field training at West Point.

Jacob Whisenhunt, 20, of Maxwell, Nebraska, will be dismissed from the army, sentenced to 21 years confinement, and ordered to forfeit all pay and allowances.

The female cadet testified that she woke up in the middle of the night to find Whisenhunt pressed up against her. He was touching her genitals and went on to rape her, she said.

Jacob Whisenhunt, 20, of Maxwell, Nebraska, has been found of guilty of sexually assaulting a female classmate during field training at West Point

Whisenhunt, a member of the West Point class of 2019, pleaded not guilty to three violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. His lawyers said any sexual contact between the two was consensual.

But his fellow classmate testified in court that she was assaulted after a day of field training last summer at Camp Buckner, which ended with the cadets sleeping outside.

She awoke in the night to find Whisenhunt 'really close to me, his body was against mine,' she said. He also touched her genitals and had sex with her, she told the court.

'I just froze. I didn't know what to do...I really wanted to move. In my head I was screaming. But my body wouldn't move. I was like a deer in the headlights,' she said.

Whisenhunt was found guilty by a panel of West Point faculty and staff after a court-martial that began Monday.
Workers at the Food and Drug Administration's headquarters building noticed something new on Wednesday: The Fox News Channel, not CNN, was showing on all the TVs in office lounges and hallways.

An email to agency employees at the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research apologized for the switch.

'The reason for the change is that a decision from the current administration administrative officials has requested that all monitors, under our control, on the White Oak Campus, display FOX news,' the message read.

'Sorry for the inconvenience, but I am unable to change any of the monitors to any other news source at this time.'

TVs at the Food and Drug Administration's headquarters have all been tuned to Fox News

The FDA's audiovisual department at its White Oak, Maryland headquarters explained that the decision was handed down from on high

The email suggested that a CBER employee had asked the FDA's audiovisual department to explain what happened.

An FDA spokeswoman denied on Friday that an order was given to make sure employees were watching only President Trump's favorite news channel.

'There was no directive or memorandum from the administration that went out to employees about broadcast news channels displaying on monitors in common areas throughout the FDA's White Oak campus,' she said in an email.

The FDA's sprawling central office complex is home to an internal video network that displays time and weather information, agency news, and an inset box that now shows Fox News

President Trump has a longstanding feud with CNN and prefers Fox News

The statement, however, appears to only cover 'broadcast' channels. CNN and Fox News are both cable-only networks.

Buzzfeed reported that a CBER staffer said some of the FDA's televisions have been turned off completely since Fox News started showing on-screen.

'A lot of the staff were very upset about the change,' the employee said.

CBER is the FDA's division regulates 'biological and related products,' its website says, 'including blood, vaccines, allergenics, tissues, and cellular and gene therapies.'
Claire Blackmans undiluted joy is a sight to behold.

I cant believe how quickly weve gone back to being the couple we were before, she says, grinning fit to burst.

You could almost wipe the last four years from your memory and pretend they didnt happen. I knew how solid our relationship was, but its so lovely we have absolutely picked up where we left off.

The we is Claire and her husband of eight years Sergeant Alexander Blackman.

Their solid relationship touched so many of us during the years this wife in a million (Als words) campaigned tirelessly to free her husband from prison.

Claire and her husband of eight years Sergeant Alexander Blackman were reunited after he was freed from jail

He was finally released from HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire eight days ago following an Appeal Court decision in March to quash his conviction of murder for shooting a mortally wounded Taliban fanatic in Afghanistan in September 2011. Pictured in action

He was finally released from HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire eight days ago following an Appeal Court decision in March to quash his conviction of murder for shooting a mortally wounded Taliban fanatic in Afghanistan in September 2011.

For all he has endured, Al remains hugely grateful to a British justice system that allowed for his case to be reviewed.

I think were lucky in this country that theres an independent body [the Criminal Cases Review Commission] that looks at cases with no agenda. I am very conscious my sentence is not complete [he has been released on licence until 2020], but its still a massive step.

Just to be able to wake up on a Saturday morning and spend a large part of the day strolling through the countryside instead of being limited to a short period of exercise through the day is amazing.

Claire squeezes his hand. She is so wondrously happy she looks a good ten years younger than she did a month ago. She says she and Al are like two legs of a pair of trousers, which means both of us wear them. This is a relationship based upon shared humour as well as loyalty and trust.

Maybe I never took the time to understand what marriage vows genuinely meant before Als arrest, says Claire. I never really thought them through. I think I know now. I never doubted Al. You can see how calm and kind he is. But I could tell that tour was different.

Claire says she and Al are like two legs of a pair of trousers, which means both of us wear them

She turns to him. I sensed your frustration. You had such poor support and such poor resources. If it was your child who was being treated like that at school youd be on the phone to the headmistress, bumping your fist on the table, saying, sort it out.

There was a part of me that wanted to find someone to phone to say: Why has he not got a padlock for the gate on his camp? Why is he four months into a six-month tour and he still hasnt got a way of keeping water cold and fresh?

Basic, basic stuff that shouldnt have been as difficult as it was clearly proving to be. To not have those basics in place, particularly when youre doing such an incredibly difficult, stressful job and youre taking your responsibilities, particularly for those men in your charge, so seriously . . .

She stops, exasperated. Al rubs her back to comfort her. Its the conversations you can only have as a couple that you miss, says Al of his time behind bars.

I tried to speak to Claire every day. Any work I did in prison was solely about earning money for the phone to talk to her. Now we can have conversations spontaneously, not just in a 20-minute phone call in the evening.

But, make no mistake, without the awesome generosity of Daily Mail readers, who raised 810,000 to fund a fresh legal challenge to Als conviction, he would still be in prison.

For that fighting fund paid for a new legal team and psychiatric evaluation that was not obtained for him before the original court martial in November 2013, when he was jailed for life.

Thankfully, after a Mail investigation uncovered vital evidence that had not been heard at his trial, justice finally prevailed.

The unimaginably stressful conditions under which he served, in what has been described as the most dangerous square mile on Earth, were revealed.

Three psychiatrists diagnosed a combat stress condition called an adjustment disorder, and his wrongful conviction for murder was reduced to the lesser offence of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. His sentence was also slashed. As Claire had insisted time and again, her husband was not a cold-blooded killer, but rather a brave man whose self- control had briefly snapped in the most appalling circumstances.

Maybe I never took the time to understand what marriage vows genuinely meant before Als arrest, says Claire

Sgt Blackman was convicted after video footage secretly filmed on a head camera worn by a fellow marine captured him shooting the insurgent. He was also recorded saying shuffle off this mortal coil, you c***. It was the first time a British soldier had been convicted of murder on the battlefield.

I know I made a terrible mistake, says Al. I dont know why I did it. I think about it a lot and have done ever since, but I still cant put an exact thought to why I did what I did at that moment in time. I wish I could.

He adds: It was frustration more than anything. There had already been a reasonably large attack on a friendly base. We didnt know where the other guy (a second armed Taliban fanatic) was or if there was a third out there. Youre vulnerable all the time youre outside base.

There are IEDs (improvised explosive devices) everywhere. He (the insurgent) had a hole in his back the size of my fist. I could see his lungs. Of course Id have done things differently if it was one of my lads. Id have thrown him on my shoulder and run him all the way to our camp if necessary. But this was someone whod been trying to kill us for the past six months.

Claire reaches across to squeeze Als hand. It was a theatre of war. He was the enemy, she says.

Only minutes before, an Apache helicopter is firing enormous rounds into him. Some of the other commanders have since said that the radio command was saying: Hes dead, isnt he? We cant come and get him. He is dead? Some people would say thats a collective decision being made that put Al under horrendous pressure.

There are so many facets you cant possibly take into account from the comfort of your sofa watching five minutes worth of video clips from an incident that lasted an hour.

It is not right or fair to judge what happened in those few minutes without understanding absolutely what it means to be out on the ground.

Sgt Blackman was convicted after video footage secretly filmed on a head camera worn by a fellow marine captured him shooting an insurgent. He was also recorded saying shuffle off this mortal coil, you c***. It was the first time a British soldier had been convicted of murder on the battlefield

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

This is the first time Al, 42, has spoken in detail outside of his military trial about what happened on that fateful day in September 2011. He does so with an unflinching honesty that says much about the character of this Royal Marine who was judged to be of impeccable moral courage until he was dismissed with disgrace at the court martial.

It was the dismissal with disgrace that truly devastated him. So much so that he was placed on suicide watch during his first few weeks in prison.

Dismissed with disgrace meant everything Id ever done counted for nothing, he says. Everything good before that and after was washed away because of one incident. I struggled with that.

Id joined the Royal Marines in 1998 and I loved being a part of it. I can still remember that warm feeling of pride when I was presented with my green beret on pass-out day.

Al was, in fact, an exemplary marine who progressed impressively through the ranks. By the end of 2010, he was a heavy weapons expert with one tour of Northern Ireland, three tours of Iraq and another in the Sangin Valley, Afghanistan, behind him.

Before his arrest he had considering becoming an officer, having been promoted to Acting Colour Sergeant on his return to the UK.

He had only stepped into the role of Sergeant with 3 Troop, Juliet Company, 42 Commando three months before they were deployed to Helmand between the spring and autumn of 2011 when a fellow Royal Marine left that post for family reasons.

They had been assigned to take over Nad Ali (North) district from the Parachute Regiment  an area where a Royal Marine padre was warned not to visit because it was simply too dangerous.

Its very hot [a blistering 50c], youve got a lot of kit [100lb of equipment] and youve got to spend the hottest part of the day out there, he says. The whole point is to be seen by the locals to reassure them youre providing security. But when youre out for six to ten hours a day you know each step could be your last. I know that sounds dramatic but its true.

I made some choices and I regret some of the ones I made,' Alexander said about the night he shot the insurgent

He explains that at night there were two sentries on duty, and while there was a 9ft-high wall, it was stepped rather than having a vertical drop. Yes theres barbed wire on it, but any substantial force would have a fair chance of getting in before you could respond. Youre not in a large, well-defended location.

All the guys slept with their rifles loaded by their beds. There wasnt even a padlock on the gate. I had requested one.

Claire, 45, strokes Als hand as he talks. She didnt have a clue about the sheer hell of that tour until after his arrest. He has the Commando spirit  cheerfulness in the face of adversity  written through him like words through a stick of rock.

When you phone home you dont tell the full story, says Al. You say: Everythings fine. Im just patrolling. Its quiet. Then someone fires some shells off. You cut off the phone, call back and say: Im sorry the satellite signal went. I didnt want Claire worrying.

If it hadnt been mentioned on the news that Sam [Marine Sam Alexander] and Ollie [Lieutenant Ollie Augustin] had been killed, I probably wouldnt have even mentioned that to Claire.

Lieutenant Augustin, Als 23-year-old troop commander and Marine Alexander, a 28-year-old father, were killed instantly in an IED explosion on May 27, 2011, just two months into that hellish tour.

A third marine from Als company, Canadian-born Lance Corporal Cassidy Little, lost his right leg below the knee while a fourth Reservist, Lance Corporal J.J. Chalmers, suffered life-threatening injuries to his right arm and face.

In the confusion that followed, the helicopter that arrived to remove casualties departed without their weapons and body armour. They also left behind the body parts that had been blown off in the blast  but burned them to prevent them falling into enemy hands.

'He (the insurgent) had a hole in his back the size of my fist. I could see his lungs. Of course Id have done things differently if it was one of my lads,' Sgt Blackman said

Later that day, the legs of a teenage Royal Marine killed in an earlier IED incident were found hanging from a tree, strung up by the Taliban as some sort of sick trophy.

I was listening on the radio when the incident happened. These are your guys. You want to help but you cant, says Al.

Afterwards you think: Would things have been different if Id been there? Could I have spotted something they didnt?

But you have to bottle up those feelings. You have to be strong for the lads. I was 36. Most of the guys were in their early 20s.

You see them as your children in certain respects, especially as youve been introduced to their families before they deployed  families who are seeking reassurance that their son is going to come back.

But out there there is no good news. Thats one of the things I found the hardest to deal with in that position of command on my own. The good news is just slightly less bad news.

But worse was to come. On July 4  as then Prime Minister David Cameron visited the Afghan capital Kabul, where he announced a strategy aimed at winning hearts and minds was to take precedence over simply defeating the insurgents on the battlefield  a 20-year-old Highlander named Scott McLaren went missing having left his patrol base.

Every available soldier in Helmand was sent out to find him. Command got on the radio and said: You need to get on patrol now. You need to go to this area and stop every car going through. Well give you more information, says Al. The tone of voice on the radio means its urgent. So youre: Right lads. Get geared up. We need to get there fast.

It was the dismissal with disgrace that truly devastated him. So much so that he was placed on suicide watch during his first few weeks in prison

We spent the best part of the day stopping and searching. Then it comes over the radio hes been found. OK, hes been found. Thats great. You get back, then you find, unfortunately, hes not been found alive. Again, youre passing on more bad news to the lads.

Its not just that, but hes had terrible things done to him. I got told a lot of stuff that had happened to him. Im like: Im not passing that on to the lads. It just wasnt good. Als eyes darken and you glimpse how horrific just wasnt good was.

You knew the Taliban were brutal, but that brought home some harsh realities, he says. You were going to get horribly treated and that was the end of it.

The gloves were off as far as the insurgents were concerned. You decide: Im not getting taken and I cant let my lads be taken either. I will not let them be taken.

After the incident was closed we sat talking. I said: Its your personal decision, lads. Im not going to tell you what to do, but if you find yourself in a situation where were out on the ground and things have gone bad  and I mean really bad  youre on your own and it looks like youre going to get captured, its up to you what you do in that situation . . .

Ive made some decisions about what I think Im going to do. Looking at whats happened I dont want to go out that way. I dont want to be taken. 

Claire sits silently beside Al. Her eyes are full of tears. She reaches for his hand. You know this is the first she has heard of his resolution to take his own life rather than be captured.

Al loves his wife with every bone in his body. His confession brings home how truly horrendous the pressures he faced on that hellish tour of duty were. Morale goes up and then youre kicked in the nethers again, he says.

Around that time we captured two guys who were trying to kill us. High-fives all round. Morales through the roof. Youve got a viable source of intelligence with evidence to send up the line.

A couple of days later youre told the Afghan army has let them go. I never found out the exact reason. You dont understand so how are you going to explain it to the lads? Youre just left with a bitter taste in your mouth that youve risked your life for nothing.

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

Al had just returned from patrol with his men on the morning of September 15 when gunshots rang out from a neighbouring base.

He was lucky to be there at all. Just a month earlier, hed been attacked with two Taliban grenades and only survived because they landed in a drainage ditch which channelled the blast away from him.

September 15 had appeared to be a quiet day until we heard those gunshots going in, he says. You think: Is it just going to be them or is it going to be us as well? Are we going to be next? I got the lads body armoured and ready.

The attack ceased. A short time went past. Command came on the radio to say theyd possibly seen someone with a weapon moving into a compound, could we go and search it. It was an Afghan civilian who was a bit bemused.

We started heading back. Command again. They may have just spotted some guys with weapons. We found a position of cover and just waited. They identified the insurgent had a rifle. Theyd lost track of the second. Werent sure if there was a third.

The Apache helicopter turned up. They opened up on him. Thought theyd missed him. Then they said; hes definitely down; can we go and retrieve any weapons. We thought he was probably in bits all over the field.

It took us a bit of time to get there. I didnt realise he was alive until I put my hands on him to search him. He was in a pretty bad state.

Arguably, as I was approaching him, if I had fired at him at that point, I would have been well within the rules of engagement because he was armed. But I thought he was dead.

When I touched him, he opened his eyes. I got on the radio straight away and said: Hes actually alive. Were going to have to call in the helicopter. I got a less than enthusiastic response.

There was no desire from anyone within 20 miles to get him on a helicopter. I secured his weapon. Searched him and found a hand grenade on him.

Sealed with a hug from his wife in a million, Alexander Blackman finally savoured freedom yesterday

They moved the insurgents body to the side of the field for their own safety.

The ground was saturated with his blood. Hed been lying there for half an hour before we got to him. We gave him first aid.

The nearest place we could have taken him for pick-up by the helicopter was back to base. That would have taken 45 minutes. He pauses. Shakes his head. I made some choices and I regret some of the ones I made.

It goes back to hindsight. I think the fact Im not thinking incredibly well is emphasised by my saying: Shuffle off this mortal coil, you c***.

I have no idea why I said it. I dont read Shakespeare. But it doesnt come out of my mouth instantaneously. I discharge my firearm and he moves for the first time in the last ten minutes that Ive witnessed.

Im there for almost 20 seconds thinking: Youve screwed up here, Al. This is a dark place were at. Im still in charge and responsible for the lads. Ive got to take control back of the situation  say something to lighten the dark place were in. That was the first thing that popped into my head.

Then you seek reassurance from the guys around you, knowing youve messed up, that theyre not going to throw you under the bus. We were all back safe and sound at the main base when I said to the lads: I made some mistakes there. It was never talked of again.

The first time I even knew it existed on videotape was when I was arrested.
President Donald Trump's choice for Army secretary withdrew his nomination on Friday in the face of growing criticism over his remarks about Muslims, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.

Mark Green, a Republican state senator from Tennessee, said in a statement that 'false and misleading attacks' against him had turned his nomination into a distraction.

'Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain,' Green said, expressing 'deep regret' over the decision.

Green is the second Trump nominee for Army secretary to withdraw.

The move to step aside comes after a video began circulating of a remarks Green gave in September to a tea party group in Chattanooga. Green, who is opposed to gay marriage, said being transgender is a disease. He urged that a stand be taken against 'the indoctrination of Islam' in public schools' and also referred to the 'Muslim horde' that invaded Constantinople hundreds of years ago.

Mark Green, a Republican state senator from Tennessee, said in a statement that 'false and misleading attacks' against him had turned his nomination into a distraction

Several Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, declared they would oppose Green's nomination over what they said were intolerant and disturbing views. Democrat Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a combat veteran who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm during the Iraq war, said in a statement Friday that Green wasn't fit to lead the service.

Schumer welcomed Green's move to step aside.

Mark Green, President Donald Trump's choice for Army secretary, withdrew his nomination on Friday in the face of growing criticism over his remarks

In this April 9, 2013, file photo, state Tennessee Sen. Mark Green participates in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Nashville, Tenn.

'Mark Green's decision to withdraw his name from consideration as Army secretary is good news for all Americans, especially those who were personally vilified by his disparaging comments directed toward the LGBTQ community, Muslim community, Latino community and more,' he said in a statement.

Also on Friday, a coalition of 41 organizations led by the Human Rights Campaign called on the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee to reject Green's nomination. The letter to Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Jack Reed of Rhode Island said Green's 'shameful rhetoric' is at odds with the Army's core values and will affect recruiting.

Green is the second of Trump's Army Secretary nominees to withdraw. The president is pictured Thursday with House Speaker Paul Ryan

Green's withdrawal underscores the challenges Trump has faced in filling two of the service secretary posts. The president's first pick to be the Army's top civilian, Vincent Viola, dropped out in early February because of financial entanglements, and about three weeks later Philip B. Bilden, the Navy secretary nominee, withdrew for similar reasons.

The GOP-led Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on the nomination of Heather Wilson to be Air Force secretary.

Trump's decision to tap Green in early April represented a stark contrast to President Barack Obama's choice of Eric Fanning for the post. Fanning, who'd been a senior Pentagon official, was the first openly gay leader of one of the military branches.
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The mother of 11-year-old Michigan boy Tysen Benz who took his own life after falling victim to a cruel prank is speaking out about her son's suicide, pointing a finger of blame at the boy's girlfriend.

Katrina Goss has recently sat down with Dr Phil McGraw to discuss her son's case as part of an exclusive interview, which is airing on Monday on the Dr Phil Show.

Goss tearfully recalled the moment on March 14 when she found her 11-year-old son hanging in his bedroom closet.

Scroll down for video

Mother speaks out: Katrina Goss (left) lost her 11-year-old son, Tysen Benz, to a suicide. She has recently sat down with Dr Phil to talk about the case

Goss recalled the moment on March 14 when she found her 11-year-old son hanging in his bedroom closet

The boy made an attempt on his life after seeing social media posts and text messages claiming that his 13-year-old girlfriend had killed herself.

It later emerged that the teen girl was alive and had faked her suicide, but the news came too late for Tysen. The boy died in an Ann Arbor, Michigan, hospital from his injuries three weeks later.

'It was horrible to see a little child who was so innocent and had the brightest future...to have to let him go,' Goss said, wiping tears from her eyes. 'It was horrific.'

The grieving mom said while she had no inkling at the time that something had been amiss in Tysen's relationship with his girlfriend, in retrospect, she believes the prank was no accident.

'I actually do feel it was intentional,' Goss told Dr Phil. 'The next day she [ the girl] went to school as if everything was normal.'

Emotional: Goss said it was horrible having to say goodbye to her 'innocent' boy who had his whole future ahead of him

In an earlier interview with BuzzFeed News last month, Goss laid the blame at the feet of Tysen's girlfriend, saying, 'She was mean to him, controlled him, and took advantage of him, even after I repeatedly told her to leave him alone.'

Goss was seeking charges against the girl, and Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Wiese said he 'didn't disagree' with the mother's allegations, confirming that the 13-year-old had texted Benz, faking her own suicide, hours before he took his own life.

Goss said the girl and some of her friends orchestrated the prank.

'I don't know what possessed her to do such a weird prank. It's a twisted, sick joke,' she said.

A friend of the two children, Avery Mitchell, said that the unnamed girl plotted the hoax to see if Benz 'really loved her and he took it the wrong way.'

Tysen made an attempted on his life on March 14 after seeing social media posts and texts that his 13-year-old girlfriend had killed herself. He passed away form his injuries three weeks later

'She didn't mean to hurt him [because] they loved each other,' Mitchell said.

The unnamed girl is being charged in Marquette County with telecommunication services-malicious use and using a computer to commit a crime, Marquette city police Captain Michael Kohler said in a news release.

The first charge is a misdemeanor which carries a six-month sentence in the state of Michigan. Using a computer to commit a crime is punishable by a year in prison.

Goss said that after seeing posts about his girlfriend, Tysen replied over social media that he was going to kill himself. Even then, she said, those involved in the prank didn't tell an adult.

'She did a prank that made it look like she killed herself and used other friends and their [social media] accounts to make it look like she killed herself,' Goss told the New York Post. 'So, he believed her and said, 'I'm going to kill myself.''

Goss described her son as an athlete, comedian, friend, brother and all-around amazing child.

Things started to go wrong when he bought a cellphone from a friend behind her back and started 'secretly dating' the older girl against his mother's wishes.

Goss said that she was '100 per cent' against the relationship between the two, because of their age difference.

She never met the girl, who other students called his girlfriend, but said she saw her several times while picking up and dropping off her son at Bothwell Middle School.

Goss described her son as an athlete, comedian, friend, brother and all-around amazing child

She called the prank 'controlling, harassing and manipulative.'

'I'm quite angry,' Goss said. 'I feel like, yeah, they're young and all that, but I feel like when you're 13, you're completely knowledgeable of your choices and you know right from wrong. You can make your own choices. I do feel like she took advantage of a younger boy to control and manipulate him.

'I don't feel like it should be taken lightly. She should be held legally responsible for this horrific prank,' she said.

'The whole thing happened in about 40 minutes,' Goss said. 'He was fine and then I found him. I don't know what she said she did to herself.'

Tysen was rushed to an area hospital and later transferred to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, near Detroit.

Goss said things started to go wrong when he bought a cellphone from a friend behind her back and started 'secretly dating' the older girl against his mother's wishes

'Social media harassment, bullying and pranking is a huge issue,' Goss added. 'The way it's used nowadays, kids are desensitized to social media and it really does hurt people.'

Weise added that the tragic incident serves as a lesson for parents to be more vigilante of their children's communications online, and hopes that the charges against the juvenile will put others 'on notice' for their activity online.

'What happens in the digital and social media world also impacts the actual world we live in. Reckless comments that rise to the level of criminal behavior need to be put out there so there's accountability.'

For readers seeking support, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or by clicking here.
The father of actor Owen Wilson has died after a battle with Alzheimer's.

Robert Wilson, who brought Monty Python and Jim Lehrer to American television, died on Friday at the age of 75, reported KERA News, the station he formerly ran.

The former TV executive left behind his sons Owen, Luke and Andrew, who all became actors. His wife Laura Wilson is a photographer.

Actor Owen Wilson's father, Robert, pictured right in 2008, died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease on Friday

Robert Wilson, pictured left with his son Owen in 2004, was a former TV executive for KERA News in Dallas. He was 75 when he passed away

Robert, pictured in his office in 2004, started his own communications business in Dallas in 1994, where he worked until his illness. The pictures behind him are of his sons Owen, Luke and Andrew when they were young

Robert was a longtime Dallas TV executive who took charge of local public television affiliate, KERA in 1967, when he was only 26.

He hired newspaperman Jim Lehrer from the Dallas Times Herald and put him in charge of public affairs programming.

That led to the creation of a local news program with Jim as host that became the forerunner of national show The News Hour With Jim Lehrer.

Robert also helped move the station from black and white broadcasting to color and helped make the switch from film to video tape. He even launched KERA FM, a public radio station for the area.

Robert Wilson leaves behind his three actor sons, pictured in 2007 from left to right, Andrew, 52, Owen, 48, and Luke, 45

Robert, center, took over TV station KERA in 1967 at the age of 26 and through his work, he changed the public media landscape. He is pictured in 2008 with his son Owen, left and his wife Laura, right

He was also involved in making KERA the first American station to air the BBC sketch comedy program Monty Python's Flying Circus in 1974.

He remained the station manager until 1975. Robert started his own communications business in Dallas in 1994, where he worked until his illness.

His son Owen, 48, spoke for the first time about his father's struggle with Alzheimer's in 2015.

'You just have to do your best to deal with it,' he told Dallas Morning News. 'You've got no choice but to accept it. And then, you sort of still look for the things to be grateful for.

'It's been a rough thing... It's one of those things where if somebody had said 10 years ago, when my dad and I were joking around, having a putting match, that this is the position your dad's going to be in, where he basically needs 24-hour care, you'd think, "Gosh, I won't be able to handle that. That's just not possible."'

Though the KERA TV station was primarily educational programming, Robert, pictured right in 2008, made many changes to the station in his time there. He helped bring color to the station's broadcasts and even launched KERA FM, a public radio station

Owen, pictured far right, first spoke about dealing with his father's struggle with Alzheimer's disease in 2015. Owen is pictured with his brothers Luke, far left, and Andrew, center, in 2007

'For me and my brothers, there just wasn't a bigger influence on us,' Owen said, referring to his actor siblings Luke, 45, and Andrew, 52.

Owen even named his eldest son Robert after his father.

Robert's wife Laura, a noted photographer, told KERA that though he had big ideas, he stayed modest.

'He really sacrificed in a way his life for the creative freedom that each of us were able to experience,' she said. 'And thats unusual because he himself was very creative.'

Owen, who has opened up about his struggle with depression in the past, has not yet made a comment about his father's passing.

In 2015, Owen, right, told Dallas Morning News: 'For me and my brothers, there just wasn't a bigger influence on us.' Owen is pictured with his brother Luke, left, in May 2016

Owen named his eldest son Robert, after his father. The two are pictured in Malibu in September
The Queens right-hand man has issued an extraordinary plea for her family and their staff to put their rivalries aside and support her in the wake of Prince Philips retirement.

Private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt, who has worked for the monarch for 14 years, called for the royal households to pull together following years of behind-the-scenes disputes.

The former Army intelligence officer made his comments during the emergency staff meeting to announce that Philip was stepping down from public engagements on Thursday.

The Queens right-hand man has issued an extraordinary plea for her family and their staff to put their rivalries aside and support her in the wake of Prince Philips retirement

Paying tribute to the wonderful job the 95-year-old prince has done over the years, Sir Christopher called for a more strategic and unified approach from the Royal Family and those who work for them.

His comments emerged as Prince William yesterday joined his grandmother at a reception for Burmas Aung San Suu Kyi, signalling that he and other royals will now fill the space left by Philip, who will cease to carry out public duties from the autumn.

For decades there has been intense competition between Buckingham Palace and Prince Charless official base Clarence House over everything from staffing to how engagements are conducted.

Over the last few years, Kensington Palace, home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, has also joined the fray.

Charles and the Queen handle their roles very differently  he is far more keen to speak on issues close to his heart, while she is necessarily more circumspect. Meanwhile William, Kate and Harry have always tried to push their own causes, independent of anyone else.

The comments were made during the emergency staff meeting to announce that Philip was stepping down from public engagements on Thursday

Several years ago there was a disastrous attempt  encouraged by Sir Christopher  to merge the royal households respective press offices to promote the idea the senior royals were all speaking with one voice

Staff were even moved, at huge expense, into one giant office at Buckingham Palace.

But within months the project was in tatters, with several key players at loggerheads about the way in which royal PR should be handled.

Each team returned to their original base, and since then have kept a sometimes uneasy peace.

Yesterday the Daily Mail told how, as a result of Philips retirement, other members of the Royal Family  notably the Queens children and grandchildren  were being asked to step up to the plate to support her in a new set-up known as Team Windsor.

This will see them accompany her on more public engagements.

Private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt, who has worked for the monarch for 14 years, called for the royal households to pull together following years of behind-the-scenes disputes

In the first visible sign of the new arrangement, Prince William was, unusually, at the Queens side yesterday at a private meeting and lunch for Nobel peace prize winner Miss Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of Burma.

Commenting on Sir Christophers speech, one palace insider told the Mail: He paid tribute to the wonderful work of the duke and said that as he is no longer at the Queens side, all of the members of the Royal Family, their households, basically all of those who work for the institution of the monarchy, need to act collectively in support of the Queen.

He made very clear that, on this momentous day, he was speaking on behalf of the Queen with the encouragement of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge when he said this.

The source said there would be no merging of the households  and each would continue to have its own distinct character, role and way of operating.

But they added: There will be occasions when they will be needed to pull together and support the Queen more.

They also stressed that no-one would be moving office, and that Sir Christopher was making a more general statement of principle as to how things should operate now the Queen no longer has the Duke of Edinburgh by her side.

Everyone will retain their own individual characteristics, but this will be a way of ensuring that the principles can step up on more engagements on behalf of or with the Queen, they said.

They want to ensure that everything is scheduled sensibly, particularly when it comes to public engagements. It was an opportunity to clarify and amplify what has been happening already.

The duke's orderlies start work for William

Two of Prince Philips orderlies are now working for Prince William following the 95-year-olds decision to retire from public life.

In a key move, young soldiers Corporal Stewart Harvey and Lance-Sergeant Stuart Hayes were seconded to Kensington Palace last month after Philips diminishing workload left them with increasingly little to do.

It comes as royal insiders yesterday told the Daily Mail that William, Kate and Harry were being expected to take on a significantly greater number of engagements on behalf of the Queen from this year.

Paid for by the Army, orderlies are seconded to the Royal Family to help out with royal duties. With Philips blessing, the pair now report to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry  although they still work for the Queens husband occasionally.

Two of Prince Philips orderlies are now working for Prince William following the 95-year-olds decision to retire from public life

At Kensington Palace they do what a source described as light butler duties, including serving drinks, cleaning clothes, walking William and Kates dog Lupo and delivering hand-written notes.

The royal insider said of the pair: It is a tradition for members of the Royal Family to have orderlies from the military, but Prince Philip is not as active as he once was, so the guys were finding themselves with some spare time.

It was a no-brainer for them to help out with William and Kate and Harry, especially as they are now taking on so many more jobs.

The fact that Corporal Harvey and Lance-Sergeant Hayes are working for Harry as well as Prince Williams family will likely fuel rumours he is about to pop the question to his American girlfriend Meghan Markle  and will then need their help to entertain and carry out engagements.

The fact that Corporal Harvey and Lance-Sergeant Hayes are working for Harry as well as Prince Williams family will likely fuel rumours he is about to pop the question to his American girlfriend Meghan Markle

Viewed alongside Thursdays announcement by Buckingham Palace, the secondment signals that the young royals will be taking on more and more responsibilities for their grandmother. The move is part of what is being dubbed Team Windsor, a conscious effort by members of the royal family to support the Queen  both behind the scenes and on public engagements  now that her husband of almost 70 years is stepping down.

It is understood that Williams decision to quit his job as an air ambulance pilot and return to London with his young family this autumn was prompted by his grandfathers decision to step down.

In addition to the two orderlies, William and Kate are expanding their household in other ways.

The Mail can reveal they have poached Natalie Matthews from the private offices of Clarence House to work as an assistant private secretary for Kate. This is in addition to her principal private secretary, Rebecca Deacon, who is leaving this summer after ten years in royal service and will also be replaced.

They have also recently hired a second housekeeper for their Norfolk home Anmer House  35-year-old Emma Boyce, who previously worked for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie for a decade.

A Sandringham insider said the mother-of-two was a welcome addition, adding: She is very popular and friendly and George and Charlotte already get on well with her and her kids  she has a boy and a girl. Mrs Boyce will join existing Anmer Hall housekeeper Sadie Rice, Kensington Palace housekeeper Antonella Fresolone and Prince George and Princess Charlottes Spanish nanny Maria Borrallo.

The source said: When William and Kate first got married they wanted to have a very small staff and do everything themselves.

They have loved their family life hidden away in Norfolk while he has been working as an air ambulance pilot, but the Queen kept telling them they needed more staff and that they were being unrealistic.

It seems that given the Duke of Edinburghs decision to retire they are finally taking her advice and taking on more help.

They are going to be performing a lot more duties and they need the support behind the scenes.
NASA is looking into new ways to transport cargo to the moon.

In a new Request for Information, NASA calls for US companies to submit details on launch and landing services, to help them assess the availability of commercial systems that could carry payload 'from Earth to the lunar surface as early as 2018.

At this point, the RFI is only intended for planning purposes as NASA explores ways to send instruments, experiments, and other payloads to the moon, and companies will have until June 2 to send in their responses.

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NASA is calling for US companies to submit details on launch and landing services that could potentially carry payload to the moon as early as 2018. In the last few years, several companies have been vying for a chance to send a lander to the moon, including Moon Express (pictured)

THE LUNAR 'TREASURE CHEST' The moon is a 'treasure chest' of lucrative materials. It has vast amounts of iron ore, water, rare Earth minerals and precious metals, as well as carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and helium-3, a gas that can be used in future fusion reactors to provide nuclear power without radioactive waste. Experts believe that the value of these resources are in the trillions of dollars. The moon can also serve as a fuel depot station for interplanetary space exploration. It has massive amounts of ice (H2O) trapped on the lunar poles that can be used for rocket fuel. Advertisement

Todays call for ideas from our industry partners is an important step for us to continue lunar exploration and beyond, said Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for NASAs Science Mission Directorate (SMD) in Washington.

After numerous successful human and robotic missions, NASA remains committed to continue high-priority lunar science.

According to the RFI, the space agency wants companies to share details on commercial launch and landing services to carry payloads.

And, they should have the potential to also procure data from any commercial lunar surface missions and/or return payloads or samples to the Earth.

NASA is hoping to assess the availability and feasibility of such systems to potentially launch as early as fiscal year 2018.

As the agency looks toward future missions, these developments could ultimately help to improve our understanding on the technologies needed for sustainable exploration, and expand what we know about the moon.

NASA is interested in understanding how commercial lunar cargo transportation opportunities can help advance our knowledge of the Moon and its potential resources for exploration, said Bill Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator for NASAs Human Explorations and Operations Mission Directorate.

The space agency wants companies to share details on commercial launch and landing services to carry payloads. And, they should have the potential to also procure data from any commercial lunar surface missions and/or return payloads or samples to the Earth

In the last few years, several companies have been vying for a chance to send a lander to the moon.

Moon Express, one of the Google Lunar X Prize teams, is set to launch a lunar mission in 2017 with its MX-1E lander.

The firm hopes to mine our satellite for materials like platinum-group metals, rare earth metals, helium-3 and moon rocks.

MOON EXPRESS PLANS TO SET UP A LUNAR MINE Last year, Moon Express announced its plans to set up a mine on the moon to bring back precious resources, including metals and moon rocks. And the firm looks to be one step closer to reaching its goal. In January, Moon Express completed a 16.6 million ($20 million) financing round, bringing its total funding to 37 million ($45 million). As well as completing its recent financing round, Moon Express has also entered Googles Lunar Xprize competition, which will give a firm 25 million ($30 million) in reward for landing a rover on the moon. During November and December 2014, Moon Express successfully conducted its lander test vehicle hot fires and initial flight tests. A thermal infrared image of Moon Express' MTV-1X test vehicle shown, undergoing a hotfire engine test at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida Moon Express hopes to mine our satellite for materials like platinum-group metals, rare earth metals, helium-3 and moon rocks. 'Most of the elements that are rare on Earth are believed to have originated from space, and are largely on the surface of the Moon,' the company says. The company has contracted Rocket Lab, which was founded in New Zealand but is now headquartered in Los Angeles, to launch is robotic spacecraft. Rocket Lab will use its Electron rocket system to launch three missions ofMoon Express' MX-1 lunar lander spacecraft, starting in 2017. Advertisement

Along with its interest in a lander, NASA has also revealed it is developing instruments that can peer through the deep shadows of the moon to better understand the treasure chest of resources at the surface.

Some areas of the lunar surface remain a mystery, enshrouded in permanent shadows that make them difficult to observe from afar.

But, the recently chosen ShadowCam, developed by researchers at Arizona State University and Malin Space Science Systems is set to fly aboard the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) to study these dark areas up close.

It uses an optical camera based on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Narrow Angle Camera  but, its instrument is 800 times more sensitive.
Encouraging life to bloom in the middle of a desert is no easy task.

But one company in the United Arab Emirates has come up with a bizarre plan to provide drinking water for the state's citizens.

The firm intends to haul icebergs from Antarctica to the gulf coast in order to harvest its billions of gallons of fresh water.

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An Abu-Dhabi based firm plans to tow icebergs from Antarctica to the United Arab Emirates to harvest their fresh drinking water (artist's impression pictured). One iceberg could provide enough for one million people over five years

THE PLAN The National Advisor Bureau plans to harvest icebergs from Heard Island, around 600 miles (1000 kilometres) off the coast of mainland Antarctica. It will then transport them around 5,500 miles (8,800 km) to Fujairah, one of the seven emirates which make up the UAE. The UAE is one of the most arid countries and one of the top 10 most water-scarce in the world, at severe risk of droughts over the next 25 years. An average iceberg contains more than 20 billion gallons of water. Upon arrival at a specially constructed processing facility, workers will 'mine' the icebergs for their water supplies. One iceberg could provide enough for one million people over five years, according to the company. Advertisement

The National Advisor Bureau, headquartered in Masdar City, Abu-Dhabi, plans to source the massive blocks of ice from Heard Island, around 600 miles (1000 kilometres) off the coast of mainland Antarctica.

It will then transport them around 5,500 miles (8,800 km) to Fujairah, one of the seven emirates which make up the UAE.

One iceberg could provide enough for one million people over five years, according to the company.

And the scheme could begin as early as the start of 2018.

The firm's director says they have already travelled the transportation route and used simulators to check the feasibility of the scheme, according to reports in Gulf News.

Speaking to the site about what he is calling the UAE Iceberg Project, Abdullah Mohammad Sulaiman Al Shehi said: 'Our simulator predicts that it will take up to one year [to tow an iceberg to UAE].

'We have formulated the technical and financial plan. Towing is the best method. We will start the project in beginning of 2018.

'We want it mainly for the water. It could also be good for tourism and the weather.'

The UAE is one of the most arid countries and one of the top 10 most water-scarce in the world, due to its extremely arid climate, which receives less than four inches (100 mm) of rainfall per year.

Despite that, it consumes more water than double the global national average putting the country at severe risk of droughts over the next 25 years.

An average iceberg contains more than 20 billion gallons of water, according to the Abu Dhabi-based company.

They take a long time to melt as 80 per cent of their mass is underwater, while the white ice above reflects sunlight and deflects its heat.

Upon arrival at a specially constructed processing facility, workers will 'mine' the icebergs for their water supplies.

An average iceberg contains more than 20 billion gallons of water. Upon arrival at a specially constructed processing facility (artist's impression pictured), workers will 'mine' the icebergs for their water supplies

The project may prove a boost for tourism if it proves a success, with people travelling to see the unusual sight of an iceberg off the coast of the Arabian Gulf (artist's impression pictured)

Blocks of ice will be chipped off and placed in giant tanks, before being filtered and processed.

'This is the purest water in the world', Mr Al Shehi added.

He also claims the iceberg's presence could provide a more moist micro-climate in the area, perhaps even prompting rainfall.

And the project may prove a boost for tourism if it proves a success, with people travelling to see the unusual sight of an iceberg off the coast of the Arabian Gulf.
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A plane destined to become the first solar-powered craft to break through the stratosphere has taken to the skies this morning.

The SolarStratos, which is fuel-free and powered by sunlight, successfully completed its first seven-minute test flight, reaching altitudes of 300 metres.

Its designers say the flight marks an important first step in preparation for plans to send SolarStratos to the edge of space in 2018.

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The SolarStratos, which is powered by the sunlight, was rolled out of the hangar today for its first test flight by test pilot, Damian Hischier

THE SOLARSTRATOS - Two-seater plane - 28 feet (8.5 metres) long - 81.4 feet (24.8 metres) wingspan - 32-kW electric engine - 20 kWh lithium-ion battery - 72 sq feet (22 sq m) solar cells - Can fly for 24 hours - Can fly at 82,000 ft (25,000 m) Advertisement

SolarStratos took to the skies over Payerne, Switzerland at 08:00 local time (07:00 BST/02:00 EST), where conditions were described as 'ideal.'

Raphael Domjan, who founded the firm, supervised the test flight by pilot Damian Hischier, who flew SolarStratos for seven minutes at an altitude of 300 metres, before landing.

Thankfully, the maiden flight went off without a hitch.

The group now plans to study the results of the test flight before scheduling a longer flight at higher altitude.

Mr Domjan was delighted with the results of the inaugural flight, and said: 'We were impatient for this moment and are happy with our first flight and the way that the plane behaved.

'Now we must continue to work hard to learn how to harness the potential of this solar-powered treasure.

'We want to demonstrate that with current technology, it is possible to go beyond what fossil fuels offer.

'Electric and solar vehicles are among the major challenges of the 21st century.

'Our plane which can fly at 25,000 metres, opens a window to electric and solar-powered high-altitude aviation  something that has never before been attempted.

In the first mission, it's expected the plane will take two hours to ascend to space, 15 minutes to 'stay up with the stars,' and three hours to descend (artist's impression pictured)

Raphael Domjan (pictured right), who founded the firm, supervised the test flight by pilot Damian Hischier (pictured left), who flew SolarStratos for seven minutes at an altitude of 300 meters, before landing

Thankfully, the maiden flight went off without a hitch. The group now plans to study the results of the test flight before scheduling a longer flight at higher altitude

'Only by flying can we work out the plane's limits and today's short flight was an important first step on this pathway.'

Mr Hischier, who was piloting the solar-powered craft, added: 'The plane is very nice to fly.

'It is responsive and it is obvious that it has been very well designed and built.

According to the SolarStratos team, the mission will be a challenge to both human and technological capabilities, and could pave the way for renewable energy travel. The plane is pictured in its hangar

SOLARSTRATOS' MISSION TO SPACE In November, SolarStraos first revealed plans for a five-hour mission to space and back, during which the plane and pilot will be subjected to frigid temperatures and extremely low pressures. In the first mission, it's expected the plane will take two hours to ascend to space, 15 minutes to 'stay up with the stars,' and three hours to descend. From up so high, passengers will be able to see the curvature of the Earth and witness the stars during the daytime. But, this also means the pilot will not be able to leave the plane to use a parachute. During the journey, both the plane and pilot will experience temperatures as cold as -70C, along with pressures around five per cent those felt on Earth. SolarStratos hopes to blast off into space by 2018. Advertisement

'The SolarStratos team have an excellent baseline to work from as they progress to the next step of this pioneering and ambitious project.'

Roland Loos, CEO of SolarStratos added: 'We are particularly pleased to have taken this crucial step in the development of our project.

'SolarStratos aims to promote renewable energies and to demonstrate that concepts and projects that seemed inconceivable five years ago are possible thanks to the technology available today.

Raphael Domjan, founder of SolarStratos, was delighted with the results of the inaugural flight, and said: 'We were impatient for this moment and are happy with our first flight and the way that the plane behaved'

The plane is just 28 feet (8.5 metres) long and runs on a 32-kW electric engine and 20 kWh lithium-ion battery, charged by the craft's 72 square feet (22 square metre) solar cells, which cover each wing

Damian Hischier, who was piloting the solar-powered craft, said: 'The plane is very nice to fly. It is responsive and it is obvious that it has been very well designed and built'

While the test flight only lasted seven minutes, the designers say it marks an important first step on the pathway to electric and solar-powered high-altitude aviation

'Technology in the field of solar-electric aviation is still in its infancy, so this is just the beginning of a great adventure.'

In November, SolarStratos first revealed plans for a five-hour mission to space and back, during which the plane and pilot will be subjected to frigid temperatures and extremely low pressures.

The plane is just 28 feet (8.5 metres) long and runs on a 32-kW electric engine and 20 kWh lithium-ion battery, charged by the craft's 72 square feet (22 square metre) solar cells, which cover each wing.

During its seven minute maiden flight, the plane reached an altitude of 300 metres, but the firm says it is capable of reaching altitudes of 24,000 metres in the future

Raphael Domjan, who founded the firm (pictured right), is pictured celebrating the successful test flight by pilot Damian Hischier (pictured left), who flew SolarStratos for seven minutes at an altitude of 300 metres

It has a wingspan of 81.4 feet (24.8 metres).

The craft, built by PC-Aero, can seat two people and is capable of more than 24 hours of flight.

According to the firm, SolarStratos is the first commercial two-seater solar plane, and will be the first solar craft to breach the stratosphere.

The craft, built by PC-Aero, can seat two people and is capable of more than 24 hours of flight. It has a wingspan of 81.4 feet (24.8 metres)

Its hangar was completed in November, and this will serve as the operational base.

In the first mission, it's expected the plane will take two hours to ascend to space, 15 minutes to 'stay up with the stars,' and three hours to descend.

From up so high, passengers will be able to see the curvature of the Earth and witness the stars during the daytime.

'Wouldn't it be essential to go higher to show the capacity of renewable energy, here on the surface of our planet?' the website says.

'Beyond this adventure, our project is to open a door on a commercial electrical or solar aviation on the edge of space, with the aim of achieving unique travel with private passengers or scientists.'

The craft will not be pressurised as a result of weight restrictions, and the pilot will have to wear an astronaut's pressurized suit, in another solar energy first.

From up so high, passengers will be able to see the curvature of the Earth and witness the stars during the daytime (artist's impression pictured)

'For a hundred years it was necessary to use large quantities of energy or helium to reach the stratosphere,' the team continued.

But, this also means the pilot will not be able to leave the plane to use a parachute.

During the journey, both the plane and pilot will experience temperatures as cold as -70C, along with pressures around five per cent those felt on Earth.

During the journey, both the plane and pilot will experience temperatures as cold as -70C, along with pressures around five per cent those felt on Earth (artist's impression pictured)

According to the SolarStratos team, the mission will be a challenge to both human and technological capabilities, and could pave the way for renewable energy travel.

'Now we are going to open the way for manned solar and electric aviation on the edge of space.'

SolarStratos hopes to blast off into space by 2018.
It was designed as a security measure to increase protection of internet users across the globe.

But hackers have used a well-known security vulnerability in worldwide mobile telecoms networks to steal access codes to online bank accounts.

The exploit could be used against any bank that uses two-step login verification, as well as high-profile websites like Facebook, Google and many others.

And until money has come out of your bank account, or malicious messages have been sent on social media, you won't know you've been hit.

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Hackers in Germany have exploited a vulnerability in a global telecom network called Signal System 7. It is the first time criminals have been able to steal funds from bank accounts and it could affect customers worldwide, as well as other high profile websites (stock image)

HOW IT WORKS The hack uses a global telecom network called Signal System 7 (SS7). The service helps mobile networks across the world route calls and texts. It can be used for keeping calls connected as users speed along roads, switching from signal tower to signal tower. But it can also be used by criminals to redirect data. And hackers have now found a way to intercept the two-stage authentication messages sent out by banks. These are used to verify the identity of customers placing transactions, often in the form of access codes. With access to these code, criminals have free reign to empty out all of the funds in an account. Advertisement

The attacks, first reported in Germany, are the first time that criminals have been able to exploit the Signal System 7 (SS7) to steal funds from bank accounts.

SS7 service helps mobile networks across the world route calls and texts, for example by keeping calls connected as users speed along roads, switching from signal tower to signal tower.

But it can also be used by criminals to redirect data, and hackers have now found a way to intercept the two-stage authentication codes sent out by banks.

These are used to verify the identity of customers attempting log in to their accounts or to place some online transactions.

They are usually sent in the form of SMS messages and by intercepting these codes through the SS7 service, criminals have free reign to empty funds from your account.

The attacks, reported by German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, were confirmed by telecoms company O2 Telefonica although it is not known how many of their customers were affected.

But most banks and high profile websites use the two-step method, meaning millions of users around the world could be vulnerable.

And the attacks have already come to the attention of legislators in the US who are calling for a crack down on the flaw, which has been known since 2014.

Congressman Ted W Lieu said in a statement: 'Everyone's accounts protected by text-based two-factor authentication, such as bank accounts, are potentially at risk until the FCC and telecom industry fix the devastating SS7 security flaw.

The hack uses a global telecom network called Signal System 7 (SS7). The service helps phone carriers across the world route calls and texts but it can also be used by criminals to redirect data (stock image)

HOW TO STOP IT Hackers must already have access to the first stage of verification, namely your username and password, for the attack to work. These are usually sourced from data leaks affecting other sites, as people often use the same passwords This is why it is vital to use different and complex passwords across different sites. Reputable password managers that suggest strong passwords and stores them in an encrypted file on your own computer can make these more simple to generate and remember. Advertisement

'Both the FCC and telecom industry have been aware that hackers can acquire our text messages and phone conversations just knowing our cell phone number.

'It is unacceptable the FCC and telecom industry have not acted sooner to protect our privacy and financial security.'

It was also in Germany that researchers discovered the flaw in SS7 in December 2014.

They warned at the time that hackers could use the exploit to locate callers anywhere in the world, listen to calls as they happen or record hundreds of encrypted calls and texts at a time for later decryption.

Despite this, two-step authentication codes continue to be sent via SMS messages by many of the world's largest internet companies.

Among them is Google, who promotes '2-Step Verification' as an extra-layer of security designed to 'keep the bad guys out.

Thankfully hackers must already have access to the first stage of verification, namely your username and password, for the attack to work, and this is something you can control.

Despite warnings, two-step authentication codes continue to be sent via SMS messages by many of the world's largest internet companies. Among them is Google who promote '2-Step Verification' as an extra-layer of security designed to 'keep the bad guys out (pictured)

The firm sends out codes via SMS messages and then asks for them to be inputted. This extra login step is meant to secure Google's services for its users

Login details are usually sourced from data leaks affecting other sites, as people often use the same passwords.

There are a number of websites that collect information on mass data-breeches and allow you to check whether your details are among them, including one widely-used site 'Have I Been Pwned?'.

It is important to note that in a data breech, for example where your Hotmail email address is listed in a breech of LinkedIn, it is the password for LinkedIn which hackers have access to rather than the Hotmail account - unless they are the same.

This is why it is vital to use different and complex passwords across different sites, so that a breech of your password on one site does not allow hackers to access your account on others..

Reputable password managers that suggest strong passwords and stores them in an encrypted file on your own computer can make these more simple to generate and remember.
A Mexican teenager has invented a bra that could provide an early warning for women developing breast cancer.

The technology uses biosensors to measure temperature and alert the wearer to any worrying changes.

The young entrepreneur created the bra after his mum nearly died of cancer when he was 13 years old - and now it could potentially save the lives of millions.

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The Eva bra is equipped with 200 biosensors that monitor the temperature, shape and weight of a woman's breasts and information is logged in an app

HOW DOES IT WORK? The bra has 200 biosensors that monitor the temperature, shape and weight of a woman's breasts. Women would need to wear the Eva bra for just 60 - 90 minutes and it would measure temperature and alert the wearer to worrying changes. This information is logged in an app which will let women know if there are worrying changes. The 'auto exploration bra' is only at the prototype stage but they now have now won $20,000 (15,500) to develop it further. Advertisement

Julian Rios Cantu, 18, and his three friends, developed the Eva bra which is equipped with 200 biosensors that monitor the temperature, shape and weight of a woman's breasts.

Information is logged in an app which will let women know if there are worrying changes.

Women would need to wear the Eva bra for just 60 - 90 minutes a week.

Their company, Higia Technologies, won the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) in Frankfurt, Germany on April 27-29.

The 'auto exploration bra' is only at the prototype stage.

Thanks to the GSEA competition they now have now won $20,000 (15,500) to develop it further, writes BBC.

The company says it is 'devoted to boosting women's quality of life by attaining a professionalisation of the self exploration method for the early and effective detection of breast cancer'.

In June last year, Mr Rios Cantu tweeted 'In my hands you see the first prototype of the Higia Technologies auto-exploration bra'.

The bra (pictured) measures temperature and alert the wearer to worrying changes. The company, Higia Technologies, won the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards in Frankfurt

After this recent success the president of Mexico tweeted to congratulate him.

Five years ago Mr Rios Cantu's mum was initially told her lumps were not malignant but found out six months later they were cancerous.

She had to have both breasts removed which inspired Mr Rios Cantu to find a device which could detect cancer earlier.

Around 8,200,000 people die of breast cancer globally each year.

Information is logged in an app which will let women know if there are worrying changes. Thanks to the GSEA competition they now have now how funds to develop it further

Julian Rios Cantu, 18, (pictured here with Richard Branson) beat young entrepreneurs from around the world to win $20,000 (15,500) to develop his idea

Tumours change the temperature of skin as a result of increased blood flow but increased blood flow does not necessarily mean the wearer will develop cancer.

'At present, there is no evidence to show whether this bra is a reliable way to detect tumours, and it's certainly not a good idea for women to use technology that hasn't been tested in good-quality scientific trials', Anna Perman from Cancer Research UK told BBC.

'It's great to see young people like Julian getting into science and having ideas that could help with cancer diagnosis', she said.

In June last year, Mr Rios Cantu tweeted 'In my hands you see the first prototype of the Higia Technologies auto-exploration bra'
Facebook Messenger is inadvertently suggesting call girl agency websites to users who might just be typing a friend's number into the search bar.

In order to make the Messenger app more user-friendly Facebook is now letting users search for company pages, some of which are highly inappropriate.

A shocking investigation found searching for a number can result in escort services coming up as top suggestions - the latest of a series of scandals for the company.

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Facebook Messenger lets users search for company pages - some of which are highly inappropriate - such as call girl services (right) which comes up if users type in 073872 (left)

CALL GIRL AGENCIES In order to make the Messenger app more user friendly Facebook is now letting users search for company pages. Inappropriate pages such as 'Hot sexy girls 18+' and 'SuicideGirls' came up alongside charitable organisations such as 'Educate Girls', according to the investigation. Facebook was contacted and has since removed three of the 'call girl' agencies that came up when users searched 'Girls'. But MailOnline typed in the digits 073872 into the Messenger search bar and a Sirohi Call girls Service popped up. Advertisement

These pages show up at the same time as mainstream businesses, according to Campaign, a London-based media company who did the investigation.

Inappropriate pages such as 'Hot sexy girls 18+' and 'SuicideGirls' came up alongside charitable organisations such as 'Educate Girls', according to the investigation.

Facebook was contacted and has since removed three of the 'call girl' agencies that came up when users searched 'Girls'.

But MailOnline typed in the digits 073872 into the Messenger search bar and a Sirohi Call girls Service popped up.

'When pages or profiles are found to violate our Community Standards they are removed from Facebook', Facebook told MailOnline.

'In this instance it seems that some pages could be found on Messenger. We are addressing this and are working hard to make sure it doesn't occur again. We are sorry it happened', the company said.

Two days ago the social media site announced plans to hire 3,000 moderators who will check content posted on the site.

This isn't the first incident Facebook has been involved in this month.

Just weeks ago, shocking deaths and suicides appeared on Facebook - which stayed up for hours in some cases before being removed.

The company was forced to act after an outcry over a number of disturbing incidents broadcast via Facebook Live, its 'streaming' service that lets users put whatever they like directly on the network.

Inappropriate pages such as 'Hot sexy girls 18+' and 'SuicideGirls' came up when users searched 'girl', according to the investigation

Last week a 21-year-old man in Thailand filmed himself hanging his 11-month-old daughter before killing himself. The four-minute video of the child's final moments stayed on Facebook for 24 hours before the company removed it.

A second Thai man has since threatened to hang his baby on the website and although he did not go through with it, it stoked fears of a copycat trend.

Last month, gunman Steve Stephens, 37, posted a video on Facebook showing the moment he shot dead pensioner Robert Godwin, 74.

This investigation comes weeks after shocking deaths and suicides appeared on Facebook - which stayed up for hours before being removed. Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg (stock image) said the recent killings had made him reflect 'on how we can do better'

OFFENSIVE FACEBOOK CONTENT This investigation comes just weeks after shocking deaths and suicides appeared on Facebook - with stayed up for hours in some cases before being removed. Two days ago the social media site announced plans to hire 3,000 moderators who will moderate content. The company was forced to act after an outcry over a number of disturbing incidents broadcast via Facebook Live, its 'streaming' service that lets users put whatever they like directly on the network. Last week a 21-year-old man in Thailand filmed himself hanging his 11-month-old daughter before killing himself. The four-minute video of the child's final moments stayed on Facebook for 24 hours before the company removed it. A second Thai man has since threatened to hang his baby on the website and although he did not go through with it, it stoked fears of a copycat trend. Last month, gunman Steve Stephens, 37, posted a video on Facebook showing the moment he shot dead pensioner Robert Godwin, 74. Advertisement

The social network said it removed the video within two hours, but copies of the footage were reportedly still available a week later.

Stephens later killed himself during a stand-off with police.

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this week the recent killings had made him reflect 'on how we can do better.'

'We're working to make these videos easier to report so we can take the right action sooner, whether it's responding quickly when someone needs help or taking a post down', he said.
In what could be the latest plot for a disaster movie, scientists have warned that global warming could awaken monster diseases in the Arctic Circle.

This could cause the reemergence of global killers thought to have been eradicated, including smallpox, as well as a whole host of microbes that have lain dormant for millennia.

Experts say t here are already signs this is starting to happen and some fear that they could cause a global pandemic in the future.

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Melting permafrost (pictured) and industrial drilling threaten to unleash a whole host of deadly microbes that have lain dormant for millennia. Some experts fear that they could cause a global pandemic in the future (stock image)

PERMAFROST Microbial diseases are normally unable to survive for long periods outside of their hosts. But the soil under permafrost offers a unique habitat to preserve bacteria and viruses over thousands of centuries. Dr Claverie and his team have already uncovered a number of 'giant viruses' in the top layers of Arctic ice which are particularly resistant to damage. And he fears that more pathonegens - some of which may have caused global pandemics in the past - could be buried deeper down. Advertisement

Among them is Jean-Michel Claverie, a professor of microbiology at Aix-Marseille University in France.

The evolutionary biologist has been analysing the DNA content of permafrost layers since 2014.

Microbial diseases are normally unable to survive for long periods outside of their hosts.

But the soil under permafrost offers a unique habitat to preserve bacteria and viruses over thousands of centuries.

Dr Claverie and his team have already uncovered a number of 'giant viruses' in the top layers of Arctic ice which are particularly resistant to damage.

And he fears that more microbial lifeforms, some of which may have caused global pandemics in the past, could be buried deeper down.

Speaking to the Independent, he said: 'Permafrost is a very good preserver of microbes and viruses, because it is cold, there is no oxygen, and it is dark.

'Pathogenic viruses that can infect humans or animals might be preserved in old permafrost layers, including some that have caused global epidemics in the past.

'At the moment, these regions are deserted and the deep permafrost layers are left alone.

'However, these ancient layers could be exposed by the digging involved in mining and drilling operations. If viable virions are still there, this could spell disaster.'

The regions where these giant microbes have been found are coveted for their mineral wealth, especially oil.

The soil under permafrost (pictured) offers a unique habitat to preserve bacteria and viruses over thousands of centuries (stock image)

Dr Jean-Michel Claverie has already discovered a number of prehistoric 'giant' viruses (pictured) frozen in the wastelands of Siberia. And he fears that more microbial lifeforms, some of which may have caused global pandemics in the past, could be buried deeper down

SMALLPOX It was one of the world's most feared diseases that covered a person's body in painful pus-filled spots. Now, scientists fear that smallpox, which was eradicated in 1979, could re-emerge from the most unlikely of places  defrosting corpses. During the 1890s, a major epidemic of smallpox occurred in a town near the Kolyma River in eastern Siberia, Russia. Experts fear that bodies infected with the disease could potentially begin a cycle of infection, should a person make contact with remains. Advertisement

At the same time, climate change is warming the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions at more than twice the global average, which means permafrost is thawing.

And as more of the ice melts away, these resources will become increasingly accessible for industrial exploitation.

One such 'giant' was found by Dr Claverie's team n 2015, preserved in the frozen wastelands of northeastern Russia.

The scientists 'reanimated' the 30,000-year-old bug to learn more about it and discover whether it is harmful to animals or humans.

Called Mollivirus sibericum, it is the fourth prehistoric virus to have been found since 2003.

The virus was discovered by the French National Centre for Scientific Research in the Kolyma lowland region of Russia.

The virus was found by the French National Centre for Scientific Research in the Kolyma lowland region (marked). It is the second virus of its kind to be found by the team, and joins other giant viruses including the Minivirus from 2003, the Pandoraviruses found in 2013

Unlike most viruses circulating today, these ancient specimens are not only bigger, but far more complex genetically. This graphs reveal the proteins found in two of the giant viruses

To qualify as a 'giant', a virus must be longer than half a micron, or a thousandth of a millimetre (0.00002 of an inch).

Mollivirus sibericum, which translates to 'soft virus from Siberia', measures 0.6 microns and can be seen using light microscopy.

Pithovirus sibericum was 'reanimated' in March 2014 using similar techniques.

Researchers placed the virus with single-cell amoeba, which will serve as its host.

That particular virus was found in a 98ft (30 metre) deep sample of permanently frozen soil taken from coastal tundra in Chukotka, near the East Siberia Sea.
News / Africa

by Staff reporter

A ZIMBABWEAN man, Solomon Nkomo, was stabbed to death in Cape Town, South Africa.Nkomo was walking to a friend's house last Saturday when he was attacked in a suspected case of robbery."He had just left a friend and was going to make arrangements to stand in for someone at his work when he met his death," Harrison Nkomo, a family spokesperson and uncle of the deceased told Southern Eye.The workmate whom Nkomo was going to visit was speaking to the deceased on his mobile phone, saying he was two minutes away.But two minutes turned to be days and when the workmate checked for him at his house, he found the late Nkomo had not even returned to his home."It is when police help was sought for that Nkomo was later found as an identified body in a police mortuary," Harrison Nkomo said.His body had deep stab wounds but his phone and other personal items were missing.The late Nkomo is one of the millions of Zimbabwean youths, who left the economically run down country to look for employment in South Africa.Many others are dotted around the world and as far afield as Canada, Australia and New Zealand to find employment."It is sad that many youths like him have met their deaths in such sad ways after trying to live honestly, the government's mismanagement is responsible for this," a man who heard about the death, said.Several other Zimbabweans have died trying to cross the Limpopo or fallen victim to violent crime in the foreign country.Harrison Nkomo said the late Solomon's body will leave Cape Town today and funeral dates will be announced later.Nkomo will be buried at Farm number 1 Mungezi Purchase Area in Bikita.
The matchmaking company Feeld has created a new feature to help people hookup with their office crush.

The dating experts now let colleagues connect using Slack, a chatroom app used by many tech and media companies.

Using a Slack bot created by Feeld, you can now type in your office crush's name, and if your lover-to-be types your name back, it will tell you there's a match.

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Washington Post journalist Mike Madden was left surprised when his team were sent Slack messages via the Feeld bot. The bot invites you to type your office crush's name, and if your lover-to-be types your name back, it will tell you there's a match

FEELD'S DARK PAST The Feeld app has a dark past. Originally marketed as '3nder', the app was touted as the 'Tinder for threesomes' when it was first released in 2014. According to its website, 3nder, pronounced 'threen-der', was geared towards 'all swingers, newbies, curious and experienced' who are 'discriminated by society the same way gay people were 15 years ago'. The app, which bore the tagline: 'Threesomes made easy,' didn't work out, and now the company has re-branded and focused its attention on love in the office. Advertisement

Feeld advises users of the bizarre bot to 'be nice/don't be a D' and all will be fine.

Washington Post journalist Mike Madden was left surprised when his team were sent Slack messages via the dating bot.

'Sorry, Slack, this is flattering and all, but I'm married,' he tweeted.

'Also, is the whole point of that app to terrify HR people?'

It appears the dating service is not a cooperative effort between Feeld and Slack.

Slack is yet to officially endorse the strange integration with Feeld or offer any comment on it.

Slack is explicitly a workplace app, with the tagline on its website reading 'Where work* happens.'

The asterisk adds: *'Whatever work means for you, Slack brings all the pieces and people you need together so you can actually get things done.'

Experts suggest that Feeld's dating service is simply piggybacking on the chatroom app.

And Feeld has a dark past. Originally marketed as '3nder', the app was touted as the 'Tinder for threesomes' when it was first released in 2014.

Slack is a chatroom app used by many tech and media companies, and Feeld is piggybacking on the service to help office crushes connect. Feeld advises users of the bizarre bot to 'be nice/don't be a D' and all will be fine (stock image)

According to its website at the time, 3nder, pronounced 'threen-der', was geared towards 'all swingers, newbies, curious and experienced' who are 'discriminated by society the same way gay people were 15 years ago'.

Developed by London-based entrepreneur Dimo Trifonov, 3nder let you sign up as a single person looking to match with a couple, or as a couple seeking a third person.

Like other dating websites, it let users set up a personal profile, where they could list details about themselves and what kind of relationship they were seeking.

Users could select a setting to keep their identity hidden from friends and family so they could 'browse freely' on the app's database of potential partners.

The goal, the company said, was to expand people's views on sexuality and relationships. 'We need to evolve our social acceptance,' the website said.
Undercover robotic creatures transmit unknown secrets about animals of the deep in a nature series broadcast in the US this week.

The documentary, called 'Dolphins: Spy in the Pod', sees robots successfully fool underwater creatures into thinking they are one of them.

From first-person views of dolphins hunting lantern fish to adorable footage of bottle-nose dolphins blowing bubbles, these realistic robots give viewers a new insight into deep-sea life.

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The Dolphincam, the Tunacam, Turtlecam (pictured) and Squidcam are all fitted with HD cameras to capture life under the sea by fooling creatures into thinking they were one of them

SPY IN THE POD The Dolphincam, the Tunacam, Turtlecam and Squidcam are all fitted with HD cameras to capture life under the sea. The underwater robots film a vast super-pod of spinner dolphins hunting lantern fish while avoiding getting eaten by giant rays. In Mozambique, the footage captures a newborn bottle-nose dolphin learning from its mother - including practising sonar and blowing bubbles. Some 900 hours of raw footage was collected over a 12-month period from locations including America, Costa Rica, South Africa, Argentina and Australia. Advertisement

The robots were disguised as 13 different species - including squid, tuna, turtles, squid and puffer-fish.

The first of two episodes looks at feisty orcas, nifty bottle-nose dolphins and even a 40-foot whale.

The series was taken by wildlife filmmaker John Downer ,who previously used hidden cameras to bring the secrets of penguin colonies to television screens.

The first episode was aired on the PBS on Wednesday after success in the UK on BBC back in January 2014.

The Dolphincam, the Tunacam, Turtlecam and Squidcam are all fitted with HD cameras to spy on others.

The underwater robots film a vast super-pod of spinner dolphins hunting lantern fish while avoiding getting eaten by giant rays.

The robots were disguised as 13 different species - including squid (pictured), tuna, turtles, squid and puffer-fish which gave viewers a new insight into deep-sea life

The Turtlecam (pictured) was used to spy on a pod of bottlenose dolphins. The footage captures a newborn bottle-nose dolphin learning from its mother - including practising sonar and blowing bubbles

In Mozambique, the footage captures a newborn bottle-nose dolphin learning from its mother - including practising sonar and blowing bubbles.

Some 900 hours of raw footage was collected over a 12-month period from locations including America, Costa Rica, South Africa, Argentina and Australia.

The puffer-fish footage was filmed in waters near Mozambique.

The film crew also dived some 1,500 times, spending nearly 3,000 hours at sea filming with the Spy Creatures in all types of weather.

Documentary producer Mr Downer was eager to create a range of cameras disguised as sea creatures to offer viewers unprecedented proximity to their favourite species.

Some 900 hours of raw footage - such as this video of a dolphin pod - was collected over a 12-month period from locations including Costa Rica, South Africa, Argentina and Australia

The underwater tuna-robot (pictured) films a vast super-pod of spinner dolphins hunting lantern fish while avoiding getting eaten by giant rays

Speaking of the project, Mr Downer said: 'Unlike Penguin-cams, this time our spy creatures had to keep pace with fast-moving dolphins, often out in the deep ocean.

'The dolphins were very curious about their new neighbours and allowed them into their lives.'

Mr Downer's last project, Spy in the Huddle, took viewers inside the world of penguins by deploying 50 cameras to the arctic for almost a year.

Mr Downer was eager to create a range of cameras disguised as sea creatures to offer viewers proximity to species such as spinner dolphins (pictured) from the Tunacam
The UK government could soon force technology firms including Vodafone and O2 to spy on your online activity.

A draft document has been leaked which details the government's plans to force technology firms to build backdoors into their products.

If the plans go forward, it would effectively ban encryption  an important security feature used to protect people's private data from hackers.

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The UK government could soon force technology firms including Vodafone and O2 to spy on your online activity (stock image)

WHAT IS END-TO-END ENCRYPTION? End-to-end encryption scrambles digital messages as they are sent from one device and can only be unscrambled correctly by the intended recipient with a shared key. It helps to hide personal data, including financial information, from hackers and cyber criminals. WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and iMessage are among the services which use encryption by default, while others such as Google Allo make it optional. While the contents remain secret, metadata about the interaction can provide investigators with some other useful clues such as when a message was written, the number of the person it went to, as well as the location of the sender and recipient when the message was sent / received. Advertisement

The document was leaked by the Open Rights Group, and details some extreme proposals.

One of the proposals in the document reads: 'To provide and maintain the capability to carry out the interception of communications or the obtaining of secondary data and disclose anything obtained under the warrant to the person to whom the warrant was addressed, or any person acting on that person's behalf, within one working day, or such longer period as may be specified in the technical capability notice, of the telecommunications operator being informed that the warrant has been issued.'

Another states: 'To provide and maintain the capability to disclose, where practicable, the content of communications or secondary data in an intelligible form.'

If the proposals are accepted, this would effectively ban encryption.

In March, Amber Rudd caused uproar when she called for WhatsApp to allow the government to read encrypted messages, following the terrorist attack at Westminster.

End-to-end encryption scrambles messages as they are sent from one device and can only be unscrambled correctly by the intended recipient with a shared key.

It helps to hide personal data including financial information, from hackers and cyber criminals.

WhatsApp, iMessage and Facebook Messenger are among the services which use this process by default, but others such as Telegram and Google Allo make it optional.

If the plans go forward, it would effectively ban encryption  an important security feature used to protect people's private data from hackers. Pictured is a messge on WhatsApp explaining that it uses end-to-end encryption

While the proposal will need to be approved, The Indepenedent reports that it is currently being discussed with members of the UK's Technical Advisory board.

This includes BSkyB, BT, Cable and Wireless, O2, Virgin Media and Vodafone, as well as representatives from government agencies, believed to include GCHQ and MI5.

The four-week consultation ends on 19 May.

Jocelyn Paulley, Director at the international law firm Gowling WLG, said: 'Balancing protection of fundamental human rights such as privacy, and the public interest in national security will always be a highly contentious area.

In March, Amber Rudd caused uproar when she called for WhatsApp to allow the government to read encrypted messages, following the terrorist attack at Westminster

'At some point, the authorities need to be able to undertake privacy intrusive measures in the interest of prevention of crime and that has always been the case.

'The advance of technology means that it is now easier for individuals to use highly secure systems, and easier for the authorities to maintain more powerful surveillance over greater proportions of communications and the population.

'But what should not be changing, unless we are under greater threat, is the point at which the authorities can break the right to privacy, regardless of the technology in question.'
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is officially making a comeback.

The South Korean firm has recently passed through Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification and consumers could buy a refurbished unit at the end of June.

It has also been suggested that the handsets are designed with a smaller battery  Samsung concluded it was irregularly sized batteries that caused the original Note 7 handsets to explode.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is officially making a comeback. The South Korean firm has recently passed through Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification and consumers could buy a refurbished unit at the end of June

THE NOTE 7 FIASCO Samsung blamed two separate battery issues for the fires that hit its flagship Galaxy Note 7 device last year. The first was that the battery components in the Galaxy Note 7 did not fit in the battery's casing. This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing. The second affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones. These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer. Advertisement

Samsung announced it had plans to sell refurbished units in March and promised it would recover and use or resell reusable components such as chips and camera modules and extract rare metals.

The move was to ensure the Galaxy Note 7 devices are recycled and processed in an environmentally-friendly manner.

However, the months leading up to the announcement, activists and environmental groups had been urging Samsung to commit to a plan that would recycle millions of Galaxy Note 7 phones - instead of just tossing them into a landfill, which was said to be what Samsung had planned.

And this time around, it seems the firm is doing things differently.

Instead of using the same sized battery, Samsung has swapped the 3,500 mAh for a smaller unit at 3,250 mAh, Android Authority reported.

The modification should ensure that the smartphones will not randomly combust, as the firm had concluded that the fiasco was caused by irregularly sized batteries that did not properly fit inside the devices, and manufacturing issues from a second battery supplier.

When Samsung took the stage in New York on August 2, 2016 to unveil the 5.7 inch Galaxy Note 7, the firm also used it as an opportunity to take a stab at Apple's upcoming iPhone 7.

Want to know what else it comes with?' teased Samsung's vice-president of marketing, Justin Denison.

It has also been suggested that the handsets are designed with a smaller battery  Samsung concluded it was irregularly sized batteries that caused the original Note 7 handsets to explode

GIRL, 13, SUFFERS MINOR BURN FROM NOTE 7 REPLACEMENT A Minnesota father says his daughter suffered a minor burn to her thumb when her replacement Samsung smartphone melted in her hand last week. Andrew Zuis of Farmington, Minn., said his daughter, Abby, was holding the Galaxy Note 7 in her left hand Friday when it melted. Zuis said that the family had acquired the new phone on the day the replacement phones were released. There had been no problem with the original phone, he said. In the end, the fiasco cost the firm at least $5 billion. Samsung had found that there were two issues that plagued the Note 7. Andrew Zuis of Farmington, Minn., said his daughter, Abby, was holding the Note 7 (pictured) in her left hand when it melted 'It's very fortunate Abby was not injured and was holding the phone,' Zuis said. 'If it was in her pocket, I think it would have been a whole different situation. I'm just very disappointed in Samsung and their product.' Zuis provided KSTP-TV with receipts showing that the family bought a Galaxy Note 7 in August and then exchanged it Sept. 21 after Samsung announced the recall. 'She's done with Note 7s right now,' Zuis said of his daughter. A Samsung representative told KSTP that an investigation is underway. 'We want to reassure our customers that we take every report seriously and we are engaged with the Zuis family to ensure we are doing everything we can for them and their daughter,' the representative said in a statement. Advertisement

'An audio jack. I'm just saying.'

But little did Denison know that he would end up eating his words.

Days after the Galaxy Note 7 launched, reports surfaced that the devices were bursting into flames.

And a month later, mobile chief D.J. Koh held a press conference in Seoul, South Korea where he announced the recall of 2.5 million Galaxy Note 7 devices, stating that users would eventually receive a replacement - a new and safe Note 7.

This caused the battery cell's upper right corner to be crimped by the casing.

And the second, affected the devices sent to replace the original faulty phones.

These were caused by manufacturing issues, including poor welding at the battery manufacturer.

It is believed that Samsung will start selling the refurbished smartphones at the end of June for $620, which is about $250 cheaper than the original price. However, it is also said that the firm will not release units in the US or Canada. But hopefully these units will not explode

When replacement phones - with batteries from another firm, largely thought to be Chinese manufacturer ATL - also started to combust, the company decided to kill off the Note 7 for good.

In December, the firm issued the same software push to users on the US Cellular network.

The major blunder has somewhat tarnished the Samsung brand and has also sparked many concerns among government and regulatory officials.

But instead of simply tossing the Note 7, the firm is giving it one more chance.

It is believed that Samsung will start selling the refurbished smartphones at the end of June for $620, which is about $250 cheaper than the original price.

However, it is also said that the firm will not release units in the US or Canada, but Android Authority noted that users in these countries might be able to acquire it from re-sellers.
Gone are the days when thieves had to hotwire a car to steal it  now, it can be done in just a few seconds using cheap homemade devices.

Chinese researchers have demonstrated an attack on keyless entry systems, in which criminals were able to capture the key fob's radio signal and transmit it to their accomplice waiting at the victim's vehicle.

Called the 'relay hack', one person follows behind the driver while holding an $11 DIY radio and their partner stands next to car with a similar transceiver once the signal has been transferred, the thief can unlock the door, start the engine and drive off.

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Called the 'relay hack', one person follows behind the driver (pictured) while holding an $11 DIY radio and their partner stands next to car with a similar transceiver once the signal has been transferred, the thief can unlock the door, start the engine and drive off

HOW DOES IT WORK? One person follows behind the driver while holding an $11 DIY radio and their partner stands next to car with a similar transceiver. Once the signal has been transferred, the thief can unlock the door, start the engine and drive off. The devices are capable of communicating up to 1,000 feet from each other and are designed to trick the car and key fob into thinking they are within close proximity of each other. Security group believes it is the keyless entry systems developed by the Dutch chipmaker NXP that may be defenses against the relay hack Advertisement

Hacking keyless entry systems is not a new technique, as a report published last year had revealed a majority of the 100 million vehicles sold after 1995 are vulnerable to key-clone attacks, allowing hackers to infiltrate keyless entry and ignition systems.

These attacks are carried out using battery-powered radios, similar to those used in the relay hack, which intercept signals from the car owner's key fob and are then used to reproduce the key.

However, a team of security researchers from Beijing-based Qihoo 360 recently revealed how simple it was to pull off the crime with just a pair of homemade radios that cost a total of $22 to create  and it takes just a matter of seconds from when you exit your vehicle.

'Once the car is started if the car is being driven out of the relay range, the car will only warn you that the key fob can not be detected,' the team shared in a presentation, but it wont stop the engine, so the thief can drive until [it runs] out of gas.'

The devices are capable of communicating up to 1,000 feet from each other and are designed to trick the car and key fob into thinking they are within close proximity of each other.

'The attack uses the two devices to extend the effective range of the key fob,' Jun Li, one of Qihoo's researchers, told Wired.

The devices are capable of communicating up to 1,000 feet from each other and are designed to trick the car and key fob into thinking they are within close proximity of each other. The thief at the car simply stands near it and the doors will unlock once the signal is transmitted

IS YOUR VOLKSWAGEN AT RISK? Researchers believed that a majority of the 100 million Volkswagen vehicles sold after 1995 are vulnerable to key-clone attacks, allowing hackers to infiltrate keyless entry and ignition systems. The team found two ways thieves can attacked these cars. The first is by locating a mechanism inside the vehicles internal network to pull a single cryptographic key value that is shared among millions of others Volkswagens. However, the thief has to be within 300 feet of the target. Hackers manipulate HiTag2 remote to recover the cyrtographic key, which is then used to clone the remote control with four to eight rolling codes - all within a few minutes of computation on a laptop. Both hacks can be carried out using a $40 battery-powered radio setup. Advertisement

'You're working in your office or shopping in the supermarket, and your car is parked outside. Someone slips near you and then someone else can open up and drive your car. It's simple.'

Expers evealed just how simple it is to pull off the crime with just a pair of homemade radios that cost around $22 total to create

While conducting their investigation, the team found that they were able to access and drive off with two vehicles: A Qing gas-electric hybrid sedan from the Chinese automaker BYD, and a Chevrolet Captiva SUV  but the researchers said there are more than just two models that are vulnerable.

However, the security group believes it is the keyless entry systems developed by the Dutch chipmaker NXP that may be defenses against the relay hack, which is found in both the Qing, Captiva and a dozen other car makes.

But the team also noted that 'NXP likely isn't alone in leaving vehicles vulnerable to the attack,' Andy Greenberg with Wired reported.

'The industry is aware that the complexity and cost associated with mounting a relay attack has dropped over recent years,' NXP spokesperson Birgit Ahlborn told Greenberg.

'Carmakers and car access system integrators are introducing solutions that counter these attacks.'

However, the firm suggested that existing vulnerabilities are an issue with the carmakers.
Every person on Earth got the equivalent of an extra x-ray from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, a new study claims.

Researchers have carried out the first global survey of radiation exposure caused by the meltdown of three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan after a tsunami struck in 2011.

They concluded that people need not panic about the dosage.

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A hydrogen explosion at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station number three reactor on March 14, 2011. Every person on Earth got the equivalent of an extra x-ray from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, a new study claims.

'We don't need to worry,' Nikolaos Evangeliou at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, whose team conducted the tests, told the annual meeting of the European Geosciences Union in Vienna, Austria, last month, according to New Scientist.

'More than 80 per cent of the radiation was deposited in the ocean and poles, so I think the global population got the least exposure.'

The researchers estimated the dose that most individuals received to be 0.1 millisievert.

'What I found was that we got one extra X-ray each,' says Evangeliou.

In Japan, the average person's radiation dose was 0.5 millisieverts, which is close to the annual recommended limit for breathing in naturally occurring radon gas.

In comparison, the average annual exposure from background levels of radiation in the UK is around 2.7 millisieverts a year.

The team calculated the approximate exposure of everyone on Earth to two radioactive isotopes of caesium, using all the data available so far, mostly from the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, which monitors radiation in the environment using a global network of measuring stations.

FUKUSHIMA'S NUCLEAR DISASTER The Fukushima nuclear disaster was a failure at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant on 11 March 2011. It was caused when the plant was hit by a tsunami, triggered by the 9.0 Tohoku earthquake. This led to three of the plants six nuclear reactors going into meltdown and releasing radioactive materials. Reports claim the soil and water in the region still contains high levels of radiation which makes the clean-up effort difficult. A total of 300,000 people evacuated the Fukushima area on the east coast and 15,884 people died due to the earthquake and tsunami. The Fukushima nuclear disaster was a failure at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant on 11 March 2011. It was caused when the plant was hit by a tsunami, triggered by the 9.0 Tohoku earthquake. Shown are radiation levels immediately after the accident in 2011 Advertisement

Doses were higher for residents of Fukushima and neighbouring areas during the first three months of the accident, ranging from 1 to 5 millisieverts.

However, a typical CT scan delivers 15 millisieverts, for example, while it takes 1000 millisieverts to cause radiation sickness.

Bird numbers have dramatically declined in Fukushima, seperate research has revealed.

Scientists analysed 57 species in the region and found that the majority of populations had diminished as a result of the nuclear accident.

They found that one breed in particular had plummeted from several hundred before the 2011 disaster to just a few dozen today.

The research, published in the Journal of Ornithology, was carried out by scientists at the University of South Carolina including biologist Dr Tim Mousseau.

They showed that the situation has steadily worsened since the disaster on 11 March 2011.

On that day, just over four years ago, Japans Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was heavily damaged by an earthquake and its resultant tsunami.

Many populations were found to have diminished in number as a result of the accident, with several species suffering dramatic declines.

One of the most hard-hit species is the barn swallow, Hirundo rustica, which suffered large population losses due to radiation exposure.

We know that there were hundreds in a given area before the disaster, and just a couple of years later we're only able to find a few dozen left, said Dr Mousseau.

The declines have been really dramatic.

Researchers have found that bird species are continuing to drop in Fukushima (shown after the disaster in 2011). The barn swallow, for example, dropped from hundreds to dozens. This is despite radiation levels in the region starting to fall. And comparing it to Chernobyl could reveal what the future holds

And while background radiation has declined in the region in recent years, the negative effects of the accident on birds are actually increasing.

The relationship between radiation and numbers started off negative the first summer, but the strength of the relationship has actually increased each year, Dr Mousseau said.

So now we see this really striking drop-off in numbers of birds as well as numbers of species of birds.

So both the biodiversity and the abundance are showing dramatic impacts in these areas with higher radiation levels, even as the levels are declining.

Robot probes sent in to study Japan's Fukushima site keep failing during their recon missions.

The radiation levels at the site are so high that previous clean-up bots have struggled to withstand conditions within the reactor for long.

Now the head of decommissioning for the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant said on Thursday that the company's robots were not able to get close enough to the core area.

Robot probes sent in to study Japan's Fukushima site keep failing during their recon missions. This image shows a photograph taken by a probe sent into Fukushima's No. 2 reactor

HOW THE ROBOT PROBE WORKS Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), the company that owns the Fukushima plant, took radiation readings using a robot probe. The 60-centimeter (2-foot) -long robot has a lamp at the front and was designed to crawl like a snake through a 10-centimeter (4-inch) wide pipe into the containment vessel. From there it dangled and descended onto a platform just below the reactor core's bottom, an area known as the pedestal. There, the robot transformed into a U-shaped crawler and captured live images and temperature and radiation levels. It transmitted them to a control station outside the building. Advertisement

Robots have to be used to clean the site because the radiation is too dangerous for humans.

A probe failed its mission earlier this month after it was blocked by debris within the reactor, likely a mixture of melted fuel and broken pieces of the plant.

And two previous robots have also failed on missions after one got stuck in a small gap and another was abandoned after failing to find any fuel after six days.

New robot designs, built to deal with both the dangerously high radiation at the site and the debris, are needed as early as this summer.

Naohiro Masuda, president of Fukushima Dai-ichi decommissioning, claimed that more creativity is needed in developing robots to locate and assess the condition of melted fuel rods.

He said that more data, which must be collected by probes, was needed before a proper cleanup could begun.

'We should think out of the box so we can examine the bottom of the core and how melted fuel debris spread out,' Mr Masuda said.

A massive undersea earthquake on March 11, 2011 sent a huge tsunami barrelling into Japan's northeast coast leaving more than 18,000 people dead or missing.

Three reactors were sent into meltdown at the Fukushima plant in the worst such accident since Chernobyl in 1986.

Japan's government said in December that it expects the total costs to reach 152 billion ($190 billion) in a cleanup process likely to take decades.
It is a standing joke among the bravest of men  that their other halves have smaller brains.

But women perform better in memory tests despite the fact that men do actually have larger brains, experts say.

Thats even though men have a higher IQ by nearly four points, a study found.

The research from the Netherlands was based on MRI scans of almost 900 men and women and found male brains are around 14 per cent larger.

But experts have previously suggested womens brains function more efficiently.

Women perform better in memory tests despite the fact that men do actually have larger brains, experts say. Thats even though men have a higher IQ by nearly four points, a study found

The latest research, led by Erasmus University, found women are less intelligent than men by approximately 3.75 IQ points and do significantly worse in tests of spatial ability.

Lead author Dr Dimitri van der Linden said: We found that mens brains are larger than womens and our analysis suggests this is the reason for lower average general intelligence across a range of tests.

We are aware of previous research suggesting womens brains are better organised or process information more efficiently but we did not look at this in our study.

The study supports the controversial and now broadly forgotten claims of Charles Darwin in the 19th century that mens brains were larger than those of women.

Charles Darwin, who once reasoned that a wife was better than a dog, anyhow, said womens brains were halfway between that of a child and a man

Darwin, who once reasoned that a wife was better than a dog, anyhow, said womens brains were halfway between that of a child and a man.

Todays scientists have MRI scans to calculate brain volume and past studies have agreed that mens brains are larger. The latest study took scans and cognitive tests from 896 people aged 22 to 37 as part of the Human Connectome Project.

Published in the journal Intelligence, the research says men had higher scores on most measures of intelligence, including spatial awareness.

Women did better in memory tests, including recalling a sequence of 18 pictures, but analysis found this made no difference to their general intelligence.

Brain size in the sexes is hotly debated in the scientific community.

Dr Joseph Devlin, head of experimental psychology at University College London, said: This is a well-researched study but the evidence is not strong enough to prove that larger male brains are more intelligent than smaller female brains, which makes it a leap of faith, using a measure of general intelligence which has little basis.

Men and womens brains are different and we know spatial navigation is slightly better in men than women, while women tend to have a better vocabulary. But we should be sceptical of claims that men are smarter than women, especially when there is little to no evidence for that and lots of evidence to the contrary.

University of California research found womens brains are smaller but could perform more quickly because of better connections between brain cells.
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It is a stunning view of a strange, swirling world.

NASA today revealed this incredible image of Jupiter's south pole.

It was created by citizen scientist Gabriel Fiset using data from the JunoCam instrument on NASAs Juno spacecraft.

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Created by Gabriel Fiset using data from the JunoCam instrument on NASAs Juno spacecraft, it shows dozens of gigantic oval storms dotting the cloudscape. The image was taken on Dec. 11, 2016 at 9:44 a.m. PST (12:44 p.m. EST), from an altitude of about 32,400 miles (52,200 kilometers) above the planets beautiful cloud tops.

It shows dozens of gigantic oval storms dotting the cloudscape.

'Approaching the pole, the organized turbulence of Jupiters belts and zones transitions into clusters of unorganized filamentary structures, streams of air that resemble giant tangled strings,' NASA sayd.

The image was taken on Dec. 11, 2016 at 9:44 a.m. PST (12:44 p.m. EST), from an altitude of about 32,400 miles (52,200 kilometers) above the planets beautiful cloud tops.

It comes weeks after a Cassini revealed the 'watercolor world' of Saturn in unprecedented detail.

Astronomers have been captivated by the strange swirling patterns on the planet.

They are caused by 'megawinds' among the fastest in the solar system that can reach 1,100mph.

The strange swirling patterns on the planet are caused by 'megawinds' among the fastest in the solar system that can reach 1,100mph.

HOW IT WAS TAKEN This view was taken from a vantage point about 28 degrees above Saturn's equator. The image was taken with the Cassini spacecraft wide-angle camera on Dec. 2, 2016, with a combination of spectral filters which preferentially admits wavelengths of near-infrared light centered at 728 nanometers. The view was acquired at a distance of approximately 592,000 miles (953,000 kilometers) from Saturn. Image scale is 35 miles (57 kilometers) per pixel. Advertisement

'When imaged at infrared wavelengths that pierce the planets upper haze layer, the high-speed winds of Saturn's atmosphere produce watercolor-like patterns,' NASA explained.

With no solid surface creating atmospheric drag, winds on Saturn can reach speeds of more than 1,100 miles per hour (1,800 kilometers per hour) - some of the fastest in the solar system.

It comes after NASA last week hailed a new frontier after revealing some of the strongest evidence yet that alien life may exist on one of Saturn's moons.

The space agency said that practically all the elements needed for life had been discovered in the same place in our solar system  on one of Saturns icy moons.

The missing ingredient, hydrogen, was discovered for the first time on Enceladus during the deepest ever dive by NASAs Cassini spacecraft.

This hydrogen is now said to be a potential source of chemical energy that could support microbes on the seafloor of Enceladus, the researchers revealed during a NASA press conference yesterday.

After 13 years exploring Saturn, the craft dove into high-powered jets of water spewing from the moons surface, where it found hydrogen gas.

The gas is the final piece of the puzzle following the discovery of water in an ocean under Enceladuss surface.

It means Saturns sixth moon may have the same single-celled organisms with which life began on Earth, or more complex creatures still.

All the building blocks for life have been found for the first time away from Earth, NASA announced  within our solar system. Hunt for alien life is set to begin on Enceladus, Saturns sixth largest moon, after Cassinis deepest ever dive into its cracks found hydrogen gas

WHAT THEY FOUND During its deepest-ever dive into a plume from cracks in Enceladus ice-covered ocean, the Cassini spacecraft detected the presence of hydrogen gas. According to researchers, the only plausible source of this gas could be hydrothermal reactions between hot rocks and water in the ocean beneath the icy surface. This same process, on Earth, provides energy for entire ecosystems around hydrothermal vents. As a result, the researcher say there could be volatile species in these deep oceans. It means Enceladus may have the same single-celled organisms which began life on Earth, or more complex life still. While they haven't found life itself on Enceladus, Glein says the geochemical data 'could allow for this possibility.' Advertisement

These organisms, still found on our planet within the darkest depths of our oceans, use hydrogen and carbon dioxide as fuel in a process known as 'methanogenesis.'

What is intriguing about the data at Enceladus, with the hydrogen detection, is that we are now able to determine how much energy would be available from the methanogenesis reaction at Enceladus,' said Chris Glein, Cassini INMS team associate at SwRI during the press conference.

'We have made the first calorie count in an alien ocean.'

This, the researcher explained, is a major step in assessing the moon's habitability.

While they haven't found life itself on Enceladus, Glein says the geochemical data 'could allow for this possibility.'

Mary Voytek, senior astrobiologist at Nasa Headquarters, said last night: 'This is a new frontier because this is the first time we have seen evidence of an alien food source in an ocean not on Earth.

'We knew we had two of the key ingredients for life and now we have the third. This is the most exciting discovery in my eight-year career at Nasa.'

The building blocks of life on Enceladus are water, which no form of life on Earth can exist without, an energy source and six elements  carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulphur.

The last two of these, phosphorus and sulphur, have not yet been found in Enceladuss ocean  but scientists suspect them to be there because the rocky core of the moon is believed to be chemically similar to meteorites containing them.

This now paves the way for further explorations to find life in our solar system.

'Although we can't detect life, we've found that there's a food source there for it,' said Hunter Waite, lead author of the Cassini study.

'It would be like a candy store for microbes.'

The hydrogen, which shoots out of the moon in high-powered ice jets, is the final puzzle piece following the discovery of its liquid ocean and carbon dioxide. It means Enceladus may have the same single-celled organisms which began life on Earth, or more complex life still

Professor David Rothery, professor of planetary geosciences at the Open University, said: Right now, we only know of life beginning once in the universe, here on Earth, which leaves us alone in the dark. It could have simply been an incredible fluke.

But if it has happened twice in this solar system, it opens up everything.

There are tens of billions of worlds in our galaxy and there could be alien life on many of those too.

Alien life was once only thought possible on habitable planets within the Goldilocks zone  far enough from our sun not to be a fireball, but not so far as to be freezing.

Enceladus, a frozen moon around 800million miles from Earth, was one of the least likely candidates.

But in 2005 the Cassini spacecraft was orbiting Saturn when it picked up plumes of vapour coming from the tiger stripes, or deep fissures, in the moons surface.

This established that, while Enceladus is freezing on its surface, underneath is a liquid ocean.

Organisms, found on our planet in hot vents within the darkest depths of our oceans, use hydrogen and carbon dioxide as fuel in a process called 'methanogenesis.' Researchers have now discovered the building blocks for life exist on Enceladus as well

WHAT IS ENCELADUS? Enceladus is Saturn's sixth largest moon, at 313 miles wide (504 kilometers). Cassini observations have revealed hydrothermal activity, with vents spewing water vapour and ice particles out from a global ocean buried beneath the icy crust. According to NASA, the plume includes organic compounds, volatile gases, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, salts, and silica. While it may look 'inhospitable' like Saturn's other moons, the observations suggest it may have the ingredients to support life. Advertisement

That ocean is warmed by rock at the core of the moon, tidally heated as Enceladus orbits Saturn. The gravity from the planet pulls the moon out of shape, wherever it is closest, creating friction that heats the rock to 90C  enough to melt the ice.

Scientists did not have to drill beneath the ice to examine the reservoir under the moons south pole, as its vapour erupted in plumes through cracks in the surface.

Cassini, on its final mission before it runs out of fuel and is allowed to burn up in space, was sent diving deep into the jets.

Yesterday Nasa announced the spacecraft had found hydrogen as a gas, the form needed to support single-celled organisms, in the moons ocean.

These microbes use hydrogen, which they cannot extract from water, like we use oxygen, to fuel their cells.

Scientists know this form of life can exist after discovering similar creatures at the bottom of Earths oceans.

They are able to survive without sunlight, using hydrogen and carbon dioxide supplied by thermal heating from deep-water vents.

This could provide the necessary energy to support organisms at the seafloor of Enceladus.

'Confirmation that the chemical energy for life exists within the ocean of a small moon of Saturn is an important milestone in our search for habitable worlds beyond Earth,' said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

This is the closest we've come, so far, to identifying a place with some of the ingredients needed for a habitable environment, said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at Headquarters in Washington.

These results demonstrate the interconnected nature of NASA's science missions that are getting us closer to answering whether we are indeed alone or not.

In 2005 the unmanned Cassini spacecraft was orbiting Saturn when it picked up plumes of vapour coming from the tiger stripes, or deep fissures, in the moons surface

Observations in 2005 by the NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini mission revealed plumes of water vapour and ice spraying into space from the south pole of Enceladus, the sixth-largest moon of Saturn, as illustrated above

Cassini, which made the major breakthrough using its mass spectrometer, will have a fiery end to its time in space. After orbiting Saturn for 13 years, its grand finale mission will end in September when it is diverted to crash into Saturn and burn up.

Dr David Clements, astrophysicist at Imperial College London, said: This discovery does not mean that life exists on Enceladus, but it is a step on the way to that result.

He added: We need to know much more about the molecular species coming out of Enceladus and, ideally, that are inside it before we can make such claims.

Hydrogen gas, thought to be formed by the heated rocks beneath Enceladus, is needed along with a suitable temperature.

HUBBLE SPOTS SECOND PLUME ON EUROPA Meanwhile the Hubble telescope, the first telescope sent into space in 1990, which has made more than 1.3 million observations, last year spotted possible similar water plumes to those of Enceladus erupting from Jupiters moon Europa. Evidence of a plume was seen at this same location in 2014, and the researchers say the new observations are further evidence that these plumes could be real, and experience intermittent flare-ups. As the Hubble telescope has now twice seen similar vapour flumes coming off Europa, which makes it a second key candidate for this kind of alien life. Nasas Europa Clipper mission, named after ships that sailed on Earth in the 19th century, will set off in the 2020s to search for the chemical ingredients of life on Europa. Meanwhile the Hubble telescope last year spotted possible similar water plumes to those of Enceladus erupting from Jupiters moon Europa. The green oval shows the plumes Hubble observed on Europa. This corresponds to a warm region on Europa's surface, NASA says These composite images show a suspected plume of material erupting two years apart from the same location on Jupiter's icy moon Europa. Both plumes, photographed in UV light by Hubble, were seen in silhouette as the moon passed in front of Jupiter. Advertisement

The discovery of these four ingredients now paves the way for further explorations to find life in our solar system.

Mars, which shares some of the same material as Earth, is a prime candidate, although scientists are now divided as to whether the moons in our solar system are a better bet.

Titan, the largest of Saturns 53 moons, is believed to have a subsurface ocean as salty as Earths Dead Sea in Israel.

As scientists look further for living microbes on Enceladus, NASAs Europa Clipper mission, named after the clipper ships which sailed across the oceans of our planet in the 19th century, will set off in the 2020s to search for the chemical ingredients of life.

As scientists look further for living microbes on Enceladus, NASAs Europa Clipper mission, named after the clipper ships which sailed across the oceans of our planet in the 19th century, will set off in the 2020s to search for the chemical ingredients of life

Cassini, which made the major breakthrough on Saturns moon using its mass spectrometer, will have a fiery end to its mission.

After orbiting Saturn for 13 years, its grand finale mission will end in September when it is diverted to crash into Saturn.

The discoveries mark an important milestone in the search for alien life - which, the experts say, would be quite different from our own.

'These ocean worlds with their protective outer shell, if indeed theres life in there, it has to be completely different than ours in the sense that its generated in a way thats not related to our life, said Jim Green, director, Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, during the conference.

'We call that a second genesis.'
Many travel companies might encourage you to book an airport transfer before you fly but beware, as you could be landed with a ridiculously high bill.

A new study shows that some holidaymakers end up paying more than four times the cost of their plane tickets, just for the ease of being shuttled to and from their hotel.

Geneva has been deemed the most expensive city for an airport transfer, with a ten mile return journey costing an average of 170.92 in the month of June.

Wheeling and dealing: Many travel companies might encourage you to book an airport transfer before you fly but beware, as you could be landed with a ridiculously high bill

Meanwhile, flights to the Swiss city from Manchester come in as low as 37 for a one-way ticket.

The next most expensive destination is Denmark, where you could pay 170.67 on average for the same distance transfer.

This compares to a mere 50 for the 1hr 50min, 617-mile flight between Manchester and Copenhagen Airports in June.

Also brandishing expensive transfers are Belfast (165.26) for a 40 flight, Weeze in Germany (147.19) for a 59 flight and Naples (111.90) where a seat cost just 25.

Pricey rides: A new study shows that some holiday-makers end up paying more than four times the cost of their plane tickets, just for the ease of being shuttled to and from their hotel

The data, compiled by the flight compensation experts Flightdelays.co.uk, analysed the average costs of all available airport transfer routes, from train fares to private taxi hire, on June 1 to 80 different airports across popular destinations in Europe

Other countries on the high transfer fee list include France, Norway, Portugal and Spain.

The cheapest transfers could be found in Milan where an average ten-mile journey costs 11.28 and Moscow where it costs 12.17.

The data, compiled by the flight compensation experts Flightdelays.co.uk, analysed the average costs of all available airport transfer routes, from train fares to private taxi hire, on June 1 to 80 different airports across popular destinations in Europe.

Costs were then compared with flights to the destinations on that same date from Manchester airport.

Those looking for a cheap holiday should consider heading to Brussels, where the flight and transfer costs combined come to under 30 per person or to Milan, Italy, for a total of 39

Those looking for a cheap holiday should consider heading to Brussels, where the flight and transfer costs combined come to under 30 per person or to Milan, Italy, for a total of 39.

Commenting on the results, Steve Phillips a spokesperson for Flightdelays.co.uk, said: 'You should always be careful to check the extra costs in addition to hotel and flight prices, as you may be in for a nasty shock when you come to pay.

'Passengers think theyve got the bargain of the century - only to find the airport transfers along with baggage costs have been added, hiking up the cost of their holiday.'

The research comes only weeks after a jaw-dropping study by Airport Parking and Hotels (APH), who found that its cheaper to park a plane at most of the UKs major airports for a week, than it is to park a small car.

UK residents made 4.6 million visits abroad in January 2017 alone and spent 2.6 billion on these trips.

The number of visits has increased by a whopping 9 per cent compared with the same month in 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Faith in flying: In a bid to calm the nerves of fearful flyers, a prayer booth has landed at one airport in Germany

In a bid to calm the nerves of fearful flyers, a prayer booth has landed at one airport in Germany.

The bright red cubicle, installed at Stuttgart Airport's Terminal 3, features 300 prayers from various religions in 65 different languages.

For no fee, travellers can enter the converted photo booth and use a touch screen to select their prayer of choice, from a Tibetan monk chant to the soothing remarks from an American TV preacher.

Airport spokesman, Johannes Schumm, believes that the prayer booth will be a hit at the commuter hub.

'Often, passengers still have a bit of time before their departure at the gate,' he said.

'The prayer booth is an offer by the airport's chaplains to provide a moment of contemplation.'

Designed by Berlin artist Oliver Sturm, the booth offers a vast variety of prayers, including the Christian Lord's Prayer, the Jewish Shma Israel and the Islamic muezzin's call to prayer.

The Hindu Hare Krishna chant, Buddhist sutras and prayers of Shamans from New Guinea are also available to play.

In addition to the big monotheistic faiths, polytheistic religions and animist beliefs are also included.

Even Tom Cruise is catered for, with five minutes of Scientology prayers on offer.

The 'Gebetomat', which roughly translates as 'Pray-o-Mat', was first designed by Sturm in 2008.

Its red cabin has a gray curtain and an adjustable swivel chair inside.

The booth is free of charge and will be available for three months at Stuttgart Airport's boarding area next to Gate 310.

Seeking solace: The booth is free of charge and will be available for three months at Stuttgart Airport's boarding area next to Gate 310

In 2012 a prayer booth designed by the same artist popped up at the University in Manchester as part of a 500,000 three-year research project into prayer rooms and 'multi faith spaces' across the world

The artist writes on his home page that 'all prayers are real prayers of believers, gathered in worship, prayer rooms, homes'.

Sturm has designed several prayer booths in recent years that have been installed at schools, universities and museums.

In 2012, one popped up at the University in Manchester as part of a 500,000 three-year research project into prayer rooms and 'multi faith spaces' across the world.

At the time Dr Ralf Brand who led the project said: 'Though the Pray-o-mat is a bit tongue-in-cheek, there is a serious message to what we're doing.

'Successful multi-faith spaces do not need to be flashy or expensive.

'In many places a small, clean and largely unadorned space can serve adequately.'
News / Africa

by OCR

Intelligence operatives of the Zambian Government have accused Uebert Angel of pouring millions into the opposition political party.Multimillionaire prophet and leader of the Good News Church, Uebert Angel was sucked into a political scuffle as the Zambian government accused him of funding the opposition party lead by Hakainde Hichilema.Mr Hichilema, an economist and wealthy businessman, was detained last month after he was jointly charged and arrested with five others with treason. This was after an incident involving the motorcade as it passed through Mongu, 500km west of the capital Lusaka.Sources close to Prophet Angel say he was issued with a visa, however, the government operatives who met him at the airport listed a number of unreasonable conditions for him to follow should he opt to go into the country. But Uebert Angel refused to comply and he chose not to go into Zambia.Sources who spoke to Onward Christian Radio on conditions of anonminy said " Angel is being accused of pouring millions into the opposition leader's campaign and that information didn't sit well with the president."However, source in the prophet's camp vehemently say it's fiction"Angel doesn't know anything about the opposing leader in fact he has never met or seen Hichilema." Said our source.Speaking to Onward Christian Radio, Rikki Doolan the spokesperson for TGNC said, Prophet Uebert Angel is an apolitical leader, he is a Christian leader not aligned to any political party but God.What I can assure you is that the conferences that were penciled in for Friday the 5th and Saturday 6th will still go ahead as planned and prophet Uebert Angel will be live, he will lead the conferences as planned no one can stop the work of God not even a government." Said Rikki Doolan.Onward Christian Radio is a prime source of Christian News
His love story with Anna Heinrich was well-documented on the 2013 season of The Bachelor.

And with first-hand experience, Tim Robards revealed his thoughts on Sophie Monk as the newly-minted Bachelorette.

'Hopefully it will be a nice love story,' the 34-year-old told Daily Mail Australia, adding that 'he can't wait to see how the dynamics work' with contestants of a wider age group.

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EXCLUSIVE: 'Hopefully it will be a nice love story': Tim Robards, 34, spoke of Sophie Monk as the next Bachelorette in an interview with Daily Mail Australia, and revealed he's 'keen to see an older age group'

'Anyone that is really keen on falling in love on a show like that is a good choice,' Tim told Daily Mail Australia of producers casting Sophie.

Referring back to his own experience on the reality franchise, Tim said: 'Not only did I find Anna, but I found myself constantly put outside of my comfort zone.

'That for me was really empowering and I really grew as a man through that experience,' the chiropractor continued.

'I grew as a man': Referring back to his own experience on the reality franchise, Tim said to Daily Mail Australia: 'Not only did I find Anna, but I found myself constantly put outside of my comfort zone'

Speaking of producer's decision to feature a wider age group of contestants on the next season of The Bachelorette, Tim said: 'It'll be different, and it will be definitely interesting to watch.

'People love seeing a journey or a fairytale and you've also got to be able to relate to it.

'I can't wait to see how the dynamics work and definitely as people get older, you would think there's a level of maturity as well that comes with that.

'Hopefully it will be a nice little love story,' the Sydney-based star added.

Love story: Tim featured on the 2013 season of The Bachelor Australia, choosing Anna Heinrich, 30, as his leading lady

Tim featured on the 2013 season of The Bachelor Australia, choosing Anna Heinrich, 30, as his leading lady.

Following on from Tim, were fellow Bachelor's Blake Garvey, Sam Wood, Richie Strahan, and soon-to-be Matty Johnson.

All were relatively unknown celebrities, keen to find their one true love.

However Sophie Monk as the next Bachelorette in its sister program, marks the first time a celebrity has been chosen.

Speaking to News Corp last month, the 37-year-old actress and radio personality said she wants to meet someone who's authentic and independent.

Familiar face: Sophie Monk, 37, as the next Bachelorette in its sister program, marks the first time a celebrity has been chosen

'I would love them to not want fame, just someone down to earth and sweet... Someone that works because I don't want to have to pay for everything,' she told the publication.

'Someone who is not competitive. Just a man who has got a good self-esteem. I don't really want a boyfriend that is obsessed with how he looks because I don't care.

She added: 'I definitely want a family and I want someone that wants children too. I want to have a normal life like everyone else.'
She was announced as the new star of The Bachelorette last month.

And it appears Sophie Monk's decision to join the Channel Ten reality show has meant her other career interests have since been tightly scrutinised by the network.

The 37-year-old had a Gold Coast photo shoot request denied by the network according to The Daily Telegraph, yet simultaneously posted a new brand campaign on Friday in which she posed in racy lingerie for Homebodii.

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Under wraps? It appears Sophie Monk's decision to join the Channel Ten reality show has meant her other career interests have since been tightly scrutinised by the network

According to the paper the network 'now gets to control the radio star's appearances' and have started asserting their authority.

This included turning down a photo shoot scheduled for Sophie in her home town of the Gold Coast.

The news comes on the heels of 'luxury sleepwear, bridal robes and intimates' brand Homebodii announcing the blonde beauty as their new ambassador on Thursday.

Mixed message: The 37-year-old had a Gold Coast photo shoot request denied by the network according to The Daily Telegraph , yet simultaneously posted a new brand campaign on Friday in which she posed in racy lingerie

The company posted the announcement to their Instagram with the caption: 'Introducing the beautiful face of our new #wearebeautiful campaign: Sophie Monk'.

They then commended the outspoken personality for 'saying the things we needed to hear! We need us some more women like this!'

Sophie re-posted the campaign's promotional video to her own social media account and wrote: 'I'm legit in love with @homebodii and the women behind it'.

Supervision: According to the paper the network 'now gets to control the radio star's appearances' and have started asserting their authority

The new Bachelorette was announced by Channel 10 on the eve of the Logie Awards.

She told Yahoo7 she wants a man who is 'kind and fun and secure in themselves'.

'I dont want someone from the industry, I want to meet someone real,' she stated.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Channel 10 for comment.
She just celebrated her 36th birthday with a huge 80s-themed bash last Friday.

And it seems Jessica Alba was still in a festive mood, as she apparently decided to celebrate Star Wars Day at work on Thursday as well.

The Good Luck Chuck star shared the fun with her followers on Snapchat.

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A fan! It seems Jessica Alba decided to celebrate Star Wars Day at work on Thursday

The clip begins with a fully costumed Darth Vader, complete with glowing red light saber, emerging from a smoke-filled hallway as the Imperial March plays in the background.

Jessica then films a procession of what looks to be employees walking down a staircase, with many of them dressed up as various beloved Star Wars characters.

Eventually a costumed Han Solo, a Princess Leia and of course Darth gather around the Honest Company co-founder, who seemed to forgo dressing up, as she holds a light saber over her head.

Her caption read 'May the 4th be with you,' which is a popular greeting on the fan-created holiday.

Authentic: The clip begins with a fully costumed Darth Vader, complete with glowing red light saber, emerging from a smoke-filled hallway as the Imperial March plays in the background

Dedicated group: Jessica then films a procession of what looks to be employees walking down a staircase, with many of them dressed up as various beloved Star Wars characters

New assistants? Another photo then shows cardboard cutouts of Kylo Ren and BB-8 the droid, presumably in her office

Another photo then shows cardboard cutouts of Kylo Ren and BB-8 the droid, presumably in her office.

She seemed to enjoy her new office companions, and added a star sticker to the image.

Later in the day, the Sin City actress must have been feeling nostalgic, as she took to Instagram to post a throwback photo of herself.

Ageless! Later in the day, the Sin City actress must have been feeling nostalgic, as she took to Instagram to post a throwback photo of herself

The image appears to be from a television show and credits her as Jessica Marie Alba.

Her caption didn't specify which show the screen shot was from: '#tbt to when I was "Jessica Marie Alba" me at 13 yrs old!'

Age 13 would mean that the image was probably from her turn as Maya on the hit dolphin-themed show Flipper, which ran from 1995-1997.
Her father is one of Hollywood's biggest action stars.

And Bruce Willis's daughter Tallulah was looking fighting fit herself as she stepped out in her gym gear on Thursday in West Hollywood, California.

The 23-year-old artist put her toned physique center-stage in pink and orange neon, as she flashed her abs post workout.

Abs fab! Bruce Willis's daughter Tallulah was looking fighting fit herself as she stepped out in her gym gear on Thursday in West Hollywood, California

The tattooed beauty carried a Gucci tote and had white sliders on her feet.

Make-up free, she left her natural beauty speak for itself.

Her auburn tresses were loosely in a knotted ponytail, with tendrils framing her face.

She appeared to be collecting an outfit, as she picked up a suit bag whilst out and about.

Thigh-hard! The 23-year-old artist put her toned physique centre-stage in pink and orange neon, as she flashed her abs post workout

The daughter of Demi Moore had a gold necklace accessorising her kit.

The sister of Rumer and Scout has tough acts to follow in Tinsel Town with two movie star parents, but has been carving out a name for herself as an artist.

Earlier this year, she put on a show at a Los Angeles art gallery entitled Please Be Gentle, which features drawings of otherworldly creatures.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tallulah was on her way to selling out her debut only an hour into the opening, with nearly 50 drawings on show.

'I didnt think I could get them all done,' the 22-year-old artist told the website.

'Of course, Im so proud of her,' Demi added to the publication. 'But Im more proud to see the evolution of her self, and of her acceptance of being an artist'.

Tallulah has battled body dysmorphic disorder and depression. She entered a treatment center for 45 days in 2014, at the request of her parents, and has been very open about her recovery and sobriety on social media.
It's the highly anticipated documentary set to give fans an insight into the late, great Heath Ledger's life.

But after critics accused new film I Am Heath Ledger of 'whitewashing' the actor's dark side, the star's sister Kate Ledger spoke out to set the record straight.

The Perth publicist told The Daily Telegraph she was shocked by claims about her brother's demons, insisting 'he was a really happy person'.

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'He was a really happy person': Heath Ledger's sister Kate has hit back at claims the new documentary on his life pushed aside his demons, insisting claims about his mental state were overblown

The comments came in response to a review from Variety, which claimed The Patriot actor 'had other sides, and its hard not to feel that theyve been whitewashed'.

But Kate claimed comments about Heath's low spirits were overblown and that the pair had been 'laughing and joking' on the phone the night before his death.

'He had huge plans for his future,' she told the publication, asserting that his Oscar-winning role in The Dark Knight didn't make him depressed.

'He had huge plans for his future,': Kate told The Daily Telegraph that her brother's Oscar-winning role in The Dark Knight didn't make him depressed

Family bond: Despite reviews claiming the documentary 'whitewashed' the actor's 'other sides,' Kate asserted that the pair had been 'laughing and joking' on the phone the night before his death

'He was so proud of what he had done in Batman. And I know he had plans for another Batman,' Kate said.

She added: 'He loved working with Chris Nolan and Christian Bale and Gary Oldman. He just had the best time ever doing that film.'

'When he came home at Christmas he couldnt wait to tell us all about it and he was doing the voice and laughing, showing me all the rushes.'

Defining role: The Perth publicist said that the actor was 'so proud of what he had done in Batman' and that he 'had plans for another (film)'

Honoured: The actor won a posthumous Academy Award for the performance, with his sisters stating 'He loved working with Chris Nolan and Christian Bale and Gary Oldman. He just had the best time ever doing that film'

The star's sister also stated that the process of making the documentary had been difficult for their family, with the group turning down a number of filmmakers before it was made.

'Its been incredibly emotional for all of us but something that we are extremely proud of and something that I think has been necessary,' Kate said.

She explained that while it had 'given Heath a voice,' their family 'couldn't and wouldn't,' have made the film any earlier.

'Incredibly emotional': The star's sister also stated that the process of making the documentary had been difficult for their family, with the group turning down a number of filmmakers before it was made

Giving Heath a voice: Kate helped promote the film at it's debut screening at the Tribeca Film Festival in late April, serving on a Q&A panel alongside her sister Ashleigh Bell

Despite the 'painful' memories the documentary brings up about Heath, Kate explained that it was a 'lovely way to embrace his life'.

She even helped promote the film at it's debut screening at the Tribeca Film Festival in late April, serving on a Q&A panel alongside her sister Ashleigh Bell.

While there she also discussed how the gossip surrounding the Australian actor's sudden overdose death in January 2008 was not justified.

The documentary will hit Australian cinemas for one week only from May 11, with the premiere taking place in Heath's home state of Western Australia at Perths Luna Cinemas on May 9.
She's the New South Wales Premier who insists on taking a bus to work.

And Gladys Berejiklian was a woman of her word, as she turned down an offer of a lift in Kyle Sandilands' $600k Bentley on Friday's Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Approached at the bus stop by KIIS FM's Intern Pete in the luxury vehicle, the 46-year-old declined the gesture, stating: 'I'm really embarrassed!'

'I'm really embarrassed!' NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, 46, turned down a lift to work in Kyle Sandilands' Bentley by Intern Pete on Friday, as she insisted on taking the BUS

Earlier in the program, co-host Kyle Sandilands reminded listeners of a previous interview with Gladys where she revealed: 'I get the bus in the mornings.'

Offering the member of parliament a lift in his white Bentley, the 45-year-old instructs Intern Pete to locate Gladys' whereabouts and tempt her with a chauffeured drive.

'She will look like a fool if she chooses the bus over the Bentley,' Kyle joked on-air.

Encounter: Lurking in the suburbs, Intern Pete sights Gladys at the bus stop, having been patiently waiting for around sixty seconds

Ride of a lifetime? Upon approach Pete says: 'Exciting news for you. I know you always catch the bus,' before offering the services of Kyle's luxury ride

Lurking in the suburbs, Intern Pete sights Gladys at the bus stop, having been patiently waiting for around sixty seconds.

Upon approach he says: 'Exciting news for you. I know you always catch the bus,' before offering the services of Kyle's luxury ride.

Looking clearly mortified, Gladys turns down the offer stating: 'We're holding up all the traffic. 'I'm so embarrassed.'

Routine: Gladys was surrounded by a horde of school boys as she waited for her regular bus ride to work

It's a no: Looking clearly mortified, Gladys turns down the offer stating: 'I'm so embarrassed'

With a herd of young school boys surrounding Gladys, she continues: 'It's really tempting. I've never been in a Bentley before.

'I can't,' she continues, before adding: 'It sets a bad example.'

'No I can't do it,' Gladys adds, before reiterating: 'I'm really, really embarrassed. We're caught in traffic chaos.'

With Intern Pete capturing moments of the encounter to Instagram, fans of the radio program shared their amusement.

Priorities: 'I can't,' she continues, before adding: 'It sets a bad example'

Embarrassed: 'No I can't do it,' Gladys adds, before reiterating: 'I'm really, really embarrassed. We're caught in traffic chaos'

'Ultimate Shut Down!' commented one social media user, while another added: 'Stood down by the Premier!'

Others however pointed out how mortifying the experience would be for the Premier.

'Omg how embarrassing for her,' wrote one follower, with another simply stated: 'What a mess'.

Gladys' decision to catch a bus into work as transport minister was widely known.

Captured: With Intern Pete capturing moments of the encounter to Instagram, fans of the radio program shared their amusement

And since being appointed the Premier of New South Wales in January this year, the personality has continued the practice despite having access to her own driver.

In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald earlier this year, federal Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman told the publication that Gladys insists on being in touch with 'reality'.

'She just does these things,' he shared.
It's the popular travel show celebrating its 25th anniversary.

And while it might be one of the most glamourous gigs on television, the veteran hosts of Getaway have handled their fair share of behind the scenes drama, though Jason Dundas admits his ordeals pale by comparison with his co-stars.

The model turned presenter told The Daily Telegraph that fellow presenters Catriona Rowntree and David Reyne have dubbed him the 'scaredy-cat presenter' after he was caught running away from a chicken in Fiji.

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Holidays from hell? It might be one of the most glamourous gigs on TV but the hosts of Getaway have handled their fair share of drama. Pictured: Tim Blackwell and Catriona Rowntree

'We've all got the funniest stories to tell and we've all gone through thick and thin together and years later we're still friends,' Catriona explained.

The brunette beauty recalled a time she was 'tear-gassed while trekking 'the nativity trail' from Nazareth to Bethlehem'.

'I remember having to jump into the car and my sound guy going, 'just drive!' and just having to put my foot on the accelerator, all of us with stinging eyes,' she said.

War stories: 'We've all got the funniest stories to tell and we've all gone through thick and thin together and years later we're still friends,' she described

To make matters worse, their car was stoned as she drove away due to the region's inflamed religious and political climate.

The travel reporter has also had her crew detained in Bali during one of the show's earlier episodes and has been 'mugged a couple of times'.

In comparison, her co-host Jason Dundas said he is known as 'the most scaredy-cat person out of any of the presenters'.

Easily shaken! In comparison, her co-host Jason Dundas said he is known as 'the most scaredy-cat person out of any of the presenters'

'I once was seen running from a chicken in Fiji - it chased me,' he laughed.

Original host David Reyne had perhaps the most bizarre memories, including 'being strapped into a chair' during a visit to a 'Ukrainian-style spa treatment'.

He reflected on how the technician inserted a wand 'glowing like yellow cake' into his nose and joked it was a 'nuclear fuel rod' that made him 'glow in the dark'.
There appears to be a new face checking-in to Real Housewives of Melbourne's completely overhauled fourth season.

Hotelier and Harper's Bazaar editor Sally Bloomfield 'will appear' in the popular show when it returns this year, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The widow and figurehead behind Victoria's famous Albany Hotel's likely inclusion comes after word Pettifleur Berenger and Susie McLean won't return to the Foxtel series.

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New housewife!: Hotelier and former Harper's Bazaar editor Sally Bloomfield will reportedly appear on season four of Real Housewives of Melbourne

Sally, who's lived in Bali for the last 5 years, was married to Ian Robertson, who joined her in running a series of lavish hotel chains, before losing his battle with cancer last year.

According to the publication, next on her agenda was to open a boutique hotel in Bali.

Foxtel reportedly wouldn't confirm or deny the rumour, other than to insist that the details are weeks away from becoming public.

The mother-of-two will apparently join a cast that's undergone several key shakeups, with both Pettifleur Berenger and Susie McLean said to be exiting the show.

Widow: Sally, who's lived in Bali for the last 5 years, was married to Ian Robertson, who joined her in running a series of lavish hotel chains, before losing his battle with cancer last year

Go figure: The previously personality behind Victoria's famous Albany Hotel's likely inclusion comes after word some cast mates won't be back

A step-mum to Ian's two other children, the personality also served as Melbourne editor for global fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar.

This comes after Pettifleur Berenger officially called it quits after almost three years on the show.

With the outspoken 52-year-old choosing to walk away from the series to pursue other opportunities, producers are now plotting a major cast shakeup to fill the void she'll be leaving - which could see up to three new Housewives added to the series.

Moving on: Pettifleur Berenger confirmed that she quit ahead of the show's highly anticipated fourth season

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Pettifleur revealed that she left the scandalous franchise to focus on other projects, which include a new reality show and some lucrative property developments.

The glamorous star just finished filming Channel Seven's upcoming celebrity cooking competition Hell's Kitchen alongside former Bachelor beauty Sam Frost, politician David Oldfield, and Geordie Shore's Gaz Beadle.

'I feel so fortunate to be working with Channel Seven and Marco Pierre White on the first season of Hell's Kitchen,' she gushed to Daily Mail Australia.

Bright future: The 52-year-old property developer has quit the show to focus on other projects, including some lucrative property projects and a new reality show with Channel Seven

'I feel so fortunate to be working with Channel Seven and Marco Pierre White on the first season of Hell's Kitchen': Pettifleur is set to appear on Seven's celebrity cooking competition Hell's Kitchen alongside Sam Frost, Willie Mason, and many other stars

Pettifleur says that she's still on great terms with Foxtel and RHOM's production team, but for the foreseeable future she's focused on Hell's Kitchen and her property projects.

Among her property developments is a multi-million dollar apartment block in Melbourne's Footscray, first reported by the Herald Sun, but the star declined to comment on the reports.

She also told the Herald Sun that while she enjoyed her time as RHOM's feisty fashionista, the show 'isn't for me anymore' and that it's 'important to leave on a high.'

Meanwhile, Real Housewives of Melbourne fan favourite Gamble Breaux has expressed her disappointment at the news of Pettifleur's departure.

'That blows!' RHOM star Gamble Breaux expressed her disappointment over the news of Pettifleur's departure

'That blows,' said Gamble, before laughing: 'I'll have no one to exchange bug insults with!'

The blonde bombshell also said producers are planning to shake things up in the wake of Pettifleur's absence by adding some fresh blood to the cast.

'Rumours are swirling that there are two or even three new girls,' said Gamble.

'I think there will definitely be a whopping big surprise!'

'Rumours are swirling that there are two or even three new girls!' Gamble tells Daily Mail Australia that production could add up to three new cast members for RHOM's fourth season

One of the rumoured new additions to the cast is Lady Venus Behbahani-Clark, who is one of the many ladies producers have been testing out for season four.

The 32-year-old mother-of-two is married to entrepreneur Lord James Nicholas Clark, however, Herald Sun reports that his royal title was purchased, not inherited.

Susie McLean, who joined RHOM in season three, has reportedly been axed, and a source has confirmed this to Daily Mail Australia.

Fresh meat: Lady Venus Behbahani-Clark is one of many women being considered for a spot on season four

See ya! Susie McLean has reportedly parted ways with the show while original cast member Chyka Keebaugh called it quits shortly after season three

The 48-year-old is currently enjoying a new romance with comedian Mick Molloy, and is keeping busy as the face of skincare brand Olivella.

Original cast member Chyka Keebaugh also confirmed her departure from the series shortly after season three wrapped.

Janet Roach, Gamble Breaux, Gina Liano, Lydia Schiavello, and Jackie Gillies are all expected to return.
They revealed to the world that they are best pals once again on Wednesday night's season finale of The Only Way Is Essex.

And Lauren Pope - who made her triumphant return to the show in the episode - and Chloe Sims were proving it wasn't just for the sake of the cameras as they hit the town in London on Thursday night.

And they weren't alone: trawling behind Lauren was her former flame, TOWIE co-star Dan Edgar, whose interests were seen to peak when she showed up at his birthday pool party in the finale.

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On good terms: Chloe Sims and Lauren Pope (L-R) proved their recent reconciliation wasn't just for the sake of the cameras on Thursday night as they hit the town in London

They're BFFs again! Chloe Sims puts on a busty display as she hits the town with an ab-flashing Lauren Pope following TOWIE reconciliation.. and Dan Edgar's there too

And Lauren - who is thought to be looking to rekindle their extinguished romance - was certainly showing him what he'd been missing in a sleek black number.

The DJ wore a cropped black sweater, baring her toned midriff, and a pair of long genie trousers, in a black satin finish, tucked neatly into black heels.

She wore a few chains around her neck and swung a black and gold bag alongside her as she crossed the street, with Dan behind her.

Sleek: The DJ wore a cropped black sweater, baring her toned midriff, and a pair of long genie trousers, in a black satin finish, tucked neatly into black heels

Busty: Chloe wore a plunging red top, accentuating her generous assets, tucked into a pair of khaki green pants

She kept her golden lightly twisted tresses loose and completed the look with a dash of clay lipstick on her pout and a dusting of black liner on her eyes.

Chloe wore a plunging red top, accentuating her generous assets, tucked into a pair of khaki green pants.

She teamed this with a white blazer and dangling earrings that matched the colour of her busty top.

She scraped her blonde locks back behind her shoulders and sported a make-up design similar to her friend, Lauren's.

Like a puppy: Trawling behind Lauren was her former flame, TOWIE co-star Dan Edgar, whose interests were seen to peak when she showed up at his birthday pool party in the finale

Slick: Lauren wore a few chains around her neck and swung a black and gold bag alongside her as she crossed the street, with Dan behind her

Night on the town: Meanwhile Chloe Sims and Vas J Morgan next arrived at Joey Essex's Clothing Launch in East London

Busty: Chloe wore a sleek white blazer over a daring asset-flashing top, tucked into a pair of khaki green pants

Dare to bare: She later removed her blazer to display the daring leotard and her eye-popping assets - which threatened to spill out of the plunging neckline

The Essex gal pals and Dan were attending the DAFDEA Launch in London.

This event marked Joey Essex's clothing line launch, and the group looked thrilled to be supporting their ex-TOWIE colleague.

Joey was seen showing off the brand, in a chalky green jacket with the logo stamped on the front.

His sister Frankie was also in attendance at the launch, dressed down in jeans, a black top and a matching blazer.

Girls night out, indeed: She teamed this dangling earrings that matched the colour of her busty top

Splash of colour: Chloe tied the look together with a vibrant pair of yellow heeled sandals

Stylish pair: Chloe looked more than ready to party as she smoldered with pal Vas outside the venue

Poser Pope: Lauren posed for the cameras at the launch which appeared to be happening in someone's garage

Big night: The Essex gal pals and Dan were attending the DAFDEA Launch in London for Joey Essex

Sibling support: Joey's sister Frankie was also in attendance at the launch, dressed down in jeans, a black top and a matching blazer

Friends again: Lauren and Chloe revealed they had buried the hatchet at the TOWIE end of season pool party

Lauren and Dan's flirting had immediately rubbed co-star Amber Turner up the wrong way when Lauren made her grand return on Wednesday night's show.

Amber was naturally dismayed when she saw hunky Dan plant a kiss on his former flame.

The blonde bombshell became the hot topic of conversation as fans insisted Dan's slight was 'karma' with many pointing out that she 'looked like she was sucking a lemon' in her apparent fury at the cosy scene playing out.

Amber was propelled onto the show as Megan McKenna's best pal, although friendship was the last thing on her mind when she was accused of cheating on her live-in boyfriend with Dan - claims both parties denied.

She's back! On Wednesday's episode, things seem to have truly collapsed upon the return of Lauren, who Dan dated on his early appearances on the show
He's previously been warned his 'lesbian chef shoes' would hinder his chances with the ladies.

And recently-separated TV star Karl Stefanovic, 42, was put on blast once again for his favourite choice of footwear.

'Stop wearing Birkenstocks!' Nova's Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli urged in Friday morning's rap battle against the Today host and his co-star Lisa Wilkinson, 57.

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Sound advice: Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli dished out fashion advice whilst also poking fun at Karl Stefanovic's favourite style of footwear, the Birkenstock

Wippa's fashion advice for Karl comes during the Fitzy & Wippa show's weekly 'rap-up' segment during which celebrity guests, in this case Karl and Lisa, are invited into the studio to wax lyrical in a battle of the versus.

Despite their best attempts to channel their inner rap stars, the Channel Nine presenters became the first ever guests to lose the competition.

Earlier in the segment, Wippa, 37, deserved a slam-dunk remark when he compared the Today pair to their Channel Seven rivals over at Sunrise.

'Stock wearing Birkenstocks!' The Nova host poked fun at Karl's dad style, which he often proudly shows off

'I love you guys; you're classy and posh; you're almost as good as the great David Koch,' the comedian rapped, referencing Sunrise's male host.

When it came to Karl and Lisa's turn to offer their rebuttal, it appears the pair's talents came up short.

Karl was seen gesticulating enthusiastically while delivering his lyrics, adopting a quasi-American accent for the rap.

The weekly rap-up: The comments came during the Fitzy & Wippa show's segment during which the hosts rival celebrity guests, in this week's case Karl and Lisa Wilkinson, in rap

Burn! Earlier in the segment, Wippa also called out Karl and Lisa's breakfast TV rivals Sunrise, rapping: 'You're classy and posh; you're almost as good as the great David Koch'

Lisa raised the fact that the pair were missing from the Logie Awards action earlier this month while taking a swipe at Wippa's weight, rapping: 'And no Logies invite for you two clowns; just as well Wip, you know the camera adds some pounds.'

Despite raising their hands and bouncing to the beat with gusto following the rap, the TV stars were shocked when producer and judge Sarah awarded the win to Fitzy and Wippa, making it the first time a celebrity guest has ever lost.

Meanwhile, Wippa isn't the first to raise concern about Karl's daggy fashion transformation since his split from wife Cassandra Thorburn.

Rap stars: Despite their enthusiasm, Karl and Lisa's rap failed to impress and led to Fitzy and Wippa being crowned the winners

Fancy footwear: This wasn't the first time Karl has been blasted for his choice of footwear, with radio host Kyle Sandilands previously warning the star against sporting the 'ugly sandals'

In February, shock jock Kyle Sandilands told his KIIS FM listeners of how he warned Karl against wearing his favourite sandals.

Claiming to have been texting the father-of-three, Kyle said on-air: 'He begs to hang out with me, it's almost embarrassing,' before detailing his last text to Karl was a mix of fashion advice and getting back in the sack.

'He was wearing those ugly sandals and getting around town in those Birkenstocks,' Kyle explained to his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson to give context to his message.

'I wrote: "Yo Bro, you ain't gonna get laid wearing those lesbian chef shoes, lose those asap".'
News / Local

by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

MBARE Magistrate Stanford Mambanje on Friday granted an application filed by pro-democracy activist Linda Masarira for the stay of community service pending the hearing of an appeal in the High Court against her conviction and sentence for participating in an anti-government protest against President Robert Mugabe's administration last year.Masarira was convicted by Magistrate Mambanje on Friday 03 March 2017 and subsequently sentenced on Monday 06 March 2017 to serve 385 hours of community service at Marlborough clinic in Harare.Before committing Masarira to serve community service, Magistrate Mambanje had sentenced the human rights campaigner to serve 18 months imprisonment, of which 7 months were suspended for 5 years on condition of good behaviour while 11 months were suspended on condition she performs 385 hours of community service.This compelled Masarira's lawyers Obey Shava and Kudzayi Kadzere of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights to file an application in the High Court allowing her to appeal against both conviction and sentence of which Justice Edith Mushore on 11 April 2017 paved the way for the pro-democracy campaigner to commence proceedings challenging Magistrate Mambanje's ruling.On Friday 05 May 2017, Magistrate Mambanje then granted Masarira's application for a stay of community service pending the hearing of her appeal against both conviction and sentence by the High Court.In their application, Masarira's lawyers argued that the human rights activist's appeal filed in the High Court carries prospects of success and hence if she continues performing community service now and the appeal succeeds that will be of a mere academic value as she would have suffered an irreparable harm because she would have already complied with an order which would have been granted and the State cannot undo what she would have already done.The lawyers also argued that the State won't suffer any prejudice because if the appeal is dismissed by the High Court, Masarira can still proceed to perform the community service.Masarira was arrested on 06 July 2016 together with nine other Harare residents and charged with contravening Section 38 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 for allegedly obstructing or endangering free movements of persons or vehicles during the #ShutdownZim2016 anti-government protests.In convicting Masarira, Magistrate Mambanje labelled the pro-democracy campaigner a notorious activist and a social media agitator.
They evidently go all the way back to high school.

All the more reason why Sofia Vergara took to Instagram to wish her gal pal Margie Heilbron a happy birthday, or 'feliz cumple' as she wrote in Spanish in the caption for the throwback snap she posted on Thursday.

She added the jokey hashtag: 'Welookedgreatinourschooluniforms,' with a shoutout to her home town of Barranquilla in Colombia and the 1980s

Blingy best pals: Sofia Vergara wished her BFF Margie Heilbron a happy birthday, or 'feliz cumple' as she wrote in Spanish, in the caption for the throwback snap she posted on Thursday

However, the two girls certainly weren't wearing anything like a school uniform. Instead, they looked ready to go to a fancy dress party or maybe a Halloween bash.

Sofia, 44, wore a lacey white mini dress adorned with crystals and ropes of pearls with a large gauzy stand up collar. And she draped a blingy head-dress over her brunette tresses.

Margie, a strawberry blonde, showed off her tummy in a bright green crop top and a long matching skirt layered with gold edged ruffles.

'Happy bday to one of the strongest girls I know!!' Sofia gushed.

Monochrome magic: The 44-year-old wore an elegant black dress with white lace detailing for Modern Family's For Your Consideration event in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Some motherly advice: The beauty shared a snap as she worked on 24-year-old son Manolo's hair. The proud mom captioned it: '@headshoulders day with @manologonzalezvergara'

The Modern Family star also posted a snap of herself working on her 24-year-old son Manolo's hair.

The proud mom captioned it: '@headshoulders day with @manologonzalezvergara.'

In 2014 Sofia recruited the handsome hunk and the rest of her extended family for a series of adverts for the shampoo and it looks like she's at it again.

Back on the box: Sofia is currently starring in Season 8 of Modern Family with Ed O'Neill

In December, Manolo made his modeling debut in a photo spread for Paper magazine's latest issue, inspired by the films of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar.

Meanwhile, Sofia has crushed rumors that she and Joe Manganiello are splitting up after just under three years together and 18 months of marriage.

Calling the editor of Star magazine that carried the story an 'idiot,' the actress angrily took down his 'fake news' on social media.
It was very much a case of Luke who's squawking.

For Mark Hamill gave his fans a shock by sneaking up behind them as they recreated iconic Star Wars scenes in a mildly amusing video released on Thursday.

The 65-year-old, who plays Jedi Luke Skywalker in the money-spinning franchise, was pranking his unwitting stooges to promote the Force For Change fundraiser on the non-profit Omaze website.

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Sith is it: Mark Hamill gave his fans a shock by sneaking up behind them as they recreated iconic Star Wars scenes in a video released on Thursday

Luke who's squawking: He recreated his famous 'no' scream from The Empire Strikes Back with a beetroot-faced fan

The actor, who was dressed down in a grey hooded to ensure he blended in as a seemingly low level lackey during the comical clips.

Explaining his grand plan, he said: 'I've rounded up a few super fans for something special. They think they're here to read some classic Star Wars lines for a video celebrating the 40th anniversary, but what they don't know is I'll be their surprise co-star.'

He helped one fan recreate his famous Empire Strikes Back 'No,' scream, pretended to be Darth Vader and even crept up behind a fan to literally breathe down their neck.

And at one point he hilariously threatened to walk out after a female fan said their favourite Star Wars film was Rogue One, exclaiming, 'I won't be needed here.'

Passionate: The actor playing the director urged his 'stars' to perform with gusto

'That's impossible': Mark screamed when a fan revealed he was really Luke's father

That's improbable: The fan was completely shocked to see his idol

Don't let go: The pair shared a meaty hug following their intimate moment

However he gave her a shock by literally pretending to be himself in the last scene from The Force Awakens, before confiding in her, 'Rogue One is my favourite too.'

The Star Wars: Force for Change and Omazes Past, Present, and Future campaign will benefit UNICEF and Starlight Childrens Foundation.

There are a selection of prizes for anyone who chooses to enter the completion.

One prize is a stay at George Lucas' California retreat the Skywalker Ranch, which includes a tour of the archives and property, and a screening of Star Wars: A New Hope.

'I won't be needed here': Mark jokingly threatened to leave after one of the participants said Rogue One was their favourite film

Rey of sunshine: She got to play the franchise's very own Mary Sue character

'There's a hand that comes with that': He poked fun at his character's amputation after taking down his hood

'I had more lines with you than I had in the film': The actor cracked another one-liner as they embraced

Another will get to mingle with the cast and attend the Star Wars: The Last Jedi premiere and after party.

A third is the chance to visit the set, meet the crew, and appear in the untitled Han Solo movie.

But the lucky winner of the grand prize will get all three prizes.

However perhaps the most coveted prize is actually the bonus, which will see a particpant get to enjoy a meal with Mark Hamill and to attend a pre-screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Turning to the dark side: This fan was going to get a shock when Darth revealed his identity

Disturbing with the Force: Seeing the Mark play his on-screen father was slightly unsettling

'It's me Mark Hamill': He turned in his least convincing performance since the woeful Corvette Summer
Prayers are being said in the hope that the Open Air Theatres powerhouse production of Jesus Christ Superstar will transfer into the West End.

The rock-fuelled show - directed by Timothy Sheader and choreographed by Drew McOnie - ran last year in Regents Park to rave reviews, and won the Evening Standard trophy for best musical.

The Standards panel (on which I sit) also named Tyrone Huntley, who played Judas, as its emerging talent honoree. And the show bagged an Olivier award, for best musical revival.

Prayers are being said in the hope that the Open Air Theatres powerhouse production of Jesus Christ Superstar will transfer into the West End

Its back in the Park from August 11. Declan Bennett, who played JC last year, will be returning.

And Huntley is being let out of his contract in the sublime Dreamgirls, so he can re-join the cast as Judas. Also back are David Thaxton (Pilate) and Peter Caulfield (Herod).

In a perfect world, it would move into a West End theatre  but theres a hitch: no house big enough is available.

The Open Air has rights from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to transfer it. But theres another sticking point.

Rights in other parts of the world  such as America and Australia  arent available. Which makes it harder for a producer to risk a London run, without the option of a tour to recoup costs.

Lloyd Webber controls several theatres himself, but none is available  though he might be able to lean on other owners.

Its amazing how influential JCS has been over the years. Lloyd Webber interviewed Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda at The Other Palace Theatre recently, and Miranda told him (in a lively Q&A) that the musical had had a huge effect on him.

Twenty years on, epic Angels still has the power to move us

Bumped into Rufus Norris, the director of the National Theatre, on Saturday, after spending an exhilarating seven-and-a-half hours watching Marianne Elliotts production of Tony Kushners epic two-part Angels In America.

And I told him I thought it could have been written today: it was that fresh.

Norris said he, too, was struck by the fact that a work over 20 years old could contain echoes of events happening now: here and in the U.S. and Europe.

Andrew Garfield gives a performance of masterful dexterity as Prior Walter  a young man in New York coping with the shock of the AIDS crisis (and hallucinations)  in the plays, which are running in the Lyttelton auditorium.

Pictured, Marianne Elliotts production of Tony Kushners epic two-part Angels In America

And how fitting that Nathan Lane should flee Donald Trumps America to come to work at the NT  for basic leading man pay!  for several months.

Lane portrays Roy Cohn, one of the most lethal lawyers ever to have practised in the U.S. He also mentored Donald Trump; and Lane absolutely nails him.

Performances across the board were excellent: Denise Gough as Harper Pitt, a woman so high on Valium she can no longer tell the difference between her dreams and reality.

Her Mormon husband Joe, captured to a T by Russell Tovey and James McArdle: superb as Priors lover  who also has a thing for Joe.

Andrew Garfield gives a performance of masterful dexterity as Prior Walter  a young man in New York coping with the shock of the AIDS crisis (and hallucinations)

Theres outstanding work, too, from Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as the sassy nurse Belize, who does not miss a comic beat. And Amanda Lawrence, who soars as an angel.

But Id like to give special mention to Susan Brown, who plays Joe Pitts mother, who is trying to find out what on earth is going on with her son. Ive seen Ms Brown in a lot of plays, but I believe this is the performance of her life.

Towards the end of the evening, Prior Walter says that the world must continue to spin forward. It cant go back, as some of our leaders want it to.

It was a battle cry; and the audience (including Tamsin Greig and Emma Stone) were witness to the power of art to transform.

Tickets are few and far between (although its worth checking the NTs website), but you can watch Angels In America when its shown in cinemas via NT Live from July 20.
The Ferryman (Royal Court, London)

Verdict: Shattering, but superb

Rating:

Ulster's agony, sectarian violence cascading down the generations, is caught lyrically in Jez Butterworths new tragedy The Ferryman.

Mr Butterworth had great success with Jerusalem almost a decade ago. Again, he shows that there can be more drama in a few acres of ancient countryside than in all modernitys boulevards.

The Republican-leaning Carney family has been farming 50 acres of rural Northern Ireland for a century or so. It is harvest time, 1981, and Belfast and Derry are aboil with the Troubles.

Ulster's agony, sectarian violence cascading down the generations, is caught lyrically in Jez Butterworths new tragedy The Ferryman. Pictured, Laura Donnelly (Caitlin Carney) and Paddy Considine (Quinn Carney)

But here on the farm the Carneys seven children, plus two aunts, an uncle, cousins  and even a gentle-giant English simpleton of a farmhand  are about to celebrate the annual gathering of the crops.

Pater familias Quinn Carney (Paddy Considine) seems a powerfully decent man, blessed with a fine brood.

All is well until the IRA comes calling with long-dreaded news. This play has plenty of Republican chest-beating that will test the resolve of patriotic Englishmen. Yet playwright Butterworth, with maybe just a soupcon too much blarney, draws us to a shattering and moral conclusion.

Director Sam Mendes, as you would expect, has delivered the goods. Mr Considine may be handsome to an unlikely degree but he dominates the stage. Love interest is provided by Laura Donnelly, excellent as Quinns chaste sister-in-law.

After a brief opening on the Bogside, everything happens in the Carneys large farm kitchen, range cooker at one end, mystic aunt (Brid Brennan) at the other.

Along the way we have appearances by a live rabbit, live goose and a beautiful baby. In a strong cast, Gerard Horan plays a weak-willed priest and John Hodgkinson gives the English simpleton touches of a Shakespearean innocent. A gang of child actors does amazingly well.

In the Ferryman, Butterworth shows that there can be more drama in a few acres of ancient countryside than in all modernitys boulevards. Pictured, Considine as Quinn Carey

In Virgil, ferryman Charon was unable to soothe souls until their bones were at rest. With the recent death of former IRA commander Martin McGuinness, can Northern Ireland start to put its savage history into the ground? Or must the cycle of hatred and reprisal  in Ulster and elsewhere  continue for hundreds more years?

Timely. Superb.

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Donmar Warehouse)

Verdict: Lenny does Hitler

Rating:

Sir Lenny plays Arturo Ui, a Chicago mobster who seizes power over the citys crime world using methods little different from those of Adolf Hitler in Thirties Germany.

Apart from Sir Lennys performance, the main thing that strikes you may be the bravery Brecht (a Bavarian) needed to pen such an unflinching attack on Hitler and his henchmen. He was in Finland at the time, awaiting permission to emigrate to the United States. Even so, this must have taken guts.

Simon Evanss production, using a new text by Bruce Norris, tries to broaden the satire by making Donald Trump a new target.

Sir Lenny Henry plays Arturo Ui, a Chicago mobster who seizes power over the citys crime world using methods little different from those of Adolf Hitler in Thirties Germany

Various Trump phrases and allusions (and even a Trumpish banner slogan) are worked into the proceedings. These raise laughs  of which there are several in a sprightly, energetic evening  but they reduce the potency of Brechts vituperation.

At times it is all so jaunty, the darkness of Ui and Hitler is lost. There is a lot of swearing. Ui begins the show as a middle-ranking mafia thug. Sir Lenny gives him a hobbling gait. In a strong scene, we see him being taught how to carry himself in a more leaderly way.

By the alchemy of political rhetoric and image-making, lowly Ui is transformed into a plausible tyrant, complete with a raised-arm gesture.

It is not long before a warehouse has been set on fire, just as Hitlers cronies torched the Reichstag. All this is solid stuff.

The Donmars auditorium has been turned into a cabaret venue, with some members of the audience sitting at cocktail tables by the stage.

Simon Evanss production, using a new text by Bruce Norris, tries to broaden the satire by making Donald Trump a new target. Pictured, Simon Holland Roberts (Grocer 2), Lenny Henry (Arturo Ui) and Philip Cumbus (Clark)

People in those seats are in danger of being dragged up to take part in the show. For me, that was an unwelcome distraction.

The central allegory is surely strong enough not to need such stunts. Once again, though, the Donmar jemmies a closing how-this-is-relevant speech into the last moments.

The same was done in this venues recent play about the SDP.

Most theatregoers are clever enough to see the topicality of great plays without the need for a finger-wagging explanation.

The Donmars artistic director, Josie Rourke, should trust the old adage show, dont tell.

Battle of the broads (and their bitchy one liners): PATRICK MARMION sees paste and pearls in Madame Rubinstein

Madame Rubinstein (Park Theatre, London)

Verdict: Paste and pearls

Rating:

As a collection of one liners, John Mistos play about the Fifties New York cosmetics giant Helena Rubinstein is a string of pearls.

As an account of Rubinsteins life, its a cut-and-paste job that never gets inside Madames head.

Even so, Misto has landed Miriam Margolyes in the title role  and Frances Barber as Rubinsteins professional arch rival Elizabeth Arden. He must be in seventh heaven.

For Margolyes, its as though Oscar Wildes Lady Bracknell has been reincarnated as a Jewish New Yorker who can swear like a navvy.

As a collection of one liners, John Mistos play about the Fifties New York cosmetics giant Helena Rubinstein is a string of pearls. Pictured, Miriam Margolyes in the title role

A tight-fisted little Toby jug of a woman, Rubinsteins comfort food of choice is chicken wings stored in her safe (its airtight, and cheaper than a fridge).

And then there are the zingers: Rouge is like sex  too little and not much happens; too much and everyone thinks youre a whore.

Many of her barbs are aimed at Arden, and Barber matches Margolyes, dagger for dagger (the only help Id ever give you is to board the Titanic).

Barber makes Arden a purring glamour-puss right out of the pages of a Raymond Chandler novel.

The battle of the one-liners is superb, but scene to scene, the plot struggles. Misto attempts to give Rubinstein an emotional back story by invoking ghosts of sexual abuse, endured as a child in Australia, and guilt over a neglected son.

Margolyes can only mope and emote over characters who never appear.

If only Misto would cut the maudlin stuff, leave the witticisms ringing in our ears and have us out within 90 minutes, we could all have a really Wilde time.

The Treatment (Almeida)

Verdict: Slick but soulless

Rating:

This slick revival of Martin Crimps 1993 drama is like a reverse case of The Emperors New Clothes.

Its about a victim of domestic abuse in New York, selling her story to a couple of unusually vacuous film executives.

What distinguishes it from Hans Christian Andersens fairy tale is that the trappings and trimmings in Lyndsey Turners production are all real; its the Emperor whos gone missing.

To her great credit, Turner has managed to make Crimps play look superfly. Her designer Giles Cadle creates a cool, minimalist set based on sliding doors, coloured lights and changing props to take us from snazzy boardroom to Japanese restaurant and down to the Manhattan sidewalk.

Meanwhile, Christopher Shutts sound design lays on murmuring traffic and humming air-con to make the atmosphere artificial but real, suffocating but stylish.

The acting, too, is top of the range. Rising star Aisling Loftus seems genuinely befuddled yet driven as the confused young woman trying to flog her story of domestic abuse.

Indira Varma, as the female film producer, is a venomous Prada spider who seems to be suffering from the personality disorder formerly known as bad manners.

Julian Ovenden is persuasively creepy as her lothario partner. And Ian Gelder is brilliantly disingenuous as the once successful writer whos now selling cutlery in the street.

There are neat cameos, too, from Ben Onwukwe as a blind taxi driver (a surreal joke) and Gary Beadle as yet another film executive whos all talk and no trousers.

The same, however, must be said of Crimps play, which is trying to lay this charge at the door of modern society: that its a disturbing charade, a world where style has irrevocably ousted substance.

To prove his point Crimp makes sure theres no real centre to the piece; and that his protagonist is herself a cipher. But with nothing much to get hold of beyond the handsome presentation and a handful of smart one-liners, the story is not so much elusive as terminally tenuous.
From Anchorman to Zoolander, there is literally an A-Z of comedy films about vain, deluded, pompous fools who blunder through life without an iota of self-knowledge.

Alan Partridge and David Brent lead the many small-screen characterisations of such men, who differ only in the jobs their creators have chosen for them.

So Richard Thorncroft (Julian Barratt), a narcissistic actor who once enjoyed a modicum of fame as a telly detective called Bruce Mindhorn but is now down on his luck, is not exactly a comic original.

Richard Thorncroft (Julian Barratt) is a narcissistic actor who once enjoyed a modicum of fame as a telly detective called Bruce Mindhorn but is now down on his luck

He might even be called derivative. Still, Barratt, who explored similar territory himself in the surreal TV comedy The Mighty Boosh, is a skilled and appealing performer who adds just the right amount of vulnerability to stop Thorncroft turning into a grotesque.

Mindhorn is also worth watching for the cameos, notably Kenneth Branagh playing himself.

There is a very funny scene in which Thorncroft auditions for the great director and chats about the wonderful times they had together back in the day, only Branagh hasnt a clue who he is.

Simon Callow also plays himself  caught your Equus in Chichester, says our ever-obsequious hero  with Steve Coogan as a former co-star whose post-Mindhorn career has thrived, and Harriet Walter as Thorncrofts agent.

She cant revive his fortunes, but finally Thorncroft catches a break.

Its all decidedly low-concept and low-budget, and there are certainly stretches when the main, one-note joke wears a bit thin. Nonetheless, it is inoffensively silly fun throughout

A psychotic killer known as The Kestrel (Russell Tovey) is on the run in the Isle of Man and has told police that he will only talk to his favourite screen character, Mindhorn.

For Thorncroft, this seems like a heaven-sent opportunity not only to get back into the spotlight, but also to rekindle an old flame.

His ex-girlfriend Patricia (Essie Davis) now works for Manx TV. Inconveniently, she is married to his old, smooth-talking Dutch stuntman (Barratts co-writer Simon Farnaby).

Its all decidedly low-concept and low-budget, and there are certainly stretches when the main, one-note joke wears a bit thin.

Nonetheless, it is inoffensively silly fun throughout.
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She has purchased two penthouses and then combined them to make a mega-apartment in the luxurious Latitude Building in Milsons Point over the past nine years.

Now, Australian actress Nicole Kidman could be looking to purchase a third, to make a Sydney mega-home with the last of her building's 21st story penthouses about to hit the market.

Domain.com.au reported that the Kidman-Urban's current neighbour Graham Mirabito is about to list his luxurious digs.

Big digs: Australian actress Nicole Kidman could be looking to purchase a third luxury Milsons Point apartment to make a mega-home with the last of the buildings' 21st story penthouses about to hit the market

The publication stated that the property data wiz purchased the two-story 540-square metre apartment ten years ago for $3.79 million.

With the apartment due to be listed 'in the coming weeks', Domain said that agent Nigel Mukhi has already shown it to 'select buyers.'

'Mukhi was keeping quiet on the listing, which left it to buyer feedback to reveal the asking price of some $9 million'.

For sale: Domain.com.au reported that the Kidman-Urban's current Sydney neighbour Graham Mirabito about to list his luxurious digs. (photos show Nicole's 2009 apartment, pre purchase)

Profit: The publication stated that the property dada wiz purchased the two-storey 540-square metre apartment ten years ago for $3.79 million

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Nigel Mukhi for comment.

Photos of her 2009 purchase show gorgeous views, from the 21st floor apartment across Sydney Harbour, with the ionic bridge featuring prominently in the vista.

The spacious digs make the most of the view with a wide balcony, as does the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the living room.

Reporting on Nicole's first Latitude purchase in 2009, the Sydney Morning Herald said that the Oscar winner purchased the two-story 420-square metre penthouse from Mark Bouris for $6 million, with the Wizard founder originally buying it off the plan in 2005 for $4.75 million.

Picturesque: Photos of her 2009 purchase show gorgeous views, from the 21st storey apartment across Sydney Harbour, with the ionic bridge featuring prominently in the vista.

The Daily Telegraph, reporting on her second purchase in 2012, this time a 'slightly smaller' 380sqm apartment, said that: 'property sources said the Kurbans paid just over $7 million for the property.'

After splitting with first husband Tom Cruise in 2001, Nicole was romantically lined with musicians Lenny Kravitz and Robbie Williams before starting a relationship with country star Keith Urban in 2005 after the pair met at a 'GDay LA' event.

Nicole and Keith were married in the beachside Sydney suburb Manly in 2006 and welcomed their first child Sunday Rose into the world in 2008 with sibling Faith Margaret arriving in 2010.

Big spenders: The Daily Telegraph , reporting on her second purchase in 2012, this time a 'slightly smaller' 380sqm apartment, said that: 'property sources said the Kurbans paid just over $7 million for the property.'

True love: After splitting with first husband Tom Cruise in 2001, Nicole was romantically lined with musicians Lenny Kravitz and Robbie Williams before starting a relationship with country star Keith Urban in 2005
She's the popular television reporter who sits on the Today show panel on weekdays.

And Sylvia Jeffreys is always a welcome addition to Sydney's society events, especially those for a good cause.

The 31-year-old and husband Peter Stefanovic attended the Gold Dinner on Thursday to raise funds for Randwick Children's Hospital, where she debuted her new haircut.

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Goldi-lopped: The 31-year-old and husband Peter Stefanovic attended the Gold Dinner on Thursday to raise funds for Randwick Children's Hospital, where she debuted her new haircut

The stunning journalist, whose hair stylist is Morgan Hill from Valonz Haircutters and who also works with Channel Nine, wore her wavy blonde locks in a long bob or 'lob'.

It was a slightly different look from her TV WEEK Logie Awards appearance, where she styled her longer hair with more volume and a side part.

She had her makeup expertly done by Simone Forte and wore a black off-shoulder gown by clothing designer Rebecca Vallance that showed off her slender figure.

Date night: The vivacious personality posed for photos with her husband and uploaded one to her Instagram account the same night, which she dubbed a 'school night selfie!'

The vivacious personality posed for photos with her husband and uploaded one to her Instagram account the same night, which she dubbed a 'school night selfie!'

The couple attended the annual Gold Dinner, which was held at Carriageworks in Redfern to accommodate 500 VIP guests who raised $2 million for the hospital.

Sylvia has previously spoken about her blonde hair and disclosed her intelligence is often questioned because of it.

Blonde bombshell: The stunning journalist, whose hair stylist is Morgan Hill from Valonz Haircutters and also works with Channel Nine, wore her wavy blonde locks in a long bob or 'lob'

She made the revelation earlier this year on Today's The Mixed Grill segment, during a discussion about the names used to call red-headed children.

'While we are at it, can we stop maybe linking blonde hair with intelligence as well?' she asked.

'I get attacked for my hair colour... it's a valid point,' she stated.
She's the former Big Brother star whose daring display of sideboob at a previous red carpet event made headlines.

And it seems Lisa Clark has no hesitations in baring her assets as she was spotted posing for a topless photo shoot at Bronte Beach on Thursday.

Showing off her slender figure in a series of swimwear briefs, the 31-year-old blonde made sure to work her best angles during the racy shoot.

Busting out! Former Big Brother housemate Lisa Clark, 31, showed off her assets at Bronte Beach on Thursday, as she posed for a topless photo shoot

The former Penrith native stood tall and proud as she struck her poses, showing off her endless pins and taut tummy.

Modelling a pair of bright yellow bikini bottoms in one shot, the 'freelance blogger' channeled her inner Blue Steel as she pursed her lips for the camera.

Lisa stood tall while holding her pose as a hair and makeup artist was seen making adjustments to her look.

She's not shy! The blonde looked to be in her element as she posed in tiny bikini bottoms

What swimwear? The former reality star made sure to turn heads while flaunting her ample assets as she modelled bright swimwear

The jet-setting Instagram model changed into a pair of orange high-waisted bottoms as well as a skimpy black pair throughout the shoot.

The aesthetic of the shoot was kept quite minimal, with Lisa's only accessories being a stack of gold and silver bangles as well as her belly button piercing.

With her wet golden locks slicked back and bronzed makeup, Lisa looked to be in her element as she posed while holding a flower in her hand.

Toned and tanned: The Instagram model oozed confidence as she put her slender figure on display for the lens

Reality rules: The 'freelance blogger' shot to fame as a housemate on Big Brother in 2014

The social media sensation appears to be a fan of body art, flashing a delicate tattoo on the left side of her rib cage.

Before her foray into reality TV as a Big Brother housemate in 2014, Lisa worked at a 'lingerie restaurant'.

She has since secured her position as a top digital influencer having gained over 94,000 fans on Instagram.

Past career: Previous to her foray into reality TV, the Penrith native worked as a manager of a 'lingerie restaurant'

Social media sensation: Since her appearance on Big Brother, the blonde beauty has amassed over 94,000 fans on Instagram

And the feisty star previously had a strong message for her critics who have questioned her choice of career.

'My whole life people have been telling me to be realistic. Is that a real job? Are you being realistic?' she lamented.

She went on to explain that 'realists' aren't revolutionaries and that 'you got to be a little crazy if you want to be successful.'

'I refuse to accept the reality I was given, I'd much rather create my own,' she concluded.
Revenge of the Nerds star Robert Carradine's estranged wife claims in legal documents that he confessed to deliberately driving into a semi-truck on a Colorado highway with the intent of killing them both in 2015.

His wife, Edith Carradine, is claiming that four months after the dangerous crash that she confronted the 63-year-old actor about the accident, and says he 'confessed to me and our two children that he deliberately drove into the truck to kill us both,' TMZ reported of the legal documents.

The mother of two added that Robert is an 'experienced professional race car driver' who was wide awake ... so when he suddenly veered across the highway and into the full sized semi-truck, he did so on purpose,' TMZ reported.

Tried to kill them: Robert Carradine's estranged wife Edith claimed in court documents that the Revenge Of The Nerds star deliberately caused a 2015 crash that left them both injured

Edith, also known as Edie Mani, has been married to Robert since 1990.

She alleges, according to TMZ, that her husband, whom she describes as an 'experienced professional race car driver', was wide awake at the time of the accident and therefore, ' when he suddenly veered across the highway and into the full sized semi-truck, he did so on purpose.'

Edith blames the crash on the depression Robert has suffered since the death in Bangkok, Thailand, of his older half-brother actor David Carradine in 2009.

She is asking the court to grant her possession of Robert's 17 guns, fearing he'll hurt himself.

She also lays out her financial situation, stating that she has no job and is in debt to the tune of $14,000 in attorney fees.

Edith wants the court to grant her possession of guitars owned by her husband that are said to be worth thousands of dollars.

Troubled: Edie claims her husband's actions were the result of depression brought on by the 2009 death of half-brother David Carradine. Robert is pictured left with David and also half-brother Keith and their father John Carrdine and sister Callista, right

Following the March 29015 crash, Robert was cited with careless driving after crossing into oncoming traffic and slamming into a tractor-trailer.

He and his wife were both injured in the afternoon crash near Dolores, in the state's southwestern corner.

According to the Colorado State Patrol at the time, the actor's 2003 Mercury Marauder crossed into the oncoming lane on Colorado Highway 145 and collided with the tractor-trailer.

The couple, who had been wearing seatbelts, were removed from the car and taken to Southwest Memorial Hospital and then transferred to Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango.

The truck driver, 59-year-old Richard Clayton of Wisconsin, wasn't injured, Trooper Josh Lewis said.

James Saunders of the state patrol told The Durango Herald that neither alcohol nor speeding was a factor in the crash. Images of the scene also show that it was not snowing or raining at the time.

'The fact that they were wearing seat belts is why they are with us today,' he said.

Robert, who is the youngest son of legendary character actor John Carradine, filed for divorce in November 2015 and divorce papers cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for ending their 25-year union.

When he filed for divorce, he allegedly was asking for spousal support from Edith, while requesting that the court terminate it's ability not to award spousal support to his wife, People reported.

Wreckage: The actor's 2003 Mercury Marauder was destroyed after he crossed into the path of a tractor-trailer on a Colorado highway in March 2015. He and his wife were both injured. Picture courtesy of the Cortez Journal

Collision: The driver of the semi-truck did not suffer any injuries in the crash. Authorities do not said att he time that alcohol and speeding were not factors

The youngest of a prolific acting family, Robert worked steadily in film and television for more than 40 years.

He and half-brother David often could be seen in the same projects, including the TV series 'Kung Fu,' Walter Hill's 'The Long Riders,' and Paul Bartel's 'Cannonball.'

Robert's biggest hit came in 1984 with the off-color comedy 'Revenge of the Nerds,' in which he played head nerd Lewis Skolnick.

He reprised the role in the big screen sequel and two small-screen follow-ups.

More recently, Quentin Tarantino cast Robert as a tracker in the 2012 film 'Django Unchained.'
They are the stars of the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

And Jane Krakowski and Ellie Kemper brought plenty of style as they attended Netflix's For Your Consideration event for the comedy series in North Hollywood on Thursday.

Jane, 48, took the plunge in a sexy black dress that featured sheer long sleeves and a fitted waistline to highlight her extremely svelte waist.

Bringing the style! Jane Krakowski and Ellie Kemper were fashion super stars as they attended Netflix's For Your Consideration event for the comedy series in North Hollywood on Thursday

The whole gang! Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt stars Carol Kane, Titus Burgess, Jane, and Ellie Kemper stepped out in style for the event

The former 30 Rock star sported a wide black belt and matching pair of strappy platform heels.

Blonde locks styled down sleek and straight with a slight side part, Jane looked simply gorgeous as she complimented her natural beauty with a smoky shade of eye shadow and bronze blush.

Ellie, 37, meanwhile, made a bold and bright fashion statement.

The actress rocked the event in a bright orange-red frock that clung to her fit physique.

Simply stunning: The former 30 Rock star sported a wide black belt and matching pair of strappy platform heels

Standing out! Ellie, 37, meanwhile, made a bold and bright fashion statement

Simply stunning: She wore dark eye shadow, pink blush, and a pair of delicate earrings to finish off the glamorous effect

She wore dark eye shadow, pink blush, and a pair of delicate earrings to finish off the glamorous effect.

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt centers around a girl (Ellie) finding freedom in New York City after being part abducted and placed in an Indiana apocalypse bunker with three other girls for 15 years.

It stars Titus Burgess as Ellie's roommate, Carol Kane as her landlord, and Jane as Ellie's employer.

Season three will begin streaming on Netflix on May 19.

Looking good! Titus looked sharp in his blazer, jeans, and white sneakers

Back for more! Season three will begin streaming on Netflix on May 19

Doing her part: The star shared her thoughts on the series once inside the panel

What a hoot! Titus had a major laugh on stage as his co-stars smiled
News / National

by Staff reporter

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has described the late former Chief Justice Godfrey Guwa Chidyausiku as a fine judge who played an integral role in shaping the country's land reform programme through judgements.Justice Chidyausiku died of liver and kidney problems while admitted to a hospital in South Africa on Wednesday.Addressing mourners at the Chidyausiku residence in Highlands yesterday, VP Mnangagwa, who also oversees the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, said Justice Chidyausiku's appointment to the bench came as a rescue plan for Zimbabweans who were being deprived of their land by the whites.He said when Justice Anthony Gubbay stepped down from the position of Chief Justice, Justice Chidyausiku took over and assisted in making the land reform a success."During the land reform era, white judges like Justice Gubbay were misfiring," said VP Mnangagwa. "Fortunately, Gubbay notified us that he was now resigning. We reported that to our superiors that he wanted to step down. We then took the opportunity to appoint our own Godfrey to be the new Chief Justice."When he became Chief Justice, we started seeing the whites leaving the country one by one until we took our land back. That was now our own bench of people who had a history and understood the cause of the nation."VP Mnangagwa said he first met Justice Chidyausiku in 1979 at Lancaster in England and they became friends. "We understand death is unavoidable and you (the family) have to be strong and accept the situation," he said. "There is no room for negotiation. We hope to meet him again in heaven."VP Mnangagwa said the return of President Mugabe from South Africa today will provide guidance on the burial arrangements. "We we will sit down and discuss the way forward," he said.VP Mnangagwa narrated how Government intervened and airlifted the late judge to South Africa. "I received a call from my secretary that our President had instructed us to assist and airlift Justice Chidyausiku for further treatment," he said. "We arranged for his immediate transfer to a hospital in South Africa."Justice Chidyausiku's body is expected to arrive in the country tomorrow afternoon.A senior lawyer, Mr Wilson Manase, described Justice Chidyausiku as a brilliant judge. "We have lost a sharp legal mind who helped shape the land reform programme through judgments," he said. "A case which really hit the point is the one involving the Commercial Farmers' Union and the Minister of Lands."Another lawyer, Mr Alex Magaisa, in one of his articles, described the late Justice Chidyausiku as a revolutionary judge."As Chief Justice and head of the judiciary, Chidyausiku was right at the centre of this revolution, and his pivotal role earned him numerous accolades and eternal praise from the ruling party and complete disdain from the farming community that was displaced from the land," he said.The Law Society of Zimbabwe said in a statement: "The former CJ distinguished himself well as a jurist and administrator. His judgments will continue to shape our jurisprudence."MDC-T also mourned Justice Chidyausiku. "While we might not have agreed with some of his judgments, particularly in politically sensitive cases, we, nevertheless, would like to join his family and the nation at large in mourning the untimely demise of one of Zimbabwe's longest serving jurists," read the party's statement.Advocate Thabani Mpofu, who used to interact with Justice Chidyausiku in the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, described him as a legal icon.Attorney General Advocate Prince Machaya said Justice Chidyausiku was a very competent lawyer and that the law profession lost a great deal through his demise.
She revealed she was having her breast implants removed on Monday.

And Nicola Robinson went through with the procedure on Friday, taking to her Instagram to share she was 'blessed to be carrying a much lighter load of unnecessary baggage' alongside a photo of her pet cat.

The 40-year-old's husband, celebrity chef Pete Evans, is on a food tour of Italy but immediately left a touching note in the post's comments section for his wife.

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'I love you angel': Nicola Robinson's husband, celebrity chef Pete Evans, is on a food tour of Italy but immediately left a touching note in the post's comments section for his wife

'I love you angel,' wrote the My Kitchen Rules star in a public display of affection for his wife.

Nicola, who has made no secret of her regrets over past cosmetic enhancements, announced the surgery earlier this week with a snap of her pet canine.

'My human gets her fake bewbies explanted 'en bloc' style tomorrow & she really wanted to shave her head in celebration, but she shaved my Earth Suit instead!' #creaturefromloveland,' she captioned a photo of her cute pet poodle.

Post-surgery: The 40-year-old shared she was 'blessed to be carrying a much lighter load of unnecessary baggage' alongside a photo of her pet cat after removing her implants on Friday

An 'en bloc' breast implant explant procedure involves the removal of tissues around the implant as well as the implant as well.

This process ensures that minimal scar tissue will form as a result of the procedure.

Numerous fans took to the comments section of her original announcement post to praise the personality's decision, including Pete.

Puppy love: Nicola, who has made no secret of her regrets over past cosmetic enhancements, announced the surgery earlier this week with a snap of her pet canine

Gushing: Pete shared his thoughts for his wife's decision, commenting underneath her Instagram post: 'Very proud of you angel'

'Very proud of you angel,' the Paleo enthusiast penned, alongside three love heart emojis.

The gushing comments come as Pete continues his food tour of Italy.

Pete, often striking controversy for his various health philosophies, took to Instagram on Thursday, sharing a fun snap while at the Culinary Institute of Bologna.

Traveling man: Pete, often striking controversy for his various health philosophies, took to Instagram on Thursday, sharing a fun snap while at the Culinary Institute of Bologna

'Great working with Lucia and Stefano from the Culinary Institute of Bologna today for @moveablefeast_tv in Italy,' Pete began the caption.

'If you ever want to learn Italian cooking then these two are wonderful teachers,' the father-of-two added.

The snap shared with Pete's 153,000 Instagram followers saw the chef beaming alongside the institute's teachers Lucia and Stefano.

'Deepest regret': Nicola revealed in a past interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night, that she regrets undergoing plastic surgery before meeting her husband Pete Evans

Nicola's decision to remove her breast implants comes weeks after the brunette confessed her regrets about undergoing plastic surgery, during an interview with Sunday Night on Channel Seven.

During the tell-all interview, the former Kiwi model-turned-clean eating Paleo advocate said her 'two toxic silicone implants' were her 'deepest regret'.

'I wasn't leading a natural life, which is why I have two toxic silicone implants attached to my chest,' she said. 'Deepest regret of my life.'

Speaking out: Appearing alongside the celebrity chef during his much publicised Sunday Night interview, the former Kiwi model said her 'two toxic silicon implants' were her 'deepest regret'

Nicola, who married Pete last year, added that she also underwent fillers and Botox out of fear.

'You know, I dabbled in fillers, Botox, all sorts of things that were driven by my fear... to try and make myself feel better,' she said.

Nicola started dating Pete shortly after he announced his split from wife of 11 years Astrid Ellinger in 2011.

The pair married last year in an intimate ceremony on their farm in New South Wales.

Influential: Nicola - the glamour model-turned-hippy is behind Pete Evans' decision to adopt a strict Paleo diet

Model days: Nicola, best known as Nicky Watson during her lads mag days, is now living the quiet life
Jennifer Lopez would be the first to remind you that she's still Jenny From The Block.

But with a reported net worth of $360 million dollars, seeing her hail a cab in the wee hours of Thursday morning is still an unusual sight.

However, the actress was actually in Downtown Manhattan filming scenes for her NBC drama Shades Of Blue.

Taxi: Jennifer Lopez was seen hailing a cab as she shot scenes for her drama Shades Of Blue

Jennifer plays a single mother named Harlee Santos who is a detective for the NYPD.

During the overnight shoot, it seemed as if Jennifer was filming one of the show's chase scenes, as she was seen running to a car.

It was announced that Shades Of Blue would be getting renewed for a third season when its second season had just begun airing.

Action: The 47-year-old appeared to be filming one of the shows chase scenes as she ran from a car

The triple threat's TV takeover continues when her dance competition show World Of Dance premieres in late May on the same network.

Jennifer will find herself back in a familiar role, judging on a reality competition show, similar to her position American Idol.

The ever-busy star will return to Las Vegas on May 24th to continue her successful All I Have residency at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino through June.

Waiting For Tonight: The actress kept warm with a long jacket in the chilly NYC weather

Squad: Her look was perfected by a team of hair and makeup stylists for the overnight shoot

Later on Thursday, she was back to her usual glamorous self for an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden.

It was just revealed that Jennifer will be joining James and Katy Perry for a prime time special of his ultra-successful Carpool Karaoke segment.

Lopez first appeared on Carpool Karaoke in March of 2016.

In and out of character: J-Lo was back to her regular glam on Thursday night for an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden (R)

J-Lo has been dating former Yankees star Alex Rodriguez for the past three months, and they just made their red carpet debut at the Met Gala on Monday night.

They have been nearly inseparable, spending time together in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and the Dominican Republic.

A source recently told People, 'All she talks about is A-Rod. She loves dating him.'
They recently became engaged after four years together.

And Ashley Greene and her fiance Paul Khoury have unveiled the brand new tattoos they received in New York City.

The Twilight actress, 30, went topless to show off the intimate new body artwork with fans.

His and hers: Ashley Greene and her fiance Paul Khoury have unveiled the brand new tattoos they received in New York City

'Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world,' read the tattoo, which was placed below her breast.

It was just the latest piece of ink to join Ashley's collection of tattoos, which includes the word Love on her wrist and an image of a key behind her ear.

'#oopsididitagain // I couldn't resist @mr.k_tats and I love it // what do you guys think? #tatoo #nyc #bangbang,' she captioned the snap.

Paul also showed off his new work of art - a tattoo of a playing card.

What's in the cards? Paul also showed off his new work of art - a tattoo of a playing card

So in love: Paul popped the question to Ashley during their trip to New Zealand in December 2016 (pictured in December 2016)

'The wizard went to work on my arm this week,' he captioned the snap. 'Thank you @mr.k_tats for putting in the hours my friend, some of the best work I've ever seen you do. Happy I got to be the canvas. #bangbangtattoo #singleneedle #kingkhoury #royalflush #nyc.'

Paul popped the question to Ashley during their trip to New Zealand in December 2016.

The Australian got down on one knee near a waterfall and recorded the whole thing.

Once they returned to America after spending Christmas with his family, they celebrated by Paul hiring out the original Katsu-ya where they had their first date.

On Valentine's Day, Ashley spoke of her love on Instagram: 'There's nowhere in the world I'd rather be than beside this incredible man. Thank you for looking at me and seeing forever, making me feel like I'm the only one in the room and always bringing me to a point of uncontrollable laughter. Oh, and most importantly, thanks for loving my particular brand of crazy. '
She gave birth to her first son Dominic just weeks ago.

But Rachael Finch was right back to modelling work Friday, flaunting her slender frame in a sultry shoot.

The 28-year-old defied post-pregnancy expectations, sporting a range of revealing outfits during a morning shoot at Bondi's Tamarama beach.

Back and better than ever! Rachael Finch returned to modelling work on Friday, flaunting her ample assets in a series of revealing outfits at the beach, just weeks after giving birth

Greeting her 197,000 Instagram followers at the start of the day, the mother-of-two wore a warm winter jumper as she introduced fans to her shooting location.

Waves crashed up against the shore at the popular beach destination, with Rachael appearing to get in before the crowds.

In one snap, she let her luscious, styled tresses fall beneath her back, covering her arms from the weather in a long grey cardigan.

The beauty flaunted her trim pins in skin-tight active wear, raising a finger to her plump lips to form a sensual pose.

Luscious: In one snap, the new mother to adorable Dominic's styled brunette tresses fell beneath her back, covering her arms from the weather in a long grey cardigan

Skimpy! Joined by a fellow-model from a different angle in the same outfit, the 28-year-old's ample assets easily filled-in a skimpy purple training bra

Testament: Her flawless figure during the beach shoot is a testament to the model's commitment to fitness since giving birth in March

Joined by a fellow-model from a different angle in the same outfit, her ample assets easily filled-in a skimpy purple training bra.

Her flawless figure during the beach shoot is a testament to the model's commitment to fitness since giving birth in March.

The brunette beauty has been working-out and having fun in the weeks immediately following the birth of adorable Dominic.

A short clip recently saw Rachael revealing her taut torso and slender legs in a cropped white shirt and pink shorts, as she performed a series of routines for her new dance program.

Fit and fun:The brunette beauty has been working-out and having fun in the weeks immediately following the birth of adorable Dominic.

Trim and toned:A short clip recently saw Rachael revealing her taut torso and slender legs in a cropped white shirt and pink shorts, as she performed a series of routines for her new dance program.

Back at it: The post comes just days after the former Miss Universe Australia shared another time-lapse video of an intense workout, while her newborn slept

The post comes just days after the former Miss Universe Australia shared another time-lapse video of an intense workout, while her newborn slept.

Rachael wrote alongside the post: 'Today's workout while the munchkins were sound asleep.'

She has happily embraced her new role as a mother-of-two since the March 4th birth of her son, posting loving snaps of her growing brood.

The fitness fanatic has barely had a break from her regime however, sharing videos of her engaging in exercise again, as early as March 10.

Dance enthusiast: Rachael's nearly 200,000 followers were boggled at the proud mum's effort on Tuesday, with one lovingly checking to see if she needed medical permission for such exercise so soon after birth

Happy family: The brunette beauty has happily embraced her new role as a mother-of-two

Rachael is also a proud mother to three-year-old daughter Violet.

Rising to fame in the Miss Universe 2009 pageant, she married her professional dancer husband Michael Miziner in 2013.

The pair met on the set of Dancing With The Stars in 2010.

Marvellous mum! The dance enthusiast has barely had a break from her fitness regime, sharing videos and images of her engaging in exercise again, since as early as March 10

Bliss: It appears Rachael has embraced her new role as a mother-of-two, having previously shown a photo of newborn Dominic, with his three-year-old sister Violet
He recently launched his solo career.

And it looks like things are off to a smashing start for Harry Styles, who just sold-out his first Australian tour in mere seconds.

His two-date Australian tour will see the former One Direction star perform intimate shows in Melbourne's 1500-person Forum Theatre and Sydney's 1600-person Enmore Theater later this year.

Sold out! The Australian shows from Harry Styles' world tour have sold out in seconds

He'll also perform in Auckland's Spark Arena.

The 23-year-old has proven himself to be a formidable force as a solo star.

His first single, 'Sign of the Times', recently topped the Australian ARIA charts upon its release.

Success: His two-date Australian tour will see the star perform intimate shows in Melbourne's 1500-person Forum Theatre and Sydney's 1600-person Enmore Theater later this year

Chart topper: Harry's first single, 'Sign of the Times', recently topped the Australian ARIA charts upon its release

The song has since been certified gold for sales of 35,000 copies.

It's also topped the charts in the U.K. and reached the top five on the American Billboard Hot 100.

Harry is set to release his self-titled studio album on May 12.

It's a hit: The song has since been certified gold for sales of 35,000 copies

The burgeoning rock star follows in the footsteps of his One Direction bandmates Zayn Malik and Niall Horan, both of whom have released solo projects since 1D announced their hiatus.

Zayn has been a huge success so far, topping the charts worldwide with his album Mind of Mine and single 'Pillow Talk'.

Niall has also enjoyed some popularity with his single 'This Town', which was certified platinum in Australia.
It's one of the most hotly-anticipated blockbusters of the summer, particularly due to the involvement of a certain One Direction star.

And fans got a glimpse of Harry Styles in action in the dramatic new trailer for Dunkirk on Friday.

In one scene from the Christopher Nolan directed film, the 23-year-old is seen swimming desperately towards one of the rescuers before grabbing his hand.

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In deep water: Fans got a glimpse of Harry Styles in action in the dramatic new trailer for World War II blockbuster Dunkirk

Helping hand: In one scene, the 23-year-old is seen swimming desperately towards one of the rescuers before grabbing his hand

The Sign Of The Times hitmaker, who plays Alex in the film, is also seen sitting on the beach looking out to sea during the full trailer, as he is left stranded with his fellow soldiers.

Other actors in the star-studded cast include British actors Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance, as well as Irish star Cillian Murphy.

Tom, who stars as Farrier in the World War II movie, is seen in the cockpit of his RAF fighter jet while involved in a dogfight with German bombers above the sea.

Hero pilot : Other actors in the star-studded cast include British actors Tom Hardy, who plays Farrier in the film

Action man: He is seen in the cockpit of his RAF fighter jet while involved in a dogfight with German bombers above the sea

Stellar cast: His fellow Peaky Blinders star Cillian also has a prominent role in the trailer

His fellow Peaky Blinders star Cillian also has a prominent role in the trailer, as he is rescued by one of the small British boats that have come to help in the evacuation attempt.

With its stellar cast, a multi-million pound budget and the guidance of celebrated director Nolan, Dunkirk is poised to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 2017.

The acclaimed director, who boasts the likes of The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception and Interstellar on his resume, paid astonishing attention to detail while filming the project.

Tommies: The Sign Of The Times hitmaker, who plays Alex in the film, is also seen sitting on the beach looking out to sea during the full trailer for the blockbuster

Ducking for cover: The dramatic new trailer for Dunkirk was released on Friday

Epic: With a multi-million pound budget and the guidance of celebrated director Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk is poised to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 2017

British talent: Kenneth Branagh also stars in the WWII drama as an Allied captain

Command: He is heard saying that more ships need to be sent during the two-minute trailer

Frontline: Allied troops are seen falling to the ground on the beach as they came under fire

He drafted in a fleet of vehicles, which included a Spitfire and a French T-47 Class Destroyer, Maille-Breze, for an authentic reproduction rather than relying on CGI.

Alongside the ship, which was anchored near the beach throughout a hectic shooting schedule, Supermarine Spitfire - the RAF's famed single-seater fighter of the period - were put through their paces in aerial shots.

Dunkirk opens in 1940 with hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops hemmed in by the German army on the beaches of northern France.

The British launched Operation Dynamo to save them between May 7 and June 4; 338,000 arrived safely in England.

Debut role: Playing Tommy in the movie, Harry recently told BBC Radio 1 that filming the epic was one of the highlights of an already hugely successful career

Powerful: Dunkirk opens in 1940 with hundreds of thousands of British and Allied troops hemmed in by the German army on the beaches of northern France

Front line: The British launched Operation Dynamo to save them between May 7 and June 4; 338,000 arrived safely in England

Among the fleet were hundreds of privately owned boats  popularly known as the little ships.

Nolans film is the first recreation of the evacuation since the 1958 original starring John Mills, Richard Attenborough and Robert Urquhart.

Warner Bros Pictures previously teased fans with a first trailer at the beginning of August.

Ensemble cast: Dunkirk boasts a cast of celebrated British stars, amongst them Kenneth Branagh, James D'Arcy, Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy (pictured)

Sneak peek: Warner Bros Pictures previously teased fans with a first trailer at the beginning of August

Flying high: Tom Hardy plays RAF pilot Farrier in the forthcoming film

The 56-second-long preview is shot in dull tones and focuses on the bleak, raw nature of the French coastline in 1940.

Dunkirk boasts a cast of celebrated British stars, amongst them Kenneth Branagh, James D'Arcy, Tom Hardy and Cillian Murphy and One Direction star Harry Styles, who makes his acting debut in the film.

However none of its star names feature in the trailer, with the eerie landscape all that's required to portray the desperate nature of their situation.

Talented: Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in April, Christopher Nolan admitted he picked the relatively inexperienced Styles on merit alone during the audition process - which attracted thousands of hopefuls

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times in April, Nolan admitted he picked the relatively inexperienced Styles on merit alone during the audition process - which attracted thousands of hopefuls

'When we put the cast together, we had some established names,' he explained. 'But for the guys on the beach, we really wanted young unknowns. He's not that unknown but he'd never done anything as an actor before.

'So he auditioned. I auditioned literally thousands of young men with different combinations of young men. And he had it.'

Authentic: Nolan drafted in a fleet of vehicles, which included a Spitfire and a French T-47 Class Destroyer, Maille-Breze, and a variety of other boats for an authentic reproduction rather than relying on CGI

Opening up: 'It felt really good to kind of have no idea what I was doing for a little bit.,' Styles said of his role in the film. 'I think the movie's gonna be great. I think he [Christopher Nolan] is amazing'

Playing Tommy in the movie, Harry recently told BBC Radio 1 that filming the epic was one of the highlights of an already hugely successful career.

'It was one of the best experiences of my life, honestly - it was amazing, it was a real challenge,' he said. 'I really loved being the new guy to be honest. I loved being so far out of my comfort zone.

'It felt really good to kind of have no idea what I was doing for a little bit. I think the movie's gonna be great. I think he [Christopher Nolan] is amazing.'

Dunkirk will be released in IMAX theatres across the United Kingdom from July 21.
He is no stranger to cosmetic work.

And preparing for his 58th surgical procedure, Rodrigo Alves - aka the Human Ken Doll - has touched down in New Delhi, India to undergo an 8000 eye colour change.

Documenting his trip for fans, the reality star, 33, has shared a video to YouTube and revealed the surgery will take place on Sunday and he is 'very excited' for it to finally happen.

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'I'm very excited': Human Ken Doll Rodrigo Alves, 33, has shared his excitement over eye colour change surgery that he is set to have done on Sunday in New Delhi

Rodrigo filmed himself as he arrived at Heathrow Airport and revealed: 'I'm on my way to New Delhi to have my eye colour surgery on Sunday.

'I'm very excited, wish me luck!'

The star flew out to India via business class and showed off his plush flight settings in the short video, it also caught on camera his arrival in Delhi.

Sharing his experience of the city, Rodrigo added: 'It's 40 degrees Celsius, the traffic is crazy, it's so noisy here.'

Exploring: Prior to going back under the knife, the reality star has been taking in the sights of New Delhi and spending time with locals

Not long left: He had arrived in India on Monday and has since had a consultation with his surgeon ahead of having his 58th cosmetic procedure.

He had arrived in India on Monday and has since had a consultation with his surgeon ahead of having his 58th cosmetic procedure.

The cameras were invited in and the surgeon could be seen going through routine checks with Rodrigo, before explaining how the procedure will work.

In the lead up to his surgery date, Rodrigo has been taking in the sights of Delhi.

He was spotted posing for a picture with locals, exploring the markets and shopping for a new pair of shades while trying on traditional Indian dress.

Access all areas: He has been documenting his trip to India and filmed the surgeon going through routine checks with him, before explaining how the eye procedure will work

New look: Rodrigo is planning on getting a brand new eye colour called light icy grey and explained doctors in the UK and USA will not perform the surgery solely for cosmetic reasons

In an exclusive interview with the MailOnline, Rodrigo explained his new surgery which doctors in the UK and USA will not perform for solely cosmetic reasons.

'My next surgery will be a permanent eye colour change,' he said. 'I wear hand painted coloured lenses made by an artist here in the USA. Each pair is $500 and I have 14 different colours.

'My natural eye colour is dark brown and I'm tired of wearing coloured lenses.'

Rodrigo is planning on getting a brand new eye colour called light icy grey.

Taking his mind off it: The TV personality was spotted trying on traditional Indian dress while out in New Delhi recently

Dapper: He opted to try on an embellished red and gold coat while spending some time in the city before heading into hospital over the weekend

He said: 'Bright Ocular is now making a special eye colour implant light icy grey and the procedure will be performed next month in Delhi.

'The procedure will also be filmed,' Rodrigo explained.

'The eye surgeon will implant the coloured implant in front of my natural iris making it icy grey forever.'

He said that the procedure would cost around 8,000.

Recommendation: Rodrigo has revealed he has headed to New Delhi after advice from friends, 'Three of my friends had the procedure done and it looks amazing, I shall be visiting the same doctor'

Retail therapy: Prior to his surgery, however, Rodrigo made sure to embark on a bit of shopping and was seen trying on a new pair of shades

'Such procedure is also done in the USA and the UK but not for cosmetic reasons,' the surgery fan added.

'Some people who don't have iris pigmentation can have these implants to give them an eye colour.

'In my case it is for aesthetics reasons and there is no money on earth that would convince an eye doctor to do it in the USA or UK for cosmetic reasons.'

Spolit for choice: He took his time perusing the different designs on display

He added that he was flying to Delhi on the recommendation of friends: 'Three of my friends had the procedure done and it looks amazing. From the reference I shall be visiting the same doctor in Delhi.'

Rodrigo is known for his love of extreme surgeries and in the past has indulged in liposuction, fillers, eight nose jobs and chest silicone implants as well as stem cell injections into his face and hair.

Much of his income has reportedly come from properties he inherited from his grandparents and he has invested almost 400,000 in attaining his distinctive look.
She has been showcasing her impressive post baby body on Instagram ever since she welcomed her youngest daughter Felicity Rose in September.

But despite her motivating snaps, Christine McGuinness, 29, has come under fire by one of her followers, who made cruel anorexic comments under a throwback snap of her in peak physical condition on Thursday.

The wife of TV host Paddy McGuinness responded to the nasty furore under the ab-flaunting photo - which was posted in August 2015 - by revealing she had suffered from an eating disorder in her youth that pushed her to contemplate suicide.

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Under fire: Christine McGuinness, 29, has come under fire by one of her followers, who made cruel anorexic comments under a throwback snap of her in peak physical condition on Thursday

Making the brave admission, the former Miss Liverpool added that she 'wished' she had seen more images promoting fitness and health in her teenage years which would have taught her about the benefits of being strong.

She wrote under the snap, which was captioned 'Morning workout done': 'Do your research, I myself suffered with an eating disorder as a teenager and at my lowest point I often thought about ending my life.

'I wish someone had taught me about the benefits that healthy eating and exercise can give you on the inside and on the outside of your body a lot sooner. I wish I had seen more photos promoting health and fitness instead of all the 'skinny' photos that did and still do cover our magazines.

Adding: 'It is so important that young girls see they can look great and eat loads with the right food and exercise, including treats! Trust me, building muscle without food is not going to happen, you simply wouldn't achieve this look with anorexia.'

Standing strong: The wife of TV host Paddy McGuinness responded to the nasty furore under the photo - which was posted in August 2015 - by explaining she had suffered from an eating disorder in her youth that pushed her to contemplate suicide (Pictured in 2016)

Brave: Making the brave admission, the former Miss Liverpool added that she 'wished' she had seen more images promoting fitness and health in her teenage years which would have taught her about the benefits of being strong

Now a mother to three beautiful children, she acknowledged she is not yet back to the same shape but thanked the woman for bringing her attention to the snap so she can use it as motivation throughout her post-baby journey.

'Also, mothers to mother.. you know how our bodies dramatically change through pregnancy, I gained 6st during my first pregnancy and lost it all with exercise at home and healthy food,' she added. 'I'm now 7 months post partum after baby 3 and I have almost lost the 4.5stone I gained.

'I don't look like this photo anymore but nether the less I praise my body for what it has been through and what I have achieved.

Continuing: 'Finally, I thank you for bringing this photo back to my attention as I have doubted if I will ever get back in shape now I have very little free time with 3 young children, but you have reminded me that I will because I've done it before, I can do it again.'

Hitting back: The wife of actor and TV host Paddy McGuinness responded to the nasty furore under the ab-flaunting photo - which was posted in August 2015 - by explaining she too suffered from an eating disorder in her youth that pushed her to contemplate suicide

Can't stop: Despite her heartfelt response, it appeared her honest message fell on deaf ears as the woman commented that she 'missed her point'

Despite her heartfelt response, it appeared her honest message fell on deaf ears as the woman commented that she 'missed her point'.

The fitness fanatic has been open in documenting her journey to get back to her pre-baby body.

After sharing plenty of updates on her progress to social media in recent months, Christine revealed in January: 'I've lost 3 stone in 3 months just 1 stone to go to get back to me pre-pregnancy weight.

'I gained 4 stone during this pregnancy which is nothing compared to the 6 stone I gained carrying my twins 3 years ago! Honestly though... I'm really not in any rush to tackle that last stone, it's not about what I weight, it's about how I feel and I feel pretty good.

Hard at it: The fitness fanatic has been open in documenting her journey to get back to her pre-baby body

She added: 'I would love to tone up and see my abs again for summer, but I can only do this if and when it woks around my babies. I'm grateful my body has given me 3 miracles.'

The young mum previously claimed she 'hasn't got time to exercise' but is looking incredible just six months after expanding her brood.

Christine and comedian Paddy - who married in June 2011 - welcomed their youngest child Felicity Rose on September 9 last year and they are also parents to three-year-old twins Penelope and Leo.

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details.
She's the Real Housewives of Sydney socialite known for feuding with her co-stars.

But on Friday, Lisa Oldfield appeared to play down rumours of a rift with Matty Samaei despite Sunday's upcoming episode featuring an explosive confrontation between the pair.

The 41-year-old took to Instagram to share a photo with Matty as the pair clowned around during a recent holiday to Singapore.

Car crash TV! On Friday, Lisa Oldfield uploaded a fun photo that showed RHOS co-star Matty Samaei running her over- but the raven-haired renegade revealed it was just in jest

The hilarious snap shows 'Sydney's botox queen' Matty at the wheel of a toy car running down Lisa, who is splayed dramatically across the bonnet.

'Sure I may have pushed @mattysamaei in the next episode of RHOS but to be fair b**ch did run me over in Singapore,' Lisa captioned the picture.

However, she went on to clarify that despite the upcoming physical confrontation on the show, the pair are firm friends.

Alliance? Lisa is close with Athena X (right) while Matty has remained neutral in Lisa's bitter feud with Victoria Reese

'Just kidding we are great mates and I treasure her friendship,' Lisa added.

Shortly after the photo was shared, Matty commented, 'Ohhhhh I would never run you over Lisa..............in season one'.

While Lisa has formed an alliance with Athena X Levendi on the show, the raven-haired renegade has attracted the ire of a number of other co-stars, notably Victoria Rees.

Controversial: Lisa is never far from the headlines, and is known for her acid-tongued insults

Lisa has previously called Victoria 'a f**king nobody', a 'moron' and a 'grub' who 'lives off the proceeds of her grandparents' ill-gotten gains'.

However, Lisa's foul-mouthed insults aren't only directed at her co-stars, but also at her young sons.

After publicly calling her sons, Albert, 4, and Harry, 6, 'd**kheads', Lisa revealed on radio that her boys retaliate with curse-laden insults.

'The four-year-old called me this morning a 's**t-eating c**k master,' the star revealed in a radio interview earlier in the week.
She gave birth to a son Rocco in February 2016.

And while Rose Byrne, 37, had planned to take maternity leave after welcoming her first child Oprah Winfrey soon changed her mind.

The Aussie actress told news.com.au that she just couldn't pass up on the chance to work with the legendary media personality in HBO movie The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

'I want to work with Oprah!' Rose Byrne cut maternity leave short after giving birth to son Rocco so she could act alongside Winfrey in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Rose and Oprah star opposite each other in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, a movie based on the true life tale of an African-American woman who had her cells used without permission for medical research.

The Bridesmaids actress said after she had gave birth to son Rocco last year, with every intention to not work for a while.

But she was immediately drawn to the true life story and the chance to work with Oprah.

Drawn to Winfrey: Rose and Oprah star opposite each other in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

'Id just had a child and I was like: "I dont really want to go back to work",' Rose told News Corp.

'But I read the script and I was like, I just...damn it...I cant say no. I want to be in service of this story ... its an incredible story. I want to work with [writer] George Wolfe. I want to work with Oprah.'

In the movie Rose plays real life journalist Rebecca Skloot who forms a strong bond with Henrietta's daughter Deborah Lacks, played by Oprah, in order to tell her story.

Wanted to take time off: The Bridesmaids actress said she had gave birth to son Rocco last year, with every intention to not work for a while

Rose said it was intimidating playing a reporter opposite Oprah, who is 'the ultimate journalist'.

When you meet someone with such a huge profile its a strange mix of thinking you know them, and obviously theyre a complete stranger, but theres really not that many people in the world who have her profile,' she said.

Rose shares her one-year-old son with partner of almost five years, actor Bobby Cannavale.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has laid into the commander of the Defence Forces, General Constantino Chiwenga - telling him to stop barking from the sidelines and daring him to remove his military uniform and join politics full-time if he desires a political career.Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, in the wake of Chiwenga's interview with State media earlier this week, MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu warned the head of the military to stop "spouting threatening edicts from the safety of military barracks" and join politics - where he would be guaranteed being taught "a political lesson" by the opposition.This comes as Chiwenga has also come under severe criticism from disgruntled war veterans over his controversial remarks on Monday, where he encroached into the heated arena of politics, while warning brawling Zanu-PF factions to stop fighting each other and attacking President Robert Mugabe.The MDC put its full weight behind the angry former freedom fighters, saying yesterday that while they respected Chiwenga, he needed to understand that he had no role in politics - daring him to remove his army fatigues and join them in politics if that was the career he desired."Chiwenga doesn't know what he is talking about. Last time I checked he was a soldier and not an active politician."The Constitution of Zimbabwe allows us to form political parties and Chiwenga has got absolutely no lawful right to intervene in or ban any political party."We suggest that he concentrates on his core duties as the army commander and leave politics to politicians."If he wants to delve in politics, he should immediately retire from the military, remove his army uniform and join us in the political fray."We will certainly teach him a lesson or two. While we respect him, we are certainly not afraid of him," Gutu thundered in his interview with the Daily News.This comes after Chiwenga warned Zanu-PF factions earlier this week over their continued public brawling and attacks on Mugabe.The military commander also savaged the leadership of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) and other Zanu-PF bigwigs in his interview with State media, while making veiled threats to the country's re-energised opposition - which prompted the MDC's sharp rebuke of him yesterday."We don't talk about the opposition political parties that we liberated so that they can also have their own voice ... we do not talk about them. Let them do their own business there. We are not interfering with them."If we had wanted we would have said No, there is not going to be any opposition, we liberated the country, where were these people,'" Chiwenga said in his remarks which miffed the former prime minister's party.Tsvangirai has had several run-ins with the country's powerful securocrats, who he accuses of abetting Zanu-PF's misrule and hotly-contested tenure in power.During the inclusive government era, Tsvangirai also angered the securocrats when he spiritedly pushed for security sector reforms, although Mugabe managed to frustrate the demands.However, Tsvangirai recently assured the security chiefs, saying they were guaranteed to get immunity from prosecution if he wins next year's watershed elections.Speaking in Harare after holding a crucial meeting with the MDC national executive, the popular former prime minister in the government of national unity repeatedly emphasised that Mugabe and securocrats had nothing to fear when he comes to power - adding that he regreted his failure to assure them their safety when he won the hotly-disputed 2008 polls."I have a message to those who have in the past resisted change and who remain keen to subvert the people's will because of their uncertainty due to the prospect of political change in the country."I wish to assure everyone that there is nothing to fear in the change that we seek. We have no intention to engage in retribution, and we are only driven by the genuine patriotic spirit to ensure peace, stability and growth."Change will be good for everyone. Change will allow everyone to pursue and live their dreams under the protection of the state," Tsvangirai said then."In 2008, a large part of our fellow citizens in State institutions were reticent and suspicious about the prospects of change."The people won the election but there was no transfer of power because of the sceptics of change, those whose reticence about a new Zimbabwe cost this country the opportunity to set a new political direction."There will be neither vengeance nor retribution against anyone. There is certainly nothing to fear. In fact, there will be a pension for those who are afraid," the dogged former trade union leader added.Tsvangirai beat Mugabe hands down in the 29 March 2008 presidential election, which saw results being withheld for a suspiciously long six weeks, amid widespread allegations of ballot fiddling and manipulation.When the widely discredited results of that poll were eventually announced, Tsvangirai was forced into a presidential run-off which he pulled out of following massive intimidation and violence which saw hundreds of his supporters being murdered in cold blood.Mugabe would go on to stand in a widely condemned one-man race in which he declared himself the winner.However, Sadc and the rest of the international community would not accept the poll, forcing the nonagenarian to share power with Tsvangirai for five years to prevent the country from imploding completely.Former State Security minister and one of the founders of the Zimbabwe People First (ZPF) party, Didymus Mutasa - who was for decades a close confidante of Mugabe - later lifted the lid on that election's rot, following his sacking from Zanu-PF, revealing that the nonagenarian had only remained in power through chicanery and brute force.
Following the conclusion of its hugely popular fourth season, it has been revealed that Line Of Duty has been renewed for at least two more outings.

BBC director-general Lord Tony Hall broke the news that the show would hit a minimum of six seasons during an event staged to announce the new batch of dramas commissioned by the broadcasting giant.

Referencing the show's police anti-corruption unit, he enthusiastically informed the audience: 'I am very excited to say there's not one but two more series of Line of Duty. So hooray for AC-12!'

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They're coming back! Line Of Duty, starring Vicky McClure, is set to return for at least two more seasons, it has been announced

The announcement comes after it was reported that the popular cop show - which stars the likes of Vicky McClure and Thandie Newton - has piqued the interest of Hollywood TV bosses, who are eyeing the possibility of a US adaptation.

Similar to veteran shows such as LAPD Blue, The Wire, The Shield and Law & Order, executives reportedly believe it will draw in millions of viewers, with Amazon and Netflix said to be among the contenders hoping to develop it.

An insider told The Sun: 'Theres been a lot of interest with the show  especially recently with the move from BBC One to BBC Two as a lot more people have watched the last series and caught up with the previous three.

Big news: BBC director-general Lord Tony Hall, pictured in 2013, made the announcement as he unveiled a fresh batch of dramas commissioned by the broadcasting giant

Cast: Jason Watkins and Thandie Newton had big storylines during the show's fourth season

'Big players in Hollywood have been impressed by the gripping nature of the show and think they can set it in the US and add more layers with a bigger budget.

'It follows their remakes of The Office, Broadchurch, Shameless and some would say Sherlock, so its bound to happen with one of the US companies.'

As the fourth series of Line of Duty closed last Sunday, fans of the programme heaped praise on the action-packed finale with some calling it 'the best drama ever'.

On Twitter, one fan wrote: 'Just simply THE BEST Drama ever!!! #LineofDuty Well done BBC. Just can't wait now for next series - please don't leave it too long!!'

Off to Hollywood? The announcement comes days after it was revealed that the show may be in line for an American adaptation after its success in the UK

Best ever: As the fourth series of Line of Duty drew to a close, fans of the programme heaped praise on the action-packed finale with some calling it 'the best drama ever'

Echoing that sentiment, another viewer enthused: 'The best cop show I've ever watched... I was shouting at the telly it was so gripping!'

A third fan declared, 'Best finale ever,' followed by another who added: 'Are you allowed to stand up and applaud your television? Because Line of Duty deserves it.'

In the fourth season's final episode, although the identity of one key figure  Balaclava Man  was revealed, the fact he was just a common criminal was an anti-climax for viewers who were guessing who he was from the characters they knew.

Furthermore, it soon became clear there was more than one Balaclava Man.

Stateside fans: The series has developed a cult fanbase via Hulu - an American TV subscription service - and this has piqued the interest of Hollywood TV bosses

The addictive programme also saw Thandie's DCI Roz Huntley confess to killing Tim Ifield, played by Jason Watkins, and in a shocking twist exposed ACC Derek Hilton (Paul Higgins) as a corrupt copper involved in a clandestine criminal ring.

But although some loose ends were tied in the hour-long episode, plenty more came apart and frustrated viewers who will have to wait for the fifth season to have their questions answered.

The questions involving DCI Huntley who, after taking time out of work to raise a family felt under pressure to solve Operation Trapdoor and find the murderer and rapist behind a string of offences, are concluded as she confesses to killing forensics expert Ifield.

Although she tries to implicate her husband, anti-corruption unit AC-12, headed by Superintendent Tim Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), managed to uncover her tracks and find the blood-sodden clothes linking her to the crime, she is forced to confess.

Dropping hints: Talking about the next Line of Duty series, series creator Jed Mercurio hinted the show will revisit the lives of the programme veterans

Confessions: The addictive programme also saw DCI Roz Huntley (Thandie Newton) confess to killing Tim Ifield

DCI Huntley, who is given ten years for manslaughter, tells DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) she had no choice but to try to save herself, saying: I am not a bad person. Maybe you would have done the same.

Talking about the next Line of Duty series, series creator Jed Mercurio hinted the show will revisit the lives of the programme veterans.

He said: We definitely have a fifth [series], not a sixth... but we havent started working on it yet. I need to think what the character is first.

I want to look at the personal lives of all the regulars in series five - theyve taken a backseat in this series to Roz Huntley, so it would be good to explore that side of things a bit more.
He shot to fame this year in the Oscar nominated film Lion when he worked alongside the dashing Dev Patel.

And after charming audiences with his performance, Sunny Pawar, eight, won over the This Morning studio on Friday.

The adorable young actor, styling a trendy red and blue bomber jacket, confessed during the chat that he was terrified when he went to meet his co-star Dev for the first time.

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Adorable! Lion star Sunny Pawar turned on the cheeky chap charm on This Morning on Friday as he confessed he was terrified to meet Dev Patel for the first time

But despite his nerves, the child star explained they hit it off right away.

Describing their first encounter, he said: 'First time meeting him I was scared.

'Then we talked a lot and got to know each other.

Top notch: The eight-year-old gave a thumb's up as he enjoyed chatting to Eamonn Holmes about his journey from an Indian slum to working in Hollywood

Friendship: Despite his nerves, the child star explained he hit it off right away with Dev (pictured together at Pre-Oscar dinner in Beverly Hills, California, February 2017)

'He taught me English and I taught him Hindi.'

The young actor made an appearance on the show ahead of picking up the Rising star award at the Asian awards on Friday evening.

He revealed he was excited to be in the capital and meet the star-studded crowd expected to attend the A-list affair.

Revealed: The young actor (pictured with Eamonn and Ruth Langsford) made an appearance on This Morning ahead of picking up the Rising star award at Asian awards on Friday evening

Exciting: He revealed he was excited to be meeting the star-studded crowd expected to attend the A-list affair

Sunny added: 'Im going to be a tourist everywhere in London.

'I want to get a lot of photos. Im happy I'm getting an award and excited to meet all big people and excited Sachin Tendulkar is there tonight.'

However, the youngster explained life isn't different to back home where he is from in India.

He explained: 'Life is the same at home. Nothing happens. I get tired. I wear my pajamas and then go to sleep.'

Hollywood hasn't changed him: Sunny (pictured with Rylan Clark on This Morning) explained life hasn't changed much for him since he lived in India

Although he is only eight years old, he has already attracted a lot of attention because he has taken to acting like a duck taking to water.

His interpreter, who is also his manager, said: 'The lovely thing is that Sunny has had a lot of offers.

'Id love him to pick and choose. Hes only 8 but hes a born actor.

'People are narrating films to him. It could be anything in India or international  lots of offers.'
He's helped whip her into tip-top physical shape since they started working out together last year.

But Louise Thompson proved her burly boyfriend Ryan Libbey's talents also extend to outside of the gym as she posted a very cheeky snap of the personal trainer, 26, on her Instagram stories on Friday.

The Made In Chelsea star, 27, posted an intimate snapshot of her man's bare bottom as he strolled around the bedroom stark naked.

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Bottoms up! Louise Thompson proved her burly boyfriend Ryan Libbey's talents extend to outside the gym as she posted a very cheeky snap of the personal trainer, 26, on Friday

Despite his muscular frame, the fitness expert appeared to be camera shy as he turned his face away from snap happy Louise.

The diminutive denim entrepreneur brazenly put Ryan's tan lines on display as she invited her one million followers into the intimate bedroom moment.

Louise cheekily captioned the picture with three peach emojis: 'lol at this view'. (sic)

The geography graduate is certainly confident in her own skin as she sent temperatures rising when she posed topless for yet another saucy Instagram picture last month.

From strength to strength: Louise and Ryan (pictured at BAFTA Nespresso Nominees' Party in February) went public with their romance last summer after falling for each other at the gym

The reality star flaunted her gym-honed figure with confidence as she pulled her glossy locks off her body to tease her naked frame.

With her personal trainer boyfriend Ryan undoubtedly behind the camera, the sizzling star smiled at her beau as she put her sensational figure and just a hint of sideboob on display.

Louise slipped into a slinky pair of blue denim jeans with the playful message 'bite me, don't touch me, don't think about it' printed on the pocket to help draw further attention to her perky posterior.

With an air of confidence, she completed her daring look with a flash of scarlet lipstick and deftly touches of smoky eye makeup.

Cheeky: The Made In Chelsea star, 27, is certainly confident in her own skin as she sent temperatures rising when she posed topless for another saucy Instagram picture last month

Gym bunny: Personal trainer Ryan helped whip Louise into tip-top physical shape since they started working out together last year

The brunette beauty drove her legion of 996K fans wild when she captioned the shot: 'bite me. Fav new jeans', in her well-rehearsed social media manner.

The racy picture, which has racked up more than 5,000 likes, was flooded with gushing compliments.

Louise soared to fame on the E4 show in 2011's second season, where she was introduced as Spencer Matthews' girlfriend before becoming a central character with her convoluted love life playing out on-screen.

After dating co-stars including Jamie Laing, Andy Jordan and Alik Alfus, she recently found love with personal trainer Ryan who she kept secret for five months after falling for him over gym sessions.

Earn your stripes: Louise soared to fame on the E4 show in 2011's second season, where she was introduced as Spencer Matthews' girlfriend

Louise found herself the target of widespread criticism after she went public with Ryan just weeks after she split from ex-boyfriend, Alik Alfus, who also previously appeared on Made In Chelsea.

But the Geography graduate has insisted she doesn't let cruel social media trolls get under her skin.

Speaking to MailOnline in October, she said: 'Ive often met the trolls in the street. Theyre fickle.

'They change their mind from one week to the next. It's fine because I just get on with it. I feel sorry for them.'

But she admitted boyfriend Ryan was struggling to cope with life in the limelight.

'Hes a really sensitive guy and hes had a lot of people getting involved,' she explained.

Jet-setters: Louise and Ryan's romantic getaways have included an extended break in January, to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and breaks in Dubai and Paris (pictured) in March

'I find it funny but he doesnt, it's hard to convince someone not to care, everyone wants to be loved.'

After Louise went public with Ryan, Alik claimed she cheated on him with her personal trainer.

The pair originally met in spring 2014 when they filmed the Made In Chelsea spin-off series in New York City, with Alik then following Louise to London.

However, he had to return to the US last autumn to work for his family' leather business, which put a strain on their relationship.

Louise's Instagram activity with her beau has been the subject of much and envy and some ridicule as the couple document their excessive holidays with the help of professional photographers on the photosharing site.

The couple's romantic getaways have included an extended break in January, to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and breaks in Dubai and Paris in March.
They finally ended their on/off romance in 2015, and she has since moved on with new man Stephen Bear.

However Charlotte Crosby decided to rid her ex Mitch Jenkins from her life for good on Friday, as she finally had the tattoo dedicated to him removed.

The 26-year-old took to her various social media pages to document the procedure - which saw her proudly have the 'M' initial zapped off her upper arm.

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End of an era: Charlotte Crosby decided to rid her ex Mitch Jenkins from her life for good on Friday, as she finally had the tattoo dedicated to him removed

Taking to Instagram and Snapchat, the former Geordie Shore star shared a short video of the seemingly painful procedure.

Dressed in a casual vest and loose-fitting trousers, the beauty can be heard squealing and shouting in pain as the laser is pressed against the tattoo to remove the ink.

Clearly excited by the procedure despite the pain however, she wrote to her 5.8 million followers: 'And there you have it! My FIRST laser tattoo removal it's been a long time coming... thanks so much.'

No more: Charlotte had first got the inking, which saw an 'M' in the middle of two crossed arrows, when she was last dating Mitch in 2015 (above)

Goodbye: Clearly excited by the procedure despite the pain however, she wrote to her followers: 'And there you have it! My FIRST laser tattoo removal it's been a long time coming'

She then added in support of her practitioner: '@chris_new_look_laser_treatment check him out if you need any laser treatments and your in the north east guys!'

Charlotte had first got the inking, which saw an 'M' in the middle of two crossed arrows, when she was last dating Mitch in 2015.

She has announced the news on her Instagram with the besotted caption: Happy valentines........ #YoungStupidAndVeryCrazyInlove'

On again off again: The couple first called it quits in late summer of 2014, following a year and a half together, but reconciled months later during a trip to New York (above)

However breaking up soon after, Charlotte was quick to reveal her desires to remove the tattoo in August of that year.

She said in her Star magazine column: 'I need to get my 'M' tattoo removed, though. I can't walk around with that now we're not together, can I?'

The couple first called it quits in late summer of 2014, following a year and a half together, but reconciled months later - after Charlotte revealed to MailOnline he had dumped her by text message.

For good: However it seems the course of true love was not meant to be for the couple, as they broke up once again later that year, just before they were due to move in together

The pair became largely inseparable again following a trip to New York in January 2015 - confirming their reconciliation - before he accompanied her on her mammoth tour of Australia later that year.

Yet, it seems the course of true love was not meant to be for the couple, as they broke up once again later that year, just before they were due to move in together.

Removing the tattoo not only rids her life of her ex, but also shows a higher level of commitment to her current boyfriend Stephen Bear.

The pair have put on an incredibly loved-up display ever since meeting on their new show Just Tattoo Of Us - and have even discussed the prospect of children after mere months together.

Moving on: Removing the tattoo not only rids her life of her ex, but also shows a higher level of commitment to her current boyfriend Stephen Bear (above)

Charlotte recently told OK! magazine: 'We always talk about children. All the time. He likes Teddy, but I like Wolf, or Elle for a girl.'

It seems their relationship is only going from strength to strength, after Charlotte had gushed to CBB champion was 'the one' last year.

She had told MailOnline: 'We fancied each other straight away and then things just developed slowly. I knew we couldnt rush into anything because he was going on a dating show so we took it really slow at first.

'Stephen really cares, he even got sacked from Celebs Go Dating because of me. Ive met all of Stephens family and they are amazing, it just works and feels so right.'
He's starring alongside Hollywood heavyweights Michael Fassbender and James Franco in the upcoming action film Alien: Covenant.

But Billy Crudup has stated that his character didn't initially jump out at him when he read the script for the highly-anticipated blockbuster.

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, the star stated that 'on the page he [the character] was written as a sort of fundamentalist and an archetype. I wasn't really interested in that aspect of it'.

Blockbuster role: Billy Crudup (right) has opened up about his role in Alien: Covenant saying he wasn't attracted to his character when he initially read the script

Despite having legendary director Ridley Scott at the helm of the movie, Billy stated, 'As much as I wanted to work with Ridley, you don't want to get your dream job doing something you don't really want to do.'

In the film, the 48-year-old plays Christopher Oram, the first mate of colony ship, Covenant.

However, Billy told the publication that he warmed up to starring in the blockbuster when he realised that he would be able to bring his 'weirdness' to the role.

Starring role: Billy shot to international fame in the 2000 Oscar winning film Almost Famous

The star laid out his terms specific terms, telling the director, ''This is what I have got to offer.' To my good fortune, Ridley was interested'.

Billy filmed the blockbuster in Sydney with his son, William, 13, flying Down Under to spend two weeks with his Dad in the harbour city.

Father-of-one Billy was thrust into scandal in 2003, just before his son was born, when he left partner Mary Louise Parker for co-star Claire Danes.

Headline-hitting heartbreak: Billy dated actress Mary-Louise Parker for eight years, before leaving her when she was seven months pregnant

At the time, Mary Louise was seven months pregnant with William.

Billy and Claire went on to date for four years before parting ways.

Best known for his smash hit role in the 2000 film Almost Famous, Billy has steadily built a reputation as a serious actor, starring in small parts of several acclaimed films, including last year's Oscar winner, Spotlight.
She was busy promoting Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 in New York City.

But despite the hectic week, Zoe Saldana managed to look stylish as she hit the runway back home.

The 38-year-old star was a fashionable flyer as she arrived at LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

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Fashionable flyer: Zoe Saldana and husband Marco Perego arrived at LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Thursday night

She was not alone for the travelling day as she was joined by husband Marco Perego as they made their way through the terminal.

The stunner bundled up in a grey cashmere scarf over a patterned blouse.

She added even more fashionable flare to her look as she also sported white distressed jeans ripped just over the knees along with patterned flats.

Just the two of us: The 38-year-old star was joined by the artist, also 38, as they made their wa through the terminal

Gorgeous: The stunner bundled up in a grey cashmere scarf over a patterned blouse, white distressed jeans ripped just over the knees, and patterned flats

Along with the grey garment draped over her shoulders she accessorized with a navy blue designer bag and circular retro shades.

Her brunette tresses were worn into waves flowing over her shoulders as she let her natural looks show by going make-up free.

Marco rocked his signature style of a brown suede jacket with matching Chelsea boots over a black T-shirt and matching skinny jeans.

Stunner: Her brunette tresses were worn into waves flowing over her shoulders as she let her natural looks show by going make-up free

Effortlessly chic: long with the grey garment draped over her shoulders she accessorized with a navy blue designer bag and circular retro shades

He also accessorized with several necklaces as his blonde locks were put up in a man-bun.

No doubt Zoe and the 38-year-old artist were excited to see their three sons: two-year-old twins Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio along with four-month-old Zen.

Earlier this week during an appearance on Good Morning America she opened up about raising three sons and how it's helped her understand men more.

She explained: 'I come from a family of women so being outnumbered is sort of new, strange and I'm adjusting to it but I'm accepting this sort of ironic challenge that the universe has sent me.

Cool guy: Marco rocked his signature style of a brown suede jacket with matching Chelsea boots over a black T-shirt and matching skinny jeans.

'I'm getting to know men on their most primitive, like basic level from their inception and I'm deeply humbled every day. You guys are fantastic. You're beautiful.'

As she is reprising her role as Gamorra in the highly-popular Marvel film, it takes her four hours of make-up to get into character.

To pass the time she says that she talks a lot, catches up on emails, and even gets emotional thinking about her family.

Zoe explained: 'I cry because I do miss the boys. You know I leave at 2:30 in the morning and it's very hard so my heart really goes out to working parents because I go to work and I see that pain in fathers and I see that pain in mothers.

Aww: They has two-year-old twin sons Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio along with four-month-old Zen

'To rip away children for that amount of time this film takes. It's a long process: four hours of make-up, 16 hour days because it's a big movie, it's green screen, technology blah blah blah. So you're away from your family but we kind of like stick together and we became a family.

'So I have a great deal of respect and love for not just the cast and my director but the whole crew. Their class acts.'

Zoe also urged whoever sees the film to stay for the entire credits sequence at the end to give their respect to all who worked hard on it.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 is currently in cinemas in the UK and US.
Blac Chyna sure knows how to get all glammed up for an evening of clubbing.

The estranged fiancee of Rob Kardashian looked like a million bucks as she dressed in gold satin to have fun at the Wall at the W in South Beach, Florida on Thursday.

The 28-year-old beauty was showing off a very small waistline after welcoming her Rob & Chyna costar's baby daughter Dream in November.

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Golden girl: Blac Chyna at Wall at the W South Beach, Florida on Thursday

Shining star: The estranged fiancee of Rob Kardashian looked like a million bucks as she dressed in gold satin to have fun

The former stripper showed off her decolletage with a front-tied satin top that exposed plenty, including the tattoos on her tummy.

It also had a diamond accent on her chest.

The sleeves were long and poufy with a tighter fit on the wrists.

Busty babe: The former stripper showed off her decolletage with a front-tied satin top

Trim: The 28-year-old beauty was showing off a very small waistline after welcoming her Rob & Chyna costar's baby daughter Dream in November

The pants were gathered at the waist and full legged.

The stunner also wore a diamond-studded choker and a diamond-encrusted watch.

Chyna, whose real name is Angela, wore her long raven locks parted in the middle and down, Kim Kardashian style.

That's NOT Rob! Here the Calabasas resident is seen with Navin Chatani

So retro: She also had on heavy eye makeup with eyebrows Joan Crawford would envy

She also had on heavy eye makeup with eyebrows Joan Crawford would envy.

Chyna was also seen modeling a black lace dress and a bikini top on a yacht this week with a number of male pals.

It appears as if the JLS Professional Make-up Artist School graduate is ramping up for her 29th birthday which falls on May 11.

Back when all was calm: Rob and Chyna, when she was pregnant, in May 2016

There have been issues for months with Rob and it is not known if they are back together or not.

They seem to be co-parenting their child Dream together quite nicely.

Chyna also has a son, Cairo, with ex Tyga, who is also the ex of Rob's half-sister Kylie Jenner, 19.
Last month he was accused of 'ripping off' rock band Badfinger with his track Ever Since New York.

And Harry Styles unleashed the social media fury again as listeners flocked to Twitter to liken his tune Sweet Creature - the third track from his eagerly anticipated solo debut album - to The Beatles.

The former One Direction star, 23, left fans pointing out the similarities between the new song and the distinct riff of the 1968 smash-hit Blackbird, which was penned by Sir Paul McCartney.

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Similar sound: Harry Styles, 23, has been accused of 'ripping off' The Beatles with the third track from his eagerly anticipated solo debut album

Sweet Creatures seems to have a more stripped back take on Blackbird - with the acoustic guitar intro being the deciding factor for fans to set social media alight with the likeness.

Listeners took to Twitter with the following tweets: 'That new song by harry styles sounds like someone playing the chords to blackbird incorrectly lmfao.'

'The beginning of Sweet Creature sounds like Black Bird, and Harry Styles is trying to destroy us all.

'Sweet creature by harry styles is like a chord off from Blackbird by the Beatles. I thought it was gonna be a cover for the first 3 seconds.'

Huge likeness: The former One Direction star's new track Sweet Creature left fans pointing out the similarities between the new song and the distinct riff of the 1968 smash-hit Blackbird, which was penned by Sir Paul McCartney

'He's trying to destroy us!' The song's acoustic guitar intro was the deciding factor for fans to set social media alight with the likeness

'Who let Harry styles attack me with a "blackbird" sample like this?'

'Harry styles has crossed the line from 'drawing inspiration from the beatles blackbird' into plagiarism territory.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Harry Styles for further comment.

However, with the negative feedback there was also some positives on social media - with some users enjoying the similarities to The Beatles:

'This new Harry Styles song highkey reminds me of Blackbird, but I am into it. Like the cute lil acoustic songs I always like.'

Slightly altered: Sweet Creatures seems to have a more stripped back take on Blackbird

'I like it': With the negative feedback there was also positives on social media - with some users enjoying the similarities to The Beatles

'Intro to Harry Styles new song 'sweet creature' sounds an awful lot like 'Blackbird' I like it though.'

This comes after he was accused of ripping off British rock band Badfinger's 1972 tune Baby Blue with the song Ever Since New York.

Fans flocked to social media to note the similarity with the following tweets:

'Did you catch 'Sign of the Times' melody is actually 'Baby Blue' by Badfinger? @Harry_Styles should write is own music.'

'Baby Blue by Badfinger, same bass line as Harry Styles new song (which is lovely but that was distracting)? #SNL.'

Sourcing inspiration? This comes after he was accused of ripping off British rock band Badfinger's 1972 tune Baby Blue with the song Ever Since New York

'He should write his own music': Fans flocked to social media to note the similarity with Badfinger

'Did he get permission?': One fan was concerned if Harry has talked through the song with the iconic rock band

'He will hear from their lawyer': Another tweeter made the similarity a more serious subject matter

'I wonder if Harry Styles has ever heard Badfinger's Baby Blue, and if he will hear from their lawyer.'

And it looked like behind the scenes, the Worcestershire native hasn't taken too well to the news - after his first solo release Sign Of The Times has lower sales than expected after reaching number four in the Billboard charts and number one in the UK.

A source told The Sun: 'This is the last thing Harry needed. His solo launch hasn't quite gone to plan and this is another distraction.

'He takes real pride in his new material and to be accused of nicking a riff will really hurt.'

'Distracting': Some fans did enjoy it but found the comparisons hard to ignore

'Melody was stolen?': Some people were still up in the air over Harry's homogeneous music material

'Exactly the same': Fans couldn't help but notice the likeness

Meanwhile, further listeners unleashed their frustrations over Harry's homogeneous music material:

'So did Harry Styles get permission from Badfinger to use the "Baby Blue" riff for that song? #SNLLiveCoastToCoast.'

'Who noticed the song harry styles sang on SNL- the last one.. melody was stolen from Baby blue by Badfinger?.'

'Just listened to the new harry styles song and he totally ripped off baby blue by badfinger lol.'

Disappointing so far: This comes after Harry's his first solo release Sign Of The Times reached number four in the Billboard charts and number one in the UK - getting lower sales than expected

'A new Harry Styles song has the same exact riff as "Baby Blue" by Badfinger.'

Meanwhile, Harry who soared to success on the X Factor alongside Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik (who quit in 2015) was notoriously coy about revealing if Ever Since New York was about his ex Taylor Swift.

They set the rumour mill alight in 2012 when they were spotted on a string of dates around New York City, only for their romance to reportedly come crashing down following an 'explosive' holiday argument a few months later.

Talking to Rolling Stone, the curly haired hunk revealed: 'I'm lucky if everything [we went through] helped create those songs. That's what hits your heart. That's the stuff that's hardest to say, and it's the stuff I talk least about.'

'That's the stuff I talk least about': Meanwhile, he was notoriously coy about revealing if Ever Since New York was about his ex Taylor Swift in a new interview with Rolling Stone

Quizzed what he would say to Taylor if he saw her again, Harry said: 'Certain things don't work out. There's a lot of things that can be right, and it's still wrong...

'Meeting someone new, sharing those experiences, it's the best s**t ever. So thank you.'

While the former X Factor favourite refused to name who else might have inspired his new music, he confessed hat his ex was a 'huge part' of the album.

Resurrecting his hat analogy, he teased: 'Sometimes you want to tip the hat, and sometimes you just want to give them the whole cap ... and hope they know it's just for them.'
She looked like a Hollywood glamour girl when she hit the Met Gala in NYC on Monday.

But the night before Paris Jackson was very much dressed down as she enjoyed special time with her godfather, Home Alone actor Macaulay Culkin, at the club Paris Blues in Harlem, New York. The stars stayed out till 4 am, it has been revealed.

These photos have surfaced on the same day PageSix claimed the daughter of the late pop icon Michael Jackson has been named the new face of Calvin Klein.

Family: Paris Jackson was very much dressed down as she enjoyed special time with her godfather, Home Alone actor Macaulay Culkin, at the club Paris Blues in Harlem on Sunday

Late night for these two: The stars stayed out till 4 am, according to an eyewitness

Paris was very casual in her unusual ensemble.

The 5ft9in stunner wore tie-dyed yellow, red and purple leggings with beige UGG boots and a grey top with a worn-in old school denim jacket.

A large tribal print slouchy purse hung from her shoulder and she added a large ring to her index finger, creating a Beverly Hills boho look.

What would Anna Wintour think? The 5ft9in stunner wore tie-dyed yellow, red and purple leggings with beige UGG boots and a grey top with a worn-in old school denim jacket

Rich hippe: A large tribal print slouchy purse hung from her shoulder and she added a large ring to her index finger, creating a Beverly Hills boho look

Two cool for school: Culkin, 36, was working a hipster look hard with a tall hat, prescription glasses, a maroon leather jacket and skinny jeans with motorcycle boots

Old pals: Culkin with pop icon Michael Jackson in Bermuda in 1991

Culkin, 36, was working a hipster look hard with a tall hat, prescription glasses, a maroon leather jacket and skinny jeans with motorcycle boots and a leather messenger bag.

The former child star, who used to date Mila Kunis, was holding onto a lit cigarette.

Later, Paris, 19, was seen with a cigarette in her mouth too as she held on to Culkin's hat.

On Fire: The former child star, who used to date Mila Kunis, was holding onto a lit cigarette. Later, Paris, 19, was seen with a cigarette in her mouth too as she held on to Culkin's hat

Late: According to eyewitnesses, Jackson left Culkins apartment at midnight. They then headed to jazz club and cocktail bar Paris Blues

Without his hat on, Culkin revealed he had his long blonde hair in a top knot.

According to eyewitnesses, Jackson left Culkins apartment at midnight. They then headed to jazz club and cocktail bar Paris Blues.

They left at 4 am.

Young to be a godfather to a teen: It is interesting that the star is a godfather to the budding model and actress as he is only 17 years older than she is

It is interesting that the star is a godfather to the budding model and actress as he is only 17 years older than she is.

Michael Jackson, who died in 2009 at the age of 50, was a fan of Culkin's and spent time with the child at his Neverland Ranch in California.

Paris and Macaulay have seemed to stay close over the years.

They stayed in touch over the years Michael with Macaulay as they stand with Elizabeth Taylor in 2001

Where they had play dates: The actor would often visit the Thriller hit maker at Neverland Ranch in California

They were also seen on Easter in April.

Jackson's career has taken off since signing with a modeling agency in the past few months.

According to a Friday report from PageSix, Paris has signed a seven-figure deal with Calvin Klein.

A source told the website, 'This deal is to make Paris the new face and body of Calvin Klein. The deal  which is just about to be signed  is huge, worth seven figures, many millions. Expect to see Paris in huge ad campaigns and on many red carpets in Calvin Klein.'

She wore Calvin Klein at the Met Gala on Monday.

It was also revealed this week that Jackson has been cast in her first feature film in the untitled Nash Edgerton project. Charlize Theron also stars.

Twelve hours later...: Paris transformed into a glamour gal at the Met Gala on Monday

New clique: Here Paris is seen with Kendall Jenner, A$AP Rocky, Kylie Kenner, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Monaghan and a model




She recently called out bullies for shaming the sheer dress she wore this week to a Modern Family event, adding people should be able to wear whatever they want.

So it's not much of a surprise that Ariel Winter showed off her chest as she went bra free in a plunging romper to visit Disneyland in Anaheim, California on Thursday.

It's an odd choice of clothing for the family-friendly park, especially considering she works for Disney: the actress voices the title character for the Disney Junior cartoon TV series Sofia The First, which is aimed at pre-schoolers.

Low-cut: Ariel Winter wore a flirty jumpsuit to Disneyland in California on Thursday after she publicly called out those who bullied her for her often-sultry clothing choices

Her chest looked as if it could have easily spilled out of the romper.

Keeping things somewhat practical, Ariel wore simple white sneakers with her look.

The beauty also wore a necklace, fluttering eyelashes and a bright manicure.

All ears! The Modern Family starlet accompanied boyfriend Levi Meaden to the park, where they both sported fun Mickey Mouse ears

Nature girl: The 19-year-old ditched her bra to show off her ample chest in the plunging romper

At the Happiest Place On Earth, the LA native was joined by boyfriend Levi Meaden and the Aftermath actor's family.

The cute couple donned matching Mickey ears, with the Smurfs: The Lost Village actress in a glittering gold pair while her man went with a more basic set.

While walking hand-in-hand with her boyfriend, the brunette gave the world a cheeky glimpse of her pert backside in the itty-bitty romper.

Taking the plunge! Before embarking on Splash Mountain, Ariel checked in with her boyfriend - perhaps worried that her flimsy top wouldn't stay put

Thrill ride! As they group sped down Splash Mountain's 50 foot drop, Ariel made a sour face which was caught on camera

Then the group enjoyed a few of the park's beloved attractions.

Hopping onto Splash Mountain, Ariel leaned over to chat with her other half - perhaps worried that gravity might get the better of her and her flimsy top during the ride's 50 foot plunge.

As they splashed down the ride's main drop, the ParaNorman talent puckered her face sourly while the rest of her group screamed with glee.

Disney date: The couple seemed to be enjoyed themselves, holding hands while they walked through the park

Covering up: Later in the day, she threw on a black sweatshirt, still showing off her thin legs

Cheeky! At the family friendly park, the starlet also showed off her perky posterior

Luckily, there were no outfit mishaps for the star.

Later on, she covered up with a plain black sweatshirt, still keeping on her gold Micky Mouse ears for fun.

Even with an extra layer, Ariel was able to show plenty of skin as her thin legs stemmed from the short one-piece.

Ariel is fond of flaunting her curves in eye-popping outfits.

Message received: The ABC star checked her phone while her love wrapped her in an embrace

One of these things is not like the other: Ariel prompted online hate Wednesday after showing up to a Modern Family panel showed significantly more skin than her castmates, seen above

But Wednesday, one of the star's glam looks prompted waves of hate online after she showed up to a casual panel with her Modern Family castmates donning a very fancy and very revealing gold dress.

The official Twitter account of the sitcom posted a photo of the cast at the event, and criticisms of Winter and her outfit choice immediately began rolling in.

Many of the comments were critical, but not necessarily mean-spirited. 'When it's casual Friday and you come dressed like you're at the Oscars,' joked on tweet.

While some immediately expressed their support for the star, saying 'Love you Ariel. You look amazing. You just keep on doing you!' the remainder of the comments quickly turned nasty.

Eye-popping display: The starlet's look was noticeably more fancy - and more revealing - than her costars more casual jeans and button-up looks

'That girl oozes insecurity and is 2 minutes away from being like or worse than Lindsay Lohan. Sad,' said a tweet. 'Ariel is def trying too hard to look slutty,' said another. 'Poor Ariel. She needs help,' lamented one.

Winter didn't let the criticism sit, though, and quickly took to Instagram to fire back at those who had criticized her look. In a post, she posed the question 'Why the f*** does everyone care that I didn't dress casual like everyone else for the panel?'

She continued, 'Why can't people just let other people feel good about themselves and do what they want?'

She finished with the most important message though, saying 'Don't ever let anyone stifle who you are and how you express yourself.'
They both made their name in front of the camera and on runways.

And though you don't need a degree to strike poses, Bella Hadid and Ashley Graham support getting a college education.

The two models led attendees at the MTV College Signing Day event with Michelle Obama at Manhattan's Public Theater in New York City on Friday.

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Model students: Bella Hadid and Ashley Graham led attendees at the MTV College Signing Day event with Michelle Obama at Manhattan's Public Theater in New York City on Friday

Guests at the event all dressed casually while representing different universities or educational organizations with their individual T-shirts.

Bella, 20, rocked a white Parsons The New School for Design T-shirt as she had attended the institution for a year.

Along with the top she wore a checked grey jacket, jeans cropped just above the ankle and white Nike Air Force 1 trainers.

Alma mater: Bella, 20, rocked a white Parsons The New School for Design T-shirt as she had attended the institution for a year

Stylish: Along with the top she wore a checked grey jacket, jeans cropped just above the ankle and white Nike Air Force 1 trainers

Not corny: Ashley, 29, did not attend college but she did represent her homestate college University Of Nebraska - Lincoln with a white top

Stunner: She also sported black skinny jeans with matching suede heeled booties and topped off the look with a midnight blue satin jacket

Role models: The two beauties addressed the youngsters in attendance

Honored: Former First Lady Michelle Obama was the host of the event

Growl: The 53-year-old rocked a Princeton shirt

Beaming: Michelle grinned from ear-to-ear as she addressed the crowd

Shades of grey: She wore the same color including sweater, shirt, cropped jeans, and sneakers

Her medium-length brunette tresses were worn down in a middle-part as she wore minimal make-up topped off with a swipe of shiny pink lip.

Ashley, 29, did not attend college but she did represent her homestate college University Of Nebraska - Lincoln with a white top.

She also sported black skinny jeans with matching suede heeled booties and topped off the look with a midnight blue satin jacket.

Her brunette tresses flowed over her shoulders as she accentuated her natural looks with complimentary make-up topped off with shiny pink lip.

Red-dy for his close-up: Nick Cannon sported a bright University Of Nebraska varsity jacket over a Howard University shirt

Dynamic duo: He joined the former First Lady on stage

Aww: Michelle gave a big hug to one of the students

Texan: Jaimie Alexander rocked a denim jacket over University Of Texas shirt

Longhorn: She also addressed the crowd

They've got the beat: The Roots musicians Black Thought (left) and Questlove also went casual cool

Fashionista: Olivia Palermo stunned at the gala

World traveler: She represented the American University of Paris

Gorgeous: Model Christy Turlington rocked a denum jacket, cropped trousers, and black leather dress shoes

Evergreen: the 48-year-old model had a youthful glow

Talented: The UnAmericans star Matthew Rhys was also in attendance

Entrepreneur: Fashion designer Donna Karan was also in attendance

New school cool: She reporesented The New School Parsons with a shirt and tote bag

Watch what happens: Television personality Andy Cohen was also on-hand

Old school cool: He rocked a Boston University hoodie

The event was hosted by former First Lady Michelle Obama as more than 200 high school seniors from across the US attended.

The 53-year-old wife of Barack Obama has attended the event for four years straight as it celebrates students' commitment to higher education.

Bella seemed excited by Michelle's presence as she took to Instagram to share a snippet of the former First Lady's speech with the caption: 'I love you so much [heart emojis] my first lady.'

Represent: Charlamagne Tha God sported a hoodie and sweatpants from the African American College Alliance

Not on the street: Billy Eichner represented alma mater Northwestern University

Relaxed: DJ Hannah Bronfman wore a heather grey Bard College sweater

Pretty in patterns: Sherri Shepard wore a Norfolk State University top and tie-dye midi skirt

Stunning: Actress Lana Parrilla kept it simple

Proud Canadian: Writer Gail Simmons wore a McGill University shirt

Bright: Internet personality iJustine Representative Carnagie Mellon University

Classic man! Musical artist Jidenna sported a Stanford University sweater
She raised eyebrows when she partied with ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage at her birthday bash earlier this week.

And after her wild night out with her unlikely new pal, Lizzie Cundy was spotted putting in a glamorous appearance at the 7th annual Asian Awards on Friday night, held at the Hilton Hotel on London's Park Lane.

The former WAG certainly stood out from the crowd in a glitzy gown with a sheer bodice, her modesty preserved thanks to a flesh-coloured, stick-on bra.

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Glamorous: Lizzie Cundy was spotted putting in a glamorous appearance at the 7th annual Asian Awards on Friday night, held at the Hilton Hotel on London's Park Lane

Sheer delight: The former WAG certainly stood out from the crowd in a glitzy gown with a sheer bodice, her modesty preserved thanks to a flesh-coloured, stick-on bra

Lizzie showed off some serious skin in the figure-hugging attire, putting on a very buxom display.

The party-loving brunette highlighted her slender shape in the slinky number, which she accessorised with a silver clutch bag.

The star worked her angles on the red carpet, ensuring she was the centre of attention at the glitzy bash.

Flashing the flesh: Lizzie showed off some serious skin in the figure-hugging attire, putting on a very buxom display

Turning heads: The party-loving brunette highlighted her slender shape in the slinky number, which she accessorised with a silver clutch bag

Strike a pose: Lizzie partied with Bollywood actress, Liverpool born Amy Jackson

This comes after Farage was photographed drinking with Z-listers at Lizzie's birthday bash.

The former Ukip leader was seen rubbing shoulders with several TV and reality stars during the night-out at London's trendy Chi Kitchen.

He formed an unlikely pair with former WAG and birthday girl Cundy, who revealed that Farage joined her for the night as he wanted to 'let his hair down'.

She added that the politician felt 'down' following allegations of a romp with a glamour model on a flight back from the US.

Beaming: Lizzie left her birthday bash attendees in shock as politician Nigel Farage arrived, with he duo seen enjoying a raucous laugh throughout the festivities at London's Chi Kitchen

Dashing: Beaming Nigel looked suave in a charcoal suit and patterned tie as he clutched a drink in his hand while he giggled away with his new found pal

Other guests to turn up included one-time TOWIE star Pascal Craymer, Apprentice reject Jessica Cunningham and Simon Cowell's ex Jackie St Clair.

Speaking to MailOnline, Lizzie revealed that her and Farage have become friends after attending several parties together, including the launch of Brexit: The Movie.

The pair met at the premiere of the documentary - a crowdfunded film advocating Britain's departure from the European Union - back in May.

Lizzie revealed: 'Farage just wanted to let his hair down.

Way back when! Lizzie and Nigel were first spotted together in May last year at the premiere of the documentary Brexit: The Movie, where Lizzie once again glammed it up in a white gown while sporting a fascinator styled with the Union Flag

Having a laugh! Nigel posed with alongside a kooky guest within the event

'I know Nigel from various events and went to the Brexit The Movie and went for drinks after. He liked my sense of humour.'

The politician's appearance at the bash comes shortly after he was forced to deny a glamour model's claims that they kissed and groped on a transatlantic flight.

Farage was flying back from Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate Article 50 being triggered when he found himself sat opposite 30-year-old Valerie Fox.

According to The Sun, the model had told a friend that the pair had their hands all over each other and had to stop themselves from joining the Mile High Club.

But Nigel has vehemently denied the allegations, saying that he rejected her when she launched herself at him in the upper class section of the Virgin Atlantic flight.

Let them eat cake! The stunning star brandished her cake joyously

Sizzling: The former WAG left very little to the imagination in a sheer gown as she lived it up with the 53-year-old, who she revealed to MailOnline 'likes her sense of humour', leading to their unlikely friendship

Huh!? Lizzie invited the Creme de la Creme of London's social scene to her bash, yet she was determined to stand out among her cohorts as she sizzled in her gold gown which flaunted every bit of her body

Not appropriate for the House Of Commons... One-time TOWIE star Pascal Craymer was certainly not Conservative in her entirely sheer ensemble

All the stars! Ola Jordan (left), formerly of Strictly Come Dancing fame, sizzled in a barely-there mini while Jessica Cunningham (right) opted for raunchy mini

Denying the groping claims, he said: 'Not in that way at all. There was advances very much in one direction that were rejected. I saw what was going on and walked away.'

He confirmed that he was sat opposite Ms Fox and that they were locked in conversation for a short period, but their interaction went no further.

'It's all a set up, isn't it,' he added.

Lizzie seemed determined to stand out among her cohorts as she sizzled in her gold gown which flaunted every bit of her body.

The sheer number clearly illustrated the fact she was braless underneath as her perky cleavage was just about masked by strategic appliques.

Her appliques extended down to her bottom half also, as she flashed from beneath the sheer material to best show off her toned and tanned legs.

All the greats! Jo Wood was also injecting glamour into proceedings

Sexy stuff: The sheer number clearly illustrated the fact she was braless underneath as her perky cleavage was just about masked by strategic appliques

Pals? Speaking to MailOnline about their bizarre union, Lizzie said: 'I know Nigel from various events and went to the Brexit The Movie and we went for drinks after. He liked my sense of humour!'

Shock! While Lizzie's new friendship will no doubt cause stirs, she recently stunned when she revealed she always keeps a razor in her bag in case of emergencies

Never one to turn her back on glamour, Lizzie injected a touch of designer cool into the ensemble with her staggering peep toe heels which boosted her height and lengthened her legs, while she also clutched an Yves Saint Laurent handbag.

Her extension-enhanced tresses were worn in long straight lengths with a sweeping side fringe tickling her eyes in length to add to the glossy finish.

Naturally her make-up was perfectly applied with her eyes drawn out with an expertly applied smokey eye and her lips boosted with the help of a slick of glossy lipstick. Her tan was glowing to complement her golden dress.

While many stars were stepping out to help ring in the big day, it was Nigel who was the shock guest as he is not typically seen on the showbiz party circuit.

Strutting her stuff: As she walked down the street she proved all eyes were truly on her
She enjoyed a fleeting stint on The Only Way Is Essex in 2013 and has since come under fire for enlarging her breasts.

Then just a month ago she returned from Turkey after undergoing liposuction, fat transfer and a bum lift.

And former TOWIE star Abi Clarke, 25, showed off the results of her surgery as she attended The Asian Awards held at London Hilton Park Lane in London on Friday.

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Body overhaul: Former TOWIE star Abi Clarke, 25, showed off the results of her surgery as she attended The Asian Awards held at London Hilton Park Lane in London on Friday

The fleeting reality star turned heads in a gold and turquoise two-piece ensemble.

The gold embossed crop top showcased her slender midriff, and she teamed it with a matching textured shirt with pretty turquoise overlay.

Wearing her hair in golden curls, she went for statement brows and lashes, posing alongside a suited and booted Junaid Ahmed.

Golden girl: The gold embossed crop top showcased her slender midriff, and she teamed it with a matching textured shirt with pretty turquoise overlay

Finishing touches: She completed the ensemble with a gold clutch bag and a statement ring

Commanding attention: Abi showed off the dress' unusual design, with the gown featuring a cut-out at the back

In April Abi, who has rebranded herself as a nutritionist, was spotted arriving at London Stansted Airport on Thursday afternoon, after having a full body liposuction and a bottom lift in Izmir, Turkey.

This came after she told the Daily Star in October: 'I would like to have liposuction on my thighs, maybe in the future. If after my fitness journey has progressed I still can't lose the fat that I've always had, then I would.

'I'd always try naturally first, though. I might get a bum job, have some fat transferred there and a little lift. But I always say don't just jump into surgery, do it the safe way. I've got no surgery plans at all, we'll see how things go. I wanna see how far I can go fitness-wise.'

Finished touches: She went for a glamorous make-up look, accentuating her glowing complexion with a dash of blusher

Glammed up: Wearing her hair in golden curls, she went for statement brows and lashes, posing alongside a suited and booted Junaid Ahmed

Mermaid: Abi made sure to turn heads in the gold and turquoise two-piece ensemble

Squad: The trio posed for a photograph together inside the venue, as guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner

Meanwhile Bollywood star Amy Jackson, 25, stunned in a deep blue off-the-shoulder gown, slashed high on her hips.

The actress, who starred in her first Bollywood film in 2012.

Showcasing her slender pins, the frock featured a thigh-high slit, and the sumptuous material fanned out to the side.

Showing off a glimpse of her slender midriff, the piece featured two side cut-out panels and the bustier contained her ample assets.

With an elegant strap across one of her shoulders, she showed off her toned upper body.

Turning heads: Amy Jackson proved how far she had come as she led the glamour at the The Asian Awards held at London Hilton Park Lane

Sizzling: The actress, 25, stunned in a deep blue off-the-shoulder gown, slashed high on her hips

Leggy: Showing off a glimpse of her slender midriff, the piece featured two side cut-out panels and the bustier contained her ample assets

The 2009 Miss Teen World- who previously dated Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas, piled her hair high on her head, making the most of her flawless complexion.

Framing her bright blue eyes with statement brows and adding a bold red lip, she completed her ensemble with glistening drop earrings.

Beaming at cameras, she posed up a storm beside Lion actor Sunny Pawar, 8.

Amy from, Walton, Liverpool, is a virtual unknown on UK shores but that's not the case in India, where, thanks to an 11-film Bollywood acting career, she now has three homes, employs a staff of five and is recognised almost everywhere she goes in the Asian country.

Now, the star is hoping to break into mainstream movies, having signed up to a British independent film and having castings in Los Angeles.

Stars: Beaming at cameras, she posed up a storm beside Lion actor Sunny Pawar, 8

Glamour: With an elegant strap across one of her shoulders, she showed off her toned upper body

Jackson, who earlier last year was linked to Cheryl's ex Jean Bernard Fenandez-Versini, shot to fame shortly after finishing her GCSEs in her native north-west; the then 17-year-old's modelling photos were spotted by a film director, who claimed to be making a film in Bollywood that needed a young actress.

Now, the striking blue-eyed star (Jackson wears brown contact lenses for roles) is conversational in Hindi and has earned enough money to warrant five staff, including two bodyguards and a stylist.

She's mastered tricky Bollywood dance routines despite having 'two left feet' and says she needs security because Indian film stars are 'treated like gods'.

In more conservative India, her love-life has been the subject of scrutiny and she's said to have dated co-star Prateik Babbar for several months but remains coy about the affair. A long-distance relationship with former Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas came to an end in 2014.

Glam duo: Socialite Lizzie Cundy also joined the party, wearing a show-stopping semi transparent frock

All that glitters! The nude dress featured a transparent top, embellished with delicate gold sequin patterns

Resident socialite Lizzie Cundy also joined the party, wearing a show-stopping semi transparent frock.

The nude dress featured a transparent top, embellished with delicate gold sequin patterns.
She's never been one to pass up on a social occasion.

And Millie Mackintosh was spotted putting in a glamorous appearance at the launch of the Leicester Square Kitchen on Friday evening.

Leaving her beau Hugo Taylor at home, the brunette beauty was dressed to impress as she sampled the contemporary Mexican and Peruvian inspired cuisine.

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Leggy lady: Millie Mackintosh was spotted putting in a glamorous appearance at the launch of the Leicester Square Kitchen on Friday evening

Millie looked incredible in a simple yet chic frock, sporting a black and white embroidered number.

The former Made In Chelsea star's dress boasted a halterneck style, highlighting her toned upper body, with a white ribbon cinching in her tiny waist.

The bronzed beauty made the most of her long legs, adding some extra height to her frame thanks to a pair of simple heels.

As ever, the slender star went easy on the make-up, opting for an effortless, less is more look.

Sister restaurant to May Fair Kitchen and Monmouth Kitchen, which is currently TripAdvisors number one rated Peruvian restaurant in London, Leicester Square Kitchen features an equally inventive menu, which draws on the distinctive tastes and ingredients found in contemporary Mexican and Peruvian food.

Night out: Leaving her beau Hugo Taylor at home, the brunette beauty was dressed to impress as she sampled the contemporary Mexican and Peruvian inspired cuisine

Svelte: The former Made In Chelsea star's dress boasted a halterneck style, highlighting her toned upper body, with a white ribbon cinching in her tiny waist

Tucking in: Millie appeared to be having a blast at the event, chowing down on some treats

Natural beauty: As ever, the slender star went easy on the make-up, opting for an effortless, less is more look

Guests, who included MIC's Sophie Hermann and presenter Olivia Cox, were treated to a range of canapes from the menu, live cocktail making and avocado smashing from the restaurants top chefs.

Charlotte de Carle and Ashley James ran the DJ set throughout the evening and guests were seen dancing late into the night.

Millie appears to enjoying her time back on the London party scene after jetting to Monaco, her sixth trip of the year so far.

Her trip to the luxurious principality came weeks after her surprise visit to join Hugo on his working trip to Dubai, shortly after visiting South Africa, two trips to Paris and a stay in Los Angeles.

Just one more! The MIC star was enjoying the tasty canapes on offer at the event

Loved up: Millie's appearance comes shortly after she revealed she had moved in with her boyfriend Hugo Taylor

Second chance at love: Millie first dated Hugo in 2011 when they first made their names on the E4 show, and the pair appear happier than ever since getting back together

Taking to the decks: Ashley James and Charlotte de Carle were on DJing duties for the evening

Strike a pose: Ashley and her best pal posed like pros on the red carpet

Cheers! The girls enjoyed a taster of the cocktail menu at the contemporary Mexican and Peruvian restaurant

It appears she is now on track to rival her record of taking a whopping 18 trips abroad in 2016.

Millie's appearance comes shortly after she revealed she had moved in with her boyfriend Hugo Taylor.

Millie first dated Hugo in 2011 when they first made their names on the E4 show, yet their relationship was brutally cut short when she discovered he slept with her best friend Rosie Fortescue.

After the disintegration of their romance, Millie began dating Professor Green the following year - to much shock from commentators - yet the couple defied the odds and announced their engagement in 2013.

Elegant: Sophie Hermann of Made In Chelsea fame sported a white Bardot top

Pucker up! Sophie and presenter Olivia Cox cosied up inside the bash

Gal pals: Sophie and Olivia looked giddy with excitement to sample the delicacies on offer at the exclusive event

Having a blast: Deano Bugatti and Charlotte posed up a storm inside the venue

Tunes: The girls' DJ set throughout the evening and guests were seen dancing late into the night

Tasty: Guests were treated to a range of canapes from the menu, live cocktail making and avocado smashing from the restaurants top chefs
Bashar al-Jaafari led the Damascus delegation at the fourth round of Syria peace talks in Astana, to which the United States sent observers

The United States gave an extremely cautious welcome on Thursday to Russia and Turkey's plan to create safe zones to quell the Syrian civil war.

The State Department said Washington hopes the agreement will help stem the violence but expressed concern at Iran's involvement in the deal.

Earlier, Russia and Iran -- who support Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime -- joined with rebel sympathizer Turkey to sign a safe zone pact.

The United States, which has supported some Syrian rebel groups, sent observers to the Astana talks, but was not a party to the agreement.

Some Syrian opposition members present in Astana opposed the agreement, and in particular the involvement of Assad's key ally Iran.

The United States also had its doubts about Tehran's role, and called into question the Islamic republic's commitment to peace.

"We continue to have concerns about the Astana agreement, including the involvement of Iran as a so-called 'guarantor'," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

"Iran's activities in Syria have only contributed to the violence, not stopped it, and Iran's unquestioning support for the Assad regime has perpetuated the misery of ordinary Syrians."

But Nauert said that Washington "appreciated the efforts" of the other guarantors -- Russia and Turkey -- to defuse the situation.

"We nonetheless hope that this arrangement can contribute to a de-escalation of violence, end the suffering of the Syrian people, and set the stage for a political settlement of the conflict," she said.

"We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the Russian Federation on efforts to that can responsibly end the Syria conflict."

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov next week on the sidelines of the Arctic Council in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Tillerson admits that there is little to no trust between Washington and Moscow and that relations are at a post Cold War low between the long-time great power rivals.

But he nevertheless hopes that common ground can be found on some issues, including on the need to de-escalate the civil war in Syria and refocus international military efforts on fighting Islamist extremists.
Joaquin Guzman Loera aka "El Chapo" Guzman (C), pictured while being extradited to the United States in January 2017, has been held in solitary confinement in New York

A US judge on Thursday relaxed slightly the stringent custody conditions of Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, allowing him to correspond with his beauty queen wife.

The 60-year-old kingpin, accused of running one of the world's biggest drug empires, has been held in solitary confinement since being extradited to New York on January 19.

Federal Judge Brian Cogan ruled that Guzman, one of the world's most notorious criminals, could send written messages to his wife -- provided they were pre-screened by federal agencies -- but denied him family visits and phone calls.

Guzman's wife Emma Coronel, 27, is the mother of his twins.

The 18-page ruling similarly allowed his defense team's pre-cleared investigator to visit without an attorney present, following complaints from Guzman's lawyers about the conditions of his pre-trial detention.

But Cogan refused a request for Amnesty International to visit on the grounds that there was "absolutely no reason."

The London-based rights groups in March asked to speak with Guzman, expressing concern that the conditions of his detention "appear to be unnecessarily harsh and to breach international standards for human treatment."

Cogan also flatly denied a request by Guzman -- who twice escaped from prisons in Mexico -- to have his "special administrative measures" lifted in full or for him to be moved out of solitary confinement.

"The conditions are reasonably necessary to ensure that defendant cannot coordinate any escape from prison, direct any violence against cooperators, or manage any aspect of the Sinaloa Cartel's enterprise," he wrote.

He went on to write that Guzman's second jail break in Mexico "was accomplished under 24-hour video surveillance in solitary confinement."

The decision came one day before Guzman is due to appear in court for another pre-trial hearing. His wife is also expected to attend.

His lawyer Michelle Gelernt welcomed permission for her client to swap letters with his wife as "small comfort" but said it was "devastating news for both of them" to be denied visits and calls.

"We continue to believe that the conditions of Mr Guzman's detention, including being held in solitary confinement, are untenable," she said in a statement.

"We will continue to fight for his right to fair and humane treatment."

Cogan has denied Guzman visits from anyone other than his lawyers or permission to communicate with potential witnesses.

Cogan's ruling revealed that Guzman is visited by his lawyers almost every day at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, for an average of four to five hours in a windowed visitor room.

The judge ordered US prosecutors to "cease any communications with MCC staff," in which prison employees report back on the content of those meetings.

In March, the defense complained Guzman's health was deteriorating in custody, and claimed that he experienced "auditory hallucinations."

Guzman pleaded not guilty to firearms, drug trafficking and conspiracy charges. If convicted, he is likely to spend the rest of his life in a maximum security US prison.
This screen grab image taken on December 29, 2016 from a video released on Youtube by Islamist group Boko Haram shows Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau making a statement at an undisclosed location

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau appeared in a new video published online on Thursday, rejecting claims he had been injured in an airstrike in remote northeast Nigeria.

The jihadist chief was said to have been wounded and one of his deputies killed when two air force jets bombarded fighters at Balla village, on the edge of the Sambisa Forest in Borno state, last Friday.

Surveillance footage showed missiles being fired on what the air force said were Boko Haram fighters, while the army announced it had "neutralised quite a number of terrorists", including in Balla.

"There were indications that quite a number of the terrorists' key leaders have either been killed or wounded," army spokesman Brigadier-General Sani Usman said earlier Thursday, without naming Shekau.

But in a 14-minute video, the shadowy Boko Haram leader claimed ignorance of both the incident and the location, insisting he was not injured and that none of his key lieutenants was harmed either.

"I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive," he said, wearing his trademark camouflage jacket and cradling an assault rifle.

"I'm alive, you have not killed any of my men. I didn't even know this incident you are talking about ever happened.

"What surprises me is your claim that I'm nursing wounds. Look at me well. Look at my sitting posture."

There was no indication where the video was shot.

In it, Shekau was flanked by two masked, armed men, sitting against what appeared to be a desert camouflage net and Boko Haram's black and white insignia.

He spoke in Hausa and Arabic.

The Nigerian authorities' reticence about naming Shekau is likely to come from previous occasions when his death has been announced prematurely, only for him to reappear in video messages.

He has rejected military claims the rebels are depleted and in disarray as a result of a sustained counter-offensive that began in early 2015 and recaptured swathes of territory.

A source with links to the Islamist militants told AFP on Wednesday that Shekau narrowly escaped death when the second missile hit as he was on his way to preach at Friday prayers.

"It's bloody propaganda," he said of Shekau's video denial.

"Shekau hurt his back from the impact of the second strike. He was injured in the back and then taken out of the area to a place around Kolofata (near the Cameroon border)," he added.

"You can see he is not the same Shekau we were seeing in other videos. He didn't exude the same energy."

The Boko Haram insurgency has left at least 20,000 people dead and made more than 2.6 million others homeless since 2009, devastating the region and leaving millions dependent on humanitarian aid.
People leave signs and flowers in memory of victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in front of the building

The Pulse nightclub in Florida, where 49 people died in an attack last year by a gunman who swore fealty to the Islamic State group, is to become a museum, its owner said Thursday.

A landmark for the gay community in Orlando, Florida, the club will serve as a memorial and museum to help comfort those who lost someone in the attack, and promote tolerance, Barbara Poma told a news conference.

"It is a time for Pulse to contribute to the community in a permanent way," she said. It "is now sacred ground."

The club was the site of the worst act of mass murder in the United States since the September 11, 2001 attacks. It took place on June 12, 2016, committed by an American man born in New York state to Afghan parents, Omar Mateen.

Opening fire with two semi-automatic weapons, he killed 49 people, most of them Puerto Ricans, and wounded 68. After he took hostages, police stormed the nightclub and killed him.

Mateen, 29, declared his loyalty to the Islamic State group just before the shooting.

Pulse has remained boarded shut since the attack, becoming an informal memorial for the victims, where visitors leave candles and artwork outside the black building.

Poma did not give details about the museum to be established.

She said it would be overseen by the OnePULSE Foundation she set up after the massacre.

Planning is still in the initial phases, with the foundation seeking input from victims' families and survivors, as well as from police, fire and paramedic crews who were there that fateful night.

Poma had wanted to sell Pulse last year before changing her mind, reportedly because of the emotional attachment she had to the place, started in memory of a brother who died of HIV/AIDS.

"I now know that my role is to ensure that Pulse will become a place of healing," she said in the news conference.

"Remember, we will not let hate win, we will heal together."
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson poses with ASEAN foreign ministers prior to a luncheon at the State Department in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2017

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged his South East Asian colleagues on Thursday to take further steps to isolate North Korea's pariah regime.

President Donald Trump's top diplomat met foreign ministers and top envoys from the 10-strong Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Washington.

North Korea is under UN sanctions targeting its efforts to develop a nuclear missile arsenal, but Washington wants its Asian allies to do more.

Deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Patrick Murphy told reporters that North Korea's foreign missions are suspiciously large.

These embassies, he suggested, are not just diplomatic bases but serve to help Pyongyang illegally to evade sanctions and to carry out other "nefarious acts."

And he cited as an example the murder with a nerve agent in February of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's brother Kim Jong-Nam in a Malaysian airport.

"And so countries have agreed, and in some cases have limited the size or reduced the size of the North Korean diplomatic presence in their countries," Murphy said.

"Some countries are taking a look at the presence of North Korean workers, which, again, is another revenue stream for North Korea, and is this appropriate."

Murphy stressed ties with Pyongyang are a sovereign matter for ASEAN states, but confirmed that Tillerson had urged them to review their positions.

"I do believe some countries are taking a look at their presence in North Korea and trying to assess if it's appropriate or not," he added.
This file picture taken on January 19, 2009 in Stockholm shows UN Swedish employee Zaida Catalan, who was killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in March

The UN Security Council on Thursday urged the Democratic Republic of Congo to cooperate with investigations of the murder of two UN experts and mass graves found in the troubled Kasai region.

In a unanimous statement, the council also told the Kinshasa government and the opposition to step up efforts to implement a New Year's Eve agreement aimed at paving the way to elections.

Council members "stressed the need for a swift and full investigation into the killing" of the two UN experts and "underlined the need for full cooperation from the government of the DRC," the statement drafted by France said.

The United Nations has set up a board of inquiry to investigate the deaths in March of Michael Sharp, an American, and Zaida Catalan, a dual Swedish-Chilean national.

They were members of a UN panel of experts seeking to investigate reports of more than 40 mass graves found in the central Kasai region when they were abducted and shot dead. One of the victims was also beheaded.

The council said it would "closely monitor" investigations by the government, working with the UN mission in the DR Congo and the African Union on rights abuses in Kasai.

Kasai has seen a major spike in violence since September that has killed at least 400 in an uprising that erupted when government forces killed Kamwina Nsapu, a tribal chief and militia leader, who had rebelled against President Joseph Kabila.

The UN has accused the Nsapu rebels of using child soldiers and committing several atrocities, while also denouncing the disproportionate use of force by the military.

The council called for the political agreement to be quickly implemented "in order to organize peaceful, credible, inclusive and timely elections, no later than December 2017, leading to a peaceful transfer of power" in the vast resource-rich African country.

After months of violence, the influential Catholic Church brokered a deal to pave the way for elections, but the agreement has since been bogged down in disputes.

Elections would bring an end to the rule of President Joseph Kabila, in power since 2001.
Stephen M. Flatow, a vice president of the Religious Zionists of America, is an attorney in New Jersey. He is the father of Alisa Flatow, who was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995.

Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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..JNS.org..03 May '17..Thes chief correspondent in Israel has discarded all pretense of objectivity and is now openly lobbying for a political causeand its one of the most distasteful causes imaginable: justifying the Palestinian Authoritys (PA) policy of paying imprisoned terrorists and their families.William Booth, thes longtime Jerusalem bureau chief, has never been very careful about keeping his personal opinions out of his news articles. But his May 3 report on PA payments to terrorists crossed the line from journalism to outright advocacy.
Choreographer Benjamin Millepied, who is married to actress Natalie Portman (L), will be creating the choreography for and directing a musical adaptation of "Carmen"

French choreographer Benjamin Millepied will make his cinema directorial debut with a musical adaptation of "Carmen," his publicist announced.

The dancer, who is married to actress Natalie Portman, will also be creating the choreography for the film, which centers on a woman's journey from the deserts of Mexico to Los Angeles in search of freedom.

"I'm beyond grateful to be supported by the film community in my directing debut," Millepied said in a statement.

"The incorporation of music and dance in film is a corner stone of my creativity and having such an experienced and talented team by my side gives me confidence that we will beautifully capture the story told in Carmen," he added.

Millepied was choreographer for Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," in which he also performed with Portman, whom he later wed. The couple recently had their second child.

He was recently also featured in "Reset" a documentary about his work at the Paris Opera Ballet, which he left last year to return to Los Angeles, where he is artistic director and co-founder of L.A. Dance Project.

Millepied will be working with top names in the industry for his film, including Oscar-nominated Nicholas Britell ("Moonlight") who will compose the original score.

Dimitri Rassam ("The Little Prince") will be partnering with Helen Estabrook ("Whiplash") to produce the movie.

"It's a project that Benjamin has been thinking about for a long time and which I am very enthusiastic about," Rassam told AFP.

"The public's appetite for 'Carmen' has never waned. It's a powerful and visceral work," he added.

Shooting is expected to begin in 2018 in Los Angeles.
A woman holds out a bowl of partially boiled maize in Ngop in South Sudan's Unity State on March 10, 2017

The famine ravaging South Sudan and its neighbours could claim many more lives than previously feared, a charity warned Friday, as the international community struggles to raise the $4.4 billion needed to avert a full-blown disaster.

The food crisis in the world's youngest country is one of the key issues being discussed at this week's World Economic Forum on Africa, which has brought together the continent's business and political elite in Durban.

Saira Khan, the chief executive of the charity Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa, warned that a chaotic international response to the situation in South Sudan was threatening the lives of millions.

"It's pretty gloomy. We're seeing a lot of confusion amongst the NGOs and governments in terms of what needs to be done," she said.

"It's a difficult time for that region -- and if we don't do anything we're going to have six million people dead at the end of this year because of famine."

In February, South Sudan and the United Nations formally declared a famine in some parts of the northern Greater Unity region affecting 100,000 people, a disaster UN officials said was "man-made" and could have been averted.

More than 1.9 million South Sudanese are internally displaced and at least 1.7 million have fled to safety across the country's borders so far -- including a total of 830,000 to neighbouring Uganda

After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, the country descended into civil war in December 2013 when a power struggle erupted between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar. Tens of thousands of people died and more than 3.5 million have been displaced.

"The real instability in the area with the war and migrants just going and settling where they can has contributed to this and put enormous pressure on Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda," Khan said.

Oxfam International's executive director Winnie Byanyima told AFP that a huge funding shortfall for relief efforts was threatening lives.

- Go hungry or 'be raped' -

Oxfam says that the UN will need $4.4 billion for its famine relief operations by July to avoid widespread loss of life in South Sudan -- but just 26 percent of that has been raised so far.

"The need is huge, the gap is huge," Byanyima said. "It needs to be filled urgently. When people die in a famine it's a sign of failure because you can prevent it if you act early enough."

The food crisis in South Sudan is one of the key issues being discussed at this week's World Economic Forum on Africa in Durban, which has brought together the continent's business and political elite

More than 1.9 million people are internally displaced and at least 1.7 million have fled to safety across the country's borders so far. A total of 830,000 South Sudanese refugees are in neighbouring Uganda and the UN expects this figure will reach more than a million by mid-year.

"I visited places where people are trapped in what are called 'protection of civilian' camps. The women there face a choice between hunger or stepping out and being raped while looking for food," Byanyima said.

Elsewhere in Africa, Byanyima warned that Nigeria could face its own famine crisis.

"I have just been to northeast Nigeria, a region that has been devastated by Boko Haram," she said. "There are 47,000 people living there in famine-like conditions. Another five million could experience famine in the next few months".

- 'So dysfunctional' -

Relief agencies in northern Nigeria will run out of money to avert food shortages as early as June, Peter Lundberg, the UN's deputy humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria said recently.

Refugees from South Sudan receive treatment at the Bidibidi health centre in the northern Ugandan district of Yumbe on April 14, 2017

The World Food Programme says that 4.7 million people across three areas of northeast Nigeria are already facing acute hunger while the Red Cross warns that five children are dying daily of starvation.

Byanyima called for the United Nations to be overhauled to face the challenges in South Sudan.

"Today it is so dysfunctional and unable to get the Security Council to bear pressure on leaders who are behaving irresponsibly such as in South Sudan," she said.

UNESCO special envoy Forest Whitaker said at the WEF that "the UN, which is there to help bring peace will have to step up".

"Do I feel they have done enough? No, because we haven't gotten to that place."

Gilbert Houngbo, the new head of the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development, said that efforts were needed to prepare South Sudan's agriculture for when peace returns.

"I visited places where people are trapped in what are called 'protection of civilian' camps. The women there face a choice between hunger or stepping out and being raped while looking for food," Oxfam International's Winnie Byanyima said

"Our guys are already active in preparing for an early recovery," Houngbo told AFP. "It's going to be difficult, but it's not impossible."

The theme of the 27th WEF on Africa is "Leadership in an era of disruption". It has drawn more than 1,200 participants, including several heads of state.

Oxfam released a report to coincide with the start of the forum which winds up on Friday, revealing that seven of the world's top 20 unequal countries are in Africa.

It warned that if economic growth continues to benefit only a small African elite, an additional 350 million people could be forced into poverty by 2032.
The bombardment if the southern island of Yeonpyeong in November 2010 was the first North Korean attack on a civilian area since the 1950-53 Korean War

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspected a military unit that was responsible for bombarding a southern island, state media said Friday ahead of a presidential election in the South.

Pyongyang fired a barrage of 170 artillery shells onto Yeonpyeong island in November 2010, killing four people including two civilians in the first North Korean attack on a civilian area since the 1950-53 Korean War.

Tensions have soared on the Korean peninsula in recent weeks amid a string of missile launches by Pyongyang and speculation that the regime was preparing to conduct a sixth nuclear test, with Washington warning that military action was an "option on the table" to confront its nuclear and missile programmes.

The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim visited military detachments on Jangjae and Mu islets and was briefed on the "recent movements of the enemy".

Kim looked at Yeonpyeong from an observation post and "examined the plan for fire strike of the newly organised forces at the objects of the enemy", KCNA said.

The Mu islet unit was responsible for the bombardment of Yeonpyeong, which KCNA quoted Kim as calling "the most delightful battle".

The North's artillery should "should keep highly alert to break the backbone of the enemy once ordered", he added.

KCNA did not give an exact date for his visit.

The North regularly issues threats of military action without following through on them.

But it carried out a controversial supposed satellite launch -- which Seoul and Washington say was a covert test of a long-range missile -- just a week before the last presidential election in 2012.

The two neighbours are technically still at war, as the Korean War ended with an armistice that was never ratified by a formal peace treaty, and the border remains one of the most militarised places in the world.
Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force -- its navy -- currently has some 60 P-3Cs in operation, which it uses to patrol territory it claims, like the Senkaku islands, which China claims as the Diaoyus

Japan plans to donate retired military patrol aircraft to Malaysia, a report said Friday, as alliances strengthen in response to China's maritime claims.

The two countries are among a number in the region stepping up defence cooperation against what they see as Beijing's aggressive stance on the high seas.

Beijing insists it has sovereign rights to almost all of the South China Sea -- strategically vital waters, where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims.

Responding to a request by Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo plans to offer decomissioned P-3C patrol aircraft, the Nikkei business daily said, quoting an unnamed official at the defence ministry.

Japan's parliament is currently deliberating a bill that would allow the nation to provide military equipment to other countries at no cost.

Malaysia will likely be the first beneficiary once the bill is passed, the Nikkei said, without clarifying how many P-3Cs Japan plans to hand off.

The Maritime Self-Defence Force -- Japan's navy -- currently has some 60 P-3Cs in operation, and plans to retire those that have logged around 15,000 hours' flight.

Immediate confirmation of the report was not available.

As well as its spats around the South China Sea, Beijing is also involved in a simmering territorial row with Tokyo over disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Left-leaning Moon Jae-in, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, is a former special forces soldier, pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer

The near-certain winner of South Korea's presidential election next week is a former special forces soldier, pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer.

Left-leaning Moon Jae-In of the Democratic Party has held what appears to be an unassailable lead in opinion polls for months.

Victory will cap a political career that began with student activism in the days of military rule, when he was convicted of taking part in illegal protests.

The election comes after millions of South Koreans took to the streets in candlelit demonstrations to demand the removal of Park Geun-Hye, who was sacked by the country's top court in March over a corruption scandal and is now in custody awaiting trial.

"Our efforts to create a country worth living in started with candlelights and must end with votes," Moon told an audience this week.

Presidential elections come after millions of South Koreans took to the streets in candlelit demonstrations to demand the removal of Park Geun-Hye, who was impeached over a corruption scandal

The irony is that he was once chief of staff to liberal president Roh Moo-Hyun, who committed suicide in 2009 after being questioned over graft allegations.

"Corruption is the biggest issue in South Korean politics," says Robert Kelly of Pusan National University. "That's absolutely true. Every South Korean president has gotten into trouble for corruption and bribery and graft and things like that, of varying degrees."

But Moon boasts a clean image himself, said Kim Neung-Gou, president of online newspaper Polinews, and has been "riding on waves of protests against Park and accumulated corruption".

- Arrested and expelled -

Moon was born on the southern island of Geoje in 1952 during the Korean War after his North Korean parents fled to the South.

His father was a menial worker at a prisoner-of-war camp while his mother peddled eggs in the nearby port city of Busan, with the baby Moon strapped to her back, the politician wrote in his autobiography.

He entered law school in Seoul in 1972 but was arrested and expelled for leading a student protest against the authoritarian rule of dictator Park Chung-Hee -- the ousted president's father.

Moon returned to school in 1980 only to be arrested again.

His close friendship with future president Roh began in 1982 when they opened a law firm in Busan focusing on human and civil rights issues.

Both became leading figures in the pro-democracy protests that swept the country in 1987 and led to South Korea's first direct presidential elections the same year.

When Roh entered politics, Moon continued with his legal practice in Busan, defending students and workers arrested for leading protests and labour strikes.

But a year after Roh's unexpected election victory in 2002, Moon joined the administration as a presidential aide, tasked with weeding out official corruption and screening candidates for top government posts, before rising to become his chief of staff.

"I was always happy due to the fact that I was able to help others with what I had been trained to do," Moon said in his autobiography.

- Deeper rifts -

The 64-year-old has promised to curb the concentration of economic power in the hands of the chaebols, the family-oriented business groups whose ties to government have been exposed in the wide-ranging scandal that saw Park impeached.

But his opponents say he is narrow-minded and surrounded by jealous loyalists, whose strong factionalism has contributed to the main opposition party splitting.

"When he becomes president, the rift between liberals and conservatives will deepen all the more, and national reconciliation would be further off," former Yonsei University political science professor Kim Syng-Ho said.

Conservative critics also accuse him of being too soft towards nuclear-armed North Korea.

Moon advocates dialogue and reconciliation with the North to defuse the situation and eventually lure it to negotiations that have been at a standstill for years.

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over the latter's weapons and missile programmes have risen in recent weeks, with cycles of threats on both sides raising fears of conflict.

But in December Moon said that if elected, he was willing to visit North Korea ahead of the United States, the South's security guarantor.

He has shown ambivalence over the US missile defence system THAAD, which has been deployed in the South to the fury of China, saying it should be up to the next administration to decide.

But it was declared operational last week, potentially presenting him with a fait accompli.

That could all lay the ground for a difficult relationship with US President Donald Trump -- who has demanded that Seoul pay for the "billion dollar" system.
South Korean presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo has been compared in South Korea to Bill Gates for his technological entrepreneurship and philanthropy

One of the main challengers to the frontrunner in South Korea's presidential race is an IT multi-millionaire who has given away much of his fortune and is now looking to break the country's political mould.

Ahn Cheol-Soo was pursuing medical studies at the prestigious Seoul National University in 1988 when his computer became infected with Brain, regarded as the first widespread technological virus.

Burning the midnight oil, he developed a cure for the digital disease and handed it out to his colleagues.

For the next seven years he doubled as a doctor and professor of medicine, and a developer of anti-virus software, until he founded his eponymous start-up AhnLab.

It went on to become the leading provider of anti-virus programs -- still distributed free to individual users -- in one of the world's most wired countries, and now has some 1,000 employees and a market capitalisation of more than $500 million.

South Korea

Ahn -- who said he turned down a $10 million offer for the firm when it was two years old because he felt "unable to turn back on my employees" -- still owns nearly 20 percent, even after giving away half his holdings in 2011 to a foundation for the education of students from low-income families.

He has been compared in South Korea to Bill Gates for his technological entrepreneurship and philanthropy, but has more overtly political ambitions than the Microsoft founder.

After stepping down from AhnLab he returned to academia, then decided to seek elected office, toying with runs for the Seoul mayoralty in 2011 and the presidency the following year, vowing to change a political landscape tarnished with regionalism, factional feuds and corruption.

In the event Ahn pulled out of both contests, instead winning a seat in parliament as an independent at a by-election in 2013.

With a fortune of his own Ahn presents himself as above the graft that has mired South Korean politics for decades -- two former presidents have been jailed and ousted leader Park Geun-Hye is awaiting trial, while another killed himself after being questioned.

"I would create the cleanest-ever government free of corruption," he said on the campaign trail. "I am a self-made man and therefore I am not indebted to anyone and there is no need for me to pay anyone back with favours."

- 'Animals in a zoo' -

In parliament, Ahn joined the main opposition Democrat Party, but broke away last year to create his own, more centrist People's Party.

Despite its fledging status it came a creditable third in legislative elections that April, including securing second place in the proportional-representation party list section of the vote.

Ahn, 55, has sought to place himself in the centre of the political spectrum, appealing to both voters who want change, and disaffected conservatives who have been repelled by the scandal that brought down Park but distrust left-leaning front-runner Moon Jae-In.

At one point last month the two were polling almost level.

But Ahn has seen his support erode after poor performances in television debates, with a lack of a common touch and an academic style of speech disconnecting him from ordinary voters.

"I'm a conservative in security issues and a reformist in economic affairs", Ahn says.

He would support a strong military build-up while pushing through with international sanctions and pressure on nuclear-armed North Korea to compel it to give up its weapons.

But his experience in business has not made him a fan of the South's economic structure, which is dominated by family-oriented business conglomerates known as "chaebols".

They confine small and medium-sized companies like his own to an "exploitative" situation like "animals in a zoo", he says, suffocating growth and job creation.

If elected, his government would enhance corporate transparency and curb the power of their founding families, he promises, while making it easier for others to follow in his footsteps.
Australia shooter Michael Diamond won trap shooting gold at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics, and finished just outside the medals in fourth at London in 2012

The career of Australia's most decorated shooter Michael Diamond appears to have come to an end after a court found him guilty of firearms and drink-driving offences, and banned him from holding a gun licence for a decade.

Diamond, a double Olympic gold medallist, was charged in May last year after an alleged domestic incident involving his brother.

He had pleaded not guilty after police found a shotgun and 150 rounds of ammunition in his car, with the 44-year-old reportedly refusing to take a breath test.

The Raymond Terrace Local Court in Sydney late Thursday issued Diamond with a 12-month good behaviour bond, and the "firearm was forfeited to the crown" for 10 years, a court clerk said.

Diamond's barrister Daniel McMahon had asked the magistrate to proceed without a conviction as it would leave the six-time Olympian "effectively without his professional career", the Daily Telegraph reported.

The charges dashed his hopes of competing in a seventh Olympics last year in Rio.

Diamond won trap shooting gold at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics, and finished just outside the medals in fourth at London five years ago.

He is also a five-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
Protests in the Rif region of northern Morocco followed the death of a fishmonger crushed to death on in a rubbish truck in October, 2016

Morocco's northern Rif region has been rocked by protests since the death of a fishmonger crushed in a rubbish truck there last October.

Here are five things to know about the region:

- Berber identity -

The Rif is a mountainous region largely inhabited by Berbers who speak the Tarifit dialect of Amazigh.

Morocco only gave Berber languages official status in 2011.

The Rif has a history of defying outsiders' attempts to control it.

In the 1920s, tribes there rose up against Spanish colonial rule. Local leader Abdelkrim El Khattabi inflicted a humiliating defeat on the occupiers and proclaimed the independent Republic of the Rif.

His mini-state lasted less than five years -- Spanish and French troops used mustard gas to crush the revolt and by 1926 the republic had collapsed.

But with three million Berber-speaking residents, the region has retained its independent streak.

Today's protesters continue to carry the Berber colours and the flag of Khattabi's short-lived republic.

- Tense ties with Rabat -

The region has long had a tense relationship with Morocco's central authorities.

Just two years after Morocco won independence from France and Spain in 1956, the Rif revolted again -- this time against the Arab-dominated government of King Hassan II.

The revolt was crushed in another bloody crackdown that cost between 5,000 and 8,000 lives.

In 1984, protests again rocked the region, prompting mass arrests. Security forces fired live ammunition at demonstrators, described by the king as "the scum of society".

The region was also at the heart of Morocco's 2011 Arab Spring-inspired uprising against corruption.

But prominent local activist Nasser Zefzafi is adamant that today's protests are about economic and social issues and demonstrators are not seeking an independent state.

- Cannabis -

In a region long left out of state development programmes and with little agricultural produce, many Rif residents turned to growing cannabis.

From the 1980s onwards narcotics exports and other clandestine trade with Europe became mainstays of the region's economy.

Participants in recent demonstrations have demanded that the state take on a mafia that controls local fishing ports, another key local source of income.

- Marginalisation -

Residents of the Rif say they have long been marginalised by the state.

"King Hassan II (wanted) to punish the Rifians for their revolts in 1958 and 1984," said historian Pierre Vermeren.

The father of current King Mohammed VI left the region undeveloped, pushing many of its residents to seek better lives in Europe.

The region came to depend on trade with Europe, particularly Spain. The closure of the border with Algeria in 2004 increased the Rif's isolation.

- Large diaspora -

Decades of marginalisation, poverty and political unrest -- as well as a devastating 2004 earthquake -- have pushed many Rifians to emigrate.

Thousands headed to Europe in the 1950s for work in coal mines, and today northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands have significant Rifian communities.

Vermeren said around two million people with Rifian roots now live in Europe.
Local media report Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu Bakar as saying a Turkish man was arrested because he posed a threat to national security

A third Turkish national has been arrested in Malaysia, his lawyer said Friday, after two others were taken into custody this week on suspicion of funding the Islamic State group.

Turkish academic Ismet Ozcelik was arrested Thursday, his lawyer Rosli Dahlan told AFP, adding that no official reasons were provided by authorities.

Local media reported national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar as saying the Turk was arrested because he posed a threat to national security.

No further details were given.

Ismet was initially arrested in December for allegedly assaulting an immigration official but freed on bail in January.

On Tuesday, two Turkish nationals Turgay Karaman and Ihsan Aslan were arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, which allows police to detain them for 28 days, in a move that raised concerns about Malaysia acting on possible pressure from Ankara.

Turkey's state-run news agency has said the pair were linked to a US-based preacher accused of organising a failed coup last year.

But Malaysia's deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Thursday that the country's anti-terrorism police unit had been investigating the two men, along with a number of others, for "spreading, influencing and funding" IS activities.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's government has detained or sacked tens of thousands of people under a state of emergency imposed after last year's failed coup.

The crackdown focuses on alleged supporters of preacher Fethullah Gulen, blamed for the failed putsch.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, criticised local authorities for a lack of transparency.

"The Malaysian government has an obligation... to explain what is going on," he told AFP.

Police chief Khalid denied claims that the authorities were acting on Turkey's request.

"We have our own laws to protect national security. We have the right to determine who we want to arrest and detain," he was quoted as saying in the Malay Mail Online.

"Anyone who threatens our national security is not welcomed here."
Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, addresses a narcotics forum at a state-run university in Manila on May 5, 2017

The United Nations' special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings condemned Friday the use of violence to combat illegal drugs, as she made an unofficial visit to the Philippines that angered President Rodrigo Duterte.

Agnes Callamard had since last year wanted to travel to the Philippines to investigate Duterte's drug war, which has claimed thousands of lives and led to warnings he may be orchestrating a crime against humanity.

In a speech at a state-run Manila university, Callamard warned of the many pitfalls of governments globally adopting violent responses to illegal drugs, and said she had been watching events in the Philippines closely.

"The 'war on drugs' does not work," she said.

Callamard praised people in the Philippines who had spoken out against Duterte's drug war.

"I have followed testimonies of the relatives of victims, I have seen the brave work of civil society actors, lawyers, human rights defenders, academics, senators," she said.

"I have heard debates between politicians, explanations by government officials, and indeed I have watched footage too of police and military men - and all saying there are other ways, better ways, other options and better options."

The government said it had been caught off guard by Callamard's trip, adding it would lodge a protest with the United Nations because she had not organised the visit through official channels.

"(In) not contacting our government in advance of this visit, she has sent a clear signal that she is not interested in getting an objective perspective on the issues that are the focus of her responsibility," presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

But Callamard insisted she had informed Manila of her trip in advance.

The government replied "acknowledging (receipt) of my letter and reacting to the information about my upcoming academic trip," she said in a statement.

- Duterte demand -

Duterte last year invited Callamard to visit the Philippines to investigate the killings, but set strict conditions including a demand that she have a public debate with him on the drug war.

Callamard refused to come under those conditions.

She told reporters on Friday that she did not travel to the Philippines to conduct a UN investigation -- she said she was merely taking part in the academic forum in a private capacity.

Agnes Callamard (R), the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, made a surprise visit to the Philippines on May 5, angering President Rodrigo Duterte

However, she did meet with various human rights campaigners and lawyers while in the Philippines, including some who organised the forum.

The United Nations emphasised Friday that as the special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Callamard is an unpaid consultant, and not an employee of the world body.

Duterte was elected last year largely on a law-and-order platform in which he promised to eradicate illegal drugs in the Philippines by killing tens of thousands of people.

Since then, police have reported killing 2,692 people in anti-drug operations.

They say unspecified parties have murdered another 1,847 people in drug-related incidents, while 5,691 other violent deaths are under investigation.

The government said 35 police officers and three soldiers have also been killed while prosecuting the drug war.

In a major report on the drug war in February, Amnesty International accused police of shooting defenceless people, paying assassins to murder addicts and stealing from those they killed.

Duterte has at times called for drug addicts as well as traffickers to be killed, and vowed to pardon police if they are found guilty of murder for prosecuting the drug war.

But Duterte also repeatedly states that he has not encouraged police to break the law, and he is not doing anything illegal by calling for people to be killed.

Callamard's visit came as the Philippines was preparing to defend the drug war at a UN Human Rights Council hearing in Geneva on Monday.

The hearing is part of a periodic review that all member countries must be subjected to.

"The Philippines welcomes the... session as an opportunity to highlight the country's significant and sustained achievements in upholding, promoting and protecting the human rights of every Filipino," Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, a co-leader of the delegation, said in a statement.
The Nepalese government is to officially certify sherpa climbers who scale mountains including Mount Everest

Sherpa climbers who successfully scale mountains including Mount Everest will be officially recognised, the Nepal government said Friday, reversing a controversial decision to stop issuing summit certificates to the guides.

The Sherpas who guide foreign mountaineers are the backbone of Nepal's lucrative high-altitude climbing industry, which nets the impoverished Himalayan country more than $3 million a year.

Last year Nepal announced it would stop issuing summit certificates to the guides and only officially recognise the climbs of foreigners who pay expensive permit fees, which run to $11,000, for permission to scale Everest.

"The ministry is positive on the proposal forwarded by the tourism department to provide certificates to the Sherpas," Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, spokesperson at the Ministry of Tourism, told AFP.

All Sherpas climbing during the current spring season, which runs from late April to the end of May, will have their climbs retroactively recognised once the law changes, said Department of Tourism spokesman Durga Dutta Dhakal.

Sherpa guides staged a sit-in earlier this week at Everest base camp to demand their climbs be recognised by the government.

There are 373 foreign climbers currently on the 8,848-metre (29,030 feet) peak who will attempt to summit in the coming weeks with the help of at least one Sherpa guide each.

"The summit certificates count for their (Sherpas') reputation and credibility," said Ang Tsering Sherpa, the head of the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

"The recognition is important for everybody. To recognise the efforts of all to reach the summit of these mountains," he added.

Upadhyaya said that a draft revision would be sent to the finance and law ministries and then the cabinet for final approval -- a process that will likely take months.
The Chaman border crossing is one of only two major crossing points along the disputed frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan

Pakistani and Afghan officials accused each other of killing civilians Friday after gunfire erupted near a major border crossing where Pakistani census officials were carrying out a count.

The gunfight prompted Pakistani authorities to shut the Chaman border crossing, one of only two major crossing points along the disputed frontier, and threatens to exacerbate already tense relations between Islamabad and Kabul.

"Afghan border police opened fire on FC (Frontier Corps) detailed for security of population census team," the Pakistani military said in a statement, adding that one civilian had been killed and 18 others, including four soldiers, injured.

It accused Afghan officials of "creating hurdles" for census work in the area.

But Samim Khpalwak, spokesman for the governor of Afghanistan's Kandahar province, said the Pakistani officials had strayed on to the Afghan side of the border and were attempting to count people living there.

"So far in the fighting, we have one Afghan civilian killed and three border police forces wounded," he told AFP, adding that the scuffle was still going on, with "dozens" of Afghan security forces rushing to the scene.

The two nations are divided by the "Durand Line", a 2,400-kilometre (1,500-mile) frontier drawn by the British in 1896 and disputed by Kabul, which does not officially recognise it as an international border.

Ethnic Pashtuns living along the border have traditionally paid it little heed, with villages straddling the frontier that have mosques and houses with one door in Pakistan and another in Afghanistan.

Border controls were virtually absent, and it was daily crossed with impunity by traders and travellers -- until recent clampdowns by Pakistan.

The border is not the only area of dispute between the neighbours: Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of sponsoring the Afghan Taliban, though Islamabad says it provides the militants with safe haven as a "lever" to bring them to peace talks.

Pakistan has also accused Afghanistan of harbouring militants who carry out attacks in its territory.

Pakistan embarked on the enormous task of conducting its first census in almost two decades in March.

The fast-growing country is the sixth most populous in the world, with an estimated 200 million people, but has not held a census since 1998, despite a constitutional requirement for one every decade.
Boats are seen at sunset in the Sunderbans in Khulna, some 350 kms southwest of Dhaka. The UN has warned that a coal power plant would "irreversibly damage" the pristine forest, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997

A giant coal-fired power plant approved by Bangladesh could drastically worsen air pollution for millions and cause the early deaths of 6,000 people over its lifetime, Greenpeace said Friday.

Bangladesh is constructing the 1,320-megawatt power plant on the edge of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, despite warnings the controversial project threatens the fragile ecosystem and human health.

The United Nations has already urged Bangladesh to halt construction, warning it poses an unacceptable risk to the UNESCO-protected mangroves that provide a barrier against deadly storm surges and cyclones.

But in a new report Greenpeace warned emissions from the plant represented one of the single largest threats to air quality for millions living across Bangladesh and as far as neighbouring India.

"Over its operational lifetime, the plants emissions will increase the risk of stroke, lung cancer, heart and respiratory diseases in adults, as well as respiratory symptoms in children," stated the report released Friday.

"People in Dhaka and Calcutta (India), particularly children and the elderly, would also be harmed. Even if Bangladesh currently had zero air pollution, the plant alone would cause the premature deaths of 6,000 people, and low birth weights of 24,000 babies."

The plant at Rampal in Bangladesh's south-west could also deposit enough mercury to render fish unsafe to eat for millions living across the Bay of Bengal, and devastate the aquatic food chain of the Sundarbans.

The plant -- a joint project by India and Bangladesh -- would be powered by nearly five million tons of coal shipped every year along the mangroves' fragile waterways, a natural habitat for endangered Bengal tigers and rare Irrawaddy dolphins.

Scheduled to open in 2018, the plant is projected to discharge nearly 125,000 cubic metres of chemically-tainted water every day into nearby water catchments, Greenpeace said.

The UN warned in October that the plant would "irreversibly damage" the pristine forest, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.

The dense mangroves provide a buffer against violent weather roaring into the delta, which has killed thousands living in impoverished coastal villages and islands in recent years.

There was no immediate comment from Bangladeshi authorities or the joint-venture company bankrolling the $1.7-billion plant.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has defended the project and rejected concerns about its impact as politically motivated.

The project has galvanised street protests in Bangladesh, with campaigners calling for the plant to be scrapped or relocated.
The slain minister was seen as an inspiration to many

The Somali government sacked the country's auditor-general on Friday, after his bodyguards were accused of shooting dead the minister of public works, apparently by accident.

Abbas Abdullahi Siraji, the 31-year-old public works minister, was killed on Wednesday when government security guards shot at his vehicle outside the presidential palace.

After an emergency cabinet meeting, the prime minister's office issued a statement announcing auditor-general Nur Jimale Farah's dismissal.

"After hearing a report about the killing of minister Abas Siraji, the minister for public works, the cabinet members have unanimously agreed to discharge the National Auditor General. The position will be temporarily filled by his deputy", the statement said.

The attorney-general and police chief told cabinet that three people had been arrested over the killing and the investigation is ongoing, the statement said.

Farah rejected the sacking, telling reporters the cabinet could not dismiss him without parliament's approval. He said the three suspects who had been arrested were members of his security team.

The circumstances of the shooting are not yet entirely clear. Shortly afterwards Farah said it was "gunfire involving soldiers who had become suspicious of each other".

But this scenario has not yet been confirmed and several security officials have suggested Farah's secruity guards opened fire on the minister's vehicle fearing it could be a car bomb attack by Shabaab jihadists.

Many government officials, wealthy individuals and foreigners drive around Mogadishu with squads of armed bodyguards who are frequently nervy and trigger-happy.

Shabaab militants linked to Al-Qaeda carry out regular bombings and assassinations targeting government officials, and it is rare for a government minister to drive himself, making mistaken identity a strong possibility.

Siraji was born in Somalia but grew up and was educated in one of the world's biggest refugee camps, Dadaab in Kenya. He was elected an MP last year and became a cabinet minister in February.

His story was seen as inspiring to many in a country that has suffered conflict and anarchy for the last 25 years and his death has been widely mourned, including on social media.
Saudi Arabia has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women

Saudi women no longer need a man's consent to carry out certain activities, local media reported on Friday, but activists said the royal order does not go far enough.

Saudi Arabia has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive.

Under the guardianship system a male family member, normally the father, husband or brother, must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.

But the Arab News said a royal decree issued by King Salman ordered that women are no longer required to obtain a guardian's consent for official services "unless there is a legal basis for this request" under Islamic law.

Government agencies were advised of this directive, the report said.

Other Saudi media including the Sabq online newspaper, which is close to authorities, have carried similar reports.

Sahar Hassan Nasief, a women's rights activist in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, welcomed royal attention to the issue but said it remained unclear what will change under the decree.

"We still need more. We still need to get rid of the guardianship completely," she told AFP.

Nassima al-Sadah, an activist in the Gulf coast city of Qatif, said she does not think the government is about to end guardianship.

"Maybe they will just reduce it," she said.

Last year thousands of people signed a petition calling for an end to guardianship.

United Nations special rapporteur Philip Alston, on a visit to Saudi Arabia in January, said the guardianship system needs reform.

Activists say that even female prisoners have to be received by the guardian upon their release, meaning some have to languish in jail or a shelter beyond their sentences if the man does not want to accept them.

Although the government no longer requires guardian permission for women to work, Human Rights Watch said in an earlier report that many employers still demand guardian consent in order to hire a woman.

Some hospitals also require a guardian's approval before carrying out medical procedures, it said.

Activists say that if they have open-minded male family members, getting their consent is not a problem.
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika casts his vote at a polling station in Algiers on May 4, 2017

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's party and its coalition ally have won a clear majority in parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results released by the interior minister on Friday.

Bouteflika's National Liberation Front (FLN), which has dominated the North African nation's politics since its 1962 independence from France, won 164 of the national assembly's 462 seats, Interior Minister Nourredine Bedoui said.

That is down from 221 in the outgoing parliament.

The FLN's ally, the Rally for National Democracy (RND), won 97 seats, up from the 68 seats it took in the previous poll in 2012.

Two opposition Islamist lists won 48 seats between them.

The official results will be announced by the constitutional council after any appeals.

The ministry said turnout reached 38 percent, down from just over 43 percent in the 2012 election.

Thursday's vote was marred by voter disillusionment over what many see as broken government promises and a political system tainted by corruption.

The North African country weathered the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings with massive spending on wages and subsidies that depleted government coffers.

But a 2014 slump in crude oil prices forced the government to raise taxes and mothball many public projects.

Today, in a country of 40 million where half the population is under 30, one young person in three is unemployed.
South African former presidents Frederik de Klerk, Kgalema Motlanthe and Thabo Mbeki set up a National Foundations Dialogue to end the country's crisis

Three South African former presidents for the first time issued a joint call for action Friday to end the nation's "worsening" political crisis, the latest campaign targeting President Jacob Zuma.

In an unprecedented move, all living former heads of state - Thabo Mbeki, F.W. de Klerk and Kgalema Motlanthe, joined by ex-deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka - announced a national dialogue to try to end the "destructive" crisis.

"Practically it is impossible for anyone in our country to argue against this reality of national sickness in our politics, in our economy," said Mbeki on launching the national talks, sponsored by their respective foundations.

Calls have intensified in recent months for Zuma to step down following a mounting series of scandals.

"Our country is immersed in a general and worsening crisis," said Mbeki.

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki

"So it is that the rose our people planted, as represented by the victory of 1994, is indeed sick," Mbeki added, referring to the year that marked the end of apartheid.

De Klerk, who was the last apartheid president, said the country "is in the grip of the most serious challenges that have confronted it since the establishment of our non-racial constitutional democracy 23 years ago".

Former South African president Frederik de Klerk

Squarely blaming Zuma for the crisis, he said "the core problem is that our president is not carrying out his duties in terms of ...the constitution."

Zuma is facing a slew of corruption allegations and an ongoing crisis over a controversial cabinet shake-up in which he removed a respected finance minister.

The reshuffle caused the rand currency to plummet and the country's sovereign credit rating was downgraded to "junk status" by two global agencies.

It also triggered unprecedented criticism from within the ruling African National Congress top brass and its allies, and spawned massive public protests for Zuma's ouster.

A court on Thursday ordered Zuma to provide records behind the rationale to reshuffle the cabinet.

Motlanthe insisted the time had come for action to reclaim the country.

"If we allow this unwholesome character of politics to continue while we wallow in silence, history will never forgive our generation," he said.

"This gathering becomes a national call. It seeks to be a turning point in the way people of our country relate to the political process," he added. "It is only the beginning".
More than 320,000 people have been killed in Syria since the country's war began in March 2011

After six years of conflict in Syria, government backers Russia and Iran and rebel supporter Turkey have signed a deal to create four "de-escalation zones" in the country.

Here are some questions and answers about the deal and the planned zones:

- What are 'de-escalation zones?' -

The zones are four areas located across eight of Syria's 14 provinces.

The first includes Idlib in the northwest, which is controlled by a coalition of Islamists and jihadists including a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, along with neighbouring Latakia, Hama and Aleppo, each of which have rebel-held areas.

The second is in the north of central Homs province, where rebels hold a stretch of territory, with the third covering the Eastern Ghouta area, a rebel stronghold outside the capital Damascus.

The fourth zone covers southern Syria, particularly Daraa and Quneitra province, which both have large rebel-held areas, though a jihadist faction close to the Islamic State group is also present in Quneitra.

The zones do not cover the three areas held entirely by the government, Damascus city, Tartus and Sweida, or areas in the northeast held by IS or a Kurdish-Arab alliance fighting the jihadist group.

Along the lines of the "de-escalation zones" will be "security zones" with checkpoints and observation posts to monitor and secure access.

Senior Russian military commander Sergei Rudskoi said Friday that some 2.67 million civilians and 41,500 rebels are in areas covered by the plan.

Syria expert Fabrice Balanche said it would cover around 20 percent of the non-desert territory of the country.

- What's the timescale? -

The memorandum agreed during talks in Astana does not specify a start date for the implementation of the zones, but calls on the signatories to form a joint working group within two weeks.

The group will then "take steps to complete by 4 June 2017 the preparation of the maps of the de-escalation areas and security zones and to separate the armed opposition groups from the terrorist groups."

The document defines "terrorist groups" as IS, the former Al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as Al-Nusra Front, as well as groups or individuals affiliated with them.

Once established, the zones will be in place for an initial period of six months, but may be extended.

- How will it look on the ground? -

Government forces and rebels who have signed onto the deal will agree to halt all hostilities, including the use of warplanes, in the zones.

Several forces have carried out air strikes within Syria, including Russia and a US-led coalition battling IS.

A Russian diplomat confirmed Friday that the terms would prevent the coalition from carrying out strikes in the zones.

The deal calls for "rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access" in the areas in question, as well as measures to restore basic infrastructure and allow the "safe and voluntary return" of displaced people and refugees.

Access to the areas will be controlled via security zones complete with checkpoints and observation posts.

The deal calls for security to be "ensured by the forces of the guarantors by consensus," adding that "third parties might be deployed."

- What chance of success? -

The deal builds on a ceasefire agreed between Russia and Turkey last December that reduced violence for a period but gradually fell apart.

This proposal is significantly more ambitious, involving the deployment of forces from the guarantor countries and seeking to ground all warplanes.

But it also calls for the continued fight against IS and former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh Al-Sham Front, which could pose challenges.

In Idlib province in particular, Fateh al-Sham is a leading and powerful component of the opposition forces controlling the region, and a key ally for other rebel groups against the regime.

Noah Bonsey, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the agreement "looks more serious than previous Astana efforts."

But, writing on Twitter, he warned it would probably "unravel" over the fight against Fateh al-Sham.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari addresses members of his cabinet in Abuja on March 10, 2017

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday made his first public appearance in weeks, re-emerging amid mounting concerns about his health.

The 74-year-old, who spent nearly two months earlier this year receiving treatment in London for an undisclosed illness, was at Friday prayers at a mosque in the presidential villa in Abuja.

Video posted on Twitter by presidential aide Bashir Ahmad showed Buhari dressed in white, shaking hands with fellow worshippers and waving after the service.

The former military ruler has missed the last three weekly meetings of his cabinet, Friday prayers last week and his grandson's wedding at the weekend.

He had been due to meet his counterpart from neighbouring Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, for talks on Friday but the meeting was cancelled, Buhari's office said in a statement on Thursday evening.

"The rescheduling is at the instance of President Issoufou who has another domestic engagement," presidency spokesman Femi Adesina said.

Aides have maintained Buhari is working from his private residence and resting after "a long period of treatment" in the British capital.

They have publicly rejected media reports that he is unable to eat or drink and is being fed intravenously.

Buhari's health is being watched closely as a previous president, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, died in office in 2010 after receiving treatment abroad for a long-standing but undisclosed illness.

His absence triggered months of political turmoil.
Shabaab fighters have been fighting to overthrow the Somali regime for the past decade

An American soldier has been killed in a night-time raid in Somalia, in what is believed to be the first US military death in combat there since the infamous events of "Black Hawk Down" 24 years ago.

The death occurred three weeks after the US announced the deployment of "a few dozen troops" to Somalia, tasked with training and equipping Somalian troops to fight Shabaab militants.

"One US service member was killed during an operation against Al-Shabaab near Barii, Somalia, approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Mogadishu," during the raid on Thursday, the United States' Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement.

Two other US soldiers were wounded in the operation against Shabaab militants, AFRICOM spokeswoman Robyn Mack told AFP.

US special forces have been deployed in Somalia for years. Drone and missile strikes have also been used against Shabaab commanders and footsoldiers.

Mack said it appeared to be the first time the US military has suffered a battlefield loss in Somalia since 1993, when 18 American servicemen died in what is called the Battle of Mogadishu.

That battle, portrayed in the 2002 movie "Black Hawk Down," involved an ill-fated US attempt to snatch militia leaders in Somalia's capital. Two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down, sparking a chaotic, under-fire rescue operation that resulted in hundreds of deaths, including many civilians and the US personnel.

"We do not believe there has been a case where a US service member has been killed in combat action in Somalia since the incident there in 1993," Mack told AFP.

- Raid 'thwarted' -

A Somali soldier patrols next to the burnt-out wreckage of a car that was used by suspected al-shabab fighters on April 16, 2017

AFRICOM said the US forces in the raid were on an "advise-and-assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army."

A local resident near the scene, Moalim Muhidin, said two helicopters were involved in the raid, firing missiles before landing to unload soldiers, after which a heavy firefight broke out.

Abdirisak Farah, a Somali military officer, told AFP there were casualties on both sides, with six Shabaab fighters killed.

In a statement, the Shabaab said it had repelled the attack and claimed credit for killing the US soldier.

"An air landing operation by US Special Forces was thwarted in Lower Shabelle province and a number of their soldiers were killed and wounded," the group said, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist threats.

A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Captain Jeff Davis, described the raid as a "Somali mission" against a Shabaab compound housing individuals linked to attacks on Somali and US forces.

He said the US team had been "maintaining a distance back" from the SNA troops when it came under fire.

Davis did not identify the US personnel in the team. But he said they were operating "under the same authorities" in place since 2013, suggesting they were US special operations commandos.

"We do have an enduring presence of about 50 US special operations that work in Somalia doing this advise-and-assist mission to the SNA," he said.

- 'Threat to Americans' -

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has signed a directive loosening the US military's rules of engagement in Somalia.

Under the boosted US presence in the African country, dozens of regular troops from the 101st Airborne Division have been deployed.

For the last decade the Shabaab has been fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government of Somalia.

The group attacks government, military and civilian targets in the capital and elsewhere, often deploying suicide bombers, and has overrun several military outposts, massacring soldiers from the 22,000-member African Union Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM.

It has also carried out attacks abroad, including the 2010 World Cup bombing in Kampala, Uganda, and the 2013 Westgate mall and 2015 Garissa University attacks, both in Kenya.

In its statement AFRICOM said the Shabaab "presents a threat to Americans and American interests" by radicalising and recruiting terrorists and fighters in the United States, and by inspiring attacks "against Americans, our allies and our interests around the world, including here at home," it said.
Damage following an air strike on a hospital in the village of Deir Sharqi on the eastern outskirts of Maaret al-Numan in northern Syria's Idlib province, on April 27, 2017

Russia on Friday said it had already stopped bombing in areas of Syria set to be designated safe zones under an agreement it inked with Iran and Turkey.

The three key powerbrokers signed off on a Russian plan Thursday to establish four "de-escalation zones" in rebel-held territory of the war-torn country in a bid to shore up a shaky ceasefire.

Under the pact -- which Moscow said comes into force from Saturday -- the three sides have a month to define the exact borders of the safe zones where fighting and air strikes should be halted.

Moscow -- which is flying an air campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad -- said that in order to ease the deal it has stopped bombing the proposed zones.

"From 00:00 May 1 the use of Russian airforce aviation in areas corresponding to the de-escalation zones was halted," senior Russian military commander Sergei Rudskoi told a news briefing.

The safety zone initiative is the latest attempt by Moscow to forge an end to the six-year conflict after its military might turned the tide of the conflict in favour of Assad.

Rudskoi outlined the proposed zones in the northwestern Idlib province, the north of central Homs province, Eastern Ghouta near Damascus and an area of the south involving Daraa and Quneitra provinces.

Along the frontiers of the "de-escalation zones" will be "security zones" with checkpoints and observation posts to monitor and secure access run by the three guarantor countries.

Moscow said that it was talking to "Jordan and a number of other countries" to sign up as backers of the initiative.

Russia's military underlined that it will keep on fighting against the Islamic State group and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as Al-Nusra, including inside the "de-escalation zones".

Rudskoi said that Syrian government troops freed up after the safety zones come into force will be sent to fight IS in central and eastern Syria and along the Euphrates river with Russian air support.
British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, seen in April 2017, stressed "the importance of working ... to break the political deadlock" in Libya, according to the Foreign Office

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson held talks Friday with the head of Libya's parliament, a day after visiting Tripoli to back peace efforts in the troubled north African nation.

The Foreign Office said Johnson, who met parliament speaker Aguila Salah in the remote eastern city of Tobruk, stressed "the importance of working... to break the political deadlock".

The oil-rich country has endured varying degrees of chaos and lawlessness since the 2011 NATO-backed ouster of dictator Moamer Kadhafi, and its rival administrations have struggled to assert nationwide influence.

Libya's elected parliament, which fled Tripoli in 2014 after advances by Islamist-backed militias, has so far resisted international efforts to voice support for a UN-backed unity government in the capital.

It is allied with military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who also does not recognise the Government of National Accord's legitimacy.

Haftar, whose forces have battled jihadists around second city Benghazi for years, met earlier this week with GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj.

"A more secure, stable and prosperous future for Libya can only be restored when their leaders choose to work together in the interests of the Libyan people," Johnson said Friday after meeting Salah.

He met Sarraj in Tripoli on Thursday and voiced the support of Britain -- which played a pivotal role in overthrowing Kadhafi -- for further talks with Haftar.

Before Libya, Johnson held talks with officials in the Tunisian capital on counterterrorism cooperation and boosting trade.
Coal miners and rescue workers gather on May 4, 2017, at a mine in Azadshahr, northern Iran, following an explosion that left dozens of miners trapped

Iranian officials said Friday there was "no chance" of saving nine coal miners trapped for the past two days after a tunnel collapse that has already claimed at least 26 lives.

Toxic gases have filled much of the two-kilometre (mile) Zemestan Yort mine in northern Iran, and rescue workers face a painstaking effort to clear the fragile passage in which the remaining workers were trapped after a huge explosion.

"There is no chance of workers being alive in the mine," said Deputy Interior Minister Esmail Nadjar, quoted by the ILNA news agency.

Concentrated methane gas exploded some 700 metres (yards) deep into the narrow mine in Azadshahr, Golestan province when workers tried to jump-start a locomotive engine using an external battery, officials said.

Three parts of the mine collapsed, and many of the dead are thought to be miners who rushed in to help their colleagues after the explosion.

Casualty numbers have changed several times since the Wednesday explosion as some workers were unregistered day-labourers.

Sadegh Ali Moghadam, director of the provincial crisis management office, told the ISNA news agency that rescue teams had passed the first blockage but were slowed by a huge boulder that had to be broken up.

A local official said damaged metal frames also had to be removed carefully to avoid another explosion.

The mine will be completely shut for six months until an investigation ordered by President Hassan Rouhani is completed.
Uganda's police officers cordon off the scene where senior police officer Andrew Felix Kaweesi was murdered in a Kampala Suburb on March 17, 2017

Thirteen men accused of involvement in the murder of high-ranking police officer Andrew Kaweesi and two aides appeared in court Friday, with some claiming they had been tortured while in detention.

Some of the suspects were limping heavily as they arrived at the magistrates' court in the capital Kampala, and proceeded to display injuries they said were the result of police torture.

Ahmad Senfuka Shaban, 30, a school teacher in Mukono, removed his shirt to show what appeared to be fresh injuries to his back, chest and left arm.

In the dock another suspect told the magistrate judge, Noah Ssajjabi, that he and his co-accused had been held at the Nalufenya police station, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital, where they had been tortured.

Outside the court relatives of the accused wept as the men hobbled into police vehicles under heavy guard.

Abdul Hamid Shaban Senfuka, Shaban's brother, said the two had managed to speak briefly in the small courtroom.

"He said police poured boiling water on him, as well as acid. They beat him with cables and put electricity on his private parts," the 27-year old car mechanic told AFP.

"Hes innocent," he insisted. "He had nothing to do with Kaweesi's death. They took him because he is a Muslim and there had been a disagreement in the community about his school."

Kaweesi, the assistant inspector general of police, was shot dead outside his home in a Kampala suburb on March 17 by heavily armed men on motorbikes.

His driver and his bodyguard were also killed in the attack.

Kaweesi's murder resembles the assassinations of other high-profile legal and military personnel in Uganda which remain unsolved.

When asked about the torture allegations, Uganda police spokesman Asan Kasingye told AFP, "I don't have that information," adding that the magistrate had the power to order an enquiry.

"But without that order we cannot investigate these allegations because it is before the courts not the police," Kasingye said.

The magistrate ordered that the men be transferred to Luzira Prison in Kampala until their next hearing on 18 May.

The 13 suspects were arrested last month and are charged with "terrorism, murder and aggravated theft".

Kaweesi oversaw the brutal police oppression of an opposition protest movement in 2011.

Last August he was appointed the chief police spokesman and became a well-known figure to the public, appearing regularly in the local media.
The conflict in Chad has lasted for eight years, killing more than 20,000 people and displacing 2.6 million

Nine Chadian soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram attack on an army post in the Lake Chad region on Friday, local and security sources told AFP.

Some 40 Boko Haram jihadists were also killed as the army responded to the attack on the Kaiga post, sources said on condition of anonymity. A military official confirmed the attack without giving a toll.

"Very early this morning, Boko Haram fighters attacked the Chadian army's position in Kaiga on Lake Chad. They were pushed back," Chadian army spokesman Colonel Azem said in a statement.

Surrounded by Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, Lake Chad has been the site of frequent Boko Haram attacks. Chad's army is based on the north bank, where four Chadian soldiers and several jihadist fighters were killed in skirmishes in late September.

Over the past two years, the jihadists have been chased out of most territories where they founded a hardline Islamic state in 2014. But despite being weakened, they continue to fight army forces and launch suicide attacks.

The conflict has lasted for eight years, killing more than 20,000 people and displacing 2.6 million, devastating the region where millions of people depend on humanitarian assistance.
Egyptians look at posters of the 66 victims of the EgyptAir MS804 flight that crashed in the Mediterranean Sea, in Cairo on May 26, 2016

No traces of explosives were found on the remains of French victims from an EgyptAir plane that crashed into the Mediterranean in May 2016, a source close to the French investigation told AFP on Friday.

The revelation, the source said, "closes the door" on a theory advanced by Egypt that the Airbus A320 was blasted out of the sky as it made its way from Paris to Cairo, killing all 66 people on board.

EgyptAir MS804 disappeared from radar over the Mediterranean on May 19, crashing into the water between Crete and the coast of northern Egypt.

"There were no explosive charges" aboard the plane, the source said, because "no traces of powder were found" by police in samples taken from the remains of eight of the 15 French nationals killed.

Egyptian authorities had handed the remains to their families in January.

According to the source, the long-awaited results were "recently" reported to the three investigating judges in charge of the case in Paris.

The findings "only serve to confirm the theory by French investigators since the beginning, that this was an accident and not an act of terror", the source said, adding that "this definitively closes the door on the claim of terrorism".

In December, an official Egyptian investigative committee had said it found traces of explosives on victims' remains, but French officials at the time refused to draw conclusions on the cause of the accident.

No group also came forward to claim responsibility for the crash, which also killed 40 Egyptians, including the 10-member crew.

French investigators have always favoured a mechanical fault as the crash cause, saying a fire broke out in or near the cockpit of the plane before it plunged 22,000 feet and swerved sharply before disappearing from radar screens.

"At this stage, the combustion or self-combustion of a tablet in the cockpit is the working hypothesis," the source said, but "elements" needed to prove it -- such as debris from "the cabin or flight recorders" -- "are in Egypt and the Egyptians have not shown a great willingness to collaborate".
Protesters hold signs and shout at lawmakers walking out of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2017 after the House of Representatives narrowly passed a Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare

With US Republicans relishing a win in the Obamacare repeal process, Democrats Friday girded for battle, warning that despite President Donald Trump's optimism, the health bill's fate is far from certain.

Republicans took major political risks by backing a deeply controversial bill, and Democrats hope to make them pay at the polls in midterm elections next year.

Wrangling now shifts to the Senate, where Republicans, who hold a slim majority there, say they are readying their own health care measure. The end result could look quite different from what narrowly cleared the House of Representatives Thursday.

Democrats seized the offensive, insisting it was a pipe dream to think the Republican plan forecast to push 24 million people off insurance could become law as it stands.

"This Republican health care bill needs to either be flushed down the toilet or thrown in the garbage. It's not getting through the Senate," Senator Bernie Sanders fumed on Twitter.

"Trumpcare battle is just beginning," added House Democrat Joe Kennedy III, urging liberal senators like Elizabeth Warren to lead the upcoming fight.

Moderate Senate Republicans are expected to reject or tweak several elements of the bill. Several have expressed concern about the House plan's rollback of Medicaid, limited assistance for low-income Americans, and a provision that allows insurers to increase premiums for people with pre-existing conditions -- a practice the current law prohibits.

The White House insisted Friday that negotiators are focused on "big principles" such as lowering costs and empowering states, and that tweaks were inevitable.

"I feel like there will be some changes, that is part of the process," White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.

Trump raised eyebrows after the House win when he praised Australia's government-funded health care system during a meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

But Trump backpedaled Friday, tweeting: "Of course the Australians have better healthcare than we do -- everybody does." But with the replacement of Obamacare, he added, "our healthcare will soon be great."

It was Trump himself who proclaimed in January that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act will lead to "insurance for everybody."

But the House bill falls short of that goal, and Democrats have warned that it exposes millions of vulnerable Americans.

House Republican Conference chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers highlighted her son's Down syndrome to show that the Republican goal of protecting people with pre-existing conditions was "a personal mission" for her.

"Despite what people are saying, House Republicans aren't seeking to strip these protections - or anyone's protections - away," she wrote in the Washington Post.

Democrats have taunted Republicans about possibly losing their House majority in 2018 because of their votes.

The Cook Political Report shifted its ratings for 20 Republican districts in the 2018 elections to reflect improved Democratic chances. Most ratings went from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican" or from "lean Republican" to "toss up."
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Latest on the shooting death of a black man involving two white police officers in Baton Rouge (all times local):

3:10 p.m.

A lawyer for the white Baton Rouge police officer who shot and killed a black man during a struggle last summer says his client is relieved the Justice Department isn't charging him with a federal crime.

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 5, 2016 image made from video, Alton Sterling is restrained by two Baton Rouge police officers, one holding a gun, outside a convenience store in Baton Rouge, La. Moments later, one of the officers shot and killed Sterling, a black man who had been selling CDs outside the store, while he was on the ground. Officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II were placed on administrative leave. Neither has been charged. The U.S. Justice Department decided not to charge the two officers, according to a person familiar with the decision who disclosed it to the AP on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Federal authorities opened a civil rights investigation immediately after the shooting. The Justice Department's decision doesn't preclude state authorities from conducting their own investigation and pursuing their own criminal charges. (Arthur Reed via AP)

John McLindon, Blane Salamoni's attorney, told The Associated Press he spoke to the officer Wednesday after the Justice Department announced its decision in the investigation of Alton Sterling's fatal shooting on July 5. He says the "stress of the unknown" has been hard on Salamoni and his family while they wait for the investigation to conclude.

McLindon says he can't discuss the evidence in the case due to a pending state investigation. But he expressed confidence state authorities also will rule out criminal charges against Salamoni and a second white police officer involved in the deadly confrontation.

___

Louisiana's governor called it disrespectful to the family of a black man fatally shot by police to learn the outcome of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation from the media.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said the leaked information that the Justice Department wouldn't pursue civil rights charges against the Baton Rouge police officers who fatally shot Alton Sterling also jeopardized carefully-devised public safety plans prepared for the announcement.

National media outlets, including The Associated Press, reported the decision through anonymous sources a day ahead of Wednesday's official announcement.

Baton Rouge mayor Sharon Weston Broome called the leaks appalling. She said no one locally "was satisfied with the way this decision rolled out."

Both officials stopped short of blaming the Justice Department, though Edwards said he hoped the agency investigates the leaks.

__

2:50 p.m.

A lawyer for two of Alton Sterling's sons says the white officer who later shot Sterling pointed a gun at the black man's head and threatened to shoot him before they struggled.

Attorney Chris Stewart told reporters Wednesday that he was told in a meeting with Department of Justice officials that Baton Rouge Police Officer Blane Salamoni walked up to Sterling, pointed a gun to his head and said "I'm going to shoot you, bitch."

Stewart provided that account shortly after a news conference where acting U.S. Attorney Corey Amundson explained the decision not to prosecute Salamoni or the other officer involved, Howie Lake II.

Amundson identified Salamoni as the officer who fatally shot Sterling during the July 5 incident.

Amundson did not mention the alleged threat and did not take questions.

John McLindon, Salamoni's lawyer, said he could not comment on the allegations.

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1:45 p.m.

A U.S. attorney says there is not enough evidence to pursue federal charges against two white officers in the police shooting death of a black man in Baton Rouge.

U.S. Attorney Corey Amundson said Wednesday that the investigation into the death of Alton Sterling couldn't prove that the officers acted unreasonably and willfully.

Amundson says the officers' encounter with Sterling happened in about 90 seconds. He says the investigation found that an officer shot Sterling three times after saying that Sterling was reaching for a gun in his pocket.

The prosecutor says Officer Blane Salamoni fired three more shots into Sterling's back when he began to sit up and move.

The prosecutor says the officers recovered a loaded revolver from Sterling's pocket. As part of the investigation, prosecutors asked two independent use-of-force experts to review the case. They criticized the officers' techniques but said they were not excessive.

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11:50 a.m.

The family of a black man who was shot to death by police in Baton Rouge is meeting with federal prosecutors and the FBI.

Alton Sterling's family plans to speak to the media after the meeting Wednesday. A person familiar with the Justice Department's decision told The Associated Press that federal officials do not plan to charge two white officers in the death of Sterling, who was shot during a struggle in July. The person was not authorized to talk publicly about the decision and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The Justice Department and FBI also plan a news conference, and the governor and Baton Rouge mayor will also talk to the media Tuesday.

(Corrects day of meeting to Wednesday, not Tuesday)

___

10:30 a.m.

Attorneys with the Justice Department say they plan an afternoon news conference to discuss their investigation into the fatal police shooting of a black man by two white officers in Baton Rouge.

A person familiar with the Justice Department's decision told The Associated Press that federal officials do not plan to charge the officers in the death of Alton Sterling, who was shot during a struggle in July. The person was not authorized to talk publicly about the decision and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The Department of Justice said its civil rights division; acting U.S. Attorney Corey Amundson and the FBI will be part of the news conference at the federal courthouse in Baton Rouge at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

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8:30 a.m.

Officials say Louisiana's governor has been notified that the U.S. Department of Justice will officially announce its decision about whether to bring charges against two white officers who fatally shot a black man in Baton Rouge.

A person familiar with the Justice Department's decision on Tuesday told The Associated Press the agency will not charge the officers. The person was not authorized to talk publicly about the decision and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The governor's office said the decision will be announced officially on Wednesday, but did not know the exact time.

Alton Sterling was shot and killed during a struggle with the two officers in July.

____

2:50 a.m.

The Justice Department's decision not to charge two white Baton Rouge police officers in the shooting death of a black man may not be the final legal chapter in the case.

The department's decision doesn't preclude state authorities from conducting their own investigation of Alton Sterling's fatal shooting last summer and pursuing their own criminal charges in the case.

A person familiar with the Justice Department's decision disclosed it to The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person was not authorized to talk publicly about the decision and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Dozens of people gathered Tuesday outside the store where Sterling was shot and killed during a struggle with the two officers in July. They held hands and prayed before urging state authorities to take action.

Sandra Sterling, aunt of Alton Sterling makes a gun gesture with her finger after she spoke to reporters following a meeting with the U.S. Justice Department at federal court in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, May 3, 2017. An investigation into the police shooting death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge found that there was not enough evidence to prove that the white officers acted unreasonably and willfully, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Kimberly Pierson, mother of Alton Sterling's son Na'Quincy Pierson, cries as she speaks to reporters following a meeting with the U.S. Justice Department at federal court in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, May 3, 2017. An investigation into the police shooting death of Sterling in Baton Rouge found that there was not enough evidence to prove that the white officers acted unreasonably and willfully, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Cameron Sterling, son of Alton Sterling, is comforted as he listens to family and attorneys speak following a meeting with the U.S. Justice Department at federal court in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, May 3, 2017. An investigation into the police shooting death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge found that there was not enough evidence to prove that the white officers acted unreasonably and willfully, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Kimberly Pierson, left, mother of Alton Sterling's son Na'Quincy Pierson, is comforted after speaking to reporters following a meeting with the U.S. Justice Department at federal court in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, May 3, 2017. The Justice Department has decided not to charge two white Baton Rouge police officers in the shooting death of Sterling. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Kimberly Pierson, mother of Alton Sterling's son Na'Quincy Pierson, cries as she speaks to reporters following a meeting with the U.S. Justice Department at federal court in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, May 3, 2017. An investigation into the police shooting death of Sterling in Baton Rouge found that there was not enough evidence to prove that the white officers acted unreasonably and willfully, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican and the Asian nation of Myanmar have agreed to establish diplomatic relations at a time when the Buddhist-majority country is transitioning from decades of military rule but facing criticism for religious and ethnic discrimination.

The announcement came Thursday, the same day that Pope Francis met with Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's top civilian leader.

Francis received Suu Kyi in the "throne room" of the Apostolic Palace - an honor usually reserved for heads of state. They chatted for more than 20 minutes and Francis gave her copies of his major documents as well as a copy of his 2017 message for the church's World Day of Peace, "Non-Violence, a style of Politics for Peace."

State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, left, stands with Pope Francis on the occasion of their private audience, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 4, 2017. (Tony Gentile/Pool Photo via AP)

Myanmar is facing international criticism for military activities in the western state of Rakhine, where troops are accused of carrying out widespread abuses against the Muslim ethnic Rohingya minority in what the military says is a counter-insurgency operation.

Discrimination against the Rohingya is widespread and the government refuses to recognize most as citizens, treating even long-term residents as illegal immigrants.

Francis has appealed for prayers for the Rohingya, denouncing in February how they had been "tortured and killed, simply because they are continuing their traditions, their Muslim faith."

The Vatican said the decision to establish diplomatic relations would "promote bonds of mutual friendship."

About 1 percent of Myanmar's 51 million people are Catholics. The church has been active in Myanmar - also known as Burma - for five centuries.

Myanmar's presidential spokesman, Zaw Htay, said the country wanted to be "part of the international family" and that establishing diplomatic relations with the Vatican was key to that, given its role as a reference point for all Christians.

"Being able to start a diplomatic relationship with Vatican is just what our country loves because we have the tradition of living together with (multiple) religions harmoniously," Htay said.

A spokesman for the Catholic Church in Myanmar, the Rev. Soe Naing, said the new relationship would do more than merely facilitate direct contacts between the Holy See and Yangon.

"This diplomatic relationship is good and will benefit not only the Catholic community but also other religious communities living in Myanmar," he said. "Having another friend for our country will give us help and support."

Suu Kyi's party took power last year as the country transitioned from military to civilian rule.

However, the slower-than-expected pace of democratic reforms and continuing strife with ethnic minorities have raised doubts about what sort of support Suu Kyi should be given internationally, even as investment and trade have boomed at home.

Suu Kyi's supporters say she is hamstrung by a constitution that gives the military enough parliamentary seats to block many policy initiatives, while the army remains answerable in practice only to itself.

Francis in 2015 named Myanmar's first cardinal, tapping the archbishop of Yangon, Charles Maung Bo.

The Holy See, a tiny, walled city state, has diplomatic relations with more than 180 countries. One of the few countries not on the list is China.

___

Htusan contributed from Yangon, Myanmar.

State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi, left, is welcomed by Prefect of the Pontifical Household, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, upon her arrival at the Vatican for a private audience with Pope Francis, Thursday, May 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi is escorted as she leaves the Vatican after a private audience with Pope Francis, Thursday, May 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
NEW YORK (AP) - Fifty years after he launched an underground newspaper that changed music journalism and a great deal more, Jann S. Wenner finds Rolling Stone being showcased in a once-unthinkable forum: a museum.

"At least it's a museum I own," Wenner said with a laugh during a recent telephone interview as he anticipated an anniversary exhibition at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, an institution that Wenner helped found in the 1980s. The three-floor "Rolling Stone/50 years" exhibit opens Friday and runs through late November.

There might not have been a Rock Hall or museum without Rolling Stone, which as much as anybody moved rock and the lifestyle around it from the fringes to the mainstream. Rolling Stone not only chronicled music, politics and culture, but it also helped change it, whether through Wenner's revelatory 1970 interview with John Lennon, the photography of Annie Leibovitz or the "gonzo" reporting of Hunter S. Thompson. Among those getting early starts at Rolling Stone were Leibovitz, Thompson, the music critics Greil Marcus and Lester Bangs, screenwriter Joe Eszterhas and filmmaker Cameron Crowe.

This undated image released by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shows the original logo, top, and the first issue of Rolling Stone magazine, part of an anniversary exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame via AP)

The common thread among the best Rolling Stone contributors has been "extraordinary talent," Wenner says, along with a "sense of purpose" and a distinctive way of "seeing our times."

The exhibit and accompanying coffee-table book capture some of the highlights: Thompson's scathing coverage of the 1972 presidential campaign, the serialization of Tom Wolfe's "The Bonfire of the Vanities" and Michael Hastings' scandalously candid 2010 profile of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, leading to his departure as commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Many of the photographs are indelible to at least one generation: Meryl Streep in greasepaint, tugging at her cheek; Bette Midler in a bed of roses; the men and women of Fleetwood Mac laid out on a single mattress; and most painfully, a naked Lennon clinging to a fully clothed Yoko Ono, a Leibovitz portrait taken just hours before Lennon was shot dead in 1980.

Wenner was only 21 when he and his friend and mentor Ralph J. Gleason started Rolling Stone from a San Francisco warehouse in 1967, the first issue dating from November of that year. Youth tycoons are common now, but 50 years ago it was rare for someone Wenner's age to be running any business, at least one that hoped to make money. His hope then was to bring attention to the music he loved and how it was changing the culture, changes he believed were ignored or belittled by the mainstream media.

"The Beatles and Stones and Dylan are all working at the same time and all (are) bouncing off each other," he says, calling it an "extraordinary alignment of the stars."

Rolling Stone wasn't the first serious rock music publication: Crawdaddy, led by Swarthmore College student Paul Williams, began in 1966. But none have a comparable legacy. By the 1970s, Rolling Stone was so much a part of the music business and its cover such a symbol of success that it inspired Dr. Hook's hit single "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone.'" Rolling Stone become so synonymous with hip, alternative journalism that several movies have featured Rolling Stone reporters, including the 1981 release "Rich and Famous" and, from 2015, "The End of the Tour," starring Jesse Eisenberg as a Rolling Stone reporter and Jason Segel as David Foster Wallace. Crowe made a whole film about his days with the magazine: "Almost Famous."

Rolling Stone continues to make news - some unwanted (its discredited report on an alleged rape at the University of Virginia) and some in the tradition Wenner prefers to uphold, like the political coverage of Matt Taibbi, perhaps best known for likening Goldman Sachs to a "vampire squid."

Wenner says he has no current goals beyond what he's long wanted to do - cover what's going in the country and what excites him, whether the latest band or trend in politics.

The hot topic right now comes down to two words, President Trump.

"Is there any other news?" he says.

This undated image released by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shows an installation featuring photography from Rolling Stone magazine, part of an anniversary exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame via AP)

This undated image released by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shows a replica of the San Francisco office of Rolling Stone magazine, part of an anniversary exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) - Trying to bridge the partisan divide remains Van Jones' vision even if it was the source of one of his roughest moments on CNN.

Jones, host of "The Messy Truth" who announced his affiliation with Jay Z's Roc Nation management firm on Thursday, took heat from fellow liberals for praising President Trump's salute to the widow of a Navy SEAL in a speech before Congress on Feb. 28. Trump "became president of the United States in that moment," Jones said.

From the reaction, you would have thought that the Yale-educated lawyer who was drummed out of the Obama administration by Republican critics had joined the Freedom Caucus. The liberal web site the Daily Kos called it the type of punditry "that was partially responsible for the election of a man who is a clear and present danger for America."

In this April 28, 2017 file photo, Van Jones, host of "The Messy Truth with Van Jones" appears after an interview in New York. Jones is hoping to bolster his activist work by pairing with Jay Z's management firm Roc Nation. The pundit announced the affiliation Thursday, May 4. He hopes the company's expertise in cultural influence helps his work in green initiatives, getting poor youngsters involved in the tech sector and training prison inmates in media skills. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP)

Jones had a more direct confrontation on a New York City street, with a man who accused him of trying to be even-handed at a time of good vs. evil.

Jones believes the flap was a product of clickbait culture and the raw feelings of Democrats.

"It showed some of the insecurities and anxieties of the liberals who were convinced that if even one pundit said one kind thing about Trump than we'd have Hitler, that everything was at stake, and any kind of nuance was just the road to fascism in America," Jones said. "When you're in that kind of mind state, then you jump at a lot of shadows."

His boss, CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker, said he believed the criticism was unfair and illustrated a lack of tolerance that is one of the problems with politics today.

Jones was perhaps the most memorable media figure of election night last fall, both for his discussion of a "whitelash" that helped Trump and an electric confrontation with former Trump campaign manager and then-CNN analyst Corey Lewandowski ("Corey, you're a horrible person right now"). Jones hasn't seen or talked to Lewandowski since that night.

He has a more respectful relationship with Jeffrey Lord, CNN's current Trump point-person. "He amazes me with the creativity of his nonsense," Jones said.

Jones' "Messy Truth" has tried to harness some of the star power Jones earned during the campaign, Zucker said. The show is on hiatus as Jones finishes a book, but Zucker said he hoped it airs two or three times a month when it resumes.

"He's articulate, he's passionate and he's smart, and that's a great combination," Zucker said. "He's not afraid to say what's on his mind and he's not afraid to break with orthodoxy."

In Jones' mind, the country has moved beyond partisanship into a form of tribalism. He recalled that when he joined Instagram and followed hundreds of liberal friends, his feed was a comfortable reflection of what he believed in. But that frustrated him. He made sure to add some conservative voices to get a different perspective.

"If you come in only saying one side is great and the other side is terrible, you're going to miss a whole bunch," Jones said. "You can never say, 'I disagree with these guys, but on these two points, they're 100 percent right. And on these two points, we're really, really stretching it.' You can't have a healthy democracy" without the ability to do that.

Conservatives need to own up to where their leaders are not defending conservative principles and, for example, speak out against interference by the Russians. Liberals have to take stock of their own weaknesses, too.

"It doesn't matter if you're talking about someone who is poor from Appalachia or someone who just lost their job in the Rust Belt, there's very little room in the liberal imagination for straight white guys to be the good guy, and that's a problem," he said. "Liberals have gotten, some section of liberals, uncomfortable with opposing views."

The point of "The Messy Truth" is to get people with opposing views speaking to one another.

Jones describes the show as "a mash-up of Phil Donahue, with the live audience, Anthony Bourdain, where I'm going out into the countryside and discovering America, and a little bit of televangelism, where I get to do a little preaching."

He displayed that side at a Manhattan church one day last week, speaking to a group of political activists. Clearly familiar with a preacher's cadence, he locked the audience in to his vision of peaceful political combat. "I want to be better," he said. "Not bitter."

His activist goals explain the new affiliation with Roc Nation, where he hopes to give more attention to work that isn't talked about much on cable TV. He works on several initiatives: helping young people from underrepresented backgrounds find work in the tech sector, helping train San Quentin inmates for media work, fighting pollution to water supplies and other areas that affect families, and seeking to reduce the prison population. He'll soon announce a national tour for his "Love Army" movement.

Jones inspires the dialogue that is necessary for making change, said Jay Z, adding Roc Nation is honored to support his initiatives.

"Van's immense capacity for empathy builds bridges," he said.

Sounds like the groundwork for accomplishments that can fuel a political career, right?

"Oh, hell no," Jones said, "because I've seen the biggest job up close and it takes people that have a different skill set than I have."

In this April 28, 2017 file photo, Van Jones, host of "The Messy Truth with Van Jones" appears after an interview in New York. Jones is hoping to bolster his activist work by pairing with Jay Z's management firm Roc Nation. The pundit announced the affiliation Thursday, May 4. He hopes the company's expertise in cultural influence helps his work in green initiatives, getting poor youngsters involved in the tech sector and training prison inmates in media skills. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP)
PARIS (AP) - French centrist Emmanuel Macron has already achieved an immense task: A former outsider with little political experience, he is now the front-runner in France's presidential race, banking on a promise to revive the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies.

And the 39-year-old independent held his own against his more-experienced far-right rival Marine Le Pen in a bruising debate this week - just the boost Macron needed for Sunday's presidential runoff.

His solid, intellectual performance showed voters that despite his young age he has the shoulders to helm a nuclear power.

French independent centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron shakes hands to supporters as he campaigns in Rodez, southern France, Friday, May 5, 2017. The 39-year-old independent candidate faces far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen in Sunday's presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

He has been a star student, champion of France's tech startup movement, an investment banker and economy minister - but has never held elected office. That, and his wide-eyed message of hope, is part of his appeal to a disillusioned electorate.

The strong advocate of a free market and entrepreneurial spirit has called for France to focus on getting benefits from globalization rather than the protectionist policies advocated by the far right.

In his political rallies, Macron encourages supporters to wave both the French tricolor and the European Union flags.

Le Pen, who has tapped into working class anger at the loss of their jobs and once-secure futures, calls Macron the face of "the world of finance," the candidate of "the caviar left."

"I'm not under control of the banks. If that was the case, I would have kept working for them," Macron answered.

Macron had an unexpected test of his political skills last week during what became known as "the battle of Whirlpool," when Le Pen upstaged him at a Whirlpool factory in Amiens that is threatened with closure.

Le Pen's surprise appearance put him on the defensive and prompted him to meet with angry Whirlpool workers later the same day. He was whistled and booed when he first arrived. But he stood his ground, patiently debating workers in often heated exchanges about how to stop French jobs from moving abroad.

Macron promised to shake up the political landscape by appointing a government including new figures from business and civil society.

In a country shaken by recent terror attacks, he pledged to boost the police and military as well as the intelligence services and to put pressure on internet giants to better monitor extremism online.

To improve Europe's security, he wants the EU to deploy some 5,000 European border guards to the external borders of the bloc's passport-free travel zone.

Macron doesn't run his campaign alone: His wife is never far away. Brigitte Macron, 24 years his senior, is his closest adviser. She has been by his side during the campaign, supporting him and helping prepare his speeches.

Macron and his wife have publicly described how their unusual romance started - when he was a student at the high school where she was teaching in Amiens in northern France. A married mother of three at the time, she was supervising the drama club. Macron, a literature lover, was a member.

Macron moved to Paris for his last year of high school. "We called each other all the time, we spent hours on the phone, hours and hours," Brigitte Macron recalled in a televised documentary. "Little by little, he overcame all my resistances in an unbelievable way, with patience."

She eventually moved to the French capital to join him, and divorced. They married in 2007.

Emmanuel Macron says he would formalize the job of first lady if he wins the election, and says "she has her word to say in this."

Macron has already experienced the challenge of reforming France.

He quit his job as a banker at Rothschild to become Socialist President Francois Hollande's economic adviser, working for two years by Hollande's side at the presidential palace.

Then as economy minister in Hollande's government from 2014 to 2016, he promoted a package of measures, notably allowing more stores to open on Sundays and evenings and opening up regulated sectors of the economy.

Opponents on the left accused him of destroying workers' protections. Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets for months of protests across France, and the government had to force the law through parliament under special powers.

Macron launched his own political movement, En Marche! - In Motion! - to support his candidacy last year, then quit the government a few months later.

French independent centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron, center, leaves the Rodez cathedral, southern France, Friday, May 5, 2017. The 39-year-old independent candidate faces far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen in Sunday's presidential runoff. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

FILE - In this April 23, 2017 file photo, French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte smile to supporters at his election day headquarters in Paris. Brigitte Macron, the woman would could become France's next first lady not only lives a singular love story with her 24-year-younger husband, she is also his closest collaborator and plays a major role in his campaign. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

FILE - In this file photo dated Tuesday, June 2, 2015, France's Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Trogneux pose for photographers as they arrive at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France. The former outsider with little political experience, Macron is now the front-runner for the second round of France's Sunday May 7 2017 presidential election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Macron has never held elected office and hopes to become president on a promise to revive the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies.(AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, FILE)

FILE - In this file photo dated Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015, French Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs Emmanuel Macron, visits the Hall of Names at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. The former outsider with little political experience, Macron is now the front-runner for the second round of France's Sunday May 7 2017 presidential election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Macron has never held elected office and hopes to become president on a promise to revive the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies.(AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, FILE)

FILE - In this file photo dated Tuesday, May 10, 2016, French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, centre, runs up the steps ahead of an emergency cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, after the French government decided to use special powers to pass a hotly contested labor reform without vote at lower house of parliament. The former outsider with little political experience, Macron is now considered the front-runner for the second round of France's Sunday May 7 2017, presidential election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Macron has never held elected office and hopes to become president on a promise to revive the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies.(AP Photo/Christophe Ena, FILE)

FILE - In this file photo dated Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016 French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron wears a paper crown as he tastes the traditional Epiphany cake during a visit to a shopping center on the first day of the winter sales in Paris. The former outsider with little political experience, Macron is now the front-runner for the second round of France's Sunday May 7 2017 presidential election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Macron has never held elected office and is banking on a promise to revive the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, FILE)

FILE - In this file photo dated Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, French President Francois Hollande, left, shakes hands with new French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron while French Finance Minister Michel Sapin, center, looks on, after the weekly cabinet meeting in Paris, France. The former outsider with little political experience, Macron is now the front-runner for the second round of France's Sunday May 7 2017 presidential election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Macron has never held elected office and hopes to become president on a promise to revive the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, FILE)

FILE - In this file photo dated Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016, Former French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, signs copies of his book "Revolution", in Paris. The former outsider with little political experience, Macron is now the front-runner for the second round of France's Sunday May 7 2017 presidential election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Macron has never held elected office and hopes to become president on a promise to revive the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies.(AP Photo/Thibault Camus, FILE)

FILE - In this file photo dated Wednesday Oct. 29, 2014, French President Francois Hollande, gestures as he walks with economy minister Emmanuel Macron in the lobby of the Elysee Palace following the weekly cabinet meeting in Paris. The former outsider with little political experience, Macron is now the front-runner for the second round of France's Sunday May 7 2017 presidential election against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Macron has never held elected office but is banking on a promise to revive the country through radical pro-business measures and pro-European policies. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, FILE)
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump will meet with President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia at the White House later this month.

The White House says the two presidents plan to discuss the relationship between their countries as well as drug trafficking and organized crime. They'll also focus on implementation of Colombia's peace agreement and strategies for countering the democratic backsliding of neighboring Venezuela.

Their meeting is to take place May 18.

The Colombian Embassy says Santos will also meet with Vice President Mike Pence, other administration officials and House Speaker Paul Ryan and key lawmakers.

In addition, the embassy says Santos plans to participate in a summit of the new U.S.-Colombia Business Council, as well as talk with business leaders.
HELENA, Mont. (AP) - A South African gold mining company has completed a $2.2 billion acquisition of the only U.S. producer of platinum and palladium.

Thursday's announcement comes a little more than a week after shareholders of both Sibanye Gold Limited and Littleton, Colorado-based Stillwater Mining Co. approved the merger.

The U.S. government also reviewed the purchase to ensure there are no national security issues.

Stillwater operates a Montana mining complex that produces precious metals used in vehicles and in jewelry. Precious metals prices have plummeted from a high in 2008, leading to layoffs at the Stillwater mine in recent years.

This is Sibanye's third acquisition of a platinum mining company since 2016. Company officials say in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that they are optimistic about the future of the precious metals markets.
COLTON, N.Y. (AP) - American authorities say the pilot of a small plane registered in Canada has been killed in a crash in northern New York.

Federal Aviation Administration says a twin-engine Piper PA-31 departed Wednesday night from Jean Lesage International Airport outside Quebec City and was headed to Sainte-Hubert Airport near Montreal.

The FAA says the plane later crashed into woods in Colton, in the northwest Adirondack Mountains 95 miles (153 kilometers) southwest of Montreal. The agency says the pilot was the only person on board.

The St. Lawrence County coroner pronounced the pilot dead at the scene. State police on Thursday identified him as 35-year-old Eric Carrier, of St. Gedeon de Beauce, Quebec.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
TOWSON, Md. (AP) - Authorities in Maryland say they have exhumed a priest's body as part of an investigation into the decades-old slaying of a Baltimore nun.

Media outlets report that Baltimore County police dug up A. Joseph Maskell's grave in February to extract material for a DNA profile. The development was first reported by WJZ-TV.

Police said in February that they were again conducting interviews in the slaying of 26-year-old Sister Catherine Ann Cesnik, whose decomposing body was found in a Lansdowne field in 1970. The case is the subject of the upcoming Netflix documentary, "The Keepers."

Investigators want to compare the DNA of Maskell, who died in 2001, to evidence from the crime scene. Police spokeswoman Elisa Armacost says results will take up to six more weeks.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Latest on the Kansas Supreme Court's continued review of the capital murder cases of two brothers sentenced to die for what became known as "the Wichita massacre" (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

The Kansas Supreme Court is struggling with how much discretion it has to spare two brothers from execution for four notorious Wichita slayings following a U.S. Supreme Court decision against them.

FILE - This combination of 2013 file photos provided by the Kansas Department of Corrections shows Reginald Carr, left, and Jonathan Carr. The Kansas Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments from attorneys Thursday, May 4, 2017, considering for a second time whether to spare the two brothers from being executed for four murders in December 2000 in what became known as "the Wichita massacre" after earlier rulings in the men's favor sparked a political backlash. (Kansas Department of Corrections via AP, File)

The Kansas court heard arguments Thursday in the cases of Jonathan and Reginald Carr. They were convicted of dozens of crimes against five people in December 2000 that ended with the victims being shot in a field. One woman survived.

The Kansas court previously overturned their death sentences in 2014 in part because it believed it was unfair to have them tried and sentenced together rather than separately. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that the U.S. Constitution didn't require separate proceedings.

Attorneys for the men argued that the Kansas Constitution requires separate sentencing hearings.

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12:30 a.m.

The Kansas Supreme Court is considering for a second time whether to spare two brothers from being executed for four slayings in what became known as "the Wichita massacre."

The justices were hearing arguments from attorneys Thursday in the cases of Jonathan and Reginald Carr.

They were convicted of dozens of crimes against five people in December 2000 that ended with the victims being shot in a field. One woman survived.

The crimes were among the most notorious in the state since the 1959 slayings of a western Kansas family that inspired the book "In Cold Blood."

The Kansas court overturned the death sentences in July 2014 and cited flaws in their joint trial and sentencing hearing. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Kansas court's rulings and forced another review.
KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - A former vacation resort executive has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in what federal prosecutors called a $300 million scam.

A federal judge in Key West, Florida, imposed the sentence Thursday on 60-year-old David Schwarz. A jury previously found Schwarz guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and Internal Revenue Service interference.

Schwarz was once chief financial officer and one-third owner of the Cay Clubs Resorts and Marinas, which operated resorts in the Florida Keys, Clearwater, Orlando and Las Vegas. Prosecutors say 1,400 investors who purchased units in Cay Clubs developments were defrauded.

The resort's former president, Fred Davis "Dave" Clark Jr., was sentenced last year to 40 years in federal prison. Two former sales executives were sentenced to five years in prison.

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Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday aimed at weakening the enforcement of a law that bars churches and tax-exempt groups from endorsing political candidates. A look at the law in question, known as the Johnson Amendment:

WHAT IT DOES

The law prohibits tax-exempt charitable organizations such as churches from participating directly or indirectly in any political campaign to support or oppose a candidate. That means no donations to candidates' campaigns and no public statements explicitly on behalf of or against a candidate.

FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2016 file photo, Donald Trump gestures during a speech at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. President Donald Trump on Thursday, May 4, 2017, signed a new executive order aimed at weakening the enforcement of a law that bars churches and tax-exempt groups from endorsing political candidates. A look at the law in question, known as the Johnson Amendment. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

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WHAT IT DOESN'T DO

It doesn't stop religious groups from weighing in on public policy or organizing in ways that may benefit one side in a campaign. Plenty of religiously grounded organizations or movements - Roman Catholic bishops, the Christian Coalition, you name it - have delved fiercely into political causes, and preachers of the left and right are not shy about exhorting their followers to political action. The law requires them to stop short of endorsing candidates, but their leanings are often not a mystery.

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WHY IT MATTERS

To supporters, the law is central to the constitutional separation of church and state. To opponents, it's a gag on the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.

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WHAT TRUMP DID

Trump said his action is meant to ensure that people are not penalized for their "protected religious beliefs" and that religious institutions are not "unfairly" targeted for political speech. In effect, the order discourages the IRS from going after churches aggressively for their political expression. But the law stays on the books; an executive order cannot change it.

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GENESIS: IN THE BEGINNING ...

A Republican Congress and Republican president, Dwight Eisenhower, brought the law into effect in 1954, but it was the handiwork of Lyndon Johnson, then a Democratic senator from Texas and later president.

LBJ was no altar boy for the Constitution's edicts on church and state. He was livid that a few nonprofit groups attacked him as a communist in a Senate campaign. His amendment was meant to slam such organizations by revoking their tax-exempt status if they went over the line in the partisan fray. His amendment was not focused on religious groups, but covers them.

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FITFULLY ENFORCED

The IRS has not been particularly aggressive in enforcing the law. Revoking a religious organization's tax exemption risks accusations that the government is crushing religious freedom. But the fact it possesses that power has kept interference in partisan politics in check, as the law's supporters see it, and represents government overreach in the mind of critics.

In September, Gov. Matt Bevin, R-Ky., told preachers the law was a "paper tiger" and they should embrace political speech more boldly. "There is no reason to fear it," he said. "There is no reason to be silent."

Lisa Runquist, a California lawyer who specializes in nonprofit and religious tax law, said it is a law with a lot of gray area, but she counsels clients to stay on the safe side of it. "Do you want to be the test case that goes forward?" she said she asks them.

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WHAT A VIOLATION LOOKS LIKE

Runquist cites a case in the 1990s when a New York church bought full-page newspaper advertisements that called on Christians not to vote for Bill Clinton. The organization Americans United for the Separation of Church and State lodged a complaint with the IRS. The IRS investigated, denied the church's exempt status and a federal court upheld that decision.

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Associated Press writers Dylan Lovan and Claire Galofaro in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this report.

FILE - In this June 20, 2005 file photo, Rev. Jerry Falwell speaks at the SBC Pastors' Conference in Nashville, Tenn. President Donald Trump on Thursday, May 4, 2017, signed a new executive order aimed at weakening the enforcement of a law that bars churches and tax-exempt groups from endorsing political candidates. A look at the law in question, known as the Johnson Amendment. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

FILE - In this July 30, 1954 file photo, then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson, D-Texas, holds news conference in Washington. President Donald Trump on Thursday, May 4, 2017, signed a new executive order aimed at weakening the enforcement of a law that bars churches and tax-exempt groups from endorsing political candidates. A look at the law in question, known as the Johnson Amendment. (AP Photo/Charles Gorry, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2016 file photo, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin speaks before a joint legislative session in the House Chambers at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. President Donald Trump on Thursday, May 4, 2017, signed a new executive order aimed at weakening the enforcement of a law that bars churches and tax-exempt groups from endorsing political candidates. A look at the law in question, known as the Johnson Amendment. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Barack Obama endorsed a candidate in the race for France's presidency on Thursday, taking his first dive back into international politics since leaving the White House in January.

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron released a video from Obama Thursday morning with the former president touting his candidacy.

"I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run," Obama said. "He has stood up for liberal values; he put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world; and he is committed to a better future for the French people. He appeals to people's hopes, and not their fears."

In this image taken from video made available by the Obama Foundation, former U.S President Barack Obama relays a message showing his support for French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron. In a message posted Thursday May 4, 2017 on Macron's Twitter account, Obama said he was endorsing the centrist candidate "because of how important this election is." Obama ended his message with the words "En Marche" - which is the name of Macron's political movement and "Vive La France." (Obama Foundation via AP)

Macron is facing far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday's runoff vote. Polls suggest Macron is well ahead.

Obama said he doesn't plan to get involved often in political situations. "I'm not planning to get involved in many elections now that I don't have to run for office again, but the French election is very important to the future of France and the values that we care so much about. Because the success of France matters to the entire world," he said.

Macron asked Obama for his support, an Obama aide said. Obama called Macron privately in April and praised him, but declined to make an endorsement. But now, Obama decided to weigh in because he believes France's success impacts international challenges on the global stage, the aide said.

The aide spoke on background because the aide wasn't authorized to speak about Obama's deliberations.

Political scientist Dov H. Levin of Carnegie-Mellon University called Obama's endorsement unusual for a former president. Presidents like Bill Clinton have tried to personally influence elections in places like Russia and Israel while in office, but Levin said he has not come across an instance where a former president has offered an endorsement in a foreign leadership race like Obama.

Levin, who studies U.S. attempts to influence elections in other countries, said it is rare for a former president to have enough popularity or influence in a foreign country for his assistance to even be desired. "My guess is that Macron found that Obama, even as a former president, still has enough cachet, enough influence with French voters to make it worth asking for his endorsement," Levin said.

Obama ended his message with the words "En Marche," the name of Macron's political movement which means "In Motion" in English, and "Vive La France."

President Donald Trump has praised Macron's opponent, Le Pen, although he has not explicitly endorsed her.

"She's the strongest on borders, and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France," Trump said in an April 21 interview with The Associated Press. "Whoever is the toughest on radical Islamic terrorism, and whoever is the toughest at the borders, will do well in the election."

Obama has mostly stayed in the background in American politics since Trump moved into the White House. When congressional Republicans first planned to vote down his signature health care plan, the Affordable Care Act on its seventh anniversary, Obama broke his silence to tout the law's effectiveness. "Thanks to this law, more than twenty million Americans have gained the security and peace of mind of health insurance," he said back in March.

House Republicans narrowly approved a bill striking down parts of the law on Thursday.

Obama, through a spokesman, has also criticized Trump's attempt to ban the entry of citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries into the United States, which was eventually halted by the federal courts.

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Former President Barack Obama's video endorsing Emmanuel Macron: https://en-marche.fr/article/soutien-obama-macron

In this image taken from video made available by the Obama Foundation, former U.S President Barack Obama relays a message showing his support for French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron. In a message posted Thursday May 4, 2017 on Macron's Twitter account, Obama said he was endorsing the centrist candidate "because of how important this election is." Obama ended his message with the words "En Marche" - which is the name of Macron's political movement and "Vive La France." (Obama Foundation via AP)
PJ Morton, "Gumbo" (Morton Records)

PJ Morton may be the keyboardist for pop-rock band Maroon 5, but he returns to his New Orleans musical roots on his new solo album.

Morton, who joined Adam Levine and friends in 2012, meshes an easy-flowing sound of contemporary soul with gospel elements on "Gumbo." It's a musical approach that works for Morton, whose father is Bishop Paul Morton, a Stellar Award winner and Grammy-nominated gospel artist.

This cover image released by Morton Records shows "Gumbo," the latest release by PJ Morton. (Morton Records via AP)

Morton's fourth offering is a short listen, lasting less than 30 minutes. But in nine tracks, he takes advantage of every last second, speaking on various topics, from love to religion.

On "Claustrophobic," Morton sings and raps about being musically stifled after someone suggested they wanted to tinker with his sound because he wasn't "mainstream enough." With horns blaring, he answers with the follow-up track "Sticking to My Guns."

Morton questions some people's religious stance on "Religion," singing: "But you blame God when it's all your fault/Where's the love that your God spoke of?" He also sings about recapturing the first love-struck moment of initially meeting a potential mate on "First Began," the first track on the album.

The rest of the tracks are just as enjoyable as Morton continues to raise his musical talents to another level.

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Follow Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrLandrum31. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jonathan-landrum
WASHINGTON (AP) - Members of Congress from a historically black sorority are calling for civil rights investigations into a racist incident at American University in Washington, where someone hung bananas from nooses.

The bananas hanging by nooses from trees and lampposts were found in at least five locations on campus on Monday, less than 24 hours after Taylor Dumpson became the school's first black student body president.

The bananas included messages targeting the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, of which Dumpson is a member.

American University student government president Taylor Dumpson, second from right, accompanied by Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., left, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, second from left, and others speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 4, 2017. Several bananas hanging from nooses were found on the AU campus on Monday, May 1, 2017, less than a day after Dumpson became the school's first black student body president. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

At a news conference outside the Capitol on Thursday, Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to denounce and investigate the incident. Lee and other members of Congress said President Donald Trump needs to speak out as well.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas., talks with American University student government president Taylor Dumpson, right, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 4, 2017. Several bananas hanging from nooses were found on the AU campus on Monday, May 1, 2017, less than a day after Dumpson became the school's first black student body president. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
MOSCOW (AP) - A Russian performance artist noted for macabre, politically charged actions has told the Interfax news agency that he has received political asylum in France.

Pyotr Pavlensky sought asylum in January after being informed of rape accusations against him. He was jailed for six months in 2015-16 after setting fire to the doors of the headquarters of the Russian federal security agency in Moscow.

His most vivid and shocking action was in 2013, when he nailed his scrotum to the cobblestones of Red Square in what he said was a metaphor for Russian political apathy.

"Yes, it's true; I got political asylum," he was quoted as telling Interfax on Thursday.
WILMINGTON, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio woman who authorities found trapped in a small pit in a neighbor's shed testified in court Thursday that the man told her he loved her as he closed the shed door.

The woman testified at a hearing for Dennis Dunn in Clinton County Municipal Court. Dunn, 45, was arrested April 26 on a charge of kidnapping when police found the woman after someone reported hearing cries from the shed in Blanchester, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Cincinnati.

Police have said she may have been trapped about four hours.

Dunn's lawyer, James Hartke, said Thursday that no plea has been entered, but that he does not believe Dunn is guilty of kidnapping. The judge sent the case to the county Common Pleas Court, and it's expected to go before a grand jury.

Hartke has said he believes Dunn suffers from an undiagnosed mental disorder. The judge did not rule on his request for a court-ordered psychological evaluation to determine if Dunn is competent to assist in his defense, Hartke said.

Police have said Dunn has a history of mental health issues.

The woman's mother initially reported her missing about 2 a.m. April 26. Police said the mother called them about two hours later to report hearing cries from the shed behind Dunn's house. An officer found the woman in the shed, crouching in a pit about 2 feet wide by 2 feet long and about 3 1/2 feet deep (0.6 meters wide by 0.6 meters long and 1 meter deep) with wood over the top of it.

The 30-year-old woman testified Thursday that she remembers stepping outside her home to smoke a cigarette, but doesn't remember exactly how she got into the shed.

"When he closed the shed door, he said, 'I love you.' I remember banging on the dirt and screaming," WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reported the woman testified.

The woman appeared to be having a seizure when police found her and was taken to a hospital, where she was treated and released, police said.

She says she has seizures and didn't take her medicine that morning.

"She also testified that Mr. Dunn never physically stopped her from leaving," Hartke said. "To me, that means that he did not kidnap her; might have been, potentially, unlawful restraint."

Police Chief Scott Reinbolt has said heavy objects, including lawn equipment, had been placed on the wood over the pit, preventing the woman from getting out.

A message seeking comment from the prosecutor wasn't immediately returned Thursday.

Police have said that the woman in October 2016 reported receiving harassing phone calls and text messages from Dunn, who she and her family had known for years. The woman declined to participate in any prosecution of Dunn at that time.
ATLANTA (AP) - A federal judge on Thursday ordered Georgia officials to reopen voter registration in a suburban Atlanta congressional district ahead of a heated special election that's seen by many as a test of President Donald Trump's influence.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten ruled in favor of civil rights advocacy groups who argued that Georgia violated federal law by preventing more new voter registrations before the June 20 runoff.

Georgia had set the registration deadline on March 20, 30 days before the first round of voting in April. Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel, the top two vote-getters, advanced to a runoff in the conservative 6th District. Democrats hope Ossoff, who came within 2 percentage points of outright victory in the first round, can upset Handel in the tight race. Trump raised funds for Handel in a recent Atlanta visit.

FILE- In this April 18, 2017, file photo, Democratic candidate for Georgia's Sixth Congressional Seat Jon Ossoff speaks to supporters during an election-night watch party in Dunwoody, Ga. A federal judge on Thursday, May 4, ordered Georgia officials to reopen voter registration in a suburban Atlanta congressional district ahead of a runoff in a heated special election between Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Batten, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush in 2005, ordered the state to extend the deadline to May 21 and to allow any district resident registered by that day to cast a ballot in the runoff. He said he wouldn't order the state to publicize the change but that he expects the Secretary of State, Georgia's top elections official, to update his website with the new information.

Candice Broce, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Brian Kemp, said the state will comply with the judge's order.

Batten said in court that his Thursday order only applies to the June runoff and not to future elections.

Jill Boyd Myers, one of the people on whose behalf the lawsuit was filed, moved from Atlanta to suburban Sandy Springs in the 6th District two days after the March 20 registration cutoff. Despite having been registered to vote in Georgia since she moved here from Ohio in 2011, she was upset to learn she wouldn't be eligible to vote in the runoff.

"This just felt like a real prohibition of our rights as citizens," she said after the hearing, adding that she was thrilled with the judge's ruling.

Attorneys for the state argued that federal law allows states to determine voters' qualifications, including registration deadlines. The state constitution defines a runoff election as a "continuation of the general election," and allows only those eligible to vote in the initial election to cast a ballot in the runoff, attorneys wrote in court documents laying out the state's argument.

"It's one contest with one electorate," state attorney Josiah Heidt told the judge.

Georgia's attorneys also provided declarations from state and local election officials, who were concerned that a last-minute change would leave little time before the runoff to prepare.

Batten acknowledged the arguments that it would be difficult for the state to be ready in time, but said he saw nothing to show it would be impossible.

Chris Harvey, director of the state's Division of Elections, said in a court filing that a new registration deadline would force rapid testing by the equipment vendor and the Kennesaw State University's Center for Election Systems before early voting begins on May 30.

That could raise the risk of a "serious mistake" that damages the election's integrity, he wrote.

The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a Washington-based advocacy group that sued on behalf of civil rights organizations, argued that the state has been aware of their concerns since the end of March.

"We're talking about taking away the right to cast a ballot in a very important election regardless of who you are," Julie Houk, with the Lawyers' Committee, said in court.

Kate Constantini, a spokeswoman for Handel's campaign, sees the lawsuit as a partisan maneuver.

"When the Democrats can't win following the rules - rules they themselves authored and enforced - they file partisan lawsuits to change them," Constantini said in an email. "This lawsuit should be seen for exactly what it is: A partisan attempt to change the rules for a nakedly partisan outcome."

Ossoff, in an emailed statement, urged all voters to exercise their rights.

"Voting rights are constitutional rights," he said. "I encourage all eligible voters to ensure that they are registered and make their voices heard on June 20th and in all elections, regardless of their party or political persuasion."

Emory University political science professor Alan Abramowitz predicted the decision will benefit Ossoff more than Handel. He said Republicans will be older, longtime residents and more likely to be registered already. Democrats can cultivate a growing number of Latino or Asian-American residents who have moved into the district in recent years but aren't yet registered, he said.

"Everything points to this being a very close race, and it's likely to be decided by one or two points," Abramowitz said. "Even a few hundred new voters could conceivably tip the balance."
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):

6:15 p.m.

President Donald Trump is making his first return home to New York since taking office.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before his departure from Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Thursday, May 4, 2017. Trump is traveling to New York to meet for the first time with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and aim to move past the rocky start of their working relationship. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Air Force One landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport Thursday evening.

Trump is set to travel to Manhattan to meet with the Australian prime minister and give a speech marking the anniversary of a famed World War II battle.

Trump grew up in New York and, a famed homebody, would return to Trump Tower nearly every night during last year's campaign.

But he has not set foot in New York since he left for Washington on Jan. 19, the day before his inauguration.

He only received 18 percent of the city's vote last November. Several protests have been scheduled throughout the city during his stay.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Nearly 80 patients were evacuated after a fire caused a small explosion at a hospital in Puerto Rico on Thursday, officials said. No one was injured.

The fire occurred at Doctors' Center Hospital in the capital of San Juan, prompting medical staff to rush patients to other nearby hospitals.

Fire Department spokeswoman Brenda Rodriguez said the fire began in a staff break room on the 6th floor that was undergoing renovations. She said the fire then sparked an explosion that blew out several windows.

Authorities are investigating what caused the fire.
MIAMI (AP) - A former pilot for Colombia's Medellin cartel during Miami's "cocaine cowboy" years has been indicted along with seven others from Florida and Missouri in a complex automobile fraud scheme.

Miami federal prosecutors said in a news release Thursday that 71-year-old Mickey Munday was among those charged with 14 fraud counts each. Munday and the others face maximum prison sentences of 20 years on each count.

A convicted felon, Munday has given frequent interviews and appears in the 2006 documentary "Cocaine Cowboys" about the violent 1982 drug trade. He did not respond to a text message seeking comment.

FILE- In this Aug. 11, 2016 file photo, Mickey Munday talks to a reporter in Love Park in North Miami, Fla. Munday, a former pilot for Colombia's Medellin cartel during Miami's "cocaine cowboy" years was indicted Thursday, May 4, 2017, along with seven others from Florida and Missouri in a complex automobile fraud scheme. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)

Investigators say the group used various means to fraudulently obtain vehicles that were later sold for more than $1.6 million between 2008 and 2016.

Prosecutors say Munday's role was to hide the vehicles.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - John Andretti spent more than a decade as one of auto racing's true iron men.

He started 49 consecutive IndyCar races from 1990-92 before moving to NASCAR, where he made 29 or more starts every year from 1994-2003. He was the first driver to attempt the Memorial Day double. And when his driving career was winding down, Andretti still found a way to give something back to the fans and the sport.

Now, the 54-year-old former racer is fighting for his life against stage four colon cancer that has spread to his liver.

FILE - In this May 19, 2010, file photo, John Andretti watches during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. The month of May is traditionally a celebration for the Andretti family. This year, John Andretti, Mario Andretti's nephew, is battling late-stage colon cancer that has spread to his liver. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)

"It's tough because me and John are close," former IndyCar driver and current team owner Michael Andretti said Thursday in Indianapolis. "It was devastating for the whole family when they got the news and on top of that it's very frustrating because it could have been prevented. If he'd gone a year ago, we wouldn't be here."

May in Indianapolis has been a family spot for the Andretti family for more than half a century.

Twin brothers Mario, Michael's father, and Aldo, John's father, first started coming to the Brickyard in the mid-1960s. In 1984, Mario found himself against Indianapolis 500 rookie Michael. John joined the family club in 1988 and after making seven straight starts, through 1994, left for NASCAR. During his absence, Mario tested a car for his injured son and Michael came out of retirement to race against his own son, Marco, in 2006. In 2007, three Andrettis - Michael, John and Marco - were back on the 33-car starting grid.

This time won't be the same.

Rather than recounting the good old days, talking about The Andretti Curse or perhaps the three biggest story lines in town this month - defending champion Alexander Rossi, two-time Formula One champ Fernando Alonso and Andretti Autosport's six-car team - has been overtaken by John Andretti's sad story.

The first indication of his condition came Monday. By Thursday, team officials had scheduled a news conference with Michael and Jarett Andretti, John's 24-year-old son, to confirm a diagnosis. Their message was simple: Don't wait to get a colonoscopy.

They've even started a campaign called #CheckIt4Andretti.

Just a few weeks ago, Michael Andretti finally went in for a colonoscopy, which he said came back clear and put his mind at ease.

Meanwhile, Jarrett Andretti said that as his father battles the side effects of chemotherapy, he has been working out, has seen the cancer cells in his blood count decline and that he remains upbeat.

"He's been fighting his whole life," Jarett Andretti said. "He doesn't smoke, he doesn't drink, nothing. But he's strong and he's still fighting."

And he's about to start telling his story.

John Andretti has scheduled a news conference for Monday in Charlotte, is expected to take questions from reporters in Indy on May 18 and Michael Andretti is planning an announcement before race day, May 28, to announce what the team will do to honor his cousin.

___

More AP auto racing: www.racing.ap.org

Car owner Michael Andretti talks about his cousin John Andretti being diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer as John Andretti's son, Jarett Andretti listens during an auto racing news conference in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
WASHINGTON (AP) - Pitching religious free expression, President Donald Trump accused the former Obama administration Thursday of banning patients at a military hospital from receiving religious items from visitors. That episode is not quite as the president described it.

Here's what he said and what happened more than five years ago at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland:

TRUMP, citing lawsuits against the Obama administration alleging violations of religious freedom: "The abuses were all over. As just one example, people were forbidden from giving or receiving religious items at a military hospital where our brave service members were being treated, and when they wanted those religious items. These were great, great people. These are great soldiers. They wanted those items. They were precluded from getting them."

From left, Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross pause in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 4, 2017, prior to President Donald Trump signing an executive order aimed at easing an IRS rule limiting political activity for churches. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

THE FACTS: The policy, in 2011, was a bungled rule that was never enforced, Walter Reed officials said at the time. So it's unlikely that patients who wanted a Bible or religious item from a visiting family member or friend were denied.

The policy was meant to stop benevolent organizations from bothering patients by proselytizing to them, after complaints surfaced that visitors from some groups were persistent and occasionally even threatening. But it was written too broadly, stating no religious items could be given away or used during a visit.

"Due to the wording of that policy, religious groups interpreted the policy to be an outright ban on visitation and distribution of religious items," Pentagon spokesman Johnny Michael told The Associated Press on Thursday. "The policy was subsequently rewritten to eliminate ambiguity."

Even before that happened, families were allowed to bring religious materials, and no religious groups were refused entrance, Walter Reed officials said in a 2011 statement.

Bibles and other religious materials are on hand at the hospital, and worship services and religious studies are offered for the various faiths, they said. At admission, they said, "all patients are asked for their religious preference and a chaplain associated with their preference visits them regularly to provide spiritual services."

"Family members have been and will always be allowed to bring religious materials and texts," Walter Reed officials said January 2012, the month the policy was clarified.

___

Find all AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. GUSTAVO XAVIER, Appellant v. SUPERINTENDENT ALBION SCI; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA; THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY PHILADELPHIA No. 16-1289 Decided: May 03, 2017

Before: SMITH, Chief Judge, McKEE, and SHWARTZ, Circuit Judges.

OPINION*

Appellant Gustavo Xavier appeals the district court order dismissing his habeas petition. For the reasons that follow, we affirm in part and vacate in part.

I.

Since the district court dismissed Xavier's petition without conducting an evidentiary hearing, our review of the district court's legal conclusions is plenary. We apply the same standard of review as the district court, pursuant to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA). Our review of the district court's determination regarding procedural default is also plenary.

II.

Xavier was charged with criminal homicide and aggravated assault. He attempted suicide after killing the victim and was admitted to a hospital. Police came to the hospital, read him his rights, and interrogated him for 75 minutes.

He pled guilty to one count of third-degree murder and agreed to a maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years. In exchange for his plea, the original criminal homicide and aggravated assault charges against him were dropped.

Xavier now alleges that his guilty plea was not knowing, voluntary, and intelligent due to ineffective assistance of counsel. He also alleges that his claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to advise him that manslaughter is a lesser-included offense to homicide is not procedurally defaulted. We will address each of these claims in turn.

A. Failure to Move to Suppress the Confession

Xavier alleges that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to move to suppress allegedly inadmissible inculpatory statements he made to police who questioned him while he was hospitalized after trying to commit suicide. He claims that absent counsel's alleged failure, the Government would have lost substantial leverage, and he would have demanded a plea to manslaughter. The Superior Court denied this claim on the merits and Xavier thereafter filed this habeas petition in federal court where a magistrate judge recommended that the petition be denied on the merits as to this claim. The district court adopted this recommendation. We will affirm the district court's order.

An application for habeas relief shall not be granted for any claim adjudicated on the merits in state court unless the state court's adjudication resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established Federal law  or resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding.

[A] federal habeas court may not issue the writ simply because that court concludes in its independent judgment that the relevant state-court decision applied clearly established federal law erroneously or incorrectly. Rather, that application must also be [objectively] unreasonable.

To state an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, a habeas petitioner must establish that (1) counsel's performance was deficient; and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. To satisfy the second prong, petitioner must show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's errors, he would not have pleaded guilty and would have insisted on going to trial.

Here, the Superior Court concluded that Xavier failed to establish that he was prejudiced by his guilty plea. The court noted that Xavier has not averred that, but for guilty plea counsel's failure to file a suppression motion, he would not have entered into the negotiated guilty plea. Further, during the oral guilty plea colloquy, [Xavier] affirmatively acknowledged that, by pleading guilty, he was giving up all rights he may have had to file any all [sic] pre-trial motions, including motions to suppress.

We do not find the state court's determination to be unreasonable. As the Superior Court concluded, Xavier has not alleged that, but for counsel's failure to file a suppression motion, he would not have pled guilty to third degree murder. At best, Xavier argues that if counsel had investigated the circumstances,  the Petitioner would not have been induced by counsel to have ple[d] guilty to murder in the third degree, because the Petitioner's counsel would have seen undeniable proof that at the very most Petitioner should have been charged with was Manslaughter. In light of this, we cannot say that the Superior Court's decision was based on an unreasonable determination of the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. Accordingly, we affirm the district court's decision regarding the failure to move to suppress claim.

B. Procedural Default Issue

Xavier alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to advise him that the charge of criminal homicide included an alternative lesser-included manslaughter offense. The magistrate judge recommended that Xavier's petition be denied because this claim was procedurally defaulted under Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 2119(a), and the district court agreed. Xavier now challenges that conclusion.

We may not grant a writ of habeas corpus unless the petitioner has exhausted the remedies available in the courts of the State. To exhaust his claims, the petitioner must fairly present all federal claims to the highest state court before bringing them in federal court. Nonetheless, even when a petitioner brings a claim in state court, a federal court ordinarily may not review it on the merits if the state court's denial of relief is based on a procedural default that rests on an independent and adequate state rule. A state rule is independent and adequate if (1) the rule speaks in unmistakable terms; (2) all state appellate courts refused to review the petitioner's claims on the merits; and (3) their refusal was consistent with other decisions. Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 2119(a) is an independent and adequate state law ground precluding federal habeas review.

Rule 2119(a) requires that a party's argument shall be divided into as many parts as there are questions to be argued; and shall have at the head of each partin distinctive type or in type distinctively displayedthe particular point treated therein, followed by such discussion and citation of authorities as are deemed pertinent.

Xavier's submissions to the Superior Court provided detailed allegations and case law concerning counsel's failure to advise him of lesser-included offenses. For example, in his amended pro se PCRA Petition, Xavier argued that trial counsel was ineffective, as counsel

knew and understood that  Petitioner knew and/or understood little if not none of the criminal proceedings,  [and] if [counsel] had investigated the circumstances,  the Petitioner would not have been induced by counsel to have ple[d] guilty to murder in the third degree, because the Petitioner's counsel would have seen undeniable proof that at the very most Petitioner should have been charged with was Manslaughter.18

Similarly, in his pro se memorandum in support of his supplemental PCRA Petition, Xavier argued that counsel did not investigate the matters surrounding the criminal prosecution. Defense counsel must investigate all apparently substantial defenses available to defendant and must assert them  Xavier also included case law in his pro se memorandum that addressed the need for, and the failure of, counsel to know that Xavier could have been convicted of a lesser charge. Further, Xavier submitted a supplemental brief to the Superior Court which significantly developed the argument that he should have been charged with manslaughter.

Although Xavier combines several arguments in his memorandum, he complies with Rule 2119(a), as he provides a sufficient factual and legal basis for the court to address his claim. Rule 2119(a) ensure[s] that a brief serves its purpose  to permit the appellate court to address the assignments on their merits and thus requires them to include discussion and citation of authorities. Xavier fairly presented his claims to the state court, and his briefs provided the Superior Court with facts and citation of authorities from which the court could discern his argument and thus address his claim on the merits. Accordingly, given Xavier's compliance with Rule 2119(a), we reverse the district court's order insofar as it concluded that Xavier is procedurally barred from arguing a Sixth Amendment violation based on counsel's purported failure to advise him of the possibility of a manslaughter charge. The matter will be remanded for the district court to address this claim on the merits.

IV.

For the reasons set forth above, we will affirm in part and vacate in part and remand for further proceedings.

FOOTNOTES

. The district court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.  2254. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.  1291 and 2253.

. See Marshall v. Hendricks, 307 F.3d 36, 50 (3d Cir. 2002).

. Pub. L. No. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214 (1996).

. Albrecht v. Horn, 485 F.3d 103, 114 (3d Cir. 2007).

. Appellant Br. at 35.

. 28 U.S.C.  2254(d)(1)-(2).

. Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 411 (2000).

. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984).

. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 59 (1985).

. App. 385.

. App. 385 n.6.

. App. 249-50  10.

. 28 U.S.C.  2254(b)(1)(A).

. Taylor v. Horn, 504 F.3d 416, 427 (3d Cir. 2007) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).

. Nara v. Frank, 488 F.3d 187, 199 (3d Cir. 2007); see also Coleman v. Thompson, 501 U.S. 722, 731 (1991); Rolan v. Coleman, 680 F.3d 311, 317 (3d Cir. 2012).

. Nara, 488 F.3d at 199.

. Pa. R.A.P. 2119(a).

. App. 249-50  10.

. App. 257 (citing Commonwealth v. Gainor, 432 A.2d 1116 (Pa. Super 1981)).

. App. 258 (citing Commonwealth v. Nace, 295 A.2d 87 (Pa. Super. 1972) (In view of the possibility that defense counsel was unaware that defendant could have been convicted of lesser offense, and was unfairly prejudiced in preparation of defense to that charge, and of the possibility that prosecutor overcharged to coerce plea or to influence jury, defendant should have opportunity to present evidence relating to the inadequacy of his counsel in failing to present the commonwealth's overreaching or  overcharging the defendant.)); see also App. 261 (quoting Commonwealth v. Napper, 385 A.2d 521, 524 (Pa. Super. 1976) (Criminal defense counsel has duty to communicate to his client, not only in terms of plea bargain offer, but also relative merits of offer compared to defendant's chances at trial.)).

. App. 365-67 (stating that the victim died in an act of passion, that he was drunk at the time and voluntary intoxication can reduce a murder charge to a lower degree, and that he acted in self-defense which can reduce a murder charge to voluntary manslaughter).

. See generally Commonwealth v. Lyons, 833 A.2d 245, 252 (Pa. Super. 2003) (Appellant's forty-six page argument is rambling, repetitive and often incoherent  Nonetheless, in the interest of justice we address the arguments that can reasonably be discerned from this defective brief.); see also Rolan, 680 F.3d at 319 (Although [petitioner] did not provide a verbatim recitation of each alleged misstatement in the argument section of his brief, he did provide ample notice of the nature of his claims by identifying the specific facts involved in the misstatements of evidence claim.).

. Commonwealth v. Franklin, 823 A.2d 906, 910 (Pa. Super. 2003) (internal quotation marks omitted).

McKEE, Circuit Judge.
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) - A military judge could set a new timetable for the desertion case against Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl at a pre-trial hearing nearly three years after the soldier's return from captivity.

The judge has already scratched three previous trial dates amid delays over the exchange of classified information between prosecutors and defense lawyers. That process is expected to be a focus of Friday's hearing at Fort Bragg.

Bergdahl's trial on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy was most recently scheduled for April, but the judge postponed it indefinitely.

Bergdahl, who's from Hailey, Idaho, left his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban and its allies for about five years.

The military investigation of Bergdahl began after he was freed on May 31, 2014, in exchange for five Taliban prisoners.
BERLIN (AP) - German authorities say they have arrested a 29-year-old Syrian suspected of membership in the Islamic State group.

Federal prosecutors say the man was arrested Thursday in the Leipzig region.

In a statement Friday, prosecutors said the suspect joined a military unit of the Nusra Front in Syria. He allegedly rose to become the unit's 'emir' in the Raqqa region and took part in the conquest of the town of Dibsi Afnan in Novemer 2012, and the town of Tabka in February 2013.

After the Nusra Front clashed with the Islamic State group in early 2013 he defected to the latter.

The man was identified only as Ahmad A. A., in line with German privacy rules.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian authorities are searching for scores of inmates who escaped Friday from an overcrowded prison on Sumatra island.

Hundreds of police and soldiers were deployed near Sialang Bungkuk Prison in Riau province and were blockading roads to its capital and other provinces, said Justice and Human Rights Ministry official Wayan Dusak.

He said the escape occurred when prisoners were let out of their cells to take part in Friday prayers and overwhelmed the six guards on duty.

Officials were unsure how many inmates escaped. Indonesian media, citing Riau police, said the number was more than 300.

MetroTV footage showed dozens of men running from the prison and some being captured by police.

The prison holds about 1,800 men, which is several times its capacity.
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. WHAT'S NEXT FOR REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE BILL

Republicans are claiming a triumph by scuttling much of President Barack Obama's health care law in a bill that passed the House. But it faces another perilous pathway in the Senate.

In this May 4, 2017, photo, President Donald Trump talks to House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, after the House pushed through a health care bill. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

2. WHY PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT GOP HEALTH PLAN

The GOP health care bill pushed through the House leaves those with pre-existing conditions fearful of higher premiums and losing coverage altogether if the Affordable Care Act is replaced.

3. FRANCE'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IS IN ITS FINAL DAY

The presidential candidates acknowledge the country's extraordinary anger in the last day of campaigning, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen declaring that she is its embodiment while her centrist opponent, Emmanuel Macron, says the country needs to find a common destiny.

4. WHERE CHILDREN ARE THE FACE OF A BRUTAL WAR

From a small boy lying dead face down on a Turkish shore, to a stunned, dust-covered one awaiting help in an Aleppo ambulance, images of Syrian children suffering some of the conflict's worst horrors have become iconic.

5. WHY DELTA REMOVED A FAMILY FROM A FLIGHT

A California family says they were forced off a Delta plane and threatened with jail after refusing to give up one of their children's seats on a crowded flight.

6. WHAT THE LAST SURIVOR OF THE HINDENBURG REMEMBERS

Werner Doehner, now 88 and the last living survivor of the fire 80 years ago Saturday, tells The Associated Press in a rare interview about the last time he saw his father, as he headed to his cabin after using his movie camera to shoot some scenes from the doomed airship's dining room.

7. WHO IS STUNNED TO HAVE CAUGHT THE ATTENION OF 'VEEP' CAST

An Australian lawmaker laughed so hard at an episode that he choked and knocked himself unconscious. "Veep" star Julia Louis-Dreyfus tweeted: "I mean, c'mon, I'm actually having a hard time believing it."

8. CHINA'S AIRLINE MANUFACTURING TAKES FLIGHT

The first large Chinese-made passenger jetliner makes its first flight.

9. HOW IRAQ'S YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ARE CHANGING THEIR COUNTRY

Tech-savvy Iraqis are creating companies that use smartphone apps for ordering food and sharing rides, as the country is hungry for new jobs.

10. CINCO DE MAYO IS MET WITH AMBIVALENCE

President Donald Trump's immigration policies are leaving some Mexican-Americans and immigrants feeling at odds with a holiday they already thought was appropriated by beer and liquor companies.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - An international team set up to apportion blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria has started investigating the deadly April 4 sarin gas incident in Idlib province, the head of the global chemical weapons watchdog said Friday.

Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Ahmet Uzumcu told The Associated Press in an interview that the team, made up of experts from his group and the United nations, is already working and he was due to speak to its leader later in the day.

"They have some staff, up to 15 I guess, who have started working in our premises here," Uzumcu said. "And we will of course share all available information about recent incidents with them."

Ahmet Uzumcu, director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW, listens to a question during an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, May 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

The probe will come under intense scrutiny amid widespread claims that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime was responsible for the deaths of dozens of men, women and children in the town of Khan Sheikhoun. Assad denies responsibility.

An initial report by an OPCW fact-finding mission is expected next week. It will not apportion blame, but aims to establish whether chemical weapons were used.

Uzumcu, a Turkish diplomat, has said the mission has analyzed samples, including blood, urine and tissue, taken from Khan Sheikhoun victims and found "incontrovertible" evidence that they were exposed to the nerve agent sarin or a similar toxin.

But Uzumcu said they are still working to figure out exactly what happened. Russia has suggested victims could have been killed by toxic agents released from a rebel chemical arsenal struck by Syrian warplanes.

"The issue will of course be to develop a narrative on the incident - how it happened - so we can be sure that those victims in fact were really affected by the release of sarin in Khan Sheikhoun," Uzumcu said. "So we are not yet there, but the analysis or results of analysis are indeed incontrovertible."

France last week published a detailed report into the Khan Sheikhoun attack, saying French tests showed that the sarin used bore hallmarks of the Syrian regime's chemical weapons program. Turkey, the United States, Britain and others also blame Syria.

Human Rights Watch this week also laid the blame squarely with Assad, saying the April 4 attack was part of a pattern of chemical attacks by the Syrian regime. A Human Rights Watch report said two remnants at a crater in Khan Sheikhoun where the first bomb hit appeared to come from a weapon produced by the former Soviet Union that was used to deliver chemical agents.

Syria declared a 1,300-ton chemical arsenal when it joined the OPCW in 2013. That stockpile has been destroyed, but the organization continues to question whether Damascus declared everything in its chemical weapon program.

The use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine and sulfur mustard, has been widespread in Syria's brutal civil war with reports of some 45 alleged uses by government forces and rebels since last year alone. Many of them involve chlorine.

Ahmet Uzumcu, director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW, talks during an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, May 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Ahmet Uzumcu, director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW, listens to a question during an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, May 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Exterior view of the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, OPCW, in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, May 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea on Friday accused the U.S. and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong Un involving biochemical weapons.

In a statement carried on state media, North Korea's Ministry of State Security said it will "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" the "terrorists" in the CIA and South Korean intelligence agency responsible for targeting its supreme leadership.

North Korea frequently lambasts the United States and South Korea, but its accusation Friday was unusual in its detail.

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 country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. North Korea has accused the U.S. and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong Un involving bio-chemical weapons. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

The ministry said the spy agencies in June 2014 "ideologically corrupted and bribed" a North Korean citizen who was working in Russia to carry out the alleged assassination on Kim after returning home.

It said South Korean agents gave money and satellite communication equipment to the North Korean to attack Kim during a public event using a biochemical weapon such as a delayed-action radioactive or "nano poisonous" substance.

The ministry said after a series of contacts and payments, the agents told the North Korean last month that the type of biochemical substance had been decided and would be supplied by the CIA.

The statement, carried by North Korea's official news agency and read on state TV, didn't describe how the alleged plot was broken up or give the full name of the North Korean suspect, identifying him only by his surname, Kim, and didn't say whether anyone else was in custody.

In Washington, the CIA declined to comment, and officials at South Korea's National Intelligence Service did not answer repeated phone calls.

The alleged plan to use a biochemical agent on a member of North Korea's ruling family resembles the assassination earlier this year of Kim Jong Un's exiled half brother at a Malaysian airport. That attack, using the chemical war agent VX, was widely blamed on North Korea and led to calls in the United States to relist the North as a state sponsor of terrorism. North Korea denied involvement.

In the statement Friday, the ministry said in response to the alleged plot on Kim Jong Un, a "Korean-style anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organizations of the U.S. imperialists and the puppet clique," referring to South Korea.

The ministry demanded that the United States and South Korea apologize and execute the intelligence agents involved in the "heinous" plot.

The North Korean statement comes during a period of tension on the Korean Peninsula over concerns that the North is preparing another nuclear test or missile launch, including a possible test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Such moves would be a step toward the country's goal of developing nuclear-armed missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.

___

Associated Press writer Deb Riechmann in Washington contributed to this report.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - The Indonesian government is seeking $2 billion in compensation from Thailand's state oil company and its Australian unit for an oil spill in the Timor Sea nearly eight years ago, an official said Friday.

Deputy Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno said the lawsuit was registered Wednesday at the Central Jakarta District Court against Petroleum Authority of Thailand Public Co. and its related companies PTTEP Australasia and Petroleum Authority of Thailand Exploration and Production Public Co. Ltd.

More than 400 barrels of oil a day flowed from the Montara well into the Timor Sea and stained the coasts of Indonesia and East Timor before mud pumped through a relief well shut off the deep-water spigot 11 weeks later.

Oegroseno described the civil lawsuit as "an effort to seek justice."

He told a news conference that the demand for compensation includes $1.725 billion for environmental damage and $330 million for restoration work. He added that the environmental damage included 1,200 hectares (2,965 acres) of mangroves, 1,400 hectares (3,460 acres) of seagrass and 700 hectares (1,730 acres) of corals.

An independent review in Australia in 2011 blamed PTTEP and a lax regulator for the oil leak. The Montara spill occurred because the underwater cement barrier designed to prevent oil blowouts failed.

Thousands of dead fish and clumps of oil were found drifting near Indonesia's coastline more than two months after the accident, said to be the worst oil spill in the history of Australia's offshore petroleum industry.
LONDON (AP) - The mood in financial markets appears relaxed, upbeat even, heading into Sunday's French presidential election on the belief that centrist Emmanuel Macron will prevail by some margin.

It's so sanguine, in fact, that it would make a surprise victory by his rival, Marine Le Pen from the far-right, all the more shocking for markets.

The market chaos could dwarf the volatility seen after Donald Trump's election as U.S. president in November or Britain's vote last June to leave the European Union. The day after Britain's vote, for example, Europe's Stoxx 600 index fell 7 percent and the pound tanked 10 percent.

Children walk past election campaign posters for French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, in Osses, southwestern France, Friday May 5, 2017. France will vote on Sunday May 7 in the second round of the presidential election. (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

"We rather expect reaction to be worse than after Brexit," said Thomas Nilsson, a trading strategist at Nordic corporate bank SEB, of the prospect of a Le Pen win.

There are several factors behind the relaxed mood in markets.

Macron has been the outright favorite since he topped the first round of voting on April 23 with 24 percent of the vote ahead of his rival in Sunday's election, Le Pen, who got a little more than 21 percent. Polls show Macron is running around 20 percentage points ahead of Le Pen in the runoff and is widely perceived to have come out on top in Wednesday's sole head-to-head debate.

The reaction in markets to both Macron's first-round win and his performance in the debate clearly show a preference for the 39-year-old former investment banker, who was also an economy minister in President Francois Hollande's government. The CAC 40 index of leading French shares has spiked to levels not seen since early 2008, before the most-acute phase of the global financial crisis, while the euro has reached six-month highs close to $1.10.

That bias in favor of Macron rests on a number of factors, above all his views on Europe. Macron is a keen advocate of the European Union and the euro currency, while Le Pen has proposed taking France out of both.

Not only that, Macron has made proposals for more integration between EU economies and budgets, measures that many in the markets think will help shore up the euro currency, whose design flaws were exposed by the region's debt crisis over the past few years.

"If Macron were to be successful in advancing at least some of his pro-European agenda, it could ultimately stop Europe's 'navel gazing' and allow the region to move forward with advancing much-needed governance reforms," said Jaisal Pastakia, Investment Manager at Heartwood Investment Management.

That period of 'navel gazing' has existed since the Greek debt crisis first erupted in late 2009. In the years since, governments, particularly those in what is now the 19-country eurozone, have fought to put out one fire after another, a period that involved multiple state bailouts, waves of austerity and mutual distrust. Presidents and governments have come and gone, and Europe - as an economy - has failed to grow as much as others like the U.S.

Those chronic problems were exposed by the Brexit vote, a decision that added another layer of uncertainty to a region struggling to relay a positive message to its people, who have been tempted by more populist voices relayed by the likes of Le Pen and before her, the Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders and Austria's Norbert Hofer.

Both Wilders and Hofer were defeated in elections - but not by much.

Europe's leaders will hope a defeat for Le Pen will mark the moment the populist tide is turned back.

"The populist wave may be faltering but it is too early to call time on the movement," said Jamie Thompson, head of macro scenarios at Oxford Economics. "Given the fundamental nature of the underlying economic and cultural challenges, a major reversal of the populist wave will require more than cyclical economic recovery or progress in tackling the refugee crisis."

Should Le Pen win, the market reaction Monday morning could be more severe even than Trump's election or the Brexit vote.

"For the markets, a Le Pen victory would be a nightmare, followed by a long period of uncertainty," said SEB's Nilsson. "The fact that the markets already think this is a done deal indicates that initial reactions if an upset were to happen would be profound."

No pressure for investors!
HELSINKI (AP) - Estonia said Friday that a Russian IL-96 passenger plane, allegedly carrying Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to neighboring Finland, briefly violated Estonian airspace on Wednesday evening.

The incident was the first air violation of NATO member Estonia this year in comparison to seven similar air intrusions in 2016, according to the military.

Kadri Peeters, adviser to Estonia's prime minister, tweeted: "Lavrov flying to #Finland to discuss air traffic safety but first - let's intrude into #Estonian airspace." She was referring to Lavrov's Finland visit on Thursday to discuss a range of issues, including flight security in the Baltic Sea region with Finland's political leaders.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, and his Finnish counterpart Timo Soini speak after their press conference at Hotel Haikko Manor in Porvoo, Finland, Thursday, May 4, 2017. (Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva via AP)

Estonia's military later said the plane had its transponders turned on but there was no radio contact and it hadn't filed a flight plan. It didn't confirm whether Lavrov was on the plane.

The Baltic country's media said the aircraft from Rossiya Airlines used by the Russian Presidential Administration briefly traveled over northern Estonia near Vaindloo island - a place where Russian military planes previously have intruded over the past years.

Estonia's foreign ministry forwarded a note on the incident to Russia's Embassy in Tallinn.

Late Friday, Russia's foreign ministry denied to news agency Tass any air violation taking place in Estonia by a Russian plane, with an unnamed spokesman saying Lavrov's flight to Finland "was conducted in a routine regime" and that "the crew received no warnings" from Estonians or other parties.

Nearly all of Estonia's air intrusions have been by caused by Russian military transport and fighter planes, many as they fly in the narrow air corridor from Russia's Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad to the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

In the past year, NATO and Russia have discussed a proposal to reduce the risk of air accidents in the crowded skies over the Baltic Sea by agreeing on common practices while using aircraft transponders.

Russian military planes have been caught on several occasions flying on the Baltic Sea with their transponders turned off - something that Moscow has repeatedly denied.
WASHINGTON (AP) - By many measures the job market is in its best shape since before the Great Recession. The unemployment rate is just 4.4 percent, its lowest level in a decade. Employers have added a solid average of 186,000 jobs a month over the past year.

It all reflects a remarkable recovery from the depths of the recession, during which employers slashed nearly 9 million jobs and the unemployment rate hit 10 percent - the first time it had reached double digits in a quarter-century.

Now, with the job market at or near full health, where is hiring particularly strong? Below are five industries with the fastest job growth over the past 12 months, according to the Labor Department:

FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015, file photo, job applications and information for the Gap Factory Store sit on a table during a job fair at Dolphin Mall in Miami. As the latest jobs report comes out, Friday, May 5, 2017, the five fastest-growing sectors in the 12 months prior have been: temporary help, professional and technical services, construction, education and health care. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

___

Software and information technology workers: Up 4 percent, or 79,300 jobs.

As more business is conducted online, companies of all sizes and in practically every industry need website designers, app developers and data analysts. The rising demand for such workers has fueled an explosion in high-paying software and IT jobs. But you don't need a degree from Stanford or MIT to be hired. Many companies are hiring graduates of six-month coding boot camps.

___

Temp jobs: Up 3.9 percent, or 112,400 jobs

This is both good and bad news: Sharp increases in temp hiring can signal that companies are enjoying more customer demand and need more labor. If rising demand endures, the thinking goes, companies will eventually hire many permanent workers. The bad news, though, is that regardless of their customer demand, companies are increasingly turning to often-lower-paid temps, contractors and "gig" workers to keep their staffing levels flexible and control their labor costs. Temp work has soared since the recession officially ended in June 2009 and shows little sign of slowing.

___

Construction: Up 2.6 percent, or 173,000 jobs

With home building on the upswing and many Americans renovating their houses, construction workers are in sharp demand. This group includes plumbers, electricians and painters as well as people who pour concrete and build wooden frames.

___

Health care: Up 2.2 percent, or 337,000 jobs

This category has been among the most reliable sources of job growth since the recession ended in 2009. Many of the jobs in this industry - doctors, nurses and dentists - pay well. But not all do. One of the fastest areas of hiring has been for home health aides, who typically earn only around $11 an hour. Still, some health care workers can earn solid pay without advanced degrees: X-ray technicians, for example, can make $60,000 a year with a two-year degree.

___

Education: Up 2.2 percent, or 76,900 jobs

Another reliable job creator, the education industry includes everything from teachers, school administrators and principals to bus drivers and cafeteria workers. And it covers private schools and colleges, as well as tutoring services.

FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, file photo, architectural engineer Ben Jensen displays plans for modular residential structure, in Provo, Utah. As the latest jobs report comes out, Friday, May 5, 2017, the software and information technology sector has been among the fastest growing sectors in the 12 months prior. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 26, 2005, file photo, job applicants leave the office of the Staffmark temp agency in Cypress, Calif. As the latest jobs report comes out, Friday, May 5, 2017, the temporary help industry has been among the fastest growing sectors in the 12 months prior. (AP Photo/Ric Francis, File)

In this Thursday, May 19, 2016, photo, a construction worker stands on an elevated platform while working on a high-rise building in Boston. As the latest jobs report comes out, Friday, May 5, 2017, the construction industry has been among the fastest growing sectors in the 12 months prior. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

FILE - In this Thursday, March 9, 2017, file photo, Dr. Michael Russum, left, checks patient Ruby Giron in Denver Health Medical Center's primary care clinic located in a low-income neighborhood in southwest Denver. As the latest jobs report comes out, Friday, May 5, 2017, the health care industry has been among the fastest growing sectors in the 12 months prior. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Supreme Court of Wyoming. MARK BROCK and DELLA BROCK, Appellants (Plaintiffs), v. STATE OF WYOMING, ex rel., WYOMING WORKFORCE SERVICES, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DIVISION, Appellee (Defendant). S-16-0189 Decided: May 03, 2017

Before BURKE, C.J., and HILL, DAVIS, FOX, and KAUTZ, JJ. Representing Appellants: Jonathon I. Aimone, Lemich Law Center, Rock Springs, Wyoming. Representing Appellee: Peter K. Michael, Attorney General; Daniel E. White, Deputy Attorney General; Michael J. Finn, Senior Assistant Attorney General; Benjamin E. Fischer, Assistant Attorney General; Charlotte M. Powers, Assistant Attorney General. Argument by Ms. Powers.

[1] The United States District Court for the District of Wyoming certified a question to this Court concerning the relative priority of liens against real property. This question asks us to determine whether a lien created by a certificate of purchase for delinquent taxes held by Appellants, Mark and Della Brock, is superior to a lien held by the State of Wyoming, Department of Workforce Services, for unpaid contributions to the unemployment compensation fund. We answer the certified question in the affirmative.

CERTIFIED QUESTION

[2] Is a lien against real property created by a certificate of purchase for delinquent taxes pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(d)(ii) superior to any lien held by the State of Wyoming, Department of Workforce Services under Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-511(b) for unpaid contributions and interest to the unemployment compensation fund?

FACTS

[3] The federal district court's certification order contains a statement of facts pertinent to the certified question. According to that order, this case concerns real estate in Uinta County and encumbrances against the property arising from the failure of Sagebrush Broadcasting Company, Inc. to satisfy various financial obligations. Claims against the property have been asserted by the Brocks, the Department of Workforce Services, the United States Internal Revenue Service, and others. The Brocks paid past due taxes on the property in 2010 and obtained a Certificate of Purchase of Real Estate for Taxes relating to the property. They also paid taxes on the property through October 2014. They claim they are entitled to approximately $22,000 in satisfaction of the taxes (including interest), costs, and attorneys' fees incurred in perfecting their title to the property.

[4] The Department has also filed liens against the property for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions, interest, and fees. The Department filed its first lien on August 23, 2006, and subsequently filed an additional 14 liens against the property. As of May 2016, the delinquent contributions, plus interest, totaled $19,683.47. The Internal Revenue Service filed its lien in 2009 for unpaid federal tax liabilities assessed against Sagebrush. The IRS's lien is in the principal amount of $74,983.24.

[5] This litigation began in January 2015, when the Brocks filed suit in state district court seeking foreclosure of their lien and a declaration that their lien is superior to all other encumbrances against the property. The Brocks named the Department and the IRS as defendants. The IRS removed the case to federal district court and has conceded that both the Brocks' and the Department's liens have priority over its federal tax liens.

[6] The federal district court certified the issue to this Court to determine the relative priority of the interests held by the Department and the Brocks in the Sagebrush property. We agreed to answer the certified question.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

[7] The certified question presents an issue of statutory interpretation. We review questions of statutory interpretation de novo. Yager v. State, 2015 WY 139,  7, 362 P.3d 777, 779 (Wyo. 2015).

DISCUSSION

[8] In answering the certified question, we apply our usual rules of statutory interpretation: Our paramount consideration is the legislature's intent as reflected in the plain and ordinary meaning of the words used in the statute. Initially, we determine whether the statute is clear or ambiguous. Spreeman v. State, 2012 WY 88,  10, 278 P.3d 1159, 1162 (Wyo. 2012).

A statute is unambiguous if its wording is such that reasonable persons are able to agree as to its meaning with consistency and predictability. Unless another meaning is clearly intended, words and phrases shall be taken in their ordinary and usual sense. Conversely, a statute is ambiguous only if it is found to be vague or uncertain and subject to varying interpretations. In determining whether a statute is ambiguous we begin by making an inquiry respecting the ordinary and obvious meaning of the words employed according to their arrangement and connection. We construe the statute as a whole, giving effect to every word, clause, and sentence, and we construe all parts of the statute in pari materia. When a statute is sufficiently clear and unambiguous, we give effect to the plain and ordinary meaning of the words and do not resort to the rules of statutory construction.

Jones v. State, 2011 WY 115,  11, 256 P.3d 536, 541 (Wyo. 2011).

[9] The Brocks claim their lien is superior to that held by the Department pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(d)(ii) (LexisNexis 2015). That statute provides:

(d) Liens. The following shall apply:

(i) Taxes upon real property are a perpetual lien thereon against all persons excluding the United States and the state of Wyoming. 

(ii) Any person, county, municipality or political subdivision holding a certificate of purchase or tax deed issued for delinquent taxes has a lien against the real property which is subject to the certificate of purchase or tax deed to the extent of taxes, costs and penalties accrued plus interest, accruing penalties and the value of improvements placed on the real property by the lienholder or his assigns while lawfully in possession of the premises. The lien is superior to all other liens except those created by junior tax sales or payment of subsequent taxes by another person.

(Emphasis added.) The Brocks claim the statute unambiguously makes their lien superior to the lien held by the Department because the Department's lien is not a lien created by junior tax sales or payment of subsequent taxes by another person.

[10] The Department claims a lien against the property under Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-511(b), which provides in pertinent part: The amount of contributions and interest due the department is a lien upon all real  property  owned or acquired by the employer. That statute authorizes the filing of a lien for unpaid contributions but does not contain any provision pertaining to the priority of any lien filed under the statute. The Department relies upon Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-512 in support of its claim that its lien has priority. The statute provides:

 27-3-512. Priority over other claims under receivership.

If an employer's assets are distributed by court order under receivership, assignment, adjudicated insolvency or other proceeding, contributions under this act [ 27-3-101 through 27-3-704] shall have priority over all claims except taxes and claims for wages of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per claimant and earned within six (6) months before the proceeding. Priority of contributions in cases adjudicated under 11 U.S.C.  101 et seq. shall be as provided by 11 U.S.C.  507(a).

(Emphasis added.) Relying on the priority language in the statute, the Department asserts that the Brocks' lien is not a claim for taxes under Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-512. Consequently, the Department contends that Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-512 gives their lien priority, and that the statute is in irreconcilable conflict with Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(d)(ii). The Department claims that conflict between the statutes creates an ambiguity which must be resolved by this Court. According to the Department:

[T]he Brocks do not have a lien for taxes. Instead, the Brocks have, by virtue of their certificate of purchase, a lien against the real property  to the extent of taxes, costs, and penalties accrued plus  the value of improvements placed on the real property by the lienholder. Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(d)(iii). The Brocks' proposed construction fails and does not solve the ambiguity between the two statutes when they are construed together.

The Department claims that the ambiguity should be resolved in its favor, and that its lien should be found to have priority over the Brocks' lien. We do not agree.

[11] We rejected a similar argument in Barlow v. Lonabaugh, 61 Wyo. 118, 156 P.2d 289 (1945). In that case, the owners of property in Sheridan County failed to pay the assessed property taxes. The property was subsequently sold to the county. When the owners failed to redeem, the county treasurer issued a tax deed to the county for the property. Id., 61 Wyo. at 125, 156 P.2d at 291. The county subsequently sold the property to a private purchaser. The litigation was initiated by the holder of special assessment bonds issued for a paving assessment that were in default. Id., 61 Wyo. at 124, 156 P.2d at 290. The bondholders claimed that their interest in the property was superior to the rights of the current owners because the tax lien had been extinguished when the current owner purchased the property from the county. The position espoused by the bondholders in Barlow was similar to the one taken by the Department here:

defendants do not have nor assert a tax lien, and are not attempting to foreclose one. They merely have a quit claim deed from the county, and the county in turn acquired its title by deed from the owner and not through a completed tax sale.  In purchasing a quit claim of the property from the county, the county's claim or lien for general county and state taxes was discharged. From then on the defendants had the property as any private purchaser. When the county's prior lien for general taxes was paid and satisfied, the county no longer had a lien, and there was no question remaining as to priorities of liens as only one lien remained, namely the special assessment liens.

Id., 61 Wyo. at 127, 156 P.2d at 291-92. We rejected that contention and, in doing so, noted our agreement with other jurisdictions that had considered the issue:

The case of White v. Thomas, 91 Minn. 395, 98 N.W. 101, dealt with this situation. The court said:

It is further claimed by respondent that the lien of the state for general taxes, after it has become the subject of private ownership, is subordinate to the liens of the city for local assessments. If this means, as we understand that it does, that the purchaser of the lien of the state takes it subject to all then existing liens of the city for local assessments, the claim is clearly wrong. Such a rule would practically emasculate the law giving to the state a paramount lien, for the only way the state can realize on its lien is to sell, subject to redemption, the land upon which the lien rests, to private parties. Now, if the state could not on such a sale vest in the purchaser its priority of lien over then existing local assessments, it would be of little practical value to the state, for, in cases where the amount of the local assessment liens approximately equaled the value of the land on which they rested, no one would buy the state's claim. We hold, then, that a purchaser of the lien of the state takes it with its right of priority over all the then existing liens of the city for local assessments, without reference to the time when the state lien attached.

Id., 61 Wyo. at 128, 156 P.2d at 292.

[12] In Barlow, we recognized that our decision was dependent upon the absence of specific statutory language establishing the priority of special assessments: We held in Board of County Commissioners v. Bench Canal Drainage District, 56 Wyo. 260, 108 P.2d 590 [ (1940) ], where the question was discussed at length, that a lien for general taxes is superior to the lien of a special assessment unless the statute specifically provides [to] the contrary. Id., 61 Wyo. at 126, 156 P.2d at 291. Indeed, in Bench Canal, 56 Wyo. at 272-73, 108 P.2d at 593-94, we stated:

[I]t is a general rule, supported, it seems, by the great weight of authority, that a lien for general taxes is superior to the lien of a special assessment, such as, or similar to that involved in the case at bar, unless the statute specifically provides [to] the contrary. 



We must test the statute in question in the light of the foregoing rule, which seems to have a sound basis, and no good reason has been pointed out why we should not adhere to it. It will be noted at once, that if the legislature intended to place a lien for drainage assessments and the lien for general taxes on an equal footing, it did not use very happy language. It would have been easy to have stated that they should be of equal dignity. In Waltom v. City of Portales, 42 N.M. 433, 81 P.2d 58, it appears that the statute of New Mexico provides that a special improvement lien shall be on a parity with the tax lien of general taxes, and no sale of such property to enforce any general tax or other lien shall extinguish the perpetual lien of such assessment. Here we find clear and explicit language, and the court held, of course, that the liens were on a parity. Counsel for the drainage district want us to construe the statute involved in the case at bar, as the New Mexico court construed its statute, though the difference is that between day and night.

Since the decisions in Barlow and Bench Canal, our statutes have been amended and now provide that The holder of the certificate of purchase takes subject to any special assessments for local or public improvements. 1981 Wyo. Sess. Laws ch. 160,  1 (now codified at Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(e)(iii)(E)).

[13] In this case, the Brocks are the holders of a certificate of purchase on the property. They obtained that certificate of purchase by purchasing the property for the delinquent taxes assessed against the property. No statute similar to Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(e)(iii)(E) is applicable here that would provide priority to the lien asserted by the Department. The statute upon which the Department relies specifically subordinates its lien to a claim for taxes. The Brocks' lien is predicated upon the certificate of purchase that it obtained pursuant to the statutory procedure established for the collection of taxes. That procedure allows the county treasurer to [C]ollect delinquent taxes by sale of real property. Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(e)(ii)(A). A purchaser who pays the applicable taxes, interest, and fees receives a certificate of purchase. Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(e)(iii)(C). After passage of the required time, Holders of certificates of purchase of real property sold for delinquent taxes may apply for a tax deed. Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(e)(v)(B). The Brocks' lien is a claim for taxes. There is no ambiguity between Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(d)(ii) and Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-512 in need of reconciliation. The plain language of both statutes indicates that a lien for taxes is superior to a claim for contributions to the unemployment compensation fund.

[14] The Department also asserts that our decision in Alamo Drainage Dist. v. Board of County Comm'rs, 60 Wyo. 177, 148 P.2d 229 (1944) indicates that its lien has priority over the Brocks' certificate of purchase. That case, however, is distinguishable. In Alamo, the Alamo Drainage District issued bonds to finance installation of a drainage system in Big Horn County. The state purchased the bonds in 1924 with money from the permanent school funds of the State. Id., 60 Wyo. at 185, 148 P.2d at 231. In 1934, after the District failed to pay taxes assessed on the land, the county treasurer of Big Horn County sold the land at a tax sale and issued the certificate of purchase to Big Horn County, the purchaser at the sale. Id., 60 Wyo. at 184, 148 P.2d at 231. The Board of County Commissioners of Big Horn County subsequently brought suit against the District in an attempt to foreclose its tax lien. Id., 60 Wyo. at 182, 148 P.2d at 230. The district court found that the county's lien for general taxes was superior to the state's bonds. Id.

[15] On appeal, this Court held that the bonds had priority over the county's certificate of purchase for taxes. In analyzing the relative priority of the liens, the Court turned to two statutes: Section 115-2303, Rev. St. 1931 and the Legislative Act of 1935, 1935 Wyo. Sess. Laws ch. 84,  1. The 1931 law provided, similar to Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(d)(i), that taxes upon real estate are hereby made a perpetual lien thereon against all persons or corporations except the United States and this state. The Legislative Act of 1935, in turn, provided, in terms substantially similar to current Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(d)(ii), that the holder of a certificate of purchase for taxes has a lien which shall be superior to any other lien, except that of junior tax sales or subsequent taxes[.] The Court determined that, because the 1935 Act did not include the state directly or by necessary implication, the Act did not give the county's certificate of purchase priority over the bonds held by the state. Id., 60 Wyo. at 188-91, 148 P.2d at 232-34. The Court then conducted an extensive review of the constitutional provisions indicating the importance of the state school fund before reiterating its conclusion that the 1935 Act did not apply to the drainage bonds held by the state because the state was not mentioned expressly or by implication in the 1935 Act:

We shall not, in our conclusions herein, go further than necessary. The contention made herein by the Drainage District is that the lien of the State under its bonds is superior to the lien of the general taxes. With that contention we agree. We do so upon the theory that the State is not mentioned in the Legislative Act of 1935, as amended, nor does that Act contain any provision which, under the rule of law heretofore stated, includes the state by necessary implication. The paramount lien of the state above mentioned is, accordingly, unaffected by the statute of 1935 as amended and that superiority must be given effect in a foreclosure proceeding.

Id., 60 Wyo. at 200, 148 P.2d at 238. The Court, however, stopped short of deciding that the 1935 Act, was wholly inapplicable to the state:

It is not necessary herein to hold that the Legislative Act of 1935 as amended is wholly ineffectual so far as the state is concerned. No such contention is made herein. The policy of the State is, and should be, to place the land which for so many years has paid neither the general taxes nor the drainage taxes, again upon the tax roll. Ledegar v. Bockoven, 77 Okla. 58, 185 P. 1097, 1100. See Brewer v. Feigenbaum, 47 Cal. App. 2d 171, 117 P.2d 737; South San Joaquin Irr. Dist. v. Hornbeck, 2 Cal. 2d 485, 490, 42 P.2d 64, 66. In fact it has been held that the economic interests of the State may justify the exercise of its continuing and dominant protective power notwithstanding interference with contracts. Keefe v. Drain Com'r., 306 Mich. 503, 11 N.W.2d 220, and cases cited; 16 C.J.S. 702, note. Whether the Legislative Act of 1935, as amended, should, under the proper facts, not in the record before us now, be held to be wholly inapplicable to the State need not now be decided, though it might be well for all interested parties to re-examine the statute in the light of all the various facts which might arise, and take such steps as may be deemed proper or necessary, if any. We need go no further in this case than to hold that under the fact[s], or lack of facts, as disclosed in the record, and under the constitutional and statutory provisions applicable, the State's lien heretofore mentioned is paramount to the lien of plaintiff, and the judgment of the trial court should be modified accordingly. It is so ordered.

Id., 60 Wyo. at 200-01, 148 P.2d at 238.

[16] Alamo is distinguishable from the present case. In this case, there is no concern for appropriation of the permanent school fund and, further, no potential conflict between the relevant statutes and the Wyoming Constitution. Additionally, when considering liens of the state for delinquent unemployment compensation contributions, there is a specific statute, Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-512, addressing the priority of a state lien arising from the failure to make required contributions to the unemployment compensation fund. No similar statute or expression of legislative intent was at issue in Alamo. Further, in light of the subsequent addition of Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(e)(iii)(E), there appears to be little doubt that the holder of a certificate of purchase would take subject to the claim for assessments similar to those at issue in Alamo. Again, however, there is no similar expression of legislative intent with respect to the Department's assessments for contributions to the unemployment compensation fund. Accordingly, the decision in Alamo is not controlling in the present case.

CONCLUSION

[17] For the foregoing reasons, we answer the certified question in the affirmative: A lien against real property created by a certificate of purchase for delinquent taxes pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(d)(ii) is superior to any lien held by the Department of Workforce Services under Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-511(b) for unpaid contributions and interest to the unemployment compensation fund.

FOOTNOTES

. Sagebrush, Radio Management Associates, Inc. and Millcreek Broadcasting, LLC were also named as defendants, but they defaulted. Their interests are not at issue in this proceeding.

. The Brocks' reply brief in this matter included an appendix containing the United States' Response to Cross Motions for Summary Judgment, filed in the federal district court. The Brocks contend the argument presented by the United States in that pleading supports its interpretation of the relevant statutes. The Department moved to strike the appendix and we took the matter under advisement. The position espoused in the United States' pleading is ultimately not an appropriate source of authority in our analysis of the certified question, and it has no bearing on our decision in this case.

. Both the Department and the Brocks have proceeded under the assumption that the priority language in Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-512 applies in this case. As noted above, Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-512 is entitled Priority over other claims under receivership. The first sentence of the statute indicates that it is applicable only If an employer's assets are distributed by court order under receivership, assignment, adjudicated insolvency or other proceeding  . There is nothing in the facts provided by the district court to indicate that this legal action falls within any of the situations identified in the statute other than possibly as an other proceeding. Stated differently, there is no indication that the employer, Sagebrush, is in receivership or other similar proceeding. It is not immediately apparent that the instant case involves a situation where Sagebrush's assets are distributed by court order. Fortunately, it is not necessary for us to resolve this question in order to answer the certified question. We will proceed with our analysis by assuming, but not deciding, that the priority language of Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-512 applies to this case.

. Title to two parcels of property was at issue in Barlow. The owners of one parcel advised the county that they did not intend to redeem and quitclaimed the property to the county. The county treasurer executed a tax deed to the county for the other parcel after the time for redemption had expired. Id., 61 Wyo. at 125-26, 156 P.2d at 291.

. Further support for this conclusion is found in Alamo Drainage Dist. v. Board of County Comm'rs, 60 Wyo. 177, 182, 148 P.2d 229, 230 (1944), where we described the county's certificate of purchase for taxes as a general tax lien.

. We would reach the same result following a determination that Wyo. Stat. Ann.  27-3-512 does not apply to the current proceedings. The legislature clearly indicated its intent to establish the priority of liens for unpaid unemployment compensation contributions in some circumstances. If the legislature intended that those liens were to have priority in the situation presented here, it could have easily done so in a manner similar to Wyo. Stat. Ann.  39-13-108(e)(iii)(E). The fact that it has not indicates that the holder of a certificate of purchase for taxes has priority over such claims.

BURKE, Chief Justice.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - South Sudan security forces have forcibly removed about 5,000 civilians who had been sheltering in a church from fighting in the country's civil war, residents and church officials said Friday.

The western town of Wau has seen ethnically motivated attacks by government troops and allied militia in recent days, with the United Nations reporting at least 16 people killed and more than 23,000 displaced. The dead included three local contract workers with the World Food Program.

Government troops surrounded the Episcopal Church of South Sudan of Wau on Thursday, Archbishop Moses Deng Bol told The Associated Press. National security officials forced civilians into government vehicles, another church leader said.

One resident said the church was deserted Friday, with the displaced people having scattered to a nearby United Nations base and a new government-created site.

The church leader and the resident spoke Friday on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisals.

National Security Service spokesman Ramadan Chadar refused to comment on the allegations. Government officials have long threatened to forcefully relocate civilians from the church because it is located next to a government building.

At least 25,000 people are now living in the U.N. protected area in Wau.

Tens of thousands have been killed since South Sudan's civil war began in December 2013. Since July, when fighting erupted in the capital, Juba, ethnic violence has spread across the country, and the U.N. has warned of genocide.

A United States-led attempt to impose an arms embargo on the nation was blocked in the U.N. Security Council late last year.
NEW YORK (AP) - Ryan Seacrest may have some competition as host of New York's most famous crystal ball drop - from Josh Duhamel.

The star of the new "Transformers: The Last Night" kicked off Cinco de Mayo with a special ball drop in Times Square on Thursday. The same Waterford crystal ball that drops every New Year's Eve was adapted with a special lime theme.

His wife, Fergie, already co-hosts "New Year's Rockin' Eve" with Seacrest. So does that mean Duhamel is trying his own thing with the Cinco de Mayo lime drop?

FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2016 file photo, actor Josh Duhamel poses for a portrait in New York. Ryan Seacrest may have some competition as host of New York's most famous crystal ball drop - from Duhamel. The star of the new "Transformers: The Last Night" kicked off Cinco de Mayo with a special ball drop in Times Square on Thursday, May 4, 2017. The same Waterford crystal ball that drops every New Year's Eve was adapted with a special lime theme. (Photo by Scott Gries/Invision/AP, File)

"Oh yeah, you're right. I never thought about that. She's got New Year's Eve, now I've got Cinco de Mayo. That's a good point."

Then he immediately thought of moving up. "I'll be like the new Ryan Seacrest of Cinco de Mayo." He looked into a camera: "Watch out, Ryan."

Duhamel has two big films coming out this year. There's "Transformers: The Last Night" set for a June release. And later this year, he brings the popular video game "Call of Duty" to the big screen. While both films are major releases, it doesn't deter Duhamel from starring in smaller, independent films.

"I've always tried to choose things based on nothing other than does it inspire me creatively. It's never been about money. It's always been about whether I love this project, and does it have something interesting to say," he said.

Now that Duhamel and Fergie have a son who turns 4 this summer, he admits being more selective when it comes to film projects.

"Having a child, does that affect my decision making? Yeah, a little bit," he said. "I try to keep the two separate and if it's something he can't see, someday he will and I will have done it for reasons that I can explain to him down the road."

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Follow John Carucci on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jacarucci
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) - Prosecutors are dropping charges against two Hispanic teens accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a restroom at a suburban Washington high school, a case cited by the White House as an example of why the president wants to crack down on illegal immigration.

Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy said at a Friday news conference that the rape and sex offense charges were being dropped after a "painstaking investigation" of the girl's claim that the two teens raped her in the bathroom at Rockville High School.

Defense attorneys said the sex was consensual. They pointed to text messages in which the girl agreed to a sexual encounter; an explicit video the girl sent one of the teens; and security camera footage, which they said shows the girl running to meet one of the teens and willingly entering the restroom with him.

Defense attorneys David Wooten and Maria Mena speak in Rockville, Md., Friday, May 5, 2017, after charges were dropped against two Hispanic teens accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a Maryland high school restroom. The case that drew national attention after the White House cited it as an example of why the president wants to crack down on illegal immigration. (AP Photo/Matthew Barakat)

McCarthy said the girl was interviewed multiple times and the investigation revealed a "lack of corroboration and substantial inconsistencies."

"The original charges cannot be sustained, and prosecution is untenable on those charges," McCarthy said. He refused to answer any questions after reading a statement.

While dropping the rape charges, prosecutors brought child pornography charges against the two male teens. McCarthy said 18-year-old Henry Sanchez will be charged with possession of child pornography, which carries a potential sentence of up to five years.

He declined to say what charges the 17-year-old would face, because that case has been transferred to juvenile court. But the younger teen's lawyers said the boy would face charges of distributing and possessing child pornography. They said the charges carry a possible sentence of 10 years or more.

The AP does not typically identify juveniles charged with crimes and is not naming the 17-year-old now that he is charged as a juvenile.

Defense lawyer Maria Mena said the pornography charges stem from the video the 14-year-old girl sent to the 17-year-old, which he then shared with Sanchez. She called it "egregious" that her client was being charged, while the girl who made the video and sent it to him is not being charged. The purpose of the child pornography statute, she said, is to deter adults from engaging in predatory conduct against kids, not to criminalize sexting between two minors.

Another defense attorney, David Wooten, said the primary reason they were able to prove the 17-year-old's innocence was by producing the evidence of explicit text messages and the video that the girl had sent.

"Those very text messages and images that vindicated him are now being used against him," he said.

The 17-year-old came to the U.S. from El Salvador to live with relatives who are U.S. citizens after his adoptive grandmother died in El Salvador, leaving him alone there, his lawyers said. Mena said Friday that immigration proceedings have been initiated against him, but they will fight to keep him in the country.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said the 18-year-old was stopped by a border patrol agent in Texas last year after arriving from Guatemala and that an immigration detainer has been placed on him.

After the initial charges were filed in March, White House spokesman Sean Spicer, in response to a reporter's question, called the allegations shocking and disturbing, saying "Part of the reason that the president has made illegal immigration and crackdown such a big deal is because of tragedies like this."

The county school system later became the subject of anti-immigration protests and counter protests. Officials said they were besieged by hundreds of racist and xenophobic calls and comments, and had to increase security.

At Friday's White House briefing, spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked whether the White House unfairly jumped to conclusions in the case. She said Spicer "was speaking about what he knew at the time."
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - Nigeria's president has emerged to attend Friday prayers after missing a number of public engagements because of poor health.

President Muhammadu Buhari disappeared for six weeks of medical leave in London earlier this year, leading some to call for his replacement. The 74-year-old returned to work in March but has missed three straight weekly cabinet meetings.

The uncertainty over his health has raised fears of instability in Africa's most populous nation and one of its top oil producers.

Nigeria's government tweeted images of Buhari's appearance Friday as officials seek to calm the concerns.

Buhari's ailment is not publicly known, but he has made reference to blood transfusions and said he had not been so sick in decades.

His wife has said his health is not as bad as perceived.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota regulators who want to fine the developer of the Dakota Access oil pipeline over the reporting of Native American artifacts during construction are now looking into whether the company removed too many trees while laying pipe in the state.

The Public Service Commission planned to discuss both matters during a closed executive session on Friday, with resolutions to both issues possible by the group's next public meeting on Wednesday, Chairwoman Julie Fedorchak said.

The $3.8 billion pipeline to move North Dakota oil to a distribution point in Illinois has been controversial because of opposition by American Indian tribes and environmental groups who fear environmental harm. Construction is complete, however, and the pipeline should be fully operating by June 1, said Vicki Granado, spokeswoman for the Texas-based developer, Energy Transfer Partners. Mop-up work remains, such as tree restoration.

FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2016, file photo, shows a section of the Dakota Access pipeline under construction near St. Anthony in Morton County, N.D. North Dakota regulators are investigating whether the developer of the pipeline removed too many trees while laying pipe in the state. A report from a third-party inspector identified more than 80 sites where trees might have been improperly cleared. Energy Transfer Partners denies violating terms of its permit. And its plan for replacing trees calls for crews to plant more than two trees for every one that was removed. (Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP, File)/The Bismarck Tribune via AP)

A December report from third-party inspector Keitu Engineers and Consultants Inc. identified 83 sites along the 380-mile (610-kilometer) pipeline corridor in North Dakota where trees might have been cleared in violation of the commission's orders. The report by analyst Dean Mostad doesn't estimate the number of trees involved.

Granado insisted to The Associated Press that ETP didn't violate terms of its permit. Mike Futch, ETP's pipeline project manager in North Dakota, said in a letter to commission attorney John Schuh in March that it's possible the company cleared the disputed areas of trees before the company and commission agreed in June 2016 how large an area could be cleared. The company submitted its tree replacement plan in April.

That plan calls for two trees to be planted for every one that was removed - a total of about 94,000 trees - and for the company to inspect them annually for three years to monitor survival rates. The PSC must approve the plan.

A law firm representing numerous landowners on Monday filed a consultant's report that contends ETP's tree replacement plan includes far fewer species than were removed and that a "flawed approach" to soil work could result in trees "being planted and growing well for five or ten years, then dying."

Fedorchak said ETP could be fined for any violation of the Public Service Commission's tree removal orders.

The commission already has proposed a fine of at least $15,000 after the company diverted construction of the pipeline around artifacts last October without first running the plan by regulators. No artifacts were disturbed.

ETP maintains it didn't intentionally violate state rules and has asked for that case to be dismissed.

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Follow Blake Nicholson on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/NicholsonBlake
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Is an 18-year prison sentence too harsh for having 18 grams of marijuana?

The Louisiana Supreme Court's chief justice thinks so, and says it's outrageous that her colleagues upheld the punishment.

In her dissenting opinion Wednesday, Chief Justice Bernette Johnson said it's ridiculous that a lengthy prison sentence for such a small amount of marijuana would be allowed to stand.

A jury convicted Gary D. Howard of marijuana possession with intent to distribute. A Caddo Parish judge sentenced him as a habitual offender in 2014. Howard's previous convictions include possession of firearm by a convicted felon in 2008.

The state Supreme Court's majority ruled there was evidence that Howard packaged the marijuana for distribution, not his personal use.
CAIRO (AP) - The leader of an Islamic State affiliate in Egypt vowed to escalate attacks against Christians, urging Muslims to steer clear of Christian gatherings and western embassies as they are targets of their group's militants.

"Targeting the churches is part of our war on infidels," the unidentified leader said in a lengthy interview published by the group's al-Nabaa newsletter on Thursday. He said that churches, security posts and institutions, as well as places where "crusader nationals of western countries" gather were all "legitimate targets."

He also called on Muslims who don't join jihadists to carry out lone wolf attacks across Egypt, and complained that a large number of Egyptians were antagonistic to his group's call and mission.

"This is an apostasy from Islam and they have to hurry up and repent," he said, urging Egyptians who oppose the group to either harbor, support, or join them. He also decried the public condemnations of the group's attacks. He added that when authorities carry out security campaign against the group they "backfire" and, as such, have a "positive impact on the Mujahedeen."

The group claimed responsibility for twin suicide bombings that struck two of the country's Coptic Christian churches last month, killing over 45 worshippers and prompting the president to declare a three-month state of emergency.

Egypt's Copts, the Middle East's largest Christian community, have repeatedly complained of suffering discrimination, as well as outright attacks, at hands of the country's majority Muslim population. Over the past decades, they have been the immediate targets of Islamic extremists. They rallied behind general-turned-president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in 2013 when he ousted his Islamist predecessor Mohammed Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood group. Attacks on Christian homes, businesses and churches subsequently surged, especially in the country's south.

The IS leader in the interview stated that his group is different from the Sinai-based IS branch which for the past years has been carrying out near-daily attacks against police and the military in the peninsula. He described relations between the two factions as marked by "brotherly love and loyalty."
Twelve athletes from five countries swam from the United States to Mexico to show their support for immigrants.

Swimmers from the US, Mexico, Israel, New Zealand and South Africa crossed the border escorted by a Mexican Navy ship and kayakers who paddled alongside them for safety. Supporters held their passports.

They began at 11am on Friday from the city of Imperial Beach, California. They went south toward a fence that juts into the Pacific Ocean and completed the 6.2-mile (10-kilometer) journey by 1pm on a beach in Mexico's border city Tijuana.

Scroll down for video

Twelve athletes from six countries, pictured, swam from the United States to Mexico to show their support for immigrants

The swimmers, pictured, from the US, Mexico, Israel, New Zealand and South Africa crossed the border, including a wall that juts out into the Pacific Ocean

They started at 11am on Imperial Beach in California and finished the swim at 1pm on a beach in Tijuana, Mexico

Mexican immigration officials checked the passports of the swimmers before they left California and supporters held the passports while they swam

The swimmers were escorted by a Mexican Navy ship and kayakers who paddled alongside them for safety

The athletes were welcomed in Tijuana by more than 100 schoolchildren who cheered when they arrived at the public celebration where Mexico's top immigration official in the area, Rodulfo Figueroa, applauded the swimmers, saying it was a 'very nice symbol,' according to the Miami Herald.

'We are closer than it seems at times,' he added.

The swim raised money for the Colibri Center for Human Rights, a non-profit which helps families identify immigrants who die on the dangerous trip across the border.

Organizer Kim Chambers of New Zealand insists the swim isn't a protest against President Donald Trump's border wall or government policy but says an air of 'negativity' after last year's U.S. elections was the catalyst.

'At the end of the day, water connects all of us. It doesn't matter which way you're going,' Chambers said, according to the Miami Herald.

The swimmers' passports were examined by Mexican officials before they left from California.

Though Chambers considered swimming back and forth between Mexico and the US, she decided the trip from the US to Mexico was the easiest. The US Border Patrol told organizers swimmers would have been required to enter the country through an official border crossing.

The event raised money for the Colibri Center for Human Rights, a non-profit that helps families identify immigrants who die on the dangerous trip across the border

Organizer Kim Chambers insists the swim isn't a protest against President Donald Trump's border wall or government policy but says an air of 'negativity' after last year's US elections was the catalyst

The athletes were welcomed in Tijuana by schoolchildren and a public celebration where Mexico's top immigration official in the area applauded the swimmers. Mexican swimmer Antonio Arguellas is pictured
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SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on Sonoma County cold case killings (all times local):

11:15 a.m.

The man suspected of killing a young couple camping on a Northern California beach was earlier charged with killing his younger brother.

Shaun Gallon was arrested and charged with murder on March 25 for the shooting death of his 36-year-old brother.

Investigators say 38-year-old Gallon shot his brother in the home they shared with their mother in Forestville, a rural community 66 miles (106 kilometrs) north of San Francisco.

Police say they recovered an assault-style rifle they believe Gallon assembled. He is being held in Sonoma County jail without bail

The bodies of 22-year-old Lindsay Cutshall of Ohio and her 26-year-old fiance Jason Allen of Michigan were found next to each other on a driftwood-strewn beach near Jenner, California, on Aug. 18, 2004. Shaun Gallon has not been arrested in their killings.

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10:50 a.m.

Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas says a suspect is in custody in the killings of a young couple on a Northern California beach more than a decade ago.

He says 38-year-old Shaun Gallon of Forestville was arrested in the killing of his brother, and investigators interrogated him in the 2004 Jenner killings.

The bodies of 22-year-old Lindsay Cutshall and her 26-year-old fiance Jason Allen were found next to each other on a driftwood-strewn beach near Jenner, California, on Aug. 18, 2004.

The sheriff says "we feel confident we have Jason and Lindsay's killer."

The two Christian youth-camp workers were still zipped into their sleeping bags, and authorities believe they were shot in the head as they slept.

Authorities have said neither victim was robbed or sexually assaulted.

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8:50 a.m.

A California sheriff's department announced "significant advancements" Friday in the never-solved 2004 killings of two Christian youth-camp workers found shot to death on an isolated beach.

Sheriff's officials in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco, scheduled a news conference for later Friday to discuss the case.

The bodies of Lindsay Cutshall, 22, and fiance Jason Allen, 26, were found next to each other on a driftwood-strewn beach near Jenner, California, on Aug. 18, 2004. Both were still zipped into their sleeping bags, and authorities believe they were shot in the head as they slept.

No one has ever been charged in the killings, and no motive has ever been made public. Authorities have said neither victim had been robbed or sexually assaulted. Cutshall, a native of Fresno, Ohio, and Allen, from Zeeland, Michigan, had been on a weekend trip. They worked at a Christian youth camp in California's Sierra Nevada foothills.

Sonoma County sheriff's dispatchers said they had no more immediate information Friday morning.
Eds: Major scheduled events for the week of May 7 - 13.

Note that many events are subject to change at the last minute.

The following economic reports will be issued in Washington (all times EDT), unless otherwise noted:

SUNDAY: No events of note.

MONDAY: No events of note.

TUESDAY: Commerce Department releases wholesale trade inventories for March, 10 a.m.; Labor Department releases job openings and labor turnover survey for March, 10 a.m.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. reports quarterly financial results before the market opens.

The Walt Disney Co. reports quarterly financial results after the market closes.

WEDNESDAY: Treasury releases federal budget for April, 2 p.m.

THURSDAY: Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.; Labor Department releases the Producer Price Index for April, 8:30 a.m.; Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m.

Macy's Inc. reports quarterly financial results before the market opens.

FRIDAY: Commerce Department releases retail sales data for April, 8:30 a.m.; Labor Department releases Consumer Price Index for April, 8:30 a.m.; Commerce Department releases business inventories for March, 10 a.m.

SATURDAY: No events of note.

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SUNDAY, May 7

No events of note.

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MONDAY, MAY 8

WASHINGTON - Supreme Court on break until May 15.

WASHINGTON - House on break until the week of May 15.

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. Witnesses include former acting Attorney General Sally Yates and James Clapper, former director of national intelligence.

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TUESDAY, May 9

No events of note.

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WEDNESDAY, May 10

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visits Lithuania

WASHINGTON - Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on cyberthreats.

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THURSDAY, May 11

No events of note.

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FRIDAY, May 12

BERLIN - Federal Statistical Office releases first-quarter growth figure for the German economy, Europe's biggest.

J.C. Penney Co. reports quarterly financial results before the market opens.

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SATURDAY, May 13

President Donald Trump gives the commencement address at Liberty University in Virginia.

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SUNDAY, May 14

WASHINGTON - National Geographic Bee, through May 17.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Republicans get their shot at crafting a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

The version that narrowly passed the House on Thursday didn't win over many in the Senate, where lawmakers insist they'll come up with their own version. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., spoke to President Donald Trump after the House vote and is now working with roughly a dozen other senators - all male - to write a new bill.

There is no effort to include Democrats in the process as Republicans are intent on ramming any legislation through on a simple majority vote.

A look at some of the players:

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THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., head the committees that oversee the law. Hatch said Thursday that the Senate must "manage expectations and remain focused on the art of the doable," while Alexander said the Senate "will take the time to get it right."

Hatch, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, is a longtime friend of Trump's. Alexander is a seasoned dealmaker who has often reached across the aisle, but will have difficulty doing so on the thorny issue of health care.

Alexander, Hatch and Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., are all in McConnell's working group.

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THE LEADERSHIP

McConnell has remained characteristically quiet about the details of a Senate health care proposal as the House has worked through the process. He indicated in March that a previous version of the House health care bill could move straight to the floor, but it's unclear how he will handle the latest version, which passed in the House 217-213 on Thursday.

Another member of GOP leadership, South Dakota Sen. John Thune has worked on language that would redirect some of the tax credits in the House bill to better help low-income and elderly people. Two other Republican leaders, No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, are joining McConnell and Thune in the working group.

Though they have occasionally broken with him on policy - and his use of Twitter - Senate GOP leaders will be eager to get a deal with Trump on health care, a major issue for GOP base voters.

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THE ALTERNATIVES

Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor, proposed legislation in January that would let states keep the current law or opt for a new program providing trimmed-down coverage. In recent days, Cassidy has discussed ways his proposal could improve upon the House bill.

Collins could be a difficult vote to win for Republican leaders, who can only lose two votes to pass the bill. She has been critical of the House bill and is opposed to cutting federal money for Planned Parenthood, which the House legislation would do. The moderate also has no problem opposing Trump, whom she didn't vote for in the presidential election.

Neither Collins nor Cassidy are part of the GOP working group.

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THE MEDICAID STATES

The Senate bill will have to take into account the concerns of several Republicans who represent states that expanded Medicaid coverage for low-income residents through the current law. Many of the same senators represent states ravaged by deaths caused by opioid abuse, and the House bill could reduce coverage for anti-drug services.

Republican Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Cory Gardner of Colorado sent a letter to McConnell in March opposing Medicaid cuts. Portman and Gardner will represent those interests in the working group.

All but Gardner represent states handily won by Trump, so they will want to work with him on a deal.

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THE CONSERVATIVE RENEGADES

On the other side of the GOP spectrum, some senators want a full repeal. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said Thursday that he believes the House bill would pay too much taxpayer money to insurance companies.

Sens. Mike Lee of Utah, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Ted Cruz of Texas have been vocal repeal supporters and could hold their support unless the Senate bill comes close enough. All three men are in the GOP working group.

Paul and Cruz, along with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, all ran against Trump and have been mocked by the president.

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THE VULNERABLE SENATORS

The two most vulnerable GOP senators in next year's midterm elections, Dean Heller of Nevada and Jeff Flake of Arizona, represent states with large populations of older voters. McConnell will want to ensure that they are both on board before making them vote on a bill.

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Associated Press writer Richard Lardner contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP) - Retire by your mid-60s? How 1960s.

More Americans age 65 and over are still punching the clock, and the last time the percentage was this high was when John F. Kennedy was in the White House.

Last month, 19 percent of Americans age 65 and over were still working, according to government data released Friday. That's the highest rate since 1962, and it caps a long trend higher since the figure bottomed out at 10 percent in 1985.

FILE - In a Friday, March 24, 2017, file photo, Loraine Maurerchats visits with customers at the N. Green River McDonald's location in Evansville, Ind., where a celebration was held in recognition of her more than four decades of work at local McDonald's restaurants. More Americans age 65 and over are still punching the clock, and the last time the percentage was this high was when John F. Kennedy was in the White House. In April 2017, 19 percent of Americans age 65 and over were still working, according to government data released Friday, May 5, 2017. That's the highest rate since 1962, and it caps a long trend higher since the figure bottomed out at 10 percent in 1985. (Alex Slitz/Evansville Courier & Press via AP, File)

As America grows older and as life expectancy gets longer, some workers keep heading to the office because they like it and still feel engaged. But many others are continuing to work for a simpler, darker reason: They can't afford not to.

More than a quarter of workers age 55 or older say they have less than $10,000 in savings and investments, according to the latest retirement confidence survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Perhaps because of slim nest eggs, nearly a third of workers in that age group say they expect to work until at least 70, if they retire at all.

Older workers still heading for jobs may also be the lucky ones. Many older Americans would like to work but say they can't find a job, whether because they lack the skills or because employers are looking for someone younger. The unemployment rate for workers age 65 and over was 3.7 percent last month. That's a tick higher than its median over the last 30 years, though it's down from earlier this year.

The numbers may rise still higher, critics say.

Congress this past week voted to overturn a federal rule designed to help states give more workers access to retirement savings plans.

Several states have been pushing to create their own plans to get more workers into plans like a 401(k) that automatically deduct savings from each paycheck. Low-income workers tend to have much less access to savings plans through their jobs.

Republicans and players in the investment industry, though, argue that the state-run plans could end up being much more expensive than imagined and would water down safeguards in place to protect investors.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - President Daniel Ortega downplayed the possible impact of a U.S. bill that would condition international lending to Nicaragua on a range of democracy and rights issues, saying it's more of a political than an economic threat to his country.

"The world is not going to disappear, the economy is not going to disintegrate" if the so-called Nica Act passes, Ortega said late Thursday after meeting with representatives of the International Monetary Fund during a visit to the Central American nation.

The bill before the House and Senate calls for the U.S. to oppose most loans to Nicaragua's government through organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, with the exception of funds for humanitarian purposes or to promote democracy.

That would be the official U.S. position unless the secretary of state certifies that Nicaragua is taking steps to hold fair and competitive elections, safeguard political rights, strengthen the rule of law and fight corruption, among other conditions. Similar legislation last year failed to advance in Congress.

Nicaraguan opposition leaders and civil society groups accuse Ortega of manipulating elections to stay in power and of wanting to create a family dynasty by making his wife, Rosario Murillo, his vice president.

Ortega's government has opened negotiations with the Organization of American States ahead of local elections scheduled for November to discuss concerns about transparency and fairness.

OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro urged U.S. lawmakers this week to "reconsider" the bill to allow "time and space" for the negotiations to work.

Economist and sociologist Cirilo Otero said Ortega may be underestimating the Nica Act's potential effects because any uncertainty could prompt investors to suspend activity in Nicaragua until it clears up.

"We are a poor country that lives off international aid," said Otero, a professor at the Universidad Centroamericana. "We are not self-sustainable to react in that way."

Nicaragua, the second-poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere after Haiti, relies on international loans to finance at least 10 percent of its budget.

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Corrects to say Ortega spoke late Thursday.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Republican New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez ordered a special session of the Legislature on Friday to resolve a grinding state budget crisis, with no sign of a compromise with leading Democratic lawmakers.

Calling legislators to the New Mexico Capitol on May 24, the governor's proclamation asserts that lawmakers approved a $6.1 billion budget in March that was out-of-balance. The governor last month vetoed tax and fee hikes that many lawmakers say are necessary to shore up funding to public schools, courts and essential public services.

The decision to reconvene lawmakers comes as the Supreme Court weighs accusations that Martinez overstepped her authority by defunding the Democratic-led Legislature and all state universities and colleges for the fiscal year beginning July 1 - a step Martinez has said was necessary to avoid a deficit.

FILE - In this March 27, 2017 file photo, Gov. Susana Martinez speaks about the recent legislative session to a group of business leaders and real estate developers during a luncheon in Albuquerque, N.M. Republican New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez ordered a special session of the Legislature on Friday, May 5, 2017, to resolve a grinding state budget crisis, with no sign of a compromise with leading Democratic lawmakers. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, file)

The Legislature says the governor's line-item vetoes upset the balance of powers between branches of government outlined in the state's constitution by "effectively abolishing" the legislative branch.

In a legal briefing Friday, the Martinez administration urged the Supreme Court to stay out of the budget standoff and said her vetoes were made in pursuit of reductions to state spending and never sought to abolish the Legislature.

A council of seven state university presidents on Friday said the vetoes and budget stalemate pose a threat to public health by slashing funding to medical facilities including a neonatal intensive care unit, in a legal brief encouraging the Supreme Court to issue a quick decision.

"Some of the damage caused by the vetoes is irreparable," the brief said, noting that financial uncertainty has reduced student enrollment and undermined recruitment of teaching faculty, physicians and research scientists.

In mid-March, lawmakers sent Martinez a budget package that would slightly boost spending and includes several tax increases. She responded with line-item vetoes that scratch funding for the legislative branch and cut $745 million in annual general fund spending to state universities, community colleges and specialty schools.

"During this year's regular session, lawmakers passed an unbalanced budget, along with one of the largest tax increases in state history," Martinez said in a statement. "That's unacceptable. We need to balance our budget, address our cash crisis and restore funding for our colleges and universities - without asking families to foot the bill to bail out government."

The drawn-out feud over New Mexico's budget shortfalls already has triggered public tuition increases at several state colleges, layoffs at state museums and a shortage of public defenders.

Without a compromise, New Mexico runs the risk of closing down its Statehouse and crippling university teaching and research programs for agriculture, medicine and oil exploration, along with specialty schools for the blind and deaf.

The proclamation for a special session is tailored to the governor's budget priorities, possibly limiting lawmakers' options.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth accused the governor on Friday of stubbornly pursuing state spending cuts.

"Martinez rejected the responsible bipartisan budget plan passed by the Legislature and unconstitutionally eliminated all funding for higher education and an entire branch of Government," he said in a statement. "Now she wants to cut her way out of the mess she created."

Martinez has sought to avoid tax increases by reducing state contributions to worker pensions, eliminating spending on infrastructure and wiping away decades of tax breaks that benefit nonprofits and special business interests.

The Democrat-led Legislature had approved its own bill to gradually phase out tax breaks and create a new reserve fund to stabilize state revenues - another item vetoed by the governor.

Wirth said the governor's suggestions for repealing tax incentives would increase tax burdens on public schools, nonprofit institutions and physicians.

Democratic Sen. John Arthur Smith, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the state remains in a constitutional crisis, urging the Supreme Court not to delay a decision on the legality of the governor's vetoes.

He said there have been no substantive recent discussions of the governor's budget plan with him and other leading Democratic lawmakers.

"We should have ongoing discussions before we go into a special session," he said.

Martinez on Wednesday outlined a rough plan to restore funding to higher education institutions that would rely on closing tax loopholes, possibly by eliminating tax breaks for hospitals and health care providers. The governor's office has declined requests for further details.

Adding to tensions in Santa Fe, Martinez has directed agencies to draw up plans for to place state employees on unpaid furlough to ensure adequate cash reserves, though state tax income has recovered slightly in recent months.

Anemic state tax revenues are linked to a downturn last year in global energy prices and a tepid economy in a state with the nation's highest unemployment rate.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - A Roman Catholic nun from Japan has been arrested and charged on suspicion of helping priests sexually abuse children at a school for youths with hearing disabilities in Argentina, authorities said.

Kosaka Kumiko was also charged with physically abusing the students at the Antonio Provolo Institute for children with hearing impairment in northwestern Mendoza province.

Local media showed the 42-year-old nun in handcuffs and wearing her habit and a bullet-proof vest as she was escorted by police to a court hearing. Kumiko, who was born in Japan but has Argentine citizenship, denied any wrongdoing during the eight-hour hearing late Thursday.

Roman Catholic nun Kosaka Kumiko is escorted out of a police station to attend a court hearing, in Mendoza, Argentina, Thursday, May 4, 2017. Kumiko has been arrested and charged on suspicion of helping priests sexually abuse children at a school for youths with hearing disabilities. (Andres Larrovere/Diario Los Andes via AP)

Authorities say that Kumiko lived at the Provolo Institute from 2004-2012. She had been on the run for about a month before she turned herself in this week.

The case against the nun was launched after a former student accused of making her wear a diaper to cover up a hemorrhage after she was allegedly raped by priest Horacio Corbacho.

Corbacho, fellow priest Nicola Corradi and three other men were arrested last year after they were charged with sexually abusing at least two dozen students at the Provolo Institute. They are being held at a jail in Mendoza and have not spoken publicly since the arrest. If found guilty, the accused face 10 to 50 years in prison.

Corradi had earlier been accused in Italy of abusing students at the Provolo Institute in Verona, a notorious school for the deaf where hundreds of children are believed to have been sexually assaulted over the years by two dozen priests and religious brothers.

Advocates for clerical sex abuse have expressed anger that Corradi wasn't sanctioned by the Vatican and allegedly went on to abuse children in Pope Francis' native Argentina.

Victims and prosecutors say the anal and vaginal rapes, fondling and oral sex allegedly committed by the priests took place in the bathrooms, dorms, garden and a basement at the school in Lujan de Cuyo, a city about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) northwest of Buenos Aires.

A Vatican investigative commission recently visited Mendoza to learn more about the case against the priests.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has urged voters not to give the Tories a landslide victory as the polls opened in local elections.

Mr Farron claimed Theresa May believes next months General Election is already in the bag, but said it would be bad for Britain if the Conservatives won big in local and national polling.

He visited a polling station at Allithwaite, in his constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale, with all 84 Cumbria County Council seats up for election.

Good luck to the thousands of @LibDems candidates and activists campaigning all across the country today. #VoteLibDem  Tim Farron (@timfarron) May 4, 2017

Mr Farron said: Its a reminder that what we are facing in the General Election in the weeks to come is the Conservatives taking absolutely everyone for granted, assuming they are going to win with not just a majority but a colossal landslide, thats really bad for democracy.

Remember Theresa May has been telling European leaders that shes already won the election which, you know, may be news to the electorate, but thats nevertheless what she is saying and its certainly what she thinks.

And even if you are the sort of person who might have normally voted Conservative, today and indeed in five weeks time, is an opportunity to make sure that Britain actually remains a functioning democracy, because if there is a Conservative landslide today in the local elections and a few weeks time in the General Election, that is really bad for Britain.

Tim Farron speaks to voters in Cumbria

Your community, whether its here in Cumbria or elsewhere around the country, the worst thing for your hospital, your school, for your police service is a Tory landslide because they will just then completely take you for granted.

Mr Farron said he did not have a figure in my head for the number of council seats he hoped his party could win but claimed only the Liberal Democrats could provide strong opposition to the Tories.

Tomorrow, Thursday 4 May, is polling day in local and mayoral elections across Britain. Vote Liberal Democrat to change Britain's future! pic.twitter.com/pVra7TnlRf  Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) May 3, 2017

He added: It does certainly feel to me that the Liberal Democrats are the only party, certainly amongst the opposition parties, with momentum behind us, with a clear, bold message saying that Britain can do better than the shoddy direction that Theresa May is currently taking us in.

And what we really need is a strong opposition that will hold the Conservatives to account. That clearly isnt Labour any more and it must therefore be the Liberal Democrats.

More than 4,800 council seats are being contested across England, Wales and Scotland and there are also eight mayoral elections including in six new combined local authorities.
The president of the European Council has warned Theresa May against letting emotions get out of hand in a stinging attack after she accused Brussels of seeking to interfere in the General Election.

Donald Tusk said Brexit negotiations will become impossible if the UK and the EU become embroiled in arguments before the formal talks have even begun.

#Brexit talks difficult enough. If emotions get out of hand, they'll become impossible. Discretion, moderation & mutual respect needed.  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) May 4, 2017

Mrs May sent shock waves through Brussels with a dramatic Downing Street statement on Wednesday accusing unnamed European politicians and officials of issuing threats deliberately timed to affect the June 8 vote.

The row blew up after a German newspaper published an apparently well-briefed account of the Prime Ministers meeting with key Brussels figures in No 10 last week.

It reportedly ended with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker saying he was 10 times more sceptical of the likelihood of a successful Brexit.

At stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the Channel. #Brexit  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) May 4, 2017

In a call for calm, Mr Tusk appealed for discretion in the negotiations, a plea widely viewed as being aimed at Mr Junckers office.

At a press conference in Brussels, Mr Tusk said: These negotiations are difficult enough as they are.

If we start arguing before they even begin, they will become impossible.

Donald Tusk

The stakes are too high to let our emotions get out of hand because at stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the channel.

We must keep in mind that in order to succeed we need today discretion, moderation, mutual respect and a maximum of goodwill.

European Parliament president Antonio Tajani rejected the Prime Ministers claim and a spokesman for Mr Juncker said his office was too busy to meddle in the election.

Antonio Tajani

Mr Tajani said: We are not seeking to influence the result in the UK.

It is better to have an interlocutor who is not constantly looking for votes because they have had the election, in order to work towards a good solution , he added.

If you have an election campaign, the rhetoric gets sharper and more robust. I dont think there is any question of influencing the campaign.

Earlier, Mr Junckers spokesman Margaritis Schinas brushed off Mrs Mays comments, telling reporters: We are not naive. We know that there is an election taking place in the United Kingdom. People get excited whenever we have elections.

This election in the United Kingdom is mainly about Brexit. But we here in Brussels, we are very busy, rather busy, with our policy work.

We have too much to do on our plate. So, in a nutshell, we are very busy. And we will not Brexitise our work.
Signal Mountain Police Department and Signal Mountain Fire Department have invited a few other agencies to join in an Open House on May 13 to share information on the services they provide to the community.

The open house will be Saturday, May 13, from 1-4 p.m. at the Signal Mountain Fire and Police station.

There will be information provided by Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services, Hamilton County 911, The American Red Cross and the Tennessee Department of Transportation as well as the Signal Mountain Police officers and firefighters.


European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has said English is losing importance in Europe as he accused the UK of abandoning the EU.

The senior Brussels bureaucrat made the mocking remark during a conference speech delivered in French after UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon advised that Brexit talks would be easier if commission officials kept their views to themselves.

Sir Michael also bemoaned one-sided leaking from commission officials as he defended Prime Minister Theresa Mays scathing attack on Brussels in the wake of negative press stories about the negotiations on Britains exit from the EU.

.@DavidDavisMP says that a misleading briefing came out of a dinner with EU representatives that did not reflect the UK government #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/etgAXAe5lX  BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) May 4, 2017

Brexit Secretary David Davis said the commission was trying to bully the British people, adding on BBC Ones Question Time: The British people will not be bullied, and the Government will not allow them to be bullied.

Mrs May later claimed bureaucrats in Europe are questioning the UKs resolve to get the right deal, also telling workers during a visit to a printing factory in Brentford an agreement can be completed and should be completed within two years.

The public jibes traded by London and Brussels did little to suggest European Council president Donald Tusks appeal for discretion in the negotiations, a plea widely viewed as being aimed at Mr Junckers office, was being listened to.

Speaking in the Italian city of Florence, Mr Juncker joked: I will express myself in French because, slowly but surely, English is losing importance in Europe.

He described Brexit as a tragedy, explaining: Now growth in the EU is twice that in the US and I feel we can be reassured as far as the immediate future is concerned.

And at that point, despite the success, despite the growth, our British friends decided to leave the EU, which is a tragedy.

We shouldnt underestimate the importance of the decision made by the British people. It is no small event.

Of course we will negotiate with our British friends in full transparency, but there should be no doubt whatsoever that it is not the EU which is abandoning the UK, it is the opposite  they are abandoning the EU.

And this is a difference which will be felt over the next few years.

#Brexit talks difficult enough. If emotions get out of hand, they'll become impossible. Discretion, moderation & mutual respect needed.  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) May 4, 2017

Deputy chief EU Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein, when asked if Mr Junckers English remark would be constructive, later told a press briefing: You are familiar with the way he speaks and that he does sometimes make light-hearted remarks.

I dont think one needs to extrapolate from that and reach dramatic conclusions.

The UKs frustration with EU officials was expressed earlier by Sir Michael as he conducted a series of broadcast interviews.

Sir Michael, asked if it would be easier if Mr Tusk and others did not comment on what is going on, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Well, itd certainly be easier if commission officials kept their views to themselves and not further complicate what is already going to be a tough negotiation.

At stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the Channel. #Brexit  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) May 4, 2017

But whats clear from Theresa Mays reaction is that she is prepared, whatever the commission officials are doing in Brussels, to stand up for Britains vital national interest in these very complicated talks.

Mrs May sent shockwaves through Brussels with a dramatic Downing Street statement on Wednesday, accusing unnamed European politicians and officials of issuing threats deliberately timed to affect the June 8 vote.

European Parliament president Antonio Tajani rejected the Prime Ministers claim and a spokesman for Mr Juncker said his office was too busy to meddle in the election.

The row blew up after a German newspaper published an apparently well-briefed account of the Prime Ministers meeting with key Brussels figures in No 10 last week.

It reportedly ended with Mr Juncker saying he was 10 times more sceptical of the likelihood of a successful Brexit.
Conservatives have made historic advances in local elections across the UK, gaining more than 500 councillors, winning tightly-fought battles for elected mayors in the West Midlands and Tees Valley and forcing Labour into third place in its former stronghold of Scotland.

The emphatic victories  fuelled by a collapse in the Ukip vote as anti-EU supporters flocked back to the Tories  set the scene for a substantial increase in Theresa Mays House of Commons majority if repeated in the June 8 general election.

But the Prime Minister sought to fight any complacency in Tory ranks, insisting that she was taking nothing for granted in an election which she hopes will strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations with Brussels.

Overall state of the parties

Labour tried to play down the significance of a bruising set of results which saw it forfeit almost 300 council seats, lose control of Glasgow for the first time in around 40 years and suffer reverses in Welsh strongholds.

Describing the elections as tough, shadow chancellor John McDonnell took solace in the fact that they were not the wipeout that some people predicted and insisted there was still all to play for in the General Election just five weeks away.

John McDonnell

Liberal Democrats had a mixed election, failing to break through against the Tories in the south-west England battleground but making advances in some General Election target seats like Eastleigh and Wells.

Speaking during a visit to a factory in Brentford, west London, Mrs May said: I will not take anything for granted and neither will the team I lead, because there is too much at stake.

The reality is that today, despite the evident will of the British people, we have bureaucrats in Europe who are questioning our resolve to get the right deal.

Theresa May

And the reality is that only a General Election vote for the Conservatives in 34 days time will strengthen my hand to get the best deal for Britain from Brexit.

So today, I will continue my efforts to earn the support of you, the people.

Asked if she had killed off Ukip, she replied: I think if we look at whats happened in the local elections we have taken votes from across the whole of the political spectrum.

As Ukip shed 109 councillors while holding a solitary seat in Lancashire, leader Paul Nuttall said the party was a victim of its own success over Brexit.

Losing seats to Tories was a price Ukip is prepared to pay for the prize of leaving the EU, he said.

The results sparked a furious reaction from the partys former donor Arron Banks, who said Ukip was finished as an electoral force under its current leadership and needed a strategic bullet to the back of the head.

Conservatives won the West of England metro mayor contest, while Labour claimed the mayoralties in Greater Manchester  won in the first round of voting by former cabinet minister Andy Burnham  Liverpool, Doncaster and North Tyneside.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said he was unaware Communist and Syrian regime flags were being held up as he spoke at a workers rally.

The senior Labour figure claimed someone had obviously shoved them up and he felt furious after learning about the banners.

Mr McDonnell was criticised by British Ukrainians for speaking under a Communist hammer and sickle banner at a May Day rally in Londons Trafalgar Square on Monday.

John McDonnell speaking at a May Day rally in Trafalgar Square, London (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Photos from the event also show some people at the mass rally holding portraits of Joseph Stalin, and other Soviet iconography.

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB), reacting earlier this week, said politicians had no excuse for sharing a platform with others carrying banners of Stalin, a tyrant who killed millions of their countrymen, and a hammer and sickle representing repression and mass murder.

Mr McDonnell, asked if he knew he was standing in front of banners with the Communist hammer and sickle, and also representing Syrian president Bashar Assads regime, told BBC Radio 4s Today: No, of course I didnt know.

It was a TUC march, it was a TUC May Day celebration. I was there to celebrate May Day, which was a celebration of the contribution workers make to our economy.

Asked if he would have insisted on the banners being removed if he had known about them, Mr McDonnell said: Of course I would, my goodness yeah.

It was only afterwards  the TUC organisers didnt know they were there, someone had obviously shoved them up, I was furious afterwards and I think so were the organisers themselves.

Were talking about the Trades Union Congress. It isnt an organisation that backs any of these sort of movements. Thats appalling.
American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour congratulated the Queen on her husbands service to the country as she was made a Dame Commander.

Wintour, who has spent almost 30 years editing the fashion bible, described the Duke of Edinburgh as an inspiration to us all following the announcement that he will retire from public service in the autumn.

The 67-year-old removed her signature sunglasses shortly before entering the ballroom of Buckingham Palace, where she received an honour for services to fashion and journalism.

Dame Anna Wintour is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II (Yui Mok/PA)

But the Queen struggled to attach the insignia to the editors pink belted Chanel outfit during the ceremony.

Wintour told the Press Association: She couldnt find where to put the brooch. I congratulated her on Prince Philips service because obviously thats so remarkable and such an inspiration to us all.

Wintour, who was born in London, was editor of British Vogue between 1985 and 1987 before taking the helm of the US magazine in 1988.

Known for her flawless sense of style and trademark bob haircut, she earned a reputation as a formidable force in fashion. She said it was wonderful to receive the honour from the Queen for her services to the industry, watched by her daughter Bee Shaffer.

Obviously this is a city that I grew up in, a city that I have so much affection and love for, she said.

Its always wonderful to get an award but this one is extra special.
North Korea has accused the US and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong Un involving bio-chemical weapons.

North Koreas Ministry of State Security said it will ferret out and mercilessly destroy the terrorists in the CIA and South Korean intelligence agency for targeting its supreme leadership.

North Korea frequently lambasts the United States and South Korea, but this accusation is unusual in its details.

A North Korean national flag flutters as soldiers salute Kim Jong Un

The ministry said the spy agencies ideologically corrupted and bribed a North Korean citizen who had been working in Russia to carry out the alleged assassination attempt involving a radioactive and nano-poisonous substance.

It said South Korean agents gave 20,000 dollars (15,000) and satellite communication equipment to the North Korean to attack Kim during a public event with a bio-chemical weapon. The ministry threatened that a counter-attack would begin immediately.

Korean-style anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organisations of the US imperialists and the puppet clique, it said, referring to South Korea.
Labour politician Steve Rotheram has said his election as Liverpool City Region metro mayor is an early warning shot across the Tory bows.

The Liverpool Walton MP became the first metro mayor for the area with 59.3% of the vote.

He said he would work to address the north-south divide.

Steve Rotheram says mayoral result is an "early warning shot across Tory bows" pic.twitter.com/TUsAStO950  Eleanor Barlow (@EleanorBarlow) May 5, 2017

He said: This result means we can demonstrate what happens when Labour values are put into practice and this result means we can build a platform for our party in our area to go on to General Election success.

Our people have sent an early warning shot across the Tory bows.

Our people have voted for policies that we can all get behind and our people have given me an overwhelming mandate.

I promise I wont let you down.

Liverpool's new metro mayor Steve Rotheram (Adam Davy/PA)

Conservative Tony Caldeira, who is standing as the partys Wirral West candidate in the General Election, came second with 58,805 votes to Mr Rotherams 171,167.

The region, which includes the boroughs of Liverpool, Wirral, Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton and Halton, had a turnout of 26.1% for the vote.
Jim Allenby struck a maiden List A century as Somerset maintained their position at the top of the Royal London One-Day Cup South Group with a 170-run win over Glamorgan at Cardiff.

Here's the moment that @jimallenby went to a sublime century here in Cardiff! #GLAMvSOM pic.twitter.com/bJaNCfExeu  Somerset Cricket  (@SomersetCCC) May 5, 2017

The former Glamorgan all-rounder, making his 117th 50-over appearance, carried his bat for 144 off 146 deliveries to lift Somerset to 338 for three after losing the toss.

Dean Elgar also struck 96, taking his run tally to 350 in four games, and James Hildreth added late impetus with an unbeaten 28-ball 58.

Jim Allenby

Dean Elgar is on 



v Surrey 68

v Sussex 131*

v Kent 55

v Glamorgan 96



RUNS 350

AVERAGE 117#WeAreSOMERSET pic.twitter.com/qIxUaHAL7l  Somerset Cricket  (@SomersetCCC) May 5, 2017

Kiran Carlson made 63 in reply, his first one-day half-century, but Glamorgan were dismissed for 168 by the visitors, who pulled two points clear of Essex at the top following a fourth consecutive victory.

Laurie Evans produced a stunning knock to leave Kent winless, guiding Sussex to a six-wicket success by blasting 134 off just 86 balls at Canterbury.

The former Warwickshire batsman smashed nine fours and eight sixes, sharing a 207-run stand with half-centurion Harry Finch, to take Sussex past Kents 331 for seven, which included a second successive ton from Daniel Bell-Drummond.

Take a bow @LaurieEvans32; 134 not out from 86 balls



Nine fours, eight sixes... #GOSBTS pic.twitter.com/OYxAwEXJnA  Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 5, 2017

Unbeaten fifties from Rory Burns and Ben Foakes led Surrey to a seven-wicket triumph over Middlesex in the London derby at the Oval.

Unbeaten Worcestershire replaced Yorkshire at the top of the North Group after Tom Kohler-Cadmores 118 inspired the Pears to a 51-run win at New Road.

Daryl Mitchell also contributed 69 in a score of 342 all out for the hosts, who then dismissed the Vikings for 291 despite 59 from the injured Adam Lyth and Peter Handscombs 88.

Billy Root cracked his maiden one-day century to help Nottinghamshire beat Warwickshire by 10 runs at Edgbaston.

.@Rootdog22 is on  in the @OneDayCup and now he is making up his own shots. What would you call this? #WarksvNotts pic.twitter.com/nWz2WRfiOc  Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) May 5, 2017

The 23-year-old, brother of England Test skipper Joe Root, made 107 not out off 93 balls in Notts 303 for six, a total which was beyond the Bears as Jonathan Trotts 104 proved in vain.

Durham continued their rise up the table despite their points deduction, comfortably beating Leicestershire by five wickets at Gosforth.

The visitors, once struggling at three for three and then 127 for eight, were lifted to 211 all out by number nine Zak Chappells unbeaten 59.

How about the form of our top three?! 



1 ton & 2 more half-centuries for each of them in our opening four games  pic.twitter.com/sXhsJGiJ1X  Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) May 5, 2017

But that was not enough as Stephen Cook made 67 and Michael Richardson compiled 51 before Paul Collingwood saw his side home with 65 not out.

Northamptonshire secured their first success of the competition, seeing off winless Lancashire by six wickets at Liverpool following an unbeaten 109 by captain Alex Wakely.
ASTANA, May 4 (Reuters) - Syria's armed opposition on Thursday rejected a Russian plan to create safe zones in Syria, calling it a threat to the country's territorial integrity, and said it would also not recognise Iran as a guarantor of any ceasefire plan.

Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, and Iran, which backs Syrian President Bashar Assad, agreed earlier in the day to Russia's proposal for "de-escalation zones" in Syria, a move welcomed by the United Nations but met with scepticism from the United States.

"We want Syria to maintain its integrity," opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid said after Russia, Turkey and Iran signed a memorandum on creating safe zones. The three countries are sponsoring talks in the Kazakh capital Astana aimed at ending Syria's fighting.

"We are against the division of Syria. As for the agreements, we are not a party to that agreement and of course we will never be in favour (of it) as long as Iran is called a guarantor state," Abu Zaid said.

He also cited what he called "a huge gap" between the promises of Russia, which intervened militarily in 2015 on Assad's side and gave him back the upper hand in the conflict.

"We have an agreement already (in) our hands, why isnt it implemented?" he said, referring to a truce deal announced by Russia in December that was largely ignored on the ground. "Why are we jumping now to safe zones?"

"Russia was not able to or does not want to implement the pledges it makes, and this is a fundamental problem."

Russia, Turkey and Iran did not immediately publish the memorandum, leaving its details unclear. But the safe zones appear intended to be conflict-free to help widen a ceasefire, and would potentially be policed by foreign troops.

The U.S. State Department said in a statement that it was sceptical of Iran's involvement as a guarantor of the accord and Damascus' track record on previous agreements.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that he was encouraged by the proposal but cautioned it must "actually improve the lives of Syrians."

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, said while on a visit to Washington, D.C., that the kingdom supported creation of safe zones but he wanted to see more details.

Russian negotiator Alexander Lavrentyev said that under the plan Russia could send observers to safe zones. He said third-party monitors could be invited provided Iran and Turkey agreed. (Reporting by Olzhas Auyezov and Raushan Nurshayeva; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Vladimir Soldatkin, Mark Heinrich, Toni Reinhold)
By Peter Apps

May 4 (Reuters) - When Estonia became the first nation on the receiving end of an overwhelming cyber attack 10 years ago last week, government and other critical websites and systems such as banking collapsed in one of the most internet-connected countries of the time. Widely blamed on Russia, the assault prompted Western nations - including the United States - to plow billions into improving their own cyber defenses.

If something similar happened today, it could be even more disruptive and dangerous - and also more complex. Western states, militaries and companies have made strides in building the technical ability to guard against cyber attacks. But as often with new technologies, developing the doctrine and expertise to know how to use them inevitably lags behind.

That points to a broader problem. A decade after the Estonia attack, the Wests potential enemies still have a better sense of what they want to achieve in cyberspace than the United States or its allies.

For the West, "cyber" remains a tightly defined concept, a matter of protecting nationally vital systems, keeping secrets or finding them out from potential enemies. For countries like Russia and China, however, it has become something much broader.

In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Russia is believed to have used a combination of hacking and the dissemination of real and false news to striking effect; the same has been true in political campaigns across Europe. Many Western experts believe stealing defense and other U.S. commercial secrets has been at the heart of Chinas military and economic modernization.

When it comes to technical capability, specialists at the National Security Agency and Britains GCHQ are as good as anyone in the world, at least as sophisticated as any hackers Moscow, Beijing, Pyongyang or Tehran might field. The same is increasingly true of military personnel in the growing number of units such as the U.S. militarys Cyber Command and designated units within the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marines.

Smaller nations are also forging ahead, particularly those in Eastern and Northern Europe that must contend with Russia. Estonia in particular has toughened its defenses, and is now seen as one of the worlds hardest countries to attack.

Both Russia and China doubtless also have talented government and military hackers. But Moscow in particular is seen as going much further, sometimes delegating attacks to criminals and others outside government. That strategy, Western experts say, allows such individuals and groups to operate with immunity providing they do not attack targets within their own nations - for example, through credit card theft - and are willing to help the state out with deniable attacks on foreign enemies when asked.

Potential targets often struggle to formulate a response to cyber attacks because identifying the source of the attacks is so difficult. U.S. authorities are engaged in a global crackdown on Russian hackers in particular, but that alone may not be enough to deter others. Preventing attacks in cyberspace is now considered almost as important as deterring physical attacks - and its an area where the thinking is just beginning.

There have been some diplomatic victories. After the United States complained loudly and publicly about Chinese information theft, the practice appeared to fall off sharply, according to internet security firms.

These problems aren't new, although they are getting more complex. The 2007 Estonia incident was part of a wider campaign sparked by Estonias decision to move a Russian war memorial from the center of its capital. Moscow, which controlled Estonia when it was part of the USSR before independence in 1991, reacted angrily - and Estonian officials also accused it of provoking riots amongst ethnic Russians within Estonia at the same time.

Moscow denied government involvement in both the riots and cyber attacks, suggesting the latter were carried out by "patriotic" Russian hackers.

Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine that followed have also involved cyber attacks and other electronic warfare, rendering U.S.-manufactured drones supplied to the Ukrainian military almost useless. Russia has integrated cyber capabilities into its broader hybrid and conventional warfare playbook in ways the West has yet to match, although U.S. and other militaries are working hard to do so.

Western states have taken their own steps. The United States and Israel are believed to have used the Stuxnet computer worm to reprogram Irans nuclear centrifuges so that they tore themselves apart.

That action, however, opened the door to new, potentially lethal forms of warfare.

Computer security experts report a rising number of attacks against industrial control systems, the sophisticated computer programs that operate power stations, water and fuel supplies and other similar infrastructure.

Attacks causing physical damage of any kind have been rare, but at least one has been reported - a 2014 incident at a German industrial smelter. At the end of 2015, suspected Russian hackers shut down part of Ukraines power grid, although the government swiftly restored electricity. A similar attack at the end of last year was suspected to have been behind widespread power outages in Kiev.

In theory, such techniques could be used to blow up fuel stations, crash airliners and a host of other lethal actions.

Clarifying the internationally understood rules around such attacks has long been a priority for the United States and other major states. Since at least 2011, the United States has maintained that it would retaliate for any cyber attack that caused physical damage or death in the same way it would a physical assault, potentially considering it an act of war.

Partly as a result, the Wests foes have turned to softer targets. Iran is believed to have responded to U.S. sanctions and interference in its nuclear programs by attacking the U.S. banking system, at one point causing considerable if temporary disruption to a number of major institutions. Tehran was also blamed for an attack on the Saudi oil firm Aramco that reportedly led to hundreds of computers having to be thrown away.

U.S. officials believe North Koreas response to an unflattering portrayal in a 2014 American comedy film was to hack media giant Sony, causing considerable embarrassment to its senior management. Pyongyang denied the charges, and some computer security experts suggest other explanations for the release of information, including internal rivalries at Sony.

Because his presidential campaign benefited from alleged Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee, Donald Trump and his administration are in an awkward place when it comes to formulating new approaches to such uncertain situations. But they dont have much choice. As it approaches its teenage years, cyber warfare will only get more troublesome. (By Peter Apps)
KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian police said on Friday a third Turkish national has been detained, suspected of threatening national security, after two were held earlier this week.

The detentions come amid concerns raised by U.S.-based Human Rights Watch that Turks in Malaysia are being held due to pressure from Ankara.

Turgay Karaman, the head of an international school, and Ihsan Aslan, a businessman, were arrested on Tuesday. Ismet Ozcelik, the director of a Turkish university, was picked up by police on Thursday, police chief Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters without elaborating.

He said Ozcelik had known both Karaman and Aslan, but declined to comment on media reports that the men were linked to the Islamic State militant group or that they were supporters of U.S-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Gulen is blamed by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan for orchestrating a failed coup last year, a claim he and his followers deny.

The detentions had not been made on the request of the Turkish government, Khalid said.

"Why would we wait for directions from abroad? We have our own country's laws," he said.

"People who threaten our security, we do not welcome them, these foreigners who come here and try to disrupt the peace."

Ozcelik had been previously arrested in December and was facing charges, along with four others, of obstructing immigration officials from carrying out their duty.

Rosli Dahlan, Ozcelik's lawyer, said his client had been held in remand for more than 50 days after the December arrest, and questioned why Ozcelik was being detained again.

"There was nothing about IS or any alleged terror links then," Rosli said.

Rosli had told Reuters earlier that two Turks were reported missing in October and later discovered to have been deported to Turkey.

Turkey has applied pressure on other countries that are home to institutions backed by Gulen, whose Hizmet movement runs about 2,000 educational establishments around the world.

Phil Robertson, Asia deputy director of Human Rights Watch, said police should explain why the Turks were being held on security grounds without charge, adding that the detentions came at a time when Turkey was "actively pursuing perceived opponents all around the world".

"(The police) need to reveal a whole lot more information about these cases before people are going to seriously believe that Ankara had nothing to do with it," he told Reuters. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Nick Macfie)
The number of active bald eagle nests in Georgia reached a record high this year, the state Department of Natural Resources announced Thursday.

Statewide aerial surveys detected 218 occupied nest territories. That eclipses the previous record of 210 in 2015 and marks the third straight year that more than 200 active bald eagle nests have been documented in Georgia.

Mirroring a comeback across the species range, bald eagles have rebounded in the state from no known nests in 1970 to nests this year in at least 68 counties, according to survey leader Bob Sargent. In the last 10 years, the number of occupied nest territories in Georgia has almost doubled.

The recovery of the bald eagle in Georgia is a truly inspiring success story. This is a 7-foot-wide soaring example of the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act, said Mr. Sargent, a program manager with DNRs Nongame Conservation Section.

At least 142 of this years nests were successful, fledging a total of 218 young eagles, an average of 1.5 per successful nest. Four nests appear to have fledged as many as three young. In 2016, 149 of the 201 occupied nesting territories were successful, fledging an estimated 240 eaglets.

The dip in fledgling estimates this year compared to 2016 does not concern Sargent. He explained that adults were still incubating eggs in many southwest Georgia nests during the follow-up flight in March. Since fledging of nestlings from those eggs, although likely, could not be assumed, those numbers were not added to the total.

The Nongame Conservation Section monitors eagle nesting through helicopter surveys in January and again in March and early April. The initial flights are focused on finding all active nests: those with eggs, eaglets, an adult in an incubating posture or evidence that eagles have been prepping the nest for use. The second round of surveys is aimed at determining the reproductive outcome of those nests and checking recently reported new nests.

Factors feeding the national birds recovery include a U.S. ban on DDT use in 1972, habitat improvements after enactment of the federal Clean Water and Clean Air acts, protection through the Endangered Species Act, increased public awareness, restoration of local populations through release programs, and forest regrowth.

In 1989, the Southeastern recovery plan set 20 occupied nest territories in Georgia as a goal. It was an especially low bar in terms of measuring success because the species was in such dire straits here, Mr. Sargent said.

Yet while the recovery of the bald eagle is encouraging, there continue to be reasons for concern, he added.

Along Savannah River reservoirs, for example, nest numbers are lower than expected. One reason why is avian vacuolar myelinopathy, often referred to as AVM, a neurological disease deadly to coots and the bald eagles that prey on them. This winter, 10 eagle carcasses were found at Clarks Hill Lake (Strom Thurmond), an AVM hotspot. The cause of death for those eagles that could be necropsied was AVM, Mr. Sargent said.

Mr. Sargent also reiterated the unexpected downside of an increased eagle population, including more birds being hit by cars as eagles, mostly sub-adults, eat roadkill; incidents of eagles being shot; and, birds suffering lead poisoning after ingesting fishing sinkers or scavenging animal carcasses containing lead shot, bullets or slugs.

The public is encouraged to report eagle nests via www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/eaglenest, (478) 994-1438) or bob.sargent@dnr.ga.gov. Such reports led to 12 of the 17 new nests this season. (Tip: Osprey nests are sometimes confused with eagles. If unsure, check out the differences online, including at http://bit.ly/2ptuRtm.)

DNR works with landowners to help protect bald eagle nests on private property. Although de-listed from the Endangered Species Act in 2007, eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and state law. In Georgia, the species has a state classification of threatened.

The surveys of these iconic birds are part of the DNR Nongame Conservation Sections mission to conserve nongame wildlife  native animals not legally hunted or fished for  and native plants and natural habitats.

The resurgence of bald eagles is supported in part by Georgians who buy or renew an eagle or hummingbird wildlife license plate. These tags cost only $25 more than a standard license plate and $19 of each purchase and $20 of each annual renewal goes to help conserve bald eagles and hundreds of other Georgia plant and animal species listed as species of conservation concern.

Learn more at www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/support. See how that support is put to work www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/AnnualReport.

SURVEY SUMMARY

Occupied eagle nest territories: 218

Successful nests: 142

Young fledged: 218

Counties with active nests: 68

Lead nest counties: Chatham, 22; Decatur, 18; Camden, 13, McIntosh, 13; Glynn, 11, Liberty, 11

SURVEY INSIGHTS

Round-one Flights: DNR eagle nest surveys consist of two rounds of flights, each taking five days. The first round is called occupancy flights. Flown between the second and fourth week of January, these flights are focused on finding all active nests in the state. An active nest is one with eggs or an adult eagle in an incubating posture, eaglets (rare in Georgia in January), or evidence eagles have been prepping the nest for use. To make the best use of helicopter time, occupancy flights focus on nests used the previous year, reports of possible new sites and examination of areas with a high probability of supporting new nests. Reports by biologists and other residents accounted for 12 of the 17 new nests this year and monitoring of 11 nests from the ground.

Round Two: The second round of flights, from mid-March to early April, is aimed at gauging the reproductive outcome of nests visited in January and visiting reported new nests. By late winter, most nests either have eaglets ranging in age from 4-14 weeks old or they are empty because the nesting effort failed or, in a few instances, the eaglets have fledged.

Nest Timing: DNR survey leader Bob Sargent said there is a marked latitudinal gradient with regards to the timing of the nest cycle. Eagles on the coast nest earlier and fledge young earlier than those in the mid-state, and much earlier than those nesting on the perimeter of mountain reservoirs. And as with all birds, the causes of nest failure vary and can include severe weather, death of one or both parents, insufficient food available to rear young and predation of eggs or young by raccoons, great horned owls and other wildlife.

After Matthew: Mr. Sargent was curious to see how coastal nests fared in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. Yet only five nest trees appeared to have fallen because of the October storm, despite swaths of devastated forest on Little Tybee, Ossabaw, Blackbeard and St. Catherines islands. On the flipside, Mr. Sargent found five new nests on the coast. About 35 percent of the states active nests were found in the six coastal counties.



Pilots Key: By the end of the surveys, Mr. Sargent and DNR pilots Maj. Gary Doc Watson and Capts. Ed Watkins and Steve Turner had peeked into 293 nests from Walker to Camden counties. Sargent calls the pilots ornithologists in training and said their part in the surveys goes beyond flying. They often find the nests before I do, they are as fascinated by the big birds as I am and they are especially conscientious about keeping a safe distance from the nests  for the eagles sake  while giving me the best possible look at the contents.

Nest Trees: Data collected about the nest trees this survey season show that of 263 current or recent nest trees examined, 251 (95 percent) were pines, mostly loblolly, but also longleaf, white and Virginia pine. Eleven of the remaining 12 trees were cypress, and nine of those were on the coast.

Mr. Sargent often gets calls from the public about eagle nests in dead trees, especially the very tops of the trees, and on high-voltage towers, cell phone towers and bridge structures. Sargents preliminary analysis indicates that only 19 of the 263 nest trees examined were dead or dying, and about five nests were at the very top of the trees. No eagle nests were documented on manmade structures, but many osprey nests were seen on towers, river channel markers and bridges. The latter species often nests in dead trees.

Oddly enough, one tree on Blackbeard Island featured three eagle nests stacked one above the other like apartments; the top one was occupied. On Wassaw Island, Mr. Sargent saw a great horned owl incubating eggs in a nest that had been built by eagles, which is not an unusual occurrence.
BERLIN, May 5 (Reuters) - French voters are among the most polarised in the European Union, with one in five describing themselves as "extreme" and only about a third as "centrist", a poll showed on Friday, days before the country's presidential election.

The survey from the Bertelsmann Foundation also showed an unusually high level of dissatisfaction in France with the direction of the country, underscoring the challenge that a new president will face.

Independent centrist Emmanuel Macron will face off against Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front on Sunday, the first time since the founding of the Fifth Republic nearly 60 years ago that neither of the main centre-right and centre-left parties are present in the runoff.

Polls show Macron is likely to defeat Le Pen by a margin of roughly 60 to 40 percent.

The Bertelsmann survey, conducted in March and based on the responses of 11,021 people across the EU, showed that 20 percent of French voters see themselves as either extreme right or extreme left, compared to just 7 percent in the wider EU.

Of those, 14 percent of French described themselves as extreme right.

Just 36 percent said they saw themselves as centrist, compared to 62 percent in the wider EU. Of those, 21 percent said they were centre-left and 15 percent centre-right.

The survey showed widespread dissatisfaction with the direction of policy in the country. Only 4 percent of far-right voters and 16 percent of far-left voters say they are satisfied.

The survey showed strong support for keeping France in the EU and the euro among far-left, centre-left and centre-right voters, with only far-right voters favouring a departure from the bloc and the single currency. (Reporting by Noah Barkin; editing by Ralph Boulton)
MOSCOW, May 5 (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

- The thinktank led by former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin proposes raising the retirement age in Russia to 63 years for women and 65 years for men. As a result, the number of pensioners will be reduced by 9 percent, allowing the state to save on budget spending, the daily reports.

- The head of Russian gas giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said the company may partner with Novatek, a large Russian independent gas producer, to produce liquefied natural gas and development gas processing at the Tambeyskoye group of fields.

KOMMERSANT

www.kommersant.ru

- Military experts in Syria found out that snipers of Islamic State and the Nusra Front use Russian-made night vision equipment.

($1 = 57.5714 rub) (Reporting by Margarita Popova; Editing by Dmitry Solovyov)
OSLO, May 5 (Reuters) - India's Bharat Heavy Electricals has been excluded from the investment portfolio of Norway's $935-billion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, the Norwegian central bank said on Friday.

The fund is not allowed to invest in companies that breach certain ethical guidelines, such as producing nuclear weapons, tobacco or antipersonnel landmines, or pose risk of severe environmental damage, among other criteria.

Two other companies, PetroChina and Leonardo , have been put under observation on ethical grounds and may be excluded at a later stage if no improvements are made.

Separately, the fund will follow Italy's Eni and Saipem though active ownership the central bank said. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche, editing by Terje Solsvik)
By Jesus Aguado and Angus Berwick

MADRID, May 5 (Reuters) - The new management of Spain's Banco Popular is looking at selling its credit card business Wizink and U.S. franchise TotalBank to boost its capital after the bank lost 137 million euros ($150 million) in the first three months of the year.

In Popular's first results under new chairman Emilio Saracho, it set aside 500 million euros in quarterly provisions as it continues to clean up 37 billion euros of toxic real estate assets accumulated during Spain's financial crisis.

To raise funds to cover the provisions, Chief Executive Ignacio Sanchez-Asiain, who joined in April, said Popular would sell off assets outside its core banking business in Spain.

Asked whether Popular would sell off Wizink and TotalBank, Sanchez-Asiain said the bank would consider offers and hoped to close the TotalBank deal this year.

"Wizink is a very attractive asset due to its profitability and growth. That said, at the right price we could sell it," Sanchez-Asiain told a a news conference.

Popular's 49 percent stake in Wizink, which it set up in 2014 with U.S. investment firm Varde Partners, is valued at around 1 billion euros, according to analysts at UBS. Florida-based TotalBank is valued at 400 million euros, they said.

NEW STRATEGY

Chairman Saracho is seeking to draw a line under the management of his predecessor, Angel Ron, and said last month the bank could undertake another capital hike after a 2.5-billion-euro raise last year and consider a merger deal.

In 2016, Popular, which has undergone three leadership shake-ups since last July, posted a 3.5-billion-euro loss, which on Friday it revised up by 130 million euros. The bank said it expected to return to profit this year.

In a sign of the new management's change in strategy, Sanchez-Asiain said on Friday Popular had "totally abandoned" a plan proposed by Ron to spin-off 6 billion euros of non-performing real estate assets into a separate unit.

Popular shares opened down 5 percent but later reversed their losses and were 3 percent higher by 1200 GMT as analysts welcomed a slight reduction to its non-performing asset portfolio, the largest among Spanish banks and the prospect of asset sales.

Its shares have been the worst performers on the European STOXX banking index in the last six months and have lost 60 percent over the past year.

Spain's sixth biggest lender said net interest income - a measure of earnings on loans minus deposit costs - was 500 million euros, down over 9 percent from a year ago and 3 percent from the previous quarter, and just below analysts' forecasts.

It ended March with a fully-loaded capital ratio - a closely-watched measure of a bank's strength - of 7.33 percent compared to 8.17 percent at the end of December. It is the lowest among listed Spanish banks, although it is above regulatory requirements.

Analysts said the slip in capital was more evidence that the bank needed to raise more money.

"It's a long way back from such a low CET1 ratio," RBC Capital Markets analyst Benjamin Toms wrote in a note, referring to Popular's capital. Toms said sales of Wizink and TotalBank could increase the ratio by 185 basis points and 59 basis points respectively. ($1 = 0.9124 euros) (Editing by Keith Weir)
By Lizbeth Diaz

TENOSIQUE, Mexico, May 5 (Reuters) - Cradling her newborn son in a steamy migrant shelter near the Guatemalan border, Concepcion Bautista says she still plans to reach the United States, but will linger in Mexico to see how U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies play out.

Bautista fled Guatemala after gang members threatened to kill her and seized her home, demanding money to give it back.

Her ultimate goal is to reunite with her father and two sons up north, but for the time being, she believes applying for asylum in Mexico is smarter than trying to break into Trump's United States.

"I'm not going back to Guatemala," the 39-year-old said at the shelter in the southern Mexican city of Tenosique. "I have faith that we'll be able to cross but for now, at least, I'm staying in Mexico."

The Trump administration has pointed to a sharp decline in immigrant detentions in the first few months of this year as a vindication for the president's tough immigration policies, which have sent shudders through immigrant communities across the continent.

Mexican asylum data and testimony from migrants in Tenosique suggest that although fewer Central Americans are trying to enter the United States, plenty are still fleeing their poor, violent home countries, with many deciding to stay longer in Mexico, which has traditionally been a transit country.

The number of people applying for asylum in Mexico has soared by more than 150 percent since Donald Trump was elected president, Reuters reported last month, while some Mexican immigrants would rather set up in Canada than the United States.

Between Trump's election in November and March, 5421 people applied for asylum in Mexico, up from 2148 people in the same period a year earlier, Mexican government data shows.

Samuel, who used a pseudonym, was threatened with death after gangs kidnapped and murdered his 19-year-old son in El Salvador, prompting him to plan a move with his family to the United States. Trump's election changed everything.

"I wanted to go to the United States with my family, but we've seen that the new government there has made things harder," said Samuel,

"For the time being, we want to stay here in Mexico, and we've already applied for refugee status."

Asylum applications in Mexico rose steadily in recent years as the flow of people leaving Central America increased. But in 2016, as Trump campaigned on a tough anti-immigration platform, applicants jumped to 8,781, up from just under 3,500 in 2015. Mexico's refugee agency COMAR predicts it could receive more than 22,500 asylum applications in 2017.

Despite their concerns, some Central Americans are undeterred and have decided to try their luck at entering the United States.

In a remote, rocky tract of land near the Guatemalan border, Feliciano del Cid and two traveling companions were trying to sneak past Mexican immigration officers and avoid being assaulted by gang members on their long trek north.

The 60-year-old Guatemalan said the prices charged by people smugglers had risen sharply since Trump took office, now hovering around $10,000 dollars, up from about $6,000 a few years ago.

With Mexico's immigration authorities controlling migration more assiduously, Central Americans were forced to take more isolated, dangerous routes where the chances of being mugged were higher. "We've gone north (to the United States) several times, but every time it's got harder," said del Cid, who was deported from the United States in December. "(Now,) it's better if we travel alone, along new routes."

Irrespective of struggles in Mexico and the hard journey north, all of the migrants were certain they did not want to return home.

"Only death awaits me there," said Samuel.

Click here to see a related photo essay: http://reut.rs/2q23sQf

(Writing by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
By Parisa Hafezi

ANKARA, May 5 (Reuters) - Hardline rivals challenged President Hassan Rouhani in a pre-election debate on Friday over the lack of economic revival since his nuclear deal with big powers, but he said oil exports had resurged and the economy only needed more time to recover.

Rouhani was elected by a landslide in 2013 on pledges to end Iran's international isolation that had crippled the economy and to ease restraints on society in the Islamic Republic. He seeks re-election on May 19 against hardline rivals, though even supporters voice disappointment at his performance in office.

In a debate in Tehran carried live on state TV, Rouhani battled criticism that few Iranians had enjoyed any tangible benefits from the 2015 deal under which Iran curbed its disputed nuclear activity in exchange for relief from global sanctions.

"What has changed since the deal? What has changed in the day to day lives of our people?" said hardline candidate Ebrahim Raisi, one of four sharia (Islamic law) judges who oversaw executions of thousands of political prisoners in the 1980s.

However, all of Rouhani's opponents in the debate said they accepted the nuclear pact as "it was a national accord".

Another conservative candidate, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, also a former commander in Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), accused Rouhani of failing to tackle unemployment estimated at 12-20 percent.

In response, Rouhani said Iran's reconnection with the global financial system after most sanctions were lifted had already borne fruit in renewed oil exports and was sure to yield jobs and investment boosting the economy in coming years.

"All the nuclear-related sanctions have been lifted. Today, we export 2 million barrels oil per day. Without the deal it would be reduced to 200,000 bpd," said Rouhani.

Rouhani accused unnamed hardliners of trying to derail the nuclear deal, reffering to a ballistic missile launch in 2016 by the IRGC in which "Israel must be wiped out" was written on the missiles, according to Iranian media.

Irans overall economic outlook has improved since the nuclear accord. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts between 4 and 5.5 percent growth in 2016, well up from the 1.3 percent it forecast before the deal was clinched.

Raisi and Qalibaf have vowed to created millions of jobs a year, if elected, though they have not said how they would do so and economists have called such promises "unrealistic".

"CHOOSE BETWEEN SLOGANS AND ACTION"

"These campaign promises are just slogans," Rouhani responded. "You cannot reach 26 percent growth in a year ... you need investment for economic progress and creation of jobs," he added, and this would come in part through his policy of opening the Islamic Republic to foreign investment.

"Do not lie to people. People will have to choose between slogans and action," he said.

Clerical Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a hardliner who holds ultimate authority on matters of state in Iran, guardedly endorsed the nuclear accord but has said Rouhani's economic follow-through has fallen short.

Analysts say many foreign firms remain hesitant to invest in Iran for reasons including lingering unilateral U.S. sanctions imposed over human rights violations and alleged Iranian links to terrorism, and the dominating role of clerical and security institutions in the Middle Easts second largest economy.

International rights groups and activists in Iran say Rouhani has done little to bring about greater social freedoms. Dozens of activists, journalists, bloggers and artists have been jailed by a hardline judiciary beyond Rouhani's control.

But first Vice President Eshagh Jahangiri, who is also running for election but will campaign alongside Rouhani, warned of a return to outright authoritarianism in Iran and isolation abroad if a hardline candidate was elected in May.

"Dear people of Iran, what do you want? Do you want limitations or more freedom? Do you want international tension or peace? Isolation or integrity? By casting your vote you will determine Iran's path," Jahangiri said.

Despite his vulnerability on the economy, analysts say Rouhani retains a strong chance of re-election as he is the only candidate supported by a pro-reform camp while hardliners have failed to unite behind one candidate.

Other candidates are ex-conservative culture minister Mostafa Mirsalim and moderate ex-vice president Mostafa Hashemitaba.

(Editing by Mark Heinrich)
By Gwladys Fouche and Nerijus Adomaitis

OSLO, May 5 (Reuters) - Norway's wealth fund is examining Chinese energy firm PetroChina and Italian defence firm Leonardo to see if there is a risk of corruption in future, the central bank said, after former executives at both firms were linked to graft.

Norway's central bank, which has a unit to manage the $935 billion fund, also said in a statement on Friday it would "raise the issue of the risk of severe corruption" with Italian oil and gas group Eni and oil services firm Saipem.

Ethical guidelines drawn up by the Norwegian parliament bar the world's largest sovereign wealth fund from investing in firms that are involved in activities such as producing nuclear weapons or tobacco products, or deemed at risk of corruption.

The fund's Council on Ethics makes recommendations to the central bank's executive board, which decides whether to act.

"The executive board has decided to place the companies PetroChina Co Ltd and Leonardo SpA under observation based on an unacceptable risk that the companies contribute to, or are responsible for, severe corruption," the central bank said.

It said the Council on Ethics had recommended both firms be excluded from the fund's investments but also said both companies "have taken measures against corruption."

"The executive board believes that these measures provide sufficient grounds to observe the development in the future," it said.

At the end of 2016, the fund had a 0.13 percent stake worth $182 million in PetroChina, whose chief executive between 2000 and 2013, Jiang Jiemin, was sentenced in 2015 to 16 years in prison for bribery and abuse of power. Jiang admitted guilt.

The Norwegian fund had a 1.53 percent stake worth $124 million in Leonardo, whose former CEO Giuseppe Orsi was jailed by an Italian court for four-and-a-half years last year for corruption and falsifying invoices. Italy's highest court ordered a retrial in December. Orsi denies the charges.

Leonardo told the Council on Ethics that graft allegations were levelled at the previous management team not the company.

PetroChina and Leonardo did not immediately respond to a Reuters requests for comment on Friday's central bank statement.

The central bank statement also said the executive board had "decided to raise the issue of the risk of severe corruption" with Eni and Saipem, which is controlled by Eni and Italian state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.

The bank described its engagement with both firms as "active ownership", saying this approach was "better suited" to dealing with the issues and reducing risk.

The fund is Eni's third-largest investor with a stake of 1.72 percent and Saipem's fourth-largest investor with a stake of 1.68 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The Council on Ethics said executives and Eni itself were being investigated over allegations of corruption in Nigeria in 2011. Eni has denied that the company or its personnel were involved in any wrongdoing.

Eni declined to comment when contacted by Reuters on Friday.

The Council on Ethics said the Italian prosecutors had accused Saipem of links to corruption, including in Algeria where it was alleged to have paid intermediaries to secure contracts. Saipem has said it could prove the allegations were groundless in court.

Saipem was not immediately available for comment on Friday. (Additional reporting by Stephen Jewkes in Milan; Editing by Edmund Blair)
Kelani Saviya the award winning CSR programme of Kelani Cables PLC that was scheduled to conclude in 2017 was extended for a further period of five years due to high demand from the society.

The MOU with regard to extension of the program was signed between Mahinda Saranapala, Director/CEO, Kelani Cables PLC and Prof. Upul B Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor, Peradeniya University at the Peradeniya University Vice Chancellors office.

Kelani Cables PLC, Sri Lankas number one brand in secure electrical and communication cables has been conducting Kelani Saviya in association with the engineering faculty of the Peradeniya University since 2007.

The brainchild of Prof. J. B. Ekanayake of Peradeniya University, Kelani Saviya stands tall as the first ever CSR program in Sri Lanka a local university has initiated in association with a private organization.

The programme enhances skills of self employed electrical technicians to be professionals and grooms school leavers to be skilled electricians. The only criterion for enrolment in Kelani Saviya training program is to have GCE ordinary level qualifications.

Kelani Saviya was commissioned in 2007 following signing a MOU between Prof. S B S Abeykoon, former Vice Chancellor, University of Peradeniya and Hemantha Perera, former Managing Director of Kelani Cables PLC .

According to the stipulated terms and conditions of the MOU the CSR programme was to end in 2012. However a fruitful discussion between Mahinda Saranapala, PLC Director/CEO, Kelani Cables and the Peradeniya University authorities made the program to be extended for a further period of five years that was till 2017.

The function of signing the MOU to extend Kelani Saviya for a further five years from 2017 was graced by Anil Munasinghe, General Manager - Sales, Kelani Cables PLC, Upul Mahanama, General Manager  Operations, Channa Jayasinghe, Brand Development Manager, Asitha Sumanesekera, Manager - Human Resources, Chaminda Waidyatilleke, Sales Manager, Devinda Lorensuhewa, Sales Manager (Exports) and Suranga Pathirana, Business Manager (Projects).

In the last 10 years over 500 students have participated in Kelani Saviya one-year training program and most of them are now employed here and abroad as skilled electricians. Some have become

successful businessmen.

Mahinda Saranapala, Director/CEO, Kelani Cables PLC said, throughout the year Kelani Cables PLC engages in various CSR programs that shed light on education and environmental conservation. He said Kelani Saviya is a special CSR programme since it bestows each student with a recognized

University certificate.

He added, We pay our gratitude to the engineering faculty of the Peradeniya University for conducting this fully fledged training program. Kelani Saviya is the only training program in the country which offers internationally recognized University certificates to the successful candidates who have only GCE ordinary level education. The CEO further observed Kelani Cables was determined to expand Kelani Saviya services to other areas in the country as well including the North and East to brighten up lives of the apprentices in those areas.

We extended the program to the North and East in the country under the brand name; Kelani Shakthi and the first programme was held at the University of Jaffna. We intend to commence similar programs with other local universities as well, said the CEO.

Prof. Upul B Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor, Peradeniya University said, It is significant Kelani Cables PLC conducting Kelani Saviya CSR programme for 10 years by incurring a huge cost. I see the extension of the program for another five years as a noble service rendered towards building the nation. As the Vice Chancellor of the Peradeniya University I am honoured to be a part of this program and I consider this as a milestone in my professional career.

Kelani Cables PLC is a one hundred percent Sri Lankan company serving the nation for 48 years manufacturing electrical and communication cables. The company achieved Super Brands status in the electrical and telecommunication sector in 2008 for professional supremacy it demonstrated in the electrical and communication cables sphere.

In 2012, Kalanai Cables PLC clinched the bronze award for the excellent business brand category at the SLIM Brand Excellence. It clinched gold at the SLIM Brand Excellence once again in 2013 for the same category. The company secured gold at the SLITAD People Development  2013 award ceremony for the contribution it has made towards training and development of the work-force plus up-keeping

their welfare.

Kelani Cables PLC is the proud recipient of ISO 9000:2008 certification for quality, ISO 14001:2004 for better environment management, National Standards award and the gold winner of Taiki Akimoto 5S award.

In 2015 Kelani Cables PLC was conferred with the Asias Best Employer Brand award. Kelani Cables was recognized for sustainable development at the National Green Awards in 2015. The company bagged Silver award for best organizational CSR brand under the B2B brand category at the SLIM Brand Excellence awards in 2015.

National HR Excellence Silver award in 2016 and Green Reporting Gold Award at the Presidential Environmental Awards in the same year are other achievements.

Kelani Cables PLC is one of the first companies in Sri Lanka that took oaths to adhere to National Green Reporting System. As a green oriented and socially responsible company, Kelani Cables PLC has been certified to use the Responsible Care label which has added immense value to the companys reputation in the export market sector.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday said he will soon make a statement in parliament on the withdrawal of former President Mahinda Rajapaksas security after discussing the matter with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The speaker said so when joint opposition Parliament group leader Dinesh Gunawardene raised the matter in the House last morning.

The former President has said there are threats to his life and therefore removing his security is a dangerous move. I have already had discussions on the matter with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister of Law and Order Sagala Ratnayake on the issue," Mr Gunawardene said.

Speaker Jayasuriya who responded said he would inform Parliament on the matter after discussing with the President and the Prime Minister.

MP Dullas Alaheperuma said theeformer president had a greater threat than TNA MP M A Sumanthiran who has also received death threats.

Chief opposition whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake said increasing or withdrawing an MPs security was not a healthy trend. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)
DAILY MAIL, 04th MAY, 2017- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said a Moscow-backed plan to set up so-called de-escalation zones inside Syria would 50 percent solve the six-year conflict, in comments published Thursday.



Erdogan on Wednesday discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin a plan floated by Moscow for de-escalation zones to be set up in several areas in Syria.



Speaking to Turkish reporters aboard his plane flying back from the meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Erdogan said such zones would include Idlib, part of Aleppo province, El-Rastan in Homs province, a part of Damascus and part of Daraa.



I hope that if this is implemented then 50 percent of the Syrian issue can be solved, he said in comments published on the websites of the Hurriyet and Yeni Safak dailies.




MON/8 Reality Check - Howard High School9:30-1:15 p.m.Howard High School: 2500 South Market StreetReality Check teaches 9th graders budgeting and emphasizes the connectionbetween education and income by allowing students to role-play as headsof household while trying to provide for their families on a set budget.Community volunteers are needed to assist with this event. To volunteerfor this Chattanooga Chamber career readiness program, please contactCathy Humble at 423.763.4321 or chumble@chattanoogachamber.com.MON/8- NEWtrepreneur Bookkeeping? 10 Mistakes to Avoid12  1 p.m.INCubator: 100 Cherokee Blvd.Are you an entrepreneur, small business owner or considering starting your own business? Its important to keep your finances tidy! Learn 10 of the most common bookkeeping mistakes and practical, efficient solutions to overcome them.Topics include: how to classify workers, receipt requirements, meal expenses and more.Bring your questions! This course is part of our Complimentary Entry Level seminars.Speaker: Lynn Talbott, MBA, President of HRBiz and Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisorRegister and https://clients.tsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=30360186 TUES/9 Hixson Community Coffee8  9 a.m.Juice Bar: 5546 Highway 153, Suite 106TUES/9 Knowing Your Voice!10 a.m.  12 p.m.BrightBridge: 535 Chestnut Street, Suite 161How confident are you in speaking on behalf of your business? Learn how to have confidence in your business with public speaking. Learn tips to become confident and how to turn your passion into a story for the media. Plus, learn great interviewing skills and how to reach your target audience in media and social media.Donna Elle, Donna Elle Wellness and BrightBridge Womens Business CenterReserve your free seat visit: https://www.brightbridgewbc.org/event/media/ WED/10 midTown Council Meeting11:45  1p.m.Family Justice Center: 5705 Uptain Rd$10.WED/10 Advanced Marketing- SEO- ($40)- Advanced3:30  5 p.m.INCubator: 100 Cherokee Blvd.Deep dive into all things SEO. Learn Google SEO requirements and organic & paid SEO strategies across top digital assets. Gain insightful takeaways to move your SEO from basic to booming!Prerequisites: Must have a website that has been LIVE for at least 3-6 months, Google Anlaytics setup on your website, mobile-friendly website, "Google Your Business" setup, at least 2 active social media channels for your business, and Wordpress or Squarespace website CMS.Speaker: Casey KnoxRegister: https://clients.tsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=30370007 THUR/11 Spring Job Fair9 a.m.  2p.m.Brainerd Crossroads (BX): 4011 Austin StreetThe premier job fair event in the Chattanooga area. Local employers willidentify potential employees for immediate or future hires.THUR/11 Small Business Orientation- Complimentary Morning Course11:30 a.m.  1 p.m.INCubator: 100 Cherokee Blvd.This seminar will address key topics of interest for individuals considering starting a business. Topics such as business entity options and tax registration, the importance of business planning, financing options, and the extensive network of resources through the TSBDC. Participants receive a Start Up packet containing vital phone numbers and addresses for getting established within State and Federal regulations.Register: https://clients.tsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=30360131 THUR/11 Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association Lunch & Learn11:30 a.m.  1 p.m.Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce: 811 Broad StreetFeaturing LC Retreat Facilitators Chris Kahn and Rosa MarTopic: The Calm Before The Storm Or The Storm Before The Calm? Our ability to work out differences with others affects all aspects of our lives--at work, at home and at play. Learn how to manage conflict instead of conflict managing you.$10-15Find more and register at chattanoogachamber.com THUR/11 Ribbon Cutting for St Francis Cottage4 p.m.  4:30 p.m.St. Francis Cottage: 1349 Gunbarrel RdJoin the Chattanooga Chamber for a Ribbon Cutting for St. Francis CottageTHUR/11- Small Business Orientation- Complimentary Evening Course5:30  7 pmINCubator: 100 Cherokee BlvdThis seminar will address key topics of interest for individuals considering starting a business. Topics such as business entity options and tax registration, the importance of business planning, financing options, and the extensive network of resources through the TSBDC. Participants receive a Start Up packet containing vital phone numbers and addresses for getting established within State and Federal regulations.Register for this free event at: https://clients.tsbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=30360160 THUR/11 Protege Graduation6 9 pmGranfalloon: 400 East Main StreetThe Young Professionals Association of Chattanooga (YPAC) will host a special celebration to honor the members of the 2016-17 Protege Chattanooga mentorship class. Join us for a short presentation from Protege class members and mentors followed by networking with other Chattanooga young professionals.The event is free with light refreshments and a cash bar.THUR/11 Southside Council Meeting5:30  7 p.m.Green Spaces: 63 E Main StreetTopic: Planning Changes in the Southside FootprintPanelists include:Maria Noel, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce; Topic: Diversity & InclusionTravis Phillips, Supervisor, Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough CPAs; Topic: Financing Opportunities for BusinessesTaylor Belcher, Account Executive, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce; Topic: Chamber MembershipKaren Hundt, Director, Community Design Group, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency;$10(Tip: To avoid delays caused by construction, you may want to take Cummings Hwy. instead of US-27 and I-24.)FRI/12 East Brainerd Council Coffee8:30-9:30 a.m.First Volunteer Bank: 6825 Shallowford RdJoin our East Brainerd Council for their monthly coffee on the second Friday of every month.
After pushing the government to raise the Value Added Tax (VAT) last year, it now appears that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants the new income tax bill to be presented to parliament before June this year to release the third tranche of the US $ 1.5 billion loan programme it has with Sri Lanka.

The IMF Executive Board in Washington DC has urged the Sri Lankan government to make arrangements to pass the new income tax bill to consider Sri Lankas request to complete the second post-programme review, which will most likely ensure the continuation of the 3-year programme with the fund which began in June 2016.

The programme got delayed even last year primarily because the government failed to pass the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, which raised the VAT rate from 11 percent to 15 percent. The Central Bank also missed a forex reserves target.

The Board is expected to consider Sri Lankas request for completion of the second review in June 2017, by which time the new Inland Revenue Act is expected to be submitted to Parliament as a prior action.

The new law should pave the way for a durable fiscal consolidation based on revenue mobilization, a key pillar of the governments reform programme, the staff team said in a statement.

Returning to the country after taking part in the G24 Finance Ministers meetings and the semi-annual World Bank/IMF meetings, Sri Lankas belligerent Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanayake belittled the IMFs support but said the next tranche of the programme would come by

mid June.

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 told the press last week.

Sri Lanka has so far received two tranches of the US $ 1.5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the US $ 119.9 million third tranche was due on April 20.

Commitment to continuous fiscal consolidation is a key condition under the 3-year programme with the IMF and the government is required to bring down its fiscal deficit to 4.7 percent this year before gradually bring the deficit to below 3.5 percent of GDP by 2020.

Meanwhile, the IMF staff team commended the authorities for resuming accumulating net international reserves as a corrective action for missing the end-2016 target.

This reserve accumulation should continue and help reduce Sri Lankas external vulnerability.

In March the staff team flagged off a host of imbalances in the countrys monetary, fiscal and external sectors and urged some decisive actions by the authorities to accelerate the reforms agreed on a number of State-Owned- Enterprises (SoEs), which weigh heavily on public finances.
Indias Goa Shipyard is expected to transfer an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) to Sri Lanka next month.

India has delivered the second fast patrol vessel (FPV), christened MCGS Valiant, to the Mauritius Police Forces National Coast Guard couple of days ago and has plans to deliver an offshore to Sri Lanka, Sputnik news reported today.

Mauritius was given the second Fast Patrol Vessel and Sri Lanka is to get an advanced offshore patrol vessel (OPV). The ships to both the countries have been delivered months before schedule.

Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has also begun work on the second OPV destined for the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday which is scheduled to deliver next year.

"India has the capability to build such vessels and give them to friendly countries. We are cooperating with all our neighboring countries, and wherever we have weapons, we can cooperate and be a partner in their security setup." A K Gupta, Secretary, Defense Production said after the launch of the advanced OPV for Sri Lanka.

"From that perspective, Sri Lanka is a major partner in our bilateral relationship and this OPV is a major milestone in our bilateral relationship," Gupta added.

The Indian government had sanctioned two OPVs for Sri Lanka in 2010 and the contract for the same was signed in April 2013.

The 105.7-meter-long and 13.6-meter-wide vessels have a full-load displacement capacity of 2350 ton, with an overall beam of 13.6 meters, and a hull draught of 3.6 meters.

The OPV can reach a top speed of 24 knots and accommodate a crew of 118, including 18 officers, and a helicopter on its flight deck. (defenseworld.net)
Thousands of soldiers and paramilitaries were Thursday engaged in a huge anti-militant operation in Indian-administered Kashmir, where armed rebels have repeatedly attacked government forces in recent weeks.



Police said government forces had surrounded at least 20 villages in the drive, launched early Thursday in Shopian district in the volatile south of the disputed Himalayan region.



It is an unprecedented operation, deputy inspector general of police S P Pani told AFP.



It is impossible to capture the militants, but we hope there will be contact (exchange of fire) with them in the course of the day. Suspected militants are frequently killed in shoot-outs with government forces in Kashmir, but are only rarely captured alive.



Witnesses said hundreds of residents came out onto the streets in two villages, Sug and Tarkwangan, during the search operations and threw stones at the soldiers.



One said soldiers had attacked private homes in his village with sticks

and rocks.



It was scary. Many houses were damaged, the villager told AFP by phone, requesting anonymity.

Witnesses said army helicopters were hovering above the area as the search operations were going on.



Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947, but both claim the territory in its entirety.

SRINAGAR AFP, 04th MAY, 2017
Lamudis annual real estate market report on Sri Lanka is released. Each year, Lamudis researchers take an in-depth look at the emerging markets where they operate. After consolidating the most important information about the economy and the local market, a whitepaper is created.

This whitepaper aims to inform potential investors about the market, its potential and its challenges. Outside of the realm of investors, anyone interested in Sri Lankas real estate industry can consult this useful report. Readers can gain all the information they need without needing to hunt through data hidden on sites across the web.

Taking a look back at 2016

As well as focusing on the real estate market specifically, this years whitepaper reports economic trends which emerged within the country over the last year. Sri Lankas economy is going from strength to strength with steady growth, increased urbanisation leading to greater wealth and a rapidly expanding tourism industry.

It is clear that the country has experienced an impressive revival since the end of the war in 2009. Positive trends indicate that now is a great time to invest in a country which is encouraging increasing amounts of

foreign investment.

Real estate market report

With state-of-the-art modern high-rise buildings adorning Colombos skyline these days, it is fair to say that Sri Lankas real estate landscape has changed dramatically since peace was declared. Infrastructural development on the island is underway and although the focus of large commercial developments is still on the capital, other cities, such as Kandy, are on the cusp of booming thanks to increased tourism numbers.

Since Colombos growth is happening faster than elsewhere, both residential and commercial land and property command higher prices in the city. Property prices are increasing in both sectors. However, property across the island remains affordable with young professionals being the main purchasers of residential city property.

Apartment living was not a concept that was familiar to most Sri Lankans until recently. It seems that living habits are changing with vertical living becoming the norm as the country becomes

increasingly developed.

Changes that took place in 2016

Alongside price trends, this years whitepaper outlines demographic trends and changes in laws which are encouraging new target markets, including overseas investors. The new visa options available for potential buyers are detailed in the whitepaper as well as plans to initiate real estate

investment trusts.

Sri Lanka is emerging from being under global investors radar to being a destination for profitable business decisions. 2017 looks hopeful as many world class developments are underway. The next years whitepaper promises to bring yet another balanced report on this flourishing haven for property seekers.

The report can be accessed via http://www.lamudi.lk/whitepaper-2017.
Following is an interview with Comfort World International Chairman Naushad Mohideen. The company is the market leader in mattress manufacturing and retail in Sri Lanka.

What first gave you the idea of entering the mattress business?

I was in Japan engaged with a research and innovation company when I got the idea of producing an infection-free mattress. After many years of research and perfection we produced the worlds first MRSA-certified infection control mattress. Being the patent holder, armed with fresh knowledge, I returned to Sri Lanka in 1997 and started manufacturing and exporting these mattresses to Japan. They were mainly positioned for the healthcare market such as hospitals, senior citizens homes and specifically for immobile patients suffering from bedsores and secondary infections. My first showroom under the name of Comfort Bedding was at

Barnes Place.



You are known as Mattress Naushad  any reason for that?

I am so associated now with the production of quality mattresses that my name is now synonymous with mattresses. I uniquely specialize in sleep surface development especially in the areas of spring, foam and air technology, pressure ulcer prevention (bedsores) and infection control. We were the first to bring down an internationally reputed brand to Sri Lanka  Spring Air from the USA, which was the fourth largest selling brand worldwide. The essential value of this partnership was obtaining the manufacturing license which brought significant know-how and knowledge transfer to Sri Lanka. We excelled in product development, quality assurance and reliability and secured the top names in the global industry, namely Serta (positioned worlds No 1) and Therapedic (positioned worlds No 1 alternative), both of which we manufacture under licence. We have been the catalysts in enhancing the overall Sri Lankan mattress

manufacturing standards.



Is Comfort World the leading supplier of mattresses in Sri Lanka?

Yes. We have been in the industry for the last 14 years and we are known for the superior quality of our mattresses and our after

sales service.



Today an increasing number of people have developed back and orthopaedic problems. Does Comfort World provide a solution?

Yes. Since inception most of our sales have been on recommendation by satisfied customers. We manufacture a range of mattresses for all types of orthopaedic and back problems. This is our core business. We also tailor make mattresses according to the specific requirements of our customers. We have ergonomic and body mapping technologies, which help us to identify the correct mattress for a specific problem and we are now known

for that.



What are the types of mattresses you manufacture for sleeping disorders?

This is termed Sleep Science. We provide consultancy and customization to educate those suffering from sleep disorders with the use of advanced pressure imaging technology. This helps with mattress solutions that are tailor made to the individual with additional care on correct pillow selection and overall sleep

posture correction.



Have any of your staff been trained overseas?

Yes in China, Dubai and India at both Spring Air manufacturing plants as well as factories of other globally recognized brands.



Do you foresee the mattress market becoming more competitive in the future?

Definitely. With the increasing number of developments taking place around the country other brands are also entering the market. However, we are confident of maintaining our market leader position with our portfolio of reputed brands: Spring Air, Serta and Therapedic. Whats more; we are now the proud manufacturers of the worlds No. 1 brand, Serta.



Do you export your mattresses and if so, what are your main markets?

We currently export to the Maldives, Seychelles, Dubai and Japan and we intend exporting to more countries in the near future.



What are your future plans, vis-a-vis expansion?

It is our goal to have a total number of 10 showrooms islandwide including in the north and east.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority commenced its support to the development of the tourism industry from Dondra.

We could use lighthouses to promote tourism industry. We could initiate a procedure to strengthen the villagers by creating opportunities for them to

earn money.

We have planned to develop these lighthouses by bringing investors or through any other suitable method to uplift the living conditions of villagers and to provide them opportunities to earn money, Ports Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said opening the Dondra Head Lighthouse.

Resources and assets of the country should be used efficiently and effectively and that is a duty of general public, Minister

Ranatunga said.

I am always standing against thefts and corruptions regardless of my camp, government or the opposition. My policy is to terminate thefts and corruptions. That is why we had to close the Dondra Head Lighthouse from public viewing. Now we have made corrections in that procedure. Even though Sri Lanka Ports Authority owns this lighthouse, sometimes we dont get any use of it. Sri Lanka Ports Authority spends its own money on these developments. Construction of roads, buildings, schools and hospitals in this country are carrying out through money earned from you. Therefore you have the right to correct these procedures if there have been any misconduct occur. Thereby as the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, it has commenced to support the development of the tourism industry from Dondra. Im happy about that, Minister Ranatunga added.

Deputy Minister of Ports and Shipping Nishantha Mutuhettigama, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dammika Ranatunga and several other distinguished guests attended

this occasion.

Dondra Head Lighthouse was constructed in 1887 and it has a height of 49 metres. It is reported that tourists who visited this site had faced various difficulties in the

past period.

A special investigation was carried out in this regard in accordance with advice by the Minister Arjuna Ranatunga. Thereafter Minister Ranatunga advised to create a systematic procedure to visit the lighthouse

for tourists.

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dammika Ranatunga who expressed views at this occasion said that special attention will be paid on the school children who visit this lighthouse. Our primary concern is the security of the tourists.

Therefore permission has not been given to enter

the lighthouse.

In the future we will consider about the possibilities to visit the inside of the lighthouse. Meanwhile we have given our attention on the legal issues that we will have to face if any accident happens. We are trying to satisfy the demands of the general public, Ports Authority Chairman added.
If MP Geetha Kumarasinghe disqualified to be a Member of Parliament due to her dual citizenship, former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendrans duties should also become null because he is not even a citizen of Sri Lanka, the Joint Opposition (JO) charged yesterday.

The Appeal Court on Wednesday ruled MP Kumarasinghe was disqualified to function as an MP owing to her dual citizenship of Sri Lanka and Switzerland.

Addressing a news conference, MP Bandula Gunawardane said the currency notes signed by Arjuna Mahendran, who holds a Singapore citizenship, might also become null. He said there are several MPs who hold dual citizenship and attempt to conceal theirs.

Meanwhile, Prof. G. L. Peiris said the former CB Governor had not even sworn-in for the post he had held because he was not a Sri Lankan citizen.

He also said Ms. Kumarasinghe will file an appeal in the Supreme Court next week against the Court of Appeal's ruling, and she had already informed the Speaker in this regard through her lawyers. (Lahiru Pothmulla)
Popular menswear brand, Signature, proudly inaugurated a brand new showroom at the Majestic City Complex, the most central shopping destination in Colombo. The new showroom was formally inaugurated by the Chief Guest on the occasion, Mr. Chinthaka Wanigasekara, Group General Manager, Hameedia, in the presence of company officials and customers. Located at No. 32, Second Floor, Majestic City Complex, Colombo 4, the new Signature showroom reflects the growing popularity of the home-grown brand that showcases quality clothing and accessories for youth.

The new Signature showroom is popular for men looking to make an impression at any kind of occasion - formal and informal - at attractive prices. Signature is popular for the sheer value-for-money it offers across its wide product range including jackets, trousers, shirts, denims, t-shirts and accessories such as shoes, belts, cufflinks and more. The decision to open the Signature showroom at Majestic City Complex was taken because it is a destination for youth and for families to shop and spend leisurely hours browsing the stores.

Commenting on the inauguration of the new store, Mr. Chinthaka Wanigasekara, Group General Manager, Hameedia, said: I am pleased to witness the steady expansion of the Signature brand. The brand meets the aspirations of the youth to step out in style and make a mark while delivering value for money. Customers are becoming more fashion and quality conscious and the Signature brand abundantly delivers both these experiences to customers at a reasonable price, thus reaffirming their positioning as a brand that provides value for money. The central location of this Signature showroom will render it a shopping hub for youth in the city!

Signature offers a wide range of mens fashion attire from formal, ceremonial, smart casual, casual, footwear, sportswear and accessories. The Signature brand is targeted at young, upwardly mobile youth and young executives with high aspirations for their future. Signature showrooms are located in Liberty Plaza - Colombo 3, Galle Road - Colombo 4, Ja ela, Matara, Jaffna, Kalmunai and Anuradhapura.
London, (Daily Mail, London), 4 May 2017 -Prince Philip has today revealed he is to step down from all public royal duties at the age of 95 after 70 years of loyal service.



The Duke of Edinburghs well-earned retirement this autumn was announced at a top secret emergency meeting called by Buckingham Palace and attended by other royals including his daughter Princess Anne.



The difficult decision was made by Philip himself and he will retire just before he and the Queen reach their 70 year platinum wedding anniversary in November.



The Queen will continue her public engagements as she has always vowed to serve her country for as long as she lives.



In a statement Buckingham palace said this morning: His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has decided that he will no longer carry out public engagements from the autumn of this year. In taking this decision, The Duke has the full support of The Queen. The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron, President or a member of over 780 organisations, with which he will continue to be associated, although he will no longer play an active role by attending engagements.



wThe Duke and the Queen were back at work an hour after the announcement, attending an Order of Merit service at St Jamess Palace.
Social Empowerment and Welfare Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake alleged that Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) President Dr. Anurudda Padeniya had attempted to engage in private practice today despite the GMOAs 24-hour countrywide strike, but refrained from doing so as the Rr. Ramanayake had exposed his double standard on social media sites,

The Deputy Minister said he made an appointment with Dr. Padeniya on Thursday through e-channelling to consult him on Friday at a private hospital in Colombo.

The deputy minister said he paid Rs. 1,925 through his credit card for the appointment under reference no 14845842. The appointment time given was 4.05 pm today.

Later Mr. Ramanayake had posted the receipt of his appointment on his Facebook page this morning.

During a media conference held yesterday the Deputy Minister received a telephone call from the respective private hospital informing him that the doctor was not coming for channeling.

The Deputy Minister questioned the caller from the hospital about their delay in informing him about cancellation of the appointment. He said the doctor should have informed the public at least a day ahead without inconveniencing the patients as he was well aware of the trade union action he had organized.

The GMOA President is making money through a major strike led by his own association. GMOA Secretary Dr. Naveen De Zoysa recently requested doctors not to engage in private practice during the strike days. I think he has forgotten to make the request from his own associations president, Deputy Minister Ramanayake said.

He said he made the appointment to highlight the double standard of the GMOA President and the GMOAs political agenda, however Dr. Padeniyas had cancelled his private practice on the strike day as soon as he posted his appointment on the social media.

Further he said former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had visited Dr. Padeniya soon after handing over his nominations at the last General Elections and Dr. Padeniya had appreciated Mr. Rajapaksa for contesting the election.

Mr. Ramanayake said that he was not criticizing all doctors, but Dr. Padeniyas action had exposed the GMOAs true intention.

However, Minister Ramanayake said Dr. Padeniya had to reimburse his money.

Responding on the matter GMOA Secretary Dr. Naveen De Zoysa said that Dr. Padeniya had informed the private hospital authorities that he would not attend patients on the day of the strike, but the hospital authorities had failed to update the channeling web page. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)
Bank of America Charitable Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant to Girls Inc. in support of the Build IT program at the East Lake Academy of Fine Arts. Program Educator Janelle Drake, East Lake Principal Ms. Lakesha Carson, Assistant Principal Elias Smith, along with girls who participate in the program were presented with the check at East Lake by local members of the Bank of America/Merrill Lynch team.



The original Build IT curriculum was created by Girls Inc. of Alameda County and the Stanford Research Institute, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Girls Inc. of Chattanooga revised this curriculum to bring it up-to-date with current technologies, tailored it to the needs of local girls, and organized it to fit traditional class schedules at East Lake.

"During Build IT classes, girls in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades are immersed in the IT design process, learning and developing skills in social networking, hardware and networks, web design, and game design. Beginning with designing the perfect hang out room and concluding with the development of games for smart phones and tablets, the girls are being shown that tech is for girls and that they can enjoy, prosper, and be successful pursuing IT and STEM related degrees and ultimately careers," officials said. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation says it agrees.
On Lalith Athulathmudalis 24th death anniversary, I have dealt with many an aspect of our ailing country in the past. Mr. Athulathmudali was a well-disciplined parliamentarian and scholar who strongly believed in establishing proper administrative systems to be the pillars of development. I had to touch on the present context of the abject lack of discipline portrayed due to the absence of well-established administrative systems in the country. What he is widely-remembered for is the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Scheme, a system that serves thousands of underprivileged, talented students.



SAITM issue

Today, people presume that the wealthy should be denied of the right to education which is totally unfair. Everyone has the right to education. However, it is only through a proper system that we could ensure there is no discrimination.

Listen to the rubbish espoused by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA). It is a known fact that students from several districts have entered the medical college with results similar to 1B and 2S passes. But they attempt to conceal these facts from the general public because they believe no one is superior or inferior despite the results they obtain at the GCE A/L examination.

Dont we like to see them as qualified doctors?

If the government needs to prosper, then it should initiate measures that give students equal opportunities. There should not be double standards.



Need for pragmatic politicians

There was a time when Sri Lanka had a well-established system of governance. Civil servants knew their duties and were in a position to advise politicians without any fear or favour. Mr. Athulathmudali was one who, with all his experiences, sought the knowledge of civil servants and professionals. He was searching for the best answer that would be of benefit to the country and not for his personal gains. Over the years, politicians have destroyed this practice and produced civil servants who lacked confidence, personality or industrial know-how. Today, we cannot find a single politico who can engage in a brainstorming session. We do not have pragmatic politicians who can solve problems, rather they create problems. Ultimately, the entire country will have to suffer.



Telecommunications Regulatory Commission

Among many fraternities that require systems, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC)stands out. It is a regulatory body set up to protect the consumers. For the past 15 years or so, I believe we never had a single public hearing with regards to the problems faced by the consumers. How can a regulatory body as such do justice to consumers if they do not find out the concerns of the consumers. One simple example would be the telephone operators having a field day with an 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. peak hour period for internet operations. This is grossly unfair. In other countries, the peak hour is 8 8, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays are all off peak hours entirely. The situation is aggravated further when you have only a few technically-qualified workers. Just imagine running an organisation which basically revolves around technical and expert knowledge issues with a handful of half-baked technical officers?



Disaster relief

Having been through a tsunami, a war, floods, landslides and drought (not forgetting the garbage dump collapse), Sri Lanka is yet not prepared for a disaster. There seems to be no pragmatic solutions but reactionary measures to any disaster.



Income Tax collection

Income tax officials often keep tabs on taxpayers, especially if they delay to make their contributions. This practice does more damage to the many businessmen who have agreed to pay. We must realise that no one pays taxes willingly. We must support those who pay taxes, and chase the absconders. Why cant the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) overhaul their systems and promote novel programmes like the self-assessment scheme through the deployment of graduates and not assessors. How come the management of IRD failed to realise that their complete reliance on the deployment of assessors to collect revenue has not brought the desired results over the years?



In addition to this, Sri Lanka does not have a system to support small, medium and large scale businesses. Revenue proposals introduced by the budget, which affect the working class, keep changing every year. This certainly does not help businesses to run smoothly. Lets not forget that these businessmen provide the bulk of employment opportunities to people -- something a majority in this country fail to realise. One of the reasons people are reluctant to pay taxes is because they see politicians wasting or lavishly spending their hard-earned money. They have the best cars worth fifty to sixty million rupees, best of facilities, minions to attend to all their chores. Meanwhile, the common man is asked to tighten his belt.



We do not see sacrifices made by politicians to rescue the country from debt. It can hardly be expected from the present parliamentarians to make such sacrifices. The world is going through a turbulent phase. The wars that have been created in recent years have placed the whole world in turmoil. Brexit, followed by the US elections, has burdened us with a plethora of questions. We are in utter debt and will have to seek the support of other countries for investments.



Moreover, our government needs to understand that we have to cut down on wasteful and unproductive revenue expenditure. Today, it is crystal clear that no politician can save this country but only the establishment of well-structured administrative systems together with checks and balances and discipline can get this country on track.
The four Indians and 30 Rohingya refugees who were detained by the Sri Lankan Coast Guard officers for allegedly undertaking an illegal voyage to Australia had sailed from Tamil Nadu, India the PTI reported on Thursday.

Following information on the arrest of the refugees in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu police had launched a probe and found that the boat used for the illegal transportation was from Adirampattinam.

Further investigations revealed that the 30 Rohingya refugees had come from Myanmar in 2013 and were registered as refugees in India.

They had come to Tamil Nadu last year and have been residing in Adirampattinam since January, Police said.

On April 28, they had left for Australia in a boat but were detained by Sri Lankan Coast Guard at Kankesanthurai Port.
Sri Lanka has tightened the final guidance to 6.25 percent area, plus or minus 5 basis points, for its proposed 10-year US dollar bond.

The Central Bank earlier had said it planned to raise US $ 1.5 billion via a US dollar denominated bond issue.

According to Thomson Reuters Eikon, the initial yield guidance was in the 6.625 percent area and the issue has reportedly received orders above US$ 7.75 billion.

Citigroup, Citic CLSA, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, ICBC International, JP Morgan and Standard Chartered are joint bookrunners.

Fitch Ratings has assigned the bond issue an expected rating of B+(EXP).
President Maithripala Sirisena said it is highly regrettable that some people due to their political agendas have resorted to strikes when steps have been taken to solve the SAITM issue.

Speaking at a function in Anuradhapura today, he urged the medical students not to be political paws and to complete their medical education successfully for their benefit as well as for the sake of the nation. He assured that no student would be subjected to injustice.

He said that several steps have been taken to resolve issues with regard to the SAITM and they include to make clinical studies compulsory for SAITM students, SAITM students will have to face examinations approved by the Medical Council and the University Grants Commission, announce minimum qualifications for medical studies, taking over the private hospital, single ownership of the medical college to be expanded into a broad base ownership and appoint a professional council to administer it.

The President stated that those who are poor and marginalized often suffering from this kind of strikes, holding to achieve political gains. He further said that if there is any issue, there is room for any trade union to discuss those issues with the Government.

President Sirisena further said that it is a very pathetic situation that several trade unions, including some factions of doctors holding strikes effecting daily life of the people, in an environment where all preparation are being made to hold the UN International Vesak festival.

The President recalled the requests made by someone to hoist the black flag when the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Sri Lanka to attend the International Vesak festival. He also said that everyone must understand that strengthening the Indo-Lanka relationship established since introduction of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, does not mean that Sri Lanka is bowing down to India.

President Sirisena also emphasized that he will not sign any agreement with any country which is detrimental to Sri Lanka and said that he came into power not to hand over a part of the country to another country or to annul the privileges and rights of the citizens by signing unfavorable agreements with other countries.

He attended the religious ceremony to unveil the newly built Buddha statue at the premises of the Local Government complex, Anuradhapura.

The President engaged in religious observances and participated in alms giving ceremony for 100 Bhikkus.

The Maha Sangha including Chief Incumbent of Ruwanweliseya Ven.Pallegama Hemarathana Nayake Thera, Ministers Duminda Disanayake,Chandrani Bandara, P. Harrison, Governor of the North Central Province, P. B. Dissanayake, Chief Minister Peshala Jayarathna and many others participated in this event.
Digital India is increasingly looking like a place where our virtual shadows are more empowered than our physical bodily selves. Armed with a number that is supposedly unique, and tied to a scan of body parts such as fingerprints or the iris, the government wants to prove that now it has the capability to connect each and every available public and private service, facility and activity to Aadhaar, all in the name of official efficiency and transparency.

Only, that number has been found to be leaking from more and more government-owned websites, while private entities have been caught selling the precious Aadhaar data for profit.

In other words, the very panacea that the government thinks it has developed to smoothen state functioning is the one that is a digital ticking time bomb, something that could be at the heart of massive cyber security breaches simply waiting to happen.

As the Aadhaar-PAN mandatory link case was heard over a two-week period in the Supreme Court, what became evident was not how the government intends to improve its functioning via Aadhaar, but rather, how condescendingly it views the fundamental rights of the citizens its supposed to govern with their consent.

And that much of everything to do with Aadhaar infringes on a number of citizens rights and civil liberties is a virtual non-issue for the government, something it can just brazen out, refuse to acknowledge and thereby make it disappear from public conversation.

For the government, a citizens fingerprints, iris scans and other unspecified future additions to UID (unique identity) are more important than the citizen herself/himself; the digital copies of body parts tied to UID of far greater significance than the citizens right to absolute bodily integrity. In other words, Im UIDd, therefore, I exist. Not the other way round.

Aadhaar-PAN mandatory link

The Supreme Court hearing is about Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, a new amendment that was brought in surreptitiously via the Finance Bill, 2017. According to Section 139AA, the submission of Aadhaar, the 12-digit biometrics-based UID number for residents of India, would be compulsory to file income tax returns, and to obtain and retain the Permanent Account Number (PAN).

Unless the SC stays it or overturns the ruling, it would be a penal offence from July 1, 2017 to not submit ones Aadhaar/UID number, or at least proof of enrolment, in order to pay income taxes in India.

In other words, not having Aadhaar would effectively be a criminal offence because it would turn perfectly law-abiding, tax-paying citizens into non-compliant ones on account of not having been able to pay ones taxes.

Therefore, Section 139AA discriminates between citizens having Aadhaar and citizens who choose not to have one by effectively turning the latter into non-tax-paying criminals.

Essentially, Aadhaar-PAN mandatory link violates Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to equality.

The Aadhaar-PAN mandatory link is a patently illegal and unconstitutional demand by the government, and the petitioners have challenged it on constitutional grounds. But the significance of the Aadhaar-PAN mandatory link case is not just limited to its immediate context, which in itself is huge.

It has a direct bearing on a number of issues connected to citizens right to bodily integrity, informational self-determination, personal autonomy, choice, equality before eyes of law, and of course the right to privacy, a core issue from which the petitioners were compelled to decouple the current hearing.

Aadhaar infringes on a number of citizens rights and civil liberties.

Electronic leash

Advocates Shyam Divan and Aravind Datar, the petitioners counsel, emphasised that Aadhaar acts as an electronic leash and creates potential for constant and continuous surveillance by the state.

The UID is intended to be connected to almost each and every facility and service, whether government or commercial, and is fast becoming a prerequisite to conduct any digital and other transaction as citizens or residents of the country.

Even though the Aadhaar Act 2016 specifies clearly that Aadhaar is voluntary, the government is making the UID an integral part of every aspect of being a resident/citizen of the country.

In stark contravention of the very law from which it stems, Aadhaar is either flouting the norms that guarantee its voluntary nature, or is hiding behind the largely nebulous nature of the law itself, particularly the vague phrasings, to create conditions in which it is made mandatory for availing services via countless tiny but incremental gazette notifications.

This is unprecedented. No other country has a unique identity based on ones biometrics that is essentially the one-stop entry pass for being a citizen/resident of a place.

The social security number in the United States is not even remotely close to the gargantuan powers that Aadhaar in effect has over the lives of citizens. Moreover, SSN isnt biometrics-based and it doesnt even have a photograph connected to it, forget being tied to each and every service.

Access versus Aadhaar

Instead of being a tool to ease out access, Aadhaar is fast becoming a hurdle for public distribution system and citizens right to access government facilities and welfare services. In Jharkhand, many have been sent back without crucial food rations because the Aadhaar couldnt be authenticated on the POS machines.

This, despite the beneficiaries having enrolled and received their Aadhaar numbers in lieu of the biometrics such as fingerprints and iris scans. In some cases, the MGNREGA wages were transferred to someone elses account, and many have gone unpaid because errors in Aadhaar linking have left them without any wage support.

Coercion, too, is becoming a big factor. Aadhaar is being issued to newborn babies in Haryana even before they are being birth certificates. Delhi government schools are asking students to enroll for Aadhaar if they wish to study at state-aided institutions. They are shutting doors to migrant children. Mid-day meals would be denied to students from poor backgrounds and children would be made to go hungry if they fail to produce Aadhaar after July 1.

On these pages we had earlier asked, what kind of government wants kids to go hungry because they dont have the voluntary-mandatory unique identity?

State control on body

When it was the governments turn to defend Aadhaar from the grave allegations made by the petitioners, the attorney general of India, Mukul Rohatgi, questioned whether bodily integrity is absolute.

He furnished examples such as parting with fingerprints on property papers, iris/retina scan to apply for visas to foreign countries, breath analysing to ascertain a case of drunk driving, and even DNA testing in case of forensic analysis in criminal cases.

But, as Justice Sikri, one of the two judges in the bench hearing the Aadhaar-PAN mandatory link case, pointed out, in none of the instances are the biometrics stored and connected to each and every facility that the resident/immigrant/citizen would avail to lead a normal life in his/her chosen place.

The coercive application and encroachment of Aadhaar into our ability to lead normal, healthy lives and to enjoy the constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms, is immeasurably greater, something that cannot be allowed to happen or go on in the name of governmental efficiency.

During the Finance Bill, 2017 debate in Lok Sabha in March this year, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley had fleetingly mentioned that DNA is not being ruled out yet from being included as part of the biometrics-based UID.

The repetitive clause as specified by regulations ensured that those intentional blanks in the Aadhaar Act legalese could be filled as the government pleases, with rudimentary debate in Parliament and via inconspicuous and insidious gazette notifications.

With AG Rohatgi essentially admitting that for the government, which he represents, bodily integrity isnt absolute, a legal can of worms could be opened that would further infringe on our personal autonomy and bodily integrity.

What next? Compulsory blood donations? Mandatory vasectomy after 50? Forcing organ donations? Specifying the number of children one can or cannot have? Menstrual scanners in places of worship (as someone had jokingly suggested during the Sabarimala debate)?

And in each of these possible instances, the Aadhaar number would act as the governments informant, ferrying out unsavoury details about the citizens life and laying it all out before an ever more controlling and obsessive State.

Naturally, women, Dalits, transgenders, religious and sexual minorities, who are anyway part of vulnerable and marginalised groups, would be far more susceptible to state policing of bodies and possible discrimination via Aadhaar than upper caste Hindu men, simply because the latters entrenched privileges will ensure the least surveillance for themselves.

Dissidents, intellectuals, political challengers, journalists asking tough questions, human rights activists and anybody not on government good books is basically far more vulnerable to states coercive practices of indirect control if Aadhaar is made mandatory, one-stop mode of identification.

Turning Aadhaar off at the beck and call of a vindictive government would be the easiest way to have the dissident mired in a digital prison-house minus any accountability.

Turning leaky Aadhaar off

Why is it that the government and the UIDAI want everyone to have Aadhaar but cannot guarantee that the details connected to the UID wouldnt be a hack away for those with the cyber tricks up their digital sleeves?

Report after report on Aadhaar numbers and associated sensitive details such as bank account number, address, date of birth, photograph, PAN, etc, are being unwittingly leaked from various government websites havent caused the least fluster among those singing paeans of the UID.

Only the UIDAI is authorised to take action in case of a security breach, even though complaints keep piling up. And will the UIDAI take action against the government whose websites are leaking confidential Aadhaar data?

This is a security minefield waiting to blow up and yet, both the government and UIDAI are on a massive ego trip to bludgeon us with compulsory Aadhaar.

What happens when Aadhaar is turned off with just an SMS notification to the user? His/her life comes to a grinding halt because s/hes unable to avail any of the services that have been clandestinely and unconstitutionally linked to Aadhaar.

Suspending or invalidating an Aadhaar number for no fault of the citizen leaves the citizen minus any ability to lead a normal life of work and commercial transactions, without any safety nets, whether online or offline.

In other words, government wants to have the benefit of controlling citizens lives and by extension bodies via Aadhaar, but would have none of the responsibility once the edifice starts crumbling, as is already happening.

The government is imposing digital and biometric tyranny on its own citizens, violating human rights and innumerable civil liberties in its bid to have total and absolute control of what we do, where we go, what we buy, how we travel, what we watch, what we eat, what we say, and whom we choose to mingle with.

Its typical of the patriarchal State to demand that we forfeit our freedom because it guarantees us benefits. But in a constitutional democracy, laws exist to protect the citizen from the tyrannical nature of the State, to see to it that we do not degenerate into textbook totalitarianism in the name of efficiency.

That is why it is crucial that our constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms are not infringed in the pretext of bringing us a stronger government.

Neither a smartphone, not a biometrics-based UID can, however, replace real and effective governance that is in sync with what the citizens want and need, without stepping on their rights.
Post the Poonch beheading incident, the media has been going viral in discussing the Indian response. Every TV channel highlights anger within the Indian community. The government is being questioned and asked to retaliate. Social media is filled with anti-Pakistan rhetoric and demands for action.

This is neither the first, nor will it be the last. Strategic writers have been suggesting various options open to the government. Options include removing Pakistan from the list of Most Favoured Nation (MFN), abrogating the Indus Water Treaty, cross-border strikes, open war and recalling of ambassadors, apart from curtailing sporting and cultural ties.

However, there is a rationale which needs to be understood before we expect the government to act.

Internally, anger is expected. For Indians, mutilation of a body is unthinkable. It crosses all levels of acceptance and intensifies hatred. Further, the Army has been in the limelight in recent times, facing stone-throwing mobs, militants and so-called human rights activists, who question its every move.

It has never responded to criticism, however at the same time never let the country down, irrespective of the task or mission. Hence, blessings and good wishes of the common Indian remain with it.

Within Pakistan, the deep state, comprising the army and the ISI, which controls terror groups, is an institution by themselves. They are neither answerable to the civil government nor its populace. The Pakistani ambassador to India is responsible to and takes his orders from their military, rather than their foreign ministry. Hence, considered an army supporter, he was overlooked for the post of foreign secretary, despite being senior to the present incumbent.

The recent tweet by a Major General, head of their Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), challenging the directions issued by the office of the Prime Minister, indicates the power it holds. It created panic within the government, to the extent that the PM had to call a closed-door cabinet meeting seeking ways and means to diffuse the situation.

It is the deep state which has never permitted talks to be conducted and peace restored between the two nations. When Agra was in the pipeline, Mumbai was being launched, when Vajpayee went to Lahore, Kargil followed and when Modi visited Lahore, Pathankot was immediately thereafter.

Each act was planned and launched by the ISI on the directions of the army, to ensure that any progress made is pushed under the carpet, and it has succeeded. Similar was the reason for the latest incident, ensuring that relations are at the ebb again.

We could also consider projecting that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would be a big loss to Pakistan in the long-term. Photo: India Today

While it was stated at the time of his appointment that new Pakistan army chief General Qamar Bajwa was not staunchly anti-India, these comments need to be accepted with a pinch of salt. Failure and defeat in every war and Islamisation of their army has created deep-rooted distrust and anger against their Indian counterparts.

Similarly, seeking to destabilise Afghanistan, it continues to support the Taliban and the Haqqani network. There too, relations are at such an ebb that the Afghan president turned down an invite to visit Islamabad, knowing talks with the civilian leadership imply nothing, with the deep state controlling terror groups.

The rise of tempers in Kashmir, increased infiltration and spurt of attacks on security forces and local police is again an orchestration of the ISI. The ISI chief is chosen by the Pakistan army chief, however, for diplomatic niceties, he is appointed by the Prime Minister.

Pakistan officially claims that the ISI functions under the PMO, however, in a recent statement, post the announcement of the team for probing the Panama Papers scandal, the Dawn newspaper of Pakistan announced that the ISI and Military Intelligence, nominated as part of the probe team, do not report to the PM, but to the army chief.

Regular chants on human rights in Kashmir by their Prime Minister and the bureaucracy is to ensure that army-civil relations remain intact. It is almost like singing a chorus at the end of each verse.

Hence, when we mention punishing Pakistan, we need to consider whom we should punish - while simultaneously seeking to create an environment for improving relations. Their government is hapless when dealing with India, facing the brunt of criticism internally and internationally, unable to reign in its army or ISI. The people are being misled with false propaganda from their deep state.

Their army claims that its anti-terror operations are bringing in a sense of security within the nation, hence seeks popularity and support from the public, in which it has succeeded. Its control is such that no one dares mention that the groups which operate against their own people were created by the ISI, but went rouge and turned their guns inwards.

No one mentions that internal strife in Balochistan, PoK and Gilgit Baltistan is the result of their armys high-handed and repressive role. No one mentions that it is because of their own militarys doing, especially against Afghanistan and India, that the world treats Pakistan with disdain and considers it almost a rouge state. In reality, their army remains rogue, while the nation and government suffers.

The Pakistan army has such internal control that its true losses are never declared and hidden from their own public, with no human rights agency even questioning missing personnel, thus giving it an almost invincible status within the nation.

In a recent case, there were reports that activists and bloggers who went missing for days were tortured and sodomised and hence in fear fled the shores of the country. Pakistan refused to accept bodies of its soldiers killed in Kargil, possibly declared those killed in the surgical strikes as "missing" and has never admitted to losses in Indian counter-strikes, hiding soldier deaths in multiple ways.

This is not an army comprising soldiers who respect their comrades even in death, but an army willing to sacrifice their own, solely to keep generals in power and maintain a facade in the public eye.

In Pakistan, any action against the nation would not impact the army, because a force which does not care for its own soldiers would never bother for its people. Hence, Indian action should aim at targeting the Pakistani army in particular. The targeting should be from multiple directions, seeking to hurt and damage its standing and reputation within the nation and across the world.

Thus, we need to look for options within these parameters. Actions seeking to extract revenge for the recent killings should be left to our local Army authorities, who would ensure Pakistan pays for its latest misadventure.

At the strategic level, we need to openly and effectively support anti-Pakistan groups operating from the Pakistan-Afghan border. The support should be such that the Pakistani army realises increased capabilities of the groups targeting them.

Since Pakistan employs air power, we can always provide the groups with anti-aircraft missiles. We need to create an environment where Pakistan is compelled to move forces from the Indian border or its reserves to handle the deteriorating situation.

To increase pressure at that stage, we enhance deployment of own troops on the borders. Let Pakistan cry to the world  we, like them, would ignore. Balochistan should be supported to secede, not diplomatically, but militarily and financially.

Creating and supporting fidayeen groups seeking freedom in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan should be pushed across the border, starting an insurgency, threatening the potency of the Pakistani army. Their army should face the brunt, not the government.

Simultaneously, we should begin a surreptitious media campaign, highlighting that the problem their nation faces is because of the misdeeds of the deep state, through anti-Pakistan radio stations established in Afghanistan and Kashmir.

We could also consider projecting that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would be a big loss to the nation in the long-term and is being pushed by the army for personal gains of the Fauji Foundation, not by the government. The rift between the army and government should aim at lowering the armys image.

Strategically, we should project Pakistan's army rather than the government as being responsible for the ills of the nation. We should aim at discrediting the army in its campaigns, lowering its image and creating an environment of doubt, not blind faith, which exists.
Currently, the primary focus of the terrorist establishment in J&K is on the security forces. Pathankot, Uri, Kupwara are but a few examples. They have obviously assimilated a few lessons from their experience - the foremost being avoiding civilian casualties.

Insurgent groups depend heavily on the populace for logistics. They merge with the populace, making it difficult for the government forces to fish them out. Civilian casualties due to terrorist actions in J&K were eroding their acceptance.

Today, the civilian casualties that we encounter in J&K are primarily attributable to government forces. They have been able to turn the tables; at least the man in the street would view it so.

With most attacks on security forces achieving a fair degree of success, we have to evaluate our preparedness. In the last attack at Panzgam, Kupwara, where we lost an officer, a junior commissioned officer and a jawan, the retaliation was immediate.

Our boys were able to kill two of them. However, we lost three. A suicide mission will meet with a degree of success, given the advantage of achieving surprise with the time and place of attack being of their own choosing. However, a solution has to be found.

The obvious tactical measure required is better fortification of bases. Its a fact that our bases are vulnerable. Locationally, a lot of them are adjacent to roads that carry assorted traffic during the day and are deserted at night. They are also based within population pockets.

Many do not even have strong enough perimeter defences. A few strings of barbed wire strands are the most visible defence mechanism of these bases. There are barely adequate raised sentry posts and floodlights.

In some places the sheer size of the bases is so big that guarding the entire perimeter by deploying men is not viable. Neither is there adequate technology being amalgamated in the protective layout.

The bare minimum requirement is to create two layers of fences with vital assets and men being more securely housed at the core. The area between the two layers could be kept under surveillance by electronic means and a quick reaction force available to respond to threats. Notwithstanding the cost of such an endeavour, it requires immediate implementation.

When we are able to provide a sense of security to the populace, the ranks of stone-pelters will also thin out. Photo: Reuters

Beyond strengthening the bases are a few bigger issues that influence the equations in J&K. These include the pursuance of an aggressive design in operations, focusing on elimination of terror leadership, intelligence, chocking of finances, good governance and strengthening the political process. There are many more issues, but these are definitely the immediate requirements.

The Army understands only too well that an aggressive design that keeps the terrorists on the run is the best strategy. The same strategy needs to be adopted by the central and state police forces too. However, the state of morale of these forces and their ability to get into an offensive mode is questionable.

Their top leaderships insistence on restraint rather than employing requisite force is only allowing the situation to slip. Personnel of the police forces being heckled and manhandled by protesters, as was evident in a recent video clip that went viral, erodes their deterrence value substantially.

The aggression that we need to display is not limited to anti-terror operations in the Valley. It goes beyond the Line of Control. Its time to weigh options in Gilgit, Baltistan and also other areas of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

The situation in Balochistan is also tenuous and can be exploited. With a country like Pakistan that adheres to no rules in the book, and has no respect for internationally accepted norms, the parameters of strategic restraint that we tend to exercise need a review.

Eliminating terrorist leadership is a major objective of any anti-terror campaign. The strategy has paid major dividends globally. We have also to target the leadership of tanzeems in Pakistan. Many of them roam free and can be targeted if our intelligence agencies apply themselves to developing the capabilities.

If the ISI can nurture modules in India, surely our intelligence agencies can take advantage of the restive mood in Pakistans provinces to develop covert action capabilities and target the terrorist leadership there. The leadership of the outfits have got used to an easy life. They are definitely not in the business to pay with their lives.

Whenever the graph of insurgency swings up, hard intelligence is the foremost necessity. Existing human intelligence assets also tend to wither at this stage. The security forces have to rejuvenate their sources of information, obtain hard intelligence and launch operations swiftly.

With larger numbers of new recruits joining the militants, there is also the opportunity to infiltrate these organisations. Though difficult to orchestrate, even an odd human resource within a terrorist organisation can be of exponential value to the security forces.

Very few in the Valley would work for a terrorist organisation without the lure of money. The priority hence is choking terrorist finances. Demonetisation was expected to deliver results on that count. Obviously, the dent that was made was inadequate.

A concerted effort to squeeze the flow of funds to terrorist groups will also involve cleaning up the government administration. The seepage of government funds through unscrupulous officials ultimately goes to establishments that work beyond the law.

The creation of jobs for Kashmiri youth by correct investment of central funds will do much more for peace in the Valley than any other means.

There is of course an entire political narrative to be addressed beyond the military and administrative measures. It starts with stating with unequivocal clarity that Kashmir is integral to India. There is no room for separatists, whatever be their shades.

There is no room either for a Pakistani or Islamic State flag being hoisted. For us, they are one and the same. Nor is there any room for the Indian flag being berated. Dialogues with separatists are useful only after the terror infrastructure has been put on the backfoot.

The repeated attack on security forces' bases is an excellent strategy adopted by Pakistan's ISI. They have identified our vulnerabilities, targeted them and also avoided civilian casualties. While securing the bases is an immediate tactical necessity, they will change their targeting pattern once attacking bases starts proving costly.

Making Kashmir safer is the larger narrative. As and when we are able to provide a sense of security to the populace, the ranks of stone-pelters will also thin out. More information on terrorists will start streaming in.
What will you possibly do when you are in the midst of a media spectacle, your private moments as a chronic patient up for daily consumption of millions of strangers? You are helpless, you lie immobile on your bed, a tube through your nose, your body half paralysed, your systems revolting against your soul with an acute diabetes, insomnia, obesity and riveting convulsions.

You may want to shoo away a reporter, turn your face away from blinding camera lights, but you just cant as illness keeps you numb and vulnerable.

You are Eman Ahmed, 37, reeling under the weight of the Worlds Heaviest Woman title. You came to Mumbai because your family believed in a doctor who would perform a miracle on you, reduce your weight, help you move around, be a normal human being  possibly live long, be less of a burden on your relatives who find it really hard to fund your treatment.

But your mother and your sister did not realise the public relations quagmire they were driving you into, aided by the greed of doctors who, under the cover of giving publicity to India as a medical tourism destination, were actually giving themselves a badge of honour  in the hope of a future Padma, perhaps.

Even if one forgets all of Emans sister Shaimas allegations that her sister is worse off than what she was earlier  she gets too many convulsions, is still hypertensive and cant swallow food  the whole episode of this hapless patient from Egypt smacks of a high-profile PR exercise gone horribly wrong, invading a patients privacy to realms beyond the imaginable.

The whole episode of this hapless patient from Egypt smacks of a high profile PR exercise gone horribly wrong.

The first time I saw Eman as some sort of cargo being offloaded from an airplane at Mumbai airport in a local daily, it evoked some curiosity. Soon, the plight of the lady took a back seat, with portraits of the doctor Muffazal Lakdawala posing with her and her sister coming to the fore.

It was the doctor and the hospital that then began to be written about. One report even said that there were issues in converting a section of the hospital canteen into a makeshift cabin for Eman, as someone protested saying the land was actually a cemetery!

But who would go into such details, when all one was to laud was this huge philanthropic work of the hospital, which accorded her crores of rupees worth of treatment, which was also partly crowd-funded? From 500kgs, her weight drops to less than 200 in a month, we are told, and we believed.

Until one day, Shaima cried foul, and spilled the beans on her sisters treatment. One media firm, which ran a big story on her plight, then ran another story which quoted a bariatric (weight loss) surgeon saying such a patient can only lose 10 per cent weight in a month.

Does that mean all Eman lost was just 50kg and not 300 as claimed? No one knows, and neither do we need to. We dont want poor Eman to be put through a new weighing harassment.

And that brings us back to the point of privacy. If there is one big nosedive by India in medical tourism rankings because of this incident, it will be in patient privacy. The Saifee Hospital, which treated her, has claimed that they have documented evidence that Emans family agreed to the media jamboree.

Many photo shoots, doctor and sister interviews, and - horror of horrors  one music video shoot with the patient were conducted. All ending in a media disaster. As she flew to Abu Dhabi from Mumbai, more questions remain.

What is the actual status of her health? How will she fare at the new hospital? How accountable is Saifee Hospital in the entire episode? Now that the onus of treating Eman has shifted to a new hospital and a set of doctors, can the former doctors and hospital be exonerated from all blame?

But these are technical questions. The larger one is moral.

Was it right to expose a patient to an everyday media blitzkrieg? Was it proper for her family to agree so? Were they not told the extent of media coverage upfront? What was the doctor thinking when he posed for scores of photographs with the media? Fame? Glory? Or was he really trying to help?

No one knows.

Eman, unfortunately, who suffered this all, and who really knows what went on, sadly cant tell us all that.
The Tiny House Roadshow is coming to Menlo, Ga. atop Lookout Mountain on May 19-21. This event is a departure for the Tiny House Roadshow as it will be held on location at Little River Escape.

The 25-30 tiny houses and not so tiny houses will be displayed on wooded lots instead of the trade show format that most of the eight other roadshows have been.

The Roadshow is the brain child of tiny house designer and builder Dale Geist, of Livingston, Tn. Mr. Geist, who works alongside his sons, Scott and Jesse, founded Tiny By Design in 2014. Interest in his work has been fueled by the many programs now being seen on HGTV, and many other channels. HGTV filmed Mr. Geists work last year for a segment that is still being broadcast on-demand (Tiny House Hunters, season 2, episode 10).

Mr. Geist realized in his research of tiny house living that a large segment of the population was being overlooked. It wasn't just young people desiring the simple lifestyle. Baby boomers were also seeing the benefits of downsizing their possessions and lifestyle. To appeal to this older group of Americans, Mr. Geist designs tiny houses with first floor living  no climbing ladders to go to bed at night. Also he has added expansion slides to his designs, for those who want a little more space.

The tiny house movement is one of the hottest trends in America, said Mr. Geist. It is popular among people from all walks of life, young-to-old, and rich-to-poor  it is a cross-cultural phenomenon that is sweeping the country. The roadshow is for anyone who seeks a simpler, less cluttered life, and also those who are just curious."

The Georgia show will be held at the Little River Escape on Friday-Sunday, May 19-21. The hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. Tickets to the roadshow are $15 each with free admission for children 11 and under. Tickets online are $12 each.

For more information, visit www.tinyhouseroadshow.com or www.tinybydesignhomes.com.


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.
BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
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.
Here is the weekly road construction report for Hamilton County:

U.S. 27 (I-124) widening from I-24/U.S. 27 interchange to north of the Olgiati Bridge over the Tennessee River, including widening the Olgiati Bridge: Work on this project continues. The speed limit on U.S. 27 in the construction zone is 45 MPH. The contractor may have temporary lane or shoulder closures on U.S. 27 between 7 p.m.-6 a.m. On weekdays during this report period between the hours of 9 a.m.-3 p.m., the contractor will have a temporary right lane closure on eastbound MLK Blvd. between the U.S. 27 North exit ramp and Carter St. and on westbound MLK Blvd. between Chestnut St. and the U.S. 27 North entrance ramp to work on new signals. Ramp traffic will not be affected. This work is weather permitting. As the project progresses, there may be short term temporary lane closures for the safety of the traveling public on city streets within the project area. Flaggers will assist with these closures and they will be properly signed in accordance with the Federal Highway Administrations Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. During Phase 1 of the U.S. 27 project, the contractor will be working on the northbound side of U.S. 27 on the bridges. Work will consist of demolishing and reconstructing the outside sections of the bridge along U.S. 27 North. Also on U.S. 27 South, they will be constructing a large retaining wall between the Olgiati Bridge and 6th Street. At least one lane will remain open in each direction on U.S. 27. THP will assist with traffic control on the project as necessary. Estimated project completion date is July 2019. For more info, visit the project website http://www.tn.gov/tdot/topic/US27-reconstruction-chattanooga. [Dement Construction Co., LLC/JM/CNP230]

SR 317 (Apison Pike) the grading, drainage and paving on from Old Lee Highway (LM 5.58) to SR-321 (Ooltewah-Ringgold Road) (LM 7.84): Work on this project continues. During this report period the contractor may have intermittent lane closures throughout the project from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Estimated project completion date is May. [Wright Brothers Const. Co. /Pruett/CNN279]

SR-320 (East Brainerd Road) grading, drainage, installation of signals, construction of seven retaining walls and paving from east of Graysville Road to east of Bel-Air Road: Work on this project continues. During this report period, the contractor will have intermittent lane closures between 9 a.m.-2 p.m. This work may affect either direction of East Brainerd Road or side streets from Graysville Road to Hamlett Drive as the contractor installs road crossings and borings. Traffic has been switched onto the newly-constructed section from the west end of the project to the Hurricane Creek Road/East Brainerd Road intersection, allowing the contractor to work on the other side of the roadway. The contractor may have short-term lane closures to perform various operations on an as-needed basis. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as needed. Original completion date is June. Estimated project completion date is December. [Jones Brothers Contractors, LLC /Pruett/CNN383]

SR-153/SR-319 (Hixson Pike) bridge repair on Hixson Pike over SR-153: Work on this project continues. The outside lanes in both directions on the bridge on Hixson Pike over SR-153 are now closed. This lane closure will be in place until late November. During this report period the contractor may have intermittent lane closures on SR-153 from 9 p.m.-6 a.m. to do work under the bridge. If there are any temporary closures needed on SR-153 as part of this project, they will take place at nighttime on Sundays through Thursdays between 9 p.m.-6 a.m. and on weekdays on SR-153 South between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and on SR-153 North between 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Flaggers will assist with traffic control as necessary during these temporary closures. Estimated project completion date is May 2018. [Mid-State Construction Co. /Micka/CNQ941]

U.S. 27 (SR-29) resurfacing from north of Signal Mountain Road (LM. 3.02) to north of SR-29 (MM. 6.0/LM 6.07): Work on this project has begun. The contractor will have temporary intermittent lane closures on Sundays through Thursdays between the hours of 8 p.m.-6 a.m. to mill and pave the roadway. THP and flaggers will assist with traffic control as necessary during these temporary closures. Estimated project completion date is June. [Wright Brothers Construction Co, Inc./Micka/CNQ189]

The tunnel cleaning of the McCallie Tunnel on U.S. 11 (US 64, SR-2), the Stringers Ridge Tunnel on U.S. 127 (SR-8), and the Bachman Tubes on U.S. 41 (U.S. 76, SR-8): The nighttime cleaning operation of McCallie Tunnels, Stringers Ridge Tunnel, and Bachman Tubes occurs normally on Wednesday and Thursday nights during the week with the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Work hours are between 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Tunnels will be closed during cleaning, and detours will be marked accordingly as each tunnel is cleaned. Contract completion date is June. [Diamond Specialized, Inc./Micka/CNQ174]






The Rodeway Inn on Hamilton Park Drive and the Fairfield Inn and Suites on Mack Smith Road in East Ridge have been sold.

The Rodeway Inn, located off I-75 near Bonny Oaks Drive, was sold to the Furrow Family Partnership Lp from Laxmi Krupa Inc, Shakti Krupa Inc. The sale price was $2,000,000.

The Fairfield Inn and Suites was sold for $6.5 million to Adar Eastridge Llc from Krishnaguru Inc .
More than 1,400 students will receive degrees when The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga observes commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday.



For students obtaining masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees, commencement will be Friday at 2 p.m. in McKenzie Arena.



Undergraduate students will celebrate commencement in two ceremonies on Saturday. Students from the College of Arts and Science and the College of Engineering and Computer Science will cross the stage at 9 a.m. The College of Business and College of Health, Education and Professional Studies graduates will cross the stage at 1 p.m.



Guests are encouraged to arrive early to allow time for security check-in. More information about commencement and McKenzie Arena procedures can be found here.


The University of Virginias Vice Provost for Global Affairs is leaving his post to become the University of Richmonds provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Effective July 1, Jeffrey W. Legro will vacate his roles as vice provost and politics professor at UVa to join the private university, according to a news release from the University of Richmond.

Dr. Legro emerged as our finalist with an exceptional skill set for the position of provost, said U of R President Ronald A. Crutcher. He is an accomplished scholar and academic leader who brings a wealth of relevant experience to the provost position.

Legro is the author of numerous books and articles, including Rethinking the World: Great Power Strategies and International Order. He served as chairman of the politics department and was a co-founder and faculty associate of the Governing America in a Global Era Program at UVas Miller Center.
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) on Thursday voted for the fiscal year 2017 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which included $1.35 million for the Grassy Cove Project  a U.S. Forest Service project that will ensure the Karst Forest at Grassy Cove in Cumberland County is protected for future generations of Tennesseans to enjoy.

I still can recall walking into Grassy Cove in Cumberland County one spectacular spring day in 1978 during my campaign for governor. I had not seen a prettier sight, Senator Alexander said. Im glad this appropriations bill included funding to help conserve and protect another 1,000 acres on Bear Den and Brady Mountain by adding them to the Cumberland Trail State Park, so future generations of Tennesseans and tourists can enjoy Grassy Cove and the Cumberland Plateau.

In 1973, 10,500 acres of land known as Grassy Cove Karst Area were designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service for the areas geological significance. Since 2001, local leaders and the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation have worked to protect Grassy Cove and the surrounding area.

Funding for the Karst Forest at Grassy Cove project is included in the fiscal year 2017 Omnibus Appropriations bill that the Senate passed today by a vote of 79 to 18. The House passed the bill on May 3 by a vote of 309 to 118.

Funding for the Grassy Cove project in the appropriations bill will protect another 1,000 acres on Bear Den and Brady Mountain by adding them to the Cumberland Trail State Park. The $1.35 million in funding will be provided to the Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation, which will use the money to purchase the 1,000 acres and transfer the land to the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park.
RICHMOND  The scale of damage to mountain ridges in the path of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline remains open for debate, but Bill and Lynn Limpert say they have no doubt what the project would do to an old-growth forest along the mountain ridge facing their retirement home in Bath County.

If the Atlantic Coast Pipeline comes through our property, all these trees will be gone, Bill Limpert said at a midday protest on Thursday outside the office of Gov. Terry McAuliffe in downtown Richmond.

As an early and vocal supporter of the $5.1 billion project, McAuliffe has become the target of environmental groups that say construction of the 600-mile natural gas pipeline would remove a 38-mile swath of mountain ridges in Virginia and West Virginia.

They contend construction of the 42-inch-diameter pipeline would result in mountaintop removal, with a 10- to 60-foot layer of rock and debris blasted from ridges in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny ranges.

How do you remove the tops of mountains in an environmentally friendly way? asked Mike Tidwell, executive director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network, one of the organizations that released the analysis last week and organized the protest outside of the Patrick Henry Building on East Broad Street.

Officials at Dominion, managing partner of the pipeline company, say the groups have grossly exaggerated the effects of pipeline construction. The company said it would clear a 125-foot-wide construction right-of-way that would level no more of mountain ridge lines than necessary to dig a trench 8 to 10 feet deep and wide; create a travel lane for work vehicles; and fit pipe sections together.

The overburden, as the rock and other debris is called, also would be kept within the right of way, used in part as a travel lane, and then restored to the original contour of the slope, said Brittany Moody, manager of engineering projects for Dominion Transmission Inc. Its all going back.

That wont be possible for the centuries-old trees in the proposed path of the pipeline up the steep slopes of Jack Mountain on the Limperts 120-acre property in Little Valley. Staunton forester Mark Sims assessed the forest last year and said it may be the oldest stand of timber that I have looked at in Virginia.

Moody acknowledged that the pipeline company couldnt restore 200-year-old trees, although it would reforest parts of the construction corridor outside the permanent 50-foot right-of-way for the pipeline.

But she and construction manager Greg Park said the restored mountaintops wouldnt resemble the strip-mined landscape that opponents have depicted.

We only use exactly what we need to, said Park, who has supervised pipeline construction for Dominion in West Virginia.

Some ridges may be cut as much as 10 feet, but nowhere near the 60 feet predicted by opponents, he said. Ive never cut down that far to build a pipeline.

The pipeline wasnt originally proposed through Bath, but the company rerouted the path last year in response to opposition by the U.S. Forest Service to a route that would have passed through the habitat of endangered salamanders in the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests.

Similarly, the pipeline originally wasnt proposed to pass along the ridge of Roberts Mountain next to the Nelson County property where Joe and Nancy McMoneagle live and she operates the Monroe Institute, an educational institution for human consciousness. But the company changed the route two years ago in part to avoid Davis Creek  on the other side of the mountain  where the worst landslides and loss of life occurred after torrential rains from Hurricane Camille in 1969.

Its a very unstable mountain, warned Joe McMoneagle, president of the New Land Home Owners Association for residents at the base of Roberts Mountain who fear pipeline construction would destroy their water supply from the mountain.

Park and Moody say they have designed the project to avoid the areas most prone to landslides and use best in class practices for stabilizing slopes to avoid landslides, as well as erosion and sedimentation of stream valleys.
When Republicans seemed to be adrift during the Obama administration, pundits predicted that the party was finished. This turned out to be a grievous error, as the 2010, 2014 and 2016 elections revealed.

The GOP definitely has issues, and the election and early presidency of Donald Trump haven't resolved them. But until recently, fewer people were paying attention to the deep divisions and fissures within the Democratic Party.

Bernie Sanders' surprising threat to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic primaries changed that somewhat. Even so, there has been a tendency to chalk Clinton's loss in November up to her personal failings and poor campaign strategy. While Clinton and her team do bear primary responsibility for her loss, dismissing it as an isolated event would be a gravely incomplete understanding.

One of the most evident rifts between "old guard" Democrats and those who are pushing for change within the party is in the attitude toward business. There is a tendency for the American public  and the left in particular  to equate "business" with "big business." Large corporations capture the public's attention because their products, services and logos are everywhere. And when large companies engage in unethical or illegal behavior, it makes headlines.

But most businesses in the United States are small. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, there are almost 29 million businesses in the United States. And 99.7 percent of them are small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Nearly 80 percent have no employees other than the owners.

In other words, "big business"  large multinational corporations  represents only a fraction of the total number of businesses in the country. Furthermore, nearly 50 percent of all U.S. employment is provided by small businesses, and most new jobs each year come from small businesses, not large multinationals. The vast majority of these small businesses gross less than $500,000 a year, and many gross less than $250,000.

These data matter, because just as the tea party has become a powerful current within the Republican Party, an angry push for collectivism is gathering strength within the Democratic Party, and there are distinctly anti-capitalist and anti-business sentiments in this faction. Bernie Sanders' campaign was perhaps the most visible evidence, but we've also seen it in the Occupy Wall Street movement, in the Antifa riots, and in the recent confrontations between Democratic Party leaders and rank-and-file voters who want to hit businesses with higher taxes and higher minimum wages.

The ridiculous amounts of money needed to run political campaigns mean that leaders of both parties spend too much time currying favor with the millionaires and billionaires who control multinational corporations. As a result, "big business" dominates the popular discourse, at the expense of the lesser-known small businesses that make up the meat-and-potatoes of the American economy. It's hard to overstate how dangerous this is, especially when the public mood turns ugly and politicians look for scapegoats.

Venezuela is the latest example of what happens when political leaders make business out to be the enemy. Former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called himself a "socialist" when he first ran for office, but after taking power, he nationalized entire industries and seized the assets of private companies in the energy, transportation, telecommunications, agriculture and health care sectors, among others. His successor, Nicolas Maduro, is presiding over Venezuela's continued economic decline, with widespread shortages of basic necessities, hunger and increasing civil unrest. Having learned nothing, Maduro has doubled down on Chavez' tactics; his government seized a factory belonging to General Motors just last month. And it isn't just large foreign-owned companies that are victims of Maduro's thuggery. He has also threatened locally owned pharmacies, craft brewers, bakers, butchers, grocers and farmers with seizure of their businesses if they do not produce goods and services at the artificially low prices he demands, with no regard for production costs.

Socialist redistributionists like Chavez and Maduro characterize profit-making as greed, so they justify their takeovers as being "for the people." But these types are particularly ill-suited to run businesses. Convinced that their moral rectitude makes every decision the right one, they lack the humility that successful business owners tend to acquire  often the hard way  when they have to make customers happy and compete for their business.

The push for a more collectivist economy should concern everyone  not least because it is happening in tandem with increased indoctrination on college campuses, and an aggressive push to silence dissenting viewpoints.

Anyone who thinks the Democratic Party is in its death throes is myopic. The question isn't whether the Democratic Party will endure, but who will be in control of it and what policies the party will espouse. If the Democrats cave to the ultra-left wing, and follow the path of socialists and collectivists elsewhere, the result will be widespread misery and staggering economic loss.

This is avoidable, but only if we counter the negative narrative about American business. If we allow "big business" to become the face of all business, we run the risk of killing the engine of American prosperity.
The Ed Johnson Project will host a meet and greet in order to provide community updates and detail how individuals, organizations and members of the general public may get involved on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The event will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel, Address: 407 Chestnut St.

The Ed Johnson Project is a Chattanooga project that has the potential to change and unite the community, said officials. The community is invited to be a part of creating the project as it kicks off its public awareness and fundraising campaign, which will include documentary viewings and information about the Ed Johnson story and project. Anyone who is interested in helping to host a fundraising event or volunteering in other ways is invited. Attendees will be provided all the information they need to get involved.

At its core, the project is built on remembering the Ed Johnson story by creating a memorial which acknowledges the lynching of Ed Johnson, honors the work of his attorneys, and recognizes the resulting U.S. Supreme Court case; reaching out in reconciliation to the entire community; and uniting to work towards a better future. In addition to creating a public space, the project is helping to fund a documentary, funding a scholarship and creating a website with all known information about the story.




Baylor hosted McCallie in the 91st dual track meet between the two rivals dating back to 1910. The guest from Missionary Ridge put on an impressive performance by winning 15 of 18 events.

McCallie was dominate in field events, sprints, distance events and relays. Juniors Adams Robinson and Hakim McMorris led McCallie by winning 4 events each.

Robinson won the long jump and led a sweep of the triple jump by McCallie athletes. Robinson also won the 400 and was part of the victorious 4 x 400 Relay.

Hakim McMorris continued his outstanding season by winning the high jump, setting a personal best of 10.95 to win the 100 and winning the 300 intermediate hurdles and running on the winning 4 x 400 Relay.

Sophomore Dre Taylor won the shot put. Senior and team captain George Arrowsmith led from the start in winning both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. McCallie swept 4 x 100, 4 x 200, 4 x 800 and 4 x 400 relay races.

Other individual winners for McCallie included Gavin Brown leading a sweep in the 110 high hurdles and Alessandro Malave leading a 1, 2, 3 McCallie finish in the 200. McCallies depth allowed the Blue Tornado to sweep the top 3 scoring positions in 10 events. Winners for Baylor were Henry White in the pole vault, P.J. Goodwin in the discus and Jackson Collette in the 800.

Event 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place Pole Vault Henry White (B) 12' 4" Vaughn (B) Hayes (M) High Jump Hakim McMorris (M) 6' Pippenger (B) Hamilton (M) Long Jump Adams Robinson (M) 19' 7" Thomas (M) White (B) Triple Jump Adams Robinson (M) 41' 0.75" Bastian (M) Ryce (M) Shot Put Dre Taylor (M) 48' 2" Johnson (B) Toliver/Culver (B) Discus P.J. Goodwin (B) 125' 2" Taylor (M) Dunnigan (M) 110 Hurdles Gavin Brown (M) 15.61 Smith (M) Bastian (M) 100 M Hakim McMorris (M) 10.95 Brooks (M) Keylon (M) 1600 M George Arrowsmith (M) 4:45.86 Ligon (M) Richey (M) 400 M Adams Robinson (M) 53.20 Lillard (B) Ervin (B) 300 Hurdles Hakim McMorris (M) 40.89 Smith (M) Pippenger (B) 800 M Jackson Collette (B) 2:08.32 Bizamana (M) Gork (M) 200 M Alessandro Malave (M) 24.32 Brooks (M) Parks (M) 3200 M George Arrowsmith (M) 10:21 Carmack (M) Richey (M) 4 X 800 McCallie (Bizimana, Crispin, Gork, Langsett) 8:43.6 Baylor 4 X 200 McCallie (Smith, Butler, Parks,Walker) 1:35.36 Baylor 4 X 100 McCallie (Malave, Bastian, Brooks, Murphy) 43.98 Baylor 4 X 400 McCallie (Murphy, McMorris, Bastian, Robinson) 3:34.09 Baylor
Former Baylor School outstanding lineman Barrett Gouger has been invited to the New York Jets rookie camp.

Gouger, who is 6'4" and weighs in at 308, started all 13 games for the Vanderbilt Commodores last season.

Vanderbilt said the Soddy Daisy product "played a big role in the team's improved offensive production and was a primary blocker in running back Ralph Webb setting new single-season and career rushing records."
Within the last two years (in September 2015) a horrendous accident occurred near Phoenix, Ariz., which attracted national news coverage. TV cameras came out to record the mess which occurred on an Interstate highway, with what appeared to be at least eight lanes of traffic in each direction. THAT is an almost incomprehensible number to someone of my age! The aerial views from the TV news helicopters were jaw-dropping! Despite my shock at seeing those images, I do have personal knowledge of the Washington (DC) Beltway, which is about the same width, and always scary.

In my day - a very long time ago, admittedly - the major U.S. highways that passed through Chattanooga - US Highways 41, 11, 27 and 64 - were all only two lanes wide - ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION. I can remember that my friend, Walter Nash, and I set out on foot one clear summer night to walk down US 41 to a friend's house on Three-Notch Road  way inside the Georgia line - toward Ringgold. We literally had the road to ourselves; only a very occasional car passed - and absolutely NO trucks! The stars were bright overhead, we were both amateur astronomers, and we could concentrate on them instead of having to dodge traffic. Highway 41 was the MAJOR route between Chicago and the entire east coast of Florida! All traffic had seemingly stopped for the night. Those formerly important "U.S." highways are still largely in place  of use mainly for short local runs, while long distances are best covered via our modern Interstate routes.

US 41 started on the Northern Peninsula of Michigan, ran south through Chicago and on to Chattanooga. It passed through the center of Atlanta, of course, and somewhere below Macon it joined with US 1, and later US A1A, the east coast highways to Miami and Key West. At least through our region it was called the Dixie Highway". In those old days there were a lot of Mom & Pop businesses which sprang up along all these U.S. roads, and in our vicinity there was a heavily advertised "41 Cafe" at Dalton, Ga., which was promoted on billboards for the highway's full length. In Dalton, you could often park your car directly in front of the Cafe. Always busy inside, parking never seemed to be a problem. "B. Lloyds" promoted Louisiana pralines in south Georgia for many years, and seems to have been supplanted by a newer such place, called "Stuckey's". There was one of the latter at Kimball, Tn., for many years.

Starting somewhere near Ringgold (going south) the right side of US 41 had many private homes which had brightly colored "chenille" items displayed on clotheslines in front of the houses, with signage inviting tourists to stop. We stopped once, with a friend from out of state, and went inside one of them: there was only ONE large room with NO furniture - only workspace for the people hand-making the chenille products. Colorful discarded fuzzballs littered the floor. We were seeing the rudimentary beginning of the later carpet industry at Dalton, where now the same people (or their grandchildren) are employed for both better pay and working conditions. The chenille products were all very colorful and included such items as bathrobes and bedspreads. My mother had one of the bathrobes with a large bird-of-paradise design on the back, capable of scaring the wits out of small children and animals when she suddenly wheeled around!

Just west of Chattanooga, and still on US 41, there was a small "Free Zoo" to attract the kids, and which sold all manner of souvenirs, cold drinks, etc. That was on the south side of the highway between Chattanooga and Jasper. It had a woodsy atmosphere, parallel with the Tennessee River, and was the only business along that stretch of road. Further on, there was a well-advertised restaurant and motel which used small, but well-placed, signs to advertise the business. This was at Guild, Tennessee, exactly where the road turned right to access the ancient bridge across the river. Each sign was in a different foreign language and grabbed your attention: "Halten Sie und Rasten Sie, bei HENRY'S", read one sign in German. Closer to Nashville, U.S. 41 goes very close to the Stone's River battlefield of Civil War significance, then passes near Andrew Jackson's "Hermitage" home near Old Hickory, Tn. It also went past my old Sewart AFB - now long closed - at Smyrna, Tennessee.

Going north over Monteagle Mountain (then a most torturous route), an immensely long billboard pointed to "Wonder Cave", far east of the road in a cove at the foot of the mountain. I never visited the cave - but it and all the other above attractions vanished into thin air immediately as the new Interstate Highway 24 opened. One of the few remaining attractions on US 41 - 50 miles from Chattanooga - is the famous Al Capone "safe house", at Monteagle, now a fine restaurant, built of mountain stone. Capone used this house as a safe haven, because it was about half-way between his Chicago home and his Florida destination.

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US 27 started near Fort Wayne, Ind., and came through Chattanooga, then continued through western Georgia to connect with Floridas west (gulf) coast. On our many trips to Florida in the 1940's and '50's we always preferred US 41. US 27 had been the latest of the main US highways to be completed through our area - before I was born. I think it caused quite a happy stir when this new "LaFayette Road" opened. The picture with this story shows my dad (at left) and his first cousin, Gene Martin in a horse-drawn vehicle at the intersection of the present U.S. 27, and "Tom Hunt Road", which was then THE LaFayette Road. ( Cousin Gene Martin was postman for all of Chickamauga for many years).

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U.S. Highway 11 has always been important in my family, as we have enjoyed driving it in both directions. We have used it for trips to New Orleans (its southern terminus), and as far as D.C., its northern end. It passes Arlington National Cemetery just south of Washington, and continues through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia (as you go toward Chattanooga). In my long past researches I discovered that its ancient origin had been created by millions of buffaloes' feet, racing southward across the famous "Natural Bridge", past Chattanooga, and into present Alabama, where they availed themselves of the natural salt-licks there! From its opening It has been called the "Lee Highway", except for where it goes through a city and assumes a new name for a few miles. Here near my home it is known as Brainerd Road.

* * *

US 64 is another one of those oldies. It is quite long, starting at Nags Head, N.C., on the Outer Banks and going almost due west through Chattanooga, I had to do a minute's research to find where it ended, however....somewhere in Arizona near the "Four Corners" place where four large square states meet. It goes through Cleveland, Tn., of course, and I have only used it to access CAMP OCOEE, locally, and the OUTER BANKS, more distantly. I am very grateful for the modern freeway which cuts off all the small farm-towns between here and there. It is only after you reach extreme eastern N.C. that you pick it up again. That part is the most interesting part, for sure, driving along past pine forests and following straight-as-an-arrow waterways.

* * *

Our two-lane highways had been built over far older wagon roads and followed every nuance of those roads. (Check the much-used W Road on Signal Mountain if you do not believe this!) Some roads were straightened or otherwise improved, and a few - close to town - might eventually be made into four-lane highways, but these were not yet the "limited access" highways; those did not come until later. "Freeways" were still years ahead in the future. Not even California yet had a decent highway system. My mother's first cousin, Paul Jordan-Smith, (1885-1971), wrote in his autobiography that when he first went to California in the 1920's it was quicker and easier to get from San Francisco to Los Angeles BY BOAT, than by the poor roads! We can thank President Dwight D. Eisenhower for our modern freeways: As an American General in Germany, in WW2, he had seen that country's magnificent Autobahn system and envisioned the same for our country. He introduced a "Project '66" Program in Congress which was to have these new roads done by 1966. It was approved, and the majority of them built, but I understand that in some places, like the Bayou Country of Louisiana, they are still waiting!

A source of continuing amazement to me is that when the new freeways opened up, how fast they filled with traffic! Highway 41, for example, which only yesterday had had a trickle of mainly daytime traffic, suddenly became a roaring torrent of cars and trucks. I-24 and I-75 replaced the former tranquility of many a rural neighborhood forever, I suppose. Speed limits started out at 75 MPH on these new Interstate highways, which lasted several years until there were so many crashes that they were reduced to first 65, and later to 55 - by public demand.

What I have written here pertains mainly to our Chattanooga area. I am well aware of wide four-lane highways such as Chicagos great Lake Shore Drive  for in 1947 or 48 we drove there, and that highway so confused my dad that we finally made an illegal U-turn (quite safely, I assure you) and headed back into town from somewhere near the Wisconsin line! Dad had driven for the local Post Office for many years but simply could not understand how exiting to the right could turn us around and head us back to town! Live and learn, I suppose.

Dad could not comprehend the "new logic" of the four-lane highway, just I struggle with those 16-laners in various places. I just wouldn't want to be around should Chattanooga ever need such a system!

---

Chester Martin is a native Chattanoogan who is a talented painter as well as local historian. He and his wife, Pat, live in Brainerd. Mr. Martin can be reached at cymppm@comcast.net.






Members of the LGBTQ+ community have called for a rally to be held at Rosss Landing on Saturday at 4 p.m. in response to Governor Bill Haslam signing State House Bill 1111.





The group said, "According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Senate Bill (SB) 1085 and its House companion, House Bill (HB) 1111, known locally as the 'LGBTQ Erasure' bills, attempt to undermine the impact of the Supreme Courts marriage equality ruling.



They said the bill does this by requiring that courts and federal agencies apply a plain meaning interpretation of gendered statutory language, including those involving the rights of husbands and wives. This would exclude many same-sex spouses from protection, because courts could not interpret husband or wife to mean spouse under the law.

Citizens of Chattanooga who are members of the LGBTQ+ community, and women may be negatively impacted by this decision. The law could also potentially have unforeseen impacts, such as the use of the word 'man' or 'men' in law, which has until now been legally designated to refer to both men and women.





Its important that we stand together, side by side, with members of our community, rally organizer Samantha Boucher said. LGBTQ Tennesseans are your neighbors - your family members, your doctors, firefighters, grocery clerks, teachers, elected officials, and police officers. Many of us grew up and continue to be active in the same faith communities as you. And right now, we need your help.





She also said, "At the time of this release on Friday, the White House had signed a new executive order focused on protecting 'religious liberty', however many have expressed concerns that the directive to federal agencies may lead to some adopting policies that are not friendly or supportive to LGBTQ people.
River City Sessions, a celebration of Southern music and storytelling, will be hosting a concert of local music benefiting Lula Lake Land Trust on Friday, June 9 . River City Sessions is a monthly program at The Granfalloon featuring local and regional musical acts along with Southern storytelling.



Last year's concert at Lula Lake saw over 400 people enjoying local music and nature in what many guests reported as, "a great Riverbend alternative."

Performances will feature: The Unknowns (acoustic performance by the lake at 5:30 p.m. ) Mountain Creek House Fire Michael Gray, Storyteller Caney Creek Company

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for hiking, music starts at 5:30 p.m. by the lake and main stage performances start at 7 p.m. Gates open atfor hiking, music starts atby the lake and main stage performances start at

Admission is $10 per person in advance and $15 on the day of the event.Proceeds benefit Lula Lake Land Trust. Food and beverages will be available on site for additional purchase.
Hidemi Walsh wins, comforted by Shauna Havey, another contestant from Roy, Ut. photo by Lodge National Cornbread Cook-off (Left to Right) Felice Bogus, third place; Hidemi Walsh, first place; Bob Kellermann, Lodge CEO Emeritus; Amy Rogers, National Cornbread Cook-off Coordinator; Ashlyn Morgan, second place. photo by Lodge National Cornbread Cook-off Previous Next

With her recipe, Chili Shrimp and Coconut Cornbread, Hidemi Walsh won the 21st Annual Lodge National Cornbread Cook-off on Sunday, April 30.



Ms. Walsh, a resident of Centreville, Va, received the coveted cast iron skillet crown, a $5,000 cash prize and a FiveStar 30-inch stainless steel gas range (a value of $3,200).



Sponsored by Lodge Manufacturing Company, the National Cornbread Cook-off is a Main Dish/Entree contest, with contestants required to use a Lodge Cast Iron Skillet or other Lodge Cast Iron product and a package of Martha White Cornmeal.



Recipes throughout the 21-year history of the cook-off always expand the concept of Southern Cuisine, with contestants utilizing a broad range of culinary genres and cooking techniques.



Ashlyn Morgan from Englewood, Tn. earned second place and $1,500 in cash. Her recipe was Cornbread Cuban Sandwiches with Mojo Sauce.

Raleigh, N.C.s Felice Bogus earned third place honors and $1,000 with her Smokey Chicken Tinga Street Gorditas recipe.



All finalists received $500 travel reimbursement and a gift basket courtesy of Martha White and Lodge.

Lodge received submissions from 39 states between early December 2016 and February 5. The finalists were announced on March 1.



Finalists for the 2017 National Cornbread Cook-off:



 Robin Kessler, Sarasota, Fl.; Butternut and Sage Sausage Skillet Tart with Mushrooms and Smoked Gouda;



 Pamela Gelsomini, Wrentham, Ma.; Cornbread Crusted Catfish Jambalaya;



 Devon Delaney, Westport, Ct.; Seared Steakhouse Cornbread Crepes with Horseradish Caper Sauce;



 Sherry Kozlowski, Morgantown, WV; Seafood Pot Pie;



 Shauna Havey, Roy, Ut.; Steak & Eggs Cornbread Dutch Baby;



 Mary Edwards, Long Beach, Ca.; Cajun Spoon Bread; and



 Michele Kusma, Columbus, Oh.; Shakshuka-Topped Cornbread Skillet

Top three recipes for the cook-off are:



First Place: Hidemi Walsh

Chili Shrimp and Coconut Cornbread



Ingredients

For Coconut cornbread:

1 package (7 oz.) Martha White Sweet Yellow Cornbread & Muffin Mix

1 Large Egg

1/2 cup Canned coconut milk

1 tablespoon Water

1/4 cup Unsweetened coconut flakes

1/8 teaspoon Salt

1/2 tablespoon Unsalted butter, melted

For Chili Shrimp:

24 Frozen medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, tail removed and thawed

1 tablespoon Grated fresh garlic

1 tablespoon Grated fresh ginger

2 Large scallions

3/4 cup Water

1/4 cup Sriracha tomato ketchup

1 teaspoon Soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon Sugar

3/4 teaspoon Crushed red pepper

1/16 teaspoon Salt

1/8 teaspoon Black pepper

1 Large Egg, beaten

1/2 tablespoon Cornstarch

1 tablespoon Water

4 slices Bacon



1. Make coconut cornbread. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 egg, coconut milk, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of water and cornbread & muffin mix. Mix in coconut flakes until well blended. Use the lid of the Lodge Cast Iron 3.2-quart Combo Cooker as a skillet. Spread the melted butter on the bottom of the lid and spread the cornbread mixture evenly. Bake in preheated 400 degrees F oven for 19-21 minutes until golden brown and a tooth pick inserted in center of the cornbread comes out clean.

2. While the cornbread is baking, make chili shrimp. In a small bowl, mix together sriracha tomato ketchup, soy sauce, sugar, crushed red pepper, 1/16 teaspoon of salt and black pepper.



3. Heat the 3.2-quart Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker over medium heat. Chop bacon, add the bacon to the cooker and cook stirring constantly until the fat is rendered and bacon is almost crisp. Add garlic and ginger to the cooker. Cook stirring constantly until fragrant. Add shrimp to the cooker and cook stirring constantly until shrimp turn opaque. Stir in the sriracha tomato ketchup mixture and 3/4 cup of water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.



4. Cut out the stem end of scallions and chop scallions. In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of water.



5. After 5 minutes, add the scallions to the cooker and stir to combine. Then add the cornstarch mixture to the cooker and stir until thickened. Stir in the beaten egg until egg is fluffy, not over cooked.



6. When the coconut cornbread has baked, remove the lid from the oven, cut the coconut cornbread into four and place on each individual serving platter. Put the chili shrimp over the top equally.



Serves 4



Second place: Ashlyn Morgan

Cornbread Cuban Sandwiches with Mojo Sauce



Ingredients: For the Cornbread:

2 packages Martha White buttermilk cornbread mix 2 eggs, beaten;1 cup buttermilk; 8 oz. can creamed corn

Oil or shortening for greasing For the Mojo Sauce:

1 red bell pepper

2 tablespoons of minced garlic

1 bunch cilantro (about 1 cup firmly packed)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon paprika

1 jalapeno pepper

1/2 red onion

1 cup olive oil



For the Sandwich Fixings:

1 pound pre-cooked, shredded pork

3/4 pound sliced ham

8 slices swiss cheese



Mustard  to taste

Pickles  to taste

1/4 stick of butter

**Garnish sandwiches with toothpick skewered slices of pickle, jalapeno, and red onion



To Prepare:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F

2. Grease 12-inch LODGE cast iron skillet and place in oven while preparing batter

3. In a large bowl, mix together Martha White cornbread mix, eggs, and buttermilk. Whisk to combine

4. Stir in creamed corn

5. Remove hot skillet from oven and pour in batter

6. Cook for 20-25 minutes

7. While the cornbread is baking, make the mojo sauce

8. In a food processor blend together bell pepper, garlic, jalapeno, onion, cilantro, and spices

9. Add olive oil last and only pulse for a few seconds to incorporate the oil

10. Coat the pulled pork in the mojo sauce. Set aside.



11. Remove cornbread from oven when ready. Allow to cool.

12. When cool, turn the cornbread out from the skillet. Slice in half horizontally to make 2 parts of the sandwich, a top and bottom.



13. Place the bottom of the cornbread back in the skillet.

14. Spread bottom with mustard, then add pickles, then ham, then pork, and finally Swiss cheese.

15. Place top half of cornbread back in skillet to complete the sandwich. Generously butter the top.

16. Place skillet back in oven for about 10 minutes. Optional: take another skillet (preferably hot) and place on top, to create a sandwich press while in the oven.

17. Remove skillet from oven. Slice cornbread Cuban sandwiches into triangles. Garnish with fresh pickles, jalapeno, and red onion.

18. Serve to happy guests!



Serves 4











Third Place: Felice Bogus

Smokey Chicken Tinga Gorditas



Chicken Tinga:

1 Tbs. vegetable oil

1 small onion, thinly sliced

1 c. chopped pineapple, fresh or canned (well drained, if canned)

1 (16-oz.) bottle chipotle salsa

1 (15-oz.) can fire-roasted chopped tomatoes, with the liquid

1 Tbs. cider vinegar

4 c. shredded, cooked chicken (or 1 rotisserie chicken, skinned, boned, and shredded)



Gorditas:

1 (6-oz.) pkg. Martha White Cotton Country Cornbread Mix

 c. water

1 large egg, beaten



Diced avocado

Crumbled queso fresco, queso anejo, or Romano cheese

Lime wedges



Make the chicken:

1. Heat a large Lodge cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and heat the oil. Saute onion and pineapple about 5 minutes, or until just beginning to brown.

2. Add the salsa, tomatoes, and vinegar, and bring to a simmer. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens, about 5 minutes.

3. Stir in shredded chicken and adjust seasoning to taste. Keep chicken warm while frying the gorditas.



Make the gorditas:

4. Preheat oven to 200.

5. Heat a large Lodge cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.

6. Combine cornmeal mix, water, and egg in a bowl until completely combined.

7. Film skillet lightly with vegetable oil and pour batter by the  cupful into the skillet without crowding the pan. Cook until golden on each side, flipping once. Drain cooked gorditas briefly on paper towels, transfer to a baking sheet, and place in oven to keep warm. Continue frying, adding small amounts of oil as necessary, until all the batter is used.



Assemble the gorditas:

8. Carefully cut around the circumference of each gordita, splitting in half. Top each with a generous helping of chicken tinga. Sprinkle with avocado and cheese, replace tops, and serve immediately with lime wedges.



Serves 4
Yokohama: The Indian economy will grow 8 per cent next fiscal as the full-year impact of the landmark Goods and Service Tax (GST) will be seen by that time, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das has said.

The 8 per cent growth rate in 2018-19 fiscal year will compare to a projected 7.5 per cent GDP expansion in the current financial year and 7.1 per cent of 2016-17. Speaking to select media on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank's 50th annual meeting, Das said while the government continues to step up on reform measures, the country's largest ever demonetisation of currency notes led to widening of tax base and curbing of a parallel shadow economy.

"In 2017-18, we are expecting a 7.5 per cent growth. The GST will be introduced?from July 1. The impact this year will be felt for nine months. By next year, the GST would have stabilised much more. So, a full-year impact of the GST will be seen in 2018-19. It would be reasonable to expect that in 2018-19, India will be close to 8 per cent growth," he said.

The GST, dubbed as the biggest tax reform since independence, will club nearly a dozen central and state levies into a single national sales tax, helping the country integrate into one market.

Das said not just the GST but the government continues to take other reform measures, including procedural reforms as also stepping up public investment in infrastructure. "All these factors put together will add to the maintenance of GDP growth," he said.

Also aiding growth is demonetisation that has curbed the parallel shadow economy and widened the tax base. "So, all these factors put together, we expect good growth," the Secretary said adding the Centre is committed to achieving 3 per cent fiscal deficit target next year.

The FRBM committee has recommended a 3 per cent target in next three years. "So far as the first three years are concerned, already there is a government commitment spelt out by the finance minister in the budget.

Even with the 3.2 per cent (fiscal deficit target) spelt out in Budget of current year and 3 per cent in next two years, it should be possible for the government to achieve a debt to GDP of 60 per cent by 2023," he said.

Das said the principal anchor of the Committee's recommendations on fiscal road map is debt to GDP ratio of 60 per cent. "So, our calculation shows it should be possible to reach 60 per cent in 2023. Now, within that, what should be the annual fiscal target, that has to be worked out," he said adding once fiscal deficit targets are achieved, there is a very good probability that revenue deficit will be as per the road map.

On bilateral investment treaties (BIT), he said India previously had individual pacts but now wherever a treaty is 10-year old, it is issuing notices to terminate them and start fresh negotiations on a new text of such agreements.

"This message was conveyed to several European countries with whom our BIT was coming to a close and we said that let us start the negotiations immediately," he said. The European Union, he said, has taken a stand that the European Commission would negotiate the treaty with India on behalf of all member countries.

"We have been repeatedly pressing that let us start the negotiations but from their side, we have not got any response. But we are pursuing with them," he said. Das said negotiations are going on with many countries and the same has been finalised with three or four nations.

"We have informed the European Commission and certain European countries with whom our BIT terminated that we are prepared to start the negotiations right away and we are awaiting their response," he added.
With the success of first wind auction scheme, MNRE today launched the scheme for another round of wind auction.

New Delhi: The government today announced signing of Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) for purchase of 1,000 MW wind power under its first wind auction scheme.

"MoAs for purchase of 1000 MW wind power under MNRE's first wind auction scheme were signed here today between PTC India, the trading company, and discoms of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Odisha and Assam" Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said in a statement.

The signing ceremony took place during the two-day Conference of Power, New & Renewable Energy & Mines Ministers of States and UTs.

"As per MoAs, the discoms of UP to buy 449.9 MW, Bihar 200 MW, Jharkhand 200 MW, Delhi 100 MW, Assam 50 MW and Odisha 50 MW wind power for meeting their non-solar RPO (renewable power?obligation)," it said.

The Letter of Award (LoA) to the successful wind power developers under the scheme has been issued by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on April 5 and the projects are to be commissioned within 18 months from the date of issue of LoA, it said.

This was the first time such auction process was done in the country for wind power through e-reverse auction and its success can be seen from the fact that a record low tariffs of Rs 3.46 per kWh was obtained.

With the success of first wind auction scheme, MNRE today launched the scheme for another round of wind auction for 1000 MW capacity wind power projects, it said. The scheme is open for all obligated entities purchasing wind power for compliance of their non-solar RPO.

The differentiation between windy and non-windy states has been done away with. The SECI will sign Power Purchase Agreements with selected wind developers and back-to-back Power Sale Agreements with buying utilities.

Further, provision of 10 per cent additional capacity for Central Public Sector Entities (CPSEs) has been kept under the Scheme without participation in the bidding, however, they have to supply wind power at lowest discovered tariff through bidding process.

The Ministry sanctioned a scheme for setting up of 1000 MW ISTS connected wind power project on 14 June 2016, with the objective to encourage competitiveness through scaling up of project sizes and introduction of efficient and transparent e-bidding and e-auctioning processes.
Moreover, the RBI has also been given the right to form oversight committee to direct banks for resolution of bad loans.

New Delhi: In an attempt to clean up the balance sheets of the banks, the Centre on Friday issued orders empowering the RBI to direct banks to initiate insolvency resolution process in case of bad assets under the provision of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Moreover, the RBI has also been given the right to form oversight committee to direct banks for resolution of bad loans.

This comes after the President signed the ordinance on Thursday night to amend the Banking Regulation Act to insert two new sections (35AA and 35AB) after section 35A in the act.

Earlier, bankers, who were part of a lending consortium, found it difficult to trigger bankruptcy proceedings.

Many times some of the bankers did not agree with others in resolution of bad loans problem fearing either writing off a part of loan or a potential witch-hunt by investigative agencies.

According to officials, now bankers will be asked to agree to the resolution agreed by majority of the consortium bankers to deal with the bad loan. Now RBI will have the power to shepherd the whole processas the Central bank will be empowered to intervene in specific cases of resolution of NPAs, to bring them to a definite conclusion in case of consortium or multiple banking arrangements.

When Mr Jaitley was asked whether this would save bankers from witch hunt, he replied, One of the objects will also be that when bankers take commercial decision based on commercial and banking considerations they must have an adequate comfort level and therefore a committee which oversees such joint lenders forum arrangements is one step towards which will give them this comfort level.

Mr Jaitley said the banks have an unacceptably high level of non-performing assets (NPAs) which hinders their capacity to fund economic activities.

The object of this Act is that the present status quo cannot continue. And the present status quo is that not much was moving and therefore a paralysis in the name of autonomy is detrimental to the economy itself and therefore that really requires to be broken, said the finance minister.

Mr Jaitley said that going forward the Centre also plans to modify MoUs which banks sign at the time of receiving capital from the government.

He said that this would relate to immediate cash release initiatives, like sale of assets, closure of non profitable branches, reduction of overheads, business turnaround steps, and strengthening of credit appraisal process.

State-owned banks are saddled with non-performing assets or bad loans to the tune of a staggering Rs 6 lakh crore.
Mumbai: After Priyanka Chopra, who debuted with the popular television series Quantico in Hollywood, its Sushant Singh Rajputs turn to fly down there.

The actor, who recently got temperatures scorching with his oh-so-hot Towel Series picture with an international photographer, gets yet another feather attached to his hat.

So, Sushant is all geared up to set ablaze the Kardashian's show Keeping Up With The Kardashians with his witty intellect level and magnificent screen presence.

In fact, in an interview to a leading tabloid, he even spilled the beans about this news and said that he has already shot a segment of the reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Well, of late, we have been seeing the sizzling and sensuous pictures of the actor with Victorias Secret supermodel Kendall Jenner for a photoshoot.

Sushants bonding with the supermodel has undeniably gotten him his ticket to Hollywood.

Talking about Kendall, the actor told the same tabloid, I would have loved to show her (Kendall) around, but couldnt due to security issues. The palace where we stayed for the photoshoot was huge and the food was great too. I ended the shoot with a nice conversation with Kendall and team.

Many congratulations Sushant!
New Delhi: "Trouble is her only friend, and it's back again."

Vogue India has sparked a new social media backlash after featuring American supermodel Kendall Jenner on its 10th anniversary issue.

People took to social media platforms and displayed their displeasure about the magazine's decision to put an American model, instead of an Indian model on the cover.

Some of the reactions are:

"Kendall Jenner is on the 10 yr anniversary cover of Vogue India. The few opps brown women have to shine are given to white women I'm tired," a Twitter user wrote.

Another Twitter user shared, "Why is Kendall Jenner on the cover 4 the 10th anniversary vogue India when there are plenty beautiful Indian women who can do it #vogueindia."

"In a culture where girls are encouraged to use skin-whitening creams and bleach, picking Kendall Jenner for #vogueindia is a step backwards," noted another Twitter user.

Recently, the 21-year-old-supermodel was in news for another controversy after she appeared in a Pepsi commercial that drew such a concerted backlash that it was withdrawn.

The issue also features some Bollywood celebrities including Sushant Singh Rajput and Katrina Kaif.

The piece was shot by iconic Italian photographer Mario Testino in India's pink city, Jaipur.

As of now, no comment has come from Vogue on the controversy.
Mumbai: Lena Dunham is in recovery after being rushed to the hospital with a complication from her endometriosis surgery in April.

The Girls creator was forced to make a quick exit from the Met Gala in New York City on Monday after suffering the medical complications that came with her long-term battle with the disease, in which body tissue found inside the uterus grows outside it, reported People magazine.

Dunham, 30, took to Instagram to share a photograph from her hospital bed and she thanked fans for their love and concern.

The post read: Thank you for all the love & concern that's been pouring in since Tuesday. Although I'm much healthier than I was a year ago, complications arose from my most recent endometriosis surgery. When the healthcare of so many American women, especially our trans sisters, is at-risk- or already nonexistent- I am lucky to be in the position to seek help when I'm in pain. To those in that privileged spot- never forget that we are blessed and can pay it forward by supporting Planned Parenthood and LGBTQ clinics like Callen-Lorde I also want to remind all the women suffering from chronic illness that we aren't weak- quite the opposite, actually. We do our jobs with skill even when we're struggling. We care families even when we can hardly care for ourselves. We serve major face on a red carpet when we feel like lying face down would be more appropriate. I'll always be proud of those Met Gala pics- not just because I felt beautiful, surrounded by art and magic, hugging my best friend tightly, but because they're evidence that women contain steely multitudes. Just that morning @dianafalzone sued Fox after they took her off air for disclosing her endometriosis. But they're the ones who lost when they fired her, because everyone who's anyone knows that if you can battle chronic illness there's nothing you can't take on.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence to the four convicted in the fatal December 16, 2012 gangrape of Delhis Nirbhaya.

The 23-year-old paramedic was brutally assaulted and raped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi and thrown out of the vehicle with her male friend on the night of December 16, 2012.

One of the six, prime accused Ram Singh, committed suicide in Tihar Jail in 2015. Another accused, a juvenile at the time of the crime, walked free later that year.

The apex court on Friday confirmed findings of the trial court and Delhi High Court against the four convicts in the case.

Justice Dipak Misra observed in his order that this was a story of 'some different world'.

Its a barbaric incident. Taking note of the serious injuries and the severe nature of the offence committed by the convicts, we are upholding the sentence, said the order.

The top court said the nature and manner of the crime devastated social trust and fell in the 'rarest of rare' categories, warranting death penalty.

The victim's dying declaration is consistent; it has been proved beyond doubt and corroborated. Aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances in the case; this offence created a tsunami of shock," the top court observed in its ruling.

The testimony of the victim's friend, who was with her in the bus, and that of the first prosecution witness is impeccable and relied upon, the apex court said.

If this case isn't rarest of rare to award death penalty, then which case can fall under it? Justice R Banumathi asked while passing the order.

The Supreme Court also said the convicts' background, age, absence of criminal record and good behaviour in prison could not outweigh the aggravating circumstances.

While ruling in favour of death, Justice R Banumathi said there should be systematic education of children to ensure they respect women. Justice Banumathi quoted Swami Vivekananda on how tradition should enrich society with knowledge and understanding to ensure justice for women.

The apex court further stated it had been established that the 6 men formed a criminal conspiracy, and every effort was made to destroy evidence, like running the bus over the victim and her friend.

Nirbhaya's mother had tears in her eyes while the verdict was read out, and the entire courtroom clapped when the judges finished.

The medical student was not only raped and beaten, but was also violated with a metal rod. It appears to be that a rod was inserted into her and it was pulled out with so much force that the act brought out her intestines... That is probably the only thing that explains such severe damage to her intestines, a doctor from Delhis Safdarjung Hospital where the woman was undergoing treatment had told the media.

AP Singh, lawyer for one of the convicts, said that justice had not been done and that he would file a review petition after reading the order. The convict cant be hanged for sending a message to the society; the order violates basic human rights, Singh asserted.

The Delhi High Court, in its verdict on March 13, 2014, had observed that their offence fell in the rarest of the rare category and had upheld the death sentence awarded to them by the trial court.

The trial court had also awarded death penalty to the four convicts. Prime accused Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in his cell in Tihar jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were abated.

The woman had undergone multiple surgeries, where portions of her intestine, which had turned gangrenous, were removed. Doctors had said that only five percent of her intestine had been left inside her when she arrived at the medical facility. She had died in a Singapore hospital on December 29 that year.

The four convicts -- Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh -- had approached the Supreme Court against the high court's order which had confirmed the death penalty awarded to them by the trial court.

During the hearing, advocates AP Singh and ML Sharma, representing the four convicts, had said they should be given a chance to reform and considering the mitigating factors, the court should not award them death penalty. They also raised questions about the evidence collected by the police in the matter.

Commenting on the verdict, Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi said, A judgement like this was necessary to send a stern message to people who commit such heinous crimes.

Nirbhaya's father Badri Singh Pandey expressed happiness at the verdict, calling it a victory for his family.

Lawyer AP Singh however, claimed that 'Gandhian principles have been ruined' and that he would file a review petition.
New Delhi: The fate of four death row convicts of the sensational December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder case would be decided today as the Supreme Court would deliver its verdict on their appeals challenging the Delhi High Court judgement.

A bench comprising Justices Diapk Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan would deliver the judgement today in the case that had shaken the entire nation's conscience.

The apex court had on March 27 reserved its verdict on the appeals of four convicts -- Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh -- against the conviction and death penalty awarded to them by the high court on March 13, 2014.

The 23-year-old paramedic was brutally assaulted and raped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi and thrown out of the vehicle with her male friend on the night of December 16, 2012. She had died in a Singapore hospital on December 29 that year.

Besides dealing with the challenge to the conviction, the apex court was also deliberating on the issue of quantum of sentence to the convicts as it has been alleged that the trial court did not separately consider "mitigating" circumstances of each convict while sending them to the gallows.

While Delhi Police had sought capital punishment for the convicts, the defence counsel had said they deserved leniency considering their poor family background and young age.

The police had told the bench that the horrific crime committed by these men warranted death penalty and the test of being a "rarest of rare" case was satisfied in this matter and the court should also consider the effect of crime committed by them on the victim and the society at large.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who has assisted the court as an amicus curiae, had told the bench that there was no doubt that the crime committed was of "immense proportion" but as the evidence was not concrete, it does not warrant death penalty.

Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran, also an amicus curiae, had said that option of awarding jail term for the whole life to these convicts may also be considered.

The convicts have approached the Supreme Court against the high court's order which had confirmed the death penalty awarded to them by the trial court.

During the hearing, advocates A P Singh and M L Sharma, representing the four convicts, had said they should be given a chance to reform and considering the mitigating factors, the court should not award them death penalty. They also raised questions about the evidence collected by the police in the matter.

On February 3, the apex court bench had prima facie agreed with the contention of Ramachandran that the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), relating to sentencing of convicts, has not been followed in letter and spirit by the trial court.

It was submitted that section 235 of the CrPC provides that an accused, in the event of conviction, would be heard by on the question of sentencing individually before the trial judge passes the order awarding punishment.

The bench had then mulled ways to rectify the apparent error and said there are two modes -- either the case be remanded back to the trial court to pass a fresh order on the sentence or the apex court itself hears this aspect of the matter afresh.

The trial court had awarded death penalty to the four convicts. Prime accused Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in his cell in Tihar jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were abated.

The high court, in its verdict, had observed that their offence fell in the rarest of the rare category and had upheld the death sentence awarded to them by the trial court.
The incident took place when the home guard (driver) was returning to Chintapalle in a jeep. (Representational Image)

Visakhapatnam: A home guard was killed in a landmine blast triggered by suspected Maoists at Meduvada area under Annavaram Police station limits in Vizag Agency on Friday morning.

The incident took place when the home guard (driver) was returning to Chintapalle in a jeep.

Sources in police said that the Maoists are active in few parts of Chintapalle and Annavaram police station limits in the region.

The Maoists have been trying to take revenge on the police after the Malkangiri encounter, in which a total of 31 red-rebels were gunned down in October 2016.

The police have intensified the combing operations in Vizag Agency following the killing of home guard.
'This museum would showcase life and times of Gandhiji, Sardar Patel and many other prominent personalities,' said Rajkot Municipal Commissioner B N Pani. (Photo: File)

Rajkot: The Alfred High School in Rajkot - the164-year-old institution where Mahatma Gandhi studied  has been shut down by the authorities to make way for a museum.

The proposal to convert this state-run Gujarati medium school, also known as Mohandas Gandhi High School, into a museum was accepted by the Gujarat government in 2016.

Mahatma Gandhi passed out from the school in 1887 at the age of 18. Going ahead with the decision, school authorities have started issuing school leaving certificates to all 125-odd students, said officials.

"We have started issuing leaving certificates to the students, who can now secure admission in any school of their preference for the next academic year" said the District Education Officer Reva Patel.

In 2016, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) had sent a proposal to the state government to shut down the school and convert it into a museum.

Upon receiving the proposal, the Gujarat government had recently asked the Education department to start the process of handing over the school building to the RMC, said Rajkot Municipal Commissioner B N Pani.

"We have hired a consultant to carry out the work of converting this building into a museum at a cost of Rs 10 crore. This museum would showcase life and times of Gandhiji, Sardar Patel and many other prominent personalities," said Pani.

The school, earlier known as Rajkot High School, was founded on October 17, 1853 during the then British rule. It was the first English medium school in Saurashtra region at that time.

The present building of the Alfred High School was built by the Nawab of Junagadh in 1875 and was named after Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh.

After India's independence in 1947, the school was renamed as Mohandas Gandhi High School.

Though Gandhi's name was attached to this institution, the school had a poor record in imparting education. Few years back, none of its 60-odd SSC students were able to clear the Class X board examinations.
When it comes to natural resources, the Southeast is one of the wealthiest places on Earth, not to mention home to a nearly unrivaled diversity of aquatic life.

To ensure this ecological wealth is protected as the region continues to grow, the Thrive Regional Partnership and the Southeast Tennessee Development District have partnered with the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute to unveil a regional vision and tools that show area leadership how to treat natural resources as opportunities rather than obstacles. On Tuesday, elected leaders, developers and other decision makers will visit the Conservation Institutes flagship facility on the banks of the Tennessee River to hear presentations from both organizations.

The event marks the launch of A Watershed Moment, a full-color printed map and vision, compiled from public input during the Thrive 2055 planning initiative, as well as Hydro LIT, a water quality playbook that was created on behalf of the Development District by graduate students in the College of Architecture and Design at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Both projects were funded by the Lyndhurst Foundation.

Attendees to the event will be shown the benefit to approaching community development with a long view that emphasizes proactively minimizing ecological impact, says Dr. Anna George, the Conservation Institutes director and the Aquariums vice president of conservation science and education.

One major takeaway for this event will be how important advance planning is, whether we work in conservation or just enjoy being outdoors, Dr. George says. Whether its a weekend camping with friends or a design for urban spaces, having a conversation in advance about our expectations, needs, and challenges will help us create a result with joint ownership.

During their visit, guests will receive printed copies of the Watershed Moment map and digital copies of Hydro LIT. The more than 200 page resource guide suggests ways Southeastern developers can preserve water quality and natural features while continuing to stimulate the responsible growth of the regions communities.

As they crafted the proposals that became Hydro LIT, the UTK students spoke directly to residents, companies and government agencies throughout the region. This on-the-ground research helped them to better understand the challenges the Southeast faces in growing in a sustainably water-friendly fashion. As a result, the proposals are realistically achievable on a regional scale, says Brad Collett, an assistant professor in UTs School of Landscape Architecture.

I think the experience brought the students face to face with the real challenges and the circumstances that would lead to water quality threats in the future, he says. That type of direct research as a way of grounding their proposals was one of the biggest benefits to them and really elevated the credibility of the proposals they developed.

Using Hydro LIT as a guide, developers will be able to find ways to work with the environment, rather than against it, says Chuck Hammonds, the Development Districts assistant executive director.

After this event, we hope that folks will look at development in a different light. We hope that they will realize that the best approach to development isnt to scrape it all off the ground and start over, Mr. Hammonds says. Sometimes, if you incorporate those natural features into a development, it not only protects that environment but also enhances your appreciation of that feature.

A Watershed Moment is a visually compelling, double-sided map of a geographic region including the Tennessee River watershed and its tributaries. One side of the map highlights water features, historic sites, forests, trails and other natural resources across 16 counties in Southeast Tennessee, North Alabama and North Georgia. The other side details collaborative vision statements from the people of the region and broad action plans for the protection and promotion of these resources during the next several decades.

This survey of the regions abundance of natural and historic outdoor features represents a kind of bucket list of sites for local residents and visitors to experience. Despite featuring more than 45 locations, the final selections were only a fraction of the sites initially proposed for inclusion by several dozen conservation and outdoor recreation professionals who collaborated with Thrive during its creation.

I think that a lot of us take a regions natural treasures for granted, says Ruthie Thompson, Thrives communication and outreach manager. The hope for us is that this map, this vision, will first bring hyper awareness to people in the region of what we have, how precious and rare it is and how vital it is that, as we grow, we prioritize what we want to save because once its gone, its gone forever.

During their visit, attendees will be given a tour of the Conservation Institutes flagship research facility, which was completed last October. The building is anticipated to be LEED-certified and was built to walk the talk with a design emphasizing clean water and energy efficiency and a construction process that minimized the buildings impact on the environment. During their tour, attendees will be shown some of the sites sustainable design features, including a rainwater catchment system, landscaping that reintroduced native plants and terrain sculpting that helped rejuvenate a nearby wetland.

Recently, the Conservation Institute received high praise during the Building Recognition in Chattanooga Awards, which recognize projects completed by Chattanooga-based firms that are prime examples of construction innovation, engineering and design. The Conservation Institute received four awards: Peoples Choice for Sustainable Project of the Year, Peoples Choice and Judges Choice in Best Commercial Design and Peoples Choice for Collaborative Building Team of the Year.

For a forum discussing ways to design future communities that will benefit from a harmonious existence with nature, the Conservation Institute was an obvious partner and the ideal venue, Ms. Thompson says.

Anna [Dr. George] and her crew are doing such incredible education and outreach, and they are under-utilized at this point, she says. This event had to happen at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute. It just had to.

The Hydro LIT guidebook is available for download online: http://www.tnaqua.org/protect-freshwater/take-action/
New Delhi: Navy chief Sunil Lanba on Friday called for expansion of its "operational footprint" to ensure stability in the Indian Ocean Region, comments seen as a reference to China's efforts to enhance its influence in the strategically important waters.

Lanba also asked top Navy commanders to remain combat ready to effectively deal with all possible security challenges facing the country in the maritime domain.

In an address at the annual Naval Commanders' Conference, he also touched upon various key issues relating to Navy's operational readiness, capability enhancement and future strategies in the face of evolving security challenges.

"He emphasised the need for continued efforts towards modernisation, indigenisation and expanding the Navy's operational footprint so as to be a stabilising force in the

Indian Ocean Region," the Navy said in a statement.

The comments assume significance in the backdrop of China ramping up efforts to increase its presence and influence in the IOR.

The four-day conference which concluded today brainstormed over India's maritime security challenges, modernisation of the navy and other critical issues concerning the force.

In his address, the Navy chief also touched upon issues relating to its human resource management.

While lauding the officers for their commitment and professionalism, Lanba exhorted the commanders to pay focused attention to addressing all challenges with the singular aim to be combat ready at all times.

"He emphasised the importance of quality maintenance and efficient operational logistics towards ensuring combat effectiveness," the Navy said.

The commanders also interacted with Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat and IAF Chief B S Dhanoa who shared their views on the current security situation and the way forward for enhancing tri-services synergy and jointmanship.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar also interacted with the commanders on the geopolitical developments with focus on the Indian Ocean Region, and outlined key imperatives of India's foreign policy and diplomatic initiatives.

In his address on Tuesday, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley had asked the Navy to remain prepared to deal with any security challenge and identified expanding presence of "extra regional" powers in the India Ocean Region as an area of concern. The conference also deliberated on India's coastal defence and logistics support management.
The rampant encroachment of lakes by builders is a direct consequence of the government's inability to protect lakes. (Representational image)

BENGALURU: The fate of 488 industries in the Bellandur valley will be decided at a meeting to be chaired by the chief secretary on Friday.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board which received the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order on Bellandur lake recently, is contemplating closing down all 488 industries in the area in one go. All the agencies-BBMP, BDA, KSPCB and Lake Development Authority which are responsible for rejuvenating and restoring the lake, will take part in the meeting.

Speaking to DC, an official said "We have received the NGT order recently and are gearing up to close down all 488 industries in the valley." But the final decision will be taken at the meeting chaired by the chief secretary with all concerned agencies."

The KSPCB which was initially planning to close down only highly polluting industries in Bellandur valley is now planning to impose a blanket ban on all industries.

Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO of Namma Bengaluru Foundation said that citizens of Bengaluru expect the government to be much more proactive and save lakes of Bengaluru and rejuvenate them. He pointed out that the rampant encroachment of lakes by builders is a direct consequence of the government's inability to protect lakes.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday cleared the file to reinstate T P Senkumar as state Director General of Police (DGP).

Sources said, the order is expected to be released on Saturday.

The Supreme Court earlier in the day issued contempt notice to Kerala's Chief Secretary for not reinstating T P Senkumar as state DGP.

The response has been sought by Monday.

The apex court also imposed a fine of Rs. 25,000 on the state for seeking clarification on it verdict of reappointing Senkumar as DGP.

Earlier on May 3, the Kerala Government had filed a modification petition before the top court seeking clarification on its order to reinstate Senkumar as the state police chief.

The apex court directed the reinstatement of the former DGP after noting he was removed from the post "arbitrarily".

The court set aside the order of the Kerala High Court that had earlier upheld the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) decision.

The CAT was in agreement with the State Government's ruling that transferred Senkumar from the post of the state police chief.

On April 11, the Kerala Government defended its decision to transfer Senkumar, citing his transfer was a punishment for how he had handled the fallout of the 2016 Puttingal temple fire tragedy, in which 110 people were killed and 300 were injured.

The fire tragedy refers to an explosion leading to fireworks display going awry at the temple in Kollam district last year.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Opposition Congress led-UDF and the BJP in Kerala on Friday demanded immediate reinstatement of IPS officer T P Senkumar as the state DGP.

Joining the issue, former CPI state secretary Pannian Raveendran said that the Senkumar case was a setback to the government.

"It is a lesson. The drawback was caused due to the wrong advice of legal experts. The adverse impact was to the LDF and this should not be dismissed as a minor matter," he said in his Facebook post.

The CPI leader also said that the court expenses and other lawyers' fees should be recovered from the advisers.

Sources in the chief minister's office in the evening said that the Kerala government has reinstated Senkumar.

Attacking the government, the Opposition also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying the court development was a 'huge setback' to the LDF government due to its 'arrogance' in not implementing the apex court order.

The government has no other option but to re-instate Senkumar as Director General of Police, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said.

He was reacting to the apex court earlier in the day dismissing the state government's application seeking certain clarifications on its April 24 directive to re-instate Senkumar.

It also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the government.

Attacking the LDF government, BJP President Kumannom Rajasekharan said the cost amount of Rs 25,000 should be recovered from the salary of the chief minister.

"The cost amount should not be paid from the public exchequer. The chief minister deliberately tried to avoid the reinstatement of Senkumar," Rajasekharan alleged.

The apex court had also sought the response of the Kerala chief secretary on a contempt plea by Senkumar, who has alleged delay in his reinstatement as DGP, despite the court order.

"This is a huge setback to the chief minister's and the government's arrogance. This government cannot continue even for a moment," Chennithala told reporters here.

Senkumar should have been appointed soon after the apex court's earlier order, he said, adding the LDF government had no right to continue in office politically or morally.

The court had on April 24 directed the reinstatement of Senkumar, saying he was transferred by the LDF government 'unfairly' and 'arbitrarily'.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also criticised the government over the issue.

KPCC acting president M M Hassan demanded the resignation of the chief minister in view of the Supreme Court order.

The apex court verdict "is a consequence of the chief minister's arrogance," he told reporters.

NDA Kerala Vice-Chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Supreme Court verdict was yet another 'stinging slap' on the Kerala government after the court set aside the removal of Senkumar.

"Perhaps this will educate the CM about how the law works in the country. Perhaps this will also educate the CM against misusing his powers against officials like Senkumar and Sriram Venkataram, Devikulam Sub-Collector," he said in a statement here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing leaders of South Asian nations after the launch of the South Asian Satellite on Wednesday. (Photo: ANI Twitter)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the successful launch of the South Asian Satellite GSAT-9 as a historic moment, and said that it had opened up new horizons of engagement between South Asian countries.

I congratulate the team of scientists who worked hard for the successful launch of South Asia Satellite. We are very proud of them, he said.

"We extend our close links into Outer Space. Grateful to fellow leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka for joining me to celebrate this launch. Our coming together is a sign of our unshakeable resolve to place the needs of our peoples in the forefront. Through this we will achieve effective communication, better governance, better banking services and better education in remote areas," he added.

He further said that space technology will touch the lives of the people in the region.

"The ISRO team has led from the front in developing the South Asia Satellite as per the regions' requirements and flawlessly launching it. Convinced that when we join hands and mutually share fruits of knowledge, technology and growth, we can speed up development and prosperity," the 66-year-old PM said.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday launched the South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) into space.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) F-09 carrying the communication and broadcasting satellite took off from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota at 4.57 p.m.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his recent radio address to the nation 'Mann Ki Baat' had said the South Asia Satellite is India's gift to the region, which will go a long way in addressing the economic and development priorities of the nations in the region.

Six of India's neighbours including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Srilanka and the Maldives participated in the space-based regional communication project.

Pakistan had refused to join the project, after which the satellite's name was changed from 'SAARC Satellite' to 'South Asia Satellite'.

The satellite weighing 2230 kilograms during lift off and carrying 12 Ku-Band transponders has been developed at a cost of about 235-crore rupees. The total cost of the project including the launch is worked out to be about 450-crore rupees.

The intended operational life of the satellite is more than 12 years and it cost Rs 235 crore.
Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka later this month should secure the release of five Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy and 134 boats seized, DMK working president M K Stalin said on Friday.

Referring to the recent arrest of five fishermen of Ramanathapuram and assault of four Nagapattinam fishermen, allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy personnel, he said the state's fisherfolk who put to sea to eke out their livelihood were living in fright.

Citing the recent incidents, Stalin, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said the arrest and assault of the state fishermen and impounding of their boats were continuing at the hands of Sri Lankan Navy.

During his visit to Sri Lanka between May 12 and 14, Modi should take up the fishermen's issue and secure release of the five fishermen and 134 boats seized, considering their livelihood, Stalin said.

He hit out at the K Palaniswami regime for stopping with writing only letters to the Centre on the issue.
Egyptian patient Eman Ahmed, who almost spent two months undergoing weight-reduction procedure at Saifee Hospital, is being shifted to Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where doctors will continue her rehabilitation and weight-reduction treatment, in Mumbai. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: While the Egyptian national Eman Ahmed flew to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday evening, an official of Abu Dhabi hospital where she would be receiving further treatment alleged that the Saifee hospital in Mumbai was not cooperative.

Eman, believed to be the heaviest woman in the world before she was admitted to Saifee hospital in Mumbai for weight reduction treatment, would now move into VPS Burjeel hospital in Abu Dhabi.

"Saifee hospital refused to give DAMA (discharge against medical advice) certificate which has to be given to every patient whenever demanded," alleged Shajir Gaffar, chief executive of VPS Health Group. Gaffar was in Mumbai to coordinate Eman's shifting.

He further alleged that Saifee hospital also refused 'bed-to-bed' transfer, wherein a patient is lifted from her/his bed to the bed provided by the new hospital in the hospital room itself.

"Our bed waited in the ambulance at the gate of the hospital building because they insisted on getting her down using their own bed," Gaffar alleged. When contacted, Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, who treated Eman at Saifee hospital, said that the hospital followed "normal protocols".

"All these issues were discussed in the meeting on Thursday with the entire team from VPS and they had agreed on all above but they reneged...we followed our normal hospital protocols as we do for all our patients," said Lakdawala, a bariatric surgeon.

Lakdawala had said earlier that Eman's weight was now down to 170 kg from 498 kg when she arrived in Mumbai in February. Eman's sister Shaimaa had earlier alleged that Eman did not receive proper treatment at Saifee, the charge which Dr Lakdawala and others at the Mumbai hospital denied.
New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said the launch of a South Asian Satellite by the ISRO will help India cement its ties with neighbours.

He also congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful launch of the South Asia satellite-GSAT-09.

"The launch of the South Asia satellite which enables a range of services in the areas of telecommunication and broadcasting will go a long way in meeting the developmental needs of the countries of South Asia.

"I am confident that the project will promote friendship and cooperation and help further cement ties between India and her neighbours," the president said in a message to A S Kiran Kumar, the secretary of the Department of Space and ISRO chairman.
ndian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s communication satellite GSAT-9 on-board GSLV-F09 lifts off from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the satellite as India's space gift for South Asia. (Photo: PTI)

Bengaluru: In a first, India on Friday successfully launched a South Asian Satellite to provide communications and disaster support to neighbouring countries, a space initiative described as a "giant and historic step" in boosting regional cooperation.

Giving a fillip to India's new age space diplomacy and "neighbourhood first" policy, the Rs 235 crore satellite GSAT-9 built as part of a Rs 450 crore project and touted as an 'invaluable gift' to India's neighbours is seen as a significant move in countering Chinese interests in the region. The project is funded entirely by India.

The cuboid-shaped 2,230 kg satellite named SAS will enable a full range of services to the neighbours, including in telecommunication, television, direct-to-home, VSATs, tele-education and tele-medicine. The South Asian Satellite (SAS) mission life is 12 years.

Seven of the eight SAARC countries--India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives--are part of the ambitious project. Pakistan has opted out of the project, saying it has its own space programme.

Soaring majestically in clear weather, the GSLV-F09 rocket blasted off around 4:57 PM from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, about 350 km from Bengaluru, and injected the satellite into orbit in a flawless flight.

"The launch of South Asian Satellite tells us that even the sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation," Modi told the leaders of the seven nations celebrating the success of the launch during a video conference.

Modi earlier took to Twitter to announce the successful launch of the south asian satellite, which is his brainchild, calling it a "historic moment."

"It opens up new horizons of engagement. This will also greatly benefit South Asia & our regions progress," he tweeted.

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also addressed through videoconferencing.

Lauding Modi's vision, the leaders hailed the mission as a giant step in strengthening regional cooperation.

The launch took place away from the media glare, with journalists kept at bay and a reticent ISRO keeping details of the mission and the programme under wraps.

In Sriharikota, ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said, "We have just transported South Asia satellite from Earth to geostationary transfer orbit using our geosynchronous launch vehicle mark II that makes use of indigenously developed cryogenic engine."

He said the satellite operations and control will be carried out from ISRO's Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka and that in the coming few weeks the satellite will reach its destination-geostationary orbit.

GSLV-F09 mission is the 11th flight of GSLV, called a "naughty boy" as it has a patchy record with half of its mission ending in failures in the past.

Built by the Indian Space Research Organisation, the SAS rode piggyback on the 50m-tall rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F09 with the indigenous

Cryogenic powering the Upper Stage. GSLV-F09 mission is the 11th flight of GSLV.

GSAT-9 is a Geostationary Communication Satellite providing various communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over South Asian countries.

It can also provide secure hotlines among the participating nations, which will be useful for management of disasters like earthquake, cyclone, floods and tsunami.

Ghani described the launch as "South Asia's giant step towards regional cooperation" and said it makes the region's integration a reality.

"Today marks the day where South Asia moves from speaking about desirability of regional integration to making it a reality. The gap between talk and action is bridged today."

After coming to power in May 2014, Prime Minister Modi had asked ISRO scientists to develop a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated to neighbouring countries as a "gift from India.

On his 'Mann ki baat' programme on Sunday last, Modi had announced that the South Asia Satellite would be India's "priceless gift" to its neighbouring countries.

"On May 5, India will launch the South Asia Satellite. The benefits of this satellite will go a long way in meeting the developmental needs of the countries participating in this project," Modi had said.

Extending his "Sabka saath, sabka vikaas" concept, SAS is part of Modi's 'Neighbourhood First' policy focusing on India's South Asian neighbours.

The previous launch of communication satellite GSAT-8 was on May 21, 2011 from Kourou, French Guiana.

South Asia is considered prone to tropical cyclones, heat waves, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and floods.

The launch is considered significant as it is part of space diplomacy to extend India's footprint over the region.

It comes close on the heels of a record breaking launch of 104 mini satellites with a single rocket in February.
Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat speaks at the release of USI Strategic Yearbook 2017 at a function in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The armed forces are not getting their due share of resources, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said on Thursday, pitching for increased defence spending to enhance India's strategic clout.

Amid mounting tensions with Pakistan and China, Rawat insisted on the country looking for new friends and allies to deal with neighbours along the western and northern borders, apparently referring to the two nations.

Pitching for investing more in strengthening India's armed forces, Rawat, addressing a defence think tank, spoke of China to drive home the point that India's true potential will be realised only when both economic growth and might of the military go hand-in-hand.

"While we are developing our economy, the military is not getting its due share. I think here we need to draw a lesson from China," he said, adding military and economic growth should be "co-joint" as they are two tenets of national power.

India's defence budget for 2017-18 was Rs 2.74 lakh crore which is 1.63 per cent of GDP. China's military spending for 2017 has been pegged at USD 152 billion, which is close to around three per cent of the country's GDP and three times higher than that of India's defence budget.

There has been a feeling among security experts and the defence establishment that the modernisation of armed forces is taking place at a very slow pace and that the government has not been allocating adequate funds for it.

Talking about the evolving security situation in the region, Gen Rawat said India must have close ties with countries like Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan considering the security matrix. He said such a policy will recreate the outreach India had before partition.

The army chief said such a strategy will not only create a two-pronged dilemma for India's western neighbour Pakistan, but also help in tackling issues with the other difficult northern neighbour China.

"We have to start looking at how do we carry out counter-encirclement for our future adversaries. Developing alliances, developing friends to overcome the (current) deficiency is important. That must be part of our strategic thought process," he said.

The army chief said that time has come for India to have a say in all major issues at the United Nations and the country must work hard to attain permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

"We must create alliances and friends also so that we find a rightful place at the UNSC. Time has come for India to have a say in all that happens in UN," he said.

Referring to India's security challenges, Gen Rawat said the drafts of national military strategy and national security strategy were ready to deal with pressing issues coherently.

"We should be able to identify our own national military strategy. We do not have a national military strategy as of now. Directorate General of Perspective Planning has been tasked to come out with it.

"We are also coming out with the national security strategy which will be given to the government. Both the draft documents are ready and hopefully we will be releasing them very soon," he said after unveiling 'Strategic Yearbook 2017' at the United Service Institution, a national security and defence think tank.

Holding that a strong military is essential for India's forward march, he said the general thinking among people is that expenditure on defence "is a burden" on the economy. He said a "very strong military" is key to economic development.
A reunion of Liberty School and Daus School will be held on Saturday, May 20, at Sequatchie County High School.

Participants will be gathering for a day of memories and food.

Both of these schools were closed in the early 1960s. If you, your parents or grandparents attended one of these schools joins us for a day of fun.

Participants will meet about 11 a.m. CST and eat about 12 p.m. CST. Bring a covered dish and old photographs to share.
CHENNAI: 916 out of 2000. This is how Chennai, ranked at 235th position among the clean cities in India, fared in the nation-wide competition. Solid waste management and sanitation continue to be the prime problems of the southern metropolis.

Chennai scored 415 out of 900 in part one (data provided by the municipal body), 283 out of 500 (direct observation and independent assessment) and 218 for 600 (direct citizen feedback), according to the survey. The 218 score based on citizens response is an indicator of the lack of confidence and non-satisfaction of the people of Chennai with the Greater Chennai Corporation.

The Swachh Survekshan survey was conducted by the Quality Council of India by evaluating waste collection, sweeping, transportation, disposal of garbage, maintenance and number of public toilets, education and behaviour change and capacity building of the city.

It deployed 421 assessors for on the spot assessment of 17,500 locations in 434 cities and towns. Another 55 people regularly monitored the survey process in real time.

Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu stressed that this years survey results are citizens verdict on cleanliness in urban areas of the country with 37 lakh citizens enthusiastically providing feedback on cleanliness in 434 cities and towns accounting for about 60 per cent of the total urban population in the country.

Here in Chennai, it is evident that even the residents are not happy about the cleanliness aspect. According to the survey, out of 5,949 participants, only 49 per cent of the citizens feel their area is not cleaner compared to last year, 59 per cent of them do not have access to litter dustbins and only 25 per cent are satisfied with door to door waste collection.

Only positive that emerged out of the survey is that, compared to last year about 62 per cent of the people feel that the maintenance of public/ community toilets has improved.

As expected, Greater Chennai Corporation officials blamed the poor rankings of the huge population of the city. Tiruchy is ranked better because it has garbage plants and it does not have industries. Whereas in Chennai, the population is very high and the garbage needs to be sent to dump yards which is a long process. Alternatives need to be thought about, said a Corporation official.

Rank last year: 37

This year: 235
The convicts in the Nirbhaya case being taken to court (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence awarded by the Delhi High Court to four convicts in the infamous 2012 Delhi gangrape case.

Here is a timeline of the important developments in the case:

May 5, 2017: The Supreme Court pronounces judgement in the case, upholding the death sentence of all four convicts.

March 27, 2017: The Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case.

March 6, 2017: All the accused submit additional affidavits in the Court.

February 3, 3017: The Supreme Court decides to re-hear the case on the sentencing aspect, after the petitioners contend that there have been violations in procedure.

January 6, 2017: The Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused.

November 28, 2016: Senior advocate and amicus curiae Sanjay Hegde argues against reliability of evidence in the case.

November 7, 2016: Senior advocate and amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside.

September 16, 2016: Former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Delhi) Chaya Sharma, who was transferred to Mizoram post the Delhi gangrape case, attends the hearing.

September 2, 2016: Advocate M L Sharma concludes his submissions.

August 29, 2016: High drama in the courtroom as allegation of the police tampering with evidence is made.

April 8, 2016: Senior advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed amicus curiae.

April 3, 2016: Hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph to hear the case.

December 18, 2015: Delhi High Court refuses to stay release of the minor accused, who walks free after three years in a juvenile home.

March 15, 2014: The Supreme Court stays execution of the accused after allegations of a denial of fair trial.

March 13, 2014: Delhi High Court Bench of Justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani upholds the trial Court verdict.

September 13, 2013: Four remaining accused sentenced to death by Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna.

January 29, 2013: The Supreme Court dismisses transfer petition.

August 31, 2013: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) presided over by Principal District Magistrate Geetanjali Goel finds the juvenile accused guilty of rape and murder of the medical student, sentences him to three years in special home.

March 11, 2013: Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar jail.

December 29, 2012: The girl succumbs to her injuries in a Singapore hospital.

December 16, 2012: Six men, including the 17-year-old juvenile, gangrape a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The girl and her friend were returning home after watching a movie when they were coaxed into the bus by the accused, who then beat up her friend before taking turns in raping her.
New Delhi: Kerala Law Minister A K Balan on Friday said the government will work according to the Supreme Court's spirit in connection with the contempt notice to state Chief Secretary for not reinstating T P Senkumar as state Director General of Police (DGP).

"The government will work according to the spirit of the Supreme Court. It's the responsibility of the government to comply with the Supreme Court's order and government will do that. Let the contempt of court come. The contempt charges won't stand in this," Balan said.

Asserting that this isn't a setback, Balan said the government was using the remedial measures available legally.

"We asked clarification because there was ground to ask for clarification. The honourable Supreme Court has not accepted that. It was only a normal procedure. It's better to ask the Chief Minister on the future course of action. It is a normal practice that the court asks to pay the cost when they dismiss a petition," he added.

The response has been sought by May 8.

The apex court also imposed a fine of Rs. 25,000 on the state for seeking clarification on it verdict of reappointing Senkumar as DGP.

Earlier on May 3, the Kerala Government had filed a modification petition before the top court seeking clarification on its order to reinstate Senkumar as the state police chief.

The apex court directed the reinstatement of the former Director General of Police (DGP) after noting he was removed from the post "arbitrarily".

The court set aside the order of the Kerala High Court that had earlier upheld the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) decision. The CAT was in agreement with the State Government's ruling that transferred Senkumar from the post of the state police chief.

On April 11, the Kerala Government defended its decision to transfer Senkumar, citing his transfer was a punishment for how he had handled the fallout of the 2016 Puttingal temple fire tragedy, in which 110 people were killed and 300 were injured.

The fire tragedy refers to an explosion leading to fireworks display going awry at the temple in Kollam district last year.
New Delhi: Despite the progress made by women in education and in various fields and changes brought in ideas of womens rights, respect for women is on the decline and crimes against women are on the increase, the Supreme Court observed and called for concerted efforts to prevent such crimes.

In her separate judgement upholding death sentence on the four accused, Justice R. Banumathi said offences against women are not a womens issue alone but, human rights issue. Increased rate of crime against women is an area of concern for the law-makers and it points out an emergent need to study in depth the root of the problem and remedy the same through a strict law and order regime. There are a number of legislations and numerous penal provisions to punish the offenders of violence against women. However, it becomes important to ensure that gender justice does not remain only on paper.

She said the incident of gang-rape on the night of December 16, 2012, in the capital sparked public protest not only in Delhi but nation-wide. The incident shocked the nation and generated public rage. A Committee headed by Justice J.S. Verma, former Chief Justice was constituted to suggest amendments to deal with sexual offences more sternly and effectively in future. The suggestions of the Committee led to the enactment of Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 which, inter alia, 322 brought in substantive as well as procedural reforms in the core areas of rape law.

However Justice Banamuthi said a total of 3,27,394 cases of crime against women were reported in 2015, which shows an increase of over 43% in crime against women since 2011, when 2,28,650 cases were reported. A percentage change of 110.5% in the cases of crime against women has been witnessed over the past decade (2005 to 2015), meaning thereby that crime against women has more than doubled in a decade. An overall crime 318 rate under the head, crime against women was reported as 53.9% in 2015, with Delhi UT at the top spot.

Justice Banumathi said, We live in a civilized society where law and order is supreme and the citizens enjoy inviolable fundamental human rights. But when the incident of gang-rape like the present one surfaces, it causes ripples in the conscience of society and serious doubts are raised as to whether we really live in a civilized society. Certainly, whenever such grave violations of human dignity come to fore, an unknown sense of insecurity and helplessness grabs the entire society, women in particular, and the only succour people look for, is the state to take command of the situation and remedy it effectively.

She pointed out that except Dhananjay Chatterjee of Kolkata who was executed for the death sentence, the country has not witnessed any execution for over a decade as death sentences are commuted as life term.

Terrorists Afzal Guru, Ajmal Kazab and Yakub Memon were executed for different reasons but other executions had not taken place.
Hyderabad: The TRS has kept its options on supporting the Presidential candidate open. We will act in tune with the interests of the state. Telangana interests are uppermost. We havent taken a decision on whom to support, A.P. Jitender Reddy, TRS Floor leader in the Lok Sabha, told this newspaper.

Mr Jitender Reddy said that the BJP-led NDA government hasnt approached the TRS so far and the party will take a decision when it does. President Pranab Mukherjees term ends on July 24 and BJP is expected to name its nominee.

TRS has 11 Lok Sabha members, three Rajya Sabha members and 90 MLAs, besides a sizeable number MLCs, including some defectors.

Sources indicated that the BJP would seek the support of TRS for its Presidential candidate and TRS will agree, despite the ongoing chilli war between the two parties.

The President of India is elected by the representatives of the people through an electoral college, which consists of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the states, including the NCT of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Members of the Electoral College can vote according to their conscience and are not bound by party whip. The voting is also by secret ballot.

Though the Congress is trying to unite the Opposition, it has said that it is open to a consensus candidate if Prime Minister Narendra Modi approaches it.

Asked about the State governments plea to the Centre to allot the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad for construction of Secretariat, Mr Jitender Reddy said they are pursuing the matter.
Mulayam had earlier said that sycophants and arrogance were responsible for the defeat of the SP.

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party faced a fresh crisis on Friday when senior parry MLA Shivpal Singh Yadav announced that he would soon form a new Samajwadi Secular Morcha with Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav at its head.

The announcement comes a day after Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav had told mediapersons that sycophants and arrogance was responsible for the defeat of the SP in recent assembly elections.

Mr Shivpal Yadav said that he was contacting all former SP leaders and also those who had left the party in recent months. This is the second major jolt to Mr Akhilesh in a week. Five days ago, the Congress had parted ways with SP when UPCC president Raj Babbar announced that his party would contest the upcoming municipal elections on its own. The formation of this party will also be a setback to efforts by the opposition parties to form a joint front against BJP because Mr Mulayam said he will never agree to an alliance.

Though it may still be early to term the development as a formal split as it is not yet known how many SP leaders would join Mr Mulayam.
Vijayawada: With 153.96 marks out of 160, Telangana student V. Mohan Abhyas stood first in the engineering stream of AP Eamcet 2017 in the results released on Friday.

A. Sai Bharadwaj from Kothagudem stood second and Satyam Ralhan from Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, third with 152.521 marks.

V. Venkata Anirudh from Guntur topped the medical and agriculture stream with 150 marks out of 160. Dogga Sandeep from Vishakhapatnam stood second with 148.67 and Nunna Himaja from Rajamahendravaram secured third rank with 148.41 marks.

Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao Kamineni Srinivas and Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy announced the results and said the government had successfully conducted the examination online and released the result in a record one week.

Mr Srinivasa Rao said AP was the first state to conduct all common entrance tests online.

The examination was conducted at 124 centres iin AP and four in Hyderabad. As many as 1,98,035 students enrolled for engineering stream and 1,87,484 appeared for the online examination, of which 1,39190 students qualified with a pass percentage of 74.241, he said.

Mr Chandramohan Reddy, after releasing the key for medical and agriculture streams, said 80,768 students had applied of whom 75,489 took the test. Of these, 64,379 students passed with 85.28 percentage.
Bengaluru: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha national president Daggubati Purandeswari, an invitee to the BJPs two-day State executive committee meeting on May 6 and 7 in Mysuru may hold the fate of the Karnataka unit of the BJP in her hands.

As the divide between the partys state president B.S. Yeddyurappa and the Opposition leader in the Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa widened despite efforts to patch up by the BJP top bosses, party insiders have now chosen to get the Andhra politician to appeal to BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, who could be one of the triggers for the difference of opinion, to back down and restore peace in the state BJP, party sources told Deccan Chronicle.

Ms Purandeswari, who is scheduled to arrive in Bengaluru on Friday evening enroute to Mysuru is likely to meet the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, who is going to offer prayers at Tirupati on Friday early morning.

After the darshan at Tirupati, Gadkari will request Purandeswari to engage Shobha Karandlaje so that the differences between Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa can be resolved. The BJP national president Amit Shah has taken a serious view of the escalating tension between the two leaders and has warned that the party will not allow any indiscipline or rebellion and has ordered a gag order on the leaders from speaking about the turmoil in public, he added.

BJP national general secretary and party in-charge of Karnataka Muralidhar Rao in his report to Amit Shah on the dissension in the BJP's ranks in Karnataka had blamed both leaders while also naming Ms Karandlaje's role in decision-making for being partly responsible for the continued infighting within the party.

"The resentment in Karnataka BJP is brewing over Yeddyurappa taking unilateral decisions while ignoring the interests of the old party workers and loyalists.

His decisions are said to be subject to Shobhas views, the letter reportedly stated.

The sources added that while Yeddyurappa has been assured that he would be Bharatiya Janata Partys chief minister candidate for the 2018 Assembly elections by Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he is also aware that he will have only one year tenure as the Chief Minister, because of the 75 years age ceiling put in place by Mr. Modi, who in May 2014 had introduced a rule that party leaders above 75 years should not hold any administrative post in Central or State governments.

The question of who will succeed Yeddyurappa in the event that he steps down after a year is the subject of much speculation, the sources added. Given their growing differences, the BJP top bosses is also concerned that as state party president B.S.Yedyurappa could make the case for Mr Eshwarappa to be expelled if he goes ahead with the Sangolli Rayanna Brigades convention in Raichur on May 7 and 8. These sources said that Muralidhar Rao's confidential report also warns of BSY's unpredictability and penchant for taking drastic decisions such as quitting the party if the role of close aides like Ms Karandlaje and others are questioned.
CHENNAI: The Leader of Opposition MK Stalin on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Sri Lanka this month, to secure the release of five Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan navy and the 134 boats seized.

Citing the recent arrest of five fishermen of Ramanathapuram and assault on four Nagapattinam fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy personnel, he said the state's fishermen are carrying out their occupation in fear.

Complaining that the arrest and assault of state fishermen and seizure of boats by the Sri Lankan navy are continuing, he appealed to Modi to take up the fishermen's issue and obtain the release of fishermen and boats.
CHENNAI: Indicating that the merger efforts have collapsed, former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Friday said Tamil Nadu would witness an early election to the Assembly, even before the local body polls.

He asserted that people were rallying behind his dharma-yutham to oust the AIADMK general secretary V. K. Sasikala and her kin from the ruling party.

Launching his state-wide tour from Kottivakkam in Kanchipuram district, Panneerselvam said his month-long campaign was aimed at educating the public about his dharma-yutham (battle for justice). He was confident the exercise would yield robust support from the electorate and his party would win majority in the Assembly.

He said his demand for CBI probe into Jayalalithaas death would be the central theme in his campaign-tour. We could see people strongly support this demand, he said.

Apart from addressing public meetings during his tour, Panneerselvam would also meet the functionaries and cadre of his AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) faction to discuss long-term strategy to strengthen the party, as well as the plans for meeting the local body elections. He will be also holding district-level meetings of party activists to give a new shape to his party, sources said.

Interestingly, Panneerselvam is now repeating the prediction already made by DMK working president M. K. Stalin that the post-Jaya political turmoil would surely bring early Assembly elections.

Former ministers K.P. Munusamy, E. Madhusudhanan, MP Maitreyan and other party seniors accompanied Panneerselvam at the launch of his campaign tour.
Josh Preston will play at Charles and Myrtle's Coffeehouse on Saturday at 8 p.m. There is a $10 suggested donation at the door. Located inside Christ Unity Church at 105 McBrien Road.

Review for Josh Preston:

Over the past few years, you could find Josh Preston playing with a number of bands (The Mables, Daphne and The Mystery Machines, Adam Burrows, Tumbleweed Company) around Nashville on any given night of the week. It was this submersion in Music Citys stylistic stew of rock, pop, funk, blues and Americana that transformed his guitar playing and personalized his approach to songwriting.The experiences and observations gathered during this time have embedded themselves on his new, self-titled release.

Backed by musicians with a deep connection to the musical roots of rock and soul, these well-crafted songs dance from heartfelt to humorous and shine a spotlight on who he's become as an artist. Josh Preston's self-titled release is an honest reflection on both his social status and the status quo.
India-Pakistan relations yo-yo between engagement and tension engendered by terrorists or Pakistan military-led attacks. This happened twice during Atal Behari Vajpayees government  during the 1999 Kargil war and the December 2001 terror attack on the Indian Parliament  and again during Manmohan Singhs prime ministership when the dialogue was shattered by the 2006 Mumbai train bombings and the horrendous 26/11 attack in November 2008. The last event still mires bilateral relations as India seeks and Pakistan ignores bringing its masterminds to justice.

The Narendra Modi government came to power in 2016 inciting public anger against a corrupt and helpless Congress government that was painted cowardly and incompetent in dealing with terror. Multiple heads were promised for each one that the Pakistani Army decapitated. This defied strategic and moral logic as mutilation of the bodies of combatants during war or otherwise is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions, which no civilised nations military can espouse blatantly. But jingoism is heady medicine that may somewhat help electorally but creates a strategic trap, which the Modi government now confronts.

The Pakistan Army, having studied new US administration over its first 100 days and seeing the Sunni alliance resurrected for countering Iran and the Islamic State, is confident enough to resume its India-baiting. In addition, it has seen tension escalate in Sino-Indian relations, with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as the sheet-anchor of Sino-Pakistani open strategic convergence.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is enfeebled by the inquiry against him over the Panama Papers and his India outreach needed sabotaging. Thus the border action teams were authorised to waylay Indian patrols and kill and mutilate to provoke India and push the Modi government into the jingoism trap, as it cannot but retaliate to satisfy the social media-led hordes baying for Pakistani blood. The Modi government came to power realising that the past conundrum of terror alternating with engagement and undermining it needed to be overcome. It widened the options by developing new pressure points on Pakistan to condition the bad behaviour of its armed forces. It also implemented the so-called zero tolerance policy on terror, thus putting itself into a strategic corner. In the past mutilations by the Pakistan Army, including in respect of prisoners caught alive during the Kargil war, were dealt with at level of local commanders giving a tit-for-tat response that stopped such aberrant behaviour for some time. This was a tactical response to a rogue army that occasionally breaches international law and the Geneva Conventions.

The Modi government, elected on and continuing to use jingoism domestically and electorally, around which the persona of Narendra Modi the saviour and avenger is built, feels compelled to react forcefully to any Pakistani atrocity. This is necessary to satisfy the baying masses in the street and social media hordes and defenders on television seeking vengeance that is tangible and bloody. The tail thus wags the dog.

The so-called surgical strike was devised when many soldiers died in the Uri military camp attack. India targeted cross-LoC militant launch pads and not the Pakistan Army, although most vital training installations would adjoin Pakistani military encampments. This time that fiction will not work as the attack was directly by the Pakistan Armys border action team. The punishment can be by unleashing an artillery barrage, which would heat up the Line of Control and start attracting global attention. That is precisely what the Pakistanis want as the Kashmir Valley teeters under a widespread uprising of youth and even women.

Alternatively, another strike, surgical or brutal, may find Pakistan better prepared than last time and thus lead to an escalation. With his immediate domestic electoral calendar clear, Mr Modi may have hoped to play the statesman over the next few months as he goes to West Asia, the SCO meeting and later in July for G-20, when he could possibly meet US President Donald Trump. Kashmir in tumult and the LoC afire would undermine that foray. A meeting with Nawaz Sharif already stands blighted, for which perhaps industrialist Sajjan Jindal was laying the groundwork at his Murree meeting with Mr Sharif.

The Pakistan Army obviously has its own strategic calculus. Despite being handpicked by Nawaz Sharif, Gen. Javed A. Bajwa, the new chief, is beginning to act in line with his Armys old pathologies of dominating the civilian governments security and foreign policy as indeed the sponsorship of friendly jihadi groups. A story leaked to the Dawn newspaper about government pressure on the Army to downgrade links to anti-India jihadi groups has forced Mr Sharif to sack an aide. The sentencing to death of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and now the beheading is a response to what the Pakistan Army sees as the Dovalisation of Indias Pakistan policy (a reference to Indias NSA Ajit Doval)  which Mr Modi seemed to endorse from the ramparts of the Red Fort last year while making common cause with the Balochis and Baltistan.

Mr Modi thus confronts a jingoism trap. Can he dismount the tiger, silence his followers by calibrated punishment of Pakistani Army units that sent the border action teams, and yet meet Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the SCO summit? That would deny Gen. Bajwa a veto on India-Pakistan relations. The Modi government needs to escape the delusion that Pakistan is isolated and sinking. The Karachi stock market performed superbly last year. Chinas open support, including the recent billion-dollar cheque and the $46-billion CPEC project, emboldens Pakistan. US President Donald Trump starts his diplomatic foray abroad with Saudi Arabia on May 19. As he addresses his Sunni allies to build a coalition against Iran and ISIS, Pakistan will surely be there. As the saying goes, the more it changes more it remains the same for Pakistan as an international mercenary. President John F. Kennedy asked after the Cuban Bay of Pigs fiasco: How could that crowd at the CIA and the Pentagon be this wrong? Mr Modi needs to similarly introspect, having allowed his Kashmir and Pakistan policy to be monopolised by intelligence and police advisers, public opinion and the BJPs hawks.
The test, however, did not meet all the desired parameters, official sources said (Photo: ANI)

BHUBANESWAR: The last user trial of Agni-II conducted on November 9, 2014, from the same base was a success.

The test, however, did not meet all the desired parameters, official sources said

India test-fired its medium-range nuclear-capable Agni-II missile on Thursday having a strike range of more than 2,000 kms from an island off the Odisha coast as part of a user trial by the army.

The test, however, did not meet all the desired parameters, official sources said. The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on Abdul Kalam Island at around 10.25 am, they said.

Agni-II has already been inducted into the services and yesterdays test from Launch Complex-4 of the ITR was carried out by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) as part of a training exercise. Logistic support for it was provided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), they said.

The two-stage missile equipped with advanced high- accuracy navigation system was propelled by solid rocket propellant system, the sources said.

Agni-II, which has a length of 20 metres, weighs 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1000 kgs over a distance of 2000 kms. It is a part of the Agni series of missiles developed by the DRDO which includes Agni-I (700-km range), Agni-III (3,000 kms), Agni-IV (4,000 kms) and Agni-V (more than 5,000 kms).

The last user trial of Agni-II conducted on November 9, 2014, from the same base was a success.

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It is not every day that a 15-year-old creates a contraption to prevent silent heart attacks. Akash Manoj, a class X student, from Tamil Nadu, has successfully done just that and was been invited by the President of India to stay with him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for two weeks, where his prototype was also exhibited.

Ever since my grandfather died of an asymptomatic heart attack, I wanted to find a solution to this problem, so that it never happens to anyone again. I realised that if I could achieve this, I would probably revolutionise the medical industry, says the science enthusiast with pride.

I worked for nearly two years and came up with a prototype last year, that I experimented on and proved with my research. This year, with the Presidents intervention, my innovation was verified by experts from AIIMS  I clinically proved my technique to them. It was led by Dr. Balram Bharagava and other doctors. I got a clinical validation certificate. AIIMS is looking forward to incubating my project.

He was also honoured with the Rashtrapati Navapravarthan Puraskar. With the Presidents intervention; they provided Akash with all the research facilities at Bangalore at Indian Institute of Science Bangalore. I will be making a standard model at Bengaluru for the next two years. Im partnering with the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to provide it for people at a low cost of `900. The sale of the device will start from the end of 2018.

Earlier, Akash was invited to the Tokyo University of Science, Japan, to present his project at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and to get his project endorsed and clinically approved by their experts. The young boy has already been receiving requests from start-ups and private medical companies to take the project forward but has rejected all of them politely. Nirmala Sitharaman, MoS, Commerce, and Industry launched a special committee to speed up the grant of patent and commercialisation of his product.

Apparently, Akash was very secretive about his project  only his parents knew about it. Had it not been for my parents who supported and incubated my endeavor, I would not have been honoured by the honble President of India and interviewed by reputed national and international news agencies. My father, Manoj, has been motivating and encouraging me in all aspects. He helped me to get an exposure to global platforms. My mom, Somi Manoj doesnt stress on marks and grades. In fact, my parents dont ask for the grades and marks that I score in school examinations. They believe in practical knowledge and the application of my learning, which I have managed to achieve to a greater extent. And, when my friends and school management came to know about my project, they were thrilled about the concept and extended their support.

AKASH

Only because of such an atmosphere at his home, was he able to develop an inquisitive mind, and the ability to think out of the box, to invent such a life-saving technique. I had managed to cope with my studies and my research, by giving equal importance. Passion for science, inquisitiveness to question how things work, curiosity to innovate, support and encouragement from people around me, not having a common approach towards studying and exams, and avoiding rote learning have helped me, says Akash.

Going forward, Akash wants to research in cardiology. I am an aviation enthusiast and love reading non-fiction scientific books. I am a deep thinker in science as well. I love to ideate! he explains.

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Isros communication satellite GSAT-9 on-board GSLV-F09 lifts off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Friday. (Photo: PTI)

Nellore: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Friday took a major step with the textbook launch of its South Asia Satellite (SAS), while India took a giant step in South Asian diplomacy on Friday.

The Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), carrying a cryogenic stage, injected the 2,230-kg satellite precisely into its Geosynchro-nous Transfer Orbit 36,000 km above the earth.

The cuboid-shaped satellite named will enable a full range of services to the neighbours, including in telecommunication,television, direct-to-home, VSATs, tele-education andtelemedicine. The South Asian Satellite mission life is 12 years.

The satellite was placed close to its space home 18 minutes after the rocket was launched on the dot at 4.57 pm from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shar, Sriharik-ota, 90 km from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.

This was the eleventh flight of GSLV and its fourth consecutive flight with the indigenous cryogenic upper stage. The success of the launch gave Isro much needed confidence with the rocket. The GSLV rocket has been called the naughty boy for its patchy record previously.

The satellite, designated GSAT-9, was named Saarc satellite initially. It was changed to South Asia Satellite after Paki-stan declined to make use of the facility. The beneficiaries of the sate-llite include Afghanis-tan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and India.

Immediately after the launch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Today is a historic day for South Asia. The South Asia Satellite tells us that even the sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation among like-minded countries.

He lauded the Isro scientists for the flawless launch of the satellite.

The satellite will assist in the fields of natural resources mapping, telemedicine, education, IT connectivity and fostering people to people contact.

In Sriharikota, Isro chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said, We have just transported South Asia satellite from Earth to geostationary transfer orbit using our Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle Mark II that makes use of indigenously developed cryogenic engine.

NEW EXPERIMENT

Isro for the first time used a fuel saving electrical propulsion system to adjust the the South Asian Satellite in its designated orbit about 36,000 km above the earth.

According to Isro scientists, the satellite was launched with about 80 kg of chemical fuel, which is only 25 per cent of its regular load. This allows for more payload to be carried on the satellite.

This way handling the satellite for more than a decade in orbit will be more cost efficient. If the experiment is successful, Isro will launch its satellite through heavy rockets such as GSLV MK-III instead of depending on foreign launch vehicles.

Shar officials said Electrical Propulsion System would be put to use when the satellite reaches its slot probably in two weeks and it will continue throughout its lifetime.

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Apple has used Imagination's technology in its products from the time of the iPod, and it receives royalties from every sale of an Apple device containing its designs, including the iPhone and iPad.

Imagination Technologies said it had started a "dispute resolution procedure" with Apple, its biggest customer, after failing to resolve a standoff over licensing between the two companies.

Imagination said in April that Apple had notified the British firm it was developing its own graphics chips and would no longer use Imagination's processing designs in 15 months to two years time.

The potential loss of Apple, which accounts for about half of the British firm's revenue, sent its shares down 70 percent on the day, and the stock has barely recovered. It has also sent shudders through other Apple suppliers.

Apple has used Imagination's technology in its products from the time of the iPod, and it receives royalties from every sale of an Apple device containing its designs, including the iPhone and iPad. Imagination said in April that it doubted Apple could go it alone without violating its patents, and analysts said legal battles could lie ahead.

It said on Thursday it had been unable to make satisfactory progress with Apple on alternative commercial arrangements for the current license and royalty agreement.

"Imagination has, therefore, commenced the dispute resolution procedure under the license agreement with a view to reaching an agreement through a more structured process," it said.

Imagination also said it planned to sell two businesses, its embedded processor technology MIPS and mobile connectivity unit Ensigma.

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Following the United incident, Southwest Airlines Co said it would stop overbooking its flights.

Los Angeles: Delta Air Lines apologised on Thursday to customers, who were forced off its flight last month, and said it would refund them and provide additional compensation.

A video was posted online by Brian Schear on Wednesday, claiming that Delta "booted" him off a flight, along with his wife and two infants, due to overbooking.

"We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta," the company said in a statement on Thursday. The flight was departing from Maui to Los Angeles on April 23.

This comes nearly a month after United Continental Holdings Inc sparked outrage for dragging a passenger by his hands, out of an overbooked flight. However, the airline reached a settlement with the passenger last month.

Following the United incident, Southwest Airlines Co said it would stop overbooking its flights.

American Airlines Group Inc also experienced its own public relations fiasco last month when a video went viral, showing an onboard clash over a baby stroller.
President Donald Trumps five- nation trip to Europe and the Middle East this month is aimed at reversing US disengagement with the world, establishing a new partnership with Muslim leaders and finding a long-term solution to extremism, a top administration official has said.

Mr Trump is to visit Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican, Brussels and Italy on his first overseas trip as President later this month. The dates have not been announced yet.

The planning for the visit to Saudi Arabia began soon after the November election results came and Riyadh approached then President-elect Mr Trump with the message that they wanted to start a new relationship with the United States.

This would be probably for the first time that a US President would make his first overseas trip to Saudi Arabia.

The official said that these new partnerships can deliver improved security and prosperity, better lives for children across all major religions and across the people of the world.

Mt Trump will meet the pope during his visit to the Vatican. The White House said the President met privately Thursday with Roman Catholic cardinal
In yet another incident that could prove a public relations nightmare for the US airline industry, a California couple is claiming they were kicked off an overbooked Delta flight for refusing to give up their childs seat.

The incident unfolded last week as the Schear family of Huntington Beach were flying home from Hawaii to Los Angeles.In a video of the April 23 confrontation filmed and posted by the couple on YouTube, a flight attendant is overheard asking that they give up a seat occupied by their two-year-old son.

The father, Brian Schear, initially refuses on grounds the seat was paid for but finally relents. He is nonetheless booted off the flight with his wife and two toddlers.

This is a federal offense and then you and your wife will be in jail and your kids will be in foster care, a crew member is overheard telling Mr Schear when he first refuses to disembark.

Delta airlines said in a statement that the company was sorry for the unfortunate experience and had reached out to the family to refund their travel and offer compensation. Mr Schear said the family had to scramble to find a hotel room after being kicked off the plane and paid $2,000 day for another flight.
The UN owes India $55 million for peacekeeping operations, the second highest amount, followed by $53 million to Bangladesh and $41 million to Pakistan. (Photo: AFP)

The UN owes a total of $55 million to India for its contribution to the world bodys peacekeeping operations, the second highest outstanding payment to any member country.

Under-secretary-general for management Yukio Takasu, in his semi-annual overview of the organisations finances, said the top troop contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations such as Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Egypt deserve timely payment for their contributions and participation in UN peacekeeping.

As on March 31 this year, the UN owed a total of $777 million to member states for peacekeeping operations. Of this, outstanding payment for amount owed for troops, formed police units and contingent owned equipment to Ethiopia was the highest at $64 million.

The UN owes India $55 million for peacekeeping operations, the second highest amount, followed by $53 million to Bangladesh and $41 million to Pakistan.

Mr Takasu said member states who are owed outstanding payments deserve to be reimbursed.
Seoul: North Korea has accused the US and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong Un involving bio-chemical weapons.

North Korea's Ministry of State Security said Friday in a statement carried on state media that it will "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" the "terrorists" in the CIA and South Korean intelligence agency for targeting its supreme leadership.

North Korea frequently lambastes the United States and South Korea, but its accusation on Friday was unusual in its details.

The ministry said the spy agencies "ideologically corrupted and bribed" a North Korean citizen who had been working in Russia to carry out the alleged assassination attempt involving a "radioactive" and "nano poisonous" substance.

Officials at South Korea's National Intelligence Service weren't immediately reachable for comment.
Paris: Macron is seen getting 62 percent of the votes in the second round compared to 38 percent for Le Pen, an increase of three points for the centrist candidate compared to his projected score in the last Elabe poll.

The survey was carried out after a rancorous final televised debate between the two contenders on Wednesday, which Macron was seen as having won by French viewers, according to two recent polls.

French centrist Emmanuel Macron and his far-right presidential rival Marine Le Pen clashed over terrorism, the economy and Europe Wednesday in a bad-tempered TV debate that laid bare their profoundly different visions for the country.

The duel ahead of Sunday's election was billed as a confrontation between Macron's call for openness and pro-market reforms and Le Pen's France-first nationalism.

The tone was set in the opening minutes, with Le Pen branding the former economy minister and investment banker "the candidate of the elite" and the "darling of the system".
Washington: The United States will shoot itself in the foot if it quits the Paris climate accord because China, India and Europe will snap up the best power sector jobs in future, UN Environment chief Erik Solheim said on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump is expected to announce as early as next week whether he will take the United States out of the climate pact, having vowed during his campaign to cancel the Paris Climate Agreement within 100 days of becoming president.

There is no doubt where the future is and that is what all the private sector companies have understood, Solheim told Reuters in Geneva. The future is green, he said.

Obviously if you are not a party to the Paris agreement, you will lose out. And the main losers of course will be the people of the United States itself because all the interesting, fascinating new green jobs would go to China and to the other parts of the world that are investing heavily in this.

The world has now passed its peak oil stage, the Norwegian-born Solheim said, and was rapidly moving into the age of solar and wind.

The Paris accord, agreed by nearly 200 countries in 2015, seeks to limit planetary warming by cutting emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases from burning fossil fuels.

Wind engineer is now probably the most promising job opportunity in the United States, Solheim said, adding that China and India were bringing the price of solar down so fast that coal was no longer competitive.

GREEN REVOLUTION

Solheims new target is pollution, with plastic in the oceans expected to equal the weight of fish by 2050. But with science, mobilised citizens, regulated markets, and the enormous power of business, such huge problems could be solved, he said.

The green revolution is being led by iconic firms such as Google, Walmart, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook, so the momentum does not depend on Washington, Solheim said.

Even if the worst were to happen and the United States were to withdraw, the consequences would be much less than people think, he said.

Political leadership would shift to the European Union, China and India, and the U.N. is already talking to them about meeting the funding gap if the United States steps back - not only from the climate deal but UN funding in general.

We definitely want to ask the Senate and the US Congress to keep as much of the US contribution as possible to the UN and to the climate work. If they drastically reduce we would for sure ask others to step up and provide more money, he said.

However the UN also needed to be more efficient. Its not all that bad that there is some scrutiny. We are happy to work with the Trump administration on how to make the United Nations more efficient, Solheim said.

And if they cut down, which we encourage them not to do, we will also rationalise.
Blocks of ice will be chipped off the iceberg that lies above the waterline and then crushed into water.

The United Arab Emirates is planning to tow icebergs from Antarctica to its coast to solve its drinking water problem.The National Advisor Bureau Limited company plans to provide a new source of freshwater for the region by towing the iceberg from Antarctica to the coast of the eastern emirate of Fujairah, the Independent reported. The company then plans to mine the iceberg for drinking water.

Blocks of ice will be chipped off the iceberg that lies above the waterline and then crushed into water. It will then be stored in large tanks and filtered through a water processing plant.

An average iceberg contains more than 20 billion gallons of water, or enough for one million people over five years, Abdullah Mohammad Sulaiman Al Shehi, the companys managing director, told Gulf News.

He said the iceberg could create micro-climates in the region and bring rain to the arid landscape. Also, it could become a tourist attraction, he added.

Mr Al Shehi said his companys simulations predict it will take up to one year to tow an iceberg to the UAE and said the project will start in early 2018.

Icebergs typically take a long time to melt, as around 80 per cent of their overall mass usually remains underwater, while the exposed white ice above reflects sunlight and thus heat, reducing the amount of water that evaporates.
Beijing: China may go ahead with a regional economic deal without India as there is slim hope of New Delhi signing it in view of its concerns over cheap Chinese goods inundating Indian markets, an article in a state-run daily said on Friday.

"An optimal choice for China would be to reach a deal that includes India, as that would allow Chinese-made products to enter the Indian market with tariff concessions after the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) starts running," the article in the Global Times said.

However, given India's free trade history and the concerns expressed about its own national interests, there is only a very slim possibility that India would agree to the deal under the existing framework and mechanisms. So China should set a sub-optimal goal of reaching an RCEP deal without India, it said.

"Although this would diminish the value of the agreement, China should continue speeding up the RCEP negotiations, because enhanced cooperation with ASEAN, Japan, South Korea and Australia is of strategic importance for China," it said.

The RCEP is a 16-nation trade pact that includes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with China, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand, a region that accounts for 46 per cent of the world's population and that produced nearly 30 per cent of global GDP in 2016.

China is pushing for RECP as Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade alliance worked by the Obama administration which is on the verge of eclipse after US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of it.

Facing threat of cheap imports from China after the bilateral trade deficit mounted to over USD 53 billion, Indian officials say India is specially seeking to protect its advantages in services and stagger the phase-out of tariffs over a longer period in the case of China, to allow Indian industry more time to adjust.

The article cited four main reasons for India being reluctant to promote the RCEP, which included worries over entry of cheap Chinese goods with tariff concessions, widening trade deficit with China, worries over domestic companies becoming less competitive, RCEP clauses on intellectual property and services will not be conducive for India.

"India has unilaterally obstructed the normal process of WTO negotiations many times. In the final analysis, India is still worried about the lack of competitiveness of its local enterprises," it said.

"However, the RCEP is of great significance for China because the nation has been excluded from the TPP. China needs to promote the conclusion of the RCEP negotiations and be prepared for India's withdrawal from it," it added.
When asked about Afghan President Ashraf Ghani linking his visit to Islamabad with Pakistan taking action against militants, Zakaria said the problems of Afghanistan are internal. (Photo: File)

Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday ruled out any role for India in the peace process in Afghanistan, saying it is "part of the problem and not a solution" as New Delhi is using Afghan soil to destabilise Pakistan.

At a Foreign Office briefing, spokesman Nafees Zakaria also attacked India on the Kashmir issue claiming the current situation in the Valley is "one of the worst episodes of human tragedy in living history" which has attracted attention of the entire international community.

Asked about India trying to seek greater role in Afghanistan, Zakaria said, "We have continued to underline that India is part of the problem and not a solution. India is also using Afghan soil for its nefarious designs to destabilise Pakistan and spoil Pak-Afghan relations."

When asked about Afghan President Ashraf Ghani linking his visit to Islamabad with Pakistan taking action against militants, he said the problems of Afghanistan are internal. "Externalising Afghanistans problems and blaming others for the continued instability in their country does not help.

It would be in the interest of everyone that such accusations are avoided as they serve no purpose, he said. Ghani has declined invitations extended by top civil and military officials to visit Pakistan, saying he would not visit until Islamabad hands over the perpetrators of terror attacks in Afghanistan.

Attacking India on the Kashmir issue, Zakaria said the human rights situation in Kashmir has further deteriorated after the Srinagar by-elections. "The recent video of a Kashmiri youth tied to an Indian army jeep as a human shield against the stone pelting young people has put India's claims of democracy to shame, he said.

He said Pakistan is raising the issue of human rights situation in Kashmir with countries bilaterally and on multilateral forums and demanding implementation of UNSC Resolutions on Kashmir.
Qiao Mu, an independent media analyst in Beijing, said the Chinese Encyclopedia would be quite different from Wikipedia because of the need to toe the line on political taboos. (Photo: Representational)

Beijing: Itll be free. Itll be uniquely Chinese. Itll be an online encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia  but without the participation of the public. And dont expect entries on Tiananmen Square 1989 or Falun Gong spiritual group to come up in your searches, either.

Scholars and experts hand-picked by Beijing to work on the project say only they will be able to make entries - the latest example of the Chinese governments efforts to control information available on the internet.

The scholars say truth is their guiding light, and their editing and review process is a rigorous one. If there is a difference of opinion, a committee should figure it out, said Zhang Baichun, chief editor of the history of science and technology section.

Of course, science does not come from democratic votes, to convince others you will have to present the most convincing proof, he said.

The effort to compile 300,000 entries that span science, literature, politics and history is being led by the ruling Communist Partys central propaganda department, which guides public opinion through instructions to Chinas media, internet companies and publishing industry as well as overseeing the education sector.

They have instructed the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, known for its offline Chinese Encyclopedia, to produce it.

The ruling party has struggled to manage public opinion in the internet age, when citizens can comment on news and topics of outrage and post photos of protests on social media  at least until such messages are scrubbed away or rendered unsearchable by censors.

China also regularly blocks overseas sites including Facebook and Twitter, and has periodically blocked Wikipedias English and Chinese versions. Currently, the Chinese Wikipedia is inaccessible in the mainland.

Jiang Lijun, senior editor at the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, said Thursday that they plan to have entries on political leaders, the history of the Communist Party, and subjects including virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the European Union.

The online Chinese Encyclopedia will focus primarily on entries that are less likely to change as opposed to recent events, and with academic value, while also trying to strike a balance between that, being timely and what people are searching for, she said.

She declined to comment on how events that are politically sensitive in China, like the Cultural Revolution and the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, would be treated.

Qiao Mu, an independent media analyst in Beijing, said the Chinese Encyclopedia would be quite different from Wikipedia because of the need to toe the line on political taboos.

If its not blocked in China, the publisher must accept censorship, either self-censorship or censored by authorities, he said.

He said the encyclopedia would likely present a single, official version of sensitive historical events, and exclude items like the Tiananmen crackdown and the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual group, which never exist on the internet.

The publishing house behind the Chinese Encyclopedia is paying 20,000 scholars and experts from universities and research institutes to write entries and it is slated to go online next year. Jiang said initially the encyclopedia will just be in Chinese, but they are also doing research to see how viable an English version would be.

Jiang said they met with a team from San Francisco-based Wikipedia to learn from their experience.

Wikipedia is edited and maintained by hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world, and has more than 40 million articles encompassing nearly 300 languages. More than 900,000 entries are in Chinese, compared with more than 5 million in English.

There is Chinese content on Wikipedia too, but sometimes it is not as accurate as it could be, said Jiang.

Jiang said that as Wikipedias content is generated by users, they can create more entries faster. But we try to eliminate self-promotion and inaccuracy as much as possible.

Zhang, the professor of history of science and technology, said the online version will make it easier to reach more people, particularly young readers.

To create the history of science and technology entries, Zhang said professors from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Natural Sciences first hold meetings with veterans and young experts in their fields to form a committee.

The committee will then find the most authoritative person on the topic to write the draft, including sometimes foreign experts, said Zhang, who is director of the institute.

The draft is reviewed by a section chief editor and then the committee.

If there is a difference of opinion, all deputy and chief editors should participate in the discussion and figure it out together, Zhang said. We will reason things out with the author until we reach an agreement, or change the author.
Mumbai: Pakistan International Airlines(PIA), which operates a weekly flight between Mumbai and Karachi, will suspend its service from May 11. The national flag carrier of Pakistan operates the flight on Thursday.

"Pakistan International Airlines, in a communication to authorities concerned, has said that its Karachi-Mumbai flight will not be open for sale (bookings) from May 11," a company associated with the flight operation said.

However, the PIA communication did not specify the reason for suspension of its flight service, a company official said. "Apart from the current situation (prevailing tension between India-Pakistan), the suspension of the service might be due to commercial reasons as well," the official said.

The airline did not operate its service on Thursday as well, he said. However, the Pakistan airline had informed the relevant authorities about the non-operation of service on May 4 in a communication last month, the official said.
The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Religious Affairs met on Thursday and discussed the 'The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2016' moved by lawmakers Kishwer Zehra. (File Photo)

Islamabad: Pakistani lawmakers have unanimously rejected a bill aimed at increasing the minimum age for marriage of a girl from 16 to 18 years, terming the proposed amendment as "un-Islamic".

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Religious Affairs met yesterday and discussed the 'The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2016' moved by lawmakers Kishwer Zehra.

The proposed amendment to increase the age was not only opposed by the Muslim lawmakers but also Hindu and Christian parliamentarians, 'The Express Tribune' reported.

The committee called the proposed amendment "un-Islamic". The committee members also discussed 'The National Commission for Minority Rights Act, 2015' at the request of lawmaker Lal Chand Malhi.

Christian lawmaker Tariq Christopher Qaiser recommended the number of commission members be increased to give representation to all the minorities.

He also called for allowing the minorities to directly elect their representatives. The committee also constituted a sub-committee to further discuss it.

Pakistan Senate unanimously passed the landmark 'The Hindu Marriage Bill' in 2017 bill to regulate marriages of minority Hindus in February.

The bill had already been approved by the lower house or the National Assembly on September 26, 2015, and it now just needs signature of the President, a mere formality, to become a law. The bill will help Hindu women get documentary proof of their marriage.

It will be the first personal law for Pakistani Hindus, applicable in Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The Sindh province has already formulated its own Hindu Marriage Law.
Islamabad: Pakistan is committed to resolve all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute, with India through talks, foreign secretary Tehmina Janjua said.

Janjua made the remarks on Thursday during a delegation-level meeting with Japanese minister of state for foreign affairs Nobuo Kishi in Islamabad, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

She briefed the Japanese delegation on Pakistans efforts to reach out to Afghanistan and India as part of the Prime Ministers vision for a peaceful neighbourhood, it said.

She also reiterated Pakistans commitment to dialogue with India for the resolution of all outstanding issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, it said.

Janjua reaffirmed Pakistans readiness to make constructive contributions to the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

She also apprised the delegation of Pakistans credentials for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), while emphasising the need for a criteria based and non-discriminatory approach for new members.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the state of bilateral relations and the evolving peace and security scenario in their respective regions.

The foreign secretary highlighted the importance that Pakistan attached to its relations with Japan and underscored the need to further strengthen mutually beneficial economic partnership with focus on promoting trade and investments.

During the two-day visit, Kishi also called upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the National Security Adviser and the ministers for defence, water and power.

His visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Japan. It also marks the 60th anniversary of his grandfather Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishis visit to Pakistan in May 1957.
Pakistani lawmakers have unanimously rejected a bill aimed at increasing the minimum age for marriage of a girl from 16 to 18 years, terming the proposed amendment as un-Islamic.

The National Assemblys standing committee on religious affairs met on Thursday and discussed the The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2016 moved by lawmakers Kishwer Zehra.

The proposed amendment to increase the age was not only opposed by the Muslim lawmakers but also Hindu and Christian parliamentarians, The Express Tribune reported.

The committee called the proposed amendment un-Islamic. The committee members also discussed The National Commission for Minority Rights Act, 2015 at the request of lawmaker Lal Chand Malhi.

Christian lawmaker Tariq Christopher Qaiser recommended the number of commission members be increased to give representation to all the minorities.

He also called for allowing the minorities to directly elect their representatives. The committee also constituted a sub-committee to further discuss it.
Gov. Rauner Teases CPS Funding Path: Just Sell The Thompson Center

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 5, 2017 8:04PM



Wikipedia

Controversy seems to forever swirl around Gov. Bruce Rauner in terms of Chicago Public Schools fundingor lack thereof. So it was a decidedly bold (some might say cynical) move when the governor used CPS funds as something of a bargaining chip to push the sale of his despised Thompson Center on Friday.

Rauner and Illinois Republicans on Friday put forth a bill that would allocate property taxes raised from redevelopment of the Thompson Center site straight to funding CPS. Given the paltry state of the districts coffers, it's quite the, shall we say, aggressive maneuver.

Mayor Rahm Emanuelthe target, along with Speaker Michael Madigan, of Rauner's high-pressure selling tactichad another phrase, calling it a "political stunt" intended "to distract from his own failure to fund education fairly," according to the Sun-Times and the Tribune.

"Suddenly he's interested in funding CPS? That's rich," sneered mayoral spokesman Adam Collins, via Crain's.

Rauner of course was responsible for the uber-contentious veto of a proposal that would have sent $215 million to Chicago Public Schools. There's also the fact that the state was sued for discriminatory education funding practicesalthough a judge tossed the suit, while still expressing sympathy for the district's very real predicament.

With plenty of flair for the dramatic, Rauner put his CPS chips on the table from within the very belly of the postmodern beast itself, at a press conference inside the mechanical room of the Thompson Center, to underline the state-owned building's high heating and cooling costs.

Gov. Rauner presser at Thompson Center is in a mechanical room in basement. Showing it needs $80M in repairs to HVAC.  Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) May 5, 2017 Literally. Presser in the mechanical room. pic.twitter.com/x6IfI1HpbG  Tina Sfondeles (@TinaSfon) May 5, 2017

Rauner and proponents of a Thompson Center sale claim that it would rake in $45 million every year in property taxes. But not everyone is convinced of those calculations.

Alex Holt, the City of Chicagos budget director, said via Politico that Rauner's bold property tax claims are inaccurate:



The Rauner administration's argument that the city will collect $45M in property taxes from this land - in perpetuity - is inaccurate. 1) Only 20% of property tax revenues come to the city. So for the city to net $45M, the property's total tax bill would have to be over $200M a year. That's almost 10 times the annual property tax payments from the Willis Tower. 2) The city would see no additional property tax revenue, because the city's property tax levy is a set figure. $45M in property taxes on this building wouldn't mean $45M more for the city, it would mean that all other owners in Chicago would pay less. The city wont see that money unless we increase our property levy.

Ahead of Rauner's offer on Friday, Emanuel had had the previous last word. Earlier this week he sought guarantees that the city would not be left holding the bill as far as the CTA station near the Thompson Center, specifically the Clark/Lake multi-line hub.

The very expensive to operate but beloved-by-architecture-preservationists Thompson Center led this year's list of the states' most endangered historic sites. Landmark Illinois, who created the list, said it would support a sale only if it includes reuse options.

As for CPS funding, well, we're probably gonna need a real budget at some point for that. Not even Chance the Rapper can do it all.
Fourteen persons were today killed and 28 others injured when a truck carrying a marriage party lost control and fell into a canal here.



The incident took place at about 3 AM when the truck was returning from Agra, police said. The injured have been rushed to a hospital.



District Magistrate Amit Kishore said compensation will be provided to the families of those killed.


In an incident reflecting the plight of Indians returning home following imposition of tougher H1B processing rules by the United States of America, a house maker and mother of two who was depressed after their family was forced to return to India last month, committed suicide here at Alkapuri colony in Puppalaguda on Thursday. According to Narsingi police, Reshma (39), wife of Sanjeev Sharma (41) hung herself to a fan at their residence when her husband and two children went out to get their laptop repaired.



Sanjeev Sharma a native of Faridabad in Uttar Pradesh married Reshmi in 2003. Sharma has been working with Bank of America in the USA for last ten years. They have two sons aged 13 and 11. Only recently Sharmas application for extension of H1B Visa was rejected. Sharmas fervent appeals to the US authorities that education of his children will be affected by the sudden change of place, have been ignored. The dejected family returned to Hyderabad and is working at the Raheja IT Park.



My wife was very disturbed when she came to know about the status of my work permit. While she wanted to return to our native state either in Faridabad or Noida, I found a job here, a shell shocked Sharma told police. Police who booked a case of suicide, have found no suicide note in the possession of Reshmi and are reportedly did not accept the Visa issue as the main reason for Reshmis death and are investigating other leads.



Recently there are many cases of non extension of work permits in the USA, particularly from firms in the Midwest. Many of the returned IT professionals have applied for new work permits in April 2017 and are keeping their fingers crossed. The process of lottery has begun and there will be many more broken hearts by the end of the month, Krishna Reddy a Visa consultant located in Begumpet here said adding that there are other avenues open for the IT experts and there is no need to get depressed.




Some areas of this South Kashmir district have been virtually turned out of bounds for the security forces by the terrorists who are bolstered by a strong network of supporters, absence of mainstream political activity and the low morale of the police force there.



Pulwama sits strategically along the national highway that connects the Kashmir Valley with the rest of country.



The heightened militancy this year here is receiving ground support with the local people posing maximum resistance to the forces, especially during counter-insurgency operations.



Often referred to as the rice bowl of the Valley, Pulwama, with eight tehsils of Pulwama, Pampore, Rajpora, Kakapora, Tral, Shahoora, Awantipora, Aripal, has earned the notorious distinction of becoming a hub of militant activities and some major security operations have been carried out here.



Some of the deadly encounters, including the gunning down of Lashker-e-Taiba chief for Kashmir Abu Qassim, who was a Pakistani national, have taken place here triggering immediate reaction from thousands of people who took to the streets and pelted stones on security forces.



"This symbolises the amount of support that the militants are getting from the local populace. Be it fear or lack of political activity, the fact is that militancy has been ruling the roost in this region and I fear it is unchecked so far," says a senior politician from the area, who preferred to remain anonymous due to threats from various terror groups.



Divided into two police districts - Pulwama and Awantipora, the area has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Pulwama has been hitting the headlines due to a range of terror attacks including bank robberies, snatching of weapons, ransacking of an army camp or targeted killing of security forces especially CRPF.



According to a senior security official, places like Kamrai Pora, Karimabad, Sambura, Lelhar, Tahab, Aglar, Litter, Bamnu and Koil have virtually become 'no-go' areas for law enforcement agencies and the security forces because of the hostility from the locals.



"I won't say any parallel government is running at these places but they are not been frequented (by security forces) often. If need be, security forces move in only after carrying out area-domination at these places," the official said.



After the killing of Burhan Wani, the poster boy of Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, on July 8 last year, the district has accounted for the disappearance of over 90 youths who are believed to have joined various militant outfits.



The public support to militant groups can be gauged from the fact that police had advance information about the bank robbery committed in the area, the politician averred. Despite laying a trap, the police could not avert it as the militants managed to decamp with the cash, he claimed.



The district has also emerged as a 'reception area' for foreign militants who sneak into South Kashmir via Pakharpora of Budgam district only to disperse. The dense forests of Yarwan in the region provides natural cover to the militants and several efforts of the army and other security forces were thwarted on a number of occasions by the locals, the police official conceded.



He said that overground workers of terror groups forewarn the militants about troop movements, helping them to easily slip into adjoining regions like Shopian, Budgam or Anantnag.



There is a strong presence of militants in Pulwama town as well but post-March this year, all anti-terror operations were halted due to the announcement of the Lok Sabha bypoll here as the district falls under the Anantnag parliamentary seat which felt vacant after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti resigned last July.
The December 16, 2012 gangrape victim's mother today said she was satisfied that the perpetrators have been awarded the death penalty by the Supreme Court.



The victim's mother, Asha Devi, who was present in the jam-packed court room when the verdict was pronounced, said justice has finally been done, despite the delay due to the lengthy legal procedure.



"We thank all who supported us in the difficult times. Though we have lost our daughter, we are satisfied that the court has awarded death sentence to her perpetrators," she said.



From now on, she and her husband will fight for justice for other girls against whom criminal acts are committed, Asha Devi said while coming out of the court room.



Asha Devi was present along with her husband Badri Singh when Justice Dipak Misra, who headed the bench pronounced the verdict in English. Some lawyers were seen translating the verdict in Hindi to them.



As soon as the verdict was pronounced, the victim's parents, lawyers and some other litigants present in the court room, stood up and clapped.


Photos: Meet The Photographer Obsessed With Chicago's Iconic Brick Walls

By Rachel Cromidas in Arts & Entertainment on May 5, 2017 8:52PM

If you swoon for a good exposed brick wall (and even better if that wall is made of classic, pinkish Chicago common brick), then you're going to love this Instagram: Brick of Chicago is devoted to documenting the gorgeous brick walls to be seen in and around Chicago's neighborhoods and the many different bricklaying patterns they represent, if you stop and look closely.

The photos comes courtesy of Will Quam, a 25-year-old photographer who began chronicling the bricks he saw on his walks around his neighborhood, Andersonville, last summer.

Quam, a theater teacher by day, said he was inspired by On Looking, a book by Alexandra Horowitz that advocates paying attention to the world around you with the eye of an expert in a number of different fields. Quam tried approaching Chicago with a bricklayer's eye, and the habit stuck after he noticed all the variation from wall to wall.

"When most people think about brick, they think of a red wall of brick. But the more I paid attention, the more I saw green brick, purples, yellows, oranges, greys, silver. And they're all laid out in a myriad of different ways and orientations. Quam told Chicagoist. He learned that various brick patterns each had historical roots and specific, structural purposes. For example, one of the most common patterns in Chicago is the Scottish bond, which features five rows of long bricks, called stretchers, alternated with one row of short bricks called headers.

"Once I started learning about different types of brick bonds, I felt like I learned a new language, and all these hidden texts were surrounding me," he said.

Quam's personal favorite is the monk bond, which features a pattern of two long bricks and one short brick, repeated. He recently joined the International Brick Collectors Association to learn more about brick types, styles and history. His collection is just four bricks right now ("I live in an apartment. To collect more would be absurd," he said) but he's fascinated to learn about the specificity of other peoples' collections.

"There are people who only collect pavers from Ohio," he said.

Right now, most of Quam's photos are from his block and neighborhood on the Far North Side, but he's begun branching out around the city. He says some of the best photos come from Chicago Public School buildings, and from places you might not expect.

"A lot of them are simple structures that are made much more interesting by the brick," he said. "They are mostly seemingly unremarkable buildings, but to me are really special."

In addition to the Instagram, Quam runs the site Brick of Chicago, where he writes about the history of Chicago bricks and sells photographic prints. He says the reception from friends and others who find his work has been positive, though some friends were skeptical at first.

"A lot of my friends thought I was joking, but I've always been incredibly sincere about it," he said. "Now I have friends who come out of the woodwork and send me pictures of brick walls. I get sent maybe two or three brick pics a day."
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi today said the Supreme Court verdict in the December 16 gangrape case will act as a "deterrent" against such heinous crimes.



"It has been five years, but in this country getting justice takes decades. So justice definitely has been done. I am happy. The whole country is happy," she told reporters.



Asked about the juvenile convict who was released earlier, she said the law did not permit enhanced punishment in his case. A judgement like this was necessary to send a stern message to people who commit such heinous crimes, the Minister said.
The Supreme Court has bowed to public pressure in confirming the death sentences awarded to the convicts of December 16, 2012 sensational gangrape and murder case, their counsel said today.



A petition seeking review of the judgement would be filed, as the top court has succumbed to public pressure and the demonstrations which were carried out in protest against the incident, advocate A P Singh, who was the defense counsel for two of the four convicts, said.



Advocate M L Sharma also said a review petition would be filed as he claimed that one of his clients, Mukesh Singh, who will face the gallows, was implicated in the case.



Moments after the judgement was pronounced, Singh, who appeared for convicts Akshay Thakur and Vinay Sharma, said he was waiting for the copy of the judgement and would decide the further course of action after reading the entire judgement but a review petition would surely be filed.



"Terrorists are getting relief from the judiciary. But we have full faith in the Supreme Court. All the four hail from poor background and I hope they will get justice. We will file the review petition after reading the judgement," the counsel said.



Sharma, who also appeared for Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta, said without questioning the gruesome incident which claimed the life of the 23-year-old paramedic, it is a case where one of the accused has been implicated in it.
The Supreme Court on Friday said that a comprehensive change in the mind set was required to deal with increasing crime against women as stringent law and punishment were not enough to win the battle for gender justice.



Justice R Banumathi, who was a part of the bench, that upheld the death penalty to four convicts in Delhi's infamous gang rape of 23-year-old girl of 2012, suggested for making gender equality as part of the school curriculum.



The battle for gender justice can be won only with strict implementation of legislative provisions, sensitization of public, taking other pro-active steps at all levels for combating violence against women and ensuring widespread attitudinal changes and comprehensive change in the existing mind set, she said, in a separate verdict.



The court cited National Crime Records Bureau report on Crime in India 2015 indicating a total of 3,27,394 cases of crime against women in 2015, an increase of over 43% since 2011, when 2,28,650 cases were reported.



A change of 110.5% in the cases of crime against women has been witnessed over the past decade (2005 to 2015), meaning thereby that crime against women has more than doubled in a decade. An overall crime rate under the head, crime against women was reported as 53.9% in 2015, with Delhi UT at the top spot.



Offences against women are not a womens issue alone but, human rights issue, the court said, adding increased rate of crime against women is an area of concern for the law-makers.



This situation points to an emergent need to study in depth the root of the problem and remedy the same through a strict law and order regime. There are a number of legislations and numerous penal provisions to punish the offenders of violence against women. However, it becomes important to ensure that gender justice does not remain only on paper, the court added.



In order to to fight increasing crimes against women, Justice Banumathi said, In our tradition bound society, certain attitudinal change and change in the mind-set is needed to respect women and to ensure gender justice. Right from childhood years children ought to be sensitized to respect women. A child should be taught to respect women in the society in the same way as he is taught to respect men.



Gender equality should be made a part of the school curriculum. The school teachers and parents should be trained, not only to conduct regular personality building and skill enhancing exercise, but also to keep a watch on the actual behavioural pattern of the children so as to make them gender sensitized, she said.



The court further said the educational and government institutions, and other employers must take steps to create awareness with regard to gender sensitization and to respect women. Sensitization of the public on gender justice through TV, media and press should be welcomed.



Justice Banumathi gave a few suggestions on practical side for consideration of the government like putting up banners, placards in the public transport vehicles like autos, taxis and buses etc, use of street lights, illuminated bus stops and extra police patrol during odd hours, police or security guards at dark and lonely places like parks, streets etc.



Mobile apps for immediate assistance of women should be introduced and effectively maintained. Apart from effective implementation of the various legislation protecting women, change in the mind set of the society at large and creating awareness in the public on gender justice, would go a long way to combat violence against women, the court said.




Faced with charges of right-wing activists repeatedly taking law in their hand in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today said there is "no remedy if someone makes up his or her mind" to blame a particular outfit.



He was responding to a question by mediapersons here about the Saharanpur clash in which an MP and a senior police official was injured and the Bulandshahr lynching in which alleged Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) activists were arrested and that his warnings on the law-and-order front are not having the desired impact.



"There is no remedy if someone makes up his mind that he has to blame a particular outfit... you will have to take this into consideration that the victims have already stated that not any outfit but dispute among themselves was the cause of incidents," the Chief Minister said.



"I can say with confidence that everyone will be safe in the state without any discrimination and rule of law is the priority of the state government," he said.



In Saharanpur, local MP Raghav Lakhanpal Sharma, a senior police officer and several others were injured in stone pelting between members of two communities during a rally on April 20 to mark Ambedkar Jayanti. In Sohi village of Bulandshahr, a man was beaten to death by right-wing activists on May 2 after an inter-faith couple eloped. Yesterday, UP police's press statement said that Hindu Yuva Vahini activists were allegedly involved in the lynching incident.



The Chief Minister had recently directed the HYV workers to maintain a decent behaviour and not to misuse the colour saffron as the image of the outfit or that of the BJP would suffer.



Adityanath is the founder of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, a social, cultural and nationalist group of youth who seek to provide rightist Hindu platform. He had founded the organisation in April 2002.



"You might not be accepting the change in Uttar Pradesh in the past one and a half month but the entire country is accepting it on law and order... investment opportunities have been created and people's confidence has grown," the chief minister said.



Regretting the state's poor rating in 'Swachh Survekshan-2017', with only one city, Varanasi, figuring in the list of 100 clean cities of the country, he said as many as nine of the 15 most dirty districts are in Uttar Pradesh.



"Although this survey was taken up before we took over (came to power in UP), our government has decided to work in this area and by December declare 30 districts open defecation free. By October next year, the entire state will be declared open defecation free," Adityanath said.



On the Lucknow Metro project, the chief minister said operations on about 8 km stretch in the first phase is likely to start by next month.
One person was killed and over a dozen others, including a senior cop, injured in a violent clash between two groups in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district, about 500 kilometres from here, on Friday.



According to the police sources here, violence sparked off during a procession being taken out by members of 'thakur' community from Sabbirpur village.



Police officials said that members of dalit community objected to the playing of DJ and asked the processionists to shut it off as they passed from near a Ravidas Temple.



Soon an altercation ensued and the two sides indulged in heavy stone pelting. Shots were also fired during the clashes and a 26-year old youth, identified as Sunil Singh, was hit by a bullet. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead.



Enraged over the killing, a large mob torched several houses of dalits in the village and also set fire several police and other vehicles. Over a dozen people, including a senior police officer, were injured in the clashes.



Security personnel in strength had been deployed to maintain order, police said adding that senior officials were camping on the spot to monitor the situation.



This is the second incident of violence in Saharanpur within a fortnight. A few days back, communal clashes had broken out in the district during a procession to celebrate Ambedkar birth anniversary.



Around a dozen people were injured in clashes, that erupted after the other community objected to the procession. BJP MP from Saharanpur Raghav Lakhanpal was among those booked in connection with the violence.
RJD chief Lalu Prasads elder son Tej Pratap, who is Health Minister in Nitishs Cabinet, was on Friday embroiled in a fresh controversy. He has been charged with opening a petrol pump outlet on National Highway 30, on the outskirts of Patna, by submitting false documents.



He has also been charged with concealing this property while declaring his assets and liabilities in 2015 (before the Bihar Assembly election), even though the BPCL petrol pump was allotted to him in 2011.



When Tej Pratap applied for a petrol pump, he did not have the necessary land at Beur (on NH-30). An industrialist Amit Katiyal leased out land to his younger brother Tejaswi Yadav (now Bihar Deputy Chief Minister) for the purpose of opening a petrol pump. When Tej Pratap applied for pump, why was the land leased out to Tejaswi? And how come Tej Pratap was allotted petrol pump when he was not having the requisite land?, asked senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.



Backed by substantial evidence, Modi said if one applies for a petrol pump, he or she has to submit an affidavit which reads: I also affirm that during the tenure of dealership, I will not take any employment in pvt sector and draw any salary/perks/emoluments from State/Central Government.



If Tej Pratap has submitted such an affidavit for the petrol pump, then has he stopped availing salary/perks/emoluments from Bihar Government where he is Minister for Health, as well as holding additional charge of Forest and Environment department?, asked the BJP leader.



Though the RJD did not respond directly to the charges but asked Modi to come clean on his own assets declared so far. We will soon expose how Sushil Modi has undervalued his property, said RJD national spokesperson Manoj Jha.



Modi has been at loggerheads with RJD leaders ever since he dared to expose how Lalu Prasad amassed huge wealth in the name of immoveable property being gifted to his sons - Tej Pratap and Tejaswi - or his wife Rabri Devi by politicians and industrialists. To buttress his point, Modi had earlier cited the registration papers of the land deals which took place when Lalu was Railway Minister in UPA-I. He, in his capacity as the RJD president, had recommended the names of Kanti Singh and Raghunath Jha to be inducted as Union ministers in Manmohan Singh Government. But for this favour, Modi alleged, Lalu made Kanti and Raghunath gift their immoveable property to Lalus family.




Prime Minister Narendra Modi today described the launch of the South Asian Satellite by India as a "historic moment" and said it opens up new horizons of engagement in the region, a view that was shared by leaders of six other countries of South Asia.



Modi, who has projected the satellite as India's "priceless gift" to its neighbours, said the "unprecedented" development sends out a message that "even sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation".



The launch was celebrated jointly through a video conference by Modi, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutanese Prime Minister Thering Tobgay, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Srisena. Pakistan is not a part of the project as it had refused to accept India's "gift", which Modi had proposed soon after becoming the Prime Minister in 2014.



"Successful launch of South Asian Satellite is a historic moment. It opens up new horizons of engagement," Modi tweeted immediately after the GSLV-F09 carrying South Asia Communication Satellite lifted off from Sriharikota spaceport.



"Today is a historic day, a day without any precedence," he said later while addressing the video conference.



Underlining the concept of 'sabka sath, sabka vikas' (cooperation of all, development for all), he said the development marked fulfilment of India's promise made two years back to advance its space technology for the growth and prosperity of South Asia.



Noting that this was the first of its kind project in South Asia, Modi said the satellite would help the individual countries in meeting their own needs with regard to development, better governance, poverty eradication and disaster mitigation. He said India wanted growth, development and peace in the region and was keen to utilise technology to pursue this goal for the shared prosperity.



Hailing the scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for ensuring the flawless launch, he said the satellite will greatly benefit South Asia and the region's progress.



"This (launch) tells us that even sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation," he said. "This symbolises our unshakeable resolve to place the needs of our peoples in the forefront," Modi said. He said the mantra was "Cooperation, not confrontation, development, not destruction and prosperity, not poverty."



"Sabka sath, sabka vikas can be the guiding light for action and cooperation in South Asia and a befitting way for us to achieve our shared priorities of economic prosperity for our people," the Prime Minister said.



"And in this, you will find a strong and committed partner in India that truly believes in the strength of this choice and principle," he told leaders of Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan which are a part of the project.



"We are a united family of South Asian countries, united in our pursuit of peace, progress & prosperity of our region and the entire humankind," the Prime Minister said. Ghani described the launch as "South Asia's giant step towards regional cooperation" and said it makes the region's integration a reality.



Hailing India's "pioeneering" endeavour and Modi's vision, he said, "cooperation outweighs confrontation".



Hasina, while congratulating Modi and ISRO for the launch, said it will "change the face of South Asia".

With the launch, the cooperation among the South Asian nations has expanded from land, water, air to space, she said.



Tobgay described it as a "historic moment for the world" and said the "gift from India reflects true cooperation".



Thanking India and Modi for the "very priceless gift", the Bhutanese leader said the free use of the data from the satellite will greatly benefit his landlocked country which does not have the capacity on its own to launch satellites.



Yameen said the "very special gift" symbolises vision and commitment of Modi towards the region. Noting that the satellite will serve to improve the lives of people of entire South Asia, the Maldivian President said, "I call upon all South Asian friends to seize this opportunity", perhaps a message to Pakistan which has refused to join the project.



Dahal, popularly known as 'Prachanda', thanked Modi and India for "the thoughtfulness" of sharing the data of the satellite with other countries of the region.



"This is a testimony of South Asia becoming self-reliant in space technology. Nepal looks forward to the best use of the data," the Nepalese leader said. He said he looked forward to India's help in developing the human resources of Nepal in usage of the satellite's data.



Srisena described the occasion as "historic" and said the development signifies inclusiveness and friendly cooperation.



Modi, soon after taking over as the Prime Minister in 2014, had made a unilateral proposal of India launching the satellite whose data would be shared with the SAARC countries for their development and prosperity.



Initially, it was to be named as 'SAARC Satellite' but its name was changed to South Asia Satellite after Pakistan refused to join the project.



The satellite will provide a significant capability to each of the participating countries in terms of DTH, certain VSAT capacity plus linking among the states for both disaster information transfer and also in terms of library type of things.
Pakistan's Supreme Court today set up a high-level six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons' alleged corruption in the Panama Papers case.



A three-member panel of judges reviewed the names submitted by various departments that had been ordered to do so by the apex court's April 20 verdict in the case.



The JIT is bound to complete the probe in 60 days unless it is granted additional time. The court appointed Additional Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Wajid Zia as the head of the JIT.



Other members comprising the JIT were Brigadier Kamran Khurshid from Military Intelligence, Amer Aziz from the State Bank of Pakistan, Bilal Rasool, an executive director at the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Irfan Naeem Mangi, a Director at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and Brigadier Muhammad Nauman Saeed from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).



The Secretariat of the JIT would be housed in the building of the Federal Judicial Academy here and the court also ordered the federal government to provide all necessary funds for the JIT to carry out the investigation, including an initial amount of Rs 20 million.



"The JIT would also be at liberty to utilise the expertise available in their departments and any other department of the federal or provincial governments as and when required by it," according to the court order.



The JIT is empowered to engage and associate with local and foreign experts to facilitate the investigation and for the collection of evidence. "All the Executive Authorities throughout Pakistan shall act in aid of the JIT," the court said in its orders.



"If and when any person fails or refuses to associate with or appear before the JIT or refuses to cooperate or provide oral or documentary information required by it, the same be immediately brought to the notice of the court for taking appropriate action," the order stated.



The JIT would submit fortnightly progress reports to the court. After issuing the order to set up the JIT, the court adjourned the proceedings in the case and the next hearing would be held on May 22.



Sharif, 67, had got a temporary breather last month from the Supreme Court which said there was "insufficient evidence" to remove him from office but ordered setting up of a JIT to probe the graft allegations against his family.



The high-profile graft case is about alleged money laundering by Sharif in 1990s when he twice served as the Prime Minister to purchase assets in London.



Information about the assets surfaced when Panama Papers last year showed that they were managed through offshore companies owned by Sharif's children.



Prime Minister Sharif has denied any wrongdoing since the scandal first surfaced.
Pakistan today ruled out any role for India in the peace process in Afghanistan, saying it is "part of the problem and not a solution" as New Delhi is using Afghan soil to destabilise Pakistan.



At a Foreign Office briefing, spokesman Nafees Zakaria also attacked India on the Kashmir issue claiming the current situation in the Valley is "one of the worst episodes of human tragedy in living history" which has attracted attention of the entire international community.



Asked about India trying to seek greater role in Afghanistan, Zakaria said, "We have continued to underline that India is part of the problem and not a solution. India is also using Afghan soil for its nefarious designs to destabilise Pakistan and spoil Pak-Afghan relations."



When asked about Afghan President Ashraf Ghani linking his visit to Islamabad with Pakistan taking action against militants, he said the problems of Afghanistan are internal.



"Externalising Afghanistans problems and blaming others for the continued instability in their country does not help. It would be in the interest of everyone that such accusations are avoided as they serve no purpose, he said.



Ghani has declined invitations extended by top civil and military officials to visit Pakistan, saying he would not visit until Islamabad hands over the perpetrators of terror attacks in Afghanistan.



Attacking India on the Kashmir issue, Zakaria said the human rights situation in Kashmir has further deteriorated after the Srinagar by-elections.



"The recent video of a Kashmiri youth tied to an Indian army jeep as a human shield against the stone pelting young people has put India's claims of democracy to shame, he said.



He said Pakistan is raising the issue of human rights situation in Kashmir with countries bilaterally and on multilateral forums and demanding implementation of UNSC Resolutions on Kashmir.
See How Much It Costs To Rent Near CTA Stations And Cry... Or Laugh

By Stephen Gossett in News on May 5, 2017 6:00PM



Red Line, photo via Chicagoist Flickr Pool User Tripp

It's no secret that renters pay more for proximity to 'L' stops, even as massive disparities exist between the most expensive 'L'-adjacent markets and the least. How can easily chart those disparitiesplus take note of which stations are soaring in terms of nearby rental costs and which ones are dippingin a handy new interactive map from apartment-search site RentHop.

A few things jump out right away. Deep purple dots, representing the highest-cost stops ($2,1000) are concentrated mostly in and around the Loop, with the next highest rate, red ($1,800+), tending to cluster nearby. None of which should surprise anyone with a rudimentary understanding of neighborhood real estate. The cheapest rates (hard green on the legend) are mostly found on the South and Southwest side, with several represented out West. Not always, though, does the cost steadily decrease along a line as you move away from downtown however. Note the dip-rise-dip pattern, for example, from California to Kedzie to Central Park avenues along the outbound Pink Line.

Aside from median rents, the map data also includes, how much median rents have risen or fallen within the last year in a given stop locale.

The westernmost Green Line stops are among the highest spikes. Apparently value is increasing in the near 'burbs. (See also: Chicago's population decline.) The 18th St. Pink Line station was also among the stops that spiked up over the last 12 months (more than 9 percent over last year). Again, no shocker, given the Pilsen neighborhood's (and in particular that patch of neighborhood's) ongoing gentrification dilemma.

Largest increases (1 bedroom) by stop:

Green Line - Harlem/Lake - (+15.3%) $1,524

Red Line - Lake Street - (+14.8%) $2,225

Green Line - Oak Park - (+14.4%) $1,545

Green Line - Cottage Grove - (+11.5%) $1,254

Purple & Brown Line - Chicago Ave - (+11.1%) $2,150

Pink Line - 18th Street - (+9.2%) $1,269.50

Largest decreases (1 bedroom) by stop:

Pink Line - Polk - (-8.6%) $1,787

Blue Line - Illinois Medical District - (-8.5%) $1,785

Brown, Orange, Purple, Pink Line - Washington/Wells - (-7.9%) $2,265

Blue Line - Clinton - (-7.9%) $2,090

Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple Line - Randolph/Wabash - (-7.7%) $2,125

Apartment shoppers, plan your hunt accordingly.

[H/T Curbed]
Amid the raging debate over triple talaq, a woman broke the proverbial glass ceiling by uttering the three words to divorce her husband and free herself from his atrocities over dowry.



Amreen Bano uttered the word 'talaq' thrice at the Inspector General of Police's office on Wednesday in the presence of media.



She asserted that if men can divorce their wives by saying 'talaq' thrice, why can't women do the same.

She termed her step as a revenge on her in-laws as her younger sister was given 'talaq' by her husband's brother.



She told the mediapersons that she and her sister Farheen were married to Sabir and his brother Shakir on March 28, 2012.



Since their marriage, their husbands and in-laws harassed the two sisters for dowry.

Last September, Shakir divorced Farheen.



"As we raised our voices against the atrocities, my sister was divorced by her husband," Amreen said, adding physical and mental atrocities increased thereafter.



Amreen had even lodged a complaint against her husband, brother-in-law and four others of harassment. As no action was taken by the police in the matter, she yesterday reached the IG's office demanding her husband and in-laws be punished.



She then divorced her husband in front of mediapersons. "I divorced my husband as a revenge on the family for the atrocities we had to face. It was also because my brother-in- law divorced my sister."



Amreen said the Narendra Modi government is working for the welfare of women on the 'triple talaq' issue.

"All women should support the government on this," she said.



However, chief Qazi of Meerut, Jenur Rashideen, said there is no provision for women to divorce their husbands in Islam.



But he added that a woman has to give an application at a Shariat panchayat for divorce.

The panchayat will first try to resolve the issues between the couple but if it fails, then it can get the woman a divorce from her husband, he said.



IG, Meerut zone, Ajay Anand, said Amreen met him with her complaint against her in-laws. He said he has asked the police station concerned to act on the complaint.


The district police have rescued a minor girl of Arsikere from Moka village, Bikaner district, Rajasthan, and have arrested a youth and his mother for forcing her into wedlock.



The minor girl, who is now four months pregnant, has been handed over to the Child Protection Committee.

Superintendent of Police Rahul Kumar Shahapurawad told reporters here on Friday that Shashirekha of Arsikere, Sunitha of Rajasthan and her husband Vasanth have been booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, in connection with the crime.



The SP said that the girl is said to have left home on September 26, 2016, and her mother, who was working for a private company, had enquired with her daughters friends who suggested that the girl might have eloped. The mother, accordingly, decided against registering a police complaint.



In March, almost six months later, she received a phone call from her daughter, who informed her that Shashirekha had forcibly brought her to Rajasthan and got her married to a driver. The girls mother immediately lodged a police complaint and also submitted an application to the district Women and Child Development department seeking assistance to rescue her daughter, the SP said.



The police began investigations and based on the cellphone number, they found the girl at Bikaner district in Rajasthan.



With the help of the local police they rescued the girl and produced her before the local court seeking permission to bring her to Karnataka. She is under counselling, the SP said.



According to the girls statements, Shashirekha promised her a job and took her to Bengaluru and then to Chennai where she was kept in a lodge. The girl said that Shashirekha then tried to sell her. The girl stated in her complaint that as some people who visited the lodge rejected her, she was forcibly taken to Rajasthan where a jeep driver paid Rs 3 lakh and forced her into wedlock. The girl is four months pregnant now.



The police have got clues on the whereabouts of Shashirekha, Sunitha and Vasanth and will soon arrest them, the SP said. Additional SP Jyothi Vaidyanathan was also present.




The Centre today asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to take immediate steps to stop the unauthorised broadcast of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian channels in the state.



Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu spoke with the state chief secretary and also sought a compliance report at the earliest, official sources said here.



He expressed concern over reports that these channels are being broadcast in Jammu and Kashmir without permission.



Earlier in the day, Naidu's deputy in the ministry, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, had said the local administration in the state has right to confiscate the equipment of cable operators allegedly airing unauthorised channels.



Noting that the government has sent an advisory to the state, Rathore said such communications are regularly sent by the Centre on unauthorised channels.



"We also monitor whenever such news comes up. It is our work to ask for report about such incidents. The action is being taken," he said.



Rathore said it is the responsibility of the local administration to monitor unauthorised channels in their area and they have the right to take action against them.



"In Kashmir, the district collector or the authorised government official can confiscate the equipment and take action against cable operators," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.



The minister was responding to reports that over 50 Saudi and Pakistani channels besides Zakir Naik's banned Peace TV and others indulging in "anti-India" propaganda were allegedly running without necessary clearances via private cable networks in Kashmir.


Poor waste management has taken a toll on Brand Bengaluru as the city stood a distant 210th among 434 cities and towns in the latest cleanliness survey carried out by the Central government.



Bengalurus overall score was 968 (Municipal Self-Declaration: 365, On-site Observation: 269 and Citizen Feedback: 334).



The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palikes (BBMP) resolutions on plastic ban, segregation of waste at source, penalty for littering, spitting and public urination were a non-starter, not to mention the rampant dumping of garbage in lakes, stormwater drains and burning them at public places. The insufficient number of public toilets also contributed in Bengalurus poor performance in Swachh Survekshan 2017.



The garbage problem that raised its ugly head in 2012 refuses to go away. To aggravate the problem, six waste-processing units, which were disposing of about 1,500 tonnes of waste generated in the city, remained shut following protests and poor handling of garbage. A major fire in September 2016 led to closure of the waste-processing plant at Kannahalli. The BBMP is yet to recover from the blow. The capacity of waste-processing units has not been increased as the BBMP failed to utilise about 18 lakh tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF).



Kathyayini Chamaraj of Civic Bangalore said: We are back to the days of landfill sites. All the waste generated in the city is not processed but dumped in the quarries.



She rued that segregation of waste at source had come to a standstill as municipal workers were not carrying separate bins. Ragpickers should collect dry waste and municipal workers wet waste. This model will also benefit the ragpickers financially, she said.



N S Ramakanth of Solid Waste Management Round Table, however, differed. He wondered why Bengaluru was ranked so low when the segregation of waste at source in the city was the best in India. Waste-processing facilities in Bengaluru are the best in India. Nowhere would you see these types of units. We have the best waste segregation model, too, he insisted.



Nonetheless, he felt the survey report would prove a wake-up call for officials and public representatives.

Bengaluru Development Minister K J George said the ranking was low because six waste-processing units were shut when the survey was in progress. In addition, open defecation is still prevalent. We lost 2,000 points straightaway as the waste units were not functioning and open defecation was prevalent. We will make a point to improve the ranking next year, he said.



George called for restructuring the BBMP and dividing it into two or more municipal corporations. Mumbai and Delhi have more than one municipal corporation which makes governance easier. The BBMP restructuring bill is awaiting Presidential assent, he said.



Probe waste management firms



Samaj Parivartana Samudaya founder president S R Hiremath on Friday urged the state government to conduct a comprehensive investigation against Terra Firma Bio Technologies (TFBT) and MSGP Infratech limited for not following the rules laid down by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in disposal of solid waste, reports DHNS from Hubballi.



Speaking to reporters, Hiremath said that prima facie evidence suggest that there exists a garbage mafia that is not carrying out waste management as per the norms and, subsequently destroying evidence by periodically setting the garbage dumping units on fire. This has led to grave waste management crisis in Bengaluru.



He said that this was a significant issue in waste management and related ranking of clean cities. In the 'Swachh Survekshan-2017', in which Bengaluru has been pushed to 210th position in the all-India ranking. This shows the rot in the system and the nexus, resulting in Bengaluru getting defamed.



Hiremath blamed the directors of the two companies, Ganesh of TFBT and Praveen of MSGP for violating the rules and causing health hazards to people living near the dumping yards.




The Bangalore Development Authority has set a three-month deadline for completing the long-pending Hennur flyover project. The Rs 58-crore project, launched in 2009 connecting Hennur Cross to Kacharakanahalli, has been delayed due to issues with land acquisition. Moreover, the flyover was redesigned for increasing the ramp length.



The ramp length of the flyover was extended from 200 metres to 400 metres to connect it to the Hennur bus depot. Also, 32 properties had to be acquired for the project and the owners of some properties were demanding more compensation. Hence, the project got delayed, said BDA engineer member P N Naik.



Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, who inspected the flyover on Friday, admitted that there had been delay in paying compensation to people who parted with their properties for the project. A few landowners are demanding compensation of Rs 15,000 per sq ft which we are looking into. I have directed the BDA to complete the work at the earliest," the minister said. He added that the BDA and the BBMP will jointly construct a park with a swimming pool will come up on 16 acres in Hennur Bande area.




The Central Crime Branch (CCB) says it has caught a five-member group that ran a massive racket selling 1.6 lakh fake marks card for a whopping Rs 125 crore in the last three years. Five people have been arrested in Bengaluru and Delhi.



The racket was masterminded by Sandesh Agarwal, who runs a firm called Double Eight Consultancy in Vardhaman Mall, Delhi. The four other suspects were agents hired by him: Kunal Kumar Mondal, Deepankar Sen and Aruna, all from Bengaluru, and Saurav Kumar Sharma from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.



Sharma works at RPS International School, Narangpur, Ghaziabad, while Aruna runs Fortune Institute in Bengaluru. Mondal, a native of Bihar, operates Join Us for Education at Manipal Centre, off MG Road, Bengaluru.



The suspected racketeers had opened centres for educational training and counselling, and advertised on social media. They targeted students who either failed exams or scored low marks by promising them admission to reputable institutions, DCP (Crime) H D Ananda Kumar told journalists.



The group created fake marks cards based on a students capacity to pay. The marks cards of reputable institutions were sold at a premium. The score in the marks card was also dependent on the fees paid. The marks cards of professional courses were sold for Rs 1 lakh while those of traditional programmes cost Rs 50,000, he said.



The group had hired as many as 180 sub-agents across India. Sometimes agents approached students while at times, candidates themselves sought help, the DCP said.



Police suspect that many people landed private sector jobs by using the fake marks cards, though they are unsure whether such candidates had got into government employment, too. Government agencies contact educational institutions to verify the authenticity of marks cards. The chances of the beneficiaries getting into government jobs are low, the officer said.



Preliminary investigation suggests that the racketeers earned as much as Rs 125 crore by selling a whopping 1.6 lakh fake marks cards in the last three years. Police have recovered 732 ready-for-sale and 836 ready-for-print marks cards, rubber stamps, facsimiles and holograms.



The fake marks cards were generated in the name of 39 institutions of higher learning across the country, including the Karnataka State Open University and the Karnataka State Council for Intermediate and Higher Education.



How was the racket busted?



Sathwik, a student, had approached Kunal Kumar Mondal, one of the suspects, seeking a fake marks card. But their conversation was overheard by a police informant. The CCB then raided Join Us for Education run by Mondal and arrested him. Based on documents seized from Mondals office and his statement, the CCB arrested Deepankar Sen, who works at a private college in Bengaluru. The two men led the police to Saurav Kumar Sharma. A special team of the CCB then raided Agarwals office in Delhi and apprehended him.



Police are verifying Agarwals claim that he had studied Bcom and LLB. They are also checking 50,000-odd e-mails sent and received by Agarwal.




Days after China released its first home-made aircraft carrier in the ocean, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar told top naval commanders to reduce the downtime for warships so that maximum number of naval vessels remain in a combat-ready state.



In an unusual move, Jaishankar on Friday interacted with naval commanders and pointed to how maritime diplomacy can be used more fruitfully to consolidate New Delhis position in the Indian Ocean region where Beijing has begun to flex its maritime muscles.



While discussions between naval commanders and the defence minister as well as with the chiefs of the army and the air force are commonplace, this is after a long time that, Indias top diplomat met the men in uniform to assert the importance of naval diplomacy and spoke of the need to be in a combat-ready state.



Jaishankars meeting with the navy top brass comes in the wake of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy launching its first domestically built aircraft carrier, the Type 001A last week. In the strategic game, aircraft carriers are considered as power projection platforms as well as important foreign policy tools.



Even though Beijings aircraft carrier programmes are at a nascent stage at the moment, New Delhi keeps a watch because of the Communist countrys decision to expand its naval prowess. Much to Indias chagrin, Chinese nuclear submarines now move freely in the Indian Ocean, regularly docking at Sri Lanka or Pakistan ports.




Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which currently operates a weekly flight between Mumbai and Karachi, will suspend its service from May 11.



The flag carrier of Pakistan operates the flight on Thursday. Pakistan International Airlines has communicated to the authorities concerned that its Karachi-Mumbai flight will not be open for sale (bookings) from May 11, a company associated with the flight operation told PTI.



However, the PIA did not specify the reason for suspension of its flight service, a company official said.

Apart from the current situation, the suspension of the service might be due to commercial reasons as well, the official said.
Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani on Friday warned parents against sending children to army-run schools in Kashmir Valley.



(Army) goodwill schools have been setup for indoctrination of Kashmiri students, and these institutions run by the army make students indifferent towards their religion and culture, octogenarian Geelani claimed in a statement to the media.



While warning the parents to avoid sending their children to these institutions, he claimed, For petty material gains, we are losing our next generation.



The Hurriyat hardliner expressed apprehension over the reports of mischievous activities of goodwill schools.

They are killing, maiming and blinding us, and how obsolete and obscure it is to trust these and handover our future to their custody. It is quite contradictory and there is no moral justification for this. Occupiers can never prove choicest custodians and can never provide better education, as they are inflicting unprecedented brutalities to our nation, he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra discussed the latest security situation in the state with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.



Militant attacks and bank robberies have forced the launch of a massive combing operation in the Valley.

Vohras 45-minute discussion with Modi came a day after he met Home Minister Rajnath Singh.



The meeting followed intelligence inputs, which said that infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan are on the rise and that the Amarnath yatra could come under attack this year.



This years yatra is due to start on June 29 and conclude on August 7.Vohra also briefed Modi on the status of various development works in the state.



Though Vohra had earlier pressed the Centre to consider initiating a dialogue with the major political players in the state, the fresh spurt of violence in south Kashmir and along the Line of Control has left authorities with very little option.



The Centre has ordered for more troops to move into the Valley to flush out gunmen suspected to have infiltrated from across the border.



Modi is understood to have discussed with Vohra a possible timeline for things to cool down before any political initiative can be thought of, sources said.



Last week, when Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called on Modi, she was told that no dialogue could take place until the violence stopped.



Militants on Thursday had attacked an army patrol that left a civilian dead and three personnel injured when the troops conducted what was described as the biggest search operation in over a decade in the Shopian district of south Kashmir.



Reports said choppers and surveillance drones were deployed to assist troops on the ground during the operation.
An overwhelming majority of political leaders, even those opposed to death penalty, expressed happiness that justice had finally been served by sending the convicts in the December 2012 Delhi gang-rape case to the gallows.



Hailing the SCs Friday verdict, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it is a big day for the judiciary, which the entire nation was waiting for.



This is a big day for the Indian judicial system. I know this was a serious and sensitive issue for the entire nation. I am very happy and satisfied with the courts verdict. I wish her soul rests in peace, Prasad said.



CPM leader Brinda Karat said she is against death penalty but the paramedics rape fell into the heinous crime category, which demanded maximum capital punishment. I am against death penalty in principle because of the selective nature of judicial process in our country. The court is diluting the maximum punishment and, therefore, the maximum punishment which has been given according to statute books is as it should be....as far as the heinous crime is concerned the maximum punishment was needed. Certainly there was no issue at all, Karat commented.



Though Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjwewala praised the apex court order as a deterrent to sexual predators, which would prevent them from even dreaming of committing such heinous crimes, he slammed the NDA government for failing to create effective infrastructure to redress rape victims grievances despite having a Rs 1,000 crore corpus for the purpose.



He quoted NCRB figures to stress that six women still undergo the trauma of rape in Delhi every day. BJP ally Shiv Sena also felt that the verdict will deter people from committing similar crimes.



Maximum rape cases reported from BJP-ruled states, says Congress



The Congress on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court confirming the death sentence awarded to four convicts but said several similar incidents go unreported, reports DHNS.



Congress senior spokesperson Kapil Sibal quoted from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report to highlight the increase in crimes against women that have gone unreported. In overall crimes against women, Delhi is number one. Out of every one lakh women in Delhi, 184 are subjected to some kind of attack. At number two position is Assam (148 per one lakh women), followed by Telangana (83), Odisha (81) and Rajasthan (81), he said.



Sibal said maximum cases of rape were reported in BJP-ruled states such as Madhya Pradesh (4,391), Maharashtra (4,144) and Rajasthan (3,644).








The Congress high command is keen on appointing a Lingayat leader as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.



Water Resources Minister M B Patil, who was on the top of the list prepared by the party for appointment as KPCC chief, has communicated to the top brass that he is willing to take up the responsibility if he is allowed to continue as minister, sources in the party told DH.



Patil, who met both the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi twice recently, expressed his willingness to hold both the posts. He cited previous examples of the late Veerendra Patil and S M Krishna, both of whom served as chief minister apart from holding the post of KPCC president. Patil is learnt to have said that incumbent president G Parameshwara was also serving as Home Minister.



The Congress high command wants that those who hold the KPCC president post should not be a minister as it considers this would hamper organisational works. Earlier, when the party made Dinesh Gundu Rao as working president of the state unit, he had to quit as a minister on the advice of the party.



Patil also met newly-appointed AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Venugopal and the Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge here and is learnt to have expressed his eagerness to continue as minister even if he is made the KPCC chief.



Though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suggested appointing senior leader S R Patil, also a Lingayat from north Karnataka, the party top brass is keen on M B Patil considering he is has more appeal among the Lingayats, sources said.



Earlier, when the party top brass asked Energy Minister D K Shivakumar to take over the responsibility, he too wanted to continue as minister even if he is appointed KPCC president. Shivakumar also met Venugopal two days ago in the national capital to lobby for the post. A couple of Congress leaders from Karnataka led by Bengaluru Mayor G Padmavati met Venugopal and demanded that Shivakumar be made the KPCC chief.

However, now Rahul is keen on having only a Lingayat leader to counter the BJP, which appointed B S Yeddyurappa as sate party chief eyeing the Lingayat vote bank, a senior leader said.



The party top brass also asked Venugopal, who will be visiting Bengaluru early next week, to seek the opinion of state leaders on appointing new the PCC president and submit a report. Based on his report, the party high command is likely to take a final decision at the earliest, a senior leader said.


The 13 days between a young paramedics brutal rape and her death in a Singapore hospital, redefined the way India looked at sexual offences against women.



An immediate outrage broke out, driving hordes of young and old people out of their homes into the winter cold, hours after the gory incident on December 16, 2012. Six youths had gang-raped the victim and attacked her friend in a moving bus in south Delhi, before throwing them out and trying to run over them.



The 23-year-old paramedic and her male friend were returning home after watching a movie when they faced the brutal attack. The protests, following the publication of gory details of the sexual assault, shook the corridors of power in Delhi that led to initiation of changes in the anti-rape laws.



Verma commission



With the conscience of the nation shaken, the government appointed a commission under former Chief Justice of India J S Verma to suggest stronger laws to deal with sexual assault. It came up with stringent provisions for dealing with the crime though the commission was not in favour of death penalty for sexual assault.



The incident led to the government strengthening anti-rape laws, providing for death penalty for sexual assault. The law relating to juvenile justice was also reviewed to enable law enforcement agencies to put minors in the age group of 16-18 years on trial under the Indian Penal Code.



The change in Juvenile Justice Act was expedited by the release of a minor involved in the crime, after three years. This enraged the victims family and several others, though child rights activists warned against lowering upper age limit of juveniles from 18 to 16 years.



Within days of the incident, police had arrested five youths and detained a minor involved in the incident. The victim, who was undergoing treatment in a Delhi hospital, was sent to Singapore for specialised care but died on December 29, 2012, only after consistently providing information to investigators. The Supreme Court, in its judgement, acknowledged her statements to the police.One of the convicts, Ram Singh, committed suicide in Tihar jail.




The state Cabinet on Friday decided to drop the proposed amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which seeks to empower the state government to bring in necessary changes to the Act.



Law Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that President Pranab Mukherjee has taken objection to the amendment and directed the government to drop it from the amendment bill  the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (Karnataka Amendment) bill, 2017  passed in the state legislature in February this year.



However, the President has not taken any objection to legalising Kambala (the traditional buffalo race), which is also a part of amendment bill.



The bill was aimed at legalising Kambala (the traditional buffalo race) and bullock cart race. Besides legalising Kambala, the government had also proposed to empower itself to bring in other necessary amendments to the Act, which is a Central Act, in future. But, the President has directed to modify the bill, he stated.



The modified bill will be sent back to the President through the Karnataka Governor. The proposed amendment will come into effect soon after the President gives his assent. He also said there is no need for tabling the bill again in the state legislature for the sake of modifying it. He said the Cabinet deferred taking any decision on a proposal to introduce special sand mining policy in non-Coastal Regulation Zone areas of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts.



RERA implementation to be delayed

Implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) will be delayed in Karnataka as the government has failed to finalise the draft rules.

Jayachandra said the Cabinet is likely to discuss the draft rules its next meeting. The Law department has cleared the draft rules and forwarded them to the Urban Development Department (UDD). The rules will be placed before the Cabinet soon after the UDD clears them, he added.





The Cabinet decided to send senior sub-registrar, BTM Layout, Bengaluru, Girish Chandra, and junior engineer in Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department S K Hegde on compulsory retirement in connection with charges of irregularities against them. The Cabinet also approved construction of Morarji Desai residential schools in several places at the total expenditure of Rs 512 crore.
A two-day BJP state executive meeting is all set to commence in Mysuru from Saturday amid a running feud between senior leaders B S Yeddyurappa and K S Eshwarappa.



BJP national general secretary in-charge of Karnataka P Muralidhar Rao will inaugurate the meeting and party state president Yeddyurappa will preside. Union ministers Ananth Kumar, D V Sadananda Gowda, Ramesh Jigajinagi, Nirmala Sitharaman and former Union minister D Purandeswari will take part in the two-day meeting. Besides, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, district presidents and general secretaries and morcha presidents will attend the meet.



In Bengaluru, Eshwarappa said that he will be attending the meeting on both the days, putting an end to speculation that he and his supporters will be skipping the event. We are loyal party workers. How can we stay away from the state executive committee meeting? he said.



Eshwarappa was scheduled to participate in a workshop for the members of the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade in Raichur on May 8. Eshwarappa said the Brigade event has been postponed and the new dates for the workshop will be announced soon.



According to BJP sources, the central leadership communicated to Eshwarappa that they will be left with no option but to initiate action against him and his supporters if they stay away from the state executive.



However, Eshwarappas name does not figure in the list of those leaders, who will be addressing the meeting.



In Mysuru, Yeddyurappa tried to play down his rift with Eshwarappa. Speaking to reporters he said that all the issues between the party leaders have been resolved and all are united. The rift in the party between me and Eshwarappa in connection with the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade has been resolved, he said.



Highlighting the issues to be discussed at the executive, he said, two resolutions  regarding the states political situation and drought in the state  will be passed. The state government has failed to manage the drought situation. We will chalk out a plan on the agitation to be launched against the state government over its failure in tackling the drought, he said.



According to sources, around 300 party workers are involved in making preparations for the meeting scheduled to be held at Rajendra Kalamandira. The feud between Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa had hit a new low during the last few days with the central leadership sending Muralidhar Rao for damage control. Eshwarappa had launched a no holds barred public tirade against Yeddyurappas style of functioning at a convention in Bengaluru recently, blaming him for taking unilateral decisions and denting the morale of party workers.




Officials said on Friday they wouldnt be able to divert the flow of untreated water into Bellandur lake within the one-month deadline set by the National Green Tribunal.



Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia visited the lake and took stock, directing all stakeholders to speed up their work.



Cant divert water



We received the tribunal order earlier this week and read it in detail. We told the chief secretary we cant divert the water so quickly, a senior official told DH.



The tribunals deadline to clean up the lake ends on May 18. The chief secretary said he would present the problem before the tribunal at the next hearing on May 18, according to the official. An 150 mld sewage treatment plant will be functional by July, while another will be ready only by 2020, the government will submit to the NGT.



Clearing weeds is under way and will take three months as the lake is spread across 910 acres, officials said.

Desilting can be done only when the entry of untreated water is reduced. Otherwise, it will turn out costly, time-consuming and futile, officials told the chief secretary.



Calls for 50,000 tankers



If the tribunals directions are to be implemented, the government will have to identify a place to store the 250 million litres of untreated sewage water flowing into the lake every day.



It will also call for 50,000 tankers to carry the untreated water to the new location.

This is an expensive affair, and moreover, it means shifting Bellandurs problem to a new location, an official said.



Reality check on Tuesday



The urban development department will hold a meeting of all stakeholders near Bellandur lake next on Tuesday at 10.30 am. We will examine whether what the various departments have submitted to the chief secretary is true or not. We will understand the ground reality and report to him and the chief minister, an official said.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterparts in Indias five neighbours celebrated the launch of the South Asia satellite on Friday  sending out a tacit but clear message to spoilsport Pakistan.



The South Asia satellite demonstrated that our collective choices for our citizens will bring us together for cooperation, not conflict; development, not destruction; and prosperity not poverty, Modi said, as he was joined by almost all Saarc leaders, except Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.



A few weeks after taking over the Prime Ministers Office in New Delhi, Modi had proposed that India would share the benefits of its space technology with its neighbours and build and launch a satellite for the use of all other members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).



Though all the other members of the regional bloc had accepted New Delhis offer to build the Saarc satellite, Pakistan had rejected it.



This prompted the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to rename it as the South Asia satellite.

Pakistan not only rejected Indias Saarc satellite offer, but also blocked several other initiatives by the eight-nation bloc for rail and road connectivity within the region.



India responded by promoting several subregional initiatives for connectivity and cooperation with other Saarc member nations, thus isolating Pakistan.



This launch tells us that even the sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation, said Modi.

The South Asia communication satellite will provide Ku-band broadcasting and telecommunication services.

India has established the required ground station facility in New Delhi to enable test television transmission in the national languages of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.



The transmission can be viewed by citizens of these nations by using commercially available off-the-shelf and set-top boxes, sources in New Delhi said.



After the satellite launch from Sriharikota, Modi was joined by Afghan President

M Ashraf Ghani, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Maldives President Abdulla Yameen.



They all congratulated and thanked the prime minister for dedicating the satellite to the common progress and prosperity of South Asia.


Singapore Commissions First Littoral Mission Vessel



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The President of the Fudan University Dr. Xu Ningsheng visits the University of Birmingham. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The president of the Fudan University visited the University of Birmingham to explore potential for working together on future research, as well as student and staff exchange.

Fudan University President Dr. Xu Ningsheng was joined by Professor Zhu Chouwen  director of Fudan University's Foreign Affairs Office as they visited the university.

The guests were welcomed by Professor Jon Frampton, deputy pro vice chancellor and director of the China Institute. Following a brief tour of the campus, the visitors met Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood and other senior academic staff.

Professor Sir David Eastwood said, "Our distinguished guests' visit is testament to the University of Birmingham's growing reputation in China and presents another exciting opportunity for our researchers to foster strong partnerships across the globe.

"As a global 'civic' university in the 21st century, our responsibilities include contributing to enriching the life of both our home city and the wider world. We look forward to deepening our already strong partnership with Fudan University, as well as enhancing the education we provide to their students."

The Chinese delegation took the opportunity to explore opportunities to expand existing teaching collaborations and develop new research links in areas such as translational medicine, cancer treatment and engineering.

President Xu Ningsheng said, "As I have studied, researched and worked in Birmingham for many years, I deeply understand how much the University of Birmingham, as an advanced, characterised comprehensive university, contributed to local society, the UK, and world development.

"I visited Birmingham as the President of Sun Yat-sen University before, and as the President of Fudan University now. During this trip, I felt very encouraged to explore a deeper, broader, and more substantive cooperation with the University of Birmingham."

Students from Fudan University have been studying at Birmingham for some time in areas such as chemistry, engineering, and metallurgy.

In 2016, the university signed an agreement allowing Fudan students to enter philosophy, religion and ethics, or theology and religion degrees.

Fudan is also one of the largest contributors to the Birmingham International Summer School, with 24 students attending this year.

Professor Zhu Chouwen said, "The University of Birmingham was the first partner to cooperate on degree programmes with Fudan University - setting a model for the other collaborations. I look forward to our cooperation targeting more disciplines and firmly believe that we will see even more fruitful results."

Reflecting on the impact of the visit, Professor Jon Frampton said, "This was a very positive and productive meeting with President Xu and Dr. Zhu, building on initial steps taken over the last six months towards a broader and deeper partnership between Fudan University and the University of Birmingham.

"Today has laid the foundations for focused discussions on enhanced student exchange and possible research collaboration in areas such as translational medicine and quantum technology."

Professor Frampton added that the University of Birmingham hoped to deliver a 'showcase' event in Shanghai later this year to increase awareness of the potential for stronger ties between the two universities.
County officials are mired in a dispute over a construction error in the $31 million project to replace the four rail bridges that span the Los Penasquitos Lagoon between Del Mar and La Jolla.

When contractors began work to replace the northernmost of the lagoons four wooden bridges last March, a section of the new concrete span settled as much as 10 inches the first time a train passed over it, according to the San Diego Association of Governments, which is running the project along with the North County Transit District (NCTD).

The fix is ongoing. It involves injecting a concrete grout mixture around and under the bridge to permanently reinforce the foundation. The lagoons other three bridges did not experience any settling, but SANDAG ordered their retrofit in an abundance of caution, said SANDAG spokeswoman Helen Gao.

More than 70 commuter and freight trains run the corridor every day, making it the countrys second-busiest passenger line and San Diegos only viable freight connection. The bridge has remained open, with the repairs coming during weekend closures over the past year. All four bridges have since been inspected by NCTD, as well as state and federal agencies.

The project remains on course for its fall 2017 completion, but the error is expected to cost between $10 million and $15 million. SANDAG and NCTD paid for the repair work last year rather than bog down the entire project and risk running afoul of state regulations, according to SANDAG Executive Director Gary Gallegos.

The good news is that the fix is working, Gallegos told the Del Mar City Council last month. Now, as always happens, the argument starts over whose fault it is and who should pay for the extra work.

Skanska USA, the New York-based contractor, has said they do not believe they are to blame.

We are working with SANDAG to resolve this situation at the Los Penasquitos project. Our primary focus right now is completing the project safely and to the benefit of SANDAG, NCTD and the communities they serve, a Skanska spokesman said.

SANDAG has hired an outside expert to determine who is at fault. That report is expected this summer. It is the largest bridge construction error SANDAG has had, Gao said.

We do a ton of work. You try to avoid these kind of situations, but its also part of doing major infrastructure projects, said Del Mar Mayor Terry Sinnott, who is vice chairman of the SANDAG board.

Sinnott does not expect taxpayers to shoulder the costs.

Thats what insurance is for, he said.
San Dieguito Union High School District trustee John Salazar has asked SDUHSD superintendent Eric Dill and board president Amy Herman to place on the May 11 board agenda the proposed state bill that would require all public middle and high schools to start school no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

Lets show some leadership and support this bill, Salazar wrote to Dill and Herman in an email. It is good for the kids, and will bring in more revenue too.

The bill  SB 328  has gained approval by the Senate Education Committee and is moving through the legislature, despite opposition from the California Teachers Association.

Bill author Democratic Sen. Anthony Portantino said sound research from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control indicates overwhelmingly that later start times are healthier for teenage students whose sleep patterns in adolescence make early rising difficult.

Studies conducted over the last two decades have shown conclusively that later start times promote student health and well-being, raise academic achievement and improve attendance.

Reduced absenteeism means more revenue for school districts, most of which are funded based on the average daily attendance of students.

Its not just adolescents who would benefit from later start times.

A recent study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience cites more data showing that early education start times for students in the 1424 age range are linked to chronic, irrecoverable sleep loss of more than two hours each day.

Based on this extended age range, the authors posit that college classes starting earlier than 9 a.m. are as equally detrimental to college students as they are for high schoolers.

The NPR article on this is titled Down With 8 A.M. Classes: Undergrads Learn Better Later In The Day, Study Finds.

School districts have been presented with irrefutable evidence for decades, but few have taken any action. At last, someone in the California legislature is forcing their hand.

Some history

Back in 2002 and 2003, former Torrey Pines High School parent and community activist Wayne Dunlap worked tirelessly to get SDUHSD to change the start time at TPHS from the ungodly hour of 7:15 a.m. to the barely reasonable 8:15 a.m.

The only trustee back then who is still serving on the SDUHSD board is Joyce Dalessandro, who was first elected in 1996.

Dunlap lost his battle, even after gathering hundreds of signatures and armed with studies and more studies to show that later start times are better for students.

Emails Dunlap wrote to me at the time reveal the depth of his insight into the insurmountable problems he faced.

School boards are not usually pro-active, he wrote. They come together once a month to discuss an agenda that is pretty much set by school officials, not the board. Then they go home. Rarely do any of the board members push their own ideas.

Also, school boards are the most status quo organizations in our society  They are easily swayed by status quo arguments  Hence, not much is changed and our schools remain doing things the same without much question.

So, if you want something done, you have to mount a strong, consistent, well-organized, intelligent campaign to get something on the board agenda and then passed. The community must initiate change because the school system will not.

Dunlap and supporters asked for one hour  they got 30 minutes. This was called a compromise by the board and a huge disappointment by the petitioners.

Amy Herman said she would be willing to discuss the issue at the next board meeting but was not comfortable voting on it yet, even though any vote on whether to support the bill would be purely symbolic. She said shed like to hear more from parents on how later start times would impact them.

San Dieguito supt. Dill said the item will be placed on the May 11 agenda for discussion only, no vote.

No-hate zones

In an unrelated subject, San Diego Unified School Districts controversial new anti-bullying campaign designed to help protect Muslim students has received nationwide attention.

In developing the initiative, SDUSD was aided by the Council for American-Islamic Relations, the nations largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization.

Under the plan, SD Unified may include social studies lessons on Islam, list Islamic holidays on the school calendar, and create safe spaces for Muslim students at schools.

Critics have said it favors Muslim students over other cultures and religions, and still others say it violates the separation of church and state.

The district denies that its giving Muslim students special attention.

Though this is a noble effort, there are students of other religions that may need protection as well.

For example, according to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents nationwide at non-Jewish elementary, middle and high schools increased 106 percent last year, from 114 in 2015 to 235 in 2016. This increase accelerated in the first three months of 2017, when 95 incidents were reported.

These incidents need to be seen in the context of a general resurgence of white supremacist activity in the United States, said Oren Segal, director of the ADL Center on Extremism.

Locally, the ADL recorded a 33 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in San Diego County in 2016 over 2015. And in the first three months of 2017 the ADL said there was a four-fold increase over the same time period in 2016.

In a news release, Tammy Gillies, ADLs Regional Director in San Diego, expressed her concern for this upward trend in anti-Semitism, stating, Not only have we seen a dramatic increase in anti-Semitic incidents directed at the San Diego Jewish community, but perhaps most concerning of all is the dramatic increase of these incidents in schools.

Schools are a microcosm of the country, said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. Children absorb messages from their parents and the media, and bring them into their schools and playgrounds. We are very concerned the next generation is internalizing messages of intolerance and bigotry.

The 2016 presidential election and the heightened political atmosphere played a role in the increase, according to the ADL.

Yes, theres appalling bullying of Muslim students based on religion, but Muslims arent the only ones targeted.

I would bet there are few adults who did not experience some kind of bullying or torment from peers in their school days  for being too tall, too short, too stocky, too thin, too disabled, too dark, too pale, too gay, too geeky, too Greek, too Italian, too Asian, too Hispanic, too African-American, too Irish, too Christian, too rich, too poor, too ... different.

Perhaps a program that seeks to educate students and eliminate hatred against all forms of bias would be a better and more broad-based approach.

The ADLs No Place for Hate incorporates ways to counter bigotry in all forms, including sexual orientation as well as prejudice based on religion, race and gender.

The goal of No Place for Hate is to inspire a national movement led by students and educators who are committed to using the power of positive peer influence to build inclusive and safe schools in which all students can thrive, according to the San Diego ADL website.

No Place for Hate, the site states, is an organizing framework for K-12 schools committed to creating sustainable change that leads to improved school climate.

The program utilizes anti-bias and anti-bullying resources to form one powerful message that all students have a place to belong.

No Place for Hate is just one example of an inclusive K-12 educational program that addresses how to battle all kinds of discrimination. There are more.

Educating children against Islamophobia is essential, but so is education against other forms of bigotry. All children at schools and colleges have the right to study and learn in environments that are non-threatening and free from bullying.

Entire schools should be safe spaces.

PostScript: Regarding the discussion on later school start times, Wayne Dunlap wrote to me this week with his thoughts. He said he didnt feel they lost the battle.

We did win, he said. Getting a half hour was amazing, given nothing was done on this, even in light of overwhelming support.

He said a poll done by students (of students and faculty) and parents (of other parents) showed over 90 percent support from the Torrey Pines community for later start times.

Wayne Dunlap is now an award-winning travel photojournalist and author of the popular 5-star travel book Plan Your Escape. His website is UnhookNow.com.

Opinion columnist and Senior Education Writer Marsha Sutton can be reached at suttonmarsha@gmail.com.
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President Xi Jinping has sent a letter to the China Vocational Education Association (CVEA) to offer congratulations on the 100th anniversary of its founding.

In the letter published Friday, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, praised the association's historical contributions and called on the organization to promote development of the country's vocational education.

The president also told the association to work with domestic and overseas vocational education workers to strengthen exchanges and better serve society.

Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended Friday's celebration.

Yu spoke of the association's glorious history, saying that it is a pioneer of China's modern vocational education, an important organization in strengthening and developing united front work and a major force in providing social services.

Yu asked the association to unite domestic and overseas vocational education workers, play its role in boosting modern vocational education, improve social services and carry forward fine traditions.

Xi's letter was read by Sun Chunlan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The CVEA was founded in 1917 by dozens of Chinese figures in educational and industrial fields.
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 Flash

Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China and President of All-China Women's Federation Shen Yueyue met with President of Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou on Thursday in Lao capital Vientiane.

During the meeting, Shen introduced the achievements made in China.

Shen emphasized the necessity to strengthen exchanges between the two countries' women, jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative, and join hands to build a community of common destiny between China and Laos.

Pany Yathotou, for her part, spoke highly of the bilateral ties between the two countries, expressing her hope that the legislative bodies and women organizations of the two countries will further strengthen cooperation, thus promoting the Laos-China relationship.
These Super Mushy Pictures Of Fawad Khan And Wife Sadaf Will Make You Jealous!
After Katrina, This Bollywood Actor Also Poses In Towel For Mario Testino!
First Sierra Nevada red fox captured, radio-collared in Oregon

Tweet This female Sierra Nevada red fox in the cross color phase was captured and radio-collared this week in Deschutes County.

- Photo: Tim Hiller-

Download photo . Thursday, May 4, 2017 SALEM, Ore  A Sierra Nevada red fox (SNRF) was captured and radio-collared in Deschutes County this week, a first for Oregon wildlife biologists researching this rare sub-species of red fox. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Tim Hiller of the Wildlife Ecology Institute have continued a SNRF study that began in 2012 and are now in the phase to capture and radio-collar the foxes in the Oregon Cascades. The original study confirmed SNRF presence in the Oregon Cascades and was partially responsible for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services decision not to list the species in Oregon. Project leaders Hiller and ODFW wildlife technician Jack Vaughn hope to capture and radio-collar nine more SNRF by the end of June 2018. Capture activities will continue for the next few weeks, and resume again later this fall when success rates are higher than other seasons. We use specialized cage traps originally designed for bobcats. Its a challenge using these during winter, especially this year with the heavy snowfall, so we were very happy to capture this SNRF female, Vaughn said. The collars will be active for one year and Vaughn will monitor them from the ground. SNRF is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. Strategy Species include those with small, declining, or unknown population levels that could be at risk and may be in need of conservation. Within the Strategy, ODFW identified data gaps associated with this rare montane (mountain) fox, including assessing population dynamics, collecting genetic information, understanding seasonal habitat use, and evaluating competition from coyotes. The current study aims to fill some of those data gaps. Information collected from SNRF in Oregon has never before occurred, and will not only benefit conservation and management in Oregon, but could also be critical for efforts in California, stated Hiller. Radio-collared foxes could give us information on habitat use, denning activities, foraging behavior, seasonal elevational changes and sources of mortality. Hiller said six SNRF have been captured in past and present studies in California. SNRF is found only in high-elevation meadows and forests of the Oregon Cascades south into northern California, and in the Sierra Nevada of California. The latter population is believed to have less than 50 individuals in total, whereas the Oregon Cascades may hold more foxes, but probably in fragmented areas. In fact, Hiller said past and ongoing research in Oregon suggests that SNRF, while still rare, may be more widespread than originally thought. The individual captured in Deschutes County early this week was an adult female and the cross color phase (see photo). Other color phases include silver (black) and the more familiar red. SNRF generally are smaller than other red foxes and average about eight pounds. Field research on SNRF in Oregon was first initiated during 2012 by ODFW with assistance from U.S. Forest Service, and included camera surveys and hair and scat collection for genetic analyses. This study, which continues to collect information on SNRF, confirmed their presence in the Oregon Cascades, specifically in the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, and Three Sisters Wilderness Areas. Genetic samples are sent to UC Davis for analysis. Additional research findings from this phase of the project will be coming out in the near future. Funding for this project comes from ODFW, the Pittman-Robertson Act and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Other project cooperators and funders include Wildlife Ecology Institute, U.S. Forest Service, UC Davis, The High Desert Museum, Cascades Carnivore Project, Oregon Wildlife Foundation, and Oregon Zoo Foundation. ###
Sony Xperia XZ Premium features 4K display and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset

Sony Xperia XZ Premium, the first smartphone to be announced with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 SoC, has been benchmarked ahead of its official availability. The smartphone carrying model number G8141 has scored 1943 on the single core test and 5824 on the multi-core test of Geekbench. The Geekbench listing reveals that the handset comes with 4GB of RAM and runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system.

To recall, the Sony Xperia XZ Premium was officially announced at Mobile World Congress in February. The smartphone features a 5.5-inch 4K UHD display with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Powering the device is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 processor coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The device also features a new 19MP MotionEye rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, same as the one seen on Xperia XZs.

The handset comes with a 13MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture and support for 1080p video recording. On the connectivity front, it offers Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC and USB-C port. The smartphone houses a 3230mAh battery with support for Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging.

The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is likely to arrive first in the UK on May 22 for 645 (approx. Rs. 54,000). The smartphone is expected to start shipping in Germany under carrier O2, starting June 1 for 749. The smartphone will be the premium competitor to Samsung's Galaxy S8 and LG G6 this year.
ABC mantra: Get into politics or get out of business

Government plays a significant role in whether a company can be profitable.



By WENDY NOVAK

ABC of Western Washington

Novak

Politics dominates the news, and not in a good way. Many people are turned off and are tuning out. Should businesses do the same, or is now the time to lean in and get involved?

Washington, D.C., may be becoming more business friendly, but Washington state isnt. Should businesses refuse to engage, thinking they cant do anything about it anyway, or try to have some influence in improving the business climate?

For a business to be successful it must have good working relationships with its bank, accountant, lawyer, vendors, subcontractors and clients. But government also plays a significant role in whether a company can be profitable.

Governments pass ordinances and legislation that impact taxes, the environment, labor and employment, and more  touching nearly every facet of a companys operation. In addition, unelected bureaucrats add more, often burdensome, regulations. Too often, a business owner who values good working business relationships fails to develop relationships with the elected officials in his/her local city, county, Olympia and Washington, D.C.

Many business owners think it is impossible to influence government, so they dont even try. And, certainly in the current political climate it is tempting to believe that. But now is exactly the right time to get involved.

The business community has a key role to play in achieving good government by providing real-life examples of how the marketplace works and how proposed legislation would impact businesses that make the economy strong.

Often, legislators are trying to solve a real or perceived problem. They have good intentions, but many times dont understand how the economy really works, and the legislation can end up with harmful and unintended consequences.

Most elected officials have never been a business owner; they dont know what it means to sign the front of a paycheck. If company owners would engage in the legislative process, providing vital information, better legislation should result. Business owners and legislators should be partners in forming public policy regarding the economy, regulatory environment, taxes and employment law. But that is only possible if company owners, managers and employees engage in the government process.

How to get involved

While becoming involved in government takes time  and often money  it is worth making it a regular part of a businesss operations. It is helpful to realize there are two distinct elements of being involved in government: politics and legislative activity.

Politics is the selecting and electing of candidates a business owner thinks will more likely support policies helpful to creating a healthy business climate. Legislative activity is the introduction and passing or stopping of legislation.

Politics is a numbers game: dollars and votes. Business owners have several ways to get involved. Study the candidates and make a choice of the preferred candidate. Then, make a contribution, attend or host a fundraiser, or offer to help with the campaign. Because money is a critical factor in running a successful campaign, being a donor or volunteer helps get the ear of the legislator after the election. Thats a good start to a mutually beneficial relationship where a company owner can provide vital information on pending legislation.

Once a candidate becomes an elected official, the ways a business can participate in the process changes. Because of the volume of bills that are introduced, and the speed and complexity of the legislative process, many business owners depend on trade associations government affairs programs to inform them. Some are general business groups like the Association of Washington Business or National Federation of Independent Business, while many others are industry or profession specific, like Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors, American Council of Engineering Companies, NAIOP and others.

Associations generally track legislation of interest for their members and notify the members when to contact their legislators and use services such as VoterVOICE to make that contact as easy as a click or two.

Associations often employ lobbyists who provide information and work to persuade legislators to vote in a way that the members of the association see as beneficial. Associations also often host events where its members can meet elected officials and develop or maintain relationships.

While business groups are often made up of competitors, when it comes to their government affairs efforts, the members come together.

If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.  Benjamin Franklin.

Contacting lawmakers

It is possible to develop relationships without joining a business group. A call to a legislators office to set up a meeting, either in the home district (even at the companys location) or in the legislators office, may result in a bit of a scheduling challenge, but its a good way to get to know each other.

Contacting legislators often results in talking to their aides. Dont hesitate to tell them what your concerns are or voice your opinion. Legislators are often in committee meetings or on the floor so they rely on their aides to be their eyes and ears. Aides are significant participants in the process so working with them is a valuable endeavor.

While business owners are often consumed with the demands of just running their companies, it is in their long-term interest to become actively involved in elections and the legislative process. Electing pro-business candidates makes the rest of the process easier, especially if there is a majority of pro-business people in office.

Better legislation can result from business owners viewing themselves as partners in the process by providing critical information about how legislation will really work  or not  in the business community. Developing relationships with government officials is just as important as knowing the other partners who impact the success of a business. It just takes a bit of time and money. But it is worth both.

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesnt mean politics wont take an interest in you.  Pericles.

Wendy Novak is president/CEO of ABC of Western Washington. She has served many years on the ABC National Membership Professionals Council, chairing it for three years, and is a member of the American Society of Association Executives.





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What every contractor should know about bonds

As construction projects get more complicated, bonding issues follow suit.



By SETH MILLSTEIN

Pillar Law PLLC

Millstein

No one can claim to be a stranger to this phrase: My word is my bond.

If this phrase were true, and if the person saying it were Warren Buffett, the need for so many types of bonds for construction projects in Washington would evaporate.

But there is only one Warren Buffett. And its hard to take people at their word. This is especially true today when  in a city like Seattle  so much new construction means so many new relationships.

With newer relationships, there is less history. With less history, there is often less trust. We also live in an age of hyper-litigation. So even if you were contracting with Warren Buffett to build him a new home, and even if he hired you on a handshake only, that still might not be enough.

Hence the incredibly large and complex world of bonding issues in the construction world. Bonds range from massive (public works) to minor (private liens). This article is intended to provide a brief overview. It addresses a few common types of construction bonds.





PRIVATE PROJECTS

CRA bond

General contractors in Washington, those requiring use of more than one craft or trade on a given project, must actively carry a $12,000 bond. Specialty contractors must post a $6,000 bond.

 Purpose. The purpose of a CRA bond is to provide security to members of the public when hiring a contractor in Washington. In other words, if a contractor does not perform properly, ends up owing money and fails to pay, the bond then must pay.

 Details. Those entitled to recover from a general contractors bond include owners, subcontractors, material suppliers and state agencies. However, a general contractor is not permitted to make a claim downstairs against its subcontractors CRA bond.

 Recovery process. In other states, a claim on a contractors bond can simply be initiated by filing a notice with the appropriate agency. Here in Washington, the only way to make a claim against a contractors CRA bond is to file a lawsuit. The CRA bond company must be named as a defendant to this action. Residential owners are entitled to recover the full amount of the CRA bond and also get first priority to its proceeds. The CRA bonding company must be served through the state Department of Labor & Industries, by mailing copies of the pleadings to L&I with a check for $50 by certified mail. The CRA bond is obligated to pay when there is an unpaid judgment against the contractor.

 Wrinkles. CRA bonds are relatively small. Homes in King County now sell for an average of $700,000, yet the CRA bond amount of $12,000 or $6,000 (for trades) has not changed in years. If there are multiple claims, each party in the same priority tier (such as owners) is then entitled to recover only a percentage share of the remaining CRA bond. In other words, after figuring in attorney fees and costs, net recovery can be very low considering a successful lawsuit is required to collect from a CRA bond.

Also worth noting: a CRA bond is not insurance. A CRA bond is only available if the claimant gets a judgment against the contractor and the contractor does not pay. A CRA bond does not defend a contractor. A CRA bond is simply a backstop. It is intended to provide some measure of security if a claimant obtains a judgment against a contractor and the contractor fails to pay.

Lien release bond

 Purpose. If a contractor liens a property, and the owner wants to sell the property, a lien release bond is required. Often this is called bonding around a lien. A lien release bond frees up the property. Security is shifted from the property itself to a dedicated release bond. In general, the release bond must be twice the amount of the lien, if the lien is under $10,000. If the lien exceeds $10,000, the release bond must be 1.5 times the lien.

 Details/recovery process. For a contractor whose lien has been bonded around, the perfection process is the same as foreclosing on a lien. The difference is that the bond company (also called a surety) is named as a defendant to the action. To perfect, the foreclosure suit must be filed within eight months of the date the lien is recorded. If and when the contractor prevails, and the claimant remains unpaid, then the surety issuing the release bond is liable.

 Wrinkles. Be careful if you have recorded a lien and the lien has been bonded around. Make sure that the company issuing the bond is permitted to do so, and that the language on the face of a release bond aligns with the statute. And be aware that this area of the law carries a measure of confusion when naming proper defendants to the action. Here, as in other areas, an attorney familiar with such bonds should be consulted prior to expiration of the eight-month window.

P&P bond

 Purpose. A payment and performance (P&P) bond is common on commercial jobs, and may be considered on high-end residences too. If the owner requires the general contractor to post a P&P bond, the intent is to protect the owner in the event the general contractor defaults. The P&P bond would then allow the owner to tap funds to pay unpaid subcontractors and suppliers, and hire another contractor to complete the project.

Often general contractors require their subcontractors to post P&P bonds too. The idea is the same. If the subcontractor defaults, the general can pay its suppliers or sub-tier subcontractors, and hire another subcontractor to complete a given scope of work.

 Details/recovery process. Private P&P bonds are not statutory in nature. Recovery requirements therefore vary from bond to bond. It is important to read the P&P bond carefully before proceeding, and to provide proper notice accordingly. Typically proof of default and debt is due to the surety. The surety is then afforded first opportunity to pick up the pieces for the defaulting party. If this fails, and a suit is filed to recover, the P&P surety would also be a named defendant.

 Wrinkles. P&P bond companies often require significant documentation prior to paying, or stepping in to complete the project. The issue therefore is timing. If the documentation and approval process is lengthy, the project could stall, costing more money. P&P bonds, like all bonds, often limit the range of their liability, including various consequential damages.





PUBLIC PROJECTS

P&P bond

On state work projects, the general contractor is statutorily required to post a P&P bond on projects exceeding $25,000. The amount of the bond is also fixed by statute, which varies depending on the size of the project. State P&P bonds are for the benefit of all unpaid laborers, subcontractors and suppliers.

On federal projects, a Miller Bond must be posted, which also provides security for parties providing labor and/or materials on a job. However, only parties contracting with the prime contractor or a first tier subcontractor are protected by the Miller Bond. Below that, there is no protection by way of a bond claim. With state bonds, protection runs further downstream, including more parties involved.

 Details. Claims must be formally sent to the proper public agency within 30 days of formal acceptance of the entire project for bonds, and 45 days after completion of construction for retention, defined as an amount held back by the owner to provide additional security. Suit must then be filed within four months of serving the claim notice. Claims can be extended, if renewed prior to acceptance, and within the four-month duration of the claim period.

 Wrinkles.

State: Pre-claim notices are only required for parties not contracting directly with the general or prime contractor, also known as second-tier subcontractors and suppliers. In any event, suit should not be filed within 30 days of the date of your claim or properly amended claim. If a contractor files suit too soon, recovery of statutory attorney fees is prohibited.

Federal: Only those below first tier subcontractors must provide notice to the prime contractor. This must occur no later than 90 days after the claimants last date it furnished labor or materials. Suit must be started within one year from the last date the claimant furnished labor or materials.

Retention release bond

The government agency must holdback or retain 5 percent of the contract amount from the prime contractor on state projects. Prime contractors often need this money before the project has been formally accepted. In such cases, a prime contractor can post a retention release bond. Such bonds permit the agency to promptly release retention to the prime prior to acceptance. A subcontractor or suppliers security, flowing from a retention claim, is then shifted to a release bond. If a prime contractor posts a retention release bond, a subcontractor can post one as well, if the subcontractor chooses to get its funds earlier.

 Details. Check the bond for details. Technically the retention bond is named as a defendant instead of the government agency in the lawsuit, since the agency no longer holds the retention after disbursal. To be safe, both could be named as defendants. Then, upon proof from the agency that it is holding zero retention, a stipulation can be entered to relieve the agency.

 Wrinkles. There is always a cost to purchasing a bond. Like all bonds, posting a retention release bond can be expensive. Whereas the cost of other bonds is often rolled into the contract price, this is not true for retention release bonds, which are voluntary in nature. The contractor must therefore pay premiums and post collateral at its own expense.

In a nutshell, bonds can be complicated. Today, as construction projects get more complicated and increase in volume, bonds and bond issues promise to increase too.

Seth Millstein has been practicing construction law for 13 years in Washington, and formed Pillar Law seven years ago. His firm focuses on liens, bond claims and litigating construction contract disputes.





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Japan's Orix Corp to buy 22.1% in Israeli renewable energy producer Ormat for $627 mn

With a view to expnding in Asia, Japanese financial services group Orix Corp, yesterday struck a deal to buy a 22.1-per cent stake in Israeli alternative and renewable energy producer Ormat Technologies Inc for $627 million.

Orix acquired approximately 11.0 million shares at $57 a share, valuing the entire Nevada-based Ormat at $2.84 billion.

Orix, based in Tokyo, is buying the stake from a group led by the FIMI private equity fund, which includes Bronicki Investments, Ltd and senior management of the company.

Under the terms of a new commercial agreement between the two companies, Ormat will have exclusive rights to develop, own, operate and provide equipment for Orix geothermal energy projects in all markets outside of Japan.

In addition, Ormat will have certain rights to serve as technical partner and co-invest in Orix geothermal energy projects in Japan. Orix will assist Ormat in obtaining project financing for its geothermal energy projects from several leading providers of renewable energy.

Under related agreements, Orix will have the right to appoint three of its nominees to the board of Ormat and also a fourth person to be mutually agreed by Ormat and Orix to serve as a new independent director.

Founded in 1965, Ormat is a geothermal company and the only vertically integrated company engaged in geothermal and recovered energy generation (REG).

The company owns, operates, designs, manufactures and sells geothermal and REG power plants primarily based on its Ormat Energy Converter  a power generation unit that converts low-, medium- and high-temperature heat into electricity.

It has 73 US patents, employs 474 people in the US and over 700 overseas.

The company currently owns or has installed to utilities totaling 2,200 MW of gross capacity.

Ormat's current 727 MW generating portfolio is spread globally in the US, Kenya, Guatemala, and Guadeloupe.

"We are excited to partner with ORIX, one of the world's leading diversified companies with operations in 36 countries, to advance the interests of both companies," said Gillon Beck, Ormat's chairman.

"We expect this collaboration will expand the number and quality of growth opportunities that Ormat enjoys around the world, particularly in Asia," Beck added.

''As one of Asia's leading investors in the renewable energy sector, and with a growing portfolio of renewable energy investments around the world, we recognise the importance of having clean, reliable, baseload power such as that which geothermal provides, and we believe that the geothermal sector has the potential to become an increasingly large component of the world's overall energy mix,'' said, Yuichi Nishigori, head of Energy and Eco Services Business at Orix.

Established in 1964, Orix operates a diverse portfolio of businesses in financial services, and investment spaces. Its business activities span industries including energy, private equity, infrastructure, automotive, ship and aircraft, real estate and retail financial services.
PTC to sell power from first wind auction to Discoms of 5 states

State electricity distributions companies (Discoms) of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Odisha and Assam today signed memorandum of agreements for purchase of electricity from Power Trading Corporation of India (PTC India), under the country's first successful wind power auction.

The memorandum of agreements (MoAs) for purchase of 1,000 MW wind power under MNRE's first wind auction scheme were signed in New Delhi between PTC and the Discoms of the five states during the two-day conference of power, new and renewable energy and mines ministers of states and union territories.

As per MoAs the Discoms of UP will buy 449.9 MW, Bihar (200 MW), Jharkhand (200 MW), Delhi (100 MW), Assam (50 MW) and Odisha (50MW) of wind power for meeting their non-solar renewable power obligation (RPO).

Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) issued the letter of award (LoA) to the successful wind power developers under the first wind auction scheme on 5 April 2017. The projects are expected to be commissioned within 18 months from the date of issue of LoA.

The first such auction process, carried out for award of wind power concession through e-reverse auction, also saw record low tariff of Rs3.46 per kWh being realised.

With the success of the first wind auction scheme, MNRE is planning another round of wind auction for 1,000 MW capacity wind power projects.

The Scheme is open for all obligated entities purchasing wind power for compliance of their non-solar RPO.

The differentiation between windy and non-windy states has been done away with. The SECI will sign power purchase agreements with selected wind developers and back-to-back power sale agreements with buying utilities.

Further, a provision of 10 per cent additional capacity for central public sector entities (CPSEs) has been kept under the scheme without participation in the bidding. However, they have to supply wind power at the lowest discovered tariff through a bidding process.
A drunk driver with 84 previous convictions who reversed his car at speed and struck a garda as he tried to evade arrest has escaped a prison sentence.

Paul McGillion of 1 Greenhills, Manorcunningham was sentenced at Letterkenny Circuit Court after he admitted a series of charges connected to endangerment.

The 32 year-old had admitted endangerment, dangerous driving,drink driving, driving without insurance and driving without a license.

Letterkenny Circuit Court heard that he had been out drinking with his work colleagues in Letterkenny before he returned home and got his car.

After being spotted by gardai driving at speed, he was followed to Larkins Lane off Lower Main Street where a Garda public order van and car patrol car blocked his escape.

He was surrounded by five gardai on foot who were running towards his car when he observed at high speed, and struck Garda Michael Kilcoyne on the thigh. After reading a medical report, Judge Terence OSullivan described the injuries as life changing.

The court heard how McGillion had committed the majority of his offences while living in Northern Ireland. He had not committed any offence since 2011 until he went out socialising after work on the night of July 24th, 2015

Garda Marcus ODowd told the court that gardai received a report at 3am of a silver Honda spinning its wheel and driving off at speed.

Garda Alfie McHale, who was on mobile patrol, followed the car but could not keep up with it.

Garda ODowd said he and a colleague began a search for the vehicle, and it was spotted on Convent Road traveling at high speed.

At 4.15 am the car was seen driving down Lower Main Street on CCTV and gardai blocked its exit from Larkins Lane.

Garda Kilcoyne ran to the driver's door. The car spun its wheels and drove towards the area blocked by the Garda van.

Garda ODowd said the car reversed and aggressively backwards and hit Garda Kilcoynes leg.

He told the court that the driver would have seen Garda Kilcoyne. He would have known he was standing there, he said.

He then drove at Garda ODowds patrol car and only slammed on his brakes at the last second.

Garda ODowd said the doors of the car were locked and he used his baton to break the passenger window. McGillion resisted and Garda ODowd managed to handcuff him.

McGillion continued to be aggressive and was cursing and swearing.

Garda ODowd said he detected a smell of alcohol. McGillion was breathalysed and had a reading of 47.

He admitted later that he had no insurance or driving licence and he was full drunk  behind the wheel.

Garda Kilcoyne suffered nerve damage to right leg and was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital.

The court heard McGillion had 85 previous convictions, including 74 from Northern Ireland.

Assaults of police officers

The offences included dangerous driving, drink driving, assaults on police officers and thefts from 2001 to 2011.

After reading the medical report, Judge Terence OSullivan said the injuries to Garda Kilcoyne were life changing.

Defence counsel, Sean Mac Aodha, said McGillion was born in Strabane. At the age of 17 had an altercation with a man which later resulted in him sustaining very serious injuries which left him in hospital for four months.

From 2001 to 2011 McGillion suffered mental health issues and abused drugs and alcohol.

He said his client had been abandoned by his father at a very young age and was brought up by his mother and grandmother.

He had fallen in with the wrong company and had become addicted to both drink and drugs, but had managed to turn his life around.

He then went back to college and took up work in Letterkenny. He married and had two children.

He said the events on that nig were major blip.

Giving evidence McGillion blamed a combination of stress due to the terminal illness of his grandmother, and the fact that he was preparing for his marriage.

He apologised to both Garda O'Dowd and Kilcoyne who were in the courtroom.

"My life was in turmoil and I didn't care if I lived or died. But all that changed when my wife became pregnant with my daughter, he told the court.

Judge Terence O'Sullivan said that this was perhaps the trickiest case he had dealt with in many years.

He said there was no question that Garda Kilcoyne was seriously injured and will have to live with those injuries as a result.

If McGillion had not pleaded guilty, he would be looking at serving five years in prison.

He said McGillion had shown remorse and had put his previous life behind him to a great extent.

"I have to try and sentence the offender and not the offence," he said.

He referred to a medical report on McGillion, which suggested that if he stays away from polysubstance that he will make a full recovery.

"The issue is should I unravel his life, which a prison sentence will do, or should I tie his hands? If I throw him under the bus I think I will seriously unravel his life and that of his family."

He imposed a three-year sentence and suspended the sentence for three years on a number of conditions which stipulated that McGillion remains alcohol-free, stays away from polysubstances and continues to attend for medical treatment.

McGillion was disqualified from driving for five years for dangerous driving and fined 500.

He was also disqualified concurrently for a further four years for drink-driving. He was given a further four year ban, also concurrently, for having no insurance.
The Donegal Democrat has been informed of the following deaths:

- Ann Houton, Benduff, Carndonagh

- Gerry Roarty, Dublin and Bundoran

- Ivan Diver, Coolcholly, Ballyshannon

- John Keeney, Balbane, Killybegs

- James Collins, Oldtown, Letterkenny

- Pauline Doig, Gortahork and Glasgow



Ann Houton, Benduff, Carndonagh

The death has taken place at Letterkenny University Hospital of Ann Houton, late of Benduff, Carndonagh.

Funeral from her home on Sunday (May 7th) at 10.15am for 11am mass in The Church

of Sacred Heart, Carndonagh followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

Family time please from 10pm to 10am.

Family flowers only or if desired donation in lieu to the Friends of Letterkenny University Hospital c/o Liam Collins Funeral Director or any family member.



Gerry Roarty, Dublin and Bundoran

The sudden death has occurred of Gerry Roarty late of Donabate, Dublin and formerly Bundoran.

Reposing on Friday at his home from 5pm till 8pm. Removal on Saturday, May 6, to St. Patricks Church, Donabate for 1.30pm Mass.



Ivan Diver, Coolcholly, Ballyshannon

The unexpectedly death has occurred Ivan Diver, late of Coolcholly, Ballyshannon.

Funeral arrangements to be announced later.

His remains will be reposing at the Sheil Hospital Mortuary on Sunday, May 7th, from 1.30pm with removal at 6.30pm to arrive at St Annes Church, Ballyshannon for 7pm.

Funeral service in St Annes Church on Monday at 2pm with Service of Interment in the adjoining graveyard.

Family flowers only, donations in lieu if so desired to St Annes Parish Church, c/o Patrick Mc Kenna Funeral Director, Ballyshannon or any family member.

House Private Please.

All enquiries to Patrick McKenna Funeral Director, Ballyshannon 087 2485819

James Collins, Oldtown, Letterkenny

The death has occurred at the Donegal Hospice of James Collins, late of 15 Leck

Cottages, Oldtown, Letterkenny.

His remains will be reposing at the Letterkenny Funeral Home, Port Road, from 2pm-5pm tomorrow, Saturday May 6th, and 7 to 9pm tomorrow, Saturday May 6th, and Sunday May 7th from 2pm-5pm with removal at 5pm going to St. Eunans Cathedral to repose overnight

Requiem Mass is on Monday May 8th at 10am with internment afterwards to Leck Cemetery.

Friends and family flowers only. Donations if desired to Donegal Hospice

care of Con Mc Daid & Sons Funeral Directors or any family member.

Pauline Doig, Gortahork and Glasgow

The death has taken place in the Donegal Hospice of Pauline Doig, late of Ardsmore, Gortahork, formerly from Glasgow.

Her remains are reposing at her late residence in Ardsmore, from 6pm this evening, Friday.

House is Strictly Private at the request of the deceased.

Removal on Sunday the 7th May to Lakeland Crematorium in Cavan for a private cremation.

For enquiries contact Mc Clafferty Funeral Directors Gortahork.

If you wish to have a death notice included here, email us at editorial@donegaldemocrat.com and include a phone number for verification purposes only.
A draft of the County Donegal Development Plan 2018 - 2024 will go forward for public consultation after a number of calls were made at a meeting of Donegal County Council to relax one-off housing planning permission in rural Donegal.

Several councillors said they would be seeking a relaxing of the rules to allow people from Donegal to build houses anywhere in Donegal, as long as they were within conventional planning guidelines, in a bid to halt rural decline in the county.

This week's meeting was opened by Cathaoirleach Terence Slowey. Director of Service, Liam Ward, outlined that they had included a number of addendum to the working plan.

These were outlined to the council officials by Paul Christie and Sinead Harkin from the council planning department.

A draft version of the environmental report was also up for consideration.

Mr Christie said that a first four addendum related to areas along the border and the possible impact of Brexit. He said he was taken aback to learn that a figure of up to 300,000 people cross between the border with Northern Ireland on a weekly basis.

Disappointed

Fianna Fails Cllr Paul Canning said he was very disappointed as he felt planning concerns raised previously at local level did not take on the concerns of a lot of members.

He said he would be seeking to add more submissions to the draft plan and an explanation of why any submissions may be rejected.

If you are planning to get this thing across the line members need to be taken more seriously, he stated.

Councillor Bernard McGuinness asked what was in the plan to help promote rural housing. He said it was nearly impossible to get planning permission in some cases due to regulations.

Cllr Enda Bonner said many people had aspirations to relocate to rural areas. If they were from the county, he said they should be allowed to seek planning for a one off house, and not be debarred from doing so because they were not living in a rural area previously.

Rural areas

Cllr Seamus ODomhnaill said while they need to develop strong urban centres, it should not be done at the detriment of rural areas, adding he felt his concerns fell on deaf ears.

Cllr Frank McBrearty the council needed to get rid of indigenous planning.

The relaxing of planning regulations in rural Donegal could have a detrimental impact on inflating land prices for local people, and could also impact negatively in the promotion of the Irish language in Gaeltacht areas, according to Cllr Marie Teresa Gallagher.

She said the inflated prices could leave the price of land out of reach for some if land is bought for holiday home development.

She said she believes the rise in holiday homes in some areas has led to the closure of local hotels and guest houses. Cllr Gallagher added that they should also take the Irish Language Impact Assessment into consideration as there has been a huge decline in the national language in the county.

Council Chief Executive, Seamus Neely, said the many views raised showed the complexity of the draft but he would ask for it to be considered to go to public consultation with the addendums added.

Cllr Seamus O'Domhnaill proposed they adopt the draft with the caveat that their concerns be must be addressed or receive a rationale detailing why they have not been included.

This was seconded by Cllr Nicholas Crossan.

Public

The period of public consultation will be from May 19 to July 31 next.

The council members also agreed to the publication of a draft environmental report for public consultation in relation to wind farms in the county.

This was proposed by Cllr John Campbell and seconded by Cllr Seamus O'Domhnaill.
The Wiregrass Museum of Art will host a workshop led by Alabama book and printmaking artist Amy LeePard on June 10 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The workshop will be an introduction to the art of constructing a book.

There will be instructor-led demonstrations and instructions for two simple book structures that are ideal for exploring creative content.

Cost for the workshop is $30 for members of the museum and $35 for non-members.

Participants will learn to construct a 16-page book from a single sheet with a softcover and a single-signature sewn pamphlet with a hardcover. There will be time to explore a variety of image making and content-generating techniques, such as pochoir and collage. Participants may come prepared with ideas for content to explore or wait to be inspired by the available materials and processes. Both book structures will be easy to replicate at home with minimal tools and materials, providing inspiration for future exploration.

Discussion will include artists currently working in the book form, sources for supplies, and an introduction to many great book arts resources. After the workshop, Amy LeePard will give an interactive reading of her book "Seva: with that too, together with," which is on display at Wiregrass Museum of Art through June 24 as part of the exhibit From Here to There: Printmaking in Alabama.

Call 334-794-3871 for more information and to register. The Wiregrass Museum of Art is located at 126 Museum Ave. in downtown Dothan.
The year 2016 was a good one for tourism in Chippewa County, which saw a 6 percent increase from 2015 in direct visitor spending.

The county recorded a total of $89 million in spending, according to a study conducted by Tourism Economics.

In recognition of the impact tourism has on the local economy, the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing to celebrate National Tourism Week, which is May 7-13.

Join the chamber from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11 in the parking lot of the chamber at 1 N. Bridge St. for a summer kick off party featuring local food, talent and more.

Statewide, Wisconsin saw a $700 million increase in tourism economic impact and 3 percent increase in 2016, up from the previous year.

Seeing an increase of 6 percent over last year gives us momentum and encouragement to continue our marketing outreach in markets such as Chicago, Quad Cities (in Iowa) and Duluth (Minnesota), Jackie Boos, Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerces tourism director, said.

With Leinenkugels 150th celebration in August, the 15th annual Oktoberfest in September and more, Boos expects those numbers to remain high.

Statewide, traveler spending generated $1.5 billion in state and local revenue, and $1.1 billion in federal taxes. That number has grown at an average rate of 4.5 percent per year since 2011.
This week, Melbournes Airwallex  a fintech start-up specialising in cross-border payments  closed one of the largest Series A funding rounds ever held by an Australian technology venture.

CEO and co-founder, Jack Zhang, spoke to Dynamic Business about what was involved in securing US$13 million for the companys foreign exchange platform from three global heavy hitters: Mastercard, Sequoia Capital China and the worlds fourth largest internet company, Tencent Holdings.

DB: What makes your investors ideal partners?

Zhang: Our three Series A investors as well as Gobi Partners, which contributed US$3 million in pre-Series A funding, hold between them an incredible wealth of industry knowledge, financial expertise and connections that makes them ideal for a company like Airwallex.

From a fintech perspective, Tencent and Mastercard are strategically placed to help us expand our platform and our offering into new markets, while Sequoia Capital China and Gobi Partners have decades of experience in growing some of the best start-ups in the world.

The common theme across each of our investors is they are all very bullish about fintech and see big opportunity for fintech in the next decade. Tencent, in particular, were a very attractive prospect  as the largest internet company in China and owner of WeChat, the company really aligns with what we want to do across Asia.

DB: What strategies helped attract your investors?

Zhang: To secure strategic partners like Tencent and MasterCard, its about showing the value you can provide them strategically in the next decade, and why youre better than anyone else in the market. Founders will need to demonstrate strong vision by outlining plans to protect growth  being honest and truthful about strengths and challenges and equally being ambitious about what the company is going to become.

DB: What does your investor line-up say about Airwallex?

Zhang: Were a truly global start-up solving a truly global problem. Our investors recognise that the market opportunity for Airwallex is vast, and that within the company, we contain the right blend of skills, perseverance and business acumen to achieve what we set out to do  make cross-border transactions easier, cheaper and more attainable for businesses around the world.

DB: How would you quantify Airwallexs success?

Zhang: We can quantify our success through the vote of confidence weve received through our two investment rounds, raising US$16 million in total, and the early successes weve seen with traction through the product. Were on track to transact billions of dollars by the end of the year.

DB: How will AirWallex be using the Series A funding?

Zhang: Well be using the funds to further improve our product offering, which allows businesses to process international payments at scale, and expand internationally. Weve already recently opened offices in the UK, however we are planning on expanding further in the coming months including into Singapore.

[Editors note: Earlier this year, Dynamic Business spoke to Airwallexs Global Head of Sales & Partnerships Joe McGuire, about how export-driven Australian SMEs form lasting connections with Chinese customers. See: The Chinese market dances to the beat of its own drum: how SME exporters can succeed]
Judicial Watch: Court Rules State Department Must Release Clinton Emails Detailing Obama Response to Benghazi Trump Administration Asks Court Again to Keep Records Secret



Group Argues Agency Violating FOIA to Cover for Hillary Clinton



Contact: Jill Farrell,



WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /



Judge Jackson ruled: "the two records, even if just barely predecisional, are not deliberative. [The State Department] has pointed to very little to support its characterization of these two records as deliberative, and the Court's in camera review of the documents reveals that they do not fall within that category."



The full emails may reveal what former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Obama knew about the September 11, 2012, terror attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi.



Following Judge Jackson's March 20 ruling, the State Department asked the court to reconsider. The State Department argued that, due to an internal "mistake," it failed to claim that the emails were classified and, therefore, exempt from production under FOIA



In response, Judicial Watch



Judicial Watch's filing cites an interview of an FBI employee who told federal investigators that top State Department official Patrick Kennedy pressured the FBI to keep Clinton's emails unclassified. The employee told the FBI he "believes STATE ha[d] an agenda which involves minimizing the classified nature of the CLINTON emails in order to protect STATE interests and those of CLINTON." [Emphasis in original]



Judicial Watch's filing also cites an interview of a State Department employee who told the FBI that the State Department's Office of Legal Counsel interfered with the FOIA processing of email from Secretary Clinton's server, instructing reviewers to use Exemption B(5) (deliberative process exemption) instead of Exemption B(1) (classified information exemption). According to the FBI interview:



MORE:

Share Tweet Contact: Jill Farrell, Judicial Watch , 202-646-5172WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Judicial Watch today announced that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has ordered the U.S. Department of State to turn over to Judicial Watch "eight identical paragraphs" of previously redact material in two September 13, 2012, Hillary Clinton emails regarding phone calls made by President Barack Obama to Egyptian and Libyan leaders immediately following the terrorist attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi. Both emails had the subject line "Quick Summary of POTUS Calls to Presidents of Libya and Egypt" and were among the emails stored on Clinton's unofficial email server. Judge Jackson reviewed the documents directly and rejected the government's contention that the records had been properly withheld under the FOIA B(5) "deliberative process" exemption Judge Jackson ruled: "the two records, even if just barely predecisional, are not deliberative. [The State Department] has pointed to very little to support its characterization of these two records as deliberative, and the Court's in camera review of the documents reveals that they do not fall within that category."The full emails may reveal what former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Obama knew about the September 11, 2012, terror attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi.Following Judge Jackson's March 20 ruling, the State Department asked the court to reconsider. The State Department argued that, due to an internal "mistake," it failed to claim that the emails were classified and, therefore, exempt from production under FOIA Exemption B(1) In response, Judicial Watch argues that the failure was not a mistake, but instead was part of a deliberate effort by the State Department to protect Clinton and the agency by avoiding identifying emails on Clinton's unofficial, non-secure email server as classified.Judicial Watch's filing cites an interview of an FBI employee who told federal investigators that top State Department official Patrick Kennedy pressured the FBI to keep Clinton's emails unclassified. The employee told the FBI he "believes STATE ha[d] an agenda which involves minimizing the classified nature of the CLINTON emails in order to protect STATE interests and those of CLINTON." [Emphasis in original]Judicial Watch's filing also cites an interview of a State Department employee who told the FBI that the State Department's Office of Legal Counsel interfered with the FOIA processing of email from Secretary Clinton's server, instructing reviewers to use Exemption B(5) (deliberative process exemption) instead of Exemption B(1) (classified information exemption). According to the FBI interview:MORE: www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-court-rules-state-department-must-release-clinton-emails-detailing-obama-response-benghazi
Momentary Victory: House Passes Historic Health Care Language that Defunds Planned Parenthood Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Vice President, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue



WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /Christian Newswire/ -- By a vote of 217-213 - the thinnest of margins - the House of Representatives voted yesterday to advance a health care provision that would defund Planned Parenthood for one year.



"I consider this a huge victory for us - one that could very easily have been a defeat. We thank President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for working with Speaker Paul Ryan and members of the House to get this deal done. This is yet another promise kept by the Trump administration," said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue.



Now the legislation, which included the repeal and replacement of Obamacare, will go to the Senate where significant changes are expected to be made.



"While we celebrate this momentary victory, there is still much work to be done to ensure that the defunding of Planned Parenthood remains in the bill or is not weakened. The Senate fight promises to be a tougher one, so we encourage pro-life supporters to start contacting their Senators now to urge them to stand in agreement with the House to defund America's largest merchant of abortion," said Newman.



Trump has vowed to sign legislation that would end the bankrolling of Planned Parenthood, which currently receives over $500 million in federal funding each year.



"Next, we must work to make the defunding of Planned Parenthood permanent," said Newman. "There are many battles still to be fought before we can rest assured that our hard-earned tax money will never again enable an organization that profits from child-killing."



Read this statement online.



About Operation Rescue

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.

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The PTO conference will be in Detroit commemorating the 50th Anniversary of 1967 Detroit Rebellion and Dr. Martin Luther Kings speech, Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence  in which he called for a radical revolution in values in the struggle against the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism.

This is a conference for students, educators, scholars, artists, activists, organizers, neighbors and people of all ages, places, identities, and experiences. If you want to create dialogue and come together to envision a more just society, you are invited, you are welcomed, and you are needed.

In July of 1967, responding to racist employment discrimination, segregated and substandard housing and public schools, lack of opportunity and police brutality, Black neighborhoods in Detroit exploded in what has been characterized as the most deadly urban rebellion in the United States to date. Nearly 50 years later in Detroit and elsewhere, people are thinking about the meaning of rebellion and the role of radical love in transformation. Rebellions are often expressions of justifiable anger and pain, but are not typically thought of as acts of love. What is the relationship between these strategies? Whats love got to do with either of them? As a city and as a world, what are our critical, visionary responses to a system that constantly challenges our humanity? Pedagogy of the Oppressed (PO) was born out of the needs of Brazilian peasants in a particular time and place, but Paolo Freires theory of liberatory education remains for all of us to use his own words from Pedagogy of Hope, an adventure in unveilingan experiment in bringing out the truth. Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), born out of similar needs, was ironically triggered by what Augusto Boal himself noted was an error in judgement, when his theatre company presented a play that called for shedding our blood to free our lands without being willing to take up arms itself. Practitioners of PO and TO continue to support, challenge, and serve communities by developing techniques that promote transformative action and amplify the voices of oppressed people speaking their own truths.
We have a saying in Michigan: Theres really only 3 seasons in our state: Winter, summer, and Road Construction season!

To that I would sadly add a fourth: Testing season. And we are now firmly entrenched in the middle of this, the worst season of all in our neck of the woods. Ive been seeing high levels of anxiety, stress, and worry in every school Ive visited latelyand with the inevitable technology problems that seem to crop up in these scenarios, a really alarming loss of precious instructional time, too.

In the spirit of addressing some of the most common misconceptions regarding testing, and parents rights to opt their children out of these tests, I offer the following primer on the myths surrounding standardized tests and opting out.

Myth #1: My state doesnt allow opting out

The law is pretty clear here: Its a parents right to decide the best course of study for their childthe state may not allow opting out, but they can also not punish children or parents for opting out.

My friend and colleague, James Kirylo, makes the case pretty thoroughly here:

As you are aware, the U.S. Constitutional rights trump local school policies. Precedents that were set forth are grounded in several legal cases. Also, as you know, according to the U.S Constitution, specifically the 14th Amendment, parental rights are broadly protected by Supreme Court decisions (Meyer and Pierce), especially in the area of education.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that parents possess the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. Furthermore, the Court declared that the child is not the mere creature of the State: those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right coupled with the high duty to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations. (Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510, 534-35).

The Supreme Court criticized a state legislature for trying to interfere with the power of parents to control the education of their own. (Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, 402.) In Meyer, the Supreme Court held that the right of parents to raise their children free from unreasonable state interferences is one of the unwritten liberties protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. (262 U.S. 399).

In recognition of both the right and responsibility of parents to control their childrens education, the Court has stated, It is cardinal with us that the custody, care and nurture of the child reside first in the parents, whose primary function and freedom include preparation for the obligations the State can neither supply nor hinder. (Prince v. Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158) 5.

In closing, I understand that it is state and local policy to require all students to be evaluated for proficiency in various subject areas at each grade level. However, I believe that testing is not synonymous with standardized testing and request that the school and my childs teacher(s) evaluate his or her progress using alternative (and more meaningful) measures including: projectbased assignments, teacher-made tests, portfolios, and performance-based assessments, to be determined at the discretion of the teachers and myself together.

For more from James, including the legal cases he mentions above, see: https://dianeravitch.net/2017/04/27/south-carolina-james-kirylos-children-will-not-take-the-tests/

Myth #2: If below 95% of students dont take the test, our school could lose federal funds

This threat is usually delivered in a loud, shaking voice, from a district employee, or state education department worker. But its more bluster than legitimate warning. Not a single school has lost federal funding for falling below the 95% thresholdits a common threat from school administrators and school boards, but its an empty one.

And with the changes in federal policy, an increasingly silly one, as the amount of federal funding is dwindling.

Myth #3: The tests provide good feedback for students and teachers

Short answer: No, they dont.

Longer answer: The results are not disaggregatedthat is, sent back to school officials in a form that identifies how individual students have done on the examsso the scores cant be used by teachers to improve their work with individual students. Further, the scores often come back so long after the tests are taken that the students have moved on to a new grade or school. And the results of a test like the SAT or ACT (or the M-STEPs in Michigan) dont really help students improve their own learningkids receive only a gross score, not feedback on what items they missed, and why. The tests are for ranking and sorting, not for diagnostic purposes. So the feedback provided is pretty much useless for both students and teachers.

This is not to say that assessment is badits not. Or that there is no purpose for evaluationthere is. Or that teachers are afraid of being evaluatedthey arent.

It is to say, however, that the best tests are those designed *by* teachers, for *their* students, with the results being used by *those* teachers to help *their* students learn better, and to improve the teachers own practice in the classroom.

The only purpose for those standardized tests is to rank and sort students, teachers, and schools, and to generate data from students that can be used by the testing companies to increase their profits.

And thats no myth.
An alleged spam kingpin with possible ties to election meddling in the United States was arrested in Spain last week under a U.S. international warrant.

The alleged spam czar, Pyotr Levashov, was taken into custody in Barcelona while vacationing with his family, according to news reports.

Levashov was arrested for interfering with the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, the Russian news outlet RT reported, but a U.S. Justice Department official told Reuters the arrest was a criminal matter without any national security connections.

On its list of the worlds top 10 worst spammers, Spamhaus, a spam-fighting group, ranks Levashov No. 7.

He allegedly partnered with convicted pump and dump stock scam specialist Alan Ralsky to carry out a wave of fake antivirus software scams. The two reportedly also ran the Waledac botnet that infected 70,000 to 90,000 PCs over several years and was capable of pushing out 1.5 billion spam messages a day.

Levashov has been able to evade prosecution for at least 20 years, said Vitali Kremez, threat intelligence director at Flashpoint.

From an email spam perspective, his arrest means well be seeing less incoming malicious email, he told TechNewsWorld.

Kelihos Clobbered

Meanwhile, the day after Levishovs arrest, the U.S. Justice Department announced it had taken down the Kelihos botnet, which is believed to be part of the Russians spam empire.

The operation announced today targeted an ongoing international scheme that was distributing hundreds of millions of fraudulent emails per year, intercepting the credentials to online and financial accounts belonging to thousands of Americans, and spreading ransomware throughout our networks, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco of the DoJs Criminal Division.

The ability of botnets like Kelihos to be weaponized quickly for vast and varied types of harms is a dangerous and deep threat to all Americans, driving at the core of how we communicate, network, earn a living, and live our everyday lives, he continued.

Our success in disrupting the Kelihos botnet was the result of strong cooperation between private industry experts and law enforcement, and the use of innovative legal and technical tactics, Blanco said.

Among the new legal tactics used by the bot busters was a new kind of warrant authorized by recent amendments to the Rules of Federal Criminal Procedure that allows law enforcement to redirect Kelihos-infected computers to a substitute server, and to record the Internet Protocol addresses of those computers as they connect to the server.

Those IP addresses can be used to provide assistance to people whose computers have been infected with the malware.

Rent a Botnet

Taking down Kelihos should disrupt the spam ecosystem, noted Keith Jarvis, a senior security researcher at DellsSecureWorks.

It was one of the larger, more active botnets out there, he told TechNewsWorld, and it was one for rent.

Levashov made more money renting out his botnets than he did spewing spam from them, according to investigative journalist Brian Krebs.

For US$200, vetted users could hire one of Levashovs botnets to send 1 million pieces of spam, Krebs noted. Auction and employment scams cost $300 per million, and phishing emails designed to capture usernames and passwords cost $500 per million.

Thats why we saw a wide variety of spam over Kelihos over the years, but we should see smaller volumes of spam in in-boxes for the foreseeable future, SecureWorks Jarvis said.

Election Meddling

Though a connection to the U.S. elections has not been established, Kelihos does have a known election connection.

The botnet was used in the 2012 Russian elections to send spam containing links to fake news stories saying Mikhail Prokhorov, a businessman who was running for president against Vladimir Putin, had come out as gay, according to The New York Times.

There isnt much public source information on the technical aspects of the Russian attacks on the DNC, so its hard to tell if spamming, one of Levashovs specialties, was a technique used by the hackers, observed Leo Taddeo, chief security officer for Cryptzone and a former FBI special agent.

What we do know from the indictments issued last month against the Yahoo hackers is that Russian intelligence officers protected, directed, facilitated and paid criminal hackers to collect information through computer intrusions in the U.S. and elsewhere, he told TechNewsWorld. This means we cant rule it out.

Its more than a possibility  its very likely to be true, maintained Avivah Litan, a security analyst with Gartner.

The guys conducting cybercrime are the same guys that meddled in the elections, she told TechNewsWorld. Theyre using the same infrastructure.
Screaming sirens serenaded Dallas residents in the early morning hours Saturday after a cyberattack set off the citys emergency warning system.

All of the citys 156 sirens were set off more than a dozen times, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Officials have not yet identified the perpetrator of the attack, the citys Office of Emergency Management Director Rocky Vaz told the newspaper, but he expressed confidence that it was someone outside the Dallas area.

The city has figured out how the system was compromised and has begun working to keep it from happening again, he added.

The sirens began sounding about 12:30 a.m. Saturday and werent silenced until 1:20 a.m., when the entire system was deactivated.

Despite the citys pleas not to make 911 calls about the sirens, emergency operators were swamped with 4,400 calls during the early morning hours Saturday.

Inadvertent Threat to Life

If the Dallas attack should turn out to be an isolated incident, its impact will be minimal, but if such attacks should multiply, they could undermine public faith in emergency warning systems.

Like crying wolf too often, these attacks erode the faith in these systems critical to safeguarding human life during an emergency, said Sergio Caltagirone, director of threat intelligence for Dragos.

While a single event is unlikely to cause significant damage, he told TechNewsWorld, continual attacks will most certainly have a long-term effect.

Both determined and hobbyist hackers are probing and testing the nations critical infrastructure, he added.

There are no indications of an imminent wide-scale attack, but these attacks will only become more common  and the biggest fear is that an adversary will do great harm and possibly threaten human life inadvertently, Caltagirone explained.

Dallas is a well-funded municipality with the proper resources to defend their infrastructure from attack, he added. This does not bode well for the majority of municipalities who lack the resources of Dallas.

911 System Disrupted

Although Dallas is still assessing the damage of the cyberattack, its disruption of the 911 system by inciting panic calls about the sirens probably placed some citizens lives at risk.

Because there were so many calls to the 911 system in a short period of time, the hack of the siren network created a sort of DDoS attack on 911.

Any real emergency happening at the same time will get lost in the noise, SS8 Chief Security Officer Cemal Dikmen told TechNewsWorld.

Call hold times were delayed from their usual 10 seconds to about six minutes, noted James Scott, a senior fellow at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology.

Every citizen was endangered by the inability to request emergency assistance in a reasonable amount of time, he told TechNewsWorld.

Every caller who legitimately required an emergency response to an actual threat was imperiled by the significantly delayed 911 call center response time, Scott emphasized. It is difficult to measure or predict the number of residents who needed emergency assistance and hung up the phone out of frustration, or the number of citizens whose safety and physical well-being were jeopardized by this trivial cyberattack.

Antiquated Systems

Emergency warning systems in many cities are old, which makes them even more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Ironically, Dallas system is about to be overhauled  the city council last fall approved $567,368 for the project.

Many of them were first installed in the 40s and 50s, explained Mike Ahmadi, global director for critical systems security at Synopsys.

Theyve been upgraded over time and most recently connected to the Internet, he told TechNewsWorld.

Actually, the older systems without any connectivity are pretty safe from a hacker-proof perspective, Ahmadi added. Its modernizing them and giving them IoT connectivity thats made them vulnerable.

Open information laws also can make these systems vulnerable, maintained Ed Cabrera, chief cybersecurity officer for Trend Micro.

These require detailed government information to be publicly disclosed, he told TechNewsWorld. That makes things such as manuals and configuration settings openly available to potential adversaries meaning to do harm.

Endemic Problem

It has been recognized for some time that older, outdated emergency warning systems are susceptible to cyberattacks, noted Vijay Basani, CEO of EiQ Networks.

In spite of this known exploitable vulnerability, why have our state and local governments been so complicit in their failure to fix these vulnerabilities? he asked.

That is the important question, Basani told TechNewsWorld.

Besides just making emergency warning systems go off randomly, hackers could have shut them down completely, crippled them temporarily, or redirected emergency personnel to wrong locations, he said. Taxpayers should demand that their government fix these systems or upgrade them.

The failure of Dallas emergency warning system is endemic to the poor security across these systems, said Dragos Caltagirone.

Securing systems comes down to identifying critical systems, detecting attacks and implementing real protection, he explained.

Unfortunately, most organizations dont even successfully complete the first step, said Caltagirone. All security starts with knowledge of your own environment. Many systems owners lack sufficient asset inventory. Its impossible to protect what you dont understand.
Qualcomm plans to ask the U.S. International Trade Commission to block imports of iPhones, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

The move reportedly was spurred by Apples recent decision to stop making royalty payments owed under a licensing agreement between the two companies, which is the subject of a billion-dollar legal battle in federal court.

Qualcomm last month announced that for the quarter ended March 31 Apple had withheld payments to its contract manufacturers for royalties owed under a licensing deal for technology used in the iPhone.

Apple informed Qualcomm that it would continue withholding those payments until the legal dispute was resolved in court, Qualcomm said.

Apple is improperly interfering with Qualcomms longstanding agreements with Qualcomm licensees, Dan Rosenberg, general counsel at Qualcomm, said last month. These license agreements remain valid and enforceable.

Qualcomm cut its fiscal third-quarter profit to 75-85 US cents a share, from prior estimates of 90 cents to $1.15. The company cut its revenue forecast to between $4.8 billion and $5.6 billion, from previous guidance of $5.3 billion to $6.1 billion.

In terms of why were withholding royalties, you cant pay something when theres a dispute about the amount, Apple CEO Tim Cook said. You dont know how much to pay.

Qualcomm has been charging a percentage of the iPhone value, he said, and though they do some great work around standards-essential patents, the Qualcomm contribution is just one small part of an iPhone.

Pre-emptive Strike

Qualcomm will ask the ITC to ban imports of the iPhone, which is made in Asia, in anticipation of a new iPhone model scheduled for release this fall, according to the Bloomberg report.

Qualcomm would not comment on its legal options regarding the Apple case, spokesperson Clare Conley told the E-Commerce Times, reiterating the fact that it did not comment for the Bloomberg report.

Such a move likely would fall under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which provides for cease and desist orders in intellectual property disputes, ITC spokesperson Margaret OLaughlin told the E-Commerce Times. However, she did not comment on whether such a request had been made or whether either of the companies had contacted the ITC.

If Qualcomm should prevail in a case filed with the ITC, the result would be whats called an exclusion order, said Alexander Poltorak, CEO of General Patent Corporation.

With an exclusion order, Qualcomm can file a customs survey and block Apple phones from entering the country, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Proceedings like this have to be completed within 12 months by statute, Poltorak said, though they can be extended another six months in particularly complex cases.

Qualcomm Corners Market

Apple originally filed the $1 billion suit in U.S. District Court in Southern California, alleging that Qualcomm was using its dominant position in semiconductors to force billions of dollars in royalty payments for technologies used in Touch ID, Apple Pay and even added memory.

Those technologies have nothing to do with the Qualcomm baseband processor chipsets used in the iPhone, Apple contended.

Qualcomm last month denied the allegations and filed counterclaims alleging that Apple breached agreements and encouraged regulatory attacks against Qualcomm as part of a scheme to coerce unfair licensing terms.

Qualcomm last year was hit with a record $865 million fine by South Korean regulators who determined that the company engaged in anticompetitive practices involving its chipsets for mobile phones.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission earlier this year filed suit against Qualcomm, alleging it essentially monopolized the sale of baseband processors through its no license, no chips policy, and that it coerced Apple into an exclusivity deal for several years in exchange for reduced royalties.
Burger King on Wednesday in essence hijacked the voice-activated Google Home speakers in some consumers homes.

In a 15-second television ad, the camera zooms in on a young man wearing the company uniform who says, OK Google, what is the Whopper burger?

The OK Google trigger phrase for Googles artificial intelligence Assistant activated Google Home speakers situated nearby, prompting them to read Wikipedias description of the Whopper.

Burger King apparently intended to prompt the Assistant to deliver the glowing description posted on the page. However, the Internet quickly caught on to the gimmick, and Wikipedias Whopper page was deluged with newly edited versions, many of them decidedly uncomplimentary. Wikipedia soon blocked the editing functionality.

Within three hours or so, Google reportedly issued a server-side update to Google Home to stop it from responding to the ad. The ad would still wake up a Google Home device, which would wait for its query to hit Googles servers, but Home no longer would respond to it. However, Google Home would respond to a real person making the same query.

The ad apparently was created by David The Agency.

Wikipedias Whopper Page Gone Wild

Someone with the username Fermachado123 last week changed the Wikipedia entry for the Whopper to list its ingredients, according to reports. The owner of the handle may be Fernando Machado, Burger Kings senior vice president for global brand management, although Burger King apparently hasnt confirmed or denied his involvement.

Editing an article on behalf of ones employer or company can create a conflict of interest and violate Wikipedia policies, Wikimedia spokesperson Samantha Lien told the E-Commerce Times.

Wikipedia content and entries are determined by a community of volunteer editors.

Internet trolls struck minutes after the ad debuted at 12:00 p.m. ET, editing the Wikipedia entry to describe the burger variously as cancer-causing or a chocolate candy, and altering the ingredients list to include such items as toenail clippings, medium-sized child, and rat.

Google could, and likely should, require people to customize the command phrase, suggested Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

The idea that a TV ad could generate a mass purchase should scare them more than it does, he told the E-Commerce Times.

Following in Alexas Footsteps

Im kind of surprised they used Google Home rather than the far more prevalent Amazon Echo, Enderle said.

A 6-year-old Dallas girl earlier this year asked the Amazon Echo Dot, which is powered by Alexa, if it could get her a dollhouse. Alexa was happy to oblige, and the child confirmed the order. She apparently also ordered cookies. A US$160 dollhouse and four pounds of cookies showed up at her home days later. Her mom laughed off the mishap and treated it as a reminder to set up parental controls.

However, Jim Patton, a news anchor at San Diego TV station CW6, several days later said, I love the little girl saying Alexa order me a dollhouse,' during a newscast. His remark reportedly triggered numerous Echo devices in viewers homes to attempt to order dollhouses.

We need more variance and better vocal security and recognition, particularly when we begin looping in security systems and locks, or theyll unintentionally allow bad folks into our homes, Enderle warned. That could lead to a massive potential liability exposure for the related products, services, or companies that supply them.

Consumers should be careful what applications they use and whats active when they use them, cautioned Michael Jude, a program manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan.

Smart Technology Risks

Technologies like Google Home and Alexa have no innate judgment, Jude told the E-Commerce Times. You shouldnt trust them to use judgment on which commands to respond to or what activities to launch.

Google and others will need to focus on the applications behind the voice recognition systems, he suggested.

Natural language processing doesnt imply any real intelligence behind the interface, Jude explained. As the applications NLP system front ends become more intelligent, the opportunities for compromise decrease.

In the Internet of Things environment, where you can have an ecosystem or ecosystems of ecosystems interconnected, the attack vector universe is potentially limitless, noted Laura DiDio, research director for IoT at 451 Research.

The risks are everywhere, and what you can do is mitigate risk to an acceptable level, she told the E-Commerce Times  but that requires vendors to make secure products.
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Christian Persecution Ignored by Media World-wide Forgotten by the Media



Contact: James Jacobson, President,



FRONT ROYAL, Va., May 5, 2017 /



Christian Freedom International urges Christians to remember the persecuted and pray for the persecuted Church in Egypt. CFI urges concerned Christians to send a petition of support to President Trump. Tell him to keep the spotlight on the genocide of Christians in the Middle East.



"The omission is so flagrant" says CFI president Jim Jacobson "that not only does the U.S. media avoid the topic, but even the media around the world."



Christians in Egypt suffered two deadly suicide bombings on Palm Sunday, killing 46 people and injuring more than 100 others. ISIS said it sent suicide bombers to the two churches, one in Alexandria and one in Tanta. Egypt's Christian minority makes up about 10 percent of the country's population, according to a recent estimate by the CIA. Roughly 9 million people have endured the recent attacks in that region, aggression that dates back centuries, usually at the hands of Muslim extremists.



For the full report and to sign the petition go to

800.323.2273



Christian Freedom International is a non-denominational human rights organization for religious liberty providing real solutions to conditions of human misery caused by religious persecution.

Share Tweet Contact: James Jacobson, President, Christian Freedom International , 540-808-0853FRONT ROYAL, Va., May 5, 2017 / Christian Newswire / -- Following the Palm Sunday terror attack on two churches in Egypt, a three-month nationwide state of emergency was declared by the Egyptian government. Tragically, the persecution of Christians in Egypt received little media attention.Christian Freedom International urges Christians to remember the persecuted and pray for the persecuted Church in Egypt. CFI urges concerned Christians to send a petition of support to President Trump. Tell him to keep the spotlight on the genocide of Christians in the Middle East."The omission is so flagrant" says CFI president Jim Jacobson "that not only does the U.S. media avoid the topic, but even the media around the world."Christians in Egypt suffered two deadly suicide bombings on Palm Sunday, killing 46 people and injuring more than 100 others. ISIS said it sent suicide bombers to the two churches, one in Alexandria and one in Tanta. Egypt's Christian minority makes up about 10 percent of the country's population, according to a recent estimate by the CIA. Roughly 9 million people have endured the recent attacks in that region, aggression that dates back centuries, usually at the hands of Muslim extremists.For the full report and to sign the petition go to www.christianfreedom.org 800.323.2273Christian Freedom International is a non-denominational human rights organization for religious liberty providing real solutions to conditions of human misery caused by religious persecution.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA)the worlds largest trade association for food, beverages and consumer productsviolated the spirit and letter of Washingtons campaign-finance disclosure laws by trying to hide the identities of corporations that poured millions into a campaign to defeat a 2013 food-labeling initiative, a Washington Superior Court judge ruled Friday.

Big Food has spent millions in lobbying and litigation to fight GMO labeling initiatives despite an overwhelming majority of Americansmore than 90 percent in many pollsin support of GMO labeling. Photo credit: Flickr

Initiative 522 would have required the labeling of genetically modified (GMOs) foods, seeds and seed products in Washington state and was narrowly defeated. As it happens, the GMA was the largest single donor to the No on 522 campaign, spending a record $22 million to stop the measure, according to The Seattle Times.

There is one, and only one, reasonable inference that can be drawn from the facts before this court: that the GMA intentionally took steps to create and then hide the true source of the funds  from the voting public of Washington state, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch wrote in a pretrial ruling.

The case, State v. Grocery Manufacturers Association, was filed in October 2013 by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson against the powerful food industry group. According to a news release from Fergusons office, the GMA raised $14 million from its members in solicitations for a special Defense of Brands fund, above and beyond regular member dues.

In 2013, the top 10 contributors to GMAs Defense of Brands account and their contributions (as of Dec. 3, 2013) were:

1. PepsiCo: $2.696 million

2. Nestle USA, Inc.: $1.751 million

3. The Coca-Cola Company: $1.742 million

4. General Mills: $996,000

5. ConAgra: $949,000

6. Campbell Soup: $441,000

7. The Hershey Company: $413,000

8. J.M. Smucker: $401,000

9. Kellogg: $369,000

10. Land OLakes: $332,000

The GMA then donated $11 million of the $14 million from corporations to No on 522, the release noted. In an effort to shield individual companies from required disclosure, the money was listed as coming from GMA, not the actual donors.

Fortune reported that meeting notes, memos and other internal documents from the GMA clearly show that one of the primary purposes of the Defense of Brands fund was to conceal member identities. For instance, one meeting note said: State GMO related spending will be identified as having come from the GMA, which will provide anonymity and eliminate state filing requirements for contributing members.

Judge Hirsh rejected the GMA arguments that the states disclosure law is unconstitutionally vague, ruling the group purposefully sought to hide donors from public scrutiny.

Judge rules Big Food illegally hid funders of campaign to kill GMO-labeling effort https://t.co/INJ0cZDd1G  FORTUNE (@FortuneMagazine) March 13, 2016

In enacting the Public Campaign Finance Laws, the people of Washington directed that they be interpreted liberally, to promote transparency and full disclosure to the voters, Hirschs decision reads. By its actions creating the [Defense of Brands] account, the GMA violated the spirit and letter of Washingtons Public Campaign Finance Laws.

The court also determined that there remains a factual dispute whether GMAs violation of the law was intentional and therefore, did not determine what penalty would be imposed at this point in the proceedings, and the case will continue to trial on the disputed facts.

This landmark case has been a long fight for accountability, Ferguson said in a statement. This ruling sends an unequivocal message: Big money donors cannot evade Washington law and hide from public scrutiny. My office will hold you accountable.

In response to the ruling, the GMA issued the following statement:

We believe the ruling today to dismiss GMAs First Amendment claim will hurt the constitutionally protected right of trade associations to engage in political debate in the state. The ruling today noted that there is evidence that GMA believed its conduct was appropriate under state law, which is an important point in determining any penalty. In the upcoming trial, we believe the facts will show that GMA always intended to comply with the law.

Under the law, sanctions for campaign finance disclosure violations can include a penalty equal to the amount not reported as required. If the court finds that the violation was intentional, that penalty amount can be tripled. Ferguson is seeking a penalty of at least $14 million, the Times noted.

Our Attorney General Bob Ferguson is holding big corporations accountable when they break our election laws. https://t.co/LMAeykCSiQ  Washington Democrats (@washdems) March 11, 2016

As EcoWatch reported in October, despite an overwhelming majority of Americansmore than 90 percent in many pollssupport GMO labeling, the GMA has spent millions in lobbying against mandatory labels at the state and federal level ever since Vermont passed its groundbreaking law in May 2014 that requires the labeling of GMO food products in the state.

The future of food transparency in the country is now at the hands of the Senate with Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (SAFE) expected to hit the Senate floor any day now.

Dubbed by opponents as the Denying Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act, if voted into law, the bill would block states from requiring labeling on GMOs and pre-empt state laws that require labeling from going into effect.

Industrys attempt to block GMO labeling laws is yet another symptom of a democracy hijacked by corporate interests, Wenonah Hauter, the executive director of Food & Water Watch, wrote. We the people have elected our leaders to Congress to represent our interests, because we live in a democracynot a nation controlled by a corporate oligarchy. At least, thats the way it should be. Thats why were urging the Senate to reject the DARK Act and any compromise that results in anything less than on-package labeling that tells consumers if a product contains GMO ingredients.

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Youve probably heard of plastic bag ban bans, but now state lawmakers want to legislate pesticide bans.

Maines Republican Gov. Paul LePage is backing a bill that would strip the pesticide regulations of dozens of cities and towns and prevent them from enacting new rules.

In summary, LD 1505 would prohibit a municipality from adopting or continuing to enforce any ordinance or rule regarding the sale or use of pesticides. The legislation would affect the regulations of 27 Maine municipalities.

The Forecasters Marian McCue reported that LD 1505 is similar to model legislation proposed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the notorious and powerful conservative lobbying group.

McCue noted that a rep for the DC-based pesticide lobbying group, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, spoke in favor of the bill at a hearing on Monday.

Other supporters of the bill include businesses such as tree services and pest management companies who say the various local laws make it difficult to do business. According to the Press Herald, Walt Whitcomb, the commissioner of Conservation, Forestry and Agriculture, argued that local pesticide regulations were a confusing patchwork of controls. He added that many measures were more strict than state and federal laws and applied to products deemed safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

But Mary Ann Nahf, who chairs the Conservation Commission for the coastal town of Harpswell, contended that the pesticide ordinances were designed for a communitys specific needs. She described how local lobstermen prompted the towns ban on an insect growth regulator because it also turned out to be harmful and even deadly to lobsters. Nahf pointed out that the towns ban ultimately led the whole state to tighten its regulations of the chemical near the ocean.

Maine is one of only seven states that allows its municipalities to adopt pesticide standards stricter than the state. None of the 27 municipalities have an outright ban on pesticide use and some areas, like Harpswell, have waivers for pesticide use.

Opponents of LD 1505 stressed that local pesticide bans are necessary to protect human health and the environment.

These bills have been handcrafted by big business to weakenamong other policiesstate and local environmental laws that states have fought for and enacted over decades, Sarah Lakeman of the Natural Resources Council of Maine said.

Heather Spaulding of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association had similar words.

LD 1505 is the latest in a pesticides industry-backed campaign to keep the public in the dark about agrichemicals, Spaulding said, adding that Maine has no meaningful statewide pesticide spray buffer zones to protect communities from pesticide drift, and local ordinances fit the needs of their communities.

The State and Local Government Committee has scheduled a work session for the bill next week.
Is Solar Right for You?

For many U.S. homeowners, going solar is a great way to help the environment while reducing the amount of money you spend on energy over time. But were not going to say solar is the ultimate energy solution for every home  because it isnt. Here are a few key things to think about when deciding whether solar would work for you:

What direction does your roof face? In the Northern Hemisphere, unshaded homes facing south, southwest or west receive the most direct sunlight. Most solar companies wont install solar on your roof if theyre not facing a suitable direction or are obstructed by trees or other buildings at peak sunlight hours.

How much is your typical home energy bill? If youre not spending much on energy to begin with, you may not stand to save tons of money over time. However, if your energy bills are higher than youd like them to be, solar could be a rewarding investment.

Can you reasonably afford to buy or finance your panels? Because the initial cost of solar panels can be steep, many homeowners take out solar loans to pay for their panels. But if you cant secure a low interest rate, your monthly payments may significantly cut into your overall ROI, making solar less worth it.

How long are you planning to stay in your home? In most cases, you cant take your solar panels with you when you move. The good news is that homes with solar sell for about 4% more than homes without.2 However, a typical array will last for a minimum of 25 years, so if you dont plan on staying in your house for at least half of that time, you may want to hold off on making the investment.
Dear Secretary Zinke,

As Secretary of the Interior, you hold the solemn responsibility to steward Americas public lands and waters on behalf of the American people who own them. Our public lands, including the national monuments you are now reviewing, represent a vital part of our nations heritagea legacy that belongs not just to us, but to all future generations of Americans. It is an important part of your job to safeguard this legacy by making careful and informed decisions about what federal lands can be used for development and what special or vulnerable areas should be preserved for the future.

That is why the arbitrary 120-day deadline for you to review whether to shrink or rescind dozens of national monuments is absurd. As you know, the process to establish a national monument often takes years, if not decades. It involves significant study of the area of the proposed monumentincluding its ecological, cultural, archeological, economic and recreation valueand robust consultation with local communities and their elected representatives at every level. Given the unique and complex histories of each monument, there is simply no way to meaningfully review dozens of individual monuments in such a short period.

You justify this review on the false premise that the American people have not yet been heard on the designation of these national monuments. But the communities near the national monuments under your review have already made their voices heard during public input and stakeholder engagement periods prior to designation. For example, notwithstanding the rhetoric of Utah Governor Gary Herbert and members of the Utah Congressional delegation, the designation of Bears Ears National Monument involved years of public input gathered by the Obama administration. This process included a series of public meetings in Southeastern Utah in 2016, including several sessions attended by former Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. It also included significant engagement with the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, which represents tribal nations for whom the land is sacred and contains archeological artifacts with immense cultural value. Additionally, in a recent poll, 68 percent of voters in seven Western states said they prioritize the protection of land, water and wildlife for recreation on public land, compared with 22 percent who prioritized increased production of fossil fuels. Your review must account for this extensive record of consultation as you purport to seek public input.

As you undertake this review, we urge you to consider the enormous economic benefits of protected public lands for nearby communities, including many rural areas. A recent study showed that areas in the West with protected lands consistently enjoy better rates of employment and income growth compared to those with no protected lands. In the 22 years since the Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah was declared a national monument, jobs grew by 38 percent in two neighboring counties. The designation of 17 national monumentsincluding nine monuments covered under your reviewled to significant increases in per capita income in regions adjacent to the newly-protected areas.

Rescinding or shrinking the national monuments under review also threatens the fast-growing outdoor recreation economy, which relies significantly on recreation access to protected public lands. These lands are not locked up, as the Trump administration has said repeatedly declaredthey are extremely productive. As you know, since you participated in the outdoor industrys announcement of a new economic study last week, the recreation economy drives $887 billion in consumer spending every year and supports more jobs (7.6 million) than oil, natural gas and mining combined. Rescinding or shrinking the national monuments under review would significantly impact the strength of the outdoor recreation economy and limit our ability to create and sustain jobs.

Patagonia has been outfitting outdoors people and protecting public lands for more than 30 years. The debate over land and water conservation is always complex and sometimes divisive. But we have never witnessed the legacy of Americas federal lands encountering greater risk than we see right now. As you visit these protected places and report back to the president, I urge you to follow in the tradition of President Teddy Roosevelt and conserve our shared public lands for future generations.
What Is Biodiversity?

Polar bears, honeybees, mango trees and coral reefs are all examples of the countless animal and insect species, plant life and ecosystems that comprise the planets vast biodiversity. Every living organism has a role to play in an intricate web of connectedness, no matter the size, and without them, there would be no life on Earth. Removing just one from the chain can send significant ripple effects throughout the system, even if those effects arent immediately felt. More crucially, every species lost increases the extinction risk to another connected species.

While biodiversity exists wherever there is life, there are some places on Earth that are considered biodiversity hotspots  specific areas that are teeming with native species that cant be found anywhere else in the world, from koalas in Australia to giant pandas in China. There are currently 36 areas that qualify as hotspots, but consider this: While that number comprises only 2.4 percent of the planet, those regions contain almost 43 percent of endemic species. But these hotspots are increasingly threatened by human activity and climate change.

Not only that, but a United Nations Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Report warned that about a million species currently face extinction, and for some its just a matter of decades. As it stands, a 2018 World Wildlife Fund report shared that the worlds vertebrate populations declined an average 60 percent in each category (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians) since 1970.

Why Is Biodiversity Important to Ecosystems?

Mangrove roots in Mochima, Venezuela. Humberto Ramirez / Moment / Getty Images

Think of biodiversity as acting behind the scenes of day-to-day life. Its natures way of providing clean air and water, food, resources (medicine, wood) and even climate protection. Yet consider that only 20 percent of Earths species  at most  have been identified by science. Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus began the daunting task in the 1700s, and since that time scientists have estimated that about 8.7 million unknown species exist, although only about 1.2 million species have been identified. Of that number, who knows how many critical ecosystem players have already gone extinct, or are critically endangered, before their role is even clear?

How Do Insects and Animals Impact Us?

Its impossible to discuss this without covering the sixth mass extinction. As the name indicates, there have already been five mass extinction events throughout history, with the last one wiping out the dinosaurs 67 million years ago following an asteroid strike. After each of the prior mass extinctions, which were mainly caused by environmental factors that eliminated as much as 95 percent of existing species, scientists estimated that it took millions more years before biodiversity regained pre-mass extinction numbers.

The difference today is that the current ongoing extinction threat could have been avoided since its a human-led catastrophe. A recent study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that more than 237,000 populations of 515 species have likely gone extinct since 1900, with many more not far behind; or, 100 times faster in the past 100 years compared to the more normal range of up to 10,000 years for some species. So what does that really mean?

Consequences

Without the proper number of species performing their daily tasks, the everyday aspects of life that we take for granted, including oxygen and a plentiful food supply, will worsen. For example, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed seven honeybee species as critically endangered. If all of the worlds bees were to disappear, there would be few insects left to pollinate certain plants, ultimately affecting global food supply chains and the economy. A recent study found that bees and other insect pollinators contributed 34 billion to the U.S economy in 2012 alone.

While the worst-case scenario has yet to happen regarding bees, the world is still dealing with the very likely connection between biodiversity loss and infectious diseases. Though still unproven, scientists are getting closer to linking habitat loss and the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Less land increases the likelihood of diseases spreading from animal species, such as bats, to humans. Until habitat loss is properly addressed, experts warn that pandemics will only increase in severity and frequency.

Then there are the financial costs, which are twofold. A UN report found that governments around the world allocated between $78-91 billion a year on biodiversity goals, when in fact hundreds of billions of dollars a year are needed, the report estimated. Without spending more to tackle the issues, biodiversity loss will wind up costing the world up to $140 trillion a year.

Which Species Are Most At Risk?

A Toucan feeds on fruit offered on Aug. 24 2020 at an inn at km 110 of the Transpantaneira highway whose fire consumed everything around along with the wildfires that has already burned more than 16.500 sq. km of the Brazilian Pantanal. Gustavo Basso / NurPhoto / Getty Images

The IUCN Red List identifies which species are most at risk for extinction, including their numbers, direct threats and conservation efforts. The Red List estimates that more than 37,000 known species currently face extinction, including, but not limited to, 41 percent of amphibians, 36 percent of sharks, 33 percent of coral reefs, 26 percent of mammals and 14 percent of birds. The IUCN has categorized species into Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and Extinct. Among the most critically endangered are Amur leopards, vaquita porpoises, Sumatran rhinos and Cross River gorillas. In some cases, such as the vaquita porpoise, researchers believe less than a dozen exist in the wild.

Many other species, including those in the food chain such as Chilean sea bass and Atlantic bluefin tuna, are being pushed toward extinction thanks to popular consumer demand, which leads to overfishing.

Then there are the species that the world has permanently lost in the last 100 years, from the Tasmanian tiger, which was hunted to extinction (mainly for museum display purposes) to the Pinta giant tortoise, a Galapagos native that was hunted to extinction by the fishing industry. The last known survivor, Lonesome George, passed away in captivity in 2012. In more recent years, the media has been following the worlds last two remaining northern white rhinos. Both female, their kind is headed toward extinction, but scientists are attempting IVF using white rhino surrogates in the wild.

Yet the question remains, why are so many species going extinct or are threatened with extinction compared to previous centuries? As with most complex issues, theres no one explanation. Rather, a combination of population growth/overconsumption, the wildlife trade, pesticides, pollution, hunting, deforestation, wildfires, invasive species, big ag and climate change are among the larger culprits.

Habitat Loss

This category poses the largest threat to global biodiversity as rainforests to plains are cleared to make way for agriculture, housing and everything else that comes with modern-day living. Rainforests around the world especially suffered in 2020, having lost 12 percent of tree cover due in part to wildfires. Many of these wildfires in turn are caused by deforestation, with Brazil leading the way under far-right President Jair Bolsonaro to raze this resource for more profitable industries involving cattle and soy. As a result, Brazils deforestation loss hit a 12-year high in 2020 according to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This biodiverse hotspot is now at risk of losing endangered species such as the Amazonian jaguar, hyacinth macaw, pink dolphins and spider monkeys. Other major habitat loss threats throughout the Amazon come from gold mining and logging. Unfortunately, this scale of destruction isnt limited to the Amazon, with habitat loss taking a toll on species everywhere from Nepal and Borneo to China and Africa.

Big Ag

Ironically, the industry responsible for providing the worlds food supply is also a major contributor. Industrial agriculture is a main culprit behind habitat loss as increasing amounts of land are converted to feed growing populations. Compounding this is an overreliance on a small number of crops and animals to meet global food supply needs, placing some of these species at risk for extinction.

Population Growth

About 600 million people populated the planet in 1700 compared to 7.7 billion in 2019. Future projections put that number even higher, reaching 10.9 billion by 2021. This massive population boom has taxed Earths finite resources. While a Population Action International study has concluded that this boom is an indirect cause of biodiversity loss, its nonetheless a habitat loss driver as more land is needed every year for food and other resources, along with urban and industrial development.

Pollution

With increased land clearing and development comes increased pollution on a range of levels. This takes a toll on ecosystems in a myriad of ways: For example, chemical-laden water causes toxic algae blooms; rapidly changing climates make it difficult for many species to adapt; rising ocean temperatures bleach and kill coral reefs; oil spills kill fish, birds and other wildlife; and plastic pollution strangles or slowly kills wildlife that ingest it. Throw in noise pollution, light pollution, acid rain and pesticides, and its no wonder that many species are experiencing population declines due to decreased breeding and numbers.

Pesticides

Speaking of pesticides, these chemicals are most notably destroying bee populations. While theyre not the only reason, pesticides are a direct link. The Center for Food Safety found that some beekeepers have been reporting a complete loss of their colonies in recent years; at the same time, studies are showing a link between declining bee populations and pesticides: neonicotinoids in particular. Not only are these the most common insecticide, but neonicotinoids saturate an entire plant, not just the surface, proving especially toxic to bees. To put this in greater perspective, the United Nations Environment Programme has determined that 71 out of 100 crops are pollinated by bees, and these 100 crop varieties supply 90 percent of the global food supply.

Invasive Species

This category is another contributor to bee loss, but invasive species are increasingly threatening all manner of plant and animal life. Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that have been introduced, either intentionally or by accident, and inflict ecological damage to their new environments as they compete for resources and disrupt an established ecosystem. In fact, invasive species rank just behind habitat loss when it comes to biodiversity threats. A 2019 study revealed that out of 953 extinctions since 1500, more than 400 were attributed to invasive species. For example, simply introducing cats to New Zealand in 1769 led to the downfall of the Stephens Island wren by 1900. In more recent times, Florida has banned 16 invasive species, including popular pet iguanas, as a way to reduce ecological and economic damages.

Wildlife Trade

While some invasive species have been inadvertently introduced throughout the centuries, the billion-dollar illegal wildlife trade is another driver  both for introducing invasive species and biodiversity loss. A 2019 study predicted that the wildlife trade threatens almost 9,000 land species with extinction; this trade is the largest illegal market after drugs and weapons, with pangolin scales and elephant tusks among the markets most popular commodities.

Though not as large of a market, many plant-loving consumers are likely unaware that their latest acquisition could have been sourced via the illegal plant trade.

Hunting

Poaching (illegal hunting) fuels the wildlife trade, but legal hunting is also detrimental to species survival. During the Trump administration, many hunting regulations were scaled back, such as allowing hunters to shoot and kill bears and wolves in a wildlife refuge, along with their offspring, in their dens. Yet hunting easements arent limited to administrations. Idaho recently passed a bill giving hunters the greenlight to kill 90 percent of the states gray wolf population, which would reduce the overall number from around 1,500 to just 150. The endangered threshold is 100.

Overfishing falls into this category as well. Illegal fishing is a common practice, marine sanctuaries have opened up to commercial fishing and large numbers of marine life are getting caught up in fishing nets as unintended bycatch. Consumer demand has caused species such as beluga sturgeon, Atlantic halibut and bluefin tuna to land on the endangered list.

Climate Change

Certainly not least, this vast area encompasses enough issues for a separate discussion. In a nutshell, ever-increasing greenhouse gases are exacerbating the gamut of climate-induced events: rising seas, droughts, floods, wildfires, etc., all of which threaten plant and animal species just as much as they threaten human life.

Whats Being Done About It?

M/V Farley Mowat crew member Tomas, pilots a boat at the port of San Felipe, in the Gulf of California, northwestern Mexico, in 2018, as part of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Societys operation Milagro IV to save the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. GUILLERMO ARIAS / AFP / Getty Images

Despite the many extinction threats facing species, global and local entities are working to address the problem.

Global Action

The Convention on Biological Diversity formed in 1993 to protect biodiversity, and includes 196 participating nations. In 2010, the group set 20 biodiversity goals to meet by 2020. Unfortunately none of those goals have been met, although six targets were partially achieved, such as conserving protected areas and preventing invasive species. A recent UN report determined that its not too late for global leaders to take action, but that countries need to focus on sustainability in general, from food systems and oceans to land and infrastructure. The next opportunity for countries to address biodiversity issues will occur in October 2021 in China, when the UN Biodiversity Conference convenes to troubleshoot biodiversity loss.

Biden Administration

U.S. President Joe Biden formally announced a conservation plan in 2021 to protect 30 percent of the countrys land and water by 2030. Additionally, under Biden the U.S. has rejoined the Paris Agreement, ended permitting for the Keystone XL pipeline and halted oil leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Other recent biodiversity wins include Bidens plan to restore migratory bird protections, however, protecting gray wolves and monarch butterflies is still under review.

Wildlife Conservation/Tourism

There are numerous wildlife groups devoted to conserving biodiversity; some of the major players include the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, The Sierra Club, National Audubon Society and the Jane Goodall Institute. Meanwhile, conservation tourism remains a growing area, despite experiencing COVID-19 pandemic setbacks. For example, the African Wildlife Foundation has partnered with the Rwandan government to protect endangered mountain gorillas, resulting in a booming tourism industry. Elsewhere in Africa, wildlife safaris and game drives remain a critical way to bolster local economies while protecting species that are favored by poachers, such as rhinos and elephants. By no means limited to Africa, conservation tourism is helping to boost and/or protect the numbers of giant pandas in China, Bengal tigers in India, polar bears in Canada and giant tortoises in the Galapagos.

Captive Breeding

Zoos and animal facilities around the world have been participating in captive breeding programs since the 1960s, which are meant to increase populations of endangered species. While some programs breed animals that will remain in captivity, particularly zoos, others breed with the intention of introducing endangered species back into the wild. Not all attempts have been successful, but there are positive stories. Take the black-footed ferret, a North American species that was declared extinct in 1979. A captivity breeding program launched after 18 were found a couple years later; today, its estimated that 301 survive in captivity and another 340 live in the wild. The ferrets are also notable for the fact that theyre the first endangered species in the U.S. to be cloned, raising new hope for not just the ferrets, but other endangered species as well  even those that are extinct, such as the passenger pigeon.

Ocean Conservation

While theres overlap with general wildlife conservation groups, an equal number of conservation organizations are dedicated to protecting marine life: Oceana, Ocean Conservancy, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and The Cousteau Society are among those making a difference by addressing pressing issues that involve, but arent limited to, overfishing, coral reef bleaching, plastic pollution, commercial whaling and ocean acidification.

What Can We Do?

Greenpeace activists create a burnt smoldering rain-forest with a lifelike animatronic orangutan at the headquarters of Oreo cookies, in protest over their use of palm oil on November 19, 2018 in Uxbridge, England. Chris J Ratcliffe / Getty Images

Luckily, there are ways to make an impact on a smaller scale, and the more people that partake in these efforts, the greater the overall effect will be.

Support Sustainable Products and Food

Where possible, choose sustainably made goods, whether thats organic coffee from producers who eschew pesticides or furniture made from FSC-certified wood. (This designation certifies that the wood was sourced from well-managed forests.) Supporting local, organic farmers is another way to make a difference, along with understanding which types of seafood are more sustainable and being aware of eco-certification labels and what they really mean.

Avoid Palm Oil Products

Palm oil plantations have devastated large swaths of land across Asia, Latin America and Africa, although the majority of this popular vegetable oil is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia. Mass production comes at the expense of endangered species facing habitat loss: the Sumatran elephant, orangutan, rhino and tiger are now among the critically endangered as plantation land expansion continues unchecked. Consumers can fight back by avoiding products made with palm oil; however, this can prove difficult since the ingredient is prevalent in everything from makeup products and laundry detergent to chocolate and soap. Read labels closely, since many items disguise palm oil under other names, or use other names for palm oil derivatives. Vegetable oil, palmate and sodium lauryl sulfate are all clues that a product contains palm oil.

Eat a Plant-Based Diet

Another way to avoid palm oil is by switching to a plant-based diet. But this diet has much larger environmental benefits for biodiversity as it requires far less land usage and reduces reliance on a small number of animal species as a global food source. The world is currently using 80 percent of its agricultural land to raise livestock; consider how much biodiversity could be saved and preserved otherwise.

Become a Citizen Scientist

Its not uncommon for environmental organizations to seek help from average citizens to participate in all manner of projects. Whether its keeping track of cicadas, searching for penguin eggs or identifying coral reef damage, there are programs around the world that welcome assistance. Even better, its entirely possible to find projects that can be performed in your own backyard.

Takeaway

The world has reached a critical make-or-break point for preserving a million species at risk for extinction, some within the next few decades. The issue may seem overwhelming, much like climate change, but its not hopeless. As with anything related to the environment, getting involved at a local level, learning about the current issues and becoming a conscious consumer are good starting points for fighting back against biodiversity loss.

Meredith Rosenberg is a senior editor at EcoWatch. She holds a Masters from the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in NYC and a B.A. from Temple University in Philadelphia.
By Simon Evans

The U.S. has no plan yet for how to meet its 2020 climate target and has made no analysis of the impact of recent policy changes, according to an official submission to the UN.

The details emerged in a series of terse, repetitive answers to an international climate action peer-review process, known as the Multilateral Assessment. The U.S. submission, which was published this week, says jobs, economic growth and energy independence are its priority.

The assessment process sees countries ask each other questions about progress towards their climate pledges. The process works on a rolling basis, with the U.S. one of 18 nations currently undergoing review along with other major emitters Russia and Japan.

The assessment process works in stages, with written questions and answers followed by live public exchanges held on May 12 and 13, during two weeks of climate talks in Bonn, Germany. This will be the first time the UN climate convention has convened since the election of Trump overshadowed the annual UN climate talks last November, held in Morocco.

Carbon Brief has a summary of the written answers submitted by the U.S., Russia and Japan.

U.S. Review

The U.S. position on the Paris climate accord is under intense scrutiny. Speculation is swirling over whether it will remain in the agreement while weakening its climate pledge or if it will pull out of the deal altogether.

A series of executive orders signed by President Trump aim to roll back Obama-era climate policies, such as the Clean Power Plan that hoped to reduce emissions from electricity generation. In the wake of those moves, China and others have used the multilateral assessment process to ask how or whether the U.S. now intends to meet its previously pledged climate goals.

(Various third-party assessments have attempted to measure the emissions impact of Trumps policy moves. One recent analysis suggests his changes could add half a billion tonnes to U.S. emissions over the next decade).

In one question, China points out that official U.S. projections, made before Trump came to power, already suggested it would miss its 2020 target, a 17 percent reduction below 2005 levels. Given that President Trump is not supportive of President Obamas Climate Actions plan, it is even more challenging to achieve [this goal], China notes.

It asks: Does the U.S. have any plan or preliminary thoughts on using international market mechanism to accommodate recent changes? If still not, what additional measure will the U.S. consider to take to achieve the 2020 target?

In its official response, the U.S. administration says it has no plan to meet its 2020 climate target using carbon offsets. It adds:

The administration is reviewing existing policies and regulations in the context of a focus on strengthening U.S. economic growth and promoting jobs for American workers, and will not support policies or regulations that have adverse effects on energy independence and U.S. competitiveness.

This pro-forma response is repeated six times. Elsewhere, the U.S. said it do[es] not have updated information about the impact of recent policy announcements on emissions. It adds that a question about its 2025 target is outside the scope of the assessment process.

Russia Reveals

In a series of relatively detailed responses, Russia puts a little more flesh on the bone of its highly ambiguous Paris climate pledge, which left many mystified when it was published in 2015.

Russias overall pledge was to limit emissions increases so that they remained at least 25 percent below 1990 levels in 2030. This exactly replicated and carried forward an earlier target, set for 2020.

Responding to a question from Turkey, however, Russia says enhancing its overall emissions goal for 2020 is at the present moment  not under consideration. Turkeys question points out that Russia had, by 2014, already overachieved against its 2020 target.

Still, Russias answers do offer more detail on how its goals will be met. For example, it backs rapid growth in the use of non-hydro renewables, such as wind and solar. Power output from these sources should increase from 2 terawatt hours (TWh) today to 29TWh in 2035, the answers say.

This is much more specific than Russias Paris pledge, which only said that policies would back an increasing share of renewables in the Russian energy balance. For comparison, Russia generated 170TWh from hydro power in 2015, out of a total demand of 1,063TWh. This means, if demand remains steady, that wind and solar would supply 3 percent and hydro 16 percent of power in 2035.

This increase in renewable electricity generation will contribute to Russias aim of cutting the energy intensity of its power sector: from 330 grams of coal equivalent per kilowatt hour (gce/kWh) in 2012 to 299gce/kWh in 2020, an 11 percent cut.

The document also sets out targets to cut the carbon intensity of key industrial sectors. Between 2015 and 2020, Russia says it will cut CO2 emissions per ton of iron or steel by 16.5 percent. Over the same period, the carbon intensity of cement and chemicals will be cut by 30.8 percent and 11.2 percent.

Elsewhere, Russias submission claims the country has achieved dramatic reductions in emissions due to flaring at oil and gas production sites. It says:

Implementing policies to improve the use of associated petroleum gas (instead of its flaring) provided a reduction in flaring from 26% in 2005 to 23% in 2012, 12% in 2015 and 10% in 2016.

Like much of Russias climate documentation, this statement is ambiguous (10 percent of what?). A World Bank article suggests this means that Russia flared 10 percent of the gas it produced in 2016. Either way, this is a key area for Russia. The greenhouse gas inventory it filed with the UN suggests fugitive emissions from the oil and gas sector made up a third of its total footprint in 2014.

Another Russian answer says it is trying to encourage a shift from petrol and diesel-fueled vehicles to those that run on natural gas. It says it gave subsidies to support this switch, worth 3bn roubles (around 40m) in 2015.

Japan Strategy

The official Japanese response says the country is in the process of drawing up its long-term low greenhouse gas strategy. Under the Paris deal, countries are required to develop these strategies before 2020, in addition to submitting a shorter-term climate pledge. So far, six countries have done so, including France, Germany and the (pre-Trump) U.S.

In drawing up its long-term strategy, Japan says it: Will put best of its efforts to work on global warming countermeasures and make maximum contribution to the global emission reductions.

Regarding its 2030 climate pledgea 26 percent reduction below 2013 levelsJapan repeatedly said it will revise its [action plan] in a flexible manner in order to ensure compliance. It reiterates its view that the target is feasible. This is in response to a question from China, which points out that the 2030 goal will entail significantly higher rates of decarbonization than planned during 1990-2020.

Japan said its focus will be promotion of energy efficiency at the same level as the significant energy efficiency improvement after the oil crisis, as well as maximum introduction of renewable energy, promotion of high efficiency in thermal power generation, and utilization of nuclear power generations whose safety is approved.

The reference to high efficiency in thermal power relates to Japans preference for high efficiency coal. Indeed, its 2030 pledge allows for an expansion in coal use. Japans submission says that state-of-the-art coal plants can cut emissions by more than 10 percent, relative to old type plant.

The World Coal Association makes much larger claims for the benefits of efficient coal plant. In an interview with Carbon Brief earlier this year, World Coal Association Chief Executive Benjamin Sporton said:

If youre building a coal plant today, wouldnt it be better that youre building the best technology that does reduce emissions by 25 to 30%, rather than using the older, less efficient technology?

Elsewhere, Japan says it will also target industrial mitigation measures and nationwide campaigns for the residential and transport sectors, though it fails to spell out what these might include. It estimates power sector measures will save 188 million tonnes of CO2 (MtCO2) in 2030, with transport measures saving 24MtCO2.

It said it will also use international offsets, developed under its Joint Crediting Mechanism, to help meet its 2020 climate goal, though it has yet to work out how many will be needed. Similarly, it plans to count the Joint Crediting Mechanism credits towards its 2030 goal.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Carbon Brief.
Ive said this many times, and I'll say it again: When my AR-15 is outlawed, I will be an outlaw! I will NOT surrender my guns! And I make this decision based on conscience and the Holy Scriptures, not merely on the Second Amendment. This is a hill I am more than willing to die on. ...
Researchers have confirmed at least five different wild wolves roaming around Denmark for the first time in two centuries.

Other than the one male wolf that was spotted wandering the Jutland peninsula in 2012, the countrys last verified wild wolf sighting was in 1813, Peter Sunde, a senior researcher at Aarhus University, told Newsweek.

Wolves were exterminated in Denmark because of intense persecution from hunters, Sunde said.

Now theres a full-fledged wild wolf packconsisting of at least four males and one femalefor the first time in more than two centuries. Recent CCTV footage shows a pair of the wolves in West Jutland.

The researchers believe the female settled in the region after trekking 340 miles from Germany and expect the pack will grow.

We expect that they will have cubs this year or the next, Sunde said, according to the BBC.

More wolves might also make the journey from Germany, meaning there could be more wolf packs soon.

Now, its just a matter of a few years before we begin to see more wolf packs in Denmark, Sunde told the Copenhagen Post.

But as researcher Guillaume Chapron asked in the Guardian, The question has to be asked: are people going to accept the wolves?

Farmers have demanded action from the Danish government following a string of wolf attacks over the winter. More than two dozen sheep have been attacked since the first wolf was spotted in 2012.

When they realize that Danish sheep dont taste too bad, that may be a little problematic, Chapron said.
Kiana Rivers

Viking Highlights Major/Minor:

Criminal Justice Classification:

Senior Hometown:

Elizabeth City, NC Hobbies/Interests:

Reading, Traveling, Basketball, Community Service Dream Job:

Superior Court Judge Campus Events You Enjoyed Participating In and The Reason(s):

Intramural Basketball Your words to live by:

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure." Marianne Williamson Favorite Place on Campus

Library & New Student Center Professors Who Have Influenced You The Most:

Dr. Eyualem Abebe, Dr. Lynn Barnes, Dr. Shahidullah. Because they all pushed me to be my absolute best and prepared me for life after my undergraduate education. Advice For Younger Students

Remember why you're in school, always stay focused on your goals, surround yourself with like-minded friends, and enjoy every minute of college.

Kiana Rivers

When Kiana Rivers was a freshman at Elizabeth City State University, she had her eye on a degree in pharmaceutical science. Thats a long way from earning a degree in criminal justice, but in the end her decision to change majors, also changed the course of her life.

In the fall of 2017, Rivers will begin her journey toward her ultimate goal of becoming a superior court justice. She will first earn her law degree from North Carolina Central School of Law.

Ive always had a passion for law, says the Elizabeth City native, and all entities it deals with. Ive always wanted to be a major change agent within the community, and I believe couyupled with my passion for service, a law degree will help me do that.

Rivers says she was raised to recognize the benefits of attending school at ECSU. She says she understands now more than even how much the university has to offer her. And, she says, for her attending an HBCU was an important factor in her decision to attend her hometown university.

Rivers says her time at ECSU has been amazing.

Through the four years I was engulfed into a culture that was extremely unique, yet entirely my own, she said. I was afforded several opportunities that included internships every summer, including my study abroad internship which was a blessing.

This university has helped mold me into the educated black woman I am today.

Although Rivers has a big future ahead of her, like so many who have graduated from ECSU, she will miss college life and the friends shes made here.

You really build a family, she said, while an undergrad, even with those faculty members that really care about us, I will definitely miss that.

To future Vikings, Rivers says to stay on top of your business, always seek information from the university on resume and life skills. And perhaps most importantly, Never stop growing!
Royal De Heus opens aquaculture R&D Centre in Vietnam

On May 4th, Royal De Heus celebrated the opening of the Aquaculture Research & Development Centre in Vinh Long, Vietnam.

This De Heus R&D centre is supported by three organisations: Fresh Studio, Vietnam's Can Tho University and the Netherlands' Wageningen University. This state-of-the-art centre enables De Heus to test innovative feed formulas and new farming techniques.



The opening was preceded by an aquaculture feed workshop on May 3 and attended by international aquaculture feed specialists.

During this workshop, attendees learned more about the global trends in sustainable aquaculture production, selective breeding, with a special emphasis on aquaculture nutrition and feed management.

During the opening and after the ceremony on May 4, all attendees visited the six hectares Aquaculture R&D Centre with its 111 indoor tanks and 25 outdoor ponds, as well as the two pumping stations, two water treatment ponds, bio-filter tanks, laboratory, storage buildings, offices and the facilities for the employees. The opening of the centre is one of the initiatives visible to realise De Heus "Powering Aquaculture Progress" ambition.

Gabor Fluit, business group director of De Heus Asia, said that the R&D facility is a huge step for De Heus both locally, regionally and globally.

He noted: "Due to the growing world population and the need for food, we are expecting a growth in the consumption of aquaculture protein. This unique R&D facility gives the aquaculture sector the ability to develop more sustainable and efficient ways for the production of aquaculture, especially fish. It will increase the knowledge of fish farmers, fish processors and fish feed distributors. The facility will be used by De Heus to conduct aqua R&D activities. The new facility can also be used by other public and private organisations for their (contract) research activities. This means our facility will contribute to the further professionalization of the total Aquaculture sector."

Fluit continued: "This facility, in the centre of the Mekong delta, is equipped to test the nutritional value of ingredients, innovative feed formulas and innovative farming techniques. We will also use it to train farmers in farming management and best practices."

The aquaculture R&D facility will first focus on pangasius and tilapia farming systems, but will also be used for other species.

The indoor operation of this aquaculture R&D centre has been in operation since September 2015. The outdoor operation started in March 2017. The project was established with a project contribution from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

- De Heus
Norway seafood exports decline in volume and value in April

Norwegian seafood exports in April decreased 23% to 151,000 tonnes, valued at NOK6.8 billion (US$786.43 million), down 7% or by NOK529 million compared with April 2016, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council.

In the four months through April, Norway exported 886,000 tonnes of seafood worth NOK31 billion ($3.58 billion). Year-to-date export volumes were at the same level as last year, while the year-to-date value of Norwegian seafood exports increased 8% or by NOK2.3 billion.

"The decline in seafood exports in April is mainly due to a shift in Easter, which again explains some of the decline in export volumes for our important seafood products such as salmon and clipfish", said Asbjrn Warvik Rrtveit, director of market insight, Norwegian Seafood Council.

Salmon exports

Salmon exports in April declined 11% or by 8,800 tonnes to 60,000 tonnes, worth NOK4.9 billion. The value of Norwegian salmon exports was at the same level as April 2016. From January to April, Norway exported 305,000 tonnes of salmon with a total value of NOK21 billion.

Just as in the first quarter, Poland, France and the US were the largest export markets for salmon from Norway in April.

"Strong price growth compared with the same period last year has led to a value added of NOK2.7 billion or 15 percent for Norwegian salmon exports so far this year. A trend we have seen over time is that exports to the EU are reduced, while exports to overseas markets have increased", said Norwegian Seafood Council Analyst Paul Aandahl.

Trout exports

In April, Norway exported 2,480 tonnes of trout worth NOK199 million. Volume fell by 5,400 tonnes or 69%, while the value of trout exports fell by NOK204 million or 51%, compared with April last year.

In the four months through April, Norway exported 11,100 tonnes of trout worth NOK874 million.

Japan, Belarus and the US were the largest trout export markets in April.

Norway's king crab exports in April decreased by 15 tonnes or 24% to 46 tonnes, while export value (NOK44 million) remained at the same level as in April last year.

Norway exported 646 tonnes of prawn (down 12% or by 86 tonnes) valued at NOK44 million in April (down 30% year-on-year or by NOK19 million).
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Roads police issue driving ban reminder

Manx roads police are reminding locals and visitors that a driving ban in the Isle of Man also applies in the UK.

Penalty points picked up in the Island can't be applied to a UK licence, but anyone who accumulates 12 points on a ghost Manx licence will still be banned.

The Roads Policing Unit warns this means anyone who has previously received points in the Isle of Man on a UK licence could still face disqualification if they break the rules again.

Officers are also reminding motorcyclists that those with provisional bike licences can't ride on the Island, even if they display L plates.

Provisional licences are only valid in the jurisdiction they were issued in.

The RPU issued the clarification after both issues came up this week.
Between 2009 and 2011, the central public information officer (CPIO) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was flooded with numerous applications under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking information related to various issues. These included inspection reports of banks, reports of banks that went on liquidation, advisory notes issued to banks for violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), list of banks which were issued show cause notices, contraventions and violations made by specific banks and actions taken against them, confirmed or draft minutes of meetings of governing board/board of directors/committee of directors of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), copies or details of all the complaints filed with the RBI against specific banks, etc.

The CPIO had rejected all such applications stating that the required disclosures are exempted on grounds of economic interests, commercial confidence, RBIs fiduciary relationship with the banks, public interest, information exempted under the RTI Act, etc. These decisions of CPIO were challenged in Central Information Commission (CIC) which directed the CPIO to disclose the information sought by the applicants. The RBI later approached various high courts and eventually got a stay on CICs orders.
Shodan is a tool that most security researchers are familiar with, providing a search interface to easily detect known vulnerabilities across the internet. Shodan is now getting an intelligence boost, thanks to a new partnership with security vendor Recorded Future, with a new Malware Hunter crawler.

The Malware Hunter crawler now available on Shodan can help discover systems that have been infected with a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) that is connecting to a botnet command and control node.

If you search for an IP address that is acting as a RAT controller, you will see the available signature information on the port in question, Levi Gundert, vice president of intelligence and strategy at Recorded Future, told eSecurity Planet. If you search category:malware you will see all of the results as a category.

Gundert explained that Recorded Future and Shodan develop RAT family definitions based on profiling the traffic between a RAT and its botnet controller. Then Shodan uses the definition to send a specific request to hosts (typically on a default port plus a few other common ports), and it waits a few seconds for a response where necessary.

If the Shodan crawler receives a specific response back, the host is tagged as a controller, Gundert said.

The way the technical collaboration works is that Recorded Future imports Shodan results via API on a daily basis and enriches the IP address results using Recorded Futures open, closed, and technical sources.

Gundert noted that he and Shodan founder John Matherly have been friends for many years. We didnt want to reinvent the Internet scanning wheel, and John/Shodan has been a fantastic partner to collaborate with, Gundert said.

Looking forward, the plan is to further expand the RAT definition set for Shodan to help identify even more potentially infected hosts and botnets.

Currently Shodan crawls for 10 different families, 9 RATs, and 1 malware family  ZeroAcces), Gundert said. RATs are malware of course, but we try to be specific where possible. Gh0st RAT is thus far the largest family, by results, in Shodan.

Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at eSecurityPlanet and InternetNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks occur when attackers use a large number of devices to attempt to overwhelm a resource and deny access to that resource for legitimate use. Most commonly, we see DDoS attacks used against websites, applications, or services exposed to the internet, but DDoS attacks can also be applied against specific computers, gateways, or internal network resources.

The very first DDoS attacks occurred when network engineers misconfigured networks and overwhelmed components by accident. Hackers soon developed ways to use DDoS for hacktivism, revenge, pranks, or criminal activity.

Vendors that stop huge DDoS attacks are quick to claim credit and bask in the positive attention it brings to their services. Several record-setting DDoS attacks recently made the news:

To understand the distinctions between these events and other DDoS events, we need to understand more about the types of DDoS attacks and their methods. Attacks can be performed at every OSI Layer, but most attackers use a mix of methods to make their attack more difficult to stop.

Also read:

What are the Main DDoS Attack Types?

Even the specific DDoS tactics themselves can fall into gray zones that defy clean categorization because of how they are used.

However, DDoS attacks can usually be generalized into three categories of attack:

Those three classifications contain dozens of DDoS attack types, such as UDP, ICMP, IP, TCP and HTTP flood attacks and their variants. We cover the categories and attack types in depth below.

Volumetric DDoS Attacks

Volumetric DDoS attacks attempt to overwhelm the resources capacity. Servers will be overwhelmed with requests, networks will be overwhelmed with traffic, and databases can be overwhelmed with calls.

On the internet, a DDoS attack seeks to saturate an attacked sites bandwidth, and the attack magnitude is typically measured in bits per second. Volumetric DDoS examples include:

UDP Flood attacks

The User Datagram Protocol (UDP) does not establish a two-way session with a server. Instead, UDP simply sends data packets without waiting for a reply.

This characteristic provides the perfect setup for flood attacks that attempt to send enough packets to overwhelm a host that is listening to its ports for genuine UDP traffic. Attackers know that upon receiving a UDP packet at any port, the server must check for an application that corresponds to that port, and the protocols will trigger automatic processes within the server.

Attackers target servers on the internet or within a network specifically through the IP address and port embedded in the UDP packets. The attack seeks to overwhelm the server with that process request or consome the bandwidth of the network.

Specific UDP Flood Attacks can use:

Domain Name Service (DNS)

Network Time Protocol (NTP)

Simple Service Discovery Protocol (SSDP)

Media data such as audio or video packets

Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone packets

NetBIOS

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks like BitTorrent or Kad packets

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)

Quote of the day (QOTD)

Video game specific protocols like Quake and Steam

Variants of the UDP Flood attack include:

UDP Fragmentation Flood: This variation of the UDP Flood attack sends larger, but fragmented packets to the victim server. The server will attempt to assemble the unrelated, forged, and fragmented UDP packets and may become overwhelmed in the process.

This variation of the UDP Flood attack sends larger, but fragmented packets to the victim server. The server will attempt to assemble the unrelated, forged, and fragmented UDP packets and may become overwhelmed in the process. Specific UDP Amplification Attacks: Instead of using a large number of compromised devices, attackers can send a legitimate UDP request to a large number of legitimate servers with the victim server as a spoofed IP address. The responses from these legitimate servers suddenly overwhelms the targeted device. Protocols often used in amplification attacks include: NTP, SNMP, and SSDP.

CharGEN Flood

Developed in 1983, the CharGEN protocol was intended for use in debugging, measuring, and testing. A requesting server triggers the protocol by sending a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or UDP request via port 19. The receiving device then responds to the server via the same protocol with:

Replies via TCP with arbitrarily generated characters

Replies via UDP with random numbers

The sending device discards any received information from the host server.

Attackers spoof the IP address of the target server and send a flood of requests to internet-enabled devices that run CharGEN, such as printers and copiers. These devices then respond to the request and bombard the server with port 19 traffic. If the firewall does not block port 19, then the server can become overwhelmed with trying to analyze and respond to the random traffic.

ICMP (Ping) Flood

The Internet Control Message Protocol consists of specific error messages and operational information commands sent between network devices such as Time Stamp, Time Exceeded error, Echo Request, and Echo Reply. Echo Request and Echo Reply combine to make the ping command.

Attackers use a large number of devices to flood servers with spoofed Ping packets without waiting for replies. The protocol requires the server to receive the requests as well as respond to them which consumes both incoming and outgoing bandwidth.

ICMP Fragmentation Flood

A variant of the ICMP Flood attack, the ICMP Fragmentation Flood sends fragmented ICMP packets instead of fully formed commands. The victim server attempts to reconstruct valid commands from the spoofed ICMP packets and will exhaust resources attempting to make connections between intentionally unrelated fragments.

Misused application attack

In misused applications attacks, hackers compromise existing high-traffic applications on legitimate servers such as P2P servers. The traffic from one or more compromised machines then will be redirected to the victim server, and the hacker will exit the system and allow it to work autonomously.

Since the compromised application is attempting to make a valid connection with properly formed packets, most defensive tools will allow the connection. The victim server simply will be overwhelmed with the surge in traffic.

Protocol DDoS Attacks

Instead of strictly using sheer volume, protocol DDoS attacks abuse protocols to overwhelm a specific resource, usually a server but sometimes firewalls or load balancers. These attacks will often be measured in packets per second.

IP Null attack

All packets conforming to Internet Protocol version 4 contain headers that should specify if the transport protocol used for that packet is TCP, ICMP, etc. However, attackers can set the header to a null value, and without specific instructions to discard those packets, the server will consume resources attempting to determine how to deliver those packets.

TCP Flood attacks

The Transmission Control Protocol requires three communication sequences to establish a connection:

SYN: The requesting device (endpoint or server) sends a synchronized sequence number in a packet to a server or other destination device (endpoint).

The requesting device (endpoint or server) sends a synchronized sequence number in a packet to a server or other destination device (endpoint). SYN-ACK: The server responds to the SYN packet with a response consisting of the synchronized sequence number plus an acknowledgement number (ACK).

The server responds to the SYN packet with a response consisting of the synchronized sequence number plus an acknowledgement number (ACK). ACK: The requesting device sends a response acknowledgement number (original ACK number + 1) back to the server.

Transmission is ended through a four-part termination sequence consisting of:

FIN: The requesting device sends a session termination request (FIN) to the server.

The requesting device sends a session termination request (FIN) to the server. ACK: The server responds with an ACK response to the requesting device, and the requesting device will wait to receive the FIN packet.

The server responds with an ACK response to the requesting device, and the requesting device will wait to receive the FIN packet. FIN: The server responds with a FIN packet (may be nearly simultaneous) to the requesting device.

The server responds with a FIN packet (may be nearly simultaneous) to the requesting device. ACK: The requesting device returns a final ACK response to the server, and the session is closed.

When servers receive an unexpected TCP packet, the server will send a RST (reset) packet back to reset the communication.

Flood attacks abusing the TCP protocol attempt to use malformed TCP transmissions to overwhelm system resources.

SYN Flood: The attacker sends many SYN request packets either from a spoofed IP address or from a server set up to ignore responses. The victim server responds with SYN-ACK packets and holds open the communication bandwidth waiting for the ACK response.

The attacker sends many SYN request packets either from a spoofed IP address or from a server set up to ignore responses. The victim server responds with SYN-ACK packets and holds open the communication bandwidth waiting for the ACK response. SYN-ACK Flood: Attackers send a large number of spoofed SYN-ACK responses to the victim server. The targeted server will tie up resources attempting to match the responses to non-existent SYN requests.

Attackers send a large number of spoofed SYN-ACK responses to the victim server. The targeted server will tie up resources attempting to match the responses to non-existent SYN requests. ACK Flood: Attackers send a large number of spoofed ACK responses to a server, which will tie up resources attempting to match the ACK response with non-existent SYN-ACK packets. The TCP PUSH function can also be used for this type of attack.

Attackers send a large number of spoofed ACK responses to a server, which will tie up resources attempting to match the ACK response with non-existent SYN-ACK packets. The TCP PUSH function can also be used for this type of attack. ACK Fragmentation Flood: A variation of the ACK Flood attack, this method uses fragmented packets of the maximum size of 1,500 bytes to abuse the maximum IP packet length of 65,535 bytes (including the header). When servers and other resources such as routers attempt to reconstruct the fragmented packets, the reconstruction exceeds the allocated resources and can cause memory overflow errors or crash the resource.

A variation of the ACK Flood attack, this method uses fragmented packets of the maximum size of 1,500 bytes to abuse the maximum IP packet length of 65,535 bytes (including the header). When servers and other resources such as routers attempt to reconstruct the fragmented packets, the reconstruction exceeds the allocated resources and can cause memory overflow errors or crash the resource. RST/FIN Flood: Attackers use spoofed RST or FIN packets to flood servers and consume resources with attempts to match the packets to non-existent open TCP sessions.

Attackers use spoofed RST or FIN packets to flood servers and consume resources with attempts to match the packets to non-existent open TCP sessions. Multiple ACK Spoofed Session Flood: In this variation attackers send multiple ACK packets followed by RST or FIN packets to more thoroughly mimic actual TCP traffic and fool defenses. Of course, the packets are spoofed, and the server will consume its resources trying to match the fake packets with non-existent open TCP sessions.

In this variation attackers send multiple ACK packets followed by RST or FIN packets to more thoroughly mimic actual TCP traffic and fool defenses. Of course, the packets are spoofed, and the server will consume its resources trying to match the fake packets with non-existent open TCP sessions. Multiple SYN-ACK Spoofed Session Flood: This variation uses multiple SYN and ACK packets also followed by RST or FIN packets. As with the Multiple ACK Spoofed Session Flood, the spoofed packets attempt to mimic legitimate TCP traffic and waste server resources with attempts to match fake packets to legitimate traffic.

This variation uses multiple SYN and ACK packets also followed by RST or FIN packets. As with the Multiple ACK Spoofed Session Flood, the spoofed packets attempt to mimic legitimate TCP traffic and waste server resources with attempts to match fake packets to legitimate traffic. Synonymous IP Attack: To execute this method, attackers spoof SYN packets that use the victim servers IP address for both the source and destination IP address of the packet. The nonsense packet then consumes resources as the server attempts to either respond to itself (AKA: local area network denial, or LAND, attack) or resolve the contradiction of receiving a packet from itself related to open communication with itself for TCP sessions that it cannot match.

Session attack

Attackers do not have to use spoofed IP addresses or spoofed packets to conduct a DDoS attack. A session attack uses a number of bots to meet or exceed the source IP range and initiates legitimate TCP sessions with the target server. The legitimate TCP session from real IP addresses avoids DDoS detection, but the attack then delays ACK packets to chew up bandwidth and exhaust resources to maintain the empty sessions.

Slowloris

Similar to the session attack, the Slowloris attack attempts to consume server resources with empty communication. For this attack, the attackers send partial HTTP requests to a web server to hold open as many sessions as possible for as long as possible. These attacks use very little bandwidth and can be difficult to detect.

Ping of Death

The Ping of Death attack abuses the maximum IP packet length of 65,535 bytes (including the header) in a fashion similar to the ACK Fragmentation Flood. Since the maximum frame size for sending data across an Ethernet network typically will be set at 1,500 bytes, the attackers will send multiple IP fragments that comply with the Ethernet limitation, but that will assemble into a packet that exceeds the maximum IP packet length. As the recipient computer reassembles the IP fragments, it can overflow memory buffers assigned to the packet or crash the computer.

Smurf attack

The malware program called Smurf exploits the IP and ICMP protocols to send a large number of spoofed ICMP ping requests to the broadcast address of a router with the IP address of the target device. Every device on the network responds to the ping request and may overwhelm the receiving device. Since 1999, most routers do not forward packets sent to the broadcast address by default, and this attack is not as effective.

Fraggle attack

Fraggle attacks are a variation of the Smurf attack that spoof UDP packets instead of ICMP packets to overwhelm the victim computer with traffic by targeting the broadcast address of a network router. Every device on the network responds to the UDP requests and may overwhelm the receiving device. By default, most modern routers since 1999 do not forward packets sent to the broadcast address, which reduces the effectiveness of this attack.

Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC)

The Low Orbit Ion Cannon open-source software was designed to be a network stress-testing tool that sends a large number of packets (UPD, TCP, HTTP) to a target device. Unfortunately, attackers deploy this attack to botnets and use it to execute DDoS attacks.

High Orbit Ion Cannon (HOIC)

The High Orbit Ion Cannon application replaced the Low Orbit Ion Cannon with a publicly available application that can submit a large number of GET and HTTP POST requests to up to 256 different domains at the same time. HOIC can be more powerful and disruptive than LOIC when used by malicious attackers.

Application DDoS Attacks

Application DDoS attacks target vulnerabilities in applications to cause the application itself to fail. Unlike other attacks that focus on disrupting infrastructure, this attack focuses on the Layer 7 software. However, it can also result in overloaded CPUs or exhausted memory, which affect the server and other applications. The magnitude of an application DDoS attack is measured in requests per second.

For example, computationally heavy processes, such as adding an item to a shopping cart or proceeding to checkout, can be abused with many concurrent requests to overwhelm the programs limits or the host computers resources. Other attacks target specific vulnerabilities in software or use SQL injections to disrupt databases.

Application DDoS attacks with specific names include:

HTTP Flood attacks

HTTP Flood attacks abuse the HTTP commands to attempt to overwhelm websites, the servers that host them, and the bandwidth used to reach them. The bots used in these attacks can send multiple requests in sequence, so the large number of machines in the botnet exponentially increase traffic for the target website.

GET Attacks: Attackers use a botnet to send a large number of concurrent GET requests for large files such as large PDF files or videos.

Attackers use a botnet to send a large number of concurrent GET requests for large files such as large PDF files or videos. POST Attacks: A large number of bots send a large number of concurrent POST requests containing large files for storage on the target server.

A large number of bots send a large number of concurrent POST requests containing large files for storage on the target server. Low-and-Slow POST Attacks: Often performed using the R-U-Dead-Yet? (R.U.D.Y.) tool, attackers send HTTP Post requests that indicate they will send large amounts of data but then send tiny bits of data very slowly. The attack avoids DDoS defenses looking for large volume attacks and ties up resources on the server.

Often performed using the R-U-Dead-Yet? (R.U.D.Y.) tool, attackers send HTTP Post requests that indicate they will send large amounts of data but then send tiny bits of data very slowly. The attack avoids DDoS defenses looking for large volume attacks and ties up resources on the server. Single Session or Single Request Attack: Many anti-DDoS defenses now block large numbers of incoming packets, so attackers instead exploit a loophole in HTTP 1.1 to include many different requests within a single HTTP packet.

Many anti-DDoS defenses now block large numbers of incoming packets, so attackers instead exploit a loophole in HTTP 1.1 to include many different requests within a single HTTP packet. Fragmented HTTP Flood: Instead of sending large numbers of valid requests, botnets establish valid HTTP connections and can split the HTTP packets into tiny fragments sent as slowly as the server will allow. This form of low-and-slow attack uses a packet rate that appears to be safe for many DDoS defenses, but the software or server keeps the session active and consumes resources with reserved bandwidth. The Slowloris tool enables this type of attack.

Instead of sending large numbers of valid requests, botnets establish valid HTTP connections and can split the HTTP packets into tiny fragments sent as slowly as the server will allow. This form of low-and-slow attack uses a packet rate that appears to be safe for many DDoS defenses, but the software or server keeps the session active and consumes resources with reserved bandwidth. The Slowloris tool enables this type of attack. Recursive GET Flood: Attackers attempt to overwhelm servers by requesting long lists of pages or images. The attack appears to be normal browsing behavior, but the botnet simply is chewing up resources that now cannot be used for legitimate traffic.

Attackers attempt to overwhelm servers by requesting long lists of pages or images. The attack appears to be normal browsing behavior, but the botnet simply is chewing up resources that now cannot be used for legitimate traffic. Random Recursive GET Flood: A variant of the Recursive GET Flood, this attack randomizes the requested pages to avoid detection.

ReDoS

The regular expression denial-of-service attempts to request algorithmically highly complex search patterns that waste resources or even cause crashes to the system.

Other DDoS Attack Types

Advanced persistent DoS (APDoS)

APDoS is an attack type used by hackers who want to cause serious damage. It uses a variety of the styles of attacks, such as HTTP flooding, and SYN flooding, and regularly targets multiple attack vectors that send out millions of requests per second. APDoS attacks can last for weeks, largely due to the ability of the hacker to switch tactics at any moment and to create diversions to elude security defenses.

Multi-vector attacks

Attackers can deploy many concurrent attacks to cause DDoS. For example, an attacker might use a volumetric attack to distract defenders while simultaneously executing a low bandwidth HTTP Flood attack from a different botnet.

Zero-day DDoS attacks

Attackers may discover undisclosed vulnerabilities for applications, protocols, or hardware and execute a DDoS attack. When exploiting a new vulnerability, the attack is a zero-day attack.

Stopping and Preventing DDoS Attacks

A wide variety of resources can be vulnerable to an even wider variety of DDoS attacks. Security and operations teams need to work together to balance the accessibility and performance of the resource against its security and risks.

Redundancy will be critical for defense and recovery from DDoS attacks, but dedicated attackers have been known to attack multiple web servers simultaneously, so load balancers and redundancy will be insufficient. The defense against these attacks requires an overlapping and supporting combination of device hardening, redundancy, anti-DDoS tools, and anti-DDoS services  and perhaps the support of a DDoS prevention and response service.

Read next:
Zygmunt Bauman, a renowned Polish sociologist that passed away in January this year, developed a theory of liquid modernity, which depicts a situation of constant change, fragility, and vulnerability. Although he originally applied these terms to the labor market, the community and the individual, they could also be readily used to describe and understand the regional order in the Middle East, its institutions, and leading actors.

According to Bauman, social structures that underpin individuals behavior fall apart at a faster pace than the new structures before they are able to form. There is no time for long-term planning or for developing a consistent strategy. Each such change presents a set of opportunities and threats but the main fear is the one of missing the train. Something similar is going on in the Middle East right now.

The solid structures of the pre-Arab Spring era have been replaced by a liquid system that has not managed to solidify yet. The liquid has taken over but not replaced the old structures completely yet. To understand why some players in the region keep on sticking to the solid blocs, it is useful to analyze regional conflicts such as Syria, Yemen and Libya but also scrutinize the role of China and Turkey in the region on the one side and that of Egypt and Saudi Arabia on the other. The new administration in the White House has yet to reveal whether it will solidify traditional alliances or lean towards liquidity.

When it comes to Europe, the EU has never been a primary player in the region. Not only because the EU member states are faced with other challenges but mostly because the blocs brand in the region has never been about being a strategic ally. To the Maghreb countries, the EU has traditionally been about free trade, a driver of reform and an actor in humanitarian and development areas. In the Maghreb, which has generally played a peripheral role in the regions large geopolitical shifts, the solid once again coexists with the liquid. Solid is the Algiers-Rabat rivalry and also the Moroccan alignment with the positions of the Gulf Cooperation Council and particularly Saudi Arabia. In contrast, Algeria has gone liquid to become a pivotal actor, a potential mediator and an indispensable interlocutor.

The solid structures in the Middle East thus remain to coexist with old alliances and rivalries. Permanent structures are yet to emerge while old enemies work now together and future allies face each other across various frontlines. The behavior of some regional powers is therefore often being unpredictable, although poised to lead to solid blocs. Yet, distrust still reigns and with it comes risk of sudden changes and defensive reactions and overreactions.

Liquid Alliances in the Middle East  Analysis by Eduard Soler i Lecha  Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB).

(The Analysis can be downloaded here)
The European Union wants to foster its partnership with Africa and focus on peace, security, and job creation for the youth. The European Commission has set out the blocs political priorities and concrete proposals for a stronger strategic partnership with Africa. Brussels has outlined key areas  peace, security, migration, job creation and energy  based on priorities defined by African countries, thus stepping up the existing cooperation. This move comes as an impetus in preparations for the Africa-EU Summit to be held in November this year.

Federica Mogherini, head of European diplomacy, said that 2017 is the year for a new impetus of the partnership between Europe and Africa  every obstacle we may face is a common challenge, and Africas hope is our hope, and stressed that a strong Africa matters to Europe; our friendship matters to our people. Only by joining forces and working in partnership can we provide our youth with a more hopeful and peaceful future. Today, we dont simply look at what we can do for Africa but what we can do with Africa, together.

The three major objectives for EU-Africa engagement are based on common global and regional challenges, namely a stronger engagement and increased cooperation, security on land and on sea, and sustainable and inclusive economic development in Africa. As to concrete steps, the EU first wants to achieve more resilient states and societies through closer cooperation and action with the aim to prevent conflicts, improve conflict management, boost governance systems, and manage migration and mobility. The second objective will focus on youth employment and general job creation. This will go hand in hand with the recently proposed External Investment Plan, which is expected to leverage up to 44 billion of private investment.
While small in size, the establishment of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in the Baltic States and Poland significantly enhances NATOs defence and deterrence posture. When planning its next steps however, NATO might be well advised to moderate its quest for an ever-larger presence in the east. Improvements to NATOs defence posture without sending significantly more troops to Russias border is, in the short term, possible.

Towards a moderate approach

The Alliances shift towards credible conventional deterrence is still far from complete. NATO has to build on its recent achievements of enhancing real capabilities (forces, plans, and command and control arrangements) to provide for the actual defence of its Baltic members. As planners in Brussels and NATO capitals think about the next steps it is tempting to move to a maximalist position. Yet demands for all forces and capabilities to be deployed to the Baltics, and deployed soon, to counter Russias much-improved capabilities do not seem politically realistic or strategically wise.

The establishment of the eFP alone stretched the consensus within the Alliance. Countries such as Germany have already gone a long way towards supporting the eFP and taking a strong stance vis-a-vis Russia. During the current German election season, it is unrealistic to assume that further decisions about reinforcements are on the cards. And in the run-up to NATOs gathering in May, with President Donald Trump pushing the Alliance to take a bigger role in countering terrorism, NATO is increasingly looking south. Consequently, pushing for a maximalist position in the current climate would not bepolitically realistic.

Calling for immediate reinforcements may also not be strategically wise, as NATO has a strong interest in strengthening its posture without exacerbating an already tense security situation to its east. Thus, member states will only agree to a robust strengthening of NATOs defences in the east if it can be credibly portrayed to domestic audiences, and to the Kremlin, as non-offensive and with minimal risk of provoking unwanted escalation.

So, what could be the guiding principles of a moderate approach?

First, instead of the politically thorny and highly visible issue of troop deployments, NATO could focus on planning and coordination. NATO will not be able to out-presence Russia in the Baltics, and no amount of ground forces short of numerous heavy brigades would decisively alter the balance in the region. What is much more important is to integrate the forces already in theatre with ready and tested follow-on forces through credible, visible and effective Allied planning. The eFP is a tripwire. It has to be connected to an emergency service to serve its purpose. Plus, multinational planning and effective command and control arrangements within NATOs Command Structure are traditional Allied strengths.

Second, NATO could continue providing maximum transparency even beyond its already high standard. If necessary, transparency should be introduced on every level down to operational plans. The goal is not immediate reciprocity  Russia has too much to gain from the current lack of transparency to change its position  but crisis stability and political legitimacy. NATO can afford to be transparent, because it has only little to gain from strategic secrecy. By making maximal transparency a hallmark of its relationship with Russia, NATO might risk losing some operational advantages, but it can gain political legitimacy among its own domestic constituencies, increase Allied cohesion, and contribute to overall conflict stability.

Third, when developing its operational plans and discussing further deployments, NATO could follow the paradigm of a non-offensive defence, both in terms of operational planning and force posture. NATO has to go to the greatest lengths to make sure that, at every step, its presence and plans signal a sufficient defensive capability without posing a credible offensive threat to Russian territory. Together with Lieutenant General (ret.) Rainer L. Glatz, I have argued elsewhere that elements of such a paradigm could include keeping heavy forces with a high offensive value to a minimum; maintaining a forward logistical base that would be insufficient for large offensive operations; or designing exercise scenarios of an obviously defensive nature.

Granted, there are good reasons why such a course might fail. Strategic signaling only works when both sender and receiver understand each others motives and speak on the same frequency  figuratively and literally. There are excellent analyses on contemporary Russian military culture that highlight how difficult it can be to bridge the gulf between the two sides strategic thinking. However, both vis-a-vis its domestic constituencies and facing a Russia that proclaims to see every NATO move as vitally threatening, NATO might be well advised to signal at every step its defensive intent, if need be, at the cost of military effectiveness.

Preparing plan B: a conventional double track decision?

Those are a few elements of a moderate approach to thicken NATOs deterrence posture within todays political constraints and without an immediate deployment of new forces to the Baltics and Poland. However, moderation does not equal naivety. If Russian actions result in a further deterioration of NATO-Russia relations (this may include an escalation in Eastern Ukraine, intensified sub-conventional campaigns in the Baltic States, or substantial reinforcements in the Western Military District) then increasing NATOs presence in the region could become a political and military necessity. Then what?

If NATO were to go down this route, why should it not reach back into its own history, namely the 1979 Double Track Decision on nuclear rearmament, and link the decision to reinforce with a conditioned offer to forgo this very reinforcement? The two-step logic of such a conventional double track decision could be as follows: NATO would dispense with its current persistent approach and reinforce immediately to a level of what the NATO-Russia-Founding Act permits which is up to a permanently stationed multinational brigade under NATO command in each affected eastern member state, accompanied by a thickened posture in terms of command and control and planning. At the same time, the Alliance could announce the decision to further reinforce in a set timeframe, this time significantly above and beyond the 1997 limit, should Russia prove unwilling to enhance transparency and reduce tensions in the region.

While such an approach might at first glance sound unrealistic, it could be a viable compromise between those member states pushing for immediate reinforcements and those reluctant to do so. It could reinforce the notion of a defensive Alliance promoting transparency and detente. It could increase the pressure on Russia while offering a tangible incentive for talks on transparency and arms control. And, very simply, it could give European states struggling to meet even the demands of those measures agreed in Wales and Warsaw more time to prepare their forces for such a phased reinforcement.

Of course, there are many questions attached to such a conventional double track decision. How credible is a promise to reinforce in two, three or four years from now? Might such a decision not induce Russia to escalate quickly before NATO completes its reinforcements? And would there be any hope of developing a strong and unambiguous negotiating position in an Alliance of, soon, 29? While those questions have merit, strengthening NATOs defence and deterrence posture is a means not an end. To rightfully be called a strategy it has to be linked with efforts to reduce tensions in the mid-term, as well as prepare the ground for a more stable modus vivendi with Russia.

The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network or any of its members. The ELNs aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europes capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security challenges of our time.
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pmb said: Can anyone tell me whether that allowance is honored by the IRS, or whether the whole pot will now be liable for taxation? Click to expand...

This is discussed almost endlessly on assorted expat finance sites. If you try a couple of Google searches you'll be able to unearth any number of relevant discussions. The current bottom line appears to be thatThere is language in the US/UK tax treaty that protects some types and portions of pension withdrawals from tax, but as usual the US has inserted its trademark execrable 'saving clause' to disallow most of it for US citizens and residents. What remains after this is open to interpretation. Interpreting it has exercised many minds, without any apparent resolution.Sorry that this is so vague. Things really shouldn't be this way.
Difficult to say what is considered a good salary in Wellington. I suppose it depends on a number of factors.



Wellington has or recently had the highest average salary in the country at just over $82000 per annum which is liveable for a small family if you don't go mad on the weekly rent. Any more is obviously a bonus.

If you earn $100k plus I think you're in the top 5% of salaries in NZ ?



NZ does tax it's residents on all income, however as a new migrant you don't need to declare overseas income for 4 years from the date of arrival. From the 4th anniversary you will have to declare all income and pay income tax......that is definitely true for people coming from the UK as there is a reciprocal tax agreement between the countries, but you coming from SA and earning overseas income from a number of properties in different counties I'm not so sure.

Always best to ask a professional in these matters so you are sure and there could be a legal way to avoid paying some or all of the tax ?



A very good friend of mine and his wife migrated to NZ from Abu Dhabi a few years ago (his wife is a Kiwi and wanted to come back home). They got so many ridiculous benefits it was a joke.....huge tax free salaries, medical cover, business flights each year, huge bonuses all as you say, plus a plush apartment all paid for...all they had to pay for was Sky TV and food.



My benefits are pretty good as I work for a National company owned by the government. We get Southern Cross Regular Care for the family, a few insurances that cover illness/critical illness, redundancy etc and that's pretty much it. We used to get an annual bonus but we were bought out with a one off pay rise instead. We get some preferential treatment on some goods and services through an employer scheme but in all honesty you'd manage to get those goods and services for the same price anyways. 5 weeks holiday per year as I'm a shift worker plus 10 days sick per year plus a few others like a recreation day, a volunteer day etc.
Ive driven hundreds of miles along South Texas from Big Bend to San Antonio on U.S. 90, noting the small towns that have already suffered as a result of stricter border controls.

On that long, lonesome highway, you see a preview of the economic devastation a border wall  or pulling out of NAFTA  would cause in Texas.

So I called up U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, (R-Texas) whose Congressional district covers that road along the nations longest border with Mexico to ask him about who is going to pay for our promised Border Wall with Mexico.

Hurd stands by his earlier statement that the Trump-promised border wall is a third century solution to a 21st century problem.

I still believe that building a wall from sea to sea isnt the most effective way to do border security, Hurd told me.

I asked about funding the wall, something that ultimately falls to Congress.

The Trump administration managed to secure $20 million in a budgetary move called re-programming, to allow the Department of Homeland Security to study different potential wall designs. One prototype under study is a 30-foot tall structure, which Hurd says would take someone around 4 hours to breach.

The real wall, however, would cost a lot more than the $20 million in starter funds.

While Trump has consistently promised a $10 billion to $12 billion price tag, independent estimates range from $25 billion to $67 billion, with an article in the MIT Tech Review settling on $40 billion.

That kind of money cant be gotten through budgetary shuffling known as reprogramming, but rather requires Congressional support. At the end of April, Trump threatened to hold up a 2017 appropriations bill  needed to keep the federal government from an imminent shut-down  if Congress didnt set aside $1.4 billion to begin constructing the wall. The Republican Congress called his bluff, and Trump dropped the wall-funding request for 2017. Maybe it will be back for negotiation in 2018?

Trump says it will. Eventually, but at a later date so we can get started early, Mexico will be paying, in some form, for the badly needed border wall, he tweeted. And then two days later, he said, Dont let the fake media tell you that I have changed my position on the WALL. It will get built and help stop drugs, human trafficking etc.

In the meantime, spending billions this way makes no sense to Hurd. As a former undercover CIA officer deployed to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, hed advocate a smarter combination of technology, human intelligence and cooperation with our Mexican counterparts.

Theres 19 criminal organizations that weve identified. Lets improve our intelligence on those groups and stop them before they get to the border. Ultimately, border security is important, and we need to do a better job, Hurd told me. See, thats a reasonable, informed, approach.

Who would pay for this wall? We already know Trumps repeated claim that Mexico will pay.

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox has a colorful way of expressing his countrys attitude: Were not building your (expletive) wall! he said while dropping the F-bomb on CNN and to every other media outlet on the planet. Unlike statements made by my own president, I believe him.

To pay for a wall of any kind, one of two things has to happen: either U.S. taxpayers pay directly for the wall or U.S. consumers pay for it indirectly through higher taxes on imports from Mexico. To do that, of course, were talking about big changes in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), something President Trump also wants.

Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Hurd disagrees with that approach as well.

NAFTA is important, end of story. The U.S., Mexico and Canada, we build things together. We should be thinking about how we achieve more of this. There are ways to improve it, he said. Updating NAFTA could be a model for free trade agreements around the world. We should be talking about how to strengthen NAFTA, not pull out of it.

I have tried hard to find serious analysis of the cost of the border wall, serious methods of paying for it, and serious economic impacts of the wall. It cannot be done. The subject resists serious thought.

Its a deeply unserious promise made by a deeply unserious person. But heres the serious problem for Trump with all his border wall talk. When you expose yourself as a bully and a liar on your single most important campaign promise, people remember. Mexico is on to Trump and is calling his bluff. Congress is on to Trump and is calling his bluff.

Michael Taylor is a former Goldman Sachs bond salesman and writes the Bankers-Anonymous.com finance blog. michael@michaelthesmart money.com

@Michael_Taylor
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Among the many artists who have created images of the Alamo are a handful of pioneering draftsmen, illustrators and painters who excelled in documenting the appearance of the mission-fortress and capturing the drama of the 1836 siege and battle.

In the 181 years since most of the battle site was pounded with cannon fire, the artistry of the Alamo has evolved through periods of patriotic impressionism and attempts to capture historical realism, all in an effort to help people Remember the Alamo, and the 90-minute early morning battle that made the phrase known throughout the world.

Although the Alamos distinctive church facade and its most famous defenders have been depicted in sketches and paintings, most visual imagery captured on paper or canvas has mimicked or copied previous works, said Georgia artist Mark Lemon, considered one of the premier Alamo artists today.

The ones who are really cutting edge are few and far between, said Lemon, author of The Illustrated Alamo 1836, a book that used photography and a scale model to depict the battle compound, and creator of paintings and other works pertaining to the Texas shrine.

Along with combatants on both sides of the Texans war for independence who drew maps and sketches of the 1836 compound, sketches done as early as 1837 helped document portions of the site and outlying structures before a grainy 1849 daguerreotype of the Alamos mission church provided the first photographic image.

Detailed drawings of the church facade by military artists Edward Everett in 1847 and Seth Eastman in 1848 recorded its appearance before the U.S. Army added a roof, two upper windows and a parapet to the building, for use as storage, in about 1850.

Theodore Gentilz, a Frenchman believed to have settled in San Antonio in the mid-1840s, created drawings and paintings of the Alamo and other San Antonio missions, street scenes and local daily life. Versed in the skills of a surveyor, draftsman and historian, he produced two major pieces related to the battle: Fall of the Alamo, a birds eye view of the conflict from the south, in 1885; and The Death of Dickinson, a more personal, though likely embellished work, created in 1886. It depicted Alamo defender Almeron Dickinson pleading to Santa Anna for mercy, surrounded by Mexican soldiers and bodies after the battle.

Id have to say Gentilz was the leading pioneer, Lemon said.

Gary Zaboly, another Alamo artist considered to be among the best in the 21st century, agreed that Gentilz, who interviewed San Antonians to lend accuracy to his work, captured the drama and realism of the battle like no one of his time, even though the scene in The Death of Dickinson is a questionable anecdote, he said.

Gentilz and other artists of his time used their skills and whatever knowledge was available to re-create battle scenes.

They were limited in research, but they did the best they could, said Zaboly, of New York.

Two of the most famous Alamo paintings, based on prominent placement in state buildings and number of reproductions, are The Fall of the Alamo, a 1903 work by Robert Jenkins Onderdonk, a Maryland native trained in New York, that hangs at the governors mansion; and Dawn at the Alamo, by Henry Arthur McArdle in 1905, displayed in the Senate chamber of the Texas Capitol.

In his 2005 book, Sleuthing the Alamo, about the death of David Crockett and other mysteries associated with the Texas Revolution, historian James E. Crisp said both works portray a struggle between the forces of light and darkness, of good and evil.

When compared with other works about the Alamo, the two paintings convey a heightened emphasis on the garrisons refusal to surrender, as well as a harsher depiction of Mexican troops in stark contrast to the doomed but majestic Alamo defenders, particularly in McArdles painting, Crisp wrote.

Other works by McArdle include a recently restored 1901 painting, Ben Milam Calling for Volunteers, owned by the Alamo and recently displayed there, and The Battle of San Jacinto, an 1895 work that also hangs in the Capitol. McArdle, an Irish immigrant, exchanged letters with Santa Anna for his research, shortly before the former dictators death in 1876. His Dawn At the Alamo has been criticized by some scholars for putting Crockett and Alamo commander William Barret Travis in an angelic glow amid dark imagery.

Another key figure in Alamo art of the early 20th century was James Thomas DeShields, a Texas historian who commissioned Onderdonks The Fall of the Alamo and was a frequent patron of McArdle, as well as Louis Eyth, who created The Death of Bowie in about 1878. But Crisp noted in his book that DeShields stayed behind the scenes.

As one of my newfound colleagues in the world of Texan art history put it, all the strings seem to lead back to DeShields, Crisp wrote.

Lemon and Zaboly also mentioned a work by Frederick Coffay Yohn, an artist and magazine illustrator who signed his work as F.C. Yohn. He painted an image for an insurance ad of Crockett swinging his rifle, and other defenders fiercely fighting Mexican soldiers in front of the Alamo church.

There have been many errors in Alamo depictions. Some show the 1836 battle with the church bearing the parapet that was added nearly 15 years later. Others have placed the church on the exterior of the fortress, as if its doors served as the compounds main gate. Some have incorrectly shown Mexican soldados wearing sombreros; had shadows in the wrong direction; or cast an image of Crockett surrounded by a dozen dead soldados.

Its the glorification thats been overdone sometimes, Zaboly said.

The best Alamo artists in modern times, said Lemon, have had a mastery of the architecture, human and equine anatomy, shadows and other visual elements, while adhering to realism and a current body of historical knowledge. He credited Joseph Hefter, the late artist, writer and military expert, with researching Mexican uniforms in detail in the 1950s, enabling artists to accurately depict the battle.

Cartoon illustrator Jack Jackson, who released a 2002 book, The Alamo: an Epic Told from Both Sides, was an artist Lemon has admired.

Theres something about his work thats very compelling to me, he said.

Along with mastering the truths of historical art, such as depth, light, contrast and form, artists wanting to depict the Alamo in detail need to do research, and keep up with new discoveries on what occurred in 1836, Lemon said.

Its always evolving. You can never get too comfortable, he added.

shuddleston@ express-news.net

Twitter: @shuddlestonSA

COMING SATURDAY: Dr. Ellen Roijas Clark writes about our bicultural city.
More women had later, riskier abortions after tighter state restrictions led to the shuttering of more than half of Texas abortion clinics, new state data shows.

Women had 25 percent more second- and third-trimester abortions in the first two years after the clinic closures. While abortions in Texas declined by nearly 9,000 from 2013 to 2014, the number of women having abortions after the first trimester increased by more than 1,200 and remained steady in 2015.

Abortions after the first trimester are more involved, expensive and risky. The outpatient procedure can last several days and poses a higher risk of complications, including bleeding and damage to the uterus and cervix.

Dr. Daniel Grossman, a researcher studying abortion access in the state with the Texas Policy Evaluation Project at the University of Texas at Austin, said he at first wondered if the spike in later-term abortions could be attributed to faulty data but was convinced of the reality of the situation when the trend continued in 2015.

It really is very concerning that this is actually a real phenomenon that women are being pushed later in pregnancy because of what the state Legislature did, Grossman said.

In 2013, Texas passed one of the countrys most restrictive abortion laws, which included strict regulations for abortion doctors and clinics that led to closures. Those portions of the law were struck down by the Supreme Court in June, but few clinics have been able to reopen.

The clinic closures resulted in longer driving distances for women living outside major metropolitan areas and potentially longer wait times for appointments at the clinics that remained open, Grossman said.

Texas Republicans maintain that they passed the law to make abortion safer for women, but providers argued that the procedure was already safe. The Supreme Court sided with the providers. Justice Stephen Breyer, author of the majority opinion, wrote: There was no significant health-related problem that the new law helped to cure.

One provision struck down by the court, which was in effect only for a two-week period in 2014, would have required all abortion clinics to meet the same structural and operational standards as out-patient surgery centers. In 2015, nearly 50 percent of all abortions took place in facilities that met those requirements, but the rate of complications stayed the same  occurring in less than 0.05 percent of all abortions.

Abortions after the first trimester made up 11.4 percent of all abortions in the state in 2014 and 2015, up from, on average, 7.6 percent in the four years prior to the laws enactment.

Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for Texas Right to Life, a Houston-based anti-abortion group, said its too early to know what caused the increase in later-term abortions but that it could be related to another provision of the 2013 law that regulated how and when abortion-inducing pills could be administered.

The enforcement status of (the 2013 law) was in a constant fluctuating state those two years, so I think its really hard to say what was and was not a consequence of it, Horne said. Im guessing that the variations in how the (abortion pill) was administered had something to do with the switch between first- and second-trimester abortion.

The 2013 law limited use of the pill method to women who were less than seven weeks pregnant, and they were required to make up to four trips to a clinic and take higher doses of the drug. Before the law was implemented, more than a quarter of all women who had abortions in Texas chose the pill method, compared with 11 percent in 2015.

Abortion providers said the new protocol was outdated and went against medically recognized best practices. Though the protocol was not a part of the Supreme Court challenge, it was essentially reversed in March 2016 when the Food and Drug Administration updated the drug label to better align with doctors best practices.

A fourth provision of the 2013 law, which was also not challenged in court, bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, or 22 weeks after a womans last menstrual period, unless the womans life is in danger or her fetus has a fatal defect.

In 2015, 16 women had abortions after the 20-week mark in Texas, and 79 more traveled outside Texas to have the procedure after 20 weeks.

Overall, more than 1,300 Texas women traveled out of state to get abortions in 2015, nearly double the amount the year before and 14 times the number in 2012.

Changes to clinics

The state had 40 abortion clinics at the time the law was passed, and their number fluctuated through the end of 2013 and 2014. By the beginning of 2015, there were 17 clinics left.

Compared with the year before, 2015 was relatively stable. In June of that year, a clinic closed in Dallas and another opened in San Antonio. In September, a clinic reopened in El Paso after 17 months of being shuttered.

The 2015 abortion data, published by the Texas Department of State Health Services in March, reflects those regional changes in access. Abortions had by Dallas County residents dropped by 488, or 6.3 percent, from 2014 to 2015, and Bexar County saw a modest increase of 3 percent after a decrease of 7 percent the year before. Abortions in El Paso County increased by 20 percent.

Most notably, abortion numbers began to rebound in the Rio Grande Valley after a sharp drop in 2014, the result of all clinics closing south of San Antonio. One clinic in McAllen reopened in September 2014, resulting in a slight rise in abortions in the area.

Residents in Hidalgo County, where the McAllen clinic is located, had 604 more abortions in 2015 than the year before, a 119 percent increase. Abortions among Valley residents increased by 236 percent in neighboring Starr County and 67 percent in Cameron County.

Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder and CEO of Whole Womans Health, which operates the McAllen clinic, said the data demonstrates the great damage thats done when clinics close. Whole Womans Health also operates abortion clinics in San Antonio, Fort Worth and Austin, and it served as the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case challenging the restrictions.

Its just a tragedy that womens rights can be so varied based on where they live, and I think these data really show that closing clinics really cuts people off from the health care they need, Miller said.

Hispanic women, who make up more than 90 percent of the women in the Valley, were hit hardest by the initial clinic closures. They saw a 19 percent drop in abortions statewide in 2014. The numbers began to rebound in 2015, with Hispanic women experiencing a nearly 3 percent increase.

Its a start, Miller said. But I also think theres great damage thats done when you close clinics and you break down that infrastructure in the state. Whats left are people that dont know where to go.

There are currently 21 abortion clinics open and operating in Texas. It took eight months for the first abortion clinic to reopen after the Supreme Court decision. North Park Medical Group in Dallas reopened in February, and Planned Parenthood in Waco and Whole Womans Health in Austin both started providing abortions again in April.

bmartin@express-news.net

Twitter: @beedotmartin
On November 4, 1983, Roger Childress was working in San Antonio when he got a call from his uncle telling him that his father  Ollie Sammy Childress Jr., a Wilson County sheriffs deputy  had been kidnapped and killed in the line of duty.

Over the past 33 years, Childress has waited for his fathers convicted killer, Pedro Solis Sosa, to be executed. Twice the younger Childress prepared to make the drive to Huntsville to witness the execution, only to get a call hours before telling him there was a last-minute stay. A third time, Sosas execution was delayed three days before his scheduled death.

You feel dejected every time, Childress, now 63, said Thursday. The time never came.

On Wednesday, Childress got a similar call from his niece, who tearfully told him that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had reduced Sosas sentence to life in prison. The court ruled that executing Sosa, 55, would carry an unacceptable risk that his punishment would be unconstitutionally cruel because of his intellectual disabilities.

Sosa, who grew up in San Antonio, has been in prison for more than 30 years, making him eligible for parole now.

I wish they would execute him, but since they wont, Id like him to be in prison the rest of his life, Childress said in an interview in Stockdale.

Sammy Childress was off duty when he was flagged down by two men, Sosa and his nephew Leroy Sosa. The men handcuffed the deputy and placed him in the trunk of his patrol car before driving to La Vernia State Bank.

Pedro Sosa wore Childress shirt and badge into the bank and told tellers, Im the damn sheriff now. Ive got the sheriff in the trunk of my car. The two robbed the bank of $51,038.

After the robbery, Sosa shot Childress once in the neck with the deputys .44-caliber service revolver. The two men left the scene but returned so Pedro Sosa could wipe his fingerprints off the car. They realized Childress was still alive and shot him once more in the neck, killing him.

Leroy Sosa, who was 17 at the time of the robbery, told police his uncle was the one who shot Childress. The younger Sosa got life in prison in exchange for his testimony.

Pedro Sosa also confessed but later retracted his statement. He said law enforcement officials forced a confession by threatening him and his wife.

Since then, Sosa has maintained that he is innocent. His attorneys also say he suffers from a mental illness that alters his sense of reality and makes him believe he is in direct communication with God.

Childress said he doesnt believe the lawyers.

He knew what he was doing, Childress said. He had nothing to lose to claim he was incompetent and innocent his whole life. I guess it worked.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

eeaton@express-news.net

Twitter: @emilieeaton
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At 12:29 on Thursday afternoon, as the U.S. House of Representatives prepared to initiate the demise of Obamacare, a group of about 50 Obamacare defenders lay down in the grass in front of Will Hurds San Antonio field office and simulated their own deaths.

The die-in rally was hurriedly organized the night before Hurd, a two-term House Republican from Helotes, and his colleagues were set to vote on the Republican alternative to former President Barack Obamas 2010 overhaul of this countrys health-care system. As the protesters knew, their protest had come too late to impact Hurds vote, but they basked in the symbolic power of the moment.

While the GOPs repeal-and-replace effort narrowly passed the House (by a 217-213 vote), Hurd, to the surprise of many Democrats, voted against the bill, known as the American Health Care Act (AHCA).

Hurd said in a statement that the AHCA does not address the concerns of many of my constituents, including adequate protections for those with pre-existing conditions and the challenges faced by rural healthcare providers. He added that he couldnt turn my back on these vulnerable populations.

Hurd, a former CIA agent and one-time student body president at Texas A&M University, projects an easygoing, just-hanging-with-the-dudes vibe. But there can be little doubt that his 850th day on the job was his most uncomfortable. There was no easy political path for Hurd on the health-care debate.

Like most Republicans, he often has blasted Obamacare as a government overreach that delivered higher premiums and unstable exchange markets. Unlike most Republicans, however, Hurd represents a 50/50 swing district.

District 23  which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso  is the only true swing district in this state, and its no coincidence that Hurd was the lone Texan among the 20 House Republicans who voted against AHCA on Thursday.

Most Texas Republicans (Hello, Lamar Smith!) laugh it off when Democrats mobilize against them or flood their offices with calls. Hurd doesnt have that luxury.

He sees the Indivisible movement, a progressive 2017 answer to the 2009 tea-party uprising (with comparable anger and energy), and knows that they could be his political undoing in 2018. He might not be meeting with them, but he recognizes that theyre out there.

On Wednesday night, Julian Castro, the former housing secretary and San Antonio mayor, tweeted out a political prediction. Castro predicted that if Hurd voted for the Republican health-care bill, with so many folks in his district that would suffer  he will lose (his election) in 2018.

A similar point was made on the macro level this week by Charles Tiefer, a Forbes contributor. Tiefer wrote that the GOPs repeal-and-replace roils the water so much that it will cause a thronging to the polls in 2018 by angry and frankly, legitimately scared voters.

That combination of anger and fear could be felt at Thursdays die-in rally, just west of the Stone Oak area. Protesters chanted Health care is a right, not a privilege, and People united will never be divided, as drivers sped by on Rogers Ranch Parkway and honked their support. The protesters carried signs proclaiming, I am a woman, not a pre-existing condition and Hurd: Yes vote = Youre out, and they brought along a pinata of President Donald Trump.

As the simulated deaths meant to convey, Thursdays House vote carried with it the possibility of grave consequences. If something close to the House bill makes it through the Senate, well be looking at the phasing out of a Medicaid expansion that brought health coverage to 11 million people in 31 states.

Well be looking at the possibility of states quarantining people with pre-existing conditions into high-risk pools, where they will face prohibitively high premiums. The issue hits close to home in District 23 because Hurd represents more than 302,000 constituents with pre-existing conditions, according to the Center for American Progress.

When youre dealing with these kinds of life-or-death consequences, it feels crass to ponder the politics of an issue. But politics makes policy. After all, the fear of being voted out of office is what killed the public option in the 2010 Obamacare law, because Blue Dog Democrats were feeling heat from their constituents, and Blue Dog votes were needed to pass the bill.

Ultimately, the GOP didnt need Hurds vote on Thursday. And he needed to look out for his own political survival.

ggarcia@express-news.net

Twitter: @gilgamesh470
By Michael Downes

Southern Michigan has a problem that is causing a stink. Brown marmorated stink bugs, viewed as a pest, may become a big problem this year for Michigans $101.2 billion agricultural industry. This big problem might have a small solution: a wasp.

Michigan has more than 80 kinds of stink bugs. The brown marmorated stink bug has recently forced its way into the group. Its an outlier and invasive. After arriving in Michigan six years ago, the brown marmorated stink bug has made quite a stink for Michiganders. This pest has been terrorizing people in their homes, destroying crops and any kind of plant it can get to.

Damages

The bugs arent threatening to humans in any way except for their pocketbooks. These critters destroy crops, making it hard for farmers.

They are going to cause very serious crop damage here in Michigan, said Parsons, In Pennsylvania and New York where (the stink bug) was kind of first established and spread from they are causing millions of dollars worth of damage.

The stink bugs damage has already been seen in Michigan, but this could be the year where the states crops start to take a hit.

Its taken about five or six years now, said Parsons, to where its really starting to get up there in numbers. This will probably be the year where we begin to see a lot of crop damage.

When the brown marmorated stink bug gets a hold of fruit crops like apples, it catfaces them. Have you ever gone to the store and looked through the fresh Granny Smiths and seen some with little, brown rotting rings? Thats catfacing. The bugs sit on the apples and suck the juice out of them causing them to rot. Those imperfections are enough to make farmers products unsellable. The crops can still be eaten, but nobody wants to buy apples, or anything, with brown, rotten spots all over them.

Apples arent the only fruit being targeted The bugs also gnaw on field crops, berries, smaller fruits, orchards, grapes and vegetables. With large numbers of bugs, harvesting can even become a problem.

When you are harvesting, even by machine, said Parsons, they can come through the machine and get all packaged up and now you have a stink bug in there.

Stink bugs arent just economic hindrances. They are also inconvenient. They have their name for a reason, they have glands that spew out a foul-smelling fluid or puff of gas that has been described as distasteful. Thats not something that is unique for just the brown marmorated stink bug, but stink bugs in general, its their defense mechanism. Nobody wants stink bugs smelling up their homes, its unsettling. On top of that, a majority of people flat out dont want bugs in their houses.

Prevention

Scientists, entomologists and researchers at Penn State, Rutgers and Michigan State, just to name a few, have started to find ways to slow down the reproduction of brown marmorated stink bugs. One Michigan State researcher, Ernest Delfosse is studying a parasitic wasp that is from China.

We are studying it, said Parsons, It attacks the stink bug eggs. Its a little tiny wasp. It lays its eggs in a stink bug egg. Its larva eats up the stink bug egg and out emerges another wasp.

Heres the breakdown: The wasp eggs are laid in the host, in this case the stink bug eggs. The wasp larva hatch inside of the egg, eat the stink bug larva, and then eat their way out of the stink bug egg. The lavrae then enter their cocoons and eventually emerge as wasps. Those wasps then lay eggs, and, well, you get the point. Its a vicious cycle, but may be effective enough to terminate the invasive bug.

Eradication

Now that we know how to potentially wipe them completely from the United States, lets focus on something much more important, keeping them out houses, specifically yours.

Its difficult to keep them out, said Mark Edinger owner of Assassin Pest Control. Its harder to find their entry. Its damn near impossible, unless there is an obvious entry point. Its usually a construction issue.

Stink bugs can get into your homes in an infinite amount of ways. It could be something obvious, open windows or doors, but it could be something more elaborate like a chimney or cracks in the bricks mortar. Basically, if stink bugs are in your area they will try and find a way into your home, especially once it starts getting cold.

The best place to start is by trying to seal every hole possible. Check for gaps around sliding doors and screens, the bugs are attracted to light and will attempt to come in through those at night. Make sure your seals around everything are good. If not, invest in some caulk, that might be the difference maker. If everything is in good condition there might be a bigger problem. Problems or holes in your foundation, way in through siding on the house, something more expensive.

When spring comes around the bugs are at their worst. Its warm. Its mating season. Its the best time of their lives. They want out as much as people want them out.

Exterminators, keep it basic.

General crack and crevice treatment, explained Edinger, We use insecticides, nothing specific, there are plenty of them to choose from.

Parsons said, If they are inside your house you can catch them in a jar and let them loose outside, but the easiest thing to do is just vacuum them up.

The vacuum will also suck up and contain the smell that is spewed out by the bugs. Another strategy is soapy water. Place a cup of soapy water underneath a light source over night. The bugs will be attracted to the light and more than likely fall into the soap, which will kill them.

Lets get sciency and get some information on where these bugs came from and how they operate.e

Origin

Countries including China and the Koreas are known for exporting plenty of items, such as cars and electronics, to the United States. One import the U.S. didnt count on bringing in was the brown marmorated stink bug. Viewed as a pest in those countries, according to StopBDSM.org, the stink bug chowed down on an assortment of fruits, but was mainly eating eucommia, a plant used in Chinese medicine.

All states that have had brown marmorated stink bug sightings, according to Penn State Entomology Department

This kind of stink bug hitched a ride to Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the late 1990s. The bug has now been seen in 39 states. The bug flies. It has been able to spread so fast just because of its curiosity.. However, the journey to Michigan is a unique one.

It was traced to a spot in Southwest Michigan, said Gary Parsons, collection manager for Michigan States entomology department, Somebody had moved from Pennsylvania or New York and brought a little metal backyard shed with them. When they got here and opened up the shed it was full of stink bugs and they went everywhere.

All of the counties in Michigan that have had brown marmorated stink bug sightings

From there the bug spread throughout Michigan. The Yoopers in the Upper Peninsula are safe from the bugs, for now. The Stink bug hasnt been seen there yet, but is expected to make the trip over the Mackinac Bridge eventually. South of the bridge is a different story. Brown marmorated stink bugs have been spotted in every county in southern Michigan. This has a lot to do with the bugs reproduction cycle.
DAFWA is charged with providing services to industry in an effort to support and drive the agrifood sector, so we hope and anticipate that by expanding the industries represented in agribusiness and regional development by combining primary industries, there will be greater returns in the long run which will keep agriculture as a priority.
And last week at Dardanup he teamed up with Westonfence operations manager Duncan Abbey to demonstrate the range of Westonfence solutions for stock subdivision and feral animal exclusions and a few of the nifty Gallagher animal management products.
Theres no way to know what Erich Segal expected when his short novel Love Story was released on Valentines Day in 1970. A classics professor at Harvard, he was probably as surprised as anyone when the book rose to the top of best-seller lists. Fast forward to 1992. Its likely that Robert James Waller was also surprised by the success of his similarly diminutive volume, The Bridges of Madison County. Also a college professor, Waller had no reason to believe that his novel would take the reading public by storm. Both novels have been described as coming out of the blue. Why? Because neither author had written or published previous works of romance, and both had produced much that was anything but.

Megan Edwards

Without planning or collaboration, these two authors also accomplished something else unique. They penned the first two installments of a trilogy that does not exist and remains incomplete. Consider these six reasons why the world may be ready for a third tale of perfect love.

Love Story was released in 1970, when the baby boom generation, like Jennifer and Oliver, was finishing school, getting married, and embarking on careers. The Bridges of Madison County came out in 1992, when the same readers who were gripped by Love Story were, like Francesca and Robert, now mid-career and raising families. The two novels captured and reflected the priorities and dreams of the same readers at these two important stages of life. Short but life-changing love affairs can occur at any point in life. Priorities may change, but the longing for connection never goes away. A love affair cut short is heartbreaking, but a relationship never tested by time and the tensions of real life retains its perfection in memories that last a lifetime. It has now been more than twenty years since Bridges was released. Readers who related to Love Story as young adults and Bridges in their forties have now entered a new phase of life. Many are grandparents. They are at the end of their careers or in retirement. Its time for that third slim volume!

I first noticed the unintentional connection that Love Story and Bridges share about ten years ago. Later, when I began work on the novel that would become Strings: A Love Story, I realized I was touching on themes and including elements that echoed my thoughts about love at different stages of life. In Strings, Ted and Olivia meet at a California prep school in the 1960s. Circumstances conspire to separate them, but they reconnect years later in New York. Despite their love for each other, obligations and priorities again force them to part ways. Their love lives only in their memories until the serendipitous appearance of a legendary violin brings them together a third time.

While Strings is not the third title in the nonexistent trilogy Ive described above, it is, like Love Story and Bridges, the tale of life-changing love. Im grateful to Erich Segal and Robert James Waller for inspiring me with their timeless and compelling themes. I like to think that somewhere, another unsuspecting college professor is penning the words that willout of the bluebecome the third installment of a trilogy that doesnt exist.

Megan Edwards is the author of Getting off on Frank Sinatra and Strings: A Love Story due out September 12, 2017 with Imbrifex Books. She is based in Las Vegas, NV.
John Boyega warns fans his new play is not 'Disney Live'.

John Boyega

The 25-year-old actor - who starred as Stormtrooper Finn in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' - is about to star in German play 'Woyzeck' at London's The Old Vic, and has warned 'Star Wars' fans that the dark play is nothing like the interactive stage show 'Disney Live'.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, the actor said: "I'm definitely aware that people will be coming to see me because I'm in 'Star Wars'.

"Someone said to me, 'I can' wait to see your play because you were fantastic in 'Star Wars', so it will be great to see you live on stage'.

"Some people think they are going to see 'Disney Live' but it's going to be the opposite of that.

"It is such a daunting, heavy story but a necessary story and I think they are in for a shock.

"I am really excited about that and I actually really appreciate that a lot of 'Star Wars' fans are going to come in and see this."

The Old Vic, in London's Waterloo, was previously run by Hollywood star Kevin Spacey and John joked that he could "smell" the icon when he walked into the theatre.

He said: "I could smell Spacey when I walked in. It's a nice smell."

And John says he trying to get fellow A-List stars Daniel Craig and Chris Pratt to come and see his performance.

He said: "I am trying to get Daniel Craig in. That will be really fun, and [I'm] trying to get Chris Pratt in too."

'Woyzeck' follows the story of a barber who murders his wife and is forced to deal with his unstable mindset.

The play is written by Jack Thorne, who is responsible for the critically acclaimed stage show 'Harry Potter and The Cursed Child'.

Previews of 'Woyzeck' begin on May 15.
Paris Jackson is the new "face and body" of Calvin Klein.

Paris Jackson at the 2017 Met Gala

The 19-year-old model and actress - who is the daughter of the late music legend Michael Jackson - has been announced as the latest representative of the fashion house after having signed to WME and IMG Models in March this year.

And it has been reported the blonde beauty is set to sign a seven-figure contract, which is worth "many millions" for her upcoming venture.

Speaking about the style icon and her debut fashion campaign with the popular American fashion house to the New York Post's Page Six column, a source said: "This deal is to make Paris the new face and body of Calvin Klein. The deal -- which is just about to be signed -- is huge, worth seven figures, many millions. Expect to see Paris in huge ad campaigns and on many red carpets in Calvin Klein."

However, Paris set tongues wagging earlier this week she could be working on a project with the label as she attended the 2017 Met Gala in New York on Monday (01.05.17) accompanied by Calvin Klein's chief creative officer Raf Simons and adorned a black cut out dress by Calvin Klein by Appointment.

And Paris is set for a busy year ahead as she is reportedly in talks to make her movie debut in an Amazon Studios' untitled movie, which will see her portray "an edgy 20 year old" named Nelly in the production, alongside Joel Edgerton, Amanda Seyfried, Charlize Theron, Yul Vazques and Thandie Newton.

The star will be starring alongside British actor David Oyelowo, who is best known for his role in the 2014 movie 'Selma', and has been cast as businessman Harold Soyinka, who gets caught up with untrustworthy business partners, Mexican drug lords, mercenaries and police officers.
Here at Fethiye Times we are passionate about Turkish food. We love to write about it, cook it and eat it. And that passion has certainly paid off.

Top 20 Turkish Food Blogs

We are delighted to announce that the Fethiye Times  EAT section has been selected by the panelists of Feedspot, the most comprehensive list of best Turkish Food blogs on the internet, as one of the Top 20 Turkish Food Blogs.

Click here to see the blogs that made the Top 20
Indonesia is trying to attract textile manufacturers to produce in the country as they are moving away from China owing to increased labour costs and air pollution. However, the country is facing tough competition from East African country Ethiopia, which is attracting a number of manufacturers owing to its competitive costs and availability of cheap labour.

Electricity in Ethiopia is relatively cheap costing 4 cents per kilowatt hour. Additionally, as per the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) with the US, exports from Ethiopia are not limited by quotas or duties, said Indonesian media reports quoting Ade Sudrajat, chairman, Indonesian Textile Association (API).

Some of their members have already invested in Ethiopia's textile sector, said Sudrajat while addressing a discussion on the textile industry.

Indonesia is trying to attract textile manufacturers to produce in the country as they are moving away from China owing to increased labour costs and air pollution. However, the country is facing tough competition from East African country Ethiopia, which is attracting a number of manufacturers owing to its competitive costs and availability of cheap labour.#

Close to 124 foreign investors, including 71 from China, are interested in Ethiopia's textile industry, according to the Ethiopian Investment Commission. On the other hand, as per the data from Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board, investment realisation in Indonesia's textile sector decreased by 7.3 per cent. It earned Rp 8.14 trillion in 2015 and Rp 7.55 trillion in 2016. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
AMSilk GmbH, the worlds first industrial supplier of synthetic silk biopolymers headquartered in Germany, has expanded its fibre business unit. Martin Lankes supports the biosteel fibre development team as senior product manager fibre business in a technical and market-related way to bring the protein-based silk fibre to the next development stage.The aim of AMSilk is to develop market-ready products together with selected leading brands and partners and to set new standards in the fibre industry. This includes the continuous improvement of the biosteel fibre as well as the definition of product requirements and defined quality characteristics.

AMSilk GmbH, the world's first industrial supplier of synthetic silk biopolymers headquartered in Germany, has expanded its fibre business unit. Martin Lankes supports the biosteel fibre development team as senior product manager fibre business in a technical and market-related way to bring the protein-based silk fibre to the next development stage.#

With over 20 years of professional experience, Martin Lankes is an experienced textile engineer and product manager. After his start in the development department at Patagonia, he subsequently worked for several years in trade marketing with Helly Hansen. Following, he was with W.L. Gore & Associates for over 9 years as product specialist for Gore-Tex and Windstopper, before Lankes was appointed senior product developer to the Adidas Innovations team. Over the past four years, Lankes has rebuilt the GENTIC brand as a brand manager at Skylotec.Martin Lankes said, AMSilk GmbH has a unique product and is the only biotech company in the world to produce the biosteel fibre in large quantities. I am particularly fascinated by the many different biosteel applications and Im looking forward to helping to further develop and market the biosteel high-performance fibre.Severin Bertsch, head of fibre business at AMSilk said, We are delighted to have won with Martin Lankes an engineer with such extensive experience and competence that will help to shape and implement the ambitious goals of AMSilk in the future. With his know-how in the fields of international textile value chain, innovation and product management, as well as the development of product standards, he will further advance our high-quality performance products.The biosteel fibre is the first high-performance bionic fibre with true environmental integrity. The material is produced at an industrial scale through a patented, animal-free process that relies on bacterial fermentation and is powered by renewable resources. Already used in premium innovation footwear, biosteel fabrics are strong and lightweight performance material designed to add value to products spanning the automotive, fashion, home/interior and apparel industries. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Pakistan's Punjab government has approached a US based seed provider to regulate its Bt cotton production with its second generation Bollgard II technology. The government has taken the initiative in order to improve the production rate of cotton after it experienced a decrease by 4.6 million bales against the expected target in previous two years.

The government is seeking support from the world leader in GM cotton regulatory for introducing latest GM cotton technologies in Pakistan, said Muhammad Asim, regulatory leader of the US based seeds provider company in Pakistan while addressing media. Beginning with second generation technology, the government will slowly adopt the advanced third and fourth generations of the technology for improved results.

"The government and the US based seeds provider is negotiating an arrangement that would be beneficial to the farmer and for long term sustainable growth of the seed and cotton industries while a formal announcement would be made once the both parties will reach a final agreement," said Asim.

The government is yet to finalise an agreement with the US based seed provider. In order to increase the cotton productivity, the government will develop R&D hub with sufficient resources. Further, it will also encompass increasing the capacity of local seed companies (licenses) for a sustainable seed supply to the farmer, he added. The Pakistan government has set a target of producing 14.04 million bales of cotton for 2017-18. About 6 million acres of land will be under cotton cultivation in Punjab and the production target for the province is 10 million cotton bales. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Bebo Decided To Leave Little Nawab Because..

''Bebo decided to leave her baby behind as the weather in London is unpredictable and she did not want Taimur to fall sick due to it.''

Kareena Also Wanted Saif To Spend Time With Taimur

''Apart from that, she also wanted the little prince to spend sometime with daddy Saif Ali Khan. As Bebo has said previously on several occasions, she and Saif ensure that at least one of them is with Taimur at all times.''

Saif Ali Khan Delayed His Work Commitments

''Saif delayed his work commitments while Kareena went to London. Reportedly, the parents want their child to be acquainted with an actor's lifestyle early on in his life.''

When Kareena Kapoor Was Criticised

A few months back, a leading daily had carried a story on why mothers should not follow Kareena Kapoor Khan's lifestyle. Kareena was furious after reading such stories about her.

When She Gave It Back To Her Haters

She told a daily, ''Yes, I was on my feet a few days after the delivery, but it's upsetting to have people judge you for it. No one has the right to comment on how I conduct myself or what sort of a mother I am.''

Everyone Seems To Have An Opinion

''Everyone seems to have an opinion. Postpartum depression is not a must, right? It's whimsical to generalise that every woman goes through that phase, almost making it sound like a norm.''

You Can't Draw Parallels

"Every pregnancy and every mother's journey with her child during those nine months and afterwards is different. You can't draw parallels.''

How Can Anyone Decide On My Behalf

''No one out there really knows me or what I am feeling at a given time. How can anyone decide on my behalf whether I am supposed to feel depressed or if I can step out before 45 days? If I'm spoken about like that, what would it be like for other women?"
Deepika On Katrina

Recently, Katrina has praised Deepika Padukone's item number in Raabta, When Deepika was asked about her reaction, she told, "I appreciate her compliment. It feels good when u get it from your contemporaries. I admire her work."

Deepika On Meeting Aishwarya Rai

When asked about if she will meet & greet the Cannes Queen, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, she told, "I think like they said... Dates are different. If our paths ever cross, then yes. She has represented the brand and India so beautifully over the years. I admire her."

Deepika On Her Met Gala Dress Controversy

Speaking about her Met Gala dress controversy, she told, "I have always looked at everything as opportunities. For me or her it is not about what we are wearing but it is the opportunity of being at the event. For me, it was that."

Was She Hinting At Rihanna?

"Some may like some may not. People you meet and the experience u have are the memories u make. The only time I would allow any sort of comment to affect me is when my mom or my girlfriends give me some flak for it."

I Am Not Dressing For You, My Love: Deepika

She further added, "It's a collective decision. We work as a team. We work together to create a look. Sometimes you may like my look and sometimes you may not. I am not dressing for you, my love. I am dressing for myself."

Deepika Isn't Much Happy With The American Paparazzi

Recently, an American daily, mistook Deepika for Priyanka Chopra at LA airport. When Deepika was asked about the same, she said, "It's not just me being offended. Everyone should be offended. It is not just ignorance, it is racist. Two people of the same colour aren't the same. You should educate them and not encourage them."

Deepika Dodges Question On Ranveer

At the same event, when Deepika was asked about her alleged boyfriend, Ranveer Singh, she simply dodged the question and chose to keep quiet!

Deepika On Kriti Sanon

"She is a lovely girl. I wish them both luck for Raabta. Hope film does well," said Deepika Padukone, who has done a special song in the same film.

Deepika On Her Cannes Appearance

"I cannot believe this is happening. It is every girl's dream. I think I am looking forward to all of it. Have been to Cannes before. There's something about the place. There is a lot of positivity there. Watching some exciting films."

Hows She Prepping For Cannes 2017

Speaking about her preparation, she told, ""We have started planning. There is too much focus on clothes. It should be fun. As a woman, we enjoy being ready and all of that. Clothes are exciting but there is more to it. It is something that my team is working on."
Dulquer Salmaan, the charming actor and wife Amaal Sufiya are blessed with their first child, a baby girl today (May 5th, 2017). Dulquer recently announced the news through his official Facebook page, and shared his immense happiness, with his fans and well-wishers.

The young actor, who proudly announced that they are blessed with a drop heaven, stated that at last, his biggest dream came true. Dulquer Salmaan also revealed that his little princess is a mini version of his darling wife, Amaal Sufiya.

Dulquer's Facebook Post Even though Dulquer Salmaan had hinted that May 5th is a big day for him through a Facebook post this morning, the fans thought that the actor is excited about his latest release, Comrade In America. Dulquer hadn't made any hints about Amaal's pregnancy in his post. So, the announcement post came out as a huge surprise for the fans. Dulquer & Amaal's Princess Amaal Sufiya gave birth to their little princess in Motherhood Hospital, Chennai, which is jointly run by Dulquer Salmaan and his father Mammootty. Both mother and baby are doing fine. First Baby Girl Of The Family Dulquer and Amaal's baby is first girl in the youngest generation of Mammootty's family. Dulquer's elder sister Surumi is blessed with two sons. Baby's Name According to the close sources, Dulquer and Amaal are yet to finalise the name of their little princess. We hope that the actor will officially annouce the name of his daughter, very soon. Pregnancy News The reports regarding Amaal Sufiya's pregnancy started doing rounds, after she was a spotted with a baby bump at the marriage ceremony of Dulquer's cousin Maqbool Salmaan. However, the actor chose keep mum over the reports.

It was purely an arranged marriage for Dulquer Salmaan and Amaal Sufiya, who entered the wedlock in December 2011. The actor began his film career immediately after the marriage. They have been considered as one of the cutest star couples of South Indian film industry.

Dulquer Salmaan was introduced to Amaal Sufiya by none other than his mother Sulfath Mammootty. According to the actor, his mother spotted Amaal at a few social gatherings and felt that she will be the perfect life partner for her son.

Amaal Sufiya, who is an architect by profession, is also an expert in interior designing. Dulquer Salmaan has always stated that his wife his best friend, and wants to follow his father Mammootty's footsteps in the roles of husband and father.

The young actor is also on a high in his professional life, with some a handful of highly promising projects in his kitty. Dulquer Salmaan's latest released Comrade In America-CIA, has succeeded in impressing the audiences.
Vandanam, the 1989-released Mohanlal movie, still remains as one of the all-time favourite romantic thrillers of Malayalam movie lovers. The movie, which directed by Priyadarshan, depicted the love story of a police officer, and a criminal's daughter.

Mohanlal delivered one of the finest performances of his career in the movie, which marked the Malayalam movie debut of Girija Shettar. The climax of Vandanam has still been considered as one of most haunting climaxes in the history of Malayalam cinema.

Let's see who can all replace Mohanlal and others, if Vandanam is hypothetically being remade now....

Dulquer Salmaan As Unnikrishnan Unnikrishnan is a young police inspector who falls in love with Gaadha, a convict's daughter. There is absolutely no replacement for Mohanlal, who delivered a fantastic performance in the movie. But, if the movie is hypothetically being remade now, Dulquer Salmaan will be the best choice for the role. Nithya Menen As Gaadha Nithya Menen's matured acting skills and cute looks makes her the best choice for the role of Gaadha, the daughter of a convict who gradually falls in love with a police inspector, without knowing who he is. Her crackling onscreen chemistry with Dulquer will be an absolute treat to watch. Siddique As Prof. Kurian Fernandez Siddique will be a perfect replacement for Nedumudi Venu for the role of Prof. Kurian Fernandez if Vandanam is remade now. The role of the loving professor who avenges his dear student's death, will be safe in his hands. Soubin Shahir As Peter Soubin Shahir, the young actor will be a great choice for the role of Peter, the flirtatious college friend cum colleague of Unnikrishnan. The role was brilliantly essayed by senior actor Mukesh in the original. Aju Varghese As K.Purushothaman Nair Aju Varghese will make a good choice for the role of Unni's irritating colleague K. Purushothaman Nair, who struggles with his Kannada communication skills. The role was originally played by the popular actor Jagadish.

Vandanam, which was an adaptation of Hollywood movie Stake Out, was penned by VR Gopalakrishnan. The movie had also featured several popular actors including Sukumari, MG Soman, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Kunjan, Ganesh Kumar, Maniyanpilla Raji, Cochin Haneefa, etc., in the supporting roles.

Director Priyadarshan went on to cast Girija Shettar in the role of Gaadha, after watching her performance in Mani Ratnam's Geethanjali. Girija once again teamed up with Mohanlal and Priyadarshan after Vandanam, for a project titled Dhanushkodi, which was later shelved.

The songs of Vandanam, which were composed by Ouseppachan and penned by Shibu Chakravarthy, are still popular among the music lovers. Vandanam was later remade into Telugu under the title Nirnayam, with real-life couple Nagarjuna and Amala in the lead roles.
Salman Khan is in news these days for many reasons. The actors' upcoming film Tubelight promo was recently released. Meanwhile, there are also rumours that the actor might launch Naagin actress Mouni Roy in Bollywood.

Salman is an excellent host and no one can deny that. Audiences love him on Bigg Boss. It is confirmed that the actor will be hosting the upcoming season of Bigg Boss as well.



Recently, there were reports that Salman was approached to host Sony TV's Dus Ka Dum. The latest report suggests that Salman might also host the upcoming season of Kaun Banega Crorepati!

Watch Video Here: Salman Khan will HOST these TELEVISION Shows



According to the reports, Salman was considered for Dus Ka Dum. He has agreed to host the show, but is yet to sign the dotted lines. There were also reports that if Sony fails to bring Salman on the show, then they might go to Ranveer Singh!

But now it is said that the project is pushed to the next year (2018). So, the channel is planning to get him for Kaun Banega Crorepati as there is a demand for reality shows during weekends.

Well, too many shocking and confusing reports. All we can do is to wait for the official confirmation.

Stay locked to this space for the latest updates....
Well, we are not saying this... Ekta Kapoor is! Audiences know that Ekta is known to bring unexpected twists on her shows. Since, the ratings of Yeh Hai Mohabbatein is fluctuating, she might also kill Ishita!

We found this video, where Ekta Kapoor is seen in conversation with creative director of YHM. Read the conversation ....

Ekta-Sandip Conversation Ekta: Sandip you can't kill your favourite actor Ishita from the show ya, you are not allowed.

Sandip: "I do what my boss tells me to do. I follow my boss." Ekta Asks Sandip. Ekta: I don't know who has hired you.

Sandip: Your hired me, Ekta Kapoor, Balaji Telefilms.

Ekta: No... No... No, I never told to kill Ishita. You are killing Ishita now on my show. Ektas Note For Viewers She also shared a picture of Sandip, which had the following note on it, "Guys this is d man to blame if anything goes wrong in YHM ." Divyanka Busy With Nach Baliye 8! Well, it is possible that the makers are planning to kill the character. Because, Divyanka is currently doing Nach Baliye 8 and she is going strong with her partner Vivek Dahiya! Without Ishita, Theres No YHM! But, without Ishita, we can't imagine Yeh Hai Mohabbatein'. So, they can also bring the actress back as Ishita or her twin! Yes, we are not kidding, anything can happen on Ekta's shows. TRP Ke Liye Kuch Bi Karega! We are aware that TRP's of YHM is not so impressive, so maybe this is just a prank to keep the curiosity among the audiences, to retrieve the ratings. All we can say is that the makers can go to any length for the TRPs!

Noooo.. this has to be a jokeeee! Do not kill #ishita Ok wait.. this is a joke. Ekta maam will never reveal any upcoming scenes and she is joking .... funny  @divyankatripathidahiya A post shared by DivekBabe (@divekbabe) on May 4, 2017 at 9:27am PDT

Currently, on the show, the family members are seen enjoying Adi and Aliya's sangeet. But, Ishita (Divyanka Tripathi) and Raman (Karan Patel) will be seen scolding Aliya for sending Roshni instead of her to dance with Adi. Aliya cries, while Shagun takes Aliya's side and scolds Ishita.

Yeh Hai Mohabbatein: Ishita Will NOT Die; Ekta Kapoor Clarifies That It Was A Joke!

This is not all, Shagun also gets annoyed as her friends are insulted in the function. Apparently, Amma would have called Guruji to the function to bless Adi and Aliya. But, because of parking issues, Guruji leaves.

Somehow, Roshni manages to get Guruji to the function. Since the parking problem was created by Shagun's friends, and they misbehave with Amma, and they are asked to leave! This irritates Shagun.

Moreover, Shagun's friends would have also provoked her by saying that boy's side (Ishita) is dominating!

Shagun decides to leave the place, but Aliya stops her.

Also Read: Yeh Hai Mohabbatein SPOILERS: Ishita Supports Roshni; Aliya To Turn Negative!

Meanwhile, Roshni manages to get her marriage pictures from a man that was sent by Gagan. She tries to hide it from Adi and Aliya's family members, but Romi thinks that Roshni is up to something!

Will Roshni and Adi's marriage get exposed before Adi and Aliya's marriage? Stay locked to this space for the latest updates of the show...
CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 05/04/17 -- Canadian Utilities Limited (TSX: CU)(TSX: CU.X)

The following matter was voted upon at the Annual Meeting of Share Owners of Canadian Utilities Limited (the "Corporation") held on May 3, 2017 in Edmonton, Alberta. This matter is described in greater detail in the 2017 Notice of Annual Meeting of Share Owners and Management Proxy Circular dated March 7, 2017.

By a resolution passed by ballot, each of the following 10 nominees proposed by management was elected as a Director of the Corporation to hold office until the next annual meeting of share owners of the Corporation or until his/her successor is elected or appointed:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- % NOMINEES VOTES FOR IN FAVOUR ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Matthias F. Bichsel 68,523,764 99.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loraine M. Charlton 68,523,930 99.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert B. Francis 68,525,532 99.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert J. Normand 68,525,532 99.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hector A. Rangel 68,519,764 99.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laura A. Reed 68,524,414 99.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- James W. Simpson 68,516,180 99.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nancy C. Southern 68,523,030 99.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Linda A. Southern-Heathcott 68,518,160 99.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles W. Wilson 68,516,688 99.9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

With approximately 5,400 employees and assets of $19 billion, Canadian Utilities Limited is an ATCO company. ATCO is a diversified global corporation delivering service excellence and innovative business solutions in Structures & Logistics (workforce housing, innovative modular facilities, construction, site support services, and logistics and operations management); Electricity (electricity generation, transmission, and distribution); Pipelines & Liquids (natural gas transmission, distribution and infrastructure development, energy storage, and industrial water solutions); and Retail Energy (electricity and natural gas retail sales). More information can be found at www.canadianutilities.com.

Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information.

The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company.

The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon.

Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

Contacts:

Media & Investor Inquiries:

B.R. (Brian) Bale

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

403-292-7502




NEW BRUNSWICK (dpa-AFX) - A St. Louis jury ordered Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) to pay more than $110 million to a Virginia woman who blamed her ovarian cancer on the company's talcum products. Imerys Talc America, which provided the talc to J&J, was ordered by the jury to pay about $100,000. There are more than 3,000 lawsuits accusing the world's largest health-care company of ignoring studies linking its baby powder and Shower to Shower talc products to ovarian cancer and failing to warn customers about the risk. St. Louis plaintiff Lois Slemp, 62, said she used J&J's baby powder and Shower to Shower talc products for more than 40 years before her diagnosis with ovarian cancer in 2012. J&J sold its Shower to Shower brand in 2012. 'We deeply sympathize with the women and families impacted by ovarian cancer. We will begin the appeals process following today's verdict and believe a jury decision in our favor in St. Louis in March and the dismissal of two cases in New Jersey in September 2016 by a state court judge who ruled that plaintiffs' scientific experts could not adequately support their theories that talcum powder causes ovarian cancer, further highlight the lack of credible scientific evidence behind plaintiffs' allegations,' said Carol Goodrich, Global Media Relations, Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. 'We are preparing for additional trials this year and we will continue to defend the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder,' said Carol Goodrich. 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.
Revenues for first-quarter of $105.5 million with a revenue efficiency (a) of 98.0%

of 98.0% Net Loss of $99.8 million, resulting in $4.69 loss per diluted share

Operating and G&A costs of $82.9 million, a reduction of 11.9% from a year ago

Cash flow from operations for first-quarter of $28.7 million

Pacific Drilling S.A. (NYSE: PACD) today announced net loss for first-quarter 2017 of $99.8 million or $4.69 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $43.0 million or $2.03 per diluted share for fourth-quarter 2016, and net loss of $2.5 million or $0.12 per diluted share for first-quarter 2016.

CEO Chris Beckett said, "We delivered another quarter of solid operational performance with a first-quarter revenue efficiency of 98% and we continued to benefit from strong cost control. Market conditions are still challenging, although we have experienced an uptick in tenders and inquiries versus 2016. This supports our previously stated expectation of demand improvement through 2017 partially offsetting increased supply from rigs rolling off contract, which we believe will eventually lead to improving utilization in 2018."

First-Quarter 2017 Operational and Financial Commentary

Contract drilling revenue for first-quarter 2017 was $105.5 million, which included $31.1 million of deferred revenue amortization, compared to fourth-quarter 2016 contract drilling revenue of $178.0 million, which included $29.4 million of deferred revenue amortization. The decrease in revenues resulted primarily from the Pacific Scirocco being offhire throughout the first-quarter and the Pacific Santa Ana completing its contract in January 2017, partially offset by the Pacific Bora going back to work in February 2017 compared to being offhire throughout the fourth-quarter 2016. During first-quarter 2017, our operating fleet achieved average revenue efficiency of 98.0%.

Operating expenses for first-quarter 2017 were $60.4 million as compared to $66.5 million for fourth-quarter 2016. Operating expenses for first-quarter 2017 included $3.3 million in amortization of deferred costs, $1.4 million in reimbursable expenses, and $6.7 million in shore-based and other support costs. The reduction in operating expenses was primarily the result of lower costs throughout the fleet due to reduced activity, as well as the continued benefits of our cost saving measures.

General and administrative expenses for first-quarter 2017 were $22.5 million, compared to $18.9 million for fourth-quarter 2016. Excluding certain legal and financial advisory fees of $6.1 million in first-quarter 2017 and $7.1 million in fourth-quarter 2016, our corporate overhead expenses(b) for first-quarter 2017 were $16.4 million, compared to $11.8 million for fourth-quarter 2016. The increase in corporate overhead expenses in the first-quarter 2017 is primarily due to the timing of expense recognition of incentive awards, including certain performance-based awards. These expenses are expected to decrease in each of the remaining quarters of 2017.

EBITDA(c) for first-quarter 2017 was $21.9 million, compared to EBITDA of $92.9 million in the fourth-quarter 2016.

Income tax expense for first-quarter 2017 was $2.1 million, as compared to $14.5 million for fourth-quarter 2016, primarily as a result of the application of quarterly tax accounting required under U.S. GAAP during fourth-quarter 2016.

For first-quarter 2017, cash flow from operations was $28.7 million. Cash balances, including $8.5 million in restricted cash, totaled $507.4 million as of March 31, 2017, and total outstanding debt was $3.0 billion.

On March 16, 2017, we reported the expiration of certain non-disclosure agreements we had entered into with an ad hoc group of holders of our capital markets indebtedness. CFO Paul Reese commented, "While currently, there is no consensus as to the form or structure of any restructuring, we continue to be engaged in discussions with all of our stakeholders, including our largest shareholder, our bank lenders and the ad hoc group, regarding a restructuring of our existing capital structure to be sustainable in the longer term."

The company will not be holding an earnings conference call this quarter.

Footnotes

(a) Revenue efficiency is defined as actual contractual dayrate revenue (excluding mobilization fees, upgrade reimbursements and other revenue sources) divided by the maximum amount of contractual dayrate revenue that could have been earned during such period.

(b) Corporate overhead expenses is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a definition of corporate overhead expenses and a reconciliation to general and administrative expenses, please refer to the schedule included in this release.

(c) EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. For a definition of EBITDA and a reconciliation to net income, please refer to the schedules included in this release.

About Pacific Drilling

With its best-in-class drillships and highly experienced team, Pacific Drilling is committed to becoming the industry's preferred high-specification, floating-rig drilling contractor. Pacific Drilling's fleet of seven drillships represents one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets in the world. For more information about Pacific Drilling, including our current Fleet Status, please visit our website at www.pacificdrilling.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are generally identifiable by the use of words such as "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "our ability to," "plan," "potential," "projected," "target," "would," or other similar words, which are generally not historical in nature.

Our forward-looking statements express our current expectations or forecasts of possible future results or events, including our future financial and operational performance; revenue efficiency levels; market outlook; forecasts of trends; future client contract opportunities; contract dayrates; our business strategies and plans and objectives of management; estimated duration of client contracts; backlog; our ability to repay our debt; our expectations regarding potential future covenant defaults on our long-term debt; expected capital expenditures and projected costs and savings.

Although we believe that the assumptions and expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable and made in good faith, these statements are not guarantees and actual future results may differ materially due to a variety of factors. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include: the global oil and gas market and its impact on demand for our services; the offshore drilling market, including reduced capital expenditures by our clients; changes in worldwide oil and gas supply and demand; rig availability and supply and demand for high-specification drillships and other drilling rigs competing with our fleet; costs related to stacking of rigs; our ability to enter into and negotiate favorable terms for new drilling contracts or extensions; possible cancellation, renegotiation, termination or suspension of drilling contracts as a result of market changes or other reasons; our substantial level of indebtedness; our ability to obtain waivers or amendments to our maximum leverage ratio covenant at the end of the third quarter of 2017 if necessary, or with respect to other potential future debt covenant defaults; our ability to continue as a going concern and any potential bankruptcy proceeding; our ability to repay debt and adequacy of and access to sources of liquidity; and the other risk factors described in our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F and Current Reports on Form 6-K. These documents are available through our website at www.pacificdrilling.com or through the SEC's Electronic Data and Analysis Retrieval System at www.sec.gov.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

PACIFIC DRILLING S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share information) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2017 2016 2016 Revenues Contract drilling 105,509 177,957 205,378 Costs and expenses Operating expenses (60,448 (66,547 (78,973 General and administrative expenses (22,461 (18,908 (15,126 Depreciation expense (69,631 (69,881 (68,076 (152,540 (155,336 (162,175 Operating income (loss) (47,031 22,621 43,203 Other income (expense) Interest expense (50,011 (51,547 (45,493 Other income (expense) (729 419 1,632 Loss before income taxes (97,771 (28,507 (658 Income tax expense (2,076 (14,529 (1,853 Net loss (99,847 (43,036 (2,511 Loss per common share, basic (4.69 (2.03 (0.12 Weighted average number of common shares, basic 21,273 21,184 21,121 Loss per common share, diluted (4.69 (2.03 (0.12 Weighted average number of common shares, diluted 21,273 21,184 21,121

PACIFIC DRILLING S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except par value) (unaudited) March 31, December 31, 2017 2016 Assets: Cash and cash equivalents 498,890 585,980 Restricted cash 8,505 40,188 Accounts receivable 40,411 94,622 Materials and supplies 94,482 95,679 Deferred costs, current 10,183 10,454 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 8,505 13,892 Total current assets 660,976 840,815 Property and equipment, net 4,848,409 4,909,873 Long-term receivable 202,575 202,575 Other assets 46,942 44,944 Total assets 5,758,902 5,998,207 Liabilities and shareholders' equity: Accounts payable 20,671 17,870 Accrued expenses 37,020 45,881 Long-term debt, current 467,802 496,790 Accrued interest 33,059 14,164 Deferred revenue, current 24,327 45,755 Total current liabilities 582,879 620,460 Long-term debt, net of current maturities 2,547,888 2,648,659 Deferred revenue 27,430 32,233 Other long-term liabilities 30,473 30,655 Total long-term liabilities 2,605,791 2,711,547 Shareholders' equity: Common shares, $0.01 par value per share, 5,000,000 shares authorized, 22,551 shares issued and 21,284 and 21,184 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively 213 212 Additional paid-in capital 2,362,458 2,360,398 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (17,375 (19,193 Retained earnings 224,936 324,783 Total shareholders' equity 2,570,232 2,666,200 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 5,758,902 5,998,207

PACIFIC DRILLING S. A. AND SUBSIDIARIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2017 2016 2016 Cash flow from operating activities: Net loss (99,847 (43,036 (2,511 Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation expense 69,631 69,881 68,076 Amortization of deferred revenue (31,079 (29,413 (12,658 Amortization of deferred costs 3,306 4,057 2,835 Amortization of deferred financing costs 8,091 7,858 3,625 Amortization of debt discount 305 208 323 Deferred income taxes 908 12,693 1,715 Share-based compensation expense 2,215 1,766 2,164 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 54,211 19,685 30,591 Materials and supplies 1,197 1,588 2,010 Prepaid expenses and other assets (1,495 (16,720 (7,055 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 16,421 (23,013 (2,412 Deferred revenue 4,848 35,175 Net cash provided by operating activities 28,712 40,729 86,703 Cash flow from investing activities: Capital expenditures (10,127 (9,819 (28,588 Net cash used in investing activities (10,127 (9,819 (28,588 Cash flow from financing activities: Net payments from shares issued under share-based compensation plan (154 Proceeds from long-term debt 215,000 235,000 Payments on long-term debt (134,540 (41,652 (1,875 Payments for financing costs (2,664 (23,408 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (137,358 149,940 233,125 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (118,773 180,850 291,240 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 626,168 445,318 116,033 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period 507,395 626,168 407,273

EBITDA Reconciliation

EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA does not represent and should not be considered an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operations or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") and our calculation of EBITDA may not be comparable to that reported by other companies. EBITDA is included herein because it is used by management to measure the company's operations. Management believes that EBITDA presents useful information to investors regarding the company's operating performance.

PACIFIC DRILLING S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES Supplementary Data-Reconciliation of Net Loss to Non-GAAP EBITDA (in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2017 2016 2016 Net loss (99,847 (43,036 (2,511 Add: Interest expense 50,011 51,547 45,493 Depreciation expense 69,631 69,881 68,076 Income tax expense 2,076 14,529 1,853 EBITDA 21,871 92,921 112,911

Corporate Overhead Expenses Reconciliation

Corporate overhead expenses is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as general and administrative expenses less certain unusual legal expenses related to our arbitration proceeding and patent litigation, as well as legal and financial advisory expenses related to our on-going debt restructuring efforts. We included corporate overhead herein because it is used by management to measure the company's ongoing corporate overhead. Management believes that ongoing corporate overhead expenses present useful information to investors regarding the financial impact of company's cost savings measures and optimization of overhead support structure during the periods presented below. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

PACIFIC DRILLING S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES Supplementary Data-Reconciliation of General and Administrative Expenses to Non-GAAP Corporate Overhead Expenses (in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, March 31, 2017 2016 2016 General and administrative expenses 22,461 18,908 15,126 Subtract: Legal and advisory expenses (6,067 (7,103 (2,790 Corporate overhead expenses 16,394 11,805 12,336

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170504006895/en/

Contacts:

Pacific Drilling SA

Johannes (John) P. Boots, +352 26 84 57 81

Investor@pacificdrilling.com


NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Investment firm Barington Capital Group, L.P. Said Thursday that an investor group led by Barington, including NuOrion Partners AG, is calling on the Board of Directors of Avon Products, Inc. (AVP) to immediately begin a search for a new Chief Executive Officer.



According to the firm, Avon CEO Sheri McCoy, during more than five years since took post, has overseen a tremendous destruction of shareholder value. Avon's stock price has fallen by more than 80% since Avon announced that it had appointed McCoy as CEO - from $22.69 on April 9, 2012 to under $3.65 currently.



Barington noted that under McCoy's leadership, earnings per share have fallen from $1.20 in 2011, the year prior to her appointment, to a current consensus estimate of $0.32 for 2017.



Shares of Avon Products plunged around 22 percent on Thursday after the company reported a net loss in its first quarter, narrower than last year with higher revenues. For full-year 2017, the company expects constant-dollar revenue growth in the low single-digits, adjusted operating margin expansion of 100 to 140 bps over the prior year and free cash flow to be slightly positive. The company added that it is on track to achieve its 2017 cost savings target of $230 million.



In a letter to the Board, Barington said that it strongly believes, as said in 2015, that with the right leadership in place Avon can recover its position as a leading global beauty brand and create significant long-term value for shareholders.



Barington also questioned then the ability of McCoy to manage the business effectively, including restoring sales growth and reducing the Company's bloated cost structure.



'While Avon has taken steps to improve its operations, we believe that efforts need to be dramatically intensified under new leadership. Based on today's substantial stock price decline, in spite of positive 2017 guidance, we believe that most shareholders would agree,' the company said.



In the after-hours trading, Avon shares gained 1.10 percent to $3.66.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Revenue, earnings, and free cash flow increased compared to the first quarter of 2016. Solid order intake and combined order backlog at high level. Guidance for 2017 maintained.



Aarhus, Denmark, 2017-05-05 08:30 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Summary: In the first quarter of 2017, Vestas generated revenue of EUR 1,885m - an increase of 29 percent compared to the year-earlier period. EBIT increased by EUR 126m to EUR 211m. The EBIT margin was 11.2 percent compared to 5.8 percent in the first quarter of 2016 and free cash flow* amounted to EUR 8m compared to EUR (296)m in the first quarter of 2016.



The intake of firm and unconditional wind turbine orders amounted to 2,049 MW in the first quarter of 2017. The value of the wind turbine order backlog amounted to EUR 9.0bn at 31 March 2017. In addition to the wind turbine order backlog, Vestas had service agreements with contractual future revenue of EUR 11.0bn at the end of March 2017. Thus, the value of the combined backlog of wind turbine orders and service agreements stood at EUR 20.0bn - an increase of EUR 2.0bn compared to the year-earlier period.



Vestas maintains its 2017 guidance on revenue of EUR 9.25bn-10.25bn, EBIT margin before special items of 12-14 percent, total investments* of approximately EUR 350m, and free cash flow* of minimum EUR 700m.



Group President & CEO Anders Runevad said: "Vestas delivered solid first quarter results and is as expected off to a good start in 2017 with satisfactory order intake and improved combined order backlog. I am very pleased with the underlying improvements in revenue, EBIT and cash flow, although these include positive spillover effects from PTC component deliveries. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us and maintain our guidance for 2017."



*) Before investments in marketable securities and short-term financial investments, and incl. proceeds of EUR 99m from sale of office building facilities.



Key highlights:



Strong Q1 revenue Revenue at EUR 1,885m.



Improved earnings EBIT margin at 11.2 percent.



Solid Q1 order intake Order intake in the quarter reached 2,049 MW.



Backlog increasing Wind turbine and service order backlog of EUR 20bn.



Information meeting (audiocast)



Today, Friday 5 May 2017 at 10 a.m. CEST (9 a.m. BST), Vestas will host an information meeting via an audiocast. The audiocast will be accessible via vestas.com/investor.



The meeting will be held in English and questions may be asked through a conference call.



The telephone numbers for the conference call are:



Europe: +44 203 008 9814 USA: +1 646 502 5118 Denmark: +45 3544 5576



Presentation material for the information meeting will be available at vestas.com/investor approximately one hour before the meeting.



Contact details Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Denmark Hans Martin Smith, Senior Vice President, Group Treasury and Investor Relations Tel: +45 9730 8209



Attachment:

https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=629887

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - BBA Aviation Plc. (BBA.L), an aviation support and aftermarket services provider, Friday said its four months' trading remains in-line with expectations, with revenue up 19% year-on-year, reflecting both the contribution from acquisitions and organic growth. On a like-for-like basis, revenue was up 2%. In its trading statement for the period from January 1 to April 30, the company noted that Signature Flight Support's revenues grew 26%, mainly benefitting from an additional month of contribution from the Landmark Aviation acquisition. On an organic basis, Signature's revenues grew 3%. In Aftermarket Services, revenue grew 4% and on an organic basis revenue was flat year-on-year. Simon Pryce, BBA Aviation Group Chief Executive said, 'The Group is performing well and in line with expectations with a continued strong performance from the enlarged Signature business and strong drop through. ...The Group is now focused on higher value-added, better IP protected, high ROIC and strongly cash generative businesses with enhanced prospects and the Board remains confident of good growth in 2017.' BBA Aviation plc will announce its interim results for the period to June 30 on August 1. 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.
Rises in Angola, Nigeria offset drops in Libya, Iraq

Saudi output at 9.97 million b/d - Iran below quota at 3.77 mil b/d

LONDON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 10 Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members' crude output stayed unchanged in April at 31.85 million barrels per day compared to March, according to an S&P Global Platts survey released today. OPEC is still showing high compliance with its production cut agreement, as increases in Angola and Nigeria were offset by declines from Libya and Iraq.

"OPEC members can go into their May 25 meeting in Vienna feeling good about their compliance levels. Even countries, like Iraq and the UAE, which have come in for some criticism over their production levels, moved closer to compliance in April. But an extension to the production cut agreement is far from a done deal, with many details to be negotiated, including cut levels, exemptions and duration, amid an increasingly skeptical market. OPEC still has much to discuss," said Herman Wang, OPEC Specialist, S&P Global Platts.

Thus, the April production figures in the S&P Global Platts survey and the five other secondary sources used by OPEC to monitor output will be some of the final data points that the organization considers at its meeting. OPEC's collective April output was some 80,000 b/d above its stated ceiling of 32.5 million b/d, when Indonesia, which typically produces about 730,000 b/d, is added in. Indonesia suspended its OPEC membership in November and is not included in the S&P Global Platts survey estimates for 2017.

OPEC's largest producer Saudi Arabia averaged 9.97 million b/d in April, according to the survey, below its quota under the deal of 10.058 million b/d. The kingdom is seen as a driver of OPEC's production cut deal, with energy minister Khalid al-Falih saying at a conference in Abu Dhabi last month that there appeared to be a growing consensus on a need to extend the cuts, as global inventories remain stubbornly high.

Iraq, which has faced criticism for not fully complying with its required cut, produced 4.36 million b/d in April, the survey found, as the Taq Taq field in the Kurdistan Region of the country has seen output decline, while exports from Iraq's Persian Gulf terminal also fell during the month. The country's April output is 9,000 b/d above its quota under the deal, the closest it has been to compliance. Over the January through April period, however, its average remains 60,000 b/d above its quota, the highest among OPEC members.

Iran, which is allowed a slight output increase under the deal, held production steady in April at 3.77 million b/d, the survey found, below its quota of 3.797 million b/d. The UAE, also under pressure from fellow OPEC members to come into compliance with its quota, lowered production slightly to 2.84 million b/d, down 10,000 b/d from March, the survey found.

EXEMPTIONS IN FOCUS

Angola saw new production come online in its offshore East Hub development, with the country's output rising 80,000 b/d in the month to 1.68 million b/d. Nigeria, meanwhile, ended maintenance on key export grade Bonga in April, with production at the field ramping up throughout the month. The country's output averaged 1.65 million b/d in April, according to the survey.

In Libya, a blockade of a pipeline from the Sharara field to the Zawiya terminal in the country's west by a militia knocked production down significantly in the month to 550,000 b/d. Libya's National Oil Company declared force majeure on Zawiya on April 9, but NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla last week announced that a deal had been struck with the Petroleum Facilities Guard militia to reopen Sharara, as well as the nearby El Feel field. Nigeria and Libya, both impacted heavily by militancy over the last year, are exempt from the production deal, which led some OPEC watchers to doubt the effectiveness of the agreement, if production from the two countries were to recover and offset any cuts. But the two countries' combined January-April average output of 2.273 million b/d is just 6,300 b/d higher than their October levels, according to the S&P Global Platts survey.

STRONG COMPLIANCE

Of the 11 members of OPEC that have a quota under the deal, compliance is 117%, based on January through April averages. If Iran is not included, the 10 members of OPEC required to cut production have achieved a collective 105% of their cuts, based on January through April averages. Since the deal covers an average of January to June output, month-to-month fluctuations are to be expected. The S&P Global Platts estimates were obtained by surveying OPEC and oil industry officials, traders and analysts, as well as reviewing proprietary shipping data.

In concert with OPEC, 11 non-OPEC countries led by Russia have also agreed to cut output by a combined 558,000 b/d in the first half of 2017, with many of those countries phasing in their reductions or relying on natural declines. Russia last week announced it had reached its commitment to cut 300,000 b/d. Ministers from those 11 non-OPEC producers will also be meeting in Vienna with OPEC on May 25 to review their participation in the deal and any extension.

OPEC production (in million b/d)



Country April Change March Algeria 1.04 0 1.04 Angola 1.68 0.08 1.60 Ecuador 0.52 0 0.52 Gabon 0.21 0 0.21 Iran 3.77 0 3.77 Iraq 4.36 -0.04 4.40 Kuwait 2.70 0 2.70 Libya 0.55 -0.07 0.62 Nigeria 1.65 0.06 1.59 Qatar 0.61 0.01 0.60 Saudi Arabia 9.97 -0.03 10.00 UAE 2.84 -0.01 2.85 Venezuela 1.95 0 1.95 Total 31.85 0 31.85









Notes: OPEC ministers on November 30 finalized a deal to freeze production at around 32.5 million b/d, beginning January 1 for six months. The agreement exempts Libya and Nigeria, while allowing Iran a small increase in production. Non-OPEC producers led by Russia also agreed to cut output by 558,000 b/d in the first half of 2017, with Russia set to cut 300,000 b/d. OPEC will meet in Vienna on May 25 to review the deal, along with the 11 non-OPEC participants. Indonesia suspended its OPEC membership on November 30, but its output is being counted by OPEC under the production ceiling. The estimate for Iraq includes volumes from semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan.

About S&P Global Platts

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S&P Global Platts is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for companies, governments and individuals to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.platts.com.

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AMSTERDAM, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

I ntroduces RTdrive * , an automated workflow solution that streamlines the planning process from MR imaging to the treatment plan, saving time and increasing consistency.

Highlights MR and CT simulation along with the newly updated Pinnacle3 16 treatment planning system, to deliver individualized, comprehensive therapy plans

Royal Philips (NSYE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today announced that it will showcase the company's latest integrated solutions in radiation oncology at the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology's (ESTRO) 36th Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Vienna, Austria. Philips' most recent innovations aim to provide integrated solutions in radiation oncology comprising imaging systems, tools, clinical informatics and services to accelerate the time to treatment and create greater consistency across the treatment planning process.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/508060/RT_Drive.jpg )



Radiation therapy is a proven, effective method for treating patients with cancer. It relies on advanced medical imaging technologies to assess the treatment area, and determine the treatment strategy. Due to its accessibility, speed and accuracy, CT imaging is widely used in diagnosis and treatment planning in cancer care, while MR imaging is also rapidly emerging as a powerful tool as result of its superb real-time 3D visualization of soft tissue anatomy and physiology.

Creating efficient processes that can quickly assess therapy needs on an individual basis, per patient, is essential in providing consistently precise and timely radiotherapy treatment. Reducing uncertainties in treatment planning and enabling individualized, seamless therapy for each patient are top goals of today's care teams. With integrated tools, systems and software that address the health continuum from imaging to treatment planning, Philips' radiation oncology solutions streamline processes and workflows to improve radiotherapy planning and delivery.

"Cancer care teams need ways to increase precision, accelerate time to treatment, improve patient care and enhance patient satisfaction," said Ardie Ermers, General Manager of Radiation Oncology at Philips. "Delivering on our commitment to provide meaningful innovations for patients and care providers, we have focused on providing solutions in radiation oncology to make workflows simpler, faster and more targeted from start to finish."

The confident path to treatment

At ESTRO 36, Philips will feature the latest radiation therapy innovations designed to streamline workflows and improve both the patient and clinician experience, from simulation to treatment. The following solutions and software-integrating workflow tools will be on display:



RTdrive MR Prostate * - Philips' first workflow solution that automates the treatment planning process from MR-only simulation, to MR-based Auto-Contouring and treatment planning. RTdrive condenses the planning process that can take hours or even days, down to just 25 minutes**. Through intelligent workflow automation, RTdrive reduces repetitive tasks while improving consistency so that clinicians can focus on other activities to enhance patient care.

- Philips' first workflow solution that automates the treatment planning process from MR-only simulation, to MR-based Auto-Contouring and treatment planning. RTdrive condenses the planning process that can take hours or even days, down to just 25 minutes**. Through intelligent workflow automation, RTdrive reduces repetitive tasks while improving consistency so that clinicians can focus on other activities to enhance patient care. iPatient for Big Bore CT - A patient-centered imaging workflow that helps drive consistency in image quality from scan to scan across diverse patient populations, which is particularly important in cancer cases. The iPatient platform provides a standardized approach to simulation imaging with advanced 4D imaging applications.

- A patient-centered imaging workflow that helps drive consistency in image quality from scan to scan across diverse patient populations, which is particularly important in cancer cases. The iPatient platform provides a standardized approach to simulation imaging with advanced 4D imaging applications. Ingenia MR-RT with MR-only simulation - A comprehensive MR simulation platform that provides high-quality, high-contrast MR images acquired in the treatment position to support confident identification of targets and organs at risk.

- A comprehensive MR simulation platform that provides high-quality, high-contrast MR images acquired in the treatment position to support confident identification of targets and organs at risk. Pinnacle 3 16 - Philips' interactive radiation treatment planning application has a refreshed user interface and an improved look and feel. New features include Deformable Image Registration (DIR) incorporated into the Dynamic Planning module, and Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) that integrates Proton Photon planning into the Pinnacle [ 3 ] 16 Proton Planning environment.

- Philips' interactive radiation treatment planning application has a refreshed user interface and an improved look and feel. New features include Deformable Image Registration (DIR) incorporated into the Dynamic Planning module, and Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) that integrates Proton Photon planning into the Pinnacle 16 Proton Planning environment. IntelliSpace Portal 9.0 - The latest edition of Philips' comprehensive, advanced visual analysis and quantification platform offers tumor analyzing and treatment response tools with a streamlined workflow for follow-up and analysis in oncology cases. IntelliSpace Portal 9.0 provides disease state assessment and treatment response tools using CT, MR, PET/CT, and SPECT/CT data.

Consulting to transform the patient and staff experience

To complement Philips' radiation oncology products, Philips Consulting offers services that transform the patient and staff experience with a people-centric approach to room, department or building design. Ranging from the development of high-level strategies to methodologies to address operational issues, the program offers services to cover the full design of cancer treatment centers, Ambient Experience solutions (dynamic lighting, sound and video), and recommendations for efficient workflow process management.



At ESTRO 36, Philips will also be hosting a lunch symposium on May 8th focused on the latest innovations in radiation oncology. Find more details on the symposium here.

For more information about Philips' presence at ESTRO, please visit Philips' ESTRO event website at http://www.philips.com/ESTRO and follow @PhilipsLiveFrom for updates throughout the event.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2016 sales of EUR 17.4 billion and employs approximately 70,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at http://www.philips.com

ewscenter

*RTdrive is not yet CE marked.

** Tested in a non-clinical environment with single Pinnacle user and a 5-beam IMRT plan. Excluding time for optional manual adjustments.



For further information, please contact:

Alicia Cafardi

Philips Group Press Office

Tel: +1-412-523-9616

E-mail: Alicia.Cafardi@Philips.com


- Industry-first cockpit domain controller awarded innovation prize for groundbreaking security-focused and centralized approach

- First SmartCore' launches to take place with European and Chinese automakers in 2018-2020 - consolidating Visteon's leadership position in new cockpit domain controller segment

KARLSRUHE, Germany, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --Visteon Corporation (NYSE: VC), a leading cockpit electronics supplier, has been awarded The German Center of Automotive Management's (CAM) 2017 top innovation prize in the "strongest innovation from automotive supplier - interface and connectivity" category for its market-leading SmartCore' cockpit domain controller solution. The presentation took place at the automotiveINNOVATIONS award ceremony hosted by the CAM and PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC) Automotive, at Frankfurt's Tower 185 on May 4.

Representing Visteon, Chief Technology Officer Markus Schupfner received the prize from Prof. Dr. Stefan Bratzel, CAM; and Felix Kunert, partner PwC Automotive, Europe; based on the strength of SmartCore's security-focused electronic control unit (ECU) consolidation and centralized cockpit domain controller approach. Visteon is the only supplier offering an automotive-grade, integrated domain controller that can independently operate several cockpit domains on one System on Chip (SoC) through a single driver interface.

The CAM is an independent scientific institute for automotive and mobility research, including strategic consulting, at the University of Applied Sciences (FHDW) in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. The automotiveINNOVATIONS awards, organized in partnership with PwC Europe - now in their fifth year - celebrate game-changing innovation in the worldwide auto sector.

"We're delighted to be recognized for SmartCore's unique approach to consolidation of the rapid proliferation of ECUs in today's connected vehicles while providing a future-proof foundation for a centralized cockpit domain controller approach," Schupfner said. "SmartCore is designed to create an ideal digital cockpit user experience by simplifying driver interaction through one seamless, intuitive user interface, while significantly reducing the increasing cost and complexity of in-vehicle electronics for automakers."

Working in close collaboration with European and Chinese automakers to bring this industry-first technology to market, Visteon is scheduled to launch the first SmartCore'-based solution in 2018 on a high-volume, global vehicle platform with a European automaker. The platform will initially cover driver information, infotainment and connectivity domains and will be expanded to offer advanced 3-D display and augmented reality head-up display capabilities in future model years.

Upcoming Smartcore' applications will include a new light vehicle from a Chinese automaker, also starting in 2018.

"SmartCore' continues to be successfully received by global automakers as it fills a gap in the market for a fully scalable solution that meets the immediate need for ECU consolidation within the cockpit space while addressing future domains such as cloud-based applications or advanced driver assistance systems," Schupfner added.

The SmartCore' architecture is fully scalable and designed to be cybersecured through virtualization of the different cores and controlled firewalls. This enables independent functional domains with different levels of functional safety requirements - driver information, infotainment, connectivity and assisted driving systems - while future domains can be added to operate separately and securely.

About Visteon

Visteon is a global technology company that designs, engineers and manufactures innovative cockpit electronics products and connected car solutions for most of the world's major vehicle manufacturers. Visteon is a leading provider of instrument clusters, head-up displays, information displays, infotainment, audio systems, telematics and SmartCore' cockpit domain controllers. Visteon also supplies embedded multimedia and smartphone connectivity software solutions to the global automotive industry. Headquartered in Van Buren Township, Michigan, Visteon has approximately 10,000 employees at more than 40 facilities in 19 countries. Visteon had sales of $3.16 billion in 2016. Learn more at www.visteon.com.

Follow Visteon:

www.twitter.com/visteon

www.youtube.com/visteon

http://blog.visteon.com

www.google.com/+visteon

www.linkedin.com/company/visteon

https://www.facebook.com/VisteonCorporation

https://www.instagram.com/visteon

http://www.slideshare.net/VisteonCorporation

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Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Influenza Vaccine Market Forecast in (West Europe) Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and United Kingdom By (Child Adult)" report to their offering.

Influenza vaccine market for West Europe was more than US$ 500 Million. United Kingdom is having the highest seasonal influenza vaccine market share followed by Germany and France respectively. In children vaccination, United Kingdom is the leader and France holds the second spot. In adult vaccination United Kingdom and Germany have a close fight for top slot.

Influenza Vaccine Market Forecast in (West Europe) Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and United Kingdom By (Child Adult) is a 113 page report with 99 Figures and 11 Tables covers 7 countries of Europe countries influenza vaccine market. In total 7 Europe Countries influenza vaccine market and its vaccinated population numbers have been captured in the report. All the 7 Europe countries are as follows: Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and United Kingdom.

Key Questions Answered in the Report?

What is the Influenza Vaccine Market in Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and United Kingdom?

What is the Children Influenza Vaccine Market in Poland, Germany, Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Ireland, and United Kingdom?

What is the Adult Influenza Vaccine Market in United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, Ireland, Germany, Poland and Netherlands?

What is the Influenza Vaccinated Population Forecast in Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and United Kingdom?

What is the Influenza Vaccinated Population Forecast for Children in Poland, Germany, Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Ireland, and United Kingdom?

What is the Influenza Vaccinated Population Forecast for Adult in United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg, Ireland, Germany, Poland and Netherlands?

Growth Drivers:

Vaccine Manufacturers Plan to Increase Flu Vaccine Production

Growing Child Ageing Population in Western European Region

Rising Healthcare Expenditure Share of the Western Europe Countries GDP

Market Challenges:

Regulatory Challenges with New and Novel Influenza Vaccines

Lack of Healthcare Infrastructure

Limited Reimbursement and Access to the Vaccines



Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Western Europe Countries Seasonal Influenza Vaccinated Total Population

3 Western Europe Countries Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Market

4 Western Europe Countries Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Market Share

5 Netherlands

6 Germany

7 France

8 Ireland

9 Luxembourg

10 Poland

11 United Kingdom

12 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Growth Drivers

13 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Challenges

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/72z8rm/influenza_vaccine

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005368/en/

Contacts:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Related Topics: Vaccines
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Europe Influenza Vaccine Market Forecast (23 Countries Market Vaccinated Population Data) By (Pediatrics Adult) Vaccine Brands Analysis" report to their offering.

Europe Influenza Vaccine Market was close to US$ 1Billion. United Kingdom holds the highest seasonal influenza vaccine market share. United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy Spain together holds more than 80 percent of influenza vaccine market share. In children vaccine market, United Kingdom is the leader and France holds the second spot. In adult vaccine market United Kingdom and Germany have a close fight for top slot.

Europe Influenza Vaccine Market Forecast (23 Countries Market Vaccinated Population Data) By (Pediatrics Adult) Vaccine Brands Analysis is our 7th report on the Influenza Vaccine Market. This 301 page report with 300 Figures and 8 Tables covers 23 European countries Influenza Vaccine Market in Children and Adult, its Influenza Vaccinated Population Numbers in Children and Adult.

All 23 European countries have been extensively studied from six points:

Seasonal Influenza Vaccinated Population Forecast

Seasonal Influenza Child Vaccinated Population Forecast

Seasonal Adult Influenza Vaccinated Population Forecast

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Market

Seasonal Child Influenza Vaccine Market

Seasonal Adult Influenza Vaccine Market



This report offers the best viewpoint on the leading five influenza vaccine brands:

Vaxigrip/Fluzone

Fluarix/ Flulaval

FluMist/Fluenz

Afluria/Fluvax and Fluvirin/Flucelvax

Anflu



Countries covered include:

Netherlands

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

Germany

France

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom



This report is a combination of 5 reports

Influenza Vaccine Market in Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain

Influenza Vaccine Market Forecast in West Europe

Nordics Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Market Forecast

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Market in Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Market in Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia



Companies Mentioned

Afluria/Fluvax and Fluvirin/Flucelvax

Anflu

Fluarix/ Flulaval

FluMist/Fluenz

Vaxigrip/Fluzone



For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6xvb4c/europe_influenza

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005373/en/

Contacts:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Related Topics: Vaccines, Pediatrics
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 05, 2017) -

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Almaden Minerals Ltd. ("Almaden" or the "Company") (TSX: AMM) (NYSE MKT: AAU) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Sprott Capital Partners and Cormark Securities Inc. to act as co-lead underwriters (the "Co-Lead Underwriters"), on their own behalf and, if applicable, on behalf of a syndicate of underwriters (collectively with the Co-Lead Underwriters, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters will arrange for substituted purchasers to purchase, on a bought deal private placement basis, 8,572,000 units ("Units") at $1.75 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of $15,001,000 (the "Offering"). The Underwriters will also have the option (the "Underwriters' Option") to purchase from Almaden up to an additional 1,285,800 Units for additional gross proceeds of $2,250,150.

Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be transferable and will entitle the holder to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") for three years from the date of closing of the Offering at a price of $2.45 per Warrant Share.

The Offering will take place by way of a private placement to qualified investors in such provinces of Canada as the Underwriters may designate, and otherwise in those jurisdictions where the Offering can lawfully be made. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period from the date of issue in accordance with applicable securities laws in Canada, and potentially additional restrictions under the laws of other jurisdictions in which the Offering may be made. Closing of the Offering is subject to satisfaction of certain conditions including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals including approval of the TSX and NYSE MKT.

In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters will be entitled to a cash fee in an amount equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, to be paid at closing. As additional consideration, the Company will grant to the Underwriters non-transferable common share purchase warrants (the "Broker Warrants") entitling the Underwriters to purchase that number of Common Shares as is equal to 3.0% of the aggregate number of Units sold in the Offering. Subject to regulatory approval, each Broker Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one Common Share at a price equal to $1.90 for a period of 24 months after the closing of the Offering.

The gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Units are intended to be used to advance the Tuligtic Project through continued engineering, permitting activities and exploration drilling, as well as for general corporate and working capital purposes.

The Offering is scheduled to close on or about June 1, 2017 or such other date or dates as the Company and the Underwriters may agree.

About Almaden

Almaden Minerals Ltd. owns 100% of the Tuligtic project in Puebla State, Mexico. Tuligtic covers the Ixtaca Gold-Silver Deposit, which was discovered by Almaden in 2010.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Morgan Poliquin"

Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng.

President, CEO and Director

Almaden Minerals Ltd.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) nor the NYSE MKT have reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release which has been prepared by management. Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to the intended use of proceeds and continuation of exploration and development programs involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Almaden to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint ventures, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labour and employment matters, and government regulation and permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information Form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Almaden has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Almaden disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

THIS NEWS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF ANY OF THE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL, INCLUDING ANY OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "1933 ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS (AS DEFINED IN REGULATION S UNDER THE 1933 ACT) UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE 1933 ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS IS AVAILABLE.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Almaden Minerals Ltd.

604.689.7644

info@almadenminerals.com

www.almadenminerals.com
MAUI, HI -- (Marketwired) -- 05/05/17 -- Eco Science Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: ESSI), an eco-technology Company providing solutions to the multi-billion-dollar health, wellness and alternative medicine industry, today announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent with Ga-Du Bank, Inc. for the purpose of acquiring full ownership of the Bank in a stock and cash transaction.

Upon the closing of the transaction, ESSI will operate the Bank as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eco Science Solutions, Inc. ESSI will own and operate a financial banking division providing payment processing, cash management and financial services to its customers in the cannabis industry.

Additionally, the Bank's principals have engaged with prospects in the marketplace whom have made expressions of interest, along with preliminary commitments to deposit sums between Three-Hundred and Six-Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000 and $600,000,000). These amounts are currently being projected to be deposited within the first sixty to one-hundred-eighty days following the acquisition of the Bank by ESSI.

"All parties involved are enthusiastic about the Bank's potential to financially serve the cannabis marketplace. Current business owners working in medical marijuana are doing a tremendous job, but are truly in need of formal banking services so they can soundly manage their business finances," stated John Lewis, who is both the current president of the Bank and a Governor of the Central Bank of SCNRFP. Mr. Lewis continued with, "By combining Ga-Du Bank with Eco Science Solutions, we see how our synergies will create an important financial institution to serve a category that is in need of a fully integrated vertical product suite."

"Our entire team is thrilled by the prospect of the acquisition of the Ga-Du Bank by ESSI," said Andy Tucker, Senior Advisor to of Ga-Du Bank. Mr. Tucker continued, "We believe that in joining forces with the ESSI team, we can deliver a comprehensive suite of financial products that addresses the current needs of currently what is a cash-driven industry, allowing ESSI to become a break-out leader for the sector."

"It has been our vision from day one that, in order to fully service the cannabis industry and execute on our business plan, we needed to be creative in securing and offering a banking platform that further differentiates us from everyone in our category," stated Jeff Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of Eco Science Solutions, Inc. Mr. Taylor continued, "The deal with Ga-Du Bank is a game-changer for not only ESSI, but everyone in the cannabis industry. This new division of our Company will put us years ahead of our goal to create a full-service marketplace among growers, suppliers, distributors, retailers and consumers."

About Eco Science Solutions, Inc.

With headquarters in Maui, Hawaii, Eco Science Solutions, Inc. is a technology-focused Company targeting the multi-billion-dollar health, wellness and alternative medicine industry.

From enterprise software, to consumer applications for daily use, the Company develops technical solutions that empower enthusiasts in their pursuit and enjoyment of building eco-friendly businesses and living healthy lifestyles.

Eco Science's core services span localized communications between consumers and business operators, social networking with like-minded enthusiasts, rich educational content, e-commerce, and rapid delivery of products, all catering to the health-and-wellness lifestyle.

Forward-Looking Statements

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are based on current facts and analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determined, and assumptions of management. Forward looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. Information concerning oil or natural gas reserve estimates may also be deemed to be forward looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed.

Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors beyond the reasonable control of the Company. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include misinterpretation of data, inaccurate estimates of oil and natural gas reserves, the uncertainty of the requirements demanded by environmental agencies, the Company's ability to raise financing for operations, breach by parties with whom we have contracted, inability to maintain qualified employees or consultants because of compensation or other issues, competition for equipment, inability to obtain drilling permits, potential delays or obstacles in drilling operations and interpreting data, the likelihood that no commercial quantities of oil or gas are found or recoverable, and our ability to participate in the exploration of, and successful completion of development programs on all aforementioned prospects and leases. Additional information on risks for the Company can be found in the Company's periodic filings filed from time to time with US Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Eco Science Solutions, Inc.

www.ecossi.com

contact.us@ecossi.com

800-379-0226






WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Friday marks the first day of Melania Trump's first foreign tour as America's First Lady.



She joins President Donald Trump on an eight-day, five-stop trek to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Rome, Brussels, and Sicily, the White House said.



Saudi Arabia is the first country that the Trumps are visiting, and it is not clear what Melania's dress code will be. However, the hosts have not given any instruction regarding the Slovenia-born former model's dressing in the conservative Islamic country, reports say.



'We welcome any style in clothing,' RIA Novosti quoted Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir as saying.



Saudi King is hosting an official dinner for the president and the first lady on Saturday evening.



In addition to accompanying her husband throughout the trip, the First Lady will also participate in many of her own events.



In the latter part of the trip, Melania Trump will attend spousal programs at the NATO and G-7 summits. She will conclude the trip by delivering remarks to United States military personnel and families in Italy.



Melania, the third wife of Trump, said she is very excited for the upcoming trip. 'This will not just be an opportunity to support my husband as he works on important matters of national security and foreign relations, it will also be my honor to visit and speak with women and children from different countries, with different perspectives,' according to her.



The first couple will return to Washington on May 27.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Reno, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2017) - Scandium International Mining Corp. (TSX: SCY) ("Scandium International" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its subsidiary company, EMC Metals Australia Pty Ltd has signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management ("EPCM") contract with Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd ("Lycopodium"), to build the Nyngan Scandium Project in New South Wales, Australia. The EPCM contract also provides for start-up and commissioning services.

HIGHLIGHTS:

EPCM contract executed for Nyngan Project,

Continuity maintained - Lycopodium authored project feasibility study (2016),

Contract also provides for commissioning and start-up services,

Contract terms include performance incentives to Lycopodium,

Notice to Proceed feature gives SCY an immediate trigger, when ready, to start construction, and

EPCM cost estimate is consistent with 2016 project feasibility study.

The EPCM contract ("the Contract") appoints Lycopodium (Brisbane, QLD, Australia) to manage all aspects of project construction. Lycopodium is the principal engineering firm that delivered the latest NI 43-101 technical report on the Project, titledfiled on SEDAR on May 4, 2016. Lycopodium's continued involvement in project construction and commissioning ensures valuable technical and management continuity for the project during the construction and start-up of the project.

DISCUSSION:

The EPCM contract with Lycopodium consists of two phases: Phase I is pre-notice to proceed ('NTP'), and Phase II is full-NTP. Phase I is a cost-reimbursable period that allows SCY full access to Lycopodium's services and the EPCM team for specific tasks and advance work on long-lead items. Phase II will be initiated with a formal NTP, fully at SCY's discretion, with project funding in place, and will activate the Contract and services as agreed in the scope of work.

Post-NTP, the Contract is cost-reimbursable for labor and other costs, and specifies fixed price components for labor rates, corporate overhead and profit margins ("Fee"), and firm scope (hours) for all EPCM services. A portion (50%) of the Fee is adjustable, based on measured performance on four specified parameters: overall project capital cost performance, schedule performance, safety performance and the overall assessment of Lycopodium's performance by Scandium International. There is also a provision in the Contract to establish a Fee incentive for Lycopodium based on the ramp-up of the Project's production levels, post completion.

Lycopodium has been awarded the majority of the services in this Contract scope, including project management, engineering design and management, procurement services, contracting services, construction management and commissioning. SCY has specified that Knight Piesold Consulting (Brisbane, QLD, Australia) will perform water, earthworks, and tailings systems engineering and design. Knight Piesold were the engineers on these components in the Nyngan DFS as well.

The Nyngan Scandium project has now received its' key environmental and mining permits required to construct the mine, as designed. Construction and development of the Project remains subject to project financing.

George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented:

"We are very pleased to complete negotiations and execute this EPCM contract with Lycopodium. This Contract allows technical and management continuity from the Project Feasibility Study through the engineering and construction phase, and into commissioning and ramp up. We know this engineering team, we work well with them, and they know our project. This represents a major de-risking of the project through construction and into operation."

Andy Greig, Director of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented:

"These commercial terms represent 'best practice' for an engineering-construction project. Lycopodium's commercial outcome is tied directly to the overall project outcome and the value delivered to SCY's shareholders. Lycopodium has put a large part of its Fee (profit) at risk and is backing its team to meet - and exceed - project goals relative to capital cost, schedule, safety, overall performance and the production ramp-up timetable. This is the essence of owner-contractor commercial alignment".

Rod Leonard, Managing Director of Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd commented:

"We are excited to continue our collaborative relationship with Scandium International, moving now from the feasibility study work into the project execution phase. Lycopodium look forward to developing the Nyngan Scandium Project through design, construction, commissioning and ramp-up to commercial production, in accordance with project goals that have been established jointly with Scandium International."

QUALIFIED PERSONS AND NI 43-101 TECHNICAL REPORT

Willem Duyvesteyn, MSc, AIME, CIM, a Director and CTO of the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of the Company.

ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.

The Company is focused on developing the Nyngan Scandium Project into the world's first scandium-only producing mine. The Company owns an 80% interest in both the Nyngan Scandium Project, and the adjacent Honeybugle Scandium Property, in New South Wales, Australia, and is manager of both projects. Our joint venture partner, Scandium Investments LLC, owns the remaining 20% in both projects, along with an option to convert those direct project interests into SCY common shares, based on market value, by mid-June 2017.

The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in May 2016, titled "Feasibility Study - Nyngan Scandium Project". That feasibility study delivered an expanded scandium resource, a first reserve figure, and an estimated 33.1% IRR on the project, supported by extensive metallurgical test work and an independent, 10-year global marketing outlook for scandium demand.

ABOUT LYCOPODIUM MINERALS PTY LTD

Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of parent company Lycopodium Limited (ASX: LYL), an Australian headquartered engineering and project management consultancy which provides a complete range of services for the evaluation, development, implementation and optimisation of projects across a broad range of industries.

Lycopodium Limited is headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, with offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle, Cape Town, Manila and Toronto. Please visit www.lycopodium.com.au for more information.

For inquiries to Scandium International Mining Corp, please contact:

George Putnam, President and CEO

Tel: 925-208-1775

Email: info@scandiummining.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to statements regarding any future development of the project. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation risks related to uncertainty in the demand for Scandium and pricing assumptions; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the project in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; uncertainties involved in the estimation of Scandium reserves and resources; the possibility that required permits may not be obtained on a timely manner or at all; the possibility that capital and operating costs may be higher than currently estimated and may preclude commercial development or render operations uneconomic; the possibility that the estimated recovery rates may not be achieved; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; risks related to projected project economics, recovery rates, and estimated NPV and anticipated IRR and other factors identified in the Company's SEC filings and its filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances, should change.
BELLINGHAM, WA--(Marketwired - May 05, 2017) - eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI), the holding company for eXp Realty LLC, The Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage, will attend the Oppenheimer Emerging Growth Conference. The conference is being held on May 16th, 2017, at the Sofitel Hotel in New York City.

eXp World Holdings management will host one-on-one meetings throughout the day. Conference participation is by invitation only and registration is mandatory. For more information on the conference or to schedule a one-on-one meeting, please contact your Oppenheimer representative.

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.

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.

Investor Relations Contact:

Greg Falesnik

MZ Group - MZ North America

1-949-385-6449

Email contact



www.mzgroup.us
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Seattle Genetics Inc. (SGEN) said it has agreed to terminate its license agreement with Immunomedics, Inc. (IMMU) for sacituzumab govitecan or IMMU-132 and settle the related litigation. The license agreement had not yet closed due to legal action brought by an Immunomedics stockholder challenging the transaction. The termination and settlement remain subject to court approval. 'The Immunomedics transaction would have effectively utilized our substantial expertise in antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development to advance IMMU-132 for patients in need. However, due to significant delays and lack of progress towards closing the deal, we are turning our full attention and resources to our promising pipeline and the substantial opportunities in front of us, including the upcoming topline data readout from the ADCETRIS ECHELON-1 trial and ongoing or planned pivotal trials of vadastuximab talirine (SGN-CD33A) and enfortumab vedotin (ASG-22ME),' Clay Siegall, President and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Genetics, said. Effective upon the termination of the license, the parties have agreed to fully settle, resolve and release each other from all disputes, claims and liabilities. As part of the termination, Seattle Genetics will continue to hold 3.0 million shares of Immunomedics common stock, as well as a warrant to purchase an additional 8.7 million shares at $4.90 per share exercisable until December 31, 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.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/05/17 -- ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL INC. ("Aberdeen", or the "Company") (TSX: AAB) is pleased to announce that it has released its financial results for the year ended January 31, 2017.

Highlights:

-- Total revenue of $14.9 million, including total investment gains of $14.7 million; -- Net income for the year ended January 31, 2017 was $9.8 million or $0.11 per basic share; -- In the year, the Company made new investments in QMX Gold Corporation, Pitchblack Resources Ltd, Fura Gems Inc., Valencia Ventures Inc. and a private Ontario company, Desert Lion Energy Corp., which holds lithium claims in Namibia; -- Completed entire NCIB by repurchasing and cancelling 6.6 million Aberdeen shares; -- Files technical reports for Smokey Hills Platinum mine and Sal de los Angeles Lithium Project.

As at January 31, 2017, Aberdeen's shareholders' equity and net asset value ("NAV") was $34.6 million, or $0.39 per share. Given the nature of Aberdeen's operations, there is currently no difference between "shareholder equity" and "net asset value" for Aberdeen. On a year-over-year basis, Aberdeen's shareholders' equity has increased by $8.7 million.

January 31, 2017 January 31, 2016 October 31, 2016 Shares outstanding 88,912,282 95,546,628 88,912,282 $ $/Shares $ $/Shares $ $/Shares ------------------------------------------------------------ Cash on hand 626,293 0.007 604,613 0.006 1,513,635 0.017 Investments Publicly traded 17,011,407 0.191 2,754,448 0.029 13,041,522 0.147 Private 15,614,855 0.176 19,322,417 0.202 19,044,924 0.214 Non-trading warrants Intrinsic value 288,000 0.003 - 0.000 - - Option value 44,880 0.000 423,920 0.004 45,520 0.001 ------------------------------------------------------------ 332,880 0.003 423,920 0.004 45,520 0.001 ------------------------------------------------------------ Portfolio Investments 32,959,142 0.370 22,500,785 0.235 32,131,966 0.361 Loans 1,659,030 0.019 - - 1,709,903 0.019 ------------------------------------------------------------ Total 35,244,465 0.396 23,105,398 0.241 35,355,504 0.398 ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------

For the twelve months ended January 31, 2017, Aberdeen reported net earnings of $9.8 million or $0.11 per basic share on total revenue of $14.9 million. Revenue was comprised of $14.7 million from net investment gains and $0.2 million from interest income and advisory fees. For the twelve months ending January 31, 2016, Aberdeen reported a net loss of $9.7 million or $(0.10) per basic share on total revenue of $(6.3) million ($(7.0) million from net investment losses and $0.7 million from dividend income and advisory fees).

Aberdeen's management is encouraged by the Company's solid performance during fiscal 2017 and is looking forward to continuing to build on that performance through fiscal 2018. During the 2017 fiscal year, Aberdeen invested in equity interests in a few companies, such as QMX Gold Corporation, Fura Gems Inc. and Desert Lion Energy Corp., that management believes are positioned for significant and transformative growth. The Company continues to review opportunistic investments through which it feels it can achieve exceptional capital appreciation.

Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB")

During the twelve months ended January 31, 2017, the Company purchased and cancelled 6,634,346 shares at an average price of $0.18. The Company completed its NCIB for the entire year.

Smokey Hills Platinum Mine and Sal de los Angeles Project Technical Reports

Aberdeen has filed a technical report in respect of the Smokey Hills Platinum Project in South Africa, which is owned by African Thunder Platinum, of which Aberdeen is a significant shareholder. Aberdeen has also filed a technical report in respect of the Salar de los Angeles Lithium Project in Argentina, which is owned by Potasio y Litio de Argentina S.A., of which Aberdeen presently holds 50% of the outstanding shares.

The Smokey Hills Technical Report is entitled "An Independent Qualified Persons' Report on the Smokey Hills Platinum Mine, Limpopo Province, South Africa" dated effective as of October 1, 2016, which was authored by D van Heerden of Minxcon (Pty) Ltd. (the "Smokey Hills Report"). Mr. van Heerden is independent of Aberdeen and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

The Salar de los Angeles Lithium Project Technical Report is entitled "Technical Report, Resource Estimate for Lithium & Potash, Salar de Los Angeles Project" effective as of February 24, 2017, which was authored by Frits Reidel, CPG of Flosolutions (the "Lithium Report"). Mr. Reidel is independent of Aberdeen and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

The Smokey Hills Report and the Lithium Report may be found under Aberdeen's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The information in both reports is consistent with the disclosure made by Aberdeen in its annual information form dated April 28, 2017.

ABOUT ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL

Aberdeen International is a global resource investment company and merchant bank focused on small capitalization companies in the mining and metals sector.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.aberdeeninternational.ca and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.

Cautionary Notes

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding the financial results of Aberdeen; past success as an indicator of future success; net asset value of the Company; the potential of investee companies and the appreciation of their share price; the future intentions of the Company with regard to its investments; the Company's plan of business operations; and anticipated returns. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, financing risks, acquisition risks, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:

Aberdeen International Inc.

Stan Bharti

Interim President and Chief Executive Officer

+1 416-861-2267

stan@forbesmanhattan.com




Regulatory News:

Vivendi (Paris:VIV) welcomes the composition of Telecom Italia's new Board of Directors, which was approved by the company's Annual Shareholders' Meeting on May 4, 2017. The new team, which brings together a wide variety of recognized skills, will be a valuable asset in the development of the Italian company's strategy and in meeting its challenges in the months and years to come.

Telecom Italia's new Board of Directors has 15 members, ten of whom are independent within the meaning of Italian law and the Corporate Governance Code for listed companies. Three members (Arnaud de Puyfontaine, Herve Philippe, Frederic Crepin) represent Vivendi, Telecom Italia's largest shareholder. Two members (Giuseppe Recchi and Flavio Cattaneo) ensure the continuity of management.

The Board of Directors held today was exclusively dedicated to the renewal of the delegation of powers needed to ensure the proper functioning of the company. The same persons are empowered with the same powers pending merger control clearance by the European Commission.

Vivendi reaffirms its long term commitment to Telecom Italia and its desire to create significant value for the telecoms operator's customers, employees and shareholders.

About Vivendi

Vivendi is an integrated media and content group. The company operates businesses throughout the media value chain, from talent discovery to the creation, production and distribution of content. Universal Music Group is engaged in recorded music, music publishing and merchandising. It owns more than 50 labels covering all genres. Canal+ Group is engaged in pay-TV in France, as well as in Africa, Poland and Vietnam. Its subsidiary Studiocanal is a leading European player in production, sales and distribution of movies and TV series. Gameloft is a worldwide leader in mobile games, with 2 million games downloaded per day.Vivendi Village, groups together Vivendi Ticketing (in the United Kingdom, the United States and France), MyBestPro (expert counseling), Watchever (subscription streaming services), Radionomy (digital radio), the venues L'Olympia and Theatre de L'uvre in Paris, and CanalOlympia in Africa, as well as Olympia Production. With 3 billion videos viewed each month, Dailymotion is one of the biggest video content aggregation and distribution platforms in the world.,www.vivnedi.comwww.cultureswithvivendi.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements.

This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, business, strategy, plans and outlook of Vivendi, including the impact of certain transactions. Although Vivendi believes that such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including but not limited to the risks related to antitrust and other regulatory approvals as well as any other approvals which may be required in connection with certain transactions and the risks described in the documents Vivendi filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (French securities regulator), which are also available in English on Vivendi's website (www.vivendi.com). Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by Vivendi with the Autorite des Marches Financiers at www.amf-france.org, or directly from Vivendi. Accordingly, we caution readers against relying on such forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Vivendi disclaims any intention or obligation to provide, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005410/en/

Contacts:

Vivendi
NAIROBI, Kenya, 2017-05-05 14:37 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ALN has announced the admission of three new members as part of their strategy to expand into francophone Africa. The new members are based in Algeria, Guinea and Morocco and joined as of 1 May 2017. ALN now has coverage in 16 countries making it the largest legal alliance of its kind in Africa.



According to ALN's Chairman, Dr. Cheick Modibo Diarra, "ALN's expansion strategy has been planned carefully for some time now as we sought out the right firms that met our requirements in terms of independence, capacity, integrity, expertise and cultural fit."



He further said that, "It is clear that the Francophone market is looking for lawyers that are dynamic, mobile, and tech savvy who can bring international experience alongside their local on the ground connections. This is what ALN is all about."



The new member firms are led by Safia Fassi-Fihri for BFR & Associes in Morocco, Foued Bourabiat for Bourabiat Associes in Algeria and Salimatou Diallo for SD Avocats in Guinea. These three firms have been working closely with each other and sought to join ALN as part of a common strategy focussed on the sustainable growth of their respective practices in francophone Africa.



ALN now has integrated Anglophone, Lusophone and Francophone capabilities, setting it apart from other African networks which work on a pure regional or referral basis.



Karim Anjarwalla, Managing Partner of Anjarwalla & Khanna, one of the founders of ALN, commented on the new members that "ALN has been in a 'consolidation' phase for some time now as we have been recruiting a team of professional business services resources to properly support ALN member firms. Now that we have the appropriate infrastructure and personnel in place we are able to drive our expansion plans and introduce a whole new market to ALN clients."



Anjarwalla further says, "ALN's continued success in advising on cross border matters comes from our one firm approach of collaborating in virtual teams across multiple offices." ALN will be able to capitalise on the increase in trade and investment between francophone Africa and anglophone Africa by offering on-the-ground legal resources to clients. ALN members also share resources and exchange business insights, market intelligence and best practices, placing them in an ideal position to advise any client looking to bridge between Francophone and Anglophone Africa.



Contact: ALNManagement@AfricaLegalNetwork.com



Distributed by APO on behalf of ALN.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 17, 2017 / David H. Brett, President & CEO, EnGold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: EGM) ("EnGold" or the "Company"), reports assay results from two holes within the step-out drilling program designed to follow-up the previously announced copper, gold, silver, magnetite discovery drill hole G16-01. The area is located 1.8 km south of the Spout Skarn Deposit at the Company's 100% owned Lac La Hache Property in the Cariboo region of British Columbia (the "Property").

Drill holes G17-07 & G17-08 targeted intercepts 50 metres south of holes G17-03 & G17-04 respectively. Hole G17-07 intercepted 6.05 metres (m) from 351.25 to 357.3 m downhole grading 1.01 % copper, 0.18 grams per tonne (gpt) gold and 8.02 gpt silver, including 3.15 metres grading 1.43 % copper, 0.31 gpt gold, and 12.6 gpt silver. Hole G17-08 intercepted 7.08 m from 335.83 to 342.9 m downhole grading 0.39% copper, 0.10 gpt gold, and 3.33 gpt silver, including 3.77 m grading 0.74 % copper, 0.13 gpt gold, and 4.57 gpt silver. Assays are pending from holes G17-09 & G17-10, which targeted intercepts 50 metres west and east of holes G17-04 & G17-03, respectively, and encountered mineralization over significantly narrower widths than holes G16-01, G17-03, & G17-04. An approximately 11 metre intercept from hole G17-11, located 50 metres north of hole G16-01, is now being prepared for assay. Holes G17-12 & G17-13 are still underway.

"It's evident that the mineralization in this location appears to be narrowing to the south, east and west, as indicated by the local magnetic and gravity geophysical anomalies in this discovery area. The anomalies define a trend extending to the north of the discovery hole, where we will continue to test potential extension of the zone," said EnGold VP of Exploration, Rob Shives, P.Geo. "The sub-horizontal stratigraphy which hosts the mineralization has a very predictable attitude in all drilling to date and this offers excellent initial targeting strategy. Although skarn-style mineralization typically presents continuity challenges, we intend to use the combined magnetic and gravity patterns to significantly improve our drill targeting, both locally and regionally along the 5.5 kilometre anomalous trend of anomalies currently indicated."

Following a break in the ground gravity survey program, the geophysical crew has returned to the project to continue measurements required to in-fill and extend existing anomalies. In addition, gravity surveying will focus along the large aeromagnetic total field high that forms a large arc, extending west and north from the Spout Deposits. A second gravity survey crew may be added to accelerate this work.

"Earlier this year, EnGold's interpretation of gravity and magnetic geophysical data led to a drill hole that discovered a thick zone of significant mineralization," said EnGold President & CEO, David Brett. "That data indicates potential for mineralization with considerable size potential, and EnGold will be persistent in its exploration efforts in this exciting new area."

Quality Control/Quality Assurance Program

EnGold Mines Ltd follows procedures which ensure sample security, chain of custody and Quality Assurance/Quality Control for all drilling and geochemical sampling, conforming to industry practices defined by Canadian Institute for Mining, Metallurgy (CIMM) standards, and required for TSX-listed companies by National Instrument 43-101.

All core was logged and photographed. Sampled intervals were sawed in half, bagged, sealed, and sent securely to ALS Canada Ltd for analyses. Half-gram samples were digested with aqua regia acid then analysed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for 35 elements (ME-ICP41). A 30 gram split is analyzed for gold by fire assay with a gravimetric finish (ME-GRA21). Copper values exceeding 1 percent were analyzed using aqua regia digestion with an ICP-AES finish (ME-OG46) to improve accuracy and precision at higher grades. As part of our comprehensive QA/QC program, one standard, one blank and one in-line replicate were inserted into the sample stream in each group of approximately 20 samples in each analytical batch.

About EnGold

EnGold is focused on exploring its 100% owned mineral property located near the town of Lac La Hache in BC's prolific Cariboo mining region. EnGold's corporate philosophy rests on three interdependent pillars: Environment, Engagement and Gold. Through sound environmental stewardship, commitment to transparent engagement with local communities, the Company is dedicated to driving exceptional shareholder and stakeholder value by discovering and developing mineral resources.

About the Lac La Hache Property

The property lies within BC's Quesnel Trough mineral belt, which hosts several past and currently producing copper/gold/silver mines, including nearby Imperial Metals' Mount Polley copper-gold mine and New Gold Inc.'s New Afton copper-gold mine. The Company has drilled numerous prospects on the property, including Spout copper-magnetite-gold-silver deposit (for which a resource calculation has been reported and supported by an NI43-101 Technical Report), the gold-rich Aurizon gold-copper-silver prospect and recent new discoveries with porphyry and skarn copper/gold potential. Supported by significant local infrastructure including powerlines, all season road access, rail and other amenities, the Lac La Hache project demonstrates excellent logistics.

Rob Shives, P.Geo., VP Exploration and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.

Engold Mines Ltd.

Per/

David Brett, MBA

President & CEO

For further info contact David Brett, 604-682-2421 or david@engold.ca

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements." Readers are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual development or results may vary materially from those in these "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.

SOURCE: EnGold Mines Ltd.
COLUMBUS  Loup Public Power District President and CEO Neal Suess and board Chairman Mike Fleming say officials from the Trump administration they met with last week are different from their predecessors.

The conversation we had with the Department of the Interior was exciting because it sounds like they have a new attitude starting at the top, Fleming said of the meetings last week in Washington, D.C. I only hope that new attitude trickles down to the organization that were working with directly so that it can make a difference for Loup Public Power and other power companies.

Loup has spent a decade working to relicense its hydroelectric facilities. The latest blow in the painstakingly slow process is a biological opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is overseen by the Department of the Interior, that includes provisions limiting the utility's ability to divert water into the power canal and generate electricity at the plants located near Monroe and Columbus.

Suess and Fleming accompanied officials from the city, county and Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce on the April 25-27 trip to D.C.

They met with staff from the Departments of the Interior and Energy who were hired under the new heads appointed by the Trump administration. Based on those conversations, they hope to see some changes.

One thing we heard under new administrations people is they want to get things done in a timely manner, said Suess.

They also met with Nebraskas representatives or their staff members, including Sens. Ben Sasse and Deb Fischer and Congressmen Jeff Fortenberry, Don Bacon and Adrian Smith.

The offices of Fortenberry and Smith told Suess they received correspondence from members of the Friends of Headworks group that launched a letter-writing campaign on the district's behalf.

The off-road trails at Headworks Park near Genoa were closed because of liability issues after the Nebraska Off Highway Vehicle Association dissolved, not because of any issues associated with the relicensing effort.

However, Suess said an eventual decision on whether the trails will reopen could be impacted by the conditions under a new hydroelectric license, particularly if it changes water flow in the canal.

Although Suess and Fleming both felt the meetings went well, they also recognize there are no guarantees.

With Washington you dont expect things to change on a dime. But we believe having the conversation that we did, that it could make a difference, Fleming said. Were more optimistic than we were before the trip.
LONDON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

2017 will mark the first time in 178 years that the renowned British event, Henley Royal Regatta, will partner with a small number of luxury brands. British Watch Company Bremont (http://www.bremont.com) will be the first Official Timekeeper in the Regatta's established history. The event attracts thousands of visitors over five days and spectators will enjoy over 200 races of an international standard, including Olympians and crews new to the event.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/508394/Bremont_Henley_Royal_Regatta.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/508395/Bremont_Offical_Partner_Henley_Regatta.jpg )

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/508396/Rowers_Henley_Regatta.jpg )



Giles English, Co-Founder of Bremont: "Henley Royal Regatta was founded even before the America's Cup in 1839, and with our heritage in mind, it is lovely to be part of another historical British event. Remarkably Henley Royal Regatta is one of the few sporting events that is still timed mechanically rather than digitally which is very in-keeping with what Bremont is all about. As such we will be building a custom hand held chronograph for the umpires. Bremont makes beautifully engineered mechanical timepieces designed to be tested to extremes so the event is also a great fit with the Regatta course being notorious for pushing its athletes to their absolute limits."

Each of the brand partners were chosen due to their British heritage and synergies with Henley Royal Regatta's values and ethos, helping to develop the event and increase its standing as one of the most iconic dates in the British sporting summer calendar. Bremont will be joined by Hackett London and Aston Martin as the other official event partners.

Sir Steve Redgrave, Chairman of the Regatta's Committee of Management: "I have known both Nick and Giles for a number of years now, and have followed their success story closely. Being a leading luxury watch brand, and located in Henley-on-Thames, it is fantastic to have them on board as Official Timekeepers for Henley Royal Regatta. We have been working closely on the event clocks and hand-held mechanical stopwatches for the race umpires which we are very excited about."

Henley Royal Regatta was first held on the river Thames in 1839 and has been annual ever since. Originally staged by the Mayor and people of Henley as a public attraction with a fair and other amusements, the emphasis rapidly changed so that competitive amateur rowing became its main purpose. Today, it has an unparalleled tradition and place in the hearts of top rowers around the world.

Nick English, Co-Founder of Bremont: "As a British luxury watch brand, Bremont is passionate about reinvigorating this once booming British industry. In the past 15 years, we have made considerable strides in this direction as we endeavour to strengthen Henley-on-Thames as the home of British watchmaking. Henley, set in one of the most beautiful parts of the British countryside, has always been internationally renowned for being the global home of rowing. With our manufacturing base being meters from the River Thames, the tie-up as timing partner for the Henley Royal Regatta has a lovely synergy. Given the event has never had brand partners in its entire history, dating back to 1839, it's a real honour to have been asked to get involved."

The event will take place from 28th June to 2nd July 2017 where Bremont will have a pop-up boutique on site, situated outside the bandstand entrance to the Stewards' Enclosure and showcasing the whole Bremont range.

About Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta is the pre-eminent, river-based international rowing regatta. It has an unparalleled tradition and place in the hearts of top rowers around the world. Held annually since 1839, except during the two World Wars, Henley forms an essential part of the British summer sporting scene.

More than 300,000 spectators are attracted to the Regatta each year, and competitors liken the experience to rowing "in a stadium", such is the proximity, number and noise of the knowledgeable crowd that lines the banks. Rowing greats and Olympic champions such as Sir Steve Redgrave, now Chairman of the Committee of Management of the Regatta, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Dr. Dame Katherine Grainger, and others can all count Henley titles amongst their biggest achievements.

Henley is also unique in that school, college and university students have the opportunity to race alongside the greatest names in their sport.

About Bremont

Bremont is an award-winning British luxury watch brand, manufacturing mechanical watches in Henley-on-Thames, England. Bremont is making considerable investment with its UK watch making and manufacturing and at the end of 2014 launched a new facility in Silverstone to manufacture case and movement components. Co-founded by brothers Nick & Giles English in 2002, Bremont has made a substantial impact on the watch industry in a very short period of time. The brand remains true to its original principles of: aviation and military, British engineering and adventure. As well as manufacturing watches for some of the most exclusive military squadrons around the world, Bremont continues to play an influential role in revitalising the British watch industry, the birthplace of numerous timekeeping innovations still used today. The brand is now in the top handful of chronometer producers in the world.

http://www.bremont.com
Zurich - Lendity, a global allocator in alternative lending, has the pleasure to announce the first Alternative Lending Conference in Switzerland, to be held on May 10th at 17:00 hs at the SIX Swiss Exchange, Selnaustrasse 30, Zurich.

The conference is tailored to financial advisors, family offices and institutional investors interested in learning more about the opportunities and risks of investing in peer-to-peer lending, marketplace lending, crowdlending and factoring.

Chris Landis, CEO of the Swiss Exchange, will be the opening speaker. During the first panel, family offices, investors, and thought leaders will discuss the volatility, correlation, expected returns, risks and opportunities of investing in this asset class. During the second panel, international and Swiss platforms will discuss their approach and differentiators as alternative lenders.

Over 12 key industry leaders from Switzerland and around the globe are confirmed for the conference, including:

Chris Landis - CEO, SIX Swiss Exchange Stephan ...

Den vollstandigen Artikel lesen ...
B.S.D CROWN Ltd (LSE:BSD)

(the "Company")

RESULTS OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

(the "Meeting")

Ramat Gan, Israel, 5 May 2017



Results of the Meeting

The Company announces the summary of the votes cast at the Meeting held earlier today:-

No Resolution Votes

For % Votes

Against % Votes Withheld 1 To amend the Company's articles of association 39,305,538 43.63 50,787,948 56.37 1,080,572 6 To appoint PWC Israel as auditor of the Company 39,536,998 43.78 50,780,788 56.22 856,272 7 Re-election of Gregory Gurtovoy as a director 39,101,145 42.89 52,070,780 57.11 2,133 8 Re-election of Eli Arad as a director 39,100,954 42.89 52,069,619 57.11 3,485 9 Re-election of Nir Netzer as a director 39,100,954 42.89 52,069,619 57.11 3,485 10 Re-election of Arik Safran as a director 39,100,954 42.89 52,069,619 57.11 3,485 11 Election of Shmuel Messenberg as a director 43,314,435 52.54 39,125,632 47.46 4,303 12 Election of Keren Marcus as a director 43,312,487 52.54 39,127,580 47.46 4,303 13 Election of Avi Zigelman as a director 43,314,735 52.54 39,125,332 47.46 4,303 14 Election of Joseph Williger as a director 43,310,930 52.54 39,129,137 47.46 4,303

Accordingly, resolutions 1 and 6-10 have not been passed and resolutions 11 to 14 have been passed.

In relation to resolutions 2 to 5, the votes cast at the Meeting were as follows:







No Resolution Votes Received Votes Disqualified Balance For Against 2 Election of Gal Chet as an external director 90,733,262 39,378,221 51,355,041 of which: total votes 39,070,466 12,284,575 total votes with no personal interest 615,309 12,280,171 3 Election of Yair Shilhav as an external director 90,733,262 39,378,042 51,355,220 of which: total votes 39,068,945 12,286,275 total votes with no personal interest 614,109 12,281,371 4 Election of Shlomo Wertheim as an external director 91,811,039 40,362,318 51,448,721 of which: total votes 12,962,792 38,485,929 total votes with no personal interest 12,755,423 233,917 5 To amend the Company's Remuneration Policy 90,730,157 39,377,791 51,352,366 of which: total votes 39,065,991 12,286,375 total votes with no personal interest 611,334 12,281,471

Accordingly, none of these resolutions were passed since according to Israeli law, the resolutions require both a majority of the total votes to be in favour and also a majority of the total votes with no personal interest to be in favour.

In resolutions 2 to 5, the votes noted above as being disqualified are as a consequence of forms of proxy and/or forms of direction being received with no indication as to whether or not the relevant shareholder had a personal interest in the resolution, as required by the Company and set out on page 9 of its circular to shareholders dated 2 March 2017 convening the Meeting.

At the Meeting, a representative of BGI Investments (1961) Ltd. ("BGI") remarked that following the decision of the Tel Aviv district court as announced by the Company on 24 April 2017 (the "24th April Decision"), and the receipt by the Company of a letter from BGI following the 24th April Decision, as announced by the Company on 4 May 2017, BGI should no longer be considered to have a personal interest in resolutions 2 to 5 above and therefore, the forms of proxy and direction previously provided by BGI indicating that it had a personal interest should be changed to indicate that BGI did not have a personal interest in the resolutions. Since the deadline for the receipt of forms of proxy and direction had passed, the results set out above regarding resolutions 2 to 5 are based on those forms received by the Company from BGI.

The Company's issued share capital as at 5 May 2017 (excluding treasury shares) was 109,990,252 ordinary shares of NIS0.01 each.



Enquiries:

Nir Netzer - Chairman of the Meeting
HANOVER, GERMANY -- (Marketwired) -- 05/05/17 -- Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, released its eLTE SmartGrid solution at Hannover MESSE 2017. The wireless smart grid solution will accelerate the digital transformation of electric power companies.

An electric power system involves the generation, transmission, transformation, distribution, and consumption of electricity. Power grid development faces many challenges in each of these phases. The scattered locations of a large number of power distribution nodes and the complex architecture of distribution networks complicate remote control and management of power distribution. Electric meters have been deployed in millions of households and corridors of residential buildings. Manual meter reading requires high labor costs, while the traditional method of reading meters remotely lacks frequency and accuracy. As a result, electric power enterprises are in urgent need of a smart grid that ensures more stable, reliable, secure, and real-time management of power distribution and consumption. Huawei proposed its pioneering eLTE SmartGrid solution that applies advanced 4.5G cellular wireless communication technology in the electric power industry to help implement smart power distribution and consumption on power grids.

The eLTE SmartGrid solution leverages 4.5G cellular wireless communication technology to deliver three benefits: fully connected electrical equipment and the ability to read a massive amount of grid data, data transmission with industrial-grade reliability and security, and measurable smart grid management. The solution will be mainly used in distribution automation (DA), advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), and preventive maintenance inspection on sub-stations, as well as online monitoring of grid facilities. In DA scenarios, 4.5G wireless communication technology with high bandwidth, low latency, and multiple connections support dedicated communication networks. The networks enable online operations and monitoring of all power distribution nodes and terminals, enable quick fault location and the adjustment of power distribution solutions, significantly improve the reliability and quality of power supply, and implement fully intelligent grid management. In AMI scenarios, 4.5G wireless communication technology is used to connect a huge number of terminals, such as smart meters, achieving a 100% success rate in automation and accuracy of meter reading. This leads to a major reduction in manual labor costs.

Edward Deng, President of Huawei's Wireless Solution, said, "Taking one step beyond 4G, Huawei's eLTE SmartGrid solution applies advanced 4.5G wireless communication technology in the electric power industry. The solution will bring about a paradigm shift in the way that power utilities work, and will vastly accelerate their digital transformation. Beyond public service sectors, like water, electric power, and gas, ports, airports, and factories will also witness major changes. Huawei plans to launch a series of solutions that meet the varied requirements of different companies in different industries. We will further work with global partners and customers to accelerate their digital transformation and to build a better connected world."

Huawei's eLTE SmartGrid solution has first been commercially deployed in China, and will be further rolled out in other regions around the globe, where it will help electric power companies go digital in preparation for the Global Energy Internet.

Prior to this release, Huawei launched its eLTE Broadband Trunking solution for the public safety domain. At this year's Hannover MESSE, Huawei Enterprise Wireless released two major groundbreaking solutions in total: the eLTE SmartGrid solution for electric companies and the eLTE SmartCampus solution for applications like port management, mining, and manufacturing, etc. These solutions mark an important step forward in Huawei's contribution to the digital transformation of industries around the globe.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Its aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solution portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huawei's 170,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Its innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the world's population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees.

For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow Huawei on:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei

http://www.twitter.com/Huawei

http://www.facebook.com/Huawei

http://www.google.com/+Huawei

http://www.youtube.com/Huawei

Huawei

Media Contact

Miranda Liu

miranda.liu@huawei.com




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/05/17 -- First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum" or the "Company") (TSX: FM) announced that the nominees listed in the Management Information Circular for the 2017 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders were elected as directors of First Quantum. In total, 471,741,706 shares were voted at the meeting, representing 68.43% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors held at the Annual General Meeting on May 4, 2017 in Toronto are set out below. The below results have also been filed on www.SEDAR.com.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME NUMBER OF SHARES % OF VOTES CAST ----------------------------------------------------- FOR WITHHELD FOR WITHHELD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philip K.R Pascall 453,499,831 15,132,951 96.77 3.23 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- G. Clive Newall 454,802,075 13,830,707 97.05 2.95 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin Rowley 418,478,350 50,154,432 89.30 10.70 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peter St. George 447,985,195 20,647,587 95.59 4.41 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Adams 462,706,289 5,926,493 98.74 1.26 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul Brunner 456,267,887 12,364,895 97.36 2.64 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Harding 456,285,285 12,347,497 97.37 2.63 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martin Schady 457,421,060 11,211,722 97.61 2.33 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of First Quantum Minerals Ltd.

G. Clive Newall, President

For further information visit our website at www.first-quantum.com.

Contacts:

North American contact:

Sharon Loung

Director, Investor Relations

(647) 346-3934 or Toll Free: 1 (888) 688-6577

(604) 688-3818 (FAX)sharon.loung@fqml.comUnited Kingdom contact:Clive NewallPresident+44 140 327 3484+44 140 327 3494 (FAX)clive.newall@fqml.com
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 05, 2017) - Sarama Resources Ltd. (the "Company" or "Sarama") advises that Savary Gold Corp. ("Savary"), the operator of the Karankasso Project Joint Venture 4 between Sarama and Savary, provided an update on May 4, 2017 of the balance of drill results from the Q1, 2017 drill programs. The drilling was undertaken across multiple target zones within the Karankasso Project area.

Highlights

24 holes totalling approximately 2,380 metres of reverse-circulation ("RC") drilling were completed.

Selected downhole intersections highlighted by Savary include:

S-Nosa Zone 15m @ 1.34 g/t Au including 7m @ 2.43 g/t Au HE-RC-17-084 from 70m from 80m 4m @ 13.05 g/t Au HE-RC-17-085 from 95m 3m @ 4.32 g/t Au HE-RC-17-089 from 81m Kueredougou West Trend Zone 7m @ 2.96 g/t Au including 3m @ 6.45 g/t Au HE-RC-17-02 from 20m from 21m

Approximately 125 RC and RAB drill holes totalling up to 8,000m are planned to test select gold-in-auger anomalies and potential resource extensions with drilling anticipated to commence in May 2017.

Note: mineralisation true widths are estimated at 65-80% of listed downhole intersection lengths

Further details of these drill results, including sampling and QA/QC procedures, are contained in Savary's news release dated May 4, 2017. Sarama has not specifically verified Savary's data using a Qualified Person as Savary is the operator of the Karankasso Project Joint Venture and Sarama is relying on their Qualified Person's assurance that procedures have been followed and data being provided is valid.

Sarama's President and CEO, Andrew Dinning, commented:

"Sarama has interests in a suite of projects in the southern part of the Hounde Belt which between them have the potential to form the basis of a future mine development. This year, over C$8M of exploration is budgeted across these projects and Sarama is very optimistic that with this exploration plus the addition of more properties, the company's share of regional resources will grow and further underwrite future development.

At the Karankasso Project we are pleased with the steady progress and work being undertaken and are looking forward to the recommencement of drilling."

ABOUT SARAMA RESOURCES LTD

Sarama Resources Ltd (TSX VENTURE: SWA) is a West African focused gold explorer with substantial landholdings in Burkina Faso. Sarama is focused on consolidating under-explored landholdings in Burkina Faso and other established mining jurisdictions.

Sarama's flagship properties are situated within the Company's South Hounde Project area in south-west Burkina Faso. Located within the prolific Hounde Greenstone Belt, Sarama's exploration programs have built on significant early success to deliver an inferred mineral resource estimate of 2.1 Moz gold 1 . Acacia Mining plc is earning up to a 70% interest in the South Hounde Project by satisfying certain conditions, including funding earn-in expenditures of up to US$14 million, over a 4-year earn-in period and may acquire an additional 5% interest, for an aggregate 75% interest in the Project, upon declaration of a minimum mineral reserve of 1.6 million ounces of gold.

Sarama holds a 31% participating interest in the Karankasso Project Joint Venture ("JV") which is situated adjacent to the Company's South Hounde Project in Burkina Faso and is a JV between Sarama and Savary Gold Corp. ("Savary"). Savary is the operator of the JV and in October 2015, declared a maiden inferred mineral resource estimate of 671,000 ounces of contained gold 2 at the Karankasso Project JV.

Sarama has also agreed to acquire a 100% interest in the Bondi Deposit from Orezone Gold Corporation (refer news release May 24, 2016). Bondi has a historical estimate of mineral resources of 0.3Moz Au (measured and indicated) and 0.1Moz Au (inferred) 3 .

Together, the South Hounde Project, Bondi Deposit and the Karankasso Project form a cluster of advanced gold deposits, within trucking distance of one another, which potentially offers a development option for a multi-source fed central processing facility in the southern Hounde Belt region of Burkina Faso.

Incorporated in 2010, the Company's Board and management team have a proven track record in Africa and a strong history in the discovery and development of large-scale gold deposits. Sarama is well positioned to build on its current success with a sound exploration strategy across its property portfolio.

South Hounde Project - 43.0 Mt @ 1.5 g/t Au (reported above cut-off grades ranging 0.3-2.2 g/t Au, reflecting the mining methods and processing flowsheets assumed to assess the likelihood of the inferred mineral resources having reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction). The effective date of the Company's inferred mineral resource estimate is February 4, 2016. For further information regarding the mineral resource estimate please refer to the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Independent Technical Report South Hounde Project Update, Bougouriba and Ioba Provinces, Burkina Faso", dated March 31, 2016. The technical report is available under Sarama Resources Ltd.'s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Karankasso Project - 9.2 Mt @ 2.3 g/t Au (at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off). The effective date of the Karankasso Project JV mineral resource estimate is October 7, 2015. For further information regarding the mineral resource estimate please refer to the technical report titled "Technical Report and Resource Estimate on the Karankasso Project, Burkina Faso", dated October 7, 2015. The technical report is available under Savary Gold Corp's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Sarama has not independently verified Savary's mineral resource estimate and takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Bondi Deposit - 4.1Mt @ 2.1g/t Au for 282,000 oz Au (measured and indicated) and 2.5Mt @ 1.8g/t Au for 149,700 oz Au (inferred), reported at a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off.

i. The historical estimate of the Bondi Deposit reflects a mineral resource estimate compiled by Orezone Gold Corporation ("Orezone") which has an effective date of February 20, 2009. The historical estimate is contained in a technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource of the Bondigui Gold Project", dated date of February 20, 2009 (the "Bondi Technical Report") and is available under the profile of Orezone on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. ii. Sarama believes that the historical estimate is relevant to investors' understanding of the property, as it reflects the most recent technical work undertaken in respect of the Bondi Deposit. iii. The historical estimate was informed by 886 drillholes, assayed for gold by cyanidation methods, were used to interpret mineralised envelopes and geological zones over the area of the historical estimate. Gold grade interpolation was undertaken using ID methodology based on input parameters derived from geostatistical and geological analyses assessments. Field measurements and geological logging of drillholes were used to determine weathering boundaries and bulk densities for modelled blocks. iv. The historical estimate uses the mineral resource reporting categories required under National Instrument 43-101. v. No more recent estimates of the mineral resource or other data are available. vi. Sarama is currently undertaking the necessary verification work in the field and on the desktop that may support the future reclassification of the historical estimate to a mineral resource. vii. A qualified person engaged by Sarama has not undertaken sufficient work to verify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and Sarama is therefore not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.

Sarama has 31% and Savary Gold has 69% ownership interests.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes statements regarding drilling and geochemical and geophysical surveys at the South Hounde Project, the Earn-In Agreement with Acacia, including the amounts that may be spent on exploration and interests in the South Hounde Project that may be earned by Acacia upon making certain expenditures and estimating a minimum reserve, the potential to expand the present oxide component of the Company's existing estimated mineral resources, future exploration plans and the potential development of the Bondi, Karankasso and South Hounde Projects on a combined basis. Actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary from the results suggested by such forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, that the business of exploration for gold and other precious minerals involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative in nature; Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to Mineral Reserves through continued exploration; few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; the actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. There can be no assurance that any mineralisation that is discovered will be proven to be economic, or that future required regulatory licensing or approvals will be obtained. However, the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, Acacia's continued funding of exploration activities, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration activities, the sufficiency of funding, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold and other precious metals, that the Company will not be affected by adverse political events, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain further financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

QUALIFIED PERSONS' STATEMENT

Scientific or technical information in this news release that relates to the Company's exploration activities in Burkina Faso is based on information compiled or approved by Guy Scherrer. Guy Scherrer is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Guy Scherrer consents to the inclusion in this report of the information, in the form and context in which it appears.

Scientific or technical information in this news release that relates to the preparation of the South Hounde Project's mineral resource estimate is based on information compiled or approved by Adrian Shepherd. Adrian Shepherd is an employee of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd and is considered to be independent of Sarama Resources Ltd. Adrian Shepherd is a Chartered Professional Member in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Adrian Shepherd consents to the inclusion in this news release of the information, in the form and context in which it appears.

Scientific or technical information in this news release that relates to the preparation of the Karankasso Project's mineral resource estimate is based on information compiled or approved by Eugene Puritch and Antoine Yassa. Eugene Puritch and Antoine Yassa are employees of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. and are considered to be independent of Savary Gold Corp. and Sarama Resources Ltd. Antoine Yassa is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and Eugene Puritch is a member in good standing of Professional Engineers Ontario. Eugene Puritch and Antoine Yassa have sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which they are undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Eugene Puritch and Antoine Yassa consent to the inclusion in this news release of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Sarama has not independently verified Savary's mineral resource estimate and takes no responsibility for its accuracy.

Scientific or technical information in this news release, in respect of the Bondi Deposit relating to mineral resource and exploration information drawn from the Technical Report prepared for Orezone on that deposit has been approved by Guy Scherrer. Guy Scherrer is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Guy Scherrer consents to the inclusion in this report of the information, in the form and context in which it appears.

For further information on the Company's activities, please contact:

Andrew Dinning or Paul Schmiede

e: info@saramaresources.com

t: +61 (0) 8 9363 7600
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - June 26, 2017) -Newrange Gold Corp. ("Newrange" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: NRG) (OTC PINK: CMBPF) (FRANKFURT: X6C) is pleased to report that the Company has staked 111 new claims at the Company's Pamlico Project in Nevada.

The New Claims:

Add 928 hectares to property.

Increases property by 75% to 2,165 hectares.

Better encompasses the dominant gold trends in the area.

Cover areas of prospects and mine workings with historic surface samples ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 gram gold per metric tonne (g/T Au) in highly deformed and altered carbonate sediments.

Add multiple prospective targets in favorable volcanic rocks known to host high-grade gold mineralization as currently being explored in the Merritt Zone.

Provide a significant exploration and operational "buffer" around previous holdings.

Terms of Reference

In this release, all references to grams per tonne (denoted g/T Au) are grams per metric ton of 1,000 kilograms (2,204.62 pounds). All references to ounces per ton (denoted oz/t Au) are troy ounces per short ton of 2,000 pounds.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Mr. Robert G. Carrington, P. Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, the President and CEO of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved for disclosure the technical information contained in this news release.

About Pamlico

Located 12 miles southeast of Hawthorne, Nevada, along US Highway 95, the project has excellent access and infrastructure, a mild, year-round operating climate and strong political support from Mineral County, one of the most pro-mining counties in the pro-mining state of Nevada. The Pamlico project covers the historic Pamlico group of mines, as well as the nearby Good Hope, Central, Gold Bar and Sunset mines.

Discovered about 1884, the district rapidly gained a reputation as being one of Nevada's highest grade districts. Held by private interests for most of its history, the property remains very underexplored in terms of modern exploration.

About Newrange Gold Corp.

Newrange is an aggressive exploration and development company focused on near to intermediate term production opportunities in favorable jurisdictions including Nevada, Colorado and Colombia. Focused on developing shareholder value through exploration and development of key projects, the Company is committed to building sustainable value for all stakeholders. Further information can be found on our website at www.newrangegold.com.

Signed: "Robert G. Carrington"

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement:

Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Newrange Gold Corp. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharon Hebgin

Corporate Communications

Phone: 760-898-9129

Email: info@newrangegold.com





Dave Cross

Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary

Phone: 604-669-0868

Email: dcross@crossdavis.com



Website: www.newrangegold.com
THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, September 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

In the presence of former UN-Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Dutch minister Melanie Schultz of Infrastructure & the Environment, Micreos' alternative to antibiotics was chosen as the most impactful innovation of The Netherlands. Micreos will represent The Netherlands at the semi-finals of Ideas from Europe in Talinn, Estonia on November 22 2017.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/554249/Micreos.jpg )

Micreos' endolysin technology, enabling targeted killing of only unwanted bacteria - regardless of antibiotic resistance - was selected by a professional jury. Jury-chair Kasja Ollongren, Deputy mayor of Amsterdam, emphasized the impact Micreos' products can have for millions of people.

WATCH: 4 minute winning pitch by CEO Mark Offerhaus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rArLm346ZQA&t=1s

The Making Waves-conference was attended by hundreds of policy makers, entrepreneurs, investors and developers. Guest of honour, Kofi Annan, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, said: "I am really excited about Micreos' alternative to antibiotics".

Kasja Ollongren: "We chose Micreos because the company's technology is already helping tens of thousands of people and we're convinced Micreos' alternative to antibiotics can be life-changing for millions."

Micreos CEO Mark Offerhaus: "Antibiotic-resistance is an enormous global problem. We are honoured with the recognition. Gladskin has already been life-changing for people suffering from inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema, acne, rosacea and wound infections caused or aggravated by theStaphylococcus aureusbacteria, including the resistant MRSA. But as far as we're concerned, this marks only the beginning. Our endolysin technology offers a real and sustainable alternative to antibiotics, the broad potential of this technology is immeasurable. There's no need to wait and no time to lose."

About Ideas from Europe / Making Waves

Ideas from Europeis a European platform aimed at promoting the development of ideas for society's major challenges. The platform meets in November in Talinn, during Estland's tenure as EU chair. The concept behindIdeas from Europe / Making Wavesis that the involvement of the public at large can propel relevant breakthrough innovations.

See:https://ideasfrom.eu/

About Micreos

Micreos develops endolysin- and phage technology that enables targeted killing of only unwanted bacteria. The company is considered the leader in this exciting new field. Micreos runs its own production and R&D centre for endolysins in Bilthoven and for phages in Wageningen 'Food Valley'. Micreos' head office is in The Hague. The company works together with ETH Zurich and numerous medical and technology centres, including Erasmus MC (Rotterdam), Boston Childrens' Hospital, Public Health Lab Kennemerland, the Dutch Burn Centres (Beverwijk) and many others. Gladskin is a Micreos Human Health product (http://www.gladskin.com). Micreos Food Safety produces the FDA approved products PhageGuard L, againstListeria, en S, againstSalmonella(phageguard.com).
DUBLIN, May 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Middle East & Africa Digital Oilfield Market By Process (Drilling Optimization, Production Optimization, Reservoir Optimization, & Others), By Solution (Instrumentation & Automation Vs. IT Services), Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2012-2022" report to their offering.

Middle East and Africa digital oilfield market is projected to cross $2 billion by 2022

The region is home to many oil & gas producing countries and the economic growth in these countries is dependent on export revenues derived from trade of hydrocarbons. In order to increase share of the Middle East & Africa in global oil & gas trade, national oil companies and global oil major operating in the MEA are shifting focus towards operations optimization and improved work collaboration to cut costs and improve field recovery rates. This is predicted to fuel demand for digital oilfield solutions in the region during the forecast period.

Few of the leading players in the Middle East & Africa digital oilfield market include Schlumberger Limited, Halliburton, Baker Hughes Incorporated, Honeywell International Inc, Sinopec Oilfield Service Corporation, Weatherford International plc, International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation and Accenture PLC.

Market Trends & Developments



Growing Investments in Offshore Exploration & Production

Increasing Partnerships and Joint Ventures

Continuous Consolidation of Global Digital Oilfield Industry

Rising Production from Offshore Fields

Revenue Generation through Aftermarket Services

Surging Investments in Research & Development

Downturn in Oil & Gas Industry

Implementation of Stringent Regulations for Offshore E&P Activities

Key Topics Covered:



1. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Analyst View



4. Global Digital Oilfield Market Outlook



5. Middle East & Africa Digital Oilfield Market Outlook



6. Market Dynamics



7. Market Trends & Developments



8. Competitive Landscape



Accenture PLC

Baker Hughes Incorporated

Halliburton

Honeywell International Inc

International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation

Schlumberger Limited

Sinopec Oilfield Service Corporation

Weatherford International plc

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/mwtgdt/middle_east_and





Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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Technavio market research analysts forecast the global hypercalcemia treatment marketto grow at a CAGR of more than 5% during the forecast period, according to their latest report.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005305/en/

Technavio has published a new report on the global hypercalcemia treatment market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global hypercalcemia treatment marketfor 2017-2021. The report also lists bisphosphonates, glucocorticoids, and calcimimetic agents as the three major product segments.

According to Sapna Jha, a lead analyst at Technavio for health and wellness research, "The global hypercalcemia treatment market is expected to benefit from the growing incidence of chronic conditions that cause spasticity and spasms. This has driven vendors to conduct R&D, to develop drugs which will help to drive market growth."

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.

Technavio analysts highlight the following three market drivers that are contributing to the growth of the global hypercalcemia treatment market:

Expanding label indications

High unmet needs

Increasing surgical procedures

Expanding label indications

As the market is dominated by generic products, label extensions will provide more opportunities for revenue generation. This is expected to propel market growth substantially. Vendors are also increasingly focusing on developing drugs for segments such as parathyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD). For instance, in 2016, OPKO Health received approval from the US FDA for Rayaldee (extended-release capsules) for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in adults with CKD and serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Similarly, in September 2015, Rockwell Medical Launched Calcitriol in the US for the treatment of iron replacement, SHPT, and hemodialysis.

"The increase in label indications will expand the scope of hypercalcemia treatment, thereby driving the market growth," says Sapna.

High unmet needs

The high unmet needs associated with the disease have driven vendors to conduct R&D, which has fueled the pipeline, particularly for the treatment of hyperparathyroidism. For instance, the symptoms of hyperparathyroidism are wide and their severity is difficult to evaluate. Therefore, vendors are increasingly focusing on developing effective drugs for the treatment of muscle spasticity. For instance, Kyowa Hakko Kirin is developing KHK7580 for the treatment of SHPT. This drug is currently in phase III and is expected to receive approval during the forecast period. Also, AbbVie is developing Paricalcitol, which is currently in phase III. It is a novel orally small molecule compound that is for pediatric subjects between the ages of 10 to 16 years to treat SHPT. This drug is also expected to receive marketing approval during the forecast period and will contribute substantially to the market growth in the future.

Increasing surgical procedures

Surgical procedures such as hip and knee replacements will increase the risk of hypercalcemia. Bone-related surgeries often destroy bone or related tissue, resulting in the release of extra calcium into the blood. The factual data sets released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that the number of joint replacement surgeries in the US are increasing each year, which are resulting in hypercalcemia. For instance, according to a CDC 2015 report, around 719,000 knee replacement surgeries and 332,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed in the US every year. This suggests an increase in demand for hypercalcemia treatment, which augurs well for the growth of the market during the forecast period.

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About Technavio

Technaviois 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/20170505005305/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/05/17 -- White Metal Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE: WHM) ("White Metal" or the "Company") wishes to announce that it has closed its previously announced financing (see news release dated April 3, 2017) and has filed documents with the TSX Venture Exchange seeking final approval. Proceeds totaled $225,000 consisting of 4,500,000 flow-through units ("FT Units").

Each FT Unit will be issued at $0.05 and consists of one (1) FT common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant, each full common share purchase warrant being exercisable at $0.15 cents for 24 months, subject to the right of the Company to accelerate the exercise period if shares of the Company trade at or above $0.20 for a period of 10 consecutive trading days. Proceeds of the financing will be used to progress exploration work on the Company's Shebandowan gold property including soil and lake geochemical sampling, prospecting, and mapping, followed by trenching and drilling of favourable targets.

The common shares comprising the FT Units and the common shares issuable upon exercise of the common share purchase warrants will be subject to a four (4) month hold period commencing on the closing date, being the date of issuance of the units.

Finders fees totaling $2,100 will be paid and 14,000 finders warrants, with each warrant being exercisable for a common share of the Company at a price of $0.15 for 24 months from closing will be issued to certain arms-length individuals.

The financing and associated terms are subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

About White Metal Resources Corp (TSX VENTURE: WHM):

White Metal Resources Corp is a junior exploration company exploring in Canada and currently has 29,616,895 common shares issued and outstanding.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of White Metal Resources Corp.

Michael Stares, 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 NEWS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance 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 differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projection.

Contacts:

Michael Stares

684 Squier St.

Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A8

(807) 628-7836

(807) 475-7200 (FAX)




TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 05/05/17 -- North American Palladium Ltd. ("NAP" or the "Company") (TSX: PDL) (OTC PINK: PALDF) released today the final voting results of its 2017 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders ("AGM") held on May 5, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario. The following matters were voted on:

1. Election of Directors

The following five nominees were appointed as Directors of the Corporation to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation, or until their successors are elected or appointed. The results were as follows:

---------------------------------------------------------------- Name of Nominee Votes For Percent Votes Withheld Percent ---------------------------------------------------------------- J. Peter Gordon 53,533,359 99.96% 21,057 0.04% ---------------------------------------------------------------- David J. Nowak 53,533,338 99.96% 21,078 0.04% ---------------------------------------------------------------- John W. Jentz 53,535,505 99.96% 18,911 0.04% ---------------------------------------------------------------- Dean R. Chambers 53,537,725 99.97% 16,691 0.03% ---------------------------------------------------------------- Gregory P. Fauquier 53,536,694 99.97% 17,722 0.03% ----------------------------------------------------------------

2. Appointment of Auditors

KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, were reappointed as auditors of the Corporation to hold office until the next annual meeting, and the Directors were authorized to fix their remuneration. The results were as follows:

------------------------------------------- Votes For Percent Votes Withheld Percent ------------------------------------------- 53,907,236 99.90% 56,625 0.10% -------------------------------------------

The formal Report on Voting Results with respect to all matters voted upon at the AGM will be filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities shortly.

About North American Palladium

NAP is an established precious metals producer that has been operating its Lac des Iles mine ("LDI") located in Ontario, Canada since 1993. LDI is one of only two primary producers of palladium in the world, offering investors exposure to palladium. The Company's shares trade on the TSX under the symbol PDL and on the OTC Pink under the symbol PALDF.

Contacts:

North American Palladium Ltd.

Investor Relations

416-360-7374

IR@nap.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump's chief economic adviser Gary Cohn suggested Friday the administration will take a more inclusive approach to crafting a tax reform bill. In an interview with Fox Business, Cohn suggested that the approach will make it easier to pass tax reform than the healthcare bill. 'We're just starting down the path of taxes. And unlike healthcare, we are out talking to all the groups that are gonna be interested in our tax plan,' said Cohn, the Director of the National Economic Council. Cohn said he and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin started meeting with 'conservative thought leaders' the day after President Donald Trump unveiled his tax reform plan. 'We're continuously going out and meeting with groups,' Cohn said. 'We're gonna meet with industry groups. We're gonna literally travel around and make sure we understand everyone's concerns with taxes upfront.' Cohn argued that the issues raised will be dealt with by the time a bill is drafted, making it substantially easier to get approval from Congress. The more inclusive approach to tax reform comes after Republican leaders were forced to withdraw their original healthcare bill in March amid opposition from conservative lawmakers and groups. The House passed a healthcare bill on Thursday after revising the legislation in order to win the support of conservatives. 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.
Governments in India, Brazil, and Indonesia are launching initiatives to boost their textile and apparel industries, particularly in terms of exports. Details on these developments and more can be found on BizVibe. BizVibe is the world's smartest B2B marketplace and allows users to discover high quality leads, contact prospects, and source quotes. Register today to connect with over seven million companies around the globe.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005786/en/

India, Brazil, and Indonesia are experiencing a boom in their textiles exports sector. (Graphic: Business Wire)

India threatens China for title of largest home textile producer

Newly announced government initiatives supporting home textile exports are promising to help India currently the world's second-largest home textile producer overtake global leader China over the next few years. India's home textile industry is currently valued at USD 4.9 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8% to reach USD 5.29 billion by the end of 2018.

Last year, the government of India launched a new initiative to further support the made-up sector. The made-up sector includes products like towels, bed sheets, blankets, curtains, crochet laces, pillow covers, embroidery articles, and other home textile items, and under this initiative will receive production incentives and subsidies similar to those the garment sector currently benefits from.

Connect with over 9,000 textiles companies in India

Brazil's Textile and Apparel Exports Are Revitalizing

Brazil's textile and apparel industry is beginning to recover from its economic recession. Exports are on the rise, particularly to Arabic markets. According to recent figures from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), Brazilian exports of textiles and apparel to Arabic countries have risen by 87.5% over the previous year, reaching USD 3 million in the first two months of 2017.

To boost Brazilian textile and apparel industry exports, the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Agency (Apex-Brazil) have launched the Texbrasil program. Official figures show that Brazilian textile and apparel companies that have participated in the program expanded their export markets to Arab countries by 40% in 2016, reaching a total value USD 4.1 million that year.

Connect with top textiles companies in Brazil

Indonesia's Textile Exports Achieve New Success

According to the latest figures revealed by Indonesia's Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto, the country's exports of textiles and textile products have risen by 3% since 2016. They were valued at USD 2 billion in the first two months of 2017. Indonesia's textile and apparel industry provides approximately 3 million jobs, which is over 17% of employment in the manufacturing sector. Its exports were valued at USD 11.87 billion in 2016.

The Indonesian Textile Association predicts that in 2017, the country will export USD 4.8 billion in textiles and apparel to the US alone, which amounts to 39% of the country's total exports in that sector. In order to further boost these exports, the ministry plans to implement fiscal incentives that will provide industrialists with income tax discounts for business expansions. It is also seeking a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Europe and the United States for benefits such as better tax facility.

Connect with over 500 textiles companies in Indonesia

In addition to companies in India, Brazil, and Indonesia, BizVibe is home to over 100,000 textiles companies. The BizVibe platform allows you to discover the highest quality leads and make meaningful connections with your companies of interest in real time. Claim your company profile for free and let BizVibe connect you with potential business partners.

About BizVibe

BizVibe is home to over seven million company profiles across 700+ industries. The single-minded focus of BizVibe's platform is to make networking easier. Over the years, we've searched far and wide to figure out how businesses connect and enable trade. That first interaction is usually fraught with the uncertainty of finding a potential partner vs. a potential nightmare. With this in mind, we've designed a robust set of tools to help companies generate leads, shortlist prospects, network with businesses from around the world and trade seamlessly.

BizVibe is headquartered in Toronto, and has offices in London, Bangalore and Beijing. For more information on the BizVibe network, please contact us

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005786/en/

Contacts:

BizVibe

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

media@bizvibe.com
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- (Marketwired) -- 05/05/17 -- Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: INF) and Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: RA) (each, a "Fund," and collectively, the "Funds") today announced that their Boards of Directors declared their monthly distributions.

Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. declared a monthly distribution of $0.0817 per share, payable on May 25, 2017 to stockholders of record on May 18, 2017. The ex-distribution date is May 16, 2017. Based on the NYSE closing price of $13.53 on May 4, 2017, the Fund's annualized distribution rate was 7.25%.

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. declared a monthly distribution of $0.1990 per share, payable on May 25, 2017 to stockholders of record on May 18, 2017. The ex-distribution date is May 16, 2017. Based on the NYSE closing price of $23.19 on May 4, 2017, the Fund's annualized distribution rate was 10.30%.

Shares purchased on or after the ex-distribution date will not receive the distribution discussed above. Please contact your financial advisor with any questions. Distributions may include net investment income, capital gains and/or return of capital. The distribution rate referenced above is calculated as the annualized amount of the most recent monthly distribution declared divided by the stated stock price. Any portion of the Fund's distributions that is a return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." The tax status of distributions will be determined at the end of the taxable year.

Brookfield Investment Management Inc. (the "Firm") is an SEC-registered investment adviser and represents the Public Securities platform of Brookfield Asset Management. The Firm provides global listed real assets strategies including real estate equities, infrastructure equities, real asset debt and diversified real assets. With more than $14 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2017, the Firm manages separate accounts, registered funds and opportunistic strategies for institutional and individual clients, including financial institutions, public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds and high net worth investors. The Firm is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management, a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $250 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2016. For more information, go to www.brookfield.com.

Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. and Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. are managed by Brookfield Investment Management Inc. The Funds use their website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Funds are routinely posted on and accessible at www.brookfield.com.

Contacts:

Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc.

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.



Brookfield Place

250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor

New York, NY 10281-1023

(855) 777-8001

funds@brookfield.com




CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - May 05, 2017) - Husky Energy Inc. (TSX: HSE) announced at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, held on May 5, 2017, the election of 16 nominees proposed for its Board of Directors and the appointment of the Corporation's auditors as listed in the Management Information Circular dated March 13, 2017.

Following a resolution by ballot, KPMG LLP was appointed as auditors of the Corporation until the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Votes For Votes Withheld Nominee Number Percent(%) Number Percent(%) ------------------ ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Victor T.K Li 808,792,125 90.76 82,320,536 9.24 Canning K.N. Fok 800,695,264 89.85 90,417,397 10.15 William Shurniak 882,226,602 99.00 8,886,059 1.00 Robert J. Peabody 884,258,330 99.23 6,854,331 0.77 Stephen E. Bradley 887,428,578 99.59 3,684,083 0.41 Asim Ghosh 881,918,101 98.97 9,194,560 1.03 Martin J.G. Glynn 878,504,175 98.59 12,608,486 1.41 Poh Chan Koh 883,613,699 99.16 7,498,962 0.84 Eva L. Kwok 881,069,455 98.87 10,043,206 1.13 Stanley T.L. Kwok 882,971,227 99.09 8,141,434 0.91 Frederick S.H. Ma 888,107,118 99.66 3,005,543 0.34 George C. Magnus 887,395,336 99.58 3,717,325 0.42 Neil D. McGee 884,129,460 99.22 6,983,201 0.78 Colin S. Russel 853,971,483 95.83 37,141,178 4.17 Wayne E. Shaw 881,333,516 98.90 9,779,145 1.10 Frank J. Sixt 837,701,158 94.01 53,411,503 5.99 Number Percent(%) Number Percent(%) ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Appointment of KPMG LLP as auditors 882,956,146 99.08 8,156,515 0.92

Husky Energy is a Canadian-based integrated energy company. It is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and its shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols HSE, HSE.PR.A, HSE.PR.B, HSE.PR.C, HSE.PR.E and HSE.PR.G. More information is available at www.huskyenergy.com

For further information, please contact:



Investor Inquiries:



Rob Knowles

Manager, Investor Relations

Husky Energy Inc.

587-747-2116



Media Inquiries:



Mel Duvall

Manager, Media & Issues

Husky Energy Inc.

403-513-7602
WEST JORDAN, UT--(Marketwired - May 05, 2017) - Mountain America Credit Union was recently recognized with LearningElite awards from Chief Learning Officer magazine. Mountain America ranked in the top 10 of the 2017 LearningElite and also earned the Editor's Choice Award for Best Small Company. This is the fourth year in a row Mountain America has been ranked among the LearningElite, and the first time earning a top 10 ranking as well as the Editor's Choice Award.

Chief Learning Officer magazine honored more than 60 global organizations for their outstanding learning and development (L&D) strategies at the LearningElite Gala on April 23, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

"We are honored to be recognized among such high quality enterprises," says Suzanne Oliver, senior vice president talent and member development. "Our innovative culture and commitment to employee development have helped us to create and sustain successful talent development programs, and they are reflected in our great people and the success of our organization."

Chief Learning Officer magazine's LearningElite program honors the best organizations for learning and development. This robust, peer-reviewed ranking and benchmarking program recognizes those organizations that employ exemplary workforce development strategies that deliver significant business results. Developed under the guidance of a group of chief learning officers and senior learning and development practitioners, the LearningElite program utilizes best practices in evaluation to rank the best organizations based upon their impact, size and industries served. A comprehensive evaluation of learning and development, the LearningElite also recognizes individual companies for their efforts in functional areas, including leadership development, use of technology, executive buy-in, and content development and delivery, among others. To learn more about the LearningElite benchmarking program and see the full 2017 rankings, please visit: http://learningelite.CLOmedia.com/news

About Mountain America Credit Union

Mountain America Credit Union has more than $6.4 billion in assets and serves more than 650,000 members, wherever they are, through online and mobile banking, in 87 branches across five states and with access to more than 50,000 surcharge-free ATMs and 5,000 shared-branching locations nationwide. With roots dating back to the 1930s, Mountain America offers a variety of financial products and services for consumers and businesses, including savings accounts, auto loans, checking accounts, mortgage loans, business checking, student loans, SBA loans and retirement options. Visit www.macu.com for more information.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/5/5/11G138061/Images/CLOawards-59af1e9d48d2b8668eb387b2bc9f5ac0.jpg

Media Contact:

Bryan Packer

801-325-6439

Email contact


BALA CYNWYD, PA / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2017 / The law office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC announces that it is investigating potential claims against the Board of Directors of DigitalGlobe, Inc. ("DigitalGlobe" or "the Company") (NYSE: DGI - News) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law in connection with the sale of the Company to MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates Ltd. ("MDA").

Click here to learn more: http://www.brodskysmith.com/cases/digitalglobe-inc-nyse-dgi/, or call: 877-534-2590. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Under the terms of the transaction, DigitalGlobe shareholders will receive only 0.3132 of a share of MDA common stock and $17.50 in cash for each share of DigitalGlobe stock they own. The transaction values DigitalGlobe at only approximately $35.00 per share. The investigation concerns whether the Board of DigitalGlobe breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders and whether MDA is underpaying for the Company. The transaction may undervalue the Company and would result in a loss for many DigitalGlobe shareholders. For example, shares of DigitalGlobe stock have traded at $42.67 per share and the price being paid by MDA is below an analyst price target of $38.50 per share.

If you own shares of DigitalGlobe stock and wish to discuss the legal ramifications of the investigation, or have any questions, you may e-mail or call the law office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC who will, without obligation or cost to you, attempt to answer your questions. You may contact Jason L. Brodsky, Esquire or Evan J. Smith, Esquire at Brodsky & Smith, LLC, Two Bala Plaza, Suite 510, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, by visiting http://www.brodskysmith.com/cases/digitalglobe-inc-nyse-dgi/, or calling toll free 877-LEGAL-90.

Brodsky & Smith, LLC is a litigation law firm with extensive expertise representing shareholders throughout the nation in securities and class action lawsuits. The attorneys at Brodsky & Smith have been appointed by numerous courts throughout the country to serve as lead counsel in class actions and have successfully recovered millions of dollars for our clients and shareholders. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

SOURCE: Brodsky & Smith, LLC
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2017 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Walter Investment Management Corporation ("Walter" or the "Company") (NYSE: WAC) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, and docketed under 17-cv-00645, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Walter securities between February 29, 2016 and March 13, 2017 both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants' violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Walter securities during the Class Period, 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]

Walter Investment Management Corporation, a diversified mortgage banking firm, focuses primarily on the servicing and origination of residential loans in the United States. Among the Company's subsidiaries is Ditech Financial ("Ditech").

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company's Ditech subsidiary had a material weakness in its internal control over operational processes; (ii) accordingly, the Company lacked effective internal controls over financial reporting; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Walter's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On March 14, 2017, Walter filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, reporting the Company's financial and operating results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2016 (the "2016 10-K"). In the 2016 10-K, Walter disclosed that "[a]s of December 31, 2016, we identified a material weakness in internal controls over operational processes within the transaction level processing of Ditech Financial default servicing activities."

On this news, Walter's share price fell $1.05, or 38.89%, to close at $1.65 on March 14, 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

SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2017 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against The Toronto-Dominion Bank ("TD Bank" or the "Company") (NYSE: TD) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, District of New Jersey, and docketed under 17-cv-01735, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired TD Bank securities between December 3, 2015 and March 9, 2017, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants' violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you are a shareholder who purchased TD Bank securities during the Class Period, you have until May 11, 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]

The Toronto-Dominion Bank conducts a general banking business through banking branches and offices located throughout Canada and overseas. The Bank and other subsidiaries offer a broad range of banking, advisory services, and discount brokerage to individuals, businesses, financial institutions, governments, and multinational corporations.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company's wealth asset growth and increased fee-based revenue was spurred by a performance management system that led to its employees breaking the law at their customers' expense in order to meet sales targets; (ii) the Company illicitly increased customers' lines of credits and overdraft protection amounts without their knowledge; (iii) the Company illicitly upgraded customers to higher-fee accounts without permission; (iv) the Company lied to customers as to the risk of the Company's products and services; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, TD Bank's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On March 6, 2017, CBC News published a report based on interviews with several TD Bank Group employees, who spoke about the "incredible pressure" to "squeeze profits from customers by signing them up for products and services they don't need."

On March 10, 2017, CBC News published a more detailed second report, where it reported that hundreds of current and former employees had responded to the first CBC report with additional stories of pressure to upsell customers.

On this news, TD Bank's share price fell $2.74, or 5.29%, to close at $49.03 on March 10, 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.

SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP




1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand.

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike.
Teewinot Life Sciences Corporation, a Tampa, Florida-based company involved in discovery, development and commercialization of cannabinoid-based therapeutics and in the biocatalytic production of cannabinoids, closed a $12.3m Series B funding round.

The round was led by Tuatara Capital, a New York based private equity fund focused on investments in cannabis-related companies, which had led Teewinots $7m Series A round in December 2015.

The capital raised will be used for a variety of activities including enhancement and acceleration of research and development activities, expanding business development opportunities, and adding to the existing patent portfolio.

Teewinot Life Sciences is an international biopharmaceutical company focused on advanced pharmaceutical research and the use of novel biosynthetic processes such as biocatalysis and synthetic biology for cannabinoid manufacture.

Its proprietary production systems are being used to manufacture industrial quantities of a wide range of pharmaceutically pure cannabinoids including: CBGA, CBG, CBGVA, CBGV, THCA, THC, THCVA, THCV, CBDA, CBD, CBDVA, CBDV, CBCA, CBC, CBCVA, CBCV, CBN and CBL.

FinSMEs

05/05/2017
Baba Ramdev, the yoga guru and promoter of home-grown FMCG company Patanjali Ayurveda, has in the past been vocal about taking the deep-pocketed multinational foreign companies operating in India head on. Not just that, the company, with over Rs 10,000 crore in revenue registered last fiscal (2016-17), is now readying battle against the multinational food chains, including KFC, McDonald's and Subway.

Capitalising on the global trend of vegetarian food, Baba Ramdev's Patanjali said it will enter the quick service restaurant (QSR) space by offering 400 vegetarian recipes, The Times of India report said.

Stressing on the importance of vegetarian food, the company said it will not have any separate menu for North Indian and South Indian population.

"We will not divide our menu into North Indian and South Indian," TOI report said quoting Ramdev. "We will give people choice because there is nothing tastier and healthier than vegetarian Indian food. When we get these recipes together, all these multinationals serving chicken or mutton will have a hard time countering us."

Although, fast food chains worldwide are known for variety of non-vegetarian items, nearly 60-70 percent of all fast food items like pizzas and burgers sold in India are vegetarian, the report added.

Amid growing popularity of its products across the categories, Patanjali's Ramdev is giving local FMCG companies and multinational firms a run for their money.

Comparing them to the East India Company that had entered the country with a purpose to "loot", Ramdev said that he aims to make India free from the MNCs.

He said that the MNCs here were not working for the country's development, rather their sole objective was to "loot" India.

"Patanjali agle panch varshon mein in videshi kampaniyon ko moksh de degi (Patanjali will finish the MNCs up from the Indian market in next five years)," he said.

He was speaking at a function organised here to mark the birth anniversary of Yogi Bharat Bhushan.

"In the next five years, Patanjali would educate the farmers about the latest techniques in farming to boost production. We will also offer decent prices for the produce," Ramdev, who also happens to be the founder of Patanjali, said.

Upbeat about its earnings prospects for the current financial year (2017-18), Patanjali on Thursday said it is eyeing a two-fold jump in sales at over Rs 20,000 crore this fiscal as it plans to double its distribution network to 12,000 across the country and is adding to the capacity.

The Haridwar-based FMCG firm had clocked a turnover of Rs 10,561 crore in 2016-17.

"We would grow more than double this year... By the next year, Patanjali would be in the leading position and in most of the product categories, it would be number one," yoga guru Ramdev said.

The company is in the process of setting up mega production units at several places, including Noida, Nagpur, and Indore, which would take its production capacity to Rs 60,000 crore, from the existing Rs 35,000 crore.

The firm is also planning a push for exports after its mega food park in Nagpur is commissioned.

"We will start exports in a big way from the next financial year. Right now also we export, but it is very small. We have already started construction of a manufacturing facility for exports at SEZ in Nagpur," Ramdev added.

With PTI inputs
New Delhi/Yokohama: It will still be a few months before the total amount of old currency notes deposited with banks post-demonetisation is known since the RBI is doing a thorough physical verfication, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said on Thursday.

"I expect the process of counting to get completed in the next few months. Counting capacity with the Reserve Bank of India is to take care of a normal situation when business is as usual. But here, suddenly 86 per cent of the currency in circulation got demonetised (on November 8 last)," Das told NDTV in an interview.

"Counting capacity has limitations, that's why it's taking time. I will not be able to spell out the deadline. Let's wait for the RBI to complete the process," he added.

Das is in Japan to attend the Asian Development Bank's 50th annual meeting.

He said the Finance Ministry, in discussion with the RBI, identified areas where double counting of notes might be happening because currency was moving from bank branches to their regional offices and then to the currency chests and the RBI.

"A decision was taken that it will be desirable to count the notes physically, to do a thorough physical verification of the notes received," he said.

Das said the task of counting of notes was enormous.

"The RBI has put all its counting machines to use. They are currently working overtime. The RBI is exploring possibility of getting additional counting facilities to speed up the process," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 last year announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The last date for depositing the scrapped currency notes in banks was December 30, 2016, though the window is still open till June 30 for Non-Resident Indians.
New Delhi: An apex corporate appellate tribunal on Thursday admitted the pleas filed by Tata Sons' ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry's investment companies.

According to the New Delhi-based National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), the pleas will be heard on July 3-7, 2017.

On 21 April, Mistry's investment companies -- Cyrus Investment and Sterling Investment Corp -- approached the NCLAT against a 6 March, 2017 order by the Mumbai-based National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which declared their main petition against Tata Sons as non-maintainable.

On 6 March , the NCLT had ruled against the maintainability of the petition filed against Tata Sons, which cited governance lapses and compromise of minority shareholder interests after Mistry was ousted as the Chairman of the holding company of the industrial conglomerate.

The NCLT had held that Mistry's family firms were not qualified to file a petition against Tata Sons alleging mismanagement and oppression of minority shareholders.

Under the current rules, only a shareholder with more than 10 per cent effective shareholding can file a minority interest petition with the NCLT.

However, the Companies Act empowers the NCLT to waive off this requirement for a petitioner to qualify for filing a minority interest petition.

On 17 April, the NCLT had dismissed a plea filed by Mistry's investment companies to waive off a regulatory bar on them as their original petition had been rendered non-maintainable by the March 6 order.

Besides the waiver plea, the main company petition, which was filed against Tata Sons, was also rejected on April 17.

On 24 October last year, Tata Sons' Board ousted Mistry as its Chairman and appointed Ratan Tata as the interim Chairman.
In response to Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad's unruly behaviour with an Air India staff in March this year, the government has today come out with a set of rules allowing aviation companies to take action against passengers found guilty of misbehaving with staff or their co-passengers.

Bringing in law to bar unruly fliers, the government said any passenger using abusive language against any airline staff or co-passengers will be suspended from flying for three months.

A passenger will be suspended from flying for more than two years if found making life-threatening statements against co-passengers or any airline staff.

Further, a passenger involved in any physical assault to airline staff or passengers will be barred from flying for six months.

The government also said a three-member panel will be set up to examine mis-behaviour of the passengers.

Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey while addressing a press conference said that the no-fly list will be overseen by both the government and DGCA The Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

"We propose to bring out a national no fly list as it is better to do that by a central mechanism under DGCA than leave it to airlines," Choubey said at the pres conference.

The government also said final rules on unruly passengers will be released in next two months.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha had earlier said that 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 has held discussions with stakeholders on finding the "right way" to have a no-fly list to deal with unruly air passengers.

According to minister Sinha, there has been an increase in incidents of unruly and disruptive behaviour of air passengers of late and the plan is to do something "pro-actively and preemptively".

As per the IATA, in 2015, there were 10,854 reported cases of unruly behaviour by the passengers across airlines worldwide, which translate into one incident for every 1,205 flights.

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.

Since the incident on 23 March, Air India had blocked seven attempts by Gaikwad to book tickets.

With PTI inputs
Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad beat up an Air India staffer with his slippers last month. This lead to all domestic airlines promptly barring him from flying. This was particularly inconvenient for the MP in a month when he had to frequently travel to Delhi to attend Parliament. He was allowed back aboard only after a weak apology tendered to the Minister of Civil Aviation. So, will the aam aadmi, who may misbehave in a similar fashion while on board, be allowed back after a mere apology?

Gaikwad's actions have pushed the government to now come out with draft regulations to create a national no-fly list.

What could get you on this list of shame? Verbal and or physical abuse, inappropriate touching while on board besides of course damage to the aircraft or other acts of violence.

Will a mere apology set the record straight? Well, this will have to be decided by a 'Standing Committee' which each airline will have to form to decide on individual cases of inappropriate behaviour within 10 days of the incident. The three-member committee will function as a quasi-judicial body and the penalty that can be imposed for inappropriate behaviour in the skies ranging from three months to two years but could also be extended further.

You could get barred from domestic flying forever, depending on the decision of the standing committees within the airline and then the DGCA.

The draft norms are being put up for public consultations and will become the norm in about two months from now.

In tandem with working on the no-fly list, the government is also mulling making some form of identification mandatory at the time of booking tickets under its 'Digi Yatra' initiatives. Will Aadhar card be made mandatory for booking airline tickets and then tracking the flyer for possible inappropriate behaviour while flying?

MoS Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said today that it has not been finalised whether Aadhar will be mandatory but some form of identification will surely be needed soon.

Remember, there is already a no-fly list of people who have been marked out by India's security agencies as possible security threats and such persons are already barred for life from boarding a domestic flight.

Sinha said, as of now, the new list being prepared would be for domestic airlines but foreign carriers may also use the information if they so desired though it wont be mandatory on them.

Here are the salient features of the proposed no-fly list:

1) The Ministry is proposing three levels of unruly passengers ---- in level I, passengers indulging in disruptive behaviour like making physical gestures and other such activities will be penalised. In level II, passengers indulging in physical abuse, sexual harrassment, etc., are likely to be booked. Those indulging in life threatening behaviour will be booked under level III, the punishment for which could be a ban on flying with the airline (aboard which the act has been committed) for at least two years. Level I and II could see a passenger barred for three and six months respectively.

2) If a passenger is banned by one airline, then it will be left to other domestic airlines to decide on whether they want to fly such a passenger or not. While the ban is proposed only to be applied on domestic airlines, nothing stops foreign airlines from implementing Indias no-fly list if the 'Rights of Carriage Act' of the international airlines also has similar provisions.

3) To implement the no-fly list the Government is also looking to see how they can link a passenger making a domestic airline booking to a common identity card, be it a passport or Aadhar card so that genuine passengers are not harassed.

4) Each airline has to constitute a 'standing committee' comprising of a retired judge, a representative of another airline and another representative from a consumer forum to examine each complaint of unruly behaviour. The passenger accused of such behaviour can also appeal to this committee, which must decide the matter within 10 days.

5) Any aggrieved passenger may then approach the DGCA where again a similar committee will decide on the innocence of the passenger.

This is the existing Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) which defines an unruly flyer but does not mention any financial penalties. It merely says passengers who are likely to be unruly and disruptive must be carefully monitored, and if necessary, refused embarkation or off-loaded, if deemed to pose a threat to the safety and security of the flight, fellow passengers or staff while on board aircraft.
Prakash Javadekar, the union minister for human resources development, recently told The Times of India: A Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meeting had taken place recently where education ministers of all states were present. The education ministers of 25 states demanded that there should be a change in the policy to promote all students till Class VIII. They wanted detention in classes V and VIII. Only four states said that they wanted no detention of students.

In short, the government is thinking of re-introducing exams at some levels in the schooling system.

The Right to Education (RTE) essentially makes it clear that no child should be held back in class or expelled from school until he has completed his elementary education (i.e., up until Standard VIII). This was done in order to lower the pressure on students. But on the flip side, this basically means that there are to be no exams and students keep moving from one class to another, irrespective of whether they are good enough for the next class or not. The Act also makes it clear that no child should be required to pass any board exam until the completion of elementary education.

This along with other things that are a part of the RTE, have ruined the learning outcomes in schools over the years. The RTE came into effect from 1 April 2010. As per this Act every child between six and fourteen has the right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school.

As mentioned earlier, since the introduction of the RTE, the learning outcomes of children have come down dramatically. As per the latest Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), in 2010, 53.7 percent of standard V students in rural India could read standard II level text. By 2016, this had fallen to 47.8 percent. The fall was greater in case of government schools. In 2010, it had stood at 50.7 percent and by 2016 this had fallen to 41.6 percent. Hence, only around two out of every five standard V students can read standard II level text, in rural India.

In case of mathematics the results are even more disastrous. In 2010, 36.2 percent of standard V students in rural India could do division. This had dropped to 26 percent by 2016. In case of government schools, the figure has dropped from 33.9 percent to 21.1 percent. Hence, only around one-fifth of government school students studying in standard V in rural India can do division.

What this tells us is that students are not learning what they are expected to learn in a given class. And despite this they are promoted to the next class, given that there are no exams. This is something that Javadekar wants to change by re-introducing exams. Indeed, that is a good thought.

The RTE clearly specifies that the teacher should complete the entire curriculum (i.e., the syllabus) within the specified time. This irrespective of the fact whether they are understanding things or not.

As economist Abhihit Banerjee said at a literature festival a few years back: Under the Right to Education Act, every year you are supposed to cover the syllabus. It doesnt matter whether the children understand anything. Think of all the Standard IV children who cant read. They are learning Social Studies and all kinds of other wonderful things  except [that] they cant read. They are learning nothing. They are sitting in a class watching some movie in some foreign language without subtitles. Hence, the drop-out rates are high. And I am shocked why anybody comes to school at all.

So, while teachers are busy completing the syllabus, most students dont learn much. Meanwhile, they keep getting promoted and soon they are totally lost on what is happening in class. The lack of regular attendance, both of teachers as well as students, has its impact. Furthermore, the focus is on finishing the syllabus. Given this, the teachers concentrate on that and not on how much learning is taking place. In the process, they end up addressing the needs of a small portion of the class which follows what is being taught and leave out the rest.

Hence, reintroduction of exams in class V and class VIII is not going to help much. By the time the student will be tested in Class V, it will be too late. The bad learning outcomes will already be in place and the exam will just hold him or her back in Standard V, without doing anything about improving the learning outcomes. Chances are he or she will soon dropout.

As economist Esther Duflo puts it: Learning is not about enrolment, teacher-student ratio [or] having latrines in schools; its about if we are serious about learning. The question is: Are we serious about learning? It turns out that we are not. A basic problem with the RTE remains that it expects children to be ready for elementary education when they enter Standard I. In fact, as Duflo puts it: By the end of Grade 1, they are supposed to be done with reading.... Its a complete fantasy.

In fact, it is worth emphasising here that when a child joins Standard I, in most cases, he or she usually comes from a text-scarce environment. In many cases, the parents may not have gone to school or only gone to school for a few years.

Given this, the solution to this problem is not completing the syllabus or having exams. The solution as Duflo puts it is to be serious about learning. And how can that happen? Banerjee made a very interesting point about this a few years back when he said: We did one experiment in Bihar which was with government school teachers.... The teachers were told: Instead of teaching as you usually teach, your job for the next six weeks is to get the children to learn some basic skills. If they cant read, teach them to read. If they cant do math[s], teach them to do math[s]. At the end of six weeks, these teachers were given a small stipend. They had also been given a couple of days of training.

And how did the students do? As Banerjee recounted: At the end of six weeks, the children had closed half the gap between the best performing children and the worst performing children. They had really improved enormously.

So, what was happening here? The teachers did not have to complete the syllabus in this case, as the RTE mandates. They had to teach students what the students did not know. As Banerjee put it: In the first four years, we should prioritise the learning of basic skills  forget about learning the history of the country, etc. You dont have to know who Gandhiji was for the first four years. Lets just concentrate on students being able to read and do simple maths. I think that such a system would deliver a much better outcome.

Hence, to deliver better learning outcomes what is needed is a radical reorientation of the way things are taught in schools across this country. And that, as I keep saying, is easier said than done.

(Vivek Kaul is the author of Indias Big GovernmentThe Intrusive State and How It is Hurting Us. He tweets @kaul_vivek)
Caracas (AFP) - A student leader was shot dead as protests raged on in the streets of Venezuela Thursday in the latest spasm of anger aimed at removing President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Crowds of students clashed with riot police firing tear gas in the mounting crisis in this oil-rich country saddled with shortages of food, medicine and other basics.

The leftist Maduro's opponents accuse him of trying to strengthen his grip on power and delay elections by launching legal proceedings to overhaul the constitution.

The latest toll provided by prosecutors on Thursday said 35 people have been killed in just over a month of protests against Maduro, whose opponents blame him for Venezuela's dire economic mess.

News of the latest deaths -- up from a toll of 33 earlier Thursday -- came as organizers announced a women's march for Saturday.

Protesters at the women's rally, to take place in downtown Caracas, were urged to wear white, a traditional show of defiance against what organizers have branded a repressive government.

- Students clash with cops -

The student leader killed Thursday was at a meeting in the northern state of Anzoategui when "one of those present approached him and shot him several times before fleeing on a motorbike," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

It did not say whether the killing was directly linked to the protests. But it came amid high tension as students pushed on with a wave of street rallies.

Crowds of them marched in Caracas, some clashing with riot police who blocked their way and fired tear gas.

Hooded youths responded by throwing Molotov cocktails and stones.

The prosecutors said a policeman died from a gunshot wound during a protest Wednesday in the western city of Carabobo.

In the northern industrial city of Valencia, protesters looted stores, set fire to cars and clashed with police Thursday night. At least five people were injured, one of them seriously, news reports said.

The reports said people in Valencia had begun hoarding basic foodstuffs and barricading housing developments to keep looters out.

The local chamber of commerce said at least 70 stores have been raided since Tuesday.

- Capriles on 'violence' -

The opposition wants a vote on removing Maduro from office. His term ends in early 2019.

The president, elected in 2013, says the crisis is a US-backed capitalist conspiracy.

The opposition and government have accused each other of fomenting violence.

"I don't know how long the protests are going to last," senior opposition leader Henrique Capriles told AFP in an interview.

"If we were being violent, if we were not being democratic, we would already have toppled the government."

- Constitution, elections -

In his latest crisis maneuver, Maduro on Wednesday launched procedures at the electoral council to elect a "constituent assembly" to draft a new constitution.

"This is the path of peace and reconciliation for Venezuela," he said on television on Thursday.

"It is a complex battle, but no one will take our homeland from us."

Private polls indicate that more than 70 percent of those interviewed do not support Maduro.

He said the constitutional reform body would not include political parties with seats in the opposition-controlled National Assembly, but representatives of social groups traditionally loyal to him.

Maduro's center-right opponents and some international powers said the move is an attempt to dodge local elections this year and a presidential poll set for late 2018.

"Since the government cannot win elections, it wants to dismantle the system for holding them," Capriles told AFP.

- Attorney General breaks ranks -

Attorney General Luisa Ortega broke ranks with the government over the political crisis.

She told the Wall Street Journal that the government should ensure people's right to demonstrate freely, without arbitrary arrests.

"We can't demand peaceful and legal behavior from citizens if the state takes decisions not in accordance with the law," the Journal quoted her as saying on Wednesday.

Venezuela has seen three attempted military coups since 1992.

The current unrest has come close to matching that of 2014, when clashes killed 43 people.

Despite the country's chaos, Maduro retains the military's public backing -- one thing that analysts say could yet tip the balance against him.

"What happens if the National Guard (military police) says they are not going to continue the repression?" Capriles said.

"Will Maduro's position be sustainable?"
In February 2017, the government announced that it would be procuring 330 lakh tonnes of wheat during the rabi marketing season 2017-18, higher than 229.61 lakh tonnes during the previous season. It also announced that it would be procuring an estimated 50 lakh tonnes of paddy grown in rabi crop of the kharif marketing season (KMS) 2016-17.

This estimate, said a government release, is over and above the estimate of 330 lakh tonnes set for KMS 2016-17, for which the procurement operations are going on and the paddy procurement in KMS 2016-17 in terms of rice has already reached to the level of 292.31 lakh tonnes, as reported on 15 February, 2017, the release said, adding that this was nearly 28 lakh tonnes higher than the procurement of 264.53 lakh tonnes by the corresponding date last year. Much of the wheat would be procured from North India, while much of the rice from southern states.

Yes to wheat & rice

It is interesting to note that the government could commit itself to procurement of 292 lakh tonnes of rice and 330 lakh tonnes of wheat. But equally interesting  and worrying  is its refusal to buy back even a quarter of the 221 lakh tonnes of pulses produced during 2016-17. In reality it would have to procure just 40 lakh tonnes, because that was the amount by which production was in excess over the previous year 2015-16. But the government decided not to procure pulses from the markets. This is an issue we shall discuss in the next part.

So why is the government so concerned about rice and wheat? One conventional answer is that rice and wheat represent food security. Yes, it does, but that was in the past.

It is a given fact that as societies move out of a state of impoverishment  where survival requires them to devour rice and wheat, the need for nutrition-rich food becomes more crucial. Hence, the demand in India, for meat, fish, eggs and most importantly the entire variety of pulses and millets begins to grow. And as data will confirm, the consumption of cereals begins to decline as a percentage of the food basket.

Conventional wisdom should therefore have compelled the government to reduce its procurement of rice and wheat as well. On the contrary, the government has continued to increase its procurement of these two crops and at ever increasing procurement prices.

What makes the situation even more bizarre is that grain purchases have continued over the past few decades, even when the country does not need them.

Planning for the rot

Consider the following: The government has only 63 million tonnes of grain storage capacity (see chart). Yet it has committed itself to storing almost 63 million tonnes, even while half the storage still lies in the warehouses. In other words, almost 30 million tonnes of grain will have no place in the government warehouses. That means that the country will see another 30 million tonnes of grain rotting this year as well.

But why should the grains be allowed to rot? Why not follow the Supreme Courts advice and give the grain away free of cost to poor people. That sounds both logical and humane isnt it?

But no! The government and other quasi-government authorities would rather let the excess grain rot in the sun and the rain or get them eaten away by rodents and other pests. It is then that the penny drops. When grain gets destroyed, there is no way to find out the quality of grain that just got destroyed. It is circumstantial evidence to the oft bandied charge that the government has been paying first grade prices for second grade gain (especially in the north for both rice and wheat). If this grain is given to poor people, it would confirm the charge that the government has been procuring sub-standard grain. So, sorry! No grain for people!! It is better to let nature and the pests destroy all traces of evidence.

The biggest beneficiaries of such practices are both government officials and the farmers of the north. There are several instances where state governments have actually changed the grade of what is considered fair acceptable quality (FAQ) to allow powerful farmers sell their sub-standard grain to state procurement agencies. And since much of this grain goes to the millers, which are again owned by the same powerful farmers and politicians, the state allows mills to get this grain at a discount. So the powerful farmers benefit in two ways  they get higher procurement prices for their sub-standard output. They also get discounts on the same grain which their own mills buy back from the government. The rest of the grain which is considered inedible is allowed to rot.

It is this ill-gotten money power that makes powerful farmers even more powerful. They dictate policies. And they promote feudalism of the worst kind.

Procurement consequences

There is another reason why the government is reluctant to announce procurement plans for pulses. Look at the chart alongside. Watch the way the minimum support prices (MSP) for pulses has gone up. They are almost three times the price for wheat and rice. And remember, the procurement prices for wheat and rice are well over the international price for such gains. But rice and wheat are procured by the government. The MSP for pulses is what the markets must respect. There is no obligation on the government to purchases pulses.

Were the government to agree to procurement of pulses, there is a good possibility that existing rice and wheat farmers might switch to growing pulses instead. After all, pulses are a hardier crop. And today, they fetch more money per tonne than do rice and wheat. That could have frightened Indias planners.

But isnt there a need for India to encourage more acreage going into growing pulses (and millets) than in growing rice and wheat. After all, -- as reputed agronomists like Ashok Gulati have often pointed out  a buffer stock of 15 million tonnes is enough for India. Today it has a buffer stock of over 30 million tonnes, without counting the tonnage destroyed by weather and pests.

Maybe the government does not want to upset the cozy arrangement it has with powerful farmers who earn first grade prices for second or third grade grain. That could explain why the government has not been aggressive enough in pushing alternative methods for managing wheat and pulses as outlined in Part V of this series.

Whatever the reasons. Pulses have been discriminated against. And this at a time when the demand for pulses is soaring, and the Indian farmer has risen to the occasion. We discuss pulses production in the next part and why the government had to resort to import of pulses last year.

Read the Part I of this series here. Part III will be published on Monday (8 May)
The President has accorded his assent to an ordinance proposed by Cabinet giving more powers to RBI to solve the massive NPA mess. Gross NPAs of banks have risen by Rs 1.2 lakh crore in first nine months of FY17 to Rs 6.7 lakh crore as of December 2016. Top 50-60 accounts amount to majority of the non-performing assets.

The details of the ordinance are as follows:

(i) 2 new sections 35AA and 35AB have been introduced in Banking Regulations Act, 1949.

(ii) 35AA gives powers to central government to authorize RBI for issuing directions to banking company to initiate insolvency resolution process in respect of stressed assets.

(iii) 35AB gives power to RBI to issue directions to banking companies for resolution of stressed assets. It also empowers RBI to form committees / panels to advice banks  industry wide, specific cases.

Essentially this means that any dilly dallying by banks in recognising NPAs and initiating insolvency action will not be tolerated by RBI as well as government. This also highlights a fact that banks in India do not have necessary talent to solve such complex NPA issues.

RBI will guide banks on hair-cuts, structuring, loan recast, etc. It remains to be seen whether RBI has the necessary bandwidth to carry on these tasks along with its regular duties. The ordinance doesnt propose making wilful default a criminal offence as publicised. This is a dampener.

The ordinance is likely to give flexibility to banks to resolve bad accounts and give immunity to bankers from taking legal action in future. Flexibility to banks is being provided to prevent sudden shock to economy as we will see below, cater to real problems of demand downturn and differentiate between genuine and habitual offender cases.

Immunity to bankers is being indirectly provided (as action will be taken as per RBI directives) under pressure from industry to safeguard their interests. So that any settlement which bankers do with corporates in respect of loans is not challenged later on.

All this will require amendment to Banking Regulation Act, Prevention of Corruption Act to make it compatible with Bankruptcy Code. These are likely to be presented in next session of Parliament.

The ordinance step is continuation of the process which NDA government has adopted to tackle the burgeoning NPA problem. The Bankruptcy & Insolvency Act which was passed last year and hailed as a revolutionary step is struggling after a year of coming into effect. ICICI Bank filed first case under this act against Innoventive Industries Limited to initiate corporate insolvency proceeding, however, this has been caught in a legal tangle. Further, banks are not using this route in an enthused manner as expected.

RBI under Raghuram Rajan pitched for aggressive provisioning in order to make banks ready for compliance with Basel III regulations. However, may be he didnt realise the enormity of the situation. Approximately 16 percent of loans and advances of banks are stressed assets (NPA + restructured accounts + write offs). This is higher than BRICS partners except for Russia. This is alarming given that capital adequacy ratio threshold for banks is prescribed at 12 percent.

Stressed assets for public sector banks is 17 percent while for private banks, it is 7 percent and for foreign lenders it is 6 percent. The asset quality of PSU banks is the worst amongst the lot (almost 3 times of peers).

An objective adherence to rules and assessment of accounts in stress will wipe out significant capital of banks. As government owns majority stake in large public sector banks, it will need to pitch in with significant equity infusion.

As per a research report 60 percent of restructured assets convert into NPAs in 3-5 years time. So we are sitting on a ticking time bomb. If anything, this ordinance will just defer the inevitable. The policy is also in sharp contradiction of the Rajan doctrine - identify bad accounts, take a hit, record losses, move ahead with a clean slate.

The ordinance doesn't address basic issue as to why NPAs arise. It doesn't provide solutions to challenges faced by banks. To ensure NPAs in future remain in control, a tectonic cultural shift and massive IT up-gradation is required. It recommends surgery without going into real issues.

The troubled accounts (NPAs) need to be broken up into: (i) genuine (industry issues), (ii) wilful (on purpose) and (iii) habitual offenders.

The genuine accounts who are unable to service loans due to downturn in industry and global slowdown, can be given time to perform, provided their business models are robust. Strict covenants on further indebtedness should be introduced to protect interest of existing lenders and prevent further leveraging. Banks in India are very lenient on covenants as per my experience.

The wilful defaulters need to be categorised such with alacrity. Banks in a consortium often differ on whether an account is a wilful defaulter case depending upon their exposures.

Then there are the habitual offenders. There are many promoters in India whose companies have seen many restructurings in the past. There are perennially sick companies, with massive siphoning of funds. They need perpetual public debt. These companies should not be given any fresh lease of life.

The proposed amendments would help in effectively resolving the bad loans problem, finance secretary Ashok Lavasa was quoted in LiveMint. However he added a note of caution, It is not possible for me to put down a number on how this (non-performing assets or NPAs) will go down but certainly we feel that these changes will make the system more effective in handling the bad loans, he said.

His statement aptly sumps up the entire essence of what I have articulated in this article.
What's more fun than passing off stalking celebrities on social media as work?

Very little, right?

And so, we scanned the Instagram and Twitter accounts of celebs from India and abroad, to bring to you weekly updates from the interwebz. Who tweeted to whom? Who reposted last night's party pics? Who went on a rant about-... well, whatever Kanye West rants about. Whatever it is, don't worry, we've got you covered.

We stalk, you read. Deal?

Alia Bhatt poses topless with a cat for Dabboo Ratnani

Alia Bhatt is making the most of her sabbatical from shooting for films. For those of you who have stalked her Instagram profile, she is spending some quality of time with her cats. Ace celebrity photographer allowed her to mix business with pleasure when he asked her to pose topless with a black cat for a photo-shoot.

Ekta Kapoor welcomes her 'Tulsi' Smriti Irani to Instagram

Let's welcome my friend ! A force to recon with ! Her meteoric rise stunned many but wat stuns me more is how rooted she is! Finally on instagram let's welcome tulsi ! @smritiiraniofficial ! A post shared by Ekta Kapoor (@ektaravikapoor) on May 4, 2017 at 8:57am PDT

Union Textile Minister and former television actor Smriti Irani has made her Instagram debut. To celebrate the occasion, her longtime collaborator Ekta Kapoor posted a picture of her with Irani and Sakshi Tanwar, welcoming her 'Tulsi' to the social media platform after 'much persuasion'.

Sonam and Rhea Kapoor launch their clothing line

I love #twinning with you my #rhe #norhesonicant signature tees from #rheson will soon be available at @wearerheson @shoppers_stop A post shared by sonamkapoor (@sonamkapoor) on May 4, 2017 at 7:57am PDT

Sonam Kapoor and her sister and producer Rhea Kapoor have decided to extend their collaboration beyond the screen. Rhea, who styles a lot of Sonam's trendsetting looks, has now started their clothing line Rheson, an amalgamation of Rhea and Sonam's names.

Priyanka Chopra poses with child abuse survivors

Their stories of resilience are so inspiring.. thank u for sharing with me #EndViolence #thistimeforafrica #bindibonding @unicef A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on May 4, 2017 at 2:48am PDT

Priyanka Chopra, after breaking the internet with her Ralph Lauren dress at Met Gala 2017, is off to Zimbabwe in the capacity of a UNICEF ambassador. She posted a picture with two African children and promoted her cause of ending violence against children.
In 2013, when KK Senthil Kumar came on board the world of Baahubali as the cinematographer, he rarely met his family for the first eight months because living, breathing and dreaming about SS Rajamoulis magnum opus. Four years later, now that Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (also spelt as Bahubali 2) has turned out to be a phenomenal success at the box-office, Senthil confesses that hes yet to come to terms with the success. I can sense that people have fallen short of words to describe their experience of watching our film. I suppose we have accomplished our mission, he smiles, as we sat down for a conversation just days after the films release.

A significant portion of Bahubali 2, especially the court drama in the second half, was shot way back in 2014 during the making of Baahubali: The Beginning. Post the release of first part in 2015, the team went back to complete shooting the entire Kunthala kingdom portion, apart from the climax. Kunthala kingdom, which was the citadel of Devasena, lies in a hilly region and so, Senthil opted for a cooler tone to bring in a contrast compared to the warmer tone he used to shoot Mahishmathi kingdom. The two kingdoms are poles apart and its evident in their architecture and the lifestyle of the rulers and their people. Mahishmathi is all about grandeur, huge pillars and gigantic statues, but Kunthala is a small, peaceful country. They love art which is why every pillar is carved so intricately. So when Devasena enters Mahishmathi, shes intimidated by the scale of it. That shot showcasing an elephant statue at the entrance of Mahishmathi makes Devsaenas ship look so tiny. Every shot was well thought of, which is why people remember arent able to forget anything.

The entire first half of the film is filled with some iconic shots  be it Amarendra Baahubali teaching Devasena how to shoot three arrows or showing hundreds of bulls whose horns are on fire. I should give Rajamouli credit for coming up with all those ideas. When he asks me something, I try my best to deliver them. I can't pick what my favourite scene from the film is. One of the challenges was to capture both emotion as well as grandeur. Sometimes, I would think how a certain shot would fit into the narrative, but when I saw it during edit, it would blow my mind. This film also broke a lot of norms about how the screenplay for an Indian film can be. It just keeps getting intense as it progresses and it was an eye-opener for me about how a screenplay can be presented, Senthil says.

The sight of bulls with flaming horns was one of the defining moments of the film and, by his own admission, a lot of thought went into making it look real. In an earlier sequence, Amarendra Baahubali sees a bunch of farmers racing the bulls in the fields, which comes across as a hat-tip to Jallikattu or Kambala (Buffalo race) thats prevalent in Coorg region. Incidentally, the bulls depicted in this scene were imported from Gujarat and people who ran behind them were called from Karnataka, because running behind a bull requires a lot of skill. A lot of training went into preparing for that scene. While this was the case about setting up the bulls with flaming horns scene, shooting it was a different challenge in itself.

Im not a big fan of day-for-night shots. Since the entire sequence is supposed to unfold at night, its really difficult to light up the whole area, and Rajamouli gave me complete freedom to decide when to shoot because we had a lot of limitations. Some of the shots were shot during the day, some inside the studio, and few at night. Later, while colour grading the whole sequence, I had to take care of a lot of parameters to get the night effect right and yet have enough light so that you can see the expressions of the artistes, Senthil says, adding, The closest reference we had was Mad Max: Fury Road, which had few such day-for-night shots. We studied a lot about how John Seale, cinematographer of that film, achieved that effect and tried to use such techniques in our film. I guess it worked, but its a laborious process.

Such day-for-night shots were also extensively used in the iconic sequence where Kattappa kills Baahubali. There are a lot of limitations while shooting day-for-night shots. We arent supposed to shoot the sky or shoot only in a particular time of the day; however, its not possible to follow all such rules. We broke quite a few of them, and we managed to make it look right in post-production. The whole sequence where Kattappa kills Baahubali is one such example, Senthil says.

The breathless action in the film, coupled with impeccable storytelling, had a profound impact on the viewers. Not surprisingly, the interval sequence, which depicts Bhallaladevas coronation has been singled out as one of the best interval bangs in Indian cinema. Apparently, even during the shoot, the whole unit was convinced that it would stun the audience.

We knew that we got the scale right, but what makes that particular sequence so great is how the actors performed. Right from Ramya Krishnan to Ranas reaction to the reaction which Baahubalis speech gets, everything was spot on. We did a lot of research about how different armies in the world perform their parade and the Chinese army, in particular, was a big reference point for us. Choreographer Shankar played a key role in designing the entire sequence, Senthil recalls.

Every aspect of Bahubali 2 was meant to be immerse and epic, and it couldnt be more true in the case of the films climax. All the action was pre-visualised at CNCPT, a Los-Angeles based studio, and Hyderabad-based Makuta VFX, the principal studio of the film, worked on the sequence for several months altogether. Soon after the film released, there were few voices that the action looked a tad unrealistic. Ask Senthil what his views are, he quips saying, Nothing in Bahubali 2 is meant to be real. We wanted to excite and thrill the audience. Theres a lot of drama happening even in the midst of an intense action sequence. Thats what made it so interesting and challenging for me.

One of the challenges while filming the climax was to find a way to ensure that Rajamoulis vision to showcase Amarendra Baahubalis face in the clouds is clearly seen, amidst thunder and lightning. However, in the initial portions of the battle, the skies are clear and its quite sunny. We worked on that sequence a lot during post-production. The transition is so smooth that you dont even realise how it happened, but if you carefully observe, clouds appear gradually. All this was done during colour grading. For some key scenes, we had a huge 60X60 feet skimmer to get a soft-light feel to give an impression that it was getting quite cloudy. And in the end, theres lightning and thunder, Senthil says.

The shoot wasnt without its share of tense moments. Senthil recalls how scores of actors and technicians escaped from a scary accident during the shoot; however, in the hindsight, he says it looked quite comical. The skimmer was attached to a huge iron frame, which was suspended in mid-air using 3-4 cranes, and all of a sudden, a wire snapped and the whole frame fell on the ground. Everyone ran for their life. Thankfully, no one was injured. It was really scary then, but now that I think about it, it feels comical, Senthil laughs.

Bahubali 2 is a visual treat and the way the song Hamsa Nava, featuring Prabhas and Anushka, is shot puts things in perspective what sort of thought process went into the making of the film. Ideas are in Rajamoulis genes, Senthil says, adding, The best part about working with him is that he listens to you and has the patience to consider every idea to make a better film. Ask him if hes game for Bahubali 3 and pat comes the reply, Only if Rajamouli wants to direct it.

The success of Baahubali 2: The Conclusion is expected to set off a trend of making more period dramas and fantasy films in Indian cinema, but before he makes up his mind about his next project, Senthil has other things to worry about. I promised my family that Ill spend a lot of time with them post the films release. My kids have been waiting for this moment for a long time. This is the only thing which is on my mind right now, he signs off.
Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan has announced that his wife Amal Sufiya and him have been blessed with a baby girl. The good news comes in on the same day as the release of his film Comrade In America (CIA).

Salmaan took to all social media sites to post a picture of a medical document that mentioned that his wife has given birth to a baby girl on 5 May. He accompanied the picture on Facebook and Instagram with a long caption that read, "For all the immense love all of you shower upon us. For all the undying support you give us. For always rooting for us to do our best. Every release, every event, every news of ours lives you all share in our joy. In return I can only return our happiness, joy and gratitude."

"Today is unforgettable in more ways than one. My life just changed forever. We've been blessed with a drop of heaven. At long last my biggest dream came true. I got my princess. Amu got a mini version of herself," he added. Salmaan kept the message short on Twitter as he said, "Doubly happy !! We are blessed with an angel. Our own little princess. My brain isn't even comprehending all this. Over the moon !!"

Doubly happy !! We are blessed with an angel. Our own little princess. My brain isn't even comprehending all this. Over the moon !! pic.twitter.com/ceaaZsmAeZ  dulquer salmaan (@dulQuer) May 5, 2017

The 'doubly happy' in his Twitter caption suggests that he is also content with the response of his film CIA. Salmaan married Sufiya back in 2011, days ahead of his Malayalam acting debut with Second Show. Now that their first child is here, whom he dotingly referred to as 'princess' in his social media posts, he will now double up as an actor and a father.

Salmaan's future projects include Bejoy Nambiar's romantic drama Solo, Lal Jose's Oru Bhayankara Kamukan and Nag Ashwin's Mahanati.
In words of the producer Jamandas Majethia (aka JD), the second most burning question in the minds of Indian viewers has been answered.

The first being, why did Katappa kill Baahubali, and the second being, when is Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai coming back?

"16 May. Mark your calendars," he said at the special preview event of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Take 2. And with that announcement, a dream of the proverbial '90s kid came true.

If you were born in the 90s, F.R.I.E.N.D.S. would have been your bible. In 2004, it was only Sarabhai vs Sarabhai that managed to take its place: India's version of an urban sitcom.

The Sarabhai cast reuniting to launch Take 2 of the cult show was, in many ways, as nostalgic as how a F.R.I.E.N.D.S. reunion would be (it's not happening).

But there was one catch - the characters of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai did not seem as distant as say, a Joey, Rachel, Chandler or Monica. While each character of the American sitcom had their quirks, they were accompanied by a sense of distance. You were aware that they were a bunch of people sitting in New York City, and your chances of meeting them or hanging out with them are remote.

But the Sarabhai family could be your immediate neighbours. "Ye jo nazar aate hain, ye wo hain nahi," Usha Uthup crooned in the title track of the show, which speaks volumes of how dysfunctional yet accommodating each member of the family was, just like every Indian family.

While F.R.I.E.N.D.S. boasted of only normal conflicts between verbose characters, the Sarabhai family is a mix of personality, class (yes, the middle one), generational and romantic conflicts. That is exactly why it managed to cater to the diverse audience that India is, cutting across all demographics.

The audience has the writer, Aatish Kapadia, to thank for this. "Sarabhais are just like all the people around me. Wherever I go, I meet a couple of these characters there. Many of them are in my family. The trick is to observe keenly and be able to translate them into a bound script," he says.

Kapadia is co-directing this season along with the director of the first season, Deven Bhojani, who also plays the gizmo geek Dushyant in the show.

While many expected him to spring and take charge of a flickering projector during the screening of the special preview, he continued to smile in the shadows, making most of the moment that had been in the making for over 11 years.

In fact, all the characters, who appeared in their real life capacities, were diametrically opposite to the memorable characters they played onscreen. Case in point, Ratna Pathak Shah who plays Maya Sarabhai in the show. "I must confess I am more of a Monisha than a Maya. All those middle class fundas that Monisha swears by, my mother taught them to me. And I am sure those will trickle down into my kids too," said Ratna, during the interaction.

"However, all Monisha and no Maya would take a toll on you. A mix of both is fine, I guess," she says, grinning.

Ratna Pathak Shah is aware that though the show caters to a varied range of audiences, the digital medium of Hotstar may not be able to attain that reach.

"I hope it does! But there are people who still resist change. My bhaji wali asked me in Marathi, 'how will I watch the show, I don't know how to download these app-shap'. My uncle also told me to give him a DVD so that he can watch it on his good ol' TV set," she adds.

But an advantage of the digital medium would be its lack of stringent censorship. Her film, Alankrita Shrivastava's Lipstick Under My Burkha, faced the wrath of the Central Board of Film Certification.

While she was all 'Lips Sealed Under My Burkha' about it, she was excited about making her digital debut with Hotstar. "Sweetie, at least we're looking forward," she signed off.

She also admitted that Monisha is a charmer in front of her second daughter-in-law, Rosesh's prospective wife, who will be introduced this season. Going by the snippets that were screened at the event, her character seems to be modeled on Hansa, the character played by Rathna's sister Supriya Pathak Kapoor, in another product of the same makers - Khichdi.

JD, who played Hansa's doting brother Himanshu in Khichdi, announced that he is also in talks to relaunch another season of Khichdi. "Par aaj jis bete ki shaadi hai, sirf uski baat ki jaaye" (Let's only talk about the child who's day it is today).

With her hoarse Gujarati accent and her tendency to replace the Ss with the Hs (read: Hahil Bhai Harabhai), she seems to be a perfect addition to the bizarre family. It won't be long before Rosesh starts dedicating poems to her, diverting all the 'O Momma, O Momma' love from Maya to his new wife.

There are other additions to the cast as well - Arnaub, the son of Monisha and Sahil and a new face for Sonia, Dushyant's wife, played by lead television actor Aishwarya Sakhuja. The rushes of the show trace the Sarabhais' journey this season, from getting stuck in a bus to dealing with Rosesh's new wife in their tastefully done up abode.

Personally, the best part about the show, besides its writing, is that all the actors are having truckloads of fun.

Their joy was infectious at the premiere too, with Satish Shah guffawing at his own jokes, Ratna shaking a leg on the title song, Rajesh Kumar (Rosesh) and Sumeet Raghavan (Sahil) hugging each other like blood brothers while posing for the cameras and Rupali Ganguly (Monisha) boasting of how she actually sparked the idea of Take 2 by creating a WhatsApp group of all cast members a couple of years ago.

As the entire cast and crew chorused the title song of the show, it left us wondering how the Sarabhais have changed with time and technology, but managed to remain the same at their core after the 11-year itch.

All pictures by Devansh Sharma.
India-China relations may have been bogged down by political differences but the Indian mythological TV dramas like 'Mahabharat', 'Devon Ke Dev Mahadev' and 'Nagin' are turning out to be big hits with the Chinese audience, an article in a state-run daily mentioned.

"Indian mythology itself is just fascinating. Its philosophy and worldview, which are very exotic, have been a wonderful new world to me," Yang Buhui, 29, who works in the gaming industry, was quoted as saying by the state-run Global Times.

Yang has been running a volunteer group that provides Chinese subtitles for Indian TV dramas.

She started the group because of her favourite Indian TV series of all time, 'Devon Ke Dev Mahadev' (DKDM), which premiered in 2011 and ran a total of 820 episodes. It tells the stories of Lord Shiva, also known as Mahadev.

"I love the drama because it's a key to the world of Indian mythology," she said. "Besides, the actors and actresses are not only gorgeous, but their acting skills are good."

The Chinese audience is no stranger to imported dramas, especially those from countries including the US, South Korea, the UK and Japan. Indian dramas are quite new to the Chinese audience, but they are gaining popularity, the report said.

The most viewed episodes by the group on bilibili.com, one of China's largest video-sharing communities, are the first four episodes of the second season of 'Naagin,' which have gained about 180,000 views as of 1 May, 2017. The series, which began airing in 2015, is a supernatural drama.

Besides DKDM, other fairly watched Indian dramas in China include 'Mahabharat,' a Hindi-language mythological drama series that premiered in 2013 and 'Buddhaa - Rajaon Ka Raja' (Buddhaa - The King of Kings), which first aired in 2013.

With inputs from PTI
By Nate Raymond

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) on Thursday was ordered by a Missouri jury to pay over $110 million to a Virginia woman who says she developed ovarian cancer after decades of using of its talc-based products for feminine hygiene.The verdict in state court in St. Louis was the largest so far to arise out of about 2,400 lawsuits accusing J&J of not adequately warning consumers about the cancer risks of talc-based products including its well-known Johnson's Baby Powder.Many of those lawsuits are pending in the state court in St. Louis, where the company has faced four prior trials, three of which resulted in verdicts awarding plaintiffs $195 million in total. The last trial ended in a defense verdict.Thursday's verdict came in a lawsuit against J&J and talc supplier Imerys Talc by Lois Slemp, a resident of Virginia who is currently undergoing chemotherapy after her ovarian cancer initially diagnosed in 2012 returned and spread to her liver.She claimed that she developed cancer after four decades of daily use of talc-containing products produced by J&J, specifically J&J's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder.

The jury awarded $5.4 million in compensatory damages and said J&J was 99 percent at fault while Imerys was just 1 percent. It awarded punitive damages of $105 million against J&J and a unit and $50,000 against Imerys.The verdict was watched by Reuters through Courtroom View Network, which carried a web broadcast, and confirmed by a spokesman for a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

In a statement, J&J said that it sympathized with women impacted by ovarian cancer but planned to appeal."We are preparing for additional trials this year and we continue to defend the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder," J&J said.The verdict came after J&J secured its first trial win in the Missouri litigation, when a jury in March sided with the company in a lawsuit by a Tennessee woman who said she developed cancer after using Baby Powder.

That verdict broke a three-trial winning streak by plaintiffs that began with a verdict in February 2016 in which a jury ordered J&J to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer. In May 2016, another Missouri jury awarded $55 million to a woman who said J&J's talc-powder products caused her to develop ovarian cancer. J&J was hit with a third verdict in October for $67.5 million. The case is Slemp v. Johnson & Johnson, 22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri, No. 1422-CC09326-01. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa Shumaker)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Etah (Madhya Pradesh): Fourteen people were killed and 28 others injured when a truck carrying a marriage party lost control and fell into a canal here.

The incident took place near Sarai Neem in Jalesar, nearly 230 km from the state capital of Lucknow, at around 3 am when the truck was returning from Agra, the police said. Etah is four hours from the national capital.

The deceased have been identified as Girand Singh (65), Prashant (12), Lavkush (21), Mukesh (23), Nerapal (25), Padam Singh (50), Omveer (19), Shaitan Singh (50), Padam Singh (40), Bani Singh (45), Rajendra (60), Vijay (22), Pravendra Fauji (35) and Sanju (25). All of them died on the spot. The injured have been rushed to hospital.

Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured in the accident.

"My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the accident in Etah, UP. May those injured in the accident recover quickly," the prime minister said.

The incident comes a few months after 15 children were killed and over 20 others injured in January when their school bus collided with a lorry amid dense fog on Aliganj-Patiyali road in Etah.
New Delhi: The central government announced a Nirbhaya Fund with a corpus of Rs 3,000 crore in 2013 to support initiatives towards ensuring safety of women, following nationwide outrage after the December 2012 gangrape. But since then, there hasn't been any information from the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry about utilisation of the fund.

The Supreme Court even issued a notice to the Centre and all the state governments questioning the non-utilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund in May 2016.

Due to various accusations regarding the under-utilisation of the fund since 2013, the government issued a clarification in January 2017, saying that the Ministry of Finance has issued guidelines from time to time for administration and operationalisation of the fund.

In that clarification, it gave a list of schemes like a project of Railways  Integrated Emergency Response Management System (IERMS), the Home Ministry project  Emergency Response support System (ERSS), Abhaya Project Proposal in Andhra Pradesh, Chirali Friends Forever in Rajasthan etc.

The Railways project at a cost of Rs 500 crore has been approved to provide round the clock security to women passengers in 983 railway stations by strengthening of security control rooms, according to the WCD Ministry.

It said that for creation of the Home Ministry's project, a total cost of Rs 322 crore has been approved.

"There hasn't been any feedback from the ministries whether the fund allocated to them has been utilised," a WCD official told IANS on Friday.

The proposal of Abhaya Project is for ensuring the safety of women and the girl child during transportation (auto-rickshaw). It has been proposed by Andhra Pradesh with a cost of Rs 139 crore, according to the ministry.

It explained Chirali as a scheme to constitute Community Action Groups in seven districts of Rajasthan covering a total of 2,071 gram panchayats. The cost of the project is Rs 11 crore, it said.

The amount allocated to different projects is approximately Rs 1,530 crore so far and the expenditure incurred is approximately Rs 400 crore (as per the information available with the Ministry of Women and Child Development).

While the ministry records show the allocation of the fund to different ministries and NGOs but there is no material on where the fund has been utilised.

The clarification just proves that the schemes and projects under the Nirbhaya Fund have been drafted but have not been manifested on the ground level.

Post the January 27 clarification, there has been no more information from the ministry about the utilisation of the fund.

A WCD ministry official on Friday had the same information to share with IANS that was issued three months back.
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Twelve members of the Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) of the European Committee of the Regions have paid a visit to the town and district of Leer in the German region of Lower-Saxony. The objective is to get acquaintance of the Master Plan Ems 2050, a comprehensive programme to improve water quality and habitats, in line with requirements from the EU nature and water directives, while ensuring economic development along the Ems waterway.

Together with agriculture and tourism, ship transportation shapes the Ems region with nearly 15,000 employees working in this sector. However, the Ems waterway is in poor ecological condition as the water contains little oxygen, a lot of suspended matter and too much salt. The concentration of sediment in the water of the Ems is 100- to 1000-times that in the Elbe and Weser rivers. The harbors along the Ems are also suffering from the massive silt contamination.

The Master Plan Ems 2050 aims at securing the economic infrastructure of the Ems region, to offer plants and animals significantly better water quality and to revitalise the habitats along the banks. In addition to improving statutory habitats, silt reduction measures will contribute to maintaining the Ems as an efficient federal waterway and to ensure the economic development of the region. Overall, the Master Plan Ems 2050 intends to recreate typical estuary habitats while maintaining the Ems's function as a shipping waterway.

The study visit falls within ENVE's policy priority of improving the implementation of EU's environmental legislation. The CoR joined a project team of EU commissioners for the first time to steer the newly launched Nature Directives Action Plan . In addition, EU's Assembly of local and regional representatives is currently contributing to the Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) via an opinion of Andrew Cooper (UK/EA) , Member of Kirklees Council, to be adopted in October 2017. On the EU Birds and Habitats Directives  also known as Nature Directives, the CoR pledges of releasing an action plan instead of making revision in law was echoed by the European Commission (opinion of Roby Biwer (LU/PES), Member of Bettembourg Municipal Council, December 2015).

The members who have taken part in the study visit are the following: From the EPP group; Csaba Borboly (RO/EPP), President of Harghita County Council, Dimitrios Kalogeropoulos (EL/EPP) , from the Municipal Council of Palaio Faliro, Raymund Kovacs (HU/EPP), Representative District 16 Budapest and Giorgio SILLI (IT/EPP), Member of Prato Municipal Council. From the PES group; Matteo Besozzi (IT/PES), President of the Province of Novara, Roby Biwer (LU/PES), Member of Bettembourg Municipal Council, Marco Dus (IT/PES), Member of Vittorio Veneto Municipal Council, Province of Treviso,Paul Farrugia (MT/PES), Mayor of al Tarxien. From ALDE; Cees Loggen (NL/ALDE), Member of the Executive Council of the Province of North-Holland and Satu Tietari (FI/ALDE), Local councillor of Sakyla. From EA; Declan McDonnell (IE/EA) from Galway City Council. From ECR; Vytautas Kanevicius (LT/ECR), Member of Kazlu Ruda Municipal Council.

The study visit was organized in cooperation with CoR member Birgit Hone (DE/PES), State Secretary for Europe and Regional State Development in the Lower Saxony State Chancellery.

Next 15 May, the CoR First Vice-President Karl-Heinz Lambertz will take part in a ceremony for the launch of the European Natura 2000 Day, to be celebrated every year on 21 May.

The European Committee of the Regions, the European Commission and the Maltese Presidency are jointly hosting a conference on 6 June 2017 on the EU Nature Directives Action Plan in the premises of the CoR.

Background information

New EU Nature Directives Action Plan supports regions to protect biodiversity and drive socio-economic growth

Click here for more information on the Ems Master Plan 2050.

Contact:

David Crous | Tel. +32 (0)470 88 10 37 | david.crous@cor.europa.eu
Supreme Court on Friday upheld the earlier order of death sentence to the four convicts in the brutal Delhi 2012 gangrape case.

The SC bench said, "Taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committed by the convicts, we are upholding the sentence." The apex court, in its order, termed the incident "barbaric."

#JusticeForNirbhaya All 4 rapists to be hanged, SC upholds death sentence by HC. pic.twitter.com/DhEzVkpxEQ  News18 (@CNNnews18) May 5, 2017

SC said 'taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committeed by the convicts, we are upholding the sentence' #Nirbhaya  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur were convicted on charges of brutally raping and assaulting 23-year-old Jyoti Singh inside a bus that led to her death.

SC confirmed findings of the trial court and Delhi High Court against the four convicts in the case. The SC bench said in its order, the nature and manner of the crime devastated social trust and it falls in 'rarest of rare' category warranting the death penalty. According to PTI, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra wrote two separate but concurring judgments in the case. The Delhi High Court earlier upheld their conviction and death sentence.

Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice R Banumathi said the aggravating circumstances against Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur far outweighed the mitigating circumstances cited in their favour.

"Victim's dying declaration is consistent; it has been proved beyond doubt and corroborated," the Supreme Court said. The apex court further said that scientific evidence like DNA profiling of victim and accused proved to the hilt about their presence at the crime spot, reported PTI.

The Supreme Court order further said that convicts' background, age, no criminal record, good behaviour in prison cannot outweigh aggravating circumstances.

The paramedical student was gruesomely beaten, gang-raped and tortured in a moving bus by Ram Singh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta, Mukesh and a juvenile on 16 December, 2012 when she was travelling with a friend in New Delhi. She succumbed to her injuries 13 days later at a Singapore hospital.

Ram Singh, who was the prime accused, was found dead in his cell in Tihar Jail in March, 2013 and the juvenile was on 31 August convicted and sentenced to a maximum of three years in a reformation home by the Juvenile Justice Board. The fate of four death row convicts was decided on Friday.

After the verdict was out, Jyoti Singh's father told ANI that he was happy with the judgment and it was a victory for the family.

It's a victory for my family,I am very happy with the judgement: #Nirbhaya's father to ANI  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

Here's the full text of the Supreme Court verdict:

Mukesh and Another vs State for NCT of Delhi and Others by Firstpost on Scribd


Hyderabad: All India Majlis-Ittehadul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday questioned the "double standards" in awarding death penalty to rapists, especially when it came to communal riots.

Reacting to a Bombay High Court judgment upholding life sentence to 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano case, he said the Modi government should appeal in the Supreme Court seeking death sentence.

The MP said the convicts not only raped Bilkis Bano, who was pregnant, but also murdered her young daughter, sister, mother and 11 other family members.

"I think it's a fit case for awarding death penalty to the rapists," the President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) told reporters.

Owaisi said while he respected the High Court judgment, he wanted to know why there were "double standards" in giving capital punishment.

Owaisi said he also respected the court order awarding death penalty to Yakub Memon although everyone knew that he had no direct or indirect involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts but the court found circumstantial evidence against him.

He recalled that Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat when Bilkis Bano was raped and her family members were killed.

He said since his government did not conduct a proper inquiry, the Supreme Court handed over the case to the CBI.

"I want to know from the Modi government which talks about rights of Muslim women and the need to do justice to them, whether it will ask the CBI to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court judgment so that the convicts get death penalty," he said.
Guwahati: The Assam government has revised its draft population policy and will take it up with the Centre to ensure that the MLAs adhere to the two-child family planning norm.

The Assam assembly will approve an amendment of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 for the purpose and recommend for Parliament to pass it, state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday.

As per the revised draft policy named 'Draft & Women Empowerment Policy of Assam' the two-child norm will be proposed as the yardstick for any contestant to the state legislature.

"In case any MLA from the state flouts the family planning norms  that is MLAs having more than two children may be disqualified from his/her membership and be debarred from contesting polls in future," the revised policy said.

Candidates with not more than two children will only be eligible for the government employment, while the government servants will strictly follow norms of two children family to serve as roll model for society, Sarma told newsmen in Guwahati.

For population control, the government proposes to launch massive multi-media, door-to-door outreach, community meetings, educational campaigns including text book chapters on population control from class VII onward and medical counselling in aid of family planning, he said.

Elaborating on population growth in Assam, Sarma said against its decadal 17 per cent natural population growth 11 districts, including Kamrup (Metro) that comprises Guwahati city only, saw population growth from 18.34 per cent to 24.44 per cent as per the 2011 census.

The 11 districts are Dhubri, Morigaon, Goalpara, Darrang, Nagaon, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Cachar and Kamrup(M).

With the 2011 census report stating Assam's population has increased to 3.12 crore from 2.66 crore in 2001, the state health and family welfare department prepared the draft policy to incentivise families to optimise their size and thus allowing them the freedom to aspire for higher standard of living, he said.

The revisions were made after the government solicited public reaction to the Draft Population Policy, which was uploaded in its website on March 27.

The government had received 80 emails, 600 reactions in the social media and 37 reports in mainstream on the policy.

The revised 'Draft & Women Empowerment Policy of Assam' quotes the UN Programme of Action on Population and Development that stresses on empowerment and autonomy of women and improvement of their political, social, economic and health status being necessary for the achievement of sustainable human development.

It points out the objectives of the policy is to improve the women's sense of self worth, their right to have and to determine choices, access to opportunities and resources, power to control their own lives both within and outside the home and their ability to influence their environment to create a more just social and economic order.

Sarma said the specific measures to promote women's empowerment would focus on girls' education by enacting legislations, pensions/schemes for widows/divorcees/single women to live with dignity and without economic persecution.

It would also focus on employment/pension for Muslim divorcee women, special packages for SC/ST and Tea Tribe and economically weaker section of women, besides legislations for adequate representation of women in elected bodies and to increase the reservation of women in eligible jobs up to 50 percent, he added.
As Indias human rights record was reviewed, such themes as ratifying the UNs Convention Against Torture (CAT), protection of religious and other minorities, criminalising marital rape and reviewing the Foreign Contribution Regulatory Act (FCRA) were raised by foreign governments at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Thursday.

The 18-member Indian delegation at the HRC led by the Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi said in his opening statement that "India is a secular State with no State religion", and that it does not discriminate on the basis of religion, caste or colour. "Some of Indias most famous institutions of academic excellence are minority institutions," Rohatgi said, "Safeguarding the rights of minorities forms an essential core of our polity."

In the statement, Rohatgi said that India is committed to ratifying CAT. "We believe in peace, non-violence and upholding human dignity. As such, the concept of torture is completely alien to our culture and it has no place in the governance of the nation," he said. More than 30 countries including Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Russia and Senegal called on India to ratify CAT. It may be recalled that while India signed CAT in 1997, it has yet to ratify the convention.

Germany called for the amendment of the FCRA "ensuring the freedom of association which includes the civil societys ability to access foreign funding" and protect human rights defenders against harassment. The German delegate expressed concern over the treatment of minorities. Around a dozen countries, mostly from the western bloc  including Ireland, the US, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Czech Republic and Norway, spoke of reviewing the FCRA for its negative impact on the functioning of NGOs, which recently led to the cancellation of the licences of more than 10,000 NGOs due to alleged violations of Indian law.

The American delegate said that it noted the "lack of transparency and uneven application" in the FCRA that impedes NGOs.

Switzerland stated that it was "concerned about the increasing restrictions imposed by the Government of India on the independent actors of civil society" including those of religious minorities and against their activities.

"Any measures limiting freedom of expression and assembly and association on the internet is based on clearly defined criteria in accordance with international law including international human rights law," Sweden said.

India responded by saying that FCRA prohibits the acceptance or utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality for any activity that is detrimental to national interest and that "CSOs and individuals need to work in conformity and within the legal framework of the State".

The issue of discrimination against religious and other minorities as well as the need to repeal anti-conversion laws were raised by countries like the US, the UK, Switzerland, the Vatican, the Netherlands, Germany and South Korea among others.

The American delegate said that laws restricting religious conversion "contribute to intolerance" while the Vatican recommended strengthening freedom of religion especially by "retracting so-called anti-conversion laws", to pursue through appropriate judicial means to prevent all violent acts against religious and tribal minorities, Dalits and other lower castes. The UK said that it encourages the passing of the Communal Violence Bill in Parliament.

"On the issue of perceived discrimination of minorities and the situation of freedom of religion, it is to be stated that India is a secular country. India is one of the most diverse nations in terms of religion," said Rohatgi. India also cited various constitutional guarantees for exercising the freedom of religion.

Although some countries spoke of the need to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Acts (Afspa) and hold security forces accountable, only Pakistan raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan said that India must stop violations of human rights against Kashmiri people and "allow them to exercise their right to self-determination through a free and fair plebiscite". It further said that it should repeal Afspa and "immediately ban" the use of pellet guns.

"The present situation in Jammu and Kashmir was and is aggravated by sustained cross-border terrorism emanating from our neighbourhood,"India said in response, "The entire state of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and hence, any such description as 'Indian-administered' or 'Indian-occupied' Kashmir is invalid and artificial."

A number of countries raised the issue of womens rights, like including marital rape within the ambit of rape laws (Spain, Latvia, Namibia, Portugal, Slovenia, Ireland, Sweden, Zambia, Belgium and others), the issue of honour killings and forced sterilisations (Ghana, Iceland, Sweden and others), as well as repealing Section 377 (Israel, Iceland, Norway, Canada and others) that criminalises same sex relations.

Japan said thatal though there has been progress on issues around womens empowerment, more effective measures were needed to protect women because they continue to be subjected to "widespread discrimination".

Spain, Italy, Namibia, Portugal, Ireland and Belgium among other countries spoke of the need to have a moratorium on the death penalty in India and eventually abolish it altogether. From the Indian neighbourhood, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan backed Indias human rights record.

Attacks against Africans in India were also mentioned by some countries like Haiti, who called on India to take measures to address "Afrophobia". India called all attacks on Africans in India as "unfortunate and painful" and that the relations with Africa is "based on brotherhood". Not all acts of violence should be construed as racial attacks, India said, adding that it is the land of Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi and that "we cannot have a racial mindset".

This is Indias third universal periodic review (UPR)  a peer review by other UN member states where the human rights record of a country is examined. The UPR recommendations of India will be adopted on 9 May. It is among 14 countries to be reviewed in the current cycle.
A pallid looking 16-year-old Sameer Ahmad Dar had never experienced this: gunmen alighted from the car that screeched to halt outside his dairy store and asked him not to move. He had walked up to the road where dread overtook him as a speeding car slammed brakes and halted before him. Four gunmen came out from the vehicle and didn't allow him to move till they had run out from the Jammu and Kashmir Bank and climbed down the stairs with cash of near Rs 1.5 lakh and sped away.

In Kashmir, gunmen looting banks has emerged as a new phenomenon, but the police and the locals differ on their opinion on the men behind the attacks.

On Wednesday, at around 3:15 pm, gunmen looted the Nehama branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, where teenager Sameer looked awestruck. While the police have blamed the militants for the bank attacks, eyewitnesses of at least two bank robberies, which happened on Wednesday, said that it could have even been the handiwork of 'government gunmen'. Sameer said that four gunmen, who attacked the bank, were masked and only the driver had his face uncovered. "I don't know who these people were. They were all masked and I was terribly frightened and I felt like I escaped from the jaws of death,'' he said.

Though the police have blamed militants for both, the Nehama as well as earlier bank robberies, in a recent statement Hizbul Mujahidin said that "we didn't attack the vehicle with the intent to loot the cash." However, Hizbul, in the statement, claimed responsibility for the attack on policemen who were travelling in a bank van at Kulgam. "We have enough cash.''

Five policemen and two bank guards were killed on 1 May as militants engaged with the forces at Kulgam who were travelling in the van after depositing cash at one of the branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

The attacks have, however, lead to further deterioration in the security scenario and increased lawlessness in Kashmir, which recently also witnessed the bypolls for the Anantang parliamentary seat being cancelled. On Wednesday, a few hours before gunmen struck the Nehama branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, they looted Rs 4.9 lakh from the Wahibug branch of Elaqahi Dehati (EDB) Bank. But even as the accounts of the police and the locals differ, lack of security is making the banks in the Valley vulnerable.

The EDB branch at Wahibug is manned by two people, including, Riyaz Ahmad Dar, an office assistant, who is the bank incharge. He said that he had not deposited the cash at the treasury as he was the only person at the bank to receive deposits. A day after militants looted the bank, EDB has stopped receiving deposits or even entertaining the request of customers to withdraw money.

A resident of Wahibug, Shabir Ahmad Dhobi, was told by the bank incharge that he can withdraw money at the Pulwama branch. An eyewitness to the bank robbery at Wahibug, Aijaz Ahmad Teli, said that at around 1: 40 pm on Wednesday, around 4 gunmen clad in pheran came to the bank and within few minutes managed to take away the cash. "I was sitting outside the shop when a Maruti car stopped and gunmen stormed out of the car and in the bank. They got two other shopkeepers from the adjacent shop to sit beside me and asked us not to move. While two gunmen stayed outside, three others went upstairs and came back with the cash. Within 10 minutes they had looted the bank and sped away,'' he said.

Ghulam Hassan Bhat, who runs an embroidery shop at Wahibug, said, "It could be anybody behind the attack. It could even government gunmen,'' he said.

Outside the Newa branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Showkat Ahmad Bhat, who runs a garments shop, and who has an account in the bank, said that the bank has stopped receiving deposits or dispensing cash. " We are facing difficulties. We don't have even the ATM facility here,'' he said, and added, "People here have to travel two to three kilometers to withdraw the cash from some other bank.''

A police official at Kakpora police post, under which Newa branch of Jammu and Kashmir Bank falls, said that they have received an application from the bank authorities that some unidentified gunmen looted around Rs 1.4 lakh. "The only security the bank had a lone security guard," he said.
New Delhi: A Delhi Police team, accompanied by the woman accused of honey-trapping a BJP MP and demanding Rs 5 crore from him, reached Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday in connection with its probe in the case.

"We have contacted the UP police to provide further details regarding other cases filed by the accused woman in the state. We have also asked the police stations in Delhi to give details of all rape cases filed by the woman," said a senior police officer.

The Delhi Police has also found details of five bank accounts being operated by the woman, he said.

On Wednesday, a police team had gone to the woman's Indirapuram residence in the national capital and recovered some videos. She had installed many cameras in her flat.

The police has also found visiting cards of politicians and industrialists from her flat. Sources also claimed that condoms and Viagra pills were found in her flat.

The officials also seized two SUV cars belonging to the woman.

"A DVR (Digitial Voice Recorder) of 500 GB that was seized has been sent for forensic examination," police said.

The police has also found that the woman had filed a rape case against a politician in Deoband.

KC Patel, MP from Gujarat's Valsad, had filed a complaint with the police last week, claiming that the woman had drugged him and shot obscene videos.

The woman had approached a city court, claiming the police did not act on her rape complaint against the lawmaker.
Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday made a pitch for setting up unified operational command in each Naxal-hit district in the state to give a sharp edge to anti-Naxal operations.

Singh chaired a meeting of unified command at the state secretariat in Raipur to discuss anti-Maoist strategy in the wake of the deadly Maoist attack in Sukma district recently.

"The chief minister stressed the need to constitute unified operational command in LWE-affected districts in the

state to eliminate the menace," a state public relation officer said.

To achieve success in the counter-insurgency operations at the ground level, it is necessary to set up district-level unified commands and convene its meetings on weekly and fortnightly basis, the chief minister said.

"The district-level unified command should be headed by the superintendent of police of the district concerned,

while officials of the central armed forces working in the region should be made its members so that both the Centre and the state can together take on the challenge with more seriousness," he said.

Besides, he also suggested setting up a joint training centre in Sukma and Bijapur districts for combined training of central and state forces.

"Around 50-60 jawans from both central and state forces should be provided training at the joint training centre in order to enhance mutual coordination among them," Singh underlined.

He further said that Central and state agencies were working with a better coordination on both development and

security fronts to flush out the menace of Naxalism.

"The central and state armed forces are also working with a better coordination," the chief minister said.

State's schemes like livelihood training college are yielding good results in the affected districts, through which local youths are being associated with skill development training for securing jobs, he said.

Describing the recent attack on CRPF personnel as an unfortunate incident, the chief minister said, "The Naxals are frustrated with increasing influence of public welfare schemes in the affected areas and hence indulging in such cowardly acts."

"But the forces' morale is high and soon naxalism will be wiped out with joint efforts," the chief minister said.

All the security forces should have better understanding of geographical location, information about armed naxals, their supporters and their strategy, in the concerned area of their working, he said.

All the officials and employees involved in anti-Maoist operations should be shown video clippings of such

operations so that they can have its better understanding, he said.

State Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra, Senior Security Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs K Vijay Kumar, Chief

Secretary Vivek Dhand, Director General of Police AN Upadhyay and top officials of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF) and other wings of security forces attended the meeting.

On 24 April, naxals had ambushed a patrolling team of CRPF's 74th battalion near its Burkapal camp under Chintagufa police station limits, killing 25 troopers and injuring seven others.

Chief ministers and top civil and police officers of naxal-hit states were invited to attend the meeting convened

by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on 8 May to review anti-Maoist strategy.
New Delhi: The fate of four death row convicts in the sensational 16 December 2012 gangrape and murder case would be decided on Friday as the Supreme Court would deliver its verdict on their appeals challenging the Delhi High Court judgement.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan would deliver the judgment on Friday in the case that had shaken the entire nation's conscience.

The apex court had on 27 March reserved its verdict on the appeals of four convicts  Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh  against the conviction and death penalty awarded to them by the high court on 13 March 2014.

The 23-year-old paramedic was brutally assaulted and raped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi and thrown out of the vehicle with her male friend on the night of 16 December 2012. She had died in a Singapore hospital on 29 December that year.

Besides dealing with the challenge to the conviction, the apex court was also deliberating on the issue of quantum of sentence to the convicts as it has been alleged that the trial court did not separately consider "mitigating" circumstances of each convict while sending them to the gallows.

While Delhi Police had sought capital punishment for the convicts, the defence counsel had said they deserved leniency considering their poor family background and young age.

The police had told the bench that the horrific crime committed by these men warranted death penalty and the test of being a "rarest of rare" case was satisfied in this matter and the court should also consider the effect of crime committed by them on the victim and the society at large.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who has assisted the court as an amicus curiae, had told the bench that there was no doubt that the crime committed was of "immense proportion" but as the evidence was not concrete, it does not warrant death penalty.

Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran, also an amicus curiae, had said that option of awarding jail term for the whole life to these convicts may also be considered.

The convicts have approached the Supreme Court against the high court's order which had confirmed the death penalty awarded to them by the trial court.

During the hearing, advocates A P Singh and M L Sharma, representing the four convicts, had said they should be given a chance to reform and considering the mitigating factors, the court should not award them death penalty. They also raised questions about the evidence collected by the police in the matter.

On 3 February, the apex court bench had prima facie agreed with the contention of Ramachandran that the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), relating to sentencing of convicts, has not been followed in letter and spirit by the trial court.

It was submitted that section 235 of the CrPC provides that an accused, in the event of conviction, would be heard by on the question of sentencing individually before the trial judge passes the order awarding punishment.

The bench had then mulled ways to rectify the apparent error and said there are two modes -- either the case be remanded back to the trial court to pass a fresh order on the sentence or the apex court itself hears this aspect of the matter afresh.

The trial court had awarded death penalty to the four convicts. Prime accused Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in his cell in Tihar jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were abated.

The high court, in its verdict, had observed that their offence fell in the rarest of the rare category and had upheld the death sentence awarded to them by the trial court.
New Delhi: The Centre on Friday said the local administration in Kashmir has the right to confiscate the equipment of cable operators allegedly airing unauthorised Pakistani channels and take action against them.

Stating that the government has sent an advisory, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore underlined that such advisories are regularly sent by the Centre on unauthorised channels.

"We also monitor whenever such news comes up. It is our work to ask for report about such incidents. The action is being taken," he said.

Rathore said it is the responsibility of the local administration to monitor unauthorised channels in their area and they have the right to take action against them.

"In Kashmir, the district collector or the authorised government official can confiscate the equipment and take action against cable operators," he said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

The minister was responding to reports that over 50 Saudi and Pakistani channels besides Zakir Naik's banned Peace TV and others indulging in "anti-India" propaganda were allegedly running without necessary clearances via private cable networks in Kashmir.
How should India deal with Pakistan in the face of its ever growing hostility and animosity towards us, the latest manifestation of which was the gruesome beheading early this week of Indian soldiers and brutalisation of their bodies by the Pakistani Army in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir? Is New Delhis existing official stance (despite all that Pakistan does) that it is in Indias interests to have "a stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan" any longer relevant? Or does this position need a serious review?

Any dispassionate answer will depend on what precisely is the nature of Pakistan as a country or state. Let us not forget that Pakistan is an essentially an "Army with a country". It is the army that decides Pakistans policy towards India. There are three lakshman rekhas (limiting lines) that the army has drawn for the civilian prime ministers and presidents. One, they would not interfere in any manner with the organisational and administrative work of the Armed Forces or for that matter do anything that adversely affects the image of the army. Two, they would abide by the advice of the army chief on matters of foreign and defence policies. Three, they would not interfere with the army-controlled nuclear weaponisation and missile programmes. Any doubt on this score, if there was one, has been dispelled by the army "rejecting" last week Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs decision to sack his aide Tariq Fatemi for "leaking" information to the media about differences between the civilian government and the army.

But then this is not all. The worst part is that the Pakistani Army is increasingly getting Islamised, both directly and indirectly (through connivance with the Islamic fundamentalists).

It may be mentioned here that the beheading of our soldiers was carried out by a joint team of the Pakistani soldiers and fundamentalist terrorists (the so-called Border Action Team or BAT comprised of the regular army and terrorist LeT or Hizbul cadres). In fact, in all its wars against India, Pakistan has always used the militant Islamists. In the first Indo-Pakistan War in 1947, the Pakistan Army used militant Islamists as a potent weapon - it used Islamist rhetoric to mobilise Pashtun tribesmen from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and urged clerics to issue fatwas ordering their clans into Kashmir.

There has always been a perpetual patron-client relationship between the Pakistan Army and militant Islamists. General Ayub Khan, Pakistans first military head of state always used Islamic rhetoric against even his political opponents, let alone against India in the 1965-war. His successor General Yahya Khan did the same  he unleashed Deobandi mujahideen against his own citizens in the then East Pakistan. And things deteriorated further when General Zia-ul-Haq came to the scene  he changed Muhammad Ali Jinnahs original army motto from "Unity, Faith, and Discipline" to "Faith, Piety, and Jihad for the sake of Allah". Zia described himself to be "a soldier of Islam".

It is indeed a real irony that of all the rulers of Pakistan if anyone tried to control the menace of "Islamic fundamentalism" in the armed forces or for that matter in the rest of the Pakistani society, it was General Pervez Musharraf. That he did not succeed fully is a different matter. The point is that in all the wars that Pakistan is likely to be involved in future, its army will fight ostensibly for the cause of Islam. That explains why it is hyper now in promoting and arming the Islamists in the valley, and all of them happen to be separatists.

But then, it is a huge myth that Pakistan will shed its hostility to India if Kashmir issue is resolved on Islamabads terms. Even if Kashmir joins Pakistan, Islamabad will find out another issue to trouble India. Because, Pakistans antipathy towards India is deep-rooted. In fact, Pakistans very existence as an entity depends on hostility towards India. Take India away and Pakistans justification as a separate country in the map of the world will hold no water.

All told, India was partitioned in 1947 to create a homeland for Muslims under the name of Pakistan. But it so happened that more Muslims stayed back in India than those who joined Pakistan And this explains why the Pakistan Army promotes fundamentalist mullahs in the country and uses them in tirades against India through terrorist organisations like the LeT. This fundamentalist Wahabi Islam negates the Sufi tradition that promoted Hindu-Muslim amity and coexistence in the subcontinent for centuries. So much so that many Pakistanis now suffer from some identity crisis  they are not sure whether they should retain their age-old cultural roots (that are obviously influenced by Hinduism) or develop totally new "Arab identities".

Oblivious of Indias size, population and potentials, Pakistans obsession right since its inception has been seeking parity with India. And how to seek parity? One has to do everything that India does. If India has nuclear weapons and missiles, Pakistan must have them even if in the process, as late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said, "The Pakistanis have to eat grass (to survive)". The other thing to do is to work towards the disintegration of India so that India comes down to the size of Pakistan. This policy, as Bhutto said, was "essential for Pakistans national survival and unity". Therefore, he further elaborated, Pakistans policies against India should be closely coordinated with China so as to balkanise India by cutting off the countrys northern, eastern (North East) and southern (Kerala) wings. In fact, Mushahid Hussain, once a former information minister under Sharif, had argued that Pakistan should work towards the division of India into three or four independent countries. Simultaneously, Pakistans ISI machinery will concentrate on widening the Hindu-Muslim divide, spreading hatred and destroying Indias inherent ethos of communal harmony.

In other words, India will remain Pakistans eternal enemy as long as one can see. It is against this background that one has to review the rationale behind Indias traditional position that it wants a stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan. At least there should be a debate on this position, something our media, think tanks, let alone the government, tend to avoid.

In my considered view, there are there are three options. Option one is covert or overt support for attempts at the disintegration of Pakistan, for which highly conducive atmosphere exists in Baluchistan and Sindh. But this will be problematic for Indias growing international profile as a democratic, peaceful and responsible nation.

The second option is a full-fledged war to settle the bilateral irritants once and for all. This needs an emphatic victory for India, to be followed by a peace agreement that includes giving up all its roles in Kashmir and a verifiable pledge to end the fundamentalist religious activities on its soil against India. This is an option India can justify internationally. However, the point here is whether India is capable enough to win the war decisively, that too when there is a possibility of China coming to Pakistans rescue. This is something no one can be sure of, and hence there is a serious question over the efficacy of this option.

There is a third option, which, to me, is worth attempting. And that is to annul the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960. The IWT is the only treaty of its kind in the world where the upper riparian state (India) makes all the sacrifices for the lower riparian (Pakistan). As Brahma Chellaney, one of the countrys leading security experts, wrote on The Hindu, The Indus treaty stands out as the worlds most generous water-sharing arrangement by far, in terms of both the sharing ratio (80.52 percent of the aggregate water flows in the Indus system reserved for Pakistan) and the total volume of basin waters for the downstream state (Pakistan gets 90 times greater volume of water than Mexicos share under a 1944 pact with the US). It is the first and only treaty that goes beyond water sharing to partitioning rivers. It drew a virtual line on the map of India to split the Indus Basin into upper and lower parts, limiting Indias full sovereignty rights to the lower section and reserving for Pakistan the upper rivers of Jammu and Kashmir  the so-called 'western rivers'." And the irony here is that if any state that has been deprived of the Indus Water the most, then it is Jammu and Kashmir!

As the Indus river is the lifeline of Pakistan, the most credible lesson that India can teach to Pakistan is to dissolve the IWT and negotiate a fresh one by drawing a clear linkage between Pakistans right to water inflows more than what a lower riparian gets by international standard and its responsibility not to indulge in anti-India activities.
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Reflecting on Europe's future and rebuilding trust

The EU is at a critical juncture confronted by unprecedented challenges and faced with rising levels of public distrust. As the two EU institutions with a direct link to the citizens, the European Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament have a pivotal role in restoring citizens' trust and help build a consensus about Europe's future.

As part of the ongoing reflection on the past, present and future of Europe, the Committee  the EU's political assembly of local and regional governments - has launched an initiative called " Reflecting on Europe ", which includes member-led citizens' dialogues and town hall debates, as well as political debates in regional parliaments and local councils. The aim is to give citizens a space to express their concerns and expectations from Europe. By doing so, the Committee will respond to a request from European Council's President Tusk to send its recommendations on rebuilding trust in Europe through the voice of cities and regions.

The European Commission President and First Vice-President have also called the Committee to present its views on the White Paper on the Future of Europe . In this respect the CoR will adopt, on 12 May, a Resolution on the European Commission's White Paper, specifically highlighting the crucial role of EU cohesion policy in connecting citizens with Europe and building solidarity.

Local investment: what future for the EU budget and Cohesion Policy?

European Structural and Investment Funds are the main investment tools of the EU, worth more than one third of the overall EU budget until 2020. But their role after 2020 may be under threat due to Brexit and the emergence of other EU priorities, such as defence, security and migration. On 11 May, in an opinion led by Michael Schneider (EPP/DE), European cities and regions will present their proposals to improve cohesion policy and strengthen its contribution to the EU goals. The following day, the European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, Gunther Oettinger, will address the CoR members, shortly before the Committee adopts its resolution on the Draft Annual EU Budget for 2018.

Also on the agenda is a debate with the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Ms Gudrun Mosler-Tornstrom, focusing on human rights, democracy, freedom and the rule of law.

Other opinions to be adopted:

Practical information:

Where: European Parliament  Jozsef Antall building (Room JAN 4Q2) - 60 rue Wiertz, Brussels

When: 11 May, 3pm - 9pm; 12 May, 9am - 1pm

See plenary's agenda & documents

The plenary will be streamed live on the CoR's website

Plenary media programme



Follow us: @EU_CoR , #CoRplenary



Contacts:

PresseCdr@cor.europa.eu
New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, and discussed the security situation in the Valley.

The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office at South Block, New Delhi, and lasted about 45 minutes. The governor discussed the continuing unrest in parts of the Kashmir Valley, official sources said.

He also informed the prime minister about various developmental works being done in Jammu and Kashmir, they said.

Vohra had met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, and apprised him of the security situation in the state.

The Valley is witnessing a fresh bout of violence since the last few days. South Kashmir especially has seen a spate of attacks on banks in Shopian and Pulwama districts.

Militants had attacked an army patrol on Thursday, leaving a civilian dead and three personnel injured during a massive operation involving 4,000 troops started by the security forces to clear South Kashmir of terrorists.
Security agencies in the Kashmir Valley have intensified their efforts to flush out militants, and the recent attacks on banking facilities may just have been the final straw. Media reports have suggested that a massive combing operation took place over the last couple of days, and as many as 4,000 personnel have been pressed into action.

According to a report in The Indian Express, the operation involved over 4,000 personnel  including four battalions of Rashtriya Rifles, eight companies of CRPF, and five platoons of J&K police, including 30 women constables, and the Indian Reserve Police.

"A cordon operation of this magnitude has not been undertaken in Kashmir in the last 15 years. The purpose of the operation is to exert pressure on militants and force them to move out of their comfort zone. The ravines and orchards around the Rambi Ara river (in Shopian) provide ideal hideouts for militants. They will not be able to congregate and move in large groups now," a senior army official was reported as saying.

In retaliation to the operation, locals resorted to stone pelting. A vehicle being used by the soldiers was attacked, and the driver was killed in the ambush. A report in The Times of India said those injured were transported to hospitals in Srinagar.

The operation saw the re-introduction of door-to-door search of houses, a practice stopped in the late 1990s. The troops asked villagers to assemble in a common area so their homes could be searched. The operation followed intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, including foreign terrorists, in the area, an official told The Times of India. However, the report added that no contact had been established with the militants.

To ensure the militants don't slip back in after their operations took place, the forces also carried out a "reverse sweep", the report further added. They also laid out a cordon in Khudwani in Kulgam district, after a tip-off about the presence of LeT militants, but militants escaped with public support, a cop said.

The sweep was unprecedented in its scale, but was reminiscent of a similar operation conducted in October last year, when door-to-door searches took place over a 12-hour period in the Valley's Baramulla area.

Over 700 houses were searched in that operation, and over 44 people were detained after incriminating evidence was recovered from them, according to The Indian Express report from last year.

"For us, the raid was a reminder of the old days of militancy, when the army used to conduct crackdowns in our localities and search our homes for militants. They came into our house in the afternoon and searched every room. We were asked to open even trunks and boxes. They climbed up to the attic," said Rafiq Ahmad, a resident of Tawheed Gunj, adding that the army told them they were looking for "wanted stone-pelters".
Clarity and perspective are early casualties during turmoil. Yet now more than ever before we are in need of clarity and perspective to deal with the mess in Kashmir. Instead of being swayed by the noise, blood and emotion, decision-makers must be guided by calm, rational judgement. Kashmir is not lost. Nor will it ever be. However, there is no space for complacency and denial. The Valley is suffering from one of the worst periods of crisis in its history and we must acknowledge it, prepare and implement a plan of action.

It may sound preposterous, but 'Kashmir problem' might be simpler than it appears. Simpler, not easier. Is it monolithic? No. It is a problem with multifarious dimensions. However, trying to solve everything at the same time is a sure recipe for failure. Therefore, the Indian state must narrow down its focus.

Is the unrest being fuelled by Pakistan? Doubtless. How do we tackle it? Is there increasing Islamist radicalism in the insurgency movement? Yes. How do we tackle it? Is there more support for secession among ordinary Kashmiris now than it was during the turn of the millennium? Possibly. How to rescind the mood? There will be time for these issues to be effectively addressed.

This is not to suggest that these aren't big enough. Each of these issues is complex, interconnected and resists easy solutions. They pertain to political fallibilities, geostrategic worries and threats to nation's territorial integrity. These cannot get any bigger.

However, we cannot even begin to tackle these bigger issues plaguing Kashmir if there is no conducive atmosphere for it. How do you, for instance, persuade stone-pelting youths that their future lie in picking up the laptop, not stones, as the prime minister had recently pointed out? Why will the sermon from an authority he doesn't recognise work when he is led by bigger, if elusive, motivations?

Therefore, the first and foremost responsibility of government stakeholders (and that includes the Centre, state and the entire security establishment) is to restore the writ of the Indian state in Kashmir. Unless there is fear of authority, rule of law and a semblance of order, any hopes of "normalcy" returning to Valley is a pipe dream. And unless there is even a semblance of normalcy, there can be no hope for "peace".

This opium-fuelled dream of "peace in Valley" cannot become a reality amid flash mobs resisting counter-insurgency operations, youth heckling jawans, raising cries of secession, pelting stones, terrorists spraying Kalashnikov bullets and strewing bodies of jawans and Kashmiris alike.

Which brings us to the painful truth. For all our blaming of Pakistan, the Indian state cannot shirk its role. If Pakistan is guilty of fuelling insurgency, funding cross-border terrorism and using Hurriyat puppets to keep Kashmir on the boil, the BJP-PDP coalition and the Narendra Modi government have been guilty of incompetence. The insurgency movement has gained in strength because it has been allowed to gain in strength.

Since the neutralisation of Hizbul Mujaheedin commander Burhan Wani, a series of tactical and policy errors have been committed. The government has appeared all too eager to cede control and have appeared more interested in short-term placatory gestures rather than displaying an iron will in arresting the deterioration of law and order.

The terrorists and insurgents have used this chance to destabilise the Valley by further challenging the writ of India's democracy. Politicians have been targeted, threatened and killed. Residences of Jammu and Kashmir Police officers and constables have been attacked. Rule of fear has replaced rule of law. Whereas the Indian state has appeared increasingly clueless, the insurgents and their handlers have moved with great control and coordination. One death at the hands of security forces has given rise to a hundred mutinies as the state has receded deeper and deeper into insignificance.

Nothing exemplifies the government's ineptitude more than news which emerged on Friday that Saudi, Pakistani and even banned channels like Zakir Naik's Peace TV are being beamed right into the homes of thousands and thousands of Kashmiri residents, thickening further the witches' brew of azaadi and Islamism as government officials appear clueless, even complicit.

As Aarti Tikoo reports in Times of India, "over 50 Saudi and Pakistani channels", including Naik's Salafist Islam-preaching network and a host of other channels dripping daily venom against the Indian state "are running without necessary clearances via private cable networks in Kashmir. All this is happening under the nose of the PDP-BJP government, which even subscribes to these cable services in some of its offices and buildings."

The report says there are over "50,000 private cable connections in Srinagar alone" and these are preferred over regular Indian digital platforms such as Airtel or Tata Sky only because they broadcast these banned, anti-India channels.

What's more, when the issue was brought to the attention of Amit Katoch, director of broadcasting, Information and Broadcasting ministry, "he asked TOI to send a written complaint so that the ministry could verify and take appropriate action", according to the report.

If this isnt an indictment of the government's staggering incompetence, what is?

This must be seen in conjunction with the recent worrying spate of bank loots. There is little doubt that due to demonetisation, many of the terrorist outfits operating in and out of Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir have been hit by cash crunch. The prime minister's move to declassify the high value notes hit their cash flow, pace of recruitment and arms procurement.

Which is why we find armed terrorists from outfits such as Hizbul Mujaheedin have been targeting several bank branches in the Valley. They have looted, according to a report in The Indian Express, "nearly Rs 92 lakh in 13 separate attacks. There have been four incidents in four days this month, beginning with the bloody attack on a cash van on 1 May during which militants shot dead 5 policemen and 2 bank security guards, and including 2 attacks in 2 hours in adjacent villages in Pulwama on Wednesday."

Only one out of 13 robberies were committed before 8 November, 2016, the day demonetisation was announced. The government has never ceased to tom-tom its "achievement" that militancy in the Valley was hit due to notebandi. If that was known, what stopped the government from deploying more security at the banks? Didn't it dawn on administrative functionaries that terrorists will now target banks in desperation?

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has "appealed to the youth to help restore normalcy in the Valley so that peace returns," and news agency IANS quoted a police officer as saying that "securing each bank in the remote areas by providing guards to every branch in these areas needs manpower which is difficult to arrange at present."

If we add the recent cancellation of Anantnag bypoll to this mix, the depth of the problem seems clear. It is one of lack of will and the administration, which has gone for a walk at the first sign of volatility, must take the blame for it.

To restore its writ, there is need for a comprehensive military action to flush out the terrorists and if possible, catch or neutralise some of the top commanders to render the outfit headless. The 'cordon and combing' operation in south Kashmir launched jointly by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday, is a good first step. It is telling, however, that the "biggest operation in 15 years" have so far failed to nab a single terrorist. Instead the forces came under attack in which the civilian driver of one of the vehicles was killed. This points to something deeper, that the local intelligence is now favouring the terrorists over Indian security agencies.

But we must not allow any laxity in this regard.

As Arun Sahni, former GOC-in-C, South Western Command, points out in his column for Indian Express, "counter-terrorist operations follow the simple strategy of "an iron fist in a velvet glove". The pressure of military action  initially by eliminating hardcore leaders and subsequently, as a "threat-in-being"  is the catalyst that forces unlawful elements to talk with the government. Once you dilute the fear of authority of the uniformed forces, there is bound to be resistance to dialogue."

Restore the authority of Army and the writ of Indian state. The next steps shall follow. Kashmir isnt going anywhere.
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday night reinstated TP Senkumar as the police chief, hours after the Supreme Court fined Rs 25,000 for disregarding its order to restore him his post.

According to informed sources, the order signed by Vijayan will be handed over to Senkumar on Saturday, when he is likely to make his triumphant return as the state police chief.

Senkumar was moved out of the office the day Vijayan assumed office in May last year.

Reacting to the turn of events, Senkumar told reporters that he would speak at an appropriate time.

Senkumar will replace Loknath Behera, who will now the Vigilance Department, while the present Vigilance chief Jacob Thomas has extended his leave.

On Friday morning, the apex court, hearing a clarification petition about its orders of 24 April directing the Vijayan government to reinstate Senkumar as the Director General of Police, slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 for wasting the court's time.

The court said they knew what to do if its orders were not implemented.

In a contempt petition filed by Senkumar that Chief Secretary Nalini Netto was delaying his posting, the division bench on Friday asked for a notice to be served on the state government.

The next hearing in the case will take place on 9 May.

The opposition targeted the chief minister.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told reporters that all this happened because of the "false ego of Vijayan". "If he has any self-respect left, he should resign and apologise to the people."

State BJP President Kummanem Rajasekheran said the fine of Rs 25,000 should be taken from the salary of Vijayan. "Vijayan has to quit and this situation has risen just because of his arrogance."

Trying to put up a brave face, senior CPM legislator Raju Abraham said the government had already made it amply clear that Senkumar would be posted and it filed a clarification petition just to get clarity.

Reinstating Senkumar, a bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta had observed that the officer was dealt with "unfairly and arbitrarily".

Senkumar is set to retire on 30 June.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court sought response from the NIA and Maharashtra on a plea by accused Shrikant Purohit, seeking bail in a case pertaining to the 2008 Malegaon blast.

A bench of Justices RK Agrawal and AM Sapre issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Maharashtra government on the plea of Purohit, former lieutenant colonel, against the Bombay High Court order rejecting his bail plea in the case.

The apex court had on 28 April rejected Purohit's plea for urgent hearing, saying the petition will come up in regular course. The Bombay High Court had on 25 April 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 29 September, 2008. Sadhvi Pragya and 44-year-old Purohit were arrested in 2008.

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 5 lakh and surrender her passport to the NIA. The NIA, which was handed over the probe from anti-terrorism squad (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 a serious and grave nature.

Referring to the report filed by the NIA, the high court 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."

The high court 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.
Mumbai: Activists working for the welfare of Muslims, especially women, on Thursday said that apart from triple talaq, the community was grappling with several other serious issues that need to be addressed on priority.

Heads of several advocacy groups, mainly working in Maharashtra and Gujarat, asserted that lack of education and healthcare facilities, feeling of insecurity, beef ban, communal riots targeting the minorities, unemployment were some of the issues that Muslims were facing, which need to be addressed.

Representatives of various groups, including Bebaak Collective, Aawaz-e-Niswaan, Parvaaz Sangathan, Janvikas, Sahiya and Muslim Mahila Manch addressed a press conference at Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh here.

"We want what the Constitution says for equal opportunities and human rights to every Indian citizen. End of triple talaq would not guarantee alleviation of all the woes of Muslim women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stand on triple talaq alone is not sufficient. It needs to go beyond that," Hasina Khan of Bebaak Collective and an intervenor in Shayara Bano case, said.

Terming the previous governments at the Centre as merely "vote seekers", Khan said, "It is good that the Modi government has raised the issue of triple talaq, but it should also be cleared that we consider Modi as our hero. He needs to do a lot to instill a sense of social security among us."

Khairunnisa Pathan of Parvaaj Sangathan alleged that the rehabilitation process of riot-affected people in Gujarat was "poor and defective" as the government machinery was "not doing its job in a fair manner.

"It's good that triple talaq issue has got some momentum. But there are other issues as well, which are creating panic and insecurity among the Muslims countrywide. Apart from triple talaq, there are issues like health, education, sanitation and means of livelihood that needs to be addressed at the same time," she said.
As violence and unrest continues in Jammu and Kashmir, a news report is now saying that banned Pakistani and Saudi Arabia TV channels are being illegally aired in Kashmiri homes and indulging in anti-India propaganda.

The Times of India reported that apart from Zakir Naik's banned Peace TV, private operators were airing Saudi and Pakistani channels like Saudi Sunnah, Saudi Quran, Al Arabia, Paigham, Hidayat, Noor, Madani, Sehar, Karbala, Hadi, Sehar, Ary QTV, Bethat, Ahlibat, Message, Falak, Geo News, Ary News, Dawn News and other channels which cannot be accessed through satellite television service providers. The Information and Broadcasting also does not allow any of these channels to air in the rest of the country.

The shocking part is this is happening despite the PDP-BJP alliance being in power in the state and the report said that some of the state government offices and buildings even subscribe to these private cable services.

Most Pakistani news channels call terrorists of Jizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba 'martyrs' and counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir 'human rights violations'.

This news comes to light just a day after militants attacked an army patrol leaving a civilian dead and three personnel injured during a massive operation involving 4,000 troops initiated on Thursday by the security forces to clear south Kashmir of terrorists.

Door-to-door search of houses, a practice stopped in the late 1990s, was reintroduced with security forces comprising army, police and CRPF personnel marching into more than a dozen villages in Shopian district, about 55 kilometres from Srinagar, for 'Operation Clean Up' this morning, while helicopters and drones hovered over the area.

The operation, launched after a spate of militant attacks in the region, was perhaps the biggest in more than a decade in the troubled Kashmir Valley, an army official said on the condition of anonymity.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on 5 May sought response of the Kerala Chief Secretary on a contempt plea by senior IPS officer T P Senkumar, who has alleged delay in his reinstatement as the state police chief despite the apex court's order.

The court also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the Kerala government, which had filed a separate application seeking certain clarifications on its 24 April judgement on Senkumar.

A bench of Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta issued notice to Chief Secretary Nalini Netto on the contempt plea and fixed the matter for hearing on 9 May.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Senkumar, told the bench that the state government has "mocked" at the judgement passed by the apex court, which had on 24 April directed reinstatement of the senior IPS officer as the state police chief.

The counsel representing Kerala told the bench that the process to reinstate was going on and the state government has also filed a review petition in the apex court.

"That is not an argument. We will see the review petition when it will come up for hearing before us," the bench told Kerala's counsel.

The state's counsel requested the bench not to impose cost and said that he would withdraw the application.

"We are dismissing it with costs. We are permitting them to withdraw it (application) with a cost of Rs 25,000," the bench said.

The bench said that it had not gone into the allegations of malafide raised by Senkumar earlier before it but the state was "somehow confirming" the same by filing such an application.

The apex court had on 24 April ordered the reinstatement of Senkumar, saying he was transferred by the ruling LDF government "unfairly" and "arbitrarily".

Senkumar had on 29 April moved the apex court seeking contempt action against the state government and its chief secretary alleging "wilful, deliberate disobedience" of its order reinstating him.

The contempt plea, filed against the Chief Secretary, alleged there was a "sinister intention" behind her "resolute refusal" to implement the court's direction and sought strict punishment against her.

"It is reiterated that the contemnor (Chief Secretary) is the author of the note to remove him from the post of the State Police Chief dated 26 May, 2016 and therefore would be reluctant to see the Petitioner (Senkumar) receive what is due to him by virtue of this court's judgement.

"Even if the Contemnor finally implements directions, she may at all costs delay the implementation solely to frustrate the petitioner's cause," the plea alleged.

The petition sought punishment to Netto under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1972 for disobedience of the order and referred to a case involving the Chief Secretary of Karnataka in which the top court had ordered one-month imprisonment to the official for not implementing the order.

Senkumar, who is due to retire on 30 June , has also urged the court to extend his tenure as State Police Chief for the period which was illegally taken from him.

"The petitioner was appointed as the state police chief on 22 May, 2015 for a period of two years and was removed illegally, as found by this court, on 1 June, 2016. Therefore, going by the principles of the judgement of this court in Prakash Singh's case, the petitioner is entitled to his remaining tenure irrespective of superannuation," the plea, filed through advocate Haris Beeran, said.

Senkumar had said he came across certain media reports indicating that the state government will not act on the judgement unless its certified copy is available to it.

Earlier, while reinstating Senkumar, the top court had said no one could help 'God's own country' if, "it is bent upon making irregular or illegal appointments to sensitive posts".

It had set aside the order of the Kerala High Court which had upheld the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) decision that had not found fault with the state government's decision to transfer Senkumar from the post of the state police chief which was taken over by Lokanath Behera.

The state government's contention that Senkumar was transferred as a fallout of the events after the Puttingal temple tragedy, in which 110 people were killed in April 2016, and the infamous Jisha murder case last May, did not cut much ice with the apex court.

The state government had told the court that Senkumar's transfer was not a punishment for the "lapse" which had led to the Puttingal fire tragedy incident but it was for how he had handled the fallout of the tragedy and the dissatisfaction among the general public on the efficiency of the police.

The apex court, however, had snubbed the Kerala government and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by putting questions whether he would remove the police chief if his

cabinet colleagues were under investigation in any case.

The Kerala government had on April 11 defended in the apex court its decision to transfer Senkumar, saying he had protected "erring" police officials in the 2016 Puttingal temple fire tragedy in which 110 people were killed.

The court, however, brushed aside the state government's reference to Senkumar's interference in the investigation in the Puttingal temple tragedy and said the reference was somewhat incongruous.
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New Delhi: Timeline of the 2012 Delhi gangrape case in which the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentences of the four convicts.

16 December, 2012: A 23-year-old paramedic student and her boyfriend take a private bus home after watching English film Life of Pi at the Select City Walk Mall in Saket. The woman was brutally raped and beaten up by six men in the moving bus and thrown out of it near Mahipalpur along with her male friend. They are admitted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital the same night.

17 December: Delhi Police identify four men who raped and assaulted her  bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta. Doctors say the woman has suffered grave internal injuries.

18 December: Ram Singh and three others are arrested. People come out on the streets to protest the gangrape.

19 December: Jyoti Singh undergoes a fifth surgery, with doctors removing most of her intestines.

21 December: The accused juvenile is nabbed from Anand Vihar bus terminal in Delhi. The government appoints a panel of physicians to ensure she receives best medical care. The woman's friend identifies Mukesh as one of the culprits. Police conduct raids in Haryana and Bihar to nab sixth accused, Akshay Thakur.

22 December: Akshay Thakur is arrested in Bihar and brought to Delhi. Victim records her statement before the SDM in hospital.

25 December: The woman's condition deteriorates

26 December: She is flown to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital for advanced treatment

29 December: She dies in Singapore due to organ failure

2 January, 2013: The then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir inaugurates fast track court for speedy trial in sexual offence cases

3 January: Police files chargesheet against five adult accused for offences including murder, gangrape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences and dacoity

17 January: Fast track court starts proceedings against five adult accused

28 January: Juvenile Justice Board rules that sixth accused is a minor

2 February: Five adult accused are charged with 13 offences including murder

28 February: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) frames rape, murder charges against the juvenile accused

11 March: Ram Singh, the bus driver, is found hanging in his cell in Tihar jail

21 March: Government approves new tougher anti-rape law to punish sex crimes, including death for repeat rape offenders

5 July: Trial against juvenile concludes, the JJB reserves verdict for 11 July

11 July: The JJB holds the minor guilty of illegally confining and robbing a carpenter on 16 December night before the gangrape. It defers to 25 July its verdict in the gangrape case.

25 July: JJB defers to 5 August its verdict after a PIL is filed in the Supreme Court seeking fresh interpretation of the term "juvenile".

19 August: JJB again defers verdict to 31 August

22 August: Supreme Court allows JJB to pronounce verdict in gangrape case

31 August: JJB convicts the juvenile for gangrape and murder and awards three years term at a probation home

22 August: Fast track court begins hearing of final arguments in trial against the four adult accused.

10 September: Court convicts Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan of 13 offences including gangrape, unnatural offence and murder of the woman and attempt to murder her male friend

13 September: Fast track court awards death to all four convicts. Trial court refers the case to Delhi High Court for confirmation of death sentence

1 November: The Delhi High Court starts hearing the case on a daily basis

3 January, 2014: The Delhi High Court reserves its verdict on confirming the death sentence and appeals of the four convicts

13 March: The Delhi High Court upholds the death sentences awarded to the four convicts

2 June: Two death row convicts move the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court verdict

14 July: The Supreme Court stays till further orders execution of death penalty of two of four convicts  Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur

18 December, 2015: Delhi High Court refuses to stay the release of the juvenile. He walks out of a correction home after spending three years.

3 April, 2016: Supreme Court begins hearing in the case

11 July: Hearing begins with a change in Bench to Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan

August 2016: Vinay Sharma tries to commit suicide in Tihar Jail

6 January, 2017: Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused

27 March: Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case

5 May: SC upholds death penalty of four accused  Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh
Two suspected agents of Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were arrested in Mumbai in a joint operation by the Anti-Terrorism Squads of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, an official said on Thursday.

While one of them, identified as Altaf Qureshi, was arrested late on Wednesday night from Masjid Bunder area in south Mumbai, the second operative, identified as Javed Naviwala, was taken into custody from Yusuf Manzil building at Agreepada on Thursday morning, PTI quoted an official as saying.

Thirty-seven-year-old Qureshi is a hawala operator and also allegedly worked for the ISI. Iqbal is an aide of Qureshi, the official said. Qureshi had allegedly deposited money in the bank account of Aftab Ali, another ISI agent, in Lucknow for carrying out espionage activities, he said.

Aftab was arrested from Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. ATS officials seized a cellphone and Rs 71.57 lakh in cash from Qureshi's house, who was in hawala business at the behest of one Javed Naviwala, the official said.

Javed used to get instructions from Pakistan

During the duo's interrogation, it was found that Javed used to get instructions from Pakistan and at his behest Qureshi often deposited money in Aftabs bank account, he said. Javed was in constant touch with the ISI officials in the neighbouring country, he said.

During interrogation, names of some more persons cropped up, the official said, adding more arrests are likely. Aftab, booked under the Official Secrets Act, had allegedly passed on information about Indian Armys movements to officers posted at Pakistan High Commission and also to the ISI, the official claimed.

He had allegedly provided information about the army's movements and units in Faizabad, Lucknow and Amritsar, he said. Qureshi and Javed will be produced in a Mumbai court for transit remand and taken to Uttar Pradesh for further interrogation, the official said.

The Asian Age quoted sources from the ATS and reported that Naviwala got a call a few days ago stating that a friend needed some money in Uttar Pradesh for charity so he should send Rs 15,000 to an account number that was given to him. Naviwala allegedly relayed the instructions to Qureshi and then wired the money to the account of Ali. "The Maharashtra ATS is currently obtaining details of all bank accounts held by Qureshi and Naviwala and examining the bank statements, after which the duo will be questioned as to the transactions that they have made over the years," The Asian Age report said.

However, Naviwala has allegedly confirmed to the Maharashtra ATS that he was given to understand that this money was to help a poor man meet his medical expenses. The Maharashtra ATS, however, is not buying the justification. "During interrogation, Naviwala claimed he was innocent. He said he had transferred the money into his relative's bank account assuming it was for a medical charity," an ATS officer was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Speaking exclusively to The Asian Age, a source said, "I know Naviwala as a hawala and angadia trader since three years. I never heard of him having any terror links. I have heard from Naviwala that he may be having relatives in Pakistan."

With inputs from PTI
Raipur: Two Naxal commanders were gunned down in retaliatory action by the CRPF after the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district last week in which 25 security personnel were killed, police on Thursday claimed.

At least 11 suspects have been rounded up for questioning by the CRPF and state police in Chintalnar, Chintagufa and Burkapal areas of Sukma since the April 24 attack in Burkapal area under Chintagufa police station limits.

Preliminary interrogation has "established" that some of these suspects were allegedly involved in the Burkapal attack but once the interrogation process is completed, they will be arrested and produced before the court, Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

Some of the suspects broke out during interrogation and disclosed that the two dreaded Naxal commanders were killed in the Burkapal incident.

"During interrogation, some suspects revealed that two Naxal commanders were killed in the Burkapal incident," he said.

He further claimed that those killed were identified as Anil, a commander of military platoon 24 of Maoists and divisional committee rank member, and Ravi, Cherla LOS (local organisation squad) commander.

While Anil was a native of Usoor area of the Bijapur district, Ravi was from Bhadrari district of neighbouring Telangana, the SP said.

Their interrogation may reveal crucial details about the incident, he added.

Notably, CRPF and police officials had claimed earlier that several Naxals were also killed in the Burkapal incident but their colleagues managed to drag their bodies inside the forests after the attack.
Calling it a "rarest of rare" case, the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence on all four convicts in the brutal Delhi 2012 gangrape case. The judges said that the aggravating circumstances against Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur far outweighed the mitigating circumstances cited in their favour.

The four were convicted for raping and assaulting the 23-year-old paramedical student inside a moving bus on 16 December, 2012 which led to her death 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.

According to News 18, the legal options left for the four convicts, include review petition challenging the judgment. In case they fail to get reprieve, they can file a curative petition. Finally, the four convicts can finally resort to presidential mercy petition.

With inputs from IANS
Lucknow: In the second incident of violence in Saharanpur within a fortnight, one person was on Friday killed and at least 15 others, including a police officer, were injured as members of two castes clashed over loud music being played during a procession.

Around 20-25 youths of upper caste Thakur community from Shabbirpur village were on their way to Simlana village under Badgaon police station to take part in a function to garland the statue of Rajput warrior-king Maharana Pratap, when the Dalit locals objected to the loud music being played by them.

A police report sent to the state headquarters here said the Dalits objected to the "raucous" celebration, triggering an exchange of words. It soon snowballed into a full-blown clash with both the groups throwing stones and bricks at each other, it added.

The Dalits asked the processionists to turn off the music blaring out of loudspeakers as they passed by a Ravidas temple.

A police team, which rushed to the spot, managed to pacify the Thakur youths and asked them to return to their village, but they soon returned with more people and indulged in brickbatting and arson, torching 15 to 20 Dalit houses as well as vehicles including those of the police.

As many as 16 persons, including a police officer, were injured in the resulting clashes. Of them, Sumit Rajput (35) later succumbed to his injuries.

Fire tenders were rushed to the village, the report said, adding that the Inspector General of Police, Meerut, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Saharanpur, besides the local District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police were camping in the village to monitor the situation.

On 20 April, communal clashes had broken out in the district during a Dalit procession to celebrate BR Ambedkar's birth centenary. Around a dozen people were injured in the clashes that erupted after members of another community objected to the procession.

BJP MP from Saharanpur Raghav Lakhanpal was among those booked in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "I can say with confidence that everyone in the state will be safe. There will be no discrimination and the rule of law is the priority of the state government." He was responding to a question on the Saharanpur

violence at a press conference here.
Patna: With alcohol out of bounds for people in Bihar, rodent denizens of police stations are on a binge defying the ban and guzzling down seized liquor as the role of the police too came under a cloud.

With the rats running riot and the men in uniform not above suspicion, policemen would now be subjected to random breath analyser test to check whether they too had a swig or two of the confiscated booty, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told PTI.

Maharaj who met new Patna range Deputy Inspector General of Police Rajesh Kumar said the police would approach courts to seek permission for destroying the heap of alcohol bottles kept in police stores at small intervals.

Regular audit of "malkhana" (store room in police station) is another remedy thought to check any misuse of the stocked liquor, Maharaj said. Meanwhile, the state police headquarters has ordered a probe into the incident.

"We have asked Patna zonal IG to inquire into the matter. Based on his findings, the state police headquarters would initiate further action," Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) S K Singhal told PTI.

The fact that rodents were making merry in the dungeons came to light following media reports that they had overrun the ''malkhana'' (store) of the police stations and had guzzled down a large amount of the more than 9 lakh litres of alcohol seized by the police.

Media reports said that in the last 13 months, a whopping 9.15 lakh litres of alcohol, domestic as well Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), have been seized in Bihar following the ban. It emerged at the recent crime meeting of the state police that while a major portion of the seized liquor got destroyed on way to police stations, an equally large amount was consumed by rodents in the store of the police stations.

Meanwhile, the police arrested President of Bihar Police Men's Association on charge of consuming liquor.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said that a police team arrested Police Association President Nirmal Singh and a member of the Association Shamsher Singh from police line for consuming liquor. The two were produced in the court of Judge of Special Excise Court Ravindra Nath Tripathi and have been remanded in judicial custody till 18 May. The two have been taken to Beur jail under new Excise Act 2016 on the basis of the court order.

The Nitish Kumar government clamped total prohibition in Bihar since April last year. In order to enforce the liquor ban, a special drive has been launched by the police as well Excise department across the state.
Washington: Barack Obama proposed to a "serious" girlfriend before he met his eventual wife Michelle, according to a new biography of the former US President.

The book  Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama writtedn by David J Garrow  shares for the first time the story of the woman Sheila Miyoshi Jager, with whom Obama lived in Chicago, The Washington Post said in a review on Wednesday.

Jager is now a professor at Oberlin College, Ohio. Jager told Garrow: "In the winter of 86, when we visited my parents, he asked me to marry him."

However, her parents parents objected to the union, believing her to be too young, as she was in her early 20s and two years younger than Obama.

But they continued living together.

In early 1987, when Obama was 25, she sensed a change.

"He became. . . so very ambitious very suddenly...by 1987, about a year into our relationship, he already had his sights on becoming president," Jager told the author.

Obama eventually asked Jaeger to marry him again before he departed for Harvard Law School. He wanted her to come with him despite their "increasingly fraught relationship".

After his first year at Harvard, Obama returned to Chicago as an associate at a prestigious local law firm. There he met Michelle Robinson, the future First Lady and an employee at the firm. Their relationship quickly became serious.

In the book, Garrow also writes about how Obama lived, and explored the calculations he made in the decades leading up to his winning the presidency.

"Every step  whether his foray into community organising, Harvard Law School, even the choice of whom to love  was not just about living a life but about fulfilling a destiny."

Garrow, who received a Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Martin Luther King Jr, concludes this massive new work with a damning verdict on Obama's determination: "While the crucible of self-creation had produced an ironclad will, the vessel was hollow at its core."
Award-winning photographer Souvid Datta, who took a number of pictures of sex workers in Sonagachi, Kolkata, has been accused of using a part of a photograph taken by Mary Ellen Mark and passing it off as his own.

Petapixel reports that this accusation, which can challenge Datta's ethics as a photojournalist, is in relation to one particular photograph which features three sex workers dressing up in a bedroom. This photograph is part of a photo series called 'In the Shadows of Kolkata', which gained wide popularity in 2014.

The series documented the cycle of sexual violence among adult sex workers and children in one of South East Asia's largest red-light areas.

In an article on Scribbler, Datta provides a description of the picture:

"Radhika, 17, in the room of a veteran sex worker, Asma, in Sonagachi (featured dressing in background). The two have grown close over Radhikas period here; she respects and learns from Asmas experience and matter of fact, survival attitude, while Asma feels a fondness for Radhikas unfettered kindness, curiosity and innocence. Strong bonds can often form within brothels as girls learn to support each other and find self-empowerment through group assertion and collective experience."

Asma looks strikingly similar to a sex worker in a photograph which was part of the series 'Falkland Road' taken by Mark, who is also known to have documented red-light areas in the 1970s. Mark is an award-winning photographer too, whose pictures have been featured in publications LIFE, New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair.

Reader Shreya Bhat, a resident of Bengaluru, brought this to the notice of the publication. She said that she noticed Datta had used Photoshop to take the figure of this sex worker and duplicate it in his photograph. Bhat is a social worker who works with women in sex work and was based in Sonagachi, but later moved to Bengaluru.

Since the news of this accusation spread, Souvid Datta's social media accounts and website have been taken down.

Among the many accolades Datta has received are Magnum 30 Under 30 in 2015, the Getty Grant for Editorial Photography in 2015 and the Pulitzer Center Grant in 2016.

Recently, Datta was also involved in another controversy where a photograph taken by him of a child sex worker being raped was used to promote a photography competition.

Previously, Firstpost had approached Datta for a comment, but he hadn't responded.

Now in an interview with TIME, Datta admitted to plagiarising content from Mary Ellen Mark. He said he had committed the act because 'being a freelance photojournalist today is to live in an uncertain world of fierce competition  not only regarding photographic skill, but also of networking, self-promotion, business acumen, sincerity and flair' and he hopes that this can be a prime lesson for others in exactly what not to do.

"There are other images from my initial shoots in Kolkata, not intended as journalistic work, which have also been altered using post-production techniques," he added. "Crucially, this was all done without consideration of factual accuracy, ethical representation and journalistic responsibility that I came to learn of properly in the years to come. I didn't understand what a photojournalist was for a long time, let alone the weight of trying to assume that title."

Images sourced from Mary Ellen Mark's website and Scribbler.
Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party (SP) is ready to support any secular alliance for the presidential poll, which is a few months away, its president Akhilesh Yadav said.

"If there is any secular alliance (for the presidential poll), my party will support it," he told reporters at the SP headquarters. His remarks came against the backdrop of CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury recently meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi to explore the possibility of fielding a joint candidate for the presidential poll, even as RJD boss Lalu Prasad talked about cobbling together a Bihar-style 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too has called for a larger unity among the regional parties ahead of the presidential election.

Significantly, senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav on Friday announced that party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will head a "new, secular front" to be formed by him.

The presidential election is scheduled in July and opposition unity for contesting it may well be a precursor to an anti-NDA front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar had recently ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with the SP for the upcoming local bodies polls in the state. Akhilesh though played it down saying, "Our friendship with the Congress will continue." He, however, did not elaborate.

The Congress has decided to go it alone in the urban bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh. The move is being seen as an impending end to the SP-

Congress alliance, which was forged before the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

The alliance suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the BJP in the UP polls. It managed to secure only 54 seats (SP 47, Congress seven) as opposed to the BJP-led NDA's 325.

In the aftermath of the dismal poll performance, speculation was rife that the allies might part ways for the urban bodies polls as the local Congress leaders had voiced opposition to the continuance of the tie-up.

On the Bulandshahr lynching incident, in which a Muslim man was allegedly beaten to death by the workers of the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), a right-wing group formed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after an inter-faith couple eloped, Akhilesh said they (HYV) should also prepare a list of those BJP leaders, who have had similar marriages.

"The people should know how many BJP leaders have had such marriages. The HYV should go to Delhi and prepare such a list," he said.
Minus 100%.

America plans to bring to a screeching halt its development funds to India in FY18 while US aid to Pakistan of $200 million remains untouched, according to a sensitive document on the yet to be announced United States foreign aid budget.

In a line, the Trump government needs $ 54 billion to fund an uptick in defense spending and sees the State Department budget as a rough and ready fix.

While the Trump administration seems favorably disposed toward India, Im starting to worry that New Delhi runs the risk of being back-burnered, says Alyssa Ayres, Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations and former State Department deputy assistant secretary for South Asia.

Link: Document on proposed budget cuts

This comes at a time when Indias economic muscle and global influence is translating into $1.16 billion in grants and loans worldwide - a four-fold jump in only a decade, says Tanoubi Ngangom of Observer Research Foundation, a think tank.

"In absolute terms as well, back-of-the-envelope calculations estimate that the current $1.35 billion earmarked for overseas grants, concessional loans, and technical training will rise to approximately $15 billion by 2030. To put this in perspective, the UKs budget for global development in 2015-16 was $12 billion, a figure likely to come under further stress in the years to come," says Ngangom in an ORF working paper.

Categorised by State bureaus and operating units, the 15 page leaked document is the State Departments blueprint for deep cuts worldwide.

The numbers for India, Pakistan and China are like this:

Indias development assistance of $19.2 million and Economic Support Fund of $8.2 million will be stopped completely, money to global health programs will be chopped by nearly half to $ 29.6 million.

The corresponding numbers for Pakistan and China are like this:

Pakistan

ESF: $200 million - unchanged

Health aid: Down to $11.25million from $22.5 million ( 50% cut)

China

Development Assistance: Down to 0 from $23.0 million

Health aid: Stays at $1.5million

If the plan goes through Congress, US assistance to India will remain only in health programs.

Checked Tillerson transcript to see if my initial impression--not a word on India/Af/Pak/SAsia--was wrong. Alas, no. https://t.co/1HVbryD3l2  Alyssa Ayres (@AyresAlyssa) May 3, 2017

US sponsored foreign aid adds up to a princely one percent of the federal budget, but American people ( based on opinion polling) believe its close to 25 percent of government spending, says Brookings, a think tank.

Link: Brookings on myths that surround foreign aid

The larger message the Trump assistance budget signals appears to be we will close the funding support for collaboration with rising power India on development innovation; we will shift emphasis in Bangladesh with unclear impact on the highly-successful programs on education, food security, and others; we cut by half our assistance to troubled Nepal, the second-poorest country across South and Central Asia; and we will shrink the ability to promote sustainable economic activity in Afghanistan even before the larger strategy review for U.S. involvement there has been concluded,writes Ayres in Forbes.

Massive, across the board foreign aid budget cuts are planned for FY 18 alongwith staff cuts too in the Department of State and moves afoot to merge USAID with the State Department.

Although Trumps opponents within the party claim these spending cuts will be dead on arrival, the fact that the Obamacare repeal whisked passed Congress means direct financial assistance to the world outside America will come under the knife.

Washington plans to reduce the kinds of foreign aid that have underwritten a focus on U.S. values like democracy, governance, and human rights, writes Ayres in Forbes.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillersen in a 6000 word speech to staff makes the distinction between values and policies  if you condition our national security efforts on someone adopting our values, we probably cant achieve our national security goals or our national security interests. If we condition too heavily that others must adopt this value that weve come to over a long history of our own, it really creates obstacles to our ability to advance our national security interests, our economic interests.

And later, again:

I think its really important that all of us understand the difference between policy and values, and in some circumstances, we should and do condition our policy engagements on people adopting certain actions as to how they treat people. They should. We should demand that. But that doesnt mean thats the case in every situation. And so we really have to understand, in each country or each region of the world that were dealing with, what are our national security interests, what are our economic prosperity interests, and then as we can advocate and advance our values, we should  but the policies can do this; the values never change.

When administrations change, policies do as wellbut these changes dont even appear to align with Trump administration priorities, writes Ayres.

The Trump administration has submitted a "skinny budget," a broad outline of spending proposals which will be followed by lengthy volumes of fiscal plans and projections for the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2017. The White House is proposing a combined $25.6 billion budget for the State Department and USAID, a 28 percent reduction from current spending with a desire to prioritize military power over the influence that can flow from development aid.

Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the first U.S. blueprint in six years outlining how to combat Islamic extremism, is being being fine-tuned at the White House even as the State Department continues to cede power to the National Security Council. Now, the only agency that's spending cash on new hires is the CIA, currently advertising for Operations Officers across the world with "no specific work background required".
Somali security forces shot a minister for public works dead in his car in the capital Mogadishu on Wednesday after mistaking him for an Islamist militant, officials said. Mogadishu mayoral spokesman Abdifatah Omar Halane said the minister, Abbas Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji, who was also a lawmaker, was killed "by mistake - they opened fire on his car accidentally. May God rest his soul".

The Somali government arrested two soldiers on Thursday in connection with the killing, the minister of information said.

Police Major Nur Hussein told Reuters that security forces on patrol encountered a car blocking the street and, believing it was being driven by militants, opened fire.

Al-Qaeda-affiliated al Shabaab militants often carry out attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere in their campaign to topple Somalia's government and drive out African Union peacekeeping troops out of the Horn of Africa country.

The country's youngest minister, the 31-year-old was an inspiration to many Somalis having grown up in a Kenyan refugee camp, and his death caused an outpouring of grief online.

"Two bodyguards of the auditor general are now in the central cell in Mogadishu. We are investigating them over who killed the minister," the deputy prosecutor of Somalias military court, Mumin Hussein Abdullahi, told Reuters.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed cut short a visit to neighbouring Ethiopia to fly home and attend the burial. "The public works minister was patriotic and was known for his ability and efficiency," said a statement from the president's office.

Militants from the al Qaeda-affiliated group al Shabaab have carried out frequent attacks in Mogadishu as they fight to topple Somalia's Western-backed government and drive out African Union peacekeeping troops. Somalia has been at war since 1991, when clan-based warlords overthrew dictator Siad Barre and then turned on each other.

With inputs from Reuters
Kabul: Former Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar returned to Kabul on Thursday after two decades in hiding, calling for peace with Taliban insurgents and criticising the Western-backed government, which he said was not working.

Hekmatyar's comments in a ceremony at the presidential palace highlighted the complications likely to face President Ashraf Ghani, who signed a peace deal with Hekmatyar last year that brought his Hizb-i-Islami party into the government fold.

Even before the ceremony, Hekmatyar's arrival in Kabul, the city his forces bombarded ruthlessly during the 1990s civil war, appeared aimed at reinforcing his status as a major new force on the political scene.

A convoy of dozens of white pickup trucks carrying armed men and draped in Afghan flags and green banners made its way through the capital as it brought Hekmatyar from Jalalabad, the eastern city where he has been based for the past few days.

Calling his former allies in the Afghan Taliban "brothers", Hekmatyar, a charismatic speaker whose address was frequently interrupted by shouts of acclamation, portrayed himself as a mediator able to bring peace. That, he said, would remove the justification for the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Ghani and the Americans have long pursued a negotiated peace with Taliban militants, but their efforts have come to little and the insurgency has gained ground in recent years, claiming thousands of lives each year.

"The most important issue for me is to end this war and rescue the country from crisis," said Hekmatyar, calling on neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Iran not to interfere.

The Hizb-i-Islami leader said he had accepted the Constitution drawn up following the US-led campaign that ousted the Taliban in 2001, but wanted it amended and said a parliamentary system was not appropriate for Afghanistan.

The national unity government led by Ghani and chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, painstakingly brokered by Washington after the disputed election of 2014, was "not working", he said, and either Ghani or Abdullah should resign.

"It is not suitable for the current condition of the country," he said, but added that he was not seeking any formal position for himself. "I am not here for partnership. I have no conditions, I don't want ministries."

Hekmatyar also made a pointed call to politicians, many of whom keep their families abroad, saying, "Bring your families back to Afghanistan. I have returned with my family."

International partners including the US have welcomed the agreement with Hekmatyar, seeing it was a possible precursor to a deal with the Taliban, the country's dominant militant group.

The Taliban has shown no sign of accepting any arrangement with Hekmatyar, but Ghani thanked him for accepting the deal and said the Afghan people wanted peace and prosperity.

"We have promised the nation that we will pave the way for the peace and today an important step has been taken," he said.

But in Kabul, where he is widely known as 'Rocketyar' after the thousands of bombs his forces fired into the city, Hekmatyar has been awaited with a mixture of anticipation and mistrust.

Over recent days, posters of his face had been plastered all over the city, many immediately defaced by opponents. His arrival also risks fuelling ethnic divisions and complicating Ghani's already difficult relationship with partners including Abdullah, who is from Hekmatyar's civil war rivals, the old Northern Alliance.

Abdullah's mainly Tajik Jamiat-i-Islami party has been particularly suspicious of Hekmatyar, who draws most of his support from the Pashtuns, traditionally Afghanistan's strongest ethnic group.

Human rights groups have also been strongly critical of the agreement, saying it reinforces a culture of impunity that allows political strongmen to get away with gross abuses.
Washington: US' Delta Airlines has issued an apology for kicking a family with two young children off a flight after the customers had already boarded, the media reported.

The incident occurred on 23 April on Delta flight 2222 from Hawaii to Los Angeles, but footage of the ordeal was posted on YouTube on Wednesday by Brian Schear, a customer who can be seen arguing with a flight attendant during an eight-minute exchange, reports CNN.

At issue was a seat the man's infant son was in. That seat was booked under the name of Schear's older son, who took an earlier flight.

The family members who were on board the flight  Schear, his wife and their two children  were eventually escorted off the aircraft and flew to their destination on another flight with a different airline.

"We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta, and we've reached out to them to refund their travel and provide additional compensation," the airline said in a statement on Thursday.

"Delta's goal is to always work with customers in an attempt to find solutions to their travel issues. That did not happen in this case and we apologise," it added.

Schear can be heard in the video repeatedly saying that he paid for the seat in which his infant son was sitting.

He said it "isn't right" that the airline was asking him to give it up, CNN reported.

Delta said the flight was not overbooked, but there were passengers waiting to fly standby, which is why they were trying to make room on the flight.

Footage of the ordeal has racked up nearly 900,000 views on YouTube.
By Phil Stewart and Abdi Sheikh

| WASHINGTON/MOGADISHU

WASHINGTON/MOGADISHU A U.S. Navy SEAL was killed and two troops wounded in a clash with al Shabaab militants in Somalia, U.S. officials said on Friday, in what appeared to be the first U.S. combat death in the country since the 1993 "Black Hawk Down" disaster.The White House has granted the U.S. military broader authority to carry out strikes in Somalia against al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab, the latest sign President Donald Trump is increasing U.S. military engagement in the region. U.S. Africa Command said a service member was killed by small arms fire on Thursday while U.S. forces were advising and assisting a Somali National Army operation in Barii about 40 miles (60 km) west of Mogadishu. They did not give further details on the identities of any of the three casualties.A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the man killed was a U.S. Navy SEAL. It was not immediately clear whether the wounded U.S. forces were also from the elite military unit.The U.S. troops were hunting an al Shabaab commander near the Shabelle river alongside Somali special forces, a Mogadishu-based security source told Reuters. There were no Somali casualties.The raid took place at Darusalam village, where Abdirahman Mohamed Warsame, known as Mahad Karate, was believed to be hiding, said another security source. Warsame is the deputy leader of al Shabaab and U.S. authorities have offered $5 million for information that brings him to justice.

"Warsame played a key role in the Amniyat, the wing of al-Shabaab responsible for assassinations and the April 2, 2015 attack on Garissa University College that resulted in 150 deaths," said a statement on the Rewards for Justice website, which is run by the U.S. State Department.It was not clear yet if Warsame was the target of the raid, the security source said. A spokesman for al Shabaab, which wants to overthrow the weak Western-backed Somali government and impose its own strict brand of Islamic law, said U.S. troops had attacked one of their bases. "Last night at 1 a.m. U.S. forces attacked us in Darusalam village, in lower Shabelle region. After fighting, the U.S. forces ran away," said Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaabs military operation spokesman.

"They left ammunition and weapons on the scene and blood stains. First they had a helicopter which landed some kilometres away from our base, to which they walked. We inflicted heavy casualties -- some forces died and others were wounded but we do not have the exact figure."Residents of Darusalam village said the gunfire lasted for around 10 minutes. "Last night, helicopters hovered over us and we were scared. Then late at night, there was fighting," resident Mohamed Hassan told Reuters.U.S. Africa Command said U.S. personnel were working alongside members of the Somali military.

"U.S. forces are assisting partner forces to counter al-Shabaab in Somalia to degrade the al Qaeda affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America," it said in a statement. "Although U.S. forces are not engaged in direct action (in Somalia), advise and assist missions are inherently dangerous," added Robyn Mack, a spokeswoman at the U.S. militarys Africa Command. Somalia has been shattered by civil war that began when clan-based warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991 and then turned on each other. A U.S. military intervention there in 1993 ended after the "Black Hawk Down" incident, when 18 U.S. soldiers were killed after Somali militia shot down two U.S. helicopters in the capital of Mogadishu. African Union peacekeeping forces have been in Somalia since 2007, gradually expanding from the airport to secure the capital and eventually pushing into other major towns. U.S. military advisers have also secretly operated in the country since around 2007. (Additional reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington, Feisal Omar in Mogadishu and Katharine Houreld in Nairobi; Writing by Katharine Houreld; Editing by Catherine Evans)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: Indian-American lawmakers have supported Obamacare over a bill that aims to replace the landmark overhaul achieved by Barack Obama, alleging that the new legislation passed by House of Representatives would kick off 24 million Americans of healthcare plans.

All the four Indian-American lawmakers from the Democratic Party, Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Raja Krishnamoorthi voted against the bill, which was hailed by US President Donald Trump and the Republican leadership.

"While the House Republicans celebrate at the White House, millions of hardworking Americans are worrying about whether they will be able to stay on their health care plans," said Congressman Bera.

Before serving in Congress, Bera practised internal medicine, served as Sacramento County's Chief Medical Officer, and taught at the UC Davis School of Medicine.

"I don't want to go back to a time when my patients would have to make healthcare decisions based on their insurance coverage, and this bill is going to make it a lot harder for people with treatable diseases like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and survivors of cancer and assault to get healthcare," he said.

"We cannot play politics with people's lives, and what happened today put political goals ahead of the lives of hardworking Americans. The fact that this bill was rushed through with no budget analysis or public debate shows just how bad it is. This is a sad day for America's patients, and for the public's trust in Congress," Bera said.

Jayapal alleged that it is a dereliction of duty that Republicans passed this "immoral, unconscionable" bill that strips 24 million Americans of their healthcare, cuts USD 880 billion from Medicaid, and strips coverage from 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions.

"This bill will raise premiums and deductibles for millions of Americans across our country to transfer almost USD 1 trillion in tax cuts to millionaires, billionaires and corporations," she said.

The first Indian-American woman lawmaker said that she intends to continue to fight every single day to protect and expand health care and to hold those accountable who do not do so.

Khanna said this afternoon, congressional Republicans chose to halt the progress made on improving the nation's health and livelihood, and instead put the country on a path to higher costs, less coverage, fewer protections, and larger premiums.

"All for a massive tax cut for millionaires and billionaires," he said.

"Today, the House had a choice. We could cast a vote to uphold our country's values and keep people healthy, keep them secure, and keep improving care. Or a vote could be made that places corporate interests ahead of working families' livelihood. I am disappointed to say that latter happened," Khanna said.

"We lost today but that doesn't mean we have to like it. We can still stop," Krishnamoorthi said.

In an interview to MSN, Bera said that the passage of the bill would politically hit the Republican lawmakers.

"I think a lot of them know this was a very difficult vote that's going to hurt a lot of their own constituents," he said.
Washington: The five-nation trip by US President Donald Trump to Europe and the Middle East later this month is aimed at reversing America's disengagement with the world, establishing American leadership, and forging partnerships with the countries in the region, a senior administration official has said.

These new partnerships can deliver improved security and prosperity, better lives for children across all major religions, and across the people of the world, the official said.

"I think what the president has demonstrated already, and will be able to demonstrate even further on this trip, is that America First is fully compatible with American leadership in the world," the official said on condition of anonymity.

This will be Trump's first foreign trip after taking office. He will be visiting Saudi Arabia, Israel, Vatican, Brussels and Italy, although the exact dates have not been announced yet.

"Circumstances in the Middle East, that have bled over, as we all know, into Europe and globally, associated with radical, Islamist terrorist groups  Salafi-jihadist groups that are victimising so many in the region and beyond, as well as the problems associated with these terrorists groups, combined with Iran's subversive and malign behaviour across the region, have aligned interests in a way that could lead to new partnerships enabled by American leadership," the official said.

"I think this also demonstrates that the president is willing to and has embraced his leadership role in multinational forums when they serve the interests of the American people and American security. He has also demonstrated that he'll renegotiate terms when he thinks that those multinational organisations and those relationships aren't delivering what they need to for the American people," the official said.

Contrary to what has been really the conventional wisdom associated with the president's approach to alliances, Trump has actually done a tremendous amount of work to strengthen alliances, he asserted.

"So if you think about Nato, for example, where most of the countries within the alliance are doing much more now to contribute to security within the context of the alliance, an alliance in which members or a partnership in which members are doing their fair share, are shouldering their share of the responsibility and the burden, is a much stronger one than an alliance in which members are not sharing their fair share of the responsibility and the burden," the official noted.

This trip will also reverse the trend of America's disengagement from the world and some of its biggest problems. "America's large disengagement from some of these problems has aided and abetted those who were really fomenting violence and perpetuating human suffering across the Middle East in particular," the official said.

During his trip, Trump will also advance American interests in the area of trade and economic development and jobs for the American people. "What we've seen is that reciprocity is a model that works, and one that the president is advancing in connection and in connection to access to markets and so forth," the official said.

The official said that the trip will demonstrate that America is "regaining strategic" confidence. "It will also demonstrate that America has a lot to do with the ability to combine diplomacy with economic strength, with the ability to communicate effectively, and to build relationships with leaders and with people, and it also has a lot to do with the willingness to use military force when it is necessary," the official said.

According to the official, the president's approach to the problem in Syria is a great example of that in advance of this trip  a situation that called for the use of force after the Assad regime was committing further mass murder of its own people using the most heinous weapons  using chemical weapons.

"But that wasn't just a one-off strike. It was the opportunity for the president to emphasise what was necessary to begin to reduce the suffering of the Syrian people," he asserted.

In a recent phone call with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump followed up on a broad range of diplomatic efforts to address the civil war in Syria, the problem associated with ISIS in particular and its control of territory and populations and resources there.

But he also looked for areas of cooperation. An example of that is a higher level of participation in the Astana conference that is going on now that could lead to ceasefires that can then bridge into the political process in Geneva. "Of course that's hopeful, as all that is right now, but it's an opportunity that's been created by the integration of elements of American power and American leadership in a very complex situation," the official said.
By Mike Stone

| WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON Washington is working to push through contracts for tens of billions of dollars in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, some new, others in the pipeline, ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's trip to the kingdom this month, people familiar with the talks told Reuters this week.Saudi Arabia is Trump's first stop on his maiden international trip, a sign of his intent to reinforce ties with a top regional ally.The United States has been the main supplier for most Saudi military needs, from F-15 fighter jets to command and control systems worth tens of billions of dollars in recent years. Trump has vowed to stimulate the U.S. economy by boosting manufacturing jobs.Washington and Riyadh are eager to improve relations strained under President Barack Obama in part because of his championing of a nuclear deal with Saudi foe Iran.Lockheed Martin Co (LMT.N) programs in the package include a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system with several batteries, the sources said. The THAAD system, like the one being made operational in South Korea, costs about $1 billion. Also being negotiated is a C2BMC software system for battle command and control and communications as well as a package of satellite capabilities, both provided by Lockheed.The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations, which also include previously reported contracts or items under discussion for years. One such deal, an $11.5 billion package of four multi-mission surface combatant ships and accompanying services and spares, was approved by the State Department in 2015. Talks followed to hammer out capabilities, configuration and design for the complex warships but the deal has never gone to final contract.

The next step for the ships is likely a letter of agreement between the two countries, the sources said.Versions of the ship used by the U.S. Navy, the Littoral Combat Ship, are built by Bethesda, Maryland-based weapons maker Lockheed Martin and Australia's Austal Ltd (ASB.AX). If a deal goes through, it would be the first sale of a new small surface warship to a foreign power in decades. Any major foreign weapons sale is subject to oversight by Congress. Lawmakers must take into consideration a legal requirement that Israel must maintain its qualitative military edge over its neighbours.Also, more than $1 billion worth of munitions including armour-piercing Penetrator Warheads and Paveway laser-guided bombs made by Raytheon Co (RTN.N) are in the package, the sources said. The Obama administration suspended the planned sale because of concerns over the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen and civilian casualties.

A U.S. administration official said the proposed Raytheon sale was still undergoing interagency review. A Raytheon representative declined to comment on the sales. A Lockheed representative said such sales are government-to-government decisions and the status of any potential discussions can be best addressed by the U.S. government.A representative for the Saudi embassy in Washington declined to comment.FLURRY OF ACTIVITY

One of the people with knowledge of the sales said that as planning for Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia intensified in recent weeks, the arms negotiations also accelerated. Two U.S. officials said a U.S.-Saudi working group met at the White House Monday and Tuesday to negotiate the trip, as well as financing for military equipment sales and stopping terrorist financing.Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir and other Saudi officials met with lawmakers at the Capitol on Thursday, including Senators Bob Corker and Ben Cardin on the foreign relations committee.The Pentagon declined to comment. White House and State Department officials said it was U.S. policy not to comment on proposed U.S. defence sales until they had been formally notified to Congress.The Obama administration had offered Saudi Arabia more than $115 billion in weapons. Most of the Obama-era offers, which are reported to Congress, became formal agreements though some were abandoned or amended.Washington also provides maintenance and training to Saudi security forces. (Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed, John Walcott, Warren Strobel, Patricia Zengerle and Jonathan Landay; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and James Dalgleish)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: Former US President Barack Obama has endorsed a candidate in the race for France's presidency, taking his first dive back into international politics since leaving the White House in January.

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron released a video from Obama on Thursday, with the former president touting his candidacy. "I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run," Obama said. "He has stood up for liberal values; he put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world; and he is committed to a better future for the French people. He appeals to people's hopes, and not their fears."

Macron is facing far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday's runoff vote. Polls suggest Macron is well ahead. Obama said he doesn't plan to get involved often in political situations. "I'm not planning to get involved in many elections now that I don't have to run for office again, but the French election is very important to the future of France and the values that we care so much about. Because the success of France matters to the entire world," he said.

Macron asked Obama for his support, an Obama aide said. Obama called Macron privately in April and praised him, but declined to make an endorsement. But now, Obama decided to weigh in because he believes France's success impacts international challenges on the global stage, the aide said.

The aide spoke on background because the aide wasn't authorised to speak about Obama's deliberations. Political scientist Dov H Levin of Carnegie-Mellon University called Obama's endorsement unusual for a former president. Presidents like Bill Clinton have tried to personally influence elections in places like Russia and Israel while in office, but Levin said he has not come across

an instance where a former president has offered an endorsement in a foreign leadership race like Obama.

Levin, who studies US attempts to influence elections in other countries, said it is rare for a former president to have enough popularity or influence in a foreign country for his assistance to even be desired.

"My guess is that Macron found that Obama, even as a former president, still has enough cachet, enough influence with French voters to make it worth asking for his endorsement," Levin said.

Obama ended his message with the words 'En Marche', the name of Macron's political movement which means 'In Motion', 'Vive La France'.

President Donald Trump has praised Macron's opponent, Le Pen, although he has not explicitly endorsed her. "She's the strongest on borders, and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France," Trump said in an 21 April interview with The Associated Press. "Whoever is the toughest on radical Islamic terrorism, and whoever is the toughest at the borders, will do well in the election."
By Yasmeen Abutaleb and Robin Respaut

| FRANKFORT, Ky./SAN FRANCISCO

FRANKFORT, Ky./SAN FRANCISCO For nearly three years, Democrats and former President Barack Obama pointed to Kentucky as one of the Affordable Care Acts biggest success stories.A poor, rural state that straddles the North and South, Kentucky was an early adopter of the healthcare law commonly known as Obamacare and saw one of the countrys largest drops in the uninsured rate.Now Kentucky is poised for a new distinction: to be the first state to save money by reducing the number of people on Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor and disabled and a central tenet of Obamacare.If successful, Kentucky would provide a roadmap for other states who are worried about paying an increasing share for people on Medicaid. A new Republican health law that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, along with state initiatives like Kentucky's, would dramatically change the national healthcare system and cut more than $800 billion from Medicaid over the next 10 years. The Republican bill still faces a long road ahead in the U.S. Senate and its final passage is far from assured, making initiatives like Kentucky's all the more important. Kentucky has proposed to lessen its financial burden before it grows by reducing the number of residents on Medicaid by nearly 86,000 within five years, saving more than $330 million in the process. For a graphic click tmsnrt.rs/2on0HVKKentucky's plan also calls for new work requirements for able-bodied adults to get insurance. Plus, it would establish new fees for all members based on income and lock out some people who miss a payment or fail to re-enroll.By following these proposed rules, Kentucky believes Medicaid enrollees will over time graduate from Medicaid to private and employer insurance plans. One of the most remarkable lies that has perpetrated in recent years in the healthcare community in America is that expanded Medicaid was working well in Kentucky, Republican Governor Matt Bevin, who is leading the state effort, told Reuters from the governors mansion in Frankfort, Kentucky.That view is in line with President Donald Trumps administration, which has criticized Obamacares Medicaid expansion and urged states to pursue similar Medicaid reforms to what Kentucky is now attempting. "If Kentucky is successful, youll see this spread through the more conservative-leaning states. Its possible even a Democratic blue state could do it, said George Huang, director and senior municipal healthcare research analyst at Wells Fargo Securities. Its the flexibility that some states are seeking.

INSURING THE POOR AT A PRICE

Kentucky, a state Trump won handily last November, has been devastated by the loss of coal mining jobs and an opioid epidemic. The state sits near the bottom of health rankings for smoking rates, cancer deaths and diabetes.To me, morally, it was the right thing to expand Medicaid, but I had a responsibility to not to do something that would bankrupt the state, said former Governor Steve Beshear, a Democrat, referring to the increased costs of caring for a larger population with Medicaid insurance.More than 30 states, about a dozen of which are led by Republican governors, expanded Medicaid under Obamacare. In Kentucky, more than 400,000 people gained health insurance through the program, the highest growth rate of Medicaid coverage of any state.Beshear commissioned independent studies by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte on the financial and health impacts of expanding Medicaid. Both studies found health and economic gains. Deloitte reported that 90,000 newly covered residents received cholesterol screening and 80,000 got preventative dental care within a year. It estimated Kentucky would see an economic boost of $30 billion and 40,000 new jobs by 2021.Beshears successor, Republican Governor Bevin, was elected in 2015 on a promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law on the view that thousands of Kentuckians had unaffordable premiums and only one health insurer to choose from.

He dismissed the projections in the Beshear-commissioned studies as preposterous, and says the states share of expanded Medicaid - $74 million in 2017 and totaling $1.2 billion over five years - was too expensive and unsustainable. We want this to be a helping hand for people at a time when they need it, but then be able to return to the commercial marketplace, Bevin said. Last year, Bevin submitted the waiver to restrict Medicaid eligibility by requiring enrollees to work or volunteer at least 20 hours per week and to pay monthly premiums based on income. He's still awaiting approval.Bevin said he has spoken with several governors about the waiver and has had extensive conversations with Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price about fast-tracking the approval process in order for other states to quickly adopt similar programs. Such conversations are occurring across the country in response to encouragement from the new administration to reform state Medicaid programs, said Alleigh Marre, a Health and Human Services spokeswoman. Louisiana and Wisconsin are considering work requirements for Medicaid enrollees. The Obama administration rejected previous attempts by other states, including Ohio and Arizona, to require work programs and monthly premiums for Medicaid, historically a free program for those eligible. "Every state is watching this to see what happens, said Bevin of Kentuckys waiver. Its the first one in the queue.

SIGNS POINT TO YES FOR KENTUCKY WAIVER

The odds look good for Kentucky to get the waiver in the coming months, based on the track records of health officials that Trump named after his inauguration. Seema Verma, the new head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which approves Medicaid waivers, said during congressional testimony that the agency will usher in a new era of state flexibility and leadership. Verma helped craft Kentuckys waiver, but said she will recuse herself from the approval process to avoid conflicts of interest. She and Tom Price wrote a letter to governors in March encouraging Medicaid reforms that more closely resemble commercial insurance plans. In the letter, they suggested features such as premium fees, health savings accounts, and emergency room co-payments that encourage the use of primary care. CMS declined to comment on Kentuckys waiver and said it does not speculate on the process while ongoing.Under federal law, waivers must promote Medicaids objective of delivering healthcare services to vulnerable populations who cannot otherwise afford them. Waivers have never been used to cut people from the rolls, said Emily Parento, associate professor at the University of the Pacifics law school and the former executive director of Kentuckys Office of Health Policy.But Vermas office is encouraging changes to Medicaid that make the government program look more like private insurance policies - goals that are similar to Bevins in Kentucky.I think what will happen is that other states will look at it and go, We want everything they got, Bevin said. (Reporting by Yasmeen Abutaleb in Kentucky and Robin Respaut in San Francisco; Editing by Caroline Humer and Edward Tobin)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New York: More than 300 protesters marched in New York against a scheduled visit by President Donald Trump as the House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.

"Hey hey, ho ho Donald Trump has got to go!" members of the group shouted, protesting his policies as they marched up 12th Avenue toward a decommissioned aircraft carrier serving as a museum where Trump was scheduled to dine with the Australian prime minister on Thursday.

"Trump listen, we're in the fight!" they sang in Spanish. Some protesters banged on pots and pans.

"Protect Americans, Save Obamacare," one placard read.

"I'm just here to protest everything Trump," real estate broker Nina Horowitz said. "It just gets worse and worse and he's just not president material by any stretch of the imagination."

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly passed a Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare, which will now head to the Senate, where it faces substantial opposition.

"We're hoping it can get defeated in the Senate," Horowitz said. It's just shocking to me."

Multiple groups are organising protests to mark Trump's first visit to his hometown since becoming president. The Republican's policies are heavily disliked in the largely Democratic city, where 80 percent of the electorate voted for his opponent Hillary Clinton last November.

His moves to restrict immigration, roll back federal protections for transgender students and assault Obamacare are all widely unwelcome in America's most populous city, and one of its most liberal.

The massive police presence and huge cost necessary for securing his Trump Tower home  where the first lady and the couple's 11-year-old son have continued to live through the school year  are also deeply unpopular.

"I'm here to show my discontent with Donald Trump and the example that he's setting and the way that he's leading this country based on hate, bigotry and divisiveness," said one of the march organisers, Flav Maximus, 39.

"He's an anti-intellectual who's not qualified for the job and I believe he contradicts what America is supposed to be about."
Pakistan seems too occupied in finding faults regarding religious intolerance with its immediate neighbour India and it conveniently forgets what's happening in its own backyard.

Amid continued cases of lynching, violent and wanton attacks in Pakistan on the pretext of blasphemy, the Legislative Assembly in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) has recently passed two resolutions unanimously regarding the finality of the prophethood and the honour and respect of the prophet's companion and the family. The resolution glaringly states that the Qadiani, Lahori and Ahmadi sects are against Islam and that they should be declared as non-Muslims or infidels. And if at all they claim themselves as Muslims, they should be criminally charged. Liberals, albeit in minuscule number blame the bigots of adhering to extreme religious intolerance by trying to impose such Acts.

On the face of it, the timing of the said resolution looks highly suspicious for taking a position in favour of blasphemy laws similar in Pakistan. It is pertinent to note that the Legislative Assembly is dominated by members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and that being the ruling party, it is able to manipulate things in its religious favour. The incumbent government through its legislators is adding fuel to the prevailing bigotry further by fanning religious violence in Pakistan.

Against this backdrop, the month of April has been disastrous in Pakistan in terms of religious onslaughts under the cover of blasphemy laws. Most shocking and condemnable incident was the 13 April killing of Mashal Khan by a strong mob of 500 at the Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan. He was killed merely on suspicion of being an Ahmediya allegedly trying to be blasphemous! It's sad to see such an occurrence taking place in a place of learning. A place where seculars like Abdul Gaffoor Khan alias Frontier Gandhi lived and preached religious tolerance and equality.

The bigotry linked violence in Pakistan does not end here. On 20 April, three armed persons killed a man in Sialkot, accused of blasphemy 13 years ago. Subsequently, again on 22 April, a frenzied mob fatally attacked a man accused of blasphemy at a Friday prayers' congregation in a northern Pakistani town. At least six policemen were grievously injured when they tried to intervene to help the hapless. Again on 25 April, at least 14 people including six children were killed and 13 injured when a passenger van was targeted with the remote controlled bomb in Parachinar Khurram Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The victims were Shias, an eyesore of the zealots practicing an intolerant form of Islam. These are some illustrations to prove the point that tirade against the religious minority is active and Pakistan government does not seem to be serious in containing the damaging trend.

Further, the accusation of blasphemy is being used as a lethal tool allowing the perpetrator to dispense 'justice' then and there. It is also used as a pretext to deny almost every single fundamental human right. Asia Bibi, the Christian accused of blasphemy was recently denied the right to even medical treatment inside the jail. Her case has been pending now for over ten years.

Blasphemy laws, the human rights watchers say, are particularly dangerous in countries like Pakistan where the collapsing judicial system, weak rule of law and ineffective State control make the certainty of punishment for crime totally absent.

Lamentably, Pakistan ranks 81st among 113 countries with a poor track record of human rights. The rising incidences of miscarriage of justice and breakdown of law and order are giving rise to military courts which are more than often arbitrary in their verdicts.

By allowing assemblies to pass religious resolutions, the State is instigating intolerant and zealots to resort to violence. Their tall claims notwithstanding to bring the religious oppressors to justice, the government continues to introduce laws and policies in Pakistan which are detrimental to national security and peace. Pakistan needs to put its house in order before it points its accusing fingers towards India.

The author is a retired IPS officer and a Senior Fellow with the India Police Foundation. Views are personal.
Islamabad: Pakistani lawmakers have unanimously rejected a bill aimed at increasing the minimum age for marriage of a girl from 16 to 18 years, terming the proposed amendment as "un-Islamic".

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Religious Affairs met on Thursday, and discussed the The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2016 moved by lawmakers Kishwer Zehra.

The proposed amendment to increase the age was not only opposed by the Muslim lawmakers but also Hindu and Christian parliamentarians, The Express Tribune reported. The committee called the proposed amendment "un-Islamic". The committee members also discussed 'The National Commission for Minority Rights Act, 2015' at the request of lawmaker Lal Chand Malhi.

Christian lawmaker Tariq Christopher Qaiser recommended the number of commission members be increased to give representation to all the minorities. He also called for allowing the minorities to directly elect their representatives.

The committee also constituted a sub-committee to further discuss it.

The Pakistan Senate unanimously passed the landmark The Hindu Marriage Bill in 2017 bill to regulate marriages of minority Hindus in February.

The bill had already been approved by the lower house or the National Assembly in September 2015, and only needs the signature of the president, a mere formality, to become law.

The bill will help Hindu women get documentary proof of their marriage.

It will be the first personal law for Pakistani Hindus, applicable in Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The Sindh province has already formulated its own Hindu Marriage Law.
By Gul Yousafzai

| QUETTA, Pakistan

QUETTA, Pakistan Pakistani and Afghan troops exchanged fire for several hours on Friday along their disputed border, officials on both sides said, as tension between the neighbours flared into deadly violence.Pakistan's military said a census team - guarded by troops from its Frontier Corps (FC) - that was collecting population data in a village near the border town of Chaman came under fire and at least one person was killed and 18 wounded.Zia Durani, police spokesman for Afghanistan's Kandahar province, said Pakistani officials were using the census as a cover for "malicious activities and to provoke villagers against the government"."They did not heed the warning and we have clear orders to engage them," Durani said, adding two Afghan border police were wounded.Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq said 40 Pakistani soldiers and 37 others were killed, including 14 Afghan border police. Reuters was unable to confirm the figures.

Violence ceased later in the day and officials from both sides were due to meet at the frontier, the Pakistani military said. Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned the Afghan charge daffaires to protest at what it called unprovoked firing.The Chaman crossing into Afghanistan's Kandahar province is one of two border points. A doctor in a Chaman hospital told Reuters three people had been killed in the fighting.

Relations between the countries have been uneasy since Pakistan's independence in 1947. Afghanistan has traditionally enjoyed better ties with Pakistan's rival, India.Afghanistan has for years accused Pakistan of sheltering Afghan Taliban militants, something Pakistan denies.Pakistan's military said Afghan border police had been "creating hurdles" since April 30 for the census team in the Chaman area.

"This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of the census," the military said.Tension has been increasing in recent months with each side accusing the other of not doing enough to stop militants engaging in cross-border raids.Last year, Pakistan started building a barrier at the main border crossing in the town of Torkham, near the Khyber Pass, angering Afghanistan which has never formally recognised the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893. (Additional reporting by Syed Raza Hassan in Karachi and Hamid Shalizi in Kabul; Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Robert Birsel and Robin Pomeroy)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
WASHINGTON President Donald Trump was simply saying nice things to an ally when he called Australia's universal healthcare system better than the U.S. system, and he does not think his country should adopt a similar approach, the White House said on Friday."The president was complimenting a foreign leader on the operations of their healthcare system," White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a news briefing. "It didn't mean anything more than that."Trump raised eyebrows when he told Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday in New York, "You have better health care than we do."Trump spoke shortly after he led a White House rally with Republicans from the House of Representatives, who had just passed legislation to overturn much of former President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law and move further away from a guarantee of universal coverage.

That measure, opposed by Democrats, must clear the Senate before Trump can sign it into law."Of course the Australians have better healthcare than we do - everybody does," Trump tweeted on Friday. "ObamaCare is dead! But our healthcare will soon be great."

Independent scorekeepers at the Congressional Budget Office have not yet analysed the bill, but they estimated an earlier version would have led to 24 million fewer Americans with insurance coverage than under current law.Australia's government plays a larger role in its health system. The country provides free hospital treatment and subsidized medical care for all residents through a publicly funded programme. Roughly half of Australians choose to buy private coverage, which provides them with greater choices.

Huckabee Sanders said Trump's remarks do not mean he thinks the United States should adopt a similar system."I think he believes that they have a good healthcare system for Australia," she said. "What works in Australia may not work in the United States."(In third paragraph, corrects name of Australian prime minister) (Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Cynthia Osterman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Research published in Cell Metabolism funded by the Medical Research Council found that the same amount of calories were burned independent of at what time of day they... Read More
The Affordable Care Act has been contentious since before it became law in 2010, and Thursday's 217-213 vote in the House of Representatives set the stage for a possible repeal and replacement of the legislation now known as Obamacare.

Yet even with the law on life support, Obamacare changed the way that Americans look at healthcare. Whether you support the Affordable Care Act or hate it, the law's provisions have had sweeping effects on healthcare behavior, and even a full repeal of Obamacare would still leave many Americans calling for the same or similar provisions going forward.

1. Mandating health-insurance coverage

The Affordable Care Act sought to get everyone to obtain health-insurance coverage, and to do that, it set up what became known as the individual mandate. Under the provision, Americans had to have minimum essential health-insurance coverage or qualify for an exception, or else they would have to pay a financial penalty. Those penalties started out small, but they grew to as much as $695 per adult and $347.50 per child by 2016. Moreover, because of supplemental provisions in the individual mandate, even higher penalties can apply to upper-income Americans. Requiring insurance coverage helped broaden the risk pool and potentially led to cost savings, but a surprisingly large number of people chose not to get coverage despite the penalty provisions.

Image source: Getty Images.

2. Coverage for those with preexisting conditions

The Affordable Care Act required plans sold via the health-insurance marketplace to cover treatment for preexisting medical conditions. In essence, no insurance plan could reject you or charge you more because you had a preexisting condition, and once you were enrolled, your insurer couldn't raise rates solely based on your health. That changed the nature of health-insurance risk, as insurers could no longer charge higher-risk patients higher premiums or deny coverage entirely.

3. Greater numbers of people covered

One area of controversy involves the number of people who have coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Numbers vary widely on the number of newly insured Americans under Obamacare, with common numbers ranging from 14 million to 20 million. Yet it's important to understand that (as we'll see below), Medicaid expansion provisions in the ACA were responsible for a large number of uninsured Americans getting coverage. Marketplace exchanges have brought some people coverage, but they aren't responsible for all of the gains made toward bringing coverage to all.

4. Medicaid expansion

All 50 states offer Medicaid coverage to those who qualify, but the qualifications differ from state to state. The Affordable Care Act offered the opportunity for states to expand Medicare coverage to everyone earning 138% or less of the federal poverty level. As of the beginning of 2017, 31 states and the District of Columbia had decided to adopt Medicaid expansion, while 19 states had not. Obamacare didn't require states to participate, but the result has been a patchwork of provisions that create very different incentives for Americans depending on what states they live in.

5. Coverage for preventive care

The Affordable Care Act broadened the set of preventive services that health plans were required to cover. Preventive care includes annual physicals, various screenings, and appropriate immunizations and vaccines for all adults. Women qualify for contraception services and women's health tests such as mammograms, while children receive scheduled vaccinations and routine age-appropriate screenings. Typically, these services are now free when provided by in-network health professionals, which was a change from some plans that charged co-payments or deductibles before providing coverage.

6. Coverage for young adults

Young adults between 18 and 25 used to be among those least likely to have insurance coverage. Once a parent's plan no longer allowed a child to maintain coverage, options were limited. In response to that situation, the Affordable Care Act changed things so that in most cases, adult children can remain on a parent's plan until they turn 26. While not a perfect answer to the problem, those extra years often give young adults enough time to get their own coverage through an employer.

7. Removal of lifetime benefit limits

Before the Affordable Care Act, dollar limits on the benefits an insurance plan would pay during an insured person's lifetime were common. Those limits often seemed quite high, but even lifetime limits of $1 million or more left people vulnerable to rising costs of inpatient care, specialized prescription drugs, and other high-cost healthcare services. The Affordable Care Act prohibits health plans from imposing lifetime limits on essential health benefits, preventing the catastrophe of losing coverage entirely in the event of a major illness or injury.

8. Limits on health-insurance company profits

The Affordable Care Act included a requirement that 80% to 85% of all premium payments be spent on actual healthcare services. The intent of this provision was to limit the amount of profit that an insurer could use to spend on administrative services or return to investors. If healthcare expenses turned out to be less than projected, then insurance companies would theoretically have to send rebates to policyholders. Although some health insurers have reported difficulty in making their marketplace insurance plans profitable, it's unclear whether the ACA's requirements on healthcare spending have reined in industry profits overall.

9. Patient-appeal rights

Prior to the ACA, rights to appeal an insurer's decision to deny claim payments or end coverage were more limited. Patients typically had rights to an internal appeal with the insurance company itself, but after that, legal remedies could be arduous. Under the Affordable Care Act, you're allowed to have an independent third party do an external review. If the reviewer rules in your favor, then the insurance company must comply.

10. Protection from policy cancellations

In the past, some insurance companies denied coverage if they found mistakes on an insurance application. In some cases, this might even involve retroactive denial back to the beginning date of a policy, which could result in no coverage for healthcare expenses you had already incurred. The Affordable Care Act made it illegal for insurance companies to cancel coverage simply because of an error. Instead, they must prove that you either fraudulently put false or incomplete information on an application, or you failed to pay your premiums.

Even with the House vote, Obamacare isn't yet history. Moreover, it's possible that some of the ways in which the Affordable Care Act changed healthcare as we know it would survive even in a replacement law. Nevertheless, it's useful to know what the ACA changed, so you can compare any future plan against it accurately and completely.

The $16,122 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $16,122 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after.Simply click here to discover how to learn more about these strategies.

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Health insurer Anthem is not ready to give up its $48-billlion bid to buy rival Cigna and now hopes to find a favorable audience in the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurer is asking the court to review last week's rejection by a federal appeals court.

The court upheld a federal judge's ruling that said the deal would further reduce competition an already concentrated insurance market. The ruling was made after regulators sued to block the deal.

Even Cigna wants this deal to go away. The insurer has sued Anthem and is seeking billions of dollars in damages.

But Anthem Inc. says it hopes "1960s-era merger precedents" that the courts relied upon for their decision can be updated to reflect "the modern understanding of economics and consumer benefit."
One of Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) key suppliers could ask a U.S. trade agency to ban imports of the popular smartphone in the U.S. as a legal spat wages on.

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), which makes chips for the iPhone is entrenched in a legal battle with Apple after Apple decided it was going to stop paying billions in licensing fees on the chips made by Qualcomm.

Ticker Security Last Change Change % AAPL APPLE INC. 138.23 -1.27 -0.91% QCOM QUALCOMM INC. 111.23 -1.31 -1.16%

News of the potential ban was first reported by Bloomberg.

Qualcomm is likely to ask the International Trade Commission (which describes itself as an "independent," quasi-judicial, federal agency) to stop the iPhone -- designed by Apple in California, but made in China -- from entering the U.S. while the issue is ongoing, according to Bloomberg.

Apple claims that Qualcomm has not offered fair terms that are required for offering its patents, according to Apple CEO Timothy D. Cook.

APPLE IS BEING HURT BY RUMORS AND ITS CEO ISN'T HAPPY

"Anyone that has a standards-essential patent has a responsibility to offer it to everyone that would like it under what are called FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory )," Cook said on an conference call to discuss fiscal second-quarter results earlier this week. " Qualcomm has not made such an offer to Apple. And so I don't believe that a  I don't believe anyone is going to decide to enjoin the iPhone based on that. I think that there's plenty of case law around that subject, but we shall see."

Apple and Qualcomm did not immediately respond to requests for comment for this story.

Apple is expected to unveil a new iPhone this fall, which several new features, including a larger screen.

After Apple stopped paying royalty payments to San Diego-based Qualcomm, it slashed its revenue outlook by $500 million on the expectation that Apple will not send over payments.
President Daniel Ortega downplayed the possible impact of a U.S. bill that would condition international lending to Nicaragua on a range of democracy and rights issues, saying it's more of a political than an economic threat to his country.

"The world is not going to disappear, the economy is not going to disintegrate" if the so-called Nica Act passes, Ortega said late Thursday after meeting with representatives of the International Monetary Fund during a visit to the Central American nation.

The bill before the House and Senate calls for the U.S. to oppose most loans to Nicaragua's government through organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, with the exception of funds for humanitarian purposes or to promote democracy.

That would be the official U.S. position unless the secretary of state certifies that Nicaragua is taking steps to hold fair and competitive elections, safeguard political rights, strengthen the rule of law and fight corruption, among other conditions. Similar legislation last year failed to advance in Congress.

Nicaraguan opposition leaders and civil society groups accuse Ortega of manipulating elections to stay in power and of wanting to create a family dynasty by making his wife, Rosario Murillo, his vice president.

Ortega's government has opened negotiations with the Organization of American States ahead of local elections scheduled for November to discuss concerns about transparency and fairness.

OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro urged U.S. lawmakers this week to "reconsider" the bill to allow "time and space" for the negotiations to work.

Economist and sociologist Cirilo Otero said Ortega may be underestimating the Nica Act's potential effects because any uncertainty could prompt investors to suspend activity in Nicaragua until it clears up.

"We are a poor country that lives off international aid," said Otero, a professor at the Universidad Centroamericana. "We are not self-sustainable to react in that way."

Nicaragua, the second-poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere after Haiti, relies on international loans to finance at least 10 percent of its budget.

___

Corrects to say Ortega spoke late Thursday.
Puerto Rico is closing 184 public schools in a move expected to save millions of dollars amid a deep economic crisis that has sparked an exodus to the U.S. mainland in the past decade, officials said Friday.

An estimated 27,000 students will be moved elsewhere when their schools close at the end of May, Education Department spokeswoman Yolanda Rosaly told The Associated Press.

No further details were immediately available. Rosaly said Education Secretary Julia Keleher would provide more details soon.

It is the largest mass closure of schools announced in the history of the U.S. territory. Officials shuttered 150 schools over the span of five years from 2010 to 2015.

Opponents of previous school closures say that transportation logistics and special education needs were not taken into account. An estimated 30 percent of Puerto Rico students receive specialized education, twice the average in the U.S. mainland.

Puerto Rico currently has a total of 1,292 public schools that serve 365,000 students. The island has seen its school enrollment drop 42 percent in the past three decades, and an additional 22 percent drop is expected in upcoming years, according to a report that the Boston Consulting Group submitted to the previous administration to help restructure Puerto Rico's education system.

Much of the drop is the result of parents moving to the mainland U.S. in search of jobs and a more affordable life, as well as thousands of teachers being recruited from the island for their bilingual skills.

The island's low birth rate also is expected to keep driving down enrollment.
London's progress as a financial center could stall because of the upheaval Brexit will bring to the industry, Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein was quoted as saying by the BBC.

When asked whether London's long-term expansion over the past three decades would go into reverse, Blankfein said: "I don't think it will totally reverse."

"It will stall, it might backtrack a bit, it just depends on a lot of things about which we are uncertain and I know there isn't certainty at the moment," Blankfein said, according to a report on the BBC website.

Most of the European Union's financial markets are currently run out of London, but banks have warned some of that business and the jobs that come with it will have to move if they lose access to the bloc's single market.

Goldman's CEO said he would like to see an implementation period of at least "a couple of years" once the British exit deal is agreed, so that banks can have time to adapt.

The bank has "contingency plans" to move people depending on the outcome of the negotiations, he said.

The head of Goldman's international business, Richard Gnodde, warned on March 21 that the bank would begin moving hundreds of people out of London before any Brexit deal is struck between Britain and the EU.

Blankfein said the bank wants to avoid cutting as many jobs as it can, adding that in 10 years' time it was likely that London would remain its largest European office by a substantial margin.

"I would say that it is our hope that we will be able to conduct our business as close as we can to the way we conduct it today," he said.

"That is, we could have German nationals marketing German securities to German investors from the UK.

"And be resident in the UK and accomplish that. I would like and it is my hope that we can do as much of that as possible."

The European Union is expected to publish a draft law next month that could be the prelude to forcing the clearing of euro-denominated securities out of Britain.

Currently vast swathes of euro transactions are processed by clearing houses in London due to its status as a global financial center. The euro zone has long wanted more control of that business, and Britain's decision to leave the EU has provided a new impetus.

Blankfein told the BBC it was important to guard against any rapid changes or fragmentation of financial activity, saying it could risk the safety and security of the financial system.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Pamela Barbaglia; editing by Rachel Armstrong and Keith Weir)
US fighter jets seized two Russian bombers flying near Alaskaas air defense zone late Wednesday just hours after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke about the fragile relationship between Russia and the U.S.

a[I] characterized to President Putin that the relationship between our two nations was the lowest itas been since the Cold War. He did not disagree. He shrugged his shoulders and nodded in agreement and I said itas spiraling down, itas getting worse, and my comment to him was... the two greatest nuclear powers in the world cannot have this kind of relationship. We have to change it,a Tillerson said.

However, world chess champion Garry Kasparov said the relationship is exactly what Putin wants it to be.

aConfrontation with America is a core of his domestic propaganda. If you listen to Russian television, America is its arch enemy and Putin needs to show strength all the time,a Kasparov said during an appearance on the FOX Business Networkas Mornings with Maria.

The 'Deep Thinking' author said Russiaas economy is a reason for Putin to create more tension.

aThereas all these planes flying around because [the] economy is in terrible shape, you saw oil prices going down, so he doesnat expect any improvements, so he will keep creating problems to demonstrate to the Russian elite and the Russian public that he can defy the United States,a he said.

In his opinion, as long as Putin is ruling Russia, the relationship will remain the same.

aHe cannot improve [Russia]. He needs an enemy, as every dictator at this point, he needs an enemy to explain why his country is so poor and also to explain why heas staying in power for the rest of his life,a he said.
The National Front party of French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen complained to election authorities that voters in several regions received torn facsimile ballot papers bearing her name in a pre-election information package.

Such packages are sent to all French voters in the run-up to elections, detailing party manifestos and containing mock-up ballot papers for each candidate marked with their names.

In Sunday run-off, widely portrayed as France's most important election in decade, Le Pen faces independent centrist Emmanuel Macron, the clear favorite. The two have radically different views of Europe and France's place in the world.

"Several citizens received the electoral information and the two ballot papers of the candidates for the presidential election. That of our candidate was systematically torn and that of our opponent, Mr. Macron was intact," David Rachline, Le Pen's campaign director, said in a statement.

Rachline named seven administrative districts in which irregularities has been reported.

Rachline added that some mayors had written to constituents with voting instructions using official stationary, which was also against the electoral code.

"The multiplication of these deeply anti-democratic acts constitutes a serious attack on the functioning of our republic," Rachline said.

The electoral commission said in a statement it had asked the interior ministry to ensure the incidents if true should not impact the outcome of the vote.

(This version of the story corrects to clarify what election commission said in paragraph)

(Reporting by Bate Felix and Yann Le Guernigou; editing by John Stonestreet)
There are many reasons why classic motorcycles are increasingly popular among younger folks, aka Millennials. Aside from the sheer excitement of riding a fast bikesomething Hunter S. Thompson called a bloodcurdling kind of funmost motorcycles are pretty easy for the home mechanic to work on.

Theres no tightly packed engine bay that requires you to do contortions or remove other car parts before finally reaching what you actually want to work on. And they take up a fraction of the space needed to store a car, even a small one. There are also a dizzying number of choices, from mopeds to superbikes and enduros to cruisers. Most importantly, vintage bikes tend to be cheap, which is something that younger folks, saddled with student debt and high rent, appreciate.

MORE CLASSIC CAR AND MOTORCYCLE STORIES FROM HAGERTY

According to long-time motorcycle rider and writer Paul Duchene, What you often see among younger people is the Japanese stuff. The Japanese really cracked reliability in the 1970s. Youre also going to see the bikes that people bought, kept, and cared for, rather than the really racy stuff that people took to the track or crashed. And youre also going to see a lot of 500-, 600- and 750-cc bikes, since anything over one liter represents a hike in insurance premiums.

Below are the five most popular makes for riders born 1982-2002, as measured by insurance quotes over the last five years. These brands make up 75 percent of the quotes measured, and 78 percent of them are valued under $10,000. Bikes from the 1970s are also particularly popular among millennials; 41 percent of the motorcycles quoted hail from that decade.

Honda

If this was a list of the most popular bikes by model, all five spots would be 1970-74 Hondas. They account for 29 percent of the buyer interest among millennials over the last five years. Between CB350 twins and the ubiquitous CB750 fours, there are oodles of vintage Hondas on the market at any given time. Honda is also credited with finally bringing electric starters and reliability to performance motorcycles, a mostly foreign concept for European bikes at the time. High-production volume, great parts availability, low price, and the fact that you can always count on your Honda starting are the reasons why younger buyers find them so appealing.

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidsons status an American icon has been talked about ad nauseam, but there is no denying Harleys appeal among all generations. Interestingly enough, while Harleys are twice as likely as Hondas to be quoted overall, they make up only 24 percent of buyer interest among millennials, as opposed to 29 percent for Hondas. According to Duchene, this may be because Harleys are generally quite expensive for what they are, and people tend to keep them forever or trade them in on new models.

Yamaha

Yamahas make up 11 percent of buyer interest, and for millennials its much the same story as Honda. Theyre appealing because theyre generally cheap and reliable, and ample parts are readily available.

Kawasaki

Kawasakis, with 6 percent of buyer interest, are among the wave of reliable and affordable Japanese bikes that came on strong in the 1970s and 80s. Just about the best affordable all-purpose bike out there is the Kawasaki KLR 650, Duchene says.

Triumph

If Harley is an American icon, then Triumph is a British icon, and it accounts for 5 percent of buyer interest. Bonnevilles didnt change much at all during the 1960s, and Duchene notes, Lots of them are being restored. People have fixed up so many of them that theyre cheap, and owners tend to just ride them around town on the weekends, which these bikes are quite good for. Triumphs generally arent going to be as reliable as their later Japanese counterparts, but parts availability is good, and they appeal to younger buyers who want not only a usable classic bike but something a bit different and more interesting than the more common Hondas.

RETURN OF THE DUCATI SCRAMBLER:
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Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie Ashley Graham didnt always have it easy when it came to love.

The 29-year-old plus-size model and body activist got candid about dating in her upcoming book, A New Model: What Confidence, Beauty and Power Really Look Like, which is set to be released on May 9th.

The June issue of Glamour Magazine published an exclusive essay from her memoir where Graham described her romantic woes as an up-and-coming model.

ASHLEY GRAHAM GETS CANDID ABOUT HER BODY

Four months into our knowing each other, my now husband, Justin (Ervin), said, I really like you, and I really want to be your boyfriend. Will you be my girlfriend? I said yes, explained Graham. But the truth is, I wasnt sure. One reason: Our first kiss was terrible (To this day Justin says Im the worst kisser he ever met and that he had to teach me how to kiss).

As for the other reason, Graham revealed when she started dating at age 16, her first boyfriend of three months broke up with her because she wouldnt have sex with him said she was going to be as fat as his mom. This resulted in Graham dating anyone who found her attractive for a much-needed self-esteem boost.

I lost my virginity to a guy I barely knew because he gave me compliments like, Ashley, you look really pretty today, or I like when you wear your hair like that, she said. When I left Nebraska to start my modeling career in New York City, my dates followed a similar pattern: A guy took me out, then we had sex, then I wouldnt hear from him again.

ASHLEY GRAHAM STRIPS DOWN FOR STRANGE PHOTOSHOOT

Graham decided to join a church where she encountered someone who asked her out, but only proved to be another major disappointment. So when it came to dating Justin, the couple chose to abstain so they could focus on their budding romance instead.

My romance with Justin was innocent and sweet, explained Graham. He cooked for me. We went rollerblading and biking; we did karaoke, went to the movies, took an improv class together. Because we werent sleeping together  for Justin, abstinence was a firm commitment to his faith  we never tempted ourselves by going over to each others apartments late at night. But wed go to late movies or take walks through the city together.

Despite the many ups and downs Graham faced with her beau, including her grandmothers initial disapproval of the biracial relationship, the couple endured  and the wait proved to be worth it all.

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When I was playing games, he called me out on it, said Graham. When we began dating, he did it with intention, always asking the difficult questions: What do you bring to this relationship? and What role do you see yourself in beyond girlfriend or wife? I wasnt always sure how to answer.

I didnt like my mom and dads marriage, but I couldnt put my finger on why, she added. But thanks to Justins constant communication, I envisioned a marriage that was more than just two people loving each other. And now we have that marriage: a partnership dedicated to building something bigger than ourselves.

The June issue of Glamour hits newsstands on May 9.
Hollywood actor and Broadway star Hugh Jackman knew exactly the moment when he won over wife Deborra-Lee Furness. And he can thank his talent for making it work.

I think she probably first fell in love with me when I sang You and I from the musical Chess, the 48-year-old actor told Closer Weekly.

Deb will still ask me to sing it for her at home, although shes usually a bit tipsy, he quipped.

HUGH JACKMAN REMOVES SIXTH SKIN CANCER

Jackman told the celebrity news magazine that he first bonded with his 61-year-old wife while starring together on the 1995 Australian miniseries, Correlli. And even though Jackman wasnt looking to settle down anytime soon, the growing chemistry proved undeniable.

There was something that clicked between us right away, said Jackman. It was the feeling you get when you sense this connection that tells you this is the kind of woman you want in your life.

Deborra-Lee previously brushed off comments that she is lucky to be married to the movie star.

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That to me is a putdown... I think we create our own desinty, she explained to Australian Womens Weekly in 2014, as reported by Us Weekly.

When people look at my life, they dont know the challenges [I face], just like I dont know someone elses [challenges], added Deborra-Lee. With every privilege, comes responsibility and challenges.

The couple have been married for 21 years now and share two children.

Closer Weekly is currently on newsstands.
Jerry Garcias custom-made guitar named Wolf is headed to auction.

Guernseys auction house in New York City announced on Friday that the Grateful Dead frontmans guitar will be offered on May 31 at Brooklyn Bowl, a bowling alley, restaurant and music venue.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center, a non-profit organization founded in 1971 that serves to combat hate, intolerance and discrimination through education and litigation.

GRATEFUL DEAD REUNITING WITH PHISH GUY

The guitar is being sold by devoted Deadhead Daniel Pritzker. The philanthropist, musician and film director first purchased the guitar in 2002 at Guernseys for $790,000. It could exceed $1 million this time.

The auctioneer said Wolf first appeared in a 1973 performance the Grateful Dead gave for the Hells Angels in New York.

Garcia played Wolf everywhere, including San Franciscos Winterland Ballroom, New Yorks Palladium and Egypts Great Pyramids.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

The 1977 film, titled The Grateful Dead Movie, was directed by Garcia and featured Wolf.

Garcia, an icon of the 1960s psychedelic music scene, died in 1995 at age 53 from a heart attack.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Don't expect to see Trump on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show."

Ellen Degeneres told "Today's" Matt Lauer she is not interested in inviting the president to appear on her talk show.

"Um, no," the comedian told Lauer when asked if she would invite Trump to talk to her. "Because I'm not gonna change his mind. He's against everything that I stand for."

The 59-year-old, who has had Hillary Clinton and Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush on her show, also spoke about the time she met Trump, long before he became president.

"I don't know him," she said before adding, "I mean I know him from 'Celebrity Apprentice' because when we first started this show, I think Season 1 or 2, we went out there and we filmed something with him and so I flew in his helicopter and did a bit with him. So I knew him then [but] I have not spoken to him since he's run for president or become president."

Lauer appeared on DeGeneres' show earlier this week and she asked the journalist what he thought about Trump's "war on media."

"I think it's something that he goes out and he says in front of a crowd of supporters and it gets a great reaction," Lauer said. "He doesn't hate the media. As a matter of fact, he's someone who has loved the media more than most people."
On National Tequila Day, revelers throughout the United States will be getting into the spirit with a glass of their favorite spirit in hand.

But other than its taste or where its produced, most of us dont know a thing about Mexicos national liquor.

In other words, our collective knowledge of tequila could fit in a shot glass.

In honor of today's holiday, were taking a closer look at the history, etymology and growing practices behind the distilled beverage:

Not all agave-based beverages are created equal

In order for a spirit to legally advertise itself as tequila, it must be made from weber blue agave plants grown in a territory specified by the General Declaration of Protection of the Appellation of Origin of "Tequila" (and also manufactured and bottled in facilities therein). Anything else  even if it's made to near-identical standards  is a mezcal, which is the term for any spirit distilled from the agave plant. Therefore, as Food & Wine points out, all tequila is technically mezcal, but not all mezcal can call itself tequila.

WHERE WAS THE MARGARITA INVENTED?

The etymology of the word "Tequila" is a little murky

Tequila gets its name from the town of Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico, but the etymology of the word is much more ambiguous, according to the National Resource Center Canada. Some claim it comes from the Nahuatl words "tequitl" and "tlan," which can be translated as "place of work," "place of duty," "place of job," or "place of task" (some take it to mean "place of wild herbs," "place where they cut" or "place of tricks," too). Others say it comes from the names of native tribes once known as the Ticuilas and the Tiquilos. A final theory claims that "tequila" is simply a corruption of the word "tetilla"  meaning "small breast"  which is also the name for the summit of a tiny volcano near Tequila.

Agave plants are pollinated by bats

Agave plants are chiropterophilous, meaning that theyre pollinated by bats as opposed to insects or birds. The plants flower at nighttime, attracting the bats with the smell of rotting, over-ripened fruit. While drinking the nectar, the bats become covered in pollen and spread the grains to other plants. However, agave plants can also reproduce asexually in two different ways: either by vegetative propagation, during which a genetically identical plant grows from part of the original plant; or by producing tiny clone-like growths called bulbils, which are later harvested and re-planted. However, the agave used to produce tequila is often harvested before it has a chance to flower, meaning that most tequila producers dont rely on bats to pollinate their agave farms.

Ironically, prohibition made tequila more popular

Thanks to prohibition, tequila's popularity in the United States grew during the 1920s. Americans weren't about to sit back and not drink alcohol, and liquor from Mexico was easier to smuggle into the country. Later, during World War II, tequila experienced another boom in popularity when overseas liquor shipments decreased.

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Tequila can (technically) be used to make diamonds

Physicists at the National Autonomous University of Mexico discovered how to make artificial diamonds out of 80-proof tequila, which contains the perfect ratio of ethanol to water for the process. They begin by evaporating the tequila into a vapor, and then they heat that vapor to a temperature of 1400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the vapor hits a silicon or stainless steel tray, it creates a "diamond film" containing microscopic diamonds free of impurities. Too small for jewelry (as of yet), these diamonds can be used for a wide variety of practical, industrial and electronic purposes. What's more, the scientists say that even the cheapest of tequilas can be made into these diamonds.
The real question is why this hasnt happened sooner.

Nokian Panimo, a popular Finnish brewery, has unveiled every frat boys dream  a 1,000-pack of beer.

The towering display of Keisari started as a way to one-up a rival brewer. Nokian Panimo told a Helsinki newspaper that the idea was a spontaneous joke after Karjala introduced 100-packs of beer in April.

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But the packs are actually on sale  albeit only in Finland. The brews are packaged with five stacks that are 12 beers wide and 18 long, technically totaling 1,080 cans. Some supermarkets have started breaking down the display into packs that dont require a pallet truck for transportation. But the 1,000 pack is still available in some locations.

So if you happen to be in Finland, you can buy one for 2,150, or $2,345 US. That comes out to a little more than two bucks a can  about the same value you get with most six-packs.

Except no ones ever Instagrammed someone buying a six-pack.

This story originally appeared on NYPost.com.
Health officials in Minnesota are zeroing in on the states Somali-American community as they scamble to contain the largest measles outbreak the area has seen since 1990, when 460 people contracted the virus and three died. As of Thursday, the overall state count reached 41 and had spread outside the groups community, in Hennepin County, to include its first adult patient.

The current outbreak has been largely concentrated in the county, but a child who contracted the virus traveled to other parts of the state, a Minnesota Health Department spokesperson told The Star Tribune. Officials are also considering instating mandatory isolation and quarantine orders for infected patients and those who may be at risk of exposure.

MUCUS FROM COLORFUL FROG COULD CONTAIN POWERFUL FLU FIGHTER

It is very possible that we could see cases appearing in different parts of the state where there are pockets of unvaccinated kids, Kris Ehresmann said. We have some people who have not followed what we asked, and they have been blatant in exposing other people. They have potentially spread the disease in other locations.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, 42 percent of Minnesota-born Somali toddlers had received the Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine as of 2017, compared with 88 percent of non-Somali toddlers. Many community members began to question the safety of vaccines after parents raised concerns about a perceived greater prevalence of autism among Somali children. A wealth of research has since debunked the myth that vaccines cause autism, but parents are still wary.

MOSQUITOES AND TICKS ARE COMING FOR US ALL THIS SUMMER

In Minnesota, children are required to be vaccinated before enrolling in child care, early education programs or school, but state law allows children to receive exemption for medical reasons or conscientiously held beliefs, the Associated Press reported.

Health officials have contacted 2,500 people exposed to known cases, The Star Tribune reported. Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning patient zero was likely exposed to the virus while visiting a foreign country. One of the three new cases announced this week involved a patient from outside the Somali community. Two of the new cases involve patients who had received both doses of the MMR vaccine.

Symptoms of the highly contagious virus can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and rash. If left untreated, measles can lead to life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia or swelling of the brain.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A new observational study confirms a gut feeling many parents likely already possess: When it comes to learning, technology is no replacement for human interaction.

Researchers from the Cohen Childrens Medical Center of New York found that babies and toddlers who played non-educational games using smartphones, tablets and readers tended to have lower verbal scores than youngsters who didnt use the devices. The age group ranged from infancy to 3 years old.

"It was striking to see that parents were substituting books and general baby toys for smart phones, Ruth Milanaik, DO, chief investigator of the study and an attending developmental and behavioral physician at the Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park, said in a news release. Many parents did not seem to bring any other distraction for their children except the touch-screen devices."

DOES YOUR NEWBORN NEED A BABY BOX?

To draw their results, researchers surveyed 65 families on the average age their child started using a touch-screen device and how often they used the devices daily. The study authors found that, overall, 97 percent, or 63, of the families owned a touch-screen device, the average age a child began using the devices was 11 months, and they used them about 36 minutes daily on average.

Researchers also asked parents to identify how their infants and toddlers were using the smartphones. The most common reason the youngsters used them was for watching so-called educational shows (30 percent), using educational applications (26 percent), randomly pressing buttons (28 percent), and playing non-educational games (14 percent), according to the release.

Sixty percent of the parents reported that their children enjoyed educational benefits from using a touch-screen device, but the study found that verbal scores were no better among youngsters who had exposure to the devices and those who didnt. However, those children who did play non-educational games saw their verbal scores take a hit. Those games included Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds.

5 WAYS PARENTS CAN BETTER THEIR DAUGHTERS' SELF-ESTEEM

In the paper, which was presented this week at the Pediatric Academic Societies in Vancouver, Milanaik noted that the findings may suggest a need to revise current federal guidelines on tech use for small children. Thats because the most recent policy, issued in 2013 by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), actually encourages electronic media use among kids under age 2, but does not address kids up to age 3, a group the study suggests may suffer cognitive delays from use of non-educational toys.

"Technology can never replace a parent's interaction with his or her child. Just talking to your child is the best way to encourage learning" Milanaik said in the release.

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President Donald Trump has set the liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in his sights.

Absolutely I have considered proposals to break up the Ninth Circuit, President Trump said last week. Opponents of his policies have engaged in judge shopping to find friendly courts to enjoin, he claimed, most recently his executive orders punishing sanctuary cities and restricting immigration from Muslim nations.

"Everybody immediately runs to the 9th Circuit. And we have a big country. We have lots of other locations. But they immediately run to the 9th Circuit. Because they know that's like, semi-automatic," Trump told the Washington Examiner.

Trump is not the first Republican to seek to divide the court, which hears appeals from federal trial courts in California, Alaska, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and Hawaii. It is the largest federal appeals court in the nation, not just by geography and population, but by caseload and number of judges. It has a liberal super-majority, with Democratic presidents appointing 18 out of the current 25 sitting judges  some of whom date back to the Carter years. It has pushed constitutional law in liberal directions, such as striking down Californias ban on gay marriage, and generous readings of statutes in favor of environmental, labor, and consumer groups. It has a reputation for a high rate of reversal by the Supreme Court, a fact noted by President Trump: It's got close to an 80 percent reversal period, and what's going on in the 9th Circuit is a shame.

Republicans in conservative states surrounding California, which the majority of the liberal judges call home, would like a divorce. They have proposed legislation that would carve out a new court that would leave behind California, Oregon, and Hawaii  all states that supported Hillary Clinton and have two Democratic Senators.

As Republicans, we understand conservative frustration with the Ninth Circuit, and we too often disagree with its decisions. But we also often scratch our heads over the decisions of other courts, including misguided opinions on racial affirmative action in universities (the Fifth Circuit in Texas) and Obamacares takeover of the health care market (the D.C. Circuit in Washington and the Sixth Circuit in Ohio). Conservatives should pause before monkeying around with the court to change the political outcome of cases.

First, splitting the Court would waste valuable political resources at a time when the Republicans could achieve greater legal results elsewhere. Only Congress, not the President, has the constitutional authority to create and organize the lower federal courts. Senate Democrats would most likely filibuster any effort to split the Ninth Circuit, which would require at least 60 votes to enact the legislation. Instead of seeking to remake the geography of the courts, the White House should devote its efforts to nominating capable conservatives to the four vacancies on the Ninth Circuit and to the many others on the other circuits. If Congress wants to dilute the liberal direction of the Ninth Circuit, it could instead create 10 new judgeships, which would only follow the precedent set by Democrats who vastly increased the courts size at the end of the Carter presidency

Second, conservatives should instinctively resist the urge to manipulate the courts to win political battles. Let Democrats be the ones who resort to this tactic. Upon winning the Presidency and Congress in 1800, the Jeffersonians eliminated dozens of judgeships and attempted to impeach a Federalist Supreme Court Justice. Progressives of the early 20th Century campaigned against judicial review, while FDR famously attempted to pack the Supreme Court with six new members to overturn its decisions blocking the New Deal. Liberals will more often than conservatives confront the courts as an obstacle to their latest efforts at social engineering. While conservatives will suffer at the hand of the courts from time to time too  as they have most notably on affirmative action, abortion, and gay marriage  they should defend institutions that moderate unrestrained democracy and slow down social change.

Third, arguments that the Ninth Circuit has grown too large for a single court are overblown. Quality control should be the primary concern for the court, for which reversal by the Supreme Court is a good proxy. The Supreme Court, which has the luxury of choosing which cases to hear, has granted review in only a tiny fraction of the Ninth Circuits cases (well below 1 percent). From 2010-15, the Supreme Court reversed in 79 percent of the cases it granted from the Ninth Circuit; while above average, this came in for only third place among the 13 circuits. While the Ninth Circuit handles the largest number of cases in the country, it has adopted a management system that summarily disposes of simple cases and reserves the difficult one for judicial decisions. It has created an en banc system (which brings together half of the overall court) to efficiently resolve conflicts between the three-judge panels that initially decide most cases. The alternative is to either divide California between two different circuits, which has never happened before and would lead to severe contradictions in the laws governing commerce, or lead to a heavily imbalanced set of circuits anyway.

Our judicial system should have a diversity of appellate courts as our nation has a diversity of states: the important D.C. Circuit sits only over the nations capital with a tiny, but important caseload of cases against the government, while the Second Circuit has only New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. Our judicial system can learn from the innovations of the Ninth Circuit in handling a vast stretch of land and population.

None of the proposals to split the Ninth Circuit would attack the root problem for the Trump administration. It is moving aggressively to implement an agenda that raises difficulties under constitutional doctrine. Courts will always act as a brake  for good or ill  on rapid policy changes. No matter what new, interesting shapes for the courts arise in the minds of Congress, opponents of the conservative agenda can always bring suit in California, New York, or Illinois to find a sympathetic court.

Instead, Republicans should look for the real solution in Trumps greatest triumph so far  the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. The problem is not the liberalness of the Ninth Circuit or any other circuit, but taking advantage of the Presidents authority to nominate, and the Senates right to confirm, judges to restore balance to the federal judiciary after eight years of Obama appointments. Instead of playing cartographer, the White House should devote its energies to swiftly nominating more men and women to the federal courts in the mold of Gorsuch or of the Justice whom he replaced, Antonin Scalia, and the Senate should speedily confirm them.
We have had a Womens March, then a March for Science, then an Earth Day March, which was not the same thing as the March for Science, and now there will be a March for Truth to demand an investigation on Trumps ties to Russia.

Who the hell has that much time to march?

The left is has decided to make protest their permanent campaign headed into 2018, but normal Americans have lives, are working, and dont have time to drop everything to march all the time.

This is, yet again, the secular, atheist left trying to capture the sentiments of religion for a cause they perceive as greater than themselves. They have priests and ceremonies. Instead of genuflecting at an altar, they raise their hands in protest. Instead of pilgrimages to real holy lands, they have pilgrimages to their holy land, Washington, and march around like theyre on Hajj.

Instead of marches, these people could be productive members of society. Though they are keeping paint makers, sharpie marker makers, and poster board manufacturers in business, these are mostly college kids, their professors, and paid union activists. Because they have degrees in things like Womyn & Gender Studies, Queer Theory, and Puppetry Arts, they are practicing being unemployed to get used to their future. While doing it, however, they are clogging up the streets for the rest of us and making traffic miserable.

Instead of marching, the rest of us will be in the real world enjoying our families and contributing to the economy. No normal, sane person has enough time for all this marching about. Only in the leftwing bubble thinks is it meaningful.
Whats next from North Korea? With last months failed missile launch, Kim Jong Uns regime is ratcheting up its face-saving missile-flexing to the next level, with a rumored test of a nuclear warhead.

President Donald Trump responded with his favored weapon, Twitter, launching this 140-character salvo:

North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.

For its part, China indeed appears to be helping -- refusing to off-load North Korean coal, and turning back North Korean coal freighters bound for Chinese ports. Add to that a sharp increase in Chinas purchase of U.S. coal, and the outlines of an economic squeeze become evident.

But if the U.S. and China seem to be exploring ways to pressure North Korea, theres a key player missing from the economic equation:

South Korea itself.

With its stone-age economy leaving it little of value to sell, resource-rich North Korea has long looked to metals deals with the South to bring in much-needed hard currency. For decades, South Koreas Ministry of Unification has managed this aspect of the North Korea relationship, with an emphasis on acquiring scarce strategic materials from the Kim regimes through South Koreas state-owned resource corporation, KORES.

Materials such as graphite and rare earths metals are critical to the cutting-edge industries that are the backbone of South Koreas high-tech economy. In fact, KORES is 50% owner of North Koreas largest graphite mine  an investment made the year of North Koreas first nuclear test.

The question is why South Korea sees North Korea  its sworn enemy  as a source for those materials, in the face of strong evidence that the revenue generated from those purchases is funneled into financing North Koreas nuclear weapons program.

True, South Korea did shut down the Kaesong Industrial Complex  a major source of hard currency for the Kim regime -- in the wake of the Norths 2016 nuclear tests. But even now, as the Norths nuclear threat ratchets up, South Korea is mulling the prospect of reopening Kaesong. With South Koreas presidential election coming up next week, one of the front-running candidates wants not only to re-open Kaesong immediately, but to expand it to 20 times its current size. Another leading candidate supports the sunshine policy under which Kaesong was created, and kept open in spite of successive North Korean nuclear tests.

All of this comes as the United States is actively reconsidering its role in world affairs. During the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, candidate Trump skewered Americas NATO allies for free-riding and failing to pay their fair share towards the military costs of the alliance. But NATOs free-riding pales in comparison to South Koreas dalliance with trade deals that it knows will kick-start the next stage of Pyongyangs nuclear program.

Perhaps the Trump Administration can suggest to KORES that  akin to Chinas new-found interest in American coal  its time for South Korea to begin working with American suppliers to develop new non-North Korean sources of critical metals and minerals.

South Korea cant have it both ways. It cant claim be under an existential threat from Kim Jong Un, only to reopen a hard currency spigot that will keep Kim and his cronies in power, and fund a nuclear weapons capability that will  by 2020, some national security experts say -- threaten the continental United States itself.

With U.S. naval strike groups sent North Koreas way and calls for the expedited deployment of THAAD missile defense systems ringing out, one thing is certain: Its going to be very hard to convince the American people to go to the brink with a nuclear-armed madman on behalf of an ally who has helped bankroll the nuclear weapons arrayed against it.

If we do  in spite of South Koreas equivocal stance towards its enemy to the north -- Kim Jong Un will be justified in asking, whos crazy now?
President Trump just announced that Saudi Arabia will be the first foreign country he visits as president, underscoring both the success of Saudi outreach to the new administration, and the determination of this President to recommit to the strategic alliance providing stability in an unstable region. The symbolism of this is exceptionally important, illustrating that the Trump administration understands the fundamental issues at play in the Middle East today.

Make no mistake: The Middle East today faces a determined effort to bring down the Saudi led Gulf Monarchies that constitute the front line in the battle against terrorism. And while it is not popular to praise monarchies, particularly when the crown sits atop an Arab head, Saudi Arabia and other countries governed by ruling families have emerged as the last line of defense in a dangerous great game for the heart of the Middle East, and with it, global stability.

Iran, ISIS, and al-Qaeda all want to replace the Gulf monarchies, with rulers under the sway of Irans Shia theocracy or, in the case of ISIS and al-Qaeda, with a radical Sunni caliphate. Both Iran and the Sunni jihadis dream of controlling Islams holy cities of Mecca and Medina, as well as the oil fields of Arabia, prizes that would endow them with tremendous influence over the Islamic world and beyond. Just this week, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned that his country is the primary target for the Iranian regime.

Blocking their path is the Saudi-led traditional Gulf ruling order, the GCC. These six monarchiesSaudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatarare the last foundational pillars directly and indirectly upholding the nation-state structure in the region. They not only constitute a bulwark against the spread of Iran and ISIS but also help maintain the nation state order beyond their borders by supporting Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan and other regional states that would likely fall without their active support. Without the big checks of the wealthy Arab monarchies, not to mention American aid, Egypt would likely have crumbled by now. The same goes for Jordan. In Yemen, where the Iranian backed Houthis are fighting a brutal civil war against the legitimate government, what looks now to be an emerging disaster zone would have gone that way long ago without massive Gulf support, including hosting millions of Yemeni workers and refugees in the GCC.

A problem for many Western intellectuals, though, is that they dont like the existing Gulf monarchical order and hence, discount the value of those monarchies to America as allies. Those crowned heads represent many things that offend them: autocracy, inherited power, unearned wealth and privilege, and the suppression of womens rights. All this is exacerbated by a growing aversion to an Islam that is increasingly defined in public narratives by terrorist and jihadi atrocities.

This attitude is dangerously flawed. While there is still so much social progress to be made, the Gulf monarchies have provided their people, and the world order, with decades of stability and far better governance than their peers, namely, the post-colonial regimes that emerged in the last 70 years, whether socialist, Arab nationalist, communist, Islamist, or even democratic like Lebanon.

Yes, monarchies have certainly curtailed freedoms. But their efforts in light of any suppression of freedoms of their people have paled in comparison to those of their republican or Islamist peers. Count the number of Iranians killed by the Islamic Republic since the revolution of 1979 and note that it is exponentially more than the number of people executed by all the Arab monarchies put together. The Iranian regimes brutality compares in its use of violence only to the Baath republics of Syria and Iraq.

Despite any corruption and elite self-indulgence in the monarchies, their subjects have still benefited from a substantial share of the economic piefar more than citizens in the aforementioned states have received since their independence. With a stronger social compact with their people, its not surprising that the monarchies were better able to withstand the chaos and bloodshed that came to define the Arab Spring.

The Gulf monarchies, faults and all, are now the primary glue left holding the dangerously stressed Middle Eastern region together. Were they to weaken or even collapse, it is not inconceivable that they could bring the international order down with them. Imagine revolution and chaos in the center of the global map with the regions sea and air lanes imperiled, oil infrastructure compromised or crippled, and a Muslim community spread across the world becoming more consumed by bitterness and anger. The idea that this could lead to global conflict is not hyperbole; previous world wars were ignited by much less.

The West must look at the Gulf monarchical order as its strategic partner and fully support it as it stands up to these dangerous revolutionary forces, not only ISIS and al-Qaeda but also, and with equal urgency, Iran, which is a much more formidable and institutionalized revolutionary actor than either ISIS or al-Qaeda. Irans revolutionary capacity is more powerful because it enjoys the resources of a modern state. It is also more dangerous, since it insidiously pretends to be a responsible member of the international order, feigning to strive for peace and playing the diplomatic game while actively working to bring down the Arab order through its Revolutionary Guard Corps and its non-state actor/terrorist proxies across the region.

The relative success of the Arab monarchies needs to be understood and recognized if the dangerous downward trajectory of the Middle Eastern region is to be halted and reversed. President Trump, in announcing that his first foreign trip will be to Saudi Arabia, shows that his administration clearly understands this, and understands too whats at stake for the world.
FBI Director James Comey considered an anti-Trump dossier compiled by a former British intelligence officer so important that he insisted the document be included in January's final intelligence community report on Russian meddling in the U.S. election, Fox News was told.

Sources would not speak on the record, citing the sensitivity of the matter and its current relevance to upcoming testimony on the unmasking of American citizens as part of the FBI probe into alleged contacts between Trump campaign advisers and Moscow.

Asked for a response to the claims, the FBI and Office of the Director of National Intelligence said they could not comment on a classified document.

It was reported last month that the unverified dossier was part of the evidence the FBI used to obtain a FISA warrant for Carter Page, a peripheral figure in the Trump campaign. In an interview with Fox News, Page denied the dossiers central allegations that he was the Trump campaigns point person for Moscow.

The dossier also contained salacious allegations about then-candidate Donald Trump. The classified version of the intelligence report issued at the end of the Obama administration included a summary of the document, as an attachment. Both then-President Barack Obama and President-elect Trump were presented with the findings.

In a remarkable exchange Wednesday between Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Comey during a Senate hearing, more questions were raised about the bureaus relationship with the former British officer who wrote the dossier, Christopher Steele, and his British company Orbis -- and its relationship to Washington, D.C.-based Fusion GPS.

Comey said that I know the name and I cant say when Graham pressed if Fusion GPS is part of the Russian intelligence apparatus.

And when Graham asked if he agreed it would be interfering in our election by the Russians if Fusion were involved in preparing the anti-Trump dossier, Comey replied, I dont want to say.

Inside the packed hearing room, the committees chairman Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, was visibly irritated at the lack of response by the director of the FBI. For months, Grassley has highlighted the bureaus failure to meet deadlines and respond to his questions, calling it in a recent letter a pattern of obstruction on matters related to Steele.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee who also sits on the intelligence committee, told CNN on Wednesday that she does not at this time have evidence of collusion between Trump associates and Russia during the campaign.

A letter of complaint against Fusion GPS was filed with the Justice Department, alleging the company -- and founder former Wall Street Journal reporter Glenn Simpson -- violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Asked for comment on the complaints allegation that Fusion GPS acted as an unregistered agent for Russian interests, attorney Joshua A. Levy told Fox News senior executive producer Pamela Browne via email that, Fusion GPS has complied with the law and was not required to register under FARA. Nor has Fusion GPS ever been a Russian agent. Allegations to the contrary are not true.

Levy went on to deny Fusion GPS lobbied against the Magnitsky Act. Not true, Levy stated.

He said: Fusion GPS only factual connection to anything in the complaint is the litigation support Fusion GPS provided to Baker Hostetler, a law firm mentioned in the complaint. Fusion GPS did no lobbying work for that law firm or its clients.

The Magnitsky Act, a 2012 bipartisan bill passed by Congress and signed by then-President Barack Obama, was named after Russian lawyer-turned-whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Moscow prison in 2009. The law imposes visa bans and asset freezes on Russian officials linked to the 37-year-old lawyers death.

Grassley stressed his concerns that the FBI has relied on the document to justify [Comey's] current investigation. There have been reports that the FBI agreed to pay the author of the dossier, who paid his sources, who also paid their sub sources. Where did the money come from and what motivated the people writing the checks?

During the heated hearing, Grassley also chided the FBI for giving him materially inconsistent information and specifically referenced Steele, noting The man who wrote the dossier admitted in court that it has unverified claims. Does that sound like a reliable basis for law enforcement or intelligence actions?

Fox News also spoke to Steeles solicitor Nicola Cain in London, who had no comment citing ongoing litigation.

A British court document, first reported by The Guardian and signed by Steele, offers a glimpse into his companys work for Fusion GPS. The document describes "unsolicited intelligence" and "raw intelligence" that needed to be anlaysed and further investigated/verified.

Fox News has filed a formal request for copies of court documents with the Queens Bench Division of the High Court in London.
Sacramento became the latest city this week to go above and beyond sanctuary policies by approving the use of taxpayer dollars to support the legal defense of illegal immigrants facing deportation.

The City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to draw $300,000 from the general fund to provide urgent legal and support services to Sacramento families facing the immediate threat of separation due to deportation.

The plan, backed by the mayor, fits a trend of local and state lawmakers taking similar action. As the Trump administration separately faces a court setback in its bid to cut off federal funds to sanctuary cities, those jurisdictions are only doubling down.

Earlier in the week, officials in Michigan's Washtenaw County gave initial approval to pay such legal bills with taxpayer funds.

Proposals to directly or indirectly pay for legal assistance to illegal immigrants have also gained approval in Providence, R.I.; Austin, Texas; San Francisco, Calif.; and Newark, N.J.

Even in the small New York city of Ithaca, politicians are gearing up to spend emergency funds to help illegal immigrants taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to The Ithaca Voice.

And on a broader scale, New York lawmakers recently signed off on a statewide legal defense fund, while California legislators are considering a bill creating a fund that could carry a price tag of up to $12 million per year.

In Sacramento, Councilman Eric Guerra told Fox News in an email that their move to assist with legal defense reflects a commitment to treat all Sacramento residents equally and with the dignity and respect they deserve.

But the moves have faced criticism, at a time of limited resources for cities across the country.

It is simply bad public policy to be spending public funds at a time when everyone is strapped for cash and cannot fund the money for vital services. Even if they are relatively small funders, they are directing much-needed resources from schools and roads to meet the political desires of lawmakers, said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which supports stricter controls on immigration.

A two-year Justice Fund rolled out in December by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is one of the nations largest at $10 million. Its funding source is a 50-50 split between private foundations and taxpayer dollars from residents of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County.

Further, Seattle passed a measure in April to direct $1 million toward a legal defense fund for immigrants and refugees in need of legal representation. That money will be given in the form of grants to community organizations that assist individuals facing deportation or who want to become naturalized.

Immigrants held for deportation may have a right to a hearing before an immigration judge, and to be represented by a lawyer in their civil proceedings.

The government, however, is not required to pay for it, unlike in a criminal matter.

The high cost of navigating the immigration system is not new, but an executive order signed by President Trump prompted action, immigration activists say.

There was a change of policy with the executive orders that prompted us to do this. [Under Obama], there was care being taken not to separate families and the executive orders show there is an interest in deporting many, many people. That motivated us to set up these funds to make sure these people have due process, Diana Morris, director of Open Society InstituteBaltimore, told Fox News.

Baltimore did not appropriate funds, but did advise on matters related to funding and running Safe City Baltimore, an education and legal defense fund, according to Catalina Rodriguez-Lima, director of the citys Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs (MIMA).

Dale Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of the Immigration Law Reform Institute, says the use of public funds to pay the legal fees of illegal immigrants is insulting to the taxpayers and legal residents.

It also provides yet another incentive for more illegal aliens to come and will further clog up our immigration courts, some of the most backed up in the nation, he said.

ILRI recently filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a case involving the question of whether immigrants facing expedited deportation are guaranteed the right to any legal representation.

In February, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that immigrants detained in the country illegally have no right to a lawyer, but the case has been appealed to the full panel.
The Obama administrations White House counsel was directly involved in deliberations over the release of Hillary Clinton emails as early as spring 2015, according to handwritten FBI agent notes released by the bureau late Friday.

The notes read: "Pat Kennedy (early May '15) calls interagency MTG (meeting) re: scheduled release by JAN '16, asking quick turnarounds - WH Counsel, CIA, etc...OSD, DNI, NSC and (redacted)"

The notes offer a raw account of the case from the perspective of FBI agents. Much of the content already had been documented in previously released FBI interview summaries, called 302s. The reference to Counsel, however, appears to be the earliest confirmation of White House involvement.

From the outset, the White House tried to put distance between itself and the former secretary of states personal email controversy. The records were also released to Judicial Watch which sued in federal court.

On March 7, 2015, then-President Barack Obama told CBS News that he learned about Clinton's private server for government business from the media. The same time everybody else learned it, through news reports, he said. But an email sent from Clinton aide Cheryl Mills later that day, and published by WikiLeaks, shows she told Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta otherwise: "We need to clean this up. He has emails from her -- they do not say state.gov."

The newly released notes, from an interview with a State Department employee, also show how the department's No. 3 at the time, Patrick Kennedy, tried to convince an FBI agent to change the classification of the Clinton emails, arguing they did not contain sensitive information. This was first reported by Fox News in September 2015, and later described in an FBI summary released last year as a "quid pro quo."

At the time, Kennedy and the State Department denied the charge, which was credible.

The notes also cover how FBI agents were expecting 14 bankers boxes of Clinton emails from her lawyers firm Williams & Connolly, but only received 12, as Fox News reported in October. The two boxes have never been accounted for.
When Iran attempted to launch a cruise missile from a midget submarine earlier this week, Pentagon officials saw more evidence of North Korean influence in the Islamic Republic  with intelligence reports saying the submarine was based on a Pyongyang design, the same type that sank a South Korean warship in 2010.

According to U.S. defense officials, Iran was attempting to launch a Jask-2 cruise missile underwater for the first time, but the launch failed. Nonproliferation experts have long suspected North Korea and Iran are sharing expertise when it comes to their rogue missile programs.

The very first missiles we saw in Iran were simply copies of North Korean missiles, said Jeffrey Lewis, a missile proliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Over the years, we've seen photographs of North Korean and Iranian officials in each other's countries, and we've seen all kinds of common hardware.

When Iran tested a ballistic missile in late January, the Pentagon said it was based on a North Korean design. Last summer, Iran conducted another missile launch similar to a North Korean Musudan, the most advanced missile Pyongyang has successful tested to date.

Defense analysts say North Korea's Taepodong missile looks almost identical to Iran's Shahab.

In the past, we would see things in North Korea and they would show up in Iran. In some recent years, we've seen some small things appear in Iran first and then show up in North Korea and so that raises the question of whether trade -- which started off as North Korea to Iran -- has started to reverse, Lewis added.

Irans attempted cruise missile launch from the midget submarine in the Strait of Hormuz was believed to be one of the first times Iran has attempted such a feat. In 2015, North Korea successfully launched a missile from a submarine for the first time, and officials believe Tehran is not far behind.

Only two countries in the world deploy the Yono-class submarine - North Korea and Iran. Midget subs operate in shallow waters where they can hide. The North Korean midget sub that sank a 290-foot South Korean warship in 2010 -- killing over 40 sailors -- was ambushed in shallow water.

North Korea denied any involvement in the sinking.

When those midget subs are operating underwater, they are running on battery powermaking themselves very quiet and hard to detect, said a U.S. defense official who declined to be identified.

During testimony last week, Adm. Harry Harris, the head of American forces in the Pacific, warned the United States has no land-based short- or medium-range missiles because it is a signatory to the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces, or INF, treaty signed in 1987 between Russia and the United States. But Iran and North Korea are under no such constraints.

"We are being taken to the cleaners by countries that are not signatories to the INF, Harris told the House Armed Services Committee late last month.

Perhaps most worrisome for the United States is that Iran attempted this latest missile launch from a midget sub Tuesday in the narrow and crowded Strait of Hormuz, where much of the world's oil passes each day.

Over a year ago, Iran fired off a number of unguided rockets near the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier as she passed through the Strait of Hormuz in late December 2015. The U.S. Navy called the incident highly provocative at the time and said the American aircraft carrier was only 1,500 yards away from the Iranian rockets.

In July 2016, two days before the anniversary of the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, the Islamic Republic attempted to launch a new type of ballistic missile using North Korean technology, according to multiple intelligence officials.

It was the first time Iran attempted to launch a version of North Koreas BM-25 Musudan ballistic missile, which has a maximum range of nearly 2,500 miles, potentially putting U.S. forces in the Middle East and Israel within reach if the problems are fixed.

The extent of North Koreas involvement in the failed launch was never clear, apart from North Korea sharing their technology, according to officials.

In Washington Thursday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tried to garner support for more United Nations sanctions against North Korea by hosting leaders from Southeast Asia. Days after Irans first ballistic missile test of the Trump administration, the White House put Iran on notice.
A controversial sanctuary cities crackdown awaiting Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts signature could put one county in particular in a tough spot, thanks to an obscure legal settlement from a decade ago.

Abbott is poised to sign SB4, which prohibits local cities and counties from making sanctuary laws that bar local law enforcement officers from inquiring about immigration status and cooperating with federal officials.

The potential quagmire for El Paso County stems from a 2006 settlement with a man who said his FourthAmendment rights were violated when he was held by an El Paso sheriffs deputy against his will.

Carl Starr claimed he was on a bus that was pulled over by the deputy for 30 minutes. During the stop, Starr said the deputy asked passengers about their immigration status and arrested a few who could not show papers.

I didnt feel I was free to go and I wanted to go about my business. And I felt it was a racial profiling stop, Starr said.

El Paso County denied the claims and settled with Starr for $500 plus attorneys fees.

But as a result of the settlement, the county also made a new policy that prohibits deputies from enforcing federal immigration law. The county also agreed to provide training for officers to understand the limits of their authority regarding civil immigration law enforcement.

Assistant El Paso County Attorney Christina Sanchez testified before the Senate Committee on StateAffairs in February that SB4 would force the county to choose between following the law or following the settlement. Starr told Fox News and the county he will sue if the settlement is broken.

The federal governments supposed to do its job. It has the money, it should go get judicial warrants and not be burdening these counties, Starr said.

But Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the settlement will not and cannot affect El Pasos compliance with the law.

In a letter to the Senate Committee on State Affairs leader Joan Huffman, Paxton wrote that the settlement was an agreement between two parties, not a judgment by the court, and argued two parties cannot agree to trump state law. Paxton also wrote that the settlement prevents deputies from enforcing immigration law, while SB4 only requires that they cooperate with immigration authorities.

El Paso Sheriffs Office Commander Robert Flores said there is a difference between enforcement and cooperation.

The enforcement side, youre going to have people that are actually taken into custody for the purpose of determining their national origin, Flores said.

Flores said cooperation is only allowing ICE to investigate someone whos already in custody for another legitimate crime. He said the El Paso Sheriffs office will not stand in the way of federal detainers.

Law enforcement officers and elected officials who do not comply with SB4 could face big fines and even jail time. Senate Bill 4 has received mixed reviews from lawmakers, law enforcement and advocacy groups.

There is no excuse for endangering our communities by allowing criminal aliens who have committed a crime to go free. SB 4 will ensure that no liberal local official can flaunt the law, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patricksaid.

But county commissioners in El Paso County see it differently.

I believe that its a bill that looks for a solution to a problem thats non-existent, said Democratic Commissioner David Stout.

Im not really for it, not really against it. I think its one of those bills that, true or untrue, creates a misconception, at least in this area, that police are going to be against some citizens, said Republican Commissioner Andrew Haggerty.

Many advocacy groups in El Paso have also spoke out against the bill, saying it will make immigrants fear law enforcement.

Anai Ramirez, with the Hope Border Institute, said the community has a strong relationship with federal law enforcement in El Paso, and theyre optimistic it will stay that way.

El Paso County is working with an outside law firm to develop a lawsuit against the bill. Sources with the county would not go into specifics but said they would likely challenge the constitutionality of the law and try to prove theyd suffer damages as a result of trying to comply with both the law and settlement.
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday took aim at President Trumps praise for Australias universal healthcare shortly after the GOP-controlled House passed a bill to replace ObamaCare.

"Thank you Mr. Trump for admitting that universal health care is the better way to go. I'll be sure to quote you on the floor of the Senate," he tweeted.

Sanders pointed out that Australia runs on government-funded universal healthcare system that consists of public and private markets with medical services provided by the private sector, the Hill reports.

Trump met with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in New York Thursday evening. The two attended a black-tie dinner aboard the USS Intrepid to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

In a brief address to the press, Trump praised the GOP healthcare bill that passed in the House earlier that day but not before doubling down on ObamaCares failures.

It's a very good bill right now. The premiums are going to come down very substantially. The deductibles are going to come down. It's going to be fantastic healthcare, Trump told reporters. Right now ObamaCare is failing, we have a failing healthcare."

Trump continued, I shouldnt say this to our great gentlemen and my friend from Australia because you have better healthcare than we do but we will have great healthcare very soon.

House Republicans narrowly voted Thursday to repeal and replace Obamacare, overcoming united Democratic opposition and their own deep divisions to hand a major win to Trump.

Sanders on Thursday told CNN, "Well Mr President, you're right, in Australia and every other major country on Earth they guarantee healthcare to all people. They don't throw 24 million people off health insurance. So maybe when we get to the Senate we should start off with looking at the Australian healthcare system."

As it stands, the bill would eliminate the fines ObamaCare imposed on people who don't buy coverage and erase tax increases in the Affordable Care Act on higher-earning people and the health industry. It would also cut the Medicaid program for low-income people and let states impose work requirements for Medicaid recipients. Subsidies for buying insurance would also be tied to consumers ages.

The Associated Press contributed to the report.
President Trump on Friday signed a $1.1 trillion spending bill that keeps the government funded through September, preventing a shutdown ahead of the midnight Friday deadline.

The Senate passed the bill Thursday after it had gone through the House on Wednesday. Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at the White House press briefing Friday that the president had signed the bill earlier in the day.

The bill marks Trump's first major piece of legislation. As the bill averted a shutdown, party leaders on both sides of the aisle tried to claim victory over its contents.

The bill includes $15 billion more for the Pentagon and $1.5 billion for border security. However, it upset conservatives by not including funding for construction of a wall on the southern border. Democrats also scored key victories by keeping funding for sanctuary cities and Planned Parenthood.

The sweeping, 1,665-page bill also increases spending for NASA, medical research, and federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI.

Trump took to Twitter earlier this week to complain about the bipartisan process that produced the measure but changed course to crow about additional spending for the military and border security.

One of Trump's tweets advocated for a "good shutdown" this fall to fix the "mess" that produced the bill, though he appeared at the White House just hours later to boast that it was a big win for him.

Congressional Republicans -- motivated in great measure by fear of a politically damaging government shutdown -- worked closely with minority party Democrats to produce the measure, which made only small changes to most accounts covered by the measure.

But many rank-and-file Republicans saw the bill as a lost opportunity for a fight that could have produced victories on the wall and punishing "sanctuary" cities that fail to cooperate with immigration authorities.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A young planetary system located only 10.5 light-years away has a structure remarkably similar to Earth's solar system, a new study shows.

Using NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)  a modified 747 jet equipped with a 100-inch (2.5 meters) telescope  researchers studied the planetary system circling the young, sun-like star Epsilon Eridani.

This system boasts an asteroid belt-like ring of debris, much as Earth's solar system does. As one of Earth's closest stellar neighbors, the Epsilon Eridani system is "a prime location to research how planets form around stars like our sun," said a statement from the SOFIA Science Center. [10 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life]

In previous observations of the Epsilon Eridani system, scientists detected an undefined debris disk consisting of leftover gas and dust, along with a huge planet that got the name Epsilon Eridani b. This gas giant orbits at the outer edge of the system, at a distance comparable to that between Jupiter and the sun, according to the statement.

The recent study, led by astronomer Kate Su of the University of Arizona, confirmed that the warm material of the debris disk surrounding Epsilon Eridani is concentrated into at least one narrow, asteroid-belt-like ring, closely resembling the structure of Earth's solar system, researchers said.

Using the Faint Object infraRed CAmera for the SOFIA Telescope instrument, or FORCAST, the researchers studied the strong infrared emissions from the warm material of the debris disk. This allowed them to further understand the structure of the Epsilon Eridani system, according to the statement.

"The high spatial resolution of SOFIA combined with the unique wavelength coverage and impressive dynamic range of the FORCAST camera allowed us to resolve the warm emission around Eps Eri, confirming the model that located the warm material near the Jovian planet's orbit," Su said in the statement.

"Furthermore, a planetary mass object is needed to stop the sheet of dust from the outer zone, similar to Neptune's role in our solar system," Su added. "It really is impressive how Eps Eri, a much younger version of our solar system, is put together like ours."

The new study was published April 25 in The Astronomical Journal.

Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13 . Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook and Google+ . Original article on Space.com.
Maybe you saw the recent report of an airline announcing its decision to weigh passengers, or the man who is suing Etihad Airlines, claiming a fellow passenger was taking up part of his seat on his flight. Then there are the people that have been kicked off of flights because they were too big.

If all of these stories are making you nervous about flying, relax. Let this big guy reassure you.

Here are a few things to know before you buy your next ticket:

1. Passenger weighing is extremely rare.

There are only two airlines we know of that do this sort of thing. Uzbekistan Airlines (a carrier based in the former Soviet republic) reportedly weighs passengers - with their baggage - it say is on an experimental basis to determine the overall weight loads of planes. If you fly to or from Tashkent a lot, you might run into this issue, but it seems unlikely otherwise.

Samoa Air does charge passengers by the pound for airfare but unless you live in the South Pacific, chances are slim you'll ever fly any of the airline's three planes, none of which hold more than 9 passengers.

2. Airlines want don't really to embarrass customers.

A few years back, film director/writer Kevin Smith was told to get out of the seat he was already buckled into because he was allegedly too fat to fit. His ensuing expletive-laden Twitter rant was one for the ages and let airlines know (if there was any doubt) about the power of social media.

No one likes surprises and that includes airline companies, which is why every carrier's website has a section devoted to "customers requiring extra space" or the current euphemism du jour. Look under "special needs" when searching airline sites for policies and regulations.

Just about every airline offers the same suggestion: Be pro-active, meaning customers who think they won't fit into a single seat should buy two. Not sure if you'll fit in a single? Delta says here's the test (and this is typical for most airlines): "If you are unable to sit in your seat without encroaching into the seat next to you while the armrest is down" you'll need a second seat. Some airlines say buy two upfront; others say ask a gate agent or flight attendant to place you next to an empty seat but that's risky because most airlines fly at near capacity these days and empty are hard to come by.

3. Best deal we've heard of for larger passengers.

Southwest Airlines isn't only good for free bags. If you need a second seat, Southwest says go ahead and purchase it but after the flight, simply apply for a refund. The airline's "Customers of Size" policy also notes if you don't want to buy a second seat online, you can talk to a customer service agent by phone or a gate agent at the airport but again, that carries the risk of you being shut out in case there are no empty seats. Plan accordingly.
An Australian man is suing American Airlines, alleging that he suffered serious injuries after being seated next to two passengers he claims were grossly obese.

Michael Anthony Taylor, of Wollongong, New South Wales, was flying from Sydney, Australia to Los Angeles in December 2015a 14-hour journey.

Taylor was seated in the window seat of economy class and, according to court documents, two overweight passengers were seated in his row. According to the lawsuit, the body of the passenger next to Taylor spilt over and encroached upon his seat, forcing him to contort his body into a series of positions including standing up, crouching, keeling and leaning forward, report snews.com.au.

ARE AIRLINES FAT-SHAMING PASSENGERS?

Though its been well over a year since the trip, Taylor, who suffered from a pre-existing spinal curvature, claims that he suffered even more severe back injuries and neck pain, arguing that the uncomfortable plane ride exacerbated his condition.

Taylors lawyer, Thomas Jansen of Shine Lawyers, said his client asked the cabin crew if he could change seats but was reportedly denied re-accommodation requests multiple times.

Mr. Taylor asked the cabin crew on numerous occasions if he could sit in another passengers seat, or sit on one of the crew seats, or sit in the aisle or even to sit on the toilet seat to alleviate the pain and discomfort that he was suffering from, Jansen told news.com.au. On each occasion, he was refused and rebuffed.

Attendants were not able to reseat Taylor since U.S. federal regulations do not allow passengers to sit in crewmember jump seats. All 310 seats aboard the 777-300ER were occuppied by other passengers on Taylor's Dec. 28 flight.

Taylor is seeking AUD $100,000 in damages (about $74,000). Jansen added that if his client is victorious, it could be a wakeup call for airlines to consider how theyve designed their seating and how they seat passengers.

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I dont hold any malice towards the people in the seats next to me. Theyd paid for a ticket too, Taylor told Sydneys Daily Telegraph. The airline could have put me in a crew seat or moved people around but they did nothing.

Taylors complaint comes amid rising concerns about increasingly cramped conditions and legroom on commercial aircrafts. This week, it was reported that American Airlines plans to reduce the size of seat pitches by two inches on its new 737 Max jetliner fleet to fit three extra rows on planes. The move will further maximize cabin capacity per flight.

A spokesman for American Airlines told Fox News via email that the airline is aware of the suit, adding, "We just received the lawsuit and we are reviewing the allegations."
Does a single banana qualify as a complete meal? The flight crew at All Nippon Airways seems to think so.

According to airline passenger Martin Pavelka, a Londoner who suffers from celiac disease, the cabin crew on his recent All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight from Tokyo, Japan to Sydney, Australia fulfilled his request for a gluten-free breakfast by providing him with a single banana  salt and pepper included, of course.

All other passengers were served a full breakfast meal consisting of eggs, sausage, mushrooms, bread, and yogurt, Pavelka told the Evening Standard.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

This was a nine-hour flight, Pavelka explained. Although definitely gluten-free, the banana did not keep me full for very long.

Even if a single banana were enough to sustain Pavelka for the final leg of his flight, it wasnt exactly what he had in mind when purchasing his 1,200-pound ($1,550) ticket. In fact, when the attendant provided Pavelka with the banana, he was convinced the whole thing was a joke.

Londoner given a single banana as gluten-free meal on nine-hour flight https://t.co/WnaqaEt7Cs pic.twitter.com/pBskRp8WwU  Evening Standard (@standardnews) May 2, 2017

Pavelka added that his fellow passengers started laughing when he complained to a female flight attendant, who seemed to agree that something wasnt right.

In my opinion, I dont think they really get the concept of allergies and alternative meals, he told the Standard.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Pavelka says that the airline has yet to sort out his complaint, although a spokesman for All Nippon Airways claims that the company contacted him to apologize.

ANA takes great pride in providing an exemplary customer experience for all passengers, and for this one passenger we did not meet his expectations, they explained in a statement obtained by the Standard. We have apologized to him personally and as a result of his experience we are reviewing our policy on gluten-free options and how they are served."

ANA also told the Standard that Pavelkas recollection of his fellow passengers breakfasts was inaccurate; they were only given a snack as well.
Some 55,000 Haitians in the United States who received protection from deportation in 2010, when a major earthquake devastated their land and killed 300,000, may be forced to return to their country next year if indications by Trump administration officials prove true.

The possibility of an end to their special classification, known as Temporary Protect Status (TPS), is creating concern among the immigrants, who have built lives  raising children, starting business and in some cases achieved middle-class status  and worry about returning to a country where poverty and substandard living conditions remain prevalent.

The rebuilding of places that were reduced to rubble after a magnitude 7 earthquake has been slow. More than 750,000 people still don't have safe water for drinking and cooking. Since the earthquake, Haiti also has suffered a cholera outbreak that killed 9,000.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, also is still trying to recuperate from Hurricane Matthew, which tore through southern Haiti last October and left more than 900 people dead and $2.8 billion in damages.

The Haitians TPS is scheduled to expire in July. The Trump administration must decide by the end of this month whether to extend it, and if so for how long. TPS renewal usually lasts 18 months, but James McCament, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has recommended the end of the protection for Haitians by next January. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, who would make the decision about TPS for Haitians, McCament wrote that conditions in Haiti no longer support its designation for TPS.

TPS, created by Congress in 1990, gives temporary immigration status to foreign nationals living in the United States who cannot go back home because of war, natural disasters or other extraordinary circumstances that make it too dangerous or difficult to return. Among nations that have TPS are Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Syria, Somalia, Nepal and Sudan.

Some immigration and Haiti experts say the McCaments conclusion is preposterous.

Gregory Z. Chen, director of government relations for American Immigration Lawyers Association, said: Its astounding that this administration would consider ending TPS in just a few months, in the beginning of next year, for Haitians with the reality that a humanitarian crisis in Haiti is still dire.

Chen noted that last year USCIS did a review of conditions in Haiti that found them to be serious enough to meet TPS extension requirements.

Many immigrant groups and advocacy organizations are concerned that if Haitians lose TPS, it will be the beginning of the end of the status for many other groups that have it, some going back 20 or more years.

The concern I would have is that Haiti is among the countries that has among the worst conditions, Chen said. If this administration is not willing to give a full extension of TPS for Haitians, with such extreme conditions in Haiti, its a bad omen for how the administration will evaluate other countries.

The concern has unleashed an outcry by Haitian activists and lawmakers in both the Democratic Party and Republican Party who are urging the administration to continue TPS for the immigrants.

Proponents of strict immigration policy long have voiced criticism of the TPS program, which provides its beneficiaries with permits to work in the United States, obtain a license and get access many government services.

Critics say TPS often outlives its original purpose and is automatically renewed far longer than it should be for some groups who fled an unlivable situation in their homeland that eventually improves enough to absorb them back.

Weve been taking up this issue for a long time, said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors stricter immigration policies. The T in TPS stands for temporary. The triggering event was an earthquake that took place seven years ago. Haiti wasnt a paradise before that, either.

Mehlman said the fact that some groups, such as Hondurans, have had TPS renewed again and again for nearly 20 years, after Hurricane Mitch, should raise red flags about flaws in the system.

David Abraham, a University of Miami law professor and immigration expert, said that Haitians are an easy target for an administration that wants to flex its muscle on immigration enforcement.

Theyre not well-organized politically; they are overwhelmingly economic refugees  they could not claim to be victims of communism. Theyre not eligible for asylum.

Having said that, however, Abraham says that ending TPS and sending back tens of thousands of Haitian immigrants  many of whom are poor  would be detrimental to both Haiti and the deportees.

Haiti continues to be a failed state with limited economic opportunities, Abraham said, and most Haitians who would be forced to return would continue to worsen the economic situation.

Though some Central American groups have had TPS since the late 1990s, he said, they have a more vocal, larger and more organized Latino support system to apply political pressure to keep them in the United States.

At the same time, he said, the complaint by immigration enforcement advocates that TPS in some aspects ends up being an indefinite way to say in the United States is not altogether untrue.

Opponents are correct that once something is granted, it is hard to take away, he said.

In the meantime, Haitians here, their lives built in a place free of the dearth of food, clean water and living wages that plagues Haiti, wonder what will come next.

"Every day, I'm asking myself what I will do in the next few months," Farrah Larrieux, a TV personality and entrepreneur who is living in South Florida under TPS, said. "We started building our lives here in the United States. Now what is the future?

"I remember during the campaign (Trump) came here to Little Haiti and he made a promise to Haitians that if he became president, Haiti would not be forgotten," she said. "President Trump, we are asking you only to not forget Haiti and not forget these Haitians who have been contributing to the economy of the United States."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A New York plumber won't have to serve any prison time after admitting his role in an insider trading scheme that involved a former Barclays director.

Gary Pusey (POO'-zee) of Mineola, New York, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court Thursday to probation. He was credited for his cooperation in the probe.

Prosecutors say Pusey and ex-Barclays director Steven McClatchey were close friends when McClatchey fed him inside information from 2014 through September 2015, enabling Pusey to make $76,000 illegally. McClatchey, formerly a director in mergers and acquisitions at Barclays, was sentenced to five months in prison in January.

Pusey apologized before he was sentenced by Manhattan federal Judge Katherine Polk Failla (FYE'-eh-luh). The judge says it seemed the episode was "a blip on the radar of his life."
The driver in the pickup truck involved in a head-on collision with a church bus in Texas that killed 13 passengers swerved more than 50 times before the crash, according to a preliminary report released Thursday from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The report does not state a probable cause for the crash on U.S. 83 near Garner State Park on March 29, about 75 miles west of San Antonio. The report however lists what investigators are focusing on as they reconstruct the events that led to the deadly collision.

Included in the report is a review of a 14-minute long video by witness Jody Kuchler, which shows the pickup driven by Jack Dillon Young crossing the double yellow center line 19 times, the solid white shoulder lines 37 times, and the grass shoulder at least five times.

At one point in the video, the truck is seen traveling completely onto the wrong side of the road prior to the crash, according to the report.

TEXAS CHURCH BUS CRASH: TRUCK DRIVER ADMITTED TEXTING, TAKING MEDICATION BEFORE ACCIDENT, RECORDS SAY

Young, 20, and one passenger of the bus owned by the First Baptist Church of New Braunfels were the sole survivors of the crash, which happened as the senior adult members of the church were returning home from a church retreat.

Investigators with the NTSB estimate that the pickup was traveling at from 67 to 71 mph in a 70-mph speed zone, based on an analysis of the video.

Young told witnesses and the police after the crash he had been texting, and said during an NTSB interview he was "checking his phone for a text when the accident occurred."

"The driver also told NTSB investigators he had been taking prescription medications prior to the crash," the report said. "Several of those medications, as well as marijuana, were found in the pickup truck at the scene of the crash. Toxicology test results are pending."

TEXAS CHURCH BUS CRASH: WITNESS ACCOUNT HIGHLIGHTS DANGERS OF TEXTING WHILE DRIVING

The bus driver and front row passenger were wearing shoulder belts, while the passengers behind them were all wearing lap belts. Young was using no seatbelt.

No mechanical defects have been found in either vehicle, and no crash-related data have been retrieved from any vehicle devices capable of recording and transmitting such data, the report states.

Young has not yet been charged for the crash, but Uvalde County District Attorney Daniel Kindred told Fox San Antonio his office hopes to have a case prepared to submit to a grand jury in June.

Kindred said his office is awaiting a final report from the Department of Public Safety, along with subpoenaed records before it can move forward with analyzing the report's findings and establishing charges.

Read more from FOX San Antonio.
A military judge could set a new timetable for the desertion case against Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl at a pre-trial hearing nearly three years after the soldier's return from captivity.

The judge has already scratched three previous trial dates amid delays over the exchange of classified information between prosecutors and defense lawyers. That process is expected to be a focus of Friday's hearing at Fort Bragg.

Bergdahl's trial on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy was most recently scheduled for April, but the judge postponed it indefinitely.

Bergdahl, who's from Hailey, Idaho, left his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban and its allies for about five years.

The military investigation of Bergdahl began after he was freed on May 31, 2014, in exchange for five Taliban prisoners.
A murder suspect who led police on a nationwide manhunt is facing more jail time in connection with the death of his ex-girlfriend. Grand jurors in Rankin County, Miss. indicted Alex Deaton on three charges including first-degree murder.

Deaton allegedly led police on a manhunt across state lines from late February to early March. According to police, Deaton strangled his ex-girlfriend, stole her car and shot a jogger in Rankin County.

The suspect is facing attempted murder, aggravated robbery, theft and attempting to flee police when he allegedly held a store clerk at gunpoint, stole the clerks keys and shot him, according to the Pratt County Sheriffs Office.

Police say he also might be involved with the murder of a woman in a church in Neshoba County, Miss. In addition, he is accused of carjacking a couple in New Mexico before driving to Kansas.

AARON HERNANDEZ'S FINAL LETTER TO FIANCEE BEFORE HIS SUICIDE RELEASED

Rankin and Madison County District Attorney Michael Guest says Deaton faces up to life in prison plus 40 years as well as a $30,000 fine. Deaton will face trial in Kansas first before being extradited to Mississippi.

Weve been told that their trial may occur sometime this fall, Guest said. So our hope is that maybe September or October Kansas will be done with their prosecution. Following that he would then be returned to Mississippi.

A preliminary hearing will be held in Kansas on June 3. Deaton is currently being held on $5,000,000 bond at the Pratt County Jail.


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An attorney says prosecutors will drop charges against one of two teens charged with raping a fellow student in a Maryland high school bathroom.

Seventeen-year-old Jose Montano and 18-year-old Henry Sanchez were charged with assaulting the 14-year-old girl at Rockville High School in March, but The Washington Post (http://wapo.st/2qzvuSO) reports that Sanchez' attorney Andrew Jezic was told Thursday his client's charges would be dropped.

Attorneys for Montano, who's due in court Friday, say they haven't been told of his case's status. Prosecutors declined to comment.

The case got national attention after the White House called it an example of why the president wants to crack down on illegal immigration.

Officials say Sanchez came to the U.S. from Guatemala illegally. Montano's lawyers say he came from El Salvador to live with relatives who are citizens.
Indianas Butler University is toning down the rhetoric surrounding an anti-Donald Trump course being offered to students this fall.

Students now have the option to sign up for a Special Topics class titled Trumpism & U.S. Democracy. An initial course description charged the president with perpetuating sexism, white supremacy, xenophobia, nationalism, nativism, and imperialism.

ANTI-TRUMP COURSE AT BUTLER UNIVERSITY OFFERS STRATEGIES FOR RESISTANCE

This course explores why and how this happened, how Trumps rhetoric is contrary to the foundation of the U.S. democracy, and what his win means for the future, read the first description on Butlers website. The course also promised to discuss, and potentially engage in, strategies for resistance.

But by Friday the description of the class, slated to run from August until December, had been moderated significantly.

The course will provide context and depth for student citizens as we look to historical and current texts by renowned authors as well as read excerpts from Trump's own The Art of the Deal,  the new description read. Students will potentially attend, as participant observers, campus and community events to witness ongoing responses to Trump's presidency and campaign.

TRUMP IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN ISIS, SOME HARVARD STUDENTS CLAIM

The response to the course from conservatives on campus has been one of concern.

You know, when I first found out, they initially used the terms strategies of resistance. I didnt know initially what they were trying to mean by that, Jacob Lenfestey, the President of Butler Universitys College Republicans told Fox & Friends on Friday.

What I do know is just days after the election Butler President James Danko had sent out a student-wide e-mail, and in that he had made a point to say that we should all accept President Trump as the winner of the election and move forward after months of negative political discourse. And I feel like, you know, the initial terms that they had used just dont line up with President Dankos goals, he said.

But Butler isnt alone in offering anti-Trump classes. A Resistance School recently ran at Harvard University. That four-session tutorial ran from April 5 to April 27.

Students at Butler University pay around $36,000 in tuition.
Retired Captain Chesley Sully Sullenberger seized the opportunity to fly an F-16 while promoting the Thunderbirds in Sacramento Thursday.

Sullenberger's help was requested in order to promote the Thunderbird shows in Travis this weekend. That's when the chance to fly the single-engine fighter aircraft came up, according to Fox 40.

I finally get a chance to fly the F-16who knew? Sullenberger told Fox 40.

Sullenberger flew an F-4 Phantom when he served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

Sullenberger, 66, is best known for his heroic action in 2009, when he piloted US Airways Flight 1549 safely into the Hudson River after the plane hit a flock of birds causing both engines to fail. All 155 passengers and crew survived the ordeal.

The incident was portrayed in the 2016 movie "Sully," in which Tom Hanks played Sullenberger.

"A group of people rose to the occasion that day and made it their mission in life to save every life. I think it was an event that gave people hope when they very much needed it, Sullenberger said.

CAPTAIN SULLY REMEMBERS MIRACLE LANDING


A U.S. judge on Friday set an April 2018 trial date for Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who faces a 17-count indictment that includes multiple murders and kidnappings during the 25 years he oversaw the multibillion-dollar Sinaloa cartel.

District Judge Brian Cogan set the tentative trial start date for April 16.

As Guzman, 60, entered the packed courtroom, he nodded toward his wife, a former beauty queen who smiled and waved to him from her seat among spectators.

Throughout an hourlong hearing, the couple met eyes repeatedly as his wife leaned forward from a wooden bench.

The short, stocky Guzman listened to a Spanish translation of the proceeding through a headphone dangling from one ear.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

Guzman faced Judge Cogan a day after he denied the drug lord's request to be allowed in the general inmate population.

In a written ruling, Cogan ruled solitary confinement is appropriate for him until the day of his trial, but agreed to relax the restrictions concerning the communication with his wife. Guzman will now be allowed to send her letters that will be scrutinized in search of any possible code or hidden directives to his lieutenants outside.

"We're extremely disappointed that Mr. Guzman and his wife will not be able to see or speak to each other," Michelle Gelernt, one of Guzman's lawyers, said in an email. "This is devastating news for both of them."

Cogan said the U.S. government had good justifications for applying tough jail conditions on a man who escaped twice, including once through a mile-long tunnel stretching from the shower in his cell.

US HAS NOT FOUND 'ONE DOLLAR' OF DRUG LORD EL CHAPO'S ASSETS, MEXICAN AG SAYS

Guzman is restricted to his cell for 23 hours a day, with the lights on at all times, and has not been allowed any visitors other than lawyers.

He was extradited to the U.S. in January.

AP and Reuters contributed to this report.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice thinks that tensions in North Korea have developed into a very dangerous situation, that the U.S. strike in Syria was well timed, and that the comments current Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have made about Russia were a stroke of genius.

Rice's thoughts came in a wide-ranging interview Rice completed with Fox News Bill Hemmer on Facebook Live on Friday morning.

Rices latest book, Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom, will hit bookshelves on May 9.

The great thing about democracy is that it has shock absorbers, she said. I want people to understand that as messy as it is, you just keep pushing every day to a better democracy. Theres no man or woman or child on the face of the earth who has to live in tyranny.

Speaking on her related experience with Iraq, Rice noted the success of democracies worldwide while advocating for patience with countries still working toward the goal.

Democracy promotion is not Iraq and Afghanistan, she said. We didnt go to Iraq to bring democracy. We went to Iraq to defeat Saddam Hussein, who was a security threat. Even though Iraq has ongoing troubles, she said, its still worth supporting the countrys democratic efforts.

It takes a really long time but we cant give up on people who are still trying to make that journey, she said.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

As for countries like North Korea, Rice said, the time for patience has passed. Its a very dangerous situation, she said. Theyve gotten more capable with their nuclear program.

The time is really up. The time for strategic patience has really passed, she stated.

Its already the most sanctioned country in the world. We need to look at further sanctions, by all means, she said. But support from countries like Japan, China and South Korea will also be helpful.

Were going to need the help from those who are giving the North Koreans a lifeline, Rice said.

Rice also delved into the war in Syria and said a strike by the U.S. in response to a chemical attack in the country was well timed. Rice: I thought the strike in Syria was well timed from a number of perspectives. It was measured. It enforces a red line thats been out there.

As for related tensions between the U.S. and Russia, Rice said that there could be hope. If the context is right, she said, I think theres a lot we can agree with on Russia. But an inevitable meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will have to occur.

When it comes down to it, eventually, the two men will have to go into a room, she said.

Rice said that she Tillersons comments regarding Russian supervision of Syrian chemical weapons have proven to be a stroke of genius.

Clearly Russia has failed in its responsibility to deliver on that commitment, Tillerson said last month. Either Russia has been complicit or simply incompetent on delivering its end of that agreement.

I may not have said it but it was absolutely true, Rice said in response. With the Russians these days, unfortunately, the realm of our overlapping interest is small.

Rice, who reiterated that she has no plans to join the Trump administration or to run for president in the future, is the current Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Footage of a school bus dashcam shows the moment a vehicle packed with children narrowly missed a major crash.

The video, captured last Wednesday in Oklahoma City, shows a car moving into the right lane as a truck driving in the opposite direction suddenly crosses into oncoming traffic. The vehicles crash, the truck flips and then it slides toward the school bus  stopping just as it slightly hits the school bus.

"Sit down, you guys," a voice inside the bus could be heard saying in the video.

Three people were in critical condition, but the 19 students riding the bus weren't hurt, according to Fox 25.

School district officials lauded the bus driver for remaining composed while the frightening scene unfolded in front of her.

"She was so calm under such frightening circumstances and we are just very, very proud of the way that she handled herself," Edmond Public Schools Public Information Officer Susan Parks-Schlepp said of the bus driver. "She remained calm, she called authorities, she told kids to sit down on the bus. I'm not sure any of us would have been that calm under those circumstances."

THE WEEK IN PICTURES
An escaped zebra wreaked havoc on a Balm neighborhood Friday - startling several homeowners, escaping deputies, and injuring a driver after running into a vehicle.

The first reports of zebra spottings came just after noon from Wimauma homeowner Mark Ross.

Ross says he was letting his dogs out into his backyard when he was confronted with a blur of black and white stripes.

Traffic Crash - A Ford F150 p/u was W/B on 672 just E of Amber Sweet Ln when the Zebra which escaped from private property ran into the p/u pic.twitter.com/QcyaodpjdU  HCSO (@HCSOSheriff) May 5, 2017

Ross told FOX 13 the zebra was grazing behind his RV, but when he and the dogs came outside, the zebra darted toward him and almost ran him over. He recorded a video showing the zebra galloping through several yards.

HALF-BLIND KENTUCKY DERBY HORSE NAMED PATCH HAS EYE ON ROSES

"How many times do you go out in your backyard and see a zebra?" Mark asked with a laugh.

Not often.

Ross said deputies were on the scene within minutes. Several people tried to help block the zebra into Ross' eight-house neighborhood, but it managed to escape.

Shortly after, the zebra was spotted trotting along the south side of 672 near Amber Sweet Lane. The driver of a Ford F150 said the zebra ran into the driver's side of their truck, shattering the side mirror glass and sending shards flying.

Click here for more from Fox 13.
A Connecticut high school student decided to go above and beyond the standard prom proposal this week -- with a little help from local police officers.

Matthew Bento, a student at Brookfield High School, wanted to ask his girlfriend Sabrina Aponte to his school's May 23 prom, and thought it would be a "cool idea" to get cops involved in something positive in the community.

Bento, whose girlfriend says he is "extra" all the time, told Fox News that he wanted to do something special for his prom proposal.

On Wednesday, Bento and Aponte were pulled over. The officer asked him for license and registration, but Bento refused until he was told why he had been pulled over.

The officer asked Bento to step out of the car and put him in cuffs for the fake arrest.

Aponte was then asked to exit the vehicle to talk some sense into her boyfriend.

When Aponte approached the police cruiser with her boyfriend inside, he opened the door and held out a sign that read: He will put me under arrest unless you say yes to prom.

She said yes. Aponte had asked Bento to her junior prom and they've been together for almost six months.

"Everyone [in the police department] was extremely nice and Im so grateful that they helped me with this prom proposal," Bento told Fox News.

"I was telling a few friends and they didnt think it was going to happen. It worked pretty well," said Bento. "The coolest thing so far is just the reactions Ive had from my peers and how its spread all over the internet."


The family of a boy decapitated on a waterslide at a Kansas park will receive nearly $20 million in settlement payments, court documents revealed.

The family of Caleb Schwab, who died from a "fatal neck injury" while on the "Verruckt" waterslide on Aug. 7, 2016, reached settlements with the company in January and April, but the amounts were not released, The Kansas City Star reported. The newspaper said it filed two motions to intervene in the cases.

SVV 1 and KC Water Park, the companies associated with the Texas-based water park operator Schlitterbahn, will pay the family $14 million, according to court documents. The general contractor, the raft manufacturer and a company that consulted on the 17-story waterslide will pay the rest of the settlement.

KANSAS WATER SLIDE DEATH HIGHLIGHTS CONCERNS ABOUT THEME PARK OVERSIGHT NATIONWIDE

Caleb Schwab, the son of Republican Kansas state Rep. Scott Schwab, was with his dad, mom and brothers at the Schlitterbahn in Kansas City when he rode the "Verruckt," dubbed the tallest waterslide in the world. His raft went airborne during the ride and got caught on the netting hanging above, investigators believed.

Schwab was decapitated, a person familiar with the investigation previously told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The two other women who were also in the raft suffered serious facial injuries. They have settled their claims against the companies involved in the making of Verruckt.

The Schwab family and all those impacted by the accident will forever be in our thoughts and prayers, and our deepest condolences are with the family, Schlitterbahn spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said to the Kansas City Star.

The company previously announced it would tear down Verruckt once a court allows it, although it remains unclear when that will happen.

Kansas was known for its light regulations on amusement park rides, but Schwab's death have ignited a call for stricter enforcement. Last month, Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed off on legislation that increased the state's requirements.

Rep. Schwab said in March on the floor of the Kansas House that the bill was for "the next kid who goes some place in Kansas for a fun weekend."

The investigation into Caleb Schwab's death has been turned over to the office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, authorities said.

"It remains actively under review," Schmidt said. "It is a priority in our office to get in a position as expeditiously as possible where we can make a decision."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The FBI has joined the search for missing North Carolina teenager Cassidy Ann Bottoms.

Deshawn Dante Townes, one of 15-year-old Bottoms' alleged abductors, turned himself into police on Thursday.

Authorities had earlier Thursday issued an Amber Alert for the Forsyth County girl, who they said may have been abducted by Townes, 24, and Joffey Lee Cutler, 20.

Bottoms was out walking with her sister on Wednesday and they were stopped by the two men in a car, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

"There was a conversation between our missing person and the adults, and she got in the car," said Chief Deputy Brad Stanley with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office told the newspaper. "Whether she did that voluntarily or there was some kind of force or intimidation or threat is the question."

The girl knew Townes and Cutler, the deputy said. The sheriff's office did not immediately return a message from Fox News asking how the girl knew the two men.

AMBER ALERT ISSUED FOR MISSING NORTH CAROLINA GIRL

Bottoms was described by local media as possibly being in a 2010 silver Nissan Altima. Townes turned himself in on Thursday along with the Altima to Sanford police and won't face charges, authorities told WRAL.

The FBI said Thursday night it has joined the search, according to WNCN. Bottoms has run away in the past, including last week, and is thought be in Sanford with Cutler.

She hasn't called, and we ain't heard nothing," her mother Vicky Bottoms told the station.

"One of these days, she's going to leave, and she ain't going to come back, she said. "Then it'll be too late."

DNA LINKS NYC CHILD RAPIST TO YOUNG GIRL'S 1993 COLD CASE SEXUAL ATTACK
A Florida middle school student is recovering days after being bitten by a snake while walking on school grounds.

Devin Waxman, who attends Markham Woods Middle School in Mary Lake, said he didnt spot the slithering reptile when it bit him in the ankle on Monday.

TRAVYON MARTIN WILL RECEIVE POSTHUMOUS DEGREE IN FLORIDA

I was talking from 3rd period and was throwing my water bottle away, and it made a sound and it bit me! the 14-year-old told Fox 35 Orlando, adding that the snake looked like a cottonmouth viper. It latched onto my leg, and I had to kick it off and run.

He said Thursday it still stings on and off.

Its sore. I dont know when the pain is going to stop, Waxman added.

Cottonmouths are common in Central Florida and their venom is potent. The teenager, who got two fang marks on his ankle, said he considers himself very lucky because his bite was dry  meaning no venom was injected.

Im very grateful for that, Waxman said. That could have been very bad if it went the other way.

CALIFORNIA STUDENTS SUSPENDED FOR 'LIKING' RACIST POSTS SUE

Seminole County School District has sent warning to parents and students to be on alert for other snakes.

Animal expert Bob Cross said drought plaguing Central Florida is pushing cottonmouths from their normal habitats.

I mean, if the swamps are drying up, cotton mouths are just like alligators, theyre going to go to the next water hole, he told Fox 35 Orlando.

Read more news at Fox 35 Orlando.
Police are searching for a man who punched and sexually assaulted a German tourist in New York City in a violent robbery caught on video.

The Daily News (http://nydn.us/2pdsFCl ) reports that the attack occurred around 3 a.m. Thursday as the 31-year-old woman walked back to her Airbnb rental in Harlem.

Surveillance video issued Friday by the New York Police Department shows the man yanking away the woman's bag. He then punches her in the head and she falls to the sidewalk. He continues to hit her as she lies on the ground.

Police say he also tore off her pants and sexually assaulted her.

The Daily News reports that the woman's teeth were knocked out. Police say she was taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition.
On the morning of May 7, 1896, thousands of people gathered outside the high stone walls of the old Moyamensing Prison in South Philadelphia to await the hanging.

Herman Webster Mudgett, better known to the world as H.H. Holmes or Americas first serial killer, was set to hang for the horrific murder of his late business partner, Benjamin Pitezel. While Holmes confessed to killing 27 people and is rumored to have done in more than 200 in his Chicago home, dubbed the Murder Castle, it was the death of Pitezel  whom he burned alive to collect $10,000 in insurance money  that sent him to the gallows.

At around 10:15 in the morning, the prisons superintendent fitted the noose around Holmes neck and the trap was sprung. After the drop, Holmes twitched uncontrollably for 15 minutes as he slowly strangled to death, but after 20 minutes on the rope prison officials officially declared him dead.

But was he really dead?

Following the hanging, rumors spread far and wide that Holmes  a master con man and manipulator  had paid off prison guards to hang a cadaver or some unsuspecting fellow inmate in his place and let him slip off into hiding in South America. Now, almost 121 years later and following a request from a descendent of Holmes, a Pennsylvania court has issued an order to have the alleged remains of the murderer dug up from his unmarked grave in Holy Cross Cemetery outside of Philadelphia.

Why are we still fascinated by him? John Russick, vice president for interpretation and education at the Chicago History Museum, told Fox News. Part of it is the morbid curiosity in his crimes, but part of it is the effort to confirm that he is dead and was not actually able to outwit the law. There is the desire to confirm that legend is not true.

While the University of Pennsylvanias Department of Anthropology will conduct forensic testing on the remains, the team digging up Holmes coffin wont have an easy time. The Chicago Tribune reported around the time of his death that Holmes requested to have his body encased in several barrels of cement, weighing around 3,000 pounds, in an effort to ensure his body against the vandalism or scientific curiosity of ghouls.

That's slightly ironic for a guy believed to have dismembered and skinned the bodies of his victims before tossing what was left down a greased chute that led down to a lime pit and selling the remaining bones.

Holmes, a pharmacist by training who studied at the University of Michigan, started his criminal career by pawning off water as patent medicines, but was early on suspected of killing several people to either collect their life insurance or just to cover his tracks.

But Holmes licentious legend doesnt truly begin until the construction of his Murder Castle in 1887  a sprawling, three-story mixed use building with his pharmacy on the ground floor and a maze-like array of rooms above that featuring trap doors, sliding walls, airless vaults and dissecting tables. There was also a crematorium, a lynching parlor, stretching racks and the aforementioned greased slide.

Holmes main targets were believed to be young women whom he lured in with the promise of room and board or with jobs in his pharmacy. His murderous exploits during the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition were detailed in Erik Larsons 2003 best-selling, non-fiction The Devil in the White City.

"The atrocities of which he was convicted are almost unparalleled in the history of crime  shocking alike for their enormity and the cold-blooded, deliberate way in which they were committed," the Chicago Tribune reported in 1896. "He attributed his natural relish for crime to the fact, as he put it, 'he was born with the devil in him.'"

After the third floor of the castle caught fire in 1893, Holmes fled town amid accusations of arson. With insurance companies chasing him down, he went to Texas and Missouri before ending up in Philadelphia, where he set up a phony patent office with Pitezel.

Following the killing of his business partner, Holmes took off with three of Pitezels five children on a road trip around the Northeast and Canada. He was eventually caught in Boston by agents working for an insurance agency in late 1894 and sent back to Philadelphia.

The atrocities of which he was convicted are almost unparalleled in the history of crime  shocking alike for their enormity and the cold-blooded, deliberate way in which they were committed.  The Chicago Tribune, 1896

The decomposed bodies of Pitezel's daughters, 15 and 11, were later discovered buried in the cellar of a home Holmes rented in Toronto and investigators found the charred remains of Pitezels son stuffed in a chimney in an Indiana rental home.

Holmes was found guilty of killing Pitezel in the fall of 1895 and sentenced to hanging.

"I have every attribute of a degenerate  a moral idiot," Holmes wrote in a confession printed in the Philadelphia Inquirer. He added that he was physiologically morphing into a monster, with one side of his face marked by a deep line of crime and being that of a devil.

Most believe that the story of Holmes faking his own death is just a conspiracy theory as around 70 people -- some who knew him personally  witnessed the hanging and Holmes, who the New York Times said remained cool to the end, made a last-minute denial of killing Pitezel.

Mudgett family lore, however, states that the killer managed to escape through some subterfuge and that someone else was hanged and buried at the grave site...

Forensic experts say that as long as the remains have been protected over the years  and what good is encasing a body in 3,000 pounds of concrete if not to protect it?  the anthropologists at Penn should be able to find a usable sample of DNA that could finally put to rest the question of whether or not Americas first serial killer actually died inside those prison walls.

Its highly unlikely [Homes escaped execution] this seems like a pretty cut and dry case, Russick said. But crazier things have happened before. So, who knows?
Police in Illinois have launched a criminal investigation into the death of a toddler living in a home that was visited by the Department of Children and Family Services the day she disappeared.

MISSING ILLINOIS GIRL, 1, FOUND DEAD IN SQUATTER HOME

Semaj Crosby was found dead last month in a Joliet Township home, reportedly under a couch, after a 33-hour manhunt.

The Will County Sheriffs Office, which first described the death as suspicious but not necessarily a homicide, now are calling it an ongoing criminal investigation, the Chicago Sun- Times reported.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services officials visited the home the day the girl disappeared to investigate an allegation of neglect by the victims mother.

The agency officials said they saw all three of the mothers children, including Semaj, and observed no obvious hazards or safety concerns. The home was in deplorable condition and as many as 15 people, including squatters, were living there, police said.

Between February 2016 and April 2017, deputies visited the home 59 times, most of which were probation checks, the Sun-Times reported.

The Will County Land Use Department released photos of the house and deemed the home uninhabitable, Fox 32 reported.

An autopsy was performed and ruled inconclusive. There were no obvious signs of distress  and no one is in custody, according to the Will County Sheriffs Office.


A prosecutor says the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has concluded an officer was justified in shooting a suspect after a high-speed chase in March.

News outlets report District Attorney General Tom P. Thompson Jr. said the investigation found Lebanon Lt. Detective Scott Massey was justified in shooting 24-year-old Christian Andrew Whitten-Galindo on March 20.

The report  based on interviews with witnesses, police officers, Massey and Whitten-Galindo  says the suspect failed to comply with multiple commands and reached for his back waistline. Massey says he believed Whitten-Galindo was reaching for a weapon, leading him to fire one shot.

The Lebanon Police Department is conducting an internal investigation.

Whitten-Galindo was treated at a hospital and charged with theft of property, reckless endangerment and evading arrest. It's unclear if he has a lawyer.
Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman (wah-KEEN' ehl CHAH-pho gooz-MAHN') returns to a Brooklyn courtroom as his lawyers fight to relieve restrictive jail conditions.

The 59-year-old defendant famous for twice escaping from prison in Mexico lost his bid Thursday to be allowed in the general inmate population and receive visitors. He returns to court Friday.

Federal Judge Brian Cogan said the U.S. government could apply tough jail conditions on a man who escaped once through a mile-long tunnel stretching from the shower in his cell. He relaxed Special Administrative Measures enough for Guzman to communicate with his wife through written questions and answers.

Guzman was brought to the U.S. in January to face charges that he oversaw a multi-billion dollar international drug trafficking operation responsible for murders and kidnappings.
Is an 18-year prison sentence too harsh for having 18 grams of marijuana?

The Louisiana Supreme Court's chief justice thinks so, and says it's outrageous that her colleagues upheld the punishment.

In her dissenting opinion Wednesday, Chief Justice Bernette Johnson said it's ridiculous that a lengthy prison sentence for such a small amount of marijuana would be allowed to stand.

A jury convicted Gary D. Howard of marijuana possession with intent to distribute. A Caddo Parish judge sentenced him as a habitual offender in 2014. Howard's previous convictions include possession of firearm by a convicted felon in 2008.

The state Supreme Court's majority ruled there was evidence that Howard packaged the marijuana for distribution, not his personal use.
The Latest on 12 athletes who swam across the border from the U.S. to Mexico in a show of support for immigrants (all times local):

1 p.m.

Twelve athletes have completed their swim across the border from the United States to Mexico in a show of solidarity with immigrants.

The swimmers from the United States, Mexico, Israel, New Zealand and South Africa were escorted by a Mexican Navy ship as they reached a beach in Tijuana, a short distance from a border fence that juts into the Pacific Ocean. More than 100 schoolchildren cheered, and Mexico's top immigration official in the region applauded them at a public celebration of the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) swim from Imperial Beach, California.

Organizer Kim Chambers of New Zealand was overwhelmed by the jubilant reception. She said water connects all of us, no matter which direction you're going.

The swim raised money for the Colibri Center for Human Rights, which helps families identify immigrants who die on the perilous trek across the border.

___

11 a.m.

Twelve athletes are swimming across the border from the United States to Mexico in an effort to call attention to immigrants in a charged political environment.

The swimmers embarked Friday in the city of Imperial Beach, California, and headed south toward a fence that juts into the Pacific Ocean. Kayakers paddled alongside for safety. Mexican immigration officials and schoolchildren prepared to greet them on a beach in the border city of Tijuana.

Supporters held on to the swimmers' passports during the 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) swim.

Organizer Kim Chambers of New Zealand insists the swim isn't a protest against President Donald Trump's border wall or government policy but says an air of "negativity" after last year's U.S. elections was the catalyst.
An Ohio man who authorities say was on an electronic monitor in an abduction case when he had a 14-year-old girl dropped off at his home by taxi, held her captive for months and raped her in 2015 is scheduled to change his plea.

Court records show 21-year-old Cody Jackson is set for a change-of-plea hearing in federal court in Cincinnati on Friday.

Jackson earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sex, production of child pornography and transfer of obscene matter to a minor. He also pleaded not guilty to a later charge of tampering with a witness, victim or informant.

Authorities say Jackson contacted the teen through Facebook and kept her captive for months.
The meeting house where colonists gathered to begin challenging British rule before the American Revolution and launched the Boston Tea Party has reopened.

The Old South Meeting House had been closed for more than a week.

Officials said Friday that debris from demolition at a neighboring building had entered the heating and air conditioning system and was distributed throughout the meeting house. They say there appears to be no permanent damage but the cleanup has been time-consuming and extensive.

The meeting house is one of the country's most important colonial-era sites.

It may be best known as the location where the Boston Tea Party began in 1773 when colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor in defiance of the Tea Act, seen by many as a form of taxation without representation.
Hours after the GOP-controlled House narrowly passed a bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare, a Republican senator said the bill has zero chance to pass the Senate as is.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said the sweeping health care passed Thursday will not pass quickly through the Senate without major adjustments. The New York Post reported that moderate sentors are concerned about the bills Medicaid reductions.

CHINA TAKES FLIGHT

The first large Chinese-made passenger jetliner is making its maiden test flight Friday from Shanghai in a symbolic milestone in Chinas long-term goal to break into the Western-dominated aircraft market.

China is touting the C919 as a rival to single-aisle jets the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The plane was originally due to fly in 2014 before being delivered to buyers in 2016, but has been beset by delays blamed on manufacturing problems.

SANDERS MOCKS TRUMP

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Thursday took aim at President Trumps praise for Australias universal healthcare shortly after the GOP-controlled House passed a bill to replace ObamaCare.

"Thank you Mr. Trump for admitting that universal health care is the better way to go. I'll be sure to quote you on the floor of the Senate," he tweeted.

Sanders pointed out that Australia runs on government-funded universal healthcare system that consists of public and private markets with medical services provided by the private sector.

'TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT'

Tucker Carlson clashed with Democratic strategist Joshua Galper tonight while debating former National Security Advisor Susan Rice's refusal to testify before a Senate subcommittee about Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election.

Rice's attorney said she declined to testify because the senior Democrat on the subcommittee was not involved in the invitation.

COMING UP ON FOX NEWS CHANNEL

1:30 PM ET: White House Press briefing with Sarah Huckabee Sanders

COMING UP ON FOX BUSINESS

9:45 AM ET: Gary Cohn, chief economic advisor to the president, will be a guest on "Varney & Company."

3 PM ET: Governor Pete Ricketts will be on "Countdown to the Closing Bell."
A New Jersey man is accused of planning an attack on New York City by detonating a pressure cooker bomb in support of the Islamic State terror network, a criminal complaint revealed on Friday.

Gregory Lepsky, 20, of Point Pleasant, N.J., is expected to appear in federal court Friday afternoon on a charge of attempting to provide support material to ISIS, according a criminal complaint.

EGYPT ISIS LEADER VOWS TO ESCALATE ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANS

Lepsky first came on authorities' radar when police arrested him for threatening to kill his family dog in February. The complaint said he told officials he pledged his allegiance to "Allah," was planning to kill his mother and fatally stabbed his dog because it was considered "dirty."

Officers searched his home and found a new pressure cooker that was stashed behind a roll of bubble wrap in the closet of his bedroom, the complaint stated.

NAVY SEAL KILLED IN SOMALIA

Lepsky later told a law enforcement officer that he was planning to build and use a pressure cooker bomb in support of ISIS. Investigators found searches for instructions to build the device on Lepsky's computer.

The 20-year-old then told others on social media that he wanted to fight on behalf of ISIS" and become a "martyr" for the terrorist group if it was necessary.

"My birth religion is basically Islam lmao...But I want to be different I want to be religious and group up and be a martyr," Lepsky wrote in a facebook post in February.

He told a user he would sacrifice himself and drive a "bunch of explosives" to where the "enemies" were -- a way to avoid going to hell.

In January, Lepsky wrote a message to another ISIS supporter saying his "brother" could carry out an attack in the United Kingdom if he couldn't travel to Syria to fight for ISIS, the complaint said.

Lepsky could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 charge if convicted.
A man who was captured in an iconic photo throwing a tear gas canister at police in a 2014 Ferguson protest was found dead Friday, according to a report.

Edward Crawford's father confirmed the death to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Police did not release the name of the victim, but said a person died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a car on Salisbury Street, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of St. Louis. Two women were in the car at the time.

Crawford's father told the newspaper he believed the shooting was an accident and didn't suspect his son was suicidal.

"He was wonderful, great, always in a good mood," Edward Crawford Sr. told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"He just got a new apartment and was training for a new job."

Missouri Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, said her condolences on Crawford's death on Twitter.

"Edward Crawford is dead. Found in his car shot to death. He is #Ferguson's hero. For those of us tear-gassed, he was our local champion. RIP," Chappelle-Nadal wrote Friday morning.

Crawford, 27, gained nationwide recognition in 2014 when a photographer captured him grabbing a smoking tear gas can and throwing it back at the officers after they fired it. He later said it wasn't an act of aggression toward police.

"I threw it out of the way of children," Crawford told the newspaper in 2015.

He was cited for interfering with a police officer and assault after the incident. The case is still pending.

The photograph was part of St. Louis Post-Dispatch's coverage on the Ferguson protest that went on to win a Pulitzer Prize in 2015.

Crawford leaves behind four children.
Rape charges against two teenage illegal immigrants accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a Maryland high school bathroom in March were dropped on Friday.

A judge granted the defense attorneys request to drop charges of first-degree rape and first-degree sexual offense charges against 17-year-old Jose Montano.

Facts in this case do not support the original charges, John McCarthy, state attorney for Montgomery County, said. Prosecution is untenable.

McCarthy said that Montano will be released immediately and referred to juvenile court on pornography charges, and 18-year-old Henry Sanchez will now face pornography charges. No other charges are being pursued.

My client is elated that finally these false charges have been dismissed59 days too late, Sanchezs attorney Andrew Jezic told Fox News. Unfortunately, this is Duke lacrosse all over again.

Jezic told Fox News that McCarthy told him over the phone on Thursday that the state will be dismissing all sex and rape charges against Sanchez. Jezic expects the charges to be dropped before their court date next week. But new child pornography charges were filed on Thursday in circuit court.

According to Jezic, the new charges against Sanchez are due to the prosecutions evidence that the 14-year-old victim sent Montano a nude photo via text message, which he, then, sent to Sanchez.

The child pornography charges represent the criminalization of contemporary adolescence in America, Jezic said. The prosecution is choosing to prosecute a charge that probably 50 percent of all high schoolers in America can be prosecuted forparents who pay cell phone bill should be worried by this prosecution, and were going to fight it all the way.

Superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Jack Smith, said Friday the district wants to finish the school year "Rockville Strong."

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Rockville High School community, particularly the female student who has been at the center of this, Smith said Friday. Our work continues as we review safety procedures and protocols in all of our schools.

Smith said that MCPS has no role in the investigations but always fully cooperates with the Montgomery County Police Department and state prosecutors.

We appreciate our colleagues for their extensive and thoughtful investigation into a matter that has significantly, and adversely, impacted our entire community, Smith said. The safety and security of every student in each school is our first priority and a responsibility that we take very seriously.

The case sparked a national debate on immigration, as both Montano and Sanchez are undocumented immigrants from El Salvador and Guatemala, respectively, even drawing comments from the White House at one daily press briefing in March. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was asked about the allegations against the two and said, The idea that this occurred is shocking, disturbing, horrific.

Part of the reason that the president has made illegal immigration and crackdown such a big deal is because of tragedies like this, Spicer said. Immigration pays its toll on our people if its not done legally, and this is another example.

In March, a Maryland judge denied bond for Montano due to alleged text messages and explicit videos that he initially said did not prove his innocence. Prosecutors also suggested that both Montano and Sanchez used MS-13 gang signs, but Montanos lawyers denied those allegations.

The new child pornography charges will be pursued against Sanchez in approximately 90 days. Sanchez could face up to five years in prison if found guilty.
The pilot and co-pilot of a cargo plane contracted by UPS died after the aircraft zoomed off the runway while trying to land at an airport in West Virginia, officials said.

After crashing at Yeager Airport in Charleston at around 7 a.m. Friday morning, the plane went down a steep, wooded hill. Emergency crews were trying to reach the crash site from above and below, Fox 11 reported.

No names have been released.

Initial reports said four people were believed to be on the plane at the time of the incident. That number was decreased to two.

PASSENGER ASKS FOR GLUTEN-FREE BREAKFAST, GETS HANDED A RIPE BANANA

Mike Plante, spokesman for Yeager Airport, told Fox 11 the name of the company that owns the plane is Air Cargo Carriers. A corporate pilot said the company contracts for UPS.

Plante said there was no indication of any issues with the aircraft before the crash.

"This is a tragic event not only for us at the airport, but for air cargo carriers, the company that owned it, and Im sure the UPS family as well, he said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

SOLO CLIMBER RESCUED AFTER SHE WAS STRANDED ON CANADA'S MOUNT LOGAN

UPS said in a statement that the company was aware of an incident at the airport involving a small feeder aircraft carrying UPS packages, but said it had no details to share.

The plane had taken off from Louisville, Kentucky, WSAZ reported.

Charleston airport officials have proposed spending $290 million to rebuild and extend the runway after a landslide in 2015 took out a church and an unoccupied house. The proposal calls for lengthening the runway from about 6,800 feet to 8,000 feet.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Twelve athletes are swimming across the border from the United States to Mexico in an effort to call attention to immigrants in a charged political environment.

The swimmers embarked Friday in the city of Imperial Beach, California, and headed south toward a fence that juts into the Pacific Ocean. Kayakers paddled alongside for safety. Mexican immigration officials and schoolchildren prepared to greet them on a beach in the border city of Tijuana.

Supporters held on to the swimmers' passports during the 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) swim.

Organizer Kim Chambers of New Zealand insists the swim isn't a protest against President Donald Trump's border wall or government policy but says an air of "negativity" after last year's U.S. elections was the catalyst.
A member of Donald Trump's transition team asked national security officials in the Obama White House for the classified CIA profile on Russia's ambassador to the United States.

The unusual request appears to signal that Trump's own team had concerns about whether his pick for national security adviser, Mike Flynn, fully understood that he was dealing with a man rumored to have ties to Russian intelligence agencies.

A former Pentagon and NATO official, Marshall Billingslea, requested the information about ambassador Sergey Kislyak in late November. Billingslea worked for Flynn as Flynn oversaw part of the transition operation.

Obama officials tell The Associated Press they found the request concerning. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversations.
Three former South African heads of state are urging citizens to defend the constitution after a series of corruption scandals around President Jacob Zuma.

Thabo Mbeki, F.W. de Klerk and Kgalema Motlanthe spoke Friday during the Africa leg of the World Economic Forum.

South Africa has seen tens of thousands protest against Zuma in recent weeks after he fired the finance minister and led two credit ratings agencies to downgrade the country to junk status.

Mbeki says "no person or institution should have more authority than the will of the people."

De Klerk says Zuma has failed to uphold the country's laws.

Calls have been mounting for Zuma to resign. South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has called for a parliamentary vote of no confidence against him.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says that "things will be painful" for political rival Hamas, referring to recent financial steps he has taken to pressure the Islamic militant rulers of the Gaza Strip.

Abbas spoke in a meeting with Arab ambassadors late Thursday before leaving Washington where he had met with President Donald Trump earlier in the week about resuming peace talks with Israel.

Hamas, which seized Gaza from Abbas in 2007, has dismissed his strategy of negotiations as a waste of time.

Abbas recently warned he would cut salaries, aid and subsidies to Gaza to force the militants to cede ground. Earlier this week, his West Bank-based government announced it will stop paying for electricity Israel sends to power-starved Gaza.

Hamas says it would not bow to pressure from Abbas.
A British national who was jailed for attempting to steal a police officer's gun in an effort to shoot Donald Trump at a Las Vegas rally was released from prison and deported to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, authorities said.

Michael Steven Sandford, 21, arrived in London on Thursday after a flight from Seattle, Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice told the Associated Press. He was being held at a federal prison near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

He served less than five months of his sentence, but was in U.S. custody for nearly 11 months.

THE WEEK IN PICTURES

In December, Sandford was sentenced to a year in prison after he pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and disrupting an official function, the Guardian reported.

"I tried to take a gun from a policeman to shoot someone with, and I'm pleading guilty," Sandford told the judge during his hearing last September.

He was in the U.S. illegally after overstaying his visa by 90 days. A federal judge acknowledged in December that Sandford was diagnosed with psychotic mental illness.

Sanford was arrested on June 18, 2016 after he lunged for an officer's gun inside the Treasure Island hotel-casino during a campaign rally for Trump, who was the U.S. Republican presidential candidate at the time. He asked the officer if he could get an autograph from Trump, court documents showed.

SECRET SERVICE SHOOTS DOWN MAN'S STORY ABOUT SLIPPING SECURITY AT TRUMP'S MAR-A-LAGO

He later admitted to police he traveled from California to Las Vegas with the intention of assassinating Trump, according to court documents. He rented a 9 mm pistol and practiced firing it at a gun range the day before the incident.

Sandford could have faced up to 20 years in a U.S. prison if he was convicted.

The plea agreement, though, called for 18 to 27 months in prison for the offenses. It also said "it is almost certain that [Sandford] will be permanently removed" from the U.S.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The first large Chinese-made passenger jetliner is making its maiden test flight Friday from Shanghai in a symbolic milestone in Chinas long-term goal to break into the Western-dominated aircraft market.

China is touting the C919 as a rival to single-aisle jets the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The plane was originally due to fly in 2014 before being delivered to buyers in 2016, but has been beset by delays blamed on manufacturing problems.

If the maiden flight is successful, the aircrafts maker, state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd., or Comac, will then seek certification from Chinas civil aviation authority and foreign regulators before making any deliveries.

The C919 will be a game-changer for Chinas aerospace industry, Corrine Png, chief executive officer of Singapore-based research firm Crucial Perspective, told Bloomberg.

Bloomberg reported that the Chinese used at least 15 partners from the West, including companies like General Electric and Honeywell International.

The jets development is a key step on the path laid out by Chinese leaders to transform the country into a creator of profitable technology.

Comac says it has 570 orders, mostly from state-owned Chinese airlines. A total of 23 domestic and foreign customers have placed orders. The handful of foreign customers includes GE Capital Aviation Services and Thailands City Airways.

The plane can come with 155-175 seats and has a standard flight length of 2,530 miles.

Chinas first domestically made jet, the twin-engined regional ARJ-21, flew its passengers in June 2016, eight years after its first test flight.

The Bloomberg report said Boeing predicted late last year that China will require over 6,800 aircraft valued at more than $1 trillion through 2035. Boeing, which is reportedly planning to build a facility in China, reportedly congratulated Comac on the planes development.

The real challenge is how they are going to be able to demonstrate to the customer outside of China that they can support and service the aircraft, an expert told Bloomberg.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Authorities say gunbattles between rival drug gangs in the Mexican border city of Reynosa have left 12 people dead.

The security spokesman for the northern state of Tamaulipas said five people were killed in two gunbattles Thursday. Another seven people were killed earlier in the violence that began Tuesday.

The disputes between rival factions of the Gulf cartel follow the killing of leader Julian Loisa Salinas, known as "Comandante Toro," by military personnel in late April.

In another incident involving drug traffickers, Mexican federal police announced Friday they caught four suspects who allegedly used hidden compartments on buses and trucks to smuggle narcotics to the United States.

The suspects were caught on Mexico City's outskirts with about 400 pounds (185 kilograms) of cocaine and 13 pounds (5.8 kilograms) of heroin.
The spokeswoman for the Paris prosecutor's office says a man on a list of national security threats has been detained near a French military air base in the northern region of Normandy.

Spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre said the arrest occurred Friday in Evreux, 97 kilometers (60 miles) west of Paris. She said authorities found a pump-action shotgun and two revolvers in the bushes near his car.

She said the unnamed man also claimed that an USB key discovered in his car contained an Islamic State pledge of allegiance. Thibault-Lecuivre said experts have not yet had time to verify this claim.

She said authorities have not linked this arrest with Sunday's presidential election, which is taking place under heightened security.
A $10 billion suit against George Soros accuses the self-styled humanitarian of meddling in the politics of a poor African country in order to settle his own scores, a charge the billionaires critics say reflects his longtime modus operandi.

The 86-year-old investor, who controls a web of international nonprofits in addition to his vast financial empire, used his sway with the government of Guinea to freeze Israeli company BSG Resources out of the West African nations lucrative iron ore mining contracts, according to the suit filed last month in New York Federal Court by BSG Resources.

"Soros was motivated solely by malice, as there was no economic interest he had in Guinea," BSGR alleges in court papers.

Americans do not understand the extent to which Soros fuels this anti-constitutional, anti-American agenda.  J. Christian Adams, former DOJ attorney

A spokesman for Soros, who regularly supports nascent democratic governments in Eastern Europe and Africa, said the philanthropist has a lifelong interest in helping impoverished nations, and only backed a probe of BSG out of corruption concerns.

Whatever the ultimate outcome in the current case, it is not the first time Soros has been accused of sowing political upheaval to advance a personal agenda. Critics around the world, including in the U.S. and in Soros homeland of Hungary, say the liberal financier often masquerades as a humanitarian while manipulating the political landscape.

We are committed to use all legal means at our disposal to stop pseudo-civil society spy groups such as the ones funded by George Soros, Hungarys top education official, Minister of Human Capacities Zoltan Balog said recently.

In the U.S., Soros has spent heavily on politics from local district attorney races to presidential campaigns. While his stated goals have included reshaping the justice system, achieving income equality, battling climate change and fighting racism, critics say he has used his money to buy massive influence within the Democratic Party.

Soros has also been accused of using his Open Society Foundation and U.S. diplomatic connections to interfere with the government of Macedonia, according to Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

In 2002, Soros was convicted in France of insider trading for buying stakes in companies previously owned by the government, including the bank Societe Generale, based on confidential information.

In the current case, BSG is controlled by Soros nemesis and fellow billionaire Beny Steinmetz, who accuses Soros and his nonprofits of orchestrating a bribery probe to manipulate the administration of President Alpha Conde to strip BSGR of mining contracts.

Steinmetz claims Soros was motivated by hostility toward Israel and a 20-year-old grudge against Steinmetz regarding a business in Russia and his alleged hostility towards Israel.

To Soros, Steinmetzs success, as well as his active, passionate promotion of Israeli life, business and culture are anathema, BSGR said in the complaint. Soros is also well known for his long-standing animus toward the state of Israel.

BSG was stripped of its mining rights when it refused to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to keep its mining license, according to the suit, which further alleges Soros enlisted Obamas Department of Justice to investigate BSG.

Soros has denied all the allegations. A Soros spokesperson told Fox News BSG is trying to divert attention from its own legal issues.

The allegations in BSGRs lawsuit are frivolous and entirely false, the spokesperson said. The lawsuit is a PR stunt meant to deflect attention from BSGRs mounting legal problems across multiple jurisdictions.

BSG hopes to make Soros influence on the U.S. government, and in particular the Obama administration, a key part of its case. After the Soros-backed probe claimed evidence of bribery against BSG, the U.S. Department of Justice convened a grand jury to look into the case. Critics say it is an example of Soros using his political clout to further his goals.

J. Christian Adams, a former DOJ attorney under the Obama administration who is now president of Public Interest Legal Foundation, told Fox News Soros had the Obama DOJ at his beck and call.

Soros organizations in the U.S. were instrumental in shaping DOJ policy under the Obama administration, Adams said, noting allegations that Soros was involved in police procedures and voter ID rules across the nation. Americans do not understand the extent to which Soros fuels this anti-constitutional, anti-American agenda.

A DOJ spokesperson declined to confirm or deny whether it is investigating BSG as part of a criminal case, but confirmed it has found jurisdiction in the past to investigate bribery in Guineas lucrative mining industry in cases involving neither BSG nor Soros.

Attorney for BSG Resources Louis Solomon told Fox News they hope to begin court proceedings in July in New York City.
German authorities say they have arrested a 29-year-old Syrian suspected of membership in the Islamic State group.

Federal prosecutors say the man was arrested Thursday in the Leipzig region.

In a statement Friday, prosecutors said the suspect joined a military unit of the Nusra Front in Syria. He allegedly rose to become the unit's 'emir' in the Raqqa region and took part in the conquest of the town of Dibsi Afnan in Novemer 2012, and the town of Tabka in February 2013.

After the Nusra Front clashed with the Islamic State group in early 2013 he defected to the latter.

The man was identified only as Ahmad A. A., in line with German privacy rules.
Earlier this week, some 700 young men here were spotted traveling north in a convoy of buses. They had no identification cards and said they were laborers going to find work, Gen. Jawid Kohistani, a former official at Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) and a leading security analyst, told Fox News.

Despite that lack of documentation, they were able to make the more than 300-mile excursion from terrorist-teeming Nangarhar province by the Pakistan border to the provincial capital of Jalalabad. Then, they made their way west to Kabul and, finally, north to Mazar e-Sharif -- with almost no authorities stopping or investigating them.

"How does terrorism spread? Terrorists just get on a bus and go where they need to. It is that easy," Kohistani said. "These are the simple things that must be fixed. These young men have no weapons on them. So security forces say they cannot stop them. There is no real strategy to identify them and arrest or get rid of them."

When it comes to terrorists either entering Afghanistan  often across the Pakistan border -- or moving from province to province, such travel is often far from clandestine. While some such travel entails traversing mountainous pathways at night, its usually done by large groups of men in broad daylight on mainstream highways.

Also this week, a high-ranking official in Afghanistan told Fox News about a different group comprised of four buses  again filled with fighting-age men claiming to be farmers but without identification or weapons -- moving from the south to the north along the highways.

"No one knows who they are and nobody here seems to be stopping them to find out," the source said.

Its unclear whether the two groups had any ill intent. But military experts say that once terrorists do arrive at their destinations, Taliban and other terror groups retrieve weapons from local supporters or disgruntled government soldiers they have paid off.

Afghan people often talk among themselves about the routes these large groups of young men take. Many speak of the road between Nimruz to Helmand, with at least 30 highways of open desert on the 120-mile stretch, as having little to no checkpoints or border patrols.

"It's so far from Kabul," Kohistani observed. "It is forgotten by the central government. We have the same problem at the Rabat border."

Then, there is the 60-mile winding passage between Chitral, Pakistan, and Nuristan, Afghanistan, considered to be a key artery into Afghanistan for terrorists. Insurgents appear to move along this route freely.

Intelligence and tracking systems, according to multiple Afghanistan-based analysts, are inefficient when it comes to squashing terrorist movement  despite an estimated $2 trillion of U.S. taxpayer money pouring into the country since 2001 to defeat terrorism and stabilize the war-torn nation.

"For some time, the NDS has lacked strategic leadership and direction. This often results in a lack of timely intelligence," Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwary said. "While it is still seen as a potent force, the Taliban have also managed to expand their area of recruitment. Gains by the Taliban and a lack of strategic direction need to be reversed."

Concerned and frustrated locals have now taken to social media to publish the plate number of buses they spot carrying questionable fighting-aged men  with the hope that authorities might take note and investigate. On Wednesday afternoon, another bus of young men departed Kabul heading north through Taliban-controlled areas, and the plate number on the bus was shared on Facebook.

Whether or not the civilian efforts will have an impact remains to be seen. Nonetheless, it appears there was a time when Afghanistan was on a trajectory to stability, and, with major U.S. support, the intelligence system appeared to be succeeding.

"There was a lot of investment in Afghanistan intel training and from 2003 to the end of 2013 the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Information were cooperating in joint anti-terrorist operations," Kohistani said. "In the past, the FBI and the CIA and other partners worked jointly with the Afghanistan forces to share information on suspected terrorists and intercept Taliban phones even in remote areas."

A crucial portion of this fact-finding data was disseminated from the U.S. Forward Operating Base (FOB) Torkham, the main international trade crossing on the Pakistan border, where both U.S. military and private contractors in the region trained and mentored Afghans. Daily intelligence-sharing meetings took place between parties and upscale technology was utilized.

According to Kohistani, the joint programs that had been working well for more than a decade were abruptly squashed by President Karzai in 2014 as his term in office neared an end and his relationship with the U.S. government soured. In July 2014, with the scaling down of the U.S. presence, the FOB was transferred to Afghan hands.

Kohistani said some of the intelligence-focused programs have since resumed in response to Afghanistan's worsening security situation, but that time lapse enabled terrorists groups to cause irreversible damage.
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Thousands of conservative Muslims took to the streets of the Indonesian capital to call for the jailing of its minority Christian governor who is on trial on charges of blaspheming the Quran.

At least several thousand white-robed protesters marched after Friday prayers at Istiqlal Mosque in central Jakarta until reaching the nearby Supreme Court building.

The protest comes just days before a district court announces its verdict in Gov. Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's blasphemy trial.

Some of the protesters held flags, banners and placards that said "Justice must be upheld" and "Ahok, the blasphemer of Islam, must be jailed."

Prosecutors last month recommended a two-year suspended prison sentence for Ahok. The light sentencing demand followed his defeat by a Muslim candidate in a runoff election for Jakarta governor.
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Indonesian authorities are searching for scores of inmates who escaped from an overcrowded prison on Sumatra island.

Justice and Human Rights Ministry official Wayan Dusak said hundreds of policemen and soldiers were deployed Friday near Sialang Bungkuk prison to blockade roads to other provinces.

He said the escape occurred when prisoners were let out of their cells to take part in Friday prayers and overwhelmed the six guards on duty.
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The Latest on the French presidential runoff on Sunday (all times local):

1:30 a.m.

France's election campaign commission is examining a hacking attack on candidate Emmanuel Macron's political movement and subsequent document leaks online.

The commission said it would hold a meeting early Saturday to discuss the attack.

It urged French media not to publish the documents, warning that some of them are "probably" fake.

French electoral law impose a blackout Saturday and most of Sunday on any campaigning and media coverage seen as swaying the election, to allow voters a period of reflection before casting their ballots.

Macron is seen as the favorite going into Sunday's runoff against far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

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12 a.m.

The campaign of French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron says it has been the victim of a "massive and coordinated" hacking attack.

His campaign said in a statement late Friday night that some campaign emails and financial documents were hacked a few weeks ago and are now being circulated on social media, but that they have been mixed with false documents.

It said whoever is behind the leaked documents is trying to "seed doubt and disinformation" and destabilize Sunday's presidential runoff, comparing it to emails leaked from Hillary Clinton's U.S. presidential campaign.

Macron is the poll favorite going into Sunday's election against far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

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10 p.m.

French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has defended himself against the charge that his political movement 'En Marche' is too egocentric and said  to smiles  that he did not choose its name because it matched his initials.

Macron has often played with the letters "EM," that have been plastered around rallies, and it was widely thought that he chose the name of the movement as a code for his name.

In his final campaign interview on the news site Mediapart on Friday Macron said that "the thinking had never been the initials."

Macron has tried to project a message of equality amid accusations from far-right rival Marine Le Pen that he is elitist and pompous.

Macron created En Marche, or "In Motion," in April 2016 after quitting Francois Hollande's Socialist government.

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9:45 p.m.

France's presidential voting watchdog has called on the Interior Ministry to look into claims by the campaign of far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen that ballot papers are being tampered with nationwide to benefit her rival, centrist Emmanuel Macron.

On Friday, the Le Pen campaign alerted the CNCCEP watchdog after saying it had received thousands of reports of "violations of the enforcement of electoral law."

Le Pen's camp says the reports say electoral administrators in several regions  including in Ardeche, Savoie and the Loire  who received the ballot papers for both candidates have found that the Le Pen ballots had been "systematically torn up."

CNCCEP asked Interior Ministry to find out more information about these reported incidents.

Macron and Le Pen face off Sunday in France's presidential runoff.

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9:05 p.m.

French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron says he didn't bow to multiple calls to change his political positions opportunistically to appeal to a broader base of voters following the first round of voting.

Speaking Friday on the final day of campaigning before Sunday's decisive runoff, the pro-business Macron said it wouldn't have "democratically honest" to change his program to appeal to the 7.1 million supporters of far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who was eliminated in the April 23 vote that Macron won.

Melenchon endorsed neither Macron nor the far-right Marine Le Pen, who are competing in Sunday's vote.

Le Pen has tried to woo Melenchon's voters with rhetoric defending blue-collar workers.

Both camps fear that many of Melenchon's supporters will simply abstain in Sunday's vote.

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6:30 p.m.

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has told The Associated Press that whether or not she wins Sunday's runoff election, "we changed everything."

In an interview Friday in her headquarters, Le Pen appeared to be preparing for the possibility that she could lose to independent rival Emmanuel Macron.

Regardless of the outcome, she said she has achieved an "ideological victory. . We changed everything."

After bringing her party to unprecedented electoral success, she said, "Even if we don't reach our goal, in any event, there is a gigantic political force that is born."

She said her party managed to "impose the overhaul" of French politics.

Polls show her trailing Macron by a large margin.

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5:45 p.m.

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has claimed that militants of her rival's movement En Marche are behind hecklers like those who jeered her during a surprise visit to Reims cathedral.

She says that "it's rather revealing, perhaps about the choice the French have to make" as she returned to her Paris campaign headquarters.

Le Pen said of the cathedral where France's first king was crowned alongside Joan of Arc, "hordes coming to push me, insult us ... in the place that represents the baptism of France, this sacred place, this historic place."

She said such incidents "are systematically organized by militants of En Marche."

It was the first time Le Pen blamed centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron's followers for such incidents. They face each other in Sunday's runoff.

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5:15 p.m.

France's presidential candidates have chosen two very different venues to celebrate at if they win the upcoming runoff.

Centrist Emmanuel Macron has opted for the Esplanade du Louvre. The area is already heavily guarded after an extremist attacker targeted soldiers near the museum during the presidential campaign.

If far-right candidate Marine Le Pen wins, she plans to crack open the champagne at the Chalet du Lac, originally a hunting lodge used by emperor Napoleon III in a park on Paris' eastern edge.

Celebrations places have a huge symbolic power and it's no wonder Macron didn't choose the Bastille or Republique squares, two highly popular places for the left, or the Place de la Concorde, where conservative Nicolas Sarkozy celebrated his victory in the 2007 presidential election.

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4:30 p.m.

Chancellor Angela Merkel is underlining how central the German-French relationship is to the European Union as France prepares to elect its new president.

Germany has made clear that it favors pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron over far-right, anti-EU contender Marine Le Pen in Sunday's presidential runoff vote.

Merkel said during a speech in Hamburg that Europe needs to "move ahead faster and more decisively in areas where pan-European action brings real added value."

She added: "We see when we concentrate on Sunday and hope that the election goes as we would like that the cooperation of Germany and France in this context is of decisive significance."

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3:25 p.m.

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has taken to Twitter to accuse the supporters of her rival centrist Emmanuel Macron of "violence" and disrespecting a sacred cathedral.

Le Pen made a surprise visit to Reims Cathedral of the last day of campaigning ahead of Sunday's presidential run off. But protesters gave her a hostile reception.

"Monsieur Macron's supporters act with violence everywhere, even in ... a symbolic and sacred place. No dignity," Le Pen wrote.

Television images showed Le Pen leaving the cathedral via an unmarked door, putting her arms over her head to protect herself and diving into a black car as a small crowd gathered around, shouting epithets. The car quickly sped away.

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1:55 p.m.

Germany's foreign minister says that the future of the European "project of peace" is at stake in France's presidential election. Germany and France have traditionally been the motor of European Union integration, and German officials have made clear that they favor centrist Emmanuel Macron over his anti-EU opponent Marine Le Pen in Sunday's runoff vote.

Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in a statement Friday that it's important to "win back the hearts of young people all over our continent for the future of Europe." He added that "the future of our European project of peace is also up for election in France the day after tomorrow."

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1:45 p.m.

The German government says outgoing French President Francois Hollande will hold a final meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday, a day after his successor is elected.

Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday that Hollande, whose term ends May 14, will have dinner with Merkel at the chancellery.

Seibert said the chancellor will thank Hollande for five years of close cooperation, "for a good chapter in German-French friendship, for the very intensive cooperation on various themes" such as the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

German officials have made no secret of their hopes that centrist Emmanuel Macron will beat far-right contender Marine Le Pen in Sunday's presidential runoff vote. Seibert said that the German government will "very quickly" be in contact with the winner.

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1:30 p.m.

Paris police say 12 people have been arrested after environmental activists breached the Eiffel Tower's security, hung a protest sign and rappelled down.

The Greenpeace activists converged on the tower around 5 a.m. and managed to keep the banner, emblazoned with the French motto of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity," on display for around 45 minutes.

Six of them rappelled from the tower's archway beneath the banner.

The protest against Marine Le Pen, the far-right presidential candidate, came just two days before France's election.

___

1:20 p.m.

Emmanuel Macron's supporters gave far-right leader Marine Le Pen a hostile reception as she stopped at Reims cathedral on the campaign trail.

Macron, a centrist with strong pro-EU views, and Le Pen are pushing for votes on the last day of campaigning before Sunday's runoff. Polls suggest Macron could secure a comfortable victory.

Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Macron's campaign slogans and holding placards outside the church, supporters chanted "Marine, give the money back!"

French investigators asked the European Parliament last month to lift Le Pen's immunity so that she can face possible prosecution over suspected misuse of parliamentary salaries. The case concerns accusations that Le Pen and others in her National Front party used EU-paid parliamentary aides for party activity.

Reims cathedral is highly symbolic for Le Pen's National Front. Joan of Arc, the party's heroine, was present there for the 1429 coronation at the cathedral of Charles VII in the midst of her battles. A statue of Joan of Arc stands outside the cathedral.

___

11:45 a.m.

Students at a Paris high school have written an open letter to French voters asking them to choose "democracy" on Sunday.

The students at Lycee Buffon recalled the tragic fate of five students shot in 1943 for fighting the Nazis and said France should unite in the fight against the far-right National Front and its candidate, Marine Le Pen.

The letter did not call on voters to throw their support behind centrist Emmanuel Macron, though.

"I'm 15, 16, 17 or 18, I'm a student. Even If I'm not old enough to vote, I'm concerned," the letter said. "Dear reader, you should know that Marine Le Pen's France is not the France we love. Our France is beautiful, tolerant and cosmopolitan. So go and vote on Sunday, for this France, this democracy."

___

11 a.m.

On the last day of France's presidential campaign, centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron mingled with the crowd in the small streets of the southwestern town of Rodez.

Smiling, taking selfies and shaking hands, he stayed for a few minutes in a local cafe. He also visited the 16th century cathedral without press.

People wished him "courage" and luck ahead of Sunday's runoff against far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

Some left-wing voters told him they will choose him on Sunday but will remain vigilant about his pro-business project they fear will weaken workers' protections.

Macron listened, always smiling  yet didn't answer.

9:35 a.m.

Protests are breaking out in Paris on the last day of campaigning before the French presidential election, with environmental activists dangling off the Eiffel Tower and students blocking the entrance to high schools.

Activists for Greenpeace slipped into the Eiffel Tower around 5 a.m. and hung a banner with the French national motto: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Six activists then rappelled down the tower's archway.

The sign was removed about 45 minutes after it was unfurled.

Meanwhile, the Paris school district says 10 high schools are completely or partially blocked by student protesters who say they oppose both presidential candidates.

___

9:05 a.m.

French centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron says his country has to find a common destiny and overcome the anger that is dividing it.

Macron, in the last day of campaigning for the presidential election, told Europe 1 radio that if he is elected his duty will be to "ensure that the country keeps its balance."

He said Friday he had chosen as his prime minister someone with enough political experience to help bring together a legislative majority but refused to name his choice.

Despite a testy debate with far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Wednesday, Macron insisted that  should he win  she would be the first person he would call.

___

8:35 a.m.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen says her anger during the presidential debate against her centrist rival is a reflection of the anger she sees throughout France.

In the last day of campaigning before Sunday's presidential vote, Le Pen acknowledged the testy debate between her and Emmanuel Macron.

"My words were nothing but the reflection of the anger that will explode in this country," she told RTL radio on Friday.

She criticized Macron as the candidate of the elite and said the French have had enough of their political and economic situation.

In recent years, Le Pen has tried to soften the profile of the National Front party founded by her father. The party has long faced accusations of racism and anti-Semitism.
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Nigeria's president has emerged to attend Friday prayers after missing a number of public engagements because of poor health.

President Muhammadu Buhari disappeared for six weeks of medical leave in London earlier this year, leading some to call for his replacement. The 74-year-old returned to work in March but has missed three straight weekly cabinet meetings.

The uncertainty over his health has raised fears of instability in Africa's most populous nation and one of its top oil producers.

Nigeria's government tweeted images of Buhari's appearance Friday as officials seek to calm the concerns.

Buhari's ailment is not publicly known, but he has made reference to blood transfusions and said he had not been so sick in decades.

His wife has said his health is not as bad as perceived.
North Korea on Friday accused U.S. and South Korean intelligence services of hatching a plot to assassinate dictator Kim Jong Un with a biochemical substance.

The claim comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and North Korea over the reclusive regimes nuclear weapons program and recent provocative ballistic missile tests.

According to North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency, a hideous terrorists group directed by CIA and South Korean spies ideologically corrupted a North Korean dissident identified as Kim and paid the man more than $20,000 to carry out the attack.

RUSSIA'S PLAN FOR SYRIA 'SAFE ZONES' BARS UNITED STATES, OTHERS FROM FLYING OVER AREAS

They hatched a plot of letting human scum Kim commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership during events at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and at military parade and public procession after his return home," KCNA said, according to a Reuters translation.

"They told him that assassination by use of biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance is the best method that does not require access to the target, their lethal results will appear after six or twelve months.

AXIS OF EVIL: PENTAGON EYES NORTH KOREA-IRAN MILITARY LINK

The date of the alleged assassination attempt is unclear; however, Kim Jong Un presided over a military parade on April 15.

"Criminals going hell-bent to realize such a pipe dream cannot survive on this land even a moment," KCNA said.

North Koreas Ministry of State Security called the supposed plot a last-ditch effort that had gone beyond the limits.

North Korea vowed to mercilessly destroy the terrorists behind the plan  which is oddly reminiscent of the 2014 comedy The Interview, in which a reporter tries to covertly poison Kim Jong Un with a biochemical substance.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted to impose new sanctions on North Korea, the latest attempt by U.S. officials to deter North Korea from carrying out a sixth nuclear test.

President Trump already has sent a nuclear-powered submarine and the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to Korean waters, and the U.S. recently installed the THAAD missile defense system in South Korea.
With polls showing her a longshot to win Sunday's election, French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen declared victory anyway, saying no matter what happens, a "gigantic political force has been born."

Speaking to The Associated Press on Friday, the right-wing candidate held out hope for "a surprise" in the runoff, although polls show her trailing by as much as 20 points behind independent centrist Emmanuel Macron.

"Maybe there is going to be a surprise that will belie opinion polls," she said.

Regardless, Le Pen said her outsider campaign, with its emphasis on ationalism and ending immigration, has had a lasting effect on the country.

"We moved everything, we have changed everything already," she said. "The old traditional parties have all been blackballed. Even if we don't reach our goal, in any event there is a gigantic political force that has been born."

As Le Pen spoke, protests broke out in Paris on the last day of the campaign before the presidential election. Environmental activists unfurled a protest banner on the Eiffel Tower about 5 a.m. Friday, emblazoned with the French motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." The banner hung on the monument for about 45 minutes, protesting far-right presidential candidate Le Pen.

Twelve people were arrested after the incident.

FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL CHOICE: RISK LE PEN OR SETTLE FOR MACRON

Voting starts in French overseas territories Saturday then moves to the mainland Sunday, with 50,000 security forces on guard. Polling agency projections of the outcome are expected as soon as the final voting stations close Sunday evening, followed by official results.

A crowd wearing T-shirts with Macron's campaign slogans also greeted Le Pen when she paid a visit to Reims Cathedral, the BBC reported. They held placards outside the church and chanted "Marine, give the money back!" -- referencing the accusation that Le Pen and others in her National Front party used European Union-paid parliamentary aides for party activity.

FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL VOTE: PROSECUTORS INVESTIGATING 'FAKE NEWS'

Students at 10 high schools also spoke out by completely or partially blocking the entrances to the buildings, the Paris school district said. Students at Lycee Buffon wrote an open letter to French voters asking them to choose "democracy" in Sunday's runoff.

"I'm 15, 16, 17 or 18, I'm a student. Even If I'm not old enough to vote, I'm concerned," the letter said. "Dear reader, you should know that Marine Le Pen's France is not the France we love. Our France is beautiful, tolerant and cosmopolitan. So go and vote on Sunday, for this France, this democracy."

The letter, however, did not call voters to support Macron.

Macron spent part of the last day of the campaign mingling with supporters in the small streets of the southwestern town of Rodez. He also visited a 16th century cathedral without press.

His supporters wished him "courage" and luck ahead of the runoff. Some left-wing voters told him they will choose him on Sunday, but will remain vigilant about his pro-business project they fear will weaken workers' protections.

Both candidates are looking to extend their leads, though polls suggest Macron could secure a comfortable victory.

Macron also earned an endorsement from former president Barack Obama.

The candidates faced off in a nasty two-hour televised debate on Wednesday where they often attacked each other personally. At one point, Le Pen alluded that her centrist opponent could be holding an "offshore account in the Bahamas."

Macron responded to the slur as "fake news" and filed a complaint the next morning.

Le Pen later admitted she had no proof the offshore account existed. French prosecutors launched an investigation into whether fake news improperly could affect voting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Two days after filing for a form of bankruptcy protection for its monumental $70 billion debt, Puerto Rico announced Friday it is closing 184 public schools.

Education Department spokeswoman Yolanda Rosaly said approximately 27,000 students will be moved elsewhere starting the next school year.

PUERTO RICO REQUESTS UNPRECEDENTED BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION FOR $70B DEBT

She said the move is expected to save more than $7 million to the bankrupt island, which is immersed in a deep economic crisis.

Rosaly said more details will be provided soon. El Nuevo Dia, Puerto Rico's leading newspaper, posted the list of schools to be shut down.

It is the largest mass closure of schools announced in the history of the U.S. territory.

The island has seen its school enrollment drop 42 percent in the past three decades, mostly as a result of parents moving to the mainland U.S. in search of jobs and a more affordable life.

PUERTO RICO PUSHES TO PRIVATIZE OPERATION OF PUBLIC SERVICES

An additional 22 percent drop is expected in upcoming years, according to a study by the Boston Consulting Group.

Opponents of previous school closures say that transportation logistics and special education needs were not taken into account.

Puerto Rico currently has a total of 1,292 public schools that serve 365,000 students.

The AP contributed to this report.
A deal to set up de-escalation zones has taken effect, but the plans for those areas could prove to be difficult to enforce.

The deal took effect at midnight Saturday local time but could take around a month until the safe zones are actually established, Russian officials said. And a new plan will prevent U.S. and coalition forces from flying over them.

The plan seeking to establish four safe zones was agreed upon by Russia, Turkey and Iran in cease-fire talks in Kazakhstan on Thursday. But the U.S. hasnt agreed to abide by the restriction.

SYRIA CEASE-FIRE TALKS: RUSSIA, IRAN AND TURKEY AGREE ON DE-ESCALATION ZONES

Instead, the Pentagon has said that the de-escalation agreement wont affect the U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State fighters, The Washington Post reported.

"The coalition will continue to target ISIS wherever they operate to ensure they have no sanctuary," Pentagon spokesman Marine Maj. Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway stated.

Russian officials have told reporters that they want to restore a deal with the U.S. to coordinate air operations in Syria in order to cut the risk of accidents. A deal between the two countries was nixed in April following a U.S. missile strike on a Syrian air base. That was in response to a chemical gas attack in the country that was blamed on Syrian President Bashar Assads government.

But Russian official Alexander Lavrentyev has said that the former plan may not be renewed.

The operation of aviation in the de-escalation zones, especially of the forces of the international coalition, is absolutely not envisaged, either with notification or without, he said. This question is closed."

Instead, Lavrentyev said, the U.S.-led coalition aircraft would be permitted to target ISIS in specific areas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Scottish surfer who was rescued off the western coast of Scotland Monday after being lost at sea for 32 hours said he thought he was going to die.

I was thinking I was going to die  I was almost convinced, Matthew Bryce, 22, told the BBC.

Bryces hopes were lifted when the surfer spotted a helicopter flying over him.

RESCUE OF TEXAS TODDLER, BABY CAUGHT ON VIDEO

To get the choppers attention, Bryce used his surfboard to signal for help.

I cannot thank those enough who rescued and cared for me. They are all heroes, Bryce said in a statement released from the hospital.

SCOTTISH SURFER FOUND CLINGING TO BOARD AFTER 32 HOURS AT SEA

Bryce is being treated for severe hypothermia at Belfast Hospital in Northern Ireland. Officials are hopeful the surfer will make a full recovery.

Officials said Bryce's surfboard and thick wetsuit helped him survive in the frigid water.

Bryce had disappeared early Sunday, but officials reportedly weren't notified for 24 hours, which made it harder to trace his whereabouts.

He has said that he wont be surfing again.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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Russia's representative at the Syria talks says the "de-escalation zones" will be closed to military aircraft from the U.S.-led coalition.

Alexander Lavrentyev's comments Friday come a day after talks in Kazakhstan where Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed to establish the zones in Syria. Under the Russian plan, President Bashar Assad's air force would halt flights over the designated areas across the war-torn country.

Lavrentyev, whose remarks were carried by Russian news agencies, said U.S.-led coalition aircraft would be able to operate against the Islamic State group in specific areas, but the "de-escalation zones" were now closed to their flights.

The agreement is the latest attempt to reduce violence in the Arab country. But the full details of the proposal were not made available and prospects for its success appeared bleak.
Natalia Martinez has a good story for her grandkids.

She climbed solo the second highest peak in the world, Canada's Mount Logan, and was left stranded for almost five days after to two earthquake-triggered avalanches isolated her camp at 12,800 feet.

She was rescued late Thursday night via helicopter, to the joy of her family and friends back in her native Argentina and all around the alpinism world.

"NATALIA IS BACK WITH US SAFE AND SOUND!!!!" read a dispatch on ExpeNews, which had been tracking her expedition since it started on April 22.

"The rescue team was launched around 7:30 pm local time, heading for a successful operation that ended at [10:30 p.m.], with Natalia showing again her beautiful smile at the Icefield Discovery base in Kluane Lake!!! Well done Nati!!!! YOU MADE IT!!!!

FAMED CLIMBER UELI STECK KILLED NEAR MOUNT EVEREST

Martinez, an accomplished climber who works as a mountain guide and ski instructor, faced temperatures that dropped to minus 4 and winds of up to 85 mph on Mt. Logan.

"She was getting pretty weak over the last couple of days," Tom Bradley, chief pilot from Icefield Discovery Tours who dropped her off last month, told BBC News

He said the strong winds were making it impossible for her to light her stove to cook food or melt snow to drink.

Martinez, 37, was nine days into her trek of the 19,500-foot mountain when a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck.

Her boyfriend Camilo Rada, also an experienced climber, stayed in contact with her throughout the ordeal via phone and text.

Natalia Martinez faced a tough climb on her solo traverse of Mount Logan  and that was before the earthquakes: https://t.co/6Bv1B0YozD pic.twitter.com/lRZ3o1NTXx  Canadian Geographic (@CanGeo) May 3, 2017

The rescue effort was coordinated by Parks Canada, since the peak is located within the Kluane National Park.

Craig McKinnon, the parks resource conservation manager, said over the last five years, Park Canada has done four rescues in the ice fields of Kluane, and three rescues off Mount Logan.

He said an average of 25 climbers try to reach to climb Mount Logan each year.
A court in Spain's Canary Islands has sent a 27-year-old German man to prison for 3 years for causing a massive forest fire that killed one worker last summer.

The man already admitted, when he was detained in July last year, that he accidentally started the blaze by burning his soiled toilet paper. Civil guard agents had found him near the source of the fire in the Atlantic Ocean island of La Palma.

The blaze destroyed nearly 5,000 hectares (12,300 acres) of forest and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents.

A provincial court in Santa Cruz de Tenerife ruled Friday that the man should also pay 1.8 million euros ($2 million) for the restoration of the affected forest areas and compensate the relatives of the deceased forest worker.
A U.S. Navy SEAL was killed Thursday fighting terror group Al Shabab -- Al Qaeda's third-largest affiliate -- in Somalia, U.S. officials told Fox News.

It appeared to be the first combat death of a U.S. service member in Somalia since 1993, U.S. Africa Command spokesman Patrick Barnes said.

Two other SEALs and an interpreter were wounded in the gunfight in Somalia, Fox News has learned; however, the Pentagon would not disclose the extent of the injuries due to privacy concerns.

SOMALI LEADER VOWS TO DEFEAT EXTREMISTS IN 2 YEARS

"U.S. forces were conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army" near Bari, about 40 miles west of Mogadishu, according to a statement from U.S. Africa Command. The mission involved the use of U.S. helicopters and a Navy SEAL assault force partnered with Somalis.

"This was their mission," said Pentagon spokesperson Capt. Jeff Davis, referring to the Somali troops.

The SEALs were attacked "early" in the mission, not long after landing, and the Pentagon was still assessing if the mission -- targeting a "group of people" associated with attacks on Somalia's capital -- was a success. Despite a recent focus on the country by the Trump administration, the authority for the mission was given under orders issued by the Obama administration.

"What occurred last night...was not anything new," Davis said.

A Somali intelligence official confirmed the U.S. military operation to The Associated Press, saying extremist fighters mounted a stiff resistance against the soldiers.

THREE SOLDIERS ARRESTED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF SOMALIA MINISTER



Al Shabab "presents a threat to Americans and American interests," the U.S. Africa Command statement said.

Somalia's new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last month declared a new offensive against Al Shabab, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks elsewhere in East Africa.

In late March, the White House approved a Pentagon request to conduct offensive operations against Al Shabab in Somalia. This meant drone strikes and raids were given the green light to happen outside of self-defense, which was the previous policy under the Obama administration.

The Department of Homeland Security in March banned electronics larger than mobile phones on flights from some Muslim nations to the U.S. a year after Al Shabab attempted to bring down an airliner in Somalia using a bomb hidden inside a laptop.

The extremist group, which was chased out of Mogadishu years ago, but continues to carry out deadly attacks there, has vowed to step up the violence in response to the moves by Trump and Mohamed.



Pressure is growing on Somalia's military to assume full security for the country as the 22,000-strong African Union multinational force that has been supporting the fragile central government plans to leave by the end of 2020.



Fighters linked to ISIS are a relatively new and growing challenge in the north of the country, which has seen a quarter century of chaos since dictator Siad Barre fell in 1991.



The United States pulled out of Somalia after 1993, when two helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets.

However, there have been roughly 50 U.S. special operations troops based in the country since 2013.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A new study by the World Food Program has quantified the impact of food insecurity and conflict on cross-border migration, showing a direct correlation between food scarcity and people fleeing for more secure destinations.

According to the study released Friday, every 1 percentage point increase in food insecurity compels 1.9 percent more people to migrate. In addition, each year of conflict drives 0.4 percent more people to flee a country.

At the same time, food insecurity fuels armed conflict and its intensity. And to complete the vicious circle, WFP says, "migration itself can cause food insecurity, given the costs and often hazardous conditions along the journey."

WFP executive director David Beasley said "with so many of our brothers and sisters having fled their homes and facing so much hardship, it is our duty so shed light on their tragic situation."
New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone.
Matthew Small and Ashley Hodges arent typical Germanna Community College graduates.

They havent even finished their senior year at James Monroe High School yet. But they are among 21 high school seniors receiving associate degrees at the colleges spring commencement ceremonies Friday in the first class of the Gladys P. Todd Academy.

The academy was started two years ago to help underserved students in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County attend four-year universities by giving them the opportunity to earn their associates degree for free by the time they finish high school.

Academy students spent part of their school day at Germannas Fredericksburg area campus, taking a full-time course load of up to 17 credits per semester. They also received mentoring from community members and participated in cultural enrichment activities.

The first cohort included 14 students from James Monroe High School and seven from Spotsylvania County High School.

The program is very important because it looks for students whose communities are historically underserved and gives them a chance to do challenging work, said director Carleen Carey.

Philanthropist Doris Buffetts Sunshine Lady Foundation contributed $2 million to the program, which launched in the fall of 2015 with 22 students.

As the grown-ups, we have responsibility to our children and our grandchildren, Buffett said when she announced the academy. With this program, we have a chance to do something to revolutionize the way higher education engages young people. I consider supporting Germanna in this effort to be the most important thing Im doing in the [Fredericksburg] area.

The Academys website defines underserved students populations as those who are the first generation in their families to attend college (although that was not the case with some in the first group) and are eligible for free or reduced lunches.

I like the idea of looking for people the system has underserved and giving them an opportunity to excel. Thats fundamentally American, Carey said.

The Academy was named for Gladys P. Todd, a longtime Fredericksburg teacher and civil rights activist who died in 2015 at the age of 101. Todds daughter, blues musician Gaye Todd Adegbalola, is on the academy board.

My mom is truly smiling down for the program to carry her name, Adegbalola said. She worked all her life for young people, particularly young black people.

Adegbalola said she is thrilled that all the members of the original cohort but one will complete the program this year, but her heart goes out to the one who did not.

What I want to do now is wrap my arms around number 22, she said. Thats what my mom would do.

Small and Hodges are examples of the academys success. He will attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and Hodges is bound for Princeton University.

Small said he is grateful to the Gladys Todd Academy for giving him experiences he wouldnt have had otherwise, such as taking yoga and visiting the General Assembly in Richmond.

He said the most important thing he learned was time management, because he had to balance his high school classes with his Germanna classes, track and field meets and other after-school activities.

He offered advice to future Gladys Todd students.

Make sure that you are the one who wants to do the program, not just your parents, because youll resent them, he said.

He reports to West Point for initial training July 17 and hopes to eventually become an Army pilot.

Hodges said she was at first hesitant to apply to to the Todd Academy after her guidance counselor recommended her for it because she is not a first generation student.

I didnt want to take the place of someone more deserving, she said.

But shes wanted to attend a top university ever since she was a little girl, so she decided to apply, hoping the program would help her achieve her goal.

She said one of her favorite academy classes was sociology.

It gave me a different outlook on the way the world interacts and what makes us humans, she said.

She said she ended up liking the amount of work required by the academy because it showed her what she is capable of.

Its not until you push yourself to your limits that you see what you can achieve, she said.

Her advice to future Gladys Todd students is try not to do the bare minimum.

You wont bring out the inner light you have inside you, she said.

At Princeton, Hodges plans to major in political science with a concentration in AfricanAmerican studies. She wants to do something in the fields of international public health or education, particularly supporting women and children.

The other institutions Gladys Todd graduates will attend in the fall include Marymount University in Arlington, Bridgewater College in Rockingham County and Clark Atlanta University, a historically black university.

Carey, who took over as director of the Gladys Todd Academy this spring, was herself a first-generation college student from King George County.

Its hard to see yourself in the role of a successful college student, she said of her experience.

She received a Ph.D. in teacher education from Michigan State University in 2014 and is looking forward to showing future academy students what it looks like to have the title Doctor attached to someone like [them].

She said that the academys liberal arts focus teaches low-income students a form of self-expression.

Its teaching them to be creative and to write their version of themselves, she said. Its helping them see themselves as the authors of their lives.

Carey said that both Gladys Todd and Doris Buffett were women and, as such, were not expected to succeed.

[This program asks students], What will you achieve with the resources you were given? she said.

Jeanne Wesley, Germannas interim vice president for academic affairs and vice president for workforce, said the program, with its emphasis on first-generation college students and its mentoring component, is ground-breaking.

Were proud of all the academy students for the great work theyve done, Wesley said. There have been many challenges in creating this unique and complex program. We thank our advisory board and James Monroe and Spotsylvania high schools for their partnership and commitment to the success of a program that can truly alter the course of lives. We are grateful to Ms. Buffett for the opportunity.
A Cumberland County man charged last year with attempted criminal homicide in Carlisle has been found not guilty.

Chad Stanback, 44, of Carlisle, was accused of shooting another man last May in the 1300 block of North Pitt Street.

Police said the other man was transported to a hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Stanback turned himself in to police a day after the shooting, according to police, and was released from prison the same day after posting $50,000 bail, according to court records.

Stanback was also charged with felony burglary, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and three counts of aggravated assault.

He was found not guilty on all counts, according to court records.
Sue Coulson of Colonial Beach doesnt mince words when it comes to doing her part to support the animals and plants that also call it home.

If we dont do what we can to help them, were not being good stewards of the land, said the woman who called Northern Virginia home become moving to the town on the Potomac River several years ago.

To that end, Coulsonwhose work experience ranges from serving as communications coordinator for Mobil Oil in Fairfax to co-owning a plant business in Occoquanis doing what she can to help monarch butterflies.

The woman, who as a volunteer helped the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association publish a book on the principles of the discipline, regularly receives emails, briefings and all sorts of warnings about the challenges faced by various flora and fauna.

When she read piece after piece about monarch butterflies suffering a catastrophic loss of population in the last few yearssome estimates putting that number near 90 percentCoulson couldnt just sit by and do nothing.

Having worked at a plant nursery in Lorton and been part owner of a plant business, Coulson well knew that adult monarchs lay their eggs on different varieties of the milkweed plans that once flourished from Mexico to Canada in grasslands, roadsides, abandoned lots and in fields of corn and soybeans.

With genetically modified crops able to withstand weed killers, the herbicides used on those crops have cut the stock of milkweed in those fields by more than 80 percent, according to some conservation biologists.

The causes varyloss of habitat, the use of herbicides, climate changebut the reality is that the milkweed that used to grow everywhere doesnt anymore, said Coulson. And that has caused the decline in monarch population. So why not try to change that?

To that end, Coulson and others who do different sorts of volunteer work at St. Marys Episcopal Church in Colonial Beach are doing what they can to reverse the loss of milkweed by getting and selling the plants.

Coulson noted that the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy saves milkweed seeds in the fall, sends them to a nursery to be propagated and then sells starter plants in the spring as a fundraiser to increase the monarch habitat.

The mother of two heard about that effort last year and will buy flats to sell through the church.

We hope to raise some funds for our Episcopal Church Womens group, but mainly were doing to increase habitat here and throughout the region, she said. I am also looking into the possibility of selling some at the farmers market that uses our church property each week.

Coulson says shell sell the plants May 14 at the parish hall at St. Marys from 12:45 until 2 p.m. If you have questions about price and availability, shes happy to provide more information through emails sent to itsacairn@aol.com.

Yes, the effort is just a small step toward the goal of millions of new milkweed plants all over North America.

But its something, a step Coulson said she could take that she hopes will be matched by others who care about monarchs all across the state and country.

She noted that milkweedthe plants shell have available are small plugsis easy to grow. You just dig a hole for the starter plugs, gently firm up the soil around them and water well.

The plants like full sun, and like crepe myrtles, will take their time to leaf out in the spring, not dead but just waiting until the time is right.

Though Id heard about the decrease of monarchs, I didnt know much about the cause of their decline or their habits until the nature-savvy Coulson provided me with a raft of information about them and their challenges.

One overview she provided notes that the entire migration each year requires about four generations. That means the butterflies you see one fall, flying to Mexico from southern Canada and the Northern U.S., are several generations removed from those that left Mexico in the spring.

Some of those generations have a life span of only two to six weeks, their main job to reproduce enough for subsequent generations to survive the return to Mexico.

If youre interested in growing milkweed and cant make it to Colonial Beach, a quick spin around the web will turn up many sources where you can get seeds, plants and more.
Stephen Tutchings has played an admirable cast of characters.

Hes Buzzy the Bee, the energetic mascot for B101.5, the Chick-fil-A cow at Spotsylvania Towne Centre, the Easter Bunny at the Spotsylvania Towne Centre, and has been multiple mascots for school events. Whatever oversize, fuzzy costume hes wearing, hes rewarded in happy handshakes and high-fives.

But Tutchings, 20, is looking for a new challenge. He wants to make people happy at the happiest place on Earth.

Tutchings has auditioned several times to be a costumed mascot at Walt Disney World in Florida, but has not yet made the cut.

Now, a former coworker is taking to social media to help Tutchings dream come true.

Wendy Latella first met Tutchings at the Chick-fil-A at Spotsylvania Towne Centre, where he was the cow mascot and Latella was a marketing director.

She and Tutchings were driving to a program in King George County when she asked Tutchings about his goals. Without hesitation, Tutchings told her he wanted to be a Disney character.

It was the first thing he said, Latella remembered.

Tutchings then told Latella about his auditions and subsequent disappointment about not getting the job.

Close to the end of last year, as Tutchings and Latella were preparing for Black Friday at Chick-fil-A, Latella told Tutchings she had a plan to get Disneys attention.

I finally said, We are going to do this,  Latella said.

Latella is a film producer who previously worked in television as the vice president of Programming for Central Virginia Television Network and Central Virginia Public Broadcasting. She knew social media would be the best platform for Tutchings.

She started a Facebook page, Stephens Disney Dream, and made a short documentary about him. She is also compiling stories and memories that people in the community have of him.

She said she has received hundreds of responses through posts on the Facebook page and private messages. Responses have ranged from parents whose children have fond memories of Tutchings to people who are touched by his dedication and kindness.

He is an amazing person, Latella said. So sweet. Big heart.

Tutchings was a Disney fan long before his first visit to the Florida resort in 2013. Once he saw the park, he fell in love with the environment. He also realized he could use his experience as a costumed character to put his foot in the door.

He started as a mascot by dressing up as Max, the bunny from the show Max and Ruby, at the school where his mother works. The schools librarian suggested hed be perfect for the role. He has been a mascot for school events every year since.

When Tutchings first auditioned for Disney, he and his family took a 17-hour train to Florida, where Tutchings auditioned. Hes auditioned five times so far.

He said the employees are friendly and make the audition fun, and he hopes to make the grade when he returns this summer. He has auditioned for Baloo and King Louie from The Jungle Book, and even took a shot at Donald Duck. But he has his heart set on playing Goofy.

Robin Garcia Tutchings, Stephens mother, has traveled with Stephen to all of his auditions. She said while Stephen has fully participated in the auditions, she has noticed some disadvantages.

She said Stephen Tutchings brings an extensive portfolio showing his costume character experiences and letters of recommendation from supervisors. She said the auditions mainly focus on height requirements and dance routines, and that the Disney officials have not asked to see his portfolio. Robin Tutchings worries that her son has a disadvantage against trained dancers who are more familiar with the routines.

She hopes that in future auditions, he is able to showcase the experience that he has, rather than what he does not. After each audition, Robin Tutchings said her sons optimism comes through.

With each audition, he never gives up, Robin Tutchings said. His response when being let go after the first round of these auditions is always I cant wait to come back and try again, I will start looking on the website for the next audition that we can go to. 

Tutchings is the middle of three brothers, and possesses an infections enthusiasm whether hes in costume or not. Its a character trait thats helped him deal with some difficult situations.

His father passed away in 2013. It might seem counter intuitive, but understanding pain may be what makes him an effective mascot, allowing him to reassure the people he interacts with.

Tutchings remembered being in costume and seeing a young girl who he said seemed a little scared. He won her over.

When I put my arms out, she ran right up and hugged me, Tutchings said.

He later got a message from the girls mother, who said she was touched by Tutchings interaction with the girl, especially as this was the first time the girl had approached a costumed character.

A close associate of Tutchings is Bill Carroll, a radio personality with B101.5. Latella approached Carroll about the social media blitz for Tutchings on Black Friday. His immediate response, Latella said, was Anything for Stephen.

[Carroll] was on board the moment I mentioned it, Latella said. They have a very special bond.

Carroll appreciated Tutchings gentle approach with the people he interacts with in costume.

Stephen is not only fantastic at what he does, but he knows how to read people, and especially the kids that approach him while hes all the characters he plays, Carroll said.

Carroll said Tutchings has only improved with experience. Carroll has done work with Disney as a contractor, helping with audio engineering for live shows and with the scoring and special effects of the 1997 animated film Mulan. He was also on a consulting team with Disney for its dinosaur exhibit, having founded a program involving animatronic dinosaurs called DinoTyme.

Though he has not worked in the casting department, Carroll is confident the social media push and Tutchings effortless ability to be in character will enable him to thrive.

He really is made to do what he does, Carroll said.

Tutchings encourages others to pursue their dreams, even if they do not reach their goal right away.

Dont ever give up, Tutchings said. Even if you dont get it the first time, just keep on going.
A man was found dead Thursday after reportedly jumping from an Interstate 95 bridge in Stafford County, according to Virginia State Police.

A motorist called 911 about 5 p.m. to report that a man got out of his car and jumped off the side of the bridge near Exit 133 on northbound I95, Sgt. Les Tyler said. He said emergency personnel found the body in the Rappahannock River.

Tyler did not identify the man. Trooper J.W. Palmer is investigating the incident, Tyler said.

The incident caused major traffic delays after authorities closed the northbound lane and shoulder at mile marker 132 near Falmouth. At one point, traffic was backed up for about 5 miles.

Motorists reported seeing police and other emergency personnel looking out over the bridge into the water below.
For married couple Mohammad Mesbahi and Homa Esfandiari, its the small moments that make their years-long immigration process well worth the wait.

When I wake up, shes there, he said. Its such an amazing feeling. And after work, we take walks together and sometimes we go get ice cream. Its so valuable, the time together. Were catching up on all that time we lost.

Mesbahi, a 2012 graduate of the University of Mary Washington and U.S. citizen, met Esfandiari the summer after graduation during a trip to visit family and friends in Iran. He was instantly attracted to her outgoing nature, the opposite of his reserved temperament.

After getting married in 2014, they wanted her to immigrate the right way, but were separated by two countries without diplomatic relations.

Esfandiari spent three years working to get a green card so she could join him in Fairfax. She was close to approval, and was on her way to the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia, for a final interview. The U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with Iran, so Armenia is the closest embassy.

That was the moment, in January, that President Donald Trump signed an executive order affecting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. Esfandiaris immigration proceedings were derailed and the couples future was thrown into question.

A federal judge halted enforcement of that travel ban, and the White House followed it with an order with a smaller scope in March. Several attorneys offered to work pro-bono on Mesbahis behalf, and he reached out to Congress and used every connection he could think of to advocate for his wife.

The couple was preparing to file a legal challenge when immigration for Iranians got back on track, and Esfandiari was granted a visa on April 29. She immediately flew to the U.S. and was greeted by her husband at Dulles International Airport.

We were lucky, he said. And we are just so grateful.

Mesbahi is in favor of vetting immigrants but thinks the idea of immigration being a lax process is a misrepresentation.

He said their road to her coming to the U.S. was grueling, and included years of answering requests for information about previous addresses, associates and social media.

They know so much about us, he said. Im glad we finished the process when we did. I feel for all of the people who will have to go through a longer and harder process to get here.

For now, theyre remaining excited about the small moments they get to spend together. Esfandiari loves animals, especially reptiles, so theyve been looking at chameleons and bearded dragons in pet stores.

One of her favorite stops so far was dinner at IHOP.

She really likes the idea of 24/7 American and European-style breakfast, Mesbahi said. We got crepes and pancakes. It was so fun.

He said she was apprehensive about wearing a head scarf after hearing about anti-Muslim rhetoric and worrying she might be treated poorly at the airport or in their neighborhood.

But everyone has been really friendly, he said. She feels at home.

He said she also likes the orderliness of American life, how its easier to drive here than in the Middle East and how well-landscaped the D.C. area is.

Theyre building a home together, and this weekend theyll comparison shop for televisions and go to IKEA to get furniture they both like.

Just picking out a TV and getting her input, its fun and romantic, Mesbahi said.

Once Esfandiari receives her permanent green card in the mail, shell start taking classes to become more proficient in English. She plans to apply to veterinary schools.

His advice to those facing immigration challenges is not to give up hope, and to be as proactive as possible in doing research and reaching out to lawyers and elected officials.

All we had was hope, and once you start to loose hope everything seems too much, Mesbahi said. Once you start researching and being proactive, that helps. It give you a lot of hope.
BELLEFONTE  A Penn State fraternity pledge died after stumbling and falling several times with toxic levels of alcohol in his body and suffered for hours with severe injuries while his friends failed to summon help, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges against the fraternity and 18 of its members.

A grand jury investigation, aided by security camera footage from the Beta Theta Pi chapter house, found that fraternity members resisted getting help for 19-year-old Timothy Piazza before his death in February. The grand jury said their actions in some cases may have worsened his injuries.

This is a very sad day for Centre County  its been sad ever since we lost a child for reasons that are totally preventable. A child who just wanted to come to college here, who put his faith in Penn State, Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller said.

Eight of the fraternity brothers and the chapter itself were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Other charges include aggravated and simple assault, evidence tampering, alcohol-related violations and hazing.

The grand jury said the fraternity was heavily stocked with booze for the Feb. 2 ceremony at which Piazza, a sophomore engineering student, and 13 others accepted pledge bids. The pledges were pressured to run a gantlet of drinking stations that required them to chug vodka, shotgun beers and drink wine.

Piazza fell down a long flight of stairs that night and fell several other times, injuring his head, Miller said. The next morning, he fell down the same steps a second time and was unconscious when help was finally summoned. Piazza, from Lebanon, New Jersey, died Feb. 4 as a result of a traumatic brain injury.

Miller said doctors estimate Piazza had a blood-alcohol content of nearly .40 percent the night of the pledge ceremony.

Penn State permanently banned Beta Theta Pi on March 30, accusing it of a persistent pattern of excessive drinking, drug use and hazing. University President Eric Barron called the report heart-wrenching, sickening and incomprehensible.

It is numbing how an atmosphere that endangers the well-being and safety of another person could occur within an organization that prided itself on commitment to each other and to its community, Barron said.

Miller said video footage turned over to investigators was critical to the investigation, providing evidence of what occurred and contradicting stories some witnesses had told.

The cameras recorded Piazza drinking vodka and beer around 9:20 p.m. and an hour later needing help to walk, staggering and hunched over, from an area near the basement stairs to a couch. Hes later shown trying unsuccessfully to open the front door, then severely staggering drunkenly toward the basement steps about 10:45 p.m., the grand jury report said.

He was subsequently found at the bottom of the steps after apparently falling face-first. Four brothers carried his limp body back upstairs, where some poured liquid on him and one slapped him in the face, the jury said. Fraternity members put a backpack containing textbooks on him so Piazza, lying on his back, would not suffocate on his own vomit, the jury wrote.

When a brother insisted Piazza needed medical help, he was confronted and shoved into a wall, the report said. When the same brother insisted again that Piazza required help, he was told others were biology and kinesiology majors so his opinion wasnt as valuable as theirs, the jury said.

Piazza tried to get up around 3:20 a.m. but fell backward and hit his head on the wood floor, the report said. He fell onto a stone floor at 5 a.m. and was last caught on video after 7 a.m. He was discovered in the basement about 10 a.m.

Timothy was lying on his back with his arms clenched tight at his sides and his hands in the air, jurors wrote. His chest was bare, his breathing heavy and he had blood on his face.

During the next 40 minutes, fraternity brothers shook him, tried to prop him up, covered him with a blanket, wiped his face and attempted to dress him before one finally called 911, the jury said.

The eight defendants facing more serious charges were scheduled to appear before a judge later Friday to be arraigned and have bail set. That will occur for the other defendants next week, Miller said. Five of them face a single count each of evidence tampering.
A detective with the Madison County Sheriffs Office has been charged with four counts of sexually exploiting minors.

Bruce A. Harvey, 40, has been charged with two counts of transporting minors across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of interstate travel with minors with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Federal prosecutors, along with members of the Virginia State Police and the FBI, said in a news release that Harvey was arrested and taken into custody on Wednesday morning.

Harvey, of Reva, had been assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and was formerly an instructor at the Tong Leong School of Karate in Madison.

An announcement from the Justice Department said that Harveys alleged criminal activity took place between 1998 and 2007, and involved two female victims who came into contact with Harvey through his work as a karate instructor.

Calls to the number listed for the Tong Leong School of Karate went unanswered.

The Madison County Sheriffs Office issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that Harvey has been suspended without pay pending further investigation. The statement noted that the office was first notified of the arrest on Wednesday morning and that the nature of the charges was not specified at that time.

An email to Sheriff Erik Weaver was not returned.

The Justice Department is asking anyone with information about the crimes or a potential victim to call the FBI at 800-CALL-FBI.
AS IF there were not enough uncertainty surrounding the slow-growth economy in the United States, robots now threaten to replace four in 10 jobs within the next 15 years or so.

At least, that is, according to the latest estimate by Price Waterhouse Coopers consulting. Asked about robots impact on the workforce, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he isnt worried, and that the problem isnt even on his radar, at least for now.

Will we be displaced by robots? The short answer is: yes and no.

According to the Association for Advancing Automation, 136,748 robots were shipped to U.S. customers between 2010 and 2016the most in any similar period in industry history. It points out that in that same time period, manufacturing employment increased by 894,000 and the U.S. unemployment rate decreased from 9.8 percent in 2010 to 4.7 percent in 2016. Sounds pretty good, doesnt it?

In related work, MITs Daron Acemoglu and Boston Universitys Pascual Restrepo used data for 19902007 to analyze the employment effects of robots on the U.S. economy, and see a more pessimistic picture.

They find that each new robot added correlates with about three job losses, mostly borne by blue-collar or lower-skilled workers. Their work supports the findings of think-tank analysts Adams B. Nager and Robert D. Atkinson, who note that U.S. manufacturing is not keeping pace with the overall economy in terms of real value added.

Is it possible that these assessments can both be correct? Perhaps.

Anyone visiting an automobile manufacturing plant will be impressed by the bevy of robots busily welding and assembling automobiles and the small number of workers in the same assembly areas.

Common sense suggests that more robots are associated with fewer production workers when one particular plant is considered.

Common sense also suggests that more efficient robot-assisted manufacturing can increase sales and lead to plant expansions and more total employment. To estimate the net effect, we have to focus on what that plant would look like if robots were excluded from manufacturing from the very beginning, and thats almost impossible to do.

So, what does happen to employment patterns when robots and other forms of automation reduce manufacturing employment? By looking at sector employment datathe slices that make up the employment piewe may find the answer.

In 1970, 25 percent of the U.S. workforce was employed in manufacturing. Educational and health services employed 6 percent. Professional and business services employed 7 percent. These three sectors together employed 38 percent of the workforce.

In 2017, manufacturing employed 8 percent of the workforce. Education and health services employed 16 percentand professional and business services, 14 percent. The three sectors together still employed 38 percent of the workforce.

Across these 17 years, with the exception of the expanding leisure and hospitality sector, the employment shares for most other sectors remained about the same. Lots of manufacturing firms started contracting out functions. Factory jobs such as engineering, maintenance and payroll/accounting became service-sector jobs.

Meanwhile, average wages in professional and business servicesthe destination of many of those jobsbecame higher than in manufacturing.

Ours is a robot-enhanced economy, and more are on the way. But theres nothing in the data to suggest that American workers will run out of places to work. In fact, the data suggest there will be more job openings than qualified workers to fill them.

Being qualified is the challenge, of courseand that is where our real concern should lie.

Bruce Yandle is a distinguished Mercatus Center adjunct professor of economics at George Mason University and dean emeritus of the Clemson College of Business and Behavioral Sciences. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
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Russia, Turkey and Iran Sign Deal on Safe Zones in Syria

Published: May 5, 2017

Russia and Iran which are allies of the Syrian regime as well as the rebel supporter Turkey signed a Russia-backed plan for creating safe zones in Syria. The pact which was signed in the Kazakh capital Astana was meant to halt fighting in the war-torn Syria. However, the Syrian government and rebel delegations were not signatories to the agreement. Russia-backed plan to create safe zones in Syria is targeted at further pacification and cessation of hostilities and a halt in fighting in the zones.

Salient Highlights

As per the plan, the zones were set to remain in place for six months. The time period could eventually be extended. The zones would cover the whole of Idlib province, portions of the Latakia, Aleppo, Hama and Homs provinces, parts of the Deraa and Quneitra provinces, as well as the Ghouta suburb of Damascus.

As per the memorandum, there will be a halt in the usage of all categories of arms among belligerents, including aerial weapons.

The major objective of the memorandum is to halt the violence and facilitate conditions for the safe, voluntary return of refugees as well as to provide rapid and uninterrupted delivery of relief supplies and medical aid.

However, the ways to monitor and police the safe zones are not clearly spelt out. Russia has stated that ways to monitor the zones would be an issue for separate talks.

Background

Russia-backed plan has to be viewed at the backdrop of US President Donald Trumps call for the establishment of safe zones in Syria.

The Syrian conflict is six years old. It has been estimated that more than 320,000 people have been killed in Syria since the war began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2017

Topics: International  Iran  Russia  Syrian conflict  Turkey

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Warning: article contains graphic images.

Sheep farmers have released graphic pictures showing the bloody aftermath of a dog attack that left 30 lambs serious injury or killed.

The sickening attack took place on a flock of sheep on a farm in the Ammanford area of Carmarthenshire.

Two dogs broke out from a nearby property and mauled the lambs in an horrific attack.

See also: The law on shooting dogs  critical facts farmers must know

The pictures have been shared more than 10,000 times on Facebook and received more than 4,500 likes and 1,750 comments.

The mother of the family posted on her Facebook page: This has not been put on here to seek attention; its to raise awareness of what can happen when two dogs broke out from their owners property and ended up in our field.

They were only there for a short time ,but it was enough to do this.

Thirty animals have been killed/injured so far, including these week-old lambs. We just want to make dog owners aware of what damage they can cause if the dogs arent kept under control.

The victims appealed to dog owners to keep their pets under control at all times.

Its not only affected us financially, but emotionally as well. Not the best day weve had at the office! Please share this post to raise awareness, they said.

A spokeswoman for Dyfed-Powys Police said the incident was under investigation.

Farm vets have issued a similar plea to dog owners to behave responsibly after a similar attack in Cheshire.

*WARNING*-raising awareness for an unfortunate client suffering big losses from dog attacks. Pls be vigilant #usealead #responsibledogowner pic.twitter.com/xGo9xLudGJ  Willows Farm Vets (@willowsfarmvets) April 21, 2017

Gethin Edwards, of Willow Farm Vets, said he was saddened by a horrific dog attack on sheep at Wood Farm, in Wirswall, near Whitchurch. on Good Friday (14 April).

Eight lambs had to be euthanised and a further three shot after they were attacked by loose dogs at the farm.

Sheep farmer Joe Briggs said some of the lambs were left with their intestines ripped out and gaping wounds. He admitted the attack could have been worse.

Death threats

Meanwhile, in Scotland, police are investigating after a farmer received death threats for shooting a dog that attacked sheep.

Dave Bell received threatening messages on Facebook after he shot dead a Siberian husky he caught worrying sheep on the Balcarres Estate, near Colinsburgh, Fife.

A spokeswoman for Police Scotland confirmed: The incident occurred around 5.30pm on 27 April at a farm near to Balcarres Mains in Leven.

A joint investigation between Fife Council and the police is ongoing to establish the full circumstances.
Jones said plan is to play Friday since also chance of rain Thursday

The Indians playoff motto is a familiar and simple one: Survive to play another game. The Indians did just that with a 60-23 win over Rock Hill this past Friday...
Story Highlights Anti-refugee sentiment highest in Hungary, Macedonia

Nearly half in Greece would accept a limited number

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Though the flow of Syrian refugees into Europe has slowed since 2015, hundreds of thousands of Syrians were still seeking asylum there last year. If many in Eastern Europe had their way, however, the number would be zero. In nine out of 15 Eastern European countries and areas surveyed in 2016, at least half the population believed their country should not accept any Syrian refugees.

Many in Eastern Europe Would Bar Syrian Refugees Which opinion is closest to yours? Our country  % Should accept ALL Syrian refugees % Should accept ONLY a limited number % Should NOT accept any Hungary 3 22 70 Macedonia 2 16 66 Montenegro 2 27 65 Slovakia 1 32 61 Latvia 2 33 57 Bulgaria 1 33 56 Czech Republic 2 34 56 Romania 2 35 56 Poland 2 42 50 Serbia 3 39 49 Greece 4 47 47 Albania 7 45 44 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8 35 42 Croatia 5 39 40 Kosovo 6 49 38 Gallup World Poll, 2016

Many of the countries with the strongest opposition to allowing Syrian refugees are located along the Balkan route that once channeled asylum seekers from Greece to Germany. European leaders effectively closed the route last March and signed a deal with Turkey to send migrants back if they did not apply for asylum or if their claim was rejected. All of Gallup's surveys in Eastern Europe took place after the agreement with Turkey. Per the agreement, for every Syrian migrant sent back to Turkey, one already in Turkey needs to relocate to the European Union.

Anti-refugee sentiment is highest in EU member states such as Hungary, which has erected border fences to keep migrants out and, just last month, passed new controversial laws that would confine asylum seekers to camps constructed from shipping containers. Seven in 10 Hungarians in 2016 said their country should not accept any Syrian refugees. Sentiment was similarly high (66%) in non-EU member state Macedonia, which was on the front lines of the migrant wave in 2015 and sealed its border with Greece to keep them out.

No more than 8% of residents in any country or area surveyed in 2016 said their country should accept all Syrian refugees. Residents of countries or areas with larger Muslim populations -- such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Kosovo -- tended to be the most open to allowing refugees from majority-Muslim Syria. Kosovo was the most open to accepting a limited number of Syrian refugees (49%).

Greeks, however, closely trailed behind Kosovo residents in believing that a limited number of Syrian refugees should be accepted (47%). This is notable because even if it is not the final destination for migrants, Greece has been an entry point to Europe for hundreds of thousands in the recent crisis. Overall, Greeks are divided on the matter, leaning slightly toward accepting all Syrian refugees (4%) or a limited number of refugees (47%), than not wanting to accept any (47%).

Religious Affiliation Shapes Views Toward Refugees

Although people assume that young adults are typically more accepting of individuals from different backgrounds, there are no differences in attitudes toward refugees by age or, for that matter, by gender or several other demographic factors. Religious affiliation actually emerges as the strongest predictor of people's attitudes toward these refugees. Overall, those identifying themselves as Muslim were the least likely to say their countries should not accept any Syrian refugees (36%). Self-identified Muslims were more likely than members of other religious groups to favor allowing a limited number of (44%) or all (8%) Syrian refugees in their countries.

Attitudes Toward Syrian Refugees Vary by Religious Affiliation Eastern Europe overall % Should accept ALL Syrian refugees % Should accept ONLY a limited number % Should NOT accept any Syrian refugees Christian 2 38 54 Islam/Muslim 8 44 36 Atheist 1 32 63 Gallup World Poll, 2016

Those who identified themselves as atheists or secular (63%) were more likely than those who identified with a particular faith to say their countries should not accept Syrian refugees. Among Christians, similar percentages of orthodox (54%), Protestant (57%) or Catholic (53%) adherents said their countries should not accept any Syrian refugees.

Bottom Line

Fewer migrants or asylum seekers have been arriving in Europe since Turkey and the EU signed their agreement more than a year ago. But as Syria's civil war continues, Syrians remain among the top three citizenships of asylum seekers in the EU; the refugee crisis is far from being declared over.

The quandary now, and likely going forward, is how to deal with the division in Europe about what to do with the refugees who are already there and those who may still come. Leaders from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic -- where public opinion is firmly against accepting refugees -- have openly rejected the EU policy that calls for member states to take in a quota of refugees, drawing warnings from the EU's leadership. The leaders of these countries, in turn, have said the EU is trying to blackmail them into accepting refugees.

While charges like this threaten the bloc's unity, not everyone -- even in these four countries -- is opposed to the EU's current policy. More than one in three in EU member states and non-EU member states in Eastern Europe say their countries should accept a limited number of Syrian refugees, and this percentage is even higher among residents who also approve of the EU's leadership. At the same time, even among the EU leadership's support base in the region, about half also say that their countries should not allow any Syrian refugees.
When word of closing the main north/south artery for the St. Louis area was announced earlier this week, local medical personnel began setting a plan into action for transporting patients should the need arise.

TJ Isgrig, a supervisor with the St. Francois County Ambulance District, went over the plan put into place by the Region C Fire/EMS once the announcement was made about the impending closing of Interstate 55 near Arnold.

The last couple of days, once we found out the Meramec River would be covering (Interstate) 55 and we wouldnt be able to get through it with transfers, we had communications back and forth with Parkland (Health Center)  telling them when we would be stopping doing transfers, based on the information given to us by the Missouri Department of Transportation, Isgrig said.

That information from MoDOT  which told the community to choose which side of the Meramec River you want to be on if the roadway was closed  led the district to halt transfers north about 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Although the road closure wasnt expected until five hours later, Isgrig explained the decision was made to halt transfers early in the evening to avoid a crew being stuck on the north side of the possible closure.

We took into factor traffic and we made the decision to stop taking transfers at 7 p.m., he said. We had to look at having a crew stuck up there and it would do us no good.

St. Francois County is located in Region C for the statewide disaster preparedness training. Isgrig said plans were worked out to have the Missouri National Guard staged with six of the two-and-a-half ton 6x6 vehicles at the Rock Community Firehouse in Jefferson County.

That way, if we had a transfer that met certain criteria  critical pediatric patients, Level 1 trauma patients or burn patients  we could transfer them up to where the water was over the roadway, they would bring these large vehicles across, take the patient up from us and take them to a waiting ambulance on the other side, he said. That was our contingency plan to get patients who had to be in St. Louis up there.

We notified all of the hospitals of this, gave them the exact criteria the patients had to meet  that way we could work directly with the hospitals and the services up there.

Less critical patients, Isgrig said, would be transferred to hospitals in Cape Girardeau.

Isgrig said he participated in a conference call on Wednesday morning with hospitals and personnel from Region E in the southern part of the state as to their plans.

Luckily, he said, there was no emergency calls meeting that criteria during the time the plan was in effect.

And, thankfully, it ended up there were no emergency calls meeting those criteria put in place precipitating a need to put the plan in action.

On Thursday morning, once the district was able to confirm the roadways were clear and there would not be an issue, it was back to business as usual  but, this time, theres a plan if a flooding situation should ever occur.

Isgrig said the timing of this flooding event  or the time in advance before the flooding was thought to occur  is what enabled the district to work with Farmington Fire Chief Todd Mecey as the emergency management director and others to put the plan in place in the event of another possible highway flooding.

In 2015, (Interstate 55) shut down within two hours of MoDOT saying they were going to shut it down, Isgrig said. We didnt have a whole lot of time to put anything into place and by the time we did ... the water receded off of it.

This year was basically  we had plenty of time. MoDOT said when it crests, this is what we are going to do  decide which side of the Meramec you want to be on after midnight. We decided we wanted to be on this side.

We put the plans into place, worked quite well with Farmington Fire Department back and forth to get everything into action  we have a plan in place and we can implement it pretty quick.

Dr. Bruce Harrison, the medical director for the St. Francois County Ambulance District, said he was impressed with the work of the Region C Fire/EMS in putting together the plan.

All the credit goes to them. They did all the legwork and the calling, Harrison said. It was a whirl-wind when we found out they were going to close Interstate 55.

They did a perfect job in coordinating with all of the surrounding ambulance districts through mutual aid to be able to get our patients to where they would need to go.

Harrison also works for TeamHealth  a medical hospital staffing firm used by BJC to staff emergency departments at some of the organizations locations.

In addition to making sure the patients would be able to have access to the care they needed during this time, Harrison said arrangements also had to be made to make sure the staff traveling from the north would be able to be in the area if the roads would be shut down.
Classic Empire is the favorite to win this years Kentucky Derby but he still has relatively long odds at between 5-1 and 6-1 . This has only a handful of experts making the bold prediction that Classic Empire will be victorious.

Classic Empire suffered a foot abscess that slowed him down earlier in the year but, in top form, was able to win the final prep race, the Arkansas Derby. His endurance could blow away the competition, especially with what many see as a weak field.

Robert Lee of the Albany Times Union writes of Classic Empire :

Hes a bit of a head case as evidenced by his memorable right turn out of the gate in the Hopeful at Saratoga last year which led to him dumping his jockey.

More recently, he was simply unwilling to train on multiple occasions during the run-up to the Derby. So there is some concern on how he is going to handle the massive crowds and the atmosphere at Churchill.

I thought he looked good winning the Arkansas Derby after all those training hiccups.

Lee has concerns over Julien Leparoux riding Classic Empire.

His ride of Union Rags in 2012 (last at one point) was not one for the highlight reel, Lee points out.

Hes still big on Classic Empire, nonetheless.

I just think hes the best horse and if he sits a clean trip from his 14 post, I like him to take over in the stretch and win.

Ben Roberts of the Herald Leader writes of Classic Empire :

When hes of sound mind and body, hes the best in this bunch. He could win by 5 lengths Saturday or just stop running, and neither would be much of a surprise. If you think hes right, the price will likely be longer than it should.

KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURES - May 06 Odds to win Kentucky Derby 2017 88101 Looking at Lee +1619 88102 Thunder Snow +2560 88103 Fast and Accurate +6050 88104 Untrapped +3064 88105 Always Dreaming +625 88106 State of Honor +6050 88107 Girvin +2042 88108 Hence +1450 88109 Irap +3269 88110 Gunnevera +825 88111 Battle of Midway +3020 88112 Soneteer +3269 88113 J Boys Echo +2056 88114 Classic Empire +565 88115 McCracken +706 88116 Tapwrit +1571 88117 Irish War Cry +785 88118 Gormley +2560 88119 Practical Joke +1973 88120 Patch +3571 Kentucky Derby 2017 - Top 3 Finish 88041 Looking at Lee +543 88042 Thunder Snow +736 88043 Fast and Accurate +1529 88044 Untrapped +887 88045 Always Dreaming +167 88046 State of Honor +1529 88047 Girvin +480 88048 Hence +437 88049 Irap +887 88050 Gunnevera +292 88051 Battle of Midway +647 88052 Sonneteer +757 88053 J Boys Echo +428 88054 Classic Empire +140 88055 McCracken +210 88056 Tapwrit +587 88057 Irish War Cry +231 88058 Gormley +736 88059 Practical Joke +432 88060 Patch +1077

- Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com
You can bet the Kentucky Derby from Colorado in the comfort of your own home at any one of a number of top international Internet racebooks , none of which will ever require you to provide a social security number.

Colorado is not among those states where betting is restricted on US-based racebooks such as TwinSpires, however, offshore racebooks tend to offer more enticng cash bonuses, more options and often better odds . They also won't ask for your social security number or report taxes to government agencies.

Colorado also is looking to expand legalized betting on most sporting events with a question to be featured on the 2019 November voting ballot.

If voters approve, a constrained Colorado sports betting market could be operating by 2020. State tax revenue initially would be an estimated $10 million.

Voters would be asked whether to apply a 10% flat tax on net sports betting proceeds. If approved, businesses can apply for licenses. The question comes in the form of a tax hike request because any Colorado tax increase, by law, must be approved by voters.

There are advantages to betting at either internationally licensed online racebooks or US-based racebooks that we review below.

Boomaker Racebook vs. TwinSpires

Bookmaker TWINSPIRES.COM 8 Percent Cash Back No Cash Back Up to $300 Free Cash Signup Bonus $100 Signup Bonus In Business Since 1986 Taking Bets Online Less Than 10 years Does Not Require Social Security # Must Provide Social Security # Encourages Tax Declaration of Winnings Reports Tax Info to Government Offers Betting on Hundreds More Events Limited to Horse Betting Betting on Over 50 Race Tracks Betting on Over 50 Race Tracks
You can bet the Kentucky Derby from Oklahoma in the comfort of your own home at any one of a number of top Internet racebooks , none of which will ever require you to provide a social security number.

You can also swing on over to one of three state horse racing venues sure to be simulcasting the Kentucky Derby. Bring your smartphone, tablet or laptop to start betting online.

Fair Meadows - Tulsa - Reservations are accepted for the Triple Crown Races, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, as well as the Breeders' Cup.

Remington Park  Oklahoma City 

Remington Park typically opens earlier than normal to accept the racing from Churchill Downs.

Bookmaker Racebook vs. TwinSpires

BETUS TWINSPIRES.COM Lots of Free Bets No Cash Back BetUS Offers a 135% Signup Bonus Based on Deposit $100 Signup Bonus Based on Deposit In Business Since 1994 Taking Bets Online Less Than 10 years Does Not Require Social Security # Must Provide Social Security # Will Not Report Winnings Reports Tax Info to Government Offers Betting on Hundreds More Events Limited to Horse Betting Betting on Over 50 Race Tracks Betting on Over 50 Race Tracks
Vice Mayor Rex Richardson and Third District Councilwoman Suzie Price are looking to succeed Robert Garcia as mayor.
The Corvallis Budget Commission continues its work on the 2017-18 city spending plan at a pair of meetings next week.

On Tuesday commissioners will hear department-by-department budget reports from the Police Department, Community Development, finance and the library.

On Thursday the commission will hold a public hearing on the budget and take public comment from the community. Time permitting, commissioners also will deliberate on the budget, but city officials said it is likely that deliberations will not take place until the May 16 session.

All budget meetings are at 7 p.m. at the downtown fire station, 400 NW Harrison Blvd. See this story online for the full text of the $130 million spending plan.

In other public meetings:

Saturday

 The League of Women Voters of Corvallis hosts a legislative town hall from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. On hand to discuss the current session will be state Reps. Dan Rayfield and Andy Olson.

Monday

 The Corvallis-Benton County Economic Development Advisory Board meets at 3 p.m. at the Madison Avenue Meeting Room, 500 SW Madison Ave.

 The Philomath City Council meets in a 5:30 p.m. work session at City Hall, 980 Applegate St., to discuss goal setting. The councils regular session at 7 p.m. includes public hearings on state revenue sharing funds and the Skirvin Farms land donation.

 The Corvallis Community Relations Advisory Group meets at 7 p.m. at the Madison room.

 Ward 6 Corvallis Councilor Nancy Wyse has set a precinct meeting for 7 p.m. at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 1736 NW Dixon St.

Tuesday

 (Note this is a new entry) The Philomath Police Committee meets at 4 p.m. at the Police Department, 1010 Applegate St. to discuss vehicles, grants and its budget.

 The Marys Peak Alliance is hosting a free forum on connections between Oregon State University and Marys Peak at 6 p.m. at the Old World Deli, 341 NW Second St. On hand will be university archivists Michael Dicianna and Karl McCreary.

 The Corvallis Historic Resources Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Madison room. Commissioners will hold public hearings on alterations planned for Cordley Hall and Heckart Lodge in the OSU Historic District.

Wednesday

 The Corvallis property maintenance livability code will be the subject of a noon Chamber of Commerce lunch forum at the Corvallis Country Club, 1850 SW Whiteside Drive. On hand to discuss the first year of the new code will be property manager Dawn Duerksen of Duerksen & Associates, city code compliance supervisor Todd Easton, Corvallis Police Chief Jon Sassaman and Jonathan Stoll, Oregon State University community relations director.

The program is free, but lunch costs $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. RSVP at corvallischamber.com or call 541-757-1505.

 The Corvallis Downtown Advisory Board meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Madison room.

 The Philomath Budget Committee meets at City Hall to discuss the general and review the Public Works budget.

May 13

 Ward 7 Corvallis Councilor Bill Glassmire will be the 10 a.m. to noon government comment corner guest at the library.
Samaritan Health Services has temporarily withdrawn its application to annex land north of Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center.

Samaritan originally had hoped the annexation vote on its expansion plan could go before the voters in November. However, Samaritan Health Services CEO Larry Mullins said Thursday that the proposal needs more work, particularly on its transportation components.

We just need some more time to do some traffic studies and engineering work, Mullins said. We received some good feedback from neighbors at our community meeting, and we want to be as responsive as possible.

Samaritan briefed community residents on the plan at a Feb. 20 meeting at Samaritan Square. More than 50 people were on hand, with many expressing concerns about possible traffic challenges on Northwest Satinwood Drive should the road be extended through the Samaritan land to Highway 99W.

Mullins said Samaritan will be attempting to look at ways for the traffic to be concentrated on the highway and Samaritan campus corridors to minimize the impact on neighborhoods.

Mullins hopes to have the revised annexation plan ready in time to qualify the issue for the May 2018 ballot.

The basic parameters of the Samaritan plan remain the same. The nonprofit health care provider wants to annex the 85 acres it owns to the north of the hospital campus into the citys stock of land. Samaritan plans to expand its hospital campus footprint, adding a mixture of specialty services, outpatient services, family health and mental health services and conference space on 17 acres.

Housing is planned for about 55 of the acres. Residential construction is part of the plan, Mullins said, because Samaritan plans to use the revenue from the housing to help pay for the medical facilities.

Samaritan still is talking with the city, Mullins said, on a plan to swap about 4 acres of city park land near the expansion area for a similar amount of land in the wooded north of the Samaritan property.

Also, Samaritan is requesting 4.55 acres of city land for a stormwater facility. The city would retain ownership of the land, but Samaritan would be required to maintain it. The land exchange and the stormwater facility were the two biggest areas of concern expressed by members of the Corvallis Parks, Natural Areas and Recreation Advisory Board, which reviewed the proposal at meetings in October and November.

The City Council discussed the plan in December. Mayor Biff Traber noted that a consensus was reached to continue the review but that such a move did not tie the city to any future action.

Complicating the matter is a state law signed by Gov. Kate Brown in March 2016 that limits voter-approved annexations. The city of Corvallis, with support from Philomath and the League of Oregon Cities, has challenged the law, claiming that the law infringes on the home rule decision-making authority and restricts citizens rights to vote on annexations.

Benton County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Donohue issued a summary judgment in February rejecting the citys challenge. The matter now is before the Oregon Court of Appeals, but Corvallis City Attorney Jim Brewer said no briefing schedule has been established.

Meanwhile, two other annexation applications have been filed. They will be reviewed at a May 24 doubleheader of public hearings at the LaSells Stewart Center.

Here is a look at the other two annexations:

 Caldwell Farms: The site is a 16.45-acre parcel south of West Hills Road. As county land, the parcel is zoned urban residential (UR-10). If the annexation is approved, the land, now a grass seed farm, would be zoned RS-12 (medium- to high-density residential), allowing for approximately 12 housing units per acre. The property is owned by Caldwell Farms, LLC of Corvallis.

 Marysville: This application involves more than 118 acres northeast of the Southwest 53rd/West Hills Road roundabout. The owners, CWTWH LLC of Corvallis, want to leave 9.5 acres as open space, receive a zone of mixed-use residential for approximately 18 acres and a designation of RS-12 for the remaining 90-plus acres. Several hundred housing units could be built on the property, now used as a tree farm.
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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 -- ...
Campaign in NRW : BIS children sing for Chancellor Merkel

BIS students greeted Chancellor Merkel and sang while she signed her name in the City's Golden Book. Foto: Natalie Niklas, Bonn International School

Bad Godesberg A campaign visit from Chancellor Merkel on Thursday presented an opportunity for students from Bonn International School. Both primary and secondary school students were invited to perform at the Stadthalle.

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Weiterleiten Drucken Von Lisa Inhoffen Carol Kloeppel

It was a throw back to the time when Bonn was capital of Germany: A black limousine pulls up with Chancellor Merkel at around 4 pm on Thursday in front of the Stadthalle in Bad Godesberg. Lots of police, many journalists and around 300 Merkel fans have gathered at the entrance. Many applaud as she steps out of the vehicle. Cameras are clicking away. Merkel responds with a friendly smile - just like on television. Inside, more than 800 residents are eager for the Chancellor to arrive. Her visit here coincides with the North Rhine-Westphalia election which will take place on May 14.

For some students of Bonn International School, this presented a once in a lifetime opportunity. They were invited to represent the international community at the event. BIS students greeted Chancellor Merkel and sang Beethovens Ode to Joy while she signed her name in the Citys Golden Book. 45 fortunate students from Grades 3 -5, along with 15 instrumentalists from the secondary school performed for the Chancellor. The group was directed by Mark Unkel, BIS Primary School Music Teacher.

For Chancellor Merkel, Bad Godesberg is not just another town; she once lived in Muffendorf. On stage, she said, Godesberg was a little piece of home for me. Now she was here to support the top candidate from her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, Armin Laschet who will be on the ballot May 14 in the NRW state election. Laschet brought his campaign to Bonn residents in the Stadthalle.
Asylum process : NRW ahead in number of deportations

Dusseldorf NRW had the highest number of deportations in the first quarter of the year. Figures included asylum seekers whose applications had been rejected but also those who wanted to leave Germany voluntarily.

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In the first quarter of the year, North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) experienced the largest number of deportations in Germany. This included asylum seekers whose applications were rejected but also those who wanted to leave on a voluntary basis.

On Thursday, the Interior Ministry in Dusseldorf reported that there had been 1,614 persons deported from NRW in the first three months of the year. This reflects 24 percent of the 6,704 total deportations carried out in Germany during that period, putting NRW ahead of all the other German states. NRW Interior Minister Ralf Jager commented, This shows that NRW is resolute in the deportation of those whose asylum applications are rejected.

Another statistic from the first quarter: NRW approved 3,550 applications for asylum seekers who decided to leave voluntarily. This was 42 percent of the 8,468 total throughout Germany, again putting NRW in the lead.
Weather wise : Rhine in Flames: With or without an umbrella?

Bonn Going into the weekend, Rhine in Flames edges closer. Now the word is: Cross your fingers for a shower-free fireworks. Heres what you need to know before you head out for the festivities.

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Bonns traditional Rhine in Flames will be a big event this weekend, attracting visitors from all over the region. Its the 31st year of Rhein in Flammen, which includes three days of a wide variety of festivities and fun at the Rheinaue and a spectacular fireworks on Saturday night. Everything is open air - but will the weather cooperate?

For the event opening at 1 pm on Friday, festival-goers can leave their rain jackets at home. Even though there are cloudy skies, rain is not in the forecast. It will be rather cool, however, with temperatures between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius during the day and plummeting to 6 degrees at night. The highlight of the weekend is a huge firework display which begins at 11:15 pm on Saturday night.

This is when visitors have to cross their fingers that the rain stays away. Forecasted is a temperature of 14 degrees Celsius and possibly a rain shower. During the day, however, Rhine in Flames fans can enjoy some sunshine and warm temperatures up to 19 degrees Celsius.

GA is looking for the best snapshots

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TRAI to launch MyCall app by month end: RS Sharma News oi -Priyanka The launch of the new app will also help in improving the existing do not disturb app.

Telecom Regulator (TRAI) is planning to launch a new app to measure voice call quality, which will allow users to rate the service quality after the call.

"We'll launch the MyCall app by this month end," Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, Chairman, RS Sharma said. He further stated that India has 1.2 billion mobile phone users and even if a small part of them can provide us feedback, it would be good data.

He said the launch of the new app will also help in improving the existing do not disturb app.

"We will send its response to DoT by the end of next week, " he replied when asked about the penalty recommended for incumbent telcos.

To recall last year in October, Trai has recommended, a penalty of Rs 3,050 crore on the three incumbent operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular for not providing interconnection to Reliance Jio and as per the regulators recommendation, the penalty for Airtel and Vodafone worked out to about Rs 1,050 crore each, while in case of Idea Cellular stood at about Rs 950 crore.

HTC U Ultra Sapphire version is indeed scratch proof: Proves video

TRAI also mentioned that denial of interconnection by these operators to Reliance Jio "appears to be with the ulterior motive to stifle competition and is anti-consumer."

Jio had complained then that incumbent telecom players are trying to sabotage its entry into telecom.

However, when the issue was placed in front of Telecom Commission, the commission asked the department of telecom (DOT) to seek clarity from the Telecom Regulator TRAI on whether the regulator can impose the penalty on the operators for violation of interconnecting norms.

The Telecom Commission also asked DOT that the regulator can recommend penalty under the mandate of the TRAI Act, 1997 in a relation of the interconnect violations and was if the telecom operators were given the 90-day period for providing these Point of Interconnections.

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Exclusive: Nokia 6, 5, 3 and Nokia 3310 release slated for June News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Nokia 6, 5, 3 and Nokia 3310 release date confirmed.

The Nokia Android smartphones and Nokia 3310 release date have been subjected to a lot of speculations. Talking about the India release of these devices, there has been a widespread confusion between May and June as different reports were tipping at different dates. Now, we at GizBot have got some clarity regarding the same.

Back in the last week, we reported that these devices might be released in late May or early June. Now, it has been confirmed that Nokia 6, Nokia 5, Nokia 3 and Nokia 3310 will be released in the country in June. So, this puts an end to the rumors and speculations citing the possibilities for these Nokia phones to be released in May.

Nokia's new flagship smartphone specifications leaked

Lately, HMD Global send media invites for an interactive session to happen in India on May 8. We have got to know that the company will discuss the design of the Nokia devices to be released in June at this event.

Notably, it has been stated in earlier media reports that the highlights of the Nokia Android smartphones are the design and software updates. These factors are said to differentiate them from the other smartphones that are available in the market. Proving the same, we have seen the Nokia 6 that is already available in a few regions have received regular and timely software updates.

Unleash your creativity and win a Nokia 3310 in your own design

When it comes to the feature phone announced by the company, the new Nokia 3310 is popular among the buyers and many have shown interest in buying it just for the nostalgia factor.

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Nokia has now started shipping the Nokia 3310 (2017) feature phones News oi -Samden Sherpa Nokia 3310 coming soon.

HMD Global surprised us all when it announced the classic Nokia 3310 feature phone in a new avatar at MWC 2017. Beside this revamped feature phone even managed to capture all the attention from some of the premium smartphones.

While this has been a popular smartphone, and that it has already been reported to be launched in few countries, Nokia has been holding back the shipments of the device. Many fans have been waiting to get their hands on the device.

SEE ALSO: Exclusive: Nokia 6, 5, 3 and Nokia 3310 release slated for June

And they might finally have the chance to do so. Nokia via its official twitter account has confirmed that the much-awaited Nokia 3310 (2017) feature phone has finally started to be shipped. Unfortunately, we don't know exactly where the shipments have begun. It still remains a mystery and Nokia hasn't shared any details on the same. However, it should be disclosed within the next few weeks or even the next few days.

Your 17 year wait is over, now shipping. #Nokia3310 pic.twitter.com/xJAJgwApAB  Nokia Mobile (@nokiamobile) May 5, 2017

The company has scheduled an event in Delhi where the company's CFRO Juho Sarvikas will be discussing the company's plans or the availability of the products. In any case, coming back to the twitter post from Nokia, the company has published a short video clip which shows the Nokia 3310 in different colors and a message saying "I'm coming". The post further reads, "Your 17-year wait is over, now shipping."

Nokia 6 Silver color variant is official: Up for sale at approx Rs.16,500

And that is just about it. Interestingly, while going through the comments section, some have inquired about the availability of the device and where it has started shipping. However, the company seems to be avoiding answering the question and instead has replied by thanking users for their continuous support.

Nokia has most discretely commented, "We will be releasing our products globally in the next few months, stay tuned to our page for further announcements."

Well, you might have to wait just a little more until the company finally goes open with the availability dates.

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Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, May 4, 2017  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 34 strikes consisting of 81 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

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 28 strikes consisting of 46 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr; six strikes destroyed five ISIS wellheads, three tunnels and an ISIS oil storage tank.

-- Near Palmyra, two strikes destroyed three tunnels.

-- Near Raqqa, a strike destroyed a command-and-control node.

-- Near Tabqah, 18 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, four vehicles, two tactical vehicles and a vehicle-borne bomb; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 35 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Kirkuk, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and damaged a fighting position.

-- Near Mosul, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and a sniper team; destroyed four rocket-propelled-grenade systems, four medium machine guns, two ISIS staging areas, an artillery system, a supply cache, a vehicle-borne bomb, a mortar system and a fighting position.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said.

The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted.

Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect. For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said.

The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

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Task Force Commander Describes Assisting Iraqi Troops in Drive on Mosul

By David Vergun Army News Service

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2017  Although the U.S. mission in Iraq is often referred to as one of advising and assisting, only about 25 percent of the 101st Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team was doing that during its deployment to Iraq, which concluded in January, the brigade's commander said at the Pentagon yesterday during a media roundtable discussion of the deployment.

Army Col. Brett Sylvia, the brigade's commander, told reporters that the other 75 percent of his Task Force Strike soldiers were engaged in route clearance, expedited communications, air and ground coordination, and logistics, which enabled Iraq to build up its forces up and get to their tactical assembly area for the push into eastern Mosul, which began Oct. 17 as part of the effort to liberate Iraq's second-largest city from the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

When Task Force Strike arrived in Iraq in April 2016, the Air Force was delivering all the precision strike capability to the Iraqis fighting ISIS, Sylvia said. Over the course of the deployment, Task Force Strike soldiers augmented much of that strike capability with their own artillery and unmanned aerial vehicle assets. About 6,000 artillery rounds were fired, he added.

Sylvia said he was pleased with the authorities the U.S. commanders on the ground were given to call for fire to enable the Iraqi ground forces to move forward. In March 2016, the month before the task force arrived in Iraq, the authority was granted not only to the general in charge of the operation, but also for colonels, lieutenant colonels, and in at least one case, a captain near the front of the fighting, he explained.

Although the Iraqis did the fighting, some limited situations arose when U.S. soldiers accompanied them to provide "niche capability," Sylvia said. For example, he said, soldiers accompanied an Iraqi battalion on a bridge-building mission on the Tigris River, where the enemy had blown up the bridge. The soldiers advised them on establishing area security as the U.S.-made bridge was erected, he told reporters.

Militia fighters not attached to the Iraqi army who also were fighting ISIS were pretty much segregated from Iraqi forces, Sylvia said. U.S. forces were aware of their location and movements, he added, but did not interact with them in any way.

Threat From Above

It's been some time since the U.S. faced a threat from the sky, Sylvia said. During the battle for Mosul, UAVs began appearing in the air in and around the city, and it was quickly determined that they did not belong to friendly forces.

In one day alone, 12 appeared, he noted -- mostly quadcopters operated by Wi-Fi with about 45 minutes of flight time.

At first, he said, the enemy used them for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and to obtain video for use as propaganda on social media sites.

Over time, Sylvia said, the enemy managed to mount 40 mm grenades on the UAVs and drop them. It was primitive, such as when World War I pilots tossed bombs out of their airplanes by hand, he said. It's not precision bombing, but it's more effective than their indiscriminate bombing, the colonel told reporters.

Over time, U.S. forces employed countermeasures that stopped or slowed their flight, enabling Iraqi ground forces to shoot them out of the sky, he said, noting that the new threat from the air led to dusting off old manuals on how to respond to threats from the air with countermeasures such as camouflage.

Best Day in Iraq

Sylvia said he clearly recalls his best day in Iraq. It was Christmas Day, and Iraqi forces, who are Muslim, invited him and his soldiers to a Christian church just outside Mosul to attend services. ISIS had gutted the church, but the Iraqis had rebuilt it with their own money.

"It was a powerful symbol, and was amazing," he said of the visit to the church, adding that he hopes the relationship forged with the Iraqis will be enduring.

Task Force Strike returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in January, replaced in Iraq by the 82nd Airborne Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

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Socom Commander Highlights Elite, Globally Deployed Forces

By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2017  U.S. Special Operations Command forces are elite personnel deployed globally at the forefront of national security efforts, Socom's commander said today in a congressional hearing.

Since its inception three decades ago, Socom has consistently provided the world's best special operations forces to the geographic combatant commanders, Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The hearing, which included Theresa Whelan, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for special operations/low-i conflict.

Thomas noted that more than 8,000 special operations forces are deployed in more than 80 nations. The most precious resource of the command is its people, he added.

He paid tribute to the three special operations members who were killed in combat last month. Thomas said those deaths and the 16 others since he took command a year ago are a stark reminder that Socom is a command at war. And, he said, it will remain at war for the foreseeable future.

Army Staff Sgt. Mark R. De Alencar died April 8 from injuries suffered in a firefight in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. Army Rangers Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers and Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas died April 27 as a result of small-arms fire in Nangarhar.

Globally Focused Combatant Command

Socom is a unique Defense Department organization, Thomas pointed out. It is responsible for manning, training and equipping the special operations forces, as well as a globally focused functional combatant command, he said. The national security threats have evolved in the 30 years since the command was created, and the force has evolved to meet the threat, he added.

Today's missions include defeating violent extremism, countering Russian aggression, preparing for contingencies in Korea and various security operations to defend the homeland, the general explained.

Thomas and Whelan thanked the congressional leaders for their support of the command, noting that Socom is relevant to all the current and enduring threats facing the nation. The spending caps under the Budget Control Act have posed a consistent challenge to the command, Thomas said.

"Resourcing has not been very predictable over last several years," he said. "The potential for continued cuts undermines both our readiness and our modernization going forward."

Whelan, whose office provides policy oversight for special operations and stability operations capabilities, said Socom has made dramatic advances during wartime in response to urgent battlefield demands.

Those gains, she said, require an institutional foundation to endure.

"We will also continue to work closely with Congress to ensure that we have the right policies, agile authorities and necessary resources to employ [special operations forces] effectively," she said.

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Air assault troops assisted Iraqis in drive on Mosul

By David Vergun May 4, 2017

WASHINGTON (Army News Service) -- When Task Force Strike arrived in Iraq in April 2016, the U.S. Air Force was delivering all the precision strike capability to the Iraqis fighting the Islamic State, said Col. Brett Sylvia.

Over the course of the deployment of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which made up Task Force Strike, the U.S. Soldiers augmented much of that strike capability with their own artillery and unmanned aerial vehicle assets. About 6,000 artillery rounds were fired, he added.

Sylvia, the brigade commander, spoke at a media roundtable Wednesday at the Pentagon.

Although the U.S. mission in Iraq is often referred to as one of advising and assisting, Sylvia said only about 25 percent of the brigade was doing that. The other 75 percent were engaged in route clearance, expedited communications, air and ground coordination and logistics, which enabled the Iraqis to build their forces up and get to their tactical assembly area for the push into eastern Mosul, which began Oct. 17.

Sylvia said he was pleased with the authorities the U.S. commanders on the ground were given to call for fire to enable the Iraqi ground forces to move forward. In March, the month before the task force arrived in Iraq, the authority was granted not only for the general in charge of the operation but for colonels, lieutenant colonels, and in at least one case, a captain near the front of the fighting.

Although the Iraqis themselves did the fighting, there were some limited situations when U.S. Soldiers accompanied them to provide "niche capability," Sylvia said.

For instance, Soldiers accompanied an Iraqi battalion on a bridge-building mission on the Tigris River, where the enemy had blown up the bridge. The Soldiers advised them on establishing area security as the U.S.-made bridge was erected, he said.

As for militia fighters not attached to the Iraqi army who were also fighting the Islamic State, Sylvia said they were pretty much segregated from Iraqi forces. The U.S. was aware of their location and movements, he said, but did not interact with them in any way.

THREAT FROM ABOVE

It's been some time since the U.S. faced a threat from the sky, Sylvia noted.

During the battle for Mosul, UAVs began appearing in the air in and around the city and it was quickly determined that they did not belong to friendly forces, he said. In one day alone, 12 appeared. They were mostly quadcopters operated by Wi-Fi with about 45 minutes of flight time.

At first, it was determined that they were providing the enemy with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. They were also taking video and using it for propaganda over their social media sites, he said.

Over time, the enemy managed to mount 40 mm grenades on the UAVs and drop them, Sylvia said.

It was sort of primitive, he said -- like when World War I pilots would toss bombs out of their airplanes by hand. It's not precision bombing, but it's more effective than their indiscriminate bombing.

This new threat from the air had U.S. forces dusting off old manuals on how to respond to threats from the air. Over time, the U.S. employed countermeasures that stopped or slowed their flight, enabling Iraqi ground forces to shoot them out of the sky.

BEST DAY IN IRAQ

Sylvia said he still clearly recalls his best day in Iraq. It was Christmas day and Iraqi forces, who are Muslim, invited him and his Soldiers to a Christian church just outside Mosul to attend mass. The Islamic State had gutted the church, but the Iraqis had rebuilt it with their own money.

"It was a powerful symbol and was amazing," he said of the visit to the church, adding that he hopes the relationship forged with the Iraqis will be enduring.

Task Force Strike returned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in January, but was replaced by the 2nd BCT, 82nd Airborne Division which is serving in Iraq now.

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Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

04 May. 2017

(As delivered)

Prime Minister Erna Solberg, it's a real pleasure to welcome you back to the NATO Headquarters.

We've just finished an excellent meeting where we addressed how NATO is adapting to a new and more demanding security environment and also the upcoming meeting of NATO leaders on the 25th May.

Norway is a founding member of the Alliance, Norway is a very committed member of the Alliance and we highly value the many contributions of Norway to the Alliance. You have been in Afghanistan with Norwegian troops for many many years, you continue to be there, you are going to participate in the NATO battlegroup in Lithuania, enhancing our presence in that part of Europe. You help us with support to NATO partners like Georgia, Ukraine and Jordan. And we also appreciate that Norway is the host nation for the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger. And all of this are important contributions to our collective defence, to the strength of the Alliance.

Let me also thank Norway for Norway's presence in the high North. And over the last years Norway has invested heavily in new capabilities, new frigates, you are in the process of buying new F-35 planes, and you've decided to buy new submarines and new maritime patrol aircrafts. So Norway is increasing its capacity when it comes to presence in the high North which is important for the whole Alliance.

We discussed also the preparations for the upcoming meeting in May. It will be a very short meeting but it will be an important meeting because it will be the first visit of the new US President to NATO and to meet Allies and it will also be the meeting where we will meet the new French President. And I'm absolutely certain that the meeting in May will express NATO unity, NATO resolve and that's something I welcome in times of more uncertainty, that we need a strong Alliance. The two main issues that we will address at the meeting in May are transatlantic bond, burden-sharing, and NATO's efforts in the global fight against terrorism. When it comes to NATO's role in the fight against terrorism we will address issues like Afghanistan. NATO has been there for many years, we are unwavering in our support for the Afghans, we will continue to provide them with financial support, train, assist and advice and we have to address the future of our Resolute Support Mission, the forces level, and how we can continue to provide support to the Afghans.

We will also discuss how NATO can step up its efforts to provide support to the Counter-ISIL coalition. We provide some AWACS support, we train Iraqi forces, but we will look into what more NATO can do.

Regarding burden-sharing, the transatlantic bond, all 28 Allies made a very important decision in Wales in 2014 to stop the cuts in defence spending to gradually increase and then to move towards spending 2% of GDP on defence within a decade and the good news is that we have turned a corner. After many years of decline we have now seen the first increase in defence spending across Europe and Canada and it is important that we keep up the momentum and make sure that we continue this positive development with increased defence spending across Europe and Canada.

So there are many important issues on the agenda. I look very much forward to welcoming you back to NATO on the 25th May here in Brussels, where we are also going to have a hand over ceremony for the new building just across the street.

So once again, welcome to NATO Erna Solberg.

Oana Lungescu (NATO Spokesperson): Okay. Wall Street Journal.

Q: Mr. Secretary General, a couple questions about the upcoming meeting. One, why is it too short? Two, are you making progress on the national plans toward, agreeing toward national plans? And finally do you personally support a counter terrorism coordinator, would this be helpful? And to the Prime Minister is 2 % of GDP a realistic goal for Norway? Do you anticipate Norway would adopt a national plan to reach 2 %?

Jens Stoltenberg (NATO Secretary General): First on the CT coordinator. What we are now discussing is how NATO can do more in the fight against terrorism. How we can utilize the untapped potential in NATO because we have the structures, we have the experience, we have the knowledge. We have done it before in Afghanistan, but also in Bosnia-Herzegovina when it comes to the issue to train local forces, build local capacity. And I really believe that the most important thing we can do is to build local capacity, enable local forces to fight terrorism themselves and to stabilize their own country. Exactly how we're going to do that, exactly which measures we will agree on ... it's a bit too early to say but we are looking in to different measures addressing how NATO can step up its efforts in the global fight against terrorism.

Regarding the national plans we are now looking into how we can make sure that we keep up the momentum. That we are able to continue the increase in defence spending we have seen over the last couple of years. And we have to also underline that burden sharing is of course about defence spending, but it's also about capabilities and contributions to NATO missions and operations. And all these three strands of efforts are important and we are looking into what kind of documents, what kind of tools can we develop to make sure that we continue to see a positive development in these areas. Exactly what will be decided and announced in the meeting on the 25th of May.

Erna Solberg (Prime Minister of Norway): And I would just like to say that Norway has last year proposed a long-term plan for the Norwegian defence which is an enormous increasement in the years to come in our budgets. And we are working towards the 2 % goal, the next four years we will have a large increase and then of course there will be a new revised plan every fourth year based on that. But we are increasing our support for the military activities and on the top of that of course there are new demands always on international cooperation and participations.

Q: Secretary General about these national plans. In your view what do you think should be the main elements of those plans? Can you be a bit more specific about that? And also now Prime Minister Solberg mentioned the Norwegian long term plan, do you expect that Norway would have to be more specific about its plans? Is the long term plan enough or should Norway prepare to lay some more details on the table?

Jens Stoltenberg: First of all regarding the national plans no decision has been made. So we are now in the process discussing within NATO with NATO allies exactly how we can develop different tools to make sure that we continue to deliver on what we promised in 2014. But the idea as it has been presented by some allies and which is now discussed in the alliance is to have documents where allies can report on how they are following up the pledge, both when it comes to defence spending but also when it comes to capabilities and contributions to NA TO missions and operations. And the whole purpose of having these kind of documents is that they will then provide us a better understanding of where different nations are when it comes to implementing the pledge we made together in 2014. And again, I'm confident that we will have decisions by the 25th of May and then I can go into more details.

Erna Solberg: And I think our plan is moving towards all of the goals that is set by ... we will have ... we will not ... we will be above 20 % in investments, we are transforming the capabilities that we have, we are working on the principle of inter-operability between Norway and others and we are contributing to the international operations both mainly through NATO but also in some of the others that the EU are doing and also some of the UN operations.

Oana Lungescu: Politico.

Q: Mr. Secretary General on, in terms of the most relevant or perhaps most dangerous conflict right now, military conflict in Syria, two of your biggest allies are very active, the United States and Turkey but not exactly on the same side. I wonder at what point does that potentially become problematic and do you expect that to come up perhaps in the sidelines of the meeting later this month? And for the Prime Minister, as the Secretary General noted you'll have two new colleagues from France and the United States. What might you say to them to really convince them that NATO is not obsolete?

Jens Stoltenberg: As you know NATO provides support to the coalition fighting ISIL in Iraq and Syria, but NATO is not present in Syria as an alliance, some NATO allies are. And since NATO is not present on the ground in Syria I think I should refrain from commenting on, or to say, operational issues related to the activities of NATO allies. But I of course expect all NATO allies to coordinate their activities, especially in Northern Syria where there is a very complex and very difficult military situation. What NATO will do is that we will look into whether or how we can provide more support. We provide some support to the coalition with our AWACS planes -improving the air picture for the coalition operating over Iraq and Syria, and it may also be in other areas that we can provide more support for the coalition.

Erna Solberg: My message to, well they are not my colleagues since I am a Prime Minister not a President but, remembering to understand the differences in a monarchy like Norway, but my biggest message to them is of course that the Atlantic tie has shown itself to be extremely important. The military capacities that we need also in the Atlantic is important, that was one of the issues that we were very concerned about before the Warsaw meeting because we know that if the Northern Atlantic part is controlled, the seaway, you will not be able to have support for Europe, in a crisis or conflict this will be a very difficult issue. And so it's important to have this connection and I think when we started to work on this one of our partners was in fact France who have a different understanding of the Atlantic ties now I think than they had, if you look 20 years back, 30 years back and the understanding that the connection between North America and Europe is extremely important, also military.

Oana Lungescu: Thank you very much. This concludes this press point.

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NMCB 133 Seabees Conduct ADR Exercise on 6,000 foot Air Force Training Airfield

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS170504-16

Release Date: 5/4/2017 2:02:00 PM

By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 deployed 104 personnel from Gulfport, Mississippi to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida to participate in a multi-day Air Field Damage Repair Exercise (ADREX), April 24-27, using a 6,000-foot training airfield to evaluate and test new repair methods.

Cmdr. Eileen D'Andrea, assigned to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command worked closely with NMCB 133 and Naval Construction Group Two to coordinate the training opportunity emphasizing the importance of testing new repair methods.

"The training was invaluable to provide proof of concepts, and to refine the Naval Construction Force's ADR capabilities to adopt emerging requirements," said D'Andrea. "We cannot thank our Air Force partners enough for allowing us the opportunity to borrow their airfield, and the help they provided when we were trying out their repair methods."

In addition to learning new methods of ADR techniques, EOD technicians from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 6 also participated in the training.

"By far this was the best rehearsal of our ADR capabilities that I have seen," said D'Andrea.

Since its inception during the early days of World War II, Airfield Damage Repair has been one of the Seabees' core competencies. During the Vietnam War, the ability to keep runways operational to launch and recover aircraft was tested like never before.

In the early 1990s, during the Gulf War's Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and after 9/11 during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, the United States and its allies enjoyed nearly complete air superiority. Hence, the need for these ADR skills was not tested as it had been in previous conflicts.

Fast forward to the present day as the United States faces potential threats around the globe where Seabees may be called upon once again to provide ADR services for our nation's and allies' expeditionary forces there has been a renewed focus on their ADR capabilities.

Lt. j.g. Hector Arellano, ADR officer-in-charge for the exercise discussed how the realistic training environment at Tyndall Air Force Base enhanced readiness for the ADR crew teams.

"The Airfield Damage Repair Exercise was a great opportunity for our battalion to send its full ADR organization to exercise on Tyndall Air Force Base's training airfield," said Arellano, who added it "gave us a very realistic training environment."

Collecting and understanding new airfield repair methods that will help to refine the Naval Construction Force's ADR capabilities is an important step for future training exercises.

Construction Electrician 2nd Class Jesse Culberson, who served as the Emergency Airfield Lighting System and Mobile Airfield Arresting System Crew Leader discussed how the training benefited his battalion.

"This training is valuable for the Seabees to perform and expand our ADR capabilities," said Culberson, who received training from Tyndall Air Force Base training staff on how to operate the various systems.

Builder Constructionman Aaron Manning, who served on the Spall Repair Team, echoed Culberson's comments on the value of the training.

"We learned that the efficient use of time was important in the spall process. Specific measuring procedures were also very important during repairs as well," said Manning. "This training was valuable given the current events going on around the world, and the potential for real life ADR scenarios."

For Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Jennifer Poulin, who served on the MOS Selection Team, she reflected on the training coordinated with EOD and other joint services, which in her opinion, was imperative to the success of the training.

"We learned that quick ADR is becoming a bigger deal, that working with joint forces is imperative to our success, and that realistic training has a big impact," said Poulin. "The training allowed us to see how we can work together for future operations."

Taking a new concept and turning it into a real-life scenario might have been challenging, but with the proper tools, capability, and mindset, the training was valuable, according to Equipment Operator 1st Class Brandon Martin, who served as the Support Crew Leader.

Equipment Operator Constructionman, Alisha Hanes, who served on the crater crew discussed the three "Ps" that were important to the success of the mission: "Practice, patience, and perseverance."

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Hekmatyar returns to Kabul after peace deal with Afghan government

Iran Press TV

Thu May 4, 2017 3:40PM

Former Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has returned to the capital Kabul eight months after signing a peace deal with the administration of President Ashraf Ghani.

After more than 20 years, Hekmatyar, who leads the country's second largest militant group after Taliban, returned to Kabul on Thursday amid tight security.

His convoy was joined by several hundred vehicles of supporters.

The convoy, comprising of mainly pickup trucks equipped with machine guns, was greeted by a large number of onlookers as well.

The cheering fans sang the national anthem and chanted slogans such as "Welcome to Kabul, Honorable Hekmatyar."

Ghani led an event to welcome Hekmatyar, a former prime minister, at the presidential palace and thanked him for "heeding the peace call."

In the week ahead of his return, huge billboards sprang up around the city, but were quickly covered in paint or mud.

Hekmatyar is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate by granting judicial immunity for past crimes.

Back in September last year and following months of negotiations between Kabul and Hekmatyar, the two sides etched a landmark peace deal, which gave him and his followers immunity for past actions and granted them full political rights.

In February, upon Kabul's request, the United Nations Security Council lifted sanctions against Hekmatyar, saying "assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in  Resolution 2253 (2015)" no longer applied to him. It also removed his name from its Daesh-linked group list.

The peace accord had been considered a symbolic victory for Ghani, who seeks to revive peace talks with the much stronger Taliban. The deal, however, sparked revulsion from human rights groups, which argue that it was too lenient toward the warlord and many of his militants.

Hekmatyar, a former anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who waged a guerrilla war against the Soviet forces occupying Afghanistan, stands accused of leading the militancy that allegedly killed thousands of people, mostly civilians, in Kabul, during the 1992-1996 civil war.

In the wake of Taliban's reign of terror in 2001, Hekmatyar was designated a "global terrorist" by the US for his alleged links to the al-Qaeda and Taliban militant groups and was hence forced to go into hiding.

Afghanistan has been gripped by insecurity since the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington's so-called war on terror in 2001. Many parts of the state remain plagued by militancy despite the presence of foreign troops.

During the past 16 years, the Taliban militants have been conducting terrorist attacks across the country, killing and displacing civilians.

In addition, the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, which is mainly active in Syria and Iraq, has recently managed to take recruits from Afghan Taliban defectors. The rise of Daesh in Afghanistan has added to concerns about security situation of the country.

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Indian troops launch major anti-militant operation in Kashmir

Iran Press TV

Thu May 4, 2017 1:32PM

Thousands of Indian soldiers and paramilitaries have launched a huge operation against suspected militants across Indian-controlled Kashmir.

S P Pani, deputy inspector general of police, said on Thursday that government forces had surrounded at least 20 villages in the drive against militants across the Muslim-majority region.

"It is an unprecedented operation," the police official said, adding, "It is impossible to capture the militants, but we hope there will be contact (exchange of fire) with them in the course of the day."

The operation was launched early Thursday in Shopian district south of the main city of Srinagar.

Meanwhile, witnesses and local residents have accused Indian troops of attacking private homes during the large-scale offensive.

Hundreds of residents poured out into the streets in the two villages of Sug and Tarkwangan during the ongoing search operations. The angry residents clashed with Indian soldiers and threw stones at them.

"It was scary. Many houses were damaged," media outlets quoted one of the residents as saying.

Witnesses said military helicopters were hovering above the disputed valley as the search was going on.

Indian troops are in constant clashes with militants in Kashmir seeking independence.

Suspected militants are frequently killed in shoot-outs with Indian forces across the region, but are only rarely captured alive.

The latest operation comes after five police officers were shot dead earlier this week in a raid on a bank van carrying cash. The attack took place in the village of Pumbai in Kulgam district, around 70 kilometers south of Srinagar.

Last week, militants also killed three Indian troopers in a pre-dawn assault on a garrison near the de-facto border known as the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Kashmir between two arch rivals, India and Pakistan.

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.

Nearly 100 people have lost their lives and more than 12,000 have been injured in the ensuing crackdown.

In recent months, the use of pellet guns by Indian forces in Kashmir has drawn widespread criticism as the weapons have caused permanent disabilities among victims.

The crackdown has failed to halt the protests against the Indian rule in Kashmir.

The region is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan since the two partitioned and gained independence from Britain in 1947. The two countries have fought three wars over the disputed territory.

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Hekmatyar Urges Taliban 'Brothers' To End War, Offers To Mediate Talks

RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan May 04, 2017

Notorious Afghan militant leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has called on his Taliban "brothers" to end their insurgency and offered to mediate talks with the government.

Hekmatyar's remarks on May 4 followed his return to the capital, Kabul, months after he signed a peace deal with Afghanistan's government.

"I call upon the Taliban to choose me as their brother," he told a ceremony that was held in his honor at the presidential palace. "I will fight for all your legitimate demands."

Hekmatyar, a former prime minister, urged the militants to join the peace process to "end all reasons for the presence of foreign troops" in Afghanistan.

"The most important issue for me is to end this war and rescue the country from crisis," said Hekmatyar, who called on neighboring countries like Pakistan and Iran not to interfere in Afghanistan.

Hekmatyar, known as the "Butcher of Kabul," is mainly remembered for his role in the bloody civil war of the 1990s, in which he stands accused of killing thousands of people in the capital.

Hekmatyar's Hezb-e Islami militant group signed a peace agreement with President Ashraf Ghani's government in September 2016.

Under the deal, Hezb-e Islami laid down all arms and ended its insurgency against the Afghan government throughout the country. In exchange, Hezb-e Islami prisoners will be released from Afghan jails, among other provisions of the agreement.

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.

The group is also known for deadly attacks on U.S. and Afghan forces since 2001, when U.S.-led forces invaded to drive the Taliban from power following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

Ghani, speaking before Hekmatyar, said the country had taken "a big step" toward peace by signing the agreement with Hekmatyar.

"I call upon all armed opposition groups to follow in the footsteps of Hezb-e Islami and join the peace process," Ghani said.

He added: "Let me ask the Taliban. What agenda and goal do you have other than killing innocent people? What have you achieved?"

Hekmatyar said the national unity government led by Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, brokered by Washington after the disputed election of 2014, was "not working."

He said either Ghani or Abdullah should resign.

Abdullah responded by defending the unity government, saying it was created under "special circumstances."

Abdullah also aimed criticism at Hekmatyar, saying he was not convinced the members of the Taliban are his brothers.

"Let's call them Hekmatyar's brothers for now," he said.

A heavily armed convoy of several hundred vehicles escorted Hekmatyar from eastern province of Nangarhar to Kabul.

Afghan security forces were deployed along the 160-kilometer route to ensure his safety.

Hekmatyar met Ghani for talks at the presidential palace before attending the ceremony.

He is expected to address the nation live on television from Kabul's Ghazi Stadium on May 5.

Last week, Hekmatyar, white-bearded and clad in his trademark black turban, called on the Taliban to lay down its weapons and join a "caravan of peace" as he spoke at a rally in the eastern Laghman Province.

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.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-warlord- hekmatyar-returns-kabul/28467563.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Explainer: The 'Very Bad History' Of Safe Zones

Alan Crosby May 04, 2017

If history is any indication, the creation of a series of safe zones in Syria, currently being discussed by the United States, Russia, Turkey, and the war-torn country, is likely to provide little relief for hundreds of thousands of civilians on the ground.

For years, policymakers around the world have looked to safe zones as a way to protect civilians, unlock humanitarian access, and help move a conflict toward a political solution.

That sounds good in theory. But the practical results aren't very encouraging.

From Bosnia, to South Sudan, to Rwanda, to Iraq, areas set up to keep noncombatants safe in a war zone have often ended up failing to provide the protection they were intended to afford.

Perhaps nowhere was that more apparent than in Bosnia, when the United Nations created six safe zones in 1993 amid the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia.

The zones came to be seen by critics as little more than prison camps for refugees, where overcrowding and a lack of military backup made those inside the areas little more than sitting ducks. All six were attacked and two, Srebrenica and Zepa, were overrun.

In July 1995, the Bosnian situation hit a low point when 400 lightly armed Dutch troops in Srebrenica under a UN mandate failed to stop the murder of some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys. Women and girls were raped. Inside a week, a safe zone had become the scene of the deadliest atrocity in Europe since World War II.

While many safe zones before and after Srebrenica have had varying results, few have been deemed outright successes and the complex situation on the ground, analysts say, makes it unlikely at best that Syria would be the exception and not the rule.

"These safe zones have a very bad history," says Louis Charbonneau, United Nations director at Human Rights Watch (HRW). "You have all sorts of risks once you concentrate people in one place like that.... They are targets."

What Is Being Proposed?

A Russian proposal that was backed in a memorandum signed by Moscow, Ankara, and Tehran on May 4 calls for zones to be created in rebel-held territory in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, in parts of Homs Province in the center, in the south, and in the opposition enclave of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, according to the AFP news agency, which cited a copy of the plan.

While those safe zones would seek to stop conflict inside the area and allow refugees to return, another key aspect would be to allow for the delivery of aid to people who have suffered through years of an ongoing civil war.

The zones would be guarded and have checkpoints manned by rebels and government troops. Foreign troops could also be deployed in observer roles, according to the document, AFP said.

Details of the plan, such as who would pay the huge budget needed to maintain the zones and how they would be controlled, must still be worked out, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on May 3, after talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

"One of the ways in which the cease-fire can be made to last is through creating safe zones or de-escalation zones," Putin said, adding that aircraft "would not work" in the de-escalation zones "provided there is no military activity in these zones."

Earlier reports said Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the establishment of safe zones in a May 2 phone call but suggested the sides had differing views on the topic.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in March said the United States hoped to set up "interim zones of stability" to help refugees return as the battle continued to defeat destabilizing militant groups like Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.

Creating Safe Zones

Safe zones aren't actually an official term under international law.

But international humanitarian law (IHL) does allow for a number of zones, such as neutralized areas for noncombatants and wounded combatants, "non-defended localities," and demilitarized zones within conflict situations, located in or outside combat areas, according to Trevor Keck, deputy head of communications for the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation to the United States and Canada.

Such zones are established with agreement or recognition by all parties to a conflict. Some have also been created by UN Security Council resolutions. Safe zones are protected by IHL because they are demilitarized.

But if they are defended by military means, the presence of combatants amid or around the protected populations entails a number of risks. In Syria, for example, talks on safe zones do not foresee an agreement by all parties involved in the conflict.

Failing to sufficiently defend a safe zone can make it a deadly trap, as witnessed in Srebrenica.

"History has shown that safe zones and no-fly zones are fraught with risks. At best, these types of interventions may bring short-term protection and relief to civilians at grave risk -- which is obviously laudable," Keck says.

"At worst, declaring an area safe without clear guarantees from all parties to a conflict, or without the requisite military force, can lead to devastating humanitarian consequences."

Rules Of Engagement

Given the risks surrounding safe zones, and the fact that they are often proposed when the parties to a respective armed conflict fail to respect the basic tenets of IHL, a clear set of rules of engagement by those defending it are a must, analysts say.

Without such rules, peacekeepers guarding safe havens become little more than observers to atrocities, as was the case in Srebrenica.

Given the lack of adherence so far to the rules of war in Syria, where chemical-weapon attacks and assaults on emergency aid crews, rescue workers, and journalists have been commonplace, the need for a strong and clear mandate for forces to engage is necessary if the safe zones will have a chance at being successful, according to Lieutenant Colonel John R. Barnett and Michael Eisenstadt of the Washington Institute.

The setup of safe zones must include a "robust, balanced air-ground team" in Syria where a complex web of rebel and extremist factions are engaged on the ground and external powers are directly assisting the regime's military operations.

"The language authorizing the operation should be unequivocally clear...the mandate should not place unnecessary restrictions on the use of forces deployed to secure the safe zone," they wrote in a paper for the institute on safe zones in Syria.

"Any safe-zone operation in Syria that ignores the lessons of the past and omits these key elements would risk a greater chance of failure, increased suffering for civilians, and potential mission creep that could lead to even more widespread conflict."

Other Risks

Establishing safe zones in Syria could mark an escalation in America's military involvement in the conflict, while they could become targets for jihadist groups if they are not adequately defended.

More than six years of war in Syria has killed an estimated 400,000 people and sent millions fleeing their homes, adding to an influx of refugees into countries in the Middle East, Europe, and elsewhere.

That influx has sparked a backlash in many countries, and some human rights analysts fear the establishment of safe zones is aimed more at stopping the flow of refugees than providing sanctuary for them.

Human Rights Watch's Charbonneau says there's a real concern that the plan hasn't fully worked through such questions as how entry to and from the zone would be regulated so that it "doesn't become a concentration camp."

"We can't rule out that it is doable.... When we look at Syria, and it's not clear that the U.S. has thought through what it will really involve," he says.

"You can't help suspecting that the real motive here is not to protect people but to keep them from going into other countries and that is a problem."

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/syria-safe-zone- explainer-srebrenica/28468420.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Ambassador Al-Jaber confirms that Kingdom, coalition countries have no ambitions in Yemen

Saudi Press Agency

Washington, Sha'ban 08, 1438, May 04, 2017, SPA -- The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Yemen, Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber, said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab alliance countries have no ambitions in Yemen and its aim is that Yemen, the Yemenis and the region enjoy security and stability.

Al-Jaber made the remarks in a meeting on Yemen with a group of politicians, specialists, thinkers and media at the Washington Institute in Washington, DC.

He said that the war in Yemen was not an option but a necessity in response to the demand of Yemeni legitimacy and to stop the Iranian intervention in Yemen and end its project to threaten the national security of the Gulf and the region and the international maritime corridors and to maintain the security and stability of the region.

Ambassador Al Jaber said during the meeting that the Kingdom supported the participation of all Yemeni parties in the political process in Yemen in accordance with the three known references, the dismantling of the armed militias and the return of Yemen as an independent Arab state.

He pointed out that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab alliance countries have sought to find a political solution, stressing their willingness to provide support for reconstruction.

He stressed that the coalition countries have given the protection of civilians a high priority and have drawn up a list of thousands of areas of civilian nature that are strictly prohibited. The coalition is fully committed to international humanitarian law and investigates any accusation against the alliance.

He pointed out, in contrast, that the coup militias of Houthi and Saleh, deliberately kill, destruct, recruit children, use homes, schools and medical centers in their military operations and use them as stores and warehouses for weapons.

He stressed that the Kingdom and the Arab alliance countries, especially King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action, provided assistance to Yemen exceeding 600 million dollars, but the militias of Houthi and Saleh in return steal the aid and sell it on the black market and prevent access to it by the beneficiaries and trade in Yemenis' suffering, which they caused after their coup against the legitimate government and the Usurpation of power with the help of Saleh.

He pointed out that the Arab alliance succeeded in eliminating terrorism, which Iran tried to expand and provoked sectarian and regional strife through its arms in Yemen, Houthi and Saleh.

--SPA

00:15 LOCAL TIME 21:15 GMT

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US Detects Russian Bombers, Fighter Jets Near Alaska

Sputnik News

17:00 04.05.2017(updated 17:04 04.05.2017)

According to US media reports, two Russian Tu-95 bombers along with two Su-35 fighter jets were spotted near Alaska's Air Defense Zone on Thursday morning.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Two Russian Tu-95 bombers along with two Su-35 fighter jets were spotted near Alaska's Air Defense Zone on Thursday morning, US media reported.

The aircraft were intercepted by two US F-22 fighter jets, Fox News reported on Thursday, citing US officials. The Russian jets stayed in international airspace.

In April, the United States detected a series of three bomber flights in and around Alaska.

Department of Defense spokesperson Capt. Jeff Davis said the flights of Russian strategic bombers were all conducted in a safe and professional manner with deference toward US airspace.

 Sputnik

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Philippine Military Helicopter Crash Leaves Three People Killed, One Injured

Sputnik News

16:42 04.05.2017

Three people were killed and another injured in a military UH-1D helicopter crash in the Philippines' Rizal province at around 3:00 p. m. local time (07:00 GMT) during rescue operation training, according to local media reports.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Three people were killed and another injured in a military UH-1D helicopter crash in the Philippines, local media reported Thursday.

According to the GMA News outlet, citing Xy-zon Meneses, spokesperson for the Army's Second Infantry Division, the incident took part in the country's Rizal province at around 3:00 p. m. local time (07:00 GMT) during rescue operation training. The injured crew member was taken to the hospital, the reports added.

The Philippine Air Force spokesman Col. Antonio Francisco said all UH-1D helicopters had been grounded until the investigation of the incident's cause was finished, according to the outlet.

 Sputnik

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Indian Troops Launch Major Rebel Hunt in Indian Side of Kashmir

Sputnik News

16:35 04.05.2017(updated 16:40 04.05.2017)

Indian security forces launched a massive combing operation in at least two dozen villages in southern Kashmir on Thursday morning to weed out militants from the areas. The operation was launched after a spate of militant attacks and anti-India protests over the last few days.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  Local reports said villagers were involved in fierce resistance against security operation and pelted stones at government forces including Army personnel.

"Today's combing operation in Kashmir is to ensure the situation is brought under control, after recent incidents. Banks have been looted, policemen have been killed. That is why today's combing operation is taking place. We are taking measures, have beefed up our counter-infiltration posture to take care of the situation," Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat said in New Delhi.

Indian security forces including Army, paramilitary forces and police are searching house-to-house for militants with the backing of helicopters.

Senior BJP MP Subramanian Swamy termed the combing operations an "appropriate reply".

Militants looted four banks over the last three days, killing five policemen and two bank officials.

After a spurt in militancy was put down in the 1990s, life on the Indian side of Kashmir was reasonably peaceful until July 2016 when the killing of Burhan Wani, the leader of an outlawed Kashmiri separatist group, by Indian forces led to the revival of street protests. Since then, the region has been on the boil.

 Sputnik

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Displaced civilians in South Sudan's Upper Nile at risk of further violence, UN rights chief warns

4 May 2017  The United Nations human rights chief today urged the Government of South Sudan to halt any further military offensives towards Aburoc in the Upper Nile region.

"Civilians in Aburoc are at serious and imminent risk of gross human rights violations, inter-ethnic violence and re-displacement," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein.

He said these people fleeing from towns like Tonga and Kodok were forced to walk through the bush for up to 150 kilometres in searing temperatures. Many reportedly died along the way, but the rest ended up in Aburoc where they face grave violence and shortages of food, water and healthcare.

"These are women, children and men at the mercy of military commanders, on both sides of the political divide, who have consistently shown little or no regard for the protection of civilians," he added.

Despite the August 2015 peace agreement, South Sudan slipped back into conflict due to renewed clashes between rival forces  the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) loyal to President Salva Kiir and the SPLA in Opposition backing former First Vice-President Riek Machar.

Aburoc, a town on the west bank of the River Nile, holds between 35,000 and 50,000 people, most of whom arrived in recent weeks after SPLA attacks on areas to the south.

Civilians in Aburoc now find themselves in areas controlled by the opposition armed group, facing a military offensive by the Government forces.

The High Commissioner urged the Government to adhere to the pledges made by President Kiir on 25 March, when he committed to declare a unilateral ceasefire, and to work towards political engagement to bring the conflict to an end.

Mr. Zeid called on all parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law, including taking all feasible precautions to prevent civilian casualties.

He also called on the Government to grant the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) access to Aburoc and Kodok, and to ensure that humanitarian agencies are able to deliver crucial aid to the internally displaced population.

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In Bogota, Security Council pledges support to Colombia's efforts to implement peace process

4 May 2017  In Colombia to acknowledge and to witness first-hand both the progress and the challenges of carrying out the aims of a hard-won peace deal, a delegation from the United Nations Security Council today met President Juan Manuel Santos and applauded the country as an example for overcoming difficulties and setbacks to bring to an end more than a half a century of conflict.

Speaking to reporters in Bogota, Elbio Rosselli, of Uruguay, which holds the Council's presidency for the month, said that "with the process of pacification of Colombia, the American continent is the only region of the world in which there is no active conflict."

"We thank you for the example you are giving. These processes are never linear, they have ups and downs, they may have setbacks but what matters is to maintain the effort. This Security Council is committed to providing the support that Colombians want and deserve, "said Mr. Rosselli.

In early October 2016, Colombian voters narrowly rejected the historic peace accord between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP). That deal was the culmination of four years of talks hosted in Havana, Cuba, between the two sides, and which led to a cessation of hostilities and agreements on key issues such as political participation, land rights, illicit drugs and victims' rights and transitional justice. The two sides signed a new agreement in late November 2016.

The Council delegation also met with Chancellor Maria Angela Holguin, Ambassador Maria Emma Mejia, and the post-conflict cabinet. The Council gave a clear message of support to the implementation of the peace process in Colombia.

In his remarks to the press, president Santos said: "I want to highlight the way the United Nations has helped us to manage the cease-fire. More than 2,670 lives have been saved so far in the peace process."

United Kingdom Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, co-leader of the visit with Uruguay, highlighted the full support of the Security Council and the international community to make the peace process a reality.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Colombians, make sure that all the parties fulfil all of the commitments and finally the peace that your country deserves will be a reality, from which there cannot be a turning back," said Ambassador Rycroft.

Before leaving New York, Mr. Rosselli noted that it is time for the Council to make contact with all parties in the process, in order to see how the UN is helping and can continue to do so.

The visit follows a recent announcement by the UN Mission in Colombia that it hopes to receive 60 percent of all FARC-EP arms.

Mr. Rosselli also said that the Council not only wants to recognize the importance in relation to the Colombian ceasefire and the laying down of arms, but also inform itself about the substantive part.

Late September last year representatives of the Government of Colombia, as well as members from the FARC-EP and international observers from the UN mission in the country started working together at the joint Monitoring and Verification Mechanism headquarters in Bogota.

Verification of the bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in Colombia is part of the Mechanisms task, and according to the UN Mission in the South American country, they also have been planning and coordinating logistics for the regional offices and the zones where the separation of forces has been taking place.

Earlier this year UN News reported that at eight regional and 26 local sites, FARC-EP and Government members, along with 350 UN observers, have been working together to verify the parties' commitments towards the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.

The UN Mission in Colombia reported today that to-date they have received and stored a thousand weapons from FARC-EP combatants. The combatants are currently in camps established for their transition and reintegration into civilian life, but also to ensure the safety of the civilian population and of FARC-EP and Public Force members.

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North Korea will not beg for China's friendship: State media

Iran Press TV

Thu May 4, 2017 9:46AM

North Korea will not "beg" to maintain the friendship of its major ally, China, North Korean state media have said in rare remarks against Beijing.

In a commentary published by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Wednesday, Pyongyang rejected as "reckless" demands by China that North Korea denuclearize.

"A string of absurd and reckless remarks are now heard from China every day only to render the present bad situation tenser," it said.

The commentary said China's call for Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear program was "a wanton violation of the independent and legitimate rights, dignity and supreme interests" of North Korea.

The commentary even warned Beijing not to test the limits of the North's patience.

"China had better ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by its reckless act of chopping down the pillar of the DPRK-China relations," it said, using an acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

It said North Korea's nuclear program was needed for the "existence and development" of the country and "can never be changed nor shaken."

"The DPRK will never beg for the maintenance of friendship with China, risking its nuclear program, which is as precious as its own life, no matter how valuable the friendship is," the commentary said.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have significantly spiked in recent weeks. The US, concerned by North Korea's rapidly-developing missile and military nuclear programs, has sent a strike force to the peninsula. Pyongyang has said it is combat-ready. The two sides have been increasingly trading threats of military action against one another.

Amid the recent tensions, the US has called on China, which is also North Korea's major economic benefactor, to help increase pressure on Pyongyang to have it abandon its nuclear program. While China has opposed any military action against North Korea, it has long maintained that Pyongyang should not have a military nuclear program and has recently increased pressure on Pyongyang, including by imposing sanctions of its own.

Pyongyang, already under a raft of sanctions for its missile and nuclear programs, says it is developing arms as deterrence against the US threat. North Korea has also said that it would not abandon its missile and nuclear programs unless the US ended its hostility toward Pyongyang.

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Japan will be first country under radioactive clouds in case of war, North Korea warns

Iran Press TV

Thu May 4, 2017 2:0AM

North Korea has warned Tokyo that if conflict breaks out in the region, Japan will be the first country to be smothered in nuclear clouds.

"In case of a nuclear war on the peninsula, Japan that houses logistic bases, launching bases and sortie bases of the US forces will be put under radioactive clouds before any country," said the North's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Wednesday.

It noted that if Japan is truly "concerned about its interests" it has to endeavor towards peacefully settling tensions.

The paper further went on to remind Japan about its previous experience with nuclear bombs, while stressing that North Korean missiles would put the country "under radioactive clouds before any country."

"As the first country in the world that suffered A-bomb disaster, Japan knows better than others how terrible the nuclear disaster is," it added.

It also noted that Japan is using regional tensions as a pretext to amend its constitution to allow overseas military action.

"Another aim is to stimulate its reeling economy with the orders of new war supplies from the US after a war breaks out on the Korean peninsula, and thus gain a windfall, just as it did during the past Korean war," added the paper.

Plans to alter the country's constitution were recently announced by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and are expected to be implemented in 2020.

"The Japanese authorities should behave with discretion, clearly understanding that it is Japan that will be affected most once a war breaks out on the Peninsula," noted the paper.

Tensions have been on the rise on the Korean Peninsula over the past weeks.

Unsettled by North Korean missile and military nuclear programs, the United States has adopted a war-like posture, sending a strike group and conducting joint military drills with North Korea's regional adversaries Japan and South Korea.

Pyongyang defends its missile and nuclear programs as a means of protecting the country from US hostility.

In addition to a naval strike group, which includes the large USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, Washington deployed two supersonic bombers over the peninsula during a joint exercise with South Korea's air force on Monday. The USS Michigan nuclear submarine joined the strike group earlier this week.

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US preparing additional sanctions for N Korea: Tillerson

Iran Press TV

Wed May 3, 2017 7:35PM

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the government is "preparing" new sanctions to be imposed against North Korea, deemed a nuclear threat by the West.

The former ExxonMobil CEO made the comments among the State Department employees in the US capital Washington on Wednesday.

"We are preparing additional sanctions if it turns out North Korea's actions warrant additional sanctions," he said.

Tillerson further urged world states to respect UN sanctions already imposed on North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs, voicing willingness to use secondary sanctions against foreign companies that still do business with Pyongyang.

"We told them we're watching what you're doing, when we see you not implementing, we see companies, we see individuals that are violating these sanctions, we're going to contact you, we're going to ask you to take care of it," Tillerson said. "If you can't take care of it, or you simply don't want to take care of it for your own internal political reasons, we will. We'll sanction them through third-country sanctions."

As tensions were running high between North Korea and the US as well as its regional allies over Pyongyang's nuclear tests, the administration of President Donald Trump was "leaning hard into China," in order to negotiate for stability in the volatile region, as Tillerson said after chairing a meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said last week that Beijing opposes any actions that violate the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

"As for what kind of actions China will take if North Korea conducts another nuclear test, it is a hypothetical question and there is much speculation about that," he added.

Apart from calling for sanctions, the Trump administration has repeatedly threatened Pyongyang with a military response to new tests of missiles and nuclear warheads, and sent warships and a nuclear submarine to Korean waters.



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North Korea Fires Back at Beijing's Criticism, Accuses China of Betrayal

Sputnik News

22:19 04.05.2017(updated 23:39 04.05.2017)

The relationship between Pyongyang and Beijing is showing signs of major strain, as Pyongyang accuses Beijing of treachery for their resistance to sign a treaty and their stance on the North's nuclear program.

In commentary published Wednesday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KNCA), one Kim Chol scolded China for "crossing the red line" and agreeing to level stricter sanctions against North Korea, saying there would be "grave" consequences for Beijing's "reckless remarks."

China, previously North Korea's chief ally and main trading partner, in February halted coal imports from Pyongyang in compliance with sanctions leveled by the United Nations, and called for Pyongyang to halt its nuclear weapons and missile tests.

"China should no longer try to test the limits of the DPRK's patience," Kim's commentary reads. "China had better ponder over the grave consequences to be entailed by its reckless act of chopping down the pillar of DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea]-China relations."

The piece also said that the DPRK "will never beg for Beijing's friendship, risking its nuclear program which is as precious as its own life, no matter how valuable the friendship is," according to Korea Joongang Daily.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency quoted a unification ministry official as saying "North Korea seemed to show its frustrations as China shows signs of joining international sanctions  Pyongyang needs to pay attention to this message."

China moved to ratchet up pressure on the North after a series of meetings among high-ranking Chinese officials, presenting their position at the April 28 UN Security Council ministerial meeting on the North Korean issue.

Earlier this week, however, Fu Ying, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of China's National People's Congress, published an essay on the Brookings Institute website acknowledging China's limited influence over the North and calling on both Washington and Pyongyang to allow tempers and tone to cool.

"Powerful states may have greater influence over the international situation, but they should also bear the consequences of what they say or do," Fu wrote. "Smaller or weaker states may counter or respond to pressure from powerful states, but there is a price to pay for doing so."

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lu Kang has also said that Beijing's position on the North's nuclear program has been consistent, and that country fully intends to maintain its friendship with Pyongyang.

As a US Navy carrier strike group and an armed nuclear-powered submarine sit near the Korean Peninsula, the DPRK has accused Washington of "reckless military provocation" that will push "the situation on the Korean Peninsula closer to the brink of nuclear war."

 Sputnik

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US House Passes Bill Authorizing Toughest Sanctions Against North Korea

Sputnik News

21:42 04.05.2017

The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday that authorizes the toughest sanctions yet against North Korea.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The final vote was 419 to 1.

Ed Royce, the author of the bill and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the legislation cuts off North Korea's access to ports around the world, sanctions any financial institutions that still do business with North Korea, prohibits goods produced by North Korean forced labor and sanctions foreign employers who use forced labor from the North in other countries.

Royce noted in an interview earlier on Thursday that by shutting down North Korea's economy, the country will be unable to move forward on its nuclear program.

The bill still needs to pass the US Senate before heading to President Donald Trump for his signature.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula escalated as Pyongyang carried out a number of missile launches and nuclear tests in the recent months, which are considered to be in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions.

As a response to the potential use of nuclear weapons, the United States sent a strike group led by US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson to the Korean Peninsula, where it began exercises with the South Korean navy.

US media reported that US President Donald Trump might order a strike against North Korea in light of its military activities. The North Korean top officials said the country was ready for nuclear attacks in case of possible US military aggression.

 Sputnik

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Accountant Accused of 'Hostile Acts' Is Third US National Held by North Korea

Sputnik News

14:27 04.05.2017

North Korea has admitted detaining a US citizen and said he had committed "hostile criminal acts with an aim to subvert the country." The Korean Central News Agency said Kim Sang Dok, known to friends as Tony Kim, was "intercepted" at Pyongyang's airport on 22 April as he tried to leave the country.

Mr. Kim, who had been teaching accounting in North Korea, is the third US national now being detained in North Korea.

His detention is expected to ramp up tensions between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump.

North Korea, which is understood to have large prison camps where it holds dissidents and a handful of foreign prisoners, has in the past been accused of using detained Americans as "human shields."

Mr. Kim, 58, had been working at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology for several weeks.

His arrest was reported last month but only now are details emerging.

The university, which opened in 2010, was founded by evangelical Christians and teaches students from the country's elite.

But all foreigners are treated with suspicion in North Korea and the US government generally advises American nationals not to go there.

It could be that the detention of the three American nationals is an attempt by Kim Jong-un to seek a way of opening secret back channel communications with the US.

In 2010, former President Jimmy Carter was encouraged to come to North Korea, ostensibly to negotiate the release of an American, Ajjalon Mahil Gomes, with Kim Jong-il.

The year before that, former President Bill Clinton came to Pyongyang to obtain the freedom of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Less.

Carter also visited North Korea in 1994  and met Kim Il-sung  and on all three occasions the former presidents were used as back channels.

University of Georgia professor Han Park, who helped arrange both of Carter's trips, said years later: "The release was not the North Korean purpose. They wanted to have a much more substantive discussion when the official line is seemingly blocked."

It is possible Kim Jong-un may be using the detained Americans to open the way for another former President  possibly George W. Bush  to visit North Korea and open a back channel to Trump in a bid to avert conflict.

Two other US citizens  Otto Warmbier and Kim Dong Chul  are serving prison sentences in North Korea.

Kim Dong Chul, a pastor, was sentenced to 10 years of hard labor last year for spying. In 2016, he was allowed to do an interview with CNN in which he admitted to espionage.

Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years for stealing a propaganda poster and for "crimes against the state."

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) considers itself virtually at war with South Korea and the United States and tensions have risen in recent months since President Trump took over in the White House.

The Korean Central News Agency said Kim Sang Dok "was intercepted for committing criminal acts of hostility aimed to overturn the DPRK not only in the past but also during his last stay before interception."

Pyongyang has conducted numerous nuclear and ballistic missile tests in defiance of international bans and UN sanctions.

But Kim Jong-un has expressed outrage at massive joint military exercises conducted by the US and South Korea and by the introduction of the THAAD missile system.

On April 30, Trump said he would be "honored" to meet North Korea's leader "under the right conditions" and praised him as a "smart cookie" for seizing power after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il in 2011.

 Sputnik

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French Candidates Clash Over Extremism, Russia, Economy In Fiery Debate

RFE/RL May 04, 2017

France's presidential candidates have clashed in a fiery televised debate, hurling insults and criticisms at each other over issues from remaining in the European Union to fighting terrorism and relations with Russia.

The two went into the debate on May 3 with opinion polls showing centrist Emmanuel Macron, 39, with a strong lead of 20 percentage points over far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen, 48, in what is widely seen as France's most important election in decades.

In angry exchanges, Le Pen played up Macron's background as a former investment banker, portraying him as favoring "uberization" of the economy and "globalization gone wild."

Macron savaged her signature policy of abandoning the euro, calling it a "dangerous" plan that would unleash a currency war. He accused her of having no real solutions for economic problems such as chronic unemployment.

"Your strategy is to tell lots of lies, you don't propose anything," he said.

The exchanges at times were barbed and personal, with Macron calling Le Pen a "parasite" and "high priestess of fear," and Le Pen labeling him a "smirking banker."

Le Pen accused Macron of being complacent about Islamic extremism, and said he would allow the European Union to run the country.

"Whatever happens, France will be led by a woman, either me or Madame Merkel," she quipped, referring to the German chancellor.

Macron said Le Pen's policies of exclusion of immigrants and Muslims would play into the terrorists' hands, turn Frenchmen against each other, and lead to "civil war."

Though they differed significantly on relations with Russia, they didn't generate as many sparks on the subject.

Macron said he would try to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve regional issues such as the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, but beyond that he did not believe France and Russia share the same "values and priorities."

Le Pen, who has campaigned on rapprochement with Russia, asserted that she is the politician best-placed to hold talks with Russia, the United States under President Donald Trump, or Britain as it prepares to depart the European Union.

"We have no reason to be in a Cold War with Russia," she said.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/french-candidates- macron-le-pan-clash-over-extremism-russia-economy- fiery-televised-debate/28467142.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Obama Officially Wades Into French Presidential Election

By VOA News May 04, 2017

Former U.S. president Barack Obama officially endorsed French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron Thursday, calling a victory by Marcon "very important to the future of France and the values we care so much about."

Obama said he admired Macron's "liberal values" and said Macron is committed to a better future for the French.

"Because of how important this election is, I am supporting Emmanuel Macron to lead you forward," Obama said, noting that Macron appeals to "people's hopes and not fears," a seeming jab at right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen.

Obama's last minute intervention comes a day after Le Pen and Macron faced off in a scathing two hours of televised debate, and just days before they face each other in a runoff election.

Le Pen portrayed her opponent as a heartless capitalist who is weak on terrorism, while Macron called her a liar and a dangerous extremist.

Le Pen in her opening statement called the former economy minister Macron "the candidate of savage globalization." Macron called Le Pen, who once was forced to kick her extreme-right father out of their National Front political party, the heir to France's far-right faction.

The country's high unemployment rate was on the agenda. Macron called for simplified government regulations and small and medium-sized businesses, while Le Pen promised to tax the products of companies that outsource jobs.

Regarding terrorism, which has taken at least 240 French lives in the past two years, Le Pen called for closing mosques suspected of fostering extremism, expanding prisons, and securing France's borders. Macron called for better online surveillance, more police officers, and better intelligence sharing.

The debate between the far-right Le Pen and her centrist rival Macron could be the climax of the heated campaign, as the two candidates attempt to shore up support from France's voters - 18 percent of whom are estimated to be undecided.

An opinion polling average shows Macron with a 60 percent to 40 percent lead over Le Pen, though that lead has shrunk by about three percentage points since the first round of voting on April 23.

In a poll done immediately after the debate for BFM TV, 63 percent of those surveyed found Macron more convincing compared to 34 percent for Le Pen.

The debate Wednesday night was broadcast to about 20 million viewers on France's two largest television stations. It was billed as a showdown between the two candidates in their first face-to-face appearance.

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German Intelligence Agency Expects More Cyberattacks Before Election

RFE/RL May 04, 2017

Germany's domestic intelligence agency has said it expects more cyberattacks directed against German politicians and officials ahead of a general election in September.

"We expect further attacks, and we are keeping a very close watch on the threats," BfV agency chief Hans-Georg Maassen told a conference in Potsdam near Berlin on May 4.

Maassen said that the agency had detected and managed to thwart repeated e-mail phishing attacks directed at Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Maassen said German officials were on high alert for cyberattacks after reports by U.S. intelligence officials that sensitive materials had been taken from the U.S. Democratic National Committee to influence the U.S. election in 2016.

Maassen added that "large amounts of data" was seized during the May 2015 cyberattack on the Bundestag, or lower house of parliament, which has been blamed on a Russian hacking group known as APT28, Sofacy, or Fancy Bear.

There had been subsequent attacks directed at lawmakers, Merkel's CDU, and other party-affiliated institutions, but it was unclear if they had resulted in the loss of data, Maassen said.

He suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies could decide to use data gathered from such cyberattacks to try to influence the September 24 national election.

"Our counterpart is trying to generate information that can be used for disinformation or for influence operations," Maassen told the conference. "Whether they do it or not is a political decision ... that I assume will be made in the Kremlin."

Merkel, an influential supporter of the sanctions the European Union has imposed on Russia over its interference in Ukraine, is seeking to retain power in the elections.

The group known as Sofacy and by other names is believed to have been formed in 2004 and has been blamed for a wide range of attacks on both governments and financial institutions. Some experts believe the group has close links with Russia's government.

With reporting by Reuters, BBC, and fireeye.com

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/germany-russia- cyberattacks-election/28468137.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran Denounces Saudi Refusal To Engage In Dialogue As 'Destructive'

RFE/RL May 04, 2017

Iran has reacted to a rare televised interview by Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince, accusing him of stoking tensions in the region with a "destructive" statement ruling out dialogue with Tehran.

Prince Muhammad bin Salman, the designated heir to his father, King Salman, said in unusually blunt remarks on May 2 that he would not seek to open dialogue with Iran because Tehran's goal is to dominate the Muslim world.

At one point, the prince said, "We know that the aim of the Iranian regime is to reach the focal point of Muslims [Mecca], and we will not wait until the fight is inside Saudi Arabia. We will work so that the battle is on their side, inside Iran, not in Saudi Arabia."

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on May 3 that "these comments are proof that Saudi Arabia supports terrorism and seeks confrontational and destructive policies in the region and towards Iran."

While Prince Muhammad leveled many criticisms at Iran's Shi'ite-led government, Qassemi said it was Saudi-backed Wahhabism that had bred "radical ideologies" espoused by the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda and that is feeding the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

He said the prince's remarks showed the Saudis, at best, do not understand their region of the world.

"While Western Asia is filled with tension and needs cooperation and understanding among countries, making such comments is a strategic mistake and lacks political sensibility," Qassemi said.

Iranian President Hassan Rohani in February sought to open dialogue with his Sunni Muslim neighbors in a visit to Kuwait during which he said Tehran seeks to restore relations and improve ties with all the Gulf Arab states.

Moreover, Qassemi noted that on May 2, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the Islamic republic was ready to normalize ties with Riyadh if the kingdom halted its bombardment of Yemen -- a move that Prince Muhammad ruled out in the interview.

"Over the past year, Iran has shown in words and deeds that it endeavors towards utilizing common ground to reach understanding and cooperate with all regional countries," Qassemi said.

Riyadh and Tehran earlier this year resolved a major flash point by working out an agreement to allow Iranian pilgrims to attend the 2017 hajj after their absence last year in the wake of a 2015 crowd crush that killed hundreds of Iranian pilgrims.

But otherwise, the atmosphere between Tehran and Riyadh has been increasingly strained and they have no diplomatic relations at present.

Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran last year when Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi Embassy in Tehran to vent anger over Riyadh's execution of a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric.

Moreover, the rivalry between the two regional powers has played out increasingly in proxy wars across the Middle East. Besides backing opposing sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen, they support political rivals in Lebanon, Bahrain, and Iraq.

With reporting by Reuters and Press TV

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/iran-denounces-saudi-refusal- engage-dialogue-destructive-/28467009.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Over Half a Million People Flee Iraqi City of Nineveh on the Outskirts of Mosul

Sputnik News

18:30 04.05.2017

Minister of Displacement and Migration in Iraq Jasim Muhammed al-Jaf has recently revealed that since the start of the operation to liberate the country's city of Nineveh on the outskirts of Mosul from Daesh (October 17, 2016), the number of refugees fleeing the area has reached 600,000 people.

Out of 467,000 refugees who are currently staying in refugee camps 425,000, he said, have fled the western part of Mosul and 42,000 have left from the eastern part.

Seif al Tatusi, an official representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, also known as the UN Refugee Agency, told

Sputnik Arabic that the situation in Mosul is catastrophic and the reported numbers are likely true.

"People are forced to leave their houses because there is no food and medication. Refugees come to the police and the police send them out further to the Refugee Reallocation Center in the city of Hamam al-Alil to the south of Mosul," she told Sputnik.

After being inspected by security forces and undergoing a preliminary examination, they are relocated to various refugee camps, she said. They can choose between refugee camps located in the west and east of Mosul, she added.

The UN Refugee Agency is currently working on setting up the 12th refugee camp for those who fled Mosul, she said.

 Sputnik

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Iraq Grapples With Dilemma of Displaced Mosul Civilians

By Kawa Omar, Rikar Hussein May 04, 2017

The Iraqi government is struggling to accommodate the thousands of people fleeing fighting in west Mosul, and some civilians are being sent back to Islamic State-free sectors in the eastern part of the city to make room, Kurdish officials told VOA.

People have been fleeing Mosul in large numbers since the start of the Iraqi offensive against IS in October 2016. Their ranks rose to 600,000 this week, the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement said.

"Most camps are full now," Ghayath Surchi, spokesman for the Kurdistan Patriotic Union in Mosul, told VOA. "The Iraqi government is accelerating the return of civilians from the east to make space for residents who will flee IS in the west. There is internal pressure to appropriately accommodate the displaced civilians and international pressure to continue advances against the terrorists."

Backed by the U.S.-led coalition, Iraqi forces declared eastern Mosul "fully liberated" in January. Since then, as many as 133,000 residents have returned to their homes in neighborhoods designated as safe, according to the Iraqi migration ministry.

But tens of thousands of people have refused to go back, fearing for their safety if IS returns and wary of renewed clashes. Their ranks continue to swell refugee camps even as thousands are fleeing fighting in the western part of the city.

Cramped camps

IS controls several western neighborhoods, locally known as Old Mosul. At least 400,000 people are believed to be stranded there, and the U.N. refugee agency has warned that they could swamp the already overwhelmed refugee camps.

That lack of a safe haven has affected the pace of the military offensive against IS, Kurdish officials said.

"The concern that thousands more civilians will flee their homes in Old Mosul without a shelter to go to has even slowed the Iraqi operation against IS," Surchi said. "The government should first make sure there is space for them in the refugee camps."

According to the Iraqi government and relief organizations, about 50 percent of displaced Mosul residents are housed in 19 camps near the city. The remainder are sheltering with relatives and tribal communities, or squatting in unfinished or abandoned buildings in other cities.

Those in the cramped camps often complain about a lack of food and water. They report increased infectious skin diseases and diarrhea because of poor sanitary conditions.

"We are put in this camp as if we live on air," said Khadijah Muhsein, 54, who fled the Bab al-Beid district of western Mosul last month. She and her family of seven are housed along with more than 30,000 other displaced people in the Hammam al-Alil camp, south of Mosul.

She said dozens of people were arriving every day, forcing camp organizers to overload tents.

"Why do they keep bringing more people if there is no food to eat and no work to do here?" asked Muhsein.

Dire situation

Fathi Unis, who heads the camp's food distribution, said the Iraqi government is doing its best to meet residents' needs.

"Each person in the camp receives nine kilograms of flour, three kilograms of rice, two kilograms of sugar and one bottle of oil per month," Unis said.

The dire situation in the camps, combined with government efforts to return residents to recaptured neighborhoods, is encouraging many civilians to return home.

But returning residents say most neighborhoods remain unsafe because of IS rockets and car bombings. They complain about shortages of clean water, medicine and government services. They say most businesses remain shuttered, forcing them to depend on savings and charity.

"We're only brought untreated water from the wells. It is very unhygienic," Zaynab Mustafa, who recently returned to Mosul's al-Shuhada area, told VOA.

Mustafa's family members burned most of their furniture for heating because of a lack of fuel during the winter, and they cut back to one meal a day, he said.

"The government is only paying attention to neighborhoods controlled by IS, while we're forgotten here," said Mustafa.

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Report: Iraq, US in Talks to Keep American Troops After IS Fight

By VOA News May 04, 2017

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is reported to be in talks with the Trump administration to keep American troops in Iraq after the fight against Islamic State in the country is over.

Citing U.S. and Iraqi officials, The Associated Press reports that talks are ongoing, but the agreement could conclude that, in contrast to the U.S. withdrawal in 2011, a longer-term presence of U.S. troops is needed to ensure security in Iraq.

The decision to withdraw U.S. combat forces was implemented by former President Barack Obama after Iraqi and U.S. negotiators could not agree on details for extending an immunity agreement covering U.S. forces and U.S. contractors.

"So perhaps we shouldn't have gone in, and certainly we shouldn't have left," Trump said in March during a White House meeting with Iraq's prime minister. "We should never ever have left, and the vacuum was created."

Iraqi forces have been battling Islamic State militants on the ground with the backing of airstrikes from a U.S.-led coalition. The major focus of that campaign is the offensive to retake the city of Mosul from IS militants, who swept into the city in mid-2014.

Talks on keeping U.S. forces in Iraq after the fight against IS involve U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Iraqi officials over "what the long-term U.S. presence would look like,'' a U.S. official told AP, adding that discussions were in early stages and "nothing has been finalized.''

Trump administration officials have not yet commented publicly on the AP report.

At the height of the Iraq war, more than 170,000 U.S. troops were in Iraq. Currently, there are several thousand American troops in the country.

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Myanmar: Displaced Rohingya at risk of 're-victimization' warns UN refugee agency

4 May 2017  The tens of thousands of members of Myanmar's Rohingya community who fled inter-communal violence in north of the country and sought refuge in Bangladesh remain highly vulnerable and risk being "re-victimized even in exile" unless urgent action is taken, a senior United Nations refugee protection official has warned.

According to Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates, as of February, some 74,000 Rohingya members were living in camps and makeshift sites in Bangladesh, many in need of adequate shelter before the rainy season starts.

"Without proper support, they also face risks such as child labour, gender-based violence and trafficking," said Shinji Kubo, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh, in a news release issued by the Office.

While Rohingya displacement has persisted for decades, it made headlines last October when attacks on border posts in Myanmar's northern Rakhine province triggered a security clearance operation that drove an estimated 43,000 civilians into neighbouring Bangladesh by the year's end.

In a report (issued in February) into the violence, the UN human rights wing (OHCHR) had documented mass gang-rape, killings, including that of babies and young children, brutal beatings, disappearances and other serious human rights violations by Myanmar's security forces.

Many witnesses and victims interviewed by OHCHR had also described being taunted while they were being beaten, raped or rounded up, such as being told "you are Bangladeshis and you should go back" or "What can your Allah do for you? See what we can do?"

Inter-communal violence, economic hardship driving desperation

The latest findings released by UNHCR in its new report on mixed movements in south-east Asia indicate that more than 168,000 Rohingya members could have fled Myanmar in the last five years. The total number of Rohingya refugees in the region and those internally displaced is estimated at 420,000 and 120,000 respectively.

Prior to the recent violence, Malaysia was the preferred destination for many Rohingya.

Between 2012 and 2015, an estimated 112,500 of them risked their lives on smuggler's boats in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea in the hope of reaching Malaysia, with hopes of finding work in the informal sector.

Those who made this difficult sea journey ranged from individuals fleeing the 2012 inter-communal violence in Rakhine to those who grew increasingly desperate amid restrictions back home on their freedom of movement and access to services and livelihoods.

However, after regional Governments increased action against maritime smuggling networks in 2015, the route has been disrupted, with no confirmed boat arrivals in Malaysia last year. Furthermore, among those who tried to reach Malaysia overland in 2016, more than 100  about half of them Rohingya  were reportedly arrested in Myanmar and Thailand.

The UNHCR report also explores other routes taken by the Rohingya, including to India via Bangladesh. It notes a steady but slowing stream of arrivals since 2012 numbering at least 13,000 people.

"Looking at the declining arrival numbers in India, it is safe to assume that this overland route has not replaced the maritime one," said Keane Shum of UNHCR's Regional Mixed Movements Monitoring Unit.

"Compared to those who went to Malaysia by sea, the Rohingya in India travelled in larger family units and chose the route as it was cheaper and safer."

Young women, girls at particular risk

In addition to analyzing displacement patterns, the report also looked at the situation of Rohingya women and girls in Malaysia, India and Indonesia, using a snapshot of some 85 women and girls. The findings revealed that majority among them were married young (at 16 or 17) and gave birth at an average age of 18. Almost a third of them reported facing domestic violence and many said that while they would like to earn their own income, only a few were doing so despite having skills.

Those in India appeared to be more literate and educated, and were more likely to have chosen their own husbands. In contrast, those in Malaysia were more likely to have married someone chosen by their families or by brokers or agents.

On its part, the UN agency has been working with host countries on temporary stay and protection of Rohingya refugees, including supporting them to access basic services and legal work to help them become more self-reliant until longer-term solutions are found as well as advocating with the Myanmar authorities for the full resumption of humanitarian access to vulnerable people in northern Rakhine state.

"We stand ready to support Government efforts to promote co-existence and address issues related to citizenship," said UNHCR.

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Poll: Number Of Russians Who Would Vote For Putin Slips Below 50 Percent

RFE/RL May 04, 2017

A new opinion poll indicates that 48 percent of voters would cast their ballots for incumbent President Vladimir Putin if Russia's presidential election were held in the near future.

The figure in the April 21-24 poll by the independent Levada-Center was down from 62 percent in a similar poll in April 2015 and 53 percent in January 2016.

Putin, in power as president or prime minister since 1999, is widely expected to seek a new six-year presidential term in a March 2018 election. He has not announced his candidacy.

Levada polled 1,600 adults nationwide, asking them whether they would vote -- and for whom -- if the election were held "next Sunday." The pollsters did not name any candidates, leaving it up to the respondents to do so.

Flamboyant ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky and Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov received 3 percent piece, while opposition politician Aleksei Navalny was one of four people who were each named by about 1 percent of respondents.

Staunch Putin critic Navalny is campaigning for the presidency, but it is unclear whether the authorities will put him on the ballot.

Putin was named by 49 percent of respondents to a similar Levada poll in April 2014, and by 29 percent in April 2013.

In Russian presidential elections, a candidate must win more than 50 percent of the votes cast to avoid a runoff.

According to official results, Putin won about 64 percent in 2012, about 72 percent in 2004, and about 53 percent in 2000.

In a March 31-April 3 Levada poll, 64 percent of the respondents said they would like Putin to win another term in 2018, while 22 percent said they would like to see another person as president, and 14 percent were unable to answer the question.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-levada-poll -putin-48-percent/28467840.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Iran, Russia, Turkey sign deal to set up safe zones in Syria

Iran Press TV

Thu May 4, 2017 1:11PM

Turkey, Iran and Russia, the three countries behind peace efforts in Syria, have signed a memorandum on creating de-escalation zones in Syria.

The deal was signed during the fourth round of the Syria peace talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Moscow put forward the idea of setting up safe zones in four areas in northern, central and southern Syria, where the most intense fighting is underway between the Syrian government and different militant groups.

The Russian proposal seeks to "put an immediate end to the violence" gripping Syria and "provide the conditions for the safe, [and] voluntary return of refugees," AFP reported citing a version of the initiative provided by a source close to the opposition.

Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov has announced that the fifth round of the Astana negotiations would be held in mid-July.

After the agreement was reached, some members of the Syrian opposition delegation shouted in protest and walked out of the Astana talks.

Syria opposition says safe zones plan divides nation

Syria's opposition delegation in Astana said on Thursday that it could not accept creating safe zones in Syria, because the plan threatened the country's territorial integrity.

"We want Syria to maintain its integrity," Opposition delegate Osama Abu Zaid was quoted by Reuters as saying.

He added, "We are against the division of Syria. As for the agreements, we are not a party to that agreement and of course we will never be in favor (of it) as long as Iran is called a guarantor state."

Safe zones bid step toward peace in Syria: UN envoy

Following the signing ceremony, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura hailed the safe zones plan as a step in the right direction towards real cessation of hostilities in Syria.

"Today in Astana I think we have been able to witness an important promising positive step in the right direction in the process of de-escalation of the conflict," he said.

Syria safe zones key step to consolidate truce: Lavrov

Earlier on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov underlined the importance of the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria, saying the initiative could serve as a key step to reinforce the ceasefire in the Arab country.

"A relatively new idea is being discussed in Astana: the formation of de-escalation zones in Syria with the participation of all interested parties and of course [getting] the consent of the Syrian government, which should be an important step toward strengthening the ceasefire," he said after talks with his Finnish counterpart, Timo Soini, in Porvoo.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he had discussed de-escalation zones with Damascus and Tehran as well as his Turkish and US counterparts, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump, respectively.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Lavrov expressed hope that the latest round of UN-brokered Syria talks in the Swiss city of Geneva would be held this month.

'Russia ready to cooperate with US, Saudi Arabia on Syria'

Also on Tuesday, Russia's Special Envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentyev expressed Moscow's readiness to work more closely with the US and Saudi Arabia concerning the Syria crisis.

"Unfortunately, the Americans are still ignoring our attempts to establish closer military cooperation, but we will keep trying," Lavrentyev said.

Accord could resolve 50% of Syria conflict: Erdogan

Erdogan said Thursday that he believed that if the idea of creating "safe zones is implemented, then 50 percent of the Syrian issue can be solved."

Speaking to Turkish reporters while flying back from the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Erdogan said de-escalation zones would include Syria's Idlib Province, a part of Aleppo Province, al-Rastan district in Homs Province, and parts of the cities of Damascus and Dara'a.

Since March 2011, Syria has been gripped by militancy it blames on some Western states and their regional allies.

Safe zones include Idlib, Aleppo, Latakia, Homs: Turkey

Meanwhile, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said the Syria safe zones agreement would cover all of Idlib Province, as well as parts of the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia and Homs.

The deal would ban all use of weapons and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid in the aforesaid areas, the ministry added.

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Syria fully supports Russian safe zones initiative: Foreign Ministry

Iran Press TV

Thu May 4, 2017 5:19AM

Damascus says it fully supports a Russian proposal for the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria, in an initiative meant to boost the ceasefire in the Arab country and facilitate the progress of peace talks between the warring sides.

Late Wednesday, Syria's official news agency SANA cited a Foreign Ministry source as saying that Damascus backs the Russian plan and remains fully committed to the countrywide ceasefire deal it signed with the militants last December.

The support, the source added, is in line with the Syrian government's commitment to protecting the lives of people, helping them return to their normal lives and raising the living standard of citizens who have suffered from the foreign-backed crisis in the country.

The report also emphasized the Syrian army's determination to continue its battles against Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham as well as other affiliated Takfiri terror groups across the country.

The Russian plan was put forward on Wednesday, the first day of the fourth round of peace talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Based on the proposal, four hot spots would be singled out in the areas where the most intense fighting is underway between the Syrian government and different militant groups.

AFP cited a version of the initiative provided by a source close to the opposition as saying that the de-escalation zones would be created in the Syrian provinces of Idlib and Homs as well as the Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus.

However, reports say the details are being worked out, and the document would be ready for signing later on Thursday, which marks the second day of the talks.

The Astana process, which started in January, is being mediated by Iran, Russia and Turkey, the three guarantors of the ceasefire in Syria. Tehran and Moscow are allies of the Syrian government, while Ankara supports different militant groups.

Summarizing the first day of the talks, Russia's special presidential envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, said that Moscow's initiative would help separate Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham terrorists from other militants in conflict zones.

"As you know, the Russian Federation is making intensive efforts to promote the Syrian peace settlement and is developing various schemes to strengthen the ceasefire agreement and make this agreement more effective," added Lavrentiev, who is leading Moscow's delegation in Astana.

The new round of Astana negotiations also marks the first time the US is represented by a senior diplomat. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Stuart Jones is attending the talks.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, voiced support for the de-escalation zones.

However, hours after the start of the fourth round on Wednesday, the so-called Syrian National Coalition (SNC), an opposition delegation, suspended its participation in the talks, calling on the government to end its airstrikes.

The UN's Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, called on the militants to return to the negotiating table "because what is important is also to look at the possibility of an outcome on a de-escalation."

He stressed the importance of not destroying "the opportunity of good news" related to this issue.

Lavrentiev also dismissed the militants' ultimatum as a bid to put pressure on Moscow, Tehran and Ankara. "The Syrian opposition must participate in the talks," he said. "We hope common sense prevails."

However, the RIA news agency reported that the delegation representing the armed opposition returned to the peace talks on Thursday.

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Iran, Russia underline need for political solution for Syria crisis

Iran Press TV

Wed May 3, 2017 7:32PM

Iran and Russia have underlined the need for a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

During a telephone conversation on Wednesday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev discussed the latest developments on Syria.

The two officials underlined the need for a lasting ceasefire in Syria and further consultations between Damascus, Moscow and Tehran on finding ways to speed up the realization of a political solution to the crisis in the Arab country.

"Focusing on solutions that are based on regional cooperation can expedite the process to end the security crisis in Syria," Shamkhani told Patrushev.

The Iranian official also stressed the continuation of political talks between the Damascus government and the opposition.

"Respecting the [Syrian] people's demand in freely determining their fate and future, and avoiding any foreign interference in the political talks need to be taken into consideration" during the negotiations, he added.

The Russian official, for his part, underlined the need for continued consultations between Moscow and Tehran on Syria.

He said that certain extra-regional players were seeking Syria's partition in total disregard for the Arab country's territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

The promotion of ceasefire and new political initiatives could foil such a plot for Syria's breakup, Patrushev added.

The fourth round of the Astana peace talks aimed at bringing an end to the deadly conflict in Syria began with a series of bilateral meetings in the Kazakh capital on Wednesday.

The Astana peace talks have been mediated by Iran, Russia and Turkey.

The first round of the Astana talks between Syria's warring sides took place on January 23-24, followed by the second round on February 15-16 and the third round on March 14-15.

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Russia, Turkey, Iran Sign Syria Safe-Zone Deal, As Opposition Cries Foul

RFE/RL May 04, 2017

Russia, Turkey, and Iran on May 4 signed a memorandum that calls for establishing safe zones in Syria where cease-fires are meant to be implemented -- including no-fly zones -- in order to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.

But Syria's opposition delegation at the peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, where the memorandum was signed, has rejected the proposal.

Opposition delegates on May 4 accused Iran of being a party in the war and vowed that they will never support the safe-zone plan as long as Iran has any role as a cease-fire guarantor.

"Iran is a country that is killing the Syrian people and the killer cannot be the rescuer," said Abu Osama Golani, an opposition commander who attended the Astana gathering.

Osama Abud Zayd, a spokesman for Syrian opposition military factions, also expressed skepticism about Russia's credibility in connection with the proposed safe zones, saying there is a "huge gap" between Russia's promises and its actions.

Referring to a truce deal announced by Russia in December that has been largely ignored on the ground, Zayd said: "We have an agreement already in our hands...signed five months ago. Why hasn't it been implemented? Why are we jumping now to safe zones?

"Russia was not able to or does not want to implement the pledges it makes, and this is a fundamental problem," Zayd said.

Zayd also said Moscow had no answer to the question of how to deal with any violations of the cease-fire by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces or by Iran, which has fighters on the ground supporting the government forces.

Iran and Russia have backed Assad's government throughout the war, while Turkey supports its some of Assad's opponents.

As the memorandum was being signed on May 4 by Russia, Turkey, and Iran -- the three countries sponsoring the Astana talks and the three guarantors to the agreement -- part of the delegation representing Syria's armed opposition shouted and walked out of the conference hall in protest.

"We do not accept Iran's involvement as a guarantor country," a member of the opposition delegation shouted while Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov was speaking.

The United States cautiously welcomed the Russia-backed plan for safe zones in Syria.

But in a May 4 statement, the State Department said it continues to have "concerns about the Astana agreement, including the involvement of Iran as a so-called "guarantor."

"Iran's activities in Syria have only contributed to the violence, not stopped it, and Iran's unquestioning support for the Assad regime has perpetuated the misery of ordinary Syrians," it said.

It also said that while the Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Stuart Jones attended the Astana conference, the United States was "not a direct participant in the negotiations and are not, at this point, a party to the agreement."

"In light of the failures of past agreements, we have reason to be cautious," the State Department said. "We expect the regime to stop all attacks on civilians and opposition forces, something they have never done. We expect Russia to ensure regime compliance."

Washington said Syria's opposition "must also live up to its commitments, with Turkey as the guarantor," to separate themselves from "designated terrorist groups," including the Al-Qaeda group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.

UN Special Envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura called the agreement an "important, promising, positive step in the right direction in the process of de-escalation of the conflict."

He said the initiative "is actually a step in the right direction because it is pushing for a concrete de-escalation in addition to the cease-fire in four areas."

The memorandum calls for setting up four "de-escalation zones" in northern, central, and southern Syria, where Assad's forces are fighting rebels in a war that has killed some 400,000 people since 2011.

The safe zones, originally proposed by Russia, would aim to end violence and allow for the return of refugees and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

They would be surrounded by checkpoints manned by opposition and government troops.

Foreign troops also could be deployed in observer roles.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the deal entails "nonconflict zones" in all of Idlib Province; parts of Lattakia, Aleppo, and Hama provinces; parts of Homs Province; and the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta.

Ankara said the deal also would apply to areas of Daraa and Quneitra provinces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for Syria, Aleksandr Lavrentyev, said the agreement will go into effect on May 6.

Lavrentyev said the armed opposition "would be directly combating terrorist organization groups" in the safe zones.

He said Russian warplanes would not fly over the designated zones and the Syrian Air Force was expected to refrain from flying over those areas, as well.

Lavrentyev said the Syrian government has vowed to abide by the agreement unless attacks are carried out against government forces by opposition groups in those areas.

He also said Turkey, Iran, and Russia have agreed on the possibility of allowing international observers to monitor the cease-fire if there is "unanimity" on that issue.

Lavrentyev said that if the cease-fire is "durable, then we could possibly talk about" the withdrawal of Iranian-controlled forces from Syria.

Abdrakhmanov said that the next round of talks in the so-called Astana process would be held in mid-July.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the safe-zones plan with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting on May 3 and with U.S. President Donald Trump by telephone on May 2.

The United States leads an international coalition that is conducting air strikes and other operations against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.

Russia says it is also battling IS in Syria, but Western officials say the Russian military operations have mainly targeted Assad's opponents.

The United States has mainly backed a separate UN-sponsored peace process in Geneva.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, BBC, RIA Novosti, TASS, and Interfax

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/syria-opposition-returns- to-peace-talks/28467952.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russia Needs No Parliamentary Approval to Send Monitors to Syrian Safe Zones

Sputnik News

20:24 04.05.2017(updated 20:26 04.05.2017)

Sending Russian observers to monitor truce in safe zones in Syria will not require additional approval by the country's Federation Council, as such operations will take place within the already-established anti-terrorist mission in the country, the chairman of the Russian upper house of parliament's Defense and Security committee told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, Syrian ceasefire guarantor states  Russia, Iran and Turkey  signed a memorandum on four safe zones in Syria within the framework of negotiations in Astana on Syrian settlement, which involved Damascus and the Syrian opposition delegations. The Russian delegation head of the Astana talks and Special Presidential Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev said that Russia was ready to send its observers to monitor ceasefire.

"Sending of the Russian observers does not require the additional decision of the Federation Council. They can be sent as part of the anti-terrorist operation in Syria, which has already been approved, as one of the operation's purposes is to facilitate return to peaceful life," Viktor Ozerov said.

According to the Russian constitution, the Federation Council is in charge of solving questions regarding the use of Russian Armed Forces abroad.

On September 30, 2015, the Russian Federation Council unanimously approved sending of the Russian Aerospace Forces to support fight against terrorists in Syria at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Creation of Safe Zones Signals Shift to Peaceful Life in Syria

"This is an undeniable step forward, a step toward peace process in Syria It is not about fight against terrorism but about the transition to peaceful life, and this is what the establishment of the de-escalation zones provides for," Ozerov said.

Ozerov noted that the creation of the safe zone would facilitate the delivery of international aid to Syrian settlements in need and would allow the Syrian economy to recover as well as let the state's schools and hospitals in these parts of the state, where the zones will be located, resume their work.

The Syrian civil war has been raging for six years, with government forces fighting against both Syrian opposition groups who strive to overthrow President Bashar Assad, and numerous extremist and terrorist groups such as Daesh and Jabhat Fatah al Sham (al-Nusra Front), both of which are outlawed in Russia.

Syrian settlement talks take place on two parallel platforms: the UN-mediated Geneva talks, and the Astana talks, brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran. The three aforementioned states are the guarantors of a nationwide Syrian ceasefire regime that came into force on December 30, 2016.

 Sputnik

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Memorandum Signed: What Are the Safe Zones in Syria?

Sputnik News

20:18 04.05.2017(updated 21:10 04.05.2017)

The three ceasefire guarantor states, namely Russia, Turkey and Iran, have adopted the memorandum on creation of four zones of de-escalation of tensions in Syria on the second day of the latest round of talks on Syrian settlement in Astana.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian delegation head at Astana talks and Special Presidential Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev said that the delegation had not managed to speak to the representatives of the armed Syrian opposition, even though there were topics for discussion.

"Unfortunately, we did not manage to speak to the armed opposition, even though we had issues to discuss from the point of view of the decisions which were taken at this meeting within the framework of reaching the memorandum on de-escalation zones," Lavrentyev told reporters.

Proposals

According to the text of the memorandum, the zone of de-escalation of tensions in Syria will be established in Daraa and Quneitra provinces.

"Guarantor states agreed to create de-escalation zones in Idlib province and parts of the neighboring provinces (Latakia, Hama and Aleppo), certain parts in the north of Homs province, Eastern Ghouta, certain parts in Syria's south (Daraa and Quneitra provinces)," the memorandum reads.

The warring parties in the Syrian conflict will not be able to use any weapons in the zones of de-escalation in Syria, as well as will not be able to conduct airstrikes.

"Within the borders of de-escalation zones military actions between the warring sides (the Syrian government and the formations of the armed opposition that have already joined or will join the ceasefire regime) stop, including the use of any weapons, including airstrikes," the text reads.

Russian delegation head at Astana talks and Special Presidential Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev said that Russia was ready to send its observers to the safe zones in Syria and did not rule out other countries taking part in monitoring de-escalation.

"Russia is ready to take part in sending its observers to the so-called safe zones to take part in monitoring of the adherence to the cessation of hostilities, registering positive violations, but we as guarantor states agreed that participation of other countries is also possible but only on the basis of consensus [of the guarantors]," he told reporters.

Lavrentyev added that all the hostilities in the mentioned areas would cease by May 6.

Also, the memorandum envisages safe areas along the zones' borders to prevent direct fire between the warring sides.

"Along the borders of the de-escalation zones, it is envisaged to create safe areas to prevent incidents and direct clashes between the warring parties," the memorandum reads.

The working group of the Syrian ceasefire guarantor states within the framework of the project will complete the preparation of the necessary maps by June 4.

"The Guarantors shall take steps to complete by 4 June 2017 the preparation of the maps of the de-escalation areas and security zones," the memorandum reads.

Lavrentyev said the de-escalation zones in Syria would be a temporary measure which will be enforced for six months initially with possibility of extension.

"We agreed that the de-escalation zones will be established for a period of six months with the option of automatic extension for another six months unless there will not be some circumstances and the guarantor states will take the other decision. The memorandum can be indefinite if needed," he told reporters.

Reaction

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said that the memorandum on the establishment of four de-escalation zones in Syria is a right step in direction toward actual ceasefire in the country.

"This initiative is a step in right direction because it is pushing for concrete de-escalation in four zones," de Mistura told reporters.

According to the official, the United Nations is "strongly supportive" of the initiative.

"I will be consulting the SC [UN Security Council] and Syrian partners in light of this new development to set the date for next Geneva talks. I will not announce it now," he added.

Bashar Jaafari, the head of the Syrian government delegation to the Astana talks, also welcomed the signing of the memorandum, expressing hope for swift implementation.

"Syria supports the Russian initiative on de-escalation zones Syria affirms continuation of the war against terrorism. We wish that our Russian, Iranian friends will discuss details of implementation of this memorandum as soon as possible," Jaafari told reporters.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Jaberi Ansari said the memorandum may lead to crucial changes in the country given its successful implementation.

"The document signed by the representatives of the ceasefire guarantor states, if properly implemented, could lead to fundamental changes in Syria," Ansari told reporters.

The deputy minister added that the memorandum should be implemented one month after signing.

"One month after signing of agreement it should be implemented, " Ansari told reporters, asked when the memorandum would be implemented.

Ansari noted that a number of other documents were still on the table, namely, on detainees and demining of Palmyra.

"Of course there is still a number of other documents on the table, like on detainees release and demining of Palmyra. They have been discussed, but not finalized," Ansari said.

Next Round

Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said that the next round of intra-Syrian talks in Astana would be held in mid-July, while two weeks before that an expert meeting would take place in Ankara.

"It was decided to hold the next high-level meeting in Astana in mid-July 2017, and preliminary expert consultations two weeks before in Ankara," Abdrakhmanov told reporters.

The first three rounds of talks on Syrian settlement brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran, were held in Kazakh capital Astana on January 23-24, February 15-16 and March 14-15. During the talks, the participants agreed to set up a ceasefire monitoring group, among other issues.

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Syrian Army Takes Al-Shumariya Mountains Under Control, Sends Terrorists Fleeing

Sputnik News

17:11 04.05.2017(updated 17:14 04.05.2017)

A military source in the Syrian military information center told Sputnik Arabic that the Syrian Army has taken the Al-Shumariya mountain chain in eastern part of the Homs Governorate under control, sending terrorists fleeing the area.

As the result of the fierce fighting, the government army has liberated a 9 km long and 13 km wide strip of the Al-Shumariya mountain chain from militants, following multiple strikes by Russian air force warplanes and attack helicopters on Daesh positions in the area, the source told Sputnik.

The fighting is still going on near the al-Shumariya and Jabal al-Jirah mountain range in eastern Homs, he said.

The Tel al-Triks and Tel al-Ialam heights of the Al-Shumariya chain are also under the control of the Assad army, which opens a route for the government forces to make further advances. Dozens of terrorists have been killed and many wounded in the fighting.

According to the source, the army has cut short an attempt by the militants to capture army positions to the west of Maksir al Hisan village near the mountain chain, with many militants being reported killed during the battle, and many more seen fleeing.

He refuted reports that the army has halted its operation to liberate the northern part of the Homs Governorate. The army, he said, is continuing its assault on the positions of terrorists and is strengthening it positions on all fronts.

In Daraa city in southwestern Syria the army is attacking the militants in the districts of Tarik al-Sad, al-Abasiaya, al-Furn, around al-Jumruk al-Kadim and on the southeastern outskirts. Again, many terrorists have been either killed there or were seriously wounded, he said.

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Lavrov: De-Escalation Zones in Syria Should Consolidate Truce

Sputnik News

12:57 04.05.2017

The formation of safe zones in Syria should serve as a key step toward consolidating the nationwide ceasefire, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday after talks with his Finnish counterpart Timo Soini.

PORVOO (Finland), (Sputnik)  According to documents obtained by Sputnik, Russia proposed to set up four security zones  in Idlib province, to the north of the city of Homs, in Eastern Ghouta, and in the south of Syria.

"A relatively new idea is being discussed in Astana: the formation of de-escalation zones in Syria with the participation of all interested parties and of course the consent of the Syrian government, which should be an important step toward strengthening the ceasefire," Lavrov said on a visit to Finland.

Moscow hopes for the success of the latest round of Syrian reconciliation talks in Astana.

"We very much count on the success of the fourth round of Astana talks in the capital of Kazakhstan, primarily from the viewpoint of consolidating the ceasefire regime, coordinating the mechanism of responding to violations, carrying out mine clearing activities," Lavrov said.

Speaking about Geneva-based talks on Syria, Lavrov expressed hopes the negotiations would resume in May.

"We hope that negotiations will continue at the Geneva site this month, which are primarily dedicated to resolving a set of issues related to the political settlement of the conflict, when ultimately the Syrian people itself must determine the future of its country," Lavrov said.

The Astana talks on Syrian crisis settlement brought together the representatives of the Syrian government and the armed opposition groups for the first time in the six years of the Syrian war. Among other results, Russia, Iran and Turkey have agreed to establish a trilateral mechanism to monitor the ceasefire that came into effect on December 30, 2016.

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Statement on Russia, Turkey, and Iran's De-Escalation Zones Plan for Syria

Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

May 4, 2017

Russia, Turkey, and Iran, at the conference in Astana, announced agreement today on an effort to reduce the violence in certain areas of Syria. The United States was represented at the Astana conference by Acting Assistant Secretary Stuart Jones. We were not a direct participant in the negotiations and are not, at this point, a party to the agreement.

The United States supports any effort that can genuinely de-escalate the violence in Syria, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, focus energies on the defeat of ISIS and other terrorists, and create the conditions for a credible political resolution of the conflict.

We appreciate the efforts of Turkey and the Russian Federation to pursue this agreement and have encouraged the Syrian opposition to participate actively in the discussions despite the difficult conditions on the ground.

We continue to have concerns about the Astana agreement, including the involvement of Iran as a so-called "guarantor." Iran's activities in Syria have only contributed to the violence, not stopped it, and Iran's unquestioning support for the Assad regime has perpetuated the misery of ordinary Syrians.

In light of the failures of past agreements, we have reason to be cautious. We expect the regime to stop all attacks on civilians and opposition forces, something they have never done. We expect Russia to ensure regime compliance.

The opposition must also live up to its commitments, with Turkey as the guarantor, to separate from designated terrorist groups, including Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, which continue to hijack the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for a representative and accountable government.

We nonetheless hope that this arrangement can contribute to a de-escalation of violence, end the suffering of the Syrian people, and set the stage for a political settlement of the conflict. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the Russian Federation on efforts to that can responsibly end the Syria conflict. We continue to strongly support the UN-led process in Geneva, under the stewardship of Staffan de Mistura, as the center of international efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement.

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UN envoy commends plan to setup de-escalation zones as 'promising positive step'

4 May 2017  Following today's signing of a deal to setup so-called 'de-escalation zones' in Syria, the United Nations envoy for the war-torn country praised the agreement and said its success could bolster the path towards peace talks.

"Today in Astana I think we have been able to witness an important, promising and positive step in the right direction in the process of de-escalation of the conflict," said Staffan de Mistura, who witnessed today's signing.

He is in Astana as an observer to the latest round of the Astana talks aimed to bolster the ceasefire regime brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran in late December 2016.

"The hard work of Iran, Russian Federation, Turkey and the presence at the senior level of the United States of America and of Jordan has produced something that we believe as a UN is a very significant, and in my opinion  our opinion  is a promising step," Mr. de Mistura also noted.

While details of the de-escalation agreement between the three guarantor parties have not been made public, expectations have been raised that it will lead to greater humanitarian access for the 6.3 million Syrians still living in the country.

Speaking to journalists today, Mr. de Mistura said that "if and when" the de-escalation agreement becomes concrete, it would be "conducive and helping" the intra-Syrian discussions.

"We hope it is going to be concrete in the next two weeks for the resumption of the Geneva talks," the UN envoy said.

The intra-Syrian talks taking place in Geneva, held in parallel to the Astana talks, aim for a political solution to the six-year conflict. The discussions are guided by UN Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), focusing on matters of governance, a schedule and process to draft a new constitution and the holding of elections as the basis for a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned process to end the conflict. The last round wrapped up in March.

In addition to today's agreement, Mr. de Mistura said that the three guarantor countries, plus Jordan and US, have been discussing humanitarian demining in Syria and the issue of detainees, missing people and abductees.

"Both areas have not been yet formally finalized but we believe is being almost finalized, we believe, in imminent discussions. This is also a very good development. Conclusion: this is an important day," said Mr. de Mistura.

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Ankara Threatens Military Action Against Kurdish Groups Despite Ally Warnings

By Dorian Jones May 04, 2017

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeatedly has warned that force will be used to end the presence of Kurdish groups YPG and PKK in Syria and Iraq.

"We do not differentiate between terrorist organizations. Daesh, YPG, al-Qaida are all the same for us," Erdogan said Wednesday at a press conference, with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Erdogan said the nation's forces will continue to carry out military operations across its southern borders. "It is better for them to live in fear than us being worried about terror attacks," Erdogan said Sunday, warning of a military cross-border operation.

Turkish jets struck the Iraqi Sinjar region last month, targeting the Syrian Kurdish militia the YPG and PKK.

Ankara asserts that the YPG is an affiliate of the PKK, which is fighting the Turkish government for greater minority rights, and is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.

But Washington views the YPG as the most effective force in fighting so-called Islamic State in Syria.

Backed by U.S. forces, the Kurdish militia has made sweeping gains in the region against the jihadists.

"As we speak, the PKK is building a new state," according to political consultant Atilla Yesilada of Global Source Partners, who says such success is forcing Ankara's hand.

"I understand the Syrian Kurds' own aspirations to form a new state. But the human infrastructure, or governance infrastructure, is captured by PKK. The PYD and YPG is nothing but PKK, and Turkey cannot allow that," said Yesilada.

Turkish infantry and armor are steadily being built up along the border of regions under YPG control. Analysts suggest any incursion could seek to break up the corridor of territory carved out by the Syrian Kurdish militia, with Turkish forces seeking to work with local Arab tribes in the region.

In a move widely seen to deter further Turkish military action against the YPG, Washington and Moscow have deployed armed forces in Syrian and Iraqi Kurdish regions close to the Turkish frontier.

The deployment is part of a growing U.S. military presence, "In Northern Syria there are four forward operation bases used by US armed forces as well as two military airstrips expanded, so the deployment is not insignificant," points out Aydin Selcen, a former senior Turkish diplomat who widely served across the region.

A Turkish presidential advisor has warned US forces could be inadvertently hit by future attacks. "It doesn't matter whether they [U.S.] are patrolling there. If those PKK terrorists continue their activities within Turkey," said presidential advisor Ilnur Cevik in a radio interview Wednesday. "Suddenly you could happen to see there are few missiles that hit them [Americans] accidentally, too!"

Cevik later attempted to walk back the comment in a tweet,"Turkey has never and will never hit its allies anywhere, and that includes the U.S. in Syria."

Experts warn that any cross-border operation carries major risks.

"This would be an adventure, because Turkey has enough problems within the country, and Turkey has enough problems beyond its borders. Already there are substantial Turkish forces in Syria," said retired general Haldun Solmazturk, a veteran of past Turkish military incursions into Iraq against the PKK. "The last thing Turkey needs is a further intervention and further escalation, not only with the United States, but with Russia, with Damascus, with Arab countries, or Iran. I mean Turkey has already isolated itself enough."

During his Sochi meeting, Erdogan reportedly challenged Putin over Russian forces supporting Syrian Kurdish militia the YPG. Erdogan also is expected to press the issue during his meeting later this month with President Donald Trump.

Analysts suggest the threats to use the large Turkish military deployments on the Iraqi and Syrian border could be just a ploy by Erdogan to gain leverage with Moscow and Washington. But last month's Turkish airstrikes in Iraq, which took Turkey's allies by surprise, are a warning of the unpredictability of Ankara.

"It also gives signal to the world, to coalition partners, that if Ankara believes it's being pushed into a corner, it can resort to military means, and so it keeps all options open on the table," oberved retired senior Turkish diplomat Selcen.

The growing centralization of power in Erdogan's hands, which got a further boost in last month's referendum, is seen as another factor making it hard to determine whether the president is bluffing over a cross-border operation.

"It cannot be ruled out, because President Erdogan is the single ultimate decision maker within the Turkish political system," points out Solmazturk, who heads the Ankara based think tank 21st Century Turkey Institute. "He is able to make any decision personally alone, overruling any opposing views. He has proven as before an unpredictable person, proven to change his mind from this hour to the next."

With rumors of a possible early election, the Turkish president also is courting nationalist voters.

Analysts point out Erdogan is well aware that the Turkish army's Operation Euphrates Shield into Syria, against both the YPG and IS, was overwhelmingly supported by the public.

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Ukraine Tries Ex-President Yanukovych In Absentia For Treason

RFE/RL May 04, 2017

KYIV -- Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is being tried in absentia on high treason charges in Kyiv.

The trial began on May 4 at the Obolon District Court in the capital, with two lawyers representing Yanukovych.

Yanukovych abandoned office in late February 2014 and fled to Russia in the face of massive protests triggered by his decision to scrap plans for a landmark deal with the European Union and improve trade ties with Moscow.

Dozens of people were killed in attempts to clamp down on the protests.

Yanukovych, who remains in Russia, is accused of treason, violating Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and abetting Russian aggression.

In the wake of Yanukovych's downfall, Russia seized control of the Crimean Peninsula and fomented separatism across eastern and southern Ukraine.

Kyiv and NATO say Moscow has given separatists who took over parts of the eastern Donbas region substantial military support in a war that has killed more than 9,900 people since April 2014.

Ukrainian authorities say a key piece of evidence against Yanukovych is a letter in which they say he asked the Russian leadership to intervene.

Russia's ambassador to the United Nations at the time, the late Vitaly Churkin, displayed the letter at a UN Security Council meeting on March 4, 2014, two weeks before Moscow claimed to have completed the procedure of making Crimea part of Russia.

A man officials say was a key witness in the case, former Russian lawmaker Denis Voronenkov, was shot dead in broad daylight in Kyiv on March 23.

Ukrainian authorities called the slaying of Voronenkov, who had defected to Ukraine in October, the "public killing of a witness" in the case.

Ilya Ponomaryov, another former Russian lawmaker who has left Russia, is expected to testify as a witness. Ponomaryov was the only member of the State Duma, Russia's lower parliament house, to vote against the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

After a debate between the state prosecutor and defense lawyers at the court session on May 4, Judge Vladyslav Devyatko ruled that Yanukovych should be given the opportunity to take part in the trial by video-link.

The judge then adjourned the proceedings until May 18.

The Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office said on May 3 that the international police agency Interpol had ceased searching for Yanukovych, adding that the decision will be appealed.

Yanukovych could be sentenced to 15 years in prison if convicted, but he is protected by Russia and would be unlikely to travel to Ukraine and serve the time.

At least seven other probes have been launched by Ukrainian authorities against Yanukovych, who was elected president in February 2010.

The charges against him range from corruption to involvement in the mass shooting of unarmed protesters in Kyiv in February 2014 as the standoff between his government and the Euromaidan demonstrators came to a head.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-yanukovych- trial-absentia-treason/28467538.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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ASKER, NORWAY (4 May 2017) - TGS will release its Q1 2017 results at approximately 07:00 CEST on 10 May 2017. CEO Kristian Johansen and CFO Sven Brre Larsen will present the results at 09:00 CEST at the Hotel Continental, Stortingsgata 24/26 in Oslo, Norway. The presentation is open to the public and can be followed live on the internet at www.tgs.com.

The slides from the presentation will also be available in PDF format at both the TGS and Oslo Stock Exchange websites.

CEO Kristian Johansen and CFO Sven Brre Larsen will host a conference call on 10 May 2017 at 15:00 CEST (09:00 EDT). Attendees may want to call 5-10 minutes before to ensure registration and access.

Norwegian attendees are invited to call +800 51084 or +47 2350 0296

International attendees are invited to call 0800 279 7204 or +44 (0)330 336 9412

US attendees are invited to call +1 800 730 9234 or +1 719 325 4746

Participants will need to quote the following confirmation code when dialing into the conference: 6000372.

A Q&A session will follow a short introduction, based upon the presentation issued in the morning. To pose a question, please press *1.

A replay of the conference call will be available shortly after. To access replay of the TGS conference call,

dial +47 23 50 00 77 (Norway), +44 (0) 207 660 0134 (International) or +1 719 457 0820 (US)

replay access code 6000372 followed by # (pound-sign).

A replay of the conference call will also be available at www.tgs.com.



Company summary

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company (TGS) provides multi-client geoscience data to oil and gas Exploration and Production companies worldwide. In addition to extensive global geophysical and geological data libraries that include multi-client seismic data, magnetic and gravity data, digital well logs, production data and directional surveys, TGS also offers advanced processing and imaging services, interpretation products, and data integration solutions.

For more information visit TGS online at www.tgs.com.







Forward-looking statements and contact information

All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include TGS' reliance on a cyclical industry and principle customers, TGS' ability to continue to expand markets for licensing of data, and TGS' ability to acquire and process data products at costs commensurate with profitability. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason.

TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSLO:TGS).

TGS sponsored American Depositary Shares trade on the U.S. over-the-counter market under the symbol "TGSGY".



For additional information about this press release please contact:



Sven Brre Larsen

Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +47 90 94 36 73

Email: sven.larsen@tgs.com

Will Ashby

VP HR & Communication

Tel: +1 713 860 2184 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Email: will.ashby@tgs.com

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to 5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act)
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Sergio Parisse has been linked with a move to Lyon  an indication that Carl Fearns will be at Gloucester next season.

Midi Olympique have reported that Lyon are trying to prise the Italian number eight away from Stade Francais to replace Fearns.

It suggests that Lyon could give up on their attempt to buy Fearns out of the contract he has signed with Gloucester to join them from next season.

There has been speculation that Fearns was set to make a U-turn but Gloucester have insisted all along that they expect to see the former Bath back-rower at Kingsholm next season and have continued to stand firm with no compensation fee between the two clubs agreed.

Gloucester had also previously been linked with global star Parisse, whose future had been cast in doubt after proposals for Stade Francais and Racing 92 to merge as one club were announced only to fall through.

The 33-year-old is currently under contract until 2020.

Parisse is set to captain Stade when they meet Gloucester in the European Challenge Cup final at Murrayfield next Friday.
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The case of a Cheltenham woman accused of blinding another in one eye at the Cheltenham care home where they both lived has been adjourned.

Victoria DiCapita, 26, of Alstone Lane, is accused of assaulting the alleged victim on March 10. The case has been adjourned so mental health assessments can be completed.

Her case was listed today at Gloucester Crown Court but defence solicitor Joe Maloney said psychiatric assessment was still awaited and he was due to see his client on June 8.

He asked for an adjournment till June 15 when he said: We shall know where we are.

Judge Michael Cullum agreed and adjourned the case until then.

Dicapita, who did not attend today's hearing, remains remanded in custody.
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Gloucestershire's Polish community are welcoming all to a celebration of their heritage and culture this weekend.

The event takes place in Kings Square on Saturday and is part of the Polish Heritage Day initiative by the Polish Embassy in London along with over 40 events planned across the UK and supported by the Polish Consulates in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

The Polish Community in Gloucestershire is going to present an artistic programme showcasing what is best and most valuable in Polish history and culture. Kings Square will be filled with local businesses, many of which have had Polish owners for years. There will be many opportunities to try Polish delicacies and many more attractions waiting for all visitors.

Polish Catholic Mission in Gloucester, the main organizer of the festival, and local community representatives have put a lot of effort in the preparation of the Polish Heritage Day.

The Projects logo is based on the design of the white-and-red chequerboard  a symbol painted on the Polish airplanes during the Battle of Britain 1940, in which Polish pilots constituted the second largest Allied contingent after the British. During World War II and later in the time of communism, the United Kingdom was the refuge of the Polish Government-in-Exile and free Poles. The Polish community is a mixture of the descendants of those wartime and anti-communist exiles and those who decided to move to Britain after Poland joined the EU in 2004.
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Cheltenham was buzzing with International food goers as they headed down to the Promenade in hope for a taste of continental flavour this afternoon.

The four day Street Market is bursting with delicious gluten-free chocolate treats, Mexican spice and even charcoal flavoured cheese, as traders from around the world displays the best products that their respective countries have to offer. From bespoke craft items, to hot street food traders, the International Street Market has it all.

Each stall hosts its own individuality from Mexican cuisine, BBQ hog roasts, French wine and even our go to sweet treat of a brownie with an added twist of nutella to peanut butter flavourings.

We couldnt miss out on the opportunity and headed straight down there to feast our eyes and mouths on the stalls.

We spoke to Dave Rothwell, owner of Outside-inns pop-up bar who said, We do these markets because we provide sourced ales and beers that you wouldnt usually be able to find in your average pub. I try and take these products to different parts of the country, so everybody has an opportunity to try some really interesting and unique beers.

Dave and business partner Eddies selection of French wine and craft beer can be found at Le Saint Tropez pop-up bar.

Lily Godwood had headed down to the market in hope for something different, Its nice to have a change of scenery here. We try to come to most markets here in the town, but this international one is the winner for me.

Craft items, artisan wooden gifts and handmade jewellery will also be available to browse upon if the food doesnt take your fancy.

The International Street Market will run until Sunday 7 May on the Promenade, Cheltenham.

The market will open from 10 to 6 each day and 11 to 5 on Sunday.
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Its dangerous to over-extrapolate.

Council elections are not general elections. More people turn out to vote for an MP for a start and that changes the whole dynamic. And those who do turn out are thinking as much, or more, about who will be Prime Minister than they are about the local MP  while council elections are much more retail politics.

Councillor Smith got that flooded drain fixed - shes much more likely to get your vote whatever her party.

But lets do it anyway.

The Conservatives really have the reins in Shire Hall. Mark Hawthornes Conservative group needed to gain three more seats to get to an overall majority of 27. They did it with some ease (and early as well, which must have made the night easier).

For the last four years theyve run the council as a minority but could pretty well rely on support from UKIP councillors  so it was never in danger of crumbling. But all that has gone away. They have the votes now to get all their measures through the council. Mark Hawthorne and his cabinet will undoubtedly sleep easier at night.

Our Conservative MPs can look forward to June 8 with confidence (mostly).

We have six Conservative MPs, a split of four remainers and two Brexiteers. All of them will take heart from a much improved Conservative performance.

Its impossible to know how much the national picture influences local results- but a local election six weeks before a general has to be taken as an indicator. It certainly doesnt seem that Theresa Mays performance as PM is damaging her Conservative MPs chances in this county at least.

(Image: PA)

The same cant be said for Jeremy Corbyn.

The same caveat applies  but what other explanation is there for such a poor night for Labour. They lost four seats out of nine, net, even counting for a gain in Nailsworth. To lose Steve Lydon from Dursley, who leads the district council in Stroud, and three of four seats in Gloucester  held by a Labour MP for 13 years until 2010 - is a real blow, and must be linked to the national situation - the Corbyn effect. This will be a tough seat to win for Labour.

UKIP  what has happened to them?

Theyve been wiped out in Gloucestershire and pretty much across the county. And the signs were there. The three councillors the party had won four years ago, all in the Forest of Dean, had been reduced to one by defections and resignations.

Again, an echo of the national partys situation. Its a young party, full of inexperienced activists. And it really has made the weather - against all the odds, the UK is to leave the EU - fulfilling UKIPs raison detre. Maybe with that achieved the discipline which was never very strong in the party has loosened and its starting to unravel. And its voters are maybe returning back to the parties they sued to support. Except Jeremy Corbyns Labour.

This can only be good for Mark Harper. Hes remain voting MP in a strong leave area. He may have been vulnerable to a challenge if UKIP organised well. But Theresa Mays approach to Brexit seems to be sweeping up all but the most hardcore of the partys supporters.

Its business as usual in The Cotswolds and Tewkesbury. I dont advise gambling especially not large sums. But if someone puts a gun to your head and forces you to put the mortgage on a result, get on Geoffrey Clifton-Brown in the Cotswolds. If you cant get on that Laurence Robertson in Tewkesbury is just as good a bet.

Electoral pacts do work. Just

After all the talk about pacts of left-of-centre (or progressive in the fashionable term) parties, its not going to happen in the general election.

But it did happen in Minchinhampton where Labour and Lib Dems stepped aside to give Rachel Smith of the Greens a clear run at Dorcas Binns, a well-regarded council cabinet member who had switched form Nailsworth. Rachel Smith won by 27 votes- showing such a pact can work.

But expect normal service to be resumed in the general election  even if the combined votes for Greens, Labour and Lib Dems exceed Neil Carmichaels (and thats a sizeable If) expect the Conservative MP to be returned.

Alex Chalk may be the most nervous of the countys MPs.

The 2015 election was an excellent result for the Conservatives in unseating Martin Horwood. But the 2016 borough council election was a blow out with the Lib Dems winning 15 of 20 seats. And yesterday they held their seven seats out of 10, and even in the closest race, Iain Dobie actually increased his majority, from 29 in 2013 to 226.

And the party centrally showed some prescience in making every constituency select a candidate last year, anticipating a snap election, whereas Labour, for example, has only just picked its candidates. That has given the Lib Dems months to prepare and theyve hit the campaign trail running.

Cheltenham looks too close to call.

At least one thing is certain after last night.

Well have a Conservative administration in Shire Hall for the next four years.
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Conservative MPs are pressuring the Government to radically alter funding proposals for schools in Gloucestershire.

Senior Tories  including Cotswolds ex-MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown  have urged the Prime Minister to abandon the funding reforms before the General Election on June 8.

The party uprising argues against the cuts which would see secondary schools in the Cotswolds and Stroud lose a combined 960,000. Mr Clifton-Brown said: "I have warned the Government that I will not support them until the formula has been changed."

Katharine Lady Berkeley School, in Wotton-under-Edge, would miss out on 117,000 annually, while Cotswold School and Chipping Campden would miss out on a combined 205,000 ( full table below ).

Stroud MP Neil Carmichael questioned the distribution of finances and says there needs to be a "funding level which no school falls below".

Mr Carmichael said the proposals "need to be refined" and that he has "raised the issue with the Government on several occasions".

He added that the costs of running individual institutes need to be reflected and the size of establishments must also be considered.

In Stroud, every secondary school is set to lose out, amounting to a combined 383,000. Thomas Keble faces missing out on 92,000 while Rednock School and Marling would each receive 74,000 less annually.

Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk said the formula requires "major surgery" with several schools threatened by large funding cuts.

Mr Chalk added: "My stance is that it's absolutely right that the Government is grasping the nettle of unfair funding because we have been penalised for too long."

Schools such as Bournville, Pittville and All Saints' benefit overall  gaining a combined 432,000  but Balcarras and Pate's will lose 100,000 and 61,000 respectively.

Five of the nine secondary schools in Gloucester would have a combined 220,000 cut. Gloucester Academy is facing a 126,000 loss year on year.

However, Beaufort Co-operative Academy would gain 243,000 while Barnwood Park Arts College is anticipating a 79,000 increase.

MP Richard Graham said: "Overall, our schools will be better off by more than 300,000 which is not a disastrous starting point but within that there are winners and losers.

"It's understandable that the winners are keeping fairly quiet  schools like Beaufort and Barnwood  and those that are losers are understandably less happy, such as Gloucester Academy.

"The real question is you have to have a process on how to fund schools and let everyone accept the factors and weighting for the factors that determine how much each school gets.

"And we all agree  all the Conservatives in Gloucestershire  that we have not yet got a proposal that everybody buys into.

"And that is why we have made it clear that we want to see changes to current funding proposals but we should be aware that changes may not necessarily lead to a better situation for schools in Gloucester."

Tewkesbury MP Laurence Robertson has also called for the formula to be modified. One of the town's six secondary schools  Chosen Hill  will lose 53,000 although the others are set to gain a combined 169,000.
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Two Romanian couples accused of burgling houses in Cheltenham and Reading were cleared yesterday when the prosecution dropped the case against them.

Ileana Serdaru, 41, of Green Lane, Birmingham, Monica Chiciu, 38, of the same address, Ionut Chiciu, 32, of Cross Street, Birmingham and Marin-Marius Chiciu, 28, also of Cross Street were due before Gloucester Crown Court to enter their pleas to the charges.

But prosecutor Janine Wood told the court she was discontinuing the case because the evidence was not strong enough to proceed.

The case had been based on a policeman's identification of the defendants from CCTV and hoped-for forensic evidence had not materialised, she said.

The pair had been charged with breaking into a house in Church Street, Charlton Kings, on December 7 last year and stealing 800 cash

They were also accused of burgling a house in Norfolk Road, Reading, and stealing Asian gold and two passports on November 4.
A public diplomacy nightmare obscures the significance of the incident and what it says about U.S. commitment to the region.

A public diplomacy nightmare obscures the significance of the incident and what it says about U.S. commitment to the region.

The USS Carl Vinson, one of ten American 100,000-ton nuclear-powered supercarriers, was a regular feature of international headlines last monthand for all the wrong reasons. It was the source of an embarrassing, if overhyped, mishap when the Donald J. Trump administration announced on April 8 the carrier was being ordered to the Korean peninsula amid a bout of escalating tensions with Pyongyang. You can imagine the uproar when the Carl Vinson was spotted sailing away from the Korean Peninsula more than a week later.

What the administration initially failed to convey was the carrier would continue its schedule of planned exercises with the Australian Navy before diverting north, and the early notice was given in part to alert visiting families of U.S. sailors that the carrier wouldnt be conducting a pre-scheduled port call in Perth, Australia. The unfortunate lapse in public diplomacy largely overshadowed the deeper significance of the Carl Vinsons Western Pacific tour and the insights it offers into Americas evolving regional security footprint and the now-late U.S. pivot or rebalance to Asia.

The Obama administrations oft-criticized signature Asia initiative, first unveiled in late 2011, was plagued by two seemingly contradictory perceptual problems almost from the outset. The rebalance was pilloried by Chinese analysts as a facade for an aggressive American containment strategy. In fact, many in Beijing continue to insist the surge in regional tensions of recent years can be traced directly to the rebalance and Americas Cold War mindset. For domestic critics and Americas regional partners, the initiative was just as frequently dismissed as ill-defined and lacking real teeth  as high on symbolism but short on substance.

Reality fully supported neither perception. But in international affairs, the former is often subservient to the latter. In fact, the rebalance was designed at least in part to shape perceptions: to reassure partners and allies of Americas long-term commitment to regional security. Ironically, on this count it not only fell short in many capitals, but it may have had the opposite effect.

Thanks in part to uninspired and under-resourced public diplomacy regarding the nature, scope, and intent of the rebalance, an initiative designed to clarify and reassure may have obscured and overshadowed what, on balance, has been a fairly robust evolution to Americas Pacific posture.

More Than Meets The Eye

Popular descriptions of the rebalance often recall the U.S. commitment to allocate 60 percent of U.S. naval forces to the Asia-Pacific by 2020 paired with a handful of signature initiatives. They include: the rotational deployment of 2,500 U.S. Marines through Darwin, Australia; the transfer of Littoral Combat Ships to Singapore; and a Maritime Security Initiative directing hundreds of millions of dollars in capacity-building assistance to Americas regional partners.

However, these moves represent only a small fraction of recent changes to the U.S. militarys regional footprint. A more holistic assessment would account for other capacity-building initiatives, like the ambitious $9 billion program to upgrade the Anderson Air Force base and Naval Base Guam. It would also account for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement the United States signed with the Philippines, permitting it access to five Filipino military bases.

It would also recognize the significant moves undertaken by the United States with some of its newer partners. With Vietnam, for example, a ban was lifted on the sale of military equipment to Vietnam as U.S. warships returned to Cam Ranh Bay for the first time since the Vietnam War. Hanoi, in turn, has agreed to host U.S. Army equipment caches for humanitarian assistance missions.

While the Bush administration is credited with the initial rapprochement, since 2011 the pace of U.S.-India defense and strategic cooperation has accelerated substantially. Milestones reached in recent years include the co-development of defense platforms, the signing of a modified Logistics Supply Agreement, an expansion of the annual Malabar exercises, intelligence sharing on submarines in the Indian Ocean, and cooperation on sensitive military technology like aircraft carriers and jet engine technology.

Elsewhere , U.S. Pacific Command has, among other things, strengthened missile defense systems in South Korea and Japan; ordered the first permanent deployment of F-35B fighters to the Marine Corps Iwakuni air station in Japan, and; launched the first continual presence of strategic bomber aircraft at Guam in two decades, including the B-52, B-1, and B-2. The latter marked the first time all three [types of bombers] were deployed to the Pacific.

Even this list barely scratches the surface, omitting new U.S. outreach to the defense ministers of ASEAN, new military exercises with Malaysia and Indonesia, new bilateral and trilateral security dialogues with multiple regional partners, and the development and deployment of new U.S. military hardware to the region. As PACOM chief Adm. Harry Harris notes, Thanks to Americas strategic rebalance everything thats new and cool in the U.S. military arsenal is coming first to the Pacific.

I plan to offer a more comprehensive account of these changes in a forthcoming project under development. But, for now, lets return to the Carl Vinson and what it tells us about one of PACOMs newest initiatives.

Third Fleet Forward

The International Date Line (IDL) that bisects Pacific Ocean also frames the administrative division of Americas massive Pacific Fleet. The Seventh Fleet, headquartered at the port of Yokosuka near Tokyo, Japan, is responsible for operations west of the IDL, including everything between Hawaii and the India-Pakistan border.

The San Diego-based Third Fleet operates east of the IDL and is principally occupied with homeland defense. With Americas only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, the Seventh Fleet is the most powerful naval force in Asia. Yet its sole aircraft carrier strike group and 80 surface ships pale in comparison to the Third Fleets four aircraft carriers and over 100 vessels.

Traditionally, in the event Third Fleet assets were deployed west of the IDL command was transferred to Seventh Fleet. However, in 2015 U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Scott Swift unveiled a new Third Fleet Forward concept, questioning the need for such allegiance to the international date line. He subsequently issued new guidelines that represent a  blurring of the [IDL] demarcation , allowing the Pacific Fleet to better utilize the aggregate strength of 200 ships, 1,200 aircraft and 140,000 sailors.

PACOM says the initiative will help leverage the capabilities of both Fleets to complement one another and provide the foundation of stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. It has begun involving Third Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Nora Tyson in more regional diplomacy initiatives, including the Japanese International Fleet Review in 2016. Adm. Tyson says Third Fleet Forward helps ensure theres connective tissue between the two Fleets. Specifically, in the event of a conflict scenario involving the Seventh Fleet, the Third Fleet will be better positioned to provide that command element to handle whatever else may happen in the Pacific Fleet AOR including a maritime security issue in the South China Sea.

PACOM wasted little time operationalizing the concept. In 2016, the Third Fleet dispatched  and retained command of  a three-ship Surface Action Group (SAG) to the South China Sea. The seven-month deployment involved bilateral exercises with South Korea, France, and Japan. In October 2016 one of the SAG vessels, the USS Decator, conducted a Freedom of Navigation operation (FONOP) near the Paracel Islands to challenge excessive Chinese maritime claims there. It was the first FONOP conducted in Asia not under the Seventh Fleets command and the first time since World War II the Third Fleet conducted operations in Chinese-claimed waters.

Amid these developments, in January 2017, the Third Fleet commanded the Carl Vinson-led carrier strike group on a multi-month deployment to the South China Sea. After exercising with the South Korean and Japanese navies in March, it reached the port of Singapore in early April before exercising with the Australian navy and most recently reaching the Sea of Japan.

The Third Fleet Forward initiative looks prescient amid the current showdown with Pyongyang but the initiative was arguably driven as much by Chinas rapidly-advancing indigenous aircraft carrier program as it was North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Chinas hardline Global Times has argued Third Fleet Forward reveals that the Seventh fleet alone can hardly deter China in the West Pacific anymore.

Looking Ahead

When Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States, many in Washington suspected the rebalances days were numbered. Speaking just days before the presidents inauguration, the head of U.S. Pacific Command, Adm. Harry Harris, was asked about the fate of the initiative. I dont know if were going to change the name, he mused, but the military component of the rebalance that has already happened.

While the Trump administration officially confirmed the death of the rebalance in a March 14 State Department press conference , the spirit of the initiative has endured in the administrations first 100 days.

Since early February the U.S. has deployed one dozen F-22s to a military base in northern Australia, the largest-ever deployment of the worlds most advanced fighter to the region.

PACOM later dispatched three U.S. attack submarines to the Western Pacific, including at least one to the South China Sea. While on patrol, the submarines tested four Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles during a nuclear war exercise , sending the simulated weapons 4,200 miles from the coast of California into the mid-Pacific. According to NBC, it marked the first four-missile salvo since the end of the Cold War.

The Trump administration is entitled to re-evaluate, re-brand, and reform whatever initiatives it sees fit and perceptually Americas regional strategy could benefit from a well-designed makeover. In doing so, however, the Trump administration should avoid the temptation to reflexively reject the rebalance as a failed relic of the Obama era and preserve operational elements of the initiative that were sound and long overdue. Meanwhile, the recent episode with the Carl Vinson should serve as a timely reminder that the effectiveness of any new strategy will likely hinge on the cogency of the public diplomacy employed to support it.
After months of public critique from teachers and other school district employees, the Danville School Board approved the 2017-18 school calendar during its Thursday meeting.

School board members all chose the third of three calendar choices developed by the calendar committee, after postponing a vote during the last work session. The third calendar choice will place four professional development days before Memorial Day, as well as include days for inclement weather.

I think calendar three has some big advantages, said board member Ed Polhamus.

Before voting, the calendar committee held an informal poll on which of the three plans teachers would like to see implemented. The third option was the winner with about 38 percent of the vote.

In April, a group of concerned teachers voiced concerns about the number of teacher work days and professional development days in the calendar  many of which are part of state-mandated corrective action plans.

The school board also approved an amendment to the third draft of the 2017-18 budget, which will approve a 2.5 percent raise for all employees.

This will enable us to at least be able to issue contracts, said Danville Superintendent Stanley Jones.

In other business, the school board approved an additional year-long contract with the Carlisle School to rent out the former Taylor Elementary School building in Danville. The board also approved a special education correction action plan.

In a long end-of-year recognition portion, the school board honored Teacher of the Year winners, retirees, years of service milestones, regional art forum winners and the Team Talon robotics team.
Blog Hinangai

While there is much discussion in Guam about the economic benefits of increasing the islands military presence, the damages/dangers that they represent are rarely mentioned. This blog, a supplement to the Peace and Justice for Guam Petition, is meant to counter that by providing information about the US military in Guam, with the hopes of steering policy away from a dangerous unilateralist course to more sustainable notions of regional development and a strengthening international solidarity.
Virginia Lt. Gov. and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam pledged to help health care providers with issues like the American Health Care Act, Medicaid expansion and workforce development during a talk with regional health care leaders Friday in Danville.

I believe a passionate society provides care to everyone, Northam said.

Northam spoke with doctors, CEOs and other health care workers during a roundtable discussion at Danville Regional Medical Center.

The decision by Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly not to accept Medicaid expansion continued to be an issue for local hospitals, Martinsville Memorial Hospital CEO Michael Ehrat said. Ehrat said the hospital served many patients who could be covered by that expansion. These patients create debt for the hospital through uncompensated care  service not compensated by either patients or insurance companies.

A lot of our communities live in that gap, Ehrat said.

The Medicaid expansion could enroll up to 400,000 Virginia residents in the program, but a 2012 Supreme Court decision allowed states to opt-out of the federal funding.

Danville City Council member and physician Gary Miller said he thinks the decision discourages poorer residents from finding employment because they could then lose health care coverage.

Northam said he also was worried about the American Heath Care Acts potential to strip away government funding for Medicaid for Virginia citizens. The bill  which passed the House of Representatives this week and is supported by President Donald Trump  could decrease funding for Medicaid through a change to block grants.

If they do repeal the Affordable Care Act and go to a block grant, were very vulnerable in Virginia, he said.

Were incentivizing people not to work so they can get insurance, which I think is wrong, Miller said.

Local health workers also talked with Northam about the difficulty in finding a skilled workforce for many hospital positions, from nurses to numerous technician positions.

That is a struggle for both communities, Ehrat said.

Miller said the Danville hospital was successfully training nurses through Danville Community College, and added nurses who were trained locally tended to stay in the community for more than a few years.

In addition to his political work, Northam also is a practicing pediatric neurologist at the Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk. Before that, he served as a physician in the United States Army from 1984-92.

Northam is campaigning for the Democratic candidacy for governor along with former 5th District Congressman Tom Periello.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 4, 2017) - MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:BMK) ("MacDonald Mines" or the "Company") is pleased to report that a quorum was present at its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on May 4, 2017 at the offices of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, in Toronto, Ontario and that all resolutions put forth were passed with overwhelming majority.

The resolutions put forth to the shareholders were as follows and were all approved.

MNP LLP to be re-appointed as the Company's auditors for the December 31, 2017 year end and the directors of the Company be authorized to fix their remuneration. Gordon McKinnon, Tara Gilfillan, Adam Schatzker, Kevin Tanas and Quentin Yarie to be appointed to the board of directors of the Company. Re-approval of the Company's stock option plan, which complies with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. An amendment to By-Law No. 1 of the Company.

New Board of Directors

Quentin Yarie, MacDonald's President and CEO stated, "We are delighted to welcome Tara, Gordon, Adam and Kevin to the MacDonald Mines' team. These experienced industry professionals with a wide array of expertise and background, have the capability and energy to advance the Company's newly acquired projects. Our Board's contributions will be instrumental to the Company's success and as we develop our Wawa-Holdsworth Project and initiate gold exploitation at the Holdsworth property."

Tara Gilfillan, CPA, CA

Ms. Gilfillan is a finance executive with over 20 years of business experience and has held several senior financial and operational roles in the mining industry. She currently serves as Principal and CFO/VP of Corporate Development for Halyard Inc. a privately owned project engineering company focused on the mineral and metals industry. Tara has expertise in public reporting, business and tax strategy, acquisitions, risk review, setting up international operations and raising capital. She holds a business degree from Queen's University.

Gordon McKinnon

Mr. McKinnon is currently serving as President, CEO and a Director of Canadian Orebodies Inc. He is a principal of McKinnon Prospecting Ltd., a private exploration company, and a Director of Capha Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Fox River Resources Corporation, and Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. Gordon was a co-founder of Mineral Streams Inc., a private mineral royalty company that was recently sold to AuRico Metals Inc. Prior to joining Canadian Orebodies, he served as Manager of Corporate Development with Baltic Resources Inc., a company which was acquired for over $70M. Gordon graduated with an Honours Bachelor degree in Management and Organizational Studies from the University of Western Ontario in 2006.

Adam Schatzker

Mr. Schatzker has two decades of experience in the mining industry as an equity analyst, investment banker, corporate development executive and consultant. Adam spent 7 years at RBC Capital Markets covering base metals, precious metals, uranium and fertilizer. He was also Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Uranium One, the fourth largest uranium producer, globally. Adam is currently President of Schatzker Consulting Inc. providing strategy, M&A and investor relations services relating to companies in the mining and nuclear sectors.

Kevin Tanas, P.Eng.

Mr. Tanas currently serves as Vice President of Business Development - North America, and Principal Mining Consultant of RPMGlobal, a global technical advisory consulting firm. Kevin's 18 years of experience has encompassed project development, conceptual to detailed engineering, commissioning and operational stages of open pit and underground deposits. His expertise lies in mine design and planning, due diligence review, construction monitoring, and financial modeling. Kevin has acted in a project management capacity and as a Qualified Person providing technical services to base metals, precious metals, iron ore, lateritic ore, coal, and energy sectors. His operational and consulting experience spans North America, South America, Africa and Australia.

About MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd.

MacDonald Mines is a mineral exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, focused on gold and silica exploration in Canada. The Company has built a portfolio of safe-jurisdiction, infrastructure-rich projects that demonstrate the greatest market potential for return. The Company is aggressively advancing its highly prospective Wawa-Holdsworth Project.

The Company's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "BMK".

To learn more about MacDonald Mines, please visit www.macdonaldmines.com.

Cautionary Statement

This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these 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.
Reno, May 5, 2017 - Scandium International Mining Corp. (TSX: SCY) ("Scandium International" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its subsidiary company, EMC Metals Australia, has been granted a Mining Lease for the Nyngan Scandium Project in New South Wales ("NSW"), Australia. The Mining Lease ("ML") overlays select areas previously covered by two Exploration Licenses. The ML was granted by the Minister for Resources of the State of New South Wales on May3, 2017, and represents the final major approval required from the NSW Government to begin construction on the project.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Mining Lease grant received on Nyngan Project (ML 531),

Represents final key project approval required from NSW Government,

Permits development of the world's first primary scandium mine,

Triggers project partners' decisions to reach Final Investment Decision ("FID") and,

Allows SCY to actively begin mine development, subject to project funding.

Discussion:

The Mining Lease grant represents the final governmental primary approval needed to construct a mine in the State of NSW, Australia. The ML was awarded after all environmental work was completed and reviewed, all social implications of project development were considered, and the NSW Environmental Minister issued a Development Consent in November 2016. The ML grant reflects the further review that the State resource value was considered and approved for extraction based on mine development plans. The ML was offered for a period of 21 years, and is based on the development plans and intent submitted in the ML Application. The ML can be modified by NSW regulatory agencies, as requested by EMC Australia ("EMC-A") over time, to reflect changing operating conditions.

This ML grant represents the culmination of a seven-year effort by SCY and our team of specialists, consultants and technicians, working on the Nyngan Scandium Project since 2010. That process has specifically included:

Defining a NI 43-101 scandium resource on the property,

Testing and proving a metallurgical process to economically produce significant commercial quantities of scandium oxide, and mine plans to extract scandium ore for refining to commercial grade scandium product,

Demonstrating viable economics with an independently prepared (NI 43-101) Definitive Feasibility Study,

Completing all environmental, social, developmental, and regulatory requirements specified by NSW regulators, and

Receiving final NSW Department Ministerial approvals and sign-off on this work.

SCY currently owns 80% of the Nyngan Scandium Project, through ownership of 80% of EMC Metals Australia. Our minority partner, Scandium Investments LLC ("SIL") owns the remaining 20% of the Project, through its 20% ownership in EMC-A. The ML grant triggered an option for SIL to convert their 20% interest in EMC-A into SCY common shares, which SIL may exercise in their sole discretion until mid-June 2017. If SIL does not exercise the option and elects to retain its 20% ownership interest in EMC-A, their free-carry period for development costs will end, and the partners will be required to fund development costs on a pro-rata basis to their ownership of EMC-A.

George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented:

"This Mining Lease grant is a major milestone in the Company's development of the Nyngan Scandium Project. It signals the full support of state government, regulators, and the community for our endeavor, and is validation of the level and quality of work that has been committed to date. We couldn't be more pleased with this show of support and encouragement from NSW regulators to move forward and build Nyngan into the world's first primary scandium mine, and to do so in NSW, Australia"

QUALIFIED PERSONS AND NI 43-101 TECHNICAL REPORT

Willem Duyvesteyn, MSc, AIME, CIM, a Director and CTO of the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of the Company.

ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.

The Company is focused on developing the Nyngan Scandium Project into the world's first scandium-only producing mine. The Company owns an 80% interest in both the Nyngan Scandium Project, and the adjacent Honeybugle Scandium Property, in New South Wales, Australia, and is manager of both projects. Our joint venture partner, Scandium Investments LLC, owns the remaining 20% in both projects, along with an option to convert those direct project interests into SCY common shares, based on market value, by mid-June 2017.

The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in May 2016, titled "Feasibility Study  Nyngan Scandium Project". That feasibility study delivered an expanded scandium resource, a first reserve figure, and an estimated 33.1% IRR on the project, supported by extensive metallurgical test work and an independent, 10-year global marketing outlook for scandium demand.

For further information, please contact:

George Putnam, President and CEO.

Tel: 925-208-1775

Email: info@scandiummining.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to statements regarding any future development of the project. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation risks related to uncertainty in the demand for Scandium and pricing assumptions; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the project in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; uncertainties involved in the estimation of Scandium reserves and resources; the possibility that required permits may not be obtained on a timely manner or at all; the possibility that capital and operating costs may be higher than currently estimated and may preclude commercial development or render operations uneconomic; the possibility that the estimated recovery rates may not be achieved; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; risks related to projected project economics, recovery rates, and estimated NPV and anticipated IRR and other factors identified in the Company's SEC filings and its filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances, should change.


Toronto, May 05, 2017 - Frontline Gold Corp. (TSX-V:FGC) ("Frontline" or the "Company") announces it has executed a Letter of Intent with Pistol Bay Mining ("Pistol") wherein, subject to the analysis of the results, Pistol Bay has the option to acquire up to an 80 percent interest in its Copperlode Property, in the Confederation Lake greenstone belt, by making certain payments and share issuances. The Confederation Lake greenstone belt lies 40 to 60 kilometres southeast of Red Lake, Ontario and is known to contain multiple deposits, zones and occurrences of volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization, dominated by zinc and copper, with associated silver and gold values.

Frontline's Confederation Lake - "Copperlode Property"

The Copperlode Property, with five known zinc-copper zones, consists of four mining claims comprising 31 claim units for a total area of approximately 496 hectares or 1,225 acres. Frontline holds the claims under option from a vendor. The Copperlode Property hosts two mineralized zones with historical mineral resources based on drilling by Copperlode Mines Ltd. and Rexdale Mines Ltd. in the 1960s and 1970s:

The Copperlode "E" Zone has a historical resource of 145,000 tonnes with reported grades of 8.28% zinc, 1.02% copper and 24 grams per tonne silver. The Copperlode "D" Zone has a historical resource of 32,600 tonnes reported to average 7.58% zinc and 0.26% copper. These historical resources do not comply with current standards as spelled out in National Instrument 43-101. Insufficient work has been done on these zones by a qualified person to determine whether 43-101 compliant mineral resources exist.

Other mineralized zones on the Copperlode Property, with selected diamond drill intercepts, are:

-Copperlode "B" zone, 6.3 metres @ 2.50% zinc and 1.68% copper -Copperlode "C" zone, 1.5 metres @ 0.21% zinc and 6.02% copper -Hornet Zone, 6.6 metres @ 7.56% zinc and 0.08% copper, also 5.03 metres @ 4.07% zinc and 1.13% copper. The Hornet zone was discovered by Noranda Exploration in 1997; it is open at depth and along strike.

The Copperlode Property lies approximately 4 kilometres from, and on strike with the Arrow Zone, which is on claims held by Pistol Bay. The Arrow Zone has a historical (2007), 43-101 compliant, indicated mineral resource of 2,071,000 tonnes grading 5.92% zinc, 0.75% copper, 21.1 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 0.58 g/t gold, plus an inferred mineral resource of 120,552 tonnes grading 2.60% zinc, 0.56% copper, 18.6 g/t silver and 0.40 g/t gold (based on 3% zinc equivalent cutoff). An updated mineral resource estimate is being prepared for Pistol Bay.

Terms of Letter of Intent - Option Agreement

Upon completion of the airborne survey, Pistol Bay will have the option to acquire an initial 65 percent interest in the Copperlode Property from Frontline by making cash payments totaling $26,000, issuing a total of 450,000 common shares over a two year period and expending a total of $150,000 on exploration expenditures over a period of three years. The interest can be increased to 80 percent by paying Frontline an additional $50,000 and issuing 300,000 common shares within 90 days after earning the initial 65% interest. See Abitibi press release dated 05/05/2017: http://www.pistolbaymininginc.com/pdf/news/2017_05_05%20PST%20NR%20Copperlode%20LOI%20_final_.pdf

Frontline is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company. The Company's principal Ontario properties include the following:

-Red Lake Gold exploration properties consisting of 16 claims, totaling 6,400 acres on 160 claim units adjoining Pure Gold's Madsen Mine to the east and the south. This land package combined with the Company's Chukuni and White Horse Island Projects, provides the Company with one of the largest exploration land packages within the Red Lake District totaling just 9,600 acres. -The Chukuni propertywhich consists of seven contiguous claims, totaling 2,960 acres on 74 claim units in proximity to Goldcorp's Red Lake Gold Mine, and the proximity to Goldcorp's #3 Mine shaft. -Whitehorse Island property comprised of two contiguous claims, totalling 35.55 hectares hosts the Whitehorse Island gold shaft and are situated between the Goldcorp / Premier Gold Rahill-Bonanza Gold Property and Premier Gold's Hasaga Gold Property. -Cameron Lake Property Group consists of a 100% interest in seven (7) gold properties in the Rainy River area of Ontario ("Rainy River Properties") which are strategically located adjacent to First Mining Finance's Cameron Gold Project ("Cameron Gold Project") in the Rainy River area. -Zealand Properties consist of a total of 72 claim units covering 1,152 hectares. All of the claims are located on or near the project boundaries to Treasury Metals' ("Treasury Metals") Goliath Gold Project. -Confederation Lake Project the Property hroperty hosts a number of historical Cu-Zn bearing massive sulphide and stringer sulphide mineralized zones, hosted in strongly altered felsic volcanic pyroclastic rocks. -Birch-Uchi Greenstone Belt exploration property, which is adjacent to Sabina Gold and Silver's Golden Sidewalk property, hosts the past-producing Bathurst Mine; -Production Royalty and Net Smelter Royalty on a portion of First Mining Finance's Pickle Crow Gold Project which was acquired from PC Gold Inc.

In addition to the Ontario Exploration portfolio discussed above, the Company's international principal properties include the following:

i.Keban Tailings Project- Located approximately 45 km northwest from the city of Elazig, via paved highway, which is fully permitted and includes the exclusive rights to process a minimum 114,000 tonnes of mineralized milled tailings stored in two areas within the defined tailings boundaries. ii.Kambertepe Tailings Project- Includes the exclusive rights to process approximately up to 6,000 tonnes of mineralized tailings, with the following average reported grades per tonne of tailings: 2.1% Copper, 21 g/t Silver, 1.9% Zinc, 0.5% Titanium and over 50% Iron, based on assays completed by Bureau Veritas, Vancouver, Canada, as noted from a Firat University report on the project dated March 15th, 2016. iii.Menderes Gold Project, a 6,194 ha (62 km?) contiguous land package located near the village of Efemcukuru, in Izmir Province, Western Turkey. The permits that make up the Menderes Gold Project were acquired for their excellent potential to host low to medium sulphidation, gold-mineralized epithermal vein systems. The Menderes Gold Project is contiguous to the eastern and southern property boundaries of Eldorado Gold's Efencukuru Mine (sourcewww.eldoradogold.com). iv.Niaouleni Gold Project, in southern Mali in the heart of West Africa's prolific gold belt. Active gold exploration projects in the immediate vicinity of Niaouleni include African Gold Group Inc.'s Kobada Gold Project (www.africangoldgroup.com).

Further information about the Company is available on the Company's website, www.frontlinegold.com , or our social media sites listed below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frontline Gold Corp./

Twitter: https://twitter.com/frontlinegold

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which address future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results, programs and financial position could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, some of which may be beyond the Company's control. These factors include: the availability of funds; the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties, the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data, the uncertainties of resource and reserve estimations, receipt and security of mineral property titles; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, fluctuations in metal prices; currency fluctuations; and general market and industry conditions.



Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.





Walter Henry, President & CEO

Frontline Gold Corp.







Contact:



Walter Henry

Telephone: (416) 362-9100

Fax: (416) 362-9300

Email: info@frontlinegold.com

Website: www.frontlinegold.com



Frontline Gold Corp. (TSX-V: FGC)

1 Toronto Street, Suite 201

Toronto, Ontario M5C 2V6







NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.



Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Copyright (c) 2017 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.


World Press Freedom Day, celebrated May 3, stemmed from the necessity to admonish governments the world over a free media acts as a barometer of the health of a nation  insofar as wrongdoing, exposed, cant continue unnoticed  but todays celebration has been severely tempered by a decline in the rights of journalists.In the one nation which should be considered a bastion of press freedom  enshrined expressly in its storied Constitution  the dogged pursuit of governmental transparency in living up to the journalists duty to act as watchdog of the State will instead emblazon a permanent target for prosecution. Or worse.Wikileaks, itinerant publisher of leaked information of the stripe governments would rather remain hidden, has endured a horrendously negative propaganda campaign from U.S. officials from both sides of the aisle after voluminous caches of documents exposed flagrant, pompous misbehavior at every level.Founder and editor-in-chief Julian Assange rightly condemns the brazen hypocrisy in the United States maintaining claims it desires press freedom, while simultaneously attempting to change the definition of media in order to bring grave charges against Wikileaks  going so far as to deem published leaks akin to espionage.While that couldnt be further from reality, wrongdoings exposed in Wikileaks capacious searchable caches of documents veritably guarantee revelations will occasionally make headlines for years to come  and for American officials, thats too dangerous to allow.Hillary Clinton, herself the subject of countless damning emails and documents, has championed the clarion call to crucifixion of Assange under the premise Wikileaks, inexplicably in conjunction with Russia, threw the election from her clutches to gift a win to Donald Trump.Taking absolute personal responsibility for the loss in one breath, Clinton claimed with forked tongue she was on the way to winning until a combination of Jim Comeys letter, on October 28, and Russian WikiLeaks raised doubts in the minds of people who were inclined to vote for me, but got scared off.Shifting blame shirks responsibility for the corruption and mendacity documents proved Clinton so fond, just as she had on previous occasions, so Assange responded accordingly.Read more at 'The Butcher Of Libya': Assange Exposes Clinton War Crimes, Asks Sweden to Set Him Free
The latest job estimates released by the U.S. Department of Labor on Friday suggest April was a strong month for hiring across local governments. The sector collectively added an estimated 23,000 positions, the highest monthly tally since August.Schools added 8,000 jobs nationally, while all other local governments recorded an uptick of 15,000 for the month.The increase follows several months of relatively weak employment growth. Local government payrolls expanded last summer, but gains have since slowed significantly. Over the first four months of this year, total local government employment increased by 45,000 positions, down from a gain of 68,000 over the same period in 2016.Meanwhile, overall employment for state governments has changed little so far this year. National totals for both education workers employed at colleges and universities and all other state-level public employees are about where they were in January.But that doesnt mean some individual governments arent experiencing job losses. In Connecticut, up to 1,100 state employees could soon receive layoff notices as Gov. Dannel Malloys administration negotiates with employee labor unions. Some public universities, such as University of Wyoming, are also trimming payrolls as a result of budget cuts.
Puerto Rico (Sort of) Declares Bankruptcy

Did Congress Just Kill State-Run Retirement Programs?

DemysTIFying Tax Incentives

Puerto Rico declared a form of bankruptcy protection this week that puts it in uncharted territory for U.S. governments and municipal finance.As a territory, Puerto Rico is not eligible to file for Chapter 9 protection. But thanks to the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, it has a similar option available to it: Title III protection.The act, which was passed by Congress and went into effect last July, put a temporary moratorium on litigation regarding Puerto Ricos more than $70 billion in bond debt and created a seven-member financial oversight board with final say over the commonwealths finance decisions. The litigation moratorium was lifted on May 1, and with creditor negotiations going nowhere, the government is allowed to file debt restructuring petitions in federal court.Puerto Rico has been in a financial downward spiral for years. When it first started defaulting on debt, there were concerns that it could have a negative ripple effect on the municipal market. As it turns out, those concerns have not been justified. So, while this latest move by the commonwealth is a great concern for anyone with money tied up in Puerto Rico, there have been few concerns that the event will cast a shadow over other U.S. governments now issuing bonds.The crisis in Puerto Rico, however, is already having a ripple effect on the mainland as residents are fleeing the island to find jobs. In Florida, the Puerto Rican population increased by nearly one-fifth in Orange County and nearly one-third in Hillsborough County. The growth is putting pressure on schools, which are increasing their budgets to accommodate the influx of children.The U.S. Senate on Thursday narrowly approved a resolution that overturns an Obama-era rule that cleared the way for states to create retirement programs for private-sector workers who don't have one through their employer. Secure Choice or Work-and-Save programs were targeted by Wall Street firms and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because the U.S. Department of Labor rule absolved state programs from providing workers the same legal protections that employer-sponsored 401(k) plans are required to have. It would be patently unfair to give these government-run plans a competitive advantage by waiving regulatory restrictions, said Paul Dougherty, president of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors President Paul Dougherty, in a statement.So what happens now? It goes to President Trump, who has said he will sign it. But more important, many worry that these programs are now vulnerable to a legal challenge. Still, several states created and approved their programs before the Labor Department ruling last fall. For that reason, many believe these states have legal footing to move forward.After having consulted with legislative leaders and the Office of the Attorney General, I am convinced that while Congress has dealt Californians a setback, it is not enough to push us off of our moral and legal high ground, California State Treasurer John Chiang said in a statement.Along with California, Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read has also vowed to push ahead, saying his state will still launch its pilot program on July 1. Washington state, which was slated to open its program later this year, has not said what it plans to do yet. The AARP says it is working with Oregon as well as California, Connecticut, Illinois and Maryland to help them continue with their programs.Data on the world of government tax incentives will be a little richer thanks to a clarification from the Governmental Accounting Standard Board, which sought to clear up ambiguity regarding reporting on tax increment financing projects, or TIFs. Governments wanted to know if the boards new rule requiring them to report tax incentives as forgone revenue also applied to TIFs. For the most part, the board said this week that they do.TIFs help subsidize development by taking the additional property tax revenue the project generates and putting it back into the development. There are three ways to do this: 1) The developer pays the taxes then is awarded a tax rebate by the government; 2) the government incrementally awards the back taxes to the developer after meeting specific development and jobs goals; and 3) the government uses the tax revenue generated by the development to pay back bonds that financed the project.The first two, the accounting board said , have to be reported as lost property tax revenue. The third does not.Good Jobs First, which tracks government tax incentives, said the clarification bodes well for it and other sunshine groups that want more disclosure about what governments give up to woo corporations. Greg LeRoy, the groups executive director, toldthis week that Midwestern and Western states make heavy use of this type of financing. Until California canceled [the practice], they were TIF-ing $6 billion a year in property tax revenue, he said.Because the clarification applies only to future fiscal years, governments might not include TIFs when they issue their fiscal 2017 reports later this year. It means well see an uneven quality of data, LeRoy says. But we expected the first year to be bumpy.
On Wednesday, in the morning, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted an Investiture Ceremony for residents of Queensland, recipients of Australian honours and awards announced on Australia Day 2017 and Australian bravery decorations announced in August 2016.

In the afternoon, at Government House, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey hosted an Investiture Ceremony for residents of Queensland, recipients of Australian honours and awards announced on Australia Day 2017.
Description

 GIS - 05 May, 2017: Enterprise Mauritius (EM) is organising for the first time Buyers Sellers Meetings (BSM) in Poland and Hungary from 8 to 12 May 2017. The aim is to build sustainable trade relations with these two Eastern European countries.

This initiative is in line with EMs market diversification efforts and to mitigate the possible effects of Brexit. Operators from the agro and textile and apparel sectors will participate in the BSM. A whole range of products such as rum, blended spirits, vodka, liquor, instant noodles, pickles as well as a wide collection of apparel products such as jeans, denim fabric, ladies and menswear, uniforms and caps will be showcased.

The objective of this promotional event is to project Mauritius as a reliable sourcing destination for quality and high end products and accelerate the current exports trend to Poland and Hungary. The BSM is also an opportunity for Mauritian exporters to gain insight into these new markets, understand the business culture and the way of doing business with Hungarian and Polish importers. It will also help foster linkages with potential buyers.

Hungary and Poland: Countries with considerable potential for local business community

Hungary is a small country which is highly engaged in international trade. The countrys favourable geographical location places it at the crossroads of main commercial routes. From Hungary, a market of some 250 million people can be reached within 600 miles. The value of domestic exports, mainly of special sugars and seafood products, has increased from Rs 15 million in 2015 to Rs 23 million in 2016.

Poland is by far the most populous country in Central and Eastern Europe with over 38 million inhabitants and has the largest working population. According to the International Monetary Fund Mission Chief for Poland, the economy has been one of the best performers in Central and Eastern Europe in the past decade. With a GDP of Euro 430 billion in 2015, Poland offers considerable potential for the Mauritian business community. Growth is projected to accelerate to 3.7% in 2017. Mauritian exports to Poland has increased from Rs 183 million in 2015 to Rs 187 million in 2016.

Being members of the European Union, Mauritian products will enter these markets duty free under provisions of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreements.
We don't have enough people to keep up.""We have to go through miles of case law on this one.""The paperwork is killing our productivity.""We don't know because we can't track events like that."Spend enough time in or around government agencies, and these are the kinds of pressures you're likely to hear about. How can governments overcome challenges like these that are both detail-oriented and labor-intensive? Increasingly, they could be turning to artificial intelligence (AI).You might think of AI as futuristic, but it's already having a profound impact on government. Cognitive technologies can't replace the complex strategic planning and management required of public administrators. But we're entering an era of automated intelligence -- the computerization of tasks previously thought to require human judgment.Here, as explored in a new Deloitte study , are five ways AI can help government agencies cut costs, free workers for critical tasks, and deliver better, faster services.From Facebook posts to sensor readings, we generate far too much data for humans to make sense of without help. Cognitive technologies can help to sift that data. Electronic document discovery, for example, can locate 95 percent of relevant documents in the discovery phase of legal cases, compared to about 50 percent for humans, and in a fraction of the time. And then there's NASA's Volcano Sensorweb , a network of space, terrestrial and airborne sensors that can trigger closer observation by human experts who can pinpoint and record just-in-time imagery of volcanoes and other cryospheric events. This is a major promise of AI: humans and computers combining their strengths.By pointing the way to new opportunities for automation, AI can help to significantly reduce administrative tasks, maximizing time for mission-focused work. One Colorado survey, for example, found child-welfare caseworkers spending 37.5 percent of their time on documentation and administration, versus just 9 percent on actual contact with children and their families. And at the federal level, our research indicates that simply documenting and recording information consumes astaff hours each year. "Bots" can automate all kinds of activities like these, from invoice processing to filling in forms, from data entry to writing budget-reporting documents. By freeing up all that time, we can create a more effective government, empowering employees to do the work that really matters: serving citizens in need.Backlogs and long wait times can be hugely frustrating to both citizens and government employees. At the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the backlog of patent applications topped half a million in 2015. Cognitive technologies can sift through data backlogs and perform end-to-end business processes on a massive scale while leaving difficult cases to human experts.Machine learning and natural-language processing can reveal patterns, enabling better predictive capabilities. By trial and error, computers learn how to learn, mining information to discover patterns in data that can help predict future events. When your email program flags a message as spam, or your credit card company warns you of a potentially fraudulent use of your card, machine learning is probably involved. In government, the Army is developing wearable monitors that use a machine-learning algorithm to determine wound seriousness, helping medics prioritize treatment. Meanwhile, the Department of Energy's self-learning weather and renewable forecasting technology uses machine learning, sensor information, cloud-motion physics derived from sky cameras, and satellite observations to improve solar forecasting accuracy by 30 percent.Giving citizens quick answers to important questions improves service while reducing costs and backlog. "Chatbots" can handle tasks such as password resets (which one North Carolina agency's IT help desk found made up more than 80 percent of its tickets ), freeing staff for more complex tasks. On the U.S. Army website, an interactive virtual assistant does the work of 55 recruiters: It answers questions, checks qualifications and refers prospective recruits to human recruiters. The system uses machine learning to improve recognition and helpful responses, with an accuracy rate of over 94 percent.As these examples illustrate, cognitive technologies eventually will fundamentally change how government works, and the changes will likely come much sooner than many think. Some traditional models assume limits on the tasks that information technology can execute. Increasingly, however, such assumptions will no longer apply. As cognitive technologies advance in power, government agencies will need to bring more creativity to workforce planning and work design. The most forward-leaning jurisdictions will see cognitive technologies as an opportunity to reimagine the nature of government work itself -- to make the most of complementary human and machine skills.
1. Housing Services

2. Public Health

3. Department of Motor Vehicles

4. 311

5. Civic Engagement

Talking computers no longer merely belong to a dystopian future, but rather are already transforming our daily livesand now the practices of government. Governments have begun adopting chatbotscomputer programs that can hold conversations via audio or textto improve and speed up service for residents.In many cases, interaction with chatbots can replace traditional resident-city interactions that may be time consuming and tedious, like a trip to the department of motor vehicles (DMV). For one, chatbots can answer nearly any simple resident question with complete accuracy, pulling instantaneously from a database of knowledge. Moreover, chatbots can relay this information quickly, without the need for residents to wait in a long line or stay on hold. And, using chatbots where feasible also frees city employees up to contend with more complex problems.Below are five areas where governments have implemented or should begin to implement chatbots in order to improve the efficiency of service delivery.In the U.K., Londoner and Stanford undergrad Joshua Browder created a chatbot to help recently-evicted residents apply for government housing. The premise was that people who have recently been kicked out of their homes may not be in a good position to write letters and gather information for a housing application. Browders service, available on the DoNotPay.co.uk site, asks users a number of questions via instant message, and then creates a legally-sound application designed to maximize applicants chances of finding housing.American cities could integrate such a system into the websites of their housing authorities, allowing users to create applications for subsidized housing via conversations with chatbots. Currently, the application process for subsidized housing is often prohibitively convoluted. For example, in Boston, the process requires residents to determine their eligibility, watch a series of training videos, and fill out a seventeen-page preliminary application. Making this process easier and quicker using chatbots could help many residents in need of subsidized housing submit accurate applications.The U.K has also seen innovative uses of chatbots in the realm of public health. Startup Babylon Health started a six month trial in January to use chatbots to replace the National Health Services (NHS) 111 service, through which residents call for advice on non-emergency medical matters. Thanks to Babylons mobile app, rather than speaking with operators who are not necessarily medically qualified, residents can message with chatbots to check their symptoms instantly and get advice on the appropriate course of action. The goal is for the chatbots to take care of simpler medical requests, allowing residents to avoid unnecessary doctors appointments and freeing up those physicians on call to tend to residents in greatest need.While American cities do not have a comparable 111 system, building chatbots into public health efforts could greatly streamline services. Often, health departments have few physicians on call, creating a backup of residents with medical questions and leading to long waits. By integrating chatbots into health department websites and phone services, cities can create a medically-savvy service that can answer basic resident questions and allay concerns until a medical professional is available. For example, if a resident fears he has been exposed to an infectious disease, he could message a chatbot on the citys public health website explaining the situation and symptoms and receiving guidance.Perhaps the most notoriously slow and tedious of all government offices is the DMV. The average wait time at the DMV is 44 minutes, though in some cities typical waits can be as many as four hours long. Often, residents must wait to complete simple tasks like renewing their license plates.Chatbots provide a much more efficient means of doing business with a citys department of motor vehicles. By creating a bot that can complete tasks like renewing license plates or issuing parking permits, cities could allow residents to complete those tasks more quickly while simultaneously reducing congestion and improving speed of service in DMV offices. Most 311 calls are simple information requests questions about the hours of the public pool, what roads will be closed during an event, or some other piece of information. These are all questions that could easily be answered by a chatbot, either over the phone or via instant messaging. By having chatbots handle simpler requests, cities can free up call center workers to handle more complex citizen inquiries, providing better and faster service.Recently, governments have made a number of innovative efforts to engage citizens in decision making in order to make policy more democratic and better tailored to residents needs. The New York City Police Department, for example, has adopted crowdsourcing platforms that allow residents to submit ideas and has increased its presence on social media to engage with residents.Chatbots provide another opportunity to grow citizen participation in government. By creating chatbot surveys that ask residents questions about policy issues, cities can gather more direct citizen feedback. For example, rather than encouraging residents to merely call their mayors office with concerns, cities could integrate chatbots into the city hall website or Facebook page to allow residents to voice opinions and then automatically ask follow-up questions to gather deeper, more useful input.By employing chatbots, cities can improve the speed and effectiveness of their interactions with residents. In addition to allowing residents to avoid long lines, chatbots possess unique technological capacities, like the ability to communicate with foreign language speakers. By leveraging such capabilities as well as freeing up city employees to manage complex resident requests, chatbots have the potential to provide each citizen with more personalized service.
Police departments already have a lot of data available that could be helpful: use of force incidents, citizen complaints, praise of officers from other officers or the community. But making sense of that data is not always easy.For example, if two officers use force during stops twice in one month, are they both performing the same  and at equal risk of having a serious incident in the future? What if one officer made dozens of stops during that time and the other only made two  using force both times? Does it make a difference if they were patrolling in different areas, or if one was on the night shift and the other working during the day?To sort through the data and draw the right conclusions from it, some departments are turning to performance management systems  also called early intervention systems  for data analysis.Early intervention systems dont start from good beginnings, said Brian Christenson, vice president of public sector solutions for Sierra-Cedar, which works with police departments to customize and implement its system, called Insight. Many times, departments create them as part of a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice after an investigation into problems. But they set the stage for improvements.The basic idea of an early intervention system is to take data from multiple sources  often about a dozen, though the Seattle Police Department just started using a system that draws on 17 different data sets  and analyze them so users can easily see unusual patterns.Every piece of data around an officers interactions or job comes together and forms the foundation for what an early intervention system does, said Garth Strandberg, vice president of justice and public safety solutions with Sierra-Cedar.The Seattle system, for example, looks at data that comes from sources ranging from human resources to internal affairs. It integrates with the computer-aided dispatch system and tracks arrests, training and other incidents. The Seattle Police Department worked with Accenture to develop this data analytics platform, which was finished in January. The system followed a consent decree with the federal government, which required that the city proactively address the use of force by police officers.Were looking at the whole picture of the officer, said Jody Weis, Accentures director of public safety for North America. Thats good for the officers, and I think its really good for the community.Once the system has the data, the key is to analyze it. How many times has an officer used force in the past six weeks? That number may be higher for a member of a SWAT team, for example, than for someone who patrols a relatively peaceful neighborhood. Tuning the system to account for these differences is key to making it work.It looks at the outliers, Strandberg said. Do we have an issue with an officer that requires training? The idea is to engage with the officer before it becomes a punitive action.For example, the system the Los Angeles Police Department uses analyzes each officers performance each night, sending an electronic action item to the supervisors inbox if an officers performance appears to vary from that of other officers doing similar work.The current version of the LAPDs system, which Sierra-Cedar put together and is called TEAMS II (for Training, Evaluation and Management System), went live in 2007. The system was originally mandated by a consent decree between the department and the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001.The LAPD system looks at five issues: use of force, complaints, collisions, pursuits, and claims and lawsuits. It looks at how often an officer is involved in these incidents compared with other officers, as well as how often these occur compared with how many stops and arrests they make.We have guidelines that supervisors go through for the analysis, said Cmdr. Regina Scott of the LAPD. Supervisors must determine whether there is a pattern of conduct that needs further action. Everyone is looking at the same things in creating their evaluation.The analysis can end in different ways, including no action, counseling, or initiating disciplinary action. The supervisor then discusses the issue  and its disposition  with the officer involved, and includes that conversation in the final analysis, which is then reviewed by several higher levels of command staff.Different departments may start out with different data sets and look at them in different ways.For example, Seattles system identifies each officers chain of command on any given day, Weis said, so if an officers results are different depending on the supervisor, that will become clear.The system charts the places and times of day when force is most likely to be used. It also tracks demographic information for officers and offenders, so racial patterns will become apparent. And since it also tracks training, it can identify if an officer is missing critical training.In the system Sierra-Cedar built for the New Orleans Police Department, which has had the companys Insight tool fully implemented for a few months as part of its response to a consent decree, a supervisor dashboard allows supervisors to look at everybody in their command in 30 seconds and get a summary of what they have done over the past 24 hours, Strandberg said. The supervisors are where change happens and where it affects the people on the street, and giving them the right tools is probably the most impactful thing the system does.Although early intervention systems can provide valuable insights, departments face many challenges in setting them up and using them effectively:Starting with the right data. Its kind of junk in, junk out, Weis said. If names have not been entered in the same format in the past, for example, it may cause problems for the new system. You can have the greatest analytical tools in the world, but if the underlying data is incorrect or incomplete, the conclusions may be wrong. And departments may use these conclusions to drive policy.In Seattle, the team worked really hard on cleaning up their data, Weis said.The LAPD, too, put in a significant effort to gather all the data to import it into the system, Strandberg said.And in New Orleans, the department realized that it would need to upgrade some of the databases, including the training and payroll systems, that would feed into the system. The information had to be accurate and clean, said New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison. The department also had to digitize some historical information to enter into the system.Once the data is cleaned up, its important to develop policies to ensure future data entry is done consistently.Getting buy-in. Officers may initially be suspicious of a system that is used to track disciplinary issues. And for the system to reassure the community, the public needs to understand how it works.The New Orleans Police Department did not want its officers to view the system as punitive: It is not a disciplinary management tool, it is a human resource management tool, Harrison said. It is designed to alert supervisors when we see trends that need some type of supervisory intervention.The New Orleans system includes commendations and positive comments from the public, and it gives individual officers self-service access to information in their personnel files. This gives them something of value that they werent getting before, Christenson said.Communication was also key  both with officers and with the community.We spent a lot of time working on messaging, Harrison said.In Los Angeles, there were concerns at the beginning that the system would generate extra work for supervisors, Scott said. But after the system had been in use for a couple of years, what you saw was that it was a tool that assisted supervisors. It kept them focused. And the officers feel that we are now more of a transparent organization, an organization that holds its people accountable.Making the right comparisons. The system will not produce valid results  and will make officers feel it is unfair  unless it compares officers to others doing similar work. Analytics are built into the system to make sure were comparing apples to apples, Harrison said.Because many external factors change at the same time that performance management systems are implemented, it can be difficult to quantify the results of using the systems.However, departments using the systems cite benefits in a number of areas:Early intervention. Before LAPD had its early intervention system in place, supervisors were often unsurprised when they heard about officers getting in trouble  but nothing had been done to keep issues from escalating, Scott said. Now what you see is a department that is very proactive. [The system] allows the command staff to move people or change their assignments  you can do that before an officer gets into any type of risk-based problem.Staff retention. Its expensive to train an officer, Strandberg said. If you can intervene with training or communication or counseling  so your first conversation with that officer isnt when theyre being terminated  thats a metric theyre concerned with.Better decision-making. The system is making us a 21st-century police department, where we can know how our people are performing and our decisions are based on science and data, Harrison said.When officers are being considered for new assignments or promotions, everyone involved wants to be sure the decisions are fair. Without good data available, it was easy for those decisions to be based on memory, not on accurate data. Now, were actually comparing apples to apples and not making those decisions in a vacuum, Harrison said. This helps ease officers concerns about fairness and favoritism in making these assignments.Improvements in culture and management. Seattle Chief of Police Kathleen OToole said in a statement, This integrated platform has improved our ability to track use of force and officer performance across multiple measures. These analytics not only promote accountability, but also enhance police operations by supporting proper management of personnel helping SPD officers deliver high-quality policing to the communities they serve.In Los Angeles, Scott said, the system has changed the culture of our department. Were all on the same page; were all looking for risk issues.Public trust and communication. In addition to being able to tell the public that the department has an early warning system to help identify officers with problematic behavior, the New Orleans system now has more accurate data available. As a result, we have been able to release a number of data sets to the public, resulting in public engagement, said Lamar Gardere, New Orleans CIO. Its increased transparency and increased accountability.Scott said that in Los Angeles, too, the system has increased openness. Were more professional, more open, and because of that we have built the public trust within the community.Public trust is critical because of how life-changing an encounter with the police can be.Police officers have the authority to take away your liberty, and they can under certain circumstances have the authority to use deadly force, Weis said.Early intervention systems are expandable and modifiable, and departments continue to work on them. They can add new data sources, for example, or tweak the way the system identifies trends that need action.We constantly look at our assessments, Scott said. Are there different ways to measure performance? Should they tweak the way they calculate when an action item gets triggered? Were looking to make the system even better with the future iteration of TEAMS III. kmsteen@margaretsteen.com
(TNS) -- Another self-driving car company has rolled into Pittsburgh.It's headed by autonomous driving veterans and leaders from three undisputed heavyweights in the field: Tesla, Google and Uber.But you probably haven't heard of them. Aurora Innovation was started by Sterling Anderson, the former director of Autopilot; Chris Urmson, the former CTO of Google's self-driving car efforts, and Drew Bagnell, who headed autonomy and perception at Uber's Advanced Technology Center in Pittsburgh.Chris Urmson, Drew Bagnell and Sterling AndersonThe company has quietly opened an office in Pittsburgh, basing about half its staff here and half in Palo Alto, Calif. Aurora's car, a 2017 Audi Q7, recently drove from Silicon Valley to the Steel City, collecting nearly 3,000 miles of data along the way that it's using to refine its self-driving models."We see Pittsburgh talent as a key strategic element of the autonomy puzzle and wanted to make sure our footprint reflected that," Anderson told the Tribune-Review in one of the few interviews he's given about the new company.Anderson was hesitant to reveal some details about Aurora's activities in Pittsburgh. He wouldn't say how many people are based here or where the office is located.What isn't a secret is Pittsburgh's growing self-driving ecosystem. Carnegie Mellon University has been at it for decades. It's been nearly a year since Uber announced it was actively testing autonomous vehicles on the city's streets and in that time, several self-driving companies have set up shop. Delphi is testing its technology on Pittsburgh's streets. Argo AI headquartered its offices in the Strip District after it received $1 billion from Ford. And companies like Edge Case Research have flourished to support the industry.Urmson and Bagnell pioneered work on autonomous vehicles at CMU. Urmson was director of technology on the university's 2007 team that won the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Grand Challenge. Bagnell was a member of that team.Urmson went to Google a year later to lead the company's self-driving car project. Bagnell remained at CMU as an associate professor in the university's Robotics Institute. In 2016, he went to Uber's Advanced Technology Center.Anderson worked on self-driving technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. Urmson took notice of his work and invited him to Google to talk to his autonomous vehicle team. Anderson ended up at Tesla, where he headed the Model X project and the company's Autopilot program.The three kept in touch and founded Aurora about four months ago. They've stayed relatively quiet about their company.In January, Tesla sued Aurora, Anderson and Urmson. Tesla withdrew the lawsuit less than three months later and a Santa Clara County, Calif., judge dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning Tesla can't re-file it.The lawsuit alleged Anderson tried to recruit Tesla engineers to Aurora Innovation in violation of his non-solicitation agreement with his former company. It also accused Anderson of taking confidential Tesla information and destroying evidence to cover it up.Anderson and Aurora disputed the allegations all along and pointed to Tesla withdrawing the suit even before the first court date as proof there was nothing to it.Aurora won't solicit Tesla employees until February, which the company couldn't do because of Anderson's original non-solicitation agreement with the company, and Aurora will reimburse Tesla $100,000 for an independent forensic audit of Aurora.Anderson said the Tesla lawsuit won't affect the company moving forward. The company has about $6.1 million in self-funding and from close advisors. It plans to launch a substantial funding round this year.Aurora has nine positions listed on its website. All are in Pittsburgh and Palo Alto.Anderson sees Aurora developing and designing the hardware, software and data analytic systems for auto manufacturers to integrate into their production models. Aurora will work with auto parts suppliers and manufacturers to make sure everything works together, Anderson said. Think of Aurora's role in the auto industry as similar to Microsoft's in the PC industry. Microsoft designed and developed Windows and then worked with PC companies to integrate it in the systems."Players should play their positions," Anderson said, meaning that Aurora will let automakers do what they're good at, making cars, and will look for camera and sensor companies that are good at that. Aurora will likely write its own software.Aurora expects to start testing its cars in Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley later this year.But don't expect to see an Aurora car or the company's logo on the hood of sedans at the dealership. Just like you might not know what company made the airbag or stereo in your car now, you also might not know that Aurora is behind the self-driving tech.And that's OK with Anderson and the Aurora team."We want to make sure that as many people as possible have access to the benefits of self-driving," Anderson said. "Our hope is simply to make a positive difference and catalyze this important change in mobility."
(TNS) -- Urban planners learn early that there can never be enough parking. Its one reason American cities, including Detroit, disfigure themselves with so many ugly concrete parking garages. And its why historic buildings often fall to wreckers when a surface parking lot appears to offer a more lucrative revenue stream.But its just possible that the coming of the autonomous self-driving car may break the stranglehold that parking has on cities like Detroit. Most proponents of autonomous vehicles predict well need a lot fewer parking spaces in the future because driverless cars will not need to park at all, except at night. Rather, they will roam around during the day, seeking new passengers or running errands instead of sitting empty all day in a lot or deck.Combined with the growing popularity of ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, new bike-sharing programs such as Detroits MoGo service that starts up next month, transit options such as the Qline that begins service in May and the trend toward downtown living, autonomous vehicles could drastically reduce the need for parking lots and decks in the city.That would bring on a revolution in design. American planners long ago adopted regulations that mandate minimum parking for all sorts of uses. These requirements drive up the cost of construction and leave an urban streetscape marred with unsightly parking decks and surface lots.From an urban design standpoint, it could be a blessing if demand for parking goes down. But dont expect it just yet. If anything, recent trends have pushed up  rather than reduced  demand for parking in Detroit and in suburban downtowns such as Birmingham and Ferndale.One reason: Employers responded to the squeeze of the Great Recession by reducing their real estate costs. They did that by packing more workers into the same size or smaller building footprints. In effect, that meant more parking needed for the same old buildings.The newfound popularity of urban downtowns has pushed up parking needs even more. Businessman Dan Gilberts aides estimate that Quicken Loans and its spinoff firms have brought 17,000 workers to the downtown Detroit area since 2010. Some of those mostly millennial workers bike or walk to work. But many look for a parking space. Its a big reason why even outlying lots and street parking on the fringes of downtown Detroit look so full these days.But at some point, the coming of autonomous vehicles and alternative means of transit may turn that tide. And so some architects and city planners are beginning to grapple with what that means.One intriguing possibility: Architects will design parking decks in the future to be convertible to housing, office space and other uses as the need arises. Its not such a strange idea. Cities have long since converted old factories and warehouses to loft housing; unused churches now host brew pubs, and the early 20th-Century office buildings lining Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit have been converted to apartments, retail, restaurants and the occasional nightclub.But converting parking decks to new uses will mean building them in new ways. For one thing, the slightly sloping floors of most parking decks (allowing rain and snowmelt to flow toward drains) will have to be flat to accommodate potential new uses. Ceilings will have to be higher if we expect people to live there one day.Then, too, office and residential uses tend to carry more weight than parked cars, so the parking structures will have to be designed stronger. And architects will have to think about leaving room for mechanical ductwork and windows, even if a garage may not be converted for many years.This is not all fanciful. Planners in Seattle, Boston, Denver, Miami and Atlanta are all mulling building parking decks in this new way. So far, it's just talk for now.Suburban shopping malls surrounded by seas of asphalt will also change. Already under pressure from online shopping habits, malls wont need anywhere near as much surface parking as they have in the past. In this vision, self-driving cars will pick up and drop off shoppers, then drive on to other tasks, rather than looking for parking.Michael Osment, senior vice president of the Taubman Co., the Bloomfield Hills-based developer of upscale malls, said at a transportation conference in Southfield recently that millions of square feet of mall parking lots will have to be redeveloped as online shopping and autonomous vehicles cut the need for parking spaces.Already, Sterling Heights has asked the Detroit architectural firm Archive DS to work up a plan for converting Lakeside Mall in this way. Mark Nickita, a partner in the firm, showed a preliminary design that fills in the existing parking lots with new buildings and an extension of a nearby pond to create a more walkable environment. We left the big boxes, take out all the guts, and design in a mixed-use community, Nickita said.The plans are just concepts at this point. But, then, thats true of so much about the future of parking. Indeed, much of what proponents predict for autonomous vehicles remains speculative at best.At the recent transportation conference in Southfield, sponsored by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Richard Wallace, director of transportation analysis at the Center for Automotive Research at the University of Michigan, predicted that most self-driving cars will remain privately owned, as cars are today. But then Robert Feldmaier, director of the Center for Advanced Automotive Technology at Macomb Community College, predicted the opposite, saying most autonomous vehicles will operate as fleets owned by services, rather than individuals.Will cars drive more miles or fewer once autonomous vehicles arrive? You can find predictions that hold either view. Will fully self-driving cars arrive in two years or 20? Analysts can make a case for both timetables.So its reasonable to hold off on celebrating the end to parkings hold on urban design. Parking may represent a vast waste  by some estimates, most cars are parked 95% of the time  but lets not forget that people get possessive about their parking spaces as with few other things.As the great mid-20th Century architecture critic Lewis Mumford once observed, The current American way of life is founded not just on motor transportation but on the religion of the motorcar, and the sacrifices that people are prepared to make for this religion stand outside the realm of rational criticism.
(TNS) -- BELOIT, Wis. The state Assembly has passed a bill that expands funding for rural broadband internet.The bill draws on work done last year by the Study Committee on Rural Broadband to improve the Broadband Expansion Grant Program. Rep. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, was a committee member and an author of the bill, according to a news release.The grant program currently allocates $1.5 million a year to expand rural broadband access. The bill would add $15 million to the grant program and would expand future funding to $4.5 million per year, according to the release.Because high-speed internet is essential for education, commerce and everyday life in the 21st century, my duty is to make sure all residents of the 45th Assembly District have access, Spreitzer said in the release.The bill also adds $7.5 million to the TEACH program, which offers internet service to schools, the release states.The bill now moves on to the Senate.
On May 3, Congress formed a new caucus to help bridge the virtual reality (VR) knowledge gap present in federal government. The Congressional Caucus on Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Technologies resulted from a call to educate lawmakers on this rapidly progressing technology.The caucus will be co-chaired by its bipartisan group of creators: Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Bill Flores (R-Texas), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.)."This is an opportunity to educate our colleagues and others to ensure Congress is doing all it can to encourage  rather than hinder  these enterprising fields," the representatives said in a joint statement The creation of this caucus echoes efforts of earlier expert groups, such as the IoT Caucus, in its mission to ensure that lawmakers have the most current information.Ramsey Cox, a spokesperson for DelBene, told CNNTech that lawmakers can be quick to draft a bill, "but with technology evolving at such a rapid pace, we need to be thoughtful and make sure we're not updating 30-plus-year-old laws by writing a bill  that will be out of date tomorrow.This caucus is still in its beginning stages, but in conjunction with Trumps newly established American Technology Council , the message is clear: The federal government under Trump is getting serious about IT and tech policy."As these technologies continue to advance and grow, this Reality Caucus will work to foster information sharing between Congress and our nations world-leading technology industry," the representatives said in the joint statement, noting that the technologies have shown tremendous potential for innovation in various fields, and as they develop, questions will inevitably rise in privacy, intellectual property and other areas. "We look forward to working with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help support innovation and address the challenges posed by this emerging sector.
(TNS) -- After coming under intense scrutiny, Facebook announced Wednesday that it plans to hire 3,000 more employees around the world to review violent videos, suicides and other problematic behavior on the social media site.After a string of tragedies posted on Facebook, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company would add to its current staff of 4,500 people who already monitor such activity. In addition, he said they will make it easier for users to report problems, faster for their reviewers to determine which posts violate standards, and easier for the tech giant to contact authorities when needed.While many praised the announcement, others questioned how effective it would be.Sarah Roberts, assistant professor at UCLAs Department of Information Studies, said nearly doubling the workforce of these monitors at Facebook would clearly have an impact. But even with 7,500 Facebook monitors around the world, she said, what they will actually be able to adjudicate and make decisions about is a small subset of the amount of content that Facebook receives in any given moment.The Menlo Park-based Facebook, which has 1.9 billion users, walks a fine line when it engages in such moderation practices in terms of potentially making users unhappy  or making that presence felt in a way thats unpleasant to them, she said.In addition, she said Facebook created an incredibly powerful tool with Facebook Live, asked people to use the live video streaming service as they will and then is surprised or unprepared to deal with the tragic yet obvious consequences.As long as Facebook Live exists, the matter of another horrible incident happening is not when, its if, she said. Thats just human nature.Facebook faced criticism for not doing more to curb such videos from spreading on its service. In one recent instance, Steve Stephens was accused of randomly killing 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. in Cleveland, Ohio on Easter Sunday while recording it  and then uploading it to Facebook.In Southern California, 33-year-old actor Frederick Jay Bowdy broadcast his suicide on Facebook Live from North Hollywood in January.The timing is not accidental; it happened because theyve had some high profile problems, said Karen North, professor of social media at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.North argued that the move will allow Facebook to cast a bigger and better net to catch more problems, including those that involve troubled people who need help. RELATED STORY: Southern California actor streams his suicide live on Facebook State Assemblyman Matt Dababneh, D-Encino, said hes very appreciative of Facebooks efforts to catch up to their own technology and the unintended consequences of it.Dababneh, a member of the California Legislative Technology and Innovation Caucus, introduced a bill in March dubbed Jordans Law that if approved, would criminalize social media-motivated attacks. The proposed bill is named after 14-year-old Jordan Peisner, a San Fernando Valley teen who sustained serious head injuries after a boy he did not know sucker-punched him in the head outside a Wendys in December.The brutal assault was captured on video and posted on Snapchat.A civil lawsuit filed this week by Jordans father contends the video was uploaded on the social media site so those involved could achieve notoriety and social media popularity and fame.If young people realize that these types of attacks or other graphic videos or other posts of this nature wont be tolerated online and will be removed quickly, that de-incentivizes their perverse interest in doing it in the first place, Dababneh said.Jordans father Ed Peisner, of West Hills, called the move by Facebook a great start. He said he thinks part of the problem is the real-time nature of Facebook Live, which doesnt allow the company to review video before its posted.It gives everybody this platform where they think theyre famous and unfortunately, we have a society today that has to keep up with the Kardashians and one has to one-up everyone else, he said.Steven Freeman, deputy director of Policy and Programs at the Anti-Defamation League in New York, said because of the large volume of content posted on Facebook, its really important for users to know how to flag potentially inappropriate posts. The ADL has published a Cyber-Safety Action Guide on its website for this very purpose, he said.Its about letting people know what tools are available and encouraging the company to make sure those tools are easy to find and easy to use, Freeman said.Los Angeles County Sheriffs Capt. Bobby Wyche, of the Special Operations Division, said anything Facebook can do to make potential crimes easier to report and give information to authorities is beneficial.The sooner we can find out about a particular crime, the more it helps us to commit resources to that, he said.North, of USC, said its likely that Facebook will also move fast to improve its algorithm to identify inappropriate posts. While they have an algorithm that identifies hate speech and some images, such as nudity, its much more difficult for a computer to identify images that are not clearly inappropriate or dangerous, North explained.A picture of a gun or a noose, for example, could be an artistic project or the trailer of a movie rather than a murder or a suicide, she said.My guess is theyre working very hard and very fast to improve that, North said.
Mercedes chiefs are sure Valtteri Bottas' breakthrough win will not upset the balance in its driver lineup.

Until now, the team has been revelling in peace-time, after Nico Rosberg's retirement ended the awkward situation between the German and Lewis Hamilton.

Before Sochi, the media was even wondering if Rosberg's replacement Bottas was now a 'number 2', but then the Finn won the Russian grand prix.

"They get on well," Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda told France's L'Equipe.

"Valtteri is discrete, he doesn't talk too much, they're both professional, so I don't see any problem with Bottas winning the race. They respect each other, which is the most important," he added.

Team boss Toto Wolff agreed: "Their relationship is intact. You can see the respect they have for each other.

"At the same time they are two fierce competitors who want to win races and fight for the title. But I don't think it will affect their relationship and the team dynamics.

"Compared to last season, it's a completely different situation," Wolff added.

(GMM)
Bob Fernley says team boss Vijay Mallya's legal troubles will not affect Force India.

As deputy boss, Fernley has been left in charge of the race team while former Indian billionaire Mallya, also the team co-owner, is unable to travel after having his passport seized.

Now, the Indian government is trying to extradite the flamboyant 61-year-old, but Fernley insists all is well with the F1 team.

"Vijay has always been the subject of a lot of speculation over many years and it never had the slightest impact on the team," he told France's Auto Hebdo.

"This new episode will have no more impact than the others," Fernley added.

Force India finished the 2016 season in an admirable fourth place, despite having one of the smallest budgets on the grid.

The Silverstone based team has now started 2017 well, but Fernley says the gap from the top of the grid to the midfield has blown out.

"The top three teams are out of reach because of their ability to spend," he said.

"When you spend a third of the EUR 300 million that the big teams do, you can't aspire to those top places. But don't detect any frustration in my remarks -- it's just an observation."

(GMM)
Happening at the CCB Auditorium of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the three-hour session of music and worship is to provide a platform for Christians to have a fulfilling praise and worship time with their creator.

This year, we decided to hold a show in Kumasi on Sunday, May 7, then another in Accra on Saturday, May 13. Last year after the Accra event, we received calls and messages from our friends in Kumasi asking when we would host an event there.

This year we have the opportunity to be in Kumasi and also planning on other regions in subsequent years. The programme is not just about singing and dancing but an encounter with God, Mrs Hamilton told The Mirror in an interview.

We have received several testimonies from patrons who were at our previous events and we are hopeful that there would be more this year.

She said proceeds from the two shows would go to the Diana Hamilton Foundation, a charity organisation that supports the underprivileged in society.

Also billed to perform at the 3.00pm show are the evergreen Daughters of Glorious Jesus and KODA.
A Linn County Circuit Judge has ruled that the state can inform employees and residents near Entek International's Lebanon plant about plans to monitor air quality surrounding the plant, and that there may be an abnormal level of a toxic chemical present.

The Thursday ruling from Judge Carol Bispham came nearly a month after Entek won a temporary restraining order barring such communications from the Department of Environmental Quality and Oregon Health Authority.

In her ruling, however, Bispham noted that, Entek was left with little recourse except that available through the court, since the state was on the verge of launching a broad communication plan that was based on preliminary and possibly inaccurate modeling data.

Our purpose in going to court was to get the DEQ to refrain from acting in advance of having solid data, Entek spokesman Kirk Hanawalt said Friday. Entek provided new, detailed modeling data to the department on April 24 and that modeling validates Enteks position that the company does not pose an unacceptable risk to the public.

Hanawalt added that the company will continue to work collaboratively with state agencies to ensure the safety of our workers and neighbors. We simply ask the same courtesy from our agency partners.

In a prepared statement Friday, Oregon Health Authority spokesman Robb Cowie said: The courts opinion letter affirmed the agencies have a right and a responsibility to communicate about their activities with the public.

Cowie said the Department of Environmental Quality and the Oregon Health Authority are working with Entek to evaluate air emissions from the facility, and what the next steps will be.

Cowie noted that Entek is in compliance with its air quality permit and that Entek has provided modeling information about its estimated air emissions. He said the Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing the air modeling data Entek provided and other information to determine what, if any, additional steps may be taken.

And, Cowie said, the Health Authority and DEQ look forward to working with Entek to provide transparent, accurate and science-based information to the public.

In three court appearances last month, Entek attorneys argued the company could suffer irreparable harm if inaccurate information was provided to the public, its employees and its worldwide customers.

Entek, which employs nearly 500 people in three local divisions, produces battery separator materials used in 95 percent of the batteries in new vehicles produced in North America, and more than 80 percent of the replacement batteries. The manufacturing process uses tricholorethylene (TCE), a carcinogenic solvent.

During an April 6 meeting at Entek's Lebanon plant, company officials met with officials from the Department of Environmental Quality, the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Justice in addition to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The state officials told Entek of their plans to place four air-quality monitoring stations near the plant and to launch a public information campaign for Entek workers and Lebanon residents.

Before that meeting, Entek had been working with the agencies for several months after being told that a Federal Environmental Protection Agency computer model indicated the possibility of a high level of trichloroethylene in the air around the plant.

Entek hired another company, CH2M Hill, to prepare its own computer modeling data with a state-imposed April 24 deadline.

The day after the April 6 meeting, however, Entek went to court to seek the temporary order. At the time, the company argued that it would suffer damage if the state went ahead with the public information campaign based on inaccurate or incomplete information. And it said it believed CH2M Hills data would show far lower levels of TCE emissions.

On April 24, the company provided the state with data that indicated TCE levels were at one-tenth of the EPAs level and from one-third to half of the states preliminary model.

In her Thursday ruling, Bispham said both the state and Entek agree that the company is in full compliance with its air-quality permit and has taken steps over the years to control its TCE emissions.

She also noted that the state agreed Entek does not pose an imminent and substantial danger to the public health.

But she noted that the DEQ is charged with protecting the states environment and public health and in that capacity has the right to conduct surveys and investigations regarding the causes and prevention of diseases.

She added that the state also has the responsibility to inform the public about those efforts.

Probable cause is a low standard, she wrote. The Agency clearly had at least implied authority and probable cause to set up air monitoring systems to measure air for TCE emissions. Defendants had enough information to support a reasonable belief that TCE emissions could potentially be a health threat.

Bispham also noted, Oregon has a policy that public records and governmental activities should be open to the public. There is a presumption in favor of disclosure.

Entek and state officials met for about two hours Monday afternoon in Portland, and the state is reviewing the most recent data provided by the company.
Scania has launched a large-scale renewable diesel (HVO) pilot for employees based in Sodertalje, Sweden, enabling them to fuel their cars with renewable diesel. In Sweden, HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) is mainly produced by rape seed oil and waste from the food industry. HVO can reduce CO 2 emissions by up to 90%.

The pilotone of the largest of its kindtargets some 2,250 company cars and complements other sustainable commuting options available to Scania employees.

The pilot is a collaboration between Scania, the fuel station company Circle K and Volkswagen Group Sverige. This constitutes the largest HVO-pilot globally for cars from the Volkswagen Group brands.

Employees at Scanias head office who have an Audi, VW, Skoda or Seat 4-cylinder diesel are invited to be part of the pilot. A prerequisite is also that they have a company car or a car which is part of the companys lease program.
An Albany business owner will spend the next eight years in prison after pleading no contest Wednesday to two counts of first-degree sex abuse.

Santos Aquilino Lima Flores, 54, owner of Lima Family Auto sales, was arrested on July 18, 2016, after a 15-year-old girl accused him of having coerced her into his truck, where he sexually assaulted her, talked her into drinking beer, and then tried to make arrangements to meet with her later on in the parking lot of the YMCA.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Lima Flores picked up the girl on the evening of June 30, 2016 and drove her into the countryside, where he forced himself upon her. The document also alleges that Lima Flores drove the girl to a convenience store and purchased beer, later pulling into the Subway parking lot at Pacific Boulevard and Queen Avenue, where he continued the same behavior with the girl.

The affidavit also reports that after Lima Flores drove to the Albany skate park with the girl, she ran from the truck to a nearby home, where the homeowner called police. After a series of recorded phone calls between the girl and Lima Flores, during which Lima Flores and the girl discussed what had happened and what he would like to do with her next, Lima Flores called the girl's mother multiple times during the night, asking for the girl.

Lima Flores told Albany Police Department detective Jason Camillo the girl had asked for a ride and that she was "trying to set him up." He also admitted to having touched her in an inappropriate way, and told the detective he has a problem with methamphetamine.

Lima Flores, who came to the United States 14 years ago and established roots in Albany, told the Democrat-Herald in a 2009 interview regarding his business that he had served six years as a soldier during the civil war in El Salvador, and that he was a former member of a gang he called "the crazy mafioso." In the same interview, he said "Jesus came into my life and gave me a new direction."

As a condition of the plea agreement, one charge of first-degree kidnapping was dropped.

According to court records, Lima Flores served probation and community service for a prostitution charge in 1995.
If youve been paying attention to the recent chatter about free speech on college campuses, you might have seen that UNCG recently got a red light rating from FIRE, a civil liberties group thats in the news a lot these days for calling out colleges and universities on various free speech issues.

Since then, UNCGs "red light" status has been mentioned here, here, here, here and most recently here, which is a column that will run in Sundays N&R but was posted (and then unposted) a few days early.

This week, FIRE upgraded UNCG to green light status after the university made some tweaks to its sexual harassment policy. FIRE had given UNCG a "red light" rating for some wording (since revised) in the universitys sexual harassment policy and for a couple of policies that no longer exist (because, UNCG says, they were folded into a revised sexual and gender-based harassment policy.)

"We strive to ensure that our policies are clear and up-to-date with local, federal, and state regulations on these matters, Julia Newsom-Jackson (no relation), UNCG's associate vice chancellor for strategy and policy, said via email. FIRE's feedback alerted us to some areas which were not clear because of wording and  to the need to ensure that outdated policies are no longer accessible online."

A FIRE spokesman said that N.C. Central, also a former red light school, also has been upgraded to green light status. That gives North Carolina four out of the 31 green light schools in the U.S. Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill are the other two N.C. schools.

Reporters, take note. Its time to update your boilerplate.

P.S. UNCG and FIRE have a long relationship. If you're curious, here are details of a 2005 case involving the university and free speech zones, which UNCG has since gotten rid of.

Also, here's more this morning from Carolina Journal.

Want to make sure you see these blog posts? Like me on Facebook, and follow me on Twitter.

Have something to say? Email me at john.newsom@greensboro.com.
An Albany man was found not guilty of first-degree rape and sexual abuse Thursday in Linn County Circuit Court.

The three-day trial stemmed from a 2013 incident in Lebanon, when 30-year-old Andrew Cartwright ended up in a bedroom with a female acquaintance after a night of drinking.

State prosecutor Colleen Cerda described for the jury a situation where Cartwright had taken advantage of an intoxicated woman. Cerda presented testimony from a Lebanon Police detective, the alleged victim and the friend who discovered the two in the bedroom.

Taking the witness stand Thursday, Cartwright explained why he told detectives "nothing happened" during a 2015 interview with detectives.

"You're being questioned about a rape that happened four years ago," he said. "And I'm going to be honest with you guys: I was also coming down off methamphetamine."

Cartwright said he'd had four months in the Linn County Jail to reflect on what really happened, then proceeded to tell the jury a story of drinking with friends at a bar, playing hacky sack at a dog-grooming salon, and later going to the alleged victim's house to hang out while she packed up to move.

"She was the highlight of my night," he said, describing a scenario where he and the alleged victim were flirting, and then found themselves in a bedroom together when a male friend of hers burst into the room and shouted "rape."

"I said, 'Dude, if you're gonna call the police, then call them,'" Cartwright said. "I said, 'Call the cops right now and I'll stay here.'"

When no one called police, Cartwright said he left and went to a friend's house.

"I felt like I was being set up or framed or something," he said.
Genesis Baptist Church and Wells Memorial Church of God in Christ recently completed a Saturday Heritage Academy for 35 students at their respective churches.

The academy was a 10-week enrichment program for middle school students that uses African-American history to help students understand their past as well as small group tutorials in English language arts and mathematics to help them chart a course for a productive future.

The 19 children enrolled in the Genesis Academy and 16 enrolled at Wells Memorial also participated in local and interstate field trips during the 10 weeks.

They visited the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum, the Greensboro Historical Museum, the Martin Luther King Memorial, the Holocaust Museum, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Visiting speakers for the academy included Shelia Blair Cheng and Franklin McCain Jr. who talked about how the sit-ins affected their families.

Henry Frye, who was the first black chief justice of the N.C. Supreme Court explained the legislative process to the students and the Buffalo Soldiers Motor Cycle Club discussed the history of the group to which its members pay homage.

The Genesis Academy graduation was March 25; the Wells Memorial graduation was April 9.

All of the children were hooded with kente cloth strips symbolizing the programs mantra: You cant know where you are going unless you know where you have been.

All of the students participated in a joint Black Heritage Quiz Bowl, held at Wells Memorial.

Academy administrators were Adrienne Israel, Goldie Wells, Margaret Dudley, Sandra Alexander and Geraldine Wells.
THE WAXHAWS  Andrew Jackson was born here. Somewhere around here.

There are two places that claim his birth, one near Twelve Mile Creek in what is now Union County, and the other a few miles away in South Carolina near what is now the Andrew Jackson State Park.

A marker has been erected at each site, each claiming to be the birthplace of the seventh president of the United States.

I went to both a couple of years ago, not for any other reason than to stand and walk and fish where my boyhood idol lived and played.

I grew up near there, living in Charlotte until I was 11, learning all about Andy Jacksons boyhood, the legends and the history of the man his fellow soldiers would come to call Old Hickory, the man the Creek and Cherokee would come to call Sharp Knife.

He grew up in the wilds of The Waxhaws, a land still filled with ponds and creeks, where deer and wild turkey still mingle with snakes and snapping turtles and red-tail hawks. This is the land where we sowed our own wild oats as states of rebellion, where the British committed war crimes before we made them taste their own blood, where we turned the revolution in our favor.

In some ways, this is our most hallowed ground, both in North and South Carolina.

This is where the red-headed Andy once confronted a British officer in the early days of the revolution, in a cabin near the state line. A dragoon from Bloody Tarletons cavalry demanded young Andy clean his boots. When he refused, Jackson found himself warding off a blow from a sword that cut his arm to the bone and left a gash on his forehead.

He would carry the scar his entire life.

I knew the story by heart, the Waxhaws Massacre being required reading in Miss Thompsons second-grade class at the Briarwood School. I read the same book every day: Andrew Jackson: Soldier and Statesman.

It was a great book, but it glossed over a lot of details of his later life. My mothers family would fill me in on those details.

He was a brutal man who loved war, a slave-owner who bought other human beings to work his vast farmlands near Nashville, Tenn. He mightve been an adulterer, though he fought a duel, killing the man who accused him of marrying a woman who was already married.

But what we do know is he ordered the removal of the native tribes from North and South Carolina and Georgia, sending them on a death march to Oklahoma on what we now call the Trail of Tears. Where my mothers family grew up in the hills of western North Carolina, they curse the name of Andrew Jackson. There are those even to this day who refuse to say his name. There are people on the Cherokee Reservation who refuse to accept a $20 bill with his likeness.

I knew all this when I set off in search of Andy Jacksons boyhood home a couple of years ago. I wanted not to just locate the birthplaces but to talk to the people, to fish the ponds and walk the creeks where he wouldve stood. Our state-record bass was caught here in a farm pond in Union County, a 15-pound, 14-ounce giant hooked on a crankbait by teenager William H. Wofford in 1991.

One day, I plan to track Wofford down. Hes one of my heroes, though he has no idea. I hope he turned out better than Sharp Knife.

I drove through the area over a two-day period, talking to people, asking them if they knew the legends, asking if they knew where Andrew Jackson was born.

A park ranger pointed me to a pond near where the Jackson family lived. I camped there overnight and fished the pond for two days. It was filled with carp. I never saw a bass.

I spoke to a woman in a convenience store near what is now Waxhaw, N.C. I asked if people still talked about Jackson here.

Mostly just people who want to start a fight, she said.

Most people dont know his history. Most people dont bother to know the truth.

The truth is twofold. My boyhood idol would later move my familys blood relatives from our hills to the Indian Territory, leaving our genealogy charts with gaping holes, some filled in with the word Unknown.

I go to Cherokee every chance I get. Ive been to Oklahoma. Ive been to Jacksons grave at the Hermitage in Tennessee.

And Ive been to the place he was born. Both of them.

They say he died with a bullet in his chest from the duel he won. They say he died a bitter old man. He died in 1845, 16 years before the Civil War.

Andrew Jackson is our most polarizing president. His is a life worth studying.
Voters will choose between Linda Modrell and Charles Nelson to represent Zone 5 on the board of education for Linn-Benton Community College.

The race is one of two contested races for the community college this election season. Incumbent Randy Camp and challenger Mike Duncan are competing to represent Zone 6-7 (A), and James Merryman is running unopposed for re-election to his Zone 2-3 (A) seat.

Modrell, 74, may be best known to mid-valley voters as a longtime member of the Benton County Board of Commissioners. The Philomath-area resident also serves on the LBCC Foundation Board of Directors and as a policy developer for the Oregon Health Plan.

She said she chose to run for the board position because the community college is an important fixture, in Linn and Benton counties and beyond, and she wants to support its mission. "If I can help, I want to," she said.

Modrell has a bachelor's degree and an master's in business administration from Oregon State University, but was able to transfer there because of her associate's degree from LBCC in the late 1970s.

"Both sons saw me going through this college thing," she said. "I think it motivates you, to see your parents do that."

Modrell said her first priority as a board member would be to continue to foster connections with business so vocational training remains strong. She'd also like to find ways to strengthen the budget.

Another priority for Modrell is to ease the transfer process between LBCC and four-year state schools. She said she supports efforts to develop uniform descriptions of courses to help students better understand which credits will transfer and which will not. Ultimately, she said, her goal is to help develop a seamless path between LBCC and all four-year state schools.

Modrell said she believes she is the best candidate because "I have management experience, I have policy experience and I ask good questions."

Nelson, 83, is a retired Air Force officer and retired commercial real estate appraiser. He has an MBA from the University of Utah and a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University.

The Corvallis resident has served on the Corvallis City Council and is a former member of the Corvallis Kiwanis. He's also been president of the Corvallis Community Calendar, president of the Linn County Employees Union, treasurer for the Board of Realtors and a Scoutmaster.

"I hope to become a member of the Linn-Benton Community College Board of Education because I believe in LBCC," he said. "This school has a necessary role in our education system. I support its important curriculum. No other institution in our area provides the level of technical training and education in the trades needed by a significant segment of our communities. I appreciate LBCCs dedicated and talented teaching faculty. They receive high praise from their students."

Nelson said his first priority as a board member will be to help the college keep tuition affordable.

He also supports expansion of the Benton Center, along with providing adequate, accessible parking, although he stipulated construction should go forward without affecting Washington Park.

Nelson said he also wants to strengthen partnerships between the community college and high schools, working to bring back wider-reaching "fifth year" programs that allow high school students to earn credits while completing high school graduation requirements.

"An individual has the opportunity to finish high school prepared to go to work in the community," he said. "It is a primary solution to low graduation rates when students find they are learning skills that prepare them for well-paying jobs."

Nelson said he feels he's the best candidate because of his education and professional background, combined with community involvement.

"I started and managed two successful businesses in the community. I appreciate the role of good fiscal management. Community service in Corvallis resulted in my being named runner-up Corvallis First Citizen," he said.

"Much of my Air Force career involved teaching, training or managing training programs. I am very aware of the importance of good teaching and training. I will support promoting and expanding LBCCs reputation for good teaching."
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hills medical school recently found that food scarcity contributes to malnutrition in older adults. That seems easy to figure out. But why is malnutrition allowed to happen at all?

There is an existing national system of food assistance programs, such as Meals on Wheels, and we believe we can use the emergency department to link patients in need to those programs, the studys author, Dr. Tim Platts-Mills, told UNCs news service. He added: Even though such programs are relatively inexpensive  about $6 per individual per day  many programs are underutilized and under-funded. We need to link patients to these programs and fund these programs.

Is that political advocacy? Would it upset conservative politicians? The Trump administration proposes funding cuts for such programs.

The UNC Board of Governors, whose members are appointed by Republican legislators, will consider a policy barring a university center from taking advocacy positions, insisting it stick to academics instead.

The focus, for now, is on The Center for Civil Rights housed at UNC-CHs law school. A proposal would prohibit it from filing lawsuits or representing clients in civil rights cases.

The center led a legal challenge against Pitt County schools alleging racial segregation, reportedly forcing the district to raid textbook funds to pay legal expenses. Some UNC board members cite that as an example of improper advocacy.

This is outrageous, Steve Long told The Associated Press. We cannot allow academic centers to hire full-time lawyers to sue cities and counties.

The wisdom of individual actions can be debated, but a blanket policy against advocacy would be a mistake.

Should a medical school always stick to academics, or is there value in applying medical knowledge to real problems? If medical researchers determine that meal programs can help prevent malnutrition in elderly populations, why shouldnt they call for greater support for those programs? Isnt that also instructive for medical students? As practitioners, they should argue for policies that can help produce better health outcomes for the people they serve.

The same is true for law students. Participating in real legal actions strengthens their academic experience and gives them the sense that lawyers can help improve civic life in our state and communities by correcting injustices.

The center trains students to be advocates, a letter from UNC-CH officials, including law school dean Martin Brinkley, to the Board of Governors said. It added that nearly all public law schools do the same thing.

The Civil Rights Center, established by the late civil rights attorney Julius Chambers, is privately funded and could continue if it were relocated to Duke, Wake Forest or even the Elon law school in Greensboro. It would make those private schools more attractive to students.

But the notion that UNC schools or centers shouldnt take advocacy positions is misguided. Universities do more than accumulate, create and share knowledge. They apply knowledge in ways meant to improve the world around them. In that cause, they sometimes advocate for better practices and policies, whether in public health, law, social work, environmental protection or any other field. They might not always get it right, but thats no reason to limit the scope of their activity.

If a legal center is restricted today, a medical school could be targeted next. Putting boundaries on the application of knowledge opposes the mission of any university. The Board of Governors should know better.
GREENWICH  Connecticuts children are missing fewer days of school on average, according to data recently released by the state Department of Education.

While still below state averages, Greenwich, which has historically had low chronic absentee rates, is hoping to reduce its statistics by pinpointing its problems and increasing its focus on why students stay away, administrators said.

We have weekly Student Assistance Team meetings in each house where counselors, social workers, psychologists, deans, and administrators discuss student needs, said Chris Winters, headmaster at Greenwich High, where chronic absenteeism is among the highest in the district at 6.2 percent, 12 percent among high-needs students. Only Hamilton Avenue School had higher numbers: 6.4 percent in total, 7.8 percent high needs.

When attendance is an issue, we implement plans to understand the root causes, work with families and social services, and ensure that students are in school and learning, Winters said. It is very much a consistent and dedicated team effort at GHS.

Chronic absenteeism slipped statewide below the 10 percent mark for the first time in five years. The Education Department released new guidelines about preventing chronic absenteeism at the end of April.

Addressing absenteeism is part of ensuring the highest-quality learning environments for our students - and its key to narrowing the achievement gap, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman said.

More Information Chronic Absenteeism in Greenwich Public Schools 2015-16 chronic absenteeism rates for Greenwich Public Schools. Chronic absenteeism is defined by the state as missing 10 percent of school days or more for any reason. All students High needs students District 3.8% 7.3% Greenwich High School 6.2% 12.0% Central Middle School 2.0% 1.6% Eastern Middle School 1.8% 2.5% Western Middle School 3.3% 4.9% Cos Cob School 2.2% 3.7% Glenville School 2.5% 2.9% Hamilton Avenue School 6.4% 7.8% International School at Dundee 2.2% 1.9% Julian Curtiss School 3.4% 4.9% New Lebanon School 2.2% 3.1% North Mianus School 0.8% 1.8% North Street School 0.8% 0.0% Old Greenwich School 1.7% 1.8% Parkway School 1.4% 7.1% Riverside School 1.1% 0.0% See More Collapse

Over the past school year, rates of chronic absenteeism in Connecticut schools fell in every student subgroup and in a good number of local school districts.

In the 2015-16 school year, 9.6 percent of students across the state were absent 10 percent of the time or more for any reason, which is the states definition of someone who is chronically absent.

In Greenwich Public Schools, 3.8 percent of students were chronically absent in 2015-16, according to the states Next Generation Accountability Report. Some 7.3 percent of high needs students - those receiving special education or free or reduced price lunch, or English language learning students  were chronically absent that year.

At most Greenwich schools, chronic absenteeism plagued about 1 to 3 percent of students, but Hamilton Avenue School and Greenwich High School were outliers.

Children living in poverty are more likely to be chronically absent at a young age because of challenges from a lack of access to health care, housing insecurity and unreliable transportation, officials say.

Chronic absenteeism differs from truancy  which is an unexcused absence  and includes any absence from school. Even an illness is counted in the tally.

The state guidelines were created in response to a 2015 law that required the state Department of Education to develop chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention guidance for use by local and school boards to use.

Because of the efforts, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said nearly 10,000 more students are consistently attending class than four years ago because of efforts that now need to be sustained.

We need to do everything we can to make progress in our efforts to provide students with the best educational opportunities possible, Malloy said.

Recently, Connecticut received national recognition for its policies designed to reduce chronic absence.

emunson@greenwichtime.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
Soon, they will be more valuable than gold. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Avocados are something of a problematic little fruit, between the deforestation and involvement of drug gangs. That hasnt slowed down the growth in demand, causing avocado prices to hit a record high. Production by Mexican farmers, who are the United States main suppliers, is expected to decrease by 20 percent, and Californias output could be slashed by 50 to 60 percent due to bad weather.



The problem in Mexico is that bad weather has happened during an off year for avocado trees, when theyd be producing less fruits anyway. This has caused the price of Mexican Hass avocados to increase by more than 100 percent, with 22-pound boxes now going for $26. To compensate for the thinning supply, Peru, where output will probably also decline, is expected to relieve American brunchers with emergency avocados. This is all happening, Nicolaus Vorwerk of guacamole exporter Agora America tells Financial Times, during a demand explosion across the globe from Europe (where 8.8-pound boxes cost almost twice as much as in 2009) to China.
The Lebanon Police Department is seeking the public's help to find a missing man.

According to a news release, Gene Richie Peterson, 69, was last seen April 29 by his landlord in Lebanon. He owns a white 1989 Dodge D30 pickup with a white canopy and a license plate reading 766FVF.

Peterson is reported to have health issues, the release states, making it unlikely that he drove himself. It is believed he has family in Arkansas but would have told friends if he were traveling.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Lebanon Police Department at 541-451-1751.
Be careful out there, kids. Photo: Rob Kim/Getty Images

In an extremely Canadian move, Canadian liquor authorities have issued a recall for booze that has, set off the alarms, too much booze in it. Some bottles of Bombay Sapphires London Dry Gin contain nearly twice as much alcohol in the bottle. Because the booze was not diluted properly, the bottles have alcohol contents of 77 percent, instead of 40 percent. But the error is limited to, Canadas CBC News was told, no more than 1,000 cases of 1.14-liter bottles. Canadians, maybe get this gin while you still can (and cut it with some water).


Slick. Photo: Fox

Its probably safe to say that pilfering restaurants kitchen grease is nobodys idea of a good time, but Bloomberg has a gross story out today on how its suddenly hot as an illegal occupation. Hot as in, the criminal enterprise has become a big business, not that the oil is very warm (although, maybe that, too). The article explains that 30 percent of yellow grease now gets turned into biofuel, enough to make restaurants vats of golden goo, as Bloomberg christens it, the centerpiece of a thriving $75 million black market. It isnt new as a get-rich-quick scheme (business entrepreneur Homer Simpson gave it a go way back in 1998), but about 113 million pounds now get processed into biofuel each month, thanks to refineries demand for cheap raw materials, and the price they fetch has jumped 230 percent since 2000. Thieves sort of see it like being in the middle of a much gooier, sludgier gold rush.

And now that its springtime, theres no more siphoning oil from alleyway grease drums in freezing temperatures. So the grease-collection industry (thats a real thing, with its own lobby group and glossy magazine, Render) is strapping itself in for even more heists. Its like crack money, Sumit Majumdar, who runs a grease-collection business in New York state, tells Bloomberg. Theres an actual market for stolen oil. Its almost like a pawn shop or scrap-metal business.

The story is full of other wild factoids  like that Knoxville, Tennessee, alone has had 45 thefts in the previous few weeks; that Majumdar hired private investigators to track his culprits, and is offering a $5,000 reward for their arrest; that people in the Midwest are currently on the lookout for two thieves who travel under the cover of night in an old Pepsi truck; and that police rarely investigate because they cant justify spending energy and resources on tracking down stolen trash. Cant Discovery Channel just get a reality-show film crew on this already?


Unicorn fight. Photo: Starbucks

In April, Starbucks unleashed its Unicorn Frappuccino, a drink inspired by what its Strawberries & Creme Frappuccino would look like if you took too many shrooms. But one New York cafe is crying foul over the chains attempt to cash in on the unicorn-food trend, an unholy alliance of wellness and Instagram bait, and not because Starbuckss version contains vanilla syrup instead of spirulina extract.

The End  which, as you can almost certainly guess, is located in Williamsburg  has filed a lawsuit against the coffee behemoth, claiming trademark infringement. The Brooklyn cafe introduced its own Unicorn Latte back in December, and says it has had a trademark pending since January. In its lawsuit, the End accuses Starbucks of not only knowing what it is but also designing the size and scope of the Unicorn Frappuccinos launch to eclipse the Unicorn Latte in the market.

However, aside from the fact that neither drink is coffee-based, its comparing Granny Smith apples to Jolly Ranchers sour-apple flavor. Starbuckss drink is made with white mocha, three kinds of syrups, whipped cream, and colorful powders. The Ends Unicorn Latte is a wellness potion made with cashews, cold-pressed ginger, spirulina extract, spirulina powder, and maca root. When it was launched, T magazine suggested having the restorative drink prior to a deep yoga session or meditation. Meanwhile, drinking Starbuckss Unicorn Frappuccino before a deep session would probably make you throw up. Still, the End is seeking unspecified compensation, as well as a public apology from Starbucks, hopefully while a member of the R&D department is forced to drink one of the technicolor beverages.
The wearable market is growing slowly but its dynamics are changing. According to Strategy Analytics, Apple ousted Fitbit from the top position with 3.5 million wearables shipped during the first quarter of this year.

Thats a jump of 59% compared to the same period last year. Apple raced ahead of the market, which grew only 21% annually for a total of 22 million units shipped. Fitbit went from first (with 4.5 million in Q1 2016) to third (with just 2.9 million in Q1 2017), a massive slump.

Xiaomi also declined - from 3.8 million to 3.5 million - but it still kept enough market share (15%) to go up to second place. The market also diversified, makers outside the Top 3 went up from 7.7 million units to 12.2 million.

Growth mostly came from North America, Europe and Asia. The Apple Watch 2 in particular was a hot seller in the US, UK and several other countries, helped out by strong marketing.

Global Wearables Vendor Shipments (Millions of Units) Q1 '16 Q1 '17 Apple 2.2 3.5 Xiaomi 3.8 3.4 Fitbit 4.5 2.9 Others 7.7 12.2 Total 18.2 22.0 Global Wearables Vendor Marketshare % Q1 '16 Q1 '17 Apple 12.1% 15.9% Xiaomi 20.9% 15.5% Fitbit 24.7% 13.2% Others 42.3% 55.5% Total 100.0% 100.0% Total Growth YoY (%) 74% 21% Source: Strategy Analytics

This is a good place to mention that Xiaomi mostly ships smart bands, Fitbit has a variety of fitness trackers and smartwatches (though not Android Wear) while Apple only ships full-blown smartwatches. So numbers are not always directly comparable.

Still, the main takeaway from this is that the once market leader, Fitbit, is now in trouble. Shipments, along with revenue and profits, have fallen and it will be a struggle to recover.

Source | Via
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Last month, Xiaomi announced the Mi 6 in China. Upon closer inspection it was revealed that the phone does not have a headphone jack, like so many others in the past year.

When asked why, Xiaomi had the same reason to give as Apple. According to the quote given to Android Central, not having the headphone jack allowed Xiaomi to make space for other components, such as a bigger battery. Indeed, the Mi 6 has a larger 3350mAh battery over the 3000mAh one on the Mi 5 despite being roughly the same size.

With the headphone jack gone, the Mi 6 now relies on the USB-C connector to output audio (apart from Bluetooth). Xiaomi says that USB-C audio is now becoming more common and will continue to provide excellent audio quality.

Source
Nov. 3, 1932  April 22, 2017

Ardonnah Sylver Elligsen Nowlin, 84, died in Sweet Home on April 22.

She was born in Oregon City on November 3 1932, to Harry Elligsen and Wife Maud (Davis).

Ardonnah or Donie as her friends called her, grew up on a farm between Wilsonville and Tualatin She was active in 4H. She graduated from Sherwood High School in 1949 and attended Oregon State University for two years before transferring to Oregon College of Education in Monmouth. There obtained her teachers degree in 1955. She also met her future husband Dan Nowlin. Her first year of teaching was at Welches.

She and Dan were married May 13 1956 in Wilsonville. After finishing her first year of teaching, she moved to Versailles, France, to be with her husband, who was stationed there during his two year tour with the United States Army. In Versailles, on a spring day in 1957, Donie unexpectedly saw young Queen Elizabeth ll in a parade.

In the fall of 1957, the couple moved to Sweet Home, where Dan would teach sixth grade at Foster School. In the fall of 1958 Donie also became a teacher at Foster School. She taught third grade there until retirement in June 0f 1994.

In 1995 Donie underwent surgery for breast cancer, from which she eventually recovered. In 2006, she suffered a serious stroke, from which she did not recover and which at last caused her death.

Donie loved to visit and correspond with friends, travel, hike, prepare food for picnics, see the ocean and play the piano. She read many books, made her own clothing, loved gift wrapping and loved to pet her cat Widget.

Donie will be remembered fondly by her friends for her friendly and helpful ways, her smile and her since of humor. After retirement she volunteered in the church, Lebanon Hospital and Evergreen Hospice. She was also was on the Citizens Review Board in Albany, working until the stroke in 2006.

Donie was able to live at home until the December 20, 2016, then she moved to Twin Oaks Nursing Home, where she passed away.

Donie was a lovely lady who will be missed in the Sweet Home community.

She is survived by her husband Dan; daughter Nancy Nowlin Porter of Medford; son Dan Nowlin Jr. of Hillsboro; five grandchildren; brother Keith Elligsen of Aurora; and sister Lorna Wortman of Havre de Grace, Maryland

There will be a memorial celebration for her life for immediate loved ones and the caregivers who worked so hard for Donie her last two and a half years at a later date




Haiti - News : Zapping...





End of flooding at the airport

Following the floods in most installations https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20830-haiti-security-the-national-airport-authority-apologizes.html The situation returned to normal at the international airport Tousaint Louverture in Port-au-Prince. Irving Mehu, the Director General of the National Airport Authority (AAN), announced the convocation of the firm which had rehabilitated the airport after the earthquake of January 12, 2010, to obtain explanations on these floods...



Committee for the management of possible earthquakes

This Friday afternoon at the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant will present the Pre-positioning Committee for the management of possible earthquakes in the North. This committee is coordinated by the engineer Claude Prepetit, Director General of the Bureau of Mines and Energy...



Land use plan

This week the Ministry of Planning presented a land-use plan. This document gathers around a hundred projects of energy, infrastructure: health, education and management of natural risks, among others.



Two bills voted at the Chamber

On Thursday, the draft law on the organization and functioning of the Central Financial Intelligence Unit (UCREF) was voted in the Chamber of Deputies as well as the bill organizing work in 3x8 (8:00 am-4:00 pm, 4:00 pm - Midnight, and midnight - 8:00 am).



Cultural cooperation with Venezuela ?

On Thursday, the Ambassador of Venezuela, Luis Ernesto Diaz Curbelo and his colleagues had a working session at the Ministry of Culture around the perspectives of collaboration in the cultural sector.



SOFA seeks 30 million seedlings to reforest

At the beginning of the month, the Solidarity of Haitian Women (SOFA) organization initiated a campaign in Jeremie (Grand'Anse, Sud-Ouest) to collect 30 million seedlings to reforest the South and other areas devastated by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016.





On Thursday, as part of the AKOSAA-Chibas Project, President Jovenel Moise officially launched the project "Pitimi Pa Pe Pichon" https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-20850-icihaiti-agriculture-launch-of-the-pitimi-pa-pe-pichon-project.html



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Published on 2017/05/05 | Source

Added episode 15 captures for the Korean drama "Radiant Office" (2017)

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Directed by Jeong Ji-in, Park Sang-hoon-III

Written by Jeong Hee-hyeon

Network : MBC

With Go Ah-sung, Ha Seok-jin, Lee Dong-hwi, Kim Dong-wook, Lee Ho-won, Kim Byung-choon,...

16 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00

Synopsis

An abrasive marketing director and a female temporary contract worker at the same furniture company. She faces repeat rejection in her job search until despair drives her to attempt suicide. At the hospital, she learns she has a terminal condition, but then, finally succeeds in getting hired. With nothing to lose, she tackles her job and her life with a perspective.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2017/03/15

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Marlene E. Atchley, 79, of Lebanon, died Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland. A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 12 at Huston-Jost Funeral Home, with burial following at Rock Hill Cemetery.

Dr. H. Robert Ellisen, 91, died May 2. A graveside service with Navy honors will be at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 8 at Willamette National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, May 20 at 11:30 a.m. at the North Albany Community Church.

Richard James Metz Jr., 48, of Albany, passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. A celebration of life will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home.
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.
From Grassroot Institute, May 5, 2017

Even the Legislature can't seem to figure out what to do about ballooning Rail costs.

In previous columns, I've criticized the lack of dissent that allows tax-and-spend policies to move smoothly through the Hawaii Legislature. But as the session came to a close yesterday, one very controversial bill -- a proposal to raise taxes to help cover the costs of Honolulu Rail -- demonstrated the value of legislative dissent.

To be fair, SB1183 had a pretty tumultuous life as bills go. As it moved from the Senate to the House, it kept evolving. Sometimes it extended the Rail surcharge. Sometimes it adopted special conditions and benchmarks for the county. And for a short period, all it did was eliminate the state's administrative "skim" of the surcharge funds.

But when the bill went to Conference Committee, things got really exciting. Theoretically, this is where differences get hammered out, people come to a compromise, and the legislators present their colleagues with a bill that they can agree on.

Not this time.

The bill that came out of the Conference Committee dispensed with the surcharge in favor of a massive hike in the Transient Accommodations Tax. Determined to find a way to pay for Rail (and perhaps mindful of the fact that the public routinely testifies against raising the excise tax), legislators stuffed the new version of SB1183 with a tax on tourism, a special fund for education, and more.

But when the revised bill went back to the Hawaii House and Senate, the response was anything but collegial. Some said that the new bill was illegal and, if passed, would make Rail vulnerable to lawsuits. Representatives of the tourism industry spoke out about its effect on the economy and criticized the way it had been pushed through without the chance for public comment. Sen. Kai Kahele spoke from the Senate floor to call the bill "pilau." He also blasted the "privileged few" who passed the bill without transparency or accountability and pushed for an amendment that removed the TAT provisions and extended the surcharge to 2037.

Meanwhile in the House, Rep. Gene Ward blasted the Rail project for being "constipated" and legislators bickered over whether to stick with the Conference Committee's proposal.

The result? Two very different bills from the Hawaii House and Senate. The Senate embraced the suggestion to extend the surcharge while the House went with a (slightly lower) increase in the TAT. But by the time the Legislature completed its 2017 session yesterday, no agreement had been made on how to proceed, meaning the problem of Rail funding may force the legislature to call a special session. Given our track record with special sessions, fiscal conservatives (and fans of legislation that doesn't end up in court) can't be happy about that possibility.

The truth is that the Rail project has put the state in a hole that we can't seem to dig our way out of. Like so many other government projects, it is quickly turning into the kind of boondoggle that excels in sucking down taxpayer dollars, but isn't as good at meeting other goals.

E hana kakou (Let's work together!),

Keli'i Akina, Ph.D.

President/CEO
The Fair Work Commission has concluded that Murdoch University was justified in dismissing an employee for sending expletive-laden emails to a staff member at the Australian Bureau of Statistics.



The employee wrote to ABS statistician David Kalisch in August last year complaining about the move to store data from the 2016 Census.



Who the f*** do you think you are changing the scope of the census by collecting my family members personal data electronically to be stored indefinitely, said the email.



My familys personal information is none of your f***ing business! I worked in IT Mr Kalisch and know (sic) you wont (actually cant) keep that data safe.



Tell you what why dont you just use the data you stole from me for all these years and put that in your f***ing Census!



The email was copied to a federal member of parliament and after a few hours the ABS wrote to the university complaining about it.



"Irrespective of their personal opinions, I feel sure that you would expect a higher standard of conduct from staff engaging under the signature block and logo of your esteemed institution," the complaint read.



However, a few days later the employee wrote again to Kalisch concerning the news that the ABS census site had been hacked.



"No mention from you Mr Kalisch that any data was stolen during last night's DOS attack - positive about that are you? With hundreds of millions of dollars at your disposal you can't keep the servers safe for one night but I'm supposed to entrust you with my family's personal data storage for years?" the email read.



Please send me a fine, PLEASE, I really want to have my day in court now you bunch of f***ing buffoons!



The employee insisted his use of the university's email was inadvertent and not intended to damage the university.



He also argued that there was no evidence his actions had damaged his employer despite the emails being posted on Twitter by a journalist.



The university conducted an investigation into the employees actions and concluded the emails breached its Code of Conduct and equated to serious misconduct warranting dismissal.



The staff member was terminated and was given an ex gratia payment of four weeks salary.



The employee's application alleged unfair dismissal based on the following grounds:



 the respondent did not have a valid reason to terminate his employment for serious misconduct;

 he was not given an opportunity to respond to all the allegations made against him;

 he was unreasonably refused a support person to assist in discussions relating to his dismissal;

 his length of service and significant personal economic loss suffered since the termination makes the dismissal unfair.



Murdoch University argued that before the employee was terminated he received a prior warning about email conduct in June 2016.



The employee allegedly sent a message to a fellow colleague that referred to another employee, saying they were deliberately lying or suffering from a mental health condition.



The university also said the staff members tone in the emails to the ABS was abusive, insulting and offensive.



In Commissioner Geoffrey Bulls judgment he said he had no difficulty deciding that the emails provided a valid reason for dismissal.



"While the language used by (the employee) may be common vernacular in some circles, when reduced to writing and addressed to a specific recipient not personally known to (the employee), such language has an element of intentional abuse and cannot be regarded under any circumstances as acceptable language," he said.



The misconduct constituted the use of language that was vulgar and offensive and was contained in an email identifying the University and (the employees) role at the University. (His) conduct was in breach of the Universitys Code of Conduct and Email and Electronic Messaging Guidelines, Bull said.



Bull also found that by sending the emails from a work account, the employee had openly linked himself to the university and this could not be considered anything other than a deliberate action that seriously derogated from his duty.



He added that the emails could also have caused reputational damage considering they appeared on Twitter.
(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that a New Jersey-based firm and its CEO have agreed to pay more than $4 million to settle charges that they used new investor money to repay earlier investors in Ponzi-like fashion and tapped investor funds for the CEOs personal use.

According to the SECs complaint, Verto Capital Management and William Schantz III raised approximately $12.5 million selling promissory notes to purportedly fund Verto Capitals purchase and sale of life settlements, which are life insurance policies sold in the secondary market. The SEC alleges that they misrepresented to investors that Verto Capital was a profitable company and investor funds would be used for general working capital purposes. Verto Capital and other Schantz businesses had been unprofitable for several years, according to the SECs complaint, and Schantz resorted to taking disproportionately large distributions of investor funds for himself and using new investor money to repay earlier investors.

Verto Capital and Schantz also allegedly made misrepresentations to investors about the safety of the notes and collateral underlying them. The SEC alleges that the promissory notes were primarily sold through a group of insurance brokers in Texas, and religious investors were targeted.

As alleged in our complaint, investors were told that the life settlement-backed notes were short-term investments with an unlikely event of default. Schantz and Verto misled investors about the companys past performance and the value of the collateral, and they diverted significant investor funds for Schantzs personal use, said Andrew M. Calamari, Director of the SECs New York Regional Office.

A Fair Fund will be created to return money collected in the settlement to harmed investors. Schantz and Verto Capital agreed to pay disgorgement of $3,433,666 plus interest of $124,851 and a penalty of $600,000. Without admitting or denying the allegations, they consented to permanent injunctions against further violations of Section 17(a)(2) and (3) and Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933. Schantz further agreed to be enjoined from selling any promissory notes. The settlement is subject to court approval.
The network equipment maker revealed that roughly three-quarters of the cuts are to be made across its business divisions and support functions in Espoo and the remaining one-quarter in Oulu and Tampere.

Nokia on Thursday announced it will launch consultative negotiations with a view to reducing its headcount in Finland by approximately 200.

The consultative negotiations are scheduled to begin on 11 May, 2017. Most of the cuts are to be implemented by year-end.

Nokia states in a press release that the belt-tightening measures are part of the global synergy and transformation programme it launched following the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent in April, 2016. The programme is expected to have yielded annual cost savings of 1.2 billion euros upon its scheduled completion at the end of 2018.

No estimates of the nature and scope of belt-tightening measures to be introduced in other countries are provided in the press release.

In order to succeed in this market environment, we must continue to streamline our cost structure and increase our efficiency, states Tommi Uitto, the country director for Nokia Networks Finland.

Nokia, he reminds, continues to operate in a challenging, competitive and dynamic network infrastructure market that contracted sharply in 2016 and is expected to contract further, albeit at a slower rate, in 2017.

We will continue our determined efforts to implement our strategy successfully, he says. We have successfully completed the integration of Alcatel-Lucent, which has provided us with a more in-depth understanding of the synergies created by the consolidation.

Uitto assures that the network equipment maker will continue to invest in Finland.

Nokias roots are in Finland  as are our head office and three important research and development units  and we will continue investing in Finland. The planned measures are difficult but necessary to secure our competitiveness and foster our innovation leadership also in the future, he says.

The investments, he adds, will be made in areas of key strategic significance, such as in developing 5G and the Internet of Things, and establishing an independent software division.

Nokia reported late last month that its net sales fell by approximately four per cent year-on-year to 5.4 billion euros in the first quarter of 2017. Also its operating profits dwindled, but only by one per cent from the previous year to 341 million euros.

The first-quarter result exceeded the expectations of investors. Nokias shares gained roughly ten per cent on the Helsinki Stock Exchange between 26 April and 4 May.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Vesa Moilanen  Lehtikuva
Tiina Korhonen, a government counsellor at the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, confirmed to Talouselama on Wednesday that one of the measures under consideration is to oblige unemployed job seekers to provide employment authorities with a report of their job-seeking activity every seven days.

The Finnish government is expected to announce new measures to encourage job seekers to become more active in their efforts to find employment on Friday.

The activity reports are to be submitted via an electronic system that is yet to be set up.

Helsingin Sanomat, meanwhile, reported that job seekers will be required to send out a minimum of 12 job applications for every three months of unemployment. A failure to do so would result in a 60-day suspension of unemployment benefits, according to the newspaper.

The government is also expected to propose that the personalised employment plans drawn up for job seekers and the interviews conducted quarterly to review the employment plans be abolished in their current form. Drawing up the employment plans and conducting the interviews is currently the responsibility of the Employment and Economic Development Offices (TE Offices).

The TE Offices will be abolished as employment services will be transferred to the counties to be established as of the beginning of 2019.

Job seekers currently risk losing unemployment benefits for a period of 1590 days if they turn down a job offer or hinder their employment prospects in other ways.

Both trade unions and opposition members have voiced their reservations about the measures reportedly laid out by the government.

Helsingin Sanomat writes that trade unions are concerned that the obligation to send out a minimum of 12 job applications every three months will result in job seekers cranking out ineffective applications while receiving no help from employment officials.

The government is additionally believed to be considering launching an online platform to allow job seekers to create profiles of themselves and network with employers who are offering jobs.

Trade unions also warn that the obligation could result in employers becoming exasperated with the high number of applicants and turning to other ways of finding employees. The online platform would consequently have a disproportionately high number of job seekers in relation to the number of job openings.

Maria Tolppanen (SDP) said in an interview with Demokraatti, the official mouthpiece of the Social Democratic Party, on Wednesday that the proposal seems like an attempt to cut back on spending on unemployment benefits at the cost of the jobless. She also pointed out that obliging the roughly 385,000 people who are currently without a job to submit weekly activity reports would likely increase the workload of employment offices.

That costs money. Shouldnt employment offices focus on finding hidden jobs instead of this patronising policy? she asks.

Korhonen contrastively estimated that the reform could present an opportunity to consolidate some of the various reporting obligations currently imposed on job seekers and, thereby, improve the services provided to the unemployed, reports Talouselama.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Vesa Moilanen  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
They are marketed as a stress-reliever to help children with learning difficulties concentrate in class.

Yet fidget spinners - the new craze sweeping playgrounds - have instead become such a classroom distraction that the hand-held toys are being banned in many UK schools.

The gadgets consist of a three-pronged, palm-sized piece of plastic or metal which spins around a central weighted disc - a modern version of the old spinning top.

They can cost less than 2 but deluxe versions change hands for nearly 50 and YouTube videos demonstrating how to do tricks with them attract millions of views.

Chris Hildrew, a headteacher in Somerset, shared a letter from one pupil complaining lessons were being disrupted.

"They are the latest craze and roughly seven people bring them into my lessons and share spares with other people," the unnamed girl wrote.

"When you are trying to focus on your work, all you can hear is it spinning round and round.

"If someone around you has one you kind of get attracted to it because they are trying to do tricks and everyone else is looking at it. This means that I am not doing my hardest on my work so I get less done.

"To sum up, I think they should be banned in lessons."

Ruining

Mr Hildrew, posted a copy of the letter on Twitter and wrote: "We have banned fidget spinners from lessons - here's why."

A number of teachers posted on the Mumsnet forum, complaining that the toys were ruining lessons.

One said: "I've had two children bring them in today 'because it helps them to concentrate' - no, it helps them to annoy their peers and stops everybody else from concentrating [sic].

"They are now in my desk drawer waiting for their parents to come and collect them."

Fidget spinners are marketed as tools for children with autism and ADHD.

One primary school teacher said they were included in the school's budget: "Specialists coming into the school recommend them for children and we'll buy them in for the children that are identified."

There is no supporting scientific evidence and at least one expert has debunked the claims.

Dr Mark Rapport, director of the Children's Learning Clinic at the University of Central Florida, said: "Using a spinner-like gadget is more likely to serve as a distraction than a benefit for individuals with ADHD."

However, the UK's National Autistic Society said there was anecdotal evidence that the spinners are beneficial.

Carol Povey, director of the society's Centre for Autism, said: "Having something that spins or twists can help to ground and balance them [autistic children in school]."
A thief stole the money that a woman had saved for her children's Christmas presents when she fell asleep in a hospital emergency department.

Dublin District Court was told that Rachel Keogh (25) had struck up a conversation with the woman before she dropped off.

She told gardai that the 300 in cash and two store vouchers worth 100 were all she had to buy gifts for her children.

Judge Fiona Lydon adjourned sentencing for a victim impact statement.

Keogh, of Casino Park, Marino, pleaded guilty to stealing a floral purse containing 300 cash, a Dunnes Stores voucher worth 50 and a Smyths toy shop voucher, also worth 50.

The court was told the incident happened at the accident and emergency department at the Mater Hospital at 4.30am last October 22.

Keogh engaged the mother in a conversation before she fell asleep.

She then went through her belongings and stole her purse containing the cash and vouchers.

Distressed

She was not caught at the scene, but CCTV footage was viewed and Keogh was identified from this.

The injured party was "extremely distressed" after discovering that her property was missing.

She said that because of the theft, she would not be able to buy Christmas presents for her children.

The court was told the Director of Public Prosecutions was directing summary disposal of the case in the district court.

Judge Lydon accepted jurisdiction to deal with the case after hearing the outline of the allegations.

This means it will be dealt with at the district court instead of being sent to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Keogh had 80 in court to offer in compensation, said her solicitor.

Judge Lydon said she wanted to hear a victim impact statement before finalising the case and asked Gda Sgt Paul Keane if the injured party could be contacted. He replied that this would take a number of weeks.

The case was adjourned until next month.
Wes Moore makes history as Maryland's next governor

Maryland's 2022 election is history-making with Wes Moore. Only two other Black politicians have ever been elected governor in the U.S.




Last November there were 5 congressional districts in Southern California with Republican Representatives that went for Hillary. In each one Trump did significantly worse than Romney had. In the district that straddles Orange and San Diego counties, CA-49, represented by Darrell Issa, Romney had won the district in 2012 with 52.4%. In November Trump got 43.2%, a 9 point drop-off. And Issa had the scare of his political life. His race was the last one decided in the whole country and in the end he edged out Doug Applegate 155,888 (50.3%) to 154,267 (49.7%). Issa spent $6,275,754 on the race to Applegate's $2,041,091. Colonel Applegate plans to finish what he started in 2018 and Issa's vote for TrumpCare yesterday will probably be the final nail in Issa's political coffin. Moments after the vote yesterday, Doug told me that had he "stood on the floor of the House, my vote would have been a resounding 'hell no.' Darrell, coward that hes always proved to be, ducked the issue, saying it was 'none of [our] business' until the very last minute. This is what we get when people fail to answer the call and put profits ahead of people."



This was Issa's bullshit deceptive statement when he was finally forced to put his cards on the table: "Today, we made good on our promise to repeal and replace Obamacare. Let's stop pretending Obamacare is going to fix itself or that somehow, someday, its going to get better. Today's vote gives a voice to the victims of Obamacare, the millions of Americans who are paying higher premiums, receiving less coverage and for whom the status quo offered no end in sight. Obamacare is doing real harm to California's families and struggling businesses, and constituents are counting on me to deliver real relief. Obamacare was a failure from the get-go. Now is the time to make it right."



Here are the 2016 results in each GOP-held Southern California district that Trump lost:

 CA-25 (Steve Knight)- 50.3-43.6%

 CA-39 (Ed Royce)- 51.5-42.9%

 CA-45 (Mimi Walters)- 49.8-44.4%

 CA-48 (Dana Rohrabacher)- 47.9-46.2%

 CA-49 (Darrell Issa)- 50.7-43.2%

Will voters in these 5 key districts remember in 2018? There are some pretty good candidates running against them who will work hard to make sure the voters remember. Mimi Walters, for example (who doesn't even live in her own district) has several Democrats opposing her, including two outstanding progressives. Kia Hamadanchy, who until he recently decided to return home and run for Congress, was a staffer in Sherrod Brown's office. "It's incredible," he told us right after the vote, "that Mimi Walters was willing to vote in favor of a healthcare bill without having any idea how many people it covers or how much it would cost. She helped rush through a bill that is going to lead to higher costs and less healthcare coverage for the people of Orange County and she is doing so without doing any sort of due diligence about the full scope of its potential impact. What we do know however is that this legislation is a betrayal of everything that Mimi Walters and Donald Trump have promised when it comes to healthcare. They promised to protect those with preexisting conditions, to protect Medicaid, to lower deductibles and premiums, and to cover all Americans. The American Health Care Act does none of this."





Walters' other top progressive opponent is Katie Porter, a professor at UC, Irvine who has worked on consumer protection issues with Elizabeth Warren, with whom she wrote a book, The Law of Debtors And Creditors. Right after Walters cast the vote for TrumpCare, she told us that "From the very moment Trump's health care plan was unveiled, it was clear the proposal would have a devastating impact on families here in Orange County. But, time and again throughout this process, Congresswoman Walters showed she simply didn't care about how her plan would hurt her constituents. Congresswoman Walters was one of the chief proponents of Trump's plan, voting for and helping craft the bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. And she continued supporting the bill as Trump and congressional leaders bargained away pre-existing condition protections that help millions of Americans get coverage. Families in this district deserve leaders who will stand up to Trump and fight for their interests in Washington-- that's what is at stake in this campaign."





Yeah... it doesn't sound like Mimi Walters' constituents will be forgetting about yesterday's vote anytime between now and 2018. Nor will Steve Knight's constituents up in Santa Carita, the Antelope Valley and Simi Valley. Katie Hill, the grassroots progressive running against that will make sure of it: "The Republicans Health Care replacement bill is, frankly, an insult to the American people," she told us last night. "Despite overwhelming opposition from his constituents, Steve Knight put his allegiance to Paul Ryan and Donald Trump ahead of his own friends and neighbors. Look, Obamacare isnt perfect. I know that, and if I were in Congress, I would be fully committed to fighting until every single American has the high-quality healthcare they need, regardless of any pre-existing conditions, their employer, their socioeconomic status, their age, where they live, or anything else. No one should ever have to choose between their health and putting food on the table or a roof over their heads. The fact that this is still even a debate is absolutely absurd. If I were in Congress today, I would have listened to my constituents and voted no. I hope Steve Knight is prepared to defend his choice to the voters in 2018."
President Donald Trump watching the lighting of memorial candles during the annual Days of Remembrance Holocaust ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, April 25, 2017.

WASHINGTON (JTA)-President Donald Trump got the memo on the Holocaust and the Jews.

In a barrage of statements this week from the president and his aides, the Trump administration wants you to know, he gets it, he really gets it: The Holocaust describes a genocide committed only against one people, the Jews.

It's a radical departure from the first days of the Trump administration, when a statement marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day omitted any mention of Jews. That was made worse, in the eyes of most of the Jewish establishment, when Trump staffers further blurred the distinction between the Jewish genocide and the sufferings of other groups during World War II.

Trump made the distinction clear in his speech April 25 at the annual Days of Remembrance commemoration in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda organized by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

"The Nazis massacred 6 million Jews," he said. "Two out of every three Jews in Europe were murdered in the genocide. Millions more innocent people were imprisoned and executed by the Nazis without mercy, without even a sign of mercy."

Trump made the same distinction a day earlier in his proclamation declaring the Days of Remembrance and also on Sunday in a video address to the World Jewish Congress. The State Department last week held a ceremony honoring Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese consul to Lithuania who provided transit visas to Japan for 6,000 Jews, saving their lives.

Trump taking out time to keynote the museum event Tuesday was in itself significant. Presidents have appeared at the event, but their presence is not routine, and this week isn't exactly a down week for the administration with a government shutdown looming.

And his embrace of Jewish sensibilities about the Holocaust was robust, extending to an excoriation of Holocaust denial, a rejection of anti-Semitism overall and a defense of Israel.

"This is my pledge to you: We will confront anti-Semitism," Trump said. "We will stamp out prejudice. We will condemn hatred. We will bear witness. And we will act. As president of the United States, I will always stand with the Jewish people-and I will always stand with our great friend and partner, the State of Israel."

A number of Jewish groups, among them groups that had been harshly critical of Trump's past fumbling of the issue, welcomed the turnaround. In some cases, the compliments seemed almost backhanded, giving Trump credit for simply getting his facts right.

Jason Isaacson, the American Jewish Committee's associate director for policy, praised Trump for his "forthright message of fidelity to historical accuracy, empathy with the Jewish people, and commitment to combat all forms of hatred and violence towards Jews."

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who has had a contentious relationship with the administration, said he looked "forward to working with the president and his administration to put his pledge into action."

So what moved Trump? A variety of factors might have been in play:

It's personal.

Much has been made of the fact that Trump's daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner-both unpaid White House staffers-are Jewish, as are some of his top aides.

Ivanka Trump, in her own Holocaust remembrance message, made clear how personal the week was to her and her husband.

"I want my children to live in a world where every country and its leaders pledge to ensure a genocide like the Holocaust will never happen again," she said. "I want them to grow up in a world where people are tolerant, inclusive and loving toward one another."

The next day, on a visit to Berlin for the G20 women's summit, Ivanka Trump visited the city's Holocaust memorial.

It's loyalty.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been outspoken in his praise of Trump, and rarely misses an opportunity to compare him favorably to his predecessor, Barack Obama.

The same goes for Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, one of Netanyahu's closest advisers. In his own address in the Capitol on Tuesday, Dermer flattered Trump explicitly and derided the Obama administration implicitly by comparing their approaches to Syria.

"History shows that indifference has been the rule, not the exception," Dermer said. "The exceptions have been decisions like the one President Trump made this month to respond to a chemical attack by the Assad regime against innocent men, women and children. That decision was a defiance of indifference."

Obama, notably, did not strike Syria after a 2013 attack much worse than the one earlier this month that killed 89 civilians in rebel-held territory. Instead, his threats to strike led to negotiations that culminated in a deal in which Syria promised to divest itself of its poisonous gases.

Dermer, however, took aim at Obama's stated preference for "soft power" and seemed to allude to a campaign by Obama's wife, Michelle, to raise awareness of victims of the Islamist Boko Haram group in Nigeria, who kidnapped 276 schoolgirls.

"Those contemplating evil should know that they will face more than the soft power of self-righteous condemnations and feel-good hashtags," he said.

Trump was impressed and extemporized a thank you to Dermer in his speech that immediately followed.

"We are privileged to be joined by Israel's ambassador to the United States, friend of mine-he's done a great job and said some wonderful words-Ron Dermer," he said.

Trump in his video address to the World Jewish Congress was similarly effusive in praising the group's president, Ronald Lauder.

"I want to thank Ronald Lauder not only for his many years of friendship-and he truly has been my good friend, he even predicted early that I was going to win the presidency-but also for his leadership of this organization," the president said.

Lauder, notably, was the only Jewish leader to give Trump a pass for his botching of the Holocaust remembrance message in January. An old acquaintance of Trump's, the cosmetics executive has for decades been deeply involved in Holocaust remembrance. The message: Flattery may work better with Trump than confrontation.

Stephen Bannon in the shadows

The adviser to Trump most in sync with the "alt-right," the loose-knit assemblage of anti-establishment conservatives where soft denial of the Holocaust has found a home, is Stephen Bannon, who is believed to have been behind the January statement.

Trump recently demoted Bannon, pulling him off the National Security Council, and is said to be frustrated by Bannon's hard-line ideological fixations, believing they are obstructing his efforts to pass legislation through an ideologically diverse Congress. Moreover, Bannon has clashed with Kushner, and Trump always sides with family first.

Who needs the headache?

Fairly or not, another Trump adviser, Sebastian Gorka, has been driven to distraction by allegations of his associations with the Hungarian far right. He stormed off a Georgetown University panel after students at the university confronted him with questions about those allegations.

As Trump scrambles to name accomplishments in his first 100 days in office, distractions about what the Holocaust means is exactly what he does not need.

Tensions between Trump and the wider Jewish community will not likely disappear anytime soon. A key lesson of the Holocaust for many Jews-one Dermer mentioned-is that they should keep their eyes wide open for any likelihood of genocide against any people. Other presidents marking Holocaust remembrance have noted contemporary threats; Trump spoke only vaguely of "stamping out prejudice."

"This spirit should not be restricted to Holocaust Remembrance Day," Greenblatt said in his statement. "We very much hope the president will continue to use his bully pulpit to speak out against anti-Semitism, bigotry, and hatred in all forms. We urge the president and his administration to act to protect targeted communities against hate crime and discrimination."
Editor's Note: This column originally appeared in 2011. Ill be back next week with fresh produce.

We could have used a couple of exploding watermelons back in the70s, when villains roamed the countryside snatching the fruits of our labor and destroying a young boys dream of riches beyond his wildest imagination.

From the country that gave us rotten egg-scented drywall and cadmium-filled childrens chew toys  fueled by our desire for cheap goods -- comes news of a fresh debacle: explosive melons likened to land mines.

According to a story from the Associated Press, the leading source of information on volatile foods, farmers in eastern China gave their watermelons overdoses of growth chemicals, which led thousands to explode. (Watermelons, not Chinese farmers.)

"If it had been used on very young fruit, it wouldn't be a problem," Wang Liangju, a professor with the College of Horticulture at Nanjing Agricultural University, told AP.

Tragically, Wang was injured the next day by a roadside cantaloupe.

My sources now tell me that Wang was not injured by a roadside cantaloupe and that I just added that for comedic effect.

The exploding watermelon story rekindled an early memory. It was the 1970s, a very different time. Gas prices were rising, unemployment was up and there was tension in the Middle East. Yes, it was a very different time indeed.

I was just a boy and some of the recollections have faded, but here is my version: For some reason, my family and others decided to plant a communal watermelon patch across the creek from our house in the field behind the oil distributor where my father worked.

Any Chinese farmer worth his salt will tell you that, aside from dousing them with chemicals, the best way to produce the biggest melons is to plant them in the shadows of giant metal tanks filled with petroleum products.

This was supposed to be a money-making endeavor and I dreamed of my cut.

Why we believed that melons were highly profitable, I do not know.

Young fellow by the name of Billy Gates out of Harvard came around the other day wanting me to invest in some sort of goat-roping something or other and I told him, Son, were putting all our capital in this here melon patch. Now run along and play with your computer or what not.

Thats the way I imagine it happened.

In reality, we dug and planted and weeded and hoed. It was nothing like the hoeing of today. It was much, much tougher to hoe in the 1970s. Anyone who knows anything about hoes will tell you that.

I worked alongside the others, sweating and dreaming of the pot of gold at the end of the farmers market. Sometimes, though, I longed to stay on the other side of the creek and out of the hot sun.

Time to go to the melon patch, boy.

But Im busy staring at my Farrah Fawcett poster.

What did I tell you about all that staring? We cant afford to buy you another pair of glasses til the crop comes in.

That glorious day was nearing. Our melons were big enough to make a Chinese farmer dance a government-approved jig.

And thats when the villains who roamed the countryside swooped in and snatched the fruits of our labor and destroyed a young boys dream of riches beyond his wildest imagination.

One morning, they were gone, just gone.

Where are the watermelons, daddy?

Somebody stole them.

I still get my $10, right?

Dont you have a Farrah Fawcett poster to stare at?

Yes, I wish there had been an exploding watermelon or two scattered among our crop to teach those villains a lesson back then. Best I can hope for is that somewhere along the way, they encountered their share of rotten egg-scented drywall and cadmium-filled childrens chew toys.

Scott Hollifield is editor/GM of The McDowell News in Marion.
HICKORY  Hickory-based Piedmont Pathology agreed Tuesday to settle a case brought by the U.S. Attorneys Office claiming the business submitted false documents to Medicare and Medicaid for unnecessary medical procedures, according to a press release.

The settlement was for $601,000.

U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose spoke about the settlement in the release.

Government health care programs serve a vital role in providing necessary services to the citizens of our district, Rose said. This office is dedicated to ensuring that money is spent wisely on medically necessary services that benefit healthcare consumers as opposed to profiting the bottom line of healthcare providers.

The allegations emerged after a former Piedmont Pathology employee brought the suit under a provision of the False Claims Act. The whistleblower will receive $120,200 from the settlement for her role in the case.

The medical office had performed a certain test during tissue analysis, prior to using a routine one, according to the release. The tests were conducted on particular gastric biopsies.

The release states the government determined such tests medically unnecessary.

The law firm Patrick, Harper & Dixon, LLP, issued a statement Thursday on behalf of Piedmont Pathology.

Piedmont Pathology faced a one-of-a-kind claim instigated by a disgruntled former employee related to Piedmont Pathologys protocols, which provided for performing certain special stains on certain types of upper gastro-intestinal biopsy specimens at the same time as another initial stain, Attorney Michael P. Thomas said.

Those protocols provided patients and referring physicians with timely and accurate biopsy results and helped physicians save lives.

Thomas denied any wrongdoing by Piedmont Pathology in the matter. Rather, he affirms the medical community has endorsed the practices.

Thomas said in 2015 a regional government contractor who examines Medicare claims made a forward-looking ruling that changed policies in regards to the tests.

Despite the fact that this ruling by the government contractor creates a meaningful risk of harm to patients, including death if a cancer diagnosis is missed, Piedmont Pathology changed its protocols to comply with the ruling even before it became final, Thomas said.

The government and its local contractors in most of the rest of the country are still paying pathologists to perform these stains.

Thomas said the decision not to litigate the case arose from concerns regarding the cost compared to a settlement.
Three men on a motorbike were killed when the driver cut across them in his car.

A court in the southern province of Tay Ninh sentenced a Chinese man to three and a half years in jail on Friday for causing a crash that killed three people last December, Thanh Nien newspaper reported.

Li Zhang Yun, 42, was charged with violating road traffic regulations, the report said.

The indictment said he hit a motorbike as he was trying to turn left on the night of December 17. All three men on the bike, 21, 29 and 30 years old, were rushed to hospital but died soon later.

Yun worked for a company in Tay Ninh and has compensated the victims families more than VND300 million ($13,200).
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Roughly two decades ago one cold December morning, a caste Hindu militia surrounded a Dalit settlement in Bihars Laxmanpur Bathe. Armed with rifles, sickles and knives, they dragged out families of lower-caste peasants from their mud houses and hacked them to pieces -- 58 people were killed, the youngest victim was four.

Sixteen years after the massacre, the Patna high court acquitted all suspects citing insufficient evidence. An appeal is pending, but in the meanwhile, the sole sign of justice is a red-brick and clay structure in the middle of the village with the names of the victims.

Laxmanpur Bathe isnt the only one. Earlier this month as the countrys eyes were focused on the Jaipur Literature Festival, the sole survivor of the 2006 Khairlanji massacre passed away. At the time of Bhaiyyalal Bhotmanges death, cases against people accused of raping and murdering his wife and children was still pending before the Supreme Court.

The barbarity of these crimes mirrored that of the December 16, 2012, gang rape. What went missing was the outrage, the columns of protesters in the heart of the nations capital baying for an indistinct enemys blood, the tens of thousands of social media posts and hours of live broadcast.

Surekha Bhotmange wasnt Indias daughter and her rape and murder didnt shame the country. Neither did Bilkis Banos gang rape  for which the Bombay high court refused to award the death penalty two days ago -- triggering a tsunami of shock in the collective.

The death sentence to four convicts in the December 16 gang rape case on Friday was widely welcomed as a historic judgment that would act as a deterrent for mounting crimes against women. The SC itself called the crime devilish and diabolical that deserved the rarest of the rare punishment of death.

Except, it is increasingly clear that there was nothing rare about capital punishment  it is arbitrary and handed out with alarming regularity mostly to underprivileged communities.

India sentenced someone to death every 72 hours for the past decade, and three out of every four death row prisoner was a lower-caste or religious minority.

Higher courts also commuted the sentences of more than half of them, and actually acquitted another quarter, proving the fact that getting capital punishment was often a matter of ones circumstances  whether one can afford quality legal representation, isnt unfairly targeted by investigating agencies, doesnt belong to underprivileged sections or have powerful enemies.

The vagaries of awarding the death penalty are also borne out by the personal preferences of judges  an analysis last year showed the chances of getting capital punishment swung from nearly half to zero in the Supreme Court, depending on which judge was hearing a case.

The doctrine of rarest of rare was introduced by the top court in 1980 but theres no statutory definition  what is rare often depends on the facts of a case, brutality of the crime and history of the offenders. Death penalty should be imposed when collective conscience of the society is so shocked that it will expect the holders of the judicial power centre to inflict death penalty, the top court had said.

But the mounting cases of death penalties show the test of collective conscience is often a thin veil for social biases to influence the course of justice.

Delhi was rocked by protests after the December 16 gang-rape, re-igniting the debate on crimes against women. (Mohd Zakir/HT)

This is why the December 16 gang rape case damages our conscience  in the familiarity of the victim, the easy profiling of the convicts and the next-doorness of the crime. This is why there is little collective empathy for the scores of riot or caste massacre cases  the victims dont look like the urban middle classes, or reside next to us. Surekha Bhotmange and Bilkis Bano come from communities many Indians reside uneasily with, and cannot imagine marching down the streets for.

The death penalty is a means for a society to take an easy way out of the complex issue of gender violence, and not question our attitudes and practices on gender that result in only a fraction of convictions in rape cases, or single digit convictions in atrocities cases.

This is why there is little murmur when allegations of human rights excesses surface in Manipur, Chhattisgarh or Kunan-Poshpora, but street protests for Munirka, where there is no nationalism to justify raping women. This isnt about gender justice, it is about feeling outraged about the kind of people we care about.

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Each time a significant Maoist strike takes place, nightmare scenarios are indignantly discussed in media. It has happened again since April 24, when 25 troopers of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed in a Maoist ambush in southern Chhattisgarh.

Media reaction has ranged from calls for engaging the Army in this conflict over lack of governance and development, to near-nuking the rural areas where Maoist rebels conduct guerrilla warfare  and so, bring peace to urbanising, modernising India.

This is a dangerous pitch for escalating war instead of escalating peace.

It also ignores the fact that Maoists have suffered far greater reverses than police and paramilitary forces, whittled to an estimated quarter of their strength from a decade ago through a combination of deaths, arrests, surrender and rehabilitation.

And, perhaps most importantly, it ignores reasons why leftwing extremism has persisted since the igniting of the Naxalbari movement on May 25, 1967, in three hamlets near the eponymous village in northern Bengal. Its what provided Mao-worshipping communists of the extreme Left their media-manufactured moniker: Naxal, and its derivative, Naxalism.

Surely there must be flaws of governance in a system that has repeatedly annihilated left-wing movements since the time of Indias Independence  the Tebhaga movement in rural Bengal, for instance  only to have these rearing their heads more emphatically with each cycle of resurgence, persisting through socio-economic development and growth of the power of the state. Its nearly 50 years to the day since Naxalbari.

We need to consider why people go against the might of Indias State apparatus; an estimated 16,000 leftwing rebels and sympathisers have died since the late-1960s. What drives hitherto law-abiding citizens to pick up bows and arrows, axes, and looted guns ranging from ancient .303 rifles to more modern INSAS and AK series weapons to defend themselves and everyday aspirations of people they consider to be Indias most downtrodden, demeaned, and dispossessed of democracy?

India is witnessing what I term Maoism Mark V, a rebellion under siege. This comes after Mark I in the late 1960s and early 1970s across eastern, central and southern India; a splintered but stubborn Mark II in the 1980s; a prescient Mark III in the 1990s with the spread into the Dandakaranya region in central India and the seed of a guerrilla force  the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army; and the conglomerate of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), the beginning of Mark IV.

A joint press communique was issued on October 14, 2004, by Muppala Laxman Rao, or Ganapathy, the general secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Peoples War and now chief of the unified CPI (Maoist), and Prashant Bose, or Kishan-da, the general secretary of the central committee of Maoist Communist Centre of India who assumed the second position in the merged entity. It could have been Mao Zedong talking: This revolution will be carried out and completed through armed agrarian revolutionary war, i.e. protracted peoples war with the armed seizure of power remaining as its central and principal task, encircling the cities from the countryside and thereby finally capturing them ... while urban work will be complementary to it.

That phase peaked in 2010 with spectacular strikes and great gain in operational geographyat one time affecting a third of Indias districts in forms from acute to mild  before massive counter-reaction by police and paramilitaries began to systematically box in Maoists. They are now under severe pressure and largely contained in a few forested or rural parts of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Encircling cities, as Mao did in the 1930s and 1940s, to ultimately take over Beijing in 1949, is a fantasy.

Let me qualify the statement. The rebels will continue to fight even if their operational geography reduces. Even accounting for the guerrilla doctrine of attacking in strength and retreating when weak, Maoists will occasionally mount a spectacular attack just to remind the establishmentand prospective recruitsabout the sting in their tail.

Besides the imminent May anniversary, July 28, 1972, is the day Charu Mazumdar, co-founder of the Naxalbari movement died in police custody in Kolkata. Maoists take Mazumdars declaration in a 1971 issue of his partys journal, Liberation  Naxalbari has not died and will never diein letter and spirit.

It will likely be a time of activity in Maoist zones, certainly in the one liberated area they have in southern Chhattisgarh. Its a matter of great shame for India, a continuing reflection of its failings, that they have any at all.

Sudeep Chakravarti is the author of several books including Red Sun: Travels in Naxalite Country

@chakraview
On the day Shivpal Yadav had filed his nomination for his Jaswant Nagar assembly seat for the 2017 polls, he had said that he would form a new party under Mulayam Singh Yadav three months after the election results.

After Fridays announcement, it looks like he is sticking to the threat and its time-frame. And his latest move is another salvo in the ongoing Yadav family feud, involving the sulking uncle and an adamant nephew Akilesh Yadav.

In fact, the uncle-nephew acrimony was expected to intensify given the rout of the Akhilesh-led SP government in the recent UP assembly polls.

Shivpal won his seat by a decent margin, but the 2017 polls results were a big embarrassment for Akhileshs Samajwadi Party. It won just 47 seats against its 2012 tally of 223.

The Shivpal camp had begun turning the heat on Akhilesh the day election results were announced on March 11. Shivpal had said: It was not SPs defeat, but the defeat of ego.

Ever since the falling out in 2016, Shivpal has repeatedly been harping on restoring Netajis honour. But as of now it is unlikely that he will be able to revive Mulayams political fortunes, for it is not clear which socialist parties--big or small--will join his front.

Lalu Prasad Yadavs Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) may not support Shivpal as he had supported Akhilesh during the Lucknow convention of the SP ahead of the 2017 polls.

Given the way the situation is emerging, SP leaders have refused to comment on the latest developments.

Kiranmony Nanda, the vice-president of the party, said: I am away in Kolkata, I dont know the developments. So it would be inappropriate for me to make any comments.

Former Ayodhya MLA, Pawan Pandey, who lost his seat, said: I am not aware what Shivpal ji has said.

As of now, it is not clear whether Shivpal is forming a new party or a new front like the Janata Parivar he had tried to cobble up ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and then again ahead of the 2017 UP assembly polls.

If Shivpals Morcha becomes a reality, then the road ahead for 2019 will be a tough one for Akhilesh and his Samajwadi Party, which is yet to come out of the shock of the huge defeat of 2017.

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When there is too much misery and distress in the world, said the 8th century Buddhist master Padmasambhav, you can find refuge in beyuls -- mystical sanctuaries hidden deep in the snow-tipped Himalayas. These are sacred valleys, Paradise-like places  and Bhutan is supposed to have many of them.

This shouldnt come as a surprise to anyone even remotely familiar with the tiny landlocked country of high mountains, fast-flowing rivers, Alpine meadows and thick forests, invariably described as a kind of Shangri-la or fairyland. Its not difficult to imagine such spiritual sanctuaries concealed within Bhutans pristine, uncorrupted beauty.

The picturesque kingdom, also known as The Land of the Thunder Dragon, cast its spell on a Delhi businesswoman, Serena Chopra, more than 15 years ago  just as it has on travellers through the centuries. It allowed her to reinvent herself and rediscover her first love, photography. Though she had studied journalism, Serena took up a job in PR (the money was better), and eventually found herself running a home furnishings export business.

Till she went to Bhutan on a trekking holiday in 2002 with 16 other Indians and 40 horses. The trek ended in a mess because the horses ran away and one of the children in the group fell sick. But Bhutan had spun its misty spell on her. In no time, Serena was back. The immediate trigger was that she had just bought a Hasselblad medium format camera and wanted to try it out. I love black and white pictures and I loved the challenge of the Hasselblad, because it had only 12 negatives in one roll, so each photograph had to count, she recalls.

But she probably hadnt bargained for the fact that she would spend five years travelling through the country taking pictures. This was the early 2000s, when Bhutan was still relatively disconnected from the outside world. The country opened its doors to visitors only in 1974; by the end of the Nineties, the number of tourists was just a little over 7,000. (By 2013, the Bhutan Tourism Council estimates the number went up to 120,000).

Photographer Serena Chopra is exhibiting her photographic works at Bikaner House, New Delhi. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT PHOTO)

Serena was lucky to have captured glimpses of a country on the cusp of change: from the rapidly modernizing capital city of Thimphu to the remote, wild and beautiful Merak region in the east, where tourists were allowed in as late as 2012.

When Serena went to Thimphu in the early 2000s, the population was a little over 79,000. (Today it has crossed a lakh.) It was still a sleepy, quiet little town. Back then, there was just one disco, recalls Serena. I went there and suddenly saw all the Bhutanese boys and girls in their traditional wear  the boys in ghos and the girls in their kiras  get up and start dancing! In Merak, she photographed the Brokpas, a semi-nomadic tribe, doing the fabled Yak Cham dance in praise of the yak lord, wearing their traditional costumes, headgear and impressive masks. There is a beautiful legend behind the dance, says Serena. Bhutan is full of myths, every rock has a story to it.

In the beginning, she never thought of exhibiting the photographs or putting them in a book, she says. That would have been very egotistical of me. I was not intellectualizing it in any way. I was honestly just rejuvenating myself. But she finally did bring out a lush, heavy 360-page coffee table book called The Ancients in 2015. She exhibited her black-and-white pictures in 2007, first in New York, then in Thimphu, Delhi and other cities. Her current exhibition Bhutan Echoes, which opened in Delhis Bikaner House yesterday, and is presented by the pan-Indian gallery Tasveer, is really a revival. When you do a body of work, you dont tuck it away, you show it again, says Serena. You can look back historically at something.

Those years of intense travel led to a deep relationship with Bhutan; from an observer, Serena became a participant. She now returns for weddings, funerals, to see her friends. The country became part of my life, she says. But today when she goes back, she has mixed feelings: Progress has its own downside and that is visible in a subtle fashion. The country is still very beautiful but now the rivers are being dammed, the houses no longer have thatched roofsI treasure the old memories I have.

What: Bhutan Echoes  Exhibition of photographs by Serena Chopra, presented by Tasveer

Where: Bikaner House, Pandara Road, Pandara Flats, India Gate, New Delhi

When: 6 to 14 May, 2017, 10.30am to 6.30pm

Nearest Metro station: Khan market

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An ambulance got stuck in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday afternoon. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen

Conventional ambulances often struggle to get through the traffic to reach patients.

Ho Chi Minh City is set to launch air ambulances to handle emergencies in Vietnam's largest city where traffic jams are the norm.

The Vietnam Helicopter Corporation has started drawing up a feasibility plan to use a helipad on top of a 36-story building on Nguyen Hue Street in the city's downtown.

The building, one of the 10 tallest in Vietnam, is the city's only private premises to be granted permission by the defense ministry to operate air ambulances.

A helicopter lands on the building on Nguyen Hue Street as part of technical inspections to prepare for the new service. Photo by VnExpress

Conventional ambulances are often unable to respond quickly to accidents in Ho Chi Minh City, where congestion is an everyday problem.

Vietnam imposes cash fines of VND500,000-1.2 million ($22-53) on drivers who refuse to make way for emergency vehicles, but the law is rarely enforced. Many argue that during traffic jams, there's simply no space to give way to ambulances.

Various solutions have been suggested such as using ambulance motorbikes or having traffic police accompany ambulances to clear congestion.
Bhopal: Indias first small weapons manufacturing unit of the private sector under Make in India, as claims the state government, was esbalished in Bhind, more than 500 kilometers north of Bhopal, on Thursday.

The manufacturing unit was established in the partnership of Punj Llyod Company and Israel Weapons Industries in Malanpur Industrial area. Union minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar and chief minister Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan were present on the occasion, said the state governments official spokesperson.

As per Punj Lloyd four types of weapons will be produced in the unit. Israel has delivered a complete technology to produce these weapons. These weapons include short rifle, tavor, sniper rifle, galil, light machine gun and carbine. Out of these, tavor and sniper rifle were used successfully during the surgical strike

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said this was the first joint venture project under foreign direct investment (FDI).

It is a matter of happiness and pride that the Prime Minister Narendra Modis dream of Make in India has taken a shape on the soil of Madhya Pradesh in the form of establishment of countrys first small weapons manufacturing unit of the private sector, he said speaking at the inaugural programme.

He said establishment of the unit was a result of Madhya Pradesh being the first state in preparing an investment policy after the announcement of the Prime Minister about 49% FDI in defence sector.

Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said Madhya Pradesh led in implementing decisions taken by the union government towards skill development, employment, agriculture, defence and other sectors under the Make In India. FDI in defence sector was one of the several bold decisions which were taken after the formation of new government at centre.

Micheal Ben from Israel defence ministry said transfer of information and technology wouldl continue in future also. Israel and India would keep on deliberating towards cooperation in defence industries developing advance defence equipments.

Ambassador of Israel to India Daniel Carmon stated India and Israel were celebrating 25 years of partnership.

Chairman Punj Llyod Atul Punj said Punj Llyod defence system would fulfil the requirement of most advance defence equipments used in the country.
Bhopal: Taking a cue from chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Madhya Pradesh government has decided to cancel 20 to 25 public holidays marking the birth or death anniversary of eminent personalities in the schools of the state.

Deepak Joshi, minister of state for school education told HT that Yogi Adityanaths decision to cancel 15 state holidays on birth and death anniversaries is a step in the right direction.

After Yogi Adityanaths decision, we were inspired to take a similar step here. So we are planning to cancel at least 20 to 25 holidays here, he said.

If there is death anniversary of Bhagat Singh, what will students learn about him and his life if there is a holiday on that day. We have also decided that on such days, instead of holiday, students will be taught about the life and contribution of such great personalities, he said.

Joshi said details about which holidays will be cancelled were being worked out.

According to the MP governments calendar for 2017 on its website of department of public relations, there 76 holidays in the state, including 54 optional ones. MP government has declared many anniversaries as holidays like Sant Ravidas Jayanti (Feb 10), Parshuram Jayanti (April 29) , Valmiki Jayanti (Oct 5) and so on.

In last week of April, Uttar Pradesh government had cancelled 15 public holidays marking the birth or death anniversary of eminent personalities and teach students on these days about the personalities through various programmes. Earlier Adityanath had expressed concern over the shrinking academic session due to increased holidays.
BHOPAL: The officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigating into the money laundering aspect of the multi-crore Katni hawala scam, desperately want to question Satish Saraogi but has been unable to do so because of want of security guards to escort him to Indore for questioning. Saraogi is said to be a key person in the entire racket.

Katni hawala scam was a major issue of an agitation in the town in January this year launched by local people with transfer of the then superintendent of police Gaurav Tiwari being the trigger point. The agitators alleged that the government shifted the SP at the behest of the state MSME minister Sanjay Pathak as he was about to arrest the minister in connection with Rs 500 crore hawala racket.

Saraogi was said to be close to the minister. However, Sanjay Pathak denied having any involvement in the racket and also the transfer of the SP.

We have half a mind to file contempt petition against the jail superintendent of Satna jail for his repeated refusal. How can the jail superintendent can cite want of guards a reason when the chief judicial magistrate Katnis order clearly states that the jail authorities have to cooperate with the ED which has the powers to issue summons under Section 50\2 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, said an ED source.

The ED has been trying to get hold of Satish Saraogi ever since he was arrested in March 16, 2017, but their attempts have been thwarted at least third time in the past one month and half months.

Director general Jails Sanjay Chaudhary said, The matter is not concerning the jail. Its a duty of district police to provide guards.

Katni, superintendent of police, Shashikant Shukla said, Two days ago, jail authorities had asked for the guards but due to processions and rallies, there was a shortage of police personnel. We have asked them to set another date. We will send them soon. This is a routine thing and happened in low profile cases too.

Sources said that the ED authorities had tried to question Saraogi in Katni jail but the atmosphere was not conducive.

People were walking in and out of the room, and one jail official was always present. What is more the chair given to us was a broken one. One cannot grill a suspect in such conditions, so we decided that he should be questioned in Indore, said a source.

Questioning of Satish Saraogi is important. For, he along with his brother Manish, who is absconding, holds the key to the scam, the ED officials believe.

At the behest of Saraogi, crores of rupees were allegedly laundered between 2008 and 2010 via accounts of bogus firms opened in Axis Bank, Katni using documents of ordinary individuals and BPL card holders.

Another suspect Santosh Garg is dead. He had absconded after the scam broke in 2016 and died in Haridwar reportedly due to natural causes. Manvendra Mistry who was arrested in February, 2017 by police and has been questioned by the ED has not parted with much information, sources said.

The scam came out in the open when the income tax department started giving notices to the bank account holders to explain how they came in possession of such huge amounts.

On Febraury 28, Home minister Bhupendra Singh replying to a query in the Assembly had said on receiving a complaint, police registered a case (number 738/16) on July 12, 2016 under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120 B, 423, 424 of the IPC for further investigation. He also said that so far 32 persons were served notices, 24 interrogated and two persons arrested in connection with the scam.
Actor Sonia Kour, after her last Punjabi movie Nikka Zaildar (2016), is keenly waiting for an opportune moment to enter Bollywood. She says, Its just a beginning for me.

In Delhi recently, the Jammu-born girl said that its her hard work, dedication and passion that helped her get into the film industry. I had no plans to act. While studying in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (in Delhi), I was looking for a part-time job. Since my height is 59, I was advised by my friends and peers to try my hand at anchoring events. That suggestion gave me the idea to try my luck in films, and soon I signed a short film, Baari, which is yet to be released, says Kour.

She didnt want to leave the Capital and thus acting in Punjabi films came as an easier option to her. Delhi is like another home, and I love this place. People told me to shift to Mumbai, but I prefer Delhi. Its much more comfortable, suitable and lucky for me, considering I got my first film offer in Delhi. This city has shaped my career and gave wings to my dreams.

The actor feels its just a beginning for her. First, I want to establish myself in the Punjabi film industry and then move to Bollywood. I feel there are no shortcuts to success but I am sure I will be able to make it big one day, she says.

At present, she is honing her skills by reading Punjabi books  as recommended by her directors  to get into the skin of the characters that she portrays on screen. Though I am Sikh, my accent is different from Punjabis, in general, and I am trying to improve on it. I have been attending workshops and taking classes both in Delhi and Punjab.

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Deepika Padukone, who has been mistaken for Priyanka Chopra by the foreign media in the US multiple times, says its racist and ignorant for people to assume that people with similar skin tones are the same.

A video doing the rounds on social media shows a foreign paparazzo constantly referring to Deepika as Priyanka, Priyanka while she makes her way out of an airport in the US.

Deepika, who made her Hollywood debut with the Vin Diesel starrer xXx: Return of Xander Cage earlier this year, has strong views about facing this identity crisis and about how the Indian media needs to deal with it maturely.

In an interview to IANS over phone from Mumbai, the actor said: To me its racist and ignorant. And as a fellow Indian, you (the media) should also be not very happy about. I think just because people have similar skin tones, doesnt mean they are same people.

As people in a place of power that the media has, instead of creating a tabloid piece of out it, people should be educating them further.

Just back from attending the famed fashion fiesta Met Gala 2017 in New York, Deepika is now looking forward to visit the French Riviera. She will attend the prestigious Cannes Film Festival on May 17-18 as a brand ambassador for cosmetic giant LOreal Paris.

Deepika Padukone takes part in a promotional event in Mumbai on May 5, 2017. (AFP)

I am very very excited. I am looking forward to the entire experience of being there and taking it all in, said the actress, who had last attended the fest in 2010 for another brand.

I would happily forget that experience maybe, and start afresh, quipped Deepika, who doesnt wish to reveal her two looks for the Cannes red carpet appearance just as yet.

Earlier this week, she stepped out in a white Tommy Hilfiger gown for the Met Gala in a look which didnt find much appreciation by the international foreign police. But Deepika is not bothered -- she says being on the red carpet is all about having fun.

#Repost @tommyhilfiger with @repostapp  @deepikapadukone tearing up the #metkawakubo red carpet in a custom white satin Hilfiger Collection gown.  #metgala2017 A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on May 2, 2017 at 10:28am PDT

Ive had an amazing team of people that help me put my look together, and sometimes people might like it, sometimes they may not. And thats completely okay. The idea is really to have fun with every experience that Ive had and I think the only time I will worry about not being appreciated about my look, is when my mother or my girlfriends tell me so, said the 31-year-old.

At the Cannes red carpet, where Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor will also make a fashion statement, Deepika is looking forward to have plain fun.

What is the red carpet without having fun? I know there is a lot of focus on the clothes, the hair and the make-up, but from all of that, I think the most important thing is that everyone who walks that red carpet must have fun with all of that and that experience.

Its the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, and no Indian film is on the list. So, apart from government officials at the Indian Pavilion at gala, only the three actresses and beauty icons will be representing the country at the platform.

I think thats an achievement in itself, Deepika said, adding: But having said that, I think for me the two things are completely different. I feel proud that we have Indians who can represent not just at Cannes, but the world over, who represent us as a community and as a country in different walks of life.

Yes, being an actor, one always looks forward to a film going to Cannes as well. In fact, Sanjay (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) and I have been speaking about it for years... We wanted to take Bajirao Mastani to Cannes. When it comes to taking Indian films to Cannes, he has done it in the past (Devdas) and he has done it beautifully, said the actress, who features as the central character of the filmmakers next movie Padmavati.

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Deepika Padukone may not have been able to impress the fashion critics in the West, but the actor says as long as she is confident and comfortable in her clothes, she is not bothered about the reviews.

The 31-year-old Bollywood star, who recently received a cold response for her Met Gala appearance, says deciding a look is a team effort and it is not necessary that their choice will always work. I think its all collective effort, its a teamwork. Like, how we work in films as a team, its the same. Sometimes you might like what I wear and sometimes you might not like what I wear. And thats totally OK. I am not dressing for you my (reporter) love, I am dressing for myself. So, as long as I am having fun nothing else matters, says Deepika.

Deepika believes the opportunity to attend a prestigious event like the Met Gala holds more importance than the clothes. I have always looked at things as opportunities and what you make of those opportunities. I am sure for Priyanka and me, the opportunity is not about what we are wearing but the privilege of being there at such a big event, she says.

Deepika says the intention is to always have fun whether it is about what you are wearing or the event you are attending. The only time I would truly be concerned would be when my mother or my girlfriends give me flak for something I wore thats the time I will allow any comment to enter my life, she adds.

Deepika Padukone is one of the leading style icons in Bollywood. (PTI)

Deepika will be making her Cannes red carpet debut this year and says she is proud to represent the country at the film festival. Its the same feeling when you are an athlete, you are in the national team and are representing the country. Its a similar feeling. As far as Cannes specifically is concerned, there is a beauty aspect to being a woman and with being an actor there is a film aspect to it. Its the best of both worlds, she adds.

Deepika says she would love to take tips from festival regular Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. I have always liked the way she conducts herself. She has represented not just the brand but India beautifully. If I end up seeing her there, of course I will, she says.

The actor says her team has already started working on her looks for the festival. I think the focus is too much on clothes. As women we enjoy getting ready but events are stressful and its is all about having fun, she says.
Raima Sen had a packed last year. She shot for five films that will release this year. While one of them is a love story with a twist alongside actor Prateik Babbar; second one with actor Kunal Roy Kapur is a comedy with a social message. Shell also be seen playing the wife of a suspected terrorist in a film, which is about the attacks on Sankat Mochan temple in 2006. Finally, a crime thriller where she plays the role of a bar owner. The film also stars actor Kay Kay Menon.

Ask her how she bagged these projects one after the other, Raima shares, I was in Kolkata for three years; concentrating only on Bengali films. It was only after Bollywood Diaries released in February 2016 that people noticed me and I got these offers. I looked at it as my second innings in Bollywood after a sabbatical from Mumbai.

Actor Raima Sen has as many as four films slated to release in 2017.

Ask her, how easy or difficult was it to play diverse roles, the actor replies, Getting into a characters skin one after the other is challenging, but for me it has been easy as all my directors I have worked with were supportive. Im a directors actor, says Raima, who has worked in films such as Chokher Bali (2003), Parineeta (2005) and Teen Patti (2010).

The 37-year-old adds, So when I find a director who knows his job and is passionate about it; for me, thats my support. Im not too great with an average director, but Im very good with a good director. Id say I just got lucky with all four of them, even though with two of them, Id be working for the first time.

Trying varied genres has been an equally enjoyable journey for the actor, who used to sit with her directors to read the scripts. Playing these extreme and different roles has helped me bring out my inner actor. I worked with Kay Kay again after Honeymoon Travels (2007). I got to know Kunal Roy Kapur, who I had seen in Delhi Belly (2001) but I had not really worked with him. Hes a fantastic actor with a great sense of humour, says Raima.

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Actor Shilpa Shetty is currently in London and met Hollywood actor Goldie Hawn at the event, both of them instantly connected with each other and bonded over their shared interest in yoga and charity.

While Shilpa was there for her first-ever charity event, Goldie had come to the event for the promotion of her film. Talking about how it happened, Shilpa says, We met through a common friend. I was supposed to meet her (Goldie) two years ago, we talked over the phone and was also to attend her charity dinner in London but I couldnt make it . But, we met this time as we were both in London for work at the same time.

Shilpa, who has always endorsed a healthy lifestyle and the practise of yoga says they bonded over various topics. In a strange way we are both very similar and there was a soul connect and we bonded over a lot of common interests , charity talk,and friends. I know shes very aligned because of yoga, guess thats why we connected, says Shilpa, who will return to India on Sunday.

Shilpa even invited Goldie to India. She will let me know when she comes here. Shes very spiritual and comes to India to get reconnected, says Shilpa.

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In a major restructuring in the Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) banking space, the government on Friday appointed heads of various public sector banks besides carrying out rejigs at Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bank of India (BoI).

PNB Managing Director (MD) Usha Ananthasubramanian has been shifted to a relatively small Kolkata-based Allahabad Bank while head of BoI Melwyn Rego will move to Syndicate Bank with immediate effect, according to an official statement.

According to experts, the changes were made in these two public sector banks after a similar rejig at IDBI Bank because of their non-performance in tackling non-performing assets (NPAs).

However, a senior finance ministry official said two changes have been made because the department of financial services wanted to give longer tenure to heads of these two large banks.

Last month, NPA-laden public sector lender IDBI Bank head Kishor P Kharat was shifted to Indian Bank. Mahesh Kumar Jain of Indian Bank was shifted to IDBI Bank.

Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appointed Rajkiran Rai G, executive director of Oriental Bank of Commerce, as MD and CEO of Union Bank of India for a period of three years.

It is extendable up to May 2022 after review of his performance, the official statement said.

Besides, R Subramaniakumar, executive director of Indian Overseas Bank, has been elevated to MD and CEO.

Sunil Mehta, executive director in Corporation Bank, will head the countrys second largest public sector bank PNB in place of Ananthasubramanian who has been shifted.

Executive director of Canara Bank Dinabandhu Mohapatra has been promoted as MD and CEO of Bank of India.

At the same time, ACC appointed RA Sankara Narayanan, executive director of BoI as MD and CEO of Vijaya Bank.

Earlier in the day, the government empowered RBI to ask banks to initiate insolvency proceedings to recover bad loans, amounting to over Rs 6 lakh crore in case of state-owned lenders alone, and promised more measures to resolve the NPA crisis.

Toxic loans of public sector banks (PSBs) rose by over Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 6.06 lakh crore during April-December of 2016-17, the bulk of which came from power, steel, road infrastructure and textile sectors.

Gross NPA pf PSBs nearly doubled to Rs 5.02 lakh crore at the end of March 2016, up from Rs 2.67 lakh crore at the end of March 2015.
The U.S. government on Thursday requested a 60-day pause in a case involving MetLife Inc, the countrys largest life insurer, and how regulators designate certain companies as too big to fail, a major reform arising from the 2007-09 financial crisis.

MetLife had asked for a delay in the case last month, saying the court should wait until President Donald Trumps administration finishes its financial regulation review.

The Republican president has ordered Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to look into the designations and the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law that established how to identify systemically important firms so big they could devastate the financial system if they failed.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council, chaired by Mnuchin, said in a court filing it did not take a position on waiting until Treasury reports the reviews findings.

It said, however, that council members, including Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and new Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Jay Clayton, needed additional time for deliberation.

The council will delve into the designation process and Trumps review at a meeting next Monday, according to a notice from Treasury.

In March 2016, U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer struck down the FSOCs designation of MetLife as systemically important, saying it was arbitrary and capricious.

The administration of former Democratic President Barack Obama appealed and the two sides squared off in court last October, with a decision expected this month.

Some companies are wary of the too-big-to-fail designation because it forces them to hold on to capital and creates extra oversight they say is burdensome.

The only two nonbanks now carrying the label are American International Group, which received a $182 billion bailout during the crisis, and Prudential Insurance. MetLife is not considered designated during the appeal.

Critics of the designations have said the Trump administration should be able to withdraw the appeal or the court should at least consider the new presidents views and his reviews findings, which are expected to call for changes to designations.
For the first three months of the year, the trade gap was 7.5 percent higher than the same period in 2016.

The U.S. trade deficit drifted lower in March despite record imports from Mexico and a drop in total exports, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

Rising oil import prices, which hit a near two-year record, helped fuel the trade deficit, which has become a central focus of the Trump administration's nationalist economic agenda.

The trade gap slipped 0.1 percent in March to $43.7 billion, seasonally adjusted. Analysts had expected the deficit to rise by 1.4 percent, according to a consensus forecast.

Total exports fell 0.9 percent for the month to $191 billion, the biggest drop since October. Imports were also down, falling 0.7 percent to $234.7 billion.

Imports from Mexico hit $28.1 billion, their highest on record, pushing the deficit with the southern neighbor to its highest level in nearly 10 years.

President Donald Trump is poised to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, which links Canada, Mexico and the United States, and has threatened to pull out unless the US gets a favorable deal. He has called NAFTA a "disaster."

For the first three months of the year, the trade gap was 7.5 percent higher than the same period in 2016.

"This is a modest pleasant surprise," Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a client note. "The advance data pointed to a small increase in the deficit."

The flow of U.S. goods and services to several trading partners criticized by the Trump administration were robust in the latest month.

Exports to the European Union and South Korea hit all-time monthly records at $25.7 billion and $4.4 billion respectively, while exports to Germany were the highest in nearly nine years at $5 billion.

'Lopsided trade'

But a four-year record for Japanese imports, valued at $13.3 billion, saw the US deficit with that country hit its highest level since April 2008 at $7.6 billion.

"The United States can no longer sustain this inflated trade deficit with our closest trading partners," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement.

"The Trump administration is committed to rebalancing our trade relationships in order to protect American workers and businesses from lopsided trade relationships."

The trade deficit with China, habitually the largest of all US trading partners, has nevertheless improved by 2.5 percent so far this year, Ross said.

Monthly oil imports rose to their highest level in nearly four years at 260 million barrels, helping push the petroleum deficit to $7.9 billion, its highest level since July 2015.

Production cuts agreed to last year by petroleum producing countries helped drive up the average import price to $49.33, the highest since August 2015.

Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics also noted that goods exports, excluding oil and aircraft, were up 7.7 percent for the month, the best performance since October 2011.
The United States will shoot itself in the foot if it quits the Paris climate accord because China, India and Europe will snap up the best power sector jobs in future, U.N. Environment chief Erik Solheim said on Thursday.

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to announce as early as next week whether he will take the United States out of the climate pact, having vowed during his campaign to cancel the Paris Climate Agreement within 100 days of becoming president.

There is no doubt where the future is and that is what all the private sector companies have understood, Solheim told Reuters in Geneva. The future is green, he said.

Obviously if you are not a party to the Paris agreement, you will lose out. And the main losers of course will be the people of the United States itself because all the interesting, fascinating new green jobs would go to China and to the other parts of the world that are investing heavily in this.

The world has now passed its peak oil stage, the Norwegian-born Solheim said, and was rapidly moving into the age of solar and wind.

The Paris accord, agreed by nearly 200 countries in 2015, seeks to limit planetary warming by cutting emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases from burning fossil fuels.

Wind engineer is now probably the most promising job opportunity in the United States, Solheim said, adding that China and India were bringing the price of solar down so fast that coal was no longer competitive.

GREEN REVOLUTION

Solheims new target is pollution, with plastic in the oceans expected to equal the weight of fish by 2050. But with science, mobilised citizens, regulated markets, and the enormous power of business, such huge problems could be solved, he said.

The green revolution is being led by iconic firms such as Google, Walmart, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook, so the momentum does not depend on Washington, Solheim said.

Even if the worst were to happen and the United States were to withdraw, the consequences would be much less than people think, he said.

Political leadership would shift to the European Union, China and India, and the U.N. is already talking to them about meeting the funding gap if the United States steps back - not only from the climate deal but U.N. funding in general.

We definitely want to ask the Senate and the U.S. Congress to keep as much of the U.S. contribution as possible to the U.N. and to the climate work. If they drastically reduce we would for sure ask others to step up and provide more money, he said.

However the U.N. also needed to be more efficient.

Its not all that bad that there is some scrutiny. We are happy to work with the Trump administration on how to make the United Nations more efficient, Solheim said.

And if they cut down, which we encourage them not to do, we will also rationalise.
IT company Cognizant expects to significantly ramp up headcount in the US in a bid to woo the Trump administration that has been critical of outsourcing firms for unfairly taking jobs away from American workers.

The US-based firm has over 2.61 lakh employees, with a large number of them based in India.

While the company is hiring more locals, it is also consciously reducing its dependence on H-1B visas. Cognizant expects its visa requirements to go down further going forward.

The US had recently accused Cognizant, along with its Indian counterparts Infosys and TCS, of unfairly cornering the lions share of Americas H-1B work visas.

Cognizant president Rajeev Mehta said the company expects to significantly ramp up its US-based workforce by hiring experienced professionals in the open market as well as make more use of university, veteran, and related programmes.

He attributed the shift to be largely in response to clients increasing need for co-innovation and co-location.

The company had hired 4,000 US citizens and residents in 2016.

We are shifting our workforce rapidly in the US with more US jobs and US delivery centres, Mehta said on a conference call, adding that the company would expand its footprint of delivery centres as well from the current over 20.

Over the past few months, there has been a growing sentiment of protectionism across various markets, including the US, that are seeking to safeguard jobs for locals and raising the bar for foreign workers.

Talking about Cognizants visa requirements, Mehta said the company is working on reducing its dependence on these work permits.

While we will still seek visas for highly specialised and skilled talent, were reducing our dependence on these visas, Mehta added.

He said Cognizant has applied for less than half the number of visas this year compared to last year and this would go down further going forward.

Mehta, however, did not disclose the numbers of visas applied for.

Indian IT firms are also ramping up their operations in the US by hiring more locals in order to comply with norms. The tightening of visa norms not only pushes up operational costs for these tech firms but also makes movement of skilled workforce difficult.

Earlier this week, Infosys announced that it would hire 10,000 Americans over the next two years and set up four innovation hubs.
A soon-to-be-launched news channel has declared public enemy #1. Not poverty, disease or illiteracy, its Pakistan.

The channel isnt on air, but if you watched the news on other channels this past week, youd imagine that war had been declared as retribution for Pakistan killing and decapitating two of our soldiers  not for the first time.

News channels went into overdrive, and a senior officer had to clarify. No, he told Hindustan Times, India had not destroyed Pakistani bunkers and killed several soldiers. They [TV channels] go ballistic without asking us anything, said the unnamed officer.

It wasnt just hyperventilating channels. Political parties too were piggybacking on public outrage. Ironically, the BJP, which not so long ago was accusing the then ruling UPA of weakness with regard to Enemy State Pakistan, was now fending off the same theatrical accusations (including the predictable wearing of bangles, presumably a sign of weakness since they are worn by women).

This noisy media-public-politician caucus is placing our army at the edge of dangerous hyper-nationalism. Even otherwise restrained anchors swore not to invite Pakistani enemies on their shows, because, after all, who wants to be seen as anti-national? Never mind that journalism means listening to all sides.

The pitch is so high that any questioning of army action, no matter how legitimate, invites abuse. When Lt Gen H.S. Panag questioned the armys decision to tie an alleged Kashmiri stone-pelter (he wasnt) to the front of an army jeep, he was trolled on social media. The tenor of chatter on Whatsapp and email groups of retired officers was triumphant. Ironically, many had been hard task masters and upholders of human rights while in service. Its as if, in keeping with changed times, they had given in to baser instincts, says General HS Panag.

Elsewhere, anchors saw the action as a masterstroke that helped avert a bloodbath instead of asking the obvious question: why parade him for four hours?

Media should be asking about lapses with regard to Sukma and the decapitation of soldiers, says General Panag. Instead, its joined the 10 heads for one chorus.

We do the army no favours by placing it on a pedestal from where it cannot be asked legitimate questions. We do it no favours when we seek to draw it into an emotional public debate.

Military action cannot be based on populist sentiment; wars are not fought and won in TV studios. A solution, when found, will not happen by placing hot emotion over cool strategy.

Those who feel strongly about supporting the army, including our loquacious anchors, need not feel disheartened. There is a place for citizen action. It is here, Happy donating.

Namita Bhandare writes on social issues and gender. The views expressed are personal

@namitabhandare

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Even after starting an SMS-based alert system for reporting the progress of mid-day Meal in government-run schools, only 48% of schools are updating the status while the remaining 52% are yet to participate in the system.

Uttarakhand school education minister Arvind Pandey had announced to start Akshay Patra project in four districts, including Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar and Dehradun, where centralized kitchen will be established to supply mid day meals to more than 17,000 government schools as a pilot project.

The decision was taken in view of weak monitoring of mid day meals to primary and upper primary schools. But the present system of reporting status of meals has failed to take off.

The percentage of schools updating the meal status was achieved after lot of effort and hauling up teachers, said Seema Jaunsari, director primary education department while admitting that anomalies existed in the text-based alert system.

Still there are more than 50% government schools that are not reporting about the meal status to us. But, we are trying to communicate to them to do this as a mandatory clause, she told Hindustan Times.

Teachers have come up with vague reasons of not reporting the meal status, one being poor mobile connectivity.

Dehradun and Haridwar districts with one the best connectivity in the state, have fared poorly in updating mid day meal status.

Teachers say due to poor connectivity and cant forward the SMSs. But, Dehradun and Haridwar being in the plains are weak performers, said Parmendra Bisht, joint director primary education.

An evaluation system is needed that should be linked with the salaries of teachers to ensure reporting of meal status, he said.

Apart from Dehradun and Haridwar, schools in remote districts like Pithoragarh and Bageshwar too are not reporting mid day meal status.

The mid day meal scheme was launched in 2002 in Uttarakhand. Discrepancies in monitoring are reported every now and then.

The previous Harish Rawat government in October 2016, enhanced the mid day meal scheme by adding eggs, bananas, chaulai ladoos, jagerry, once every week.

The Centre provide 90% of the fund while the state government contributes the remaining 10% for the mid day meals scheme. There are 17,739 government-run primary and upper primary schools in the state where more than 7.84 lakh children study.

Primary schools are allotted  4.13 for every student while upper primary schools are provided  6.18 for every student for a meal every day.

Pauri district leads in reporting mid day meal status with 78%, followed by Rudraprayag and Udham Singh Nagar.

Asked about the poor reporting status of mid day meals in the state, school education minister Arvind Pandey said: I will instruct officials to implement the guidelines effectively but until we start centralised kitchens, teachers will have to continue reporting through the system.

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In big initiative towards providing clean energy, the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) has offered to bring compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) to Dehradun. GAIL has already made a proposal in this regard but the state government is yet to take a call.

CNG is a cleaner alternative to petrol and diesel for running vehicles while PNG can replace LPG cylinders. GAIL officials say the piped gas can help improve the quality of the air in Dehradun, which has been ranked 31st among worlds most polluted cities by World Health Organisation in a list released last year.

Gajendra Singh, director (marketing), GAIL, told HT that they are already working on laying a gas pipeline till Haridwar as part of Delhi-Meerut-Roorkee-Haridwar green corridor project aimed at providing CNG beyond city limits.

We simply need to lay the pipeline between Haridwar and Dehradun. The pipeline shall cover the satellite towns as well. Once laid, the pipeline will provide CNG for automobiles and PNG for homes and industries, Singh said.

Singh said the GAIL officials recently met chief minister TS Rawat in New Delhi and made an offer. State government has to take a call. We are ready to give a detailed presentation before CM and ministers, he added.

GAIL has to its credit 15,000-km long pipelines covering several major cities. The authority also has a pipleline till Kashipur, 200 kms from state capital. It is currently supplying gas to 22 industries, including three gas-based power plants in the Kashipur region.

Singh said the GAIL was ready to bear the cost of the pipeline if it was granted exclusive rights to set up CNG stations in Dehradun. Moreover, under the mission mode project, union petroleum ministry was committed to provide gas on cheaper rates.

Dehradun is witnessing burgeoning pressure from rapid urbanisation. City is not able to cope up with the growing pollution levels and therefore CNG could be best option to convert Doon into a green city, the GAIL official added.

Governments spokesperson Madan Kaushik said government will look into the proposal. We will discuss the proposal soon, he added.

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Presently lodged in Tihar jail, the four men sentenced to death in the December 16 gang rape and murder case, will be kept under strict suicide watch again. One of the accused, Ram Singh, hanged himself in prison on March 11, 2013, within three months of his arrest.

Jail officials said that the wardens in the respective jails where they are lodged have been told to stay vigilant and report any abnormality in the behaviour of the four.

Though the Supreme Court ordered death for the four convicts, the mother of the 23-year-old paramedic had told Hindustan Times that it is difficult for her to accept that one of the convicts (juvenile) is a free man. He was released because he was a child but what that boy did to my girl is not a childs act. I can never forgive him, she told HT on Thursday.

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that all four convicts in the gang-rape and murder case of a 23-year-old paramedic student be sent to the gallows.

While pronouncing the verdict the court observed that the incident is a tsunami of shock in the minds of the collective destroyed humanity.

The devilish manner in which the accused played with the victim is diabolical, the court said.

The convicts had been awarded death by a fast-track court on September 13, 2013, which was later upheld by the Delhi high court.

Speaking to the Hindustan Times on Friday, the victims mother had demanded that her daughters rapists and killers be hanged to death. The court must sentence them to death. We wont settle for life imprisonment. I am alive and kept myself strong only to see this day, the mother told HT over the phone.

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Disturbing stories of brutal crime had been part of the job for inspector Anil Sharma, a senior police officer who had served as the in-charge of several police stations. However, the Delhi gangrape, Sharma says, left him shaken and scarred for life.

Sharma, who was the station house officer of the Vasant Vihar police station in December 2012, said he had promised to himself that he would make sure that the 23-year-old paramedical student received justice.

When I met the victim in the hospital, I was shattered. I had vowed that I would get her justice, Sharma told HT over the phone, minutes after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence to the four convicts in the case.

She had an entire life and a promising career ahead of her. I took it up as a personal challenge to ensure justice for her soul, Sharma said.

Over the next five years, Sharma led the police team investigating the case. From scientific and material evidence to DNA profiling, we had collected evidence to make watertight case against the accused. We made sure all loose ends were tied before we went to the court, he said.

During the subsequent probe, Sharma motivated his team by urging each member to take up the case as a personal responsibility to bring it to its logical conclusion. We knew that we could not undo what had happened. So we focused on what needed to be done so that such crimes do not reoccur.

Chhaya Sharma, the then deputy commissioner of police (south district), termed the apex courts verdict a landmark judgment and thanked the investigating team members for their extraordinary and professional investigation.

Being the head of the investigating team, I feel happy and satisfied that our probe has been appreciated by all the three courts  lower court, Delhi high court, and the Supreme Court. We had promised justice to the victims family and today it was delivered, she said.

Dependra Pathak, Delhi Police spokesperson, welcomed the court verdict saying its investigation stood vindicated. It is an important verdict, said Pathak.

Though the crime had brought much criticism for the Delhi Polices alleged inability in ensuring womens safety in the capital, they had gone on to quickly crack the case, nabbing all the six suspects within three days of the crime.
Exactly four years, four months and 18 days after a brutal gang-rape and murder on the streets of the Capital shook the nations conscience, the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty awarded to the four convicts in the December 16, 2012, incident.

The case, in the aftermath of which millions of young Indians thronged Delhis streets reclaiming a safe city for the women, forced the government to make strict and punitive laws against women harassment and brought the issue of womens safety to the centre stage.

The counsel for the accused, however, said that they will appeal against the verdict.

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that all four convicts in the gang-rape and murder case of a 23-year-old paramedic student be sent to the gallows.

While pronouncing the verdict the court observed that the incident is a tsunami of shock in the minds of the collective destroyed humanity.

If ever a case called for hanging, this was it, the Supreme Court said.

The devilish manner in which the accused played with the victim is diabolical, the court said.

Reacting to the verdict, the mother of the 23-year-old paramedic student said, We have got justice, we were living for this day.

The convicts had been awarded death by a fast-track court on September 13, 2013, which was later upheld by the Delhi high court.

Speaking to the Hindustan Times on Thursday, the victims mother had demanded that her daughters rapists and killers be hanged to death. The court must sentence them to death. We wont settle for life imprisonment. I am alive and kept myself strong only to see this day, the mother told HT over the phone.

All these years, I have asked myself what if she had not taken that bus There are a lot of what ifs, said the mother, who has become the face of the struggle of the lower middle-class family that weaved its hopes of a better life around the young woman and her brother.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said justice has been delivered in the heartbreaking case that agonised the soul of India.

I feel deeply for the courageous family of this brave daughter of India, who rose to become a symbol of every womans fight against sexual violence. The courts judgement is a reminder to each of us to work tirelessly toward building a safe & secure environment for women, Gandhi said in a statement

 To lead a life of dignity, pride, respect and equality is the right of every daughter of India and it is for all of us to ensure that she gets it, she said.

The execution was stayed after the four convicts  Mukesh Singh (27), Pawan Gupta (20), Vinay Sharma (21) and Akshay Thakur (29)  moved the top court. The fifth accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide while in jail.

The Delhi HC upheld the death sentences awarded to the four convicts on March 13, 2014. However, on March 16, the apex court stayed the death sentence awarded to Mukesh and Pawan. Later, it stayed the hanging of the Vinay and Akshay too.

There was widespread anger across the country in the wake of the Delhi gang-rape and killing. (Vipin Kumar/HT File Photo )

The sixth accused, who was a minor at the time of crime, was granted three years in a correction facility by Juvenile Justice Board. He was released from the home in November 2015.

The Supreme Court had on March 27, 2017, reserved its verdict after almost a year of hearings in the case and posted the matter for May 5.

The 2012 incident led to large-scale protests across the country, forcing the then government to make strict and punitive laws related to the harassment of women.

The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern was returning home after watching a film with her friend on December 16, 2012, when she was raped by six men and thrown off the bus. The womans friend was also beaten up with iron rods.

The girl, who suffered fatal injuries, was admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital. She was shifted to a hospital in Singapore after her condition deteriorated even as thousands of youngsters protested on the streets of Delhi demanding justice for her. She finally succumbed to her injuries on December 29, 2012.
In my close to 40 years of experience as a surgeon, I have not come across more brutal assault on a person. It was man-made and irreparable, Dr Sunil Jain told HT.

The Supreme Court on Friday awarded death sentence to all the four convicts in the case.

As the head of the department of surgery at Safdarjung Hospital, Jain had operated upon the 23-year-old December 16 gang-rape victim.

Recalling the moment when he was called for the emergency case in the middle of the night on a Sunday, Dr Jain had said, She had severe injuries to her private parts and abdomen, the magnitude of which we realized only when we wheeled her into the operation theatre.

It was a foregone conclusion from day one that she will not survive because of the nature of injuries.

According to the team of doctors who treated her, the only thing that could have saved her was an intestinal transplant. Though it was the answer, no one had ever attempted it.

Nobody had ever seen a transplant; we had only read about it in medical textbooks, Dr Jain had said.

The doctors had not expected her to survive for long because of the extent of injuries, but the strong-willed girl sustained in that critical condition for nearly two weeks.

She was otherwise a healthy woman and her body reserves were good. Mentally, too, she was very tough. She knew she wouldnt survive but still would keep repeating that if she survived, she would like to complete her course, said Dr Jain.

Just 10 days after the assault, she narrated her ordeal verbatim to the magistrate speaks a lot about her strength and determination. Despite the injuries that should have killed her instantly, she survived 13 days, felt the doctors.

Doctors are not supposed to get emotional about their patients, but most of the doctors who handled her, feel she was a case they would remember all their life.

She was a bold young woman but her boldness could not pull her out of her trauma, said Dr Jain.

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The men, who brutally attacked a 23-year-old paramedical student and gang-raped her on a moving bus on December 16, 2012, will be hanged to death. In that devastating hour of darkness as the Supreme Court put it on Friday, the five men and a juvenile not only brutalized the woman but the conscience of an entire nation.

They were a bunch of uneducated neighbours from a slum cluster in south Delhis RK Puram ruthlessly oblivious to the ways and rules of a growing city. As they wait for the gallows, here is a look back at who they are:

Akshay Thakur (32)

He is a school dropout from Aurangabad district in Bihar convicted for raping the woman. He is married with a two-year-old son. His family had been claiming that he was at home on that night.

Mukesh Singh (31)

He was the cleaner of the bus and hit the woman and her friend with an iron rod on board the bus. In an interview from jail for a BBC documentary aired in 2015, Singh had said that women who went out at night had only themselves to blame if they attracted the attention of gangs of male molesters.

Pawan Gupta (23)

A fruit-seller, Gupta took turns to rape the woman and assault her friend. Youngest of the four convicts, Pawan is pursuing graduation from inside Tihar Jail.

Vinay Sharma (25)

He drove the bus when the other four men and a juvenile raped the woman. He then gave the wheel to Mukesh to take turn to rape her. Lodged in Tihar Jail, Sharma filed an application in the court saying that he was beaten up very badly by five or six inmates of the jail in 2015. He added that he feared a risk to his life as some other convicts had openly issued murder threats to him.

OTHER ACCUSED

Ram Singh (33)

He was the driver of the bus, known to be notorious for caring little for law. Elder brother of Mukesh Singh, he attacked the woman with an iron rod causing her intestines to spill out. In December 2013, he was found hanging in his cell at Tihar Jail. He was the first one to be caught on December 17, 2012. When the police nabbed him, he was sitting in the same bus where his bloodstained clothes were also found.

The Juvenile

Now 23 years old, the juvenile was tried by the Juvenile Justice Board for raping and assaulting the woman . He was released after he completed his term in December 2015. He works as a cook at a dhaba somewhere in south India.
The Russian government has added three more NGOs to its list of undesirables, as the governments crackdown on civil society continues.

The three organizations were founded or backed by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former Russian oil tycoon and Kremlin critic who was imprisoned for 10 years on fraud charges, after a trial deemed by many international observers to be politically motivated. Khodorkovsky was pardoned in 2013 and has since lived abroad.

Russias General Prosecutors Office banned the activities of the Open Russia Foundation, the Institute of Modern Russia, and the Open Russia Civic Movement under the 2015 Law on Undesirable Foreign Organizations, which says that groups can be prohibited from operating on Russian soil if they are seen to pose a threat to the states constitutional order, national defense or security.

Seven U.S.-based non-governmental organizations have already been designated as undesirable under the same law: the Media Development Investment Fund; the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation; the Open Society Foundations; the U.S.-Russia Foundation for Economic Advancement and the Rule of Law; the International Republican Institute and its sister organization the National Democratic Institute; as well as the National Endowment for Democracy.

In deploring the latest additions, Amnesty Internationals Russia Director Sergei Nitikin said, For many years Russian authorities have relentlessly worked to create a hostile environment for civil society. Open Russias activities in human rights defense, its support of independent candidates running for national and local elected office and media work were a great impediment to them. By banning the organization, the authorities intend to overcome this obstacle.

U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said the United States is deeply troubled by the recent designations of the three NGOs.

We reject the notion that these and other international civil society organizations are a threat to Russia. If Russia hopes to build a strong, democratic government with a dynamic, competitive economy, it should value and support, not harass and criminalize such independent voices.

The United States again calls on Russia, Mr. Toner said, to uphold its international obligations and commitments to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to cease restrictions on the work of civil society organizations in Russia.
The online registration process for admission to undergraduate courses at Ambedkar University (AUD) began on Friday. The registration process will continue till June 23.

There are 445 seats in around seven undergraduate courses on offer at AUD. The first cutoff list will be out on July 5, a few weeks after Delhi Universitys cutoffs are announced. Admissions will be done between July 6 and 8.

AUD is a state university and hence 85% seats are for applicants from Delhi and 15% are for students from other states.

Students can only fill online application forms and there will be no offline forms.

The Kashmere Gate campus offers seven undergraduate courses, such as Economics, History, English, Mathematics, Psychology, Social Sciences & Humanities and Sociology. Each undergraduate course has 35 seats, officials said.

AUD launched its second campus at Karampura last year with 200 students on its roll. This campus has four undergraduate courses, such as Economics, Psychology and Social Sciences & Humanities and English. Each undergraduate course has 50 seats on offer, officials said.

The Kashmere Gate campus also offers 16 postgraduate courses with 534 seats, while the Karampura campus offers one postgraduate course with 42 seats, officials said. The online registration process for postgraduate courses start on April 24 and will end on June 23.

Students can also visit the campus at Kashmere Gate and Karampura to fill the online form between May 22 to June 23 by logging on to www.aud.ac.in.

The application fee is Rs 330 per undergraduate programme for all candidates and Rs 130 per programme for SC/ ST/ PwD candidates.

Last year, the university released 100% cutoff for a few subjects. It has sought 100% marks in Commerce from Delhi students who want to study Sociology and History at the university.

For non-Delhi students, the 100% cutoff is for five courses  BA (Hons) in English, History, Psychology, Sociology, and Humanities and Social Sciences. This is those who have studied Commerce in Class 12.

The university releases separate cutoffs for Delhi and non-Delhi students.

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The Supreme Court will on Friday pronounce its verdict on appeals by the four convicts of December 16, 2012, gang-rape and murder case against the death sentences awarded to them. The court had stayed the execution of the convicts three years ago.

The 2012 incident led to large-scale protests across the country, forcing the then government to make strict and punitive laws related to the harassment of women.

A bench headed by justice Dipak Misra had, in March this year, reserved the verdict after hearing the matter that was spread almost for a year.

Heres a how the court case paned out:

 January 2, 2013: CJI Altamas Kabir inaugurates fast-track court (FTC) for speedy trial in the case

 January 3, 2013: Police files chargesheet against five adult accused of offences including murder, gang-rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences and dacoity etc.

 January 5, 2013: Court takes cognisance of the chargesheet

 January 7, 2013: Court orders in-camera proceedings

 January 17, 2013: Fast-track court starts proceedings against 5 adult accused

 January 28, 2013: The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) declares one of the rapists is a minor, sparking a fierce debate about the criminal justice system for under-18s and demands for him to stand trial as an adult

 February 2, 2013: The five adult accused are charged with a string of offences, including murder, gang-rape, kidnapping and robbery. They are sent to judicial custody in Tihar Jail

 February 28, 2013: JJB frames charges against the minor

 March 11, 2013: Ram Singh, the main accused and a public hate-figure, is found dead in his cell after an apparent suicide. His family and lawyer allege murder

 Mar 22, 2013: Delhi HC allows national media to report fast-track court proceedings

 July 8, 2013: Fast track court completes recording of testimonies of prosecution witnesses in the case

 July 11, 2013: JJB holds minor guilty of illegally confining and robbing a carpenter on December 16 night before allegedly taking part in the gang-rape

 July 25, 2013: JJB defers the verdict in the gang-rape-cum-murder case to August 5 after a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court seeking fresh interpretation of the term juvenile

 July 31, 2013: SC asks JJB not to pronounce verdict in the case till it decides the PIL of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy

 August 5, 2013: JJB defers verdict to August 19 as per the top courts direction

 August 14, 2013: SC reserves order on maintainability of Swamys PIL

 August 19, 2013: JJB again defers verdict to August 31

 August 22, 2013: SC allows JJB to pronounce its verdict in the case involving the minor

 August 31, 2013: The juvenile suspect is found guilty of rape and murder and sentenced to 3 years in a correctional facility - the maximum possible sentence for the teenager under Indian laws

 September 10, 2013: A fast-track court convicts 4 accused on all 13 counts of offence

 September 13, 2013: Court awards death to all 4 convicts

 September 25, 2013: Delhi HC begin daily hearing on the death sentence confirmation case against the 4 convicts

 October 8, 2013: Two convicts  Mukesh and Pawan  change their counsel. Advocate ML Sharma is brought in.

 October 28, 2013: HC rejects plea for document translated in Hindi of the case including chargesheets, judgments etc

 November 12, 2013: SC asks HC not to rush through the hearing in the death confirmation case. It also directs the HC to provide Hindi translated documents to the convicts

 November 30, 2013: Victims parents challenge the Juvenile Justice Act, seeking a criminal trial against one of the accused who was then a juvenile

 December 11, 2013: The convicts counsel begin argument for the defence, says convicts were denied fair trial as they were tortured in jail

 January 3, 2014: The Delhi HC reserves its verdict on confirming the death sentence and appeals of the four convicts

 February 4, 2014: The Delhi HC slammed the Delhi government over the December 16 gangrape case, calling it lethargic and negligent.

 March 13, 2014: The Delhi HC upholds the death sentences awarded to the 4 convicts.

 March 16, 2014: The SC stays the death sentence of Mukesh (27) and Pawan (20)

 June 2, 2014: Remaining 2 death row convicts - Vinay (21) and Akshay (29) - move the SC against the Delhi HC verdict in the case

 July 14, 2014: The SC stays the execution of death penalty of Vinay and Akshay till further order

December 18, 2015: Delhi HC refuses to stay release of the minor accused; he was released after 3 years in a juvenile home

April 3, 2016: SC begins hearing appeals filed by the convict, after 19 months of being in cold storage

November 7, 2016: Senior advocate and amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran argues for the sentencing order to be set aside

November 28, 2016: Senior advocate and amicus curiae Sanjay Hegde argues against reliability of evidence

March 27, 2017: Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case

May 5, 2017: Verdict today
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Delhi High Court and trial court decision to award death to all four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gang rape and murder. The judgment was received with an applause from those in the court. The convicts lawyer, AP Singh, however, said that they will file review petition in the apex court.

The Supreme Court, that was hearing pleas by the convicts against the High Court and sessions court judgment, said,If ever a case called for hanging, this was it. The convicts had been awarded death sentence by the fast track court, which was upheld by the Delhi High Court. The execution had been stayed after the four convicts  Mukesh (27), Pawan (20), Vinay (21) and Akshay (29)  moved the top court. The fifth accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide while in jail. The sixth accused, who was a minor at the time of crime, was granted three years in a correction facility by Juvenile Justice Board. He was released from the home in November 2015.

The gang rape and murder or 23-year-old paramedic had led to nation wide outrage and spurred to government to strengthen rape laws.

Here are the highlights:

6.37pm: In its judgment, the apex court said the intention to run the bus over the victim after committing the heinous crime suggested that all possible efforts were made to destroy the evidence. The casual manner with which she was treated and the devilish manner in which they played with her identity and dignity is humanly inconceivable, the judgment read.

6.30pm: Congress leader Kapil Sibal welcomes the verdict but says Delhi is number one in attack, rape and harassment of women.

6.21pm: The case has come be seen as a landmark in India as it led to strengthening of rape laws. After the public uproar over the incident, a panel was constituted to relook intp laws related to sexual assault. Acting on the suggestions of the Justice JS Verma panel, Parliament passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, which came into effect on April 2, 2013. The Act widened the definition of rape. A look at how the law has made punishment more stringent. Read: She lit a flame

6.14pm: Describing it as a crime of mental perversion and extreme brutality where in the entire intestine of the victim was perforated in the most savage and inhuman manner, Justice Misra, while reading the judgment said: It is a story from a different world where there is irreverence for human beings.

6.04pm: The Supreme Court, in its verdict, upheld the dying declaration of the victim. She had recorded her statement five days after the incident when she was battling for life. In her last words before the magistrate she sought death penalty for the convicts. Read: The victims dying statement

The December 16 gang rape and murder had sparked protests and candle light vigils across the country. (HT FILE)

5.50pm: Rajiv Mohan, who was the public prosecutor in the case in the lower courts, says Supreme Court has passed a good judgment. The counsel of the convicts, however, said that the court had bowed to public pressure and he would be filing a review petition. Read: Convicts to move review petition

5.40pm: Congress president Sonia Gandhi reacts to the verdict. I feel deeply for the courageous family of this brave daughter of India, who rose to become a symbol of every womans fight against sexual violence. The courts judgement is a reminder to each of us to work tirelessly toward building a safe & secure environment for women. To lead a life of dignity, pride, respect and equality is the right of every daughter of India and it is for all of us to ensure that she gets it, she said.

5.30pm: Reacting to the verdict, inspector Anil Sharma, who was the station house officer of the Vasant Vihar police station in December 2016, says he had promised to himself that he would get justice for the 23-year-old paramedical student. Read: Cop who led the probe says he is scarred for life

5.16pm: One of the lawyers, BL Kapoor, while hailing the apex courts verdict said that it was one of the rarest of the rare cases as it shocked the collective conscience of the society. The brutality with which the crime was committed, it makes it come under rarest of the rarest cases. The Supreme Court upheld the High courts judgment citing its earlier judgment that the one which shocks the collective conscience of the society is dubbed as rarest of rarest case, he told ANI.

5.06pm: Justice Banumathi, who read the concurring judgment said that except the Dhananjoy Chatterjee case, in no other rape and murder case, capital punishment had been executed.She has also suggested certain other measures to ensure gender justice in the society.

4.58pm: Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad hails the verdict saying that it was a big day for the Indian judiciary system. This is a big day for the Indian judiciary system. I know this was a serious and sensitive issue for the entire nation. I am very happy and satisfied with the courts verdict. I wish her soul will rest in peace, Prasad said.

Desh ke kanoon ke raaj ke liye bahut bada din hai.Jo nirnay kiya gaya hai mai usse bahut sukoon mehsus kar raha hoon-Union Law Min RS Prasad pic.twitter.com/9QkRfqnJEn  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

4.48pm: Father of the victims friend (who was there in the bus) said his son was content with the decision as it will warn others against committing such crimes. We all are very satisfied with the verdict. My son seems content now. This decision will prohibit people from committing such heinous crimes, he said. Read: Victims male friend battles survivors guilt

4.38pm: Shiv Sena calls it a landmark judgment which will deter others from committing such heinous crimes. This is a landmark judgment and on behalf of all the women of India I would like to say that somewhere Nirbhaya has got justice. After the huge sacrifice that she has made. This types of judgment should deter other criminals, Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande said.

4.30pm: Congress spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala questions why the Nirbhaya Fund constituted to take steps for safety of women had remained untilised. In a series of tweets he raises issues of women safety and flags rise in crimes against women in Delhi and across the country.

4.25pm: Responding to the verdict, Swati Maliwal, chief of the New Delhi Commission for Women, said people in India were not scared of committing crimes because of long delays in bringing them to justice. Even in this case, it has taken five years. But at least in five years, we are coming to a conclusion. There are women in the country who have been fighting court battles for 10 to 15 years, she said.

4.20pm: The four convicts will be kept under strict watch in Tihar jail. Jail officials said that the wardens in the respective jails where they are lodged have been told to stay vigilant and report any abnormality in the behaviour of the four. Read: Convicts on suicide watch in Tihar jail after verdict

4.15pm: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also welcomes the SC decision to uphold the death sentence awarded to the convicts, in a series of tweets. Says the verdict will create fear and deterrence in crimes against women.

I strongly support Supreme Court's decision of death penalty in #Nirbhayaverdict. It is a lesson for people who dare such heinous crime.  ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) May 5, 2017

4.05pm: AAP leader Kumar Vishwas welcomes the verdict in an emotional tweet. He prayed for peace to the victim who had lost her life in the barbaric incident. Behen nirbhaya ham sharminda hain ki hum sabke rehte aisa hua. Ishwar tumhari aatma ko santosh de ki nirmam gunhagaaron ko aakhir uchit saza mili, he tweeted.

3.55pm: Womens rights activist Ranjana Kumari calls it a historic judgement. This is a historic message to all the people, the criminal mindset who wrong women, who inflict violence on women, to know that if you do something like this you will be also paying for it by the severest punishment that exists in our laws of the land, she said.

3.45pm: Victims parents says from now on, they will fight for justice for other girls against whom criminal acts are committed. The victims mother had said before the judgment that she will settle for nothing less than death sentence. Read: Was living for this day, says victims mother

3.35pm: The victims mother, who was present in the jam-packed court room when the verdict was pronounced, says justice has finally been done. We thank all who supported us in the difficult times. Though we have lost our daughter, we are satisfied that the court has awarded death sentence to her perpetrators, she said.

3.25pm: Unhappy with SCs verdict convict lawyer AP Singh says human rights had been neglected in the verdict. You cannot give a death sentence to anyone for a message to the nation. The meaning of punishment is improvement. There is a right to live. In this, the human rights have been neglected, Mahatma Gandhis ideology has been neglected as this is violence, Singh said.

3.25pm: While the verdict came on Friday noon, the juvenile convicted in the case has been settled in south India where he works as a cook. He was always worried about getting lynched and that is why he was sent to the southern part of the country, said a NGO official, who was part of his rehabilitation process. Read: Juvenile unaware of verdict, works as cook

3.20pm: Senior advocate Siddhartha Luthra who represented Delhi Police says credit goes to the able team of Delhi Police that collected unimpeachable scientific evidence to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. He agrees with the SC ruling that if death penalty has to be imposed its this case. Read: The men who killed the Delhi braveheart

3.15pm: Justice not done, we will file review petition after reading the order, says AP Singh, lawyer of convict.

3.10pm: CPI leader Brinda Karat says she is against death penalty, but adds that this was such a heinous crime that strictest punishment was needed. Selective nature of the judicial process of our country is why I am against death penalty. What happened in Bilkis Bano case, she says.

3.05pm: Union minister for women and child development, Maneka Gandhi, welcomes judgment. A judgment like this was necessary to send a stern. A judgment like this was necessary to send a stern message to people who commit such heinous crimes, she says.

The four convicts: Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta.

3.02pm: Its a victory for my family,I am very happy with the judgment, says Nirbhayas father, adds that the judgment took time but now he has no complaints. After the juvenile convict was released in 2015 the victims parents had been distraught and sad crime has won.

2.57pm: Before the verdict was announced, the doctor who treated the December 16 gang rape victim that night said she survived 13 days because she was tough. He said that the only thing that could have saved her was an intestinal transplant, but no one had ever attempted it.

2.52pm: Court admitted that the entire intestine of the victim was perforated and internal organs were pulled out. This act demonstrates perversion of the accused. Accused found object of enjoyment in the victim, the court said. Read: How the braveheart fought till the end

2.42pm: Court also said that it had considered mitigating factors like aged parents, marital status and conduct, young age before reaching its judgment.

2.32pm: The Supreme Court judgment said there was scientific evidence to show how far the accused proceeded establishing criminal conspiracy allegations against the accused.

2.22pm: Justice Banumathi rises to pronounce her concurring judgment. Says there should be systematic education of children of to ensure how they will give respect to women.

Delhi Police's investigation stands vindicated, its an important verdict: Deependra Pathak,Delhi Police Spokesperson #Nirbhaya pic.twitter.com/cxVje8PpLz  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

2.20pm: Its a tsunami of shock in the minds of the collective and destroyed humanity. Death for all four. Compelled to arrive aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances. The judgment is received with an applause from lawyers and parents in the court.

2.18pm: DNA profiling proves presence of accused in the crime. Evidence with regard to finger prints of the accused in absolutely impeccable. Judgment says trial court and HC correctly placed reliance on evidence.

2.15pm: Dying declaration of the victim with gesture is reliable. Victim stood embedded with her version. It received corroboration from medical evidence. Read: How authenticity of victims dying declaration was questioned

2.10pm: Evidence of victims friend is unimpeachable and relied upon. Cant disregard the CCTV footage establishing the movement of the bus. Custodial confession do not remotely create a dent in police investigation. Relationship between the six established. Read: Forensic, other evidence prove police case

2.06pm: Present case is one where there can be no denial narrative is long investigation has been cautious, Morden scientific tools adopted for investigation.

2.04pm: Justice Misra begins to read judgment: It was a devastating hour of darkness for the 23 year old paramedic. The victims parts were ruptured to give vent to the sexual desires. Lying naked they shouted for help as good fortune have it a night patrolling vehicle arrived.

2.02pm: There are two judgments: One by Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Ashok Bhushan. Justice Bhanumathi gives a concurring judgment.

1.59pm: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy backed the decision to award capital punishment to the accused. It was very tragic incident, which has blotted the civilization of India. In my opinion there is no doubt what so ever, that all of them were guilty and I think nothing other than capital punishment should be given by the SC, Swamy told ANI. Read: Subramanian Swamys plea for trying juvenile as adult accused dismissed

1.51pm: Lawyers are crowding inside the courtroom where the parents of the victim and amicus curiae have already arrived.

1.48pm: The victim died on December 29, 2012 within a fortnight of the incident. The case had led to public uproar and resulted in series of protests for justice and building pressure on the Delhi Police to nab the accused. Read: How police nailed the convicts

1.38pm: As the apex court is set to deliver the much-awaited verdict, political leaders expressed faith that justice will be done. We have full faith on the Supreme Court that they will give severe punishment to accused, said Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad.

1.35pm: Amicus curiae  Sanjay Hegde and Raju Ramachandran  reach court 2 for the judgment. Parents of the victim also enter court room 2.

1.25pm: The High Court began daily hearing in the case on September 25, 2013. The HC upheld their death sentence on March 13, 2014. Read: How the case proceeded

1.15pm: The initial verdict in the case by fast-track court was given on September 13, 2013. The court had convicted the four accused on all 13 counts of offence and awarded the death.

1.05pm: SC had, last year, rejected defence counsel ML Sharmas claim that the victim was not assaulted with iron rods. Rejecting Sharmas claims , the court had said that the matter could not be raised at the stage of appeal.

1.05pm: The death sentence was pronounced by the trial court had on September 13, 2013. The court had said they be hanged till death as the beastly and hair-raising manner in which the crime was committed against the girl fell in the rarest-of-the-rare category.

12.57pm: A Delhi High Court bench of justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani had on March 13, 2014, upheld the death sentence of Mukesh Singh, 26, Akshay Thakur, 28, Pawan Gupta, 19, and Vinay Sharma, 20, saying their crime falls in the rarest-of-the rare category, which warrants death penalty.

12.47pm: The Supreme Court had decided to re-hear the case on the sentencing aspect, after the petitioners contend that there have been violations in procedure.

12.37pm: On August 31, 2013, the Juvenile Justice Board sentenced the minor accused to a three-year stay in special home, which is the maxim sentence allowed to juvenile accused. The juvenile, now 21, was released in November 2015.

12.27pm: The victims mother reaches Supreme Court for the verdict. The court must sentence them to death. We wont settle for life imprisonment. I am alive and kept myself strong only to see this day, the mother told HT over the phone on Friday.Read the full interview here

12.25pm: Defending the four are senior advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde. They were not hired by the convicts, but the SC bench led by justice Dipak Misra appointed them as friends of the court to interpret the police evidence and render assistance.

12.15pm: On the day of verdict, the mother of 23-year-old victim says she will not settle for anything less than death sentence. There were days, when I felt justice will take forever but today is the day. The court will punish them. They should be hanged and a precedent set that no man will be let off in such cases, she told HT on Friday.

12.05pm: The verdict was reserved by a bench headed by Justice Dipak Mishra in March this year after hearing in the matter spread for almost a year.

(With Agency inputs)
The gang rape of a paramedical student on a moving bus by five men and a juvenile in Delhi on December 16, 2012 outraged Indians who later protested on streets for days to demand justice for her. While the braveheart battled for her life in south Delhis Safdarjung Hospital, the police could not afford to waste any time in nabbing the accused.

Heres an account of the fortnight between the brutal attack and the death of the victim and how Delhi Police nailed the men who caused it:

* On December 17, an FIR was registered at Vasant Vihar police station on the basis of the statement of the victims friend, who was with her on the evening of December 16. The crime team lifted the exhibits from the spot near Mahipalpur flyover, where the victims were found brutally injured.

* After frantic search operations, the police found the chartered bus parked near Ravi Dass Camp in RK Puram later that day. A key accused Ram Singh, who allegedly killed himself later in Tihar Jail, was found sitting in it. Singh was interrogated and arrested. The police also recovered Singh bloodstained clothes and the iron rods that were used to assault the victims.

* On December 18, Vinay Sharma and Pawan alias Kalu were the next to be caught. The police recovered Sharmas bloodstained clothes and found the mobile phone of the victim with him. Pawan was found in his jhuggi with bloodstained clothes, shoes and also a wrist watch and Rs 1000 robbed from victims friend.

* Same day, accused Mukesh was apprehended from his native village Karoli in Rajasthan and the mobile phone of the victims friends was recovered from him. He was brought to Delhi and was arrested after interrogation.

* On December 21, the juvenile accused was apprehended from ISBT. An ATM debit card of the victim was recovered from him.

* That day, accused Akshay was also arrested from Aurangabad in Bihar. He led to his brothers house in village Naharpur, Gurgaon, Haryana where the police recovered his bloodstained clothes.

* On December 23, the police got a route chart made where the accused drove the bus that night. Besides, Mukesh got recovered his bloodstained clothes from the garage of his brother at Anupam Apartment, Saidulajab, Saket.

* Victims statement was recorded on December 21 and 25 by Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar, by putting her multiple choice questions and through gestures.

* On December 26, the gang-rape victim was airlifted to Singapores Mount Elizabeth Hospital after her condition deteriorated. In one of the many operations, doctors in India removed her intestines which were damaged in the attack.

* On December 29, the woman died from organ failure in Singapore triggering further protests across the country.
Had she not taken the bus that day she would have been celebrating her 28th birthday on May 10, said the mother of the young paramedic who was gang-raped and killed in Delhi.

That day was December 16, 2012.

The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern was returning home after watching a film with her friend when she was raped by six men and thrown off the bus. She died of her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29.

Four years, four months and 18 days after the brutality, the Supreme Court will on Friday decide if the four convicts will hang for the horrific crime that forced India to tighten rape laws.

The court must sentence them to death. We wont settle for life imprisonment. I am alive and kept myself strong only to see this day, the mother told HT over the phone on Friday.

Pawan Gupta, Vinay Kumar, Akshay Thakur and Mukesh Singh have challenged the death sentence awarded to them by the Delhi High Court.

One of the accused, Ram Singh, hanged himself in prison, while the youngest of them, who was a few weeks shy of 18 at the time of the crime, was convicted and is now free after serving a three-year term.

All these years, I have asked myself what if she had not taken that bus There are a lot of what ifs, said the mother, who has become the face of the struggle of the lower middle-class family that weaved its hopes of a better life around the young woman and her brother.

The pain and anger are hard to miss.

You and I would not be having this conversation but for that day. There were days, when I felt justice will take forever but today is the day. The court will punish them. They should be hanged and a precedent set that no man will be let off in such cases.

It is difficult for her to accept that the one of the men is already free. He was released because he was a child but what that boy did to my girl is not a childs act. I can never forgive him, she said.

The boy was one of the six men who mocked and jeered the couple after they boarded the bus at Munrika in south Delhi.

When they asked the men to stop the vehicle, they were slapped, punched and beaten with iron rods. The six then took turns to rape the woman and threw her and the friend off the bus.

The sheer brutality of the crime was shocking. Delhi and several other places were rocked by protests for days. Candle light vigils were held demanding justice for the victim. Definition of rape was broadened and punishment hardened.

Within three months of his arrest, bus driver Ram Singh committed suicide in jail. The youngest of the criminals convicted by a juvenile justice board was let off in December 2015.

But for the mother, it is still too raw.

The whole country knows about the case but nobody saw her pain. I saw it. My daughter died in front of me, said she, who with her family now lives in a house given to them by the government.

Today, if the Supreme Court lets them off or converts their death sentence to life, it will be a setback for all women fighting such cases. If they are not hanged for a crime like this, no one will ever be.

She relives the pain every time she comes across the four men during court visits.

I see them and their family members in the court. We dont talk. The men have not asked for forgiveness and they wouldnt change their ways, she said.

Her daughters case was a message to society  think. Think about what is happening around us, what is wrong with us and find a way to fix it.

She will be in the Supreme Court on Friday, hoping for a decision that will give her closure and allow her and her family to mourn her daughter.

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On International Female Ride Day, May 6 (Saturday), a 20-km bike ride is being organised in the Capital by two residents of Delhi, Anita Krishnan, 35, a biker by passion, and entrepreneur Vidhi Malla, 33. This is part of a global campaign for women motorcyclists who own, ride or have access to a motorcycle. The Delhi ride is open to all female motorcycle enthusiasts  even the ones owning scooties.

Anita Krishnan, one of the organisers of the event.

This ride will see female bikers, irrespective of groups they ride with. We are riding to show sisterhood across the world. There are no set rules, norms, except for the safety, of course, says Krishnan. More than 30 women bikers are expected to attend the ride, that will start from Indraprastha Park at 6am, and culminate at Chhatarpur Metro station.

Elaborating further on the event, which aims to bring together female riders in the city, Krishnan says, The day is going to be great fun as this is the first time we are doing it in Delhi. Various bikers are celebrating the day across the globe. Well have an interaction session as new riders are participating as well. Its important and special as this is one day marked as a female ride day. We wanted to do something for the people who like to ride solo and are not affiliated to a biking group, as such.

About International Female Ride Day International Female Ride Day is a global campaign for women motorcyclists who own, ride or have access to a motorcycle. The day invites women to Just Ride. By participating and riding on this united day, women underline and demonstrate their passion, ability and enthusiasm for the activity. This day also builds awareness about female motorcyclists.

Krishnan believes that the sight of a woman on a bike is not a taboo anymore, with enough women bikers [around], who ride to explore and even ride to their workplace. But she is quick to add, People do go wow seeing eight to ten women riding motorcycles.

Malla, who has been riding for the past ten years, adds, This rally is a symbol of empowerment, a symbol of togetherness. Generally, a female biker is known by her group, but this time, we are inviting riders individually. They can participate through our Facebook page.

One of the participants, 19-year-old Delhi University student Riya Yadav, says, I have been riding my friends bike for the past one year, but my dad recently gifted me a bike on my birthday. This ride for me is the best opportunity to participate as an individual rider.

The women, having ridden to Shimla, Amritsar, Leh and Corbett, have international place names to tick off their list, too. We all want to do a ride outside India someday, Krishnan signs off.

Catch it live What: International Female Ride Day When: May 6 Time: 6am Starting from: Indraprastha Park Ends at: Chattarpur Metro station
In December 2012, the horrific gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student shocked the collective conscience of a nation, sparking street protests and leading to an overhaul of laws on crime against women.

Four years later and after laws having been made stricter, Delhi continues to report six cases of rape every day.

As per Delhi Police, last year the city reported 2,155 rape cases, a slight decrease from 2,199 cases in 2015 and 2,166 in 2014.

Official records further show that 3,423 women were kidnapped from Delhi last year, at an average of nine women per day.

Acting on the recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee, the Parliament passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, that widened the definition of rape and also provided for the death penalty in rape cases that caused death of the victim or left her in a vegetative state.

Though the law should have acted as a deterrent, the latest figures of Delhi Police show that crimes against women, such as rape, had increased three-fold from 706 in 2012 to 2,155 in 2016.

Till March 15 this year, 376 cases of rape had been reported in Delhi, as compared to 406 cases reported in the same period last year.

As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) latest figures, a total of 34,651 cases of rape were reported during 2015 all over India, of which Delhi alone reported 2,199 cases  a contribution of 6.34%.

Though the government has said that several other measures are being taken to ensure that crime against women do not go unreported, the figures should act as a wakeup call to shift focus from reporting of crime to preventing it.

Advocate Meera Bhatia, who is assisting the Delhi High Court in a case initiated by the court itself after the December 16 incident to improve safety of women and children, told HT that prevention should be the underlying point.

One has to understand that stricter laws only come in play when the act of crime has taken place. Therefore, we need preventive options such as education and sensitization, Bhatia said.

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What may set the stage for another round of confrontation between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi and the Centre, the Union home ministry has sought information about foreign funds received by the party.

AAP termed the step as a political witch-hunt but ministry officials said the information was sought as part of the its routine exercise under which all political parties are asked to share details of their foreign funding from time to time.

Ministry officials said the information from AAP has been sought under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) that governs foreign funding to all outfits  non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as political parties.

Read: Aam Aadmi Party sets new fund-raising record for Canada

A ministry official clarified no show-cause notice has been issued to AAP. A show-cause notice is an indication of serious violation of foreign funding norms and in most cases leads to suspension and cancellation of foreign funding licence of the outfit.

Information from AAP has been sought under routine process that covers all parties and once the reply to the queries will be received, further course of action will be decided, said a home ministry official.

The official added that a litigation with regard to foreign funding of political parties is also pending in the Delhi high court.

Read: Congress asks Kejriwal to explain source of foreign funds

We have nothing to hide. We are ready to face any probe and the party will fully cooperate with all concerned officials and agencies. Its worth mentioning that the ministry of home affairs had given us a clean chit before the high court on this issue and now they are sending us fresh notices. It is a clear case of political witch-hunt, said the AAP in a statement.
Five days after she was assaulted and gang-raped by six men, the 23-year old physiotherapy intern was battling for life at Safdarjung hospitals Intensive Care unit. Protests and prayers were going on for the victim of Delhis December 16 gang rape.

She is a fighter, a senior officer had then quoted one of the doctors attending her. She was dying, the doctors knew it but even in those moments of excruciating pain, she told her mother that she wanted to live. She told her she would record her statement  her version of the horrific events that December evening.

The statement was recorded by a sub divisional magistrate on December 21. It was among the most crucial evidence that sealed the fate of the accused. On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld the dying declaration despite objections and questions raised by the defence lawyer, and upheld the death sentence to the four convicts.

While recording her statement at the Safdarjung ICU, she was alone with the magistrate. She answered all the questions. The magistrate noted every detail. At 9 pm, the Delhi braveheart signed it.

She died on December 29 at a Singapore hospital.

Here is her dying declaration from the case files.

What is your name, your fathers name and address?

Delhi brave heart  My name is XYZ, father name is XYZ and we live in XYZ

Do you study or do you work?

I recently completed Bachelor of Physiotherapy.

When and where did the incident take place?

It happened on December 16, 2012 between 9 and 9.15 pm

Where did you go that day and how did you reach the crime spot?

I went out with my friend to the Select City Walk Mall to watch Life of Pi between 6 and 8.30 pm. From there we took an autorickshaw to Munirka

How did you go from there?

I saw a white bus. The conductor(later identified as the juvenile convict) was seeking passengers for Dwarka. I had to go to Dwarka Sector 1. We paid ten rupees each as fare.

How many people were there in the bus?

When I boarded the bus, I saw 6-7 persons inside.

What happened inside the bus? Tell us in detail.

When the bus reached Malay Mandir, the conductor closed the door. They switched off the light. They started abusing my friend. I stopped him. They took me to the back of the bus. They raped me. They assaulted me. They bit me and hit me with an iron rod. They took my friends mobile phone, wallet and credit card. They were six of them. They even took out my intestines. Those six men raped me for about an hour.

Did the bus stop anywhere?

No

Did anyone call 100 (police control room number) or did you shout on seeing a police picket?

They had taken our cellphones when the scuffle started. We could not call for help. My friend and I shouted inside the bus but nobody heard our cries.

During the incident, did you hear them talk? Did they take names? What did they look like?

During the whole incident, I heard them say, Stop. Hold her. Take her back. They abused me. They shouted names like Ram Singh, Thakur, Mukesh, Raju, Pawan, Vinay. It was dark so they all looked the same. From their appearance and their way of speaking, it looked they were illiterate drivers, conductors.

Were you conscious the whole time? Were you aware what was happening?

I was awake and conscious but fainted later. They were kicking and punching me. When my friend tried to protect me, they beat him with an iron rod.

What happened after that?

They had removed my friends clothes too. We were thrown off the bus. We were on the side of a road, when someone saw us and called the police control room.

What do you wish for those men who did this to you?

They should be hanged until death so that they are not able to do such a thing to anyone else. Or they should be burned alive. I am giving this statement before a magistrate without any force or coercion.

Signed: December 21, 9pm, Safdarjung ICU

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Three Indian journalists - Dinesh C Sharma, Vidya Krishnan and Nabeela Khan - have been selected this year for the International Health Media Fellowships awarded by the Australian high commission and DataLEADS.

The fellowship will provide the journalists an opportunity to examine public health programmes in Australia with a focus on digital health, medical technology and health systems.

Australian envoy Harinder Sidhu said the fellowships are the first cooperation activity after India and Australia signed a memorandum of understanding on health and medicine during the recent visit of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The two countries have worked closely together on several health initiatives, ranging from research on communicable disease such as tuberculosis and dengue, partnering on road safety and trauma care, and sharing experience in non-communicable disease policy.

The fellowship program will be designed by the Australian department of foreign affairs and trade with inputs from leading Indian health experts.

Dinesh C Sharma is managing editor of India Science Wire and a journalist with more than 30 years of experience of reporting on science, technology, innovation, health, medicine and environment-related issues.

Vidya Krishnan is health editor of The Hindu with experience in covering public health. She holds a masters degree in critical media and cultural studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

Nabeela Khan is deputy editor at Health Analytics India, the countrys first data-driven journalism website dedicated to healthcare reporting.

Syed Nazakat, founder of DataLEADS said, Health is often a neglected subject in newsrooms. The fellowship will provide three shortlisted journalists an excellent chance to examine public health programmes in Australia more deeply.
The Kerala Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or Class 10 board examination results will be announced at around 2pm on Friday, officials said on Thursday.

State education minister C Raveendranath will hold a press conference in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram at 2pm to announce details of the results. Students can check their results at www.kerala.gov.in, keralaresults.nic.in and keralapareekhabhawan.in

This year 4,55,906 regular students and 2,588 private students appeared for the SSLC exam that was conducted in March at 2,933 centres in the state and 9 centres in Lakshadweep and the Middle-East region.

This year, the results were delayed after the mathematics question paper was leaked and the exam was rescheduled. At least 11 questions of the model exam were repeated in the final triggering a controversy.

The embarrassed government later cancelled the exam conducted on March 20 and rescheduled it for March 30. It later announced a vigilance inquiry into the paper leak.

During the investigation, it was found that an alleged nexus between 2 teachers, who set the question paper, and a private tuition centre in Malappuram led to the leak.

State education secretary Usha Titus, who submitted a report to the government, recommended many changes in the present system and favoured an expert committee to overhaul examination sector.

Last year, the results were declared on April 27 and the pass percentage was 96.59%.

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Results of the madhyamik or Class 10 board examination and uchha madhyamik or Class 12 examination will miss the original deadline of May 10 and May 16 respectively, an official of the West Bengal state education board has said.

The official, who did not wish to be named, said on Thursday the result for the Class 10 exams is expected to be out sometime between May 24 and May 30, that of Class 12 is likely to be declared between June 2 and June 6.

The results of both the exams will be available on the state school education departments official website wb.allresultsnic.in. The results will also be uploaded on the respective websites of West Bengal Board of Secondary Examination (WBBSE) and West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE).

The number of girls, who took the madhyamik or secondary and higher secondary or uchha madhyamik exams in the state, exceeded that of boys this year as in 2016.

Nearly 6 lakh girls appeared for the madhyamik exam, 23% more than the number of boys at 4,80,000. The trend was similar in uchha madhyamik exam in which 3,79,698 girls and 3,64,809 boys took the exam.

West Bengal education minister Partha Chattopadhyay said the Kanyashree scheme, a pet project of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, has been instrumental in encouraging girls to continue their education.

The scheme encourages families to keep their daughters in school rather than marrying them off at an early age.

Kanyashree has been a visionary idea by our chief minister, the positive impact of which can be felt in the sharp increase of female examinees in these two board examinations, Chattopadhyay said.

Last year, the madhyamik pass percentage was 81.80 and that of uchha madhyamik was 81.33%.

This year, the figure is expected to be somewhat same, an official of the state education department said.

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, US, recently hosted a bevy of international celebs at its 69th annual Costume Institute Gala, popularly known as the MET Gala. Dressed in the quirkiest of ensembles  something that MET Gala is synonymous with  the whos who of Hollywood paraded to the museums ballroom for the fashion meet-up, but the real party seemed to be happening elsewhere. In the restroom!

Yes, a host of popular names such as Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Dakota Johnson, Bella Hadid, Sean Diddy Combs and Marc Jacobs were caught smoking and clicking selfies that they shared on social media. This didnt go down well with the board members and donors of the museum, who have reportedly complained to Vogue US editor-in-chief Anna Wintour  co-organiser of MET Gala  and her team.

annual bathroom selfie A post shared by Kylie (@kyliejenner) on May 1, 2017 at 7:55pm PDT

Celeb news and gossip portal Page Six quoted a donor as saying, I was so insulted to see all these celebrities smoking and taking selfies of themselves in the bathroom. Mostly, its disrespectful to the art collection, which needs to be kept 100% smoke-free. I would honestly like to see these people fined by the city.

This is where it's at and yes, that is indeed Catherine Deneuve XPG. A post shared by Prabal Gurung (@prabalgurung) on May 2, 2017 at 1:00am PDT

this year's met gala theme was smoking in the bathroom pic.twitter.com/b83rjR3qlZ  tori (2017) (@grinchhands) May 2, 2017

It was reported that some celebs were also vaping with something other than tobacco. Lets see if any action is taken against the attendees shenanigans.

This photo is like taken at a college party except for the fancy dresses #metgala pic.twitter.com/wwiRCjre6x  elif (@victuuris95) May 2, 2017
A large number of employees of bars and pubs in Gurgaon, who were facing the axe after the Supreme Courts ban on liquor sale, returned to work on Thursday evening at the CyberHub.

More than 1,400 employees including general managers, managers, stewards, utility staff and others were asked to leave after the apex court banned the sale of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways.

However, the decision of the excise department to allow pubs in CyberHub to serve liquor again saved these employees from going jobless.

The pub owners have also decided to help the employees by giving them salaries for half a month despite the lack of business.

Before the ban came into effect, each restaurant had as many as 40 employees. After the ruling, the staff strength had been reduced to just five per outlet. While many suspended operations temporarily, the rest were served notices by their respective employers in the light of the reduced footfall.

Read I SC liquor ban: Gurgaon CyberHub pubs get clean chit, will serve alcohol

CyberHub, which once used to be a favourite haunt for party-goers and pub-hoppers and drew a footfall of 45,000 on weekends, had seen a turnout of fewer than 1,000 post the ban on liquor sale.

However, in a turnaround in their fortunes, the measuring exercise by a joint team comprising excise officials, police and officials from other departments saved them from going out of business.

We are happy that our jobs have been saved. We were hopeful of things being sorted out and hence did not move out of the city. We had been waiting for our employers to call us back. We reached our outlets in half-an-hour after getting the news, Man Bahadur, a steward at a CyberHub pub, said.

The employees had tried getting jobs in other industries, but were offered packages that were no match to what they had been earning before. Most preferred to wait and watch for another month.

It was a tough phase for us. We had our fingers crossed and kept waiting for the ban to be lifted. Finally, our prayers were heard, Ganag Raut, another steward of a CyberHub pub, said.

The employees were asked to leave in March and look out for other options. Many, who hail from Nepal and other states, had decided to return as there were not enough vacancies in the liquor industry and the salary offered was not enticing enough.

There were no jobs in the hotel industry and it would have been impossible to survive in Gurgaon and Delhi. I was unable to bear my childrens academic expenses, house rent and other expenses. Had our jobs not been saved, we would have been in dire straits, Aneesh Ahmad, a chef at a pub, said.

The corporate crowd also hailed the opening of their favourite bars and pubs.

CyberHub was back in party mood on Friday and the celebrations, one suspects, will continue into the weekend and beyond.

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A number of canine issues have made headlines in the city in the recent times and most saw a tussle between residents and animal rights activists.

However, none of the incidents reported over the recent months generated as much smoke and fire as the outrage voiced recently by animal rights activists over the alleged killing of a pet dog, Brownie. It was further alleged that the dog was eaten after being killed. The alleged incident yet again drew the spotlight on the issue of safety of pet dogs.

An FIR was filed on May 1 at the DLF Phase 2 police station.

The activists pointed out that while these incidents testify to concerns over pet safety in the city, they have served to draw the unequivocal concern and condemnation of residents and raise public awareness on the issue.

These cases of dogs killed and eaten are not new and such incidents will continue. As the city has developed over the years, more and more migrants from other states have come in. Many of them lack awareness on pet safety and some could even be involved in such incidents, Amita Singh, a member of Walk for Animals and Habitats (WAH), an NGO, said.

The activists said that such incidents merely represent the tip of the iceberg as the situation on the ground with regard to pet safety is even worse.

Read I Gurgaon pet eaten: Suspect says he ate dog meat but not Brownie

Less than 10% of cases of atrocities on dogs in the city are reported. We have records of 62 such cases between January 1 and May 5. The police also lack necessary awareness on animal welfare and pet safety and this is one of the reasons why such incidents are on the rise. We need to raise more public awareness on this issue, Amit Chaudhery, president, People for Animals, Gurgaon, said.

One of the many incidents that made headlines last year was the death of pet dog, Julie, on May 1, 2016. The dog was shot with an air gun in the Sector 56 area. Even as animal rights activists ran a social media campaign demanding action against the culprit, no one was arrested in connection with the incident.

On January 15, some residents of Belvedere Tower, an upscale condominium in DLF City Phase 2, claimed dog poop was thrown randomly in the morning. Two residents claimed a near miss as dog poop, wrapped in newspaper pages, fell just ahead of them. A domestic help was later found to be behind the incident. She confessed to dumping the poop in the society as she couldnt take the dog out in the morning due to extreme cold weather.

On January 17, a retired air force wing commander was assaulted and his 9-year-old golden Labrador retriever snatched outside the exit gate of Vatika city in Sector 49. The retired officer, BR Mehta, was walking Hobbes, his Labrador, in a park outside the housing society when a man snatched the dog from him.

On April 17, the activists were up in arms against the residents welfare associations (RWAs) of Orchid Petals in Sector 49 over the alleged removal of stray animals from the society. Following a complaint by a resident, the PFA shot off a letter to the RWA, threatening action.

In March 10, the staff of a security agency was arrested on charges of animal cruelty for tying a dog to a jeep and dragging it at Sector 58. The stray dog was reared by a company executive, who shifted to IERO residential society from Sector 46 a few days ago.

The stray dog was reared by a company executive, who shifted to IERO residential society in Sector 58 from Sector 46 a few days ago.

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As the party resumed at the sprawling DLF Cyber Hub on Thursday night, revellers hit the most popular watering holes in Gurgaon. Frequent visitors, who couldnt party for more than a month, rushed to the area immediately after they received the news about resumption of liquor services at the CyberHub.

I am so thrilled that our place to party is back again. We chill out at CyberHub and are happy with this decision. Touchwood, said Sweety Vani, an entrepreneur.

There were some who did not know about the development and were thrilled to hear about it while strolling through the CyberHub on Thursday and Friday.

Gurgaons battle with booze ban FEB 7: Following Supreme Courts order on liquor ban within 500 metres of highways, excise department identifies 43 such liquor vends, 143 pubs and bars, including 34 in DLF Cyber Hub

FEB 8: The pub/bar owners are told their licenses will not be renewed after April 1

FEB 9: The owners meet excise commissioner and decide to move the court to seek clarity on how the distance will be calculated

FEB 13: The Haryana advocate general tells the Gurgaon excise department to measure motorable distance from the edge of the highway

FEB 28: The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Haryana files a petition in the Supreme Court seeking modification of the order

MAR 2: Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi tells the Haryana government that the SCs liquor ban directive is not applicable on bars and hotels

MAR 31: The excise department refuses to renew licences of 143 pubs and bars

APR 2: Hotel owners from Delhi-NCR meet

APR 6: 25 pubs/bars surrender their excise licences

APR 9: Committee formed to measure distance again.

APR 11: Committee measures distance between pubs and highway as 1,900 metres

APR 12: The Westin, Crowne Plaza, The Oberoi, Trident and Country Inn and Suites in Udyog Vihar measured safe.

APR 13: Excise department measures motorable distance of 14 Sector 29 establishments

APR 21: Clean chit given to 30 establishments, which include 15 pub/bars of Sector 29, 11 of Ambience Mall, Westin Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Barbet Tourist complex of Haryana Tourism, Treehouse Queens Pearl (Rajiv Chowk)

APR 25: Five-star hotels and Huda Gymkhana Club escape the ban due to jersey barriers on the road to entry



Compiled by Leena Dhankhar Following Supreme Courts order on liquor ban within 500 metres of highways, excise department identifies 43 such liquor vends, 143 pubs and bars, including 34 in DLF Cyber HubThe pub/bar owners are told their licenses will not be renewed after April 1The owners meet excise commissioner and decide to move the court to seek clarity on how the distance will be calculatedThe Haryana advocate general tells the Gurgaon excise department to measure motorable distance from the edge of the highwayThe Hotel and Restaurant Association of Haryana files a petition in the Supreme Court seeking modification of the orderAttorney General Mukul Rohatgi tells the Haryana government that the SCs liquor ban directive is not applicable on bars and hotelsThe excise department refuses to renew licences of 143 pubs and barsHotel owners from Delhi-NCR meet25 pubs/bars surrender their excise licencesCommittee formed to measure distance again.Committee measures distance between pubs and highway as 1,900 metresThe Westin, Crowne Plaza, The Oberoi, Trident and Country Inn and Suites in Udyog Vihar measured safe.Excise department measures motorable distance of 14 Sector 29 establishmentsClean chit given to 30 establishments, which include 15 pub/bars of Sector 29, 11 of Ambience Mall, Westin Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Barbet Tourist complex of Haryana Tourism, Treehouse Queens Pearl (Rajiv Chowk)Five-star hotels and Huda Gymkhana Club escape the ban due to jersey barriers on the road to entry

I came with my friends unaware that the liquor ban was lifted for CyberHub. We were supposed to leave for Delhi, but we changed the plan and now will party hard at our favourite place, said Barkha Mukherjee, a regular visitor.

However, the decision has not gone down well with those who feel it has defeated the purpose of the Supreme Court (SC) order.

Doesnt this amount to sheer mockery of Honourable #SupremeCourt, tweeted @Anirudhch20, a user of the micro blogging site Twitter.

Harman Singh Sidhu, who had petitioned for the liquor ban near highways, too expressed unhappiness at the development. The saddest part is that the SC orders are being defeated not more than 20 km from the SC building. There was no mention of motorable distance in the order. The entire government machinery is working to defeat the SC order, the dignity of which is at stake, Sidhu told HT.

Pub/bar owners at CyberHub and government authorities had to struggle for a full month to escape the SC ban on sale and serving of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways.

Owners of 35 watering holes at CyberHub spent sleepless nights as the area is a stones throw away from National Highway 48 (Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway). Two of the bars had even surrendered their licences as they had lost hope of resuming business, while others persisted.

Things looked bleak as CyberHub seemed to be within 500 metres of the edge of the expressways service lane, though no measurement was done. On April 1, the excise department ordered a ban on serving liquor at pubs and bars in the area.

As the Haryana government came up with legal advice that motorable distance should be measured, the entry and exit points of CyberHub were changed on April 3 and the distance measured on April 11 came to 1,900 metres. Five-star hotels, including The Leela Ambience, had also changed their entrances to extend the motorable distance.

However, after measurement, CyberHub had to wait as the original layout plan of the area was not submitted by developer DLF to the committee formed for measurement.

Initially, there was confusion about the SC order, but later it was clarified that sale and serving of liquor was not allowed, said Rahul Singh, head of the Haryana chapter of the National Restaurant Association of India. Then there was confusion about measuring the distance. All this took some time to be clarified and it was a part of the process, he added.

Ashwini Choudhary, director of Soi 7 Group, said they had been living with extreme uncertainty for a month. We were unsure of what was going to happen. We suffered revenue losses and a number of our staff members were rendered unemployed. But everything turned out fine in the end, said Choudhary, who has outlets at CyberHub and the Sector 29 market. The traders are pegging a months losses at Rs100 crore.

Pushpa Bector, executive head and vice president, DLF Premium Malls, said, We are happy that the restaurants have received a confirmation from the excise department to serve liquor at their premises. The immediate customer response is quite delightful.
Johnson & Johnson was ordered by a US jury to pay over $110 million to a Virginia woman who sued the company saying she developed ovarian cancer after decades of using its talc-based products for feminine hygiene.

The plaintiff Lois Slemp, 62, is undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer that was diagnosed in 2012. The retired nurses assistant said she used J&Js baby powder and Shower to Shower talc products for feminine hygiene for more than 40 years before her ovarian cancer diagnosis. Slemp was too ill to attend the trial.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies genital use of talc as possibly carcinogenic. Talc is a mineral widely used in cosmetics and other personal care products to absorb moisture. Apart from cosmetics, it is used in other products, including paint and plastics.

Johnson & Johnson is a leading consumer healthcare brand in India and leads in areas of feminine hygiene, facial skincare, wound care, cough and cold, oral care, among others, says the company website.

The company will appeal the verdict. We are preparing for additional trials this year and will continue to defend the safety of Johnsons Baby Powder, said company spokesperson Carol Goodrich. The companys trial win in March and the New Jersey dismissal last year highlight the lack of credible scientific evidence behind plaintiffs allegations, Goodrich said.

Slemp, whose cancer has since spread to her liver, also claims Johnson & Johnson talc was contaminated with asbestos, a rare allegation in these cases. The company told the jury its products didnt cause Slemps cancer and dont contain asbestos.

Company lawyer Orlando Richmond argued that Johnson & Johnson doesnt need to warn women about talc because there is no link. The company told Food and Drug Administration in 2014 that a warning label should not be put on baby powder because the science doesnt warrant it.

The verdict in state court in St. Louis is the largest so far among the around 2,400 lawsuits accusing Johnson & Johnson of failing to warn consumers about the health and cancer risks of talc-based products, including its popular Johnsons Baby Powder.

J&J lost jury verdicts of $72 million, $55 million and $70 million last year, while winning the first trial in 2017. The company is appealing the trial losses. A New Jersey state court judge last year threw out two talc cases set for trial, finding inadequate scientific support for the claims. That decision is also on appeal.

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Actor Kurt Russell had his long-time partner and actor Goldie Hawn almost in tears on Thursday as the couple received dual stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Goldie to you, I owe my wonderful life, said the 66-year-old as he paid an emotional tribute to his partner of 33 years.

Simply put Goldie, I cherish you. And all the stars in the sky or on the boulevard dont hold a candle to that.

Theres no one else Id rather be next to than Goldie Hawn.

The celebrity couple were joined on the podium by Hawns actor daughter, Kate Hudson, as well as Reese Witherspoon and Quentin Tarantino, who directed Russell in a number of movies including The Hateful Eight.

Kate Hudson, from left, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Quentin Tarantino and Reese Witherspoon attend a ceremony honouring Hawn and Russell with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Can we just get married? Weve never had a celebration like this before, quipped the 71-year-old Hawn during the rare double ceremony in Tinseltown.

Hudson also joked that the event had a wedding-like atmosphere and said she felt honoured to speak about the couples work.

I was slotted in to talk about my mother, but I have two parents and theyre both here, she said.

I always thought Id be talking about them at a wedding or something. But since a wedding doesnt seem to be in our near future, ever, this may be my only opportunity.

Actors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn attend the unveiling of their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (REUTERS)

Witherspoon paid a tearful tribute to Hawn, calling the Academy Award winner a legend and icon who had broken all sorts of barriers for women.

Hawn, who made her acting debut in 1967, received a best supporting Oscar in 1970 for her role in Cactus Flower in which she portrays the suicidal girlfriend of a dentist.

She has starred in more than 30 films, the latest of which is kidnap comedy Snatched, which comes out in theatres next week.

Russell for his part started his acting career at age 10, appearing in some of televisions most storied shows including Gilligans Island, Lost in Space and Gunsmoke.

He has also starred in dozens of movies, the latest of which is Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, which opens in theatres on Friday.

This image released by Disney-Marvel shows Kurt Russell in a scene from, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2. (AP)

The couple first met in 1968 on the set of The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, but didnt date at the time because of their age difference. She was 21 at the time and he was 16.

They reconnected years later in 1984 on the set of Swing Shift and have been together since, becoming one of Hollywoods most enduring couples.

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Police in central Assams Samaguri town rescued 75 drugged street dogs that were to be sold for meat in Nagaland, and arrested four men who were shipping them in a pick-up van.

But 22 of them died later because of starvation and asphyxiation. The dogs, with their mouths taped or stitched, were heaped on top of each other, police said.

We acted on a tip-off to intercept the vehicle around 10pm on Thursday and arrest the four. The way they were ferrying the dogs was inhuman, Rajib Barman, officer in-charge of Samaguri police station, said.

The quartet  Raju Momin, Prakash Momin, Sanil Sangma and Paweng Sangma  revealed that they had lured stray dogs with spiked biscuits from the Rupohi area of Nagaon district.

They taped or stitched the unconscious dogs mouths to stop them from barking, thereby attracting suspicion. The four said they were expecting good money for the dogs from clients in Dimapur, Barman said.

Dog meat sellers in Nagaland pay at least R500 for a live animal. They meat is sold for at least R300 a kilo.

The vehicle has been seized and the quartet detained under the animal cruelty law. Samaguri police handed the rescued dogs on Thursday night to People For Animals (PFA), an animal rights campaign group, which runs a shelter in Guwahati. The rescued animals were brought to the shelter.

The dogs seemed disoriented. They are recovering, but it is a pity we could not save the 22 that died on the way, PFAs Sangeeta Goswami said.

Dog meat is a delicacy for many in Nagaland and Mizoram. But the Nagaland government, under pressure from adjoining states, has been contemplating a ban on dog meat.

Last July, the government asked the states directorate of municipal affairs to issue an order to all urban bodies to stop capturing stray dogs for slaughter and meat.

The directive followed a legal notice sent to the government by NM Kapadia, an Assam-based advocate. He said dog meat is consumed in the belief that it contains iron and has curative properties.

Police and animal rights activists have in the past five years saved at least 2,200 dogs en route to slaughterhouses in Nagaland and Mizoram.

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Forcibly kissing a girl in Bihar costs just Rs 10,000! So believes a panchayat in rural Bihar.

The Makhachak panchayat under Bakhri sub-division of Begusarai district, 125 kms east of Patna, recently slapped a penalty of Rs 20,000 on a youth, charged with molesting a girl and kissing her twice.

According to some villagers, the quantum of financial penalty was decided on the number of kisses the accused forced on the young woman. Though the incident took place a fortnight back, the matter was referred to the panchayat on May 2.

The victim, 20, a farm labourer, is not satisfied with the verdict though. Instead, she wants the accused, Mohammed Irshad, 22, also a farm worker, to marry her. Coming from a conservative background and belonging to the same community as the accused, the victim says, no one would marry her now.

READ: Two-year-old boy booked for molestation in Bihar

The local police are aware about the incident, but dismissed it, saying that the two were having an affair for the past one year and wanted to enter into a wedlock. The police have not registered a case.

We came to know that the panchayat had asked the youth to deposit Rs 20,000 as penalty at the village masjid. We have not received any formal complaint. So, how can we lodge a case or arrest anyone. Actually, the two are having an affair, station house officer of the Bakhri police station Sunil Kumar told HT.

Interestingly, Kumar admitted that a molestation case was pending against Irshad.

So, why did the police not arrest him in the earlier case?

He has been absconding, said Kumar in response to HTs query.

Sub-divisional police officer, Bakhri, Sonu Kumar said, I have heard about the incident but the SHO told me that no complaint has been lodged in the case.

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Those opposing linking Aadhaar to Income-tax returns and PAN cards told the Supreme Court that the NDA government was promoting the 12-digit identity number as herbal panacea for all ills plaguing India, from terrorism to black money.

The government has an agenda to push Aadhaar that has become like one of those herbal remedies, which can cure everything, senior advocate Arvind Datar told a bench headed by Justice AK Sikri.

Datar said the governments move to make Aadhaar mandatory for PAN cards and IT returns was unconstitutional and draconian.

The court reserved its verdict on the petitions challenging the new I-T law that has made Aadhaar number compulsory for assesses while filing returns this year. If the linkage is not done by June 30, assesses could lose their PAN cards.

The submissions came a day after the government admitted to data leakage of Aadhaar cards. However, it said the UIDAI  the nodal agency for issuing the number  was not responsible and assured the biometrics was in safe custody.

Datar, a taxation expert lawyer, told the apex court that there was no justification for the Centre to amend the I-T law as there was a legislative dichotomy. The 2016 Aadhaar Act makes it mandatory for entitlements only.

There is total legislative dichotomy. Now an amendment is brought in via the Income Tax Act making it compulsory in the face of a Supreme Court order which asks the government not to make it compulsory for now, argued the senior advocate, appearing for petitioner and CPI leader Binoy Viswam.
Hours after the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty for the four rape accused in the December 16 gang rape case, Bilkis Bano also demanded the same punishment for those who gang-raped her and killed 14 members of the family during the Gujarat riots of 2002.

If we have to fight more, we will. We also want to get the same justice, Bano told HT over the phone on Friday.

A day earlier, the Bombay high court had refused to hand down the death penalty to three of the 11 people convicted of raping her. Instead, the court upheld the life sentences for all 11 accused persons, besides convicting 5 policemen and two doctors of complicity.

Bilkis husband Yakub said that the court has given the death penalty in the December 16 gang rape as well as other rape cases which will act as a deterrent to future crimes. No other woman in India should have to face such a ghastly crime. It will act as a deterrent to future crimes  irrespective of their religion, he said.

The couple said they will consult the lawyers for their future course of action.

Bano hit the national headlines after she was gang-raped while fleeing the post-Godhra riots with her family. They were waylaid by a mob who then gang-raped the five-months pregnant Bano and killed 14 members of her family. Banos three-year-old daughter was among those killed.

Bano, however, expressed satisfaction over Thursdays conviction of the policemen and doctors who had been acquitted earlier. I am very happy that the court has recognised their culpability. Since they have already served some jail time, they will not to go to jail but at least they will lose their government jobs and benefits, she said.

This has been a long, seemingly never ending struggle for me, but when you are on the side of truth, you will be heard, and justice will be yours in the end, Bano said in a statement after the Bombay high court verdict.

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Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday welcomed the idea of a secular front floated by his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav, but also obliquely referred to him as a backstabber.

Hum political log hain, aasteen ke saanp ko pehchan letey hain (we are political people and know how to identify a backstabber), the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister told ANI.

Earlier, responding to Shivpals announcement of a new Samajwadi Secular Morcha (front), Akhilesh said: It is nice that a secular front is coming up. I do not have any idea yet in what form it will come up. Samajwadi people are always ready to take a test and they also pass those tests. Secular front should indeed come up.

Akhilesh said this on the sidelines of a conference of the SPs cultural cell at the party office in Lucknow on Friday afternoon.
The Supreme Court upheld on Friday the death sentence against four men convicted of gang-raping and killing a woman in Delhi in 2012, a crime that sparked national outrage and led to stringent laws against sexual violence against women in India.

Applause broke out in the packed courtroom after a three-judge bench threw out an appeal by the convicts, saying the brutal, barbaric and diabolic crime had generated a tsunami of shock in the society.

Sympathy in any form would be misplaced and it would shake the confidence of public in the administration of criminal justice system, said justice R Banumathi, upholding the death sentence given by a fast-track trial court and which was later reconfirmed by the Delhi high court.

Five men and a juvenile brutalised the 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist and her male friend in the back of a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The woman died of her injuries  her internal organs damaged with an iron rod -- nearly two weeks later in a Singapore hospital.

Four years ago, one of the convicts was founding hanging in his prison cell. The juvenile, who was months away from turning 18, was released from a reformative home last year.

The casual manner with which she was treated and the devilish manner in which they played with her identity and dignity is humanly inconceivable... These acts itself (themselves) demonstrate the mental perversion and inconceivable brutality (of the convicts), read out Justice Dipak Misra, who led the bench.

The counsel for the convicts  Mukesh Singh (27), Pawan Gupta (20), Vinay Sharma (21) and Akshay Thakur (29)  said they would file a review petition.

The court also dismissed the circumstances cited by the convicts, including their poverty, no criminal background, young age and post-crime reform.

The accused may not be hardened criminals; but the cruel manner in which the gang rape was committed in the moving bus; iron rods were inserted in the private parts of the victim; and the coldness with which both the victims were thrown naked in cold wintry night of December, shocks the collective conscience of the society, the bench said, recounting the torture the victim was subjected to.

Credible scientific evidence such as DNA profiling of the accused, victim and her friend  the complainant  was accepted and relied upon for the SC judgment. The court said medical reports have established that the bite marks on the victims body were that of the accused.

The counsel for the convicts  Mukesh Singh (27), Pawan Gupta (20), Vinay Sharma (21) and Akshay Thakur (29)  said they would file a review petition. The defendants were not in court on Friday.

The last recourse of the convicts, all of whom are now in their twenties, would be to seek clemency from President Pranab Mukherjee.

Applause broke out in court among relatives of the victim -- whose identity is protected by law  and the people even before the judge completed reading the verdict.

I am very satisfied. Today I am happy, the victims mother said outside the courthouse.

Her father said: Its not just a victory for my family, its a victory for each and every woman in our country.

The crime sparked large-scale protests and led thousands of women across India to break their silence over sexual violence that often goes unreported.

It also shone a spotlight on what womens groups call a rape epidemic in the country. In 2015, police registered more than 34,000 rape complaints and 84,000 women filed sexual harassment cases, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

Authorities have stiffened penalties against sex crimes, introduced fast-track trials in rape cases and made stalking a crime. Despite the toughening of the laws, debate continues over whether they serve as a sufficient deterrent.

Opponents of capital punishment, however, argue that public and media pressure swayed the judges in the case to impose the death penalty, adding to the hundreds of already waiting on death row in India.

The last rapist to be executed in India was Dhananjoy Chatterjee, on August 14, 2004. He was hanged at the Alipore Central Jail in West Bengal, on his 42nd birthday, for raping and murdering a teenage girl.

(With agency inputs)

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Union information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu has asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure that Pakistani channels are not aired in the Valley.

The minister spoke to the state chief secretary in this regard on Friday.

According to a senior official, channels from the neighbouring country are beamed by private cable operators with the intent of spreading anti-India propaganda among Kashmir residents. The J&K government has been asked to file an action-taken report at the earliest, and take action against those airing these channels, he said.

The government had recently restricted Internet usage in the Valley, and clamped down on as many as 22 social networking sites. This was done to prevent the misuse of virtual platforms by anti-national and inimical elements to fuel unrest through inflammatory content.

Any message or class of messages to or from any persons or class of persons relating to any subject or any pictorial content through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in the Kashmir valley with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders, whichever is earlier, the order from the government stated.

The Valley has been on the boil ever since Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani was killed by security personnel in July last year.

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Indias South Asia Geostationary Communication Satellite (GSAT-9) communication satellite to boost connectivity among all Saarc countries except Pakistan, will take off at 4:57pm on Friday from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, 135 km outside Chennai.

Seven of the eight participating Saarc countries include India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives. Pakistan opted out saying it has its own space programme.

We have the launch at 4.57 PM in the evening... All activities are going on smoothly, said ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar. The 28-hour countdown operations of GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 mission started at 12:57 hours on Thursday.

The GSAT-9, which Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as a priceless gift to our Saarc neighbours in his Mann ki Baat on April 30, will piggyback on the Indian Space Research Organisations (ISRO) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-09).

Status check

1. The satellite cost Rs 235 crore and has a mission life of 12 years. The lift-off mass is about 2,230kg, and includes the satellite and its launch vehicle.

2. The satellite will provide improved communication, mapping terrain and natural resources and disaster prediction and management.

3. It will use 12 Ku-band transponders to improve connectivity within the region to increase information sharing, telemedicine and education.

The benefits of this satellite will go a long way in meeting the developmental needs of the countries participating in this project, Modi said in his Mann ki Baat.

All the best to @isro for the launch of the South Asia Satellite. It symbolizes harmony & cooperation, principles India has always stood by. pic.twitter.com/EQqkIyzvWL  Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) May 5, 2017

4. This is Indias eleventh GSLV launch and its fourth consecutive flight using an indigenous Cryogenic engine powering the upper stage.

India last launched a GSAT-8 communication satellite on May 21, 2011, from Kourou in French Guiana.

5. ISROs next big launch is the Chandrayaan-II launch in the beginning of next year.

Over the next few months, ISRO plans to launch a GSLV MK-III variant followed by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the coming months.
The central government announced a Nirbhaya Fund with a corpus of Rs 3,000 crore in 2013 to support initiatives towards ensuring safety of women, following nationwide outrage after the December 2012 gang rape.

But since then, there has not been any information from the Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry about utilisation of the fund.

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre and all the state governments questioning the non-utilisation of the Nirbhaya Fund in May, 2016.

Due to various accusations regarding the underutilisation of the fund since 2013, the government issued a clarification in January 2017, saying that the ministry of finance had issued guidelines from time to time for administration and operationalisation of the fund.

In that clarification, it gave a list of schemes like a project of railways, Integrated Emergency Response Management System (IERMS), the home ministry project Emergency Response support System (ERSS), Abhaya Project Proposal in Andhra Pradesh, Chirali Friends Forever in Rajasthan among others.

The railways project at a cost of Rs 500 crore has been approved to provide round-the-clock security to women passengers in 983 railway stations by strengthening of security control rooms, according to the WCD ministry.

It said for creation of the home ministrys project, a total cost of Rs 322 crore has been approved.

There has not been any feedback from the ministries whether the fund allocated to them has been utilised, a WCD official said on Friday.

The proposal of Abhaya Project is for ensuring the safety of women and the girl child during transportation (auto- rickshaw). It has been proposed by Andhra Pradesh with a cost of Rs 139 crore, according to the ministry.

It explained Chirali as a scheme to constitute Community Action Groups in seven districts of Rajasthan covering a total of 2,071 Gram Panchayats. The cost of the project is Rs 11 crore, it said.

The amount allocated to different projects is approximately Rs 1,530 crore so far and the expenditure incurred is approximately Rs 400 crore (as per the information available with the Ministry of Women and Child Development).

While the ministry records show the allocation of the fund to different ministries and NGOs but there is no material on where the fund has been utilised.

The clarification just proves that the schemes and projects under the Nirbhaya Fund have been drafted but have not been manifested on the ground level.

Post the January 27 clarification, there has been no more information from the ministry about the utilisation of the fund.

A WCD ministry official on Friday had the same information to share with IANS that was issued three months back.
Fake arrests and a controversy over data have put under doubt the new Punjab governments attempts to tackle drug abuse, one of its most important promises to the state for the elections it won in February.

Chief minister Captain Amarinder made a bold promise to rid the state of the drug menace within four weeks of taking oath, after a campaign in which his Congress party gunned for the Shiromani Akali Dal with allegations that the government run by them had patronised the drug mafia and left 70% of Punjabi youth drug addicts.

In villages of Ludhianas Mullanpur Dakha, notorious as a safe haven for drug peddlers and addicts, locals said police carried out early morning raids at their homes to arrest sons going through de-addiction treatment and planted nasheela powder in the FIRs.

One such case is of 28-year-old Hardeep Singh, the grandson of a freedom fighter. His family released CCTV footage from a school in front of the house that shows police arriving in morning of March 25, around 8am, and taking him away.

But the first investigation report (FIR), said: Hardeep was arrested at a police naka at 3 pm. On seeing the police, he turned and the ASI stopped him on grounds of suspicion. The ASI gave him the option of getting a gazetted officer or a magistrate to the spot but Hardeep reposed full faith in the police. The ASI tried to make one of the passers-by a witness but they refused to earn the enmity of a smuggler. During search, 100 grams nasheela powder was recovered from his pocket.

Hardeeps mother Surinder Kaur said he was undergoing de-addiction treatment, and showed a prescription from Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Mullanpur. He was in Australia for some years. After he returned, he was jobless here, she says.

In neighbouring Mullanpur village, the family of Simranjit Singh said the police picked him from home and planted 10 grams of nasheela powder, and Gurpreet Singhs family in Jangpur village narrated a similar story.

NUMBERS GAME

On Monday, the chief minister said that he had broken the backbone of the drug syndicate in Punjab, prompting the opposition Shriomani Akali Dal (SAD) to demand evidence.

On Tuesday, the government released figures of arrests and of drug addicts queuing up at hospitals and de-addiction centres.

But these numbers paled in comparison to statistics from 2014, when the SAD government launched a crackdown on drugs in the wake of the Lok Sabha election campaigning when the poll panel recovered more drugs in Punjab than in any other state.

The Congress government said it made 2,205 arrests in the first 40 days of coming to power while the Akalis claim during their crackdown in 2014 they had arrested 3,353 people in just 15 days.

Between the two crackdowns, the number of addicts thronging government OPDs too has seen a nine-fold decline.

Nearly 2.5 lakh addicts had come to govt OPDs and IPDs between June to August in 2014. The figure this time at government OPDs is just 18,440 in OPDs and another 1,446 in IPDs. A statement from the CMs office claimed huge numbers were also being reported from private centres and hospitals.

Punjab health minister Brahm Mohindra said the 2014 campaign was a show-off. The police forcibly brought addicts to de-addiction centres. Right from patwari to tehsildars, each was asked to get at least 50 people to make up the numbers, he said.

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BHAGALPUR A girl student of Tej Narayan Banaili (TNB) College was brutally murdered and her body found on the college campus, Friday morning.

The victim, identified as Sunita Kumari, a part-I student of sociology honours, was found bludgeoned to death in the wee hours of Friday. The recovery of the girls body and the manner she was killed, created sensation on the college campus.

The victims defaced body was found at a secluded place, near the physics department, on the western side of the college campus. The victim, a resident of Akbarnagar village, used to travel around 18 kms to the college every day to attend her classes.

The police, quoting the victims family members, said that Sunita had left home on the pretext of going to college at around 10am on Thursday, even as it was a holiday. She did not return home in the evening.

The police suspect that the girl could be involved in a relationship, which had turned sour. One person has been in this connection.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Bhagalpur, Manoj Kumar, said the suspect was picked up near the scene of the crime after the cops found him to be incoherent. Blood stains were also found on the jeans of the suspect. .

The police are also collecting information about Kumaris friends. The SSP said three disposable plates, with left-over food, a vermillion box, besides a bag containing some clothes, were found near the body. The recovery of three disposable plates was indicative of the fact that there were three persons, including the victim, at the scene of the crime, the SSP said.

While the main college building was under CCTV surveillance, the sprawling college campus was largely uncovered, he added. Kumar has ordered a security audit of the college campus. It may be mentioned that a woman was found murdered on the college campus around two years back.

Different student organisations, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Chhatra Sangarsh Samiti paralysed college functioning on Friday. They were demanding proper security arrangement on college campus, particularly around the girls hostel. The demands were communicated to the college principal RPC Verma.

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The government is mulling an increase in the passenger service fee (PSF) in order to pass on to air travellers a part of the cost of strengthening security at all airports.

As of now, air travellers pay Rs 130 as security charge. This is part of the Rs 225 charged as PSF by the airlines while selling the tickets. The security charge has not been increased in the last 15 years. But now, the cost of providing security to airports has gone up manifold. In all likelihood, the amount will go up, a government functionary said.

A series of high-level meetings have taken place on the issue of strengthening security at all Indian airports.

The meetings were attended by ministers of state for home Kiren Rijiju, minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and other senior officials.

Now, the Union home ministry has been asked to find out the total cost of providing security to all 143 functional airports in the country, given the threats from terrorist attacks.

Similarly, the ministry of civil aviation has been asked to find out ways and means to recover the cost of security arrangements at airports and the home ministry will find out the total security for airports. Both the ministries are expected to finalise their reports in the next two months, said the functionary. The civil aviation ministry has maintained that since security is a sovereign function, the money should come from the consolidated fund of the government of India.

The finance ministry is said to have suggested that the burden should be passed on to air travellers. The home ministry disagreed with the finance ministry's suggestion, saying it might lead to air fare hike. No final decision has been taken on the issue so far.

Of the 98 functional airports in India, 59 are under Central Industrial Security Force cover.
The government proposed on Friday three-tier rules for a national no-fly list in an attempt to crack down on ill-behaved passengers and powerful politicians who often abuse and bully staff for convenience.

The aviation ministrys draft rules say any unruly behaviour will invite suspension from flying for a minimum of three months. The maximum penalty could be grounding for two years or more.

The draft rules will be will be put up on the ministrys website for a month for public comments.

These provisions are completely open to suggestions, civil aviation secretary RN Choubey said.

The rules come weeks after Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad beat up an elderly Air India employee after altercation over seat allocation. A video of the assault went viral on social media, triggering nationwide outrage and forcing the politician to apologise in Parliament.

But civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju dismissed any links between the draft rules and the parliamentarian from Maharashtras Osmanabad.

Keep professor Gaikwad out of it. Not all Indians are professor Gaikwad... We need balanced regulation... I expect responses to come which will be balanced..., civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told reporters.

The rules say any gestures or verbal harassment will invite suspension for three months. Physically abusive behavior will invite a flight ban for six months, and any life-threatening behaviour will get the flyer grounded for two years or more.

The national no-fly list will be regulated by Indias civil aviation regulator, the secretary said.

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Amid the brewing discontent and speculation that the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to poach its legislators, chief minister Virbhadra Singh has called an emergency meeting of his party legislators in states capital.

The meeting will be convened at chief ministers official residence - Oakover - on the evening of May 6. Chief minister Virbhadra Singh will preside over the meeting being convened to discuss various issues and policies of the Congress party for assembly elections, said industries, information and public relation minister Mukesh Agnihotri.

Upbeat over BJPs continuous victory in assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and civic polls in New Delhi, now the party is trying to woo Congress legislators, including few ministers who were reportedly hobnobbing with the saffron-party leaders in Delhi. Seemingly, there is growing fear among the Congress leadership that BJP could replicate its pattern like Uttarakhand, where faction of Congress legislators along with few of ministers sided with BJP to dislodge Harish Rawat-led Congress regime last year.

A group of Congress legislators had been unhappy with the chief minister ever since he took over states reins for the sixth time in 2012. In the 68-member House, Congress has 36 members while the BJP has 29, with support of one independent MLA Balbir Verma. Three more independent legislators are associate members of the Congress.

Virbhadra Singh after assuming the charge of chief minister went on a spree to accommodate leaders owing allegiance to him and his son, state youth Congress president Vikramaditya Singh, in various boards and corporation. The legislators are annoyed as the chairman and vice-chairman appointed from their segments had repeatedly made attempts to undermine their authority.

The government appointed as many four dozen members as chairman and vice-chairman, which also gave a handle to Opposition BJP to hit out at the ruling party. BJP time and again had questioned the need of such a big-scale appointment besides accusing the government of burdening the states deteriorating finances, which are already heavily in the red.

The Congress legislators are also dismayed over Virbhadra Singh giving priority to chairman and vice-chairman in carrying out development works. A group of members of legislative assembly two days back had called on the chief minister complaining about the non-execution of development schemes in their respective constituencies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis call to overthrow the corrupt regime in Himachal during the Parivartan rally in Shimla, followed by BJP national president Amit Shahs two-day visit has made Congress wary about BJPs plan to reclaim power in the hill state that goes for polls at the end of this year.

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Asha Devi is happy that her daughter will rest in peace finally. And her husband, Badri Nath Singh, will sleep peacefully on Friday night  four years, four months and 18 days since an evening in 2012 that wrecked the couples world.

Devi and Singh let out sighs and tears when the Supreme Court ruled on Friday afternoon that the four rapist-murderers of their daughter will hang to death.

We waited for this day for four years and I am happy with the verdict. It has restored my faith in the judiciary. It did take long, but we did get justice, the mother said, regaining her composure in the packed courthouse abuzz with people applauding the judgment.

Her daughter, a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, would have turned 28 on May 10.

Todays verdict is a gift for her, said husband Singh, who has slept fitfully since five men and a 17-year-old school dropout took turns to rape his daughter and murder her in the most horrific way possible on a bus in New Delhi on December 16, 2012.

I will sleep peacefully tonight, he said, but wondered about the fate of other rape victims. What about justice to those whose cases are pending in courts?

Devi answered her husbands question, saying the fight has not ended.

She said at times she felt weak and wanted to give up the fight, but would pull herself up as her daughters face flashed in front of her eyes.

This incident was a challenge to the government, state and police. It was shameful and it was a blot. But this verdict has a lesson for the perverts.

The four convicts  gym instructor Vinay Sharma, bus cleaner Akshay Kumar Thakur, fruit-seller Pawan Gupta and unemployed Mukesh Singh  along with driver Ram Singh and the teenager pounced on the young woman and her friend when they boarded the bus to go home after watching a movie, Life of Pi.

The rapists pinned down her male companion, raped her one by one, and pulled out her internal organs with a rusted L-shaped iron rod used with a wheel jack. Then they threw them out of the vehicle. She died of internal injuries 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.

Ram Singh committed suicide in Tihar jail, while the teenaged convict was set free after he served a three-year sentence in a correctional home for juvenile delinquents.

Devi said it was difficult for her to accept the light punishment given to the teenager.

He was released because he was a child, but what that boy did to my girl is not a childs act. I can never forgive him, she said.

The whole country knows about the case but nobody saw her pain. I saw it. My daughter died in front of me.

The convicts are expected to approach the President for clemency.

The victims father said ultimate justice will be done after the President declines their mercy plea. We will wait for that day.

At Devi and Singhs village in Uttar Pradesh Ballia, people held special prayers to thank god and the court. Residents of Medawar Kala said they had been all along praying for justice to their daughter.
A special puja for thanking the almighty was performed by residents of December 16 gang rape victim native village here as the long awaited Supreme Court verdict came on Friday upholding the death penalty for the four convicts.

Locals in Medawar Kala, located on the border of Ballia and Ghazipur, 45 km from the district headquarters, say they had been praying for justice to their daughter since the diabolical attack of December 16, 2012 came to light.

The paramedic student, who came to be known by an outraged nation as fearless, would have turned 28 on May 10.

A special puja was performed at the Shiv temple, and sweets were distributed as soon as locals came to know about the apex court order upholding the death sentence to the four convicts.

Lalji Singh, the victims grandfather, hoped that it will act as deterrent and women will feel more secure now.

He appealed for reviewing the punishment to the minor in the case, saying that he is trying to save himself through a fraud.

Speaking over phone, the victims mother termed the verdict as a victory of justice.

Her father said it was a very big day for the country and all those who were with them in this fight are very happy.

The Supreme Court confirmed the death sentence awarded to the four convicts in the December 16, 2012 sensational gangrape and murder case, terming it the rarest of rare, most brutal, barbaric and diabolical attack .

The case sent a tsunami of shock all over, the apex court said, adding that the convicts treated the victim as an object of enjoyment.

A three-judge bench, through a unanimous verdict, upheld the Delhi High Court judgement which had concurred with the trial court decision.

Those who will face the gallows are Mukesh (29), Pawan (22), Vinay Sharma (23) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

One of the accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide in Delhis Tihar Jail, while a convicted juvenile was sentenced to three years of punishment in a reform home.
India successfully launched the South Asia Satellite, intended to serve economic and developmental priorities of South Asian nations, using its heavy rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) on Friday.

Precisely at 4.57 pm, the GSLV-F09 took off to the sky from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, carrying the GSAT-9 satellite.

The 49-metre, 415 tonne rocket slung the 2,230 kg satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, from where it would be taken up to its final geostationary orbit.

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tasked the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a satellite for use by the Saarc countries.

Costing around Rs 235 crore, the satellite was initially known as the Saarc satellite. But with Pakistan deciding to keep out, it is called the South Asia Satellite. With a life span of over 12 years, its objective is to provide communication applications in Ku-band for the user nations.

The satellite, with its 12-Ku band transponders-transmitters and receivers of radio signals, will enable telecommunication, tele-education and tele-medicine as well as mapping of natural resources.

It would also provide/augment internet connectivity and would be useful in disaster management.

Modi has said the South Asia satellite would go a long way in addressing the regions economic and developmental priorities.

Natural resources mapping, telemedicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact, this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region, he said.

It is an important step by India to enhance cooperation with the entire South Asia... It is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. I welcome all the South Asian countries who have joined us on this momentous endeavour, he had said.

According to an official, the ISRO decided to have electric power for the satellite.

We have not reduced the volume of the traditional on-board fuel because of the electric power. We have added electric power facility to check its performance for use in future satellites, the official told IANS.

He said the next satellite with electric power will be the GSAT-20 slated for launch in 2018.

The GSLV is a three stage/engine rocket. The core of the first stage is fired with solid fuel while the four strap-on motors by liquid fuel. The second is the liquid fuel and the third is the cryogenic engine.

One of the spin off benefits for India through this launch is that in the international satellite launch market, GSLV-Mk II rocket may gain the confidence of potential customers.

India puts into orbit foreign satellites for a fee, using its lighter rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). However the weight of third party satellites is not much.

Revenue for launching satellites depends on weight of the satellite - the higher the weight, higher will be the revenue.

The month end is expected to see the launch of GSLV-Mk-III with communication satellite GSAT 19 weighing around 3.2 tonne - the heaviest satellite to be lifted by an Indian rocket from Sriharikota.
Kashmir braced for more clashes on Friday morning as the Valleys joint separatist leadership called for after-prayer protests, a day after a civilian driver was killed and three soldiers injured in an ambush in Shopian district.

Strongly condemning the excessive force and crackdown against civilian population in south Kashmirs Shopian district, Joint resistance leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik urged people to protest against state terrorism after Friday congregational prayers on May 5, a press statement said.

Kashmir has seen a spate of bank lootings, militant attacks and mounting civilian-police clashes over the past few months following viral videos of alleged human rights violations and roughing up of paramilitary personnel.

Leadership, while referring to state authorities, said that they have waged a war against civilians, & in their appeal to youth, asked to maintain discipline & order during resistance against state sponsored terrorism. Resistance leadership while slamming Indian agencies and policy makers, urged youth to remain cautious and show wisdom, the separatists statement added.

The attack had come at night as soldiers were returning in a private vehicle after a massive day-long search operation in the district involving over 20 villages in Shopian district.

The massive day-long cordon and search operation in south Kashmirs Shopian district initiated after intelligence inputs of presence of militants made no contact with any militant.

The driver of the vehicle, Nazir Ahmed Sheikh, was killed when the militants opened fire in Imamsahib area of Shopian. Police control room, Shopian, told HT on Friday morning that the militants managed to escape after attacking.

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The massive combing operation by security forces in Kashmirs Shopian district continued for the second day on Friday to track down the militants behind the recent attacks on policemen and political activists besides bank robberies.

Nearly 4,000 personnel from the army, paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police took part in the search in 20 villages of Shopian even as the militants who ambushed a vehicle on Thursday managed to escape. Three soldiers were injured and their civilian driver killed.

Army personnal during a search operation in Shopian district of Kashmir on Thursday. (PTI)

The exchange of fire occurred between a returning column in the Imam Sahib area on Thursday evening. The operation against terrorists is underway, army spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said.

Nazir Ahmad, who was driving the solders in a private vehicle, succumbed to his injuries, police said.

Army personnel stand guard during a search at a village in Shopian district in Kashmir. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described the launch of the South Asian Satellite by India as a historic moment and said it opens up new horizons of engagement among the countries of the region.

In his speech to SAARC leaders, except Pakistan, Modi said, Our coming together is a sign of our unshakeable resolve to place the needs of our peoples in the forefront. It shows that our collective choices for our citizens will bring us together for: cooperation, not conflict; development, not destruction; and prosperity not poverty.

Modis remarks were seen as a veiled message to Pakistan which stayed out of the project as it didnt want any Indian gift. Due to Pakistans absence, the SAARC satellite had to be renamed as South Asia satellite.

Soon after taking over as the Prime Minister in 2014, Modi had made a unilateral proposal of India launching the satellite whose data would be shared with the eight SAARC countries for their development. PM, who had invited all SAARC leaders at his swearing in ceremony in 2014, said that the satellite could not have happened without their cooperation. We extend our close links into outer space, he said.

The satellite will provide a significant capability to each of the participating countries in terms of DTH, certain VSAT capacity plus linking among the states for both disaster information transfer and also in terms of library type of things.

Afghanistan president Md Ashraf Ghani said, The gap between talk and action is bridged today. The leaders of South Asia minus Pakistan who joined Indian prime minister via video-conferencing praised his visionary leadership and called for greater linkages among the countries in the region for the greater common good. The President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen said Modis sabke saath sabka vikas is an ideal template for the South Asian integration.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay called for greater people to people contact in the region and the satellite could benefit the region in various spheres such as tele-medicine, telecommunication and weather forecasting. Prime Minister Prachanda of Nepal said his country too would benefit immensely from the satellite. Tobgay said it is for the first time in history a country is launching a satellite for an entire region.

Together we will achieve better governance, banking services and education in remote areas. Linking people with top-end medical services and quick response to natural disaster, Modi added, underlining the benefits of the satellite which will have 12 transponders to cater to different countries individual need.

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Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav is on board a proposed all-India secular front, former minister Shivpal Yadav said on Friday, potentially opening a new front in the bruising power struggle within the former first family of the state.

Mulayam Singh is, however, yet to react to the Secular Morcha announced by Shivpal on Friday, weeks after the SP suffered a humiliating defeat in the assembly polls. A bruising turf war between Shivpal and his nephew, former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, is believed to the main reasons for the partys drubbing.

He (Mulayam) is very much on the board. Without his blessings we would not have taken such a major step, Shivpal told Hindustan Times.

Ahead of the polls, Akhilesh had taken control of the party after removing his father as the national SP president and then going for a pre-poll tie-up with the Congress despite opposition from Mulayam and Shivpal.

The SP barely managed to avoid a split but the cracks started to widen after the pol loss.

Shivpal, who had earlier played a key role in the formation of Bihars grand alliance under Mulayams leadership, said a similar front at the national level would be constituted to take on the communal forces and deliver justice to farmers and the downtrodden.

Shivpal said he on will soon start talks with senior non-BJP leaders to revive a front he has envisaged ahead of the Bihar assembly polls in 2015. Mulayam had withdrawn from a grand alliance of the Congress, Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal before the Bihar assembly elections.

The Samajwadi Secular Morcha is believed to be on the lines of a revolutionary front that Mulayam Singh had floated after the split in Charan Singhs Lok Dal.

Mulayam had then headed Lok Dal (A) and it had limited base in Uttar Pradesh.

This also explains why Shivpal is not floating a separate party so that he can continue to mount pressure on Akhilesh Yadav to return the party to Mulayam. As of now, Akhilesh is not relenting and has dared an election for the party presidents post.

Without naming the senior leaders with whom he is holding talks, Shivpal mentioned Gandhiwadi (Congress), Lohiawadi (Socialist leaders such as Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar) and followers of Charan Singh (Rashtriya Lok Dal of Choudhary Ajit Singh) as potential allies.

It is nice that a secular front is coming up. I do not have any idea yet in what form it will come up. Samajwadi people are always ready to take a test and they also pass those tests. Secular front should indeed come up, Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday on the sidelines of a party function.
Who will be the next President of India? As opposition parties attempt to put up a candidate jointly, here is a list of possible contenders from the ruling NDA:

Draupadi Murmu: The 58 -year old politician from Odisha is currently the governor of Jharkhand. She was a minister in the BJD-BJP alliance government in Odisha between 2000 and 2004. There are three factors that make her a likely candidate: As a woman, her elevation could help the BJP consolidate its base among women voters. Her tribal origin will help the BJP and its ideological patron, the RSS, reach out to the constituency. She hails from Odisha, where the BJP is emerging as the principal opposition party, relegating the Congress to the third position. Her candidature might also force the ruling party of Odisha, the BJD, to vote for the NDA nominee.

Sumitra Mahajan: Eight-term MP from Indore, the 74 year old politician became Lok Sabha speaker in 2014. Mahajan was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. She enjoys the confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Opposition parties have, however, often questioned her impartiality.

Sushma Swaraj: 65-year old Swaraj is Indias second woman leader to hold the charge of foreign affairs ministry. She is a seven-term parliamentarian, three-term MLA and former chief minister of Delhi. At 25, she became the youngest cabinet minister in Haryana government in 1977. She has friends across party lines, something that can help the BJP create a larger consensus on the presidential nominee.

M Venkaiah Naidu: A politician from Andhra Pradesh, Naidu is currently the urban development and information & broadcasting minister. The 67-year-old leader is a former president of the BJP and one of the first to back Modi as the partys prime ministerial candidate. He was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government as well. As the BJP seeks to expand its footprint in the South, a presidential nominee from a southern state could give it a talking point.

Thawar Chand Gehlot: The 68-year-old politician from Madhya Pradesh is currently the social justice minister in the Modi government. He is the only schedule-caste leader in the BJPs highest decision making body, the parliamentary board. A leader with an RSS background, Gehlot is a non controversial leader.

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In a gesture of communal harmony, a Muslim family has donated their land for upgradation of a temple in Bihars Gopalganj district, officials said.

Tabarak Dewan and his son Manu Dewan, residents of Ahirauli Dubauli Tola Takia under Gopalpur police station, have donated their land near the NH 28, for construction of the main gate of the historical temple at Bathanakuti.

They had purchased the land for Rs 12 lakh for setting up a business a few months ago.

By donating their costly land, the Muslim family has helped us to beautify the historical temple at Bathanakuti, which is under renovation. If they had refused to donate their land, it would have been impossible to construct the main gate of the temple. Thanks to their gesture now the temples main gate will be constructed on their donated land, Amrender Kumar alias Pappu Pandey, ruling JD-U legislator of Kuchaikot, said.

According to Pandey, another Muslim, Aali Raza also donated land for the construction of the same temple. Raza, resident of Ramaina village in Kushinagar district in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, termed it a symbol of communal harmony.

We have been living here for decades and taking care of each other. It is a gesture of communal harmony. We have decided to donate land for a good cause. All religions are the same, Manu Dewan said.

This is not the first time Muslims have donated land for temples. Two years ago, some Muslims in Bihars east Champaran district, in a demonstration of communal harmony, donated land to help build the worlds largest Hindu temple which will have the capacity to seat 20,000 people.

Muslims have not only donated land, they have also provided land at a nominal rate for construction of the worlds largest Hindu temple. Without help of Muslims, it would have been difficult to realise this dream project, Acharya Kishore Kunal, secretary of the Patna-based cash-rich Mahavir Mandir Trust that is undertaking the ambitious project, said.

Muslims have also helped build a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Durga in Bihars Gaya district, through donations and also by supervising the construction.

Similarly, a Muslim donated his land for constructing a temple to Lord Shiva in Begusarai district. Mohammad Fakhrool Islam had given land for the temple in Muslim-dominated Bachwara village.

Over three decades ago, some Hindus donated a piece of land for the construction of a mazar in the same village.

Bihar has been by and large free from any major communal trouble, barring a few reported cases of tension, in the last few years.

Muslims form 16.5 per cent of Bihars 105 million population. In the Seemanchal region, they account for nearly 67 per cent in Kishanganj, 37 per cent in Purnea, 43 per cent in Katihar and nearly 40 per cent in Araria.
A young man was killed in alleged caste clashes at a village in northwestern Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur area on Friday, while at least two dozen Dalit houses were torched in retaliation.

Violence broke out when members of the Thakur community from Shimlana village took out a music-filled procession to commemorate the birth anniversary of medieval Rajput warrior-king Maharana Pratap.

When the parade was passing through the predominantly Dalit village of Shabirpur, residents objected to the allegedly raucous celebration, triggering an exchange of heated words. The altercation ballooned into a full-blown clash with both groups throwing stones and bricks at each other.

A stone hit a 25-year-old Thakur man fatally. His death further enraged the community and more Thakurs from neighbouring villages gathered at Shabirpur and set at least 25 Dalit houses on fire.

They allegedly attacked police and fire brigade personnel who had dashed to the village. A fire engine was damaged, sources said.

Several people, including a police inspector, were wounded in the attack.

Police reinforcements have reached the area, and the situation is said to be under control but tense.

The area had recorded similar clashes this April when the BJP took out a procession to mark the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, who wrote the Constitution and fought for civil rights of the lower castes.

Clashes broke out when members of a community allegedly objected to the procession and threw stones at the rallyists.

The 42-year-old parliamentarian for Saharanpur, Raghav Lakhanpal Sharma of the BJP, a senior police officer, and many more people were wounded.

Uttar Pradesh police registered two FIRs against Sharma and 300 unidentified people in connection with the April 20 violence.

I can say with confidence that everyone will be safe in the state without any discrimination and rule of law is the priority of the state government, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said, responding to a question on the Saharanpur violence.
Dissident Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav said on Friday he will form within three months an all-India secular front that will be led by his brother and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The 62-year-old leader didnt make it clear if he was walking out of the Samajwadi Party to form the Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM). Neither did he specify if the new front will enter electoral politics.

If Shivpal forms a new party and the Samajwadi Party expels him then he will remain an unattached state lawmaker. He can be disqualified only if he resigns from the SP or defies the party whip during a vote in the state assembly.

The development comes weeks after the Samajwadi Party suffered a bruising defeat in the state elections that was blamed on a months-long feud between Shivpal and his nephew Akhilesh Yadav over control of the party.

For social justice, a secular front will be formed. Netaji (Mulayam) will be its national president, Shivpal told reporters in Etawah, the Yadav clans bastion.

He is very much on the board. Without his blessings we would not have taken such a major step, Shivpal told Hindustan Times.

Reacting to the front, Akhilesh told reporters, It is nice that a secular front is coming up. I do not have any idea yet in what form it will come up. Samajwadi people are always ready to take a test and they also pass those tests. Secular front should indeed come up.

At an event later in the evening, the former CM said: I have the bicycle. Mulayam is with us, he said, referring to the SPs political symbol.

Shivpal, a former SP state president, had recently said a secular front would be formed if Akhilesh did not hand over the reins of the party back to his father Mulayam in three months.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) is ready to support any secular alliance for the presidential poll, which is a few months away, its president Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday.

If there is any secular alliance (for the presidential poll), my party will support it, he told reporters at the SP headquarters here.

His remarks came against the backdrop of CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury recently meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi to explore the possibility of fielding a joint candidate for the presidential poll, even as RJD boss Lalu Prasad talked about cobbling together a Bihar-style mahagathbandhan (grand alliance).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too has called for a larger unity among the regional parties ahead of the presidential election.

Significantly, senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav on Friday announced that party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will head a new, secular front to be formed by him.

The presidential election is scheduled in July and opposition unity for contesting it may well be a precursor to an anti-NDA front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar had recently ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with the SP for the upcoming local bodies polls in the state. Akhilesh though played it down saying, Our friendship with the Congress will continue. He, however, did not elaborate.

The Congress has decided to go it alone in the urban bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The move is being seen as an impending end to the SP- Congress alliance, which was forged before the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

The alliance suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the BJP in the UP polls. It managed to secure only 54 seats (SP 47, Congress seven) as opposed to the BJP-led NDAs 325.

In the aftermath of the dismal poll performance, speculation was rife that the allies might part ways for the urban bodies polls as the local Congress leaders had voiced opposition to the continuance of the tie-up.

On the Bulandshahr lynching incident, in which a Muslim man was allegedly beaten to death by the workers of the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), a right-wing group formed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after an inter-faith couple eloped, Akhilesh said they (HYV) should also prepare a list of those BJP leaders, who have had similar marriages.

The people should know how many BJP leaders have had such marriages. The HYV should go to Delhi and prepare such a list, he said. PTI ABN SMI RC
The Supreme Court on Friday asked the state governments to issue a notification to include children affected with HIV in disadvantaged group for imparting free, compulsory education under the 2009 law.

A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud said so far, eleven states and one Union territory have issued a notification effecting a change in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 to also include HIV positive kids in the disadvantaged group.

The apex court said the remaining states, which have not issued the notification so far in this regard, have also not approached it with any objection and hence, it is presumed that they are agreeable to the proposal.

In view of absence of such objections, we direct all remaining states (except Jammu and Kashmir) to issue notification in eight weeks, the bench said while disposing of a PIL filed by NGO Naz Foundation seeking special treatment for HIV-positive kids in schools across the country.

Read more | SC: States should include HIV+ students under Right to Education

Earlier, the apex court had asked the state governments to consider issuing a notification to include children living with or affected by HIV as belonging to disadvantaged group for imparting compulsory education.

It had also made it clear that those states which are not willing to come out with the notification will have to spell out the reasons in an affidavit as to why they are considering not to do so.

It had asked the Centre to communicate the instant order to all secretaries in department of schools in the state.

The bench had noted the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 which accrued certain rights to all children as well as certain additional rights if they are declared to be belonging to disadvantaged group by a notification issued by state government under the Act.

Senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for NGO Naz Foundation, which has been working in the field of HIV-AIDS, had submitted that children living with or affected by HIV are segregated and in many cases compelled to leave schools even though there was zero risk of transmission of the disease.

In its plea, the NGO had sought framing of guidelines to prevent any kind of discrimination against students due to their HIV status or that of their parents or guardians.

Alleging that the children living with or affected by HIV/AIDS are denied admission, suspended and even expelled from schools, the petitioner had claimed that such students were also being publicly ridiculed, humiliated and treated unfairly by school authorities.

Moreover, the confidentiality of the HIV-positive status of the children has been routinely breached leading to violation of their right to privacy and the rampant acts of stigmatisation and discrimination that have followed have undermined their human dignity, the petition had said.

It had said that according to a National Aids Control Organisation report, the total number of people living with HIV in India was estimated at around 20.9 lakh in 2011 and 1.45 lakh were children less than 15 years of age.
Tiger deaths in Chandrapur and Maharashtra

In 2017, the state has already seen six deaths, with poachers responsible for two. The most tigers died in 2016  16. Four tigers were poached in 2012  the most in eight years.

May 3, 2017: A male adult tiger was found dead at Sawali in Chandrapur.

April 27: Srinivas, who was radio-collared last year, was found electrocuted in the Naghbid forest range, Chandrapur.

November 4, 2016: An adult male tiger was found electrocuted near Kothari village in Chandrapur.

September 10: A male tiger cub was found dead near Sindewahi in Chandrapur. Officials have still not determined the cause of death.

September 4: Forest officials said a tigress died of natural causes near Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary.

August 10: A male tiger succumbed to injuries after a fight with another animal at Brahmapuri forest division.

July 7: A male tiger succumbed to injuries after a fight. Its body was found near the buffer zone of Tadoba Wildlife Sanctuary.

May 4: A female tiger was killed by another animal. The body was found near Mul range, close to the Tadoba buffer zone.

April 26: A sub-adult male tiger was killed by another animal near Sindewahi in Brahmapuri forest division

April 8: An adult male tiger was killed by another male after the two fought over their territory. Its carcass was found floating on the river at Sindewahi in Brahmapuri forest division.

February 4: An adult tiger was killed in a road accident near Chichpalli village in Chandrapur .
MUZAFFARPUR: On a day when it was revealed that rodents had polished off nine lakh litres of confiscated alcohol in dry Bihar, a station house officer (SHO) in the states Muzaffarpur district was arrested on the charge of consuming liquor he had allegedly seized earlier.

Rameshwar Singh, SHO (in-charge) of Kazi Mohammadpur police station at Muzaffarpur, 71 kms north of Patna, is the third policeman to have been arrested since Wednesday night for consuming liquor.

Bihar Police Mens Association president Nirmal Kumar Singh and another office-bearer Shamsher Khan were arrested late Wednesday night for allegedly consuming liquor and creating nuisance on the premises of the new police lines in Patna.

Muzaffarpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vivek Kumar said Rameshwar Singh was taken into custody Thursday night after he was found roaming on the police station premises in an inebriated condition and making lewd comments to passers-by.

The breath analyzer test had confirmed alcohol content in his blood, the SSP said, adding that the arrested SHO was on Friday produced in a court, which sent him to jail.

The erring police officer had been suspended and legal proceedings initiated under the prohibition law, Kumar said.

Bihar became a dry state on April 5, 2016. Under the states prohibition law, consuming, keeping or dealing in liquor is an offence, which attracts imprisonment up to 10 years. On February 15, 2017, the Bihar cabinet amended the Bihar Government Service Conduct Rules, barring bureaucrats and judicial officers from consuming liquor or any intoxicating substance even when they were outside the state.

Meanwhile, cops deputed at the Kazi Mohammadpur police station, said on condition of anonymity that Singh had arrested a person with six bottles of liquor on Thursday noon. The SHO took one of the bottles and consumed it in the night, they added.

Setting aside the allegation, Singh said that he had been framed for ignoring orders from some senior police officers to release the man he had arrested with liquor bottles.

Interestingly, media reports on Thursday quoted police officers saying that while some liquor bottles, seized during raids, had been destroyed, around 9 lakh litres, left at malkhanas (store room) of different police stations, had been consumed by rats.

We have asked the Patna zonal IG to inquire into the matter. Based on his findings, the state police headquarters will initiate further action, additional director general of police (headquarters) S K Singhal said.
Amid heightened tension at the border after the mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers, the Shiv Sena on Friday said merely angry rhetoric against Pakistan was not enough and it needed to be crushed now.

In a scathing editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said despite India having given substantial proof to Pakistan over Hafiz Saeeds involvement in the 26/11 terror attack, the Pathankot airbase attack, the Uri attack and the recent beheadings of two jawans, the neighbouring country had shirked all its responsibility.

It is poking fun instead at India saying we have a habit of blaming Pakistan for everything that happens here, it added.

This is going on for many years now. Everybody knows that the ISI, the Pakistani military and the terror outfits based there are behind the terror attacks in India, the Sena mouthpiece said.

Despite throwing ample proof on their face each time, the terrorism emanating from Pakistan and violence in Kashmir has refused to cease. The banks are being looted in the valley and the soldiers are being killed. But the government only summons (high commissioner of Pakistan to India) Abdul Basit, gives him proof against his nation and lets him off with a warning, it said.

It said the nation was tired of hearing about the revenge that will be taken against Pakistan.

The anguish of the families of the martyred soldiers numbs all senses. Had the families of the martyred jawans been called when Basit was summoned to the external affairs ministry, they would have peeled his skin off. He would not be able to smile in front of the mediapersons then, it said.

The continuous use of words like shameless for Pakistan will not be enough now. It needs to be crushed. The country was expecting 50 heads (of the Pakistani soldiers) for every Indian killed. But here, it seems that revenge is only taken by summoning Basit and warning him, the Sena said.
Firing another salvo at Lalu Prasads family, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday said Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chiefs son and Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav had wrongfully managed to acquire a licence for petrol pump in the state capital.

The licence for the petrol pump was given to Yadav in 2011, when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power at the Centre, without possessing requisite land at the time of application and facing the subsequent interview, Modi said.

Armed with documents, Modi said, Both the basis of application and the process of allotment were under question. I will take up the issue with Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan for ordering a probe to fix responsibility on Bharat Petroleum Corporation officials and cancellation of the licence.

Modi said company officials connived to push the allotment, while one of the promoters of AK Infosystems, Amit Katyal, also chipped in to hand over 136 decimal of land to Prasads younger son and Bihars deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, on lease in 2012 for the setting up of a petrol pump.

Modi had earlier alleged that AK Infosystems was a shell company of the Prasad family. Initially owned by promoters of Bihta beer factory, Om Prakash Katyal and Amit Katyal, the company, along with its prime land assets in the state capital, was completely taken over by Prasads wife Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in 2014, he said.

Maintaining that Om Prakash Katyal and Amit Katyal had provided Rs 50 lakh and Rs 30 lakh, respectively, to AK Infosystems in 2006-07 to purchase the said land parcel of 136 decimal, Modi said, The trail of acquisition of benami property by Lalu and his family is long and complicated and, hence, requires a high-level probe.

He said that the state government should not remain a mute spectator and constitute a commission, on the pattern of Haryanas Dhingra panel set up to probe Robert Vadras land deals, to unravel the mystery and reasons behind the handover of landed properties to Prasads family members at throwaway prices.

The BJPs state executive meeting, which concluded at Kishanganj on Thursday, also decided to take up the matter seriously. A statewide dharna would be organised on May 17 to press for the setting up of a judicial commission to probe the land deals, Modi said.

Modi, who has filed a defamation case against RJD spokespersons Manoj Jha and Chitranjan Gagan for levelling unsubstantiated charges against him, said: Why the information related to petrol pump has not been declared in asset declaration to the government? I will not be bullied and will keep on bringing such matters in public domain.

He also made light of Tejashwi Prasad Yadavs offer to hand over all his property, allegedly estimated in excess of Rs 1,000 crore, at a 50% discount saying, dealing in benami property is illegal and those accepting it for free will also land in jail.

SALVOS CONTINUE Says the trail of benami property acquisition by Lalu and his family is long and complicated and, hence, requires high-level probe

QUOTE

Govt should constitute a commission, on the pattern of Haryanas Dhingra panel set up to probe Robert Vadras land deals, to unravel mystery behind handover of landed properties to Prasads family at throwaway prices

Sushil K Modi, senior BJP leader

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Almost every other month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a review meeting of the rural development ministry to keep the bureaucracy responsible for catering to around 22 crore people on its toes.

In one of those meetings, Modi posed a question: How can we ensure that the money we are spending is going to the right person?

That question sparked off a massive administrative, technological and manual exercise aimed to shake up the system. The process, ironically, coincided with the governments renewed thrust on rural development, which, the critics say, was missing in Modis first year of governance.

Their approach towards rural development changed midway. They came to power with a lot of negative sentiments towards rural programmes but soon realized that rural areas are going through a crisis, said Himangshu, professor of economics in JNU.

And now, with the Modi government entering the last couple of years of its term before the 2019 general elections, the rural sector will see a stronger focus on sustainable livelihood mission, or in other words, how to increase the household income of people living in rural areas.

The ministrys latest plan submitted before the PMO sets specific goals by 2019 that includes drought-proof water conservation programmes in at least 50,000 gram panchayats.

It also wants to cover 45 lakh households under skill development programme to reap the benefits of demographic advantage from the villages. It plans 55 lakh households covered through individual livelihood support and 4- 5 crore women in self help groups.

A new rural transport scheme is also expected to be kickstarted, in which rural entrepreneurs may get passenger vehicles at a 40% cheaper price. The scheme not only aims to provide alternate employment to rural youth and women, but will also leverage the vast network of rural roads.

The PMO is very clear in its objective. It has given us free hand is shaping schemes and roadmaps. The supply of fund is smooth. So, theres no scope of excuse for not meeting targets and the outcome, said Amarjeet Sinha, rural development secretary.

The government embarked upon a series of measures to bring more transparency and accountability in the process. But not before trying to change the UPA-era land Act unsuccessfully. The Centre pushed through two successive ordinances amendments that essentially increased compensation for land but took away the farmers right of refusal to any land acquisition bid.

The failure to amend the land Act is still the biggest setback for the Modi government in pushing reforms. The proposed amendments are still pending in Parliament but the government seems to have given up hopes to push them. But on the administrative front there are clear signs of improvements. Experts, however, dub them as incremental.

First of all, I dont think theres any huge hike in actual allocation in rural schemes. The income standards in villages have not improved substantially. 60-64% of people still depend on agriculture but they constitute only 15% of the GDP earnings, said Abhirup Sarkar, professor of economics, Indian Statistical Institute.

Officials try to emphasize that as the scope of rural development expands, the Modi government wants to plug possible leakages.

In the last year, a record of average 130 kms of rural roads was built daily. 96% of the wages in MNREGA are now transferred electronically, up from mere 13% in 2013-14. The last financial year also saw 52.4 lakh works under the rural job scheme while the average rate of complete work varied between 15-25 lakhs.

The socio-economic caste census  the blue book to identify Indias poor population  was already there. A layer of physical identification of beneficiaries was added. Officials went to re-check the status of the each and every household identified in the census. This was done to ensure that the targeted beneficiaries are genuinely poor, says Amarjeet Sinha, rural development secretary.

The Aadhaar seeding also saw a great push and so did electronic transfer of payments. Five years ago, only 13% money was transferred to the states and beneficiaries electronically, but now, more than 90% funds take the e-route. Recently, the government scrapped 9.3 million job cards.

Last year, Modi also organized a presentation from the space department for other departments to see how far space technology can be used for tracking work-in-progress. Now, the geo-tagging with the help of satellites has become the biggest weapon for the rural ministry to keep tab on assets created under MNREGA or rural job scheme and also to curb corruption.

One of the interesting findings of the geo-tagging of assets in rural roads saw that more complaints of bad or incomplete roads coming from North India.

Himangshu, however, feels that the NDA government has not introduced any new scheme so far but only tightened the loose ends in existing schemes.

The government is certainly revamping existing schemes but a now approach for rural programmes is needed. These schemes to build houses and roads, dig ponds cant go on ever. The real problem is the growing aspirations of rural youth, but the government has not catered this aspiration for growth and better life in any programme, he said.

Sarkar too, maintains that there is a need for a new approach. I think there is a basic difference between how the Congress and Narendra Modi looks at poverty eradication. Congress believed in directly addressing poverty while Modi government believes that the effects of economic growth will trickle down.

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The government in Christian-majority Mizoram does not want the church to know how much revenue it earns from liquor sale.

Reason: the booty from booze might alarm the influential church and prohibitionist NGOs enough to step up their demand for a return to dry days.

This demand is expected to be a major issue in the assembly election next year, with the church-compliant opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) desperate to end the Congress run since 2008.

The MNF is a member of the BJP-helmed North East Democratic Alliance.

Lal Thanhawlas Congress government had in July 2014 replaced the Mizoram Liquor (Total Prohibition) Act of 1995 with the Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition and Control) Act to end 18 years of church-enforced ban on drinking.

Prohibition was formally lifted in January 2015 and wine shops opened two months later.

We have kept the data on total consumption of liquor and revenue earned confidential because of the church and some NGOs, a senior officer of the states excise and narcotics department said, declining to be quoted.

The government expects to earn about Rs 200-crore a year from liquor sales through three state-owned warehouses. Revenue figures in various publications from time to time are guesstimates, officials said.

The departments achievement chart, updated on its site, has accordingly blanked out the revenue collection columns against foreign liquor and spirit and fines and confiscation.

The achievements include seizure of alcoholic beverages such as zu (country liquor) and India-made foreign liquor besides imported beer. The list suggests seizure of local liquor and bigger bottles of IMFL has declined since prohibition was lifted at the end of the 2014-15 fiscal.

This is not only about revenue. The government has also refused to provide details of the liquor permit card-holders for a study the church has been conducting to assess the impact of lifting prohibition in Mizoram, B Sangthanga, executive secretary of Mizoram Synod of the Presbyterian Church told HT.

The majority of 87% Christians in Mizoram are Presbyterians.

As of March this year, the state of 1.1 million people has 71,158 liquor card holders entitled to six 750ml IMFL bottles and 10 bottles each of wine and beer a month from 51 operational outlets.

The Synod, Sangthanga said, appointed nine academics from Mizoram University and a few colleges to study the impact of alcohol in the state. We are compiling the reports they submitted for publication by the end of May, he added.

The churchs study panel is believed to be a counter to a similar committee state excise minister R Lalzirliana had formed last year.

The 27-member review and evaluation committee is looking into the advantages and disadvantages of opening wine shops in the state, Lalzirliana told the 40-member state assembly in March.

Apart from the church, the ruling Congress has the MNF to contend with. The regional party, trying to stir Christian sentiments, has been organising rallies against the opening of liquor shops.

The MNF, which promised to impose prohibition again if voted to power in the 2018 state Assembly polls, demanded that the state government immediately close the wine shops.

Hundreds of people have died after the opening of wine shops, MNF veteran and former chief minister Zoramthanga said.

Liquor washing out drugs?

Justifying the lifting of prohibition two years ago, Lalzirliana said the alcohol ban since 1995 only increased the sale of expensive spurious liquor and people who cannot do without drinks need to find good quality liquor at cheaper prices.

The government had also said access to legitimate liquor could go a long way in checking drug abuse in Mizoram, which shares a 510km long border with Myanmar, one of three countries forming the Golden Triangle notorious for growing opium.

Before liquor started flowing in Mizoram legally, the government said drug trafficking and abuse would reduce as a result. This is also a subject of study by our panel, Sangthanga said.

According to the excise and narcotics department, there have been 1,412 drug deaths in Mizoram between April 1984 and March this year. At least 27 of them, including three women, died in the year prohibition ended.

It is too early to say whether drug trafficking or drug abuse has come down in the last two years, F Lalhminga, deputy commissioner (enforcement), said.

The departments data show enforcement sleuths seized fewer quantities of certain contraband items last year than in 2015. They include restricted brain drugs such as Nitrazepam, Diazepam and Alprazolam prescribed by psychologists and painkillers such as Spasmo Proxyvon and Parvon Spas.

One of the reasons is that the Indian government had banned manufacture of painkillers in 2013, a spokesperson of the department said.

But the seizure of certain narcotic substances such as methamphetamine aka party drug, pseudoephedrine and ephedrine has increased.

Peddlers use Mizoram as a conduit for these substances to and from Myanmar, the spokesperson said.

Pseudoephedrine, a medicinal drug for treating sinusitis, is the raw material for manufacturing methamphetamine.

Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine come from manufacturers in India to be smuggled out via Myanmar to meth factories on the China-Myanmar border. The meth produced there is low-grade but are smuggled through Mizoram to be sold in Muslim countries via Bangladesh, an excise officer said.

The distance from the Myanmar border to the Bangladesh border through Mizoram is less than 100km at the narrowest stretch.

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1) ISRO countdown begins, PM Modis South Asia satellite dream set for launch from Sriharikota today

India will launch the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) carrying the GSAT-9 or the South Asia satellite, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi said will be a priceless gift to neighbouring countries, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Friday. Our dream is that this Saarc satellite will work in the welfare of all our neighbouring countries. And thats why I have proposed in front of you today that we offer a valuable gift to our Saarc countries through a Saarc satellite launch so that we also become partners in their welfare, Modi said in 2014.

Read the story here.

2) US wants info on social media accounts, email-id from some visa applicants

The State Department wants to review social media, email addresses and phone numbers from some foreigners seeking US visas, as part of the Trump administrations enhanced screening of potential immigrants and visitors. The department, in a notice published Thursday in the Federal Register, said it was seeking public comment on the requirement. But it also said it is requesting a temporary go-ahead from the White House so the plan can take effect from May 18, regardless of those comments. The proposed requirements would apply to visa applicants identified for extra scrutiny, such as those who have travelled to areas controlled by terrorist organizations.

Read the story here.

3) Army convoy returning after search op attacked by militants in Kashmirs Shopian, civilian killed

Suspected militants attacked an army convoy that was returning after conducting a massive search operation that involved 4,000 troopers in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Thursday. A civilian was killed and three security personnel were injured in the encounter. A Srinagar-based army spokesperson said that an exchange of fire has started between returning the column in Imamsahib area of Shopian district and an encounter was on. The civilian was injured in the gunfire and succumbed to his injuries, agencies reported.

Read the story here.

4) Four robberies in three days: Why militants are targeting banks in Kashmir

Kashmir has been rocked by a string of armed bank robberies in the last few months, which the J&K police say is a sign of cash-starved militants trying to keep the funds flowing. Militants, however, are vehement in their denial. They have enough cash, they are freedom fighters and wouldnt stoop to robbing, they say. The fact, however, is that Kashmir Valley has reported at least nine bank robberies and several such bids after the Centre announced scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes on November 8.

Read the story here.

5) Action first, talk later: Army chief hints at revenge for beheading of Indian soldiers

Army chief General Bipin Rawat indicated on Thursday the force would retaliate to the beheading of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops, but refused to spell out details. The killing and mutilation of the soldiers in a cross-LoC raid on Monday has sparked widespread anger, with family members and political leaders demanding similar action against the neighbouring country. We dont talk about future plans beforehand; we share details after execution, the chief said.

Read the story here.

6) Presidential poll: Odisha CM keeps Opposition guessing after Yechury seeks support

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik left the Opposition camp guessing over his position in the upcoming Presidential poll. With more than 32,500 votes, Patnaiks BJD could have given the Opposition a fighting chance against the ruling NDA in the election. CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury met Patnaik in Bhubaneswar to seek the latters support for the Opposition candidate against the NDA in the Presidential poll in July. Although Patnaik didnt commit his support, he told Yechury that the dialogue process would continue.

Read the story here.

7) Swachh Bharat survey: PMs constituency Varanasi the only UP city among top 100

Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency, Varanasi, has soared up the cleanliness scale occupying the 32nd position in Swachch Survekshan-2017, which is a part of the Modi governments flagship Swachch Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) programme or Clean India Mission. It ranked 65th last year and 418th in 2014. Incidentally, Varanasi is the lone city from UP to figure in the top 100 cleanest cities followed by Aligarh at a distant 145th rank and Jhansi at 166th rank. Gonda in UP was adjudged the dirtiest city in the country and was ranked 434th in the list. UP has 25 cities in the bottom of the list.

Read the story here.

8) Water tanker mafia makes hay as drought misery mounts in Tamil Nadu

With water scarce following successive failed monsoons, tankers carrying water are racing across the states interiors and those running the trade, commonly called the tanker mafia, are said to be making a killing. Those owning the borewells and operating the tankers are making a killing. To sink a borewell costs around 1.25 lakh. But the returns on the investment are quick and good.

Read the story here.

9) Opinion: Aadhaar is an electronic leash on citizens

Without serious privacy protections, we should be wary of these efforts to make all people known and knowable. They remain ripe for abuse and error (already, lakhs of Aadhaar numbers have been accidentally leaked). Aadhaar will not only grant the State an electronic leash on citizens, but also allow corporations to build invasive financial profiles of peoples habits and histories. Why should we either repose faith in private sector whose ultimate interest is its own well-being, or surrender so much trust to state institutions with long traditions of incompetence?

Read the column here.

10) Afghan Prez Ghani refuses to visit Pakistan till terrorists are handed over

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said he will not visit Pakistan till the country hands over the perpetrators of recent terror attacks and takes action against Afghan Taliban fighters operating from Pakistani soil. Ghani declined invitations from Pakistans top civilian and military leaders to visit the country, his deputy spokesman Dawa Khan Minapal told BBC Urdu.

Read the story here.

11) China compiles its own Wikipedia, but public cant edit it

Itll be free. Itll be uniquely Chinese. Itll be an online encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia  but without the participation of the public. And dont expect entries on Tiananmen Square 1989 or Falun Gong spiritual group to come up in your searches, either. Scholars and experts hand-picked by Beijing to work on the project say only they will be able to make entries  the latest example of the Chinese governments efforts to control information available on the internet. The effort to compile 300,000 entries that span science, literature, politics and history is being led by the ruling Communist Partys central propaganda department.

Read the story here.

12) Rishabh Pants 97 blows Gujarat Lions out of IPL 2017, Delhi Daredevils alive

Delhi Daredevils rode on a fiery 97 from Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samsons 31-ball 61 to thrash Gujarat Lions by 7 wickets in an IPL 2017 match at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. DD now have four wins from 10 games and are still in the playoff race while Suresh Rainas men are out of the tournament.

Read the story here.
Remittance, the money citizens of a country send home from working abroad, has witnessed a decline globally with India registering the steepest fall of $6.2 billion in 2016.

Despite the slump, India remained the worlds top remittance recipient but it runs the risk of being unseated by China.

According to the latest World Bank data, last year India received $62.7 billion in remittance, which was 8.9% less than the money sent to the country in 2015.

The World Bank has attributed the decline to fewer people finding jobs abroad due to a slump in the Gulf economy, stricter visa norms, and people from countries such as Pakistan sending workers abroad.

China, which received $61 billion in remittance, finished a close second - just $1.7 billion less than India.

While the global average decline in remittance is 2.4%, Indias decrease of 8.9 % is the highest percentage drop, Seeta Sharma, national project coordinator at the International Labour Organisation said. She added that if the trend continued, China may again become the top remittance receiving country, a position India has held since 2008.

A WORRYING TREND

The drop is worrying for India because from a balance-of-payments perspective, remittances are crucial as they ensure permanent foreign currency inflows and help finance current account deficit.

Unlike NRI deposits that can be repatriated and FDI that can be withdrawn instantly, remittances are more stable. Remittances to developing countries are expected to grow by 3.3%, while Indias projected growth rate is just 1.9%.

CORRECTIVE MEASURES

Experts argued that the government should work towards safeguarding remittance inflows and find ways to secure overseas markets through its policies.

Adjustments can be made to e-migrate system being followed by India to further facilitate migration of workers .

Similarly, policies restricting womens migration should be re-considered by the government in consultation with representative groups.

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Union urban development and housing and urban poverty alleviation minister M Venkaiah Naidu and top bureaucrats of his ministry will be in Lucknow on Friday to review the implementation of all central sector urban schemes in Uttar Pradesh.

The Narendra Modi government seems to be leaving no stone unturned to ensure that it delivers on its promise to ramp up development in UP after the massive mandate they got in the state in the recent assembly elections and the 2014 parliamentary polls.

This is the first such review of urban sector programmes since the formation of the new government in the state. UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, concerned state ministers and officials will attend the review meeting.

Uttar Pradesh has lagged behind in the implementation of almost all the urban sector programs of the Centre such as housing for all, smart cities mission, etc.

There is concern that if there is no tangible development on the ground, the goodwill will go  That is why the Centre has turned its focus on UP, said a senior government official.

So far, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) only a few proposals have been received from the earlier state government. The Centre has approved construction of 20,682 affordable houses with an investment of Rs 1,058 crore. The central assistance approved for these projects is Rs 466 crore.

UP has also fared poorly on sanitation and is amongst the dirtiest states in the country. The Swachh Survekshan report released on Thursday found 50 of the 62 cities surveyed in UP ranked below 300 on various sanitation parameters like garbage collection and solid waste management. Gonda is the dirtiest among the 434 cities surveyed across India.

The UP assembly elections carry wider national ramifications as the emphatic victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) added to its image of invincibility and may leave a divided opposition further demoralised in the run-up to the national elections in 2019.

The state is politically important as it accounts for the biggest number of constituencies or seats in India, both at the Lok Sabha level - 80 out of 543 elected MPs - and at the state assembly level - 404. It also sends 31 members to the Rajya Sabha, the highest for any state.

There is very little time left to deliver before the 2019 parliamentary elections. The government has realised that unless it translates its promises to work on the ground, it might not earn it political dividend, said another senior government officer.

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Former Uttar Pradesh minister Shivpal Yadav announced on Friday he was breaking away from the Samajwadi Party and forming a new political outfit, Samajwadi Secular Morcha.

It all began in September last year when then chief minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked two senior ministers considered close to Shivpal. A day later, the nephew booted the uncle out of the state cabinet, and a full-blown war broke out in the Samajwadi Party  a battle that appeared to have damaged the party and contributed to its drubbing in the assembly elections.

HT recalls how the fight within the SPs first family engulfed the party, and eventually split it:

September 12, 2016: Akhilesh sacks 2 tainted ministers Gayatri Prajapati and Rajkishore Singh, who were facing allegations of corruption

September 13: Mulayam removes Akhilesh from the post of state president and names Shivpal to the post. Akhilesh retaliates by stripping Shivpal of all key ministerial posts

September 16: Mulayam rejects Shivpals resignation and says as long as he is alive SP will not split. Shivpal says he will abide by his instructions

September 20: As state chief, Shivpal expels 7 Akhilesh supporters, including 3 MLCs and chiefs of SPs 3 youth wings

October 23: Akhilesh sacks Shivpal and 3 others from the cabinet

December 7: Mulayam upgrades Amar Singhs position in the party as a parliamentary board member

December 30: Mulayam expels Akhilesh and his brother Ramgopal Yadav for 6 years from the party. Before this, Ramgopal announces extraordinary emergency national convention of the party for January 1.

December 31: Mulayam revokes the expulsion of Akhilesh and Ramgopal. Despite, revocation of the expulsions, Ramgopal reiterates the holding of the convention for January 1.

January 1, 2017: Ramgopal calls extraordinary emergency national convention at Janeshwar Mishra Park. Minutes before the convention begins, Mulayam declares it illegal. The convention elects Akhilesh as SPs national president. He expels Amar Singh and sacks Shivpal from the partys state presidentship

January 16: The Election Commission gives the SPs bicycle poll symbol to the faction led by Akhilesh

January 31: While filing his nomination, Shivpal said he would form a new party after the election results are declared. However, he later said he had no such plans

Feb-March: SP contests polls under Akhileshs leadership but suffers a humiliating defeat at the hands of the BJP. The party wins only 47 seats in the 403-member assembly, its lowest tally since 1992 when it was formed.

March 16: Akhilesh and Shivpal are seen together after a gap of over 100 days at the meeting of the newly elected party legislators in Lucknow

March 25: Mulayam and Shivpal skip partys executive meet in Lucknow

March 27: Party veteran and former minister Ram Govind Choudhary is appointed as the partys leader in the assembly

March 28: Akhilesh is unanimously elected as Leader of the SP Legislature Party in both the Houses of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature

April 2: Mulayam says Prime Minister Narendra Modi was right about Akhilesh that his insults led to SPs loss in elections

April 4: Shivpal meets chief minister Yogi Adityanath fuelling speculation of joining the BJP which he later denies

April 24: Shivpal reiterates his demand that Akhilesh should take moral responsibility for the SPs defeat in assembly elections and step down as party president

April 30: Ramgopal says Shivpal does not have any knowledge of partys constitution and advises him to work for the party and not talk nonsense

May 3: Shivpal threatens to form a new secular front if Akhilesh does not hand over SPs reins to Mulayam.

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A survey of 500 school and college students of Indore has found that 64% of school and 80% of college students use WhatsApp but poor awareness exposes them to criminal liability.

The study found that even though 72% of school and 54% of college students are group administrators, often (30% in case of school and 43% in case of college students) they do not know all the members of the group.

This is reckless behaviour as any wrong activity by any group member can be pinned on the group administrator too, said additional director general of police (ADGP) Narcotics and Police Radio Training School (PRTS) Varun Kapoor .

The study , which has been published in Indian Police Journal of BPR&D and NPA Journal, found that around 25% use the application for four hours, which comes to a third of the productive time of the students per day.

The school students covered under the survey were from class 10 to 12.

Obscenity on WhatsApp is another danger zone. The study showed that 20% school and 29% college students admit to either viewing or posting obscene material on WhatsApp.

This is alarming because if a student is posting and transmitting obscene material (which may be photos, videos or even text) then he is committing a crime under section 67 and 67A of the IT Act, experts said. Further if he is viewing (in addition to posting or transmitting) obscene material concerning a child (a person below 18 years of age) then he/she is committing a crime under section 67B of the said act.

Prank or hoax posts on WhatsApp are another big challenge, experts said.

According to survey almost half of all school and college students admit to forwarding such posts without thinking or finding out the veracity of such posts. ADGP Kapoor says that at a time when 75% of school and college students possess smart phones and spend such long hours on social media sites, they should be sensitised about the legal aspects of the virtual world.

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Gujarat Lions opening batsman Brendon McCullum and pace bowler Nathu Singh were on Friday ruled out of the remainder of the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injuries.

While McCullum endured a strain in his left hamstring during fielding against Delhi Daredevils on Thursday, Nathu suffered back spasms during Lions home game in Rajkot against Kings XI Punjab. The fast bowler hasnt played a game since then.

Read | Why tourneys like IPL bad for cricket - Kings XI Punjabs Hashim Amla explains)

The New Zealander has been advised 3-4 weeks of intensive rehabilitation so as to not aggravate the damage in his hamstring, said a Gujarat Lions statement on Friday.

(Read | Dinesh Karthik rues Gujarat Lions inability to defend totals in IPL 2017)

The Gujarat Lions have had a dismal season in the IPL so far after topping the league phase standings last year. Out of the 11 games they have played so far, the Rajkot-based team have won only three and lost eight.

With three back-to-back losses, the Suresh Raina-led outfit are already out of contention for the playoffs after losing to the Daredevils by seven wickets on Thursday night in New Delhi.
As it is nearing the landmark 150th year, Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), the countrys oldest surviving port that is battling declining draft for decades, is now facing the twin threats from a port in Odisha and Bengal that threaten to take away a big chunk of its business.

KoPT, which is in its 147th year, is losing out about 10-15% of its cargo to the minor port at Dhamra in Odisha. But a far bigger threat looms when the Subarnarekha port comes up, KoPT chairman M T Krishna Babu said on Thursday.

Read: Centre-Bengal government tussle over stake in proposed deep sea port near Tajpur

The picture looks more gloomy for KoPT as its survival plan with an alternative port at Sagar, sharing KoPTs hinterland, virtually stands scrapped due to the new deep sea port proposed by the West Bengal government at Tajpur, close to Haldia.

Kolkata Port Trust also suffers from lack of cost competitiveness compared to ports in Odisha. (HT Photo)

The ministry has made it clear that Sagar port is not happening if Tajpur comes up, as it will amount to bad investment. We are keen on joining state government in developing the Tajpur port and have sought 74% share from them. We are waiting for the state governments response, Krishna Babu said.

Dhamra port is about 250 kilometres from Haldia dock complex, while the planned Subarnarekha port will come up barely a hundred kilometers away from Haldia. Tajpur is about 75 kilometres from Haldia.

Indias oldest operational port and the first among the 12 major ports (government-owned) of India, KoPT is also the only riverine major port. Established in 1870, it now has two docks, one in Kolkata and the other at Haldia.

In 2016-17, KoPT handled 3,431 ships, the highest among Indian major ports, but its cargo throughput stayed flat at 50.3 million metric tonnes.

Read: India, Iran and Afghanistan sign Chabahar port agreement

The state government, however, is no mood to give majority share to the Centre. It offered the Centre 24% share and planned to attract private investment for the rest. If Mamata Banerjee is able to push through her plan, it will jeopardise the KoPT further.

Even the security of pensioners will be at risk, Krishna Babu said, hinting at the gloomy future that three private ports in the vicinity  Dhamra, Subarnarekha and Tajpur  can bring for them.

KoPT is already burdened with meeting the expenses of more than 30,000 pensioners, whereas it has about 5,300 employees.

The KoPT chairman said they are keeping worst possible scenario in mind and planning modernisation accordingly to attract more cargo and reduce operational expenditure.

The cost of using Kolkata port or Haldia dock is 25-40% higher than at Dhamra. Haldia dock, however, enjoys the advantage of strong railway connectivity and the hinterland of the states of the northeast and Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

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Will the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) be able to continue its winning spree in Bengal and register its first electoral victory in the hills that will go for the civic polls on May 14.

Since late eighties the four municipalities of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik in Darjeeling hills have always been ruled by local parties Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). Both have spearheaded movements for creation of separate state of Gorkhaland. Both the outfits still bank on the politics of a separate state.

Read: Administration wraps Darjeeling with CCTV cameras

The GJM that also runs the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) formed through tri-partite agreement between the GJM, Centre and the state government in July 2011 continues to be the strongest political force in the hills.

Harka Bahadur of Jan Andolan Party. Though he was earlier close to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the two fell out and TMC struck an alliance with GNLF. (HT Photo)

Though all polls held since 2009 including two Lok Sabha elections, two assembly elections and municipal elections were cakewalks for Bimal Gurung-led GJM, this time the political equation is different as opposition parties including the TMC have started flexing muscle, while GJMs support base stand somewhat eroded.

On the other, though TMC registered one electoral victory after another since 2011 in rest of the state lost all the six assembly seats in the 2016 election in Darjeeling district. It also lost the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad (subdivisional council) elections to the Left Front.

The May 14 municipality polls in politically volatile hills the hills has provided TMC the opportunity to prove its mettle. Despite GJMs opposition, Mamata Banerjee has created 15 development bodies for different hill communities and pumped in hundreds of crores of rupees for them.

This is a time for the development boards to pay back to the state government by supporting the TMC, said a senior TMC leader requesting anonymity.

Read: New political equation unfolds in Darjeeling hills, TMC-GNLF forge poll alliance against GJMs might

TMC was also successful in instigating rebellion among the GJM rank and file and GJMs frontal organsiations as hundreds of ad-hoc employees of the GTA, ad-hoc, voluntary and organizing teachers joined the TMC bandwagon. Immediately after the ad-hoc teachers joined TMC their jobs were regularised by the state government.

Mamata Banerjee has made numerous trips to Darjeeling hills. She wants to project that none else will cater to the developments needs of the people of the hills more than her. (HT Photo)

This was done by the state government just to create a division in the GJM, said Bimal Gurung, the GJM president and the GTA chief executive. Education is a transferred subject to the GTA but the state government never allowed it to work as per the GTA accord, claimed Roshan Giri, GTA executive sabhasad for education department.

Though GJM is still a force to reckon with in Darjeeling hills, TMC is desperately trying to reach out to the people. It has forged an alliance with the GNLF.

Trinamool Congress has deployed scores of its senior leaders and ministers to bring home its first electoral victory in Darjeeling hills. GJM has made the election as Gorkhaland-versus-Bengal issue. GJM is seeking votes for creation of separate state and to give a befitting reply to the state governments divide and rule policy and dirty politics.

Read: Losing ground to Trinamool, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha raises Gorkhaland issue before Modi, NDA partners

The TMC and the state government are of the opinion that the four municipalities of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Kalimpong were marred by corruption under the rule of GJM.

After two periods of unrest for the struggle for Gorkhaland, life in Darjeeling is back to normal since 2012. (HT Photo)

Goutam Deb the state tourism minister has been camping in Darjeeling since Tuesday and will be there till May 12. Similarly the party has lined up many senior ministers and leaders for campaigning in the hills. They include Abishek Banerjee, PWD minster Aroop Biswas, municipal affairs minister Firad Hakim, North Bengal development minister Rabindranath Ghosh, Mohan Sharma the sabhadipati of Alipurduar zilla parishad and Saurav Chakraborty the Alipurduar MLA and TMCs president in Alipurduar district.

They would hold rallies and meetings in different parts of the hills. Abishek Banerjee will address a TMC-GNLF rally in Darjeeling on Friday. TMC is focusing on Mirik, Darjeeling and Kurseong while the Jan Andolan Party is set to give tough fight to the GJM in Kalimpong.

Deb said, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has showered unprecedented love and developments in the hills. She has visited Darjeeling hills more than 50 times in last six years and created a separate Kalimpong district, Deb said adding that hill people will vote for development and against the corrupt practices of GJM.

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Uttar Pradesh is not new to road accidents. The death of 14 people after a truck fell into a roadside canal on Friday morning in Etah is one such incident. According to statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), one accident due to dangerous driving is reported every two hours from the state.

The state reported highest number of deaths  23,219  due to road and rail accidents in 2015, according to NCRB data. This included 8,109 deaths due to careless driving. Here are some recent fatal road accidents in Uttar Pradesh:

April 23, 2017: Three killed and four injured when an SUV hit a fallen tree in Mudkutti village of Basti district in Uttar Pradesh

Jan 19, 2017: As many as 12 students and the driver of the school bus they were travelling in were killed and about two dozen other children injured when their vehicle collided with a sand-laden truck amid in Etah districts Aliganj area.

Feb 14, 2017: Eight persons were killed when an ambulance rammed into a stationary truck in Sant Kabir Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh early morning.

Oct 25, 2016: A 42-year-old man was killed and over 35 injured when a bus overturned in Jarwal road area of Uttar Pradeshs Bahraich district.

June 5, 2015: As many as five people were killed after their car hit a divider on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district.

Feb 13, 2015: Three people were killed and over a dozen injured when an ambulance overturned and hit a bike in Chaurasi area in Unnao district.

May 18, 2014: As many as eight persons, killed and 10 others injured when a tempo collided with a truck in Mirzapur district of east Uttar Pradesh

Dec 2, 2014: Three women were killed and 24 others injured when the tractor trolley in which they were travelling overturned near Kallanpur area in Fatehpur district.

Dec 12, 2013: As many as 14 people were killed when a speeding truck rammed into two vehicles in Sitapur on Lucknow outskirts.
A Muslim woman in Meerut announced separation from her abusive husband using triple talaq, a provision reserved for men of the community to divorce their wives.

Accompanied by Hindu Mahasabha activists and her sister, Amreen made the announcement in front of mediapersons at the office of inspector general (IG), Meerut zone, Ajay Anand on Wednesday.

Among certain controversial religious practices among Muslims, triple talaqa provision by which a Muslim man can divorce his wife by pronouncing the word talaq thricehas been opposed by the BJP-led Centre, terming the practice unequal and discriminatory against women, and impacting their dignity and right to life, provided in the Constitution.

However, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has criticised the move, saying the BJP was trying to impose a uniform civil code in the country, to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged Muslims not to view the issue through a political lens.

A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court will commence hearing from May 11 to decide on the constitutional validity of the practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy among Muslims.

Amreen, daughter of Nizamuddin of Narheda village in Uttar Pradeshs Kharkhauda, had married Sabir of Ladpura village on March 28, 2012. On the same day, her sister Farheen had married Sabirs brother, Shakir.

Both the sisters claimed their husbands used to torture them for dowry. Farheen said she had gotten divorced in September last year. After that, Amreen said her husband started torturing her too.

One day, they tried to burn me by throwing kerosene oil on me. I was saved by the neighbours, she claimed.

She approached police but got no help. Left with no choice, she came to IG office with Hindu Mahasabha activists on Wednesday.

The IG, Ajay Anand gave them a patient hearing and assured help, but they were not satisfied and declared that they would meet chief minister Yogi Adityanath and share their grief with him.

Amreen has also filed a case of dowry harassment against Sabir.
The police raid on the house of former minister Hari Shankar Tiwari and murder accused MLA Amanmani Tripathi sharing the dais with chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Gorakhpur are likely to make an impact on the politics of east UP.

Both the events have revived the Thakur-Brahmin rivalry in Gorakhpur region when the gang led by Hari Shankar Tiwari, considered to be the undisputed leader of the Brahmins, was engaged in a battle for supremacy with gangster-turned-politician Virendra Pratap Shahi who enjoyed the support of Thakurs.

The formation of the BJP government in the state and elevation of Gorakhnath mutts chief priest Yogi Adityanath to the post of chief minister has changed the political equations in east UP.

The Tiwari family that held sway in Gorakhpur region for about three decades is feeling the heat of political transformation and Amanmani, who is facing charges of murdering his wife, has suddenly gained prominence.

It is well known that Yogi Adityanath loathes criminalisation of politics promoted by Tiwari. He has not only condemned the entry of criminals in politics but has also called upon the people to end mafia raj in Gorakhpur region by ensuring their defeat.

Rather than opening the door for Amanmani, our strategy is to send across the message to the Brahmin community as well as Tiwari that he (Amanmani) has the blessings of the party. The aim is to diminish the sway of Tiwari over the Brahmin community, a BJP leader told HT.

Amanmanis father Amarmani Tripathi was once a close aide of Tiwari. He parted ways with Tiwari to form a separate group and embarrassed him by winning over his supporters. While Amarmani is in jail, the task to weaken Tiwari has been assigned to his son, he said.

Amanmani proved his mettle by winning Nautanwa assembly seat in Maharajganj district as an independent candidate. He contested the election from behind bars.

BJP could not make a clean sweep in Gorakhpur, the stronghold of Yogi, and won eight out of nine seats in the district. Vinay Shankar Tiwari, younger son of Hari Shankar, won Chillupar seat on a BSP ticket.

After taking over the reins of the state, Yogi Adityanath appointed Tiwaris former aide Brijesh Pathak a minister in his cabinet.

Recently, the police raided Hari Shankars residence in Gorakhpur and nabbed his aides on charges of loot.

The police raided my residence in Gorakhpur out of political vendetta. The BSP condemned the raid and organised a dharna at the district magistrates office to register protest, said Vinay Shankar.

The government sent a clear message that it will tighten noose around Tiwari. The state governments decision to introduce e-tendering will further weaken Tiwari whose companies flourish on government contracts, the BJP leader said.

More than two decades back, when Yogi Adityanath was trying to establish himself in politics, Tiwari dominated the scene hopping from one party to the other. He served as minister in the Kalyan Singh and the Mulayam Singh Yadav governments.

After winning the Lok Sabha election from Gorakhpur in 1998, Yogi tried to restrict the influence of Tiwari in the region by launching a campaign against gun culture.

Tiwari hit back by rallying behind the opponents of Yogi Adityanath.

Caste factor also played a role in the tussle. Gorakhnath Temple Trust is the seat of Nath sect but the mahant (chief priest) of the mutt has been from the Thakur community.

Virendra Pratap Shahi used to challenge the might of Tiwari but after his murder in 1997, the Thakur community started supporting Yogi Adityanath, whom the then head of the temple trust mahant Avaidyanath had declared his successor.

People started saying that the mutt would counter the might of hata (Tiwaris house as referred by local people).

By taking up the cause of Hindutva, Yogi won the support of upper caste, backwards and dalits and called upon the people to launch a movement against the mafia active in the region.

Addressing a public meeting, Yogi said, When I used to tell the ministers and MPs in Delhi that I am from Gorakhpur, they spoke about the incidents of crime in the region. It was an embarrassment for me as well as for the people of the region whom I represent. I have decided to take action against gangsters and criminals.

Talking to HT, Amanmanis uncle Ajit Mani Tripathi said, My nephew attended the programmes organised by the BJP to seek the CMs blessings. Amanmani is an MLA and my family has an old bond with Yogi Adityanath. We revere Guru Gorakhnath and have been visiting the temple to seek the blessings of Adityanath.

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Women in the state capital are revving up to breach a male bastion and hit the streets as chauffeurs. Ready to enter a different field, these drivers are practising their rides and understanding Lucknows geography to ensure comfortable drives for clients.

The women  who can drive commercial vehicles, school vans, private cars etc  after being through the training process are looking for assignments.

FICCI FLO had undertaken the initiative of training women in view of the growing demand for professional drivers in the city.

Six drivers are ready in the first batch, and each of them is a fighter in their own respect. One of them is Sunita Sahu who wants to drive to facilitate her daughters medical education. My husband doesnt do anything and I have the sole responsibility of running the family. My daughter is in Class 12 and aims to become a doctor. I want her dream to come true and thus decided to take up the challenge, she says.

Sunita had been involved in door-to-door surveys carried out by companies. But that wouldnt allow her enough income to meet the expenses of her daughters education in a medical college.

Driving is a skilled job and can ensure us decent income. More than that, the job would allow us show the world that we are no less than men, says Shagufta Asif, a mother of two. She was shown the door by her parents in law who allegedly ill-treated her. And now, she is bringing up her children on her own.

Women can do everything then why not driving? We have been focusing on skill development of women and driving is part of it. Now that the women are trained, we would first employ them (part-time) for our own vehicles, make them perfect in driving and then get them commercial licences so that they can drive commercial vehicles on a full-time basis, said Anju Narain, chairperson, FICCI FLO Lucknow and Kanpur chapter.

To begin with, the women will drive during office hours and within the city limits. Gradually, depending on their interests, they would make the choice of their working conditions, time etc.

Individual women driving on Lucknow roads isnt new. But having professional women drivers for vehicles is certainly a new trend in the city. I am sure it will pick up and city roads will witness more women drivers, said Lama Chandra Nigam, an academician.

I had been looking for a woman driver to drop my daughters to school every day. With cases against male drivers rising, we dont allow our girls to go with drivers alone. Introduction of women drivers will solve the problem, said Garima Srivastava, an engineer.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said his government will not allow cow slaughter and cow-smuggling at any cost, but warned gau rakshaks against resorting to vigilantism.

Complain to police if there is a case of cow smuggling or slaughter. We will also soon launch a helpline for that purpose, he said.

The chief minister expressed his appreciation for some gau rakshaks, who he thought were doing a good job.

In a cautionary message to vigilantes, he said: We advise them to hold on because we are going launch a state-wide drive to identify pseudo gau rakshaks and take action against them.

Adityanath also assured the people of the state that his government will not differentiate between teeka and topi, an oblique reference to Hindus and Muslims. He also said concessions would not be granted on religious grounds.

Speaking at a function organised by a news channel on Friday, he said nobody needs to be scared under his rule.

However, he declared that some people would have to change their habits because his development-oriented government does not believe in appeasement politics.

Adityanath said his government was committed to ending the jungle raj in the state, and work in this regard has already begun. Every section of the society will feel safe and secure by the time I present my governments report card on the completion of 100 days in power by June-end, he added.

He claimed that his government would save at least Rs 12,000-15,000 crore per year by plugging wasteful expenditure to fund the governments welfare schemes. No additional tax will be levied on the people for this purpose, the chief minister added.

Adityanath also promised 70 lakh jobs for the people over the next five years. We are going to recruit 1.30 lakh police constables and sub-inspectors in phases after the Supreme Courts nod, he announced.

LIQUOR BAN

Adityanath provided no direct answer when asked if he was contemplating banning liquor in Uttar Pradesh, like Nitish Kumar did for Bihar.

Just wait and watch. We will do everything in the interests of the state, he said, adding: Let us first tackle the slaughterhouse issue.

CLEANLINESS CAMPAIGN

Expressing regret that several cities in Uttar Pradesh had received poor ratings in the recent Swachh survey, Adityanath said he would ensure that at least 50 of the 100 cleanest cities in India are picked from the state next time round.

We are launching a cleanliness drive from tomorrow in this regard, and it will begin with four slums in Lucknow, he added.
After raising more than Rs 21 lakh for treatment and travel of Egyptian national Eman Ahmed, who was once the worlds heaviest woman, doctors from Saifee hospital would be launching a similar crowdfunding campaign to help seven obese kids they plan to treat.

Three of the children  Yogita Nandwana (7), who weighs 45kg; Anisha, 5, is the heaviest at 68kg; and brother Harsh, 3, weighs 25kg  are in Mumbai to meet Saifee doctors who invited them for a check-up a few months ago.

The children came to the city on Thursday morning. We will take them to Saifee Hospital. If they can treat a foreigner with so much care, why not our own? said Dilip Nandwana, uncle of the three children.

The doctors at Saifee hospital are expecting four more children  two from Maharashtra and two from Gujarat  to join the trio.

These children belong to poor families. So we are thinking of starting a crowdfunding campaign  similar to the one initiated for Eman  to raise funds for their treatment, said Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, bariatric surgeon and Emans doctor.

Lakdawala said that after Emans successful recovery, he is excited to treat these children.He told HT the mutation in the LEPR gene  which caused Emans condition  is responsible for the childrens severe obesity.

Currently, there is no specific treatment for this condition. But a drug called MC4R Agonist, only available through a pharmaceutical company in the US, could help these children, he added.

Lakdawala said he has spoken with the manufacturers, who have agreed for a medical trial and is likely to administer the drug to put the children.

Stating that bariatric procedure, like the one performed on Eman, was an option for the children, he added, We avoid surgical procedures on paediatric patients. As its a monogenic disorder, we will have to give a shot at the drug which was previously administered to three patients.
The Bombay high court on Thursday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the police to take immediate action on complaints registered about illegal sale of animals in Mumbai.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by activist Sanjay Shirke who said that animals were being sold illegally in various markets across the city, especially, in Crawford Market. The petitioners lawyer, Abhishek Yende, told the court that after its order on April 10, the illegal sale of animals shifted from Crawford Market to markets in Kurla and Borivli. The plea claimed that despite the Wildlife Protection Act that bans the trade and trapping of indigenous as well as endangered birds, a black market for such trade thrives openly in the city. HT had published a series on cruelty to pets in April.

A member secretary of the Maharashtra state legal services authority also submitted a report of his visit to Crawford Market which stated that a few shop owners in the market continue to offer animals for sale. It revealed that on his demand, two shop owners had offered to sell him a tortoise but backed out of the deal at the last moment.

Such activity cannot be allowed to go on anywhere across the city, the bench headed by chief justice said on Thursday.

It added that since the illegal sale of animals had shifted to Kurla and Borivali, the directives issued on April 10 extended to areas within the jurisdiction of the BMC as also the commissioner of police.

On April 10, the high court had directed the assistant municipal commissioner of the concerned ward and a senior inspector of MRA Marg police station to keep a strict vigil against such sale in Crawford Market. It had also recorded utter displeasure over civic and state authorities inaction in tackling the problem.
Lack of majority in the upper house may force the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to concede for a discussion on the agrarian crisis during the special session of state legislature to be held between May 20 and 22. The Opposition has been demanding a special session to discuss loan waiver for farmers.

The government has proposed a special GST session to pass state-related laws as mandated by the Centre. During a meeting of the business advisory committee of the legislature held on April 29, the Opposition demanded a debate on farmers issues in the GST session.

The government, while refusing to accept the demand, said the session was meant only for GST and no other issue could be discussed during it. The Opposition threatened not to help the government in passing GST, if the debate on farmers issue was not held.

The Opposition then met Governor on May 2, demanding a special session to discuss the agrarian crisis. The Opposition is now likely to throw its weight around using the majority in the upper house to ensure at least one day is reserved for the debate.

It is a financial bill and will have to be first passed in the Assembly before it is tabled in the council. If the council does not pass it, it will be deemed to have been passed only after 14 days. But such a situation may be embarrassing for the government and will also delay the entire process. To avoid the peculiar situation, the government may accept the debate, said an official from the state legislature.

Ruling partner Shiv Sena, too, has demanded a special session to discuss the agrarian crisis.

We have demanded a special session on loan waiver. It will be part of our strategy to decide upon discussion on the issue during the three-day session, said Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.

At least eight states, including Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgad, Telangana, Haryana, have passed the state GST bills in the past four weeks.

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The Maharashtra tourism department plans to develop Shaurya (bravery) museum at Kala Amb  a war memorial at Panipat in Haryana, in memory of the third battle fought between the Maratha Army and Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Abdali.

The department has formed a group comprising managing directors of tourism corporations of both the states  Maharashtra and Haryana.

The decision was taken at a meeting headed by Jaykumar Rawal, state tourism minister, Sameer Pal Srow, managing director, Haryana Tourism Corporation and senior officials of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).

MTDC to develop Maharashtra Shourya museum at Panipat, Haryana. MD, HTDC in discussion with Hon. Tourism Minister, MD, MTDC and Jt.MD, MTDC pic.twitter.com/YFMvx05SzC  Maharashtra Tourism (@mtdc_official) May 4, 2017

Kala Amb monument, which is now developed as a park, was built as a tribute to more than 75,000 Maratha soldiers who lost their lives in the war.

The Haryana government wants us to help them in developing Kala Amb. It will come up at a spot in Panipat battleground where a mango tree turned black due to bloodshed owing to the battle. The tree has died down now, Rawal told HT.

The state government would like to develop the place. We are planning to build Shaurya museum there. I have asked Vijay Waghmare, managing director of MTDC, to visit the monument and prepare detailed a plan, he said.

Read more: Maharashtra: Sindhudurg to be developed as major tourist hub

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Butters  The Tipsy Gastropub Rating: 3 / 5 Where: 105/107, Mistry Mansion, opposite Bombay High Court, MG Road, Fort When: Noon to 1.30 am Cost: About Rs 1,500 for two, without drinks. Full bar available Call: 2266-4499, 2261-6667

Heres what Butters offers across its seven-page food menu: all-day breakfasts (from mushroom-swathed eggs Kejriwal to crepes); soups and salads; munchies (from sev puri tart to tartare); a paos and baos section; small plates (of course); pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, burgers; plates to share; a Desi Corner; and desserts ranging from pizookie to panna cotta.

About a dozen of these dishes are a legacy from its predecessor, Global Chaos, as is the flatware, and the striking wooden lattice by the stairway.

With Butters it should be clear that in the Mumbai of today, whether we like it or not, best of is a cuisine in its own right. Its the millennial upgrade of the justly maligned multi-cuisine menu. Its a sign that, no matter how large and diverse the group, everyone will find enough that pleases them, and some things that disappoint. Butters also has an affordable cocktail line-up.

The Drunken Bhel starter is a pleaser, served in thin taco-like sev puri shells, with lightly rum-spiked chutneys. We visited thrice and at every meal we considered seconds. (Bhushan Koyande / HT Photo)

The signature Drunken Bhel starter is a pleaser. Its regular bhel, with lightly rum-spiked chutneys, served in thin taco-like sev puri shells. We visited thrice and at every meal we considered seconds.

Some of the other starters didnt fare as well. The machhi pao isnt quite a machhi pao  the fish is buried so deep in bread and rawa batter, that you taste the lachha onions and chutney more than the sea bass.

The Machhi Pao is fish buried so deep in bread and rawa batter, that you taste the lachha onions and chutney more than you do the sea bass. (Bhushan Koyande / HT Photo)

These onions and the chutney are ubiquitous in the desi dishes. They sit alongside a tender spicy mutton seekh with not-so-tender paratha. Theyre in a paneer tikka masala naan pocket: a flaky naan split and stuffed with spicy, creamy, softly springy cheese.

The mysteriously named Chicken Kim Jong-Un was good - a platter of nuggets coated in a sticky-hot-tart glaze. (Bhushan Koyande / HT Photo)

Were not sure if North Koreas supreme leader likes Butters fried chicken, Kim Jong-Un, but we did. The fried nuggets are coated in a sticky-hot-tart glaze that would even work with ribs. The signature pork sliders, on the other hand, were way too twee: bitty domes of bread in deep pink and black, encasing sugary pulled pork dulled by coleslaw.

Heres whats even duller: the service. Its erratic in pace, and the staff seem to make up dish descriptions (What do you put in your Old Fashioned? Bourbon. Which one? Blenders Pride. Okay, whats in your Mexican burger? Chicken. And? Its spicy. Hows it Mexican? Its got capsicum.).

If you are in the neighbourhood, there is enough to go back for, (like the bhel). But when a menu has something for everyone, precision must be sacrificed.

The pork sliders are just bitty domes of bread in deep pink and black, encasing sugary pulled pork dulled by coleslaw. (Bhushan Koyande / HT Photo)

(HT Reviews anonymously and pays for all meals)
Dumping of debris has destroyed more than 20 acres of mangrove forests in Charkop, Kandivli in Mumbai over the past seven years, making way for encroachment by 3,000 shanties and private properties.

The violations were brought to light on Wednesday during a monthly meeting of the Maharashtra governments committee for protection and conservation of mangroves, which was attended by suburban collector, police personnel, mangrove cell, Konkan divisional commissioner and civic officials.

Closer to the Manori creek, there is a 100-acre mangrove patch. But in the corners of Charkop village, builders and land mafia have reduced the cover to barren patches, said Reji Abraham, environmentalist and member of the committee, who shows the maps and pictures of the destruction at the meeting. Local authorities have helped builders in hacking mangrove trees and building prime property.

A picture showing illegal encroachment on the mangrove forests in Charkop. (REJI ABRAHAM)

According to Abraham, three mangrove patches have been wiped out through debris dumping  one patch near Laxmi Nagar , another patch facing Charkop village and one near Jalaram temple.

Between Dingeshwar temple and Jalaram temple, more than 1,300 huts, commercial galas, pucca chawls and tin sheds have been constructed illegally, said Abraham, adding, Around 1,700 structures have come up close to Laxmi Nagar and Dingeshwar Talao.

A photo showing the debris being dumped at the spot. (REJI ABRAHAM)

In 2005, acting on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Bombay Environment Action Group, the Bombay high court banned destruction of mangrove forests across the state and construction within 50m of mangrove areas. In 2014, NGO Vanashakti filed another PIL on protection of wetlands which led to a ban reclamation and construction on wetlands.

In October 2016, the Bombay high court constituted a committee to ensure safety of mangroves and implement a grievance redress mechanism to contain mangrove destruction.

HT had reported on April 25 reported that 216 illegal structures  30 commercial establishments and 186 shanties  were removed from a 3-hectare mangrove patch on reserved forest area at Charkop, Kandivli. The mangrove cell called it their largest demolition drive in Mumbai on government land so far.

There are no illegal structures on the reserved mangrove forests. We are looking into the dumping of debris at the spot, said Makarand Ghodke, assistant conservator of forest, Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit.

We have already told the civic body to remove the structures in their jurisdiction . Our deputy collectors have been told to initiate action in the coming days, said Deependra Singh Kushwa, Mumbai suburban collector.

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The state government has said it will not lift the cap it put in place two decades ago to limit the number of autorickshaw and taxi permits issued in Mumbai and other cities of the state.

The Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Department issued an official statement to clarify that the ceiling will not be lifted, ending months of speculation on the issue.

The state government has not taken any decision about freeing up autorickshaw permits. The government has re-issued auto and taxi permits that were cancelled or had lapsed, but the ban on issuing new ones stays, the release said.

Maharashtra has 7.5 lakh autorickshaws and 79,000 black-and-yellow taxis  1.39 lakh autorickshaws and 55,000 taxis ply on Mumbais roads.

The Mumbai Autorickshaw Taximens Union has been demanding that the government issues one lakh more permits, as the citys population has risen over the past two decades, when the permits were capped.

On November 26, 1997, the Maharashtra government froze the number of autorickshaw and taxi permits issued in the state.

The decision was taken following a Union government directive put in place to avoid traffic issues in cities where more than five lakh people lived.

Officials from the regional transport offices told HT that lifting the cap would only worsen the traffic situation in cities like Mumbai and Pune.

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Good news for Mumbaiites  there will be no water cuts this summer. The seven lakes that supply water to the city are 29.57% full. With more than 4.2 lakh million liters of water, this stock is expected to last the city till July 31, said officials. Additionally, the weather department has told us not to expect poor rainfall, said civic officials.

We have developed the capacity to stock larger quantities of water. Its supply will vary depending on the monsoon. Currently, we have enough water to last the city till end of July. There will be no water cuts till then, said Ashok Tawadia, chief engineer of hydraulic engineering department.

Read: No water cuts this summer, Maharashtras dams have enough water to last 6 months

Currently, the civic body supplies 3,750 million liters of water daily (mld), while the city needs as much as 4,200 mld. According to civic officials, the Brihanmumbai Municpal Corporation (BMC) has developed the capacity to store an additional 265 mld.

Plants set up to recycle backwash water  potable water which is wasted during the filtration process  at Bhandup and Panjrapur, with supply Mumbai with an additional 120 mld. The Gundavali-Kapurbawadi-Bhandup underground water tunnel has helped the civic body to source 105 mld more from Bhatsa lake. This was impossible earlier owing to restrictions in the conveyance system. Another 40 mld will be acquired from a tunnel commissioned to source water from Modak Sagar lake.

Last summer, the city had faced a serious water crisis, during which 20% water cuts were imposed on residents. As the arrival of the monsoon has been delayed over the past few years, the civic body prepares its water distribution strategy from October 1 to July 31 each year, as lakes fill during the rains.

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Police recently arrested a 24-year-old Bandra resident for sending lewd messages to more than 20 women living in Mumbais western suburbs.

Police said the man, Rohan Dsouza, would find the numbers of random women from their Facebook profiles. He would then text them from his mothers phone and ask them intimate questions, such as what they were wearing.

The accused admitted that he had been doing this for the past few months.

Dsouza initially started messaging girls from his locality, then moved on to random women, said an officer from Mumbai crime branch unit 9. Women have registered cases at police stations across the city, he added.

The case came to light when the father of one of the women approached the crime branch, seeking help.

Police got Dsouzas number and traced him to Mount Mary in Bandra. A team was dispatched and he was nabbed from his house. He was booked under sections 354 (D) (stalking) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Information Technology Act.

The crime branch handed Dsouza over to the Bandra police, who will investigate further.

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Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to recall two cabinet ministers from their foreign tour. He said it was inappropriate for agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar and food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat to go on tour even as farmers were suffering owing to the agrarian crisis.

Requested PM @narendramodi to immediately recall Maha Agri & PDS ministers, who are on a junket while farmers are dying. @Dev_Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/63A8KnODHJ  Prithviraj Chavan (@prithvrj) May 5, 2017

He said the ministers and their families were away on tour, despite a crisis in their own backyards. I dont know if they have taken official permission from you, but even in that case both of them should be called back immediately, he said.

Chavan questioned why the ministers were on leave even as farmers in Vidarbha and Marathwada were struggling to get the minimum support price for their produce. Farmers are currently staging protests over the delayed procurement of tur dal.

Chavan also reminded Modi that the growth of pulses increased only after his appeal.

Parliamentary tours are routine. I dont mind the legislators going as delegates. But, they should not have gone in the hour of agrarian crisis, Chavan told HT.

On May 5, HT had first carried a report stating that a 16-member delegation was touring Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

The Congress leadership in the state is also upset with three of its legislators who went on tour without seeking permission. Deputy chairman of legislative council Manikrao Thakre, Congress group leader in the upper house Sharad Ranpise and MLC Sanjay Duty went on the 14-day trip.

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After two private universities in Greater Noida withheld admit cards of students with poor attendance, Dr Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) is also planning to tighten the noose on absentees ahead of its semester examinations.

The university administration, based in Lucknow, has asked all affiliated institutes to upload a list of students with less than 75% attendance on the universitys website by May 6. The university will organise its semester exams from May 12 and colleges will provide admit cards to students on May 10.

The university administration has decided not to give admit cards to students with less than the compulsory 75% attendance.

We are waiting for institutes to send their lists by Saturday evening, after which we will compile the list of students who will be debarred from appearing in the semester exams to begin from May 12. Till now, we have received names of 150 students who have attendance below the minimum required in institutes of Greater Noida, said JP Pandey, exam controller, AKTU.

Students whose attendance falls between 60% and 75% due to medical reasons will be allowed to appear in the exams.

In such cases, the director of the institute will have the authority to allot admit cards to students with attendance less than 75% if they are able to produce a medical prescription. However, under no circumstance will any student with attendance under 60% be allowed to appear in exams, said Pandey.

The recent order from AKTU administration comes after Sharda University and Galgotia University too did not allow students with less attendance to appear in semester exams. Students had created a ruckus in both the universities when they were denied admit cards.

Exams are underway in Sharda University and Galgotia University will start its semester exams from May 12. While Sharda University allowed students to appear in exams after they signed an undertaking, Galgotia University is still adamant on not allowing absentees to appear in the exams.

It is unfair on the part of the university administration to debar us from appearing in exams. Many of us had genuine medical issues and family problems due to which we could not meet the attendance requirement, said Rahul (name changed), a student of computer science at Galgotia University.

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The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk II has launched from Sriharikota carrying Indias GSAT-9 (rechristened the South Asia Satellite) into orbit 36,000 km above Earth.

While media attention is focused on the political significance of the satellite  New Delhi is keen to showcase the GSAT-9 as a gift to South Asian countries  Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) scientists are more interested in the launch vehicles performance. And with good reason, too, as the success of the mission depends wholly on the rocket performing flawlessly.

In fact, hardly the countdown to the launch ended when another began, this time for the launch of Indias heaviest rocket, GSLV Mk III. We hope the GSLV Mk II has a good launch, S Somnath, director of Isros Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, told this correspondent in a telephonic interview. For thatll lead into the GSLV Mk IIIs flight towards the end of May or beginning of June.

Unlike the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the development of the GSLV has been plagued by so many setbacks that observers have nicknamed it Isros Naughty Boy.

Since its prototype first test-flew in 2001, the GSLV has had an unflattering four failures in seven launches. The launchers first stage comprises a solid rocket motor (proven on the PSLV), while liquid propellants make up the second stage; the all-important cryogenic upper stage (CUS) completes its three-stage configuration.

The CUS uses cryogenic fuel (gases liquefied and stored at extremely low temperatures) that mixes liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to produce maximum energy efficiency for the engine. Since oxygen remains a liquid only at temperatures below minus 196 Celsius and hydrogen at below minus 253 Celsius, they can only be stored in special tanks fitted with multi-layered insulation. Scientists have to overcome such enormous technological challenges in thermal and structural engineering before a cryogenic engine could be built. Few countries have mastered cryogenic technology and it remains a most zealously guarded preserve. Nasas Apollo Moonshots, for instance, would not have been possible without the cryogenic engines used in the Saturn V launcher.

Indias cryogenic pursuit began more than a quarter century ago when Isro sealed a deal with Russia on transfer of cryogenic technology. But the United States, fearing India might use its space launch capabilities for military purposes, pressured Moscow to renege on the deal, leaving New Delhi with the Hobsons choice of eventually buying off-the-shelf cryogenic engines from Russia. For Isro, however, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it spurred its space engineers to develop cryogenic technology on their own. In 1994, the CUS project was launched to build a cryogenic engine and stage based on the Russian design.

After the Russian supply of the upper stage of the GSLV Mk II ended, we were ready with our indigenously developed cryogenic engine, explains Somnath. Weve already developed the CUS on GSLV Mk II. Its first flight was a failure, but since then it has flown three times successfully. This will be its fourth flight. But the CUS used in the GSLV Mk III is a totally different engine. It is the one which we have developed from scratch ourselves and is double the size and capacity of the one GSLV Mk II uses, says Somnath. The Mk III cryogenic engine, called C25, has a 20-ton thrust and (consumes) 25 tons of propellants. Isros confidence in the C25 received a boost in February when the engine was tested for a flight duration equivalent of 640 seconds at the propulsion complex at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.

Considering that the global space markets future will be defined by heavy lift boosters, it is imperative for Isro to develop the GSLVs advanced avatars as soon as possible. The international launch scene is changing rapidly with newer launchers constantly pushing the bar higher on payload capability.

Isro scientists seem ready for the challenge and have set their sights on leapfrogging to GSLVs powered by semi-cryogenic engines. Fuelled by kerosene and liquid oxygen, these engines would be capable of lofting ten-ton satellites into space, cutting launch costs dramatically. We expect to test the prototype of a semi-cryogenic engine in a years time, says Somnath. And we may fly it by 2021. Engine development takes a very long time, at least 10 years for realisation. But for the moment, all eyes are on the GSLV Mk II as it gets ready to scorch ether.

Prakash Chandra is a science writer

The views expressed are personal
Punjabi fastest growing language in Australia

Punjabi is the fastest growing language in the Australia, thanks primarily to the fact that Punjabis form a large chunk of Indian skilled migrants and students who live Down Under. This information was shared by Australias high commissioner to India, Harinder Sidhu, on Friday. Read More

SGPC wants CBSE to allow Sikh candidates wearing religious symbols in NEET

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Kirpal Singh Badungar has written a letter to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) chairman Rakesh Kumar Chaturvedi to ensure the Sikh candidates face no harassment in respect of their kakars (Sikh articles) while appearing in examination of National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET). Read More

IAS-IPS couple offers to look after Kashmir martyr Paramjit Singhs younger daughter

A Muslim IAS-IPS couple of Himachal Pradesh has offered to look after Khushdeep Kaur, the 12-year-old daughter of naib subedar Paramjit Singh, who was killed by the border action team of the Pakistan army in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch sector earlier this week. Read More

HT Spotlight | Swachh Punjab a pipe dream, no city in top 100

The third nationwide survey, which evaluated the cities on waste collection, solid waste management, construction of toilets, sanitation strategies and behaviour change communication, had no good news fro Punjab. Though 16 Punjab cities were surveyed, not a single figured among the top 100. HT puts the spotlight on the sorry state of cleanliness in major cities of the state. Read More

Sajjans controversial cartoon sparks outrage among Sikhs in Canada

A cartoon carried by Canadian publications showing defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan stewing in a cauldron has sparked outrage among the Sikh community members who say it resembles images of Sikh religious figures who were tortured. Read More

Ludhiana youth bludgeons 8-year-old cousin to death with brick

A 23-year-old youth allegedly bludgeoned his eight-year-old cousin to death with repeated strikes of a brick before burning the boys face to conceal his identity and dumping the body on a vacant plot in Ludhiana. Read More

Anmol Rattan Sidhu elected president of Punjab and Haryana HC Bar Association

Anmol Rattan Sidhu has been elected as president of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association. This is his seventh time as president of the association. Read More

For more stories, visit www.punjab.ht and follow us on Twitter and Facebook
BATHINDA : GARBAGE GALORE IN ALL GALIS

Garbage disposed of in the open on a road in Bathinda. (HT Photo)

Bathinda: Owing to poor civic amenities in the city, Bathinda has secured 132nd rank among 434 cities in the Swachh Survekshan 2017.

This low rank can be attributed to lack of public toilets, shortage of cleanliness workers and no check on open defecation in the city. Out of 50 wards, only 19 have been declared open defecation-free and the city is already facing a shortage of sanitation workers. The solid waste treatment plant is also lying closed on the BathindaMansa road.

The city also lacks stormwater drainage facility, which results in waterlogging and choking of sewers during rains. The interstate bus terminus, which receives people from other towns and villages, is poorly maintained. With no proper arrangements of toilets, people urinate in the open at the bus stand.

OFFICIAL SPEAK

We are yet to get the details of marks given for different aspects in the survey, but we will work to improve on our week points. The issues related to sewerage also need to be addressed.

-- Anil Garg, municipal commissioner

LUDHIANA: NOTHING SMART ABOUT CITY

Garbage dumped on a service lane along the NH1 in Ludhiana. (HT Photo)

Ludhiana: Its been a year since the Centre announced to develop Ludhiana as a smart city, but the MC has even failed to cover open garbage dumps along national highways and internal roads in the city. In absence of public toilets, walls near the bus stand, railway station and vacant plots in markets have turned into open urinals.

The authorities seem least concerned to maintain cleanliness in areas like Sherpur and Giaspura, where the migrant population resides. Littering has become common place, as the MC has failed to install bins at most public places.

Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, too, expressed dissatisfaction when asked about the working of MC officials. He said since the installation of a static waste compactor in 2016, four secondary dumps have been removed. If 10 more are placed across the city, nearly 40 dumps can be done away with, he said.

MC additional commissioner Surabhi Malik said: Our garbage disposal plant is functional and lifting of garbage is being done properly. We are going to set up public and community toilets this year.

OFFICIAL SPEAK



The city needs more static compactors to do away with garbage dumps. People should pitch in too. They should not dump garbage on vacant plots. I will talk to municipal officials to install bins at required places.

-- Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria, mayor

JALANDHAR: LOSING ITS SHEEN TOO SOON

A dumping site overflowing with litter in a Jalandhar locality. (HT Photo)

Jalandhar: In a survey conducted by the Union urban development ministry in 2015, Jalandhar was declared the cleanest city in the state.

Two years later, even after undertaking mechanised sweeping project at a cost of Rs 30 crore for five years and purchasing sanitation equipment for Rs 3.72 crore last October, the aspiring smart city has performed dismally in Swachh Survekshan 2017.

The reason isnt far-fetched: The municipal corporations failure to come up with a proper waste disposal plan.

In Wariana, the dumping ground that receives the citys refuse is always overflowing. To accommodate the ever-increasing waste, the MC had last year bought 2.5-acre land adjoining this 14-acre dumping ground for Rs 1.2 crore. The civic body is still finding it challenging to dispose of the citys garbage, with not even 5% being processed daily.

Also, only 29 of the 60 wards have been declared open defecation- free and the MC project of constructing 27 public and 13 community toilets is still in limbo.

OFFICIAL SPEAK

Two major areas in which we are lagging behind are the number of public toilets and the mechanism for waste processing. We will soon come up with a concrete plan to work on these aspects.

-- GS Khehra, municipal commissioner

AMRITSAR: HOLY CITY FACELIFT IN VAIN

The Bhagatanwala garbage dump is a major eyesore in Amritsar. (HT Photo)

Amritsar: The recent facelift of the area surrounding the Golden Temple has failed to rid the remaining walled city of litter.

Parts of the walled city close to the Sikh shrine are in a pathetic condition. Being congested and overpopulated, these areas have been deprived of the modern solid waste management project.

The special vehicles that go for door-todoor collection cannot enter the narrow lanes. The municipal corporation also planned to execute the use of smart garbage bins in this area seven months back. The plan has not been implemented yet.

Despite being included in the list of smart cities, Amritsar still has tractortrailers carrying the garbage to the dumping site. And this site at Bhagatanwala is the biggest eyesore.

The demand to shift it to another location has become a major issue.

Apart from lack of awareness and sensitisation among residents, the negligence on the part of MC officials is apparent.

The civic body has to overcome financial crisis too in order to pay the sanitation workers timely.

OFFICIAL SPEAK

Residents, too, need to act more responsibly. For instance, many dont give the garbage even when workers reach their doorstep, and throw it outside later. Our teams are penalising those found littering.

-- Gurlovleen Singh Sidhu,municipal commissioner

PATIALA: ROYAL CITY REEKS OF FILTH

Cattle feasting on the refuse near Anardana Chowk in Patiala. (HT Photo)

Patiala: The tag of being Royal City no longer suits Patiala in the wake of Swachh Survekshan in which Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singhs city has been ranked 411th among 434 cities evaluated across the country.

With no door-to-door collection, garbage is seen dumped along roadsides and in vacant plots across the city and it is not uncommon to find stray cattle feeding on the refuse.

The much-needed solid waste management plant is in limbo for the past five years due to political interference, as local leaders objected setting it up at Dudhar village, where the municipal corporation has already indentified 20 acres land for the project. Deputy commissioner (DC) Kumar Amit admitted the administration lagged behind in implementing the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

As far open defecation-free status (ODF) is concerned, some of the villages were declared ODF in the past two years, while attempts are being made to declare the Patiala district ODF by September 2017, he said.

OFFICIAL SPEAK

The situation will not improve till the setting up of a solid waste management project. At present, garbage is being picked up from collection points and dumped in the open on Sanaur road.

-- Amarinder Bajaj, mayor

MUKTSAR: STAFF, FUND CRUNCH TAKE TOLL

A vacant plot turned into a dumping ground in Muktsar. (HT Photo)

Muktsar:The district headquarters, which has been rechristened Sri Muktsar Sahib for its historical significance, continues to face government apathy. Performing better than just six cities of the 434 ranked under the Swachh Survekshan, Muktsar is awaiting setting up of a solid waste management plant for long.

Garbage is seen strewn around various places, even in the vicinity of the deputy commissioners residential camp. The contract of about 70 employees ended this March. Due to the resultant shortage of staff, the citys cleanliness has gone for a toss, said municipal council president Harpal Singh Bedi. Blaming lack of funds for poor sanitation, Bedi said: No one is ready to give land for dumping garbage. At present, it is dumped on a three-acre wasteland, which is brimming with the waste.

The administration, meanwhile, sees a ray of hope in the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (Amrut). The city has been selected under this Rs 130-crore project, which aims to achieve 100% sewerage network.

OFFICIAL SPEAK

Muktsar has been selected under the Centres Amrut scheme for 100% sewerage network. The work will start within two months. We are also trying to get a solid waste management plant approved for the city.

-- Sumit Jarangal, deputy commissioner
A 23-year-old man allegedly bludgeoned to death his eight-year-old cousin and burnt the minors face in Ludhiana, police said on Friday, a crime suspected to be the result of a land dispute between two families.

The body of the minor was found in a vacant plot in the Ashok Nagar locality on Thursday evening.

The accused, identified as Vicky alias Rahul, and the victim were related through their mothers, who are sisters.

Vicky  who is absconding -- is also suspected of sodomising the minor before using a brick to bludgeon the minor. He then allegedly poured petrol on the boys face and set it on fire to conceal the victims identity, police said.

A blood-streaked brick and an empty bottle was found at the spot, said Amandeep Singh Brar, the Salem Tabri station house officer (SHO).

The minors family started making inquiries when he did not return home on Wednesday evening.

His father, who runs a photo studio, said the boys friends told him Vicky had taken him for a bike ride when they were playing on the street near the house.

Although the two families were not on good terms, Vicky used to visit them frequently. Assuming he would drop the boy later, they stopped searching for the Class-2 student.

When he didnt return till Thursday morning, the family again started looking for him and even contacted the police. Later, the father left for Amritsar, suspecting the two could have gone there to meet a relative.

Police said the body was spotted by a factory worker, who had gone to the plot to dump garbage.

His mother identified his body, following which cops raided Vickys house but he had fled by then.

A case was registered against Vicky and some unidentified aides.

Angry relatives of the minor also nabbed two suspected aides of Vicky and handed them over to police. The suspects include a woman.

The victims aunt alleged the police released the suspects without questioning them. Following this, the kin started shouting slogans outside the Salem Tabri police station, and the two were detained again. The SHO rubbished the allegations and said the two suspects are being questioned. Their names have not been included in the FIR yet, he added.
A local court has rejected AAP leader Sanjay Singhs application seeking exemption from personal appearance in a criminal defamation suit filed against him by former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia. The court told Sanjay Singh to appear before it on June 7.

Majithia had filed a defamation suit last year against Sanjay Singh, who had accused him of running drug racket in the state. Chief judicial magistrate (first class) Jagjeet Singh, while passing the order on Thursday, dismissed all pleas submitted by the AAP leader to exempt him from personal appearance in the case.

Sanjay Singh, had in his application, maintained that he was a busy politician who was the in-charge of the partys Parliamentary Affairs Committee (PAC) besides being in-charge of party affairs of many states. He had also claimed that he had been granted bail in the case and that the complainant, Bikram Majithia, had also been granted exemption from personal appearance.

The court, while rejecting the AAP leaders application, brought on record that Sanjay had been evading appearance by filing exemption applications on each and every hearing. It said the AAP leader had appeared in court on only two occasions  once when he was granted bail and the second time when the notice of accusation was served on him.

The judge noted that Sanjay Singh was not entitled for discretionary relief permanently in the case.

The court, meanwhile, also disposed of an application filed for day- to-day hearing in the case by the complainant. Majithia, in his application, said the AAP leader was continuing to defame him after getting bail in the case.
A Muslim IAS-IPS couple of Himachal Pradesh has offered to look after Khushdeep Kaur, the 12-year-old daughter of naib subedar Paramjit Singh, who was killed by the border action team of the Pakistan army in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch sector earlier this week.

The couple has contacted the martyrs wife, Paramjit Kaur, and expressed the desire to look after Khushdeep, the younger daughter of the soldier, till she grows up and is independent. Khushdeep is a student of Class 7 at a private school in Goindwal Sahib, 12 km from Vain Poin village in Tarn Taran district of Punjab. She has an elder sister, Simardeep Kaur, 15, and a twin brother, Sahildeep Singh.

Khushdeep Kaur, 12, holding up the photo of her father, naib subedar Paramjit Singh at Vain Poin village of Tarn Taran district. (Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo)

My wife and I will be visiting the soldiers village in Punjab on Saturday. We have spoken to the family. We want to build the childs career. This is just a small contribution that we believe everybody should make for the country and its people, Khan said on Friday.

Born in Malerkotla, Punjab, Yunus Khan is an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 2010-batch and is posted as deputy commissioner, Kullu. His wife, Anjum Ara, is an Indian Police Service officer of the 2011-batch and is posted as the superintendent of police, Solan.

The couple has a four-year old son.

(From left) Naib subedar Paramjit Singhs son Sahildeep Singh with twin sister Khushdeep Kaur and elder sister Simardeep Kaur as their uncle Ranjit Singh looks on in Vain Poin village of Tarn Taran district. (Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo)

EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

The gesture was received with gratitude by the naib subedars family.

His younger brother, Ranjit Singh, couldnt help draw a historical parallel. I simply cant express gratitude to this kind-hearted couple. It reminds me of what the Muslim ruler of Malerkotla, Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan, had done for the youngest sahibzadas (sons) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, he said.

Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan is remembered in Sikh history as the only Muslim ruler who raised a voice against the execution of the Gurus sons in 1705 after they were captured in Sirhind. When Guru Gobind Singh learnt about this, he thanked the nawab and blessed him.

Ranjit Singh said, I will speak about this at the bhog ceremony of my brother for all to know. I appeal to all senior officers across the country to follow the example of this couple and help families of soldiers. I also call upon spiritual leaders to extend similar help and make a difference to peoples lives.
Punjab education minister Aruna Chaudhary scrapped the deputation orders of government school teachers last week for their proper utilisation.

But this is just the first small step. The Congress government, which promised rationalisation of teacher deployment to impart quality education in state-run schools, needs do much more, given the serious imbalance in deployment of teachers in elementary and secondary schools in the state.

The education department, which has 74,782 teachers at primary and upper primary levels, has a comfortable overall pupil teacher ratio of 16 students per teacher as against the RTE norm of 1:30 for primary classes and 1:40 for upper primary. However, 2,667 primary and upper primary schools still lack adequate number of teachers in the state.

Of 12,997 primary schools (classes 1 to 5), 1,728, which comes to about 13%, have adverse pupil-teacher ration (PTR). At upper primary level (classes 5 to 8), 15% schools do not have adequate number of teachers. Adverse PTR means more students per teacher than the norm and has been seen to affect teaching-learning processes.

Also, 28% upper primary schools do not have the subject teachers as per the norms prescribed under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, according an analysis of teacher deployment in the state carried out by the Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD) recently.

Though there has been improvement in teacher deployment in the past three years with the education department bringing down the number of such government schools, the number of 2,667 schools with adverse PTR is seen as high. The situation is not any better at secondary level where there is severe shortage of teachers and deployment is not balanced.

IMBALANCE IN DEPLOYMENT The imbalance in deployment of teachers has been affecting the quality of education in the state schools, particularly those located in rural areas. The department had given a commitment to the HRD ministry on rationalisation of teacher deployment in primary and upper schools to ensure that there is no single teacher school and schools have PTR as per the RTE norms. However, many schools continue to grapple with shortage of teachers.

Punjab Government School Teachers Union general secretary Balkar Valtoha, who welcomed the education ministers move to scrap the deputation orders of teachers, said there is discrepancy in deployment of school teachers across the state. There is severe shortage of teachers in schools in rural and border areas. In Khalra village of Tarn Taran district alone, the government school has 4-5 teachers for over 400 students. It is the same story in several schools in the district. At the same time, several schools in urban areas of the state have more teachers than required, he said.

Additional chief secretary, school education, GR Vajralingam, could not be contacted despite efforts. However, an education department official blamed political interference in teachers transfers over the years for this situation. There is influence peddling at times or attempts to give favourites stations of choice. The department has been trying to rationalise deployment. And thats how things have improved in the last two-three years, he said, requesting anonymity.

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Poor Roman Polanski has had trying times for much of his 83 years. So, when an event like the Cannes Film Festival knocks on his door, one is sure that the renowned Polish auteur would be if not overjoyed, at least reasonably happy that a bright spark or two appears in his life from time to time. His latest movie, Based On A True Story, has been picked by Cannes to be screened at the festivals second most important section, Outside Competition.

There is a clear edge in having ones film slotted away from the main Competition -- where the pressure to win is enormous - and when all the hard work yields no trophies, the disappointment can be shattering. This writer has come across many directors who have not been quite happy about their movies playing in Competition, vying with 18 or 20 others for one of the most prestigious awards in the world of cinema, the Palm d Or.

Also, the press at Cannes can be brutal and tear a film to shreds. The all-exclusive press shows, for instance, can be a humiliating experience for a helmer whose work may not be - in the eyes of critics - up to a certain standard. One remembers how a movie like Vincent Gallos Brown Bunny in 2003 was mercilessly booed by journalists. Then, there was also the case of one of Shaji N Karuns Malayalam work at Cannes Competition whose screening mercifully did not attract booing, but saw most of the viewers walking out. It is quite possible that the largely Western media did not quite understand the nuances of a film that was essentially Indian/Keralum.

Based On A True Story stars actor Eva Green.

Returning to Roman Polanski, his Based On A True Story is a thriller with Eva Green essaying a mysterious woman -- who tries to enter the life of a celebrated author, portrayed by the directors wife, Emmanuelle Seigner.

Based On A True Story is inspired by a novel with the same name penned by Delphine De Vigan. A review of the book (which I have not read) in The Guardian has this to say: The narrator is a writer named Delphine; she lives in Paris with her two teenage children, is in a relationship with a well-known journalist called Francois, and has recently achieved success with an autobiographical novel about her family, resulting in strained relationships with relatives who did not welcome the exposure. Thus far, the details correlate with what is known of the author. But this is fiction - isnt it?

The real De Vigans previous book, Nothing Holds Back the Night, overtly addressed the fraught boundary between memoir and fiction and the question of the authors licence to invent; Based on a True Story takes the idea a stage further. In the novel, Delphine is crippled by writers block after the double-edged response to her last book (never explicitly named here); she begins to receive poison pen letters, apparently from a member of her family accusing her in vicious terms of lying and exploitation. As her crisis progresses towards severe depression, Delphine encounters the enigmatic L at a party. L is intimately familiar with Delphines work; an admirer who quickly insinuates herself into Delphines life.

The review goes on to add that for a psychological thriller the book is slow. The question now is, will Polanski be able to infuse greater thrill and excitement into his celluloid work?

If this may be causing a bit of worry for Polanski, there can be other factors which he might have to grapple with. One, Cannes has slotted his work at the fag end of the festival when most people would have gone. Two, while Polanskis lawyers continue to fight for his return to America - which he left 40 years ago after being convicted of raping a minor girl, and has since then been living in different parts of Europe - the US has refused to grant him any special treatment on its soil. This means that there is still a possibility of Polanski having to spend time in prison if he returns to America.

(File Photo) Filmmaker Roman Polanskis film will be screened in the Outside Competition section. (REUTERS)

Beyond all this, one is not sure about the treatment Polanski will get at Cannes. True, he did not face any hostility when he went to the festival in 2013 with his Venus in Fur. But, let us not forget that the world is now getting increasingly intolerant, and this writer saw this ugliness last year at Cannes when Woody Allens estranged son, Ronan Farrow, wrote an unflattering article in The Hollywood Reporter about his fathers sexual abuse. There were some who felt that The Hollywood Reporter should not have carried the story during the festival. The timing was completely inappropriate. Cannes should not be made into a platform for trading allegations and counter-allegations.

However, one hopes that given Polanskis age and his one devastating personal tragedy in which his eight-month pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, along with four others was gruesomely murdered in her Los Angeles house in 1969 by the Manson family, the auteur would be treated with respect and courtesy.

Finally, it must be said that Cannes is a venue for cinema and the festival must not be allowed to degenerate into a hotspot of slanging match. What happened with Allen last year was in sheer bad taste.

(Gautaman Bhaskaran will cover the landmark 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, running from May 17 to 28.)

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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About 200 inmates broke out of an overcrowded prison in western Indonesia on Friday, rushing out of the jail after they were let out of their cells to pray, officials said.

Almost 80 were quickly recaptured after the incident, which occurred when prison guards allowed inmates to take part in Friday prayers in the Muslim-majority nation.

But the inmates instead headed to the main door of the jail in Pekanbaru city, on Sumatra island, and tried to break through it.

When that failed, they fled through a side entrance and broke through a wire fence at the jail, which was guarded by only a handful of officers, Indonesias director general of prisons, I Wayan Dusak, told AFP.

Amateur footage broadcast on local TV stations showed scores of men, some wearing sarongs, scurrying through the gates of the Sialang Bungkuk prison, with no sign of officials in pursuit.

About 200 escaped, but at least 77 people have been recaptured, local police spokesman Guntur Aryo Tejo told AFP.

Police have put road blocks in the city and launched a massive hunt for the inmates still on the loose.

Dusak said the trigger was discontent over the head guard, whom prisoners want replaced.

The male-only prison has a capacity of 300 people but was holding 1,870 inmates, with only five guards and a porter on duty at any one time, Dusak said.

More than a thousand inmates who did not escape the prison were refusing to return to their cells unless the head guard was replaced.

An additional 400 police and military personnel have been deployed to guard the prison, Tejo said.

Jailbreaks are common in Indonesia, where inmates are held in often unsanitary conditions at overcrowded prisons.

There was a spate of breakouts in 2013, including one where about 150 prisoners -- including terror convicts -- escaped from a jail on western Sumatra island.
China had not expected the Narendra Modi government to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh because the spiritual leader is a sting for bilateral relations and the event raised questions about a possible change in Indias policy on Tibet.

Beijing reacted angrily to the Tibetan spiritual leaders visit last month to the northeastern state, which it describes as a disputed region and refers to as south Tibet. China said the visit harmed its national interests and could impact negotiations on the long-standing border dispute.

The Chinese government was especially upset by the visit as it has good relations with the Modi government and both sides have worked to keep border areas tranquil and stable, a senior Chinese official said.

The Dalai Lama is a sting for bilateral relations, the official said. The fact that the Dalai Lama was accompanied by senior Indian officials, some of whom spoke about Arunachal Pradesh sharing a border with Tibet and not China, had raised questions in Beijing on whether New Delhi was changing its stance on Tibet and the One-China policy, the official added.

Despite several protests from China, India allowed the Dalai Lama to go ahead with the visit, saying he had travelled to Arunachal Pradesh six times in the past and there was nothing political about the trip.

However, the Chinese officials remarks indicated Beijing perceives the Dalai Lama as currently the biggest impediment to better ties as his actions were increasing mistrust.

For India, the Dalai Lama is a very important person but for the Chinese, hes a very bad guy. He is (Indias ) guest and he should be a religious figure and not get involved in politics against ChinaThis is not about free speech, the official said.

Despite the hiccups caused by the Dalai Lama, China is keen on moving forward with cooperation with India on key issues such as trade, counter-terrorism and North Korea. Things may be rocky but the mainstream has not changed, the official said, referring to the chemistry between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping.

Bilateral trade had increased 20% in the first quarter of this year and Indias exports had risen 49% in the same period. There is also a full slate of possible engagements between leaders of the two sides, including on the sidelines of SCO meet in Astana in June, the G20 in Hamburg, the BRICS Summit and the Asean Summit in Manila.

The official brushed aside reports that Beijing had pulled out of a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of China, India and Russia because of the Dalai Lama issue, saying this was due to busy schedule of foreign minister Wang Yi. There was a possibility, the official said, of the foreign ministers meeting on the margins of the SCO meet.

The official also juxtaposed Indias concerns about becoming part of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and China blocking a bid to sanction Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar at the UN Security Council with Beijings concerns on the Taiwan issue, the Dalai Lama and the border dispute.

But we dont raise these concerns, we want to handle them in closed door meetings and not by going to the media, the official said, adding it was a misperception that China is blocking Indias bid to join the NSG.

The official conceded that China had taken up Indias concerns about Masood Azhar with Pakistan. We try to facilitate with Pakistan but your (India-Pakistan) relations are so complicated, the official added.

With India apparently undecided on having any representation at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing during May 14-15, the Chinese official suggested this could lead to a situation where New Delhi would have no voice on President Xis ambitious One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative to build seven economic corridors.

Indias concerns primarily stem from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, part of OBOR, as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

If India doesnt attend the forum, the Chinese people will ask questionsIt will give a feel that youre not constructive, the official said. If youre absent, you have no voice.

The official suggested that Chinas agreement with Pakistan for the CPEC wouldnt affect any future settlement of the Kashmir issue.

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An International New York Times opinion piece criticising the powerful Pakistani army was censored by its local publisher Friday, replaced by a blank space in a country where it can be dangerous to speak out against the military establishment.

The online version of the piece by Mohammed Hanif, a high-profile satirist and novelist whose critiques of Pakistani society regularly appear in the New York Times, was trending on Pakistani social media by Friday afternoon.

NYT op-ed by @mohammedhanif censored in today's Express Tribune. I wonder if it's "their" order or an internal decision. pic.twitter.com/VomuL2zUKy  Umer Ali (@IamUmer1) May 5, 2017

In the article, entitled Pakistans Triangle of Hate, he savaged the military for parading a former Pakistani Taliban spokesman before television cameras to claim that the militants are bankrolled by Islamabads arch-nemesis India.

With his appearance, the Pakistani Army seemed to be sending this message: You can kill thousands of Pakistanis, but if you later testify that you hate India as much as we do, everything will be forgiven, Hanif wrote.

Do we really need to enlist our childrens killers in our campaign against India?

A note on the blank page clarified the decision to censor the article was taken in Pakistan, and the newspaper had no role in its removal.

While we understand that our publishing partners are sometimes faced with local pressures, we regret and condemn any censorship of our journalism, a spokeswoman for the New York Times told AFP on Friday.

The former Taliban spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, is the man who claimed responsibility on behalf of the Taliban for shooting schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai in the head in Swat Valley in 2012.

He also spoke for the group in claiming responsibility for Pakistans deadliest ever extremist attack, in which gunmen stormed a school in northwestern Peshawar and killed more than 150 people, most of them children.

Last month the army announced that Ehsan had given himself up to the military, but gave no details on the circumstances or timing of his surrender.

It later released a video of Ehsan stating the militants were given financial and logistical assistance by the intelligence agencies of India and Afghanistan -- a claim often made by the army.

Hanifs words echoed the feelings of many in Pakistan repulsed by the publicity surrounding Ehsan -- though others have rejoiced at the accusations against India.

Fridays censorship was the second day in a row that the Express Tribune had blanked out a piece in the Times.

On Thursday, it removed a piece on an anti-gay crackdown in Chechnya entitled Chechnyas anti-gay pogrom.

In 2016, it censored a Times image of a man in China giving his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek. Later that year it blocked an article in the paper entitled Sex Talk for Muslim Women.
Chinas first large homemade passenger jet, touted as a competitor to Boeing and Airbus, made its maiden flight from Shanghai on Friday, signalling the Communist countrys entry into the global aviation industry.

The 158-seater C919 took to the skies from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and made China the fourth jumbo jet producer after the US, Europe and Russia.

The twin-engine plane departed with five crew members on board but without any passengers.

The C in the aircrafts name stands for both China and COMAC, while 9 symbolises forever in Chinese culture and 19 represents the maximum 190 seats capacity.

Spectators take photos as they watch China's homegrown C919 passenger jet coming in for a landing on its maiden flight at Shanghai's Pudong airport. (REUTERS)

With a standard range of 4,075 km, the narrow- body jet is comparable with updated Airbus 320 and Boeings new generation 737, signalling the countrys entry into the global aviation mark, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

It also marks a milestone for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of the C919, it said.

China in recent times has been making big breakthroughs in aviation with new fighter aircraft, including a stealth aircraft, but this is the first time it came out with a passenger plane.

People gather around China's home-grown C919 passenger jet following its maiden flight at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. (REUTERS)

Chinas first amphibious aircraft, stated to be the largest in the world, successfully conducted its first glide test on April 29 in Chinese city of Zhuhai and braced for its maiden flight.

In 2007, plans to develop a Chinese-built large passenger jet were approved by the government.

In November 2015, the first C919 jet rolled off the assembly line.

Engineers have completed over 118 tests and are prepared for the maiden flight, COMAC said.

The plane passed expert technical appraisal this March.

People take photos in front of the Chinese C919 passenger jet after its first flight at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai on Friday. (REUTERS)

COMAC has received 570 orders from 23 foreign and domestic customers, including from Chinas national carrier Air China and leasing company GE Capital Aviation Service.

Both Airbus and Boeing have assembly plants in China considering the growing demand for new aircraft.

Airbus had delivered 153 aircraft to Chinese operators in 2016, its seventh consecutive year of more than 100 deliveries, AirbusChina said earlier this year.

A recent Boeing forecast said that China will need 6,810 new aircraft in the next 20 years at an estimated cost of $1 trillion.

By the end of 2016, 21 customers had placed orders for more than 500 C919 aircraft, and COMAC expects to sell at least 2,000.

Chinas first regional commercial aircraft ARJ21 began commercial operation in June 2016.
The maritime implications of Chinas One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project are causing a sense of anxiety in the region, said Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet who is in India for consultations with his Indian counterpart and the defence ministry.

OBOR, the upcoming Malabar naval exercise and the carrier working group were among the topics of discussion.

Uncertainty over the OBOR initiative is being raised in every country I visit, Swift said. Chinese warships are making an OBOR tour of the Pacific Ocean now, he noted, and their actions may give some insight into what Beijing plans.

Chinas actions are driving increased dialogue on what is the intent of OBOR and where it is going, he said.

Swift was in Australia and Indonesia before he came to India and plans to visit Singapore next.

The Malabar exercises are coming up in July in the Bay of Bengal area,  he said. They began as navigational exercises but have grown in size and depth and now include anti-submarine warfare and air defence. Japan permanently joined the drill last year.

Asked about possible Australian participation, he said, What countries are included is a dialogue that is robust and continuing. He spoke of a step by step approach and Canberras application as an observer.

Swift said that while the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike force, with Japanese and South Korean warships, had been deployed near North Korea, the US believed diplomacy would be the best way forward to deal with the situation in the Korean peninsula.

Swift said he saw the Indian Ocean as a sea of stability compared to what was happening in places such as the South China Sea or even the Mediterranean Sea. He attributed this in part to Indias commitment to a rules-based order, noting how India and Bangladesh took their maritime territorial dispute to arbitration and India had accepted an unfavourable judgment.

He explained, Security for securitys sake makes little sense. Securitys purpose is to provide stability and from that stability arises the prosperity we all enjoy.

Asked about American assistance for Indias next aircraft carrier, he admitted the US was facing a capacity problem. The best US Navy carrier experts are simultaneously handling the de-commissioning of the USS Enterprise and these same people are in the Indo-US carrier group.

It is difficult to accelerate the process but we have our best people working on it, he said.

The backdrop to this cooperation was increasing Chinese carrier capability and capacity. Chinas first carrier, which used to operate only in the Bohai Gulf, he noted, had made its foray into the South China Sea in strike force manner with a warship escort. The second carrier has just been launched.
Clashes erupted between Pakistani and Afghan troops on Friday along their disputed border, with many casualties reported, in another blow to already tense relations between the neighbours.

Pakistans military said the clashes broke out in a remote village near the Pakistani border town of Chaman as a Pakistani census team, guarded by troops from its Frontier Corps, was collecting population figures.

Afghan border police opens fire on FC detailed for security of population census team, a release by the media wing of the Pakistan Army said. Exchange of fire continues. Chaman crossing closed.

The Chaman crossing into Afghanistans Kandahar province is one of two main crossing points on the border.

While the military said one person had been killed, media reports said as many as nine people had been killed in the crossfire.

Afghan officials reported six people died on their side of the border.

The Pakistan Army said Afghan border police had been creating hurdles since April 30 for the census team in the Chaman area.

This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conduct of the census, the military said.

Meanwhile, Zia Durani, police spokesman for Afghanistans Kandahar province, said Pakistani officials were using the census as a cover for malicious activities and to provoke villagers against the government.

They did not heed the warning and we have clear orders to engage them, Durani said, adding that two Afghan border police were wounded.

Tension has been increasing in recent months amid new exchanges of accusations of not doing enough to tackle militants engaging in cross-border raids. Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of sheltering Afghan Taliban militants on its soil. Pakistan officially denies the claims.

Last year, Pakistan started building a barrier at the main border crossing in the town of Torkham, near the Khyber Pass, angering Afghanistan which rejects the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893. Afghanistan has never formally recognised the line as the border.
A US federal judge ruled Friday that Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, one of the worlds most notorious criminals, will stand trial on April 16, 2018.

The 60-year-old kingpin, accused of running one of the worlds biggest drug empires, was extradited to New York on January 19 and has been held in solitary confinement in Manhattan ever since.

The trial date is set for April 16. Lets try to make this date, Judge Brian Cogan told a pre-trial hearing in a Brooklyn federal court room, attended by Guzman, dressed in navy prison scrubs.

Guzman sat between his lawyers with a serious expression on his face, responding yes sir when addressing the judge through an interpreter, and exchanging glances with his former beauty queen wife Emma Coronel.

The 27-year-old mother of his twin daughters sat in the gallery, dressed head to toe in white.

US prosecutors expect the trial to last two to three months.

Defense lawyer Michelle Gelernt, who has repeatedly challenged the severe conditions of her clients custody, asked the judge for permission to interact with Guzman in person rather than through a transparent plexiglass wall.

She said the defense needed to show him more than 10,000 documents in order to prepare for trial, which would be difficult to hold up against the glass.

Cogan indicated he was receptive to the request, but deferred making a ruling until after another judge can visit the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan to assess the conditions in person.

He set the next pre-trial hearing for August 15.

On Thursday Cogan relaxed slightly just a few of the stringent conditions in which Guzman is held in custody, allowing him to exchange, pre-screened written messages with his wife but denying him family visits and phone calls.

He denied a request for Amnesty International to visit and refused to allow Guzman to move out of solitary confinement. The defendant twice escaped prison in Mexico, once while under 24-hour surveillance in solitary confinement.

Guzman pleads not guilty to firearms, drug trafficking and conspiracy charges. If convicted, he is likely to spend the rest of his life in a maximum security US prison.
Family members of three victims of the December 2015 shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California, have sued Facebook, Google and Twitter, claiming that the companies permitted Islamic State to flourish on social media.

The relatives assert that by allowing Islamic State militants to spread propaganda freely on social media, the three companies provided material support to the group and enabled attacks such as the one in San Bernardino.

For years defendants have knowingly and recklessly provided the terrorist group ISIS with accounts to use its social networks as a tool for spreading extremist propaganda, raising funds and attracting new recruits, family members of Sierra Clayborn, Tin Nguyen and Nicholas Thalasinos charge in the 32-page complaint, which was filed in the US District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Without defendants Twitter, Facebook and Google (YouTube), the explosive growth of ISIS over the last few years into the most feared terrorist group in the world would not have been possible, the complaint said.

Spokeswomen for Twitter and Google declined to comment on the lawsuit. Representatives for Facebook could not immediately be reached by Reuters on Thursday afternoon.

Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, opened fire on a holiday gathering of Farooks co-workers at a government building in San Bernardino on December 2, 2015, killing 14 people and wounding 22 others.

Farook, the 28-year-old US-born son of Pakistani immigrants, and Malik, 29, a Pakistani native, died in a shootout with police four hours after the massacre.

A file photo provided by US Customs and Border Protection shows Tashfeen Malik (left) and her husband, Syed Farook, at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Farook and Malik opened fire on a meeting of Farook's colleagues, and were killed in a shootout with police in San Bernardino. (AP)

Authorities have said the couple was inspired by Islamist militants. At the time, the assault ranked as the deadliest attack by Islamist extremists on US soil since the September 11, 2001, attacks. In June 2016, an American-born gunman pledging allegiance to the leader of Islamic State shot 49 people to death at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, before he was killed by police.

In December 2016, the families of three men killed at the nightclub sued Twitter, Google and Facebook in federal court on allegations similar to those in the California lawsuit.

Federal law gives internet companies broad immunity from liability for content posted by their users. A number of lawsuits have been filed in recent years seeking to hold social media companies responsible for terror attacks, but none has advanced beyond the preliminary phases.
In yet another incident that could prove to be a public relations nightmare for the US airline industry, a California couple is claiming they were kicked off an overbooked Delta flight for refusing to give up their childs seat. Delta airlines said it was sorry for the unfortunate experience and that it had reached out to the family to refund their travel and offer compensation.

The incident unfolded last week as the Schear family of Huntington Beach were flying home from Hawaii to Los Angeles.

In a video of the April 23 confrontation filmed and posted by the couple on YouTube, a flight attendant is overheard asking that they give up a seat occupied by their two-year-old son.

The father, Brian Schear, initially refuses on grounds the seat was paid for but finally relents. He is nonetheless booted off the flight with his wife and two toddlers.

This is a federal offence and then you and your wife will be in jail and your kids will be in foster care, a crew member is overheard telling Schear when he first refuses to disembark.

Delta airlines said in a statement to AFP on Thursday that the company was sorry for the unfortunate experience and had reached out to the family to refund their travel and offer compensation.

Deltas goal is to always work with customers in an attempt to find solutions to their travel issues, the statement adds. That did not happen in this case and we apologise.

Brian Schear said the family had to scramble to find a hotel room after being kicked off the airplane and paid $2,000 the next day for another flight, this time on United Airlines.

We never thought it was going to get to the point where they were actually getting us all off the flight, he told the local CBS television station.

As we were leaving the plane, theres four or five passengers waiting for our seat. The bottom line is, they oversold the flight.

Public relations nightmare

Schear said the seat he was asked to give up had originally been bought for his 18-year-old son Mason, who ended up going home on an earlier flight so the younger child could use it.

Sir, Mason is not here, so Mason is the one that owns the seat, a crew member is overheard telling him on the video.

The Delta crew also tries to coax Schear into giving up the seat by telling him that under federal regulations, two-year-old children must sit on an adults lap during a flight.

Schear fired back that the argument did not hold up given that the toddler flew out in a separate seat on the way to Hawaii and was doing the same on the way back.

Deltas website encourages parents to purchase a separate seat for children as does the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

We want you and your children to have the safest, most comfortable flight possible, the airlines website states. For kids under the age of two, we recommend you purchase a seat on the aircraft and use an approved child safety seat.

The video of the California familys mishap, which was being widely shared on social media Thursday, follows a number of other incidents that have prompted outrage and proven a public relations fiasco for some of the airlines involved.

The most notable was that of a doctor who was left bloodied after being dragged off an overbooked United Airlines flight last month in Chicago.

Several days later, a Delta passenger was forced off a flight for making an emergency bathroom run while the plane was waiting for take off.

United also made headlines last month after a giant rabbit being flown from Britain to Chicago died while in its care.
Feeling nervous before your flight? Travelers at one German airport can now receive spiritual solace by entering a booth and listening to a prayer of their choice before boarding the plane.

The prayer booth at Stuttgart Airports Terminal 3 features 300 prayers from various religions in 65 different languages, airport spokesman Johannes Schumm said Friday.

Often, passengers still have a bit of time before their departure at the gate, Schumm added. The prayer booth is an offer by the airports chaplains to provide a moment of contemplation.

Designed by Berlin artist Oliver Sturm, the former photo booth offers a vast variety of prayers, including the Christian Lords Prayer, the Jewish Shma Israel and the Islamic muezzins call to prayer. The Hindu Hare Krishna chant, Tibetan monk chants, Buddhist sutras, prayers of Shamans from New Guinea or Mali, even American TV preachers are also available on the touch-screen display.

In addition to the big monotheistic faiths, polytheistic religions and animist beliefs are also included.

The Gebetomat, which roughly translates as Pray-o-Matic, was first designed by Sturm in 2008. Its red cabin has a gray curtain and an adjustable swivel chair inside. The booth is free and will be available for three months at Stuttgart Airports boarding area next to Gate 310.

The artist, who could not immediately be reached for comment, writes on his home page that all prayers are real prayers of believers, gathered in worship, prayer rooms, homes.

Sturm has designed several prayer booths in recent years that have been installed at schools, universities and museums.
Indian-American lawmakers have supported Obamacare over a bill that aims to replace the landmark overhaul achieved by Barack Obama, alleging that the new legislation passed by House of Representatives would kick off 24 million Americans of healthcare plans.

All the four Indian-American lawmakers from the Democratic Party -- Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Raja Krishnamoorthi -- voted against the bill, which was hailed by US President Donald Trump and the Republican leadership.

While the House Republicans celebrate at the White House, millions of hardworking Americans are worrying about whether they will be able to stay on their healthcare plans, said Congressman Bera.

Before serving in Congress, Bera practised internal medicine, served as Sacramento Countys Chief Medical Officer, and taught at the UC Davis School of Medicine.

I dont want to go back to a time when my patients would have to make healthcare decisions based on their insurance coverage, and this bill is going to make it a lot harder for people with treatable diseases like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and survivors of cancer and assault to get healthcare, he said.

We cannot play politics with peoples lives, and what happened today put political goals ahead of the lives of hardworking Americans. The fact that this bill was rushed through with no budget analysis or public debate shows just how bad it is. This is a sad day for Americas patients, and for the publics trust in Congress, Bera said.

Jayapal alleged that it is a dereliction of duty that Republicans passed this immoral, unconscionable bill that strips 24 million Americans of their healthcare, cuts $880 billion from Medicaid, and strips coverage from 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions.

This bill will raise premiums and deductibles for millions of Americans across our country to transfer almost $1 trillion in tax cuts to millionaires, billionaires and corporations, she said.

The first Indian-American woman lawmaker said that she intends to continue to fight every single day to protect and expand health care and to hold those accountable who do not do so.

Khanna said Congressional Republicans chose to halt the progress made on improving the nations health and livelihood, and instead put the country on a path to higher costs, less coverage, fewer protections, and larger premiums.

All for a massive tax cut for millionaires and billionaires, he said.

Today, the House had a choice. We could cast a vote to uphold our countrys values and keep people healthy, keep them secure, and keep improving care. Or a vote could be made that places corporate interests ahead of working families livelihood. I am disappointed to say that latter happened, Khanna said.

We lost today but that doesnt mean we have to like it. We can still stop, Krishnamoorthi said.

In an interview to MSN, Bera said that the passage of the bill would politically hit the Republican lawmakers.

I think a lot of them know this was a very difficult vote thats going to hurt a lot of their own constituents, he said.
A debate over the separation of powers between the legislature and judiciary in Nepal came to an end on Friday when the Supreme Court issued an interim order directing Parliament to put on hold an impeachment motion against Chief Justice Sushila Karki and to allow her to return to work.

Karki is the countrys first woman chief justice. More than 249 lawmakers of the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-Maoist registered an impeachment motion against Karki on April 30 following a row over the chief justice blocking the appointment of a new police chief.

Responding to a writ petition against the impeachment motion, a single-judge bench of Justice Cholendra Shumsher issued an order that said impeachment was against the spirit of Nepals Constitution.

The bench said the accusations against Karki - including the charge that her verdict in the case related to the appointment of the new police chief went against standard legal practice - were baseless.

Though it appears other charges have been levelled against Karki, based on the promotion of Nepal Police Inspector General, it is clear that the impeachment motion is void, the verdict said.

However, political parties described the Supreme Court order as an attack on Parliament and the governments executive decisions.

After the impeachment motion was registered, deputy prime minister Bimalendra Nidhi resigned, saying he had not been consulted on the issue. Appointing the police chief comes under the jurisdiction of the home ministry, which too is headed by Nidhi.

After a patch up with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Nidhi had agreed to return to work from Sunday.

The two ruling parties have been facing national and external pressure after the impeachment motion was filed in Parliament.
China on Friday denied links between the Dalai Lamas Arunachal Pradesh tour and foreign minister Wang Yi putting off his visit to New Delhi to attend the scheduled Russia-India-China meeting last month.

About the meeting that was to be held last month, as far as I know the reason is not China, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing when asked about Beijings reported refusal to the attend the trilateral meeting.

We have actively participated in the meeting of foreign ministers and also other activities under the framework, Geng said. According to my information, the three countries are now talking about the schedule of the next foreign ministers meeting. They are maintaining communication and consultation, he said.

Chinese officials said Wang could not confirm his participation in the meeting due to scheduling problems.

When asked to comment on reports that Beijing asked US President Donald Trump to not meet the Dalai Lama, Geng said China objects to foreign leaders meeting the Tibetan spiritual leader.

The 14th Dalai Lama is not a simple religious figure, but has long engaged in anti-China separatist activities. He is a political exile. We firmly oppose any foreign countries allow him to visit them or any foreign official having any official exchange with him, he said.

Beijing says Arunachal Pradesh is part of South Tibet and was furious that India allowed the Dalai Lama to tour the state for nine days. Even a day after the Dalai Lama left the state, Beijing continued to criticise the visit as the region is disputed.

The Indian government made solemn commitments on the Tibet-related issue and boundary question. We have lessons to learn from history. The Indian-side violated commitments on the relevant issue and insisted on arranging the Dalais activities in the disputed section of the China-India border and indulged in provocative political statements , spokesperson Lu Kang had then said

We have made our solemn representations (to the Indian government) and it will of course have negative impact on bilateral relations.
North Korea on Friday accused the CIA of plotting with South Korea to assassinate leader Kim Jong-Un, amid soaring tensions in the flashpoint region.

The CIA and Seouls Intelligence Services have hatched a vicious plot involving unspecified biochemical substances to kill the hermit states young leader during public ceremonial events in Pyongyang, the Ministry of State Security said.

For the CIA assassination by use of biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance is the best method that does not require access to the target, their lethal results will appear after six or twelve months, the Ministry said in a statement carried by state media.

The accusation comes as Pyongyang issues increasingly belligerent rhetoric in a tense stand off with the administration of US President Donald Trump over its rogue weapons programme.

The war of words between the West and the reclusive regime has spiked in recent weeks, and Pyongyang has threatened to carry out a sixth nuclear test that would further inflame tensions.

The CIA and Seouls Intelligence Services (IS) have ideologically corrupted and bribed a DPRK citizen surnamed Kim to carry out the attack on Jong-Un, the statement said.

We will ferret out and mercilessly destroy to the last one the terrorists of the US CIA and the puppet IS of South Korea, the statement said, adding that the plot was tantamount to the declaration of a war.

The heinous crime, which was recently uncovered and smashed in the DPRK, is a kind of terrorism against not only the DPRK but the justice and conscience of humankind and an act of mangling the future of humankind.

The statement did not give any information on how the plot was foiled or what happened to the alleged spy.

North Korea maintains extensive surveillance operations over its own population, and open dissent against the regime is considered extremely difficult.
Pakistani lawmakers have unanimously rejected a bill aimed at increasing the minimum age for marriage of a girl from 16 to 18 years, terming the proposed amendment as un-Islamic.

The National Assemblys Standing Committee on Religious Affairs met on Thursday and discussed the The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill, 2016 moved by lawmaker Kishwer Zehra.

The proposed amendment to increase the age was not only opposed by Muslim lawmakers but also Hindu and Christian parliamentarians, The Express Tribune reported.

The committee called the proposed amendment un-Islamic.

The committee members also discussed The National Commission for Minority Rights Act, 2015 at the request of lawmaker Lal Chand Malhi.

Christian lawmaker Tariq Christopher Qaiser recommended the number of commission members be increased to give representation to all the minorities.

He also called for allowing the minorities to directly elect their representatives.

The committee also constituted a sub-committee to further discuss it.

Pakistan Senate unanimously passed the landmark Hindu Marriage Bill 2017 to regulate marriages of minority Hindus in February.

The bill had already been approved by the lower house or the National Assembly on September 26, 2015, and it now just needs signature of the President, a mere formality, to become a law.

The bill will help Hindu women get documentary proof of their marriage.

It will be the first personal law for Pakistani Hindus, applicable in Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The Sindh province has already formulated its own Hindu Marriage Law.
Pakistan, which has opted out of the South Asia satellite project, termed the launch of GSAT-9 satellite on Friday as solely made by India and therefore it cannot be called a regional project.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said: Pakistan has its own space programme at an advanced level and is ready to share its expertise and technological know-how and was keen to participate in the (Indian) project.

But India had made it clear that it would build, launch and operate the satellite solely, the spokesperson added.

He said India offered to gift a satellite to Saarc member states, to be named as the SAARC Satellite. But it was not willing to develop the project on a collaborative basis, so it was not possible for Pakistan to support it as a regional project under the umbrella of Saarc.

The GSLV-F09 rocket carrying the GSAT-9 satellite blasted off around 4:57 pm from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The satellite is intended to address the regions economic and developmental priorities.
Pakistans Supreme Court on Friday set up a high-level six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe corruption charges levelled against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons in the Panama Papers case.

A three-member panel of judges reviewed the names submitted by various departments that had been ordered to do so by the apex courts April 20 verdict in the case.

The JIT is bound to complete the probe in 60 days unless it is granted additional time.

The court appointed the Federal Investigation Agencys (FIA) additional director Wajid Zia as the head of the JIT.

Other members in the JIT were Brigadier Kamran Khurshid from Military Intelligence, Amer Aziz from the State Bank of Pakistan, Bilal Rasool, an executive director at the Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), Irfan Naeem Mangi, a director at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and Brigadier Muhammad Nauman Saeed from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The Secretariat of the JIT will be housed in the building of the Federal Judicial Academy here and the court also ordered the federal government to provide all necessary funds for the JIT to carry out the investigation, including an initial amount of Rs 20 million.

The JIT would also be at liberty to utilise the expertise available in their departments and any other department of the federal or provincial governments as and when required by it, according to the court order.

The JIT is empowered to engage and associate with local and foreign experts to facilitate the investigation and for the collection of evidence.

All the Executive Authorities throughout Pakistan shall act in aid of the JIT, the court said in its orders.

If and when any person fails or refuses to associate with or appear before the JIT or refuses to cooperate or provide oral or documentary information required by it, the same be immediately brought to the notice of the court for taking appropriate action, the order stated.

The JIT will submit fortnightly progress reports to the court.

After issuing the order to set up the JIT, the court adjourned the proceedings in the case and the next hearing will be held on May 22.

Sharif, 67, was granted a temporary breather last month from the Supreme Court which said there was insufficient evidence to remove him from office but ordered the setting up of a JIT to probe the graft allegations against his family.

The high-profile graft case is about alleged money laundering by Sharif in the 1990s when he twice served as the prime minister to purchase assets in London.

Information about the assets surfaced when the Panama Papers leak last year showed that they were managed through offshore companies owned by Sharifs children.

Sharif has denied any wrongdoing since the scandal first surfaced.
The results of Thursdays local elections in the United Kingdom may or may not be reflected in the June 8 mid-term polls, but the ruling Conservative Party put in its best performance in a decade while Labour suffered several losses.

The Conservatives gained much ground, Labour was humiliated and the UK Independence Party was obliterated in the local elections, during which 4,851 seats were up for grabs in 88 councils: 32 in Scotland, 22 in Wales and 34 councils and unitary authorities in England.

All the results were expected later on Friday, but at noon, the Conservatives had control of 10 authorities and 786 seats, a net gain of 215. Labour had control of five authorities and 517 seats, a net loss of 159.

The Liberal Democrats had 195 seats, a net loss of 24, and UKIP failed to win any seat.

Labour, which lost control of Glasgow, Bridgend and Blaenau Gwent, said the results were "disappointing" weeks before the mid-term election.

Analysts said the Conservative Party appeared to have been the main beneficiary of a sharp decline in support for UKIP.

Defence secretary Michael Fallon told BBC the outcome was "very encouraging" for the Conservative Party, but denied that the June 8 election was in the bag. He said the local election results were not an "accurate prediction" of next month's polls.

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The US department of justice has begun a criminal investigation into Uber Technologies Incs use of a software tool that helped its drivers evade local transportation regulators, two sources familiar with the situation said.

Uber has acknowledged the software, known as Greyball, helped it identify and circumvent government officials who were trying to clamp down on Uber in areas where its service had not yet been approved, such as Portland, Oregon.

The company prohibited the use of Greyball for this purpose shortly after the New York Times revealed its existence in March, saying the program was created to check ride requests to prevent fraud and safeguard drivers. The Times report triggered a barrage of negative publicity for the company.

The criminal probe could become a significant problem facing the company that is already struggling with an array of recent business and legal issues.

An Uber spokesman and the justice department declined to comment. Uber lawyers said in letters to Portland authorities, which Portland made public in a report last week, that the Greyball technology was used exceedingly sparingly in that city, before the service was approved there in 2015.

The nature of any potential federal criminal violation, and the likelihood of anyone being charged, is unclear. The investigation is still in its early stages, the sources said.

Bloomberg news service reported the existence of a federal probe last week, but did not identify it as criminal.

AGGRESSIVE STARTUP

Uber received a subpoena from a Northern California grand jury seeking documents concerning how the software tool functioned and where it was deployed, one person familiar with the request said. That indicates a criminal investigation is underway. The second source confirmed that was the case.

A subpoena from a grand jury is a formal request for documents or testimony concerning a potential crime. It does not, in itself, indicate wrongdoing or mean charges will be brought.

The ride services companys board has retained an outside law firm, Shearman and Sterling LLP, to conduct its own internal investigation into what transpired, those two sources and a third said.

A Shearman spokeswoman did not return a message seeking comment.

Uber, a venture capital-backed firm most recently valued at $68 billion, has long had a reputation as an aggressive startup.

It has been battered with multiple controversies over the last few months that have raised questions about Chief Executive Travis Kalanick and led him to say he needed leadership help.

MINING CREDIT CARD INFO

The technology at issue in the criminal probe helped Uber tag some users so that they saw a different version of its standard app, the company said in a blog post in March.

Uber said Greyball obscured the real location of Uber cars in various circumstances, including the possibility of physical threats or merely to test new features.

The program was part of a broader Uber system, called Violation of Terms of Service, that analysed credit card, device identification, location data and other factors to predict whether a request for a ride was legitimate, current and former employees said.

The technology was used partly to prevent fraud and protect drivers from harm, the company blog post said. If a ride request was deemed illegitimate, Ubers app showed bogus information and the requester would not be picked up, the employees told Reuters.

However, the Greyball technique was also used against suspected local officials who could have been looking to fine drivers, impound cars or otherwise prevent Uber from operating, the employees said.

The system might have gone farther than suggested by Ubers terms of service for app users. For example, it mined credit card information to see if the owner was affiliated with a credit union used by police and checked social media profiles to assess the likelihood that the person was in law enforcement.

After the Times exposed the program in March, regulators who had been unable to catch Uber in places where it was banned accused the company of obstructing their inquiries.

Transportation officials in Portland investigated and reported last week that Uber had used Greyball to evade 16 Portland Bureau of Transportation officials, denying them dozens of rides, in December 2014 before Uber was authorized to operate there.

The city said it found no evidence that the behaviour was repeated when Uber re-entered the market in April 2015.

Uber said it used the Greyball technology in December 2014, while it was operating without approval, because it was deeply concerned that its driver-partners would be penalized financially or otherwise for their driving.
The US military said on Friday a service member has been killed in Somalia during an operation against the extremist group al-Shabaab, as the United States steps up its fight against the al-Qaeda-linked organization.

A statement from the US Africa Command said the service member was killed on Thursday during the operation near Barii, about 64 kilometers west of capital Mogadishu.

The statement said US forces were conducting an advise-and-assist mission with Somalias military.

Both the United States and Somalia in recent weeks have declared new efforts against the extremist group. President Donald Trump has approved expanded military operations against al-Shabaab, including more aggressive airstrikes and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.

A Somali intelligence official confirmed the US military operation, saying US forces in helicopters raided an al-Shabaab hideout near the Somali capital on Thursday night and engaged with fighters. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the helicopters dropped soldiers near Dare Salaam village in an attempt to capture or kill extremists in the area.

The official said the fighters mounted a stiff resistance against the soldiers.

Somalias new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last month declared a new offensive against al-Shabaab, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks elsewhere in East Africa.

Also last month, the US military announced it was sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the Horn of Africa country in roughly two decades. The US Africa Command said the deployment was for logistics training of Somalias army.
The Buckingham Palace just announced and confirmed that Prince Philip will already retire from doing public engagements. This news was made known to the public after the global news media went frenzied because of their anticipation for the important announcement.

It was reported that the Duke of Edinburgh will already retire from doing public engagements and duties. But it was also made known that even if he is already retired from his duties, he will also make ways to appear in public maybe to accompany Queen Elizabeth.

Before the announcement of the much-awaited news, New York Times claimed that reporters and media from all over the world lined up outside the Buckingham Palace. It was told to them that the announcement will come out at 8:00 A.M but it came later that time.

So many speculations also escalated and clouded the press prior to the announcement. Some reporters even guessed that perhaps this has something to do with a death of a member of the royal family. Some of them even claimed that something bad happened to Queen Elizabeth or to Prince Philip.

Prince Philip is already 96 years old and with the reports published almost every day, he has been active in his public engagements. According to Daily Express, the Duke of Edinburgh was even hailed for his devotion for his duties as well as his undying support for Queen Elizabeth. Most people also admired his lasting marriage with the head of the monarch.

Reports also escalated before that Prince Philip even exceeded Prince William and Prince Harry when it comes to the number of days spent for the public and royal engagements. This only shows how dedicated is the Duke for his royal commitments.

Prior to Buckingham Palace's announcement for Prince Philip's retirement, some even gave hints that the special announcement has something to do with Harry's engagement to Meghan Markle. Even if he is already retired from doing public duties, people hope that his children and grandchildren will emulate his ways and his great commitment to the monarch.

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I ts all change at the Victoria & Albert Museum with a new director, former Labour MP Tristram Hunt, a new extension by architect Amanda Levete set to open at the end of July, and a redesigned museum shop which opens during London Craft Week.

The new shop will, in a way, return the museum in South Kensington to its roots. Established in 1852 and initially called the Museum of Manufactures, it was intended to inspire both the British public and the countrys young designers.

It was one of the first public museums to have late-night openings  made possible by the innovation of gas lighting  so that workers could view improving art and craft at the end of their day.

Contemporary: the well-lit new shop features industrial steel, marble and wood

The museum continues to place a strong emphasis on the work of both local and international craftsmen and women, who its buyers have cleverly commissioned exclusively for the V&A shop.

OLD AND NEW

Architects Friend and Company won the commission to redesign the 5,000sq ft shop, and they have dipped into the museum for design inspiration.

Take, for example, the 2,000 clay tiles underfoot. Originally inspired by a Chinese bowl in one of the V&A galleries, the tiles were made using a specially adapted 3D printer at Grymsdyke Farm, a design research facility in the Chilterns.

Inspired by an ancient bowl: new V&A floor tiles being made

Also check out the new lantern overhead which puts paid to dusty and dimly lit museum shops of the past, and the extensive use of industrial steel and Douglas fir throughout.

POCKET STUDIO

The shops Pocket Studio will provide a space for exhibitions celebrating makers and materials from around the world. Championing new design talent is something we continue to be passionate about, says Sarah Sevier, head of retail.

May is ceramics month: Vicky Lindos Blue Garden platter with cat and kittens, 420

There will be a different focus every four months, starting this month with ceramics, while providing books, paper and pens and design materials will encourage budding artists and designers who visit to create something of their own on-site.

Cock-a-doodle-do: chicken jug by Quail, 20

We love Vicky Lindos sgrafitto plates in this first ceramics space, as well as a chicken jug designed by Kent-based potters Quail.

CUSTOM PRINTS

The custom prints area will be popular with new home owners. The V&A now offers a selection of 400 of its most popular images, including this Chinese wallpaper pattern.

Popular images: Chinese wallpaper panel, unframed, 39cm x 43cm, 15; print framed is 80

Prints are among the museum websites bestsellers but a visit to the shop is a new way to see the four sizes, before getting the prints delivered directly to your door. Prices start from just 15 and go up to 165.

JEWELLERY PAVILION

The Jewellery Pavilion was designed to be a standalone boutique within the shop. Keep an eye out here for ranges designed by Auren and Angela Caputi as well as Argentinian jewellery designer Fernanda Sibilia. The V&As jewellery lines have long been an insider secret for magazine and film fashion stylists, with pieces ranging in price from just 8 up to 1,295.
R esin is loved by designers. They are drawn to this malleable material, which starts life as a transparent liquid and yet solidifies in moulds  and theyre dreaming up furniture, lighting and vases.

An early, iconic example is Japanese designer Shiro Kuramatas Miss Blanche armchair of 1988, which looks both modern and romantic, with red acrylic glass roses suspended inside its geometric transparent resin backrest and arms.

Todays designers are seduced by resin for a variety of reasons. It can be dyed with pigments to create any colour and depending on their strength, the pigments can render resin opaque or tint it in deliciously delicate pastel shades.

Despite looking hard-edged, resin is luxuriously smooth and soft to the touch, says Canadian Martha Sturdy, who designs resin furniture and accessories.

Neon shades: sturdy round table, 5,311, and Chief cube stool, 1,453, in Sunshine Yellow. Whistler Collection square vases in neon hues, small to large, 137, 222 and 325, by Martha Sturdy

Unlike metal or marble, it responds to the temperature around it, so in a warm room it feels warm, too. Its practical, durable and non-porous: spill wine on it and it can be easily wiped off. Scratch it and you can sand it down  the mark disappears.

HARDWEARING

Resin was originally used in industrial contexts, such as warehouses and car parks, because its so hardwearing, points out architect Andy Martin.

He has created a multicoloured polyester resin furniture line called Blocks, which combines clear and frosted resin elements. His pieces capitalise on the way dyed resin glows and casts colourful reflections when light penetrates it.

In the Sixties, artists such as Steve Kaufman made resin sculptures, he continues. Over the years, resin has become more popular. Its easier to install resin flooring now, too.

TRICKY TO MASTER

Even so, says Martha Sturdy, resin is a tricky material to master. Its mixed with catalyst, an agent that solidifies it, but if you add too much, the resin can crack. But this hasnt deterred designers from embracing it.

Sturdy creates monumental opaque tables for which she has devised an unusual technique. She pours resin of one colour into one end of the mould and another shade into the other, so they bleed into each other where they meet.

She also makes space-saving stools on castors that can be tucked under her tables as well as pendant lights, which, encircled by a ring, resemble the planet Saturn.

London shop Mint stocks Tel Aviv designer Nir Meiris eggshell-like Shell lights, 1,600, made of overlapping layers of resin in different hues, which graduate from dark to light.

MATERIAL COMBINATIONS

Cherry red: Jo Nagasakas Udukuri table for Established & Sons is 18,600

Some designers combine resin with other materials. Jo Nagasakas Udukuri cherry red table for Established & Sons has a wood top sanded down to emphasise the grain. Resin poured over this provides a smooth surface, while allowing the grain to remain visible.

German company Studio Nito interweaves yarn with strands of resin to craft its Bobina chairs and tables in funky shades such as lemon yellow and turquoise. Italian designer Moreno Rattis minimalist Sospesa pieces look gravity-defying. He traps marble vases and bowls inside clear resin cubes so the marble forms appear to hover. From 1,238 at Matter of Stuff.

Taking a more organic approach, London designer Marcin Rusak suspends real flower petals in resin to create his elegantly geometric Flora Lamps. Similarly romantic are French designer Helene de Saint Lagers tables coated in puddles of resin, incorporating anything from flowers to twinkling metallic sweet wrappers. Her designs adorn several Dior shops and a Schiaparelli boutique in Paris.

Korean designer Saerom Yoons Crystal tables are comparatively clean-cut, yet their sharp edges are softened by the resins sugary pastel shades, which are specially formulated not to fade in sunlight.

More vibrant are polychrome vases by Seoul-based design studio Hattern. Some are made of hazy, frosted resin, while others come in clear resin tinted in vibrant orange, pink, violet and green. As resin can be dyed any shade, the colour combinations are limitless. Price on application.
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
When you are in the process of launching a food startup, it is important to take insurance into consideration, as it can enable you to mitigate the plethora of risks involved in starting your business and working with customers. Preparing ahead of time for potentially difficult scenarios is a great way to ensure future success. Without insurance, you face a variety of financial risks, when you should be focused on amazing food ideas.

Here are the top 3 areas of risk that insurance could protect you from when launching your food startup:

Customer Incidents.

When starting a food business, it's critical to protect yourself against third party claims given the high number of interaction points with customers. Perhaps you have cooks on staff at your food startup and one accidentally cross-contaminates ingredients. If this happens, someone who eats your food may become severely sick and need medical treatment. If someone believes the food you served has negatively impacted them, they may elect to sue your business.

Given the near constant interaction with customers on a daily basis, "third party claims" are very common in the food industry. Aside from food complaints, slip and fall cases are one of the most common claims food-businesses will face. General Liability Insurance can protect your food startup in the event of third party claims, such as bodily injury or damage to property of customers and non-employees. By investing in this insurance, you help protect yourself in the event of a customer incident.

Location is Key.

Property coverage is critical given the high potential cost to the business and common ways in which accidents occur. For example, in 2002 restaurant structure fires caused $116M in damages, and 65% of these incidents were caused by cooking accidents.

Say your food startup is a lasagna-delivery service (which, let's be honest, it should be), you likely need to find a space with a commercial oven or invest in one for your space. Without this oven, your ability to create and deliver lasagna would be impaired, meaning lost income. Restaurant equipment may break down, or the restaurant itself may have to go through repairs, for example in the case of a fire. If your food startup has essential equipment or machinery, it is wise to protect them and also the property they are operated within through Commercial Property Insurance.

Commercial Property Insurance protects your business property, both the location and objects in it, from theft, fire, natural disasters and other risks, depending on your policy. Additionally, it provides business income protection in the case that you're not able to operate due to a covered event. With this coverage, you can make sure that if suddenly find yourself without an operational oven, insurance will help you get back up and running in no time without severe financial damage.

As a note, always take the time to understand what are considered to be covered events in your policy. Some people don't realize that damages related to flood, earthquake, loss of electricity and subsequent spoilage are usually not covered. As a result, your amazing lasagna delivery service would not only have to pause due to loss of power, but could also lose money on the extra-fancy cheeses going bad.

Employees and Safety.

Having a safe and healthy staff is necessary to operating your food business, and Workers Compensation coverage will cover the costs in the case there are accidents. If your food startup staff are operating dangerous equipment, there is the unfortunate possibility that someone will be injured, require medical attention or take time off of work. If you are a new business owner, considering current health care costs, you are at risk in the event a staff member files a claim against you to recompense them for time away from work due to injury.

Workers Compensation is an insurance coverage which will pay for employees' care and lost wages in the case of a work-related injury. Without this type of insurance, you may find yourself facing significant financial consequences and running afoul of state law. Depending on which state your business operates in, Workers Compensation coverage may be mandated even if you have no employees, so it's imperative for you to check.

When you are starting a food business, considering the different risks involved is a crucial step towards securing your financial and reputational future. Having the foresight to mitigate these risks by purchasing the proper insurance can provide you with peace of mind knowing that you have the necessary safeguards and a plan of action regardless of what lies ahead.

Maxime Rieman

CoverWallet

CoverWallet
Eide Bailly celebrates

100 years

FARGO, N.D.  Youre probably thinking a 100-year celebration with accountants will be full of suits. But at Eide Bailly LLP, sometimes staff dress like Star Wars characters or 80s movie stars. Fun isnt just a word in the company culture statement  its how Eide Bailly staff and partners have worked, in the past, just as today.

CEO and Managing Partner Dave Stende even uses the word fun to describe the firm in one word. And this year is extra fun for the regional certified public accounting and business advisory firm, as it marks its 100th anniversary.

Founded in Fargo, the firms 29 offices in 13 states will be commemorating the centennial with events in their communities throughout the year. Since its beginning in 1917, a culture of service, commitment to community and fun work environment have shaped Eide Baillys personality.

Were proud to be celebrating our 100th anniversary as a firm. Its quite a milestone, and weve grown to be extremely successful and a top 25 firm in the country, said Dave Stende, managing partner/CEO of Eide Bailly. There are many reasons for the successes weve had  we have built a great culture and spirit, and thats the foundation of who we are. And we have remarkable clients who appreciate the service and value we bring to them and their business each and every day. We are fortunate to live and work in some incredible communities where we help each other out.

Realtors survey shows improved market

RENO  The housing market in Nevada continues to improve and is in better shape today than it was two years ago.

So says a recent survey of nearly 600 Realtors from throughout the state conducted by the statewide Nevada Association of Realtors.

In its most recent survey of its members, conducted via an online survey between March 22-31, NVAR found that 71 percent of the 596 respondents said they believe the local housing market got better over the past year. Thats up from 65 percent of all Nevada Realtors who reported feeling that way when answering the same question about their local housing market in NVARs 2015 survey.

This is more evidence that our members are increasingly optimistic about the housing market here in Nevada, said NVAR President Greg Martin. In fact, the percentage of Realtors who believe the housing market where they live and work is getting better was fairly consistent throughout the state, from Reno to Las Vegas and everywhere in between.

Martin, a longtime Realtor who lives and works in Elko, said these results are consistent with his experience, and with similar research.

Sutich honored for ag relations

Jeffrey Sutich, International Marketing Coordinator at the Nevada Department of Agriculture, was was recently honored at a dinner hosted by Mei Herbert, Nevadas Ambassador to Taiwan.

He was presented senatorial recognition from U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, stating Your work in promoting trade and goodwill among Nevada and other countries is commendable. Best wishes in all your future endeavors.

Sutich also received recognition from U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei and City of Sparks Mayor Geno Martini.

Sutich is the son of Ed Sutich from Yerington and Julie Minor Workman from Dayton. He graduated from Spring Creek High School in 2003 and the University of Nevada, Reno in 2007.

He has degrees in International Business and Economics with minors in Italian and Supply Chain Management.
Viceroy Riviera Maya has announced the appointment of Aristides Carrillo to the position of manager of the resorts spa, announced Pedro Lara, General Manager. Mr. Carrillo comes to The Spa at Viceroy Riviera Maya with 18 years of management experience at leading hotel and resort spas. Prior to joining the team at Viceroy Riviera Maya, he was Assistant Director of Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Mayakoba. Previous positions include Spa & Gymnasium Director at Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa, Assistant Spa Manager at Me Cancun, and Assistant Spa Director at The Ritz- Carlton Cancun. The Spa at Viceroy Riviera Maya adopts traditional Mayan healing techniques, treatments, botanicals and indigenous products with its exclusive Mayan Traditions signature spa collection, and at the same time elebrates the latest spa techniques and innovations with special treatment collections and programs of revitalization and rejuvenation. The spa staff includes a Shaman-in-residence, who greets arriving guests with a traditional Mayan blessing.
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Blac Chyna held a yacht party in Miami recently, and her onboard outfit was so stunning that a photo shoot was necessary. The focus of the shoot is immediately obvious, as her fully exposed backside is looking bigger, rounder, and more powerful than ever. The most astonishing pics show the yachts railing disappearing into the social media stars booty flesh.

Behind Chyna flies the flag of our nation  a land of huge portions. After the shoot, Chyna got onboard a jet ski. Her ass sat in the back of the two-man seat.

Blac Chyna
Pierre Bourne is the young man with the most enjoyable producers tag since If Young Metro dont trust you, Im gon shoot you. Pierre and Playboi Carti have struck gold with their new anthem, Magnolia, and the track wouldnt be such a thrill were it not for the drop that starts it off: Yo Pierre, you wanna come out here? It turns out those words were spoken by none other than Jamie Foxxx.

Yep, Pierres tag is a sample taken from The Jamie Foxx Show. During the episode in question, Foxx is waiting a table for a blind man, and he decides to summon a (nonexistent) French chef, whom he names Pierre. Thats when he utters the now-iconic command.

Though the mystery of the tag was part of its appeal, learning of its context on The Jamie Foxx Show makes it even better. We wonder if Foxx himself has heard Magnolia yet. Speaking of, the song was recently given an unauthorized remix by Tory Lanez, and both Pierre and Carti called him out for it.

Foxx says the phrase that Pierre has adopted at around the 0:44 mark in the below video.

Pierre produced six tracks on Cartis new mixtape, including the Lil Uzi Vert-featuring Woke Up Like This. Stream Playboi Carti here.

Jamie Foxx
The legal woes continue to mount for Kodak Black.

According to Complex Music, the rapper received a one-year sentence in a Florida courtroom today after he violated the conditions of his house arrest. Todd Tongen also confirmed via Twitter that Kodak fired two of his lawyers prior to the hearing.

His new attorney Brad Cohen claims that Kodak is a good kid at heart and that the allegations in police documentation against his client were one-sided and he is not a danger to the community.

The court also heard from several witnesses, among them Kodaks godmother and Atlantic Records exec Michael Kushner, who says they will hire a full-time handler for Kodak.

Kodak Black
The former US President is planning to build a recording studio complex within the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago... so famous artists can pop in to visit him for a chat and even record some songs.

"It's a music recording studio where I can invite Chance The Rapper or Bruce Springsteen, depending on your taste, to come here and talk about how you can record music that has social commentary and meaning," he says.

Obama says the centre itself is not just a building. Its not just a park. Hopefully its a hub where all of us can see a brighter future for the South Side." He added that it'll be a "working centre for civic engagement and a place to inspire people and communities to create change.


Its a great year with new opportunities to grow and renew. But its also a time to look at expenses and re-evaluate where were spending our resources of time and money.

Among the decisions many Elko area individuals and business owners or managers will face this year is whether to join or renew their membership to the Elko Area Chamber.

If you dont want to support the organization that supports you, your business and community year-round then dont join the Elko Area Chamber. If you dont want to support the group that is often the first personal point of contact with an opportunity to make a positive first impression for people considering visiting or relocating to Elko or the vicinity then dont support the Elko Area Chamber.

Chambers of Commerce have been around for decades. In fact, the Elko Area Chamber is celebrating its 107th anniversary this year. You might say that with the Internet and social media a chamber of commerce is not needed. You might say it is not always the first point of contact for information because potential visitors and new residents can surf the web to get information on Elko.

While it is true that people can gather a lot of details on the Internet it is also true that information may have been placed in prominent digital locations with the help of the local Chamber.

Regardless of where or how potential visitors, new business owners or residents got their initial information, the Chamber often serves as the first real personal point of contact for those people. If they have already done research and determined they might like to pay the city a visit theres a good chance they may pick up the phone or make a point to stop by the Chamber offices on their first visit for a more personal contact.

On the down side, like most investments, joining a Chamber of Commerce has cost associated with it. There is the cost of a membership and the potential cost of time to attend meetings and show support at public events by helping.

Each of us needs to weigh the positive and potential negatives of joining or renewing our membership. We need to evaluate whether money spent or the time invested in going to ribbon cuttings, participating in events like the 39th Annual Home and Business Expo, the Beer Festival, Sherman Dinner & Auction or other events is worth our time.

That is one of the positive attributes of supporting your Chamber. It offers a wide variety of networking opportunities and we can pick and choose which ones to participate in. If we want to get full value for our investment we will get involved in at least some of those events and activities.

For a new business starting up the outlay of dollars and lack of available time may deter the owner from joining the Chamber. On the other hand, what good is investing in a new business if there are no customers and if you are not taking full advantage of marketing opportunities.

Your business may have a web page. You may be aggressive in your social media marketing. You may know people in town already. Regardless, there is nothing like the personal touch of meeting potential new customers and clients face-to-face and one-on-one.

The Chamber offers plenty of those types of opportunities. The organization also does a lot to help support its members with publicity.

The Elko Area Chamber offers increased exposure for your business through its digital billboard, its membership directory, on its own web site and through other avenues both online and offline such as photos and mention of new members ribbon cuttings published in the pages of the Elko Daily Free Press.

The Chamber is in the process of preparing its annual membership directory. Having a listing in that publication, which is available in both hard copy and digitally, can provide a business with exposure and opportunities to reach new customers.

Even if your products or services are something a person might not need on a routine basis just the fact that you are a member in good standing of the Chamber and have a listing in the organizations membership directory helps validate your business. For visitors and residents alike, having a featured listing in the directory can give a business the needed information for having people make contact when the need does arise.

Networking can be a pain if youre cold calling. But if youre in the same place, whether its an annual Chamber event, a Chamber hosted ribbon cutting or monthly Business after Hours, it is easier to make those contacts.

Being a member of the Elko Area Chamber by itself is not going to make or break your business. But it can be an important part of any businesses marketing plan.

When time comes to consider joining or renewing membership please support the organization that supports you, your community and your business throughout the year and throughout the decades. For more information contact the Chamber at 775-738-7135 or www.elkonevada.com.
Blondie have returned  triumphantly  with their 11th studio album, the provocatively entitled Pollinator. Playing to their strengths  big and bouncy, brash and breezy pop songs. All the Bs. Just like the bee on the album artwork. And theres the cue for a slew of excruciating puns about creating a buzz and stings in the tail. Ill beehive myself and resist though.

Founding members Debbie Harry and Chris Stein have wisely made the decision to inject fresh blood into the formula in the form of a stellar cast of contributors: Johnny Marr, Joan Jett, Dev Hynes, Charli XCX, Sia and John Roberts among then.

Recorded at The Magic Shop, the studio where Bowie recorded his last two albums, John Congletons hard-edged production  while employing occasionally jarring vocal treatments  gives cohesion and definition to Blondies trademark sound: pulsing synths, spiky guitars and perfect-pop melodies. Did I forget Clem Burkes wickedly propulsive backbeat?
'Call The Police' and 'American Dream' debuted at midnight last night.

We'd waited for so long that it seemed like it was never going to happen. When the 2016 Electric Picnic-headlining set produced no new tracks, we thought that was that.

Then last month - at a residency in Brooklyn Steel concert hall - the New York band showcased five new songs.

This is happening, was the general sentiment.

'call the police' - the sprawling, energetic 7-minute opener - picks up right where LCD Soundsystem's final album track 'Home' left off seven years earlier, by ways of their seminal epic 'All My Friends'. It's a statement to let us know they're back at their best.

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'american dream' is a slower affair, much more driven by its lyrical weight and James Murphy's stunning vocals (that falsetto whose power we'd forgotten). It's a companion song to 'New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down'. A love ballad addressed to an unknown person (or possibly to the American Dream itself), it's a painful channelling of disillusion and heartbreak.

Listen to both tracks here:
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Attendance at Houston's annual Offshore Technology Conference, a bellwether for the oil and gas industry, fell for the third consecutive year, sliding to the lowest level in more than a decade as deep-water drillers struggle to match the country's budding shale recovery.

Just under 65,000 people wandered the exhibits at Houston's NRG Park, down from 68,000 last year and 95,000 in 2015. Attendance has plunged nearly 40 percent since hitting a record 108,000 in 2014, the peak of the last oil boom.

RELATED: Deep-water drilling faces shallow future

The latest decline represents an inflection point for the conference and the offshore sector, which has become increasingly diminished as companies shift money, workers and equipment to Texas and other U.S. shale fields that are far less expensive to exploit.

With analysts expecting oil prices to remain low for the next several years, many exhibitors and visitors said the halcyon days of record OTC attendance, over-the-top displays and expensive swag appear over - at least in the near term.

"The money is moving onshore," said Gary Fransen, sales manager at Houston oil services company Agar Corp.

The annual trade show, billed as the world's largest energy trade show, kicked off Monday with a sense of optimism that the worst was behind the oil and gas industry and the recovery that began in the Permian Basin and other productive shale formations would spread to other sectors. The mood was noticeably more upbeat than the 2016 conference, which was just two months removed from the bottom of the downturn, when prices hit a 13-year low of just over $26 a barrel.

The mood, however, became subdued as prices, which started the week just under $50 a barrel, slid to $45.52, the lowest settlement since November and just $1.20 higher than a year ago. Crude fell $2.30 a barrel, or about 5 percent, on Thursday alone over concerns of growing supplies in global markets - despite OPEC production cuts that went into effect earlier this year.

Much of that concern arises from the growing output of U.S. shale drillers.

"Producers are victims of their own success in getting oil out of the ground faster, cheaper than the market expected," Houston oil analyst Andy Lipow said. "For the offshore world, it means they're on a longer time frame for a wholehearted recovery."

Despite hopes that attendance would rebound after last year's plunge, visitors and exhibitors early on noted signs of another disappointing turnout. Traffic was light, and parking spaces were easy to get. Some major companies were absent.

Tenaris, the giant Argentine oil and gas piping manufacturer, was back, but it pushed its steel for wells drilled in the North American shale basin.

"The OTC, it's the Onshore Technology Conference," CEO Paolo Rocca said. "That's what we call it. It's onshore and offshore at this point in time."

Houston-based Micro-Smart Systems, an oil field services provider that makes devices to measure well data, also said it is focusing investment onshore. But Micro-Smart has had a booth at OTC for two decades. Giving up the spot - as many companies did last year when oil prices hit rock bottom - would mean losing their premier location.

Agar Corp., a 25-year attendee, made the same calculus.

"The growth is going to be onshore, but we are still here," Fransen said.

There were notable absences this year. GE Oil and Gas, which is merging with the Houston oil and gas services giant Baker Hughes; FMC Technologies, now part of TechnipFMC; and Cameron International, now part of Schlumberger, all skipped.

GE opted to give up its OTC booth in favor of a sponsorship that put the company name on lanyards and tote bags. The decision to give up the booth had nothing to do with the Baker Hughes acquisition, spokeswoman Stephanie Cathcart said.

The amount of freight moved to the trade show - blowout preventers, valves, pipes, drill bits and frac trucks, as well all the trappings required for trade-show booths - fell by about 1 million pounds from last year, according to the movers. Attendance was the lowest since 2006, when just over 59,000 came.

The challenge for the offshore industry now is to cut production costs if they are to compete in the "lower for longer" price environment, industry officials and analyst said. The biggest oil companies said they are doing just that by standardizing equipment and technology that can be used and moved to different platforms and rigs, instead of customizing each project.

British oil giant BP has managed to make several Gulf of Mexico projects, including Mad Dog 2, profitable at $40 a barrel, compared with about $80 a few years ago, regional president Richard Morrison said.

Chevron Corp. said it is working to collaborate better with other oil companies in deep-water development as a way to minimize costs. But in November, Chevron executives said that when it comes to new investments, the company's operations in the Permian get the first call.

Despite the likelihood that offshore's recovery will lag behind land-based sectors, Neal Anderson, CEO of the energy research firm Wood Mackenzie, said that offshore drilling is far from dead. Deep-water operators have plenty of places to cut costs, although broad reductions have yet to happen.

Not all companies will be able to rely on the Permian Basin, said Julie Wilson, a research director for global exploration at Wood Mackenzie, and some might find success with existing offshore projects.

"They still have to grow," Wilson said, "and can grow profitability with good offshore projects that can break even at $50 or below."
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WASHINGTON - Air travel in the United States has become a combustible mix in which passengers aren't the only ones treated unfairly, senators were told Thursday. Travelers all too frequently take out their frustrations on airline employees, including flight attendants and gate agents, speakers said at a Senate hearing.

On the same day, another passenger incident emerged, this one from Delta Air Lines.

Senators from both parties said airlines must improve the way they treat their passengers, but they also said airline employees must be treated with respect. Lawmakers also revived talk of a congressionally imposed "Passenger Bill of Rights."

The Senate hearing comes after a passenger was dragged off a United Express flight last month and a separate incident on American Airlines in which a mother with a stroller was bullied by a flight attendant. Videos of both incidents were widely circulated on social media.

Even as lawmakers spoke, another video surfaced showing a California family who say they were forced off a Delta plane and threatened with jail if they didn't give up one of their children's seats on an oversold flight. A video of the April 23 incident was uploaded to YouTube this week.

Brian and Brittany Schear of Huntington Beach, Calif., told KABC-TV in Los Angeles that they were returning from Hawaii with their two toddlers. They wanted to put one of the children in a seat they had bought for their 18-year-old son, who instead flew home on an earlier flight.

Delta says on its website that tickets cannot be transferred and name changes are not allowed. Federal regulations do not bar changing the name on a ticket as long as the new passenger's name can be run through a data base before the flight, according to a Transportation Security Administration spokesman.

By late Thursday, Delta still had not explained why the Schears were removed from the plane. A spokesman said the flight was not overbooked.

On the video, Brian Schear can be heard talking with a person off-camera - it is not clear whether that person is a Delta employee, a security officer, or somebody else.

After Schear says that he won't leave - the airline will have to remove him - the person off-camera replies, "You and your wife will be in jail  it's a federal offense if you don't abide" by an airline crew's order.

'I bought that seat'

"I bought that seat," Schear protests.

Schear then suggests that his wife could hold one of the toddlers during takeoff and then put the youngster in a car seat. Another person, who appears to be a Delta supervisor, tells him that federal rules require that children under 2 must stay in a parent's lap throughout the flight.

That is false. The Federal Aviation Administration "strongly urges" that infants be in a car seat, although it permits those under 2 to be held in a parent's lap. On its website, Delta recommends that parents buy a seat for children under 2 and put them in an approved child-safety seat.

Delta issued a statement Thursday saying it is "sorry for what this family experienced," adding that it will reach out to them to better understand what happened and find a resolution.

The Hawaii incident was not discussed at the Senate hearing Thursday, but lawmakers complained about an "explosion of fees" for services such as checked baggage, priority boarding and assigned seating, even as flights are frequently delayed and passengers with disabilities or other special needs are not treated with proper care.

"Adding insult to injury," American Airlines announced this week it is slashing legroom in its new Boeing 737 jets to squeeze 10 more passengers on its planes, said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

'Self-loading cargo'

Nelson said air travelers frequently tell him they "feel like they're being treated as self-loading cargo rather than as valued consumers."

Passengers are so fed up that they are becoming amateur detectives, Nelson said, using their cellphones to record incidents such as the removal of United passenger David Dao.

"I take no pleasure in beating up the airlines, but in this case, it's warranted," said Nelson, the top Democrat on the Transportation Committee.

Even so, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., chairman of an aviation subcommittee, said there are "hard questions" regarding the way frustrated passengers treat airline employees, including flight attendants and gate agents.

Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, said United employees have come under siege since the Dao incident.

Complaints and threats have been "pervasive at the airports, on the planes, on several media and broadcast television stations and even in our schools, churches and neighborhoods," she said, calling reaction to the incident "demoralizing" and anxiety-inducing.

"Flight attendants had no role in this event and never would. We are aviation's first responders and last line of defense. We save lives," she said.

Ginger Evans, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, called Dao's treatment "completely unacceptable." Three officers involved in the incident and a supervisor have been placed on leave amid an investigation by the city of Chicago, Evans said Thursday.
Deep-water drilling's best days are behind it.

For all the stiff upper lips at the Offshore Technology Conference, most people described a shrinking industry trying to accommodate a new low-price environment that shows few signs of easing. But no matter how efficient and nimble offshore drillers become, the unsentimental laws of economics mean only a few fields can compete with onshore oil and the eventual electrification of transportation.

Deep water's business premise has always depended on insufficient onshore resources. And in water depths greater than 1,000 feet, oil companies found the huge reservoirs they needed to build up their reserves. Oil field services companies developed remarkable technology that allows an oil platform to float above a dozen separate wells that are maintained by underwater robots and tied back to the surface with thousands of feet of heated pipe.

The engineering that allows 3,400 deep-water wells to pump tens of thousands of barrels of oil a day to the ocean's surface is truly awesome, but also awesomely expensive compared to land-based wells.

A horizontal well drilling into shale rock takes six months to plan and four months to complete in the Permian Basin. An efficient crew can do the job for $7 million, and a good well can pay for itself in less than two years.

A typical offshore well takes at least five years to plan and three years to complete. The cost can range from $5 billion to $11 billion and take 20 years to pay back investors. That's assuming an average oil price of $62 a barrel over the lifespan of the well, according to Dan Pickering, an investment banker at Houston's Tudor, Pickering and Holt. Most of last week the price was below $50.

Not to mention 69 percent of offshore exploratory wells are dry holes, 16 percent are marginal and only 15 percent are gushers, Pickering added.

That's why Roger Jenkins, who operates both onshore and offshore wells as CEO of Murphy Oil Corp., said investors demand an internal rate of return of 25 percent or better for offshore wells, while the same investors only look for a 14 percent return from onshore wells.

Jenkins argued that he can deliver that higher rate of return, and he joined other offshore executives in calling for greater collaboration, standardization and digital technology to lower costs. But even the biggest industry cheerleaders had to acknowledge that only the cheapest wells with the largest volumes make sense when no one is expecting prices to top $60 a barrel for the foreseeable future.

"We have to work on lower-risk opportunities until oil prices advance further," Jenkins said. "A lower break-even price and a quicker payout, and this internal rate of return difference is something that is very, very important."

Most deep-water operators are not drilling new offshore fields, but they are trying to boost the productivity and profitability of existing operations. BP is working to bring down break-even costs from $60 a barrel to $35 a barrel at its Mad Dog 2 field. BP also used new seismic imaging techniques to discover an additional 200 million barrels of oil in its Atlantis field.

Every oil field worker knows what it means to lower costs. Machines replace people, the remaining people do more with less, and there is less work overall. Lowering costs means spending less with oil field services companies, fewer helicopter flights from the shore and fewer meals bought at the local cafe.

And while offshore operators are lowering costs and finding more economical oil fields, onshore drillers are doing the same. Not to mention, OPEC has 1 million barrels a day of spare capacity that it can turn on the minute the price inches up. Russia has another 500,000 barrels a day ready to go, all of it cheaper than the average deep-water well.

There is enormous downward pressure on prices, but even if they do inch up, the offshore industry's revival will be short-lived.

When prices first fell in 2014, I wrote that the Saudi Arabian oil minister was not just worried about North American shale oil stealing market share. The Saudis and OPEC also recognized that $4-a-gallon gasoline was accelerating adoption of hybrid and electric cars, which are killing demand growth.

North American and European demand for liquid transportation fuel is expected to peak in 2030, according to most oil company forecasts, which tend to be overly optimistic. With electric vehicle prices dropping and batteries lasting longer, expensive oil could speed up their adoption.

"Perhaps we should look at our competitors not as other oil companies, but as other energy sources," said Susan Cunningham, a former executive vice president for exploration at Noble Energy. "There is a significant shift in energy sources, when compared to consumption, coming in the world."

Deep-water wells will be here for decades to come, and a few exceptional opportunities will get drilled. But the industry will also continue to shrink because the competition has never been so intense, or so transformational.
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Amy Esdorn has slept little this week, careening between hope and dismay, checking her Twitter feed and Facebook for the unfolding drama as Congress pondered the future of her health care from 1,400 miles away.

On Thursday, dismay won when the Republican bill to dismantle the law known as Obamacare passed by just four votes.

"I've been living on this roller-coaster for months, really for the past year," said the 41-year-old Houston woman with severe Crohn's disease, who had feared a repeal of the law that made insurance companies stop charging people who have chronic or pre-existing conditions more or shutting them out altogether.

But supporters of the new bill, dubbed the American Health Care Act, have pushed back in recent days against accusations their bill would harm people like Esdorn, rallying lawmakers who were wavering with assurances that vulnerable Americans will not be harmed and those who want access to insurance can have it.

For those who have for so long promised to kill the Affordable Care Act, it was a promise kept.

The measure, passed on a 217-to-213 vote following months of whiplash and intraparty squabbling, now heads to the U.S. Senate.

"Today we took a major step forward to repeal and replace Obamacare," U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, said in a statement released moments after the measure passed. Brady is one of the architects of the bill and a longtime critic of the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's signature reform.

"Our proven conservative solutions will move us away from the government-centered Obamacare model and toward a patient-, family- and state-driven approach that will lower costs, expand choices and increase access to care," he said.

He praised President Donald Trump's leadership and his fellow Republicans for their "unwavering commitment."

Trump in turn celebrated House Republicans' "unbelievable victory."

No CBO rating

Not everyone saw it that way.

Every Democrat voted against the measure as did 20 Republicans. Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio, was the lone "no" among the Lone Star GOP.

"I will not support the AHCA in its current form and hope that we can continue making improvements to fix our broken health-care system," Hurd said in an emailed statement just before the voting began.

In Texas, some health-care advocates and public policy experts who had been bracing for the vote made no secret of their alarm.

"No one chooses to be ill or injured," Victoria Estrada, executive director of Texas Doctors for Social Responsibility, said in a statement. "It is unethical to take away people's health care coverage and remove the safeguards that allow them to be insured."

Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, called the rush to vote "incredibly irresponsible."

The Congressional Budget Office in March predicted 14 million people could be without insurance by 2018 under the proposed law as it existed at the time. In Texas, health care experts estimated perhaps half a million could become uninsured in a state that already leads the nation in that statistic.

The bill has since been substantially changed. States would have the option, for example, to give insurers permission to craft plans offering cheaper plans with less coverage and to raise rates for people with costly medical needs. Under the ACA that was illegal.

The CBO has not yet released a new scoring to reflect those changes.

One of the bill's major provisions would strip away the requirement that nearly all Americans have health coverage.

The individual mandate has long been loathed as an infringement on personal rights, including the right not to have insurance.

Another component would switch the way the federal government assists people paying for their coverage from an income-based system to one that is a flat rate based on age and rises incrementally.

From its unveiling March 6, Democrats and some moderate Republicans worried the AHCA would yank health coverage from millions of Americans, and conservative hard-liners said it did not go far enough to completely dismantle the Affordable Care Act.

Conservatives were brought on board with an amendment that returned latitude to states to devise their own requirements.

Experts have agreed that will probably bring down prices for some.

Pre-existing conditions

But the question remained what to do about those once considered uninsurable, those who perhaps had cancer in their past or high blood pressure in their present.

Those with mental illness were also were turned down previously and even pregnancy was considered a barrier to coverage.

Pre-existing conditions became a sticking point for some Republicans who feared a backlash from angry constituents.

But on Wednesday, with the addition of an $8 billion pledge on top of the $115 billion already going to states, Republican leaders announced they had enough votes to pass the bill.

That's when dread began to overtake Esdorn. She worries the funding will not be nearly enough for people like her.

An analysis released Thursday hours before the vote by Avalere, a leading Washington, D.C.-based health care consulting group, estimated 187,000 Texans now covered by the ACA have some sort of pre-existing conditions.

Under the AHCA, the number of those people covered could be as few as 9,000, or less than 1 percent.

People with chronic conditions who are now insured will most likely be able to stay insured with their existing coverage as long as they don't let it lapse, which often happens when people become ill or can no longer work, said Chris Sloan, senior manager at Avalere. It is unclear what would happen if their policies are discontinued by insurers.

Other unknowns include how individual states will react, whether they will discard some or all of the 10 essential health benefits in the ACA that required such things as preventative care, maternity and newborn coverage, and mental illness and substance abuse coverage.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's office did not respond to an emailed question on how the state would proceed.

'Just heartsick'

It is expected many states, including Texas, will return to high-risk pools, which separate the sick from those with less costly health needs.

The solution is often seen by proponents as a compassionate way to cover those with expensive needs without forcing healthier people to bear the cost.

Stacey Pogue, a public policy analyst for the Austin-based Center for Public Policy Priorities, recalled that her mother, who had Multiple Sclerosis and was in the Texas high-risk pool, emptied her retirement savings struggling to cover the premiums.

"I'm perplexed and I'm saddened by this nostalgia for high-risk pools," Pogue said.

Esdorn signed up for Texas' high-risk pool in 2011. She had been diagnosed for Crohn's disease in 2009 while in graduate school. She was 32.

The plan cost $500 a month, more than a quarter of her pay. After paying her mortgage, car loan, car insurance and student loans, she barely had enough money for food.

She sold her house and moved in with her mother. Her father helped out with the premiums, but with an $8,000 deductible, she still could not afford to go to the doctor. She got sicker.

"I was in such incredible pain," she said. Doing a load of laundry would wipe her out. She signed up for an ACA plan that cost $240 a month with a $3,000 deductible. She eventually found proper treatment and got better. She is starting part-time work again.

Now she fears it will slip away.

"I'm just heartsick," she said Thursday.

Her hands were shaking. If premiums become too high she will again have to skip treatment.

Untreated, her condition could kill her.

She picked up her phone and began to call to her U.S. senators. Onward, she said.
Re/Max Inner Loop is getting a second home in the Heights area.

Freddy Rodriguez, broker/owner of the Re/Max franchise in EaDo, has purchased a former used car lot at 2539 North Freeway, just south of Gardner Street. He's renovating a tiny building to serve as a temporary office while permits are lined up for a three-story building with 7,000 square feet on the same site.
You can't blame a home-owner in Fresno, Calif., for viewing the thriving metropolis to its northwest with both envy and dismay.

While San Francisco home values have surged since the recession, Fresno's housing market is in a rut. Less than 3 percent of homes in the city and its environs have returned to their pre-recession peak, according to a study from Trulia, a residential real estate site. Median home values are a teeth-clenching $78,000 below their pre-recession peak.

The difference between the two California markets helps explain a key dynamic of U.S. housing a decade after the foreclosure crisis. Popular measures of the landscape, like S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index and the FHFA House Price Index, show the market has recovered to levels last seen before the housing market went bust. But according to Trulia, this isn't the whole, significantly bleaker picture.

Nationally, just one in three homes are worth more now than they were at their peak. While tech hubs in the San Francisco Bay area and Denver and job centers like Dallas or Nashville have seen home values explode past earlier highs, there are more losers than winners when you look across the country, Trulia's analysis shows. And it's really bad news if you live in Las Vegas, Tucson, Ariz., or Fresno.

Many of the losers aren't just losing - they're getting trounced. There were 28 metros where fewer than 10 percent of homes have recovered their value since the bubble burst.

"It's a reflection of just how well a metro area has recovered, broadly speaking," said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist at Trulia, adding that his findings largely correlate with other measures of metro-level growth, such as gains in income and total population.

As a result, it's tempting to view these results through the prism of the 2016 election. Many of the metropolitan areas where home values lag the most are Rust Belt towns with little prospect for an immediate comeback, or Sun Belt cities whose peak home values were a product of the bubble that preceded the collapse.

McLaughlin says a ZIP code-level analysis offers a more nuanced view of the haves and have-nots. While it's true coastal markets have experienced the lion's share of appreciation, the majority of homes in pricey markets like New York, Los Angeles, Silver Spring, Md., and Fairfield County, Conn., are still worth less than a decade ago.

To be sure, Trulia's research is based on its own estimates of home values, while the big indices are based on actual sales. Other research suggests a hot economy gives rural workers more choice, causing an outflow of potential employees to better jobs, often in the cities or on the coasts, potentially speeding a decline in home value elsewhere.

McLaughlin offers two more takeaways from his research. The high percentage of homes that have yet to recover their peak values shows that any talk of a housing bubble is premature. Also, the slow recovery may play a key role in a theme bedeviling local housing markets: There were fewer homes for sale in March than at any point since 2012, according to McLaughlin. The lack of full recovery may be causing some homeowners to delay listing their homes.

"If people are aware of what their house was worth 10 or 12 years ago, and the house is worth less now, they may be holding back," he said.
With a war of words flying between President Donald Trump and the government of Mexico over immigration and trade, Texas  which benefits from commerce over its southern border more than any other state  is just trying to keep its head down.

While posting selfies with Trump from the Oval Office, Gov. Greg Abbott has said little about the president's as-yet-unfunded plan to build a border wall or his insistence that the North American Free Trade Agreement has been "disastrous" for U.S. workers, both of which have made relations with Mexico touchy at best.

Abbott's top deputy on international trade, Secretary of State Rolando Pablos, deflected questions about how the governor would like to see NAFTA changed, if at all.

"We want to make sure that whatever happens with NAFTA, which is technically beyond our control, improves both Texas' and Mexico's economies, especially along the border," Pablos said in an interview on Friday.

Related: Few Texas companies bid on Trump's proposed border wall

In Houston for the Offshore Technology Conference this week, Pablos focused on introducing Mexican officials to Texas businesses hoping to benefit from opportunities in the newly liberalized oil and gas sector. Although manufacturing orders on the border have dropped off slightly, Pablos says he doesn't attribute that to the new administration, and doesn't think saber-rattling on NAFTA or the border wall has hurt relations between Texas and its southern neighbor.

"Mexico understands that this is a federal issue," Pablos said. "Specifically in the private sector, I think many realize that there's already a wall. And El Paso and Juarez have fared extremely well with international trade in spite of that."

It's true that fences in the more populated stretches of the border have gates, in which Texas has invested millions to facilitate both imports and exports. But according to economist Ray Perryman, extending the fence all the way across the state, as Trump has demanded, could disrupt migration, integrated supply chains and cultural bonds.

"The presence of the wall would almost certainly decrease efficiency in these interactions," Perryman says, "and the associated political statement could have an adverse and lasting effect that in the long run far outweighs the temporary stimulus we see from construction."
Eddie Carbone doesn't see past his doorstep. Just look at his gaze, the way it scampers about the corners of his Red Hook home, how it never rises to a window but rather lingers indoors.

Eddie lords over the objects he's kept here in his domain, the only place where he's exactly the kind of man he thinks he is. Watching the terrific Mark Ziesler's performance of Eddie - the sad protagonist of Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge," at the Alley Theatre through May 21 - you may be reminded of Smaug, the wily dragon from "The Hobbit," inside his cave, salivating over a pile of gold.

Eddie's jewel is Catherine (Cara Ronzetti), a niece whom he and his wife, Beatrice (Josie de Guzman), adopted after Catherine's parents passed away when she was young. Eddie loves the twirl of Catherine's dress. He loves her high heels and slender legs. But he scolds her because to permit her beauty would be to permit the gaze of other men, and thus to acknowledge their existence.

But how can there be other men when all Eddie sees is a curly-haired diamond in the dark? How can two male cousins, arriving illicitly from Italy at Eddie's home to make a living in America, exist as men when in his mind they are, like the rest of the world, nothing?

To call the Alley Theatre's revival of Miller's drama about immigration, toxic masculinity and the travails of the white working class timely would be accurate enough. But Miller's story about Eddie is more than a portrait of apprehension that has arrived at a particularly apprehensive time. After all, its ideas never go away. As long as women and men are around, the play will invite reactions such as, "I know an Eddie" or, "I know a Beatrice." "A View From the Bridge" may be staged in 2060 and deliver the same noxious brew of envy and entropy as it did at its 1955 premiere on Broadway.

As Eddie, Ziesler is so at home on stage he might be furniture. He's silent, small as a stray piece of hair, until he barks. Then he's the only person in the room. Though you never really see Ziesler's face because he doesn't like playing to the audience, you feel his voice. It's the kind of voice that screams at you in your sleep.

Ronzetti is equally fit for Catherine, whose spunk and gaiety belie a simmering rage. Catherine's a ray of light now, but keep her entangled in Eddie's world of obsession and she might one day become Rose, the loyal but indignant wife in August Wilson's "Fences."

Gregory Boyd directs a production that favors text over innovation, the kind of masterpiece staging that might, in the larger culture, be overshadowed by the explosive auteurism of Ivo van Hove's bare naked creation from 2016. Let Miller be the auteur, Boyd suggests. Let the writer's twists and turns sing by way of a respectful treatment that begins with a leisurely, almost sluggish prelude that builds over time like a drumroll.

More Information 'A View From the Bridge' When: 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays, through May 21 Where: Alley Theatre, 615 Texas Tickets: $26-$99, 713-220-5700, alleytheatre.org See More Collapse

Eddie's outrage is mostly turned toward fresh-off-the-boat cousin Rodolpho (Jay Sullivan, charismatic as usual but this time with a funny wig and accent), who becomes Catherine's suitor. That anger turns into homophobia, though it's a different kind of hatred than the usual. Everyday bigotry is like a shotgun, loud and imprecise. Eddie's is a sniper rifle, centered squarely on everything Rodolpho has that he doesn't - talent, humor, youth, sexual vigor, Catherine's affection.

Eddie's final moments in the play are perhaps inevitable, but Sullivan, Ronzetti and de Guzman convince us that their characters have reason to see Eddie as the decent Average Joe. Like Boyd, they favor Miller's text over artistic flourish, so that the sense of foreboding comes from the words and not from the actors' body language.

At worst, this style comes across as coy under-delivery, but at best it's strikingly subtle, reminiscent of the silent tension created by Reed Birney and Jayne Houdyshell in the 2015 Broadway production of "The Humans." And the ensemble delivers that end-of-play feeling of both catharsis and anxious questioning - why, one's lingering mind wonders, did these characters let all this happen?

People have criticized Miller for writing in a narrator, with the lawyer Alfieri, to provide some answers. But as Alfieri, Jeffrey Bean's presence highlights the audience's complicated relationship with Eddie and suggests that, like the theatergoer, Alfieri feels there is value in witnessing a man's wickedness turn into ruin.

Alfieri's remarks in the aftermath of the conflict on the waterfront aren't an attempt to simplify or moralize Eddie's tale but rather lend the play a structure that transcends the everyday. In becoming theater, Eddie transforms into literature. Zoom out a bit, and you see that "A View From the Bridge" has a Greek format (tragic hero as told by chorus) and British inspiration (kitchen-sink realism has roots in 1950s Britain), though, as a story about immigration and domain, it remains profoundly American.

In other words, the play is a reminder that calling anywhere home is a complicated and often life-threatening matter, that the idea of conquering territories old and new can apply to sex, ego, fatherhood, heteronormativity, neighborhood and nation. Eddie isn't as revered as the supposedly universal Willy Loman, but he is, in his wild flailing, the more familiar archetype of patriarchy.

That's where the power of "View" comes from. It's the moment of realization, hitting the gut a few minutes into the second act, that Eddie could live right down the block, or somewhere even closer to your doorstep. It's the thought that, even if Eddie's pathologies are specific and perverse, the problems with his family can exist anywhere and anytime.
Randy L Palmer, 58, of Los Angeles, CA, died May 1, 2017 in his sleep at his care home as a result of pneumonia. He was born April 30, 1958 in Ogden, UT to Carl & Laura Maxine Palmer. He was raised in both Winnemucca and Elko, NV attending Elko High school where he graduated.

Randy was raised in his younger years in Winnemucca then we moved to Elko when Randy was a teen. In his 20s he was a driller in Elko for a couple different drilling companies. When he left Elko he moved to SLC, UT for awhile then to Seattle where he worked in the ship yards as a welder. He later left and went to California and was a handy man until he was badly injured and could no longer work.

Randy is survived by his children Sarina, Bobby Lynn, JJ and William, his mother Maxine and his siblings Rick, Carla, Ron, Russ, Salli, Linda and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. He came to Davis County in Sept. 2016 so that his sister Salli could help care for him.

Services will be held Friday May 19th at 11 a.m. at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park 3401 Highland Drive; Salt Lake City, Utah 84106. In Lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider donations to the Alzheimers Association @ alz.org. Both Randy and his father had this terrible disease.
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Eleanor Coppola is drinking from a glass of water, balm for a throat that's spent a good part of the morning talking to journalists about her film "Paris Can Wait."

The water is understandable. There's a lot to discuss. The most obvious topic is her family.

Even casual culture vultures are familiar with her surname, one of the most famous and enduring in Hollywood history. Her husband, Francis Ford Coppola, is the man who brought vision to the vaunted "Godfather" franchise and the orchestrator of "Apocalypse Now," an undisputed cinema classic that is somehow less famous than the tales of its creation - which Eleanor chronicled on film as a documentary.

Then there's her daughter Sofia, a screenwriter and filmmaker who owns her own Oscar trophy, thanks to "Lost in Translation." She got her talent honestly.

But we're not sitting at the Westin in downtown Houston to talk about this matriarch's famous family - not much, at least. She's soothing her throat because we're about to discuss her film "Paris Can Wait," which opens in limited release Friday and in Houston on May 26.

This is where it gets interesting.

"Paris Can Wait" is Eleanor's first movie, which in itself is rather remarkable, considering she's 80 years old and hadn't had an impulse to write and direct a feature film until six years ago.

There's an obvious but fruitful lesson here about success and dream fulfillment in the later stages of life, and Eleanor talks about the subject with ease. In fact, one of her missions with this film about a gentle drive through France and the potential of an extramarital affair was to provide such an example of perseverance to her family, and the world.

But, perhaps, more interesting is that after decades of what she calls being the "accessory purse that goes along with the filmmaker family," Eleanor's entire vantage point has been reversed.

For the first time, she was the auteur sitting in the director's chair. She was the one plunking at a keyboard, imploring it to coax out her vision. She is the media's focal point, barnstorming for coverage of a movie that is partially based on her own life's experiences.

And she's the reason her husband is in a Houston hotel, holding his wife's purse for a change.

Well, not quite.

As fulfilling as that image would be, Eleanor says Francis is in his own meeting somewhere in the Bayou City, talking about their family vineyards and wine.

Not quite the perfect Hollywood ending, but it's pretty close.

Scripting life

Francis Ford Coppola has been supportive, but he didn't want his wife to make this movie.

"My husband wasn't very encouraging in the beginning because I think he didn't want to have my heart broken," Eleanor says. "He was discouraging. He was trying to protect me."

It's understandable - the movie industry is a tough game with little sympathy for the feelings of others. But, sitting in her presence, you can understand why there might have been additional instinct to dissuade her from the ordeal of making a film.

The Coppola matriarch is short and petite with cropped silver hair. She's wearing a tan blazer with intermittent black stripes, and she smiles often. Her voice -soft and soothing - is almost prosaic.

There's an enchanting allure to being in her presence as she comes off like a friendly grandmother who actually cares about how you feel and what you have to say. You almost want to please her, or at least not send her into moments of frustration or anxiety.

But here's the thing: She doesn't need your protection.

Eleanor Coppola knows how to take care of herself, and navigate deftly through a tumultuous world full of sand traps and tigers' lairs. If you need proof, watch her 1991 documentary "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse," which pits her in the eye of a moviemaking hurricane, or view her new film, a quasi-autobiographical tale about a married woman traveling through the countryside of France with a man who's trying to bed her.

Eleanor acknowledges this is a screenplay inspired by her own life: Diane Lane plays a filmmaker's wife who isn't feeling well, so she trades a trip on a plane with her husband as he scouts locations for a drive with one of his assistants to Paris, which is where the married couple will rendezvous.

But what happens before their reunion is the story as this Frenchman guides the woman on a tour of some of the country's best restaurants, views and museums. Each stop is filled with his explanations of terroir, historical context or appreciation of the world. Of course, it's all laced with the romance of discovery and polite desire.

Watching "Paris Can Wait," one finds it easy to wonder how much of the story actually happened to Eleanor and what was fictionalized.

"I don't know if I can draw a line of where one ends and the other begins," she says.

Which is a nice way of keeping the viewer's curiousity intact. It's also a sly way of saying, "That's my private life, thank you very much."

What she will discuss - sometimes overtly, sometimes through subtext - is that this film is not a vanity project or some "favor" granted to a famous family. It's her baby, one born from discussions with friends.

"I never imagined I would make a fiction feature," she says. "But I had this trip to France, and I was telling a friend about it, and she was like, 'That's the film I want to see.'

"I said, 'Why not? Give it a shot. What have I got to lose?'  It was really challenging, but I was riding that challenge of just, do this thing."

Part of that challenge was shifting from the mode of making a documentary to crafting a feature.

"I was pretty terrified  I was much more relaxed making a documentary because when something goes wrong, it makes your documentary better," she says. "But when things were going wrong for me (with 'Paris Can Wait'), it wasn't so funny. Pretty stressful."

She weathered the stress storms well as the film plays like a refined, smart and gentle romantic drama. One of those smart choices was casting Arnaud Viard as the potential paramour. He was a virtually unknown French actor whom she noticed while watching clips of other actors.

"I feel like he's my little discovery," Eleanor says. "I didn't want him to be some handsome man. The husband would never send her off with some stunning, attractive Frenchman. And I wanted him to be a guy you didn't notice. He goes to the airport with you, and you don't even notice him. He grows on you, and the audience."

The growth of that might-be attraction between the travelers drives the film, but it's colored in with rich nuances such as Lane's character taking up-close, detail photos of the world around her.

Like the main narrative, these are often lifted from Eleanor's own life.

"I have a lot of different passions," says the woman also known for her artwork. "So I could bring in aspects of myself, so it's autobiographical."

Again, curiosity compels the question: How much of the film really is autobiography? Did that Frenchman really put the moves on you?

"Well," she says like a friendly diplomat, "we don't tell all our secrets."

Enduring lessons

Eleanor Coppola can come off like the calmest and most gentle person in the world, until you mention that observation to her.

That's when her demeanor shifts to show a hint of unease and, perhaps, nervousness about this film going out into the world. It's just a fraction of a second, but the break is heavy with the suggestion that concerns about the film weigh on her mind.

"At this point, I'm just feeling like life is a great ride, and I feel very blessed, very fortunate to have this opportunity to have it entering the world," she says, sliding right back into her friendly, soothing mannerisms. "And I'm pretty relaxed because I've done everything I could. I did it as well as I could. I can't change anything now. It's not going to change my life. It's not going to start my career."

She laughs, a warm chuckle ripe with the weight of that truth.

Eleanor is 80. She's lived a life of film and art and experience that would be the envy of many. And she has a family that, despite her new film, still wants her to be what they've always known her as.

"My kids, they want me to be Mom," she says. "They weren't expecting me to do it, but now that I've done it, I think they're pleased. It's very touching."

It's also a rare lesson a mother can provide her children, that life's ambitions don't have to be shelved simply because of your age.

"That's a message I'm glad to send my family and other people."

So what's next for Eleanor?

"My overriding theme is to enjoy the moment. Take time to really enjoy it. Maybe we won't all have a long French lunch every day, but I'm getting to that point where I just really enjoy having a glass of water."
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The tagline for Austin's newest barbecue joint is "New school barbecue, old school service," and that's exactly what's delivered at LeRoy & Lewis, a bright new barbecue trailer in south Austin.

Pitmaster Evan LeRoy is one of Austin's most celebrated pitmasters, who made his name serving craft-style barbecue at Freedmen's Bar until he ventured out on his own in 2016. A classically trained chef, LeRoy incorporates creative ingredients and techniques with traditional Texas barbecue-cooking methods.

While at Freedmen's, LeRoy came to know restaurant-industry veteran Sawyer Lewis through mutual friends.

"We were the only ones in our group in the restaurant business, so we always ended up hanging out together," Lewis says.

Lewis' husband, Nathan, is a trained beer brewmaster, so a plan was hatched to open a beer, brew pub and event space. But the new partners quickly realized the financial and regulatory challenges of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Austin were too much.

"Opening a barbecue trailer was a way to get our name out there and start cooking," Lewis says.

More Information LeRoy & Lewis Barbecue Where: 121 Pickle, Austin Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays Information: 512-775-3392 POE1col6 BottomRule Wis nim vullut nulla facidunt nim exerilisim ver sim volenisit ip eugue ver summolor ipiscil landiamet ipis aliquating etuero core See More Collapse

Lewis is tasked with providing the "old school service" of the tagline. She grew up in San Angelo and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she worked in restaurants to help pay her way through college. It's also where she met Nathan.

After graduation, the couple moved to Denver to take advantage of the burgeoning food and beer scene. Nathan decided to train as a brewmaster, so they then moved to Chicago, where he attended the Doemens World Brewing Academy.

They moved to Houston in 2013, when Nathan received a job offer from Karbach Brewing Co. Lewis worked at The Pass & Provisions, Triniti and Coltivare during her time in Houston. They moved back to Austin in 2016 to plan for a beer-and-brew-pub project.

While at Coltivare, Lewis befriended chef Bramwell Tripp, who is now chef/pitmaster at The Pit Room barbecue restaurant in Montrose. Tripp visited LeRoy & Lewis just after it opened, and Lewis visits The Pit Room when she's in town.

LeRoy also has spent some time in Houston recently. For 10 days during the Super Bowl festivities, he was one of the pitmasters for General Electric's "Super Smoker," a high-tech barbecue pit meant to showcase GE's sensor technologies used to measure temperature, air flow and humidity.

In between shifts cooking and serving brisket at Super Bowl Live, LeRoy explored Houston's food scene. Mala Sichuan Bistro in Montrose was a favorite. He also visited Tripp at The Pit Room and sampled the craft-style barbecue served there.

Back in Austin, LeRoy & Lewis soft-launched on March 28 and had its grand opening April 29. A recent visit revealed that they are firing on all cylinders right out of the gate.

LeRoy's house-made beer brat sausage is one of my favorite barbecue dishes in Texas. His chunky, tender beef cheeks are well-seasoned and smoked, offering a twist on the typical brisket. Side dishes include a collard greens slaw that provides a tart, acidic complement to the rich beef and sausage.

For now, LeRoy will stick with the more traditional barbecue dishes of brisket, ribs and sausage on weekends while rolling out more experimental offerings during the week.

New menu items will include lamb belly, wild boar ribs, duck boudin, and mac 'n' cheese-stuffed quail.

Needless to say, Austin is a crowded barbecue market. Distinguishing oneself from the pack of smoked-meat purveyors is essential for any barbecue start-up. The creative and delicious evolution of Texas barbecue found at LeRoy & Lewis is a perfect example of how to do that.
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Jeff Shell pulls out his cellphone and plays a viral video of a prom proposal between two teenage boys as their classmates cheer them on. He gets tearful just watching it.

"I never had that experience in high school," the co-director of Neal Hamil Agency said. "Never."

Long before he found his niche in the world of fashion, Shell, now 44, reveals he was bullied and teased because of his sexuality while attending Tomball High School. It was a painful time, he said, but during his junior year, a female classmate spread the word that she was dating Shell, and his world changed.

"I don't know why she did that, but she saved me," he said. "She decided in front of a group of kids to grab me and kiss me. She told me to go along with it, and I did. She was an angel."

Shell said the bullying stopped. He went on to graduate and ultimately earn a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.

The Houston native has five siblings. Shell's father, Bob Shell, owned a company that manufactured fire pumps for oil rigs; his mother, B.J., was a stay-at-home mom until the couple invested in the Neal Hamil Modeling Agency in 1993.

More Information Little Black Dress Designer Fashion Show & Scholarship Awards When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Spire, 720 Main Tickets: General admission, $50; VIP, $100 and up. lbdd.org Home: Hyde Park Style heroes: The late Quentin Crisp Pairs of shoes: 20 Should toss but can't: An old Prada man bag from the '90s and several pants that no longer fit Trend you'll never wear: Cropped trousers Favorite accessory: Broaches inherited from his grandmother On bedside table: Water, a fan and an iPhone charger Recent purchase for your wardrobe: Silver high-tops from LA Most regrettable purchase: No regrets Must-have beauty products: Coconut oil First car: A red Ford Mustang convertible Favorite vacation destination: Anywhere with water: Costa Rica, Mexico or Galveston. "I love to swim, scuba dive and sail." Most hated household chore: Changing light bulbs and dusting ceiling fans Favorite word: "Girl" Favorite food: "Homemade quiche from my own chicken eggs." Favorite movie: "The Color Purple" Favorite cocktail/wine: Icy cold Chardonnay Hidden talent: "I can swim a very long distance." Best advice you have ever received: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Surprising thing about you: "I'm one of six kids." Backup career: Teaching Worst job ever: Waiting tables at Chili's in college Theme song: "Every Breath You Take" by The Police See More Collapse

"In a big family, it's easy to get lost in the shuffle, so you find ways to stand out. From a very young age, I could sense I was different. I knew I was gay, but I always had this desire to get people's attention and connect people. I think that helps me even today."

In 1997, Shell went to work at the agency after he finished college. Not only was he new to the fashion industry, but he didn't know how to dress the part. Back then, his style was mostly polo shirts, and he changed his hair color frequently. He turned to then-model Jeanne Ruberti, now the director of sales for Elizabeth Anthony, to help him get his look together.

"She did a complete makover of me. There's nothing worse than going out to an event and not being prepared in how you are dressed. Jeanne helped me tremendously. She taught me how to build a wardrobe from scratch, how to go from day to night, the basics."

By the time Ruberti was done, Shell's wardrobe was packed with Prada, Thierry Mugler and Vivienne Westwood.

"I learned how to stand out with fashion," he said.

Through the years, Shell has regularly helped with Fashion Group International Houston's career day for college students. It gave him the idea to create a scholarship competition around the little back dress.

In 2008, he started the Little Black Dress Designer competition, which attracts some 50 student from across the state annually. It has raised about $130,000 in scholarships.

"When you take out color and focus on black, it levels the playing field for designers," he said. "There weren't many (fashion design) scholarship opportunities then, so this was a way to use the resources of our company to help spotlight design talent that we see in the classroom."

This year's Little Black Dress Designer fashion show takes place Wednesday at Spire.

"There's nothing like the challenge to create the little black dress. It forces them to think outside the box," he said.

As Shell's style has evolved, so has his interest in sustainability. His favorite pair of sneakers, from NativeShoes.com, are made from recycled materials. He also raises free-range chickens and posts about them on his Instagram page.

"I live in a world that can be superficial at times, but my chickens help bring balance."
When Englishman James Robert Cade and his wife, Annie, moved to Harrisburg in 1873, the Houston area was becoming a major center for shipping through its port and rail connections to inland areas.

Cade brought with him years of experience in the family trade building railroad cars. Back then, railcars  cabooses, dining cars, box cars, practically everything but the locomotive -- were made of wood.

That was about to change under Cade's direction.

Because of his innovations in the railroad industry, Cade will be honored with a state marker Saturday afternoon at Glenwood Cemetery.

Working for the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Company and the Texas & New Orleans Railway Company, both soon acquired by Southern Pacific, Cade was instrumental in leading the conversion of rail cars made of oak or hickory to metal. In turn this extended the life of railcars and allowed them to transport heavier loads.

Cade's accomplishments left an impression on his co-workers that was hard to forget. Great-granddaughter DeEtte DuPree Nesbitt recalled meeting some of his former co-workers when she went to work for an oilfield services company in 1963.

"I heard what a force he was with the railroads in Houston and what a pleasure he was to work with," Nesbitt said.

Cade also was an innovator in the design of luxury rail cars for wealthy patrons. His clients included artist Louis C. Tiffany and confectioner Milton S. Hershey.

Marker dedication At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, community leaders will gather at James Robert Cade's gravesite at Glenwood Cemetery, 2525 Washington Ave., for a marker dedication. The public is invited to attend. See More Collapse

Janet Wagner, chairwoman of the Harris County Historical Commission and researcher into Cade's life, said much of his innovations in the railroad industry became lost over time and have only recently come to light. In his day, she said, Cade kept a low-profile.

"He's not everywhere in the news media, to speak of," Wagner said.

Cade also co-founded St. Mary's Episcopal Church in the Fifth Ward and was a lifelong Mason. Both Nesbitt and Wagner added that he was known for his frugality, keep detailed records of his finances to the point of noting when he took the family to see the "moving pictures."

Nesbitt said that Cade opted to live in the Fifth Ward instead of the more tonier parts of Houston so that he could stay close to his job with Southern Pacific, then Houston's largest employer.

Cade died in 1912 at the age of 67.
Why not put a multi-university Urban Grant system on UT's 300+ acres near the Texas Medical Center? We have Land and Sea Grant Universities. Even Space Grant and Sun Grant universities. All based on the original Land Grant idea of engaging our university resources on behalf of everyday citizens. But there is no Urban Grant systemand we need one now!

A century ago, American agriculture was in crisis. Production needed to shift into high gear to meet the demands of a growing nation. A brain trust of the very best agricultural scientists was engaged to meet this challenge. The Land Grant system was the delivery vehicle that enabled these scientists to effect an unprecedented transfer of technology to and empowerment of rural America. From it, our state got Texas A&M and Prairie View A&M.

Today it is our cities that are in crisis. In the next 20 to 30 years, Houston will double in population. During this same period of rapid and unprecedented growth, we will face a harsher coastal environment as a result of changing climate. We will very likely face increasing inequity and polarization. Environmental degradation, both within the city and in our hinterlands, threatens our well-being. And the list goes on.

The challenge of building resilient city requires a brain trust equal to if not greater than the trust that transformed American agriculture. Clearly we have such a trust available in our local and regional universities  experts in civil engineering, architecture, urban planning, marketing and management, to name just a few. What we lack is a way to deliver that expertise to the people who could use it.

David Hopper/freelance

The agricultural brain trust was engaged by establishing a network of county-based agents throughout the state, and tying those agents to researchers through "bridging" scientists or specialists, in a sense "professors in practice" who had one foot in research and the other in what came to be known as university "extension."

County extension agents had the trust of the communities they lived in. Because of their ties to the university, they were able to get the latest scientific information to farmers in the field. But more importantly, these agents and specialists established a two-way communication channel that allowed researchers to directly address issues from the field.

The rapid transformation of American agriculture into the powerhouse that it is today is a testament to the power of this system. Researchers on their own could never have effected this kind of change. The key was the county agent as a trusted member of the community, with a solid line of communication to the university.

In a very real sense, rural citizens participated directly in the reinvention of agriculture and rural life through this unique system that we now recognize as the Land Grant system. It wasn't just that information was funneled to them. Information did come their way for sure, but more than anything, that information helped shape the conversation that was itself shaping rural America.

People were empowered by this conversation, a conversation facilitated by embedded community agents, to enable change. They weren't just adopting technologythey were helping to decide which technologies worked and how they would best fit into the context of rural life.

Why not do for the cities what people of foresight did for agriculture? Why not establish a multi-university Urban Grant to directly engage our university brain trust to build a resilient and vibrant Houston for the future?

The Urban Grant idea sounds good, but the problems of cities are so much more complex than those of rural areas. Could county, or in this case city or metro agents, really have an impact? Things have become so complex, maybe we shouldn't even bother trying to engage citizens in the solutions. Perhaps it is just better left to the experts. This is precisely what the journalist Walter Lippmann argued some 90 or so years ago, just as things really were starting to get very complex.

He was countered, in argument that continues to this day, by the educator and philosopher John Dewey, who claimed that the essence of democracy was a public conversation about the issues that confront us, no matter how complex. Could not urban "civic agents" modeled on the county agents of old and part of a regional Urban Grant system, enable that conversation by translating and placing issues in local context?

Shaping Houston for the future is too important to be left to the experts, but neither can we leave them out. We urgently need a continuing conversation about the nature of our city. But we need help. We need credible and unbiased facilitators, the kind that can come from a university environment.

This is not only about building a better cityit is about building a better community through democratic engagement. It is about rule by the peoplenot by the experts. But in a complex environment, it is so much easier to leave the complex decisions to the experts. Universities have a role to play herenot as experts dispensing their wisdom to the masses, but as facilitators enabling the public to deal with complexity.

The urban civic agent would use many of the same tools as the county agentdemonstration projects, workshops, brochures, etc. The civic agent would also engage an army of volunteers, just as the agricultural agent does, to enable local neighborhoods to address many problems on their own. And their mission would not be just engaging citizensit would include engaging institutions and organizations that affect the city.

The Land Grant system houses experts from many disciplines to work together in regional research and extension centers. These often involve more than one university.

Let's have that big data center at the hub on Buffalo Speedway, and let's bring those universities together. But let's also have a translational center, a multi-university center that puts science into the hands of the people. A think tank that bridges universities and communities. A center built demonstrating the best in building practices as well as community planning practices. A center that integrates many different disciplines for the benefit of this great city, and communities across the region.

Perhaps Houston could lead the way in imagining and building a new Urban Grant that would help all of us build the Houston we dream of. We deserve no less.

John Jacob is a professor and extension xpecialist in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University. He is based in Houston and directs the Texas Coastal Watershed Program, part of Texas Sea Grant and Texas Agrilife Extension. He can be reached at jjacob@tamu.edu.
In a stunning move, Liberty County Attorney Matthew Poston has filed a petition with the Liberty County District Clerk's office seeking the immediate removal of Pct. 1 Commissioner Mike McCarty from office. Poston cites incompetency and official misconduct, including at least one additional case of misconduct outside of the original conviction assessed McCarty just 10 days ago that rises to the level of an additional Class B misdemeanor.

Poston said he wasn't being pressured by anyone to bring the charges.

"This is my duty as a prosecutor and the county attorney to seek justice on behalf of the county," Poston told the Dayton News/Cleveland Advocate.

On April 24, McCarty was sentenced by Judge Joe Ned Dean to six months in county jail, to be probated for a period of two years, and fined him the maximum at $2,000. The judge also ordered the removal of McCarty from office, but after the defense filed a notice of appeal, the judge set aside the removal until the appeal was settled.

"I think [Prosecutor] Lee [Hon] did a great job getting a conviction on the charges in the original petition," Poston said, "but they did not present, I don't think, enough evidence in what you would need in a criminal case to remove, which is whether or not it meets the public interest."

The county attorney said he could prove acts of incompetence, abuse of office and official misconduct to justify immediate removal and was in the process of preparing a summary judgment to that effect.

"If I let it be, what we would have is a lame duck public official whose hornets' nest has been stirred pretty good. Based on everything I have seen, this is not the kind of person we need to remain in office," he said.

Now that the motion has been filed, according to Chapter 87 of the Texas Local Government Code, the District Court has to request a non-resident judge to step in. In that case, the Honorable Olen Underwood, chief presiding judge for the Second Administrative Judicial Region of Texas, will appoint a judge to hear the case. The Honorable Mark Morefield in the 75th District Court has already requested appointment of a non-resident judge pursuant to law.

Poston alleges in his 45-page petition that his request for removal of McCarty is not on a single act of incompetence or abuse of office, but a pattern of the alleged abuse.

In the petition, Poston reminds the court that McCarty confessed to the acts alleged in the indictment against him including sending employees on errands such as retrieving hay for his animals; sending an employee on an errand to the commissioner's privately owned disposal well in a county-owned vehicle while the employee was being paid by the county; ordering his employees to perform maintenance on his own truck, trailer and lawnmower; allowing an employee to take diesel owned by the county for his own personal business operation; allowing an employee to put county-owned fuel in the employee's vehicle; ordering employees to help ferry various materials for a birthday party of a friend and to collect them after the party; and firing three employees after they were interviewed by the Texas Ranger investigating the case, although he disputes that retaliation was a motivation in the firing of the whistle-blower employees.

In evidence not presented in the prior trial, the county attorney also alleges the commissioner tried to skirt the bidding laws and, in the process, has put the county in a position of liability.

With only a few exceptions, all purchases made by a county must be bid out or beneath the $50,000 threshold. Any violation of the competitive bidding is a Class C misdemeanor. However, if a county officer "intentionally or knowingly makes or authorizes separate, sequential, or component purchases to avoid the competitive bidding requirements, the offense is raised to a Class B misdemeanor," according to Local Government Code.

Poston alleges McCarty authorized the purchase of material for a road improvement project for Pct. 1 in early 2015. McCarty made the requisition for the purchase of the materials as should have been done, but the total cost of the project was much higher than he had first requested with the invoices totaling some $70,084.55. Each invoice on its own, the petition said, is less than the $50,000 bidding limit, except that the sum of the four different invoice numbers and four different "Order" numbers show an attempt to elude the bidding process and totaled more than the amount allowed by law.

By doing so, Poston said McCarty has placed the county auditor and the commissioners court in the inappropriate position of having to deny payment for goods the county received.

To that end, Poston has motioned for the temporary suspension of McCarty and requests the court be allowed to appoint another qualified and competent person to perform the duties of the commissioner while the case is settled before the judge or a jury.

Poston, who said he had never seen anything from the criminal case, has been pouring over the information from the grand jury indictment and the Ranger's testimony in preparation for the summary judgment.

"Personally, I have every reason not to do this," Poston said.

He has known McCarty's wife for years working together on cases, him as a prosecutor and her as a juvenile detention officer. The personal ties go even further with McCarty's daughter working in the county attorney's office as an assistant county attorney.

The move could cost Poston politically, but he says he just couldn't avoid it.

"If I did anything like that, I would have lost my job," he said.

Commissioner Mike McCarty was unavailable to respond at the time this story was written.
The Montgomery man who crashed and killed a family of four while high on prescription medication in 2015 will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, a judge announced Friday.

Ronald Cooper, 69, was handed an 80-year prison sentence for causing the crash that killed Roland Sedlmeier, 49, Melinda Sedlmeier, 42, Harley Sedlmeier, 6, and Sofie Sedlmeier, 4, all of whom were on their way home from church on Texas 105 at the time of the crash. Two teenagers were also injured in the wreck.
A robbery suspect who barricaded himself inside an eastside apartment on Friday was gone by the time Houston police SWAT officers cleared the residence, HPD officials confirmed.

The unidentified would not come out of the apartment in the 600 block of Maxey Road about 4 p.m. when Houston police tried to serve an arrest warrant, officials said.

They didn't believe the man had any hostages inside the apartment.

HPD officials sent a limited number of SWAT officers and hostage negotiators to the scene to try and convince the man to surrender.

Police have not released a description of the man or additional details about the robbery he was sought for.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
The incoming police chief of the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, the third-largest school district in Texas, is facing allegations that he mishandled investigations of sexual assault and predatory behavior in his current job as Austin ISD police chief, according to a federal lawsuit filed this week.

A day after the Cy-Fair ISD announced that Eric Mendez would lead its police force, current and former students on Tuesday filed the Title IX suit against Mendez, one of his detectives and the Austin ISD.

The lawsuit alleges that at least four cases were closed after Austin ISD police ignored physical evidence, failed to test rape kits, were slow to interview suspects and - in one case - gave the OK for district staff to allow a teacher back in the classroom after she had been accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old student.

Those failures violate Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination of students based on their gender in all schools that receive federal funding, according to the suit.

Mendez would have no comment on the suit or its allegations, according to Austin ISD's communications department. "AISD has not been served with the lawsuit," the district said in a written statement. "If or when the district is served, it may respond once the lawsuit has been thoroughly reviewed."

Nicole Ray, a spokeswoman for the Cy-Fair ISD, said Mendez was a finalist for that district's police chief position in 2012 and interviewed for the new opening on April 20, a few days before Austin local media began to report on questions surrounding how the chief and his department handled one sexual assault investigation. Cy-Fair announced it would hire Mendez on Monday.

Ray said the newly filed lawsuit has not changed the district's plans.

"We're thrilled to have him coming to our district," Ray said of the district in Northwestern Harris County, which has 115,000 students. "He has a tremendous amount of experience."

Cy-Fair ISD's board of trustees will meet next week, when it could vote on Mendez' contract. Trustee Debbie Blackshear said she could not comment because she did not have enough information about Mendez or the allegations. Board president Darcy Mingoia said the allegations made her uncomfortable but that she would like more information before casting a vote.

"It always gives me a pause to hear things like that, but I do like to be fair and hear the perspective from both sides," Mingoia said. "I've always found the true story is somewhere in the middle, and I would like to have more information about it before I say I'm totally discouraged. But I would say it gives me pause."

The lawsuit's allegations should give Cy-Fair ISD officials pause, said Chad Dunn, a Houston-based attorney representing several alleged victims in the matter. "The policies and procedures of a police department are set by the police chief and his superiors. This common thread of treatment of varying types of sex assault reported indicate there's an Austin ISD police department problem with how it deals with them," Dunn said. "I think when anyone makes a hire, they need to thoroughly look through the body of work of the candidate they're considering. There's no way for me to know if this happened at CyFair or not."

27 years of experience

Mendez, who holds a master's degree in criminal justice leadership and management from Sam Houston State University, has 27 years of law-enforcement experience. He has served on the Austin ISD police since 1999, the last five years as chief of police.

He "started at the Patrol level and worked his way up by hard work and determination," Pat Fuller, a retired chief park ranger with Austin Parks and Recreation, wrote in a recommendation on Mendez' LinkedIn page.

The suit identifies the alleged victims as Jane Does 1, 2, 3 and 4 and says they range in age from preschoolers to a 14-year-old. It provides the following account of multiple alleged incidents:

On Feb. 7, a mother rushed her 4-year-old daughter, Jane Doe 1, to the hospital. The girl began screaming in pain while using the restroom at home after pre-K classes at her elementary school, her underwear was bloody, and the area around her genitals was deeply bruised. At Dell Children's Medical Center, doctors found the 4-year-old suffered from internal lacerations and performed surgery to close the wounds and to test the girl for sexually transmitted infections. Doctors also collected samples for a rape kit.

A trauma surgeon told Jane Doe 1's mother and an Austin ISD police detective that the girl had been the victim of sexual assault.

The lawsuit alleges Austin ISD police never evaluated Jane Doe 1's rape kit, did not interview her teacher until Feb. 20 and kept the school's parents in the dark about the situation - even after a 3-year-old girl from Jane Doe 1's class accused the same teacher of sexually assaulting her. Other students reportedly came forward too, claiming to have witnessed the assault and refusing to use the school restroom.

Austin ISD closed its investigation into Jane Doe 1 on Feb. 28 and the investigation into Jane Doe 2 (the 3-year-old accuser) on March 6, citing a lack of evidence in both cases. The accused teacher went back to work at the school on March 20, and Jane Doe 2 left the school.

According to local media reports in late April, Mendez said of the case: "During the course of the investigation, we failed to get a medical record that could prove to be vital in determining whether we have a sexual assault or not. Yes, it is important - yes, we should have looked at it."

Days later, Mendez offered a different version to Austin's KXAN-TV: "While we didn't pick up the records as a technical aspect of the case to have them in the case file, the medical expert assigned to the case through the Center for Child Protection, and as part of the child protection team, did in fact review all of the medical records, including the records that we did not pick up."

He said the case had been reopened.

More alleged incidents

Three other incidents were cited: one involving a 14-year-old girl at an Austin high school who was allegedly forced into a bathroom and sexually assaulted in 2015. Austin ISD police closed that investigation due to a lack of evidence, saying they did not know the exact date or time of the alleged assault, although the victim said it happened on April 1 of that year.

In another case, an eighth-grade student accused a middle-school teacher of sending her and two other students "predatory" messages over social media in 2016. Jane Doe 4 showed screenshots of the messages to the principal, and the teacher resigned. But the principal didn't call the school district's police department until the alleged victim's father made a plea, and the agency closed the case because it was unable to come up with grounds to charge the teacher.

The suit goes on to mention an incident involving another elementary school student who alleged she had been inappropriately touched by school staff, but that case was closed by a detective after the 5-year-old student could not provide a "specific enough" description of her attacker.

Attorneys for the alleged victims said the incidents are "only a small collection of the cases of sexual assault swept under the rug by (Austin ISD police) and those acting in concert."

The lawsuit requests a mandatory injunction ordering Austin ISD and its police department to "rectify any and all Title IX violations and/or inequities" and to stop the "deliberate indifference to sexual assaults."

It also seeks attorneys' fees and damages for civil rights violations, physical injuries, mental anguish, loss of educational opportunities, physical disfigurement, and medical and counseling expenses, although the suit did not specify a specific dollar amount.

In the KXAN interview, Mendez said his department does not take short cuts in its investigations, especially into matters as sensitive as those that involve sexual assaults.

"I want people to understand: I don't let things go. I don't just brush things aside," Mendez said. "I want us to be sure and confident in the work that we do. I don't want us to make mistakes."
Dear Doctor: One of the schools in my area has been the focus of news reports about a bacterial meningitis case. How contagious is this disease?

Dear Reader: Bacterial meningitis cases in school-age children, adolescents and college students are predominately caused by two different organisms: Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. Streptococcus causes nearly 50 percent of meningitis between the ages of 2 and 18, while people in their teens and college years face an increased risk of meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis. In fact, 46 percent of meningitis cases between ages 11 to 17 are due to N. meningitidis.

The Streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium is spread by close contact with people who cough or sneeze. Upon inhalation, the bacteria adhere to the back of the nasal passage in an area called the nasopharynx. Normally, there the bacteria sit, colonizing the nasopharynx without causing any problems. A study of 2,799 Italian children younger than 7 years of age found that 8.6 percent had S. pneumoniae colonizing the nasopharynx; the biggest risk factor for colonization was a sinus infection over the previous three months.

In most people with this colonization, the immune system keeps the bacteria from invading the cells of the body. However, when the immune system is weakened or when the body is fighting a viral infection, such as influenza, the bacteria can then invade the cells. From there, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cross through the blood-brain barrier, replicating readily in the cerebrospinal fluid, leading to the symptoms of meningitis.

The Neisseria meningitidis bacterium is passed from one person to another by secretions from coughing or by saliva from kissing. Its also passed easily among people in close contact. Like Streptococcus, Neisseria also settles in the nasopharynx, where the immune system similarly keeps the bacteria from invading into the cells of the body. People can carry the bacteria for several months within their nasopharynx and unwittingly pass it on to others.

In fact, 5 to 10 percent of people in the United States carry this bacteria in the nasopharynx. Military recruits in closed quarters can have carrier rates up to 40 percent. College students in dormitory situations have carrier rates of 14 to 34 percent. If one person develops meningitis from N. meningitidis, other people with whom they are in close contact are at greater risk.

Again, the bacteria that cause meningitis are quite contagious, but a persons general risk of developing the illness is very low. In addition, children and adolescents are vaccinated for three types of bacteria that can lead to meningitis: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae type b. These vaccinations have significantly decreased the rates of meningitis, so make sure that your child gets these vaccinations.

Lastly, if your child has been exposed to somebody with meningitis, watch for fever, neck stiffness and lethargy. If he or she begins to exhibit these symptoms, all potential signs of meningitis infection, take him or her to a doctor as soon as possible.
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Top law enforcement leaders in the state excoriated the state Legislature's approval of a bill banning so-called sanctuary cities, saying it would endanger public safety and make policing more difficult by increasing distrust among immigrant communities.

Senate Bill 4 - which Gov. Greg Abbott said he will sign - grants new powers to peace officers by allowing them to question a person's immigration status if they are detained with reasonable suspicion.

It also requires law enforcement agencies to comply with federal immigration detainers and could lead to criminal charges against police chiefs and sheriffs who do not adhere to the law.

Police Chief Art Acevedo joined chiefs in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Arlington in opposing the bill, though reaction was mixed among other peace officers and law enforcement associations.

"The challenge, as we told the members of the Legislature, is the perception this is going to create," Acevedo said. "That's the biggest problem with this bill. It's not a public safety bill."

Some local law enforcement agencies, however, said the bill would do little change to day-to-day operations and called the criticism overblown.

"I don't think you're going to see any significant change at all; I think you're just going to see a consistent application," said Jackson County Sheriff A.J. Louderback, who is legislative director of the Sheriffs' Association of Texas.

Abbott deemed a "sanctuary cities" prohibition an emergency item for lawmakers this session after a spat with Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, who announced that she would stop cooperating with most U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests to hold immigrants while federal authorities investigate their status.

After the vote, Abbott tweeted: "I'm getting my signing pen warmed up."

Legislation goes too far

Other law enforcement officials and experts remained split on the merits of the bill.

"People need to understand there's a symbiotic relationship police have with the communities they serve.  If there's a law that's passed and officers start asking people's status, that's going to send a chill through the community," said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit. "While this bill doesn't require them to ask, there will be people who will interpret this bill as a green light to do immigration work, which is not the work of state and local police, that's a federal responsibility."

Citing already heightened tensions in Houston's Latino community over anti-immigrant rhetoric, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Thursday he had already heard examples of residents who regretted reporting domestic violence crimes and then seeing their partners deported.

The new legislation could raise the stakes even further, he said.

"There's this fear that any potential traffic stop, any call for service calling for police - they can be questioned, and why would they even call to begin with?" he said.

Troy Nehls, the Republican sheriff of Fort Bend County, warned the legislation goes too far by needlessly encroaching on local authority.

"I don't support sanctuary cities, I've made that very clear," Nehls said. "But some of language in this bill, I don't agree with.  Adding the criminal penalty to sheriffs and others, it's an overreach by state officials and state government."

He said he would not fight the Legislature's mandate but would use discretion as he went about his job.

"I'm not going to violate law, but if Sheriff Nehls makes a traffic stop, I'm not asking for your immigration status," he said.

Montgomery County Sheriff Capt. Bryan Carlisle said it's too soon to tell the bill's impact.

"I can't see it making a substantial difference to anything we're doing," Carlisle said. "We try to run a very ethical agency. It's always concerning if you've got legislation from on high dictating how you handle enforcement matters. But without seeing what it looks like  (and) when and if this becomes a reality, you really don't know."

Enforcing the law

The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas - the largest police officers union in the state - opposed the legislation, but reactions from local association leaders were mixed.

Charley Wilkison, CLEAT executive director, worried the bill might make otherwise low-key situations more dangerous and threaten officers' lives during encounters with immigrants who are not in the country legally.

"That's going to create a fight or flight - there's no way around it; it is the moment of truth," he said, describing a traffic stop. "'Are you a citizen of the U.S. or where were you born? And do you have proper documentation?'

"It's not going to be Matt Schaefer or Charles Perry standing by that car  it's going to be a uniformed officer," he said, referring to the bill's key legislative supporters.

It could also expose officers to complaints of racial profiling by American citizens asked to show their papers, he said.

Joseph Gamaldi, with the Houston Police Officers Union, said officers don't have time for new responsibilities.

"If someone commits a crime, we should be allowed to ask if they're here legally, and they should be deported if they committed a crime," he said. "However, our officers do not have time to go out there and stop people and just ask for their papers. We have enough crime to worry about in this city, and we're 1,500 officers short."

Harris County Deputies Organization President David Cuevas warned against jumping to conclusions about the bill's impact.

"The states have the right to implement laws, and law enforcement, we're going to enforce them," he said. "We'll comply with it."

Constitutional issues

Legal experts compared the bill to a sweeping 2010 Arizona law that was tied up in legal wrangling for years before many of its provisions were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The court ruled that the state could not overstep the federal government's immigration enforcement authority, but it allowed the most controversial provision requiring police officers to make a reasonable attempt to determine someone's immigration status. That is similar to the language in the Texas bill.

Many law enforcement agencies, including the Houston Police Department, prohibit officers from asking those questions, saying it deters immigrants from reporting crimes.

Houston's policy, in effect since 1990, says officers can only contact immigration agents if someone is arrested on a criminal charge that is more serious than a Class C misdemeanor.

Peter Spiro, a law professor at Temple University in Philadelphia who specializes in immigration and constitutional law, said they can ask about immigration status but they cannot detain immigrants without charges while waiting for federal agents to pick them up.

"It was a little bit meaningless in the sense of what Arizona could do with it," Spiro said. "(Police) can't hold someone on a suspected immigration violation in and of itself."

Terri Burke, the executive director of the ACLU of Texas, said the organization found "clear and potential constitutional problems" in more than 75 percent of traffic stops in Arizona, and have asked the Department of Homeland Security to investigate.

"The stops now occurring in Arizona can take from 15 minutes to three hours," she said. "It is believed that is a constitutional violation."

She said the high court also said that the state's policy opens up the potential of racial profiling, but the issue so far hasn't been addressed by the courts.

"This is an invitation for racial profiling," Burke said. "You have people in an area who are brown-skinned and look foreign, they're going to be asked for their papers."

She all but assured legal action.

"We along with many of our partners will be studying this bill and we're going to compare it to Arizona," she said. "We will be ready as necessary once this is signed into law."

Rebecca Elliott contributed to this story.
AUSTIN - After weeks of politically touchy negotiations capped by a shove from a Houston federal judge, the Texas Senate on Thursday approved significant changes in the state's bail bond system designed to keep low-level offenders from sitting in jail because they cannot afford to pay cash bail.

While the reforms had once been touted as one of the major criminal justice reforms of the legislative session, the final version of the bill dropped tougher provisions in the face of strong opposition from the politically connected bail bond industry.

Approved by a final vote of 21-10, Senate Bill 1338 mandates risk assessments for criminal defendants who are eligible for bail - an assessment that will mean more non-violent offenders who do not pose public safety risks can be released while they await trial, said Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, the bill's author.

"This will mean significant changes in some counties that will improve how we administer justice," Whitmire said, noting that a recent federal court in Houston mandates much of what the bill seeks to accomplish.

"It clarifies current law to require magistrates to impose the least restrictive conditions and minimum amount of bail necessary to ensure that the defendant appears in court and protect the public and victim."

The vote came as activists and community leaders gathered at the Harris County Courthouse Thursday to announce they were joining at nationwide "Bail for Mamas" effort to get women with minor offenses out of jail in time for Mother's Day.

"The objective is get these mothers back in society," said Tarsha Jackson, criminal justice director for the Texas Organizing Project.

Jackson urged Harris County to settle a lawsuit that led to a federal judge's ruling last week that the county's bail system violates the rights of poor, low-level defendants.

"Harris County's bail system is unconstitutional, morally indefensible and a waste of taxpayer dollars," Jackson said. "Settle this bail lawsuit now."

The measure approved by the Senate requires that defendants held on misdemeanors appear before a magistrate within 24 hours of their arrest, and that those held on felonies must be seen within 48 hours, Whitmire said.

"The risk assessments in this bill are an important component because bond setting and the amounts of bonds will be reflective of the real risk to public safety," Whitmire said. "That element is missing now in many cases."

Bill is softened

Filed months ago as a sweeping reform bill designed to eliminate flaws in the state's current bond system, the Senate-passed version does much less. A proposed constitutional amendment to deny bonds for the most heinous violent offenders was dropped, as were other provisions mandating court hearings within set deadlines after an arrest.

Bail bondsmen across Texas had strongly opposed the original bill, contending it would bankrupt the industry and was an unnecessary overreach by government. They used their political clout to pressure Whitmire - a key power player as the Senate's longest-serving member - to soften the bill considerably, before it could gain enough votes to pass out of his own committee.

Much of the opposition came from Houston and other urban centers in Texas, where bondsmen insisted that the proposed changes would cause chaos in a longstanding bond system and could cost taxpayers millions of dollars in additional costs.

The bill's passage came as Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal ordered Harris County to begin releasing more low-level inmates on personal recognizance bonds starting May 15 if they can't afford to post bail.

But even with the federal court order looming, the bill's passage in the Senate remained in doubt as late as Wednesday with continuing opposition.

"I think the court decision helped impress the fact that the old system is going to change," Whitmire said after the vote, which was close for reforms that were originally endorsed by the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court and the presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

The Senate-approved version now faces an uncertain future in the House, where bondsmen have promised to continue their fight. Bondsmen have said the measure would evaporate much of their bread-and-butter business in cash bonds for low-level defendants.

"The goal is to kill it in the House," said retired Houston bondsman Ron Rains, who watched Thursday's vote in the Senate gallery. "It's a bad bill that will kill our industry."

Underscoring the strong feelings on both sides was the Senate vote tally, which crossed party lines with a mix of Republicans and Democrats. Seven of the 10 senators who voted against the bill are Republicans, though many GOP members sided with Whitmire to vote for its approval.

'A lose, lose, lose ...'

As Whitmire's bill moved through the Senate, Harris County was targeted again and again for criticism - and lawsuits - for keeping thousands of indigent defendants in a chronically overcrowded jail because they cannot afford to make bail. Calling for significant reforms at one Senate hearing, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht labeled the current system of holding too many defendants too long behind bars as "a lose, lose, lose, lose, lose proposition."

Texas is one of more than a dozen states considering changes this year to bail laws to get more low-level offenders out of jails and back to work while awaiting trial, if they pose no safety risk.

Those moves also are intended to address growing national litigation over defendants being kept in jail simply because they cannot pay for bail, including the federal court case in Houston that could be used to challenge bail procedures in other counties.
A proposed data science institute on the Houston land purchased by the University of Texas System gained two high-profile allies on Thursday in Mayor Sylvester Turner and University of Houston System Board of Regents Chairman Tilman Fertitta.

In his annual State of the City address, Turner asked the University of Houston, Rice University and Texas A&M to work with UT to take on a task force's recommendations for how to use the 300-plus acres near the Texas Medical Center.

The task force pitched the idea for an institute for data science earlier this year, saying it would bolster Houston's energy and health sectors, envisioning collaboration with industry and national laboratories. Proponents said the institute's work could lead to more efficient and sustainable energy distribution and smarter health care delivery.

"If Houston wants to remain a global leader in energy, aeronautics, health care and education, we also need to be a leader in data science. And the world's premiere data science center needs to be and must be right here in the city of Houston," Turner told the luncheon audience at the Marriott Marquis hotel downtown.

Fertitta said the University of Houston would be "excited to sit down and collaborate" with Rice University, Texas Southern University, the Texas A&M University System and UT.

Fertitta's comments marked a sharp change from UH's position in early 2016, when it declined to participate on the task force put together by UT to determine how to best use the property. UH declined then because UT would have directed the final project solely, Fertitta said.

"If all these other universities are involved, we have no problem with being a part of it," he said. "We don't want any one university to come in and dictate."

Fertitta said he would hope that UT donates the property to the group of universities pursuing the project, should the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approve.

A spokesperson for UT declined comment.

Khator did not endorse

Paul Hobby, co-chair of the UT task force and former Greater Houston Partnership chairman, called Turner's statements "good news for Houston" in an email. "I appreciate the Mayor's leadership," he said, but declined to comment further.

Turner, a University of Houston alumnus, did not substantially address the internal and external opposition that kept UT's purchase from building traction in Houston when it was announced in 2015.

Resurrecting the proposal could prove logistically and politically challenging.

After UT Chancellor William McRaven revealed the project, UH slammed the purchase as an unfair invasion on its territory, and some lawmakers tore into UT and McRaven for not consulting them in advance, particularly because of the land's $215 million price tag.

The land deal cost McRaven political capital with Gov. Greg Abbott and some other state politicians after the surprise rollout. McRaven called off the project in March, before the idea for the center was presented.

"We cannot let this opportunity slip through our fingers because the initial approach was wrong," Turner said Thursday.

He then put out a direct call to UH, noting its goal to become an elite university: "We must not be scared of competition. We must take them on and make it happen."

Despite Fertitta's support, University of Houston Chancellor Renu Khator did not endorse the collaboration Thursday. Khator was unavailable to be interviewed, but said through a spokesman that she appreciated Turner's recognition of UH's work in his address.

Representatives for Rice, TSU and Texas A&M did not respond to requests for comment.

Turner said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle's editorial board Wednesday that developer David Wolff urged him to support the project. Wolff has tried to rally lawmakers, UT alumni and other Houston leaders in support of the idea.

The project hinges on participation from both UT and UH, said Mark Jones, a Rice University political science professor.

"If UH balks at this idea, it's effectively a no-go, (and) the same with UT," he said.

Even if both universities come on board, he said, "it's still not clear where the funding would come from. ... In a climate of budget scarcity, where do you come up with the millions of dollars needed?"

Turner said the project could circumvent state funding limitations by wooing investments from tech companies and other businesses. Asked if the city would offer incentives to jump-start the project, Turner said he would consult with Andy Icken, the city's chief development officer.

Weighing the options

Some of UT's regents came to oppose the project because of existing needs at the system's individual institutions.

McRaven said the Houston project was overshadowing UT's universities and health institutions when he called it off in March.

"I'm not sure that the UT System comes back unless all the steps are in place," said Jay Kumar Aiyer, a Texas Southern University public policy professor. "And that's the question. They're not going to get back out there unless there are guarantees and assurances that this is a viable project."

Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a Houston Republican initially critical of UT's purchase, said the UT System's board must weigh its options for how to best use the land.

"The system has bought the property, and it's in the taxpayer's best interest to listen to any and all rational proposals," Bettencourt said.

Any proposal would need approval from Abbott and Houston lawmakers, said Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat.

If it advances, Whitmire said, UT still should sell the massive property and build the institute elsewhere.

"This new proposal can be in the Medical Center, the University of Houston campus, Texas Southern's campus, Rice campus," he said. "You don't need to create a new UT campus in Houston to have this research project."

Rebecca Elliott contributed to this report.
AUSTIN - A ban on so-called "sanctuary cities" that would allow police to ask people about their immigration status and could lead to jail time for sheriffs and police chiefs who refuse to cooperate cleared its final hurdle Wednesday after the Senate voted to agree with changes House lawmakers made, sending the contentious proposal to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature.

In a 20-11 party line vote, the Senate's Republican majority effectively handed Abbott his most notable political victory yet, overcoming months of strident Democratic opposition to Senate Bill 4, which would grant new powers to police officers by allowing them to question a person's immigration status if they have been detained with reasonable suspicion.

The legislation also would prohibit local jurisdictions from passing or enforcing ordinances that prohibit police officers from inquiring about a detained person's immigration status. It also would require 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. After nearly three hours of debate Wednesday, senators accepted the House version that added several areas where SB4 would not apply, including government mental health care facilities and hospitals. Among other changes, it also would exclude officers who are contracted by religious organizations and schools, though it will apply to police departments on college campuses.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who for years championed the measure, cheered the bill's passage late Wednesday.

"This legislation will eliminate a substantial incentive for illegal immigration and help make Texas communities safer," Patrick said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Democrats and progressive groups decried the bill as a "show-me-your-papers" measure and promised to file an immediate court challenge to SB4 after Abbott signs the measure, which they predict will be found unconstitutional.

"The bill will not immediately take effect because of strong opposition by Democrats in both the Senate and the House," said Democratic Sen. Sylvia Garcia of Houston, hinting at a court battle.

However, Attorney General Ken Paxton's office has assured Republican legislators that the bill can withstand such a lawsuit.

"We will let the court systems figure this out," said GOP Sen. Charles Perry of Lubbock, the bill's author.

'Status quo bill'

The term "sanctuary cities" has no legal meaning but has been used to describe jurisdictions whose elected officials restrict, in any way, their police force's cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The state's Republican leaders, including Abbott, have said the bill is necessary to stop some Texas sheriffs and police chiefs, including Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez, from refusing to honor all voluntary requests from ICE to detain a person in the country illegally until federal authorities can investigate their case.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo has been a harsh critic of the proposal. Acevedo spoke out strongly against the bill last week, calling it a dangerous move by lawmakers that could have "negative consequences" because it would redirect limited HPD resources from crime fighting efforts to an initiative that does not improve public safety.

Acevedo did not say whether HPD would alter any policies if SB4 is signed into law, but he emphasized he intends to make public safety a priority over policies he believe are unrelated.

Calling it a "status quo bill," Perry said during the debate that his SB4 does not force a police officer to inquire about a person's immigration status nor does it allow an officer to stop someone merely to ask about their status. He defended the bill from critics who said it will lead to racial profiling and will turn Texas police officers into federal immigration authorities.

"Nowhere in the bill as it came back from the House does it instruct officers to demand papers," Perry said. "Nowhere in the bill does it allow an officer to enforce federal immigration law. Officers still do not have the authority to arrest someone merely for being unlawfully present (in the country), which is a federal power."

A 'gamechanger'

For months, outnumbered Democrats in both chambers tried to add a host of exemptions to the bill, including one to shield children from inquires about their immigration status and another to exclude college police departments. Other proposals would have created exceptions for homeless shelters and domestic violence centers, but Republicans rejected those amendments.

On Wednesday, several Democratic senators resurfaced those concerns and challenged Perry's claims that they had spread "non-factual substance" about SB4 to immigrant communities in their districts.

"It's gone from a bad bill to a really, really bad, horrible bill that will result in police officers investigating the immigration status of a person, including children, without probable cause," said Garcia, the Houston Democrat. "I'm afraid this legislation will lead to harassment and profiling of Latinos, and this is the last thing any of us would want  This bill will go from a broken taillight to a broken family to broken faith in our system."

Sen. John Whitmire, another Houston Democrat, said he has heard from families who are making contingency plans in case a relative who is in the country illegally is held by police after a routine interaction.

"Where's the anxiety? Where is the worry on the floor about the unintended consequences?" he asked his Republican colleagues. "This is a gamechanger in a very negative way for hundreds, millions of Texans."

The bill now heads to Abbott, the first-term Republican governor who deemed a "sanctuary cities" prohibtion an emergency item for lawmakers this session. The designation, which Abbott made at the start of the legislative session, allowed them to begin work on SB4 at an expedited pace.

"I'm getting my signing pen warmed up," Abbott tweeted after the vote.
AUSTIN  The Texas House of Representatives on Friday approved a bill that opponents say will heavily tilt the balance of power in favor of insurance companies, restricting access of homeowners and business policyholders to the courts in disputes over property insurance claims.

The House voted 92-55 to send HB 1774 to the Senate, which is expected to approve it. Supporters say it will protect homeowners and business policyholders from the detrimental effects of unnecessary lawsuits over hail and other storms.

The bill's lead sponsor, state Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, accepted an amendment to ensure that insurance companies are liable if they accept the liability of an adjuster or an agent and a jury awards a judgment in favor of the plaintiff. In addition to hail, the bill also applies to earthquakes or tremors, wildfire, flood, tornado, lightning, hurricane, wind, snowstorm, and rainstorm.
Mayor Sylvester Turner had good reason to smile as he stepped up to the podium Thursday to deliver his State of the City address.

His crucial pension reform bill, which seemed to be in trouble just a few days earlier, had passed the Texas Senate. He was about to leave for Austin to personally lobby his old friends in the House, who seemed likely to put their stamp of approval on the hard-fought deal vital to the city's future.

"But as a former legislator, I am not taking anything for granted and neither should you," he said.

Let that be a message not just for the lunchtime crowd that heard the mayor's address, but also for our state lawmakers. As Turner himself has been the first to concede, this deal - under which city employee groups will take a $2.5 billion cut in benefits and the city government will borrow $1 billion in bond money - isn't perfect, and it won't make everybody happy. Still, Houston's pension problems permeate everything about the city's financial future, and taking action to dig ourselves out of this hole is absolutely essential. A vote is scheduled Saturday, and we need our legislators in the Texas House and Gov. Greg Abbott to approve this critical compromise agreement.

A year ago, Turner vowed in his last State of the City speech that he would not only present a pension deal to the Legislature, he would also ask voters to rescind the revenue cap restricting our municipal government's ability to meet the needs of our growing city. Following through on that promise, the mayor announced he would place a revenue cap referendum on the ballot this coming November.

That means Houston voters could pass judgment on a mash-up of issues when they go to the polls this fall, including not only the revenue cap but also the pension bonds and possibly a separate proposal to convert the city's pension system to a 401k-style plan. (That last idea is the subject of a petition drive; the city secretary is still reviewing whether enough qualified voters offered their signatures to put the item on the ballot.) It has become clear that the revenue cap is bad for Houston - bond rating agencies agree - so we're all in favor of the mayor's efforts to free the city from the fiscal straight-jacket.

Buried beneath these headline items from the mayor's address came a surprising and altogether welcome announcement. Just like us, Turner apparently was dismayed that a petty turf fight between the University of Houston and the University of Texas torpedoed UT's plan to develop an impressive data science center near the Texas Medical Center. Proclaiming "we cannot let this opportunity slip through our fingers," the mayor promised he would lead an effort to create an institution for data science under a partnership that would include UH, UT, Rice University and Texas Southern University. The original proposal wowed business and technology leaders, who were bewildered it was killed by a toxic mix of bad politics, personality clashes and prickly provincialism. We applaud the mayor for reviving this important idea and hope the deal-making skills he mastered in the Legislature will facilitate making this center a reality.

One disappointing detail from the mayor's speech probably slipped by most casual listeners. Although he announced he plans to fund four Houston police cadet classes in the next fiscal year, that's actually a decline from the current year's five classes. Speaking to the Houston Chronicle editorial board, Turner said he still hopes to find the money to fund a fifth class. We sure hope he does, because right now Houston needs all the new cops it can afford.

Almost a year and a half into his tenure as mayor, it's now become abundantly clear that Turner's greatest strength as a longtime state lawmaker is paying off for the people of Houston. As a Democrat who built his reputation working both sides of the aisle in a state Capitol dominated by Republicans, he's on the very brink of passing a piece of legislation that's Houston's best shotat resolving the biggest threat to our city's financial future. If he succeeds, that alone will give him plenty tobrag about in his next State of the City address.
ELKO  A local officer who was murdered in 1937 will finally be honored with a headstone.

Jose Sancedo of the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department was killed in the line of duty at around 1 a.m. in the Palisade railroad yard while on patrol. He was carrying a large amount of money as he was planning to soon leave for Mexico to visit family. He was assaulted by two men, shot four times, robbed, and later died in the Elko hospital.

Officer Sancedo was buried in Elko but his grave remained unmarked until the Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commission did research and discovered it. The mission of the commission is to ensure that all Nevada Peace officers killed in the line of duty are honorably remembered for their sacrifice.

The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. May 10 in the Old City Cemetery in Elko. Members from the commission, in addition to the Elko Police Department, Elko County Sheriffs Office, Eureka County Sheriffs Office, and the Union Pacific Railroad Police, will be in attendance for the graveside dedication.

A similar headstone dedication is being held in Reno to honor another officer killed in the line of duty. The Nevada Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Commission has completed six of these dedication ceremonies.

The commission also hosted a memorial service Thursday in Carson City at the State Officers Memorial to honor fallen officers.
Solutions

Regarding "Diminished voters" (Page A14, Thursday), thank you for the editorial about Texas' lamentable redistricting system. I have a suggestion. I have thanked Reps. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Royce West, D-Dallas, for their start on this problem, but we could go a step further to ensure that some kind of reform actually takes place and is not subject to the heavily influenced whims of either party on an appointed commission.

How about a move to define a district of any kind - whether is it local, regional, county, or statewide - as having to be determined by no more than six contiguous straight lines other than a naturally occurring boundary such as a river? This would go a long way toward leveling the playing field.

Mary Needham, Houston

Just stuck

While I'm glad that a federal court called out Texas on its blatant gerrymandering, it's frustrating that there is no follow-through. This is far from the first time Texas has been caught doing this, but without consequences our leaders will continue to do whatever keeps them in power.

It's no coincidence that the two proposed bills to remedy the issue have been proposed by Democrats, and I hold little hope that the bills will ever see the light of day. Counting on our politicians to police themselves is an exercise in futility; unless the federal government intervenes, they have no incentive to do the right thing. Fairness and a moral compass sadly seem to be concepts long forgotten; our leaders now require a baby-sitter to force them to stay in line. They no longer even bat an eyelash when caught and think nothing of spending millions of our tax dollars fighting the verdict, even when they know they're in the wrong.

As long as the gerrymandered districts remain in place and Republicans allow their fear of change to keep these crooks in power, we will remain stuck.

Despite being one of the wealthiest states in the nation, our public school system will remain in the bottom 10 percent and children will continue to die while in Child Protective Service custody, while our leaders chase non-issues like the bathroom bill. How any citizen can be happy with how our taxes are being spent and our state is being led is beyond me.

Susan Ellis Brittain, Houston

Power plays

Like everything else, bigotry evolves over time. Its nature does not change, but its methods do. In the old days, bigots imposed their will with gun, rope and bullwhip. Now they do it with gerrymandering, redistricting and voter suppression.

Today's bigots may wear tailored suits instead of sheets and pointed hoods. They may speak correct English rather than a backwoods brogue. They may never use racial epithets and instead voice their bigotry in code words and circumlocutions. Yet their aims remain the same, namely, keeping people that look like them in power and keeping the "others" down.

Keith M. Parsons, Friendswood
Tourism industry at risk

Regarding "Neglected parkland" (A14, Thursday), by diverting sporting goods sales taxes from Texas Parks and Wildlife, our Legislature literally can't see the forests for the trees.

We've visited and camped at many of our state parks as well as many state parks in other states. During our travels over the past 40 years, we've learned the best states to stop and spend our money and which ones to avoid.

If Texas becomes known as a location where state parks should be avoided, what do our elected officials think that will do to our tourism industry?

David Kelly, Spring

Sophisticated palate aside

Regarding "StarFlavor" (Section D, Wednesday), I cook everyday and like to do it - but some of the recipes in the Starflavor section are ridiculous! Why don't they put in recipes using at least a few ingredients that we already have in the house? For instance, there is a recipe in the article "These complex wings are called 'irresistible' for a reason" (Page D4). Now who just happens to have gochujang (Korean pepper paste) in the kitchen?

On to the fine dining: How many people are just dying for a quinoa-stuffed tomato or Heritage Pig's Head Carnitas (half a head of a slow-braised, milk-fed pork pig, cooked carnitas style)?

Apparently I don't have a very sophisticated palate, but I think there are more people like me out here so maybe we could come down to our level a bit.

Winnie Weidner, Houston

Philanthropy and choices

No matter where I go in the world, when I say I attended HSPVA, the school's acronym needs little explanation. The familiarity of the name adds a great feeling of joy and pride for me. In no way is it inappropriate that the school keep its founding name.

The editorial "A deal's a deal" (Page A18, April 28) says: "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."

As a philanthropist, I believe we share because we can, because we want to make the world a better place.

If people choose not to donate to educational facilities and causes because their name will not be a part of a building, that is their personal choice. But to project into the future that others will suffer because one school requested to keep its original name is just fearmongering.

You sell us all short.

Sara Hickman, Austin

Sanctuary cities

Regarding "'Cities' bill is sent to Abbott" (Page A1, Thursday), once again the Texas Legislature, bowing to pressure from voters, has shown that it is living in the past by passing so-called "sanctuary cities" legislation despite protests from the Texas law enforcement community. Next up, a bathroom bill to solve a totally non-existent problem.

Texas, like the Big 12, may soon find itself irrelevant on the national stage if our Legislature and governor don't start addressing the real needs of the state.

Maybe we'd be better off if the Legislature met for two days every 140 years instead of 140 days every two years.

Paul Pieri, Houston
Mexican Americans, along with Mexicans, know all too well from history that the path to achieving social justice has never been easy. There have been nearly as many setbacks as there have been successes. Even the Mexican victory at Puebla in 1862 was short-lived, as French troops occupied Mexico for another five years until the resistance, led by Mexican President Benito Juarez, regained control of the country.

And what a setback we now find ourselves facing, as Gov. Greg Abbott is poised to sign Senate Bill 4, the Arizona-style "show me your papers" law targeting undocumented migrants.

More alarming still, a Republican-dominated Congress and conservative state legislatures, along with Texas, are rushing to implement anti-migrant measures, as the alt-right media stokes racially tinged fears of the cultural Latinization of the United States.

This tone is set at the top. President Donald Trump has spoken of Mexican migrants as "criminals," "rapists" and "bad hombres." And now he seeks to build a 30-foot wall along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. More recently, a fraternity at Baylor University brought old-fashioned anti-Mexican racism into news headlines by throwing a "Cinco de Drinko" event where partygoers, dressed as maids and constructions workers, chanted, "Build that wall."

Still outsiders to the circles of state and media power, Mexican Americans find themselves in a familiar role alongside Mexican migrants: that of the underdog facing powerful opponents.

U.S. citizenship, educational accomplishment or professional status is little defense against such attacks. While some would argue that Mexican Americans should separate themselves from Mexican immigrants to avoid the taint of negative association, history suggests that alliance rather than avoidance would better protect the rights of both, particularly since many Mexican Americans are but one or two generations away from the experience of migration to the U.S.

At the founding convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens in Corpus Christi in 1929, the great divide was about the requirement that members be U.S. citizens, a contentious issue given the large numbers of Mexican refugees from the Mexican Revolution of 1910-20 who had been active in the fight against racial discrimination in Texas. The requirement was kept, and the Mexican refugee contingent walked out. While a citizens-only LULAC was instrumental in advancing the civil rights of Mexican Americans during its first decades, it missed a golden opportunity to make common cause against the common enemy of institutionalized racism.

LULAC has since dropped U.S. citizenship as a membership requirement to become a leading advocate for migrant rights regardless of status, and Mexican migrants, Mexican Americans and their fair-minded allies have stepped up to fight the good fight against misguided legislation that doesn't amount to immigration reform but does infringe upon human rights. In addition to opposition from migrant rights groups, organizations as diverse as law enforcement and religious leaders provided more than 16 hours of testimony against the passage of SB4.

Like the seemingly unstoppable French military in Puebla in 1862, nationalist nativists currently have the upper hand in imposing harsh measures through sheer, misguided might. The moral victory will not be theirs.

This Cinco de Mayo, the famous words of Juarez ring true as never before: "Entre los invididuos, como entre las naciones, el respecto al derecho ajeno es la paz," which means between individuals, as between nations, respect for the rights of others means peace. In this spirit, Mexican Americans must continue to work alongside other communities to bend the arc of history toward the peace - and dignity - that flows from social justice.

Moran Gonzalez is director of the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and a Public Voices fellow.
Justice delayed is justice denied. For too long, that's been the case in Harris County, where people languish behind bars for weeks and months awaiting trial for minor, nonviolent misdemeanors because they cannot afford bail. Enough is enough. The time has come for Harris County to leave its wealth-based bail system in the past, take a seat at the settlement table, and fully commit to forward-thinking bail reform.

No clearer message has been sent that the two-tiered system of justice, which unfairly penalizes the poor, minorities, and people with mental illness, must be leveled than the Honorable U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal's recent decision to grant an injunction halting the county's practice of denying pre-trial liberty to people charged with petty misdemeanors because they cannot afford bail.

A well-respected appointee of President George H.W. Bush, Judge Rosenthal's ruling makes it clear that our current system violates our constitutional rights to equal protection and due process.

Evidence presented at the injunction hearing exposed a pattern of Harris County's failure to safeguard constitutional rights for all people. One result Judge Rosenthal identified is that misdemeanor defendants often plead guilty to crimes they didn't commit rather than languish in jail. This not only undermines the right to fair trial, it contributes to the county having the highest rate of exonerations from wrongful convictions nationwide.

These unjust bail practices travel along the same fault lines of social and economic inequality that run through our broader society. African-Americans and Latinos who are poor are more likely to be ensnared in the criminal justice system and bear its disproportionate impacts, which we argued in an amicus brief we filed in this lawsuit. Once again, Judge Rosenthal agreed, finding that, "Misdemeanor pretrial detention is causally related to the snowballing effects of cumulative disadvantage that are especially pronounced and pervasive for those who are indigent and African-American or Latino."

Our current bail system undermines public safety. Someone accused of a violent crime may be out in hours if they can afford bail, while a single mother with traffic violations who cannot afford costly bail is stuck behind bars to the detriment of her family. In no universe does this make anyone safer. And research shows that when pretrial defendants are separated from their family and community, the risk of recidivism increases. As a result, the county spends millions of dollars to incarcerate defendants who pose little or no threat to the public and have not been convicted of a crime when those dollars could be spent on smart-on-crime prevention strategies and public safety initiatives that work.

Judge Rosenthal's findings leave no legal ground for the county to continue its costly defense of this indefensible system. Throughout her 193-page ruling, the judge repeatedly finds that Harris County's expert witness testimonies and legal defense arguments are simply not credible. This does not bode well for an appeal or future trial. Already, $2 million in taxpayer money has been sunk into this endeavor.

The county's continued defense of this system shows a blatant disregard for the fundamental constitutional and moral principles that all people, regardless of wealth or race, receive equal justice under the law. The Constitution must work for all people, or it works for no one.

This is not a partisan issue. It is a moral issue. It is a fiscal issue. It is a public safety issue. Fundamentally, it is a constitutional issue. Do we truly value a justice system that protects the right to fair treatment, due process and equal protection guaranteed by our Constitution? To appeal is to answer no. From conservative Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht to former Attorney General Eric Holder, people across the political spectrum are joining the chorus in support of bail reform, sounding a clarion call for justice and demanding our Constitution be upheld.

We can no longer turn a deaf ear to that call. Harris County can no longer maintain a costly, two-tiered justice system that perpetuates discrimination, exacerbates inequality, drains public resources and harms communities. Judge Rosenthal's ruling outlines both an opportunity and an obligation to fundamentally reform our bail system rather than defend it or haphazardly reform it. Justice demands an end to our current system and requires a new one built on the principles of fairness and equality for all people under the law. It's time. Justice cannot wait.

Swarns is director of Litigation for the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. Ellis is Harris County Precinct One Commissioner.
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CARSON CITY  Flags hung at half-staff all across Nevada on Thursday as the state paid tribute to her fallen law enforcement officers.

In Carson City, the lights of the Capitol grounds turned blue while pipes and drums droned their songs. Officers from Nevadas 30-plus law enforcement agencies gathered in a solemn display at the 20th Annual Nevada Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony.

The backdrop for the ceremony was the Peace Officers Memorial, depicting an officer giving care to his fallen partner, with the names of every officer in Nevada who has fallen listed on a Nevada-shaped wall behind them. Agencies listed on the wall range from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the University of Nevada Police Department.

Five officers from Elko County were present as members of the statewide Honor Guard. Sheriff Jim Pitts, Sgt. Dave Winstead and deputy Aitor Narvaiza represented the Elko County Sheriffs Department in the ceremony, while officers Chris Ballesteros and Bart Ortiz represented the Elko Police Department.

During the ceremony, the name of the first fallen peace officer of 2017, North Las Vegas Police Detective Chad Parque, was added to the wall. A 21-gun salute was rendered and Taps was played. A caparisoned horse, commonly known as the rider-less horse, was processed in by Deputy Joe Bruno, Commander of the Carson City Sheriffs Mounted Unit.

The tradition of the caparisoned horse goes back to the period of Ghengis Khan and the Tamerlane, when it was believed a sacrificed horse would serve its rider in the beyond. Today, the caparisoned horse is typically dark in color, carrying a McClellan saddle which has a saber tied to it and boots placed backward in the stirrups, so that the fallen can look back upon those they leave.

Memorials began April 26, when the Law Enforcement Memorial Baton began its journey to Carson City from Las Vegas, being run the whole way and exchanged at intervals by officers from all over Nevada. The baton arrived in Carson City early Wednesday evening, and was in place for the ceremony.

The ceremony is unique for the State of Nevada, and all through the Capitol Mall motor officers, mounted officers, SWAT team members, K-9 units and Honor Guard officers in their dress uniforms could be seen.
Singapores overall unemployment rate increased marginally in March this year (2.3%) compared to a quarter before (2.2%), according to preliminary figures released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) last week. It also expects redundancies to remain elevated, as businesses continue tor estructure and some sectors face cyclical weakness.



But the government agency added that opportunities will continue to be available in several sectors, such as Healthcare, Infocomm, Finance & Insurance, and certain segments of Manufacturing. Research by Kelly Services and Capita came to a similar conclusion.



According to the 2017 Kelly Services and Capita Salary Guide, this years highest paying industries are: Accounting, Banking & Finance, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Information Technology, and Legal. Results were drawn from a database of approximately 19,000 permanent and temporary contract placements in 2016.



With its push to become a Smart Nation driving growth and jobs across IT, advanced manufacturing and ecommerce, other sectors such as brick-and-mortar retailing will likely contract or face stagnant growth, said the report.



However, Singapores tight local labour pool means employers will need to continue to attract and retain top talent by providing competitive salary and a range of high-growth learning opportunities. This in turn benefits the organisation, as nurturing employee capabilities and adaptability ensures that the companys workforce is future-proof.



Accounting



Senior accountants and finance controllers in the industry can expect to command salary ranges of $5,000 - $7,500 and $8,000 - $16,000 respectively, said the report. The establishment of ASEAN Economic Community last year is expected to generate demand for thousands of skilled finance professionals and accountants who can work across borders.



The report expects more work involving regional cross-border debt restructuring and complex projects which will require support from accountancy services including financial analysis, business valuation and tax advisory. The increase in demand for jobs in this sector are mostly in entry to middle level roles.



Banking & Finance



Kelly forecast a 3% salary growth in the sector this year. Singapores banks were negatively affected by their exposure to the troubled oil and gas sector. With the modest recovery of oil prices, the outlook has improved but remains moderate in the face of slowed growth. It expects an increase in demand for professionals with compliance and risk backgrounds.



Senior/associates, financial controls, and vice presidents working in risk within the industry can expect salary ranges of $4,400 - $6,000 and $10,000 - $17,000 respectively.



Healthcare & Life Sciences



The report said more healthcare workers will be needed, as the government implements Healthcare Manpower Plan 2020. 30,000 healthcare workers will be needed by 2020, with 10,000 professionals in the eldercare sector alone.



Senior staff/staff nurses and senior pharmacists/pharmacists working in the industry can expect salary ranges of $2,500 - $5,500 and $4,500 - $6,500 respectively, while medical technologists can expect $3,000 - $4,500.



Information Technology



A steady hiring outlook is expected for the industry, especially in the areas of cybersecurity, data analytics and development, and network infrastructure. The report specifically mentioned the Financial Technology (FinTech) sector: Over 200 FinTech companies have started operating in Singapore just over the last two years.



FinTech developers and senior business analysts/analysts working in the industry can expect to command salary ranges of $7,500 - $12,000 and $8,000 - $12,000 respectively.



Legal



The pool of lawyers in Singapore has grown by 12% over the last five years, according to the report. Singapores regional role as an important commercial and financial centre with a strong rule of law is fueling its ambition of becoming a global arbitration centre.



General counsel and legal counsel can expect salary ranges of $15,000 - $20,000 and $10,000 - $16,000 respectively.




A toddler in a preschool class is escorted to the door by a patient adult after he dawdles behind his classmates in Montreal. In another shot, a woman tries on a pair of shoes while chatting with a seemingly friendly clerk in a shop. In Burnaby, B.C., a man sighs and puffs on a cigarette in what seems to be a private backyard.

These are just a few of the shots from people's private lives anyone can peer into on dozens of sites online that stream footage from unsecured webcams.

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A quick scan on sites like Shodan, NestCam Directory and Insecam displays thousands of livestreams, hundreds of which are in Canada. Some of the feeds have been left unlocked on purpose, like the public cameras that allow people to see the slope conditions at a ski resort near Banff. But others are more troubling.

On Wednesday, CBC News tipped off the Cape Breton-Victoria School Board that its Panasonic HD security cameras were broadcasting faces of staff and students online. One of the cameras clearly showed boys entering and exiting the washroom, while another was pointed at the school's playground.

And on Thursday, a Vice journalist was browsing one of the unsecured webcam sites when he spotted a Brantford police car being worked on in a body shop. He contacted police who confirmed their car was at the shop, and said they would investigate.

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The fix for this kind of security breach is an easy one  camera owners need to put a password on the device so it can't be easily accessed, or change the password if it's currently set to the default one that comes with the device.

"My strong advice to anybody who has a video surveillance system, whether they're individuals or businesses or public bodies, is: go to that website and see if your system's there," Nova Scotia privacy commissioner Catherine Tully told the Hamilton Spectator.

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Though the bill still has to be passed into law (and there's some doubt about that happening), it has plenty of Americans worried about their health care coverage  more, in fact, than might be assumed upon first glance.

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According to Money magazine, under the AHCA, insurance companies will be able to charge people with pre-existing conditions more for their health insurance, an act currently banned by the ACA.

House speaker Paul Ryan and president Donald Trump have promised to keep those provisions, Quartz reports, with an amendment stating "nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting health insurance issuers to limit access to health coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions." Individual states, however, have the ability to let insurance companies decide for themselves about patients with pre-existing conditions, including determining what those conditions might be.

The Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-partisan not-for-profit organization focusing on health issues, did an analysis of the various ailments and even professions and hobbies that can get people declined by a private insurance company. According to their study, the conditions generally considered to be "pre-existing" by insurers include the following:

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AIDS/HIV

Alcohol abuse/ Drug abuse with recent treatment

Alzheimers/dementia

Arthritis (rheumatoid), fibromyalgia, other inflammatory joint disease

Cancer within some period of time (e.g. 10 years, often other than basal skin cancer)

Cerebral palsy

Congestive heart failure

Coronary artery/heart disease, bypass surgery

Crohns disease/ ulcerative colitis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)/emphysema

Diabetes mellitus

Epilepsy

Hemophilia

Hepatitis (Hep C)

Kidney disease, renal failure

Lupus

Mental disorders (severe, e.g. bipolar, eating disorder)

Multiple sclerosis

Muscular dystrophy

Obesity, severe

Organ transplant

Paraplegia

Paralysis

Parkinsons disease

Pending surgery or hospitalization

Pneumocystic pneumonia

Pregnancy or expectant parent

Sleep apnea

Stroke

Transsexualism

In the past, according to Quartz, other conditions that haven't been covered included prior C-sections (because of the potential for future health complications), and sexual assault and domestic violence (thanks to, among other things, their association with mental health issues and substance abuse).

The Kaiser Family Foundation also notes there are plenty of other conditions that are passed under scrutiny and might incur further charges or straight out rejections for that particular ailment  and among these are some serious surprises.

Acne

Allergies

Anxiety

Asthma

Basal cell skin cancer

Depression

Ear infections

Fractures

High cholesterol

Hypertension

Incontinence

Joint injuries

Kidney stones

Menstrual irregularities

Migraine headaches

Overweight

Restless leg syndrome

Tonsillitis

Urinary tract infections

Varicose veins

Vertigo

Before we get too smug about it, it must be noted that Canadian insurance companies have similar lists of pre-existing conditions that prevent people from readily getting extra coverage for their needs.

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There are also many criticisms of the Canadian system, including long wait times in emergency rooms and for specialists, as well as limitations on mental health care and privatized options for those who can afford it.

Canadian insurance companies have similar lists of pre-existing conditions that prevent people from readily getting extra coverage for their needs.

The major difference, however, is that the universal health care offered in Canada covers all medically necessary services, which, according to Health Canada, are "hospital services provided to in-patients or out-patients, if the services are medically necessary for the purpose of maintaining health, preventing disease or diagnosing or treating an injury, illness, or disability; and medically required physician services rendered by medical practitioners."
A Liberal MP delivered a call to action this week on behalf of indigenous women facing violence  and later translated his words to ensure they would be understood.

Robert-Falcon Ouellette, the MP for Winnipeg Centre, spoke entirely in Cree when he rose in the House of Commons Thursday to discuss acts of disturbing brutality against young women in the Prairies.

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Late last month, 19-year-old Serena McKay was murdered on the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. A graphic video, reportedly showing McKay being kicked and punched repeatedly, circulated on Facebook. Two girls, aged 16 and 17, have been arrested on charges of second-degree murder.

The horrific case was reminiscent of a 2015 incident in The Pas where, according to a Winnipeg Free Press report, a teen girl was deliberately and severely burned during a house party. That attack was also caught on camera.

These events occurred while people stood by and recorded these incidents, Ouellette said, according to a translation he provided both to Parliament and the media. The freedom of the violence calls into question our own humanity.

Ouellette promoted the Moose Hide Campaign, a grassroots movement calling on men  aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike  to work together to tackle violence against women and children. According to the groups site, wearing the hide signifies a commitment to honour, respect and protect the women and children in your life.

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Ouellette was wearing a jacket made of moose hide as he spoke.

My aunts, cousins, daughter, and friends are beautiful, the MP said. They are courageous, humble, intelligent, loving, respectful, honest, hard-working.

They deserve additional protection of our laws so people think twice before they destroy lives.

Tory MP suggests prior translation

Though many colleagues applauded his remarks, Manitoba Conservative MP Ted Falk later rose on a point of order to lament that he could not understand what was said.

We heard a beautifully orated speech in a language that 98 per cent of us were unable to comprehend, Falk said.

The Tory MP asked that a prior translation be given to interpreters in the future so that those in the House could enjoy the content of the statement and also provide the appropriate support and response.

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Ouellette told HuffPost Canada that he spoke Cree because he wanted indigenous youth to really hear this message that women should be respected as sisters. And he wanted them to feel pride in their language.

"Most Parliamentarians said, you know, 'Great to hear you speaking your indigenous language but what did you say?'"

Im sure theyve heard this message many times. I hope they have throughout their lives, Ouellette said. But if theres another way of doing it using our indigenous languages to make it more real... then I was going to do it.

Ouellette said he hopes that Parliament will soon offer translation services for indigenous languages.

Most Parliamentarians said, you know, Great to hear you speaking your indigenous language but what did you say? he said with a laugh.

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Ouellette suggested the violence he referenced  and the impunity some have must felt to record such acts  speaks to the work that still needs to be done.

For so long, the laws of Canada made indigenous people, but especially indigenous women, not just second-class but third-class citizens. We need to somehow find a way of bringing greater balance to that for a period of time. To say that we hold indigenous women in esteem.

The full translation of Ouellette's speech:

Recently in the Prairies two high profile violent events occurred where young indigenous women were killed and severely hurt. These events occurred while people stood by and recorded these incidents. The freedom of the violence calls into question our own humanity. I am a supporter of the Moose Hide Campaign and it is time that we raise indigenous women above our current beliefs. My aunts, cousins, daughter, and friends are beautiful. They are courageous, humble, intelligent, loving, respectful, honest, hard-working. They deserve additional protection of our laws so people think twice before they destroy lives.

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Since the writ dropped, the last few weeks have been unmistakably filled with tell-tale signs of an upcoming election: candidate signs popping up overnight, inboxes filling with reminders to vote and partisan ads playing on loop on our TVs and radios.

The talk is familiar, candidates debate the economy, housing, and healthcare. Environmental regulation and the economy are high-profile and contentious issues dividing parties and voters alike. While party leaders battle it out competing for votes, the issues themselves focus on the hyper-local and provincial. The candidates do a good job of analyzing how issues like public spending or the Kinder Morgan pipeline can affect British Columbians and their communities, but someone has yet to step back and talk about how what happens in our province impacts a larger national and international picture.

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Now this is not to say that British Columbia and its diverse people and communities are not important to consider; it's quite the opposite. It is about recognizing that the issues being debated in this election are linked with and connected to similar issues outside our borders, and that the decisions we make during this election will have global impact.

British Columbia is larger than many countries and our provincial government is in charge of key portfolios; education, natural resources, health, justice, agriculture, and municipalities, all of which have a huge impact beyond our provincial borders. So when it comes to solving big global issues, British Columbia has a responsibility to contribute to and even lead on the transformative solutions required to move the world forward.

So why wait? In 2015, the world unanimously signed on to 17 Global Goals to transform our world. The result of a global grassroots process, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are a universal agenda aimed at fixing climate change, eradicating poverty, achieving gender equality and creating and sustaining peace. And not just out there in the world, but right here and right now.

Canada has formally endorsed these Goals at the federal level and there is talk underway on how to integrate the Goals into legislation; however, with many of the Goals thematically falling under provincial jurisdiction, they cannot be achieved without leadership from British Columbia. We don't have to wait for Ottawa.

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Not only is there tremendous support for the existence of the 17 Global Goals, but there is a call to raise their profile within our province.

We are all in agreement that things can (and should) be better. Embracing a wider lens at the provincial level invites a new, fresh, much-needed perspective. The Global Goals call us to combine the use of three perspectives when we discuss and debate how to move forward: (1) Universality -- We are all equal stakeholders with responsibility to tackle issues where we are, (2) Integration -- No issue can be adequately addressed in isolation, and (3) Transformational Thinking -- A business as usual approach to change is not going to solve issues within the timeframe we have to work with.

So what could we do with this in British Columbia?

In the last year, the BC Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) talked to over 400 civil society leaders at over 50 community roundtable discussions in over 30 B.C. communities. The results are overwhelming: Not only is there tremendous support for the existence of the 17 Global Goals, but there is a call to raise their profile within our province. Community leaders recognize the value of looking at the Goals as universal, integrated, and transformational and see them as key to connecting progressive B.C. policies and action to a bigger picture of global sustainability.

With 13 years left until the target year 2030, there is a lot to accomplish, but we aren't starting from scratch. In the last year, BCCIC has mapped over 2200 groups within our province who are working on achieving one or more of the Global Goals. Earlier this year we launched the BC2030 initiative, which calls on British Columbians to show leadership on creating a better world over the next 15 years at the community, regional, and provincial levels in recognition that as a province we are positioned within a shared globalized world.

Transforming the world is a process that requires collective action everywhere. An election is a scheduled potential pivot point: in a shifting global world, we would do well to consider the bigger picture. The timeline is tight and as British Columbians in an ever shifting world, we can each challenge ourselves and our political representatives to think toward 2030 and beyond.

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Kareen Wong is the Communications Officer at the British Columbia Council for International Cooperation.

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Whether you're heading south for a Mexican vacay or flying out for a quick work trip, there's no reason you can't make this May 5 the best Cinco de Mayo yet.

Cheapflights.ca has rounded up 10 top airport bars and restaurants in North America boasting flavourful cocktails perfect for an impromptu Cinco de Mayo (or, Cinco de Flyo, as we like to call it). You can't say we never agave you anything 

Portland International Airport, Portland, Oregon, U.S.

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Did you know there are over 200 different tequilas? Well now you do, and, at Sandoval's Tequila Grill in Portland, Ore., you can try them all (not recommended). Sip them on the rocks or have them blended into your favourite cocktail.

Location: Concourse C

Drink this: Cazadores Reposado tequila sampler, a 100% blue agave blend aged in a white oak cask.

Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado, U.S.

While Denver is known as a beer town (and even has its own airport brewery), there are also a few cocktail spots to keep you entertained before heading to your gate. We picked Denver's Que Bueno!, an affordable quick-serve pit stop with freshly made burritos and tasty margaritas.

Location: B gates near Gate B52

Drink this: Sip on the Fresh Jalapeno Margarita for a spicy twist on a classic.

George Bush International Airport, Houston, Texas, U.S.

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With over 30 years of famous Tex-Mex cuisine, the small but mighty Pappsito is known for flavour and freshness. Tasty margaritas, tacos and nachos put this Houston pick on our list.

Location: Terminal A

Drink this: If you're feeling fancy, try the Grand Gold Margarita, made with Jose Cuervo gold tequila, orange liqueur and topped with freshly squeezed lime juice.

Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Ontario

Apropos has breakfast burritos, fresh fish tacos and guacamole on their menu, which is exactly what you're looking for from Cinco de Mayo airport fare. Stop by for a quick bite and a refreshing cocktail next time you're in Toronto.

Location: Terminal 1 near gate F62

Drink this: A Mexican-inspired take on the Bloody Caesar, the Apropos Caesar features tequila, celery and sriracha.

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Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

In-house guacamole and hand-crafted margaritas? Yes, please. Chicago's Tortas Frontera is a highly reviewed walk-up that has amazing Mexican food, and there's typically a long line to prove it. Trust us, it's worth the wait, and the line moves quickly. You'll have a fresh drink in hand, stat.

Location: Terminal 1, 3 & 5

Drink this: Tortas Frontera claims to have the best margarita you could find in any airport, so choose anything.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.

The original Barrio Cafe once held the largest tequila collection in the state of Arizona. Nowadays, there are over 300 choices at the airport location in Phoenix, which claims to be open from the first flight of the day to the last. The staff promises to serve you the finest tequila cocktails, making it a must-visit on your next stop in Phoenix.

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Location: Terminal 4

Drink this: Try the Barrio Bomba Margarita; it's as delicious as it is large.

Mexico City Airport, Mexico City, Mexico

Indulge in fried chicken wings and blended margaritas at Baron Rojo. This popular meeting spot in Mexico City is the perfect place to relax and unwind before your flight. Open 24 hours, you might even be able to catch some late-night karaoke before your next red-eye flight.

Location: Terminal 2 directly in front of the E2 gate.

Drink this: Try the mango margarita, a well reviewed favourite.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas, Texas, U.S.

When in Texas, Tex-Mex is mandatory. Stop by the Tequileria, a casual dining spot that will surprise you with its wide range of tequilas and margaritas and its fast service.

Location: Terminal E at gate E12

Drink this: Order most margaritas and get the extra leftover in the shaker on the side.

Oakland International Airport, Oakland, California, U.S.

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Next time you're flying through Oakland, head to Andale for premium, hand-selected tequilas that complement their fresh Mexican fare. Enjoy a margarita and some grub at the bar, or take a flight-ready option like grilled fish tacos or the Andale burrito to-go.

Location: Terminal 2

Drink this: With such a wide variety of tequilas, you can't go wrong. Ask your bartender for a recommendation based on your preferences and enjoy.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.

When Jose Cuervo is in the name of the restaurant, you're in for a good time. Jose Cuervo Tequileria in Charlotte is a festive establishment with classic Mexican dishes and margarita shakers so large, they'll fill your glass twice.

Location: Main atrium between all terminals.

Drink this: Order the Ultimate Margarita, a drinkable standard marg with the perfect blend of sweet and sour and a rim of salt or sugar.

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BONUS: Anywhere

When all else fails, make your own on-board margarita. Order orange juice, sprite and tequila from your nearest flight attendant. Over ice, mix tequila and a splash of OJ and fill with some sprite. If you're feeling agile, try stepping up your in-flight drinks game by adding a packet of salt or sugar to the rim of your plastic cup (without spilling on yourself or your neighbour).
By Craig and Marc Kielburger

As the Brooklyn streets went dark and flooded with water, pummeled by the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy, Lizbeth Lucero watched her mother pace the apartment -- and pray.

In the weeks that followed, her family went without power or heat. Another 760,000 were forced from their homes.

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Churches provided blankets for cold nights while Lizbeth's family ate hot dogs and Salvadorian pupusas donated by food trucks. Still without power at home, she returned to school and a teacher offered her a warm shower in the school's basement.

Lizbeth turned it down, ashamed at needing help.

We were reminded of Lizbeth's story, and of those displaced from their homes or forced to flee their country as climate refugees, this Earth Day.

Mass displacements will soon be the new normal.

Hundreds of thousands of scientists and environmental advocates filled the streets in over 600 cities, with rallies taking place on every continent -- even Antarctica. Bill Nye told thousands gathered in the pouring rain in Washington, D.C., "We are marching today to remind people everywhere of the significance of science."

The earth needs protection -- that was a central theme of the rallies -- but so do its people. Experts say climate change poses the greatest security threat and mass displacements will soon be the new normal.

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As human-caused climate change continues to warm the planet, sea levels will rise, storms will grow stronger, floods more violent and draughts harsher. All of this puts some of the world's most vulnerable people at greater risk.

They are the human face of global warming.

On Earth Day, amid calls to reign in carbon emissions, end deforestation and protect coral reefs, we heard another conversation. Awareness was raised for Tuvalu, the Polynesian island at risk of disappearing into bloated waters, and action demanded for the 200,000 Bangladeshis who lose their homes each year from river erosion.

The problem is complex, as are the solutions. But as with most climate issues, prevention is best. Reforestation, re-habilitating degraded land, and desalination of low coastal areas will ensure that at-risk communities are more resilient to change.

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Once disaster strikes, another necessary step is legal recognition for the people fleeing devastation brought on by climate change.

The United Nations Refugee Convention only extends to members of persecuted groups. People driven from their homes by rising ocean tides or creeping deserts don't qualify for legal protection, which means many country's doors remain closed and safe asylum is out of reach. Some estimates say climate refugees and internally displaced people will number 50 million by 2020 and 150 million by 2050.

After Hurricane Sandy, Lizbeth poured herself into climate action. She marshalled her community to join the 300,000 strong People's Climate March in Manhattan in 2014. And she became a leader in the Red Hook Initiative to help build a resilient and healthy community.

The helplessness she felt during the hurricane was Lizbeth's spark. It was part of what drove her to become the first person in her family of Mexican immigrants to graduate high school.

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Now studying development sociology at Cornell, she carries that spark with her, a glimmer of hope that vulnerable people will not be forgotten.

Craig and Marc Kielburger are the co-founders of the WE movement, which includes WE Charity, ME to WE Social Enterprise and WE Day.

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Alessandro Bianchi / Reuters A production assistant collects a Cannabis plant in a state-owned agricultural farm in Rovigo, about 60 km (40 miles) from Venice, September 22, 2014. Italy legalised marijuana for medical use last year, but the high cost of buying legal pot in a pharmacy meant few people signed up. Starting next year, a high-security lab in a military compound in Florence will grow cannabis for Italy's health care system in an experiment the government says could bring safe, legal and affordable marijuana to suffering patients. To match Feature ITALY-MARIJUANA/ Picture taken September 22, 2014. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (ITALY - Tags: HEALTH DRUGS SOCIETY BUSINESS AGRICULTURE POLITICS)

Considering how important cannabis is to our province in every way, it's surprising that legalization hasn't been a bigger topic in this election. Legalization could be a big boon for B.C., or it could be a devastating blow to our provincial economy. We need a premier who will get it right.

Here's how I'm scoring the three B.C. parties on their cannabis policy.

To get an "A" grade, a party leader would need to do three things.

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1. Pledge to stop cannabis possession arrests immediately, without waiting for Trudeau.

The federal government has pledged to continue arrests until cannabis legalization is totally in place, a process that could take a least a year, and probably a few years. B.C. has the power to stop cannabis possession arrests at any time, and this needs to be a priority.

2. Pledge to protect B.C.'s local cannabis growers by demanding the power to license and regulate cultivation at the provincial level.

Provinces control who can commercially brew alcohol, and provinces should control who can commercially grow cannabis. If the sole power to issue grow licenses remains with the federal government, we can expect to see a small number of companies getting those licenses, and a truly open system will not emerge.

3. Pledge to support cities currently licensing dispensaries.

Some cities in B.C. are issuing business licenses for local dispensaries. B.C. needs a premier who will respect those licenses and the civic process behind them.

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Here's where the parties stand and how we score them:

B.C. Green Party: C+

Positives: Andrew Weaver is the only party leader to use the phrase "craft cannabis" and to acknowledge the importance of cannabis growers to B.C.'s local economy. He has expressed concern about B.C.'s cannabis industry being taken over by "big multinationals." Says he supports cannabis being sold in a manner similar to "craft breweries," but also from liquor stores and pharmacies.

Negatives: Weaver has not explained how he will protect B.C.'s craft cannabis industry when licenses will be issued by the federal government. Has not pledged to immediately stop possession arrests.

B.C. NDP: C+

Positives: John Horgan has called legalization "overdue" and says "there are people of all walks of life who prefer to have a pull on a joint or eat a biscuit, rather than a martini, to unwind." Last year Horgan sent two MLAs to Washington and Oregon to study their legal cannabis systems.

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Horgan has met with dispensary operators to discuss the role of dispensaries under legalization. Horgan says he supports cannabis being sold from many outlets, with a model that is "a hybrid" of private beer and wine stores, pharmacies, cannabis dispensaries, liquor stores and the craft beer model.

Horgan has said cannabis taxes need to be low so that legal cannabis can compete.

Many NDP MLA's and candidates, including Melanie Mark, Nicholas Simons, Spencer Herbert, Rob Fleming, Michelle Mungall, Colleen Ross and and others, have worked to support their local cannabis dispensaries over the years.

Negatives: Horgan has not discussed B.C.'s craft cannabis industry, and has not pledged to immediately stop possession arrests. The party has not included cannabis policy in their election platform.

B.C. Liberal Party: D

Positives: None. Christy Clark has not committed herself to any sort of cannabis policy at all.

Negatives: Despite holding power for 16 years, the B.C. Liberals have never once seriously talked about cannabis policy. They have offered no comment on the spread of dispensaries, and completely ignored the 2013 Sensible B.C. campaign which collected over 200,000 signatures in 90 days to support decriminalization in B.C.

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Clark says the legal age for cannabis in B.C. should be "at least 19" and has suggested it could be higher. "Just like alcohol, it's got a lot of harms associated with it, so I want to make sure we do everything we can to keep it out of the hands of kids." She wants cannabis taxes to go towards paying for the increased health care and higher law-enforcement costs, which she says will result from legalization.

Clark has refused to give any idea of how her party would proceed on cannabis, saying only that she would gather an expert panel of police officers and health officials and follow their advice. This could be a slow process and lead to a very restrictive system.

Please keep the pressure on all candidates to discuss and support B.C.'s cannabis industry. Our province has a multi-billion dollar cannabis industry that includes growers and dispensaries all across B.C. Whoever wins this election should be able to work with that existing industry, to bring it into the mainstream, for the benefit of all British Columbians.

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I'm tired of pacifists. I'm not going to be polite around them anymore. I'm not going to be accommodating in polite society and pretend that while I differ, I respect the pacifist opinion. I don't. Pacifists are wrong, and this is why.

Pacifism tolerates, even abets, terrorism and fascism -- and the war and violence that come from them.

This isn't news. George Orwell pointed out half a century ago the uncomplicated logic that "pacifism is objectively pro-fascist." But somehow today it's become less embarrassing to declare oneself a pacifist. While I don't mean to excuse the pacifists, I do think it's worth theorizing over the confusion that has led so many to embrace such an illogical position.

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According to the Oxford English Dictionary, pacifism is "the belief that war and violence are unjustifiable and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means." Sounds like pretty honourable stuff.

Indeed the pacifists among us tend to be likeable people, generally categorized as progressive in terms of most of their preferences: the ones you know probably express concern about climate change, buy organic food, favour pro-poor social policies. I can only hypothesize that their thinking goes something like: peace is a desired state; therefore I like peace; therefore it's an honourable thing to be a pacifist.

The fallacy in this argument is that peace is an ends and pacifism is a means. And the means does not lead to the ends. A pacifist is not the same as a person who wants everyone in the world to live in peace.

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In fact, pacifism does not even have the same root word as peace; and they mean different things. Pacifism comes from the French pacifisme, for which the earliest recorded usage dates back to 1845. Peace, on the other hand, is a much older word. It goes back to the 1100s, derived from the Anglo-French word pais, which draws further back from the Latin pacem and pax, which means an agreement or treaty.

Pax had a pragmatic function: it ended war by taking action -- imposing a compact between warring parties for instance -- whereas pacifism in contrast, is inaction: a refusal to engage, which can be an individual's personal moral position, but not a practical strategy in most cases. Pacifism is passivity, "plein d'espoir et d'attente, mais sans programme d'action," as Trotsky put it in 1922: pacifism is full of hope and waiting, but absent any plan of action.

Assad will not be defeated by a Gandhi. He crushes all forms of opposition.

For me, the desired end game of any situation of violence is peace. For that reason I support the responsibility to protect doctrine, which includes resorting to the use of military force when human lives are at stake. The road to peace is not one paved by passivity. Tyrants don't typically step down because they are ignored. In fact being ignored often fuels them, allowing them to commit atrocities unfettered.

It should be pretty obvious to anyone who has spent more than four minutes learning about the pathology of figures like Assad, Mussolini, Hitler, or the leaders of ISIS, that they've not exhibited great sensitivity to public opinion, either of the people under their rule, or the people observing their actions from afar.

In such cases, under just war theory, the use of force is warranted. Assad will not be defeated by a Gandhi. He crushes all forms of opposition.

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For pacifism to work, everyone has to play ball. And in real life, they don't. Despots like Assad are not principled actors. They are the regime equivalent of a psychopath: devoid of compassion and moral reasoning. Pacifism will always be the flag of idealists, and the tent for the irrational, because the Assads of now and tomorrow, and the armies they control, will never be part of the critical mass pacifism needs to win peace. Bullying governments that drop chemical weapons on babies don't care that violence makes you uncomfortable. In fact, they count on the brand of pacifism that prevails today, an especially self-serving form of pacifism where we want to keep our own armies out of messy places, but we have little to say about the people in those places as long as there is no western government involved.

This pattern was on especially ludicrous display with the recent auto-response to the MOAB, or Massive Ordnance Air Blast, the bomb that detonated in Eastern Afghanistan, killing 96 ISIS militants at last count -- and no civilian casualties. Immediately, small protest events were organized in western countries, by people who had never feigned to attend a protest event for Assad's murdering of children, or ISIS's terrorizing of rural Afghan communities or their sexual enslavement of Yazidi women.

Such protests, when they do occur, tend to be attended almost exclusively by people linked to those who fled such situations, the diaspora, grieving for their defenceless people back home. They are snubbed by the anti-war community, whose interests are decidedly self-centred. The same anti-war community overlooks the inconvenience that the undead civilians in Eastern Afghanistan -- those Afghans who actually live in the place where ISIS was targeted -- welcomed the MOAB.

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I'm tired of this hypocrisy. I don't give the pacifists the benefit of the doubt anymore. At this point, they should know better. They should be called out and tasked to defend their stance according to the same standards of reasoning that any other position is held to. But they can't because pacifists are abetters of war, and their position of passivity in the face of great atrocities cannot hold water either ethically or logically.

Pacifists were properly mocked for their nonsensical views during and after the Second World War. But somehow the stigma has lifted in 2017. People can shamelessly protest a bombing that killed no one but ISIS militants, secure that they're safe from mockery, and hopeful that they're fashionable, maybe even meme worthy.

Back in the 12th century, peace meant "freedom from civil disorder." The even older word, shalom and the related salaam, commonly translated as "peace" into English, actually have a wider original meaning that encompassed security, welfare, prosperity, and justice. Those are end states worth fighting for. Real peace -- the enduring absence of war -- demands strategy, courage and action in the face of fascism. Enough with the bumper sticker version of peace. If you really are for peace, be for peace in the original sense of the word.

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Andrew Brookes via Getty Images Scientists preparing to analyse samples from clinical trial, Jenner Institute, Oxford University

"They're working on it." A common thought we have when we think of the dedicated community of scientists and clinicians involved in medical research. But what we must realize is that we as patients and also those without illness, are crucial to this process.

For a new neurologic treatment to get from the lab counter to the pharmacy shelf it can take decades and well over a billion dollars. Approximately half of that time is spent in clinical trials. Yet close to 85% of all neurologic clinical trials are delayed due to recruitment difficulties and a shocking 30% fail to recruit a single subject. In the field of cancer research in the U.S., less than 5% of adults with cancer enrol in clinical trials.

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The statistics may differ from disease to disease, but the challenges with clinical trial participation are seen across the spectrum of medical research. Any delay a study faces due to difficulty in finding participants, leads to a huge waste of resources, money and most importantly time. Without enough volunteers to participate in medical research the development of better treatments and ultimately a cure for the myriad of diseases that impact us all, will not be possible.

There are a number of issues that make enrolling in a clinical study that much more difficult, many of which are logistical. Accessibility may also be an issue as is not meeting the study criteria. But more significantly is that there is often a lack of knowledge and a number of myths and misconceptions about clinical trials that may influence a potential participant's decision. Here is a list of ten common concerns.

Clinical trials always involve taking new medications.

Not all clinical trials involve testing a new treatment. Some do of course but many are observational where scientists learn about particular disease states by monitoring a group of affected patients. Others may be testing an already approved and safe medication that is normally used for other health issues (known as repurposing an existing drug). There are a wide variety of options to become involved depending on what makes the most sense for you.

I don't really want to be the "test" subject for a brand new, unproven medication that they know nothing about. It's dangerous and too risky.

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The drug development process is heavily regulated and monitored by a country's health authority. The largest numbers of participants are needed for phase 3 trials, which is further along the drug development pipeline. By this time the intervention or treatment has already passed safety studies and has been shown to be effective. Of course regardless of the stage of development, any treatment or clinical research has a certain degree of risk and it is important that you be comfortable with that possibility.

If I participate in a clinical trial, then I may get worse.

The premise of new interventions being tested is that they will result in benefit but of course you cannot be completely sure of the outcome. You may be given a treatment that is not as effective as the standard treatment or results in unexpected side effects. Likewise you may receive a new treatment that is better for your condition. It is your right as a clinical trial participant to withdraw from the study if you feel that your condition is worsening.

If I participate in a clinical trial then I won't receive the same quality of care that I currently have with my doctor.

In most situations, you continue to receive ongoing care from your own physician, and they are aware of your involvement in a particular study. Also for the most part, those enrolled in a research study often undergo closer monitoring and evaluation than usual.

Participating in a clinical trial is bound to disrupt my daily life and is a huge time commitment.

There is so much variation in the logistics of different clinical studies. Some require more intensive follow up while others may be completed in a single visit. Some may even be done at home online or may simply involve sending in a DNA sample by mail.

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There may be painful procedures as part of the clinical trial.

The vast majority of clinical trials are not invasive or painful. You will be informed of all potential procedures ahead of time which allows you to make a decision that is appropriate for you. But keep in mind that it is not the researchers' intention to cause any discomfort and much thought is put into minimizing any adverse effects.

If I join a clinical study, I won't be able to drop out without jeopardizing my treatment.

There are many reasons both personal, logistical or specific to the research study itself that may result in a participant withdrawing. It is completely within your rights as a patient to do so at any time without fearing that your care will be jeopardized in any way.

I can only participate in a trial if I have access to a major medical institution.

Many studies take part in the community setting by physicians close to home. Some can even be done online.

If it was a good idea for me to participate in a clinical trial, my doctor would have told me about it.

Despite the fact that a patient poll revealed that 77% of those that responded would like to participate in clinical trials only about 22% say that their physician ever mentioned medical research. There are so many issues that have to be dealt with during the short span of your medical appointment, that there often is not enough time to educate you about the clinical trials that are available or suitable. Therefore just because a trial is not mentioned, does not mean it is not a viable option. Instead you must rely on other resources (many available online) to inform yourself of appropriate opportunities.

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You should only participate in a clinical study if you have no other treatment options available to you.

There are clinical studies directed at many different stages of disease. Those directed at controlling late stage symptoms may require subjects farther along in their condition. However there are many studies (particularly those testing potentially disease-modifying treatments) that aim to include relatively newly diagnosed individuals, particularly those that may have not started medications.

Participating in a clinical trial is not something to take lightly. It is a commitment of time and self and you must be fully informed of all potential benefits and risks in order to make the right decision. During this Clinical Trials Awareness Week and beyond, it is important to support medical research through funding, educating others or considering participating in a clinical trial because without these studies, there can be no better treatments or cures.
There's a sick feeling of deja vu for those of us in Manitoba these days. Here's why.

From 1986 to 1996, the provincial pig industry doubled with the industrialization of animal agriculture and massive support from the then-Conservative government in the form of lax regulations, financial support and trade missions.

Today, Manitoba has the largest pig industry in Canada, producing over 8 million pigs a year -- a number which doesn't reflect the total number of pigs born into the industry, as an estimated 11 per cent die before even leaving the farm.

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As a result of the unrestricted growth, Manitoba suffered devastating ecological and social consequences. Lake Winnipeg's phosphorus load doubled, contributing to deadly algae growth, giving Lake Manitoba the rather dubious title of having the worst algae problem of any large freshwater lake in the world.

In response, a number of non-profit environmental and animal welfare organizations, as well as small-scale, mixed farmers, formed an unlikely coalition to address the issues. Because of all the uproar, in 2006, the province placed a temporary freeze on the construction of new pig barns pending a Clean Environment Commission review of the pig industry.

All these protections could be undone with the stroke of a pen.

In 2008, after protracted negotiations, public hearings and demonstrations, the NDP government passed Bill 17 which banned new construction of pig barns in 35 Manitoba municipalities.

In 2010, after a lengthy campaign by Canadians For Ethical Treatment of Farmed Animals, the Office of the Fire Commissioner released the Manitoba Farm Building Code, which laid out specific regulations for farm buildings, thereby providing some protection for animals from barn fires, which, by then, had reached epidemic proportions.

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Then, in 2011, the province adopted The Save Lake Winnipeg Act which effectively prevented new or expanded pig barns throughout the province.

Now, all these protections could be undone with the stroke of a pen.

This past February, the Manitoba government announced its intention to repeal the Manitoba Farm Building Code. Under the new regulations, the requirements for fire stops on load-bearing walls, as well as the requirement for a water supply to fight fires, will be eliminated.

Then, last month, under the guise of "red tape cutting," Premier Brian Pallister (PC) introduced Bill 24, which calls for the amendment or repeal of 15 pieces of legislation. If adopted, the new legislation would eliminate the ban on the construction of new pig barns and weaken environmental regulations governing the handling and spreading of untreated pig manure.

The industry's new goal - supported by the Pallister government - is to increase production by 25 per cent.

Environmental organizations are rightfully criticizing this bill, but little has been said about the animals suffering at the centre of this issue -- the pigs themselves. As undercover investigations have shown, cruelty is rampant on Manitoba pig farms. As former animal cruelty investigators, we have documented routine abuses in the pig industry, including the confining of pregnant pigs in barren crates so small they are unable to turn around, the mutilation of piglets without any pain relief, and the complete lack of medical attention for sick and suffering pigs.

Manitoba already has 1,379 pig farms. Yet, the industry's new goal -- supported by the Pallister government -- is to increase production by 25 per cent through the addition of 50 to 100 new barns, subjecting another 1.3 million pigs to lives of confinement, deprivation and cruelty.

Decades of observation reveal that the pig industry in Manitoba is a cyclical one, repeatedly expanding and contracting, aided by government efforts and funding. In 2007, when decreased profitability because of high feed prices and a high Canadian dollar combined with a new disease outbreak (Porcine Circovirus), the industry began to collapse. Barn fire numbers exploded tenfold over the previous year, killing over 30,000 animals, and reached a peak in 2009, when Swine Flu was detected. The Canadian government then paid out a whopping $300 million in tax-payer dollars to pig producers to exit the industry.

In a disturbing case of history repeating itself, we find ourselves in the same place we were 17 years ago with the Manitoba government once again assisting in the unrestricted growth of the pig industry, with devastating environmental consequences and immeasurable animal suffering sure to follow. It's again up to us as citizens to prevent this from happening. Please submit your concerns to publicregistry@gov.mb.ca by May 12.

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I've gotten a few emails from folks who are genuinely puzzled as to why I support Christy Clark's B.C. Liberals. So, here's 10 reasons.

1. Friendship.

From 1990 to 1993, I was Jean Chretien's special assistant, and very involved in tormenting the Mulroney/Campbell Liberals in the House. In 1993, I oversaw the Liberal Party's election war room. We did OK. After we won, Gord Campbell ask me to come out to Whistler and give the B.C. Liberals some tips about being an effective Opposition. I did. I became very good friends with many of the people I met, and we stayed in touch.

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2. Ottawa.

In 1996, I'd had enough of the Martinite machinations, the disloyalty to Chretien -- and how some in PMO (Hey, Peter! Hey, Eddie!) were looking the other way. I got job offers in Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa -- but Vancouver was the most promising, and the furthest point in Canada from the slow-motion mutiny going on in Ottawa. Also, there was an election to run -- and the B.C. Libs had a real shot at winning it, despite having come into existence just a few years before.

3. Election '96.

4. Creeps.

The B.C. NDP were the sleaziest, dirtiest, scummiest opponents I'd ever encountered in a campaign. While we had a few Young Liberals to help set up events, for example, Glen Clark's B.C. NDP could rely on the assistance of big union guys to help them -- and, occasionally, interfere with our events. The relationship with big unions and the B.C. NDP continues -- with the recent revelation that B.C. NDP campaign salaries are being paid by unions.

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5. Aftermath.

I went back to work at the comms firm where I was a vice-president. I got a call from Gord Campbell, who offered me the position of his chief of staff. I thought about it, but (a) we didn't want to move to Victoria, having just bought a place in North Van, and (b) I had unfinished business -- I opposed the local Reform MP for his relationship with a prominent Holocaust denier. So I wanted to run against him. I declined Gord's offer.

The B.C. NDP treated the provincial treasury like it was their personal piggybank.

6. Election '97.

Twenty years ago right about now, then, I had won the contested nomination for the Liberal Party of Canada in North Vancouver, where we indeed lived and indeed had a big (big) mortgage. I was honoured and privileged, truly, to have a campaign team made up of the hundreds of B.C. Liberals with whom I'd become friends. I lost, mainly, because the folks in Ottawa (Hey, Peter! Hey, Eddie!) had decided to go after the PCs in B.C. -- and I (and others) needed the PCs to be enough of a factor to split the right-wing vote with Reform. I raised more money than any other B.C. LPC candidate, I had a shot at cabinet, and I had the best team. But I lost to a twerp the Canadian Press described as "elfin."C'est la guerre.

7. Scandal.

As we B.C. Libs had predicted, the Glen Clark NDP turned out to be the most corrupt provincial government in modern Canadian history. They stole from charities (Google "Bingogate"). They were linked to bribes (Google "Hydro-gate"). And, of course, there was the deck that killed off an NDP Premier (Google "Glen Clark," "deck" and "act of folly"). The B.C. NDP treated the provincial treasury like it was their personal piggybank. Their name was synonymous with scandal. They were massacred by Gord in the election in 2001. He won all but two of the seats in the 79-seat legislature.

8. Time passes.

I got headhunted for a job in Toronto, where I never, ever thought I'd live. We move. Gord governs. Time goes by, everyone gets older and wiser (sort of). Not the B.C. NDP, however. They come up with a succession of bad leaders, and a litany of dumb policies, and they blow elections in 2005 and 2009. Gord leaves, Christy -- on whose CKNW radio show I'd been a semi-regular, and with whom I'd worked in the aforementioned 1993 federal Liberal campaign -- takes over. She is just what the B.C. Liberals need: she is a positive, unflappable force of nature.

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9. Toronto mayoralty.

I'd helped John Tory's mayoral campaign in 2003. He lost to an NDPer. In 2009, me and a small group of others spent months, gratis, getting ready for 2010; Tory decided not to run. Rob Ford won, and proceeded to (a) wreck the City and (b) render us an international laughingstock. I urgently believed we needed a candidate who could defeat Ford in 2014, and I wasn't going to wait for John, who still wasn't sure if he'd run. Olivia Chow approached me, she said (a) she wouldn't run as NDP and (b) she'd restore integrity to the Mayor's Office. Well, she didn't do either of those things. She (and her campaign manager) were a disaster. She favoured the New Democrats over any of the non-NDPers helping her out. When she deservedly finished third, I was long gone, and vowed to never again support a New Democrat. (I didn't despise Adrian Dix, by the by, but he too was a terrible candidate.)

10. John Horgan.

John Horgan has made leering, inappropriate remarks about Christy -- during the campaign, no less. He has been a bully and a shouter. He has been incoherent, policy-wise. He has no self-control, and he has no understanding of even basic economics -- and how to keep the strongest economy in Canada strong. He would be an unmitigated disaster for British Columbia.

That's why I don't support the B.C. NDP. That's why I want Christy Clark's B.C. Liberals to win.

And, you know? She just might!

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The five things you need to know on Friday, May 5

1) BLUE FRIDAY?

Its just five weeks until the general election and we have the extraordinary spectacle of a governing party making local council gains that in normal times would be made by the Opposition. These are not normal times, of course, with the backwash from the Brexit referendum last year still flooding over the landscape.

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Labours splits on the EU are more apparent than ever, while Tory unity has snapped back like a piece of knicker elastic. UKIP looks like it will cease to exist as President Theresa May mops up the Leaver vote. For the first time since Thatchers fall, the Conservatives are at peace over Europe. Professor John Curtice, the polling expert who is so beloved he has his own memes, told Radio 5 Live: Its early days, but it could be the best set of local election results for the Tories for 25 years or so.

So here are the scores on the doors so far after 23 English and Welsh counties declared results: the Tories have a net gain of 150 seats, Labour a net loss of 119, Lib Dems are down 29, UKIP down 41 (and have still not won a single seat yet). The Greens have picked up five.

The Kippers demise is truly striking. UKIP have been wiped out in Lincolnshire losing all 13 seats, as well as nine in Essex. With its MEPs disappearing soon, no MPs and few councillors, the party is in danger of complete extinction. Ex-leadership contender Lisa Duffy said the results were "disappointing" but she would "not call it a disaster. Yep, that sounded like the Iraqi information minister in 2003 denying the tanks were in Baghdad.

But some Corbyn supporters are also trying to claim this morning that the Tory tanks are not on Labour lawns and that everyone should stop panicking. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell told SkyNews it hasnt been the wipeout that the polls were predicting. Hes right that in Wales the party held on in some areas and lost out to independents in others.

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Yet in England things look less healthy. The big worry for Labour is that many UKIP voters were ex-Labour supporters, not just ex-Tories. In Harlow, where Corbyn visited a week ago, the UKIP vote was gobbled up by the Tories to take a seat from Labour. In Warwickshire, where Tony Blairs landslide secured key seats, the Tories piled up the votes, gaining 10 seats from Labour. Phil Johnson, Labours general election candidate for Nuneaton, lost his council seat and told the BBC: People have been saying to us that Jeremy Corbyns style has been putting them off voting Labour.

McDonnell conceded on Today that his leaders image was an issue with voters, but countered on Sky as Jeremy gets more air time I think people begin to see the real Jeremy Corbyns character emerge and be more supportive. He also predicted that once the Labour manifesto was published, youll see this whole campaign begin to turn the tide.

In Scotland later the Tories will be hoping for gains from the SNP, while Labour is braced for some historic losses. The big test in England for Labour comes in the West Midlands Metro Mayoralty result, due around 6pm.

McDonnell added on SkyNews that the Metro Mayoralty races in Manchester and Liverpool will balance things out, an odd claim given that the party was never going to lose either. Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram will win. And as I reported yesterday, Rotheram is expected to announce he will step aside in the Westminster seat of Liverpool Walton, with Unite man Dan Carden the favourite to replace him. Many in Labour are gearing up for a third leadership race, so such small changes could have big impacts. (Meanwhile, there are rumours that Laura Pidcock, the leftwinger selected for the safe Durham North West constituency, has overnight lost her seat on Northumberland council).

Yet the big picture nationally is what matters. Normally council elections allow a major protest vote against a Government. When they look like a protest vote against the Opposition, and its leader, something really seismic may be happening. And with just those five weeks to go to a general election, theres little time to stop it getting worse.

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2) MANIFEST TEST

The Tory manifesto has been expected to appear next Monday, though there may be some slippage. But the behind-the-scenes battles for what is and isnt included continue. The FTs veteran political editor George Parker reports that senior Tories are worried that the manifesto will signal a shift away from free-market policies, not least with an energy price cap plan.

But there is also worry that May is not allowing enough input from Tory MPs. This was famously a criticism of the Cameroon regime and some backbenchers grumble theres no point swapping one clique for another, with the PMs inner circle getting smaller. One minister said many people are concerned about the power over party policy concentrated in the hands of Nick Timothy, Theresa Mays co-chief of staff, and Ben Gummer, a loyal but low-profile Cabinet Office minister.

Sir Lynton Crosby also doesnt want any contentious policies to get in the way of his 'Theresa For President' campaign. I wrote yesterday about the My, Mayself, I approach and there was fresh evidence of that with yet another local paper wrap-around advert promoting the PM in banner headlines, while putting the word Conservative in small print. These ads are targeting not just marginals but Labour heartlands, more proof of Mays lend me your vote strategy. We have another of our weekly HuffPost-Edelman focus groups out tomorrow, this time from Birmingham. Stay tuned for that.

Meanwhile, the Indy reports May is under pressure from another direction, with the Bright Blue think tank urging her to dump the net migration target of less than 100,000 people a year. The group, whose advisory board includes Cabinet minister Damian Green, says the pledge is arbitrary, indiscriminate and unachievable. Some Tories hope the target could be amended to reflect gross numbers and refined to show work visas, students, spouses and others.

3) EMOTIONAL RESCUE

The fallout from the No10/EU Come Dine With Me From Hell continues. EU Council President Donald Tusk tried to do his honest broker bit saying he stakes are too high to let our emotions get out of hand. Some in No10 saw his remarks as a rebuke to the European Commission for leaking details of the May-Juncker dinner, and an attempt to rescue the Brexit talks from further acrimony.

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But given that Tusk has to represent the interests of the EU27, and not London, its no surprise his words were not greeted with universal approval. And Tory MPs felt he had been patronising May with a calm down dear message that suggested she was being too emotional. Speaking of tired and emotional, the Sun has a story that Juncker was visibly drunk during a UN peace summit on Cyprus, with one diplomatic source saying he was very well refreshed.

Back in the world of hard business, Goldman Sachs chief Lloyd Blankfein has told the BBC that the City of London will stall and may backtrack a bit unless a very good trade deal is sorted between the UK and EU after Brexit. His bank, which has 6,500 staff in Britain, has contingency plans to move to Frankfurt and Dublin, he revealed.

BECAUSE YOU READ THIS FAR

Speaking of swing seats, watch Jeremy Corbyn joke to some toddlers on the campaign trail that we never had swings when I was a kid..

4) DAMASCENE AVERSION

Yesterday, at 7.01pm an email headed NEWS FROM LABOUR landed in political journalists inboxes. As is so often these days, it was an hours-late response to something in the mornings newspapers. Three papers had reported that the Government wanted to use a bigger majority after the election to stage a fresh Commons vote on military action against President Assad. Now, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry had finally reacted: a vote for the Tories is a vote to escalate the war in Syria. There was no statement from the Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith.

The press release was of course far too late for most newspaper print deadlines (though it still managed to appear online in the Guardian). Dont forget that the Mirrors original splash that Whitehall sources wanted a fresh vote first appeared at 10.20pm on Wednesday. It had taken a full 21 hours for an official Labour response. So why the delay?

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Well, of course in a general election, the official Opposition cant be seen to just rattle off any old quick-fire response on a matter of war and peace. Theres also the difficulty that Labour was bitterly split on further military action in Syria. But nonetheless I understand Thornberry had drafted her quote hours before its release. It went into a vacuum, and had been assumed to have been dumped because of reluctance to reignite internal party wounds. And then last night Corbyns strategy and comms chief Seumas Milne personally intervened and the words went out.

5) OPPORTUNITY NOX

After a long legal battle by environmental campaigners, the Government is set at midday to finally reveal its air quality strategy. A compensation scheme is expected for drivers of older diesel cars, though the more controversial element may be enabling powers for councils to hit polluting drivers with some kind of charge.

Active intervention could take the form of retrofitting buses and changing traffic light timings at certain junctions to cut emissions. Manchester, Doncaster and even the New Forest could be listed in the plan, the Guardian reports.

Yet the best story today is the papers excellent exclusive that lawyers are taking a class action against ministers on behalf of asthma sufferers who have had to put up with seven years of failures to produce a proper air action plan. Some 2,000 schools and nurseries across the country are within 150 metres of a road where nitrogen dioxide levels exceeded the legal limit.

COMMONS PEOPLE

Our latest CommonsPeople podcast is out. Hear us chinwag about the state of the general election race, with clips from our Slough focus group, from Corbyn supporter Chris Williamson and Corbyn-sceptic Richard Angell. Not forgetting our usual ace quiz. Click HERE.

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Last week Lib Dem leader Tim Farron was hauled over the coals for his beliefs about homosexuality. Apparently Farron once suggested that homosexual sex is a sin which led to five days of intense pressure from the media, politicians and celebrities, to clarify his stance on the issue. "The true sinner is Farron himself" said David Walliams: "You are definitely a sinner for your continued intolerance and prejudice." Meanwhile David Baddiel branded Farron "a fundamentalist Christian homophobe" which is surely as bad as anything Tim Farron asserted in the first place. Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell said it's "appalling" if Farron thinks homosexual sex is sinful.

Eventually the Lib Dem leader declared to the BBC that homosexual sex is not a sin. But should it really matter if Farron does hold a private view that is contrary to what is mainstream in 21st century Britain? This is a personal conviction that is clearly not impacting on his policies - he has voted in favour of LGBT rights and freedoms on a regular basis.

Even if Farron announced in public that in his mind homosexual sex is a sin he should have the freedom to continue to say it, not to be silenced, humiliated publically and hounded out of office. Yes, many people will find such views distasteful and deeply offensive perhaps but the answer to this is open debate and a robust exchange of ideas not censorship. As the great philosopher JS Miller said if we silence the expression of an opinion we "rob the human race" either by depriving the opportunity of exchanging error for truth or, if the opinion is wrong, losing the clearer perception of truth.

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Freedom of thought and freedom of speech, if it is any freedom at all, must encompass the freedom to disagree and to challenge received wisdom. As part of this it must accommodate for the dissenting opinion and what many perceive to be the unpleasant belief.
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Chris Horrie has written a compelling article in the Guardian about his experience of the 1960's 11 plus system. He failed the exam, but then went on to prove that his actual academic abilities were very strong and not fairly reflected by the brutal 11 plus system.

Pass the 11 plus and you could go to a Grammar School - fail and you went to a Secondary School.

He argues that most people who have failed the 11 plus found it very hard to appeal against the failure since they would be ignored by the Grammar schools who had plenty of pupils who had passed to choose from. If you did not perform on the day - that was it!

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There is a claim that Grammar Schools increase social mobility - I would guess that it is an argument most often put forward by those who went to Grammar schools.

Social mobility must mean that even if you are born poor that you can still get into Grammar Schools in more or less the same numbers than wealthier children - but this is not so.

The Sutton Trust published 2013 research that shows less than 3% of pupils at Grammar Schools are on free school school meals - free school meals being a measure often use to judge social mobility. This indicates that if you are from a poor family that you are far less likely to get into a Grammar School and that there is little evidence of actual social mobility in Grammar School areas.

Big surprise - I didn't pass the 11 plus. I was attending an RAF school in Singapore at the time - we were simply handed the papers without any announcement and we assumed it was just another routine test. Not too surprisingly I didn't put as much effort into it as I might of had I been told that it was a life changing exam.

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I went to a failing secondary school in Bedale North Yorkshire - a School apparently still failing pupils today - judging by the latest Ofsted Report which finds it 'requires improvement' In my time the majority of teachers where rather cynical and rarely encouraging. Young, new teachers, often started as encouraging and optimistic - but that didn't last long.

It is, of course, wrong to blame the teaching profession as a whole because we know there are thousands of talented and dedicated teachers out there and they are constrained by the system as much as pupils were then.

I went onto do take evening classes and passed GCSE's at O and A level and eventually a 2.1 B.Sc in Psychology with the OU - not an academic genius but not the 'write off' suggested by the 11 plus exam system. Curiously - many of the evening class teachers seemed keener and more inspirational - not sure why.

The 11 plus system means to me is that we didn't care enough about our young people and their futures because we were prepared to select a few on the basis of a life changing exam on one day - and to disregard the rest.

Of course - in reality - people have failed the 11 plus and gone on to succeed in life - but this has been in spite of the education system - not because of it. This does not change the reality that the 11 Plus system in about investing in a minority of young people and writing off the rest.

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As Chris Horrie observes - failing the 11 plus takes a psychological toll on those young people who don't pass - leaving them feeling certified failures - the State has judged them and found them inferior. This is not a great message to new generations of children - the future adult citizens.

It is not good for wider society - for this country - to fail to recognise and use the talents of all its young people. The 11 plus system wasted the potential of so many people and their probable contribution to our economy and to the arts and culture.
Since the 1960s, Diamond Valley farmers have been pumping groundwater at a rate several times what is sustainable; the over-pumping has dropped the water table over a hundred feet in some places. Valley ranches that were settled on large springs and wetlands in the mid 1800s have been hit the hardest. The springs that supported the ranches are now mostly dry as are the meadows and wetlands that were fed by the springs.

In 2011 we bought the historic 5,000 acre Sadler Ranch, located in the north part of the Valley. The ranch was once owned by Governor Reinhold Sadler and once was a major supplier of food for the town of Eureka. The springs on our ranch once produced about 5,000 gallons per minute and supported 2,000 acres of meadows. Because of over-pumping in the Valley, the springs are producing about 50 gallons per minute (1% of the original flow), and will stop flowing this year.

Weve asked that groundwater pumping be reduced to sustainable level. Since the farmers have been pumping many times what the aquifer can provide over the long term, severe cuts will be necessary to bring the Valleys groundwater into balance. The livelihoods of most of the Valleys farmers will be impacted. But if excessive pumping is allowed to continued and the water table keeps dropping, high pumping costs will make farming too expensive anyway, and other users, such as domestic well owners, local mines, and the municipal water supply for the town of Eureka will be impacted.

Our efforts to preserve the ranch have run into strong opposition by most of the farmers of Diamond Valley, the State Water Engineer and the Eureka County Government. Water is in short supply in Diamond Valley and our request for a portion of the water (so that we could re-supply the ranch) is not appreciated. Nevada water law is clear that older water rights have priority and Sadler Ranch has some of the oldest water rights in the County but for were greatly outnumbered by the farmers and their political clout; they have the State and County governments on their side.

The State Engineer created the problem by issuing too many permits in the 1960s but has refused to remedy the situationinstead has pushed it off onto the farming community to fix the problem themselves. But for the last 50 years, the farmers havent been able to come up with a solution.

Weve asked the District Court to order the State Engineer to compel the State Engineer to act. There had been a hearing scheduled for May 1519, but Eureka County opposed the hearing and yesterday and was able to get a last-minute delay.

Because were asking for reductions in pumping that will impact the farmers, we are despised by most of the farming community. Meanwhile, last Friday or Saturday, someone shot two of our heifers. Given the remoteness of our ranch, the timing (which was right before a scheduled hearing), we believe the killing may have been committed by a local resident who was angered by efforts to restrict pumping.

But we dont believe that shooting an animal is a reasonable way to resolve a dispute. We will continue to fight to protect the long-term viability of our ranch and other ranches in the Valley. We are offering a $10,000 award for the arrest and convictions of the cowards who shot our heifers.

Doug Frazer Sadler Ranch
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"People become attached to their burdens," wrote George Bernard Shaw in 1910, "sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them." Despite more than a hundred years passing since Shaw scribed these words, their truth remains intact today.

Indeed, the past twelve months alone have provided us with an abundance of things to

be concerned about, and new data has shown that there is little consensus among the media and the public on which threats are the most pressing. From the turbulent beginnings of the UK's vote to leave the European Union, to the trigger-happy Twitter account of the Commander-in-Chief and even more conceptual issues such as climate change and cyber attacks, we are spoilt for choice as to which worries to take seriously.

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The important question that we should all be asking, but which many of us will admit we haven't even considered yet, is: of all of these concerns, have we become attached to the most serious ones that affect us gravely, or just the burdens that are most talked about?

Shortly before its meeting in Davos in January 2017, the World Economic Forum released its annual Risk Report, charting the most significant threats faced by the human race. Weapons of mass destruction topped the list in terms of impact, followed by extreme weather events, water crises, natural disasters and climate change. Other threats in the top ten included refugee crises, food crises, terrorist attacks, interstate conflict and - at number ten - unemployment.

When Polecat looked at this list through the lens of our big data analytics platform, surveying all tier 1 and social media coverage, we discovered that not only do the media and public disagree on which risks are most significant, but their expressed concerns are quite different from those identified by the experts and elites at WEF.

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Source: Polecat

For both the public and the media, the most pressing risk topic isn't weapons of mass destruction, but rather climate change and terrorist attacks. Despite the increasing prevalence of WMDs on the world's stage, climate change and terrorist attacks are more tangible and evident in today's society - clearly inspiring the high level of concern among the public. Climate change features as the top public worry on social media and the second highest for Tier 1 media. The reversal of climate change policy by the Trump administration may have sparked considerable worries and conversation among the global population about this topic. Terrorist attacks are the top concern for the media and the shock and horror of recent attacks in Paris, London, Stockholm and Nice doubtless keep this high on the media's agenda. In time, it may be that Donald Trump's sabre rattling with North Korea sees WMDs once again raise anxiety in our collective consciousness.

When it comes to spotting the differences between the public and the media, there is a stark contrast when we analyse another top ten risk: refugee crises. The media has covered this extensively over the past two years, with headlines often dominating the front pages of national newspapers. Despite this, public concern about the issue is less than a tenth of that of the media - suggesting that the media is simply pumping out a stronger risk message than public concern, or failing to stir a sustained response from their readers. Indeed, it may be that the scale of coverage has played a part in generating a fatigue in public responsiveness to the multitude of tragic images of displaced families, particularly at a time when concern about immigration has muddied the emotional waters and differentiation from refugees: the infamous UKIP 'Breaking Point' Brexit poster from last summer springs to mind.

In fact, the only top ten risks that attract more concern from the public than the media are climate change and extreme weather events. This suggests that these topics are either downplayed by the media, or that the public has a more heightened and visceral concern for the state of our ecosystem.

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All other top ten topics attract significantly more concern from the media than the public. Indeed, several topics ascribed as significant risks by the media carry very little public concern at all. Interstate conflict and unemployment both attract 1% of the attention that climate change, as a topic, receives. This is particularly surprising, considering the intense political rhetoric surrounding both subjects in recent months.
Seeing a doctor isn't what it used to be. Gone are the days when you could phone a doctor's surgery and be confident of getting an appointment that day - or even within the week - with the same doctor who had been seeing you and the rest of your family for years.

It's no secret that pressure on the NHS is greater than ever. Funding is under threat while the number of patients increases regardless, and many doctors who choose to stay in the service are severely overstretched. With patients allocated just 8-10 minutes per appointment, doctors become stressed out and struggle to deliver the level of care they would like to. Yet despite these stringent appointment rules, the extent to which demand outstrips capacity is alarming: according to the 2016 GP Patient Survey, 11% of patients were unable to get an appointment at all, and 38% got an appointment a week or more later but wanted to be seen sooner, which may explain why so many people turn up at A&E hoping to be treated there instead.

But it's not just a case of appointments becoming more scarce; the surgeries themselves are disappearing too. According to a Freedom of Information request by Pulse magazine, the number of GP practices that shut down or merged with others last year meant that around 265,000 patients had to change surgeries - a 150% increase from 2014.

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Although NHS England has promised an extra 16m this year to help struggling surgeries, the problem lies in getting that funding to practices that need it most. Complex application procedures hamper access, according to the British Medical Association's GP committee, with local Clinical Commissioning Groups failing to deliver the funds efficiently.

Add to this the slow-down in the number of doctors entering the NHS, and the health of GP services looks even bleaker. While 5000 more doctors are planned for 2020, the NHS needs to do a good PR job on its incoming workforce; 13% of GP training places went unfilled in 2016, and one can only assume that the current pressures faced by doctors will do little to tempt potential recruits. Furthermore, one in three of the 32,628 doctors in England are considering retirement in the next five years, meaning the net number of doctors will be lower than it currently stands.

Against this worrying backdrop, it is little surprise that a recent YouGov study found one in four people would pay for a GP appointment. With the latest generation of GP services emerging, this is now becoming a real alternative. These new healthcare options are addressing one of the main bugbears that patients have with the NHS - the lack of appointments at times that suit them - by enabling them to choose an appointment on the day they book, and even access walk-in services.

This is clearly an attractive proposition for those most frustrated by the common two-week wait time for an NHS appointment. DocTap GP, reports that 75% of its patients are between 20 and 39 years old - people often in full-time work and who lead busy lives. Furthermore, its patient base is split equally between men and women; significantly fewer men than women visit NHS surgeries. With more men than women working full-time, it is understandable that short-notice, flexible appointments are essential for these patients.

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It is not just same-day appointments that make alternative healthcare options so appealing. Booking is online, so it can be done from any computer or smartphone; no more waiting in queues on the phone during a designated 'appointment window'. This makes a lot of sense to patients who are already used to arranging their lives online, and in a world of on-demand services like Spotify, Uber and Deliveroo, on-demand healthcare seems a natural addition.

Many doctors, too, welcome these new GP services. For example GPs who work for DocTap are either locum doctors working across several surgeries, or doctors who work part-time during hours that they're not working for the NHS. Patients are given 15 minutes with the GP, and that extra time leaves doctors feeling less stressed than a packed shift of 10-minute NHS appointments. Doctors who work solely for the NHS benefit too: if patients who need appointments at specific times are prepared to pay for them, that takes some of the burden off the NHS, freeing it up to care for patients who can't afford to pay or can be flexible about appointments.
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There's a lot in the news today about the words of one BBC Question Time audience member last night.

"I haven't visited a foodbank before, but I have known people that have. And the vast majority of them that do go for free food, smoke, drink, and have Sky television [groans from the rest of the audience]. That is the truth."

Unlike this gentleman, I have visited lots of foodbanks in my time leading The Trussell Trust. Our network of 420+ foodbanks nationwide have told me some stories of their own.

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In Merseyside, Maria was referred to a Trussell Trust foodbank because her first paycheck came five weeks after her last benefit payment. In Newcastle, a man needed a food parcel after a serious spinal injury meant he couldn't continue doing the job he'd done for 33 years and couldn't get a new one. In Brent, a mum came to us after being made redundant, borrowing all she could from family, but realising there was nowhere else she could turn.

In the last year, Trussell Trust foodbanks provided 1,182,954 three day emergency food supplies to people in crisis. 436,938 of these went to children. The fact that over a third of the emergency supplies given by our foodbank network goes to children is conveniently overlooked by the narratives that are so often used to stereotype people who have needed a foodbank and downplay the seriousness of UK hunger.

You can't just turn up at a foodbank's doors because you spent all your money on Sky TV. Everyone who comes to a Trussell Trust foodbank is referred by a frontline professional, like a health visitor, who has assessed and referred someone because they are in genuine need of emergency food. There's a process in place, to make sure that foodbank vouchers only go to people who really need them.

If this gentleman had been to a foodbank, he would know that going to a foodbank is a last resort when all other coping strategies have been exhausted. It takes courage to admit you cannot feed your family. People wait on the other side of the road for half an hour, or stand outside in the cold, before finally walking through the foodbank door.

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We must stop talking about people who are at their lowest point as scroungers and skivers who have brought the situation on themselves.

It's not the truth.

Anybody can need a foodbank. All it takes is to be hit by something unavoidable, like redundancy, illness, a delayed welfare payment or even an unexpected bill on a low pay.

Last week I spoke to a man who had been a qualified engineer for almost 40 years - he'd been happily married, had never been in debt, never signed on for welfare payments. He was a regular guy.

However I was speaking to him because he'd needed a foodbank. After being made redundant from his job at the age of 50, he struggled to find new work and signed up for Universal Credit, the new system of delivering benefits. He was referred to one of the foodbanks in our network when the six week wait for his first payment meant he ran out of money for food. There's nothing he could've done differently - it was outside of his control.

He never thought he'd need the help of a foodbank. No one ever does. Because nobody's planning to go. There's a vast amount of research on foodbank use - and all of it points towards the simple fact that people are referred to a foodbank when something they could not plan for or expect, hits and leaves no money for food.

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Let's be honest - this debate about smoking, drinking, and foodbank use is a serious distraction from the real issue of poverty and hunger in the UK.

Almost 1.2 million foodbank supplies given out is just too many. It's an uncomfortable truth. But instead of dealing with that by trying to downplay, undermine, or dismiss foodbank use by placing blame on people who have been hit by something outside of their control, we should instead be debating what we must do as a nation to look for solutions which mean less people need foodbanks in the future.

The Trussell Trust is determined to see the need for foodbanks decrease and the Department for Work and Pensions thinks so too - they're working with us to try and find practical solutions to the problem of food poverty in the UK today.
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After months of international attention, the French will put news cycles out of their misery by finally electing a new president. After a bruising first round, the choice has narrowed down to two candidates: the young centrist Emmanuel Macron and the flame of the far-right, Marine Le Pen. While the polls predict a comfortable Macron victory, situation on the ground does not reflect a truly widespread mobilisation against the danger of a far-right president.

It hasn't always been like this. In 2002, when divisions on the left facilitated Le Pen senior's ascent into the second round against the then incumbent conservative president Jacques Chirac, every actor from the far-left to the centre-right united in calling for a blockade against the far-right. It worked. High voter turnout delivered an unprecedented Chirac victory with over 80% of the vote, while Jean-Marie Le Pen failed to increase his vote-share from the first round.

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Fifteen years later, a comparable scenario did not lead to the emergence of the same anti-fascist coalition against Le Pen junior. On the Right, while the beaten conservative candidate Francois Fillon did endorse Macron, a fair number of his Catholic voters will shift their support to Le Pen. Simultaneously, about half of the men and women who had opted for the Euro-sceptic candidate Nicolas Dupont-Aignan in the first round will probably rally behind the far-right candidate.

It is on the Left, however, that the unravelling of the anti-fascist consensus seems most acute. While in 2002, Mayday protesters marched under banners calling to 'block one's nose' and vote for the lesser evil in the form of Chirac, this year the syndicates did not unite for a call to vote against the far-right.

Even more tellingly, the left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who received 19.6% of the votes on the first round, may have warned against voting for Le Pen, but came short of actually endorsing her rival. Subsequently, the latest polls found that only 35% of Melenchon's activists will vote for Macron, while around 48% of his voters will do the same.

While many - especially on the Left - will say this reflects the lack of enthusiasm with Macron's programme, none of the left-wing voters who voted Chirac with a blocked nose in 2002 did so with any sense of excitement. More importantly, the second round of the French presidential election has never been a moment for a vote of enthusiasm. The two-round system has always offered voters the opportunity to express their desires in the first round, while using the second as a compromise to vote for the lesser evil. French voters have always known this system and operated within its confines. What has changed since 2002, however, is the disappearance of the sense of urgency around blocking a Le Pen presidency.

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To some extent, this is not surprising after years of incessant discussion of Le Pen as a viable candidate. While Le Pen father took everyone by surprise in 2002, his daughter has had enough time to establish herself as a thoroughly expected - if not acceptable - choice.

Over the last decade, she has led a project of 'dediabolisation', or detoxification of the party brand. Under her leadership, overt racism has been controlled in favour of a discussion of the more palatable terms of 'immigration' and 'national preference'. She has combined this with the seemingly winning formula of populism, as she portrayed herself as the champion of 'ordinary people' against the corrupt establishment. To seal the deal, her Front national is not a new, rogue party anymore, but an established 40-year old organisation with its share of corruption affairs. If this is not a ticket into the French mainstream, it is impossible to say what it.

More importantly, however, this normalisation of the Front national has only become possible through the dilution of anti-fascist sentiment in France. The old Front national of Jean-Marie Le Pen represented direct continuity to the old far-right: Vichy collaborators and torturers from the Algerian War of Independence. As both these events drift away from living memory, their hold as cautionary tales has become less immediate, particularly on younger generations.

This process is - in all likelihood - not the harbinger of a Le Pen victory on Sunday. Macron still leads the polls with a sturdy margin of around 20%. Of the 60% who said they would vote for the centrist, 91% claimed they were certain of their choice. Nonetheless, a likely Le Pen share of over 30% of the vote will mark Marine's success in going further than her father ever did. Convincing voters of other parties to cast their ballot for her, the leader of the Front national has demonstrated the success of her detoxification project.
As soon as Theresa May stepped out onto Downing Street, and announced that the country would go to the polls on June 8th, it was battle stations not just for political parties, but for organisations across the country.

A general election is a unique opportunity for organisations like the League to demonstrate just how strongly the British public feel about animals. And they are, of course, also a chance for the public to decide just what kind of country they wish to see over the next five years.

So the stakes are high for every election.

But it's no exaggeration to say that this is the most significant election ever for the Hunting Act. For the first time since the Hunting Act was passed in 2004, there is the serious possibility of an election returning a pro-hunt majority in Parliament.

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In many ways, this is a slightly strange situation to be facing. In this age of Brexit, there is a great deal of discussion about Parliament and the Government representing the will of the people. While 52% of British people voted to leave the EU, according to the latest Ipsos-Mori data 84% of people want the ban on hunting foxes to stay. In addition, 88% support the ban on deer-hunting, and 91% back the ban on hunting hares. Support for the ban is as high in rural areas as it is in urban areas.

Ipsos-Mori projections indicate there is a clear majority in favour of the ban in every constituency in England and Wales, and that, by a margin of more than 7 to 1 over those who want the ban repealed, voters view more favourably those candidates who support the ban.

What's more, this is not party political issue.

72% of Conservative voters support the ban on hunting, along with 87% of Liberal Democrat voters and 90% of Labour voters.

The reason for its popularity should be clear. What the Hunting Act bans - chasing wild mammals with packs of dogs - is barbaric. The British public realise that this is an activity that belongs in the past. Do we as a nation really want to see the return of the Waterloo Cup, with spectators cheering on the brutal chase and killing of a hare by a greyhound? The return of the legal and cruel chasing for miles of our majestic stags? The return of the legal and unjustifiable killing of foxes and fox cubs for sport? I don't believe so. I believe Britain is a better place than that.

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And I would hope that all party leaders agree. That is why the League is calling on them not only to rule out any repeal, weakening or substitution of the Hunting Act - but also to support its strengthening and enforcement. We are not alone in this. IFAW, Save Me, and the RPSCA are joining us, and so have luminaries like Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Bill Oddie, and Chris Packham.

A huge amount of the election coverage so far has centred on Brexit. The task facing the parties will be how to reconcile the 52% who voted to leave and the 48% who voted to remain - I don't envy them that task. But this election is also a chance for the parties to provide a positive affirmation of what Britain stands for. The vast majority of the British public do not want to see the Hunting Act repealed. Britain is better than a return to cruelty.
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Somewhere in a galaxy far, far away, Theresa May's Brexit strategy is taking shape. I hope she will be brought back down to Earth by a new report on the working people, in both the UK and across the EU, of Britain becoming a deregulated tax haven after Brexit.

'Could a bad Brexit deal reduce workers' rights across Europe?' was commissioned by the TUC from the Work Foundation. It reviews the evidence that a 'race to the bottom' could be triggered, with Britain undercutting the EU by offering global investors a cheaper and less regulated workforce.

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The authors' conclusions will no doubt worry EU nations, especially after Jean-Claude Juncker's warning that Britain and the EU will commence negotiations light years apart. They say that leaving the EU without a deal in place is not only dangerous for UK workers - it poses a threat to EU workers too.

The report finds evidence that strong rights at work are common to many successful economies. It reinforces the trade union view that positive outcomes come from pursuing the high road of decent jobs with high pay, high skills, and high productivity. This should encourage both negotiating parties to put strong workers' rights at the heart of the deal.

But the report also reinforces trade union concerns about the impact of deregulation on working people's lives and future prospects. Taking the low road would expand the share of the economy that is composed of insecure, poorly paid, low-skilled, low-productivity jobs.

The authors find that a 'polarised race' is the most likely outcome if Britain pursues a deregulation strategy after Brexit. The impact would be focussed on those in low-skilled, low-paid and low productivity work. This would lead to greater labour market inequality, with labour standards diverging for workers at different ends of the spectrum for productivity and skills.

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In a worst case scenario, lobbying for deregulation across the EU would gain traction in response to Britain's actions, leading to the erosion of EU workers' rights too.

The UK Chancellor Philip Hammond has explicitly warned that the UK may pursue a low-tax, low-regulation economic model if no deal is reached. So this outcome is not a fanciful proposition, but a clear and present danger.

Even if the UK does not actively reduce workplace protections, harm could be done. Take the current proposals for the 'European Pillar of Social Rights', which include new rights to paid parental leave, and new protections for insecure workers. If the UK was to seek a competitive advantage by withholding these improvements from Britain's workers, it could undermine support for the changes from crucial stakeholders within the EU.

Trade unions in Britain and the EU will continue to work together throughout Brexit negotiations and beyond to protect the common interests of our members. We know that the best future for working people will come from ongoing cooperation on labour standards, not competition.

I hope this report will dispel any complacency on either side of the negotiations about the consequences of failure to reach a good deal. And I hope it will improve understanding of the importance of an agreement that covers not just existing workers' rights, but future improvements too.

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A good deal would have working people's rights written into the heart of it. It would include a clear commitment to maintain a level playing field, complying with the same minimum EU labour standards as they stand today, and as they are improved tomorrow.
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Whilst Brexit talks and the shape of the political parties ahead of the general election have dominated headlines, today's arrival of six new metro mayors around England represent an equally important step for powering economic growth.

New metro mayors are being welcomed following elections in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, West Midlands and West of England. Their introduction under the Devolution Deal reflects a growing recognition in government that many regional problems over infrastructure and economic growth are best solved at the local level, and the mayors are being given oversight over newly combined local authorities. A seventh mayor is scheduled to be introduced in Sheffield next year.

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Their introduction so soon after the European referendum last summer, where stark divisions were particularly exposed between cities and regions, is timely. So too is their arrival as the UK gears up towards the uncertainties of the Brexit negotiations, where economic growth and poor productivity gains are undergoing a profound period of scrutiny. There has never been a better time to unlock the potential of England's regions.

In response to the previous Government's proposed Industrial Strategy, ACCA has been undertaking significant consultation with members around the country about the challenges business face. Embedded within every business across the country, accountants have an unparalleled insight into the financial security and growth potential of the country's businesses and a unique view of the short and long terms challenges they face.

Their response has been clear: firms around the country are in desperate need of better digital and transport connectivity, and strong links between the business community and education to equip the workforce with the skills needed to flourish in a 21st century global landscape.

The new metro mayors will be in a unique position to help deliver solutions to these issues through building strong links between city regions, including connections with major financial centres in London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh. When you think of the status and influence that the Mayors of London and New York hold both as political figures but also as ambassadors and advocates for local business and culture you can see the great potential in the project.

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They also have a major role to play in tackling the national skills gap: both directly through Apprenticeships Grants but also throw showing leadership in building links between business and education, through initiatives such as Local Enterprise Partnerships, to ensure young people are getting access to the training and opportunities they need to thrive.

With the introduction this year of a national Apprenticeships Levy intended to support the official target of three million apprentices by 2020, it is vital that there are strong advocates for the role of the programme in providing alternative routes into diverse, highly skilled professional roles rather than becoming box-ticking exercises. Metro mayors' connections to their local community should mean they have a vital role providing oversight and support to this goal.

Yet while the Mayoral elections represent an important milestone in the devolution agenda, but for devolution to work effectively local administrations must be given more, if not total, control over local public finances. This will be critical in enabling incoming mayors to tackle local challenges.

They can't do it alone, of course. With many mayors talking up their ambitions for building digital infrastructure and creating a new generation of smart cities, they will also need smart and equally digitally-skilled professionals behind them providing guidance and insight.
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It's a recognised truth that trying to please too many people is rarely a good strategy. This applies to retail as much as it does to life.

Many household names in the fashion industry - brands such as Jaeger, M&S and even the high street totem Next - whose total sales dipped by 2.5% for the 13 weeks to 29 April 2017 - have suffered partly as a result of neglecting their core customer. By trying to widen the appeal of their brand, often courting the younger customer, they alienated their most loyal shoppers, who naturally shopped elsewhere. Those customers who do continue to shop with them feel confused, often compelled to wear 'inappropriate' styles and hemlines to remain 'in fashion'. Sartorial 'dad dancing', if you like.

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So, who is this customer? Well, she happens to be a woman with more disposable income than her younger sisters. The over 50's segment of the UK population is one of the fastest growing customer groups in the retail market. Cash cows for fashion retailers - omitting the colloquial connotations. Women in this category are increasingly shopping online, where competition is famously fierce. Females over 40 years are equally precious customers; far more likely to invest in quality items than they are throwaway fashion. The trade-off here, from the retailer's position, is that they can be demanding and must have their needs met. They need to feel understood.

These women need somewhere to find fashionable, inspiring and 'interesting' clothes. "They want a warm, uplifting and inspiring shopping environment [...] to see their lifestyle reflected in the merchandising right down to the hangers", says Michael Shalders, co-founder of Love Brands Ltd, an agency that distributes the chic, understated Italian knitwear brand Stefanel, a favourite with the 38 - 60s. "John Lewis has this customer nailed, they changed with times", he adds. This customer neither wants a hemline much above the knee, nor a transient trend. She wants sleeves, subtlety, timeless style and quality. Make this woman feel and look fabulous and she'll be putty in your hands, in a retail sense. What the modern middle-aged woman does not want is to walk into her favourite go-to fashion store (note the possessive pronoun) and be confronted with sub-brands pitched at the younger customer, nor trends suggesting she wishes to 'get down wiv' da' kidz' from Primark and New Look. Neither will she appreciate frumpy, unimaginative designs implying she's had her day; that she should be sartorially put out to pasture.

I've witnessed this evolution myself, while working in my mother's boutique several years ago. A customer, whose daughter was getting married, exemplified this perfectly with her plea: "I don't want to look like a Mother of the Bride". James Lakeland, of the eponymous womenswear brand popular with the 35+ woman, has told me that the frequent request he hears is: "I don't want to be frumpy [...] I do want some coverage on my arms [and] I want to look effortless, feel great and look younger".

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He adds, "This is the most challenging and complex market [...] women who grew up with Wham, Boy George and the original supermodels are now getting ready to go to the weddings of their sons and daughters and they don't want the matching dress, coat and co-ordinated shoes and bags". As Michael Shalders also explains, "that customer still exists; she just doesn't want to dress as her mother did when she was 45".

So, what went wrong for these iconic British brands?

Synonymous with understated confidence, Jaeger formed part of the British fashion establishment with a clear identity of producing effortless, good quality collections, as summed up by the tagline "We don't sell clothes, we dress women".

Essentially, it was the definitive brand for the modern middle aged woman. The go-to brand for the demographic often referenced as the 'silver shopper', but which in truth begins at 40 years and extends to 70. It's the one demographic that retail analysts say is well-equipped for sustained spending. Only a fool - or age fascists - would neglect them.

In an attempt to attract a younger shopper, the introduction of sub-brands merely alienated this customer and, when former chief executive Colin Henry left Jaeger in September 2015, it was suggested that it was in part because he disagreed with this change in strategy. Promisingly, we've just learned that Harold Tillman, the former owner of Jaeger, believes the brand "can become a world leader again".

Similarly, when Marks and Spencer boss Steve Rowe said he was determined to revive the high street giant, by getting back in touch with their core female customer - rather patronisingly labelled "Mrs M&S" -, he was talking about a "loyal" customer in her 50s who shops with them around 18 times a year.

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According to Mr Rowe this apparently married woman wants "stylish contemporary clothing". He adds: "We need to cherish and celebrate her and make sure we're giving her exactly what she needs at the right time", not try to dress her in a skater skirt. Indeed, Next's drop in sales has been attributed to styles which were too 'racy' and insufficient core items such as blouses.

These are by no means the only retailers to be erroneously seduced by the sirens of youth and 'trends', but their ignominious fall from grace provides a blunt education in branding and knowing your customer.
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In trying to win the election by putting the country on a war footing, May is taking a high-risk gamble with both her chances and Britain's.

The actual substance of her claims about shadowy "unknown" European influence on the general election do not bear the smallest amount of scrutiny. Anyone who believes Jean-Claude Juncker, Guy Verhofstadt and the rest of Brussels' inner circle would prefer to see an EU exit negotiation in the hands of a radical left-winger should spend five minutes reading about Greece. They are closer in political allegiance to the Tories than to any other British party.

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Nor are Juncker's musings of any interest to swing voters in Derby North. In fact, the unflattering write up which May cites as evidence of shady Euro-meddling was published in a German paper, mediated by British journalists in initial reporting and barely read by any Brits until her intervention drew attention to it.

May apparently believes the EU are timing events to coincide with the election - in short, that events we have known about since the triggering of Article 50 in March, are timed to coincide with an election May herself called two weeks ago. The European Union may be powerful, but it isn't clairvoyant.

Yet regardless of the facts, May's intervention did exactly what it intended. It bagged front page headlines in virtually every national paper. It identified May's personal interests with the national interest, as her campaign has sought to do. It drew fire away from her secretive campaign and her disastrous dinner with Europe's negotiators on Monday. And it put election debate on a war footing, maximising the potential for her 'strong leadership' line to work - because really, we cannot imagine Corbyn threatening to nuke Strasbourg when we don't get to keep the European Medicines Agency.

In the absence of a threat to the nation from any great Cold War-style power, May and Trump are together proving that making one up can work just as easily, whether it's North Korea or Spain. The great irony is that using an inflammatory "meddling foreigners" line to disrupt the debate is a trademark of the most significant meddling foreigner in British politics - Australian strategist and Tory adviser Lynton Crosby, whose last contribution to our body politic was a campaign that plastered the dead of the 7/7 attacks over newspapers in an attempt to get Zac Goldsmith elected.

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All this would be farcical if it wasn't so serious. The reports of May's humiliating dinner with European negotiators are in line with everything we know so far - she is able to talk tough in a way that appeases Daily Mail readers, but has failed to extract anything concrete or serious out of Europe. This row damages our negotiating position even further. There's nothing wrong with riling up the other side if your hand is superior - but May's is not. Her only material threat to the EU so far has been a threat to turn Britain into a giant floating tax haven, with London as Singapore, albeit surrounded by more fields (which is far more of a threat to our public services than to Eurocrats' pride.) Corbynite diplomacy will get us further than Tory bluster at this point.

May has dropped ten points in the polls in a week. Her badly stage-managed campaign has been mocked by journalists and seen her booed out of Bristol, locking poor local Cornish journalists in spare rooms, and getting yelled at on the rare occasions she does come into contact with voters. She may expect to win, but she knows - as Gordon Brown did in 2007 - that losing ground will cost her valuable political capital.

Anything less than a bruising victory threatens to expose her complacency and inertia, and Corbyn now looks set to, at the very least, deny May an all-out rout. So she has retreated to form, painting a portrait in which almost every camp that isn't her own - Tory backbenchers, Labour, other opposition parties, the Scots, Brussels - are traitors and saboteurs. It's dirty and dangerous politics.
The room I'm standing in is unlike any I've been in before.

With four large desks facing me, and a panoramic view of what looks like a distant universe out the window, this feels more Star Wars than cancer lab.

I place a card labelled 'sample 1' onto a desk that's linked to a projector. A cloud of different shaped bubbles appear in front of me.

I'm told that the bubbles are in fact different types of cell. And this cloud is the complete picture of a single breast tumour.

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But the room I'm in, and everything in it, doesn't actually exist.

I'm in a virtual lab, projected through a headset. And I'm experiencing the future of how scientists and doctors might one day view, study and understand tumours.

This world is the brainchild of Professor Greg Hannon, from our Cambridge Institute, who's leading a team of international scientists looking to change the way we see cancer.

Hannon's team has recently been awarded 20m through the Cancer Research UK Grand Challenge. And while their virtual reality vision is not yet fully operational, the demo is an impressive centrepiece to an ambitious research plan that draws in cell biology, astronomy, maths and genetics.

Precise predictions

"This does sound a bit like science fiction," says Hannon. "We want to develop an entirely new way to look at cancer."

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The project builds on the work of the Cambridge Institute's Professor Carlos Caldas, which five years ago redefined breast cancer as 10 distinct subtypes of tumour.

Research has shown that each of these subtypes could help predict how a patient may fare. But the classifications can't, as yet, offer definitive answers for each patient.

"The importance of this project is to be able to take those broad classifications and make more precise predictions," says Hannon. "So it's not just 'you have a type of tumour where we think there is a 50% chance that this treatment will really help you', but to know which 50% each person falls in to."

One of the challenges scientists have faced in refining these predications is that the tissue samples (biopsies) they have access to offer just a single snapshot of a tumour.

Biopsies play a crucial part in a patient's journey through cancer. They are required to diagnose the disease and make decisions around treatment. And researchers also use this precious tissue to learn more about tumours.

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Analysing these samples to search for faulty genes and molecules has been incredibly useful in guiding treatment, particularly for breast cancer. But the techniques that do this only take an average of all the cells, molecules and DNA a sample may hold, meaning some details may be missed. This would be like deciding to give everyone at a dinner party steak, just because the majority of guests are meat-eaters. And, according to Hannon, offers "an imprecise picture of what tumours really look like".

"The goal of our project is to create an interactive 3D atlas of cancers where we know every cell, we know what kind of cell it is, and we know its general features" - Professor Greg Hannon, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute

In recent years, it has become clear that tumours differ greatly between patients. These differences can also appear within each patient's tumour, raising further challenges for treatment. As this idea has taken hold, the techniques used to characterise tumours in the lab have become focused on each individual cancer cell, rather than information averaged from many.

Hannon says this has been an improvement, because it gives much more detailed information. But he believes this needs to be taken a step further, drawing in the geography of tumours to build a more complete picture and refine predications around treatment.

Tumours aren't made of just one type of cell, says Hannon. So more needs to be done to find out which cells are inside tumours, where they are, and who their neighbours are. "Tumour cells within a cancer have different properties, different capabilities," he explains. And the team want to define these differences for every cancer cell in a tumour, and study how this affects the healthy cells that can be corrupted and controlled by tumours, such as immune cells.

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Building the atlas

"The goal of our project is to create an interactive 3D atlas of cancers where we know every cell, we know what kind of cell it is, and we know its general features," says Hannon.

This is an ambitious goal, but not out of reach.

"We think about this almost like saying 'OK, we're going to put a man on Mars'." What they're trying to do doesn't violate any particular laws of physics, he adds. This means that the technology exists, but they'll have to push the boundaries of what can be done with it right now to get there.

As with any journey of exploration, the team needs a map. And they'll start with a specialised microscope to take a picture of every cell in the tumours they'll initially be studying in mice, and then in samples from patients.

"The kinds of microscopes that do this, you can't buy you have to build them," says Hannon. "You can't just put an order in. So we have found someone who's a real expert in this and they'll come to Cambridge and construct this thing."

This microscope is unique because it's attached to what is essentially a tiny bacon slicer. As the microscope captures a picture of a minute layer of cells in a tumour sample, that same layer is sliced off and collected for further analysis.

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Once this has been carried out for the entire tumour, the image of each single cell has to be put back together as a complete 3D picture, which means processing a lot of data.

"When I say a lot, I talk about 100 terabytes per sample," says Dr Dario Bressan, who's part of Hannon's team leading on the microscopy arm of the project.

That's more than twice the amount of data collected by the Hubble Space Telescope in its first 20 years of observation, for each sample the team collects. So, with the hope of analysing thousands of samples during the project, it's no surprise that they've turned to the astronomy department at the University of Cambridge to help them process these data.

"When we told the astronomy guys you have to file through 100 terabytes of data they said: 'oh, only?' They're used to this - they're topic of discussion is the sky - so they're adapting their algorithms from finding stars to finding cells," says Bressan.

Once the 3D image has been complied, the team will then have to overlay data from a suite of techniques that measure the genes and molecules inside each individual cell. This is made possible by applying the techniques to the thin slices that were originally taken from the microscope, and then mapping this to the astronomy team's 3D image.

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At the moment, when used in pathology labs, these techniques can measure the levels of a couple of protein molecules and the activity of a couple of genes. "Our edge here is that we're collaborating with people who have invented ways to extend this to 1000 or more genes and 53 proteins," says Bressan.

"Ultimately we want to be able to collect 20,000 plus pieces of information on every cell in a tumour," adds Hannon. Again, that's a lot of information.

"We will have to invent an entirely new way for people to interact with this information," says Hannon.

And that's where the virtual reality comes in.

A new perspective

The challenge of how to present and communicate these data is one the team has thought about a lot.

"The only way to put more information on a piece of paper is to write smaller," says Hannon. "And at some point, there's diminishing returns in this.

"In virtual reality we can present many more dimensions of information than you can on a piece of paper."

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To tackle this the team has drawn its inspiration from the world of video games, which Bressan says are "really good at showing a lot of information in the blink of an eye".

The team's idea, he adds, is that with virtual reality "we don't just use the position of each cell, but we can use the colour of each cell, we can use whether it's blinking or not, we can use the size. And already by doing this you are looking at 6-8 dimensions of data at the same time."

Thanks to a new collaboration with virtual reality designer Owen Harris, artist Flaminia Grimaldi and programmer Robby Becker, that ambition has quickly been developed in to a working demo, shown in the video below.

Blog: This could be the future of how doctors view cancer https://t.co/pzPOUQxoOT#CRUKGrandChallengepic.twitter.com/yal3SUN4vc  Cancer Research UK (@CR_UK) May 2, 2017

"When Greg approached me, I'd been working with some Dutch scientists making a VR experience for people with anxiety and depression," says Harris. While he thought that Hannon's plan for a virtual cancer lab sounded amazing, Harris wasn't originally sure he could help due to the scale of the project.

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But a visit to Cambridge, and a chat with his aunt Claire, changed his mind.

"I was overwhelmed by the vision of the people in the lab," he says. "It was exhilarating. So I was thinking I needed to do a little bit on this project."

His aunt then encouraged him to go further.

"Claire is a very important person in my life. In my teenage years she really encouraged me at times when others weren't.

"She has breast cancer. And she said to me: 'you have to do this'. So it's a mixture of her demand and how impressed with the team I was that has drawn me in deeper and deeper."

While Harris and his team has developed an impressive early version of the virtual lab, he admits that it has been "held together with virtual duct tape".

So now the team is working on new features, and strengthening the foundations of the new technology.

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"The design challenge is exciting because this is the only one of these that exists in the world," he says.

"It's one of the most satisfying things I've ever worked on."

The future for the VR is more rooms to look at new data in different ways. These developments, says Harris, are focused on building something that works for researchers, doctors, and people looking to learn about cancer.

A new type of pathology?

Hannon's hope is that the information they gather over the next 5 years, and the technology they build, will become part of modern pathology.

This won't come through the thousands of measurements they have planned for millions of cells. Instead, they will have to steadily focus down on the most important information for doctors looking to make decisions around treatment.

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A big part of this, he says, is that the custom, clunky instruments they're building will need to be turned into something that "fits inside a shoebox".

Working in virtual reality also opens up the chance to collaborate across the globe, both for the scientists involved in the early development stages and potentially for doctors in the future.

"This is not a single user interface," says Hannon. "The thing the gaming world is really good at is having these multi-user designs. So what we envision is not only for researchers to be able to meet in these virtual reality spaces, but for physicians and patients to be looking at these models together."

That ambition, although it remains a distant goal, is one that is shared by the two patient representatives that will be supporting Hannon's team.

At a recent event where all Grand Challenge teams gathered to present their projects, the patients spoke of how they think that seeing the data, particularly in 3D, might help others understand some of the treatment choices they are presented with.

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And that's the true reality behind the sci-fi goggles, a desire to learn everything about a tumour, so that doctors, patients and the public each have the information they need to navigate their journey through cancer.

Dr Nick Peel is senior news and multimedia manager at Cancer Research UK
Bureaucrats love regulation. It provides jobs for some of them, so usually theyre happy to create new regulations and expand existing ones.

One hobbyhorse of some federal bureaucrats for years has been to regulate the Internet as a public utility. As with utilities like water or natural gas distribution, these bureaucrats seek to restrict competition among providers and set Internet subscription and bandwidth prices by government fiat.

In 2015, Tom Wheeler, President Barack Obamas ambitious Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, finally pushed through regulations to classify Internet service providers as common carriers subject to government rate-setting and other control. If youve heard of net neutrality, such regulation is what it means.

Ron spent 17 years as a principal economist for the public utility commissions of Nevada and California, plus more years consulting to other commissions. So we have some expertise in the theory and economics of utility regulation. We know theres no defensible reason to make the Internet a regulated utility.

The basic premise of utility regulation is that some industries cant operate competitively due to market failures. Mainly, these are industries that deliver goods or services to ultimate consumers using interconnected physical networks such as roads, sewers or electric lines. Imagine trying to serve each property with multiple sets of sewers or power lines so customers could choose which competitor to use.

Another alleged but false cause of market failure is high capital intensity of an industry. In fact, capital-intensive industries such as oil refining do quite well with competition.

With real market failure, government either grants a monopoly franchise to a single firm to act as a common carrier or provides the service itself. When it grants a franchise, it regulates the practices and prices charged by the utility to protect consumers from abuses by the monopoly.

In recent decades, vertically integrated industries such as electrical service have been broken up, with transmission and distribution, the natural monopolies, remaining regulated; and power production, not a natural monopoly, becoming competitive. Last year, Nevadans voted to create retail electric service choice here, a move we generally support.

The Internet, however, has grown and flourished for more than two decades without being classified as a public utility. Today, it is ubiquitous and affects much of most folks lives. So, its bizarre that without any natural monopoly characteristic or problems in the marketplace, the Obama Administration classified the Internet as a utility.

Although second-generation Internet providers have carried signals over a network of fiber optic cables, fiber owners can allow multiple Internet providers to use their lines, similar to electrical wires carrying power to customers from multiple power suppliers.

Moreover, fiber is not the only way to carry Internet signals. Originally, the Internet was hosted mainly through telephone lines. Now, it is carried largely through wireless providers. So theres no legitimate reason to regulate it as a utility.

If you dont remember Obamas Internet regulation changing things, its because the FCC recognized it had no expertise on how to police the Internet or its pricing. It wasnt until ten days before last Novembers election that the FCC finally pushed through rules for regulating it.

But Congress voted to reject the misguided plan, and new FCC Chairman Ajit Pai recently said he would reverse the original regulatory directive. As he stated, We need a free and open Internet for the 21st Century.

We agree. The Internet, with its capability for rapid dissemination of ideas and information, has been one of the most democratizing forces in human history. No longer do we need to get our information from established news outlets pushing their own agendas.

The Chinese government treats the Internet as a utility and also uses its regulatory powers to restrict the access of its citizens to ideas of individualism, personal liberty, etc. People who wish to enact such a bizarre regulatory structure in America may also have content-control motives.

Congress and the Trump Administration cant (and shouldnt) stop regulatory radicals from spreading misinformation regarding net neutrality and decrying recent acts of Congress and the Administration to stop this bad regulatory idea.

However, dont be fooled by the tyranny of words, net neutrality. The Internet should remain free just like its users.
POOL New / Reuters

Only the most sadistic of dinner party arrangers would ever choose to seat Jean-Claude Juncker and Theresa May at the same table - so we shouldn't be too surprised that their Downing Street soiree last week was less than successful.

Theresa May: 'Let's do everything we can to make Brexit a success.'

Jean-Claude Juncker: 'There is no way it can be a success.'

And there, in one icy exchange, you have the heart of the problem. Mrs May has convinced herself that the UK can look forward to a glorious, prosperous future once it has left the EU - if she gets the deal she wants. That's what she calls 'a success'.

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Mr Juncker thinks the opposite: that Brexit will be a disaster for the UK. After all, what would be the point of the EU if member states could do better outside it than as members? To believe that such a thing is even possible would be to make a nonsense of the entire project.

On the morning after the Brexit referendum last June, I wrote: 'For the next several years, British politics will be dominated by endless negotiations, rows and crises over how to recalibrate our relationship with our neighbours.' It has started: the leak of the May-Juncker contretemps and Mrs May's Downing Street counter-blast were just the first in what will be a long, ugly parade of name-calling, spinning and leaking.

Why? Because name-calling, spinning and leaking feeds back into the negotiating process by putting pressure on the negotiators. If Brussels spins that the UK is being wholly unreasonable and that a so-called train crash Brexit is looking increasingly likely, that will have inevitable repercussions in Westminster.

Similarly, if the UK spins that because of Brussels intransigence, it is seriously examining the 'Singapore option' - rock-bottom corporate taxes to attract investment away from the EU - that will create pressure from, among others, German business leaders.

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Remember what Philip Hammond said last January: 'I personally hope we will be able to remain in the mainstream of European economic and social thinking. But if we are forced to be something different, then we will have to become something different.' No one was left in any doubt as to what that 'something different' might be.

For Mrs May, the immediate priority is to stack up as large a majority as she can on 8 June. 'I've got my mandate, and I'll use it however I see fit.' Her opponents, both those in her own party and those on the opposition benches, will be expected to do little more than sit on the sidelines and complain impotently.

Her Downing Street counter-blast on Wednesday was aimed squarely at British voters, not at Brussels. Look how tough she is, look how she can give as good as she gets. Can you imagine Jeremy Corbyn or Tim Farron being this tough? And who needs UKIP now? (On that front at least, the early results from Thursday's local elections seem to have clearly vindicated her Boudicca act.)

The tragedy is that the gulf between Brussels and London is, as it has always been, as much cultural as political. Mrs May's and Mr Juncker's generation simply see the world differently -- the under 30s, who will have to live with the consequences of the decisions made in their name, tend to be far more understanding of each other's cultures and societies.

For the Brexiteers, walking away from the EU is a rational decision based on what they perceive to be in the UK's best interests. For many in the EU27, it's far more than that - it's an irrational and incomprehensible repudiation of their very identity as Europeans.

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That's why the negotiations will be so ill-tempered. You can't negotiate over identity. And that's why, for the next two years, the UK and the EU27 are going to say some very nasty things about each other.
Since its inception in late 2015, Homes for Syrians has matched 70 Syrian refugees with hosts offering spare rooms across the United Kingdom. The charity eases these vulnerable people into British society by removing the burden of accommodation, ultimately helping them start the long path of rebuilding their lives.

The process has proven to be a powerful aid to integration and many of our guests have found English language courses, jobs and even their own longer-term accommodation after settling into these temporary homes away from home.

The charity's work relies on the commitment of 340-plus volunteers and on the goodwill of some 480 hosts all over the country who have opened up or are willing to open up their homes to refugees. But Homes for Syrians requires donations from the general public to continue its incredibly impactful work.

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That's why I set up this GoFundMe campaign. We're hoping to raise as much as we can to make essential improvements to our database in order to speed up the matchmaking process, and to add a full-time case officer to the charity.

The response to the campaign has been heartwarming: We've so far generated 1,900 from 33 donors, exceeding our initial goal of 1,500. But I'm certain this crowdfunding campaign can gain even more momentum, with your help.

It's difficult to overcome that stubborn sense of helplessness when confronted with the staggering realities of this war, particularly in the age of Brexit and Donald Trump. How can we conceivably make a lasting difference knowing that almost half a million people have died since the conflict erupted in early 2011, and that roughly five million have had to flee their homeland, oftentimes perishing along the way? What can we possibly do?

Crowdfunding can't end wars. But donating to one of the many charities that support Syrian refugees, including Homes for Syrians, is a form of action that a lot of us have the privilege to take. Whether it's 5 or 50 or more, every single penny goes a long way.

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This humble fundraising experience has taught me that there's really no need to feel paralyzed or helpless when thinking about Syria. Take that energy and put it to good use: Share. Like. Write. Attend. Protest. Vote. Donate. Crowdfund.

Some crowdfunding campaigns for Syrians have indeed been impactful. The Syria Airlift Project raised $39,000 to airlift food and medical supplies to conflict zones via drones, while another campaign generated more than $175,000 to buy baby carriages for refugee mothers arriving in Greece. Efforts such as these underscore that collective acts of selflessness and kindness are never in vain.

The Syrian refugee crisis isn't going away anytime soon. And the UK hasn't done nearly enough to address it. According to Oxfam, we've resettled just 4,414 Syrian refugees. The charity said in a December report that the country has taken in 18% of its "fair share" of Syrian refugees based on its economic standing. That compares to 117% for Germany and 144% for Norway.

As part of its Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme, the UK has indeed pledged to resettle up to 20,000 Syrians by 2020. By comparison, though, Lebanon, which shares a border with Syria, is hosting over a million. That's more than roughly a quarter of its entire population prior to the influx. Meanwhile, Theresa May has resisted calls to accept more Syrian refugees, saying it's better to help refugees in their own region rather than bring them over here, and opting to dish out aid instead.

This government inaction should incense everyone. But those of us who have been following the Syria crisis for the past six years know all too well that it takes a shocking image or news development to stir most to action. The reality is that there is no shortage of shocking images, and there is no shortage of shocking news developments.

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Jason Bean valued being able to become bowl eligible with Kansas
RENO  University of Nevada Cooperative Extension presents the Nevada Indian Summit May 9-11 at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks.

The purpose of the summit, offered in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to help tribal communities in Nevada adapt to climate change, plan for economic development and marketing, and learn how to make a profit.

Summit speakers will be experts from many Western entities, including University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, University of Nevada Center for Economic Development, Nevada Department of Corrections, Utah State University, the U.S. Geologic Survey, Desert Research Institute and University of Arizona Native Programs.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided May 10 and 11.

Many topics will be explored, including economic development planning for Nevada tribes; how to make a profit in agriculture; and adapting agriculture to increasing variability of water supplies and temperatures.

Workshops will also discuss establishing a marketing entity that would increase reservation profits through combined marketing efforts and possibly creating an Indian Branding of cattle and hay grown on the various reservations.

The First Climate Resilience Workshop, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 9, will address making climate data accessible and useable to Nevada tribal ranchers, farmers and resource managers for water management, and for traditional and production agricultural development and sustainability.

The workshop is part of the Native Waters on Arid Lands Project, a five-year, $4.5 million grant from the USDAs National Institute of Food and Agriculture  Agriculture Food Research Initiative. The Native Waters on Arid Lands Project was one of five integrated research and Extension projects nationwide selected for U.S. Department of Agriculture funding.

Bill Payne, dean of University of Nevada College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, will welcome guests the morning of the May 10 sessions, and May 11 will include an afternoon tour of the Pyramid Lake fisheries and museum.
Superior Court Briefs: May 3 - May 5

Cases heard before Judge Edward McDonough on Wednesday, May 3.

Gabrielle Garzone, 23, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of manufacturing cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws, possession of heroin, possession of suboxone, and possession of trazadone in connection with the execution of a search warrant on March 3.

She also pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws. Garzone conspired with others to sell cocaine and heroin in Berkshire County between January 20, 2015, and March 6, 2015.

She was given a two-year suspended sentence at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the manufacturing cocaine and conspiracy charges. She was placed on probation on the others.

Sasha Santiago, 27, of Springfield pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws and single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in relation to a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on March 2, 2015.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws. She had conspired with others to sell cocaine and heroin in Berkshire County between January 20, 2015 and March 6, 2015.

She was sentenced to concurrent two and a half years at the Hampden County House of Correction on the possession of heroin and possession of cocaine charges. She was placed on probation on the others.

Deveron Wicks, 29, of Springfield pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws and single counts of trafficking in heroin, and trafficking in cocaine in connection with a motor vehicle stop in North Adams on March 2, 2015.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to violate drug laws. He conspired with others to sell cocaine and heroin in Berkshire County between January 20, 2015 and March 6, 2015.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and single counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in connection with the execution of a search warrant in Springfield on March 2, 2015.

Wicks was sentenced to seven to 12 years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the trafficking and the conspiracy to violate drug laws charges.

He was given five to seven years on the firearm charge and concurrent time at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the other charges.

Cases heard before Judge Edward McDonough on Friday, May 5.

Damian Ives, 42, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to six counts of armed robbery while masked, and single counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon, and resisting arrest in connection with a series of robberies in Pittsfield between December 23, 2015, and January 24, 2016.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of threatened use or presence of explosives, chemical, or biological agents causing evacuation or disruption, and a single count of threatened use or presence of explosives, chemical or biological agents. Those were in connection with phoning several bomb threats on January 7, 2016.

He was ordered to serve concurrent five to seven years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the armed robbery charge and concurrent time at the Berkshire County House of Correction on the other charges.

Kelly McLennan, 51, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to a single count of larceny from a building in connection with the theft of money from Zenner's Package and Variety Store in Pittsfield on April 22, 2016.

She was ordered to serve 90 days of a two-year sentence at the Hampden County House of Correction and placed on probation for 18 months.
Five things to remember about the new downtown parking system:

1. Always enter your license plate number - even for the FREE first 30 minutes.

2. On-street parking is $1 per hour; lot parking is 50 cents per hour. There are also nearly 400 free parking spaces on the city's side streets.

3. You can pay by coin, credit card, or by downloading the Passport parking app.

4. You do not need to display the parking receipt on your dashboard.

5. Parking is FREE on evenings and weekends!
MCLA Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society Inducts Students, Businessman

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts recently recognized the achievements of six business administration students, when they were inducted into the Zeta Zeta chapter of the Delta Mu Delta national honor society on Saturday, April 22.



The new members of Delta Mu Delta are seniors Jordan R. Meredith, Brianne Murray O'Rourke, Brian Harper, Tyler V. Panetti and Liza Scranton and junior Nicole Hastry.



In addition, Daniel J. Trombley 90, majority owner and manager of Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency in Williamstown, who serves as chair of the MCLA Foundation Board of Directors, was inducted as an honorary member of the organization.



"Dan is a true MCLA trailblazer," said Denise Richardello, MCLA executive vice president. "He is an extremely generous advocate of MCLA who cares deeply about the college and our students. His commitment to MCLA is evident in his leadership role as chair of the Foundation Board of Directors, where he tirelessly donates his time and resources to help raise funds for student scholarships and college initiatives.






iciHaiti - Tourism : Moise visits the major El Rancho extension works





Thursday, President Jovenel Moise, accompanied by Emilie Jessy C. Menos, the Minister of Tourism visited the extension of the NH El Rancho hotel complex in Petion-ville.



It is a project to build, over a period of 5 to 6 years, a high-level tourist center, a convention center, an Institute of Higher Studies in Governance (IHEG) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-20523-haiti-education-soon-an-institute-of-higher-studies-in-governance.html , towers of apartments, etc... according to Reginald Boulos.



The Head of State took the opportunity to speak with the shareholders of the hotel and express his pride in the efforts made by the Haitian entrepreneurs. "We are here to encourage, promote entrepreneurship and private investment," said the Head of State.



Minister Menos welcomed this project, which creates jobs with a high intensity of Haitian workforce and took the opportunity to encourage other players in the tourism sector to come and invest in Haiti.



IH/ iciHaiti






















iciHaiti - Environment : Towards the end of urban unhealthiness...





The Ministry of the Environment, in partnership with several private companies : Nabatco, Matpar, Sejourne SA, Sotresa, Rebo SA, Dinasa, Comme il Faut and Laboratoire Farmatrix, organized a meeting on the eradication of solid wastes in Haiti and particularly in Port-au-Prince.



These companies want to find a solution to the proliferation of solid and household waste in the country and have agreed above all that the Ministry of the Environment should elaborate the standards and define the mechanisms that should lead the population to adopt responsible behavior vis-a-vis the environment.



A state of the environment, accompanied by a balance sheet and prospects should lead to the organization of Assises and States General.



In order to define a comprehensive strategy and to share responsibility for the implementation of projects, further meetings are scheduled for the month of May.



PI/ iciHaiti


















Students and faculty at Mexicos National Autonomous University (UNAM) awoke on Wednesday to news of the death of Lesby Berlin Osorio, a 22-year-old whose body was found at a phone booth near the School of Engineering. She had been strangled with the telephone cable, and her hand was still holding a dog leash.

A student at the spot where the victim was found. ARMANDO MONROY (Cuartoscuro)

More information Polemica en Mexico tras culpar la Fiscalia a una joven de su propia muerte

Two days later, controversy broke out over the way that the Mexico City prosecutors office described the victim. She was an alcoholic and a bad student. She was shooting up with some friends. She had left home and was living out of wedlock with her boyfriend. These are some of the descriptions, shared on social media, whose tone has sparked outrage in a country struggling with sexist violence.

Thousands of women are using Twitter to ask: If I get killed, what will they say about me? The hashtag #SiMeMatan (#IfTheyKillMe) has been used to accompany personal testimony from women wondering how they would be judged, and the university community has called a protest march for Friday to demand justice for the victims of gender violence.

She had left home and was living out of wedlock with her boyfriend

Prosecutors report

Following the social media outrage, Mexico City prosecutor Rodolfo Rios tweeted that he had ordered the online comments made by his agencys social communications department removed.

Never will the conduct, private life or social condition of a victim affect an investigation. I have issued orders to rectify this serious mistake, he tweeted.

An average of seven women are murdered in Mexico every day. Most of them suffer a violent demise, with methods including strangulation, stabbing or being burnt to death, according to the National Statistics Institute.

According to testimony provided by her boyfriend, Jose Luis Gonzalez, Lesby was with him and several other friends on campus on the night of her death. When he decided to leave, Lesby followed him. It was 4am. At that point they had an argument, and they parted ways, the boyfriend told the police. Hours later he found out that she was dead, according to his statement.

Never will the conduct, private life or social condition of a victim affect an investigation. I have issued orders to rectify this serious mistake

The preliminary investigation points to Gonzalez as the main suspect of what appears to be a case of murder. But authorities are not ruling out the possibility that a third party attacked her when she and her boyfriend went their separate ways, or even that she might have committed suicide.

Lesby had moved in with Gonzalez because, as her mother said, I didnt know what to do with her anymore. Both youths had part-time jobs: Lesby was a dog walker and Gonzalez worked as a janitor at a public high school. People who knew both of them said that the couple argued a lot and had drug and alcohol problems. Gonzalez was still drunk when he was arrested, and was unable to provide a statement until several hours later, according to sources at the prosecutors office.

The UNAM campus is a green oasis for Mexico Citys youth. The sheer size of Latin Americas largest higher education center, with 300,000 enrolled students, makes it impossible for the police to patrol its avenues. There are no walls  the campus is open  as a way to integrate the university into the city and vice versa. Lesby and Gonzalez lived in the area, but they were not UNAM students.

English version by Susana Urra.
Armenia: EU and Armenia Hold annual Dialogue on Human Rights

Todays Shushi, Occupied and Cleared of Armenians, is a Real Example of Turkish-Azerbaijani Policy of Ethnic Cleansing of Artsakh

Ookla, the the global leader in internet testing and analysis has awarded Ucom

Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

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STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan
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Feeder have announced a massive show at Chepstow Racecourse where they will celebrate 21 years of releasing albums.

The British rock band's nine full length studio releases have sold a whopping five million copies, with three certified Platinum and two gold.

Their most recent record All Bright Electric was released last year to positive reviews and a top 10 position on the charts.

Their one-off show in Chepstow is titled The Homecoming and will take place on 25 August. Tickets are available for pre-sale from Monday 8 May on Feeder's official website.

Frontman Grant Nicholas said: "It's great to finally be playing Chepstow for the first time after all these years. This year will be the 21st anniversary since the release of Swim, so it seems only right to be doing a show near the town where we grew up and where we started to get into music and growing up in south Wales."

The Homecoming will see the band revisit some of their biggest hits, including fan favourites such as 'Feeling A Moment', 'Just A Day', 'Buck Rogers' and 'Just The Way I'm Feeling', along with other classic tracks plus material from All Bright Electric.

Read our recent interview with Grant here.
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Wood Allen and the New Orleans Jazz Band will play a rare, one-off concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 2 July, it has been announced.

The venue's website says that the performance will be an "energetic collection of improvisations" and that there will be "no playlist, nor do the musicians know what song Allen, in collaboration with band director Eddy Davis, will call out next".

The band's sound comprises "a diverse collection of early twentieth century popular tunes, hymns, spirituals, marches, blues and rags, and draws inspiration from such legendary artists as Sidney Bechet, George Lewis, Johnny Dodds, Jimmie Noone and of course, Louis Armstrong."

Allen often plays with the band in New York, but their last visit to the UK took place in 2004, at the Eventim Apollo.

While he is best known for his films, Allen often brings his passion for jazz, blues and swing music into his films - arguably best in his film Midnight In Paris, which included music by Sidney Bechet, Froncois Parisi and Stephane Wrembel.

The film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay; Allen famously missed the ceremony and did not accept the award in person, because he was performing a concert that same evening.

Tickets for the event are on sale now
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
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While many of us are well aware of the importance of checking our breasts for lumps, swelling and a change in size or shape, breast cancer doesnt always present itself this way.

This was the case for Jennifer Cordts, a mother-of-two from Texas whose diagnosis started with a rash.

After noticing a patch of redness similar to sunburn on the side of one of her breast, Cordts alerted her doctor who carried out some tests.

I went and got a mammogram and it came back normal. Everything looked fine, she explained in an interview with WFAA-TV.

Because the mammogram showed no signs of cancer and her blood results were normal, doctors blamed a poor-fitting bra for the discolouration.

But as time passed by, the red spot on Cordts breast did not go away so she decided to Google her symptoms.

Jennifer Cordts hopes her story will help educate women on the symptoms of IBC

IBC came up. Inflammatory Breast Cancer, she explained.

It was the first thing that popped up. And it was late at night. Everybody was asleep. And I was terrified. I just had a bad feeling.

After 11 months, a biopsy confirmed what the mammogram could not.

Cordts had stage four Inflammatory Breast Cancer and by that time, it had spread to her bones and liver.

At first, doctors blamed a poor-fitting bra for the rash Cordts had developed on her breast

Now receiving treatment, doctors hope to slow down her cancer but cannot cure it completely.

I really want this to educate. I really want someone to say, 'Oh my gosh, I have redness in my breast. I better push past the mammogram and ask for some more tests,' Cordts insisted.

While this type of breast cancer is rare, its important to recognise the symptoms to look out for.

Recommended These are the skin cancer warning signs you should never ignore

According to Cancer Research UK, these include areas that are red, swollen, firm and hot to the touch.

Other possible signs include thickening of the skin, pitted skin like orange peel, a lump and discharge from the nipple.
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The UK government is secretly planning to force technology companies to build backdoors into their products, to enable intelligence agencies to read peoples private messages.

A draft document leaked by the Open Rights Group details extreme new surveillance proposals, which would enable government agencies to spy on one in 10,000 citizens  around 6,500 people  at any one time.

The document, which follows the controversial Investigatory Powers Act, reveals government plans to force mobile operators and internet service providers to provide real-time communications of customers to the government in an intelligible form, and within one working day.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

This would effectively ban encryption, an important security measure used by a wide range of companies, including WhatsApp and major banks, to keep peoples private data private and to protect them from hackers and cyber criminals.

Amber Rudd caused uproar in March when she called for WhatsApp to allow government agencies to read encrypted messages.

The service scrambles data so heavily that it cant be deciphered by anyone other than the sender and the recipient and, crucially, not even WhatsApp can read the messages sent through its app.

Apple CEO Tim Cook once branded backdoors as the software equivalent of cancer. Even if the government has good intentions, backdoors expose everyone to cyber criminals too.

Approval from a judge appointed by the Prime Minister would be required before an individual could be targeted by government agencies, and the proposals outlined in the document also need to be approved by both Houses of Parliament before passing into law.

What is perhaps most alarming, however, is the lack of transparency around the draft powers.

The proposals are currently only being discussed with members of the UKs Technical Advisory Board, which are BSkyB, BT, Cable and Wireless, O2, Virgin Media and Vodafone, as well as representatives from government agencies, believed to include GCHQ and MI5.

The short, four-week consultation ends on 19 May, and the document isnt available to access through the governments website.

It is unclear if the Home Office was planning a public consultation, but anyone can send their views on the matter to the government by emailing them to investigatorypowers@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.
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It took mental health campaigner Aaron Harvey twenty years to seek help for the brutally violent thoughts that were consuming his mind. By that point, he had started to struggle separating his visions from reality.

I finally sought treatment when I started challenging my harm OCD thoughts, Harvey tells The Independent. I remember having an image flash into my mind where I was standing in front of a mirror in a dark room holding a butcher knife to my neck. Normally, that would be just one of thousands of daily obsessive images. But in that moment, I realised it was a memory, not an unwanted thought. The night before I must have self-medicated so heavily I didn't remember. I was terrified.

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Now, the 36-year-old from Orlando, Florida, is speaking out how OCD took over his life in a bid to encourage others with the condition to get help, and to hit back at the idea that the mental illness is just about being anally retentive about tidying.

OCD is an anxiety condition which manifests itself in obsessive thoughts. Having thoughts dominated by cleanliness is certainly one of the ways OCD will show itself. However, symptoms can also include repetitive thoughts about killing others. Or scrupulosity OCD, where a person fears they will be punished for blasphemy. Meanwhile, those suffering from sexuality OCD will constantly question whether they are gay or straight. And paedophilic OCD will cause a person to be gripped by unwanted sexual thoughts about children. In Britain, around 740,000 people will experience the condition at any given time according to OCD UK. Around half of these will experience the severest form.

After struggling to understand his own condition for two decades, Harvey set up the mental health non-profit organisation IntrusiveThoughts.org. Under this banner he established the Intrusive Thoughts Project which invites people with OCD to share their stories online through YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, message forums, and publications. Contributors have included everyone from artists and psychologists to personal trainers.

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Like Harvey, many contributors grappled with their internal monologues for years before opening up to someone else. On average, it takes a person with OCD seven years to seek professional help for their intrusive thoughts. This is due to their disturbing and emotional nature, explains Harvey.

Violence. Sex. Murder. Pedophilia. Blasphemy. It's all so taboo that you spend your entire life trying to prove to yourself you're not capable of acting on the images in your head," he says.

When Harvey finally mustered up the courage to tap violent thoughts into Google, he landed on an article describing a phenomenon known as Pure O - an amalgamation of many forms of OCD.

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My heart was in my throat as I read each one, all of which I had been experiencing at some point throughout my life. Obsessions about hitting someone with my car. Killing a loved one. Unable to determine my sexual orientation. Existential obsessions. Religious obsessions. Self-harm, mutilation and suicide obsessions.

The feeling is indescribable. It's the ultimate relief coupled with the ultimate fear. I might not be crazy after all! But what does this mean? Does this condition mean I'm more likely to act on my thoughts?

The journey of detangling his OCD from the rest of his personality, with the help of medical professionals, had just begun. And although he has been treated for his OCD, the condition can still flare up, particularly when he is experiencing depression.

William Doan's art tackling mental health Show all 13 1 /13 William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health William Doan's art tackling mental health

Sometimes, Harvey will be hit with a dozen intrusive thoughts a day, with the images coming in waves. These then transform into racing thoughts which are hardest thing for him to cope with.

It disrupts all the beautiful moments in my life, and all the mundane ones, too," says Harvey. "Here's what an average day might look like. Stepping into the shower, the sight of the shaving razor triggers images of mutilating my genitals. Slicing a piece of toast triggers images of cutting my wrists open and bleeding out over the plate. Walking to work I spot a well-dressed man and have thoughts about being raped by him. Likewise passing by women I picture all kinds of bizarre sexual scenarios. I get into the boardroom and mid-pitch, I am mutilating a client.

It's unbearable. When I am depressed or experience depressive thoughts, my brain is constantly telling me to cut or kill myself, and showing me visual ways to do it.

Understanding how extreme OCD can be, Harveys goal with Intrusive Thoughts was simply to save one persons life when he started.

If our resource helped to do that, the entire effort was worth it. In just over a year, we've received hundreds of beautiful messages from the community. And while it's beautiful to hear, it's also devastating to learn about people's stories. People who turned to meth to cope. People misdiagnosed as schizophrenic. People whose jobs were threatened or lost. Stigma is a real thing. It affects the people we love the most.

Next, Harvey plans to re-launch the Intrusive Thoughts website in the summer with new professional guidance, and set up an advocacy non-profit to tackle broader issues surrounding mental health.

And for those who feel that Harveys experiences chime with their own, he urges them to gain as much an understanding of the condition as possible to avoid misinformation online and being misdiagnosed. They need to seek help.

Be honest with yourself. If you are experiencing mental health issues, get educated. Education is empowerment. And if you are not experiencing mental health issues, you know family and friends who are or who will be one day. Get educated for them.

The Samaritans can be reached on 08457 90 90 90
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British Airways owner IAG has posted a nearly 10 per cent rise in operating profits for the first three months of the year, beating analysts forecasts during what is traditionally the weakest quarter for the group.

Operating profits before exceptional items came in at 170m (144.6m) for the three months to 31 March  an increase of 9.7 per cent from 155m for the same period last year.

The average forecasts in a Reuters poll of analysts had seen an operating profit of 140m.

Total revenue for the group, which also owns Iberia in Spain and Aer Lingus in Ireland, dropped almost 3 per cent to 4.9bn, held back by the timing of Easter, which fell later this year, and the impact of a weak pound.

The impact of currency exchange was 32m in the quarter due to the translation of sterling profit into euros, according to the group.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, said: This is a record performance in Q1, traditionally our weakest quarter, with the improving trend in passenger unit revenue continuing.

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.

In March we launched Level, our new longhaul low-cost airline brand, which starts flights from Barcelona to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Punta Cana and Buenos Aires in June. Its already been extremely successful with sales running well ahead of expectations.

Mr Walsh added that at current fuel prices and current rates, IAG expect its operating profit for 2017 to show an improvement year-on-year.
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Time is running out to spend your old fivers.

Shoppers are being warned that after Friday 5 May the old paper note featuring prison reformer and philanthropist Elizabeth Fry will cease to be legal tender, which means anyone who finds one in an old pair of jeans needs to take it to the bank or the Post Office to be exchanged.

According to the Bank of England's latest estimates, more than 50 per cent of the old notes have already been returned to be destroyed, meaning around 150 million were still in circulation.

Here's what you need to know:

What happens if I haven't spent my old 5 note in time for the deadline?

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Shops will no longer have to accept the old fivers from Saturday.

High street banks can also refuse to exchange notes after the cut-off date, however many said they will replace the notes brought into a branch providing that youre a customer of that bank.

A spokesperson for Barclays said: Following withdrawal of legal tender status, Barclays customers can continue to deposit the paper 5 note and old 1 coin into their account. We would recommend that customers allow sufficient time to return old notes rather than leave it until legal tender status is withdrawn.

A spokesperson for RBS said: "After the note goes out of circulation, customers will still be able to bring in their old 5 notes for exchange at one of our branches. Non-customers will be directed to their own bank."

Will there come a point when I can't exchange the old fivers for the new polymer ones?

High street banks may stop exchanging them soon after the deadline, however the Bank of England is legally obliged to do so.

The Bank will continue to exchange the old 5 notes indefinitely, as it would for any other bank note which no longer has legal tender status.

All Bank of England notes retain their face value for all time. If your bank, building society or Post Office is not willing to accept these notes they can be exchanged with the Bank of England in London by post or in person, the Bank said.

You may be asked to provide a proof of identification when exchanging large amounts of money.

 Five things to know about the new 5 banknote

Is the Bank of England going to introduce any other new notes?

In September this year, the Bank will issue a new 10 polymer note featuring Jane Austen.

The 2016 banknote beauty pageant Show all 6 1 /6 The 2016 banknote beauty pageant The 2016 banknote beauty pageant currency of Scotland The 2016 banknote beauty pageant currency of Australia The 2016 banknote beauty pageant currency of New Zealand The 2016 banknote beauty pageant currency of Georgia The 2016 banknote beauty pageant currency of Belarus The 2016 banknote beauty pageant currency of Maldives

It will be followed by a new 20 which will feature the British Painter JMW Turner, which will be issued by 2020.

What will happen to the old fivers?

The paper notes that are returned to the Bank of England will be recycled. This is done using a composting treatment and the end product is used as a soil improver for agriculture.
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Uber is facing a criminal investigation into its use of secret software that allowed it to operate in markets where it was not licenced.

The ride-hailing apps Greyball tool identified local officials who could be seeking to stop the service and allowed drivers to avoid them.

Rides hailed from a location near a city enforcement agent suspected of launching a sting to trap Uber drivers could be ignored or cancelled using the app, the New York Times reported in March.

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Uber acknowledged that it had used Greyball to evade officials and said it had stopped using the software for that purpose.

The US Justice Department probe is the latest in a series of legal challenges for Uber in countries around the world.

The city of Portland revealed the existence of the federal probe in a report last week. The city launched its own audit of Greyball after it was exposed.

Uber has not commented on the current investigation.

Other cities, including San Francisco, are investigating Ubers use of the software but none have pressed formal charges.

A Northern California grand jury has requested documents from Uber demonstrating how and where the tool was used, Reuters reported on Friday. The request does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing.

Uber has hired law firm Shearman and Sterling to conduct an internal investigation, Reuters said.

The company defended Greyball after it was revealed, saying the software has legitimate uses, such as denying ride requests to fraudulent users or people aiming to physically harm drivers.

The company, which is valued at around $68bn (52.6bn), has expanded aggressively into markets around the world, causing a stream of controversy as it has disrupted traditional taxi businesses.

In February, Uber launched an urgent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by staff members. Investors then attacked the company for failing to address its culture of bullying, lack of diversity and harassment in every form.

Days after the allegations, chief executive Travis Kalanick admitted he needs to grow up.

This is the first time Ive been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it, he wrote, in a message to staff, also published online.

Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. 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The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty

In March, Ubers best-known security researcher resigned without stating any reasons, leading to speculation over whether there had been a link to the Greyball tool.

Rival company Alphabet - Google has also accused Uber of stealing designs for technology for self-driving cars  a claim Uber has denied.

Several countries around the world have banned the app altogether or enforced regulations that make it impossible for the company to operate.
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Scientists have come a step closer to developing a cure for eczema after discovering how a deficiency in the skins natural barrier can trigger the painful condition.

Eczema, which causes the skin to become dry, red and itchy, affects one in five children and one in 12 adults in the UK, according to the National Eczema Society.

Flare-ups can be treated with creams and steroids, but there is currently no cure for the disorder.

Several years ago, researchers at the University of Dundee found the lack of a skin protein called filaggrin caused an inherited skin condition related to eczema, called ichthyosis vulgaris.

Genetic mutations can cause filaggrin, which plays an important role in protecting the skin from irritants, to stop working correctly.

Now scientists have built on this knowledge to better understand why some people develop atopic eczema, dry skin which often appears on the hands, insides of the elbows, backs of the knees and the face and scalp in children.

We have shown for the first time that loss of the filaggrin protein alone is sufficient to alter key proteins and pathways involved in triggering eczema, said Nick Reynolds, a dermatology professor at Newcastle University.

This research reinforces the importance of filaggrin deficiency leading to problems with the barrier function in the skin and predisposing someone to eczema.

Ezcema is more common in children than adults (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Professor Reynolds and his team said their findings, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, could help drug researchers to pinpoint the causes of eczema and develop a cure for the condition, rather than treating the symptoms.

Their research involved creating a model of human skin in a lab, which they modified using molecular techniques to create a filaggrin deficiency in the skins barrier.

They then studied a number of other biological mechanisms affected by the protein, which control cell structure and stress responses and can trigger skin inflammation.

The researchers compared their findings to the way skin affected by eczema behaves, and noticed significant similarities.

Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests  but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty

This latest research from Newcastle is crucial as it expands on our knowledge of how filaggrin impacts on other proteins and pathways in the skin, which in turn trigger the disease, said Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists.

This type of research allows scientists to develop treatments that target the actual root cause of the disease, rather than just managing its symptoms. Given the level of suffering eczema causes, this is a pivotal piece of research.

The research was conducted in collaboration with scientists at pharmaceutical company Stiefel.
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An 18th century sword from Malaysia has been found on a Welsh riverbed, sparking speculation as to how it got there.

Andrew Davies, a coracleman from Carmarthen made the unexpected catch while night fishing for salmon and trout on the River Towy.

He said he was shocked to find the Kris sword.

I'd never seen anything like that in years of fishing, to be honest, he told The Independent. It was in very good condition too. I took it straight up to the museum and they said its a fascinating discovery.

The sword features a distinctive wavy blade patterning that helped Mr Evans identify its origins (Gavin Evans)

The Carmarthenshire County Museum examined the sword and told Mr Davies it appeared to be of Malaysian origin.

An investigation is still underway to determine how it reached the river and how long it had been there.

The kris dagger has a distinctive wavy blade-patterning that can be used to identify it.

It is most strongly associated with Indonesian culture, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.

Mr Davies, who is chairman of the Carmarthen Coracle and Netsman Association, said he was surprised to learn of the swords origins.

I originally had thought it might be a Roman sword, he said.

Curator at Carmarthenshire museum Gavin Evans said he has sent photos of the rusted blade to a museum in London, but has received any feedback yet.

He said the sword was well-preserved in the mud of the riverbed.

The wooden handle has survived, which would normally be expected to rot away and there is bone or ivory, Im not sure which, that would have expected to decay, he added.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the 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Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at 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Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. 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As for how the Malaysian blade ended up in the Towy, the curator said there are many possibilities.

Carmarthen was once a well-known port, so it could have been dropped or fallen overboard at some point.

He also said there could be a more sinister explanation saying the sword could have been a weapon tossed into the river.

The blade was pulled out of the River Towy in Carmarthen, preserved by mud (Flickr/Reading Tom)

To pull a sword out of the river, it makes you wonder, doesnt it, Mr Evans said.

He added: It really puts Carmarthens history as a port into perspective. We have so many more international connections than we might actually think of.

The sword is now back in Mr Davies possession, though the coracleman said he is not yet sure what he plans to do with it.

It's a funny sort of thing really. I haven't really thought about what I'm going to do with it yet, he said. Its not the sort of thing you stick on the wall in the house, is it?
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Nearly 200,000 children from the lowest income families have seen their parents income fall as a result of the Governments new lower benefits cap, statistics have revealed.

Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions have been described by charities as deeply worrying after showing that 93 per cent of households hit by the cap had children living in them.

More than half the families hit by the cap, which limits the amount of benefits payable to unemployed households, will see a reduction of more than 50 a week, while around 13 per cent will lose between 100 and 150 a week.

The cap was lowered from 26,000 nationally to 23,000 in London and 20,000 elsewhere in the UK in November 2016 as part of a Government drive to reduce the deficit but critics claim it unfairly targets some of the poorest and most vulnerable households in society.

Nearly three-quarters of those hit by the cap are single-parent households, and three-quarters of these had a child aged under five. Almost one in six single parents who saw their benefits capped had a child aged under one.

More than 130,000 households had their benefits capped between April 2013 and February 2017, with the implementation of a new, lower cap last November seeing a sharp increase in the past six months.

The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned Show all 16 1 /16 The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "One case where the claimants wife went into premature labour and had to go to hospital. This caused the claimant to miss an appointment. No leeway given" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Its Christmas Day and you dont fill in your job search evidence form to show that youve looked for all the new jobs that are advertised on Christmas Day. You are sanctioned. Merry Christmas" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "You apply for three jobs one week and three jobs the following Sunday and Monday. Because the job centre week starts on a Tuesday it treats this as applying for six jobs in one week and none the following week. You are sanctioned for 13 weeks for failing to apply for three jobs each week" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A London man missed his Jobcentre appointments for two weeks because he was in hospital after being hit by a car. He was sanctioned" 2011 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Youve been unemployed for seven months and are forced onto a workfare scheme in a shop miles away, but cant afford to travel. You offer to work in a nearer branch but are refused and get sanctioned for not attending your placement" 2013 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "You are a mum of two, and are five minutes late for your job centre appointment. You show the advisor the clock on your phone, which is running late. You are sanctioned for a month" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man with heart problems who was on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) had a heart attack during a work capability assessment. He was then sanctioned for failing to complete the assessment" Rex The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man who had gotten a job that was scheduled to begin in two weeks time was sanctioned for not looking for work as he waited for the role to start" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Army veteran Stephen Taylor, 60, whose Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) was stopped after he sold poppies in memory of fallen soldiers" 2014 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man had to miss his regular appointment at the job centre to attend his fathers funeral. He was sanctioned even though he told DWP staff in advance" 2014 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Ceri Padley, 26, had her benefits sanctioned after she missed an appointment at the jobcentre - because she was at a job interview" Jason Doiy Photography The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "A man got sanctioned for missing his slot to sign on - as he was attending a work programme interview. He was then sanctioned as he could not afford to travel for his job search" 2012 Getty Images The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Mother-of-three Angie Godwin, 27, said her benefits were sanctioned after she applied for a role job centre staff said was beyond her" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Sofya Harrison was sanctioned for attending a job interview and moving her signing-on to another day" The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Michael, 54, had his benefits sanctioned for four months for failing to undertake a weeks work experience at a charity shop. The charity shop had told him they didnt want him there" Getty The most ridiculous reasons people had their benefits sanctioned "Terry Eaton, 58, was sanctioned because he didnt have the bus fare he needed to attend an appointment with the job centre" Getty Images

Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Childrens Society, said: It is deeply worrying to see that hundreds of thousands of children have been hit by the new benefit cap, cutting the money needed to keep a roof over their heads.

Our concern is that this will only worsen child poverty, which is already set to balloon to 5 million by the end of the decade. While we think its right that work pays, it is children who are bearing the brunt of the cap.

A statement from the DWP said: Since the benefit cap was introduced, around 29,000 households who previously had their benefits capped have moved into work  an increase of 3,000 in the last quarter. Anyone eligible for working tax credits, carers allowance, and most disability benefits are exempt from the cap.

The Government has claimed the cap is designed to encourage people to find work and ensure that workless households cannot earn more than those in employment, but analysis of the figures reveals the majority of those hit by the cap are either unable to work on health grounds or are not required to work because they have young children.

Only 16 per cent of those capped were in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance, meaning that they were actively seeking work. One in six were claiming Employment Support Allowance, awarded to those assessed as unfit for work.

The overwhelming majority at four in five households were exempt from seeking work because they had a child aged under five.

Former Chancellor George Osborne lowered the cap in 2016, saying: It is not fair that people out of work can earn more than people in work.

The policy has been described as cruel by charities including the Child Poverty Action Group.

Alison Garnham, chief executive of the CPAG, said: As a matter of our basic decency, its cruel to deny children what the Government knows is the financial support needed for the basic essentials in life, such as food and clothes.
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The employment rights of middle and low income workers in the UK and across Europe could be eroded after Brexit, a report has warned.

A study published today (Friday) by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) warns that working people in both the UK and the EU are at risk from a potential erosion of workplace rights amid a race to the bottom, especially if Britain leaves the Single Market and the EU regulatory framework.

While such a scenario is likely to see better labour standards for well-paid, high-productivity jobs, which can attract foreign investment, low-paid workers could be hit if countries cut employment protections to increase competitiveness, the TUC warned.

The report, titled Could a bad Brexit deal reduce workers rights across Europe?, was commissioned by the TUC from the Work Foundation, and reviews evidence on the relationship between labour standards and foreign direct investment (FDI), looking at a range of potential consequences for working people in Britain and the EU after Brexit.

It warns that if the outcome of Brexit negotiations is a separation from the Single Market and the EU regulatory framework, the UK is likely to find higher incentives to undercut EU countries by lowering employment standards.

Such possible actions could leave the low-end sectors at a higher risk of rollbacks in employment standards. This implies that there is a possibility that employment standards on selected dimensions (i.e. in certain sectors and skills levels) may be decreased to ensure that the UK is competitive at the lower end," states the report.

Responding to the findings, TUCs general secretary Frances O'Grady warned that if strong protections for working people are not ensured as part of the EU deal, it could drive damaging competition.

If we don't put strong protections for working people at the heart of our deal with the EU, Britain could become a bargain basement economy and this will worry the EU too, as it could drive damaging competition that increases inequality, said Ms OGrady.

We've already seen the emergence of a low-skill, low-productivity economy that leaves many people trapped in dead-end jobs. Scrapping workplace protections, or gradually falling behind our European neighbours, would increase this trend.

Ms OGrady urged that the next government ensures working people in the UK retain current rights such as paid holidays, and guarantee a level playing field.

Concerns over risk to employment rights and protections as a result of Brexit have already been raised after Theresa May unveiled plans granting her ministers the ability to rewrite reams of British law without full scrutiny.

Politicians accused the Prime Minister of a sweeping power grab when she made the announcement in March, and raised fears that workers' rights, like paid holiday or laws limiting working hours, and consumer protections, could be trimmed in the process, though Tory ministers insisted they would be protected.

Following the announcement of a snap election last month, Labours shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer spelt out the Labour Party's plan to retain the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union, which he said would be key to preventing job losses and economic malaise after leaving.

He said Labour would also scrap the Governments Great Repeal Bill and replace it with an EU Rights and Protections Bill that would make sure that all EU-derived laws, including workplace laws, consumer rights and environmental protections, are fully protected without qualifications, limitations or sunset clauses  although he did not outline how.

Liberty, one of the UKs leading civil liberties and human rights organisations, recently published a briefing paper on the white paper of the Great Repeal Bill, in which it outlined which areas of human rights and equalities protections are at risk when the UK leaves the EU, including workers rights.

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

In light of the TUC report, Rachel Robinson, director of policy for Liberty, said: Todays report reinforces the importance of protecting workers rights  not only during forthcoming negotiations, but also as we incorporate existing EU law protections under the Great Repeal Bill.

Our country voted to leave the EU, not to abandon our rights. Whoever leads the country after 8 June must urgently and formally commit to preserve all the rights we have now.

The TUC warned in February that British workers face cut-rate, bottom-of-the-league protections after Brexit, with more zero-hours contracts and fewer guarantees over holiday and equal pay.
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Fears are growing that a so-called pusher serial killer is shoving men into waterways in Bristol after four bodies were recovered from water in the city in four months.

A post-mortem was due to take place on Friday, after police divers recovered a mans body from the citys floating harbour on Thursday afternoon.

Formal identification has yet to take place, but police said they were keeping informed the family of Jason Gurgul, 33, who went missing after leaving a city centre bar at around 2.40am last Saturday.

Recommended How a serial killer used social media to attract his victims

The development comes after three other bodies were recovered from water in the city. They have been identified as:

:: Deakon Wilkins, 24, from Weston-super-Mare, who went missing after leaving a nightclub on 14 January and who was found dead in the floating harbour on 5 February.

:: Lewis Ball, 26, who disappeared after leaving a different nightclub on 5 February and whose body was found in the floating harbour on 27 February.

:: Abdulkadir Mahamoud, 29, who was last seen alive leaving his home in the Easton area of the city on 24 February and whose body was found in the River Avon off Hotwell Road in Bristol on 17 March.

Avon and Somerset Police say they have already been able to investigate the first three deaths thoroughly and they appear to have been tragic accidents.

But the discovery of the fourth body has prompted social media speculation that a so-called Bristol pusher serial killer is targeting men in the city.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures 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 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which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA

After the police force announced the discovery of the latest body on its Facebook page, it was inundated with more than 300 comments, many of them suggesting a serial killer was at large.

Caroline Frankcom told the police: Isnt it about time you stopped living in cloud cuckoo land and started investigating this properly? Its obvious something sinister is going on! How many more innocent gents have to lose their lives before you do something about it?!!

While Facebook user Lizzie Steele said: I think its about time Avon and Somerset constabulary addressed the publics concerns. It has surely gone past the point of being a coincidence now.

Some commenters did suggest that the men may have fallen into the water while drunk, but in her post, Heidi Viner argued: Theres got to be something going on, why only men? Its both men and women that go out drinking and get drunk, but again another young man. Its about time the police looked more into this.

Many demanded better CCTV around Bristols waterways, to help catch a killer or to determine what was happening, along with improved guard rails to make it harder for people to fall or be pushed into the water.

Some linked the Bristol cases to incidents in Bath where there have been reports of 11 deaths in the same stretch of the River Avon since 2009.

There are too many coincidences here, said Lavina Smith. Why isnt anyone investigating the possibility that this is a serial crime attack in Bristol and Bath?

Others drew parallels with incidents in Manchester, suggesting that in that city too, the deaths of young men found in canals were not coincidence, but the result of something darker.

Fears that a Manchester pusher might be at large were fuelled last year by a Freedom of Information request that revealed that there had been 60 deaths in the canals and waterways of the Greater Manchester area since February 2008.

At the time, Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson, head of Greater Manchester Polices Serious Crime Division, issued a statement in which he said: This relates to the whole of the Greater Manchester area and not just the city centre area.

What is very important to bear in mind in all these cases is that they have been subject to separate investigations and there is no evidence at all to suggest these deaths are linked or were suspicious. Absolutely no evidence whatsoever of foul play has been established.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said a full investigation would be carried out into the circumstances of the person whose body was discovered on Thursday.

He told The Independent: Any sudden death is always investigated thoroughly.

After the discovery of the body of Mr Mahamoud, the third man to have died, Avon and Somerset Police said: There is nothing to suggest that any of the deaths are linked or suspicious. They appear to have been tragic accidents.

We are always willing to receive new information and intelligence, which is not based on speculation.

We are continuing to work with the coroner on the incidents which are being treated as non-suspicious sudden deaths.

Inquests are still to be held into all four deaths, and it is understood that the police are unable to discuss the precise details of their investigations ahead of any Coroners court hearings.
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A British man has died in a skydiving accident in Thailand after falling into a reservoir.

The 69-year-old was jumping with Thai Sky Adventures in the resort town of Pattaya, prompting an investigation.

He was named locally as James McConnell, who was originally from Clydebank in Scotland but moved to Thailand almost two decades ago, the Daily Record reported.

Colonel Chonnapat Nawalak, a spokesperson for Nong Kham police, said the cause of his death was not immediately established on Thursday.

Were still checking the cause of his death, he told the Khaosod news website.

He jumped from the plane and landed in the water, so we have to check whether he died from the jumping or from drowning.

The centre told the BBC they believed Mr McConnell may have had a heart attack or a stroke after leaving the plane, when witnesses reported the experienced skydiver rolling onto his back and drifting towards the ground.

He missed the designated landing spot at the Thai Sky Adventures base and hit a nearby reservoir.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. 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A 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

Harry Harrison, director of the companys flight operations, said he was pulled out within five minutes by rescuers who attempted to resuscitate him.

It came after a Russian instructor died during a jump at Thai Sky Adventures last year, when a cord attached to his parachute reportedly snapped.

Our safety record is excellent, Mr Harrison told the BBC, saying neither death could be attributed to the centre, which has started its own investigation into Mr McConnells death.

The company also made international headlines in 2015, when a video emerged showing its plane go into a dive, narrowly missing a par of tandem skydivers, clipping their parachute and narrowly avoiding disaster.

The firm could not immediately be reached by The Independent for comment.

Another British skydiver, David Reader, died in the French Alps after his parachute failed to open last year.

His death came before a 49-year-old woman died after landing in a Durham housing estate when her parachute also failed.

Only licenced skydivers are permitted to jump alone, while less experienced people must do tandem jumps with trained instructors.


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A Cambridge student may have taken LSD and then slid down a banister to his death, a pre-inquest hearing has been told.

Thomas Millward was found at the bottom of the stairs at Girton College in March last year.

The 19-year-old died the following day despite medics' attempts to save his life in hospital.

Medical evidence about the finding of LSD would be heard at a later inquest, Cambridgeshire assistant coroner Simon Milburn, said.

There was also apparently evidence of two people running down a corridor before the incident and a footprint on a vending machine, the Telegraph reported.

A cousin of Mr Millward's parents, who was referred to as Dr O'Driscoll, said the family just want to know the full story.

"We would just like to know the truth as far as possible," he told the hearing.

"Was he sliding down the banisters, was he balancing and fell, or was he on the [vending] machine?"

Mr Millward's father Brian raised concerns about the post-mortern not being carried out and the height of the safety railings.

"On the upper floor the guard rail was considerably lower than the building regulations that would be recommended for such a guard," he said.

"The issue of a post-mortem was considered by the senior coroner, as I understand it, and the decision that he made was that because the attending doctors were able to say with a significant degree of certainty what the medical cause of death was, nothing could be added by a post-mortem examination."

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The death was not thought to be suspicious but a 19-year-old woman from Cambridge was arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs.

Mr Millward was studying engineering at the university and his family said that his organs had been donated so that he could help others.
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Flights have been suspended from Heathrows Terminal 3 due to a security issue, a spokesman for the airport has said.

Departures from the mainly long-haul terminal were stopped "for a short time" on Friday morning, a representative for the west London hub said.

Unconfirmed reports said the alert was triggered by a passenger who attempted to run through security with an unscreened bag.

Recommended Three planes narrowly avoid colliding with drones over Heathrow

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said officers were at the scene dealing with reports of a "suspicious package".

Eyewitnesses described seeing armed police conducting searches of flights shortly before departure.

Tim Chambers, who was onboard a British Airways flight to Bilbao, told the Press Association his plane was grounded for two hours due to a suspected "security lapse".

Armed police search an unidentified BA flight on the tarmac at Heathrow's Terminal 3 (PA)

The passenger said the captain on his flight had told passengers the delays were due to an incident involving a man said to have grabbed his bag and run through security after it had been pulled aside to be checked.

Flights from the terminal were able to resume and an investigation has been launched, a spokesman confirmed to The Independent.

Departures were suspended for a short time from Terminal 3 due to a security issue," the airport said in a statement.

"We are very sorry to any passengers whose journeys are affected.

"The safety and security of our passengers and colleagues is paramount."

In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Show all 22 1 /22 In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Inside one of the terminal tents in 1946 The year the airport opened. Comfortable armchairs and flowers try to distract from the conditions Graham Bridges collection In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow An aerial view of the airport in 1949 Construction of the runway layout and Central Area are under way In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow A Pan Am crew checks out the Boeing Stratocruiser N1029V Clipper Golden Eagle in 1954 During the early 1950s, Pan Am and American Overseas Airlines operated Statocruisers into London Airport in direct competition on the North Atlantic route operated by BOAC In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow One of the first official London Airport guidebooks C.1953, priced 1s In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow In 1950 a permanent concrete terminal building was built This replaced the tents previously used at London Airport North and is seen still in use for charter and cargo flights in this 1959 view via Graham Bridges In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow BOAC check-in desk in 1954 Inside the new London Airport North terminal building, just before the move to the Central Area Graham Bridges collection In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Air traffic control tower in the 1960s Inside the visual control room CAA Archives via Pete Bish In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Rear cover of the 1956 guidebook Showing a plan of the airport at the time, with entrance prices to the spectators viewing terraces and for airport coach tours In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Spectators in 1958 How close can you get? As soon as the Central Area was open, spectators were afforded unprecedented views of the airliners In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Terminal 3 was opened as the Oceanic Terminal on 13 November 1961 It was built to handle flight departures for long-haul routes. Renamed Terminal 3 in 1968, it was expanded in 1970 with the addition of an arrivals building In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Inside Terminal 3 in 1969 Check-in desks for BOAC and QANTAS airlines In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Plane spotting on Heathrows viewing terraces in the 1960s Wrap up warm, take your spotting logbooks, pen and binoculars and get your mum to pack your sandwiches In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow No 1 Passenger Building Also called the Europa Building. In this photo, taken on 22 June 1963, flags of the many airlines it serves are flown Lee Holden In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Luggage-trailer-towing Routemaster buses When BEA and BOAC merged to form BA on 1 April 1974, both fleets had to be repainted in the new livery, but so did all the ground support equipment In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow The entrance to the traffic tunnel in 1974 A Lufthansa Boeing 737 is seen on the runway In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow A 40 per cent scale model of Concorde In September 1990 it was erected on the roundabout at the entrance to the tunnel that passes under the northern runway at Heathrow Airport. It was built in four main parts, with an 80ft-long central fuselage section, to which the wings and tail fin were attached. The completed model was placed on the roundabout in September 1990 and was monitored by CCTV and surrounded by an infrared perimeter alarm that was connected to the local Heathrow police station to ensure it was not vandalised In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Heathrow Airport's 50th anniversary On 2 June 1996, Heathrow marked its anniversary with a flypast of representative airliner types that have served the airport over the years. This culminated in a formation flypast by Concorde with Hawks of the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic team In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow The roof of Terminal 3s car park One of the last bastions for plane spotters and spectators was here. This is the unfriendly notice that greets anyone who attempts this today Richard Vandervord In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow On 24 October 2003 BA withdrew its Concordes from service The final scheduled commercial flight was BA002 from JFK operated by G-BOAG. Here we see three of the Concordes parked together outside the BA hangar on 8 November 2003 following withdrawal John Hughes In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow The new control tower Costing 50 million to construct, it gives controllers an excellent 360-degree panoramic view NATS photograph In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow The new Terminal 2 The Queens Terminal In pictures: 70 years of Heathrow Looking due west down Runway 27L

In a separate incident, a man arriving at Heathrow on a flight from Turkey was arrested on Thursday evening on suspicion of terror-related crime.

The 30-year-old was detained by the Metropolitan Police's counter-terror squad as he stepped off the plane from Istanbul.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the man had been arrested on suspicion of preparing for terrorist acts and terrorist training.

The suspect remains in custody at a south London police station, while officers search a property in the east of the capital.
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An island cult who worship Prince Philip as their God may believe his retirement has triggered a tropical cyclone, according to an author who has lived among the villagers.

Residents of the remote village of Yaohnanen, on the Pacific island of Tanna, hailed a 2015 cyclone as a sign the Duke of Edinburgh would visit the islands.

Now, just as the Duke announced news of his retirement, another storm is on the way, which may be interpreted in a similar way by the villagers.

Author and journalist Matthew Baylis, who lived among the villagers, said the cyclone could indicate the Duke has reached a higher sacred status.

They told me that they see Philips living in a palace, surrounded by guards, and travelling in a car with darkened windows, as evidence of his taboo status, he told The Telegraph.

So they may well see his withdrawal from public duties as connected to that  having attained some higher rung of taboo, sacred status.

Equally, they might think he is preparing to come back to Tanna, in some form, spiritually or bodily.

The cult  known as the Prince Philip Movement  emerged in the 1950s but grew after Queen Elizabeth II, along with her husband Philip, visited the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu in 1974.

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

Islanders believed the Duke was the incarnation of the son of a volcano spirit who, according to island legend, travelled abroad to marry a powerful woman.

Tropical cyclone Donna may intensify further by the time it reaches the region this weekend.

It is going to be severe, category three at least and maybe category four, but only time will tell, Neville Koop, from the Nadraki Weather Service, told ABC.
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Obsession with female politicians appearance in the media is putting young women off going into politics, a study has revealed, prompting campaigners to call for an end to sexism in political media coverage.

Nearly half (41 per cent) of girls aged between nine and 16 think there has been a rise in media sexism in the last six months, while more than a third (39 per cent) said this has knocked their confidence, according to the new research by Girlguiding.

The charity has launched a campaign encouraging all young women to vote, but has voiced concern that the continual objectification of female politicians and media focus on what politicians look like is side-lining girls from the political conversation.

It cited the infamous Legs-it headline  referring to a meeting between Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon - and constant editorial features detailing politicians outfits as clear examples of sexist attitudes.

Girlguiding, which is the UKs leading charity for girls and women, believes the fact that the country is going into an election just two years later with both a female prime minister and first minister in Scotland was a fantastic move in the right direction, but warned girls were nonetheless feeling excluded by outdated and sexist treatment of female politicians in the press.

A youth panel member of the charity from Swansea, Hannah Stubbs, 20, said: Media sexism worries me. I would like to see all politicians treated in the same way in the media and for the focus to be on their policies and views instead of what theyre wearing that day.

The media definitely have a responsibility to engage young women in voting. They can have a big impact on the way people vote and with great power comes great responsibility.

Emma Taggart, 16, a Girlguiding youth panel member from Northern Ireland, meanwhile said: Sexist depictions of female politicians in the media put me off engaging with politics. Focusing on a politicians appearance instead of want she has to say sends the message that even women in the most powerful roles in the country arent taken seriously.

The media have a responsibility to engage us in the conversation and ensure our voices are heard.

Responding to the findings, Sophie Walker, leader of the Women's Equality Party, told The Independent: "As a mother of two daughters, it really upsets me that media sexism is having a direct impact on the self-confidence of girls and young women.

The Women's Equality Party has made fair treatment of women in the media a core objective because we understand that the press has enormous power to shape the culture we live in.

We need it to change, to allow girls and young women to thrive. I am standing for election on 8 June so that women are no longer undermined when we stand up to be part of our political system.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty

In light of the survey results, Girlguiding has called for the media to stop talking about politicians appearances and focus on their opinions not pins, and to include young women in debates and ensure their views are represented in political coverage.

It also urged the press to recognise the diversity of young womens voices including those who are too young to vote now, but will still be affected by the decisions of the next government.

The findings come after the charitys Girls Attitudes Survey 2016 revealed girls as young as seven felt pressure to look perfect, with almost a quarter of seven to 10 year old girls (23 per cent) feeling they needed to be perfect and over half (52 per cent) feeling they were not good enough.
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Presiding over the post-war Labour government, Clement Attlee oversaw some of the most significant reforms of the 20th century, introducing the National Health Service, nationalising one fifth of the British economy, and granting independence to India.

Now his granddaughter Jo Roundell Greene is hoping to follow in his footsteps and enter parliament - except she is running for the Liberal Democrats in Yeovil.

Currently the deputy leader of South Somerset District Council, she wil stand for the seat after their previous parliamentary spokeswoman, Daisy Benson, withdrew citing personal reasons.

"Knocking on doors I am struck by the number of people who have told me how badly they believe our area has been served in parliament since the last election," she told the Somerset Live wesbsite.

She added: Our NHS is in a dire state despite the excellent work of its dedicated staff, while schools in our area face 3m cuts by 2019 because of the Conservatives. If elected I will fight to make sure we export helicopters from Yeovil, not jobs."

Named amongst the best councillors in the country at the Local Government Awards in 2016, Ms Roundell Greene is a wife, mother and grandmother and has worked in a chicken factory, as a bricklayer, and as a cleaner.

As the granddaughter of Clement Attlee however, she is following in the footsteps of one of the 20th Century's most important politicians.

After working as a social worker in London's East End, he joined the Labour Party before going to serve in the army in the First World War.

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

On his return he became the MP for Stepney in 1922, serving as a junior minister before going on to lead the party in 1935.

During World War Two, Attlee was a highly successful deputy prime minister in Churchill's coalition government.

Then in 1945, when Labour swept to power in a landslide election victory, he became prime minister, overseeing the creation of the National Health Service and the nationalisation of coal mining and the steel industry.

He played a crucial role in supporting Aneurin Bevin's Cold War diplomacy, and in accelerating independence for India, a cause which he had supported for many years.

After Labour's defeat in the general election of 1951, he struggled to control infighting within the party and he resigned four years later, accepting a peerage at the same time.

He died on 8 October 1967.
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Jean Claude Juncker has taken a swipe at London by stating that English is losing importance amid an ongoing Brexit row with Theresa May.

The European Commission President made the comments as he prepared to give a speech, which he said would be better given in French instead.

He said: Slowly but surely, English is losing importance.

It is the latest blow in an intensifying war of words between the EU and the UK, with Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon saying on Friday morning that Brexit talks would be easier if Commission officials kept their views to themselves.

The row first burst into the open when Ms May sensationally accused EU officials and politicians of trying to swing the UK election, after details of a private meeting she had with Mr Juncker were leaked to the German press.

Discussing the furore, Sir Michael said: It would certainly be easier if Commission officials kept their views to themselves and not further complicate what is already going to be a tough negotiation.

Ms May said on Wednesday that figures in the EU tried to influence the result of Britains election by leaking the content of discussions to the media, including claims that Mr Juncker believed Ms May to be deluding herself over Brexit.

She said the leaks to the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper were malicious, after the resulting stories gave her British political rivals ammunition in the ongoing election campaign.

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 paper claimed Mr Juncker had dismissed her plan to reach a deal on citizens rights by June as failing to appreciate the complexity of the matter  he reportedly took out copies of the EUs Canada trade deal and Croatias EU entry deal to demonstrate how difficult a deal would be.

Afterwards, he is said to have called German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to tell her that Ms May lives in another galaxy and is deluding herself over Brexit.

The Prime Minister was said to be furious at the leaks, but her unexpectedly ferocious intervention on Wednesday saw her accused of trying to pick a fight with foreign leaders to boost her election campaign and even acting like Donald Trump.

 Theresa May's full statement marking the dissolution of Parliament

On Thursday European Council President Donald Tusk made an attempt to lower tensions by calling for all parties to act with respect.

He said Brexit talks [are] difficult enough. If emotions get out of hand, theyll become impossible. Discretion, moderation and mutual respect needed.

At stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the Channel.
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Labour's Andy Burnham has won the election for the newly created Mayor of Greater Manchester role.

Mr Burnham, the former MP for Leigh, won a majority of votes in the first round of counting with 63 per cent of the vote.

The newly elected Mayor said: You have given me a big job to do and a big job with which to do it. I will give it my all and I won't let you down. All I can saw is wow, 63 per cent of the vote  pretty good."

Recommended Labour loses midlands council stronghold to Tories in blow for Corbyn

Mr Burnham said Britain's political system had been too London-centric for too long and that there was a crisis in politics.

He continued: Greater Manchester is going to take control, we are going to change politics and make it work better for people. We will give power and purpose to those people and places that Westminster has left behind. We will get the voice of the North heard more clearly than ever before.

Labour won 63.4 per cent of the vote, the Conservatives on 22.7 per cent of the vote, the Lib Dems won 6.1 per cent o the vote, and the Greens 1.9 per cent of the vote.

There was much amusement at the election count after two returning officers accidentally described Mr Burnham as the candidate for "the Labour and Conservative Party" rather than the "Labour and Co-operative Party".

The victory was announced an hour after that of Steve Rotheram, who was confirmed as Labour's Mayor of Liverpool City Region by a large majority.

Reaching to Mr Burnham's victory, the shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said: "He won in virtually every element of that massive constituency by significant majorities so it is a fantastic result for him. If you remember Theresa May targeted the North-west  but both here and in Liverpool the Labour vote has held up very well."

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Jeremy Corbyn has suffered a major blow after Labour lost control of Derbyshire County Council.

The Conservatives swept to victory in the seat overturning a pre-election Labour majority of 21 seats in the heart of England.

Rubbing salt in the Labour leader's wounds, the former head of the party's group on the council directly blamed Mr Corbyn for the devastating loss.

Recommended John McDonnell apologises to Labour councillors who lost their seats

Brexit is thought to have played a key role, with all areas of the county having voted to leave the EU in last year's referendum.

On a substantial swing, the Tories stole 19 seats off Mr Corbyn's party, ending up with an overall majority of ten on the upper tier authority.

Derbyshire's Labour group leader Dave Wilcox told the BBC that genuine party "supporters said we are not voting for you while you have Jeremy Corbyn as leader".

The leader's allies had sought to play down Labour's broader loses earlier in the day, with Mr McDonnell pointing to limited success in Wales and elsewhere as positive signs.

 Dianne Abbott contradicts herself on Labour net losses on local elections

He nonetheless said: "My message to the party is Im sorry for those Labour councillors who have lost their seats because theyve worked so hard."

But shortly before 3pm, Labour had lost five councils and 275 seats, while Theresa May's Tories gained 400 seats and took control of 24 councils - highly unusual for a party that has held the keys to Downing Street for seven years.
Foreign Financial Support to the National Assembly of Armenia

Union of Informed Citizens continues shedding light on the series of foreign grants received by Armenias state authorities. Today we will touch upon the grants received by the National Assembly of Armenia in 2006-2016. During those years the National Assembly has received about 955 million AMD worth of material assistance from various countries. In particular, in 2006-2007, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) provided computer network servers, monitors and other computer equipment worth about 4 million AMD, as well as previously used office furniture. In 2008, the National Assembly received 886 000 AMD worth of computers, printers and office equipment (previously used) from the United Nations Development Program. In 2009, computer equipment worth about 2.4 million AMD was allocated to the National Assembly by the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ). In 2010 the OSCE Office in Yerevan provided literature worth of 115 000 AMD to the National Assembly. During 2011, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) provided 622 million AMD worth of equipment to the National Assembly: specifically, about 247 million AMD worth of conference voting and simultaneous interpretation systems, with related equipment. That same year, within the World Bank grant of Strengthening National Assemblys Capacity for Policy Formulation and Public Dialogue Project, 193.7 million worth of material assistance was allocated. In particular, broadcasting equipment  88.7 million, computers and printers  99.2 million and about 5.8 million AMD worth of literature for the Sitting Hall. Within the same program in 2013-2014, the National Assembly has received about 99 million AMD worth of office, hall furniture and literature from the World Bank office. In 2015, the USAID office in Yerevan provided 538 000 AMD worth of computer equipment and about 2 million worth of office furniture. The same year, the National Assembly received laptops from China worth about 30 million AMD. Thus, it appears that South Korea has provided the largest financial support to Armenias legislative body, closely followed by the World Bank, China and the United States. Tatevik Vardanyan, Union of Informed Citizens
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A Scottish Tory candidate has won her seat in local elections despite having called Nicola Sturgeon a drooling hag and "wee fish wife".

Kathleen Leslie was heavily criticised when it emerged she had sent a string of venomous tweets about the SNP leader and her supporters in the run up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

In a series of tweets she describe Ms Sturgeon as a drooling hag, a wee fishwife and a walking horror show in 2013 before the MSP became First Minister, the Scottish Sun reported.

The Scottish Conservatives said they had reminded her of her responsibilities and she had apologised while the SNP described her comments as spectacularly ill-judged and insulting.

But despite the controversy she triumphed in the Fife Council elections, winning Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy.

Her win was part of the Scottish Tory resurgence which has played out over the last few hours.

They are on track to make large gains in Scotlands 32 council areas, picking up seats from Paisley and Glasgow to Aberdeenshire.

A spokesman for Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: Its looking pretty good. But we are coming from an incredibly low base.

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 increases look huge but were coming from a time when the party was in the doldrums.

The election campaign in Scotland is being fought on very different lines to the rest of the UK.

Although the partys national unpopularity has an impact on votes in the country, the election campaign has been framed as a battle over whether Scots want a second referendum on independence.

Ms Sturgeon formally called for a new vote earlier this year, saying that the Brexit vote represented a material change in their circumstances within the union which are deemed to be worthy of triggering a new poll.

Labour has been caught in the middle of this with its Scottish branch at odds with Jeremy Corbyns team in London.

Mr Corbyn caused consternation in March when he said he was absolutely fine with a second referendum in direct contradiction to Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale who had previously ruled it out.

The party has lost overall control of Glasgow for the first time in 40 years after the SNP and Tories made major gains in the historically Labour city.

The SNP has had its eye on Scotlands largest city for quite some time after it voted for independence in 2014 and the party won all seven of its parliamentary seats in the 2015 general election.
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Theresa May looks set for a huge landslide in the general election next month.

Early results from the local polls show the Tories making huge gains at the expense of nearly every other party  wiping out Ukip and taking seats from both Labour and the Lib Dems.

Political analyst Lewis Baston suggested that the results were "extremely ominous" for Labour, which could suffer the worst defeat that any opposition party has ever had.

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

Elections expert John Curtice said that the results were coming in exactly in line with expectations and polling, which has suggested the Conservatives will win a huge landslide next month.

The pollster previously said the Labour Party's position in the polls had weakened in the past year and it could result in a 12-point swing in favour of the Tories.

He said he expected the broad picture to remain the same come the end of counting across the country on Friday evening.

Ukip voters in particular appeared to switch back to the Conservatives in a move that will boost Theresa May's confidence ahead of the vote she called to strengthen her grip on power over the UK.

But the party has also taken voters from Labour in a move that will worry the party ahead of the vote.

Labour's election co-ordinator Andrew Gwynne acknowledged there were "challenges" for the party as it struggled in some of its Welsh heartlands and failed to resist Tory advances in England.

He added that the Ukip vote had seemingly collapsed and transferred to the Conservatives, which was where Labour was being squeezed.

"There are challenges for the Labour Party around the country, I'm not going to hide from that," he said.

"But I think the one thing we've really got to look at here is how we now take forward the Labour campaign going into June 8 and the General Election."

But some Conservatives at least publicly cautioned being too excited about the results.

 Theresa May's full statement marking the dissolution of Parliament

Tory minister Brandon Lewis said Mrs May would "take the view that the results thus far are encouraging but there are still a lot of councils to declare".

"We can't assume that what happens in local elections will automatically be replicated in general elections," he told the BBC.

"There's a long way to go, there's a lot of work to do, we have got to work for every vote out there to make sure that we return Theresa May with a clear mandate on June 8."
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The Conservatives have won a landslide across the UK in the local elections. But Labour supporters are finding cause for optimism.

Jeremy Corbyn's party have managed to hold on to many seats in Wales  where the Conservatives had hoped to take every seat  as well as relatively weak results in the mayoral elections.

The Tories managed to win the West of England mayoral election, with Tim Bowles being elected to represent the region. But he did so by a much more narrow margin than expected  potentially signalling more support for Labour than realised.

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 Bowles achieved a total of 70,300 votes, while Labour's Lesley Mansell had 65,923  a difference of just 4,377.

Ms Mansell described the narrow loss as "incredible", considering six of the nine constituencies that make up the West of England region are Conservative.

Recommended Local election results suggest that May will win historic landslide

"This acts as a beacon of hope for the rest of the country," she said. "We have shown that people are crying out for alternatives to austerity.

"During the course of the campaign I have seen what a united Labour Party can achieve."

Ms Mansell urged voters to back Labour candidates in the General Election.

"We have some great candidates," she said, adding that she was now returning to work for the NHS. "I would like to wish them the best of luck in the campaign."

And the Labour party lost less badly than had been expected in Wales, a key area for the Conservatives' plan to take seats in next month's election.

Shadow Welsh secretary Christina Rees MP claimed Labour had "defied the pundits" to deliver some strong results across Wales.

She said: "Although there are still results coming in, it's clear from what we know so far that the predicted Tory advance in Wales has simply failed to materialise...

"It's obviously been a difficult night for Welsh Labour in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil, and it's always a blow to lose hard working Welsh Labour councillors."

Ms Rees pointed to Mr Scully's comments on the big picture for Wales and added: "Though many counts are still to take place, the clear message from tonight is large swathes of Wales rejecting the Tories and voting Welsh Labour to stop them from walking all over Wales".

Senior Tories have been publicly urging against being too confident after what is being interpreted as a strong night for the party. They are thought to be doing so in part to try and stop voters not turning out because they think it is a done deal.

Defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon insisted the Tories were not complacent about the General Election despite the "encouraging progress" in the local contests.

"The reason we are not crowing is there is nothing yet, really, to crow about.

"Only a quarter of the votes have been counted and the turnout is only half what you get in a general election," he told ITV's Good Morning Britain.

 Theresa May's full statement marking the dissolution of Parliament

"So it is far too early to predict - even from last night - what is going to happen by the end of today and it is five more weeks to the General Election."

Tory minister Brandon Lewis said Mrs May would "take the view that the results thus far are encouraging but there are still a lot of councils to declare".

"We can't assume that what happens in local elections will automatically be replicated in general elections," he told the BBC.

"There's a long way to go, there's a lot of work to do, we have got to work for every vote out there to make sure that we return Theresa May with a clear mandate on June 8."
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Welsh Labour has retained control of Cardiff County Council, fending off a serious challenge from the Tories and Liberal Democrats.

The Welsh capital has been a key battleground for the three major parties, with the Lib Dems hoping for a revival in the area that voted heavily for Remain at the European Union referendum last year.

Welsh elections expert professor Roger Scully said there had been a much smaller swing from Labour to Theresa Mays Conservatives in the region than in England.

Labours worst losses in Wales have been to independents in Wrexham, Merthyr and Blaenau Gwent, he said. But Labour held up well in Newport, Cardiff and Swansea.

However, as results filtered in throughout the early hours of Friday morning, it is clear Labour has suffered major loses in other regions.

Speaking on the BBCs Radio 4 Today programme, professor John Curtice, who is considered one of the countrys most respected pollsters, said it was perfectly clear it has been a pretty bad set of results for Jeremy Corbyns party.

After all, back in 2013, Labour didnt do that well, he added. We said they were getting the equivalent of no more than 30% of the vote. Well, actually, on average, Labours share of the vote is down in these overnight results. That is not the kind of performance that you would expect from a party on the brink of a general election victory.

Overall, in England and Wales so far, the Tories have gained five councils while Labour has lost three  all in Wales, its traditional heartland.

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

Andrew Gwynee, Labours campaign chief, said there are challenges for the party round the country. Im not going to hide from that, he told Sky News. The one thing we really need to look at here is how we take forward the Labour campaign going into the general election.

Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, added: Its never good to hear that we are losing seats.

But with expected triumphs for Labour in the elections of metro mayors in Manchester and Liverpool, Mr Corbyn could mitigate the scale of defeat by pointing to these victories.

Andy Burnham, the former Shadow Cabinet minister, and Steve Rotherham, an ally of the Labour leader, are widely expected to win the mayoral races in the regions respectively.
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Labour is licking its wounds after being stripped of more than 300 seats in local elections and losing control of Glasgow for the first time in 40 years.

Jeremy Corbyns allies admitted it had been a tough night, but despite the rout still pointed to results in Wales and elsewhere which they said showed there had been some positives.

The Conservatives made major gains mostly at the cost of Ukip, whose vote collapsed as the party almost failed to win a single seat.

Recommended The 19 best tweets from the British local elections

The Liberal Democrats also failed to make the kind of breakthrough they wanted, in order to show their staunch opposition to Brexit would gain them support in areas that voted Remain in the referendum.

At lunch time with many results still to come in, the Conservatives had won 11 more councils and picked up 515 new seats. Labour had lost control of seven councils and 341 seats.

Labours defeat in Glasgow follows the party losing all its MPs in the city at the 2015 general election, with the SNP sweeping the board. The last time it did not control the council was in 1980.

John McDonnell said the results were tough and apologised to his partys councillors who had lost their seats, but he then went on to blame unbalanced media coverage for Labours plight.

 John McDonnell expresses regret over local election losses

He said: My message to the party is Im sorry for those Labour councillors who have lost their seats because theyve worked so hard.

Mr McDonnell said Mr Corbyn had been an asset in some areas such as Cardiff, where he had campaigned and seen Labour hold onto control of the city council which was said to be under threat.

But he appeared to accept that in some cases the image that people have of Jeremy Corbyn at the moment was making it difficult for the party to win.

He added: Whats interesting is this is when we have a general election we have balance airtime in the broadcast media.

As a result of that people can hear more about our policies, more about our candidate and more about our leader.

Both Labour and the Tories shied away from claiming that the results pointed to a decisive result for Theresa May at June 8s general election.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon acknowledged that the Tories had made encouraging process but repeatedly refused to accept that the party had done well in the election.

The Conservatives won the West of Englands mayoral contest, but faced a close contest with Labour to win in the West Midlands.

Tory minister Brandon Lewis said Ms May would "take the view that the results thus far are encouraging but there are still a lot of councils to declare".

"We can't assume that what happens in local elections will automatically be replicated in general elections, he said.

While the Lib Dems managed to increase their vote share they lost 34 council seats  Lib Dem former business secretary Sir Vince Cable called the night neutral for his party.

Shortly after 5pm UKIP has lost 135 councillors and made just a single gain. It was wiped out in Lincolnshire, losing 13 seats, while all its nine representatives in Essex were defeated.

Former MEP and leadership contender Steven Woolfe said Ukip's influence was now at an end, while the partys erstwhile only MP Douglas Carswell said it was done.
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Jeremy Corbyns Labour is braced for heavy losses in local elections across England, Scotland and Wales as the party suffered a string of early defeats as counting got under way.

Just weeks before voters across Britain head to the polls to decide whether Theresa May or the Labour leader take the keys to Number 10, early indications suggested the party will be routed in council elections.

Professor John Curtice, one of the countrys top polling experts, said the results, so far, showed a significant swing to the Conservatives  currently averaging some seven points. He added the results were very much in line with expectations generated by recent opinion polls, offering a daunting glimpse of what awaits Labour at the general election.

With results still trickling in during the early hours of this morning, the party had already lost 58 council seats by 7am and was bracing itself for more later in the day. The Tories had gained 113 while the Liberal Democrats were down 13 seats. Ukip had lost 30.

In England and Wales, so far, the Tories have gained five councils while Labour has lost three  all of which, are in Wales.

Andrew Gwynne, Labours campaign chief, said there are challenges for the party around the country. Im not going to hide from that, he told Sky News. The one thing we really need to look at here is how we take forward the Labour campaign going into the general election.

Barry Gardiner, the shadow International Trade Secretary, added: Its never good to hear that we are losing seats.

In a dismal evening for the party Gillian Troughton, Labours candidate who lost to the Conservatives at the Copeland by-election earlier this year failed to retain her council seat in Howgate.

But with expected triumphs for Labour in the elections of metro mayors in Manchester and Liverpool, Mr Corbyn could mitigate the scale of defeat by pointing to these victories. Andy Burnham, the former Shadow Cabinet minister, and Steve Rotherham, an ally of the Labour leader, are widely expected to win the mayoral races in the regions respectively.

The Conservatives largely appeared to be benefiting extensively from a significant collapse in Ukips vote in England and Wales  a trend which would undoubtedly boost Ms Mays chances of strengthening her grip on power at the general election on 8 June. Lisa Duffy, a former contender for the right-wing partys leadership, conceded Ukip was aware that the results will be extremely challenging for us a political party.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses 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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

Were going through a new phase, she added. We got Brexit  or we certainly won the referendum, we're well on our way to Brexit now. With the general election being called so quickly, it's going to be a difficult night but it's one that we will grow from.

Despite expectations of a revival for the Liberal Democrats the early mood was subdued for party insiders. One of their key targets, Somerset, was retained by the Conservatives. But there was one cause for celebration: the partys former MP Tessa Munt, who lost her seat at the 2015 general election, won a seat on Somerset County Council.

Ms Munt told BBC Radio 4 that she believed the Lib Dems are in full-on bounce back and said there was a case for having the party forming some form of opposition.

Professor Curtice had previously told The Independent he believed the one big uncertainty for the local elections is the Lib Democrats and the extent of their revival. He added: Theyve had this incredibly varied performance in local government by-elections, sometimes doing very well and other times doing nothing at all, and how this will pan out in broader local elections is unclear. I think thats the biggest uncertainty  just how well they are going to do.

Of course, even if they do well in local elections they wont tell you theyll do particularly well in the general election because they, historically, have always done better in local elections than general elections.

During the early hours the Conservatives gained a majority in Warwickshire County Council  a region lost by the party in 2013. Previous analysis had suggested it could be a step too far for the party to win here. Cardiff, a key battleground between the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats at recent general elections, is yet to declare. The Lib Dems will be hoping for gains in the Welsh capital which voted heavily for Remain at the European Union referendum.

Elsewhere in Wales, Labour lost control of both Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil to independents, but retained Newport.

While the results on Friday will not be a direct read-across for the Westminster elections in five weeks time, they will provide a crucial indicator as to whether the Conservatives are gaining momentum across the regions of the UK  and whether the votes reflect the partys significant lead in the opinion polls, which have them on course to increase their majority in June.

The local elections on Thursday took place in 88 councils  England saw 2,370 seats contested in 27 county councils, six unitary authorities, one metropolitan authority and two mayoralties. All of the councils in Scotland and Wales were up for election. Results in Scotland are not due until 9am.
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A Conservative councillor has snatched a seat covering the poorest part of Scotland, as the Tories successful march on opposition turf continued.

John McIntyre was elected to a ward in Paisley, west of Glasgow, where Ferguslie Park has twice topped Scotlands deprivation list, reportedly the first ever Conservative win in the area.

The Tories were also reported to have won a seat in a Glasgow ward where life expectancy was once calculated to be lower than in Iraq.

Sam Gyimah, a Conservative minister in London, said: The key thing that is emerging, not just from the Scottish results, but in England and Wales, is under Theresa May, there are no 'no-go' areas for the Conservatives.

Every four years, statisticians rate almost 7,000 areas in Scotland by standards including income, employability and health.

Last August, they again rated Ferguslie Park as the least deprived, an estate which became known for drug use and crime in the 1990s.

Local leaders blamed huge cuts in local government funding from the Holyrood Parliament for the areas continued troubles.

Early results from Scotland suggested Ruth Davidsons Conservatives are on course to cement their status as the leading Unionist party across Scotland  taking seats from Scottish Labour.
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Ukip looks set to take a hammering at the general election after the party suffered a humiliating night and lost all but one of its seats in council elections in England, Scotland and Wales.

The party has so far lost 135 seats across the country, with counting still underway in a number of areas.

It gained one seat from Labour in Padiham and Burnley West but was defeated in areas, such as Essex and Lincolnshire, where it has traditionally had strongholds.

In Lincolnshire, where party leader Paul Nuttall is standing for election in the constituency of Boston and Skegness, Ukip lost all ten of its seats.

Professor Michael Thrasher, a polling expert, told Sky News that Ukips national vote share could drop to 3 per cent  down from 22 per cent during the same local elections in 2013.

The latest general election polls ahead of the 8 June vote suggest Ukip has the support of just 5 per cent of voters  down from the 13 per cent it received at the 2015 election.

Despite the losses, senior Ukip figures denied the results were a disaster for the party.

Ukips local government spokesman, Peter Reeve, said his party remained a very relevant, real voice.

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

Even if we dont win a single seat later on today, Ukip still has 300 councillors across the country and is still a very relevant, real voice in local politics, he told the BBC.

What is also true is we continue  and have done for many years  to control the national agenda and the government agenda. They didnt want to have a referendum on Brexit, Ukip forced that on them - they were terrified of us and they did it.

However, foreign affairs spokesperson Lisa Duffy admitted the results in Lincolnshire were very disappointing.

I wont use the word disaster, Ill use the word challenging, she told the BBC. We knew it was going to be a difficult night.

Many of the seats previously held by Ukip went to the Conservatives, suggesting Theresa May stands to benefit at the general election from the fall in Ukip support.

It was one of several causes for celebration for the Prime Minister during a night in which the Conservatives gained almost 500 seats while Labour lost more than 300, with some areas still to declare their results.
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A picture of a pigeons nest made entirely from used syringes has been shared by police in the Canadian city of Vancouver to highlight its drug crisis.

Shared on social media by Superintendent Michelle Davey, she said it had been found in a single room occupancy in the Downtown Eastside area of the city.

She described the image as reflecting the sad reality of the opioid crisis" in the city, alongside the hashtags "#fentanyl #frontline".

She also added #notstaged - a claim disputed by some social media users who have said it is a hoax.

Luc-Alain Giraldeau, a scientist at lUniversite du Quebec a Montreal, told the National Post newspaper that he was certain the image did not show a real pigeons' nest.

He said it contained too many eggs as pigeons usually only lay two at a time. He added that it lacks the thick coat of pigeon feces that the birds typically use to keep their eggs warm. Pigeon nests are always constructed on a flat surface, he said.

He added: This cannot be a pigeon nest."

Marion Chatelain, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Warsaw specialising in the urbanisation of wildlife, agreed.

To the best of my knowledge, feral pigeons do not use human wastes to build their nest, she wrote in an email to the National Post  adding that it is very peculiar to see more than two eggs in a nest.

Nathaniel Wheelwright, a veteran bird biologist at Maines Bowdoin College, told the newspaper: My first reaction was that it looks faked.

However he added: But then pigeons do build flimsy platform nests of thick twigs, and house wrens sometimes nest in bags of nails. So, it could be.

Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Show all 17 1 /17 Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa A man shows a pigeon to his friends as they look for a pigeon to buy from a shop in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa A pigeon, known as Kara Alaca Kirk Telli, with an approximate market value of 500 Turkish Lira ($132), bred by 23-year-old Ismail Ozbek, is pictured in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Ismail Ozbek, 23, poses for a photograph with one of his pigeons in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Auctioneer Kadir Sakizci (L), 28, conducts a sale at a pigeon auction in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa A poster announcing the "National Most Beautiful Pigeon Contest" hangs on a wall in a tea house where pigeon auctions take place in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa A pigeon, known as Sari Aynali, with an approximate market value of 500 Turkish Lira ($132), bred by 23-year-old Ismail Ozbek, is pictured in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Auctioneer Imam Dildas, 40, conducts a sale at a pigeon auction in Sanliurfa, Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa A man holds a pigeon during a pigeon auction in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa A pigeon, known as Siyah Kinifirli, with an approximate market value of 1000 Turkish Lira ($263), bred by 23-year-old Ismail Ozbek, is pictured in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Pigeons are seen in a cage before the start of a pigeon auction in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Vitamins and antibiotics for pigeons are seen on a stand for sale in a tea house where pigeon auctions take place in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Pigeons are seen in a coop in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Pigeons fly in the sky in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa A pigeon, known as Sari Alaca, with an approximate market value of 2500 Turkish Lira ($659), bred by 23-year-old Ismail Ozbek, is pictured in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Pigeons for sale are seen in a box during a pigeon auction in Sanliurfa Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa Pigeons roost on a wall on top of a building in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters Pigeon breeding in Sanliurfa A pigeon, known as Ispir, with an approximate market value of 1500 Turkish Lira ($395), bred by 23-year-old Ismail Ozbek, is pictured in Sanliurfa, Turkey Reuters

Regardless of the authenticity of the image, it has served to draw international attention to the city's problem with prescription opiod abuse.

In December nine people died from fentanyl overdoses across the city in one 24 hour period.

Asked for comment by The Independent, Vancouver Police spokesperson Randy Fincham said: "The photo is authentic, as it was taken by a VPD officer. There are lots of possibilities leading to the creation of the nest, before the police arrived, but Im not an ornithologist. The pigeons flew out the window when officers entered the vacant room."

He added: "The plethora of bird experts who have now chirped in on the topic are more than welcome to do so."

In a separate interview with VICE News, he said the point of tweeting the image was to share the prevalence of drug use down there, some of the challenges people who live in the area face, and the problems police face. And to provide insight into a world that very few people need to see and its a sad reflection of whats happening in the community down there.
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The young mother started getting advice early on from friends in the close-knit Somali immigrant community here. Don't let your children get the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella - it causes autism, they said.

Suaado Salah listened. And this spring, her 3-year-old boy and 18-month-old girl contracted measles in Minnesota's largest outbreak of the highly infectious and potentially deadly disease in nearly three decades. Her daughter, who had a rash, high fever and a cough, was taken to hospital for four nights and needed intravenous fluids and oxygen.

"I thought: 'I'm in America. I thought I'm in a safe place and my kids will never get sick in that disease,' " said Salah, 26, who has lived in Minnesota for more than a decade. Growing up in Somalia, she'd had measles as a child. A sister died of the disease at age 3.

Salah no longer believes that the MMR vaccine triggers autism, a discredited theory that spread rapidly through the local Somali community, fanned by meetings organised by anti-vaccine groups. The advocates repeatedly invited Andrew Wakefield, the founder of the modern anti-vaccine movement, to talk to worried parents.

Immunisation rates plummeted and, last month, the first cases of measles appeared. Soon, there was a full-blown outbreak, one of the starkest consequences of an intensifying anti-vaccine movement in the United States and around the world that has gained traction in part by targeting specific communities.

"It's remarkable to come in and talk to a population that's vulnerable and marginalised and who doesn't necessarily have the capacity for advocacy for themselves, and to take advantage of that," said Siman Nuurali, a Somali American clinician who coordinates the care of medically complex patients at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. "It's abhorrent."

Although extensive research has disproved any relationship between vaccines and autism, the fear has become entrenched in the community. "I don't know if we will be able to dig out on our own," Nuurali said.

Anti-vaccine advocates defend their position and their role, saying they merely provided information to parents.

"The Somalis had decided themselves that they were particularly concerned," Wakefield said last week. "I was responding to that."

He maintained that he bears no fault for what is now happening within the community: "I don't feel responsible at all."

MMR vaccination rates among U.S.-born children of Somali descent used to be higher than among other children in Minnesota. But the rates plummeted from 92 percent in 2004 to 42 percent in 2014, state health department data shows, well below the 92-94 percent threshold needed to protect a community against measles.

Wakefield, a British activist who now lives in Texas, visited Minneapolis at least three times in 2010 and 2011 to meet privately with Somali parents of autistic children, according to local anti-vaccine advocates. Wakefield's prominence stems from a 1998 study he authored, which claimed to show a link between the vaccine and autism. The study was later identified as fraudulent and was retracted by the medical journal that published it, and his medical licence was revoked.

The current outbreak was identified in early April. As of Thursday, there were 41 cases, all but two occurring in people who were not vaccinated, and all but one in children 10 and younger. Nearly all have been from the Somali American community in Hennepin County. A fourth of the patients have been hospitalised. Because of the dangerously low vaccination rates and the disease's extreme infectiousness, more cases are expected in the weeks ahead.

Measles, which remains endemic in many parts of the world, was eliminated in the United States at the start of this century. It reappeared several years ago as more people - many wealthier, more educated and white - began refusing to vaccinate their children or delaying those shots.

The ramifications already have been significant. A 2014-2015 measles outbreak infected 147 people in seven states and spread to Mexico and Canada. In California, high school students were sent home because of infected classmates. One patient who was unknowingly infectious visited a hospital and exposed dozens of pregnant women and babies, including those in the neonatal intensive care unit. Another adult patient was hospitalised and on a breathing machine for three weeks.

Federal guidelines typically recommend that children get the first vaccine dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second when they are 4 to 6 years old. The combination is 97 percent effective in preventing the viral disease, which can cause pneumonia, brain swelling, deafness and, in rare instances, death.

Minnesota's Somali community is the largest in the country. The roots of the outbreak there date to 2008, when parents raised concerns that their children were disproportionately affected by autism spectrum disorder. A limited survey by the state health department the following year found an unexpectedly high number of Somali children in a preschool autism program. But a University of Minnesota study found that Somali children were about as likely as white children to be identified with autism, although they were more likely to have intellectual disabilities.

Around that time, health-care providers began receiving reports of parents refusing the MMR vaccine.

As parents sought to learn more about the disorder, they came across websites of anti-vaccine groups. And activists from those groups started showing up at community health meetings and distributing pamphlets, recalled Lynn Bahta, a longtime state health department nurse who has worked with Somali nurses to counter MMR vaccine resistance within the community.

At one 2011 gathering featuring Wakefield, Bahta recalled, an armed guard barred her, other public health officials and reporters from attending.

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The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. 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The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. 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Fear of autism runs so deep in the Somali community that parents whose children have recently come down with measles insist that measles is preferable to risking autism. One father, who did not want his family identified to protect their privacy, sat helplessly by his daughter's bed at Children's Minnesota hospital last week as she struggled to breathe during coughing fits.

The 23-month-old was on an IV for fluids and had repeatedly pulled out the oxygen tube in her nose. Her older brother, almost 4, endured a milder bout. Neither had received the MMR vaccine.

The children now have antibodies to protect against measles, but they still need the vaccine to prevent mumps and rubella. Their father, who is 33 and studying mechanical engineering while working as a mechanic, wants to wait. His worry: autism. A colleague has a son "who is mute."

"I would hold off until she's 3 . . . or until she fluently starts talking," he explained.

His wife no longer harbors doubts, however. As soon as both children are well, she said, "they are going to get the shot."

The pervasive mistrust was evident Sunday night during a meeting, sponsored by several anti-vaccine groups, that drew a mostly Somali crowd of 90 to a Somali-owned restaurant here. Patti Carroll, a member of the Vaccine Safety Council of Minnesota, described its goal as giving parents more information, including their right to refuse to vaccinate. People have been "bullied big time" by doctors and public health officials, she said.

The presentation by anti-vaccine activist Mark Blaxill drew cheers and applause. Blaxill, a Boston businessman whose adult daughter has autism, played down the threat of measles and played up local autism rates.

"When you hear people from the state public health department saying there is no risk, that [vaccines] are safe, this is the sort of thing that should cause you to be skeptical," Blaxill said.

Two pediatricians in the audience stepped up to a microphone to denounce the claims.

"I am very concerned, especially in the midst of a measles outbreak, to have folks come into a community impacted by this disease and start talking about links between MMR and autism," said Andrew Kiragu, interim chief of pediatrics at Hennepin Medical Center in Minneapolis. "This is a travesty."

He and the other doctors were interrupted by boos and yelling.

"For God's sake, I want to know if vaccines are safe," Sahra Osman shouted. She has a nearly adult son who received an autism diagnosis when he was 3. "My people are suffering! We're not ignorant. I read a lot. I know a lot. I educate myself. . . . You don't know what you are talking about."

While scores of studies from around the world have shown conclusively that vaccines do not cause autism, that is often not a satisfactory answer for Somali American parents. They say that if science can explain that vaccines don't cause autism, science should be able to say what does.

But researchers don't really know. A growing body of evidence suggests that brain differences associated with autism may be found early in infancy - well before children receive most vaccines. Other studies have found that alterations in brain-cell development related to autism may occur before birth. There are some genetic risk factors for autism, and advanced parental age has been associated with the condition.

Meanwhile, the ongoing spread of the anti-vaccine message is making it harder to control the burgeoning number of measles cases.

The groups continue advising parents, "in the middle of their crisis," on how to opt out of vaccines, said pediatric nurse practitioner Patsy Stinchfield, an infection-control expert leading the outbreak response at Children's Minnesota. That message is "exactly the opposite of what clinicians and public health officials are urging, which is to get vaccinated as soon as possible."

Staffers at her hospital have been working around the clock to vaccinate hundreds of people who may have been exposed; an MMR dose given within 72 hours of exposure can prevent measles.

When their two sick children are well, Suaado Salah and her husband, Tahlil Wehlie, plan to talk to friends and acquaintances to spread the word that the anti-vaccine groups are wrong and that all youngsters should get immunised.

"Because when the kids get sick, it's going to affect everybody. It's not going to affect only the family who have the sick kid," she said. "They make sick for everybody. That's when you wake up and say, 'Okay, what happened?' "

But she understands the apprehension that fed the outbreak. With a parent whose child has autism, she said, "It's something that you're looking for an answer for how it happened and what happened to your kid."

Copyright: Washington Post
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Cinco de Mayo is a cultural phenomenon in the United States. Its a time to celebrate Mexican culture and, for some, an opportunity to indulge in margaritas and a few cervezas.

But it is also a frequently misunderstood holiday. Here is what Cinco de Mayo, coming up on Thursday, 5 May, is all about.

What is Cinco de Mayo?

People often mistake Cinco de Mayo for a celebration of Mexican independence, which is not actually correct.

Rather, the holiday celebrates a failed French invasion after a fledgling Mexican state defaulted on debt payments to European governments.

In 1861, Mexico was suffering from financial ruin following years of internal strife. This was exploited by the French President Napoleon III, who thought it would be a good time to try and build an empire there. Mexico had defaulted on debts with Britain and Spain as well, but those two countries negotiated with the country and withdrew their navy.

The French invaded Mexico in late 1861 with well-armed forces and stormed Veracruz, forcing the Mexican government and its forces to retreat into northern Mexico.

Confident of further victories, French forces focused their attention on the city Puebla de Los Angeles. Anticipating the attack, Mexican President Benito Juarez brought together a group of 2,000 men to fight back, many of who were indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry.

When the French finally attacked, on 5 May 1862, the battle lasted from daybreak to early evening. The French ended up retreating after losing almost 500 soldiers, while the Mexicans lost fewer than 100.

Was the battle significant?

Strategically, not really. The battle represented more of a symbolic victory for the Mexican forces and added to the resistance. French forces didnt leave until 1867, after years of fighting.

Mexicans were helped in part by the end of the Civil War, when the US was able to send its own troops to help out its besieged neighbour.

'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Show all 17 1 /17 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Dia de los Muertos is a festival to remember friends and family members who have died and is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Famers harvest cempasuchilt and velvet flowers to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico. The flowers will be sold at the 'Market of the flower EPA

Does all of Mexico celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

People in Puebla celebrate, as thats where the unlikely victory occurred, but the festivities arent nationwide. Cinco de Mayo isnt a federal holiday so the day is just like any other day for most people in Mexico.

When does Mexico celebrate its independence?

Mexico celebrates its independence on 16 September. On that day in 1810, Mexican revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla made a famous call to arms for his fellow men and women to resist Spanish colonial government.

Why is it celebrated in the United States?

The holiday is widely seen as a celebration of Mexican cultural heritage for Americas growing Hispanic population.

Latino activists raised awareness for the holiday in the 1960s. In large part, those early holidays in the US were a forum to celebrate the fact that a group of indigenous people were able to successfully hold back French forces.

The holiday has taken off in the US since then and people today celebrate with parades, parties, mariachi music, and traditional Mexican foods.
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A former Fox News radio correspondent is suing the network and its parent company over claims she was fired just 24 hours after contacting a hotline set up to encourage employee complaints.

Jessica Golloher, a reporter based in Israel, claims that within 24 hours of sending an email to the firms independent investigator, she was without any prior warning, fired.

The legal action, the latest in a string of allegations levelled at the Rupert Murdoch-owned media giant, has been dismissed as without merit by 21st Century Fox.

The lawsuit claims the action against her can only be described as a blatant act of retaliation and goes on to accuse company executives of subjecting her to countless sexist comments.

Ms Golloher is being represented by the same New York-based lawyer working on behalf of 19 other claimants alleging gender and race discrimination at the right-wing news network over a period stretching back more than eight years.

The lawsuit claims the experienced foreign correspondent, who had spent time covering Russia and the former Soviet bloc, was degraded and humiliated when, while covering the Sochi Winter Olympics, she was forced to work as an assistant to a colleague who did not speak Russian and was unfamiliar with the country.

The 25-page complaint also alleges that she was prevented from carrying out on the ground reporting in Afghanistan as it was too dangerous. It claims Fox TV subsequently sent a male reporter to cover the exact story that she had pitched.

The complaint suggests the decision to fire the radio reporter, four-months before her contract was due to expire in August, was made knowing that Ms Golloher had previously made internal complaints about gender discrimination.

The complaint continues: While Fox may claim that the decision to terminate Ms Golloher was made before she sent the email on April 17, 2017, any such defence would be preposterous given that Ms Golloher had previously complained about discriminatory treatment and she was provided no notice or warning whatsoever regarding any potential termination.

Simply put, any purported desire on the part of Fox to clean up its culture and actually encourage employees to come forward with complaints about discrimination in the workplace is nothing more than a move to salvage its reputation.

A source close to proceedings at 21st Century Fox told The Independent Ms Golloher's staff position was eliminated due to broader budget cuts at Fox News Radio.

The allegation that she was somehow the subject of retaliation for reporting her claim to 21st Century Fox is entirely false, not only did she not report a claim to 21st Century Fox, but she declined the opportunity to talk to outside counsel Paul Weiss, they added.

The company said in an earlier statement that Ms Gollohers claims were without merit.

Her allegations of discrimination and retaliation are baseless. We will vigorously defend the matter.

21st Century Fox has taken prompt and decisive action to address allegations of sexual harassment and workplace issues at Fox News.

But Douglas Wigdor, the lawyer representing Ms Golloher, told The Independent it was time for Fox to accept responsibility and create real change so that men and women can go to work without fear of being discriminated, harassed and retaliated.

The fresh legal action comes as pressure grows on Ofcom to reject a bid by 21st Century Fox to buy the remaining 61 per cent of shares in British broadcaster Sky.

Ofcom has been conducting a review into whether the company is "fit and proper" to launch a full takeover of Sky, with its report due to be published on 20 June.

Mr Wigdor is due to meet with the UK media regulator on 11 June to discuss his clients allegations.

I am pleased that Ofcom has invited me to appear in London next week on behalf of our 20 clients and look forward to sharing the information that I have come to learn about 21st Century Fox through the dedicated men and women that I am privileged to represent," he said.

Fox News has faced a torrid few months amid swirling claims of harassment levelled at senior executives.

 Bill O'Reilly speaks out after sacking from Fox News: 'The truth will come out'

Last summer, the firms chief executive, Roger Ailes, lost his job over sexual harassment allegations.

The right-wing network also confirmed it was letting go of high-profile anchor Bill OReilly following a review of accusations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour levelled against him.

A cross-party group of MPs and former Cabinet ministers met with Ofcom executives this week to voice their opposition to the takeover attempt.
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Wind and thunderstorms had delayed the Hindenburgs arrival in New Jersey from Germany on 6 May 1937. The father of eight-year-old Werner Doehner headed to his cabin after using his movie camera to shoot some scenes of Lakehurst Naval Air Station from the airships dining room.

We didnt see him again, recalled Doehner, now 88 and the only person left of the 62 passengers and crew who survived the fire that killed his father, sister and 34 other souls 80 years ago on Saturday.

Doehner and his parents, older brother and sister were returning from a vacation in Germany and planned to travel on the 804-foot-long Hindenburg to Lakehurst, then fly to Newark and board a train in nearby New York City to take them home to Mexico City, where Doehners father was a pharmaceutical executive.

The kids would have preferred the decks and public rooms of an ocean liner because space was tight on the airship, Doehner said in a rare telephone interview this week with The Associated Press from his home in Parachute, Colorado.

Their mother brought games to keep the children busy. They toured the control car and the catwalks inside the hydrogen-filled Hindenburg. They could see an ice field as they crossed the Atlantic Ocean, he remembered.

As the Hindenburg arrived at its destination, flames began to flicker on top of the ship.

Hydrogen, exposed to air, fuelled an inferno. The front section of the Hindenburg pitched up and the back section pitched down.

Suddenly the air was on fire, Doehner said.

We were close to a window, and my mother took my brother and threw him out. She grabbed me and fell back and then threw me out, he said.

She tried to get my sister, but she was too heavy, and my mother decided to get out by the time the zeppelin was nearly on the ground.

His mother had broken her hip.

I remember lying on the ground, and my brother told me to get up and to get out of there. Their mother joined them and asked a steward to get her daughter, whom he carried out of the burning wreckage.

A bus took the survivors to an infirmary, where, Doehner said, a nurse gave him a needle to burst his blisters.

From there, the family was taken to Point Pleasant Hospital. Doehner had burns to his face, both hands and down his right leg from the knee. His mother had burns to her face, both legs and both hands. His brother had several burns on his face and right hand.

His sister died early in the morning.

He would remain in the hospital for three months before going to a hospital in New York City in August for skin grafts. He was discharged in January, and the boy, a German speaker, had learned some English.

The family returned to Mexico City, where funerals were held for Doehners father and sister, who were among the 35 fatalities of the 97 passengers and crew aboard the airship. A worker on the ground also died.

The US Commerce Department determined the accident was caused by a leak of the hydrogen that kept the airship aloft. It mixed with air, causing a fire. The theory that a brush discharge ignited such mixture appears most probable, the departments report said.

Eight decades later, Doehner is the only one left to remember what it was like on the Hindenburg that night. A ceremony commemorating the disaster will take place at the crash site on Saturday evening.

Only two others who ever flew on the airship are alive, said Carl Jablonski, president of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society. But they werent on the last flight.

Interest in the disaster remains strong as ever, Jablonski said.

Newly uncovered footage emerges of Hindenburg airship Show all 6 1 /6 Newly uncovered footage emerges of Hindenburg airship Newly uncovered footage emerges of Hindenburg airship hberg1.jpg Public Domain Newly uncovered footage emerges of Hindenburg airship hberg2.jpg Public Domain Newly uncovered footage emerges of Hindenburg airship hberg3.jpg Public Domain Newly uncovered footage emerges of Hindenburg airship hberg4.jpg AP Newly uncovered footage emerges of Hindenburg airship hberg5.jpg Public Domain Newly uncovered footage emerges of Hindenburg airship hberg6.jpg AP

The internet and social media has exposed and attracted the interest of a younger generation, he said.

The Hindenburg, Doehner said, is something you dont forget.

 Associated Press
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A man purporting to be a murder suspect has confessed to killing his girlfriend on Reddit.

Police in Canada say they are "evaluating" the post by a user claiming to be Ontario man Ager Hasan who is wanted in connection with the stabbing of Melinda Vasilije last week.

The 24-year-old lead suspect is believed to have fled to the United States, where police are hunting him.

Police believe Mr Hasan is responsible for Ms Vasilijes death.

The 22-year-old was found dead in an apartment she shared with a friend in Kitchener, Ontario at around 3am on 28 April, after police responded to an emergency call.

She died from multiple stab wounds inflicted in a targeted attack, police said.

The post on Reddit, titled 'Wanted for Kitchener murder my side', included photographs of the couple together and screenshots of what appeared to be their last text messages.

The conversation ended with the man claiming to be Mr Hasan arriving at Ms Vasilije's door and asking her to buzz me up on the night of the murder.

According to the post, Mr Hasan and Ms Vasilije had split after an argument a few weeks before she was killed. On the night she died, they made up after they cuddled, kissed and talked about everything," the post claimed.

But as he was preparing to leave, the post claims Ms Vasilije asked Mr Hasan if he had been with other women during the break in their relationship.

When he admitted he had she flew into a rage, which culminated in her grabbing a knife.

The purported Mr Hasan said he then stabbed her multiple times in self-defence.

The fact is no one is more destroyed than I am. She was more than a girlfriend, a soon to be fiance [sic], she was my everything. What happened that night was nothing but tragic, read the post, which has since been removed and the user (Redasblue101) suspended.

An exerpt from the Reddit post purpoting to be by Ager Hasan (Screenshot)

A second excerpt from the Reddit post purporting to be by Ager Hasan (Screenshot)

According to police Mr Hasan fled to the US shortly after the murder, where he was last seen on 28 April at around 10am allegedly stealing a licence plate from a vehicle in a Walmart parking lot in Erie County, Pennsylvania and putting it on the black 2016 Honda HR-V he was driving with Ontario plate BPKT509.

In addition to second-degree murder, Mr Hasan is wanted on three counts of 'breach of recognisance', Waterloo Regional Police Inspector Mike Haffner told Global News.

The breaches of recognisance refer to a 'domestic-related incident' on 3 April, he said, when Mr Hasan was arrested for two counts of assault during a break-and-enter.

In the post on Reddit, the user appeared to refer to this incident, explaining how: Melinda and I got into an argument via text and our relationship ended. I went to her apartment that day, to try and talk.

Upon arrival I was confronted by Annas brother and her boyfriend. A physical altercation [took] place and the police were involved."

Anna is believed to be Ms Vasilije's flatmate.

As a result of the incident, Mr Hasan was restricted from Ms Vasilije's town of Kitchener and barred from contacting her, according to police.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

But on the night she died Mr Hasan is believed to have broken the order by driving to Ms Vasilije's house.

If the Reddit post is actually by Mr Hasan, he says he went to repair the relationship but things turned sour when he admitted to having "done things" with other "girls".

The post said: She started freaking out. Wouldn't say a word and just kept slapping me with tears in her eyes. Slaps turned into hits. I told her I was sorry but if she didn't stop I'd do something back. She didn't stop. I then stupidly pushed her, harder than I expected. She fell against the sink.

Almost out no where she grabs a knife by the sink. Initially I thought was just going to hold it to try and tell me to leave. She doesn't. She comes at me in full force, aiming towards my face, the Reddit post reads. I tell her to stop. She doesn't, I tried grabbing the knife but ended up cutting my hands. After a few cuts I lost it. I freaked out, I was scared and in a state of shock. Never in a hundred years did I think she would use a knife against me. Out of shock and fear I grab one. I hit her with it, almost blindly. A few times. I didn't know what happened. I was confused, shocked and scared.

The post claims that Mr Hasan intends to kill himself or turn himself in but just wanted to get away for a few days before".

Waterloo Regional Police said in a statement they are aware of the Reddit post and it is currently being evaluated by investigators.

That said, information like this is potential evidence and, as such, needs to be authenticated and verified, spokeswoman Cherri Greeno told Global News.

We dont want to jeopardise that process and cannot comment any further on evidence. We would continue to encourage Mr Hasan to turn himself in to US authorities.
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Given the spotlight focused on Russia during the American presidential campaign and Donald Trumps warm words as candidate for President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin anticipated a starring role as foreign policy partner No. 1 under the Trump administration.

Instead, while Mr Trump has been feting every Theresa, Justin and Abdel-Fattah at the White House or at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, including a high-profile dinner with President Xi Jinping of China, Mr Putin has had to content himself with three measly telephone calls since the inauguration.

They feel slighted, Vladimir Frolov, a prominent foreign policy analyst and columnist, said of the Russian leadership.

First, it looks bad at home. Mr Putin, after all, sold Russian interventions in Ukraine and especially Syria as proof that Moscow was back on the global stage as the indispensable equal to the United States in world affairs, just as in the Soviet days.

Second, it has left the Kremlin perplexed as to how it can move forward in its relations with Washington, especially as Russia slouches toward a presidential election campaign in March 2018, although Mr Putin has not yet officially declared his candidacy for a fourth term.

Worse, instead of heralding a new chapter in relations, Washington seems to be piling on the demands. Even anticipated friends like Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state awarded a medal by Mr Putin when he was head of Exxon Mobil, have proved disappointing.

Mr Tillerson showed up in Moscow for his first trip as secretary of state last month, only to start resurrecting positions that Moscow thought had been laid to rest with the Obama administration.

Mr Tillerson endorsed the idea that President Bashar Assad of Syria, Russias main friend in the Middle East, had to go, for example. The Trump administration has also made clear it wants Russia out of Ukraine and an end to what it calls violations of a key missile treaty, and even dredged up Afghanistan again as an issue.

Asked about Russia in an appearance on Fox News on Sunday, the national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, said he thought Mr Putin was not serving Russias best interests. We need changes in words and the nature of the relationship, he said, but what we really need to see is change in behavior.

Aleksei Pushkov, a prominent voice in foreign affairs in the Federation Council, tweeted in response that McMasters remarks sounded like the Obama administration. Counterproductive approach, he wrote.

The chain of similar statements from Washington has pretty much curdled the idea that there will be a grand bargain on global issues with Washington.

Furthermore, according to some analysts, while Russia is eager for improved relations, the Trump administration has not exactly made clear what reward Russia might get for executing a major, across-the-board reversal in its foreign policy.

It has not detailed the definition in terms of what an improved relationship would be, in other words what is the bag of goodies in exchange for a dramatic U-turn in their foreign policy, Frolov said.

He added, The Russians are basically scratching their heads and asking, What are we going to get from this?'

In the third Trump-Putin phone call, on Tuesday night, the two presidents agreed to coordinate more closely on Syria and Korea, and possibly to meet on the sidelines of the G-20 summit meeting in Hamburg, Germany, in early July.

The standard explanation in Russian circles for thecold shoulder from Trump is that U.S. foreign policy mandarins will not let Trump be Trump when it comes to Russia.

Trump rejected the idea of holding a separate meeting early due to fear of hysteria by his enemies in the USA, Pushkov wrote on Twitter after the latest telephone call.

Naturally, the idea that Trump and Putin are equals has not died entirely either. The third contact between the two presidents has confirmed that the Russian-American dialogue is not at a standstill, that both sides are interested in its development, and that it can proceed only on an equal footing, Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the Federation Council, told Russian reporters on Wednesday, according to RIA Novosti, the state-operated news agency.

Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, is expected to hold talks with Tillerson on the sidelines of an Arctic conference in Alaska next week, talks that the Russians are hoping might bring some clarity.

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

There are things the Russians want, like the withdrawal of the U.S. missile defense system in Romania and Poland, but nothing so specific has been broached. Trumps effusive praise of the Russian leader while running for president has slowly faded as other issues have come to the fore, including multiple investigations into Russian meddling in last years presidential campaign and the stark differences over Syrias use of chemical weapons against its own people again in April.

On the other hand, Frolov noted, the Kremlin appreciates that the Trump administration has been largely silent on Russian domestic issues like violence against opposition leaders, arrests of political protesters and the persecution and torture of homosexuals in Chechnya.

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, was not so nice in her joint news conference with Putin on Tuesday, questioning the prosecution of civil society groups, homosexuals and religious sects while pooh-poohing Putins stance that the change of government in neighboring Ukraine had been undemocratic.

The more discreet U.S. approach indicates that Washington wants to keep channels open, Frolov said, so the Kremlin will most likely welcome a one-by-one approach to foreign policy issues rather than a grand bargain.

Russia is looking for an agreement in Syria in particular, because Putin wants to avoid any violent surprises from there once the Russian presidential campaign begins in earnest at the end of 2017.

Both sides are aware of the dangers of letting any confrontations between them overheat. There remains the risk of a collision in Syria, noted Dmitry V. Trenin, the head of the Carnegie Moscow Center, but there is also room for a deal on a diplomatic solution there.

Putin repeated at news conferences two days running that the United States would be instrumental in solving the Syria problem, noting on Wednesday that Trump had endorsed the idea of safety zones that Russia began formally pushing as part of a new round of Syrian peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday. Trump dispatched a high-level U.S. diplomat to the talks.

Optimists in Moscow and Washington hope that the U.S.-Russian relationship wouldnt decline any further, Trenin wrote in a piece on the Carnegie website.

It is premature to expect outright cooperation, he and others said, predicting that relations might remain where they are until the terms of engagement are hammered out. That might take a meeting between the two presidents in Hamburg, they noted, assuming that Trump finally stops shunning Putin there.

 New York Times
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A group of students at a US university are facing charges after an alleged plot to sneak into the school and steal a copy of an upcoming exam was foiled.

The plan had been for one of the University of Kentucky students to crawl through an air duct they determined would lead into their instructor's office in the wee hours of the morning, The New York Times reports.

Like a scene from a spy film, the student would then lower himself from the ceiling, and with the help of a peer, steal a copy of a final exam for a statistics class.

They might have gotten away with it had the class instructor not been working late that night, the newspaper reports.

The instructor, John P Cain, had gone out for a midnight meal and returned to his office just in time to catch the students in action, a university spokesman said.

The students plan unravelled at around 2am on Wednesday at the universitys Lexington, Kentucky campus, Jay Blanton said.

One of the pupils, identified as Henry Lynch II, had been able to make his way through the duct to the third-floor office of the instructor, where he then opened the door to let another student in.

Mr Blanton said its not clear how long Mr Lynch, a 21-year-old junior studying biosystems engineering, and his peer were in the office, but when Professor Cain returned from his meal break, the pair had blocked the door.

When the instructor called out that he was going to call the police, the students rushed out of the office and made a run for it down the hall, Mr Blanton said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. 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Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. 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Shortly after police arrived, Mr Lynch returned to the school grounds to confess, fearing that Mr Cain would be able to identify him as one of his students.

Both Mr Lynch and his accomplice, Troy Kiphuth, a 21-year-old pupil studying agricultural economics, were charged with felony burglary.

Depending on the state and circumstances, a felony burglary conviction in the US can result in 20 years or more in prison, although a misdemeanour burglary charge is more likely to result in a sentence of up to a year in jail.

Mr Lynch also confessed to police that while he did not find the exam this time around, he had successfully stolen another exam from Mr Cains office earlier in the semester by sneaking through the same duct, but did not share the answers with other students.

Mr Blanton did not say what consequences the students might face from the university, but he did say the schools Office of Student Conduct will be investigating.

He also highlighted the fact that while its an unusual set of circumstances ... It also underscores how late our faculty work.
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It was during the darkest days of Amanda Knox's life that Donald Trump had publicly supported her.

Long before he became president, Mr Trump had defended Ms Knox, donated to her cause and urged other Americans to boycott Italy until she was cleared in the murder of her roommate in Perugia.

But after Mr Trump entered the political arena  after Ms Knox was acquitted by Italy's highest court and freed, for good, from Capanne prison  he reportedly became very upset that she had not supported him in return.

In fact, in a series of columns leading up to the election, Ms Knox had criticised Mr Trump's policies and joined the opposition, pledging her support for Hillary Clinton.

Ms Knox believed she owed him a thank-you  but nothing more.

Do I owe him my loyalty? Ms Knox has asked.

In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, the 29-year-old wrote that she has been drowning in backlash from Trump supporters, who have sent her a clear message: Trump defended me in the past; how dare I not defend him now? Never mind that Trump doesnt share my values. If I wont endorse him, at the very least I should keep my 'left-wing lunacies' to myself, she wrote.

Her words come a decade after Ms Knox's roommate, Meredith Kercher, was killed in the Italian university town of Perugia.

Ms Knox was convicted of the crime and sentenced to 25 years in prison. In 2011, an appeals court acquitted Ms Knox and her Italian ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, and she returned to the United States. Two years later, though, the countrys supreme court reversed those acquittals and an appeals court opened a third trial. The pair was re-convicted and sentenced to serve more than 20 years in prison each  before Italy's highest court finally ended the long, high-profile saga by overturning the conviction in March 2015.

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

Through it all, Mr Trump had her back.

He reportedly asked his friend and neighbour, real estate investor George Guido Lombardi, to look into the case while travelling in Italy.

After the first appeals court tossed her murder conviction in 2011, Mr Trump told Greta Van Susteren that he had helped Ms Knox's family.

I felt very, very badly for that family and for her, he said at the time. I never thought she did it. I watched very intently, like everybody else, and there was just no way she was involved in that.

And so I did help them out. I feel very, very happy about it. In fact, I said boycott Italy until they release her. It was really an injustice. And I would get on that plane so fast if I were her and get out.

 Amanda Knox Netflix Trailer

Ms Van Susteren noted that it was also a terrible time for the family of Ms Kercher, Ms Knox's roommate.

The whole thing was a tragedy for the families and for everybody, Mr Trump replied, but Amanda did not do it.

He told CNN: I've been supporting the family and helping the family and I'll continue to help the family. They went through a lot; I just felt badly. For her to spend four years in a terrible jail is just outrageous.

You'll see her some place, he said. She's a great person, and what happened to her was absolutely outrageous.

Ms Knox wrote in her op-ed on Thursday that Mr Trump's supporters felt that I owed Trump my allegiance and were outraged at columns I wrote in which I criticised his policies and explained my reasons for endorsing Hillary Clinton.

One person commented: 'Im sorry I ever supported you. You have turned into a left wing lunatic. I see your experience in Italy has left you completely ungrateful to be an American.  Donald Trump stood by you, but now you turn around and indirectly attack him? You should be ashamed of yourself.'

In one such column, published in November, Knox said Trump's political platform concerned her and questioned why she should be obligated to endorse him.

She wrote at the time:

"In a time when my entire family had already tapped into their retirement savings and taken out second mortgages, we were grateful when any supporters, including Trump, donated to my defense and spoke out about my innocence. And like some of my supporters, Trump had his own ideas and his own way; he called for the U.S. to sanction Italy until they released me  a pronouncement which only amplified anti-American sentiment towards me in the courtroom. Even if Trump means well, his schemes tend to be blunt, selfish, and short-sighted, rather than nuanced, empathetic, and thought through. Back then, when the stakes were highest, my family and I couldnt afford to be so reckless. Now, at this crucial political juncture, the U.S. has decided to take the Trump chance, and I think our choice is just as blunt, selfish, and short-sighted as Trump himself."

Ms Knox wrote in her op-ed earlier this week that she has felt the backlash from her stance.

One person, she said, wrote that, while I neednt endorse Trump, my criticism of him wasnt 'nice.' 

Trump apparently wasn't pleased, either  because when it mattered most to Trump, Knox had gotten behind his rival: According to a recent New York Times profile, Trump's friend, Mr Lombardi, said the president is 'very upset' with the ingratitude of Ms. Knox, who supported Hillary Clinton.

 The Washington Post
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President Donald Trump's choice for Army secretary has withdrawn his nomination in the face of growing criticism over his remarks about Muslims, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.

Mark Green, a Republican state senator from Tennessee, said in a statement that false and misleading attacks against him had turned his nomination into a distraction.

Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterised and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain, Mr Green said, expressing deep regret over the decision.

Mr Green is the second Trump nominee for Army secretary to withdraw.

The move to step aside comes after a video began circulating of a remarks Mr Green gave in September to a tea party group in Chattanooga. Mr Green, who is opposed to gay marriage, said being transgender is a disease. He urged that a stand be taken against the indoctrination of Islam in public schools and also referred to the Muslim horde that invaded Constantinople hundreds of years ago.

Several Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, declared they would oppose Mr Green's nomination over what they said were intolerant and disturbing views. Democrat Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a combat veteran who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm during the Iraq war, said in a statement that Mr Green wasn't fit to lead the service.

Mr Schumer welcomed Green's move to step aside.

Mark Green's decision to withdraw his name from consideration as Army secretary is good news for all Americans, especially those who were personally vilified by his disparaging comments directed toward the LGBTQ community, Muslim community, Latino community and more, he said in a statement.

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

Also on Friday, a coalition of 41 organisations led by the Human Rights Campaign called on the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee to reject Mr Green's nomination. The letter to Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Jack Reed of Rhode Island said Mr Green's shameful rhetoric is at odds with the Army's core values and will affect recruiting.

Mr Green's withdrawal underscores the challenges Trump has faced in filling two of the service secretary posts. The president's first pick to be the Army's top civilian, Vincent Viola, dropped out in early February because of financial entanglements, and about three weeks later Philip Bilden, the Navy secretary nominee, withdrew for similar reasons.

The GOP-led Senate is scheduled to vote on the nomination of Heather Wilson to be Air Force secretary on Monday.

Mr Trump's decision to tap Mr Green in early April represented a stark contrast to President Barack Obama's choice of Eric Fanning for the post. Mr Fanning, who'd been a senior Pentagon official, was the first openly gay leader of one of the military branches.

Mr Green graduated from West Point in 1986 and served as an Army physician. Green is the CEO of Align MD, which provides leadership and staffing to emergency departments and hospitals, according to the White House. He served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment where he made three combat tours to the Middle East.

As a Tennessee state senator, Mr Green sponsored legislation last year that his critics have said would make it easier for businesses to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

During his remarks before the Chattanooga tea party group, Mr Green said the Obama administration has bred general officers who are afraid of their shadow. He also said that if you poll the psychiatrists, they're going to tell you that transgender is a disease.

Associated Press
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Donald Trump has signed a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the Government for the remainder of the fiscal year. It includes no money for a Mexican border wall, despite it being one of the biggest promises of his campaign.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, speaking to reporters at a regular media briefing, confirmed the president had signed the bill.

The bill cleared both houses of Congress this week an Mr Trump signed it behind closed doors at his home in central New Jersey, ahead of a midnight deadline for some government functions to begin shutting down. But other battles over government spending lie ahead. Among those are the border wall, as well as a promised military buildup.

Negotiators on the bill dropped Mr Trump's demands for a down payment on his oft-promised wall along the US-Mexico border, but his signature buys five months of funding stability while legislators argue over the wall and over Mr Trump's demands for a huge military buildup matched by cuts to popular domestic programmes and foreign aid accounts.

The House passed the measure Wednesday on a big bipartisan vote, though 103 of the chamber's conservative Republicans opposed the bill. The White House and its GOP allies praised $15 billion in additional Pentagon spending obtained by Mr Trump and $1.5 billion in emergency border security funds but was denied funding to begin construction work on the border wall.

After years of an administration that failed to get serious on border security, this bill provides the largest border-security funding increase in a decade, said Senate Majority Leader Republican Mitch McConnell, a key negotiator.

And Democrats and the pragmatic Republicans who negotiated the bill successfully defended other accounts targeted by Mr Trump such as foreign aid, the Environmental Protection Agency, support for the arts, and economic development grants, among others.

The sweeping, 1,665-page bill also increases spending for Nasa, medical research, and the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies.

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

Democrats also praised the measure as an example of bipartisan cooperation in the handling of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund the federal government. It reflects bipartisan culture among congressional appropriators, who long ago sorted out many of the spending fights Trump wants to renew this summer  over foreign aid, funding for the arts, Amtrak subsidies, grants to state and local governments, and development agencies like the Appalachian Regional Commission.

On a bipartisan basis, we rejected President Trump's ill-considered proposal to slash domestic programmes by $15 billion, including deep cuts for NIH and low-income energy assistance. Instead, this bill includes a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health, said a top Democratic negotiator, Senator Pat Leahy of Vermont, who called the bill a good deal for the American people.

Mr Trump took to Twitter earlier this week to complain about the bipartisan process that produced the measure but changed course to crow about additional spending for the military and border security. The White House has said he'll sign the bill.

One of Trump's tweets advocated for a good shutdown this fall to fix the mess that produced the bill, though he appeared at the White House just hours later to boast that it was a big win for him.

Congressional Republicans  motivated in great measure by fear of a politically damaging government shutdown  worked closely with minority party Democrats to produce the measure, which made only small changes to most accounts covered by the measure.

But many rank-and-file Republicans saw the bill as a lost opportunity for a fight that could have produced victories on the wall and punishing sanctuary cities that fail to cooperate with immigration authorities.

It is a win for Democrats and a loss for conservatives, said tea party Representative Dave Brat We have a Republican in the White House and control of both chambers of Congress yet this legislation fails to include key conservative reforms Republicans have long-advocated.

Even supporters of the bill dislike the secretive, closed-door negotiations that produced it and delivered it seven months behind schedule while denying anyone the opportunity to amend it.

Is there any member of the United States Senate that has read this? asked Senator John McCain of Arizona . And many of us are going to be compelled to vote for it because we don't want to shut the government down.

The signing by Mr Trump came as twelve athletes began swimming across the border from the United States to Mexico in an effort to call attention to immigrants.

The swimmers kicked off their journey from the city of Imperial Beach, California, and headed south toward a fence that juts into the Pacific Ocean. Kayakers paddled alongside for safety. Mexican immigration officials and schoolchildren prepared to greet them on a beach in the border city of Tijuana.

Supporters held on to the swimmers' passports during the 6.2 mile swim.

Organiser Kim Chambers of New Zealand insisted the swim isn't a protest against President Donald Trump's border wall or government policy but says an air of negativity after last year's US elections was the catalyst.

Associated Press
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Donald Trump or his staff have apparently deleted a tweet about what an honor it was meet Palestinian Authority Leader Mahmoud Abbas 13 hours after the pair met at the White House.

According to ProPublicas Politiwoops service Mr Trump also wrote he hoped something terrific could come out it between the Palestinians and Israel.

Mr Trump said during a joint news conference with Mr Abbas that he will get it done when it comes to a lasting peace deal between the two sides in the decades-long conflict.

This was the first face-to-face meeting with a US president for Mr Abbas, whose popularity is waning among Palestinians.

In late December 2016 during the last moments of the Obama administration, the UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Mr Abbas allegedly played a role in pushing the vote through and members of Mr Trumps team have not forgotten it, according to the LA Times.

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

Despite that, Mr Abbas was almost effusive in his faith in Mr Trump, saying that the Palestinian people are capable, under your stewardship...and great negotiating ability to be true partners with the US.

It remains unclear why Mr Trump or his team seemingly deleted his tweet. He has been open about his meetings with foreign leaders in the past like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Early in his term Mr Trump said he was willing to forgo a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, going against a stance held by US presidents for several years.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley clarified later that the US was committed to a two-state solution.

Mr Abbas reiterated during his public statements that the Palestinians want a separate state with East Jerusalem as the capital.

Mr Trump is set to travel to Israel later this year as part of his first overseas trip which will also include Saudi Arabia and the Vatican.
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A rape and sexual assault case cited by the White House to justify its anti-immigrant rhetoric has been dropped by prosecutors.

The case involved two high school students in Rockville, Maryland, who were accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a bathroom stall at school. The then-alleged rape drew national attention because of the severe nature of the crime and because the students were living in the United States illegally.

After a painstaking investigation and review of these matters, we have concluded that the facts of this case do not support the charges originally filed, John McCarthy, the Montgomery County state attorney, said Friday.

Eighteen-year-old Henry Sanchez-Milian, was charged as an adult for the alleged rape alongside a 17-year-old. They will now face charges of possession and distribution of child porn for forwarding videos and images of the 14-year-old. The 17-year-old will be treated as a juvenile for the new charges.

Mr Sanchez Milian's lawyer Andrew Jezic said he was grateful that the county planned on dropping the case but that the child pornography charges were "selective prosecution of elective promiscuity," according to the Washington Post. "It is hardly uncommon behaviour for teenagers."

Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was repeatedly asked on Friday if White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer had unfairly jumped to conclusions about the case when he spoke about them months ago and whether he regretted the rhetoric and would issue a retraction. Ms Sanders only comment on the matter was that Mr Spicer had been speaking with the information available to him at the time.

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

Part of the reason that the president has made illegal immigration and crackdown such a big deal is because of tragedies like this, Mr Spicer had originally said of the rape charges. Immigration pays its toll on our people if its not done legally and this is another example.

Mr Spicer also said that the case was troubling and brought up the question of whether its appropriate to allow undocumented immigrant children to attend public schools in the United States

Following his arrest, Mr Sanchez Milians father was picked up by federal immigration agents because he is in the United States illegally. Mr Sanchez-Milian came to the United States from Guatemala. Mr Montano came from El Salvador. They were both stopped at the border on their way into the United States but allowed to continue on to be with relatives.
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The first American soldier since Black Hawk Down has been killed in Somalia.

The soldier was killed in action during an advising mission with Somali National Army Forces, and two others were injured, the Department of Defense confirmed to the Independent. It is the first US service member death since 1993 when two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down on a one hour long mission, forcing the American military to stage a rescue operation that lasted through the night and resulted in 18 American deaths.

The Department of Defense declined to disclose which branch of the military the soldier was in, since the next of kin had not yet been notified, but they are believed to a US Navy SEAL. Two soldiers who were injured are currently receiving medical care.

The incident occurred during an operation roughly 40 miles west of Mogadishu, according to US Africa Command. The US assists partner forces there to counter the efforts of al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliate in the region.

Al-Shabaab is known a terror organisation and has been known for attempts to inspire attacks against the United States and its western allies. American forces assist Somali allies in order to degrade the al-Qaeda affiliates ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and in America, according to the release

Somalia Drought Show all 2 1 /2 Somalia Drought Somalia Drought Zeinab looks after one of her nephews Reuters Somalia Drought Zeinab's sister Habiba, 29, sits with her children beside their shelter at a camp for internally displaced people from drought hit areas in Dollow, Somalia Reuters

The failures in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu  more commonly known as Black Hawk Down  had sweeping impacts on American foreign policy that endure today. The deaths of a dozen and a half soldiers, and the broadcast of brutal footage of American corpses being desecrated stateside, ultimately led the US to pull troops out of the country, leaving a vacuum and safe haven for extremist groups to grow.

Withdrawing from Somalia also allowed Osama bin Laden to start the narrative that the US isnt used to hardship so if extremists inflict pain on American troops, they will withdraw from that area. His message hoped to encourage extremists who may have otherwise been deterred by Americas military power.
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North Korea has accused the CIA and South Korea of a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-un with biochemical substances.

A statement from the ministry of state security claimed hotbeds of evils in the world hatched a vicious plot targeting Mr Kim during a public appearance for ceremonial events in Pyongyang.

It said a terrorist group backed by the CIA and South Korean spies had entered the country for the attempted assassination, vowing that an anti-terrorist attack would begin immediately.

The statement threatened that the the last-ditch effort of American imperialists and the South had gone beyond the limits.

A hideous terrorists group, which the CIA and the National Intelligence Service infiltrated into the DPRK on the basis of covert and meticulous preparations to commit state-sponsored terrorism against the supreme leadership of the DPRK by use of biochemical substance, has been recently detected, it continued.

It claimed the two intelligence agencies ideologically corrupted and bribed a North Korean with the surname Kim, turning him into a terrorist full of repugnance and revenge against the supreme leadership of the DPRK.

 North Korea shows new missiles in huge parade amid nuclear fears

They hatched a plot of letting human scum Kim commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership during events at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and at military parade and public procession after his return home, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

They told him that assassination by use of biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance is the best method that does not require access to the target, their lethal results will appear after six or twelve months.

Then they handed him over $20,000 (16,000) on two occasions and a satellite transmitter-receiver and let him get versed in it.

KCNA, which frequently carries threats from the North Korean government, gave lengthy details about the alleged plot but claimed it could not be accomplished.

Criminals going hell-bent to realise such a pipe dream cannot survive on this land even a moment, it said.

Mr Kim recently watched huge military parades marking the Day of the Sun and the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, which was celebrated with the countrys largest ever artillery drill.

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 leaders estranged half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, was assassinated using VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur International Airport earlier this year.

The latest allegations emerged amid heightened tensions over a series of weapons tests carried out by the totalitarian state.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to properly deal with Pyongyang, raising fears of a preemptive strike that could provoke a nuclear response.

Mr Kim visited military detachments on two islets controlled by North Korea, while forming a strategy against the South Korean puppet army, state media reported on Friday.

He said that the KPA elite artillery group defending the southwest front should keep highly alert to break the backbone of the enemy once ordered, a KCNA report claimed, following the activation of the American Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence, or Thaad, missile defence system and intensified joint military drills.

During a visit to Jangjae and Mu islands, Mr Kim reportedly acquainted and examined the plan for fire strike of the newly organised forces at the objects of the enemy.

He toured facilities including barracks and a desalination plant, while taking warm care of soldiers and being photographed with their families.

North Korea test-fires an underwater strategic submarine ballistic missile (EPA)

North Korea has stationed multiple rocket launchers and artillery units on the two islands, where a shelling and rocket attack was launched on South Koreas Yeonpyeong Island in 2010.

Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, said Washington was working on fresh sanctions against North Korea if it takes steps that merit a new response, and warned other countries would be punished for doing illicit business with Pyongyang.

The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved legislation to tighten sanctions on North Korea by targeting its shipping industry and companies that do business with the reclusive state.

Supporters hoped it would send a strong message to North Korea, amid international concern over the escalation of its nuclear programme.

If the sanctions are approved by the Senate and become law, they are likely to affect China, Pyongyangs most important trade partner.

Beijing has been angered by North Koreas nuclear and missile tests and supported US sanctions, but foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said it opposes other countries using their own domestic law to impose unilateral sanctions.

He urged all sides to exercise restraint and not irritate each other to avoid the situation worsening.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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Wet weather could put a dampener on Frances elections this weekend as voters take to the polls to elect their next president.

Heavy rain and high winds will sweep across the country on Saturday, and persistent wet weather will linger to the East of France into Sunday.

Meteo France Forecaster Patrick Gallois told The Independent the worst weather will be concentrated from the Alsace region, into Lorraine and Franche-Comte and down to areas surrounding Lyon and the Savoie.

Poor weather has been known to affect voter turnout, which could be good news for Front National candidate Marine Le Pen as she hopes to mobilise disaffected voters.

On the last day of campaigning she is polling at 38 per cent, with independent centrist Emmanuel Macron looking on track to swoop to victory with 62 per cent.

Politics lecturer Dr Elodie Fabre from Queens University Belfast told The Independent weather can impact voter turnout, although Mr Macrons 24-point lead is not to be underestimated.

International comparisons show weather can have a marginal effect on turnout but it would have to be torrential weather of biblical proportions, she said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Whether Macron manages to mobilise more voters on the left to increase his margin will be the most important thing. It would take an extremely low level of turnout for him not to win.

She warned that the rise of the Front National since Ms Le Pens father Jean-Marie Le Pen led the party to the second round of elections in 2002 has become normalised, diminishing the amount of protest voters mobilised in reaction.

Turnout is of course very important, its normally very high in France, but to a degree we haven't seen the same level of mobilisation against the Front National as we saw in 2002, in part because it was a massive surprise then, she said.

15 years later, Le Pen was expected to be in the second round, that presence is normalised and therefore you don't see that massive movement of protest."

The election is seen as the most important in France for decades with two diametrically opposed views of Europe and France's place in the world at stake.

Ms Le Pen would close borders and quit the euro currency, while Mr Macron wants closer European cooperation and an open economy.
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If France votes as expected for Emmanuel Macron on Sunday, it will have elected the youngest President in its history. The En Marche! candidates youthful appeal might be working for the some 62 per cent of the electorate  but it has not been enough to convince Frances traditionally left-wing students.

As campaigning drew to a close on Friday before Saturdays complete shutdown on election activity, final polls suggest Marine Le Pen has failed to make a dent in the commanding 20-point poll lead enjoyed by Mr Macron since the first round vote.

Despite the pollsters confidence, groups that were expected to rally together against the perceived threat of the far-right Front National remain divided and disillusioned by the two candidates remaining in the head-to-head.

Nowhere is this sentiment more evident than with young voters in Paris. On Thursday night, anti-Le Pen activists braved the rain to organise a political pop concert in the Place de la Republique. Their message to the youth of France was not Vote Macron, but rather just get out and vote  against Ms Le Pen.

Among the hundreds who attended, a group of far-left supporters said they backed the organising charity SOS Racismes anti-Front National message, but would not bring themselves to vote for Mr Macron.

Anti-racist NGOs held a concert in protest against Front National (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

Dominique Sopo, the charitys president, said it was voters responsibility to actively oppose Ms Le Pen. We have to crush the Front National, he said. The far-right in our country is the only party to be founded on hatred of the other and hatred of democracy. This 40 per cent of support [for them] is bringing back verbal and physical violence in France.

Everyone needs to go and vote on 7 May to ensure that Ms Le Pen makes the smallest possible score.

Before the first round vote, the surge in the polls for populist far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon was a cause for optimism at Pariss Sorbonne University. His popularity was part of a growing trend of polarisation in French politics, with a survey published by the Bertelsmann Foundation on Friday showing one in five French voters self-identify as politically extreme, one of the highest rates in Europe.

Dominique Sopo said it falls on the voters to actively oppose Marine Le Pen (Chloe Farand)

After a slow start, more than half of Mr Melenchons former backers say they will back Mr Macron on Sunday  but their key motive remains blocking the far-right from the presidency.

In front of the social sciences annexe of the Sorbonne, in Paris 13th arrondissement, anti-Front National posters cover the brick walls. This branch of the university is especially known for its left-leaning tendencies and here neither Ms Le Pen nor Mr Macron were the preferred candidate in the first round.

One of the posters outside the 1960s building shows Ms Le Pen daubed with a Hitler moustache. On another, a picture of Mr Macron accompanies the quote: Lets strip the poor of their money. Alongside him, Ms Le Pen appears to reply:  and lets blame foreigners for it.

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

It is their stances on Europe that will be decisive on Sunday, though, more than any other policy. Mr Macron is strongly pro-EU, while Ms Le Pen has vowed to hold a referendum on Frexit, Frances departure from the bloc.

Second year art history student Clara told The Independent: He [Mr Macron] is not crazy and he doesnt want to get us out of Europe, so thats good enough for me.

Eva Mandengue, who studies history and political science, agrees: Europe is the first, most important thing for me. I did not vote to support Mr Macron in the first round but we have to bar Ms Le Pen from winning.

The EU  albeit reformed  was a very important factor for history student Gregoire Mathieu, making a Le Pen victory intolerable. If I was sure that she was not going to win I would spoil my ballot, but because Im not that certain I will probably vote for Mr Macron, he said. We wanted to see change. Mr Macron is supposed to personify that change, but Im not convinced.

The biggest campaign set piece between the two rounds remains the head-to-head debate that took place on Wednesday night. With the dust settled from what French commentators described as a chaotic spectacle, it now seems clear that it gave the centrist candidate a boost  one which could prove decisive.

A survey published in LExpress on Friday shows Mr Macron won three points over his rival, bringing him to 62 per cent of voting intentions against 38 per cent for Ms Le Pen. Only 30 per cent of respondents felt Ms Le Pen had the necessary qualities to be Frances next president, versus 61 per cent for Mr Macron.

Marine Le Pen campaign posters have been vandalised with Nazi graffiti (Chloe Farand)

While many at the Sorbonne supported far-left Mr Melenchon, a vocal faction of the university also backed more extreme left-leaning groups, such as the candidate for the New Anti-Capitalist Party, Philippe Poutou.

A trade-unionist and a worker in a car factory, Mr Poutou received 1.09 per cent of the votes in the first round of the election nationwide and refused to back either candidate in the second round.

On campus, it isnt hard to find an affiliate to an anti-capitalist or anarchist group. Im not going to vote, a geography student who preferred not to be named told The Independent. I identify as an anarchist and I am opposed to representative democracy.

The Paris school district reported on Friday that 10 high schools were completely or partially blocked by student protesters, who said they were opposing both presidential candidates.

Students at the Lycee Buffon wrote an open letter to French voters asking them to choose democracy on Sunday and fight against the Front National. Yet the letter did not explicitly mention supporting Mr Macron.

It said: Dear reader, you should know that Marine Le Pens France is not the France we love. Our France is beautiful, tolerant and cosmopolitan. So go and vote on Sunday, for this France, this democracy.

And in the right-leaning law university of Pantheon Assas in the sixth arrondissement, a number of students rejected the idea of voting for Mr Macron by default.

Sarah, an activist for conservative Francois Fillons party Les Republicains, decided to go against the instructions of her own defeated candidate and spoil her ballot on Sunday.

I dont want to support a politic that will be the continuity of what we just had with the current government for five years. I also dont think it would be strategic to rally to Mr Macron ahead of the local election, she said.

 Greenpeace hang protest banner from the Eiffel Tower two days before French election

Her friend Alexandre disagreed, and offered some rare positive words about the centrist. I am one of those who will vote for French values, he said. Describing himself as a convinced European federalist, he said Mr Macrons policies on the EU were what made him sign up to his movement. Mr Macrons appeal is the renewal of French politics and the end partisan parties, which have been shown to be outdated.

Where there are supporters of the far-right among Pariss students, they keep to the shadows. The law university has a reputation as a bastion for even more extreme right-wing groups, such as the Union of Patriotic Students (UEP). And one student, who did not want to be named, said the toilets were covered with graffiti and stickers from the GUD, an extreme right-wing group famous for its violent action in the 1970s. Former GUD member Frederic Chatillon is today a major Front National donor.

In the end, a majority of young voters in France may well rally around Mr Macron when it comes to the crunch in polling stations on Sunday. But if he does become Frances youngest candidate to enter the Elysee Palace, winning over the countrys youth will remain among the many pressing matters on his presidential to-do list.
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Germany has broken a new record for renewable energy, with low-carbon sources nearly obliterating coal and nuclear power last weekend.

At one point on the sunny and breezy Sunday, sustainable energy from wind, solar, biomass and hydro power provided a record 85 per cent of the countrys total energy.

Germany has been investing heavily in renewables, as part of the government's Energiewende initiative to transition away from fossil fuels and nuclear power to a low carbon, environmentally sound, reliable, and affordable energy supply by 2050.

Investment in sustainable energy has been so successful that for several hours on Sunday electricity prices fell into negative figures, as renewable sources fed so much power into the grid that supply exceeded demand.

Coal use fell to an all-time low, with public broadcaster Deutsche Welle reporting that on 30 April coal-fired power stations were only operational between three and four in the afternoon and produced less than eight gigawatts of energy, well below their maximum output of about 50 gigawatts.

Most of Germany's coal-fired power stations were not even operating on Sunday, Patrick Graichen of Agora Energiewende told Australian news site RenewEconomy.

Nuclear power sources, which are planned to be completely phased out by 2022, were also severely reduced.

Mr Graichen added that days like Sunday would be completely normal by 2030 thanks to the government's continued investment in the Energiewende initiative.

Germany announced in May 2011 that it plans to shut down all its nuclear power plants by 2022, in addition to nearly eliminating fossil fuel power..

The country's ambitious energy transition aims for at least 80 per cent of all power to come from renewables by 2050, with intermediate targets of 35 to 40 percent share by 2025 and 55 to 60 percent by 2035.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The EU as a whole is also striving to meet stringent sustainable energy targets, albeit more modest ones than Germany.

While the bloc is on course to meet 2020 goals of 20 per cent of energy from renewable sources, the UK is lagging behind.

MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee warned the Government last year that, on its current course, the UK will fail to achieve its 2020 renewable energy targets  to provide for 15 per cent of its energy needs from renewable sources.
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Gibraltar has accused Spain of deliberately causing problems after alleging that a Spanish aircraft violated its airspace.

The P3 Orion controlled by military operators in Seville flew into the territorys airspace on Friday shortly before noon, the British Overseas Territory's government said in a statement.

Although details of the flight had been passed on to Gibraltars air traffic controller, the government said the plane did not follow its expected flight profile.

As a result, the aircraft was flagged as unknown traffic and the resulting confusion caused a British Airways aircraft scheduled to depart from Gibraltar at 11.50am to be delayed for eight minutes.

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo accused the Spanish military of using politically-motivated manoeuvres to interfere with the movement of a civilian aircraft.

He said: It is no secret that Spain has been deliberately causing problems for Gibraltar at our border and through its incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

Today's incursion into Gibraltars airspace, in the middle of a busy day when several civilian flights were scheduled to arrive and depart from the Gibraltar International Airport takes the Spanish harassment of Gibraltar to new heights.

Mr Picardo said it was completely unacceptable that the Spanish military have interfered with the movement of civilian aircraft in this dangerous manner.

He added: Gibraltar International Airport is an extremely busy base for civilian passengers who are significant contributors to the tourism economy of the campo area.

Delays caused by the politically-motivated manoeuvres of the Spanish military are intolerable, but thanks to the swift action of Gibraltars Air Traffic Control, delays were the only consequence."

He added: Todays incident could have been much worse."

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The Independent has contacted the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment but none had arrived at the time of publication.

The incident comes after EU draft guidelines for the UKs Brexit negotiations indicated that a Brexit deal will not automatically apply to the Gibraltar  and that any deal could be vetoed by Spain.

The territory, situated on the southern tip of Spain, has been in British hands for more than 300 years and residents there voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining with the EU in the referendum by 96 per cent.
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A new law in Italy could allow citizens to legally kill unarmed burglars who break into their homes at night as part of legitimate defence.

Current legislation stipulates that people must have reasonable grounds to fear for their life to avoid a murder charge, but amendments would extend protections to include any burglary at night, or a robbery attempt involving threats or violence.

Cases would still be considered on an individual basis and with regard to proportionality by Italian judges, amid concern that automatic exceptions could be exploited.

David Ermini, a centre-left member of the Italian parliament, warned of the possibility of pre-meditated murders within families masked by legitimate defence, citing the Oscar Pistorius case.

The state must balance the rule of law between the right of citizens to self defence when the state cannot intervene promptly, and granting anyone a licence to kill a human being with impunity simply because they committed or attempted a burglary, he said in a proposal filed to parliament.

The Chamber of Deputies voted in favour of the legislation by 225 votes in favour and 166 against on Thursday, but it must be approved by the upper house before coming into effect.

The bill has been going through parliament for two years but became the focus of fresh attention when a restaurant owner killed a burglar in March.

Right-wing politicians were outraged when the businessman, who shot the intruder in the back around 100m outside his property, was investigated for manslaughter.

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

Members of Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia party appealed for funds to pay the restaurateur's legal bills and the populist Northern League backed legal changes to give the automatic right to self defence.

The two parties and the Brothers of Italy voted against the bill on the grounds that it did not go far enough to protect home and business owners, with Northern League politicians carrying banners reading defence is always legitimate in parliament.

Party leader Matteo Salvini cried out shame! as the legislation was approved and was removed from the parliamentary chamber for violating its rules.

The proposed law widens protections under a previous law from 2006 to assaults committed in reaction to any break-in at night or an attempt accompanied by threats, violence or deception.

Protections were expanded in the UK in 2013, allowing residents to use disproportionate force to defend themselves after national debate over the arrest of burglary victims who had injured or killed intruders.

If the tragic situation arises where there is a death I think even then the householder should know that the law is on their side, said Chris Grayling, who was Justice Secretary at the time.

The presumption should be that they are a victim of crime and not a perpetrator of crime.

Guidance from the Crown Prosecution Service states that the provision does not give householders free rein to use disproportionate force in every case they are confronted by an intruder and that each case will be decided in court.


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An article in Russias biggest selling newspaper has attacked Manchester for being full of many fat people and disgusting gay couples.

The column, published amid international alarm over the detention and torture of gay men in Chechnya, argued that Moscow must not follow the British citys frightening example.

Alisa Titko, a columnist for tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, was shocked when she found herself in Manchesters Gay Village.

There is a whole part of the city for gay people, she described.

There is even a plaque there saying Gay Village.

It is the most popular place for such couples, there are cafes and clubs there with small rainbow flags.

Ms Titko described the disgusting sight of same-sex couples openly holding hands and kissing in bars, amid explicit murals, including art depicting Batman and Superman kissing.

 Merkel raises concerns with Putin over Chechnya 'torture' of gay men

At one of the tables, there was a wedding of two rather large girls, she wrote.

It is such a pleasure that there are no such gay streets in Moscow.

Ms Titko also attacked women in Manchester for allegedly having rolls of fat hanging from their bodies and wearing leggings and miniskirts.

Their women are so fat, they look disgusting to their men, she quoted a Russian friend as saying, after panicking that onlookers might assume they had something going on.

You see, they eat so much fast food and potatoes.

And they drink beer from huge glasses. Here is the result.

Ms Titko wondered whether it was possible that men turn gay because girls are too fat and non-sexual, adding: It can influence it.

LGBT+ rights around the globe Show all 9 1 /9 LGBT+ rights around the globe LGBT+ rights around the globe Russia Russias antipathy towards homosexuality has been well established following the efforts of human rights campaigners. However, while it is legal to be homosexual, LGBT couples are offered no protections from discrimination. They are also actively discriminated against by a 2013 law criminalising LGBT propaganda allowing the arrest of numerous Russian LGBT activists. AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Brunei Brunei recently introduced a law to make sodomy punishable by stoning to death. It was already illegal and punishable by up to 10 years in prison AFP/Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Mauritania Men who are found having sex with other men face stoning, while lesbians can be imprisoned, under Sharia law. However, the state has reportedly not executed anyone for this crime since 1987 Alamy LGBT+ rights around the globe Sudan Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Sudanese law. Men can be executed on their third offence, women on their fourth Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Saudi Arabia Homosexuality and gender realignment is illegal and punishable by death, imprisonment, whipping and chemical castration Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Yemen The official position within the country is that there are no gays. LGBT inviduals, if discovered by the government, are likely to face intense pressure. Punishments range from flogging to the death penalty Getty LGBT+ rights around the globe Nigeria Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal and in some northern states punishable with death by stoning. This is not a policy enacted across the entire country, although there is a prevalent anti-LGBT agenda pushed by the government. In 2007 a Pew survey established that 97% of the population felt that homosexuality should not be accepted. It is punishable by 14 years in prison Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Somalia Homosexuality was established as a crime in 1888 and under new Somali Penal Code established in 1973 homosexual sex can be punishable by three years in prison. A person can be put to death for being a homosexual Reuters LGBT+ rights around the globe Iraq Although same-sex relationships have been decriminalised, much of the population still suffer from intense discrimination. Additionally, in some of the country over-run by the extremist organisation Isis, LGBT individuals can face death by stoning Getty

She blamed a rise in the number of LGBT people coming out in Russia on their mothers failing to beat them enough as children.

Lets remain Russian, the article concluded. Start normal families. Have children in wedlock. And not confuse love with debauchery.

The Komsomolskaya Pravda article dismissed growing calls for tolerance in Russia, where an anti-gay propaganda law was introduced in 2013 claiming to protecting children from information advocating for a denial of traditional family values.

It has been used to prosecute LGBT activists and charities, as well as online support groups for teenagers in Russia, where gay couples are frequently harassed.

In the Russian republic of Chechnya, more than 100 men have reportedly been detained and tortured, with several killed after being identified as suspected homosexuals.

The Kremlin has backed denials by the Chechen government, whose officials appeared to encourage relatives to kill gay men in honour killings, while arresting activists protesting against the campaign in St Petersburg.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to properly investigate the allegations in Chechnya, protect LGBT people and uphold the freedom to protest in a tense press conference this week.
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Donald Trumps upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia will enhance cooperation between the US and Muslim countries in the fight against extremism, according to the Kingdoms foreign minister.

Adel al-Jubeir told reporters Mr Trump had a high probability of succeeding in his efforts to secure a peace deal with Israelis and Palestinians because of his "fresh" approach.

His comments came after the White House announced the US President would visit Riyadh as well as Israel later this month.

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, will be the US Presidents first stop on his debut foreign visit as president.

The move signifies the new administration's intent to reinforce a relationship with a top ally in the Middle East, where the US is leading a coalition against Isis and seeking to counter Iranian influence. Saudi Arabia is part of that coalition.

Describing the visit as historic, Mr Jubeir said Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia would include a bilateral summit, a meeting with Arab Gulf leaders and another with leaders of Arab and Muslim countries.

"Its a clear and powerful message that the US harbours no ill will toward the Arab and Muslim world, he said. "It also lays to rest the notion that America is anti-Muslim. ... It's a very clear message to the world that the US and the Arab Muslim countries can form a partnership."

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The Republican president has been criticised for immigration policies that have been characterised as anti-Muslim.

"It will lead to, we believe, enhanced cooperation between the US and Arab and Islamic countries in combating terrorism and extremism, and it will change the conversation with regards to America's relationship with the Arab and Islamic world," Mr Jubeir said.

Riyadh and Washington had a testier relationship under former Democratic President Barack Obama's administration, which Saudi Arabia felt placed less importance on the Saudi-US relationship than on securing a nuclear deal with Iran.

Mr Jubeir also said the Trump administration had taken steps to advance the sale of precision-guided munitions, which had been suspended by the previous US administration over concerns about civilian casualties in the conflict in Yemen.

"The administration has released them and they're in the process now of working on the notification to the US Congress," Mr Jubeir said.

The sale is expected to include more than $1 billion worth of the munitions made by Raytheon Co, people familiar with the talks have said, including armour-piercing Penetrator warheads and Paveway laser-guided bombs.

A US administration official said the proposed sale was "undergoing interagency review.

"And while we hope to move forward in the near future, it has not, as yet, moved forward toward a congressional notification."

Another Trump administration official said the administration had not signed off on the proposed sale.

The Saudi-led coalition was formed in 2015 to fight the Houthis and troops loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh who have fired missiles into neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

"The Trump administration, as you heard from [Secretary of Defence Jim] Mattis, wants to be supportive of the coalition in Yemen because they understand that this is a ... conflict that involves Iran."

Mr Trump has also vowed to do "whatever is necessary" to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians, a feat successive U.S. presidents have failed to achieve.

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

Mr Jubeir said traditional diplomacy had failed in brokering peace and that therefore a "fresh approach" by Mr Trump, who had never held public office before becoming president, could have a high chance of succeeding.

Mr Trump has faced deep scepticism at home and abroad over the chances for him to make any quick breakthrough, not least because his administration has yet to articulate a cohesive strategy for restarting the moribund peace process.

"I believe that, given his creative thinking and given his unconventional approach to this conflict, the probability that he can succeed is very high," Mr Jubeir said.

"We are committed to doing everything we can in order to achieve peace between the Israelis and Palestinians based on the Arab peace initiative and a solution that involves two states."

Mr Trump has stopped short of recommitting his administration to a two-state solution, a long-standing foundation of U.S. policy.

Mr Jubeir praised the Trump administration's tougher stance against Iran, Saudi Arabia's regional archfoe.

"I don't think this administration is about rhetoric. I think the administration has taken firm steps in terms of making it clearer to Iran that its behaviour has to change, he said.

Reuters
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Egyptian politicians are considering passing legislation which would impose unprecedented controls over social media platforms in an effort to crack down on both extremism and criticism of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis government.

Two separate bills submitted to parliament last month include measures such as linking accounts to users national identification numbers to create a user database, charging registration fees when signing up for accounts, and establishing an Egypt-only Facebook-style platform.

The proposals have been met with widespread criticism by the public and civil rights activists, who have pointed out that the government has no control over international social media companies, that extensive monitoring of social media use is an invasion of citizens privacy, and that lawbreakers will still find other ways to communicate even if the restrictions are imposed.

 Donald Trump shakes hands with Egypt President El-Sisi and pledges support to his regime

People around the world have different cultures, and their freedom varies depending on their ability to bear responsibilities. A country like Egypt with a high illiteracy rate cannot be put on par with the US and Europe, Riyad Abdul Sattar, one of the politicians who sponsored the bills, told al-Monitor.

While Egypt, like many other countries, already tracks IP addresses suspected of terrorism links, the bill is necessary for national security reasons, he said.

The country has seen intermittent unrest since President Mohamed Morsi was overthrown in the 2011 revolution. Egypt's security forces and religious minorities have become the frequent attack of Sunni extremists such as Isis, based in the Sinai peninsula.

The proposed law would also protect women from abuse when pictures and videos of them are spread online, he added.

If Mr Abdul Satters bill passes into law those who fail to obtain a social media licence for their chosen sites within six months will be fined 5,000 Egyptian pounds (213). Repeat offenders could face six months in prison.

Another bill proposed by parliamentarian Mohammad Komi would create an Egypt-only social networking site. Users would have to sign up using their national ID number, curbing fake or abusive accounts, and the country could stand to make profit through the initiative through advertising, he argued.

Mr Abdul Satters bill is currently under consideration by the relevant parliamentary committees, which will decide if it goes before a vote.
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The Israel Defence Force (IDF) has shot dead an Israeli man who attempted a knife attack on soldiers at a checkpoint in the West Bank after initially mistaking him for Palestinian.

The 19-year-old from the settlement of Pisgat Zeev, who has not been named by police, allegedly tried to stab an IDF member on Tuesday at Hizma, near East Jerusalem, before he was shot.

A statement issued by police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said that a Palestinian attempted to cross from Jerusalem to Palestinian lands was noticed by the military approaching before he apparently attempted to stab a security officer.

 Israel razes West Bank homes of Palestinian attackers

Israeli forces immediately neutralised him without any injuries being reported among them, the statement continued, without detailing how he had died.

A second statement from police noted that the dead man was in fact an Israeli citizen rather than a Palestinian, who had approached security forces in a hurry at the Hizma checkpoint, coming from a main road from Pisgat Zeev, and was carrying an object in his hand.

Forces noticed him and feeling that they were in real danger, they immediately started procedures to arrest him, ultimately neutralising him and seizing a knife that he was carrying.

The alleged assailant died from fatal gunshot injuries, the statement said. A photo of the knife used in the assault accompanied the release.

West Bank rises up in a new 'white' intifada Show all 7 1 /7 West Bank rises up in a new 'white' intifada West Bank rises up in a new 'white' intifada 335595.bin QUIQUE KIERSZENBAUM West Bank rises up in a new 'white' intifada 335596.bin QUIQUE KIERSZENBAUM West Bank rises up in a new 'white' intifada 335597.bin West Bank rises up in a new 'white' intifada 335599.bin QUIQUE KIERSZENBAUM West Bank rises up in a new 'white' intifada 335600.bin QUIQUE KIERSZENBAUM West Bank rises up in a new 'white' intifada 335601.bin QUIQUE KIERSZENBAUM West Bank rises up in a new 'white' intifada 335604.bin QUIQUE KIERSZENBAUM

The handling of the incident and its aftermath is being widely viewed by Palestinians as an example of double standards with which Israelis and Palestinians are treated by the IDF.

The shooting is a clear indication of the falsehood of the Israeli narrative, Palestinian Authority (PA) spokesperson Yusef al-Mahmoud told Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency.

When we call for international protection for our people, we do that because we live under the injustice of the Israeli occupation, and [the] incident of the killing of an Israeli settler because they believed he was Palestinian was clear proof of that.

The Independents request for comment from the Israeli military was not immediately answered.

It is rare for the IDF to use deadly force on Israeli citizens. Police accidentally killed an Israeli in Jerusalem when they opened fire on two Palestinian assailants in an incident in December 2015.

Rights groups and other observers, however, have long accused Israel of using disproportinate force and implementing a shoot-to-kill policy on alleged Palestinian attackers.

More than 150 Palestinians were fatally shot in cases where non-lethal force was not necessary in 2016, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report.

Israel says that most of those killed were a danger to either security personnel or the public.
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Steven Seagal has been barred from entering Ukraine after the action star received Russian citizenship.

The US-born actor is one of many cultural figures to be blacklisted as fighting between Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces escalate in eastern Ukraine.

The Under Siege star has committed socially dangerous actions  that contradict the interests of maintaining Ukraines security, according to a letter from the Ukrainian security service.

It added that he is banned from entering the country for five years.

Recommended Steven Seagal granted Russian citizenship

The actor received his Russian passport directly from President Vladimir Putin in November. The Russian leader reportedly said he hoped the move would foster better US-Russia relations.

Mr Seagal has praised Mr Putin in the past, calling him one of the worlds great leaders.

He even performed at a concert for pro-Russia separatists at a biker show in Sevastopol. The actor reportedly told Russian news service TASS that he feels very at home in the country, though he said he has no plans to move there.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The 90s star has recently taken to acting in and producing straight-to-video movies. According to IMDB, he has two projects in the works for 2017.

Ukraine has blacklisted several other actors and musicians, including French actor Gerard Depardieu. The country released a list of 500 cultural figures they intended to blacklist in 2015, on which Mr Segal was included.

Most recently, the country blacklisted Russias entrant for the Eurovision song contest  which Ukraine is hosting.
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A grieving mother is suing American Airlines for $10million for allegedly losing her daughters ashes, after her luggage containing the remains went missing.

Iddy Pierre-Canel was travelling from her home city of Phoenix, Arizona, to Tucson, on her way to bury her daughter Carm-Idrelle Casseus.

Casseus, who grew up in Maryland, died aged 28 of an unspecified illness in February 2016. Pierre-Canel claimed in an interview with NBC News that she told American Airline staff prior to her flight on 5 March 2016 that she didnt want to check her luggage into the hold because she wanted to keep the ashes close.

When the plane took off, that's when I realised I didn't have my bag, Pierre-Canel told the broadcaster. A member of staff then told her her bag was checked in, she added.

Pierre-Canel explained that she recalled a staff member taking her bags, but thought they were helping her to carry them to her seat because she had been crying in the airport terminal.

Lorraine Morey, the lawyer representing Pierre-Canel, said that her bag could not be found when she arrived in Tucson.

I begged American Airlines every day to find the urn, she said.

Recommended American Airlines suspends flight attendant for confronting passenger

The Independent has contacted American Airlines for a comment. The company told NBC News: When we need customers to gate check a bag, we always ask for customers to remove all valuables and important documents. Had we known there were cremated ashes in the bag, we would have had her remove them or found a place for the bag. We apologised for losing the items and certainly are very sorry for her terrible loss.

A spokesperson added that Pierre-Canel had produced a list of items in the bag, with the contents worth an estimated $24,000, but that the urn was not featured.

Morey responded that this was because the urn was considered to be priceless. The airline returned Pierre-Canels suitcase 19 days after losing it, but the ashes werent inside.

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"I wanted to die, because I felt that I failed my child, said Pierre-Canel. She added: "I lost her twice.

Pierre-Canel is currently defending herself against a lawsuit from a life insurance firm on allegations of fraud. She denies the charges. Morey, who isnt representing her in that case, added that her client has nothing to hide.

The law suit come as an Australian man is suing American Airlines for $AUD100,000 after he claimed he was injured because he was seated next to two grossly obese passengers on a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.

Michael Anthony Taylor, from Wollongong, New South Wales, claimed that he was left with permanent back and neck injuries because he was crushed by the passengers beside him during a 14-hour flight.

A spokesperson from American Airlines told The Independent: We just received the lawsuit and we are reviewing the allegations.
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Human brains simply arent wired to handle the threat of climate change. At least, thats according to recent research. Its too far in the future for us to conceive of, say scientists  its too abstract, too scary.

Thats where photographer Lisa Murray comes in.

Photography just has so much more of an impact, Murray, from Cornwall, tells The Independent. Research will never be able to create the human connection images do. However, Murray goes one further than other photographers. Her work showcases the effects of climate change in places from Vietnam and Indonesia to South Sudan and Ethiopia. But rather than concentrate on weather patterns or land, her images focus on the people affected.

Lisa Murray's climate change photography Show all 12 1 /12 Lisa Murray's climate change photography Lisa Murray's climate change photography Dinka cattle herders starting their migration in South Sudan Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography A Dinka woman fetches water in South Sudan Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Veronica in South Sudan preparing tea outside her home, recently ravaged by heavy flooding Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Children playing in Vietnam. When it floods, transport to and from school is a major challenge Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Sugeng, a fish and crab farmer from Indonesia who suffers financially every time the area floods Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Tan, a vegetable farmer, learning new methods through Oxfam in Vietnam Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Maluk, a 19-year-old from Tonj South, South Sudan Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Normally this farmer in South Sudan would be harvesting sorghum, but rains are late so the hunger season continues Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Herders bringing home their cattle in Afar, Ethiopia Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Farmers harvesting chilli in Ethiopia Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography A woman in Tigray, Ethiopia, scares birds away from her crops with a slingshot Lisa Murray Lisa Murray's climate change photography Irula tribe woman in Tamil Nadu Lisa Murray

Its never been a more timely idea. As the US appoints an ardent climate change denier to head the Environmental Protection Agency and scrubs its websites of existing facts and statistics, other parts of the world have accepted the hard data thats a part of everyday life  and have been battling the effects of climate change head-on for decades. The way the locals talk suggests its got worse as time goes on, Murray explains. Theyve noticed changes for the past 10 to 20 years, and the last five or so have been quite severe.

Lisa Murray take pictures around the globe to highlight climate change (Lisa Murray)

For the past two decades, millions of people have been enduring changing environments, struggling to make do in the process. The thing about climate change is that it affects everything  water, agricultural production, health, gender relations, infrastructure, says Murray, who tries to talk to everyone she meets on her travels. I remember one time I was in Ethiopia when the rains hadnt come yet. Everyone was so nervous; they were just going to up and leave if it didnt rain because they had no choice.

But its her work in South Sudan thats even more vivid. My team and I met two Dinka women walking along a dirt road. They had no shoes and were skin and bones. It turns out they were both widows and had been walking for three hours to find something to eat  there was no food in their village. They showed us their bags, and they each had a handful of leaves. This is what we have to eat, they told us.

And the thing is, theres so much fertile land in South Sudan. Its lush, not overpopulated. Theres so much potential. Only four per cent of arable land is cultivated at any one time. Less than two per cent of roads are paved, and less than one per cent of people have electricity. Theyre not adapting.

On assignment, Murray tries to live this local lifestyle to the extent that shes allowed or able. It was my birthday, and I thought it would be interesting to spend it in the Afari village in the lowlands of Ethiopia, she recalls. I stayed in this tiny mud hut with this lovely woman there  she was telling me about how horrific the war was, and I was asking her about her daily habits. When she cooked, when she took care of the kids, when she slept. Her response? We Afari women only sleep when we die. I woke up with bedbugs that morning.

A local fish farmer whose livelihood is put in jeopardy by flooding (Lisa Murray)

Luckily, happier moments pepper the days, too. I do this elastic band trick, where I sort of evaporate the band into thin air, but I had to stop doing it in the villages because people were getting freaked out. Like, This girl is actually magic!

Those happier moments are emerging on a global scale as well. Lisa has partnered with organisations such as Oxfam, Farm Africa and the Rockefeller Foundation, and peoples attentions are shifting. NGOs are taking on massive endeavours, she says. In Ethiopia, theres a focus on providing alternative livelihoods. In the Mekong Delta, theyre implementing early warning systems to detect sea level rise and teaching farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices. In South Sudan, the focus is on shifting people away from an aid dependency culture and encouraging people to plan for the future, something the Dinka havent traditionally needed to do.

But the important thing about addressing climate change is getting every sector working together and mainstreaming the policies, and thats ultimately what needs to happen. Climate change is complex and theres no magic bullet. It has to be a holistic approach.

This farmer in South Sudan cannot harvest his crops due to the rains coming late (Lisa Murray)

Documenting what the World Food Programme calls the worst humanitarian crisis since 1945 while the US strives to roll back environmental sanctions, itd be easy to assume Lisas entire worldview has shifted, but she insists thats not entirely true. My family travelled between England and Ghana when I was a teenager. I always knew the West was the way it was. The only way I feel changed is that Im definitely more empathetic.

Her next steps? Im using Kenya as a base now. I want to offer people photography, images for appeals, human interest stories, raise funds, tell these stories and show how people benefit from these programmes. But its all an adventure and I dont really know. Im excited.

Check out Lisas work on her website, or follow her on Instagram @lisajanemurray
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An Australian man is suing American Airlines (AA) for $AUD100,000 (60,000) after he claimed he was injured by being seated next to two passengers he described as grossly obese on a long-haul flight.

Michael Anthony Taylor, from Wollongong, New South Wales, is seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages after he claims that he was left with permanent back and neck injuries because he was crushed by the passengers beside him during a 14-hour flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.

Recommended American Airlines to cut legroom to less than Ryanair

According to court documents, the body of the passenger sat next to Mr Taylor spilt over and encroached into his seat. He claimed this forced him to contort his body into a series of positions including standing up, crouching, keeling and leaning forward, News.com.au reported.

Since the flight in December 2015, Mr Taylor says that he has suffered from back injuries and neck pain, and that it aggravated his pre-existing spinal curvature.

National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Show all 12 1 /12 National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Winter Horseman Photo by Anthony Lau National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Wherever you go, I will follow you!! Photo by Hiroki Inoue National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Ben Youssef Photo by Takashi Nakagawa National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Double trapping Photo by Massimiliano Bencivenni National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Rooftop Dreams, Varanasi Photo by Yasmin Mund National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Silenced Photo by Wing Ka H. National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Lagunas Baltinache (Atacama Desert) Photo by Victor Lima National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Remote life at -21 degree Photo by mattia passarini National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Celestial Reverie Photo by Jeremy Tan National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Muscle Beach Gym Photo by Dotan Saguy National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Divide Photo by Kathleen Dolmatch National Geographic 2016 Traveler Photographer of the Year contest - winners and runners up Bears on a Berg Photo by John Rollins

Thomas Jansen of Shine Lawyers, who is representing Mr Taylor, alleged that his client asked the cabin crew to change seats - including offering to move to the toilet - on numerous occasions to alleviate the pain and discomfort that he was suffering from".

On each occasion, he was refused and rebuffed, Mr Jansen said.

Recommended American Airlines suspends flight attendant for confronting passenger

Mr Taylors complaint comes amid rising concerns about space and legroom on commercial aircrafts.

American Airlines recently announced that it plans to slash the size of seat pitches by two inches in its 737 Max jetliner fleet to fit three extra rows on the plane, according to CNN.

Prior to American Airlines announcement, its codeshare partner British Airways revealed to add 52 seats to its longhaul 777 fleet by shrinking seats.

A spokesperson from American Airlines told The Independent: We just received the lawsuit and we are reviewing the allegations".
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With a master bedroom, a tablet-controlled widescreen TV and domed ceilings, its clear why the Dreamliner Boeing 787 airliner has earned its label of a VVIP' aircraft.

Believed to be the worlds largest private jet, the remodelled B787 Dreamliner costs around 20,000 per hour to hire. An 11-hour flight from London to Los Angeles would set back a client at least 242,000.

The 2,400 square feet of space inside the plane - which would accommodate up to 335 passengers on a regular commercial flight - is decked out to cater to just 30 people, Mail Online reported.

When passengers need some shut-eye after using the wood-floored lounge, they can retire to one of the crafts 18 flat beds. The master bedroom, meanwhile, has an adjoining bathroom decorated with marble and oak wood and stocked with Jo Malone toiletries.

In an attempt to combat jet-lag, the designers have kept the aircraft's cabin altitude at 6,000ft - as the side effects of flying are said to kick in at 6,500ft.

The VVIP Dreamliner B787 Dreamjet - In pictures Show all 6 1 /6 The VVIP Dreamliner B787 Dreamjet - In pictures The VVIP Dreamliner B787 Dreamjet - In pictures The VVIP Dreamliner B787 Dreamjet - In pictures The VVIP Dreamliner B787 Dreamjet - In pictures The VVIP Dreamliner B787 Dreamjet - In pictures The VVIP Dreamliner B787 Dreamjet - In pictures The VVIP Dreamliner B787 Dreamjet - In pictures

The crew and in-flight 'butlers', meanwhile, have a area on the plane worth 230million, according to The Sun.

In a nod to the high net worth individuals who Kestrel Aviation Management - the firm behind the plane - hope will rent it, the promotional video shows the aircraft kitted out with high fashion and yachting magazines, as well as Chanel products.

As the B787 can fly for up to 17.5 hours non-stop, suggested flights on its current itinerary include New York, Hong Kong and LA. A seven-night charter deal which comes with a stay at the Presidential Suite of St Regis Bora Bora Resort is also available. Deer Jet, the Beijing Capital Airlines firm behind the aircraft, plans to unveil more itineraries in June.

The aircraft is currently on show at Stansted Airport.

Frank Fang, vice president of Deer Jet, said in a statement: "It showcases the signature service of Deer Jet, which is inspired by the values of performance, elegance, and distinction.

"With the 787 Dream Jet, we are proud to serve discerning business and leisure travellers worldwide."
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Watching Le Debat 2017, it was remarkable to see how easily the energetic and smart Marine Le Pen was demolished by the inherently insipid Emmanuel Macron.

Despite putting himself at the head of a new political movement (one that will fail to win many seats in the parliamentary elections next month) and being the favourite to win the presidency on Sunday, Macron is precisely the kind of establishment candidate that Le Pen wanted in the final round. According to the Brexit/Trump script, she should have flattened him. Instead she was herself humiliated, unable to answer the sweet reason Macron threw back at her, as well as some well-crafted soundbites, memorably the high priestess of fear.

So, is that that? Well, theres still room for a surprise, as I do wonder exactly how honest people are to pollsters about voting for the Front National, but it is also perfectly possible that, after last nights duel, Macron will win by an even larger margin than has been expected. With the defeat of far right candidates in Austria and the Netherlands, the downfall of Le Pen marks another European turning point.

So far from the Brexit/Trump victories heralding a wave of right-wing populism across the West, the year 2016 may come to be seen as something of an Anglo-Saxon aberration, a moment of madness in politics. By the way, Theresa May and her Brexit agenda are not having it so easy in our own general election.

 Marine Le Pen accused of plagiarising speech Francois Fillon made two weeks ago

The worry is that Le Pen is not going to go away. As with the other far right groupings in Europe, the wonder is really how it came to be that a leader of what should have been an alt-right fringe gang came to scoop about 40 per cent of the vote in a major mature liberal democracy such as France, and come so uncomfortably close to winning power. Nor is it the first time that the Le Pen family have caused the establishment so much grief  after all, her father also made it to the final ballot in 2002  and she looks like doubling the support he received then. Look at the electoral map of France and you see how sharply divided and polarised the nation is.

France will not be liberated from this xenophobic pestilence until people stop voting for it, and that means that the French government has to start creating some jobs for French people. That failure is the biggest single reason for the rise of the far right, for social division and the despair felt by many of Frances young, especially the descendants of immigrants in the notorious banlieues. This economic malaise is feeding the sense of pessimism that mars France today, across society. Le Pen is merely a symptom of it.

Will Macron be able to fix things? We shall see, but it will not be easy without a strong following in the country and in parliament  and without some radical market-driven reforms. All of his immediate predecessors promised economic change  notably Nicolas Sarkozy, who once styled himself as the French Margaret Thatcher  and all have failed. If Macron follows this pattern, then in five years Le Pen, or some successor to her, will again mount a spirited challenge. And the far right only has to get lucky once.
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Not since Ibn Batuta, travelled the Middle East in the 14th century has anyone set out with higher ambitions that Donald Trump. Batuta, a Moroccan Muslim traveller and scholar, had a few things in common with Trump. He reached what is now Saudi Arabia. He went to Jerusalem. He even had a keen eye for nubile ladies  there were a few wives, not to mention a Greek slave girl to be groped. But there the parallels end. For Ibn Batuta was sane.

Yet now we know that Trump thinks hes touching the three monotheistic religions because hes going to Riyadh, Jerusalem and then the Vatican (not quite in the Middle East but whats a hundred miles for a guy like Trump). A few problems, of course. He cant go to Holy Mecca because Christians are banned and the old king of Saudi Arabia represents a head-chopping Wahabi autocracy some of whose citizens have paid for  and fought alongside  the dreaded Isis which Trump thinks he is fighting.

Then when he goes to Jerusalem, he will meet Benjamin Netanyahu who hardly represents world Jewry and plans to go on thieving Arab lands in the West Bank for Jews, and Jews only, whatever Trump thinks. Then hell turn up at the Vatican to confront a man who  great guy though he may be  only represents Roman Catholics and doesnt much like Trump anyway. Ibn Batuta was away from home for around a quarter of a century. Thank heavens Trumps cutting that back to three days.

 Trump says he will fight for peace deal between Israel and Palestine

Of course, hes no more going to be talking to Islam in Saudi Arabia than he is Judaism in Jerusalem. The Sunni Saudis are going to talk about crushing the snake of Shia Iran  and we must remember that Trump is the crackpot who shed crocodile tears over the Sunni babies killed in Syria last month but none for the Shia babies killed in Syria a few days later  and hope they can re-establish real relations between their execution-happy kingdom with the execution-happy US. Trump might just try to read UN rapporteur Ben Emmersons latest report on the imprisonment of human rights defenders and the torture of terror suspects in Saudi Arabia. No. Forget it.

Anyway, the king is no imam. Any more than Netanyahu is a rabbi. But Jerusalem will be a great gig because Trump will be able to ask Netanyahu for help against Isis without  presumably  realising that Israel bombs only the Syrian army and the Shia Hezbollah in Syria but has never  ever  bombed Isis in Syria. In fact, the Israelis have given medical aid to fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra, which is part of al-Qaeda which (maybe Trump has heard of this) attacked the United States on 9/11. So maybe the Vatican will be a relief.

Of course, Trump might have dropped by Lebanon to meet Patriarch Beshara Rai, a Christian prelate who at least lives in the Middle East and who might have been able to tell Trump a few home truths about Syria. Or, since Trump would be honoured to meet the Great Leader of North Korea, he might even have shocked the world by dropping by for a couple of hours with Bashar al-Assad. At least Ibn Batuta got to Damascus.

But no, Trump is searching for friends and partners to fight terrorism  something which has never, of course, been inflicted on Yemen by Saudi Arabia or on Lebanon and the Palestinians by Israel. Nor will it be mentioned by the boys and girls of CNN, ABC and all the US media titans who will  in the interest of promoting their importance by pretending that their President is not mad  grovellingly follow their crackpot President around the region with all the usual nonsense about policies and key players and moderates (as in moderate Saudi Arabia) and all the other fantastical creatures which they inject into their reports.

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

Oh yes, and Trump also wants to bring peace to the Holy Land. And so he will move from the king of head choppers to the thief of Palestinian lands and end up with the poor old Holy Father who is wisely giving the President only a few early-morning minutes before his weekly general audience. Since the Pope described Trumps views as not Christian  an unsaintly thing for Pope Francis to say of a mentally ill man  and Trump called the Popes words disgraceful, this is not going to be a barrel of laughs.

But then again, the Pope shook the hand of the Sultan of Egypt only a week ago, the equally saintly Field Marshal President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, whose coup overthrew an elected president and who now disappears his enemies. Trump should be a piece of cake after that. Ibn Batuta, by the way, got as far as Beijing in his travels but was never honoured to meet the smart cookie who was ruling in Korea (which did actually exist in the 14th century).

But being a verbose chap, Ibn Batuta did record his homecoming in these words: I have indeed  attained my desire in this world, which was to travel through the Earth, and I have attained this honour, which no ordinary person has attained. Thats a real honour by the way. But you couldnt fit Ibn Batuta into a tweet.
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Youre just lucky it didnt happen here, a US-based friend said after hearing of my near death through having been run over by a cement truck. Theyd have been asking for your insurance details as soon as they got you out.

Thing is, prior to Presidents Obamas Affordable Care Act, I might not have had those details.

I have a pre-existing medical condition. When I was two, I caught a virus and, unfortunately for me, in the process of fighting it my immune system destroyed the cells in my pancreas that produce insulin, leaving me with type 1 diabetes.

The issue of pre-existing medical conditions like mine shot to the top of the US political agenda after late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel delivered an emotional 13-minute monologue on the subject of the birth of his son, who was found to have a congenital heart condition.

No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their childs life, Kimmel said through floods of tears. It just shouldnt happen. Not here.

He continued with an appeal to make healthcare accessible to all, including those with pre-existing medical conditions.

It came against the backdrop of President Trumps American Healthcare Act rising from the grave, like Freddie Krueger or some other fictional bogeyman.

There will be another attempt to get it through Congress today.

An amendment has been included that will provide $8bn towards securing healthcare coverage for people like William Kimmel, or me.

But Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, described that as like administering cough medicine to someone with stage four cancer. He might be right. It isnt expected to be a deal breaker for the hard right Republican House Freedom Caucus. That speaks volumes.

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

Those Republicans. Theyll bang on about their desire to protect life, referring, of course, to abortion. But once youve been born? If youre not healthy and/or wealthy, then screw you.

Kimmel didnt put it that way. Whist he is a liberal, he has a much lighter touch than a columnist like me, or some of his rivals; the Stephen Colberts or the Samantha Bees, who have been eviscerating President Trump with brutally effective humour.

Kimmel tends to generate controversy when hes too soft, not too tough. That, however, might help to explain why his emotional appeal to both Democrats and Republicans  we gotta look after each other  has had such an impact

I have to admit, I was almost in tears watching it myself. Things like that resonate with me, given what I and my family have been through.

But it wasnt just because of the emotion of Kimmels appeal, or even the fact that it stirred memories of the troubled birth of my own son (his heart rate swung violently at one point and my wife was rushed into surgery, but he was healthy).

I found it absolutely chilling because it took me back to the issue my friend raised: what would have happened to me had my accident happened in America? Would I be here writing this now? Would I even have had an accident  I might not have got as far as my third birthday?

I was not born to wealthy parents. When my diabetes was diagnosed, we were living in a council house on the edge of Sheffield. In the US, my parents might not have had good coverage, like a lot of Americans modest means. They might not have had any.

Obamas Affordable Care Act was constructed not just with pre-existing conditions in mind. Its aim was to prevent people from falling through the very limited safety net existing before it.

Watching a sorry, and depressing, UK election campaign, looking back on some of the events of the last six months, I havent felt very good about the country in which I live.

But there are three letters that provide some soothing balm: NHS.

Its desperately underfunded. It doesnt always work very well. Ive decided to try and write a book chronicling some of my experiences with it, and the events following my accident. The current draft contains some pointed criticisms of our health service because some of the things I want to say need saying.

On one occasion, for example, I was left writhing in agony after being transferred to a new hospital because they couldnt find a doctor to approve morphine that had already been prescribed for me. Partly it was down to a funding issue - we need more doctors. But it needn't have happened had the transfer process been managed a bit better. Lets not pretend the NHS is perfect.

However, it is still a damn sight better than what some people have. Its a damn site better than Trumps American Healthcare Act, a piece of legislation that will leave millions of people like me without cover again.

Some of them will die.

When Obamacare was being pushed through, Conservative Euro MP Daniel Hannan infamously went on Fox News to say he wouldnt wish the NHS on anyone branding it a relic.

Its a relic that saves lives, including mine. Twice.

Watch Kimmels monologue  its available on YouTube. When you do, consider what he says. I hope, Id even be moved to pray, that we dont ever get to a place where we need someone like him to make the same points in this country.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he raised the question of human rights with the Saudi Arabian government

Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been forced to backtrack on claims that he personally raised women's rights issues with the Saudi Arabian government.

Amid a row over how Ireland voted on the kingdom's successful bid to join an influential United Nations body, Mr Kenny claimed on Thursday that he had brought up concerns for women while on a trade mission to the country in 2014.

He has since said that he raised the question of human rights but not specifically issues facing women.

The controversy emerged after the Irish government refused to say if it voted for Saudi Arabia to get its seat on the UN's Commission on the Status of Women.

Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan is facing deep criticism over last month's secret ballot and insists that it would be " irresponsible and damaging" to confirm a vote and break with UN precedent.

Mr Kenny became embroiled in the row while on a trip to Canada where he defended his government's position and claimed he had personally raised women's rights issues with the Saudis in 2014 only to later backtrack and admit he had raised human rights.

"What I raised with the Saudi authorities, as part of a trade and investment delegation, was the question of human rights, and women's rights issues as a specific matter have been followed through by Minister Flanagan at Foreign Affairs Council meetings," the Taoiseach said.

His spokesman later said the Irish government's concern for women's rights is "without question and has been demonstrated on many occasions".

"Ireland is currently a member of the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women," the spokesman said.

"Our strong reputation in promoting gender equality is reflected in the fact that in March, Ireland assumed the chair of the Commission. This provides an opportunity for Ireland to take a leading role in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women generally."

The UN's Commission on the Status of Women was set up in 1946 and is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

It says it is instrumental in promoting women's rights and documenting the reality of women's lives throughout the world.

Human Rights Watch states there have been "marginal improvements" on women's rights in Saudi Arabia in recent years, mainly in employment and higher education, but men continue to control female relatives' lives.

Women in Saudi Arabia could not vote until two years ago.

The kingdom was one of 13 countries to be given a role on the Commission on the Status of Women for the next four years, and five of the country's 47 votes are said to have come from European countries.

A similar controversy erupted in Belgium, where the country's prime minister Charles Michel subsequently revealed the government would have voted differently if given another chance.
Detectives investigating the Kinahan crime cartel have arrested two men after seizing more than a quarter of a million euro in cash.

A man in his 30s was detained as he tried to enter an apartment in Sandyford, south Dublin, carrying 300,000 euro in bank notes.

Cash counting machines and packaging equipment were found inside the flat during the planned raid by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

Investigating officers launched a number of follow-up searches in Clondalkin, in the west of the city, following the operation on Thursday.

Another man, aged in his 30s, was also arrested.

The pair are being held at Blackrock and Clondalkin Garda stations under section four of the Criminal Justice Act.

A Garda spokesman said the arrests and seizures were carried out as part of ongoing investigations targeting serious criminal activity in Dublin.
The chief executive of Goldman Sachs has issued another scathing warning on the effects of Brexit, saying that the City of London will stall because of the risks associated with the process of the split.

Speaking to the BBC, Lloyd Blankfein said that both sides of negotiations were playing for very high economic stakes and that there would have to be a period of implementation of at least "a couple of years" after a deal has been concluded, slated for the spring of 2019.

He said that if there was no such period, banks like Goldman Sachs would have to act prematurely.

"We are talking about the long-term stability of huge economies with hundreds of millions of people and livelihoods at stake and huge gross domestic product," he told the broadcaster.

"So, if it takes a little while - I'd rather get it right than do things quickly."

Goldman employs about 6,500 people in the UK, and Mr Blankfein said that the lender has "contingency plans" to relocate people depending on the outcome of negotiations, though he hopes that this would not end up being necessary.

Read more: Brexit job boost for Dublin but Frankfurt leads way

Asked whether Londons rapid expansion as a global financial hub in recent years could reverse as a result of Brexit, Mr Blankfein said that it "would stall and might backtrack a bit but that it was unlikely to totally reverse.

It just depends on a lot of things about which we are uncertain and I know there isn't certainty at the moment, he said.

The chief executives comments echo those made by the banks Europe chief executive, Richard Gnodde, in March.

In an interview with CNBC, Mr Gnodde said that Goldman had started planning relocations even before Theresa May triggered Article 50 on 29 March.

Read more: Irish Mars chief underlines food giant's concerns over Brexit costs

The financial sector is crucial to the UK economy and contributed around 71bn to the Exchequer last year, according to professional services firm PwC.

Most banks have made clear that they will be forced to move some staff and are making contingency plans for a number of potential Brexit outcomes.

Earlier this week JP Morgan confirmed that it would move hundreds of jobs from the UK to the EU because of Brexit.

In January, HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver said trading operations that generate about 20 per cent of revenue for the lenders investment bank in London may move to Paris.

Axel Weber, chairman of UBS, said in January that about 1,000 of the banks 5,000 jobs in London could be at risk.

Barclays chief executive Jes Staley has so far struck a slightly different tone to other bank bosses. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, he said that it would be very difficult to dislodge a financial centre like London. If needed, Barclays may reassign its Frankfurt branch to its Irish subsidiary, he said.
Ireland has been urged to increase its funding applications to the European Investment Bank and seize the "window of opportunity" presented by Brexit.

Andrew McDowell, vice president of the European Investment Bank, and a former adviser to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, made the comments in an address to the Oireachtas Finance committee yesterday, and repeated his view at a meeting of the Institute of International & European Affairs.

His comments came as tensions between the EU and the UK threaten to reach boiling point, prompting an intervention by EC President Donald Tusk who has urged calm.

Yet while the verbal hostilities over Brexit intensify, Mr McDowell also laid bare the complexities posed to the EIB by the UK's decision to exit.

Theresa May's government has publicly declared its stake in the bank is worth close to 11bn.

But Mr McDowell claimed any valuation was fraught with difficulty due to the scale of callable capital - money pledged to the EIB by the UK, which underpins the bank's AAA credit rating. "So the UK has only paid in about 2.5bn into the EIB. But it has this callable capital of about 40bn."

Determining how much of this pledged money will be drawn upon is unclear as the liabilities will only become evident when the loans approach maturity in 20-25 years' time.

He said that leaves any assessment of the UK's stake open to "great contention" and added: "I don't think this is something that has not been fully appreciated as of yet."

While Mr McDowell acknowledged the answer will be thrashed out between the remaining 27 stakeholders and the UK, he urged the EU to clarify the EIB's importance to the region, and reassure international money markets.

He highlighted the EIB has 470bn in outstanding bonds, which represent a "contingent liability each member state".

Yet Brexit also means the bank's teams that had focused on the UK are now "sharpening their pencils" for possible projects in Ireland. Mr McDowell said "now is a great opportunity for Ireland to accelerate the level of projects submitted to the EIB" given the legal and financial similarities to the UK economy.
Britain's looming negotiations with the European Union on exiting the bloc are already very tough and will become "impossible" if emotions are allowed to run unchecked, the chairman of EU summits said yesterday.

Donald Tusk's warning followed comments by British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday that some European politicians and officials were seeking to affect the outcome of Britain's election on June 8.

"These (Brexit) negotiations are difficult enough as they are. If we start arguing before they even begin, they will become impossible," Tusk said in a statement read out after a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

"The stakes are too high to let our emotions get out of hand. Because at stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the Channel," said Mr Tusk, who heads the European Council that groups EU national governments.

Discretion, moderation, mutual respect and a maximum of good will were required to succeed, said Mr Tusk, a former Polish prime minister who will play an important role in the negotiations.

Earlier the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said it had no opinion on Mrs May's accusation about meddling.

"We are not naive. We know there is an election taking place in the United Kingdom, people get excited whenever we have elections," Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said.

Last weekend a German newspaper gave a damning account of a dinner last week between Mrs May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, reporting that he had told her that Brexit could not be a success.

Mrs May, whose Conservative Party has a double digit lead over the main opposition Labour Party in opinion polls, initially dismissed the German report as "Brussels gossip" before making her accusation of EU interference in the election.

Brexit negotiations are expected to begin after the election.
Pottinger also used the Bernburg press launch to unveil a versatile one-machine-does-all drill designed for sowing both cereals and maize.

The Aerosem Duplex is aimed at mid-sized farmers and contractors and should avoid the need to own more than one drill to get different crops into the ground. Its capabilities also extend to cover crops, which can be sown at the same time as maize to save making a second pass.

The drills are being assembled at the firm's factory in Bernburg, Germany and are built with the core purpose of getting cereals in the ground, with the maize kit coming as an add-on.

Pottinger says converting from cereals to maize mode is a fairly straightforward task that involves fitting slot formers and firming rollers. Pottinger's new Intelligent Distributor System (IDS) is controlled from the cab and adjusts tramline and crop wheel centres, but it can also be used to blank off coulters and make rate adjustment on the go. Duplex is Pottinger's double row maize drilling option that has been given a new metering unit designed in-house by the firm.

The system removes the need for the vacuum-type arrangement used by most other maize drills. Instead, using a finger metering unit located under the hopper, it picks out single seeds and drops them into the air stream.

The maize seed is planted in 12.5cm staggered rows with 75cm between the double rows to suit a standard maize header.

A stainless-steel firming roller immediately follows the coulter to prevent the seed being blown out of the channel. Fertiliser is placed a coulter's width apart from the seed to avoid crop scorching. Individual pressure of 55kg per coulter should be achievable, maintain Pottinger, and each coulter section can move individually to follow lumps and hollows while planting the seed at a consistent depth. Travel speeds of 12-14kph are attainable.

Hopper options

A split three-way hopper allows the operator to place fertiliser in the 600kg centre section, flanked by two 300kg compartments for maize seed. The drill can also be used to sow crops between the maize rows using the same hopper configuration.

Pottinger say recent trials of this system in the UK have suggested that drilling a second crop at the same time has no negative affect on maize yields but has a big benefit for soil structure. The new Aerosem Duplex drill is expected to be priced at around 48,000.
The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed has been called on to confirm his commitment to increase funding for the ANC scheme to 230m in 2018.

It comes as Ireland has supported moves by Austria to delay the implementation of new rules which will set to which farmers are entitled to payment under the Areas of Natural Constraint scheme.

The scheme which replaced the Disadvantaged Area Payment was due to changed by 2018.

However, as part of the ongoing discussion on amendments to regulations at EU level, Austria raised the possibility of extending the deadline on an optional basis.

The Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed said this week that Ireland supported this proposal, with Latvia, Slovenia, Poland, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Slovakia.

Read More

He said refinements of the regulations have yet to be finalised, but he remains hopeful there will be an extension of the timeline.

Whether it will be a one or two-year extension is not clear at this stage.

I envisage there will be an appeals system which will involve consultation with and the provision of information for stakeholders, including farm organisations, he said.

IFA Rural Development Chairman Joe Brady has said The decision by Minister Creed to support a deferral of the ANC review, due to take place this year for implementation next year, must not deflect from the Programme for Government commitment that the funding for the scheme will increase by 25m in 2018

As far as IFA is concerned, there is no relationship between the review and the provision of the additional funding, Joe Brady said.

He said, There is a commitment to increase funding by 25m in 2018, but the total funding for the ANC scheme should increase to the level it was before cuts, 250m.

Brady said a IFA nationwide ANC campaign has been underway for the past the past four months, focussing on protecting areas, restoring funding by 50m and increasing the payments rates to support farm income.

"The clear message from the thousands of farmers at the IFA meetings is that the Government must restore funding to pre-2009 levels and payments rates must increase to reflect the natural handicap," he said.
South Dublin County Council has voted to ban the use of glyphosate, as negotiations continue at European level over the future of the controversial weed killer in farming.

The vote was tabled by Sinn Fein councillor Enda Fanning who said that a report by the International Agency for Research against Cancer (IARC) in 2015 concluded that glyphosate was probably carcinogenic to humans, but was followed by another from the European Food Safety Authority that said glyphosate was unlikely to cause cancer.
Denis O'Brien's Digicel has agreed a deal to buy IDOM Technologies, a business-focused communications provider that operates in French Overseas Territories in the West Indies and Indian Ocean.

Digicel said IDOM Technologies provides services spanning connectivity, voice and security services to more than 800 business and public sector customers in insurance, commerce, financial services and the health and automotive sectors.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

As part of the deal, Digicel will acquire IDOM's 265km of fibre optic network, which will bring Digicel Group's total fibre footprint to 6,000km.

"Business solutions is one of the fastest growth areas across all the company's market. The acquisition represents an excellent strategic fit for Digicel," said Digicel Group CEO Colm Delves.

Mr Delves said that Digicel will bring its full portfolio of products and services to the markets where IDOM Technologies operates.

Digicel is active in 32 markets across the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean and is increasingly moving from its original mobile phone services to offer a wider range of communication services to consumers and business and enterprise customers.

IDOM Technologies operates in the French off-shore territories of Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana and La Reunion.

The IDOM deal is Digicel's first acquisition since it launched a group-wide rationalisation programme dubbed "Digicel 2030" earlier this year. That programme will see around a quarter of Digicel's 6,000 worldwide jobs cut over 18 months as back-office functions are centralised in a small number of regional hubs rather than organised in each territory where the business operates.
DRUG makers are under fire around the world as a wave of new treatments for serious conditions reach the market at ever-rising prices - and the pressure looks set to increase.

Next week the debate on drug pricing - a particularly heated topic in the United States - will move to Amsterdam as the Dutch government hosts a forum for World Health Organization (WHO) member states to promote "fair pricing".

Donald Trump accused drug manufacturers of "getting away with murder", shortly before he became US president, and the May 11 event underscores the focus on medicine pricing in health ministries from Berlin to Beijing.

In Ireland the high cost of cystic fibrosis drug Orkambi has long been controversial. Health Minister Simon Harris ultimately agreed to fund the treatment, but this week Anthony McDonnell, an economist with Wellcome Trust, said the cost means diverting government funding from other areas and putting people's lives at risk.

German negotiators have caused some firms to pull drugs off the market rather than accept price cuts, while Britain last month introduced new budget curbs on pricey products.

China and Japan, the two biggest non-Western markets for pharmaceuticals, are also bearing down on costs, and poorer countries find many new drugs are out of reach.

"It's great that we have these treatments but we need to find a way to make them more affordable," Andrew Rintoul, the WHO health economist organising the drug pricing forum, told Reuters.

Drug makers know they must up their game to save their reputation - even as patients cheer the scientific advances behind new products, national budget agencies are baulking at the financial costs.

A major advertising campaign by the US Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America trade group, for example, includes accusations that insurers are failing to pass on the benefits of discounts negotiated with manufacturers.

This goes to the heart of a thorny issue. On the surface, the cost of medicines may be rising steeply but the picture is distorted by off-invoice discounts and rebates, which in the United States average around 30pc. In Europe, rebates amount to roughly 17pc. "I personally don't believe in the talk of drug expenditure breaking the system," Thomas Cueni, who recently took over as director-general of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, told Reuters.

"When you look at the aggregate numbers, drug spending has been pretty stable in most OECD countries at around 10pc to 15pc of healthcare spending."

A lack of price transparency is a major bugbear.

There are also growing calls for greater disclosure on companies' R&D and production costs.

Transparency will be high on the agenda in Amsterdam, mirroring efforts by some US states to shine a light on costs. Companies, however, are reluctant to specify exactly how they come up with drug prices and prefer to stress the value that their medicines bring.

"The industry has to stand up and argue its value proposition," said Cueni, who admits he is "apprehensive" about the tone of the WHO meeting.

"I'm not a big fan of this term 'fairness' because, let's face it, fairness is in the eye of the beholder. There's no objective definition."(Reuters)
Irish Life has reported a 44pc increase in profits for the first quarter of 2017, contributing 54m to Canadian parent Great West Lifeco's earnings in the quarter.

Profit in the first three months of this year was up from 37.5m in the same quarter in 2016.

The business was nationalised during the crash and sold on by the Government to Great West for 1.3bn in 2013.

Since then the business has seen continued growth, and paid up more than 210m in dividends to the new owners.

Last year Irish Life expanded into the health insurance market. It bought Aviva Health and took full control of GloHealth, where it had previously held a 49pc stake to immediatley become the third biggest player in the sector with 400,000 policyholders.

David Harney, chief executive of Irish Life Group, said Irish Life's strong performance was due, in part, to the inclusion of Irish Life Health's contribution for the first time in the quarter, and the continued success of the company's multi-asset investment strategies (MAPS).

"We have seen increased investment across Irish Life's pension, investment and savings plans as investors return to the market," Mr Harney said.

"There is now over 9bn invested in our multi asset strategies including 2.5bn by retail investors. Over the last 12 months the number of individual investors has grown by over 40pc to 46,000 and the total value invested in Irish Life MAPS has increased by 70pc."
Hopes are rising that the upward trend in motor insurance premiums could be coming to an end.

It comes after one of the largest insurers said its premium income fell by 10pc in the first three months of the year. RSA said it earned 52.57 in motor premiums in the first quarter, down 10pc in euro terms on the same period last year.

There was little other detail provided by the London-headquartered group on whether the fall in premium income was due to lower pricing or a fall in sales.

But experts said this pointed to a stabilising of the cost of motor insurance.

Analyst at Davy Stockbrokers Emer Lang said in a note to investors: "The pricing environment appears to be stabilising."

The most recent figures from the Central Statistics Office show there has been no monthly increase in the cost of motor insurance for the third month in a row.

But the surges in the cost of cover over the last few years have seen premium rates shoot up by 60pc on average since 2010, additional information from the CSO indicated.

At one stage last summer premiums were rising at a rate of close to 40pc. The average motor premium is now 478, according to calculations based on Central Bank data.
ULSTER Bank has set aside millions of euro to cover the cost of putting customers back on low-cost trackers and refunding them overcharged interest.

The bank made a provision of 206m last year to cover the costs of a mortgage redress scheme for customers who were denied a tracker, according to the banks latest statutory accounts.

The British-owned bank said in the past it had written to 1,800 residential customers who lost good-value trackers, but should not have had them taken.

These customers have since been restored to a tracker rate, but have yet to get a refund of overcharged interest, and compensation.

The bank has stated that it expects to find more tracker-loss cases as it continues to trawl through its mortgage book.

Ulster Bank prompted surprise when it set aside just 5m in 2015 to cover the cost of the redress scheme.

The Central Bank has ordered an industry-wide review of tracker mortgages.

Some 15 lenders are involved, with expectations that more than 15,000 mortgage holders will get trackers back.

People were denied a return to trackers when they fixed for a while, or it was not made clear to them they could lose the tracker when they opted for fixed rate.

And the liquidators of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) said they have identified 50 customers who should have a residential tracker mortgage, but were denied one.

IBRC was created to wind down Anglo Irish Bank and the Irish Nationwide Building Society.

In an update, the liquidators said the examination of the mortgage book at IBRC is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, a financial adviser who specialises in tracker-restoration cases has warned that many thousands of people could be disappointed at the results of the industry-wide tracker investigation.

Padraic Kissane said it was taking too long to resolve matters for affected customers and their families.

I am calling it the Tracker Waiting Room which is packed to capacity with thousands of affected customers waiting on their results. There is a major dont know aspect of the matter at present, he said.

And Fianna Fail finance spokesman Michael McGrath has called for independent oversight of the tracker probe.

Information he received in the Dail shows that every single decision made by Permanent TSBs Independent Review Panel has been to uphold the customers appeal in full or in part.

This is essentially an admission that the correct decision was not made in the first place.

He said the fact that some appeals have been upheld where customers lost their home directly as a result of being wrongly denied a tracker mortgage rate is truly shocking.
HSBC shares rose the most in five months as the bank reported a surprise jump in revenue boosted by loan growth in Asia.

Trading revenue jumped 29pc, exceeding the average 9pc rise at nine of the largest global investment banks, data from Bloomberg Intelligence shows.

HSBC shares gained 4pc to 671 pence each early yesterday afternoon.

The bank has hired 1,800 extra compliance staff since the start of the year, raising its total to more than 6,000 worldwide, as the firm strives to improve its anti-financial crime capabilities to comply with the demands of the US Department of Justice. (Bloomberg)
A Syrian refugee who fled the war-torn country with his violin on his back is to release a debut album.

After escaping the Syrian city of Homs in 2015, Rami, 21, travelled almost 2,500 miles by foot and boat across eight countries with the instrument wrapped in clingfilm.

Journeying through Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and Austria, Rami would entertain security guards and fellow refugees with his music before eventually finding refuge in Germany.

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He became separated from his violin after being thrown off a train in Hungary and chased through a Budapest forest by police.

After arriving in Germany he was given a replacement by a local before being housed by a German couple who learned of his story.

Rami recorded the album, titled My Journey, with award-winning producers James Morgan and Juliette Pochin.

It features traditional Arabian music from his roots alongside a classical version of the American band OneRepublics Counting Stars and a rendition of Silent Night.

The albums lead single, an Arabic-influenced version of Beethovens Ode To Joy, is being released digitally in support of British Red Cross Red Cross Week, raising awareness of people in crisis across the world.

My Journey is available on Decca Records from May 5.
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy tried to smuggle two mobile phones and almost 200 sedative tablets to a cousin in Mountjoy Prison, a court has heard.

He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Childrens Court to conveying drugs and contraband into the prison on April 21 last year.

Garda Paul Griffin responded to a call from the jail and went to the search area where prison officers had detained the now 16-year-old boy.

Judge John OConnor heard that the boy had gone on a visit to the prison with a woman who was in a relationship with his cousin.

When questioned if he had anything in his possession he removed a cling film wrapped package from his groin area. The package contained two mobile phones, 97 Alprazolam and 99 Diazepam tablets, the court was told.

Gda Griffin agreed that the teenager had been the company of a woman who was the girlfriend of his cousin.

Judge OConnor noted the teens personal circumstances but said it was a serious case involving two phones and a significant amount of tablets.

Sentencing was adjourned for a probation report to be furnished to the court. The boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother, was remanded on continuing bail to appear again in June.

The judge asked the prosecuting garda for information from the Prison Service in relation to the effects of this type of crime.

The teenager, who did not address the court, is also awaiting trial over an alleged robbery.

Defence counsel Damian McKeone told the court the boy has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and it was difficult to find a suitable mainstream school for him, however, he on an educational course.

The court heard he had developed a problem with tablets and smokes cannabis.

The judge remarked that these were not mitigating factors and in some cases they can be aggravating factors.
A LITHUANIAN national was jailed for five and a half years for his role in a military-style East European burglary gang which terrorised business owners across Munster.

Aurimas Petraska (32) was jailed as Judge Tom O'Donnell warned Limerick Circuit Criminal Court that law-abiding citizens and business operators must be protected from the behaviour of such professional burglary gangs.

"This is a very serious case," he said.

"This was a professional job. This was premeditated and planned down to the last detail and executed with military precision."

He said the business owners not only suffered the loss of their goods but also had substantial damage caused to their premises.

"These are not victim-less crimes," he said, noting that the business owners have faced repair costs, higher insurance premiums and concerns over their personal safety and that of their staff.

Judge O'Donnell praised the dedication and tenacity of Gardai who worked for two years to identify and foil the East European gang who employed military-style techniques in their reign of terror across Cork, Tipperary and Limerick.

A Garda team under Detective Inspector Joe Moore co-ordinated with detectives across Munster and even drew on intelligence from Europol, Interpol and Baltic State police forces to track down the gang.

The gang used concrete-block laden cars as heavy battering rams to smash their way into pharmacies and boutiques in rural towns.

They even used black paint to darken the windscreens of the cars so no-one could be seen through the windows.

Gang members were clothed in military-style black overalls, had balaclavas, wore forehead-mounted flash lights and each had a large wristwatch to time the raid.

Every robbery was effectively ended once the gang had reached the six minute mark - thereby evading Gardai by leaving the scene well within the average Garda robbery response time.

The gang only targeted high-value goods such as Chanel cosmetics, accessories and designer clothing.

Each targeted premises was subject to a careful reconnaissance by the gang before the robbery.

Petraska of Church Street, Rathkeale, Co Limerick pleaded guilty to his role in three robberies which netted the gang 150,000.

Judge O'Donnell was told Petraska has previous convictions in his native Lithuania, Norway and the Netherlands.

Gardai believe the goods were shipped to Lithuania for sale on the black market across East Europe.

The gang operations were only foiled when detectives, supported by armed members of the Regional Support Unit (RSU), stopped a car at Shanagolden, Co Limerick in June 2016.

When that vehicle was intercepted, a man travelling with Aurimas Petraska was shot when a Garda weapon accidentally discharged.

Michael Collins, for the State, said the gang were highly organised, very skilled and acted with "military precision."

CCTV footage from the various premises robbed showed how they timed their raids - and went straight for high-value items such as Chanel products.

"They were highly sophisticated - they were in and out in six minutes," he said.

Petraska pleaded guilty to a total of five charges including three of burglary.

He admitted his role in robberies of O'Brien's Pharmacy in Cahir, Co Tipperary, Isobel Boutique in Adare, Co Limerick and O'Connor's Pharmacy in Kinsale, Co Cork.

However, the owner of Isobel Boutique, Kay Muclair, said that while the gang had stolen80,000 worth of designer clothing from her Adare store, the total loss of revenue she suffered was almost 240,000 due to insurance and store repair issues.

The Lithuanian, who lived in Kaunas, dropped out of college in his native country and moved to Ireland in 2005 though he has repeatedly travelled back to the Baltic state.

He admitted he had helped convert old cars into battering rams for the gang by removing seats and placing heavy concrete blocks into the vehicle.

Judge O'Donnell noted that Petraska has previous convictions for theft and public order.

The Lithuanian had previously worked in a Lidl supermarket and, for a time, had also worked as a casual labourer.

Judge O'Donnell noted that Petraska is the only member of the East European gang to have been charged to date.

He was paid between 2,000 and 3,000 for each robbery but, while admitting his role to Gardai, did not reveal the identity of the East European gang leader to detectives.

Judge O'Donnell said he was giving Petraska credit for his guilty plea, co-operation with Gardai, personal circumstances and remorse.

His plea had saved the State a potentially lengthy trial with up to 80 witnesses.

He imposed a seven year prison sentence but agreed to suspend the final 18 months.

Judge O'Donnell backdated the sentence to June 29 2016 when Petraska was taken into custody.

Petraska, who appeared in court wearing tan trousers and a purple jumper, did not speak during the sentencing hearing.

The court was told he intends to return to Lithuania which his sentence is completed.
FORMER Tanaiste Joan Burtons advisor has denied that she exaggerated how fearful she was during the water protest in Jobstown.

Karen O'Connell admitted she was heard on video laughing in the back of a car in which she was allegedly falsely imprisoned, but said this was a human reaction to a nervous, tense situation.

Ms OConnell insisted she was panicked, crying and petrified during the protest as footage she had taken on her phone was played back in court.

She also said she saw a distinct difference between Shell 2 Sea protests in which access was blocked to construction sites and garages and the Jobstown protest, when she was held against her will.

Ms OConnell was giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, south Dublin councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon and four other men, who all deny falsely imprisoning her and former Tanaiste Joan Burton.

The pair were allegedly imprisoned in cars at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014 after attending an adult education graduation ceremony.

Ms OConnell, told Padraig Dwyer SC, for one of the accused, Frank Donaghy that she had been involved in Shell 2 Sea demonstrations while she was a student in UCD. She had been to protests in Rossport and was aware trucks were prevented from accessing construction sites.

She said she had been involved in blockades at Donnybrook garage in which access was blocked to motorists.

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Ms OConnell said she supported the peaceful elements of a campaign that involved many different organisations.

She said she believed in peaceful protest and there was a distinct difference between preventing vehicles from accessing sites and being held against your will and made to stay in a very very unpleasant situation.

Ms O'Connell said those protests never deprived anybody of their liberty.

Mr Dwyer put it to Ms OConnell that her evidence about being petrified in the car was exaggerrated. He played back video clips which he said portrayed a relaxed, jovial atmosphere and one of boredom.

In the first clip, from Ms OConnells own phone, he put it to her that a man was seen beginning to record her in response to her filming.

Laughing was audible in the car and she accepted this was her.

People often laugh in nervous, tense situations, she said. Its a human reaction.

Mr Dwyer said the atmosphere was not one of huge fear but had some joking, some hilarity.

Ms Burton was heard on the clip saying they have been doing that apparently since about 12 oclock, so there will be people up for the fun as it were.

Footage taken on Ms Burtons own phone was then played and Mr Dwyer said the atmosphere in this again appeared to be calm, Mr Dwyer said.

When a garda in the helicopter was heard on the radio making suggestions about moving back, both Ms OConnell and Ms Burton were heard laughing and Ms Burton said you must be joking.

Ms OConnell said she was afraid and did not agree the atmosphere in the clip did not reflect any great fear.

Ms OConnell was heard on the video saying: This always happens and the end of the protest, the f***ing dregs decide not to finish it.

This was the point at which it had been agreed that the car would be slow marched out of Tallaght but was still having difficulty moving.

Mr Dwyer asked her about her movement up through the echelons of the Labour Party and said the party claims to represent the unemployed marginalised and weaker members of society. He asked her what her definition of dregs was.

She said her language had been awful and it was near the end of a three and a half hour ordeal. Her understanding of the word dregs was that it meant the protesters would not finish.

The word meant the end of something - such as the dregs of a drink or a cigarette, she said.

I was very very fearful and I was very upset at that time, she said.

You were relaxed and rather contemptuous of the people who were slow walking the vehicle, Mr Dwyer said, adding this could only have been her motivation in using the word dregs.

That is your opinion, Ms OConnell replied.

The trial continues on Monday before a jury and Judge Melanie Greally
Teresa Crowley, mother of Aoibhe Naghten from Blanchardstown, Dublin pictured leaving the Four Courts yesterday(Thurs) after the opening day of a High Court action.Pic: Collins Courts

Teresa Crowley, mother of Aoibhe Naghten from Blanchardstown, Dublin pictured leaving the Four Courts yesterday(Thurs) after the opening day of a High Court action.Pic: Collins Courts

A HIGH Court action by a young girl who sued over injuries to her hand in an ice-skating accident has been halted.

Aoibhe Naghten claimed she fell and another skater ran over her hand at a pop-up ice rink at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Dublin, on December 30, 2015.

The case was halted by Mr Justice Michael Hanna after the rink operators sought to introduce a new expert's and witness report to the case but Ms Naghten's side objected.

The judge, who had heard evidence from the girl who is nearly 12 years of age, and from an expert on her side, said he felt sorry for her but he must abandon the case.

However, he granted her the costs of the hearing. He said while he hated having to abandon the case, he had to, and she "could put it down to one of life's experiences".

Mr Justice Hanna directed the case go back in to the court list to be heard at a future date.

He also directed both sides to exchange engineers' reports.

Ms Naghten , Summerfield Rise, Blanchardstown, Dublin,through her mother Teresa Crowley, sued Cool Running Events Ltd, with offices at Glanmire, Co Cork, as a result of the fall.

She told the court she was skating towards the exit when a man standing at the side barrier turned around and accidentally bumped against her and she fell. While she was on the ground, she said another skater went over her right hand.

After the accident, she was given first aid at the rink and later got the wound in her right hand cleaned and stitched in hospital. She also had to have a splint for her right middle finger and has been left with a scar, she said.

Her claims were denied and Cool Running Events contended she was the author of her own misfortune.
Taxi Driver, Paul Byrne (43) of The Granary, Shelbourne Village, Dublin 4 pictured leaving the Four Courts after a Circuit Civil Court action. Photo: Collins Courts

A taxi driver, who claimed he was injured when a passenger opened the door of his cab into the path of an oncoming bus, has lost a 60,000 damages claim against Dublin Bus.

Paul Byrne (43) of The Granary, Shelbourne Village, Dublin 4, was also directed by Judge Jacqueline Linnane to pay the legal costs of Dublin Bus and pay the company 300 for repairs to the bus.

Bus driver Stephen Redmond told Mr Gerard OHerlihy, solicitor for Dublin Bus, that Byrnes taxi had pulled up in the bus lane at Ushers Quay, Dublin, on the night of 28th September, 2015 and a rear-seat passenger had opened the taxi door right in front of him.

He said he was unable to avoid a collision after having pulled out of the bus lane to pass the taxi which was also entitled to use the bus lane.

It never crossed my mind that a passenger would exit the taxi out into the road instead of onto the kerb, Mr Redmond said.

He told Mr OHerlihy he had given the taxi a wide enough berth to have passed him without incident prior to the door having been opened onto the roadway.

Redmond told the Circuit Civil Court he had later seen the taxi driver having an argument with a lady in the taxi.

Byrne said he had pulled in to let the woman out of his cab and had his hazard lights flashing. He told the woman to get out on the kerb side but she had ignored his direction. The drivers side rear door had been open for about five seconds before the collision.

Judge Linnane, dismissing Byrnes damages claim for injuries to his neck and lower back, said the taxi had been travelling along the quays in the direction of Heuston Station.

His passenger had been sitting directly behind him when some issue had arisen about her hand bag having been stolen earlier and the fact that she had no money to pay him.

This caused some degree of friction and the taxi driver pulled in on the bus lane, which he was entitled to use, to let the passenger out, Judge Linnane said.

She said the woman had not obeyed his instruction to get out on the kerb side and, instead, had opened the door onto the other side.

CCTV photo stills clearly show the bus was outside the bus lane and in the centre lane when the collision occurred, Judge Linnane said. It shows the taxi door opening a second later and the collision taking place.

She said she was satisfied the door was not open as the bus approached the taxi and did not accept Mr Byrnes statement that the door had been open for about five seconds before the collision.

The cause of this accident was clearly due to the passenger doing what the taxi driver told her not to do and I cannot see any negligence having been established against the driver, Judge Linnane said.

She dismissed Byrnes claim and directed him to pay Dublin Bus legal costs.
Colm Butterly, with an address in Clontarf, Dublin pictured leaving the Four Courts after he appeared before the Circuit Civil Court.Pic: Collins

Colm Butterly, one of the brothers who owned the ill-fated Stardust Night Club, retains up to 500,000 equity in his upmarket home in leafy Clontarf, Dublin, which a bank wants to re-possess, a judge was told today Thursday.

Julian Deale, a new solicitor representing Butterly, told Judge Jacqueline Linnane in the Circuit Civil Court that the house at Seacourt, Clontarf, was worth 700,000 with encumbrances of only in or about 200,000.

He said Mr Butterly had experienced business difficulties and had family law problems. Celestine MacNally had been joined as a notice party to the possession proceedings.

Barrister Shaula Connaughton-Deeny, counsel for EBS Mortgage Finance Limited, told Judge Linnane in mid-March last that 70-year-old Butterly owed more than 170,000 on his mortgage and the lender was seeking to re-possess the property.

Ms Connaughton-Deeny, who appeared with Ronan Daly Jermyn solicitors, told the court Thursday that the overall debt now stood at just under 175,000.

She said Mr Butterly had borrowed 203,200 from EBS in 1996 and had taken out a further loan of 240,000 in 2008. Both loans had been secured on the family home at Seacourt.

Mr Deale asked the court to give his client one last chance to come up with a solution to his financial problems and asked for a three months adjournment.

He has engaged well-known insolvency practitioners McCambridge Duffy to look into his affairs and I dont think anyone would be prejudiced by an adjournment peremptorily against him until the end of July, Mr Deale said.

Judge Linnane said Mr Butterly had already told the court he intended putting a proposal to the lender but there had been no progress. He had paid only 1,500 off his mortgage debt last year and just 1,000 in 2015.

His monthly repayments on one loan were 2,600 and 1,346 on the other. He had previously told the court he was not working but had taken up some sort of consultancy work.

Ms Connaughton-Deeny said the court had been given a number of excuses on the part of the defendant and although he had provided EBS with a financial statement of his affairs he still had not given the bank any vouching documentation to back it up.

Mr Deale said that if given one last chance he would instruct Mr Butterlys financial advisers that this was the final opportunity.

When told there was still huge equity in the property, Judge Linnane said: Yes, but whatever equity there is left is being eroded. The bank wants these loans to be serviced and the arrears addressed. He doesnt seem to have any substantial income to do so.

Butterly previously told the court a receiver had been appointed by AIB to his group of companies, including Patrick Butterly and Sons Limited (in receivership) and Butterly.

Judge Linnane said there had already been two judgment mortgages registered against the same property in 2012 and 2014 by another financial institution and clearly Mr Butterly had other debts. She granted him an adjournment until June 22.
Irish born priest John O'Reilly was convicted of the sexual abuse of a girl in Chile

A paedophile Irish priest has been ordered to leave Chile after sexually assaulting a young girl.

The Chilean Supreme Court has ruled that Fr John O'Reilly (71) must be deported from the country after 25 years and his citizenship will be taken off him.

O'Reilly was convicted in 2014 of of molesting a young girl between 2007 and 2011, while he worked as a spiritual guide at the Cumbres school in Santiago. His name was added to a national paedophile registry which intended to keep him from working with children.

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal against his deportation on Wednesday.

A statement from the court's authorities said: "The Third Supreme Court overturns the ruling of the Santiago Court of Appeals and authorises the expulsion of Fr John OReilly, once he completes the four year supervised release term to which he has been sentenced."

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O'Reilly's legal team has confirmed that they are considering launching an international appeal against the decision.

He is a member of The Legion of Christ but a lifetime ministry ban has been imposed on him by the Catholic Church.

O'Reilly previously told reporters: "Whatever God wants. We all have to be respectful of that.
An intelligence package on an underground paedophile network has been sent to An Garda Siochana as part of an international probe.

Over 360 people have been arrested across Europe as part of the worldwide investigation and hundreds of sexually abused children have been identified and rescued.

Operation Pacifier is the "largest and more complex investigation" into child sex abuse websites ever undertaken, according to Europol.

The Europe-wide law enforcement agency confirmed that 368 suspected child abusers have been arrested or convicted in Europe in relation to the investigation.

Almost 900 people have been arrested worldwide.

The operation saw the lead administrator of Playpen, one of the worlds largest child sexual abuse websites on the Darknet with more than 150,000 users around the world, sentenced to 30 years in prison in North Carolina earlier this week.

The two other administrators of the site were each sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

Europol said it's role "was to crosscheck, analyse and complete the data received in order to identify offenders mainly located in Europe."

They confirmed that intelligence packages were "prepared and disseminated" to law enforcement authorities in countries including Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

The investigation has so far resulted in 368 arrests or convictions in Europe, and 870 arrests or convictions worldwide.

At least 259 sexually abused children have been identified or rescued from their abusers outside of the US.

"Those individuals involved in the sexual abuse of children are becoming increasingly forensically aware and are actively using the most advanced forms of anonymisation and encryption to avoid detection," Steven Wilson, Head of Europols European Cybercrime Centre, said.

"Law enforcement needs to be able to use proportionate means to tackle this threat to our children.

"The internet has no boundaries and does not recognise borders.

"We need to balance the rights of victims versus the right to privacy. If we operate 19th century legal principles then we are unable to effectively tackle crime at the highest level."

The European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos added; "The sexual exploitation of children is a heinous crime against every moral value in our societies, and it should never go unpunished.

"Online sexual child abuse is a fight that we must fight together, and I welcome the crucial transatlantic cooperation between the FBI and Europol in this operation. It is precisely by working together that we can make a difference, by protecting our children and punishing those who are behind this revolting crime."
Let's try to put some fairness into the equation. There is a sense in which Charlie Flanagan would be seen as doing the "wrong thing" whatever he did.

If he says, "OK. We backed Saudi Arabia as the pragmatic course of action", human rights activists will hit the ceiling. Their perfectly valid arguments will be augmented by Opposition politicians who will also have other motives, and sometimes less than pristine records on human rights issues.

If the minister says, "No. We did not back the Saudi Arabian candidature because of its women's rights record", the trade and economic brigade will hit the ceiling. Their admittedly more venal arguments will be augmented by an uncertain world of Brexit and Trump, and the reality that someone else will trade with the oil-rich Saudis.

But the real problem for the Foreign Affairs Minister is that he is hiding behind the UN secret ballot on this one. He has insisted it would be irresponsible and damaging to confirm whether Ireland backed Saudi Arabia's successful bid for a seat on a United Nations Commission on women's rights.

Mr Flanagan is rightly facing harsh criticism for refusing to divulge how Ireland voted in the secret UN ballot.

Mr Flanagan and his colleague Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald have said Ireland observes the key UN conventions including secrecy around elections. "It is my strong view that it would be very damaging to Ireland's ability to conduct international relations successfully if we moved away from this established practice," Mr Flanagan said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister has added that it would be "irresponsible" to abandon a practice that has been observed by all previous governments. He said it was grounded on protecting and promoting the values of small countries on the world stage.

The latter is surely code for protecting the small UN member states from being "bullied" by all the bigger ones - especially those who like to regularly veto initiatives. But it is pretty limp stuff.

Many big UN votes are taken in public session. At all events foreign policy for a country like Ireland has to be conducted almost completely in plain view.

Ireland's decisions should be placed face-up on the table and defended accordingly.

This UN Commission on the Status of Women is worthy of respect and support. It was set up in 1946 and is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality.

For many brave and beleaguered defenders of women's rights it is among the few sources of solace.

It does vital work documenting the reality of women's lives throughout the world.

The global campaign group Human Rights Watch acknowledges "marginal improvements" on women's rights in Saudi Arabia in recent years. But men continue to control female relatives' lives and women in Saudi Arabia could not vote until two years ago.

It is very likely that Ireland backed its candidature. Dublin officials insist it is not linked to a current campaign by Ireland to secure a temporary seat on the UN's controlling security council.

Neither will they link it with lucrative Saudi trade prospects, but their discomfiture is real. A similar controversy erupted in Belgium, where its Prime Minister Charles Michel said his government would have voted differently if given another chance.

Mr Flanagan is on firmer ground arguing Ireland does raise human rights concerns when it can. He also argues that "quiet diplomacy" has a better chance than public admonishment.

It is also a bit rich of Fianna Fail to be suddenly paragons of transparency in this matter. Its party leader, Micheal Martin, was foreign affairs minister from 2008 until 2011. Did he reveal Ireland's past votes in such elections? "I don't know - but he never voted for Saudi Arabia to join a women's rights commission," his spokesman replied.
French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has the Irish regime in his sights as he plans to push for tax harmonisation among eurozone states if he wins office

Mr Macron explicitly mentioned Ireland as he insisted the gap in tax systems between EU member states would have to be reduced in the coming years.

Mr Macron said: "As for Ireland, we do know today that that's the bias for a lot of corporates, that it's bias for a lot of sectors and especially the digital sectors."

Mr Macron said he intends to lower France's corporate tax rate to the EU average of around 25pc - twice the current rate in Ireland.

And last night his senior economic advisor, Clement Beaune told the Irish Independent that Mr Macron believes "if we share a currency and economic integration then we have to share rules about social and systems including harmonisation".

The comments prompted a swift response from Taoiseach Enda Kenny who is currently visiting Canada. "The treaties of the EU set out quite clearly the responsibility of countries to deal with their corporate tax," he said.

"Ireland's tax rate has been 12.5pc for many years across all sectors and it will stay where it is," he said.

"There have been attempts at this before, but that is our business. It is enshrined in the protocol of the treaty, it is a national competence for everyone in the European Union."

Ireland has been in the spotlight over its low corporation tax rate of 12.5pc and allegations of "sweetheart deals" to multinationals. Last year's European Commission ruling on State aid to Apple is being appealed.
Gas Networks Ireland crews attended the scene of a suspected gas leak on Dublin's north quays this evening.

Motorists were asked to avoid the North Wall Quay area in Dublin and a building was evacuated following reports of a suspected gas leak.

Gardai said; "Delays likely to be for a number of hours so please use alternative routes. Diversions are in place."

Gas Networks Ireland confirmed they are on site and "working to repair third party damaged gas pipeline".

It is understood the CHQ Building was evacuated after the report of the smell of gas.

Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene with four units.

Red Line service disruption. please see https://t.co/w5mIjQTkX3 for information  Luas (@Luas) May 4, 2017

Custom House Quay is now closed due to the #gas leak North Wall Quay. Traffic diversions. 4 units on scene #Dublin #Fire @GasNetIrl pic.twitter.com/2FBAHOHM3i  Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) May 4, 2017

Dublin Traffic - Avoid the North Wall Quay area due to a suspected gas leak  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) May 4, 2017

Crew on site and working to repair third party damaged gas pipeline. @DubFireBrigade @GardaTraffic  Gas Networks Ireland (@GasNetIrl) May 4, 2017

The Luas Red Line stopped services to the IFSC area earlier, but have since started running services again.

There was no service between Georges Dock and The Point in both directions during the suspension.

Customers are now expected to have delays of up to one hour.

"Luas tickets are valid on Dublin Services for the duration of the disruption.

"Please accept our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience."
Sisters Janine Barber and Lesley Barber, from Glasnevin, take part in a protest over the sale of Harolds Cross greyhound stadium at the Dail. Photo: Gareth Chaney

Keeping Harold's Cross Stadium open does not make commercial sense despite its profits of 280,000 in 2015, the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) has said.

In a stark warning, the IGB told the Public Accounts Committee that it is dealing with a serious financial burden that could lead to the cessation of racing nationally unless changes are made.

The board is facing criticism over the decision to sell off Harold's Cross, but chairman Phil Meaney said "the market isn't big enough for two tracks on similar nights".

"The decision to sell Harold's Cross is not solely predicated on its potential value to the IGB or its contribution to the resolution of the debt issue, but is also based on the fact that it is two miles from Shelbourne Park stadium. It doesn't make commercial sense," he said.

It emerged that the multi-million euro sale of Harold's Cross took place without any tendering process and without any attempt to seek bids on the open market. Officials admitted the situation during a Dail meeting over the repeated failures by the group to ensure its financial stability due to a damaging 20m national debt.
The drug, which is understood to cost about 160,000 per patient, per year, was recently made available to CF patients here following an agreement between the drugs manufacturer and the Health Department. (Stock photo)

The cystic fibrosis community is outraged and demanding an apology from a health economist who claims State funding of a life-saving drug for CF patients is putting others at risk.

Anthony McDonnell, an economist with the Wellcome Trust, a biomedical research charity based in London, sparked controversy when he claimed that State funding of the CF drug Orkambi would divert much-needed funds away from other deserving patients.

The drug, which is understood to cost about 160,000 per patient, per year, was recently made available to CF patients here following an agreement between the drug's manufacturer and the Health Department.

Speaking on Newstalk Radio yesterday, Mr McDonnell said: "Every time the Government decides to fund something in our health system or anywhere else, they are essentially deciding not to fund something else.We only have a limited amount of money.

"Compared to Orkambi there are a large number of things you could do that would have a much greater impact on people's lives," he said.

But CF patient Jillian McNulty, who has been a vocal campaigner for the drug after her quality of life changed dramatically when she took part in clinical trials for it, said she was deeply offended by Mr McDonnell's comments.

"Let me in a room with him," the Longford woman said. "It's absolutely shocking and disgusting what he said."

Philip Watt, CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, agreed that an apology was needed.

"He should apologise for the hurt he's caused," he told the Irish Independent. "He is playing God, that's exactly what he's doing.

"It's a very hardened, right-wing attitude and it's extremely offensive."

He also took issue with some of the points Mr McDonnell made, including claims that the Government agreed to fund the drug because it was "politically popular" instead of "putting the money where it could save the most people's lives".

But Mr Watt said the drug would actually save the State money in the long run.

"Orkambi has shown to reduce potential hospitalisations by up to 40pc. The CF population in Ireland combined spent over 15,000 days in hospital in 2015. Massive savings will be made in the existing health budget," he said.
Nurses say that some hospital cleaners are earning more than them, as they warn of all-out strike if their pay demands are not met.

Angry delegates at the annual meeting of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) sent a clear signal to the Government ahead of the talks on public service pay that they want parity with other graduate entry grades.

They unanimously passed an emergency motion calling for pay parity, saying stark differences have emerged with other public servants such as teachers.

After 15 years a nurse is earning 43,800, while a teacher will be on 55,710 following recent agreements.

Sean Kelly, of the Mullingar branch, said: "There are people cleaning floors earning more than me."

Mr Kelly said: "Nurses, no matter how recently qualified, deserve to be paid no less than any healthcare assistant or multi-task assistant at the top scale of their pay.

"I work in an emergency department and I am four years qualified. There are people cleaning floors earning more money than me.

"I am not saying they do not deserve to be paid 19 per hour. They do. They work really, really hard.

"But I deserve to be paid more than that."

Mary Leahy, who is on the executive council, said nurses were on wages that were 12pc to 15pc lower than other healthcare colleagues with equivalent qualifications.

Delegates spoke of burnout and having to work in an environment where staffing shortages led to patient risk. One nurse could be looking after 12 patients.

"Soon we will have to take patients home," quipped one nurse.

Phil Ni Sheaghdha, the union's director of industrial relations, said the purchasing power of Irish nurses, based on their salaries, was the worst of eight countries. The highest in the league were nurses in Canada, followed by those in the USA and Australia.

Addressing the delegates, the union's general secretary Liam Doran said: "If there is any doubt on the part of the Government or colleague unions as to what the INMO will seek in these talks, let us be quite clear: we want our money back.

"Secondly, and this is where the struggle may begin, the parity claim has to be progressed as part of these talks."

The Government has had it its way for too long, he added.

He urged the delegates to "be prepared".

Nurses rose to their feet and applauded as he said: "If the call comes, we will do whatever is needed."

The meeting was told that the premium pay for nurses working between 6pm and 8pm was restored in January and it will be retrospective to January 2016 for nurses in acute hospitals.

Arbitration has now extended this to nurses in care of the elderly, intellectual disability and primary care.
The morning-after pill is to be made directly available to medical card holders through pharmacies.

Health Minister Simon Harris is to announce today that they will no longer have to first visit a GP for a prescription.

The minister's announcement, to be made at the annual meeting of the Irish Pharmacy Union, follows calls to end the two-tier system in place for access to the emergency contraception.

Five years ago restrictions on its availability were lifted for private patients after it was decided it could be purchased over the counter from pharmacies.

Pharmacists have also lobbied for changes to be made for medical card holders, saying they are healthcare professionals with the skills and competence to dispense the medicine to patients.

They are able to provide a consultation to women in a private area of the pharmacy and give advice on its administration. The medication can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or a failure of other contraception.

The sooner the contraception is taken the better. There are no serious side-effects to the medication and it does not cause an abortion.

The easier access for medical card holders is due to come in to effect in July.

Mr Harris is of the view that this has been an unfair anomaly and a barrier to timely treatment for women who are medical card holders.

He believes that all women, irrespective of their means, should have the same access to emergency contraception when they need it.

The current arrangement did not serve women with medical cards well.

Pharmacists have said that their own surveys found that 77pc of consultations with women seeking the medicine take place within 24 hours of unprotected sex. More than a fifth of those surveyed were medical card holders.

Effective

It meant that one on five women who could access it free were nonetheless willing to go directly to the pharmacist and pay for it.

The pharmacists argued it was not fair that a medicine that is known to be most effective within 24 hours could not be accessed immediately free of charge by medical card holders.

They said the delay was a huge concern, given the potentially life-changing consequences of an unplanned pregnancy.

They insisted it amounted to discrimination of medical card patients over private patients.

A study published in 2010 showed that of 1,696 women who received the emergency pill within 72 hours of sex, 37 became pregnant.

Of 203 women who took the pill between 72 and 120 hours after unprotected sex, there were three pregnancies.

A majority of pharmacists reported they have been asked for the morning-after pill since it became available over the counter.

A survey found that the age of patients asking for the medication ranged from 16 to 40, with younger patients aged 20 to 25 among those most commonly looking to purchase it.

The average age of the women buying the emergency contraception was 23.

It is cited as one of the methods available to reduce crisis pregnancies.
Some nurses who are wooed to work in Ireland are having to stay with "foster families" for several weeks and face restrictions in their daily living.

Kris Abragan, a Filipino nurse, told the annual meeting of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation that the foster families are used to accommodate nurses coming to work in Dublin hospitals.

"Some are very lucky to get a good foster family, but this does not always happen. One male nurse found himself living alone in a house with another woman," he said.

One foster family reportedly questioned why a nurse was showering every day.

Meanwhile, student nurses in Ireland who are training but must do placements in other hospitals also said they are having to pay 70 a night in hotel costs.

The delegates supported a motion to call for a review of the accommodation allowance for students as a contribution towards the cost of a clinical placement.
The State spent almost 6 million sending children with respiratory defects overseas for treatment, even though the technology used is available in Ireland.

Figures obtained by RTE's Morning Ireland show that thirty children with these defects have been sent to the UK and Sweden over the last six years for life-saving ECMO treatment.

ECMO treatment is actually available in Ireland and Our Lady's Children' Hospital Crumlin has three of these machines available, which are used for children with heart defects but those with respiratory problems have been sent overseas.

The hospital has said they aren't funded by the HSE to administer ECMO treatment on children with respiratory problems.

They said in a statement that an application for HSE funding to start carrying out the treatment is being written up.

The HSE has confirmed there are no current plans to start funding ECMO treatment for children with respiratory illnesses here.
The village of Littleton was left stunned as Bord na Mona confirmed it would closing its peat briquette factory next year with the loss of more than 70 jobs.

The company briefed workers at the Co Tipperary plant while simultaneously telling staff at Bord na Mona's other briquette production operation in Derrinlough, Co Offaly, that their jobs would be safe.

Production at Littleton is to be wound up by next April, with 69 permanent employees to lose their jobs, while there will also be "some impact" on the employment of 56 people who work at a nearby peat-harvesting operation.

The move follows a "very significant decline in sales" of peat briquettes over the past few years, with Bord na Mona citing increased competition, consumer trends, low oil prices, the carbon tax and other factors. All production of briquettes, including new biomass briquettes, will be concentrated at Derrinlough, which currently employs 61 people.

Expand Close Staff were called to a meeting at the Bord na Mona plant at Littleton in Co Tipperary, where news of the job losses was broken Photo: Mark Condren / Facebook

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Whatsapp Staff were called to a meeting at the Bord na Mona plant at Littleton in Co Tipperary, where news of the job losses was broken Photo: Mark Condren

"This has been a very difficult decision following a period of uncertainty for employees," said Bord na Mona's head of fuels, Eddie Scaife.

Worker Pat Dunican said he was "devastated" when told the news.

"You would have thought it was one of the safest jobs in the country, being a semi-state body," he said. "We're just going to have to find something else".

Local businesses were reeling from the news. Local butcher Paudie Fitzpatrick told the Irish Independent "there's nothing left here" following recent closures of both the Lisheen and Galmoy Mines, not too far away, and gates long shut at the old sugar factory and Erin Foods factory in Thurles.

"Look at Clonmel down there, it's booming, and Nenagh the same. There's nothing in the middle of the county."

Hairdresser Margaret Cantwell said. "It's going to be an awful blow to here, absolutely. Bord na Mona is there for years upon years and it gave an awful lot of employment around the area and an awful lot of apprenticeships."

GAA club committee member Ed Donnelly said: "There are numerous people employed there who are in the GAA club and trying to find alternative employment for them would be a huge concern. There are people I know who have been working there 20 or 30 years and are potentially at an age where they may have difficulty getting jobs. It's not necessarily a young workforce and that makes it even harder."

Offaly North Tipperary TD Barry Cowen described the planned closure as an unfortunate continuation of the trend in the peat industry.

The Bord na Mona group of unions said it wouldn't accept the decision to close the Littleton facility. "It will be opposed by our members by all legitimate means, including industrial action,' Siptu organiser John Rogan said.
Gardai have arrested three people and seized a large quantity of drugs during an operation targeting drug trafficking activities of organised criminals.

GARDAI targeting up and coming drug dealers in south Dublin have arrested a 16-year-old teenager and seized almost 10,000 worth of drugs.

Officers from the local Drug Unit, supported by gardai attached to Sundrive Road Garda Station, raided a property in Rutland Grove, Crumlin at approximately 8.30pm on Wednesday.

The raid was the result of a surveillance operation put in place as part of an investigation into drug dealing in the Crumlin area.

After gardai entered the property they recovered almost 10,000 worth of cannabis. A 16-year-old male, who was in the house at the time of the raid, was arrested and questioned at Crumlin garda station. He has since been released while a file is prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A source said that the raid was part of an ongoing operation to target street dealers in the area, with a focus also on dismantling the operations of younger up and coming criminals.

"There is particular concern over younger people having access to such a large value of drugs, and pressure has been increased by local gardai to stamp out their activities in the Crumlin/Drimnagh area," the source said.

It was the latest success for local gardai who earlier this week seized 2,000 worth of cocaine in the area as part of an ongoing operation.

The local unit also seized over 50,000 worth of cocaine on April 20 after raiding an address in Windmill Park, Crumlin.

No arrests have yet been made in relation to either seizure but investigations are ongoing and further disruptive operations are expected.

A Garda spokesman said: "These seizures are part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the local area."

Another operation involving members of the DMR South-Division drug unit saw 1kg of cocaine, worth in the region of approximately 70,000, recovered in the Lucan area in the west of the capital late last month.

The most recent available figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that drug dealing offences increased by almost 33 per cent last year compared to 2015 in the Crumlin/Sundrive Road garda district.

In 2016 a total of 263 controlled drug offences were recorded, with 203 such incidents reported the previous year.

However, the figure is still significantly lower than the 393 drug related offences that were recorded in 2013.
The image of the man pulling the swan by the neck out of the water. Photo: Brenda Malloy Twitter

Onlookers were left horrified after a man attacked a swan and pulled it out of the water by its neck at Phoenix Park.

Brenda Malloy told RTE's Liveline that she witnessed the man assaulting the swan and grabbing it by its neck.

"The man was in an altercation with a swan. He was waving his arms in the air and the swan was pecking at him. His son was right next to him in a buggy," Ms Malloy told Joe Duffy.

Ms Malloy said she told the man to stop, but he didn't seem to hear her.

"He was pulling pretty hard. At first I said 'don't do that' but he didn't hear me. So I pulled out my camera and took the photographs.

"It's not nice for the son to see and it was dangerous.

"The swan was very aggressive. I think people should understand we're lucky to have Phoenix Park and people should be respectful of the wildlife and the park."

Niall Hatcher from BirdWatch Ireland told Liveline that the image was "very disturbing".

"It looks like the man is trying to pull the swan out of the water. It's very unsetlling. Swans can be quite aggressive and that's understandable if they're trying to defend their eggs or chicks. It's worrying the treatment of the animal. It's illegal to injure a wild animal or interfere with it.

"It's nesting season so they're incubating their eggs and unfortunately we had quite a few reports of people harassing swans and killing them. They are quite vulnerable. They hold their ground and can knock someone to the ground, especially a young child."

Mr Hatch said that people can be prosecuted under the Wildlife Act of 1976 for assaulting wildlife.

A caller named John told Joe Duffy that he had an aggressive experience with swans at Citywest.

"The swans came over slowly and started to attack the kids. They're very aggressive for no reason. I couldn't believe the strength. Maybe that man was afraid for his kids."
Enda Kenny waits to speak to members of the Irish community at the School of Irish Studies at Concordia University during his visit to Montreal, Quebec, Canada REUTERS/Christinne Muschi

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has said the issue of his leadership and the future of Fine Gael are not up for discussion while he is abroad on trade missions.

But he said he has not changed his mind in relation to his plans to step aside and that he has made this point known to his parliamentary party.

Mr Kenny said he travelled to Canada to focus on trade and investment - not his intentions to step aside.

The Fine Gael leader yesterday hit out at media questions on his leadership.

"I can't believe actually that you have travelled this distance to ask a question like that," Mr Kenny said during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

But the Taoiseach was asked again about his intentions to step aside at a press briefing with journalists in Toronto on Friday.

He rejected suggestions that he took "umbrage" when he was asked about the issue yesterday.

"Well now for your information, I didnt take umbrage at all," Mr Kenny said.

"I came here on a trade and investment mission to meet with the Canadian Prime Minister to discuss the opportunities of CETA that work both ways. Thats the purpose of my visit. And I dont intend to discuss the question of leadership or the future of the Fine Gael party when Im on a trade mission or investment mission to Canada," he added.

When it was pointed out that Mr Kenny has discussed internal party issues on previous overseas visits, he responded:

"Matters of Fine Gael are internal to Fine Gael. Im here officially on a trade and investment mission to Canada. And I dont propose to discuss anything to do with leadership when Im on this trade mission."

Asked whether he has changed his mind and intends to stay on longer than originally signalled, the Taoiseach replied:

"No, Ive been very clear with my parliamentary party about this."
Justice Minister and Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald says Ireland must move to hold a referendum on the abortion issue as soon as possible.

Ms Fitzgerald rejected criticisms by Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald that the Government was engaged in the "politics of delay" in dealing with the issue.

The Justice Minister said it was in Irish women's interests to move forward with a referendum and introduce new law on the issue.

"We have a very, very bad history when it comes to women's reproductive rights," Ms Fitzgerald told the Dail.

Last month the Citizens' Assembly voted overwhelmingly for women to have the right to abortion in Ireland for the first time in a historic day.

That included 89pc of the Assembly voting in favour of Irish women being given the right to access abortion for a foetal abnormality likely to result in the death, before or shortly after birth, of a child.

It paved the way for a referendum which will see campaigners push for a definitive change in the law to give Irish women the full legal right to abortion.

But first the Citizens' Assembly's views will be considered by a new Oireachtas committee on the matter.

Speaking in the Dail yesterday, Ms Fitzgerald said that countries around the world found it difficult to come up with a legal framework to regulate abortion.

Her own long-standing belief was that the Constitution was the right place to deal with the issue.

"I do believe a referendum should be held as early as possible," Ms Fitzgerald added.

For Sinn Fein, Ms McDonald said the Citizens' Assembly was part of a Government strategy to avoid the issue and delay the difficult decisions required. "We need a clear signal on when a referendum will be held," Ms McDonald said.
Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has alarmed the agriculture sector by washing his hands of a threat to the beef sector from British supermarkets.

In the wake of a threat to ban Irish beef, the minister said it was "for the industry to decide" whether the Irish beef market's 50pc stronghold on the British marketplace will stand in the wake of Brexit.

Mr Creed's lacklustre response followed a British supermarket giant launching a 'British only' campaign.

The minister's comments will alarm farmers who are reliant on exports to Britain after the supermarket Co-op piled pressure on competitors to not stock Irish beef.

Irish Exporters Association head Simon McKeever warned this is the "first" of the pro-nationalist moves to emerge from the British market as the supermarket called on other chains to back "home-grown goods".

"If it was to spread to other retailers like Morrisons and Tesco and others it could be very damaging as Tesco is a major buyer," he said.

However, Mr McKeever pointed out Britain remains just 60pc self-sufficient in food - which means it is reliant on imports.

The Co-op chain does not stock Irish meat but it was extremely vocal in highlighting that Ireland was the "biggest beneficiary" of the EU meat trade with Britain.

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But as Ireland's 1.15bn beef trade with Britain hangs in the Brexit crosshairs, Mr Creed played down the problem.

He told RTE Radio it was "not for me, it's for the industry to decide" if Ireland continues to command a 50pc slice of that market post-Brexit.

However, he did stress his officials were working to open other markets.

"I and my department, along with Bord Bia, are very conscious of the need to ensure that we have ongoing engagement with customers of Irish produce in the UK," he said, adding he has met the CEOs of all the main British retailers.

"These meetings were to emphasise to them our strong desire to maintain the close trading relationship in food products from Irish suppliers."

Ireland's meat processing factories stressed Irish beef had a "long tradition and strong reputation" in the British market.

Meat Industry Ireland director Cormac Healy said they played an important role in supplying meat to retail and food services throughout the UK.

"The Brexit development obviously holds major concerns for us in terms of our future trading relationship and access to this important market.

"If we are now seeing an intensification of a 'Buy British' campaign, this is obviously going to be a further challenge. However, in the context of the Co-op announcement, it is the case that the chain has not been stocking Irish beef," he said.

A spokesman for Bord Bia stressed the biggest British retailers buy Irish beef.
THE public has the right to know how we voted on the membership of Saudi Arabia in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, Government Minister Shane Ross has said.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan have both refused to reveal whether Ireland voted to help Saudi Arabia get a seat on the Commission.

Saudi Arabia's treatment of women and denial of women's rights has been a regular source of criticism.

Now Mr Ross has branded the secrecy around Ireland's vote as "wrong".

The Irish Independent understands that the vote was never discussed at Cabinet - and other ministers were unaware that it was even taking place.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio One, Minister Ross said: "I think people are entitled to know how how the nation cast its vote, even though there appears to be a long tradition of secrecy - I think that's wrong.

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Whatsapp Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan. Photo: Damien Eagers

"I think what we ought to do is ask who's in charge how we voted and why we voted that way."

The Independent Alliance TD also claimed he will continue to press Minister Flanagan on the issue until it's resolved.

He said: "I think we're going to ask him to tell us how Ireland voted, I think it's reasonable, the idea that this could be carried out behind closed doors is wrong.

"We're going to make it absolutely clear that we expect transparency, that's why the Independent Alliance is in power.

"If he won't answer we'll push it further and keep asking and asking until we get a satisfactory answer."

Expand Close Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney Photo: Collins Dublin / Facebook

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The Transport Minister also said that he's enjoying the "parade" between Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar as they're the frontrunners to replace Enda Kenny as Taoiseach.

It's expected that Kenny will step down as Fine Gael leader in the coming weeks and Minister Ross branded the leadership rumours as "a distraction" but said he's unfazed by it.

He said: "It's kind of a parade going on which everyone enjoys and we love to see Leo and Simon sparring, we'd love to see a television parade but I don't think it's slowing things down, I've seen no evidence of that.

"I was talking to Simon Coveney and he's constantly addressing me about issues that we have in common in the department, I've seen no sign of distraction in him.

"I've seen Leo Varadkar various times and we haven't discussed leadership at all, we just talk about legislative areas where we overlap.

"I'm indifferent to who's leader, I'm concentrated on the programme of government, whether it's Leo Varadkar, Enda Kenny or Simon Coveney if they're are prepared to implement the programme we've outlined then I'm prepared to work with them, otherwise it's really not relevant to me."

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As the Government reaches one year in power, he also brushed off accusations that they've been slow to pass legislation.

He said: "I accept the criticism but there's a lot of people who accept this Dail is different, gone are the guillotines, the late night sittings and bills being rushed through.

"The Government is no longer in charge of the Dail but the Dail is in charge of the government and that should be welcomed, things will take longer but that's a good thing."

10 questions the minister wont answer

1. Was Ireland lobbied to support Saudi Arabia securing a seat on the UN Commission on the Status of Women?

2. Did Ireland vote in favour of Saudi Arabia securing a seat on the Commission?

3. If so, why?

4. If not, who did Ireland vote for?

5. Regardless of how Ireland voted, does the Foreign Affairs Minister believe that Saudi Arabia is a suitable country to be part of an agency that is exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women?

6. Has Ireland sought support from Saudi Arabia for elections to other United Nations bodies, such as the Security Council?

7. When is the last time the minister met with representatives of the Saudi Arabian government in Ireland?

8. What was the purpose of these meetings?

9. At any point was the issue of womens rights raised?

10. At any point was the UN Commission on the Status of Women discussed?
Sarah Mahony, Vera Twomey and Mags OSullivan inside Leinster House to raise awareness for Veras sick daughter Ava (7). Photo: Gareth Chaney

TDs were locked inside Leinster House after a Cork woman campaigning to ensure her child is given access to cannabis-based medication staged a sit down protest at the gates.

Vera Twomey is demanding a meeting with Health Minister Simon Harris to discuss the legalisation of medicinal cannabis to treat her daughter Ava, who suffers from Dravets syndrome - a rare form of epilepsy.

TDs hoping to drive home to their constituencies were lined up inside Leinster House as the protest ensued.

Ms Twomey had indicated she would not leave until Mr Harris met with her.

She claims Mr Harris has failed to follow up on issues she raised at a meeting two months ago.

Some 18 gardai surrounded Ms Twomey and the three other supporters and removed them a short time later. Last month, the mother travelled to Spain and obtained a three-month supply of medicinal cannabis for her daughter, which was confiscated by customs officials at Dublin Airport.

People Before Profit TDs Gino Kenny and Richard Boyd Barrett have called for Mr Harris to meet Ms Twomey without delay.
A woman said she was left "heartbroken" after discovering her adoption agency had connected her with the wrong family following a life-long search for her birth mother.

Geraldine McCarthy (59) connected with the immediate family of the woman the Irish adoption agency believed was her natural mother, only for DNA tests to prove they weren't related.

Speaking on TV3's Adoption Stories, Geraldine said it was devastating to discover she wasn't related to the family in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, after forming close bonds with the people she thought were her relations.

"I feel really angry about it because it has caused me so much heartbreak and the other family so much heartbreak that we neednt have gone through at all. Its very upsetting and I just wonder what can we do about that really.

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"If its happened to me, God only knows how many people its happened to."

Following the revelation, Geraldine discovered that a nun, acting on behalf of the agency, had followed up on the wrong woman, who shared the same name as Geraldine's mother, Margaret, but was ten years older.

"The nun had physically had gone off in her own transport to locate my mother and this was the family she had found. She first went to the parish priest, who would neither confirm or deny anything. Then she went to the Gardai and according to what she wrote in her letter, the Gardai directed her towards this brother of the lady who might have been my mother. He asked her had he a sister named Margaret and he said he had but that she had died.

"Thats the information that was in my file."

Despite the revelation, the people Geraldine had connected with still wanted to be a part of her life, but she said she felt guilt about entering their lives after their sister had died.

"I was so happy those days, I thought, 'This is so right, this is my family'. It was the most awesome feeling. I thought I would bring it up about a DNA test, because I could be anyone coming in," said Geraldine.

"And they agreed - Margarets remaining brother and sister. I employed a doctor known to them and permission was sought to take the DNA and so we did all that. The doctor rang me back one afternoon at around two oclock. He said, 'The test is back, no match whatsoever'. I said, 'Oh no, Im imagining that, he couldnt have said that'.

"They did say wed keep in touch, but I kind of didnt because I thought, 'Why am I bothering these people now? Ive bothered them enough'. I was mortified for having put them through that."

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Although Geraldine was heartbroken to discover she wasn't related to the family she had already bonded with, the DNA results allowed her to explore another avenue.

Geraldine placed her DNA results on three international data bases, and was excited to find matches with second cousins. Geraldine connected with a cousin in the US, Joe, who had also been adopted and was searching for his birth family.

Joe had recently discovered the identity of his birth father, which offers hope to Geraldine's search. In her own investigations, Geraldine believes she may have identified her great-great grandfather in Limerick, and has connected with some of his relatives. However, Geraldine said it is astonishing how difficult the Irish system makes it for people trying to find answers.

"It shouldnt be this hard to find anybody with all the records we have access to now. Its like they wanted to punish us all for the rest of our lives so we could never find each other again.

"In my wildest dreams Im always going to hope to find my mother and now my father, too.

"If I dont, at least Ive found some second cousins who are going to visit me and Im going to visit them. That even makes up in a way," she said.

Episode Four of Adoption Stories: What Happened Next airs on TV3 on Thursday at 8.30pm.
Having a baby is a life-changing experience. A woman's body goes through so much during pregnancy and birth and she may not feel like her 'old' self for some time afterwards, so the last thing on her mind is probably when to start having sex again.

There are certainly different opinions out there on when to resume intimacy. Childcare guru Gina Ford, the author of The Contented Mother's Guide, advises in her book that while the traditional advice used to be to wait until your postnatal check-up at six weeks after the birth, you may find you're ready much earlier, or later. She outlines one school of thought as being that it's better to have sex before your check-up so that, if you do experience pain or other problems, you can discuss it with your GP at the time of the examination. There is even a suggestion from one mother in her book that women should "grin and bear it", for the sake of reconnecting intimately with their partner. Ford urges new parents to remember they were lovers before parents and to go on date nights and find ways to be romantic with one another, including having sex.

As a mother myself, I find this advice strange, to say the least. After I gave birth to my first child, I was in so much pain from the forceps and episiotomy delivery I endured that thoughts of getting jiggy with my husband were the last thing on my mind. My belly was saggy, my breasts were huge and tender, and sleep was a thing of the past. I felt like a zombie version of myself, and as for my nether regions - the idea of having any kind of sexual activity was abhorrent to me. I had to pour water on my stitches every time I went to the loo for four weeks after the birth, to help alleviate the pain.

General practitioner Dr Ciara Kelly says that new mothers should never feel pressurised into having sex until they are ready.

"This may be well after the six-week mark has passed and that is perfectly okay," she says. "Sex should be a pleasurable act only. After a woman gives birth, there is a postnatal hormonal depression, where her body physically suppresses her libido. This is because they body has recently given birth and does not want to be pregnant again."

Dr Kelly sees a lot of women in her clinic for their six-week postnatal check-up and while some are sexually active, most are not. "This notion that women 'should' be having sex within six weeks of giving birth is not just disrespectful to women but also to their partners. Most of the men that come to the six-week postnatal check are considerate of what their partner is going through and they want to look after and support her."

The GP says there should never be pressure put on women to have sex before they are ready. And even when they may feel ready, it can still be difficult and even painful. "I would recommend a lubricant such as K-Y Jelly. Not one of the flavoured ones, which may irritate that area, but a plain one like K-Y, which will help with penetration. It's also a good idea for the woman to go on top because then she can control the level of penetration herself. It's best to take it slow and go gentle, and, if she is not ready, to stop and try again when she is further along the healing process."

Midwife and author of The Irish Better Birth Book Tracy Donegan also disagrees with any suggestions about when couples 'should' be having sex after birth. "We generally recommend waiting six weeks, due to the fact that the mum has an open wound in her uterus after the placenta has delivered, so it's mostly to avoid infection while that heals - and it's the same reason we recommend avoiding using tampons. Most mums are still experiencing blood loss, known as lochia, at this point but if it feels comfortable for them to try having sex, then I'd tell the mum to see how it feels for her."

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Getting your groove back after having a baby is as much mental as it is physical, according to Donegan. "Exhaustion, hormones and body changes can make it challenging. Culturally, we put a lot of emphasis on 'getting back to normal' after having a baby - but this is a new normal for both partners. The mum shouldn't feel pressured and she should go at her own pace. Intimacy could be letting your partner give you a foot rub or back massage or the dad taking the baby out for a walk while the mum has a bath and some quiet time. Baby steps! It takes an effort on both sides in the early days, but keeping the lines of communication open and being sensitive to each other's needs will help."

For a mother who has had a difficult birth, the experienced midwife recommends seeing a women's health physio for an evaluation. "Too many women are not getting adequate care and support after birth, as seen in the recent Mammi study (mammi.ie). Mental healing is equally important, so mums need to be sure to talk about how they're feeling. Often, mums are embarrassed to talk about healing after birth and they can miss out on much-needed support and information."

Aside from GP and women's health clinics, new mothers can look to their relatives and friends for support and they can engage with other new mums online, on sites such as mumstown.ie. Just knowing you are not the only one feeling tired, sore and uncertain about how you are doing is comforting in itself.

There is a lot of support for new mothers at this life-changing time, such as mum-and-baby coffee mornings, baby swim classes, baby yoga classes, baby massage, or even just getting out for a walk with the baby will help. Fresh air and exercise are great for helping with postnatal recovery and the feeling of 'getting back to normal'.

Expand Close General practitioner Dr Ciara Kelly says that new mothers should never feel pressurised into having sex until they are ready. / Facebook

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Whatsapp General practitioner Dr Ciara Kelly says that new mothers should never feel pressurised into having sex until they are ready.

As for getting your sex life back, take it at your own pace and don't let anyone make you feel pressurised. Instead, you and your partner can do other things to reconnect intimately. Massage, kissing and cuddling can bring some fun back into your sex life, without the pressure of 'going all the way' before you are ready.
The month of May is upon us, a month that is symbolically - and actually - linked with the start of summer. The coming weeks and months will see some terrific events, and the week ahead does not disappoint in this regard.

Today (Thursday 4th May) there is a talk looking at the folklore of May Day itself. Dr. Jenny Butler, lecturer in the Study of Religions at U.C.C., will give a talk in Blarney Secondary School at 8pm, examining some of the legends of the fairy folk (the Sidh) and will look at many May Day customs, past and present.

Another feature of Irish folklore, known to many, is the Sheela-na-Gig, which can be found scattered around the country on our churches and castles. These stone carvings, often described as crude and evocative, date back to medieval times, depicting the female/ the female form. These carvings, of which there are over 110 in Ireland, are "often positioned in medieval tower-houses, medieval church sites and holy wells. Up to recently these were seen as figures representing the evils of lust or as ways of averting the 'evil eye'. More convincing reassessments have reinterpreted the Sheela-na-gig, in line with the Cailleach, as belonging to the realm of vernacular folk deities associated with the life-giving powers of birth and death. Placed with the cycles of both the natural and agricultural year and the human life cycle, she can be regarded as the embodiment of the cycle of fertility that overarches natural, agricultural and human procreation and death" (Heritage Council).

The Heritage Council and HeritageMaps.ie have just announced the release of their latest dataset mapping Ireland's mysterious Sheela-na-Gigs. Explaining how the map was created, Pat Reid of HeritageMaps.ie said "we used publicly available National Monuments Service open-data to create the base for this map. We augmented this with images and information gathered from the museum sector and Sheela-na-Gig academics and enthusiasts. This Sheela-na-Gig dataset is just one of many bespoke datasets we hope to provide in this manner. Our aim is to create interest and awareness, and to facilitate further research, in the varied and diverse elements of our cultural heritage."

Heritage Maps, was developed by the Heritage Council and a range of partners including local authority Heritage Officers. There are over 600 datasets on display with over 150,000 mapped points of heritage and cultural interest. Michael Starrett, Heritage Council Chief Executive explained that "HeritageMaps.ie a fantastic tool for learning, discussion and interpretation, making cultural data available to everyone". For more information, visit www.heritagemaps.ie.

Folklore aside, the month of May also sees much of nature come into full glory and National Biodiversity Week, from May 19th to 27th, is an opportunity to explore and learn all about the ecology that surrounds us.

The term 'ecology' is of Greek origin and essentially means the understanding of the home deriving from the two Greek words 'oikos' and 'logos' - meaning home and understanding, respectively. To take an interest in the natural world outside our doors - indeed our wider home - is to take an interest in ecology and it is hoped that there will be many a fascinating event held during National Biodiversity Week.

A few days before, on Sunday 14th May, will be a walk of the Gearagh led by renowned Heritage Expert Ted Cook. The Gearagh, outside of Macroom, is one of only five similar forests in the world. There is a treasure trove of biodiversity within the woods and everyone is welcome to come along on the day to enjoy and learn more about this wonderful site. The walk commences at 1pm at the carpark on the Inchigeela Road. It is about two miles on the left hand side from the Inchigeela turnoff on the main Cork-Macroom Road.

From a Centenary perspective, the month of May is also one of particular note. 100 years ago on the fourth of May, 1917, the American Navy took up base in Cork Harbour, having arrived on five large vessels. This was to mark the American presence in WWI but also their presence in the daily life and times of County Cork. In their time here, many naval servicemen fell in love with local women, and many of these women married and emigrated to America.

This part of Cork's social history is the fascinating subject of a wonderful new exhibition by Damian Shiels, which opens in the Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, today (May 4th). The exhibition identifies a number of the women, and together with a number of portraits and documentation, it will shed a light on the more social side of life in a time of war. It will run until the 17th of September and is well worth a visit.

Also on May 4th the History Ireland Hedge School will be taking place in Cobh Library at 7.30pm as part of the Cobh Cafe Readers' and Writers' Festival. "1917 was the pivotal year of the First World War. At its outset German U-boats were inflicting huge damage on Allied shipping, while in the land war the loss of one ally, Russia, was not compensated by the gain of another, the United States. How did the Allies swing the balance in their favour by the year's end, particularly at sea? How central was Ireland (and Cork in particular) in this conflict? To address these and related questions join History Ireland editor Tommy Graham and the panel of John Borgonovo (UCC), Michael Kennedy (RIA's Documents on Irish Foreign Policy), Jennifer Wellington (UCD) and Michael Martin (Titanic Trail). The Event is supported by the Commemorations Unit, Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. History Ireland Hedge Schools are lively, unfettered debates and provide a novel and interesting way to bring historical topics to life". It promises to be a fascinating evening.
Community School Transition Year students Ciara Fitzgerald and Katie Crowley extend a massive thank you to everyone who had supported their fundraising for the HOPE Foundation.

The ladies travelled to Kolkata with fellow students visiting all the projects such as schools, houses, creches and the HOPE Foundation hospital.

"It was an amazing experience and we would encourage everyone to do this. We both definitely want to continue to work with the HOPE Foundation in the future and we would like to sincerely thank the people of Millstreet for supporting us in this once in a life time experience", they said.
Students from Charleville CBS have won the Young Social Innovator's (YSI) 2017 'Make Our World Greener Challenge' with their project 'Ditch Your Carbon Cup Print.'

They have also qualified for the national final of the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards, the final of which will take place on the11th May at the National Convention Centre Dublin.

The project was the winner of one of the 11 YSI Challenges and is also in the running for the overall Young Social Innovators of the Year Awards. The Charleville students have been invited to present their project to a panel of judges at the ceremony in the Convention Centre Dublin.

The ECO-UNESCO Young environmentalist Awards is Ireland's biggest all-island celebration of youth ECO-Action. Since 1999, the ECO-UNESCO's Young Environmentalist Awards has recognised and rewarded the environmental actions of thousands of young people 12 and 18 who are working to protect, conserve and enhance our environment through local environmental action projects, making a difference to their lives and the lives of others locally and globally

Three CBS students from the project team participated in the semi-final stage of the competition at the Munster ECO-Den. They impressed a panel of expert judges by pitching their eco-action project to secure a place in the final, which takes place on May 23. There was great excitement at Charleville C.B.S when the project was shortlisted for the final, where they will join 80 groups from around Ireland.

'Ditch Your Carbon Cup Print' is an environmental project. The main aim of the project is to reduce Carbon Emissions (C02) locally and nationally by encouraging people to bring their own reusable cup and ditch the disposable paper cup when getting a take-out beverage in garages and coffee outlets throughout the country.

The students have organised a 'Ditch Your Carbon Cup Print' (DYCCP) week in Charleville, May 15th -19th. It is hoped that, during this designated week, people will get a discount on a beverage when they bring their own reusable cup when buying a take-out beverage from shops and garages in the town.

The students sought the help, support and advice of the Charleville Chamber of Commerce. Mr. P.J. McCarthy and Mr. Sean Fitzgibbon from the Chamber offered invaluable advice and encouragement to the students. The Chamber will mentor the students in this endeavour and lend its support to the project. The students described their meeting with the Chamber as; 'educational, insightful, a good learning curve.

The students intend to collect relevant data for their project by conducting a survey in the town, before and during the designated 'DYCCP' week.

The group are calling on the support of the public to vote for their project for the 'People's Choice Award 2017', an award decided by online public poll. Voting is open from May 2-15 on www.ecounesco.ie and the winner will be announced at the final.
A Cork couple living in London are celebrating this week after beating off stiff competition to win 'Best New Podcast' at the prestigious British Podcast Awards last Saturday night for their show, 'The Cinemile'.

Dave Corkery and Cathy Cullen, from Mourneabbey and Cork city, won the prestigious gong for a simple premise that revolves around the pair discussing movies on their walk home from the cinema. Each weekly episode is 20 minutes.

The show, which they started producing last year, defied all the odds, fending off competition from big budget productions from the BBC and radio DJ Edith Bowman.

Despite the fact that there are a slew of movie podcasts available, Dave and Cathy's show stood out for it's charm and humour rather than it's film critique, with the show regularly descending into hilarious marital bickering and disagreement.

Speaking on their victory, Cathy said: "We were so shocked when they called our name - it's so amazing, we were just so happy to be nominated in the same category as Edith Bowman and the BBC. We didn't think we'd ever actually win".

Plaudits for the show have been coming thick and fast, with Miranda Sawyer of the The Observer in the UK referring to it as "sufficed with charm and insight"

Episodes of the podcast are available at www.thecinemile.com.
What happens in France this Sunday will likely steer Europe's direction far into the future as a win for Emanuel Macron and a rejection of Marine Le Pen's racist, anti-EU Front National will, hopefully, put an end to the notion that Europe is sliding, irreversibly, to the far right.

Since Britain voted to leave the EU and Donald Trump was elected President in the United States, the overriding narrative in much of the global media has been that of an unstoppable right wing that is threatening the future of democracy across the western world.

The liberal prophets of doom - who conveniently ignore the fact that supporters of parties on the far right and left are exercising their democratic rights - continue to promote this notion despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

Last December in Austria, far right presidential candidate Norbert Hofer was roundly defeated by Green Party centrist economist Alexander Van der Bellen after a re-run of the election which had been declared null and void due to voting irregularities.

The first vote had Hofer and Van der Bellen neck and neck but in the re-run six months later, the nominally Independent Green beat his far right rival by well over six per cent.

Then last March - despite weeks of media stories warning that famously liberal Holland was about to elect far right candidate Geert Wilders as its next prime minister - Wilders' party was comfortably beaten by another centrist, Mark Rutte.

According to opinion polls, Marine Le Pen is closing the gap on her own centrist rival, Mr Macron, but it would still appear that a majority of French voters are set to say no to the politics of fear and xenophobia.

Obviously the outcome is still uncertain - and as we saw with Trump and Brexit a surprise is still possible - but as the race enters its closing days it looks as though another country will confound the doomsayers' narrative.

All this suggests that the prevailing theory of global politics being irreconcilably divided along right and left lines is mistaken.

We live in a divided world - there's no denying that - but it seems there is still much more that unites us.

As has been shown in Austria, Holland and in all likelihood France, the moderate centre is the true global majority, a fact supported by polls and votes across the world.

Rather than backing extremist parties, most voters are actually backing centrist policies and candidates and increasingly Brexit and the Trump victory look like aberrations.

What is needed now is a concerted effort to bring the disenfranchised and disillusioned who have been wooed by extremists - be they political or religious and on the far right or left - back into the fold.

To do this we need reason and discussion not insults and scaremongering. Rather than dismissing those on the other side of the political divide we need to listen to their arguments and find a way to compromise.

After all, isn't that what democracy is all about?
The ESB and Coillte have set aside 1.2 million for local projects over the 25-year operational lifespan of the Castlepook Wind farm near Doneraile

Community groups in North Cork are to share a 50,000 funding windfall under a scheme established by the joint developers of the Castlepook Wind Farm near Doneraile.

Late last year, almost four years after the controversial wind farm was given the all-clear by An Bord Pleanala, the ESB and Coillte announced the project was finally set to move forward after a finance agreement was reached with Bank of Ireland.

Scheduled to be operational this autumn the wind farm, which is being built at a cost of around 64 million, will have 14 turbines with a combined generating capacity of 33.3 megawatts of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of approximately 17,000 homes per year.

An ESB/Coillte funded Community Development Fund as also set up, with community and voluntary organisations invited to apply for funding to help finance projects that will benefit communities located in close proximity to the wind farm. The fund, which will run annually, will have a cumulative value of approximately 1.2 million during the operational life span of the wind farm.

Castlepook Power DAC has announced the first 11 groups/projects shortlisted under the fund for 2017, with the money set to fund a wide variety of initiatives that "support and benefit" the area surrounding the wind farm.

Michael Bermingham, stakeholder manager with the ESB, said the Community Fund underscored their long-term commitment to the local community.

"We are proud to be able to support these initiatives. In making this fund available annually over the next 25 years we aim to contribute to the development of essential infrastructure and services and assist groups who are committed to helping their community reach its full potential and make things happen," he said. With the community fund set to reopen again in September, Andy Fox, Community Engagement Officer with Coillte, urged groups to start preparing their submissions for the 2018 fund.

"We look forward to seeing the great work these 11 recipients will undertake and encourage those who were unsuccessful this time around to seek feedback from our administering body SECAD in order to strengthen their applications for next years fund," he said. For more information about the Community Fund and instructions on how to apply to it visit www.castlepookwindfarm.ie.

The 11 beneficiaries under the 2017 fund

Ballyhoura Development GLC, in support of their 'Bike for Beginner's initiative.



Nagle Rice Secondary School, towards the enhancement of their gym facility which are used by students and the wider local community.



Ballyhea Community Council, towards the instillation of speed limit warning signs in Ballyhea Village.



The 22nd Killdorrery Scout Group, towards the set-up costs of a new troop, including the purchase of new equipment.



Shanballymore Primary School, towards the laying of a new surface for its play area.



Ballyhea Parish, towards the installation of energy efficient external lighting system at St Mary's Church, Ballyhea.



Canon Sheehan Primary School, towards the provision of a new fenced play area catering for their large school enrolment.



Doneraile Development Association, towards the creation of historic costumes to enhance their tours of Doneraile Park , which tell the story of the area.



Ballyhea GAA Club, towards the purchase and fitting of floor covering to the gym area of their clubhouse.



Ardpatrick Community Council, towards the research and preservation of Ardpatrick's social history through the analysis of the 'Sunvale Ledger' and the development of a website.



Ballyhoura Failte DAC, to assist in the promotion of Ballyhoura Country as a tourism destination through highlighting its key attractions and recreational assets across national publications and on social media.

For more information about the Community Development Fund visit www.castlepookwindfarm.ie.
Stella Maxwell attends the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images For Entertainment Weekly)

Actress Kristen Stewart attends the "Personal Shopper" premiere at Metrograph on March 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Stella Maxwell attends the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Stella Maxwell attends the Daily Front Row's 3rd Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards at Sunset Tower Hotel on April 2, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Stella Maxwell attends the Daily Front Row's 3rd Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards at Sunset Tower Hotel on April 2, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Kristen Stewart and girlfriend Stella Maxwell have reportedly taken the next step in their relationship by moving in together.

The Twilight actress has been dating stunning beauty Stella, 26, for the past five months and, according to Us Weekly magazine, they are now co-habiting. The publication reports that Stella has moved into Kristen's four-bedroom house in Los Angeles' Los Feliz neighbourhood, while also keeping her apartment in New York.

"They're both so busy with work but try to be together when they can," a source told Us Weekly.

The 27-year-old actress' romance comes after failed relationships with stars including Robert Pattinson and, since going public with her sexuality, musicians Stephanie Sokolinski and St. Vincent.

Expand Close Stella Maxwell attends the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between" Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images For Entertainment Weekly) / Facebook

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The bisexual actress tends to be guarded when it comes to her private life, but after publicly calling out U.S. President Donald Trump about nasty tweets he sent about her split from Pattinson in 2012, Kristen has been more open than ever about her sexual preferences.

At the New York screening of her movie Personal Shopper in March, Kristen was asked by The Associated Press how she felt about the widespread media coverage regarding her sexuality.

"I'm glad that it's gotten attention, it matters, it's important," she said in a video interview with the news outlet before walking off somewhat stony-faced.

In a previous interview with The Guardian, Kristen added that her experience since coming out has been nothing but positive.

Expand Close The supermodel is said to be dating actress Kristen Stewart / Facebook

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"I mean, it's hard to talk about. I don't want to seem presumptuous, because everyone has their own experience," she explained. "I'm just trying to acknowledge that fluidity, that greyness, which has always existed. But maybe only now are we allowed to start talking about it."
Vogue Williams takes to the decks at Virginia Macari's Paradise Collection launch. Pic: Brian McEvoy

Irish/Italian designer Virginia Macari called upon her famous friends to help celebrate the launch of her new swimwear collection in Marbella.

Virginia launched her fourth couture swimwear collection at the exclusive Puente Romano Beach Resort and Spa in Marbella today.

Expand Close Model Roxy Horner at Virginia Macari's Paradise Collection. Pictures: Brian McEvoy / Facebook

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Close friends Rosanna Davison and Vogue Williams showcased her designs in the poolside fashion show, alongside British model Roxy Horner.

As well as taking on catwalk duties, Vogue supplied the music for the event as she took to the DJ booth dressed in one of Virginia's tropical designs.

All ready to DJ for the amazing @virginiamacari super proud of you, your swimwear is out of this world... A post shared by voguewilliams (@voguewilliams) on May 5, 2017 at 4:10am PDT

She was joined by her boyfriend, Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, who got into the tropical theme with a Hawaiian print shirt.

Virginia's latest collection featured a multitude of prints and eye-popping colours, with bandeau, triangle and balconette-style bikins.

Expand Close Rosanna Davison at Virginia Macari's Paradise Collection. Pictures: Brian McEvoy / Facebook

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The former Dublin Housewives star, who is now based in the millionaire's playground of Marbella, said she's keen for her designs to be about relaxed, beachside living.

Virginia Macari Beachwear Couture was launched last summer and the designer told RSVP, "The whole thing is about luxury, about well-designed swimwear and beachwear. I never want someone to look like they have tried too hard."

Expand Close Model Roxy Horner at Virginia Macari's Paradise Collection. Pictures: Brian McEvoy / Facebook

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Its been a great day for the Conservatives, a bad one for Labour and an even worse one for Ukip.

With full results declared by 83 of the 88 councils, heres everything you need to know.

The Tories have won big

The Conservatives have made a net gain of 520 councillors in the local elections, winning control of 11 new councils in England and Wales  as well as relegating Labour to the third most popular party in its former stronghold of Scotland.

Theresa Mays party took overall control of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, East Sussex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Monmouthshire, Isle of Wight, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Lancashire. In Derbyshire, the Tories took 19 seats from Labour as the county passed directly from one partys hands to the other.

The Tories also performed well in the mayoral elections, winning tightly-fought battles for elected mayors in the West Midlands and significantly Tees Valley, where Conservative Ben Houchen became the first elected mayor in Labours north-eastern heartland, beating Labours Sue Jeffrey by more than 2,000 votes in the second round of counting.

And they only lost out on Northumberland County Council because of drawing straws. Seriously.

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The Prime Minister sought to fight any complacency among Tories, insisting that she was taking nothing for granted when it comes to the General Election on June 8.

Labour has lost almost 300 seats

Including in Glasgow, which for the first time in around 40 years they no longer control  while they suffered reverses in some Welsh strongholds.

Labour held key councils in Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, but lost control of Bridgend, where Mrs May had targeted with a campaign visit.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said that Labours vote held up in areas of Wales where Jeremy Corbyn had campaigned, and said there were signs that voters were developing more confidence in the party leader as he had the chance to get his message across.

There were positives, with the north west remaining well and truly Labour  Steve Rotheram won the Liverpool City Region mayoral election, while Andy Burnham did the same in Manchester.

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Leader Jeremy Corbyn described the results as mixed and insisted they were closing the gap on the Conservatives.

In a statement, he accepted they had lost too many councillors and now faced a huge challenge if they were to regain power.

And with an eye to the General Election, he said: We have five weeks to win the General Election so we can fundamentally transform Britain for the many, not the few.

We know this is no small task  it is a challenge on an historic scale. But we, the whole Labour movement and the British people, cant afford not to seize our moment.

The Lib Dems day has been fairly meh

Its been a mixed bag for Tim Farrons party  they failed to break through against the Tories in the south-west England battleground but made advances in some General Election target seats like Eastleigh and Wells.

They suffered a net loss of 32 seats, but Farron believes their performance in areas like St Albans, where he addressed activists, prove his party is on track to more than double its presence of nine MPS at Westminster in the General Election.

Things got real awkward for Ukip

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Ukip lost 109 councillors, while holding a solitary seat in Lancashire  causing leader Paul Nuttall to describe Ukip as a victim of its own success over Brexit.

The Conservatives took most of those seats, and Nuttall said that was a price Ukip is prepared to pay for the prize of leaving the EU.

The results prompted a furious response from former donor Arron Banks, who said Ukip was finished as an electoral force under its current leadership and needed a strategic bullet to the back of the head.

Good for the Greens

The Green Party had 40 councillors elected, including its first in the Isle of Wight.
West Ham finally looked at home at the London Stadium during their 1-0 victory over Tottenham.

The north London side never looked comfortable, and the Hammers had them rattled from the very first minute.

Significantly, the win leaves Spurs four points off Chelsea, who have a game in hand and can win the league before Tottenham kick a ball again. Naturally, there are some very thankful Blues fans out there.

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Its a strange situation for the west Londoners to be in  grateful for their east London rivals existence.

But without them, the gap could have been closed even further and pressure mounted on Antonio Contes men.

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Chelsea next play on Monday, when they take on Middlesbrough, before heading to West Brom on Friday.

Tottenham, meanwhile, wont play again until May 14 when they take on Manchester United. The title might already be heading to Stamford Bridge by then.

Blues fans find themselves in a strange position, but its still one most other fans in the Premier League will envy.

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Arsenal fans are, unsurprisingly, pretty happy too.

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Meanwhile for the Irons, its the second season in a row they may have contributed to Tottenham falling at the last hurdle, and they couldnt be more delighted.

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Penny for your thoughts, Spurs fans?
A Scottish man has died during a skydiving trip in the Thai holiday town of Pattaya.

The BBC is reporting that the man was doing a parachute jump with friends when he suffered a heart attack or stroke after leaving the plane.

The man landed in a reservoir and was quickly pulled out.

The Daily Mirror is reporting that the deceased man was expat James McConnell (69), originally from Clydebank, Scotland, who settled in Thailand 19 years ago.

He was an experienced skydiver.

Authorities in Thailand are investigating and the UK Foreign Office has yet to officially confirm the man's identity.

Harry Harrison, director of flight operations at Thai Sky Adventures, told the BBC the centre began its own investigation immediately after the incident on Thursday.

Eyewitnesses told the centre they saw the man, an experienced skydiver, rolling onto his back and spinning in mid-air shortly after he jumped.

According to reports his parachute was seen to be deployed, but he did not steer it as he drifted towards the ground. Mr McConnell missed the designated landing spot and landed in water.
Bradley Solomon of New York chants with other protesters near Trump Tower (Craig Ruttle/AP)

Protesters gather on 5th Avenue near Trump Tower in New York (Craig Ruttle/AP)

President Donald Trump has signed a one trillion US dollar spending bill to fund the government through to September, his first piece of major legislation.

The bill cleared both houses of Congress this week and Mr Trump signed it behind closed doors at his home in New Jersey, well ahead of a deadline of midnight on Friday for some government functions to begin shutting down.

Other battles over government spending lie ahead, including the border wall Mr Trump has vowed to build on the US-Mexico border to deter illegal immigration, as well as a promised military build-up.

The White House and its Republican allies praised 15 billion dollars in additional Pentagon spending obtained by Mr Trump and 1.5 billion dollars in emergency spending for border security.

The signing of the legislation came the day after Mr Trump said Australia has a better health care system than the US.

His comment is attracting attention because Australia offers universal health care, which Republicans oppose.

In his meeting on Thursday with Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Trump said the existing US system was failing.

He said: "I shouldn't say this to a great gentleman and my friend from Australia because you have better health care than we do."

He added that Americans will have a "great" system soon, referring to the just-passed House of Representatives health care bill.

Senator Bernie Sanders quickly tweeted that Australia provides free or subsidised health care.

He said: "Thank you Mr Trump for admitting that universal health care is the better way to go. I'll be sure to quote you on the floor of the Senate."

Australia has a government-funded system that provides free or subsidised care for all citizens and permanent residents, which is partially funded by income taxes.

Mr Trump returned to the health care issue on Friday, tweeting that his "Big win in the House" was "very exciting!"

"But when everything comes together with the inclusion of Phase 2, we will have truly great healthcare!," he added.

The tweet was sent from his home on his private golf club in Bedminster.

Mr Trump was likely referring to regulatory and other changes the administration can make to the Obama law.

AP
An aircraft takes off from Heathrow airport in west London September 2, 2014. REUTERS/Andrew Winning/File Photo

British police are investigating a report of a suspicious item detected during a baggage check at London's Heathrow airport, which led to one of its terminals being briefly closed.

"We are working with Heathrow Terminal 3 after a report of a suspicious item detected by an X-ray of luggage," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

Heathrow is one of the world's busiest airports and the affected terminal mainly services long-haul flights, although it also offers some European destinations.
Britain's Prince Philip during his visit with Queen Elizabeth to the Irish National Stud in Kildare

The Sun newspaper mistakenly published a story suggesting Prince Philip had died.

The title, owned by Rupert Murdochs News UK, posted a story online with the headline: Prince Philip dead at 95, how did the Duke of Edinburgh die, etc etc.

The story read: "Prince Philip, otherwise known as the Duke of Edinburgh, was the husband of Queen Elizabeth II."

"He was married to Queen Elizabeth II. The pair had four children together - Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward."

French media also mistakenly published stories wrongly suggesting the Duke of Edinburgh had died.

The article was deleted within minutes of publication, but continued to appear in searches on Google.

It was published after the Queen called an emergency meeting at Buckingham Palace to announce Prince Philip would step down from royal duties.

The Palace said it was Prince Philip's decision taken with the support of the Queen.

A statement released on Thursday read: "Prince Philip will attend previously scheduled engagements between now and August, both individually and accompanying The Queen.

"Thereafter, The Duke will not be accepting new invitations for visits and engagements, although he may still choose to attend certain public events from time to time."

The news of the meeting had originally sparked rumours that either the Queen or her husband had been taken ill, despite a spokesperson confirming the meeting was no cause for alarm ahead of the announcement.

The whole Royal household was summoned to the meeting, including servants from royal residences cross the country, held at 10am by the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior officer of the Royal Household.

The Independent has contacted The Sun for comment.
Forensic police officers inspect a parked truck in which migrants were found dead, on a motorway near Parndorf, Austria

The driver of a truck in which 71 migrants were found dead beside an Austrian motorway heard their cries for help as their oxygen ran out but followed an order to keep them locked up, Hungarian prosecutors said yesterday.

Prosecutors said in a statement they had charged 11 people in connection with the August 2015 deaths, four with murder and all 11 with human trafficking.

The four men participated in the transport of the 71 migrants directly, and the rest were involved in sustaining a network that made hundreds of thousands of euro from human smuggling, said the prosecutors' office of Bacs-Kiskun county, Hungary, where the truck began its journey.

Finding clients among the hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants that crossed the Balkans in 2015, the gang made at least 31 trips across the Hungary-Austria border between February and August.

They often carried people "in closed, dark and airless vans unsuitable for passenger transport, in crowded, inhuman, excruciating conditions," the prosecution statement said.

In all, the gang moved more than 1,200 refugees to Western Europe and its Afghan boss earned at least 300,000.

Recounting details of what they called the "death lorry", prosecutors said that, around half-an-hour after departure, the migrants indicated with bangs and cries that they were running out of oxygen. They were heard by the driver of the truck and its reconnaissance vehicle.

"They reported the problem to the Afghan head of the criminal organisation who ordered them several times not to open the door of the container hold... (They) complied with the instructions," the prosecution statement said.

After a three-hour journey, the driver left the truck on the hard shoulder of the A4 highway in Austria and returned to Hungary in the reconnaissance car.

Desperation

The following day, the gang smuggled another 67 migrants across the border, again using an unventilated, closed refrigerator lorry.

"This time the migrants were able to kick down the door of the container hold, so no one died," prosecutors said.

They identified the gang leader as a 30-year-old Afghan man, who paid for the operation and organised the transport for the migrants.

A 31-year-old Bulgarian was the head of the human smuggling ring and its two Bulgarian drivers.

Prosecutors are seeking life sentences for the four men, who they charged with murder.

Under Hungary's judicial system, a judge will now decide whether to proceed to trial on the basis of the prosecution evidence.

Nine of the 11 charged are in custody and the other two are being sought by police.
Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen pose prior to the start of a live prime-time debate

The French prosecutor's office launched an inquiry yesterday into suspicions of fake news being spread to influence Sunday's presidential vote after far-right leader Marine Le Pen implied her rival Emmanuel Macron held an offshore account.

Mr Macron, favourite to win the presidency, denied allegations of using a foreign tax haven that were made on social media and referred to by Ms Le Pen in an ill-tempered televised debate with him on Wednesday night. He accused her of spreading lies.

After Mr Macron lodged a legal complaint over the allegations, a judicial source said the prosecutor's office was investigating suspicions that fake news had been intentionally circulated with the aim of swaying Sunday's voting.

Opinion polls show Mr Macron, a centrist, has roughly a 20 point lead over Ms Le Pen. They see him firmly on course to win after what was widely seen as his solid performance in Wednesday's fractious face-to-face.

French shares and bonds and the euro performed strongly yesterday, pointing to relief on financial markets that Ms Le Pen had not gained ground with her pledges to quit the euro, hold a referendum on leaving the EU, and print money to finance higher state spending.

It was at the end of the two-and-a-half-hour debate, watched by 15 million people, that the National Front veteran insinuated that Mr Macron might be concealing funds in a foreign tax account.

"I've never had an account in any tax haven," Mr Macron told France Inter radio yesterday. "Le Pen is behind this. She has an internet army mobilising."

He said she had allies spreading "false information and lies" who were "in certain cases linked to Russian interests".

Ms Le Pen told BFM TV yesterday that she had no proof Mr Macron had an offshore account, but did not want undisclosed funds to come to light when it was too late.

Mr Macron's party has previously complained that his campaign had been the target of "fake news" put out by Russian media, as well as internet attacks on its databases.

That prompted a warning by the French government in February that it would not accept interference by Russia or any other state in the election.

According to a snap poll by Elabe for BFMTV, 63pc of viewers found Mr Macron the more convincing of the two candidates in Wednesday's debate, reinforcing his status as favourite to win the Elysee.

A second poll by Harris Interactive said 42pc of people found him more convincing in the debate, during which the candidates traded barbs over the economy, the euro and how to combat terrorism.

Twenty six per cent found Ms Le Pen more convincing, while 31pc chose neither candidate, Harris said.

An OpinionWay survey carried out before the debate showed Mr Macron widening his lead over Ms Le Pen to 61pc to 39pc.

Ms Le Pen's proposal to bring back the franc while replacing the euro with another, looser type of cooperation in the form of an ECU basket of currencies prompted an unusual foray into politics by French central bank governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau.

"I hear proposals for a dual currency with the return of a national currency in parallel to a European currency. I must say that such suggestions would put confidence in the currency in danger," he said at a conference.

A small group of protesters threw eggs at Ms Le Pen as she arrived for a campaign event in Brittany yesterday, shouting "Out with the Fascists!".

Former US president Barack Obama endorsed Mr Macron in a video message released by Mr Macron's party yesterday, praising him for appealing "to people's hopes and not their fears".

Campaigning on an anti-EU, anti-globalisation platform, Ms Le Pen has sought to portray Mr Macron, a former investment banker and economy minister, as an out-of-touch member of an elite responsible for France's ills, including unemployment of about 10pc, low growth and a two-year spate of Islamist violence.

Mr Macron has promised to stimulate growth with training programmes and a relaxation of labour laws, while reducing state expenditure.

Meanwhile, Ms Le Pen's father Jean-Marie was critical of his daughter's TV performance, saying most viewers would probably have found the first part of the debate incomprehensible.

"That may have benefited Emmanuel Macron, but it didn't work to the advantage of Marine Le Pen, who perhaps lacked gravitas," the founder of the National Front told RTL radio.

Official campaigning must end at midnight today before voters go to the polls on Sunday.
French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has the Irish regime in his sights as he will push for tax harmonisation among eurozone states if he wins this Sunday's French election.

Mr Macron explicitly mentioned Ireland as he insisted the gap in tax systems between EU member states would have to be reduced in the coming years.

Speaking to RTE News, Mr Macron said: "As for Ireland, we do know today that that's the bias for a lot of corporates, that it's bias for a lot of sectors and especially the digital sectors."

Mr Macron says he intends to lower France's corporate tax rate to the EU average of around 25pc - twice the current rate in Ireland.

Last night, his senior economic advisor Clement Beaune told the Irish Independent that Mr Macron believes "if we share a currency and economic integration then we have to share rules about social and systems including harmonisation".

The comments prompted a swift response from Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who is currently visiting Canada.

"The treaties of the EU set out quite clearly the responsibility of countries as a national competence to deal with their corporate tax," he said.

"Ireland's tax rate has been 12.5pc for many years across all sectors and it has not moved up, it has not moved down, and it will stay where it is.

"There have been attempts at this before and suggestions of that before. It is enshrined in the protocol of the treaty, it is a national competence for everyone in the European Union."

Mr Macron's manifesto explicitly mentions tax harmonisation among EU member states as a way of combating aggressive tax avoidance measures by multinationals such as Apple operating in the eurozone. He also sees it a way of stopping eurozone states from using extremely low corporate tax regimes as a way of outbidding other states.

Ireland has been in the spotlight over its low corporation tax rate of 12.5pc and allegations of "sweetheart deals" to multinationals.

The European Commission announced in August last year that Ireland must collect 13bn plus interest from Apple for taxes that were unpaid over a decade as a result of a tax treatment that amounted to illegal State aid to the company. The Government and Apple have appealed against the decision.

Mr Beaune, who studied economic and business student at Trinity College Dublin, noted that the tax harmonisation plan was "not to have exactly the same level corporate tax but we have to converge to some extent".

The European Commission under President Jean-Claude Juncker last year re-released proposals for a consolidated corporate tax base among eurozone states. Multinationals' tax would be calculated based on a single formula of the amount of assets, sales and labour in the country they are based.

The Commission's Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) proposals make up part of Mr Macron's economic policy for when he has a seat at the powerful European Council table - where all EU heads of state and government sit.

"It's part of his agenda to have the same base - it's also about the rate, and about the specific schemes and rules that every country has in its corporate tax regime", Mr Beaune said.

Sources from the Government refer to the cast-iron guarantees in the Lisbon Treaty that underpin tax as an issue of national competency. CCCTB has been a proposal that some eurozone governments have supported, but it has never gathered momentum.

"Ireland has been on the front line with exchange of information and transparency about our tax laws", said one source. "We don't need to agree to CCCTB to appear transparent."
Asha Devi and Badri Singh, mother and father of the victim of the fatal 2012 gang rape on a moving bus at the Supreme Court complex in New Delhi, India (AP/Altaf Qadri)

India's top court has upheld the death sentences of four men convicted of the fatal gang rape and torture of a medical student on a moving bus nearly five years ago.

The court held that the diabolical nature of the crime in the Indian capital, which triggered massive protests across the country, made it a fit case for the death penalty.

The 23-year-old victim's father said he was happy with the court judgment and demanded that the convicts be hanged quickly.

"The court heard our voice and gave justice," Badri Singh said.

Prosecutors said Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh took their victim to the back of a private bus in New Delhi, raping her and then damaging her internal organs with an iron rod.

She died two weeks later of injuries in a hospital in Singapore, where she was taken for treatment.

The outrage over the New Delhi attack prompted quick action on legislation doubling prison terms for rapists to 20 years and criminalising voyeurism, stalking and the trafficking of women.

Indian politicians also voted to lower to 16 from 18 the age at which a person can be tried as an adult for heinous crimes.

Defense lawyer AP Singh, representing three of the men, said the court should have given them a chance to reform and avoided the death penalty.

He said he would seek a review of Friday's judgment from the Supreme Court.

Ram Singh, the bus driver and fifth suspect in the crime, was found hanging in his cell in Tihar prison in March 2013, months before the suspects were convicted.

The sixth suspect was just months short of 18 years old when the crime took place.

He walked out of a correction home in December 2015 after serving three years - the maximum punishment for minors - sparking public outrage and an overhaul of the juvenile law.

Indian courts are notorious for delays as more than 30 million cases are pending. After massive protests, the Indian government put the gang rape case on a fast-track trial.

Swati Maliwal, chief of the New Delhi Commission for Women, said people were not scared of committing crimes because of long delays in bringing them to justice.

"The fact is that the road to justice is very, very long in this country," she said.

"Even in this case, it has taken five years. But at least in five years, we are coming to a conclusion. There are women in the country who have been fighting court battles for 10 to 15 years."

At least six rapes take place in the Indian capital every day, she said.

"Nothing much has changed because there is no fear among people that if they do something wrong, they will be punished," she said.

AP
Iraq's prime minister Haider al-Abadi said US combat troops will not stay in his country after the fight against IS ends

US combat troops will not stay on in Iraq after the fight against Islamic State is over, Iraq's prime minister has said.

It follows reports on talks between Iraq and the United States on maintaining American forces in the country.

A US official and an official from the Iraqi government said talks about keeping US troops in Iraq were ongoing. The US official said discussions were in early stages and "nothing has been finalised".

Haider al-Abadi said there are no foreign combat troops on Iraqi soil and any American troops who stay on once IS militants are defeated will be advisers.

He said they will work to train Iraq's security forces to maintain "full readiness" for any "future security challenges".

Some US forces are carrying out combat operations with Iraqi forces on and beyond front lines in the fight against IS.

Mr al-Abadi has maintained they are acting only as advisers, apparently to get around the required parliamentary approval for their presence.

Any forces who remained would continue to be designated as advisers for the same reason, the Iraqi government official said.

Talks about maintaining American forces in Iraq point to a consensus by both governments that a longer-term US presence is needed to ensure an insurgency does not bubble up again once IS militants are driven out

That represents a contrast to the full US withdrawal in 2011.

The Pentagon has close to 7,000 US troops in Iraq, many not publicly acknowledged because they are on temporary duty or under specific personnel rules.

At the height of the surge of US forces in 2007, there were about 170,000 American troops in the country. The numbers were wound down eventually to 40,000, before the complete withdrawal in 2011.

The US intervention against the Islamic State group, launched in 2014, was originally cast as an operation that would largely be fought from the skies with a minimal footprint on Iraqi soil.

Nevertheless, that footprint has since expanded, given the Iraqi forces' need for support.

Iraqi forces are struggling to retake the last remaining Mosul areas that IS holds in the city's western half.

After a territorial victory, Iraqi and US-led coalition officials have warned of the potential for IS to carry out insurgent attacks in government held territory.

AP
A riot police officer falls off his motorcycle as demonstrators rally against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela. Photo: Reuters

An armored police vehicle is hit by petrol bombs thrown by opposition supporters while clashing with riot police during a rally against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela. Photo: Reuters

A student from the Central University of Venezuela is seen amid tear gas during a protest against Venezuelan Government in Caracas. Photo: Reuters

A molotov coctel explodes against the shields of riot police during a protest against Venezuelan Government by students of the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Students of the Central University of Venezuela protect themselves during a protest against Venezuelan Government in Caracas. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

An opposition supporter throws back a tear gas canister during clashes with security forces at a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. Photo: Reuters

National Police stand ready to launch tear gas at student protesters outside the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas. Photo: AP

Students held demonstrations across Caracas yesterday as a two-month-old protest movement that shows no signs of letting up claimed more lives.

At the Central University of Venezuela, soldiers bathed hundreds of student protesters in tear gas. Many of the protesters stayed put, and medics in gas masks attended to others with bloodied faces.

Students from another university marched peacefully to deliver a petition to the office of the country's Catholic bishops, asking the pope to speak out against the violence and the government's steps toward authoritarianism.

Gunfire erupted at a student gathering in El Tigre, a city southeast of Caracas, leaving Juan Lopez (33) dead and three others injured, according to the chief prosecutor's office. According to preliminary reports, an assailant fired at Mr Lopez toward the end of the meeting and then fled on a motorcycle. Mr Lopez was the president of a university federation.

The student leader's death brought to at least 37 the number killed in Venezuela's ongoing political turmoil.

Earlier yesterday, authorities announced a 38-year-old police officer in the central state of Carabobo had died of his injuries after being shot during a Wednesday protest that had hundreds of thousands of people on the street nationwide. A 17-year-old was also killed during the day's protests.

Hundreds more have been wounded - no small matter in a country with crippling medical shortages - and more than 1,000 have been arrested.

Protesters are demanding immediate presidential elections. President Nicolas Maduro accuses the opposition of attempting a coup, and has responded with an initiative to rewrite the constitution.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International warned yesterday of growing violence across Brazil, particularly killings by police as law enforcement and criminals battle over turf in Rio de Janeiro.

In a report to the United Nations, the human rights group highlighted the recent spike in killings by Rio police - 182 in the first two months of the year, or 78pc more than a year earlier. "Brazil has not taken enough steps to tackle the shocking levels of human rights violations across the country, including soaring police homicide rates," Jurema Werneck, Amnesty's director in Brazil, said.
North Korea has accused the US and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong Un involving bio-chemical weapons.

In a statement carried on state media, North Korea's Ministry of State Security said it will "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" the "terrorists" in the CIA and South Korean intelligence agency for targeting its supreme leadership.

North Korea frequently lambasts the United States and South Korea, but this accusation is unusual in its detail.

The ministry said the spy agencies in June 2014 "ideologically corrupted and bribed" a North Korean citizen who had been working in Russia to carry out the alleged assassination on Kim after returning home.

It said South Korean agents gave money and satellite communication equipment to the North Korean to attack Kim during a public event with a bio-chemical weapon, such as a delayed-action radioactive or "nano-poisonous" substance.

The ministry said after a series of contacts and payments, the agents told the North Korean last month that the type of bio-chemical substance had been decided and would be supplied by the CIA.

The statement said in response to the alleged plot, a "Korean-style anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organisations of the US imperialists and the puppet clique," referring to South Korea.

The North Korean statement comes during a period of tension on the Korean Peninsula over concerns that the North is preparing another nuclear test or missile launch, including a possible test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Such moves would be a step towards the country's goal of developing nuclear-armed missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.

Earlier this year, North Korea was accused of using the chemical war agent VX to assassinate Kim's exiled half brother at Kuala Lumpur's airport, which led to calls in the United States to relist the North as a state sponsor of terrorism.

AP
Citizens and civil defence workers next to a burning car in Azaz, north Syria (Azaz Media Office via AP)

The "de-escalation zones" to be established in Syria will be closed to military aircraft from the US-led coalition, the Russian official who signed the new agreement said.

Alexander Lavrentyev spoke a day after he and officials from Turkey and Iran agreed to establish the zones, in the latest attempt to reduce violence in the Arab country.

Under the Russian plan, President Bashar Assad's air force would halt flights over the designated areas.

Mr Lavrentyev suggested that all military aircraft, including Russian and Turkish, also were prohibited.

The same was suggested in a UN statement, which said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "welcomes the commitments to ceasing the use of all weapons, particularly aerial assets".

Full details of Thursday's agreement have not yet been released. The Russian Defence Ministry said it would do so later.

Mr Lavrentyev, whose remarks were carried by Russian news agencies, said: "The operation of aviation in the de-escalation zones, especially of the forces of the international coalition, is absolutely not envisaged, either with notification or without. This question is closed."

He said the US-led coalition aircraft would still be able to operate against Islamic State in specific areas.

As the agreement was being signed in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, some members of the Syrian opposition delegation shouted in protest and walked out.

The opposition was protesting against Iran's participation at the conference and role as a guarantor of the agreement.

They accuse it of fuelling the sectarian nature of the conflict that has killed some 400,000 people and displaced half the country's population.

The walkout and comments underline the huge difficulties of implementing such a deal.

The Syrian government has said that although it will abide by the agreement, it would continue fighting "terrorism" wherever it exists, parlance for most armed rebel groups fighting government troops.

A previous ceasefire agreement signed in Astana on December 30 helped reduce overall violence for several weeks but eventually collapsed. Other attempts at a ceasefire in Syria have all ended in failure.

Sponsors of the deal hope that safe zones would bring relief for hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians and encourage refugees to return.

But officials have expressed scepticism, stressing that safe zones have not had an encouraging track record.

AP
Rhode Island voters will head to the polls Tuesday to choose the first new face to represent the state's 2nd congressional district in 20 years as leading candidates Seth Magaziner and Allan Fung vie to replace the retiring James Langevin, who has served in the role since 2001. The tightly-contested congressional race is just one of a number of important contests taking place Tuesday as the state will also select its next Governor, voters will decide the fate of a number of high-priced ballot initiatives and towns up and down Rhode Island select their local officials in a number of highly-divisive and politicized town council and school committee races. Do you believe the results of this years election will make a positive or negative impact on your community? Let us know in this week's poll question below.

You voted:
New York, May 5 (Just Earth News): As a step towards making some of the most expensive treatments for cancer more widely available in low- and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that it will launch a pilot project for prequalifying so-called abiosimilars,a or lower cost drugs.

Biotherapeutic medicines, which are produced from biological sources, such as cells rather than synthesised chemicals, are important treatments for some cancers and other non-communicable diseases. Like generic medicines, biosimilars, which are usually manufactured by other companies once the products original patent has expired, can be much less expensive versions of innovator biotherapeutics.

Innovator biotherapeutic products are often too expensive for many countries, so biosimilars are a good opportunity to expand access and support countries to regulate and use these medicines, said Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO Assistant Director General for Health Systems and Innovation, in a press statement.

In September, the UN health agency will invite manufacturers to submit applications for prequalification of biosimilar versions of two products in the WHO Essential Medicines List: rituximab (for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia), and trastuzumab (to treat breast cancer).

The decision comes after a two-day meeting in Geneva between WHO, national regulators, pharmaceutical industry groups, patient and civil society groups, payers and policymakers to discuss ways to increase access to biotherapeutic medicines. WHO also plans to explore options for prequalifying insulin.

Biosimilars could be game-changers for access to medicines for certain complex conditions, said Dr. Suzanne Hill, WHOs Director of Essential Medicines and Health Products. But they need to be regulated appropriately to ensure therapeutic value and patient safety.

According to WHO, if it finds that biosimilars submitted for prequalification are comparable in terms of quality, safety and efficacy to originator products, it will list the medications and become eligible for procurement by UN agencies. As many low- and middle-income countries rely on WHO prequalification before buying medicines, an additional benefit could be to increase competition and further reduce the price of medicines.

WHO will also review its 2009 Guidelines on the evaluation of similar biotherapeutic products to ensure that WHOs guidance to national regulatory authorities reflects recent evidence and experience.

Increased use of biosimilars will also require patients and their physicians to understand and trust that the benefits of this type of medicine substantially outweigh any risks. WHO will be looking to countries with positive experience of biosimilars and partners for support in educating prescribers and patients on their benefits and in advocating for greater awareness of biosimilars.

In addition, WHO will advocate for fairer prices for all biotherapeutics to ensure that these treatments can truly benefit public health. This will include support to countries to develop price-setting strategies that foster sustainable markets to deliver treatments to patients, savings to payers and incentives to producers to keep manufacturing the medicines needed.

Photo: IAEA
New York, May 5 (Just Earth News): The integration of migrants in cities, countering the rise of violent extremism, as well as youth radicalization on the Internet are just some of the issues being discussed at a United Nations conference opening on Friday in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Fourth World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, hosted by the Government of Azerbaijan in partnership with the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will provide an opportunity to examine effective responses to challenges facing human security, including massive migration, violent extremism and conflicts.

The Forum brings together heads of government and ministers, representatives of intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, policy-makers, cultural professionals, journalists and civil society activists under the theme Advancing Intercultural Dialogue  New avenues for human security, peace and sustainable development.

Speaking to UN News, Nadia Al-Nashif, UNESCO Assistant Director General for Social and Human Sciences, said the Baku Forum has a very strong vision and resonates deeply with UNESCOs mandate to build peace in the minds of men and women.

The world has become a very complicated place, she noted. We are looking at huge innovations in technology but at the same time, we are facing increased tensions, a result of the lack of general trust that stems from how much insecurity there is in the world.

Al-Nashif said the UN intercultural dialogue is a platform for people to debate the notion of coexistence and what that means in regards to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that seeks to promote norms for social justice, advocate for social inclusion, integration, acceptance, and not just tolerance but empathy.

UNESCO is hosting 13 sessions at the Forum, showcasing the agencys diverse work on intercultural dialogue to address issues such as the integration of migrants in cities, countering violent extremism as well as the growth of youth radicalization on the Internet.

This is not just an academic forum where we are just preaching to the converted, underscored Al-Nashif. We bring our UNESCO Chairs but also the focal points from cities and local authorities.

The agency has been developing tools to help cities cope better with the flow of migrants into cities. A ministerial forum on culture and tourism is also scheduled to be held on the margins of the Baku Forum.

Furthermore, a number of its products will be launched on Friday, among them a research publication entitled Interculturalism at a crossroads, comparative perspectives on concepts, policies and practices an initiative by the UNESCO Chairs in Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue; and two innovative online platforms: an e-Learning platform on intercultural competences financed with the support of Azerbaijan and another on the Muslim-Arab Legacy in the West.

What the Baku Forum and UNESCO is doing, Ms Al-Nashif said, is finding a common access where we continue to engage, to inform scientific evidence for why it doesnt make sense to be racist, why discrimination hurts socially and economically as well.

Ahead of the Forum, the network of the UNESCO Silk Road Online Platform met at the Baku Congress Centre on Thursday, to examine progress made in its 2016-2018 Action Plan.

Photo: Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Azerbaijan
New York, May 5 (Just Earth News): A United Nations peacekeeper from Liberia was killed and nine others injured when their camp came under attack in the Malian city of Timbuktu, the UN Integrated Mission in the country, known as MINUSMA, has reported.

According to MINUSMA, eight among the injured were evacuated to capital Bamako for treatment.

[We] condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly and ignoble attack on the camp and personnel, said MINUSMA in the news release (in French), underscoring the need to identify those responsible for the attack and to bring them to justice.

Some six mortar shells or rockets hit the camp at around 13:15 local time, yesterday, 3 May. The projectiles also caused some material damage, the full extent of which has not been established yet.

MINUSMA added that defences at the camp have been strengthened and air assets have been deployed to reconnoitre the area were the shots originated.

The UN Mission also informed that no civilian personnel were deployed at the camp.

Also in the news release, MINUSMA extended sincere condolences to the family of the peacekeeper who was killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Photo: MINUSMA/Marco Dormino
Priyanka Chopra is in the Zimbabwean capital to promote UNICEF's initiative 'End Violence against Children as its Goodwill Ambassador.

"We are here in Harare, Zimbabwe, on a field visit in the first part of my trip to Africa as part of our efforts to End Violence against Children'," Priyanka posted on Instagram on Wednesday alongside a photograph of herself along with the UNICEF team.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to meet the courageous young survivors, their amazing caregivers and the teams that wake up every day and try to make the world a better place... one child at a time," she added.

Priyanka said the initiative is "close to my heart".

"I want to take you all on this journey with me, real time, and I hope you will join me here on these pages to bring awareness to some very important issues. Like, share, comment... do something. This is so very close to my heart, and know that every action (big or small) counts," she wrote.
As we had reported earlier, the 'Velaikkaran' team of director Mohan Raja and actor Sivakarthikeyan have left to Malaysia for the next shooting schedule of the film.

We learn that the shooting will happen for 23 days. Some important scenes of the film will be shot in Corporate and factory settings in the country.

Before heading to Malaysia, the' Velaikkaran' team completed a lengthy schedule in a slum like set in Chennai.

The film stars Sivakarthikeyan and Nayanthara in lead roles. Fahad Fazil, Sneha, Prakash Raj and RJ Balaji will be seen in other important roles.

Anirudh Ravichander has rendered the music score for this film produced on a grand scale by RD Raja under his 24AM Studios banner.

'Velaikkaran' is scheduled to hit the screens on September 28, 2017.
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Veteran actress Mumtaz is one of the most graceful actresses of B-Town. Mumtaz defined elegance and grace in ways more than one. Mumtaz graced the silver screen till 1990 and chose to stay away from media spotlight for several years.

Pinterest

And now after several years, a recent and rare photo of Mumtaz found its way on the internet and has become the talk of the internet town. Mumtaz, who relocated to London years ago, took a conscious decision of not returning to Mumbai or India.

Here are some more photos of the yesteryear's Diva that will fill you up with happy nostalgia.

Pinterest

Pinterest

Pinterest

The photo that has gone viral is a proof that the actress has aged gracefully.
The Army has ordered a court of inquiry (CoI) into the alleged suicide of a soldier in Laam sector along the LOC in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.

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The soldier, identified as Lance Naik Vishal Lohar of 54 Rashtriya Rifles committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle.

Police have registered a case and are investigating into the circumstances that led to the suicide.

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According to reports the 33-year-old who hailed from Karnataka had recently returned to duty after holiday.
In today's world, the word honesty holds little or no value. But this Delhi driver's selfless act is a breath of fresh air.

Debendra Kapri, a 'kali-peeli' taxi driver, returned a bag containing valuables and cash worth Rs 8 lakh to the police after a passenger accidentally left it in his vehicle.

Twitter/DCP IGI Airpor

According to reports, Kapri picked up his passenger, Mubisher Wani, from Delhi's domestic airport and dropped him at central Delhi's Paharganj area.

On his way back, he noticed that Wani had left his bag in the car. Without a second thought, Kapri drove all the way back and dropped the bag at the police station quartered in the airport.

According to reports the bag had gold jewellery, laptop, an i-Phone, camera and US currency worth Rs 8 lakh and other important documents like his passport and visa papers, said DCP (Airport) Sanjay Bhatia.

Good Samaritan, driver of a prepaid taxi, Debender Kapri returns bag & valuables of 8 lakh, being rewarded @CPDelhi @BaniwalDP @DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/idtYa3LRIU  DCP IGI Airport (@DCPIGI) May 4, 2017

The police found a wedding card in the bag and a mobile number on it. They immediately notified Wani to collect his bag from the station.

Police lauded the 24-year-old's honest gesture and have promised to give him a cash reward.

With PTI Inputs
In Bihar, rats are savouring the fruits of prohibition. According to the state police, "liquor-loving" rats drank up a large amount of the 9 lakh litres of alcohol they seized from people who were caught breaking the prohibition law.

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The issue came into the limelight after local media reported that seized bottles of liquor were missing from police stations godowns. At a recent meeting of the state police, it was said that some of the seized bottles had been destroyed and what was left was finished off in the stores by liquor-loving rats.

Also Read: Supreme Court Stays Patna High Court Order Quashing Liquor Ban In Bihar

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With the rats running riot and the men in uniform not above suspicion, policemen in police stations would now be subjected to random breath analyser test to check whether they too had a swig or two of the confiscated booty, Manu Maharaj, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police told PTI.

Also Read: With Country Liquor Banned In Bihar, Alcoholics Turn To Toddy To Get Their Fix

The Nitish Kumar government clamped total prohibition on Bihar last April. To enforce the liquor ban, a special drive has been launched by the police and the excise department across the state.

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Media reports said that in the last 13 months, a whopping 9.15 lakh litres of alcohol, domestic as well Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), have been seized in Bihar following the ban.

Also Read: Bihar Govt Banned Liquor In The Name Of 'Fighting Crimes', But Data Shows It Has Gone Up!
In a step toward motivating its forces in the Valley, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has released a set of comic books. Inspired by the real stories of jawans, the comics will help boost the morale of CRPF personnel deployed in Kashmir.

The 2001 attack on the Srinagar airport is the subject of the 10th illustrated comic book brought out by the CRPF, aimed at boosting the morale of the paramilitary forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

The multi-coloured comic book is one of 12 in the series titled "Shaurya Gaathas" (Valour Stories) involving Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, a force that has lost almost 150 personnel to militant attacks in the state in the past four years.

The 30-40 page comic, printed in Delhi, is to be launched by October or November this year. It will be followed by two other comic books -- "Attack on Raghunath Temple" and "Bravery of Khubi Ram".

The comic on the airport attack shows the bravery of its men who repelled a six-member Laskhar-e-Taiba suicide squad on January 16, 2001, leaving 11 people, including two civilians and three CRPF personnel, dead.

BCCL/Representational Image

All the six militants were gunned down in the three-hour shootout.

The terrorists were dressed in army fatigues and approached the airport's first entry point, about two kilometres away from the terminal building, in a car.

The CRPF sentries stopped the militants from going further but they lobbed grenades and fired indiscriminately, killing three troopers and injuring nine, including four women.

The Deputy Commandant of the CRPF, Rajiv Kumar, told IANS: "The heroic acts of our personnel will inspire those deputed in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The comic 'Attack on Srinagar' shows how the CRPF foiled the terror strike. I am sure the comic will really motivate our personnel deployed in the Valley," he said.

The CRPF has suffered heavily in the Kashmir Valley, where a separatist campaign raging since late 1989 has left thousands dead.

A total of 2,580 CRPF personnel were injured between July 8, 2016, and February 27, 2017. In all 122 CRPF personnel received grievous injures, 43 were injured in stone-pelting and kerosene or petrol bomb attacks, and 47 suffered when grenades were lobbed from amongst the crowds.

BCCL/Representational Image

The 300,000-strong CRPF is the country's largest paramilitary force.

Kumar said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who suggested the idea of comic books on the CRPF men's gallantry tales -- months after taking office in 2014.

So far, nine comics have been released.

Over 20,000 copies of each comic have been circulated among new recruits and allied organisations. These will soon go for sale to the public as well.

"Funds generated from the sale of comic books will be spent on the welfare of the families of martyrs," the officer said.

The comics cover, among others, the valour of the CRPF troopers against the Chinese Army in October 1959 in Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, the December 2001 Parliament attack and the July 2005 Ayodhya temple attack.

BCCL/Representational Image

Written in colloquial Hindi, the stories draw heavily from the regions the soldiers came from. The comics poignantly portray the CRPF men's lives and give detailed accounts of their operations.

The entire project, including compilation of the content, is handled by the CRPF.
It took India a long time to master the art of cryogenic engines, thanks to the American sanctions. The technology was denied to the country, and ISROs GSLV rocket suffered a spate of failures in its initial development phase.

ISRO

Then on 5 January 2014, a confident ISRO placed the GSLV D5 on the launch pad and put the GSAT-14 satellite in orbit. It was the first successful flight of the rocket with the homegrown cryogenic engine.

It was a big moment for ISRO and the country as the GSLV has suffered four failures on the trot earlier. The last one, GSLV F06, was destroyed by the range safety officer after the loss of control in the booster engines.

After the launch, a visibly jubilant group of scientist addressed the nation. It was here that Mr K Sivan, currently Director Vikram Sarabhai Space Center let the country in on an internal joke. He remarked: We used to call GSLV as the naughty boy of Isro. The naughty boy has become obedient and, today has meticulously done its job.

ISRO

The GSLV was nicknamed the naughty boy because of the headaches it gave ISRO. After two successful flights in 2003 and 2004, it became a trouble maker. The F02 flight was destroyed over the Bay of Bengal after it veered off the planned trajectory, while the F04 couldnt manage to put the satellite in a high enough orbit.

The D3 flight suffered a snag in the indigenous cryo engine while the F06 was destroyed after launch. Today the naughty boy did the country proud by launching the South Asia satellite.
In every Budget since 2013, the government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore towards the Nirbhaya fund  for schemes to ensure the safety and security of women. But like every year since 2013, the allocation in 2015-16 remained unspent.

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The fund was created by the UPA government in 2013 in the memory of Nirbhaya, a Delhi paramedic who was assaulted and brutalised in December 2012 in a moving bus in the national capital. She later died of her injuries. The fund was launched with the objective of supporting schemes for the protection of women.

However, in the last two Budgets, while continuing with UPA's tradition of allocating Rs 1,000 crore towards this fund, the NDA government failed to come up with any scheme entailing expenditure. The scope of the fund included supporting non-governmental organisations working for the safety of women, but none could be shortlisted in the last three years to utilise the money.

AFP

According to the approved Union finance account for 2015-16, tabled in Parliament in December, the government had devised two schemes  a Rs 653 crore scheme for "safety of women on public road transport" under the ministry of road transport and highways and the Nirbhaya project worth Rs 79.6 crore under the home ministry. Neither of these schemes could take off, resulting in complete savings of the proposed allocation.

Many other projects, with allocation made in 2015-16, remained on the drawing board with 100% savings. The government had allocated Rs 461 crore for employment and rehabilitation of manual scavengers. Again, this project could never take off.

There was also a special programme devised for development of road connectivity in Naxal-affected areas, where women and children are often the worst sufferers, with an allocation of Rs 920 crore. This again had complete savings at the end of the year for the road transport ministry's failure to implement it.
An 80-year-old grandmother was murdered in the most brutal manner in Sonipat's Bathgaon village in Haryana on Wednesday.

The unidentified assailants inserted a plastic bottle of the toilet cleaner Harpic into her anal cavity and let her bleed to death. Although police officials did not find any evidence of rape in the initial investigation, they are not ruling out the possibility of sexual abuse.

ibtimes.co.in

Doctors, who performed the post-mortem, said they had never before seen such brutality and that it reminded them of the infamous Nirbhaya case of December 2012 where a woman was brutalised and gangraped in a moving bus in Delhi leading to widespread protests across the country.

The victim's body was found in blood-soaked quilts in the cot in which she was sleeping on the ground floor of her house on Wednesday morning. The victim was rushed to the Sonipat civil hospital where the doctors found the bottle in her body .

The bottle had been inserted with such force that it caused the anus to rupture and damaged the small and big intestines as well.Excessive internal bleeding chocked the lungs, which is believed to be the cause of death.

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While the victim occupied the ground floor of the small house, one of her two sons lived on the first floor with his family. Belonging to a backward class, the son Jai Bhagwan is a small-time farmer who had taken 10 acres of land on lease to cultivate.

Sonipat Sadar police station SHO Prahlad Singh said they are yet to confirm how and when the killer entered the victim's room. "Jai Bhagwan was the first to see his mother's body," said Singh. "When he removed the quilts, he saw the blood. He informed the neighbours who called the police. We have asked the doctors to take swabs to ascertain whether the victim was subjected to sexual abuse or not." Dr Sumit Kaushal, a member of the medical board constituted to conduct autopsy termed the brutality as "beyond imagination". "You won't believe what I saw. Imagine the pain the victim must have gone through," he said.

This is the second such case of brutality reported from Haryana in one year. A 28-year-old Nepali woman staying with her sister in Rohtak had gone missing on February 1, 2015. She was undergoing treatment for depression at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences. Her mutilated body was found on February 4.The post-mortem showed that pieces of condoms and a stick had been inserted in her private parts and her head had been bashed in.
India is planning to introduce a universal income plan which will ensure a minimum amount of money for the citizens of the country. There is definitely a necessity of that, more so when we get to hear the incidents like the one that happened in Tripura.

A tribal woman was forced to sell her child for just Rs 200. According to police, the incident came to light when a tribal man from Tripura has alleged that his wife sold their child for mere 200 rupees. The man, identified as Khanajoy Reang, said the woman sold the kid on April 13 last month to an auto driver namely Danshai (Babla).

ANI

He claimed that the child was sold even after he raised an objection against it.

"I asserted on not selling the child but his mother sold my child for Rs 200. The child is at present in Machkumbhi village. The incident took place around 15 to 20 days back," Reang said.

ANI

"When the issue was raised in front of the head of the village and it was decided that we would get our child back and accordingly we went to meet the person whom we sold our kid but we got a reply that they would return the child to its mother only."

Local Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Abid Hossain said that he is aware of the incident and is making all efforts to return the child to the biological mother through Childline.

This is said to be the second incident of the same kind to be reported in less than 15 days.

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The last incident was reported by in Ultacharra ADC village in remote Gandacherra sub-division of Dhalai District where a tribal woman sold her 11-day-old son for Rs 5000 to bear the cost of the treatment of her ailing husband at Rangia Tilla of Haldia ADC village under Teliamura Police Station in West Tripura.
India has made huge strides in the field of space applications. The country launched its first satellite back in the 1975 and has one of the largest constellations of remote sensing satellites in the world. And now Indias neighbours too will reap the benefits of this.

ISRO has successfully put the GSAT-9 geostationary satellite, also known as South Asia Satellite, into orbit on the GSLV MkII rocket. Equipped with 12 Ku-band transponders, the satellite will usher in a new era for countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Other nations like Bhutan and Maldives will also benefit. Read more

1. All The Four Convicts Get Death Sentence In Nirbhaya Gangrape Case, They Deserve It, Says SC

The Supreme Court has upheld death sentence for all four perpetrators who gangraped Nirbhaya on December 16, 2012.

"The Nirbhaya rape-cum-murder case is rarest of rare case and we are compelled to give extreme punishment to ensure justice," said the apex court, while delivering the order. Read more

2. With 4,000 Troops On The Ground Indian Army Launches Door-To-Door Search To Flush Out Terrorists In Kashmir

With militancy and terror attacks on the rise in Kashmir, the Indian Army have launched a massive combing operation, spanning across 30 villages in Shopian district.

The search operations are conducted by a joint team of the army police and paramilitary and assisted with drones and helicopters. The door-to-door search operation is the first since it was stopped in the 1990's. The troops asked all villagers to assemble in a common area so their homes could be searched. Read more

3. The Proposal For 'No Fly List' Is Out And It Seeks Two-Year Ban For Unruly Flyers

Following the recent controversy involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, the government has issued a draft proposal for a 'no-fly-list' for unruly passengers.

According to the draft proposal, any unruly behaviour on board or in the airport will invite suspension from flying for a minimum of three months. The maximum penalty could be grounding for two years or more. Read more

4. Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Registers Rs 10,561 Crore Revenue In 2016-17, Eyes At Doubling The Figures By Next Year

Baba Ramdevs Patanjali forecast its turnover to double this fiscal year, after the company that sells everything from shampoos to biscuits, noodles and dairy products reported revenue of Rs 10,561 crore for the year ended March 31, 2017.

The Haridwar-based company expects to expand its headcount fivefold to five lakh within a year, and become the countrys biggest swadeshi brand in two years. It is also in the process of setting up a restaurant chain, Ramdev said. Read more

5. Delhi's Air Quality Shows Signs Of Improvement, Thanks To Strict Ban On Crop Fires

There has been an increase in burning of wheat crop stubble in Punjab and Haryana this week compared with the previous one, Nasa's satellite pictures reveal.

But the images also reveal a larger and more significant trend, the practice of crop-burning is down sharply in comparison with the same period last year. Read more
With militancy and terror attacks on the rise in Kashmir, the Indian Army have launched a massive combing operation, spanning across 30 villages in Shopian district.

AFP

The search operations are conducted by a joint team of the army police and paramilitary and assisted with drones and helicopters. The door-to-door search operation is the first since it was stopped in the 1990's. The troops asked all villagers to assemble in a common area so their homes could be searched.

AFP

Searches were carried in Heaf, Sugan, Chilipora, Malnad, Turka Wangam and other villages where residents resorted to massive stone pelting against the forces.

AFP

Dozens were injured in the clashes at Turka Wangam and Sugan villages and were shifted to Srinagar hospital, which received two youngsters with pellet injuries in their eyes.

Terrorists also attacked a patrol party of 62 Rashtriya Rifles at Imam sahib village. Sources said three soldiers were injured in firing by terrorists.

AFP

According to reports the search operation was triggered by a recent video which surfaced online.

It showed some 30 heavily armed terrorists in an orchard, in an unidentified location. While videos of terrorists and terror training is nothing new in Kashmir, it was the first time such huge number of militants were spotted together.

Militancy has picked up in the valley, especially since 2016, after the killing of Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani.

AFP

Official figures show that 104 local youths joined militant groups in 2016, of whom 59 joined after the killing of Wani. In 2015, 66 youths from Kashmir had joined militancy, while the figures were 53 in 2014, 16 in 2013 and 21 in 2012.
The day has finally arrived when the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle will carry the GSAT-9, widely known as the South Asia satellite to space. In an attempt to bring all Saarc countries together, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the satellite will be a priceless gift to Indias neighbours.

Here are seven things you must know before it takes off at 4.57 pm today.

1. This Geostationary Communication Satellite will help the countries to tackle natural disasters effectively.

ISRO

2. It was initially known as the Saarc satellite. It was renamed South Asia after Pakistan pulled out.

ISRO

3. The lift-off mass (including the satellite and the launch vehicle) weighs 2,230 kgs and its mission life will be 12 years.

ISRO

4. The launch was scheduled for December 2016 but got delayed because India was unable to reach an agreement with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Twitter

Twitter

6. It will take off from the spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Twitter

7. According to Gopal Bagley, spokesperson ministry of External Affairs, the total cost to build the satellite is about Rs 450 crore.

ISRO
War-torn Iraq seldom gets cheerful moments. Since the US invasion on the pretext of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), the country has seen the worst kind of destruction and sectarian violence in the modern history. But the people in Iraq are known throughout the world for their resilience and now they have a reason to smile - they have got their first beauty queen since 1972. Shaima Qasim Abdul Rahman is the new Miss Iraq.

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Heres everything you need to know about her:

1. Shes from the multi-ethnic city of Kirkuk and was crowned in 2015, when she was only 20.

2. Shaima is a Business Administrations graduate.

Newsmax

3. She represented Iraq has the Miss Universe pageant, where she said, I want to prove that the Iraqi woman has her own existence in society, she has her rights like men.

4. Shes for the rights of women in Iraq and said, Women in Iraq enjoyed a positive history  we had the first female minister in the fifties last century. Many women positively influenced the political, social, scientific and artistic history and life of Iraq. Due to political regimes and wars of the last few decades, womens role decreased. We hope we can increase positive participation by women at all levels now.

5. One of her dreams is to meet former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at least once in her life. She also wants to visit India as she feels it is a country of wisdom.

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Congratulations to the new Miss Iraq!
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is known to have some really out of the box ideas. From Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, the Palm Jumeirah an artificial island on reclaimed land, the replica of the world called The World Islands, Burj Al Arab, the only seven-star hotel in the world and the list goes on.

Given their track record, it should not come as a surprise that if some day they decide to have an Antarctica in the middle of the desert.

AFP/ Representational Image

No, UAE is not going have a new Antarctica, but a piece of it, quite literally! An Abu Dhabi-based eco firm is planning to tow icebergs to the UAE from Antarctica in early 2018 - to harvest the ice for pure drinking water.

Representational Image

According to Gulf News, a giant iceberg will be towed 12,600km all the way from the South pole and will be anchored off Fujairah.

But why?

We want it mainly for the water. It could also be good for tourism and the weather, Abdullah Mohammad Sulaiman Al Shehi, managing director of National Advisor Bureau Limited told Gulf News.

AFP/ Representational Image

Al Shehi also said that cold air gushing out from an iceberg close to the shores of the Arabian Sea would cause a trough and rainstorms across the Arabian Gulf and the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula all year round.

He claims that the firm has already identify the transportation route, formulated the technical and financial plan for the project.

"Towing is the best method. We will start the project in beginning of 2018, Al Shehi said.
During the companys second quarter earnings call on Tuesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook on said his company views India as a huge opportunity, which is why its putting in so much energy. With Apples growth relatively stagnant in the US, and slowing down in China, the company clearly has its eyes on Indias oft-disregarded market.

One of the things Cook mentioned is that Apple sales grew in double digits in India last quarter, even setting a new record in March. As the companys US and China markets saturate, it sold only 50.76 million iPhones globally, as compared to the 51.19 million units it sol in the first quarter. This makes India the prime new frontier for the tech giant to grow further.

He was also impressed by the speed with which 4G services rolled out across the country, saying it offers his company an opportunity to broaden its reach. The 4G network investment really began rolling in a significant way toward the last quarter of last year, he said. But they are moving fast. They're moving at a speed that I have not seen in any other country in the world once they were started, and it is truly impressive.

In a meeting with investors post the quarterly results announcement, Cook said Apple is focusing its efforts in the country on retail, manufacturing, and research & development. Of course, hes far from the first to see the potential our shores hold for the tech industry, but his company is making strides to expand on that opportunity, setting up a manufacturing plant in Bengaluru and a R&D lab in Hyderabad.

We agree that we are underpenetrated there, Cook added, talking about how he feels the company has failed to connect with its buyers here. Our growth rates are good, really good by most people's expectations, maybe not mine as much. And so we're putting a lot of energy in, just like we have in other geographies that eventually wound up producing more and more. So I'm very excited about it. To that effect, Cook says Apple is planning to open up more of its own walk-in stores in India

Apples sales numbers may have climbed in India, but the company is far from securing the top spot. That throne is currently occupied by Samsung, which has been hugely successful in the iPhones target market of premium smartphones. If the Cupertino corporation wants to drive forward its progress in India, its going to have to find a way to lower its sales price in India.
Its no secret that potholes are a huge pain in India. While we may grumble that its because of cheap building materials or inefficient labor, the truth is that roads just naturally decay over time. But now, a team of scientists from the Netherlands believe they have the answer to prevent potholes from even forming.

Asphalt is the usual choice for road-building; its easy to apply, just requiring it to be heated, laid, and then flattened out. Most asphalt roads are often porous, to allow the surface to absorb some of the traffic noise. This has one major drawback however, in that a porous surface constantly under pressure from passing vehicles will degrade fairly quickly. Not just making for an annoyingly bumpy ride, potholes can also be hazardous to both riders and pedestrians. In fact, an estimated 10,727 people were killed in accidents caused by bad roads and repairs in 2015, with an estimated 3,416 of those solely caused by potholes.

According to Erik Schlangen, a materials scientist at Delft University, and his team, one solution to this is to build asphalt roads that can fix themselves as they wear down. The key here is something he calls self-healing asphalt.

"Slap a band-aid on, it'll be fine"

Schlangens technique mixes in tiny steel fibres into the asphalt mixture being laid, to make the finished road conductive. The idea is that, you can run a large induction magnet over the surface of the road, and the heat blasted onto its surface is conducted all the way through by the steel fibres. Sunshine can provide some of that heat by itself, but Schlangens tests so far say thats not enough, though Indias tropical temperatures might be more conducive. This heat then warms up the entire asphalt, causing it to settle and thereby fill up and close close any cracks on its own. Sure, its not technically self-healing, seeing as it requires an induction machine, but its certainly cheaper, faster, and much less disruptive to traffic than closing a stretch of road for a few days to conduct repairs.

So far, Schlangen and his team have tested the self-healing asphalt on 12 different roads in the Netherlands, one of which has been open to the public and functioning since 2010. All 12 are still in perfect condition, though that may also be because a regular asphalt roads usual lifespan is about seven to 10 years. He believes observations over the next few years are what will reveal true results. Overall, Schlangen estimates the self-healing asphalt would be about 25 percent more expensive than whats currently used, but it could effectively double the life of a road, saving the country approximately 90 million Euros a year in repairs. And who knows what that number would be like if the technology came to India?

But wait, theres more! As opposed to just saving repair costs, Schlangen also believes the self-healing roads would be perfect to implement electric cars, as you could transmit electricity through the conductive asphalt to charge electric vehicles on the go. He believes its possible to implement a system at traffic lights, for instance, where you electric vehicle and be juiced up while waiting for a green light.

Strong bones alone do not a strong body make

And thats not the last of the ideas Schlangens ideas to fix road infrastructure. His lab is also looking at bridges that crumble after years of heavy use, a tragedy waiting to happen in any country.

The primary material used in bridge-building is concrete, one humanity has used on a smaller scale for thousands of years. It also happens to be harmful to the environment, with Franz-Josef Ulm, director of MITs Concrete Sustainability Hub, estimating its production to be responsible for 10 percent of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.

But another major point here is that, we can always use stronger bridges. While concrete is cheap to manufacture, it tends to crack easily. Thats why builders embed steel girders into the concrete, to hold the structures weight when that happens. Thats a hack weve learned to perform, but its a more complex problem when you have bridges over water bodies. When the concrete cracks, water (or even salt from de-icing in countries with harsher winters than India) seeps into the concrete and then begins to slowly erode the steel. This can cause the entire structure to become unstable over time, which is why bridges have a short-term lifetime. Thats where Schlangen and his team come in once more.

The Dutch research group is also experimenting with a type of self-healing concrete, though it moves away from steel micro fibres here and instead adopts a more nature-oriented design process. Their most promising solution so far has been to add a special bacteria to the concrete. This bacteria can live within the material for more than 200 years; but the reason its being used is that it naturally produces calcium carbonate. This material can help shore up cracks in the concrete and essentially make them watertight, prolonging the structures life exponentially. As a bonus, the bacteria is also completely safe for humans.

So what's the hold up?

Of course, the problem here is that Schlangens team has no easy way to test this technique. Their design for a self-healing road would mean disappointment and potholes, but a failed concrete bridge test could spell disaster. Nevertheless, theyve applied the special concrete mixture to a few small structures, and continue to tweak the material for better efficiency. And though Europe and the US have strict regulations when it comes to concrete, countries with more lax rules like China, Japan, and South Korea have already shown their interest.

The only problem is that, despite the science progressing with considerable governmental approval around the world, builders are hesitant to change. Theyve gained a trust in their materials over the decades and are naturally hesitant to embrace something new as, ultimately, the liability for a structural collapse would fall to them. And yet, we can only hope materials of this kind would one day reach our own country. Perhaps then we wouldnt have to worry each year about whether our roads are going to be repaired in time for the monsoons.
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Hillary Clinton Blame-Shifts Her Defeat

By Robert Parry

Hillary Clintons explanation for her electoral defeat  putting much of the blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin  clashes with her own chronology of her campaigns collapse in key Rust Belt states that put Donald Trump into the White House.

In an interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour at the Women for Women International conference on Tuesday, Clinton stated that if the election had been held on Oct. 27, 2016, she would have won, but that her hopes were derailed on Oct. 28.

However, what happened on Oct. 28 wasnt anything that Putin may or may not have done. It was FBI Director James Comeys announcement that he was reopening the investigation into possible security violations related to Clintons use of a private email server as Secretary of State.

Then, just two days before the Nov. 8 election, Comey again injected the Clinton-server issue into the campaign by announcing that he was once more closing the inquiry.

In other words, Comey delivered what amounted to a double-whammy by reminding voters of a key reason why they distrusted Clinton (the private email server) and then creating the appearance that she was getting special treatment for conduct that might have put a lesser person in prison (by absolving her of legal guilt).

However, regarding Clintons chronology of her defeat and the supposed role of Russia in exposing Democratic emails, the timing doesnt fit. WikiLeaks began publishing the purloined emails of Clintons campaign chairman John Podesta three weeks before Comeys Oct. 28 announcement. The first batch was released on Oct. 7 and others were made public over the next couple of months.

Though those emails surely embarrassed the Clinton campaign  because they revealed the contents of Clintons paid speeches to Wall Street and some pay-to-play features of the Clinton Foundation  there was no clear correlation between their publication and Clintons late drop in the polls.

As Harry Enten reported for FiveThirtyEight, a web site that specializes in electoral predictions, Clintons drop in the polls doesnt line up perfectly with the surge in Wikileaks interest. When Wikileaks had its highest search day in early October, Clintons poll numbers were rising . They continued to go up for another two weeks, even as Wikileaks was releasing emails.

Indeed, on Oct. 7, The Upshot , The New York Times daily tracking of the elections odds, gave Clinton an 82 percent chance of winning, a prospect that brightened to 92 percent by Oct. 27 before sliding after Comeys announcement to 85 percent on Election Day.

In other words, Clintons chances continued to improve in the three weeks after the WikiLeaks publications and only dropped in the wake of Comeys Oct. 28 announcement of the reopened server investigation.

At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Comey said he disclosed the reopened investigation on Oct. 28 because he had earlier informed Congress that he had closed the inquiry and that saying nothing would have required an act of concealment.

WikiLeaks Denials

Regarding the Podesta emails, theres also the evidentiary question of whether Russia did, in fact, provide them to WikiLeaks, whose founder Julian Assange has denied getting the material from Russia. One WikiLeaks associate, former British Ambassador Craig Murray, indicated that the Podesta emails and an earlier batch of Democratic National Committee emails came from two different American insiders .

President Obamas intelligence chiefs, however, asserted with high confidence  but without presenting specific evidence  that Russia was the original source, supposedly having hacked into the email accounts of Podesta and the DNC.

In her comments on Tuesday, Clinton treated the Russian hacking allegations as flat-fact and gave Russia and WikiLeaks top billing in explaining her defeat, even over Comey.

Every day that goes by we learn more about the unprecedented interference by a foreign power whose leader is not a member of my fan club, Clinton said in reference to Putin without using his name. He certainly interfered in our election. And it was clear he interfered to hurt me and to help my opponent.

But Clinton slid into conspiracy mode by suggesting that Putin, Trump or someone else somehow arranged to have the first batch of Podesta emails released on Oct. 7, 2016, to blunt the impact of that days disclosure of Trumps 2005 hot-mic comments to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush about grabbing women by the pussy. (Regarding the timing of that release, NBC explained that a producer recalled the comment and dug the tape out of the archive, before it was leaked to The Washington Post, which published the lewd remark on Oct. 7.)

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Ask yourself this, Clinton said on Tuesday. Within an hour or two of the Hollywood Access tape being made public the Russian theft of John Podestas emails hit Wikileaks. What a coincidence!

So, is the former Secretary of State suggesting that there was such direct collusion among Trump, Putin and WikiLeaks that they coordinated the timing of the Oct. 7 release to distract from the release of Trumps pussy comment? U.S. intelligence agencies have cited no proof of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia regarding the email leaks.

But Clinton went even further, suggesting that Trump was coordinating his public statements with Putin. If you chart my opponent and his campaigns statements, they quite coordinated with the goals that that leader who shall remain nameless had, Clinton said.

Yet, while primarily blaming Putin and Comey for her defeat, Clinton offered no specific examples of her own failings during the campaign. She responded to a question about her supporters disappointment and anger by accepting blame only in general terms.

I take absolute personal responsibility, Clinton said. I am very aware of the challenges, the problems, the shortfalls that we had.  It wasnt a perfect campaign. There is no such thing. But I was on the way to winning until a combination of Jim Comeys letter on Oct. 28 and Russian Wikileaks raised doubts in the mind of people who were inclined to vote for me but were scared off.

While promising more specifics about her mistakes in an upcoming memoir, she avoided any references to problems that other analysts have cited, such as her controversial decision as Secretary of State to use a private email server; her acceptance of six-figure speaking fees from Wall Street and other special interest groups after leaving the State Department; her description of half of Trumps supporters as deplorables; her hawkish foreign policy, including her support for the disastrous Iraq War and her key role in the botched Libyan regime change ; her campaigns lack of an inspirational or coherent message; her heavy reliance on negative advertising against Trump; her association with past scandals involving her husband, Bill Clinton; and her neglect of the traditionally Democratic states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, which gave Trump the electoral votes he needed to win.

A Passive-Aggressive Style

In contrast to President Obama who avoided pinning his political problems on race, Clinton pointed to misogyny as another reason for her defeat and depicted womens rights as the premier issue facing the world.

Womens rights is the unfinished business of the Twenty-first Century, Clinton said. There is no more important larger issue that has to be addressed.

As important as womens rights are  and as popular as the line may have been to her audience  Clintons statement had a discordant ring since there are many other examples of unfinished business of the Twenty-first Century, such as global warming, endless warfare, nuclear weapons, racism, religious bigotry, poverty, lack of health care, etc.

It was also somewhat ironic that Clinton sat before a slogan, #SheBringsPeace, given her militaristic approach toward American foreign policy , including her infamous celebration of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafis grisly murder in 2011, when she declared , we came, we saw, he died and clapped with joy.

Despite her off-putting passive-aggressive attitude for much of the half-hour interview, Clinton was at her best toward the end when she began discussing detailed domestic policies and the future challenges to the jobs of Americans from robotics and other high-tech developments.

Only then did the viewers get a sense of Clintons greatest strength, her wonky interest in the nitty-gritty of what the government can do for people, a favorable contrast to President Trumps surprise at how complicated many of the issues are that land on the Presidents desk.

But the bulk of the interview focused on blame-shifting her defeat largely onto Russia as she presented herself as a new fighter in the anti-Trump #Resistance. Im now back to being an activist citizen and part of the Resistance, Clinton declared.

Investigative reporter Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for The Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. You can buy his latest book, Americas Stolen Narrative, either in print here or as an e-book (from Amazon and barnesandnoble.com ).

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Is Trump Really President?

By Jack Rasmus

May 04, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Is Trump being allowed to play at President for public consumption, while the generals, spooks, and financial pirates run the show?



These are strange times in U.S. politics. And stranger still is the emerging character of the Trump presidency. Events are appearing with growing frequency, raising the question who is really running the White House and the U.S. government? Is Trump really the president?

Trump sits there on the second floor, spending late evenings into early mornings tweeting to the world. In itself, thats politically weird. But even more strange is what hes tweeting and the next day fallout.

We hear about the aircraft carrier task force in Asia that was reportedly steaming at full speed to the North Korean coast a few weeks ago, only to learn soon after it was actually headed in the opposite direction to Australia. Did Donald imagine that? Was the U.S. Navy informed or requested by its titular commander in chief to turn around and go north  and then didnt? Was Trumps command to go north perhaps countermanded by some head of Naval operations, or maybe someone else in the White House or government? Or did he just imagine it all and never even informed the Navy to head to Korea? All the possibilities are strange. Very strange.

And then there was the announcement by Trump that his big budget was going to be announced in a few days. It wasnt even prepared. Government bureaucrats had to quickly slap something together in a couple of pages to provide to the press.

Trump did it again, tweeted announcing his big tax cuts. Again the bureaucrats were caught off guard and had to throw some general outline together and issue it to the press. All this happened after it was generally known that the tax cut proposals were not going to be developed until late summer, and that the Obamacare Repeal bill had to go forward first. The Obamacare repeal was a necessary prerequisite for the general tax cut. Its $592 billion in tax cuts for business and investors had to come first. Until it was resolved, it made no sense to publicize elements of the yet bigger tax cuts of trillions of dollars more scheduled to follow. But Trump tweeted it anyway, and the bureaucracy jumped, putting something down on paper. Whos communicating what to whom? Is Donald just lobbing electronic policy missiles out of the second floor of the White House, hoping some bureaucrat will catch them before morning?

Or perhaps Trump is being allowed to sit up there on the second floor of the White House and do his tweet thing, while others actually run the government. By others, perhaps it is vice-president Pence in charge, working with some inside committee of key cabinet officers and the intelligence spooks in the NSA-CIA-FBI?

Is Trump being allowed to play at President for public consumption, while the generals, spooks, and Goldman Sachs financial pirates run the show?

Its hard to believe that the members of his administration and the government State bureaucracy knew in advance of Trumps recent tweets welcoming Philippines President Duterte to the White House. Or that Trump would tweet recently that hes willing to meet with North Koreas president, for whom he, Trump, had great respect. You can imagine the political constipation that comment caused the spooks and the generals in charge of State, Defense, and National Security.

Nov. 30, 2016, this writer wrote a piece predicting that Trump the right wing populist would be successfully tamed by the political elites of this country that really run the show. I laid out some ideas how that would be accomplished. (see my blog, jackrasmus.com). But I didnt think it would happen so fast and so easily.

The past month has witnessed Trump doing a total about face on virtually all his right-wing populist proposals during the election. Hes backtracking so fast its a wonder he hasnt tripped over himself. (Check that, he has). What explains his 180 degree turnabout?

Was his talk of right wing populism during the campaign all political election hype? Tell the people whatever they want to hear to get elected, and then go do whatever the moneybags really running the show want from you---which is big tax cuts, massive across-the-board deregulation, end the taxation on Obamacare and we dont care what happens to the rest of it, give us some infrastructure spending deals that resurrect wheeling-dealing commercial property investments with big tax loopholes, and just tweak and rearrange existing free trade treaties.

So what we actually got so far from Trump during his first 100 days is government by executive ordersi.e. repealing environmental protections, gutting immigrants rights, going after sanctuary cities, opening up national monuments and parks to mining and cattle exploitation, subsidizing killer coal companies, attacking consumer protection, smoke and mirror changes to H1-B skilled worker import quotas that havent changed, gutting K-12 education and shifting funds to private schools from public, opening up offshore drilling, and so on. But elsewhere its been a wholesale retreat from his election positions, proposals and promises. Heres a short list:

Trump does a reversal on China, from declaring it a currency manipulator to offering it major concessions at the Mar-a-Lago meeting, in exchange for help with North Korea. One wonders if Chinas offshore islands expansion is also part of the deal.

From NATO is a waste of money and unnecessary, Trump shifts to NATO is the great bulwark against Russia. From Putin the great leader to Putin is responsible for Syria using poison gas--of which still no proof thereof by the way. (Is it true, or is it all in that great American tradition of yellow cake (2003), babies thrown from incubators (1990), tonkin gulf(1965), the war on drugs (Panama invasion), Soviets are in Grenada, and remember the Maine (Spanish-American War) incidents that always precede and justify US going to war).

From Mexico is going to pay for the wall, to therell be no wall (latest per Homeland Security Secretary). From dumping NAFTA, to Im not going to terminate NAFTA (Trump quote).

And then theres Trumps staged press conferences with companies like Carrier Corp., indicating theyre not going to export some jobs to Mexico for now (as they continue to plan to export still others at the same time). And the list of companies announcing jobs they intend to hire in the US without saying when, or that they already had planned to hire them anyway prior to the press conference.

From cancelling the TTP free trade deal (already killed in Congress), to declaring a reopening of the TTIP free trade deal with Europe. And what about the silent deal Trump struck with Japans prime minister, Shinzo Abe, when he was here? Its been leaked that Japan will pick up the lead on the TPP renegotiations and the U.S. will join it later. Or Mexicos recent offer to the U.S. to just apply the TPP terms to a new reform of NAFTA by Mexico and the U..S? Watch both these back door free trade resurrections, theyre coming too.

And what about Trumps organizational about face, with right wing ideologue Steve Bannon banished from the National Security Council and pro-Russia general Flynn banished from the government?

What I also find interesting is the intense media attack on Trump focusing on his Russia connection, his tax returns, nepotism in the White House, his companies benefiting (a violation of the emoluments clause of the US constitution) and calls for impeachment in Congressall of sudden all the above have disappeared from view in the media front page. Theyve been put on the back burner in Congress and the press. And theres no more damaging leaks coming weekly from the intelligence spooks either. Instead, what we hear is talk about now hes coming around, beginning to appear presidential! Is all that just coincidental? Hmmm.

Is this a presidency where the Donald gets to sit on the second floor of the White House and do his late night tweets, and the bureaucrats scurry the next day to clean up? Where Donald is brought downstairs to the oval office for Executive Order signings or occasional reporter interviews and then trotted back upstairs? Is it a presidency where he makes his late night calls to his moneybag friends, like the billionaire Mercers and others, to find out how am I doing guys? While the rest of the representatives of the economic and political elite run the show?

Is this a Trump presidency, or a government by Generals-Goldman Sachs-Pence, with son in law Kushner functioning as intermediary between them and the Donald? A government of second floor tweets and first floor executive order signing events?

The quality of the American presidency has been in steady decline for decades. From the crook Nixon to the inept peanut farmer, Carter; from the movie-actor, camera friendly Reagan to the morally sleezy opportunist Bill Clinton; from know-nothing George Bush to the super-cautious false progressive Obama; and now to the fake right populist, blowhard, tweety-bird called Donald Trump.

Were going to need a lot of luck to get through the next three and a half years folks!

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Fake News?

Al-Jazeera Films False Flag Fake Chemical Attack Against Civilians in Syria



By Sputnik News

Note from Tom ; I want to thank ICH readers for pointing out the fact that this story has been denied by Al Jazeera ( Al Jazeera responds to Sputnik chemical attack report : Russian agency Sputnik has published fake news about Al Jazeera - its claims amount to defamation punishable by law. ) Please read the comments at the base of the article. However, Time will tell if the story is false. Updated 05/05/2017 - 9:40 PST - The following notice appears on the original page of this article at the Sputnick News website Information about television channel Al-Jazeera's stringers allegedly filming a staged chemical attack by government forces against civilians in Syria was not confirmed. On May 4, citing a military and diplomatic source, RIA Novosti news agency as well as other Russian media published an article alleging that Qatar-based television channel Al-Jazeera's stringers filmed a staged attack in the settlements of Seraqeb, Erich and Jisr Shughur (Idlib province). According to the source, the filming was ordered from a European country. After a rigorous check, this information was not confirmed by other sources. The agency cannot consider this information credible and tenders apologies to its readers and subscribers. ======

May 04, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - A false flag fake chemical attack against civilians has recently been filmed by al-Jazeera stringers in Syria, and it was ordered from a European country, a military and diplomatic source revealed on Thursday.

"The "effectiveness" of the White Helmets' TV-spectacle of accusing Syrian authorities of attacking civilians in Khan Shaykhun with sarin inspired terrorists to continue filming the fake 'series'. According to info confirmed via several channels, al-Jazeera television channel stringers have recently filmed a staged, fake scene of an alleged chemical attack against civilians by the Syrian Army," the source told Sputnik.

The source said around 30 fire engines and ambulances, as well as 70 local residents with children transported from a refugee camp were used in the filming across three locations in Idlib province, including Jisr Shughur.

"A multiple simultaneous uploading of filmed fake footage with 'screaming' social media comments was due to take place in the next few days (by Sunday) at the separate command of a mastermind and sponsor of the film in one of the European countries," he added.

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This filming appears to be ordered from a European country, the source said.

In December 2016, Egyptian police detained a man for making staged "wounded children" photos , which he was planning to use to misrepresent on social media as photos of destruction and injured people in Syria's Aleppo.

The revelation comes in the wake of a chemical incident in the Idlib province which was followed by a US missile attack against Syria.

On April 4, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces claimed that 80 people were killed and 200 injured in a suspected chemical attack in Khan Shaykhun , blaming the Syrian government. Damascus vehemently rejected the accusations and said militants and their allies were responsible .

Early April 7, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Shairat, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city of Homs. US President Donald Trump said the attack was a response to the alleged chemical weapon use in Syria's Idlib , which Washington blames on the Syrian government. Russia described the attack as an aggression against a sovereign state .

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry reminded the Trump administration that all chemical weapons had been taken out of Syria in mid-2014 with the help of the previous administration of ex-president Barack Obama.

Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview with Sputnik that Western states are blocking attempts to investigate the Idlib chemical incident because in the event of a probe it will be established that the "attack" was a false flag and lie .

The OPCW announced in January 2016 that Syrias weapons arsenal had been destroyed in accordance with an agreement reached after the 2013 Ghouta attack.

This article was first published by Sputnik News I had mistakenly attributed it to Al-Jazeera. I apologize for the error. Tom Feeley
The Deep History of US, Britains Never-Ending Cold War On Russia

By Finian Cunningham

May 04, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - After decades of delaying, the United Nations finally released archives from the Second World War-era war crimes commission investigating the Nazi Holocaust. The source of those archives on Nazi war crimes were Western governments, including those in exile at the time of the war, such as the Belgian, Polish and Czechoslovakian. The time period covered is 1943-1949. Washington and London had long sought to halt the release. Why?

Notably, the landmark publication of the files last month was given scant Western media coverage. Surprisingly, perhaps, because the story that can be gleaned from the documents tells of a hidden history of the Second World War, namely the systematic collusion between the American and British governments and the Nazi Third Reich.

As a report in Deutsche Welle remarked on the released archives: The files make clear that [Western] Allied forces knew more about the Nazi concentration camp system before the end of the war than has generally been thought.

This revelation points to more than just knowledge among the Western allies of Nazi-era crimes; it points more damningly to state collusion. This would also explain why Washington and London have been reluctant to make the UN war crimes files publicly available.

There has long been a controversial debate among Western nations about why the US and Britain in particular did not do more to bomb the Nazi infrastructure of death camps and railroads. Washington and London have often made the claim that they did know the full extent of the horror being perpetrated by the Nazis until the very end of the war when extermination centers such as at Auschwitz and Treblinka were liberated  by the Soviet Red Army, it should be noted too.

However, what the latest release of UN Holocaust files shows is that Washington and London were indeed well aware of the Nazi Final Solution in which millions of European Jews and Slavic people were being systematically worked to death or exterminated in gas chambers. So the question again is: why did the US and Britain not direct more of their aerial bombing campaign to destroy the Nazi infrastructure?

One possible answer is that these Western allies had a callous disregard for the Nazi victims. Washington and London establishments were themselves accused of harboring antisemitic prejudices, as can be seen from the scandals when both these governments spurned thousands of European Jewish refugees during the Second World War, in effect sending many of them to their deaths under the Nazi regime.

Not excluding the above factor of Western racist insouciance, there is a second more disturbing factor. That the Western governments, or at least powerful sections, were loath to hamper the Nazi war effort against the Soviet Union. Notwithstanding that the Soviet Union was a nominal ally of the West for the defeat of Nazi Germany.

This perspective harks to a radically different conception of the Second World War in contrast to that narrated in official Western versions. In this alternative historical account, the rise of the Nazi Third Reich was deliberately fomented by American and British rulers as a bulwark in Europe against the spread of communism. Adolf Hitlers rabid anti-Semitism was matched only by his detest of Marxism and the Slavic people of the Soviet Union. In the Nazi ideology, they were all Untermenschen (subhumans) to be exterminated in a Final Solution.

So, when Nazi Germany was attacking the Soviet Union and carrying out its Final Solution from June 1941 until late 1944, little wonder then that the US and Britain showed a curious reluctance to commit their military forces fully to open up a Western Front. The Western allies were evidently content to see the Nazi war machine doing what it was originally intended to do: to destroy the primary enemy to Western capitalism as represented by the Soviet Union. This is not to say that all American and British political leaders shared or were even aware of this tacit strategic vision. Leaders like President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill appeared to be genuinely committed to defeating Nazi Germany. Nevertheless, their individual views must be set against a background of systematic collusion between powerful Western corporate interests and Nazi Germany.

As American author David Talbot documented in his book, The Devils Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA and the Rise of Americas Secret Government (2015), there were massive financial links between Wall Street and the Third Reich, going back several years before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Allen Dulles, who worked for the Wall Street law firm Sullivan and Cromwell and who later headed up the American Central Intelligence Agency, was a key player in the linkage between US capital and German industry. American industrial giants, such as Ford, GM, ITT and Du Pont were invested heavily in German industrial counterparts like IG Farben (manufacturer of Zyklon B, the poisonous gas used in the Holocaust), Krupp Steel and Daimler. American capital, as well as British, was thus integrated into the Nazi war machine and the latters dependence on the system of slave labor as provided by the Final Solution.

This would explain why the Western allies did so little to disrupt the Nazi infrastructure with their undoubted formidable aerial bombing capacity. Far more damning than mere inertia or indifference owing to racist prejudice towards the Nazi victims, what emerges is that the Americans and British capitalist elite were invested in the Third Reich. Mainly for the purpose of eliminating the Soviet Union and any kind of genuinely socialist global movement. Bombing Nazi infrastructure would have been tantamount to deleting Western assets.

To this end, as the war was drawing to a close and the Soviet Union looked poised to roll up the Third Reich singlehandedly, the Americans and British belatedly stepped up their war efforts from western and southern Europe. The goal was one of salvaging Western assets remaining in the Nazi regime. Allen Dulles, the director of the-soon-to-be-formed American Central Intelligence Agency, extricated top Nazis and their gold looted from Europe in secret surrender deals known as Operation Sunrise. Britains military intelligence MI6 was also involved in the clandestine American effort to salvage Nazi assets via ratlines. The bad faith on display to the Soviet allies heralded the chill of the ensuing Cold War that immediately followed the Second World War.

Significant and damning testimony of what was going down was given recently in a BBC interview by Ben Ferencz, the most senior surviving US prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials. At age 98, Ferencz was still able to lucidly recall how scores of Nazi war criminals were let off the hook by the American and British authorities. Ferencz cited US General George Patton who remarked just before the final surrender of the Third Reich in early May 1945, as saying: Were fighting the wrong enemy. Pattons candid expression of deeper animosity towards the Soviet Union than towards Nazi Germany was consistent with how the US and British ruling class had been colluding with Hitlers Third Reich in a geo-strategic war against the Soviet Union and worker-led socialist movements arising across Europe and America.

In other words, the Cold War which the US and Britain embarked on after 1945 was but a continuation of hostile policy towards Moscow that was already underway well before the Second World War erupted in 1939 in the form of a build up of Nazi Germany. For various reasons, it became expedient for the Western powers to liquidate the Nazi war machine, along with the Soviet Union. But as can be seen, the Western assets residing in the Nazi machine were recycled into American and British Cold War posture against the Soviet Union. It is a truly damning legacy that American and British military intelligence agencies were consolidated and financed by Nazi crimes.

The recent release of UN Holocaust files  in spite of American and British prevarication over many years  add more evidence to the historical analysis that these Western powers were deeply complicit in the monumental crimes of the Nazi Third Reich. They knew about these crimes because they had helped facilitate them. And the complicity stemmed from Western hostility towards Russia as a perceived geopolitical rival.

This is not a mere historical academic exercise. Western complicity with Nazi Germany also finds a corollary in the present-day ongoing hostility from Washington, Britain and their NATO allies towards Moscow. The relentless build up of NATO offensive forces around Russias borders, the endless Russophobia in Western propagandistic news media, the economic blockade in the form of sanctions based on tenuous claims, are all deeply rooted in history.

The Wests Cold War towards Moscow preceded the Second World War, continued after the defeat of Nazi Germany and persists to this day regardless of the fact that the Soviet Union no longer exists. Why? Because Russia is a perceived rival to Anglo-American capitalist hegemony, as is China or any other emerging power that undermines that desired unipolar hegemony.

American-British collusion with Nazi Germany finds its modern-day manifestation in NATO collusion with the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine and jihadist terror groups dispatched in proxy wars against Russian interests in Syria and elsewhere. The players may change over time, but the root pathology is American-British capitalism and its hegemonic addiction.

The never-ending Cold War will only end when Anglo-American capitalism is finally defeated and replaced by a genuinely more democratic system.

This article was first published by SCF -
The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Ogun State,has arrested a couple, Mathew Abioro and his wife, Precious, were nabbed by men of the for allegedly engaging in armed robbery and serving as receivers of stolen items,according to New Telegraph reports.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the robbery gang had planned to carry out an operation before meeting their waterloo, adding the couple had confessed to the crime.

The PPRO disclosed that a pump action gun, one cut-to-size single-barrelled pistol, one cut-to-size double-barrelled pistol and four live cartridges were recovered from the suspects.

He said: The couple were arrested when men of FSARS received information that some notorious armed robbers who have been terrorising Abeokuta and Sango axis are planning to carry out another operation consequent upon which their hideout was stormed and the couple was arrested.

On interrogation, they confessed being involved in a series of armed robbery within and outside Abeokuta metropolis. They equally confessed being receivers of stolen motorcycles from other robbery gangs and that they used to sell such motorcycles to Benin Republic and used the proceeds to purchase arms and ammunition which they use for their own operations.
An angry set of car dealers in Kaduna set on fire a patrol van belonging to the Nigerian Customs service for trying to impound some vehicles from a car shop in the Kaduna State capital .

According to eye witness reports , it was gathered that a team of customs officials had stormed one of the car dealers shops and seized about six vehicles suspected to have been smuggled into the country.

This however did not go down well with the car dealers who quickly mobilised some youths in the area to stop the action.

One of the customs drivers attached to the federal operations unit of the service in an attempt to escape from the mob was attacked and his vehicle set ablaze before the arrival of security operatives.

The spokesman of the Nigerian Customs, said that the owner of the car shop is already in their custody, while investigations to fish out the perpetrators of the attack have commenced.

Source:( Channels Television )
Justice Maruf Adegbola of an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, on Friday, sentenced one Gafar Asimiyu to seven years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl.

Adegbola said evidence before him showed that the accused was guilty of the charge of rape preferred against him.

The medical report from Adeoyo Hospital indicated that there was forceful penetration in the private part of the victim, he said.

He also said the statement of the accused did not contradict that of the victim, adding that it helped to strengthen the case against him.

The judge further said the testimony of the accused in the court was an afterthought.

The earlier statement made by the accused with the investigating police officer indicated that the accused had sexual intercourse with the victim without her consent.

The prosecution was able to prove the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Adegbola said though Section 259 of the Criminal Code of Oyo State provides a life sentence for offenders; he sentenced Asimiyu to seven years imprisonment.

Base on the plea made by counsel to the accused, the court hereby sentence Asimiyu to seven years imprisonment.

The judge said that the sentence should start from May 5.

The prosecutor, Mr Olayiwola Oloso, had told the court that the accused committed the crime on Feb.18, 2013 in Yemetu area of Ibadan.

Source: (NAN)
An unrepentant church thief, Williams Okonoboh Eromosele, 28 has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment with hard labour by an Igbosere magistrate court, Lagos for stealing a Huawei G73 phone valued at N70,000 from Mrs. Ihindinibu Omawunmi at the Church of Resurrection Anglican located at 1004 estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The convict was sentenced by magistrate Mrs. O. Otitoju after the convict pleaded guilty to the one-count charge preferred against him by the police at the Bar Beach division, Victoria Island, Lagos and the facts of the case presented by the police prosecutor, Inspector Okete Ejima.

The police at the bar Beach division, alleged that the convict had earlier been arrested in 2016 for stealing money from church offering box at a church on Musa YarAdua street, Victoria Island, Lagos and was charged to court. He pleaded guilty to the crime and was jailed for six months.

The Police alleged further that the convict committed the latest crime on 11 December, 2016 when he went to the Church of Resurrection Anglican at 1004 estate, Victoria Island, Lagos to attend their service. Police claimed that while the church members were praying, the convict cleverly stole the complainants phone and escaped.

Police stated that when the complainant observed that her phone was missing, she used another phone to call the number of her missing handset but the convict received the call and told the complainant she must pay him N10,000 before he will return the phone to her. The complainant reported the matter to the DPO in charge of bar beach division, Victoria Island, CSP Olusegun Ajamulaya, and he advised the complainant to play along and pay the money as bait into the account the convict provided.

The convict was arrested when he went to the bank to withdraw the money. During interrogation at the station, the convict confessed to the crime and said When I came to Lagos, I could not secure any job with my OND certificate in accountancy. I went to a church on Musa Yar Adua street on Victoria Island to steal from church offering box and I was arrested, charged to court and jailed for six months. When I came back, the devil pushed me again to the church of resurrection Anglican, 1004 estate, Victoria Island to steal handset and I was arrested again.

The police would not have been able to arrest me the second time if I had not foolishly released my bank account to the complainant due to greed. I supposed not to release my account since I have already made up my mind to sell the phone which I later sold for N25,000 at computer village, Ikeja.

I her ruling magistrate Otitoju sentenced the convict to 7 years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine.

Source: ( PM News )
A Supervisory Councillor from Mafa Local Government Area, Umar Ibrahim and one Bulama Ali Zangebe has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for stealing rice that belongs to the IDPs.

They were prosecuted before Justice F. Umaru of the State High Court Maiduguri on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy to sell and misappropriate the proceed of rice meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mafa Local Government.

Ibrahim was arrested alongside Zangebe and Modu Bulama, for allegedly diverting 180 bags of rice donated by Danish Refugee Council (DRC), a Non Governmental Organization, for victims of insurgency in Mafa Local Government.

In his Judgment, Justice Umar held that The EFCC proved its case beyond reasonable doubt as there was an agreement to do illegal act. The convicts conspired to do illegal act to sell rice meant for the IDPs.

He therefore sentenced both convicts to two years and a fine of N1m each on the charge of criminal misappropriation and two years in prison for conspiracy. The N50,000 recovered from the agents that sold the rice was ordered forfeited to the Borno State Government.

Count two of the charge read:

That you, UMAR IBRAHIM and one SHETTIMA LAWAN MAINA (now at large) sometime in November, 2016 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly converted to your personal use the sum of N1,440,000.00 (one million, four hundred and forty thousand naira) only, being the proceeds from the sale of 180 bags of rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State contrary to and punishable under Sections 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Law Cap 345, Laws of the Northern States of Nigeria respectively.

Source: ( PM News )
A Nigerian man who works as a driver at a group home owned by his wife, has been charged with having sex with a woman who lives at the home, according to arrest warrants. .

53-year-old Nnamdi Godson Nwankwo, of 527 Breswall Court in Rolesville, was charged with second-degree forcible rape and sexual activity by a substitute parent. .

Two officers on patrol along Merrell Drive in east Raleigh saw a suspicious car in a secluded area at about 10 a.m. Tuesday and found Nwankwo in the car with a 47-year-old woman, police said. .

The two people were not fully clothed, and police immediately noticed the female victim had a possible cognitive impairment. According to the warrant, the victims mental capacity did not give her the ability to provide consent.
The Nigerian Medical Association, on Thursday, explained why Buhari should disclose his health status to Nigerians.

The President of the NMA, Prof. Mike Ogirima, who gave the explanation in an interview with one of our correspondents, said Buharis disclosure of his health status would douse tension and rumours about his well-being.

Many Nigerians, including Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, had asked the President to disclose the state of his health to Nigerians.

Soyinka, at a press conference in Lagos on April 28, said Buharis failure to publicly disclose his state of health had increased political manipulations in the country.

The Nobel laureate had asked, 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 (Presidential Villa).

Let him address the nation and stop all these speculations which create unnecessary political manipulations among other things.

Ogirima described Buhari as the number one public servant and the father of the nation, adding that he had his rights and privileges.

The NMA President stated, He is the number one public servant and the father of the nation. He has rights and privileges. It will douse a lot of rumours and tension, if he discloses his health status to the public.

He also faulted the management of the information concerning Buhari.

The media team of the Presidency is not managing it (information around the President) well.

To the Presidency, I wish they could manage the information around the President well. To Nigerians, who are concerned, I wish to advise them to be prayerful, particularly for the good health of our dear father of the nation, he stated.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
Four oil thieves in Edo State will be cooling their heels behind bars on a lengthy note for tampering with the nations national assets.

The Edo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Friday said that it has secured the conviction of four persons for oil theft.

The State Commandant, Makinde Ayinla, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin, said that the oil thieves were jailed by a Federal High Court in the state capital.

Ayinla identified the convicts as Jonathan Perekeme, Obi Tuku, Okus Moni and Perede Felix, who faced three-count each were sentenced to two years imprisonment for each of the counts.

He explained that the convicts had been arrested in January, 2016, at Urohi, in Esan West Local Government Area of the state, for illegally dealing in petroleum products, contrary to Section 1(17) of the miscellaneous Offences Act.

He noted that other offences include unlawfully collaborating with oil thieves, an offence which he said was punishable under Section 2 of Petroleum Production and Distribution (Anti-Sabotage) Act, Cap 12, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Ayinla, who noted that the command had 14 pending cases in court, described the conviction as a success for the command and a sign that the efforts of the officers were not in vain.

He also commended other sister agencies for their partnership in addressing oil theft in the state.
While speaking with journalists on Friday, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police in Lagos, confirmed that the security operatives have revealed their latest discovering in the commercial city.

The Lagos State Police Command on Friday, said it had discovered a new kidnappers hideout where arms as well as police and military life jackets were recovered.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Mr Fatai Owoseni, who confirmed the discovery to newsmen, said that it was made during raids of creeks at Isawo in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Owoseni said that the hideout was discovered on Thursday by a team of Ikorodu Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Volunteer Police led by Superintendent Godfrey Soriweiu.

He noted that the success came two weeks after the discovery of a similar hideout in Isawo.

In continuation of its onslaught on militants operating from the creeks, Lagos State Police Command early Thursday morning raided and recovered seven army and police bullet-proof vests.

The teams also recovered eight ballistic helmets and nine life jackets from a new kidnappers hideout in Lagos.

Other item recovered by the team includes a speed boat belonging to the suspected kidnappers, he said.

He said that the team thereafter destroyed the hideout before moving the recovered items out of the location.

The suspected kidnappers, who were preparing their morning meal, scampered into safety on sighting the special team, abandoning several items, he said.
The Military personnel under the 707 Special Forces Brigade of Nigerian Army have rescued a retired Police officer and three women in what it terms clearance operation at Mangodo village in Niger State.

According to the statement issued and signed by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 707 Special Forces Brigade, Major Olabisi Ayeni in Makurdi on Friday, a copy made available to our correspondent explained that the rescued persons include a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Bahago Ibrahim.

Others, according to the military spokesman are: Mrs. Louisana Aliyu from Zazga, Mrs. Hadiza Auta from Gwanda and Mrs. Jamila Idris from Sarkin Pawa town, all in Niger State.

The statement added that the people had been reunited with their family.

The 707 Special Forces Brigade of Nigerian Army which operates across the country has its head office in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

The statement added that the troops which carried out the operation were drawn from 133 Special Forces Battalion under 707 Special Forces Brigade, adding that three soldiers died in the operation and another three wounded.

The statement added, It will be recalled that the Police officer, ASP Bahago Ibrahim, was shot and whisked away by unknown heavily armed bandits at Mangodo village, Niger State, while the women were abducted from different locations.

The troops, which acted on a tip off, responded swiftly to rescue the victims from the armed bandits who were also alleged to have stolen over 100 cows from the village.

During the pursuit, the troops entered into an ambush laid by the armed bandits.

The troops fought their way out of the ambush by exchanging fire, killing many of the bandits, while a few of them withdrew in disarray. Unfortunately, three soldiers lost their lives and three others were wounded during the encounter.

The statement reiterated the mission of Nigerian Army and its commitment to protecting the law-abiding citizens against all forms of internal and external aggression anywhere in the country.

The statement further encouraged citizens to report any form of irregularity and illegality around them to security agencies.
In 2007, Michael Spears became CIO of the National Council on Compensation Insurance. It wasnt the usual promotion. Spears had spent two years as the NCCIs chief data officer, and he kept that role when be became CIO. In his dual capacity, he oversees both the IT department and the data resources division, though they operate as separate entities. Over the years, he says, the CIO and CDO roles have sometimes been held by different people and sometimes by the same person.

Spears has taken some ribbing for his CIO role from his colleagues in the data analytics world. I was just at a data conference where people were making fun of me for being in both roles. They said, You cant get lumped in with ITits just bits and bytes. You wont be respected for the knowledge you have about data. But it doesnt have to be that way. It depends where the value is coming from, the skill sets of the leaders, and whats important to the company at that time.

In fact, many of the technologists working in the NCCIs data resources division aspire to a move to IT. That would deepen some of their skills and open wider opportunities at NCCI, he explains. IT developers work closely with our business units. For example, the actuarial group does some of its own things. IT people may be embedded in their department. It would be unlikely for a data person to get that kind of opportunity.

[ Download this story, plus learn 9 things your service provider wants you to know and lots more in Computerworlds May digital magazine! ]

Welcome to the contradictory world of technology in the modern enterprise. Both the perception of ITs value and its status within an organization are in constant flux. The question is how to prove that value and maintain that status when ITs role as purveyor of all technology is nothing but a distant memory.

Just how distant is clear in the results of a recent report by managed services provider Logicalis, which surveyed 708 CIOs around the world to learn how the role of the CIO is changing. Among respondents, 84 percent reported that their companies line of business departments employ their own IT staffs.

Forty percent of the CIOs said that they make 50 percent or less of the IT decisions for their companies. And 39 percent said that business departments buy their own technology without consulting IT often, very often, or most of the time. Meantime, IT departments themselves perform a shrinking proportion of the technology work they still oversee, with 24 percent of the respondents saying they outsource more than 50 percent of their IT and only 9 percent saying they outsource none at all.

If outsourcing is the norm, and business departments outside IT are increasingly procuring their own technology, it may be time to ask exactly what ITs role and identity is in the modern workplace.

Smart CIOs, industry experts and publications like this one all agree that CIOs need a seat at the table; that IT must align itself with business objectives; and that IT can no longer act as a gatekeeper, exerting veto power over new technologies and forcing an organization to move slowly in these fast-paced times.

But once the industry has agreed on these principles, then what? How can IT continue to prove its worth in this changing business environment? How can IT leaders thrive in a constantly evolving world where less and less of their companies technology is under their direct control? And should they be fighting to regain that control or learning to adapt instead?

These are questions without easy answers. And CIOs and other technology leaders need to make some important choices on the way to answering them.

Cost center or revenue driver?

Whatever ITs identity within an organization may be, if its primarily viewed as a cost center, thats not a good thing. IT is a foundational element, says Ed McLaughlin, CIO at Mastercard. You really have to cease thinking of technology as a cost center. Technology is one of the primary assets of a business.

Computerworld / Mastercard

That doesnt necessarily mean that you should spend more money, he explains, but it does mean that both business and IT leaders need to think of IT as more than just a necessary expense, to be reduced as much as possible. You think about your assets differently, he says. So you move away from thinking in terms of implementation projects, and more about how to run ongoing programs and get a feedback loop where youre constantly optimizing those assets.

Some of that effort goes straight to the top line. How do you optimize new value creation? McLaughlin asks. How do you optimize processes that make it easier to onboard customers and provide customer support?

The base function of IT is as a cost center, no different from HR or accounting, says Deanna Wise, executive vice president and CIO at Dignity Health, which operates in 39 hospitals and 250 healthcare sites in Arizona, California, and Nevada. There are some core functions that cost you, but you need them to be in business.

That said, its smart to look beyond that base function, she says. Partnerships with the business, being innovative and seeing how you can drive a better customer experience does translate into revenue. There are a lot of forward-thinking CIOs, and that is what theyre thinking about. What new programs and new initiatives can you use to drive revenue throughout the business?

Computerworld / Dignity Health

CIOs who fail to ask these questions do so at their peril. If IT is just perceived as a cost in your organization and you do nothing to change that, I think youre going to find yourself out of a job, says Wise. Youve made IT a commodity, and commodities can always be replaced.

What if you arent sure how to be seen as a source of revenue and not just cost?

Strong CIOs are not pulling themselves down into the weeds of managing a cost center. Thats why they have VPs, says Patrick Meehan, a distinguished analyst in Gartners CIO Research group. Instead, he recommends buckling down IT into a very efficient business services organization and finding a second-in-command who can oversee keeping the lights on functions and work with the business to make sure that the terms of service-level agreements are met and that the organization is getting the best value for its IT dollars.

Once thats done, he says, you should reallocate some of the savings from IT efficiencies to work with other areas on front-office functions and channel strategiesprojects that grow the business and help create revenue. That way, he says, youre moving from a cost center to a profit center.

What if the rest of the organization persists in thinking of IT only as a cost center? In that case, Meehan advises CIOs to find initiatives in which they will have profit-and-loss responsibility. Get a partner, perhaps someone youve worked with before, he says. You need a win here, a hook there. Once youve proved you can do it, other P&L leaders will see it and will want to play with you, too.

Data owner or data support system?

The number of large organizations with chief data officers has more than doubled in the past three years, and Gartner predicts that by 2019, 90 percent of global organizations will have one. Should IT departments welcome this development or fight to keep data analysis for themselves? It depends a lot on the CDOs reporting relationships and functions within an organization, and whether IT has the skills and capacity to manage data analytics.

GE Jim Fowler

One things for sure: If you want to turn enterprise technology into a source of monetary value and not just an expense, data is a great place to start. From 1990 through 2010, companies averaged 4 percent productivity gains every year, says Jim Fowler, CIO at GE. Most of those gains came from technological improvements. But, he says, during the past five years, companies saw little or no productivity gains, and they began experiencing productivity losses early this year.

Thats the call for change in my role right now, he says. Productivity gains in the next 10 years are going to come from connecting the value stream of information in a business, information about products, all the data coming off machines and turning that into signals that will help automate work.

Many companies get monetary value from the data itself. Mastercard was an early convert to the value of data and has been warehousing its transaction data for years. The company used that resource to build Mastercard Advisors, a business arm of Mastercard that provides data-driven insights to the retail, financial and real-estate industries, among others.

[ Further reading: Expert tips for managing your cloud data ]

Similarly, at NCCI, the data resources division is a business unit, Spears says. It manages data from insurance companies, aggregates that data and turns it into useful insights that it provides to customers. Data has been our lifeblood for almost 100 years, he says. We were built on collecting data and making these end products available.

But when asked whether his role as CIO or CDO is most important, Spears says they both are. It depends on how you look at it. On one hand, getting the data, and [ensuring that its accurate and useful], is the most important thing we do for the company. On the other hand, everything we offer is through technology.

Larger organizations may truly need a dedicated CDO, says Christine Brady, CIO at Coastal Credit, an Indianapolis-based lender serving auto dealers in 26 states.

Data is so vital to any organizations successthe complexity of your data, how many silos you have, how fragmented it is and what you need to do with itthat it could be a dedicated group on its own, she says. At a certain size and complexity, I dont think one person can head up both of those.

Computerworld / Grant Thornton

But other experts believe data belongs firmly under ITs oversight. If I were the CIO, I would want to make sure I owned data modeling, data governancethat I owned the data and had the right legal agreements in place, says Kevin Baril, a principal specializing in technology strategy and management at advisory firm Grant Thornton. If a company has a chief data officer, that individual should report through IT, he adds.

Keith Collins, executive vice president and CIO at SAS, a data analytics company based in Cary, N.C., with worldwide revenue of $3.2 billion, believes the growth of the CDO role at least in part reflects ITs failure to step up and take on one of technologys most important value-add functions. The first thing I did in the role of CIO was I took all the [database administrators] and business analysts, and we did a week of data analytics training, he says.

When I talk to a lot of my peers, I ask how much are they investing in education on basic analytics, forecasting and modeling, so they can answer a question for a business partner who wants to understand churn. The responses are mostly blank stares, he says. Shame on IT, and shame on CIOs, if they dont help their companies analyze data without creating a separate organization that becomes another quagmire of who owns what.

Technology enabler or corporate strategist?

With so much IT going on in every corner of most organizations and outside IT leaderships direct control, some experts argue that the IT departments most useful role is to provide guidance, consultation and a secure and robust environment to support the often cloud-based systems it no longer owns. In this model, IT functions like a modern-day movie studio, says Charles Araujo, principal analyst at Intellyx and author of "The Quantum Age of IT: Why Everything You Know About IT Is About to Change."

Today, a movie studio owns the lot and helps with distribution, he says. But theyre bringing together a lot of other organizations that actually make the movie.

Although that may sound like a keep-the-lights-on role, an IT organization that can do this well will create competitive advantage for the whole company, Baril says.

Almost all organizations have a difficult time providing information architecture and software architecture thats able to drive the strategic vision of the company, he explains. Being able to create a platform that quickly can respond to different initiatives and different needs is very strategic. It is a skill in and of itself, and companies that have it will beat their competitors to market. Having an information architecture and strategic software platform that allows a company to move at the speed it needs is a differentiator.

Computerworld / Gartner

But some observers argue that CIOs should be defining strategy and not just enabling it. A lot of companies think they have a CIO and they really have a director of IT services, Meehan says. If youre struggling with satisfaction quotients in an IT survey around your basic servicesthings like laptop deployment and desktop imaging and help deskyoure a director of IT services. Thats also true if you are still struggling with piles of applications and platforms in your back office and you havent cost-optimized, centralized and standardized these functions.

On the other hand, he says, If youre driving strategy, creating a digital, high-performance workplace, and working in consultative fashion on product development, youre a CIO.

Fowler agrees. For example, although GEs field service engineers were perfectly content with how they were doing their jobs, he suggested to them that it was time for a change. I said, Youre still doing this on paper. We consolidated 86 different functions in a system that was built for a field engineer. As a result, he says, one of those services saw a productivity gain of $200 million last year.

For years, weve been hearing that process should drive technology and technology should never drive process, he says. I dont believe thats true anymore. Technology is becoming the process. In a world of automation, where machines are telling people what to do more than people are telling machines what to do, the person whos been doing this for all these years should be the one to explain how the work gets done. We should have the credibility and the influence to step up and show people theres a better way.

How to cope with technology outside of the IT department

The Logicalis survey also asked respondents how much of the IT decision-making at their organizations is handled by CIOs and how much is handled by business executives. Only about 6 percent of those polled said the CIO makes 100 percent of the IT decisions.

That figure has been dropping steadily for three years. CIOs who once talked about how to shut down shadow or rogue IT now mostly face a reality they might not like: Theyre no longer in control of all or even most of their companies technology decisions.

How do you deal with security, compliance, licensing and integration issues for systems that you didnt buy and dont oversee? One way to cope is to provide an environment that is so responsive, so fast and so easy to use that no one in the company will ever want to go outside it.

If I build a container architecture explicitly with security policies and profiles in place, I dont need to fight for control, says Bill Briggs, CTO at Deloitte.

Instead of IT being dominated by infrastructure teams, I want to automate that as much as possible on standards that it would make no sense not to use, because theyre built on leading platforms and you can get things set up in seconds.

People skills are essential. If you build relationships with leaders of business units, they will listen to you when you asknot demandto be involved in technology decisions.

Weve been trying to work with the business to say, Please dont go out and sign a contract without our knowing about it, says Coastal Credits Brady. We want that sort of partnership where they involve us so we can point out that maybe theres another vendor that does the same thing but their integration tools are better. Or that the product you want will solve your immediate need but wont scale.

Computerworld / Coastal Credit

This kind of thing takes a delicate touch, Brady says. If your approach is that IT needs to have its fingers in everything, they will end up not talking to you because no one wants to feel that from another department, she says.

Instead, offer to point out issues that business executives might not notice. The better your personal relationships, and the more you understand the business, the more people will turn to you, Brady says. Theyre usually happy to have input.

What happens when, despite ITs best efforts at persuasion, a business unit insists on purchasing the wrong product? That has happened, Brady says. We pointed out Product X had very few integration tools, that it wasnt very good and would require manual work from business users. They were OK with that. They put the product in place and after a year and a half, they realized it wasnt going to work. They had hit the point of scaling and integration where the only answer would be for their department to hire more people.

In that kind of situation, It comes down to how mature everyone is, she says. They were mature enough to admit the product wasnt a good choice. And after that, they were some of my biggest supporters.

This story, "3 questions IT must answer to stay relevant" was originally published by Computerworld .
RIPPLE BOTTOM .35? ONE44 Analytics - 27 minutes ago When we use just the Fibonacci retracements with the ONE44 rules and guidelines you can see on the chart how every attempt to rally has been stopped by key retracements. ^XRPUSD : 0.374331 (-6.86%)

Morning Weakness for Cotton Market Barchart - 1 hour ago So far the morning trade has cotton prices working 50 to 100 points in the red. The rally faded momentum on Tuesday with a tighter range on a mixed mostly lower close. Dec futures ended the day with another... CTZ22 : 88.28 (+0.68%) CTH23 : 86.11 (+0.43%) CTK23 : 84.96 (+0.14%)

Midweek Cattle Market gets USDA Data Barchart - 1 hour ago Live cattle futures stayed in a relatively tighter range on Tuesday and closed UNCH in the Dec contract. The other nearbys went home 15 to 30 cents weaker. Feeder cattle were mixed on the board on Tuesday.... LEZ22 : 153.050s (unch) LEG23 : 154.775s (-0.16%) LEJ23 : 158.250s (-0.19%) GFX22 : 178.275s (+0.03%) GFF23 : 179.900s (-0.01%)

Hogs Head into Wednesday Barchart - 1 hour ago Following the sharp +$4 run up in Dec hogs to start the week, Tuesdays action pulled the board back down by $1.47. The other front months were mixed with 15 to 55 cent losses nearby and 2 to 15 cent... HEZ22 : 85.575s (-1.69%) HEJ23 : 94.200s (-0.16%) KMZ22 : 95.975s (-0.23%)

Wheats Red into Report Day Barchart - 1 hour ago So far wheat markets are down by 2 to 4 cents across all classes ahead of the WASDE data. Overnight action was mostly higher, with Dec SRW up 6 cents at one point. Tuesdays wheat trade ended with futures... ZWZ22 : 824-6 (-0.36%) ZWH23 : 844-4 (-0.35%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.5716 (-0.39%) KEZ22 : 943-4 (-0.24%) KEPAWS.CM : 9.0158 (-0.24%) MWZ22 : 949-0 (-0.16%)

Corn Prices 2 Cents Red so far Barchart - 1 hour ago Overnight trading has the board at a 2 cent loss from Dec through Sep 23 so far into the report day. Overnight action saw a tight 4 cent range around UNCH. Corn futures faded more on Tuesday to complete... ZCZ22 : 665-4 (-0.30%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.6325 (-0.33%) ZCH23 : 671-4 (-0.33%) ZCK23 : 671-6 (-0.30%)

Meal Higher on Weak Beans and Soy Oil Barchart - 1 hour ago Soy futures are trading mostly lower with 2 to 5 cent weakness in soybeans into report days day session. Overnight meal trade added to the Tuesday gain with the board another $2 higher so far. Soymeal... ZSX22 : 1442-0 (-0.14%) ZSPAUS.CM : 14.1389 (unch) ZSF23 : 1446-4 (unch) ZSH23 : 1453-0 (unch)
Todd Corbin stepped down for a role at Summit Rock, leaving the Manhattan-based library searching for its next endowment chief, Institutional Investor has learned.

New York Public Librarys Chief Investment Officer Todd Corbin has left for a position with outsourced-CIO firm Summit Rock Advisors, a spokesperson for the library confirmed.

The citys library system has hired executive recruiting firm Goldsmith & Co. to search for a new CIO, the spokesperson said, noting that Corbins last day of a nine-year tenure leading the $1 billion endowment was February 28. In the interim, Vice President of Finance Michael Dardia is covering his former investment responsibilities.

Summit Rock, which maintains a low profile in a crowded outsourced-CIO market, did not respond to a phone call seeking comment about Corbins new position. The New York-based firm managed $11.6 billion for 37 high-net-worth families and charities at the end of last year, according to its webpage showing the bio of co-founder Nancy Donohue.

Corbin joined the New York Public Library in April 2008, after spending two years in Citigroups fund-of-hedge-funds unit. He oversaw his first institutional investment portfolio from 2003 to 2006, managing a $250 million endowment for the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank.

Corbins replacement at New York Public Library will inherit a larger pool of assets than when he began as CIO during the global financial crisis. Under his leadership, the endowments assets increased to $1.04 billion, across 418 individual funds, in June 2016, from $753 million in June 2008, the organizations financial statements show. Corbin earned $568,183 in total compensation in 2014, according to the nonprofits filings with the Internal Revenue Service.

The Manhattan-based library system expanded its hours and staff following a record-breaker financial year in 2015, Treasurer Iris Weinshall wrote in its most recent annual report, published a year ago.

Good results of FY15 have put the library in a strong financial position, Weinshall wrote, noting that increased funding from the city also helped more of its branches operate seven days a week. All of this will require continued strong management of our financial resources, she said.
The future of warfare is hybrid  and the future is now, expert says
A Connecticut city on Tuesday announced that it has settled a lawsuit filed by the family of three girls who died in a Christmas morning house fire that also killed their grandparents.

Terms of the settlement announced by Stamford legal affairs director Kathryn Emmett were not disclosed, but include a $250,000 donation from the city to a charity or school to be determined by the girls family.

The Dec. 25, 2011, fire killed 7-year-old twins Grace and Sarah Badger, 9-year-old Lily Badger, and their maternal grandparents, Lomar and Pauline Johnson.

The girls father, Matthew Badger, sued on their behalf.

He died in February, but his brother, Sherwin Campbell Badger, took over as executor. Jury selection had started in the case, and a trial was expected to begin this month.

The parties consider the settlement to be fair, Emmett said in a statement to The Advocate newspaper. The city is sympathetic to the tremendous losses suffered by the Badger family.

The defendants did not admit any liability or fault in the settlement.

I appreciate that the Stamford defendants have agreed to resolve this case, Campbell Badger said in the joint statement.

Matthew Badger filed the lawsuit in 2012 and also named several contractors who had worked on the large home overlooking Long Island Sound. The general contractor, Michael Borcina, was dating the girls mother, Madonna Badger, at the time, and both of them escaped the blaze.

Borcina and other contractors previously settled claims against them for a total of more than $8 million.

The suit said the city failed to properly inspect renovations at the home. The suit alleged the city and some officials were reckless by giving Borcina a building permit even though he had no contractors license, and approved plans that didnt include smoke detectors in the girls third-floor bedrooms, which were legally required.

The suit also said the city engaged in a cover-up when it tore down the house the day after it burned, thus eliminating evidence.

The citys lawyers had denied all the allegations in the suit.

The fire was blamed on fireplace ashes placed in a bin and left in a mudroom. Borcina initially told authorities that he put the bin in the mudroom, but later said in a deposition that Madonna Badger placed the ashes there.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Contractors Connecticut
Chinese investigators have questioned at least two more officials at the nations insurance watchdog after starting a probe into the agencys former top official Xiang Junbo, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

The officials, including former China Insurance Regulatory Commission Chairman Xiangs secretary Zhu Yanhui, who is also deputy head of the agencys General Office, were interviewed after Chinas anti-graft agency announced Xiangs probe last month, the person said. The other official is He Hao, a deputy at the regulators property insurance department, the person said, declining to be named as the investigation is still ongoing.

The CIRC and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection didnt immediately reply to faxes seeking comment. Calls to the offices of Zhu and He went unanswered; Hes mobile phone was switched off and he didnt immediately respond to a text message.

Chinese leaders are seeking to clean up and rein in risks in a sector that President Xi Jinping said is key to economic stability. Officials overseeing banking, insurance and securities have issued a flurry of directives as they seek to prevent the eruption of any systemic financial risks amid rising hazards in bond defaults, shadow banking and non-performing bank loans.

The probe into Xiang, the highest-ranking financial official to be investigated, came as regulators have increased their scrutiny of aggressive investments and sales of risky products by some insurance companies.

Earlier high-profile probes at Chinas three financial regulators have included Yao Gang, former vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and Zhang Yujun, an assistant chairman at the securities watchdog, in 2015. The anti-graft commission said in February that Peoples Insurance Co. (Group) of China Ltd. President Wang Yincheng was under investigation on suspicion of severe disciplinary violations.

While all those officials have been removed from their positions, the government doesnt always reveal the results of its investigations. Probes do not necessarily lead to formal charges and sometimes people get released after brief detentions for questioning.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics China
Privately owned insurance brokerage firm, Hylant, has promoted Jeff Lumpp to president of its Grand Rapids, Mich., office.

Lumpp will be responsible for building greater brand awareness, growing the Hylant business in West Michigan and further developing Hylants team of professionals.

Prior to joining Hylant in 2016, Lumpp held several executive-level positions with Fifth Third Bank, including regional CFO for Fifth Third Bank, Northwest Ohio. He is licensed as a property and casualty agent in the state of Michigan.

Lumpp replaces Greg Nemmers, who will transition into a commercial client executive role and senior vice president within the Grand Rapids office, in addition to working within Hylants Alternative Risk Practice across all Hylant offices.

Source: Hylant

Topics Michigan
River levels fell on May 4 after record and near-record flooding in parts of the Midwest, but the crisis is far from over. Officials have not said when hundreds of residents displaced from flooded properties in suburban St. Louis will be allowed to return home, but they have warned of the dangers that await them.

Downpours that dumped up to a foot of rain in parts of the nations midsection last weekend led to the sudden surge of water. Flooding is blamed in at least nine deaths, and an 18-month-old Arkansas girl swept away by floodwater is missing and presumed dead. Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois, and the Wabash River in Indiana was flooding at Terre Haute, Vincennes and other places.

The Midwest wasnt alone. Up to 8 inches of rain fell on May 3 in parts of Louisiana, leading to flash flooding. A school bus trying to drive on a flooded road got stuck and nearly tipped over near the town of Iowa, Louisiana. Students and the driver were rescued and no one was hurt.

A steady rain that began Wednesday continued Thursday over middle America. The National Weather Service said the additional water  up to 4 inches of rain in some areas  shouldnt cause rivers to rise higher, but will prolong the flood.

Major flooding is occurring on the Missouri River in eastern Missouri and the Mississippi River in Missouri and Illinois. A Mississippi River bridge at Chester, Illinois, closed at noon Thursday because flood gates on the Missouri side blocked the bridge entrance.

City officials in tiny West Alton, Missouri, about 20 miles north of St. Louis, urged residents to get out of town amid concerns the Missouri River levee there could break.

The worst of the damage was along smaller rivers.

The Black River that runs from southeast Missouri into northeast Arkansas was down after cresting at record levels earlier this week in places such as Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Pocahontas, Arkansas. But the mess left behind was substantial. More than 100 members of the Arkansas National Guard are assisting with the flood-fighting effort. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said 25 guard vehicles are prepared for high-water rescues as needed in an area where at least nine levee breaches have been reported.

The Meramec River in suburban St. Louis also is on the decline. A levee at Valley Park, Missouri, was holding, as is a sandbag levee consisting of 250,000 bags in nearby Eureka. But the river remains dangerously high, and St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar urged patience for evacuated residents anxious to get back home.

Health officials also warned residents that raw sewage, chemicals and other dangerous material in floodwater created contamination concerns. Wildlife displaced by flooding also pose a potential threat.

Hundreds of roads remain closed, including a busy stretch of Interstate 44 in suburban St. Louis. But southbound Interstate 55, which closed on May 3, reopened the next morning.

Traffic is closed on the Mississippi River. The U.S. Coast Guard late on May 2 closed a 14.5-mile stretch of the river near St. Louis, blocking a vital passageway for moving agricultural goods and other products.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood Illinois Missouri Mississippi Arkansas
Johnson & Johnson on May 4 was ordered by a Missouri jury to pay over $110 million to a Virginia woman who says she developed ovarian cancer after decades of using of its talc-based products for feminine hygiene.

The verdict in state court in St. Louis was the largest so far to arise out of about 2,400 lawsuits accusing J&J of not adequately warning consumers about the cancer risks of talc-based products including its well-known Johnsons Baby Powder.

Many of those lawsuits are pending in the state court in St. Louis, where the company has faced four prior trials, three of which resulted in verdicts awarding plaintiffs $195 million in total. The last trial ended in a defense verdict.

Thursdays verdict came in a lawsuit against J&J and talc supplier Imerys Talc by Lois Slemp, a resident of Virginia who is currently undergoing chemotherapy after her ovarian cancer initially diagnosed in 2012 returned and spread to her liver.

She claimed that she developed cancer after four decades of daily use of talc-containing products produced by J&J, specifically J&Js Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder.

The jury awarded $5.4 million in compensatory damages and said J&J was 99 percent at fault while Imerys was just 1 percent. It awarded punitive damages of $105 million against J&J and a unit and $50,000 against Imerys.

The verdict was watched by Reuters through Courtroom View Network, which carried a web broadcast, and confirmed by a spokesman for a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

In a statement, J&J said that it sympathized with women impacted by ovarian cancer but planned to appeal.

We are preparing for additional trials this year and we continue to defend the safety of Johnsons Baby Powder, J&J said.

The verdict came after J&J secured its first trial win in the Missouri litigation, when a jury in March sided with the company in a lawsuit by a Tennessee woman who said she developed cancer after using Baby Powder.

That verdict broke a three-trial winning streak by plaintiffs that began with a verdict in February 2016 in which a jury ordered J&J to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer.

In May 2016, another Missouri jury awarded $55 million to a woman who said J&Js talc-powder products caused her to develop ovarian cancer. J&J was hit with a third verdict in October for $67.5 million.

The case is Slemp v. Johnson & Johnson, 22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri, No. 1422-CC09326-01.

Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lisa Shumaker

Related:

Topics Missouri
House Republicans mustered just enough votes to pass their health-care bill Thursday, salvaging what at times appeared to be a doomed mission to repeal and partially replace Obamacare under intense pressure from President Donald Trump to produce legislative accomplishments.

The 217-213 vote sends the American Health Care Act to the Senate, where it has little chance of being passed in its current form by fellow Republicans spooked by reports the plan would cause millions to lose health insurance. Twenty Republicans voted against the bill, and no Democrats backed it.

As the House was voting, several key GOP senators including Roy Blunt of Missouri said the Senate will write its own substitute version instead of taking up the House bill.

Trump wrote on Twitter that he was watching the floor debate shortly before the vote.

What protection is Obamacare if there is no health care plan to purchase in your state? House Speaker Paul Ryan said, referring to insurance companies decisions to drop coverage in some states. We can put this collapsing law behind us and this failed experiment. 

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said the measures tax cuts would create a massive transfer of wealth from working families to the rich. Addressing moderate Republicans in a fiery floor speech, she said that if they vote for the bill, You have every provision of this bill tattooed to your forehead. You will glow in the dark on this one.

House GOP leaders and Trump lobbied members furiously, with the president summoning holdouts to meetings at the White House. Leaders agreed to revise the bill to attract conservatives who thought the plan didnt go far enough to gut Obamacare, as well as moderates worried about harming people with pre-existing conditions. Ryan pleaded with fellow Republicans during a closed-door meeting this week to pray about the measure.

Six weeks earlier, Republicans suffered an embarrassing setback when Ryan had to abruptly cancel a vote on the bill amid opposition from the partys conservative and moderate wings. Ryan and Trump initially said they were giving up for the time being, but the White House soon resumed pressuring for a vote as Trump neared his 100th day in office.

Town Halls

Voters have confronted lawmakers at town hall meetings across the U.S. in recent weeks with concerns about losing health insurance under the GOP plan, giving some moderate Republican lawmakers jitters about backing the measure.

The Republican measure would repeal a key piece of former President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act  the requirement that individuals get health insurance and that most employers provide it to their workers. It would wind down an expansion of Medicaid insurance for the poor and eliminate $1 trillion in taxes on the wealthy, insurers and drugmakers used to fund the law.

Republicans say their plan would allow a market-based system that would let people make more health-coverage decisions for themselves. It would replace Obamacare subsidies with tax credits based primarily on age that phase out for people with incomes above $75,000.

An amendment that gained crucial support for the bill from the conservative House Freedom Caucus lets states get waivers from some of Obamacares consumer protections. States could allow insurers to charge higher premiums to people with pre-existing conditions if theyve had a gap in coverage as long as the state provides people priced out of commercial insurance with assistance, such as a so-called high-risk pool. States also could get waivers from a requirement that insurers provide health benefits deemed essential, such as maternity care.

House leaders gained the last few votes from reticent moderates this week by agreeing to another $8 billion over five years for the high-risk pools.

Health Group Opposition

Health organizations and patient-advocacy groups almost uniformly oppose the Republican proposal. American Medical Association President Andrew Gurman said in a statement that millions of Americans will lose their health insurance as a direct result of this proposal. AARP, the senior citizens lobby, said the $8 billion added to the measure to fund care for people with pre-existing conditions was a giveaway to insurance companies.

About 27 percent of adults have a pre-existing condition like cancer or heart disease that insurers refused to cover before Obamacare, said Larry Levitt, senior vice president for special initiatives at the Kaiser Family Foundation. There are millions with pre-existing conditions, he said.

The earlier version of the Republicans bill would cause 24 million people to lose health insurance in 2026, according to a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which didnt have time to produce an updated analysis before the House vote.

What did the majority do in the last six weeks? They made the bill worse, said Representative Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat, during floor debate. My Republican colleagues are going to be really, really sorry that they rushed this bill to the floor before they got the amended CBO score.

Republican senators have said they wont vote on the plan to repeal Obamacare until they have an updated CBO analysis.

Insurance Options

Part of Ryans argument for urgency in Thursdays vote is his repeated assertion that Obamacare is collapsing. While insurers including Aetna Inc., UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Humana Inc. have pulled out of the individual market in some states, part of that decision stems from uncertainty about the future of the Affordable Care Act as Republicans seek to dismantle that law.

Rural areas have been the first to lose options. In this years open-enrollment period, one-third of all counties  including all of Alaska, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Alabama and South Carolina  had just one insurer. More densely populated counties, especially where the marketplace is run by states, have more insurance options, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from Obamacare marketplaces.

Insurers, who say eliminating the tax on their industry will bring down premiums, will now ask the Senate to boost financial assistance to entice younger, healthier people and help older Americans maintain coverage. Theyre also seeking more Medicaid funding and are concerned a new formula for the federal-state program might fall short.

Shares of hospital companies, such as Tenet Healthcare Corp. and Community Health Systems Inc., are expected to be hit by the bills phase-out of the Medicaid expansion. Before Obamacare, hospitals had to provide more uncompensated care, a funding gap that had been narrowing as more people had coverage.

Tax Overhaul

The House also sought to move quickly for legislative reasons. Republicans intend for the repeal of Obamacare taxes to give them a lower baseline to cut individual and corporate rate in the tax overhaul they promised voters later this year.

Its quite obvious that this bill was written by Republicans that didnt care about health care and wanted to move on to tax reform, said Michael Cannon, director of health-policy studies at the conservative Cato Institute.

The bill will need major surgery in the Senate to become law, even though Republicans who control the chamber 52-48 are using a procedure that would bar a Democratic filibuster and allow the GOP to enact the measure with a simple majority vote.

Senators including Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Rob Portman of Ohio are demanding changes to Medicaid provisions to protect states like theirs that chose to expand the program for low-income people under Obamacare.

Republican Concerns

Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Cory Gardner of Colorado are among those who have expressed concern or outright opposition to the House bill.

I cant go for that, Collins said, referring to charging people more if they have pre-existing conditions. She said she would need assurances that high-risk pools would be adequately funded.

Cassidy and Collins are pushing a different framework that would keep the Obamacare taxes and allow states to keep the Affordable Care Act largely in place if they prefer, or move to a more market-based system.

On the conservative side, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has said he doesnt like the House bills plan to maintain some subsidies to insurance companies.

Republican Representative Dave Brat of Virginia, a Freedom Caucus member who decided to back the bill with the amendment letting states let insurers charge higher prices for pre-existing conditions, warned that the Senate cant make any changes to the bill and keep House conservatives on board.

Not at all, none, he said of any Senate adjustments. Its about time they got a dose of medicine. They better not change it one iota.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Carriers Politics
Family members of three victims of the December 2015 shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California, have sued Facebook, Google and Twitter, claiming that the companies permitted Islamic State to flourish on social media.

The relatives assert that by allowing Islamic State militants to spread propaganda freely on social media, the three companies provided material support to the group and enabled attacks such as the one in San Bernardino.

For years defendants have knowingly and recklessly provided the terrorist group ISIS with accounts to use its social networks as a tool for spreading extremist propaganda, raising funds and attracting new recruits, family members of Sierra Clayborn, Tin Nguyen and Nicholas Thalasinos charge in the 32-page complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Without defendants Twitter, Facebook and Google (YouTube), the explosive growth of ISIS over the last few years into the most feared terrorist group in the world would not have been possible, the complaint said.

Spokeswomen for Twitter and Google declined to comment on the lawsuit. Representatives for Facebook could not immediately be reached by Reuters on Thursday afternoon.

Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, opened fire on a holiday gathering of Farooks co-workers at a government building in San Bernardino on Dec. 2, 2015, killing 14 people and wounding 22 others.

Farook, the 28-year-old, U.S.-born son of Pakistani immigrants, and Malik, 29, a Pakistani native, died in a shootout with police four hours after the massacre.

Authorities have said the couple was inspired by Islamist militants. At the time, the assault ranked as the deadliest attack by Islamist extremists on U.S. soil since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

In June 2016, an American-born gunman pledging allegiance to the leader of Islamic State shot 49 people to death at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, before he was killed by police.

In December 2016 the families of three men killed at the nightclub sued Twitter, Google and Facebook in federal court on allegations similar to those in the California lawsuit.

Federal law gives internet companies broad immunity from liability for content posted by their users. A number of lawsuits have been filed in recent years seeking to hold social media companies responsible for terror attacks, but none has advanced beyond the preliminary phases.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by David Ingram and Julia Love in San Francisco; Editing by Dan Grebler and Grant McCool)

Related:

Topics Lawsuits USA Google
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., the largest U.S. home and auto insurer, plans to shut 11 U.S. facilities, displacing about 4,200 workers, after a $7 billion annual underwriting loss last year on auto policies.

The insurer will exit Parsippany, New Jersey, and Petaluma, California, in 2018 and the other locations by 2021, the Bloomington, Illinois-based company said Thursday in a statement on its website. The work will move to the headquarters and offices in cities including Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix. The company said employees in affected facilities will have opportunities at other State Farm locations.

State Farm, Allstate Corp., Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. and Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc. are among companies that have been burned in recent years by higher claims expenses from car crashes as more drivers are distracted by electronic devices. Higher repair costs have also hurt in an era when drivers are logging more miles behind the wheel. Companies have been charging more for coverage and looking for ways to reduce costs.

The companys decision to exit these facilities was based on efforts to best serve customers by gaining efficiency through streamlining and improving processes, leveraging technology, and concentrating employees in larger locations, State Farm said in the statement.

Chief Executive Officer Michael Tipsord is working to improve results at the insurer after being named in 2015 to replace Ed Rust, who led the policyholder-owned company for three decades. Net income dropped to $400 million last year from $6.2 billion in 2015, hurt by the auto insurance results. The company posted better returns on businesses including residential coverage, banking and mutual funds. State Farm has almost 70,000 employees.

Michigan, Indiana

The locations targeted for closure in 2019 are Kalamazoo, Michigan; Irvine, California; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Six other facilities will be shut in the next two years: Medley, Florida; Indianapolis; Downers Grove, Illinois; West Lafayette, Indiana; Bakersfield, California; and Frederick, Maryland. Justin Tomczak, a spokesman for State Farm, said the company is exiting leased facilities.

There are more than 500 employees in the Kalamazoo, Tulsa, Bakersfield and Frederick facilities, he said. The first two offices to shut, Parsippany and Petaluma, have fewer than 60.

State Farm in 2013 struck a deal to sell many of its offices to Lone Star Funds and then lease back the property. The insurer said at the time that the transactions would provide cash and give the company more flexibility.

We have already seen many benefits to housing large groups of employees together in the hubs, Tomczak said by email.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics California Profit Loss
Johnson & Johnson and Bayer AG arent responsible for a Xarelto users internal bleeding, a jury found in the first trial over the blood-thinning drug.

J&J and Bayer didnt mislead a Louisiana man and his doctors about the blood-thinning drugs health risks and arent liable for his injuries and later medical problems, the federal jury in New Orleans found Wednesday.

The ruling was the first of more than 18,000 patient suits against J&J and Bayer, which jointly developed Xarelto, to come to trial. The companies face separate trials over three other Xarelto users complaints in the next three months. Some users claim Bayer and J&J downplayed the medicines bleeding risks.

We never expected the struggle to be an easy one, Gerald Meunier, a lawyer for Joseph Boudreaux, a part-time security guard in his 70s, said after the verdict. We realize Bayer and Janssen have a lot of resources and a lot of motivation to protect Xarelto.

The drug is Bayers top-selling product, generating 3 billion euros ($3.24 billion) in sales last year and 2.3 billion euros in 2015 for the Leverkusen, Germany-based pharmaceutical company. Xarelto is J&Js third-largest seller, bringing in $2.29 billion in 2016 as the New Brunswick, New Jersey, company seeks to replace revenue from its Remicade arthritis treatment, which lost patent protection a year ago.

The jurys decision reflects the facts of this case and the appropriateness of the Xarelto prescribing information, William Foster, a spokesman for J&Js Janssen unit, said in an emailed statement.

Bayer officials said the jurys finding affirms the safety of the blood thinner, used to prevent blood clots that can lead to fatal heart attacks and strokes.

Accurate Label

The verdict shows the drugs FDA-approved label contains accurate, science-based information on the benefits and risks of this life-saving medicine, Chris Loder, a U.S.-based spokesman for the drugmaker, said in an emailed statement.

Xarelto belongs to a new class of drugs aimed at replacing Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.s Coumadin, which has thinned patients blood since the 1960s. Some Xarelto users accuse J&J and Bayer of falsely marketing Xarelto as better than Coumadin because the companies said Xarelto patients didnt need frequent blood tests.

Lawyers for Boudreaux and other former Xarelto patients stress the drug has no antidote, so it puts some users at high risk for bleeding out if they suffer an injury. Coumadins blood-thinning effects can be stemmed. J&J and Bayer officials should have warned consumers they could be tested to gauge their Xarelto bleed-out risk, patients attorneys claim.

They only accept science they like, and decide to ignore science they dont like, Brian Barr, one of Boudreauxs lawyers, said in closing arguments Wednesday. They know if they require blood test, theyre terrified that doctors will just use another drug.

J&J and Bayer countered the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations finding that Xarelto is safe and effective for patients seeking to avoid clots buttresses their claims the drug doesnt pose undue risks. They also say millions of users have taken the drug without suffering bleeding side effects.

The companies also dispute the validity of the safety test designed to gauge Xarelto users bleeding risks, saying in court filings that the test didnt provide useful information to doctors.

Theres no evidence the FDA thinks the test should be in the label, Beth Wilkinson, a lawyer representing both drugmakers, told jurors Wednesday. She said the test plaintiffs were pushing could harm patients because it could give misleading information.

The cases are Boudreaux v. Janssen, 14-cv-2720 and In RE Xarelto Products Liability Litigation, 14-MD-2592, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans)

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Drugs
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to further extend the filing deadline for Louisiana policyholders impacted by the August flood.

FEMAs National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires homeowners to file a Proof of Loss form to claim damages within 60 days of a flood. Governor John Bel Edwards supported the request for the extension which would allow NFIP policyholders at least a year from the date of their loss.

Without the additional extension, the filing deadline for proof of loss forms is May 12.

The Proof of Loss is a sworn statement of the amount a policyholder is claiming including necessary supporting documentation. The form must contain the specific details required by the Standard Flood Insurance Policy. This document substantiates the insurance claim and is required before the NFIP can make payment.

Source: Louisiana Department of Insurance

Related:

Topics Profit Loss Louisiana Flood
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has approved the following company to participate in the July Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) take-out period.

For the June 20, 2017 Commercial Residential Take-Out period:

Weston Insurance Company  approved to remove up to 617 commercial residential (Coastal Account) and 872 commercial non-residential (Coastal Account) policies.

This approval brings the total number of potential personal and commercial residential policies approved for take-outs in 2017 to 69,724; the actual number of policies removed from Citizens so far in 2017 was 12,276 as of April 18. These take-outs are part of ongoing depopulation efforts to reduce the number of policies in state-created Citizens and transfer them back into the private insurance market. Policyholders who receive a take-out offer may choose to remain covered by Citizens through the opt-out process.

The companies approved to participate in a personal residential and/or commercial residential take-out along with the number of policies approved for removal are available on the OIR webpage. Typically, monthly approvals are posted to this webpage within a week of Citizens deadline for OIR to issue an approval.

Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

Topics Florida Commercial Lines
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is poised to sign a bill that will require the public to receive notification of pollution spills within two days of discovery.

The Florida Legislature passed a bill (SB 532) Wednesday that requires polluters to notify the Department of Environmental Protection within a day of a spill. The DEP would then have a day to report it to the public.

The legislation comes in the wake of a massive sinkhole at a fertilizer plant last year near Tampa that sent millions of gallons of contaminated water into Floridas main aquifer. The incident went unreported for a month.

Companies that dont comply could face fines of up to $10,000 for each day a spill goes unreported.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida Pollution
Leah Robinson and Counsel Amy Nogid joined Mayer Brown after working for Eversheds Sutherland LLP in New York. The third person in the team is an associate. The expansion of the tax team will strengthen Mayer Browns capacities in state and local tax.

Since 2008, Leah Robinson has hosted the New York state tax ladies lunch group, a networking group for women focusing on SALT matters that meets 10 times a year. The womens group will continue to meet at Mayer Browns office in New York.
What Is the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)?

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is an independent federal government regulatory agency responsible for protecting investors, maintaining fair and orderly functioning of the securities markets, and facilitating capital formation. It was created by Congress in 1934 as the first federal regulator of the securities markets. The SEC promotes full public disclosure, protects investors against fraudulent and manipulative practices in the market, and monitors corporate takeover actions in the United States. It also approves registration statements for bookrunners among underwriting firms.

Generally, issues of securities offered in interstate commerce, through the mail or on the Internet, must be registered with the SEC before they can be sold to investors. Financial services firmssuch as broker-dealers, advisory firms and asset managers, as well as their professional representativesmust also register with the SEC to conduct business. An example: they would be responsible for approving any formal bitcoin exchange.

Key Takeaways The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a U.S. government oversight agency responsible for regulating the securities markets and protecting investors.

The SEC was established by the passage of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, largely in response to the stock market crash of 1929 that led to the Great Depression.

The SEC can itself bring civil actions against lawbreakers, and also works with the Justice Department on criminal cases.

1:40 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

How the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Works

The SEC's primary function is to oversee organizations and individuals in the securities markets, including securities exchanges, brokerage firms, dealers, investment advisors, and investment funds. Through established securities rules and regulations, the SEC promotes disclosure and sharing of market-related information, fair dealing, and protection against fraud. It provides investors with access to registration statements, periodic financial reports, and other securities forms through its electronic data-gathering, analysis, and retrieval database, known as EDGAR.

The Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC) was created in 1934 to help restore investor confidence in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash.

The SEC is headed by five commissioners who are appointed by the president, one of whom is designated as chair. Each commissioner's term lasts five years, but they may serve for an additional 18 months until a replacement is found. The current SEC chair is Gary Gensler, who took office on April 17, 2021. To promote nonpartisanship, the law requires that no more than three of the five commissioners come from the same political party.

The SEC consists of five divisions and 23 offices. Their goals are to interpret and take enforcement actions on securities laws, issue new rules, provide oversight of securities institutions, and coordinate regulation among different levels of government. The five divisions and their respective roles are:

Division of Corporate Finance: Ensures investors are provided with material information (that is, information relevant to a company's financial prospects or stock price) in order to make informed investment decisions.

Ensures investors are provided with material information (that is, information relevant to a company's financial prospects or stock price) in order to make informed investment decisions. Division of Enforcement: In charge of enforcing SEC regulations by investigating cases and prosecuting civil suits and administrative proceedings.

In charge of enforcing SEC regulations by investigating cases and prosecuting civil suits and administrative proceedings. Division of Investment Management: Regulates investment companies, variable insurance products, and federally registered investment advisors.

Regulates investment companies, variable insurance products, and federally registered investment advisors. Division of Economic and Risk Analysis: Integrates economics and data analytics into the core mission of the SEC.

Integrates economics and data analytics into the core mission of the SEC. Division of Trading and Markets: Establishes and maintains standards for fair, orderly, and efficient markets.

The SEC is allowed to bring only civil actions, either in federal court or before an administrative judge. Criminal cases fall under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies within the Department of Justice; however, the SEC often works closely with such agencies to provide evidence and assist with court proceedings.

In civil suits, the SEC seeks two main sanctions:

Injunctions, which are orders that prohibit future violations. A person or company that ignores an injunction is subject to fines or imprisonment for contempt. Civil money penalties and the disgorgement of illegal profits. In certain cases, the SEC may also seek a court order barring or suspending individuals from acting as corporate officers or directors. The SEC may also bring a variety of administrative proceedings, which are heard by internal officers and the commission. Common proceedings include cease and desist orders, revoking or suspending registration, and imposing bars or suspensions of employment.

The SEC also serves as the first level of appeal for actions sought by the securities industry's self-regulatory organizations, such as FINRA or the New York Stock Exchange.

Among all the SEC's offices, the Office of the Whistleblower stands out as one of the most potent means of securities law enforcement. Created as a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the SEC's whistleblower program rewards eligible individuals for sharing original information that leads to successful law enforcement actions with monetary sanctions in excess of $1 million. The individuals can receive 10% to 30% of the total sanctions' proceeds.

History of the SEC

When the U.S. stock market crashed in October 1929, securities issued by numerous companies became worthless. Because many had previously provided false or misleading information, public faith in the integrity of the securities markets plunged. To restore confidence, Congress passed the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which created the SEC. The SEC's primary tasks were to ensure that companies made truthful statements about their businesses and that brokers, dealers, and exchanges treated investors in an honest and fair manner.

In the years since additional laws have aided the SEC in its mission:

Today the SEC brings numerous civil enforcement actions against firms and individuals that violate securities laws every year. It is involved in every major case of financial misconduct, either directly or in conjunction with the Justice Department. Typical offenses prosecuted by the SEC include accounting fraud, the dissemination of misleading or false information, and insider trading.

After the Great Recession of 2008, the SEC was instrumental in prosecuting the financial institutions that caused the crisis and returning billions of dollars to investors. In total, it charged 204 entities or individuals and collected close to $4 billion in penalties, disgorgement, and other monetary relief. Goldman Sachs, for example, paid $550 million, the largest penalty ever for a Wall Street firm and the second-largest in SEC history, exceeded only by the $750 million paid by WorldCom.

Still, many observers have criticized the SEC for not doing enough to help prosecute the brokers and senior managers who were involved in the crisis, almost all of whom were never found guilty of significant wrongdoing. So far, only one Wall Street executive has been jailed for crimes related to the crisis. The rest either settled for a monetary penalty or accepted administrative punishments.

How Does the SEC Make New Rules? A new SEC rule starts with a concept release, which leads to a proposal. Both a concept release and subsequent proposal are published for public review and comment. The SEC considers the publics input on the proposal as it determines its next steps. The SEC will then convene to consider input from the public as well as industry or other subject-matter experts are considered. They then vote to adopt the rule.

Is the SEC the Same as FINRA? No. The SEC is a government organization that sets rules and regulations regarding the issuance, marketing, and trading of securities. The SEC is also charged with protecting investors. FINRA (formerly NASD) is a non-profit self-regulatory industry organization that oversees broker-dealers and issues licenses to securities professionals.
A border poll would destabilise the North at a time when stability is required, Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster has warned.

The former first minister expressed confidence the pro-Union position would be "resoundingly endorsed" in any referendum on Irish unification, but she said the exercise would have a negative impact on the political and economic landscape.

The issue of a potential future vote on a united Ireland has gained increased prominence as the debate around Brexit has evolved.

Republicans claim the UK's departure from the EU is a gamechanger, with reunification now providing a pathway for Northern Ireland to remain inside the EU.

Unionists insist the pro-Remain vote in the region (56% to 44%) cannot be interpreted as a swing in favour of Irish unity.

Mrs Foster addressed the issue at an election event in Derry.

"There has been some talk about the prospects of a united Ireland or a border poll," she said.

"Whatever anyone's reservations about exiting the EU, our Union with Great Britain will continue to be massively and fundamentally in Northern Ireland's interests.

"I have absolute confidence that any border poll would see a resounding endorsement of the pro-Union position.

"However I also recognise the destabilising effect an unnecessary campaign of that nature could have on business and politics here.

"Northern Ireland needs a period of stability, not instability."

On the current Stormont crisis, which has left the region without a functioning government for two months, the DUP leader reiterated her willingness to re-enter powersharing immediately.

Talks to restore devolution have been parked over the British general election campaign and are due to resume in the second half of June.

Negotiations between the DUP and Sinn Fein are deadlocked on issues including legislative protections for Irish language speakers.

"The DUP is placing no obstacles in the way of a Stormont Executive returning," said Mrs Foster.

"No red lines. No pre-conditions. No demands. There is absolutely no need to wait until beyond the election. I would willingly re-establish government today.

"The public can decide for themselves whether the issues other parties are raising should be sufficient to stand in the way of good government for the province."

Mrs Foster, whose party campaigned for Leave in the referendum, told her audience in Derry that she was aware of people's concerns around Brexit.

"The United Kingdom's departure from the European Union inevitably brings with it an element of uncertainty," she said.

"As in my own constituency, I know those of you who live and work in the border area have particular issues that may affect you.

"Northern Ireland needs a stable Executive in order to achieve the best possible deal for Northern Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.

"Whichever way people voted in the referendum last June, and whatever concerns they may still have, we can all unite to ensure Northern Ireland's interests are promoted.

"The particular circumstances of Northern Ireland are well understood in Brussels, and working together sensibly we have the opportunity to secure a good outcome that delivers for everyone.

"Electing the strongest and most effective team of representatives at Westminster with the influence to make a difference, will also help."
A surfer rescued after more than 30 hours stranded at sea thought he was going to die just moments before he was found by a helicopter.

Speaking from his hospital bed in Belfast as he recovers from hypothermia, Matthew Bryce vowed he will never surf again.

He was reported missing by family when he failed to return from a Sunday morning surf off the Argyll coast of Scotland.

He was eventually found by a search and rescue helicopter at around 7.30pm on Monday, drifting in the North Channel, 13 miles from Northern Ireland and 16 miles from Scottish shores.

Surfer saved off Antrim thought he would die at sunset https://t.co/FjBpAsurvR pic.twitter.com/4MOjMslNKW  RTE News (@rtenews) May 4, 2017

As the sun began to set on a second night at sea, Mr Bryce thought he had just hours to live and had "made peace" with himself.

The 22-year-old, from Airdrie in North Lanarkshire, fought back tears as he told BBC News: "I knew I had maybe three hours and I was pretty certain that I was going to die with that sunset.

"So I was watching the sunset and I'd pretty much made peace with it all and then a helicopter flew right over.

"So I jumped off the board and I lifted the board up and I started waving the board in the water and they flew right over, I thought they'd missed me.

"Then they turned round... and then they saved my life. I can't thank them enough."

The interview showed Mr Bryce was also badly sunburnt during his ordeal.

He said he was helpless on Sunday as changing currents and strong winds pushed him further and further from the shore.

He said: "It got to the point where my paddling was ineffective, but I was doing it to keep myself warm."

Fear really set in as night fell on Sunday.

He added: "It was incredibly lonely and quiet because there was just nothing - just waves.

"I hadn't seen any helicopters.

"I was thinking I was going to die - I was almost convinced.

"I didn't think I would see sunrise."

An RNLI lifeboat has since recovered his surf board but the 22-year-old is not planning to take it back to sea.

He said: "I think we'll find a good use for it, maybe as starter fuel."

Asked by the BBC if he is finished with surfing, Mr Bryce said: "I think so, I couldn't do that again."

Staff in ward 15 in the Ulster Hospital said they had had a whip-round and sent out to a local store to get Mr Bryce pyjamas, a toothbrush and some other essentials.

His parents Isabella and John said in a statement: "We cannot thank staff enough for the treatment Matthew has received and the kindness they have shown to us. They have been wonderful."
Chief executive Lawrence Owens was responding to a survey of more than 1,600 businesses across the country by the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Isme), which found that three out of five small firms expect huge increases in commercial rates when they are next assessed.

According to the results of the survey, more than half will appeal against an increase in rates. Ulster businesses pay the most, averaging just over 20,000, while businesses in Leinster, excluding Dublin, pay just under 8,900. Dublin City businesses in isolation pay almost 10,500 and businesses in Munster pay 10,200, while businesses in Connacht pay 13,300 on average.

Isme chief executive Neil McDonnell said rates disproportionately affect small and medium enterprises as, unlike other taxes, they must be paid whether the business is profitable or not.

He said Isme is calling for a fundamental rethink in how commercial rates are charged.

Mr Owens echoed Mr McDonnells call, claiming the current system is rooted in anachronistic principles from the 1800s.

Retail worldwide especially is in a phase of change, said Mr Owens. In Cork, most SMEs are family-owned and want to continue into the future. But rates are probably the second-highest cost after wages. We would like to see more power and flexibility given to the local authority when it comes to rates. A little empathy and common sense goes a long way.

Mr Owens said Cork is coming off a turbulent period when the bus strike hit trade in the city centre particularly hard.

It couldnt have been a worse 20 days for traders in the city centre, he said. If we had a little flexibility and less rigidity in the future, it would make a big difference for suffering traders. The current system is outdated and full of clauses, cliches, and constraints that simply dont reflect business in the 21st century.

Mr Owens said Ismes suggestion of a 50% set commercial rate and 50% calculated on profitability is worth considering.

Isme said more than two-thirds of the 1,660 respondents to the survey want to see such a system. More than half have fewer than 10 employees, while another two-fifths of businesses had fewer than 50.

Mr McDonnell said: Commercial rates are hurting many small businesses across the country, forcing some to let staff go and, in some cases, forcing business closure. We urge those in a position of influence to address this situation. Businesses understand the need to pay local authority rates to help fund local services, but most of these now attract utility charges. Small business cant be asked to pick up the tab just because politicians have baulked at the water charges issue.
The UK return of InBevs Bud Light is fueling sales in western Europe, while Carlsbergs low-alcohol beer brand Nordic is driving sales in Scandinavia, the companies said separately.

Europe is definitely picking up for all the beverage alcohol companies as consumer spending is starting to rise in most of the region, said Trevor Stirling, an analyst at Sanford C Bernstein.

A surge in eurozone economic confidence to the highest in almost a decade stokes beer sales and offers brewers more pricing power, said Stirling.

InBev, the worlds largest brewer, and Danish rival Carlsberg joined Heineken in surprising the market with first-quarter results that beat estimates after headwinds in Latin America and eastern Europe hurt performance through most of last year. Carlsbergs focus on more expensive beers such as Grimbergen paid off in France and Italy. Sales volume of the Belgian brew rose 25% in the quarter.

Were really stepping up the distribution in France, Switzerland, Denmark and Italy, said Carlsberg CEO Cees t Hart, while warning that growth at these high levels is, of course, difficult to continue.

InBev shares rose by more than 5%, while Carlsberg gained almost 3%.

Beyond its Stella Artois and Corona, which posted sales growth of 21% and 18%, InBev is also seeking to ramp up sales of more expensive beers in developed markets.

The Belgium-based company announced this week it is acquiring North Carolinas Wicked Weed Brewing, which will join a stable of craft brands.

The US beer industry is progressing towards a better place after years of stagnation, chief financial officer Felipe Dutra told reporters, and Brazil should pick up this year. Carlsberg expects revenue to grow faster than volume this year, helped by pricing power.

The brewers reported first-quarter revenue growth of 3.7% for InBev and 4% for Carlsberg, exceeding the 2.8% revenue growth analysts were expecting for each company.

Sales declines in previous years had spurred intense consolidation, which culminated in InBevs $103bn (94.3bn) takeover of rival SabMiller in the industrys largest-ever deal. The maker of Budweiser is cutting more than 5,500 jobs as it aims to capture $2bn in cost savings from its acquisition of SABMiller in the next three to four years. The company reiterated its forecast that total revenue growth will accelerate in 2017.

Bloomberg
Last weekend, the EU27 got together to decide on its negotiation strategy with the UK once the formal Brexit talks begin in the weeks following Britains general election on June 8.

Apparently there was a very strong consensus among the 27 participant countries at the meeting about what needs to be done to protect the strength and integrity of the EU. It is clear that there is little appetite to give the UK any concessions that might weaken the EU, particularly in relation to the freedom of movement of people, which is one of the four key pillars upon which the Single European Market is built.

From an EU perspective, this is a very obvious starting point and it remains to be seen to what extent the trading block will be prepared to compromise.

Separately, lots of strange stories have emerged about what went down at the dinner between the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and his people, and British prime minister Theresa May and some of her Brexit people.

As became clear from Ms Mays speech on January 17, the UK view seems to be that it can enjoy all of the benefits of the Single European Market without having to accept any of the bits it does not like, such as the freedom of movement of people and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Not surprisingly, this is not exactly how the EU side views the world.

Bridging this chasm will not be an easy or straightforward task, putting it very mildly. Hence, the dinner most probably was not a very pleasant culinary experience for any of those around the people, but particularly for the UK side, I suspect. It must be becoming increasingly obvious to the UK side that the EU holds most  if not all  of the trump cards going into what will be a very difficult and fractious negotiation process.

The differences that apparently emerged over the dinner are very significant and if not managed in a very diplomatic way could blow the whole process out of the water before it even begins.

The EU believes it is owed anything up to 100bn by the UK due to previous EU spending commitments that Britain signed up to. If reports of the dinner are to be believed, one of Ms Mays Brexit geniuses, David Davis, basically told Mr Juncker that the EU would not be able to force the UK to pay over any monies once the UK is gone from the EU. Mr Juncker is reported to have responded that, in that event, no EU member country would be prepared to do any sort of trade deal with the UK. This promises to be tricky and is not an ideal start.

Ms May wants the negotiation to happen in four-day blocks every month and that the proceeding of those meetings should be kept secret until the end, which, from her domestic political perspective, would make life considerably easier. On the other hand, the EU has committed to issuing regular updates on the negotiations in the spirit of total transparency and to offset criticisms about the secrecy of the EU.

These are just two examples of disagreement at this very early stage, and there will be lots more. The nightmare scenario for Ireland would be an early implosion of the talks and an immediate hard Brexit for the UK, with all of the negative implications that this would imply for Irelands vital trade with the UK. In that event, any special treatments that Ireland has secured will go out the window.

One of the intriguing developments to watch over the coming weeks will be the approach taken by the new president of France, who will probably be the pro-EU Emmanuel Macron.

If Mr Macron does win, he will do so against a background of close to 50% of the French who voted in the first round a couple of weeks back, having voted for rabidly anti-EU parties. A Macron victory will not make that anti-EU sentiment go away and so his whole approach to the EU will have to be very nuanced.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney will today confirm 24m will be spent on the scheme, which is part of the Governments Vacant Properties (voids) programme. A breakdown of the locations of the properties shows that, for example, 112 in Cork city and county are to be returned to use at a cost of almost 2.2m, while in Dublin 539 units will be upgraded at a cost of 10.6m.

Mr Coveneys department said the priority of the scheme is to rehouse homeless families to the fullest extent possible in homes that have been restored to an energy-efficient condition.
The experts who assess applications have called on Education Minister Richard Bruton to change the process because of the problems.

He announced yesterday the patrons selected for the multi-denominational schools in Dublin and Cork. Three of them now have just five months to open but his department said they will all be able to do so.

One will be a second gaelscoil in Ballincollig, Co Cork, under the patronage of An Foras Patrunachta. The other three schools will be in Dublin, two to be opened by Educate Together  in Dun Laoghaire this autumn, and in the south city centre in 2018  and the third by first-time primary patron Scoil Sinead in Pelletstown.

Families in these areas were canvassed for support by prospective patrons from November up to an early January application deadline. The Department of Education was due to announce the successful patrons by late February, but a report to Mr Bruton about the process points to difficulties that led to the delays.

His department must assess expressions of interest among local parents from each patron before submitting a report to the independent New Schools Establishment Group (NSEG) for its recommendations. But the departments assessments were not finalised until 11 days ago, and reasons for the delay are spelt out by the NSEG in a letter to the minister.

The main factor is the considerable number of invalid parental preferences indicated by applicant patrons, which then have to be singled out and discounted by the department. Across the four areas being assessed, more than 430 children listed by patrons had to be discounted from almost 3,000 names submitted.

The main reason why some children were removed from a patrons count of parental preferences was that the family lives outside the catchment area for the proposed new school. But in many cases, patrons had not stated what year the child would begin, or listed a year outside the permitted five-year enrollment limit.

Nearly 100 of the children listed by the three applicants to be a patron in Ballincollig could not be counted, including 54 of the 277 names provided by Educate Together. In Pelletstown in Dublin, 46 of the 65 children listed by City of Dublin ETB were considered invalid, including 28 who live outside the area.

In a letter to Mr Bruton accompanying its recommendations, NESG chairman Seamus McGuinness said this has been a problem in successive patronage processes, despite clear guidance from the department. He wrote that the work of individually identifying and removing those children from the valid preferences, has a knock-on effect on the duration of the assessment process, adding unnecessarily to the assessment work and creating no benefit for any patron.

The group reiterates its previous recommendation that consideration be given to an examination of other options for a more effective and efficient means of disseminating information to parents and of collecting parental preferences, he wrote.

A department spokesperson said it is considering options to improve the process.
The allegation comes just 24 hours after an embarrassing oversight left the LE Eithne tied up when she was supposed to have left Haulbowline to help Italian authorities rescue migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Department of Defence admitted it is still in negotiations with the Italian authorities over clearance for the rescue mission, despite the Government having sanctioned the migrant operation on April 11.

Now it has refused to comment on why an Air Corps CASA was prevented from landing in Sweden in March to deliver munitions to the Irish Artillery Corps involved in a training exercise there.

In a statement, the Department of Defence said it is an operational matter and we will not be commenting.

The Irish Examiner has learned that the CASA was scheduled to transport a number of surface-to-air defence missiles systems to Stockholm as part of a live training exercise by the Irish Artillery Corps in Sweden, which was due to take place a few weeks later.

Well-placed sources claim that while in mid-flight, the captain of the CASA was refused permission to enter Swedish airspace as the local aviation authorities had not been informed of the pending arrival of this sensitive cargo. The reason the missiles were being taken for target practise in Sweden is they can engage targets up to 5,000m in the air and there is no suitable range here from which to fire them safely.

Sources say that general arrangements are in place with SAAB and the Swedish government to permit the Defence Forces the use of suitable missile ranges in Sweden, but for some reason this time the CASA was refused landing rights.

It is understood the missiles being transported to Sweden were reaching their expiry date and a decision was made to use them so the Artillery Corps could get some valuable practice in.

Claims have been made that an Air Corps application was submitted to the Department of Defence for transmission to the Swedish authorities via the normal diplomatic channels.

Once denied entry the CASA crew replotted a course back to Dublin, but barely had the fuel to make it back.
Darren OLoughlin, aged 28, of 30 Cliona Park, Moyross, Limerick, was first convicted at Bandon District Court of drunkenness in a public place at Market Square, Kinsale, on April 29 last.

OLoughlin pleaded guilty and was fined 200, with 60 days to pay. Judge James McNulty warned him about how public order matters are dealt with in West Cork and, on leaving the court, OLoughlin said: I wont be back here again, judge.

However, he was back in court within the hour after a garda, who had travelled to Bandon from Killybegs, Co Donegal, promptly arrested him regarding an incident there on April 12.

After closing time in The Cope pub in the town, where he had been drinking, he was found by a cleaner in the storage area. He ran upstairs and left via a fire escape, said Garda John Malone.

Two crates of alcohol worth 50 had been moved towards the door, although nothing was taken.

OLoughlin pleaded guilty, as Judge McNulty said these matters were more serious.

He sentenced OLoughlin to 90 days in prison, suspended for two years on the usual conditions involving keeping the peace, being of good behaviour, committing no offence, and also on the basis of a special condition.

He is not to come back to any place in West Cork, said the judge.

If you are out fishing and [the vessel] comes into West Cork you are to stay on board. You are not setting foot on land in West Cork while this sentence is in place.

OLoughlin accepted the judges conditions.
Responding to questions from the Irish Examiner, on behalf of the Irish media, Mr Kenny got annoyed at being asked about when he intends stepping down as Taoiseach.

I cant believe actually that you have travelled this distance to ask a question like that, he said sharply. I have come here to meet with the Canadian prime minister and Canadian business to explore the opportunities that exist across the Atlantic for the creation of jobs and investment and to the benefit of Canadians and Irish people. That is my business here. Next question.

When it was explained to him that the question was being asked on behalf of all Irish media, Mr Kenny replied: I just said to you I cant believe you have travelled this distance to ask a question like that.

Later, a spokesman for Mr Kenny said he utterly refuted any notion that the Taoiseach had been angry or had lashed out at anybody.

Mr Kennys comments come as the Irish Examiner confirmed that a number of hotels across the country have been booked for May 26 to facilitate the vote of a new leader.

In the strongest indication to date that Mr Kennys departure from office is imminent, local Fine Gael organisations are preparing themselves to enable the vote for a new leader for the first time since 2002.

In Montreal, Mr Kenny also delivered a rebuttal to comments from French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron that Irelands corporation tax rates would have to rise.

Mr Kenny said Irelands 12.5% corporation tax rate is our business.

Meanwhile, the Independent Alliance have set down a marker to the next leader of Fine Gael by demanding they stay in their current ministerial positions. The five members of the Alliance do not want a redrafting of the programme for Government but could look for some issues to be added.

Transport Minister Shane Ross said the group has no intention of demanding all sorts of new things but wants to reflect and to talk to the new leader and to implement new ideas.

Asked about a potential reshuffle after Mr Kenny stands aside, Mr Ross said: Personally, I am perfectly happy where I am.

This was echoed by the other Alliance members, including Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath: I am really delighted where I am in the ministry, and I definitely need the three years to get some things done.

Meanwhile, OPW Minister Sean Canney will be replaced on June 2 by fellow Independent Alliance TD Kevin Boxer Moran.

READ MORE: Enda Kenny strikes back after rogue query on exit
Further remains of Stephen Davitt, 47, from Stamullen in Co Meath, were trawled by a fishing vessel off Howth. Forensic DNA evidence was used to link the body parts, an inquest at Dublin Coroners Court heard.

Mr Davitt was last seen alive at Mornington Beach in Co Meath on January 24, 2015. Witness, Barry Mullen, noticed a jeep driving along a dirt track near the shore and later saw Mr Davitt swimming out to sea.

Almost 10 months later members of the Irish Coast Guard and gardai boarded a fishing vessel that had trawled human remains east of Howth on October 8, 2015. Garda Stephen Byrne met the skipper at 10am and viewed the remains, which were caught in the vessels fishing nets. The remains were brought to Connolly Hospital for examination.

Photographer Dominic Cuniffe was walking at Portmarnock beach early on October 20 when he saw a boot on a manhole cover. The boot was laced up and when he examined it he saw a bone. He contacted gardai.

Detective Garda Brian Pentony said the human foot, which was encased in a Timberland boot, was brought to the morgue at Marino. A full search of the beach was conducted but yielded no further remains.

The foot was examined by pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan two days later. She noted that the foot was that of an adult male and had become separated from the body after death. Muscle samples were taken for analysis and these connected to the DNA sample taken from the remains returned from the sea to Howth Harbour.

Sgt Ciara McGovern of Ashbourne Garda Station told the court that a search for Mr Davitt was launched on January 25, 2015 and sea searches were conducted by the Irish Coast Guard and Boyne Fishermens rescue and recovery service: Family members were at the beach side on a daily basis.

The cause of death was not possible to determine given the nature of the remains, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said. She returned a narrative verdict setting out the timeline of events due to a significant lack of evidence in relation to the totality of the circumstances.
Doctors will also have to comply with far more strict regulations regarding the prescribing of these medications, to avoid leakage onto the black market.

The long-awaited laws first drawn up in 2013  will include benzodiazepines, a group of anti-anxiety drugs, and Z-drugs, hypnotic medication, under the scope of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The regulations, commenced yesterday by drugs minister Catherine Byrne, mean that restrictions that apply to drugs like heroin and cannabis will now apply to these substances.

Possession, as well as sale, will be a crime if a person does not have a specific prescription.

Gardai and drug projects have highlighted the effects of these drugs on the street for many years.

You stand outside the local [methadone] clinic in the morning and there is a crowd outside openly selling these drugs and there is little we can do, said one senior garda in Dublin.

Another garda source said there has been a huge increase in the involvement of organised crime in the trade.

Benzodiazepines were involved in around 40% of poisonings in 2013, according to the National Drug-Related Deaths Index. Diazepam and Flurazepam were involved in 151 poisoning deaths in 2013 and Zopiclone in 51 deaths.

Treatment figures for benzodiazepines rose from 261 in 2009 to 719 in 2013.

Quantities of benzodiazepines seized rose 11-fold between 2013 and 2015, from around 36,000 to more than 410,000, and six-fold for Z-drugs, from just over 126,000 to almost 795,000.

In a statement, the Department of Health said: The most significant effect of the new Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 is in relation to benzodiazepines (such as diazepam) and z-drug sleeping tablets (such as zopiclone and zolpidem). The restrictions already in place on possession and import of other controlled drugs will not apply to benzodiazepines and z-drugs.

It said a higher standard of prescription will be required, affecting GPs and chemists.

Tony Duffin of Ana Liffey Drug Project said the laws will have an impact on users: We know that when changes such as these are implemented there is always the potential for unintended consequences.

For example, if there is a temporary drought in benzodiazepine and z-type drugs, what drugs will replace them? The market will respond and we must also be ready to respond quickly.

He added: We look forward to a time when legislation is introduced to respond to drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal justice issue. That time is not far off.
Yesterday they were named Senior Club of the Year at the 2017 Munster Rugby Awards and another trophy could follow if all goes to plan and Con win their fifth All-Ireland League title in Sundays final with reigning champions Clontarf at the Aviva Stadium.

That would be the icing on the cake for Cons senior team manager Kenny Murphy.

In his 11th year as manager, he has lived and breathed Cork Con rugby virtually all of his 50 years, following both his father Noel and grandfather Noel Snr, into the first team, and then earning recognition with both Munster and Ireland.

He has seen a litany of the clubs players capped at provincial and Test level in that time and some remarkable team success yet it is seven years since Con lifted the Ulster Bank League trophy for the fourth and most recent time and last seasons final defeat to Clontarf is still fresh in the memory.

Saturdays Bateman Cup final win over Old Belvedere and the Munster Senior Cup triumph that preceded it are both great sources of pride but regaining a UBL title for the first time since 2010 would be something special again.

Has Cons time come again? The former full-back is wary of tempting fate. You would hope so but theyre a very young side as well and its not a young league, Murphy told the Irish Examiner.

Of course weve been there or thereabouts, like all Con sides have been over the years - we lost one against Belvedere in 2011 in the last couple of minutes with a good few of the lads (Simon Zebo, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Duncan Williams, Peter OMahony) that are Munster players now.

So every year its one of our goals to win an AIL title but its a tough division. This year was no exception. Every year its getting better and better so its nice to be there at the end and thats what we aim for every year at Con.

Hopefully, in our second final in a row, well get over the line but it doesnt always work like that.

Con have had to keep improving to stay the course and Murphy believes the side coached by Brian Hickey with assistance from Paul Barr, Paul McCarthy and Ralph Keyes will be stronger for their 2016 disappointment. He is also confident in the systems put in place to keep producing quality players for the clubs senior team, pointing to two national U20 Fraser McMullen Cup titles in the last four years.

Years ago, when Con were winning AILs, we had the same system producing great players, and the club always aims to do our own academy system well and its been good for us.

Murphy feels the same way about his own association with the club, having spent a lifetime steeped in the Cork Constitution way, and earning 22 Ireland caps between 1990 and 1992, which included being in the 1991 World Cup squad alongside club-mates Keyes and Donal Lenihan.

Ive been very lucky. My grandfather would have started us all off, through to my father, the Kiernans, just like any of the families.

Were a family club, the OLearys, Gerry and Niall Murray, my brother Charlie played, my brother in law Mikey Bradley played, so were steeped in it.

Its great to see Cork Constitution in brackets after a fellas name, whether hes playing for Munster or Ireland and were lucky again to have another Lion in Peter. Thats huge for us and his father (John) is steeped in it as well.

It just feels like a special club in this city, like Nemo, St Finbarrs, Glen Rovers, Blackrock are steeped in GAA tradition, Cork City are going well, so were lucky we live in a great sporting city and when were on fire its a great place to follow sport.

But whether we win, lose or draw the final, well be back out there again in the middle of July, training for another season.

Weve been that way for 125 years and it would be a special way to mark the anniversary, no doubt.
Instead, women can go straight to the pharmacy, as private patients have been able to do for the past five years.

The extension of the GMS scheme to include the provision of emergency contraception will be announced today by Health Minister Simon Harris at the annual meeting of the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) in Croke Park.

While the pill is available over-the-counter to anyone prepared to pay for it, a spokesperson for the minister said he was of the view that the requirement for medical card holders to have a prescription in order to avail of it for free was an unfair anomaly and a barrier to timely treatment.

The minister believes that all women, irrespective of their means, should have the same access to emergency contraception, a spokesperson said.

The IPU welcomed the move saying it addresses a longstanding injustice and anomaly for these women who, up to now, had to go to their GP to get a prescription if they wished to get emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) on the medical card.

The IPU pointed out that emergency contraception is time sensitive and that its effectiveness diminishes between the time of unprotected sex and the time of taking it, emphasising both the importance of all women being able to readily access it and thus the value of the convenience and accessibility offered by community pharmacies.

The necessity to attend a GP for a prescription has always been an unnecessary barrier and has also meant that the poorest and most vulnerable women in Irish society have not been treated equitably with private patients in terms of access to EHC, the IPU said.

A study published in 2010 showed that of 1,696 women who received the emergency pill within 72 hours of sex, just 37 became pregnant.

The health minister is due to address the IPU conference this morning before travelling to Wexford to address delegates at the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation annual conference in the afternoon.
Cres Abragan, originally from the Philippines, said he knows of one nurse whose foster family told her there is no need to shower every day even though she wished to do so. Another colleague was physically assaulted by the woman whose house he was sharing and a third moved out of her accommodation because she felt discriminated against, Mr Abragan said.

Filipino colleagues have also been accused of taking jobs off the Irish.

Mr Abragan was speaking at the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) conference in Wexford in relation to a motion calling on the Department of Health and the HSE to take immediate steps to improve the working lives of nurses and midwives.

Mr Abragan said his compatriots face particular difficulties if they failed to pass the clinical adaptation process which non-EEA (European Economic Area) nurses are required to undergo.

The process takes about two months to complete during which time the nurses are on the emergency tax rate of 42%. For those who fail the first attempt at clinical adaptation, they can retry in three to six weeks.

However, a second fail could result in a delay of a number of months while awaiting a decision as to whether they can appeal.

Mr Abragan said he knows of one case where a colleague had to wait nine months for a decision. In the meantime, they were out of work and their salary was stopped.

Some student nurses are also finding themselves in a difficult position. Tara Moran, a fourth-year intern from Dunboyne, Co Meath, said students often end up paying to stay in hotels and B&Bs while on work placement in hospitals while also paying rent to retain their college accommodation.

Tara, who attends college in Drogheda, said student nurses can be sent to hospitals in Drogheda, Louth, Dublin, Navan, Co Meath, or Cavan as part of their placements.

One colleague is paying 70-75 a night because the closest accommodation to the hospital she is working in is a hotel, Tara said. The upshot is students end up having to get a part-time job to meet accommodation costs.

We are being told it is a full-time course and we know that and we are supposed to be turning up, but at the same time we need to be able to pay to go to college, Tara said. She said she ended up getting sick at the end of second-year because I was so knackered.

The pressures caused by excessive form filling was also raised at the conference. One speaker told delegates: My patient is getting in the way of my documentation. A motion was passed directing the INMO to ensure that fundamental nursing/midwifery skills are not lost due to such bureaucracy.
With just 10 days to go to the opening of negotiations on a successor to the Landsdowne Road Agreement, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned that failure to deal with their grievances will cause widespread industrial unrest.

If you dont do it, you wont have three years of peace and stability, thats guaranteed, said INMO general secretary Liam Doran.

Nurses and midwives at the unions annual delegate conference, in Wexford, voted overwhelmingly in favour of an emergency motion directing the executive council to seek separate negotiations within the upcoming pay talks. These negotiations would address pay, recruitment, and retention.

The motion includes a direction to council to ballot members on whatever proposals emerge from the talks. A caveat is that acceptance be recommended only if substantial progress is made on pay restoration and on parity of pay and working hours with allied health professionals.

Mr Doran told delegates he was of the view that you solve problems around the table, but that if the talks failed to deliver, well do whatever we have to do to deliver the just deserts.

The message to government was: We want our money back. You took it, Mr Doran said, to cheers from around the room.

As nurses queued to speak to the motion, following the suspension of standing orders, Sean OCeallaigh, a nurse in the emergency department at the Midlands Regional Hospital, in Mullingar, said he wanted a pay scale that reflects our responsibility. Ive worked in the emergency department for four years and there are people cleaning the floors who are earning more than me, he said.

Geraldine Talty, a nurse at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, said nurses remained the lowest paid of all the health care professionals, despite being the only ones to work a 39-hour week. Moreover, workloads were increasing and more work was being brought home. Next thing well be bringing home is the patients, she said.

INMO executive council member Mary Leahy said despite nurses completing a four-year degree, in line with other health professionals, they were paid 12-15% less. On average, after five years, we are paid 5,500 less than similarly qualified, allied health professionals.

Figures presented by INMO industrial relations chief, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, showed that a staff nurse earned a salary of 34,666 after five years, compared to 40,009 for an occupational therapist; 38,344 for a radiographer, and 39,168 for a respiratory technician. Nurses were also worse off than teachers and gardai after five years  with teachers earning 40,551, and gardai earning 42,310.

The figures formed part of the INMO submission to the Public Service Pay Commission, which is expected to report to the Government on Monday.
The crew of the Naval Services flagship LE Eithne have been training for the humanitarian mission since the end of last year.

But is has emerged that the Department of Defence and its Italian counterpart did not complete the necessary paperwork.

Dr Judith Wharton, a spokeswoman for the recently formed Wives and Spouses of the Defence Forces (WSDF), described the situation as appalling.

There are migrants drowning again in the Med and the crew just want to get out and help. Theyve been training for months for this mission and the ship is now tied up at the quay wall because the paperwork hasnt been finalised. Its shocking, she said.

The UNs refugee agency UNHCR confirmed more than 1,000 migrants have been reported dead or missing so far this year, while more than 8,000 were plucked from dinghies over the Easter weekend. On April 11, the Government sanctioned the dispatch of the vessel to participate in the humanitarian mission.

The Department of Defence said: This matter is in hand and the department is continuing to liaise with Italian counterparts in concluding the written agreement to facilitate deployment to the Mediterranean.

The Naval Service had signalled several weeks ago that the LE Eithne was scheduled to leave its base in Haulbowline Island on May 1. The crew are on standby.

PDforra vice president Mark Keane said: They are ready, willing and anxious to undertake this mission and put into practice their training.
In a submission to the Public Service Pay Commission, the Alliance of Retired Public Servants (ARPS) said the current project date for full pension restoration is 2021 under the Programme for Partnership Government.

On average about 4,000 retired public servants die each year so if the current completion date of 2021 is stuck with, over 40,000 people will have died by that time on reduced pensions [since 2011]  pensions that they contributed to during their working lives. This is why we think its only fair that the Government should bring forward the date from 2021, said ARPS chairman, Brian Burke.
Ahead of its annual conference, which begins today, the organisation called for any planned or proposed closures of services such as post offices or Garda stations to stop immediately until a new protocol on rural services is formed.

Irish Rural Link CEO Seamus Boland said such a protocol would ensure that, in addition to economic and value-for-money analysis attached to any planned closure, an evaluation of the social and community consequences should be factored in under what he said should be a structured framework for making those decisions.

Irish Rural Link was particularly vocal during the recent Bus Eireann dispute, expressing fears for the health of country communities were bus routes pulled or altered. It also has concerns over the mooted closure of many rural post offices under plans by An Post to overhaul its network.

Mr Boland said: The axing of bus routes and closure of post offices and banks in rural towns and villages over the years have meant these towns and villages have almost disappeared.

We have on the one hand, a new Action Plan for Rural Development, launched at the beginning of the year, and a Town and Village Renewal Scheme also launched to rejuvenate and revitalise small towns and villages, while on the other, closures to the very services that are needed to keep these towns and villages alive.

He said IRL had called for a structured consultation process to take place prior to any closures or loss of services. He said it would allow input from communities and allow them to put forward proposals to avoid closures or to make alternative suggestions.

There needs to be more joined-up thinking by Government and stakeholder to avoid contradiction in policy and to ensure the full implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development, he said.

The focus of IRLs annual conference this year is Micro Enterprise  A Key to Rural Employment, and Mr Boland said the necessary services needed to be in place to ensure these enterprises can survive and grow.

Mr Boland said Brexit could be a negative factor and so issues raised by those smaller companies will be addressed at the conference.

With rural areas the problem has always been the creation of employment and how that is done, he said, referring to issues such as broadband, transport, and even the relative strength of electricity in rural areas compared to levels available in cities.

The conference is taking place at the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone and will be opened by Denis Naughten, the minister for communications, climate action and environment.
The form of the opera has been the biggest shock to the system. Energising a staging of a work full of repetition and da capo arias has been a technical challenge

YOU wait ages for a Baroque opera and then three come along, all by Handel. Opera Theatre Companys country and western production of Acis and Galatea has just finished touring, and Northern Ireland Opera follow up their 2015 production of Agrippina with an Irish premiere of Radamisto. It is director Wayne Jordans opera debut.

Jordan is a darling of the Dublin theatre, lauded for his fresh approach to classics and his innovative work in musical theatre. If you have been to the Gate or Abbey theatres in recent years, chances are you have seen one of his productions.

For a director still in his mid-thirties, the diversity and volume of his output are remarkable. Shakespeare, Euripides, Tolstoy, and Ibsen form part of his back catalogue, as well as the ground breaking musical, Alice in Funderland. He co-directed the smash hit dance show, Prodijig, which returns to the Cork Opera House in June.

Music has been a strong influence in his own journey. I was always interested in the arts. I had a brilliant teacher at school, Sandra McTurk, who supported me to explore my own interests. I played clarinet in a marching band and, at secondary school, a Miss Melody, from Cork, coached us for state music exams outside school hours.

As a schoolboy, Jordan was impressed by a production of Puccinis La Boheme. But what set him on the path to working in the theatre was performing in school productions of musicals.

Although musical theatre formed part of his prodigious output, including a production of Weills Threepenny Opera for the Gate, opera wasnt in his sights until Oliver Mears, then director at NI Opera, came to see his production of Shadow of a Gunman at the Abbey and invited him to Belfast.

It has been very liberating to be outside my own milieu. So far, Ive worked mainly in Dublin. This is the first time the show has been cast for me and Ive been excited to discover the talents of the singers Im working with. It was a big draw for me to work with designer, Annemarie Woods, who has produced some dazzling designs for the opera. The form of the opera has been the biggest shock to the system. Energising a staging of a work that is full of repetition and da capo arias has been a technical challenge.

So what can we expect from his staging of a plot based on sex, power, and corruption? Jordan describes it as being a lofty clown show. The project it is most closely related to is a production I did of Twelfth Night, in that I use similar technique. It looks like a perfect Romantic pastiche, with big costumes that are an amalgamation of Classical and Elizabethan periods. There is an actor who treats the singers like puppets, undercutting an idea about power all the way.

Jordan is particularly looking forward to bringing the production to Cork. I fell madly in love with Cork, when I spent time here directing Prodijig. The Everyman Theatre is such a gorgeous theatre and has a personality that I think will hold the show well. Jordan is having fun with his new venture.

I am thrilled by the sheer size and emotional scale, how shamelessly showman the opera form is. It has the power to shake people in a visceral and experiential way. I like to think that, when I am working at my best, Im very playful and this has certainly given me that opportunity.

Northern Ireland Opera, in association with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, presents the Irish premiere and all-Ireland tour of Handels Radamisto. Limerick, Cork, Dublin, Belfast.
Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, a big Star Wars fan, was marking May the 4th Be With You day was sporting ill matching socks of the massive space fantasy franchise to highlight he is a fan.

Like Luke Skywalker, he sat beside our veteran leader Enda Kenny who isnt quite an Obi-Wan Kenobi.

With the race to succeed him hotting up, to some Kenny is more of a Jar Jar Binks figure who just cant go soon enough.

Trudeau and his fashion forward socks (as we were advised to call them by our fabulous Canadian media liaison Kim Cross) too appear to be fans of Enda.

Trudeau paid tribute to Endas leadership of Ireland during some difficult days and while it was the Taoiseachs first trip to Canada, it is significant as it is expected to be his last significant trip before departing office.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wore Star Wars-themed socks  featuring C-3PO and R2-D2  as he met with Enda Kenny during his visit to Montreal, in Canada yesterday.

What a pleasure it is to welcome the Taoiseach to Montreal, the dishy Canadian leader said at the outset.

The two posed for photographs and Enda joked about the prime ministers good handshake, a reference to his famous meeting with the Donald and their robust embrace. Trudeaus good looks have made a global impact and there he sat almost purring at some female reporters and winking at others.

At a major business lunch, the socks continued to dominate the agenda. Three minutes into Endas speech up on the podium, Trudeau took to Twitter and posted this message: These are the socks youre looking for. #MayTheFourthBeWithYou.

Obviously for Enda, his timescale for exit was exercising minds most.

Will he, wont he go next week.

In his speech, he was talking about politics becoming disconnected from the people and he added that what people wanted from their leaders was clarity and certainty.

So when we got to the press conference with the two leaders, and poor Enda was not best pleased to be asked about when he is likely to go.

I was designated to ask the question on behalf of the Irish media about his departure and he lashed back.

I cant believe actually that you have travelled this distance to ask a question like that. I have come here to meet with the Canadian Prime Minister and Canadian business to explore the opportunities that exist across the Atlantic for the creation of jobs and investment and to the benefit of Canadians and Irish people. That is my business here. Next question, was the fierce response.

Kenny left Montreal for Toronto where he was guest of honour at an Enterprise Ireland dinner but the pesky media were not invited.

Ultimately, as much as he doesnt want to admit it, he will have to face many more questions like that until he names the date.
Willie Crowley was a politician in the best tradition of public service. He was independent-minded and served as an independent county councillor in Kildare.

He died three days after he was knocked down in a hit-and-run incident in Newbridge on December 15, 2015.

On Wednesday, 29-year-old Damien Klasinski pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Court to dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Crowley. He will be sentenced at a later date.

In court, Mr Crowleys widow, Claire Doyle, gave a victim impact statement. She spoke in moving terms about her own personal loss, but she also touched on her husbands role in the community.

Willie was entering a new phase of his life, preparing to stand as a candidate in the general election, she said. I am acutely aware of the unfulfilled potential which adds to my loss.

Willie worked tirelessly to improve the community of Newbridge. Willie did not discriminate and helped people from all walks of life. The huge loss to the community has exacerbated my loss of the love of my life.

I knew Willie Crowley for the last nine months of his life. He was passionate and persistent in representing his community. We had come into contact after I began covering a story in Newbridge.

On March 31, 2015, a fire had levelled a terrace of six houses in half an hour in the Millfield Manor estate. According to design standards, it should take about three hours for a fire to spread that quickly. Thankfully, the incident occurred in the afternoon and all occupants were safely evacuated.

The speed at which the fire spread gave rise to serious concerns about construction of the timber frame dwellings. The estate was built by Barrack Construction in 2006, which went into liquidation in 2011. Its principle, Paddy Byrne, has repeatedly pointed out that the construction had been subjected to checks by the building regulatory authority in Kildare County Council.

After the fire, an investigation was launched by the council which found major fire safety deficiencies. The report was handed to homeowners who were effectively told they were on their own.

Through it all, Mr Crowley pushed their interests. The owners had bought their homes in good faith. Now they were being told that they were living in firetraps, which would require an investment of at least 15,000 to rectify.

And it would also require that neighbours on each side of terraced houses go match the investment. Most of the owners had bought at the height of the boom and could not afford the cost.

Mr Crowley and a few other representatives continued to push back against what was an outrageous injustice in which citizens had not been adequately protected by state agencies.

Eventually, in September 2015, the pressure yielded a partial result. The then Environment Minister, Alan Kelly, announced a review to develop a framework for general application in homes where concerns had been raised about fire safety. Millfield Manor was to be used as a template.

Mr Crowley, however, was not impressed.

Its a joke, he told the Irish Examiner at the time. It amounts to putting in a few fire alarms and organising a fire drill. If you dont get a commitment [to address compensation for the stricken homeowners] before the next election, forget about it.

His comments were prescient. The review parked the problems in Millfield Manor until after the Febraury 2016 election, in which Mr Crowley had hoped to stand.

At least six owners in the estate co-operated in the review by allowing their homes to be surveyed. They did so on the understanding that they would receive the results of the surveys. They have not been furnished with any results.

Fourteen months after the review was completed, the Department of the Environment has not published it. During that time, repeated inquiries have received responses from the department saying that aspects of the review are still under consideration.

Its difficult to believe that aspects are still under consideration. An alternative explanation is that the department does not want to publish the review because of what it contains.

If the review echoes the concerns of the investigation by Kildare County Council it may have implications for timber frame construction  which was highly popular during the boom in general.

It could also open up problems for the State concerning design specifications and building control.

These are issues on which the thousands of owners living in timber frame homes are entitled to receive either reassurance or the bad news. Instead, the review is being withheld.

Mr Crowley was taken before the review was completed. He may have been elected to the Dail in 2016. Even if he wasnt elected to national politics, he would have continued as a councillor to serve the interests of the people of Millfield Manor and Newbridge.

In either capacity, its difficult to believe that he would have remained silent on the failure to publish the review.

Its difficult to believe he wouldnt have made himself a considerable nuisance to the Government  and particularly government TDs in Kildare  pushing, haranguing, fighting on behalf of the people of Millfield Manor. He may even have succeeded in forcing the government to spill out the truth.

Mr Crowleys loved ones suffered a terrible personal loss. His community, and the best traditions of public service, are also the poorer for his passing.
Friday, May 5th, 2017 (9:07 am) - Score 1,139

The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has today revealed a list of the finalists for their forthcoming 19th annual 2017 Internet industry awards, which sees Entanet, Exa Networks and Hyperoptic topping the table with four nominations each.

As a quick recap, last years event saw London fixed wireless ISP Relish Wireless secure the win for Best Consumer Broadband and Hyperoptic take home the Best Superfast Broadband award (theyve just been nominated for this again). Meanwhile Apple was named Internet Hero for defending the fundamental principles of encryption and privacy, while Mossack Fonseca Panama picked up the Internet Villain gong for their massive lapse in cyber security and leaking of confidential financial data.

By comparison this years event will include several new categories, such as the Best Rural Broadband Award (i.e. recognising the work so many alternative networks are doing in hard-to-reach areas), Best Wholesale ISP and Executive of the Year.

The entrants will be scrutinised by a panel of industry experts, while broadband ISPs, website hosts and VoIP providers must also undergo some rigorous technical testing.

Nicholas Lansman, ISPA Secretary General, said: The companies shortlisted at this years ISPA Awards play a vital role in ensuring the UK remains a world leading digital economy. The 19th ISPAs once again demonstrates the innovation and diversity of our industry and I look forward to finding out the winners at the gala awards ceremony on July 13th.

The shortlist for the Internet Hero and Internet Villain gongs tend to follow a little closer to the event and the public will shortly be asked to nominate who they want to win for these two categories. Otherwise the winners will all be announced during an event held at Cafe de Paris in Londons West End on 13th July 2017.

2017 Award Categories and Finalists Best Superfast Broadband

ASK4

Entanet International

Exa Networks

Hyperoptic

Venus Business Communications Best Business Broadband

Bridge Fibre

BT Business

Hyperoptic

Luminet

M24Seven

RM Education

Venus Business Communications Best Rural Broadband

Airband Community Internet

Gigaclear plc

Quickline Communications

South West Internet

Wessex Internet from M12 Solutions Best Wireless

ASK4

Luminet

M12 Solutions (Wessex Internet)

M24Seven

South West Internet Best Host

catalyst2

Exa Networks

Heart Internet

Memset

Storm Internet Best Wholesale

Entanet International

TalkTalk Business

Venus Business Communications

Zen Internet Best Hardware

Linksys Velop

RADWIN JET PRO

Sky Broadband Best Tech Law Firm

Browne Jacobson LLP

Kemp Little LLP

LawBite

Preiskel & Co LLP Best Marketing

Bowan Arrow  ShoreTel Partner Demand Program

Entanet International Ltd  Target Partner Programme

LivingCom  The Rental Requirements of Millennial Movers white paper

Plusnet

StudentCom  Generation Z

Talk Straight Ltd (Schools Broadband)  Discovery Kids Best VoIP

Gradwell Communications

iNet Telecoms

Soho66

Telappliant

VIA

VoIPstudio Executive of the Year

Dana Tobak, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Hyperoptic Furqan Alamgir, Founder & CEO, Connexin Lee Perkins, CEO, M24Seven Matthew Hare, Chief Executive and Founder, Gigaclear Steve Hodges, Managing Director, Astro Communications Suzie Hargreaves OBE, Chief Executive, Internet Watch Foundation Best Cloud

catalyst2

Exa Networks

Memset

Storm Internet

Talk Straight

VIA Best Consumer Customer Service

CableCom Networking

Hyperoptic

MacAce

Plusnet

Sky

Wessex Internet from M12 Solutions

Wifinity Limited Best Business Customer Service

catalyst2

Entanet International

Luminet

Storm Internet

Talk Straight

Telappliant Best Security

Exa Networks

MacAce

Memset

Sky

Storm Internet

Talk Straight
Friday, May 5th, 2017 (9:49 am) - Score 4,536

A leaked blueprint for the Technical Capability of the Governments controversial new Investigatory Powers Act 2016, which will force broadband ISPs to log a much bigger slice of your Internet activity, has revealed that the smallest ISPs might escape but encryption is still at risk.

The act aims to introduce a system that would, among many other things, require ISPs to store (for up to 12 months) comparatively detailed Internet Connection Records (e.g. the websites / servers youve visited but NOT the content) for all their customers, which would be accessible without a warrant (here). On top of that ISPs will also have to provide access to the content of a communication upon request, although unlike an IRC this would require a warrant.

A preliminary Code of Practice, which was published last year, suggested that an ICRs core information will most likely include the customers account reference, a source [Internet Protocol] and port address, a destination IP and port address and a time/date (details), but some providers may be expected to collect even more than this.

Simplified Interpretation of an ICR Log

Account ID

Date (Time) Source IP (You)

Destination IP:Port Data Volume URL 1 19/01/2017 (12:01) 84.56.232.71 123.45.62.86:80-HTTP 800KB omgfakeballz.com 1 19/01/2017 (13:12) 84.56.232.71 65.123.45.90:21-FTP 0.2KB ftp.faketest.co.uk 65 19/01/2017 (13:14) 84.79.130.47 190.45.62.86:80-HTTP 1700KB icanhasyourdata.net

So far the Government has already posted most of their Draft Codes of Practice for the IPAct, although absent from this was any mention of the rules for how ISPs should handle / collect ICRs and thats because of a recent court ruling, which warned that EU law does not allow general and indiscriminate retention of traffic data and location data, except for targeted use against serious crime (here).

As a result of that ruling the Governments code of practice for collecting related communications data has been put on hold until they can figure out how to amend the rules.

Meanwhile the Open Rights Group notes that the Home Office has just begun a new consultation on the IPActs Technical Capabilities and a blueprint for this has been leaked (here). Prior to this the notice had only been provided to a select few companies (e.g. ISPs).

We should stress that this paper appears related to communications data that would require a warrant (i.e. the content of communications), which is separate to basic ICR collection that doesnt require a warrant. However the two sides to data snooping are still part of the same broad approach.

The leaked paper doesnt reveal much, although there are a few interesting highlights. For example, when defining the relevant operators the paper states that its obligations may not be imposed on a relevant telecommunications operator who does not provide, and does not intend to provide, a telecommunications service to more than 10,000 persons. We dont yet know for sure if this rule will also apply to ICR collection.

In theory this might allow the smallest of ISPs to avoid some of the rules, although does not intend to provide is a tricky one for any growing businesses to interpret (i.e. even a new business may aim to have tens of thousands of people connected, although achieving that is another matter).

Key Points from the Technical Capabilities Notice * [Telcos must] provide and maintain the capability to carry out the interception of communications or the obtaining of secondary data and disclose anything obtained under the warrant to the person to whom the warrant was addressed, or any person acting on that persons behalf, within one working day, or such longer period as may be specified in the technical capability notice. * [Telcos must] provide and maintain the capability to disclose, where practicable, the content of communications or secondary data in an intelligible form and to remove electronic protection applied by or on behalf of the telecommunications operator to the communications or data, or to permit the person to whom the warrant is addressed to remove such electronic protection. * [Telcos must] provide and maintain the capability to simultaneously intercept, or obtain secondary data from, communications relating to up to 1 in 10,000 of the persons to whom the telecommunications operator provides the telecommunications service to which the communications relate. * In order that the capability to intercept communications and obtain secondary data may be maintained, to put in place and to maintain arrangements, agreed with the Secretary of State, to notify the Secretary of State, within a reasonable time, of (a) proposed changes to telecommunications services or telecommunication systems to which obligations imposed by a technical capability notice relate;

(b) proposed changes, to existing telecommunications services, of a description specified in the notice, and

(c) the development of new telecommunications services. NOTE: Secondary Data tends to mean additional information, such as the date and time of a meeting etc.

The second point appears to suggest that communications services which use end-to-end encryption (messaging, financial transactions etc.) could still be in trouble and may need to add a backdoor in order to remove encryption when requested (very dangerous to do this from a security perspective). The Government has spent a lot of time flip-flopping over this issue and the notice does at least include the vague where practicable get-out clause.

Elsewhere the requirement that ISPs must inform the Governments Secretary of State about any new systems or service changes, which has always been present in the IPAct, remains an ugly and cumbersome problem for telecoms firms as such systems are constantly being updated, changed and fixed.

In addition, the third point (up to 1 in 10,000 of the persons) appears to set some sort of processing limit for the information gathering, which makes sense because at a certain point the burden for larger providers of needing to provide simultaneous interception of a large number of subscribers could become unworkable.

Apparently the consultation is due to run until 19th May 2017, at least it is for those select few that have received a copy.
Developing a way to control drones that will share airspace with airplanes full of people and fly over towns and cities is a complex and vital task. Qualcomm this week released results of testing of how drones behave when they are controlled by LTE. The company said that the testing, which focused on drones as high as 400 feet above ground, supports the viability for LTE as the mechanism for use beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.

The wording of the press release suggests that the results overall validate LTE as a way to control drones. The company said that about 1,000 test flights were performed. In addition, simulations were run to assess rapid feature changes and performance in environments crowded with LTE devices and drones.

The results, the company maintains, reveal very strong signals at high altitudes, successful handover and good prospects for improvements as LTE evolves. The testing also suggests lower signal quality as drones rise but similar outage probability to devices on the ground, lower drone-to-network uplink power at higher altitudes, effective power control optimization and different cell selection characteristics compared to devices on the ground.

Qualcomm is not the only company testing the approach. Verizon last month conducted tests to determine how big an area can serve as a flying cell site under the control of LTE. The testing was done by a long endurance drone piloted by American Aerospace Technologies at Woodbine Municipal Airport in New Jersey. The brief note at the Verizon site doesnt include results of the tests.

LTE is not the only option for controlling drones. uAvionix offers a good tutorial on the four approaches. Not surprisingly, the topic is complex. The pros and cons of the candidates are presented in order of their readiness for use: Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast ADS-B), LTE, Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) and Remote Identification (RID).

uAvionix President Christian Ramsey wrote that the candidates have subtly different goals. ADS-B is a safety technology for shared airspace, LTE/5G is a tracking and payload communications technology, V2V is focused on semi-autonomous systems that depend heavily on unmanned aircraft systems traffic management (UTM), and RID is a security system that identifies itself to law enforcement.

Ramsey suggests that only one system is ready for prime time, and that this is the key:

We are in a situation where we cannot afford 5 years or more of the traditional standards development and R&D timelines that will be associated with maturing LTE, V2V, and RID to what will likely become global standards (maybe make that 10 years). There is only one clear choice when it comes to what can be done today to make the skies safer, to prevent near misses or worse. It simply has to be ADS-B  at least as a stop-gap technology until something more tailored comes along.

Hopefully, regulators will take their time to make decisions on how to control drones. It is especially important is ensuring that approaches that were not initially developed for this purpose can do the job.

Carl Weinschenk covers telecom for IT Business Edge. He writes about wireless technology, disaster recovery/business continuity, cellular services, the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communications and other emerging technologies and platforms. He also covers net neutrality and related regulatory issues. Weinschenk has written about the phone companies, cable operators and related companies for decades and is senior editor of Broadband Technology Report. He can be reached at [email protected] and via twitter at @DailyMusicBrk.


At the exhibition (Source: otoxemay)



The exhibition, the second edition, is being held with numerous challenges facing domestic manufacturers and importers.

A wide range of models from commercial and sport bikes to motors were showcased at the exhibition.

A number of activities were also held during the event, including driving games and a freestyle motor-cross performance by Japanese athletes, funded by Yamaha.

The event also gathered 55 trademarks of support industries and spare part providers as well as relevant industries, including foreign brands including Motul, Michelin, Caltex, Total, Nissin and Quik Fix.

The exhibition is open until May 7th.

According to the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers, last year, automatic motorcycles accounted for 45 percent of total sales.

Vietnams motorcycle market is expected to continue growing in 2017, the association added./.
Foreign Ministrys spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Source: VNA)



Vietnam considers its entry to Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and free trade agreements as one of the steps to execute the policy of active and proactive integration into the extensive world economy, she said.

The country sees fine-tuning the legal system and market economy institutions as laying a new momentum for development and contributing to regional economic integration and connectivity, the diplomat noted.

Vietnam continues renovation and step up preparations to ensure effective delivery of commitments to the free trade agreements that Vietnam did join and will join, Hang added.

On May 2nd, negotiators from 11 member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement gathered for a meeting in Toronto, Canada to explore the possibility of putting the trade pact into force without the US.

TPP was signed in February in 2016 by Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam, covering around 40 percent of the global economy.

The withdrawal of the US prevents the deal from taking effect because the country represents over 60 percent of the trade blocs GDP./.
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(From right) Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra, Ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thao and his spouse at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the ceremony, the Argentine Foreign Minister highly appreciated Ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thaos efforts over the past three years, contributing to developing and expanding all aspects of cooperation between the two countries, especially in trade and economic exchange.

Ms. Malcorra affirmed that Vietnam played an important role in fostering the cooperation between the South American Common Market (Mercosur), of which Argentina is currently President, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

She stressed that awarding the medal to Ambassador Thao was to show the special interest of the government of Argentina and President Mauricio Macri in strengthening relations with Vietnam.

For his part, the Vietnamese Ambassador expressed his honour at receiving the May Medal and thanked the government and Argentine people for their good feelings to Vietnam as well as the Ambassador during the past three years.

He stressed that he would continue to contribute to strengthening and developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two nations.

Over the past four years, trade revenue between Vietnam and Argentina has doubled, reaching more than USD3 billion last year. Vietnam is now Argentina's 6th largest trading partner, up from 70th place in 2000.

Before the ceremony, Foreign Minister Malcorra had a friendly reception with Ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thao on the occasion of ending his term.



The May Medal is a noble award of the Argentine government for foreigners, to acknowledge special contributions to the international relations development of the South American nation./.
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Vietnams Honorary Consul in Lebanon Chady Joseph Issa answering an interview. (Photo: vov.vn)

Not only offering support for paperwork and legal procedures, Vietnams Honorary Consul in Lebanon Chady Joseph Issa has also found many job opportunities for Vietnamese workers.

"The Mohamad office, which is also the office of Vietnams Consulate in Beirut, Lebanon, is responsible for helping to solve problems that Vietnamese workers have, although the number of Vietnamese workers there are not many, said Mr. Chady Joseph Issa.

We help them work stably or look for better new job opportunities in Lebanon, because the Vietnamese Embassy is not located here," he said.

"We also assisted a number of Vietnamese citizens evacuating from Syria to Lebanon to return to Vietnam safely when Syria was at war. We also coordinated with some other Southeast Asian Embassies here to help them evacuate," he emphasized.

According to him, Vietnamese workers there are very hardworking, active and intelligent, as well as strictly obeying Lebanons law and policy. Compared with many countries, the number of Vietnamese workers working there is very small.

In the future, he believes that the demand for Vietnamese worker recruitment of Lebanon will be very high, especially when the country rebuilds and stabilizes the Eastern and Western regions completely.

"In the coming time, Lebanon is going to develop the field of oil and gas, and the demand for jobs for Vietnamese workers is very high, especially those with experience in the field. In addition, Lebanon also has the need to recruit agricultural workers and Vietnamese people have much experience in the field," said Mr. Issa.

At present, there are a large number of Filipino, Indian, Sri Lankan and Pakistani workers in Lebanon, but there are only about 200 Vietnamese workers, who work in restaurants, office cleaning companies and as maids.

The Honorary Consul of Vietnam said that Vietnamese workers should learn foreign languages and speak English well, because English is commonly used in Lebanon.

In terms of culture and religion, Lebanese people are not so strict with workers because many of the foreign workers who work there are not Muslims. If Vietnamese workers know foreign languages, they will have many advantages in work./.
An anonymous threat circulating on social media and thought to be targeting East Forsyth High School has been linked back to a source out of state.

Extra police are on campus today, but school officials said they do not consider it a credible threat.

Some students started resending a Snapchat threat that referenced East, said Brent Campbell, spokesperson for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Thats all it said. Not specific school, so of course they assumed it was East Forsyth (High School).

Kernersville police and school security investigated and tracked it back to Colorado.

A screenshot of the Snapchat shows a hand-written message scrawled in green marker on what looks like a desk, or floor. It says "Im shooting up the school May 4th."

Text typed over the picture says "For my friends at East. I have no idea if this is true, I hope it isn't but please stay safe tomorrow."

Campbell said the messages started circulating around East Forsyth around 8 a.m. Thursday.

A message was sent to parents around 9:30 a.m., letting them know school officials were aware of the rumor and it was being investigated.

A second message was sent around 11 a.m., letting parents know the threat originated from out of state and was not connected to East Forsyth.

We remain confident the threat is not credible, or related to our school, said Principal Rodney Bass, but please know we always take every threat and the safety of our students seriously.

About 100 students signed out early for the day.
This biggest ever social project in Laos offers local citizens a chance to register their information on birth, marriage and death records in a smart way.

It is being invested by the Laos Ministry of Interior, aims to lay a solid foundation for its population to connect with relevant agencies via a system of registration of all births and deaths, birth certificates, death certificate, compilation and dissemination of statistics, including causes of death, marriage, divorce, separated, adoption, immigration, immigrant, change of residence, etc.









Photos: Le Mai

Launched in October 2009, Unitel defeated five strong rivals who are providing IT systems for Laos Ministries and other units to win this project.

As planned, in May 2017, the Laos Ministry of Interior will sign the contract to build the projects phase 1 for three localities (31 districts), including the capital Vientiane, Luang Prabang (a world heritage city) and Champassack (a province in south-western Laos, near the borders with Thailand and Cambodia).

To win this package, Unitel has collaborated with Solution Centre of Information Technology and Telecommunications Viettel to launch negotiations, construction records and presentation solutions for implementation./.
WASHINGTON -- Having bestowed the presidency on a candidate who described their country as a "hellhole" besieged by multitudes trying to get into it, Americans need an antidote for social hypochondria. Fortunately, one has arrived from Don Boudreaux, an economist at George Mason University's Mercatus Center and proprietor of the indispensable blog Cafe Hayek.

He has good news: You are as rich as John D. Rockefeller. Richer, actually.

Some historians estimate that on Sept. 29, 1916, a surge in the price of Rockefeller's shares of the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey made him America's first billionaire. Others say he never reached this milestone and that Henry Ford was the first. Never mind. If Rockefeller was the first, his billion was worth $23 billion in today's dollars. Boudreaux asks if you would accept this bargain: You can be as rich as Rockefeller was in 1916 if you consent to live in 1916.

Boudreaux says that if you had Rockefeller's riches back then, you could have had a palatial home on Fifth Avenue, another overlooking the Pacific, and a private island if you wished. Of course, going to and from the coasts in your private but unairconditioned railroad car would be time-consuming and less than pleasant. And communicating with someone on the other coast would be a time-consuming chore.

Commercial radio did not arrive until 1920, and 1916 phonographs would lacerate 2017 sensibilities, as would 1916's silent movies. If in 1916 you wanted Thai curry, chicken vindaloo or Vietnamese pho, you could go to the phone hanging on your wall and ask the operator (direct dialing began in the 1920s) to connect you to restaurants serving those dishes. The fact that there were no such restaurants would not bother you because in 1916 you had never heard of those dishes, so you would not know what you were missing.

If in 1916 you suffered from depression, bipolar disorder, a sexually transmitted disease or innumerable other ailments treatable in 2017, you also would not know that you were missing antibiotics and the rest of modern pharmacology. And don't even think about getting a 1916 toothache. You can afford state-of-the-art 1916 dentures, and probably will need them. Your arthritic hips and knees? Hobble along until you cannot hobble any more, then buy a wheelchair. Birth control in 1916 will be primitive, unreliable and not conducive to pleasure.

You could enjoy a smattering of early jazz, but rock 'n' roll is decades distant, and Netflix and Google even more so. Your pastimes would be limited, but you could measure the passage of time on the finest Swiss watch. It, however, would be less accurate than today's Timex or smartphone.

As a 1916 billionaire, you would be materially worse off than a 2017 middle- class American; an unhealthy 1916 billionaire would be much worse off than an unhealthy 2017 American of any means. Intellectually, your 1916 range of cultural choices would be paltry compared with today's. And your moral tranquility might be disturbed by the contrast between your billionaire's life and that of the normal American.

In 2015, a Bureau of Labor Statistics paper described the life of workers in 1915. More than half (52.4 percent) of the 100 million Americans were younger than 25, life expectancy at birth was 54.5 years (today, 78.8) and fewer than 5 percent of Americans were 65 or older. One in 10 babies died in the first year of life (today, one in 168). A large majority of births were not in hospitals (today, fewer than 1 percent).

In 1915, only about 14 percent of people ages 14-17 were in high school, an estimated 18 percent ages 25 and older had completed high school, and nearly 75 percent of women working in factories had left school before eighth grade. There were four renters for every homeowner, partly because mortgages (usually for just five to seven years) required down payments of 40 to 50 percent of the purchase price.

Fewer than one-third of homes had electric lights. Small electric motors -- the first Hoover vacuum cleaner appeared in 1915 -- were not yet lightening housework. Iceboxes, which were the norm until after World War II, were all that 1915 had: General Motors' Frigidaire debuted in 1918.

So, thank Boudreaux for making you think about this: How large would your net worth have to be to get you to swap the life you are living in "hellhole" America for what that money could buy in 1916?

The Washington Post
DONALD CREWS, Winston-Salem

Covering Venezuela

Venezuela: a great example of socialism at work.

Of course, we wont see anything in the mainstream media about the fact that there is total chaos in Venezuela with massive starvation, rioting and uncontrolled crime. Why will the mainstream media not cover the issue? Well, they just wont face the reality that socialism is a system that cannot work. Nevertheless, it is the system that the media and the academic society would like to see in place in this country.

The irony is the worse things become in Venezuela, the more government increases its control and conditions are perpetuated as the government confiscates more and more businesses. With the increased control, people are put out of work and no jobs are available, which results in massive starvation, the lack of medical care and the basic necessities being unavailable.

You can be sure that if this were to occur in a capitalistic country, the media would be relentless, just as they are in slamming the president every night.

******

DAVID M. MCMAHON, King

Broken promises

Already those who voted for President Trump because they wanted to see a change in Washington are learning the hard way that Trump, like every other politician, is long on promises, short on keeping them. Who knew it could be so complicated? said Trump about affordable health care, though everyone else knew but him. He promised to drain the swamp in Washington but has increased the population of the swamp, not with hardworking Americans, but with bankers, billionaires and the very Wall Streeters he raged against during the campaign.

Trump established a commission to create jobs for working class Americans. But not a single working class person is on it. Only, you guessed it, bankers, billionaires and Wall Streeters. Trump, along with congressional Republicans, have removed a requirement for financial advisors to put their clients interest first; they want to weaken the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau so that banks and other businesses can once again sock it to us, the consumers.

Trump has begun rolling back environmental regulations so we can once again enjoy polluted soil, air and water.

As for all those jobs in coal and other industries, forget about them. Trump will. Republicans will. If we havent seen already, we will as the months roll on, that Trump and Republicans care about themselves first and then making the rich richer. The rest of us, not so much.

******

CHARLES E. WILSON, Winston-Salem

Against the tide

King Canute, as he sat by the sea in the 11th century, is said to have told the tide not to rise. Do we have a 21st century parallel in President Trump and his Cabinet?

Trump claims that global warming is a hoax, even though 97 percent of climate scientists are convinced that humans are causing our planet to warm.

Trump plans to roll back the health and environmental advances of the Obama administration, while directing the Environmental Protection Agency to take steps to get rid of the Clean Power Plan as currently constituted. Can we accept the pollution, health costs and additional deaths that will result from crippling the EPA?

When You Write

To participate in The Readers Forum, please submit letters online to Letters@wsjournal.com and include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. Or mail letters to: The Readers Forum, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27102. Letters are subject to editing and may be published on journalnow.com. Letters are limited to 250 words. Letter writers are allowed one letter every 30 days.


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JURIST Guest Columnist David M. Crane and Catherine Read discuss the Supreme Courts decision on denying cert in the ACLUs Freedom of Information Act lawsuit

Last Monday, 24 April, it was easy to miss the important news that the Supreme Court denied cert in the ACLUs Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to make public the full Senate Intelligence Committee report on the CIAs use of torture. The news was lost in the frenzied media analysis of Trumps first 100 days, new opinion polls on his performance and a looming possible government shutdown over the border wall.

The ACLU is to be commended for their leadership both in this FOIA request, and in the ground-breaking lawsuit Salim v. Mitchell. That suit was brought by torture victims and the family of a man tortured to death by the CIA, and fortunately is moving forward in a Spokane federal court.

But this Supreme Court decision on the Senate report is a blow to efforts at accountability for this dark chapter in US history, and bad news for Americans who want open government and transparency. From the declassified but heavily-redacted executive summary that is available, we know that the CIAs interrogation tactics were both more brutal and less effective than was acknowledged publicly. The CIA did not provide oversight at the black sites it maintained, and it lied to Congress and the public about the number of detainees it held and tortured during the period following 9/11.

The Supreme Courts denial of public access to the full Senate report means we will be forced to continue wondering how much torture was used, the level of damage it did to the US, and which private entities may have been involved. Most disturbingly, the decision blocks the robust public debate that release of the full report would stimulate. It continues the shielding of responsible officials from any form of accountability, and keeps the American public and our elected leaders from learning lessons from the failed tactics of the past.

One of President Obamas final acts in office was to preserve the report under the Presidential Records Act  a positive step given that many elected officials, including Senate Select Intelligence Committee Chair Richard Burr (R-N.C.), have advocated destroying all classified versions. But this step also meant that the report would remain hidden from the public for at least twelve years, and perhaps much longer.

Our current President has, at best, easily-influenced and inconsistent views on torture. President Trump, both while campaigning and even after taking office, has openly supported and endorsed resuming torture, although he has also backtracked on his own statements. His appointment of Deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel, who once oversaw a CIA black site in Thailand and was physically present during torture sessions, further underscores that more information about the torture, rendition and detention program must be revealed.

The lack of government transparency and public accountability  reinforced by this weeks Supreme Court decision  makes the work of organizations pushing for accountability all the more vital. One such initiative worth noting is the recently launched non-governmental North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture (NCCIT).

NCCIT was established to investigate and bring about public accountability for the specific role that North Carolinas state and local governments played in supporting the US torture program. The declassified portion of the Senate reports executive summary, as well as independent media investigations, have confirmed that it was a CIA-affiliated company, Aero Contractors, which for several years launched torture taxi flights from public airports in Smithfield and Kinston, North Carolina. These flights were dispatched to pick up suspected terrorists abroad and transport them to black sites and third countries, where they were indefinitely detained and tortured.

Since 2005, the use of taxpayer-supported state aviation facilities as staging grounds for abduction missions has driven North Carolinians to insist that local and state elected officials investigate and try to halt the torture taxis. Now, NCCIT has assembled a high-profile panel of policy experts, academics and community leaders who are doing the job that their government refuses to do: hold public hearings to investigate North Carolinas role. The inquiry is probing what elected officials knew, how public resources were used, and  critically  who was harmed in the process and therefore deserves acknowledgement and redress. Elected leaders at all levels can use that information to ensure state resources are not further spent on human rights abuses, and to try to right past wrongs.

North Carolina citizens have a right to know what role their tax dollars, their elected officials and companies operating in their state played in the US torture program. And this information may be contained within the Senate report that all branches of our federal government apparently think should remain classified.

The truth will eventually come out one way or another, and history will be our judge. The real-time question is whether we will have the opportunity to learn from this dark chapter in American history before it is repeated.

David M. Crane, Founding Chief Prosecutor, Special Court for Sierra Leone; Professor, Syracuse University College of Law.

Catherine Read, Executive Director, North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture.

Suggested citation: David M. Crane and Catherine Read, Amidst a set-back for transparency, citizen led Accountability in North Carolina, JURIST  Forum, May 4, 2017, http://jurist.org/forum/2017/05/Crane-Read-accountanbility-in-north-carolina.php

This article was prepared for publication by Yuxin Jiang, a Senior Editor for JURIST Commentary service. Please direct any questions or comments to her at commentary@jurist.org
The Supreme Court of India [official website] upheld [opinion, PDF] death sentences on Friday for four men who fatally gang raped a woman in 2012. The group, five men and a juvenile, lured the young woman, a para-medical student, and her friend onto a bus in New Dehli whereupon they repeatedly raped the woman before beating both her and her friend with a metal bar. Two weeks later the woman died from internal injuries in a Singapore hospital. Four of the attackers were sentenced to death in 2013, the fifth having hanged himself in prison during the seven-month trial. The juvenile was charged with the maximum sentence allowed for a minor and was freed [JURIST report] from jail after serving three years. Opponents of capital punishment argue that the judges were pressured by media and the public to uphold the sentence. As there a many convictions for rapists and murderers that did not receive the death penalty, critics of the decision assert that the ruling was subjective and will therefore not serve as a sufficient deterrent.

The crime prompted thousands of women across India to break their silence over unreported sexual violence. There has been a flurry of incidents involving gang-rapes of women in India the past few years, prompting the government to reform the criminal legal code regarding sexual violence [JURIST op-ed]. Prominent human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch [advocacy websites] have criticized [JURIST report] various aspects of the new laws stating that India has only reformed the most archaic of its laws and has failed to meet international standards for womens rights. In 2015, police registered more than 34,000 rape complaints. In January a court in India convicted [JURIST report] six of the eight accused of gang raping and murdering a 20-year-old college student in the Kamduni village district of the state of West Bengal. Also in January Indian police were accused [JURIST report] of raping at least 16 women in Chhattisgarh in Bijapur district in October 2015.
The US House of Representatives voted 217-213 [roll call] Thursday to repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) [text, PDF] and replace them using the proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA) [text]. The AHCA would no longer impose a tax penalty for those who dont have insurance, but would allow insurance companies to charge a penalty when someone buys insurance after it has lapsed for a period. It would replace income-based health insurance tax credits with age-based credits. It would also restrict federal funding to states for Medicaid [official backgrounder] and cut taxes that had been used to pay for the funding. Finally, it would provide states with the ability to opt-out of many requirements of the ACA, including no longer requiring insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. US President Donald Trump said [statement] the bill would reduce insurance premiums and deductibles, but House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said [statement] it would leave 24 million more people without health insurance and lead to higher premiums for vulnerable groups. The bill would need to be approved by the Senate and President before becoming law.

Repealing the ACA has been a significant priority for Trump and Republican lawmakers. In March, an earlier version of the AHCA was withdrawn from consideration [JURIST report] after failing to get enough support to pass. Earlier that month, Republican lawmakers released two amendments [JURIST report] to the AHCA in an effort to appeal to both conservative and liberal critics. Senators proposed [JURIST report] the initial ACA replacement bill at the end of January. This came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order [JURIST report] aimed at repealing the ACA, shortly after being sworn in. The Senate had prepared for the repealing of the ACA earlier that month when it voted 51-48 [JURIST report] to prevent the process from being subject to a filibuster.
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 05/05/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/

The harsh Pennsylvania winter has come and gone, and as the weather breaks, more and more construction projects will begin in both the private and public sector. Its important to note the risk of injury to both workers and consumers increases drastically during this time of year.

In 2015, there were 173 fatalities to Pennsylvania workers. Construction workers accounted for the largest percentage of those deaths.

Common accidents on construction sites include slip and fall, equipment malfunctions, electrical shocks and burns, and falling debris. Along with many others these are often the result of the negligence of the supervisor on the job site. OSHA reports ten common reasons that construction accidents occur.

In addition, as construction seasons comes underway, hospitals will see around $206.1 billion dollars in accident costs. Attorney Joel Kofsky urges Pennsylvania construction workers to use caution this summer when they are on the job. He explains, Sometimes accidents are unavoidable. But, if you are hurt, you need to exercise good judgment to protect yourself from what can happen to you after you get hurt.

The extent of any injury dictates when the workers can return to work. So, when construction accidents happen, recovery depends on several factors. These include the type of injury, the severity of the injury, and the length of rehabilitation.

Attorney Kofsky also cautions workers about returning to work too early. He explains, All too often; workers are concerned about getting back on the job so that they can pay their bills. They dont understand that if they re-aggravate an injury, they could end up off work longer, which leads to more lost wages.

The bottom line is very clear. The supervisor at the job site is responsible for creating a safe work environment, and if a worker gets hurt or becomes permanently disabled workers compensation is warranted.



Lost wages that are a result of a construction site accident can significantly hurt Pennsylvania families and the first thing to do is contact an attorney right away to ensure you are getting the compensation you deserve.

Social Media Tags:Philadelphia construction worker, construction injury, personal injury, workers compensation, insurance claims, injury at work, Philadelphia Lawyer, Philadelphia Accident Lawyer

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Ukraine exports electricity for $81.9 mln in Jan-April

Ukraine exported electricity for $81.899 million in January-April 2017, up 36.2% year-on-year, including $13.779 million in April alone.

The State Fiscal Service reported that electricity delivered to Hungary amounted to $63.685 million in 4M 2017, to Poland - $16.243 million, Romania - $1.404 and other countries - $568,000.

Exports of Ukrainian electricity in January-April 2017 grew by 36.2% in money terms.

Ukraine imported power worth $752,000, including $723,000 from Russia, $20,000 from Belarus and $9,000 from Moldova.
The supervisory board of Public Broadcasting has signed a contract with elected board chairman of public joint-stock company National Public Television and Radio Company of Ukraine Zurab Alasania, who previously was director general of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Company of Ukraine, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported on Thursday.

According to the contract, the board chairman will run his post from May 13. The supervisory board will elect board members at a tender on May 15.

"One of the first my steps will be the introduction of e-document flow," Alasania said after signing the contract.

As reported, on April 11, 2017, the supervisory board elected him board chairman of Public TV.
State-owned enterprise Ukrainian Sea Port Authority plans to create transparent and fair conditions for operation of port business in Mykolaiv and prevent a failure of business contracts over the complicated relations of port business with top managers of the Mykolaiv branch of Ukrainian Sea Port Authority.

The press service of Ukrainian Sea Port Authority reported that its head Raivis Veckagans made a statement at a meeting with representatives of port business of the region held under a request of the European Business Association (EBA) and local trade unions.

"EBA members presented the facts that could be considered not only as evidence of feeble work of the top managers [of the Mykolaiv branch], but also as corruption, a biased attitude in selection of port operators, non-transparent contract signing procedures, unjustifiable decisions in favor of concrete market players. The deliberate absence of open dialog at the Mykolaiv branch of Ukrainian Sea Port Authority with port business results in more difficulties for operation in the region," Veckagans said.

He said that the authority is taking the required steps to settle the situation and increase governability of branches, especially in Mykolaiv.

Veckagans said that by May 15, 2017 the ministry will present the analysis of remarks and proposals of port business in Mykolaiv region under an order of Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan.
Ukraine's Energy and Coal Industry Ministry and specialists from the U.S. Department of State have discussed the unbundling of national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy and the gas sector reform, the press service of the ministry has reported.

"At the meeting we discussed international cooperation in gas supplies, gas transportation and the unbundling of Naftogaz Ukrainy the integration of the Ukrainian gas sector into the European one and the development of gas transportation routes were also discussed," the ministry said.

Acting secretary of the Energy and Coal Industry Ministry Yulia Pidkomorna and acting head of Trunk Gas Pipelines of Ukraine Valeriy Nozdrin took part in the meeting.
The U.S. Congress has approved the 2017 consolidated appropriations act allotting at least $560 million of assistance to Ukraine, the Ukrainian embassy to the United States has said.

"Ukraine highly values the bilateral support of the United States Congress! The Senate and House of Representatives have passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 under which not less than $560 mln. shall be made available for assistance for Ukraine. The bill is now headed to the U.S. President for signature," the embassy said on its Facebook page.

The document envisages the total sum of assistance to Ukraine in the amount of at least $560.465 million, including $410.465 million to be sent to various assistance programs and $150 million under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

The U.S. Congress also approved the allocation of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $150 million. The document says that these funds will be available to the Pentagon in order to provide Ukraine with military support, including, in particular, the provision of lethal weapons of defensive character and equipment, logistics support, intelligence support of the Ukrainian army and national security forces, training of Ukrainian armed forces personnel and other programs.
Corruption weakens economies, deepens inequality and undermines democracy. Whatever form it comes in, the citizens are always left to foot the bill. It is time to say enough is enough.

According to the 2014 Eurobarometer report, the economic costs incurred by corruption in the EU are estimated to amount to around 120 billion annually. Corruption is a serious threat to stability and social development in Europe and the world.

In his opening remarks at the 5th OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum (Paris, 30-31 March 2017), OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria stressed that corruption is responsible for deepening social inequalities, destroying vital jobs and increasing costs in the world economy.

To make the ethical legal, the UN has decided to put together 17 goals that promise a sustainable development future with human welfare at its very core. But the promise cannot become reality unless institutions are healthy, unless governments have proper structures and procedures in place, and they are not corrupt. This is why the UNs Sustainable Development Goal 16 commits all countries to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

The OECD has become a leading Institution in raising awareness and proposing policy reforms to combat corruption. The 5th Forum brought together governments, think tanks, private sector and civil society organisations to expand participation and cooperation towards healthy scepticism of policies and come up with questions and proposals on how to better advance anti-corruption practises.

Politicians should lead the way

Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia was one of the key-note speakers during the kick-off of the Forum. Fico is the only European leader that made it to Paris for the event. The sad part of the story is that even in Europe, one of the most advanced economies and societies, corruption is still far from being eradicated, and it is no secret that Slovakias democratic structures have been shaken by allegations that implicate even the prime minister himself. Integrity and politics should go hand-in-hand. Does it really make sense if politics is not ethical?

The City of Lights hosted many other government representatives, some of them thankfully committed to making a difference against corruption. If anybody has a chance to fix this, it is them: public officials are at the heart of policymaking and policy implementation and should ensure justice at every level of their work. The Forum provided a true space to share their experiences and go back home with plenty of food for thought.

We dont pay bribes

Many business(wo)men travelled to Paris as well. Business must be a part of the solution, simply because business is a big part of the problem too. A coin has two sides, so does corruption. If business always had the best intentions, and stuck to them, then there would be no friends with benefits whatsoever. Laura Alonso, head of the Anti-Corruption Office in Argentina, put the message across clearly: the fight against corruption would be easier if companies abided by the founding principle we dont pay bribes.

A sustainable solution can be found only when all stakeholders of the economy make efforts to combat corruption. These efforts, however, must backed by strong political will and citizen engagement. Only this will allow the development of robust economic and political systems to bring about tax, climate and social justice.

For that, citizens and civil society organisations should be at the very forefront. This is why Transparency International had an active role in the Forum, as it does in the field. What I fear so is that the actions of umbrella organisations are not enough. I am not sure that direct democracy is the right approach to take either, but citizens should be alarmed, stop resting on their laurels, and support citizens initiatives on transparency and integrity.

Citizens are victims of grey-area links between governments that collect taxes and businesses that pay them, or should pay them. Free-riding and other cases of every-day corruption generate huge costs as well. In both cases, it is the citizens that pay the price.
The decision of the European Parliament to increase the tariff rate quotas for Ukrainian agricultural products would allow additionally receiving around $200 million in sales volumes, Ukraine's Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has reported.

"The decision to increase the Ukrainian food quotas it important for us and would allow expanding our exports opportunities. Ukraine would gain around $200 million in sales volumes," Minister Taras Kutoviy said.

He said that the decision of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) of the European Parliament not to increase the quotas for imports of Ukrainian wheat, tomatoes and urea is an interim stage. The European Parliament and the Council of Ministers of the EU will discuss the issue.

The minister expects that the final decision for the quotas will be made by late May.
An Iowa school is questioning the policies in place for administering medication.

That's after a child went to the emergency room for receiving the wrong medication.

"If Charity got the wrong medicine, how many more is getting the wrong meds and how many parents are wondering why their child is acting differently?," said Ron Voorhies of Davenport.

His granddaughter Charity is in second grade at Harrison Elementary. Born drug addicted to a heroin user, she is on 8 prescribed medicines for a variety of issues.

She takes 7 pills at home, and one half of a pill at school.

On February 21st, she was given another child's medication, in spite of telling the nurse there was a problem.

"It was the wrong pill. She said take it or go the principal's office," said the 8-year old.

"She took it because the nurse threatened her or bullied her or whatever you want to call it, " said Voorhies.

He says afterwards, the little girl's eyes were dilated, her stomach hurt, and she had a bad headache.

"I was worried. The school did admit to it, that they gave her the wrong medication," Voorhies said.

Six days later, he received a letter sent by Joan Jutting, the district's nurse manager, which states there was a "mistake in the process" that day, acknowledging a "medication error" by the school nurse, who "did not stop administering the med after the student stated it was not her pill."

Jutting admits the Five Rights For Medication Administration were not followed, with the promise of better monitoring and a change in policy. Changes would include:

Traffic flow of students will be reduced down to 1 person at a time in the designated medication red box area. Other students will wait in the hall until able to come in for meds.

A small section of floor immediately in front of the medicine cabinet was taped off by red tape where the one student is to stand for the medication.

Computer will be open to students health record that provides name of child, med order and amount of dose, right below the medicine cabinet

Nurse administering the med will be the nurse performing the 5 Rights of Medication Administration. This includes asking the child's first and last name prior to administering the medication.

"I took them at their word, like an old fashioned handshake. The issue would be fixed, " Voorhies said.

But, he and Charity say, six weeks later, it happened again.

"It was the same nurse, the substitute. It was the wrong pill," Charity said. She said she was again told if she didn't take it, she would be sent to the principal's office. She says she saw her pill go to another student.

"The color of my pill is white. The first time it was blue. The second time it was blue and green. And it wasn't a pill. It was a capsule, " she said.

When she arrived home, Voorhies took Charity to the emergency room after she complained about dizziness, headache, and not feeling well. She was sent home from the hospital later that evening.

"The physician was very concerned. It was a stronger dose than what she's use to. It was another narcotic," he said.

The district insists there was no second mistake, and says all pills that day were accounted for. It says proper protocol is being followed at Harrison Elementary.

Voorhies says he believes some action should have been taken against the nurse who would not listen to the little girl.

"She knows her medicine. I would like to see throughout the whole school system an overhaul on how they give their medication and be more accountable for it", Voorhies said.

"It's not right," he said.
U.S. backs Russia's, Turkey's efforts to reduce violence in Syria, calls on Syrian opposition to actively participate in these discussions

U.S. backs Russia's, Turkey's efforts to reduce violence in Syria, calls on Syrian opposition to actively participate in these discussions - Department of State

WASHINGTON. May 5 (Interfax) - Washington recognizes the efforts taken by Turkey and Russia in order to implement the Astana agreement, the U.S. Department of State said in a communique released on Thursday.

"We appreciate the efforts of Turkey and the Russian Federation to pursue this agreement and have encouraged the Syrian opposition to participate actively in the discussions despite the difficult conditions on the ground," the document said.
The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration recommended the Operative Group of Russian Troops in Transdniestria not participate in a military parade to mark Victory Day in Tiraspol jointly with the unrecognized Republic of Transdniestria armed formations.

It was stated to Russian Charge d'Affaires a.i. to Moldova Yelena Kopnina, who was summoned to the agency over this issue on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry press service said in a statement.

"The Foreign Ministry official expressed Moldovan authorities' concern about the activity by the Operative Group of Russian Troops, which is deployed in Transdniestria without coordination with the Moldovan authorities, and about the plans to attend the events, which are scheduled in Tiraspol on May 9 [Victory Day]. The Russian side was offered to abstain from such actions, citing the provisions of the Moldovan-Russian agreement dated July 21, 1992, in line with which the Russian forces, which are stationed in the region, committed to strictly observe the principle of neutrality in relationship between the two Dniester banks, until they are completely withdrawn from the territory of the Republic of Moldova," the ministry said in the statement.
KEARNEY  A Sutton man will spend three months in jail and must complete a sex offender counseling program for sexually assaulting a girl in Buffalo County.

Andrew M. Wortman, 25, was placed on four years probation last week in Buffalo County District Court for felony first-degree sexual assault of a girl at least 12 years old, but less than 16. The offense happened between July 1 and Sept. 1.

Court documents outlining the details in the case were sealed.

Earlier, Wortman pleaded no contest to the charge, and the Buffalo County Attorneys Office recommended a probationary sentence.

Under the standard conditions of his probation, Wortman must serve 90 days in jail, complete outpatient counseling, a continued after-care program and cognitive group therapy. He must complete classes in money management, parenting, crime-victim empathy, and the community-based intervention program.

Judge Bill Wright Wortman ordered Wortman not to have any contact with his victim. Wortman also must register with the Nebraska State Patrol as a convicted sex offender.
It all began 10 years ago when Tiffany Plager's mother, June Erwin of Laurel, was the recipient of a donor liver.

After that experience, she recognized the importance of being an organ donor.

Then, nearly eight years later, when Plagers father, Tom Erwin, died in a farm accident, the Erwin family  including brothers Wyatt, Blake, and Heath  came full circle by donating his liver and a kidney.

Plager, who is from Wayne, wanted to help others better understand the importance of being an organ donor, so she sent a letter to NBC asking to share their story on the Today Show segment called Everybody Has a Story.

Thats how she and her mother were invited to be guests on the live show in New York City hosted by Hoda Ktob and Kathie Lee Gifford.

As the segment began, Plager read portions of her letter, after which she was asked by Gifford to explain why she'd written it.

I did it to honor my parents, she said.

She noted that her mother had been a rock for her family and shown incredible strength during the last 10 years, trusting in the Lord and believing God has a purpose for everything.

Erwin said, I am a believer and that's really important when you go through something like this. It's what you have  your faith, your family and your friends.

And, Plager said, I don't believe it's just a coincidence that my dad left this world still giving to others because that's just who he was. I can't describe the feeling of peace and joy that came knowing my dad was going to be the answer to somebody's prayer  just as someone had been for us.

Erwin added, I wouldn't be here today if it hadn't been for someone doing that for me.

After the interview, Moya Angela sang a moving song written especially for the family by Gifford and David Frigman titled, The Farmer.

As the show ended, Ktob noted that the two women, as a result of their family's experiences, had come for a purpose  to encourage others to become organ donors.

Plager said, Gifford and Ktob were so warm and inviting and made us very comfortable.

Both mother and daughter said it was an unforgettable experience and were overwhelmed by the support of family and friends

The two women were given gifts and treated to the spa at the Ritz Carlton while in New York City.

Later, Blake and Heath joined them at a New York City restaurant for dinner.

We feel it was really awesome that God gave us the platform to share our story with so many people, and pray that many others become organ donors after watching the show, Plagger said.
Did anyone else think Sunday about an old Springtime in Alaska parody song? When its springtime in Alaska and its 99 below, the Eskimos go barefoot in the soft and slushy snow. The polar bears get sunburned ...

Nebraska isnt immune to late-spring snow, but the day before May Day is really late.

I was in a snowstorm the third week in June 1989 while visiting Montanas Glacier National Park in the northern Rockies, where snow in June probably isnt that unusual.

A tour ahead of the National Federation of Press Women Convention in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, featured a drive high into the mountains on the parks Going-to-the-Sun Road. It had been plowed and opened just days before our NFPW group got into the long, red vehicles for tourists who dont want to drive themselves.

The weather worsened as we drove between high snow walls created by the plows. Visibility was almost zero at the mountaintop visitors center.

While I was disappointed at not having a sky-high, 360-degree view, a friend from Mississippis Gulf Coast was excited to have me take her photo in the snowstorm. When she offered to take my picture, I said Id seen enough Nebraska snow over the winter and would prefer sunshine while on vacation.

I also had hoped for sunshine last weekend for the Nebraska Press Women spring convention in North Platte last Saturday.

The winter-like forecast was accurate days in advance, so attendees could make informed travel decisions. Almost everyone who had planned to stay in North Platte through Saturday night left for home early.

Lincoln and Scottsbluff folks left after the final workshop ended at 4 p.m. Most of the rest of us hit the road around 8:30 p.m., after the Saturday night banquet.

Im no fan of night driving, so I was relieved to cruise east on Interstate 80 with no problems ... until Darr. There was a sudden wall of wind and enough drizzle to require running my windshield wipers on the slowest intermittent setting.

I was one of the few drivers who slowed down as the wind-blown precipitation got worse from Lexington to Overton to Elm Creek. Sheets of water engulfed my car when other eastbound vehicles passed me and even when rows of trucks went by in the westbound lanes.

I had better driving conditions after exiting I-80 at Odessa and taking Highway 30 the rest of the way to Kearney.

Its great to get home after work, a weekend trip or a vacation. That was especially true Saturday night after feeling winter weather closing in on my bumper. It was nice to stay home Sunday on a non-work, bad-weather day.

Im happy to report that all NPW members made it home safely, including our president who drove all the way to Omaha Saturday night. Norfolk friend Mary Pat Finn-Hoag and her husband made their trip on even more treacherous roads Sunday.

Mary Pat used her NPW network to check weather conditions along the way. She called me Sunday morning to ask about Kearney weather, as they passed a car that had slid off I-80 and hit a tree in the Overton area. She previously had contacted Barb Batie for a Lexington report.

Most Nebraskans have accepted and adapted to changeable spring weather, although thunderstorms and tornadoes are the travel threats we expect.

As I looked outside Sunday from my kitchen window, the first line of a Springtime in Alaska variation played in my head. When its springtime in Nebraska and the sky begins to snow...

Lori Potter is a Hub staff writer.
One of the great tragedies of recent conflicts in the Middle East, most of which have involved the United States, is that Christian communities  many of them there since the time of Christ  have been uprooted, perhaps never to return.

Another ongoing tragedy is that many conflicts in the world have taken on an inter-religious aspect, deliberately instigated or aggravated by irresponsible leaders with, again, U.S. political figures not absent from the thoughtless fray. These struggles have included Buddhists vs. Muslims in Myanmar, Sunni vs. Shiite Muslims in Yemen and Iraq, and Sunnis vs. Alawites in Syria. Never mind the Balkans or the Han Chinese vs. the Muslim Uighurs in Western China.

Pope Francis has just carried out a mission to Egypt, one of the scenes of the two aspects of the problem, to try to push back on the problem through contact, discussion and prayer with very senior Muslim leaders, including Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar, Egypts highest Islamic authority. For Francis to go there at all was a courageous, conscientious act, literally putting his life at risk.

In recent months, Islamic State elements have in Egypt bombed Coptic Christian churches, attempted assassinations and driven many Christian families from their homes in Cairo, Alexandria and Tanta, most recently on Palm Sunday. The pope also met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Sissi has pledged to counter the efforts of the Islamic State to terrorize Egypts religious groups. It is also partly true that his own dictatorial approach to governance, having arrived in power through a military coup detat, contributes to the unsettled state of affairs there.

In addition to Egypt, groups of Christians across the Middle East have been victims of various ongoing conflicts. Starting with Iraq and Syria, where the phenomenon has been severe, the list has also included over the years Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The most recent city where Christians, an estimated 50,000, have been displaced is Mosul in northern Iraq, where a joint U.S.-Iraqi government offensive has sought to take the city from ISIS forces for seven months, devastating the city and society, including the Christian community.

Pope Francis should be lauded to what he has done, for what he is trying to do. Would that others took a comparable path toward inter-religious peace.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Its wonderful when one solution solves so many problems. But thats the case with Veterans Treatment Court. Nebraskas second court is set to launch in Lancaster County shortly.

The first has been in place since November in Douglas County.

The idea is simple. Pull qualifying veterans facing felony criminal charges out of the traditional legal system, and set them up in special court setting where they can be evaluated, receive necessary mental health treatment or counseling and, if possible, spare them from being dropped into the prison system.

What were seeing is theyre going overseas to serve our country, volunteering to do that, and then theyre coming back and theyre on the court docket, Tony Conell, coordinator in Lincoln, told the Journal Stars Lori Pilger.

The Veterans Treatment Court is a way to repay a debt to our service people who come home with burdens and challenges that go beyond physical injuries. The court is a way to show respect for that service and provide a hand up to those in need.

Court officials in Nebraska are determined to spread the program throughout the state. In other parts of the U.S., the program is flourishing, offering hopeful results for veterans. Calfornia, Texas, Michigan, Florida and Alabama have all embraced the effort, each with more than 20 Veterans Treatment Courts set up.

The court is voluntary, meaning participating veterans have to agree to abide by its principles. The court involves drug testing, treatment through Veterans Affairs, group therapy and mentorships, all the tools that a vet might need for mental and physical support.

The program employs the language and structure of the military, which can be a comfort to returned veterans trying to get their feet under them.

In Lancaster County, theyre hoping to start with eight or so veterans to begin with. But as the number of counties offering the program grows, and as the program expands within each county to include more veterans, were looking at the ability to divert a noticeable number from an already overcrowded prison system into different avenues of rehabilitation.

The Veterans Treatment Court program is a way to help a class of people who stood up for their country and now need a little help standing for themselves.

Lincoln Journal Star
The Russian government would like to organize a hybrid front between the Ukrainian and Polish people because it is impossible to arrange a pro-Russian lobby, particularly in Poland, Polish Ambassador to Ukraine Yan Pieklo has said.

"I think Russia would like to do the same thing with the Poles and Ukrainians it had done in Donbas. I do not think it's a war, just a hybrid front between Poles and Ukrainians to put us at odds with each other," the ambassador said on the air of Channel 5 on Thursday.

In his view, the reasons for this intention of the Kremlin lie in the impossibility of organizing a Russian lobby in Poland. "It is simply impossible to organize a pro-Russian lobby in Poland and Ukraine. Since it is impossible to organize such a lobby, then it is necessary to put Poles against Ukrainians," the diplomat said.

He also said that history should become the tool in this case. "There is a Russian network of spies that wants to play with these (historical) matters. But unfortunately, there is a nationalistic potential among Polish and Ukrainian societies," the ambassador said.

Pieklo also said that Poland and Ukraine should look for common heroes, make joint films and programs.
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A former policeman stalked his ex-girlfriend by hiring an actress to go to her house and pretend he was an MI6 agent.

David Fisher said he was "stupid, strange and desperate" in his attempts to make his ex-girlfriend from Tunbridge Wells meet up with him, but denied his actions amounted to stalking.

The 29-year-old was found guilty of harassment by way of stalking after a day-long trial at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court yesterday (May 4).

Lionel Blackman, defending, said: "This man was trying to contact his ex-girlfriend by way of a series of messages.

"They were in a relationship for seven months after meeting on a dating website, but the relationship broke up after it was found he had been lying about his occupation.

"He was trying to persuade her to meet up with him and this culminated in him using an actor to pretend to be a security officer from the government.

"He was getting mixed messages as to whether it would be appropriate to contact her.

"Where does one draw the line when one is pursuing love? Did he cross the line? Maybe others have more restraint, or less passion."

'Lost the plot'

Amanda Burrows, prosecuting, said: "The act in itself is so extreme, we can be in no doubt that this man has subjected this woman to a great deal of harassment.

"This defendant is capable of going to the most extraordinary measures to fabricate something.

"With utmost respect to Fisher, he really was having some kind of breakdown, or lost the plot."

Fisher's complainant said the pair went for their first date in Tunbridge Wells Bar and Grill after speaking on match.com in March 2016.

"He required a lot of my time," said the complainant, who Kent Live has decided not to name.

"When you start a relationship you don't see them every weekend or week, but David demanded a lot of my attention.

"I would go out after work and socialise with my work colleagues and friends, and it was clear he found that an issue.

"I felt very claustrophobic and overwhelmed."

Although she said Fisher was "very kind", the couple broke up in October last year after returning from holiday in Greece, where they had a number of arguments.

While she was away, the complainant's family researched Fisher's background and found he was not, as he told his girlfriend, a store manager at Sainsbury's in Epsom.

'Between 40 and 50 calls a week'

After conducting her own research, she found he actually worked for B&M Stores.

"I told him I could not be in a relationship with someone who lies," she added, "I said it was over and I agreed to send him our holiday photos, but that was it."

After this she said he was "very persistent" in trying to contact her on WhatsApp, and although she blocked him he sent her an email every day.

Shortly after the break-up she started a new job, and received between 40 and 50 calls from a withheld number that week.

He sent gifts including flowers, photo albums, alcohol and 10 pieces of paper each with a reason why he loved her on it  none of which she requested.

She also described an incident where Fisher went to the Hand and Sceptre pub in Southborough  which was "very close" to her house  and kept asking her to go and meet him, and sent a photo of him in there.

"I said, 'Please stop it, please leave me be, I will not come to the pub.'

"But he said he would still be in the pub. It made me feel uncomfortable and quite scared."

Suspended police officer

Then in December Fisher  a former policeman who was suspended from Surrey Police after committing a string of driving offences  employed actor Hannah Jackson to tell his ex-girlfriend he was an MI6 agent.

"I got a call from someone who said they needed to come to my house and read me a disclosure report regarding an officer who I had been in a relationship with," the complainant explained.

"I knew David had been a police officer at some stage so I decided to ring 101 and check."

The police said Fisher's name was not on their records so they attended the complainant's home in Tunbridge Wells the next day, where they answered the door to actor Ms Jackson.

Ms Jackson, who is a psychotherapist but freelances as an actor, also gave evidence in the trial. She said: "I was told I was needed for a fly-on-the-wall documentary about adult children living with their parents  in comparison to children living away from home.

"I thought David was the director of the 'Born and Bred' documentary and he told me I would play the role of an intelligence officer and go to someone's house, and see how the parents would react.

"He said it was not a real relationship and [the complainant] was in on the whole thing."

'Stupid, strange and desperate'

Fisher, Ripley Way, Epsom gave Ms Jackson a folder of forged documents  including a document with a fake signature from Boris Johnson  to hand over to his ex-girlfriend.

"We went over and over the details of what I should say," Ms Jackson added, "I was told there were secret cameras filming the whole thing."

Her services were going to cost Fisher 600.

When given the chance to explain his actions in court, Fisher said: "I'd had no closure as such, we'd spoken on the phone a few times, and that was it.

"I just wanted to communicate like an adult. And I wanted to believe she wanted to meet up.

"It was stupid, strange and desperate."

He claimed he had not intended for his ex-girlfriend to believe his MI6 agent stunt, and said he "just wanted to meet her for a drink" after she realised it was not real.

Chairman of the bench Nick Benstead-Smith said: "You caused distress with your actions and we regard this as unreasonable.

"We found these actions amounted to stalking and we find you guilty of the offence."

Fisher will be sentenced at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on May 17, and in the meantime is not allowed to contact his complainant either directly or indirectly.
The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine insists that the government relaxes the requirements to selecting auditors of large state-owned enterprises (SOE), as the requirements outlined in government resolution No. 390 dated 2015 are discriminative.

"Their application results in the creation of additional obstacles for entering the market, narrowing the circle of audit companies that could be involved in audit of SOE," the committee said.

The committee said that along these requirements is availability of at least 100 employees directly involved in the provision of audit services in an audit firm and annual income of at least UAH 30 million in the past three years.

The committee said referring to data from the Audit Chamber that six audit firms out of 1,200 firms present on the market meet the requirements set by the government for audit of largest SOE.

The committee said that for audit of large SOE the minimum annual income of an audit firm in the past three years must be UAH 3 million, and only 20 companies on the Ukrainian market meet this requirement.

The committee said that Infrastructure Ministry used the right to expand the requirements for selecting auditors and narrowed competition to three companies.

The antimonopoly committee said that the government resolution has resulted in growth of market shares of some players in the past several years, which would affect the audit service market in general.

The committee said that an attempt of market players to challenge this government resolution in March 2017 in administrative court failed.
Illegal armed formations of the ORDO shelled the village of Bezimenne of Novoazovsky district of Donetsk region last night to discredit the Ukrainian military where at that time there were servicemen of the Armed Forces as part of the JCCC, as well as representatives of the Russian side of the JCCC.

"On May 4, about 18:00, the illegal armed formations of the ORDO fired on the village of Bezimenne and the soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces within the JCCC monitoring group, along with the Russian side of the JCCC with the aim of discrediting the government of Ukraine and carrying out provocations against servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the ATO press center reported on its Facebook page on Friday.

The headquarters said that by carrying out an information campaign, the militants are biased in accusing the Armed Forces of Ukraine of using tanks, without having any photos and video evidence.

"Illegal armed formations, while bringing forward fake accusations, do not take into account the distance between populated settlements, neglect the nature of the locality, the tactical and technical characteristics of weapons, especially the fact that the Armed Forces of Ukraine, carrying out the Minsk agreements, had completely withdrawn heavy weapons from the disengagement line, including tanks," the press center of the ATO headquarters said.

Staff said by doing so the illegal armed forces of the ORDLO have driven themselves into a deadlock, confirming the fact that it is they who violate all the Minsk commitments on the use and removal of prohibited weapons.
Former Mayor of Kilkenny, Sean O hArgain, has received unanimous Labour Party support for the proposed restoration of Kilkenny Borough Council.

Proposing the motion from the Charlie Smyth branch, Kilkenny City at the party's national conference,, Mr O'hArgain referred to the admission by party leader Brendan Howlin that agreeing to then Minister Phil Hogan's 'Putting People First' document was one of he biggest mistakes Labour had made in Government.

The decision to abolish our 700 year old council along with the larger city councils in Limerick and Waterford was a unique act of stupidity in my view. It made Ireland the only country in Europe without councils for large towns and three of our six cities.

It has led to huge disempowerment in our community. Where the people of Kilkenny had twelve local councillors working and living in the urban area, that has now been reduced to three on a county council where the needs of the city are now being ignored, he said.

The policy is in clear contravention of the EU core policy of 'subsidiarity' where all decisions should be made as close to the citizen as possible.

Our nearest neighbours, Britain, has four levels of local government as does France.

When Minister Hogan succeeded in this act of sabotage of local government I asked when the study groups would start visiting from those countries to see how wonderfully our hatchet job was going. I haven't seen any sign of them appearing yet!

It is time for this policy to be abandoned and for our Borough Council to be re-established before the next local elections. For that to happen, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein will have to put their money where their mouths are and force change. Talk without action is useless.

Mr. O hArgain warmly welcomed the commitment from the party leader that the party would introduce legislation on the issue soon.
A legal challenge taken against An Bord Pleanala's decision to approve a proposed road development near Kilkenny City has been referred to the Courts of Justice of the European Union.

Mr Justice Richard Humphreys said he was referring the case to the Luxembourg based CJEU for clarification of certain aspects of European Directives concerning the conservation of natural habitats and of flora and fauna.

The case concerns a development, known as the Kilkenny Northern Ring Road Extension, which the Board gave Kilkenny County Council permission to construct a 1.5km section of road in July 2014. It is part of an overall project designed to improve transport links and keep HGV vehicles out of the centre of the Medieval city.

The proposed road, which is a small part of an overall ring road around Kilkenny, cuts through a number of protected natural areas, including a special protection area for wild birds to protect the kingfisher. It also impacts on proposed national heritage area and a candidate special area of conservation which is the only site in the world where the Nore freshwater pearl mussel exists.

In High Court proceedings, a number of local residents want the decision quashed.

The action, which has been opposed by the board, has been brought on grounds including that the council failed to consider the environmental effects of alternative options to the proposed road and that an appropriate assessment of the project conducted by the local authority was deficient.

The council and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht, Regional and Rural Affairs were notice parties to the proceedings.

In a written judgment Mr Justice Humphreys said in this case it was appropriate and necessary that eleven questions of law relating to EU directives concerning the conservation of wild fauna and flora be referred for clarification to the CJEU.

The questions include if statements, concerning the impact a proposed developments may have, identify the entire extent of the habitat and species on that particular site. In addition under the CJEU have been asked to determine a question concerning assessments of the impact a proposed development will have on protected species and habitats both inside and outside special areas of conservation.

A further question is if, under an EU Directive, an environmental impact assessment on a proposed development should contain sufficient information about the environmental effect of each alternative to the proposal. The information about the alternative option would enable a comparison to be made between the environmental desirability of the different options.
SYDNEY, May 5 (Reuters) - Australia's top energy retailer, Origin Energy , said on Friday it doubled its stake in the Beetaloo Basin shale gas field in Australia's Northern Territory.

The company said it increased its share in the undeveloped prospect to 70 percent, after purchasing a 35 percent share from Sasol Petroleum Australia Ltd. It did not disclose a purchase price and said the transaction is subject to "certain conditions," without elaborating.

"It is not expected to impact on Origin's short-term focus on debt reduction as there are no immediate capital requirements in the Beetaloo," Origin said in a statement.

In February, Origin said it estimates contingent resources in the field to be 6.6 trillion cubic feet. But its extraction depends on the Northern Territory government lifting a ban on hydraulic fracking. The government is reviewing the ban but has set no deadline for making a decision. Origin last week reported soaring gas revenues, thanks to a sharp rise in sales, as a supply crunch in Australia pushes prices higher. Falcon Oil and Gas Australia owns the remaining 30 percent of the joint-venture.

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Richard Pullin)
By Ginger Gibson | WASHINGTON

The U.S. Senate on Thursday gave final legislative approval to a $1.2 trillion spending bill to keep the government open through September, a measure President Donald Trump is expected to sign before Friday's deadline.

Senators from both Republican and Democratic parties voted in favor of the bill, which passed 79 to 18 with only Republicans opposing the measure, citing minimal changes to spending levels.

The bill, which was passed 309-118 in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, now heads to Trump. While it failed to include many of the items Trump had requested, he is expected to sign the bill before midnight Friday, when without his signature the government would shut down.

As soon as this spending measure is law, lawmakers and Trump must already begin looking forward to the next deadline on Oct. 1. Lawmakers are hopeful they can pass regular spending bills but the process is likely to be complicated by Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, a desire to rewrite the tax code and a need to find a deal to raise the debt ceiling since the limit is expected to be reached in the fall.

Under the compromise measure, the Pentagon's funding increased, a priority that had been laid out by Republicans and Trump. It also funded Democratic priorities, including health care subsidies.

"This bill is far from perfect, but it's better than how we are spending our money today, better than how we were spending our money a year ago," Republican Senator Roy Blunt said on the Senate floor.

Democrats also claimed victory in the passage of the legislation, arguing that it fails to fund Trump's priorities including money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Additionally, the bill funds subsidies for health care coverage provided through the Affordable Care Act, former Democratic President Barack Obama's signature domestic legislation.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz gave his reasons for voting against the bill.

"While I am pleased to see increased funding for our men and women in uniform and their critical missions across the globe, this bill fails in a number of ways, including by continuing to fund sanctuary cities, Planned Parenthood, and Obamacare," Cruz said.

Sanctuary cities are those that give limited cooperation to the federal government in enforcing immigration laws and Planned Parenthood is a conservative target because abortion is among the women's health care services it provides.

The spending bill does not include many of the spending cuts on domestic programs Trump had sought and adds $2 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $295 million for Puerto Rico's underfunded Medicaid healthcare for the poor and $407 million for firefighting in Western states.

The legislation adds $12.5 billion in defense spending. It makes $2.5 billion more available after Trump gives details on his plans for fighting the Islamic State militant group.

The bill was approved months after the Oct. 1 2016 deadline to pass government funding for the fiscal year. For the past seven months, federal agencies have been operating mainly on simple extensions of the previous year's funding and the priorities that came with that.

(Reporting by Ginger Gibson; Editing by Grant McCool)
PALO ALTO, Calif., May 5 (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve should be prepared to undertake a fresh bond-buying program if the economy again faces shock or recession, three Fed officials said on Friday at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

Boston Federal Reserve Bank President Eric Rosengren went the farthest in defending what was a controversial tool in the U.S. central bank's fight against the Great Recession, saying it is "inevitable" that the Fed will again need to engage in quantitative easing.

St. Louis Fed President James Bullard, speaking on the same panel, said he believes the Fed's balance sheet should eventually shrink by more than half to $2 trillion, but that the Fed should be able to add new bonds to the balance sheet if needed in the future.

Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans also said the Fed must retain the ability to buy bonds if needed, but that the main goal now should be to strengthen the economy as much as possible to avoid the need for bond buying in the future.

(Reporting by Ann Saphir and Howard Schneider; Editing by James Dalgleish)
Ten Ukrainian military men have been injured in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) area in Donbas over the past day, Ukrainian Defense Ministry's spokesman Andriy Lysenko has said.

"Over the past day, as a result of the fighting, there have been no killed servicemen in the ranks of Ukrainian troops, but ten servicemen of the Armed Forces wounded as a result of shelling. In particular, there are six wounded in Luhansk and four in Pavlopil," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.
HANOI, May 5 (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 4:20 GMT.

May 5 USD/VND mid-point 22,353 USD/VND interbank 22,730/22,735 USD/VND unofficial 22,750/22,770 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.33/36.57

Interbank offered rates Overnight 4.5-5.0

1 week 4.7-5.1

1 month 4.8-5.1

3 months 5.0-5.2

NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on a 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)
(Adds union comment, background)

LIMA, May 5 (Reuters) - Workers at Peru's biggest copper mine, Freeport-McMoRan Inc's Cerro Verde, were evaluating whether to strike, a union spokesman said on Friday, after the union said the company had threatened punishment for a previous work stoppage.

Unionized workers at Cerro Verde went on strike in March to demand improved benefits, hitting output at the mine. It ended after three weeks when the union accepted the company's offer. But Freeport, the world's top copper miner by output, had said it would temporarily suspend workers who took part in the strike without pay, and would sack them if there were another "measure of force," union secretary general Zenon Mujica told Reuters.

Mujica said that if the company insisted on its plan, then the union would consider a new, indefinite strike. The union is also preparing legal protections against the company's measures, he said.

Freeport did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It has previously said that it strictly complies with its obligations by law and under union agreements.

"The only way we can suspend our measure of force is if the company retracts its position of applying sanctions," said Mujica. "This is an abuse because it is ignoring the right to strike that is in the Peruvian Constitution."

The union would meet Friday afternoon to discuss next steps, he said, and look to meet with government officials next week to try to resolve the dispute.

Cerro Verde became Peru's biggest copper mine following an expansion in 2015, as it churned out nearly 500,000 tonnes of copper last year.

Freeport owns just over 53 percent of Cerro Verde. Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd and Buenaventura both hold smaller stakes.

(Reporting by Ursula Scollo, additional reporting by Susan Taylor in Toronto, writing by Rosalba O'Brien, editing by G Crosse)
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Windy. Cloudy skies will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 74F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Wind increasing. Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph.
Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has finished a pretrial investigation in a criminal case where former deputy governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Oleksiy Tkachenko and director of the main department of the NBU Roman Yakovlev are suspected of participating in a criminal group created by former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and businessman Serhiy Kurchenko and embezzling state-owned funds on an especially large scale.

The public relations department of PGO reported that the former officials are charged under Part 1 of Article 255 (the creation of a criminal group), Part 4 of Article 28 and Part 5 of Article 191 (embezzlement via abuse of office) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The bill of indictment has been sent to court.

"The above-mentioned persons are charged with helping to make the unlawful decision by the NBU in 2013 to issue a stabilization credit to a bank affiliated with the criminal group. The money was withdrawn abroad. A loss of UAH 787 million was caused to the state," PGO said.

The suspects paid a UAH 3 million bail and a UAH 1.5 million bail respectively after their detention. The property of the suspects has been arrested.

As reported, Kyiv's Holosiyivsky District Court on July 14, 2016 remanded two ex-officials of the NBU, former deputy head of the NBU Oleksiy Tkachenko and former director of the NBU's banking oversight department Roman Yakovlev, to 60-day pretrial confinement, setting bail at UAH 20 million and UAH 10 million for the suspects.

Later Kyiv's court of appeal reduced the bail for them and they were released.

The two suspects embezzled NBU funds in the amount of UAH 787.396 million. The money had been provided to PSC Real Bank as a bailout loan. The document also says that Tkachenko and Yakovlev acted "as part of a criminal organization" with businessman Serhiy Kurchenko, former NBU governor Ihor Sorkin and former governor of Real Bank's board Volodymyr Agafonov.
The success of the negotiations on the settlement of the situation in Ukraine's east depends not on the number of the countries participating in it, but on the will of world leaders, former Ukrainian president and Ukraine's representative in the Tripartite Contact Group for Donbas settlement, Leonid Kuchma, has said.

In his speech to the students of Nizhyn Gogol State University on Friday, he noted that the success of the 'Minsk process' depends not on the number of the countries participating in the negotiation process, but on their will, especially the will of world leaders.

"And while many politicians are currently criticizing the Normandy format (of negotiations which includes Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia), and the Minsk agreements, the question is simple: what do they offer instead?" Kuchma noted.

He also said Russia is interested in getting a frozen conflict on the territory of Ukraine similar to those which sprang earlier in other regions. With this in mind Russia insists on holding elections in the territory not controlled by the government.

"They want to hold elections on the occupied territory at any cost, when it's clearly stated in the Minsk agreements: the foremost requirement is the security issue, to stop killing each other, and then we can hold a political struggle," Ukraine's representative in the trilateral contact group said.

In this context, Kuchma noted that he was surprised by the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where the former said that to resolve the conflict in Syria, first they need to solve the security issue, and then everything else.

"Why is there a different approach to Ukraine? Probably, it [Russia] wants to get another frozen conflict modeled after that of Nagorno-Karabakh, Transdniestria, and Abkhazia," Kuchma said.
A total of 58 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Donbas over the past 24 hours, the press center of the ATO headquarters reported.

"Ten servicemen of Ukraine's armed forces have been wounded," the ATO headquarters said on its Facebook account.

In the Luhansk sector, militants used 152mm artillery weapons, 82mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicle weapons, grenade launchers and large-caliber machineguns against Ukrainian military positions near Krymske, the headquarters said. Militants fired 122mm artillery systems and 120mm mortars at Ukrainian positions in Popasna and used 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of different systems and large-caliber machineguns in Novozvanivka.

In the Donetsk sector, militants used 120mm and 82mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicle weapons, ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft systems and large-caliber machineguns against Ukrainian positions near Luhanske, the headquarters said. They fired 82mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicle weapons and grenade launchers of different systems at Ukrainian military positions near Zaitseve and Verkhniotoretske and used 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and large-caliber machineguns against Ukrainian positions near Avdiyivka and the Butivka mine.

In the Mariupol sector, militants forces used 120mm and 82mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicle weapons, grenade launchers of different systems and large-caliber machineguns against Ukrainian positions near Pavlopil. They fired 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and small arms at Ukrainian positions near Hnutove and Krasnohorivka and used 82mm mortars, infantry fighting vehicle weapons, grenade launchers of different systems and small arms against Ukrainian positions near Maryinka.

The Ukrainian military fired automatic grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and small arms in response to shelling near Lobacheve, the headquarters said.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to pass legislation significantly tightening the economic screws on North Korea, mainly targeting Pyongyang's crude imports, labor exports and international shipping.

The Korea Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act (H.R. 1644), which passed in a 419-1 vote Thursday, is designed to strengthen last year's North Korea sanctions law by adding new measures, including new U.N. Security Council resolutions that have been billed as the toughest-ever sanctions on Pyongyang.

Introduced in March by Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the bipartisan legislation passed the committee the following week in an indication of the seriousness with which Congress views North Korean threats.

It has to pass through the Senate before it becomes law.

The legislation is aimed largely at restricting the North's trade and drying up key revenue sources, such as labor exports, which the regime in Pyongyang uses to fund its pursue of a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the U.S.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves during a military parade on April 15 in Pyongyang to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il-sung, founder of North Korea and grandfather of incumbent leader. / AP-Yonhap



By Park Si-soo



North Korea's state media has accused the United States and South Korea of attempting to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-un with a "biochemical substance."

In an extraordinarily long, 1,800-word report, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Friday afternoon a "hideous terrorist group" conspired with the CIA and South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) to "commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership" during major events including a recent military parade.

The report claimed a North Korean citizen was involved in the plot, using "biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance" to kill Kim.

The KCNA claimed the plot was "recently uncovered and foiled," and accused members of the CIA and NIS of working with a North Korean citizen to provide money and weapons to carry out "state-sponsored terrorism."












Defense Minister Han Min-koo said there is a special task force ready to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in case of attack, during interpellation at South Korea's National Assembly on Wednesday. / Yonhap



By Hong Dam-young



Korea is "considering launching a special forces unit to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un," Defense Minister Han Min-koo said Wednesday.

He made the comment during a parliamentary meeting in Seoul after Rep. Kim Sung-chan of the ruling Saenuri Party asked him about rumors of the plan.

Han said the unit will "take action" if the North shows clear signs of attacking South Korea. This is part of the "Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation" plan (KMPR), a military response announced after North Korea's fifth nuclear test on Sept. 9, Han said.

The KMPR targets North Korean leadership, including its military headquarters, with a preemptive strike that includes teams of highly trained commandos and simultaneous missile attacks capable of precision strikes, in case of the North's nuclear attack on the South.
A diver has found a bone fragment believed to be from a human's shin near the site of a deadly ferry sinking, officials said Friday.

The 34-centimeter bone was found on the country's southwestern coast near Jindo Island earlier in the day.

Officials said they asked the National Forensic Service to conduct DNA tests on the bone fragment.

The 6,800-ton Sewol ferry sank off the country's southwestern coast near Jindo Island on April 16, 2014, claiming the lives of 304 people, mostly high school students on a school excursion.

The hull was raised from the bottom of the sea and put into dry dock at a local port in Mokpo, some 410 kilometers south of Seoul, last month. The bodies of nine people, including four students and two teachers, have not been found.



The nine are two Danwon High School teachers (Go Chang-suk and Yang Seung-jin), four Danwon students (Nam Hyun-chul, Park Young-in, Cho Eun-hwa and Hu Da-yun) and three passengers (Kwon Jae-geun, Kwon Hyuk-gyu and Lee Young-sook). (Yonhap)
A record number of South Koreans have taken part in early voting in the presidential election, attesting to high voter attention, the election management office said Friday.

As of 9 a.m., 5.58 million people, or 13.15 percent of the electorate, had cast their ballots since the two-day advance voting began Thursday, the National Election Commission (NEC) said.

It is already higher than the overall early voting rates of 12.2 percent for the parliamentary elections in 2016 and 11.5 percent for the local elections in 2014.
The Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE SMM) has noted a decrease in a number of ceasefire violations in Donbas, but linked it to the newly-introduced patrolling restrictions.

The OSCE SMM has recorded slight decrease in a number of ceasefire violations; moreover, it has been the fifth week in a row when monitors are recording a decrease, Alexander Hug, the first deputy chief monitor of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine, said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday. However, it is partially linked to the fact that the OSCE SMM has restricted patrolling following the incident on April 23 in which an employee of the mission was killed, he said.

Not only was patrolling geography reduced, but flights of the mission's unmanned aerial vehicles ceased fully, he said. The OSCE SMM cannot perform monitoring at previous levels, Hug said.

At the same time, OSCE SMM monitors confirmed that four civilians had been killed and six wounded in blasts of mines and unexploded ordnance in Donbas in the past week, he said.

The parties to the conflict should fulfill their obligations and perform mine clearance of territories, Hug said. In addition, OSCE SMM monitors' security was threatened two times in the past week, he said. On one occasion, an explosion was heard near them, and on the other, small arms fire from occurred close to them, Hug said. Those instances took place in the populated localities of Molodyzhne and Kruta Hora, both of which are in the territories not under the Kyiv government's control, he said.

To date, the OSCE SMM to Ukraine comprises 656 observers, 575 of which are working in the east of the country, Hug said.
Voters participate in early voting for the 19th presidential election, Thursday, at Seoul Station./ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul





Two voters cast their ballots in advance at Seoul Station, Thursday./ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By You Soo-sun

Voters cast their ballots Friday, wishing with their votes to choose a leader who can change politics, bolster national security, create jobs and lead South Korea to become a more democratic nation.

Voters packed a polling station at Seoul Station, lining up to cast their ballots with suitcases by their side. Many came with their children to vote before going off to celebrate Children's Day.

People who voted for frontrunner Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) voiced the need for a change of leadership.

Kang Myoung-shin, a 28-year-old female graduate student, said, "I voted for Moon because it's time for a regime change. I didn't vote for the best, but the most likely candidate to achieve this goal."

Kang said while watching the debates, she tried to opt out candidates who weren't fully knowledgeable about their own policies. "Also, I searched for a leader with the right mindset, someone who isn't focused on merely putting down other candidates," she said.

One family voted for Moon altogether at a community center in Hoehyeon-dong, Seoul.

Hong Kyoung-soon, 58, said she participated in all 23 candlelit rallies that took place at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, protesting the Sewol tragedy and former president Park Geun-hye's corruption scandal.

"My family voted for Moon, hoping we get a new administration to govern the nation. The previous administration failed miserably, so there should be no going back."

When asked what she wants from Korea's next president, she said, "Unity."

She said Moon, if elected, should collaborate with rival parties, except for the ultra right-wing politicians, maybe even with Hong Joon-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP).

"People involved in the Park corruption scandal should be punished, but the next leader should bring unity to the country. We just want to live peacefully. Politicians should work together, not fight."

Many voters also cast ballots for Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party.

Kim, a female voter in her 50s from Busan, a traditionally conservative region, voted for Ahn because he is fairly new in politics, setting him apart from other candidates.












Parts of Beijing's central business district are shrouded in a dust storm on May 4, 2017. / AFP-Yonhap



By Park Si-soo



The authorities have issued a nationwide health warning on Saturday as a huge dust storm generated in Mongolia has blanketed much of the Korean Peninsula.

The National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) has issued fine dust warnings in 12 cities and counties nationwide as of 7:30 a.m., including Seoul and surrounding regions. The dust storm will affect the peninsula throughout the weekend, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA)

The warning is issued when an hourly average dust concentration of more than 300 micrograms per cubic meter (/) is expected to last for more than two hours. The concentration of more than 150 / lasting longer than two hours leads to an advisory.

The institute has demanded people avoid outdoor activities and children and old people stay indoors throughout the weekend.












By John Burton





Are relations between Washington and Seoul heading for a train wreck when they should be cooperating more closely than ever in dealing with the threat of the North Korean nuclear and missile program?

Things could be heading that way if Moon Jae-in is elected as the next Korean president next week while U.S. President Donald Trump has floated the idea of Seoul paying for the THAAD anti-missile system and threatening to end the KORUS trade agreement.

Until Trump made his intemperate remarks, much of Washington's concern was focused on the election of Moon, who is generally perceived as favoring reconciliation with Pyongyang and opposing the Trump administration's tough attitude on North Korea.

Moon is seen in the U.S. capital as ready to ease sanctions against North Korea by pursuing Sunshine Policy 2.0, including encouraging dialogue and economic cooperation with Pyongyang like his predecessors Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun did between 1998 and 2008.

This could lead to the same sort of disharmony that occurred between Roh and U.S. President George W. Bush in the mid-2000s as it is believed that Moon would like to pursue a more independent line from Washington.

Attention among U.S. policymakers has focused, for example, on Moon's reported comments earlier this year that he would consider going to Pyongyang before going to Washington if that would help resolve the nuclear issue. Moon is generally viewed in Washington as a leftist ideologue like his former boss Roh, with whom he served as chief of staff.

But these perceptions overlook the possibility that Moon may be more of a pragmatist in the mold of Kim Dae-jung. Moon has signaled his recognition that he has limited room to maneuver in dealing with North Korea.

There are several factors that will constrain Moon.

The first is that the Trump administration's aggressive approach toward Pyongyang will undermine any attempt by Moon in pursuing an engagement strategy, such as reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

Moon needs to win the trust of President Trump if he is to have any influence on future U.S. action, including trying to prevent a unilateral military strike. As a result, Moon recently stepped back from his firm opposition to THAAD. He also seems to be aligned with the U.S. policy of forcing China to apply increased trade sanctions against North Korea.

"To China, we must make it clear that if they fail to rein in the North, sanctions against the North will be stepped up and the deployment of THAAD will be inevitable," Moon recently told Time Magazine. "If the North continues with its nuclear program, it's natural that South Korea and the U.S. will impose stronger sanctions against North Korea," he added.

The second factor that Moon must be deal with is domestic politics. Moon is a polarizing figure mistrusted by conservatives. But if he wants to govern effectively and pass legislation on such issues as corporate reforms he must take into account the views of the conservatives and the centrist People's Party on North Korea. Moon's Minjoo party, after all, only has a plurality of National Assembly seats and can't push through new laws on its own.

Another limiting factor on Moon is that with the current unfavorable public mood toward the U.S., China and Japan will weaken Seoul's diplomatic leverage if Moon should be tempted to pursue an independent course since he would lack foreign allies in such an attempt.

The biggest challenge for Moon may be to persuade his supporters to accept a North Korea policy that parallels that of the U.S. when anti-Americanism is rising because of the prevalent view that Trump is an unpredictable and destabilizing factor.

Trump's remarks that Seoul should have to pay for THAAD (although that has since been walked back by the U.S. State Department) and that the U.S. will renegotiate or abrogate KORUS will not help matters and will likely have three results.

One is that it will assure the election of Moon as Korea's next president since it will galvanize his support base. Second, it will increase opposition to THAAD. Third, Moon's job as president has just become more difficult.

The most charitable explanation for Trump's remarks is that the U.S. president may be pursuing a high-risk strategy to box Moon in and force him to accept Washington's lead on North Korea.

By raising the KORUS issue, for example, Trump may be reminding Moon that he has to play ball if he wants to preserve KORUS. This would be typical Trump behavior as a dealmaker: set out an extreme negotiating position and withdraw the KORUS and THAAD threats if Moon agrees to Trump's terms.

The more depressing interpretation is that Trump is emotionally reverting to his campaign rhetoric of attacking Seoul as defense freeloader and an unfair trade partner and that he has no idea that he is undermining relations with a close U.S. ally. Maybe Washington should be worrying more about Trump than Moon.





John Burton, a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is now a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant. He can be reached at johnburtonft@yahoo.com.
By Olivier Duchenne





Olivier Duchenne

Paris, or France in general, has been traditionally associated with gourmet cuisine, fine wines and fashion, and rightly so. What is a little less known is the quiet revolution that has been taking place in France over the last 15 years or so. The French tech industry has been gathering pace and is now on a rapid upward trajectory.



As little as five years ago, despite the emergence of a few well-known French startups such as Parisian ad tech company Criteo, the holistic French tech environment was rather foreign to the majority.



Fast-forward to 2017, and the signs of the extraordinary growth of France's tech ecosystem are now impossible to ignore. According to a recent venture capital report, France came in second among European nations and Israel in the total number of venture investments for the first time in the first quarter. The nation had also achieved a record deal flow of more than $2 billion by the end of 2016.



French startups, such as audio technology startup Devialet, internet of things (IoT) startup Sigfox and cloud hosting provider OVH, raised investments worth between 100 and 250 million euros in 2016. This record funding is continuing with software company Oodrive and luxury online resale website Vestiaire Collective paving the way with more than 60 million euros raised in the first quarter of this year. Paris was also hailed in a recent Forbes article as the new hotspot for startups after Brexit.



As for how France could have achieved this rate of acceleration in a mere few years, I could list a few factors such as the education system, increased talent pool of developers and available local capital. Most important, however, has been the influence of "La French Tech"  the French government's initiative to promote the nation's tech ecosystem and support pre-existing tech movements to thrive.



Launched by former French Minister of Culture and Communication Fleur Pellerin in 2013, La French Tech is the term used to describe the country's tech startup community  it is the entire ecosystem of entrepreneurs, investors, influencers, researchers, public entities and tech lovers. In less than four years, La French Tech has garnered highly impressive results.



For instance at Consumer Electronics Show 2017, France ranked second after the United States in the number of participating enterprises, with more than 260 French-based firms. The presence of companies from France in the startup area, dubbed "Eureka Park," was even larger than any other international delegation. This was a clear indication of the momentum and maturity of the French tech ecosystem.



The impact is highly evident in Paris, which currently houses more than 50 incubators. For instance, Xavier Niel, the billionaire founder of France's second-largest internet service provider Free, established a unique free coding school called Ecole 24 in 2013. Such is the success of the school that the concept was exported to Silicon Valley where a second school, simply called 42, opened in 2016 to the ringing endorsement of top U.S. executives from Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter.



Paris is also anticipating the opening of the world's largest startup campus Station F this summer. With a size 15 times larger than Seoul's Yeouido Park, this innovation hub will provide more than 3,000 workstations for startups. The campus has already partnered with Facebook, Airbnb and a number of major venture capital firms and companies.



In short, France has become a thriving land of tech startups, and La French Tech has orchestrated a major cultural shift. There is a newfound sense of confidence in the French tech ecosystem. French entrepreneurs are now confident that starting a business in France will be a springboard for their ambitions, while a growing number of graduates from France's renowned business and engineering schools aspire to be entrepreneurs.



In order to develop into an even stronger information technology nation, France is now welcoming foreign tech innovators through various programs. One is the new French Tech Visa, a fast-track residence permit application for foreign tech workers. The other is French Tech Ticket, in which select innovative startups around the world are offered the chance to be hosted in French incubators. Among the winners of Season Two was the first Korean winner, Stratio, a company that develops the world's first low-cost, handheld spectrometer.



But La French Tech doesn't stop at the country's borders. It aims for internationalization through another initiative, "French Tech Hubs." This refers to a community where French and overseas players of the startup ecosystem can exchange information, build partnerships and create businesses. Seoul joined the French Tech Hub network in March 2016.



Passion in starting business has long been engraved in France, and it is no surprise the word "entrepreneurship" was derived from French. Thus for those who wish to enrich the world with their ideas and technology, consider starting your journey as an entrepreneur in the flourishing French tech ecosystem.



The writer is one of the French Tech Ambassadors for La French Tech.




TWICE was Singapore for the first time for their maiden tour, TWICELAND.

The nine membered group, consisting of Jihyo, Nayeon, Jungyeon, Chaeyeon, Dahyun, Momo, Sana, Mina and Tzuyu, held a press conference on 28th of April before leaving for their photo session with fans at the Star Vista.

The girls entered the stage enthusiastically, starting off with posing for the media before cutely greeted the media with bright faces, introducing themselves in English individually, and then doing their signature group cheer.

The session continued on with the emcee opening a section for the media to ask their questions.

Here's what we learned:

Nayeon excitedly mentioned that they were looking forward to meeting Singapore ONCE as it was their very first time here and that they have a lot of special stages and concepts prepared for tomorrow! Is that perhaps a hint for us? Dahyun expressed her thanks at all the love they've received from the fan and public, allowing them to be what they are today.

TWICE shared their thoughts on their general appeal to fans were their high and bright energy that was unique to TWICE along with how natural they were on stage, where they are still themselves.

To relieve stress, the girls like to have supper together often, and on certain occasions, light up the mirrorball in their dorm to dance and have fun! We're sure fans would love to see that. They also chose the song, 'One in A Million', as one they really love to perform together. They express that they are able to see the fans cheering them on and are able to get very good energy from ONCE.

Apparently, the girl's early arrival in Singapore on the 27th was put to good use, as they went to try the Singapore special - Chili Crab. When asked about other foods, youngest member Tzuyu cutely mentioned in Chinese, expressing the want trying Hainan Chicken Rice! The emcee asked whether besides the chicken rice what else they've heard about our local delights and the girls brought up the kaya toast before the emcee went on to introduce them to the names of several specials.

When asked what they felt was their happiest moment since the start of the year, they replied to as being too many to pinpoint. However, they went on to further describe certain events such as how they're really happy that they got to visit other countries such as Thailand and now, Singapore. They also mentioned about going to award shows last year, where they felt exhilarated and honored that they were awarded won 'Song of the Year'. Member also mentioned that the official announcement of their fan club really stood out amongst the good moments.

Their ending message to fans and media was, "TWICE will never stop going out across the world to meet more fans and people, so please do continue looking out for us and please continue supporting us. We're looking forward to being able to speak some English for our next visit here!"

Lastly, member Tzuyu added, addressing the media and sending all our hearts fluttering, "Thank you for coming down to meet us. Please give us lots of love!"

If you're heading down to the concert, do enjoy, as this is definitely a One in A Million chance! Limited $168 tickets are available.

Special thanks to One Production for inviting KpopStarz.com to cover TWICE 1ST WORLD TOUR "TWICELAND" - THE OPENING IN SINGAPORE MEDIA PRESS CONFERENCE.

Writer: Mabel Liang | Photo Credits: Ong Melin
Just recently, Kim Jong Kook of "Running Man" has been hurled with a ton of backlash due to the sexist remark that he talked about with Sistar's Hyolyn. His statement regarding his ideal woman was seen as offensive and insensitive by most people.

This had undoubtedly offended a lot of netizens, as comments against the Hallyu actor has been swirling around the internet since he let loose of his own personal preferences.

According to IB Times, the viewers of the Korean show, "Running Man" were offended when Kim Jong Kook talked about his own preferences regarding the ideal woman. In a scene where he was driving together with Sistar's Hyolyn, the two arrived on the topic regarding their personal type.

During that moment, Kim Jong Kook frankly told Hyolyn that he prefers short women because the tall ones can't really be called as real women. Furthermore, Kim Jong Kook adds that men prefer short women because they look better when they get to date them.

The Korean actor then further reiterates that his ideal is like Hyolyn, who has a short height. According to Korea Portal, "Running Man" viewers were heavily offended by the statements of Kim Jong Kook.

The actor was slammed hard, having been called as an insensitive sexist. Fortunately, his fans came to the rescue as they defended the remarks stated by Kim Jong Kook.

His fans say that there's really nothing wrong with the statement of Kim Jong Kook, as it was his personal preferences. It was also not meant to degrade and criticize women. They went on to say that everyone is entitled to their own ideas and opinions.

To sum it all up, one can clearly see how important it is for a popular celebrity to see to it that his uttered statements would not offend anyone. This is because no matter what the intention is, it's really ironic to know that everyone is indeed entitled to their own opinions, and that includes the scrutiny that he is getting from people.
Ukraine's representative in the Trilateral Contact Group, second president Leonid Kuchma believes that the establishment of peace in Donbas largely depends on the U.S. and President Donald Trump.

"In my opinion, it depends mostly on the position of the United States, on U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. today is the key country that has a significant influence on Russia's position. No one dares to make fun of America Therefore, we also hope that given the recent statements by Trump and his team, they should pay more attention to the problem that exists in Ukraine. Let's wait and see," Kuchma told reporters in Nizhyn on Friday answering the question on when peace may be established in Ukraine.

In his opinion, the European Union and the U.S. can make Russia contribute to a peaceful resolution to this conflict, because Ukraine alone cannot do this.

Speaking about the possibility of changing the 'Normandy format,' Kuchma said: "We need to wait for the end of the elections in France. It is necessary that the European Union... should have a clear understandable position on the war in Ukraine. Nothing will change from adding anybody to this format."

"In order to expand it, it is necessary to have the consent of all the participants And there will be always someone against it. So we should stop talking about changing formats, etc., we should work within this format," he added.

At the same time, Ukraine's representative in the trilateral contact group believes that after the elections, France will take a tougher stand.

Kuchma believes that France and Germany should press on Russia, so that the country should work in the 'Minsk format.'

He also said that the resolution of the situation in Donbas depends only on one person - on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The American actor Steven Seagal, who became a Russian citizen in late 2016, has been barred from entering Ukraine for five years, the Ukrainian Security Service said.

"Pursuant to Article 13 Part 1 of the Ukrainian law 'On Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons and Article 7 of the Ukrainian law 'On Fundamentals of National Security of Ukraine', the Ukrainian Security Service resolved to ban the said individual from entering Ukraine for a five-year period," the Security Service said in a reply to a question from the media.
International Council of Business Associations and Chambers has been established in Ukraine. Solemn signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on creation of there was solemnly signed at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on April 19, 2017. Chambre de Commerce et dIndustrie Franco-Ukrainienne, Chinese Commerce Association, German-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, International Turkish-Ukrainian Business Association, the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and U.S.-Ukraine Business Council decided to unite to improve the business self-governance conditions in Ukraine. British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce have expressed their intention to join the platform too. International chambers of commerce and foreign business associations will jointly work to protect business interests of both foreign and domestic investors in Ukraine, as well as to expand and make the business-government dialogue more active. The newly formed platform unites approximately 9,000 companies, of which 8,000 are members of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry which represent the national business, and approximately one thousand foreign investors active in Ukraine. "Its no exaggeration: a historic event occurred today  business associations and bilateral chambers of 6 leading countries, which are among the top 10 investors in our country  China, France, Germany, Turkey, the U.S. and Ukraine itself  united. When business unites, its voice becomes stronger. The newly established Council is an effective platform for solving a number of problems which the Ukrainian business faces and which we in collaboration will be able to tackle much faster and more successfully. Our Council is open to other foreign bilateral and multilateral chambers and business associations who share our goals and principles. Let us work together to create a favorable business climate," said Gennadiy Chyzhykov, President, the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Council will regularly meet to discuss the current economic situation, the investment framework, and submit proposals to the Government of Ukraine on the improvement of business self-governance conditions, the economic situation and business climate, and address systemic issues which hinder foreign and domestic investments in Ukraine. "The establishment of such an association is as timely as never before. The Council will in every way support and develop the vectors with a real economic effect for business in Ukraine,", said Morgan Williams, President, U.S.-Ukraine Business Council. "The signing of the Memorandum at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry will strengthen the dialogue between Ukrainian and foreign business, and the creation of an International Council of Business Associations and Chambers will demonstrate its positive effect on Ukraines economy in the nearest future," commented Ruslan Osypenko, Executive Director, Chinese Commerce Association. "Turkey and Ukraine are now experiencing a golden period in their economic, tourist and cultural relations. For the first time in history, business associations and chambers of commerce representing the leading countries united to jointly work on improving business climate and attracting investments," emphasized Burak Pehlivan, Chairman, International Turkish-Ukrainian Business Association. "Germany is one of the main investors in Ukraine. German business has a golden rule not to shift responsibility onto the government, because business should daily improve the situation for themselves. The International Council of Business Associations and Chambers is meant to work in this direction  we unite the voice of business," noted Alexander Markus, Chairman of the Board, German-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry and Commerce. "Our goal is to attract more investors to Ukraine," said Bertrand Barrier, Member of the Board, Chambre de Commerce et dIndustrie Franco-Ukrainienne. Top representatives of foreign diplomatic institutions serving in Ukraine took part in the event. Interfax-Ukraine  event media partner Press Office of the Ukrainian CCI press@ucci.org.ua (044) 584-28-36
Staff workers check a C919, China's first domestically-built large passenger jet, at a hangar of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) in Shanghai, east China, May 4, 2017. The maiden flight of the C919 is scheduled for May 5. The flight will depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. "If weather conditions are not suitable, the maiden flight will be rescheduled," COMAC said. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

BEIJING, May 4 -- While the much-awaited first Chinese-built passenger jet C919 is ready to make its maiden flight Friday, it may take much longer for the newcomer to take off in the aviation market.

Shaking the dominance of aviation giants Boeing and Airbus in the near future is unrealistic, observers say, but the Chinese jetliner could be a strong option for global carriers in decades to come.

Scheduled to depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport on May 5, the C919, with 158 seats and a standard range of 4,075 kilometers, is expected to compete with the updated Airbus 320 and Boeing's new generation 737.

A total of 23 foreign and domestic customers, including China's national carrier Air China and leasing company GE Capital Aviation Service, have placed orders for 570 aircraft, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC).

But this is only the very first step. Even in China's domestic market, COMAC has a long way to go to turn technical success into business success.

Currently, Chinese airlines seem to be more keen to spend money on wide-body aircraft to enhance their global routes with rising enthusiasm for overseas travel. Those jets are still the exclusive province of Boeing and Airbus.

China Eastern Airlines signed contracts in 2016 to buy 20 A350-900 aircraft from Airbus and 15 B787-9 aircraft from Boeing to be delivered between 2018 and 2022.

China Southern Airlines announced in April that it will buy 20 A350-900 with a total catalog price of nearly 6 billion U.S. dollars.

Boeing and Airbus are very mature aircraft manufacturers, and COMAC should seek further cooperation with them to learn from their experiences, according to aviation analysts.

But looking ahead, single-aisle planes like C919 will be the market mainstream and COMAC should do well in the Chinese market, one of the most competitive.

Boeing predicted last year that China will become the world's top aviation market within 20 years, projecting a demand for 6,810 new aircraft in the next two decades with a total value of 1 trillion U.S. dollars.

China will need 5,110 new single-aisle airplanes through 2035, accounting for 75 percent of the total new deliveries, according to Boeing.

The C919 will be a strong competitor in this field being economical and comfortable, according to a research note from Guosen Securities.

If the maiden flight is successful, COMAC will seek airworthiness certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and foreign aviation safety regulators before making its first deliveries.

Also, to pave way for C919 to enter foreign markets, the airworthiness certification of the jet will be a part of bilateral air safety agreement talks between China and the EU.

China has invested heavily in commercial passenger jet manufacturing. In 2007, plans to develop a domestic large passenger jet were approved by the State Council. In November 2015, the first C919 jet rolled off the assembly line.

The ARJ21, the country's first regional aircraft also produced by COMAC, began commercial operations in June 2016 following its maiden flight in 2008.
Chinese demand for gold bars and coins soars in first quarter

A worker displays a gold bar at a department store in Beijing. JIANG DONG / FOR CHINA DAILY

China's demand for gold bars and coins soared 30 percent year-on-year to 105.9 metric tons in the first quarter of this year, the fourth strongest quarter on record, according to a report released by the World Gold Council on Thursday.

Overall demand for gold in the Chinese market grew 8 percent year-on-year to 282.4 tons, making China the world's top gold consumer, according to WGC data.

Global demand for gold in the quarter was 1,034.5 tons, an 18 percent year-on-year decrease from the record high level recorded for the first quarter of 2016.

Analysts said demand for bullion was often adjusted in alignment with the overall economic picture.

In the Chinese market, investors wishing to preserve value and hedge their risks amid market uncertainty and currency volatility have driven demand for gold, according to the WGC report.

"Investors, particularly individual investors, who wish to diversify their portfolio because of concern about the outlook for real estate and stock market, are having more interest in gold," said Roland Wang, WGC China managing director.

For a similar reason, gold ETFs in China are also getting increasingly popular among institutional investors who are re-recognizing gold as a tool for risk hedging when they are no longer focusing only on yield and allocating more resources on risk management, said Wang.

(Photo/Xinhua)

Strong demand for gold and limited growth of supply, he said, had caused an imbalance, which had led to a high premium in China over the global spot price.

That premium in the Chinese market averaged around $4 per ounce over the global spot price in recent years, but shot up to an average of $17 per ounce at the end of 2016. The WGC research found that it persisted in the first quarter this year at average of $14.2 per ounce amid limited imports and a gap between supply and demand.

China Gold Association data showed that China's output of gold in the quarter was 101.2 tons, a 9.29 percent year-on-year decline, while consumption excluding exports and investments grew 14.73 percent year-on-year to 304.1 tons.

Commercial banks, for example, have launched interest-bearing, online-tradable gold products with a minimum entry point of 1 gram, which also enables investors to withdraw physical gold through their bank networks.

"Fintech companies are also tapping into gold-backed products that reach young investors, which effectively popularizes goldan investment conventionally believed to be a favored investment tool for senior-age investors," said a research note from Sinolink Securities Co.

The Shanghai Gold Exchange continued to gain market share, as high-net-worth individuals increasingly buy one-kilogram gold bars using the exchange's services at low margins.

The WGC said it expects China's demand for gold in 2017 to be between 900 tons and 1,000 tons. The world's second-biggest gold consumer India is expected to demand gold of 650 tons to 750 tons in 2017.
By ZHONG NAN in Beijing and LIU MINGTAI in Changchun ( China Daily ) 08:42, May 05, 2017

Workers assemble subway trains at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co in Changchun, Jilin province. WANG HAOFEI / XINHUA

China Railway Rolling Stock Corp, the country's railway vehicle and equipment manufacturer and exporter, announced on Thursday that it will build a plant in Canada to further expand its marketing channels in North America.

The train maker said in a statement that the new facility, located in Moncton in New Brunswick, will create more than 200 jobs in the first phase and generate more than $1 million in tax revenue for the local government annually. The plant is capable of manufacturing heavy load, special railway vehicles and railway vehicle brakes.

The plant was jointly set up by Sichuan-based CRRC Meishan Co Ltd, a freight train maker under CRRC, Moncton-based ARS Canada Rolling Stock Inc, a local railcar manufacturer and service supplier, and a CRRC subsidiary in Hong Kong. They gained approval from the Canadian government in June 2016.

CRRC said the establishment of this facility will enhance its market presence in North America. However, the company's headquarters in Beijing did not disclose the total investment amount and designed manufacturing capacity.

The new company's main business is to carry out sales of cargo trains, research and development work for freight trains that can be operated in North America, as well as manufacturing freight trains including open-top wagons, covered wagons, tankers and flat cars.

The statement said that CRRC's long-term goal is to assemble freight trains and provide after-sale services to clients in Canada.

"Canada is rich in commodity goods including copper ore, nickel ore, iron ore, petroleum, wheat, soybean and other agricultural products. It is a good growth point for Chinese cargo train manufacturers to carry out a localization strategy in the country," said Feng Hao, a rail transportation researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission.

Feng said as CRRC's other subsidiaries such as CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co Ltd and CRRC Changchun Co Ltd have built manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Massachusetts to produce passenger trains in the United States, so it is possible for its Canadian facility to supply cargo trains to the markets in the US sooner or later.

CRRC Meishan so far has shipped more than 5,000 freight trains to the global market. It also produces special vehicles for clients in resource-rich countries such as Australia and Argentina.

Pan Shuping, general manager of CRRC Meishan, said it is necessary to conduct research and development in fast-growing markets such as Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, because they have different standards in railway infrastructure and services.
VIENTIANE, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The second batch of materials sponsored by China for Laos to combat locust plague has been handed over to the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) on Thursday in Lao capital Vientiane.

Economic Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Laos Wang Qihui and Director General of MAF's Department of Agriculture Vilaysouk, on behalf of the two governments, signed the handover document.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lao Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Lien Thikeo said whenever Lao people encounter difficulties, the Chinese government always provides prompt support.

In the past year, thanks to the first batch of materials sponsored by China to eliminate locusts, as many as one third of the areas impacted by locust plague have been under control. Laos will continue taking the best use of the materials to eliminate locusts, so that farmers can soon return to normal production and life.

In order to help Laos fight locust plague, under the consensus reached by the two governments, the Chinese government agreed to provide emergency aid for Laos to deal with the plague. The materials handed over this time include cars, manual sprayers, backpack sprayers, protective suits, and computers.

The first batch of materials sponsored by the Chinese government for Laos to combat locust plague was handed over to Laos in May 2016.
Cornerstone Church of San Diego Coastal Campus embellished the existing labyrinth at Muirlands Middle School as part of its Easter festivities, April 16. Cornerstone Church uses the schools auditorium at 1056 Nautilus St. for its Sunday Services.

The church lined the circular labyrinth with 140 Easter Lilies and encouraged attendees and visitors of all faiths to walk the path, in addition to participating in an egg hunt and other activities.

A labyrinth is often viewed as a metaphor for a path of life, said Robert Wertz, director of art ministry at Cornerstone. The way people walk through a labyrinth often reflects how they walk through life  some people hop over the lines and try to get ahead, others walk it all through slowly. But walking a labyrinth can also be a form of active, contemplative meditation.

For Church purposes, the labyrinth also represents the path that Jesus Christ walked for humankinds salvation, Wertz added.

Throughout the day, 250 people visited the church, he said, and while many just viewed the labyrinth, at least 75 people walked it.

The labyrinth is designed for middle school students, so the lane is only 18 inches wide and 30 feet in diameter. Nevertheless, Wertz said, We got many positive responses, and for some, this was the first time they walked a labyrinth. He said the church may decorate the labyrinth again in the future, but in a way that does not narrow the lane.

He reported people of multiple faiths came to visit, including a Muslim family and District 1 City Council member Barbara Bry, who later told La Jolla Light, I enjoyed visiting the Easter Labyrinth and thank Robert Wertz for the work that he is doing to bring people of different faiths together.

The labyrinth was painted onto the Muirlands blacktop in 2012 as part of a campus beautification project.
BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has asked the China Writers Association (CWA) to guide online literature and carry out other reforms.

According to a plan to deepen reform of the CWA issued by the office on Thursday, CWA should establish evaluation and incentive systems that will benefit the development of online literature.

The Party's role in literature work should also be strengthened. For instance, the Party should guide and support works focusing on juveniles and patriotism, as well as realistic and historical topics.

In the meantime, the CWA should organize literature exchange programs among Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and provide more communication opportunities between Chinese and foreign writers.

It should also encourage translation and publication of classic Chinese literature and enhance the global influence of contemporary Chinese literature.

The plan points out that the CWA should stick to cultural self-confidence. It calls for writers to closely unite around the CPC Central Committee in a bid to enrich and develop the literature cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
PRESS RELEASE

Russia, U.S. To Continue Contacts on Syria

May 4, 2017 (EIRNS)Russia and the United States are continuing their contacts on Syria at the working level, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday.

"It [the interaction mechanism] cannot but work and the contact is so close that we cant but work. We have had and continue contacts at the working level,"

Shoigu said, TASS reported, adding that "in this regard, we primarily rely on the need to ensure the safety of our pilots and, naturally, of all those who operate in that sky." The air regime has become tighter and "now it is of a different, inquiring nature whereas earlier it was of the notifying mode."
PRESS RELEASE

Trump Meets with Palestinian President Abbas, Says Chance for Israel-Palestine Peace Is Very Good

May 4, 2017 (EIRNS)In his first official meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on May 3, Donald Trump indicated that he is considering mediating an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement where his predecessors all failed. Statements were exchanged on the possibility of a Palestinian-Israeli settlement. In his opening statement Trump told Abbas,

"I will do whatever is necessary to facilitate the agreementto mediate, to arbitrate anything theyd like to do. But I would love to be a mediator or an arbitrator or a facilitator. And we will get this done."

Abbas said the Palestinian leaderships "strategic option" is to pursue a two-state solution for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Appealing to Trumps leadership, Abbas said that

"I believe that we are capable under your leadership and your stewardship toyour courageous stewardship and your wisdom, as well as your great negotiating ability, I believe, with the grace of God and with all of your effortwe believe that we can be partners, true partners, to you to bring about a historic peace treaty under your stewardship to bring about peace. [In English.] Now, Mr. President, with you we have hope."

After this statement by Abbas, Trump again spoke, saying:

"So were going to start a process. Weve spoken to Bibi Netanyahu. Weve spoken to many of the great Israeli leaders. Weve spoken with many of your great representatives. Many of them are here today for lunch with us. Well start a process which hopefully will lead to peace. Over the course of my lifetime, Ive always heard that perhaps the toughest deal to make is the deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Lets see if we can prove them wrong. Okay?"

After a private meeting, the two Presidents had a conference joined by their staffs. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, and senior advisor Jared Kushner were in attendance and later were joined by National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster and his deputy, Dina Powell, along with National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn.

U.S. special envoy Jason Greenblatt, who recently toured the Middle East, is expected to update Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi (Likud) about the Abbas-Trump meeting on Thursday in Brussels, Israels Channel 2 reported. The two will meet on the sidelines of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee annual spring meeting hosted by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini and chaired by Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende. Palestinian and United Nations representatives will also attend the meeting, which coordinates donor funding to the Palestinian Authority.
On the very same day that they celebrated House passage of a bill that could deprive more than 24 million Americans of their health coverage, President Trump and his administration started gunning for womens contraceptive benefits.

An executive order Trump signed Thursday purportedly designed to promote religious liberty takes direct aim at the Affordable Care Acts provision of contraceptives without co-pays or deductibles. The order directs the secretaries of Health and Human Services, Treasury and Labor to consider issuing amended regulations  to address conscience-based objections to the preventive-care mandate of the ACA.

If you were thinking about getting an IUD, schedule the appointment.... Protect yourselves as well as you can.  Health insurance expert David Anderson, on the coming rollback of contraceptive benefits

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Lest anyone be misled or confused by the elliptical language in the order, the Department of Health and Human Services promptly issued a news release declaring that HHS Secretary Tom Price welcomes the opportunity to reexamine [the] contraception mandate. It quoted Price as stating that the agency will be taking action in short order to follow the Presidents instruction to safeguard the deeply held religious beliefs of Americans who provide health insurance to their employees.

If those sound like the words of a pastor rather than a physician responsible for overseeing healthcare and health insurance rights for millions of Americans, so be it.

The implications of Trumps executive order and Prices words arent hard to divine, but health insurance expert David Anderson of Duke puts it concisely: The provision of no cost-sharing long acting reversible contraception as a key covered service in ACA plans is at risk.

He advises,  If you were thinking about getting an IUD, schedule the appointment. If your current LARC [long-acting reversible contraceptive, such as Norplant or an IUD] needs to be replaced soon, schedule the appointment. If you currently use barrier or oral hormonal methods and dont want to get pregnant for several years, schedule an appointment. Protect yourselves as well as you can.

Price long has been a crusader against the ACA mandate for contraception benefits. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2012, when he was still a Republican Congressman from Georgia, Price dismissed the notion that any woman might need help affording contraceptives.

Bring me one woman who has been left behind. Bring me one. Theres not one, Price replied to a question (see accompanying video). Referring to the mandate that contraceptive services without cost sharing be part of every health plan, he continued, The fact of the matter is this is a trampling on religious freedom and religious liberty in this country.

The truth is that millions of American women were then in need of publicly funded contraceptives  20 million, according to an estimate by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, which mapped the number of women of child-bearing age against those with household income below 250% of the poverty line. That figure had increased by 22% since 2000, even as the number of women receiving services from publicly funded health clinics had fallen by 9%, to 6.1 million.

That figure is certain to increase if the Republicans ACA repeal bill, approved by GOP members in the lower house Thursday by a hairs-breadth margin, were to become law. The bill defunds Planned Parenthood, the leading provider of reproductive health services to low-income women, for at least one year.

Contraceptive services have been a battleground for religious conservatives virtually since the day the Affordable Care Act was passed. The major blow was delivered by the Supreme Court in its 2014 Hobby Lobby decision. The decision extended to private companies asserting religious scruples the right to cut contraceptive services from their health plans. That privilege previously applied only to churches and other religious organizations.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asserted in dissent that the court through its ruling had ventured into a minefield. She was prescient.

The Obama administration crafted a work-around through which contraceptive benefits for employees of companies or organizations claiming a Hobby Lobby exemption would be paid for by the federal government rather than their employers. All the employers had to do was submit a document stating their objection.

That hasnt been good enough for some employers, who claim that filing the paperwork to obtain the exemption is itself a substantial burden on religious liberty under the law. The Supreme Court has punted on the issue, sending several cases brought by religious groups back to appeals courts for further discussion, rather than issuing a decision itself.

Ginsburg also predicted that the Courts expansive notion of corporate personhood would invite for-profit entities to seek religion-based exemptions from regulations they deem offensive to the faith.

Thats turned out to be true too. Last year, a federal judge in Detroit ruled that a local funeral home was within its rights to fire a transgender employee because its owner had a religious belief that gender transition violated biblical teachings.

Whether higher courts will agree  and how the Supreme Court eventually decide the contraceptive cases  is unknown. But Trumps executive order, which aims to guide executive branch agencies to create policies aimed at promoting religious liberty, is a signal for them to start crafting administrative rules allowing discrimination against LGBTQ individuals and women and rolling back Obama-era rules protecting them.

HHS Secretary Price says hell be out in short order with regulations governing contraceptive availability. Does anyone think those regulations will enhance womens access to contraceptives? Oh, sure.

But thats just the start. Over the last decade, claims of religious liberty have have gone well beyond the initial quest for the right to engage in rituals and observances that had little impact on others. Now its all about taking positions that reduce or restrict the rights of anyone not claiming that liberty, such as employees. This is how religious liberty shades into religious tyranny.

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.
As the Writers Guild of America moves closer to ratifying its agreement with the major Hollywood studios, key details of the proposed deal have emerged, including increases to the unions employer-funded healthcare plan, which had faced mounting deficits.

Some details of the agreement, which was reached early Tuesday, are contained in a recent summary that the guild sent to members outlining its achievements during the recent round of negotiations. The deal also provides for increases in minimum pay and residuals from streaming TV services such as Netflix and Amazon.

The complete contract hasnt been released by either the WGA or the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the bargaining organization that represents the major Hollywood studios and networks.

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Under the tentative agreement, employer contributions to the guilds health fund are set to rise from 9.5% of writers gross compensation to 10.5% at the start of the agreement. The amount will increase to 11.0% in the second year and to 11.5% in the final year of the three-year contract, resulting in a total of $65 million in additional contributions for the health fund.

WGA members dont pay monthly premiums for healthcare. Instead, the fund relies on contributions from employers who chip in a percentage of writers pay.

During negotiations, the WGA said the health fund faced ballooning deficits as employer contributions have failed to keep up with healthcare expenses. The issue was a key sticking point in the talks, which began in March and saw the two sides walk away from the table twice before reaching a last-minute deal.

The guild also said it has agreed to implement cost savings of $7 million per year for the health fund on about $150 million in annual spending. It said new revenue and savings add up to about $86 million for the fund.

The gains in the health fund will achieve the goal of solvency for the health plan for the duration of the agreement, and for some time thereafter, the guild said in its message to members.

Leaders of the East and West Coast branches of the WGA have approved the deal, which now much be ratified by the unions membership.

The recent negotiations also yielded increases in minimum pay for writers, with most minimums set to rise by 2% in the first year and by 2.5% in both the second and third years of the contract.

Streaming residuals are also set to increase, but the guild provided fewer details. Streaming residuals for the domestic market will kick in for writers after 90 days, instead of after one year. A new residual will be established for streaming content shown outside the U.S., the WGA said.

Additionally, the union said it secured higher pay for writers who spend more than about two-and-a-half weeks working on a TV episode. Writers had complained that their incomes had been eroded by the move toward shorter TV seasons on shows like Amazons Bosch and Netflixs Orange Is the New Black.

david.ng@latimes.com

@DavidNgLAT
Wells Fargo & Co. is making progress toward meeting the requirements of a settlement agreement it reached last year with the Los Angeles city attorneys office but still has a few problems to sort out, according to a report from the bank.

It shows movement toward making consumers whole and changing Wells Fargos business practices for the better  thats a positive thing, City Atty. Mike Feuer said Friday. But by Wells own admission, theres more to be done.

Last year, Wells Fargo agreed to pay $185 million to Feuers office and federal regulators to end investigations into the banks creation of as many as 2.1 million unauthorized accounts. As part of its agreement with Feuers office, the bank agreed to take several steps to address harm done to California customers.

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That included notifying customers that they should visit a branch to review their accounts, pledging to provide printed proof of account closures, refunding fees related to unauthorized accounts and offering a mediation service where customers could demand additional help or repayment.

The settlement also requires the bank to submit audit reports on the settlement to Feuers office every six months. The first of those reports was submitted last month and released Friday.

The eight-page audit found a handful of problems, including that nearly 13,000 customers  less than one-tenth of a percent of total customers  did not receive a notice from the bank last year. It also found that more customers may be eligible for refunds than the bank originally thought. Wells Fargo has not figured out a way to verify workers are providing customers with printed proof of account closures.

The bank is making progress, but Feuer said he still needs more information.

The audit report omits key facts, such as the number of Californians who have received refunds and the total amount of those payments, Feuer wrote this week in a letter to Wells attorney.

Feuer also requested more details on the banks mediation program, such as the number of customers who have requested mediation.

I want to validate that everyone seeking mediation is getting access to that process and moving forward, Feuer said. The people of California and beyond ought to be assured that this process is moving forward as intended.

California Wells Fargo customers who have been denied mediation or customers dissatisfied with the mediation process should call Feuers office at (213) 978-3393 or email mike.n.feuer@lacity.org, he said.

Wells Fargo spokeswoman Jennifer Dunn said the bank is gathering the information Feuer requested and expects to send it soon. She noted, though, that the bank may not be able to provide some information  including information about the outcome of mediation proceedings  because of confidentiality laws.

james.koren@latimes.com

Follow me: @jrkoren
Travelers flying into Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday will get an unusual welcome to the city, even before their planes touch the ground.

Hundreds of volunteers working with the Discover Los Angeles, the areas tourism board, plan to stand in a park just north of the airports runways, holding up signs that spell out Welcome in four languages.

The effort is an attempt by the board to counter the message that tourism officials say is being sent by President Trumps plans to block travel from some majority-Muslim countries and build a wall along the U.S. southern border.

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About 1,000 volunteers who work for hotels, restaurants, airports and other tourism businesses will hold signs that say Welcome in English, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event comes a few weeks after the tourism board released a music video showing people of various ethnic backgrounds hugging, dancing and skateboarding near iconic L.A. tourism spots, including the Original Farmers Market, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Venice Beach and Olvera Street.

The video  titled Everyone Is Welcome  was also created to address the fear that Trumps policies are sending the wrong message to foreign visitors.

In a report released Thursday, Visit California, the states nonprofit tourism bureau, said travel spending in the state was $126.3 billion last year, up about 3% from 2015. It said the industry supported more than 1 million jobs, up 3.4% from 2015.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.
The latest allegations of unethical practices at Wells Fargo are so disturbing that even the bank has called them offensive.

Former bank employees have signed sworn statements saying that they were told to target immigrants in the U.S. illegally, as well as Native Americans and college students as they sought to open sham accounts to meet the banks onerous sales goals.

Submitted as part of a shareholder lawsuit against the banks board, the statements by the former employees from California, Utah, Wisconsin and Arizona detail practices they say they were pushed to use to bring in new customers and open accounts  both legitimate and unauthorized.

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One former Wells Fargo employee said that managers at his Petaluma branch would regularly send Latino employees to a local 7-Eleven convenience store frequented by day laborers.

The Wells Fargo employees were instructed to round up a group of the undocumented workers and drive them back to the Wells Fargo branch to open checking and savings accounts, former employee Denny Russo said in the statement. My colleagues constantly went to and from this location to try to meet their sales goals.

Speaking at this weeks Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Wells Fargo Chief Executive Timothy Sloan said the bank did not target immigrants who are in the country illegally and that it would not be logical to do so.

To target undocumented immigrants makes no sense because you cant do business with undocumented immigrants by federal law, right? Sloan said, according to American Banker. So its nonsensical.

Non-citizens, though, can open U.S. bank accounts using foreign government-issued IDs.

In a statement, Wells Fargo spokesman Ancel Martinez said the practices alleged by former employees never would have been countenanced by the bank.

Make no mistake, such activities have always been against our policies and values and we are confident our practices and controls to guard against such abuses are stronger than ever, he said.

As that shareholder lawsuit and other cases continue, more stories of unethical practices may come out, adding to the already substantial toll the banks accounts scandal has had on its reputation.

Employers seem very powerful and people are often afraid to come forward, said Alexandra Lahav, a professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law. But as people come forward, more people feel empowered to do the same. Thats why events like this are a big risk for companies.

Though Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $185 million to regulators and $142 million to settle a raft of consumer lawsuits, the bank still faces two lawsuits filed by shareholders and a third filed by former employees.

The case that includes allegations that the bank targeted immigrants and other groups was filed in San Francisco Superior Court last year.

Shareholders allege executives and board members failed to properly oversee the banks practices, including the drastic measures workers felt forced to take to meet onerous goals set by regional managers.

Kelsey Hess, who worked at a Wells Fargo branch in a suburb of Salt Lake City, said in her statement that employees were encouraged to go to nearby construction sites, seek out workers there who were in the country illegally, and open unauthorized accounts in their names.

Ricky Hansen Jr., a former Wells Fargo employee in Arizona, said the bank pushed credit card accounts on local Native Americans who went to Wells Fargo branches to cash tribal checks.

In the weeks following each check-cashing day, the Indian community members would flood the store with complaints about unwanted accounts, debit and credit cards they did not order, over-drafted accounts and account fees for accounts they never requested, Hansen said in his declaration.

Angela Payden, who worked at a branch in Hudson, Wisc., said employees at her branch would drive to a University of Wisconsin campus 12 miles away, sign students up for checking accounts, then open other accounts in students names.

Wells Fargo has acknowledged that workers may have opened as many as 2.1 million unauthorized checking, savings and credit card accounts between 2011 and 2015  and has fired 5,300 for allegedly violating its standards. But in its own statement it called the former employees assertions offensive and a violation of policies we have in place to safeguard against abuses.

Attorneys for Wells Fargo and its board members are seeking to have the case dismissed and argued in court filings this week that Judge Curtis Karnow should for now disregard the employees statements. A hearing in that case is scheduled for next week.

In a separate but similar lawsuit, a federal district judge in San Francisco this week rejected the banks motion to dismiss, allowing the case to proceed.

In that case, also filed against board members by Wells Fargo shareholders, Judge Jon S. Tigar said it appears the shareholders make a strong argument that board members knew about widespread illegal activity and consciously disregarded their fiduciary duties to oversee and monitor the company.

Attorneys for Wells Fargo and its board members had argued the case should be dismissed on procedural grounds.

Kevin Lindahl, general counsel for one of the lead plaintiffs in the case, the Fire and Police Pension Assn. of Colorado, said the pension fund looks forward to vigorously prosecuting this case.

Along with the two shareholder suits, the bank is facing a lawsuit filed by a handful of Wells Fargo employees who say they were fired, demoted, denied promotions and forced to work without pay because they refused to resort to unethical practices to meet sales goals.

The bank has not yet responded to that case, filed in federal court in San Francisco in December.

Martinez, the Wells Fargo spokesman, said the bank cannot speculate on pending claims, however, we will advocate strongly for our positions before the court.

Shareholder and employee cases against the bank might be able to proceed to the point where the bank will have to turn over documents and other evidence, which could shed more light on the banks practices. None of the numerous cases filed by bank customers has made it to that point as courts have pushed those cases into private arbitration.

The bank also remains under investigation by the federal Department of Justice, the California Attorney Generals office and other agencies.

james.koren@latimes.com

Follow me: @jrkoren
TISCO's innovation is powering space and nuclear programs and boosting exports

If you see Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co's recently attained capability to make homemade pen-tip steel for ballpoint pens as a sign of focusing on small things, you'd be mistaken. The nation's top maker of stainless steel has decidedly big plans.

For one, TISCO is going global in line with the Belt and Road Initiative. For another, it is strengthening the supply of high-strength and high-end steel available for China's big-ticket projects, such as bullet trains, next generation nuclear power plants and aerospace programs.

It is now a key cog in the massive manufacturing wheel that powers China's endeavors in industry and science.

A technician inspects the surface of a stainless steel component at a factory of Shanxi-based Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co, which is staking its future on research and development efforts. Provided to China Daily

As of March, TISCO started to supply stainless steel to Hualong One, the country's domestically developed third-generation reactor, adding one more name to the list of over 10 completed or under construction nuclear power stations that use only TISCO-made stainless steel.

TISCO's high-end products also will shine on the global stage through integration with the Belt and Road vision of huge advances in infrastructure and trade, company officials say. TISCO-made materials are used in the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, the Temburong Bridge in Brunei, the China-Russia and China-Myanmar natural gas pipelines, a nuclear power station in Pakistan, and even for coins cast in Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland and Brazil.

For China's military forces, TISCO's materials have proved essential in making Dongfeng missile shells and the latest series of destroyers. It is the only qualified Chinese supplier of low-magnetic steel plate for warships and vessels, TISCO officials said in a statement released exclusively to China Daily.

TISCO's staff has worked hard to achieve technical prowess, particularly in research and development. It has further sharpened its competitive edge through research and development, say officials at the company, which is based in Shanxi province.

Last year, TISCO introduced more than 10 new products, which have garnered a more than 70 percent share of the Chinese market.

Its products have given a major boost to the country's aerospace industry, TISCO says.

The company made a number of components for the new Long March 7 Y2 rocket, which lifted China's first cargo spacecraft, the Tianzhou 1, into orbit on April 20. Tianzhou 1 is the nation's largest and heaviest spacecraft.

The Long March 7Y2 included TISCO's stainless steel, electromagnetic pure iron, high-strength alloy structural steel and other materials. The company's materials also played a key role in the Long March 7 Y1 rocket, the Y2's predecessor and an important milestone in Chinese rocket science.

With manufacturing upgrades, State-owned firm shows its mettle

According to the SOE's military and nuclear power business department, TISCO's high-end steel and iron have been widely used in China's crucial aerospace programs, including the Shenzhou spaceship series and the Chang'e lunar orbiters. Rocket engines use TISCO stainless steel that is resistant to high temperatures.

"With Tianzhou 1's launch behind us, we're set to supply essential materials for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, the world's largest and one of the most critical fusion experiments," the company said in the statement to China Daily.

All the moves mark TISCO's proactive expansion beyond China and into the international market, its chairman, Li Xiaobo, said in the statement.

"We need to move fast to figure out potential demand and to design the best material for clients," Li said. "Simply following others isn't going to work. We'll provide optimized solutions to win the (world's) trust."

TISCO's next ambition is to become the world's most competitive stainless steel enterprise, Li said.

TISCO is further fine-tuning its alignment with visionary national campaigns such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Made in China 2025 industrial upgrading plan, and the go-global drive of Chinese enterprises. In doing so, TISCO aims to serve high-end markets as well as burgeoning industries from a global perspective, Li said.

Experts see merit in TISCO's plans. Belt and Road and the go-global drive will create new, long-term opportunities for iron and steel companies, says Chen Ziqi, deputy director of metallurgical and building materials for China International Engineering Consulting Corp.

Zhao Ying, a researcher at the Institute of Industrial Economics, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says that when Chinese companies, particularly SOEs, seek to expand abroad, industrial innovation and long-term investment goals are key to maintaining earnings.

TISCO is allocating 3.5 percent of its annual sales to R&D and innovation, which could mean several billion yuan annually for leading-edge work. This is expected to help it go from a traditional manufacturer to a digital-age global supplier of new products.

"TISCO needs to grab the opportunity presented by supply-side structural reform to expand its product catalog and enhance its competitive edge," Li said.

The company has set a goal to produce 4.5 million metric tons of stainless steel this year, the nation's largest amount. It also intends to top its peers in more than 20 high-end stainless categories, such as steel for spacecraft and nuclear power reactors.

By the end of 2020, TISCO expects high-end and specialized steel to account for 90 percent of its total production, with R&D expenses reaching 5 percent of annual sales.

The company says it made a major breakthrough early this year by launching its duplex stainless steel products - a type of high-strength steel with a high amount of chromium - in Europe's high-end materials market.

"In the past, we had to import steel to produce motors for new energy vehicles, which require extremely good quality," says Zhang Wenkang, chief engineer of TISCO's silicon steel mill. "Now, we've independently developed such material that also performs better in energy efficiency."

Last year, TISCO launched its steel for ballpoint pen tips after spending five years in R&D to develop its own patented technology. It is a breakthrough that could help end China's long reliance on imported products.

Pen-tip steel imports cost the industry $17.3 million a year, according to the China National Light Industry Council.

Contact the writers at [email protected]
The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into Ubers use of a secret software that was used to evade authorities in places where its ride-hailing service was banned or restricted, according to a person familiar with the governments probe.

The investigation, in its early stages, deepens the crisis for the embattled company and its chief executive and founder, Travis Kalanick, who has faced a barrage of negative press this year in the wake of high-profile sexual harassment complaints, a slew of executive departures and a consequential trade-secrets lawsuit from Googles parent company.

The federal criminal probe, first reported by Reuters, focuses on software developed by Uber called Greyball. The program helped the company evade officials in cities where Uber was not yet approved. The software identified and blocked rides to transportation regulators who were posing as Uber customers in an effort to prove that the company was operating illegally.

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Uber declined to comment on the criminal investigation. The Justice Department declined to comment, citing its practice of not confirming or denying possible investigations.

In a letter last week to Portland, Ore., authorities, who had requested information about the program as part of a civil probe, Uber said greyballing refers to the practice of showing some customers a different version of the app than most customers see. Ubers attorneys said that the program was used exceedingly sparingly in Portland and that the company had not used it since April 2015, when Portland adopted preliminary rules allowing Uber to operate.

San Francisco-based Uber, valued privately by investors at close to $70 billion, has a reputation among Silicon Valley companies for a hard-charging workplace culture driven by Kalanick. The 40-year-old is known as a quick-tempered and combative manager who aims to win at all costs and inspires fierce loyalty in his inner circle.

In its earlier years, the company employed cutthroat tactics against its competitor Lyft, which is also based in San Francisco. At one point, Uber employees would summon Lyft drivers and then cancel rides. Kalanick once bragged about a feature, called God View, that it used to track a journalist and other noteworthy individuals. He has charged into legal battles with transportation regulators and taxi drivers in cities across the world.

Until recently, Uber emerged from its many controversies relatively unscathed. It had been on a rocket-ship trajectory, raising more than $12 billion in venture capital, poaching executive talent from Google and setting up shop in 450 cities.

But a series of crises this year has rocked the company and shaken Kalanick to his core, according to people who know him.

In February, a female engineer wrote a blog post about a traumatizing experience of sexual harassment and retaliation from the companys human resources department. After the post went viral, Kalanick apologized and hired former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. to investigate the allegations.

Later that month, Kalanick was caught on video verbally attacking an Uber driver who complained about the companys wages. The video went viral and was followed by more negative press and a slew of executive departures.

Also in February, the company was slammed with a massive trade-secrets lawsuit from its competitor in self-driving cars, Waymo. Waymo, the self-driving car division of Googles parent company Alphabet Inc., charged Uber and a former Google employee of stealing 14,000 documents detailing Waymos proprietary technology. Waymo has requested that a judge temporarily block Ubers self-driving program for the duration of the lawsuit.

Kalanick seemed to acknowledge the gravity of the growing crisis in a late-February letter to his staff. I must fundamentally change as a leader and grow up, he wrote. This is the first time Ive been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it.

Dwoskin and Timberg write for the Washington Post.

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At this point, any movie starring Debra Winger is worth our attention. Since taking a break from Hollywood for six years at the height of her fame in the mid-90s, the three-time Oscar nominee has maintained a mystique as the One Who Walked Away. Which overlooks the fact that since returning to acting in 2001, she has worked steadily, on projects such as Jonathan Demmes Rachel Getting Married and the recent Netflix sitcom The Ranch.

But we like that mystique, Winger says in a recent interview in Los Angeles, breaking into her unmistakable, irrepressible full-throated laugh. Dont list any of my credits. Lets stick with the mystique. Its self-perpetuating sometimes; it doesnt matter what I do.

What she has done now includes The Lovers, in which Winger stars as Mary, a woman having an affair behind the back of her husband, Michael (Tracy Letts). He is too distracted to notice or care because he is carrying on an affair of his own. (Aidan Gillen and Melora Walters play their respective paramours.) An impending visit from their college-age son (Tyler Ross) and his new girlfriend (Jessica Sula) becomes a catalyst for both Mary and Michael to truly shake things up.

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With its powerfully understated and finely detailed performances from Winger and Letts, the picture is a welcome return for writer and director Azazel Jacobs, whose previous film was 2011s Terri starring John C. Reilly and Jacob Wysocki. (In the interim, Jacobs worked on the television series Doll & Em.)

The chemistry between Winger and Letts, the flinty sparks that fly between them, gives The Lovers much of its energy.

I did not know that was going to happen until the first day of shooting. That was a total welcome surprise, Jacobs says in a separate interview. They just from the beginning found this groove with each other and challenged and inspired and just brought everything to a much higher level. Its what youre always hoping for, but its hard to aim for, hard to expect.

They just from the beginning found this groove with each other and challenged and inspired and just brought everything to a much higher level.  The Lovers director Azazel Jacobs

Jacobs recalls that he first met Winger when she came to a screening of Terri. She subsequently sent him a letter of appreciation that he came to cherish. (Winger says she took up letter writing after someone gave her a box of personalized stationary, recounting other notes of thanks and praise to Olivier Assayas, Juliette Binoche and Mike Leigh.)

Jacobs and Winger kept in touch, and he tried out a few ideas on her, but it wasnt until the exploration of marriage in The Lovers that she grew interested enough to participate.

Winger, with bare feet, slim black jeans and a black button-down shirt, sits alongside Letts, the award-winning playwright and actor, who on this day in a West Hollywood hotel suite wears brown boots, gray jeans and a grey fitted T-shirt. Theres an easy back-and-forth between the two, with a cheerful lightness replacing their on-screen marital tension.

I am changed the way people grow and change, but Im not mellow. Ask him.  Debra Winger

While both of their characters in the film carry on affairs outside their marriage, neither Winger nor Letts ever judged them for it, feeling it more important to understand why they behaved the way they did.

Its a really interesting thing to consider what are the things you are willing to judge other people for. And that line changes as I get older, Letts says. Im getting to be a combination of less judgmental and more thin-skinned.

The movies elegantly roving visual style began in part when a Steadicam wouldnt work and cinematographer Tobias Datum suggested a very long dolly shot instead. While Jacobs was initially skeptical, once he saw how well it went, he continued down that path, particularly after he noticed how well Datum and Winger collaborated.

Debra, she knows camera like Ive never experienced in an actress, Jacobs says. Ive never witnessed anybody fall in sync with a cameraperson like that. Hes always predicting where the actors are going, but she could just as easily tell where he wanted to go.

Since Wingers breakout role in Urban Cowboy and on through films such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Terms of Endearment, The Sheltering Sky and Shadowlands, she has been bringing to the screen performances once described by the late L.A. Times critic Charles Champlin as vibrantly sensual.

At the same time, she garnered a reputation as a difficult collaborator, leading Shirley MacLaine to notoriously refer to Wingers turbulent brilliance in an Oscar acceptance speech. Winger also didnt mind saying publicly when she didnt like how a picture had turned out, which broke with many of the unspoken protocols of Hollywood decorum.

Were not pushing the needle by talking about it. Something must be done. Measures must be taken. I dont want to talk about it.  Debra Winger on women in Hollywood

So, has she changed at all in how she approaches her work?

Nope. So you go figure, Winger says with a hint of mischief. I am changed the way people grow and change, but Im not mellow. Looking toward Letts, she adds, Ask him. I am not mellow.

Letts jumps in, adding, In terms of this film, Debra wasnt hard to work with for me at all. I think its not talking out of school to say she liked me, she liked the director, she liked the [director of photography], she liked the script.

Debra isnt somebody who suffers fools, and lets also identify this out loud, shes a woman. And if a woman expresses an opinion, and if she expresses it however she expresses it, grumpy or demanding or whatever spin you want to put on it, theres a whole different value placed on that because shes a woman.

I cant disagree with this very intelligent man, Winger says with a smile. And I didnt ask him to say that.

As Winger has been making her way back into the spotlight over the last few years, it has coincided with a moment when the attention to women in Hollywood, both behind and in front of the camera, has amplified and picked up momentum.

I so ignore it, Winger says. Were not pushing the needle by talking about it. Something must be done. Measures must be taken. I dont want to talk about it. Its the first argument I had with Gloria Steinem, and we continue to have that argument every week when we go out to dinner. I get going out when you have a specific goal or a cause or something you need to accomplish, but opening up a conversation about women in film, I swear to God, I dont get it.

She pauses, then adds, Im going to get in trouble for that.

The sense that Hollywood pushed Winger away, had no place for someone like her, is what led Rosanna Arquette to title a 2002 documentary on women and Hollywood Searching for Debra Winger. (Winger herself has never watched it.) Winger grows suddenly tongue-tied when asked to address the idea that she is an oracle for a younger generation of women.

You do it by example, not by what you say, interjects Letts. Youve done it by example. Youre not going to say anything to summarize the experience of women in Hollywood.

True, Winger says, but I wish that the strength could come from somewhere other than the source of pain. Thats the clue Ive found, and young actresses, I can pick them out, I can see them, and there is a fearlessness and something scary about them at the same time. Because they come with a fierceness that says, I am not going to look for my power from the source that wants to take it away. Thats not who I am going to get involved in the struggle with. My sense of power is going to come from my life. And from, in a way, ignoring that fact that you think I shouldnt be here.

She nevertheless seems well aware of the totemic fascination she holds for people as someone who made her own decisions regarding what is now referred to as work-life balance. But she is also very conscious of the kinds of movies she both wants to be in and wants to see, movies rooted in relationships and genuine human experiences.

For Winger, The Lovers is not a small film.

I think its right-sized, she says. I think this film is right-sized.

REVIEW: In The Lovers, Debra Winger and Tracy Letts give us an achingly poignant portrait of a modern marriage 

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

Mark.Olsen@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter: @IndieFocus

On the generous curiosity of Jonathan Demme and how he allowed audiences along for the ride

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Movies about people with neurological challenges form a robust subgenre: I Am Sam, Awakenings, Girl, Interrupted, Rain Man and plenty others.

These films vary in quality and tone, but they do have one thing in common: a neuro-typical Hollywood actor playing the lead part, thus offering an inherently glossy view of complex lives.

Rachel Israel took a look at these movies and decided to go another way.

The debut filmmaker had a friend with autism  Brandon Polansky, whom she met when they were in the same art class at Florida Atlantic University. She decided to build a romantic comedy around him.

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I like Rain Man; I always have been very moved by it, Israel said. But its taken from the brothers perspective. I wanted to make a human portrait that was from the [neuro-atypical] persons perspective, fully flawed and unsanitized.

That impulse led to a short, Keep the Change, and then a feature by the same name  a New York-set rom-com that explores its autistic characters lives from an intimately first-person point of view. The film is groundbreaking in its own low-key, charmingly naturalist way, one reason it just won a series of top prizes at the Tribeca Film Festival.

As she sat in a New York office last week alongside Polansky and fellow star Samantha Elisofon, Israel described a process thats as hard  or harder  than it sounds.

The filmmaker knew she wanted to cast Polansky. But for the female lead she tried scores of neuro-typical actors first, thinking that it might be easier if she had more experienced actors in other roles.

Then at some point it became clear that wasnt going to work  youd have one actor who was not like the others. It would feel like a kind of exploitation, she said.

Enter Elisofon, who had done some singing and acting and had high-functioning autism. Soon the rest of the cast was filled out with other first-time actors at various points on the autism spectrum. She would show their lives, feelings and, yes, struggles, all from the inside.

Israel crafted a script, coming up with fictional situations for her leads, whom she named David and Sarah. But she also talked to Polansky and Elisofon about their own lives and built many of those moments into the script, then allowed them to improvise during rehearsal and shooting.

The huge fun in this process was all the work that enabled me to discover these gems of human beings, said Israel, who has a masters of fine arts from Columbia University. Then the creative challenge was, can we capture that for the film? She created what she calls booby traps  moments that she thought the actors would respond to with their own nuance and experience, in turn leading to spontaneous authenticity.

The years of development and preparation worked. The finished film has verisimilitude to burn; at times it can almost feel like a documentary.

Much of the setting of Keep the Change involves a support group, in which the neuro-atypical adults form friendships and rivalries as complex as those of any other social dynamic, and also pursue a range of interests, such as musical theater.

And of course at the center of the film is a romantic relationship. Keep the Change deals with some of lifes small painful moments for these characters, down to something as modern, and human, as online dating. Before David and Sarah meet, he often surfs dating websites, where he can be charismatic and direct and win a first date. But in person a series of tics and off-kilter comments can startle the women hes with, leading to some truly heartbreaking scenes. The story is also based on Polanskys own upper-class background and the complicated relationship he has with his parents.

In person, Polansky is quick with a joke  often with a pop-culture awareness, many of them politically incorrect. Elisofon has an exuberant, gregarious manner and is prone to certain go-to phrases, like hotsy-totsy and easy-peasy, which becomes the basis of a playful argument between David and Sarah in the movie.

When I was with Brandon as David and Sarah, it was a mix and match, said Elisofon, in a sun dress on a hot New York day. Sometimes we just talked like we do. But sometimes I was very vulnerable because the character is so emotional.

It wasnt, she said with a knowing smile, so easy-peasy.

Polansky, sitting across from her in dark sunglasses and an all-black ensemble he casually referred to as his Johnny Cash look, noted, It was based on me, but I didnt feel like I was playing myself, he said. Paul Rudd, not Shia LaBeouf.

As Change seeks distribution, it reminds how different indie film looks in 2017: how documentary and narrative can blend, how a new set of sensitivities is giving rise to a fresh class of movies. But ultimately it reinforces that romantic comedies are happening all around us  they just dont look like typical rom-coms.

For a long time that Ive known Brandon I havent thought about autism, Israel said. But when I saw what was happening in his life, with dating, as a willful and driven person, I realized that all these depictions of autism are of someone passive. And the people with autism, who have the most at stake, arent passive. I wanted to change that perception.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

steve.zeitchik@latimes.com

Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT
There have been others to claim the title of unofficial scion of the Sunset Strip, but Mario Maglieri, who died Thursday at age 93, lorded over that realm the longest and witnessed the rise and evolution of the storied West Hollywood live-music hub.

A singular figure who owned two of the most enduring clubs in the neighborhood, the Whisky a Go Go and the Rainbow Bar & Grill, Maglieri fed musicians including Led Zeppelin, Cypress Hill, Guns N Roses, Motorhead and hundreds more and helped just as many land onstage. When the Rainbow opened in 1972, Elton John played the launch party.

Maglieris death was announced on the Rainbows Facebook page.

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Dear Rainbow friends and family, it is with great sadness to announce the passing of our beloved Mario Maglieri. Owner and founder of The Rainbow Bar and Grill and The Whisky a Go Go. He passed this morning while surrounded by loved ones. We will announce services shortly. We ask that you please allow the family time to grieve. Thank you for your understanding.

Mario Mikael Maglieri was born on Feb. 7, 1924, in Sepino, Italy, and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was a toddler. Before moving to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, Maglieri operated clubs and restaurants in Chicago, and relocated at the behest of his Chicago friend Elmer Valentine.

Along with another former Chicagoan, Lou Adler, the trio staked a claim along a few Sunset Boulevard blocks formerly known as a hub for gambling and burlesque.

In addition to helping run the Whisky, Maglieri ran the Roxy after Adler, Valentine, David Geffen and others invested in the business. He, Valentine, Adler and others opened the Rainbow, which became the de facto green room for musicians readying their sets at the Whisky and the Roxy.

I think that the Whisky is really what started the Sunset Strip, said Andrew Sandoval, writer, record producer and longtime Sunset Strip chronicler. Even though the Byrds debuted at [nightclub] Ciros in 1965, the Whisky was already going in 1964 and the a-go-go part of the strip was really born there.

Sandoval described the Whisky as the first real club catering to the 60s generation.

At the Whiskys peak, its stage supported acts including Buffalo Springfield, Jimi Hendrix, the Mothers of Invention, the Doors and Van Morrisons band Them. As artists performed, go-go dancers shimmied above for all to see.

In the 1970s, as the hippie scene wound down and the Troubadour a few blocks south became the center of the singer-songwriter movement, punk rockers began invading the Strip with bands such as the Germs, X, Black Flag and Minutemen.

In the 80s, the Whisky helped drive the nascent metal movement that propelled bands including Guns N Roses and Motley Crue. When grunge killed that scene, bands including Soundgarden, Mudhoney and the Melvins landed at the Whisky. Maglieris son, Mikael, continues to own and run the club.

Through it all, Maglieri witnessed rock n roll excess and inspiration firsthand  though he said hed never so much as smoked a joint himself. John Belushi ate his last meal at the Rainbow before overdosing at the Chateau Marmont. A Times profile from 1993 described Maglieri talking world politics with John Lennon outside the Roxy and buying Janis Joplin one of her last bottles of Southern Comfort. He chided Jim Morrison of the Doors for his drug use.

Asked in another Times interview about the earliest rocker regulars at the Rainbow, Maglieri cited Led Zeppelin in the 1970s. Every time they were in town, theyd party in the middle booth. And them guys know how to party!

The rowdiest? Oh, Guns N Roses! I had to put them out I dont know how many times! Theyd get rowdy and throw bread at people. Theyre good guys, but they get out of hand.

A music fan his entire life, Maglieri didnt play favorites when it came to genre  though he said Sid Vicious and other nihilist punks annoyed him. Asked what his favorite era for music was, he replied: Every year. I love rock n roll. Even the guys coming up, they get an E for effort.

Maglieri is survived by his wife of more than 70 years, Scarlett; his son Mikael and grandchildren Mikael, Cheryl and Gina. A public memorial will be held at the Rainbow Bar & Grill at 1 p.m. on May 28.

For tips, records, snapshots and stories on Los Angeles music culture, follow Randall Roberts on Twitter and Instagram: @liledit. Email: randall.roberts@latimes.com.

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For a moment, the conversation is light. Its a blustery spring day on the Paramount lot and Katherine Langford, who just turned 21, and Dylan Minnette, 20, are talking about some of the Internets more playful obsessions  the face-transforming software FaceApp and unicorn frappuccinos.

It looks disgusting, Langford says, her Australian accent undisguised, of the vibrant, multi-colored Starbucks concoction.

Minnette chimes in: It looks like the wet dream of frappuccinos.

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Then the conversation gets a bit heavier. Its been a few weeks since the March 31 release of 13 Reasons Why, the Netflix drama about a teenage girls suicide in which the pair stars, and they are in the thick of it, juggling appearances on Ellen with this weekends MTV Movie & TV Awards.

And then theres the other part of it. The part they knew would inevitably take shape given the shows fraught subject matter: the backlash.

The 13-episode adaptation of Jay Ashers bestselling novel quickly blew up laptops of American teenagers, and one by one, anxious-to-angry headlines followed.

Does 13 Reasons Why Glamorize Teen Suicide?

Critics say 13 Reasons Why has artistic merit. Suicide prevention experts say its dangerous.

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As hot takes and think pieces about the shows merits and flaws began to pile up across the Web, superintendents, teachers and other school officials around the country began issuing warnings to parents: that its content may be inappropriate for young viewers  for its depiction of suicide and sexual assault, among them  and that it might be viewed as glamorizing suicide.

But then too came comments like the ones on Langford and Minnettes Instagram pages: I hope that a lot of people will reflect about the consequences that the harassment on the life of somebody can have and I watched the whole series with my dad and Im a mother of a 17 year old and i finished watching it today, every parent should watch this show.

The series chronicles the aftermath of the suicide of 17-year-old Hannah Baker (Langford) and examines issues of slut-shaming, rape and social media harassment in the process. Hannah leaves behind a series of audiotapes to be listened to by the people she holds responsible  including her rapist, her estranged friends and those who bullied her. Clay (Minnette), a classmate and friend of Hannahs, guides viewers through the various tapes.

Given the nature of Hannahs story, and the general issues of responsibility that inevitably surround suicide, the controversy is not surprising and Langford and Minnette say they get it.

I think you always, with anything, need to have different viewpoints, Langford says, seated inside an office on the studio lot. Everyone is going to relate and react to [the show] differently depending on their personal context.

If youre making anything that centers around this kind of story and these topics adds Minnette, people are going to have issues with it.  Nobodys opinions or feelings about the show are invalid.

In a later phone interview, series creator Brian Yorkey adds to the chorus  giving credence to the idea that dialogue, however charged it may get, is beneficial.

I have tremendous respect for everyones point of view, he says. I wouldnt want to tell anyone that they have to watch it. I wouldnt want to tell anyone that it is panacea for everybody; no piece of film or television is. But, he adds, I always believe talking about things is better than silence.

In response to the growing concerns, Netflix strengthened its advisory warnings. The series has a TV-MA rating and debuted with graphic content warnings on two of its most intense episodes; an additional warning was put on the first episode.

Although groundbreaking in its tone and graphic depiction, 13 Reasons Why is not operating in a vacuum. Teenage mental health fuels story lines in every arena, including Broadway. The hit musical, Dear Evan Hansen, which examines themes of bullying, loneliness and suicide, was recently nominated for the best musical Tony award.

These issues are relevant and real, says Langford. Often, when youre growing up, you dont know whats wrong. We dont talk openly enough about mental illness. How do you know  especially today with the incredibly high stress teens are put under during high school  if you have depression or if you have a mental illness or if you have anxiety? You dont know, because youve never seen it.

Writers on the series, which touts pop star Selena Gomez as an executive producer, enlisted the guidance of mental health experts to help craft their depictions, and Netflix created a website (13reasonsswhy.info) that offers information and assistance. The series is also accompanied by an after-show, Beyond the Reasons, in which the cast, producers and mental health professionals discuss the issues raised in the series.

What interested me from the get-go was that it sounded like they wanted to address this in a very mature and straightforward way with young females and engage families, says Dr. Helen Hsu, a clinical psychologist with the city of Fremont who served as a consultant on the show. I feel like, as adults, we have a tendency to almost infantilize kids  Oh, they cant see this  when theyre usually way ahead of us. I felt this could be an opportunity to start some conversation and provide some tools.

Precautions were also made to ensure the cast had adequate resources during the grueling production. Therapists who work with suicide survivors were on hand to answer questions. Therapy dogs made a rotation on set.

It made for a safe and comfortable set, the actors say, though each had different experiences.

Im lucky, says Minnette, whose other acting credits include Goosebumps and Scandal. I have this ability to really leave set and just cut off from it immediately.

Yeah, I was always of the mind-set that you leave work at work, Langford agrees, noting that shed watch reruns of The Office or play music on a $50 piano she bought when she moved to Northern California to shoot the show.

But playing this role, it was something I couldnt completely cut off from, she adds. I thought about her a lot. I always kept her very present.

Langford gets emotional when delving further.

I am Katherine Langford and Katherine Langfords life, luckily ... is very different from Hannahs, she says while fighting back tears.

It hit me halfway through shooting  I just thought: I get to have a finish date and go on with life, she recalls. But there are people out there going through these exact same things that dont have that.

While Hannah Bakers tapes reached an end, there is still room for story, Yorkey says and there has been talk of a second season. Netflix has not yet made a statement, and some wonder where the show could go in Season 2.

Not Yorkey.

Hannahs story isnt over  she has parents who still dont have the complete story, he says. Theres a rapist who hasnt been brought to justice and theres a living survivor of that rapist who is just beginning her journey of recovery.

Part of the problem with our culture is that we say, Oh, the storys done, he adds. Rapes are treated, at best, as a multi-episode arc within a season, when anyone whos experienced rape knows its a lifelong story. If we left these 13 episodes out in the world with [the rapist] not being brought to justice  Itd be incredibly dissatisfying to me.

Langford and Minnette too are curious to know the shows fate and where it goes from here. But for now, theyre taking in the present.

These two girls came up to me the other day and they were from overseas and they were like, Everyone is watching it. What you guys are doing is incredible. To hear in person that people from the other side of the world are watching this and that its had an impact  thats amazing.

The most-read Entertainment stories this hour 

13 Reasons Why

Where: Netflix

When: Any time

Rating: TV-MA (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 17)

yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com

Twitter: @villarrealy

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Chrissy Teigen set the Internet abuzz after revealing she codesigned a palette with Becca last month, but she kept the day it would go on sale shrouded in mystery.

On Thursday, Teigen revealed todays release date  just hours before the Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palettes launch on Sephoras app in the U.S. Later this month, the $46 palette will see wider distribution at Sephora and Ulta doors throughout the U.S.

For me, it was really to use colors that would resonate with all sorts of [skin] shades, Teigen told WWD Thursday evening, the first interview shes given about the collaboration. She said the palette was heavily influenced by the colors her makeup artist Mary Phillips uses when prepping her for the red carpet.

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The result: a four-color kit comprised of Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter in Rose Gold and Beach Nectar (a new shade); Sunlit Bronzer in Malibu Soleil, and Luminous Blush in Hibiscus Bloom, a golden pink coral.

Ill tell you, before the baby Id get a spray [tan] every two to three days  truly, Im not kidding. And then I just stopped really because I just got exhausted thinking about it, and then I became a different shade. Every time I went into makeup stores Id buy three of every color because I never knew what color Id be, Teigen continued, insisting that the colors in her palette look good on everyone. They always make me look glowy and fresh and awake.When youre feeling like you have no energy and not a single color pigment in you, thats what these colors do for you.

A global rollout will kick off on May 29 when the palette hits Sephora in-store and online in France. June 1 will see a rollout at Space NK and Cult Beauty in the U.K.; on June 8, Sephora doors in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia, as well as select sephora.com sites throughout the Asia-Pacific, will start to sell the product. Between late June and early July, the palette will enter Sephora doors in Italy, Scandinavia, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey, and in October, Sephora doors in the Middle East and Latin America will introduce the collaboration.

There is a way to use every single aspect. Ive had makeup artists tell me the bronzer is wonderful on eyes. You hear people using it for different things. Its just like cooking, I swear to God. I dont want people to think there are set rules for everything, Teigen added.

This isnt Beccas first product partnership.

Last year, the brand and beauty vlogger Jaclyn Hill released the $52 Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette, which reportedly sold out all 20,000 units in 90 minutes, or roughly $1 million in sales, via Sephoras mobile app. Hills first collaboration with the brand  a Champagne Pop highlighter  sold 25,000 units on sephora.com in just 20 minutes.

Teigens launch  due to her massive reach on social media and an arsenal of engaged fans  could surpass Hills blockbuster first 90 minutes of sales.

Arguably, Teigen  with 12.4 million followers on Instagram  has a broader reach than Hill, who has 4.1 million and four million followers on Instagram and YouTube, respectively. Hill, while well-known in the beauty community, has yet to reach the celebrity and household name recognition of Teigen.

When asked if Becca would be producing more than the 20,000 units it did when launching Hills palette last year with Sephora, Robert DeBaker, chief executive officer of Becca, said the brand is producing more only because our brand is bigger and were global.

A year ago we werent trading in all the markets in the world, so by default that were sold on a global level we had to produce more.How we activated things related to the collection last year were specific to what we were doing at that moment, DeBaker said. It isnt like we took last years playbook and said, How do we take this palette with this influencer and plug it in. Were a different brand at this point. Jaclyn Hill and that collaboration had its own set of dynamics that related to her community. This one is a totally different feel.

DeBaker insisted that its Teigens engaged followers  not whether she was a beauty influencer or a celebrity  was what solidified her as the next collaborative partner for Becca. Instagram posts featuring her daughter Luna, for example, regularly get close to one million likes and thousands of comments.

We cold-called her. We pitched her through a cold call  and it worked, said Annie Bystryn, vice president of marketing at Becca. What we proposed wasnt an endorsement on product but putting together apalette where she could have input in the shades and also the design.

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Lindsay Cutshall and Jason Allen were on a three-day sightseeing tour of Northern California in 2004 when they were shot to death at their campsite on a remote beach in Sonoma County.

The slayings, just weeks before the couple were to be married, stunned the area and remained a cold case for more than a decade.

But on Friday, a 38-year-old Forestville man was accused of the crime.

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Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas said Shaun Gallon gunned down Cutshall, 22, and Allen, 26, as they camped on a beach in Jenner.

Gallon, who was long considered a person of interest in the killings, was arrested in March in connection with the slaying of his younger brother, Shamus, and made comments to detectives that opened new leads in the beach killings.

Freitas said he does not believe Gallon knew the victims, and a motive in the 2004 slayings remains unclear. The sheriff expressed relief that the 13-year-old cold case had finally been closed, describing it as a random crime.

Theres a lot of joy and happiness that there has been resolution, he said.

Cutshall and Allen, who had been working at a Christian whitewater rafting camp outside Sacramento, were each shot in the head with a .45-caliber Marlin rifle, police previously said.

The couple were set to be wed by Cutshalls father at his church in her native home of Fresno, Ohio, the next month.

We are extremely pleased that our childrens murderer is in custody where he belongs, read a statement from Cutshalls and Allens families, read by Freitas at the press briefing. We praise the Lord for his capture.

Freitas would not say what made Gallon a person of interest in the killings in 2004. The sheriffs office received approximately 1,200 calls about the case at the time of the crime, according to Freitas, who said some of the tips pointed them in Gallons direction.

Gallon was arrested in his brothers shooting death in March, and detectives decided to interview him about the Jenner shootings again, Freitas said.

He had information about the killings that no other person could have known, the sheriff said.

Gallon killed his younger brother with a .223-caliber rifle on March 24, and was arrested with the murder weapon in his possession, according to a statement released by the sheriffs office earlier this year. Gallons mother told investigators that he had shot his brother, according to the statement.

The motive in that killing was not immediately clear, a sheriffs department spokesman said Friday. Gallon has been charged with murder in his brothers death, but he has not yet been formally charged in the deaths of Cutshall and Allen, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum, a sheriffs office spokesman.

Police had previously suspected Joseph Henry Burgess, a New Jersey native who had long been sought by Canadian police in a pair of 1972 shooting deaths on Vancouver Island, as the beach killer.

The shootings seemed eerily similar to the deaths of Ann Barbara Durrant and Leif Bertil Carlsson, who were also killed with a rifle. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police had issued a warrant for Burgess arrest in the Vancouver Island killings, and contacted investigators in Sonoma County after the Jenner beach slayings made headlines, according to a detailed account of Burgess alleged crimes published by the Los Angeles Times in 2007.

Burgess died in a shootout with police in New Mexico in 2009. At the time, Sonoma County sheriffs investigators were sent to New Mexico to see if Burgess left any evidence, including DNA, that would link him to the deaths of Cutshall and Allen.

Burgess was formally ruled out as a suspect years ago, authorities said.

james.queally@latimes.com

peter.king@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.

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This article was originally published at 12:15 p.m.
A Palmdale city councilman asked Mayor Jim Ledford to take a leave of absence after the Los Angeles district attorneys office served search warrants at the mayors City Hall office and home this week.

City Councilman Austin Bishop said that several steps need to be taken to maintain the citys integrity in light of the investigation into Ledford, who has come under fire, in part, because of a consulting job for which he was paid roughly $180,000 from 2010 to 2013.

We ask Mayor Ledford, in light of both his years of service, and the seriousness of this investigation, to take a voluntary leave of absence from all duties of the Office of Mayor until this investigation is complete, Bishop said in a statement released Friday. This will show ours and his commitment to put our residents first, and allow him to resume his duties should he be exonerated.

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The district attorneys office served search warrants at Ledfords City Hall office and home on Wednesday, according to Ledfords former campaign manager and a city spokesman. Prosecutors served warrants at four additional locations, according to a spokeswoman for the district attorneys office, who declined to disclose those locations or to comment on the nature of the investigation.

Bishop, 29, said he became aware that warrants were being served Wednesday morning when the acting city manager called him. He last spoke with Ledford on Tuesday evening at the end of a City Council meeting. The mayor has kept a low profile since the warrants were executed, according to Bishop, who said Ledford did not appear at a scheduled meeting Wednesday.

Im not sure where Ledford is, he said.

Bishop said that it is his understanding that any elected official who is under investigation cannot take part in City Council votes.

We want everything to go back to normal in a sense, Bishop said while standing in the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. We want the D.A. to get to the bottom of this, and once everything is sorted out we can go from there.

Ledford, 63, has served as Palmdales mayor since 1992 and coasted to reelection in 2016.

The city does not have term limits. Calls and emails to Ledford seeking comment have not been returned since Thursday morning. A city spokesman declined to comment on Bishops call for Ledford to take a leave of absence.

A law enforcement official told The Times on Thursday that prosecutors are looking into a quid pro quo relationship involving Ledford but declined to elaborate. The official requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

Part of the investigation involves a job Ledford took with a Complex Culture Change Consulting in Palmdale, which paid him nearly $180,000 between 2010 and 2013, according to court transcripts and the mayors former campaign manager, Kamal Al-Khatib.

During a 2013 deposition in an unrelated lawsuit against the city, Ledford said he researched educational conferences for the firm but struggled to explain or provide evidence of any actual work he produced, court records show.

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, a fierce opponent of Ledford who was serving as an attorney for the plaintiffs in that case, has said Ledford essentially took a no-show job from people who benefited from City Council decisions.

The head of the consulting firm that hired Ledford, Susan Miller, was also the executive director of the Aero Institute in Palmdale, which leased a rent-free building from the city during the time Ledford was employed by the firm, according to the 2013 deposition.

The Aero Institute was also one of the locations where a warrant was served on Wednesday, according to a city spokesman. An employee who answered the phone at the Aero Institute hung up when contacted by a Times reporter on Thursday.

A complaint about Ledfords consulting job and relationship with the Aero Institute and Miller was also filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission in 2013, records show.

City Hall and the Aero Institute were closed Friday. No one answered the door at the home of the institutes president, Kimberly A. Shaw.

No one answered the door at Ledfords home. One of his neighbors looked down from her second-floor balcony. She declined to give her name and shrugged her shoulders when asked when she last saw the mayor.

Hes my friend. I support him, she said.

Bertha Terry, who lives a couple of doors down from the mayors home, said she saw a swarm of police appear at Ledfords door Wednesday morning about 7:30 a.m.

I was like What happened? she said. I thought one of the neighbors had died or something.

Patricia Salazar, who cleans homes and works as an organizer for an immigrant rights organization, said she didnt know the mayor lived on her block until this week.

She said she likes Ledford because of his work on behalf of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, and knocked on doors in support of his last mayoral bid in 2016.

Noting that the investigation may center around Ledfords relationship with certain city contractors, Bishop said the city should consider suspending financial relationships with any businesses involved in the district attorneys review.

On Thursday, Miller declined to explain the consulting firms purpose or describe what Ledford did during his time employed there. The firm was shut down in 2013, and Miller said she spoke with the district attorneys office four years ago but declined to offer specifics.

Al-Khatib, his former campaign manager, has insisted the investigation is a politically motivated witch hunt driven by Parris and other Ledford enemies. Bishop downplayed such speculation Friday.

I think people like to run wild with stories, but I dont really believe our district attorney would go put all this on the city unless they have sufficient evidence, he said. I dont think anyone tells the D.A. what to do.

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.

benjamin.oreskes@latimes.com

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @boreskes and @JamesQueallyLAT for breaking news.

UPDATES:

3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from neighbors of Mayor Jim Ledford.

1:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from Bishop.

This article was originally published at 12:35 p.m.
The California coast is teeming with young sharks, as warming waters and abundant food have created the ideal conditions for feeding, according to experts.

In Southern California, great white sharks have begun to arrive after spending the winter off Baja California. Recently, one of the sharks bit a chunk out of a mothers leg as she swam off San Onofre State Beach.

The woman, 35-year-old Leanne Ericson of Vista, remains in critical condition and has undergone two of several surgeries scheduled for her injuries, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

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She lost a lot of blood and was temporarily in an induced coma.

We are grateful for all of the concern, prayers and good wishes we have received in recent days from the many friends and strangers who have reached out to us from across the country, and indeed, the world, read a statement from Ericsons family, released to the Union-Tribune through Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. The situation could have been far graver had it not been for the number of emergency response personnel and others who provided the care she needed and saved her life.

Chris Lowe, a biology professor and director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach, said the shark that attacked Ericson on Saturday was likely not a full grown adult and mistook her for food. Typically, young great whites will feed on fish and rays.

They have to learn to feed on their own and theyre naive, Lowe said. They dont know how to chase down big prey.

Adult great whites feed on sea lions and other marine life off islands such as Catalina and San Nicholas, Lowe said. Though its not exactly known where the mothers give birth, their babies immediately head toward the shore once theyre born. The sharks are normally off the Southlands shores between May and October.

But last year, warm waters triggered by El Nino conditions kept the sharks here longer into the winter and drew them back earlier in the spring. Some of the 2- and 3-year-old sharks are here again earlier this year, Lowe said, though hes not sure why.

Maybe it just wasnt cold enough to move those migrations. We just dont know whats going on this year, Lowe said.

But thats not the only shark mystery this year.

In San Francisco Bay, a huge die-off of leopard sharks and bat rays has sparked concerns among marine life experts.

For weeks now, dead leopard sharks  newborns and mature adults  have been washing up on beaches from San Mateo to Bolinas. Officials with the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation in Monterey believe years of debris, trash and chemical waste pent up in Bay Area storm drains and waterways have finally been washed into the bay due to this winters epic storms and are killing the creatures that live there.

Tide gates inside the bay that close during high tide to prevent flooding during a storm can also trap sharks and bat rays in the bay, where theyre then exposed to, and unable to escape, toxic runoff.

This is an issue of San Francisco Bay sharks and associated wildlife being exposed to toxic watershed  due to Tide Gate entrapment and subsequent discharges into the San Francisco Bay, the center wrote on Facebook last week.

At the peak of the die-off, dozens of dead sharks were found daily along the coastline, the foundation said. The number of dead sharks has begun to drop in the last week.

In Southern California, however, the shark population is thriving.

On Thursday, Orange County Sheriffs Sgt. Steve Marble said deputies with the harbor patrol in Dana Point spotted a group of four 6- to 8-foot great whites at the surf line.

Other popular areas for sharks this year include Ventura, Santa Monica and Belmont Shores, Lowe said.

Weve learned that these baby white sharks are temperature- sensitive and they dont like temperatures above 80 degrees. They have this sweet spot, and Southern California is the perfect place from late spring to mid-fall, Lowe said. Then Baja becomes the sweet spot.

Lowes researchers recently tracked a 1-year-old shark that stayed around Huntington Beach for 30 days, then moved up to Santa Monica in a matter of hours. It stayed there for a month.

Despite the public panic a shark attack can create, Lowe says the coastline is safe if you look at statistics.

Its horribly unfortunate these things happen, but the reality is people are going to go out surfing and its not something that happens every day, he said. Accidents do happen and thats what we think these are. Theres no indication these sharks have any penchant for eating people.

Otherwise, Huntington Beach would be a one-stop shop for sharks in the Pacific, he joked.

When young sharks have attacked, it has typically been when swimmers have been alone, farther out in the water and along remote stretches of beach not crowded with hundreds or thousands of other people.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

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The wrongful termination case of a former West Hollywood City Council aide opened this week, with an attorney telling jurors that his client was fired for reporting the sexual harassment of a colleague and illegal electioneering at City Hall.

West Hollywood retaliated against former council deputy Michelle Rex for complaining about the treatment of Councilman John Durans deputy, attorney Mark Quigley said as the trial began in a downtown Los Angeles civil courtroom.



For the record: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to Mark Quigley as a defense attorney. He is the plaintiffs attorney for Michelle Rex.

This is about sexual harassment, retaliation and termination, Quigley told jurors in his opening statements on Thursday. Rex, he said, told the truth, and she got fired.

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Rex, a former aide to Councilman John DAmico, was employed as part of a controversial council deputy system that spawned high salaries, political infighting and scandals involving allegations of sexual innuendo and office spying.

For three decades, each part-time elected City Council member had a full-time deputy, who typically earned a six-figure salary, plus full benefits and membership in a five-person union that sometimes took positions on items pending before the City Council.

The council voted to eliminate the deputy system in June 2015, after a headline-grabbing scandal involving Duran and his deputy, Ian Owens.

Owens was suspended, with pay, from his job in January 2015, amid allegations that he bugged the office of Councilman John Heilmans deputy, Fran Solomon.

Owens suspected that Solomon was soliciting campaign contributions for her boss, who was running for reelection, on city time. He sent what he said were details of her telephone conversations to reporters and others, saying he went public with his allegations only after being ignored by Duran.

After his suspension, Owens sued the city, saying Duran had ignored his complaints because he was angry Owens had spurned his sexual advances. Duran acknowledged that he hired Owens after they met in 2012 via Grindr  a smartphone dating app for gay and bisexual men  and were sexually intimate.

Rex was interviewed as part of an investigation into the conduct at City Hall and verified Owens claims, according to her attorneys. Rex reported that she had witnessed Duran making sexual comments toward Owens and openly discussing his sex life, and that Duran had shown her pictures of naked men, according to her lawsuit.

Because Rex and Owens reported inappropriate behavior, city officials concocted a scheme to terminate the Council Deputy program, Rexs lawsuit states.

Because of dramatic changes in the City Councils five-person membership in 2015  including the elections for two at-large seats and a special election for a seat vacated by Jeffrey Prang after he became county assessor  there were only two full-time deputies employed when the council decided to eliminate the deputy system: Rex and Owens.

Rex was formally terminated in January 2016 and says the city refused to consider her for any other positions.

She was crushed, Quigley told jurors. She wanted her job back, and she realized she couldnt get it back.

Quigley said the council inappropriately abolished the deputy system as a direct result of the scandal and the negative publicity it garnered.

For 30 years, everybody loved it, Quigley said of the deputy system. It worked fine. No problems.

The deputies were replaced by a team of city employees who provide services for all the council members.

Steve Rothans, the attorney representing the city, refuted those claims, saying the deputy program was inherently dysfunctional and had been a problem for decades. The timing for restructuring the program was ideal, he said, because of the openings on the City Council.

Rothans described the deputies as glorified personal assistants with bloated salaries. They picked up council members laundry, drove them to the airport, walked their dogs and often didnt show up for work until mid-day, he said.

Resident after resident would say to the council that the deputies should be eliminated, and no other city in Los Angeles County has a program like we have at the cost, Rothans said.

The atmosphere at City Hall, Rothans said, had become toxic because of spats between deputies, who were loyal to their council members and wouldnt talk to each other if their bosses were fighting.

Rothans said there were no accusations of sexual harassment until Owens was suspended. Rex and Duran were friends, he said, who socialized outside work, went to parties and danced on a table together.

Owens, who sued the city and his boss for sexual harassment and wrongful punishment, received a $500,000 settlement. Under the terms of the settlement, Duran and the city admitted no wrongdoing.

At a council meeting weeks later, Duran called Owens and Rex two of the most detested employees at City Hall.

hailey.branson@latimes.com

Twitter: @haileybranson
Three years ago, French photographer and curator Sam Stourdze brought the world's most renowned photo festival - the Rencontres d'Arles - to Jimei, a district in the coastal city of Xiamen, Southeast China's Fujian province. It was Rencontres' debut in China and also the first time the festival had been staged outside France.

In November, the third Jimei Arles photo festival will stage another visual feast in Xiamen, showcasing both photos selected from the 2017 Rencontres in France and some produced by Chinese photographers.

When East and West imaginations meet

In a recent interview with China Daily, Jimei Arles festival cofounder Rong Rong said, this year, eight projects from the Rencontres will be featured, but they are still in discussions about which works to select.

"They will be tailored according to Chinese audiences' tastes."

The final list will be unveiled in September.

Rong, who is a pioneering Chinese photographer, said the month-long event will also include lectures, book fairs, forums, and workshops, serving as a platform not only for admiring art but also for sharing photography experience and ideas.

Last year, nearly 40 exhibitions were shown in Jimei, attracting over 50,000 visitors from both China and abroad, according to its organizers. Among them, eight are from the Rencontres.

A diverse collection of photos

The Rencontres d'Arles is celebrating its 48th anniversary in Southern France in July, with the theme The Experience of Territory.

With approximately 40 exhibitions, the Rencontres will put its international focus on Colombia this year, showcasing works of nearly 30 Colombian professional photographers. It will also offer a glimpse of Iran from 1979-2017 through the lens of Iranian photographers.

Big names for the 2017 Rencontres will include Joel Meyerowitz, Michael Wolf, Marie Bovo, Mathieu Pernot and Roger Ballen.

Meanwhile, a fine collection of Amelie star Audrey Tautou's photos will meet the public for the first time in 15 years.

Emerging young Chinese photographers

Liu Silin, a young Chinese photographer, will hold a solo show in the 2017 Rencontres, in the emerging artists category.

She is the only Chinese artist to be included this year, after winning the 2016 Jimei Arles Discovery Award.

"The new generation of Chinese artists is very aware of international trends," Stourdze told China Daily. "Like Silin, she knows exactly what's happening in the world, and plays with that knowledge with her local experiences to produce a new art form. It's not about documenting changes in China, but (instead), it's going global."

"This is quite different from what Chinese artists were like some 10 years ago," he added.

Pushing for development of Chinese photography

The Jimei Arles aims to build one of the most influential photo festivals in Asia, according to Stourdze.

"Today's Jimei Arles is like what Rencontres was like 30 years ago. I believe, 30 years later, Jimei will become one of the major photo festivals in Asia."

China is still lagging behind its European and Japanese counterparts in photography, Rong told China Daily.

"Chinese photography only has a history of some 200 years, which is far shorter than other art forms such as calligraphy and paintings," Rong said.

"China's art system didn't pay enough attention to photography as an art form. For a long time, photography has been more widely seen as a means of news communication, rather than a form of art. The importance of photography has not yet been realized or acknowledged," he continued.

To promote the development of Chinese photography, Rong and his wife, Inri, a Japanese artist, founded the Three Shadows Photography Art Center in 2007, which has now grown into a leading photo institution in China. In 2008, the institution set up the Three Shadow Discovery Award to encourage young Chinese people to explore their imaginations through the lens.

When asked about the future of Chinese photography, Rong is optimistic. "With more and more young people passionate about taking up photography as a career or hobby, I'm confident that Chinese photography has a bright future ahead."
Raymond Schultze, director of the UCLA Medical Center during a period of remarkable growth and later a front-line practitioner who helped establish a dialysis clinic in the Owens Valley to bring needed help to Native American patients, has died at age 83.

Charged with helping bring the medical center into the ranks of the best of the West, Schultze was instrumental in the creation of UCLA Medical Plaza, now a sprawling and distinguished medical campus.

Part of Schultzes mission when he was named director in 1980 was to help the medical center shift its focus from being a primary facility that treated hospitalized patients to a center that treated people on an outpatient basis. Today, UCLA says it treats more than 700,000 patients annual at the clinics and other facilities at the medical center.

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When Schultze retired in 1995, he was persuaded to help open a dialysis center in Bishop that could serve Toiyabe tribal members. Native Americans have a far greater chance of developing diabetes and kidney-related disease than other racial groups in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Schultze heard about the need during one of his frequent hiking and fishing trips to the eastern Sierras. He agreed to help launch the clinic, and then volunteered to work there.

Raised in Missouri, Schultze earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis and served his internship at UCLA. He joined the faculty in 1969 and was the chief of the schools division of nephrology, executive vice chairman of the department of medicine and associate dean of administration for the School of Medicine before being named director of the medical center.

From 1986 until 1992, he also served as the administrative vice chancellor.

After he retired, Schultze and his wife established the Nancy Lynn Schultze Scholarship Fund to help Latina students attend medical school at UCLA. He also served as president of the Venice Family Clinic, which provides affordable medical care to low-income families.

In a 2001 opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times, Schultze took county politicians to task, suggesting they were dragging their feet on solving a problem that lingers still  providing medical treatment to those without insurance. At the time, nearly 3 million county residents were without health insurance and stopgap federal funding that provided affordable medical treatment were soon to be reduced.

If nothing changes, he wrote, aiming his anger at county supervisors for failing to solve the problem, what can we expect to happen in two years? Crisis. Cutbacks. Closures.

Schultze, who was battling pancreatic cancer, died April 14 in Thousand Oaks.

He is survived by his wife, Helen; a daughter, Elaine Smith; a son, Raymond Schultze II; and a sister, Patricia Edenburn.

steve.marble@latimes.com

Twitter: @stephenmarble
Up for Senate reelection more than 60 years ago, Lyndon B. Johnson became gripped by fear that nonprofits were pumping large sums of cash into efforts to elect his opponent, a millionaire rancher and oilman named Dudley Dougherty.

So Johnson, a Texas Democrat, got creative.

In 1954, he pushed a new rule that would change the Internal Revenue Service tax code to say that tax-exempt nonprofits, including charities, churches and other religious groups, would be stripped of their tax status if they got involved in partisan politics, such as directly or indirectly supporting a candidate for office.

Since then, the Johnson Amendment has perhaps caused the greatest division among groups historians say were probably not Johnsons prime target: houses of worship and religious leaders.

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So when President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order saying he was essentially directing the IRS to stop investigating religious groups for preaching politics from the pulpit, conservative evangelicals cheered. They said it was a victory for religious freedom and free speech. They said pastors could now openly support politicians they agree with on issues like abortion and gay rights.

Conservatives also praised a section of the order designed to allow religious groups to avoid a mandate to provide contraception coverage under President Obamas healthcare law, which would expand an exemption won through courts.

Grateful for Executive Order's affirmation of the need to protect religious freedom. Much, much more needed, especially from Congress.  Russell Moore (@drmoore) May 4, 2017

.@realdonaldtrumps Exec Order protects religion like a chainsaw protects trees.  Rabbi Rick Jacobs (@URJPresident) May 4, 2017

At the same time, many liberal faith leaders bemoaned the presidents move on nonprofits. They said it would weaken the separation of church and state and detract from nonpartisan traditions of faith. The Union for Reform Judaism  the largest Jewish denomination in the country  said Trumps move could open the floodgates to turn worship services into campaign rallies.

But experts say the order, which does not change rules on the books but simply tells the IRS that it can ignore them, may not have a significant impact, largely because the anti-politicking rule has not been widely enforced.

Since 2008, at least 2,000 pastors have taken part in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, a coordinated preaching effort across the U.S. in which they challenge the ban by getting political in sermons. According to Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that promotes the event, the IRS has only investigated one church that participated.

Since 1954, the IRS has rarely investigated nonprofits for endorsing campaigns.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State says it has reported at least 124 houses of worship to the IRS since 1996 for unlawful political activity. But only some of those reports have resulted in IRS warnings or investigations and fewer have led groups to lose their tax status.

In 2004, the IRS launched a program called the Political Activities Compliance Initiative that investigated at least 82 religious groups for endorsing partisan politics in election cycles through 2008. But enforcement has slowed since 2009, when the IRS lost a lawsuit in Minnesota against the Living Word Christian Center, which had endorsed Republican Michele Bachmann to represent Minnesota in Congress. A judge tossed out the suit on a technicality.

In a document that was released as part of a 2014 lawsuit filed by the Freedom from Religion Foundation based in Madison, Wis., the IRS wrote to the Department of Justice that there were 99 churches that merited a high priority examination for violations between 2010 and 2013. Its not clear whether all 99 were investigated.

Here are some of the most prominent cases in which the Johnson Amendment was applied.

Branch Ministries, New York

In 1992, Branch Ministries, a church that operated under the name the Church at Pierce Creek, ran ads in newspapers including the Washington Times and USA Today against presidential candidate Bill Clinton.

Christians Beware. Do not put the economy ahead of the Ten Commandments, said the ads, which were published four days before the presidential election. Bill Clinton is promoting policies that are in rebellion to Gods laws.

Tax-deductible donations for this advertisement gladly accepted, said fine print in the ads.

The federal governments investigation into the organization lasted through 1995, when its tax-exempt status was revoked.

The National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People

In July 2004, NAACP President Julian Bond criticized President George W. Bush in a speech, saying the presidents administration sowed racial divisions in the United States.

The IRS launched an inquiry later that year. Bond said he thought it was politically motivated.

Nearly two years after it started looking into the group, the IRS said the organization continued to qualify for its tax status.

It was an enormous threat, Bond, who died in 2015, said in a news report on the investigation. The opposite outcome would have reduced our income remarkably.

He said he interpreted the investigations conclusion to mean that the IRS thought they had harassed us enough and they could stop.

All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena

Two days before the 2004 presidential election, a guest speaker at All Saints Episcopal Church in Southern California gave a sermon in which he pitted Jesus debating against presidential candidates George W. Bush and John F. Kerry.

The Rev. George F. Regas, the churchs former rector, did not make an endorsement. He said good people of profound faith could vote for Bush or Kerry. But he also strongly criticized the Iraq war and said Jesus would have said Bushs Iraq strategy had led to disaster.

The IRS opened an investigation into the sermon the next year, and wrote a letter to the church saying investigators thought the priests words were illegal.

The agencys accusation was based on its reading of a Los Angeles Times article from the time of the sermon. The article contained three paragraphs about Regas words in a summary of Sunday sermons ahead of the election.

IRS officials wrote to the church in 2007 to say they had concluded the investigation. The IRS said it still thought the church had tried to influence votes but that officials would not revoke the churchs tax exemption.

The Rev. J. Edwin Bacon Jr., who was the rector at the time, says he disagrees with Trumps executive order.

If you are going to be a Christian you will have to engage in policy advocacy, but there is a difference between partisan advocacy and politics. That is how we prevailed, said Bacon, who left the church last year and lives in Birmingham, Ala. We had a very clear line between advocating for policies that were for the least of these, which is essential to our faith, and the endorsement of any candidate. What we had done was criticized policies of officeholders.

Franklin Graham organizations

In 2013, the Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the Rev. Billy Graham, wrote a letter to President Obama saying he believed the IRS was targeting two of his organizations for their conservative positions on social issues.

Graham said his charities, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Assn. and Samaritans Purse, received letters the year before saying they were under examination. The IRS did not indicate why it was looking into the groups and its not clear that the Johnson Amendment was applied. But Graham said they were targeted because of advertisements run under their names. One ad was against same-sex marriage and another encouraged people to vote for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel.

Graham, who advised Trump during his campaign, believed the IRS inquiry was part of a broader effort in which conservatives said the IRS was delaying the processing of paperwork and targeting groups with the phrase tea party and patriot in their names.

After the election, we did receive official notice that our organizations continue to qualify for exemption from federal income tax, and that our returns were accepted as filed. Unfortunately, while these audits not only wasted taxpayer money, they wasted money contributed by donors for ministry purposes, as we had to spend precious resources servicing the IRS agents in our offices. This is morally wrong and some would call it un-American, Graham wrote.

jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com

Jaweed Kaleem is The Times national race and justice correspondent. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Prosecutors said Friday they are dropping charges against two Hispanic teens accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a Maryland high school restroom, a case that drew national attention after the White House cited it as an example of why the president wants to crack down on illegal immigration.

Montgomery County States Atty. John McCarthy said at a news conference that the rape and sex offense charges were being dropped after a painstaking investigation of the girls claim that the two teens took turns raping her in the bathroom at Rockville High School.

Defense attorneys said the sex was consensual. They pointed to text messages in which the girl agreed to a sexual encounter, an explicit video the girl sent one of the teens and security camera footage they said shows the girl running to meet one of the teens and willingly entering the restroom with him.

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At the news conference, McCarthy said the girl was interviewed multiple times, and the investigation revealed a lack of corroboration and substantial inconsistencies.

The original charges cannot be sustained, and prosecution is untenable on those charges, McCarthy said. He refused to answer any questions after reading his statement.

While dropping the rape charges, prosecutors brought new child pornography charges against the two teens. McCarthy said the 18-year-old, Henry Sanchez, will be charged with possession of child pornography, which carries a potential sentence of up to five years.

He declined to say what charges would be brought against the 17-year-old because that case has been transferred to juvenile court. But the younger teens lawyers said that the boy would face charges on counts of distributing and possessing child pornography and that the charges carry a possible sentence of 10 years or more.

The AP does not typically identify juveniles charged with crimes, and it no longer is naming the 17-year-old now that he is charged as a juvenile.

Defense lawyer Maria Mena said the pornography charges stem from the explicit video that the 14-year-old girl sent to the 17-year-old, which he then shared with Sanchez.

She called it egregious that her client was being charged, while the 14-year-old girl who actually produced the video and sent it to him voluntarily is not being charged.

Obviously this young girl was not raped, as weve said from the beginning, she said. The purpose of the child pornography statute, she said, is to deter adults from engaging in predatory conduct against kids, not to criminalize sexting between two minors.

Another defense attorney, David Wooten, said the primary reason they were able to prove the 17-year-olds innocence was by producing the evidence of the explicit text messages and video that the girl had sent.

Those very text messages and images that vindicated him are now being used against him, he said.

The 17-year-old came to the U.S. from El Salvador to live with relatives who are U.S. citizens after his adoptive grandmother died in El Salvador, leaving him alone there, his lawyers said. Mena said Friday that immigration proceedings have been initiated against him, but they will fight to keep him in the country.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said that the 18-year-old, Sanchez, was stopped by a border patrol agent in Texas last year and that an immigration detainer has been placed on him.

In March, after the charges were filed, White House spokesman Sean Spicer, in response to a reporters question, called the allegations shocking and disturbing, saying, I think part of the reason that the president has made illegal immigration and crackdown such a big deal is because of tragedies like this.

After those comments, the school system stepped up security as it became the subject of anti-immigration protests and counterprotests. Officials said they were besieged by hundreds of racist and xenophobic calls and comments.
A Penn State University fraternity pledge had toxic levels of alcohol in his body and was badly injured in a series of falls, authorities said Friday in announcing criminal charges for his death against 18 members of the organization and the fraternity itself.

Centre County Dist. Atty. Stacy Parks Miller said a grand jury investigation, greatly aided by security camera video from the Beta Theta Pi chapter house, found that his friends failed to get help for 19-year-old Timothy Piazza before his death in February. The grand jury said their actions in some cases may have worsened his injuries.

This is a very sad day for Centre County  its been sad ever since we lost a child for reasons that are totally preventable. A child who just wanted to come to college here, who put his faith in Penn State, Miller said in releasing a 65-page grand jury report and announcing charges.

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Eight of the fraternity brothers and the chapter itself were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Other charges include aggravated and simple assault, evidence tampering, alcohol-related violations and hazing.

The grand jury said the fraternity was heavily stocked with booze for the Feb. 2 ceremony at which Piazza, a sophomore engineering student, and 13 others accepted pledge bids. The pledges were pressured to run a gauntlet of drinking stations that required them to chug vodka, shotgun beers and drink wine, according to the grand jury.

Piazza fell down a long set of steps that night, and fell several other times, injuring his head, Miller said. The next morning he fell down the same steps a second time, and was unconscious when help was finally summoned. Piazza, from Lebanon, N.J., died Feb. 4 at Hershey Medical Center.

Miller said doctors estimate Piazza had a blood-alcohol content of nearly 0.40 the night of the pledge ceremony, a dangerously high level.

Penn State permanently banned Beta Theta Pi on March 30, accusing it of a persistent pattern of excessive drinking, drug use and hazing. University President Eric Barron planned to make a statement about the case later Friday.

Miller said video turned over to investigators was critical to the investigation, providing evidence of what occurred and contradicting stories some witnesses had told.

The cameras recorded Piazza drinking vodka and beer around 9:20 p.m., and an hour later needing help to walk from an area near the basement stairs to a couch, staggering and hunched over. Hes later shown trying unsuccessfully to open the front door, then severely staggering drunkenly toward the basement steps about 10:45 p.m., the grand jury report said.

He was subsequently found at the bottom of the steps after apparently falling face-first. Four brothers carried his limp body back upstairs, where some poured liquid on him, and another slapped him in the face, the jury said. Fraternity members put a backpack containing textbooks on him so he would not suffocate on his own vomit, the jury wrote.

When a fraternity brother insisted Piazza needed medical help, he was confronted and shoved into a wall, the report said. When the same brother insisted again that Piazza required help, he was told others were biology and kinesiology majors so his opinion wasnt as valuable as theirs, the jury said.

Piazza tried to get up around 3:20 a.m., but fell backward and hit his head on the wood floor, the report said. He fell onto a stone floor at 5 a.m. and was last caught on video after 7 a.m. He was discovered in the basement about 10 a.m.

Timothy was lying on his back with his arms clenched tight at his sides and his hands in the air, jurors wrote. His chest was bare, his breathing heavy and he had blood on his face.

During the next 40 minutes, fraternity brothers shook him, tried to prop him up, covered him with a blanket, wiped his face and tried to dress him before one of them finally called 911, the jury said.

The eight defendants facing more serious charges were scheduled to appear before a judge later Friday to be arraigned and have bail set. That will occur for the other defendants next week, Miller said. Five of them face only a single count each of evidence tampering.

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In a remarkable feat of special-interest favoritism, House and Senate Republicans have pushed legislation through Congress to protect Wall Street firms at the expense of their own constituents. The measure, which awaits President Trumps signature, would rescind an Obama administration ruling that supported state-run retirement savings plans for workers whose employers do not provide one.

At issue is whether states can help those workers  an estimated 55 million nationwide, typically employees at small and low-wage businesses  build up retirement savings with the same tax breaks enjoyed by workers at companies with 401(k) plans. Half a dozen states, including California, are developing ways for those workers to make automatic deposits into private individual retirement accounts overseen by the state, an approach that the Labor Department blessed in a ruling last year.

But some influential Wall Street firms cried foul, afraid that employers would have their workers sign up for the state IRAs rather than hiring the firms to create 401(k) plans  even though the firms have shown no interest in these employers or their workers. Their opposition was especially puzzling in California, where the states new Secure Choice savings program could lead 7.5 million workers without retirement plans to set up IRAs run by  Wall Street mutual funds.

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Republican lawmakers responded with a resolution (HJ Res 66) to disapprove the Labor Departments ruling. They argued that the state programs would victimize workers forced to contribute to these savings plans without the protection of federal law. Never mind that the savings plans all would have to comply with state safeguards  its richly ironic to hear Republicans argue for more federal regulation and less state control. The House rushed the resolution through in February, and the Senate just barely approved it Wednesday, sending it to Trumps desk.

The real risk here isnt that businesses might have to make an additional payroll deduction on their workers behalf, or that workers and their employers might miss having a rigid federal bureaucracy overseeing these retirement savings plans. The real risk is the one posed by the millions of adults who dont have any kind of retirement plan, and the third of the countrys residents who havent set aside a dime for their dotage. Social Security benefits will keep many (not all) of them out of poverty, but not by much.

Trump is expected to sign the resolution, making it likely that any state that moves ahead will be sued for allegedly violating the federal law on workplace retirement plans. law. Thats a red herring. California should launch its savings program and make the case in court that its legal, because theres no question that its needed.

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Sen. Kamala Harris says she hasnt considered running for president By Phil Willon U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Despite swirling speculation, Californias U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris said shes not giving any consideration to running for president in 2020. Harris was appearing at the annual Code Conference hosted by the tech news site Recode in Rancho Palos Verdes on Wednesday night when site co-founder Kara Swisher asked if she had eyes on the White House. Im not giving that any consideration. Ive got to stay focused, said Harris, a Democrat who was elected to the Senate in November after serving as Californias attorney general. After she won the seat vacated by former Sen. Barbara Boxer, Harris quickly gained a reputation as a potential presidential candidate in 2020. Harris took questions from Swisher alongside Laurene Powell Jobs, a philanthropist and the widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs. Though she brushed off the presidential rumors, Harris urged Democrats to try harder to make convincing arguments on issues such as climate change instead of just criticizing those who disagree with them. She told the audience at the posh Terranea Resort where the conference is being held that it would be a mistake to dismiss the concerns of Americans who supported Trump in the November election. She said the issues that concern them  good jobs and the future of their families  are the concerns of all working-class Americans. There is a healthy number of people in our country who are feeling displaced, rightly, Harris said. I think we have to deal with that. Still, Harris dished out plenty of jabs at the Trump administration. She criticized Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions for resuscitating the war on drugs and told him to leave Grandmas medical marijuana alone. Harris also criticized the Trump administrations more hard-line immigration policies, and said she was concerned about allegations of collusion between Trumps campaign and the Russian government. These are serious times. These are not issues we can just sit around with a glass of Chardonnay debating and philosophizing about, Harris said. The decisions that are being made right now are impacting real human beings. Watch the entire interview: Facebook

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Trump wouldnt release his tax returns, so lawmakers move to make it mandatory for Californias primary By John Myers (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Legislation to require presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns in order to gain a spot on Californias presidential primary ballot won passage in the state Senate on Wednesday, but only after a tense debate that largely centered on President Trump. Senate Bill 149 was approved on a strict party-line vote, 27-13. The bill now moves to the state Assembly, and was one of the last bills debated during a marathon session at the state Capitol to consider bills before a Friday deadline for action. The bill would require presidential candidates to file copies of their income tax returns with state elections officials for the five most recent taxable years. Failure to do so would mean their name wouldnt appear on Californias presidential primary ballot. The legislation was introduced in December, in the wake of Trumps refusal to disclose his tax returns during the 2016 campaign. The president has continued to reject calls for the information. Hes shaping international policy which could enrich himself, and the American public has no way to know, state Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) said of Trump during Wednesday nights floor debate. This legislation will help make transparency great again. Republicans denounced the bill as another in a long line of efforts by Democrats in the Legislature to lash out at the election of Trump and the defeat of Hillary Clinton. I get it that some people hate Trump, state Sen. Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) said. Weve got to move ahead. Weve got to get over it. Tensions flared after Anderson tried to amend the bill on the floor  first, to require statewide and legislative candidates to also release their tax returns, and then to require a birth certificate from candidates who want access to the states primary ballot. Both were rejected by Democrats. A legislative analysis of SB 149 said some legal scholars believe the plan, which would be the first of its kind in the nation, would pass muster with the U.S. Constitution. Nonetheless, the analysis concluded that it would probably be challenged in court if signed into law. Facebook

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California Senate moves forward with bill that would overhaul Los Angeles County MTA By Patrick McGreevy Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) proposed to revamp the Los Angeles County MTA. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The state Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would expand and reshape the agency that oversees mass transit in Los Angeles County. Opponents of the measure include Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the city and county of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. The bill by Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) was sent to the Assembly for consideration after squeaking by with a 22-11 vote in the Senate. The measure would expand the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board from 12 to 15 members. It would also reduce the number of county supervisors on the board from five to two, remove the appointment of two public members and increase Los Angeles City Council member appointments by the mayor from two to five. This will allow for proportional and fair representation, Mendoza told his colleagues, adding that the board currently is made up of haves and have-nots fighting to get their share. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) opposed the measure because he said he saw it as Sacramento meddling in local policymaking. But Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Palmdale) supported SB 268. Too much power is concentrated in too few people, he said of the current board. Facebook

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Single-payer healthcare is popular with Californians  unless it raises their taxes By John Myers (Rich Pedoncelli / Associated Press) Almost two of every three Californians in a new statewide poll said they like the idea of a single-payer, government healthcare system, but far fewer support the idea if it includes a tax increase. The poll released Wednesday night by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that 65% of adults surveyed support the creation of a single-payer state healthcare program to cover all of the states residents, and 56% of likely voters approved of the idea. Opinion was sharply divided between Democrats (75% support) and Republicans (66% oppose) who were surveyed. The single-payer proposal under consideration in the state Capitol, Senate Bill 562, assumes at least $50 billion in new taxes to fund the healthcare system. Asked about taxes, support drops to 42% of the adults surveyed and 43% of likely voters. While a majority of Democrats in the PPIC poll continued to support the idea if it means more taxes, support drops substantially among unaffiliated independent voters. The state Senate is expected to consider the single-payer bill before the end of the week. A legislative analysis put the estimated total cost of a new healthcare system that covers all Californians at $400 billion, while an analysis released on Wednesday by supporters provided a $331-billion estimate. The pending legislation by state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) does not identify what taxes would be raised but makes the enactment of the plan contingent on a full funding proposal. Facebook

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Knowingly exposing others to HIV should no longer be a felony, state Senate says By Patrick McGreevy The Senate voted to no longer make it a felony for HIV-positive people to donate blood or semen without telling the blood bank they are infected. ( (Toby Talbot / Associated Press)) The state Senate on Wednesday voted to no longer make it a felony for someone infected with HIV to knowingly expose others to the disease by having unprotected sex without telling his or her partner about the infection. The crime would be downgraded to a misdemeanor, and the bill would also apply to people who donate blood or semen without telling the blood or semen bank that they have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, or have tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the precursor to AIDS. The measure, which next goes to the Assembly for consideration, was introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who said it is unfair to make HIV/AIDS the only communicable disease given such harsh treatment by prosecutors. These laws are irrational and discriminatory, Wiener told the Senate, adding that the current felony status is creating an incentive not to be tested, because if you dont know your status you cant be guilty of a felony. The measure was widely opposed by Republican lawmakers including Sen. Joel Anderson of San Diego. If you intentionally transmit something that is fundamentally life-threatening to the victim, you should be charged and go to jail, he said. Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Murrieta) said, My friends, its not a gay issue. Its a public health issue. We shouldnt allow someone to play Russian roulette with other peoples lives. Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a physician, voted for the bill and argued that it undermines public health to imprison those with HIV under the current law. Facebook

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Hillary Clinton: I was the victim of a very broad assumption I was going to win By Seema Mehta Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that she has no plans to run for office again, but she plans to remain involved in civic life, particularly helping the Democrats efforts to regain control of the House in 2018. Im not going anywhere, Clinton said at the annual Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes. I have a big stake in what happens in this country. I am very unbowed and unbroken about what happened because I dont want it to happen to anybody else. I dont want it to happen to the values and the institutions I care about in America. And I think were at a really pivotal point, she said. And therefore Im going to keep writing and keep talking and keep supporting people who are on the front lines of the resistance. The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee said she woke up on election day expecting to win. Clinton told the gathering that she was responsible for every decision the campaign made, though she did not believe they caused her surprise loss. She attributed that to several things, including alleged Russian interference in the election and weaponizing stolen information and fake news. She also pointed a finger at the Democrats for falling behind the GOP in using technology and data to target voters, the media for covering her e-mail controversy like it was Pearl Harbor, misogyny and the high expectations many had for her candidacy. I was the victim of a very broad assumption I was going to win, she said, adding that she always expected the race to be close. Trump responded on Twitter, saying that Clinton still refused to accept that she lost because she was a terrible candidate. Crooked Hillary Clinton now blames everybody but herself, refuses to say she was a terrible candidate. Hits Facebook & even Dems & DNC.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 1, 2017 Clinton, who has increasingly jabbed President Trump, including at last weeks commencement address at Wellesley College, blasted his reported plan to pull out of the Paris climate accord as really stupid because of the economic implications. She described his personality as impulsive and reactive. And she joked about his peculiar overnight tweet about constant negative press covfefe, saying she thought it was a hidden message to the Russians to laughter from the audience. Going forward, Clinton said that she believes that it was realistic for Democrats to retake the House in 2018, notably by focusing on Republican congressional districts she won  including seven in California. She sounded less optimistic about the Senate. Updated at 6:06 p.m.: This post was updated to add President Trumps response to Clintons remarks. This post was first published at 5:41 p.m. Facebook

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California lawmakers take aim again at establishing statewide rules for drones By Jazmine Ulloa A state senator from Santa Barbara is taking another shot at establishing statewide regulations for the use of drones after the budding industry thwarted her efforts to pass similar legislation last year. Senate Bill 347, introduced by Democratic Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, would limit disruptive drone use near private property and prohibit the weaponization and reckless operation of the unmanned aerial vehicles. It also would require pilots to obtain insurance and to license, register and mark the aircrafts per federal regulations. The bill moved out of the Senate on Wednesday with a 26-13 vote. It heads to the Assembly for consideration. Speaking on the Senate floor, Jackson urged support for what she called comprehensive drone legislation, saying California needs common-sense rules that provide certainty for everyone and keep the public safe. Washington is not going to be acting on this issue very soon, she said, citing a federal appeals court decision that this month found the Federal Aviation Administration doesnt have the authority to regulate the use of drones by hobbyists. Debate has raged in recent years over just where federal authority begins and ends. And Jacksons attempts at drone legislation last year were blocked amid opposition from lobbyists who argued against creating a patchwork of laws that varied by state. Under Jacksons new proposal, violations would be punishable by a fine of up to $250 or a misdemeanor, and the California Department of Transportation would be tasked with developing liability insurance requirements. It has the support of the California State Assn. of Counties, the League of California Cities and the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Assn, but it once again faces tough industry opposition. Facebook

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School districts would be prohibited from shaming students whose parents havent paid for school lunches By Patrick McGreevy Students eat lunch at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School in Los Angeles. (Christina House / For the Los Angeles Times) Students whose parents have not kept their school lunch bills current would no longer go through shaming that includes marking their hand so they cannot be served, under legislation approved Wednesday by the state Senate. The measure by Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) would require school districts to ensure that any student whose parent has unpaid school meal fees is not treated differently, or delayed or denied a nutritiously adequate meal. Hertzberg introduced the legislation after hearing of school districts taking lunch trays from students whose accounts were not current and throwing the food in the trash, embarrassing the students in front of their friends. No more shaming, Herzberg told his colleagues. Dont visit the failures of the parents on their kids. The measure passed on a 39-0 vote and was sent to the Assembly for consideration. Facebook

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Emilio Huerta, undaunted by 2016 loss, is back to challenge Rep. David Valadao By Sarah D. Wire (Sarah D. Wire / Los Angeles Times) Bakersfield lawyer Emilio Huerta came more than 13 percentage points short of winning Californias 21st Congressional District seat in 2016, but he plans to try again in 2018. Huerta, 59, blames his loss to Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) on inexperience and a rash of negative ads at the end of the campaign. We learned a lot in the last campaign. As a first-time candidate there was certainly a lot to learn and I think we did a good job, Huerta said Wednesday. The son of labor icon Dolores Huerta, he has worked for the United Farm Workers union  which his mother co-founded  throughout the Central Valley district. Huerta said Valadaos vote for the Republican healthcare plan shows hes ignoring Valley residents needs because it would end the expansion of the MediCal program, which many of the districts residents use for healthcare. Its going to be a pretty significant issue, he said. He is the first Democrat to announce a bid for the seat. Democrats are heartened by the fact that, while Valadao won the seat with 56.74% of the vote, the district has continued to trend Democratic in voter registration and chose Hillary Clinton for president with 54.72% of the vote. That tells me that there were die-hard Democrats, committed Democrats that vote, Democrats that were not convinced that my campaign should be supported and I think a lot of that has to do with me being a first-time candidate, Huerta said. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has made the seat a target for 2018. The majority-Latino district includes parts of Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties. Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown and Democrats say Trump is going backwards if he pulls out of Paris climate pact By John Myers Gov. Jerry Brown warned Wednesday that a decision by President Trump to withdraw the United States from a 2015 global climate change agreement could be tragic, and vowed to keep Californias ambitious efforts in place and on track. Here we are, in 2017, going backwards, Brown said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. It cannot stand, its not right and California will do everything it can to not only stay the course, but to build more support  in other states, in other provinces, in other countries. The governor also criticized efforts to the president to dismantle climate change initiatives launched by former President Barack Obama. Trump is going against science. Hes going against reality, the governor said. We cant stand by and give aid and comfort to that. News that the president had either made the decision to pull the country out of the Paris Accord on climate change or was on the verge of doing so drew swift condemnation from California leaders. Brown and other top lawmakers attended the talks in late 2015 that resulted in the international agreement, and insisted on Wednesday that it would not hurt the states own efforts to sharply curtail greenhouse gas emissions. As with so many other matters, from human rights to healthcare, the Trump administration has continued to surrender our nations longstanding role as a global leader, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) said. Others pointed out that a decision to remove the United States from the agreement would leave it in rare company among other nations. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted that such a decision by Trump would be more than just dumb + destructive. Brown, who leaves Friday for a weeklong visit to China to encourage more climate-change cooperation, predicted any decision to step away would suggest the countrys priorities arent clear. It sends a very muddled message, the governor said during an interview in his state Capitol office. Is the message [that] we like dirty cars and gas guzzlers? And were going to have a coal future? That cant happen. And Brown again suggested that Californias experience on the issue offers a road map for others. If we want to retain and enhance manufacturing, we have to do what California is doing, in clean energy and clean technology, he said. Thats the future of jobs, the future of sustainability. And we better get on board. And California will be right there with the best of them. Facebook

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This Orange County congressmans immigration town hall turned chaotic and led to three arrests By Sarah D. Wire The majority of calls into Rep. Lou Correas Orange County congressional office are about immigration worries and what the Trump administrations enforcement policies mean for Correas many Latino constituents. Theres a lot of fear in my district, he said. So the freshman Democrat has held seven town halls, all focused on immigration and explaining immigrants rights. Theyve been peaceful, with representatives from groups such as the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles and the Mexican Consulate invited to help Correa answer questions. But as the crowd of about 100 people gathered at Santa Anas Delhi Center on Tuesday evening, Correa knew this time would be different. We had some people there, probably a dozen of them, that immediately had signs that were not complimentary to yours truly, he said. Two women arguing about immigration issues had already gotten into an altercation outside the town hall. They were cited for assault and battery, and barred by police from going inside. Correa told the crowd inside he would give a short presentation about immigration policy coming out of Washington and then have a question-and-answer session. About a dozen people were having none of it. Some of the most tense moments came when Correa started talking about green card holders who served in the U.S. military and have since been deported. Maam, Im trying to be courteous here, he said as a woman kept speaking over him. As soon as I started speaking, it became very clear they were not going to let me speak, Correa said Wednesday. They just got louder and louder. Video of the town hall posted on social media shows people in the crowd yelling Americans first and Illegals have no rights. Correa repeatedly asks them to let him speak. Are you guys going to cooperate, or am I going to have to ask you to leave? he said. About 15 minutes in, as some in the crowd continued to shout and their attention turned to berating a group of counter-protesters, Correa declared the meeting over. A handful of people circled around Correa as he tried to leave, yelling Shame, shame and You guys all want welfare. One womans voice can be heard repeatedly yelling Coward! Police emptied the room amid chants of USA. The crowd streamed into the parking lot, where confrontations quickly started between supporters of President Trump and others who appeared to be focused on Native American rights. Videos posted on social media show men shouting at one another, their faces so close their noses are practically touching. Police officers kept trying to separate the groups. (Warning: The video below includes language that some readers might find offensive.) Santa Ana Police Department spokesman Anthony Bertagna said a man struck a Trump supporter on the head with a pole bearing an anti-fascism flag. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Bertagna said. The man was brought to police headquarters, and a group of about 10 people followed along to protest, he said. Shortly after, the town hall peacefully resumed in a different room with a much smaller crowd, Correa said. Several California members of Congress have held similar immigration-specific town halls or workshops in the last few months as questions swirl about changes to federal immigration policies and enforcement. The purpose of the town halls is to let people know how to follow the law, let them know their legal rights and responsibilities, Correa said. Protesters have characterized it as teaching people who are in the country illegally how to avoid deportation and get federal benefits. Facebook

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California plan for 100% renewable energy by 2045 clears key hurdle By Liam Dillon California will receive all of its power from renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, by 2045 under legislation that passed the state Senate on Wednesday. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) touted his bill, Senate Bill 100, as the most ambitious program in the world. Clean energy is the future, De Leon said. SB 100 ensures that California leads into the future. The measure would also speed up the states goal of reaching 50% renewable energy, changing the deadline from 2030 to 2026. SB 100 passed over objections from Republican senators. Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Temecula) criticized the measure as government getting ahead of technological capacity. What if we cant make that mandate that were putting into law today? Stone said. What its going to do is drive up electricity bills for our businesses. De Leons bill now moves to the Assembly. Facebook

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A new proposal on Californias cap-and-trade program emerges as vote is delayed By Chris Megerian Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced), left. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) A coalition of business-friendly Democrats is detailing their own ideas for cap and trade, a centerpiece of Californias fight against global warming, the latest bid in a crowded field of efforts to extend the program. Cap and trade requires polluting companies to buy permits to release greenhouse gas emissions, and lawmakers have been considering a push from Gov. Jerry Brown to extend the program beyond 2020. The new plan would force the program to sunset in 2025, earlier than previous proposals from other lawmakers. It would also direct revenue from the program toward improving air quality and helping agricultural and trucking companies lower their emissions by replacing aging equipment. The plan is also aimed at keeping costs down for industries regulated by cap and trade, allowing them to support green projects known as offsets instead of reducing their own emissions. California must continue to lead the world by implementing a strong climate policy that ensures both a healthy environment for future Californians and growth in all sectors of our economy, Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) said in a statement. The pro-business Democrats plan is the fourth such effort announced by various factions within the states ruling Democratic Party this year with two others emerging from the Assembly and one from the Senate. The plans offer varying degrees of changes to the existing program, either to prioritize pollution reductions in disadvantaged communities or eliminate offsets. Republican lawmakers also have said they want to be part of the cap-and-trade debate. Brown has pushed for a two-thirds supermajority vote of the Legislature to extend the program by the state budget deadline next month. But Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) said at a Wednesday news conference that that wasnt going to happen. Cap-and-trade is a very complex issue, De Leon said. Its very arcane. We want to make sure we get it right. De Leon said he hoped for a deal by the end of the year. Read More Facebook

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Senate fails to back bill to delay the Aliso Canyon reopening, but lawmaker will try again Facebook

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California state Senate advances bill to ban smoking and use of e-cigarettes in government housing By Patrick McGreevy Californians would no longer be able to use tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, in public housing and within 25 of those buildings under a measure approved Tuesday by the state Assembly. Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) said the measure builds on a smoking ban approved last year for federal public housing projects by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition to applying the smoking ban to state housing, expansion to include e-cigarettes makes sure the law cover new technology in tobacco use. The bill takes effect by July 30, 2018. Wood said tobacco-related diseases cost taxpayers significant funds each year. This bill will save money but will more importantly save lives, Wood told his colleagues before the vote. The measure is opposed by the Western Center on Law and Poverty, which worries it will lead to more evictions. Facebook

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Californians would not be able to buy more than one rifle a month under bill approved by state senators By Patrick McGreevy Terry McGuire, owner of Get Loaded in Grand Terrace, shows a customer a Cobalt Kinetics BAMF rifle about a week after the 2015 shooting rampage in nearby San Bernardino. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Californians would be prohibited from buying more than one firearm in any 30-day period under a measure approved Tuesday by the Senate to reduce straw purchasing and circumvention of gun laws. California already bars people from buying more than one handgun a month. The bill by Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) expands the limit to also cover long guns, including rifles and shotguns. The measure, which next goes to the Assembly for consideration, seeks to address concerns that some people buy large quantities of guns and then sell them on the underground market to criminals and others not eligible to own guns. There is no need or reason why a person would need to purchase more than one gun a month, Portantino said during the floor debate. Republicans, including Jeff Stone of Murrieta, opposed the legislation. This is yet another example of the government trying to infringe on the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, Stone said. Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Chico) said he has seen no proof that past gun-control measures approved by the state have made the state safer. Its more of the same that will not decrease violent crime, Nielsen said. Facebook

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California state senators want to stop the public from smoking at California beaches and parks By Patrick McGreevy Californians would be barred from smoking or using electronic cigarettes in state parks and at beaches under a bill approved Tuesday by the state Senate. Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Concord) said his bill would address the health problems caused by smoking but also the harm done to the environment by discarded cigarette butts and the fire danger posed by the practice. Cigarette butts contain more than 150 toxic chemicals and although small in size, have a huge negative impact on the environment and the animals that live in them, Glazer told his colleagues. A legislative analysis said the bill does not address the concerns raised by Gov. Jerry Brown when he vetoed a similar bill last year. The veto message read, in part, The complete prohibition in all parks and beaches is too broad. A more measured  and less punitive  approach might be warranted. Facebook

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School day wouldnt begin before 8:30 a.m. in California under bill that clears the state Senate By John Myers (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) California teenagers wouldnt be required to start their school day before 8:30 am under a bill approved Tuesday by the state Senate. The legislation by Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) would not fully take effect until 2020, and sparked a lively floor debate over the science on the sleep patterns of middle and high school students, and whether they simply need to go to bed earlier. I expect this would only dispose them to stay up later, said state Sen. Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber). Another Republican lawmaker, Sen. Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield), said students need to learn what its like in the workforce. Job preparation is what schooling is all about, Fuller said. Unless youre a musician or someone who works nights, you probably did not start in the later morning. Opponents also said the later start time could affect collective bargaining agreements with teachers and other school employees. Supporters, however, pointed to a recommendation for later start times from the American Academy of Pediatrics. A University of Minnesota study linked school start times to sleep deprivation and the rate of car crashes among teenage drivers. The morning sleep time is the most valuable for student health, said Portantino. Their test scores go up, their attendance goes up, their graduation rates go up. The bill would allow rural school districts to obtain a waiver if they couldnt make the change. Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) ended the debate with a simple request of the senators on behalf of teenage students. "Lets just let them sleep in a little bit, he said with a smile. Facebook

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More transparency proposed for prescription drug price increases under bill passed by California Senate By Patrick McGreevy Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-Azusa), shown speaking in March, won Senate approval Tuesday on a bill that would require more transparency on drug prices. (Melanie Mason / Los Angeles Times) Alarmed by skyrocketing prices for some prescription drugs, the California Senate on Tuesday approved a measure aimed at increasing pressure to hold down costs to consumers by requiring more public reporting of price hikes. The lawmakers approved a bill that would require drug manufacturers to notify health plans and state purchasers such as the prison department of increases in the wholesale cost of drugs in writing at least 90 days before the new costs were to take effect. The measure also requires that health plans and insurers notify state regulators of pricing information for the most costly drugs. Were not saying that they cant raise the price. Were just saying notify us, Hernandez said during the floor debate. And if [the price] goes up a significant amount, we should be able to question why. The measure passed by a 26-10 vote with some Republicans, including Sen. Ted Gaines of El Dorado Hills, opposed. Gaines said the pharmaceutical industrys pricing of drugs helps it pay for development of new medications. It funds their research, Gaines said during the debate. The measure next goes to the Assembly, where a similar bill last year failed to win passage. Hernandez said more opponents are talking to him this year about possible compromises, although the bill is opposed by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Hernandez said the bill is needed, adding that current regulations allow pharmaceutical companies to reap obscene profits at the expense of the entire healthcare system. Facebook

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California Senate advances bill to make pot use in cars an infraction By Patrick McGreevy San Bruno police officers stop cars at a DUI checkpoint. State officials are proposing to make it an infraction to use marijuana in motor vehicles. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Just months after state voters legalized the recreational use of marijuana, the state Senate on Tuesday voted to prohibit its use in automobiles because of concerns over drugged driving. A bill by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) makes it an infraction for drivers and passengers to use marijuana in motor vehicles. Stiffer penalties already exist for motorists found to be driving while impaired by drugs. California voters legalized recreational use of marijuana in November although the state does not plan to begin issuing licenses for its legal sale until January. In Washington state, which previously legalized pot, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that the number of drivers who had recently used marijuana before fatal accidents doubled from 2013 to 2014, Hill told his colleagues. Washington serves as an eye-opening case study for what other states may experience with road safety after legalizing the drug, Hill told his colleagues before the unanimous vote to approve the measure and send it to the Assembly for consideration. Facebook

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California lawmakers want to give parents at smaller companies 12 weeks of protected family leave By Jazmine Ulloa State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) California lawmakers are once again seeking to expand the states paid family leave program to smaller businesses after Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar measure last year. SB 63, authored by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), on Tuesday moved out of the state Senate with a 25-13 vote. It now heads to the Assembly for consideration. The legislation, a priority bill for the California Legislative Womens Caucus, would allow parents at companies with 20 to 49 employees to take 12 weeks of leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child  without fear of losing their jobs. Under the current state law, only workers at businesses with 50 or more workers can take advantage of program. On the Senate floor Tuesday, the debate on the issue echoed that of last year. Republican lawmakers argued the bill would kill jobs and hurt small businesses already struggling in California. Those in favor argued progressive family leave policies attracted a strong and healthy workforce. Jackson said her bill would impact only 6.3% of California companies, while helping 16% of its workforce, a population of 2.7 million residents across the state. With so many women in the workforce than ever before, and with so many struggling, two-income families, this is a critical moment in time, she said. Facebook

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Kimberly Ellis files formal challenge over result of state Democratic Party chairperson election By Seema Mehta (Jay Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The candidate who narrowly lost the race to be the next leader of the California Democratic Party on Tuesday filed a formal challenge of the election result. Kimberly Ellis campaign, which was already in the process of reviewing the ballots cast during the state partys convention two weekends ago, said they were filing the challenge to meet a requirement in the party bylaws that such an action must be taken within seven days of the contested act. Our review process is ongoing. Its critical that all formal processes outlined by the CDPs bylaws are followed at this time so that there can be no concern about raising issues in the manner prescribed by our party, said Hilary Crosby, immediate past controller for the state party and an Ellis supporter. Ellis campaign said challenges were also being filed in races for a vice chair, secretary and multiple regional directors. Chris Masami Myers, state party executive director, acknowledged receiving the challenges and said in a statement that they would be reviewed in accordance with the standard practices described in the bylaws. The partys compliance review commission, made up of six members who were appointed during former Chairman John Burtons tenure, will review the evidence and take oral or written testimony before issuing a ruling in mid- to late June. The state party chair race was the most heated and contentious. Longtime party leader Eric Bauman entered the race with advantages, but Ellis made the contest competitive. In the election, held this month at the state party convention in Sacramento, Bauman beat Ellis by just over 60 votes. But amid allegations levied by her supporters of ballot-box stuffing and ripped-up ballots, she refused to concede the race. Her campaign has been reviewing individual ballots for a week. Bauman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Updated at 4:57 p.m.: This post was updated to add additional information about how the review will be conducted. Updated at 3:35 p.m.: This post was updated to add a comment from a state party official. This post was originally published at 2:37 p.m. Facebook

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Darrell Issa gets on his office roof to take a picture of protesters. A mild hubbub ensues By Sarah D. Wire Yes, this is really @DarrellIssa on the roof of his district office building. Too afraid to come speak with assembled constituents below. pic.twitter.com/wCYRjO8Ev8  Mike Levin (@MikeLevinCA) May 30, 2017 It began when one of Rep. Darrell Issas 2018 opponents, Mike Levin, posted an image on Twitter, saying the Vista congressman was hiding on his office roof from hundreds of protesters on the street below. The photo of Issa standing on the roof ricocheted around Twitter, with many comparing it to a scene from the popular television show The Office, and left-leaning media outlets quickly publishing headlines like Darrell Issa Appears to Flee to Building Roof to Avoid Protesters. Like most things, what happened at Issas office appears to have been a bit more nuanced. Issa soon tweeted that he had spent the morning talking with constituents gathered outside the office today, then popped upstairs to take a quick pic!. Multiple images, including one from Levins account and from Issas account, show the congressman on the street with protesters. Spent the morning talking with constituents gathered outside the office today, then popped upstairs to take a quick pic! pic.twitter.com/K2CFdenOIj  Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) May 30, 2017 I just received an unprompted call from @DarrellIssa who said he tried, unsuccessfully to speak with protesters outside his district office.  Joshua Stewart (@jptstewart) May 30, 2017 .@DarrellIssa said the protesters wouldnt' speak with him, so he went up to the roof and took pictures.  Joshua Stewart (@jptstewart) May 30, 2017 The protests occur weekly outside Issas Vista district office, and the congressman has come out to speak with the group at least twice since President Trumps inauguration. Issa narrowly won reelection in 2016 over a novice opponent, and Democrats are targeting his seat in 2018. Issas staff said he tried to speak with all the protesters using their sound system, but was rebuffed. Rally organizer Ellen Montanari said she decided not to hand over the protesters microphone so Issa could take questions from the crowd because he refused to shake her hand before the protest began. He refused to do that, and he said, Step away, you are a protester. And I said I am a constituent,  Montanari said. She said he also made disparaging remarks about the protesters and the signs they carry. Issas spokesman, Calvin Moore, said Montanari cant simultaneously organize people to stand outside our office with Where is Darrell? signs and feign outrage how he wont answer her questions  and then deny him the ability to answer his constituents questions, he said. Facebook

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State Senate Democrats pass bills designed to protect against Trumps possible changes Facebook

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Rep. Adam Schiff says alleged Russian meddling in election was an effort to destroy American democracy By Seema Mehta U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, left, discusses Russias threat to liberal democracies around the world at discussion discussion hosted by Erwin Chemerinsky at UCI. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said Tuesday that the alleged Russian meddling in last years presidential election was about far more than favoring one candidate over another. He said it was an effort to undermine the foundation of American democracy in order to prop up an authoritarian regime in Moscow. Now if you look at this as just a one-off intervention, you might be inclined to dismiss the greater significance of it, or if you listen to the president, you might be inclined to dismiss this as simply efforts to relitigate a lost election, Schiff told several hundred people at UC Irvine. But the significance is really far greater. Quite separate and apart from the desire of the Russians to help Donald Trump and hurt Hillary Clinton was a more fundamental objective, and that was really to tear down at our democracy. Schiff is the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, which is investigating allegations of Russian intervention in the presidential election, including the leaking of hacked Democratic emails and contacts between Trump associates and Russians. Trump has declared the investigation the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history on Twitter. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), the former chairman of the committee, recently told hundreds of Republicans at a fundraiser that the investigation is about nothing more than Democrats trying to justify Clintons loss. Nunes stepped down from his position after allegations arose that he mishandled classified information. Schiff said Russian President Vladimir Putin would have reasons for wanting to see Clinton fail and Trump succeed  he believed that the CIA and Clinton were secretly behind mass demonstrations in Russia in 2011, and because Trumps positions on issues such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization were more favorable to Russia than Clintons. But Schiff argued the larger point was sowing discord in the U.S., so Putin could argue that American democracy is no better than his government. Talk of rigged elections and surveillance, questioning the independence of the judiciary and freedom of the press  as Trump has done  boost Putins message, Schiff said. And the efforts are not limited to the United States, he added, pointing to allegations that the Russians made an effort to interfere in Frances recent election. The reality is there is new ideological struggle. Its not communism versus capitalism anymore. It is authoritarian versus democracy, he said. This is the broader challenge we are facing. Schiff also warned that there is no way to prevent Russian cyber-spying and that future attempts to interfere with American elections will only be more sophisticated, so voters must be educated. One of the most important conclusions the intelligence agencies have reached is the Russians will do this again, he said. The only real defense is to inoculate ourselves, to educate ourselves about what the Russians have done, why they are doing [it and] what they may do in the future and somehow we have to develop a consensus regardless of which party it helps and which party it hurts  that we will reject it. Facebook

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Rep. Devin Nunes: Democrats are using Russia investigation to justify Clintons loss By Sarah D. Wire (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA) House Select Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes told hundreds of local Republicans at a recent private fundraiser that congressional investigations into Russias interference in the 2016 election are about Democrats trying to justify Hillary Clintons loss. The Democrats dont want an investigation on Russia. They want an independent commission. Why do they want an independent commission? Because they want to continue the narrative that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are best friends, and thats the reason that he won, because Hillary Clinton would have never lost on her own; it had to be someone elses fault, Nunes told Republicans the day after he stepped away from leading the House investigation. His remarks were recorded on video and provided to The Times. Read More Facebook

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Californias embattled tax board would lose power over staff and funding under lawmakers plan By John Myers Following months of accusations about mistakes and improper use of power by its elected members, the state Board of Equalization could lose substantial power and gain an independent overseer under legislation introduced in the state Assembly. The bill by Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles) would shift much of the power over staff and spending authority away from the independent tax board and create a new inspector general to watch over its actions. What were trying to do is make sure that the reform is transparent, Ridley-Thomas said. Thats what I think the moment demands. The plan, introduced as an amended bill just before the Memorial Day holiday, comes in the wake of audits alleging the tax agency made multimillion dollar miscalculations on revenue allocations and that some of its elected members improperly used staff members who were supposed to be focused on tax collection. Earlier this month, Gov. Jerry Brown called the situation a mess and in April asked for an investigation by the state Department of Justice. Four members of the Board of Equalization are directly elected by voters. The fifth, state Controller Betty Yee, serves in an ex officio capacity. The Assembly bill would transfer significant staff decisions to the agencys executive director and would require the Board of Equalizations members to have their operations funded in detailed line items included in the state budget. It would also create an inspector general office and would require the boards members to disclose all ex parte communications with those seeking action by the agency. I think that these issues can be addressed if we keep them in the sunlight, said Ridley-Thomas. Facebook

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New advertising campaign targets lawmakers over votes for climate change policies By Chris Megerian A coalition of California businesses launched a new advertising campaign on Saturday to pressure lawmakers against enacting tighter policies on climate change and air pollution. The campaign includes online videos and television advertising that warn of higher costs for business and residents. It arrives as Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers are debating whether to extend the cap-and-trade program, which requires companies to buy permits to release greenhouse gases, and how restrictive the system should be. The first lawmaker being targeted is Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova), accusing him of allowing unelected state employees to raise hidden taxes on gasoline and electricity because he voted last year for a tougher target to reduce emissions by 2030. Other lawmakers could face similar advertisements. Were locked, loaded and ready to go statewide, said Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, which is funding the campaign through an advocacy group called Californians for Affordable and Reliable Energy. The roundtable represents the states largest corporations, including oil refineries and manufacturers who have been critical of climate policies. A dollar figure was not disclosed for the advertising campaign, which will represent a balancing act for the roundtable. It supports the cap-and-trade program as an alternative to more restrictive regulations, but it opposes some of the current proposals to extend it. One measure would tie the program to air quality, targeting a wider range of pollutants than just greenhouse gases, and another would make it function more like a tax and charge higher prices for emission permits. Were at a tipping point here, Lapsley said. We need to get this information out into the public in order to try and create balanced policies. Although polls show broad support for fighting global warming in California, concerns about higher costs for constituents could be influential with some lawmakers who recently passed legislation to raise gas taxes to fund road repairs. Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) is facing a recall campaign over his vote. Nonpartisan legislative analysts have said cap and trade could boost the price of gasoline by 24 cents to 73 cents by 2030. Environmentalists have said its inaccurate to tie any single policy to fluctuations in gas prices. Facebook

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California Politics Podcast: The debate among Democrats didnt end at their convention By John Myers The official gathering of California Democrats lasted only three days, but the lingering debate and simmering tensions could keep going well into next years elections. On this weeks California Politics Podcast episode, we look back at the line in the sand drawn at last weeks California Democratic Party convention by some of the partys most passionate progressive activists -- including the blunt speech delivered by an influential labor union leader last weekend. We also discuss big new developments this week on the topic that energized those Democratic activists: a single-payer healthcare system for California. On Monday, a fiscal analysis put a large price tag on legislation to enact that sweeping healthcare change. Im joined this week by Times staff writer Melanie Mason. Facebook

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California lawmakers quietly refuse to stop unlimited cash flowing from political parties to their campaigns By John Myers (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) An ambitious effort to close a widely used loophole that allows large donations from political parties to be funneled into California races was rejected on Friday. The bill by Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) would have made political party money donated to statewide and legislative candidates subject to the same contribution limits as individuals. Under the language of a voter-approved initiative, Proposition 34, money from political parties is exempt from those existing limits. Its a money-laundering scheme that has completely duped voters, Levine said last fall when he first promised to introduce the bill. The proposal was quietly killed, without a formal vote, by the Assembly Appropriations Committee during its biannual session to act on bills placed on the so-called suspense file due to their estimated costs. Committee staff estimated that Levines AB 1234 would have six-figure costs both for enforcement and for placing the issue before voters in 2018. Facebook

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Veteran Democratic operative criticizes Kimberly Ellis for refusing to concede party chair race By Seema Mehta Supporters of Kimberly Ellis make signs, refusing to accept her loss to Eric Bauman for the California Democratic chair post. (Jay Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Veteran Democratic operative Bob Mulholland slammed infighting among California Democrats, and urged Kimberly Ellis, who came up short in a nasty party chair election, to work to unify the party. I  and others did not understand some of your supporters  attacks on those of us who have spent decades or years building the Democrats in California as the most successful political Party in the country, he wrote in an open letter to Ellis on Thursday. He sent the email in the aftermath of the partys rancorous convention last weekend that featured a bitter leadership battle between Ellis, a favorite of newer members including the backers of Bernie Sanders failed presidential bid, and longtime party leader Eric Bauman. After Bauman was declared the winner by a razor-thin margin of just over 60 votes, Ellis refused to concede and demanded an audit of the vote as some of her backers floated rumors of ballot-box stuffing and discarded ballots. Ellis demurred when asked about Mulhollands scathing letter. While our review continues, we are refraining from making any statement that might cause further division, Ellis said. If we hope to truly unify this party, it will require patience by all. Officials with the Ellis campaign have been reviewing ballots this week. A spokesman said they had looked at about two-thirds by the end of Friday and hope to be done by the middle of next week. Joe Macaluso, Ellis strategist, declined to discuss the results and said her team needed to review additional documentation beyond the ballots. Were trying to stay true to our process and not release anything, but were in it, he said. Its an extensive process. Mulholland argued in his public letter that the convention should have showcased the partys message, not intraparty spats. Our annual Conventions should take care of internal business (Platforms, election of Officers, Resolutions, etc.), but more importantly a communication to voters, especially moderate Democrats and Independents about their concerns and issues, Mulholland wrote. If such busy people had a minute to read some news about our Convention, they saw Democrats yelling and arguing about ballots being stuffed, sounding like a Trump event. This Convention failed them. Mulholland listed the partys successes in the state, including Democrats lopsided voter registration edge, its nearly three-decade record of supporting Democratic presidential candidates, its election of female senators since 1992 and its hold of every statewide office, supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature and nearly three-quarters of the congressional delegation. Over the last 29 years, thats a [1.000] batting record, he wrote. Mulholland called on Ellis to hold a news conference with Bauman once she is satisfied with her audit of the vote. Then, he wrote, lets move on. Facebook

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California lawmakers block proposals meant to make it easier to track and report hate crimes By Jazmine Ulloa Graffiti mars the steeple on the Greater Holy Faith Missionary Baptist Church in Compton in January. Cases of vandalism make up close to one-third of reported hate crimes, according to a new report. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times) California lawmakers Friday stalled measures meant to help report and track hate crimes across the state, proposals filed amid a wave of incidents reported after the 2016 presidential election. The state Assembly Appropriations Committee shelved bills that would have created new hate-crime reporting requirements for police and a hotline under the attorney generals office for victims wishing to report an attack. Of those bills, a proposal filed by Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) initially sought to develop a state government database with the names of felons convicted of hate crimes related to race, religion and sexual orientation. That proposal was amended to instead require every law enforcement agency to forward a summary of a reported hate crime, upon conclusion of an investigation, to the human relations commission within its jurisdiction. But a committee analysis found it could cost the state more than $150,000 to help agencies redact personal information from their records. The committee also shut down bills that would have required police to update policies to address hate crimes and include a checkbox on the front pages of reports that would prominently provide an option to indicate whether a crime was bias-related. Local law enforcement officials have reported a recent rise in reported hate crime incidents. Existing state laws require local and state law enforcement officials to compile hate crime information. California jurisdictions reported a 10.4% statewide increase in those incidents last year. Facebook

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Here were the top six moments from last nights L.A. congressional race debate By Christine Mai-Duc Robert Lee Ahn, left, and Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez sparred in a debate Thursday night ahead of the runoff for the 34th Congressional District seat. (Michael Owen Baker / For The Times) Attorney Robert Lee Ahn and Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez sparred Thursday night at the first and only debate in the runoff race for the 34th Congressional District seat. The candidates, both Democrats, offered little in the way of policy differences. Both agreed President Trump has racist tendencies, that keeping the Affordable Care Act is a top priority, and that they would fight to protect immigrants rights. Ahn came out swinging, repeatedly calling Gomez an insider whos sponsored by special interests, while Gomez pointed to his work supporting progressive policies in the Legislature and endorsements hes received from left-leaning groups. Here are the top six exchanges: The numbers problem: Gomez again criticized Ahn for a response he gave in an L.A. Times questionnaire that suggested he would negotiate with Republicans to protect parts of Obamacare. Gomez said Democrats need to take a hard line and that Ahn was too soft on support for Medicaid. In case you havent noticed, we have a numbers problem in Congress, Ahn shot back. Until were able to take back the House, were going to have to talk to the other side.

Gomez again criticized Ahn for a response he gave in an L.A. Times questionnaire that suggested he would negotiate with Republicans to protect parts of Obamacare. Gomez said Democrats need to take a hard line and that Ahn was too soft on support for Medicaid. In case you havent noticed, we have a numbers problem in Congress, Ahn shot back. Until were able to take back the House, were going to have to talk to the other side. Gomez fact-checks Ahns name-check: Ahn made the case that voters should send an attorney to Congress to help in the legal battles against the Trump presidency. I will join fellow attorneys and Congress members Ted Lieu and Adam Schiff in the fight, Ahn said to the crowd. Gomez, who spent much of the evening bringing up his legislative experience and vast array of endorsements, responded: I hate to mention it, but, you know, Adam Schiff and Ted Lieu have endorsed me.

Ahn made the case that voters should send an attorney to Congress to help in the legal battles against the Trump presidency. I will join fellow attorneys and Congress members Ted Lieu and Adam Schiff in the fight, Ahn said to the crowd. Gomez, who spent much of the evening bringing up his legislative experience and vast array of endorsements, responded: I hate to mention it, but, you know, Adam Schiff and Ted Lieu have endorsed me. Getting more personal: In discussions about immigration and healthcare, Gomez and Ahn delved a little deeper into their backgrounds. Gomez talked about his young nephew who feared that his mother, a permanent resident, might be deported after Trump was elected. Ahn told the story of how his parents came to the United States with $700 each and cobbled together enough money to open a hamburger stand, eventually building their piece of the American Dream.

In discussions about immigration and healthcare, Gomez and Ahn delved a little deeper into their backgrounds. Gomez talked about his young nephew who feared that his mother, a permanent resident, might be deported after Trump was elected. Ahn told the story of how his parents came to the United States with $700 each and cobbled together enough money to open a hamburger stand, eventually building their piece of the American Dream. Ahn on the attack: Ahn repeatedly criticized Gomez for taking money from corporate interests. Special interests, big pharma, big bankers. ... Its all payback time [for Gomez donors] on Day One, Ahn said. On Day One, I owe the people of the 34th District and thats it. Ahn pitched himself as an outsider who understands the district and whose small-business experience will help him relate to the problems facing everyday residents.

Ahn repeatedly criticized Gomez for taking money from corporate interests. Special interests, big pharma, big bankers. ... Its all payback time [for Gomez donors] on Day One, Ahn said. On Day One, I owe the people of the 34th District and thats it. Ahn pitched himself as an outsider who understands the district and whose small-business experience will help him relate to the problems facing everyday residents. A litmus test: Gomez fought back against the idea that hes a corporate Democrat, primarily by pointing to several endorsements hes received from left-leaning groups. If I was so establishment, I dont think Our Revolution ... would actually endorse me, Gomez said of the Bernie Sanders-affiliated group. If you want a litmus test, thats a litmus test if youre a progressive ... if youre actually able to take on the status quo.

Gomez fought back against the idea that hes a corporate Democrat, primarily by pointing to several endorsements hes received from left-leaning groups. If I was so establishment, I dont think Our Revolution ... would actually endorse me, Gomez said of the Bernie Sanders-affiliated group. If you want a litmus test, thats a litmus test if youre a progressive ... if youre actually able to take on the status quo. Gomez gets skewered on gas tax: As part of his argument that he has fought for the little guy, Ahn expressed outrage that Californias gas taxes will increase July 1, saying theres nothing progressive about the gas tax hike Gomez voted for. We already paid 38 cents per gallon. Where is that money going? Ahn said, echoing a line many legislative Republicans have used. Sacramento politicians, this is what they do, they take our money and they spend it and theres no accountability. Gomez responded by saying public safety was at stake and that fixing roads was the responsible thing to do. If you missed it, you can watch the entire thing here. The election is set for June 6. Facebook

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Rob Reiner, Hollywood bigwigs and Netflix co-founder team up to give Villaraigosas campaign a major cash boost By Seema Mehta (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Hollywood heavyweights are set to host a major fundraiser for Antonio Villaraigosas gubernatorial campaign on June 15, ensuring an infusion of large contributions shortly before a key fundraising deadline. Donors are being asked to contribute up to $29,200 to attend a summer reception at the home of media executive Peter Chernin and his wife Megan, the site of a celebrity-studded fundraiser for President Obama in 2013. Co-hosts include Paramount Pictures chief Jim Gianopulos, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, video game honcho Robert Kotick, comedian George Lopez, Sony chief Michael Lynton, NBCUniversal vice chairman Ron Meyer, producer Rob Reiner, super-agent Rick Rosen, producer Orly Adelson, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain James Costos, former White House decorator Michael Smith and attorney Michael Tuchin. Villaraigosa, the former mayor of Los Angeles, entered the governors race in November. Through the end of 2016, he raised $2.7 million, a respectable haul in a short time period when Democratic donors were reeling from the presidential election and distracted by the holidays. But his fundraising lags behind that of his top rivals, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang. So political observers will be scrutinizing his next financial disclosure report, which will cover the first six months of 2017. The fundraiser occurs 15 days before the fundraising period closes on June 30. Read More Facebook

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A delay on cap-and-trade vote would be a victory for Donald Trump, Gov. Jerry Browns office says By Chris Megerian (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Despite hesitance and resistance from state lawmakers, Gov. Jerry Brown is refusing to budge from his goal of reaching a deal next month to extend Californias cap-and-trade program. The latest tug-of-war on the issue came this week in an email exchange circulated among Capitol staff members and advocates working on climate change policies. Kip Lipper, an environmental advisor for Senate leadership, wrote in a Thursday email that there were no plans to take up a cap and trade reauthorization bill anytime soon. Echoing concerns that have percolated among lawmakers, Lipper said senators were gas tax weary about the possibility of another difficult vote after deciding to raise gas taxes to pay for road repairs earlier this year. The cap-and-trade program, which is a cornerstone of Californias fight against global warming, requires companies to buy permits to release greenhouse gas emissions and could boost the price of gasoline. With votes hard to come by, Lipper wrote, the issue should not be rushed. Camille Wagner, Browns legislative secretary, responded on Friday saying there was no reason to delay. Weve all been meeting for months on this issue, she wrote. We know the areas of agreement and disagreement  now is the time to work through those. She added that NOTHING is more important than getting a deal as soon as possible. This is not a time for retreat or a time to give aid and comfort to Donald Trump by undermining a pillar of Californias bold program to arrest climate change, Wagner wrote. If Californias Cap and Trade falls because we fail to act, climate denial wins. Brown had already faced resistance to his push to reach a deal on cap and trade in June, when the state budget is due. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) previously said we dont have to extend it this year. The disagreement over the timeline for reaching a deal is only one of the disputes surrounding cap and trade. Assembly leaders have raised the possibility of pushing legislation with only a majority vote, an idea the governors office rejected. Brown wants a two-thirds vote to insulate cap and trade from legal challenges. There are also varied ideas about how the program should function in the future. Assembly legislation would modify cap and trade so it also targets local pollution, rather than just greenhouse gases. Senate legislation would make the program function more like a carbon tax. Facebook

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The effort to make tampons tax free in California has been delayed until 2018 By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Legislation to eliminate California sales taxes on the purchase of tampons was delayed Friday by the Assemblys fiscal committee until 2018, a blow to advocates who say the tax is an unfair burden on low-income women and families. The delay imposed on AB 9 is the second setback this month for efforts to eliminate taxes on products for women and children. A separate bill that included a tax-free provision for diapers was killed in a legislative committee on May 8. The bill that was held back on Friday, written by Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens), would have excluded tampons, sanitary napkins and other menstrual products from sales taxes. A legislative committee analysis estimated the proposal would reduce state general fund revenues by $10.5 million a year. Dozens of other bills with a cost to state government were killed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, while AB 9 was instead reclassified as a two-year bill, meaning it is eligible to be heard again in the second year of the legislative session. Gov. Jerry Brown last year rejected a similar measure that sought to make tampons tax-free, writing in his veto message that tax breaks are the same as new spending  they both cost the general fund money. Facebook

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Outside money spills into L.A. congressional race as election day nears By Christine Mai-Duc Spending by outside groups hoping to influence Los Angeles congressional race is picking up, with less than two weeks to go before the runoff for the 34th Congressional District. Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez and attorney Robert Lee Ahn, both Democrats, are competing to fill the former seat of Xavier Becerra in the June 6 election. Becerra stepped down months ago to become the states attorney general. Spending separate from the candidates campaigns is reaching into the six-figure range, with most of the outside money going to support Gomez, the heavy favorite of establishment Democrats. One group funded primarily by an Ahn donor, Citizens for a Better Government, has spent $40,264 on data, printing and postage for mailers, and $8,000 on treasury services to support Ahns bid. The Latino Victory Fund, which has endorsed Gomez, recently spent $29,640 on direct mail and $30,000 on phone banking and voter canvassing for the candidate. Billboard company Outfront Media LLC has spent $1,973 on billboards for him. Also backing Gomez is a group called Middle Class Values PAC. The group spent $19,653 on mailers supporting Gomez despite not having reported receiving any major contributions so far this year. The groups biggest donors last year were a handful of Nevada casino owners and developers, but most of that money appears to have been spent on Democrats running for Congress in Pennsylvania and Nevada. Outside spending in the 34th Congressional District race has been dwarfed by candidate spending. As of March 31, Gomez had spent $446,455 and Ahn had dropped about $767,315 on his run. New campaign finance figures from both candidates are due at midnight Friday. Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Browns budget team drops its hotly debated plans to redefine the states spending limit By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) With questions mounting about the legal justification for omitting some $22 billion in expenses from Californias long-standing spending cap, Gov. Jerry Browns administration dropped the plan Thursday while promising to work on the issue again later this year. Browns advisors told the Assembly Budget Committee that this could include some changes in state law to clarify the rules surrounding whats known as the Gann limit, a cap on state spending growth imposed by voters in 1979. The cap has rarely come into play in state budgeting in recent years, as it was loosened by a subsequent ballot measure in 1990. The governors administration said it continues to worry about how the law interacts with other mandates related to school funding. School financing has changed significantly since the limit was first established in 1979, said H.D. Palmer, Browns budget spokesman. Because of that, we continue to believe we need statutory clarifications related to these school funding changes. Legislative analysts warned lawmakers in April that the governor may have been overestimating how much room for spending was left under the cap, a dispute that continued for weeks while lawmakers began drafting plans for formal budget negotiations next month. Earlier this week, state senators again raised concerns about the complex estimates used to determine how much spending the Gann law would allow in the budget year that begins July 1. And they provided an analysis by the Legislatures lawyers that suggested Browns proposal could be unconstitutional. The spending limit is enforced over two fiscal years, which means Brown and lawmakers have time to reconcile different estimates. But absent changes similar to those advocated by the governor, a portion of future tax revenues would have to be split between schools and rebates to taxpayers. Facebook

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California Senate, Assembly advance their own plans on how to spend tobacco tax revenue By Melanie Mason (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Perhaps the biggest budget skirmish that remains unsolved this year is how California should spend revenue from the tobacco tax voters approved last fall. Gov. Jerry Brown wants to put that money to expand overall spending on Medi-Cal, which provides subsidized healthcare for the poor. But the some of initiatives backers, namely doctor and dental groups, have cried foul, arguing that money is meant to go to increasing payments for providers. Now, the Senate and Assembly are weighing in. In plans approved in their respective budget committees this week, both houses stray from Browns proposal to put the money toward general Medi-Cal costs and lay out their own ideas on how to divvy up the revenue. But while both houses reject Browns approach, there are key differences between their proposals. Most significantly, the Assembly would allocate all $1.1 billion in projected tax revenue in the next budget year. The Senate, meanwhile, would spend just under $350 million next year, gradually ramping up spending to $1.1 billion by fiscal year 2020-21. Both houses also would increase provider payments, but in different ways. The Assembly would put around $857 million toward once-yearly incentive payments to physicians and dentists that would be tied to their Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal caseloads. The Senate proposed putting $150 million next year to physician rate increases that would be targeted for those working in high-need areas and specialties. That number would increase in successive years, topping out at $700 million by 2020. The Senate also would put $130 million toward higher rates for dentists. The California Medical Assn., which has been pushing for higher reimbursement rates, praised both houses for including the higher rates, but group spokeswoman Joanne Adams noted that the current Legislature cannot tie the hands of a future governor or Legislature, indicating a preference toward the Assembly approach. Each house would allocate $50 million for reimbursement rates for family planning providers, a priority of Planned Parenthood. And both houses put money toward expanding Medi-Cal to cover young adults up to age 26 who are in the country illegally. The proposal builds on Californias policy of making children without legal status younger than 19 eligible for Medi-Cal, which went into effect last year. Anthony Wright, of the advocacy group Health Access, noted that by expanding coverage for those up to age 26, it would align with Obamacares policy of letting children stay on their parents health insurance until that age. This is a concrete and tangible way to show we are actually taking steps forward in expanding coverage, Wright said. The Brown administration estimates that around 130,000 people would be eligible for Medi-Cal under such a proposal, and such an expansion would cost the state just under $230 million. The Senate proposal would put around $63 million toward that expansion in the upcoming budget year and around $85 million in subsequent years. The Assembly would put $54 million toward the plan. The Brown administration did not take a position on the Medi-Cal expansion proposal, but H.D. Palmer, spokesman for Browns Department of Finance, noted that the Senate was using higher revenue projections than Browns plan, which allows legislators to propose more funding. Palmer said the administration was sticking with its original proposal to use tobacco tax dollars for general Medi-Cal spending. The budgets proposal for Prop. 56 will provide increased funding for healthcare programs and services in a way thats consistent with the measure that voters approved last fall, Palmer said. ------------ FOR THE RECORD May 25, 2017, 4:58 p.m.: A previous version of this article reported that both houses were using higher revenue projections than Gov. Browns budget proposal. The Senate is using higher projections; the Assembly is using the same estimates as the Brown administration. Facebook

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California chief justice says she stands by her decision to speak out against Trumps immigration actions By Jazmine Ulloa California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye on Thursday said she stands by her position that courthouses should be areas where immigration arrests should not occur. Cantil-Sakauye, a former prosecutor who rose through the judicial ranks as an appointee of Republican governors, drew national attention in March after she blasted the federal governments expanded immigration actions, among which she said included stalking immigrants at courthouses. Speaking at a Sacramento Press Club luncheon on Thursday, she said the Supreme Court chambers fielded an outpouring of calls and letters after her comments. Some were profane and angry, from residents living outside the state. Others came from supporters. At Sac Press Club luncheon, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye said she fielded lots of anger, support after courthouse enforcement remarks. pic.twitter.com/6OBrZOfI45  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) May 25, 2017 Many said that as a judge, she should not wade into politics. U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly admonished her in a letter, spurring California state leaders to respond in defense of state policies. On Thursday, Cantil-Sakauye stood by her decision to denounce the actions, saying, If I couldnt speak out as chief justice, I dont know who could. Courthouses in California have numerous programs to encourage people to come forward and ask questions, seek services and mediate issues, Cantil-Sakauye said. If we have a segment [of the population] that is afraid to come, then we are looking at no access to justice, [and] potentially public safety issues, which is antithetical to what the justice system exists for, she said. To me, it is a safe zone, and I ask that courthouses be placed on par with school districts and hospitals and churches. Facebook

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Rep. Darrell Issa says the federal employee insurance program should be expanded to all Americans By Sarah D. Wire Though it wasnt included in the House Republicans healthcare bill, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) still believes Americans should have access to the same insurance plans federal employees pick from, and hes hoping the Senate will embrace the idea. In a letter Thursday, Issa asked the Senate Health Care Working Group to consider opening the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program to more, or all, Americans. Its a national insurance idea thats persisted since the program began in 1960, and a proposal Issa has pitched before. The program allows more than 8 million current and retired federal employees across the country to shop among hundreds of health insurance plans and then apply their employer contribution to whatever plan they choose. Private insurance companies have pulled out of several state insurance marketplaces, where people whose employers dont offer insurance can purchase insurance using a federal subsidy. That leaves people with fewer health insurance choices, a common complaint cited by Republicans as a reason to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Its choice. If the government can maximize choice to you and then subsidize where appropriate based on need, then weve met the two bases for government involvement, Issa said. Issa voted for the American Health Care Act, the GOP bill to roll back much of Obamacare that passed May 4 without Democratic support, but he stresses that he did so just to keep momentum. One of the reasons I voted for this in the House was to keep the process alive so we could do reform, Issa said. Leveraging business models that work is the goal that somebody like me wants to do. Find out what works and invest in it, find out what doesnt work and fix it or abandon it. On Thursday, the Congressional Budget Office said the bill as passed by the House would cause 23 million fewer people to have health insurance by 2026. The budget office, which Congress relies on to analyze the complex legislation, projected that many additional consumers would see skimpier health coverage and higher deductibles. The Senate has essentially said it will write its own version of the bill. Issas letter to his Senate colleagues also urges members to protect people with preexisting conditions, safeguard coverage for people with mental illnesses and protect people near retirement age from a spike in their premiums. Theres still more to be done. This bill is going to be about compromise, and a down payment on change, Issa said. Facebook

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Senate President Kevin de Leon is busy raising campaign funds  but for what office? By Phil Willon Senate President pro Tem Kevin de Leon. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) stirred up speculation about a possible run for governor or U.S. Senate when he released a slickly produced video just before the California Democratic Partys convention last weekend, but he has remained coy about his future political plans. That doesnt mean he isnt padding his campaign war chest, though. De Leon has two fundraisers lined up in Los Angeles in June, presumably for his 2018 campaign for California lieutenant governor. The question is whether De Leon actually will run for lieutenant governor. In the past, he has said he hasnt made a decision. He has also given his supporters the go-ahead to endorse state Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-Azusa), a longtime political ally, in the race. De Leons campaign account for lieutenant governor had $1.7 million in the bank at the end of last year. He raised close to a half-million this year, according to state political financial disclosure reports. The first fundraiser in June is being hosted by veteran Hollywood executive Peter Guber and his wife, Tara, in Bel Air on June 8, with suggested contributions ranging from $500 to $2,500. The second is in late June at the Palm in Los Angeles. The fundraiser is hosted by Craig Darian, CEO of the Occidental Entertainment Group, and his wife, Kimberly, as well as Albert Sweet, the founder of the company. The suggested donations are the same as for the earlier fundraiser. De Leon made history in 2014 when he was selected by his colleagues as the first Latino to lead the California Senate. The tenure has been marked by significant action on climate change, immigration and gun control. Facebook

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Volkswagens clean car plan falls short in low-income neighborhoods, California regulators say By Chris Megerian (Markus Schreiber / Associated Press) State regulators have asked Volkswagen to revise its plan to invest in zero emission technology in California, a victory for critics who said the automaker wasnt doing enough in disadvantaged communities. The investment plan, which will total $800 million over 10 years, is part of Volkswagens obligation under a multi-billion settlement for evading pollution rules. California, which is struggling to get enough zero emission vehicles on the road to meet its goals, is eager to move forward, wrote Air Resources Board Executive Officer Richard Corey in a Wednesday letter to Electrify America, a Volkswagen subsidiary. However, Corey wrote, we need more information on how the company will meet its target of spending 35% of its investment in disadvantaged communities, a target set by state regulators in hopes of broadening the adoption of electric vehicles. Corey also asked Electrify America to consider supporting hydrogen fueling stations, rather than just electric chargers. Once the company submits an updated version of its plan, state regulators will consider whether to approve it. Electrify America said it is reviewing the letter. Dean Florez, a member of the Air Resources Board, said the original investment plan had significant holes and included no real investment in disadvantaged communities. He praised the decision to request revisions and said the board should hold VWs feet to the fire. This story has been updated with additional comments. Facebook

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Lawmakers scrap effort to make it easier to pass local transportation taxes By John Myers An effort to boost the chances of local ballot measures raising taxes for transportation needs was quietly killed Thursday in the state Capitol. The proposal, which would have ultimately required changing the California Constitution through a statewide vote, was in response to the high hurdle set decades ago for local taxes earmarked for specific projects. Those kinds of taxes in cities and counties require two-thirds of the vote. The constitutional amendment by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) would have lowered the vote threshold to 55% of ballots cast for any transportation proposal. Wiener argued the long list of local transportation projects lacking funds wont completely be erased by the $52-billion transportation plan signed into law last month. And he pointed specifically to examples like a transportation tax plan in the Bay Area last year that garnered 62% of the vote  still slightly shy of the two-thirds mandate. While the effort can be brought back before lawmakers adjourn the current session in the summer of 2018, Thursdays action represented a major setback for transportation groups and labor unions that supported it. The measure was opposed by business and anti-tax advocates. Wiener said he intends to re-introduce the measure in the coming weeks. We must improve and expand transportation throughout our state, which has suffered from decades of underfunding, he said in a written statement. Update 1:29 p.m. This story was modified with additional information regarding constitutional amendments and the legislative process. Update 4:10 p.m. This story was updated with comment from Sen. Wiener. Facebook

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Sex offenders will not be banned without exception from school grounds after state bill is shelved By Jazmine Ulloa State Sen. Connie M. Leyva, right. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) The state Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday shelved a bill that would have banned all registered sex offenders from school campuses without exception. Senate Bill 26 by Sen. Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) would have made it a misdemeanor for a registered sex offender to enter any school building or grounds without lawful business. State laws keep registered sex offenders from living near schools. But those who have not been convicted of having sex with a minor under age 16 can visit or volunteer with groups or organizations that work with children if they give proper notice, and are granted permission. They cannot work directly with children. The committee advanced another bill by Leyva that would extend benefits under the Safe at Home initiative to former victims of forced prostitution or labor. Senate Bill 597, introduced with Secretary of State Alex Padilla, passed with a unanimous 7-0 vote. Read More Facebook

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Measure to help California students refinance private loans is shelved By Melanie Mason State Treasurer John Chiang, a candidate for governor, is behind a new effort to help people with student debt refinance their loans. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) A measure to help Californians saddled with student debt refinance their student loans was shelved in a key fiscal committee on Thursday. The measure by state Sen. Benjamin Allen (D-Santa Monica) was touted as a way for the state to coax private lenders to offer more favorable interest. The proposal would have carried a $25-million price tag. We will continue to push for sensible solutions to the student loan crisis that provide real relief to the millions of Californians saddled with too much debt, Allen said in a statement. State Treasurer John Chiang, a 2018 gubernatorial candidate, had championed the bill, SB 674, as a way to try to get [Californians] out of debt as quickly as possible. College graduation is supposed to be synonymous with opportunity and prosperity and not a detour into a modern-day debtors prison, Chiang said in a statement. Although I am disappointed SB 674 will not be moving forward, I will continue to use my position as the states banker to invest in Californias young people and its future with innovative solutions that will make it more financially feasible to obtain a higher education, he added. 3:58 p.m.: This article was updated to add comments from Sen. Benjamin Allen and Treasurer John Chiang. This article was originally published at 11:17 a.m. Read More Facebook

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Where bills go to die: Lawmakers begin clearing the suspense file with hundreds of measures in limbo By John Myers (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) From a sales tax exemption on tampons to healthcare rules and marijuana regulation, a massive stack of proposed laws faces a major deadline Friday morning at the state Capitol. To survive, they must clear whats known as the suspense file -- the place where bills that would cost taxpayers money are held in legislative limbo. By law, bills with a fiscal impact must be sent to the floor of the Assembly and Senate by the close of business on Friday. That means its decision time for more than 800 pieces of legislation. The Senates fiscal committee will decide the fate of bills on Thursday; the Assembly will do so on Friday. Bills are generally sent to the suspense file if their projected cost to the state is $150,000 or more. The procedural move was widely used during Californias deficit years as a way for lawmakers to weigh the pros and cons of proposals in light of limited resources. But government watchdog groups have long pointed out that the clearing of the suspense file ends up hiding some of the legislative sausage-making from public view. Thats because bills that dont clear Fridays hurdle are essentially killed without a recorded vote. And neither chamber offers any explanation for why those bills were killed. Decisions on the fate of the suspense file are made in private, hours or days before the public hearing. In the Assembly, the appropriations committee chairperson will simply tell the public that a decision has been made to hold the bill. In the Senate committee, killed legislation wont even be mentioned during Thursdays hearing. That means that no one will know for sure whether a bill is really killed because of its price tag or its politics. Facebook

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Formal apology sought after U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters was cut off during state convention speech By Jazmine Ulloa (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) In my 20 years as a Democratic Party leader, I have never experienced such the type of behavior as I did at the Sacramento Convention hall on Saturday evening.  Darren Parker, longtime chairman of the African American Caucus The California Democratic Party African American Caucus is asking the state party for a formal apology to U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters and its members for what it called disrespect by a private subcontractor at its weekend state convention. Waters, a Los Angeles Democrat known for her comments on President Trump, had been speaking at a caucus meeting during the event Saturday night when the sound to her microphone was cut off. SEE THE VIDEO OF WATERS SPEECH> Read More Facebook

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California sees a rebound in cap-and-trade auction, bolstering key climate change program By Chris Megerian (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) State regulators announced strong results from Californias cap-and-trade program on Wednesday, spurring analysts and supporters to say the system remains solid despite questions about its political future. The program requires oil refineries, food processors, power plants and other facilities to buy permits to release greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly all of the permits offered by the state in its latest auction were purchased, generating an estimated $500 million in revenue. Thats a shift from other recent auctions, where most of the permits went unsold, reducing revenue that state leaders have counted on for 
Many House Republicans who gambled to pass a healthcare plan must now turn to a new challenge: survival.

The two largest purges of House members since the early 1940s have followed efforts to remake the nations healthcare system: in 1994, when Democrats lost 52 seats after the collapse of the Clinton administrations healthcare plan, and in 2010, when the party lost 63 seats after the narrow passage of the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.

Those precedents have fed Democratic hopes that efforts to repeal President Obamas healthcare plan could have a positive side effect for them: control of the House in 2018.

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Significant uncertainty remains. Democrats would have to gain almost two dozen seats to take back the House. Voters wont cast their ballots for 18 months, a span of time in which other issues could rise in importance. And at least some Republicans believe that experts who failed to predict President Trumps victory last November are failing to understand voter attitudes toward Congress and healthcare today.

But right now, both sides are planning for a midterm election in which the highly contentious and historically emotional issue of healthcare is likely to remain a focus. The fact that the Senate isnt likely to begin debate on its own plan until June, and the two Republican-led chambers will then have try to forge a compromise, means the issue will remain in the headlines for weeks, perhaps months.

Studies of the impact of the 2010 Obamacare vote showed that Democrats from vulnerable districts paid a significant price, George Washington University political scientist Sara Binder said. (The 1994 healthcare plan was killed without a vote.)

They were far more likely to lose their seat, even once we factored in everything else that would have affected them in those places, she said of 2010s spurned incumbents.

Theres an analogy here, she said. It was a risky vote for many Republicans.

Despite the risks, however, Binder and others said that internal party politics made Thursdays vote imperative for the GOP.

Its hard inside the Beltway to get a good appreciation for how popular Obamacare repeal remains for Republican voters, Binder said. Republican leaders clearly think they owe their base this vote.

In the end, that argument was the one that persuaded many wavering Republicans to vote for the bill: After the party had promised for seven years to repeal Obamacare, it simply couldnt turn its back on the voters who had accepted that promise and elected them. (A Pew Research poll taken in February showed that almost 9 in 10 Republican voters opposed Obamacare.)

Theres a danger any time politicians change what is perceived as a government mandate, said Harmeet Dhillon, one of two Republican National Committee members from California and a former vice chair of the state GOP. For Republicans, there was also a danger in doing nothing.

But that doesnt change the fact that voting for the bill also carried huge risk. Already, nonpartisan election handicappers are saying that Thursdays vote put Republicans in competitive congressional districts, including several in California, at greater jeopardy. Seven California Republicans serve in House districts won last November by Hillary Clinton and considered competitive in 2018; all voted for the GOP healthcare plan.

David Wasserman, who analyzes Houses races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said in a report Friday that the post-vote landscape is consistent with past scenarios that have generated a midterm wave against the party in power.

Not only did dozens of Republicans in marginal districts just hitch their names to an unpopular piece of legislation, Democrats just received another valuable candidate recruitment tool, he said. In fact, Democrats arent so much recruiting candidates as they are overwhelmed by a deluge of eager newcomers, including doctors and veterans in traditionally red seats who have no political record for the GOP to attack  almost a mirror image of 2010.

Between presidential elections, independent voters generally lose interest. That means midterm races typically become a battle between party regulars. The party out of power  in this case Democrats, who with the loss of the White House in November have no power base in Washington  historically benefits from increased intensity among its disgruntled voters.

Theres very little Congress can do that people take more personally than monkeying around with healthcare.  Parke Skelton, political strategist

That certainly has been true leading to the 2018 elections. Already, Democrats have used as motivation President Trump and his early moves on issues including immigration, his budget plan that would gut many domestic programs, and healthcare.

Special elections in Kansas and Georgia earlier in the spring have suggested that Republican voters, meanwhile, have been less enthusiastic in the early months of the Trump administration.

The question of whether the healthcare vote has immediate political consequences will be tested in upcoming elections prompted by the departures of Republican incumbents for roles in the Trump administration.

In Montana, where voters will decide May 25 on a replacement for Ryan Zinke, the former at-large congressman who is now Interior secretary, Democrat Rob Quist immediately sought to use the healthcare measure against Republican Greg Gianforte.

Quist said the bill would kick thousands of hardworking Montanans off of their health insurance and raise premiums by hundreds of dollars a month in addition to lessening protections for those with preexisting conditions.

No real Montanan would vote for it, he said, castigating his opponent as standing with the special-interest authors of this bill. Gianforte has supported repealing Obamacare but said Friday he would not have voted on the House measure until congressional budget officials had determined its impact.

Jon Ossoff, the Democratic nominee in the tossup Georgia House runoff on June 20, also used the vote to extend his credibility as an independent voice  a key need in a district that has long been held by Republicans.

The measure that passed the House, he said, puts Georgians lives at risk.

Congress should put aside partisan politics and work to make affordable insurance and quality care available to all Americans, he said.

Once the special elections wrap up, both parties will turn their attention to 2018. At this early point, Democratic strategists say they are thrilled about the potential benefit of the House vote.

The Democratic congressional campaign committee will start airing drive-time radio ads Monday on multiple stations in the Los Angeles market. The ads are aimed at five Republicans representing competitive southern California districts.

What happened today is devastating for Darrell Issas reelection bid, Parke Skelton, a strategist for Mike Levin, one of the two Democrats challenging the Vista congressman, said Thursday night.

Levin previewed the argument that many Democrats will make against Republican incumbents: He voted to have a massive tax reduction for the wealthiest among us, like him, rather than preserve access to affordable healthcare.

(Issa, whose November victory came by the smallest margin of any House race, said that his constituents needed relief from the Obama plan.)

While much will happen between now and election day 2018, Skelton said he is confident healthcare will remain top of mind for voters.

Theres very little Congress can do that people take more personally than monkeying around with healthcare, he said.

Republicans are hopeful that by that time voters will begin to see benefits  either to their health insurance or through the tax cuts that were included in the healthcare measure, assuming those survive the Senate remake.

It is way early in the cycle, said Republican pollster Ed Goeas when asked for a prediction.

Republican fortunes will rise if voters focus next year is not on the vote but on seeing some real differences in their lives, he said.

For more on politics 

cathleen.decker@latimes.com

Twitter: @cathleendecker

ALSO:

All of Californias GOP House members voted to pass the Obamacare repeal bill

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The latest from Washington

Updates on California politics

UPDATES:

3:05 p.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Montana Republican Greg Gianforte and plans by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to begin running ads in the Los Angeles market.

This article was first published at 12:10 p.m.
When officials for some big, Democratic-leaning cities asked the Trump administration during a meeting in March about a grant competition for major highway and transit projects, the message they got was concerning: Dont get your hopes up.

The White House would be pursuing a new strategy for handing out the money, said Transportation Department officials, who hosted the session, one that focused on boosting overlooked communities.

Many in the room took the guidance to mean that Trump intends to spend that money in places that voted for him, according to the official who described the session on condition that none of the attendees be identified.

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Presidential power has long been used to reinforce the incumbents electoral base, but Trumps focus on where he won stands out.

He talks about it constantly. He handed out electoral maps to reporters during an interview on his first 100 days in office and boasted to another group that his decision to drop a campaign promise and stay in the North American Free Trade Agreement was sealed when he studied separate maps reflecting the impact on his political strongholds in farm states.

The administrations agenda aims to re-slice the pie in a way that would shrink the share for many heavily Democratic states and urban areas.

Along with that comes Trumps taste for threatening urban liberals.

We give tremendous amounts of money to California, he told Fox News Channel host Bill OReilly in February, in describing his plan to pull funding from sanctuary cities. California in many ways is out of control, as you know.

In truth, California, like most wealthy states with big urban centers, pays considerably more to Washington in taxes than it gets back in federal spending. The federal government for decades has redistributed money from the Northeast and West Coast to poorer states, especially in the South.

The Trump administration seems to want to push that trend further. White House efforts to reshape how federal policy affects states and local governments are playing out in policies large and small, from ominous declarations about punishing sanctuary cities to efforts at blocking money for commuter trains in the Bay Area, to musings about forcing Californians and New Yorkers to purchase electricity generated by burning coal.

His philosophy is win, win, win, and he is not interested in what is polite or has historical precedent or is seen as the graceful way to lead, said presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, a professor at Rice University in Texas.

He is dividing and conquering. You will see him start to punish states he has no chance of winning in 2020, and doing things that focus on feeding revenues to places like Michigan, Ohio.

How that will work over time and how successful Trump will be remain unknown. Congress ultimately controls many decisions about spending. But Trump aides speak frequently of the special obligation to renew the prominence of rural and small town America.

His vote was to a remarkable degree [fueled by] people who felt neglected and ignored and betrayed by the traditional political class, said Trump confidant Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker. He sees himself as their tribuneThats very real.

Trumps allies, however, insist that does not mean a calculated system of reward and punishment.

Many of the policies that could help forgotten manufacturing towns and farm belt states and punish Trump foes coincide with broader campaign promises. Some White House initiatives that could hit Californians hard, like the push to repeal Obamacare, could hit voters in Trump country even harder.

And the presidents efforts to promote corporations extend to firms like Boeing, headquartered in Chicago, a city where plans are afoot to float massive gold balloons shaped like pigs in front of the Trump sign on his signature downtown building later this summer.

I havent heard him once suggest that hes going to benefit states or only people that supported him, said Christopher Ruddy, chief executive of Newsmax, a conservative website, and longtime Trump confidant.

There is a feeling certain areas of the country have been left behind, like the Rust Belt and the Midwest. Those are areas that happened to have voted for him.

White House statements that previewed a shift of money started when Trump announced that he plans to withhold funds from sanctuary cities that resist cooperation with federal deportation efforts. It continued when he released his first budget in March, proposing deep cuts to transit and federal housing programs that target urban revitalization.

It intensified with a tax plan unveiled last month that would wreak havoc in California, Illinois, New York and other deep-blue states by revoking the tax deduction for state and local tax payments.

The state and local tax deduction is worth thousands of dollars for families in high-tax places who itemize their deductions and is crucial to offsetting the cost of ambitious government programs in blue states.

We dont think its the federal governments job to be subsidizing states, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said recently at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills.

California and New York account for a third of what the deduction costs the federal government nationwide, and leaders in those places say the politics are undeniable.

His proposal to eliminate the state and local tax deduction has nothing to do with simplifying the tax code and everything to do with punishing California, said California State Senate Leader Kevin de Leon.

Of course, the politics cut both ways. Asked about the threat to eliminate the deduction, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi waved it off with a scoffing laugh. Republicans have talked about the idea for years, but their House majority depends on GOP representatives from wealthy suburban districts where many voters take the deduction, making the idea of repeal more attractive in theory than reality.

Other cuts are more immediately achievable. The administration did not wait for congressional deliberations before blocking a $647 million grant that had already been approved for electrifying the wheezing, overburdened and outdated Caltrain commuter line that connects San Francisco to Silicon Valley, as well as to help fund the states multi-billion dollar high-speed rail project.

The grant was stopped at the behest of a group of Republican congressmen in California who oppose the high-speed rail project, but the disruption it caused for the more immediate need to update the transit network in the Bay Area spread panic from the governors office to the boardrooms of Silicon Valley.

Leaders of some of the nations biggest tech companies joined state leaders in demanding the administration free up the funds.

I never imagined that the electrification of a train would be subjected to such brutal, partisan politics, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-Menlo Park) said at the time.

The stopgap spending bill that Trump signed into law on Friday freed some of the money for Caltrain, but much of it remains in limbo.

California is, of course, an inevitable target for Republican administrations. The state has used its out-sized economic clout for decades to impose regulations aimed at forcing industries to meet Sacramentos environmental agenda.

But Trumps promise for a resurgence in coal and other fossil-fuel industries is already rattling blue-state regulators who have long held the White House has no power to disrupt their clean-energy policies.

Trump allied with Detroit auto manufacturers to threaten Californias unique legal authority to set tougher fuel-mileage standards for cars and trucks than the rest of the country. Energy Secretary Rick Perry signaled last month that he may assert that the national security interest in a stable power grid overrides the states ban on electricity derived from coal.

California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom began battling Republican White Houses when he served as mayor of San Francisco and fought with George W. Bush over same-sex marriage.

Newsom said that even at the height of those clashes, there remained a back channel through which elder GOP statesmen in California like George Shultz, the former secretary of State, could keep lines of communication open.

San Franciscos pioneering universal healthcare law, a beacon of progressive policy when it was launched, would have collapsed if the Bush administration had not approved key funding.

We dont have that now with the Trump administration, Newsom said. We dont have the confidence cooler heads will prevail. More traditional rules applied then. These folks are much more punitive and petulant.

Yet many of Trumps boldest proposals face an uncertain future. Some, like the threats against sanctuary cities, have run into problems in court. Others face opposition in Congress.

Julian Castro, who served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama, said the community development block grant program that Trump wants to wipe out offers an instructive lesson.

The president, he said, is misreading both the needs of his base and the interdependence between the countrys urban, rural and suburban areas.

Castro said that block grant program has evolved over four decades as one of the most politically resilient in the federal government. When Obama proposed a small cut one year, Congress returned with a funding increase.

Even as the grants are weighted toward urban areas, the money is also spread to small towns, whose smaller budgets are more dependent on the money.

He doesnt see his supporters as folks who live in big cities, Castro said. Its not a very nuanced view of politics and probably not completely accurate.



noah.bierman@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman

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Trump order on religion fits a pattern  action far more modest than his words
The legislative fight over healthcare these past several weeks has offered House Republicans a choice of unattractive options.

Failure to pass a bill would have meant that even with a huge majority in the House and control of the Senate and the White House, Republicans could not fulfill their most basic promise to the voters who elected them: the pledge to repeal Obamacare.

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Success meant forcing Republicans in vulnerable, swing districts to vote for a bill that is deeply unpopular, almost certainly putting some of their seats at risk, perhaps enough to lose the House majority in 2018.

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.

HOW COSTLY A WIN?

As Democrats can testify from the bitter experience of 2010, passing a bill that many voters see as a threat to their healthcare can pave a quick road to defeat.

As Democrats can testify from an equally bitter loss in 1994, when Bill Clinton was president, failure to pass a promised bill on healthcare also can lead to defeat.

Speaker Paul Ryan and his advisors had been inclined to walk away from the healthcare battle after their initial defeat in March. As recently as this week, the bill appeared to be on the brink of failure, as Lisa Mascaro, Noam Levey and Sarah Wire wrote.

But, prodded by President Trump and his aides, who worried about their lack of legislative accomplishments, the House leaders returned to the field. On Thursday, they got their bill through, just barely, 217-213.

What would the new bill actually do? Levey has written a detailed side-by-side comparison with current law. Its part of our series of primers on key aspects of the debate that we call Obamacare 101.

The broad thrust of the bill is simple, however: It cuts hundreds of billions of dollars a year from federal spending on healthcare, which means millions of middle- and low-income Americans wont be able to afford to go to the doctor.

House Republicans say that if the federal government pulls back, states can pick up the slack. As Levey wrote, that approach has been tried before and has not worked, even in the biggest, wealthiest states.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the earlier version of the bill would have taken healthcare coverage away from 24 million people. This time around, the House leadership didnt wait to hear from the budget office before taking a vote.

In exchange for the spending cuts, the bill eliminates $600 billion in taxes over the next 10 years. That gives several hundred thousand of the wealthiest Americans a very big tax cut. Republicans say they believe that will boost economic growth and make healthcare cheaper for those who are young and healthy. It may do both, but so far, that prospective trade-off is proving unacceptable to many voters.

Since the election, when voters were evenly divided over whether they supported Obamacare, repeated polls by different organizations have shown a steady trend of growing support for the law as the GOP threatened to take it away.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

The healthcare debate now moves to the Senate. GOP leaders there already have signaled that they will throw out most of what the House has done and start over. Votes arent expected in the Senate before June at the earliest.

Republicans have 52 votes in the Senate; they need 50 to pass the bill under the special procedures being used. That doesnt leave much margin, and the division of opinions between centrist and conservative senators is wide. No one on either side expects any Democrats to vote for a bill that would repeal Obamacare.

If the Republican senators can reach agreement, their bill would have to go back to the House. At that point, Ryan likely will have the same problem of getting conservatives to sign on to a bill that doesnt fully meet their demands.

Odds are that the healthcare debate will continue to dominate Washington at least into the summer and perhaps the fall.

In the meantime, uncertainty about the future has encouraged several insurers to pull out of healthcare marketplaces. Thats left some places, including parts of Tennessee and Iowa, with few or no insurers for those who dont get coverage through their jobs. That problem could get worse in coming months.

As Cathy Decker wrote Friday, that means healthcare almost certainly will be a defining issue for the 2018 midterm elections.

The healthcare debate could have particular impact in California, where half the Republican members of the delegation, 7 of 14, represent districts that Hillary Clinton carried in 2016. Every one of those potentially vulnerable Republicans voted for the healthcare bill, as Wire noted.

Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) and Steve Knight (R-Palmdale already were on Democrats lists of top targets for 2018. The healthcare vote could encourage Democrats to mount serious challenges to two Republicans in the Central Valley, Reps. David Valadao of Hanford and Jeff Denham of Turlock, and some, or all, of Orange Countys Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters and Ed Royce.

If Democrats do regain control of Congress and the White House  something that the pendulum swings of U.S. politics almost surely will bring about eventually  the experience of the last few years may push them to a more leftist position on healthcare.

Now that Republicans have shown they will fight any health bill, even one like Obamacare that preserves the role of private insurance companies, why not just please liberals and go for a government-run system, some strategists argue.

There are powerful policy reasons why a single-payer system would be harder to create than many Democrats would like to think: It requires a big tax hike and disrupts health plans that lots of Americans are happy with. But, as Melanie Mason reported, a bill to set up a single-payer system in California cleared its first committee hurdle this week.

DIVIDES OVER SPENDING

That 20 House Republicans voted against the healthcare bill illustrated the partys divide on that issue. But on this weeks spending bill, 103 Republicans in the House deserted.

That wide split in the GOP gave House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi considerable leverage in the negotiations. As a result, Trump got very few of his priorities in the bill, Mascaro wrote.

One especially endangered priority is Trumps proposed wall along the southwestern border, as Noah Bierman and Brian Bennett wrote. The wall got no money in the spending bill, and skepticism in Congress, including from many Republicans, means it will continue to be problematic in September, when the current bill expires. The impression that the White House is softening on the need for a full wall has angered some of Trumps ardent backers.

The Democrats crowing over their successes with the spending bill clearly hit a nerve with Trump, who sent out an angry tweet suggesting that maybe Republicans should try shutting down the government next time. Memoli looked at Trumps reaction and its consequences.

The divisions among Republicans are one of several reasons why Congress so far seems on track to get very little done this year, Mascaro wrote.

DEMOCRATS DEBATE HOW FAR TO PUSH

Republicans arent the only divided party, of course. Decker takes a look at the divides in Democratic ranks, comparing the town hall receptions that recently met Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris.

Even Pelosi has a Democratic primary challenger who thinks she isnt liberal enough. Sound outlandish? Well, this is San Francisco, Mark Barabak writes: Meet Stephen Jaffe.

The fervent Democratic opposition to Trump has made heroes of some longtime lawmakers on the partys left. One of the most intriguing is Rep. Maxine Waters, the veteran South Los Angeles member of Congress. Sarah Wire looks at how she became Auntie Maxine to a generation of younger activists.

DEREGULATION AT WORK

As Evan Halper wrote, the Senate approved legislation that aims to block a plan by California to set up 401(k) retirement accounts for those who dont get such plans at work.

Illinois, Connecticut and other Democratic states had been planning to follow Californias lead, and the Obama administration had issued a rule that cleared federal obstacles. Now, those obstacles will be back.

The bill is part of a push by Republicans to use a law known as the Congressional Review Act that allows them to wipe out rules that were adopted in President Obamas final months in office. The deadline for using the review act is next week.

Trumps appointees, of course, dont face a similar deadline, and they are working to undo other parts of Obamas legacy. At the Federal Communications Commission, the prime target is rules to mandate so-called net neutrality. Jim Puzzanghera looks at the history of the net neutrality debate.

TRUMP AND RELIGION

Trump issued an executive order Thursday on religious liberty, but after a big buildup, the actual order disappointed some religious conservatives. The order did so little that the ACLU dropped plans to go to court against it. The order was nothing but an elaborate photo-op with no discernible policy outcome, the head of the ACLU said after seeing the text of what Trump signed.

That reaction fit a pattern of many of Trumps executive actions  bold rhetoric followed by documents that dont come close to achieving what the president claimed to be doing.

TRUMPS FOREIGN POLICY TAKES SHAPE

The president has been praising dictators a lot. It fits a strategy, Brian Bennett and Tracy Wilkinson wrote.

His U.N. ambassador, Nikki Haley, has taken a more traditional foreign policy line, criticizing Russia and stressing the U.S. commitment to human rights. Thats led to some conflicts with the White House, Wilkinson and Barbara Demick wrote.

Meantime, the president has scheduled his first overseas trip. It will take him to Saudi Arabia and Israel, places where his penchant for off-the-cuff remarks could be risky, Wilkinson and Memoli wrote. In a meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas this week, Trump said that he thought negotiating a deal between Israel and the Arabs might be not as difficult as people have thought.

Also on the itinerary  Rome for a meeting with Pope Francis and Brussels for a NATO summit.

NO REGRETS, FBI CHIEF SAYS

FBI Director James Comey testified in the Senate that he was mildly nauseous at the idea that he might have affected the outcome of 2016 presidential contest, but that if he had to do everything over again, he would have acted the same way.

ALL THE PRESIDENTS TWEETS

Twitter has long been Trumps favored means of pushing his message. Were compiling all of Trumps tweets. Its a great resource. Take a look.

LOGISTICS

That wraps up this week. My colleague Sarah Wire will be back Monday with the weekday edition of Essential Politics. Until then, keep track of all the developments in national politics and the Trump administration with our Essential Washington blog, at our Politics page and on Twitter @latimespolitics.

Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com.

If you like this newsletter, tell your friends to sign up.

David.lauter@latimes.com

@davidlauter
Boy Scouts: Top leaders didnt call Trump to praise speech as the president said By Associated Press The Boy Scouts denied Wednesday that the head of the youth organization called President Donald Trump to praise his recent politically aggressive speech to its national jamboree. Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview published Wednesday, I got a call from the head of the Boy Scouts saying it was the greatest speech that was ever made to them, and they were very thankful. Politico published the transcript of the interview. We are unaware of any such call, the Boy Scouts responded in a statement. It specified that neither of the organizations two top leaders  President Randall Stephenson and Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh  had placed such a call. The White House had no immediate response to the Boy Scouts denial. Surbaugh apologized last week to members of the scouting community who were offended by the political rhetoric in Trumps July 24 speech in West Virginia. Other U.S. presidents have delivered nonpolitical speeches at past jamborees. To the dismay of many parents and former scouts, Trump promoted his political agenda and derided his rivals, inducing some of the scouts in attendance to boo at the mention of former President Obama. I want to extend my sincere apologies to those in our Scouting family who were offended by the political rhetoric that was inserted into the jamboree, Surbaugh said. That was never our intent. Surbaugh noted that every sitting president since 1937 has been invited to visit the jamboree. Stephenson told the Associated Press two days after the speech that Boy Scout leaders anticipated Trump would spark controversy with politically tinged remarks, yet felt obliged to invite him out of respect for his office. Hoping to minimize friction, the Boy Scouts issued guidelines to adult staff members for how the audience should react to the speech. Any type of political chanting was specifically discouraged. Stephenson, who did not attend Trumps speech, said the guidance wasnt followed impeccably. Facebook

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Mayor of London again calls on Trump to cancel state visit By Christina Boyle (AFP/Getty Images) The mayor of London has reiterated his calls for President Trumps state visit to Britain to be canceled in the wake of the citys terrorist incident, saying his policies go against everything we stand for. The war of words between the two leaders intensified further Monday evening after Trump criticized Mayor Sadiq Khans response to the London Bridge terrorist attack in two tweets, and the mayor said Trump should not be welcomed in the capital. Since Saturday Ive been working with the police, with the emergency services, with the government and others to deal with the horrific attack on Saturday, Khan said Monday evening. I just havent got the time to deal with tweets from Donald Trump. But when pressed on whether he thinks a state visit for later this year should go ahead as planned, Khan was unequivocal. My position remains the same. I dont think we should be rolling out the carpet to the president of the United States in the circumstances where his policies go against everything we stand for, Khan told Channel 4 news. When you have a special relationship, it is no different to when you have a close mate: You stand with them in times of adversity, but you call them out when theyre wrong. And there are many things about which Donald Trump is wrong. Trump initially criticized Khan hours after the London attack posting on Twitter: At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is no reason to be alarmed! Khans office soon pointed out that the president had, in fact, misquoted Khan, who actually said that Londoners should not be alarmed by the increased armed police presence on the streets. Trump took to Twitter again on Monday to slam the London mayor once more. Pathetic excuse by London mayor Sadiq Khan, who had to think fast on his no reason to be alarmed statement. MSM [Mainstream media] is working hard to sell it! the president wrote. This is not the first time Khan, the first Muslim mayor of a major Western capital city, has called for Trumps state visit to be banned. He previously branded Trumps policies on immigration and proposed travel ban on people entering the U.S. from predominantly Muslim countries cruel. An online government petition calling for the invitation to be withdrawn also gathered more than 1.8 million votes. The visit was first announced during Prime Minister Theresa Mays trip to Washington, where she became the first foreign leader to meet the newly-inaugurated president. State visits are personal invites from the British monarch and involve a significant amount of pomp and ceremony, and usually a state banquet. Facebook

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He helped bring down President Nixon. He thinks President Trump is even worse. By Mark Z. Barabak (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times) John Dean is a connoisseur of coverups, a savant of scandal, so he can more than imagine what its like inside the Trump White House right now. Its a nightmare, he said, presiding in a high-backed leather wing chair off the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel. Not just for those in the headlines  political strategist Steve Bannon, jack-of-many-duties Jared Kushner  but for their unsung assistants and secretaries as well. They dont know what their jeopardy is. They dont know what theyre looking at. They dont know if theyre a part of a conspiracy that might unfold. They dont know whether to hire lawyers or not, how theyre going to pay for them if they do, Dean said in a crisp law-counsel cadence. Its an unpleasant place. Dean was a central figure in Watergate, the 1970s political scandal against which all others are measured, serving at the tender age of 32 as President Nixons White House attorney. In that capacity Dean worked to thwart investigators after the clumsy break-in at Democratic Party headquarters, then flipped and helped sink Nixon by revealing the presidents involvement in the coverup. Read More Facebook

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Two decades ago, Washington state Republicans repealed and replaced a healthcare overhaul there. It didnt end well By Noam N. Levey Republicans in the state of Washington didnt wait long in the spring of 1995 to fulfill their pledge to roll back a sweeping law expanding health coverage in the state. Coming off historic electoral gains, the GOP legislators scrapped much of the law while pledging to make health insurance affordable and to free state residents from onerous government mandates. It didnt work out that way: The repeal left the states insurance market in shambles, sent premiums skyrocketing and drove health insurers from the state. It took nearly five years to repair the damage. Two decades later, the ill-fated experiment, largely relegated to academic journals, offers a caution to lawmakers at the national level as Republicans in the U.S. Senate race to write a bill to repeal and replace the federal Affordable Care Act. Its much easier to break something, said Pam MacEwan, who led a Washington state commission charged with implementing the law in the mid-1990s and now oversees the state insurance market there. Its more difficult to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.  And thats when people get hurt. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office echoed that warning last week, when it concluded that the healthcare bill passed by the House last month would destabilize insurance markets in a sixth of the country and nearly double the number of people without health insurance over the next decade. Read More Facebook

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Companies accelerate hiring, adding a robust 253,000 net new jobs, ADP says By Jim Puzzanghera A now hiring sign is seen in Baton Rouge, La., on May 5. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Companies accelerated their hiring last month, adding a robust 253,000 net new jobs in a sign the labor market remains healthy and the economy is strengthening after a weak winter. The private-sector job creation figures reported Thursday by payroll firm Automatic Data Processing far exceeded analyst expectations and was well above the downwardly revised 174,000 net new positions added in April. Job growth is rip-roaring, declared Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moodys Analytics, which assists ADP in preparing its report. Read More Facebook

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All jokes aside, Trumps covfefe tweet sparks questions too By Brian Bennett President Trump sparked a global kerfuffle over covfefe with his bizarrely truncated tweet just minutes into Wednesday, spawning countless jokes across Twitter but also more serious questions for which the White House gave no answers. Press Secretary Sean Spicer, during an unusually short 11-minute briefing in which he insisted he not be on camera, declined to give any explanation for Trumps tweet posted just after midnight. Nor would he translate what the president was trying to say in the garbled message that broke off midsentence. But Spicer told reporters that the public should not be concerned that the president sent what the questioner called somewhat of an incoherent tweet. The president and a small group of people know exactly what he meant, Spicer said. Read More Facebook

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Biden launches new PAC, keeping the 2020 door open By David Lauter (Steven Senne / Associated Press) Former Vice President Joe Biden is launching a new political action committee, a platform that will allow him to provide help to favored candidates and, inevitably, boost speculation about a possible run for the Democratic nomination in 2020. The organization, which Biden is calling American Possibilities, will be staffed by a former top political aide to the vice president, Greg Schultz, who is also a veteran of President Obamas reelection campaign. The PAC will allow Biden to raise money that he can use to travel the country, contribute to candidates in governors races this year and congressional and state races in 2018 and generally do the sorts of things that aspiring politicians do to keep their names in the headlines. All that cant help but nurture questions about whether Biden, 74, will try yet again to attain the office he first started running for in 1987. In public appearances, which have taken him to electorally important states, and interviews since the 2016 election, Biden has been sharply critical of the Trump administration, but has also pointed to flaws in his own party. In one interview, he pointed to a bit of elitism thats crept in to the partys approach to working-class voters. At the same time, he has given carefully ambiguous answers when asked about his plans. At a conference in Las Vegas earlier this month, he responded to the question about a presidential run by saying: Could I? Yes. Would I? Probably not. In the announcement for the new group, Biden said that the negativity, the pettiness, the small-mindedness of our politics drives me crazy. Its not who we are. Its time for big dreams and American possibilities, he said. Facebook

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U.S., regions foreign ministers debate Venezuela By Tracy Wilkinson (AFP / Getty Images) The United States and foreign ministers from across the hemisphere met in Washington on Wednesday to attempt to force Venezuelas leftist government and its angry opposition into talks. Hunger and violence have pushed Venezuela to the brink of humanitarian disaster, diplomats say. But Wednesdays meeting of the Organization of American States faced unlikely prospects for success: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro does not trust the organization and has said his nation will withdraw its membership. Some OAS nations, including several U.S. allies in the Caribbean, have criticized the regional bodys efforts as intervention promoted by Washington. But U.S. officials are hoping the sheer weight of the crisis will unite the region to put pressure on Venezuela. Theres more and more concern about what were seeing, and so more and more countries have gotten over their reluctance to question or go against the wishes of the Venezuelan government, a senior State Department official said in a briefing for reporters. Its really hard to stand by and do nothing in the face of the kinds of institutional steps weve seen in Venezuela, and the increasing humanitarian suffering, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, in keeping with frequent administration practice. Although the OAS periodically brings its members foreign ministers together, this is the first time a meeting has been convened to deal with a single topic, U.S. officials said. At the conclusion of Wednesdays session, diplomats said they had discussed two resolutions. One, promoted by Caribbean nations, called on Venezuela to reconsider withdrawing from the OAS. A second more pointed resolution authored by the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Panama and Peru urged the Maduro administration not to go ahead with a constituent assembly that would rewrite the Venezuelan constitution. Many fear it would dissolve the few democratic institutions that remain and favor the ruling Socialist Party. Separately, the Venezuela opposition, emboldened by a string of increasingly massive street demonstrations, sharply criticized Wall Street for extending what it called a lifeline to the Maduro government. At issue is the purchase by Goldman Sachs of Venezuelan government bonds for a reported $865 million, a major discount for paper originally worth $2.8 billion. Goldman Sachs confirmed the purchase of the bonds, issued in 2014 by the state oil company PDVSA, after it was reported in the Wall Street Journal. We are invested in PDVSA bonds because, like many in the asset management industry, we believe the situation in the country must improve over time, Goldman said in a statement. The firm added that it made the purchase through a secondary dealer to avoid direct interaction with the Venezuelan government. That distinction meant nothing to the Venezuelan opposition, which accused Goldman of making a buck off the suffering of the Venezuelan people. The Trump administration previously has targeted the Maduro government, slapping economic sanctions on its vice president and pro-Maduro Supreme Court justices. Facebook

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Former FBI director spoke with new special counsel and is cleared to testify before Senate panel By Joseph Tanfani The special counsel investigating possible links between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign has cleared former FBI Director James Comey to testify before a congressional committee about his contacts with President Trump, according to an associate close to Comey. Comey met with Robert S. Mueller III, whom the Justice Department appointed on May 17 to investigate any Russian ties to the Trump campaign, and Mueller said he had no problems with Comeys testifying, the associate said. Trump abruptly fired Comey as head of the FBI on May 9. The president later said in an interview on NBC News that he was concerned about the FBI investigation into what he called the Russia thing. Comey reportedly wrote internal memos after his meetings with Trump. In one, he wrote that the president had requested he ease up on the FBI probe of Michael Flynn, who served as Trumps national security advisor until he was ousted in February for lying about his contacts with Russian officials. The Senate Intelligence Committee announced on May 19 that Comey had agreed to testify after the Memorial Day holiday. The hearing has not been scheduled. The FBI separately declined a request from the House Oversight Committee to turn over Comeys memos. The bureau said it would need to consult with Mueller before making any decisions. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the committee chairman, said in response that he would not push the matter. The focus of the committees investigation is the independence of the FBI and the events leading to Comeys firing, he wrote. In a separate development, a senior Justice Department lawyer with experience in complex financial fraud investigations has agreed to join Muellers investigation. Andrew Weissman has led the fraud section at Justice, where he oversaw probes into corporate wrongdoing at Volkswagen and Takata. Weissman also is a veteran of the FBI. Weissman is the highest-ranking Justice Department official to join the special counsel office being set up a few blocks from the main Justice building in downtown Washington. Mueller also hired two colleagues from the WilmerHale law firm, where he worked, and brought on a former Justice Department spokesman, Peter Carr, to handle media inquiries. Facebook

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Analysis: In President Trumps wake, divisions mark both Democratic and Republican parties By Cathleen Decker Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez address a crowd at the California party convention in May. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Six months after President Trump breached long-standing political boundaries to win the White House, the nations major political parties still muddle in his wake. On the sun-swept lawn of the Hotel del Coronado two weeks ago, national Republican leaders sipped cocktails and listened to San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, one of the partys brightest lights in the most populous state, praise a brand of moderate Republicanism that looks nothing like the versions coming out of Washington  either the populism of the president or the more orthodox conservatism of congressional leaders. A week later, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez talked in a Sacramento interview of the remarkably constructive debate underway in his party, characterizing its divisions as largely in the past. Within hours, he and other party leaders were booed as they welcomed delegates to a state convention that would be filled with persistent internal warfare on healthcare and other issues. No political party is immune to disagreement; indeed the path to power often relies on combustible ideological diversity. But Democrats and Republicans alike seem particularly adrift and quarrelsome these days. Read More Facebook

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Trump preparing to pull U.S. from Paris climate accord, amid last-minute lobbying By Evan Halper President Trump hasnt made a final decision on whether the U.S. will quit the Paris Accord on climate change, but White House officials indicated Wednesday that he was headed in that direction, setting off a worldwide reaction. A flurry of leaks, counter-leaks and public statements thrust back into the spotlight a decision that has been agonized and untidy even by the standards of a White House known for internal drama. Wednesday morning, when officials told some news organizations that Trump had settled on pulling out of the climate agreement, seemingly everyone in the world jumped in to try to influence or spin his decision, from the Chinese government to the coal industry to the state of California. That offered a foretaste of the reaction Trump likely will receive if he does follow through on his vow to pull the United States out of the 195-nation pact, which President Obama hailed in 2015 as one of his major achievements. Other nations have swiftly moved to take over the leadership role on climate that the United States would be abandoning. Some states have followed suit, promising they would break with Washington to work with other countries in their efforts to contain global warming. During Trumps recent overseas trip, U.S. allies warned him that Americas broader diplomatic influence would be undercut if the administration gave up its seat at the climate negotiating table. All the public lobbying on Wednesday moved Trump to weigh in himself. He knocked down reports that he had decided to withdraw with a tweet announcing that he was still making up his mind. The mixed messages coming out of the White House left open the possibility that the original news reports reflected the views of officials who were aiming to steer the final outcome by presenting withdrawal as a done deal. Trumps schedule for the day includes meetings with advisors hoping to talk him into staying in the agreement, at least to some extent. If Trump does withdraw the U.S. fully from the Paris pact, scientists warn it will be a tremendous setback to the worldwide effort to contain temperatures from rising an average of 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The consequences for the United States would extend beyond global warming. It will be a very big deal all over the world, said Todd Stern, the lead U.S. climate negotiator during the Obama administration. There will be consequential blowback with respect to our diplomatic position across the board. UPDATES 9:27 a.m.: This post was updated throughout with staff reporting and additional details. 6:23 a.m.: This post was updated with Trumps tweet. 6:04 a.m.: This post was updated throughout with additional details. Facebook

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U.S. Supreme Court makes it harder to sue police for barging into homes By David Savage The U.S. Supreme Court made it harder to sue police for barging into a home and provoking a shooting, setting aside a $4-million verdict against two Los Angeles County deputies on Tuesday. The money was awarded to a homeless couple who were startled and then shot when the two sheriffs deputies entered the shack where they were sleeping. The unanimous ruling rejected the so-called provocation rule that some lower courts have used. Under that rule, police can be sued for violating a victims constitutional rights against unreasonable searches if they provoked a confrontation that resulted in violence. Read More Facebook

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Trump lashes out at Germany over NATO spending and trade after Merkel questions the U.S. commitment to its allies By Brian Bennett (Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images) President Trump took aim at German trade practices and defense spending Tuesday following pointed criticism from Chancellor Angela Merkel that Germany may not be able to rely on its allies. We have a MASSIVE trade deficit with Germany, plus they pay FAR LESS than they should on NATO & military. Very bad for U.S. This will change, Trump wrote in a tweet. Last week, White House spokespeople had denied that Trump criticized German trade practices after the German newspaper Der Spiegel quoted him as having done so. Trump unsettled Merkel and other allies during the recent NATO summit when, during his remarks, he did not mention the central commitment members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization make to defend each other. We have a MASSIVE trade deficit with Germany, plus they pay FAR LESS than they should on NATO & military. Very bad for U.S. This will change  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2017 Trumps policy toward climate change is another point of contention with many European countries. Trump promised during the election to tear up the landmark Paris climate accord. Merkel said the conversation with the U.S. on climate change last week during the G-7 meetings in Sicily, which followed the NATO summit, was extremely difficult. During a campaign speech in Munich on Sunday, Merkel said Germany must rethink how much it can rely on its allies. The era in which we could rely completely on others is gone, at least partially, Merkel said. I have experienced that over the last several days. In a 2014 meeting, NATO defense ministers agreed that each state would move toward a goal of raising military spending to 2% of its annual economic output by the year 2024. German defense spending is below that goal. The U.S. trade deficit with Germany shrank to $65 billion in 2016 from $75 billion the year before. Facebook

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Consumers spend at fastest pace in four months in a sign of spring economic rebound By Jim Puzzanghera (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Americans ratcheted up their spending in April at the fastest pace in four months, in a sign the economy has rebounded this spring after a lackluster winter. The new data also could help push Federal Reserve officials to hike a key interest rate again when they meet in two weeks. Personal consumption expenditures increased 0.4% in April, up from 0.3% the previous month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Americans had more money to spend, with personal incomes also rising 0.4%  twice the pace of growth in March. Read More Facebook

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White House communications director Michael Dubke resigns By Associated Press White House Communications Director Mike Dubke listens as a reporter asks a question during a press conference in the East Room of the White House on April 20. (Shawn Thew / EPA) White House communications director Michael Dubke has resigned. Kellyanne Conway, White House counselor, told The Associated Press that Dubke handed in his resignation before President Donald Trump left for his international trip earlier this month. In an interview on Fox News on Tuesday, Conway said Dubke made very clear that he would see through the presidents international trip, and come to work every day and work hard even through that trip because there was much to do here back at the White House. Dubke issued a statement Tuesday morning: It has been my great honor to serve President Trump and this administration. It has also been my distinct pleasure to work side-by-side, day-by-day with the staff of the communications and press departments. A Republican consultant, Dubke joined the White House team in February after campaign aide Jason Miller  Trumps original choice for communications director  withdrew from consideration. Dubke founded Crossroads Media, a GOP firm that specializes in political advertising. -- 6:03 a.m.: Updated with Dubkes statement Facebook

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Should Jared Kushner keep his security clearance? Adam Schiff isnt sure By Laura King The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), says hes not sure that President Trumps son-in-law and advisor, Jared Kushner, should retain his security clearance. The California Democrat, who has been a sharp critic of Trump, also said in an interview aired Sunday that national security advisor H.R. McMaster, a highly respected military officer, had been tarnished by his association with the White House. Schiffs comments, on ABCs This Week, came amid growing questions about Kushners contacts with Russian officials before Trump took office. Trump has denounced the latest round of news reports, saying that some of them could be based on fabricated sources. Top Trump aides, including John F. Kelly, the secretary of Homeland Security, pushed back Sunday against the suggestion that there was anything untoward about establishing back channel communications with the Russians during the presidential transition. Schiff said he regretted that McMaster had done so as well, saying he believed the White House used the solid reputations of people like him to back up dubious actions. Sadly, I think this is an administration that takes in people with good credibility and chews them out and spits out their credibility at the same time, said Schiff, who acknowledged that what McMaster said about back channel communications was true in the abstract. I think anyone within the Trump orbit is at risk of being used, he said. Kelly, in separate talk-show appearances on Sunday, said there was nothing untoward about an incoming administration establishing communications with a foreign power in order to lay the groundwork for better relations. Schiff declined to discuss the substance of the allegations regarding Kushners contact with Russian officials during the transition and whether Kushner had been forthcoming about them, but said enough questions had been raised that his access to top-secret intelligence should be scrutinized. I think we need to get to the bottom of these allegations, Schiff said. But I do think there ought to be a review of his security clearance to find out whether he was truthful, whether he was candid. If not, then theres no way he can maintain that kind of a clearance. Schiff was also critical of continuing involvement in aspects of the Russia probe by fellow Californian Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, who stepped aside from the probe earlier this year after the House Ethics Committee began investigating whether he had improperly revealed classified information. Nunes remains involved in decision-making about the issuance of subpoenas, Schiff said, adding: I dont think that he should, given that he has stepped aside or recused himself. The committee is investigating Russian entanglements by figures in Trumps circle, including fired national security advisor Michael Flynn, who has been the target of multiple subpoenas. Facebook

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Trump still wide open on climate change, Pentagon chief says By Laura King With President Trump set to make a decision this week about whether the U.S. should remain part of the landmark Paris climate accord, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Trump remains wide open on the issue. During a visit to Europe that ended Saturday, Trump dismayed European allies by refusing to commit to remaining in the 2015 accord during talks with European Union officials in Brussels and at the Group of Seven gathering in Sicily. The president said in a tweet that he will make a decision this week. Mattis, who was present at some of the Brussels talks, said that Trump is still making up his mind, and that he has been inquisitive about other leaders opinions. The president was open  he was curious about why others were in the position they were in, his counterparts in other nations, the Defense secretary said in an interview aired Sunday on CBS Face the Nation. And Im quite certain the president is wide open on this issue as he takes in the pros and cons of that accord. During his European trip, Trump met privately at the Vatican with Pope Francis, who presented him with a copy of his papal encyclical on environment and climate change. French President Emmanuel Macron, who met with Trump in Brussels, also said he had pressed the issue with the U.S. president, though the White House did not mention that appeal in a summary of their meeting. Facebook

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Homeland Security secretary defends Jared Kushner, blasts Manchester intelligence leaks By Laura King There is nothing inherently wrong with an incoming presidential administration establishing back channel communications with a foreign power such as Russia, Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly said Sunday. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Kelly was asked about reports by the Washington Post and other outlets that President Trumps son-in-law and close advisor, Jared Kushner, sought to set up secret lines of communication with Russian officials prior to Trump being sworn in. The retired general did not confirm the reports, but said the principle of establishing secretive contacts during a presidential transition doesnt bother me and is a legitimate means of building relationships. I think that any channel of communication, back or otherwise, with a country like Russia is a good thing, he said. Kelly did not address a central element of the reports  that Kushner discussed the possibility of using Russian communications channels from a Russia diplomatic outpost to shield from U.S. intelligence surveillance whatever discussions Trump transition officials wanted to have with Moscow. The FBI, a special counsel and multiple congressional committees are probing Russian interference in the presidential campaign and whether the Trump camp colluded in it. The U.S. intelligence community says Russian cyberattacks were meant to boost Trump and harm his opponent, Hillary Clinton. In a separate interview on NBCs Meet the Press, Kelly defended the integrity of Kushner, whose involvement in communications with Russia has brought the investigation closer to Trump personally than has previous scrutiny of others in his campaign circle or the White House. Calling Kushner a great guy, a decent guy, the Homeland Security secretary said the presidents son-in-laws No. 1 interest, really, is the nation. Also in the NBC interview, Kelly excoriated intelligence leaks in the wake of last weeks deadly bombing in Manchester, England. British officials including Prime Minister Theresa May were angered by disclosures about details of the investigation, including the release of the dead attackers name and detailed photos from the bomb scene that were published by the New York Times. Several outlets cited unnamed U.S. officials as the source of the information including the bombers identity. The Times did not say how it obtained the photos. Britain routinely shares intelligence with close allies like the United States with the expectation that it will be kept confidential. Kelly said that failing to keep such secrets could seriously damage intelligence-sharing arrangements with other nations. I believe when you leak the kind of information that seems to be routinely leaked - high, high level of classification I think its darn close to treason, Kelly said. It is not clear what level of classification, if any, the information about the British investigation would have had. Trump himself, who recently caused controversy when he passed sensitive intelligence on Islamic State to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and discussed the location of U.S. nuclear submarines with the president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has denounced the Manchester leaks and vowed to track down the source or sources. Facebook

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In tweets, Trump says stories based on White House leaks are fabricated By Laura King President Trump is back  and tweeting. In a Sunday morning series of posts on Twitter, the president repeated his denunciations of the fake media, celebrated the Republican victory in a Montana special election and declared his overseas trip a success. Trump returned to the White House late Saturday after a swing through the Middle East and Europe, the first foreign trip of his presidency. During it, he tweeted only sparingly. While Trump was away, controversy continued to swirl around his White House, with media reports focusing on son-in-law Jared Kushners role in Trump campaign contacts with Russian officials. The GOP healthcare plan and Trumps budget also came under withering scrutiny during the presidents absence. In Sundays tweets, Trump said cascading leaks from within his administration were in fact fabricated lies by news organizations based on sources that did not exist. One tweet was corrected to fix the spelling of exist. It is my opinion that many of the leaks coming out of the White House are fabricated lies made up by the #FakeNews media.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 28, 2017 Trump also complained that the special congressional election in Montana, called to fill the seat vacated when Ryan Zinke became his Interior secretary, was such a big deal to Dems & Fake News until the Republican won. The V was poorly covered, he said, referring to the Republican victory. The victory by Republican candidate Greg Gianforte received extensive coverage. It was widely expected, given Montanas significant Republican edge, but made more suspenseful on the eve of the election when Gianforte was charged with misdemeanor assault for an incident in which he struck a reporter who had asked him a question. The president received mixed reviews for his inaugural overseas venture. He was praised by some for his outreach to Sunni Arab allies in the Persian Gulf, but continued his administrations practice of making no public criticism of serious human rights violations. In Europe, he rattled allies by declining to explicitly endorse the NATO alliances bedrock common defense pledge or pledge to adhere to the Paris climate accord. Whatever the commentary surrounding the trip, Trump counted it a success. Hard work but big results, he wrote. Facebook

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Trumps international trip underscored what America First looks like on the world stage By Michael Memoli Donald Trump made no secret during the presidential campaign of his disdain for Americas trading partners, his skepticism of longtime alliances and his eagerness to refocus U.S. foreign policy on the single-minded pursuit of American security. That was the largely the president the world got as Trump made his way through the Middle East and Western Europe over the last nine days, Trumps first foreign trip may have produced memorable, and at time cringe-inducing, images of the new president, whether grasping a glowing orb in Saudi Arabia or shoving the prime minister of Montenegro at a NATO meeting in Brussels. But perhaps most profoundly, the trip underscored what America First, as Trump has branded his governing philosophy, looks like on the world stage. Read More Facebook

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Trump says hell decide on Paris climate deal next week By Associated Press Seven wealthy democracies ended their summit Saturday in Italy without unanimous agreement on climate change, as the Trump administration plans to take more time to say whether the U.S. is going to remain in the Paris accord on limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The other six nations in the Group of Seven agreed to stick with their commitment to implement the 2015 Paris deal that aims to slow down global warming. The final G-7 statement, issued after two days of talks in the seaside town of Taormina, said the U.S. is in the process of reviewing its policies on climate change and on the Paris agreement and thus is not in a position to join the consensus on these topics. Trump tweeted he would decide his stance on the Paris agreement next week. The announcement on the final day of the U.S. presidents first international trip comes after he declined to commit to staying in the sweeping climate deal, resisting intense international pressure from his peers at the summit. I will make my final decision on the Paris Accord next week!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 27, 2017 Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who chaired the meeting, said the other six wont change our position on climate change one millimeter. The U.S. hasnt decided yet. I hope they decide in the right way. Gentiloni said climate was not a minor point and that he hoped the United States would decide soon and well because the Paris accords need the contribution of the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron also chimed in on the climate issue, praising Trumps capacity to listen. Macron said he told Trump it is indispensable for the reputation of the United States and the interest of the Americans themselves that the United States remain committed to the Paris climate agreement. German Chancellor Angela Merkel was more downbeat, calling the G-7 climate talks very unsatisfactory. Facebook

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Everyones a winner! Or what to take away from that special congressional race in Montana By Mark Z. Barabak Republicans were celebrating Friday, and relieved, and it was easy to see why: The party hung on to Montanas sole congressional seat even though its candidate faced a freshly lodged criminal charge for physically assaulting a reporter on election eve. Though they fell short in yet another special election  Greg Gianforte won handily, 50% to 44%  Democrats also found reason to be pleased: Their candidate, flawed as he was, continued a pattern of polling better than might be expected  over-performing, to use the political parlance, and that could hold future promise. Its possible, as elections analyst Nathan Gonzales put it, to lose and still have momentum. Read More Facebook

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In commencement address, Hillary Clinton remembers fallout from Nixon, makes subtle jab at President Trump By Kurtis Lee Hillary Clinton delivers the commencement address at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass., on Friday. (Josh Reynolds / Associated Press) Hillary Clinton delivered a subtle dig at President Trump on Friday, offering some parallels between his presidency and that of former President Nixon. While delivering a commencement address at her alma mater, Wellesley College, a private womens liberal arts school in Massachusetts, Clinton, without naming Trump, recalled how many young people in the 1970s reacted to Nixons reelection and later battles with the Justice Department. We were furious about the past presidential election of a man whose presidency would eventually end in disgrace with his impeachment for obstruction of justice, she said, pausing to note she was referring to Nixon. Actually, Nixon was not impeached, though many in Congress, including members of his own party, called for it. Clinton said Nixons resignation came after he fired the person heading the investigation into him at the Department of Justice. In 1973, Nixon ordered Justice Department officials to fire a special prosecutor who was looking into taped conversations recorded in the Oval Office as part of the Watergate investigation. A year later, in August 1974, Nixon resigned. Some political observers  mostly Democrats -- have compared Trumps recent firing of FBI Director James B. Comey, who was overseeing an investigation of possible collusion between Russians and Trumps campaign, to Nixons actions. Last week, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) called for Trump to be impeached. Clinton, who has made few public appearances since Trump defeated her in last years presidential election, also assailed the Republicans new budget proposal. She called the budget, which proposes cuts to education and Medicaid, an attack of unimaginable cruelty on the most vulnerable among us  the youngest, the oldest, the poorest and hard-working people who need a little help to gain or hang on to a decent, middle-class life. In a statement, the Republican National Committee said Clinton was lashing out after her election loss. Clinton graduated from Wellesley in 1969 and last delivered a commencement address at the school in 1992. Facebook

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At G-7 Summit, a day of clarification for the White House By Michael A. Memoli (Sean Gallup / Getty Images) As President Trump met with leaders of the worlds leading economies here Friday within miles of an active volcano, the White House was working to ease a pair of diplomatic eruptions. Trump was due to meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in this coastal Sicilian resort town, amid tensions between their countries, longtime allies, following leaks to U.S. media outlets involving Britains investigation of the Manchester terrorist bombing. Separately, a top White House adviser partially confirmed reports that Trump had said Germany is very bad during Thursdays NATO meetings in Brussels, but clarified that the president was referring only to German trade policies. Trump said, according to the German magazine Der Spiegel, See the millions of cars they are selling to the U.S.? Terrible. We will stop this. Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council, acknowledged that Trump made the remark but added that the president doesnt have a problem with Germany. He said his dad is from Germany. He said I dont have a problem with Germany, I have a problem with German trade, Cohn said. Press access to the G-7 meetings has been extremely limited, though the surrounding setting has produced abundant compelling visuals. Editorial press access extremely limited for G7 meetings. But man, pretty pictures & good times for Taormina Chamber of Commerce (via AP) pic.twitter.com/WT2EdKrwJ5  Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) May 26, 2017 Trump tweeted that he expected to spend the day focused on economic growth, terrorism and security. The summit, and Trumps eight-day inaugural foreign trip, ends Saturday. Other allies here were likely to press Trump on another issue: climate change, specifically whether Trump will carry out his campaign promise to pull the United States out of the landmark Paris climate deal. Trump was hoping to better understand the European position, Cohn said. White House officials have said the president will make a decision once he is back in the United States. He knows that in the U.S. theres very strong opinions on both sides but he also knows that Paris has important meaning to many of the European leaders. And he wants to clearly hear what the European leaders have to say, Cohn said. Facebook

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As Trump wavers over Paris climate accord, European leaders give him an earful By Evan Halper Mining operation near Grevenbroich, Germany. (Martin Meissner / Associated Press) With President Trump balking on his vow to shred the Obama-negotiated Paris agreement on climate change, the last place the pacts staunch opponents wanted to see the president is where he will be this weekend  meeting other world leaders unanimous in their warnings that withdrawal from the accord would seriously damage Americas economy and world stature. Trump has repeatedly delayed fulfilling his campaign pledge to move against the agreement. The longer the White House deliberates over Paris, the more Trump seems to be searching for a face-saving excuse to walk back his previous position. The White House indecision over the climate accord  which has the support of every nation except Syria and Nicaragua  reflects a deeply divided worldview in a Trump inner circle now packed with establishment Republicans. The issue also presents yet another policy reckoning for Trump. On the campaign trail, he vowed to strike blows against the existing world order. But on the Paris agreement, as on other matters, he is finding that political backup for such pledges can fade quickly when the moves lack robust support from major U.S. companies or majority voting blocs. Read More Facebook

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Overcoming assault charge, Republican Greg Gianforte wins Montana congressional seat By Mark Z. Barabak Republican Greg Gianforte overcame a last-minute assault charge to win Montanas special congressional election Thursday, keeping its lone House seat in GOP hands and dealing Democrats a setback in their bid to gain a red-state toehold ahead of the 2018 midterm election. Gianforte, 56, a wealthy businessman who ran unsuccessfully for governor in November, had long been the front-runner against Democrat Rob Quist, a professional bluegrass musician making his first run for public office. With more than 90% of the votes counted, Gianforte was holding a healthy lead with just over 50% support. Appearing at an exuberant victory rally in Bozeman, the congressman-elect hushed the crowd and apologized to the reporter with whom he tangled on election eve, reversing his campaigns initial assertion that the journalist was to blame. Read More Facebook

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FBI investigating Kushner meetings, report says; House leader seeks more Comey documents By Associated Press (Andrew Harrer / Getty Images) The chairman of the House Oversight Committee asked the FBI on Thursday to turn over more documents about former FBI Director James B. Comeys interactions with the White House and Justice Department, including materials dating back nearly four years to the Obama administration. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that the FBI is investigating meetings that President Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, had in December with Russian officials. The FBI and the Oversight Committee  as well as several other congressional panels  are looking into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and possible connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. Trump fired Comey on May 9 amid questions about the FBIs investigation, which is now being led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, a former FBI director. Kushner, a key White House advisor, had meetings late last year with Russias ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak, and Russian banker Sergey Gorkov. The Post story cited anonymous people familiar with the investigation, who said the FBI investigation does not mean that Kushner is suspected of a crime. Kushners attorney, Jamie Gorelick, released a statement saying: Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings. He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry. Earlier Thursday, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz told acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe that he wants records of Comeys contacts with the White House and Justice Department dating to September 2013, when Comey was sworn in as FBI director under President Obama. In a letter to McCabe, Chaffetz said he is seeking to review Comeys memos and other written materials so he can better understand Comeys communications with the White House and attorney generals office. Facebook

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Banks want higher debit-card swipe fees, but an effort to allow them has crumbled By Jim Puzzanghera Banks had hoped Congress would let them charge merchants higher fees to process debit card purchases, but an effort to allow that has crumbled  a victory for retailers and, possibly, shoppers who might have had to shoulder those costs. In the latest chapter of a long-running fight, a repeal of federal limits on so-called swipe fees no longer will be part of a House financial regulation bill, said the legislations author, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas). Hensarling, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said he decided to strip the provision from the bill because many lawmakers are balking at removing the limits. Read More Facebook

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Appeals court rules against Trump travel ban By David Lauter A federal appeals court has ruled against President Trumps travel ban, upholding a nationwide injunction barring the administration from enforcing the executive order. The ruling is the latest legal setback for Trump on the travel issue and, like several previous court rulings, the outcome rested heavily on his own words. Trumps order restricting travel from six majority-Muslim countries speaks with vague words of national security, but in context drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination, Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in his ruling. Read the 4th Circuits decision to uphold the block on Trumps travel ban The 10-3 ruling included numerous citations to campaign statements in which Trump called for a ban on Muslims immigrating to the United States. The plaintiffs who have challenged the travel order have argued that it is a disguised version of the Muslim ban that he called for during the campaign. Trumps statements provide direct, specific evidence of what motivated both EO-1 and EO-2, the court said, referring to ther first and second versions of the travel order: President Trumps desire to exclude Muslims from the United States. The 4th Circuit, based in Richmond, Va., is one of two appeals courts that have recently heard arguments on the travel ban. A similar case is pending before the 9th Circuit, based in San Francisco. Read More Facebook

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Obama, in Berlin with Merkel, says world cant hide behind a wall By Erik Kirschbaum Hours before German Chancellor Angela Merkel flew to Brussels to meet with President Trump and other NATO heads of state, she rekindled an old acquaintance with Trumps predecessor, Barack Obama. About 70,000 people packed an avenue by Berlins landmark Brandenburg Gate on Thursday to hear the two leaders speak, with cheers and chants of Barack, Barack! breaking out when the former president took the stage. Without mentioning Trump by name, Obama spoke of the need for universal healthcare and a nuanced approach to immigration in response to security threats. This is a new world we live in  we cant isolate ourselves, the former president declared, with Merkel looking on. We cant hide behind a wall. Obama spoke of this weeks deadly bombing at a pop concert in Manchester, England, saying leaders had to find ways to balance security fears and fundamental rights. One of the biggest challenges is how do you protect your country and your citizens from the kinds of things that we just saw in Manchester, he said. And how do you do it in a way that is consistent with your values and your ideals? Making his first European speech since his presidential term ended, Obama told the crowd he had spent the last four months trying to catch up with my sleep and devoting more time to his family. Im very proud of the work I did as president, he said to more cheers, adding that he considered healthcare reform a signature achievement. Republicans are now in the midst of trying to dismantle his Affordable Care Act. My hope was to get 100% of people healthcare, he said. We didnt quite achieve that, but we were able to get 20 million people healthcare who didnt have it before. Obamas speech was not timed to coincide with Trumps first visit to Europe as president, aides said. The invitation was extended before Trumps trip to Brussels  the fourth leg on multi-stop tour  was scheduled. Facebook

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Macron says he pressed Trump on climate accord By Catherine Stupp French President Emmanuel Macron, who met President Trump for the first time on Thursday, said he urged the U.S. leader to respect the Paris climate accord. The White House, however, did not mention the issue in its readout on Trumps working lunch in Brussels with the newly elected French president. Macron told reporters as he headed into the meeting that climate change would be one of the issues he raised, along with concerns about terrorism and the economy. Afterward, at a news conference, the French president said that in his talk with Trump, he reiterated the importance of the landmark climate accord. No hasty decision on this subject should be taken by the U.S., Macron said. Our collective responsibility is to make sure this commitment remains a global commitment. Referring to the agreement, he added: Its one of a kind. In its readout, the White House said Trump urged Macron to meet NATO commitments on French defense spending and help ensure that the alliance is focused on counter-terrorism. It also said the two leaders talked about the importance of defeating Islamic State and other vital issues. Facebook

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Trump lawyers ask Supreme Court to reject 2nd Amendment claim by men who lost gun rights over nonviolent crimes By David Savage President Trump speaks at an NRA event in Atlanta in April. ( Scott Olson / Getty Images) Trump administration lawyers are urging the Supreme Court to reject a 2nd Amendment claim that would restore the right to own a gun for two Pennsylvania men who were convicted more than 20 years ago of nonviolent crimes. The case of Sessions vs. Binderup puts the new administration in a potentially awkward spot, considering President Trumps repeated assurances during the campaign that he would protect gun ownership rights under the 2nd Amendment. But the Justice Department under Trump has embraced the same position in this case that was adopted under President Obama: to defend strict enforcement of a long-standing federal law that bars convicted criminals from ever owning a gun, even when their crimes did not involve violence. Read More Facebook

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Former Sen. Joe Lieberman withdraws from FBI director search By Associated Press (AFP/Getty Images) Former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut has withdrawn his name from consideration for the role of FBI director. Lieberman interviewed last week with President Trump, who publicly identified him as a leading candidate. But in a letter sent to the White House, Lieberman says hes pulling out. He says he wants to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, given Trumps hiring of one of Liebermans law partners to represent him in the investigation of ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. The White House declined to comment. Several other people interviewed for the job have also withdrawn from consideration. Trump fired former FBI Director James B. Comey earlier this month. Facebook

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At NATO celebration, Trump tells allies to spend more on defense By Michael A. Memoli (Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images) President Trump used his first NATO meeting to rebuke member nations who fail to meet the trans-Atlantic alliances defense spending target, saying American taxpayers unfairly are left to pick up the slack. Speaking at dedication ceremonies for NATOs new headquarters, Trump noted that the defense budgets of 23 of the 28 members dont meet a target equal to 2% of each respective nations economic output, while the United States has spent more on defense in eight years than the other 27 combined. Many of these nations owe massive amounts of money from past years, he said. We have to make up for the many years lost. By his scolding, Trump was directly delivering to NATO allies the criticism that was a staple of his nationalist campaign for president. But his lecture came at an event intended to be celebratory, showcasing unity and resolve for the nearly 70-year-old alliance: the dedication of its shining, glass-enclosed new headquarters in Belgiums capital. The ceremony also was meant to call attention to the fact that the only time NATO has invoked its collective defense agreement was on behalf of the United States, after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. Trump stood beside a section of wrenched steel from the downed World Trade Center Towers, a relic NATO calls the Article V artifact, to signify that post-9/11 invocation of the NATO charters article holding that an attack on any one member would be considered an attack on all. Speaking to reporters before the president arrived, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged that the alliance had a long way to go to meet its goals. But its much better than it was just two years ago, he said. The reality is that when we decrease defense spending when tensions are going down, as we did after the end of the Cold War, we have to be able to increase defense spending when tensions are going up. And now we see that tensions are going up. Facebook

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Watch: Trump lectures NATO leaders on defense spending By L.A. Times staff  As NATO leaders looked on, President Trump told NATO members that they must finally contribute their fair share of defense payments. President Trump lectured members of the NATO alliance on Thursday, urging them to pay their fair share on defense. As NATO leaders looked on during a ceremony at the alliances new headquarters, Trump said that member nations must finally contribute their fair share and meet their obligations. The president has been urging NATO leaders to live up to a 2011 decision to increase spending on defense to 2% of GDP by 2024. Trump said 23 of the 28 member nations are not paying what they should and that the situation is not fair to the people of the United States. Facebook

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President Trump promises to review Manchester investigation leaks after anger from Britain By Noah Bierman Trying to head off a diplomatic rift with Britain, President Trump on Thursday issued a statement promising a complete review of possible intelligence leaks related to this weeks deadly terrorist attack at a Manchester concert. Some British officials have suggested that U.S. officials are leaking sensitive information to American media outlets about the investigation into the attack. The New York Times posted forensic photographs collected from the scene of the Manchester concert bombing, which upset British officials. Whether the photographs were provided by U.S. officials or came from some other source is not publicly known. Trump avoided questions earlier Thursday about the possible leaks. His statement came just before he was set to address NATO at its new headquarters in a speech considered pivotal to his first trip abroad as president. British Prime Minister Theresa May was expected to confront Trump over the issue when they meet later in the day. May told reporters as she entered the NATO gathering that she would make clear to Trump that intelligence shared between law enforcement agencies must remain secure. We have a special relationship with the USA. Its our deepest defense and security partnership that we have, she said. Of course that partnership is built on trust, and part of that trust is knowing that intelligence can be shared confidently, and I will be making clear to President Trump today that intelligence shared between law enforcement agencies must remain secure. In his statement, Trump said that the alleged leaks coming out of government agencies are deeply troubling. These leaks have been going on for a long time, and my Administration will get to the bottom of this. The leaks of sensitive information pose a grave threat to our national security. The statement continued with a promise to request the Department of Justice and other relevant agencies to

launch a complete review of this matter, and if appropriate, the

culprit should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Trump also reiterated said there is no relationship we cherish more than the special relationship between the two countries. Separate leaks within his own administration and related to investigations of his campaign ties to Russia have also been a source of anger to Trump. Facebook

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Montanas congressional election: that assault charge, the Trump factor, and why is it on a weird day (Thursday)? By Mark Z. Barabak Its election day in Montana after a wild 24 hours, with voters deciding who will fill the House seat vacated when Republican Ryan Zinke left to head the Interior Department under President Trump. The contest Thursday has drawn nationwide attention and an extraordinary amount of money  and that was before the GOP front-runner was accused of attacking a national political reporter. The events have turned the contest into one of the strangest in memory. Read More Facebook

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Trump ignores questions about intelligence sharing ahead of NATO meeting By Michael A. Memoli (Peter Dejoing / Associated Press) President Trump refused to answer questions Thursday about concerns among key allies on intelligence sharing with the United States, just as he prepares to join many of them here to inaugurate the new NATO headquarters. During a brief photo opportunity at his first meeting with Emmanuel Macron, Frances newly elected president, Trump for a second time remained silent as a reporter asked about a potential breakdown in the U.S.-United Kingdom intelligence-sharing relationship. British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to press Trump on the issue when they meet later Thursday, after the New York Times posted forensic photographs collected from the scene of the Manchester concert bombing. The acting U.S. ambassador to Britain told the BBC that the leaks were deeply distressing. Speaking to reporters at the site of a NATO leaders meeting, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also deflected questions about whether the incident has led him to reevaluate his nations intelligence-sharing arrangements. We will continue to work with all our allies to keep Canadians and all citizens around the world safe, he said. Ahead of a working lunch with Macron, Trump said terrorism was at the top of the agenda, while also offering his congratulations to the 39-year-old for his tremendous victory. All over the world, theyre talking about it, he said. In addition to terrorism and the economy, Macron said he planned to discuss climate change and energy. His nation hosted the climate summit that produced the agreement under which countries pledged to reduce their carbon emissions, of which the Trump administration is considering dropping out. Trump also ignored a question about whether former national security advisor Michael Flynn should cooperate with the investigations into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has no news conference scheduled with reporters for the entirety of his eight-day foreign trip, which ends Saturday. Facebook

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Trump visits European Union headquarters; EU leaders cite some differences By Catherine Stupp Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said Thursday that differences remain between the Trump administration and the European Union on Russia, energy and trade. I am not 100 percent sure that we can say today that we have a common opinion about Russia, Tusk, a former Polish prime minister who is sometimes called the other Donald, said after a meeting with President Trump at EU headquarters. Tusk added that while some issues remain open, like climate and trade, the leaders agreed first and foremost on the need to combat terrorism. EU officials were skeptical in advance of Trumps visit. Their concerns were driven in part by the U.S. leaders positive stance on Britains vote last year to leave the bloc. Trump at the time called it a great idea. However, he has since spoken of the importance of European unity. European officials are also concerned that the Trump administration might withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement to limit global warming, and turn away from trade arrangements with the EU. Trumps visit to Brussels marked the fourth leg of his first overseas trip. Before heading into the talks with Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, he spoke enthusiastically about his earlier stops in Saudi Arabia and at the Vatican. His ceremonial welcome last week in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, Trump told the European officials, was beyond anything anyones seen. The Saudis staged elaborate festivities including a traditional sword dance. And the president called his private encounter with Pope Francis on Wednesday very impressive. The president and the pontiff met privately for half an hour, and Francis presented Trump with gifts including a copy of a papal encyclical on climate change. The pope was terrific, Trump said. After the visit to the EUs sprawling new headquarters, Trump headed to a luncheon with the newly elected French president, Emmanuel Macron. The two men were meeting for the first time. During the French presidential campaign, Trump had praised Macrons far-right opponent Marine Le Pen for her tough positions on immigration and borders, but he had stopped short of endorsing her. Facebook

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Manchester attack makes terrorism the focus of Trumps NATO meeting By Michael A. Memoli (Emmanuel Dunand / AFP/Getty Images) The deadly suicide bombing in Britain and threats of more attacks thrust counter-terrorism to the top of President Trumps agenda for talks with NATO leaders here on Thursday, buttressing his bid to enlist the alliance he had called obsolete to join the fight against Islamic State. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, anticipating the alliance meetings, told reporters flying with the president to Brussels from Rome, where Trump met Pope Francis earlier Wednesday, that Mondays attack in Britain is going to strengthen the resolve in this fight against terrorism. Tillerson stopped short of predicting that NATO would agree to formally join the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, but said it would be a really important step if the alliance did so. The attack, which killed 22 people at a pop concert and was said to be the work of a 22-year-old British man whose family is from Libya, also figured in Trumps brief meeting with the pope at the Vatican. Read More Facebook

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Analysis says 23 million more people would be uninsured by 2026 under GOP healthcare bill By Noam N. Levey (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) An analysis released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office finds that the Republican healthcare bill that passed the House earlier this month would nearly double the number of Americans without health insurance over the next decade. The report likely will complicate Republican efforts to get the controversial bill through the Senate. Read More Facebook

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By throwing Americas lot in with Sunni Arabs, does Trump miss opportunities with Iran? By Tracy Wilkinson On his first official trip to the Middle East, President Trump has resoundingly thrown Americas lot in with Sunni Arab states and cast Shiite Iran as a global pariah, even as Iranians reelected a president who has offered to work with the West. During his two days in Riyadh, Trumps full-throated support for the autocratic monarchies in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, as well as his fierce denunciation of Iran, allowed him to claim an historic new coalition of interests. In the next two days, in Jerusalem, he doubled down and argued that Israel and the Arabs should join forces against Iran and along the way, resolve Israels conflict with Palestinians in a grand bargain that has eluded diplomats for decades. But as he departed for Rome on Tuesday, Trump had little to show beyond lofty rhetoric, symbolic visits and a shower of flattery from kings, potentates and a prime minister. Read More Facebook

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Fed officials appear ready for another interest rate hike and are considering how to reduce assets By Jim Puzzanghera Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet L. Yellen (Michael Dwyer / Associated Press) Most Federal Reserve monetary policymakers indicated they were ready for another small interest rate hike -- perhaps as soon as next month -- if economic data strengthened as expected following a weak winter, according to an account released Wednesday of their most recent meeting. Fed officials also considered a plan to start reducing the $4.5 trillion in Treasury and mortgage securities and other assets the central bank has purchased since 2008 in an attempt to stimulate the economy. The plan, which they said likely would begin later this year, would involve slowly allowing some of the maturing securities to be cashed in instead of reinvesting the money in new securities, the meeting minutes showed. The goal would be to avoid roiling financial markets and causing interest rates to jump. Read More Facebook

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So whats with the president and Melania Trump holding, or not holding, hands? By Tom Kington First Lady Melania Trump does not say much in public, but her actions seemed to speak louder than words  or at least sent tongues wagging  when she appeared to rebuff the presidents proffered hand as the couple descended from their plane in Rome late Tuesday. As President Trump looked to take her hand on the steps of Air Force One, Melania Trump quickly moved it out of reach, raising it to her head to adjust her hair. That made for two such episodes in two days. She had appeared to brush Trumps hand away at the airport in Tel Aviv during the previous stop in the presidents foreign tour. Video of that scene, often accompanied by snarky commentary, quickly went viral. Compare that to Melania Trumps positively hands-on visit on Wednesday to a Rome childrens hospital, Bambino Gesu, following the couples visit with Pope Francis. After praying to a statue of the Madonna at the entrance to the hospital, the Catholic first lady smiled cheerfully and chatted to children, posing for selfies and providing a very happy, maternal presence, according to one onlooker. Great visiting you! Stay strong and positive! Much love, Melania Trump, she wrote in the visitors book. Staff at the hospital said Melania Trump had been buoyed by her meeting with Pope Francis, and further proof came when photos emerged of the Trumps quick visit to the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday. As the president and first lady stood together to admire Michelangelos 16th century fresco, the Last Judgment, they held hands. Facebook

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House Intelligence Committee will subpoena Michael Flynn, Schiff says By Sarah D. Wire The House Intelligence Committee is preparing to issue subpoenas to President Trumps former national security advisor, Michael Flynn, according to the committees ranking Democrat, following the lead of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said the House subpoenas will be designed to maximize our chance of getting the information we need for the committees investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign. I think we need to use whatever compulsory [processes] necessary to get the information that he possesses, Schiff said. Earlier this week, Flynns lawyers said he would refuse separate Senate subpoenas for any records about his former business dealings with Russia, citing his constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination. The Senate committee then issued separate subpoenas to two of Flynns businesses, which the panel said were not entitled to 5th Amendment protections. A federal grand jury in Virginia also has issued subpoenas regarding Flynns business dealings with Turkey and Russia, and the newly appointed special counsel investigating the Russia matter, Robert Mueller III, is expected to focus on Flynns role as well. Given the criminal investigations, Schiff said the House panel is highly unlikely to grant Flynns earlier request, through his lawyers, for immunity in exchange for his testimony. He said the panel would need more information about what Flynn would say and whether the testimony would be truthful. It also would need to ensure that granting immunity wouldnt affect the special counsels ongoing investigation, he said. Thats not somthinge I think we would entertain until far later, if at all, said Schiff, a former prosecutor. Certainly count me as very skeptical that we would get to that point. Trump forced Flynn to resign as national security advisor in February after news accounts revealed Flynn had misled White House officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, about his contacts with Russian officials. Schiff spoke to reporters at a breakfast Wednesday hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. Facebook

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Watch live: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testifies on Trumps budget Follow live coverage from Times education reporter Joy Resmovits: Facebook

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Israel acknowledges pinpoint change needed after Trump intelligence disclosure By Joshua Mitnick After a week of silence, Israel publicly acknowledged for the first time, though in oblique terms, that it was the source of sensitive intelligence that President Trump shared with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last week in a White House meeting. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israels army radio on Wednesday that Israeli officials had carried out an internal pinpoint correction after discussing and reviewing the episode. Lieberman did not elaborate, and declined to confirm or deny whether Trumps remarks had endangered an agent of Israel. But he said his government considered the matter resolved. Everything that needed to be clarified with the friends in the U.S. was done, he said. All of the conclusions we had to draw  it was all done. The Israeli defense ministers comments came the day after Trump wrapped up a two-day visit to Israel and the West Bank. When word of Trumps disclosure to Lavrov emerged in U.S. news reports last week, the defense minister and other Israeli leaders confined themselves to expressing public confidence in the two countries intelligence cooperation. Israel did not comment more directly, presumably to avoid embarrassing the U.S. president just before his visit. But Trump himself mentioned the controversy anyway, in an awkward on-camera moment during the trip. With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu biting his lip alongside, Trump volunteered to reporters being hustled out of a news appearance: Just so you know, I never mentioned the word or name Israel. Never mentioned it during the conversation. News reports, however, had not said the president mentioned Israel in connection with the intelligence, only that the specificity of his remarks to Lavrov would in all likelihood have allowed the Russians to determine the source. The White House at first denied Trumps disclosure to Lavrov had occurred as reported, but then the president himself tweeted about it, saying he had the right to share information as he deemed fit. Facebook

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Trump calls meeting with Pope Francis an honor By Michael A. Memoli "A very great honor," Trump says to the pope when they began their meeting in the pope's private study pic.twitter.com/NGsbsahAyT  Carol Lee (@carolelee) May 24, 2017 President Trump held a half-hour private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Wednesday, declaring it a great honor despite their past public dissension. The unconventional Republican and the first Jesuit pontiff made for an unlikely pair in the Vaticans Apostolic Palace, where Catholic leaders have presided or centuries and American presidents have come or decades. Francis was silent as the two sat across one another at the popes wooden desk to begin the audience at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time. Exactly a half-hour later, the ringing of a bell signified the end of the private encounter. For the White House, the Vatican stop caps a tour through key sites of the worlds three major religions, following stops in Saudi Arabia and Israel, designed to promote tolerance and a united approach to terrorism. When you put it all together, youre really showing that this problem of radical extremism is one of the great problems of our time, a senior Trump aide told reporters Tuesday en route from Israel to Rome, briefing anonymously as is common White House practice. By putting everybody together you can really build a coalition and show that its not a Muslim problem, its not a Jewish problem, its not a Catholic problem, its not a Christian problem, it really is a world problem. In an exchange of gifts after their private meeting, Francis offered the president a medal by a Roman artist of an olive, a symbol of peace. We can use peace, Trump responded. Where Trumps and Francis interests may align on peace and combating terrorism, they disagree sharply on issues like immigration and poverty. Like Trump, the Argentine pope has shown a predilection for unscripted comments that have shaken the staid Vatican bureaucracy, as when he criticized candidate Trumps proposed stricter immigration policies including a border wall as not Christian. Trump fired back, calling the popes remarks disgraceful. Any animosity was not apparent Wednesday, as a meeting between Francis and a larger U.S. delegation ended. Thank you. I wont forget what you said, Trump said. Facebook

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Proposed budget would deeply cut State Department and its programs By Tracy Wilkinson (AFP / Getty Images) The State Department leadership voiced support for President Trumps proposed budget, which would impose deep cuts on spending for diplomacy and foreign aid, but critics vowed to fight to restore the funds in Congress. In a statement, the department said the presidents $37.6-billion request for it and for the U.S. Agency for International Development would support a leaner, more efficient government in line with Trumps America first mantra. If approved by Congress, that would represent a reduction of roughly 30% from the current fiscal year. Nongovernmental agencies that receive State Department support to carry out humanitarian and other work around the globe expressed deep alarm. The State Department statement said its new priorities would include efforts to counter terrorism, support Israel, promote border security and battle transnational crime and the spread of infectious diseases. The statement makes no mention of women-empowerment programs or efforts to fight climate change, issues that rose to prominence under the Obama administration. The proposed budget would allow the United States to remain engaged in the United Nations, but officials would seek a more fair distribution of the funding burden, the statement said. And it would eliminate direct funding for quasi- and non-governmental organizations that serve niche missions. The American Jewish World Service, which fights poverty all over the world through 450 local organizations, said much of its work would be jeopardized. At a time when poverty, human rights abuses, famines and conflicts are wreaking havoc globally, said the groups president, Robert Bank, the United States must not abdicate its long bipartisan tradition of providing development assistance and diplomatic support to the most vulnerable people around the world. Mercy Corps, a U.S.-based development and advocacy organization that works in 40 countries, said gutting development programs was short-sighted and absolutely shameful and could put millions of lives at risk. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, called the budget cruel and mean-spirited and said it would force the United States to abandon our global role as a champion for freedom, democracy and the rule of law. If President Trump thinks the United States can shrink into a defensive crouch without long-term repercussions, hes sorely mistaken, Engel said. Facebook

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Sessions first proposed budget: A crackdown on immigration and violent crime By Joseph Tanfani Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) In the first budget proposal under President Trump and Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the Justice Department is seeking hundreds of millions in new funding to pay for an immigration crackdown on the border and a surge in resources to fight violent crime. Like the Department of Homeland Security budget, which includes billions for expanded immigration detention, more border agents and technology to catch those crossing the border illegally, the Justice Department budget is a reflection of the new get-tough policies promised by Sessions. The budget asks for another 300 federal prosecutors  230 to focus on violent criminals and gangs, and another 70 to concentrate on filing criminal charges on those crossing the border illegally. The shift in the spending priorities are in line with other policy changes ordered by Sessions, including a renewed focus on seeking stiff mandatory minimum sentences for drugs and other crimes. The $27.7-billion budget seeks 450 new attorneys and support workers for the immigration courts, which are now clogged with a backlog of 560,000 cases. There would also be another $50 million for increased immigration detention, plus 40 new U.S. marshal jobs to help take care of the expected increase in immigrants heading to federal court. With Trumps immigration initiatives tied up in federal court, the budget seeks another 15 lawyers to handle that litigation, plus 12 more to help handle property acquisition needed for Trumps promised Southwestern border wall. Violent-crime enforcement would get another $198 million, with the largest amount, $70 million, going toward setting up more anti-violence and gang task forces. Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod J. Rosenstein said more resources are needed because of what he called an alarming increase in the rates of murder and other violent crimes. The department is also asking for another $40 million for more drug enforcement to combat the opioid epidemic, which he said is spreading havoc throughout the United States. Sessions new policies should lead to an increase in prison population, so the budget contains funding to fully open a new supermax prison in Thomson, Ill., with room for 1,500 to 2,000 inmates. The department also wants to put more resources behind the FBIs efforts to counter cyber attacks and to figure out ways around encryption technology, along with another 50 agents to counter foreign intelligence and threats from homegrown terrorists. Facebook

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Economists say Trumps budget proposal doesnt add up By Don Lee President Trumps inaugural budget proposal claims to eliminate the nations deficit in 10 years, thanks largely to faster economic growth that it projects will come from the presidents sweeping tax cuts. Never mind the overly optimistic projections on economic growth. Or that Trumps tax overhaul has not happened yet. Even allowing for both, economists say Trumps budget still does not add up. The administration is counting on generating $2.1 trillion in additional revenue over 10 years from better economic growth. But Trumps budget proposal leaves out the cost, or the revenue lost, from the massive tax cuts. In other words, the economic gains that the administration has said it would use to pay for tax reform is apparently also being counted on to pay for deficit reduction. Some people call that double-counting. You cant use the same money twice, said Marc Goldwein, a senior vice president for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan group that advocates keeping government budgets under control. Lawrence Summers, former Treasury secretary in the Clinton administration and top economic advisor to President Obama, called it an elementary but egregious accounting error. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the right-leaning American Action Forum and former director of the Congressional Budget Office, said the proposal did not necessarily mean there was an outright omission or a double-counting. Its possible that the administration is looking for such strong economic growth to drive significantly extra revenue from payroll taxes, he said, or it could be that Trump officials were using different base lines from which they were drawing their results. But on the face of it, he said, the budget and tax-plan numbers dont seem to match. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has estimated that Trumps plan to cut corporate and individual taxes would cost the federal government about $5.5 trillion over 10 years, adding more than $6 trillion to the national debt. Details of Trumps tax overhaul, however, are still being developed, and its possible that the administration is assuming a revenue-neutral tax plan  although experts say big tax cuts never pay for themselves. On Tuesday, Mick Mulvaney, Trumps budget chief, did not provide a direct answer or explanation to questions about double-counting. Instead, he told reporters that you have to make assumptions about a budget. He went on to say that one of the assumptions that was not made was to take into account the uncollected taxes every year, which he said amounted to $486 billion last year. And we dont assume an additional penny of that being closed as part of our tax reform, said Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget. Of the 3% annual economic growth assumption, Mulvaney responded that the Obama administration in its first couple of years had based its budget on growth of 4.5%. In fact, Obamas first budget proposal as president, in May 2009, assumed economic growth of between 4% and 4.6% for the budget years 2011 to 2013. Since the Great Recession ended in mid-2009, the U.S. economy has been growing on average about 2% a year, and the Congressional Budget Office, the Federal Reserve and most private economists see the economy advancing at about 2% annually over the next 10 years. Alice Rivlin, a former Fed vice chair and director of the Office of Management and Budget under Clinton, said its true that the Obama administrations growth assumptions proved too optimistic. But she noted that those projections were not unreasonable for that time and period in the economic cycle. Then, there was greater potential for growth with unemployment high and many more people than today available for work. Today, the economy is nearing its eighth year of expansion, and the jobless rate is 4.4%, at or near full employment. With the aging of baby boomers, labor force growth slowing, and lackluster productivity gains, economists see the current moderate growth persisting for the foreseeable future. This has been a very long period of growth and were at the high end already, Rivlin said. If we are so lucky to have continuous, steady growth, its not likely to be at 3% or 4% or 5%. Facebook

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Who wins and who loses in Trumps budget The White House Office of Management and Budget sent Congress the presidents inaugural budget today, projecting spending and revenues over the next 10 years. The fiscal package, which include a partial skinny budget from March, reflects President Trumps priorities for the nation, but lawmakers are sure to reject many of the deep cuts in domestic and foreign affairs programs. The departments of State, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Education and Housing, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, are the biggest losers. The winners are the Pentagon and Homeland Security programs. Even with the increases in defense spending and large tax cuts, the administration projects that economic growth spurred by tax cuts will erase annual deficits by 2027. Take a look at some of the numbers released today. Read More Facebook

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What that Montana special congressional race will  and wont  tell us about Trump and his political problems By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Rob Quist is a quintessential cowboy who doesnt seem to relish campaigning in Montanas special congressional election. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) On Thursday, the political world will eagerly look to Montana and a closely fought congressional race for the latest test of Democratic strength and Republican resilience in the turbulent age of Trump. The major candidates and outside groups have sunk more than $8 million into the contest, a huge sum in a state where $250,000 pays for a robust week of television advertising. But for all that money and all the outside interest, the election will turn less on national trends than circumstances close to home: on the personalities and histories of the main contestants, their different campaign styles and, perhaps most of all, on who is regarded as the more authentic Montanan. Read More Facebook

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Terrorist attack in England has conservative media focused on safety of allies By Kurtis Lee (Dave Thompson/Getty images ) Its a sight witnessed all too often: an explosion, screams, people sprinting to safety. Late Monday night, this was the scene at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, after a man with possible ties to Islamic State militants set off a suicide bomb, killing 22 people and, once again, setting in motion a global discourse on how to fight terrorism. President Trump, while visiting Bethlehem, said the attack was committed by evil losers in life. Throughout the campaign and early in his presidency, Trump has said defeating the Islamic State is a top priority. (He reiterated that point in a speech Sunday in Saudi Arabia, urging Muslim leaders to plot their own course in combating terrorism.) In recent months, with attacks in Berlin, Paris and London, conservative media have questioned the safety of Europe and warned that the United States could face similar attacks. With the latest attack, some on the right are again homing in on the safety of our allies. Here are some of todays headlines: 2017 has seen a terror attack attempted in Europe every nine days (Breitbart) The attack in Manchester blankets the home page of the right-wing website. Europe has indeed been the location of high-profile attacks this year. In Paris last month, Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on the Champs-Elysees in which a man fired an automatic weapon, killing a police officer. And in March, a man plowed his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, near the British Parliament in London, and then fatally stabbed a police officer. In all, four people were killed and dozens injured in what police called a terrorist attack. The Breitbart piece is an analysis of different terrorist attacks attempted and carried out in Europe since January. Attacks and attempted attacks have taken place in Austria, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Norway, and Germany, on average every nine days, the piece says. Pences message of civility and open debate lost on those who most needed to hear it (Weekly Standard) The debate over free speech on colleges campuses continues. In recent months, conservative speakers have canceled speeches on college campuses in the face of anticipated protests. And others, who have opted to speak, have faced vocal backlash. On Sunday, as Vice President Mike Pence began to address students at the University of Notre Dame commencement, several dozen stood and walked out of the ceremony. In his speech, Pence talked about civility and open debate, and this piece argues that the m
A chef in northern China's Tianjin City who holds three Guinness world records for cooking showed off his skills to the public on May 3, slicing meat on the back of a woman. He also cut potatoes on a balloon full of air and threaded a needle with a cut potato, winning a huge round of applause from onlookers. In addition, the chef performed speed food carving with his eyes covered.
As she wrote The Monster Builder, a play that examines questions about architecture, over-development and city planning, playwright Amy Freed reflected on her earliest memory of recognizing a communitys original history and beauty.

She was 4. Freed and her family had driven from their home in the Bronx to spend the holidays with relatives in Bucks County, Pa. On their return to New York, she remembers crying, not wanting to leave the countryside of rolling hills, working farms and picturesque towns.

Today, the San Francisco-based author, who was a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize in drama for her play, Freedomland, is using art as a vehicle to foster conversations about architecture and its social impacts in her current production, running May 5 to June 4 at South Coast Repertory.

She has home building in her bones. Her father, Richard Freed, who died in 2015, was an architect.

The family always moved into the house he was designing, and Freed recalled growing up in project houses with missing windows and not-quite-installed Japanese soak tubs.

I got a really early dose of what a designers personality is like, and the impulses are very large, Freed said, calling from San Francisco. Its been quite the journey.

When Freed put pen to paper five years ago, the plays first draft wasnt about architecture. Her original vision had to do with a crime committed in a glass house, but during her research, she grew consumed with books written by Jane Jacobs, a journalist and activist best known for her influence on urban studies, and essays by sociologist Nathan Glazer.

The result: a satiric comedy that follows a couple who meet a celebrated architect, only to learn he is a snob who philosophizes architecture as a tool to bully the masses.

Freed, an artist-in-residence at Stanford University, has established a fruitful, 20-year-long relationship with South Coast Repertory. The Costa Mesa theater has produced seven of her plays, including The Monster Builder.

Directing the play, which closes the companys 2016-17 season, is her friend and colleague of 34 years, Art Manke.

Freed and Manke met in American Conservatory Theaters masters of fine arts program. Together, they presented the world premiere of The Monster Builder, at Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland, Ore.

Her imagination is so vast, and shes not afraid to look at big theatrical eras and characters, Manke said, en route from Los Angeles to Costa Mesa. Some architects and developers have encroached on humanity, and theres no turning back.

The plays relevant to Southern Californias development boom with subject matter important to everyone, as the environment in which people live plays a large part in determining their happiness, Manke said.

We have some charming old neighborhoods, but suddenly neighborhoods are being invaded by mega-box stores with huge parking lots, and they become monolithic shadows, he said. At what point do you say development has gone too far? Do we want another Target on the corner?

Urban design, fighting for common space and democracy are some of the subjects delivered in the dialogue, as Freeds intention was to create a painless visual aid with a mini-lecture.

Humor punctures pretension and makes people feel a relief in questioning, Freed said. I hope that people listen to their instincts on the growing land and development changes foisted on citizens because it just seems like a lot more of our society and environment is at stake.

If You Go

What: The Monster Builder

When: May 5 to June 4

Where: South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

Cost: Tickets start at $22

Information: (714) 708-5555 or visit scr.org.

kathleen.luppi@latimes.com

Twitter: @KathleenLuppi
Italian luxury shoe designer Gianvito Rossi  son of womens footwear designer Sergio Rossi  presented his pre-fall 2017-18 collection April 27 during a reception in celebration of the opening of his new boutique at South Coast Plaza.

The handcrafted brand founded in 2006 is located at the Costa Mesa shopping centers second floor, between Jewel and Carousel courts.

New water store opens in Corona del Mar

Well, a water boutique store, recently opened in Corona del Mar.

The store is co-founded by Adam Scott and Kristen Schmitt. Products include alkaline and mineral water and are available by the gallon or with monthly memberships.

Well is at 3800 E. Coast Hwy.

Laguna Beach company acquires Upland center

Laguna Beach-based Wood Investments Inc. has acquired Upland Village, a 153,000-square-foot shopping center in Upland, and nearby residential properties for $18.5 million. The company plans to revitalize the center with new tenants.

Newport Beach doctor uses AeroForm technology

Dr. Justin West, medical director of Finesse Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach, has become the first doctor in Southern California to do a procedure using AeroForms tissue expanding technology, according to a news release.

The technology is used by women who have reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy.

Hoag honors nurse with award

Mary Jane Nicolas Morimoto was recently honored with Hoag Hospitals 2017 Nurse of the Year award.

Morimoto works in the Newport Beach hospitals coronary care and cardiovascular intensive care units. She has worked there for about 20 years and also teaches at Cal State Long Beach.

Shes a wonderful role model for her fellow nurses and dedicated to the patient-centered care that Hoag provides on a daily basis, Rick Martin, senior vice president, clinical operations and chief nursing officer of Hoag, said in a statement.
Looking to avoid a bumpy ride while driving in Costa Mesa? The city has a tool you might want to check out.

Officials recently crafted an interactive road condition map that displays information on the state of every street citywide.

Using a metric called pavement condition index, or PCI, Costa Mesa officials color-coded the map to provide a snapshot of each roadway  with blue segments being in very good shape and red ones classified as very poor.

The map, available at apps.costamesaca.gov/maps/RoadCondition.html, also includes estimates of when specific stretches might be in line for some rehab work and a tutorial to walk residents and commuters through some of its features.

Taken as a whole, Costa Mesa is definitely way above average compared to the state, but also compared to Orange County in terms of the general pavement conditions of its streets, city Public Services Director Raja Sethuraman said in an interview this week.

Costa Mesas citywide PCI is about 87 out of 100, he said.

Thats above Orange Countys average of 79, and markedly outpaces the statewide average, which is 65, according to the 2016 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment.

Thats not to say all Costa Mesas streets are in immaculate shape. A handful  like Pomona Avenue between 16th and 18th streets, Monte Vista Avenue from Irvine Avenue to Santa Ana Avenue and portions of the Newport Boulevard northbound frontage road  have PCI scores of 40 or below, indicating theyre in very poor shape, according to the citys map.

Sethuraman said those more worn-down streets are atop the citys list of repair priorities and the plan is to take care of them in the next few years.

The goal is to get to it when the repairs are minimal, he said. That way, we can do it much more efficiently and in a cost-effective manner.

The amount the city spends to rehabilitate, maintain and repair streets, sidewalks and alleys varies from year to year but typically hovers at about $6 million annually, according to Sethuraman.

Officials also actively seek other funding to supplement city dollars. For instance, Costa Mesa is proposing to use $480,000 worth of community development block grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for improvements on the rundown stretch of Pomona.

luke.money@latimes.com

Twitter @LukeMMoney

UPDATES:

4:20 p.m.: This article was updated to update the citywide PCI score.

This article was originally published at 11:45 a.m.
Teachers from the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Huntington Beach Union High School District and Ocean View School District were recently honored as 2018 Orange County Teachers of the Year.

Jim Blackie, science teacher at Ensign Intermediate School; Gregory Gardiner, environmental science and biology teacher at Edison High School; and Vincent Saporito, special education and sign language teacher at College View Elementary School, were notified Tuesday about their awards, which are given by the Orange County Department of Education.

The teachers next move up to the state level.

The trio each received a prize package, provided by SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, of Disneyland tickets, Mickey Mouse ears and a tote bag.

The county received 62 nominations. Fifteen semi-finalists received interviews in April and six finalists were chosen.

Blackie has worked at Newport-Mesa for 14 years. He said he constantly reminds himself to stay cutting edge for students, especially now with a new set of science standards rolling out.

Science is always changing and our new standards need to reflect that, Blackie said. Well always have naysayers in the group, but Im ready to say, Lets roll up our sleeves and do it. 

He incorporates engineering projects, like building foam rockets and roller coasters, into his curriculum.

Britt Dowdy, president of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, said his group is honored to work alongside and be inspired by Blackie.

[Were] humbled to know his excellence as a person, father and inspiring educator recognized to be the best among Orange County, he added.

Gardiner has worked for the Huntington Beach Union High School District for 16 years, 11 of them at Edison.

Its a great honor to be an Orange County Teacher of the Year, he said. More importantly, I do this because I love teaching and for the students.

Gardiner incorporates project-based learning into his biology and environmental science curriculum. He partners with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for its Trout in the Classroom program. Students learn about fish habitat while watching eggs hatch. They eventually release the fish into a lake in Huntington Beach.

I want my students to feel good about what theyre learning and how they can be a good global citizen in the future, Gardiner said.

Saporito, who learned American Sign Language at a young age, has worked at Ocean View for nine years. He also teaches at Golden West College.

I hope this recognition is not just for me but for the entire deaf community, he said. I hope kids get the support and respect for American Sign Language and understanding deaf culture and the hardship deaf people have to endure.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscella
A rattlesnake bite could not keep Gracie down for too long.

The 7-year-old German short-haired pointer-Labrador mix has completely healed, her owner, Laguna Beach resident Kasey Konkel, said Wednesday. We went on a 12-mile run last Saturday.

Its been more than a month since Konkel received a scare when a rattlesnake bit Gracie on the Park Avenue Nature Trail that leads from Alta Laguna Park to Thurston Middle School.

On the afternoon of March 20, Konkel was walking Gracie and two other dogs on their leashes when Gracie stuck her head in a wildflower bush.

Seconds later, Gracie jumped back and Konkel saw holes where a rattlesnakes fangs penetrated Gracies face. Konkel rushed Gracie to Laguna Beach Animal Hospital, where veterinarians gave the dog antivenom, antibiotics and intravenous fluids.

Gracie stayed there for two days, but her treatment lasted longer. Toxins in the snakes venom caused her skin to die, leaving an open wound on her neck and jaw.

Veterinarians inserted a rubber tube into Gracies neck to allow the bacteria from the wound to drain. Gracie also received 20 stitches, which veterinarians removed last month.

With the stitches out, Gracie is back to her lively, active self.

The hair is growing back and the skin healed nicely, said James Levin, veterinarian and owner of Laguna Beach Animal Hospital.

Levin said Gracies wound was more severe than other animals, who typically have bruises and inflamed tissue.

Most dogs dont have the fluid draining, Levin said.

But even though the wound might have looked bad, Levin said by the time it formed, Gracie had survived through the most critical period after a rattlesnake bite  the first 48 hours.

The wound was a secondary complication of the infected tissue because that venom is really strong, Levin said.

Konkel now hopes her dogs learn tips to outsmart snakes.

She will take them to a rattlesnake avoidance training session May 13 at Acu Canyon Park in San Juan Capistrano.

Dogs will learn to detect and avoid rattlesnakes by sight and smell during the event, which is organized by Konkels friend, Suzanne Parker.

Dog owners can register for 20-minute private sessions for $125 each. Training sessions will also be held at the same location, 27999 Camino Las Ramblas, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m May 20.

For more information, call (949) 295-5716 or email octailsontrails@gmail.com.

bryce.alderton@latimes.com

Twitter: @AldertonBryce
To celebrate its 50 years as one of the countrys leading green cleaning products companies, Orange County--based Earth Friendly Products, maker of the Ecos detergent , recently hosted California political and environmental officials for an anniversary celebration in conjunction with Earth Month and in honor of Arbor Day.

The April 28 event at the companys Cypress manufacturing facility presented a $150,000 check to the Discovery Cube Museums of Orange County and Los Angeles, and each company employee was gifted an extra weeks salary for Earth Month.

Earth Friendly Products President Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, daughter of the companys late founder Van Vlahakis, stood at the podium to thank more than 300 guests, including employees, family, non-profit organizations, collegiate executives, Cypress Mayor Paulo Morales and representatives from the offices of U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris and Reps. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) and Brad Sherman (D-Monterey Park).

It fills me with so much pride to be at the helm of a family owned and operated business for 50 years and to see my fathers legacy continue, Vlahakis-Hanks said. Its truly an honor to be in the green space at this time.

Harris field representative, Brent Robinson, lauded the companys $17-an-hour living wage and Scott Abrams from Shermans office announced that the congressman had entered a statement about Earth Friendly Products accomplishments into the Congressional Record.

As Vlahakis-Hanks stood at the podium, she told the story of her father, a Greek immigrant who came to the U.S. with $22.

Without knowing English, he chose to study chemistry because the root word was in his native Greek.

Today, the operation is the maker of Ecos laundry detergent and more than 200 environmentally friendly products that are made with plant-based ingredients, pH balanced, biodegradable, recyclable and never tested on animals.

The line is carried at retailers throughout the U.S. in more than 60 countries and online at ecos.com.

kathleen.luppi@latimes.com

Twitter: @KathleenLuppi
As Orange Countys smarter conservatives  including some on the O.C. Water District board  begin to realize what an unnecessary, unaffordable piece of corporate welfare Poseidons proposed Huntington Beach desalination plant is, the Boston-based hedge fund group has begun to focus its bottomless lobbying resources at liberals and Democrats instead (Barbara Boxer will lobby for an environmentally controversial desalination plant in Huntington Beach, April 19).

Heads spun, in bewilderment and dismay, to see how quickly liberal icon and four-term Sen. Barbara Boxer morphed, at the age of 76, into a paid Poseidon lobbyist, betraying in one fell swoop at least two of her proudest legacies.

First, Boxer had become known over her 36 years in Congress as the staunchest of consumer advocates  always fighting to protect the little guy from corporate greed and destructiveness, from medical malpractice to dangerous toys to bank bailouts. How could someone with this record try to foist the Poseidon boondoggle onto Orange County taxpayers?

Is she even aware of all the dirty details of the proposal? The subsidies Poseidon demands to ensure its profits? The 50-year take-or-pay contract forcing us to buy their overpriced water when we want it and when we dont? The basic fact that desal is not only unnecessary but also one of the most expensive, energy-intensive methods of producing drinking water known to mankind? Maybe she just thinks the people of this county can afford anything.

Second, the senator has always been known as a fierce advocate for the environment. For this longtime defender of Californias atmosphere, coastline and fisheries to grant her green blessing to this project is baffling.

Her self-justifications do not, so to speak, hold water. The form letter shes been sending all her critics posits a zero-sum game in which, if we dont build this billion-dollar sea life-slaughtering desal plant, well be doomed to a world of fish-slaughtering dams  when, in fact, we can do without either.

She crows of the plant being carbon-neutral  a notorious shell game in which they can pump pollution into our atmosphere while buying carbon credits and passing the cost on to us. And the former senators indifference to creating a hyper-salinated dead zone along Huntington Beachs coast is jarring, given her long history of protecting other parts of Californias coast from oil spills and pollution.

Anyone familiar with the career of Boxers fellow Democratic Poseidon lobbyist Fabian Nunez, a former state Assembly speaker, is not surprised to see him running after money. The enthusiasm of the building trades unions for the project is understandable, given their desperation for any construction jobs, even short-term.But it is a real shame, a mortification, to see someone with the record of Boxer being so easily bamboozled, bought, or both.

Vern Nelson, a Huntington Beach native and Anaheim musician, runs the Orange Juice Blog.
Its a perfectly logical thing to do: You need an answer to a grammar question, so you fire off an email to your friendly neighborhood grammar columnist. After all, you may not have anywhere else to turn.

The dictionarys a great help sometimes, like when you want to know the past tense of a verb like lay or hang. But its not a one-stop grammar shop. When you need answers that cant be found in a simple alphabetized list of words, resources are scarce.

Often, people turn to hearsay  the overconfident advice of a grammar-enthusiast friend or relative. That can be a mistake. People who think they know grammar rules off the top of their heads may have instead memorized mythical rules that get passed down from generation to generation.

An oh-so-confident English teacher tells you that its wrong to start a sentence with and. A seemingly knowledgeable friend tells you irregardless isnt a word. Your own mother tells you its a mistake to say, Im done when you finish dinner.

Those are all wrong, I regret to report. Sadly, even Mom can lead you astray. So with this serious shortage of alternatives, it makes perfect sense to reach out to that columnist whos spent years citing countless grammar resources youd never heard of.

Most of the time, youll get good information. But every once in a while, youll get this surprising response: Dont ask me. Ask your mom.

A recent email from reader Amy is the perfect example. Amys boss had written a letter that seemed odd. One sentence in the letter noted that an employee at the company will have a dual reporting relationship to both me and John.

This wording struck Amy as a potentially bad call. Is that correct grammar? I was told that you always put the other person first.

Me, too. And I do. But not for any reason having to do with grammar. English has no rules on the order of pronouns. In a prepositional phrase such as to me and John, theres simply no grammar rule saying that me and John should be John and me.

Even as the subject of a sentence, the rules of grammar dont tell you which order to put coordinate pronouns in: John and I will supervise is syntactically identical to I and John will supervise. Theyre equally grammatical.

So why does I and John sound so very bad? And why does to me and John sound inferior to John and me?

The answer brings us back to Mom. The idea that you put the other person first may not be a grammar rule. But its a pretty well-established etiquette rule. Its a courtesy so common that straying from it can strike the ear in a most unpleasant way.

So if your mom or another well-meaning parental figure told you to put the other person first, in speech or in life, that was simply a lesson in good manners.

If you noticed another problem with the letter written by Amys boss, youre not alone: to have a dual reporting relationship is pretty bad no matter what pronouns follow. This doesnt break a grammar rule, either.

But grammar can give us a bit of insight into why its bad. When you turn an action like to report into an abstraction like the gerund reporting, its called a nominalization. Often, though not always, nominalizations are bad because actions are better than vague, abstract concepts.

In this case: will have a dual-reporting relationship is just a lame and unclear way to say, will report to. Jane will report to John and me is simple, has a clear action and leaves no one wondering why you couldnt just speak in plain English in the first place.

JUNE CASAGRANDE is the author of The Best Punctuation Book, Period. She can be reached at JuneTCN@aol.com.
On April 27, the Los Angeles Times carried an opinion piece. No, California, Roundup Wont Give You Cancer. The authors characterized the State of California as chemophobes for requiring Prop. 65 warnings on Roundup. They claimed the decisions of the Glendale, Burbank and Irvine school districts to ban Roundup were prompted by mania. They conveniently ignored the revelations of Monsantos conduct in stymieing further independent research into the hazards of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, Monsantos most profitable product.

In mid-March both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal reported the release of emails ordered in a lawsuit against Monsanto. The emails revealed that an EPA employee tipped off a Monsanto executive about the International Agency for Research on Cancers investigation that linked glyphosate to cancer. That led to Monsantos preparation of a public relations assault before the report was released. In those emails Monsanto executives claimed that the same EPA employee promised to beat back an effort by the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct its own investigation. No such investigation ever occurred. The emails also referred to a proposal to ghostwrite academic articles on the safety of glyphosate.

Monsanto comes to the court of public opinion with unclean hands. Its concerted efforts to thwart further scientific investigation do more to establish the health hazards of glyphosate than its continuing public relations assault can refute.

Glendale and Burbank school districts decisions are in accord with the best scientific evidence currently available, the IARC study. Far from being criticized, the districts should be applauded.

Mary-Lynne Fisher

La Crescenta

..

Northwest Glendale Homeowners Assn. and the Glendale Police Department have teamed up to present a special community program on how we can live in harmony with the coyote population.

Cathy Schoonmaker, Urban-Wildland Specialist with the National Park Service, will speak at Brand Librarys Auditorium, 1601 W. Mountain St., on Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m.

Ms. Schoonmaker has over 10 years experience working with our native Southern California wildlife and her focus is on coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions. In order for us to coexist with these animals, she will provide tips and tools. Everyone is encouraged to attend this free event.

Carol Brusha

Board Member, NWGHA

Glendale
Some 75 Chinese universities have unveiled their 2017 annual budget, which topped 350 billion RMB. Tsinghua University received the largest budget of 23.3-billion-RMB, making it the only university with a budget over 20 billion RMB.

A total of eight universities received a budget of more than 10 billion RMB. Peking University and Zhejiang University ranked second and third on the budget list, with 19.3 billion RMB and 15 billion RMB, respectively, Beijing News reported.

Of the 75 universities, about 51 of them had a budget of less than 5 billion RMB. Three art colleges  the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the Central Conservatory of Music, and The Central Academy of Drama  were at the bottom of the list, each receiving less than 1 billion RMB.

According to Beijing News, Zhejiang University was the only university in the top ten of highest budgets that saw a slight decrease compared to last year. At least eight universities reported an increase of over 2 billion RMB. The budget increase could be attributed to greater financial support from the government, as China vowed in 2016 to speed up the construction of world-class universities and first-class majors.
A crowd gathered March 28, 1903, for ceremonies as the cornerstone was laid for the Chamber of Commerce building on Broadway in Los Angeles.

The crowd of 8,000 closed Broadway between 1st and 2nd Streets. Before the ceremonies, 800 Masons from all over Southern California took part in a parade from the Masonic Temple on Hill Street to the Chamber of Commerce site.

Advertisements, including a Los Angeles Times ad, partially cover the building in the background of the photo. The bottom line  partially obscured  reads, A full grown newspaper but no organ.

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But the Los Angeles Herald had better ad placement with The Herald Always on Top. The Herald had one big advantage  their offices were in the building.

The Chamber of Commerce building was at 130 S. Broadway, opposite the current Times-Mirror complex.

See more from the Los Angeles Times archives here
Chinas first home-built large passenger jet glided into Shanghai skies on Friday, a breakthrough in its soaring ambitions to launch a new era in aviation and upend the dominance of American-produced airplanes.

Spectators crowded onto the tarmac and cheered as the green-tipped C919 jetliner rumbled down the runway at Pudong International Airport and disappeared in the smoggy air. China Central Television showed the broadcast live, including two pilots in the cockpit clad in bright orange jumpsuits.

More than 1.4 million people watched the flight through the news organizations social media account.

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The plane wont go into service for at least two years, and it will take even longer before it comes close to matching industry leaders Boeing and Airbus. But the maiden flight represented something else: Chinas ascendance from an impoverished nation once dependent on factory output to a sophisticated leader dedicated to high-tech advancement.

State media called the flight another fulfillment of a Chinese dream.

Fridays takeoff occurred the week after China launched its first domestically built aircraft carrier. This hands two significant victories to President Xi Jinping, who is seeking to cement his legacy before a Communist Party leadership shuffle this fall. His Made in China 2025 plan aims to enhance domestic production through innovation.

Jetliners like this one reflect the countrys industrial level, international competitiveness and comprehensive power, Xu Jifeng, who helped design the plane for state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or Comac, told the television network. If the C919 is successful, China will be one of the few countries that has the capability to research, develop and manufacture such large jets.

Comac describes the plane as the flower and pearl of modern manufacturing. The company chose the number partly because the word for 9, jiu, also means everlasting.

I always knew my country was capable of this, said Wu Min, 35, a Beijing deliveryman. It sends a strong signal to the rest of the world about what China can achieve.

Designing and flying an aircraft are just part of a long road. The spending and probable losses are just beginning.  Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst at Teal Group, a Virginia-based aeronautics consulting firm

The 158-seat aircraft, intended for medium-haul flights, took more than a decade to plan and complete. Officials designed it to compete with Boeings 737 and the Airbus 320 in a market theyve long controlled.

Its a lucrative one. Chinas middle class continues to expand and desires vacations to Thailand or business trips to Texas. Boeing estimates single-aisle planes like these will generate about $535 billion  75%  of passenger jet sales in China within the next two decades.

Comac says it already received 570 orders from 23 customers, although most of these are domestic companies or ones with ties to Chinese businesses.

Designing and flying an aircraft are just part of a long road, said Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst at Teal Group, a Virginia-based aeronautics consulting firm. The spending and probable losses are just beginning.

Boeing has President Nixon to thank for Chinas infatuation with its airplanes. He flew a Boeing 707 on his historic visit to Beijing in 1972; the Chinese later purchased 10. Xi made a point to stop at Boeings headquarters two years ago on a trip to Seattle and purchased 300 jets.

Chinas reliance on the industry giants wont change any time soon.

Comac needed the assistance of Western suppliers to build the jet. General Electric and French aerospace firm Safran supplied the engines. Others, like Honeywell, offered up parts for its belly or cockpit.

U.S. and European safety regulators also need to certify the jetliner before it can operate much beyond China. The countrys first homemade plane, a smaller, clunky regional jet called ARJ21, waited eight years between its initial fight and the summer day last year it went into service.

Ultimately, making an entire airplane from Chinese manufactured components is probably half a century away, said George Ferguson, senior aerospace analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, which conducts economic and industry analysis. But this is the initial foray.

Demand will only increase. China is expected to surpass the U.S. as the worlds largest air travel market by 2024, according to the International Air Transport Assn. Beijings international airport, a sprawling, high-ceiling edifice, already ranks second busiest in the world behind Atlanta.

Even for some in China, its hard to let go of the airplane standard.

Developed countries like France and the U.S. still have the best technology in this field, said Li Xiao, 30, an operations manager in Beijing. I still cant say Im 100% confident about our homemade aircraft.

Nicole Liu and Gaochao Zhang in the Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report.

Meyers is a special correspondent.

Twitter: @jessicameyers

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The U.S. military said Friday a service member has been killed in Somalia during an operation against the extremist group Shabab as the United States steps up its fight against the Al Qaeda-linked organization.

A statement from the U.S. Africa Command said the service member was killed Thursday during the operation near Barii, about 40 miles west of the capital, Mogadishu.

The statement said U.S. forces were conducting an advise-and-assist mission with Somalias military.

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Both the United States and Somalia in recent weeks have declared new efforts against the extremist group. President Trump has approved expanded military operations against the Shabab, including more aggressive airstrikes and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.

A Somali intelligence official confirmed the U.S. military operation, saying U.S. forces in helicopters raided a Shabab hideout near the Somali capital on Thursday night and engaged with fighters.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the helicopters dropped fighters near Dare Salaam village in an attempt to capture or kill extremists in the area.

The official said the fighters mounted a stiff resistance against the soldiers.

Somalias new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last month declared a new offensive against the Shabab, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks elsewhere in East Africa.

Also last month, the U.S. military announced it was sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the Horn of Africa country in roughly two decades. The U.S. Africa Command said the deployment was for logistics training of Somalias army.

The U.S. in recent years has sent a small number of special operations forces and counter-terror advisors to Somalia and has carried out a number of airstrikes, including drone strikes, against the Shabab.

The extremist group, which was chased out of Mogadishu years ago but continues to carry out deadly attacks there, has vowed to step up the violence in response to the moves by Trump and Mohamed.

Pressure is growing on Somalias military to assume full security for the country as the 22,000-strong African Union multinational force that has been supporting the fragile central government plans to leave by the end of 2020.

The U.S. military has acknowledged the problem. The AU force will begin withdrawing in 2018, and head of the U.S. Africa Command, Cmdr. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, has said that if it leaves before Somalias security forces are capable, large portions of Somalia are at risk of returning to al-Shabab control or potentially allowing ISIS to gain a stronger foothold.

Fighters linked to the Islamic State group are a relatively new and growing challenge in the north of the country, which has seen a quarter-century of chaos since dictator Siad Barre fell in 1991.

The United States pulled out of Somalia after 1993, when two helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets.
The months-long manhunt for French-born Rachid Kassim ended one chilly morning early this year when a drone-launched missile destroyed his battered white pickup truck as it motored through the besieged Iraqi city of Mosul.

The 29-year-old former rapper had cast a grim shadow in international counter-terrorism circles. He spoke fluent French, once beheaded a man in an online video and played a role in a string of terrorist plots  two successful  in France last year.

The Feb. 8 drone strike notched a victory for a U.S.-led effort that seeks to silence Islamic State operatives who use social media, encrypted messaging and other online tools to reach disaffected Muslims overseas and to launch what counter-terrorism experts now call remote-controlled attacks.

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As Islamic State steadily loses ground in Iraq and Syria, its ability to sponsor and inspire headline-grabbing attacks abroad looms larger than ever  providing the militants the appearance of lethal viability despite the caliphates collapsing borders.

In recent weeks, Islamic State has claimed responsibility for killing a policeman on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, for the Palm Sunday bombings of two churches in Egypt, for an attack by gunmen disguised as medical staff that left 38 dead at a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, and for a suicide bombing that killed 88 people at a Sufi shrine in southern Pakistan.

The European Unions police agency, known as Europol, discovered last week that Islamic State has built its own social media platform to try to evade law enforcement and intelligence agencies that monitor the militants communications and propaganda, according to Rob Wainwright, head of Europol.

We have certainly made it a lot harder for them to operate [in digital space], but were still seeing these awful videos [and] communications operating large scale across the Internet, Wainwright said Wednesday at a security conference in London.

Europe is facing the highest terrorist threat for a generation, he warned.

European security officials already are bracing for hundreds of foreign militants to return from the battlefields in Iraq and Syria and are scrambling to respond. The State Department issued a travel alert Tuesday for all of Europe because of the threat of terrorist attacks on the continent.

The military defeat of ISIS is essential but not sufficient.  Gen. Joseph Votel

Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, acknowledged Islamic States loss of territory does not mean it is on the verge of collapse.

The group will continue to coordinate and inspire attacks from its online virtual caliphate, he said in an email interview.

The military defeat of ISIS is essential but not sufficient, he said, using an acronym for Islamic State. As we continue to degrade ISIS physical capability they will shift more of their attention to the virtual realm and we will need to do whatever we can to stay ahead of them.

U.S. efforts to counter extremist messaging has largely failed so far, said Thomas Joscelyn, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.

The U.S. government needs a systematic campaign to undermine the messaging, he said. So far any effort to do that has flat out failed.

A Government Accountability Office study released in April found no cohesive strategy with measurable outcomes has been established for counter-propaganda against Islamic State.

Islamic States propaganda will assuredly outlive their physical caliphate, said Charlie Winter, a research fellow at Kings College in London. This resilience means their ability to inspire terrorist attacks will also live on.

Twitter has suspended more than 635,000 accounts linked to Islamic State since 2015. the company says. Facebook, YouTube and other social media companies also regularly remove the militants material.

But the group still publishes a monthly online magazine in ten languages, issues messages via its Amaq news agency and posts videos that are widely shared on Twitter, Telegram and elsewhere, U.S. officials say.

Information gleaned from U.S. special operations raids, surveillance drones and informants has enabled analysts to piece together what they believe is Islamic States chain of command, including a secretive wing of external operations planners that is assigned to plot attacks in different regions of the world.

A team of U.S. commandos, called the expeditionary targeting force, has killed more than a dozen suspected planners since last summer, according to U.S. officials.

In addition to Kassim, the French-speaking plotter killed by drone, they include Abu Muhammad Adnani, head of external terrorism plots, who was killed by an armed drone Aug. 30.

Eight days later, Abu Mohamed Furqan, who oversaw production of propaganda videos and created the groups monthly online magazine Rumiyah, was also killed by a drone strike in Raqqah, Islamic States self-declared capital in Syria.

In December, another airstrike in Raqqah killed three men said to have played a role in the November 2015 assaults that killed 130 people in Paris. Abdurakhmon Uzbeki, who helped organize the New Years Day attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, that left 39 dead, was killed in April in eastern Syria.

ISIS uses information as a weapon, so targeting key people in their messaging operations can be devastating, Lt. Col. Sean Heidgerken, deputy director of a U.S. military counter-propaganda unit, said in a phone interview from Baghdad. Its similar to going after a key general or prominent decision-maker of enemies in past wars.

Heidgerkens team drops leaflets, broadcasts radio messages and helps target radio towers, video production facilities and Internet kiosks used by Islamic State.

The militants typically rely on foreign-born operatives to communicate online with sympathizers abroad. They then try to move the conversation to encrypted messaging apps, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, to avoid detection.

Encryption is the real game changer, said Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, a terrorism expert at George Washington University. It takes the conversation underground and poses a huge challenge to stopping attacks.

Kassim used his Telegram channel Sabre de Lumiere, or Sword of Light, to communicate with sympathizers in France.

In September, four French women were arrested after they allegedly heeded his directive to fill a car with gas cylinders, sprinkle petrol in it and park in a busy street ... BOOM, according to a message that police later said was found on a public Telegram channel.

Their Peugeot, parked near the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, failed to explode.

In July, two armed men stormed a church and slit the throat of an 85-year-old Catholic priest during a morning Mass near Normandy in northern France. The killers, who apparently had been in contact with Kassim, were both shot dead.

A month earlier, another supposed Kassim follower killed a French police commander and his partner at their home outside Paris  and reportedly streamed it live on Facebook before he was killed by police.

In July, days after an Islamic State follower mowed down and killed 86 people with a truck in Nice, France, Kassim appeared in a video dressed in a black headscarf and camouflage fatigues. He praised the slaughter, promised more atrocities in France and used a serrated knife to behead an unidentified man kneeling before him.

william.hennigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @wjhenn

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As Yemen has faced fighting between Houthi rebels and a coalition of Persian Gulf states, the country has turned into a crucible of suffering.

Almost two-thirds of the nations 26 million people are suffering from food shortages, with more than 7 million acutely malnourished, according to United Nations officials. A child dies every 10 minutes in Yemen, UNICEF said, for reasons including diarrhea, breathing infections and malnutrition.

A comprehensive embargo by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition has ground the economy to a halt. Coalition airstrikes are blamed by humanitarian groups and activists for the majority of the more than 10,000 civilians killed during the fighting and for leaving the countrys already shaky infrastructure in tatters.

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The Houthis, meanwhile, have managed to maintain control of the Red Sea port of Hudaydah, the primary entry point for most of the countrys food imports.

In recent weeks, the government in exile of Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi along with an alliance led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have geared up for an offensive to take Hudaydah.

The coalition maintains that Iran, a nemesis of Saudi Arabia, provides weapons and ammunition for the rebels via the Hudaydah port and that it is an important source of income for the Houthis, who ousted Hadis government in 2014.

The coalition launched a counterattack against the Houthis in March 2015, after the group had seized the capital, Sana. The group later captured the countrys economic hub, Aden.

In response to calls for an arms embargo on the Houthis, the U.N. created its own verification and inspection mechanism to search ships entering Hudaydah to expedite aid deliveries.

Saeed Wahabi, a Saudi analyst based in Dubai, said in a phone interview that with more than 300 miles of coastal areas to police, some vessels would be able to continue delivering weapons and equipment.

Wahabi and others also said Houthis recently told Hudaydah merchants that there would be an increase in the cost of doing business to pay for the war effort.

Mohammad Baharoon, director of the Dubai Public Policy Research Center, said in an interview that both Saudi Arabia and the Emirates had proposed in recent months that the U.N. take over the ports management to avoid confrontations.

But Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, said via email that he had not seen any details of such an offer.

Several local residents said any military operation to take the port, which was damaged by coalition strikes in August 2015, would hurt civilians more than the belligerents.

This will be a disaster by all measures. We have 1 million people in the city, 2.6 million in the province around it, many of them refugees from other parts of Yemen, Mustafa Bdeyr, head of the journalists union in Hudaydah, said in a phone interview.

If something happens here, you cant escape, Bdeyr said. They get us from the sky with planes, and ships in the water, and by land theres fighting we have nowhere to go.

Yahya Kurd, a journalist, said in a phone interview that conditions in Hudaydah were already at the breaking point.

There is no food. No water. No electricity. The prices are too high, and medicines their prices are crazy, he said.

Kurd said state employees in Hudaydah, like many other parts of the country, havent been paid since September in many cases.

The central bank in Sana, the U.N. says, has not been able to pay the countrys 1.5 million public servants, including teachers, nurses and doctors as a result of the economic blockade on the country.

Why is the world interested in creating a famine of biblical proportions on top of all the problems we have  [and] which is wholly preventable? Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in a phone interview.

Eighty percent of food aid comes through Hudaydah,  he said. If it is attacked, that lifeline will be cut and for sure there will be a famine for millions of people.

Wahabi said he would expect the operation to take Hudaydah would involve a multipronged offensive with troops advancing from the Midi district, 100 miles north of Hudaydah and near the Saudi-Yemeni border; from the waters before the port itself; and from north of the port of Mocha, roughly 86 miles south.

UAE and Saudi planners had reportedly called on the Pentagon to take a more active role in anti-Houthi operations, including the attack on Hudaydah.

The U.S. already provides intelligence, munitions and midair refueling to Arab coalition aircraft.

Although U.S. special operations forces have been with coalition troops in past operations against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, known as AQAP, in Yemen, the commandos are not expected to be involved in the Hudaydah mission.

There are deep concerns here about the secondary effects of the operation, said a U.S. defense official, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly on the matter. But there are also concerns about this war because thats what is causing the humanitarian crisis in the first place.

On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of 16 congressional members sent a letter to Defense Secretary James N. Mattis exhorting him to brief lawmakers on the nature of U.S. engagement in a potentially catastrophic Saudi attack on Hudaydah.

A letter released last month by 55 members of the House of Representatives also raised concerns that anti-Houthi operations would take too many resources away from fighting AQAP, thought to be Al Qaedas most dangerous franchise. The group has taken advantage of the chaos in Yemen to rapidly expand its presence.

Its leader, Qassem Rimi, said in an interview with the groups media branch in March that the jihadists fight with pro-government forces, including recipients of the coalitions largesse, against the Houthis.

We have fought with all the Muslims in Yemen and with all the Muslim groups. We fight with the Salafists, with the Muslim brotherhood  and with our brothers from the sons of the tribes and the people of Aden, said Rimi.

This week, Saudi Arabias deputy crown prince and defense minister, Prince Mohammad bin Salman, ruled out dialogue with Iran regarding Yemen.

There is no common ground between us and Iran, Salman in an interview with the Saudi-owned MBC channel.

He said Irans ideological underpinnings mean it must control the Muslim world.

How can I come to an understanding with this?

Bulos is a special correspondent. Times staff writer W.J. Hennigan in Washington contributed to this report.
All material is subject to strictly enforced copyright terms & conditions and cannot be repurposed or reproduced.  19882022 Latin American Financial Publications Inc.
New Zealand residents and media actively reported the whereabouts of China's most-wanted fugitives after Chinese authorities released information about the suspects on Interpol's red notice list of China's 100 most-wanted fugitives several days ago, Global Times reported on May 5.

Chen Xingming, China's 18th most-wanted fugitive, was suspected of embezzlement when he was director of the Power Construction Corporation of China's Department of Strategic Research and Planning.

New Zealand residents reported that Chen was living in Auckland's Brownstone District, but he had fled the area, the New Zealand Herald reported on May 4.

The media also reported that four other fugitives wanted by China are living in New Zealand, thanks to the information given to them by Chinese authorities.
May 5, 2017, 10:55am ET

DOJ launches criminal probe of Uber

The Justice Department will investigate Uber for potential criminal wrongdoing.

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched in the wake of Uber's recent admission that it used proprietary software to evade detection in cities where it had not been approved to operate.

In cities where it was operating without sanctions, the ride-hailing company's drivers employed software referred to internally as "Greyball" to evade detection.
(Photo from People's Daily Online)

China's first domestically built large passenger jet C919 successfully took off for its maiden flight at 2:00 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Friday from Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

The aircraft's manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), said the maiden flight is expected to last 90 minutes with a maximum speed of 170 knots (314.84 kilometers per hour).

The C919 is a narrow-body aircraft designed to carry 168 passengers. It has a standard range of 4,075 kilometers and an extended range of 5,555 kilometers.

The C919 is China's answer to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. A total of 570 orders for the aircraft have already been received from 23 domestic and overseas clients. (Via CGTN)
May 5, 2017, 1:59pm ET

VW ready to axe Beetle hardtop?

An executive\'s comments suggest both the Beetle and Scirocco could be heading to the chopping block.

Volkswagen could be close to retiring the Beetle as it attempts to reduce development costs in the wake of the diesel emissions scandal.

The Beetle has been one of the company's wort-selling models in recent years. In the US, sales are up by 20 percent in the first three months of the year but still fail to reach a quarter of the Passat's sales volume.

"The Beetle and Scirocco are representatives of an emotional and appealing class of vehicles, but it is not always about continuing cars from one generation to the next," VW brand board member Arno Antlitz recently told Autocar.

The Beetle and Scirocco could be at the top of the list for potential retirement as the company attempts to refocus its development resources on electrified powertrains and more popular crossovers and SUVs.

Antlitz suggested several upcoming models will help contribute to the brand's evolving identity, including the ID range of electric vehicles and the Arteon luxury sedan.
UPDATE: Neighbor ran into burning Allentown home to save girl, city says

A juvenile was injured in a house fire late Thursday afternoon in Allentown, according to a city fire official.

The blaze was reported about 4:50 p.m. in a row home at 1357 W. Liberty St.

The extent of the injuries to the victim were not immediately available, city fire Capt. John Christopher said. A report from the scene indicated the juvenile was taken by ambulance for treatment.

Firefighters got the fire knocked down quickly, Christopher said.

The American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania said it responded to assist six people displaced by the fire.

Freelance photographer Mike Nester contributed to this report from the scene.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Bethlehem's lucrative economic development incentive zone is set to provide a $6 million boost to its first major project.

The Bethlehem Revitalization and Improvement Authority on Thursday voted to provide a $6 million loan for developer Dennis Benner's $24 million project known as the the Gateway at Greenway Park on South Side Bethlehem.

Benner will back the loan and be on the hook if the projected City Revitalization and Improvement Zone taxes don't materialize. Known as the CRIZ, the zone allows certain future state and local tax revenues -- including sales and liquor -- created by CRIZ projects to pay off construction loans.

"This project's taxes fund this project's loan," explained authority solicitor Valentino DiGiorgio.

The authority is taking out the loan on Benner's behalf and it will act as a pass-through conduit for the money. Benner is also taking out another $12 million loan, the developer told the board.

Benner is building a six-story, mixed-use building at the intersection of Third and South New streets next to a new Bethlehem Parking Authority garage, which is also under construction. St. Luke's University Health Network and Lehigh University are the building's largest announced tenants.

"I think it will be transformative for South Bethlehem," Benner said.

Benner expects the building to be occupied by the end of the year, he said.

"It'll start coming out of the ground real fast," he said after the meeting.

Authority board member Ann McHale said she gets so excited driving past the property knowing she's been a part of this major project.

"I just can't wait until it's finished," she said.

Benner said there are ongoing discussions about the footprint of the announced tenants and there has been significant interest in the retail space. The developer plans to wait until the first floor is completed before signing a lease with a tenant.

"We're very encouraged by what we are dealing with," he said.

Authority member John Filipos abstained from Thursday's vote because his firm had done some valuation work for the bank issuing the loan.

The Gateway at Greenway Park is Bethlehem's first significant CRIZ project since it was one of two cities selected in December of 2013. Last year, lawmakers tweaked the CRIZ law to eliminate banks' wariness at offering developers of CRIZ projects loans.

BethWorks Renovations, headed by developer Michael Perrucci, is behind the CRIZ's one success story -- the Social Still distillery. Because it was a small project BethWorks was able to take a risk on it, the developers have said.

The CRIZ is modeled off of Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone, although it is a much less powerful financial tool. CRIZ developers can only collect certain taxes generated by new Pennsylvania businesses or ones that expand above a baseline.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Bethlehem accountant who stole $45,000 from his volunteer fire company was spared prison time Friday.

Calling him a good person who committed a bad act, Northampton County Senior Judge Leonard Zito sentenced Frank R. Madura to five years probation Friday morning. Madura previously pleaded guilty to a theft charge.

Zito ordered Madura, 70, of the 1600 block of Catasauqua Road, to pay back the remaining $34,500 in restitution owed to Hanover Township Fire Co.'s insurance company.

Madura was treasurer of the fire company at the time he stole the money. The department was alerted to the theft in October when Madura tried to cash a check for $8,000. The bank became suspicious and alerted Chief Craig Wasum.

Defense attorney Catherine Kollet said Madura has already paid back $10,500 of the stolen money. Three of Madura's friends spoke on his behalf before the sentencing.

Scott Milham met Madura through the volunteer fire company and the ordeal has actually brought them closer together.

"He made a mistake," Milham said. "...He was trying to take care of his 102-year-old mother."

Madura was too proud to ask for help when he needed it and the department holds no animosity towards him, Milham said.

"He is just a very genuine good friend," he said.

Madura apologized to the company, Northampton Community College, where he taught accounting, his family and the court system.

"I violated their trust, their love and their concern," he said of the company. "...I will always carry that with me."

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- A Penn State fraternity and 18 of its members are facing a number of charges, including involuntary manslaughter, in the death of a New Jersey teen who was killed during a pledging party in February.

The charges were announced during a Friday morning press conference held by Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller.

Timothy Piazza, 19, of Readington Township in Hunterdon County, died on Feb. 4. He had fallen on Feb. 2, and was left on a couch for nearly 12 hours before help was called. Piazza died after a fall at a party where he had been drinking heavily as part of a hazing, it was previously reported. Alpha Upsilon chapter house of Beta Theta Pi, where he was pledging, is supposed to be a dry fraternity.

Charges include furnishing alcohol to minors and hazing, with some members facing charges of aggravated assault and tampering with evidence.

A total of eight fraternity members are expected to be arraigned Friday on involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, hazing, furnishing alcohol to minors and unlawful acts relative to liquor. Six of the eight also face a charge of consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Some of the charges stem directly from the February party where Piazza fell. Other relate to incidents that happened during the fall 2016 and spring 2016 rushes.

A further 10 students face charges that include tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment, hazing and furnishing alcohol to minors.

The fraternity itself faces 50 counts of hazing and 48 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors. Arraignments are expected to continue into next week.

"This has been a very intense investigation," Parks Miller said, according to a report on PennLive.com, a sister website to NJ.com. "I am not sure we have charged as many people at one time in one case."

Details released from the investigation show Piazza was one of 14 pledges forced to run the gauntlet the night he fell, consisting of quickly drinking vodka, wine and beer at stations. The drinking was captured on the fraternity's video surveillance system, according to the report. A doctor would testify in the grand jury report that he estimated Piazza's blood alcohol level to be .36, a near fatal amount of alcohol.

After Piazza fell down a set of basement stairs, the surveillance video shows him being carried to a couch, where attempts are made to revive him, including slapping him and throwing an unknown liquid on him, according to the investigation. Piazza is also seen being held down because he was "thrashing" around, according to the report. Those at the house ignored the pleas of one member who said 9-1-1 should be called.

Piazza is seen on the video staggering around for hours, hitting his head several times. At times, people in the house find him on the floor, but do not call for help, according to the investigation. Eventually, Piazza staggers toward the same set of basement stairs and is later found there unconscious.

There was also evidence that after Piazza was found, attempts to cover up what happened were made before help was called. Some members tried to dress him, cleaned blood from his face and discussed destroying evidence, including the surveillance footage, according to the report.

James Piazza said on Friday his family has been devastated by the loss of their son.

"He was an amazing son, brother, boyfriend and friend," James Piazza said. "He wanted nothing more than to make people laugh."

James Piazza said his son's death was the result of an "entitlement, disobedience of the law and a disregard for moral values," adding the lack of efforts to get his son help in the hours after he fell were "egregious acts of self-preservation."

He went on to say his family hopes to be part of an effort to make meaningful and impactful changes to greek life at Penn State and across the nation. "No parent should have to go through this," James Piazza said. "This didn't have to happen."

James Piazza said Timothy "touched so many people" and those who knew him in his high school and college days say he was "the nicest person anyone ever met.

"We will never see him smile again, except for pictures. .. He just wanted to make people laugh and be a good friend."

He also thanked his extended family, friends and co-workers for their "incredible, and I mean incredible, show of support" over the past three months and in the months to come.

Eric J. Barron president of Penn State, in a press conference on Friday said excessive drinking and hazing within greek life is a problem both at the university and nationwide. He said if people are willing to hid what is happening at fraternities and sororities, there is no way for the university to know what is going on.

"We have two messages: Timothy will never come back and these young men now face serious crimes," Barron said.

Barron said he is willing to listen to the recommendations Parks Miller said she wants to make to the university to help prevent this from happening in the future.
The man listed in public documents as the manager and president of the Williams Township pharmacy that was searched Thursday by federal agents agreed in 2016 to pay more than $1 million to end a probe of a Hunterdon County business.

Both investigations are handled by the U.S. Office of the Inspector General.

Jon Paul Letko is owner and president of US Healthcare Supply LLC at 14 and 60 Bridge St. in Milford, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey said Sept. 7 in a news release. His brother Edward, who agreed to pay more than $6 million in the settlement with the federal government, is owner of Oxford Diabetic Supply Inc., a medical equipment supplier, the office said.

Together, their companies set up Diabetic Experts Inc. to "make unsolicited telephone calls to suspected Medicare beneficiaries in order to sell them durable medical equipment," the news release said.

Making unsolicited phone calls from a "fictitious entity" to Medicare recipients in order to sell them equipment violates the False Claims Act, the U.S. attorney's office said.

The brothers' companies submitted claims to Medicare for payment from equipment sold in the phone calls in violation of the Medicare Anti-Solicitation statute, the news release said.

"Cold-calling people to sell them expensive medical equipment is prohibited for a reason: Unsuspecting patients shouldn't be coerced into making medical decisions about devices and equipment -- which they may not even need -- on the basis of a sales pitch," then U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said in the news release.

US Healthcare Supply LLC agreed to pay more than $5 million in the settlement; The total settlement was $12.2 million.

The U.S. Attorney's office wouldn't confirm the Jon Paul Letko who runs US Heathcare is the same Jon Paul Letko who runs Keystone Choice. But corporate records for both companies list Jon Paul Letko along with the same address in Williams Township which, in Northampton County records, is in the name of another person with the same last name.

Attorneys who represented the brothers and their companies in the Milford case didn't return phone messages. Jon Paul Letko didn't return phone messages, as well. A person who answered the phone on Friday at US Healthcare Supply said Jon Paul Letko wasn't in.

Jon Paul Letko, on a portion of U.S. Healthcare Supply's website, explains his reason for launching the company:

"I started this company with a vision to help promote the benefits of healthy living. I feel a responsibility to do my part in educating the community about the many benefits of a healthy lifestyle. US Healthcare Supply promotes healthy living to our patients as well as our local community with events such as our Kids Fun Run."

The website said the company has served more than 100,000 customers. The company's goal is "to deliver diabetes testing supplies to patients in an easy and convenient fashion."

A U.S. attorney's office spokesman confirmed Thursday that agents from the inspector general's office -- which falls under the federal department of Health and Human Services -- were at the Williams Township pharmacy for a "legitimate law-enforcement purpose."

He wouldn't say if the investigation focused on the pharmacy itself at 430-40 Cedarville Road or someone using the pharmacy.

The False Claims Act was usually used against defense contractors after the law was revised in 1986, but as medical fraud became more of an issue the law was used more often in those cases as well, according to Pietragallo, Gordon, Alfano, Bosick and Raspanti LLP's False Claims Act Resource Center.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Tirpokcleanersfire.jpg

A 3-alarm fire broke out at Tirpok Cleaners in Flemington on Thursday, May 4, 2017 (Rich Maxwell | For NJ Advance Media)

UPDATE: 3-alarm fire destroys longtime dry cleaning business

FLEMINGTON-- Firefighters were battling a heavy fire at a pair of businesses on Reaville Avenue Thursday night, the president of Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad confirmed.

The blaze broke out around 7 p.m. A dry-cleaners and a liquor store are involved, and smoke from the blaze has affected the rescue squad headquarters nearby, said Attila Huebscher, the president of the squad.

BREAKIG PHOTOS: 2nd Alarm fire tears thru a dry cleaners and liquor store in Flemington, NJ. Credit: Sean Swider pic.twitter.com/HW89EWVihJ  N. Jerzy Fire Alert (@NJerzyFireAlert) May 4, 2017

In addition to Flemington-Raritan, ambulances from Clinton Township and other communities have also responded, Huebscher also said, although there did not appear to be any injuries as of about 8 p.m.

Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A Montgomery County business is recalling about 5,620 pounds of boneless veal and ground veal, beef and pork products that may be contaminated with a potentially deadly strain of E. coli bacteria.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service on Thursday announced the recall by Souderton, Pennsylvania-based Marcho Farms Inc.

The products may be adulterated with non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), the federal food safety officials said.

Like E. coli O157:H7, non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps between two and eight days (three to four days, on average) after exposure to the organism.

Most people recover within a week, but some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. This condition can occur at any age but is most common in children under 5 years old and in older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor and decreased urine output. Anyone who experiences these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreaks are rare but tend to primarily be due to contaminated food and person-to-person transmission, according to the USDA service.

The problem was discovered when the Illinois State Meat Inspection Service notified the Food Safety and Inspection Service on Tuesday, about positive non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) samples made with source material produced by Marcho Farms.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers.

These items were distributed to retail stores and food service locations in Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Produced on April 11 and April 14, 2017, the following veal, beef and pork products are subject to recall:

60-lb.cases of "VEAL BONELESS TRIMMINGS HALAL" with case code "5398" and "MANFU. DATE" of "04/11/2017."

60-lb. cases of "VEAL TRIMMINGS USDA CHOICE" with case code "98" and "MANFU. DATE" of "04/11/17."

9-lb. cases of "VEAL, BEEF, PORK GROUND FOR MEATLOAF" with case code "3122" and "Sell By" date "05/05/17."

10-lb. cases of "VEAL, BEEF, PORK GROUND FOR MEATLOAF BULK PACK" with case code "3125."

The USDA advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature.

These are the minimum internal temperatures in other meats for killing harmful bacteria:

Fish: 145 degrees F.

Beef, pork, lamb chops/steaks/roasts: 145 degrees F with a three-minute rest time.

Ground meat: 160 degrees F.

Poultry: 165 degrees F.

Hot dogs: 160 degrees F or steaming hot.

Editor's note: This article was changed from its original version to correct the county in which Souderton, Pa., is located.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Northampton County Human Resources Director Amy Trapp said staff development spending for county workers last year was justified.

And a county councilman said the criticism against the HR director was politically motivated.

At Thursday's County Council meeting, Trapp responded to County Controller Stephen Barron's April memo that criticized the administration for spending nearly $57,000 in 2016 for staff development, which was ten times higher than was spent in 2015 for the same purpose.

The county sent two employees to the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas from Oct. 12-14, 2016. The cost for airfare, conference fees and the hotel was $2,434. That figure does not include meals.

The county sent a single employee to New Orleans from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, 2016. The airfare and hotel cost $1,298. That figure doesn't include conference fees or meals.

Trapp said the Las Vegas trip was for a training conference for the county's online job recruitment system. The deputy director and the person who operates the system had never been properly trained to operate the computer program, she said.

The deputy director went to New Orleans for a national conference dealing with workers' compensation. Past practice was to rely on a third party to handle workers' compensation claims, Trapp said.

The county employs 2,200 people. The cost for added management and employee training, which she has encouraged, has more than paid for itself and has had a significant return on investment, Trapp said.

"The focus on training, the focus on support really makes a difference in the area on whether or not an employee feels they are treated equitably," Trapp said

In 2015, the county paid out $1.4 million in workers' compensation claims. That number was reduced in 2016 to $595,000, she said.

"I feel that's a significant impact and a really good thing for our county," Trapp said .

Some of the spending last year went toward crisis prevention training for Gracedale nursing home workers, Trapp said.

"I know the spend has increased," Trapp said, "but this is not a bucket for HR. This is training is for the county."

County Councilman Mathew Benol said Barron should have sat down with the HR department and discussed how the money was spent before sending a memo out with accusations of abuse and overspending.

Benol said the memo was retaliation after Trapp restricted Barron's access to parts of the county database after he revealed an ex-employee's social security number to a news crew.

"This is nothing more than a political hit piece," Benol said.

Benol accused Barron of making several code violations in the past and he said Barron was "nothing more than a corrupt officer."

"I am of the opinion that the controller's office be defunded," Benol said.

Barron said he has no regrets about raising the issue of increased spending on staff development training.

"I am not afraid to shine light on a Democrat or a Republican," Barron said.

As for Benol's comments, Barron said all of his dirty laundry is in the open and the voters have elected him three times.

Barron said simply sitting down with the HR department is not as easy as Benol makes it out to be.

"Getting a response from the administration is quite difficult," Barron said.

Barron is a Democrat. Benol and county Executive John Brown are Republicans.

John Best is a freelance writer. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.
Two California truckers have admitted hauling huge, even historic amounts of drugs into New Jersey.

The pair were among three large busts last August at the Interstate 78 weigh station in Warren County. One, according to state police, was the largest cold-stop heroin seizure ever in the U.S.

Both 40-year-old Henry A. Cruz Ventura, of Los Angeles, and 59-year-old Oscar Franco, of Chula Vista, had hearings Friday in state Superior Court in Belvidere, the state attorney general's office announced.

Oscar Franco, left, and Henry A. Cruz Ventura

Franco was sentenced to 10 years in state prison with three years parole ineligibility. He pleaded guilty March 2 to first-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute; he was caught with 36 kilograms of the drug on Aug. 14, which authorities at the time estimated was worth $2.8 million.

The attorney general's office on Friday estimated that amount of heroin could have sold for more than $10 million once cut, packaged and sold on the street.

"As a major transporter of heroin, Franco not only was driving addiction in New Jersey, he also was fueling the gun violence that accompanies street-level drug dealing," said Elie Honig, director of the state Division of Criminal Justice, in a news release.

In the other case -- the one state police say was an historic drug bust -- Ventura on Friday pleaded guilty to first-degree possession of heroin with intent to distribute. He was arrested Aug. 23 after state police uncovered 64 kilograms of heroin and 10 kilograms of cocaine worth $6.7 million.

James "Bucky" Agens was named the New Jersey State Police Trooper of the Year for his role in that and a separate drug bust.

"Thanks to the vigilance of Trooper Agens, this deadly cargo never reached the streets of our communities, and undoubtedly lives were saved that would have been lost to overdoses," Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said in the news release. "This plea keeps Ventura in prison where he belongs."

Under the plea, the state will recommend Ventura also be sentenced to 10 years in state prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 23.

Days before the arrests of Ventura and Franco, troopers at the I-78 weigh station booked another California trucker -- Eric T. Shan, 53, of Baldwin Park -- for allegedly transporting more than $300,000 worth of marijuana. Shan was indicted in Warren County last month.

Did you know that one of the largest heroin busts in U.S. history happened right here in New Jersey? This is just one of... Posted by New Jersey State Police on Friday, May 5, 2017

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
(File photo/Chinanews.com)

(ECNS) -- Buyers in Shanghai who hope to secure a commodity apartment in the city's new commercial housing projects will be decided by a lucky draw organized by a notary office, according to a new rule to further cool the real estate market.

The rule, issued by the city's housing and urban-rural development administration late Thursday, also require implementation of a real-name registration mechanism. Payments should be made by home buyers in accordance with stipulated prices, and no extra fees are allowed to be charged under any cover, it added.

Developers, sales agents, brokerage firms and administrative staff members are forbidden from scalping housing purchase permits.

Developers violating the rules will receive punishments, including suspension of their qualifications for signing contracts online, having their developing qualifications downgraded or revoked, being placed on a blacklist, and being brought to justice.

The administration will also regulate the real estate brokerage market.

The city will further improve supervision measures in market access, industry norms, and business activities, and set up a self-discipline mechanism covering all companies, outlets and employees that will integrate with social organizations and industry associations.

By the end of April, Shanghai authorities had revoked or canceled 1,500 real estate broker business licenses and qualifications for signing online contracts. Another 156 suspected of violating rules had their qualifications to sign contracts online suspended, of which 40 were being investigated for signing false ones.
Three separate women appeared before last weeks district court charged with bringing items including phones and drugs into the Midlands Prison.

First to come before Judge Catherine Staines was Eileen Callinan (18), John Paul Avenue, Cloughleigh, Ennis.

Inspector Aidan Farrelly gave evidence that on April 14 last, the accused was searched at the Midlands Prison and found hidden on her was a SIM card and fob for a phone, as well as 9g of cannabis herb valued at 180.

She had no previous convictions and made full admissions to the gardai.

Defence, Ms Josephine Fitzpatrick said the accused had been visiting her boyfriend in prison. She had been contacted by an individual and told to bring the package in, and while she knew the package contained something illegal she didnt know what, said defence.

Defence went on to say that the accused was not a drug user herself.

Judge Staines put the matter back to July 6 for a probation report.

In an unrelated case, Detective Garda Derek Barnett gave evidence that on March 10, Iris Tate, Tipperary, was searched at the Midlands Prison and found to be concealing a mobile phone, SIM card and charger.

She made admissions that she had been bringing the items into her son.

Defence, Mr Philip Meagher said that the phone had been for personal use for her son to contact family members.

Mr Meagher said that the inmate had asked his mother to bring in the phone so he could contact his partner.

The accused was convicted and fined 100.

And also charged was Brenda Crystal, with an address in Dublin.

On January 16 this year, she was detected at the Midlands Prison trying to bring in 201 white tablets.

She had no previous convictions.

Defence, Ms Louise Troy said her client was a mother of three and a grandmother of four. She had been visiting her son in prison and was approached by someone who pressurised her into bringing the items with her.

Ms Troy said the accused is now barred from visiting her son.

The accused was convicted and fined 100.
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Portlaoise Parish Priest Msgr John Byrne is encouraging the community to welcome their new Muslim neighbours, assuring them that there is nothing to fear.

Islam is a religion of peace. Scare headlines can engender fear. There is nothing more fearful than the unknown. When we get to know people on a human level, we realise there is nothing to fear, he said.

Earlier this month he formally welcomed the new Imam in Portlaoise, Sheikh Ahmed Halawa who arrived to Rahman House to lead the local Islamic community last February.

They both shared a moment of reflection and silence to mark the recent chemical attacks in Syria, and the deaths of innocent children and adults.

Sheikh Ahmed thanked Msgr Byrne for positive integration and inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers and Muslims in general, and for his continued support of all communities in Portlaoise.

Msgr Byrne said it was very important that they made contact.

We reached out in a spirit of welcome. Its very important that we reach out to new members of our community, particularly those from abroad, the 13 Syrian families housed here, and the general Muslim population, he said.

It is important that we develop cordial relations. There is nothing like meeting with each other, face to face, we are all human beings, Msgr Byrne told the Leinster Express.

He acknowledges that some people feel fear about the growing Muslim community.

The Muslim community feel under pressure I am sure where fundamentalist terrorists commit atrocities. Its a bit like the IRA, it was easy for Irish people to be labelled terrorists. Islam is a religion of peace fundamentally. The only way to counteract fear or isolation, is to ensure integration he said.

The Portlaoise parish has shown a welcome to the 13 Syrian refugee families, a total of 54 men, women and children, who arrived to Portlaoise in 2015. The parish also gives support to residents in the Montague Direct Provision Centre who are awaiting refugee status, some for many years, as well as the general Muslim community.

We have well established ties, particularly with the Syrian families, the parish centre is a place where they meet, Msgr Byrne said.

Those families have met many challenges he said.

They have challenges around the language and the culture, but they are settling in well, particularly the children who are in school. It is powerful to see those children grow and play as children should, not in a wartorn situation, Msgr Byrne said.

The religious leaders met at the April monthly meeting of Laois Integration Network in the parish centre.

LIN was formed to promote cultural diversity, integration and social inclusion of various Laois groups.
Management at Irish Rail visited the Laois County Council's April meeting to announce radical staff changes, but was warned it could turn off customers.

Irish Rail intends to remove staff from smaller stations, instead putting them on trains with handheld devices to process tickets and help passengers.

It is in talks with staff, and expects the changes to be phased in over two years.

There is a greater need for a person on board trains, some trains are driver only. Customers are using more technology, 82 percent are buying tickets online and only 18 percent in the station ticket office, said Noreen Clohessy, District Manager.

Jim Gallavan, IR business development manager said new Customer Services Operators are being recruited.

They will get high class training, and will have a can-do attitude, he said.

Laois councillors warned them that not all customers can use technology.

Why would you even consider introducing machines to replace what is working for you? An awful lot of people do not use smartphones. You should be slow in implementing this, youll lose customers if you move swiftly, Cllr Jerry Lodge told them.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said she herself was unable to buy a ticket online.

I hope I never see a stage where nobody is working at a station, like it is in banks, where youre dealing with a machine she said.

Portlaoise Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald complained about ticket prices.

Weve been ignored by Irish Rail. Were a commuter town, but were not getting the same rates as others. All the offers are never available before 11am. The average fare to Dublin is 32, its very expensive, and people are left standing beside reserved empty seats, she said.

Look at your affordability. It is 50 to Galway. What person in their right mind would pay it, youd take your car, said Cllr Dwane Stanley.

Councillors got no reply on their queries of potential job losses in Irish Rail.

Cllr Noel Tuohy, a former trade union official, said the words deployment and re-assessment worried him.

I hope no jobs are lost, he said.

It sounds like a lot more jobs, yet my colleagues are concerned theres a reduction. Is there a nett gain in jobs? asked Cllr John Joe Fennelly, to no specific reply.

At the moment there is no talk of anyone moving out of Portlaoise. In some stations you might have two trains a day, and ask why a person is paid for eight hours for that, they are better on a train helping customers. Were not going to close any branches, Mr Gallavan said.

Cllr James Kelly asked for overgrown ditches beside railway bridges to be trimmed, for safety of walkers, but the reply from Mr Gallavan was that whatever budget was left after maintaining rail lines, was spent on smaller stations. Its the same pot for roads, the Irish Rail manager said.
Laois TD and Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan declined say what way Ireland voted in the election of Saudi Arabia to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

He told TDs that it is against policy and would be 'very damaging' to Ireland internationally reveal the Irish public what way the Irish Government votes on their behalf in such votes.

"We do not publicly disclose our voting decisions. That is normal diplomatic practice and it is widely considered a fundamental aspect of the conduct of sensitive international relations.

"It would be very damaging to Irelands ability to conduct international relations successfully if we were unilaterally to move away from this established practice. It would be irresponsible to abandon a practice that has been in place for over six decades, observed by all previous governments and that is grounded on protecting and promoting the values of small countries on the world stage," said the Fine Gael TD.

Here is Minister Flanagans speech in response in the Dail during a debate entitled: To discuss whether Ireland voted on granting Saudi Arabia a seat on the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

"I am very conscious of the debate here in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe about the outcome of last months election to the UN Commission on the Status of Women. I believe strongly in the equal rights of women and I support the role of the Commission in addressing questions of gender equality.

As set out in our foreign policy review, The Global Island, Ireland is committed to advancing gender equality. We played a key role in the establishment of UN Women, the UN body which promotes gender equality and which provides administrative support for the Commission on the Status of Women.

Ireland took up a seat on the Commission at the conclusion of this years session for a four-year period to 2021 and we will chair the annual sessions in 2018 and 2019. During its term on the Commission, Ireland has pledged to work to strengthen the voice and functioning of the Commission.

In 2018 the Commission, under our leadership, will attach particular priority to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls. In 2019 our priority will be to advance equality of access to public services.

I want to secure agreement on these critical issues under our Chairmanship. To do this we will have to work closely with all UN member states and civil society to deliver the strongest possible outcome.

I would also point out that Ireland has strongly supported equal opportunity across the UN. In this regard, the Government was very pleased that a member of the Defence Forces Lieutenant Colonel Mary Carroll was last year appointed the first Irish woman in command of an Irish contingent in the UN Disengagement Force in the Golan Heights.

With respect to UN elections, Irelands approach very much reflects those of other countries at the UN and it is an important part of how international relations are conducted.

Since 1947, at the UN, the rules of procedure for General Assembly elections provide that they are held by secret ballot.

We do not publicly disclose our voting decisions. That is normal diplomatic practice and it is widely considered a fundamental aspect of the conduct of sensitive international relations.

It would be very damaging to Irelands ability to conduct international relations successfully if we were unilaterally to move away from this established practice. It would be irresponsible to abandon a practice that has been in place for over six decades, observed by all previous governments and that is grounded on protecting and promoting the values of small countries on the world stage.

This is not a practice that is specific to Ireland or to elections for the Commission on the Status of Women. It relates to elections to any UN body and I am not aware of any Member State which, as a matter of practice, publicly reveals how it votes. It allows for the good functioning of the UN which is made up of Member States of very different views and political backgrounds.

There are many countries in the world with which we have important policy differences, including in the area of human rights. The UN provides us with an important forum to discuss these differences. Our membership and leadership of the Commission on Women will provide us with such an opportunity. We will take that opportunity.

Irelands engagement on human rights at international level enables us to reaffirm our commitment to the universality, indivisibility and interrelatedness of all human rights, to accountability for human rights violations and abuses, and to the protection of those  including women and girls - who are most vulnerable and marginalised."

"The UN at all levels including the Security Council and the offices of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Undersecretary for Peacekeeping Operations, conducts its most sensitive work in complete confidentiality. As I have said, this is fundamental to the effective operation of an institution which we uphold and support. Indeed, it is fundamental to the operation of relations between States. Ireland does not propose to turn on its head a convention that has been in place since 1947.

I want to again acknowledge the very strong support there is in this House for gender equality and the protection of womens rights which lies at the root of the discussion we are having.

Ireland has a very strong record on promoting the rights of women and girls at the United Nations. We are a leading voice in this field and, as I mentioned earlier, we will be chairing the Commission on the Status of Women during the next two years.

The outcomes of the Commission carry considerable moral force. Reaching consensus on subjects related to gender equality empowers advocates for the human rights of women and girls globally. This gives them a voice and a tool to hold Governments to account nationally on commitments made globally. In this way, the Commission has an important normative role in achieving gender equality globally.

As I stated earlier, Ireland will take the opportunity to move the gender equality agenda forward during our term on the Commission. There are many countries with which we have important policy differences on human rights.

Membership of the UN provides us with an important platform to engage with them. Membership of the Commission on the Status of Women will give us a particularly good opportunity to engage on issues of gender equality.

As she prepares to assume her role as chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, I am happy to ask our incoming Ambassador to the UN in New York, Geraldine Byrne Nason, to engage with the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs regarding Irelands ongoing work at the UN in promoting the rights of women and girls."
Laois business and homeowners pay Ireland's lowest level of rates and property tax to fund public services but this is now a 'serious' issue for the Laois County Council, its chief executive has warned.

Mr John Mulholland made the comment to the Leinster Express in a reply to a survey from ISME that commercial rates levied by Laois and other county councils are hurting business and causing some to close.

Mr Mulholland said Laois County Council understands that the survey may have been triggered by the ongoing rates evaluation process taking place in many counties. This has caused controversy in other counties leading to a big hike in rates.

"While no such evaluation has to date taken place in Laois, the Council agrees that the commercial rates system, in place for so many years, needs to be reviewed in the light of current business practices and viability," he said.

Mr Mulholland said the ISME survey results produce some headlines as a consequence of rates revaluation. He said Laois is at the bottom of the list when it comes to revenue from commercial rates and households.

"It must be noted that there was no increase in commercial rates in County Laois over an eight year period to 2016 and that a discount scheme (4%) currently applies to roughly 1,400 of 1,690 rate payers who discharge their rates payment on time.

"The yield from commercial rates in Co Laois amounts to 12.8 million per annum and when combined with receipts from Local Property Tax amounts to the lowest income by far per head of population in the State. This remains a very serious consideration for Laois County Council and particularly so in providing services in a county that has experienced the greatest percentage increase in population on the island of Ireland over the period 2006 to 2016," said Mr Mulholland.

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Pictured John Mulholland, Laois County Council Chief Executive

ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, published the results of its recent 'Local Authority Commercial Rates Survey' this week.

The survey posed seven questions focusing on size, local authority, current rates payment, proposed rates payment, appeals and finally looking at an alternative rates evaluation system. The main findings show the high level of concern SMEs have towards the current rates evaluation process. The Association is calling on the Government and Local Authorities to deal with this issue as a matter of urgency.

ISME CEO Neil McDonnell said small business is worst hit.

"Today's results demonstrate the need to reform how local authority rates are applied. Rates disproportionately affect small and medium enterprises as, unlike other taxes, they must be paid whether the business is profitable or not".

"Commercial rates are hurting many small businesses across the country, forcing some to let staff go, and in some cases, forcing business closure. We urge those in a position of influence to address this situation. We would like to see a more equitable system introduced. In one question posed to respondents, ISME asked if rate payers would consider a Rateable Valuation that was partly composed of business profitability. 68% of respondents said they would accept such a system," he said.

Mr McDonnell said businesses understand the need to pay local authority rates to help fund local services, but most of these now attract utility charges.

"Small business can't be asked to pick up the tab just because politicians have baulked at the water charges issue, or because big rate payers like the ESB have secured large reductions in Rateable Valuation. It's time to fundamentally reassess how we charge sensible commercial rates," he said.
The ending of weekly masses in small Laois parishes are among the big changes on the way for Catholics in Laois in the wake of a Bishop's warning about the crisis in priest numbers.

Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty issued a stark appraisal to Parishioners this weekend in conjunction with Vocations Sunday. He oversees a dioceses which is among the most populated outside the cities. The diocese is made up of 56 parishes in counties: Laois, Kildare, Carlow, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow. Just 90 priests are left in the diocese.

Bishop Nulty warns of a "new reality" will see fewer priests in the not too distant future.

"At the moment, there are 90 priests ministering in our diocese, 27 of them are over 75. This stark figure points to the clear realisation that unless there is a radical reappraisal of what a parish community should be, how it should be organised, co ordinated, funded and ministered, there can be no real progress. There will be changes for priests in trying to find new ways of serving their people and being with them.

In light of the number of priests in active ministry in individual parishes, and particularly those over 75, he said a number of questions need to be "urgently addressed".

Proposals include:

More priests from abroad.

Priests delegating to a team.

Revision of Mass times, funeral times, wedding and baptism times.

Viability weekly Mass questioned.

Lay leadership and chaplaincy.

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Pictured map of the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin

He raised the questions while being encouraged by Census 2016, which suggest that 78% of the Irish population see themselves as Roman Catholic.

"This is at a time when priests, religious congregations and committed people of faith find their deeply held beliefs under daily attack. I believe all of us who love our diocese and parish must realise the work that remains to be done to reach out to the 78%, and beyond that percentage," he said.

In order to plan for the future, a series of meetings will take place in deaneries and in the diocese over the coming weeks and months.

There will a meeting of all the priests in the three deanery areas during May, leading to a meeting in Mount St. Annes, Killenard, Co Laois on June 20th for priests, involved lay people from each parish, permanent deacons and religious.

There will be further meetings of priests and lay people in each deanery area into the Autumn, to which all parishioners will be invited.

See below letter to all parishioners

To the People and Priests of Kildare & Leighlin,

Since becoming Bishop in 2013, now close to four years ago, I had my first opportunity to attend an Ad Limina Apostolorum visit last January. This visit occurs every five or six years when each Bishop is required to present a report on his diocese to the Pope.

The preparation for my visit to Rome in January involved composing a narrative and compiling statistics about the diocese. Understandably such a Report can be challenging as the average age of those in ordained ministry continues to rise and the demands on lay people and priests who care deeply about their parish, incrementally increase.

Equally the report tells me as Bishop, that the diocese continues as it has in the past to be a place where so many people feel a real involvement and engagement in the Churchs mission.

In reflecting upon the call of Christ on this Good Shepherd Sunday, we continue to pray that those He is inviting to the priesthood and religious life will open their hearts to respond in a generous way to that invitation. However, we must also reflect on the broader aspect of vocation and ponder the call that is issued to each one of us in baptism. How we live this call, as I said in my recent Chrism Mass homily is the work of today, the mandate of the present, the mission of now.

As our country continues to change, new opportunities arise for us all to offer the Gospel as the anchor and source of holiness, community and celebration. From my visits to every parish in the diocese over the past four years, it is obvious that the people of the diocese of Kildare & Leighlin have a great commitment to living their faith by proclaiming gospel

values.

As your Bishop, I find this very humbling. This is evident in every aspect of the mosaic of diocesan life from ordained to lay ministry, from catechetics to education, from liturgy to youth ministry, in choirs, school boards, finance committees, to mention but a few.

The level of volunteerism in so many aspects of parish life continues to be staggering. I deeply appreciate all your work, time and energy ministering in the name of Christ, in reaching out to those on the edge of the parish and often to those who do not walk with us.

I am, on this Vocations Sunday, inviting all people, priests, permanent deacons and religious to walk with me as their Bishop, as we together face the task of initiating a new phase of discussion for the emerging situation in our diocese.

This new reality will see fewer priests in the not too distant future.

At the moment, there are 90 priests ministering in our diocese, 27 of them are over 75. This stark figure points to the clear realization that unless there is a radical reappraisal of what a parish community should be, how it should be organised, co ordinated, funded and ministered, there can be no real progress.

There will be changes for priests in trying to find new ways of serving their people and being with them. In light of the number of priests in active ministry in individual parishes, and particularly those over 75, the following questions need to be urgently addressed:

Is it time to welcome more priests from abroad and work with them to make sure they are fully

integrated and welcomed into the life of the diocese?

Ought there be more concern with mission than with maintenance, with priests being willing to delegate more so that there is a greater importance given to a team and not an individual leading our parish communities?

There will be changes for lay people who, for example, are perhaps used to having a Mass at a certain time and place. A revision of Mass times, funeral times, wedding and baptism times are obvious issues in our diocese, as is the ongoing viability of some churches in lesser populated areas continuing to have weekly Mass.

Is it time to consider lay leadership and chaplaincy in some of our parishes, schools, hospitals and prisons and how can this be achieved?

I draw great encouragement from the recent preliminary returns from Census 2016, which suggest that 78% of the Irish population see themselves as Roman Catholic. This is at a time when priests, religious congregations and committed people of faith find their deeply held beliefs under daily attack.

I believe all of us who love our diocese and parish must realise the work that remains to be done to reach out to the 78%, and beyond that percentage.

In the gospel on this Vocations Sunday the word voice appears three times; it is the voice of the Shepherd. In facing the changes and challenges together I need to hear your voice. St. John Paul II reminds us that every Christian, by virtue of baptism, is called to be a good shepherd in the environment in which they live.

I pray that all of you will hear the good shepherds voice calling you into the realisation that every baptized person must be encouraged and enabled to play their part in this process. Parish communities must continue to pray to the Lord of the Harvest to bless His people with priestly and religious vocations who will encourage, enable, and empower all the people to fulfil their baptismal calling to bring Christ to the world.

In order to plan for the future, a series of meetings will take place in deaneries and in the diocese over the coming weeks and months.

There will a meeting of all the priests in the three deanery areas during May, leading to a meeting in Mount St. Annes on June 20th for priests, involved lay people from each parish, permanent deacons and religious. There will be further

meetings of priests and lay people in each deanery area into the Autumn, to which all of you are invited.

These meetings will include discussing topics such as:

 What people want from their Church, their parish, their diocese in 2017

 Appointment of priests

 Outreach to families

 Chaplaincy in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, prisons etc.

 Outreach to minorities and those on the margins

 Permanent Diaconate

 Parish and diocesan resources

Together may we face these changes and challenges and may the Holy Spirit guide all of us

as we embark on this journey together.

Blessings and good wishes,

____________

Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin, May 7
A group of Chinese Scientists have successfully designed a multifunctional catalyst that can convert CO2 into liquid fuels, putting us one step closer to developing clean energy.

According to the research paper published in Nature Communications, a world-renowned scientific journal, on May 2, the highly efficient, stable, and multifunctional NaFe3O4/HZSM-5 catalyst can directly convert CO2 to gasoline-range (C5C11) hydrocarbons. It has exhibited a remarkable stability for 1,000 h on stream, and is believed to be a promising industrial catalyst for CO2 utilization to liquid fuels.

This is the first report on highly selective synthesis of gasoline from direct CO2 hydrogen," Sunjian, a research fellow at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told ScienceNet.com. "Our catalyst can promote the mass production of gasoline, which can meet the national standard of environmental protection."

According to the research group, the burning of fossil fuels gives rise to huge amounts of CO2 emissions, which brings about adverse climate changes. Converting CO2 from a harmful greenhouse gas into value-added chemicals and fuels not only helps reduce CO2 emissions, but also provides valuable fuels. This enhances energy security in light of the depletion of fossil fuels and the strong fluctuation of oil prices.
This is the fifth and final part of an interview which took place during the Partys Spring Conference in York. Events have somewhat overtaken it, as you will realise when you get to the end The first part of the interview can be found here, the second part here, the third here and the fourth here.

As Im sat opposite a prominent Scottish Lib Dem, I must ask you about the recent call by the SNP for a second Scottish independence referendum. What are your views on independence for Scotland and is Theresa May right to refuse to hold another referendum?

Scottish independence is not in the interest of Scotland, nor is it in the interest of the rest of the UK. From an economic perspective, the case for independence stacks up far less than it did in 2014, and it didnt even stack up then. Just look at the way the oil price has declined. The concept of their previous suggestion was that what was on offer was being an independent country within the EU with our biggest trading partner also being within the EU, and therefore still being in a single market with the UK. Now the suggestion is that we leave the single market with our biggest trading partner. On so many levels, the economic case is now far worse. I think it also begs the question of whether you are in the business of creating division or being more open. There are people who support Scottish independence and really do believe that its the right way forward. They are entitled to that view. I grew up in Scotland, my dads originally a Londoner, I studied at a London university, my sister married an Englishman and lived for a few years in Manchester but is now back in Glasgow. Just in the microcosm of my family, the cross UK links are really clear and thats multiplied time after time across Scotland and the rest of the UK. On an emotional level, why separate? We would need a good reason to do that. Emotionally, I feel British and Scottish. I dont want to have to divide those parts of my identity. As I say, I appreciate some other people will feel very differently about it. My view on whether Scottish independence is the right thing or not is, if anything, more emphatic now than it was at the 2014 referendum, where I campaigned vigorously against it. At 67 percent, my constituency had one of the highest no votes in the country. I believe it was the highest turnout ever in an election. 91 percent of people from East Dunbartonshire voted in the referendum. It was wrong in 2014, and it still wrong now. It doesnt even make sense to have another referendum on independence. Its only been three years since the last one which, lets remember, was a once in a generation event. And to hold one while we will be in the middle of a turmoil in terms of the UK, from both a Scottish business perspective and for the people in Scotland to make a clear choice, I do not think it is sensible. I disagree with Theresa May on a huge number of things, but she said now is not the time, and I agree that now is not the time for another referendum in Scotland. There is no suggestion that the people of Scotland even want another referendum. Support for a second referendum right now is even lower than the percentage of people who actually want independence, which suggests that its a political ploy by the SNP and its one that was predicted. Its not surprising as my colleagues in Scotland have known that Nicola Sturgeon was about to make this case, and shes deliberately made a suggestion which she knows Theresa May cannot agree to because the time scale she suggested is so obviously not feasible. Theresa Mays response was entirely what the SNP were expecting, but in her speech to the Scottish National Party Conference Nicola Sturgeon gets to announce that there will be another independence referendum, and she obviously received a standing ovation. Lets remember that her membership are chomping at the bit for another referendum, so its working to their political narrative.

Im sure you, and every other prominent Lib Dem in the country, have been asked many times for your views on Trump and Brexit. And, if I can be bold enough to say, most of your colleagues broadly say the same thing when asked about the two. So I want to throw a curve ball at you and ask you about, perhaps, more brighter pastures. What are your thoughts on the remarkable rise of Justin Trudeau and the Liberals in Canada? What message does this send out to Liberals, both with a large and a small L, in this country and around the world?

Who hasnt wished they were Canadian! He has been brilliant on many different issues in his remarks and, of course, for a very long time in Canada the Liberals were out of it. It reminds us that when things feel really bleak, things do actually change in politics. There is an understandable feeling of danger. The world feels more volatile and dangerous, particularly with the election of Trump, than it has for a long time, but its not inevitable that we will follow down this path. Total doom and gloom is not the only way to see this situation. Just look at the number of new members who have joined our party. I was chatting to one fabulous woman earlier today. Wendy Chamberlain joined us after the election result in 2015. I remember her speech at the Scottish Conference. She said that she had always been a Lib Dem supporter, but she had suddenly realised that we needed more than just her vote. There were, and still are, many people with that view  some have been long term Lib Dems and some have come to us from other parties, including both Labour and Conservative. Brexit and the aftermath, in particular, have led them to search for some kind of rational and sensible response that will actually defend liberal values. People might not have felt they were very exercised before because its very easy in a society that is generally liberal to take it for granted and forget that these are hard fought for things. The new members coupled with that energy is something thats a cause for real optimism. Look at different countries around the world, think the recent Netherlands election, and its not a default that the populists will always win. In fact, Clinton got more votes than Trump. In different countries around the world, liberals are fighting back. Its important that this happens because otherwise we will end up with a very hostile, protectionist and inward facing world, and we will lose the benefits of an internationalist approach.

So you see Justin Trudeau as a shining light?

Justin Trudeau is really inspiring and its great. In her own way, I find Angela Merkel incredibly inspiring too. The very strong comments she made about refugees and the way in which she responded to the election of Trump was a big positive for me. There are people around the world who show a different way of doing it. We shouldnt lose heart.

As you are no doubt aware, we are at the Lib Dem Conference in York. What are you involved in here?

I spoke in a debate earlier today about the situation in Scotland and how that plays into the wider Brexit negotiations and the danger of nationalism. Its important that people south of the border recognise that what is happening north of the border is nationalism and has the negative things that go along with that. I am speaking at an event this evening about social justice in a time of deficits. I had a meeting at lunchtime on how to make sure we get a more representative parliamentary party. Ive been catching up with friends and colleagues too. We have a real opportunity in 2020. I like to look for silver linings and one is that by losing so many of our MPs at the last election, next time round we will, hopefully, have many new ones. Therefore, we need to make sure that the incumbency problem is gone. We also need to ensure that we take the opportunity to stop being an all-white parliamentary party in the Commons and, although its great we now have Sarah Olney there, one out of nine women in the House is clearly not good enough. In 2020, we have a real opportunity to elect a gender balanced and ethnically diverse team.

Do you have any ambitions to return to frontline politics?

I was in politics for a decade. In that time, I learned to never say never.

You were part of a national Lib Dem cull at the last election. What are you up to these days?

I run my own consulting business, Equal Power Consulting. The businesss primary aim is to help organisations to reap the benefits of workplace diversity and achieve the change thats needed in order to do so.

I am also writing a book called Equal Power. Equal Power is about the inequality of power in society and between men and women, and what we can all do about it. I am nearing the end of the first draft, which will be published in January or very early February next year. Those two things take up most of my time, but I also chair a charity called Maternity Action, which campaigns for the rights of pregnant women and new parents while also providing advice and support through the telephone.

* Rob May is a Political History PhD student and Lib Dem activist.
The Liberal Democrats have selected award-winning senior councillor Jo Roundell-Greene for Yeovil.

From Somerset Live:

Paddy Ashdown, Chairman of Yeovil Liberal Democrats said: David Laws and I are delighted that the flame passes to Jo Roundell Greene who has been an exceptional councillor and champion for our area.

I know that she will be a brilliant hardworking and effective Liberal Democrat MP who will fight for all, especially the most vulnerable in our communities.

Jo Roundell Greene was named amongst the best councillors in the country at the Local Government Awards in 2016. She is a wife, mother and grandmother, and has worked in a chicken factory, as a bricklayer, and as a cleaner.
Its that time on the day after an election where you know its not long until you can go to sleep. Your feet ache. Your eyelids feel like they are about to slam shut any second and theres nothing you can do about it. When Ive finished writing this, Im going to have a glass of wine, something to eat and go to bed.

We would have liked Rallings and Thrashers predication of gains to be right. After all these years of traumatic election nights during the Coalition years, we just wanted to catch a break. We didnt want to be losing people. For every one of the seats that we lost, a team has been working its backside off for months and has seen its dreams shattered. The number weve lost is relatively small, certainly compared to previous years, but every one is painful. It equally hurts when you come close to making a gain but dont pull it off. Spare a thought for poor Daniel Coleman who lost out in the Strathmartine ward in Dundee by just 9 votes. Behind every result is a long series of nights door-knocking in the freezing cold, of weekends given up to leafletting, of all your free time being taken up with casework.

Now, though, there is a lot of good news. We have had some great results that bode well for our short term objective of a decent performance in the General Election. On the basis of todays results, at least 6 seats in Scotland are most definitely in play  and then you look at places south of the border like St Albans, Lewes, Eastbourne, Eastleigh, Bath, Cheltenham. There is direct, recent evidence that we are the main challengers in these seats. In Edinburgh West, North East Fife, Argyll and Bute, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Ross Skye and Lochaber and East Dunbartonshire, we can confidently say that we are the main challengers to the SNP.

One of the advantages, if you can call it that, is that Theresa May cant pretend any more that there is the slightest possibility of Jeremy Corbyn hanging pictures of Che Guevara all over Number 10. We all know she is going to be the PM on 9th June. We just need to make sure that Parliament has the chance to exercise its authority and stop her from doing things that are clearly not in the national interest like drag us out of the single market. There needs to be some sort of safety mechanism that can get out out of their hard brexit once it becomes obvious what a disaster it is going to be. The people must be allowed to vote on the deal and remain if they so wish.

A national vote share of 18% is not to be sneezed at, either. If that is our base at the beginning of the campaign, and we go up during it, we could do pretty well  as long as we discipline ourselves on the targeting front.

The best thing our 101,000 strong army can do is mobilise itself in the places that we are fighting to win. You dont have to physically go there, but do phone or send money. If you can go, though. you will have great fun.

The next five weeks of my life will be about getting Christine Jardine elected in Edinburgh West  with the occasional foray into East Dunbartonshire for Jo Swinson or Ross, Skye and Lochaber for Jean Davis. Where will you be going?

The #libdemfightback is very much on based on todays results, even if it is patchy in places.

Its also not just about winning. For the first time in ten years, the newly reformed West Lothian Liberal Democrats stood a candidate in each ward. None of us got elected, but we took 1600 votes and my vote doubled from last time. We put in some respectable performances given the resources available to us. We delivered leaflets, we took part in hustings (and were praised for our contributions) and submitted articles in the local press so people knew what we stood for. I was so proud of our team. This is a small step forward. Now we must work out how to put ourselves in a winning position in the next election. It feels good to have an enthusiastic team of people locally.

And as a reminder that most people you find in politics are there for the right reasons, I was particularly moved by a local Labour councillor, a modest man, who hadnt expected re-election, speak very eloquently and sincerely about how much it meant to him to represent the people in the place he grew up, and talk about his aunt who had been there when he had been first elected 5 years ago. She died last September.

Elections are about human beings. Its not just numbers on a bar chart. The more we remember that, the better the atmosphere in our politics will be and that will come across to the people.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
THERE ARE more than 10,500 vacant houses in Limerick city and county, and one county community is railing against the use of empty properties in private estates for social housing.

Meanwhile, around 3,200 people remain on the social housing waiting list, according to Limerick City and County Council executives.

A total of 8,000 vacant properties lie in the county, according to the most recent CSO figures, while the city, where about 80 percent of the housing list need is concentrated, holds around 2,500 vacant properties.

But the Limerick vacancy rate, at 10.2 percent, is lower than the national average of 12 percent. The figure does not include holiday houses.

The situation was discussed at a special meeting between the Adare Rathkeale councillors and the councils housing department last Thursday evening, after concern was raised in the district about the way in which approved housing bodies (AHBs) allocate homes to those on the social housing list.

Councillors and residents expressed concern that AHBs  such as Mid-West Simon and the Peter McVerry Trust  were buying property in private estates, to allocate to those on the social housing list in conjunction with the housing authority.

Residents from a private housing estate in Askeaton  Deel Manor  said that they feared a rise in antisocial behaviour and a drop in the value of their homes after the discovery that Mid-West Simon had allocated a house in their estate.

As it is, we are struggling to pay our mortgages, and now most houses in Deel Manor are in negative equity, one resident told the meeting.

We dont know who is going to be living next door. If we end up at zero equity, where are we going to go? Theres nobody going to buy a house from us, and we are not going to get another mortgage, the resident said.

Joe Whelan of Askeatons community council said that people are living in a state of fear.

They said that they felt Askeaton was being targeted by the charities, but the housing department said that the number of AHB homes in Askeaton is relatively low.

Councillors and residents also voiced concerns over people from so called undesirable locations in the city being moved into council houses in county towns. But the housing department responded that there are 29 people on the housing list who have indicated Askeaton as preference, many of whom would typically be from the town itself.

Fianna Fail Cllr Kevin Sheahan said that he has never agreed that public and private housing should be mixed.

Approved Housing Bodies are not-for-profit organisations that provide and also manage social housing. In the Limerick context, there is quite a bit of activity with approved housing bodies. We have 31 AHBs that are active, second only to Dublin city, said a senior executive architect in the council, Seamus Hanrahan.

AHB housing stock in Limerick is around 1,200, while the councils own housing stock is just over 5,000.

Social Development executive at Limerick City and County Council, Carmel Kirby said: AHBs manage and monitor their tenants very very closely, and they take their tenancy management responsibilities very seriously.

Where you have an AHB in your community, the likelihood of them managing their tenants is extremely high and they do it very well.
A MAN who gardai allege is one of the main protagonists in a violent family feud was refused bail after he was charged with assaulting two women with a shovel over the bank holiday weekend.

William Harty Snr, aged 54, of Moig South, Askeaton faces three charges in relation to an incident which happened at the Quay in the village at around 9pm on April 28.

In addition to two charges of assault causing harm, he is also accused of breaking a number of windows at a property at Deelside, Askeaton on the same date.

During a special court sitting in Kilmallock on Sunday night, Detective Garda Jason Mitchell of Newcastle West garda station said the alleged victims  who are aged in their 20s and 50s  sustained serious injuries and were treated at University Hospital Limerick following the violent altercation.

One of the women, he said, received more than 70 staples after she sustained a cracked skull.

She also sustained significant bruising and soft tissue injuries and lost a lot of blood he said.

The second woman sustained a double fracture to her right arm which was placed in a cast.

Opposing bail, Detective Garda Mitchell said it will be alleged that a number of witnesses have identified Mr Harty as the culprit and that mobile phone footage from the night has been obtained as part of the investigation.

He said it will be further alleged the incident was connected with a violent feud which has been ongoing between members of the extended Harty family since November 2015.

Both victims, the court heard. are on the opposite side to Mr Harty.

The detective told Inspector Paul Reidy he had concerns the father-of-seven would continue to be involved in the feud if released on bail and that potential witnesses would be intimidated.

Seeking a remand in custody, Insp Reidy said gardai fear there will be an escalation in the feud and tit-for-tat retaliation if Mr Harty were to be released on bail.

Solicitor Darach McCarthy said the defendant suffers from mental health issues and has a number of physical health problems meaning he is on a large amount of prescribed medication.

He said Mr Harty, who denies the allegations, does not represent a flight risk and was willing to abide by any bail conditions imposed by the court.

Hes an ill man who leads a quiet existence, he said.

Judge Marian OLeary was told investigations are ongoing and that a file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to the matter.

Detective Garda Mitchell said gardai will be recommending trial on indictment at the circuit court given the seriousness of the incident.

The defendant was refused bail and following a brief court appearance before Newcastle West Court this Tuesday, the case was adjourned to May 16, next for DPPs directions.

If convicted on indictment, the defendant faces a maxium sentence of five years imprisonment.
A COMMUNITY is getting ready for a big day as it prepares to represent Limerick in a national competition with a 10,000 prize pot.

Judges from Get Involved will descend on the West Limerick village of Broadford this Friday to take a closer look at a community project which has united two parishes.

The Broadford/Ashford Walking trails community project, which has seen routes re-established along some of the most scenic parts of West Limerick, has made it to the final six entries in Get Involved as this newspapers entry.

An initiative of Local ireland, Get Involved is designed to promote voluntary and sustainable projects.

The winning project will be given a bursary of 5,000, with two further prizes of 1,500 and 500 for the second and third prizes respectively.

A further prize of 3,000 is being made for a community energy champion.

Reaching the final six has earned the Broadford/Ashford community a visit from the competition judges, led by top environmentalist Duncan Stewart.

Committee member Corina Sheedy insists the group will pull out all the stops to win the contest.

The mood is upbeat. We are excited about welcoming the judges to the area and showcasing the very best the trails have to offer. Hopefully the weather will help us out on the day, she smiled.

Founded in 2014, the walking trails group has upgraded six nationally recognised trails within the Mullaghareirk mountain range around the village. Varying in distance, these have been carefully picked to provide spectacular views over Co. Limerick with all routes fully waymarked with storyboards.

The judges will be taken to the top of one of the trailheads, and will also view a special fairy village set up in the forest, and walk a portion.

All the while, they will meet local community representatives.

We are going to give the judges the background to the development of the trails and the history of the villages of Broadford and Ashford. We are going to take the judges out onto part of the Gleann Beag Loop Trail so they can see for themselves the unique beauty of the area, Corina explains.

Asked what made their entry stand out, she added: We highlighted the huge level of support from landowners and the wider community in getting the trails developed. I think this will have resonated with the judges.

After the judges visit, around nine people from the area will head to the Get Involved final in Dublin next Thursday, where they will give a Dragons Den style pitch in an effort to win the overall prize.
CAPPAMORE dairy farmer Paudie Ryan wasn't relaxing on Bank Holiday Monday as five acres of silage was cut on his land in Cullina on Monday evening - it must be one of the first in County Limerick.

And he is going to make the most of the sunshine as it wont be baled until Wednesday evening.

The reason it is so early is because despite using all the tricks of the trade I found grazing the first rotation hard with the bad weather. Cows were out in early February but were forced indoors for a full week on two occasions.

However, as it was so mild all year grass grew well, resulting in some paddocks going too strong for grazing. I normally graze all the silage ground first before closing.

But I just couldnt get around to this one and as it was way ahead of the other silage fields l thought it best to take it out now and take advantage of the fabulous weather. It should make excellent feed, said Paudie, a former Limerick region winner at the Dairygold Milk Quality Awards.

Paudie doesnt know if he is the first man to cut in the county but he was certainly the first to buy silage wrap from Tommy Ryan and the team at the Dairygold co-op store in Cappamore.

Separately, with the sun beating down this week farmers have been warned that they have a high risk of developing potentially fatal skin cancers due to the outdoor lifestyle.

According to the Irish Cancer Society, 23% of skin cancers occur in people who work out of doors. The charity wants farmers and builders, in particular, to be keenly aware of the risks of sun exposure.

Farmers are outdoors from sunrise to sunset, and very often have no protection on their skin so are very vulnerable to skin cancer, said IFA president, Joe Healy.

Log on to www.cancer.ie for tips on how best to protect your skin.
A JUDGE told three cousins from Kilmallock, who pleaded guilty to violent disorder, they should be ashamed of themselves.

Judge Marian OLeary said: The behaviour of these gentlemen is absolutely disgraceful.

Martin OReilly, aged 23, of Portauns, Kilmallock; Paddy OReilly, aged 33, Deebert campsite, Kilmallock and Timmy OReilly, aged 23, of Orr Street, Kilmallock all appeared at the local court. Timmy OReilly is also charged with criminal damage.

In a previous court sitting, Sergeant Michelle Leahy said at 5.40pm on July 14, 2014, the three men entered the curtilage of a cottage in Spittle, Ballylanders.

They were in a car. They knew the injured party. It is alleged they were under the influence of alcohol.

They were asked to leave and they refused, said Sgt Leahy.

The court heard that liquid - a bottle of water - was poured over the injured party and they entered the doorway of the cottage.

Sgt Leahy said that Timmy OReilly threw a stone, breaking a window after the injured party broke a window in his car with a stone.

Judge OLeary adjourned the case until last Friday for a victim impact statement.

Sharon Davern, solicitor for Paddy OReilly and Timmy OReilly, said they had an issue with one line in the victim impact statement but they were pleading guilty. Sabina Hegerty, solicitor, represented Martin OReilly.

The line in question from the victim impact statement was not read out in open court.

Judge OLeary asked one of the investigating gardai, John Curtin, his opinion on the victim impact statement.

I believe it to be 100% true and correct, said Garda Curtin.

Ms Davern said her clients had no excuses but to give context she said the defendants and victim had known each other.

They werent just people who went to the house randomly  they knew each other, every single one, said Ms Davern.

Prior to going into recess to consider her verdict, Judge OLeary said the whole incident was not very edifying behaviour.

On resumption she said: The behaviour of these gentlemen is absolutely disgraceful. You should be ashamed of yourselves. You should read the victim impact report and see the effect you have had on this woman.

Martin OReilly, Paddy OReilly and Timmy OReilly were each given four month suspended sentences and fined 400. Timmy OReilly was also fined 200 for criminal damage.
AN independent inquiry into a series of allegations of misconduct at University of Limerick is to be launched by the Department of Education.

The allegations  which were first revealed by the Limerick Leader nearly two years ago - relate to the treatment of staff and former employees who raised concerns over irregular expenses claims.

That story led UL to pursue legal action at the High Court against both the Limerick Leader and its then editor Alan English, which it later dropped following pressure by the National Union of Journalists and a number of Government deputies.

Two staff members who raised concerns about expenses claims at UL remain suspended on full pay for two years this June.

Leona O'Callaghan, a former UL employee, again in the finance department, brought correspondence in relation to her concerns to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in 2006, but they did not go to a full hearing at that time.

UL, under previous president Don Barry who stepped down last week, had rejected attempts at the Higher Education Authoritys request to allow for an independent inquiry.

However, new president, Dr Des Fitzgerald, who took office this week, is understood to have contacted the Department of Education and Science to say an independent review of the allegations was warranted.

A spokesperson for UL said in a statement this Friday morning that it invited the department to undertake an independent review of a number of areas of governance at the university.

It did so last Tuesday at the instruction of president Fitzgerald.

"The new UL president wants to ensure the full confidence of the Department of Education and other stakeholders and so took the decision to invite an independent review of issues this week.

"The university looks forward to working closely with the review process. The focus of the new president of UL is to protect and develop the universitys academic reputation - that reputation is important to the city of Limerick, to Mid-West region and to the thousands of students, staff and graduates of UL.

"Therefore, questions raised at the PAC last month and by the Department itself need to be addressed and clarified so that the reputation of UL and the region it serves can move forward with the full confidence of its many stakeholders," concluded the statement from UL.

Department officials are understood to be preparing the terms for the independent investigation, which are due to be announced in the coming days.

A spokesperson for the Higher Education Authority told the Limerick Leader that it is supportive of actions which will help to bring these cases to a resolution.

It is understood that discussions are now centred on who will lead the investigation, but it is expected to be someone with "extensive experience in the field of higher level education" and someone who is not from Limerick, nor associated with any Limerick third level institution.

The Minister for Education Richard Bruton is due to visit UL today, among a number of engagements in the city.

Costs to the State in relation to the UL case amount to over 200,000 to date, including suspension payments to the two female whistleblowers, and the costs of two independent reports commissioned by the Higher Education Authority, including the Mazars' report.

That report, however, examined the processes and procedures employed by UL in dealing with the issues raised by the women, rather than investigating their allegations.

The roles of the two suspended women in the finance department have now been filled.

Copies of the severance agreements which were offered to them by Arthur Cox solicitors, on behalf of UL, and amounting to nearly 60,000 each have been produced by this newspaper.

The confidential severance agreements, which they refused to sign, also dictated that they would drop any actions under the Protected Disclosures Act.

At a hearing of the PAC in March, president Barry rejected any statement that there was any corruption going on in the university in the strongest possible terms.

He did not accept that there was any wrongdoing or abuse of the expenses system, but accepted that there were financial control failures.

Deputy leader of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald, a graduate of UL, said at the hearing that there were an astonishing amount of complaints in relation to expenses in what could be described as a VIP system.

At worst, it represented corruption within the system, she said.

Ms McDonald said an independent agency should have been employed to conduct a full investigation into the claims of all three female whistleblowers, citing the narrow terms of the Mazars' report, which was commissioned by the HEA.

The recently appointed new chief executive of the HEA, Dr Graham Love, agreed that a wider probe was needed.

- More to follow throughout the day
Australian police are working on the extradition of a Chinese healer after his slapping therapy allegedly caused the death of a six-year-old boy. The self-claimed miracle doctor is now in custody for a similar manslaughter case in the UK.

The 53-year-old healer, Xiao Hongci, has been promoting his signature Paida Lajin therapy since 2009. The controversial therapy can purge toxins from patients by slapping them or getting them to slap themselves, according to Xiao. He says that it is derived from traditional Chinese medicine and can cure everything from diabetes to hypertension.

Though the therapy is welcomed by a large group of patients, it has allegedly caused the death of Aidan Fenton, a six-year-old Australian diabetic in 2015, and Danielle Carr-Gomm, a 71-year-old British diabetic in 2016.

The so-called Paida Lajin is pseudoscience. Traditional Chinese medicine does have a similar treatment called Gua Sha, in which the skin is scraped to produce light bruising, but the two techniques are totally different. Xiao asks his patients to slap themselves as vigorously as possible, but this may pose threat to their health, Wang Jin, a Beijing-based Chinese medical massager, told Peoples Daily Online.

According to a report by Beijing Times, Xiao and his company earned 1.8 million RMB in 2011 by selling books, DVDs, and equipments for the therapy.
THE Minister for Education Richard Bruton has said that he believes that the University of Limerick whistleblowers who have made allegations in relation to financial practices are very genuine.

Minister Bruton was speaking in Limerick today following the announcement that there will be a full independent inquiry into the treatment of those who raised concerns into UL's financial practices.

He said he was very impressed with the whistleblowers following a recent meeting with the three female employees, who all worked in ULs finance department, and were found by one report under the Higher Education Authority to have legitimately raised concerns about expense claims they were asked to process.

One of those individuals has left the university, while two remain suspended with pay for nearly two years.

This has had a substantial history. There have been a number of whistleblower cases which have come to attention of the HEA. They resulted in an investigation internally, conducted by Mazars, Minister Bruton told the Limerick Leader.

Minister Bruton said while the terms of reference of the inquiry have yet to be announced, he would welcome other whistleblowers in coming forward.

The inquiry, he said, is a joint initiative with the university, which announced this Friday that the new president of UL, Dr Desmond Fitzgerald, had sought a full inquiry this Tuesday, on his first day of taking office.

Minister Bruton said the inquiry is needed to put the university on a very strong footing for the future.

The correct approach is to have an independent review, because I believe UL is one of the jewels in the crown of our university sector. It's really important that its reputation should be as strong as possible. We want to deal with this issue which has caused concern and which has damaged UL in the media, and make sure that this can be properly investigated, he said.

Minister Bruton said severance packages offered to two suspended employees will be amongst issues which will have be reviewed.

Following an earlier review by independent consultants Mazars, which outlined a series of recommendations to UL in terms of its policies and procedures, he said the inquiry is now necessary to ensure practices in the future are robust and beyond question.

Minister Bruton said that he will be meeting with president Fitzgerald later today in UL, but said it won't be an opportunity for going through terms of reference.

However, he said they are on the same page on the importance of the review.

In a statement released this Friday morning, a UL spokesperson said that that it invited the department to undertake an independent review of a number of areas of governance at the university.

It did so on Tuesday last at the instruction of president Fitzgerald.

The new UL president wants to ensure the full confidence of the Department of Education and other stakeholders and so took the decision to invite an independent review of issues this week.

The university looks forward to working closely with the review process. The focus of the new president of UL is to protect and develop the universitys academic reputation - that reputation is important to the city of Limerick, to Mid-West region and to the thousands of students, staff and graduates of UL.

Therefore, questions raised at the PAC last month and by the Department itself need to be addressed and clarified so that the reputation of UL and the region it serves can move forward with the full confidence of its many stakeholders, concluded the statement from UL.

Fianna Fail deputy Niall Collins, who earlier raised the case of three UL whistleblowers in the Dail, welcomed the inquiry, saying its a matter of significant public interest.

Deputy Collins added that he hopes the terms of reference are broad enough to encompass all the concerns of the whistleblowers, a number of which were not dealt with by the Mazars report.

Leona O'Callaghan, a former UL employee in the finance department, brought correspondence in relation to her concerns to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in 2006, but they did not go to a full hearing at that time.

Im very grateful that the new president appears to be dealing with these issues in a fair and transparent manner. It is just a pity it has taken so long. I hope that after this inquiry that UL becomes the place that it is capable of being, and that the truth will finally come out, said Ms OCallaghan.

She said she repeatedly called for a meeting with former UL president Don Barry, but none was facilitated, and hopes that the new president will agree to meet with her and the other suspended employees.
The UL Hospitals Group is advising residents living in the Raheen area of the city to stay indoors and to close their windows as emergency services continue to tackle a commercial fire at Raheen Industrial Estate.

Several units of the fire service from Limerick and Clare were deployed at the scene of the blaze  the second in Limerick in less than 24 hours  at around 11.30am this Friday.

Thick plumes of smoke can be seen for several miles and drone footage recorded by Long Range Media, shows the extent of the blaze.

In a post on social media shortly after 4pm, Limerick Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the fire is now under control but that crews will remain at the scene for some time.

While there are no reports of any injuries, the UL Hospitals Group says people living in the area and motorists driving near the industrial estate should take precautions.

Some of the substances present in smoke can irritate the lining of the air passages, the skin and the eyes. Respiratory symptoms include coughing and wheezing, breathlessness, phlegm production and chest pain, said a spokersperson who advised that anyone with continuing symptoms should seek medical advice.

A spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council confirmed a team from the councils Environmental Services department is also at the scene and are monitoring the situation.
Chinese scientists have developed a pesticide that can automatically control the release amount of pesticide by sensing temperature, according to the Hefei Institute of Materials Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences on May 4, China News reported.

The scientific result has been published by the U.S. journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

Pesticide, an indispensable means of production in agriculture, plays a significant role in protecting crops from insects, diseases, and weeds, as well as in ensuring China's food security.

The pesticide use ratio in China is less than 30 percent, and the country consumes more than a million tons of pesticides per year. Pesticide waste has not only resulted in severe environmental pollution, but has endangered the health of people and livestock.

This is why Wu Zhengyan and his research team at the institute have developed herbicide granules that release pesticide based on temperature. Thermo-sensitivity can control the release of the herbicide, as it effectively adjusts the number of nano-channels in granules based on temperature.

This technology is a good solution to a common problem in agriculture, since it possesses many advantages, including a high utilization rate, low cost, high efficiency, and environmental protection.
Apr 29, 2021, 8 PM

An oversized $5 Borg Cube stamp represents the most implacable foe yet encountered in Star Trek  cybernetic drones without will or individuality, wandering the galaxy in massive cubic vessels to assimilate new creatures into their collective or wipe them

Issued April 27, Canadas second major issue of Star Trek stamps in as many years may delight the many fans of the science fiction series with five self-adhesive die-cut stamps depicting the commanders, their vessels and their nemeses. All commanders from

This pane of five stamps has perforated, gummed, and denominated versions of the stamps in the self-adhesive booklet: the Kirk stamp is permanent rate (85), while the other stamps are $2.50 (Picard), $1.80 (Sisko), $1.20 (Janeway), and $1 (Archer).

Another permanent-rate stamp, this coil depicts the Enterprises shuttle Galileo. It is available to collectors in rolls of 50, strips of 10, or strips of four.

By Fred Baumann

A formidable fleet of philatelic items and premium-priced Canada Post keepsakes has assembled for the release of Star Trek Year 2, Canada Posts code name for its April 27 sequel to the widely promoted and creatively crafted stamps issued May 5 last year (Scott 2911-2922).

The 2016 set celebrated the 50th anniversary of characters who made famous the original TV series that debuted in the United States and Canada in September 1966.

That first issue was detailed by Michael Baadke in Linns here, here, and here, because Canada Post took its time revealing all the details.

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This year, what Canada Post is calling Star Trek Year 2 chiefly depicts the commanders, their vessels, and their arch-nemeses of the best-known film adaptation of the original series and four of its TV spin-offs on five die-cut, self-adhesive permanent-rate stamps paying Canadas domestic letter rate (currently 85).

These begin with a stamp honoring USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) commanded by Admiral James T. Kirk (played by Montreal-born William Shatner, the principal Canadian connection to the series), vs. the genetically enhanced superhuman Khan Noonian Singh, from the 1982 motion picture Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Khan was reprised in the film by actor Ricardo Montalban 15 years after he had first played that role on Space Seed, a 1967 episode from the original 1966-69 Star Trek television series.

The other new Star Trek stamps feature comparably combative pairings.

Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was memorable at the helm of the USS Enterprise-D (NCC-1701-D) in the second TV series, Star Trek: The Next Generation (198794), and four subsequent feature films.

The nemesis portrayed on the stamp is in fact Picard himself, transformed to serve as Locutus, a servile emissary of the Borg in its attempts to assimilate and dehumanize the rest of the Enterprise crew. The Borg used control by electromechanical implants to turn organic beings into drones to do their bidding, exterminating all other life in their conquests.

In the third TV series (1993-99), Capt. Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) commanded Deep Space 9, an orbital docking station previously controlled by Dukat (Marc Alaimo) for the Alpha Quadrants Cardassian Union, a dangerous military dictatorship bent on occupying and brutally ruling neighboring occupied planets, including nearby Bajor.

Star Trek Voyager, the fourth TV series (1999-2001) also was named for its vessel, Voyager (NCC-74656), helmed by Capt. Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew). On its first mission, according to the StarTrek.com database, a powerful alien technology pulled Voyager and a renegade Maquis vessel in the distant Delta quadrant, 70,000 light-years from Earth, making returning home the principal ongoing mission of the series.

The adversary pictured on her stamp is the ruthless Borg Queen (Alice Krige), who had overseen Picards conversion to Locutus. In the final episode of the series, Janeway destroys the Borg Queen.

The fifth series  Enterprise (2001-05), later changed to Star Trek: Enterprise to make clear the connection to the original series  was the origin story of faster-than-light warp drive and the United Federation of Planets, starring Capt. Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) commanding the first starship Enterprise (NX-01).

Star Trek: Enterprise also portrayed the first interstellar conflict between humanity and aliens. The Xindi were creatures of six races from a single distant planet that attacked Earth, personalized in the series by reptilian Commander Dolim (Scott MacDonald), whom Archer slays.

Rounding out the issue are two very different stamps depicting very different but memorable spacecraft from the science fiction series. The first is a permanent-rate coil stamp picturing the Enterprises small but versatile Class F shuttle Galileo (NCC-1701/7), printed in a coil of 50 stamps, available with a special Enterprise coil dispenser in the shape of a Canada Post mailbox.

Collectors can also buy coil strips of four or 10. As was true of the self-adhesive backing liners on last years Star Trek coil stamps, Famous quotes from the series are revealed on the back of the coil. Only 300,000 were printed.

The second is an oversized $5 stamp picturing the Borg Cube, an intimidating colossus measuring three kilometers on each side. Embossed, debossed, and enhanced with foil for a 3D effect, this oversized stamp is available only in the prestige booklet and as one in a set of seven official 2017 Star Trek first day covers.

Designed by Kosta Tsetsekas and Adrian Horvath of Signals Design Group in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Post says these stamps share a similar look to those issued in 2016, with a more modern feel.

According to Horvath, The ships, the captains and, especially, the villains give these stamps more drama.

The five commemoratives will be sold as permanent-rate, self-adhesive stamps in booklets of 10 with a cover design showing the five commanders rendered as though beaming down. These were printed in four-color offset lithography by Lowe-Martin.

Also available will be a $7.35 pane of five perforated stamps with moisture-activated gum in various denominations: the Kirk stamp remains at permanent rate (85), while the other stamps are $2.50 (Picard), $1.80 (Sisko), $1.20 (Janeway) and $1 (Archer). These were printed in five-color offset lithography by Lowe-Martin.

The Star Trek prestige booklet from Canada Post contains all the stamp designs in perforated format in two panes with different layouts, with the commemoratives denominated the same as the perforated stamps in the pane of five, as well as the $5 Borg Cube stamp.

The prestige booklet sells for $21.95 Canadian (approximately US$16). Each pane in the booklet shows different full-color scenes from the television series and includes text describing the action in English and in French. Canada Post printed 75,000 prestige booklets.

Collectors also can obtain uncut press sheets containing six of the five-stamp panes from the prestige booklet (5,000 produced).

Also available are sets of first-day covers (15,000 produced) and picture postal cards. The seven first-day covers display the seven permanent-rate stamps with full-color photo illustrations as cachets, plus popular Star Trek: Voyager character Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) depicted as a Borg drone on the $5 Borg Cube FDC, and a cutaway view of the shuttle on the permanent-rate Galileo FDC. All first-day covers are postmarked in Vulcan, Alberta, with the exception of the Montreal-postmarked Kirk FDC.

The five picture postal cards are franked with the Star Trek franchises delta logo, the title of the movie or series, and five images adapted from top-rated moments or episodes in each, with imprinted versions of each of the five stamps depicting a commander.

The booklet of 10 self-adhesive stamps is Canada Post product No. 414038111, the coil of 50 is 404040117, the special mailbox-shaped Enterprise coil dispenser is 342086, available for $5.99 Canadian. A coil strip of 10 is 404040119, and a strip of four is 404040118.

The perforated five-stamp souvenir sheet is 404039107, the prestige booklet is 413039111, the 19-inch-by-26-inch uncut press sheet of six panes of five perforated stamps from the prestige booklet is 404039149 (5,000 printed), the set of seven first-day covers in a sturdy color folder is 414013131 (15,000 printed), and the set of five postal cards is 262466 (no quantity printed was specified).

These items are available on the Canda Post's website, and by mail order from Canada Post Customer Service, Box 90022, 2701 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON K1V 1J8 Canada; or by telephone from the United States or Canada at 800-565-4362, and from other countries at 902-863-6550.

Canadas stamps and stamp products also are available from many new-issue stamp dealers, and from Canada Posts agent in the United States: Interpost, Box 420, Hewlett, NY 11557.
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(Xinhua) 18:49, May 05, 2017

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has sent a letter to the China Vocational Education Association (CVEA) to offer congratulations on the 100th anniversary of its founding.

In the letter published Friday, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, praised the association's historical contributions and called on the organization to promote development of the country's vocational education.

The president also told the association to work with domestic and overseas vocational education workers to strengthen exchanges and better serve society.

Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended Friday's celebration.

Yu spoke of the association's glorious history, saying that it is a pioneer of China's modern vocational education, an important organization in strengthening and developing united front work and a major force in providing social services.

Yu asked the association to unite domestic and overseas vocational education workers, play its role in boosting modern vocational education, improve social services and carry forward fine traditions.

Xi's letter was read by Sun Chunlan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee.

The CVEA was founded in 1917 by dozens of Chinese figures in educational and industrial fields.
(Xinhua) 18:55, May 05, 2017

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang will pay a state visit to China from May 11 to 15 and attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Friday morning.

Chinese leaders will hold talks and meet with Quang during his visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing Friday afternoon.

According to Geng, both sides will exchange views on consolidating good neighborly and friendly ties and deepening pragmatic cooperation.

China-Vietnam ties have good growth momentum with frequent high-level exchanges, more economic and trade cooperation, as well as increasing cultural exchanges, Geng said.

China is willing to make joint efforts with Vietnam to push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation, he added.
Festival films: How the world sees India Ahead of Cannes, leading curator and festival consultant Meenakshi Shedde gives us her view on how Indian cinema is perceived by the arthouse circuit /how-to-lounge/movies-tv/festival-films-how-the-world-sees-india-111646834537087.html 111646834537087 story

Lets start with a rapid-fire question: In which section did Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Devdas play at Cannes? Answer: the clumsily named Out of Competition section in 2002, playing alongside George Lucas Star Wars: Episode IIAttack Of The Clones, Brian de Palmas Femme Fatale, Woody Allens Hollywood Ending and Fernando Meirelles Cidade De Deus. Feel free to turn apoplectic or faint gracefully if you wish, but there it is. The truth is, this business of dissecting in which festival section a film was selected is more for film-makers and festival insiders than the public. Bhansali will forever legitimately be Cannes royalty, and no one can take that away from him.

India in world cinema

As the Cannes Film Festival (17-28 May) nears, you will hear the familiar annual whine about why India has not got top festival prizes or even been selected in the competition section of major festivals for decades. It is true, and India has only one short film at Cannes this year, Payal Kapadias Afternoon Clouds, from the Film and Television Institute of India, in the Cinefondation section for film schools. But it is also peculiar that while in sport, even a ragtag national team will usually get the unstinting support of Indian fans, local critics and audiences are often the harshest critics of films at international festivals, despite the films being feted abroad. This happens in many nations, including India. Despite securing 10 Oscar nominations, and winning four Oscars and two Golden Globes, Ang Lees Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon had Hong Kong audiences giggling at the swordplay in the bamboo grove that the rest of the world found achingly poetic.

Indian cinema has earned substantial laurels on the international film festival circuit, of which it can justly be proud. Its festival debut came over 80 years ago, when Debaki Boses Seeta, starring Durga Khote and Prithviraj Kapoor, won a prize at the Venice Film Festival in 1934, soon after sound came to Indian cinema. The credibility of Indian cinema at film festivals has been firmly established by a solid body of arthouse films that have made various festival line-ups, including Chetan Anands Neecha Nagar, which won the Grand Prix in 1946, and Satyajit Rays Pather Panchali (Cannes), Buddhadeb Dasguptas Charachar (Berlin) and Adoor Gopalakrishnans Mathilukal (Venice), as well as more recent films, including Anurag Kashyaps Raman Raghav 2.0 and Neeraj Ghaywans Masaan (Cannes); Avinash Aruns Killa, Jayarajs Ottaal and Amit Masurkars Newton (Berlin); and Chaitanya Tamhanes Court and Shubhashish Bhutianis Mukti Bhawan (Venice).

A number of mainstream films have also been selected at A-list festivals, including Devdas at Cannes, Om Shanti Om and Nagraj Manjules Sairat at Berlin, Delhi-6 at Venice, and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna at Toronto. Arthouse film-makers, who depend on film festivals as their lifeline in finding audiences, feel festivals are their jaagir, their fiefdom, and savagely resent the incursions of Bollywood and other mainstream cinemas into the festival circuit.

It is a legitimate concern that Indian films have not been in top festival competition sections for about two decades, or won an Oscar in ages, but there is no need to froth at the mouth. As a festival insider who has been South Asia consultant to the Berlin Film Festival for 20 years and has served on 20 international film festival juries, I can safely say that a Vedantic attitude is best: Do your duty, your best, irrespective of the fruits of action. If we are selected at festivals, Im proud; if were not, its not the end of the world.

Lets get the Oscar out of the way first. While the Oscar might appear the greatest film prize, your film is eligible only if it is theatrically released in Los Angeles county". So the Oscars are essentially the American national awards, mostly giving their own films awards in all major categories, while the rest of the world goes hysterical after one mingy category, Best Foreign Language Film, pleading for crumbs at the table of the rich and mighty (Oscar voters until very recently were 93% white and 76% men with the average age of 63). International film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin and Venice are more egalitarian, acknowledging artistic talent from wherever it comes, with juries composed of the best multinational talent.

Piravi made it to the Cannes Film Festival in the late 1980s.

Out of competition, still in the game

Its true, there have been few Indian films, if any, in the Competition section at Cannes since Malayalam cinema veteran Shaji Karuns Swaham in 1994, in Berlin since Buddhadeb Dasguptas Charachar in 1994, and in Venice since Dasguptas Uttara in 2000, when it won Best Director. Mira Nairs Monsoon Wedding, which was not selected at Cannes but went on to win the Golden Lion at Venice in 2001, was an international co-production. The fact is, a lot of the credibility Shaji Karun enjoys worldwide and in India comes primarily from Piravi, which was not in Competition at Cannes but in Un Certain Regard, and for which he won a Camera dOr Honourable Mention for best debut feature, and from Vanaprastham, which was also in Un Certain Regard. But Swaham, his weakest film of the three, was up there in the Cannes Competition in 1994, alongside Quentin Tarantinos Pulp Fiction, Krzysztof Kieslowskis Trois Couleurs: Rouge and Nanni Morettis Caro Diario. Even Ritesh Batras The Lunchbox, which won the Grand Rail dOr or Critics Week Audience Award at Cannes and sold in 50 territories worldwide, was nowhere in the Cannes official selection, but in the Critics Week, a vital parallel section at Cannes.

Anurag Kashyap has also said he prefers being at Directors Fortnight at Canneshis films there include Raman Raghav 2.0, Gangs Of Wasseypur 1 and 2, and Uglyrather than the Competition section. It is not a question of sour grapes: In the Competition section, you can get hammered by critics if your film is not appropriate to that section, whereas the critics expect different things from films in Directors Fortnight or Critics Week," he told me in an interview in Mumbai last year. Moreover, the official selection" at film festivals includes a raft of different sections, of which Competition is only one. And it is no mean feat to get selected for any of these sections: The Berlin Film Festival receives well over 6,000 film entries on average, so even selection is a tremendous achievement.

One nation, many cinemas

With a population exceeding one billion, India also has a huge domestic marketlike the US and Chinaand this remains the backbone of our film revenue; overseas theatrical earnings are less than 10%. Traditionally, Indian cinema has been inward-looking, not really anxious to reach out to the world. More importantly, Indian cinema is a powerhouse in itself: It is the only market globally where Hollywood has less than 10% of the market. So its all right if our film-makers are not selected at a specific film festival; most indie film-makers who need festivals, in the end hope to use them to find audiences at home and abroad.

What could have made it easier to programme Indian films is if we had a distinct identity. The world has some idea what to expect from an Iranian, Hong Kong, Korean or French film; whereas Indian national cinema is like a mirror-ball, reflecting multiple identities. Thats because Indian cinema is unique: We make films in 42 languages and dialects (according to the Central Board of Film Certification), all in a single country! Thats incredibly rich and diverse, and can be confusing to the outsider. It is not important to have a single, pan-Indian voice, because that would be a fake voice; it is more important to be ourselves. And that immediately makes us distinctive. For instance, in Tamhanes Court, a debut feature that won two prizes at Venice in 2014, you hear the patois you would hear in Mumbai, a mixture of Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and English.

Once a famous mainstream film-maker had his secretary call me to say he had made a new film, and was determined to walk the red carpet at Cannes; he was willing to pay me any fees I quoted if I would arrange" this. I told her he didnt need to pay me any fees; he simply had to make a film that Cannes couldnt refuse.

The writer tweets at @MeenakshiShedde
Film Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 James Gunn's film is overstuffed, but we aren't complaining /how-to-lounge/movies-tv/film-review-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-2-111646834570984.html 111646834570984 story

There are many ways to grab a viewers attention at the start of a film. A song might do the trick, or a sudden burst of action. Myself, Im always drawn in by a good one-take. When Orson Welles decided to shoot the first scene of Touch of Evil, with the car and the ticking bomb, without a cut, he gave us not just one of the great single-takes of all time, but arguably the best opening sequence ever. One-takes may have become easier to pull off with digital cameras and CGI, but it still takes a fair amount of skill and sheer love of cinema to execute what Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 does right at the start: a long, unbroken take of baby Groot dancing to ELOs Mr Blue Sky, while the other Guardians battle a gigantic space monster in the background.

Second films in Hollywood franchises often explore the idea of the central unit developing cracks. But the Guardians were cracked to begin with, and, having spent the first film exploring these fissures, writer-director James Gunn wisely avoids this approach. Instead, the GuardiansPeter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Groot (whos growing again from a little sapling, but is nevertheless voiced by Vin Diesel)find conflict brewing not within the group but within themselves. Quill has father issues, Gamora has sister issues (or, to be more accurate, Gamoras sister, Nebula (Karen Gillan), has issues), Drax still misses his dead wife and daughter, and Rocket is running out of ways to camouflage the rage and despair within.

Cornered by drones belonging to the Sovereignsa gold-skinned race led by Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), who looks like the evil bot from Fritz Langs Metropolisthe Guardians are rescued at the last second by Ego (Kurt Russell), a Celestial (if all this is starting to sound like a battle of 50s doo wop bands, I dont blame you). Ego then reveals himself as Peters long-lost father. He hosts Gamora, Drax and Peter on his idyllic home planet, and encourages his son to embrace his own Celestial powers. I wont reveal any more, suffice to say that the film ambles contentedly past the halfway mark without a worthy antagonist in sight.

You could argue that Guardians 2 ignores narrative highways for byways and its A-plot for B-, C- and D-plots. This isnt incorrect, but its also much easier to sit back and watch Drax and Rocket and Yondu (Michael Rooker) trash-talk each other than be subjected to the insufferable banter of the Avengers. In the often self-serious world of comic book movies, the Guardians are an easy hang. Perhaps this is why, when Gunn introduces unexpected beatslike filial abuse or child traffickingthe impact is that much keener.

Having emerged as a surprise MVP in part one, the compulsively literal Drax is the prime comic anchor here. Bautista does very well, even if the device wears thin. The most striking performances, though, come from Gillan and Rooker, who find surprising pathos in their one-dimensional villains from the first film. It might be overstuffed, it may meander and stall at times, but Guardians 2 should delight returning audiences, Michael Rooker fans, and anyone savvy enough to appreciate Cheap Trick, Sam Cooke and Jay and the Americans.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Russia is making every effort to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully, head of Russia-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group, Member of Russias State Duma Dmitry Savelyev told Trend.

He recalled that Russia initially offered its help as a negotiator and all this time didnt deviate from its position.

Negotiations are underway with our mediation, consultations are held. A great job has been done. I am confident that the conflict will be resolved peacefully  in line with international law, with the mandatory preservation of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, noted Savelyev.

The Russian MP said that the negotiation process on the conflict must be continued within the OSCE Minsk Group.

The Minsk Group is working actively, decisions are proposed, discussions are underway. All countries, and first of all Russia, create the most favorable conditions for negotiations, said Savelyev and expressed his confidence that this activity will be fruitful, and the conflict will be resolved.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Giant sequoias and California redwoods (also called coast redwoods) are nature's skyscrapers. These enormous trees exist primarily in Northern California, Oregon and Washington and though they have a number of common characteristics, including distinctive cinnamon-red bark, they are different species.

Giant sequoias

Giant sequoias can grow to be about 30 feet (9 meters) in diameter and more than 250 feet (76 m) tall. The biggest of these behemoths is General Sherman, a giant sequoia in Sequoia National Park. General Sherman stands 275 feet (84 m) tall, has a 102-foot (31 m) circumference, and weighs an incredible 2.7 million lbs. (1.2 million kilograms).

Giant sequoias can live to 3,000 years, with the oldest on record living more than 3,500 years. When they die, it is often indirectly because of root rot or another weakening of the base. Fire, root rot and dry spells do not typically affect the whole tree but if they destabilize the base, gravity can eventually take the tree down, according to Scientific American. This process takes a long time, as evidenced by the fact that sequoias are some of the longest living organisms on the planet.

Mature sequoias lack branches on the lower half of their trunks. Sequoia trunks taper as they rise, forming a rounded top where individual branches sweep downward. Their green leaves are small, scale-like, and arranged in spirals. Both male and females cones are carried on the same tree.

Sequoias grow naturally along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, between 5,000 and 7,000 feet (1,524 and 2,134 m) above sea level and far inland. That elevation provides the trees with dry mountain air necessary for their cones to open and release seeds. The snowpack from the Sierra Nevada provides sequoias with the thousands of gallons of water every day. Sequoias have shallow roots and require well-drained soil.

Because of its brittle texture, the sequoia is not a valuable lumber species. It was, nevertheless, logged extensively around the turn of the 20th century. Originally, sequoias could be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Today, they are found only in 77 scattered groves in Northern California. Among the places that preserve giant sequoias are Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia National Park, and Giant Sequoia National Monument.

A woman stands against a giant sequoia in Sequoia National Park in California. (opens in new tab) Shutterstock (opens in new tab) ) (Image credit: Rob van Esch

Droughts in California have scientists worried about sequoia health. The drought of the 2010s left many sequoias stressed from lack of water, according to Scientific American. Though sequoias usually die under their own weight, recently scientists have seen some die still standing, and others exhibiting symptoms of dehydration, including brown foliage at the top of the tree. One scientist told PBS in 2015, "The trees are definitely as stressed as we've ever seen giant sequoia."

Not all giant sequoia are suffering from the drought, however. Deborah Zierten, education and interpretation manager with the Save the Redwoods League told LiveScience that a giant sequoia's response to drought is dependent on location. "There are some parks where they have seen a decline in recent years and others where the growth seems to be the same." The differences could be attributed to fire suppression, weather, location and amount of snowmelt exposure, and density of the trees. "There could be competition in some areas," Zierten said.

Fire suppression is another threat to giant sequoias. "Giant sequoias are very dependent on fire," said Zierten. Fire helps release the seeds from their cones, recycle nutrients in the soil, reduce competition from other trees, remove undergrowth and expose bare soil in which new seedlings can take root and open holes in the forest canopy, which let in sunlight for young seedlings.

"There's been a lot of fire suppression over the last 100 or so years," said Zierten. "Some of the parks are trying to reintroduce fire to clear out that understory and stimulate growth."

Researchers are working to understand how climate change is and will continue to affect giant sequoias. Lack of precipitation from snowmelt will probably be the biggest threat, said Zierten. Increased wildfires could also impact sequoias.

Redwoods

These tallest of trees reach heights of more than 350 feet (107 m). The tallest tree in the world is named Hyperion, which reaches 379.7 feet (115.7 m). Redwoods can achieve a diameter of 24 feet (7 m), and 1.6 million lbs. (725,700 kg). These giants can live to be 2,000 years old and have graced the planet for more than 240 million years. Though they once thrived throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, today redwoods are only found on the coast from central California through southern Oregon. They do not live more than 50 miles inland, and are usually found in long belts, rather than small groves.

True to their name, coast redwoods need a moderate, coastal climate to survive. They require the area's frequent fog to protect them from dry spells and drought. Like sequoias, redwoods require abundant water to drink and have shallow root systems. Redwoods, however, get their water from rain rather than snowmelt, and therefore require consistent rainfall throughout the year. They even "create" their own rain by trapping fog in their lofty branches. With the right amount of moisture, redwoods can grow two or three feet in a year, making them one of the fastest-growing conifers in the world.

In contrast to their size, redwoods have extremely small cones  about one inch long. They have appropriately large root systems, however, often extending 100 feet (30 meters) and intertwining with the roots of other redwoods, according to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Baby redwoods often sprout at their parents' base, latching onto their roots for nutrients. For this reason, they often grow in circular clusters sometimes called fairy rings.

The coast redwood's lumber has been highly valued historically. It is durable, resistant to rot and termites, non-warping, and relatively soft. For this reason, it has been extensively logged. Since logging began in the 1850s, 95 percent of old-growth coast redwoods have been cut down, according to the Sempervirens Fund. Today, many redwoods exist in protected forests and parks.

The changing climate presents problems for redwoods. A warmer climate may result in less rain, and perhaps more concerning, less fog, which has historically been the tree's defense against dry spells, according to an ongoing study by a group of University of California-based researchers. Fog in northern California and Oregon is on the decline because of climate change and the expanding human population along the coasts, which produce "urban heat islands," according to a UC Merced researcher with the study.

On the other hand, a long-term study conducted by the Save the Redwoods League found that coastal redwoods have seen unprecedented growth over the last 100 years. They are still trying to understand why but one theory involves lessening fog in those areas. "We can't necessarily attribute the spike in growth to any one particular thing, but we know there has been a decrease in fog in the last 100 years," said Zierten. "This means sunnier days, and on sunnier days they are able to photosynthesize a lot. That could be a possibility."

Climate change

Many studies suggest that redwoods and sequoias may also play an important part in mitigating climate change, according to Zierten. The trees have the ability to pull in and store dangerous carbon, keeping it from wreaking havoc on the climate. "Ancient redwood forests store at least three times more carbon above ground than any other forests on Earth," according to a Redwoods and Climate Change Initiative study.

Zierten emphasized that these studies have focused on ancient, or old-growth, forests. The trees there are bigger so they are able to store more carbon. "Because they are such long-lived trees, they are able to keep that carbon in their wood for a very, very long time," she said. "But it's really about the forest, not the individual trees. Even the fallen logs store carbon, as do the under-story plants."

For this reason, Zierten recommends that conservation organizations focus on preserving and restoring the old-growth forests that we still have, rather than planting more and more trees. "With second-growth forests, one of our goals is to do restoration to make sure they become the old-growth forests of the future," she says. "A huge area of the range is second-growth. We need to take what we have and make sure the forests are healthy and continue to thrive."

Restoration efforts depend on the species and location, but some common techniques include "prescribed burning, clearing out understory, thinning, cutting down smaller trees to give big trees more room to grow and invasive plant removal," said Zierten. The Save the Redwoods League also restores creeks and removes some of the many roads that were built during logging booms and cause erosion.

Furthermore, the iconic status of California redwoods may help maintain public interest in saving these climate-helping trees. Zierten encourages West-Coasters and visitors alike to explore redwoods and sequoias in places beyond Muir Woods and Sequoia National Park. "There are 93 parks that conserve redwood and sequoias," she said.

Other facts

In 1881, in Yosemite National Park, a tunnel was built through the Wawona "Tunnel" tree. It was so big that people could drive their carriages  later their cars  right through. The 2,100-year-old tree fell in 1969 under heavy snowfall (some blame the tunnel's damage). Today, there are three other privately owned tunnel trees that charge a fee to drive through. On January 8, 2017, a massive storm brought down Pioneer Cabin Tree, a popular tunnel tree that the California Department of Parks and Recreation estimated at 100 feet tall.

A fallen coast redwood will often send up new shoots, growing new trees off of its trunk. This is called a candelabra tree.

Redwoods and giant sequoias were used to build many of the original buildings in San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento in the latter 1800s.

Redwoods and giant sequoias are adept at  though by no means immune to  surviving fire. Their bark contains no flammable pitch or resin and is extremely thick.

Additional resources
"Seasonal Changes in Carbon Dioxide" was the winning entry in the "Professional" category for a data visualization contest hosted by the journal Science.

"Wow us with your best data!" That was the challenge issued by the journal Science for its second annual data-visualization competition, called Data Stories. And today (May 4), Science announced the four winning entries.

A judging panel chose standouts in three categories: student, professional and corporate entity. An online poll conducted from April 17-23 picked one People's Choice winner.

The contest, open for entries from Feb. 13 to April 14, accepted short videos no longer than 90 seconds in length, looking for submissions that used imaginative animation and storytelling methods to visually communicate stories crafted from scientific data. Entries were judged on "creativity, complexity and clarity," a contest representative told Live Science in an email. [See Video of the Data Visualization Winners]

In the Student Entry category, the winner was "Wait ... How Many People Died?" by Kate Bredbenner, a doctoral candidate studying HIV in the Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics at Rockefeller University in New York. Bredbenner also produces and stars in a YouTube series called SimpleBiologist, in which she draws on whiteboards to explain scientific research. She used this technique for her contest entry, which explored the challenge of grasping the meaning behind large numbers, particularly when they represent death tolls.

"This video was made to provide visuals for big numbers, which is something that I frequently have to do as a science communicator. It also shows the magnitude of the death tolls in early American history compared to today," Bredbenner said in a statement.

Top prize for the Professional Entry category went to "Seasonal Changes in Carbon Dioxide," submitted by Gregory Shirah, a producer of Earth-science-related visualizations for the Scientific Visualization Studio at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

In Shirah's video, a colorful 3D visualization of atmospheric carbon dioxide shows how the greenhouse gas behaves in the Northern Hemisphere from season to season, and how the gas is influenced by changing weather patterns and airflow over land features.

For the Corporate Entry category, the top prize was awarded to "Ecological Footprint of Countries: Deficit or Reserve?" submitted by Ronna Kelly, director of marketing and communications for Global Footprint Network, a research organization dedicated to shaping sustainability practices around the world.

The video showcases visualizations created by the open-data platform Ecological Footprint Explorer and explores "consumption and availability of renewable natural resources for more than 200 countries and regions," according to the video's YouTube description.

And the People's Choice award went to "Listening to Landscapes" by Sam Hooper, a doctoral candidate with the Kennedy Geospatial Lab at Oregon State University. Hooper turned to animated satellite data to illustrate the dynamic nature of Earth's surface as it gradually shifts over time.

"It's often difficult to think of a landscape existing in any other form than how we presently see it," Hooper said in a statement.

"Landscapes, however, are constantly changing," he added.

All of the video submissions for the 2017 Data Stories competition are available to view on the Science website.

Original article on Live Science.
Warming temperatures due to climate change have caused the Morteratsch glacier in Switzerland to retreat in length at a rate of about 98 feet to 131 feet (30 to 40 meters) per year.

Receding polar ice caps provide one of the main indications of climate change's impact, and researchers have been investigating how to save the world's ice. One idea is undergoing a trial run in Switzerland, where a team will attempt to refreeze a landmark glacier using snow machines, New Scientist reported (opens in new tab).

Morteratsch glacier, the test subject, will receive a layer of artificial snow each summer to protect the ice, according to New Scientist. The idea is that the glacier's surface, when covered with a thin coating of artificial snowflakes from machines, will reflect more sunlight and protect the ice below, the researchers said. Eventually, that will help the glacier to regrow, they said.

Johannes Oerlemans, lead researcher of the project and director of the Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, presented his plan at the annual meeting of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in Vienna on April 27, according to New Scientist. [Photographic Proof of Climate Change: Time-Lapse Images of Retreating Glaciers]

"The major effect of the snow is reflection of sunlight," Oerlemans said during the meeting, New Scientist reported. "As long as there's snow on top, the ice beneath is unaffected."

Oerlemans said it would take 4,000 snow machines to achieve the necessary snow cover on Morteratsch glacier, according to New Scientist."The major effect of the snow is reflection of sunlight," Oerlemans said during the meeting, New Scientist reported. "As long as there's snow on top, the ice beneath is unaffected."

The glacier is a popular tourist attraction and national treasure, but warming temperatures due to climate change have caused the glacier to retreat in length at a rate of about 98 feet to 131 feet (30 to 40 meters) per year. The glacier used to stretch about 5.3 miles (8.5 kilometers) long in 1860, but has retreated to just 3.73 miles long (6 km) today.

The nearby town of Pontresina commissioned Oerlemans and his colleagues to study how to slow down Morteratsch's retreat, according to Oerlemans' EGU talk proposal. The study concluded that covering the glacier in summer snow could have a significant effect on the rate of retreat.

Oerlemans found that covering about 0.3 square miles (0.5 square km) of a plateau high up the glacier would protect the ice beneath, New Scientist reported. Over time, this would help the glacier grow back, and Oerlemans estimated the glacier could gain up to half a mile (800 meters) in length after two decades of summer snow cover.

Original article on Live Science.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

Azerbaijan has made significant achievements in social, economic, political life, said the country's president, Ilham Aliyev, at the opening of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.

"Azerbaijan is a relatively young independent country, though a country with great history, traditions and culture," he said. "But as an independent country we're only 25 years old. Last year we celebrated the 25th anniversary of restoration of our independence."

The president went on to say that this year clearly demonstrates that when the fate of your country is in your hands, you can achieve great success.

"Azerbaijan, for centuries, has been a part of different countries, empires. And 25 years of independence, clearly demonstrate that only being free, we can achieve success. Never in the history of our nation, Azerbaijan was as strong as it is today," President Aliyev said.

He went on to say that today Azerbaijan is a rapidly developing, dynamic, modern country, which is very close to its roots, traditional roots.

At the same time, Azerbaijan is open to the world, he added.

"The biggest problem we're facing is the Armenian occupation. Unfortunately, our restoration of independence was accompanied by Armenian aggression, which resulted in occupation of our internationally recognized territory - Nagorno-Karabakh and 7 other districts," he said.

"As a result of this occupation more than a million of Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons. Our people were subject to ethnic cleansing, and today on the occupied territories, all our historical monuments, buildings are demolished by Armenia. Our mosques are destroyed," he said.

"Here in Baku we renovated the Armenian church, but Armenia in the occupied territories demolished all our historical and religious heritage. The pictures of it can be seen online," Ilham Aliyev said.

He went on to say that the OSCE twice sent the fact-finding missions to the occupied territories and their report clearly reflected the devastation of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan.

"The UN Security Council, the highest international body, adopted four resolutions, which demand immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied territories. For more than 20 years these resolutions are not implemented," the president said.

"Armenia ignores them and brutally violates international law and decisions of the Security Council, and there is no mechanism to force the aggressor to comply with the resolutions," the head of state said.

"This is a very important issue, which is of big concern to our people, that sometimes the decisions of the Security Council are implemented within days if not hours, but in our case, its more than 20 years. This is a demonstration of double standards, first of all, and this is also a demonstration of, to certain degree, inefficiency of mechanism of implementation of the resolutions," President Aliyev said.
By donating blood plasma, you can make anywhere from $40 to $100 per week. But that's loose change to Ted Slavin. He could make a hundred times that by selling his blood serum.

Not everyone can do what Slavin did, however, and not everyone may want to. Rebecca Skloot told his tale in her best-selling book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (opens in new tab). Born with hemophilia, a genetic disorder that impairs the blood's ability to clot, Slavin received blood transfusions repeatedly throughout his life. This never-ending process unfortunately exposed him to hepatitis B on countless occasions. Though Slavin's blood refused to clot, it demonstrated incredible resiliency to the viral hepatitis invaders. When his doctor tested his blood, he found a wealth of hepatitis B antibodies, Y-shaped proteins uniquely suited to fighting off the infection. The discovery blasted open a goldmine for both Slavin and scientists. They needed antibodies for research; he needed money. Slavin began charging as much as $10 for every milliliter of his blood. Pharmaceutical companies bought it wholesale. Slavin's body was now his business.

With a sizable and steady stream of income secured, Slavin soon begin looking for charitable causes to champion. He found it with Dr. Baruch Blumberg at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. At no cost, Slavin supplied Baruch and his team of researchers with copious amounts of his valuable blood, which they used to develop the first hepatitis B vaccine. Blumberg would win a Nobel Prize for his efforts. When Slavin died in November 1984, Blumberg honored his generosity.

"We will long remember Ted Slavin as a gallant man who loved life and who contributed greatly to our research efforts," he wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Anna O'Connell, a scientist stationed at Fox Chase, had a similar opportunity to Slavin, but chose a somewhat different course. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the tender age of 28, O'Connell learned that her blood contained armies of antibodies that dwarfed Slavin's. As a researcher, she knew the moneymaking potential of her blood, but when doctors asked for bucketfuls of the stuff, she freely gave it. They subsequently developed a valuable, lifesaving test for which she received no money. It doesn't bother her.

The same cannot be said for John Moore, another person whose body turned out to be brimming with biological treasure. In the 1970s and 1980s, Moore visited David Golde, a cancer researcher at UCLA, to treat his hairy-cell leukemia, but Moore was unaware that the entire time Golde was using his fluid and tissue samples to develop a cell line for use in scientific research. That cell line was later valued at $3 billion!

When Moore found out, he considered Golde's actions tantamount to theft, and filed a lawsuit. After a lengthy battle that ended up in the California Supreme Court, Moore lost. As Skloot summarized (opens in new tab), the judges ruled that "when tissues are removed from your body, with or without your consent, any claim you might have had to owning them vanishes."

The decision from Moore's case constitutes the primary precedent that currently exists on this legally murky issue. In an opinion published to a 2012 issue ofScience, Dr. Robert Truog, Director of the Center for Bioethics at Harvard Medical School, interpreted how things currently shake out in the real world.

"We have argued that patients have the right to decline, for any reason, consent for procedures that procure tissue from their bodies. Implicit in this claim is that patients have the right to demand payment in exchange for consent. The next question is whether investigators should provide such payment, or whether they should only accept tissue when the patient offers it as a gift."

Truog, along with co-authors Aaron S. Kesselheim and Steven Joffe, contend that scientists should only accept freely donated tissue, unless "the tissue's market value can be estimated beforehand." They add a key codicil, however.

"The altruism of patients to donate tissue to medical research must be met by similar generosity on the part of investigators and institutions. This could be accomplished through legislative mandates that promote the sharing of research findings and products with other scientists, or by voluntary efforts of investigators and institutions to do the same."

If patients with valuable blood, tissues, or cells freely donate pieces of their body to science, then scientists should openly share the resulting discoveries. It's only fair.

Original article on RealClearScience.
A giant meteor impact on Earth nearly 2 billion years ago triggered more explosive and long-lived volcanic eruptions than previously thought, a new study finds.

This finding sheds light on how meteor bombardment may have dramatically shaped the evolution of the early Earth, researchers in the new study said.

Meteor strikes have left giant craters all over Earth. For instance, the cosmic impact that scientists think ended the age of dinosaurs about 66 million years ago left behind a crater more than 110 miles (180 kilometers) wide near the town of Chicxulub (CHEEK-sheh-loob) in Mexico. [In Photos: The Impact Craters of North America]

Gargantuan craters are seen pockmarking the rest of the solar system as well. Recent studies of such impact craters on the moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars suggested that meteor strikes could trigger volcanic activity.

However, over the course of millions of years, geological activity has eradicated the vast majority of ancient impact craters on Earth. This has limited research into whether meteor strikes could also set off volcanism on Earth, said study senior author Balz Kamber, a geochemist in Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, and his colleagues.

To see what effects giant impacts might have had on the surface of the Earth, the researchers analyzed one of the oldest meteor craters on the planet, the 1.85-billion-year-old Sudbury basin in Canada. It's also the second-largest and best-preserved crater on Earth, measuring about 93 to 161 miles (150 to 260 km) in diameter. A 2015 study estimated that the crater may have been created by a comet about 9.3 miles (15 km) wide.

From 2013 to 2014, the scientists in the new study collected samples from the 0.93-mile-thick (1.5 km) layer of rock that filled the Sudbury crater. Although the crater is easy for researchers to get to, "there are lots and lots of blackflies in the spring, and later mosquitoes, and in the summer, there are a lot of blueberries, and so a lot of black bears," Kamber said.

The scientists examined 139 samples from 15 locations in the crater. Their analysis suggested that this material not only consisted of rock that had melted from the heat of the impact, but was also peppered with tiny fragments of volcanic rock.

The researchers noted that these volcanic rocks often had very distinctive angular shapes resembling crab claws. These shapes form when gas bubbles expand in molten rock that then catastrophically explodes, a feature of violent eruptions involving water, such as those seen under glaciers in Iceland, the researchers explained. They said these angular Sudbury volcanic rocks likely arose when seawater flooded the crater floor, either gradually or suddenly.

In addition, the scientists found that the composition of these volcanic-rock fragments varied in nature, with some originating from molten crust and others from "a deeper magma source," Kamber said. These findings suggested that the volcanic activity that created these rocks changed over time and was therefore prolonged, he said.

How long might this meteor-triggered volcanism have lasted? "I think 1 million years would have been an upper limit," Kamber said. "Hundreds of thousands of years is a more reasonable estimate."

These findings shed light on how meteors could have influenced the evolution of early Earth, Kamber said.

"About 3.8 billion to 4 billion years ago, we know the inner solar system experienced heavy bombardment from impactors," Kamber said. The oldest rocks on the planet coincide with the last peak of this bombardment, suggesting that "the older rocks on Earth were somehow destroyed by this bombardment," he said. "The bombardment alone would not have done sufficient damage to have caused the comprehensive loss of primordial rocks on Earth, but if that bombardment also triggered additional eruptions, that could have buried the primordial rocks and plowed them back into the mantle."

The scientists said they are now investigating whether the deep magma they detected in the crater came from the deep crust or from the mantle layer just beneath Earth's crust. They detailed their findings April 22 in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.

Original article on Live Science.
In 2011, the seafloor jolted and sent waves up to 133 feet (41 meters) high over parts of Japan. In 2004, the entire planet vibrated as an undersea quake near Sumatra pushed tsunamis over coastlines across the Indian Ocean. In 2016, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake ruptured multiple faults near Kaikoura, New Zealand, in what seismologists say could be the most complicated earthquake on record.

What do all these events have in common? They happened in subduction zones  and in every case, the Earth did something scientists absolutely did not expect.

Subduction zones are regions where one tectonic plate grinds under another like an enormous conveyer belt. It's elementary-level knowledge that these massive forces give rise to earthquakes and volcanism, and most people who live in subduction zones are at least intellectually aware that the ground beneath them could start shifting at any moment. [The 10 Biggest Earthquakes in History]

But researchers can't predict when big quakes will happen, or where. They can't explain the subterranean plumbing of volcanic systems, or how earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are related. They're consistently surprised by megaquakes that rupture areas larger than they thought possible or in places they never predicted.

In an effort to delve into these questions, seismologists and volcanologists are now taking a cue from physicists and astronomers: They're banding together. A new effort called the SZ4D Initiative aims to pull together researchers to get measurements of subduction zones that no one lab could achieve on its own. Where physicists have particle accelerators and astronomers have observatories, seismologists hope to deploy massive networks of monitors to observe the entire lifecycle of massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. At the annual meeting of the Seismological Society of America in Denver in April, Live Science spoke with Diego Melgar, a seismologist at Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, about why this initiative is sorely needed.

Live Science: Why don't we know enough about big seismic and volcanic events?

Diego Melgar: Big events, be they earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, are comparatively rare. When you think about hurricanes or tornadoes, there is a season for them every year, but big, damaging things associated with subduction zones  they're rare.

We've really only had seismometers for 120 years. In those 120 years, we've seen a lot, but we still haven't seen what a tropical meteorologist sees in one season. So we still are surprised, often, when a big event happens. We're like, "Oh, I didn't know that could happen."

Live Science: What surprises you? In a subduction zone, there are going to be earthquakes and volcanoes.

Melgar: Every scientist you ask would probably have a different answer! Personally, what still surprises me is just the dimensions of these things. When you think of the Sumatra earthquake in 2004, the length of the fault that ruptured was 1,000 kilometers  you know, 600 miles. It took almost 10 minutes. We're puny humans. That still sort of boggles the mind.

Another thing that is surprising is the particularities of their behavior. They can break all the way to the surface of the Earth, and that's what creates these big, giant tsunamis. The relative movement between the two sides of the fault in Japan in 2011 was almost 200 feet [61 m]. It's kind of impressive.

Live Science: Why do those particularities matter?

Melgar: How an earthquake breaks, where it breaks, etcetera, dictates how strong the shaking will be, where that strong shaking will be and how big the tsunami will be. Population growth in coastal areas is growing, so we are growing into areas of high hazard. In many cases, communities are either unaware of that hazard, or planning building codes and making resilient societies is more or less an afterthought, because urban planning in many parts of the world is not really a priority. Understanding where these big earthquakes can happen and what they are going to look like is a foundation to inform societies of how they should plan for the next century, for the next two centuries. [Waves of Destruction: The Biggest Tsunamis in History]

Live Science: What's stopping us from knowing more?

Melgar: Earthquakes at subduction zones happen mostly offshore. Most of our instruments are on land. We need instruments on the seafloor.

Deploying things on the seafloor is A, very expensive and B, technologically challenging. It's like going to the moon. But everybody more or less agrees we need to go there to solve these problems.

Live Science: How is the SZ4D Initiative going to further that goal?

Melgar: It has to be a community thing. Think of something like CERN [the physics lab that houses the largest particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider]. One principal investigator couldn't think of building a particle accelerator.

Everyone is working really on the same problem, but from very different angles, and not always communicating with each other. We're trying to build more of a consensus of what we should do.

The other big challenge here is that it's expensive.

Live Science: How would you fund something like a seafloor seismic network?

Melgar: This is particularly focused on the National Science Foundation. NSF cares about basic science, but there are many parallel efforts that could be  to use a hackneyed word  synergistic. The early warning programs, like ShakeAlert on the West Coast, obviously have some bearing on this. There are also efforts to do tsunami warning in the Pacific Northwest through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] and NASA.

In Japan, they have this thing called S-net. It's a fiber-optic cable on the seafloor, basically what we would like to have. It spans thousands of kilometers of the islands and it cost them around $400 to $500 million. I don't think NSF alone has the budget for that. [NSF's total annual budget for all basic research funding in 2016 was $7.4 billion.]

There is a lot of push and pull in the community right now. If we don't want to do this for early warning, if it's for basic science, then we don't really need real-time monitoring. That makes things cheaper.

Live Science: How is the current political climate with regard to federal research funding affecting this effort?

Melgar: That's a big one. Just the general atmosphere of devaluing facts and rational argumentation over more emotional arguments is making everyone uneasy. In other parts of Earth science, the impacts are already quite severe. If you work on climate change, on atmospheric science, on the cryosphere [the dynamics of ice in the Earth system], you are already seeing the impact in terms of dollars and cents. For us, it is not yet clear, but I don't think anybody is hopeful the budgets will go up.

Original article on Live Science.
In 1912 Arthur Smith Woodward, a paleontologist with the Natural History Museum, and Charles Dawson, an amateur antiquarian, reported the discovery of a new species of early human at Piltdown in England which they believed could date back one million years. It was given the name Eoanthropus dawsoni.

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

In 1912, Charles Dawson, an amateur archaeologist in England, claimed he'd made one of the most important fossil discoveries ever. Ultimately, however, his "Piltdown Man" proved to be a hoax. By cleverly pairing a human skull with an orangutan's jaw  stained to match and give the appearance of age  a mysterious forger duped the scientific world.

In the decades between the find's unearthing and the revelation it was fraudulent, people in the United States and around the world learned about Piltdown Man as a "missing link" connecting ape and man. Newspaper articles, scientific publications and museum exhibitions all presented Piltdown Man as a legitimate scientific discovery supporting a particular vision of human evolution.

Historians, science writers and others have investigated the Piltdown Man controversy (opens in new tab) over the years, shedding new light on the fraud. As we reconsider the nature of "facts," "fake news" and knowledge production, it's worthwhile to revisit the Piltdown Man episode.

At issue was not just the deliberate hoax, but also the incomplete flow of information about the purported human ancestor. Soon after the discovery, access to the original materials in England was cut off by a few gatekeepers. Science is suffocated when researchers are unable to reliably corroborate claims made by others. The same issues arise today, with the research community grappling with what's been called a reproducibility crisis (opens in new tab); scientists need access to evidence and data in order to replicate (or not) research results. The Piltdown Man controversy lends support to the modern open science movement, with its call for transparency at every step of the scientific process.

Limited firsthand access

Experts immediately cited the discovery of a large human-like cranium with a primitive-looking, ape-like jaw as a major breakthrough. Influential anatomists such as Sir Arthur Keith hailed Piltdown Man as authentic. The popular press on both sides of the Atlantic described prehistoric archaeology as a dramatic hunt for a missing link and came to embrace Piltdown Man within an oversimplified framework of human evolution.

But there were some scientists  notably British Museum curator Reginald A. Smith  who were skeptical from the outset. Doubters noted the major find was attributed to a previously little-known archaeologist.

Curators in the United States impatiently hoped to learn more. But transatlantic requests were denied by their counterparts in Britain who controlled access to the cranium and jaw, moving the bones to a secure vault at the Museum of Natural History in London. Rumors swirled.

Controversial Smithsonian curator Ales Hrdlicka describes in an annual report traveling to England himself:

"Regrettably the specimen was not yet available for examination by outsiders, and so no original opinion can be given concerning its status. It represents doubtless one of the most interesting finds relating to man's antiquity, though seemingly the last word had not yet been said as to its date and especially as to the physical characteristics of the being it stands for."

Early in the 20th century, provocative claims about discoveries commonly circulated through letters, rumors and splashy newspaper articles suggesting major new finds. American museums were simultaneously intrigued and frustrated by word of significant finds like Piltdown Man. Some claims proved to be genuine, while many others were found to be falsified or misleading. With limited information, it was especially difficult to determine the validity of claims made by scientists abroad.

News about major discoveries might change planned exhibitions about human evolution or prehistory at museums in New York or Chicago, or influence what students were taught about human history. Uncertainty plagued museums in this regard, as their scientists tried to view skeletons firsthand on visits to European museums and to secure good casts or copies for their own collections. Even amid growing doubts, a major exhibition in San Diego that opened in 1915 prominently featured a Piltdown Man sculpture.

What's the damage done?

This lack of transparency resulted in an absence of accurate information in the scientific community.

It ultimately took until the later decades of the 20th century for the Piltdown bones to be fully discredited. The hoax was likely created by Dawson himself, though who exactly concocted the scam is still debated (opens in new tab)  "Sherlock Holmes" author Arthur Conan Doyle's name has even been mentioned as a possible perpetrator.

As Berkeley anthropologist Sherwood Washburn offered in a letter, "My opinion is that if more people had seen the originals sooner the fake would have been recognized." Confusion had arisen because so few scholars were granted access to the original evidence.

Part of what finally put Piltdown Man to rest was the nature of new discoveries emerging. They informed researchers' developing understanding of the human past and began turning much scientific attention away from Europe toward Asia and Africa.

While it is impossible to know with certainty, the Piltdown Man episode likely slowed scientific progress in the global search for human ancestors. What is clear is that the claims worked to muddle popular knowledge about human evolution.

Piltdown Man's lessons for today

The unknown forger behind Piltdown Man intentionally misled the world about human evolution. The false claims rippled through the news media and museum exhibitions. Without access to reliable sources, in this case the original bones, the fraudulent story of Piltdown Man spread like a slowly building wildfire.

The Piltdown Man controversy hints at the dangers of drawing conclusions based on limited or emerging information, for both the public and scientists. In some ways, the whole episode foreshadowed threats we face now from fake news and the spread of misinformation about science and many other topics. It is hard to get to the truth  whether about a news story or scientific theory  without access to the evidence supporting it.

Certainly new information flows much more rapidly today  thanks to the internet and social media  potentially a partial corrective to the problems connected to misleading claims. However, scientists and others still need access to accurate and reliable information from original sources. With the Piltdown Man remains locked away in a secure museum vault, speculation and misinformation flourished.

Support is now building for an open access research model: When possible and appropriate, original materials, data and preliminary findings should be made available to others in the field. Scientists also work to balance how quickly they publish new research: It takes time to do careful work, but keeping finds hidden away for too long also impedes progress and understanding.

Consider a 2003 find from Indonesia that was as shocking as the discovery of Piltdown Man: a nearly complete female skeleton researchers suggested was from a tiny human ancestor they called Homo floresiensis (commonly nicknamed "hobbit"). Media speculation ran wild early on about this new species added to our family tree, but paleoanthropology has evolved a great deal since Piltdown Man.

Scientists from several different groups worked to understand the discovery  seeking related finds and going back to the original fossils to systematically assess the claim. Soon additional detailed scientific publications began to emerge, allowing the scientific community to continue to add to the evidence and better scrutinize the discovery. To date, the teeth of at many as 12 individuals have been found.

Homo floresiensis are likely a genuinely groundbreaking discovery  hopefully the more transparent way the research unfolded makes this easier to untangle than Dawson's claims a century ago. Thoughtful collaboration, making data available openly, more effective popular science communication and multiple channels of accurate information may help us better respond to the next Piltdown Man.

Samuel Redman, Assistant Professor of History, University of Massachusetts Amherst

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
After a motorbike collided with him, an 8-year-old boy experienced a handlebar hernia injury on his abdomen.

A boy crossing a street in Cameroon got a rare and painful abdominal injury when a motorbike driver lost control and ran into him, according to a new report.

During the accident, the 275-lb. (125 kilograms) motorbike fell on the 8-year-old boy, and its handlebars smashed into his abdomen, giving him an injury that doctors call a "handlebar hernia," his doctors said.

Hernias develop when an organ pokes through the cavity that holds it, said Dr. Valirie Ndip Agbor, a physician who treated the boy at the Ibal sub-Divisional Hospital in Oku, a rural community in northwestern Cameroon, in central Africa, and reported his case. Hernias most commonly occur in the abdomen, for instance when the intestines break through a weakened area in the abdominal wall. [Here's a Giant List of the Strangest Medical Cases We've Covered]

In the boy's case, the motorbike's handlebars caused a rupture in his abdominal muscles and the underlying tissue called the fascia, making a hole internally, which his intestines pushed through, although the skin itself did not break.

Handlebar hernias are uncommon  the doctors found just 29 published reports of them in children over the past 30 years  but if doctors fail to diagnose and treat them properly, these hernias can develop complications or even be fatal, Ndip Agbor said.

"This boy presented with abdominal swelling after the trauma, which could have been a lot of things," Ndip Agbor told Live Science in an email. "Therefore, we advise physicians, parents and guardians to be aware of [this] condition when faced with a similar condition."

When the boy came to the hospital's emergency room, the doctors found that he had a deep cut on his scalp and swelling on the left side of his abdomen, according to the case report, published online March 31 in the Journal of Medical Case Reports.

"He was immediately administered painkillers, and then his laceration was stitched in our emergency department," Ndip Agbor said. The doctors discovered the hernia during a physical examination to determine whether his internal organs, including the intestines and spleen, were injured.

"Two major structures of the abdominal wall, called muscles and fascia [fibrous tissue] prevent protrusion of the internal organs out of the abdominal cavity," he explained. "Any form of weakness in these two structures (muscle and fascia), will result in an abdominal hernia."

To treat the injury, the doctors scheduled a surgical repair of the hernia, known as a herniorrhaphy, the next day.

"The surgery was successful, and the boy was sent home on the ninth day following surgery without complications," Ndip Agbor said.

The report is an important reminder that handlebar hernias can happen in bicycle or motor-vehicle accidents, said Dr. Michael Grosso, a pediatrician and the chief medical officer of Huntington Hospital in Huntington, New York, who was not involved with the Cameroon case.

Moreover, the report highlights the importance of bike safety, Grosso said. About 26,000 children and teenagers sustain serious brain injuries associated with bicycle accidents in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"A very significant number [of these injuries] would be preventable with the proper use of a bicycle helmet," Grosso told Live Science in an email. "Despite campaigns to increase their use, bike helmets are still underutilized."

Original article on Live Science.
On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg airship became engulfed in flames and crashed to the ground as it attempted to land at the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, New Jersey.

When the massive Hindenburg airship made its debut, it was heralded as the future of luxury air travel, but after a trans-Atlantic flight on May 6, 1937, the German passenger airship was suddenly engulfed in flames and crashed as it attempted to land at the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, New Jersey. The disaster killed 35 people and became a symbol of the end of the airship era.

Now, 80 year later, speculation still swirls about what happened on that fateful evening in May, so what is it that brought down the Hindenburg?

"From the safety perspective, there were always problems with airships," said airship historian Dan Grossman. "They are big, unwieldy and difficult to manage. They are very affected by the wind, and because they need to be light, they are also quite fragile. On top of that, most airships were inflated with hydrogen, which is a very dangerous and highly flammable substance." [In Photos: The History of the Hindenburg Disaster]

Investigations in the aftermath of the disaster, as well as later reconstructions, confirmed it was the hydrogen combined with inclement weather at Lakehurst that took the airship down.

"The Hindenburg disaster has a bit of an air of a mystery around it, but to be honest, I don't think there is a reason for that," Grossman told Live Science. "We know pretty much everything about it. We know that hydrogen was leaking and that it was ignited probably by an electrostatic discharge caused by the weather there was a thunderstorm at the time of the landing."

Beyond conspiracies

According to Grossman, the only real mystery of the Hindenburg disaster is the cause of the leaky hydrogen. Speculations arose soon after the accident that the airship may have been taken down by a saboteur, an enemy of the rising Nazi Germany  after all, it was 1937, only two years before the beginning of World War II.

"It is much more attractive to think that someone tried to blow up a Nazi airship than to think about an electrical discharge from a storm," Grossman said.

"But, no evidence of a bomb has been found in 80 years," he added.

The Zeppelin Co., which owned the Hindenburg, was the first to speculate that deliberate action may have brought down the passenger ship. The company had been received threatening letters in the past, but the firm later abandoned that hypothesis and endorsed the static-spark explanation.

However, conspiracy theories die hard, and the Hindenburg inferno kept stirring the public imagination. Several books have been published over the years looking for a human culprit behind the accident, one of which was turned into the plot for the 1975 film "The Hindenburg."

The airship era

But the Hindenburg's fiery demise wasn't the first or only airship disaster. It wasn't even the deadliest one. In fact, although the blaze turned the 800-foot-long (245 meters) zeppelin into a pile of ashes and rubble in less than 1 minute, 61 of the 97 people on board survived the crash, albeit with injuries.

British R101, which held the title of the world's largest airship before the Hindenburg, was involved in a deadlier crash, when it slammed into a forest in northern France in 1930, killing 48 of 54 people aboard. (Interestingly, some sources claim the Germans used material salvaged from R101's wreckage to build the Hindenburg, according to the Bedford Borough Council.)

"At the time of the Hindenburg disaster, airships were already an outdated and obsolete technology about to be replaced with the much faster and more efficient airplanes," Grossman said.

Yet, there is one main reason the Hindenburg disaster left an indelible mark in aviation history, and why the accident became seared in people's minds: The airship's flame-filled end was captured on film.

"The real reason why we still talk about [the] Hindenburg is that it was caught on film and that in 1937 was something really remarkable. Today, people are used to seeing things on TV or on the internet, but in 1937, people were not used to seeing disasters with their own eyes," he added.

It was the Hindenburg's first arrival to the U.S. from Germany in its second season of flight. Curious locals as well as news crews and photographers gathered to witness the spectacle. Little did they know, the experience would be far more unforgettable than they expected.

The imagery of the "pride of the skies" turning into a ball of fire as it approached a mooring mast in stormy weather is now part of the cultural heritage, and so is the eyewitness radio report by journalist Herbert Morrison.

All this made the Hindenburg disaster much more prominent in the eyes of the public than other airship catastrophes that took place.

But according to Dan Grossman, airships weren't here to stay either way. Two years after the Hindenburg disaster, Pan American started operating the first trans-Atlantic passenger service using Boeing 314 airplanes, reducing the cost of air travel as well as journey times, and ushering in the true air transportation revolution.

Original article on Live Science.
At Mach 2.2, the supersonic jet could fly between New York City and London in 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic has just partnered with startup Boom Technology to build a supersonic aircraft, Boom Technology announced. The plane would zip through the skies faster than the Concorde jet or any other commercial aircraft today, Boom Technology said.

Aircraft that fly faster than the speed of sound were first developed in the mid-20th century. But regulations and technical challenges halted innovation and expansion of the concept, said Boom Technology, which has headquarters in Denver. The aviation startup said it aims to change that by developing a modern, supersonic passenger jet that travels at Mach 2.2. That's twice the speed of sound, or 1,451 mph (2,335 km/h). The Concorde, a now-retired supersonic passenger jet, flew at speeds of up to about 1,350 mph (2,180 km/h).

Boom also aims to set a new speed record for civil aircraft, according to a blog post by Blake Scholl, CEO and founder of Boom. [Supersonic! The 11 Fastest Military Airplanes]

At Mach 2.2, passengers could travel between New York City and London in 3 hours and 15 minutes, the company said. The supersonic jet could fly between San Francisco and Tokyo in 5.5 hours, or between Sydney and Los Angeles in 6 hours and 45 minutes.

"Building a supersonic airplane is not easy  but it is important," Scholl wrote, describing the startup's motivations. "While we love the hard engineering and technical challenges, what really drives us is the enormous human benefit of faster travel."

Commercial air travel's last major speed improvement occurred in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with the introduction of commercial jets, Scholl said. Such jets, he said, made possible the "Hawaii vacation," shortening a 15- to 16 -hour flight to just 5 to 6 hours.

Supersonic commercial travel could have a similar impact, making the farthest regions of the planet more accessible, Scholl said.

"Imagine traveling across the Atlantic [Ocean], getting business done [in Europe] and being home to tuck your children into bed," Scholl wrote, "or saving two whole days of a typical round-trip itinerary to Asia.  When time is no longer a limit, where will you vacation? Where will you do business?"

Boom recently raised $33 million in new funding to develop the startup's first supersonic passenger jet. The company will first build the "Baby Boom," a prototype of the eventual full-size Boom aircraft, Air Transport World (ATW) reported.

Baby Boom's first test flight is planned for 2018, Scholl announced at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Wings of Change conference this week, according to ATW. The full-size Boom, which would carry up to 55 passengers in an all-business-class configuration, is targeted for tests in 2020 and certification from the Federal Aviation Administration by 2023, ATW reported.

Original article on Live Science.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Azerbaijan makes an important contribution to the development of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, said Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, high representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

He made the remarks at a press conference dedicated to 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.

Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser noted that intercultural dialogue allows achieving peace and reconciliation around the world.

Today, it is very important to show respect for cultural diversity and ensure peaceful coexistence. The Baku process allows creating such a platform. The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue held in Baku has become an important factor in the modern world, he said.

He said the development of intercultural dialogue creates conditions for the elimination of violent and extremist ideas.

Today Azerbaijan makes an important contribution to the development of intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the world, he said, adding he is very pleased to participate in the Baku forum.

The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, titled Advancing Intercultural Dialogue  New avenues for human security, peace and sustainable development kicked off in Baku on May 4.

The forum will last until May 6, and it aims at further promoting and sustaining understanding and dialogue within and between cultures.

The forum is organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.

Its agenda includes topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.
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San Francisco city departments suffered $187,000 in revenue and operating losses during the April 21 power failure, and theyre going to ask PG&E to pay up.

The city will seek reimbursement for the loss of revenue as a result of the power outage, City Administrator Naomi Kelly said Friday, after receiving the estimates from city Controller Ben Rosenfield.

Mayor Ed Lee, who directed Kelly to file the claim, said he and other officials expect PG&E to do everything in their power to make sure these types of incidents do not happen again.

The citys Municipal Transportation Agency took the biggest hit from the eight-hour blackout, giving up nearly $180,000 in lost fares and citation revenue, along with the cost of supplying extra bus service when six lines that normally run on electricity went down.

SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose said his department accounts for unplanned incidents such as these in its operating budget.

During the power outage our efforts were focused on making adjustments to transit service and deploying officers to assist with traffic ... and less on expenditures and revenues, he said in a statement released Friday.

Five other departments also lost money that day. The Department of Emergency Management paid $2,361 for extra labor, food and generator fuel. The Police Department spent $1,665 on extended patrol shifts. Public Health bore $1,561 in overtime costs, the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center paid $1,045 to reprogram its control boards and fuel its generator, and the Sheriffs Department paid $853 in overtime to its emergency response team.

The controller's analysis did not include all the revenue San Francisco businesses forfeited when they had to close up shop during the blackout. Department of Emergency Management spokesman Francis Zamora said in a recent interview that the city might add up those losses separately.

PG&E has provided reimbursement for blackouts before, paying $6.5 million for a 2003 blackout that choked off business downtown during a busy holiday shopping day. That power failure stemmed from a fire at a major substation  the same thing that caused the massive power failure April 21, when a fire in a Tenderloin substation knocked out power for seven hours to much of downtown and northern areas of the city.

PG&E spokeswoman Andrea Menniti could not immediately comment because the company had yet to see the controllers analysis and the citys claim. Kelly and two other city officials  Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White and Department of Emergency Management Director Anne Kronenberg  recently sent a letter to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. asking the company to inspect all of its San Francisco substations and provide detailed information on equipment failures, recovery measures and future repairs.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan

Expensive blackout

Costs associated with the April 21 blackout as reported by San Francisco agencies:
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While Americans slept last night, burger chain heiress Lynsi Snyder became a billionaire without doing anything but celebrating her 35th birthday.

As part of her inheritance, the majority owner of In-N-Out Burger had to turn 35 years old in order to have her share of the burger chain upped to 97 percent.

SPEAKING OUT: In-N-Out's reclusive heiress reveals shocking details about her family and relationships

She inherited 50 percent of the In-N-Out shares when she turned 30, but on May 5, 2017 things became a bit more lucrative. She's now worth an estimated $1.3 billion, according to Forbes on Friday morning.

By all estimates today's change made her one of the wealthiest women in the United States. A spokesperson for In-N-Out told Forbes that that estimate was inaccurate but declined to elaborate.

Her grandparents, Harry and Esther Snyder, founded the chain in 1948. Two sons of the couple died relatively young, including Lynsi's father Guy.

Since 2010 Lynsi Snyder has been able to help push the company even farther than her grandparents could have imagined, moving into Texas and the Pacific Northwest. There are now 320 locations across the country including 34 in Texas.

PREVIOUS: In-N-Out Burger coming to Houston

She's been integral to the next chapters for the iconic burger chain and in 2015 told CBS News that the company will always be family-owned and never public. Money doesn't seem to be a motivating factor.

"My heart is totally connected to this company because of my family and the fact that they're not here, you know. I have a strong tie to keep this the way they would want it," she told the outlet.
"Risk" wasn't the movie Laura Poitras expected to make. The documentarian, who won an Oscar for chronicling Edward Snowden's whistleblowing in "Citizenfour," spent years following Julian Assange and his WikiLeaks team starting in 2011, including his right-hand woman, Sarah Harrison, and co-founder Jacob Appelbaum.

But as she filmed, a movie about the dangerous business of disseminating classified information turned into a story about avoiding extradition, not to mention a character study of the highly controversial figure. Assange made waves by releasing the Chelsea Manning-leaked war logs and video of what WikiLeaks called a "collateral murder" in Iraq -- long before Hillary Clinton partially blamed him for losing her the presidency. Poitras couldn't have guessed she'd end up capturing footage of Assange sneaking around and donning a disguise in order to seek asylum at London's Ecuadorian embassy. He did so in 2012 after a British court ruled he had to go to Sweden and answer questions about allegations from two women of sexual misconduct, and he's been holed up at the embassy ever since.

Poitras, who's now based in New York, visited Washington, D.C., recently for a screening of the movie and sat down with The Washington Post to discuss her admiration for WikiLeaks, her complex feelings about Assange and the difficult business of alerting viewers to her own relationship with one of the film's subjects. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

Washington Post: I'm sure it's not easy for Assange to let people in.

Poitras: It took time. It's not easy for good reason. They were really under extreme pressure in terms of the U.S. government investigation [for releasing information handed over by Manning].

WP: How often were you filming him?

Poitras: The type of filmmaking I do, verite -- observational filmmaking -- I'm interested in when things are happening. So things happening would be like: him going to court or when he was calling the State Department trying to reach Hillary Clinton when they realized that there was a journalist who had published one of their passwords.

That happened when I was in New York, and I got a message from somebody who works with Julian saying, "Something's happening now if you want to get on a plane." I heard about it at noon and I was on a plane by the end of the day. I was in Norfolk [England] 24 hours later filming.

The thing to know about Julian is he's trying to protect information. So when he decided to seek asylum, even people on his staff didn't know he was doing that. And he wouldn't tell me; I'd just be there and I'd film and find out later what was happening.

I got into the car thinking we were going to court, and realized that his mom was [in town]. When I walked into the hotel room, I thought we were there just to meet his mom, but then he was changing his appearance and I was thinking, "Okay, what is happening here?"

WP: When you went into the process of filming did you have a sense of what the story would be?

Poitras: I always go in with some big questions and some big themes with every film I've ever made. And then once I start filming the big ideas always change.

[This project's themes were] adversarial journalism and the internet. Julian understood the power of the internet to transform political realities globally and he understood how it was going to transform journalism and how it was going to shift power balances. And by creating this anonymous drop box where sources could release information, he was anticipating what we've seen since, which are these massive leaks from Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden and others, where digital communication allows for more information to be shared. And so I was interested in all those themes.

But, as you see in the film, part of the plot of the story line was this fight against extradition and so that's what I end up spending a lot of time filming.

WP: I liked the occasional first-person narration, which helped explain some of the contradictions about him as a character. At one point you say something like, "I don't know why he's letting me do this. I don't even think he likes me." Why did you decide to include those observations?

Poitras: I take notes when I'm working and write down ideas and that was coming from what I was writing at the time when I was working on the film. I think it was a way to articulate the contradictions and ambivalence I was feeling and it was also for the audience to have a way to be okay with that. I think the film contains or shows incredible bravery and brilliance and also some disturbing attitude and behaviors.

WP: You also mentioned during voiceover that you didn't trust him.

Poitras: That was at a very different point. When I started filming with Julian, I was an outsider.

But then, when I was contacted by Snowden, I got pulled into the story as more of a participant, and I had to navigate some of the same issues. That's where the trust issue came in, because. . . Julian was pressuring me to share documents [that Snowden had given her]. And I didn't because I couldn't. It was partly about what to redact and what not to redact -- we had differences of opinions. Our split emerged out of that because I was pulled into the story more and had to make decisions that, quite frankly, he wasn't happy with, which is fine. It also wasn't only my decision. It was Ed Snowden's decision to decide who to leak information to.

But I also feel for Julian, because in that situation, [WikiLeaks editor] Sarah Harrison took enormous risks to secure [Snowden's] asylum [and is now living in exile in Germany], and that was a risk I wouldn't take.

WP: Speaking of him not being too happy, I understand he's not crazy about the movie. Are you in contact at all?

Poitras: You hear in the film -- I quote a text that he sent me where he says the film is a severe threat to his freedom and he's forced to treat it accordingly. He sent me that right before a screening we did a year ago at the Cannes Film Festival. I haven't really talked to him since I received that, but my producer has, so we're still in contact. And my producer screened the film for him in early April. I think he's still not happy, and what he's expressed and asked us to do is to remove scenes where he's speaking about the Swedish case, which we haven't done.

WP: Speaking of the Cannes Film Festival I know that this cut is very different from what premiered, right?

Poitras: The whole third act didn't exist before -- the whole election. It's very up-to-date as of two weeks ago when Jeff Sessions issued those very frightening threats against leakers.

WP: How do you decide when a story that's still unfolding is done?

Poitras: I don't mind that a film continues beyond the frame. Closure is a kind of fiction. "Citizenfour" ended on a note of a new whistleblower coming forward. The ripple effects would continue well beyond the film.

I think the similar thing with "Risk" is that the story will continue to evolve beyond where the film stops. But I felt there was closure on enough things. [James] Comey's hearing [on March 20] was historic. To have the director of the FBI say they were investigating a sitting president was a big deal and [he addressed] the election. As soon as I saw that, I thought, okay we have the ending because it tells us the mechanics of what happened -- there was a Russian hack and then an intermediary was used to share information with WikiLeaks. And even after I thought I was finished, I added those comments from Jeff Sessions.

WP: The one voiceover that seemed like such a bombshell was your admission about having a relationship with WikiLeaks cofounder Jacob Appelbaum. Did you grapple with how to handle that?

Poitras: My editor Erin Casper and I grappled with it a lot. What happened was after we did the screening at Cannes, I knew [the film] wasn't done then. But then two weeks later the [sexual abuse] allegations [against Appelbaum] came out. So I have to address the allegations [in the film] and, if I address the allegations, I also have to be transparent about my involvement -- partly because I had insight. Not only did I reveal the involvement but I also say I knew someone close to me that he was abusive toward, and I felt like that insight was important to share with the audience. [He has denied the accusations.]

I felt the need to look at these questions around attitudes and gender that exist in the hacker community, but not just in the hacker community. I wanted to be able to say that I have no problem defending the work of WikiLeaks but I'm not going to defend behavior that is derogatory or abusive and that those two things can coexist. These are two people that have risked their freedom and everything for the work that they do and I continue to have respect for that.

WP: Then there's the question of getting too close to a source that you're capturing. Do you see that as problematic and do you worry that viewers will question your credibility?

Poitras: I'm not going to speak for the viewer. What had happened was, [at the time of the relationship] I thought ["Citizenfour" and "Risk"] would be one and realized it was too much for one film and I didn't know I was coming back to the WikiLeaks film. So, you know, it's in the film and I'll let the audience decide how to feel about it. But the involvement happened after I was filming.

WP: Julian has said that he had no ties to Russia

Poitras: Well, he said that his source wasn't a state actor.

WP: Do you take him at his word? After filming him do you think he's trustworthy?

Poitras: It's complicated. I do say at some point in the film that he uses code names, denial, deception and compartmentalization. Julian is interested in protecting sources. So yeah, he uses disinformation to throw people off the track all the time. That's his style. What he's said is that his source is not a state actor. What Comey has said is that Russia did the hack but used a cutout, or intermediary. Those are not mutually exclusive.

There's the separate question of whether the information [in the hack during the 2016 election] is newsworthy. There was a transmit of things they published that was not newsworthy and I think should have been redacted -- people's private information. But that aside, there absolutely was newsworthy information and it's not the job of news organization to suppress or censor information, right? That's not our job.

But it also opens up this new moment of state actors trying to game things. How are journalists going to navigate these things? You don't want to be in a position of having to censor information. But you could have a source who presents themselves one way but could be acting on behalf of a state.

WP: Going into filming you thought of WikiLeaks as a journalism organization. Do you still?

Poitras: When they first started publishing the "war logs" in 2010, the press here wasn't reporting about the wars. So of course they're a journalistic organization, and I think they pushed the boundaries and pushed for more aggressive journalism across the board.

I think they've really contributed enormously, which isn't to say I agree with all of their choices. That's a difference of opinion but that's not a challenge or a question to the mission. I defend their work. And I think it's really terrifying to see the director of the CIA and the attorney general and the head of the FBI targeting a publisher. The idea that it's not going to ripple through other news organization or other journalists is really foolish.

WP: Do you notice that when people come to your film, Assange's defenders see your movie as a heroic portrait and his detractors see it as a hit job?

Poitras: With all of my films there's a range of interpretations because they're observational. I am trying to make a complex film that gives insight and people come away with different opinions.

But then, people are pretty polarized right now. They have a tendency to jump on sides.
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One of TVs raciest titles isnt the only noteworthy thing about Amazons new comedy series, I Love Dick. It also serves up Kevin Bacon in an intriguingly different role and depicts Texas as a sexy, funky, altogether cool place to be.

If that isnt enough to lure you in, a San Antonio native shares the opening scene with two of the series stars, Kathryn Hahn and Griffin Dunne.

Robin Lambaria, who grew up here and graduated from Blessed Hope Academy, normally works behind the scenes in Marfa, where she lives  and where Dick is set. She is the creator and director of the Marfa Film Festival.

For I Love Dick, however, the 36-year-old donned another of her hats  actress  and nabbed a speaking role in the first episode. Shes Esther  or hipster subletter, as identified in the credits  and interacts with central couple Chris Kraus (Hahn, Transparent) and her husband, Sylvere (Dunne, After Hours).

RELATED: San Antonio novelist talks 'racy' new Hallmark movie

The scene takes place in a cramped apartment in New York (actually a room in Marfas Hotel Paisano made to look like a N.Y. residence, Lambaria said).

It sets up the couples trip to the tiny, artsy Texas town, where Sylvere has been offered a fellowship to finish a book he's been writing on the Holocaust.

Lambarias time before the camera was brief, allowing her to work mostly off-screen with the crew. She said she helped the costume designer get Marfas look right.

I helped style the big party in the first episode, helped visualize how people here dress, she said.

After shooting most of the pilot in Texas, however, the cast and crew returned to Los Angeles, where they built a neat little fake Marfa, Lambaria said.

All eight episodes of the first season of I Love Dick, which comes from director and executive producer Jill Soloway (Transparent), will be released Friday on streaming service Amazon Prime.

RELATED: San Antonio cutie scores new Netflix series

The show is based on Chris Kraus revolutionary 1997 novel, which was written like a memoir and explores a womans explosive, albeit comically absurd, sexual and creative awakening. This is sparked by a first encounter with Dick (Bacon, The Following), a Stetson-wearing, cigarette-rolling, horse-riding teacher and celebrated artist who creates huge phallic sculptures in Marfa.

Hahn plays the moment  at a party to celebrate the new Marfa fellows  perfectly. Tossing her hair, stammering and running her hands over her body like a smitten schoolgirl, Chris doesnt just become rattled, but hilariously discombobulated.

Her attraction turns into obsession, which has the leisure to grow, given shes the shows one Marfa visitor who doesnt have an academic reason to be there. She had hoped to just drop Sylvere off and head to her own destination, a festival in Venice, Italy, where she thought a film she made would premiere.

When that falls through, she remains in Marfa, feeding her fantasies about the slim, rangy Dick, who, in her mind, is masculinity at its finest, the archetypal lone cowboy. She spends her days and nights writing vividly erotic letters about her passion for him.

I was born into a world that presumes theres something grotesque about female desire. All I want to be is undignified, to trash myself. I want to be a female monster, she writes.

Her sexual excitement is contagious. It first spreads to her husband, who, after an intimacy drought, suddenly cant keep his hands off his wife. They frequently get naked and frisky, their lovemaking fueled by imagining Dick watching them.

RELATED: Eva Longoria's a hoot in British TV comedy

Chris lust eventually becomes a kind of muse for others as well  in particular Devon (Austins Roberta Colindrez, also a standout here), whos a kind of jack of all trades. Shes even inspired to produce a play about the situation, rounding up some of Marfas creative fellows to help.

The only one who is unamused seems to be Dick, who gets drunk at Marfas iconic Lost Horse Saloon and becomes more and more insulting toward Chris  and really, all female artists  as the episodes unfold. This only seems to fuel her messy desire, however, as is often the case with obsession.

Bacon turns in a fascinating performance, saying relatively little but speaking volumes via an Eastwood-style stare, easy swagger and naked swim in a rustic pool with a breathtaking view of the Marfa sunrise.

The actor was nothing like his character, Lambaria said. He was lovely, really sweet. He never did that rock star kind of thing.

Soloway was intensely warm and positive toward everyone on the shoot, she added. The director also beautifully captured the weird, nutty and diverse flavor of Marfa, she said. They poke a little fun of the town, but without insulting anybody.

Amazon even decided to hold the world premiere there, closing last years Marfa Film Festival with the pilot.

The audience loved it, Lambaria said  although some were afraid the show would make the town too popular and threaten its cozy and unique feel.

Jeanne Jakles column appears Wednesdays and Sundays in mySA.

jjakle@express-news.net
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva are attending the opening of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, titled Advancing Intercultural Dialogue: New Avenues for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development, at the Heydar Aliyev Center.

The forum is organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.

Prior to the opening ceremony participants posed together for photos.

The head of state is making a speech at the opening ceremony.

The forum brings together more than 800 foreign delegations, including high-ranking state and government officials, heads of international organizations, parliamentary leaders, renowned scholars, ambassadors and public figures.

This is for the first time that heads of more than 25 international organizations participate in the forum, which has become a platform for global cultural dialogue. The forum will feature a joint high-level meeting of the heads of international organizations for the first time this year, in addition to nearly 40 sessions and events.
Talk about ride-hailing on 'New York Now'

This week's episode of "New York Now" includes a special report from the Times Union's Matthew Hamilton on the impending arrival of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft in new regions of the state following passage of the state budget  from the roadblocks that remain to the market pressures likely to face traditional taxi companies.

The Reporters Roundtable has Michael Gormley of Newsday as well as "New York Now" co-hosts Matt Ryan and Casey Seiler, discussing the possible state impacts of the passage of the American Health Care Act in the House of Representatives.

An award-winning co-production of WMHT and the Times Union, "New York Now" airs at 7:30 p.m. Friday as well as 11:30 p.m. Sunday on WMHT Ch. 17.

 Staff report
There's nothing better than seeing someone on TV and telling your friends, "That guy? He went to my high school."

Well, unless that guy happens to be on TV because he ended up being a serial killer.
A man was arrested after he threatened a Laredo police officer as he was about to be released by LPD to his mother, authorities said.

Edward Martin Munoz, 21, was charged with terroristic threat against a public servant and resisting arrest.
A bill sponsored by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, that would require that only steel made in America be used in state construction projects is moving forward after easily passing the Texas Senate.

Creighton's Senate Bill 1289 is with the Texas House after being approved in a 23-7 Senate vote. If passed and signed into law, it would require large state projects - such as buildings, roads and bridges - be built only with steel made by U.S. companies. A similar "Buy America" bill is being considered by a House committee.

"This bill advancing is a great step for Texas iron and steel manufacturers," Creighton said after the Senate's approval. "Too many Texas facilities have closed with the influx of government-backed foreign steel hurting American free market competition."

Although Texas isn't a state necessarily known for its iron and steel manufacturing, it is nevertheless home to dozens of steel plants that employ scores of people, especially when the facilities are running at full capacity. The industry group Friends of Texas Iron & Steel says Texas steel industry jobs pay an average of $50,000 before benefits, while also supporting an additional 68,000 jobs across the state. The industry also sends millions of dollars of tax revenue to state coffers, while also serving as the state's number one recycler.

Likewise during a steel industry, slump local communities are hit especially hard when a plant shuts down. In Conroe, Tenaris laid off 230 workers when it suspended work at its welded tubes mill in April 2015. At the time, the Houston-based company blamed "unfairly traded imports" from South Korea for the closure.

"Texas companies should have to compete against other companies no matter where they are from," Creighton said. "But Texas companies should not have to compete against other governments."

Creighton's bill, and the companion bill being considered by the Texas House committee, comes as President Trump has been pledging to boost manufacturing in the U.S. and to slow the loss of jobs to foreign manufacturers. Last month, the president issued an executive order requiring federal agencies to "Buy American and Hire American." The directive is intended to boost protections for American-made goods and to save U.S. jobs. The order also calls for a review of the H-1B visa program for skilled foreign workers.

In another matter, what Creighton is describing as "the strongest pro-Israel legislation in the country" will soon be the law in Texas. Governor Greg Abbott has signed into law House Bill 89, a companion bill to Creighton's SB 29, which prohibits the state from contracting with or investing in companies that boycott Israel.

The governor signed the bill on Tuesday, coinciding with Israel's Independence Day. The day commemorates the formal establishment of the State of Israel.

"We sent a message to the state, country and entire world  Texas stands with Israel today, tomorrow and every day," Creighton said after the bill was signed.

The law goes into effect Sept. 1.
Headline changed, details added (first version posted on 10:06)

Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva are attending the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue being held in Baku.

A joint photo was taken.

The head of state addressed the opening ceremony of the forum.
The Hale County grand jury on April 27, at the conclusion of its April session, indicted 20 individuals on 21 felony charges. The report was released by District Attorney Wally Hatchs office.

Following are the individuals indicted, charges, level of offense and bond as set by the presiding district judge:
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue has kicked off in Baku.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed the quests, voicing his gratitude to all participants for joining the forum. President Aliyev reminded that the initiative to organize the forum was proposed six years ago, and the forum was held in Baku for the first time then.

"Since that time, the forum has transformed into a global international event, addressing one of the most important issues on the global agenda - intercultural dialogue," said the President.

He went on to add that the importance of every international event and every forum is judged not only by the topics of discussions, but also by the list of participants.

"We are very happy that more than 800 guests representing more than 120 countries are participating today at the forum," said the President. "This, first of all demonstrates the importance of the forum, and the importance of the discussions that we will have today and tomorrow," he said.

"We are proud that the number of partners of the forum, organizations, which are organizers of the forum, is also growing," President Aliyev said, adding that the government of Azerbaijan is organizing this forum in partnership with UNESCO, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, ISESCO, the Council of Europe, and the World Tourism Organization.

"I am sure that the discussions and exchange of views during the forum will contribute to promotion of intercultural dialogue," the President continued.

"Azerbaijan, for centuries was a place where civilizations and cultures met. Our geography, our history and development in Azerbaijan demonstrate that intercultural dialogue is one of the most important issues," said President Aliyev, adding that without it, the world would be a much more dangerous place.

"Our history, our traditions, our geography actually dictated that Azerbaijan could be and should be an area where civilizations meet," the president said. "And for centuries, people inhabited in Azerbaijan, are living in a diverse environment. Multiculturalism, ethnic and religious diversity is our history and today's reality. And we're proud of that. Today Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional country, and representatives of all the ethnic groups and religions live in peace and harmony," President Aliyev said.

He went on to add that the country's historical monuments also clearly demonstrate the cultural diversity of Azerbaijan and its ancient history. The President stressed that Azerbaijan is proud to have one of the oldest mosques in the world, built in 743 in one of the ancient cities of Azerbaijan, Shamakhi. The president further said that one of the oldest churches, the Church of Ancient State of Caucasian Albania is also located in Azerbaijan, in another ancient city of the country -- Sheki.

"In Baku, the Fire Temple which belongs to religion of Zoroastrianism, also demonstrates our cultural and religious diversity. Today, mosques, churches, synagogues which exist in Azerbaijan are protected by our state and many of them were built with the state financing. It demonstrates our history and also our policy," said the president.

President Aliyev went on to add that multiculturalism is a state policy in Azerbaijan, and at the same time, a lifestyle in the country.

"Though the word multiculturalism is relatively new, and sometimes very difficult to pronounce, the ideas of multiculturalism have always existed in our country. Regardless of the time of history, regardless of the political system in Azerbaijan, our people have always been active defenders and promoters of multiculturalism inside Azerbaijan and beyond our borders," he said.

President Aliyev noted that in 2011 the decision to organize a forum that would address intercultural dialogue, was motivated by Azerbaijan's history, realities and also by wish to create a broad format to address these issues.

"Today we need to do it maybe more than ever before, because unfortunately, now some concerning tendencies in the world lead sometimes not to intercultural dialogue, but to alienation. We see it regularly that in different parts of the world - conflicts, confrontations, civil wars are generated by lack of understanding between representatives of different religions and ethnic groups," said the president.

President Aliyev went on to say that Azerbaijan's policy of multiculturalism is fully supported by the country's people.

He went on to say that 2016 was announced the year of multiculturalism in the country, and 2017 has been announced the year of Islamic Solidarity.

"The combination of these two events is important element of Azerbaijan's day to day life," the president said. "First of all it demonstrates the status of our society, our state policy and also leads to more understanding in the region."

Further on, the president said that Azerbaijan held several important international events, addressing particularly this issue.

"Five times already Azerbaijan has organized the International Humanitarian Forum. Several years ago we organized the World Religious Leaders summit. Last year, the seventh Global Forum of Alliance of Civilizations was very successfully held in Baku, and of course, for the fourth time we've gathered to address the issues of intercultural dialogue, said the President.

"All this helps us to find ways how to reduce tensions, how to reduce risks, how to create better understanding between peoples and religions," said the president.

"I think that history of Azerbaijan and its today's development are good examples that it is possible to achieve success," he said.

The president went on to say that there are different views on multiculturalism.

"We sometimes hear from different public figures, politicians, country leaders, different skeptical views on that. I think that if we unite our efforts -- and today representatives of absolute majority of international community are here -- we can demonstrate and prove that multiculturalism is alive," President Aliyev said.

He further said that alternatives to multiculturalism are xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism, discrimination.

"Multiculturalism is not only a trend, it is the only way to show how to make the world safer, and I think that your presence at this forum and the topics of discussions clearly demonstrate our common will and our policy, our approach to promote these values," he said.

President Aliyev informed the quests that in 2008 the country initiated a very important process that was later labeled the "Baku Process", which is now highly appreciated by the international community.

According to the president, this initiative was backed up by the fact that Azerbaijan is one of the very few countries that are members of both the Islamic Cooperation Organization and the Council of Europe.

President Aliyev went on to say that Azerbaijan invited the ministers of cultures of the Islamic Cooperation Organization to a meeting of the ministers of culture of Council of Europe which took place in Baku.

"This was the first time when such a big gathering of representatives of more than 100 countries came together to address important issues of intercultural relations," said the president.

President Aliyev further noted that Azerbaijan hosted the ministerial meeting of the ministers of cultures of the Islamic Cooperation Organization in Baku in 2009, and invited the ministers of culture of the Council of Europe.

"This initiative and this format was later called the Baku Process. We're proud of that, first of all, because it was our initiative, second, because Baku deserves to be the center of intercultural dialogue," said the president.

"Next year we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Baku Process. The government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations launched an initiative to create a "Baku Process Award" for leadership in cultural dialogue, which will be presented to those, who play a very active role in promotion of the dialogue of cultures and culture of civilizations," said the president.

The president went on to say that another important initiative launched by Azerbaijan was the organization of the European Games in Baku.

"Unlike other continental games, the European Games were never held before, and when the European Olympic Committee decided to organize these games, there weren't many bidders. And frankly speaking, Azerbaijan was the only country which made the proposal to organize these games in Baku," the president said.

The president went on to say that 2015 was the year of the First Inaugural European Games held in Baku, with participation of more than 5,000 European athletes.

"These games were of course a sports event, and at the same time, I think, it was symbolic that the First European Games were organized in a Muslim country," he said.

"It was a demonstration of multiculturalism, religious tolerance, and the games were organized on a high level," said the president. "The athletes, guests were satisfied and happy with the organization and also with the reception of people of Azerbaijan, who showed their traditional hospitality."

President Aliyev reminded that this year, just in one week, Azerbaijan will hold the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games with participation of all the Muslim countries and more than 3,000 athletes.

"So in two years, in one city, both the European Games and the Islamic Games - this is the demonstration of our policy and our intentions," said the president. "And again, this is not just a sports event. Of course, I am sure there will be very strong competition, but this is also an event that unites people."

"We need unity, first of all in the Muslim world. Unfortunately, it is the Muslim countries that suffer the most from terrorism," he said. "Azerbaijan plays a very important role in promotion of Islamic values," said the president. "We organized different international events in European capitals, presentations, exhibitions to demonstrate the ancient Islamic culture, and we are one of the most active countries to fight against Islamophobia and attempts to connect Islam with terror."

"So we need unity in the Muslim world in order to make our region safer, and at the same time we need active communication between the Islamic Cooperation Organization, Council of Europe, other international organizations, to reduce tensions," he said.

"Therefore, when we are talking about intercultural dialogue, we clearly understand that the impact of success of this dialogue can be seen in every area - political life, areas related to security, economic cooperation," the president said.

He went on to add that without predictable partnership and relations based on mutual respect, today it will be very difficult to achieve goals every country puts in front of itself.

"Therefore, these initiatives and I think, the success story of Azerbaijan as one of the international centers of multiculturalism, demonstrate that we are not only on the right track, but we're moving successfully," said Ilham Aliyev. "By the way, Azerbaijan has created the International Center of Multiculturalism."

"Today's forum, which embraces the whole world, is a clear demonstration of our intentions," he said.
WASHINGTON - Barron Gulak remembers one experiment that did not take place in a lab.

In 1964, Gulak and the other test subjects for the research were sent out on a boat traveling through rough waters off the coast Nova Scotia.

The ship rolled and pitched in a storm, tilting back and forth. But those who'd volunteered for the research were immune to motion sickness.

"Honestly, it was a wonderful time," said Gulak who, along with the other research test subjects, is deaf.

It is, however, probably safe to assume that those who were conducting the research -- who were not immune to motion sickness -- did not share this view.

"We were enjoying ourselves," Gulak recalled. "We actually had meals during the storm. And when they saw us eating, it made them even more sick, and they were vomiting."

For years, Gulak and others took part in research conducted by the U.S. Naval School of Aviation Medicine, conducted during the early days of the American space program more than a half-century ago. By extension, these test subjects helped NASA, which sponsored the work, according to Bill Barry, NASA's chief historian. They spent days in rotating rooms. They went up on parabolic flights, floating in zero gravity. And they rocked on that boat out in the angry waters.

"They were interested in researching balance and motion sickness, sea sickness and the like. That kind of thing," said Harry Larson, 79, who took part in the research. "Because NASA wanted to know more about how man could perform in a zero-gravity environment."

The research and the stories of the participants are detailed in an on-campus exhibit at Gallaudet University, which opened in April.

"I'm a red-blooded American," Gulak said. "I wanted to serve our country the best that I could. Being that I'm deaf, I could not join the military. . . . It was my way of serving."

The research has deep ties with Gallaudet University, the nation's premier college for the deaf and hard of hearing. Many of those who participated were selected when officials came to the Washington, D.C., campus in search of test subjects.

"All of those experiments we went through, none of us got sick," said another participant, David Myers, 80. "There would be two groups, my group and the hearing group, and the hearing group, many of them would always get sick. And we never got sick. So that, essentially, was the whole purpose of research, was to find out ways to prevent motion sickness."

_ _ _

Here's the gist of how this all came to be: In 1961, a doctor named Ashton Graybiel and other personnel from the U.S. Naval School of Aviation Medicine visited Gallaudet, Jean Bergey, associate director of the Drs. John S. & Betty J. Schuchman Deaf Documentary Center, said in an email to The Washington Post.

Officials tested more than 100 students, faculty and staff, narrowing the group to a handful, mostly students. The research with that group continued for years.

"All but one of the selected test subjects became deaf from spinal meningitis, which impacted their inner ear physiology," Bergey wrote in an online post on the National Air and Space Museum website. "This meant they could endure motion and gravitational forces that make most people nauseous.

"The ability to withstand intense movement turned the so-called 'labyrinthine defect' into a valuable research asset -- no matter the test of equilibrium, the deaf participants simply never got sick," Bergey wrote. The test subjects were selected for "weightlessness, balance, and motion sickness experiments."

"Harry Larson, one of the research participants, explained, 'We were different in a way they needed,'" Bergey wrote. "Indeed, their difference made it possible for researchers to explore human reactions to weightless environments and extreme motion and to better understand the complexity of entangled human sensory systems."

Bergey said in an email that she knew of no other research projects that involved Gallaudet and the U.S. Naval School of Aviation Medicine or NASA.

Hearing loss wasn't really a factor in the research, said Myers, one of the participants. Instead, those who were involved didn't have a functioning vestibular system, which meant their balance and sense of movement were affected and they didn't get motion-sick.

Myers also explained in an email that this happened at a time when "interpreter services was neither a right nor expected by our group."

"About the only interpreting made available was by hearing family members who by growing up in a deaf family learned sign language and could serve as interpreter for a deaf family member," he wrote. "Some churches would ask family members to interpret church services for their deaf members. Interpreting as an occupation was unheard of as interpreter jobs did not exist."

The group for Gallaudet participated in the research with "limited preparation and understanding of the tasks at hand," Myers wrote.

"Brief written instructions were often provided which focused mostly on what we were supposed to do rather than providing an understanding of the nature of the tasks," he wrote. "This lack of interpreter services was a reflection of the times rather than any denial of that need for the services."

(Some interviews for this story, including in-person conversations with Myers, Larson and Gulak, were done with through interpreters.)

Larson remembers when the Navy came to the Gallaudet campus, looking for volunteers to be part of a space research program. At the time, he was a senior at the university; it was the spring of 1961. Larson volunteered, he said, "just for fun."

"Overall, I have to say, I was really pleased to be able to go on the different trips," he said. "It was an adventure to us. We certainly weren't thinking about any of the danger. It was more of like, fun things to do."

Larson was also on the ship that was tossed in waters off Nova Scotia and remembers traveling to Ohio for zero-gravity flights. He recalled one project in which he had to stand up against a post. He was strapped to the post with Velcro, the first time he'd seen the material. Larson said he spent hours like that, while others took pictures of his eyes.

"That was really tough," he said, "just having to stand for that long."

Myers recalled a rotating room where those involved in the research would stay, even to eat and sleep, for days. Initially, he said, it was tough to walk, but by the second or third day, the research subjects started to adapt.

"It was a lot of work. A lot of hard work," he said. "For the [hearing participants], many of them got extremely ill in that room."

Myers said he once met John Glenn, a Marine Corps fighter pilot and the first American to orbit Earth. Glenn told Myers that he had heard about the Gallaudet subjects.

"Once he got word that there was a group of deaf folks who would never get sick," Myers said, "he quote 'envied' us."

Research on this kind of information can be found at the Ashton Graybiel Spatial Orientation Laboratory at Brandeis University in Massachusetts. Paul DiZio, an associate professor at Brandeis and associate director of the lab who attended the opening of the Gallaudet exhibit, told the crowd that the work of these research subjects comes up quite frequently, even decades later.

"The conversation gets difficult, and we forget where we are, and we say to ourselves, well, what do we know?" he said. "What it comes down to is what we learned from these people."

_ _ _ _

VIDEO: In the 1960s, 11 men with ties to Gallaudet University participated in a series of experiments on balance, motion sickness, and weightlessness to help researchers understand how humans could survive in space. (Gallaudet University)

URL: http://wapo.st/2qzQMQl
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Those closest to a Montgomery family killed in a needless 2015 crash painted a picture of the perfect family Thursday during a sentencing hearing for the man held responsible for their deaths.

Ronald Cooper, 69 of Montgomery, had been on trial for about a week and a half for the fatal crash on Texas 105 near Marina Drive in September 2015 that also injured two teenagers. A 12-person jury on Wednesday found Cooper guilty of causing the crash that killed Roland Sedlmeier, 49, Melinda Sedlmeier, 42, Harley Sedlmeier, 6, and Sofie Sedlmeier, 4.

Judge Kathleen Hamilton in the 359th state District Court heard character testimony of those put on by prosecutors and Cooper's defense attorney. She is expected to announce Cooper's sentence at 9 a.m. Friday.

Cooper could be hit with an 80-year sentence for the six second-degree felony charges of which he was found guilty.

Cooper was traveling west on Texas 105 in a 2011 Hyundai Azera when it struck the back of the 2001 Toyota Echo, occupied by the Sedlmeiers who were on their way home from church.

Authorities said the impact caused the Echo to spin and cross into eastbound lanes of the highway, into the path of a 2015 Jeep Wrangler occupied by two teenagers, who were 15 and 16 at the time of the crash. The driver of the Jeep attempted to evade the crash, but struck the Toyota on the right side, causing both vehicles to flip on their sides.

The Sedlmeiers were pronounced dead on scene.

Relatives of the Sedlmeiers created a mosaic narrative through family photos and endearing stories of the four, some of which were gathered mere hours before the fateful wreck. In an act of blissful innocence, Sofie tragically foreshadowed the crash during Sunday school that morning, one family member said.

"Sofie was listening to the Sunday school teacher teach the lesson about creation," said Evie Zamundio, Melinda's sister. "Sofie was taking it all in, and the teacher said 'the same God that created you will one day come back and take you home to be in heaven.' Sofie shouted in front of the kids, 'well, what's he waiting for?' Little did she know that afternoon she would be walking through the gates with The Lord."

Zamundio told the judge about how inseparable Sofia and Harley were when they were still alive. Sofia was not yet in school, although her big brother Harley was already in the first grade when the crash occurred.

"Her brother was her best friend," Zamundio said. "She would never leave his side. She couldn't wait until he got home from school. The worst part of her day was when he left for school."

The two were even buried together, in the same casket, at the special request of the children's grandmother.

"I could not stand for them to go into the ground by themselves in a little casket," Melinda's mother Marjorie Nantz said. " As they laid side-by-side in that casket, they were so distraught."

Nantz described Melinda, who preferred to be called Mendy, as a caring mother who loved her missionary work with African Inland Ministries Air. Mendy Sedlmeier worked as an accountant for the ministry, which helped deliver supplies to other missionaries throughout the African continent.

Mendy Sedlmeier was once kidnapped in Africa, Nantz said, but was eventually let go without a scratch. She said it was hard to believe her daughter could survive the most horrendous conditions and threats in the areas in which she served only to be killed in the United States.

"After a lifetime of risks and peril, danger, in the most civilized part of the United States in a suburban, tranquil area, the behavior of one man destroyed a precious family of four and affect two young men for the rest of their lives," Nantz said. "(Their deaths) left a community and friends all around the world with an irresponsible void."

Nantz, looking directly at Cooper, forgave him for killing his daughter in the crash.

"As a Christian, I'm asked to forgive," Nantz said. "I will grow stronger, and I forgive you. I understand that this does not mean a man should not be held accountable. Even God said forgiveness is free. It's for our acceptance. We do sin. But it wasn't at a price. Even God sent his son Jesus to die."

As for Cooper's defense, his step-daughter and former ministry partner testified on his behalf, saying he was a loving grandfather who enjoyed evangelizing to prisoners in Huntsville's Walls Unit. Chief Prosecutor Tyler Dunman, to the contrary, said the Cooper sitting in his inmate jumpsuit Thursday was not the same person who his loved ones described.

During testimony, a court employee said she interviewed Cooper immediately after the jury found him guilty Wednesday. She said he was smirking and rolling his eyes at the thought of him being sentenced to prison.

"I've never seen anything like it," Dunman said. "Whatever person Mr. Cooper was back in 2007, that's not the person we're dealing with today. That's not the one we had with us in 2015 when this crash was committed.

"He has such a callous regard for life."

Cooper's defense attorney asked Hamilton to consider a light sentence, saying that at his age a 20-year sentence would essentially be a life sentence. Dunman asked for the maximum 80 years total.

Hamilton will announce Cooper's sentence at 9 a.m. Friday.
Emboldened by the environmental rollbacks of President Donald Trump, state legislatures are following suit, taking aim at items as varied as solar incentives, chemical spill protections and, even, anti-pipeline protesters.

The legislation in states from Florida to Wisconsin comes as the Environmental Protection Agency under Trump argues that it can curtail federal regulations, leaving it up to states to decide how to protect against pollution. Shifting the burden to state capitals allows industry lobbyists to divide and conquer their foes, pitting one state's deregulation against another's.

"A lot of the business groups interested in this have realized they can be successful when they go state to state," said John Farrell, a director at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a Washington non-profit that advises local governments on community development. For health and environment groups, "there is an element of Whack-A-Mole that goes on when it happens at the state level."

Companies that are getting free of federal regulations can now target industry-friendly states -- think Oklahoma or West Virginia -- to get out from under their mandates, as well. By moving state to state, lobbyists can get more traction with lawmakers friendly to their cause.

Many of the efforts have been championed by groups with ties to the billionaire industry executives David and Charles Koch, such as Americans for Prosperity or the American Legislative Exchange Council.

"Now is our time. And ALEC is ready," Lisa B. Nelson, ALEC's chief executive officer, said in an email to its members after Trump's election. "As our elected officials in Washington work to roll power back to the states, we will be there to catch the ball and run with it."

A spokeswoman for ALEC declined to comment on the email.

The actions are as varied as the states represented:

--In West Virginia, where a chemical leaked into the Elk River and left 300,000 people without drinking water in 2014, legislation signed into law last month weakens the regulations for chemical storage tanks put in place after the spill.

--Oklahoma Republican Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law an end to a wind tax credit more than three years ahead of schedule amid a budget shortfall.

--A measure in Florida would prohibit any new regulations on businesses unless they were approved by the general assembly and would nullify all existing regulations that aren't approved by the general assembly by July 2020.

--Twenty states are moving forward with anti-protester bills, including one in Tennessee that would provide civil immunity for drivers who run over protesters that are blocking the road.

--And states such as Indiana are moving to curb the payment those with rooftop solar get for selling their excess power to the grid, a fight that played out in previous years in Arizona and Nevada. Among those supporting the effort is Duke Energy Corp.

Other rollbacks are more general in nature, said Jennifer Hensley, the Sierra Club's director of state lobbying and advocacy. For instance seven states are seeking to create so-called "prosperity districts" where the environmental laws and other regulations perceived as inhibiting business would be limited, she said.

Among them is a bill in Oklahoma that would allow the creation of independent districts that "would be the sole governing authority within its borders, and would replace all state laws except the state constitution, criminal law, common law and existing state compacts," according to a summary. It passed in the state's lower house last month.

"It was harder to persuade states to do things that we thought were fair to coal if we had an anti-coal administration," said Paul Bailey, the president of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, which represents coal producers, utilities and railways. "There was so much uncertainty about coal under the Obama administration, I think states may have been less willing to take risks in favor of coal."

"States may be more willing to take risks now," he said in an interview.

The Arlington, Virginia-based ALEC brings together corporations and legislators to craft model legislation for introduction in statehouses. It has drawn criticism for opposing state environmental, climate and clean-energy policies.

"Since Trump is taking their Christmas list and doing all of it, they can take the effort they would have spent fighting a clean-energy administration and put that all towards undoing clean energy in the states," Daniel J. Weiss, an environmental consultant who previously worked at the Center for American Progress said in an interview.

Just as the nation is divided over Trump, so is it divided over environmental protection and solar and wind energy. While deep red states such as Oklahoma are pushing to establish areas that will be completely free from environmental regulation, the two most populous states, New York and California, are pushing forward with greater action to cut pollution and address climate change.

California recently put in place strict new limits on methane emissions from oil and gas operations within its border. And next in line are new rules in the state for refrigerants and so-called "black carbon," which is several times more potent than carbon dioxide. That comes on top of the state's already ambitious plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

New York and Illinois offered bailouts to their ailing nuclear plants, which provide carbon-free electricity, over the objections of refiners and other large power consumers.

The ying and yang of these decisions is best displayed in Ohio. There a Republican-led House passed legislation that would scrap the state's renewable energy standard and turn it into a voluntary requirement. It would also water down separate energy efficiency requirements.

"A new day is dawning in Washington, D.C., where the Trump Administration is finally ending the War on Coal," the Ohio Coal Association said in written testimony in support of the bill. "Ohio can further the progress at the federal level by repealing the state's costly and harmful energy mandates."

But the state's governor, Republican John Kasich vetoed a similar bill last year. This year the new version was passed with a veto-proof majority in the house, but is not likely to get that level of support in the Senate.

FirstEnergy Corp., Ohio's homegrown utility with roots in the state that date to 1930, had protested the mandates, and earned nationwide news coverage after seeking extra payments from its customers to help its aging coal plants. After the state's public utility commission shot that down, it has shifted and is now trying to get help for its nuclear fleet, arguing those plants are the "largest source of electricity that does not emit greenhouse gases and other pollutants."

The American Petroleum Institute testified against legislation, which would offer zero emission credits estimated to generate $300 million a year for the struggling nuclear plants.

"Abundant natural gas has provided Ohio consumers with reliable and affordable energy and created countless jobs throughout the state without government subsidies," said Chris Zeigler, API's Ohio executive director. "Instead of subsidizing nuclear power companies, we should let the markets work to protect consumers."
Virginia Democrat Tom Perriello released a new campaign ad in his bid for governor where he blasts Republican attempts to overhaul the health care system while an ambulance is crushed in behind him, a possible early look at how the fierce policy battle will extend to airwaves across the country.

Perriello, who lost his 2010 Congressional re-election bid after voting for the Affordable Care Act, unveiled the spot a little more than an hour after the U.S. House voted Thursday to repeal and replace the law.

In the 32 second-ad filmed in one take, Perriello shouts over the din as a scrapyard car crusher flattens an ambulance.

"Republican leaders are trying to do this to affordable health care," a barely audible Perriello says, before vowing to protect Virginia's access to health care.

The ambulance window bursts into shards of glass as Perriello says "together we can stop Donald Trump."

(No functioning ambulances were harmed in filming; a campaign spokesman says it was an out-of-service older model with no engine. The crusher was also far louder than the campaign expected.)

Perriello's campaign has yet to determine the extent of the ad buy and where it will air, leaving it unclear whether the unusual commercial is designed to garner attention through paid advertising or free social media and news reports.

Perriello's opponent in the June 13 primary, Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, has also defended the Affordable Care Act on the campaign trail, and blasted the pending Republican replacement bill as "spineless, unprincipled cruelty" in statements on Thursday. Northam, a pediatric neurologist, features his medical background in his first commercials.

"As a doctor, Ralph Northam has been fighting for a fairer healthcare system his entire career," said David Turner, a Northam spokesman. "Virginians know he's helped lead the fight to implement the Affordable Care Act in the commonwealth and expand Medicaid to 400,000 people. Republicans should be ashamed of the bill passed today, and Dr. Northam is going to call them out for their spineless."

Jennifer Duffy, an analyst at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said she wouldn't be surprised to see more ads like Perriello's aired against vulnerable House Republicans and gubernatorial candidates, who would end up implementing provisions of the health care bill if it becomes law.

"This kind of ad rings bells for Democratic activists who are furious about this," said Duffy.

Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of the nonpartisan Inside Elections, cautions that the original Affordable Care Act was fresh on the minds of voters in the 2010 election because it passed just seven months before. A new health care overhaul may not be as salient in the 2018 election cycle, he said.

Because Virginia is one of only two states electing governors this year, Perriello "is in a distinctly unique position to take advantage of this energy now when the issue could have a totally different feeling by the time we get to the mid-term," said Gonzales.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against the Republican nominee in November. Three Republicans, former Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie, Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart and state Sen. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach are in a three-way fight for the GOP nomination, also to be decided June 13.

- - -

Video: Tom Perriello, Democrat for governor

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On Friday, Politico's Dan Diamond reported that the White House will gut funding for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the executive branch agency coordinating efforts to fight the opioid epidemic that has swept through rural areas of America over the last few years.

And if you navigate to the Office of National Drug Control Policy website, it's ... not much of a website. The homepage reads: "Check back soon for more information."

Diamond reports that Trump's proposed 2018 budget would slash funding for the office by 95 percent, drastically cutting staff and completely eliminating a program that helps communities fight addiction at the local level.

What does that mean for the future of addiction treatment?

There are a few ways the government attempts to fight drug use in the U.S. The most visible way is with law enforcement: Stopping drugs at the border, and arresting and prosecuting dealers and users. But the other side of the addiction fight is a public health approach that focuses on access to treatment facilities, education and support for recovering addicts, and facilities like needle exchanges that lower the transmission of blood-borne diseases.

Those two schools of thought can sometimes be at odds; while some administrations have prioritized law enforcement (think "the war on drugs," with mandatory sentencing requirements, expanded policing and "three-strikes" laws), others, including the Obama administration, focused on the public health approach.

As a presidential candidate, and again after the election, Trump promised to fight the opioid crisis with a two-pronged strategy: A border wall to stop the flow of drugs into the country, among other things, and localized efforts to fight addiction with clinics and increased access to care. Those promises suggested Trump was interested in at least maintaining the public health programs currently in place.

Does gutting the Office of National Drug Control Policy do that?

Trump did announce the formation of a new drug commission, led by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, R, in March. But it's hard to imagine the new commission would get the kind of funding that went to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Trump says he will "fight to increase access to life-saving treatment," and that "we have to work with people to get off it." Trump's budget is a long way from being approved - remember, Congress holds the power of the purse, and it seems unlikely that Congress would cut funding for anti-drug programs so drastically. But it could be a broader signal that the Trump administration is moving away from treatment programs, and toward more of a law enforcement approach.

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Video: President Trump's many promises to fight the opioid addiction crisis

URL: http://wapo.st/2pODxsi

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The Washington Post first-edition Page 1 for Saturday, May 6, 2017:

Top of the page:

Col. 1: Maryland prosecutors said they will not be pursuing rape charges against two immigrant teens that sparked a White House rebuke. (RAPE). Moved; will be led.

Cols. 2-5: Anti-vaccine activists have sparked the state's worst measles outbreak in decades. (MEASLES). Moved; three photos and one graphic.

Col. 6: Health care is now set to be a defining issue in the next election cycle. (HEALTHCARE-POLITICS). Moved.

Below the fold:

Col. 1: Michael Flynn was warned by Trump transition officials about his contacts with a Russian ambassador. (FLYNN). Moved.

Cols. 2-4: Stand-alone weather photo from the District of Columbia.

Cols. 5-6: Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton is an ambitious Republican in the era of Donald Trump; he's also in the crossfire on health care. (COTTON-GOP). Moved; one photo.

Bottom of page: Keys to inside stories.

Sent: 6:45 p.m. ET

Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

The integration of migrants, countering the rise of violent extremism, as well as youth radicalization on the Internet are just some of the issues being discussed at a United Nations conference opening on May 5 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Fourth World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, hosted by the Government of Azerbaijan in partnership with the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will provide an opportunity to examine effective responses to challenges facing human security, including massive migration, violent extremism and conflicts, says an article posted on the UN website.

According to the article, the Forum brings together heads of government and ministers, representatives of intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, policy-makers, cultural professionals, journalists and civil society activists under the theme Advancing Intercultural Dialogue  New avenues for human security, peace and sustainable development.

Speaking to UN News, Nadia Al-Nashif, UNESCO assistant director general for Social and Human Sciences, said the Baku Forum has a very strong vision and resonates deeply with UNESCOs mandate to build peace in the minds of men and women.

The world has become a very complicated place, she noted. We are looking at huge innovations in technology but at the same time, we are facing increased tensions, a result of the lack of general trust that stems from how much insecurity there is in the world.

Al-Nashif said the UN intercultural dialogue is a platform for people to debate the notion of coexistence and what that means in regards to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that seeks to promote norms for social justice, advocate for social inclusion, integration, acceptance, and not just tolerance but empathy.

UNESCO is hosting 13 sessions at the Forum, showcasing the agencys diverse work on intercultural dialogue to address issues such as the integration of migrants in cities, countering violent extremism as well as the growth of youth radicalization on the Internet.

This is not just an academic forum where we are just preaching to the converted, underscored Al-Nashif. We bring our UNESCO Chairs but also the focal points from cities and local authorities.

The agency has been developing tools to help cities cope better with the flow of migrants into cities. A ministerial forum on culture and tourism is also scheduled to be held on the margins of the Baku Forum.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has offered condolences to President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani.

I was deeply saddened by the news of heavy casualties as a result of an explosion in a coal mine in Golestan province, said Ilham Aliyev in his letter of condolences.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, families and loved ones of those who died and the people of Iran, and wish those injured the soonest possible recovery, President Aliyev said.
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AUSTIN  The Texas House approved a resolution Thursday calling for a first-ever national convention of the states aimed at limiting the federal government's powers.

Texas now joins a handful of states calling for Congress to convene the convention of states to consider changing the U.S. Constitution. Supporters of such a convention, including Gov. Greg Abbott, say overreaching federal government powers must be limited. The Senate already approved Senate Joint Resolution 2.

INDEPENDENCE: Fresh backing for Texas secession? Yeah, sort of

By law, 34 states must ask for a convention of the states before it can be convened, and any amendments to the Constitution would require the support of at least 38 states to become law. Abbott made convention of the states one of his four emergency items for the session.

The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Rick Miller, told lawmakers that he did not wish to rewrite the U.S. Constitution. Ten states have passed similar resolutions, said Miller, and Texas' call for the convention is "for fiscal restraint, legislative and regulatory overreach and term limits."

"The purpose of this, if you read Article V, is only to propose amendments to the Constitution, not to rewrite the Constitution," Miller, R-Sugar Land, said.

But those opposed to the resolution say a convention could give states more power.

NOT JUST TEXAS: Rueters poll says nearly 1 in 3 Californians support peaceful secession

House Democrats debated the resolution Thursday. Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, brought forward an amendment that would have removed delegates found to have colluded with a foreign government. The amendment was tabled.

Celia Israel, D-Austin, reminded Miller that there "are a lot of things I would like to change that you may not like to change." For example, she said, as an LGBTQ Texan she would like to see lesbian, gay and transgender people fully recognized in the U.S. Constitution.

With almost no debate, the Texas House passed a separate bill, Senate Bill 21, that outlines the duties of Texas delegates if the convention were to happen. The bill now heads to Abbott for his signature.

The governor said as a champion of limited government he applauded the House for approving the resolution Thursday.

"Today marks an important step toward restraining a runaway federal government and returning power back to the states and their respective citizens as our Founders intended," Abbott said in a statement. "The Texas Legislature has heard and responded to the voices of those they represent."
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The 21-year-old UT student accused in Mondays stabbing rampage near the University of Texas at Austin said voices in his head told him it really didn't happen, his arrest affidavit shows.

Kendrex White, a junior UT biology student, was charged with murder, accused of fatally stabbing Harrison Brown, 19, a first-year UT student, in the chest and and injuring three others. Police said White chose his victims apparently at random in a crowded East Campus area.

When police asked White if he knew why he was in their custody, he told them: Yes, accusations of pushing someone down and I think using a bladed weapon, the affidavit states.

RELATED: Police say UT stabbing suspect suffered from mental illness, attack not connected to Greek life

Witnesses told police White exited the Student Activity Center at the university and headed across the street to Gregory Gymnasium, an area packed with dormitory buildings near the campuss largest library. The affidavit said a friend of Brown saw White make a punching motion toward the first-year student.

I think he just stabbed me, Brown said, clutching his chest, another witness said.

White then walked south, on the west side of the gym, found a student sitting at a picnic table and stabbed him in the back of the head, then stabbed two others near a food truck in the vicinity, said UT Austin Police Chief David Carter at a press conference Tuesday.

White told police the voices in his head told him to tell the truth and withhold any action that he did because it really didn't happen, according to the affidavit.

RELATED: Here's what we know about UT-Austin stabbing suspect Kendrex White

He stopped the interview and said: If I did something I don't remember then I want to be told. Weeks before the attack, White was committed for mental health issues at a facility in a different city, Carter said.

A witness told police he saw White wiping blood from the blade of a knife. White could not confirm if the knife found on the ground in the Jester Center, a large dormitory complex where he was apprehended, belonged to him, the affidavit said. He did tell officers that he purchased a knife for protection and Monday was the first time he'd carried it.

During the interview, police noticed White had two fresh cuts on his left hand and wrist. He is being held in the Travis County Jail, with bail set at $1 million.

Brown was trying to decide what path he wanted to follow in his life, UT President Greg Fenves said at Tuesdays press conference.

RELATED: With no UT-Austin warning, students panic on social media amid attack reports; Twitter alerts others

His brother John told me he really wanted to follow his passion for music, Fenves said. We will never be able to hear Harrison play and sing again, and for this our hearts are breaking and we are deeply, deeply saddened.

A GoFundMe page for Brown has raised more than $100,000 for his family. A vigil for the student was planned at the university Wednesday evening.

Authorities have not identified the other three students injured in the attack, but one, Stuart Bayliss of Katy, was interviewed by reporters at KVUE, an Austin TV station after he was released from the hospital Wednesday. The affidavit said all three students were attacked from behind  two hit in the back of the neck and head and the other stabbed in the back, requiring surgery, and that the victims said they didn't realize they had been stabbed.

Texas Department of Public Safety Commander Joe Ortiz has said security at the university would be ramped up to include state troopers patrolling in vehicles and on motorcycles, bicycles and horses for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until the department is told otherwise. Carter said the additional patrols would continue as long as necessary.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
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On November 4, 1983, Roger Childress was working in San Antonio when he got a call from his uncle telling him that his father  Ollie Sammy Childress Jr., a Wilson County sheriffs deputy  had been kidnapped and killed in the line of duty.

Over the past 33 years, Childress has waited for his fathers convicted killer, Pedro Solis Sosa, to be executed. Twice the younger Childress prepared to make the drive to Huntsville to witness the execution, only to get a call hours before telling him there was a last-minute stay. A third time, Sosas execution was delayed three days before his scheduled death.

You feel dejected every time, Childress, now 63, said Thursday. The time never came.

On Wednesday, Childress got a similar call from his niece, who tearfully told him that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals had reduced Sosas sentence to life in prison. The court ruled that executing Sosa, 55, would carry an unacceptable risk that his punishment would be unconstitutionally cruel because of his intellectual disabilities.

Sosa, who grew up in San Antonio, has been in prison for more than 30 years, making him eligible for parole now.

I wish they would execute him, but since they wont, Id like him to be in prison the rest of his life, Childress said in an interview in Stockdale.

Sammy Childress was off duty when he was flagged down by two men, Sosa and his nephew Leroy Sosa. The men handcuffed the deputy and placed him in the trunk of his patrol car before driving to La Vernia State Bank.

Pedro Sosa wore Childress shirt and badge into the bank and told tellers, Im the damn sheriff now. Ive got the sheriff in the trunk of my car. The two robbed the bank of $51,038.

After the robbery, Sosa shot Childress once in the neck with the deputys .44-caliber service revolver. The two men left the scene but returned so Pedro Sosa could wipe his fingerprints off the car. They realized Childress was still alive and shot him once more in the neck, killing him.

Leroy Sosa, who was 17 at the time of the robbery, told police his uncle was the one who shot Childress. The younger Sosa got life in prison in exchange for his testimony.

Pedro Sosa also confessed but later retracted his statement. He said law enforcement officials forced a confession by threatening him and his wife.

Since then, Sosa has maintained that he is innocent. His attorneys also say he suffers from a mental illness that alters his sense of reality and makes him believe he is in direct communication with God.

Childress said he doesnt believe the lawyers.

He knew what he was doing, Childress said. He had nothing to lose to claim he was incompetent and innocent his whole life. I guess it worked.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

eeaton@express-news.net

Twitter: @emilieeaton
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey are holding talks on creation of a joint inter-parliamentary friendship group, member of Russias State Duma, head of the Russia-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group Dmitry Savelyev told Trend.

Savelyev reminded that the Russia-Turkey friendship group was established in addition to the Russia-Azerbaijan friendship group, adding both groups are working very fruitfully.

I believe the tripartite group will be established  this is the demand of time. Our countries are committed to cooperation, he said.

Savelyev noted that Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as Azerbaijan and Russia, have very strong relations. In particular, Azerbaijan has done everything possible to resolve the situation, when the Russia-Turkey relations were extremely strained.

In the light of these circumstances, I believe the trilateral group will be an extremely effective platform for discussing intergovernmental issues and sharing experience, he said.

Speaking of short-term plans for cooperation within the Russia-Azerbaijan friendship group, Savelyevsaid parliamentarians are expected to carry out mutual visits and mull topical issues of the bilateral relations.
The conservator assigned to the South San Antonio Independent School District by the Texas Education Agency is not going away anytime soon, and thats a shame.

There should be no need to assign someone, at taxpayer expense, to ensure policymakers do right by the students in their districts. Regrettably, conservators are currently assigned to oversee operations in 10 independent school districts in Texas. Two of those districts  South San and Southside  are in Bexar County.

Southside will soon be losing its conservator, and its elected board will be replaced by an appointed board of managers.

The state education agencys intervention in South San has not been as severe. Its elected board remains in place, although it is failing to make sufficient progress to discontinue the state-mandated oversight.

It has been 14 months since Judy Castleberry, a former executive director of the TEAs Region 20 Education Service Center, was assigned to oversee the school school boards operations. She attends board meetings, monitors their activities and reports to TEA monthly.

There was little change in the boards operations during the first several months of her appointment. Then there was faint optimism between December and late March that the questionable antics of some of the members of this once highly dysfunctional board were becoming a thing of the past.

An influx of new board members and a new board president also offered hope that things might be finally headed in a positive direction. Even the conservators monthly reports to TEA reflected the noticeable change. It was a short-lived honeymoon.

Before an exit strategy for the conservator even became a consideration, old school board politics resurfaced. Things are back to the way they were with no expectation they will change.

At one of the last board meetings, Castleberry had to direct the fractured school board to adopt a plan making South San a district of innovation. The dissension made no sense. It is a coveted designation among the more than 1,000 school districts in the state. It gives districts flexibility on some of the state rules when it comes to developing new strategies to improve students academic success.

It was troubling to see opposition  from a minority faction led by longtime school board member Connie Prado  cause the board to fall short of the two-thirds majority necessary for approval of the measure.

Linda Longoria and Leticia Guerra, who were recruited for their positions by Prado and who vote in lockstep with her, offered no explanation for their votes against the measure. They did not respond to telephone and email requests for interviews about their votes.

Prados vote came as no surprise. She spends much of her time attempting to micromanage district operations and is constantly challenging the school superintendents authority.

She has served on the school board for almost two decades but does not have any formal education in education. Her husband, Raul Prado, a former San Antonio city councilman, is a former schoolteacher.

Connie Prado is notorious for coming to meetings armed with lengthy prepared speeches offering alternate proposals on administration initiatives based on information she says she found online.

Prado was re-elected to her post in November, and she has three years left on her current term. She shows no signs of changing her ways and working with her colleagues and the administration.

South San could achieve so much more if the district did not have to spend its resources dealing with Prados obstructionist tactics.

Castleberry said she will remain in the district at least through the annual budget process this summer.

At the rate things are going, I suspect her presence will be needed much longer than that.

gpadilla@express-news.net
The Alamo is such a powerful symbol of valor, freedom and the birth of Texas that it is hardly surprising that the latest battle over the Alamo  controversies over a master plan  is passionate on many fronts. But there is one part of the plan on which everyone agrees.

It is a great idea to convert buildings across from the Alamo that now house the less elegant touristic emporiums, into a museum. Of course, when we start serious discussions about what will be in the museum, another battle will begin.

I would like to fire the first salvo.

Several years ago my wife and I were driving about Scotland and stopped near Inverness at the site of the Battle of Culloden in 1746. You remember the one: Bonnie Prince Charles teamed with the Jacobites to try to grab the throne from the House of Hanovers and return it to the House of Stuarts.

Charles may have been bonnie, but he was no strategist. His defeat was even bloodier than that at the Alamo, with more than 1,500 of his soldiers dead or wounded in a span of just one hour. Enemy casualties numbered about 300.

But its not the battle that is relevant to us. Its the museum. The story of the battle was very well told, and in an intriguing way. You could take either or both of two pathways through the museum.

One told the history from the point of view of the victor, the other from the point of view of the vanquished.

I propose that the Alamo Museum adopt this model. But being that this is Texas, we should expand on it. Heres what I have in mind.

One pathway would tell the story from the victors perspective (Texas lost the battle but won the war). It would be factually based, not the Disney version. It would tell us who these men were, how they got there, and why they chose certain death.

The Mexican version should be fascinating. After all, Mexico was fighting to save a huge chunk of its nation. Santa Anna had been considered a great hero for his role in Mexicos fight for independence. He was president 11 separate times in the volatile nation. But his defeat in Texas and his machinations afterward have not left history kind to him.

So it would be great to learn both sides of the battle. But there is much more to the Alamo. I propose two more pathways in our museum.

One would be the history of the Alamo and of Alamo Plaza in the growth and evolution of our city. By pairing a mission on one side of the river with a presidio a few blocks west on the other side, Spain was consciously encouraging the development of a population center to discourage French adventurism from Louisiana.

In the latter half of the 19th century the city became so vibrant that the Alamo was nearly swallowed by commerce and culture, with the likes of Joskes, the Menger Hotel and at one time the Grand Opera House. Sarah Bernhardt played there. Edwin Booth, brother of presidential assassin John Wilkes Booth, played Hamlet there. John Philip Sousa and his band played it at least five times.

The story of Alamo Plaza, which has remained a vibrant civic center to this day, is the story of the growth of the heart San Antonio.

The final pathway should be dedicated to the development of something perhaps as vital as the actual history of the Alamo: Its myth. This is not the museum equivalent of a footnote. Myth, sometimes well-connected to fact and sometimes not, is powerful. History, when read in nuanced detail, influences the few. Myth moves the masses.

The Alamo has become one of the nations great myths, made more flexible by the advantage that there were so few survivors. Travis may have never drawn that line in the sand, but dont tell that to anyone who believes he has followed Travis example.

As the great J. Frank Dobie wrote, It is a line that nor all the piety nor wit of research will ever blot out. It is a Grand Canyon cut into the bedrock of human emotions and heroical impulses.

The museums treatment of the myth may be the most important section. History tells us about our ancestors. Our myths tell us about ourselves.

This column appeared as a commentary on Texas Week with Rick Casey, which airs Fridays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. on KLRN.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

Azerbaijan is a model of democracy, peace, development and intercultural dialogue, said Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri addressing the opening ceremony of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku May 5.

The world needs peace, but it cant be achieved if hatred, injustice, phobias and wars persist, said Altwaijri.

According to him, the only reason for such phenomena is that superpowers dont do their job properly.

They are fighting for their own interests and prevent the UN Security Council from carrying out its work, thereby hampering peace and security, noted the ISESCO director general.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is a typical example of such an attitude, he added.

Altwaijri emphasized that various wars continue throughout the world, and superpowers must stop mutual confrontation and allow the UN Security Council carry out its work.

According to the ISESCO director general, it is needed to speak about these problems publicly, because it is not the time for diplomatic phrases, but time for concrete actions.
It had to happen some day, and that day finally arrived on Friday, April 7, 2017.

Such was Bridies intimate knowledge of the system and of Department regulations, and her close professional relationship with pupils and staff that it has been rightly said she could run the school on her own!

A local girl from Crott, Moyne, Bridie was appointed school secretary in 1973 by Fr Phil McGee, the schools first principal. The present building opened its doors in September 1974.

Since Fr McGees sudden death in January 1975, Bridie has served under three other principals and three deputy principals.

During all those years she has been a key, solid, abiding presence and a most influential one at the very heart of school life. In fact her name has become synonymous with that of Moyne.

Of the thousands of students who have passed through Moyne, it is fairly safe to say that she knows or remembers every one of them. They recall her as a friend who could advise or guide at critical moments in their lives.

Newly-appointed teachers and established staff also received her support and friendship at critical times during the school year. Former staff returning for a visit were always assured of a friendly welcome.

Bridies organisational skills, efficiency and remarkable memory are known far and wide. A tireless worker, she was at all times completely dedicated to the good name and smooth running of the school. Her secretarial work for the Board of Management was always of the highest standard. Board members and parents appreciated her strong work ethic, her expertise and support.

In recognition of her hard work and dedication, it was entirely appropriate that the President of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, Ms Antoinette Nic Gearailt, along with the CEO of Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board Dr Christy Duffy and Bishop Francis Duffy, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois all took time out of their busy schedules to attend her farewell presentation and meal.

Bridies retirement will leave an immense void in Moyne Community School, though she is leaving behind an excellently-trained office team.

However, she will be missed for her ready wit, her efficiency, her ability, her integrity and the other personal qualities which rendered her a legend over the years and an almost indispensable figure, not only today, but in contributing immensely to the growth of Moyne as a modern educational powerhouse.

All at Moyne CS wish her a well-deserved retirement with her husband Padraig and their two daughters, Geraldine and Marian, and no doubt she will remain active and involved in Drumreilly. That is her nature.
Nature & Weather, Local News, Crime, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: May 05 2017

Illegal Dumping Of Tens Of Thousands Of Tons Of Construction Waste Containing Hazardous Substances Has Kept Park Closed Since 2014.

Brentwood, NY - May 5, 2017 - Standing outside Roberto Clemente Park, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the filing of a federal lawsuit seeking to recover damages from companies and individuals for the dumping of contaminated construction waste that has deprived the Standing outside Roberto Clemente Park, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the filing of a federal lawsuit seeking to recover damages from companies and individuals for the dumping of contaminated construction waste that has deprived the Brentwood , Long Island community of their use of the park since 2014. Attorney General Schneidermans suit alleges that the individuals and companies involved in the dumping of hazardous substances in the popular town park  a group of construction contractors, waste brokers, and waste haulers  are liable under federal and state law to pay damages related to the Brentwood communitys lost use of the park

Parks arent luxuries; they are vital to the public health, economies, and social fabrics of the communities they serve, said Attorney General Schneiderman. We believe the companies and individuals named in our suit are responsible for the dumping of hazardous substances into the heart of Brentwood and causing a much-beloved park to be closed off to the community for years. Those responsible for closing Roberto Clemente Park must repay their debt to the Brentwood community.

Between August 2013 and April 2014, tens of thousands of tons of urban soil and construction and demolition debris (C&D), transported from construction sites in the New York City metropolitan area, were illegally dumped in Roberto Clemente Park, a park owned by the Town of Islip. The Town closed the park in May 2014 when environmental testing revealed elevated levels of a wide array of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and pesticides, as well as asbestos, in areas of the park where the dumping occurred. Since that time, the park has remained closed, as cleanup contractors have removed approximately 39,000 tons of construction waste. The Town hopes to reopen portions of the park this summer.

In the lawsuit filed today, Attorney General Schneiderman alleges that a group of contractors who arranged for the disposal of soil and C&D contaminated with hazardous substances from construction sites in the New York City metropolitan area, companies who brokered the removal and disposal of the contaminated waste, and the haulers who dumped the waste in Roberto Clemente Park are liable for damages under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and state public nuisance and negligence laws for closing the park to the Brentwood community. Under CERCLA, states may hold those who transport, or arrange for the transport of, hazardous substances that are released to the environment liable for the injury, destruction, or loss of natural resources  including public parks and other lands held in trust by states  resulting from the release.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court, Eastern District of New York, asks the Court to find the companies and individuals named in the suit liable under CERCLA and state law for the communitys loss of use of Roberto Clemente Park since 2014, and require them to pay related damages under state law. As compensation to Brentwood residents for their years of lost use of Roberto Clemente Park, and consistent with CERCLA, all monies obtained through this action will be directed by the State toward restoring and enhancing parks in the Brentwood community.

We have zero tolerance for those who illegally dump materials in our parks and this action sends a clear message that we will hold them accountable for breaking the law, said County Executive Bellone. Along with recent County legislation I signed into law that stiffens penalties and includes jail time, I commend Attorney General Schneiderman for his commitment to protecting our parks in Suffolk County.

Islip Town suffered the loss of the use of Roberto Clemente Park due to the greed of a few. We must ensure justice for our residents and prevent this type of incident from ever occurring again. I commend Attorney General Schneiderman for pursuing justice for the people of Islip, said NYS Senator Tom Croci.

Three years ago the Brentwood community experienced an environmental offense to a horrifying degree, said Assemblyman Phil Ramos. Companies thought they could get away with dumping toxic garbage in a diverse community because it would be the path of least resistance. But we were able to collectively shine a light on their harmful activity that not only forced an important community landmark to close, but put our childrens health at risk in the process. I would like to applaud Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for championing legal action against those who perpetrated these heinous crimes and we take comfort in the legal process as we move forward to clean and reopen the park.

I commend Attorney General Schneiderman for coming back to our district as he promised he would to bring justice and accountability to those responsible for the pollution of our park, said Suffolk County Legislator Monica Martinez. Even during these times of anguish and uncertainty, it is comforting to know that elected officials of his stature are standing here with us. Many times we feel forgotten and that justice will never prevail. However, having the AG's office leading this effort, it gives us hope and reassurance that those responsible for this environmental atrocity will not only be brought to justice but will also justly defray the cost of restoring our park to its natural landscape.

We support Attorney General Schneiderman's efforts to hold accountable all those responsible for the criminal dumping in Roberto Clemente Park. This park is a cornerstone of the community, and its closing has been a tragedy for our residents, said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, Illegal disposal of waste is a criminal enterprise motivated purely by greed that is a growing threat to the environment and public health. Governor Cuomo has directed our agency to aggressively crackdown on these activities, and todays NRD claim sends a strong message that anyone dumping dangerous chemicals onto our parks and playgrounds is going to pay to restore the damage they cause. I look forward to working with the Attorney Generals office and others as we advance this important claim.

I grew up all my life playing in this park with my family and friends. I have so many happy memories about Roberto Clemente park that it is a part of who I am and the heart of our community. When I found out that it had been poisoned with toxic waste I felt a deep sadness for our park and the community. We lost an important asset for everyone. I am incredibly happy that the individuals that did this to our community will be held accountable by the attorney general, said Ana Flores, Brentwood resident and New York Communities for Change member.

Those named in the complaint include:

THOMAS DATRE, JR.

CHRISTOPHER GRABE

5 BROTHERS FARMING CORP.

DAYTREE AT CORTLAND SQUARE INC.

IEV TRUCKING CORP.

O.D. SERVICES CORP.

ALL ISLAND MASONRY & CONCRETE, INC.

BUILDING DEV CORP.DIMYON DEVELOPMENT CORP.

NEW EMPIRE BUILDER CORP.

CIPRIANO EXCAVATION CORP.

TOUCHSTONE HOMES, LLC

SAMS RENT AND CONSTRUCTION

SAMS RENT, INC.

NEW YORK MAJOR CONSTRUCTION INC.

EAST COAST DRILLING NY INC.

TRITON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC

SUKRAM AND SONS LTD.

M & Y DEVELOPERS INC.

JOHN DOE

ATRIA BUILDERS, LLC

WOORI CONSTRUCTION INC.

PLUS K CONSTRUCTION INC.

NY FINEST ENTERPRISES INC.

MONACO CONSTRUCTION CORP.

ALEF CONSTRUCTION INC.

158 FRANKLIN AVE. LLC

LUCIANOS CONSTRUCTION, INC.

ILE CONSTRUCTION GROUP, INC.

EAST END MATERIALS, INC.

SPARROW CONSTRUCTION CORP.

CIANO CONCRETE CORP.

FREEDOM CITY CONTRACTING CORP.

TOTAL STRUCTURE SERVICES INC.

In March 2016, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota obtained criminal convictions of two individuals, Thomas Datre, Jr. and Christopher Grabe, and a waste hauling company, 5 Brothers Farming Corp., for their role in the illegal dumping. In addition, the Town of Islip is currently seeking civil enforcement against parties involved in the dumping in order to recoup the cost it has incurred in cleaning up the park.

Attorney General Schneiderman thanks the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for its assistance, especially Sharon Brooks, Principal Economist, and Patrick Foster, Chief, Natural Resource Damages Section. The Attorney General also thanks Suffolk County District Attorney Spotas office for its assistance in the investigation of this matter.
School & Education, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause

By Long Island News & PR Published: May 05 2017

Students were encouraged to say hello to classmates whom they normally do not interact with.

Mastic Beach, NY - May 5, 2017 - William Paca Middle School student leaders recently held Start with Hello Week, an effort in which students were encouraged to say hello and connect with classmates whom they normally do not interact with.

Different activities throughout the course of the week included wearing Hello, My Name is stickers, sitting with and taking pictures with new friends in the cafeteria and purchasing kind messages to send to their classmates with all proceeds collected to be donated toward the Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation.
The ninth edition of the Islamic States Rumiyah (Rome) magazine was released online earlier today. And it features an interview with an unnamed jihadist who is identified as the emir of the groups soldiers in Egypt. This man runs a branch of Abu Bakr al Baghdadis organization in Egypt that is apparently separate from Wilayah Sinai, or the Sinai province.

Although the interview is part of the so-called caliphates propaganda efforts, it contains some telling admissions. The Islamic States emir concedes that his groups church bombings arent very popular in Egypt, nor is its jihadist ideology.

The Islamic States local arm has bombed Coptic churches in Egypt three times since late last year. On Dec. 11, 2016, a suicide bomber attacked St. Peters Church in Cairo. Then, on Apr. 9, jihadists equipped with explosive vests detonated themselves at the St. Marks Church in Alexandria and St. Georges Church in Tanta. Dozens were killed or wounded in the bombings.

Abu Bakr al Baghdadis organization has promoted the anti-Christian attacks in its propaganda. In fact, the new issue of Rumiyah attempts to justify the jihadists slaughter of innocents at places of worship.

The cover story (The Ruling on the Belligerent Christians) concludes that targeting these churches with ruin and destruction is a matter that is permitted in the Shariah, and it is allowed to use this as a means of attaining closeness to Allah. Rumiyahs authors tell readers that even the blood of Christian women and children is permissible.

But the Islamic States own emir in Egypt concedes that most people dont agree.

Asked what kind of reaction these operations receive from the general masses and others, he says the prevailing trend in many peoples reactions is that of denunciation, as well as disassociation from these operations in specific, and from the war on the Christians and the tawaghit in general. He complains that the people offer condolences to these mushrikin [polytheists] on account of what befalls them, under the claim of national brotherhood and the like, despite the fact the victims are supposedly outside of the religion.

The implication is that the Islamic States church bombings are unlikely to help it build more popular support for the jihadists cause inside Egypt. However, the senior jihadist argues that the Egyptian governments heavy-handed actions after bombings only helps his cause by alienating more of the population.

Still, the emir complains that the biggest problem his group faces is that the jihadist ideology has not been widely adopted inside Egypt.

Indeed, the most important thing the mujahidin face in Misr [Egypt] is the absence of the reality of tawhid from a large section of the population, especially when it comes to legislating and ruling by other than what Allah revealed, showing allegiance to those who commit this type of shirk, and showing enmity to the believers who fight so that rule is entirely for Allah, the Islamic States emir says.

Despite these limitations, the caliphate loyalist claims the number of jihadist has increased and they are gaining strength in Egypt. He also claims that their anti-Christian operations are having their desired effect and are achieving their designated goals. Instead of backing away from the church bombings, he calls on Muslims to plan operations against the Christians and the apostates and tells them to stay away from churches and any places associated with government security forces or the West, because these are all valid targets.

Rumiyahs editors refer to mainland Egypt and the Sinai as two separate regions in the Islamic States division of responsibilities based on geography. The emir does as well.

Tell us about your relationship with Sinai Wilayah, the Rumiyah interviewer says.

What connects us with our brothers, the soldiers of the Khilafah in Sinai Wilayah, is a relationship of brotherliness, love, and allegiance  may Allah bless them, he responds. We are all soldiers of the Islamic State in the land of Sinai and Misr [Egypt], fighting so that the word of Allah becomes supreme. He adds that the jihadists path to Jerusalem from Egypt leads through the Sinai.

In the cover story, Rumiyahs editors also refer to Egypt and the Sinai as separate lands in which the jihadists have attacked Christians.

Therefore, taken at face value, Rumiyah indicates that the head of Wilayah Sinai and the Islamic States emir in mainland Egypt are two different men.

Just Terror Tactics: Hostage-Taking

Rumiyah continues the Islamic States Just Terror series, which provides tips for carrying out terror attacks.

The new issue focuses on hostage-taking operations, telling would-be jihadists that they can acquire arms at guns shows in the US or from gun dealers and underground criminal networks in Europe, where firearms are widely available due to Europes proximity to many conflict zones.

Rumiyah cites the example of Amedy Coulibaly (also known as Abu Basir al-Ifriqi), who killed several hostages at a kosher food market in Paris in Jan. 2015. Coulibaly succeeded in acquiring a small arsenal of weapons consisting of handguns, AK-47 assault rifles, explosives, and a cache of ammunition, Rumiyahs editors inform readers.

The Islamic States propagandists list a number of public places as ideal target locations for taking hostages. And they go further, encouraging adherents in the West to lure victims by posting fake advertisements for jobs and rental properties, so they can nab unsuspecting people during the course of their regular lives.

A separate infographic encourages additional truck attacks, which Islamic State supporters have already carried out in Europe.

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.
A US soldier was killed yesterday outside the capital of Mogadishu while fighting Shabaab, al Qaedas branch in Somalia. The casualty took place just five weeks after the Trump administration approved the expansion of military counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda in the Horn of Africa.

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced the death of an American soldier during an operation against al-Shabaab near Barii, Somalia, approximately 40 miles west of Mogadishu. According to AFRICOM, American forces were conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army.

The nature of the operation against Shabaab has not be disclosed, and it is unknown how many casualties Shabaab incurred during the fighting. Previously, US forces have partnered with Somali forces to target training camps, bases, and other infrastructure used by Shabaab to launch attacks in the region.

AFRICOM described Shabaab as a threat to Americans and American interests and said the group has murdered Americans; radicalizes and recruits terrorists and fighters in the United States; and attempts to conduct and inspire attacks against Americans, our allies and our interests around the world, including here at home.

Scores of Americans are thought to have traveled to Somalia to wage jihad. Americans have served in top leadership positions in Shabaab, and three Americans are confirmed to have carried out suicide attacks in Somalia, more than in any other theater of war.

US forces are partnering with Somali and African Union forces to to systematically dismantle this al Qaeda affiliate, according to AFRICOM.

Shabaab has had success in disrupting one other special operations force raid in the past. In January 2013, Shabaab repelled a raid by French General Directorate for External Security (DGSE) commandos and killed one solider and captured another. The DGSE forces were attempting to free two of its members who were captured by Shabaab in Mogadishu. One was executed after the raid.

Expanding operations against Shabaab

The Trump administration has loosened the restrictions on the US military to use force against Shabaab. On March 30, the Pentagon announced that The president has approved a Department of Defense proposal to provide additional precision fires in support of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali security forces operations to defeat Shabaab in Somalia.

This authority is consistent with our approach of developing capable Somali security forces and supporting regional partners in their efforts to combat Shabaab, the Pentagon statement continued.

The Pentagons desire to actively target Shabaab reflects the growing concern that al Qaedas branch in East Africa is gaining strength despite the presence of both AMISOM and US forces. Over the past year, Shabaab has regained control of some towns and rural areas in the south that it lost during an AMISOM offensive that began in 2011. In addition, Shabaab has stepped up suicide attacks and guerrilla operations both in and around the capital of Mogadishu. Furthermore, Shabaab used a sophisticated laptop bomb in an attempt to down a Somali airline in 2016. This attack was cited by the US government as one of the reasons that electronics have been banned in the cabins of airplanes departing from ten airports in the Middle East. [See Whats really behind Trumps laptop ban.]

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.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Christine Muttonen may visit Azerbaijan in autumn, Bahar Muradova, vice speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, told reporters in Baku.

Initially, Muttonens visit was planned to be held before the summer session of the OSCE PA, but was subsequently postponed, according to Muradova.

She added that talks are underway to set a date for the visit.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

Azerbaijan's First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva has met with UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova on the sidelines of the Baku-hosted 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

Mehriban Aliyeva hailed Irina Bokova's participation in the forum, underlining that the topical issues are being discussed at this international event.

They also praised the establishment of close cooperation and the successful implementation of joint projects between Azerbaijan and UNESCO, and discussed the work done to further develop the country's ties with the organization.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today met with President of the Republic of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita who is on a visit in the country.

The importance of the Baku-hosted 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue was noted at the meeting. The level of political relations was hailed, and they also stressed the significance of developing economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Malian president praised warm hospitality shown to him in Azerbaijan. He said Azerbaijan has achieved rapid development under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev to gain great influence in the world.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita described the head of states landslide victory in the elections as indicative of the people's trust and confidence in the Azerbaijani president.

The Malian president praised Azerbaijan's rapid development, saying Baku has become a center of global intercultural dialogue.

Underlining his country's keenness to develop bilateral ties with Azerbaijan, the Malian president expressed the need to study Azerbaijan's experience, technical capabilities as well as management experience in various fields of economy, including the agricultural sector.

President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita also hailed good prospects for cooperation with Azerbaijan in military-technical and energy spheres, expressing his country's interest in studying Azerbaijan's experience in the fight against terrorism.

Hailing good opportunities for developing Azerbaijan-Mali bilateral relations, President Ilham Aliyev underlined the two countries' fruitful cooperation within international organizations.

Ilham Aliyev noted the importance of exploring opportunities for economic cooperation, mutual trade and investment making between the two countries.
COLLINSVILLE The dog days of summer wont be here for several weeks, but a group of Magna Vista High School students are celebrating early.

This weekend, the area high school students will host a dog show at Jack Dalton Park, coinciding with Henry County Public Schools Sliding into Summer Fun Family Summit event, where participants may learn about summer activities available to students, purchase items from the Laurel Park Middle School greenhouse, enroll students for the 2017-18 school year and partake in a free lunch for children and a $2 meal for adults. The family day will occur from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The dog show will take place at the end of the family summit, and organizers look forward to seeing a variety of breeds.

I teach three sections of Small Animal Care Management classes in my Agricultural curriculum in the spring and I thought conducting a dog show would help students better learn their dog breeds, which is a course competency requirement, MVHS teacher Darryl Holland said.

Small Animal Care and Veterinary Science students have competed in coonhound events at shows in Virginia and North Carolina in years past.

A dog show where all breeds were featured, I felt, would be an improvement and that is how the idea of this dog show first came about, Holland said.

While the MVHS Future Farmers of America are in charge of the event, all are welcome to enter their pooches.

Theres a $5 entry fee per dog and every single breed  including mixed  is encouraged to enter. All breeds are welcome, but any crossbreed or Heinz 57 dogs will compete in group eight  hybrid and miscellaneous, Holland said.

No registration papers are required for entry, but a dog must have the general appearance of a recognizable breed.

No 100-pound Chihuahuas, for example, Holland said.

In the event that several people bring the same breed of dog, all will have an opportunity to compete in the show.

Also, dogs and owners of all ages are welcome to enter  from puppies to elders and from children to adults.

There are not age requirements for either dogs or owners, but it should be understood adult dogs have a distinct advantage over puppies, Holland said. More importantly, the public is asked to please not bring aggressive-type dogs and all dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.

Debbie Cox of Horsepasture will be judging the event.

She has competed in many dog shows, including the prestigious Westminster, and is highly qualified for this event, Holland said.

There will be several prizes for winning pooches, including class ribbons, breed trophies, group trophies and two overall Best of Show cups.

Groups include: the sporting group; the hound group; the terrier group; the working dog group; the herding dog group; the toy dog group; non-sporting dogs and the hybrid and miscellaneous group.

People who own and love dogs treat them as part of the family, so why not bring yours out to the park on Saturday and let others see the lab or Yorkie you are so proud of? And who knows, you might just win something to put up on the mantle, Holland said.

Registration for the show will take place at Jack Dalton Park on Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon. The dog show will begin promptly at 12 p.m. Those entering dogs are asked to bring personal maintenance items, like doggie bags, to the event.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Anakhanum Hidayatova  Trend:

Negotiation and discussion are the best tools to solve any conflict situations and misunderstandings, Adviser to the Secretary General on Tourism and Peace at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Regional Director for the Middle East Amr Abdel-Ghaffar told Trend.

In this regard, the holding of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku plays an important role in the search for solutions to global problems, he noted.

An effective way to establish strong relations between cultures is the development of tourism, said Abdel-Ghaffar.

Tourism creates a good basis for friendship, noted UNWTO official, people visit each other, get acquainted with the way of life, cuisine, culture of another country, thereby friendly relations are being established between people.

The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, titled Advancing Intercultural Dialogue: New Avenues for Human Security, Peace and Sustainable Development, brings together more than 800 foreign delegations, including high-ranking state and government officials, heads of international organizations, parliamentary leaders, renowned scholars, ambassadors and public figures.

This is for the first time that heads of more than 25 international organizations participate in the forum, which has become a platform for global cultural dialogue. The forum will feature a joint high-level meeting of the heads of international organizations for the first time this year, in addition to nearly 40 sessions and events.

The agenda includes topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.

The Forum is being organized for the fourth time as part of the Baku Process initiated by Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev in 2008.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum
Republican gubernatorial candidate Frank Wagner visited Roanoke Friday to pitch his campaign message of improving transportation infrastructure in order to create more jobs across Virginia.

At a Roanoke County Republican Committee luncheon, Wagner, a GOP state senator from Virginia Beach, discussed his proposal to raise the gas tax for projects like widening Interstate 81 and building Interstate 73 and the Coalfields Expressway.

Yes, hes a rare Republican calling for a tax increase. He understands the irony.

Building up major pathways in and out of Southwest Virginia will improve the business climate, he said.

In the economically depressed Southside region , adding broadband and building a major interstate like I-73 for high-speed travel could revive the economy, Wagner said.

Its the interconnectivity thats going to allow the Roanoke area to A, diversify, and B, grow, he said.

As for the additional taxes, consumers might not even notice, Wagner said, citing North Carolinas gas tax that is more than double Virginias. But the price per gallon at most convenience stores in North Carolina is still at or below the cost of gas in Virginia, he said.

Wagner also took the opportunity to criticize the tax plan of his opponent, front-runner Ed Gillespie, which proposes a 10 percent across the board tax rate cut.

Wagner argued the centerpiece of the GOP frontrunners campaign is disingenuous because it doesnt save the average Virginia family $1,300 a year, as Gillespie has said. That figure is based on a family that makes $135,000, when the states household median income is about half that amount, Wagner said.

Following a General Assembly session during which lawmakers cut about $1.5 billion in spending from the state budget, now is not a responsible time for a tax cut, Wagner said.

When Wagner called Gillespies plan phony math at a news conference earlier this week, a spokeswoman for the Gillespie campaign retorted that Wagners tax plan will increase taxes for hardworking Virginians, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

My definition of conservative is this: Conservative is someone who pays their bills, Wagner said. Conservative is one who doesnt go out and borrow money for highways and put tolls up and make you pay $2 for $1 worth of road construction. I think you ought to pay as you go.

Corey Stewart, the third Republican in the governors race, has proposed completely phasing out the state income tax.

Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman, leads Wagner and Stewart, chairman of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, in both fundraising and in opinion polling.

At the luncheon, Wagner also talked about education, emphasizing the importance of career technical training. He proposed separate paths for school accreditation, one for traditional schools that includes standardized tests, and another that measures through the various industry credentials they acquire.

On higher education issues, Wagner proposed capping tuition at higher education institutions.

The winner of the June 13 Republican primary will face either Lt. Gov Ralph Northam or former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, both Democrats, and possibly a Libertarian candidate in the Nov. 7 general election.
MARTINSVILLE  Twelve people recently indicted by a Martinsville grand jury on a total of 35 drug charges have been arrested.

In all, a Martinsville grand jury met and handed down 82 indictments on Monday. Of those, 35 were related to illegal drugs. Martinsville Circuit Court sealed those 35 indictments on 12 people until those people could be arrested.

On Wednesday members of the Martinsville Police Department, Henry County and Patrick County sheriffs offices, the Virginia State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Division -- assisted by the Martinsville Sheriffs Office and Martinsville-Henry County 911 Center -- set out to make the arrests on the narcotics warrants.

Those arrested include:

 Matthew Robert Agee, of Collinsville, who faces one count each of sale of oxycodone and conspiracy to sell oxycodone.

 Robert Bradley Agee, of Collinsville faces two counts of sale of oxycodone and one count of conspiracy to sell oxycodone.

 Javon Marquis Tarpley, of Martinsville faces two counts of sale of marijuana and one count of sale of imitation cocaine.

 Justin ONeil Logan, of Martinsville, faces one count of sale of hydrocodone

 Cynthia Roknich, of Martinsville, faces one count of sale of hydrocodone, one count of sale of amphetamine, seven counts of sale of oxycodone and four counts of sale of oxymorphone.

 Matthew Logan Taylor, of Ridgeway, faces one count of possession of meth.

 Kaitlyn Brianna Stanley, of Axton, faces one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of meth.

 Brandi Nicole Custer, of Martinsville, faces one count of possession of heroin and one count of possession of meth

 Courtney Thompson, of Fieldale, faces one count of possession of alprazolam and one count of possession of meth

 Marcus Antonio Bradley, of Martinsville, faces one count of possession of cocaine and one count of possession of oxycodone

 Robert Dale Spence Jr., of Fieldale, faces one count of possession of heroin

 Toby James Harris, of Martinsville, faces one count of possession of hydrocodone and one count of possession of meth.

These indictments were a result of the Martinsville Police Departments continuing effort to fight the distribution of illegal drugs and the harm they do to our community, department officials said in a released statement. Each of the arrests (was) made possible by the strong partnership that has been developed between the community and the Martinsville Police Department. We would also like to recognize the hard work of the Martinsville Commonwealths Attorneys Office during this process.

The Martinsville Police Department would like to thank the community and all of the law enforcement agencies who assisted in this operation, the statement added.
MARTINSVILLEA new partnership between three local schools will make it easier for residents to take the college classes needed to advance their career in several technical fields. Friday morning, the presidents of the New College Institute, Patrick Henry Community College and Danvilles private Averett University signed a memorandum of understanding that will allow PHCCs applied science degree recipients to seamlessly transfer into Averetts bachelor of applied science in leadership studies program.

The program is targeted to current and former PHCC students with associate degrees in general engineering technology, industrial electronics technology, various types of business technologies, administration of justice, legal assisting, education assisting, emergency medical services, health technology geared toward nursing and information systems technology.

PHCC President Angeline Godwin said she often has heard area executives say they had to hire managers and supervisors from elsewhere to fill jobs at their businesses because they could not find anyone local with the necessary qualifications and skills.

Courses provided through Averetts degree program will help area residents develop skills, such as critical thinking abilities, needed to be promoted into supervisory and management jobs, Godwin said.

Averett President Tiffany Franks said the three sister institutions are working together toward the same goal  meeting the (economic) needs of the region by growing and developing the talents we have here in Southern Virginia.

With this partnership, Franks said that students will be poised to be promoted and move into positions of management and leadership within their workplaces.

Until now, courses that were part of associate in science programs generally have not transferred to four-year degree programs, said NCI Executive Director Leanna Blevins.

That can be very frustrating for students, Blevins said, as they try to earn a bachelors degree.

Averetts degree is offered through the universitys Graduate and Professional Studies program.

According to the memorandum, Averett will provide courses toward the degree mostly online, but there will be face-to-face support and other learning opportunities provided at NCI in Martinsville.

After receiving a PHCC students application and official transcript, Averett will guarantee his or her automatic acceptance into its program if he or she had a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0 in earning the applied science degree, the memorandum shows.

PHCC students admitted to Averett will be considered junior class members and have all transferable academic credits accepted at face value, except if they received a grade of D in English 111 (an initial composition course), the document shows.

Students can expect to graduate from Averett after passing no less than 30 semester hours of courses through the university, including a minor in an applied science field and completing all of the bachelors degree requirements, which require a total of at least 120 semester hours of courses, including transfer credits, according to the memorandum.

Averett courses will focus on topics such as how to be an effective leader, cultural differences among leadership models, the dynamics of teamwork and ethical decision-making techniques, information from the university shows.

The schools also got feedback from local employers while putting the partnership together. School officials asked employers what their needs were and how something like this could be helpful.

Bassett Furnitures growth is creating new opportunities for employment in Martinsville-Henry County, said Eddie White, the companys vice president of human resources. Many of the concentrations available in the Bachelors of Applied Science program would certainly help us in meeting our future employment needs.

In March, Bassett Furniture announced expansion plans, with a $1.5 million investment in new equipment and 22 new jobs coming to the local operation.

More information about the leadership studies program can be obtained by calling NCI at (276) 403-5600 or Averett at (800) 448-5233, or by going online to gps.averett.edu.

NCI will begin promoting the program immediately, Blevins said.

Godwin said agreements like the one between PHCC, NCI and Averett are what the future of higher education looks like in terms of being innovative and targeting needs of specific student groups.
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Page 1 of 6

A spectre is haunting Europe - the spectre of communism. All the powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre: Pope and Tsar, Metternich and Guizot, French Radicals and German police-spies. Where is the party in opposition that has not been decried as communistic by its opponents in power? Where is the opposition that has not hurled back the branding reproach of communism, against the more advanced opposition parties, as well as against its reactionary adversaries?

Two things result from this fact:

I. Communism is already acknowledged by all European powers to be itself a power.

II. It is high time that Communists should openly, in the face of the whole world, publish their views, their aims, their tendencies, and meet this nursery tale of the spectre of communism with a manifesto of the party itself. To this end, Communists of various nationalities have assembled in London and sketched the following manifesto, to be published in the English, French, German, Italian, Flemish and Danish languages.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder of IDEA Public Union, Goodwill Ambassador of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Leyla Aliyeva has today met with Directeur de Cabinet of the FAO Director-Generals Office Mario Lubetkin and head of the organization's Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan Melek Cakmak, who attend the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

They stressed the importance of the Baku-hosted forum, which became a platform for intercultural dialogue, in terms of development of peace, tranquility and prosperity in the world. In this regard, they noted the role of food and nutrition in strengthening relations between cultures, as well as emphasized the significance of maintaining the diversity of products and national cuisine.

Leyla Aliyeva praised the activity of FAO in Azerbaijan, and pointed out successful implementation by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, IDEA Public Union and Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of a joint project to create fruit gardens for low-income families in the regions of the country. She also thanked the leadership of the organization for the opportunity to create an Azerbaijani room in FAO headquarters.

They exchanged views over the global fight against hunger, sustainable development and environmental protection issues, as well as possible participation of FAO in sturgeon protection and farming in the Caspian Sea.

The FAO officials said that the organization is ready assist Azerbaijan in ensuring healthy eating standards in schools.
As Massachusetts authorities released their completed police report on the suicide death of Aaron Hernandez, the former prisoner's star attorney announced once again that his team will conduct their own "thorough and independent" investigation on the death.

Attorney Jose Baez accused government officials of unprofessionalism throughout their investigation into the death, citing leaks to press before Hernandez's family were notified.

In a state police report published on Thursday, authorities released details of how Hernandez was found in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski maximum-security prison in Shirley.

The report says officials found cardboard shoved into the door tracks of Hernandez's cell, forcing them to manually open it. Hernandez was found hanging naked from a bed sheet tied to the window. He reportedly had large, circular blood marks on his feet, and "John 3:16" was written on his forehead in ink. A large amount of shampoo was poured on the floor, according to the police report, making it slippery to walk on. Officials then say they tried CPR on Hernandez before he was transported to UMass Memorial - HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster where he was declared dead.

In a statement, Baez said his team will use "any and all of the legal tools" at their disposal to block interference from government officials during their investigation. "The unprofessional behavior of those entrusted to impartially and professionally conduct an investigation into Aaron's death has caused grave concern as to the validity and thoroughness of the investigation," Baez wrote.

Aaron Hernandez's suicide death stayed in the public eye, much in the same vein as his adult life. Once a star tight end for the New England Patriots, Hernandez was serving a life sentence in Shirley after he was found guilty in the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013.

In the week before his death, Hernandez was acquitted of two murder charges in the shooting deaths of two men in 2012. Both trials garnered public interest due to his fame with the Patriots; that public attention caused a frenzy of press coverage that Baez claims questions the accuracy of the state's investigation into Hernandez's death.
It was, for years, known for two things: Massive parking lots and the place where mobster James "Whitey" Bulger shot people.

But the Boston Seaport hasn't just changed -- it has transformed.

Trendy restaurants, luxury high-priced apartments, a burgeoning innovation economy and new construction cranes framing the skyline are the new norm. If you haven't been to Boston's Seaport District in the past few years, you wouldn't recognize it. And soon, what once might have best been described as South Boston's northerly wasteland section, will be home to General Electric's world headquarters. Reebok has announced plans to move its headquarters there as well.

How did it happen? What forces came together to turn the Boston Seaport into one of the city's crown jewels? And what made it attractive enough to pry a multinational corporation like GE from its former Connecticut home?

On Monday, MassLive kicks off its Reporter Road Trip: Communities on the Rise tour. Over the course of the next several months, MassLive's content team will be spotlighting a handful of Massachusetts cities, towns and neighborhoods that have transformed themselves or are in the process of doing so. These are communities that in many cases are shaking off old stereotypes and paving a new path to economic success.

Boston's Seaport District is the perfect place to start.

"We're looking to highlight the great stories happening across Massachusetts and to engage the communities where our readers live, work and play," said Ed Kubosiak Jr., MassLive's editor-in-chief. "Stop by and say hello to the staff in person on Monday or connect with us on social media."

On Monday, MassLive's content team will set up at District Hall at 75 Northern Ave., Boston. A public/private partnership built as an open space for the city's innovation community to gather and exchange ideas, it's a fitting location for the tour's start. From there, MassLive's team will take you inside the Seaport through stories, photos, video and Facebook Live updates to show how this section of New England's largest city has transformed. What's working? What isn't? And what can other communities learn from those successes and challenges?

Follow along with us on Facebook and on MassLive's Boston news page Monday as we show you what today's Boston Seaport looks like and talk with state and city leaders about its transformation.

If you live or work in the city, you're invited to drop in at District Hall from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to talk with MassLive reporters and staff. New England Patriots beat writer Kevin Duffy will be available from noon to 3 p.m.

MassLive's Reporter Road Trip: Communities on the Rise will continue in June as we delve into another community on the upswing. Have a city, town or neighborhood we should check out? Let us know in the comments below or email us at feedback@masslive.com.
A car in Dartmouth has caught fire after its driver allegedly fled from a police stop and crashed.

State troopers attempted to pull over the car on Route 195 eastbound when the driver sped away and immediately crashed into another car and a light pole, State Police said on Twitter.

The suspect was allegedly driving without a license and sustained minor injuries, police said. The driver was taken into custody.

The driver's car caught fire after the crash, police said.

A trooper with the State Police Dartmouth barracks declined to comment, and a State Police spokesman said no further information was immediately available.

This is a developing story.
Gomez.jpg

Springfield City Councilor Adam Gomez kicked off his re-election campaign at the International Biergarten on Thursday night.

(Lucas Ropek )

SPRINGFIELD - Springfield City Councilor Adam Gomez kicked off his re-election campaign at the city's International Biergarten on Main Street on Thursday night, highlighting his accomplishments so far, and stressing his priorities for the future: namely, the pursuit of political unity and economic justice.

"Yes I'm a gentleman of progressive ideals, but to really put forth policy we need to have individuals who are Republicans, moderate Democrats, whatever it is--we have to be able to sit down collectively and come down to a consensus on how government is supposed to run," Gomez said.

The life-long Springfield resident and current Ward 1 Councilor said that he wants to continue to fight for good jobs, economic opportunity, and for the city's most disadvantaged demographics during his next term.

When asked about his priorities for the future, Gomez told The Republican that it's "all about jobs." Gomez said: "We want to make sure we have a good work force in Ward 1," he said, stressing that he's worked to bring more opportunity to the residents within his Ward's jurisdiction--which includes the downtown district, lower Liberty Heights, and the North End.

"We see that in downtown there's a lot of fantastic things that are happening in terms of economic development," he said, pointing to a number of projects that hope to drive more employment opportunities to Springfield's metro area.

"We want to make sure that when people come to Springfield that they feel welcome, and that for the residents in this area that they have a chance to make it here, also," Gomez said. "We're pro-small business," he added.

Gomez was first elected to office in 2015 when he beat out then incumbent Councilor Zaid Luna--who had served in the position since 2008. At that time, Gomez ran on a platform emphasizing his city roots, his Puerto Rican heritage, and his desire to bring justice to the city's most disenfranchised demographics.

Two years later, Gomez's message remains largely unchanged: he said Thursday that he wants to continue to support minority demographics against intolerance and injustice, and to open up avenues of greater economic opportunity for the community.

To do this, Gomez has worked on a number of initiatives locally designed to stand on the side of minority populations.

In October of 2016, the Councilor was instrumental in passing a non-binding resolution entitled "Solidarity with Muslims," that condemned hate-speech against Muslims in the city and reaffirmed "the value of a pluralistic society, the beauty of a culture composed of multiple cultures, and the inalienable right of every person to live and practice their faith without fear."

Besides his inclusive style, Gomez also can talk authentically about having experienced life in Springfield.

"I grew up on East Hooker Street and spent most of my life in Brightwood," Gomez said, stressing his closeness to the surrounding Springfield community and how it has informed who he is.

Many of the people present Thursday night said that they'd known Gomez since he was a child and that they'd seen examples of his leadership abilities since then.

"I've known Adam forever," said Evelyn Caceres, who said she grew up in the same neighborhood as Gomez and thinks he's a "great guy."

"I think he has the most passion in the race and I think he is a great leader," said Johnnie Ray McKnight, who said he's known Gomez for nearly 15 years, and who made his own foray into political life when he ran for Mayor the same year Gomez won his Council seat.

In turn, Gomez also exhibited a real sense of solidarity with the people in the room--calling members of his political team up to stand beside him during his speech, and thanking numerous other present and non-present individuals for their contributions to his life and career. "In the last two years we've come a long way," Gomez said. "This seat is not only mine, it's all of ours. All of you are attached to it. Even if you don't live in Ward 1, you support Ward 1," he said.

"Let's spread the word: Ward 1, this is just the beginning. Change came, now let's go on to the future," Gomez concluded, to applause.
SPRINGFIELD -- A prosecutor told jurors Friday Suzanne Hardy's reckless behavior behind the wheel caused the death of brothers Dylan Riel, 4, and Jayce Garcia, 1.

Hardy, 24, of Holland, is on trial for two counts of involuntary manslaughter for a Brimfield crash on June 20, 2014. The two Southbridge brothers were passengers in her car.



Hardy was Dylan's aunt; her brother was Dylan's father.

She is also charged with reckless endangerment of a child for allegedly failing to properly restrain the little boys in the vehicle. She is also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon -- her car -- for injuries to a driver of another car.

Assistant District Attorney James M. Forsyth said the crash happened as Hardy was driving east on Route 20 at about 4:30 p.m.

A landscaping truck was in the left lane eastbound waiting to turn into the company headquarters at 345 Sturbridge Road, also known as Route 20, Forsyth said. Hardy went to the right, clipped the guardrail, spun out of control into the westbound lane and crashed into an SUV. Her car and another car collided head on in the westbound lane.

Forsyth told jurors they will hear about distracted driving. He said there will be evidence about Hardy's reaction, or lack thereof, to the truck ahead of her waiting in the left hand lane to turn.

Hardy's own 4-year-old son was in a booster seat in the back seat of the car with Dylan and Jayce.

Forsyth said Dylan was in the center of the back seat, restrained only by a seat belt. He said Jayce was in a car seat that was strapped incorrectly, improperly installed and facing the wrong way.

Defense lawyer Joan M. Williams said it was a tragic accident, with families and friendships torn apart that day.

She said Hardy loved Dylan and Jayce and cared for them when the boys' mother, Nicole Riel, was at work.

Hardy, who is free awaiting trial, was indicted by a Hampden County grand jury in June 2015.

Hardy has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her, including two counts of manslaughter and two counts of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation for the deaths of the boys.

A manslaughter conviction carries a sentence of up to 20 years, while a motor vehicle homicide conviction carries a sentence of up to 15 years.

The crash closed Route 20 from the junction of Holland and East Brimfield roads to Route 148 in Sturbridge for more than three hours, and the emergency response included two medical helicopters and multiple ambulances.

Nicole Riel took the stand, testifying in tears about learning first one, then the second, of her boys did not survive the crash.

About a dozen family members of the two boys were in the courtroom, many in tears throughout testimony.

Several supporters of Hardy were on the other side of the courtroom, some of them in tears at times.

The trial continues Monday before Judge Richard J. Carey.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has met with Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Taleb Rifai.

The importance of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue was stressed at the meeting, and they said such events contribute to bringing peoples and countries closer to each other. The development of Azerbaijan-UNWTO relations was hailed.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan benefits from UNWTOs recommendations on development of tourism, adding that the industry is rapidly growing in the country.

They discussed proposals on the opening of new tourist routes, facilitation of visa regime, and the possible launch of special transit flights with the help of Azerbaijan.

The head of state said tourism has been rapidly developing in Azerbaijan in recent years, pointing to wide opportunities in this regard.

President Ilham Aliyev said all conditions were created in Azerbaijan so that tourists feel themselves comfortable here. The head of state said the countrys tourism sector grew 26 percent in the last four months.

President Aliyev said the flow of tourists contributes to the development of a number of areas in the country.
Bozeman is a rapidly growing city with a high quality of life in part due to the easy access to the outdoors, burgeoning tech industry, and cultural experiences it offers.
While it did not announce a new manufacturing facility with thousands of manufacturing jobs, Apple, the worlds most valuable public company, said it planned to dedicate resources to American job creation with a $1 billion fund to invest in advanced manufacturing in the United States. The company said it would announce the first investment from its new fund later this month.

By KATIE BENNER and NELSON D. SCHWARTZ

Full Story: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/03/technology/apple-jobs.html?emc=edit_th_20170504&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=34889205&_r=1
What do San Francisco, Santa Monica, Calif., Seattle and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have in common? Recently released maps detailing various data sets are shedding light on information that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

by Jessica Mulholland

Full Story: http://www.govtech.com/civic/Whats-New-in-Civic-Tech-05042017.html
"Small businesses across rural America use the internet to compete and grow, a tax on internet sales will only hurt the little guy," said Lance Trebesch, CEO of Ticketprinting.com http://www.ticketprinting.com in Bozeman. "Creating more bureaucratic red tape for small businesses and yet another tax will not help our rural communities. As a small business owner, I stand with Senator Tester against an internet sales tax because it will hinder job growth in Montana."

Senator Champions Montana Common Sense and Calls on Washington to Reject Online Sales Tax

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today urged President Trump and Congressional leaders to reject a controversial bill to establish an online sales tax, misleadingly titled the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2017.

Under this bill small businesses in Montana would be forced to collect sales taxes for nearly 10,000 other states, cities and municipalities.

"Montanans have spoken loud and clear: we cannot afford a sales tax in our state," Tester said. "Consumers and businesses owners across the state dont need Washington telling Montana how to conduct our business. Congress should be championing policies that allow for growth and create jobs, not impose more taxes. "

Tester wrote President Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY.) to double down on his opposition to the Marketplace Fairness Act that would require small businesses to collect sales tax on behalf of other states and local governments when selling products over the internet. Small businesses would then be forced to act as tax collectors for others states and remit those sales tax revenues to the state or locality in which the customer resides. This bill also opens the door for other state and local governments to summon small businesses from Montana to their jurisdictions for unnecessary audits.

Testers letter was praised by Montana small businesses.

"Small businesses cant be focused on growing jobs in Montana if theyre shouldered with the burden of serving as a tax collector," said Sarah Calhoun, CEO/Owner of Red Ants Pants https://redantspants.com/ in White Sulphur Springs. "I appreciate Senator Testers work to continue to fight this legislation."

Testers letter can be found HERE https://sentester.box.com/s/73mp2xx2r9hm1g68z016xbg3cbajhtr2
Missoula College of the University of Montana has secured the first statewide registered finance apprenticeship with its Accounting Technology program.

Funded by a $1.3 million Department of Labor and Industry grant, Montanas initiative develops apprenticeships in six categories: energy, construction, health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing and, now, finance.

The registered finance apprenticeship was signed April 19, marking the beginning of a pilot apprenticeship with Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., JCCS Certified Public Accountants, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Corpat Inc.

Full Story: http://news.umt.edu/2017/05/050517fina.php
Do you want to be able to go home in the middle of the day to have sex with your partner without getting in trouble at work? Well, maybe you should consider moving to the town of Overtornea in Sweden.

Andrea Gonzalez-Ramirez

Full Story: http://www.refinery29.com/2017/02/142339/paid-sex-break-work-swedish-politician?utm_source=Nooky+Box+Email+List&utm_campaign=376ced28fc-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_04_25&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0deb73f72a-376ced28fc-219078329&mc_cid=376ced28fc&mc_eid=a5f00a3885
Les membres du cabunet ont pris note de la situation du Covid-19 a Maurice au 15 mai 2020, des nouvelles normes dans le transport en commun, que le 17 mai le Prevention of Resurgence and Further Spread of Epidemic Disease (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 sera en vigueur, de la nouvelle formuleZenes Montre To Talan 2020  depi lakaz entre autres.

1. Cabinet has taken note of the situation pertaining to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the measures taken to contain the pandemic, namely 

(a) the last positive case was detected on 26 April 2020;

(b) as at 14 May 2020, out of 24,608 PCR tests carried out, 332 persons had been tested positive;

(c) as at 14 May 2020, 58,706 Rapid Antigen tests for COVID-19 had been carried out;

(d) as at 14 May 2020, there was no patient under treatment and the number of persons successfully treated was 322;

(e) from 30 April to 14 May 2020, 2,054 patients have attended the COVID-19 Testing Centres in the Regional Hospitals and have been tested for

COVID-19; and

(f) the new COVID Testing Centres at J. Nehru Hospital and Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital are operational.

2. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail would make the Road Traffic (COVID-19 Sanitary Measures) Regulations 2020 and the Light Rail (COVID-19 Sanitary Measures) Regulations 2020 for commuters to strictly adhere to sanitary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Regulations would cater, inter alia, for physical distancing to be observed in public transport as well as the wearing of face masks by commuters when travelling by public transport.

3. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Health and Wellness would make the Prevention of Resurgence and Further Spread of Epidemic Disease (COVID-19) Regulations 2020. The objective of these Regulations is to ensure that the sanitary measures shall be observed with a view to preventing resurgence and further spread of COVID-19. The Regulations shall come into operation as from 17 May 2020.

4. Cabinet has taken note that the Tourism Authority and the Beach Authority would disseminate a series of recommendations on sanitary measures to the economic operators in the tourism sector for the resumption of their activities. Once the different economic operators resume their activities, the Tourism Authority and the Beach Authority would carry out regular monitoring and inspections to ensure that the recommended sanitary measures were being adhered to with a view to maintaining a safe environment for all tourism stakeholders.

5. Cabinet has taken note of the revised programme of youth activities following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of the proposed programmes/activities are to empower the youth through training, consolidate awareness on substance abuse, strengthen family ties, promote volunteering and provide psychosocial support and counselling to the young people. The programmes/activities include 

(a) home-based participation and online training for the Duke of Edinburghs International Award Programme;

(b) online psychosocial support and counselling;

(c) Infoclip competition on the ill-effects of smoking;

(d) online training courses on youth entrepreneurship, National Youth Civic Service, kitchen gardening, first aid, waterwise education and life skills education;

(e) Zenes Montre To Talan 2020  depi lakaz;

(f) virtual Inter-Youth Centre Family Quiz Competition; and

(g) online Treasure Hunt and online Youth Concert.

6. Cabinet has taken note of the proposed resumption of the first phase of activities in the construction industry. All contractors would have to implement a site hygiene protocol in accordance with the Ministry of Health and Wellness guidelines and sanitary requirements should be strictly adhered to.

7. Cabinet has agreed to the implementation of the Post COVID-19 Action Plan 2020 for the Creative and Heritage Sectors in order to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to stimulate artistic, creative and the cultural heritage industries. The Action Plan would cater for the immediate needs of different players in the artistic field through the use of modern technology and digital platforms for the implementation of innovative projects.

8. Cabinet has taken note that registered artisanal fishers for basket trap, line and net fishing were being allowed to go for shipping trips as from 15 May 2020. However, fishing activities would have to be carried out under strict conditions.

9. Cabinet has taken note of the launching of the Jitsi Meet Conferencing Platform for Public Officials, to facilitate and sustain Governments continued operations through online meetings and decision making. Jitsi Meet Conferencing Platform is the leading open source conferencing platform offering all the main features for multi-party online meetings on multiple devices such as laptops and smartphones.

10. Cabinet has agreed to the setting up of a Medical Negligence Standing Committee to carry out preliminary investigations into all cases of alleged medical negligence at the level of public health institutions before referring the matter to the relevant regulatory body. The objective of the Standing Committee is to ensure that enquiries are not unduly delayed.

11. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation in the Webinar Online Safety and Security and Security during COVID-19 organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Office of the UN Under-Secretary General/Special Adviser on Digital Cooperation. In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the ITU and the Office of the UN Under Secretary-General/Special Adviser on Digital Cooperation are organising jointly, on a weekly basis, a series of online dialogues on Digital Cooperation during COVID-19 and beyond. The aim of these dialogues is to build a community to share actionable ideas, initiatives and solutions with a view to coming up with valuable inputs to the forthcoming UN Secretary-Generals Roadmap on Digital Cooperation scheduled to be launched by the end of May 2020. The Minister was one of the speakers at the Webinar on the theme Online Safety and Security during COVID. The focus of this online dialogue was on specific cybersecurity challenges which countries are facing during the COVID-19 crisis, and strategies and tactics which have been deployed to counter malicious use of the internet and to ensure safer and secure access to digital service, as well as protect younger generations from online potential threats.

12. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training in the teleconference Meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government with Chairpersons of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of the African Union. The main purposes of the meeting were to 

(a) apprise the Chairpersons of the RECs of the AU about the actions and initiatives undertaken by the AU in response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID- 19) pandemic in the continent;

(b) discuss joint continental action to combat the spread of the coronavirus and mitigate its economic impact on the continent; and

(c) provide a platform for the Chairpersons of the RECs to brief the Bureau about regional measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) briefed the meeting on the initiatives undertaken by the AUC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which comprised steps taken to implement AU COVID-19 strategy, including the establishment of task forces of African Ministers of Health, Finance and Transport from all AU regions, as well as the operationalisation of the AU COVID-19 Solidarity Fund. The meeting also took note of the measures taken by each Member State in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

13. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent participation of the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare in the webminar of African Ministers for Gender and Womens Affairs, Heads of Regional Economic Communities and other key partners, hosted by the UN Women, the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), to hold consultations on mitigating the impacts of COVID-19 on African women and girls. The Minister shared with participants a proposed strategic response for a gender transformative post-COVID-19 recovery framework. She stressed on the need for collaborative efforts, both on the national and international fronts, to have a common post-COVID-19 approach and a special post-COVID-19 country recovery fund from the international agencies to increase the chances of success for countries and the continent as a whole.

14. Cabinet has taken note that, in the context of the International Day of Families observed on 15 May, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare has retained the theme Lafors nou fami se lafors nou pei. In view of the outbreak of COVID-19, no event would be organised this year. However, a sensitisation campaign would be held on the shared roles and responsibilities of family members within the home setting. The purpose of this endeavour is to sensitise the population on the importance of the family and for reinforcing family ties.

15. Cabinet has taken note that the contract of employment of Mr Arvind Bundhun, as Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority would be renewed for a period of two years with effect from 01 June 2020.

16. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Road Development Authority (RDA) Board with Mr Louis Joel Yves Jose Patron as Chairperson.

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Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Anakhanum Hidayatova  Trend:

The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is such a remarkable platform that all countries must support it, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri told Trend.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku May 5.

Altwaijri congratulated the Azerbaijani government on such an initiative.

"There are a lot of people here, we are all different, but we must unite for the sake of peace and security," he said.

The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, titled Advancing Intercultural Dialogue  New avenues for human security, peace and sustainable development kicked off in Baku on May 4.

The forum will last until May 6, and it aims at further promoting and sustaining understanding and dialogue within and between cultures.

The forum is organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.

Its agenda includes topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Azerbaijan is an example of democratic society that ensures the rights of everyone irrespective of religion and ethnicity, First Vice Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafet Asgarov said.

He made the remarks May 5 at the panel session titled Role of parliaments in establishing cultural bridges between civilizations within the framework of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.

He said that rapprochement of civilizations through intercultural dialogue is one of the most effective means of eliminating disagreements between states in the world.

Parliamentary diplomacy can play an important role in this direction, he noted. The Azerbaijani Parliament uses all opportunities for the development of intercultural dialogue. The Parliament has established relations with MPs from 80 countries, carries out the necessary work to represent the traditions of Azerbaijans multiculturalism in the world.

In Azerbaijan, multiculturalism and intercultural dialogue were raised to the state level, he added. The representatives of different religions live in the conditions of friendship and good neighborliness in Azerbaijan.

At the same time, it should be noted with regret that Armenia, which has been keeping 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories under occupation for more than 25 years, passing this conflict off as the confrontation of the Christians and the Muslims, is trying to aggravate interreligious relations, he noted. However, all these attempts by Armenia, as always, will be futile.

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.
aku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

Azerbaijan is a valuable partner of NATO, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy Tacan Ildem said.

Ildem made remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said May 5.

NATO attaches great importance to cooperation with Azerbaijan, Ildem added.

Ildem appreciated Azerbaijans participation in the NATO "Resolute support" peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan, as well as its contribution to the Afghan National Army Trust Fund and the sustainable development of Afghanistan.

At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on Azerbaijan's participation in NATO programs.

Mammadyarov talked about the negotiation process for the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and added that the conflict must be resolved within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan.

He added that the presence of Armenian armed forces in the occupied Azerbaijani territories poses a threat to the peace and stability of the region.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva have today met with Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri on the sidelines of the Baku-hosted 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva said she was pleased to see the organizations Director General in Baku again. She hailed fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and ISESCO.

Mehriban Aliyeva expressed confidence that the issues to be discussed as part of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue will contribute to addressing many issues of global concern.

ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri noted that the issues on the agenda of the forum are globally important.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

The Jews live comfortably and safely in Azerbaijan, Marc Schneier, chairman of the US-based Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, said.

Schneier made remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said May 5.

Schneier appreciated the religious tolerance in Azerbaijan.

He also stressed the role of Azerbaijan in the promotion of intercultural and interreligious dialogue.

At the meeting, Schneier and Mammadyarov discussed the current state of relations between Azerbaijan and the US and Azerbaijan and Israel.

The sides also exchanged views on the issues of successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Jewish community in the US.

The importance of broadening ties between communities was also stressed at the meeting.
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Yoga has been shown to pack a healthful punch when it comes to all the associated health benefits. However, in our busy lives, there is not always the time to pencil a yoga class into an already packed schedule. There is a treasure trove of yoga routines available online, all from knowledgeable instructors, that enable us to take part at our leisure. We have searched through the creme de la creme to bring you our top five online yoga workout choices. Share on Pinterest The number of people taking part in yoga classes  and online yoga workouts in particular  has shot through the roof in recent years. The modern practice of yoga is rooted in more than 5,000 years worth of ancient texts and traditions, yet it has only skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. The latest Yoga in America Study, conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance, report a significant rise in the size of the yoga industry and the number of practitioners since 2012. The number of yoga practitioners in the United States has increased from 20.4 million in 2012 to 36.7 million in 2016, while spending on yoga classes, equipment, clothing, and accessories rose from $10.7 billion to $16 billion over the course of the 4 years. Yogas upsurge in popularity could be down to the practice becoming more widely available. While yoga was once primarily restricted to yoga studios, yoga is now offered at fitness centers, gyms, and featured in fitness videos, meaning that people can get involved from the comfort of their own homes in online classes and YouTube workouts. Medical News Today have combed through yoga sites aplenty to bring you five of the best online yoga workouts that the Internet has to offer. Each of our picks have yoga videos available on their websites, a YouTube channel, and we even provide insight into the people behind them.

Strala Tara Stiles founded Strala together with co-founder Mike Taylor. Strala combines yoga with tai chi and traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to promote creativity, happiness, inspiration, and healthy living. Share on Pinterest Our first job is to take really good care of ourselves. From here, we can take good care of everyone, Mike told MNT.

Image credit: Strala Yoga gives us a way to release stress and tension, bring our whole selves into harmony, and move with ease through all kinds of challenges, Mike informed MNT. Its wonderful when we tune in, connect with how we feel, and learn to respond naturally. Tara draws experience from her background in classical ballet, choreography, and long-term yoga practice. Mike studied mind-body medicine at Harvard and complementary medicine at Oxford, and he has practiced Eastern movement and healing  including tai chi and qi gong  for more than 30 years. Whether you are just getting started with yoga or are a seasoned yogi, Strala has something for everyone. There are classes for morning energy, to promote bedtime sleep, and to build strength. Strala is designed to help activate the bodys relaxation response through deep breathing, moving gently, and learning how to take care of yourself and form positive connections. Our first job is to take really good care of ourselves. From here, we can take good care of everyone, said Mike. You get out of your own way through this practice. You also discover how much more capable you are when you connect with and follow your nature. Full Strala workouts can be downloaded from the Strala website, and shorter, free sequences can be found on Taras YouTube channel and Mikes YouTube channel. Here are Stralas top three most popular yoga workouts: Energize express Hard poses made easy flow Energize
During the 19th century, mental health disorders were not recognized as treatable conditions. They were perceived as a sign of madness, warranting imprisonment in merciless conditions. One woman set out to change such perceptions: Dorothea Lynde Dix. Share on Pinterest Dorothea Dix was instrumental in changing perceptions of mental illness for the better.

Image credit: The National Library of Medicine Born in Maine in 1802, Dix was instrumental in the establishment of humane mental healthcare services in the United States. Dix  a teacher and nurse during the American Civil War  tirelessly campaigned for the fair treatment of patients with mental health disorders, after being appalled by the conditions in which they were confined. I proceed, Gentlemen, briefly to call your attention to the present state of Insane Persons confined within this Commonwealth, in cages, stalls, pens! Chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience, wrote Dix in a Memorial to the Legislature of Massachusetts in 1843. In the years that followed, Dix traveled to hundreds of prisons and workhouses across the U.S., documenting the inhumane treatment that people with mental illness received and reporting her findings to state legislatures. Her work not only resulted in the establishment of 32 mental health hospitals in a wealth of U.S. states, but it also helped to change peoples perceptions of mental illness. Through her work, she shed light on the abuse and neglect of those with mental illness, which helped change perceptions and policy approaches of state, national, and international leaders to establish more humane treatment approaches, Paolo del Vecchio, director of the Center for Mental Health Services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, told Medical News Today. For our fifth and final article in a series celebrating female role models in medicine, we look at Dixs incredible life and career. How did her steadfast lobbying for mental healthcare reform more than 200 years ago help to shape todays treatment for patients with mental illness? What challenges remain for mental healthcare?

An unhappy childhood Dixs childhood was not a happy one; her father was an abusive alcoholic, and her mother struggled with mental illness. At the age of 12, Dix ran away from her home in Maine to live with her wealthy grandmother in Boston, MA. Despite a lack of formal education, Dix was clearly a smart and ambitious woman, as she went on to establish a career as a schoolteacher. In 1821, at the age of 19, she opened a school for young girls in her grandmothers mansion. In the years that followed, Dix penned a number of childrens books and short stories and, in 1831, she opened a school for underprivileged children, which she ran from her own home. However, these achievements were not easy; Dix often suffered from bouts of illness, including severe cough and fatigue, which eventually ended her career as a teacher. Archives suggest that her physical illness took its toll on her mental health, causing her to become depressed. Her mental illness, however, would later become a driving force in her desire to change mental healthcare in the U.S. for the better.

Inspired by her own mental illness In the mid-1830s, Dix traveled to Europe in the hope of finding a cure for her ongoing illness. During her time in England, she met with social reformers Elizabeth Fry and Samuel Tuke. Fry had helped to pass new legislation in the United Kingdom to make the treatment of prisoners more humane, while Tuke founded Englands York Retreat for the mentally ill. Share on Pinterest Dix was appalled by the treatment of patients with mental illness. Evidence suggests that Dixs own experience of mental illness, as well as the work of these social reformers, helped to inspire her to make changes to mental healthcare in the U.S. Perhaps her own struggles helped make her a more compassionate advocate for people who had been diagnosed as mentally unstable or insane, wrote historian Manon S. Parry in a paper published in 2006. Certainly her ill health ended her teaching career and brought her into a new circle of contacts. In 1841, Dix volunteered to teach a Sunday School for female inmates at a jail in East Cambridge, MA. Here, she witnessed the suffering of women with mental illness. They were chained to beds, starved, and abused  punished as if they were criminals. Horrified by this maltreatment, Dix began visiting jails and workhouses across Massachusetts and documenting her findings.

The rise of mental healthcare In 1843, these findings were presented in a Memorial to the Legislature of Massachusetts. As part of the Memorial, Dix asked for the funds to introduce reform for the care of patients with mental illness in Massachusetts only state mental hospital  Worcester Insane Asylum. Her request was approved. This memorial reveals how Dix worked within the conventions of her time to carve a role for herself in public life and draw attention to the horrendous treatment of the mentally ill in prisons, almshouses for the poor, and asylums, writes Parry. Ideals of femininity characterized women as having a special responsibility to the most vulnerable members of society, and a moral authority superior to mens. At the same time, women were supposed to be protected from images and experiences of suffering and degradation. Dix was able to use her vivid and upsetting descriptions to powerful effect, damning the existence of these abuses and shaming political leaders into taking action on her behalf, and on behalf of the inmates of these institutions. Manon S. Parry Following her success in Massachusetts, Dix took her campaign for mental healthcare reform to other states. A significant point in Dixs crusade was the Bill for the Benefit of the Indigent Insane, which was put before Congress in 1854. The bill proposed legislation to provide federal land and funding for the development of new mental institutions. While the bill was passed by both houses of Congress, it was vetoed by President Franklin Pierce, who stated that the issue of social welfare should be the responsibility of each individual state, rather than that of the federal government. Though disappointed by this decision, Dix continued to make progress at a state level. Between 1843 and 1880, she helped to establish 32 new mental hospitals across the U.S.  including in New York, Indiana, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Tennessee  and she aided in improving the care of many more.

From lazy and worthless to sick and human When it comes todays care for patients with mental health disorders, we have undoubtedly come a long way since the 1800s. Today, there are more than 6,100 mental health outpatient facilities and more than 800 psychiatric facilities in the U.S., compared with just 123 mental hospitals in 1880. Dix was one of our nations first champions for healthcare as a basic right and that we have a societal and public responsibility to care for those vulnerable citizens among us, del Vecchio told MNT. Furthermore, she helped to change the way that patients with mental illness are perceived. As psychiatrist Dr. Fuller Torrey, executive director of the Stanley Medical Research Institute, told us, She changed the perception from being lazy and worthless to being sick and human. Still, there is much more to be achieved in the field of mental health, and experts believe that we can learn a great deal from inspirational figures such as Dix.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

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Azerbaijan is one of the few countries in which the worlds geographical and cultural differences meet, said Azerbaijans First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva addressing the 1st High Level Meeting of the International Organizations held as part of the Baku-hosted 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

Welcoming the participants of the 1st High Level Meeting of the International Organizations, Mehriban Aliyeva expressed deep gratitude to the Forums partners for their active support in holding the event for the first time.

Before moving on to the topics of the sessions of this event, I would like to say a few words about our country, Mehriban Aliyeva said starting her speech. Azerbaijan is one of the few countries in which the worlds geographical and cultural differences meet. Baku  the capital of Azerbaijan is harmonious combination of East and West, and of contemporary and historical eras.

Throughout its history, Azerbaijan has sheltered various communities and nationalities of diverse backgrounds and religions, living in conditions of mutual cooperation and friendship, she added. Known as the Gate to the Orient, and located at the crossroads of different cultures and civilizations, East and West, North and South, and being a member of both Islamic and European organizations, Azerbaijan unites the values of multiple civilizations.

Besides the significant role played by the various peoples populating Azerbaijan in the countrys public and political life, we can see clearly how they are fully able to preserve their ethnic values, religions and traditions, said the first vice-president.

She added that the atmosphere of national and cultural diversity, coupled with ethnic and religious tolerance in Azerbaijan has turned the country into a land of many nations and faiths, as well as a platform of cross-cultural dialogue at a global level.

Azerbaijan has a long history of fruitful and efficient cooperation with various international organizations and we are proud to host this first meeting that underlines the growing role of Azerbaijan in the field of promoting intercultural dialogue on an international scale, noted Mehriban Aliyeva.

She said the 1st High Level Meeting of the International Organizations is organized in partnership with the Government of Azerbaijan, the Council of Europe, UNESCO, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), ISESCO, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the FAO.

Being an active member of these organizations, Azerbaijan has organized numerous important international events, the first vice-president said, adding that Azerbaijan is also one of the few countries which are members to both the Council of Europe and the Islamic Cooperation Organization.

We are proud that the active cooperation between these two leading international organizations started in Baku in 2008. Today the Baku process is a very important and unique international initiative, noted Mehriban Aliyeva.

It is symbolic that by the end of May, Baku will have been home to the 1st ever European Games, which it hosted in 2015, and the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, which are due to start next week, she said. Across the two events, Baku will have hosted participants from over 100 countries.

We consider this to be a part of the Baku process.

Mehriban Aliyeva noted that Azerbaijan, apart from important political initiatives which bring nations and religions closer together, has implemented various humanitarian and charity projects in different parts of the world.

Allow me to mention some of them.

 construction of a new school for girls in the Muzaffarabad region in Pakistan, which had been destroyed in an earthquake in 2005;

 restoration of ancient Roman catacombs of Marsellinus and Peter;

 restoration of historical monuments at the Park of Chateau de Versailles in France;

 construction of schools, mosques and churches, rehabilitation centers, medical clinics and recreational parks in several cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Hungary, Romania, Russia and Serbia;

 restoration of around 20 rural churches in the region of Lower Normandy and restoration of stained-glass windows at the Strasbourg Cathedral in France;

 restoration and digitalization of ancient manuscripts in the Vatican Apostolic Library and of several monuments at the Vatican Museums;

 participation in the creation of the Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre Museum;

 restoration of the Trapezitsa Architectural Museum and Reserve in Veliko Tirnovo, Bulgaria;

 participation in the restoration of Berlin Castle in Germany;

 restoration of the Hall of Philosophers in the Capitoline Museum in Rome, Italy.

These examples give you a clear idea about our strong belief in the merits and potential of intercultural dialogue, added Mehriban Aliyeva. Our contribution to the preservation of global cultural heritage demonstrates Azerbaijans longstanding commitment to the values of multiculturalism.

Today, the world seriously needs to preserve and promote the values of civilizations that enjoy mutual understanding and enrich and support each other, she said.

In the framework of this process, a great responsibility lies with governments, politicians, international organizations and the media. This process still faces significant challenges today.

The first vice-president added that millions of people around the world still continue to suffer from poverty, hunger, social inequality, health threats, and others face natural or man-made disasters, violent extremism, terrorism and related humanitarian crises.

We can practically say that in some cases the international law is not respected or its norms are violated by double standards, said Mehriban Aliyeva, adding, Actually, issues related to human lives, and the right of everyone to a safe life should be upheld as the most cherished principles.

In this regard, intercultural and interreligious dialogue and cooperation, coupled with principles of understanding and respect, stand in the core of development of societies.

In order to realize our goals, mankind needs to overcome the barriers of extremism and xenophobia by interacting with each other and building stronger ties across nations, said Azerbaijans first vice-president.

We highly appreciate the assistance carried out by the international organizations and financial and economic institutions and recognize that as an integral part of this process.

Mehriban Aliyeva said the goal in realizing the High Level Meeting is to bring together the worlds political, cultural, economic, social, financial and other international organizations to debate human security, sustainable development and issues related to inclusive society.

We also aim to encourage joint actions to settle tensions between cultures and civilizations often times stemming from religious, cultural and social constraints. This initiative will establish an additional platform to mobilize resources and conduct shared activities in order to make the world a safer place.

The first vice-president added that participants of the 1st High Level Meeting of International Organizations have committed themselves to fostering intercultural understanding, tolerance, mutual respect and an ethic of global citizenship and shared responsibility.

We all recognize the cultural diversity of the world and agree that all cultures and civilizations can and should contribute to sustainable development, she said. These are not easy issues to resolve. We may all have different cultural backgrounds and our own views on various subjects, but I believe we should all at least recognize the existence of different perspectives and remain open to them.

Even if engaging in dialogue does not guarantee immediate agreement, simple understanding of others serves as a reasonable beginning in an attempt to bridge the gap between ideas and perceptions, Mehriban Aliyeva went on to add. It is certainly better than conflict.

In conclusion, I would like to wish you interesting and fruitful discussions that should strengthen our conviction to continue the dialogue and enable us to successfully overcome numerous challenges that we are all facing today, said Mehriban Aliyeva.
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How First Born Children Are Smarter Than Siblings

Economists conducted a study to find out if the first born children had better intelligence quotient (IQ) than their younger siblings. The study found that first-born children were indeed smarter than their younger brothers or sisters, ending an age old debate on which of the siblings had a better IQ. The reason behind this ''improved'' IQ could be due to better mental stimulation by the mother or the father during growth and when the child is in the developmental stage.


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.
Up to now weve only gotten glimpses of Nolas epic war drama Dunkirk and its left us salivating for more! The images of a war torn beach with soldiers in the thick of it were enough to get the hype going. Known for his amazing treatment of the character of Batman and giving us a truly mind-bending experience in Inception, Nolan, once again, looks to have created another masterpiece.

(c) Warner Brothers

(c) Warner Brothers

We see the battle of Dunkirk rage on in the trailer with Tom Hardy fighting off enemy gunfire in the sky, Cillian Murphy and Kenneth Branagh taking it to the Germans in the water and the legend himself, Daniel Day Lewis busting Nazis on the ground. The film chronicles the early days of WW2 when British, Belgian, Canadian, and French soldiers were surrounded by the Germans and how they fought back.

(c) Warner Brothers

(c) Warner Brothers

The film looks bloody epic. Seriously! The wide shots of the destruction are punctuated by the sheer terror of war along with thrilling dogfights in the air; Dunkirk looks to have it all.

Check out the amazing trailer below and let us know what you think in the comments section.
Imagine youre getting a group picture clicked but a man on a bicycle, wearing dark glasses and a camouflage jacket photobombs it. You would be mad, right? Or maybe a little annoyed. But, what if the photobomber turned out to be The Terminator himself?

 Instagram

The actor and former governor of California was just chilling and biking through Paris and posted a lot of pictures of it on his Instagram, even giving a shoutout to the Thai tourists. "Fantastic bike ride through Paris. I cannot say this enough: to truly appreciate a city, get on a bike. Thank you to the tourists at the Eiffel Tower for letting me crash your photo," he wrote on Instagram.

Fantastic bike ride through Paris. I cannot say this enough: to truly appreciate a city, get on a bike. Thank you to the tourists at the Eiffel Tower for letting me crash your photo! A post shared by Arnold Schwarzenegger (@schwarzenegger) on Apr 29, 2017 at 5:22am PDT

One of the tourists also posted about the incident on the Thai forum site, Pantip, and said they didn't immediately recognise the actor.

 Instagram

While talking to The Sun, another tourist spoke about the 'rude' photobomber. "Some foreigner on a bike stopped in front of the group. I was thinking to myself 'why is he so rude?'" she told the newspaper.

The tourists then added: "I thought to myself, 'Hey, what a badass'."

 Instagram

Well, I think no one would ever mind getting photobombed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Even these tourists were rather amused by the whole incident.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

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A roundtable on prevention of violent extremism through girls education has been held within the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.

Azerbaijan`s First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva attended the meeting.

The first lady addressed the event.

Other speakers of the event included Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, Ethiopia`s first lady Roman Tesfaye, Mali's first lady Aminata Keita, Princess of Jordan Dana Firas. They stressed the importance of girls` education. The speakers also emphasized that the active discussions will be held within the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in this regard.

Azerbaijan`s positive experience in girls` education from refugees and IDPs` families was stressed.

During the meeting, the works done by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation under the leadership of first lady Mehriban Aliyeva were highlighted. The participants praised re-establishment of the girls school by the Foundation in Pakistan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 6

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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have met with Vice President of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova.

Vice President of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova expressed her happiness to visit Azerbaijan as a member of the Bulgarian parliament five years ago and now as the country`s vice president.

She said she actively worked with Azerbaijan when she was a Member of the European Parliament. The Vice President of Bulgaria said: "Let me give you a letter from President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev who extends his best wishes and kind words on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. We in Bulgaria are well aware of the valuable history of our relations and I am confident that the future of our ties will be more prosperous."

The head of state thanked for the Bulgarian President`s warm words in the letter and asked Iliana Iotova to communicate his greetings and best wishes to Rumen Radev.

President Ilham Aliyev recalled his brief meeting with President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev during the Munich Security Conference, expressing his confidence that the presidents of the two countries will maintain good cooperation.

President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Iliana Iotova on her appointment as Vice President of Bulgaria, and wished her success in her future endeavors.

The head of state said Iliana Iotova`s making her first visit in the post of vice president to Azerbaijan is a good sign of close relationship between the two countries.

President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan-Bulgaria bilateral relations cover various fields, including politics, energy and culture. The head of state said first lady Mehriban Aliyeva`s active participation in Veliko Tarnovo cultural project contributes to bringing the two countries closer to each other. President Ilham Aliyev described the fact that Iliana Iotova attends the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue as manifestation of Bulgaria`s attaching importance to this event.

Vice President of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova said: "I would like to congratulate Madam Mehriban Aliyeva on the occasion of her appointment as Vice President. While I was a student, my first thesis was devoted to Trapezitsa. Madam Mehriban Aliyeva, you made my dreams come true. You made an active contribution to the restoration of Trapezitsa Architectural Museum Reserve."

First lady Mehriban Aliyeva thanked for warm words: "Thank you. I will continue our joint activity and cooperation with great pleasure. Please extend my greetings to all my friends in Veliko Tarnovo."

The Vice President of Bulgaria presented keepsakes to President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

They then posed for photographs.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Anakhanum Hidayatova  Trend:

Dialogue is the only way to solve global issues that are of concern for humanity, Mario Lubetkin, chief of cabinet of the director general of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told Trend May 5.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.

Intercivilizational conflicts must be resolved through dialogue, because military solution to a conflict is not an option, he said.

Different people from various countries have come together in this Forum with different approaches to resolving issues, he noted.

Each participant of the Forum is an expert in his or her own field and can offer a better vision of a problems solution, said Lubetkin.

He noted that Azerbaijan is one of active and dynamic members of the world community, adding that the country holds forums and big events, and Baku is acting as a catalyst for positive global processes.

The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, titled Advancing Intercultural Dialogue  New avenues for human security, peace and sustainable development kicked off in Baku on May 4.

The forum will last until May 6, and it aims at further promoting and sustaining understanding and dialogue within and between cultures.

The forum is organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.

Its agenda includes topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

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5th Student Scientific and Technical Conference dedicated to 94th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev concluded its work at Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS).

The conference closing ceremony gathered management, professors and teachers of BHOS, and representatives of transnational companies operating in Azerbaijan such as BP, Emerson Process Management, ABB, Avandsis Group and Halliburton.

Addressing the attendees, BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov expressed his gratitude to the Organizational Committee for arrangements made to conduct the conference successfully.

He also thanked the Higher School professors and lecturers, conference participants and representatives of international companies who took an interest in the Higher School students scientific and research activities.

Speaking about important role of science and education in society, the Rector informed the audience about BHOS activities aimed at raising young people interest in scientific and research work and told about the Higher School teachers contribution to education of the young generation. Elmar Gasimov also wished the students every success and new achievements in the future.

Representatives of companies presenting at the conference thanked BHOS management for organizing the conference.

The speakers highly praised the Higher School contribution to Azerbaijani science and education as well as their cooperation with the Higher School aimed at training of highly qualified national specialists for oil and gas sector.

Representatives of SOCAR and international companies operating in Azerbaijan thanked BHOS management for successful organization of the conference and for the Higher Schools contribution to development of Azerbaijani science and education.

The speakers highly praised BHOS activities aimed at training of highly qualified national specialists and spoke positively about their cooperation with the Higher School in this field.

Then Rector Elmar Gasimov awarded the students, whose reports were recognized as best among presented at the conference.

They received diplomas of various degrees from BHOS and valuable gifts from SOCAR, BP, Statoil, Total, Emerson Process Management, ABB, Avandsis Group, Halliburton and Confidence Capital.

Certificates and recognition gifts were presented as follows: Petroleum Engineering section  two students, Process Automation Engineering section  two students, Chemical Engineering section  four students, and Physics and Mathematics section  four students.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Anakhanum Hidayatova  Trend:

Azerbaijan is a real example of multiculturalism, Hungarian ambassador to Azerbaijan Imre Laszloczki told Trend.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku May 5.

I think the Baku forum will enhance because it becomes more popular in the world, the diplomat added. There is a progress each year.

The event makes Baku and Azerbaijan more visible to the world, he said.

The 4th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, titled Advancing Intercultural Dialogue  New avenues for human security, peace and sustainable development kicked off in Baku on May 4.

The forum will last until May 6, and it aims at further promoting and sustaining understanding and dialogue within and between cultures.

The forum is organized in cooperation with UNESCO, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the North-South Center of the Council of Europe.

Its agenda includes topics such as the role of faith, religions, migration, human security, sport, education, art, sustainable development, preventing violent extremism, business in building trust and cooperation among cultures and civilizations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Azad Hasanli  Trend:

Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ercan Ozoral at the meeting in Baku reached an initial agreement to increase supplies of products made in Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to Turkey, Azerbaijani Economy Ministry said.

It was stressed that the Turkish delegation will visit Azerbaijan in May to hold further negotiations, according to the economy ministry.

During the meeting, Mustafayev noted the strategic level of relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey.

So far, Turkey has received Azerbaijani investments worth $9 billion, he said. In turn, Turkey invested $11 billion in Azerbaijans economy, he added.

Besides, 2,900 companies with Turkish capital were registered in Azerbaijan, and almost 2,000 companies with Azerbaijani capital were registered in Turkey, Mustafayev noted.

The trade turnover of Azerbaijan with Turkey in the first quarter of 2017 amounted to $552.7 million, of which $308.7 million accounted for export to Turkey, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

The Greek tanker NISSOS SANTORINI moored in the Port of Odessa with 83,100 tons of Azerbaijani oil on May 1, Ukraines media outlets reported citing the press service of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.

The tanker supplied the oil from the Georgian port of Supsa, according to the press service.

On March 10, Ukraines Ukrtatnafta received the first batch of Azerbaijani oil via the UkrTransNafta's oil transportation system.

On Nov. 3, 2016, UkrTransNafta and Ukrtatnafta signed a contract for the supply of not less than 1.3 million tons of Azeri Light oil per year to the Kremenchuk refinery from 2017. The document envisages the resumption of work of the Odessa-Kremenchuk oil pipeline section, which was idle for about five years.

Ukrtatnafta expects that crude processing will increase by more than 41 percent thanks to the supply of Azerbaijani oil in 2017.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

World oil prices are going down on May 5 amid the uncertainties over the extension of OPEC oil output cut deal.

The price for July futures of Brent crude oil has decreased by 1.80 percent to $47.51 per barrel as of 05:38 (GMT +4).

Meanwhile, the price for June futures of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has dropped by 2.04 percent and stood at $44.59 per barrel.

Another factor affecting the oil prices is the report released by the US Energy Information Agency (EIA) showing that the countrys commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) decreased by 0.9 million barrels from the previous week, while investors expected a 2.3 million barrels of decline.

Oil market is preparing for the OPEC meeting to be held May 24 in Vienna. By that time, all participants of the OPEC oil output cut deal should express their position regarding the extension of the deal. The final decision will be made May 25.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Azerbaijan submitted the daily oil production data for April 2017 to the OPEC Joint Technical Committee (JTC) as part of implementation of the Vienna agreement to cut oil output, Azerbaijans Energy Ministry told Trend May 5.

In April, the daily oil production in Azerbaijan amounted to 781,100 barrels, 54,300 barrels of which accounted for condensate.

The Energy Ministry also said 601,600 barrels of oil, 54,300 barrels of condensate and 19,000 barrels of petroleum products were exported daily.

Azerbaijan completely fulfils its obligations to reduce oil production by 35,000 barrels per day, the ministry said, adding the country was producing 793,900 barrels of oil per day in January, 776,400 barrels per day in February and 733,300 barrels per day in March 2017.

The Joint Technical Committee was created January 22 under the OPEC Monitoring Committee, designed to monitor the implementation of countries obligations to cut oil production.

In December 2016 in Vienna, 11 non-OPEC countries, including Azerbaijan, agreed to curtail oil output jointly by 558,000 barrels per day. The agreement was signed for the first half of 2017, with the possibility of extension.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

The pessimism about the oil market is overdone and the prices are expected to rise over the second half of 2017, says an analysis done by the UK-based consulting company Capital Economics.

The analysis, obtained by Trend, shows four reasons why the current weakness in oil prices will not last long.

First, the increase in the headline stock number in the US is a little misleading. At least part of the strength in US commercial crude stocks is the result of the US government selling oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserves, said the analysis. Whats more, it seems likely that stocks are being relocated from expensive but difficult to track storage options, such as tankers, to cheaper storage facilities in the US where they are more visible to investors.

The Capital Economics analysts say that even though crude oil stocks have been growing, total inventories of petroleum products have been falling sharply in the US.

Second, OPEC is likely to extend its cuts by at least three months at its meeting at the end of the month, said the analysis. Compliance, both from OPEC members and the other countries which signed up to the deal, has been better than expected and the recent drop in prices will only increase the pressure on the group to rollover its deal.

Third, US oil production growth has, quite rightly, been a major concern for the market over the past year or so, says the consulting company.

Indeed, US oil output has already risen by over 0.5 million barrels per day since the start of the year. However, based on the previous relationship between the number of active drilling rigs and oil prices, growth in the US rig count should start to level off soon, said the analysis. This should prevent US oil production from accelerating at the same rate in the second half of the year.

Fourth, increases in economic growth should keep oil demand strong, according to Capital Economics.

As a result, Capital Economics is sticking with its end-2017 forecasts of $60 per barrel for Brent and $58 per barrel for Western Texas Intermediate (WTI), although, the company cautions that prices are likely to be especially volatile over the next few months.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
BAD AXE  The search is underway for the next chief executive officer of Huron Medical Center.

Earlier this week, the hospital announced that current CEO William Castle would be stepping down as head of HMC to pursue employment elsewhere.

I have been informed that Bill Castle has accepted a job opportunity outside of Huron Medical Center, said Albert Hass, HMC board of trustees chairman, in a statement to staff members. Mr. Castle will remain with the organization for a period of time and will be assisting the board with the transition in leadership. Mr. Castle wishes Huron Medical Center the best in the future for the organization. Mr. Castle also wishes to express his thanks for the opportunity to serve the employees, medical staff, board of trustees and community.

Castles final day with the organization will be June 2.

We will be working diligently to secure the right person for that position, said Rachel Voss, marketing and foundation director at HMC.

Castle had two stints of employment with HMC.

The first was from 2005 to 2011, where he worked in the accounting department. After leaving HMC to pursue his MBA, Castle returned in 2015 as its chief financial officer, before being promoted to interim CEO and finally, full-time CEO.

Voss said there is no exact time frame to fill the position.
BAD AXE  The Huron County Planning Commission received a lesson in Robert's Rules of Order this week.

Corporate Counsel Steve Allen addressed the commission:

"I had contact with two planning commission members after the last meeting that were concerned about the lack of control or decorum during the meeting, not only between the planning commission, but some members of the audience."

Although the commission bylaws say that parliamentary procedure in the meetings should be informal, Robert's Rules of Order takes effect when things get out of order, Allen added.

That means no one may speak unless recognized by the chair, and members of the public must address the board, not each other.

Members of the public cannot expect an answer from the board if they ask a question.

One question may be considered at a time, and one person has the floor at any time.

"All members have equal rights, privileges and obligations," Allen cited the rules as saying.

"Personal remarks are always out of order," he added, as he described an outline of the rules.

Robert's Rules were designed after the U.S. Congress, Allen said. "The larger the body, the more specific rule you have to follow."

"Again, we rely on the informal, but we can't let it get out of line."

Business must be conducted at a civil level, respecting the rights of all, Allen said.

Blight issues

The planners also discussed the challenges of blight enforcement.

"Blighted properties in Huron County are getting out of control," said Jeff Smith, county building and zoning director.

"From a township-supervisor point of view, it's hard to enforce," said Bernie Creguer, commission chair and Meade Township supervisor. "You're always, like, a day behind. You go to the door, and all of a sudden they're not home ... I have to check all the time. It's hard to enforce it."

The county cannot adopt a blight ordinance, Allen said, but municipalities can band together and adopted a uniform blight ordinance.

"The county could then contract with those townships to enforce it through (the Huron County Sheriff's Office)," Allen said.

"The sheriff's office cannot enforce ordinances unless there's a contract between the county and that particular township. Each township would then contribute a share for ordinance enforcement," he added.

The discussion was sparked by the availability of a Michigan State Housing Development Authority Blight Elimination Program.

Publicly-owned property that is vacant, blighted and a nuisance and that has no environmental contamination is eligible for the funding.

June 21 is the deadline for applications.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

Trend:

Bakcell, The First Mobile Operator and the Leading Mobile Internet Provider in Azerbaijan contributed to the restoration process of Jojug Marjanli village (Jabrail region) recently liberated from occupation. As a part of the support Bakcell is optimizing its mobile communications network at the village.

Under the first phase of the optimization a new base station was installed to secure uninterrupted mobile communication services to customers involved in the restoration efforts at Jojug Marjanli. In addition, Bakcell has successfully completed the optimization of its 3G network to cover Jojug Marjanli with high-speed mobile internet.

We aim to provide high quality and affordable mobile communication services to Bakcell subscribers residing at each and every region of Azerbaijan. Taking into account the special demand for high quality mobile communication of people residing at the frontline, Bakcell pays a constant and special attention to the network performance in the area. Moreover, Bakcell plans to provide the repatriating community of Jojug Marjanli with its reliable services on specially designed discounted terms and conditions, says Bakcell CEO Mr. Nikolai Beckers.

It should be noted that currently Bakcell covers more than 99% of the population and 93% of the countrys territories (excluding the occupied lands).

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Bakcell, The First Mobile Operator and Leading Mobile Internet Provider of Azerbaijan, offers a wide range of products for modern mobile communications users. Bakcell provides the class-leading 3G and 4G mobile internet experience in the country under the Su[email protected] brand name.

With more than 5300 base stations, the network of Bakcell covers more than 99% of the population and 93% of the land area of the country (excluding the occupied territories). Bakcell is a leader in innovation and focuses on bringing the best of the mobile internet to Azerbaijanis through new partnerships and its Su[email protected] services. Bakcell 3G service is available in all regions of Azerbaijan and covers 93% of population.

For more information about Bakcell and offered products and services, please visit www.bakcell.com or call 555. For press releases please see www.bakcell.com/az/news (or www.bakcell.com/en/news for press releases in English).

If you are not a Bakcell subscriber, but wish to find out about Bakcell and its services, please call 055 0000 555
PORT HURON  Eight piano students recently took part in Michigan Music Teachers Association (MMTA) Student Achievement Testing in Port Huron.

They were McKara Kramer, Mitchel Smith, and Matthew Pasiak of Harbor Beach; and Danny, Martin, Julie and Crystal Tovar and Kreigh Dimasuay of Sandusky.

The Student Achievement Program is offered through the MMTA.

Their teacher is Joyce Reid of Deckerville, a member of the MMTA. The program promotes a well-rounded education in music. Tests are given in technique, sight reading, transposition, aural awareness and written theory as well as performance of three memorized pieces selected from the baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary eras of music. Each student receives a written evaluation and comments and must receive 80 percent to receive a certificate and ribbons and trophies as they progress.

Danny Tovar completed two levels instead of one and received a certificate of state honor for his high rating. Crystal Tovar and Mitchel Smith are honored for completing their senior year in the program.

Parents who assisted at the event were Mary Kramer and Mike Pasiak of Harbor Beach, and Mario Tovan and Karen Benmato of Sandusky.
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...
"You just can't do this to veterans," said the wife of a sick veteran.

"You're the captain of the Titanic," said a former Army staff sergeant.

"My neurologist, I don't know what he's doing," said a veteran.

"Get rid of them all, except my doctor," said another vet.

But other veterans told a different story about treatment at the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center, the flagship hospital in the vast Department of Veterans Affairs health care system, which serves nine million vets annually with 370,000 employees on a $180 billion budget.

"I'm here to say good things about the center," said James Preston, a Vietnam veteran who said he has survived three bouts with cancer. "It was this center that took care of me."

"I have nothing but good to say about the women's clinic" at the center, said former Petty Officer Second Class Lisa Del Duca.

"I haven't had any problems," said former Lance Cpl. Orlando Herrera.

All of this was aimed at retired Army Col. Lawrence Connell, the newly named acting director at the D.C. VA Medical Center and a top policy adviser to VA Secretary Dr. David Shulkin.

Connell presided at a town hall meeting at the center Wednesday night sponsored by the American Legion. Verna Jones, the Legion's executive director, worked the floor with an open microphone and sought to maintain order when things became confrontational.

"We've got some issues we need to fix," Connell said, but he urged the vets to give the new team a chance. "This is a new VA, and we'll be holding ourselves to the highest of standards. I will be the first to admit we've got to do better; I've got to earn your trust."

Connell also roamed the floor with Jones, coming close and listening intently to the loudest and longest complaints. At times, when the veterans had finished venting, Connell would huddle with them and could be overheard passing on his phone number.

Some of the complaints had to do with the Choice program, allowing vets to choose private care, and the sometimes conflicting diagnoses they receive from private doctors and VA doctors. Other complaints had to do with getting prescriptions filled and appointments made.

And, of course, there were complaints about parking at the center. Connell said he is working on that.

Connell was named acting director last month following a VA Inspector General's report detailing conditions "sufficient to potentially compromise patient safety."

The two million member Legion periodically sponsors "System Worth Saving" town halls at VA facilities nationwide to hear from vets about local services, but the one at the D.C. VA Wednesday night was prompted by the report from VA Inspector General Michael Missal.

In his introductory remarks, Louis Celli, director of the Legion's Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division, said the problems outlined in the IG's report should never have occurred at what should be the VA's showcase center. "This should be the shining star on the hill," Celli said.

In his scathing report, Missal said storage areas for medical supplies at the facility were filthy, management was clueless on what was in the storage areas, medical supply rejects may have been used on patients, and more than $150 million in supplies and equipment had never been inventoried.

The risk to the 98,000 vets served by medical center was such that IG's office took the unusual step of issuing a preliminary report to alert Shulkin to the danger.

"Although our work is continuing, we believed it appropriate to publish this Interim Summary Report given the exigent nature of the issues we have preliminarily identified and the lack of confidence in VHA (Veterans Health Administration) adequately and timely fixing the root causes of these issues," Missal said in the report.

The IG's office began looking into the problems based on a whistleblower's complaint describing equipment and supply issues, the report said.

However, Connell disputed how the IG's report came about. He said the VA's Veterans Integrated Service Network first learned of problems at the center and requested a Quality Control Review, which was forwarded to the IG's office.

Despite the problems, "No patients, no patients, have been harmed" by the medical supply chain and management issues at the center, Connell said.

Following the IG's report, Shulkin removed center director Brian Hawkins and named Connell acting director. In addition, Connell said Wednesday night that three center employees with responsibility for acquisition, storage and distribution of inventory have received proposed removals. Federal hiring regulations require employees to receive 30-day notice before being fired or demoted for performance issues.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 5

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

Germany intends to do its utmost to develop relations with Turkmenistan, said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in his letter to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

Only confronting together the global challenges of modern time, Germany and Turkmenistan will be able to jointly make important contributions to ensuring the peace and freedom of all people, creating conditions for their worthy life, said the letter.

German companies make a significant contribution to the implementation of long-term projects in Turkmenistan. In December 2016, Ashgabat hosted a business forum, which was attended by about 70 big German companies.

It was previously reported that 167 investment projects and contracts with participation of German capital worth $540 million and nearly 555 million euros were registered in Turkmenistan.
WASHINGTON -- The Republican state senator from Tennessee picked by President Donald Trump to be Army secretary has withdrawn from consideration.

Mark Green quickly saw opposition from Democrats who became worried his personal views wouldn't bode well for soldiers or potential recruits. A few Republicans, such as Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, also noted their concern.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, said in a statement that had Green been confirmed, it "would send the wrong message to brave and selfless Americans who simply wish to serve their nation."

Duckworth, who was an Army National Guard Black Hawk pilot, lost both legs in a crash in Iraq.

Sources first told CNN earlier this week Green would likely withdraw his name. He is the second Trump nominee for Army secretary to withdraw.

During the review process, the decorated West Point graduate came under fire for past unfavorable comments about the LGBTQ community as well as Muslims.

Several Democrats have denounced Green for declaring that being transgender is a disease. He is opposed to gay marriage.

Green said in a statement that "false and misleading attacks" against him have made his nomination a distraction. He said his life of public service and Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized for political gain.

During a speech last September, Green urged that a stand be taken against "the indoctrination of Islam" in public schools. He also referred to the "Muslim horde" that invaded Constantinople centuries ago.

Trump's first Army secretary nominee, Vincent Viola, and Navy secretary nominee Philip Bilden in February withdrew from consideration, citing business and financial concerns.

Meanwhile, the president's pick to be the next secretary of the Air Force will head to a Senate floor vote next week. The chamber is expected to vote on Heather Wilson, a former congresswoman and Air Force Academy graduate, on Monday.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this story.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.
ABOARD THE USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH, Persian Gulf -- The U.S.S. George H. W. Bush in January became the first East Coast-based carrier to deploy with a specialized piece of medical equipment aboard: a hyperbaric chamber, or "transportable recompression system," designed to treat pilots who experience hypoxia-like symptoms in the cockpit.

Fewer than four months into the deployment, it has already been used twice for that purpose.

Back in the States, Naval Air Forces launched a service-wide review in April of cockpit physiological episodes affecting pilots who fly the Navy's T-45 Goshawk trainers and F/A-18 Hornets. The review was launched after instructor pilots at the Navy's three training commands refused to fly, citing safety concerns with the T-45.

In the Persian Gulf, where pilots of Hornets and E/A-18 Growlers routinely conduct 10-hour missions over Iraq and Syria in support of the ground fight against Islamic State militants, the stakes are even higher. And though the aviation community aboard the carrier has found new and innovative ways to treat and detect cockpit incidents, they continue to happen.

The Episodes

Capt. James McCall, commander of Carrier Air Wing 8, told Military.com that the first of two episodes happened in February, affecting the two-person crew of a Growler attached to the wing's Electronic Attack Squadron 131.

The aircraft was returning from a long mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the coalition fight against ISIS, and was nearing the carrier when the crew experienced what McCall called an "abnormality" with the aircraft's environmental control system. That system affects air supply and pressurization, among other factors.

On that occasion, the crew members were able to safely complete a tailhook landing onto the carrier and were immediately taken for medical care, including consultations with stateside doctors.

"The decision was made to put them in the hyperbaric chamber, with the resolution of their symptoms immediately," McCall said. "And [they were kept] in a down status for a period of time per medical protocol. Both those aircrew are back flying today."

The second incident came in April, McCall said, and involved a single-seat F/A-18 attached to the air wing. As in the first episode, the pilot physically experienced changes in the environmental control system, this time shortly after takeoff. He was able to return to the carrier immediately, McCall said, and seek treatment. Again, a medical team prescribed the use of the on-board hyperbaric chamber, and the pilot's symptoms subsided.

In both incidents, the pilots involved were fortunate in that the episodes occurred near the carrier, allowing them to land quickly and seek treatment. If an episode had begun above an urban ground fight over Iraq or Syria, the available options might have been more limited, and certainly more complex.

Having the recompression chamber aboard to treat pilots' symptoms was a measure that emerged from aviators' feedback, McCall said.

"Really that was in response to, frankly, aircrew who said, 'We need a capability like this so we don't have to try and find medical transport somewhere where we're deployed halfway around the world,' " he said. "And I think the naval aviation enterprise listened to that and said, 'Hey, let's see if we can come up with a solution in a very short period of time.' "

Mitigating the Effects

Both the Bush and the San Diego-based carrier Carl Vinson, which deployed within days of each other in January, departed port with one of the $250,000 chambers aboard. The systems are traditionally used to treat Navy divers for symptoms related to decompression, though hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used to treat a variety of other illnesses as well.

"DCS symptoms are significantly improved when medical treatments are quickly administered, and these portable chambers provide that immediate medical care in the event of a physiological episode," Cmdr. Dave Hecht, a spokesman for Naval Air Force Atlantic, told Military.com. "Deploying with them aboard was a decision based on our number-one priority, safety. The significant mitigation measures we've taken allow us to safely execute our assigned warfighting missions."

McCall said the decision to deploy the system -- an egg-shaped pod six to seven feet long -- aboard the Bush was made just weeks before the carrier departed port.

"That would not have happened without a dialogue from aviators in squadrons right to the three-star level," he said. "I'll be honest, we've moved that dialogue fairly quickly."

Other mitigation and detection measures also represent firsts for the carrier. McCall said the carrier was the first to deploy its fighters equipped with "slam sticks," small devices that measure cockpit air pressure and other factors, and can provide diagnostics following a mission.

"They can come back, plug it in a computer and measure that," McCall said. "So even if they didn't notice there was a problem [while they were flying], that's detail they may not have had before."

Another measure, designed to help pilots detect cockpit problems before they can physically feel them, is a true improvisation: the wearing of commercially available Garmin watches, equipped with altimeters and barometric sensors, that can be set to sound alarms when certain thresholds are reached.

"Some of our aircrew had Garmin watches that they had bought, watches with little altimeters on them," McCall said. "I think somebody was just like, 'Hey, this would make sense.' And so we offered up discussions with one of my [commanding officers] and myself, and we said, 'Let's pitch this up the chain of command.' "

The watches are now specially authorized for members of the wing's Strike Fighter Squadron 37, which still flies the F/A-18C Hornet, an older airframe than that employed by the wing's three other squadrons, which all fly F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets.

"I can't speak to the Navy enterprise, their intention to do that for all type-model-series, but I know our guys wear them and like the capability they provide," McCall said.

Finding a Solution

McCall said he didn't want to sugarcoat the fact that it is troubling that cockpit episodes continue to affect pilots, particularly those flying combat missions in the Middle East. But he said he's heartened by the level of direct communication between pilots in the fight and the Navy aviation enterprise, as well as the education that aviators are receiving.

"They've given us a lot of opportunity for real-time feedback. And again, that doesn't mean there aren't problems with the aircraft, and I think they've been really responsive to us trying to get some mitigations there," McCall said. "The crew understand that, 'Hey, now we may have some tools that may help us as we deal with these issues.' What I've seen is, the unfettered communication has allowed leadership to take some actions that hopefully have some meaningful mitigation."

The Navy's 30-day review of cockpit episodes began April 24. At the end of the review period, according to Navy officials, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Scott Swift will provide top Navy leadership with recommendations about whether the actions the service is taking to determine why the problems are happening are sufficient, and whether additional efforts are warranted to solve the problem and safety operate its fighter aircraft.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.
ABOARD THE USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH, Persian Gulf -- Visits from Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles designed for surveillance have become commonplace here, where the Bush and ships from its strike group patrol and launch airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria.

While small Iranian vessels continue to approach the carrier and harass U.S. ships elsewhere in the region, the spy drones appear more regularly, said Capt. Will Pennington, commanding officer of the Bush.

"That is a capability that the entire world is getting, and Iran is no different," he told Military.com in an interview. "These aren't small, radio-controlled drones. They're reconnaissance."

The first recent reported incident in which Iran flew a drone over a U.S. carrier came in January 2016, when an unarmed reconnaissance UAV approached the Harry S. Truman and a French carrier, the Charles DeGaulle. In that incident, a Navy MH-60 helicopter was launched to investigate, ultimately determining that the unmanned aircraft posed no threat, according to reports.

Now, Pennington said, the Bush detects nearby Iranian drones nearly every day, and crew members have a variety of methods at their disposal to thwart them -- and other episodes of Iranian harassment -- and protect the ship.

"We almost always have a substantial heads-up," Pennington said. "And then we have a series of procedures that we train to that gradually, or not gradually, escalates our defensive position and our level of readiness."

In addition to helicopters that can take to the air for the ship's defense, the carrier can get support from its escort ships, including the Danish frigate Peter Willemoes, which has been deployed with the carrier strike group since January. There are also built-in defense systems native to the carrier, Pennington said.

When the carrier transited through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Gulf in late March with four ships from its strike group, it was met with naked hostility in the form of two waves of Iranian fast-attack boats. The crews could be seen manning and arming the weapons aboard, Pennington said. In that case, the Bush deployed helicopters to hover over the boats, and the encounter ended without a military confrontation.

Since arriving in the Gulf, the carrier's encounters with Iranian boats and UAVs have been less dramatic. Because the ship is patrolling international waters, Iranian vessels are within their rights to operate nearby. Encounters in the region have so far been professional.

But Pennington and carrier leadership remain wary.

Just days ago, Pennington said, the carrier was approached by "a number" of Iranian ships, and their intentions did not appear clear. So the ship escalated its defensive posture, launching helicopters until the strike group was reassured that the ships were not threatening.

There's a reason even seemingly minor encounters cause the ship to raise its defenses, he said.

"We can't allow ourselves to be a boiled frog," Pennington explained, referring to an anecdote in which a frog is placed in cold water which is then slowly heated until the frog dies.

"We have to treat each day as an open mind, and while it's important to categorize patterns, any day could be the day," he said. "It's important to understand what's routine, but you can't afford to be lackadaisical. You've got to respect the capability that is resident in a country that has demonstrated they're willing to support and participate in bad behavior."

That said, it would likely take much more provocation before the carrier would use military force to end one of the almost-daily drone encounters.

"We always have the inherent right of self-defense. I can tell you we are not in a position nor are we directed to absorb the first shot," Pennington said. "But [to take action] pre-emptively, it would take a dramatic change in the strategic environment."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at@HopeSeck.
A U.S. special operations team member was killed and two others wounded Thursday in a raid against the al-Shabab terror group in Somalia, U.S. Africa Command said Friday.

The combat fatality was the first in Somalia for U.S. forces since the "Black Hawk Down" incident of 1993 in which the bodies of U.S. service members were dragged by mobs through the streets of Mogadishu, AfriCom said.

The service member killed in the raid on a compound of al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaida, in Barii -- about 40 west miles of the capital of Mogadishu in the Shebelle region -- was believed to be a Navy SEAL, numerous news outlets reported.

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the special operations troops were on an advise-and-assist mission with an assault force from the Somali National Army that was lifted to the target area by U.S. rotary aircraft.

Davis said the al-Shabab ("The Youth") compound "had been associated with some attacks on facilities that we use and that our Somali partners use nearby."

The U.S. special operations team was "some distance back" when the attack began, Davis said, but they apparently were hit with small-arms fire, killing one and wounding two others. There was no immediate word on the conditions of the wounded, or on casualties for the Somali force.

U.S. forces have been working with the Somali National Army to counter al-Shabab since 2013 with the goal of "degrading this al-Qaida affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks throughout the region and the United States," Davis said.

Somalia, on the Horn of Africa, has been in turmoil, wracked by periodic drought and famine amid infighting among various warlords and terror groups, since the fall of the dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

The U.S. and the international community intervened in 1991 to end a famine, but their presence came to an end after two Black Hawk helicopters were shot down in 1993 and 18 U.S. troops were killed in the "Battle of Mogadishu" against so-called "technicals" who sped through the streets in pickups.

AfriCom spokesman Patrick Barnes told The Associated Press, "We do not believe there has been a case where a U.S. service member has been killed in combat action in Somalia since the incident there in 1993."

The U.S. is believed to have about 50 service members in Somalia to advise and assist local forces and coordinate with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) peacekeeping force, comprised mostly of Kenyan troops.

AfriCom announced last month that it was sending sending "dozens" of additional troops to Somalia to assist the Somali National Army and AMISOM.

In its statement Friday, AfriCom said the operation against al-Shabab was undertaken to diminish the threat the group "presents to Americans and American interests."

AfriCom said al-Shabab is an affiliate of al-Qaida, which "has murdered Americans; radicalizes and recruits terrorists and fighters in the United States; and attempts to conduct and inspire attacks against Americans, our allies and our interests around the world, including here at home."

In March, Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, the AfriCom commander, was in Washington, where he asked for and was later granted by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis more "flexibility" to conduct operations against al-Shabab without going through the White House National Security Council.

At a Pentagon news conference in late March, Waldhauser said additional flexibility on the rules of engagement would accelerate the campaign against al-Shabab, but "we are not going to turn Somalia into a free-fire zone."

Waldhauser said he was seeking "a little bit more flexibility" to "allow us to process targets in a more rapid fashion" by giving field commanders the authority to order strikes by drones and manned aircraft rather than going first to the top of the chain of command.

The added authority could bolster the new government of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, a dual Somali and U.S. citizen who holds a masters degree in political science from the University of Buffalo and was a housing commissioner in Buffalo before returning to Somalia.

"We continue to support our Somali and regional partners to systematically dismantle this al-Qaida affiliate, and help them to achieve stability and security throughout the region as part of the global counterterrorism effort," the AfriCom statement said.

At a breakfast with defense reporters in March, Waldhauser said the additional authority he was seeking would have to be used cautiously amid the famine and drought now sweeping the Horn of Africa.

He said AfriCom would have to coordinate closely with relief agencies to avoid hitting civilians on the move in search of food and water.

"We need to have good communications," Waldhauser said. "You need to be very, very careful in terms of certainty" before approving strikes by manned or unmanned aircraft.

The drought in Somalia, where locals report that it has rained only twice in the last two years, threatens three million lives in a nation of 10-12 million, according to the United Nations.

Newly installed Somali President Mohamed has pledged to rout al-Shabab while also calling on members of the group to surrender.

At his inauguration in February, Mohamed said, "To those who work with al-Qaida, al-Shabab and IS [Islamic State], your time is finished. You have been misled, destroyed property and killed many Somalis. Come and we shall give you good life."

The raid Thursday against al-Shabab came a day after Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji, Somalia's 31-year-old public works minister who was considered to be a rising political star, was shot and killed by government security forces in what may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Siraji was gunned down inside his car Wednesday in the capital. A Mogadishu official told Reuters that security forces "opened fire" on the vehicle "by mistake."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
The Leidholms are just like any ordinary young family. They get up early each day to deal with the happy chaos of getting themselves ready for work and preparing their two small daughters for the day.

Dad and mom tag-team -- he changes the baby's diaper, makes sure the three-and-a-half-year-old is dressed and clean, then feeds the cats and dogs. He heads out the door by 6:30 a.m.

Mom spends a few more moments nursing the eight-month-old. Then, she too leaves to drop the kids off at daycare and get to the office.

Nights and weekends are spent doing the usual stuff: housework, homework, laundry, running errands, watching television and, of course, sharing time with each other.

They are a typical American family, except for one significant difference: Staff Sgt. Kyle Leidholm, 60th Maintenance Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Nicole Leidholm, 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs, both serve their country in the Air Force at Travis Air Force Base, California, as a dual-military couple.

Unlike most families, they know the normal routine could be dramatically interrupted at any time.

Currently, the Leidholms work a fairly normal duty day. Kyle is an aero repair technician, servicing heavy-lift transport aircraft at Travis. Nicole is a photojournalist and the noncommissioned officer in charge of media relations.

They are aware that, with the current state of world affairs, one or both of them could be deployed overseas with little notice. Like all military personnel, they are ready to put the needs of their country above all else.

Dual-military couple marriages -- an active-duty member married to another active-duty member or to a member of the National Guard -- are becoming more common, with the highest percentage of these couples being in the Air Force, according to a 2008 Department of Defense study on military families.

Both Kyle and Nicole joined the military when college plans didn't work out. Nicole was still in technical school when the two married. Kyle was stationed at Travis, and Nicole joined him soon after. The girls were quickly added to their growing family.

The military treats each member of a dual-military couple as an independent entity, despite the fact that the couple makes decisions jointly. Unfortunately, this can be problematic at times.

"Work is definitely a lot harder than it was before kids," said Kyle. "Working extended shifts and night shifts is harder. The balance of family and job tend to blur."

"When I went on a temporary-duty assignment before we had kids, I didn't have to worry if Kyle was going to be able to get off work on time to pick up the kids," said Nicole. "It's harder trying to explain to my oldest why Dad hasn't come home from work yet, or why Dad is going to work at night -- 'to put the airplanes to sleep.' "

"She's very curious and notices everything," she added. "When he was on 12-hour days, I was the one coming home after work and cooking dinner and getting her ready for bed on top of when I was pregnant. It's definitely an added challenge to balance life and work duties."

Often, there can be difficulty fitting child care expenses into a military budget.

"The cost of child care is not cheap," said Nicole. "We use family child care so our costs are a bit more than at the Child Development Center on base, but I like it. There's usually a smaller number of children, and they take care of my girls like their own."

"On top of those costs, infant care is even more," she continued. "So having two kids in child care was almost like sticker shock when I first went back to work after maternity leave. Fortunately, we both received promotions around that same time, so our 'extra money' goes toward the cost of childcare. The child care expenses a little more than doubled for each week with the new baby."

Since Sept. 11, 2001, deployments are the rule, not the exception, for military families. Research from a 2009 RAND National Defense Research Institute study shows these deployments often have a more negative effect on dual-military member retention and family life than on non-dual military couples.

Kyle shared an experience he had when his wife was deployed.

"I had appliances die on me during a base exercise, and I had to figure out child care by myself without help from my spouse on the other side of the world," he said. "Just the day-to-day Air Force obligations affected both me and my wife and, sometimes, it carried over to the kids."

"Our first deployments didn't really have an impact on our oldest daughter," said Nicole. "She was too young to remember. The deployments were harder on us. I deployed first in 2014 to Southwest Asia, and it was a lot harder on my husband because he, all of a sudden, was a single dad."

"I also do all the finances so some of that stuff I had to keep on him to pay the bills," said Nicole. "At the time, he worked in a shop that did eight-hour days but, more often than not, those days became 12-hour days -- no notice. They also worked a Panama schedule but, because I was deployed, they worked his schedule to be Monday through Friday. Thankfully, we also had a flexible child care provider that could help us out."

A Panama shift is 24/7 coverage with four teams working two 12-hour shifts on a rotating pattern -- two days on, two days off; three days on, three days off; two days on, three days off.

Child care most notably affects the retention rate of dual-military couples. Although the RAND NDRI study shows both male and female service members perform at the same levels on the job, women are more likely to cite family responsibilities when they leave the service. Male service members are more likely to cite financial concerns or career opportunities.

"I'll play it enlistment by enlistment," said Kyle. "I would like to retire out of the military, but we will see how the next 14 years go."

Having supportive leadership and an understanding and flexible work environment are vital to alleviate the stressors of a dual-military family.

"It's the only thing that can make it so I can continue to serve and still be there for my kids and wife," said Kyle.

"It's extremely important," said Nicole. "Recently, when I was on a trip, I was supposed to be back after four days and ended up being away for seven. My leadership asked to make sure Kyle was OK and if he needed anything. It's good to know if there was anything needed, they were there for us. It's hard to focus on the mission if my family isn't cared for when I'm away."

Today's technology makes it easier to keep in touch while being deployed for any length of time, and lessens the anxiety of separation. Nicole's first deployment was for six months.

"We were only three years into our marriage -- young by any standard. So it definitely put a strain on our marriage," she said. "Skype was a big one when I was deployed, but now -- and even when I was TDY -- we used Facebook messenger to video chat. We also used a free texting app when I was deployed. I've now learned that my phone carrier has an overseas plan that I would look into using the next time either of us deployed. We also sent a lot of care packages."

When you've got kids at home, being away is never easy. It's always hard to say goodbye. Kids grow and change fast, and half of a year is a long time.

Having a family care plan is a mandatory military requirement to protect children of military families when the worst-case scenario happens and parents must answer the call to duty.

"Dual- and single military families can face some unique challenges," said Master Sgt. Hugh Fetla, 60th Comptroller Squadron first sergeant.

Fetla served as first sergeant to both of the Leidholms, who are in different squadrons.

"Deployments and unaccompanied assignments can make child care and maintaining the marriage very difficult," said Fetla. "Mission permitting, the member's leadership can work with the dual- and single military families when assigning deployment cycles and work schedules. But sometimes, the mission does not allow leadership to be 100 percent accommodating. When this happens, one of the most important items the dual- and single military families need to have is a family care plan (FCP). This will ensure the children are taken care of during a medical emergency or period of separation."

"I think Kyle has had to use it; I've almost had to," said Nicole. "Every year, his unit recertifies the FCP. We also have to keep it updated, such as when our provider moved, we changed providers and when we had our second daughter."

With time in service, promotions and the gained experience of military life, there is an increased understanding and acceptance.

"I can see the bigger picture of what the mission needs," said Kyle. "It makes it easier to get on board with the decisions leadership makes. I wish it had been relayed to me differently when I was a younger airman with kids."

Nicole agreed.

"We have a lot more responsibilities now as noncommissioned officers than as airmen. Now we are taking care of people at work and at home. I guess in a way, for me, becoming a mom first helped prepare me to be a leader."

Though the demands of dual-military couples can be problematic, Kyle and Nicole's unwavering commitment to each other and to their children make it possible to readily face any challenge.

"Having us both in is cool because we understand the job that each of us does. Sometimes, spouses don't know what their significant other does every day at work," said Nicole. "It also made the deployments easier in my mind because we knew the locations and our resources."

"It's also cool because we can talk military jargon with each other and have an understanding of some of the stressors that may be going on," she said. "At the supervisory level, we can bounce ideas off each other and learn together. It's also neat to almost get an inside seat to see how another squadron operates. Kyle is also a key spouse and can share his insight of not only being a spouse, but also being in the military."

"She makes me think bigger than maintenance when I talk to her about my troops and how to help them," said Kyle. "She always has that important phone number when I don't know who to call."

Nicole is very proud of her daughters, especially her eldest, who at only three years of age has seen one or the other parent go through two six-month deployments and three TDYs.

"It's amazing how resilient kids are," she said.

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A job interview is your chance to shine to employers. When you interview with a civilian company you must be able to explain what you know about the company, the open position, and why you're the best for the job and their office. But, employers can spot an unprepared candidate a mile away, and you don't want to let your lack of readiness be your downfall.

If you're unsure of what to research or bring to your first interview, use this list of interview resources the Bureau of Labor Statistics developed to whip you into interview-ready shape.

Before the Interview

- Learn about the organization. Don't just Google the company; try to look at Better Business Bureau ratings or Yelp reviews that rate your potential employer's customer service record.

- Review your qualifications for the job. Try to match your skills as close to the requirements as possible. Employers want to know that your skills are a direct fit for the position.

- Explain how your military experience would relate to the job. Use Military.com's Skills Translator to help you articulate how your MOS can be applied in this civilian job.

- Prepare for questions. The most common ones are "Why should I hire you?" and "Why do you want this job?"

- Practice interviewing. Ask a friend a friend or family member to mock interview you.

Refining Your Look

- Be well groomed. Avoid dousing yourself in cologne or perfumes, and ensure that you're clean shaven and have a fresh hair cut.

- Dress appropriately. If you can, buy an updated interview suit. Check out our slideshow for how to dress for the interview.

- Don't smoke before the interview. You don't want to distract the interviewer with the stench of cigarettes.

The Day of the Interview

- Bring the following items: Social Security card, Government-issued ID (such as a driver's license), at least five copies of your resume, and at three written references.

- Be Early. Arrive about five minutes early. If you get there too early, say 15 to 30 minutes ahead of schedule, you could seem like you're rushing your interviewer.

- Learn the name of your interviewer and greet them with a firm (but not bone crushing) hand shake.

- Be polite. Be as courteous and professional with everyone you meet.

- Don't use slang. Or worse, don't curse in your interview  even in jest.

- Maintain eye contact and don't slouch. This doesn't mean that you stare a hole in your interviewer, but maintain eye contact when you're speaking to them, and be sure to sit up straight. It shows self-confidence and professionalism.

- Don't be afraid to ask questions about the job. Also, ask questions about the company and your potential boss. However, don't ask questions that you know the answers to. For example, don't ask any questions that can be found on the company website.

After the Interview

- Send a thank you note. You can send a thank you e-mail or hand-written letter to your interviewer. Be sure to thank them for taking the time to interview you, and reinforce why this is a good fit for you and the potential employer.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 5

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

Bayramnazar Gulov, who previously served as Turkmen Deputy Prosecutor General, has been appointed acting Prosecutor General of the country, the Turkmen government said in a message May 5.

The corresponding decree was signed by Turkmen president, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the countrys armed forces Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

The Turkmen president wished Gulov success in such responsible and important matter as rigorous enforcement of the countrys legislation and complete eradication of corruption, the message said.

Another message noted that the Turkmen Parliament agreed to dismiss Amanmyrat Khallyyev from the post of Prosecutor General in accordance with the Turkmen Constitution, having considered Berdimuhamedovs proposal.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 5

By Demir Azizov  Trend:

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree naming the Tashkent International Airport after Islam Karimov, first president of the country.

A special commission, headed by Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, has been created in accordance with the decree. The commission was tasked to develop and submit for approval a program for improving the efficiency of infrastructure functioning and the quality of passenger service at the airport.

The program must also ensure the reduction of duration of customs and immigration procedures for passengers through the introduction of modern technologies at the airport.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor entrepreneur Kim Gamez is hoping her crowdfunding platform aimed specifically at Hispanic cultural celebrations will catch the attention of producers of the TV reality show Shark Tank.

She was in Detroit on Friday to audition for the show, gunning for an chance to pitch her business plan to a panel of celebrity investors.

Gamez launched Mi Padrino about a month ago. The platform gathers funds and sponsors for Hispanic family events like weddings and quinceaneras, in which young girls are celebrated on their 15th birthday.

The events are made possible with the help of padrinos, or sponsors, who are often asked ahead of the event to bring food or pay for aspects of the celebration.

In Hispanic culture, it is an honor to be asked to sponsor such an event, and it was just such a request that gave Gamez the idea for Mi Padrino.

Her husband, Victor Hugo, received a note from his niece in Mexico about her quinceanera, and the married couple of 15 years went to work going through a long list of items and trying to figure out how to get the money to her.

"It's actually awesome to help, because it's toward a good cause," Gamez said. "You reach out to everyone you know, so it's not a huge expense."

"I thought 'We are smarter than this. There has to be a better way,'" Gamez said.

That better way, Gamez decided, is Mi Padrino, which allows users to set up a free event page and list information of what supplies or funds are needed. Sponsors can either sign up to bring something or supply money through the website's secure server, for a five percent fee.

"In their culture, they think all the guests should be putting on the event for the person of honor," Gamez said. "It makes for absolutely amazing parties."

This screenshot of Mi Padrino, a crowdfunding platform aimed at Hispanic celebrations, shows a young woman in a quinceanera dress. The site is free for users to log into, set up event details and start a list of necessities for their event.

Gamez and Hugo own The Crazy Cowboy in Jackson, but sold one of their other businesses to raise capital to start Mi Padrino. With some help from friends and family, and Ann Arbor SPARK's business services, the site had a waiting list of more than 400 people before it even launched.

There have already been some outside investments in Mi Padrino, including from Invest Detroit, and a lot of interest was spurred during an event expo in Houston, Gamez said.

"There are millions of Hispanics in the U.S., not counting those in Mexico and Latin America, for whom this is a real problem and now there's a solution," Gamez said.

"Investors may not understand it at first, but they get that the Hispanic population is growing."

On Shark Tank, which airs on ABC and CNBC, entrepreneurs pitch their ideas, products or businesses to five wealthy, business-savvy judges or "sharks," looking to garner investment and publicity.

Gamez interview for the show which coincidentally fell on Cinco de Mayo.

She is considering that a good sign.

"Maybe I'll bring them some margaritas or something," she joked.

Gamez is already looking to the future of Mi Padrino, with additional features like message boards so patrons can leave notes and connections with outside gift registries for events like baby showers and weddings.

There is also a plan to create a specific page for vendors to advertise, something Gamez said would provide an additional revenue stream.

She plans to use it one day to plan celebrations for her four children, and some members of her family are already utilizing the crowdfunding platform.

"It's just crazy. I went from having this silly idea, and owning a restaurant, and now I'm the founder of a global tech company," Gamez said. "It's really crazy."
YPSILANTI, MI - A dark side of Ypsilanti's history is being acknowledged Friday afternoon with the unveiling of historical markers at the site of Parkridge Homes.

Officials from the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office planned to unveil three markers during a ceremony from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, May 5 at the Parkridge Community Center, 591 Armstrong Drive, in Ypsilanti.

The Parkridge Community Center was built the same year as Parkridge Homes, which served as segregated housing in the 1940s for African Americans in Ypsilanti who worked at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, contributing to the war effort.

The homes were constructed in 1943 by African-American architect Hilyard Robinson, designed to create a community and address a growing shortage of housing for workers in the area. Parkridge Homes was the last of three housing developments built during the time period in Ypsilanti.

It was later converted to public housing in the early 1950s. The barracks-style housing site had 80 units and as many as 189 people living there in 2013. Of those 189 individuals, 112 were under the age of 18.

The housing complex was demolished in July 2016.

The buildings are an important part of local history, said Andrea Plevek, director of the Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development.

"This dedication highlights both the history of housing segregation in Washtenaw County as well as the incredible contributions of African-Americans to our community," Plevek said in a statement. "It is important to acknowledge and learn from our past in order to improve our future, and projects like this allow us to do just that."

The historical marker event was proceeded by months of research that resulted in photo albums and images of the residents and daily life at Parkridge Homes.

The markers will display information on the history of the building developments and the architect, to be installed at the management building of the New Parkridge Homes under construction between First Avenue and Armstrong Drive in Ypsilanti.

New Parkridge Homes include 86 units of both two-family and duplex housing, developed by community organizations such as the Washtenaw County OCED, Ypsilanti Housing Commission, the City of Ypsilanti and general contractor for the site, ASTI Environmental.

The history of Parkridge Homes was funded by a grant from the Michigan Humanities Council and part of a larger program to record African-American history in Ypsilanti.
Mattern main.png

(Courtesy of "I'm Concerned About the Blueberries"i)

BLUEBERRY AMBASSADOR MOMENTS

Carman-Ainsworth High School, coordinator Carrie Mattern



Kailynn Bates

Blueberry Moment 9745

In the check-out line, a young cashier asked me if I would like to give a dollar to the homeless children in America and I had only a five dollar bill on me. So, I gave her the whole five with a card. She read the card while proceeding with my checkout. She said "Oh wow that's neat. I really like that," and I smiled and told her to have a wonderful night.

Blueberry Moment 9746

I was sitting in a random desk in the hallway during lunch time, waiting for the bell to ring so I could go to my next hour and a teacher I've never had was walking over and she said, "I need that desk back hun." She was carrying a lot of stuff so I told her I could take the desk back and she was very grateful. She wanted to give me a C-A Rocks slip but I didn't want it because I didn't ever need to use them. I thanked her for it. The bell rang and I went to my next class.



Hannah Burgess

Blueberry Moment 9748

I wrote a letter to my grandma and grandpa Larry saying thank you for what they have done for me and others in my family. Inside the card, I put a $25 gift card to Logan's for them and only them to go because they get no alone time. I folded the piece of paper glued to the card and put the Blueberry Card inside. At the end of the letter I said, "Enjoy!"



Teacher Carrie Mattern

A friend of mine has a daughter who tried out for softball and made the team. The problem was all the costs associated with a new sport. Since I played in college, I got my old equipment bag out of the garage and found fairly new Adidas cleats. Each year we received a new pair so they were in good condition. I gave them to my friend for her child and said Have a great season but pass on the random act of kindness when you can!

In line at the gas station, I noticed a child buying bread and milk...and sour patch kids. He did not have enough money and he really wanted the candy. I went up to the clerk and asked how much he still owed. The boy was so grateful that I bought his entire order and told him to keep the money to pay it forward to someone else. The clerk was touched and told me that the child comes in every other day for his mom. He said the boy was the nicest kid in own. It felt good to help a child in need. And I know he enjoyed those sour patch kids!



Allie Conley

I made a sign for the students and staff at Grand Blanc high school since they lost a beloved staff member, Mr. Carmody. It was a banner that everyone in my school could sign to send condolences. We signed it at the spirit cup Friday morning, and it was also at all three lunches for kids to write a message of sympathy. We feel terrible for the students and staff here that are dealing with the loss of such an important influence. My teacher is taking the banner over to them after school so they will have it when the students get back after spring break.



Ashton Brown

Last year I made a memory box for students at Bendle and this year I am making one for the Carmody family of Grand Blanc. I am printing all the comments and pictures from social media in the last few days that I have seen posted by Grand Blanc students and staff, and putting them into a nice keepsake jar for Mr. Carmody's family. That way, when they want to remember how loved he was by the community of Grand Blanc, and how many lives he reached, they can grab one of the memories out of the jar to look at or read. This may not ease their pain but I think I would be nice if someone did that for me if I lost a family member or dear friend.

The highlight of high school would probably be the career fair! I spent mine setting up the booth for Microbiology but while I walked to the gym, one of the people who came to speak for Mott was carrying her box of the giveaway items she had. She was struggling and kept having to rebalance it; I couldn't not offer help. I grabbed it, and we kept it moving. She did nothing but thank me like it was the kindest thing someone had done, when I was only carrying a box! She said "It really is all about the little things."

Around Thanksgiving, I was in Alabama. I went to this place called the Fish Creel and it was in probably the smallest town I've ever been to. There were so many people there eating and seemed so content with their day!! I went to the worker at the register and asked who hadn't paid for their order yet. Her response was that nearly everyone there still had to pay. I explained that I wanted to pay for someone's meal and told her to just randomly pick a meal ticket for me to pay for; she then grabbed the ticket of the two ladies in the back in a deep conversation and said that the lady on the far end had just lost her mom. I paid, left a note that read, "Somebody loves you," and also bought her dessert before I left.
BLUEBERRY AMBASSADOR MOMENTS

Davison Hill Elementary, coordinator Debbie Alderson and Jennifer Torok



Attyson Phelps

Blueberry Moment 3487

The moment I took out the garbage for an old man named Don, I felt proud and caring. Then, when I left the card on his porch, I got a call and he said, 'what is this for?' I said, 'read the back.' Once he read it, he said he would do a good deed and pass the card on. Then I felt amazing!

Blueberry Moment 3485

When I made cookies, I didn't know what to do with them. So, I gave them to my best friend across the street and thanked her for all that she has done for me. I wanted to say a special thanks so I gave her the card with the cookies. As soon as I left, I saw the smile on her face and felt amazing.

Blueberry Moment 3486

When I shoveled this woman's driveway, I didn't know what to do. I was amazed by what I had done. I felt proud, helpful, and spectacular! I left the card in her garage and got a knock on my door and a special thanks from her. She told me a story that when her husband dided, she had always gotten help from others and she loved it.

Cole Houser

When I was going home from school on the bus, I was thinking about bus drivers. I felt like they were underpaid. They are so kind; They deal with kids that aren't following directions or crazy drivers that go 20 mph over the speed limit. I felt like they needed more money. But since I can't do that, my mom and I wrote a letter to Mr. Lieske about how my bus driver in so nice.

Usually in a random place like church, the Farmer's Market, or even Sagano's, there is a big crowd. When my family isn't in a hurry, I hold the door. I try to be sure to hold the door for any family with kids or older people. It's something I can do to make everyone's life a little easier. So, during this break, I try to hold the door for people as along as possible.

I was at Barnes & Noble to buy some new books. I was reading in the seat next to my family. Then, a family with toddlers came to the seats. I thought I should give up my seat and didn't think it was fair that they had to sit on the floor. So, I gave up my seat for them. I am sure it made them happy.

Ella Aagesen

One morning as we were heading to school, we stopped by Tim Horton's for a quick breakfast. I decided that it would be very nice to pay for the person's breakfast behind us! We surprised the lady by purchasing her coffee and doughnut. When I did this, I felt excited and nice. I sure hope that by doing this random act of kindness, that lady's day started out great. Who knows, but hopefully, she passed on the same act of kindness to the vehicle behind her.

I took a Valentine's snack bag to my grandpa's nursing home. I know that these acts of kindness are appreciated because they don't get sweet treats often and put a smile on their face. While doing this, I felt helpful and kind. The people weren't expecting a treat. It also took time to go around and give a treat.

Last week, I helped my grandma take down her Christmas decorations while my

parents were on vacation. I know that these helpful acts are greatly appreciated as my grandma has a bad shoulder and knee and it is hard work for her. While helping her, I felt awesome and helpful. She wasn't expecting me to do so much. I saved her a lot of time and effort. We took down decorations both inside and out! It took us like three or four hours.



Emma Macdonald

For my first Blueberry Moment, I was at Kroger with my mom and we were doing bottle returns. We saw a man that had about two bottles and there was a cart that had a couple bottles in it. The guy asked my mom if the bottles in the cart were hers. She said no. The guy took the bottles from the cart and put them in the bottle return. When we left the bottle return, we saw the guy at customer service. We both had a feeling that he was in need and could use some help. So, my mom handed me a card and our bottle slips. I walked up to him and handed him the bottle slip and a Blueberry Card. I explained to him that I was a Blueberry Ambassador and we do random acts of kindness. He thanked me and I saw his face light up. It made me feel good to do a random act of kindness. It really made the rest of my day.

For my second Blueberry Moment, I decided to go down to the police station and give them a plate of cookies and a card to thank them for all their service. I also put together a couple bas with a stuffed animal and blanket to them so they could pass them out to the little kids if they have an accident or are scared. Doing this made me feel very good about myself. I love helping to give back to the people that help us every day. I put the Blueberry Card in one of the bags hoping that a child would find it and pass it on and do a random act of kindness for someone when they are feeling better. It made me feel really good to know that it will help make someone feel better when they are scared.

For my third Blueberry Moment, I heard that Key Club at the school that my mom works at was collecting supplies for the Women's Shelter. I decided to help out by getting some supplies myself and put it in their tubs of stuff. Doing this made me feel really good inside. We brought all types of stuff like soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other personal items. I realized how much one little thing can change a person's life. By doing this for people, we are helping them get one step closer to getting on their feet. I put the card with one of the items, hoping that when the person that receives it is able to, the will help someone else. Performing these moments has been really fun and rewarding. I hope the people that find the cards will pass them on by doing a random act of kindness.



Garrett Britton

For the first Blueberry Moment, I went around the neighborhood and picked up

garbage.

For the second Blueberry Moment, I stayed with a family friend's son. If I did not stay, he would be alone and he would be the only kid that was a boy.

For my last Blueberry Moment, I went outside and picked up m dog's poop.



Gabby Harchick

My first Blueberry Moment was when I brought some Bath and Body Works items for someone who does not get anything for Christmas. It was sad to me that she didn't get much for Christmas so that is why I did it. She really appreciated it and it really made her happy.

My second Blueberry Moment was when I gave money to the less fortunate. I was happy when I gave the money because it was a really nice thing to do. I did it because it is nice to give money to the less fortunate.

My last Blueberry Moment was when I have a homeless person an umbrella. It was raining really hard that day and I figured I would give her an umbrella. It made my heart smile and made me really happy because it was so rainy. It looked like she

need that umbrella more than I did.



Isla Puzjak

Blueberry Moment 3351

My first random act of kindness was dancing for the elderly. I danced traditional Mexican dances at two retirement homes. I know we made their day because I noticed all their happy faces. It made me feel so happy and warm inside. Some of them were dancing in their chairs. After we were done, everyone clapped and people were telling us that we did a good job. It definitely made my day. It probably made their day too. Hopefully our dancing made their holiday spirits fill with joy and hope.

Blueberry Moment 3352

In Michigan, the winters are cold and harsh. My grandparents still heat their house with a wood burning stove. While it isn't unusual for me to carry the wood up from the basement, my Blueberry Moment was much more involved. I wanted to help my grandparents with the whole process of gathering their firewood. It started in the woods with cutting down the tree. I helped to drag branches from the woods to the clearing. I also loaded wood onto the truck and gathered all of the kindling which is

essential for starting the fire. Once we returned to the house, we then unloaded the truck of wood. We also threw the wood into the basement and stacked it up. I always take an armful of wood from the basement and stack it by the stove. My family loves going to my grandma and grandpa's house and we stand by the fire in the living room. It is a cozy place to be on a winter afternoon. I know they were so happy that I helped and I am happy to help make their winter chores a little easier.

Blueberry Moment 3350

My last Blueberry Moment was for my 92 year old cousin, Opal. Opal has many young kids in her life. She loves all of the cousin, distant cousins, nieces, and nephews very much. She shows us her kindheartedness by sending each and everyone of us a card on each holiday and birthday. This past Valentine's day, Opal was not able to make it to the store. My good deed was to send her 21 cards. These cards were in case she wasn't able to make it to the store. My mom and I felt that Opal had completed so many random acts of kindness in her life.

We decided to do something a little different for my moment. I thought it would be great if we could introduce the Blueberry Ambassador program to more children. So, I wrote a letter introducing the Blueberry Ambassadors to the 4th graders and principal of Bradford Elementary in Bradford, TN. I also sent the requirement letter given to us by Mrs. Torok and my Blueberry Card. We hope that this will give us

many more fantastic Blueberry Moments!



Jaelyn Peavyhouse

Blueberry Moment 3364

I help take the kindergarteners to their bus. It always feels amazing to do this because I love helping people. I always connect with them so I chose this for one of my acts of kindness.

Blueberry Moment 3365

I gave my bus driver a gift card to Subway. I felt very happy with myself because I made him smile.

Blueberry Moment 3366

I went to Florida over break and I got some friends and family bracelets from the Manatee Viewing center. It felt very good because I was giving some of my friends a symbol of our friendship.



Kelsa Puzjak



Blueberry Moment 3318

One day, I was a part of a Mexican dance performance for two retirement homes. Every Wednesday, my sisters and I participate in a Mexican dance class. We learn traditional dances from different regions in Mexico. We have a lot of fun and wear authentic costumes. As a community enrichment program, our class decided to visit and dance at two senior citizen homes. Many people came from their rooms to watch. They loved to see us dancing with live music played by the Mariachi band. I do not think there was one person it the audience without a smile on their face! I felt like it was a good day and they gave us a big applause. I think it brought joy to all the hearts of the people who were watching.

Blueberry Moment 3319

My other Blueberry Moment was donating a lot of plates, napkins, silverware, and toilet paper to the Ronald McDonald House. The Ronald McDonald House is a place where families stay when their child is in the Detroit Children's Hospital. The people that work there said that some people stay there for months. The janitor even gave us a tour! First, he took us into a room for people that stay there for a while. Then he took us to see where older kids can watch TV and play their electronics. Next, he took us to where the little kids play. On the way out, we ran into a very nice girl just about my age. Her family has been staying at the Ronald McDonald House. I gave her the Blueberry Card and I hope she will do a good deed.

Blueberry Moment 3317

For my last Blueberry Moment, I was at Home Depot with my aunt and my grandma. I noticed a bell ringer. It was cold and windy outside, so I decided to bring him a hot dog and some water. He was collect money for the Salvation Army. The man ringing the bell instantly stopped his job and ate the hot dog. He said thank you and went back to his job. It made me feels o good to make his day.

Kelsey Whalen

Blueberry Moment 3312

Today, I had a Blueberry Moment. I was in line at Walmart and I saw a lady in front of me. I offered to buy her groceries. She was surprised and grateful. I felt good that she was happy. When I left, it felt wonderful to do a random act of kindness.

Blueberry Moment 3313

I went to Tim Hortons and saw a man in line. I asked him if I could buy his order. He was pleased and delighted. It felt good to do something nice for someone other than myself.

Blueberry Moment 3397

I went to Outreach East and gave the staff some donuts, and donated some food and clothes. They appreciated the donation and were happy that I stopped by. At the end, it felt great to be giving to people who may need a helping hand.



Lucas Flewelling

I made cookies for my neighbors.

I helped my grandma take out her garbage and also helped her pick up the sticks in her yard.



Maesen Hall

Blueberry Moment 3368

For my first random act of kindness, I mailed a ton of things to the troops like Ziploc bags, beef jerky, a lot of candy, water flavor, Pringles, popcorn, and more! I feel good about this because I help other people out. Plus, they fight for us to be safe so they deserve it!

For second random act of kindness, I made a star that says, 'Have a good day!' and put a quarter on it and stuck it on a gum ball machine. This gives a little kid a chance to get a prize out of it for free, so that makes me happy.

For my last random act of kindness, I made a picture that says, 'You're a great mom! Have a coffee!' with a Tim Horton's gift card. We put it in a store bathroom on the baby changing table, so when they open it, they will see it. This is good because it gives a mom a chance to sit down and have a coffee.

Melodee Hampton

Blueberry Moment 3315

I brought hot chocolate to Custo Joe because he is always out at the car lane in the morning where it is freezing. With the hot cocoa, I hoped it would keep him warm. At lunch, I was thanked and I knew that doing a random act of kindness would feel good. Custo Joe enjoyed it and I enjoyed giving it to him.

Blueberry Moment 3314

Next, I gave my teacher, Mrs. White, a smoothie and knew that what kind she liked. It was a perfect day to giver her one too because Mrs. White said she didn't have breakfast. I know Mrs. White enjoyed her smoothies by the way she thanked me and told me she bragged about her smoothie.

Blueberry Moment 3316

My last act of kindness was at a hair salon. We bought a huge tray of cookies for the whole hair salon. But when we got there, only my hair stylist, Brooke, was there. I am still glad she enjoyed the cookies as much as I did. Brooke is super nice and she shared the cookies with us.



Maxius Harwell

Blueberry Moment 3363

My first act of kindness was giving some strangers a cupcake at my birthday party. After I did this act of kindness, I felt like a hero. I hope that the strangers like th cupcakes. I also hope that they will do acts of kindness too. It was the end of my birthday party and we had some leftover cupcakes. First, I went to two women and then I went to a couple and a group of kids. I gave about six cupcakes away.

Blueberry Moment 3320

The second act of kindness I did was taking someone's dog back to their house. I have done this before but I was not a Blueberry Ambassador then. I felt like a hero! I hope that they approved of my act of kindness. When we were coming home and getting out of the car, I saw Prince, the dog. I asked if I could take him home and my mom said yes. I took him home and they said thanks and I jogged him home and went about my day.

Blueberry Moment 3362

My last random act of kindness was making scrambled eggs for my mom when she was sick. I am sure she appreciated this act of kindness. I felt like a good son. My mom was getting out of bed and she was taking a nap because she did not feel good. My dad asked if she wanted anything to eat and she said yes. She said she wanted scrambled eggs on a tortilla with salsa. I asked if I could help and my dad agreed. I cracked two eggs and poured them into the pan, scrambled them and then put cheese on them. My dad heated the tortilla and then put the eggs on the tortilla. We also put the salsa on and brought it over to my mom and she said thank you.



Natalie Church

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I did a Red Box Blueberry Moment. I taped a bag with money to the Red Box so someone can enjoy a movie and snacks too. It makes me feel good that I did that for someone. I love to make others feel good and I like to do nice things for others too. I hope this made somebody very happy!

Blueberry Moment 3358

When I did a Blueberry Moment at Tim Hortons, I paid for the person's meal behind us. It made me feel good that I did that. I did this because it is a cool idea and you

can feel good about it and you don't even have to think twice about it. Something like that can really make someone really happy and it will make someone's day too! I loved doing this! That made me feel good to know that someone else felt good. I hope they enjoyed their coffee!

Blueberry Moment 3357

I did my last Blueberry Moment at Kroger. I gave a mom with two boys and one baby a gift card. It felt so good to give her a gift card. She also asked about the Blueberry program and what it is. She was so happy about the gift card and that made me feel great that she liked it!



Rylee Bougie

Blueberry Moment 3344

Over break, I went to visit Whaley's Children Center in Flint. I wanted to help the kids that live there. Sometimes, I think I want to be a foster mom. So, for one of my acts of kindness, I donated new pillows, sheets, towels, shampoo and a few toys to give the kids that need these things. This made me feel like I was making a difference in their lives in a small way. I felt happy and I hope it helped the kids feel happy too. The staff there was really nice and asked questions about me as a person too. It was such a fun time.

Blueberry Moment 3346

I went to the Davison Township Police Department to thank them for all they do for our community. So, to thank them, I made a poster and gave them a gift card to Tim Hortons. Showing kindness to our police officers made me feel excited and happy. Every night, I go to sleep and feel safe at home and it's because of them.

Blueberry Moment 3245

I spent part of my break doing random acts of kindness. I love animals and decided to go to the Genesee County Humane Society to donate cat food, dog food, and kitty litter. I also spent time petting some of the dogs and cats. I met this one dog, named Buddy, and he was so sweet. I was glad I got to meet him because it made my heart feel warm. I know that if I help the Humane Society, it will help the adoption process. Then, the dogs and cats will have loving homes.



Sophia Mauro

Blueberry Moment 3489

I helped my mom clean our fish tanks while she was busy. I did it because it's not just for Blueberries, it's to make people happy by doing good deeds.

I helped my mom's friend's daughter, Alex with a can fundraiser. The fundraiser was because Alex's friend died and they were raising money for a memorial service.



Tanner Smith

Blueberry Moment 3341

On the way home from church, I saw a homeless man with a sign saying that he was hungry. I decided to give him some money, so he could have some food to eat. I felt good that someone could have dinner. I think he was happy that he could have food. We saw him wipe some tears way from his eyes after I handed him the money. I felt good making an impact on somebody else's life.

Blueberry Moment 3343

I made a tie blanket for my neighbor that has dementia. I thought it would make her happy. It really made me glad that she was happy. The past few weeks, she has become unable to do much. She keeps the blanket on her lap, daily. She watches her

shows since that is all she can do most days. I feel happy that someone who suffers is happy.

Blueberry Moment 3342

I donated a dog bed to the Humane Society. I think it will make the dogs happy. It might be the only bed they've ever got. I love dogs and I love to see when they're happy. I hope one day those dogs will get adopted. I felt good when I heard all the dogs barking. It made me feel great to have helped those dogs. It will probably be really comfortable laying on the bed. If I was a dog, I would be glad that I got a brand new bed.
Our Blueberry Ambassadors were busy doing good in their community. This week's Ambassadors showed appreciation to our troops and surprised sick children with visitations and gifts.

This week's Ambassadors included Brooke Tate's group from Atherton Elementary, Debbie Alderson and Jennifer Torok's group from Davison Hill Elementary, Lisa McNally and Christy Lord's group from Flushing Central Elementary, Michelle Turner's group from Atherton Community Schools, and Vickie Weiss's group from Grand Blanc City School.

Below is an excerpt of just some of the Blueberry Moments from each of the classes moments.

Being a Blueberry Ambassador means students are obligated to do at least three random acts of kindness -- to look for three ways to go out of their way to positively impact someone or the community. The actual number of good deeds is immeasurable actually much higher than that because each Blueberry Ambassador also asks those they help to pay it forward.

Through a partnership with MLive, the students' stories are published online. Below is an excerpt of just some of the Blueberry Moments. Check out all the teams' good work at http://topics.mlive.com/tag/flint-blueberries/.

To find out more about "I'm Concerned About the Blueberries," email BlueberryAmbassador@gmail.com.



Atherton Elementary, coordinator Brooke Tate

See all these Atherton students' Blueberry Moments

Ruby McVannel

On December 17, I helped my parents find Christmas presents at Meijer and it took us about an hour and a half but I couldn't find one for my sister. So, we all went to Target and found a giant stuffed animal that she would like, but we couldn't afford it so I paid for it because I brought my own money and I just wanted to be nice so my sister could have a Christmas present from me. So that was my first Blueberry Moment.

Savannah Bray

On December 27, my mom, dad, my little sister, and I were going to eat at the Burger King. While I was drinking my milkshake, I noticed a homeless guy yelling at a trash can. We figured out that he couldn't see well and had back issues. After we were done eating we asked the man if there was anything we can do. He said, "Can I have 50 cents?" But we had better plans. So, dad gave the guy $15. The guy put

the money right up to his face and counted it. When we drove by, we waved to the guy. Even though I never gave him a Blueberry Card, I still made a difference to that guy.

Dominick Knack

One of the last cards I gave out was on a cold winter night. All I did was give my cousin her nice winter coat which it really looked like she needed because it was snowing outside. The reason she didn't get it herself was because she had her hands full with her things. I thought it would be pretty mean to see her walk outside in the freezing cold knowing she would probably have to spend a while just warming back up.



Davison Hill Elementary, coordinator Debbie Alderson and Jennifer Torok



Emma Macdonald

For my first Blueberry Moment, I was at Kroger with my mom and we were doing bottle returns. We saw a man that had about two bottles and there was a cart that had a couple bottles in it. The guy asked my mom if the bottles in the cart were hers. She said no. The guy took the bottles from the cart and put them in the bottle return. When we left the bottle return, we saw the guy at customer service. We both had a feeling that he was in need and could use some help. So, my mom handed me a card and our bottle slips. I walked up to him and handed him the bottle slip and a Blueberry Card. I explained to him that I was a Blueberry Ambassador and we do random acts of kindness. He thanked me and I saw his face light up. It made me feel good to do a random act of kindness. It really made the rest of my day.

Maesen Hall

For my last random act of kindness, I made a picture that says, "You're a great mom! Have a coffee!" with a Tim Horton's gift card. We put it in a store bathroom on the baby changing table, so when they open it, they will see it. This is good because it gives a mom a chance to sit down and have a coffee.

Isla Puzjak

Blueberry Moment 3351

My first random act of kindness was dancing for the elderly. I danced traditional Mexican dances at two retirement homes. I know we made their day because I noticed all their happy faces. It made me feel so happy and warm inside. Some of them were dancing in their chairs. After we were done, everyone clapped and people were telling us that we did a good job. It definitely made my day. It probably made their day too. Hopefully our dancing made their holiday spirits fill with joy and hope.





Flushing Central Elementary, coordinators Lisa McNally and Christy Lord

Benjamin Mitchell

When I was going up north to visit my family, I took some of my allowance to pay the Mackinac Bridge fare for the car behind ours. I remember one time, someone in front of us paid our fare and my dad was so surprised. It made him want to pay for someone's coffee at McDonald's. I hope my random act of kindness on the Mackinac Bridge helped make someone's day happier and inspired them to do something nice for someone else.

Macy Lord

One morning, when my dad and I went to Choo Choo's Diner, we were eating breakfast and a pretty lady walked in, but we could see that she had no hair underneath her hat. We figured she was probably fighting cancer. She was eating with her two children and we decided we would pay for their breakfast. We whispered to the waitress that we would like to pay for their breakfast. We ended up buying their breakfast and that left us feeling great. So, we went through our day with a smile.

Piper Shanafelt

Every year, the all of the Flushing schools try to get a group of kids volunteer at the soup kitchen once a month. When we are there, we clean out the upstairs, wrap and handout presents, make lunches and bag them, or hand out food. We are usually there for one to two hours and I love helping out. I hope to go to the soup kitchen again sometime soon because it is fun and feels great to help someone in need.



Atherton Community Schools, coordinator Michelle Turner

Ash D'Arcy

Blueberry Moment 7570

For my first deed, I decorated the lockers with my friends at school with inspirational message hearts for Valentine's Day. The deed made me feel great. I love knowing everyone was happy to see the hearts in the morning, especially Cara, the girl to whom I gave my Blueberry Card. The smile on her face brought me lots of joy.

Aubrie Felton

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For my other act of kindness, we made cards for the soldiers and children at Hurley hospital for Valentine's Day. It made me feel good to know that people who need to smile would be getting them. We got a card from the hospital saying that the kids loved the cards. One of the soldiers posted a message on Facebook saying that he was happy and felt so loved that he got a card.



Mackenzie Winford

Blueberry Moment 7562

I gave a gift bag to Micheal Galloway, a firefighter. I felt very happy and thankful because I got a chance to give back to the community and someone who fights and risks their life almost every day to protect people in need.



Grand Blanc City school, Coordinator Vickie Weiss

See all these City School students' Blueberry Moments

Madelyn Gullion

Blueberry Moment 8271

My Blueberry Moment was when my brother's best friend, Robert, had cancer and was having his last cancer treatment. My family and I decided to surprise him at the hospital. I left school after lunch to head to the hospital. The drive was sort of long, but not too long. Once my family and I got there we had to find his room. It took a long time to get there because the hospital was so big. On our way to the room, I noticed how there were a bunch of kids with cancer and that they were sick. I felt sort of sad for them because I couldn't imagine how much they are going through. When we found the room, we went in and my brother's friend Robert was playing a video game. Robert was very happy to see us and happy that we came. When we were done talking to everyone, we grabbed signs and walked down the hall with music playing. Robert's aunt was playing the song "We are the Champions." The music was on loud and it was funny because Robert said, "There are signs saying don't be loud for a reason." After that I felt so good inside. I was glad that my family and I made him so happy. I will never forget the feeling that I felt inside me that day. That was my Blueberry Moment.

Noelle Wolfe

For one of my Blueberry Moments, I gave Mrs. Hemond the principal of my school, coffee and a cookie. The coffee was from Tim Hortons, and the cookie was from an online bakery called Cheryl's. Mrs. Hemond was the new principal this year, and I really like her. I think she deserved this Blueberry Moment because since she came to our school she has been looking for creative new ways to make our school a safer learning environment. Mrs. Hemond really liked what I did for her and asked me what the occasion was. I told her that it was Principal Appreciation Day. That was funny to her, so I did two services, gave her coffee and a cookie, and made her laugh. I thought of this idea because my Mom ordered some cookies from Cheryl's and Mrs. Hemounds first name is Cheryl. I enjoyed doing this Blueberry Moment because it made Mrs. Hemond happy. The students at my school don't see Mrs. Hemond every day, but we know she is there keeping our school safe, clean and fun.

Zoey Beard

For my last Blueberry Moment, I gave Mrs. Allen a treat. It was her last week at our school so I decided to give her a Thank You card and an Easter egg full of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. When I get off the bus in the morning, she is there making sure everyone is safe. So, when I got off the bus I that is when I gave her the Thank You card, the chocolates and the Blueberry Card. She really liked it and still thanking me! I felt very proud of myself because Mrs. Allen has helped me with so many things and I knew I had to give back to her.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Gelman Sciences Inc. claims Washtenaw County is being unreasonable in wanting a more complete cleanup of the company's toxic plume of pollution spreading through the Ann Arbor area's groundwater.

The filter manufacturer, which discharged large amounts of the toxic chemical 1,4-dioxane at its property on Wagner Road between the 1960s and 1980s, argues complete removal of the contaminant from local aquifers, as opposed to the current approach of letting it spread and trying to manage the risk of exposure, is not feasible and goes far beyond what is required under Michigan law.

The county, in response, argues the polluter's claims that the county is being unreasonable are offensive.

The two parties are taking issue with each other as Gelman Sciences seeks an appeal of Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Tim Connors' recent orders allowing the county, Ann Arbor, Scio Township and the Huron River Watershed Council to locally intervene in the Gelman plume legal case.

The local parties joined the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality this year as co-plaintiffs in the longstanding case against Gelman Sciences.

The state initially sued the company in 1988, leading to a consent judgment in 1992 that has been amended multiple times, most recently in 2011. Now that there's new information about dioxane and new emergency state standards for dioxane in direct response to the situation in Ann Arbor, the consent judgment is being revisited and the various parties are trying to come up with an agreeable plan of attack for addressing the expanding plume going forward.

If the parties can't agree on terms of a new strategy, the case could go to trial in Connors' courtroom in downtown Ann Arbor. Before the case goes any further, Gelman is trying to get the Michigan Court of Appeals to overrule Connors and eliminate the local parties as co-plaintiffs so it only has to deal with the DEQ, which has stated it's not sure a better cleanup is warranted.

In its April 6 leave to appeal, Gelman Sciences, represented by Farmington Hills attorney Michael Caldwell, points to an April 2016 report by county staff that compares cleanup strategies at other contamination sites in Michigan.

"There are currently no Superfund sites in Michigan where complete cleanup of 1,4-dioxane is taking place or has been identified as the goal," the report stated.

County commissioners asked staff for the information as they explored the possibility of seeking federal Superfund designation for the plume.

"Such a demand suggests that the county does not agree with the requirements imposed by state law -- in which case the appropriate course of action is to petition the Legislature for changes to the state's environmental laws, not intervention in a thirty-year-old enforcement action," Gelman argues in a court filing.

"By being given party status, however, the county is able to maintain this 'cleanup or bust' attitude, thereby holding the parties' negotiations hostage to its unreasonable demands. This prejudices MDEQ and Gelman's ability to reach an agreement for a plan that complies with Michigan law, protects the public, results in timely remediation modifications, and does not impose unreasonable obligations -- precisely what MDEQ and Gelman were on the verge of finalizing when the intervenors belatedly demanded to be parties to this proceeding."

Gelman's appeal goes on to argue having the various local parties at the table with the state and the polluter makes negotiations "unmanageable."

"Practically speaking, reaching a resolution that addresses all of these demands -- if even possible -- would be exceptionally difficult," Gelman argues. "Each party's request utilizes and competes for the limited pool of resources available for the remediation efforts, including pipeline, well and permitting capacity.

"And as parties to this action, each intervenor possesses the unilateral power to destroy an agreed-upon resolution because that intervenor's particular demand was not met to its full and complete satisfaction."

As more parties request to be added to the case, Gelman argues, the risk of derailing the negotiations becomes greater.

"More importantly, the individualized claims, inflammatory rhetoric and inevitable politicking that will come from having so many parties around the negotiating table regarding such a fraught and important issue threatens to derail any hope for a mutually agreeable resolution," Gelman argues.

"Indeed, the surge in the number of parties -- with the related introduction of often conflicting and unreasonable demands -- exponentially increases the likelihood that this matter ends up being resolved by an eight-plus-party trial or evidentiary hearing, rather than by consent judgment."

Robert Davis, a Mount Clemens attorney representing the county and its health department, filed a 29-page response to Gelman's appeal on April 27.

The county argues Gelman must show it would suffer "substantial harm" by awaiting final judgment before appealing.

The county also contends the arguments put forward by Gelman have no merit in fact or law and should not be reason for granting leave to appeal.

"The defendant speculates that leave is necessary because the parties will likely make 'unreasonable' and 'incompatible' demands during discussions which will prejudice the defendant. This is not true," the county argues. "The argument, based on levels of cooperation to date, is offensive to the county. In fact, the trial court stated on record that it didn't see anybody 'hijacking' the process."

As of late April, the parties already had met in conference twice since Connors granted local intervention, and the county maintains it has not made any unreasonable or incompatible demands.

"In fact, just the opposite is true," the county argues. "At the last conference, the parties discussed and agreed to bring experts to the next meeting. The county is accommodating this process and has made financial and other arrangements for experts to appear at the next conference. The goal is to use collective wisdom to protect the environment and the health of the people of Washtenaw County."

The county argues the process is working and arguments to the contrary by Gelman are simply "windless rhetoric."

"The emergency rules are set. The cleanup is defined. The experts will decide how to achieve the results," the county argues, maintaining its involvement in the case as a co-plaintiff will not cause any undue delay.

The DEQ and Gov. Rick Snyder last October issued emergency rules to establish stricter exposure standards for dioxane throughout Michigan in response to the situation in Ann Arbor, lowering the amount of dioxane allowed in residential drinking water from 85 parts per billion to 7.2 ppb, and acknowledging the state's longstanding dioxane exposure criteria was not protective of public health.

The emergency rules also included a new vapor-intrusion screening level of 29 ppb, as toxic vapors rising into homes is considered a potential threat. Dioxane has been detected in shallow groundwater near homes in Ann Arbor.

The county argues Connors put it best when he said incorporating the collective wisdom of the various parties, including local government, is time well spent.

"The defendant argues that leave is allegedly needed because Pandora's Box has been opened and there is going to be other parties seeking to intervene. This argument is not true and not supported by any record," the county argues. "The record shows no additional motions to intervene."

Gelman argues the risk of the case going to trial or evidentiary hearing because the parties can't agree on a new consent judgment is not theoretical.

Gelman argues it is already exemplified by the intervenors' claims for relief and the language contained in their motions.

"For example, the county argued in its motion that a 'cleanup has not been completed' and that cleanup (not containment) 'must be the goal and the objective going forward,' " Gelman's appeal states.

"But the complete removal of all of the contaminant from the aquifers -- as opposed to taking all actions necessary to prevent any unacceptable exposures -- is simply not technically feasible and goes far beyond what is required under Michigan law and at other 1,4-dioxane-contamination sites in Michigan."

The county argues Gelman's pump-and-treat remediation efforts over the years have not produced cleanup results that restore the impacted natural environment to acceptable levels, and the state's new exposure criteria enacted under emergency rules last October set clear and defined objectives.

The county's April 27 filing stated that since being allowed to intervene in the case, the county, the county's health department and County Health Officer Ellen Rabinowitz have participated in two meetings with Gelman and a third meeting was set for May 2. The county's attorney described the first two meetings as "very productive," saying the May 2 meeting had "a potential to sharpen and narrow the issues in dispute."

The county notes the case has been going on for three decades and the matters involved already are well known.

"There are no factual disputes about the source of the 1,4-dioxane contamination," the county argues. "There is no factual dispute that the contamination is impacting Washtenaw County as a public health concern."

The county contends that since the state and the polluter first entered into a consent judgment in 1992 there has been no effective cleanup of the dioxane and the cleanup efforts have failed the community, now resulting in dioxane in shallow groundwater near homes on Ann Arbor's west side, a situation that was cause for the state's emergency action to update exposure standards in October.

The county argues the county health department and health officer have a statutory duty to protect public health that requires they be at the table.

"Numerous plumes of 1,4-dioxane have now migrated in the groundwater throughout Washtenaw County," the county states in its response to Gelman's appeal. "The impacted groundwater plumes stretch north toward M-14, east toward downtown Ann Arbor, and west along Jackson Avenue. The current consent judgment process is not effective in addressing this contamination or effectuating a cleanup that protects the public health."

The county argues the extent of the contamination is not yet fully defined, though it's clear there's a health threat and a cleanup is not complete.

Retracing the history of the legal battles over the Gelman plume, the county argues the goal of the first consent judgment in 1992 was to remove and treat all of the contaminated groundwater and that didn't happen.

The county argues the seconded amended consent judgment under now-retired Judge Donald Shelton in 2005 wholly changed the nature of the cleanup from the promise of removal and treatment to a "containment strategy," establishing a large zone where groundwater use is prohibited and allowing the plume to spread east through Ann Arbor toward the Huron River.

"This violates the law and applicable regulations," the county argues. "In other words, the original goal of removing and cleaning up the contamination was set aside. Under the new consent judgment, the defendant was only charged with 'stopping the spread' of the contamination except in a certain 'prohibition zone.'

"This major concession and redirection of the cleanup objective is significant -- but not supported by law. The change was contrary to the protection of public health," the county argues. "Now, the public health is determined to be at issue and a new cleanup criteria is required and dictated by the emergency rules. Intervention by the county parties is both timely and supported."

Gelman argues that at the time the local intervention motions were filed, the company was on the verge of finalizing a fourth amended consent judgment with the DEQ after months of negotiations over "additional remedial work" to address the state's new dioxane standards.

"Now entry of that document and implementation of the additional environmental response actions deemed protective of public health have been put on hold because the trial court saw fit to add six new parties," Gelman argues.

Dioxane is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as likely to be carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure. It also can cause kidney and liver damage, and respiratory problems. Short-term exposure to high levels of dioxane in the air can cause eye, nose and throat irritation.

Just a few parts per billion in drinking water, with long-term exposure, poses a 1 in 100,000 cancer risk, according to the EPA.

The EPA announced in February it is taking a fresh look at the Gelman plume this year to determine if it qualifies for a federal Superfund cleanup.

Gelman Sciences was acquired in 1997 by Pall Corp., which was acquired in 2015 by Danaher Corp., a multibillion-dollar corporation that some local officials and residents argue has the financial resources to do a better cleanup.

Monitoring well data shows the underground plume is now more than three miles long and a mile wide and has polluted local lakes, creeks, residential drinking water wells and a city municipal water supply well that has been shut down.

The plume is encroaching into neighborhoods just west of downtown Ann Arbor where groundwater is in some cases only a handful of feet below the surface, raising new concerns about vapor intrusion into homes.

Additionally, if the plume spreads further north and reaches Barton Pond, an impoundment on the Huron River where the city gets its drinking water, it could poison the city's entire municipal water supply. State and local officials say they're monitoring the situation closely and they'll take necessary action to prevent harm to human health it if that day comes.

The city has investigated various options, including potentially upgrading the city's water plant to treat for dioxane if it gets into the water supply. Dioxane is not currently detected in the city's water supply, though it has been detected in private drinking water wells in Scio Township.
Detroit Pit Crew stray with ground teeth.jpg

https://www.youcaring.com/detroitpitcrewdogrescue-816411

A skinny, stray dog found roaming Detroit and rescued by the group Detroit Pit Crew, is in need of extensive veterinary care after enduring what appears to be abuse related to a dog fighting operation.

"We went to home of the kind person who had found this dog and took him immediately to our vets office where it was discovered that someone had ground down all of his teeth and his ears have been cut as well," the rescue group said in a Thursday statement on Facebook.

"Our vet will be putting this poor boy under tomorrow to see what teeth if any can be saved and will be pulling the others."

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), teeth grinding is a possible indicator the dog was owned or used in connection with dog fighting.

"Dogs may also have had teeth filed down or extracted," the ASPCA says in a guide to veterinarians about how to spot signs of dog fighting. "This is sometimes done to females to prevent injuries to males during breeding, or to dogs used as bait animals to minimize injuries to fighting dogs during training."

A photo of the mouth of the dog rescued in Detroit shows black discoloration surrounding some of its dulled teeth and gums.

Theresa Sumpter, director of Detroit Pit Crew Dog Rescue, started a You Caring online fundraiser page to collect a goal of $4,000 to help pay for the dog's dental work.

It had raised $858 as of Friday morning.

Donations may also be given by phone to Center Line Veterinary Hospital, 586-758-5620; or through PayPal to Detroitpitcrew@hotmail.com.
MT. MORRIS TWP, MI - Police officers and firefighters responded to a multiple casualty crash on a rain-filled Thursday afternoon outside E.A. Johnson High School in Mt. Morris Township.

While the crash was staged, students heading to prom this weekend learned about the potential real consequences of drinking and driving with Mt. Morris Township fire Sgt. Les Remington talking to them about the scene.

"What happens is you're initially going to have more problems, patients than solutions, resources," he told the group of high school students, describing the procedure by first responders a such a scene.

Kelly King, a teacher and advisor for the high school's Students Against Destructive Decisions chapter, worked with Mt. Morris City police and fire and Mt. Morris Township fire to put on the mock crash scene outside the high school show the dangers of drunk and distracted driving.

The presentation also included words from Regina Stoolmaker, 38, of Argentine Township who survived following a crash in 1996 while a 17-year-old Linden High student after getting into a vehicle where the driver had been drinking and driving.

Three people inside the vehicle died following the crash.

Richard Stoolmaker, Regina's brother, told the students about the injuries his sister sustained, the chunk of flesh ripped off her leg, internal bleeding, holes drilled in her skull to monitor pressure and the traumatic brain injury.

"A traumatic brain injury is a lifetime thing," he said.
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Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal speaks to the crowd during the annual state of the schools address on Thursday, May 4.

(Dominick Mastrangelo | MLive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids Public School district plans to pour more money and resources into Ottawa Hills High School during the coming school year.

During her sixth annual State of the Schools address on Thursday, May 4, superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal announced the district plans to invest part of a $17 million renovation the high school is set to go through to a new innovative career technical center.

The center will create a learning space for students focused on technology, homeland security, engineering, cosmetology, communications and marketing.

The disclosure of those details comes four months after the district made public plans to offer enrollment to up to 50 to eligible Ottawa Hills High School sophomores for a program set to launch next school year through a partnership with Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) where students can earn high school and college credit at the same time.

"I want this community to know I am staking a flag on the revitalization, growth, and success of Ottawa Hills High School," Weatherall Neal said on Thursday. "It's time this community rallies behind Ottawa and help create this opportunity for our kids."

Once the college-readiness program launches next school year, Weatherall Neal said Florida A&M University agreed to partner with GRPS to create a pipeline for students to attend the school through up to nine $50,000 scholarships to qualifying students for the 2017-18 school year.

The superintendent also thanked Kent County voters on electing to pass a millage that will award $19.9 million in funding to 20 schools across the county in each of the next 10 years.

"GRPS showed up and we did our job," she said. "Thanks to the voters, we now have a steady, reliable source of local revenue that is 100 percent dedicated to the classrooms for teaching and learning."

As she took a verbal victory lap, Weatherall Neal reminded teachers, parents and other community members in attendance of some of GRPS' recent accomplishments and successes.

"We opened the new CA Frost Middle High School following a $7.7 million renovation and expansion of a vacant old elementary building," she said. "We launched the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Diversity is our strong point."
WYOMING, MI -- A 49-year-old Wyoming man has died a week after firefighters pulled him from a burning garage.

Jack Hildebrand Jr. died early Thursday, May 4.

Relatives of Hildebrand identified him as the fire victim in a GoFundMe page.

Wyoming firefighters responded about 7:40 p.m. April 27 to the 3400 block of Burlingame Ave. SW on a report of an unattached garage fire.

Firefighters found heavy smoke and fire at the scene and were told someone might be inside the garage. They were able to enter a side door and found Hildebrand on the floor.

They pulled him out of the garage and he was rushed to the hospital for treatment of serious burns and smoke inhalation.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

According to the fundraising page, Hildebrand had burns on more than 50 percent of his body, including his hands, face and legs.

He was on a ventilator at the hospital, but relatives indicated he responded to family member's voices at one point.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4

By Dalga Khatinoglu  Trend:

Gold jewellery demand in Iran has jumped up by 27% in 1Q2017, compared to the same period of 2016, according to the World Gold Councils report.

The report also said the surge in gold demand in Iran is also a 4-year high of 12.9 tons.

Jewellery gold demand in Iran jumped 27 percent in 1Q17 year-on-year to a four-year high of 12.9 tons, helped by an improving economy, World Gold Council said.

The report added that this sector was also boosted by investment-driven purchases, due to a lack of supply of gold coins from the central bank.

The Central Bank of Iran has been issuing Bahar-e Azadi (Spring of Liberty) coins since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, when the Islamic Republic was founded. Irans gold bar and coin demand also was 3.7 tons.

The report also said the demand in Turkey sank to a four-year low of 7.7 metric tons in 1Q17. Continued currency weakness in Turkey meant that the price of gold in lira rose more than in any other currency during Q1 (+12%), undermining the jewellery demand.

"Demand in the Middle East unchanged at 54.6 metric tons in 1Q17. Growth in Iran contrasted with weakness elsewhere. Demand across the rest of the region remained weak in the face of low oil prices and subdued tourist numbers, the impact of which was exaggerated by rising gold prices. Although the UAE has imposed a 5% import duty, demand in that market was relatively robust as consumers rushed to buy before the full effect of the tax fed through to end-user prices," said the report.

Global jewellery demand in 1Q17 was 480.9 tons, about 1 percent more than 1Q16.

Gold supply contracted sharply in Q1: down 12% to 1032 metric tons, while the demand declined by 18 percent to 1,034.5 metric tons year-on-year.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Police in California have arrested a suspect in the 2004 killings of Zeeland native Jason Allen and his finance, Lindsay Cutshall, who were shot while in their sleeping bags.

Allen, 26, and Cutshall, 23, were shot as they camped overnight on a beach near Jenner, California, in August 2004.

Shaun Gallon

Police have not determined a motive for the killings.

Shaun Gallon, 38, who was jailed weeks ago in the shooting death of his brother, was identified by Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas as the suspect.

Allen and Cutshall were found in separate sleeping bags on Aug. 18, 2004, both shot in the head.

"Many of us will never forget when Sonoma County was rocked by the discovery of a young innocent couple found murdered on a secluded beach where they spent the night," Freitas said during a live-stream press conference.

The couple - she was from Ohio - were working at a Christian youth white-water rafting camp in Eldorado County. They were on a three-day sight-seeing trip along the northern coast when they were killed.

Police say the couple were shot by a rifle. Police do not think they had any connection with the suspect who was "well known to Sheriff's Office investigators," and never ruled out as a possible suspect.

Police talked to Gallon after he was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his brother with a rifle at their Forestville, California, home several weeks ago. Gallon made admissions about the case that only the killer would know, the sheriff said.

He would not elaborate on any statements Gallon made.

Police have found "evidence that corroborates his information. Based on what detectives have been able to learn, we feel confident that we have Jason and Lindsay's killer in custody."

The rifle used to kill the couple is not the same one used to kill Shamus Gallon, 36.

Freitas said detectives continue to investigate the case and expect to present findings to the District Attorney's Office in coming weeks.

Lindsay Cutshall and Jason Allen

Freitas said investigators never gave up hope that they would solve the case. Many police agencies took part. The community also came forward with a great deal of information.

"Most importantly I want to thank the Cutshall and Allen families, who have consistently been supportive and patient during this 13-year investigation.

Freitas said the killings of the couple appear to be a "random crime," and that police are confident there was no connection between the couple and their killer.

He would not say if carvings found on driftwood at the beach played any role in the investigation.

"We're looking at all possibilities," he said.

Freitas said police want to know why the couple was targeted. The breakthrough after all these years brought a measure of joy to investigators. He was a sergeant in the violent-crime unit when the killings hpappened.

So many have taken part seeking answers.

"Hopefully, someday we'll be able to get a specific motive."
Joe Jones, president of Grand Rapids Urban League

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Joe Jones, president of the Grand Rapids Urban League and a city commissioner, reacted to the shooting death of Malik Carey who police say shot at officers before they returned fire.

Carey, 18, was shot while in the 1300-block of Dickinson Street SE on Wednesday, May 3. Police said they found a gun underneath Carey, who died later that afternoon.

Here is Jones' statement:

Malik Carey lost his life yesterday, and for that my heart breaks. I'm praying for Mr. Carey's family and want them to know that many in the community are mourning the loss. I know that the incident is still being investigated and that the investigation is being led by the Michigan State Police since the shooting involved a member of the Grand Rapids Police Department.

I want to ask that we not dwell on Mr. Carey's past. This practice of bringing up any past misdeeds of the deceased is not productive nor is it respectful to the family and friends he has left behind. Regardless of any past transgressions, we must remember that Mr. Carey was someone's son, perhaps someone's brother, and most assuredly someone's friend. Let us all respect his personhood and the joy his presence brought to his loved ones.

My challenge to the residents and stakeholders of Grand Rapids is to join in the effort of doing the work of making our city a more equitable, just and peaceful city where more people can prosper regardless of their genetic code or their zip code. A city where tragedies like this don't become the norm. As the leader of the Grand Rapids Urban League, I'm acutely aware of the challenges that African Americans and other historically marginalized communities face not just here in Grand Rapids, but in every urban center throughout the country.

My vision is to have neighborhoods in Grand Rapids serve as beacons of hope from the day a child is born until the day he or she starts their climb up the career ladder. I envision a city where guns are not present on the streets at alarming rates and where our law enforcement officers are not having to make split second decisions about using their weapons because the level of crime is minuscule due to the overabundance of opportunities for all. We can be a city where we see each other as having inherent value and where we practice empathy and not do unto others as they do unto you if it will cause harm.

Something just isn't right when a young man, a child who has lived for 18 years, is spoken of in the past tense. I didn't know Malik Carey, but I know countless other Malik Careys, our community's sons and daughters who live and breathe the same air as we do in Grand Rapids and their presence needs to matter to all of us.

What exactly can we do as a community to make life more abundant, more meaningful and just simply longer for them?
Brain

The research site will be among just eight in the world studying this type of decomposition. MLive file art

Northern Michigan University has been prepping a new program in forensic anthropology - analyzing a body or remains to determine how a person died, the timing, and clues to the person's identity.

These types of research programs are collectively known as "body farms. NMU has said its program will be the eighth in the world, and the first-ever focused on studying human decomposition in cold weather.

This week, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill giving the university 2.5 acres next to the Marquette Branch Prison to conduct some of its research, according to ABC News 10.

"Relatively little information exists on the effects of freezing and thawing on human decomposition," the school said in an earlier release. "NMU students and faculty will conduct this pioneering research in varying conditions and scenarios, creating the baseline data so critical to the quickly advancing field of forensic anthropology.

"The facility also has the potential to enhance the regional economy by offering specialized training and research opportunities for law enforcement, government agencies, military personnel and visiting scientists."

NMU has said it also sees the program as an enrollment-booster, based on the rising interest in crime scene investigation. The 8,600-student school is located near the shore of Lake Superior.

College staff earlier traveled to the Anthropology Research Facility at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville - the first body farm of its kind.

In January, NMU began seeking a facility director who would not only be responsible for working with law enforcement, but also developing a body donor program.

"The skeletal remains will be kept in a museum-type setting that is climate-controlled, safe and secure," said Scott Demel, associate professor and former head of anthropology collections management at Chicago's Field Museum, according to an NMU statement. "Bones offer many helpful clues about the deceased. They can be analyzed to determine gender, age, occupation, pathologies and evidence of trauma or other cause of death."
LANSING, MI -- Supporters of an initiative aiming to legalize recreational marijuana in Michigan turned petition language into the state on Friday and are aiming to get it on the ballot in 2018.

"Our goal is to end prohibition in Michigan. We think just like alcohol, it is a failed effort, and we think there's a better way to do it," said Josh Hovey, spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, a group that has formed to back the effort.

The language the group plans to circulate would legalize and regulate marijuana for recreational use. Those over 21 could use marijuana, but would still be unable to consume it in a public place or drive under the influence.

Local governments would get to decide whether or not to allow these businesses within their boundaries, and then the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs would regulate those businesses.

"Communities that don't want these kinds of businesses in their communities can say no," said Jeff Irwin, a former member of the House of Representatives and political director for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol.

But for those who say yes, there will be a fiscal benefit. The marijuana will be subject to taxes: a 10 percent excise tax on retail sales plus the regular 6 percent sales tax. The coalition estimates that the industry, when matured, would bring in more than $200 million in revenues to the state.

First the revenue has to cover the cost the state bears for regulating the program. For two years, $20 million will come of the top to fund research analyzing the benefits of medical marijuana for treating veterans.

But the money left after those two items will go 35 percent to the state School Aid Fund for K-12 education; 35 percent to the Michigan Transportation Fund to repair roads and bridges; 15 percent to municipalities where a marijuana business is located; and 15 percent to counties where a marijuana business is located.

And on top of that, Irwin said, communities would be saving money from not having to enforce the state's current marijuana prohibition.

The bill also allows for the cultivation of industrial hemp. It also leaves the state's current medical marijuana statute in place. Under the proposal, medical marijuana and recreational marijuana could be sold at the same location.

The bill also establishes possession limits for marijuana. In public, people could possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana. At home, people could keep up to 10 ounces of marijuana, though any marijuana beyond 2.5 ounces would have to be stored under lock and key.

The coalition submitted language to the state on Friday. The next step is for the Board of State Canvassers to approve it as to form, after which the group could begin circulating it.

The group would need 252,523 valid signatures from registered Michigan voters to get the proposal before the legislature. From there, the legislature must decide within 40 days whether to adopt or reject the proposal.

If the legislature adopts it, it becomes law. If the legislature does not act, it goes to a vote of the people in 2018. The legislature can also choose to reject the proposal and come up with a proposal of its own on the same subject, in which case the two proposals would both appear on the ballot and whichever receives the greatest number of votes prevails.

The language has support from the ACLU of Michigan, Michigan NORML, MILegalize, the National Patients Rights Association, the Michigan Cannabis Coalition, the State Bar of Michigan Marijuana Law Section and the Drug Policy Alliance.
courthouse.jpg

House-passed legislation could increase compensation rates for Michigan jurors. Pictured is the Genesee County Circuit Courthouse (Oona Goodin-Smith I MLive.com)

LANSING, MI -- Compensation rates for Michigan jurors have not increased since 2003, something Rep. Peter Lucido, R-Shelby Twp., is out to change.

Michigan currently pays jurors $25 for the first day of attendance at court, and $40 for each subsequent day. It pays half that for half-days. Under house bills 4209 and 4210, that would increase to $30 for the first full day and $45 for subsequent days, and keep half-days at half the rate.

The bills passed the House unanimously this week.

Lucido said his time as an attorney helped him see the need for this change.

"I practiced law for a while before I got up to the House and I got the chance to talk to a lot of jurors," he said.

One of the things he heard most about was parking. The lot across from a courthouse in Detroit charges $25 to park there for the day, he said, and if there's a ball game the prices are even higher.

On top of that, a juror will likely lose wages for the days they're away and might have to pay for child care, too. All of which means that under the current rates, doing your civic duty could land you in the red.

"That's real loss for them, that they've got to pay for a daycare and they got to pay for a wage that they never receive," Lucido said.

The increase would occur only if, at the end of the two most recent fiscal years, the Juror Compensation Reimbursement Fund had sufficient funds available.

The state currently pays about $5 million per year in juror compensation, and would pay $5.84 million per year if the new rates went into effect, according to an analysis from the House Fiscal Agency.

The bills head now to the Senate, where they have been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. They would need approval from the full Senate and a signature from Gov. Rick Snyder to become law.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos speaks during a school choice event in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Betsy DeVos has long been a supporter of Potter's House, an urban Christian school outside Grand Rapids. She's been a mentor to its students, served as a board member and, along with her husband Dick, given millions to the school.

On Thursday, DeVos got to visit with the school's students in her new role as U.S. Secretary of Education. She hosted 36 eighth graders from Potter's House for a meeting at the U.S. Department of Education building in Washington D.C., said the school's superintendent, John Booy.

He said the visit was part of an annual week-long field trip to the nation's capital that also included a meeting with U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Twp., and tour of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Prior to the visit with DeVos, Booy said he hoped the meeting would give his students an opportunity to "engage in a meaningful dialogue" with a public official who has been at the center of an often-polarizing debate on school choice.

"They've heard all these things - good, challenging things - about the secretary of education," he said. "Now they get to meet the real person, and I know when they get to meet the real person it's going to be a learning experience."

Booy founded Potter's House in 1981, with a goal of providing a faith-based education to low-income families on the southwest side of Grand Rapids. Today, the school has two campuses - an elementary/middle school in Grand Rapids and a high school in Wyoming - serving a student body representing 37 countries. Many are students of color from low-income families.

DeVos, who was confirmed as secretary of education in February, has said her involvement with Potter's House helped spark her interest in the school choice movement. Her relationship with the school dates to the 1980s when she and her husband began funding scholarships for low-income students to attend the school.

"She's definitely a person that brings people together, a person who's willing to listen to many sides of an issue and knows how to make sure that every voice is heard," Booy said.

Topics of conversation with DeVos and students were likely to include urban schools and how to empower parents to pick the best school for their children, he said. Another big focus: How to "engage in respectful dialogue."

"One of the things we've been talking about is the national dialogue and how inflated it is and how people try to pigeonhole people and put them in boxes," Booy said. "Just the way the American dialogue has been going - we don't really feel that that's the way we want to have dialogue."
Students from Grand Haven high school dance during their prom at the Grand Haven Community Center in Grand Haven, Mich., Saturday, May 2, 2015. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)

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Ranking Michigan's largest high schools in fall 2016

Below is a list of Michigan's 60 largest high schools, based on fall 2016 student counts recently posted on the state website maintained by the Michigan Department of Education and the state's Center for Educational Performance and Information. Also provided are sociodemographics for those schools in 2016-17, based on state data.

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Enrollment by school building.

Look up the student count for any public school in the state

This database allows you you to look up fall 2016 enrollment by school building, as well as the percentage of students who qualify for the subsidized lunch program. You can look up a single school building, or look up all the buildings in a specific county or district. Click on "details" for more data.

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1. Chippewa Valley Dakota High School: 2,981

District: Chippewa Valley;

County: Macomb;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,981;

Demographics: 83% white; 12% in subsidized lunch program.

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2. Grand Blanc Community High School: 2,696

District: Grand Blanc;

County: Genesee;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,696;

Demographics: 77% white, 15% black; 23% in subsidized lunch program.

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3. Dearborn Fordson High School: 2,696

District: Dearborn;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,696;

Demographics: 98% white; vast majority of students are Arab-Americans. About 67% are in subsidized lunch program.

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4. Detroit Cass Technical High School: 2,447

District: Detroit;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,447;

Demographics: 84% black, 9% Asian; 62% in subsidized lunch program.

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5. Howell High School: 2,405

District: Howell;

County: Livingston;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,405;

Demographics: 94% white; 18% in subsidized lunch program.

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6. Chippewa Valley High School: 2,382

District: Chippewa Valley;

County: Macomb;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,382;

Demographics: 71% white, 17% black; 28% in subsidized lunch program.

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7. Northville High School: 2,373

District: Northville;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,373;

Demographics: 71% white, 19% Asian; 3% in subsidized lunch program.

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8. Lake Orion Community High School: 2,290

District: Lake Orion;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,290;

Demographics: 85% white, 6% Hispanic; 17% in subsidized lunch program.

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9. West Ottawa High School: 2,220

District: West Ottawa;

County: Ottawa;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,220;

Demographics: 44% white, 40% Hispanic; 41% in subsidized lunch program.

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10. Plymouth High School: 2,140:

District: Plymouth-Canton;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,140;

Demographics: 70% white, 13% Asian and 9% black; 14% in subsidized lunch program.

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11. Brighton High School: 2,079

District: Brighton;

County: Livingston;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,079;

Demographics: 94% white; 8% in subsidized lunch program.

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12. Dearborn High School: 2,056

District: Dearborn;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,056;

Demographics: 93% white, many of whom are Arab-Americans; 49% in subsidized lunch program.

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13. Salem High School: 2,051

District: Plymouth-Canton;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,051;

Demographics: 68% white, 14% Asian and 11% black; 12% in subsidized lunch program.

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14. Utica Eisenhower High School: 2,028

District: Utica;

County: Macomb;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,028;

Demographics: 93% white; 9% in subsidized lunch program.

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15. Canton High School: 2,008

District: Plymouth-Canton;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,008;

Demographics: 70% white, 13% Asian and 9% black; 14% in subsidized lunch program.

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16. Novi High School: 2,006

District: Novi;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 2,006;

Demographics: 52% white, 36% Asian; 5% in subsidized lunch program.

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17. Troy High School: 1,981

District: Troy;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,981;

Demographics: 54% white, 36% Asian; 10% in subsidized lunch program.

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18. Utica Ford High School: 1,976

District: Utica;

County: Macomb;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,976;

Demographics: 88% white, 6% black; 25% in subsidized lunch program.

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19. Hartland High School: 1,964

District: Hartland;

County: Livingston;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,964;

Demographics: 94% white; 10% in subsidized lunch program.

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20. Utica Stevenson High School: 1,949

District: Utica;

County: Macomb;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,949;

Demographics: 87% white, 6% black; 38% in subsidized lunch program.

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21. East Kentwood High School: 1,945

District: Kentwood;

County: Kent;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,945;

Demographics: 35% white, 31% black, and 16% Asian; 54% in subsidized lunch program.

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22. Anchor Bay High School: 1,926

District: Anchor Bay.;

County: Macomb;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,926;

Demographics: 90% white; 19% in subsidized lunch program.

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23. Grand Haven High School: 1,895

District: Grand Haven.

County: Ottawa;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,895;

Demographics: 88% white; 26% in subsidized lunch program.

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24. Clarkston High School: 1,893

District: Clarkston;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,893;

Demographics: 87% white, 5% Hispanic; 14% in subsidized lunch program.

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25. L'Anse Creuse High School: 1,885

District: L'Anse Creuse;

County: Macomb;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,885;

Demographics: 73% white, 12% black; 23% in subsidized lunch program.

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26. Detroit Western International High School: 1,878

District: Detroit;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,878;

Demographics: 72% Hispanic, 20% black; 62% in subsidized lunch program.

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27. Rockford High School: 1,869

District: Rockford;

County: Kent;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,869;

Demographics: 89% white; 10% in subsidized lunch program.

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28. Livonia Stevenson High School: 1,824

District: Livonia;

County: Wayne:

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,824;

Demographics: 78% white, 10% Asian; 11% in subsidized lunch program.

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29. Grandville High School: 1,790

District: Grandville;

County: Kent;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,790;

Demographics: 78% white, 10% Hispanic; 25% in subsidized lunch program.

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30. Ann Arbor Pioneer High School: 1,772

District: Ann Arbor;

County: Washtenaw

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,772;

Demographics: 55% white, 15% black and 15% Asian; 18% in subsidized lunch program.

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31. Grand Ledge High School: 1,768

District: Grand Ledge;

County: Eaton;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,768;

Demographics: 82% white, 7% Hispanic; 22% in subsidized lunch program.

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32. Saline High School: 1,766

District: Saline;

County: Washtenaw;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,766;

Demographics: 88% white, 5% Asian; 8% in subsidized lunch program.

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33. West Bloomfield High School: 1,747

District: West Bloomfield;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,747;

Demographics: 53% white, 31% black; 20% in subsidized lunch program.

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34. Romeo High School: 1,738

District: Romeo;

County: Macomb;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,738;

Demographics: 87% white, 8% Hispanic; 17% in subsidized lunch program.

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35. Warren Mott High School: 1,727

District: Warren;

County: Macomb:

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,727;

Demographics: 64% white, 16% black, 17% Asian; 61% in subsidized lunch program.

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36. Belleville High School: 1,723

District: Van Buren;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,723;

Demographics: 44% white, 48% black; 41% in subsidized lunch program.

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37. John Glenn High School: 1,695

District: Wayne-Westland;

County: Wayne:

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,981;

Demographics: 52% white, 41% black; 48% in subsidized lunch program.

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38. Bloomfield High School: 1,691

District: Bloomfield;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,691;

Demographics: 71% white, 12% black and 10% Asian; 10% in subsidized lunch program.

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39. Walled Lake Central High School: 1,689

District: Walled Lake;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,689;

Demographics: 79% white, 11% black; 19% in subsidized lunch program.

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40. Wayne Memorial High School: 1,684

District: Wayne-Westland;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,684;

Demographics: 53% white, 36% black; 63% in subsidized lunch program.

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41. Grosse Pointe South High School: 1,677

District: Grosse Pointe;

County: Wayne:

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,677;

Demographics: 85% white, 9% black; 6% in subsidized lunch program.

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42. Kalamazoo Central High School: 1,666

District: Kalamazoo;

County: Kalamazoo;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,666;

Demographics: 48% black, 33% white, 10% Hispanic; 63% in subsidized lunch program.

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43. Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology: 1,663

District: Southfield;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,663;

Demographics: 96% black; 54% in subsidized lunch program.

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44. Rochester High School: 1,661

District: Rochester;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,661;

Demographics: 68% white, 15% Asian and 7% black; 15% in subsidized lunch program.

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45. Walled Lake Northern High School: 1,650

District: Walled Lake;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,650;

Demographics: 92% white; 10% in subsidized lunch program.

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46. Oxford High School: 1,645

District: Oxford;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,645;

Demographics: 79% white, 9% Hispanic; 20% in subsidized lunch program.

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47. Monroe High School: 1,633

District: Monroe;

County: Monroe;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,633;

Demographics: 81% white, 11% black; 48% in subsidized lunch program.

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48. Traverse City West High School: 1,614

District: Traverse City;

County: Grand Traverse;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,614.

Demographics: 90% white; 29% in subsidized lunch program.

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49. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School: 1,613

District: Kalamazoo;

County: Kalamazoo;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,613;

Demographics: 45% white, 31% black, 14% Hispanic; 61% in subsidized lunch program.

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50. Rochester Adams High School: 1,600

District: Rochester;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,600.

Demographics: 77% white, 12% Asian; 3% in subsidized lunch program.

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51. Rochester Stoney Creek High School: 1,598

District: Rochester;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,598;

Demographics: 83% white, 7% Asian; 8% in subsidized lunch program.

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52. Fraser High School: 1,594

District: Fraser;

County: Macomb;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,594.

Demographics: 79% white, 12% black; 35% in subsidized lunch program.

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53. Saginaw Heritage High School: 1,581

District: Saginaw Township;

County: Saginaw;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,581;

Demographics: 68% white, 14% black, 11% Hispanic; 35% in subsidized lunch program.

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54. Troy Athens High School: 1,575

District: Troy;

County: Oakland;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,575;

Demographics: 69% white, 18% Asian; 16% in subsidized lunch program.

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55. Lansing Everett High School: 1,570

District: Lansing;

County: Ingham;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,570;

Demographics: 42% black, 23% white and 19% Hispanic; 59% in subsidized lunch program.

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56. Davison High School: 1,564

District: Davison;

County: Genesee;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,564.

Demographics: 87% white; 28% in subsidized lunch program.

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57. Ann Arbor Huron High School: 1,537

District: Ann Arbor

County: Washtenaw

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,537

Demographics: 42% white, 21% Asian and 19% black; 22% in subsidized lunch program.

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58. Monroe Bedford High School: 1,509

District: Monroe

County: Monroe

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,509;

Demographics: 88% white, 5% black and 5% Hispanic; 15% in subsidized lunch program.

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59. Ann Arbor Skyline High School: 1,494

District: Ann Arbor;

County: Washtenaw;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,494;

Demographics: 58% white, 11% Asian and 17% black; 18% in subsidized lunch program.

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60. Livonia Churchill High School: 1,487

District: Livonia;

County: Wayne;

Fall 2016 enrollment: 1,487;

Demographics: 72% white, 15% black; 25% in subsidized lunch program.
JACKSON, MI - Three years ago, Councilman Derek Dobies and a few others sat inside Mat's Cafe, spitballing potential projects for a National Endowment of the Arts grant.

The prevailing idea was for a downtown facility featuring art and serving as a community gathering space. That space - the CP Federal City Square - officially opened Friday, May 5, at a late-morning ribbon cutting.

"This downtown is our canvas," Dobies said to the crowd of at least 100 people who attended, despite the windy, chilly weather. "We're painting the strokes in our downtown."

After words from city officials, CP Federal Credit Union President/CEO John Crist and others, the tarp was removed from the Glidden Parker mural.

The 9-foot-by-28-foot mural was commissioned in 1969 for $35,000 and became the centerpiece at the old Consumers Energy headquarters, 212 W. Michigan Ave., which is now the site of the new CP Federal City Square.

The artist's granddaughter - Katherine Grossman - came to the event from Maryland. She didn't know about Jackson's project until she Googled her grandfather's name to learn more about him. He died in 1980.

"I learned about this mural project purely by accident," Grossman said. "I always felt connected to him through his art."

Jackson's piece was one of 30 murals Parker created while he was in Scottsdale, Ariz. They went to 10 different states.

Jackson's mural, which was put into storage in 2012, features colored, faceted glass in a steel frame.

With 800 lights flashing in sequence behind the mural, it was made to give the appearance of power, moving from a central reactor through a heat exchanger and turbine.

"I'm very impressed with how this community has rallied together to protect and celebrate this piece of art and this piece of Jackson history," Grossman said. "You are using something from your past to celebrate the community you are today."

Through more research, Grossman learnedd her grandfather's art went beyond murals. He was a painter, a writer and potter, known for Gliddenware, pottery purchased by the likes of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez, Grossman noted.

Grossman donated another Parker artwork to the city, which will be displayed in the art exhibit in the back of the building. The building also has a 30-foot drop-down projector for summer movies.
JACKSON, MI - Jackson-area law enforcement and corrections officers were honored Thursday, May 4 in an awards banquet at the Optimist Ice Arena.

The 20th annual "Respect for Law" luncheon, which featured retired Jackson Police Chief Matt Heins as its keynote speaker, presented 10 individuals representing local police departments and correctional facilities with employee-of-the-year awards.

Heins, who retired from his role as police chief at the end of 2016, reminisced about his time as an officer in Jackson during the event, describing how he dealt with some trying situations in his 27 years with the department.

"During my tenure, we dealt with two officer-involved fatal shootings ... (I was) placed in charge of the fire department and (we had) the controversial effort of transitioning to a public safety department," Heins said.

"I surrounded myself with outstanding people and I got out of the way so they could do the work," he said. "The jobs are not easy. The things (officers) see, hear and deal with are traumatic and stay with you for a very long time."

Heins said he grew to greatly appreciate the culture of law enforcement in Jackson County over the years, describing the working relationships between government agencies in the county as "superb."

"We support one another, depend on one another and, at a moment's notice, would drop whatever we're doing to help each other out," he said. "In this day and age of limited resources, it's vital that we put our differences aside and work together for the common good of the community."

In light of current affairs, Heins did not shy away from addressing the anti-law enforcement sentiment that has cropped up across the country, saying there is a need, now more than ever, for strong leaders in the law enforcement community who will hold officers accountable for their actions.

He said he believes a majority of interactions between police and citizens are conducted in a professional manner with respect for the rights of everyone involved.

"I will admit that law enforcement does not always get it right -- I know this from first-hand experience," Heins said. "We make mistakes. They must be admitted to, they must be addressed and we must learn from them.

"I'm proud to say we have leaders in this law enforcement community -- Sheriff Steve Rand, Chief Elmer Hitt, Lt. Kevin Rod, Director Mike Jester -- (who) will stand their ground and do what's right when their employees are involved in a controversial issue."

Among those honored with employee-of-the-year awards were Kathleen Branigan, of the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office; Deputy Thomas Freeman, Jackson County Sheriff's Office; Officer Craig Edmondson, Jackson City Police; Officer Brandon Casler, Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety; and Trooper Dennis Brazaski, Michigan State Police Jackson Post.

Michigan Department of Corrections' officers, including Cpl. Ryan Jasper (Special Alternative Incarceration Program), Jose Enriquez (Cooper Street Correctional Facility), Thomas Hertzfeld (Charles E. Eleger Center), Cary Johnson (G. Robert Cotton Facility) and Justin Prichard (Parnall Correctional Facility), were also presented with awards.
STURGIS, MI -- A 36-year-old Three Rivers man was arrested on a charge of open murder following a deadly crash, according to police.

A 46-year-old Sturgis man critically injured in the head-on crash died overnight, the Sturgis Police Department reports.

Officers responded at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, May 4 to the crash on South Centerville Road at South Street, police said, where two vehicles collided head-on, then a third vehicle struck one of those vehicles, Sturgis police said.

Rescuers worked for an hour to free three people trapped in two vehicles.

"The at-fault driver, a 36-year-old male from Three Rivers has been arrested on Open Murder per the St. Joseph County Prosecutor," the Sturgis Police Department news release states.

The Three Rivers man was in stable condition at Sturgis hospital Thursday night, police said.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough was not available to comment Friday, according to a staff member. A message seeking information from the police department was not immediately returned.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 4

By Dalga Khatinoglu  Trend:

Iran inaugurated the first phase of the Persian Gulf Star Refinery last week. The project consists of three phases, with 120,000 barrels per day (b/d) of oil processing capacity each one.

Recently, Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi, the Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis major rival in upcoming elections, said the refinery should have become fully operational in 2014 and the delay cost billions of dollars to Iran. He claimed that the refinery was completed by 70.4 percent when Rouhani took office in mid-2013.

Oil Ministry released a report Apr. 4, saying the progress in the project in mid-2013 was only 47.9 percent. The ministry accused Raeisis advisors of giving him false information.

"Raeisis advisors were in ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejads administration and they should clarify why the project started in 2007 and was completed by less than half in 2013," the Oil Ministry said.

Why Iran started the project?

Iran started construction of the refinery in 2007, after UN Security Council adopted three resolutions on the countrys disputed nuclear program. The feedstock of this refinery is gas condensate and it seems Iran was preparing to possible oil-related sanctions similar to what were imposed on Iraq during Saddam Hussein regime. Such a scenario really happened in 2012, when the West imposed oil-related sanctions on Tehran, leading to shutting off some oil fields and a 1 mb/d decline in oil output to 2.8 mb/d.

However, gas condensate  also called ultra-light oil  is extracted from gas fields and Iran was not able to shut down its gas fields due to the countrys extreme need for natural gas. Iran had to store above 50 million barrels of unsold gas condensate on tankers during the sanctions era. Iranian officials even put the stockpile volume at 70 mb.

Iran was producing about 250,000 b/d of gas condensate in 2010, of which about 225,000 b/d (11.267 million tons) was exported. However, Iran has boosted gas condensate production, especially during Rouhanis administration, to 560,000 b/d in 2016, while the domestic demand increased to 160,000 b/d, all of which was consumed in petrochemical plants.

During last year, after elimination of sanctions in January 2016, Iran finally got rid of restrictions and increased gas condensate export by about 77.8 percent to 18.663 million tons (or 375,000 b/d), said a Customs Administration report. The figure doesnt include the stockpiled gas condensate sale as well as the stockpile abroad. According to Iranian officials statements, the total gas condensate sale was 206 million barrels.

Iran also plans to complete the South Pars phases (except for Phase 11) in coming two years, and the gas condensate output would exceed 900,000 b/d. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has less tolerance to Irans policy compared to his predecessor Barack Obama, and the possibility of new sanctions on Iran is very high.

Therefore, Iran extremely needs to complete the Persian Gulf Star Refinery, both for becoming self-sufficient in gasoline production and also to avoid storing tens of millions of gas condensate on tankers for years again.

During Ahmadinejads presidency, contractors of the refinery changed three times and $2.3 billion investment was spent to the project, despite the initial plan which projected a full completion of the project in 2011 with $3 billion expenditures.

According to officials, the total expenditures on the project reached $3.7 billion as of May 2017 and it would become fully operational by March 20.

Irans gasoline demand

Iran consumed 74.5 million liters per day (ml/d) of gasoline last year, which was above 5 percent more than the previous year. It imported about 12 ml/d of gasoline, or about 30 percent more than the previous year.

The full completion of the first phase of Persian Gulf Star would add 12 ml/d of gasoline to production level. However, it doesnt seem that the country will become self-sufficient this year, because it also has demand growth.

Iran plans to complete four refineries, with overall capacity of 1.290 mb/d, and inaugurate them in the coming years.

The Persian Gulf Star Refinery will add 360,000 b/d, while Siraf Complex, Anahita and Bahman Geno refineries will add 480,000 b/d, 150,000 b/d and 300,000 b/d to Irans current refining capacity, which stands at 1.8 mb/d.

Irans current nominal oil refining capacity stands at 1.8 mb/d, but the actual capacity is less than 1.7 mb/d.

Iran plans to start gasoline export and increase gas oil export in the coming years, as demonstrated in the chart below:

---

Dalga Khatinoglu is the head of Trend Agencys Iran news service, follow him on Twitter: @dalgakhatinoglu
LAWRENCE, MI -- Informational meetings are scheduled next week for the public to comment on the 2018 planned closing of the Palisades nuclear power plant.

The Michigan Public Service Commission will hold two meetings Monday, May 8, at the Van Buren Conference Center, 490 S. Paw Paw St., in Lawrence. The meetings are scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

MPSC Chairman Sally Talberg and Commissioners Norm Saari and Rachael Eubanks will attend both hearings, along with other MPSC staff. The commissioners will explain their role in the case, the timeline, the administrative process for possible termination of the agreement and financial aspects of the case, according to a press release.

Transcripts of the meeting will be filed in the case docket for those who are unable to attend.

Palisades, a power plant in Covert Township that employs about 600 people, is scheduled to close in May 2018. Entergy Corp, the plant's owners, made the announcement in December 2016.

Entergy and Consumers Energy have agreed to an early termination of their power purchase agreement for the plant. The original agreement committed Consumers Energy to purchase nearly all of the power that Palisades generates through April 2022.
PORTAGE, MI -- Leaders in the City of Portage hope to meet Friday with State Farm to see if they can stop the insurance company from closing its claims facility in Portage and keep its 600 jobs here.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. announced Thursday, May 4, that its large location at 5538 Portage Road is among 11 that it will close over the next four years as its streamlines operations, leverages technology and concentrates its employees in larger locations.

The Portage facility is to close sometime in 2019. It has approximately 600 workers, a company spokesman said.

"We're going to have a conversation with them tomorrow," Portage Mayor Pete Strazdas said Thursday, less than an hour after learning about plans by the company. "Southwest Michigan First and the city of Portage administration will be meeting with State Farm tomorrow to get more details. That's our action item now. We need to sit down at the table and see if there's any opportunity to make an adjustment to the Portage site being one of the 11 to be closed."

But State Farm spokesman Justin Tomczak said the company is not closing facilities here or necessarily cutting jobs. The two buildings used by State Farm here, which include a total of some 150,000 square feet of space, are leased, he said. So the company is not walking away from any structures it owns. And he said the jobs are being relocated to other State Farm locales.

"The employees will continue to have job opportunities in other State Farm locations," he said.

The work done here will be done at the company's headquarters in Bloomington, Ill., its hubs in Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta, and at various other already established offices in the United States, he said.

Tomczak said the company understands some workers may not agree to follow that work to other locations. But he said the company is making its announcements today "to give folks an opportunity to evaluate their personal situation. Everyone will have to make an analysis of what's best for them personally."

State Farm announced the change as a consolidation of facilities. Tomczak said workers were told of the changes Thursday.

Officials here are bracing for the fallout from the loss of jobs and people.

"The people at the Kalamazoo office of State Farm have done an amazing job serving our community," said Michigan Sen. Margaret O'Brien, reacting to the news. "State Farm has been a great community employer, and I continue to urge them to keep our Kalamazoo office open."

In a press release, the Portage Republican said the lives of the workers and their families' will change "and my heart goes out to them."

State Rep. Brandt Iden, a Republican from Oshtemo, said, "While I offer my sincere gratitude for State Farm's contributions to our community over the years, I also encourage them to reevaluate their decision to close this facility. These workers are important, their families are needed, and their contributions are significant to Kalamazoo County."

State Farm opened its claims center here in one building on Portage Road in June of 1996. In 2003, it expanded the center into an adjacent building as State Farm consolidated its claims work and some other work from other locations. Its workforce here was poised to grow to about 900 workers in 2012.

Strazdas said that number is the high count for employees here according to city records indicate. But Tomczak said the business now has approximately 600 workers at the center.

The Portage location is one of three the company expects to close sometime in 2019. The others are in Irvine, Calif., and Tulsa, Okla. Locations to be closed in 2018 are in Parsippany, N.J., and Petaluma, Calif. Locations to be closed in 2020 are in Indianapolis, Ind., Medley, Fla., Downers Grove, Ill., and West Lafayette, Ind. The 2021 locations are in Bakersfield, Calif., and Frederick, Md.

In a press release, the company said its decision to "exit" those facilities is part of efforts "to best serve customers by gaining efficiency through streamlining and improving processes, leveraging technology, and concentrating employees in larger locations."

In a prepared statement, Mary Schmidt, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for State Farm, said, "In order to adapt to the changing needs of our customers and continue to provide the remarkable service that our customers expect, we must continue to manage our business efficiently."
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Emil Ilgar  Trend:

Iran neutralized 30 terror groups during last fiscal year, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said May 5, Tasnim reported.

Before, on April 22, Alavi had announced that Iranian security forces have thwarted a number of attempts to carry out terrorist attacks attempting to plant 30 bombs in the country over the last Iranian calendar year (starting March 20).

This is the first time that Iran says 30 terror group were neutralized.

He said that during the last three years, Iran discovered and foiled 108 electromagnetic pulses and 15 suicide vests.

Alavis statement came a week after nine Iranian border guards were killed in an ambush by the terrorist Jaish al-Adl group in southeastern Iran along the countrys border with Pakistan April 27.

Earlier in March, the so-called Islamic State terrorist group (IS aka ISIS/ISIL) released a 36-minute video in Persian language threatening to attack Iran.



Iranian security officials had earlier announced that they tackled some terrorist groups linked to the IS and other extremist groups inside the country but they did not publicize the number of anti-terrorism operations.
Baku, Azerbaijan, May 5

By Emil Ilgar  Trend:

Irans Foreign Minister Mohhamad Javad Zarif called the attack on Saudi Arabias embassy in Tehran in 2016 a historic betrayal, ISNA reported.

He was talking about 2016 incident, when some hardliners attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad.

He said that before the attack, Foreign Ministry and the Supreme National Security Council came to conclusion that a possible attack would lead to new iniquities from Riyadh against Iran.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran after protesters stormed the Kingdoms embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad on January 2, 2016 in response to Riyadh's execution of Saudi Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson of the Iranian Foreign Ministry said January 2017 that Iran is ready to resume ties with Saudi Arabia if Riyadh makes a serious change in its behavior.

Our policy is not abandoning diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia forever, Qasemi said at a press conference in Tehran on Jan. 23 while commenting about the future of the two regional countries relations.
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Victoria Mills Ltd has informed BSE that the Board of Directors of the Company at their meeting held on May 05, 2017, inter alia, has recommended Dividend @ 50 % (Rs. 50/- per equity share) on 98560 equity shares of the face value of Rs. 100/- each for the financial year 2016-17 at the ensuing Annual General Meeting.Source : BSE
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Date: 05.05.2017 To, BSE Limited P. J. Tower, Dalal Street, Mumbai 400001 Sub.: Outcome of meeting of board of directors Ref.: Scrip Code: 512297, Stock Code: SHANTAI Meeting of board of directors of company was held on 05.05.2017. The outcome of the meeting is summarized as under: 1.Board of directors considered and approved the audited financial results in respect of last quarter along with the results for the entire financial year ending 31/03/2017. 2.Board of directors have recommended the issue of bonus shares in the proportion of two bonus equity shares of Rs. 10/- each for every one fully paid up equity share of Rs. 10/- each subject to approval of members at general meeting. 3.The Report of Board of Directors for year ended March 31, 2017 and notice of Annual General Meeting for the year 2017 was approved. 4.A letter of unwillingness received from statutory auditors M/s. Mohit Shah & Associates form being re-appointed at next Annual General Meeting was noted. 5.Disclosure of interest received from directors was taken on record. Kindly take the same on record and confirm. Thanking You, For Shantai Industries Limited (Formerly Known as Wheel and Axle Textiles Limited) Murlibhai Fatandas Sawlani Managing Director (DIN: 00655536)Source : BSE
The Modi government on Friday notified the ordinance to amend the Banking Regulation Act, empowering the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and banks to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against chronic defaulters.

The Central Government may by order authorise the Reserve Bank to issue directions to any banking company to initiate insolvency resolution process in respect of a default, under the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the gazette notification said.

On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet approved an ordinance allowing RBI to deal with bad loans on a case-to-case basis as opposed to following a set of broad guidelines and rules for all non-performing assets (NPAs).

The amended section 35 An of the Banking Regulation Act will allow RBI, from time to time, to issue directions to the banking companies for resolution of stressed assets.

The RBI may specify one or more authorities or committees to advise banking companies on a resolution of stressed assets, the notification said.

Indias banks have been beset with non-performing assets (NPAs), loans that have turned bad. Total NPAs at the end of December 31, 2016, is estimated to have crossed Rs 7 lakh crore.

The RBI and the government had also asked banks to impose a strict ban on any new loans to wilful defaulters. Such borrowers are also now barred from being appointed as directors on boards of companies.

The government said the bad loans have reached unacceptably high levels and urgent measures are required for their resolution.

The notification said the new insolvency law can be effectively used for the resolution of stressed assets by empowering the banking regulator to issue directions in specific cases.

The new law may also thus empower banks to force lingering corporate loan defaulters to forego ownership and voting rights in their companies, allowing lenders to induct new management leadership mandated to turnaround these entities within a specified time frame.

The fresh set of rules may also allow banks to separate the outstanding unpaid debt into sustainable and unsustainable parts to better restructure loans.

Banking industry sources said that the government has collated details on bad loans worth nearly Rs 50,000 crore that need immediate action against promoters and directors of chronic defaulters.

The new law will also legally ring-fence bankers from scrutiny from investigating agencies, which many bankers say often restrict lenders to go after chronic defaulters.

The top wilful defaulters' list prepared by the government and banks includes a string of diamond traders, two now-grounded full-service airlines, a media house with operations across the country, a multi-state agricultural cooperative, mining companies, realty developers, garment brands, and several individual proprietors.

These "Wilful defaulters" have not repaid bank loans despite having the capacity to do so. Some of these have been found to have diverted funds to projects other than those for which the loan was availed, while some others have been found to have sold off assets that were pledged to get loans without knowledge of the banks.

Willful defaults are the worst kind of bad loans that empowers banks to get after the promoters and directors by even naming and shaming them through public notices and advertisements for not paying up on loans, which banks believe that they have the ability to honour.

Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan had set banks a March 2017 deadline to clean up their balance sheets.

Mounting bad loans and high default rates by large companies have drawn criticism from experts and regulators.
Tehran, Iran, May 5

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, the interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran, has called on Iranian presidential candidates not to undermine the Islamic Republic.

Unfortunately, in their first debate some norms were broken They should know people adopt their behavior, the ayatollah said, Mehr news agency reported May 5.

The candidates should keep in mind that they are being served at the table of the establishment and that their words can undermine Imam Khomeini, the revolution, and the establishments major services, the cleric stressed.

Iranians are going to vote for their new president on May 19. Six candidates are fighting for the position: incumbent President Hassan Rouhani, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Ebrahim Raisi, Mostafa Hashemi Taba, and Mostafa Mirsalim.
Two of the countrys biggest e-commerce companies, Amazon and Flipkart, will simultaneously be launching their big annual sales this May. While Amazons Great India Sale is scheduled from May 11 to 14, Flipkart will follow with its Big 10 sale from May 14 to 18.

Through its Big 10 sale, named so as it celebrates its tenth anniversary, Flipkart will offer nearly 80 percent discount across merchandise and expects a three-to-four-fold increase in revenue from the sale. Myntra, owned by Flipkart, will concurrently launch a sale on its site along with the parent. Amazon, too, plans to put on offer thousands of blockbuster deals at never-seen-before prices.

Smartphones, televisions, consumer electronics, fashion and accessories will remain key focus areas for both Flipkart and Amazon. Apart from discounted rates, additional benefits in the form of cash-backs on digital payments will also be on offer.

The sellers on both the e-marketplace platforms are getting ready to offer their best products at competitive prices. Some vendors told the Economic Times they have been asked to offer heavy discounts. The companies will in turn partially compensate the vendors by charging a lower margin.

Both Amazon and Flipkart are busy stocking up products for the sale and are said to currently have four times the usual stock levels.

For Flipkart, this will be the first time organising a five-day sale besides 'The Big Billion Days' sale, which was held from October 2 to 6 last year. To celebrate the tenth anniversary it also plans to offer 10 big benefits to all customers.
Representative image

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It was yet another action-packed week for the automotive industry. From Mahindra & Mahindra pulling itself out of the electric car market in the UK, to the car and SUV making behemoth Maruti Suzuki crossing Rs 2 lakh crore market cap, here are the top motown stories of this week:

*Mahindra pulls the plug on electric cars in UK

Mahindra & Mahindra, the countrys sole manufacturer of electric cars, decided to exit the UK electric car market following abysmal demand.

The setback comes just a year after the Mumbai-headquartered company entered the UK market with the mini car e2o. The company blamed Brexit for unsustainable business environment that forced it to cease operations.

Reports also said that the company will cancel all pending orders as well as buy back cars from customers for the same price they initially paid for them.

*Toyota Innova Touring Sport launched

Toyota further strengthened the Innova brand with the launch of the Touring Sport priced at Rs 17.79 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Available only with a seven seat option, it has an all-black leather upholstery and comes with touch screen-infotainment system, auto climate control, LED projector headlamps and cruise control.

The car gets a gauge cluster with red lighting, leather-wrapped steering wheel, seats and console box. At the heart of it all, there is no change as the vehicle continues to be powered by the same set of engines as the standard car, a 2.7-litre petrol, 2.4-litre diesel and a 2.8-litre diesel.

*Honda overtakes Bajaj on bikes

Scooter market leader Honda has gone ahead of motorcycle specialist Bajaj Auto to claim the second spot in domestic sales of motorcycles. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) clocked sales of 183,266 units in April as against 161,930 units sold by Bajaj Auto during the same month.

Bajaj Auto, the makers of Pulsar and Avenger, witnessed a drop of 19 percent in sales last month from 200,433 units sold in the same month last year. HMSI recorded a growth of 22 percent last month over 150,711 units sold in the same month last year.

In the previous financial year, HMSIs most popular model, Activa, became the largest-selling two-wheeler brand in India as it went past Heros decade-long bestseller, Splendor.

*Maruti enters the Rs 2 lakh crore club

Riding high on the success of almost all its recently launched models car market leader Maruti Suzuki crossed Rs 2 lakh crore in market capitalization.

The Delhi-headquartered makers of popular models like Alto, Swift and Baleno retained its position of being the most valuable automotive company in India in terms of market cap. It surpassed Tata Motor (which owns Jaguar Land Rover) two years ago.

Maruti Suzuki reportedly pipped several well-known global automotive majors such as Renault and Hyundai to join an elite club. The recent success of premium models like Brezza, Baleno and Ignis pushed the company to hit new highs despite challenging market conditions.

*Swift overtakes Alto to become largest selling model

Maruti Suzukis old warhorse Swift dethroned the Alto to become the largest selling model for the company last month. Swift clocked sales of 23,802 units as against 22,549 units sold by Alto in the same month.

Maruti essentially filled the production gap created with the exit of the old Dzire as the new one is due for launch later this month. Interestingly, an all-new Swift is around the corner as well and slated for commercial launch later this year.
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence awarded to four men convicted for the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old Delhi student in December 2012, a case which had shook the nation.

The top court rejected the appeal of the convicts against the trial court verdict sentencing them to death.

There was applause in the court as the verdict was announced. After confirming the death sentence, the judges said that the accused "were obsessed about ravishing her (victim's) life."

It also called it a "crime of a different world".

The convicts still have the option of filing a review petition. If that fails, they will have to hope for clemency from the President. The hanging could take months or even years.

The incident in which a 23-year-old lost her life to brutal assault by six persons had led to the drafting on the 2013 Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, which later was known as the Nirbhaya Act prescribing death sentence for someone who commits rape, leading to the death of the victim or causes her to be in a persistent vegetative state.
President Pranab Mukherjee has given a nod to an ordinance giving greater powers to the Reserve Bank of India to tackle mounting bad loans, a CNBC-TV18 report says.

Sources told the news channel that the ordinance on non-performing assets (NPAs) will be effectively immediately.

The government is likely to announce details of the ordinance shortly.

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Banking Regulation Act for resolution of the non-performing asset (NPA) crisis.

The amendments to the Act will help in effectively resolving the bad loans problem, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said on Thursday.

"It is not possible for me to put down a number on how this (NPAs) will go down, but certainly we feel that these changes will make the system more effective in handling the bad loans," he told reporters.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, HR Khan, former Deputy Governor of RBI said the central bank should put in a process towards the resolution of NPAs but on principle, he was not comfortable with RBI directly deciding haircuts.

Following the economic slowdown in 2012-13, bad loans have ballooned in the system over the past few years, with gross NPAs for state-owned bank at Rs 6.07 lakh crore at the end of December 2016.

The Reserve Bank has introduced a number of steps previously, such as Strategic Debt Restructuring (SDR) and Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A) to deal with the bad loans menace.

With inputs from PTI
Co-founder & CEO, Bitxoxo

Evolution of things has been a constant phenomenon, starting with the evolution of life and humans, of which, the barter system has come a long way. A system that started off with basic trading of food for livestock, livestock for resources like wood or maize, etc. eventually evolved and precious metals such as gold, silver etc. started being used instead.

Following this ancient trend of evolution, we are now headed towards the next stage of financial evolution with crypto-currency, which is popularly known as bitcoins.

This crypto-currency, which has evolved over a period of a decade or a little more, was developed anonymously and is maintained by a collective group of intellectual minds in technology. Of all the aspects, of this new form of money, which is created and held digitally, the fact that no government owns it or gets to decide its value is the most critical.

However, prior to delving deeper, into these critical aspects of the currency, we will first try to answer some basic questions, shedding some light on the genesis of the currency, such as how was it created, who created it etc. In answering these questions, we would like to begin reiterating the fact that, nobody till date has been able to find a straightforward answer to this question. This is mostly because the person who created bitcoin still remains unidentified.

Related stories Hesham Rehman Co-founder & CEO|Bitxoxo

All people have been able to discover till date is a pseudonym  Satoshi Nakamoto. Nothing more than that has been determined till date, because his accounts are no longer active, with the coins in his wallet unspent. From the way it appears, Satoshi Nakamoto suddenly disappeared from the world.

However, refuting this theory, as per a recent article published by Fast Company, Satoshi Nakamoto is perhaps a collective name for a group of three people viz. Neal King, Vladimir Oksman and Charles Bry.

There are also alleged stories around the three of them filing for a patent related to secure communication just two month prior to the purchase of Bitcoin.org domain. However, these are purported stories, which could either be plain coincidence or perhaps not.

Nevertheless, apart these ambiguous stories attached to bitcoins, some definitive facts we have on the crypto-currency are; A whitepaper work, stating the foundation and operation of bitcoin was published on October 31st 2008, which was titled as Bitcoin-A peer-to-peer Electronic Cash System.

This whitepaper was posted to a cryptography mailing list, published under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Following that, an unknown entity or person is known to have registered Bitcoin.org domain, on August 18th 2008. A development that seemed like a natural progression of the series of events witnessed pertaining to Bitcoin, the first version of bitcoin was announced on Jan 8th 2009, and shortly thereafter, bitcoin mining commenced.

Ensued by such events, ever since, there has been no looking back for the crypto-currency. It has, in fact, been accepted as a complimentary mode of transaction in many countries today. However, whether this form of currency is legal or illegal; the answer to that question varies from country to country and their respective laws and popularity among active users. It must be noted that these countries are still testing the waters and therefore havent given the currency a complete legal status though.

Countries such as United States, Canada, Australia and the European Union have maintained a friendly stance towards the currency and brought it under the government jurisdiction in order to prevent the use of Bitcoin for illegal transactions.

As a matter of fact, some prominent businesses such as Dell, Overstock.com, Dish Network etc. welcome payments in Bitcoin.

Likewise, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) views Bitcoin to be an asset; The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) considers Bitcoin Transaction trade method based on appropriate taxes belong to the use and user.

As far as the EU is concerned, while it has followed the developments of crypto-currency, it hasnt really declared a real stance towards the currency. Ensued by that, countries belonging to the union have come forward with their own respective Bitcoin policies.

While this was the list of countries that have accepted Bitcoin, there are still quite a few countries that continue with their suspicions around Bitcoin, owing to its volatile and decentralized nature.

Counties such as Iceland, Vietnam, Bolivia, Krygyzstan, Ecuador, Russia and China have completely forbidden the use of Bitcoin in those countries.

In most of the cases, the currency's anonymity and decentralized nature has been a major bone of contention for all Governing bodies to approve it as legal.
People watch as India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-D6) blasts off carrying a 2117 kg GSAT-6 communication satellite from the Satish Dhawan space centre at Sriharikota, India, August 27, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer - RTX1PXTO

The GSAT 9 'South Asia' Satellite meant as a gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the neighbouring nations of India has taken off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 4:57 pm today.

The satellite, meant for boosting communication network in the South Asian peninsula, was launched using a GSLV F-09 Rocket by the Indian Space Research Organisation today.

The mission, which is expected to last for the next 12 years, is completely funded by India at a total expense Rs 235 Crore.



I congratulate the team of scientists who worked hard for the successful launch of South Asia Satellite. We are very proud of them. @isro

 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also put out a tweet congratulating all south asian countries.

Previously, the Geostationary Communication Satellite was aimed at helping all the SAARC nations gain increased communication in the region.

However, Afghanistan and Pakistan pulled out of the mission and hence, the satellite will now serve 5 countries in South Asia, namely Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also put out a tweet congratulating all South Asian countries.

The lift-off mass is around 2,230 Kg, including both the launch vehicle and the satellite.
Markets decline on global cues and profit taking, Nifty gives up 9,300 and the Sensex slides 260 points. PSU banks contribute most to the fall after the government announces its bad loan ordinance.

Ashwani Gujral of ashwanigujral.com, S P Tulsian of sptulsian.com, Mitessh Thakkar of mitesshthakkar.com, Prakash Diwan Altamount of Capital Management and Dipan Mehta, Member of BSE and NSE in an interview to CNBC-TV18 spoke about the outlook for the market next week, stock specific views and the impact of the banking ordinance on bank stocks and market overall.

Gurjal said for the next week to the market is likely to trade sideways because the market closed at the lower end of the band but as long as 9250 holds on there is hope.

The hope is also based on the reaction to the news (banking ordinance), PSU banks and banks havent sold off but the Bank Nifty is down only 135 points, which tells you that the banking rally may not be done. Moreover, if Reliance too starts coming back from its 50-day moving average then Nifty could again go to 9350.
Explaining the regulatory action, the RBI said The Karad Janata Sahakari Bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.

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Banking stocks, which have rallied on hope for the last one year largely on expectations of fast-paced resolutions for bad loans may well come under pressure even though President Pranab Mukherjee approved an ordinance on Non-performing Assets (NPA).

Analysts view this as 'sell on news and buy on rumour' kind of senario panning out for banking space. The rally seen in most of the PSU banks are ahead of fundamentals, and with details of the ordinance still sketchy, some near-term profit booking cannot be ruled out.

As much as 9 stocks more than doubled investors wealth in the last one year which includes names like Indian Bank, Vijaya Bank, REC, MMTC, Bank of India, PNB, Oriental Bank, IOC, as well as Canara Bank.

The ordinance will provide greater powers to Reserve Bank of India to tackle mounting bad loans, CNBC-TV18 reported just ahead of market hours on Friday.

Sources told the news channel that the ordinance on non-performing assets (NPAs) will be effectively immediately. The government is likely to announce details of the ordinance shortly.

All the good news was there in the price in last one and a half months. It is the case of buy on rumour and sell on news. Whenever PSU banks trade at 1x Price-to-book compared to 0.5-0.6x Price-to-book signals frothy valuations, Sanjiv Bhasin, Exec VP, Markets & Corporate Affairs, IIFL told Moneycontrol.com.

It is a positive ordinance, but Bank Nifty looks stretched and corrections would be advisable to be bought. We see a 10-15 percent correction in the banking space after 20-50 percent run-up, given the fact that market is looking frothy, he said.

If banking stocks fall around 8-10 percent, investors should use the dip to buy stocks. We are bullish on PSU banks, and our top picks include names like State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, and Federal Bank, he said.

The rally in the banking space was visible in sector focussed mutual funds as well. Banking funds are the star performers in mutual fund investments with the sector fund returning a whopping 41.8 percent in the past one year, said a report.

Banking stocks saw good momentum in the past two trading sessions after the Cabinet on Wednesday approved promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Banking Regulation Act for resolution of the non-performing asset (NPA) crisis.

The amendments to the Act will help in effectively resolving the bad loans problem, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said on Thursday.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, HR Khan, former Deputy Governor of RBI said the central bank should put in a process towards the resolution of NPAs but on principle, he was not comfortable with RBI directly deciding haircuts.

Following the economic slowdown in 2012-13, bad loans have ballooned in the system over the past few years, with gross NPAs for the state-owned bank at Rs 6.07 lakh crore at the end of December 2016.
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Shares of Varun Beverages soared over 4 percent intraday as investors could have bet positively on the company setting up a new unit in UP as well as a leading brokerage initiating coverage on the stock.

PepsiCo's bottler said that it has set up a manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi district. "The company has set up a new manufacturing unit for Pepsi range of products in district Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh," Varun Beverages said in a BSE filing.

Meanwhile, Kotak initiated coverage on the stock with a buy call and has set a target price of Rs 550. We see Varun Beverages as a solid proxy play on the long-term growth story of the soft drinks category in India, the brokerage house said in its report. It added that the company has end-to-end execution capabilities and presence across the entire beverage value chain and not just as a bottler.

The company has always been in surrounded with debate whether it should be seen as just a third party manufacturer as brand building and product development is usually handled by PepsiCo.

Varun Beverages capture of the value chain is what one should focus on and the business return ratios reflect the picture. A valuation framework that captures the fundamentals well does not need to bother with nomenclature issues, in our view, it said in its report.

Here are 3 aspects that the brokerage is talking about.

Growth drivers

Among growth drivers for the stock include leveraging PepsiCos brand strength and innovation capabilities. This would include its strong focus on non-cola carbonates, NCBs and packaged drinking water to tap into changing consumer preferences.

Secondly, acquisition of additional production and distribution rights to expand presence and drive sales volume.

Lastly, the expansion of distribution network and optimizing them to drive healthy long-term profitable growth.

Financials

The brokerage house expects the company to grow consolidated revenues over CY16-19 by 13 percent CAGR, aided by 10.1 percent volume CAGR and 2.6 percent realisation CAGR.

Along with this, it expects the company to deliver 33 percent EPS CAGR, aided by lower interest expenses, lower ETR and reduction in minority interest. It sees 130 bps contraction in EBITDA margin.

Key risks

Some of the key risks for the stock could be the material influence of PepsiCo on its operations. This could be particularly in case of price paid for concentrate, product pricing and growth plans.

Additionally, managerial and competitive challenges involved in integration of acquired territories and high exposure to seasonal variations could also be a few risks.
May 05, 2017 / 08:39 AM IST

Bull's Eye, CNBC-TV18's popular game show, where market experts come together to dish out trading strategies for you to make your week more exciting and compete with each other to see whose portfolio is the strongest.

Remember these are midcap ideas not just for the day, but stocks that look attractive in the medium-term as well.

This week, Pankaj Jain, Vijay Chopra and Ruchit Jain battle it out for top honours.

Below their top stock picks and analysis:

Pankaj Jain of SW Capital

Buy Syndicate Bank with a stoploss at Rs 89 and target of Rs 96

Buy Vijaya Bank with a stoploss at Rs 82.5 and target of Rs 89

Buy Bank of Baroda with a stoploss at Rs 193 and target of Rs 205

Buy Chambal Fertilisers with a stoploss at Rs 111 and target of Rs 119.50

Vijay Chopra of enochventures.com

Buy IFCI with a stoploss at Rs 30 and target of Rs 34.50

Buy Bank of India with a stoploss at Rs 185 and target of Rs 198

Buy ICICI Bank with a stoploss at Rs 290 and target of Rs 305

Buy Tata Sponge Iron with a stoploss at Rs 820 and target of Rs 850

Ruchit Jain of Angel Broking

Buy Voltas with a stoploss at Rs 415 and target of Rs 445

Buy Pidilite Industries with a stoploss at Rs 720 and target of Rs 760

Buy Godrej Industries with a stoploss at Rs 549 and target of Rs 578
Details added (first version posted on 18:13)

Tehran, Iran, May 5

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Six presidential candidates in Iran have explicitly or implicitly expressed their confidence in the countrys nuclear deal, officially named the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and their future compliance with the pact if they become president.

The most unexpected statement of such effect came from ultra-conservative candidate Ebrahim Raisi, who said with all shortcomings he thought the deal has, he would recognize it as a document, Trend correspondent reported May 5.

Raisi who was speaking in a live debate with the other five candidates, criticized the incumbent government, nonetheless, for the JCPOA has had no contribution to peoples lives.

Hassan Rouhani, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Ebrahim Raisi, Mostafa Hashemi Taba, and Mostafa Mirsalim are debating their views in hope to gain the most votes in the May 19 presidential election.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, also a conservative, said the nuclear deal would be respected by all governments.

However, he argued that the way the JCPOA was executed has faults, adding the deal has contributed to the wellbeing of those with connections to wealth and power rather than the wellbeing of the grassroots.

Mirsalim, yet another conservative, defended the nuclear deal for having communicated the report of Irans violated rights to the world. That Iran is not looking for nuclear weapons. However, he criticized that the world powers which signed the deal with Iran have not upheld their side of the deal. After the nuclear deal we dismissed our scientists and limited our nuclear program, he said.

President Rouhani, defending the deal which was administered by him, lashed out at the critics for having discouraged the countrys nuclear negotiators and tried to agitate the other sides out of the deal.

Jahangiri for his part defended the deal and underlined the difficulties that sanctions had brought on people before the nuclear deal was reached. Families had a hard time finding medication for their ill members under sanctions. Baby formulas were rare, silos were empty.

The nuclear deal was one of the greatest achievements of the history of Iran. It turned Irano-phobia into Iranio-philia. Thanks to the deal, we managed to increase petrochemical output by 30 percent, free our petrodollars that had been frozen overseas, and insure ships so that they could travel to Iran.

Hashemi Taba also defended the deal, censuring the JCPOA critics for having denied the destructive effects of sanctions.
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Shares of Tata Communications plunged more than 11 percent intraday Friday post dismal performance by the company for the quarter ended March 2017.

The company has registered a net loss of Rs 260.8 crore in Q4FY17, which includes exceptional loss of Rs 1,063.3 crore, against profit of Rs 1,413.4 crore, in the quarter ended December 2016.

The company has reported a loss from continuing operations at Rs 982.4 crore versus profit of Rs 1.3 crore.

Revenue of the company was down 1.5 percent at Rs 4,293.7 crore versus Rs 4,360.1 crore.

The operating profit (EBITDA) was down 11.7 percent at Rs 502.3 crore and EBITDA margin was down at 11.7 percent.

The board of directors of the company have recommended a normal dividend of 45 percent (Rs 4.50) and a one-time special dividend of 15 percent (Rs 1.50), aggregating to a total dividend of 60 percent (Rs 6) for the Financial Year 2016-17.

Emkay has cut its growth estimates to 12 percent from 14 percent due to moderation in data revenue over the last two quarters.

Slower revenue growth and continued investment in new services resulted to EBITDA cut of 9 percent/10 percent for FY18/19E.

The research firm cut its rating on stock to hold with a revised price target of Rs 705.

At 12:29 hrs Tata Communications was quoting at Rs 638.40, down Rs 66.30, or 9.41 percent on the BSE.

Posted by Rakesh Patil
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,
A Liberian peacekeeper was killed as a result of an attack Wednesday on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) camp in Timbuktu, Mali, the UN mission said in a statement Thursday, Sputnik reported.

On Wednesday, the mission said that one unidentified person was killed and nine peacekeepers were injured as result of a mortar or rocket attack launched on the MINUSMA camp. According to preliminary reports, six projectiles were fired at the camp at 13:15 GMT.

"One (1) of the peacekeepers from Liberia is dead," the statement said, adding that eight of the nine injured people were sent to Bamako.

The statement noted that no one from the civilian personnel of the mission was affected by the attack.

The UN mission, established by the UN Security Council resolution 2100 of April 25, 2013, aims at stabilizing the country and protecting civilians.

Mali faced a military coup in 2012, when President Amadou Toumani Toure was overthrown due to his failure to deal with a Tuareg separatist uprising in the country. The revolt attracted various Islamist groups to the state. After the coup, power was transferred to a transitional government. Incumbent Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita assumed the office in 2013.
'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
Without a body or murder weapon, the prosecutor in the Sierra LaMar murder trial used his closing rebuttal to urge the jury to reject the unreasonable, accept the reasonable explanations for her disappearance, fingerprints, DNA traces and other evidence that connects Antolin Garcia Torres to the crimes he is accused of.

Sometimes, to support a weak argument, (people) use gimmickry to distract you from the facts, Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney David Boyd said.

He was likely referring to statements made the previous day by defense attorney Al Lopez in the Hall of Justice courtroom. According to various news reports, Lopez displayed a bucket of shame to the jury during his closing argument to illustrate the reasons Garcia Torres is not guilty.

Garcia Torres, 25 of Morgan Hill, is on trial for the murder of Sierra LaMar, who disappeared from her home off Dougherty Avenue March 16, 2012 at the age of 15. Garcia Torres is also accused of three attempted kidnapping incidents in the parking lots of two Safeway stores in Morgan Hill in 2009.

He has been on trial for these crimestotaling four felony countsfor the last 13 weeks. The murder charge is a capital offense, as he faces a possible penalty of death if found guilty.

The prosecutor and defense attorneys wrapped up their closing arguments May 4. Superior Court Judge Vanessa Zecher sent the jury of six men and six women into the deliberation room shortly after these arguments were over.

Sierras father, Steve LaMar, gave a brief statement to reporters outside the courthouse.

Its been a long trial, but its just a blink of an eye compared to how much time we havent had Sierra with us, Steve LaMar said May 4. Now the justice for Sierra is in the hands of the jury.

He extended his thanks to Boyd and the D.A.s office, as well as sheriffs deputies and numerous volunteers who helped search for Sierras remains, which have not been found.

Now we wait and we pray, and we hope for justice for Sierra, he added.

Boyd told the jury May 4 that, according to the law, they have to consider the totality of the facts when deciding on a verdict. He argued that Lopez was asking them to consider each fact in isolation, which could persuade the jurors to accept the innocent explanations for certain evidence.

For example, defense attorneys argued the reason Garcia Torres thumbprint was on a 9-volt battery found in a stun gun used in one of the Safeway attacks was because, as an employee at the store, he had repackaged the item and placed it back on the shelf for sale when its packaging was damaged.

Boyd noted, however, that Garcia Torres Safeway colleagues testified during the trial that they had never seen the defendant perform such a task while employed at the store.

Is that innocent explanation reasonable? Boyd asked rhetorically.

Lopez also argued that Sierra ran away from home, and she might not even be dead. He cited previous arguments with her mother, her recent move to Morgan Hillaway from her longtime friends in Fremontand even a handwritten note found in her school notebook that allegedly indicates she wanted to run away.

Boyd, however, said these circumstances do not consider the whole of the facts, which also include Sierras vast social media footprint, her dependence on her parents for basic needs and her love for her father and her cat, Chester.

He added that the three kidnapping attempts in 2009, in which he attacked three women as they were walking out to their cars after shopping at Safeway, were Garcia Torres practice for the murder of Sierra. He continued to attack women until he was able to kill one, Boyd argued.

This was planned. This was premeditated. This was cold and calculated, Boyd said. It takes time to find a girl that fits the bill.

He also responded to Lopez claims that there should have been more of Sierras DNA in Garcia Torres Volkswagen Jetta if he had kidnapped and struggled with her. Boyd argued that the vehicle was not thoroughly searched until Garcia Torres was arrested about three weeks after Sierras disappearance. An expert testified during the trial that DNA deteriorates when exposed to sunlight, humidity or moisture, and that could be why there wasnt more of Sierras genetic material in the car.

Sierra disappeared as she was walking to her school bus stop at the intersection of Palm and Dougherty avenues in north Morgan Hill. She was a sophomore at Sobrato High School.

Boyd concluded his rebuttal, He silenced her so she could not say what happened to her. He silenced her body so it could not say what happened. Please find the defendant guilty.

Zecher advised the jury they can set their own deliberation schedule, which could include Fridays even though court is typically not in session that day.

Search volunteers respond

After Sierra disappeared, hundreds of people throughout the Bay Area responded to a call for volunteers to help search for her remains in and around Morgan Hill. As the years passed, those numbers dwindled to a handful of regular volunteers, but they remained committed to supporting Sierras family.

Im glad its finally come to this point, said David Arocha of Sunnyvale, who has attended the trial almost every day since it started Jan. 31. Mr. Boyd is doing a wonderful job with this. Im glad hes the prosecutor.

Roger Nelson, a coordinator of the search volunteers, said outside the courtroom that Boyd delivered a strong performance during closing arguments and the rebuttal.

He gave just enough detail where he was able to accomplish his goals and not lose the jury, Nelson said.
Members of the community gathered on the grounds of the old Burke County courthouse on Thursday to observe the National Day of Prayer.

The event, organized by the Burke County National Day of Prayer Committee, featured a presentation of colors by Burke County Public Schools JROTC members, music by Celebration Church, Willette McIntosh singing the national anthem from the balcony of the old courthouse and Celebration Church member Brian Keller blowing a ceremonial shofar.

Jim Wiprut, a member of the Beth Shiloh Messianic Jewish congregation, explained that each blast on the shofar was different and represented things like the kings coronation, a call to repentance for the people and a warning to awaken watchmen on the wall of a city.

Committee member Kay Yount offered the opening prayer, telling attendees to humbly look inward to start a revival in the heart of Gods people.

It has been said that if the church is to advance, it will advance on its knees, Yount said. Seek God before seeking solutions.

Robby Smith, director of missions for the Catawba River Baptist Association, said a prayer for families. He asked God to help the church and community reach out to hurting families, and to help parents raise their children in the ways of scripture and to be kind and loving.

As our families become stronger in Burke County, our community becomes stronger, Smith said.

The Rev. George Logan of New Day Christian Church prayed for education. He asked God for forgiveness for scripture not having first place in the school system.

There can be no real education without the inclusion of the word of God, Logan said.

He prayed for protection, wisdom and discernment for students, teachers and staff in all kinds of educational facilities, and rebuked any evil, occult forces trying to influence the educational process.

The Rev. Mark Smith of Crosslink Church in Rutherford College prayed for local businesses. He asked God to guide business owners in having good business practices and getting involved in the community, investing in people and the church. John Whisnant, owner of WCIS radio, prayed for media outlets, thanking God for freedom of speech and dedicated reporters. He prayed that God would keep media outlets motives pure to report the truth.

The Rev. Jaime Torres, a chaplain with the Morganton Department of Public Safety and founder of Jaime Torres Ministries, prayed for the military and law enforcement. He thanked God for the men and women who defend the country, and asked God for forgiveness for people rebelling against his authority in the country. He prayed for protection for all military service members, law enforcement officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel.

Wiprut returned to the podium to pray for the church body as a whole. He prayed for a burning out of all things present in congregations today that are not of God in order to start a revival like this world has never seen. He prayed for churches to increase efforts to reach out to the lost, and also prayed for unity among congregations.

Though we have different cultural backgrounds, different physical make-up, even some different doctrine, the only thing that matters is that we are blood-bought believers in Yeshua Messiah Jesus, Wiprut said.

The Rev. David Doster, pastor of Burke Community Bible Church, prayed for the nation and government leaders at the federal, state and local level. He thanked God for ordaining government to restrain evil and promote what is good for people and society to flourish, and for the checks and balances built into the government that prevent abuses of power. He reminded attendees that the Bible instructs people to pray for their leaders. He prayed for wisdom and perseverance for those serving in government offices.

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that our leaders are a reflection of us, both the good and the bad, the glorious and the sinful, Doster said. Help us to humble ourselves that we might work with them for solutions that honor you, fortify families, strengthen our community and enable us to thrive as a people.

Dr. Wanda Neely, interim pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Morganton, referenced the official National Prayer for 2017, written by Anne Graham Lotz. She acknowledged all the blessings God has poured out on America, and asked God to inspire people to take care of those in need. She offered confessions of various things keeping people from God, such as addiction to pleasures, greed and unforgiveness. She asked God to forgive the peoples sin and heal the land.

Committee member Helen Wilson said the group was successful in beginning a regular schedule of prayer on Thursdays at the old courthouse after last years service, with 35 churches participating. She asked the crowd to keep the tradition going by signing up to pray.

Those interested in getting involved with praying at the courthouse can contact committee member Nancy Whalley at 828-413-2543 or nancywhalley1@gmail.com.

The service ended with the JROTC retiring the colors and Sara Workman playing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

Tammie Gercken can be reached at tgercken@morganton.com.
A 30-year-old man was detained on Thursday at Heathrow airport in London on suspicion of preparing a terror act, the Metropolitan police said in a statement, Sputnik reported.

"Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) have this evening, Thursday 4 May, arrested a 30-years-old man at London Heathrow Airport as he disembarked a flight from Istanbul, Turkey. The man has been arrested on suspicion for preparing for terrorist acts and terrorist training contrary to section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006," the statement said.

The police added that the suspect had been brought to a police station in the southern part of London.

London police ramped up security in the wake of a deadly attack in the city center on March 22, when a man stabbed a police officer to death outside the British parliament. They said they foiled an active terror plot last month in an operation that saw a female suspect being seriously shot.
Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive.

To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research.

Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process.
With the launch of the first phase of bidding for private developers, the Region of Waterloo has taken its initial steps in the development of the King Victoria Transit Hub in Kitchener.This high profile project is predicted to change the way people think about Waterloo Region, the Region announced.The large-scale mixed-use transit hub is slated to feature seamless access to multiple modes of transportation and integrated residential, office and retail space. More importantly, the hub will connect our community to the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation corridor, promoting growth and generating substantial economic development.By creating a landmark stop with space to live, work and shop, the transit hub will offer Waterloo Region much more than a better commuting system, Regional Chair Ken Seiling added.The request for qualifications (RFQ) phase is meant to draft a short list of applicants for the final request for proposal. RFQ closes on June 30, and the short list is scheduled to be announced on September 2017.The Region stated that it will sell the property to the winning bidder, who will be responsible for the construction of the transit hall and related structures.Once complete, the transit hub will connect Grand River Transit (local buses), ION (light rail), GO trains, VIA rail, inter-city buses, taxis, pedestrians and cyclists. The onsite buildings will include residences, offices and stores. The site will also incorporate public spaces and transit support areas like pick-up and drop-off areas, bus bays and links to trails/paths.Interested parties can learn more about the project here
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is encouraged by a pact reached on Thursday by Russia, Iran and Turkey to create safe zones in Syria, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement, Sputnik reported.

"The Secretary-General is encouraged by the agreement today in Astana It will be crucial to see this agreement actually improve the lives of Syrians," the spokesman said.

Dujarric said the UN chief welcomed the commitments to ceasing the use of all weapons, particularly planes, providing unhindered humanitarian access and creating conditions for the delivery of medical aid.

The Russian-proposed deal, signed at the end of the fourth round of Syrian peace talks in the capital of Kazakhstan, will allow for the creation of "de-escalation zones" in the Idlib province, to the north of the city of Homs, in Eastern Ghouta and in the south of Syria.

Syrian government and opposition forces would be precluded from engaging each other in the designated areas by means of guarantor-run security buffers, checkpoints and observation posts that could encourage refugees to return to the war-torn country.
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...
A suicide attack in Nigerias northeast Borno State killed five people and wounded six others, local police spokesman Malam Murtala Ibrahim said Friday, Sputnik reported.

Yesterday at about 22:45 hours, two suspected female suicide bombers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies at Mandarari ward in Konduga LGA, killing themselves and five others. Six persons sustained various degrees of injuries," Ibrahim said as quoted by the Vanguard Nigeria online outlet.

Police blamed the Boko Haram terrorist group for the attack.

Boko Haram is a militant organization that is affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) terrorist group, banned in many countries, including Russia and the United States. The organization is notorious for numerous attacks and abductions carried out in Nigeria, as well as in neighboring states.
Chinese homebuyers are getting more serious when it comes to purchasing American homes, as the gap between the median prices of homes sought by American buyers versus the Chinese is widening, with the latter aiming at a higher-priced market.In 2016, the median Chinese buyer was looking at an American home priced at $572,000, while the median American homebuyer was looking at a $253,000 home, according to a Zillow report.Coastal markets are apparently attractive to Chinese home shoppers, as 32.3% of them focused their searches on the markets of San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego and Boston, while only 7.5% of American buyers looked at homes in these cities.In the companys analysis, U.S. buyers were looking at home prices ranked at the 57th percentile of target list prices, while the Chinese were looking at home prices in the 73rd percentile. The 16-percentage-point gap suggests that the Chinese arecompeting with wealthy American homebuyers.Detroit, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Boston and Seattle have the biggest gaps between Chinese shoppers and the Americans, while the narrowest gaps were recorded in Phoenix, Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth.Last month, Peter Turtzo, a Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices exec, told Reuters that on average, Chinese investors spend in the mid-$900,000s on U.S. home purchases  a testimony to their purchasing power.
The Texas Workforce Commission is accepting applications to serve on the Advisory Committee for Purchasing from People with Disabilities. Members advise the commission on matters relating to the Works Wonder program, also known as the State Use Program, according to an agency press release.

The Texas Purchasing from People with Disabilities program is dedicated to furthering the states policy of encouraging and assisting persons with disabilities to achieve maximum personal independence by engaging in useful, productive employment activities, according to the program website. Under the program, individuals with varying levels of disabilities produce products or perform services through a Community Rehabilitation Program as part of Works Wonders, commonly referred to as the State Use program.
Do you want to make sure that your real estate company is staffed with the best and brightest? If so, you need to put some th
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Cyrus CEO Ruben Mira Blanco may be a lone rider, but he is backed up by a posse of retailers. After producing around 800 watches last year, he is now ready to expand his network. The company may be small, but it punches above its weight. It can now count among its number Freret-Roy, a Parisian retailer that specialises in independent brands. It knows its market and sees potential for Cyrus.

For his part, Ruben Mira Blanco makes no secret of his ambitions: We want to become a leader in the market for original, independent chronographs retailing at between 10,000 and 20,000 francs. Hublot, Audemars Piguet and Rolex are pitched higher, but Cyrus is staking its resources on the conviction that there is a niche it can fill.

Shared complications

These resources include a partnership with Chronode. Jean-Francois Mojon is responsible for the brands main technical developments. Some are part of a joint effort, such as with the Cyrus Alarm, an alarm watch based on a Chronode module, which has been used by other brands in the past, most notably Harry Winston. Cyrus has also made the most of it. By sharing a non-exclusive complication that belongs directly to the movement manufacturer, costs can be lowered (39,000 francs), even where quantities are very small (30 units). All of them have been sold. We asked Ruben Mira Blanco if he was tempted to produce a second series. Certainly not. Weve moved onto something different, he confirmed.

This something different is more ambitious: Cyruss first in-house tourbillon. It will also be signed Chronode, but given that the family that owns Cyrus has also bought shares in Chronode, they can now officially claim manufacture status.

The design is the work of Benjamin Muller (Louis Moinet, Jacob & Co.), whose edgy contemporary style has left its indelible mark on the watch. This is good news for Cyrus, whose USP is a unique aesthetic signature. We plan to continue using Benjamin for our future designs, notes Ruben Mira Blanco.

The watch will feature a vertical tourbillon, and will be far from simple to construct. But that doesnt appear to be a problem for either Chronode or Cyrus. I dont produce any collections or models that couldnt take a tourbillon, points out the CEO. Even though the first Klepcys isnt yet in the shops, there are already plans for a sister model: a tourbillon chronograph. Where the price of the current version, without tourbillon, will be deliberately capped at CHF 99,000, the complicated version will no doubt have loftier price aspirations.

Minute repeater on the horizon

But will their clients follow? Ruben Mira Blanco believes they will. And he admits to nurturing a dream of a minute repeater. His Japanese retailer sells 60 of them every year, so the demand is clearly there. But so far, not the supply. If a Cyrus minute repeater were to become available one day, it would be different. But different how? We have a few ideas, confides Jean-Francois Mojon. For example, we could think about having a hammer that strikes something other than a gong, which would produce a different sound. Ruben Mira Blanco adds: If its going to go ding-ding-dong like all the other minute repeaters, it would be a waste of time as far as were concerned. We have to make something different, and something cheaper, or our customers will go elsewhere.

Cyrus is aiming high, but so far the CEO (who is also responsible for marketing, communication, after-sales, logistics, sales and everything else) has aimed accurately. He has succeeded almost single-handedly in putting things back on track. Last year, Cyrus made a profit for the first time. Europe is largely on board (UK, France, Italy). The next step is Latin America. And Mexico looks particularly promising, which is why Cyrus will be back at the SIAR for the third time this coming autumn.
Toys 'R' Us to Open More Stores in China

Toys "R" Us in China (Photo : Getty Images)

International toy retailer Toys "R" Us Inc. plans to open 30 to 40 outlets in China annually. The stores will mostly be located in major cities as the retailer tries to reach more customers through its online stores.



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China is our fastest growing market with more store openings than anywhere else in the world, said Toys "R" Us China Managing Director Roy Sammartino.



By the end of April, the toy retailer has two online stores and 134 outlets in 55 Chinese cities. It has 883 stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Guam, 795 international stores and 254 licensed stores across 37 countries.



According to Sammartino, a mix of online and offline business is necessary for providing customers with the easiest way of shopping. The toy business has a special nature with customers wanting to touch the products.



Last week, the managing director launched the limited-edition Redeco Optimus Prime toy from the movie "Transformers 5: The Last Knight" in Beijing and Guangzhou. The launch had a live streaming on its store on Tmall, Chinas top online shopping platform.



Internet retailing continues to gain a strong share, as the pricing of products in online stores helps it capture sales from other channels, said Carol Lu, senior associate at Euromonitor International.



For toy and game firms, Internet retailing is an important tool for marketing their products in regions where they have a limited presence, Lu added.



Popular global and local movies drive the sales of toys and this effect persists for a long period, Sammartino said.



Hasbro China General Manager Zhang Yuchen agreed that toys and movies complement each other. Hasbro has been successful with its popular brands such as Marvel, Transformers, Star Wars and Play-Doh.



Aside from toys adapted from movies and TV programs, experience toys and educational toys are becoming a new trend for younger Chinese parents.



How to learn a better character and values through playing with toys is what Chinese parents care about, Zhang said.



In 2016, the Chinese toy and game market had a total value of 218 billion yuan ($31.6 billion); 70 billion yuan of which accounted for traditional toys and games, Euromonitor said.



Toys "R" Us is expanding to fulfill the growing demand of the Chinese toy market.


Hong Kong will be one of the cities to be connected by the longest cross-sea bridge in the world. (Photo : Getty Images)

A key component of the worlds longest cross-sea bridge--the Hong KongZhuhaiMacao Bridge--has finally been installed by Chinese engineers on Tuesday, May 2, according to Xinhua.



The component spans 12 meters long and weighs approximately 6,000 tonnes, equivalent to over 25 Airbus A380 jets. It will serve as the tunnel section of the bridge, which will connect Macao, Zhuhai and Hong Kong.



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Extensive preparations, which took about two years, were done in order to make sure that the installation did not fail. Just before the key component was installed, 180-meter-long tubes that weigh a total of 80,000 tonnes were also added to the cross-sea bridge.



There is only one wedge for a tunnel, and we cannot afford to fail in its installation. It took two years to prepare for today, Chen Yue, a director from the chief engineers office, told Xinhua in an interview.



The margin of error for the wedge is 1.5 centimeters. We have to measure precisely the influence of wind, current and buoyancy force, Lin Ming, the chief engineer of the cross-sea bridges island and tunnel sections, added.



It is like putting a needle through a hole in the sea--a truly unprecedented event in the history of transportation.



The installation took 10 hours to finish with the help of a crane to hoist and lower the wedge to its proper location. It is expected that additional finishes and welding work will be completed by June, according to Lin.



Once finished, the cross-sea bridge will extend to approximately 55 kilometers, 22.9 kilometers of which will be a bridge and 6.7 kilometers accounting for the tunnel.



The construction of the cross-sea bridge began in Dec. 2009. It is expected to be open for public use by the end of the year, Zhu Yongling, director of the bridge management bureau, told Xinhua.


We are collating signatures to petition ...
Chinese Consumers Buying Imported Goods (Photo : Getty Images)

Many students in Australia are taking advantage of the high demand Chinese consumers have for foreign goods, according to an article by Today Online.



In fact, some of these individuals have cashed in on the opportunity and even grew their business.



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Such is the case with Zhang Yuan, who attended college in Australia. Zhangs small business started with carrying out favors for relatives back in China and made extra cash from the small amount of commission she charged. Now, Zhang has grown her business from a one-woman operation into a legitimate affair that earns over $300,000 a year.



In addition, Zhangs business has offices in Melbourne and Hangzhou, and has two buyers, packers, and customer service representatives. Her target market is now health-conscious and affluent Chinese women.



The Chinese have always had blind adoration for foreign things, Zhang, who is now 25, told Today Online in an exclusive interview.



So rather than paying for expensive, made-in-China products that might lack safety, why wouldnt they buy high-quality Australian ones at lower prices?



Aside from university students, recent graduates in Australia have also joined the cottage industry to fill the need for highly sought-after Australian products. These entrepreneurs call themselves daigou or purchasing agents. It has become a lucrative business, with some analysts estimating that daigou have sent Australian products worth approximately $600 million to China last year.



Just through the daigous own personal networks, they enable a new market for a small- and medium-sized business in Australia, Peter Cai, a fellow at Sydney-based think tank Lowy Institute, told Today Online.



The daigou, however, have critics in both Chinese and Australian shores. Some question whether the activity is within the law, and if they are paying required taxes or meeting certain regulations.



For the meantime, it looks like there is no stopping the daigou. Some Australian companies have already reached out to Chinese students to showcase their products. Retailers in China have also touched base with the daigou to access their personal networks.


Pacific oyster invasion in Denmark (Photo : Weibo)

The Danish people are suffering from the overwhelming presence of oysters on their shores. As a solution, Chinese companies are linking up with relevant authorities to bring the shellfish to foodies in China, Shanghaiist reported.



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Dubbed as the Pacific oyster invasion of Denmark, thousands, if not millions, of Pacific oysters have reportedly taken over Danish beaches.



The Pacific oyster is an invasive species local to Asia and was introduced to Denmark 10 years ago, with populations in Denmark booming in the past couple of years.



In a playful move, the Danish embassy called out to China by posting on Weibo, a popular social media platform in China. Officials asked the Chinese for help in taking care of its 500-tonne oyster problem, inviting Web users to come up with clever solutions.



In response to the call for help, Chinese netizens have volunteered to eat all of the troublesome oysters.



Meanwhile, Chinese companies have seen the problem as an opportunity to link up with Danish authorities to properly bring the invasive species to China and deliver it to the mouths of Chinese foodies.



We have got some very serious requests for cooperation from Chinese businesses, among them food importers and e-commerce platforms, the Danish embassy told the South China Morning Post. And we have considered bringing (exporting) Danish oysters to China.



One of the e-commerce companies that have reached out is Alibabas Tmall. The company has already met up with Danish diplomats on April 28. According to representatives from Tmall, the two parties had agreed on further collaboration to bring Denmarks oysters to China.



Some travel agencies, on the other hand, have begun offering special gourmet tours to Denmark. This kind of tour involves staying in small Danish towns for at least six days to catch and eat oysters.



The Danish government has also made a new priority plan that promises to approve travel visas to Chinese tourists within three days.


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The Florida Senate took another step toward passing a medical marijuana bill Thursday.

Florida Senate approves medical marijuana bill

Bill largely mirrors House bill, minus compromise on dispensaries

CAPITOL CONNECTION: Latest News | Contact your Florida legislators

The Senate approved the Florida House version of the bill, 31-7, with tinkering.

The bill implements the medical marijuana amendment that voters passed with 71 percent approval last November.

The bill allows for people with debilitating medical conditions to get a certificate for medical marijuana through a doctor, without a 90 day waiting period.

Users will be able to use cannabis in various ways, including vaping and edibles, but no smoking.

The bill also increases the number of new dispensaries (now called medical marijuana treatment center) around the state and makes provisions to allow additional dispensaries as the registry of medical marijuana users grows.

The bill also calls for medical marijuana research to be conducted.

The bill's supporters say its not perfect, but it's best to get something in place because the industry is evolving.

"Everyone is running around scared of the decisions we are going to make because of the money on the line. This doesn't end tomorrow, said bill sponsor FL Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park. "We will be dealing with this every session as this product and patients evolve."

House and Senate leaders still need to reach a compromise on some small differences before midnight on Friday, then send the bill to Gov. Scott.

While the bill is closer to what marijuana advocates want, legal action may still be possible. Attorney John Morgan, who helped spearhead the campaign to get the amendment passed, is already threatening legal action.

Some legislators would also like to see smoking allowed. Sen. Jeff Clemens, a Democrat from Lake Worth, said during Thursday's debate on the Senate floor, "is smoking not good for your health? Maybe it isn't but it's better than dying."

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Graduating college with top honors is something that Angel Sanchez never imagined as he sat in his jail cell years ago.

Angel Sanchez will graduate from University of Central Florida

He studied legal studies and political studies

Sanchez was arrested at 17 and charged with attempted murder

In the 'hood, you dont get a high GPA and you dont graduate from a university," Sanchez said. "You graduate from the juvenile detention center and go to adult jails."

Sanchez grew up in inner-city Miami. By middle school, he joined a gang and got arrested for the first time.

One of them hits me, and they start jumping me and my friend. Immediately, the first thing I think of is the gun I have," he explained. "I start shooting at them, and it happens right in front of a police officer.

Police charged Sanchez with attempted murder and at the age of 17, he was sentenced to prison for 30 years.



Angel Sanchez's father, Enrique, raised him as a single parent. (Courtesy of Angel Sanchez)

I had a dad who raised me by himself. All he wanted was for me to get good grades and go to school. And I had let him down. All I had to show for it was a 30-year sentence," he said.

Before he died, his elderly father, Enrique, would visit him in jail. Crippled with guilt, Sanchez began immersing himself in books.

Once Im in the law library, I start saying, 'Wow, I actually understand law, I have a passion for this,'" he said. "I wish I wouldve known about this when I was young. I wouldve pursued this. If I ever get out, Im going to college.

Sanchez fought his case, got resentenced, released on probation  then, living in an Orlando homeless shelter, applied for school at Valencia College. Three years and a 4.0 GPA later, Sanchez earned a scholarship to attend the University of Central Florida.

I give credit to my faith. I give credit to my Dad. But, all of it found its cross in education," he said.

Although he thinks he has overcompensated to make up for his troubled past, the diligence and hours of studying paid off: Sanchez is graduating from UCF with a 4.0 GPA in legal studies and political science. He's also earned highest student honor at UCF, Order of Pegasus.

I want to work on criminal justice reform. I want to reduce mass incarceration. I want to inspire other at-risk individuals, those who have already been convicted to know that they can follow their dream," he said.

Sanchez graduates Saturday and plans to study law at the University of Miami  unless he is removed from the waiting list at Yale.



Angel Sanchez is graduating with honors from the University of Central Florida and is going to study law at the University of Miami, unless he's accepted into Yale. (News 13)
Fan Yusu's essay was centered around the hardships Chinese migrant workers encounter. (Photo : Getty Images)

An autobiographical essay written by Fan Yusu showing the plight of migrant workers in China was published online and has captured the hearts of many Chinese people, according to an article in The Guardian.



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The essay, called I am Fan Yusu, was first published on the social networking site WeChat last week and has since been deleted.



Many believe that the removal of her story on WeChat was due to the themes of her essay, which was mostly centered around the hardships Chinese migrant workers encounter as they attempt to build a life outside their hometown.



The online essay has made 44-year-old Fan Yusu into one of the hottest writers in China today. Her popularity has forced her to leave a migrant village outside of Beijing, where shes been staying until her rise to fame.



According to Xinhua, Fan is currently hiding.



Fans story began with her childhood in a small village during the downturn of the Cultural Revolution. Fan is one of five children and was forced to work at the tender age of 12 to help her family.



By age 20, Fan fulfilled one of her dreams: to travel to one of Chinas big cities. She made her way to Beijing in hopes to find work and to see the big wide world.



Unfortunately, Fan hit a roadblock: an abusive marriage. She also gave birth to two daughters.



He became drunk and violent. I couldnt bear his domestic violence any longer and decided to take my two kids back to my hometown, Fan wrote.



She eventually returned to Beijing to work as the nanny of a millionaires illegitimate child.



Fans story went on to touch the hearts of many Chinese and was even lauded by the Peoples Daily, the Communist Partys official mouthpiece.



When asked about whether she plans on pursuing a career as a writer, Fan said in an interview before she went into hiding that she [has] no talent."



"I have never dreamed of changing my destiny with a pen," she said.


Plainview Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Linda Morris (right) gets a warm welcome from representatives of Allegiance Behavioral Healthcare and Inspirations Outpatient Counseling Program as they work out details for the upcoming Business After Hours mixer, set for 5-6 p.m. Thursday, May 11, in the Max Gabriel Conference Room at Covenant Hospital. Allegiance Behavioral Healthcare is the mental health facility on the fourth floor of the hospital. Inspirations is its outpatient counseling program at 2207 W. 24th St. Representing both are Andrew Talley (left), community educator; Priscilla Ellis, program director; Angie Alexander, CEO; Dr. Victor Gutierrez, medical director; and Terri Courtney, community educator.
Workers install Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea research submersible, onto its carrier. (Photo : Getty Images)

In a bid to improve the countrys capabilities in deep-sea research, China will soon start the construction of two deep-sea research vessels, the State Oceanic Administration announced at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, May 3, China Daily reported.



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One of the vessels is a marine resources survey ship and the other a mothership for manned submersibles. Both vessels will be the first for China.



As of date, there are 17 long-range oceanographic research ships and 15 coastal water survey ships being operated by China Marine Research Vessels.



According to Hu Xuedong, deputy director of the State Oceanic Administrations Deep Sea Department, the construction of the ships will commence before July.



China State Shipbuilding Corp.s Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Co. in Guangzhou will be in charge of the construction of the survey ship. It will measure 98 meters long and 17 meters wide, powered by an advanced electric propulsion.



In addition, the survey ship will be able to carry over 70 kinds of research equipment. It can also perform accurate long-term surveys in various studies, including ocean-atmosphere systems and marine geology.



Meanwhile, the mothership for manned submersibles will be built at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group in Wuhan. It will support the submersible called Jiaolong, named after a dragon from Chinese mythology, as well as the construction of Chinas first manned deep-sea station.



Jiaolong is Chinas first manned submersible. In June 2012, it successfully reached a depth of 7,062 meters in the Mariana Trench.



The two ships will have world-class technological and operational capacity. They will be able to travel at least 6,000 nautical miles on each journey, said Hu at the news conference.



Their service will extensively improve our capabilities in ocean surveying, deep-sea science and marine environmental protection.



Due to their advanced nature, the vessels will give builders a lot of challenge in terms of construction, according to experts.


A homicide investigation was launched Thursday after a man was found dead inside a house trailer in north Harris County.

About 10:30 a.m., Harris County sheriff's deputies were sent to investigate reports of a man found dead at a mobile home park in the 1700 block of Greens Road.

A caregiver for the victim, who has not been formally identified, arrived at the trailer and found the man unresponsive. Sheriff's deputies said the man was bleeding from a head wound.

The man was pronounced dead after paramedics arrived at the scene, authorities said.

An autopsy was ordered to confirm the man's identity and determine the cause of death. The motive remains under investigation, officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
MRT File Photo

AUSTIN  MMEX Resources Corp. announces a strategic relationship with Trinity Consultants Inc., an international environmental consulting firm that specializes in industrial air quality issues, for its proposed Pecos County refinery.

Under the agreement, Trinity will assist MMEX with the necessary air quality environmental authorizations to initiate construction of the refinery, including the New Source Review Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit application required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and EPA Region 6, and subsequent Title V Federal Operating Permit. Trinity will also provide broad environmental support comprising preliminary environmental site feasibility evaluation, permitting strategy development, regulatory applicability analysis, and permit preparation, negotiation, and public participation.
China-Philippines Diplomacy (Photo : Getty Images)

On Wednesday, a Xi-Duterte phone call paved the way for the discussion of bilateral ties and regional cooperation.



The Chinese President met his Filipino counterpart twice last year and achieved important consensus with him, leading to a comprehensive resumption of bilateral ties.



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The two countries are currently seeking a deeper political mutual trust and are cooperating in various fields, Xi said, adding that a dialogue and consultation channel for the South China Sea issue has also been arranged.



Corresponding to the fundamental interests of China and the Philippines and their peoples, Asian neighbors and the international community fully support all these efforts, he said.



Xi appealed to the two countries to support their pragmatic cooperation in all fields in order for them and their peoples to benefit even more.



The Chinese President also expressed appreciation for the Philippines crucial role in promoting cooperation in East Asia along the right direction as it takes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) rotating presidency.



Xi also welcomed Dutertes presence in the upcoming Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled on May 14-15 in Beijing, saying he anticipates meeting with him again.



For his part, Duterte said he was pleased with the developments in Philippines-China friendship and unity and with the restoration and advancement of their exchanges and cooperation in various fields.



As its rotating presidency, Manila is prepared to push forward the ASEANs relations with China and to achieve close communication and cooperation with Beijing in international and regional concerns, he said, adding that he is looking forward to visiting Beijing for the upcoming forum.



As the Korean crisis was discussed during the phone conversation, Xi said that China strongly advocates the denuclearization of the peninsula and the preservation of peace and stability.



He also said that the issue should be resolved through dialogue and consultations, urging all significant parties to exercise restraint and go back to the right track.



China is eager to observe the ASEANs active role in securing peace and stability in the region, Xi noted.



The China-Philippines bilateral relations got a boost with the Xi-Duterte phone call. Both countries are looking forward to an increased cooperation.


The Force was strong with San Antonio Star Wars fans as devotees  both young and old  headed to Northwest Vista College for a May the 4th celebration.

The family-friendly event called for a costume contest, a Chewbacca call contest, games, music and a rad Star Wars selfie station.
Bexar County Sheriff's Office

SAN ANTONIO  Authorities in the Alamo City arrested more people on DWI charges during Fiesta in 2017 than the year prior, according to data released by police Friday.

Across Bexar County, there were 270 DWI arrests spanning April 20 to April 30, the new numbers released by the San Antonio Police Department show.
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"Go Spurs Go!" has been shouted from the tiniest Spurs fans to the Baseline Bums for decades, but Spurs Nation may have a new postseason credo coined by a bandana-wearing Fiesta reveler previously known as the "Nombre, shut up" man.

Until now.

San Antonio's comedic relief in the city's post-Fiesta daze has been found in Felipe Aldape, who with the phrase "Nombre shut up... Go Spurs Go" became an overnight local celebrity and meme after giving a quintessential "puro" interview to Univision 41 during the Flambeau Parade last Saturday.

(Watch the original video clip here)

"I'm 51, I believe,"Aldape said to start his mySA.com interview. "I feel like 37."

RELATED: Spurs fans stunned online as Tony Parker collapses with leg injury in Game 2

The star was born when a local Univision reporter picked the bead-draped man out of the parade crowd to share his thoughts on the festivities. He evidently had other, more important things on his mind.

"Nombre shut up, man...Go Spurs Go," the maybe 51-year-old said in his first-ever TV appearance.

He automatically became the Alamo City's spirit animal after clips of the interview were shared throughout social media. The line has become so popular it wouldn't be a surprise to be driving down I-35 and read the words "nombre shut up, man" preceding "Go Spurs Go" on Frost Bank Tower's yearly playoff banner.

"That did it right there," Aldape reflected on his newfound fame. "I had 30 relatives right next to me, getting all rowdy."

When the interview was over Aldape and his family continued partying and barbecuing near Penner's on West Commerce like they do every Fiesta. Since he doesn't own any social media profiles, Aldape didn't realize he had become a viral internet star until his coworkers at Texas Sheet Metal started teasing him.

Clueless to why he was being greeted with "nombre, shut up," he told them: "I've got a flip phone, I can't afford what you've got."

Along with being wrapped in hugs from his proud sister, Aldape said he's been getting attention around town.

"People recognize me at Applebee's on Military Drive," he said, adding that customers gave him food, drinks, hugs and high fives. "It's pretty cool to be all over the world."

With the overwhelming popularity, Aldape may want to consider hiring an agent.

RELATED: Photo of Tim Duncan jersey on fire ignites outrage

"Show me the money," is his new Jerry Maguire-esque response to the hoopla surrounding him.

He said family members have read online comments from women who have said things like: I wouldn't mind getting that guy.

"I'm very single and ready to mingle, just show me the money," he joked.

In addition to being propositioned with dates, Aldape has also welcomed ideas about turning his catchphrase into a t-shirt.

"Cool, go for it," is Aldape's response to anyone who wants to slap his face on a shirt. "Nombre shut up, you can use my logo, show me the money."

As for the Spurs, Aldape is a faithful fan through and through, even in the plight of Parker's season-ending injury.

"The Spurs still got it, it ain't just one person, it's team work," he said. "One guy is down, but the show has to go on, they will come back."

He said the Spurs must win because the city needs another parade. And if a 6th Larry O'Brien floating down the Riverwalk isn't in the future, Aldape has his eyes on the next set of Fiesta parades.

Because now that the rowdy Spurs fan has become famous, he's hoping to take his legendary catchphrase from the sideline to main stage at next year's parade.

mmendoza@mysa.com

Twitter: @MaddySkye
BRIDGEPORTA Waterbury man has won a $855,408 jury verdict following a work-related fall in a pizza shop.

Mauricio Boez, 52, fell down stairs at the business while delivering Coca-Cola products in 2010, according to the Connecticut Law Tribune, which first reported the story. The jury ruled that the pizza place was mostly responsible for the fall, due to problems with the steps and landing.

The incident cited in the lawsuit occurred in the service entrance of the basement of Famous Pizza House on Park Avenue, which has been under new ownership since 2012.

Boez lawyers successfully argued that the fall led to injuries that required multiple surgeries. The jury found that he was ten percent responsible, reducing the award, according to the Tribune.

The site of the fall is a service entrance, which is not used by customers.

Around $312,000 in the case was attributed directly to medical expenses, according to the Tribune, and the rest a combination of pain and disability. Attorneys representing the former owners of the shop argued that the surgeries were required by unrelated accidents.

Unless the case is appealed, the money will be paid out from the former pizza shops insurance company, according to the Tribune.
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BRIDGEPORT  James Robertson is a big man. A proud, hardworking man who dissolved into tears on Friday as he spoke about his murdered son before state Superior Court Judge Robin Pavia.

My son was taken from me three days before my birthday, Robertson began, before breaking into tears. Then, glancing to the other side of the courtroom where 21-year-old Nasir Hargett sat in a bright-orange prison jumpsuit, Robertson continued, He killed my son because he thought he didnt look right.

Hargett didnt appear concerned. He made a big show of appearing nonchalant, loudly leafing through documents as Robertson, the victims sister and mother as they spoke in front of the judge.

When it came to his turn to talk, Hargett told the judge he had nothing to say. Then he sat at the defense table, showing no emotion, as the judge sentenced him to 45 years in prison for murder.

This offense is one of a very serious magnitude, the judge said. By all accounts, the decedent was walking away when he was murdered.

She then sentenced him to 55 years, suspended after he serves 45 in prison and followed by five years probation. The judge ordered Hargett to maintain full employment while on probation. At least try, she added.

Hargett was convicted of murder for fatally shooting 24-year-old Davon Robertson with a sawed-off rifle on Oct. 13, 2014, on Pearl Street.

Senior Assistant States Attorney Ann Lawlor told the judge the shooting was not preceded by any dispute or argument.

Mr. Robertson was walking down the street, drinking a soda, and was followed down the street and senselessly murdered by the defendant, Lawlor said.

An eyewitness testified during the trial that Hargett fired three times at Robertson, hitting him in the leg and chest, and then walked away.
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A man accused of killing a 3-year-old girl inside a local motel's restroom in 2014 appeared twice in the 406th District Court this week as the prosecution and defense addressed last-minute details in preparation for his upcoming trial, which could run for more than two weeks.

Cristian Yepez is scheduled to stand trial May 15 in connection with the slaying of his girlfriend's daughter, Jasleen Valdez.

Yepez, 27, and his girlfriend, Janette Irene Pantoja, face charges of murder, injury to a child and tampering with evidence, all felonies.

Twice this week Yepez has made appearances in the 406th District Court to address pending motions in his case.

READ MORE: Trial scheduled for man accused of killing girlfriend's 3-year-old at local motel

On Tuesday, 406th District Court Judge Oscar J. Hale Jr. allowed the prosecution to remove unneeded language included in Yepez's indictment.

Defense attorney Uriel Druker argued removing the language broadens the scope of the indictment and lowers the prosecution's burden of proof.

Hale granted the request to remove the language from the indictment, saying the defense has been on notice as to what charges Yepez is facing and has time to prepare.

On Thursday, Hale granted an additional amendment to the indictment.

The indictment states Yepez and Pantoja committed or attempted to commit an act clearly dangerous to human life by "striking the head of Jasleen Valdez and/or the body of Jasleen Valdez with a hand(s) or ... with an unknown object or ... against a surface or by failing to protect ... Jasleen Valdez."

Hale allowed the prosecution to abandon the words "or by failing to protect ... Jasleen Valdez" after Assistant District Attorney Linda Garza-Martinez said failing to protect the child was never how the prosecution intends to prove Yepez committed the homicide.

Failing to protect the child is language intended to be used in the case against Pantoja, according to Garza-Martinez.

RELATED: Mugshots: 17 arrested in Webb County's Operation GOTCHA

Laredo police, with assistance from Pantoja, 23, and Houston Police Department detectives, discovered the child's body buried in a shallow grave in the 7300 block of Springfield Avenue in September 2014.

She was buried at a construction site north of Mary Help of Christians School.

Other matters addressed during Wednesday's hearing included how many days the trial is expected to last and when to schedule witnesses who will be traveling from Chicago to testify in the case.

The court has allotted a two-week period for the case to be tried.

The prosecution believes they can wrap up their portion of the trial in about a week. However, 56 witnesses remain on the District Attorney's Office list of those called to testify so that time frame may be extended further.

The list was reduced from over a 100 potential witnesses to 56, Garza-Martinez said.

Along with Laredo and Houston, the Chicago Police Department became involved in the case due to a missing person's report filed for Valdez.

Chicago law enforcement has been subpoenaed by both the prosecution and the defense to travel to Laredo to testify in the case.

Yepez, who remains in custody, has another court appearance set for May 15, the day jury selection in his case begins. He has been in custody at the Webb County Jail since his arrest, held on a combined $875,000 bond.

Pantoja is scheduled to appear May 15 as well for a status hearing. Her case was severed from Yepez's in 2015, meaning their cases will be tried separately.

Pantoja is currently out of custody on bond.

Valdez was discovered buried in an empty lot a day after Pantoja approached HPD saying that Yepez had killed and buried her daughter, court records state.

Pantoja assisted the Laredo and Houston Police departments in finding her child's body.

She led detectives to a shallow grave Sept. 11, 2014 in the 7300 block of Springfield Avenue.
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The Big Thicket chapter of Ducks Unlimited brought their Buckshot Varsity chapter to a fishing tournament held in Tarkington on April 29 with guests from Texas Parks and Wildlife giving a pond management field day presentation.

The Buckshot Varsity chapter of Ducks Unlimited consists of children under the age of 18 who take interest in hunting and fishing under the guidance of the Big Thicket chapter.

The Big Thicket chapter brought an estimated total of 80 Buckshot Varsity kids to a pond located down County Road 2184 in Tarkington. The fishing tourney divided the youths into teams of two.

"We want to get the kids outdoors," said Tom Johnson of the Big Thicket chapter.

Following the tournament, the members of the Inland Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife held its demonstration out on the pond.

"They're doing an electroshock survey of the pond," said Johnson.

The survey allows the Inland Fisheries Division to determine what kind of fish are in a pond, their average sizes and determine any steps needed to better manage the pond.

"It's the way they do pond management," said Johnson.

The boat performing the pond management returned to the shore with Natural Resource Specialist Niki Ragan showing the Buckshot Varsity students what they found in the pond, which include gizzard chad, tilapia, catfish, bass, bluegill and more.

Ragan explained how important the boat's shocking functions are when managing a pond as it allows them to determine if a pond can have healthy fish. One important factor is whether or not if fish can get the required oxygen.

"They breathe oxygen in the water," Ragan explained to the youths.

The boat has two boons that connect with four wires each on a harness called a chandelier. The crew dips the wires into the water and shocks the pond to collect the fish and study them.

"It allows us to collect and measure the fish without killing them," said Ragan.

The Inland Fisheries Division also uses a Secchi disk, which allows them to study the clarity of the water. With their tools the division determined that the pond's main concern is a need for a structure for the bass to hide in so they can hunt more effectively.

"They may not be able to ambush it like they need to," said Ragan.

Ragan took questions from curious children before concluding the presentation.

Johnson awarded members of the Buckshot Varsity chapter with a variety of prizes based on their catches for the day.

For more information regarding the chapter, visit the Facebook page called Buckshot Varsity Ducks Unlimited or call Johnson at 281-593-9118.
Submitted

The Rotary Club of East Montgomery County is installing Little Free Libraries to celebrate the club's 20th anniversary.

Twenty libraries will be built and located throughout East Montgomery County in parks, playgrounds, mobile home parks, apartment complexes and other public areas so children and adults can have access to books and magazines.
Submitted photo

Emily Graham, a junior at Katy Taylor High School, was awarded the "Best in Show Award" for her piece titled "Sweet Tooth" in the 19th Annual Wells Fargo Student Art Contest presented by Society for the Performing Arts (SPA).

The award is given by Mary and Mike Sultanik in memory of Viola Davis Rosson.
Denmark's Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (L) recently made an official trip to China. (Photo : Getty Images)

China announced on Wednesday that it would send two giant pandas to Denmark and work on giant panda protection. The announcement was made during the visit of Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen to Beijing.



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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Rasmussen held talks and attended a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on Wednesday afternoon.



The two parties agreed on the cooperation in various fields including food and drug supervision and quarantine and panda protection.



This will be Chinas first time to send pandas to Denmark.



The Danish prime minister visited Chengdu to see the two giant pandas to be sent to the Copenhagen Zoo to live there for some time. But the arrival of the pandas in Denmark will depend on when Denmark gets (the Panda House) ready, Chinese Foreign Ministry official Liu Weimin told reporters following the talks.



The giant pandas, as messengers of friendship, will play a positive role to our bilateral relations," Liu added.



In March, the Copenhagen Zoo disclosed the design of the panda house. According to the zoo director and CEO Steffen Straede, the construction will commence in November and would be finished in about a year.



The two countries revealed a plan to enhance cooperation from 2017 to 2020 and decided to increase two-way trade and investment. The cooperation will focus on agriculture, fisheries, food security, health and tourism as determined by both parties.



China hopes to work with Denmark to advance bilateral practical cooperation and guide the economic globalization toward more inclusiveness and fairness and promote liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, Li said.



For his part, Rasmussen said that the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership with China is a diplomatic priority for his country. He also welcomed Chinese investments to Denmark.



As a member of the European Union, Denmark supports the developments in the discussions of EU-China investment treaty and play a part in the EU-China relations, he said.



Prior to the talks, Li welcomed Rasmussen at a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.



The China-Denmark relations have become stronger with the signing of cooperation documents including that of the giant panda protection.


KABUL, Afghanistan - Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a controversial Afghan militia leader who has spent the past two decades as a fugitive abroad, returned Thursday to the city he once attacked mercilessly and made an impassioned appeal for peace and unity in his war-torn homeland.

The extraordinary scene was unimaginable even a year ago, when Hekmatyar was a wanted terrorist under U.N. sanctions, leading armed fighters against NATO and Afghan forces in a part-time alliance with the Taliban, and hundreds of his followers were in prison.

"I have come to cooperate with the government to help end the war and restore peace," Hekmatyar, 69, told about 2,000 people at a ceremony in the presidential palace. He urged the militants to join the peace process to "end all reasons for the presence of foreign troops" in Afghanistan.

President Ashraf Ghani embraced Hekmatyar and declared that his return, under a peace agreement they signed in September, shows that "an end to hostility and strife can be achieved."

Once a ruthlessly effective anti-Soviet militia leader in the 1980s, Hekmatyar was bankrolled by the CIA but later turned against the West. He has denounced U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan for years, and he reiterated that stand in his speech Thursday, while vowing to reject violence.

Hekmatyar, who served two brief stints as prime minister, became embroiled in the civil war of the early 1990s. As he and other warlords fought for control of Kabul, his rockets badly damaged several districts and killed thousands of people, earning him the nickname the "Butcher of Kabul."

When the Taliban took power in 1996, he fled to Iran; after the Taliban was driven out in 2001, he took up arms against the government of President Hamid Karzai while reportedly hiding in Pakistan. He also called for jihad against the United States, and in 2003 he was designated a "global terrorist" by the U.S. government after declaring support for al-Qaeda. His forces were reportedly behind two attacks on helicopters carrying foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Last fall, with Taliban insurgents gaining momentum, Ghani proposed a deal with Hekmatyar, encouraged by the United States, which took months of negotiations. The president offered him full amnesty for wartime abuses and asked the United Nations to lift its ban if Hekmatyar would return to civilian life and help persuade the Taliban to end its nearly 16-year guerrilla war.

On Thursday, the deal came to fruition when Hekmatyar roared into Kabul in a caravan of fast-moving trucks and SUVs full of armed men. Several hours later, he appeared at Ghani's side in the palace, where his speech was repeatedly interrupted by shouts of "God is great!"

Yet despite the celebratory glow, there was concern that his return could become a new source of tension in Afghan politics. Many of his former foes, now in positions of power, are said to fear that his Hezb-i-Islami party, which split into factions in his absence, could coalesce around him and make a bid for power.

As for the Taliban, which has been both ally and rival to the party in the past, its current leaders have portrayed Hekmatyar as a criminal and a traitor to Islam. Some analysts said they view him as potentially competing for support among fellow ethnic Pashtuns.

Taliban fighters also appear to show little interest in negotiations after making a series of territorial gains and staging numerous deadly attacks, including infiltrating an army base last month and killing at least 140 Afghan military personnel.

Critics have complained that Ghani's peace deal gives too many concessions to Hekmatyar, including the right to bring armed guards with him and the release of hundreds of prisoners from his once-banned party. Disputes over the prisoner release delayed his return for weeks.

On Monday, the first release of 68 men was abruptly canceled after Hekmatyar's aides were told that 13 names had been crossed off the list. By Tuesday, the dispute had been smoothed over, and 55 men walked out of Kabul's Pul-i-Charki prison, where they were given flowers, new clothes and turbans at a private welcome ceremony.

There has also been opposition from human rights activists and Kabul residents who recall Hekmatyar's ferocious rocketing of the capital. On Thursday, a group of elders waiting for his caravan said they admired him as a "hero of jihad" against the Soviets, but others said his wartime cruelty should not be forgiven.

"I know people have high hopes today, but we have to remember all the innocent people he killed, the children left orphans," said Faisal Khan, 24, a business student. Around him, men and boys cheered as the convoy of trucks, some mounted with machine guns, sped past. Hekmatyar, white-bearded and wearing spectacles, waved from inside a white SUV.

In his palace speech, Hekmatyar took pains to portray himself as sincerely committed to the cause of peace. He spoke forcefully and emotionally, chiding officials and politicians for their quarrels and begging them to unite for the sake of peace and stability.

"I am bringing my family to Kabul to send a clear message to all Afghans. From now on, this will be our home as well as our grave, and we will not abandon it for anyone," he said, challenging other Afghan officials to do the same. Many have moved their families abroad because of insecurity.

Hekmatyar insisted that he had no thirst for power and that he wants to act as a bridge among all groups. Yet he also expressed some less-diplomatic views, denouncing the national news media as inflammatory and saying the Ghani government was divided and dysfunctional.

In some ways, Hekmatyar is a misfit in a democratizing society, a charismatic but autocratic leader emerging from years of conflict, clandestinity and vertical control over a party based in Pakistani refugee camps, now expected to operate in an open system roiled with internal conflict.

It is not clear what role the aging former warrior, who now styles himself as an Islamist intellectual, will play in his splintered party, which includes cabinet ministers in Kabul, long-haired fighters from forest lairs on the Pakistan border, and professionals who have just returned from exile in Europe.

On Friday, Hekmatyar is expected to give a rabble-rousing speech at the national sports stadium here to thousands of energized supporters, including hundreds of armed followers. But some longtime observers seem convinced he is the man who can get peace talks back on track.

"He is a man of education and Islam, not a thief or a terrorist," said Mohammed Aman, 58, a veteran Hezb-i-Islami member in the palace audience. "He was far away for a long time, so many wrong things were said about him. Now he is back, and people will see who he really is. Just wait and see."
AUSTIN -- Ports-to-Plains Alliance Chairman John Bertsch of Plainview was in Washington, D.C. last week leading a delegation of the organizations supporters to meet with Congressional offices to discuss the importance of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, extending Interstate 27 and other issues critical to growing our rural economy.

The group of 17 came from six different states and Alberta, Canada. From April 25-27 they met with 19 House of Representative offices including Rep. Jodey Arrington, 15 Senate offices, including Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Ted Cruz, as well as staff from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

I was really pleased with the reception we received to our message in Congress. By and large the delegation recognizes the importance of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor not only for our regional economy but for the whole country as it serves as a key connection to the nations energy and agriculture heartland, said Bertsch. I am especially excited about Rep. Arringtons enthusiasm for Ports-to-Plains and I know he will be a great leader for us in Washington.

Among the items the Ports-to-Plains group discussed was a possible federal infrastructure plan, the need to address a permanent fix to shore up the highway trust fund and the importance of maintaining strong trade agreements for our regions economy, especially our ag producers.

There has been quite a bit of talk about a big federal infrastructure package and there is no doubt that we certainly need to invest in our infrastructure. We let Congress know that such a plan should address the needs of rural America and not only focus on the big cities. We also wanted to promote the Ports-to-Plains Corridor as a project of national significance that should be strongly considered for funding, said Bertsch.

Trade was also a topic that was in the news while the Ports-to-Plains representatives were in Washington as President Trump announced that he would not withdraw the U.S. from NAFTA but did want to negotiate with Canada and Mexico to update the agreement.

Trade is so critical for our agriculture producers, and Canada and Mexico as the second and third largest markets for U.S. farm products, said Bertsch. While we are fully supportive of improving NAFTA, we would hate to see us completely withdraw from the agreement and start a trade war with our neighbors and best customers.

The group also updated lawmakers on the efforts to extend Interstate 27.

Extending I-27 is a long-term proposal that will have a tremendous impact on West Texas. We continue to work through the process, building support in communities along the proposed route and coordinating closely with the Texas Department of Transportation. We are not quite at the point for congressional action yet, but we are keeping our members of congress fully informed so that they can be ready to move quickly when that time comes, said Bertsch.
The Plainview/Hale County Crime Stoppers Committee will pay a reward of up to $350 to anyone with information that will lead to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for the following crimes:

--On May 3, someone took a Remington .204 stainless Burruis black diamond 6x24x50 mm gun, with jewel trigger from 302 Mesa Circle. The owner of the Remington also mentioned that he is willing to pay an extra $500 reward.
Dahlia was born in Brownfield, Texas, to Sam and Jewel Gossett. Dahlia spent all her growing up years on the farm along with a brother and two sisters. On Saturdays as a teenager, she enjoyed working at one of the local Dry Good Stores as a cashier. It was during the Bracero program, when the stores were overflowing with customers and the sidewalks and streets were full of pedestrians. She was so good at her job that the owner gave her the responsibility of handling the Lay-Away Department.

After completing her secondary studies and graduating from Brownfield High School she attended Draughns Business College. Once finishing her studies, she went on to work for Texas Department of Transportation as a secretary. Dahlia met a farmer, G.L. Hight at the Asbury Methodist Church and they later married in Meadow, Texas. She proudly mentioned, they have been happily married for 56 years.

In 1978 after farming in different areas they decided to settle and purchase a farm in Floyd County and make Lockney their home. Besides being a farmers wife, Dahlia also worked as a teachers aide for 25 years at the Lockney Junior High School.

Dahlia and G.L. had a daughter and son. Penny who now lives in Lubbock had twin daughters who are now 21 years old. Keith, from Spearman, also had a daughter. Dahlia is very proud of all three of her granddaughters.

Dahlia and her husband attend Lockney Methodist Church where they have been active members for years. She also holds the responsibility of church historian and always willing to help wherever she is needed.

This special lady just glows when asked about volunteering and how it makes her feel. Her reply was the feeling of being blessed when you reach out to someone and do a kind deed. Dahlia volunteers at the Lockney Health and Rehab where a group from her church meet on Wednesdays and sing. She enjoys going around to greet everyone and also makes cookies to hand out. She is also known for taking a meal, cake or pie to the sick. She is so thoughtful to call, write a note or drop a card and carry food like a meal, a cake or pie to those in need.

At the end of my interview, she told me what brings joy and satisfaction in everything she does, is knowing that she is the hands and feet of Christ. What a wonderful caring woman as she continues to share and serve others in her community.

If you were unable to attend the program given by Cassie Pfeiffer, area specialist for USDA Rural Development, applications may be picked up at the RSVP office. Grants and low interest loans are available for residents in Floyd, Hale and Lamb counties. USDA has various programs that apply to cities with population 30,000 and smaller.

Coming May 18, to the Fair Theatre, in appreciation for all our volunteers, you are invited to attend RSVP Movie Night with a special presentation feature Driving Miss Daisy. Admission is free with a donation to FISH of a bar soap or TP. Also we will take donations to Snack Pak 4 Kids and give all funds collected to help feed a child for a year ($150). Refreshments will be available.

RSVP is a Ready To Serve Volunteer Program. We link volunteers aged 55 and over with community needs in Floyd, Hale and Lamb counties for the past 43 years. To join or get more information about volunteering call 291-1223 or drop by our office located in the basement of Unger Memorial Library.

Irma Shackelford is director of Runningwater Draw RSVP. 806-291-1223
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NORWALK  The former principal of Jefferson Science Magnet School was arrested for larceny Thursday after police said he pilfered more than $26,000 raised by parents to help fund classroom excursions.

John Reynolds, 46, is accused of stealing money donated to Jeffersons Student Activities Fund over a period of several years.

Detective Bill Maloney, who leads fraud investigations for the Norwalk Police Departments Detective Division, said the investigation began last year when financial irregularities were brought to the attention of the Board of Education. Maloney declined to say if more people are involved in the alleged thefts, as the investigation is ongoing.

Court records state Thomas Hamilton, chief financial officer for the

Norwalk Board of Education, first reported the suspected larceny to police in June, just a few months after Reynolds, a popular school administrator with more than 20 years of education experience, left the district to become the new headmaster of Pear Tree Point School, a private elementary school in Darien.

However, he left that position in December, a school spokesman said.

"We are shocked by the media reports and hope that the allegations are not true, according to a statement released by a Pear Tree spokesman late Thursday. Mr. Reynolds left Pear Tree Point School in December 2016 after only eight months with the school. There are no indications of any financial irregularities while has was employed by the school."

According to the arrest affidavit, before leaving his Jefferson post, Reynolds cleaned out his office and took with him all records related to the Student Activity Fund. When the schools acting principal, Craig Creilar, contacted Reynolds and asked several times for the records, Reynolds reportedly replied, Ill have to check my garage.

Court records show that Creiler reviewed the bank account statements and found several irregularities indicating gross mismanagement or outright theft.

Before contacting police, the Board of Education hired a forensic accounting firm to review the Student Activities Fund. The firms investigation found that while Jefferson School collected approximately $27,853 between March 12, 2013, and April 18, 2016, the cash was never deposited and there were no supporting records to document how the cash was used, court records show.

The money was collected from parents for two programs  Project Oceanology and Natures Classroom  and was tracked by a science teacher who ran the programs.

A school clerical employee made a statement to police in which she said cash payments were placed into an envelope and kept in Reynolds office closet. The employee told police that Reynolds would use cash collected for the fund to buy breakfast and lunch for himself and staff members. He would also use the money to reimburse staff members for items such as gift cards, printers and school supplies, court records show.

Board of Education policy directs that all (Student Activity Fund) monies collected shall be receipted and accounted for and directed without delay to the proper location of deposit and states explicitly that in no case shall monies be left overnight in schools except in safes provided for safekeeping of valuables, and even then no more than a few dollars shall be kept.

Board of Education Chairman Michael Lyons said the board has adopted various policies governing school activity funds. Statutory requirements stipulate that the principal of each school serve as the trustee for their schools respective fund and be responsible for its management, he said.

A teacher at Jefferson, who kept detailed payment records on a computer spreadsheet, told police the cost for Natures Classroom is $290 per student. Cash payments were put in an envelope in Reynolds office, court records show.

In August, Reynolds was interviewed by police for the first time. He told investigators he had returned to Hamilton a school laptop, some paper records and a key. Reynolds agreed to come back for a second interview once the forensic investigation was complete.

In December, Reynolds and his attorney, Eugene Riccio, went to police headquarters, where Reynolds was told that a forensic report found approximately $28,000 in cash unaccounted for.

Reynolds allegedly provided receipts totaling $6,104 for 2013; however, a supplemental forensic report showed there were no valid receipts for that year.

According to court records, Reynolds claimed that there were more than $5,000 in receipts to explain missing cash for 2014, but reports indicated only one usable receipt for $15.

For the year 2015, Reynolds claimed to have receipts totaling $4,042, but accounting reports indicated that receipts totaled $543, court records state.

And for 2016, Reynolds represented receipts of $1,986, but reports indicated supporting receipts totaled $493.

According to court records, there was an overall balance of $26,801 in cash missing from the two class projects.

Police obtained a warrant for Reynolds arrest and on Wednesday he turned himself in to police headquarters accompanied by his attorney, who did not return a request for comment by press time. Attempts to reach Reynolds at his home were unsuccessful.

Brenda Wilcox-Williams, a spokesperson for Norwalk Public Schools, did not respond to a request for comment.

In a March 2017 statement to police, Reynolds admitted that some records were less organized and incomplete. ... Some were damaged, not dated or hand written.

However, he strongly and categorically denied stealing cash from the Student Activities Fund or using the cash for his own personal benefit during his tenure at Jefferson, court records state.

Reynolds, of Sunnyside Drive, Darien, was charged with first-degree larceny. He was released after posting $100,000 bond and is due in court Thursday.

The charge of first-degree larceny is imposed when an alleged theft is in excess of $20,000 or is from a public entity.

Reynolds was hired as Jeffersons principal in July 2003. City records show his salary in 2015 was $174,651.

Reynolds had also served as assistant principal at both Silvermine and Jefferson elementary schools.

llake@hearstmediact.com
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One outcome of the French presidential election on Sunday is certain: Europe won't be the same.

The choice between candidates, however, could hardly be more stark.

A victory by far-right candidate Marine Le Pen would shake the foundations of the Western world. President Donald Trump's victory was seen as consequential in Europe, but a Le Pen win would be incomparably more significant, some liberals say. Whereas Trump has frequently changed his mind on issues, Le Pen's agenda has remained virtually unchanged for years. She has vowed to pull France out of NATO's military command, the euro zone and the European Union. Few doubt that she would deliver.

Her centrist opponent, Emmanuel Macron, who is leading in the polls, takes an opposing view: His pro-European agenda is based on a neoliberal economic approach and on a moderate stance on social issues. He would also be the most pro-American French president in a long time.

"With Macron as French president, the U.S. will encounter a much stronger, strategic, self-confident, forward-thinking France and therefore Europe," said Nicholas Dungan, a senior fellow at the D.C.-based Atlantic Council who works in France. "The U.S., whether it understands it or not, needs a strong Europe."

Americans who live in France say there are several reasons that a Macron victory could benefit the United States. France is a strong NATO ally and has recently conducted airstrikes against the Islamic State alongside the United States and other nations. French forces have also participated in NATO operations in Afghanistan. Le Pen, however, wants to cooperate more closely with Russia instead of the United States.

Economically, a French exit from the euro zone would create market turmoil and have unpredictable long-term repercussions on exchange rates, trading policies and laws that allow American companies to operate in the European Union. After all, the E.U. is the United States' biggest trading partner.

"If Le Pen were to win, (it) will certainly impact American industries and workers," said Martin Michelot, a Paris-based researcher with the German Marshall Fund, an American think tank.

In the U.S., presidential and congressional elections take place simultaneously. The French head to the polls three times, making the outcome even more unpredictable.

Sunday may be the second and final round of the French presidential election. But whoever wins will need to secure yet another victory in June during the legislative elections.

If the next French president in unable to capture the lower house of Parliament, he or she will face five years of governing without being able to rely on a majority of lawmakers. Although French presidents have more powers than leaders in many other nations, they still need their parties to push through legislative changes.

With France's traditional parties in disarray and a growing split along ideological lines, the winner is likely to be forced to cooperate with other parties and reach out to opponents.

It's a scenario that already reminds some of Trump's deadlock with Congress, where Democrats and some Republicans are challenging the president.

The French have traditionally been quite proud of being different from Americans. But the U.S. election played a surprisingly big role during the French campaign this year.

It will be Trump vs. Obama this Sunday.

Or at least that's how it seemed at times during the run-up to the final round of the French election.

Some Le Pen supporters have embraced President Trump as their role model, even wearing Trump T-shirts at Le Pen rallies.

Meanwhile, supporters of Macron have portrayed their candidate as the French equivalent of Obama: young, enthusiastic and optimistic about the way forward for an economically distressed nation. Such comparisons are of course flawed (Le Pen and Trump disagree on a number of issues; Macron had a hard time mobilizing even his core voters), but it is a surprising side note in a rather U.S.-skeptical nation.

Even far-leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon was portrayed by his supporters as the French Bernie Sanders. But are such comparisons driven by real similarities or by political strategy? "People like to portray us as the bad communists, but Bernie Sanders is seen in a much more positive way," Melenchon campaign member Luc Weinstein, 27, explained in Paris.

For Melenchon, the strategy paid off to some extent: He doubled the number of his supporters within weeks - but still failed to make it to the second round.
To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry.

Disclaimer

Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.
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WESTPORTEd Johnson served his town, Ridgewood, N.J., as a member of the school board and as an advocate for senior housing development, an activity he shared with his daughter, Jennifer.

I worked with my dad on creating senior housing for Ridgewood, she said.

Its fitting that Johnson, a dedicated Representative Town Meeting member, can be seen tirelessly debating issues late into the night  ranging from railroad parking expenditures to lobbying for a greater town emphasis on public transportation.

Johnson, 54, started her professional career in public service on the farms of Morris County, N.J., shortly after she graduated from Douglass College with a degree in economics. In her position as the executive director of the countys farmland preservation program, she developed and ran the newly-formed state initiative where she coordinated both regulatory and funding approvals across local, county and state agencies. Through her five-year tenure , Johnson supervised the

purchase of just under

$9 million in farmland conservation easements, legal agreements where the owner gives up the right to develop their plot of land.

This was a new program in New Jersey to try to protect farmland by purchasing development easements, Johnson said.

Driven by her land conservation work, Johnson set her sights on larger-scale preservation as a project manager for the Trust For Public Land. There, she saved public open space in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin while liaising with federal and state agencies.

While working full-time, Johnson earned a masters degree in real estate from New York University. She then went on to work for 14 years as the director of environmental and real estate advisory services at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In 2006, Johnson, her husband Evan Barr, and their daughters Eliza and Simone moved from New York to Westport. After a couple of years, Johnson got back into volunteering for her town, as she had done when she was a kid in Ridgewood.

Working in land preservation over the years was a useful primer for Johnsons transition into town government.

I worked with a lot of government agencies. I attended a lot of public meetings. Including ones where the public was very upset about things happening in their communities. So I was familiar and comfortable with that, she said.

But Johnson also has a sincere interest in town government. I laugh at myself because I am interested in reading this stuff, she said. Im interested in the process and transparency and trying to move us through the process to get to a solution.

Since 2010, Johnson has served on the South Western Regional Planning Agency, was a member of towns Downtown Improvement Committee, sat on the Parks and Recreation Commission, served as the transit director and now is a member of the RTM, District 9.

Facilitating government improvements for her neighbors  with a focus on transportation  is a major reason Johnson puts in so much work. One neighbor was concerned about pedestrian safety when a crosswalk was taken out on Wild Rose Road. He went to Johnson and she walked him through what he needed to do.

He got the crosswalk back yesterday, Johnson said last week. People dont know what the town process is. Im a huge advocate for mobility and Im a huge advocate for transparency of the process. Those are the two things that I very much want to help the community with.

@chrismmarquette; cmarquette@bcnnew.com
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NORWALK  Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who gained notoriety for his harsh criticism of then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, will be speaking in Norwalk on Saturday.

Khan will appear at a fundraiser and luncheon at the Norwalk Inn & Conference Center sponsored by the Connecticut Chapter of the Council of American Islamic Relations. Event organizers say Khans talk will touch on the rule of law, the Constitution, and life in the spotlight.

During the first 100 days of the Trump Presidency we have seen an assault on the civil rights of Muslims through attempted travel bans, immigration raids on Hispanic communities, and an attempt to deprive millions of Americans of affordable healthcare, said Farhan Memon, a Norwalk resident and chairperson of the Connecticut council. We are proud to host a gentleman who was one of the first to resist the President and who is continuing to build bridges between communities.

Khans convention speech, in which he criticized Trump for his proposed ban on Muslims and offered to lend the Republican candidate his copy of the U.S. Constitution, thrust Khan into the national spotlight as an advocate for constitutional rights.

Khan, a Pakistani-American who immigrated to the United States in 1980, is the father of United States Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in 2004 during the Iraq War. He delivered an impassioned speech at the DNC with his wife, Ghazala, standing silent at his side.

Khan is an attorney licensed to practice law in Washington, DC, New York and Federal District Courts, Southern and Western Districts of New York.

CAIRs stated mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. CAIR-CT is based in Hartford.

The talk and luncheon runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Norwalk Inn & Confernce Center, 99 East Ave., Norwalk. Tickets are $75. For more information, visit www.www.cair-ct.com.

llake@hearstmediact.com
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To the Editor:

Distracted driving is the most significant threat to traffic safety we have seen in many years. The best way to end distracted driving is to educate motorists about the danger it poses and to strictly enforce Connecticuts distracted driving laws.

Consequently, beginning now, and continuing through the month of May, our Department will intensify its efforts to target motorists who violate distracted driving laws.

Intensive zero tolerance enforcement will occur in the Center of Town as well as on South Avenue, New Norwalk Road, Smith Ridge Road, Oenoke Ridge Road and other roads that have unacceptable accident rates.

Some frightening facts:

Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.

Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.

Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use.

The law:

The use of a handheld cellular telephone or other electronic device is banned for all drivers.

The use of a cellular telephone (handheld and hands-free) is banned for bus drivers.

The use (handheld and hands-free) of a cellular telephone or other electronic devices while driving is banned for novice* drivers.

Texting while driving is banned for all drivers.

Fines are $150 for the first offense, $300 for the second offense and $500 for a third or subsequent offense.

*Connecticut defines novice drivers as those under the age of 18 or with a learner's permit.

Please hang-up and drive and do not be a distracted driver.

Doing anything other than driving, while operating a vehicle, is dangerous.

The New Canaan Police Department is serious about enforcing Connecticut's traffic laws to reduce the frequency and severity of motor vehicle accidents.

Police Chief Leon Krolikowski

New Canaan

New Canaan to Celebrate Life of Donald Douglass on May 16

To the Editor:

A New Canaan Memorial Service for the late Donald James Douglass of New Canaan and Texas will be held at St. Marks Episcopal Church on Tuesday, May 16, at 11 a.m. A previous service was held in San Antonio on April 3 for Mr. Douglass, who passed away on March 27, 2017.

Mr. Douglass was a true Renaissance Man with multiple talents and interests. His remarkable business career combined his entrepreneurial skills with his engineering knowledge and experience and his financial acumen. He created a business which became a global company, the Alamo Group, through discovering, filling and then expanding a special niche in manufacturing high quality tractor-mounted mowing and grounds maintenance equipment. He was recognized in l996 by Forbes magazine for both his entrepreneurial success and his philanthropic work through the Douglass Foundation which he established to support the fields of education, entrepreneurship, science and the arts.

New Canaan has been blessed with his philanthropy in supporting several community organizations and the arts. Don and his late wife Helen, who predeceased him, were major contributors to the expansion of the Lapham Community Center, underwriting the large new exercise and multi-purpose room, the Douglass Room in memory of Julie Lapham Dunlap, daughter of Lewis Lapham. Their generosity was a significant lead gift in the entire campaign, setting a great incentive for community involvement, said Penny Young, a Director of the Lapham Center and campaign chairman for the expansion project. Mr. Douglass also gifted a gazebo for the grounds of the Center, working with architect Ricard Bergmann in its design.

Don Douglass was an avid art collector, especially fond of American Impressionist paintings and contemporary sculpture, including the works of the late Harry Caesar, a renowned New Canaan sculptor. Don had commissioned two pieces, Joy and Sorrow for his New Canaan home on Oenoke Ridge. Later they were moved to his home in Florida. When he sold that home he decided that the works should be sent back to New Canaan and located in places where they could be enjoyed by many people. He made plans to donate both sculptures to the Waveny Life Care Network, handling the shipping and installation involved. One piece was installed at the Village in Waveny Care Center and the other piece went to The New Canaan Inn, where Alison Caesar, Harrys widow, now lives.

Joanne Boyer, Director of Development for Waveny Life Care Network said, We were delighted to welcome these two significant additions for all to enjoy at The Village and The Inn, and we are very grateful to Don for his generous gift and his belief in our mission for the Waveny Life Care Network.

The Douglasses were also actively involved with New Canaans St. Marks Episcopal Church. Jill Secoulis, Director of Operations said, Don and Helen were integral and wonderful members of our church for many years, and Don still remained a member of our church community for a long time after he moved back to Texas. Dons daughter Laurel Douglass recalls that he was active in the churchs mens group and found those connections meaningful. He loved New Canaan and spoke often about peaceful places and lovely people there.

Dick Bergmann, an architect and landscape architect who completed several projects for Mr. Douglass, recalls that when he was adding a conservatory to the Douglass home on Oenoke Ridge, Don also asked him if he could build a large pond and a wildflower meadow. He was an ideal client, said Bergmann. He knew what he wanted, and once he had shared his vision, he trusted you completely to finish the design on your own, later sharing his pleasure with the end result.

Bergmann, who became a close friend of Douglass, added, New Canaan is definitely a better place because of the generosity and vision of Don Douglass, in supporting community organizations as well as the arts.

Contributions in memory of Donald Douglass may be made to Texas Biomedical Research Institute P.O. Box 760549, San Antonio, TX 78245. Mr. Douglass was interested in their work in Ebola, Parkinsons disease and stem cell therapy.

Nancy Helle

New Canaan
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Hundreds of hands covered hearts and shot into the air throughout Montgomery County for a National Day of Prayer Thursday.

Sam Houston State University President Dr. Dana Hoyt spoke to more than 270 gathered at the Lone Star Community Center in Montgomery reflecting on turning to God for strength when a university student died in a car accident on her first day at SHSU in 2010. She also shared her joy for students, including by delighting the audience with comical children's prayers. Most of all, she emphasized the importance of education and faith.

"Knowledge informs us, wisdom protects us, and faith guides us," Hoyt said.

Following the program Hoyt shared she enjoyed the experience and believes National Day of Prayer and knowledge can bring people together.

Prayers were read throughout the program for the community and nation, including by Dr. Michael Hayles of the Coat of Many Colors Ministry and St. Beulah Baptist Church Rev. John Foreman. The attendees bowed their heads for people who serve the country in the military, law enforcement, elected officials, and school administrators.

Montgomery Fire Department Station 55 Firefighter Chuck North led the pledge, while Walden Community Church Reverend David Kenney, Living Savior Lutheran Church Reverend David Bailes, and First Baptist Church--Montgomery Reverend Chris Gober led prayers.

The Montgomery Junior High School Men's Choir and SHSU saxophone quartet entertained the crowd. The quartet received a standing ovation after performing custom-selected "Amazing Grace" and patriotic tunes.

Montgomery resident Stella Scott's eyes swelled with tears during "Amazing Grace" which she said is a song that touches her every time, no matter the instrument or musician.

"As soon as they struck up, ohhh the hands go up," she said passionately describing the experience. "Because there is nothing--like his Amazing Grace. Without it we will all be lost. How sweet the sound--because it saved a wretch like me."

Afterwards, Montgomery United Methodist Church Senior Pastor David Lindwall deemed polarization, related to looking for the best in others or finding common ground, as a significant challenge for faith in 2017. He described the NDP Montgomery ceremony as a "slice of heaven" that helps address the challenge.

"Our faith must go deeper," Lindwall said. "It's not the number of crosses (in the country that matters) it is the depth of each one that is important  Prayer opens our hearts and lives to God's change and transformation. To be who he calls us to be. And, to be like Jesus. We must be genuinely led by love for God and love for one another, and then things will work better for our nation and world."

Before more than 100 people, 15 miles away, pastors and members of the Willis community laid their hands on Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack as he prepares to face a federal lawsuit over the constitutionality of holding an opening prayer ceremony in his Willis courtroom.

"It (the group prayer) was very emotional but also very comforting," said Mack humbled by the community's support, which continues to fan his faith's flame through the three-year battle.

The ceremony included numerous NDP history readings, prayers, and official proclamations to enstill hope and blessings for the youth, city, world and future.

Participants included the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Willis High School Choir, Willis Classical Academy, Moderator Bill Traylor, Willis ISD Superintendent Tim Harkrider, Kroger Market Place Manager Mike Medved, City of Willis Mayor Leonard Reed, and pastors from Abundant Life Church, Kingdom Harvest Church, First Baptist Church, Waverly Station Cowboy Fellowship-who paid tribute to the late Mims Baptist Church of Conroe Pastor Gene Kendrick-Covenant Fellowship, First United Methodist Church, The Light Community Fellowship, and Grace Family Fellowship.

"I thought it was very moving ,it's a big part of our day ..." said Willis resident Bob Wright who prayed with the pastors. "I am very proud of Wayne Mack and I think there needs to be more people like him.  I feel like the basic principles he believes in is what the founders of this country believed in."
NEW YORK - In a century of friendship between the two nations, President Donald Trump's January phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was so small a hiccup, it might as well have not happened.

At least that's how Trump sees it.

In one moment, Trump jovially denied the presence of tensions in his now-infamous January phone call with Turnbull, accusing the media of "fake news." In another, he copped to the tense exchange, calling it "testy."

All this occurred within a matter of hours as Trump met face-to-face with Turnbull for the first time at a gala commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

"We get along great. We have a fantastic relationship, I love Australia, I always have," Trump, seated next to Turnbull, told reporters after their one-on-one meeting. "We had a great telephone call. You guys exaggerated that call. That was a big exaggeration. We're not babies."

It was left to Turnbull to mention the subject of the dispute: over 1,000 refugees that the United States had agreed to accept under the Obama administration. The situation infuriated Trump, who told Turnbull on the call that it was "the worst deal ever."

Later, he vented on Twitter: "Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!"

"We can put the refugee deal behind you and move on," Turnbull said on Thursday after meeting with Trump.

"It's all worked out. It's been worked out for a long time," Trump replied.

On Thursday night in Manhattan, fresh off a first legislative victory in the House on health care, Trump was serene. He praised Turnbull profusely as the "very, very special prime minister" and "my friend from Australia."

"We had a very, very good call. That was a little bit of fake news," Trump said, blaming the media for misrepresenting the call.

Hours later, after Trump took to the stage to deliver remarks at the gala, he opened with a little confession.

"Now the record is straight . . . all of those people back there," he said, referring to the media. "We had a very nice phone call. A little testy. It got a little bit testy, but that's OK."
Shelling and rocket fire on a UN camp in Mali's troubled Timbuktu killed one yet to be identified person and wounded nine peacekeepers, the United Nations mission said Wednesday.

It is the latest attack to hit the mission, known as MINSUMA, stationed in the country since 2013 and considered its most dangerous active peacekeeping deployment.

"A mortar and rocket attack was launched against the MINUSMA camp in Timbuktu," a UN statement said.

"The provisional toll is nine wounded among the peacekeepers, four seriously who are being evacuated to Bamako. The attack also killed one person, they are still being identified," it added.

The UN mission said it had reinforced the camp's defences and deployed air cover to identify where the enemy fire had originated, describing it as a "terrorist" attack.

Sweden's armed forces confirmed one of its soldiers was wounded, though not severely. "A Swedish soldier was lightly injured and is now being cared for by the Swedish medical unit," it said in a statement.

Liberia's armed forces, who also have peacekeepers among the mission, also confirmed "several injuries and other casualties", according to Prince Johnson, deputy chief of staff, but would not specify more.

"We are investigating the matter," he added.

Northern Mali fell to Islamist militant groups linked to Al-Qaeda in March 2012, and although these forces were driven out of key towns by a French-led military intervention the following year, the Islamists have now spread further south.

The 13,000-strong UN mission was deployed to provide security and assist Malian troops struggling to keep the country safe, but it has been targeted constantly by Islamist militants, with dozens of peacekeepers killed.

Three Malian Islamist militant groups with previous Al-Qaeda links recently joined forces to create the "Group to Support Islam and Muslims" (GSIM), led by Iyad Ag Ghaly of Ansar Dine, and have killed Malian soldiers further east near the Burkina Faso border.

Nine Malian soldiers were killed and five wounded Tuesday, an attack that has become near routine in the country's north and centre.

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As law enforcement officials, emergency personnel and press descended upon a North Texas community college where a gunman opened fire Wednesday, a student's brother tweeted asking for help finding his sister  his parents had not heard from her.

"Anyone know if Janeera Gonzalez is okay? She's been at North Lake all morning and my parents can not reach her," said Johnny Gonzalez.

Two hours later, he said: "Still waiting for my sister at North Lake."

Irving Police were called to North Lake College, in Irving, a suburb of Dallas, for reports of shots fired Wednesday around 11:30 a.m. Janeera Gonzalez, 20, was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide. Adrian Victor Torres, 21, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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"You took our angel today, my sister, my best friend," Johnny Gonzalez tweeted Wednesday evening after the news of her death. "She never did anything to anyone or hurt nobody.

RELATED: Police: 2 dead in suspected murder-suicide at Texas college

Police said they were still investigating if there was a relation between Gonzalez and Torres.

Lucia Gonzalez, Janeera's mother, told WFAA 8 Torres was stalking her daughter.

"He had been stalking her for quite a while but she didn't make anything of it," she said, adding they were not friends and had never dated.

A witness told the family that Torres walked up to Gonzalez and yelled, "You know who I am and you know why I am here," before shooting her.

Contributors have raised more than $11,000 to cover Gonzalez's funeral, according to a GoFundMe page.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
Egypt will open its border crossing with Gaza for three days starting Saturday, state news agency MENA reported.

The Rafah crossing will only be opened in one direction -- for Palestinians stranded outside Gaza to return home, MENA added.

Egypt has kept its border with the Gaza Strip largely closed over security concerns following the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi almost four years ago.

The crossing in northern Sinai is the only gateway for 1.8 million Palestinians living in Israeli-besieged Gaza to enter and exit the enclave. It is the only terminal not controlled by Israel.

Gaza has been under Israeli blockade since 2006. Cairo periodically opens the border to allow civilians with foreign passports, Palestinian students, and those with medical needs to travel back and forth.

The crossing was last opened temporarily in March.

The border openings in recent months come amid signs of improving ties between Cairo and Gaza's governing group Hamas.

A senior Hamas delegation visited Cairo in late January. Hamas leader Mahmoud El-Zahar said at the time that Palestinian and Egyptian officials had reached a border control agreement.

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It wasnt a holiday without Yolanda Otero making bunuelos for just about everyone in her neighborhood, including trash collectors, police officers and the workers at the dry cleaners, her family said.

In other ways, she reached out to help underprivileged people, her family said, and believed strongly that others needed what she had more than she did. As the wife of a doctor, she became a lifeline to those who were ailing.

Otero died April 17 at the age of 92.

A native of Mexico, Otero spent most of her life in San Antonio, where her husband opened his medical practice.

Born and raised in Monterrey, she was fluent in Spanish and English. There, she met her husband to be, Pedro Jaime Otero, when he happened to be visiting from his home in Puerto Rico.

While he was visiting Monterrey he saw her for the first time and they both knew, daughter Sonia Cavazos said.

After meeting only once, the couple exchanged letters another for two years while they each pursued their educational goals.

Otero was one of only three women in a class of 18 to receive a certified public accountant degree from Colegio Zaragoza in Monterrey, an unusual accomplishment.

Meanwhile, Pedro Otero earned his medical degree, and in 1948, they married and moved to Puerto Rico, where their first child was born.

More Information Yolanda Otero Born: June 24, 1924, Monterrey, Mexico Died: April 17, 2017, San Antonio Preceded by: Husband Dr. Pedro Jaime Otero; father Cecilio Vela; and mother Maria Hinojosa. Survived by: Daughter Sonia Cavazos; sons Dr. Richard Otero and daughter-in-law Dana, and Peter J. Otero Jr. Services: Memorial was held April 20 at Porter Loring North Chapel. See More Collapse

Her husbands medical career led them to Laredo, and their family expanded again. They returned to Puerto Rico, and Otero gave birth to their last child, a daughter. Later, they settled in San Antonio.

Otero served as a room parent in all childrens classrooms. She assisted teachers, her family said, and spent time helping others.

She was an extremely generous person, Cavazos said.

Otero regularly offered to help her husbands patients, providing them with support or food while they recovered from illnesses, her family said. At times, she also assisted in getting transportation and other necessities for them.

She enjoyed social gatherings and parties, and Oteros taste in music ranged from all varieties of Latin music to Nat King Cole.

I remember my father and her dancing salsa very often when we lived in Puerto Rico when I was younger, Cavazos said. She loved it.

szanetta@express-news.net
Egyptian border guards and prosecutors arrested in Alexandria on Friday two migrant traffickers who admitted to organising illegal migration trips to Europe, state news agency MENA reported.

Authorities seized three fishing boats used by the men to carry migrants to Italy and Greece on dangerous trips that cost EGP 30,000-40,000 per person, MENA added. Investigations into the case are ongoing.

In November, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ratified a law aimed at curbing irregular migration and cracking down on human smuggling along the country's northern Mediterranean coast which has put thousands of migrants on precarious boat journeys to Europe.

While the legislation does not punish the migrants themselves, it imposes jail terms on those convicted of human smuggling or acting as brokers or facilitators.

In September 2016, a boat carrying up to 450 people capsized off Egypt's north coast. At least 202 bodies were recovered from the sea and 169 people rescued.

In March, an Egyptian court handed jail terms to 56 people involved in the disaster.

Around 320 migrants and refugees drowned off the Greek island of Crete in June of last year.

Survivors said that their boat had departed from Egypt. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 5,000 migrants are thought to have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in 2016, a record figure the organisation described as "a devastating milestone."

In recent years, thousands of migrants and refugees from a number of countries have attempted to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, with an increasing number departing via smuggling boats from Egypt's northern coast.



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As a member of the dynamic Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Sister Neomi Hayes took a special interest in empowering women.

Establishing Visitation House with co-founder Sister Yolanda Tarango in the 1980s, Sister Hayes wanted to provide homeless single mothers with a future.

Starting out as a small shelter, the nonprofit has since grown to provide transitional housing and educational services for women and children for up to two years.

In the early 2000s, Sister Hayes, with Sister Dorothy Ettling, co-founded Womens Global Connection, an organization that provides support and a network of resources to women in San Antonio, Peru, Tanzania, Zambia.

She had a broad vision, said Sister Theresa McGrath. And was always conscious the human condition, and justice issues.

Sister Hayes died April 30 at 82.

The only daughter of four children, Sister Hayes was raised in Ireland and joined religious life early on.

She was making a brave decision when she answered the call to come to Texas.

The sisters who came at that time  came with no expectation of ever returning, Sister Yolanda Tarango said. When they said goodbye to their families, they thought they were saying goodbye forever.

More Information Sister Neomi Hayes Born: Jan. 19, 1935, Essex, England Died: April 30, 2017, San Antonio Preceded by: Parents Anastasia Tynan and Pierce Hayes. Survived by: Brothers William Hayes, Pierce Hayes, and James Hayes. Services: Mass at 11 a.m. today at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, 4503 Broadway, followed by burial in the Convent Cemetery. See More Collapse

Receiving a bachelors in history from what was then Incarnate Word College, Sister Hayes taught elementary school for a time before taking permanent vows in 1960.

As an administrator at Incarnate Word, Sister Hayes was a steadfast presence to both students and faculty as assistant registrar and dean of women.

Elected provincial, and later general superior of the San Antonio province, Sister Hayes served until 1984.

Sisters Hayes and Tarango started Visitation House in 1985, after realizing that homelessness was especially complicated for mothers.

At traditional shelters, women with children would spend one night and not return, Sister Tarango said. What was needed was a place they felt safe.

The sisters took it step-by-step.

Our goal from the very beginning was to offer hospitality, Sister Tarango said. We didnt have a program or a plan; we lived with the women to find out what their needs were and shaped the plan around their needs.

Starting Womens Global Connection as a message board in the early days of the Internet, Hayes and Sister Dorothy Ettling quickly progressed to organizing mission trips to other countries, although Sister Hayes left the traveling up to Sister Ettling.

Her main role was nurturing the project at home, Sister Tarango said.

mheidbrink@express-news.net
We imagine that aging is something that happens to everyone but us.

People are living much longer than they used to, and we are facing an elderly boom. By 2050, the population of seniors in the U.S. will have nearly doubled, and those 65 and older will consist of almost 84 million people.

If longevity is a popular personal goal, why is such a statistic a source of collective fear? We ought to be celebrating the fact that people are living longer and able to enjoy retirement, their grandchildren and their golden years. The American youth culture has stereotyped old people as chronically ill, unable to work, behind the times, slow-thinking, useless and a financial burden on society. Not one of these stereotypes is true.

There are those who believe that older people are accident prone, slow to learn and rapidly declining physically. However, according to World Health Organization statistics, the most rapid rate of physical decline happens between ages 30 and 40, and there is no evidence that a healthy persons intellectual ability decreases with age.

In addition, the widely held notion that most older people are dependent on others is simply not true. The New York Times Magazine reports that in the U.S., The majority of seniors are self-sufficient, middle-class consumers with more assets than young couples. Americans older than 50 own 75 percent of all American assets. A full 70 percent of seniors own their own homes. They vote and are active in the community to a greater extent than young people.

Contributions by active seniors go well beyond monetary influence. In such places as Troyes, France, the accumulated wisdom of the elderly is considered a valuable resource. That wisdom is being tapped as seniors are used outside school hours to teach children such skills as carpentry, glass making, stone cutting, construction and plumbing.

In addition to teaching, seniors are going to school in greater numbers themselves, to keep their minds alert and acquire various skills. The Paris-based International Association of Universities of the Third Age says, There are more than 1,700 senior citizens universities worldwide. Although their structures and management methods differ widely from one country to another, universities for the elderly usually share a desire to help older people play a full part in cultural and social life.

One such local nonprofit organization in San Antonio is the Academy of Learning in Retirement which, in partnership with North East ISD Adult & Community Education, offers more than 80 daytime classes each semester to hundreds of seniors taught by instructors who are seniors themselves. ALIR is at 8750 Tesoro Drive. Call 210-407-0167 for more information.

Alexandre Kalache, group leader of the World Health Organizations Aging and Health Program, says: Countries  should see their aging populations not as a problem but as a potential solution to problems  first and foremost as a resource to be used.

Our ability to enjoy our advancing years can be influenced by the perceptions and prejudices of others, but to a large extent, it is also determined by our own attitudes. American statesman Bernard Baruch, said: To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am. I agree. And thats how I see it.

Larry P. Johnson is an author and motivational speaker. Contact him via email at larjo1@prodigy.net or visit his website at www.mexicobytouch.com
A letter to the editor (Re: Court cuts unwise, Your Turn, May 3) stated that courts more than pay for themselves; they are a cash cow. We take a differing view of the role of courts and support the need for legislative reform. San Antonio and College Station have been leading cities in terms of court reform, specifically at the municipal court level and the Texas legislature is currently in the process of addressing needed reform in Austin.

Of note, Ch. 30.00006 (h) of the Texas Government Code provides that a judges salary, may not be based directly or indirectly on fines, fees, or costs collected by the Court. Which would indicate that courts paying for themselves through fines and fees collected is neither a requirement nor appropriate for the operation of the third branch of government.

The Texas Legislature will be deciding several bills that could bring not only criminal bail reform but also progressive steps in helping defendants facing jail due to unpaid criminal fines and fees.

Led by Republican Chief Justice Nathan Hechts Judicial Council one year ago, several recommendations were made to reform practices related to class C misdemeanor offenses. The Judicial Council is comprised of judges representing every level of court, from Justice of the Peace and Municipal Courts up to the Texas Supreme Court.

Texas Sen. Judith Zafarinni, D-Laredo, has drafted legislation encompassing the recommendations of the Judicial Council. Several reform bills are very close to becoming a reality. San Antonio Democratic Rep. Diego Bernal and Republican Rep. James White of Hillister have co-authored proposed legislation. Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, has also proposed legislation seeking bail reform. Mental health as it relates to the criminal justice system is the subject of legislative reform efforts as well.

If Sen. Whitmires Senate Bill 1338 becomes a reality, Texas will go from a mostly-money bail-bond state to a system in which magistrates will have to receive risk assessments and then select from three options. They can release the defendant on his own personal recognizance if he or she is not a risk to the public or a flight risk; set a money bail bond; or hold the defendant for a hearing within ten days to determine bond. The goal is to help alleviate jail overcrowding. The reality is that so many indigent defendants or those with mental health issues stay in in jail, awaiting trial. Many cannot afford bail bonds. These efforts have generated widespread support from other parties working in the Texas criminal justice system.

Sen. Zafarinnis Senate Bill 1913, which passed in the Senate recently, provides safeguards to defendants facing fine only criminal offenses by providing them an opportunity to receive notice from courts before any failure-to-appear warrant is filed. The bill also is revolutionary in terms of making courts from which an arrest warrant is filed in a fine-only case are safe harbors. Defendants who come to court even under warrant will not be arrested  in the case subject to warrant  if they cooperate and pursue resolution of the case in court.

Additionally, the warrant will be removed following appearance in court. This bill would be relief for those defendants trapped in criminal debt from fines, fees, costs, drivers license suspensions and surcharges, collection company fees and other economic obstacles. These combine to prevent defendants from successfully closing their criminal cases. Many fail to appear out of fear of being immediately arrested upon appearing. It also expands community service opportunities, such as enrolling in a GED class and other ways to better the community through self-improvement. Also, judges can waive fines and fees if they determine doing so is in the interest of justice.

Finally, Reps. Bernal and White have filed bills dealing with the problematic commitment hearing and jailing of defendants who dont pay their fines for class C misdemeanors. Again, San Antonio and College Station Municipal Courts have chosen not to commit to jail defendants for fine-only cases. House Bill 1125 would require the release of any defendant arrested for not paying a fine. Presently, if a defendant is arrested in Texas on a warrant due to not paying a fine and the judge wants to commit the defendant to jail for the fine, the judge must do a commitment hearing within forty-eight hours to determine whether the defendant is indigent, has failed to make a good faith effort to pay the fine and could have performed community service, if indigent, without undue hardship. There have been reported instances in Texas of individuals serving as many as 50 days in jail to satisfy a money judgment arising from a class C fine-only offense.

Most defendants with fine only charges dont have attorneys and have no right to the court appointment of one. If the judge finds the arrested defendant is indigent, but didnt make a good faith effort to discharge the fine and costs through an alternative means  and this alternative means wasnt an undue hardship  the judge can commit the defendant to jail for the fine at a rate of $100 a day.

The constitutional question is how can an indigent defendant be committed or sentenced to jail without ever having been given counsel on the criminal case under the Sixth amendment and the Supreme Court case Alabama v. Shelton. HB 1125 would do away with these jail commitments. Additionally, individuals committed to jail to serve out monetary fines cost taxpayers a minimum of $50 a day, higher in other jurisdictions, a cost related to supervising, housing and feeding inmates in the jail.

Reform efforts to find alternatives to jail for misdemeanor offenses are supported by a majority of Texans. A new survey of registered voters by the Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition found that most favor reforms that would keep defendants out of jail for low level misdemeanors.

The fact that these reforms have a chance of passing is a very positive Ferguson effect and proof that bipartisanship isnt necessarily dead in Texas. Our municipal courts in San Antonio and College Station do not perform these jail commitments, do provide safe harbor for those under warrant and come to court, and offer indigency determination hearings for those who cannot pay immediately. They also provide a fair and impartial forum for the resolution of class C violations.

Receiving a citation does not immediately create an account receivable owed by the person cited. Thats how we view our courts; not as cash cows.

John Bull is the Presiding Judge of the San Antonio Municipal Court and currently serves on the Texas Municipal Courts Association Board. Ed Spillane is the Presiding Judge, College Station Municipal Court and the past president of the Texas Municipal Courts Association. He is also on the National Task Force on Fines, Fees, and Bail Practices formed by the Conference of Chief Justices and on the Advisory Board of the Misdemeanor Justice Project of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
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MILFORD - Another person has been arrested in the armed robbery of a man staying at Motel 6 last month.

Police said four suspects - a woman and three men - participated in the the robbery that happened around 3:30 a.m., April 12 at the Schoolhouse Road motel.

Police said the victim had planned to meet a woman - whom the victim only knew on a first-name basis - in his motel room.

When the woman arrived at the victims motel door, three men were with her. One of the men held a small revolver.

Police said the victim was restrained with zip-ties and mouth wrapped with duct tape. About $600 was taken, along with the victims car keys.

On April 27 an 18-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the armed robbery. Jacqueline Steck of Ellis Street, Milford, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, first-degree kidnapping with a firearm. criminal use of a firearm and first-degree larceny.

On Thursday, Milford police took into custody a second person in connection with the robbery.

More for you Milford woman, 18, arrested in armed robbery in motel

Abimnel Mangual, 37, of Bronson Street in Waterbury, was charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, home invasion, first-degree kidnapping with a firearm, criminal use of a firearm and first-degree larceny.

Officer Joseph Demsey said Mangual was developed as a suspect and through a DNA match by the State Forensic Laboratory a warrant was issued for his arrest.
A teenager is dead following a tragic accident in which a drunk driver left the road and struck five students who had just been dropped off at a bus stop. Reports indicate the drunk driver was a former police officer.

About the Drunk Driving Accident and Resulting Death

According to ABC Action News, 13-year old Jaheim Robertson was pulled from life-support Saturday after being pronounced brain dead on Friday.

Jaheim was among five students struck by a drunk driver in Poinciana Thursday evening. The driver, 48-year-old John Camfield, has been arrested and is facing 11 separate charges which may be adjusted following Jaheims death.

Witnesses say Camfield was driving on Allegheney Road just before 5 pm when he suddenly lurched forward and veered of the shoulder near Athabasca Drive.

Camfields vehicle struck five Dundee ridge Middle Academy students. Jonte Robertson, 15, Rylan Pryce, 12, and Jaheims sister, Jasmine Robertson, 14, sustained glancing blows from the car and were treated at the scene.

Jaheim and 13-year-old Juan Mena suffered serious injuries and were transported to the Arnold Palmer Childrens Hospital in Orlando, where Jaheim later died. Juan was placed in the ICU with orbital fractures.

Camfield attempted to drive away from the scene before hitting a parked car on Poinciana Parkway. Camfield formerly served as a law enforcement officer in Mississippi.

Alcohol-Impaired Driving Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 28 people die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver every day. In addition,

The cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $44 billion each year.

In 2014, 9,967 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.

oThis accounts for 31 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.

Sixteen percent of motor vehicle crashes involve drugs (legal or illegal) other than alcohol.

Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney

Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys is a personal injury law firm with offices in Corpus Christi, Texas, San Antonio, Texas and Houston, Texas representing accident victims nationwide.

Our attorneys are available to respond to auto accidents at any hour, day or night. Our lawyers understand that the immediate acquisition, or acquiring, of evidence is paramount to understanding how the accident occurred. Remember, your choice does matter. Contact our offices - we are available 24/7, nights and weekends.

Editors Note: This content is made possible by Thomas J. Henry Personal Injury Law. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of The San Antonio Express-News' or mySanAntonio.com's editorial staff. Learn more about our advertising products at www.hearstmediasanantonio.com.
The sunfish had been injured at sea and was being transported by the environment ministry to Hurghada for treatment

Egypt's environment ministry has said that a rare ocean sunfish that washed up on a beach in southern Sinai had died, despite intensive efforts to rescue it.

The 2.1-metre long ocean sunfish, or mola, had been found alive on the shore of Abu Galoum with a crushed ventral fin, apparently as the result of an injury from another sea creature.

The ventral fins are used to control movement.

A large team of the ministry's nature reserve officials, environmental police and divers have been trying for four days to save the mola.

But the ministry said on Friday that all its efforts had not succeeded.

The fish had been moved into an aquarium on board a specialised ministry ship, and was being transported the Red Sea city of Hurghada for treatment. It had been checked every 30 minutes, the ministry said, but died en route.

"Medical examinations showed that the fish had been in severe fatigue after losing its abdominal fin," a statement by the ministry said late on Thursday.

Egypt's environment minister requested a preliminary medical report be drawn up on the reasons of the death, including all the rescue phases, to later be used for reference in similar emergency incidents.

The report will be delivered to a number of international organisations including the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Mola, which feed on jellyfish and small fish, are found in temperate and tropical oceans around the world. They are frequently seen near the surface but hardly ever each the shore.

Mola are often mistaken for sharks when their huge dorsal fins emerge above the water. They are, however, harmless to people.

The ocean sunfish is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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An Egyptian believed to have been the world's heaviest woman before her surgery was hospitalised in Abu Dhabi on Thursday to continue treatment after a drastic weight-loss operation in India, AFP reported Thursday.

Eman Ahmed Abdel-Ati weighed some 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) before surgery in Mumbai in March that saw her shed around a fifth of her weight.

With her weight standing at 176.6 kilograms, Abdel-Ati will now begin a year-long course of physiotherapy at VPS Burjeel hospital in Abu Dhabi, her doctors in Mumbai said.

"We have arranged for a hydraulic stretcher from Italy for Eman's journey and she will have doctors, paramedics and nurses with her during the journey," Sanet Meyer, director of medevac at VPS Burjeel, told AFP ahead of the trip.

Indian treatment

Her sister has accused doctors in India of lying and jeopardising her sisters life, an allegation the hospital has denied.

In February, Abdel-Ati made headlines all over the world when she was flown to Saifee Hospital in Mumbai to undergo weight loss surgery.

On 21 April, Saifee Hospital announced that Abdel-Ati lost 250kg two months after undergoing the surgery.

However, Selim, who was accompanying her sister in India, has accused the hospital and the doctor in charge of treating her sister, Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, of lying.

Shaimaa Selim published a video on her Facebook account accusing Indian doctors treating her sister of being liars and looking for publicity.

Selim asserted that Abdel-Ati has only lost 50kg and has suffered a stroke, which Dr Lakdawala has denied.

The health committee in Egypts House of Representatives has called on the Egyptian foreign ministry to follow up on the case in Mumbai and keep the committee informed on the situation.

On Tuesday, Egypts general consul in Mumbai met with Selim and Dr Lakdawala.

Dr Lakdawala and Saifee Hospital have denied Selims allegations in statements to Asian News International (ANI), saying that Eman is doing well and that her sister was creating a scene because she did not want to take her sister back to Egypt due to financial reasons.

Abdel-Ati had not left her home in Egypt's Mediterranean port city of Alexandria for two decades until her arrival in India, according to AFP.

Her family told doctors that she was diagnosed as a child with elephantiasis, leaving her almost immobile.
Zimbabwes former police chief Augustine Chihuri has won his battle against moves to seize his properties under a controversial unexplained wealth law.

Chihuri, who fled to exile during a 2017 military coup, however failed to have the law declared unconstitutional in a partial victory at the Harare High Court.

Justice Pisirayi Kwenda, in a judgement read on his behalf by Justice Justice Rodgers Foroma Manyangadze on Tuesday, stopped the National Prosecuting Authority from forfeiting Chihuris vast portfolio of properties unless he can explain how he acquired them.

Justice Kwenda amended, by deletion, several parts of the unexplained wealth order granted by the High Court on June 11, 2020. In doing so, he stopped the NPA from asking further questions about several properties including Chihuris imposing Gletwyn mansion sitting on 30 acres and valued at US$7 million. The property combines seven stands.

Other properties the NPA has been blocked from inquiring into include a 1,219 square meter house in Strathaven, a 9.25-hectare farm in Lomagundi, a 5,500 sqm house in Quinnington, a 4,639 sqm house in Athlone, Harare, a 142 sqm house in Zengeza and a 4,891 sqm house in Mt Pleasant.

The High Court has also ordered non-interference with several other Chihuri properties including five vehicles, agricultural equipment at the Lomagundi farm and farming equipment at his Inyika Farm in Shamva including combine harvesters, tractors, planters and boom sprays.

It was however not all good news for Chihuri after Justice Kwenda said he was not satisfied that good cause has been shown to set aside the other order with respect to funds received by four of Chihuris companies  Croxile Investments, Adamah Enterprises, Mastermedia and Mastaw Investments  from the ZRP for services. The companies have since stopped trading.

Chihuris lawyer Addington Chinake had argued that unexplained wealth orders demonstrate the hazard that exists in allowing public officials unfettered power to simply point at a person and ask you to explain.

He said in Chihuris case, he was not given an opportunity to explain how he acquired the properties before the NPA applied for the unexplained wealth order.

When you have such power, you have to exercise it judiciously and fairly, and you should give any such person due notice of what you intend to do and affording them opportunity to respond and an opportunity to be heard. Where they (NPA) see reason to take action, they must give reasons for doing that, Chinake argued.

Chihuris case was a good example where the Prosecutor Generals office did not satisfy these requirements and for that reason this unexplained wealth order was obtained improperly and in an unconstitutional manner and must be set aside, the lawyer said back in March, before judgement was reserved.

Chinake said Chihuri owned a company called Kidsdale for 20 years after securing a loan from CBZ bank. The company owned tippers, earth movers and other construction equipment.

It had big contracts, Chinake said. My client is not a dubious character who suddenly woke up to amass such wealth. Its painful, for example, that the applicant being a beneficiary of the land reform programme was also a farmer producing maize which he sold to GMB. However, after the November 2017 events, his maize would not be accepted by the state.

The applicant cannot be said to have obtained money or generated money through improper or illicit means when in fact he has chronicled before this court full details of how he was engaged in banana farming and maize farming which was sold for profit.

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By Gaius Publius, a professional writer living on the West Coast of the United States and frequent contributor to DownWithTyranny, digby, Truthout, and Naked Capitalism. Follow him on Twitter @Gaius_Publius, Tumblr and Facebook. GP article archive here. Originally published at DownWithTyranny

Cry Havoc! and let slip the dogs of war (image source).

What I do is I authorize my military. We have given them total authorization

Donald Trump, April 2017

The war strain is strong in both parties.

Yours truly

Short and impossibly bitter. In all the talk of the multiple domestic disasters that the Age of Trump will usher in  health care destruction, assaults on immigrants, a new surge in death-by-lying-cop, a breaking broken climate, and all the rest  Americans have conveniently forgotten one of the worst, the loosing of our generals and their weapons of war upon the poor and brown of the world.

In short, Donald Trump, with what looks to me like bipartisan consent, has unleasked the dogs of war. Thats my first point in this brief piece. My second point is this: There will be a price, and no one in this country will want to pay it.

The Dogs of War

Tom Englehardt considers my first point in a much longer piece, The Honeymoon of the Generals. Near the middle he writes (my emphasis):

Institutionalizing War and Its Generals Above all, President Trump did one thing decisively. He empowered a set of generals or retired generalsJames Mad Dog Mattis as secretary of defense, H.R. McMaster as national security adviser, and John Kelly as secretary of homeland securitymen already deeply implicated in Americas failing wars across the Greater Middle East. Not being a details guy himself, hes then left them to do their damnedest. What I do is I authorize my military, he told reporters recently. We have given them total authorization and thats what theyre doing and, frankly, thats why theyve been so successful lately. As the 100-day mark of his presidency approaches, theres been no serious reassessment of Americas endless wars or how to fight them (no less end them). Instead, theres been a recommitment to doing more of the familiar, more of what hasnt worked over the last decade and a half. No one should be surprised by this, given the cast of charactersmen who held command posts in those unsuccessful wars and are clearly incapable of thinking about them in other terms than the ones that have been indelibly engrained in the brains of the U.S. military high command since soon after 9/11. That new ruling reality of our American world should, in turn, offer a hint about the nature of Donald Trumps presidency. It should be a reminder that as strange okay, bizarre as his statements, tweets, and acts may have been, as chaotic as his all-in-the-family administration is proving to be, as little as he may resemble anyone weve ever seen in the White House before, hes anything but an anomaly of history. Quite the opposite. Like those generals, hes a logical endpoint to a grim process, whether youre talking about the growth of inequalityin America and the rise of plutocracywithout which a billionaire president and his billionaire cabinet would have been inconceivableor the form that American war-making is taking under him.

And lest anyone be confused, the dogs of war have bipartisan masters:

When it comes to war and the U.S. military, none of whats happened would have been conceivable without the two previous presidencies. None of it would have been possible without Congresss willingness to pump endless piles of money into the Pentagon and the military-industrial complex in the post-9/11 years; without the building up of the national security state and its 17 (yes, 17!) major intelligence outfits into an unofficial fourth branch of government; without the institutionalization of war as a permanent (yet strangely distant) feature of American life and of wars across the Greater Middle East and parts of Africa that evidently cant be won or lost but only carried on into eternity. None of this would have been possible without the growing militarization of this country, including of police forces increasingly equipped with weaponry off Americas distant battlefields and filled with veterans of those same wars; without a media rife with retired generals and other former commanders narrating and commenting on the acts of their successors and proteges; and without a political class of Washington pundits and politicians taught to revere that military. In other words, however original Donald Trump may look, hes the curious culmination of old news and a changing country. Given his bravado and braggadocio, its easy to forget the kinds of militarized extremity that preceded him.

The piece is good; I strongly recommend clicking through to read the rest. Get ready for more war; lots and lots of it. Why? Read on.

Paul Wolfowitz, Mad Dog Mattis, General McMaster

By his own admission, Paul Wolfowitz, one of the primary neocon architects and prosecutors of George W. Bushs disastrous Iraq War, has had a long relationship with both Mattis and McMaster and approves of them both. At the moment, both have primary roles in Trumps foreign war policy, especially in the Middle East, Mattis as Pentagon chief and McMaster as National Security Advisor.

The Mattis and McMaster ties to Paul Wolfowitz go back a long way. From an interview conducted by Politico heres Wolfowitz talking about Trumps foreign policy (my emphasis):

Glasser:  You know, theres no one particular guide except the quirky personality of Donald Trump at times, it seems. How do you navigate understanding who this guy is when it comes to foreign policy? Wolfowitz: Well, its certainly unpredictable, as an understatement. But at the same time you have in his national security team two individuals who are nearly the opposite, who have a long consistent record of thinking clearly, strategically. Im talking about McMaster and Mattis. [] Glasser: Have you talked with anyone in his White House since they have been set up and trying to figure things out? Wolfowitz: I have some. I know McMaster quite well from before. And Mattis actually was my senior military assistant when I first came to the Pentagon in 2001, and I worked with him quite a bit later on in his various later capacities, including in Iraq. So I know them pretty well, but I haventIve occasionally emailed them, but I have not had direct contact with them.

Wolfowitz later describes Mattis as a peace through strength advocate  whatever that means. For me, a recommendation from Paul Wolfowitz, who thinks President Obama was not warlike enough, is the Neocon Seal of Approval. Later in the interview, Wolfowitz says of Obama: Look, my big reservation about Trump, and I said it, was that he was sort of like Obama on steroids, particularly with respect to Russia and Ukraine.

In other words, weak. Wolfowitz hasnt changed his stripes. And theres certainly no question, based on the rest of the interview, that Wolfowitz still wants regime change in Syria, and also that he thinks McMaster and Mattis will bring it.

By the way, General McMaster is the author of the obviously false White House Intelligence Report that justified, after the fact, his Tomahawk attack on Syria. Details here and here. Hes off to a fine Wolfowitzian start.

The War Will Come Home

To my second point, that Americas endless war  and seemingly endless love of war  will come home at last, consider two points.

First, the war strain is strong in both parties. In modern times it runs nearly unchecked through the last three generations, starting with the immediate aftermath of WWII and Truman deciding to scare the hell out of the American people and not stand down the war machine. Or even earlier, when according to Gore Vidal, Truman dropped the bomb on Japan despite the fact the Japanese were actively trying to surrender, because he wanted to send a message to Joe [Stalin].

Americans experienced one moment of revolt against the well-greased, well-glorified, bipartisan war machine  during the Vietnam War, when almost everyone knew someone whose life was at risk due to the draft. In those years, the war came home in the sense that people feared for their personal future or the future of those in their immediate circle. Since then, with the all-volunteer army, nada.

But second, what if these wars come home in spades via bombings at home, followed by the typical American response, self-righteous muscular security in the frighteningly named homeland? We will likely never recover from that twin blow.

For example, imagine the Mall of America blown up at Christmas, along with two or three others. What does security look like in every mall in the country after that? Does going to the mall look like going to the airport, or worse? And if malls in America do look like the airport, will Americans grow to hate their new life or accept it? Will they stand down their international violence or launch even more of it, retaliating with a literal vengeance?

Whatever the response, for the second time in this still-new century the country will have turned a corner it can never turn back to, and life in America will once more never be the same. If we dont stop these wars, we will soon be in them in full, the way Europe is in them, with a battlefield locally, not just overseas.

As I said above, there will be a price for Americas endless war, and no one in this country will want to pay it.

By then, of course, it will be too late. Well have eaten the meal; all that will be left is the bill. Or to change the metaphor, the generals will have had their honeymoon. The rest of will be left to live in the marriage they created.
Origins of house mice in ecological niches created by settled hunter-gatherers in the Levant 15,000 y ago PNAS

Rabid fox repeatedly attacks golfer at country club AP

Disgraced former RBS chief executive Fred Goodwins long and winding road to court finally ends with a sensational trial Insider (RS).

Rich Families Go Solo on Deals, Moving Away From Private Equity Bloomberg

Accounting scandals put the Big Four on the spot FT

Spain probes ex-HSBC executives over money laundering AFP

Why Sweden Killed the Carried Interest Tax Break: QuickTake Q&A Bloomberg (RS).

To catch a prince Reuters

Puerto Rico filed what could be the mother of all municipal bond bankruptcies Quartz

Senators Grill Aviation Officials Over Customer Service WSJ

Health Care

House Passes AHCA: How It Happened, What It Would Do, And Its Uncertain Senate Future Health Affairs. Todays must-read.

House Republicans pass bill to replace and repeal Obamacare CNN. A collection of quotes; Medicaid devolution is the biggest story.

GOP health care bill would allow employers to cap benefits ABC

Get Ready for the Senates Obamacare Repeal Slog Roll Call. McConnell to wait for the CBO.

Senate GOP rejects House Obamacare bill Politico. The Senate Republicans will write their own bill. That is, they will try to make the Republican law that is ObamaCare worse, but with badness that is different from the House bills, or Obamas. So the bottom line for now is that the Freedom Caucus members get to be heroes in their own districts, and the Republican Party can claim Were able to govern! For now, anyhow. But I would like very much to know the fear level that Republican moderate Senators have over the AHCA: For example, Susan Collins. Maine, due to the collapse of the paper industry and deindustrialization generally, shares many Rust Belt problems, including an opioid crisis, with Medicaid expansion-supporter Kasichs Ohio. Maybe a destroyer or three for Bath Iron Works would do the trick for Collins, but maybe not. Like so much that was not known in 2016, it depends on how angry the dull normals are. Governor LePage turned down Medicaid expansion, and hows that working out?

Did Republicans just score a win on health care  or lose? Jennifer Rubin, WaPo. The conservative nomemklatura is not happy.

Going Over the Top One More Time The American Conservative. Not at all happy.

President Trump Praised Australias Universal Health Care Right After The House Repealed Obamacare Buzzfeed. Sanders breaks out laughing.
Uber tried defying one government authority too many when it started messing with the police.

In March, the New York Times broke the underlying story regarding the software program designed to defy government investigators and regulators, including police. Uber said it would stop using the program after it received a barrage of negative press. From a more recent New York Times account:

The program, involving a tool called Greyball, uses data collected from the Uber app and other techniques to identify and circumvent officials who were trying to clamp down on the ride-hailing service. Uber used these methods to evade the authorities in cities like Boston, Paris and Las Vegas, and in countries like Australia, China and South Korea. Greyball was part of a program called VTOS, short for violation of terms of service, which Uber created to root out people it thought were using or targeting its service improperly. The program, including Greyball, began as early as 2014 and remains in use, predominantly outside the United States. Greyball was approved by Ubers legal team. Ubers use of Greyball was recorded on video in late 2014, when Erich England, a code enforcement inspector in Portland, Ore., tried to hail an Uber car downtown in a sting operation against the company. At the time, Uber had just started its ride-hailing service in Portland without seeking permission from the city, which later declared the service illegal. To build a case against the company, officers like Mr. England posed as riders, opening the Uber app to hail a car and watching as miniature vehicles on the screen made their way toward the potential fares. But unknown to Mr. England and other authorities, some of the digital cars they saw in the app did not represent actual vehicles. And the Uber drivers they were able to hail also quickly canceled. That was because Uber had tagged Mr. England and his colleagues  essentially Greyballing them as city officials  based on data collected from the app and in other ways. The company then served up a fake version of the app, populated with ghost cars, to evade capture.

Uber, in its characteristic self-aggrandizing way, tried to justify its use of the program as a necessary competitive move, to defend itself against evil forces that were manipulating police (listen to the video in the linked New York Times story to hear the spin). Help me.

The criminal investigation is in its early stages. Reuters broke the story. The gloves are off:

The U.S. Department of Justice has begun a criminal investigation into Uber Technologies Incs use of a software tool that helped its drivers evade local transportation regulators An Uber spokesman and the Justice Department declined to comment. Uber lawyers said in letters to Portland authorities, which Portland made public in a report last week, that the Greyball technology was used exceedingly sparingly in that city, before the service was approved there in 2015. The nature of any potential federal criminal violation, and the likelihood of anyone being charged, is unclear. The investigation is still in its early stages, the sources said. Bloomberg news service reported the existence of a federal probe last week, but did not identify it as criminal Uber received a subpoena from a Northern California grand jury seeking documents concerning how the software tool functioned and where it was deployed A subpoena from a grand jury is a formal request for documents or testimony concerning a potential crime.

Reuters intimates that a grand jury has actually been empaneled. Note that confusingly, there are also grand jury subpoenas that are issued at earlier stages of investigations. However, a Wall Street Journal source did say a grand jury had been convened: A federal grand jury recently sent Uber a subpoena requesting records related to the software, this person said.. This is a big deal.

Here is an overview from Reuters of some of the key issues:

The program was part of a broader Uber system, called Violation of Terms of Service, that analyzed credit card, device identification, location data and other factors to predict whether a request for a ride was legitimate, current and former employees said. The technology was used partly to prevent fraud and protect drivers from harm, the company blog post said. If a ride request was deemed illegitimate, Ubers app showed bogus information and the requester would not be picked up, the employees told Reuters. However, the Greyball technique was also used against suspected local officials who could have been looking to fine drivers, impound cars or otherwise prevent Uber from operating, the employees said. The system might have gone farther than suggested by Ubers terms of service for app users. For example, it mined credit card information to see if the owner was affiliated with a credit union used by police and checked social media profiles to assess the likelihood that the person was in law enforcement. After the Times exposed the program in March, regulators who had been unable to catch Uber in places where it was banned accused the company of obstructing their inquiries

It is also not a good sign that Uber has hired a big name law firm, Shearman & Sterling, to conduct an internal investigation. That says the integrity of management is in doubt. A move like this is almost certain to have come from the board, not the CEO Travis Kalanick.

I guarantee that Uber has a bogus metric to justify its use of the exceedingly sparingly claim, which it made in response to a Portland civil lawsuit, like number of hours of misleading information shown relative to total hours available by Uber registered drivers. Marketwatch said Uber stated it used the program 17 times in December 2014 in Portland in a letter to the city. Given Ubers track record, I wouldnt trust anything it says outside a formal legal process where it is liable for the accuracy of its information. Not surprisingly, Reuters suggests the numbers are larger:

Transportation officials in Portland investigated and reported last week that Uber had used Greyball to evade 16 Portland Bureau of Transportation officials, denying them dozens of rides, in December 2014

Lets hope the Feds keep the hot lights on Uber. Couldnt happen to a nicer bunch.
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.
Ahram Online republishes this report from May 2017 on the role of tribes in north Sinai in the war against terror groups

There is a resurgence in the tribal movement against Islamist militias in the Sinai. However, the energy this time may exceed that of the summer of 2015 when the Sinai tribes came together and asked to be armed and recruited in the fight against terrorism. What has changed in the interval? The tribes, themselves, and perhaps the tribal leaders, themselves.

Back then, in the summer of 2015, in the aftermath of the murder of the young Abdel-Baset Al-Tarabini at the hands of the Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis (ABM), now known as the IS Sinai Province, tribal leaders asked General Osama Askar, former commander of the Eastern Zone, to equip them with arms so that they could take part in the fight against takfiri jihadists.

Two prominent tribal figures, Moussa Al-Dalah Al-Tarabini, a businessman in construction and real estate, and Ibrahim Al-Argawi, also a businessman, called for an extensive tribal conference to support the drive. Egyptian authorities expressed their gratitude to the tribes but nothing further came of the matter.

Under pursuit in the countryside around Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid, the terrorist organisation shifted tactics and turned to Arish, the capital of North Sinai, thinking it could take advantage of that citys population density. But the shift to urban areas generated friction with prominent families and grassroots communities, especially when it came to economic interests and the affairs of daily life.

Incidents such as attacks on shop windows and their displays, harassment of women to warn them not to leave their homes unaccompanied by a male relative, and systematic assaults against Copts to drive them out of Arish stirred widespread alarm and opprobrium, especially as it revived memories of the scenes of displacement and expulsion during times of warfare and occupation.

There was probably another reason that attracted the organisation to Arish, according to both security and tribal sources. As pressure mounted on it in Sheikh Zuweid, it faced increasing difficulties in recruitment. It therefore turned to recruiting people out of work and in need of money, such as those who had once worked in the tunnels, said Salah Sallam, an Arish native who is a member of the National Council for Human Rights, referring to the smuggling trade in the tunnels between Sinai and Gaza.

As parliamentary representative for North Sinai, Hossam Refai told the Al-Ahram Weekly, as the ABM-IS members began to interfere more and more in peoples affairs and personal lives and as their bullying and offences mounted, that more and more businessmen and tribal dignitaries were being abducted and held for ransom from their tribes or families, as was the case with the kidnapping of Hamdi Gouda of the Fawakhiriya family.

Have such conditions led to a kind of tribal uprising against takfiris?

It appears that the organised drive to forge a tribal coalition against takfiri jihadist groups is something of the sort. It was initiated by the Tarabin tribe and soon brought on board other tribes such as the Sawarka and Rumeilat as well as prominent families such as the Tiyaha and Fawakhiriya.

Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Argawi, a prominent member of the Tarabin tribe, told the Weekly, the Tarabin together with the Sawarka and Rumeilat tribes, agreed to cleanse the whole of Sinai from IS elements in coordination with the army. A tribal coalition, led by Sheikh Abdel-Meguid Al-Manei, will be forged to pursue and eliminate terrorists and IS members.

It is interesting that Al-Argawi used the words coordinate with rather than support as it had two years ago. This suggests that the relationship between the tribes or tribal members and the army may soon become visible. Frequently, in the past, tribal support had to be given secretly for fear of lethal reprisals from the terrorists.

MP Refai remarked, it is difficult to take the notion that the tribes are to be armed seriously since the government rules out the idea in principle. Perhaps cooperation will take another form. However, as a matter of principle, only the state has the right to bear arms.

Refai also dismissed the rumour to the effect that a103rd brigademade up of tribal members is fighting alongside the army and carrying out field operations. The terrorists have recently been targeting certain families, bombarding civilians in their homes and driving out others from their homes.

Such actions have ignited a kind of zeal among tribal members to take up arms against them. Everyone in the Sinai is with the government. However, the way of responding to terrorism differs from one tribe to the next and from one village to the next.

The Tarabin, one of the largest tribes in the Sinai, issued a statement signed by tribal leaders, warning: The sanctity of the homes of the tribes and of the Tarabin tribe, in particular, is a red line that we will not allow to be violated.

The relationship that binds together the Bedouin tribes in the North Sinai governorate is one defined by faith, the nation and blood. It will never be broken by masks, hired guns or any foreign agencies whose sole concern is to carry out the designs of Mossad and its henchmen.

The statement continued: The Tarabin tribe has always been and remains the bearer of a proud patriotic banner that will never fall in with any scheme or bend to any force that tries to impose itself on the tribe by means of the logic of arms and bloodshed. The establishment of the law of God on Earth is not brought about by the sword or force of arms, but my moderation and leniency.

Describing the terrorist attacks against tribal members as heinous crimes and flagrant violations of all religious and humanitarian standards, the statement vowed, we are not incapable of responding forcefully to those violations. We may delay, but we will not neglect.

According to sources in the Sinai, clashes between the Tarabin and ABM-IS have intensified recently. Last week, members of the organisation killed a woman and attacked her husband while trying to abduct two of their sons. The victims, who live south of Rafah, are members of the Tarabin tribe.

This is the second incident since a car bomb exploded at a so-called roadblock created by Tarabin members in the area as a means of protecting their homes. The terrorist organisation distributed a printed flyer in the area warning the tribe against defying it and demanding the tribe disassociates itself from the activities undertaken by some of its members.

The flyer also claimed that the organisation had been trying to intercept a vehicle carrying smuggled goods and cigarettes across the border.

Other significant details have emerged in the war of statements between the tribes and terrorists. The latter has accused the tribes of creating a sahwa or awakening councils such as those that emerged in Iraq among Sunni tribes in order to fight Al-Qaeda. This is supposedly the 103rd regiment.

The ABM-IS Province has condemned these groups for doing battle against it on behalf of the state which the organisation brands as infidel. Other messages suggest that the organisation has set its crosshairs on Al-Argawi in particular on the grounds that he is responsible for creating these councils to support the state.

Tarabin elders have announced Abdel-Meguid Al-Manei will take charge of coordinating action between the tribes. This is noteworthy not only because Al-Manei is a member of the Sawarka, which may be the largest Sinai tribe numerically, but also because he lives in Mahdiya which had been an ABM stronghold until it was expelled from that area after intense clashes with the army.

Mahdiya is also where Shadi Al-Manei, an ABM commander, was from, although Abdel-Meguid Al-Maneis side of the family was at odds with Shadis. The problem in the Sinai is that dozens of sons from the tribes are being recruited [by the terrorist organisation]. As a result, some tribal members are complicit while others are fighting against them.

Each side is shedding the blood of the other, Abdel-Meguid said, adding, all of them are working on behalf of Mossad. They are not expressing Islam. They are not expressing the tribes. They are working for Israel.

A source who had previously served with the military in the Sinai for a long time noted that many young tribal members in the area near the border had been recruited into the organisation.

Most of them have kin relations on the other side of the border (in Israel) as is the case with the Nadayat, a clan belonging to the Tarabin, and the Shatayat, a clan belonging to the Tayaha, both of which have kinship bonds that extend across the border.

The Tayaha tribe has followed the lead of the Tarabin in declaring its opposition to the takfiri jihadists.

It thus appears that events in Sinai may soon take a new turn towards an active alignment of the tribes alongside the government after a period in which they had been sidelined in the fight against the takfiris.

It also appears that this development has been motivated, primarily, by a current trend in the militant jihadist strategy that has emerged after the ABM began to expand into urban areas and by behaviour that triggered the mounting aversion among the urban clans and other components of society.

If, indeed, some form of tribal council or coalition is being forged by tribal dignitaries in society to counter the takfiri militias, the battle between the two sides will undoubtedly escalate.

The story was first published in Ahram Weekly

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St. Annes Secondary School held its second annual award ceremony in the Excel Theatre.

The whole school community celebrated the exceptional achievements and efforts of the students with 57 nominations made in advance of the awards being announced.

. The awards reflect the values that are considered important in St. Annes and are not limited to academic performance alone. The range of awards is indicative of the broad, holistic education girls receive in St. Annes and all nominees received a candle and a certificate, recognising their achievement. said Niamh Ryan.

Lieutenant Cdr Roberta OBrien was the guest of honour and presented the awards. A former pupil of St. Annes and the Naval Services first female commanding officer Roberta gave an inspiring speech. Dont listen to other people saying you cant do a certain job or career just because you are a woman. Everybody knows that we live in an equal opportunity society today but there are still nuances and subtleties that put certain constraints and boundaries on women that puts the pressure on them to be the main carers. The saying that, 'you cant have it all' or that it's 'too difficult to get the balance you desire between family and career' I say dont be preparing your life for other people, do what is right for you and push yourself for what you want to achieve. Leadership isnt just for men. Dont be afraid to be the confident person speaking out for what you believe in or what you want to do. Belief and confidence in yourself is most important your experience, training and knowledge will help you gain confidence and your ability to communicate will serve you in leadership.

The awards were divided into Senior and Junior categories and all award winners received an inscribed plaque to celebrate their achievement. In the Junior category, Katie Kinane received the Leadership award, Sophie Bartlett & Amy Kuss - Academic Excellence, Caoimhe Carey  Creativity, Culture & Arts, Emma Ryan  Sport, Amy Lowry  Social Awareness, Rachel Ryan  Spirit of St. Annes and Ali Ryan  Positivity. In the Senior Categorys Maeve Richardson & Ellen Breen were awarded the Leadership award, Sylvia ODwyer & Aoife McCormack - Academic Excellence, Samantha OKeeffe - Creativity, Culture & Arts, Ruth Butler & Amber Kenny  Sport, Fiona Noonan, Spirit of St. Annes, Nimah Peters  Community Spirity, Julia Ryan  Positivity, Eimear Hennessy  Aisling Riordan Award and Maeve Richardson  CEIST award.

In St. Annes every student is valued and appreciated and every student in the school has gifts, skills and talents that are worthy of recognition, said Kathleen Ryan, Award Ceremony Coordinator. At this ceremony we celebrate hard work, determination, perseverance and dedication  qualities that are necessary for achieving goals and ambitions.

Principal Ms. Colette Treacy said, The ceremony was a wonderful occasion, a unifying and motivational event in which students were recognised and celebrated. Ms Kathleen Ryan was excellent as the master of ceremonies and our invited guest and past pupil, Lieutenant Roberta OBrien was truly inspirational. As the first Irish woman to captain a naval ship, the LE Aisling, she encouraged our girls to follow their own dreams and not be restricted by the limiting beliefs of others.

Many other students were recognised with certificates for their exceptional contribution to school life throughout the year. These included all those with excellent attendance, members of the Student Council, Student Mentors, members of The Green Schools Committee, members of the Cycle Against Suicide committee, Sci Fest competitors, Ali Ryan and Katie Kinane, All-Ireland Irish debators, Ellie Ni Dhonnchu, Ciara de Burca and Eve Ni Dhonnabhan and Junk Kouture finalists, Emma Hogan, Hannah Quinn and Leah Mulally.

Kathleen Ryan thanked the sponsors: The Tipperary Lions Club, St. Vincent de Paul and in particular Tipperary Credit Union who sponsored the awards for the second year. The Student Council sponsored the Leadership Award and St Annes Saturday Study sponsored the Academic Awards. Well done to all nominees, award winners and certificate winners.
The widow of a Clonmel-born County Councillor who was killed in a hit and run accident in Co. Kildare has spoken of her overwhelming loss at his death.

The late Willie Crowley died after he was hit by a car in Newbridge in December 2015.

Mr Crowley was originally from Clonmel but had been living in Kildare for many years. He had lived in Dublin for sometime before that.

He was an independent member of Kildare County Council at the time of his death.

In his early years, Mr Crowley worked as a printer in 'The Nationalist'. He is remembered fondly by many of his colleagues in the paper from that time

At Dublin Central Criminal Court, Damian Klasinski pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Crowley.

He will be sentenced next week.

In an impact statement to the court, Mr Crowley's widow said her sense of loss was overwhelming.

Claire Doyle described Mr Crowley as my husband, my best friend, my confidante.

And she admitted: I do not look forward to my future.

Damian Klasinski has pleaded guilty to a charge of Dangerous Driving causing the death of Cllr Crowley.

Ms Doyle has suffered from panic, fear, insomnia, loss of concentration, loss of confidence and the loss of identity, which continues to this day. She said that the support of her family and friends could not replace the loss of someone taken so suddenly and so brutally.

And she said the effect of his death left her despairing of human nature and the capacity for some people to be so devoid of social responsibility.

In her statement she said that on the night of his death, she was looking forward to the Christmas holidays with family and friends, but that all that changed suddenly when she received the call with the news.

Nothing could have prepared me for what awaited me there - my husband Willies battered, bruised and broken body, his shattered skull and some hours later the devastating news that there was nothing that could be done because of the severity of the brain injuries.

At the time of his death, Mr Crowley had a shopping list of items he needed to get for a Christmas dinner he was preparing to cook for those in need on Christmas day, and had left the pub early in order to make preparations.

The huge loss to the community has exacerbated my loss of the love of my life, Ms Doyle said.

Klasinski pleaded guilty to the charge.

Mr Crowley had left a pub and as he was crossing the street he was hit by the car being driven by Klasinski who had four passengers in the car, friends he had picked up just before then. He continued driving after the impact.

Mr Crowley succumbed to his injuries three days after the impact.
Two men who received 20 year prison sentences for an aggravated burglary in Tipperary have had their tariffs reduced to 18 years on appeal.

Dublin residents Patrick Gately (29), with an address at Primrose Grove, Darndale, Dean Byrne (23), of Cabra Park, Dublin 17, John Joyce (22), Lentisk Lawn, Donaghmede, Patrick Joyce (24), of Beaumont Hall, Beaumont Woods and Thomas Flynn (22), of Moatview Avenue, Coolock were among seven men who pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the home of the Corcoran family in South Tipperary on November 21, 2013.

Sentences of 20 years imprisonment with the final four suspended were handed down to Gately and Dean Byrne; John Joyce was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with the final four suspended; Patrick Joyce was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with the final four suspended and Thomas Flynn received a 12 year sentence made consecutive to a sentence already being served.

They were sentenced by Judge Thomas Teehan at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on October 1, 2015.

Five of the seven men brought appeals against the severity of their sentences in the three-judge Court of Appeal. Gately and Byrne had their 20 year tariffs reduced to 18 with the final four years suspended due to the excessive divergence between their sentences and the terms of their co-accused. The three other men had their appeals dismissed.

Giving judgment today (Friday), Mr Justice George Birmingham said the court was in no doubt that the sentencing judge was correct in concluding that the case fell into the most serious category of aggravated burglary and the Court of Appeal was surprised that submissions to the contrary were advanced by some of the men's lawyers.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the sentencing judge correct to deal with all seven accused in three groups.

Michael McDonagh and Donal O'Hara had the greatest claim for leniency. They did not bring appeals against their sentences.

Dean Byrne and Patrick Gately merited the most severe sentences and Thomas Flynn along with the two Joyces made up the middle group.

The sentence imposed on Thomas Flynn had to be consecutive to a firearms sentence he was serving and the Court of Appeal saw no basis for interfering with the sentence imposed on him.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the sentences imposed on the Joyces were appropriate having regard to the gravity of the offence. He said the sentencing judge saw fit to differentiate between them. John Joyce was the driver and supplier of the VW Passat and it was his phone that was in intense contact with the phone of Dean Byrne in the Saab. Moreover, John Joyce had the more extensive prior record.

Mr Justice Birmingham said there were a number of factors why Dean Byrne and Patrick Gately should have received the most severe sentences.

First of all they were the occupants of the stolen famliy jeep when it was involved in outrageous driving. They had the most extensive prior records and their guilty pleas were entered only on the date of trial.

The Court of Appeal however, had a concern, about the divergence in the sentences. Gately's and Byrne's net sentences of 16 years were more than three times the sentence of those who received the lightest terms and six years longer than Patrick Joyce, five years longer than John Joyce and seven years longer than Thomas Flynn, though his sentence was modified on principle because it was made consecutive to a term already being served.

Significant as the reasons were for differentiating, Mr Justice Birmingham said the court concluded that the divergence was excessive and required intervention.

Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan, reduced both sentences from 20 years to 18 with the final four suspended.

All other appeals were dismissed.

Giving background, Mr Justice Birmingham said all seven men travelled from Dublin in convoy in order to commit the burglary at the Corcoran home, which was a bungalow, in a cul de sac, in a rural area outside Killenaule.

Mr and Mrs Corcoran lived with their three children, all girls, aged 8, 6 and 2.

Mark Corcoran had been sleeping in a secluded room at the rear of the house because he had an early start the following morning and did not want to disturb the rest of the household.

He described being woken by a man wearing a black balaclava, brandishing a machete.

Another, taller man appeared to have a black handgun he struck Mr Corocan in the face with causing him to bleed extensively.

They were shouting: where is the safe, where is the money?. Mr Justice Birmingham said there was in fact no safe on the premises but the raiders refused to accept that. As they were told there was no money or safe they became increasingly agitated.

Mr Corcoran was led into another room where he noticed a third man with a sawn-off shotgun, also wearing a balaclava.

Mr Corcoran suffered significant injuries and in particular nasal injuries which required four surgeries. He had been pinned to the ground and his hands were tied behind his back with cable ties. One raider knelt on his back between his shoulder blades, even though he was already restrained.

A threat was made to Mr Corcoran that his feet would be cut off and, given the presence of the machete, this threat was taken very seriously.

The two eldest daughters, who had a clear view of what was going on, became very distressed and were screaming. The youngest was in a cot and could hear the threats that were being made.

Emma Corcoran had cause to witness the assault on her husband and she herself was dragged through the house by her hair. She was threatened that a screwdriver would be put up her nose and threats were made to her that the raiders would shoot or kill the children.

A sum of 1,300 was handed over and a substantial quantity of jewellery was taken, including jewellery Emma Corcoran had inherited from her late mother, such as an engagement ring worth 3,500, which was of considerable sentimental value. While some of the jewellery was subsequently recovered following an anonymous tip-off in August 2015 to go to a particular location, the engagement ring has never been recovered.

While the incident was in progress Emma Corcoran, with great presence of mind, managed to make two separate 999 calls. As a result gardai were dispatched to the scene.

At one stage the raiders sought a key to the family car, which was taken and later encountered by gardai in Portlaoise. They chased that vehicle.

In order to evade the gardai, the vehicle was driven at very high speeds, leaving the motorway network. It drove throught the village of Ballybrittas at speeds of 200km/hr.

At about 4am, Gardai from the Organised Crime Unit who were travelling south on the M7 observed the VW Passat travelling north at a high speed followed closely by a Kia Sorrento. The gardai noted that the Passat was tucked in tightly behind an articulated truck as if to hide itself.

Initialy the Passat accellerated when gardai came behind it but then the occupants realised that the vehicle could not outrun the gardai and it pulled into the hard shoulder. There were five males inside.

The driver was John Joyce, the front seat passenger was Patrick Joyce, his brother, and in the rear were Donal O'Hara, Thomas Flynn and Michale McDonagh.

Later, gardai came across the Kia Sorrento as it headed north towards Dublin. At one stage the occupants of the Kia Sorrento became aware they were being followed and attempted to escape. That involved weaving in and out of the rush hour traffic that was headed to Dublin.

As they encountered heavier traffic closer to Dublin, they drove on the right margin of the motorway where there were loose stones and road work signs. The vehicle was driven through any obstacles that were there, clipping off cars which were stopped, knocking down road signs and knocking mirrors off vehicles.

It was brought to a stop at Newlands Cross. The driver was Patrick Gately and the front seat passenger was Dean Byrne.

Each man was arrested and detained.

Dean Byrne was asked during garda interviews if he could 'picture the kids'.

He responded: If you're going to be evil, I'll be evil. I don't give a fuck about kids. If they're not mine I don't give a fuck. I didn't do it. I can sleep easily out there.

In a victim impact statement, Mark Corcoran stated: On the morning of the 21st of November, 2013, my life, as I knew it, was completely turned upside down. The actions of a number of people that night will haunt me for the rest of my life. I wake up every morning, look in the mirror and still see the scar on my face from where I was assaulted on that night. It is a constant reminder of what happened. I have had surgery to try to repair the scar tissue and I still require a number of operations to try to get my eye back to normal.

I have an enormous sense of guilt, being the man of the house, that I could not do anythign to protect my wife and kids on that night. Being tied up face down on the floor, covered in blood, to have my eldest daughter stand over me crying that her daddy is dead, I can only describe as being at my own funeral but being fully awake.

My kids saw and heard things that night that no child should ever go through. I often have nights when I am afraid to go to bed and have spent hours just sitting in front of a monitor for security camera just watching what is happening outside.

My wife and I have suffered a great deal, not just emotionally but financially. The business that so much work had gone into was no longer an option as we were afraid of something happening again. Even now as I write this, I can still hear voices shouting: 'Where is your money? We want your money'. There was jewellery taken that belonged to my late mother-in-law that had great sentimental value to my wife. That can never be replaced. Our family home where we have been raising our kids and living happily, all those happy memories we have will forever be tainted by what happened that night. I can only hope as time goes on that painful day in November becomes a distant memory.
(Natural News) Brigham and Womens Hospital (BWH), a Boston hospital and one of Harvard Medical Schools biggest teaching affiliates, has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations of research fraud in a 2012 cardiac stem cell study, BostonGlobe.com reports. BWH settled with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), which alleged that the hospitals researchers used falsified data in applying for federal funding from the National Health Institute (NIH). The NIH then funded the study with awards that amount to $42 million, the article said.

The study, led by top cardiologists Piero Anversa and Joseph Loscalzo, and published in the American Heart Associations journal Circulation in October 2012, was seen as groundbreaking when it boldly posited that the human heart had the ability to regenerate and heal itself. However, in April 2014, Circulation issued a notice of retraction following an internal investigation that raised questions about the reliability of the data.

An ongoing institutional review by Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Womens Hospital has determined that the data are sufficiently compromised that a retraction is warranted, the retraction statement said. In the wake of the retraction, a former research fellow who worked in Anversas lab wrote on RetractionWatch.com about what it was like to work in the lab, which they described as a scientific nightmare and conducted under a severe information embargo where those who dared question the findings worked in fear of losing their jobs and being unable to find new ones.

In practice, all data that did not point to the truth of the hypothesis were considered wrong, and experiments which would definitively show if this hypothesis was incorrect were never performed, the source, who opted to remain anonymous, wrote.

The general game plan of the lab was to use two methods to control the workforce: Reward those who would play along and create a general environment of fear for everyone else. The incentive was upward mobility within the lab should you stick to message. As ridiculous as it sounds to the average academic scientist, I was personally promised money and fame should I continue to perform the type of work they desired there, the source said.

The stem cell lab where the study was conducted was shut down in 2015, and Anversa, along with co-authors Annarosa Leri and Jan Kajstura have left BWH.

BWH is committed to ensuring that research conducted at the institution is done under the most rigorous scientific standards and has made significant enhancements to research integrity compliance protocols as a result of this event, the hospital was quoted as saying in the same BostonGlobe.com article.

Leri and Anversa, according to their attorney Tracy Miner, are now working at a research institute in Switzerland. The two doctors have sued BWH and Harvard regarding the investigation  though no verdict or settlement has been made yet.

Stem cell research fraud

The controversial study was one in several prominent stem cell-focused research studies that were found to be questionable or fraudulent. Aside from Anversas study, another relatively recent high-profile case of research fraud was that involving, Japanese scientist Haruko Obokata, who was exposed for falsifying findings on what was initially heralded as a revolutionary study.

According to a story on TheGuardian.com, the young Obokata, then touted as Japans scientific wonderchild, published two papers in international science journal Nature. The papers detailed how she and her fellow researchers used blood cells from mice to explore simpler ways of reprogramming cells. The findings she presented showed how she was able to transform ordinary body cells into embryonic stem cells by simply dropping them into a citric acid bath.

The results were groundbreaking, but turned out to be too good to be true. Within days of publication, the veracity of her study was called into question after images appeared to be doctored and some text found to be taken from other publications. Obokota, whose other studies were also found to be fraudulent, eventually resigned from the research center where she worked.

Keep up with the latest scientific research and news on Scientific.news.

Sources include:

BostonGlobe.com

Circ.AHAJournals.org

RetractionWatch.com

TheGuardian.com
(Natural News) Is Monsanto, the corporate scourge of the Earth, finally going to pay for its crimes? If the International Monsanto Tribunal has any say in the matter, the answer to that question appears to be an emphatic Yes. The tribunal, based in Hague, Netherlands, describes itself as an international civil society initiative to hold Monsanto accountable for human rights violations, for crimes against humanity, and for ecocide.

Five internationally acclaimed judges heard the testimonies of 30 witnesses and experts from five continents, and their goal was to deliver their legal opinion on the deplorable actions, environmental and health damages perpetrated by Monsanto.

And after much deliberation, the tribunal has finally come to a conclusion: Monsanto is guilty on all three counts. The judges who preside over the initiative have declared that the biotech behemoths activities do not just adversely affect the worlds access to food, but also negatively affect the human right to health  and that the company is also guilty of perverting scientific freedom.

As reported by ANH USA:

The tribunal stated that the companys seed empire adversely affects the worlds access to food, and that by manufacturing and distributing substances such as PCBs(polychlorinated biphenyls) and glyphosate, Monsanto has infringed on our right to high standards of health. Additionally, the tribunal found that Monsanto perverts scientific freedom by practicing forms of intimidation, pressuring governments, and discrediting legitimate scientific research that supports public health and environmental protection.

As the tribunal explains, Monsanto has been profiting from their creation of destructive and harmful compounds since the early 20th century. These toxic products, like PCBs, Agent Orange, Lasso and Roundup, have created untold damage to the environment and made thousands upon thousands of people sick. In addition to spreading poisonous chemicals around the globe, Monsanto also advocates and promotes deleterious and unsustainable farming practices that contribute to the following problems: Soil degradation, depletion of water resources, species extinction, reduced biodiversity and the displacement of small farms. On top of all that, Monsantos business of seed patenting threatens food freedom and sovereignty.

Youd think that alone would be enough to bring the corporate giant to its knees, but as we all know, Monsantos controversies dont end with their actions that have destroyed the environment and wreaked havoc on the food supply. And as critics point out, the biotech company has spent enormous amounts of money to defend itself against lawsuits brought by their victims but legal action has not yet inspired the company to change their ways.

Monsanto is also guilty of lobbying governments and regulatory agencies to keep their products on the market, and to keep scrutinizing eyes at bay. The company has even colluded with US government agencies to keep the toxic nature of their products hidden. Their strategy to stay afloat seems to be one of concealment; in addition to lobbying, the company has also reportedly funded fraudulent studies on product safety and has coerced independent scientists and manipulated the media into standing behind their wrongdoings.

One way or another, it seems that Monsantos judgment day is coming. In addition to the tribunal, lawsuits against the corporation for their lies  particularly regarding the glyphosate-cancer connection  continue to pile up.

While the ruling from the International Monsanto Tribunal is not legally binding, there is hope that their verdict will inspire other governments and agencies to get on board. The fact that an international body has found Monsanto guilty of crimes against humanity, violations of human rights and for ecocide is a tremendous step forward towards the goal of ending the corporations reign of terror. Whether or not further action will be taken remains to be seen, but it seems that the global condemnation of Monsanto is well underway.

Sources:

ANH-USA.org

ANH-USA.org

Monsanto-Tribunal.org
(Natural News) On March 11, 2011, terror struck northeastern Japan in the form of a massive magnitude-9 earthquake, which in turn unleashed a devastating tsunami that wiped out virtually everything in the city of Sukuiso. The effects of the earthquake were felt around the entire world, and even years later, the people of Japan were still finding debris washing up on shore. According to the Japanese government, the total damage caused by the earthquake cost the country an astonishing 25 trillion yen, the equivalent of roughly 300 billion U.S. dollars.

A few years later, it was discovered that radioactive water was being leaked from the Fukushima power plant, which experienced a level 7 nuclear meltdown following the tsunami. According to Japans Reconstruction Agency, as of 2015, 230,000 people whose homes were destroyed in 2011 were still living in temporary housing. Also as of 2015, according to Japans National Police Agency, a total of 15,891 people were confirmed dead.

But perhaps one of the most devastating long-term consequences of the earthquake and the tsunami that followed was, and continues to be, the cooling system failure at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Even two years after the event, the Tokyo Electric Power Company admitted that an astonishing 300 tons of radioactive water was flowing into the Pacific Ocean every single day. Fukushima was created by the tsunami. The earthquake was not a factor, explained Vasily Titov, director of the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administrations Center for Tsunami Research, based in Seattle, Washington. Fukushima was designed for a tsunami smaller than the one we saw. (RELATED: Read about the brutally honest way this nuclear engineer describes Fukushima).

Incredibly, small amounts of radioactive chemicals have even been discovered along the western coasts of the United States and Canada. In 2014 and 2015, trace amounts of Cesium-134 and Cesium-137 were collected from the ocean.

But even after all of this, Japans problems may still be far from over. Neil Hyatt, a professor of nuclear materials chemistry, claims that the cleanup process at Fukushima could take generations. Somewhere between 40 and 100 years for the Fukushima cleanup and complete decommissioning is probably a reasonable estimate, he predicts during an interview with TRT World, a government funded public broadcaster of Turkey. Hyatt goes on to say, So right now work is proceeding to target and to plan, and they have an ambitious goal to retrieve some of the core material by 2020. They have a lot of different approaches to doing that. (RELATED: Read about the unimaginable levels of radiation detected at Fukushima)

One concern is there could be a resumption of the nuclear chain reaction and there are systems in place that would allow us to detect that, Professor Hyatt added.

While the threat of a nuclear chain reaction is certainly legitimate, Tokyo Electric is still working tirelessly to reach the cores of the nuclear reactors. The problem they are having, however, is getting past a lethal wave of radiation that has the ability to kill a human in less than one minute. In order to get around this, Tokyo Electric pumps 400 tons of water nonstop each day through the reactors in order to cool melted fuel that is too radioactive to move. The water passes through into storage tanks, which Tokyo Electric has to continuously build as the amount of stored water accumulates. Currently, a total of 1,000 tanks hold a total of 920,000 tons of contaminated water. A new problem may soon be appearing over the horizon, however, as the workers are quickly running out of room to build new storage tanks.

Its clear that the Japanese certainly have their hands full, and it is unfortunate that they may be forced to continue the cleanup process over the course of the next century. Our thoughts and our prayers are with all of them. Stay informed about radiation effects at Radiation.news.

Sources

ENEnews.com

LiveScience.com
An Orange County man was arrested in Tuesday after 93 exotic birds, most of them endangered, were discovered in his luggage on March.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, the man arrived at Los Angeles International Airport from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on March 24. As his bags were being scanned, they discovered 50 birds that were dying and 43 more that were already dead. Only eight birds survived the ordeal.

"Importing certain illegal wildlife, such as these avian species, can not only introduce communicable animal diseases into the United States, but they can also pose a threat to our local ecosystem," said Jill Birchell, FWS Special Agent in Charge, in a statement.



ABC 7 reported that the 49-year-old man was identified as Kurtis Law. The suspect was released on bond after appearing in court on Tuesday. His next scheduled court date is on June 5. He will spend 20 years in federal prison if convicted for smuggling goods into the United States.



"CBP works closely with the Fish and Wildlife Service to make wildlife traffickers accountable for all violations of law. In this case, CBP's unwavering commitment and proactive partnership actions with FWS investigators resulted in a decisive federal criminal complaint that led to the arrest and arraignment of the suspect," said Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, in a statement.

Wildlife trafficking, worth an estimated $10 billion a year, is thought to be the third most valuable unlawful business in the world; it comes after drugs and weapons, Smithsonian Magazine noted, citing the US State Department as the source. Two million to five million wild birds are traded illegally worldwide every year.



As explained by Mother Board, carrying exotic species from another country to the United States is allowed if there's a permit and other required documents are produced.
Doctors have successfully removed a germinating plant seed inside a boy's ear.

A video taken at the hospital at Nanchuan Hongren Hospital in Chongqing City in on April 22 shows doctors examining the ear of the six-year-old boy.

As per the report of Daily Mail, the boy was rushed to the hospital after his mother discovered the bean while she was cleaning his son's ear.



Speaking to local reporters, Doctor Zhang XiaoChun, a specialist in ear, nose and throat who examined the boy's ear, confirmed that the bean, suspected to be a butterbean, was already germinating.

"It looks like a broad bean and the seed can be seen starting to sprout already," the doctor said, according to the news outfit.

The doctor added that it grew because the ear is warm and moist, and the temperature is arounf 37 degrees, perfect for the seed to grow.

Metro UK noted that the operation took a few minutes and was successful. Fortunately, he is not expected to experience any negative long-term effects.



Naked Science cited that finding a foreign object -- inanimate or animate -- in the ear is frequent in patients attending ENT clinics. A good number of foreign bodies are organic, especially seeds.



In 2013, also in China, a dandelion that was growing in the ear canal of a 16-month-old girl was removed.

A foreign object in the ear can cause pain and hearing loss.

Mayo Clinic recommends not probing the ear with anything if an object becomes lodged in the ear. If the object is clearly visible and pliable from the outside, you may remove it using tweezers. You may also tilt your head on the side of the affected ear to try to remove the object. If it is an insect, put tiny drops of baby oil in your ear to immobilize it.

It is important to see the doctor as soon as you notice something unusual in your ear.
The great Amazon is the largest rainforest on the planet, extending about 40 percent of the South American continent and including parts of the following different countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana that's a department of France.

To submerge such a large expanse of rainforest would be a massive undertaking, but a new study by researchers from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) suggested that that was exactly what happened -- twice. According to a report from Science Magazine, a significant part of the rainforest may have been flooded by the Caribbean Sea twice over 10 million years ago. This spurred the evolution of new species that live in the Amazon. It has resulted in about 10 percent of the planet's species being found in this rainforest.

However, not all scientists agree with the findings. Many are in agreement that the Amazon has been underwater for a time but disagree on the source of the water.

"Pollen records from oil wells in eastern Colombia and outcrops in northwestern Brazil clearly show two short-lived events in which ocean water from the Caribbean flooded what is now the northwest part of the Amazon basin," lead author and STRI scientist Carlos Jaramillo said in a statement. "Geologists disagree about the origins of the sediments in this area, but we provide clear evidence that they are of marine origin, and that the flooding events were fairly brief."

Jaramillo and his colleagues dated the two Amazon rainforest floods at between 18 to 17 million years ago and between 16 to 12 million years ago. The first flood was estimated to have lasted 200,000 years, while the second stretched longer for 400,000 years.

The team studied evidence of over 50,000 individual pollen grains from 900 pollen types from cores. In their analysis, they came across two different layers of marine pollen that's separated by layers of non-marine pollen. There were also fossils of marine animals like a shark tooth and a mantis shrimp.

The study about the underwater history of the Amazon rainforest is published in the journal Science Advances.
Votes are being counted in a parallel set of internal elections within the Free Egyptians Party, organisers told Al-Ahram Arabic website on Friday evening.

Mahmoud El-Alaily was elected president of the party by acclamation, and Ahmed Samer was likewise acclaimed head of the secretariat.

The independent committee supervising and monitoring the elections is set to announce the 50 successful candidates who were elected to the partys high committee, out of 192 nominees.

The liberal party was founded soon after the 2011 uprising which toppled longtime president Hosni Mubarak by telecoms tycoon Naguib Sawiris. The party holds the largest number of parliamentary seats of any single political party.

Discord between members started to surface last year, with some members infuriated by what they deemed as the party toeing the government's line. Others believed Sawiris was over-critical of the authorities.

The current showdown dates back to December 2016 when party members, headed by current chair Essam Khalil, voted to dissolve the partys board of trustees after amendments were made to its bylaws.

Matters worsened following the sacking of Sawiris after he failed to show up for questioning over accusations of libel against party members.

The board refused to accept the decision, calling it a coup, and accusing the political bureau of hijacking" the party away from its founders. Sawiris has taken the matter to court.

Subsequent to that, on 24 March, Essam Khalil organised internal elections, and was re-elected head by acclamation. He was the only candidate.

Fifty board members were also elected out of 83 candidates.

Sawiris commented on the results via his official Twitter account at the time, writing in Arabic: Four hundred of 100,000 founding members of the Free Egyptians Party elect a chairman through acclamation, in an illegal electionFarce. #Judas."

Under the slogan of "Free Again", the Sawiris faction subsequently announced it had a quorum in the general assembly needed to start internal elections.

The elections were held on Friday at the old headquarters of the party in downtown Cairo, which is no longer being used by the Essam Khalil faction, and were attended by Sawiris.

In his speech during the general assembly on Friday, Sawiris stressed "the willingness of the Egyptian people to achieve democracy, and that was my motive to be present today.

Sawiris has also warned Essam Khalil and his supporters that "you fell out with a guy from Upper Egypt, who will not give up on what he is entitled to, Al-Ahram reported.

Many other political parties which were founded following the 2011 uprising have been hit by internal differences or mass resignations, including the Constitution Party, founded by Nobel laureate and former vice president Mohamed ElBaradei, and the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, whose former head Mohamed Abul Ghar resigned after internal dissension, citing a failure to "heal the rift" within the party.

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A baby born with a parasitic twin in India had undergone a complex operation and is currently recovering.

The baby, yet to be named, was born via Caesarian section on April 26 in Bhilwara, Rajasthan in northern India. After the baby was born, her family was devastated to see her with two heads. The hospital immediately referred them to JK Lone Hospital in Jaipur to examine the baby further.

According to New Zealand Herald, Dr. Pravin Marthur of the hospital's pediatric unit, said, "This is one of the rarest cases of parasitic twin. The parents told us the mother had undergone sonography and other tests but were not told about carrying an underdeveloped twin.

"They were shattered when they saw the baby. We had to convince them to give us a nod for the surgery to save their daughter's life," Marthur added.

The parasitic twin grew on the baby's stomach, and it was "feeding off" her blood supply. Metro UK said the extra head was complete with eyes, ears, nose and lips and a malformed left hand hanging down her chest.

"It was a complicated case as the twins shared blood vessels. They were joint from the thorax and shared common vessels for blood supply from heart and liver," Mathur shared. The hospital did not charge the family anything.

As explained by Live Science, a parasitic twin is an underdeveloped twin who died during development in the womb. In cases like this, a baby (host twin) is usually born complete, but with protruding tissues of its underdeveloped twin.

Last month, another baby underwent a six-hour procedure involving five surgeons, to remove her parasitic twin.

"A parasitic twin is an identical twin that fails to fully separate in development," said John R. Ruge, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Advocate Children's Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois, according to Reuters. "In other words, not another independent twin, but a twin that was dependent on her body system, such that Dominique's heart and lungs provided the nourishment."
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have successfully made the first ever satellite launcher 3-D printed in space.

The new 3-D printed launcher is the winner of the Mouser Electronics Inc.'s International Space Station (ISS) Design Challenge. Submitted by engineer Andy Filo, the winning design, a femtosatellite launcher, was 3-D printed on April 3 by Made In Space's Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) aboard the ISS.

"Mouser brought together engineers, students and makers from around the world in this exciting design challenge. All the designs were excellent, but in the end, there was one design that stood above the rest," said Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser Electronics, in a statement sent to Nature World News. "The heart of this challenge was 'innovation,' and Andy's femtosatellite-launching device embodies forward-thinking design."

Filo's Femtosatellite launcher is capable of distributing femtosatellites, or small satellites, that monitor cosmic rays from the stars and coronal events from the sun. Each femtosatellite weighs less than 100 grams and is only about the size of a postage stamp.

After the crew aboard the ISS received the design for the femtosatellite launcher, Filo and Made in Space did some last-minute adjustments. They decided to round the handle, increasing usability and comfort. The design was also edited to increase the printing time.

The ISS Design Challenge was launched by Mouser Electronics Inc., with the help of its celebrity engineer Grant Imahara in November last year. The contest was sponsored by Amphenol and Intel, in partnership with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Made In Space and MacroFab.

Filo's winning design was chosen from a total of 242 entries. On third place is a device used to fix things in place while in microgravity designed by Thomas Delmas. Alsie Cluffs spoon-thong garnered the second place.

Mouser is an award-winning, authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor that features more than 4 million products from more than 600 manufacturers.


When you take a look at Marty Brounstein's body of work as an author, something immediately stands out: one of his books is not like the others.

The long-time San Mateo management consultant has authored many books in that field, most notably a number in the "For Dummies" series.

Brounstein's latest book, however, is a world away from that, and very close to his heart.

"It's the most difficult thing I have ever done," Brounstein said "It's also the most important."

"Two Among The Righteous Few, A Story Of Courage In The Holocaust," tells the tale of Frans and Mien Wijnakker, a Dutch couple who saved the lives of more than two dozen Jews during the Second World War by sheltering them and hiding them from the Nazis.

One of those who was saved as a baby was Leah Baars, Brounstein's wife.

Brounstein says the idea to write the book began with a trip in 2009 to the Netherlands with Baars.

"This is a story I stumbled into by accident, not by design," Brounstein said.

Brounstein and Baars visit the Wijnakkers home and met their children still living in the area. It was then that one of them showed Brounstein a picture of a plaque honoring the Wijnakkers at Yad Vashem, the holocaust museum in Israel.

"I knew what that meant," Brounstein said. "You don't get that for just showing up. Something heroic happened here."

Using an account written years before and doing more research, Brounstein spent the next two years researching and writing the book.

Since then, Brounstein and Baars have held more than 500 events at schools, houses of worship, civic organizations, and even private companies sharing the story.

Brounstein says the overwhelming and emotional response they get from audiences is what keeps them going.

"My journey in sharing this story is six years complete. The seventh year already booked. Who'd expect that?"
Sonoma County sheriff's officials believe they have solved the slayings of two young Bible-camp counselors found shot to death as they slept on a Jenner beach more than a decade ago, they said Friday.

The young couple, Lindsay Cutshall, 22, and her fiance Jason Allen, 26, was found next to each other on a driftwood-strewn beach, still zipped into their sleeping bags, on Aug. 18, 2004.

Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas on Friday announces an arrest in a nearly 13-year-old homicide case that started when two people were shot and killed on a Jenner beach. Laura Malpert reports.

On Friday, Sonoma County Sheriff Steve Freitas said investigators have interrogated Shaun Gallon, 38, of Forestville, who was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of his brother in March and previously arrested for shooting another man with an arrow in 2009.

The sheriff's office received over 1,200 tips after news broke about Cutshall and Allen's deaths. One of them was about Gallon, who was identified as a person of interest early in the investigation and was never ruled out as a suspect. When he was taken into custody for the March killing of his brother, detectives took the opportunity to talk to him about the cold case.

Gallon knew things about the killings that no one who wasn't involved could have known, the sheriff said, and authorities have also found corroborating evidence.

Sonoma County Sheriff's Office

"We feel confident we have Jason and Lindsay's killer," Freitas said of the young couple, whose mysterious killings drew national attention.

No one has ever been charged in the killings, and no motive has ever been made public. Authorities have said neither victim was robbed or sexually assaulted. Freitas said authorities believed the killing was random, and that there was no previous connection between the two and the suspect.

Officials have not yet found the weapon.

The victims' parents wrote a letter to the sheriff's office, which Freitas read aloud during a news conference.

"When we at times wondered if this day would ever come, the detectives in particular wouldnt allow us to lose hope," their note said in part.

Chris Cutshall, father of Lindsay Cutshall, later said he and his family were "just really pleased that they finally captured this guy."

NBC Bay Area

Lindsay Cutshall, a native of Fresno, Ohio, and Allen, from Zeeland, Michigan, were on a weekend trip. They worked at a Christian youth camp in California's Sierra Nevada foothills.

The pair was killed during a three-day sightseeing trip to Northern California. A helicopter unit heading to a rescue flew over the remote area and noticed the couple who looked like they were sleeping. When they flew back later and realized that the man and woman had not moved, it struck them as suspicious. That prompted a massive response from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

A man accused of killing a couple on a North Bay beach in 2004 had previous run-ins with the law. Cheryl Hurd reports.

Before being linked to the Jenner case, Gallon was arrested in 2009 after an arrow fired from his bow pierced the convertible top of a car and struck the hat James McNeil was wearing. McNeil at the time didn't understand why he was targeted, but the new information announced Friday regarding Gallon's history gave him some clarity.

"Apparently it wasn't an accident," he said. "It all makes sense now. I don't know why he was after me."

Gallon served two years behind bars after shooting at McNeil before being released. McNeil questions the length of that sentence.

"Two years for attempted murder; maybe they should have gave him longer," McNeil said. "More people would be alive."

Shaun Gallon, the man suspected of killing a couple on a North Bay beach in 2004, also shot at a man with a bow and arrow in 2009.

After Gallon's arrest Friday, Freitas described feeling "joyful" because Gallon's actions were "traumatic" for the entire Jenner community.

A former neighbor of Gallon said the man didn't seem violent, but added that Gallon became increasingly reclusive over the years.

"It worries me," the neighbor, who did not want to be identified, said. "Somebody that could be that normal was that unhinged."

Sheriff's officials will soon send the double homicide case to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office. Gallon is expected to be arraigned in a few weeks.


The City by the Bay has a reputation for shopping and dining, but what the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit found for sale at the corner of Seventh Street and Market in San Francisco gives new meaning to steal of a deal.

Store owners and retail crime investigators say shoplifters are growing more aggressive and brazen, putting public health and safety at risk. Despite a daily police presence, our hidden cameras captured buyers and sellers doing brisk business.

Within moments of arriving at the black market in front of the Carl's Jr. on Market, sellers approached an undercover NBC Bay Area producer to ask what he wanted to buy. The hot spot is just half a block from the Orpheum theater showing "Hamilton," and if you stopped to observe, you would quickly see sellers offering deep discounts on everything from detergent and deodorant to New York steaks, oxtail and frozen ground turkey.

This one in the store is $30. Ill give it to you, $10. I just pulled it out 10 minutes ago. Make me an offer, said one seller referring to several packages of red meat he later set on the ground near the steps leading down to the BART station.

Another seller enthusiastically offered a package of tri-tip tucked under his armpit, hidden inside his leather jacket, This [expletive] is Kentucky bourbon tri-tip. Come on man. You [expletive] marinate it in Kentucky bourbon. This is as good as it gets right here.

One man hawked canned seafood from Safeway from a plastic garbage bag, "Crab meat bruh. Theyre like $5 a can, I want $1 a can. Just $1. I got Spam too." He sold his box of frozen Safeway Select chocolate eclairs just a few minutes later to another black market regular, who opened the box, sharing the delicate desserts with other regulars on the corner.

The makeshift market even has a nickname, 496 Market because 496 is the California penal code for receiving stolen goods.

Its really a low risk, high reward crime, loss prevention investigator Joe LaRocca said. The former vice president of the National Retail Federation has spent more than 20 years advising major companies, including Disney, on how to combat organized retail crime.

LaRocca said he's seen many instances of food sold on the street that ended back up on store shelves and even in restaurants, served to unsuspecting customers.

"When things like baby formula, over-the-counter drugs, and meat are not maintained in a refrigerated or sanitary condition, disease can break out, the food might spoil, and if children are eating it, it puts vulnerable people at risk because it is just not safe.

LaRocca said in the past several years, his organization has tracked a rise in violence associated with theft.

Customers are frequently caught in the middle of these aggressive crimes. People are pushed out the door, theyre run over, hit by vehicles. Weve seen the high-speed pursuits in California; when you hear they were initiated at some retail store or parking lot, sometimes these are organized retail crime suspects trying to get away, LaRocca said.

WATCH THIS VIDEO OF A WOMAN DETERMINED NOT TO PART WITH HER CHIPS AND JUICE WHEN CONFRONTED BY SECURITY.

Alleged shoplifter pours out orange juice as she is being detained.

The shoplifters we catch at the door, theyre going to fight you for it. They feel its theirs once they pass that threshold, Grocery Outlet store owner Eric Liitschwager said.

The former private security contractor turned grocery retailer has scuffled with shoplifters himself, and recently, a petty theft turned into a violent assault at his newly opened store on Van Ness.

One of my guys was stabbed by a shoplifter about five times in the hand and the arm, Liitschwager said. For the first time, Ive decided to go with an armed guard. They have arrest authority, body cameras and theyre fully armed."

UNDETERRED BY POLICE PRESENCE

Despite a daily police presence of uniformed officers walking the block and black and white patrol cars cruising on the sidewalk, the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit observed little interruption to the illicit business conducted on Market Street.

Law enforcement's apparent frustration at the brazen black market operating in plain sight bubbled to the surface when a plain clothes San Francisco police officer revealed his badge and walked through a crowd asking, "You know why people steal stuff? Because people like you come out here and buy their [expletive] all day."

The officer continued, "Wait until we get INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) involved in here too. It's going to be awesome. We're going to ship everybody back to their home country." Five minutes after dispersing, buyers and sellers reconvened.

NBC Bay Area requested an interview with the San Francisco police department to ask about the challenges of cracking down on this crime, and to question the actions of the officer who announced INS would be shipping people "back to their home country." Department spokesman Sgt. Michael Andraychak declined, saying the officers were "too busy."

In an email, the agency acknowledged the area is known as a place where stolen goods may be sold...SFPD has been conducting plain clothes operations in the area for several months.

After initially denying any SFPD officers were out on the corner, Andraychak requested video showing the officer recorded by NBC Bay Area, alarmed that an officer in one of the country's staunchest sanctuary cities was recorded referring to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

We'd like to see what was said and by whom so we can evaluate the situation to determine if the person speaking is an SFPD member and, if so, if any violation of Department policies took place. SFPD officers do not enforce immigration laws.

Meanwhile, Grocery Outlet's Liitschwager said his store suffers losses of $300 to $1,000 a day from thieves. That loss means he has less money to pay benefits for employees that range from orthodontic work for a clerks kids, or funeral costs for a staffer who lost his mother. Liitschwager said hes also paid bills for a cashier whose husband underwent open heart surgery.

We get to do those things. Its something that keeps us bound together as a team, explaining that his employees take it personally when people steal. This is our home. We spend so many hours here; dont come here and do that.

SFPD Statement Regarding Retail Crime at 7th Street and Market

SFPD Investigators pursue leads and develop evidence with the goal of identifying suspects and making arrests.

There have been instances in which the suspects used force or weapons on store employees to complete retail theft. The use of force or fear elevates theft to robbery. These types of crimes have been occurring for several years now with the Rainbow Crew being the most widely known in the Bay Area.

When crimes like this occur, we encourage store employees and customers to be good witnesses and to note as much detail about the suspects (including any get-away car) as possible and to capture photo or video evidence on their smart phones.

Our most successful investigations are those in which retailers promptly call 911 to report the thefts and provide witness statements, surveillance video, inventory records of stolen merchandise, etc. to responding officers. Successful prosecutions also depend upon victims and witnesses being willing to testify in court. We need victims (retailers) to call the police, file reports and cooperate with investigators.

Investigators work up cases and utilize email and Crime Alert Bulletins to share information throughout the Department (ie: surveillance video, still photos, vehicle descriptions, etc.) and with allied agencies when appropriate. The SFPD Investigations Bureau also holds regular conference calls to share information on significant crimes and trends occurring in their areas.

Once investigators obtain photos of suspects, photographic lineups are shown to victims and witnesses. When witnesses and victims positively ID suspects, inspectors prepare arrest and search warrants which, upon approval of a judge, are served. Completed investigations are then turned over to the DA's Office for prosecution.

The Department has made arrests in several such incidents (Rainbow Crew for example).

The area of 7th /Market Street is known as a place where stolen goods may be sold. Officers assigned to Tenderloin Station, the Mid-Market Foot Beat Unit and other specialized units patrol the area on a regular basis. Uniformed officers make arrests of persons possessing or selling stolen property at 7th / Market and United Nations Plaza. We believe there is an organized group running a modern day fencing operation that moves property in and out of the UN Plaza on a regular basis. We believe that some of the stolen items are being moved out of the San Francisco area. The SFPD has been conducting plain clothes operations in the area for several months.

We also know that events such as flea markets and swap meets held in neighboring jurisdictions also attract persons selling stolen items.

As for the video of undercover officers that your producer mentioned, I have not been able to identify any SFPD operations in that area on or around the date you provided. I am told that corporate loss prevention agencies sometimes conduct surveillance in the area. In either event, it might be best if you do not air or publish any video depicting undercover officers or agents."

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 Turkish court on Friday rejected an appeal by the Wikimedia Foundation against the blocking of access in Turkey to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, state media said.

The first magistrates court in Ankara threw out the appeal filed earlier this week by the Wikimedia Foundation, which owns the domain name for Wikipedia, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. The ban had been imposed on Saturday and remains in place.

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What to Know Gregory Lepsky, 20, of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, faces charges of attempting to join and support ISIS

Federal prosecutors say they found a new pressure cooker in Lepsky's house

Lepsky allegedly told law enforcement he planned to detonate a bomb in New York City

A New Jersey man has been arrested for allegedly planning to set off a bomb in New York City in support of ISIS, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Gregory Lepsky, 20, will appear in Newark federal court to face once charge of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Lepsky was arrested Feb. 21 after a relative called police and said he had threatened to kill the family dog. While being treated for wounds to his arms, Lepsky said he had joined ISIS and had plane tickets to Turkey, according to a criminal complaint.

While searching his home, authorities found a brand new pressure cooker hidden in his closet.

Lepsky subsequently claimed, while in the hospital, that he had been in contact with ISIS members via Facebook and that he had been studying how to make a pressure cooker bomb with gunpowder, the complaint says.

"Lepsky also stated that he was going to take the pressure cooker and gunpowder to New York City, bring the items into a crowded area of Manhattan, and blow it up to kill people. Lepsky explained that he would be rewarded in the afterlife for this act," the complaint said.

Further investigation revealed that Lepsky had multiple conversations on Facebook in which he said he had converted to Islam and wanted to go to Syria to fight non-believers, according to court documents.

A search of his phone turned up a variety of anti-Semitic images, the ISIS flag and a picture of an armed Lepsky dressed in fatigues and making pro-ISIS hand gestures, the complaint says.

Lepsky is not the first local man to be arrested in recent months for attempting to join ISIS. In March, the FBI arrested a Long Island man who tried to travel to Syria to join the terror group, and last November a Brooklyn resident was arrested with similar plans.

Lawyer information for Lepsky was not immediately known. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the criminal charge.
A teen has been charged in the killing of a Chicago police officer's son, who was fatally shot last summer on the city's South Side, just hours before family members said he was scheduled to return to college.

Anthony Moore, 18, was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 19-year-old Arshell Edward Dennis, Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted Friday morning.

"We promised we'd never stop & we didn't," he wrote.

Dennis was fatally shot on Aug. 14 while sitting with two other men in front of his family's home in the 2900 block of West 82nd Street in Chicago's Wrightwood neighborhood. Police say a suspect approached the pair around 12:04 a.m. and opened fire, authorities said, striking Dennis in the chest.

A 20-year-old man sitting with Dennis was critically injured in the shooting, according to police.

Both men were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where Dennis was pronounced dead.

Family members said Dennis, who was known as Trey, graduated from Urban Prep Academy in 2014. He was home visiting his mother, who had been sick, before starting his junior year studying journalism at St. John's University in New York. He was scheduled to fly to New York City later that day to return to school.

Dennis was the son of Chicago Police Officer Arshell Dennis.

"Every officer in this department took this murder personally," Supt. Eddie Johnson said Friday with Sgt. Dennis by his side. "And we vowed not to stop until we found his killer. Today, I am pleased to announce that we have apprehended and charged that individual."

Commander Brendan Deenihan said investigators believe the shooting happened because Moore though the younger Dennis and his friends were in an opposing gang, though they were not.

"This touches home a little bit more, but detectives work every case this way," Deenihan said.

He added that Moore allegedly made several "third party statements" admitting his role in the killing. Authorities also claimed to have video and phone data evidence in the case.

Johnson said Moore's arrest "should come as no surprise to anyone."

"This is not his first go around with the criminal justice system," Johnson said.

"The vast majority of people who pulled the trigger in this city are not new to the criminal lifestyle. Even if they have never used a gun before, they have made decisions in their life that have lead them up to that point."

Sgt. Dennis did not speak during the announcement, other than to thank his fellow officers for their work in the case.

"It's a deep loss," Dennis' grandfather said soon after the teen's death. "It hurts and I wish some of this senseless killing would stop."
The DuPage County Coroner's Office announced Friday the cause of death for a 51-year-old woman who was the subject of a homicide investigation after she was found dead in her west suburban home Thursday afternoon.

Andrea Urban died of blunt force trauma, according to preliminary autopsy results.

"However, more investigative work lies ahead as efforts to identify the person or persons responsible for this tragic crime enter their second day," Hinsdale police said in a release Friday.



Officers responded to a home in the 700 block of Town Place about 3:37 p.m. after a 911 call was made from the residence Thursday, police said. The woman was later identified as Urban, a resident with two children who attend local schools, Hinsdale police Chief Kevin Simpson said at a press conference Thursday.

[[421401573, C]]

Police said Friday the crime scene had been fully processed and evidence from the scene was being secured, catalogued and analyzed.

Canvassing efforts were expected to last into the weekend, police said, and "scores of leads" have come into the Hinsdale police tip line.

Simpson continued to urger residents and potential witnesses to come forward with any information.

This case cannot be solved too soon. But its very important that we are being thorough, deliberate and thoughtful in everything we do on this case," he said. "As we complete our first full day of this investigation, our efforts are being guided by our desire to bring justice to Ms. Urbans family, friends and our community.



According to a November article in The Hinsdalean, one of the town's local newspapers, Urban was a cancer survivor and advocate for the use of medical marijuana. The newspaper reports that she made her own cannaboid oil in her kitchen. She also reportedly worked as a caterer in New York City in 2001 and fed emergency workers during 9/11.

An actress, the newspaper reports she "landed small roles" on "Chicago P.D." and "Chicago Fire" and aspired to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Michigan.

During the conference Simpson declined to elaborate on multiple points of the investigation, including who found Urban's body, citing the "very early stages of this investigation."

I understand that because this is such a rare occurrence in our town and in Hinsdale that many residents are rightfully asking questions and wondering what they can do, Simpson said.

He urged residents to come forward if they have any information that might be related to the investigation. He also said police are canvasing the neighborhood and asking for neighbor who have surveillance footage or cameras in the area. The department also asked for help from the public on Facebook, calling the incident a "tragic homicide."



[[421402813, C]]

The DuPage County state's attorney's office and Felony Investigative Assistance Team Major Crimes Unit were assisting Hinsdale police, according to a news release from the department.

We recognize the magnitude of something like this in Hinsdale, Simpson said. Id have to check records to see how far back when weve had an incident like thisbut were not taking it lightly obviouslyand well try to provide as much information as we can as quickly as we can.

Nothing at this point leads police to think the killing was a random act, Simpson said.

The Hinsdalean article says Urban was born and raised in Hinsdale and her parents and brother lived in the town as well.

Police vehicles could be seen near Town Place and Quincy roads and crime scene tape was surrounding the area around 4:40 p.m. A playground on the tree-lined street could be seen near the area cordoned off by yellow police tape.

Police ask that if anyone has information regarding the woman's death that they call the Hinsdale Police Department at 630-789-7070.
Police were conducting a homicide investigation in the western suburbs after a 50-year-old woman was found dead in her home by a relative Thursday afternoon, authorities confirmed.

Hinsdale police officers responded to a home in the 700 block of Town Place about 3:37 p.m. after a 911 call was made from the residence, police said. The woman was later identified as Andrea Urban, a resident with two children who attend local schools, Hinsdale police Chief Kevin Simpson said at a press conference.

[[421401573, C]]

Police were taking steps to get the children in the care of relatives, Simpson said. He also said police were following up on "several leads" but would not comment further on the matter.

According to a November article in The Hinsdalean, one of the town's local newspapers, Urban was a cancer survivor and advocate for the use of medical marijuana. The newspaper reports that she made her own cannaboid oil in her kitchen. She also reportedly worked as a caterer in New York City in 2001 and fed emergency workers during 9/11.

An actress, the newspaper reports she "landed small roles" on "Chicago P.D." and "Chicago Fire" and aspired to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Michigan.

During the conference Simpson declined to elaborate on multiple points of the investigation, including who found Urban's body, citing the "very early stages of this investigation."

I understand that because this is such a rare occurrence in our town and in Hinsdale that many residents are rightfully asking questions and wondering what they can do, Simpson said.

He urged residents to come forward if they have any information that might be related to the investigation. He also said police are canvasing the neighborhood and asking for neighbor who have surveillance footage or cameras in the area. The department also asked for help from the public on Facebook, calling the incident a "tragic homicide."



[[421402813, C]]

The DuPage County state's attorney's office and Felony Investigative Assistance Team Major Crimes Unit were assisting Hinsdale police, according to a news release from the department.

We recognize the magnitude of something like this in Hinsdale, Simpson said. Id have to check records to see how far back when weve had an incident like thisbut were not taking it lightly obviouslyand well try to provide as much information as we can as quickly as we can.

Nothing at this point leads police to think the killing was a random act, Simpson said.

The Hinsdalean article says Urban was born and raised in Hinsdale and her parents and brother lived in the town as well.

Police vehicles could be seen near Town Place and Quincy roads and crime scene tape was surrounding the area around 4:40 p.m. A playground on the tree-lined street could be seen near the area cordoned off by yellow police tape.

Police ask that if anyone has information regarding the woman's death that they call the Hinsdale Police Department at 630-789-7070.
This year's University of Illinois commencement has become a big draw.

Officials say students have already picked up more than 33,000 tickets for the May 13 graduation ceremony at Memorial Stadium. The keynote speaker is actor and humorist Nick Offerman.

Students rushed to get tickets for commencement when the university's invitation to former President Barack Obama was pending.

Last year, Illinois distributed about 25,000 tickets for speaker Jeff Huber, the Chicago Tribune reports. He's an Illinois alumnus and former Google executive who heads the startup Grail.

Illinois special events director Laura Wilhelm-Barr says it's unlikely all ticket holders will show up. She says about 65 percent of the tickets distributed usually end up being used.

Wilhelm-Barr said the biggest commencement crowd may have been Hillary Clinton in 1994.
Two people were arrested on drug charges as part of a months-long investigation into heroin and fentanyl trafficking, according to Connecticut State Police.

Kevin Crabb, 36, and Renee Cottrill, 34, both of West Hartford, were arrested Thursday. Police said the pair are accused of being the source of heroin/fentanyl in the Hartford area that is connected to a number of overdoses.

Police arrested the pair during a traffic stop. During a search, officers turned up 51 grams of fentanyl, four grams of marijuana, two grams of heroin, and $3,040 in cash.

When police executed a search warrant at the suspects apartment, they found an additional 714 grams of fentanyl, 59 grams of raw heroin, 32 grams of cocaine and $1,200 in cash, as well as prescription pills, steroids, a scale, packaging materials and a kilo press.

Crabb was charged with illegal possession of narcotics, possession with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance, risk of injury to a child, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cottrill was charged with illegal possession of narcotics, illegal sale of drugs by non-drug-dependent person, risk of injury to a child and conspiracy.

Both were held on $250,000 bonds.

The investigation was executed by the Connecticut State Police Statewide Narcotics Task Force North Central Office, which includes members of the Connecticut State Police, West Hartford Police, East Windsor Police, and Hartford Police Departments.


The NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters looked into the air quality situation at The Eastbury School in Glastonbury through a school facilities survey every public school district must regularly fill out and share with the state.

The survey, last completed by the Glastonbury school district in 2013, said The Eastbury School was built in 1948, with its last major renovation in 1996.

In terms of indoor air quality:

The school has carbon monoxide detection and warning equipment

The school district gave Eastbury's ventilation, hazardous material reduction measures, and moisture elimination measures all excellent grades

According to state guidelines, that means those systems are either new, have undergone extensive renovation, or have been updated and maintained at a very high level.

Given today's incident, and the finding that there was an issue with the schools ventilation system, it will clearly be examined again. These air quality surveys are on a state department of education website.

You can check the air quality and many other conditions at your childs school by going to this link.
Fifteen percent of adults in America have used an online dating site or app, according to the Pew Research Center, but a matchmaking service may appeal to those looking for a more personalized approach.

That was the case for Dorothy Luhn and Kathleen ORourke.

They have never met, but they share a similar experience with a matchmaking service called Its Just Lunch (IJL).

Luhn, who is divorced, heard about it from a neighbor. She said the sales pitch is very convincing.

"They tell you all about all the wonderful things about how the matchmaking is going to go and how it's going to change your life," Luhn said.

ORourkes membership was a gift from a friend.

As you get older, you want that partner, right? You want that person you can travel with and go to family functions with, she said.

Luhn and ORourke had high hopes about the $2,800 membership, which is good for six months or four dates: whichever comes later.

"I was expecting that putting that type of investment in, that I would also be meeting people that would be making a similar investment," Luhn said.

The companys website describes, a dating experience personalized just for you. But Luhn and ORourke said it didnt feel very personal.

I got a real sense that the woman on the other end of the phone was just reading a script, ORourke said of her initial interview upon signing up. That was followed by a video conference with an IJL representative.

And it really is a 10 minute back and forth with a person that youll never see again, youll never hear from again, ORourke said.

After her video conference, she was assigned a different IJL representative as her matchmaker.

Luhn and ORourke both told NBC Connecticut Responds they didnt feel the company was taking into account their preferences for potential matches.

The IJL contract said, All Date Introductions will be within the criteria provided by Client at the time of join with respect to age, religion and parental status.

It goes on to said that IJL representatives can present matches outside of those criteria, which the client can accept at his or her discretion. IJL representatives may take into account the general criteria and guidelines specified by its Clients, according to the contract.

One of ORourkes main criteria was location.

"I was very clear that I live in lower Fairfield County," she said.

The companys website shows three locations in Connecticut: Hartford, New Haven and Stamford. That led ORourke to believe her matches would live within her geographic area.

But the contract lists Hartford as the only designated Its Just Lunch location in Connecticut.

After traveling more than 30 miles for her first two dates, ORourke asked her matchmaker for dates closer to home.

"They said they didn't have a hub in this area. And I explained that it was on your website and they didn't seem to have an answer to that," ORourke said.

Over in Haddam, Luhn said her concerns started even before her first date. She passed on her first potential match because he did not meet her criteria.

Too old, and as far as the profile, we had nothing in common, she said.

The contract said, Client may receive one Date Introduction before the Personal Interview, which was the case with Luhn.

She saidshe felt pressured to accept the next match. IJL is only obligated to present six matches. After that, any declines count as one of her four dates.

She said the date was uncomfortable.

"I was just really dumbfounded, of what was he really there for? It seemed like he was forced, like it was something that he had to do," Luhn said.

She requested a refund, but was turned down. So she asked for a new matchmaker to be assigned to her. Luhn also decided to contact Responds.

ORourke asked for her money back after her second date. Her request was also denied.

According to their contracts, Its Just Lunch will issue refunds at IJLs election and sole discretion if it is unable to provide the agreed-upon four date introductions or six matches. The contract goes on to said, all remaining monies will be refunded on a pro-rated basis, less a $500 interview processing charge and this Agreement will be automatically cancelled.

After NBC Connecticut Responds reached out to IJL with the womens concerns, Its Just Lunch offered Luhn a good faith discount of $500 on her membership fee.

A spokesperson told us they consider ORourkes case resolved because she accepted her fourth and final date. ORourke said the gentleman was the only one of her matches who lived within 30 miles of her home.

Luhn and ORourke both agree that after this experience, they want a little more than just lunch.

"I just don't feel like they're very good at what they do and they're not honest with their clients," ORourke said.

"I believe that they need to take a second look at what type of matchmaking service they're offering," Luhn said.

Its Just Lunch provided the following statement to NBC Connecticut:

Our clients are our highest priority and they have always been our highest priority. As such, Its Just Lunch regrets to learn of any client dissatisfaction. We recognize that each of our clients is unique, and that their attributes, experiences, and life goals shape the type of relationship they are looking for.

Matchmaking is our passion and our profession, and when initial matches dont result in perfect chemistry, we dedicate ourselves to working with our clients to refine our selections and find a match that does. This is the foundation for our commitment to work with each and every one of our clients to understand their needs and provide a successful, fun, and productive dating experience.

Responds asked IJL how many clients it has in Connecticut and how its matchmakers are trained. The company did not answer.
The death of a woman whose body was found in her home in New Haven Thursday has been ruled a homicide.



New Haven police officers, firefighters and EMTs found the womans body when they responded to 39D Jennings Way just after noon to investigate a report that someone was dead.

Police have identified the victim as 52-year-old Sherri Ann Ruffin, who lived in the home. People in the community said that Ruffin had lived there for about a year.

Raven Hodge, a supportive housing case manager for Liberty Community Services, said she went to check on Ruffin, who missed an appointment on Tuesday, when she did not respond to texts.

"I saw the picture of a cop standing in front of 39D. I had been here many times. I knew that was her apartment. I was just hoping it wasn't her," Hodge said.

State Medical Death Investigators have ruled the cause of death compression of the neck, and the manner of death homicide. Police have not released other details about the condition of the body when it was found.

Detectives from the major crimes division and bureau of investigation are at the scene and police are asking anyone with information to come forward and call 203-946-6304.

Callers can remain anonymous, police said.
Governor Dannel Malloys office confirmed Thursday that layoff notices are expected to go out very soon, to as many as 1,100 state employees.

The notices are a legal requirement based on collective bargaining agreements to inform employees that their position may be eliminated.

Even though the notices are distributed, some employees have what are referred to as, bumping rights, which allows the employee a limited ability to move into another position.

"Just because somebody gets a pink slip doesn't mean they're going to be laid off, said Lori Pelletier with the Connecticut AFL-CIO.

The governors administration is currently in negotiations with the State Employee Bargaining Coalition, known as SEBAC, as it tries to secure hundreds of millions in concessions in an effort to save money.

Such concessions, Malloy has said, are needed in order to avoid employee layoffs.

Organized labor has said collectively that both union leaders and rank and file members are disappointed the governor and lawmakers are choosing state workers as the first route to balance the state budget, and not looking at things like tax breaks, loopholes, and higher taxes on the wealthy.

Raising the minimum wage has also been mentioned by union groups as a way to generate activity.

The layoffs, they say, could make running the state of Connecticut even more difficult.

"What government needs to do isn't going away, said Pelletier. We're just going to do it with less people and basically say sorry and that doesn't work."

Overall, Malloy has said as many as 4,200 workers could be targeted for layoffs as a way to reach savings targets, if his administration cant secure $700 million in annual concessions from organized labor.
Russia on Friday said it has already stopped bombing in areas of Syria set to be designated safe zones under an agreement inked with Iran and Turkey.

"From 00:00 May 1 the use of Russian airforce aviation in areas corresponding to the de-escalation zones was halted," senior Russian military commander Sergei Rudskoi told a news briefing.

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Connecticut State Police are searching for the suspect in a Westbrook bank robbery Friday.

Police said that around 4:30 p.m. Friday a suspect entered the Key Bank at 1238 Boston Post Road and demanded money.

Employees reported that a weapon was implied but not shown, and no injuries were reported.

The suspect escaped with an unknown amount of cash and left the area in a grey SUV that was parked in the back of the business next door.

The suspect is described as male, unshaven, wearing black-rimmed sunglasses, a navy blue hooded rain jacket with a white POLO logo, and jeans. The suspect was also wearing a white undergarment covering his wrists and hands.

Anyone with information on this crime should contact State Police Troop "F" in Westbrook at (860) 399-2100 or text TIP 711 plus the information to 274637.
Cinco de Mayo is that rare holiday that boasts a few different paths to partying, depending on what your mood is and how you want to celebrate the 5th of May, which, of course, marks Mexico's victory at the Battle of Puebla.

There are the large-scale fiestas around Southern California, the ones that include dance performances and art activities, that happen at shopping centers and historical destinations.

There are the nighttime spectacles, like Lucha VaVOOM, for those who prefer a little masked wrestling with their Battle of Puebla-remembering celebration.

And there's the at-home route, which may include blender margaritas or hastily put-together cookie sheet nachos, which, of course, are best eaten straight from the cookie sheet.

But several Southern California restaurants and bars will raise the rimmed-with-salt glasses on May 5, with a host of eat and drink specials and other happenings, including...

The Morrison Pub: Amble to this Atwater Village spot for a full line-up of Cinco snackery, from Boracho nachos to los churros to a plethora of margaritas. In the house? Mariachis, of course.

Border Grill: You're downtown, you want to feel in the spirit, and you don't have a ton of cash in your pocket. Here's a feel-good fiesta with $3.50 tacos and $7 margaritas, plus a DJ providing tunes. Start time? 4 o'clock the afternoon.

La Cita Bar: You only need to head to Hill Street to visit, at least in spirit, Jalisco, through a host of tequila Cazadores libations, including a margarita, a spicy margarita, and the paloma.

Loteria Hollywood: Mariachi from 8 to 11? You got it, plus a line-up of craftily crafted margaritas, some with a very piquant take. An equally creative line-up of small tacos is one of Loteria's flavorful hallmarks.

Mercado Los Angeles: Traditional Mexican eats that are both a tad traditional but with some haute takes on ingredients and presentations? That's Mercado, and the eatery will be rocking the Cinco vibe from 4 to midnight.

Fuego at Hotel Maya: Should you be in Long Beach on May 5, or at other points during the weekend, check out the restaurant's Cinco de Mayathon, which ends with a Latin brunch on Sunday, May 7. On May 5, though? Many feasty revelries.

Las Brisas: This Laguna Beach stalwart faces the ocean, so, of course, the Cinco de Mayo bash will become a "Party on the Patio"! Several new items just made the menu, with seafood as an emphasis, so consider trying something fresh.
An outbreak of measles in Minnesota has sickened more than 30 children in recent weeks, primarily in the state's large Somali-American community, where many parents avoid the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine because of unfounded fears that it causes autism.

Somalis are just the latest example of a tight-knit community in which the highly contagious disease has gained a foothold in the U.S. in recent years.

Medical professionals and state health officials are working to contain the virus, but they expect more measles cases in coming weeks. A look at the situation:

MEASLES OUTBREAK

As of Wednesday, 34 measles cases were confirmed in Minnesota. It's the largest outbreak in the state since 1990, when 460 people contracted measles and three died.

Nearly everyone infected is unvaccinated, and all but a few are of Somali descent. So far, 11 children have been hospitalized.

The source of the outbreak is unknown, said Kris Ehresmann, infectious disease director with the state Department of Health. But since measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, outbreaks in the U.S. are typically caused when international travelers are infected overseas and bring the virus home.

Nine other states have seen measles cases so far this year, but none has reported an outbreak of Minnesota's magnitude, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

WHY SOMALIS?

Somali children are getting sick because the community has a low rate of immunization for measles, mumps and rubella, Ehresmann said. Unvaccinated children from other communities are also at risk.

According to the Health Department, 42 percent of Minnesota-born Somali toddlers had received the MMR vaccine as of 2017  but the community's immunization rate hasn't always been that low.

In 2004, 92 percent of Somali toddlers had the MMR vaccine. The community's immunization rate fell sharply to 70 percent in 2008 amid a perception that autism was becoming more common among Somali children.

A University of Minnesota study that examined 7- to 9-year-olds in Minneapolis in 2010 found no statistical difference between the rate of autism among Somali children and white children, Ehresmann said.

OPTING OUT

Minnesota law requires that a child be vaccinated before enrolling in child care, early education or school. But it also allows exemptions for medical reasons or "conscientiously held beliefs."

A 2014 study by the American Board of Family Medicine found 35 percent of Somali parents surveyed believed the measles vaccine causes autism, compared with 8 percent of non-Somalis.

Research that links the vaccine to autism has been widely discredited. But Anab Gulaid, a University of Minnesota researcher who worked on the autism study, said autism is often diagnosed in children around the same age as they receive their measles vaccine, so some fears persist.

"It's an emotional issue for people," she said.

Other communities with low vaccination rates have also been affected by measles in recent years. Nearly 20 people in the Orthodox Jewish community in Los Angeles were sickened by measles in December. Fifty-eight were sickened in 2013 when the measles swept through Orthodox Jewish communities in New York.

In Ohio, 360 people got the measles in 2014 after unvaccinated Amish travelers visited the Philippines and brought the disease home.

Minnesota health officials say they'd like to see at least 95 percent of the population immunized to protect everyone from measles, a highly contagious disease that can cause respiratory problems, brain swelling, or death.

COMMUNITY FEARS

Dozens of Somali parents attended a recent meeting organized by groups that believe there's a link between vaccines and autism. Some in attendance said they would rather face measles, or a child's death, than a lifetime of autism.

Patti Carroll, with the Vaccine Safety Council of Minnesota, said the goal was to empower parents.

"We did a presentation that helped the Somalis put the measles and the MMR vaccine into perspective," Carroll said. "It's their right to say no."

Sophia Mohamed, a New Brighton mother of two who believes her 16-year-old son got autism after receiving the MMR vaccine as a toddler, said officials need to listen to parents like her.

"We are not against the vaccine, but we want a safe vaccine," Mohamed said. "We have a choice ... I don't need any researcher to tell me. I know. I saw the results."

MEDICAL COMMUNITY ON ALERT

Evidence-based research has repeatedly shown no relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism, and there should be no hesitations about vaccines, said Patsy Stinchfield, senior director of infection control at Children's Minnesota hospital.

"In medical science, there is no debate about the safety of vaccines," she said.

Stinchfield worked at the hospital during the 1990 outbreak and recalls when an entire floor was turned into a measles ward. Two of the three deaths that year were children at the hospital.

The hospital has taken extra precautions.

On Tuesday, two workers sat at a desk outside the clinic's main lobby, assessing all patients who entered for risk of measles. A negative air filter hummed in the background, sucking away contaminated air, while all the clinic's tiniest patients and parents were told to wear masks.

Anyone with measles' symptoms is ushered in through a back door, away from other patients.

Amira Hassan, 4, came for a wellness check Tuesday and wore a mask in the waiting room. Her father, Mohamud Hassan, said she's been vaccinated, and he doesn't refuse a vaccine if a doctor says it's OK.

Hassan, who is Somali, said rumors about vaccines persist, but it's best to ask a doctor or someone who knows. He chose vaccination, saying: "If your child is going to school, you don't want other kids to be affected too."
Happy Cinco de Mayo, South Florida! Do you want to celebrate the Mexican Army's victory over France with tacos, tequila, margaritas, Mariachis, and fun? Here are five local fiestas you can check out:

Cinco de Wynwood

Avion Tequila is bringing the Cinco de Mayo party to Wynwood for the very first time. The Mexican fiesta will feature a live Mariachi band, tequila shots, premium margaritas, and ice cold Micheladas. Partygoers can gaze at street art, grub at food trucks, and jam out to Mexican tunes and cool beats by Wynwoods finest DJs. The first 500 people to RSVP will receive a free drink during the first two hours. This celebration is free and open to the public. More details here.,

[NATL]5 Things You May Not Know About Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo Brickell

The streets of Brickell will be lit with the largest block fiesta south of the border featuring multiple DJs, Mariachi bands, plenty of pinatas, and, of course, grand margarita specials. The party kicks off at 5 p.m. at Mary Brickell Village. Click here for more information.

Roccos Cinco de Mayo Block Party

Roccos Tacos' Annual Block Party is back in Downtown Fort Lauderdale on Las Olas Boulevard. This free celebration boasts drinks, tequila pourings, street food, and music all day and all night. More details here.

Gulfstream Park Fiestas & Margaritas

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by creating your own margarita-style bar crawl. ROK:BRGRs Black Diamond margarita, Cantina Laredos Blood Orange margarita, Yard Houses Skinny margarita, the options are a plenty. Gulfstream Park in Hallandale has more than 20 restaurants, bars and night spots, with $5 margarita specials at all Gulfstream Park bars. Click here for more details.

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Cinco de Margaritaville

Dont want to wait until happy hour to celebrate? Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort has a $9 specialty margarita deal all day long at the Lone Palm Beach Bar, Margaritaville Restaurant, and LandShark Bar & Grill. Then, feast on $4 tacos and party the night away at 5 oClock Somewhere Bar & Grill with DJ Blix spinning on the turntables. More details here.

Whether you decide to party at home or spend the out on the town, NBC 6 reminds you to be safe and don't drink and drive.
A Florida sheriff's deputy was fired after officials say he waved his firearm and stun gun while quoting lines from Denzel Washington's character in Training Day,'' a movie about a corrupt law enforcement officer.

The Orlando Sentinel reports Lake County Deputy Dean Zipes, who was with the department for just over a year, was fired April 21.

Police dash-cam video captured Zipes on Feb 16. rubbing his pistol and Taser together in the direction of a convenience store in front of a police trainee. An internal affairs review says the action replicates a scene from the 2001 movie.

Zipes told investigators he was trying to be funny.

A man backed his car into a police cruiser, took off and drove into a ditch. He then jumped out his truck- wearing only boxers- and began dancing in the middle of the road.

"I am not a rogue, reckless, dangerous, insane guy that slipped through the cracks at the hiring process and somehow got a gun and a badge, he told investigators, according to the report.



The report says Zipes twice pulled his firearm in an office setting, voiced racial slurs, made a motion to draw his gun at a pizza delivery boy and became upset after not receiving free Starbucks coffee.
Florida may finally require that children in elementary schools have recess every day under a sweeping education bill passed by the Florida Senate.

The Senate voted unanimously Thursday for a bill that includes the recess requirement and also eliminates end-of-course exams in Algebra 2 and civics. The bill would also push back testing dates, although that measure doesn't take effect until 2019.

House and Senate Republicans have been working for days on a comprehensive education bill. The bill heads next to the Florida House.

If the bill becomes law, elementary schools would be required to set aside 20 minutes each day for "free-play recess."

For the past two years, mothers of school children have lobbied for the recess bill. They say children need recess to expend energy and give them a break from schoolwork.

At the same time, the Florida Association of District School Superintendents is lamenting a lack of necessary funding for next year in a Tampa Bay Times.

Under lawmakers compromise proposal, per-student spending would rise by about .34 percent to $7,221 per student. Thats an increase of about 24 dollars and 49 cents per student.

The organization represents South Floridas school districts and says the budget is not sufficient to meet the basic funding needs of Floridas 2.8 million public school students.
At least one parent is expressing outrage after sixth-graders at a South Florida middle school had to create Nazi propaganda posters as part of a "critical thinking" class.

The assignment was given out last fall at Deerfield Beach Middle School as part of a Holocaust project. One poster showed a Nazi swastika next to a handicapped sign.

"Handicapped people are just getting in our way, that is why we must keep them away!" the poster reads.

Student Nauria Oliveira said she was offended by the assignment.

"I do not think it is necessary. You can learn them so you don't become hateful, you learn the history, but you should not use them," she said.

Her father told the school she wouldn't be participating in the exercise.

"This is terrible, for me this is terrible, I am Jewish. It's not just because I am Jewish, because it is doing a bad thing and teaching hate for the kids," Sondro Oliveira said.

The assignment was focused on the history of the Holocaust, with This specific project entitled 'Nazi propaganda poster.' It came with detailed instructions on how to make the symbols large, easy to understand and attractive.

"You saw that handicapped sign, with the Nazi swastika, for a child to learn how to draw a Nazi swastika and be proud of his submission, to the teacher, with the hopes to get an A, that is just sick," said Joe Zevuloni, an advocate for the parents. "I think the next step that should be taken is actually coming up to those same classes that went through this, explaining to them the opposite, how to fight off this anti-Semitism, how to fight off Nazi propaganda when they see it out there."

The Broward school district said they are taking a look at the situation.

"The schools administration and faculty are reviewing and evaluating future assignments in this subject area," the district said in a statement.



The father said he met with the teacher and vice principal and was told the assignment has been discontinued.
US President Donald Trump will meet the EU's top officials on May 25, raising hopes that he will mend fences with a bloc that he bitterly criticised four months earlier.

Trump will meet European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels on the same day he attends a NATO summit, also in the Belgian capital.

The meetings will be part of Trump's first foreign tour since taking office in January, with stops also in Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Vatican and a G7 summit in Sicily, Italy.

The visit with Tusk and Juncker is a victory of sorts for the EU, which had worked behind the scenes to secure a meeting with Trump, to whom Brussels has had little access.

The visit was confirmed in a tweet by Tusk spokesman Preben Aamann a day after a White House spokesman made mention of it in Washington, adding that Trump would also meet with Belgian officials.

In the heat of the US election campaign last year, Trump rankled European leaders by predicting that other countries "will leave" the EU after Britain voted to do so in June.

Juncker quipped in response that he was ready to encourage independence movements by states in the US if Trump failed to tone down his Brexit support.

And on January 16 -- while he was president-elect -- Trump called the EU a "vehicle for Germany."

"Look, the EU was formed, partially, to beat the United States on trade, OK? So, I don't really care whether it's separate or together, to me it doesn't matter," Trump said in an interview with The Times and Bild.

But once president, Trump warmed up to the European bloc, which describes itself as a bastion against the nationalistic rivalries that so often tore Europe apart.

"Yes, a strong Europe is very, very important to me as president of the United States," Trump said last month after a meeting with Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

The US president told the Financial Times newspaper he thought the European Union was "getting their act together" -- though he maintained Brexit would be "really, really good" for the EU and for Britain.

Divisions remained apparent however during a March meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the EU's most powerful national leader.

Trump and Merkel found little common ground as they touched on a host of thorny issues including NATO, defense spending and free trade deals.

Top of the agenda in the meeting with Tusk and Juncker will certainly be the fate of a US-EU free trade deal after negotiations were suspended when Trump took office in January.

Most Europeans have assumed that Trump would kill efforts towards the so-called TTIP deal in the same way he quashed the similar TPP accord with Asia.

But in March the US envoy to the EU said the talks were still alive, without providing further detail.

With his visit, the former business tycoon comes to a city he described in January 2016 as a "hellhole" due to the city's high Muslim immigrant population.

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Raise a margarita in honor of Cinco de Mayo!

The annual holiday celebrates the Mexican Army's victory over the French in 1862, but is often celebrated with enticing drink and food deals.

Here are some great Cinco de Mayo specials in New York City:

Camacho's, 118 E. 15 St., is giving away free shots every hour on Cinco de Mayo in addition to the free shots they give out at 11 p.m. nightly.

Davios, 447 Lexington Ave., is throwing its first-ever Cinco de Mayo Rooftop Fiesta on its 27th floor terrace.



El Vez, 259 Vesey St., is serving up $9 frozen classic margaritas, pork belly nachos and hamachi ceviche for Cinco de Mayo, in addition to other specials. A live mariachi band will also be playing from 6-10 p.m.

Lauren Scala reveals where the fiestas will be this year for Cinco De Mayo.

Guac Tacos + Tequila, 179 Avenue B, invites guests to buy four tacos and get the fifth free. They'll also be serving up $5 original and spicy margaritas, $5 Mexican beers, a guacamole flight for $25 and a free large guacamole with an order of five shots.



Hudson Terrace, 621 W. 46 St., is offering free entry to their Cinco de Mayo celebration for guests who say fiesta at the door. Guests who arrive before 6:30 p.m. also get a free drink. Specials include two-for-one margaritas, $5 Bud Light & Modelo beers, $8 mango margaritas, $8 tequila shots and $10 cocktails.

NYLO New York City hotel, 2178 Broadway, is celebrating the holiday in a different way with a Frida Kahlo-inspired cocktail. The Instagram-worthy drink will come in a sugar skull glass and a flower crown for $15. The party is from 5 p.m. until midnight.



Treadwell Park, 1125 First Ave., is an Upper East Side bar offering a special of two house-smoked pulled pork tacos, a 21st Amendment El Sully Lager and a shot of tequila for $20.

Haven Rooftop, 132 West 47 St., is hosting a fiesta with $5 tequila shots and $5 Mexican beers. There will also be food specials on tacos, nachos, ceviche, quesadillas and chips & guacamole. The night's festivities will go from 4-11 p.m. and will include a live DJ.

Mundo, 37-06 36 St., will be pouring up their festive signature margarita, the Pachamama. Visitors can jam to music and listen to candid stories of romance performed by Rafa Reyes. The performance starts at 9:30 p.m. in the the Paper Factory Hotels Rose Room.

Cantina Rooftop, 605 West 48th St., will be offering specials on ceviche, guacamole and tacos. Diners can also expect drink specials.

Ghost Donkey, 4 Bleecker St., is mixing up signature cocktails like the El Diablo Swizzle and the Paloma. They'll also be serving up delicious drinks from their new frozen drink machine. Guests will leave with party favors like the "Cinco Kit," which contains a mini bottle of tequila, mexican candies and some festive Cinco de Mayo items.

La Fonda del Sol, 200 Park Ave., is offering an all day happy hour in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Happy hour includes $5 drafts, $6 sangrias and $7 margaritas. And if you're feeling hungry, diners can snag $2 tacos from 3-10:30 p.m. in the bar and lounge. There's also something for tequila connoisseurs. La Fonda del Solo is also hosting a tequila tasting with El Gran Jubileo on Friday. The $35 event starts at 6:30 p.m.
New Jersey cops attending the funeral of a murdered Delaware state trooper received an unusually heartfelt greeting when checking in to their hotel.

Delaware State Police Cpl. Stephen Ballard was gunned down in a convenience store parking lot April 26. His memorial service is Friday, and thousands of law enforcement from around the country descended on Delaware to pay respects.

That included a contingent from the New Jersey State Police, who received a special welcome from their Wilmington hotel.

"While we are very happy to have you stay with us, we do wish it was under better circumstances," the hotel's staff wrote in the letter.

"You protect and serve your communities every day and as such, it is our honor and privilege to serve you during this time."

The state police posted a copy of the letter on Twitter along with the hashtag #class.
Gov. Tom Wolfs administration has renewed its effort to revoke the license of the controversial Berks County Residential Center, which houses undocumented immigrant families detained by the federal government.

The state initially revoked a license to operate the detention facility near Reading in January 2016. But following more than a year of legal wrangling, an administrative judge within the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services ruled last month that the centers license could be renewed.

The new request comes from the Bureau of Licensing within Human Services and asks that DHS Secretary Ted Dallas personally sign off on the revocation.

Dallas has 30 days to consider the appeal.

The residential center in Leesport is operated by Berks County and paid for by the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Bureau.

As of early April, 51 immigrants were housed there, including 27 children. However, that number shrunk this week when a mother and her 5-year-old son were deported to their native Honduras by ICE. The two had been detained at the center since Dec. 18, 2015. ICE said they arrived there after being detained by border agents crossing illegally into the United States.

Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey wrote a letter to the Trump administration earlier this week urging the Department of Homeland Security to free the families held there.

Legal advocates for the woman and children say most at the center fled Central American countries in fear of violence and intimidation and are seeking asylum. A recent appeal by 14 women to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their cases was denied. The center is one of only three in the country that houses families. The other two are in Texas.

Gov. Wolf has repeatedly urged the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security to consider community-based options to serve these families whenever possible, the governors spokesman J.J. Abbott said in a statement Friday. He believes that the center should no longer detain these families and his administration continues to pursue the revocation of their state license.

If Dallas, the state DHS secretary, rules to revoke the centers license, Berks County could challenge his ruling in Common Pleas Court.

If revocation of a state license to operate were to become permanent, Pennsylvania could not unilaterally shut down the center, according to a source familiar with the operations. However, detainment by ICE would be likely restricted to five days due to previous court settlements, the source said.

The current average stay for the women and children is about 18 months, advocates have said.
Eighteen families of 33 San Diego Police officers killed in the line of duty were honored Thursday morning at an event outside San Diego Police headquarters.

The family of Officer Jonathan JD De Guzman who was killed in the line of duty on July 28, 2016, was among those 18 families awarded with a Police Cross to honor their loved ones sacrifice.

The department also presented the name of Officer De Guzman etched into a memorial shrine that stands outside of department headquarters.

Theres no words to say what this means to me, Tina Call, the daughter of an SDPD officer killed in 1970, said. It shows that the police department is not just saying that they back the fallen officers, theyre not saying that they support us, theyre showing us in a permanent way. There are no words for that. Its an amazing feeling.

Call's father, Officer James Lewis, was killed in 1970 when she was just two years old. Although she doesnt remember her father, she feels ever-present pain, and says the emotional wound of losing a loved one in the line of duty is reopened every time another officer loses their life.

It never goes away, Call said. Its been 46 years and I still cry. And as I said, I see officers being killed all around the country. It affects me. It never goes away. I wish I had known my father, but I am very, very proud to have lost him in the way that I did. I couldnt have asked for a better way to lose him. I know he did good.

Call added that SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman has helped her feel a renewed sense of brotherhood on her fathers behalf, and call's the Police Cross "priceless" for herself and the other families.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer spoke at the ceremony, calling police officers some of the finest men and women in our city, and said that San Diego isnt one of the nations safest big cities by accident.
No, Canadian bartenders don't have a heavy pour.

Authorities in Canada are recalling a popular brand of gin after bottles containing nearly double the advertised amount of alcohol were discovered.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said some bottles of Bombay Sapphire brand London Dry Gin were found to contain 77 percent alcohol by volume instead of the average 40 percent.

According to the company, a batch of Bombays London Dry Gin was bottled before it was correctly diluted during production.

The company said that up to 6,000 Bombay Sapphire bottles may be affected. The affected bottles were only sold in Canada.

Consumers are advised not to imbibe the gin in 1.14-liter bottles with the product code L16304. The recalled product should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased. Businesses have been told to remove the drink from their shelves, the agency said.

Bombay Sapphire is produced by the private firm Bacardi, which is well know for its rum products and Grey Goose Vodka.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of the gin.
Forty-three people have been indicted for bank fraud, cigarette trafficking and money laundering in Virginia.

The suspects were charged with more than 740 crimes in Henrico County, and the investigation included more than 600,000 cartons with an estimated value of more than $30 million, police said.

Fairfax County Police began investigating two years ago when a bank investigator in Fairfax County reported a group of at least 12 people were intentionally writing checks from accounts with no available funds.

Investigators found the group was fraudulently building up banking credit by making deposits and withdrawals in a short period of time. The suspects were renting cars using debit cards but withdrawing money from the accounts before the transactions were completed.

Police say the suspects committed these acts at nine banks in Fairfax County, resulting in a $620,000 loss.

"It's got to be one of the largest organized criminal groups that we've had," Fairfax County Police 2nd Lt. Tom Harrington said.

Money generated in Northern Virginia was used to pay for cigarettes in the Richmond area.

During the investigation, police found the suspects were using addresses in both Northern Virginia and Richmond. Law enforcement agencies in both jurisdictions got involved, and discovered more than 80 suspects were involved in the banking fraud.

Henrico County Police launched an investigation into cigarette trafficking in late 2015 due to violent crime involved with it. Robberies, shootings, carjackings and burglaries were related to cigarette trafficking, police said.

"These groups would target each other with the large amounts of money and basically use violence against each other," Harrington said.

More than 20 law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security and the FBI, partnered to find out 29 fake businesses were used to buy tax-exempt cigarettes to sell out of state, police said.

"The price of of cigarettes in Richmond is extremely low," Harrington said. "The price up in the Northeast is extremely high. So what they will do is they can go into Richmond and purchase large quantities of cigarettes and then transport them up to New York and they are going to double their profit."

Some of the suspects got caught heading north, police said.

"Multiple vehicle were stopped with suspects ... and that was when it was learned they were trafficking cigarettes," Harrington said.

The group was also operating a cigarette tax fraud and smuggling ring out of a home in the Falls Church area, police say.

All of the suspects are from the North African nation Mauritania. Investigators want to track the money and find out if any of it was sent to terrorists.

"When money is being laundered in the U.S. and we don't know where it's going, obviously, that's one of the things we're going to look into: Terrorism,' Harrington said.



Not all of the suspects are in custody, but police are confident they will capture them.

It's illegal to buy cigarettes in one state and resell them in another state. But it happens in Virginia, which has one of the lowest cigarette taxes in the country. The problem was exposed by a News4 I-Team in a series of stories in 2015.
Nine Chadian soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram attack on an army post in the Lake Chad region on Friday, local and security sources told AFP.

Some 40 Boko Haram militants were also killed as the army responded to the attack on the Kaiga post, sources said on condition of anonymity. A military official confirmed the attack without giving a toll.

"Very early this morning, Boko Haram fighters attacked the Chadian army's position in Kaiga on Lake Chad. They were pushed back," Chadian army spokesman Colonel Azem said in a statement.

Surrounded by Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, Lake Chad has been the site of frequent Boko Haram attacks. Chad's army is based on the north bank, where four Chadian soldiers and several Islamist militant were killed in skirmishes in late September.

Over the past two years, Boko Haram has been chased out of most territories where they founded a hardline Islamic state in 2014. But despite being weakened, they continue to fight army forces and launch suicide attacks.

The conflict has lasted for eight years, killing more than 20,000 people and displacing 2.6 million, devastating the region where millions of people depend on humanitarian assistance.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: The boy has been foudn safe and unharmed. Earlier version of this story below.

Authorities in Orange, Massachusetts, are searching for a missing 2-year-old boy.

Police say the child was last seen on East River Street around 10 a.m. Friday. It's believed the child left on foot.

The child was not named, but has dark hair. Police did not provide a photo.

Residents are being asked to check their backyards and outside buildings.

Anyone with information is asked to immediately call Orange police.
A taxi driver in Portland, Maine, suffered serious stabbing injuries after a passenger allegedly attacked him early Friday morning.

Portland police say the driver was stabbed after pulling into the parking lot of PTs Showclub at 200 Riverside St. at 1:41 a.m. The suspect had taken the cab from downtown Portland.

Craig Cobbett, owner of 207 Taxi, identified the driver as 60-year-old Joe Kamsyz. Cobbett said Kamsyz had picked up this passenger before, but this time, he seemed different.

[Joe] said he did seem kind of whacked out like he was on something, said Cobbett.

The driver took the passenger from downtown Portland to a strip club. Police say the suspect muttered something like Im going to cut you.

He just attacked the driver from behind, said Portland Police Lt. Robert Martin. He cut his throat, directly across. The cab driver was able to put his hand up in defense, and he also received a very significant wound to his hand.

Lt. Martin called the attack completely unprovoked. Police have not been able to establish a motive.

According to Cobbett, a bouncer at the club, who was an EMT, quickly jumped in to help. Other witnesses called police and gave them a detailed description of the suspect as he ran away.

Police were able to arrest 30-year-old Justin Kristiansen in the area of 55 Riverside St. Kristiansen was charged with elevated aggravated assault and is being held at the Cumberland County Jail.

Cobbett said Kamsyz had to be taken to a Boston hospital for surgery to re-attach his finger. He said the driver is expected to recover, but may never get behind the wheel again.

He said he would like to find out who the bouncer was, so he can thank him.
Red Hat CEO James Whitehurst kicked off the companys Summit meeting in Boston this week, which attracted more than 6,000 people, up 20% from last year. Network World Editor in Chief John Dix caught up with Whitehurst at the show for an update on the companys position and prospects.

One of your keynote speakers said 84% of Red Hat customers have cloud deployment strategies. Is the shift to cloud accelerating your business?

I do think the shift to cloud is helping. We have data that shows our customers who use cloud actually grow faster in total with us than ones who dont. The promise of cloud accelerates the Unix-to-Linux migration as people modernize applications to be able to move to cloud -- whether they move immediately or not -- because clouds primarily run Linux. In general, anything that makes people move to a new architecture is good for us because we have a high share of new architecture relative to old. I think thats a big, big driver.

One of the benefits of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is it is fully supported on bare metal, on VMware, on Hyper-V, on Amazon, Google, Azure. Weve architected it so customers can write applications for RHEL and theyll run anywhere.

Conversely, all the cloud providers want to be RHEL-certified and work with us because they want the ability to try to track those workloads. It works well for us to be the glue between the application and its ultimate deployment.

Speaking about hosting apps wherever they may be, how close are we to the Nirvana vision of hybrid cloud, being able to have on premise apps spill over into the cloud when peak capacities are reached?

Hybrid cloud is a journey, not a destination. Were there in some ways. We have banks and hedge funds today that have a RHEL estate and they run analytics on-premise and they will burst out on the public cloud, either at the end of the trading day or right before the trading day. Thats very possible.

The key is not every application and not every context. Scaling out data is still really hard. Applications built with scaling out in mind help a lot, but the idea that Im going to take my SAP ERP system and burst it onto Amazon, thats not going to work. Where it does work its for a subset of workloads. One of the things were trying to do over time is expand the share of workloads where thats relevant and possible.

You made an announcement at the show about Amazon. Tell us more about that.

There are several components. One is better RHEL support. A lot of what we do is enable hardware underneath RHEL, and we have to do that for every hardware vendor. So we are building a tightly joined engineering team so we can enable Amazons hardware more quickly.

But the most important thing is we will jointly expose all of Amazons services natively on OpenShift [Red Hats container platform]. So, if youre running our container platform on-premise and you want to use any Amazon services -- they have all kinds of interesting things -- you can natively use those things from OpenShift, which we think is a big deal for developers.

Wow. Speaking of OpenShift, how do you support or compete with the other container tools out there?

We are the second largest contributor to the Docker project (renamed last week to the Moby Project) behind Docker, and in many ways we partner. As an open-source company, we recognize its hard to sell a framework or a specification. You have to have a runtime. Our container platform is a bundle we call RHEL Atomic, which is our lightweight Linux for running containers. It is the Docker specification, but we dont pay them, we use the open-source Docker specification. And we use Kubernetes for orchestration. We are the second largest contributor to the Kubernetes project behind Google. And then we use Ansible for automation and have some management tools called CloudForms. Then theres a whole DevOps toolchain that attaches to that.

If you think about the fundamental runtime, it does Docker containers, it does orchestration and it does automation. It does all that stuff. Docker, in order to build a runtime, started a project called Swarm which competes with Kubernetes. So at that level, I guess we compete with Docker in the sense theyre trying to offer a runtime via Swarm and we offer a runtime via Kubernetes. But weve been and continue to be technically partners and have been for a long time.

Red Hats role is not to start open-source projects. We hate starting open-source projects. Its really hard to start an open-source project. Our role is to identify what we think are the most popular projects and get involved and create life-cycle versions. Again, OpenShift isnt a project. The project is Red Hat Linux, its Docker containers, its Kubernetes and Ansible all bundled together, which we think are the leading projects for their components, all brought together in a consumable container runtime.

Looking at it broadly, when we went from a physical data center to a virtual data center a whole new management paradigm needed to develop. VMware is a virtualized data center management company, and the reason they went from zero to $6 billion and passed everybody else is a new paradigm emerged and they did a great job and executed in creating that platform.

When you think about the application level, going from monolithic applications to microservices running in containers, theres going to be a whole new application platform and management paradigm required to run that. Think about when you have 400 enterprise applications that are instantiated in 1.2 million containers, all microservices talking to each other via APIs and messaging. What if you have a performance management issue there? How do you handle that?

All the things that have existed in the past in the traditional world will need to be re-implemented in a containerized world. Red Hat is not necessarily trying to do all of that, but OpenShift is a core platform that allows containers to run at scale, and well work with ISVs to build functionality on top of that. It is a fundamentally different application architecture.

The other thing I would say about containers is that, I think people want to immediately run to the idea that containers are a form of virtualization, and to some extent thats true in the sense of Im going to run multiple applications on one physical or virtual server, but the difference is its not running just applications. What youre doing is splitting the operating system. All of the user space of the operating system that the application needs is in the container, and the reason thats important is more than 95% of the security vulnerabilities in the operating system have been in user spaces.

The last big bug hit probably 95% of the containers out there. Whats in the container has to be life-cycled. All the operating system components of that need to be life-cycled, so its not like Theres application logic in the container and I dont have to worry about the rest of the world. Actually, the majority of the operating system is now in that container too.

One of the things we say about Linux containers is somebodys got to life-cycle that and patch that. Even a Hello, World application running in a container over the course of a year will need 50 security updates.

Is it possible to quantify where we are in terms of container adoption?

I think its exploding like no other technology Ive ever seen, even more so than virtualization. Its a dramatically cheaper way to deploy and its a much more effective way to develop software. Its a win/win/win all around. But to deploy at scale, were only at the bleeding edge now. Everybody is toying around with it. Some of the banks are starting to roll it out, but in terms of truly running production applications, its the very early adopters.

Public cloud is much further along in containers. Everybody rightly is exploring it and playing around with it, but were by far the leader around this and we deal with all these companies. I would say youre talking about a few hundred companies that actually have it in production.

Another perspective question, OpenStack stumbled early on, but on a recent earnings call you apparently said a third of your recent wins were for OpenStack environments. Do I have that right?

Yeah, a third of our big deals. OpenStack, bluntly, in the early days was the worst of all worlds. Every OEM jumped on it fast thinking it was going to be their savior versus Amazon. They took really, really early versions and threw it out there to customers because nobody wanted to be late. But if you could get it up and running you couldnt update it. It took PhDs to do it. I think we knew that and so we were a little slower in adoption, but honestly, we put it out as well. But over time its matured. The last couple of revs are very stable, very good for a whole set of workloads. Its by far the most economic way to run workloads relative to public cloud.

We dont have a dog in the hunt because all these environments run RHEL. For the telcos, its virtually inevitable that their next-generation infrastructure is going to be OpenStack because, with 5G and the explosion in traffic, they have to move to open-source commodity hardware, and theyve basically chosen OpenStack.

Were a big player in OpenStack and we are by far the largest upstream contributor. But so many times well go into a customer that called us about OpenStack and they end up buying Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, which is our VMware equivalent. What virtualization does versus what OpenStack or Amazon does is relatively different. Virtualization is about virtualization and for us, RHEV is very much a scaled up platform and its actually quite good at scale-up, fault tolerant, etc., etc.

OpenStack is completely different. If you want automation, bursting, scale, all of those things, OpenStack is phenomenal, but run a big stateful/cant-fail kind of application on it and you stub your toe. Its a different architecture for a different world. And again, thats one of our strengths. If you have stateful, weve got this. You want stateless, weve got that, and we put it all under one management plane.

By the way, one of the interesting things is OpenShift as our container platform is about a third, a third and a third in terms of customers running it on VMware, on OpenStack or on Amazon. Some people will say, I already have a good VMware infrastructure, I have an ELA, Im just going to toss it here. People who do a net new will put it on OpenStack or in the cloud. The container platform itself can run across any of those models.

VMware is a core competitor, as is Microsoft, right?

VMware is definitely a competitor. In all this bizarre coopetition world, oddly, we dont directly compete with Microsoft that much because Ive got two sides of the shop; Ive got my Microsoft world and my Java world. We compete with Oracle and IBM at the middleware layer. I feel like we compete more with them than we do with Microsoft. We do technically compete with Microsoft but rarely at the deal-by-deal level. VMware is definitely a competitor in terms of the vision of the software-defined data center, but we partner with them and a lot of RHEL runs on their stuff.

Great. Anything in closing?

Our whole model is, Here is the enterprises set of needs, and heres this cool set of open source technology which is much more cloud-native, so how do we bridge? How can we take the technologies and make them consumable for the enterprise? Thats our whole model. I think a lot of people would say Red Hat provides support on top of open source.

You can see in our financials, only 6% of our cost structure is support; six. R&D as a percentage of revenue is higher at Red Hat than it is at Microsoft. Taking open source and creating a life-cycled product is really expensive.

We have a couple thousand engineers that have to follow every bug fix and security update in 72 different kernels that were supporting without ever breaking them, so we have this binary compatibility for the application. If youre running an application you wrote, or SAP or Oracle or whatever, that is on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, you know for the next 13 years youre going to get full support and its never going to break.

Open source doesnt do any of that. The net new functionality the day you bought it came from open source, but that next 13 years is thousands of Red Hat engineers making sure all that stuff works. When I say take this thing called open source and make it consumable, a big part of making it consumable isnt tech support. As a matter of fact, thats relatively trivial.

Nobody puts out a piece of hardware without showing it to Red Hat first, and we run literally this huge matrix of every major application against every piece of hardware. SAP, for example, isnt releasing an application until theyve sent it to our labs and weve done all the testing against every piece of hardware. That abstraction layer, theres a lot of value in that and what we do. Its great to see all this cool open innovation and were the largest contributor to many of those projects, but all that mundane, downstream stuff is really why we exist.
Goethe Film Week takes place in Alexandria and Cairo, extending to other cities in coming months

The German film Ich und Kaminski (Me and Kaminski) opened Alexandrias Goethe Film Week on 2 May at the Goethe Institute.

Directed by Wolfgang Becker, the film is based on the 2003 book by Austrian-German writer Daniel Kehlmann, starring German actor Daniel Bruhl in the role of arts journalist Sebastian Zollner and Danish actor Jesper Christensen, a veteran of European cinema, as the once-famous blind artist Manuel Kaminski.

The film follows Zollner as he sets off to write the biography of the ageing artist, secretly betting on his imminent death to boost the books popularity and give him his big break.

When Zollners investigations uncover the address of Kaminskis old lover and muse Therese, who was long believed to be dead, they embark on a perspective-altering journey.

The lives of both the artist and biographer are interwoven as they develop in parallel, both experiencing heartbreak, and reckoning with their pasts -- at one point in the film Kaminski says he feels they've walked into Zollner's past rather than his own -- and eventually finding some closure.

The story is told to us in eight chapters, as if we are reading the book Zollner writes at the end, and a reference to the original book on which the film is based.

Although Manuel Kaminski is a fictional artist, the film makes it easy to forget, especially in the prologue which presents media coverage on the artists death, complete with footage of other famous actors and artists who knew him.

Art is not only the main subject of the film but it is also in the editing, as scenes artistically morph into paintings, and vice versa, as a transition from one scene or chapter to the next.

A warm colour palette runs throughout the film, taking us from beautiful German landscapes to galleries, art-filled homes, and even cheap hotels that are picturesque.

Even though viewers already know the fate of both characters, we are still on edge with a sense that their adventure could turn into disaster at any moment.

What Zollner will mess up next? How would Kaminski react to that? What happens if they do meet Therese?

At first the clumsy, anxious Zollner seems uninterested in truly learning anything about Kaminski as a person, beyond finding a catchy scoop for his book.

We may find ourselves experiencing a similar change as Zollner does, starting off with one goal in mind, and ending up being far more enriched by the journey itself.

Instead of wondering how Kaminski dies, we are more emotionally invested in what he has to say next, what his views are.

Humour, absurdity, wisdom, and a gentle dose of suspense are present throughout Me and Kaminski, and in fact the film was chosen to open the film week because of its lighthearted quality.

I thought it was the best mood to start with, while most of the other films were very serious and dramatic, Yousra El-Mallah, programme assistant at the Goethe Institute in Alexandria which organises the film week, told Ahram Online.

After Me and Kaminski the Egyptian film One Plus One Makes a Pharoahs Chocolate Cake was screened, followed by a discussion with directors Marouan Omara and Islam Kamal, who is Alexandrian.

I also wanted to start off the festival with an Alexandrian film; its very popular around Alex, said El-Mallah.

Usually daily screenings include one German film and one Egyptian film, as part of the film weeks purpose is to acquaint audiences will German films and culture, in addition to promoting Egyptian films.

Variety and steering away from stereotypes were kept in mind during the selection process, according to El-Mallah.

I didnt want us to screen another World War film, and the things we are used to seeing about Germany. Weve seen enough of that. I wanted things that were new, and different, and I think the other films we have in the programme are not about Germany as we know it, but offer that fresh perspective, she said.

One example is the film Overgames, a documentary centred on a 1960s West German reality show titled Nur Nicht Nervos Warden (Dont Get Nervous), looking at how it affected and influenced the psychology of society in Germany.

Other German films at the festival include We Were Rebels, Four Kings, and 24 Weeks.

The film selection is primarily done in the Cairo branch, but we also participate and look at what films we want to have screened here or suggest others, said El-Mallah.

There is no particular theme or criteria for the film selection, except for being German films, or premiers of Egyptian productions that are connected to Germany in some way, such as participation in a German film festival, like the Berlinale Forum Expanded or Dok Leipzig.

Since the film week will take place in several cities, starting with Cairo (from 2 to 9 May) and Alexandria (from 2 to 6 May), some of the selections including Me and Kaminski are exclusive to the Alexandria programme, while others are screened in both or all cities.

Goethe Film Week extends beyond May to be held in Minya, Damanhour and Ismailiya in June, as well as Aswan in September.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Prem Watsa, chairman and chief executive of Canadian investment group Fairfax declared on Thursday that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be a growth engine going forward, primarily due to the focus on economic reform and the war against corruption. He was speaking at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Chennai-based chemical products firm, Chemplast Sanmar Ltd.

They have weeded out corruption in the top levels and this will happen at the lower levels too. India will be a growth engine under Modi, he said. Sanmars chemical businesses have received $300 million in funding from Fairfax, with the Canadian firm having an investment commitment of around $1.5 billion in the country. Watsa also stated that Fairfax does not plan to invest in any new age firms, including those in the ecommerce and digital space. We require a track record before we commit funds in a company. But there are many promising firms that have and are coming up, he said. Chemplast has faced several hurdles from inception but we have always believed in integrity, added N Sankar, chairman, Sanmar Group.

The track record of Chemplast and the integrity displayed throughout its history was one of the primary reasons for Fairfaxs backing, Watsa said. Other prominent industrialists, like TVS Motors chief Venu Srinivasan, also stressed on Chemplasts track record during the event. Chemplast also has one of the best leadership development processes in Chennai and even the entire engineering industry, he said.

The event was also attended by chairman of the Sanmar Group N Sankar, deputy chairman Vijay Sankar, vice-chairman N Kumar and IIT-Madras director Bhaskar Ramamurthi.

CHENNAI: Prem Watsa, chairman and chief executive of Canadian investment group Fairfax declared on Thursday that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be a growth engine going forward, primarily due to the focus on economic reform and the war against corruption. He was speaking at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Chennai-based chemical products firm, Chemplast Sanmar Ltd. They have weeded out corruption in the top levels and this will happen at the lower levels too. India will be a growth engine under Modi, he said. Sanmars chemical businesses have received $300 million in funding from Fairfax, with the Canadian firm having an investment commitment of around $1.5 billion in the country. Watsa also stated that Fairfax does not plan to invest in any new age firms, including those in the ecommerce and digital space. We require a track record before we commit funds in a company. But there are many promising firms that have and are coming up, he said. Chemplast has faced several hurdles from inception but we have always believed in integrity, added N Sankar, chairman, Sanmar Group. The track record of Chemplast and the integrity displayed throughout its history was one of the primary reasons for Fairfaxs backing, Watsa said. Other prominent industrialists, like TVS Motors chief Venu Srinivasan, also stressed on Chemplasts track record during the event. Chemplast also has one of the best leadership development processes in Chennai and even the entire engineering industry, he said. The event was also attended by chairman of the Sanmar Group N Sankar, deputy chairman Vijay Sankar, vice-chairman N Kumar and IIT-Madras director Bhaskar Ramamurthi.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The power distribution companies of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Odisha and Assam will purchase 1,000 Mw of wind power under Ministry the of New Renewable Energys first wind auction scheme. The discoms on Thursday signed an agreement with Power Trading Corporation (PTC) to this effect.

The government plans to bring in more states to purchase wind power and also sell it to PTC, officials in the power ministry said.

The objective is to encourage competitiveness through scaling up project sizes and introducing efficient and transparent e-bidding and e-auctioning processes, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters on the conclusion of the two-day power ministers conference here on Thursday.

This is the first time an auction process was done in the country for wind power through e-reverse auction and its success can be seen from the fact that a record low tariff of `3.46 per kWh was obtained, Goyal noted.

The minister reiterated that the states would need to encourage renewable power through grid integration, promotion of green energy corridors, and energy-efficient solar pumps for irrigation. He also urged the state power ministers to provide seamless power to the industries so as to attract foreign investment in the sector.

Goyal said that the state governments have shown interest on the issue of rationalisation of power tariff structure through better fuel linkages, transparent price discovery etc. The state power ministers have said that they will soon come up with a plan to benefit consumers, he added.

The next state power ministers conference will be held in Rajgir, Bihar.

NEW DELHI: The power distribution companies of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Odisha and Assam will purchase 1,000 Mw of wind power under Ministry the of New Renewable Energys first wind auction scheme. The discoms on Thursday signed an agreement with Power Trading Corporation (PTC) to this effect. The government plans to bring in more states to purchase wind power and also sell it to PTC, officials in the power ministry said. The objective is to encourage competitiveness through scaling up project sizes and introducing efficient and transparent e-bidding and e-auctioning processes, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters on the conclusion of the two-day power ministers conference here on Thursday. This is the first time an auction process was done in the country for wind power through e-reverse auction and its success can be seen from the fact that a record low tariff of `3.46 per kWh was obtained, Goyal noted. The minister reiterated that the states would need to encourage renewable power through grid integration, promotion of green energy corridors, and energy-efficient solar pumps for irrigation. He also urged the state power ministers to provide seamless power to the industries so as to attract foreign investment in the sector. Goyal said that the state governments have shown interest on the issue of rationalisation of power tariff structure through better fuel linkages, transparent price discovery etc. The state power ministers have said that they will soon come up with a plan to benefit consumers, he added. The next state power ministers conference will be held in Rajgir, Bihar.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Shares of Tata Motors fell by nearly 4 per cent, wiping out Rs 4,835 crore from its market valuation today, after Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) retail sales went down in April.

The stock declined by 3.84 per cent to close at Rs 419.75 on BSE. Intra-day, it dipped 4.22 per cent to Rs 418.05.

The stock was the top loser among the BSE 30-share components.

On NSE, it slipped 3.87 per cent to end at Rs 419.60.

The company's market valuation too dropped by Rs 4,835.55 crore to Rs 1,21,196.45 crore.

On the volume front, 14.14 lakh shares of the company were traded on BSE and over 94 lakh shares changed hands at NSE during the day.

Tata Motors-owned JLR today reported retail sales of 40,385 units for April, down 2.3 per cent from the same month of last year.

The Jaguar brand posted record retail sales of 12,310 units in April, up 54 per cent, driven by the ongoing success of the Jaguar F-PACE as well as strong sales of the XE.

The Land Rover saw sales of 28,075 vehicles in April, down 15.8 per cent as compared to April 2016.

NEW DELHI: Shares of Tata Motors fell by nearly 4 per cent, wiping out Rs 4,835 crore from its market valuation today, after Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) retail sales went down in April. The stock declined by 3.84 per cent to close at Rs 419.75 on BSE. Intra-day, it dipped 4.22 per cent to Rs 418.05. The stock was the top loser among the BSE 30-share components. On NSE, it slipped 3.87 per cent to end at Rs 419.60. The company's market valuation too dropped by Rs 4,835.55 crore to Rs 1,21,196.45 crore. On the volume front, 14.14 lakh shares of the company were traded on BSE and over 94 lakh shares changed hands at NSE during the day. Tata Motors-owned JLR today reported retail sales of 40,385 units for April, down 2.3 per cent from the same month of last year. The Jaguar brand posted record retail sales of 12,310 units in April, up 54 per cent, driven by the ongoing success of the Jaguar F-PACE as well as strong sales of the XE. The Land Rover saw sales of 28,075 vehicles in April, down 15.8 per cent as compared to April 2016.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Central Crime Branch of city police busted a fake marks card racket spread across the country and arrested four people who had issued 1.6 lakh fake marks cards to students. The racket involved people operating from New Delhi, Bengaluru and Ghaziabad.



The arrested are Sandesh Agarwal, Deepankar Sen, Sourav Kumar Sharma alias Gourav Kumar and Aruna.



City Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said the gang was nabbed after police arrested Kunal Kumar Mondal. Mondal, a native of Bihar who operated JoinUs Consultancy in the city, was arrested from an apartment near Manyata Tech Park. Based on his information, police arrested the others.



According to police, Mondal was in touch with Deepankar Sen, a faculty member in a private college in the city. During questioning, Sen told police that he had received fake marks cards from Gourav Kumar, who worked in a school in Ghaziabad.



Police tracked down Kumar and arrested him. He directed police to Sandesh Agarwal, who police learnt was the mastermind. Agarwal ran a firm Double Eight Consultancy in New Delhi.



According to the police, Agarwals firm had employed around 180 agents across the country. We seized 732 printed marks cards and 836 blank marks cards from Agarwals office, Sood said. There might be over a lakh people, including doctors and engineers who may have earned jobs using these fake marks cards, Sood added.



A police official said, They charged `40,000 to `3 lakh for the marks cards and prices were fixed based on the course.

BENGALURU: The Central Crime Branch of city police busted a fake marks card racket spread across the country and arrested four people who had issued 1.6 lakh fake marks cards to students. The racket involved people operating from New Delhi, Bengaluru and Ghaziabad. The arrested are Sandesh Agarwal, Deepankar Sen, Sourav Kumar Sharma alias Gourav Kumar and Aruna. City Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said the gang was nabbed after police arrested Kunal Kumar Mondal. Mondal, a native of Bihar who operated JoinUs Consultancy in the city, was arrested from an apartment near Manyata Tech Park. Based on his information, police arrested the others. According to police, Mondal was in touch with Deepankar Sen, a faculty member in a private college in the city. During questioning, Sen told police that he had received fake marks cards from Gourav Kumar, who worked in a school in Ghaziabad. Police tracked down Kumar and arrested him. He directed police to Sandesh Agarwal, who police learnt was the mastermind. Agarwal ran a firm Double Eight Consultancy in New Delhi. According to the police, Agarwals firm had employed around 180 agents across the country. We seized 732 printed marks cards and 836 blank marks cards from Agarwals office, Sood said. There might be over a lakh people, including doctors and engineers who may have earned jobs using these fake marks cards, Sood added. A police official said, They charged `40,000 to `3 lakh for the marks cards and prices were fixed based on the course.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court's verdict in the December 16 gangrape case will have the "best demonstrative effect" in containing crimes against women in Delhi which recorded a case of rape every four hours last year, the police administration believes.

According to data shared by the Delhi Police, 2,155 rape cases were reported last year while till March 15 this year, over 300 such cases have been reported.

In 2013, a year after the horrific gangrape of a 23- year-old physiotherapy intern, 1,636 rape cases were reported and the number subsequently increased to 2,166 and 2,199 in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The Delhi Police has taken various initiatives, including launching a mobile application, Himmat, to help women in distress and providing self-defence training.

Time to time, it keeps organising events where women are distributed pepper sprays.

"This is perhaps one of the most gruesome cases and the Supreme Court judgement punishing all the accused to death will have the best demonstrative effect in containing crimes against women and social orderliness at large," said Dependra Pathak, Chief Spokesperson and Special Commissioner (Operations) of Delhi Police.

The Supreme Court today upheld the death penalty given to four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old woman.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, through a unanimous verdict, upheld the Delhi High Court judgement on death penalty to the four convicts.

The HC had concurred with the trial court decision in the gang rape that took place in South Delhi's Vasant Vihar on December 16, 2012.

Those who will face the gallows are Mukesh (29), Pawan (22), Vinay Sharma (23) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31). One of the accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar jail while a juvenile was sentenced to three years' punishment in a reform home, and released in 2015.

The six men had attacked the 23-year-old paramedic student, and a male friend in a moving bus as it drove through the streets of New Delhi on the night of December 16.

Later on, she succumbed to her injuries, on December 29, 2012 while undergoing treatment at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital where she was flown by the government.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court's verdict in the December 16 gangrape case will have the "best demonstrative effect" in containing crimes against women in Delhi which recorded a case of rape every four hours last year, the police administration believes. According to data shared by the Delhi Police, 2,155 rape cases were reported last year while till March 15 this year, over 300 such cases have been reported. In 2013, a year after the horrific gangrape of a 23- year-old physiotherapy intern, 1,636 rape cases were reported and the number subsequently increased to 2,166 and 2,199 in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The Delhi Police has taken various initiatives, including launching a mobile application, Himmat, to help women in distress and providing self-defence training. Time to time, it keeps organising events where women are distributed pepper sprays. "This is perhaps one of the most gruesome cases and the Supreme Court judgement punishing all the accused to death will have the best demonstrative effect in containing crimes against women and social orderliness at large," said Dependra Pathak, Chief Spokesperson and Special Commissioner (Operations) of Delhi Police. The Supreme Court today upheld the death penalty given to four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old woman. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, through a unanimous verdict, upheld the Delhi High Court judgement on death penalty to the four convicts. The HC had concurred with the trial court decision in the gang rape that took place in South Delhi's Vasant Vihar on December 16, 2012. Those who will face the gallows are Mukesh (29), Pawan (22), Vinay Sharma (23) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31). One of the accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar jail while a juvenile was sentenced to three years' punishment in a reform home, and released in 2015. The six men had attacked the 23-year-old paramedic student, and a male friend in a moving bus as it drove through the streets of New Delhi on the night of December 16. Later on, she succumbed to her injuries, on December 29, 2012 while undergoing treatment at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital where she was flown by the government.
By IANS

OTTAWA: Actor Liam Neeson surprised people by walking into a Canadian sandwich shop, which had put out a sidewalk sign that read, "Liam Neeson eats here for free".



Vancouver area Big Star Sandwich put out another sign that read: "Come in and get Taken by our sandwiches." This was after the shop found out the "Taken" star was in town filming "Hard Powder", reports eonline.com.

Holy f**k, it worked! #liamneeson A post shared by Big Star Sandwich Co. (@bigstarsandwich) on May 2, 2017 at 7:02pm PDT



According to BuzzFeed Canada, employees put the sign out earlier this week in the morning and Neeson showed up in the afternoon.



Alex Johrden, Big Star's director of operations, said the two employees, Kyle Gus and Serge Patoka, were shocked to see Neeson in the shop.



"We had no idea he would be in our vicinity," Johrden said.



"I assume someone on the film crew saw the sign and got it back to him."



Even though Neeson didn't purchase a sandwich, he did pose for a photo.



Big Star shared the photo on its Facebook page and wrote, "Holy f**k, it worked! Liam Neeson."



Gus and Patoka couldn't were thrilled about it.



"As you can see in the photo, they're about as stoked as they've ever been in their lives," Johrden said.



OTTAWA: Actor Liam Neeson surprised people by walking into a Canadian sandwich shop, which had put out a sidewalk sign that read, "Liam Neeson eats here for free". Vancouver area Big Star Sandwich put out another sign that read: "Come in and get Taken by our sandwiches." This was after the shop found out the "Taken" star was in town filming "Hard Powder", reports eonline.com. Holy f**k, it worked! #liamneeson A post shared by Big Star Sandwich Co. (@bigstarsandwich) on May 2, 2017 at 7:02pm PDT According to BuzzFeed Canada, employees put the sign out earlier this week in the morning and Neeson showed up in the afternoon. Alex Johrden, Big Star's director of operations, said the two employees, Kyle Gus and Serge Patoka, were shocked to see Neeson in the shop. "We had no idea he would be in our vicinity," Johrden said. "I assume someone on the film crew saw the sign and got it back to him." Even though Neeson didn't purchase a sandwich, he did pose for a photo. Big Star shared the photo on its Facebook page and wrote, "Holy f**k, it worked! Liam Neeson." Gus and Patoka couldn't were thrilled about it. "As you can see in the photo, they're about as stoked as they've ever been in their lives," Johrden said.
By PTI

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad High Court today summoned the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh, directing him to bring along all documents relating to the 2007 Gorakhpur riots in which the then local MP and current Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was named as an accused.

A division bench of justices Ramesh Sinha and Umesh Chandra Srivastava directed the chief secretary to appear in person on May 11 and file a personal affidavit besides producing all documents relating to the 2007 riots, including the sanction given by the state government to prosecute the accused.

The order was passed on a petition filed by Parvez Parwaz, the complainant in the FIR that was lodged at Cantt police station of Gorakhpur in connection with the riots, and Asad Hayat, a witness in the case. In the petition, apprehensions were raised that the CB- CID, which is an arm of the state police and at present probing the riots, may not conduct an impartial inquiry and a prayer was made that directions be issued for handing over the investigation to an independent agency.

Significantly, on a previous date of hearing in the matter, the petitioners' counsel S F A Naqvi had raised doubts over the CB-CID's ability to conduct a proper inquiry as "the person against whom sanction for prosecution has been granted by the state government has himself become the head of the state".

Naqvi had made the submission in response to an affidavit filed by the CB-CID wherein it had been stated that the state government had granted sanction, under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (inciting communal violence), to prosecute all those who have been named in the FIR including Yogi, the then Gorakhpur Mayor Anju Chaudhary and local BJP MLA Radha Mohan Das Agarwal.

ALLAHABAD: The Allahabad High Court today summoned the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh, directing him to bring along all documents relating to the 2007 Gorakhpur riots in which the then local MP and current Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was named as an accused. A division bench of justices Ramesh Sinha and Umesh Chandra Srivastava directed the chief secretary to appear in person on May 11 and file a personal affidavit besides producing all documents relating to the 2007 riots, including the sanction given by the state government to prosecute the accused. The order was passed on a petition filed by Parvez Parwaz, the complainant in the FIR that was lodged at Cantt police station of Gorakhpur in connection with the riots, and Asad Hayat, a witness in the case. In the petition, apprehensions were raised that the CB- CID, which is an arm of the state police and at present probing the riots, may not conduct an impartial inquiry and a prayer was made that directions be issued for handing over the investigation to an independent agency. Significantly, on a previous date of hearing in the matter, the petitioners' counsel S F A Naqvi had raised doubts over the CB-CID's ability to conduct a proper inquiry as "the person against whom sanction for prosecution has been granted by the state government has himself become the head of the state". Naqvi had made the submission in response to an affidavit filed by the CB-CID wherein it had been stated that the state government had granted sanction, under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (inciting communal violence), to prosecute all those who have been named in the FIR including Yogi, the then Gorakhpur Mayor Anju Chaudhary and local BJP MLA Radha Mohan Das Agarwal.
By Online Desk

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of the four convicted in the gruesome December 16 Nirbhaya gang rape on Friday.

The matter was heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.

The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma, and Mukesh - had challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows.

"Victim's dying declaration is consistent; it has been proved beyond doubt and corroborated", said the apex court while confirming the trial court and Delhi High Court's findings against the accused.

Read: In Nirbhaya's village, a special puja after the SC verdict

"Nature and manner of the crime devastated social trust falls in 'rarest of rare' category warranting death penalty", added the three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, which wrote two separate but concurring judgements in the case.

Soon after the verdict was pronounced, the packed courtroom of lawyers and Nirbhaya's parents clapped and expressed their satisfaction.

Earlier, the trial court also had sentenced all four convicts to the death penalty.

Also Read: Will sleep tonight: Nirbhaya's Father on SC verdict

The apex court also said that the scientific evidence like DNA profiling of both the victim and accused proves to the hilt about their presence at the crime spot. They also held the view that the testimony of victim's friend who was with her on the bus and the first prosecution witness was impeccable and relied upon.

If this case does not deserve a death penalty, don't know which one deserves it better, Justice Banumathi read in her separate concurring judgment and suggested for curriculum in schools for gender sensitisation.

Saying that the accused had treated the victim as an object of enjoyment, with a single purpose of ravishing her, the court observed that their background age, no criminal record, good behaviour in prison cannot outweigh aggravating circumstances. Human lust was allowed to take a demonic form. This act demonstrates perversion of the accused, the bench ruled while explaining the brutality of the incident.

"Criminal conspiracy allegations stand established against the accused. We have considered mitigating factors such as aged parents, marital status, the conduct of the accused, the court observed adding that DNA matched with the convicts and fingerprints were impeccable.

Little did she know on that cold winter night that her world would come to a devastating end, the bench observed while appreciating the investigation by Delhi Police and termed it as comprehensive.

Victim's dying declaration by gestures against convicts nailed prosecution case for her attackers' death penalty, the bench said adding there was scientific evidence to show how far the accused proceeded to establish criminal conspiracy allegations against the accused.

Read: Nirbhaya gang rape case: Legal options before four convicts

"A judgement like this was necessary to send a stern message to people who commit such heinous crimes," Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development Maneka Gandhi said, while reacting to the verdict.

"Aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances in the case; offence created 'tsunami of shock'," said the court.

In December 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

While Delhi Police had sought capital punishment for the convicts, the defence counsel had said they deserved leniency considering their poor family background and young age.

>>Plea of alibi by convicts an afterthought: Supreme Court



The police had told the bench that the horrific crime committed by these men warranted death penalty and the test of being a "rarest of rare" case was satisfied in this matter and the court should also consider the effect of crime committed by them on the victim and the society at large.



Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who has assisted the court as an amicus curiae, had told the bench that there was no doubt that the crime committed was of "immense proportion" but as the evidence was not concrete, it does not warrant a death penalty.



Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran, also an amicus curiae, had said that option of awarding jail term for the whole life to these convicts may also be considered.

Read: Union Law minister hails December 16 gangrape verdict, favours death penalty



Advocates A P Singh and M L Sharma, representing the four convicts, had said they should be given a chance to reform and considering the mitigating factors, the court should not award them death penalty. They also raised questions about the evidence collected by the police in the matter.



The trial court had awarded death penalty to the four convicts. Prime accused Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in his cell in Tihar jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were abated.



The high court, in its verdict, had observed that their offence fell in the rarest of the rare category and had upheld the death sentence awarded to them by the trial court.

Read: Dec 16 gangrape: Applause and castration remarks heard in SC

The judicial bench also said that the criminal conspiracy of all the six accused has been established, as they made all efforts to destroy evidence like running bus over the victim and her friend.

Justice R Banumathi, one of the panelists said, " If this case isn't rarest of rare to award death penalty, then which case can fall under it."

Among the accused, there is also person who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home.

(With inputs from agencies)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of the four convicted in the gruesome December 16 Nirbhaya gang rape on Friday. The matter was heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan. The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma, and Mukesh - had challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows. "Victim's dying declaration is consistent; it has been proved beyond doubt and corroborated", said the apex court while confirming the trial court and Delhi High Court's findings against the accused. Read: In Nirbhaya's village, a special puja after the SC verdict "Nature and manner of the crime devastated social trust falls in 'rarest of rare' category warranting death penalty", added the three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, which wrote two separate but concurring judgements in the case. Soon after the verdict was pronounced, the packed courtroom of lawyers and Nirbhaya's parents clapped and expressed their satisfaction. Earlier, the trial court also had sentenced all four convicts to the death penalty. Also Read: Will sleep tonight: Nirbhaya's Father on SC verdict The apex court also said that the scientific evidence like DNA profiling of both the victim and accused proves to the hilt about their presence at the crime spot. They also held the view that the testimony of victim's friend who was with her on the bus and the first prosecution witness was impeccable and relied upon. If this case does not deserve a death penalty, don't know which one deserves it better, Justice Banumathi read in her separate concurring judgment and suggested for curriculum in schools for gender sensitisation. Saying that the accused had treated the victim as an object of enjoyment, with a single purpose of ravishing her, the court observed that their background age, no criminal record, good behaviour in prison cannot outweigh aggravating circumstances. Human lust was allowed to take a demonic form. This act demonstrates perversion of the accused, the bench ruled while explaining the brutality of the incident. "Criminal conspiracy allegations stand established against the accused. We have considered mitigating factors such as aged parents, marital status, the conduct of the accused, the court observed adding that DNA matched with the convicts and fingerprints were impeccable. Little did she know on that cold winter night that her world would come to a devastating end, the bench observed while appreciating the investigation by Delhi Police and termed it as comprehensive. Victim's dying declaration by gestures against convicts nailed prosecution case for her attackers' death penalty, the bench said adding there was scientific evidence to show how far the accused proceeded to establish criminal conspiracy allegations against the accused. Read: Nirbhaya gang rape case: Legal options before four convicts "A judgement like this was necessary to send a stern message to people who commit such heinous crimes," Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development Maneka Gandhi said, while reacting to the verdict. "Aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances in the case; offence created 'tsunami of shock'," said the court. In December 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. While Delhi Police had sought capital punishment for the convicts, the defence counsel had said they deserved leniency considering their poor family background and young age. >>Plea of alibi by convicts an afterthought: Supreme Court The police had told the bench that the horrific crime committed by these men warranted death penalty and the test of being a "rarest of rare" case was satisfied in this matter and the court should also consider the effect of crime committed by them on the victim and the society at large. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who has assisted the court as an amicus curiae, had told the bench that there was no doubt that the crime committed was of "immense proportion" but as the evidence was not concrete, it does not warrant a death penalty. Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran, also an amicus curiae, had said that option of awarding jail term for the whole life to these convicts may also be considered. Read: Union Law minister hails December 16 gangrape verdict, favours death penalty Advocates A P Singh and M L Sharma, representing the four convicts, had said they should be given a chance to reform and considering the mitigating factors, the court should not award them death penalty. They also raised questions about the evidence collected by the police in the matter. The trial court had awarded death penalty to the four convicts. Prime accused Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in his cell in Tihar jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were abated. The high court, in its verdict, had observed that their offence fell in the rarest of the rare category and had upheld the death sentence awarded to them by the trial court. Read: Dec 16 gangrape: Applause and castration remarks heard in SC The judicial bench also said that the criminal conspiracy of all the six accused has been established, as they made all efforts to destroy evidence like running bus over the victim and her friend. Justice R Banumathi, one of the panelists said, " If this case isn't rarest of rare to award death penalty, then which case can fall under it." Among the accused, there is also person who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home. (With inputs from agencies)
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In a bid to dispel the doubts about the working of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Election Commission has decided to hold an open hackathon for people to try and hack the voting machines in the last week of May. Before this, the poll panel has called a meeting on the May 12 with the leaders of all major parties.

A statement from the Commission said at the May 12 meeting, the issue of EVMs, change in rules regarding recount of votes using paper trail data, making bribery in elections a cognisable offence and disqualification of candidates charge- sheeted for electoral bribery would be discussed.

While there was no mention of the proposed EVM hacking challenge in the statement, a senior Commission official, who refused to go on record, said an overview of process and procedure of EVM challenge would be given and views of the parties would be sought.

The date of the proposed challenge, he said, would be decided after the all-party meeting. The Election Commission has convened a meeting with all recognised national and state political parties on May 12 in New Delhi to discuss issue related to EVM and VVPAT.

In addition to the EVM/VVPAT, the agenda will also cover making bribery in elections a cognisable offence, disqualification on framing of charges for the offences of bribery in elections and suggestions in VVPAT recount Rules. The EC has sought written response from all the parties on the above issues by May 7, the statement said.

Last month, the poll panel had said it may invite experts, scientists, technocrats, and representatives of political parties to hack the machines, which it claims are tamper-proof. The Election Commission had announced a similar challenge in 2009 and no one could hack the EVMs.

Aam Admi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal had initiated the debate on voting machines by stating that its defeat in Punjab and at other places was calibrated entirely by malpractices. Even after the MCD polls results, many AAP leaders blamed EVMs for the defeat.Apart from this, many other Opposition parties, including the Congress, have alleged tampering of the EVMs after the recent Assembly elections. A delegation of 16 parties recently met President Pranab Mukherjee and submitted a memorandum.

NEW DELHI: In a bid to dispel the doubts about the working of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Election Commission has decided to hold an open hackathon for people to try and hack the voting machines in the last week of May. Before this, the poll panel has called a meeting on the May 12 with the leaders of all major parties. A statement from the Commission said at the May 12 meeting, the issue of EVMs, change in rules regarding recount of votes using paper trail data, making bribery in elections a cognisable offence and disqualification of candidates charge- sheeted for electoral bribery would be discussed. While there was no mention of the proposed EVM hacking challenge in the statement, a senior Commission official, who refused to go on record, said an overview of process and procedure of EVM challenge would be given and views of the parties would be sought. The date of the proposed challenge, he said, would be decided after the all-party meeting. The Election Commission has convened a meeting with all recognised national and state political parties on May 12 in New Delhi to discuss issue related to EVM and VVPAT. In addition to the EVM/VVPAT, the agenda will also cover making bribery in elections a cognisable offence, disqualification on framing of charges for the offences of bribery in elections and suggestions in VVPAT recount Rules. The EC has sought written response from all the parties on the above issues by May 7, the statement said. Last month, the poll panel had said it may invite experts, scientists, technocrats, and representatives of political parties to hack the machines, which it claims are tamper-proof. The Election Commission had announced a similar challenge in 2009 and no one could hack the EVMs. Aam Admi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal had initiated the debate on voting machines by stating that its defeat in Punjab and at other places was calibrated entirely by malpractices. Even after the MCD polls results, many AAP leaders blamed EVMs for the defeat.Apart from this, many other Opposition parties, including the Congress, have alleged tampering of the EVMs after the recent Assembly elections. A delegation of 16 parties recently met President Pranab Mukherjee and submitted a memorandum.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: The government railway police in Guwahati on Friday seized 20 kg of gold worth Rs six crore, from four persons travelling by an express train to Delhi.

The accused, all from Mizorams capital Aizawl, were travelling by the Tripura Sundari and had boarded from Tripuras capital Agartala on Thursday afternoon.

This is the second major gold haul in the Northeast in recent times. Two years ago, 37 kg of gold was seized from a passenger at the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati.

The gold was seized during routine frisking of trains. There were 12 gold bars weighing 20 kg, Pankaj Kalita, officer-in-charge of Guwahati railway station, told the New Indian Express.

He said the accused would be handed over to the customs department along with the seized gold after interrogation.

Guwahati has turned out to be a transit route for smuggled gold, often in the form of carat biscuits. It is smuggled from Myanmar to Mizoram and finds its way into various parts of India, via Guwahati.

The police got a whiff of the gold smuggling racket in 2016, following the arrest of kingpin Narendra Jain and his associate Sartaz in New Delhi.

Jain had disclosed that his associates had smuggled around 7,000 kg gold worth Rs 2,000 crore from Guwahati since 2014.

GUWAHATI: The government railway police in Guwahati on Friday seized 20 kg of gold worth Rs six crore, from four persons travelling by an express train to Delhi. The accused, all from Mizorams capital Aizawl, were travelling by the Tripura Sundari and had boarded from Tripuras capital Agartala on Thursday afternoon. This is the second major gold haul in the Northeast in recent times. Two years ago, 37 kg of gold was seized from a passenger at the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. The gold was seized during routine frisking of trains. There were 12 gold bars weighing 20 kg, Pankaj Kalita, officer-in-charge of Guwahati railway station, told the New Indian Express. He said the accused would be handed over to the customs department along with the seized gold after interrogation. Guwahati has turned out to be a transit route for smuggled gold, often in the form of carat biscuits. It is smuggled from Myanmar to Mizoram and finds its way into various parts of India, via Guwahati. The police got a whiff of the gold smuggling racket in 2016, following the arrest of kingpin Narendra Jain and his associate Sartaz in New Delhi. Jain had disclosed that his associates had smuggled around 7,000 kg gold worth Rs 2,000 crore from Guwahati since 2014.
By Online Desk

The rapists will hang, and justice will have been done in the Nirbhaya case. But does it put an end to all crimes against women? No. Then lets look forward and see what can be done to prevent rape.

What police and courts can do

1) Ensure FIRs are filed immediately when rape cases are reported

2) Police must be sensitised to handle rape victims with dignity

3) Collection of evidence, especially medical examination, must be done in a sensitive manner. It must also be done without delay to ensure the evidence is strong. Time delays could cause medical results to be less than accurate.

4) Ensure the perpetrator is nabbed and that the case file is strongly backed by evidence

5) Justice should be delivered speedily, without dragging out cases for long years.

These ensure that reporting of rapes itself does not become a hindrance. As more rapes are reported and justice is delivered in the cases, it acts as a deterrent.

As the percentage of conviction is not high, people are emboldened to commit further crimes against women because they think they can get away with it

What society can do

1) Give women more independence and help them claim public spaces. As more women are seen in public, uninhibited, it becomes the accepted normal. Thus, a womans place in society or in public places is not questioned.

2) Society must discourage the stereotyping of gender roles, which in effect keeps women off the public sphere and therefore leads to crimes against those that do inhabit public spaces.

3) Encourage a change in attitude towards independent women. When questions are asked (like in the Nirbhaya case) such as why was the woman out in public at night, one legitimises violence against them by putting the onus of keeping herself safe, on the woman

4) Campaign with school managements to make sex education compulsory. Encourage healthy discussions and remove the stigma around sex. Create awareness among the young about the right to make decisions about ones own body without coercion or peer pressure, and convey the need for respect and consent in all sexual encounters, apart from impressing upon students the need to protect themselves from pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases.

5) Community gatherings must ensure more awareness is created on the need for equality and respect among the sexes.

Society plays a huge role in shaping the consciousness of people. Community approval and disapproval matter in the Indian context. Therefore the duties of a community in rape prevention are paramount. It starts with according women respect and equality in thought, word and deed.

What family can do

1) Introduce to children the concept of safe touch and unsafe touch. Children must be taught to say No if they recognise a bad touch and to move away from the perpetrators as quickly as possible and look for help if they find themselves in such situations.

2) Parents must spend time with children to look for unusual behaviour or quietness and sensitively bring out any instances of abuse that the child may have faced.

3) Ensure that the family is a supportive space where a possible victim of rape or sexual abuse does not feel uncomfortable in speaking to a family member in confidence. If a child has been touched in a manner that made him/her uncomfortable, s/he needs to feel confident to tell a family member about it.

4) Girls and boys must be brought up as equals, and shared activities must be promoted without discriminating on the basis of gender. This helps both sexes develop a sense of respect about the other and sees the mingling of sexes as normal. This prevents boys from thinking they are superior to girls and that they can exercise their physical power to get their way.

5) Remove the stigma associated with a persons body having been violated; encourage the victim to seek justice and not be bogged down by the associated difficulties of reporting it to the police and making court appearances and dealing with insensitive defence lawyers.

It all starts with the family. Just like charity begins at home, sensitivity to others (whether the others are of a different sex, religion, community, class, culture or language) and good social behaviour is something families have a responsibility in nurturing.

What government can do

1) Make sex education compulsory in all schools, government and private. Ensure there are awareness programmes and sensitisation for those left out of the education system too.

2) Ensure all schools, colleges and workplaces of all kinds (from factories to hospitals to corporate offices) have Visakha committees and that sexual harassment is proactively discouraged through discussions and workshops.

3) Create wide-spread awareness campaigns on womens equality, respect for women, and most importantly on what is consent and how sex without consent is rape, which is punishable by law.

4) Empower house-wives by paying women for domestic work. By doing this, women are no longer prevented from reporting rape and abuse at the hands of their family members, whom they may depend on for financial sustenance. Perpetrators in a large number of reported cases of rape have been family members or persons known to the victim.

5) Start prevention programmes by offering medical therapy to people to volunteer if they find themselves drawn to children or have uncontrollable sexual urges that they feel may push them to commit a crime. Programmes in countries like Germany and Columbia successfully offer voluntary therapy. This helps prevent a crime, rather than having to deal with the aftermath of one.

Government has a large role to play but in a country like India where its a struggle to ensure that even basic needs of its population are met, some of these guidelines may take generations to implement.

But the government must take positive steps in this direction, as it is to the benefit of the nation and its economy.

Imagine the boost to the economy and the countrys image as a modern nation if most women were active contributors to the workforce in a country that has as young a population as India.

The rapists will hang, and justice will have been done in the Nirbhaya case. But does it put an end to all crimes against women? No. Then lets look forward and see what can be done to prevent rape. What police and courts can do 1) Ensure FIRs are filed immediately when rape cases are reported 2) Police must be sensitised to handle rape victims with dignity 3) Collection of evidence, especially medical examination, must be done in a sensitive manner. It must also be done without delay to ensure the evidence is strong. Time delays could cause medical results to be less than accurate. 4) Ensure the perpetrator is nabbed and that the case file is strongly backed by evidence 5) Justice should be delivered speedily, without dragging out cases for long years. These ensure that reporting of rapes itself does not become a hindrance. As more rapes are reported and justice is delivered in the cases, it acts as a deterrent. As the percentage of conviction is not high, people are emboldened to commit further crimes against women because they think they can get away with it What society can do 1) Give women more independence and help them claim public spaces. As more women are seen in public, uninhibited, it becomes the accepted normal. Thus, a womans place in society or in public places is not questioned. 2) Society must discourage the stereotyping of gender roles, which in effect keeps women off the public sphere and therefore leads to crimes against those that do inhabit public spaces. 3) Encourage a change in attitude towards independent women. When questions are asked (like in the Nirbhaya case) such as why was the woman out in public at night, one legitimises violence against them by putting the onus of keeping herself safe, on the woman 4) Campaign with school managements to make sex education compulsory. Encourage healthy discussions and remove the stigma around sex. Create awareness among the young about the right to make decisions about ones own body without coercion or peer pressure, and convey the need for respect and consent in all sexual encounters, apart from impressing upon students the need to protect themselves from pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases. 5) Community gatherings must ensure more awareness is created on the need for equality and respect among the sexes. Society plays a huge role in shaping the consciousness of people. Community approval and disapproval matter in the Indian context. Therefore the duties of a community in rape prevention are paramount. It starts with according women respect and equality in thought, word and deed. What family can do 1) Introduce to children the concept of safe touch and unsafe touch. Children must be taught to say No if they recognise a bad touch and to move away from the perpetrators as quickly as possible and look for help if they find themselves in such situations. 2) Parents must spend time with children to look for unusual behaviour or quietness and sensitively bring out any instances of abuse that the child may have faced. 3) Ensure that the family is a supportive space where a possible victim of rape or sexual abuse does not feel uncomfortable in speaking to a family member in confidence. If a child has been touched in a manner that made him/her uncomfortable, s/he needs to feel confident to tell a family member about it. 4) Girls and boys must be brought up as equals, and shared activities must be promoted without discriminating on the basis of gender. This helps both sexes develop a sense of respect about the other and sees the mingling of sexes as normal. This prevents boys from thinking they are superior to girls and that they can exercise their physical power to get their way. 5) Remove the stigma associated with a persons body having been violated; encourage the victim to seek justice and not be bogged down by the associated difficulties of reporting it to the police and making court appearances and dealing with insensitive defence lawyers. It all starts with the family. Just like charity begins at home, sensitivity to others (whether the others are of a different sex, religion, community, class, culture or language) and good social behaviour is something families have a responsibility in nurturing. What government can do 1) Make sex education compulsory in all schools, government and private. Ensure there are awareness programmes and sensitisation for those left out of the education system too. 2) Ensure all schools, colleges and workplaces of all kinds (from factories to hospitals to corporate offices) have Visakha committees and that sexual harassment is proactively discouraged through discussions and workshops. 3) Create wide-spread awareness campaigns on womens equality, respect for women, and most importantly on what is consent and how sex without consent is rape, which is punishable by law. 4) Empower house-wives by paying women for domestic work. By doing this, women are no longer prevented from reporting rape and abuse at the hands of their family members, whom they may depend on for financial sustenance. Perpetrators in a large number of reported cases of rape have been family members or persons known to the victim. 5) Start prevention programmes by offering medical therapy to people to volunteer if they find themselves drawn to children or have uncontrollable sexual urges that they feel may push them to commit a crime. Programmes in countries like Germany and Columbia successfully offer voluntary therapy. This helps prevent a crime, rather than having to deal with the aftermath of one. Government has a large role to play but in a country like India where its a struggle to ensure that even basic needs of its population are met, some of these guidelines may take generations to implement. But the government must take positive steps in this direction, as it is to the benefit of the nation and its economy. Imagine the boost to the economy and the countrys image as a modern nation if most women were active contributors to the workforce in a country that has as young a population as India.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: With the Supreme Court set to deliver the much-awaited verdict in the December 16 Nirbhaya gang rape case, advocate M.L. Sharma, who is representing the accused convict Mukesh, has expressed confidence of his clients acquittal.



We are expecting that Mukesh should be acquitted because there is no case against him. There is no evidence that he was even in the bus. We are waiting for the verdict which will come out at 2pm today, Sharma told ANI.



The matter is being heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.



The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh - challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows.



Earlier, the trial court also had sentenced all the four convicts to death penalty.



It is being expected that the apex court would not grant relief to the accused as Justice Dipak Misra doesn't hesitate to give a death sentence and is exceedingly sensitive to women's rights and liberties.



He has upheld rape as depravity and not curable and recently, passed a woman friendly judgement saying that "no woman can be compelled to love; she always has right to say no".



In December, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.



One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home.

NEW DELHI: With the Supreme Court set to deliver the much-awaited verdict in the December 16 Nirbhaya gang rape case, advocate M.L. Sharma, who is representing the accused convict Mukesh, has expressed confidence of his clients acquittal. We are expecting that Mukesh should be acquitted because there is no case against him. There is no evidence that he was even in the bus. We are waiting for the verdict which will come out at 2pm today, Sharma told ANI. The matter is being heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan. The convicts - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh - challenged the Delhi High Court order which had sentenced them to the gallows. Earlier, the trial court also had sentenced all the four convicts to death penalty. It is being expected that the apex court would not grant relief to the accused as Justice Dipak Misra doesn't hesitate to give a death sentence and is exceedingly sensitive to women's rights and liberties. He has upheld rape as depravity and not curable and recently, passed a woman friendly judgement saying that "no woman can be compelled to love; she always has right to say no". In December, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in a moving bus. The woman succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Following is the chronology of events in the sensational December 16, 2012 gangrape-murder case of a 23-year-old woman, in which the Supreme Court today upheld the death penalty of the four convicts:

Nirbhaya, the 23-year-old paramedic, was raped and brutalised on a moving bus in Delhi. She and her male friend were then thrown out of the bus. Nirbhaya lost her battle for life in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

Dec 16, 2012

NEW DELHI: The safety of women in the National Capital Region (NCR) is an issue that has grabbed headlines on many an occasion, but the gang-rape of a young woman in a moving bus in a densely populated area late on Sunday left most residents badly shaken. The 23-year-old rape victim was a medical student. The incident happened after she and her 28-year-old male friend boarded a bus. As the bus was passing Mahipalpur, five to six people in the bus started sexually abusing the woman. Her male friend objected to it, but was beaten up, following which the woman was gang-raped. The driver and the conductor of the bus too were allegedly involved in the crime. Later, the woman and her friend were thrown off the vehicle. After police was alerted, a police van rushed them to hospital. The woman is battling for her life in the Safdarjung Hospital and is on ventilator support. Her male friend was discharged on Monday. The woman, from Ballia in UP, is an intern in a city hospital. Police traced the bus to a school campus in Noida. Late on Monday, police claimed to have arrested the bus driver in connection with the incident. NIE

VERDICT  May 5, 2017

The Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence for four convicts in the gang rape and brutal murder of a 23-year-old medical student on a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012. The four men - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh - had appealed in the top court after the High Court ruled that they should be hanged. The parents of the young woman, who came to be called "Nirbhaya" or fearless, were present in court today when the three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra pronounced verdict.

Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh were given the death sentence in the Nirbhaya case

The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence awarded by the Delhi High Court in March 2014

The SC bench called the gangrape and murder a devilish and barbaric act

TIMELINE:

May 5, 2017

Four of the men held guilty of raping and torturing a 23-year-old medical student on a moving bus in Delhi in December 2012 will hang, the Supreme Court said today, describing the crime as a "story of a different world". The court referred to the dying declaration of the young woman and said the "brutal and demonic" crime had been proved beyond doubt.

Mar 27, 2017

The Supreme Court reserved its verdict in the brutal 2012 Delhi gang rape case. The Bench, comprising Justice Dipak Misra, Justice R. Banumathi and Justice Ashok Bhushan, reserved the judgment in the appeal filed against the death sentence handed down to four convicts by the Trial Court and the Delhi High Court. Livelaw.in

Feb 3, 2017

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed with amicus curiae and senior advocate Raju Ramachandran that proper procedure was not followed in sentencing to death the four convicts in the sensational December 16 gang-rape and murder case that shocked the nation. A Bench led by Justice Dipak Misra said it would hear afresh aspects on sentencing of the convicts and asked them to file affidavits. The court acknowledged the contention raised by Mr. Ramachandran that the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC), relating to sentencing of convicts, was not followed in letter and spirit by the trial court in the case. TH

Nov 7, 2016

Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside. TOI

April 8, 2016

Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae for the case.

April 3, 2016

Hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V. Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph will hear the case. TOI

Dec 21, 2015

The Supreme Court dismissed the plea of Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal against the release of the juvenile convict of the December 16, 2012, gang-rape and murder case, stating that no one can take away somebodys right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. After the apex court refused to stay the release of the juvenile, parents of the victim  Asha Singh and Badrinath Singh  decided to take to the streets. NIE

Dec 20, 2015

At 5.45 pm, the juvenile convict in the December 16, 2012, horrific gang-rape and murder case of a 23-year-old paramedical student walked out of a special home in northeast Delhi carrying his belongings, including clothes , and was handed over to the staff of a nongovernment organisation at an undisclosed destination in the national capital. The juvenile was released amid huge protests in the city, with the gang-rape victims parents  Asha Singh and Badrinath Singh  continuing their opposition to his release along with activists. They also demanded the death penalty for him. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) approached the Supreme Court to stay the juveniles release, it proved futile. NIE

Dec 18, 2015

The most vicious among the six offenders  the juvenile  who had brutalised Nirbhaya with an iron rod and ripped out her internal organs with his bare hands on December 16, 2012, is all set to be released from reformation home on Dec 20, at the end of his three-year jail term, unless the Supreme Court stays it. The Delhi High Court said the juvenile cannot be stopped from walking free under the existing provisions of law. A High Court bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said there cannot be any direction to continue his stay in the special home beyond December 20, 2015. NIE

Mar 8, 2015

A rapist in a brown and white check shirt staring impassively into the camera, speaking sotto voce that Nirbhaya, the victim of the December 16, 2012, gangrape, had asked for it. A 57-year-old British film producer and actress Leslee Udwin, who picturised him inside the infamous Tihar Jail here, is lamenting the fact that the Indian government has banned her documentary Indias Daughter and muzzled the freedom of expression. A missing film producer named Anjali Bhushan. A newborn film company named Tathagath under whose banner Leslee produced the documentary and has left no traces of its existence. The finacier of Indias Daughter, Tribeca Film Institute which is funded by Ford Foundation, a body under the scanner of Indian agencies for funding PRS India. A carefully constructed web of film companies whose presence fade in and out as if through the lens of a camera. NIE

Mar 6, 2015

The Editors Guild of India urged the government to revoke the ban on the film Indias Daughter to enable people to view what is a positive and powerful documentary touching on the freedom, dignity and safety of women. The documentary was aired on BBCs Channel 4 and has been available online since then despite the government securing a court injunction on its screening across media platforms in the country. HIN

Mar 4, 2015

The Delhi Police issued a notice to the makers of a documentary on the December 16, 2012 gangrape, demanding access to the entire footage of death-row convict Mukesh Singh, who is said to have justified the act of rape in his prison interview. The notice has been sent under Section 91 of the CrPC, which allows issuing of summons to produce documents. The police said the final documentary titled Indias Daughter, directed by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin, will be viewed and analysed after which charges will be framed against the persons concerned. IE

July 14, 2014

Nirbhaya gang-rape case: Supreme Court stays hanging of 2 convicts

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed till further orders the execution of death penalty of two of the four convicts in the December 16 gang rape-and-murder case. A bench of justices Ranjana Prakash Desai and NV Ramana said since the death sentence of other convicts have already been suspended by this court, the same order has to be passed. TOI

Mar 15, 2014

The Supreme Court stayed till March 31 the death penalty of two men convicted for the gangrape and murder of a young medical student in a moving bus in Delhi in December 16, 2012. We stay the execution of Mukesh and Pawan till March 31, 2014, a Bench comprising Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh said. The Bench considered the plea of Mukesh and Pawan Gupta, asked its registry to forthwith communicate its order to the Tihar Jail authorities. We direct the registry to communicate the order to the prison authorities forthwith, it said and directed the registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice of India within eight days for allocating it to the appropriate Bench. (NIE)

Mar 13, 2014

Nirbhaya gang-rape case: Delhi HC upholds death penalty awarded to 4 convicts

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Thursday upheld the death sentence awarded to the four convicts in the brutal gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl here on December 16, 2012 that shook the nation's conscience and led to widespread protests. A bench of justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani confirmed the sentence of Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh, saying the offence committed by them falls in the category of rarest of the rare and upheld their conviction. "Death reference is accepted. Death sentence awarded by the trial court is affirmed. The appeals of the convicts are dismissed," the bench said. TOI

Nov 11, 2013

Delhi gang-rape case: Convicts invoke Mahatma Gandhi to oppose death penalty

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, two of the convicts on death row for the brutal torture and gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedical student on December 16 contested the trial court's sentence today, telling the Delhi High Court even the father of the nation was against capital punishment. Commencing the arguments for convicts Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur before a bench of justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani, advocate A P Singh said awarding "death penalty will not stop crime in society" and the duo don't deserve deterrent punishment in this case. DNA

Oct 27, 2013

Delhi gangrape case: HC dismisses plea for translated documents

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the plea of two of the four accused in the December 16, 2012 gangrape case, seeking Hindi translation of certain documents including the conviction and sentence orders.A division bench of Justice Reva Khetrapal and Justice Pratibha Rani rejected the plea saying the language of the courts in Delhi is English and a translated version is provided only in cases where court proceedings are recorded in a different language. News18

Sep 13, 2013

NEW DELHI: In a landmark judgment, a special fast track court on Friday awarded death sentence to all four men convicted of the brutal gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical stu - dent in a private bus on De- cember 16, 2012. While pronouncing the judgment, the court observed that the gravity of the inci- dent depicts the hair-raising beastly and unparalleled be- haviour which had not only shocked the collective con- science but also called for the withdrawal of the protective arm of the community around the convicts. This ghastly act of the convicts definitely fits this case in the bracket of rarest of rare cases. I award the death sentence to each of the convicts  Akshay Thakur, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Shar - ma and Pawan Gupta under IPC 302, said Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna. While delivering the sen- tence, the judge said, The increasing trend of crimes against women can be ar- rested only when the society realises that there will be no tolerance for any form of de- viance against women and more so in extreme cases of brutality such as the present one and hence the criminal justice system must instil confidence in the minds of people, especially women. The crime of such nature against helpless women re - quires exemplary punish - ment, he added. NIE

Sep 10, 2013

A Delhi court on Tuesday convicted four men of the gang rape and murder of a 23 year old paramedical student in a moving bus on December 16 last year, an incident that shocked the nation and forced the government to amend the rape law. Addi tional sessions judge Yogesh Khanna convicted the four men Akshay Singh Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh for gang rape, murder and other crimes including unnatural offences, dacoity, destruc tion of evidence, conspiracy and kidnapping in order to murder. The facts of the case make all accused liable for the cold blooded murder of the defenceless victim and thus the offence under section 302 murder, read with sec tion 120B criminal conspir acy of the Indian Penal Code stands proved and the accused persons are thus convicted, the judge said. NIE

Aug 31, 2013

Minor convicted, sentenced to 3 years by Juvenile Board

NEW DELHI: In the first conviction in the December 16 gangrape case, the juvenile accused was today found guilty of murder and rape of the 23-year-old girl but he got away with a maximum of three years imprisonment mandated under the juvenile law.The juvenile who was six months short of 18 yearsthe age of majoritywas, however, acquitted by the Juvenile Justice Board of attempt to murder of the paramedic's male friend, who was the sole eye witness to the dastardly incident that shook the nation. Indiatvnews.com

Mar 11, 2013

Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar Jail

NEW DELHI: Delhi gang-rape prime accused Ram Singh on Monday committed suicide by hanging himself in Tihar Jail. The incident came to light around 5am. Ram Singh was found hanging inside jail number 3. He was rushed to the jail hospital but declared dead on arrival. The body was then sent for postmortem at Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) hospital.Ram Singh hung himself using his clothes probably his own shirt, Tihar sources said."Singh was not alone in the cell. Other inmates were present and a guard was also posted. But nobody came to know about it. Around 5am, he was found hanging," a senior jail official said. TH

Feb 2, 2013

NEW DELHI: The fast-track court on Saturday framed charges against the five Delhi gang-rape accused. The trial in Nirbhaya gang-rape case will begin from Monday. The accused will now face trial for which maximum sentence is death.

Jan 3, 2013

Chargesheet seeks death for 5 accused, leaves out minor

Seeking the maximum of death penalty for five of the Nirbhaya gang rape accused, police on Thursday charged them under various IPC sections, including murder and gang rape. In their bid to speed up the trial, police took the unusual step of filing the chargesheet without incorporating the victim's postmorterm report the most crucial evidence in the caseas it is still to be received from Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital, where the 23-year-old paramedic had died. TOI

Dec 29, 2012

SINGAPORE: The 23-year-old girl, who put up a brave battle for life after she was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a Delhi bus a fortnight ago that had created a nationwide outrage, died early on Saturday morning in a hospital here. The girl, was admitted to the well-known multi-organ transplant facility Mount Elizabeth Hospital here on Thursday morning in an extremely critical condition, breathed her last at 4:45am (2:15am India time). She was earlier treated at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. TOI

Dec 26, 2012

Battling for life for the last 11 days, the 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim was flown to Singapore on Thursday in an extremely critical condition and was admitted to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital, a multi-organ transplant specialty hospital. The victim, who remained on ventilator support during most part of her treatment in Safdarjung hospital in Delhi, was flown in on an air ambulance early on Thursday morning. A team of doctors and her family members accompanied her. - TH

Dec 21, 2012

The statement of the 23-year-old physiotherapy student, who was gang-raped and assaulted on a moving bus on December 16, was recorded by a sub-divisional magistrate at the Safdarjung Hospital here on Friday night. The doctors on Saturday described her frame of mind as positive. In her detailed statement, which was hailed as fearless and bold by Deputy Commissioner of Police (South District) Chhaya Sharma, the victim provided an account of the horror she and her male friend went through on the fateful night. Ms. Sharma said the womans statement corroborated that of her 28-year-old software engineer friend. TH

Dec 21, 2012

Delhi Police has claimed to arrest all accused in the Gang Rape of a 23 Year Old Girl on Sunday Night. The Sixth one was nabbed from Aurangabad in Bihar. Akshay Thakur was arrested by a special team of Delhi Police after several raids were conducted at different locations in Bihar.

Dec 18, 2012

Delhi: Two days after a 23-year-old paramedical student was gang-raped onboard a moving bus in the city, four persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, while two more are still at large. While the victim was still in a critical condition, battling for life at the Safdarjung hospital, Delhi Police claimed to have solved the case after arresting and interrogating driver Ram Singh, one of the main accused in the case. Her condition is critical and deteriorating. NE

Dec 17, 2012

It took the Delhi Police less than 24 hours to track down the main accused in the horrific gang-rape and torture of a 23-year-old medical student in Delhi on Sunday evening. Three men have been arrested and three others have been detained. NDTV

Dec 16, 2012

DELHI: The safety of women in the National Capital Region (NCR) is an issue that has grabbed headlines on many an occasion, but the gang-rape of a young woman in a moving bus in a densely populated area late on Sunday left most residents badly shaken. The 23-year-old rape victim was a medical student. The incident happened after she and her 28-year-old male friend boarded a bus. As the bus was passing Mahipalpur, five to six people in the bus started sexually abusing the woman. Her male friend objected to it, but was beaten up, following which the woman was gang-raped. The driver and the conductor of the bus too were allegedly involved in the crime. Later, the woman and her friend were thrown off the vehicle. After police was alerted, a police van rushed them to hospital. The woman is battling for her life in the Safdarjung Hospital and is on ventilator support. Her male friend was discharged on Monday. The woman, from Ballia in UP, is an intern in a city hospital. Police traced the bus to a school campus in Noida. Late on Monday, police claimed to have arrested the bus driver in connection with the incident. NIE

NEW DELHI: Following is the chronology of events in the sensational December 16, 2012 gangrape-murder case of a 23-year-old woman, in which the Supreme Court today upheld the death penalty of the four convicts: Nirbhaya, the 23-year-old paramedic, was raped and brutalised on a moving bus in Delhi. She and her male friend were then thrown out of the bus. Nirbhaya lost her battle for life in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012. Dec 16, 2012 NEW DELHI: The safety of women in the National Capital Region (NCR) is an issue that has grabbed headlines on many an occasion, but the gang-rape of a young woman in a moving bus in a densely populated area late on Sunday left most residents badly shaken. The 23-year-old rape victim was a medical student. The incident happened after she and her 28-year-old male friend boarded a bus. As the bus was passing Mahipalpur, five to six people in the bus started sexually abusing the woman. Her male friend objected to it, but was beaten up, following which the woman was gang-raped. The driver and the conductor of the bus too were allegedly involved in the crime. Later, the woman and her friend were thrown off the vehicle. After police was alerted, a police van rushed them to hospital. The woman is battling for her life in the Safdarjung Hospital and is on ventilator support. Her male friend was discharged on Monday. The woman, from Ballia in UP, is an intern in a city hospital. Police traced the bus to a school campus in Noida. Late on Monday, police claimed to have arrested the bus driver in connection with the incident. NIE VERDICT  May 5, 2017 The Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence for four convicts in the gang rape and brutal murder of a 23-year-old medical student on a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012. The four men - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh - had appealed in the top court after the High Court ruled that they should be hanged. The parents of the young woman, who came to be called "Nirbhaya" or fearless, were present in court today when the three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra pronounced verdict. Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh were given the death sentence in the Nirbhaya case The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence awarded by the Delhi High Court in March 2014 The SC bench called the gangrape and murder a devilish and barbaric act TIMELINE: May 5, 2017 Four of the men held guilty of raping and torturing a 23-year-old medical student on a moving bus in Delhi in December 2012 will hang, the Supreme Court said today, describing the crime as a "story of a different world". The court referred to the dying declaration of the young woman and said the "brutal and demonic" crime had been proved beyond doubt. Mar 27, 2017 The Supreme Court reserved its verdict in the brutal 2012 Delhi gang rape case. The Bench, comprising Justice Dipak Misra, Justice R. Banumathi and Justice Ashok Bhushan, reserved the judgment in the appeal filed against the death sentence handed down to four convicts by the Trial Court and the Delhi High Court. Livelaw.in Feb 3, 2017 The Supreme Court on Friday agreed with amicus curiae and senior advocate Raju Ramachandran that proper procedure was not followed in sentencing to death the four convicts in the sensational December 16 gang-rape and murder case that shocked the nation. A Bench led by Justice Dipak Misra said it would hear afresh aspects on sentencing of the convicts and asked them to file affidavits. The court acknowledged the contention raised by Mr. Ramachandran that the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC), relating to sentencing of convicts, was not followed in letter and spirit by the trial court in the case. TH Nov 7, 2016 Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside. TOI April 8, 2016 Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae for the case. April 3, 2016 Hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V. Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph will hear the case. TOI Dec 21, 2015 The Supreme Court dismissed the plea of Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal against the release of the juvenile convict of the December 16, 2012, gang-rape and murder case, stating that no one can take away somebodys right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. After the apex court refused to stay the release of the juvenile, parents of the victim  Asha Singh and Badrinath Singh  decided to take to the streets. NIE Dec 20, 2015 At 5.45 pm, the juvenile convict in the December 16, 2012, horrific gang-rape and murder case of a 23-year-old paramedical student walked out of a special home in northeast Delhi carrying his belongings, including clothes, and was handed over to the staff of a nongovernment organisation at an undisclosed destination in the national capital. The juvenile was released amid huge protests in the city, with the gang-rape victims parents  Asha Singh and Badrinath Singh  continuing their opposition to his release along with activists. They also demanded the death penalty for him. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) approached the Supreme Court to stay the juveniles release, it proved futile. NIE Dec 18, 2015 The most vicious among the six offenders  the juvenile  who had brutalised Nirbhaya with an iron rod and ripped out her internal organs with his bare hands on December 16, 2012, is all set to be released from reformation home on Dec 20, at the end of his three-year jail term, unless the Supreme Court stays it. The Delhi High Court said the juvenile cannot be stopped from walking free under the existing provisions of law. A High Court bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said there cannot be any direction to continue his stay in the special home beyond December 20, 2015. NIE Mar 8, 2015 A rapist in a brown and white check shirt staring impassively into the camera, speaking sotto voce that Nirbhaya, the victim of the December 16, 2012, gangrape, had asked for it. A 57-year-old British film producer and actress Leslee Udwin, who picturised him inside the infamous Tihar Jail here, is lamenting the fact that the Indian government has banned her documentary Indias Daughter and muzzled the freedom of expression. A missing film producer named Anjali Bhushan. A newborn film company named Tathagath under whose banner Leslee produced the documentary and has left no traces of its existence. The finacier of Indias Daughter, Tribeca Film Institute which is funded by Ford Foundation, a body under the scanner of Indian agencies for funding PRS India. A carefully constructed web of film companies whose presence fade in and out as if through the lens of a camera. NIE Mar 6, 2015 The Editors Guild of India urged the government to revoke the ban on the film Indias Daughter to enable people to view what is a positive and powerful documentary touching on the freedom, dignity and safety of women. The documentary was aired on BBCs Channel 4 and has been available online since then despite the government securing a court injunction on its screening across media platforms in the country. HIN Mar 4, 2015 The Delhi Police issued a notice to the makers of a documentary on the December 16, 2012 gangrape, demanding access to the entire footage of death-row convict Mukesh Singh, who is said to have justified the act of rape in his prison interview. The notice has been sent under Section 91 of the CrPC, which allows issuing of summons to produce documents. The police said the final documentary titled Indias Daughter, directed by British filmmaker Leslee Udwin, will be viewed and analysed after which charges will be framed against the persons concerned. IE July 14, 2014 Nirbhaya gang-rape case: Supreme Court stays hanging of 2 convicts NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed till further orders the execution of death penalty of two of the four convicts in the December 16 gang rape-and-murder case. A bench of justices Ranjana Prakash Desai and NV Ramana said since the death sentence of other convicts have already been suspended by this court, the same order has to be passed. TOI Mar 15, 2014 The Supreme Court stayed till March 31 the death penalty of two men convicted for the gangrape and murder of a young medical student in a moving bus in Delhi in December 16, 2012. We stay the execution of Mukesh and Pawan till March 31, 2014, a Bench comprising Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh said. The Bench considered the plea of Mukesh and Pawan Gupta, asked its registry to forthwith communicate its order to the Tihar Jail authorities. We direct the registry to communicate the order to the prison authorities forthwith, it said and directed the registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice of India within eight days for allocating it to the appropriate Bench. (NIE) Mar 13, 2014 Nirbhaya gang-rape case: Delhi HC upholds death penalty awarded to 4 convicts NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Thursday upheld the death sentence awarded to the four convicts in the brutal gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl here on December 16, 2012 that shook the nation's conscience and led to widespread protests. A bench of justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani confirmed the sentence of Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh, saying the offence committed by them falls in the category of rarest of the rare and upheld their conviction. "Death reference is accepted. Death sentence awarded by the trial court is affirmed. The appeals of the convicts are dismissed," the bench said. TOI Nov 11, 2013 Delhi gang-rape case: Convicts invoke Mahatma Gandhi to oppose death penalty Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, two of the convicts on death row for the brutal torture and gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedical student on December 16 contested the trial court's sentence today, telling the Delhi High Court even the father of the nation was against capital punishment. Commencing the arguments for convicts Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur before a bench of justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani, advocate A P Singh said awarding "death penalty will not stop crime in society" and the duo don't deserve deterrent punishment in this case. DNA Oct 27, 2013 Delhi gangrape case: HC dismisses plea for translated documents NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the plea of two of the four accused in the December 16, 2012 gangrape case, seeking Hindi translation of certain documents including the conviction and sentence orders.A division bench of Justice Reva Khetrapal and Justice Pratibha Rani rejected the plea saying the language of the courts in Delhi is English and a translated version is provided only in cases where court proceedings are recorded in a different language. News18 Sep 13, 2013 NEW DELHI: In a landmark judgment, a special fast track court on Friday awarded death sentence to all four men convicted of the brutal gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical stu - dent in a private bus on De- cember 16, 2012. While pronouncing the judgment, the court observed that the gravity of the inci- dent depicts the hair-raising beastly and unparalleled be- haviour which had not only shocked the collective con- science but also called for the withdrawal of the protective arm of the community around the convicts. This ghastly act of the convicts definitely fits this case in the bracket of rarest of rare cases. I award the death sentence to each of the convicts  Akshay Thakur, Mukesh Singh, Vinay Shar - ma and Pawan Gupta under IPC 302, said Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna. While delivering the sen- tence, the judge said, The increasing trend of crimes against women can be ar- rested only when the society realises that there will be no tolerance for any form of de- viance against women and more so in extreme cases of brutality such as the present one and hence the criminal justice system must instil confidence in the minds of people, especially women. The crime of such nature against helpless women re - quires exemplary punish - ment, he added. NIE Sep 10, 2013 A Delhi court on Tuesday convicted four men of the gang rape and murder of a 23 year old paramedical student in a moving bus on December 16 last year, an incident that shocked the nation and forced the government to amend the rape law. Addi tional sessions judge Yogesh Khanna convicted the four men Akshay Singh Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh for gang rape, murder and other crimes including unnatural offences, dacoity, destruc tion of evidence, conspiracy and kidnapping in order to murder. The facts of the case make all accused liable for the cold blooded murder of the defenceless victim and thus the offence under section 302 murder, read with sec tion 120B criminal conspir acy of the Indian Penal Code stands proved and the accused persons are thus convicted, the judge said. NIE Aug 31, 2013 Minor convicted, sentenced to 3 years by Juvenile Board NEW DELHI: In the first conviction in the December 16 gangrape case, the juvenile accused was today found guilty of murder and rape of the 23-year-old girl but he got away with a maximum of three years imprisonment mandated under the juvenile law.The juvenile who was six months short of 18 yearsthe age of majoritywas, however, acquitted by the Juvenile Justice Board of attempt to murder of the paramedic's male friend, who was the sole eye witness to the dastardly incident that shook the nation. Indiatvnews.com Mar 11, 2013 Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar Jail NEW DELHI: Delhi gang-rape prime accused Ram Singh on Monday committed suicide by hanging himself in Tihar Jail. The incident came to light around 5am. Ram Singh was found hanging inside jail number 3. He was rushed to the jail hospital but declared dead on arrival. The body was then sent for postmortem at Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) hospital.Ram Singh hung himself using his clothes probably his own shirt, Tihar sources said."Singh was not alone in the cell. Other inmates were present and a guard was also posted. But nobody came to know about it. Around 5am, he was found hanging," a senior jail official said. TH Feb 2, 2013 NEW DELHI: The fast-track court on Saturday framed charges against the five Delhi gang-rape accused. The trial in Nirbhaya gang-rape case will begin from Monday. The accused will now face trial for which maximum sentence is death. Jan 3, 2013 Chargesheet seeks death for 5 accused, leaves out minor Seeking the maximum of death penalty for five of the Nirbhaya gang rape accused, police on Thursday charged them under various IPC sections, including murder and gang rape. In their bid to speed up the trial, police took the unusual step of filing the chargesheet without incorporating the victim's postmorterm report the most crucial evidence in the caseas it is still to be received from Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital, where the 23-year-old paramedic had died. TOI Dec 29, 2012 SINGAPORE: The 23-year-old girl, who put up a brave battle for life after she was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a Delhi bus a fortnight ago that had created a nationwide outrage, died early on Saturday morning in a hospital here. The girl, was admitted to the well-known multi-organ transplant facility Mount Elizabeth Hospital here on Thursday morning in an extremely critical condition, breathed her last at 4:45am (2:15am India time). She was earlier treated at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. TOI Dec 26, 2012 Battling for life for the last 11 days, the 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim was flown to Singapore on Thursday in an extremely critical condition and was admitted to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital, a multi-organ transplant specialty hospital. The victim, who remained on ventilator support during most part of her treatment in Safdarjung hospital in Delhi, was flown in on an air ambulance early on Thursday morning. A team of doctors and her family members accompanied her. - TH Dec 21, 2012 The statement of the 23-year-old physiotherapy student, who was gang-raped and assaulted on a moving bus on December 16, was recorded by a sub-divisional magistrate at the Safdarjung Hospital here on Friday night. The doctors on Saturday described her frame of mind as positive. In her detailed statement, which was hailed as fearless and bold by Deputy Commissioner of Police (South District) Chhaya Sharma, the victim provided an account of the horror she and her male friend went through on the fateful night. Ms. Sharma said the womans statement corroborated that of her 28-year-old software engineer friend. TH Dec 21, 2012 Delhi Police has claimed to arrest all accused in the Gang Rape of a 23 Year Old Girl on Sunday Night. The Sixth one was nabbed from Aurangabad in Bihar. Akshay Thakur was arrested by a special team of Delhi Police after several raids were conducted at different locations in Bihar. Dec 18, 2012 Delhi: Two days after a 23-year-old paramedical student was gang-raped onboard a moving bus in the city, four persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, while two more are still at large. While the victim was still in a critical condition, battling for life at the Safdarjung hospital, Delhi Police claimed to have solved the case after arresting and interrogating driver Ram Singh, one of the main accused in the case. Her condition is critical and deteriorating. NE Dec 17, 2012 It took the Delhi Police less than 24 hours to track down the main accused in the horrific gang-rape and torture of a 23-year-old medical student in Delhi on Sunday evening. Three men have been arrested and three others have been detained. NDTV Dec 16, 2012 DELHI: The safety of women in the National Capital Region (NCR) is an issue that has grabbed headlines on many an occasion, but the gang-rape of a young woman in a moving bus in a densely populated area late on Sunday left most residents badly shaken. The 23-year-old rape victim was a medical student. The incident happened after she and her 28-year-old male friend boarded a bus. As the bus was passing Mahipalpur, five to six people in the bus started sexually abusing the woman. Her male friend objected to it, but was beaten up, following which the woman was gang-raped. The driver and the conductor of the bus too were allegedly involved in the crime. Later, the woman and her friend were thrown off the vehicle. After police was alerted, a police van rushed them to hospital. The woman is battling for her life in the Safdarjung Hospital and is on ventilator support. Her male friend was discharged on Monday. The woman, from Ballia in UP, is an intern in a city hospital. Police traced the bus to a school campus in Noida. Late on Monday, police claimed to have arrested the bus driver in connection with the incident. NIE
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: The Umaria district administration has instituted a probe into allegations by a primary school headmaster that a company having union minister Smriti Irani's husband, Zubin Irani as a shareholder has allegedly grabbed a part of the schools land.

The administration in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh (MP) has ordered a probe following allegations by headmaster Janki Prasad Tiwari, that the company had grabbed the land in Kuchwahi village, close to Bandhavgarh National Park.

"We've begun a probe and also received a letter from union minister Smriti Irani, in which she has asked us to conduct an independent probe as her husband's name has been unnecessarily dragged in the matter. It is not her husband, but the company in which he is a shareholder which purchased the land in 2016. Prima facie, no school land has been grabbed or encroached. The probe is underway and its outcome will be known in four to five days," Umaria district collector Abhishek Singh told the New Indian Express on Friday.

The headmaster of the school at Kuchvahi village near the Bandhavgarh National Park has also questioned the purchase of five acres of land, which as per him was owned by one Hazari Bani, who is untraceable since the last few years.

The land was subsequently transferred in one Jaikaran Banis name, and subsequently purchased by one Ramsumer Shukla through forgery, before selling it to Zubin Iranis group, the headmaster has alleged.

While the land was being fenced, part of the school land, despite Tiwaris objection, was also fenced, Tiwari added.

However, sub divisional magistrate (SDM) JP Yadav, who is heading the probe has said prima facie no irregularity was detected during the scrutiny of relevant land records starting from the 1950s. Well also conduct on spot physical verification of the land as part of the probe, said Yadav.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress national head of communications, Randeep Surjewala, demanded in New Delhi that the MP government conduct a thorough probe into the incident.

Union minister Smriti Irani had recently spent a few days with family at the Bandhavgarh National Park, which is situated close to the land under scrutiny in Umaria district.

News agency PTI reported that the Congress on Thursday sought a probe into the alleged land grabbing by Zubin Irani, saying the state should fulfil its "rajdharma" in acting against him.



AICC incharge of communications department Randeep Surjewala said Irani, who has been involved in a row over her assets and qualifications, should alongwith her husband help in accomplishing that "rajdharma" obligation of the state.



"We have seen media reports on alleged land grabbing by Union Minister Smriti Irani's husband. The land belonged to the government. If there is any truth, it is unfortunate and the Madhya Pradesh government should order a thorough probe into it," he told reporters here.

BHOPAL: The Umaria district administration has instituted a probe into allegations by a primary school headmaster that a company having union minister Smriti Irani's husband, Zubin Irani as a shareholder has allegedly grabbed a part of the schools land. The administration in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh (MP) has ordered a probe following allegations by headmaster Janki Prasad Tiwari, that the company had grabbed the land in Kuchwahi village, close to Bandhavgarh National Park. "We've begun a probe and also received a letter from union minister Smriti Irani, in which she has asked us to conduct an independent probe as her husband's name has been unnecessarily dragged in the matter. It is not her husband, but the company in which he is a shareholder which purchased the land in 2016. Prima facie, no school land has been grabbed or encroached. The probe is underway and its outcome will be known in four to five days," Umaria district collector Abhishek Singh told the New Indian Express on Friday. The headmaster of the school at Kuchvahi village near the Bandhavgarh National Park has also questioned the purchase of five acres of land, which as per him was owned by one Hazari Bani, who is untraceable since the last few years. The land was subsequently transferred in one Jaikaran Banis name, and subsequently purchased by one Ramsumer Shukla through forgery, before selling it to Zubin Iranis group, the headmaster has alleged. While the land was being fenced, part of the school land, despite Tiwaris objection, was also fenced, Tiwari added. However, sub divisional magistrate (SDM) JP Yadav, who is heading the probe has said prima facie no irregularity was detected during the scrutiny of relevant land records starting from the 1950s. Well also conduct on spot physical verification of the land as part of the probe, said Yadav. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress national head of communications, Randeep Surjewala, demanded in New Delhi that the MP government conduct a thorough probe into the incident. Union minister Smriti Irani had recently spent a few days with family at the Bandhavgarh National Park, which is situated close to the land under scrutiny in Umaria district. News agency PTI reported that the Congress on Thursday sought a probe into the alleged land grabbing by Zubin Irani, saying the state should fulfil its "rajdharma" in acting against him. AICC incharge of communications department Randeep Surjewala said Irani, who has been involved in a row over her assets and qualifications, should alongwith her husband help in accomplishing that "rajdharma" obligation of the state. "We have seen media reports on alleged land grabbing by Union Minister Smriti Irani's husband. The land belonged to the government. If there is any truth, it is unfortunate and the Madhya Pradesh government should order a thorough probe into it," he told reporters here.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Within a fortnight, violence has gripped Sahranpur district again as Thakurs and Dalits indulged in vandalism, arson and gunfire leaving one dead and dozens injured, over playing music during a Maharana Pratap Jayanti procession in Shabbirpur village.



According to reports, several members of the Thakur community were proceeding to Shilkana village to celebrate Maharana Prataps birth anniversary.



A few Thakurs from Shabbirpur village were also leaving for Shilkana in a procession. While they were passing through a Dalit locality, the residents objected to loud music played by them.



This led to an altercation and the Dalits allegedly resorted to stone pelting. As news of the violence spread to nearby villages, hundreds of Thakurs went to the locality and in retaliation torched more than 20 Dalit homes.



The situation worsened as both sides came face to face and indulged in stone pelting and gunfire on each other leaving over a dozen people injured. The districts police force along with senior officials of the department and administration, including the district magistrate, deputy inspector general (DIG),

senior superintendent of police (SSP), SP (rural) and others rushed to the spot.



In the melee, Sumit Pal (21) from Thakur community, later, succumbed to his injuries in a nearby primary health centre. According to Saharanpur SSP Subhash Chandra Dubey, there was no prior permission for taking out the procession.



We will act strictly against those who violated the law. Though the trouble makers indulged in arson, not much damage has been done to property and now things are very much in control, he stated.



Heavy police force has been deployed in nearby villages as well in order to prevent the escalation of violence.



According to police sources, the tension between the two communities was simmering ever since the Thakurs had objected to the Dalits installation of a statue at a Ravidas temple here.



The incident has happened exactly two weeks after the violence at Sadak Dudhali village in the district where several persons were injured when a shobhayatra on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti turned violent.

LUCKNOW: Within a fortnight, violence has gripped Sahranpur district again as Thakurs and Dalits indulged in vandalism, arson and gunfire leaving one dead and dozens injured, over playing music during a Maharana Pratap Jayanti procession in Shabbirpur village. According to reports, several members of the Thakur community were proceeding to Shilkana village to celebrate Maharana Prataps birth anniversary. A few Thakurs from Shabbirpur village were also leaving for Shilkana in a procession. While they were passing through a Dalit locality, the residents objected to loud music played by them. This led to an altercation and the Dalits allegedly resorted to stone pelting. As news of the violence spread to nearby villages, hundreds of Thakurs went to the locality and in retaliation torched more than 20 Dalit homes. The situation worsened as both sides came face to face and indulged in stone pelting and gunfire on each other leaving over a dozen people injured. The districts police force along with senior officials of the department and administration, including the district magistrate, deputy inspector general (DIG), senior superintendent of police (SSP), SP (rural) and others rushed to the spot. In the melee, Sumit Pal (21) from Thakur community, later, succumbed to his injuries in a nearby primary health centre. According to Saharanpur SSP Subhash Chandra Dubey, there was no prior permission for taking out the procession. We will act strictly against those who violated the law. Though the trouble makers indulged in arson, not much damage has been done to property and now things are very much in control, he stated. Heavy police force has been deployed in nearby villages as well in order to prevent the escalation of violence. According to police sources, the tension between the two communities was simmering ever since the Thakurs had objected to the Dalits installation of a statue at a Ravidas temple here. The incident has happened exactly two weeks after the violence at Sadak Dudhali village in the district where several persons were injured when a shobhayatra on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti turned violent.
Swaran Singh By

India will be conspicuous by its absence at Chinas One Belt, One Road (OBOR) Forum to be held in Beijing next weekend (May 1415). The anxieties of Indias power elite, however, remain writ large in media commentaries of senior journalists and former advisors as also in the behaviour of Indias political leaders. Officially, New Delhi is still studying the proposals and will come out with a formulation in due course of time.

The most common are the delusory analyses undermining the forums stature and the ones saying this is too close to PM Modis scheduled September 2017 visit for the BRICS Summit in Xiamen. But the real reason is that India is hurt as Pakistan has successfully hoisted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the axis around which OBOR is being woven, with China tacitly endorsing such formulations. No doubt, a few of CPECs infrastructure projects will run through disputed territories and are being planned without consulting India.

But this is not the first time China is involved in infrastructure building in territories claimed by India. And CPEC can never be the axis of OBOR that seeks to connect not just the intra-Eurasian landmass but Africa, Oceania and Australasia as well. For doing this, China undoubtedly needs partners. It has set up institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, New Development Bank, and the Silk Road Fund to finance OBOR and India is part of these initiatives. India has already agreed to come on board in the case of BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar) Economic Corridor which China sees as part of OBOR. Only last week in Kolkata, India revived BCIM consultations of officials and academics that had been stalled for over two-and-half years.

But it seems Indias neighbourhood policy is becoming hostage to China syndrome with our neighbours being excessively indulged to wean them away from Beijings growing access and influence. Modi's visit to Sri Lanka next week comes in less than a fortnight after the Sri Lankan PMs five-day visit to India. This was preceded by a five-day high-profile state visit by the Nepalese president. And during the visit by Bangladesh PM Hasina, Modi chose to set aside protocol as he travelled through the Delhi traffic to personally receive her at the airport.

This visit saw India announcing a concessional line of credit of $5 billion and signing two dozen agreements promising additional investments worth $9 billion. Modi surprised everyone last December by his unprecedented and unannounced stopover in Lahore on the way back from Kabul. Likewise, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu was quoted last week saying India is trying to develop railway connectivity with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Nepal to increase interaction, tourism, trade, employment and connectivity which sounded like OBOR.

Like it or not, 28 heads of stateincluding the Russian president, Turkish president, Malaysian PM, Pakistan PM and Sri Lankan PMwill attend the OBOR Forum. In addition, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, World Bank President Jim Young, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, 80 leaders of other international organisations and over 100-ministerial-level officials along with over 1,200 delegates are set to attend it. Last week, Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and second-in-command after PM Shinzo Abe also confirmed his participation saying mutual understanding between Japan and China is vital. Nepal PM Prachanda seems all set to make a quick U-turn and participate in OBOR. Kathmandu has already announced it will send a high-level delegation.

No doubt, OBORs immediate backdrop explains the skepticism in some quarters. The increasing unpredictability about US global leadership today is accompanied by continuing global economic slowdown with the EUs lacklustre growth being further affected by Brexit. Meanwhile, Putin remains entangled in complex contestations with detractors at home and abroad. So the presence of poorer states hungry for infrastructure development needs may fan Chinas hegemonic ambitions.

OBOR can surely bring China far greater geopolitical influence and China-led infrastructure building will consolidate its position in global supply and manufacturing chains facilitating dumping of cheap products the world over. But then, how is closing our eyes to OBOR, especially in the face of fast shrinking number of outliers, going to help in either understanding or influencing its possible outcomes?

Whether we trust him or not, Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly underlined his three Nos assuring that OBOR will not be used to seek political influence.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently said OBOR has no direct link with any political and boundary dispute. Instead of focussing too much on China's ambitions, a pragmatic policy would need to engage with Chinas compulsions. The Gwadar and Hambantota ports show how China may be risking investments in zones of political instability and economic stagnation. But Chinas economic slowdown and its social and political repercussions compel Beijing to use OBOR to amplify its ongoing infrastructure-building commitments.

China seeks to redirect its capital over-capacities in the name of building global goods while hoping to revive its debt-ridden state owned enterprises. China has already invested over $50 billion in various projects covering railways, highways and ports and signed contracts for over $1 trillion more thus bringing down its foreign exchange reserves from a whopping $4.5 trillion to $3.5 trillion. India can best influence the process through selective participation. It will be unwise for a relatively smaller economy to compete with China on Chinas terms by launching a parallel OBOR.

Swaran Singh

Professor, School of International Studies, JNU

Email: ssingh@jnu.ac.in

India will be conspicuous by its absence at Chinas One Belt, One Road (OBOR) Forum to be held in Beijing next weekend (May 1415). The anxieties of Indias power elite, however, remain writ large in media commentaries of senior journalists and former advisors as also in the behaviour of Indias political leaders. Officially, New Delhi is still studying the proposals and will come out with a formulation in due course of time. The most common are the delusory analyses undermining the forums stature and the ones saying this is too close to PM Modis scheduled September 2017 visit for the BRICS Summit in Xiamen. But the real reason is that India is hurt as Pakistan has successfully hoisted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the axis around which OBOR is being woven, with China tacitly endorsing such formulations. No doubt, a few of CPECs infrastructure projects will run through disputed territories and are being planned without consulting India. But this is not the first time China is involved in infrastructure building in territories claimed by India. And CPEC can never be the axis of OBOR that seeks to connect not just the intra-Eurasian landmass but Africa, Oceania and Australasia as well. For doing this, China undoubtedly needs partners. It has set up institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, New Development Bank, and the Silk Road Fund to finance OBOR and India is part of these initiatives. India has already agreed to come on board in the case of BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar) Economic Corridor which China sees as part of OBOR. Only last week in Kolkata, India revived BCIM consultations of officials and academics that had been stalled for over two-and-half years. But it seems Indias neighbourhood policy is becoming hostage to China syndrome with our neighbours being excessively indulged to wean them away from Beijings growing access and influence. Modi's visit to Sri Lanka next week comes in less than a fortnight after the Sri Lankan PMs five-day visit to India. This was preceded by a five-day high-profile state visit by the Nepalese president. And during the visit by Bangladesh PM Hasina, Modi chose to set aside protocol as he travelled through the Delhi traffic to personally receive her at the airport. This visit saw India announcing a concessional line of credit of $5 billion and signing two dozen agreements promising additional investments worth $9 billion. Modi surprised everyone last December by his unprecedented and unannounced stopover in Lahore on the way back from Kabul. Likewise, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu was quoted last week saying India is trying to develop railway connectivity with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Nepal to increase interaction, tourism, trade, employment and connectivity which sounded like OBOR. Like it or not, 28 heads of stateincluding the Russian president, Turkish president, Malaysian PM, Pakistan PM and Sri Lankan PMwill attend the OBOR Forum. In addition, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, World Bank President Jim Young, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, 80 leaders of other international organisations and over 100-ministerial-level officials along with over 1,200 delegates are set to attend it. Last week, Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and second-in-command after PM Shinzo Abe also confirmed his participation saying mutual understanding between Japan and China is vital. Nepal PM Prachanda seems all set to make a quick U-turn and participate in OBOR. Kathmandu has already announced it will send a high-level delegation. No doubt, OBORs immediate backdrop explains the skepticism in some quarters. The increasing unpredictability about US global leadership today is accompanied by continuing global economic slowdown with the EUs lacklustre growth being further affected by Brexit. Meanwhile, Putin remains entangled in complex contestations with detractors at home and abroad. So the presence of poorer states hungry for infrastructure development needs may fan Chinas hegemonic ambitions. OBOR can surely bring China far greater geopolitical influence and China-led infrastructure building will consolidate its position in global supply and manufacturing chains facilitating dumping of cheap products the world over. But then, how is closing our eyes to OBOR, especially in the face of fast shrinking number of outliers, going to help in either understanding or influencing its possible outcomes? Whether we trust him or not, Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly underlined his three Nos assuring that OBOR will not be used to seek political influence. Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently said OBOR has no direct link with any political and boundary dispute. Instead of focussing too much on China's ambitions, a pragmatic policy would need to engage with Chinas compulsions. The Gwadar and Hambantota ports show how China may be risking investments in zones of political instability and economic stagnation. But Chinas economic slowdown and its social and political repercussions compel Beijing to use OBOR to amplify its ongoing infrastructure-building commitments. China seeks to redirect its capital over-capacities in the name of building global goods while hoping to revive its debt-ridden state owned enterprises. China has already invested over $50 billion in various projects covering railways, highways and ports and signed contracts for over $1 trillion more thus bringing down its foreign exchange reserves from a whopping $4.5 trillion to $3.5 trillion. India can best influence the process through selective participation. It will be unwise for a relatively smaller economy to compete with China on Chinas terms by launching a parallel OBOR. Swaran Singh Professor, School of International Studies, JNU Email: ssingh@jnu.ac.in
By Express News Service

ELURU: Miscreants beat up a TV channel reporter at Pittala Vemavaram village in Peravali mandal on Wednesday midnight. The journalist, who was seriously injured, has been admitted to the Tanuku Government Hospital where his condition is said to be stable.



According to information, Nallamilli Rama Reddy has recently filed two stories on illegal sand mining operations which were aired by the channel.



On Wednesday, around midnight, unknown miscreants kept knocking on his door. After he opened the door, they sought to know why he had filed the stories. As they were speaking, an iron rod which they had concealed fell on the floor.



Rama Reddy, sensing danger, tried to shoot the miscreants with his camera and then called the sub-inspector of police who promised to rush his men to his house.



But the miscreants, using iron rods, beat him up and also attacked his aged mother Varalakshmi when she went to his rescue. Rama Reddy sustained injuries on his head and legs.



After that, the miscreants fled from the scene. Before knocking on the doors of the reporter, the miscreants smashed the street lights. Later, listening to the cries of Rama Reddys mother, neighbours woke up and immediately shifted him to the Tanuku Government Hospital.



Endowments Minister Manikyala Rao visited him at the Hospital on Thursday.

Journalists in various parts of the district took out protest rallies demanding immediate action against the culprits who attacked the reporter. In Tanuku they staged a protest at the main centre for an hour.

Journalists took out protest rallies in different parts of the district demanding action against the culprits who attacked the reporter. In Eluru, they submitted a memorandum to DIG PVS Ramakrishna and District Collector K Bhaskar

ELURU: Miscreants beat up a TV channel reporter at Pittala Vemavaram village in Peravali mandal on Wednesday midnight. The journalist, who was seriously injured, has been admitted to the Tanuku Government Hospital where his condition is said to be stable. According to information, Nallamilli Rama Reddy has recently filed two stories on illegal sand mining operations which were aired by the channel. On Wednesday, around midnight, unknown miscreants kept knocking on his door. After he opened the door, they sought to know why he had filed the stories. As they were speaking, an iron rod which they had concealed fell on the floor. Rama Reddy, sensing danger, tried to shoot the miscreants with his camera and then called the sub-inspector of police who promised to rush his men to his house. But the miscreants, using iron rods, beat him up and also attacked his aged mother Varalakshmi when she went to his rescue. Rama Reddy sustained injuries on his head and legs. After that, the miscreants fled from the scene. Before knocking on the doors of the reporter, the miscreants smashed the street lights. Later, listening to the cries of Rama Reddys mother, neighbours woke up and immediately shifted him to the Tanuku Government Hospital. Endowments Minister Manikyala Rao visited him at the Hospital on Thursday. Journalists in various parts of the district took out protest rallies demanding immediate action against the culprits who attacked the reporter. In Tanuku they staged a protest at the main centre for an hour. Journalists took out protest rallies in different parts of the district demanding action against the culprits who attacked the reporter. In Eluru, they submitted a memorandum to DIG PVS Ramakrishna and District Collector K Bhaskar
Tushar Majukar By

Express News Service

BELAGAVI:The residents of a newly constructed house in Hangarga village near Belagavi are living in fear as the floor in their house is getting hot. This has forced the family to shift to a makeshift tent outside the house and the family of nine is refusing to go back.

Hangarga is located about 15 km from Belagavi and the house was under construction for the last three years. For the last few days, the members of Kamble family had been feeling hot air coming out from the first step of the staircase. Gradually, the step turned hotter and the alarmed family decided not to live in the house.

The owners, Tukaram and Bhimappa Kamble, approached the local gram panchayat about the incident.

They, along with authorities concerned, reached the house to inspect the staircase. As the news spread, several people from the village and surrounding places thronged the house. Some of the villagers cautionedKamble that it is a sign of forthcoming tragedy.

A few others said that it was a signal of a hidden treasure below the house, for which they congratulated Kamble. But there were some who thought it could be a lava hotbed.

Assistant Commissioner Rajashree Jainapure along with geologist Arun D and authorities of Hubli Electricity Supply Company Limited (HESCOM) inspected the staircase.

The geologist has taken samples of mud by digging a hole below the foundation of the staircase. He is yet to confirm the scientific reason behind the staircase turning hot.

Meanwhile, civil engineer and interior decorator Subhash Hubalkar suspects that leakage of electricity may be the reason for the portion of the structure getting hot. It has to be thoroughly checked, he said.

Hubalkar recalled that he faced the same problem about a couple of years ago at his own residence.

We realised that whenever there was power outage the staircase which was otherwise hot, used to be normal. We found out that an electric line was touching the staircase metal, he said.

BELAGAVI:The residents of a newly constructed house in Hangarga village near Belagavi are living in fear as the floor in their house is getting hot. This has forced the family to shift to a makeshift tent outside the house and the family of nine is refusing to go back. Hangarga is located about 15 km from Belagavi and the house was under construction for the last three years. For the last few days, the members of Kamble family had been feeling hot air coming out from the first step of the staircase. Gradually, the step turned hotter and the alarmed family decided not to live in the house. The owners, Tukaram and Bhimappa Kamble, approached the local gram panchayat about the incident. They, along with authorities concerned, reached the house to inspect the staircase. As the news spread, several people from the village and surrounding places thronged the house. Some of the villagers cautionedKamble that it is a sign of forthcoming tragedy. A few others said that it was a signal of a hidden treasure below the house, for which they congratulated Kamble. But there were some who thought it could be a lava hotbed. Assistant Commissioner Rajashree Jainapure along with geologist Arun D and authorities of Hubli Electricity Supply Company Limited (HESCOM) inspected the staircase. The geologist has taken samples of mud by digging a hole below the foundation of the staircase. He is yet to confirm the scientific reason behind the staircase turning hot. Meanwhile, civil engineer and interior decorator Subhash Hubalkar suspects that leakage of electricity may be the reason for the portion of the structure getting hot. It has to be thoroughly checked, he said. Hubalkar recalled that he faced the same problem about a couple of years ago at his own residence. We realised that whenever there was power outage the staircase which was otherwise hot, used to be normal. We found out that an electric line was touching the staircase metal, he said.
By PTI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition Congress led-UDF and the BJP in Kerala today demanded immediate reinstatement of IPS officer T P Senkumar as the state DGP.

Joining the issue, former CPI state secretary Pannian Raveendran said that the Senkumar case was a setback to the government.

"It is a lesson. The drawback was caused due to the wrong advice of legal experts. The adverse impact was to the LDF and this should not be dismissed as a minor matter," he said in his Facebook post.

The CPI leader also said that the court expenses and other lawyers' fees should be recovered from the advisers.

Sources in the chief minister's office in the evening said that the Kerala government has reinstated Senkumar.

Attacking the government, the Opposition also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying the court development was a 'huge setback' to the LDF government due to its 'arrogance' in not implementing the apex court order.

The government has no other option but to re-instate Senkumar as Director General of Police, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said.

He was reacting to the apex court earlier in the day dismissing the state government's application seeking certain clarifications on its April 24 directive to re-instate Senkumar.

It also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the government.

Attacking the LDF government, BJP President Kumannom Rajasekharan said the cost amount of Rs 25,000 should be recovered from the salary of the chief minister.

"The cost amount should not be paid from the public exchequer. The chief minister deliberately tried to avoid the reinstatement of Senkumar," Rajasekharan alleged.

The apex court had also sought the response of the Kerala chief secretary on a contempt plea by Senkumar, who has alleged delay in his reinstatement as DGP, despite the court order.

"This is a huge setback to the chief minister's and the government's arrogance. This government cannot continue even for a moment," Chennithala told reporters here.

Senkumar should have been appointed soon after the apex court's earlier order, he said, adding the LDF government had no right to continue in office politically or morally.

The court had on April 24 directed the reinstatement of Senkumar, saying he was transferred by the LDF government 'unfairly' and 'arbitrarily'.

Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also criticised the government over the issue.

KPCC acting president M M Hassan demanded the resignation of the chief minister in view of the Supreme Court order.

The apex court verdict "is a consequence of the chief minister's arrogance," he told reporters.

NDA Kerala Vice-Chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Supreme Court verdict was yet another 'stinging slap' on the Kerala government after the court set aside the removal of Senkumar.

"Perhaps this will educate the CM about how the law works in the country. Perhaps this will also educate the CM against misusing his powers against officials like Senkumar and Sriram Venkataram, Devikulam Sub-Collector," he said in a statement here.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition Congress led-UDF and the BJP in Kerala today demanded immediate reinstatement of IPS officer T P Senkumar as the state DGP. Joining the issue, former CPI state secretary Pannian Raveendran said that the Senkumar case was a setback to the government. "It is a lesson. The drawback was caused due to the wrong advice of legal experts. The adverse impact was to the LDF and this should not be dismissed as a minor matter," he said in his Facebook post. The CPI leader also said that the court expenses and other lawyers' fees should be recovered from the advisers. Sources in the chief minister's office in the evening said that the Kerala government has reinstated Senkumar. Attacking the government, the Opposition also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying the court development was a 'huge setback' to the LDF government due to its 'arrogance' in not implementing the apex court order. The government has no other option but to re-instate Senkumar as Director General of Police, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said. He was reacting to the apex court earlier in the day dismissing the state government's application seeking certain clarifications on its April 24 directive to re-instate Senkumar. It also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on the government. Attacking the LDF government, BJP President Kumannom Rajasekharan said the cost amount of Rs 25,000 should be recovered from the salary of the chief minister. "The cost amount should not be paid from the public exchequer. The chief minister deliberately tried to avoid the reinstatement of Senkumar," Rajasekharan alleged. The apex court had also sought the response of the Kerala chief secretary on a contempt plea by Senkumar, who has alleged delay in his reinstatement as DGP, despite the court order. "This is a huge setback to the chief minister's and the government's arrogance. This government cannot continue even for a moment," Chennithala told reporters here. Senkumar should have been appointed soon after the apex court's earlier order, he said, adding the LDF government had no right to continue in office politically or morally. The court had on April 24 directed the reinstatement of Senkumar, saying he was transferred by the LDF government 'unfairly' and 'arbitrarily'. Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also criticised the government over the issue. KPCC acting president M M Hassan demanded the resignation of the chief minister in view of the Supreme Court order. The apex court verdict "is a consequence of the chief minister's arrogance," he told reporters. NDA Kerala Vice-Chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the Supreme Court verdict was yet another 'stinging slap' on the Kerala government after the court set aside the removal of Senkumar. "Perhaps this will educate the CM about how the law works in the country. Perhaps this will also educate the CM against misusing his powers against officials like Senkumar and Sriram Venkataram, Devikulam Sub-Collector," he said in a statement here.
Mouli Mareedu By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: While fresh cases are being registered against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh after his tweets on Telangana police, a case registered against him in February this year has not made any headway.



It was on Feb 22 that Singh tweeted: Is there a difference between Madarsas and Saraswati Sishu Mandir schools run by RSS? I dont think so.

Both spread hatred. Subsequently, a case was registered against him at Dabeerpura police station following a complaint from Majlis Bacho Tehreek leader Amjedullah Khan. The police booked Digvijaya under section 295 A (resorting to deliberate and malicious act to outrage religious feelings by insulting religion or religious beliefs) of IPC.



When contacted on the status of the case, police said Twitter has refused to co-operate in the investigation. Dabeerpura inspector D Venkanna Naik told Express that they have written to Twitter with the assistance of Cyber Crime police seeking an official report of Digvijayas tweets for the purpose of legal proceedings. However, Twitter officials denied.



Days before the Chief Minister convening a meeting with police officials and staff to know ground level report on police functioning in the state, the IPS fraternity is understood to have expressed contradictory views on registering cases on political leaders like Digvijaya Singh stating it is purely political strategy and nothing to do with investigation.



Speculations are rife among police officials that a senior police officer expressed his opinion in the presence of his colleagues in a formal chat that registering cases on Digvijaya Singh for his remarks is enhancing the latters political mileage. Can we take legal action by issuing notices or arresting such senior leaders just for posting his remarks on twitter?, he is learnt to have asked.



However, some of the senior officials persisted with registering cases for controlling abusive and controversial political remarks on social networking sites. If police are registering cases, it sends a strong message to those active on social networking sites.

Thankful to TS govt: diggi

Hyderabad: Days after his tweets against Telangana Police created a stir, the Jubilee Hills police on Thursday registered cases against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh under various sections of IPC. Singh had, a few days ago, tweeted that the TS police has set up a bogus ISIS site to radicalise Muslim youths. Following this, Jubilee Hills TRS leader Dinesh Chowdary lodged a complaint seeking action against the veteran leader.

Jubilee Hills police inspector S Venkat Reddy said they have registered cases after seeking legal opinion. Speaking to media, Singh said, I am thankful to TS government for getting this case registered. I will get a chance to prove a point and in my defence I would call CM, Home Minister, DGP, Union Home Secretary to depose and I will cross question them.

HYDERABAD: While fresh cases are being registered against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh after his tweets on Telangana police, a case registered against him in February this year has not made any headway. It was on Feb 22 that Singh tweeted: Is there a difference between Madarsas and Saraswati Sishu Mandir schools run by RSS? I dont think so. Both spread hatred. Subsequently, a case was registered against him at Dabeerpura police station following a complaint from Majlis Bacho Tehreek leader Amjedullah Khan. The police booked Digvijaya under section 295 A (resorting to deliberate and malicious act to outrage religious feelings by insulting religion or religious beliefs) of IPC. When contacted on the status of the case, police said Twitter has refused to co-operate in the investigation. Dabeerpura inspector D Venkanna Naik told Express that they have written to Twitter with the assistance of Cyber Crime police seeking an official report of Digvijayas tweets for the purpose of legal proceedings. However, Twitter officials denied. Days before the Chief Minister convening a meeting with police officials and staff to know ground level report on police functioning in the state, the IPS fraternity is understood to have expressed contradictory views on registering cases on political leaders like Digvijaya Singh stating it is purely political strategy and nothing to do with investigation. Speculations are rife among police officials that a senior police officer expressed his opinion in the presence of his colleagues in a formal chat that registering cases on Digvijaya Singh for his remarks is enhancing the latters political mileage. Can we take legal action by issuing notices or arresting such senior leaders just for posting his remarks on twitter?, he is learnt to have asked. However, some of the senior officials persisted with registering cases for controlling abusive and controversial political remarks on social networking sites. If police are registering cases, it sends a strong message to those active on social networking sites. Thankful to TS govt: diggiHyderabad: Days after his tweets against Telangana Police created a stir, the Jubilee Hills police on Thursday registered cases against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh under various sections of IPC. Singh had, a few days ago, tweeted that the TS police has set up a bogus ISIS site to radicalise Muslim youths. Following this, Jubilee Hills TRS leader Dinesh Chowdary lodged a complaint seeking action against the veteran leader. Jubilee Hills police inspector S Venkat Reddy said they have registered cases after seeking legal opinion. Speaking to media, Singh said, I am thankful to TS government for getting this case registered. I will get a chance to prove a point and in my defence I would call CM, Home Minister, DGP, Union Home Secretary to depose and I will cross question them.
By PTI

BEIJING: China today dismissed reports that its foreign minister put off his visit to New Delhi last month to attend an RIC meeting to protest India's decision to allow the Dalai Lama to travel to Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of Southern Tibet.

The meeting of foreign ministers of Russia India and China (RIC) to be held in New Delhi in April was put off as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declined to attend it.

"About the meeting that was to be held last month, as far as I know the reason is not China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here when asked about Beijings reported refusal to the attend the trilateral meeting.

He said China pays attention to the trilateral cooperation mechanism under which the three foreign ministers meet annually to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues.

"We have actively participated in the meeting of foreign ministers and also other activities under the framework," Geng said.

"According to my information, the three countries are now talking about the schedule of the next foreign ministers meeting. They are maintaining communication and consultation," he said.

Chinese officials said Wang could not confirm his participation in the meeting due to scheduling problems.

China last month lodged a diplomatic protest with India over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as part of Southern Tibet. The Chinese official media carried a torrent of articles criticising India for permitting the Tibetan spiritual leader to the area. China has also released "standardised" Chinese names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh to butters its claims.

Geng today said China objects to foreign leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama when asked about reports that Beijing has asked US President Donald Trump to not meet the Tibetan spiritual leader like his predecessors.

The Dalai Lama's meetings with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama and former US presidents have drawn protests from China.

Asked whether China has made the specific request to Trump, Geng said that Beijing is firmly opposed to any foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama.

"The 14th Dalai Lama is not a simple religious figure, but has long engaged in anti-China separatist activities. He is a political exile.We firmly oppose any foreign countries allow him to visit them or any foreign official having any official exchange with him," he said.

BEIJING: China today dismissed reports that its foreign minister put off his visit to New Delhi last month to attend an RIC meeting to protest India's decision to allow the Dalai Lama to travel to Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of Southern Tibet. The meeting of foreign ministers of Russia India and China (RIC) to be held in New Delhi in April was put off as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declined to attend it. "About the meeting that was to be held last month, as far as I know the reason is not China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here when asked about Beijings reported refusal to the attend the trilateral meeting. He said China pays attention to the trilateral cooperation mechanism under which the three foreign ministers meet annually to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues. "We have actively participated in the meeting of foreign ministers and also other activities under the framework," Geng said. "According to my information, the three countries are now talking about the schedule of the next foreign ministers meeting. They are maintaining communication and consultation," he said. Chinese officials said Wang could not confirm his participation in the meeting due to scheduling problems. China last month lodged a diplomatic protest with India over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as part of Southern Tibet. The Chinese official media carried a torrent of articles criticising India for permitting the Tibetan spiritual leader to the area. China has also released "standardised" Chinese names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh to butters its claims. Geng today said China objects to foreign leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama when asked about reports that Beijing has asked US President Donald Trump to not meet the Tibetan spiritual leader like his predecessors. The Dalai Lama's meetings with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama and former US presidents have drawn protests from China. Asked whether China has made the specific request to Trump, Geng said that Beijing is firmly opposed to any foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama. "The 14th Dalai Lama is not a simple religious figure, but has long engaged in anti-China separatist activities. He is a political exile.We firmly oppose any foreign countries allow him to visit them or any foreign official having any official exchange with him," he said.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has pressed Southeast Asian governments to ensure "leak-proof" enforcement of sanctions against North Korea and to prevent the pariah nation's diplomats from conducting business that could benefit its weapons programs.

Tillerson called on foreign ministers of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to "minimise" the diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, "so that North Korea does not gain benefit from its diplomatic channels for its nuclear and missile aspirations," senior State Department official Patrick Murphy said after yesterday's meeting at the State Department.

That was the latest salvo in the Trump administration's push to get the international community to intensify diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program before it can pose a direct threat to the American mainland.

Although China, North Korea's traditional ally and main trading partner, is viewed as the key lever of international influence, Southeast Asian nations have diplomatic relationships with Pyongyang and small-scale trade ties, and have sometimes served as conduits for North Korean activities that violate UN sanctions.

A recent UN report found that North Korean diplomats often play key roles in commercial activities banned under Security Council resolutions aimed at starving it of technology and revenue for its nuclear and missile programs. "North Korea in many countries has a diplomatic presence that clearly exceeds their diplomatic needs," Murphy told reporters. He said, without providing specifics, that "considerable common ground was identified" between the US and ASEAN on North Korea.

He said that the February assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's estranged brother at a Malaysian airport, using a chemical agent, illustrated the threat it posed "in the heart of ASEAN." He said this has galvanised concern in the region.

Enrique Manalo, acting foreign secretary of the Philippines, said the way forward with North Korea was through dialogue and de-escalation of tensions. He said China has an "important role" to play, and ASEAN has not really yet discussed reducing the presence of North Korean diplomatic presence in their countries. "That's probably something we'll look at," Manalo told reporters. "Our immediate concern is that the tension in the (Korean) peninsula does not increase, because the more it increases the more danger of some kind of miscalculation. The last thing we would really like to see is to have a conflict break out."

Southeast Asia's top diplomats are clearly seeking better ties with Washington, amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's trade policy and its dealings with China.

They have been heartened by President Donald Trump's plans to attend an ASEAN-hosted summit in the Philippines in November and a regional economic summit in Vietnam. Eight foreign ministers and two other senior officials from the 10 nations travelled across the world for the face- to-face with Tillerson.

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has pressed Southeast Asian governments to ensure "leak-proof" enforcement of sanctions against North Korea and to prevent the pariah nation's diplomats from conducting business that could benefit its weapons programs. Tillerson called on foreign ministers of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, to "minimise" the diplomatic relations with Pyongyang, "so that North Korea does not gain benefit from its diplomatic channels for its nuclear and missile aspirations," senior State Department official Patrick Murphy said after yesterday's meeting at the State Department. That was the latest salvo in the Trump administration's push to get the international community to intensify diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program before it can pose a direct threat to the American mainland. Although China, North Korea's traditional ally and main trading partner, is viewed as the key lever of international influence, Southeast Asian nations have diplomatic relationships with Pyongyang and small-scale trade ties, and have sometimes served as conduits for North Korean activities that violate UN sanctions. A recent UN report found that North Korean diplomats often play key roles in commercial activities banned under Security Council resolutions aimed at starving it of technology and revenue for its nuclear and missile programs. "North Korea in many countries has a diplomatic presence that clearly exceeds their diplomatic needs," Murphy told reporters. He said, without providing specifics, that "considerable common ground was identified" between the US and ASEAN on North Korea. He said that the February assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's estranged brother at a Malaysian airport, using a chemical agent, illustrated the threat it posed "in the heart of ASEAN." He said this has galvanised concern in the region. Enrique Manalo, acting foreign secretary of the Philippines, said the way forward with North Korea was through dialogue and de-escalation of tensions. He said China has an "important role" to play, and ASEAN has not really yet discussed reducing the presence of North Korean diplomatic presence in their countries. "That's probably something we'll look at," Manalo told reporters. "Our immediate concern is that the tension in the (Korean) peninsula does not increase, because the more it increases the more danger of some kind of miscalculation. The last thing we would really like to see is to have a conflict break out." Southeast Asia's top diplomats are clearly seeking better ties with Washington, amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's trade policy and its dealings with China. They have been heartened by President Donald Trump's plans to attend an ASEAN-hosted summit in the Philippines in November and a regional economic summit in Vietnam. Eight foreign ministers and two other senior officials from the 10 nations travelled across the world for the face- to-face with Tillerson.
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.
Although the odds of developing breast cancer are nearly identical for black and white women, black women are 42 percent more likely to die from the disease. This mortality gap  driven by social and environmental, as well as biological factors  continues to persist.

A large, multi-institutional study, published on-line May 4, 2017, in JAMA Oncology, was designed to understand this gap by beginning to unravel the germline genetic variations and tumor biological differences between black and white women with breast cancer. This is the first "ancestry-based comprehensive analysis of multiple platforms of genomic and proteomic data of its kind," the authors note.

Findings from this study could lead to more personalized risk assessment for women of African heritage and hasten the development of novel approaches designed to diagnose specific subtypes of aggressive breast cancers early and treat them effectively.

One new finding is that black women with hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative breast cancer had a higher risk-of-recurrence score than white women. The study also confirmed that black patients were typically diagnosed at a younger age and were more likely to develop aggressive breast-cancer subtypes, including basal-like or triple-negative cancers (tumors lacking estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2), as well as other aggressive tumor subtypes.

"People have long associated breast cancer mortality in black women with poverty, or stress, or lack of access to care, but our results show that much of the increased risk for black women can be attributed to tumor biological differences, which are probably genetically determined," said study author Olufunmilayo Olopade, MD, professor of medicine and human genetics at the University of Chicago.

"The good news," she said, "is that as we learn more about these genetic variations, we can combine that information with clinical data to stratify risk and better predict recurrences  especially for highly treatable cancers  and develop interventions to improve treatment outcomes."

"This is a great example of how team science and investments in science can accelerate progress in identifying the best therapies for the most aggressive breast cancers," said co-author Charles Perou, PhD, a member of the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and professor of genetics, and pathology & laboratory medicine at the UNC School of Medicine.

"In the largest dataset to date that has good representation of tumors from black women, we did not find much difference between the somatic mutations driving tumors in black and white women," he added. "Yet black women were more likely to develop aggressive molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Now we provide data showing that differences in germline genetics may be responsible for up to 40 percent of the likelihood of developing one tumor subtype versus another."

The study used DNA data collected from 930 women  154 of predominantly African ancestry and 776 of European ancestry  available through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), established by the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute. The researchers combed through the data methodically, looking for racial differences in germline variations (normal DNA), somatic mutations (tumor acquired), subtypes of breast cancers, survival time, as well as gene expression, protein expression and DNA methylation patterns.

Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

"Most significantly," explained first author Dezheng Huo, MD, PhD, associate professor of public health sciences at the University of Chicago, "we observed a higher genetic contribution to estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer in blacks."

Black women were more likely to get these highly aggressive cancers. This is one of the first studies to connect genetics to this racial difference in tumor subtype frequencies.

The study also revealed 142 genes that showed differences in expression levels according to race. One gene, CRYBB2 (Crystallin Beta B2), was consistently higher in tumors from black patients within each breast cancer subtype, as well as in normal tissues, suggesting it may be a race-specific gene.

The researchers also found somatic mutations in 13 genes or DNA segments that differed in frequency in tumors from black and white women. One of them, a mutated gene called TP53, was more common in black women (52%) than white women (31%) and was a strong predictor of disease recurrence.

"Despite the relatively short follow-up time in the TCGA dataset, we were able to detect a significant racial disparity in patient survival using breast cancer-free interval as the endpoint between patients of African and European ancestries," said co-first author Hai Hu, PhD, vice president for research at the Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine at Windber. "Most of the worst outcomes came from basal-like subtype breast cancer patients of African Ancestry."

"Black women in all categories, including the most common breast cancers, were likely to have a worse prognosis," Olopade said.

"Understanding the basic, underlying genetic differences between black and white women, the higher risk scores and the increased risk of recurrence should lead us to alternative treatment strategies," said Perou.

The crucial long-term benefit of this study, according to Olopade, is that "it is a step toward the development of polygenic biomarkers, tools that can help us better understand each patient's prognosis and, as we learn more, play a role in choosing the best treatment."

"Genes matter," she added. "This is a foot in the door for precision medicine, for scientifically targeted treatment."

"This study now outlines a path for us to personalize breast cancer risk assessment and develop better strategies to empower all women, especially black women, to know their genetics and be more proactive in managing their risk," Perou said.

Source: http://www.uchospitals.edu/
In the United States (U.S.), one in every five households speaks a language other than English at home. Research has shown, as English language proficiency decreases, positive healthcare outcomes also decrease. Limited English proficiency (LEP) patients are at higher risk of 30-day readmissions, longer length of stay in both the inpatient and emergency room settings, and adverse events.

The adverse effects of language gaps may be most pervasive in home health care settings where the implementation of interpreter services is difficult and highly inconsistent, making effective communication between healthcare professionals and patients challenging. There is a paucity of research in this area, according to New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing (NYU Meyers) researcher Allison Squires, FAAN, PhD, RN.

"The lack of research about the impact of language barriers on patient outcomes in home health care represents a point of vulnerability for LEP patients as they transition through the healthcare system," said Dr. Squires.

"This is an ongoing challenge for health care providers," commented Dr. Penny Feldman of the Center for Home Care Policy and Research at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), who noted that VNSNY deploys bilingual clinicians and interpreters where possible.

In a recently published paper in Home Health Care Management and Practice, Dr. Squires and her team from NYU and the VNSNY aimed to fill this knowledge gap.

"In the study, we explored the potential vulnerability in home health care service delivery by examining the frequency of language-concordant visit patterns among home health patients using electronic health records and organizational administrative datasets," notes Dr. Squires.

The study, "An Exploratory Analysis of Patient Provider Language-Concordant Home Health Care Visit Patterns," examined language concordance visits for registered nurses (RN) and physical therapists (PT). They defined a language-concordant visit as a duty call where the provider spoke the same language as the patient, or an interpreter accompanied the provider. The study used data from home health care services in the New York City area, representing the dominant immigrant demographics: English, Chinese, Italian, Greek, Korean, Patois, Russian, Spanish, Yiddish, and others.

According to the results, only 18.1% of RN visits and 26.7% of PT visits with LEP patients were language concordant. Korean speakers had the highest percentage of language-concordant visits by RNs, with 31.3% of visits in that category, followed by Russian (22.4%) and Chinese speakers (18.7%). Despite the fact that Spanish is the second most spoken language in the U.S., only 13.1% of RN visits with Spanish speaking patients were language-concordant.

Among LEP patients receiving PT services, Koreans also had the highest percentage of language-concordant visits at 45.1%, with Chinese (30.1%) and Russian (25.1%) speakers also rounding out the top three. Only 12% of PT visits with Spanish speakers were language concordant. Dr. Squires notes that these findings also point to a lack of understanding of the language-capacity of the U.S. healthcare workforce, and calls for more research on this subject, as it is an integral piece to determining the impact-;and how to increase the percentage of-;language-concordant healthcare visits.

"The broader significance of these findings is that as societies diversify through immigration, the demand for language-concordant health services will rise," said Dr. Squires. "Locations that are 'new' to managing the linguistic diversity brought about by changing immigration patterns, can learn from organizations in locations with more experience handling the issue and potentially find mutually beneficial solutions to addressing the problem," agreed Dr. Feldman.

Frequency (or lack thereof) of language-concordant health care encounters also has the potential to highlight cultural competence, unconscious bias, and discrimination in health services. How the language barriers in health care delivery are addressed -;from the nursing assistant up through the Chief Executive Officer-;may reflect broader attitudes within the organization toward racial, ethnic, and linguistic minorities.

"A failure to adequately respond to demand for language-concordant services could, for example, be a reflection of how staff deliver and organize care or an organization's operational philosophy around addressing health disparities in the populations they serve," said Dr. Squires. "More research is needed to determine the right 'dose' of bilingual home care visits to optimize home care outcomes and establish a standard for care."

Ensuring that language-concordant encounters happen across the care continuum is an important strategy for increasing access to care at the earliest stages, thereby reducing readmission risks, and improving care transitions throughout the healthcare system.

The researchers note that by exploring this phenomenon in the home health care setting, this study provides a solid starting point for addressing the problem of lack of concordant-language encounters and may inform how data related to language are managed in other health care settings. It is the hope of Dr. Squires and her team that this data will serve as a foundation to build a better understanding of the complexity of this issue.
New research indicates that sustained fluid overload-;when there is too much fluid in the blood-;may increase the risk of early death in kidney failure patients on hemodialysis. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), point to the importance of monitoring and treating fluid overload in these patients.

Sustained fluid overload can have a variety of consequences, including swelling, discomfort, hypertension, and heart problems. Although it is a major cause of concern for patients with kidney failure who are on hemodialysis, only a few small studies have looked at the relationship between fluid overload and premature death in these patients.

To investigate, Carmine Zoccali, MD (CNR-IFC, Clinical Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension of Reggio Calabria, Italy) and his colleagues examined an extensive clinical database of a large international dialysis network. The team's analyses were based on more than 200,000 measurements of fluid status in 39,566 patients initiating hemodialysis in 26 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

The researchers studied the relationship between fluid overload measured just once at the start of regular dialysis treatment and mortality, as well as the relationship between cumulative exposure to fluid overload over 1 year and mortality. They found that cumulative fluid overload over 1 year predicted a higher risk of death than the single measurement made at the start of regular dialysis treatment. "Ours is the first study providing information about the risk of persistent fluid overload in dialysis patients," said Dr. Zoccali. "Remarkably, the excess risk for death attributable to persistent fluid overload was similar to the risk observed with coronary artery disease, heart failure, and being 12 years older."

Source: https://www.asn-online.org/
It was already known that people affected by Parkinson's disease, when subjected to deep brain stimulation, gained weight, but it was less clear why that was so. Thanks to new research by the International School for Advanced Studies - SISSA in Trieste (Italy), it has been realized that the weight gain after implant has a multifactorial origin. The study, published on the scientific journal Cortex, monitored for the first time a group of patients before and after the intervention, assessing cognitive, psychological and behavioural aspects. The results show that weight gain is associated with an increased desire for food and level of impulsiveness, as well as with the duration of the disease and the reduction of pharmacological treatment, thereby providing important elements for preventative purposes.

"The alteration of body weight is one of the potential complications of deep brain stimulation as a treatment of Parkinson's disease", explains Marilena Aiello, SISSA researcher and first author of the research. "The origin was initially traced to the substantial reduction in motor symptoms, overlooking the role of the brain stimulation area -- the subthalamic nucleus -- in the reward system. Our intention was to assess the overall picture before and after the operation, from a clinical as well as a cognitive, psychological and behavioral viewpoint".

The study -- conducted in collaboration with the Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital in Udine, under the leadership of Raffella Rumiati, in charge of SISSA neuroscience and society lab -- has involved 18 Parkinsonian patients who underwent deep brain stimulation and 18 healthy volunteers.

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"The patients have been assessed in three distinct phases: prior to the operation, 5 days after the operation, and 3 months thereafter. They were always under pharmacological treatment, gradually reduced, whereas, at the time of the latest survey, the stimulator, too, was active" Aiello went on to state.

Participants were subjected to some questionnaires used at clinical level to assess their levels of depression, anhedonia -- i.e. the inability to experience pleasure -- and impulsiveness. In addition, they undertook some tasks assessing food reward sensitivity and impulsive reactions to food.

"Our results have confirmed a significant weight gain during the months following the operation. In line with an alteration of the reward system, the weight variation has proved more consistent in those patients who, after the operation, have displayed an increased desire for food. However, we have also noted the importance of individual characteristics, such as attentional impulsiveness - i.e. the tendency to take sudden decisions -- and of characteristics related to the disease, such as its duration and the reduction in the pharmacological load".

The researcher concludes thus: "Our results have proved the multifactorial nature of the post-operation weight gain, and offer important tools to identify the patients under greatest risk and accordingly prevent an excessive or anyway debilitating weight gain".
The University of Alabama at Birmingham and two partner institutions have received a European patent for their novel approach to fighting cancer, an approach that is led by the UAB spinoff biopharmaceutical company Incysus Ltd.

Incysus is focused on delivering innovative cellular therapy to treat solid tumor cancers. The European patent is owned by the academic collaborators of Incysus -; UAB, Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta -; and it is licensed exclusively to Incysus for all therapeutic purposes. U.S. Patent applications are pending.

The novel cellular therapy is called drug-resistant immunotherapy, or DRI. It is in its preclinical phase, and Incysus is moving toward an investigational new drug application filing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin tests of safety and efficacy in patients with the brain tumor glioblastoma.

DRI combines two ways to fight cancer -; immunotherapy and chemotherapy. While chemotherapy can shrink tumors, immunotherapy uses the body's own immune system to attack cancer, by stimulating the system or giving the patient additional immune system components. Unfortunately, chemotherapy often destroys the immune cells, and growing cancers can also block an immune response that otherwise would destroy the cancer. Tumors also create a tumor microenvironment around the tumor cells that acts as a defensive barrier.

William Ho, the president and CEO of Incysus, uses simple language to explain the problem solid tumors pose for immunotherapy after immune system cells are injected into the patient.

"The analogy I use is everybody is trying to create a strong army made up of Spartans, cells that can fight cancer cells hard," Ho said. "But on their journey to the solid tumor, some get lost, some die, and when they get to the site, they find the tumor cells are sitting in a castle, protected by a moat."

"By being able to combine chemotherapy and immunotherapy, we can use chemotherapy to ablate or modify the tumor microenvironment," Ho said. "Chemo acts like a bomb. It flattens the castle walls."

Incysus has supported the UAB laboratory of Lawrence Lamb, Ph.D., professor of medicine, senior scientist in UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and a scientific co-founder of Incysus, with significant funding as he completes the DRI preclinical phase.

Lamb and H. Trent Spencer, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and Incysus scientific co-founder, began the research that eventually led to DRI when both were at the University of South Carolina. "For the past 15 years, we have worked on developing this therapy," Lamb said.

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Chemotherapy uses potent drugs to kill cancer cells. In their approach, Lamb and Spencer grow immune cells called gamma delta T cells, and additionally make those T cells resistant to an anticancer drug such as temozolomide. This yields the ability to simultaneously attack a tumor with both immunotherapy -; the cancer-killing gamma delta T cells -; and chemotherapy. Additionally, it appears that when temozolomide stresses a tumor that has become resistant to temozolomide, an increase in certain surface proteins on the cancer cells act as targets for the gamma delta T cells.

"The chemo lights up the tumor," Ho said.

As Incysus moves toward an application to initiate clinical testing, Lamb, a co-founder and chair of the Incysus scientific advisory board, is giving presentations at international meetings. Last month he spoke to the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation in Marseilles, France, and next month he presents at the International Society for Cellular Therapy in London.

Lamb and Ho first met when Lamb was stranded in New York during Winter Storm Juno in January 2015. Ho, a Canada native with a 16-year background in life sciences biotechnology, put on his winter boots and snow jacket and walked through the blizzard to share a two-hour lunch with Lamb at the Lexington Brass restaurant in midtown Manhattan. By the end of the year, Incysus was formed.

Ho visits UAB from New York every few weeks to coordinate and plan with Lamb. Last month, the Birmingham Business Alliance also helped him participate in a number of meetings with investors from the metro Birmingham area to share the Incysus story.

"We're trying to bring in the capital to help expand and build," Ho said. "This approach is underappreciated. There are almost no companies talking about gamma delta T cells, and the approach with DRI is pretty novel and unique."

"There's a lot of great science and great physicians at UAB," Ho said, "something that is not always appreciated in the major venture capital hubs, Boston and San Francisco."
When it comes to the hatchback segment in India then its been Hyundai vs Maruti Suzuki for the top spot for ages. And, right now the battle is being fought by the new Maruti Suzuki Ignis and the Hyundai Grand i10 facelift. But what is it that separates the two and is meant for you? Heres a quick look.Lets start with the looks.The Ignis is a new design and a new car by Maruti Suzuki. It promises to be a looker thanks to the quirky styling elements like the thick c-pillar and the headlamp-encompassing front grill, giving the car a mix of both modern and retro. The back-end design of the Ignis has been a love-hate affair as people have either loved it or hated it, but whatever the case maybe, the Ignis just cant be ignored.The Hyundai Grand i10, on the other hand, has come back into the competition with a facelift. While it may not look significantly different from the older generation Grand i10, it is clearly a step up in terms of on-road presence. The new cascade design grille, the new front and rear bumper designs and the neatly tucked in daytime-running lights is what gives away the new Grand i10. While one may say that Hyundai has played it a bit safe in terms of design, they definitely have not gone wrong as the car blends in well under any driving scenario.But if you were to buy any of these then the maximum amount of time that you would spend is inside them so lets take a look at the interiors.The Ignis comes with body-coloured panels inside the cabin and the two-tone dashboard along with the impressive headroom, thanks to the Ignis tall boy stance, makes the cabin feel roomy. The top-end variant also comes with a very retro looking air-con unit along with toggle switches which make the car feel premium. The fit and finish is decent and the design is well laid out.But the Grand i10 plays this game the other way around. While the interior layout design may not be as exciting as the Ignis, the quality of materials used, fit and finish are a lot better. Both these cars come with touchscreen infotainment systems that support apple car play, android auto and MirrorLink and are at par when it comes to usability. Also, both the cars come with start-stop engine button at top variants.As for safety, the Grand i10 offers drive side airbags at the base and second-to base variant whereas Maruti beats it by offering dual airbags and ABS as standard across all trims.When it comes to the heart of these cars then they continue to exchange blows at an equal pace here as well. The Ignis gets the option of a 1.2-litre VVT petrol engine and the tried and tested 1.2-litre DDiS diesel engine. The Grand i10 facelift retains the 1.2-litre Kappa dual VTVT petrol engine but now comes with an updated, more powerful diesel engine in the form of the new 1.2-litre U2 CRDi diesel engine. While both of them are similarly specd in terms of power and torque output, the Ignis scores by offering the AMT gearbox option in both petrol and diesel engine powered variants over the Grand i10 which only offers the choice of a 4-speed automatic in the petrol engine powered variant.To sum it up, both these cars stick true to their expectation of being segment benchmarks and leaders in terms of sales. Both these cars are well-equipped, offer good drive experience and are perfect for tackling city driving conditions and weekend getaway highway trips. What really differentiates them is the design and that is where both these companies have taken a different approach.So if you are looking for a car that makes you stand out of the crowd thanks to its opinion-dividing debate-starting looks and makes you the one who is talked about wherever you go, then you need to check out the Maruti Suzuki Ignis. But, if you want a nice family car that mixes well within the crowd and gives preference to practicality over looks, the Hyundai Grand i10 is the one for you.
Oslo: Norway's sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, has taken Indian industrial giant Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) out of its investment portfolio due to environmental concerns, the Norwegian central bank said on Friday.



Bharat Heavy Electricals has been targeted because it is building a coal-fired power plant in the Sundarbans, one of the world's largest mangrove forests straddling Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.



The fund -- worth an estimated 8.1 trillion kroner (852 billion euros, USD 934 billion) -- has also placed Chinese oil giant PetroChina and Italian aerospace group Leonardo under observation over corruption allegations, said the Bank of Norway, which manages the wealth fund.



Some 65 senior executives at PetroChina, a listed entity of the Chinese oil giant CNPC, are being investigated on suspicion of bribery in China, Canada and Indonesia.

Leonardo is also under observation due to its involvement in several cases of alleged or proven corruption in India, South Korea, Panama and Algeria between 2009 and 2014.



The fund which has shares in some 9,000 companies around the world, must follow ethical rules which prohibit it from investing in companies that produce nuclear arms, tobacco, risk environmental damage, violate human rights, and enterprises deriving a large part of their business from coal.



More than a hundred groups, including giants like Airbus, Boeing, British American Tobacco and Wal Mart, have been blacklisted and a dozen others are under observation.
New Delhi: The CBI on Thursday arrested the chairman of REI Agro along with a promoter of the company in connection with an alleged bank loan fraud involving Rs 3,871 crore.



Chairman Sanjay Jhunjhunwala, who was facing a Red Corner Notice issued by the United Arab Emirates, was arrested after he returned from abroad.



The CBI had also issued a Look Out Circular against him.



Promoter Sandip Jhunjhunwala was also arrested by the agency in New Delhi.



The CBI had registered a case against them and the Kolkata-based REI Agro, which deals with Basmati rice exports, in October 2015.



The action was taken on the complaint from a consortium of 14 banks led by UCO Bank.



It was alleged that the company had defrauded the banks to the extent of Rs 3,871 crore since 2013 through conspiracy, cheating and forgery, CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said.



It is alleged that the company cheated the banks using 150 shell companies, on the basis of fixed commission, through a group of brokers by creating false invoice, documents of money transfers for non-existent transactions, he said.



Jhunjhunwala was also facing a case of misappropriation of AED 160 million for which the UAE authorities had issued a Red Corner Notice against him, he said in a statement.



The agency had registered a case of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery against the accused.



The accused had defrauded the banks through fund diversion, showing inflated cost of false expenditure, suspected investment in related companies, falsely inflating debtor, he said.



The CBI has alleged that the company showed sales at higher price to doubtful parties, indulged in fraudulent high sea transactions, non-compliance with fund utilisation, corporate guarantee without permission of consortium members etc, the spokesperson said.



Gaur said some suppliers were allegedly non-existent and some other firms were not having any genuine business with REI Agro and had only routed funds through their accounts.
Lucknow: At least 14 people were killed and 24 injured in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Etah early on Friday morning.



Police said the accident took place in Sarai Neem area when the mini truck lost its balance and overturned. The vehicle fell into a pit.



Senior district officials, including the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), rushed to the spot to oversee rescue and relief operations.



All the deceased were reportedly from Agra. The injured were admitted to a district hospital in Agra, the condition of at least four of them was said to be critical.



Officials said the truck was returning from Kundal Nagariya village on Fatehabad Road when the vehicle, apparently negotiating a steep turn at a high speed, turned turtle and fell into the pit.


New Delhi: Citing various violent activities undertaken by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB and others, the Centre on Friday declared the state of Assam as "disturbed" area under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, the AFSPA.



The Home Ministry, in a gazette notification, said the entire Assam, besides bordering areas of Meghalaya, have been declared "disturbed" under the AFSPA for three months with effect from May 3, PTI reported.



Assam in 2016 in which 33 people, including four security personnel, were killed and 14 others were abducted.



Besides, there were nine violent incidents in the state in which four people, including two security personnel, were killed in 2017.



The violence were perpetrated by insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and others, the ministry said.



The AFSPA has been continuing in Assam since November 1990.



In another gazette notification, the ministry declared three districts of Arunachal Pradesh - Tirap, Changlang and Longding - besides areas falling under 16 police stations bordering Assam as "disturbed" area under the AFSPA for three more months.



The home ministry cited the continuing violence perpetrated by NSCN(IM), NSCN(K), ULFA, NDFB and others as the reason for enforcing the AFSPA for three months beyond May 4.



The AFSPA has been under force in the three Arunachal Pradesh districts since January 2016.



(With PTI inputs)
The cost per head for this trip is Rs 6 lakh and each delegate has been allowed to bring along a companion. Some legislators have taken a sibling or a personal assistant.

"This is not a junket. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Committee invites people from political parties to engage in dialogue every year. Taxpayers money has not been spent, said Shaina NC, BJP spokesperson.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was opposed to the idea of the Agriculture Minister leading the delegation. "I have serious objections to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis allowing the Agricultural Minister to go on this trip. I had never allowed any minister to go on any delegation despite invitations."

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar, accompanied by fifteen lawmakers and officials from the legislative assembly, are on a two-week study tour of Australia and New Zealand to review how those countries handle farm loans.The trip has drawn criticism as the state is experiencing a drought and there have been reports of farmer suicides.The BJP government is Maharashtra has said it is a study tour and not a junket.She added that one should not try to equate this trip with the agrarian situation and the farmer suicides in Maharashtra."There are representatives from Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and BJP in this group. Please dont try and equate the agrarian situation and farmer suicides with this study tour," she said.The Congress leader requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately recall all the ministers who are on a junket.
Srinagar: The Army operation against militants in Kashmir's Kulgam district was called off in the midnight after clashes broke out between security personnel and locals.



Officials said that the clashes helped the two militants escape. One of the two militants trapped was said to be a top Lashkar commander named Junaid Matoo. Search operation for the two militants is still on though the cordon has been taken off. Police said they would rely on more specific information to get the militants.



Security forces had on Thursday launched a cordon-and-search operation in Khudwani area of Kulgam district after information about presence of three to four militants there, an Army official had said.





As the security forces were closing in on the militants, they opened fire.







"The cordon had been strengthened to prevent the militants from escaping. So far, there have been no casualties," the official said.



The operation comes five days after militants killed seven people, including five policemen, in adjoining Kulgam.



Hours before this cordon, Army, police and paramilitary carried out it one of largest drills to flush out militants in Shopian. A ring was thrown around 20 villages to nab militants who lately had been filming videos flaunting their rifles and patrolling ceaselessly in apple orchards and forests.



The forces moved in with 4000 troops and were aided by aerial reconnaissance support to engage with militants whos presence was suspected in the belt.



However, through the day the forces could not establish any contact with militants but when they were winding up, a vehicle came under attack from militants in Killora village, Shopian. A local driver was killed and four soldiers injured.


New Delhi: A live grenade found during the cleaning of a well in the Red Fort complex was safely removed by National Security Guard (NSG) commandos on Friday.



Officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had found the grenade during a cleaning operation on Thursday evening.



The discovery of the explosive in the 17th century monument visited by hundreds of tourists and locals led to panic in the area.



A cordon was thrown around the area and the NSG was called in after ASI officials alerted the police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), said a senior police official.



"The grenade was safely removed today by the NSG. How old it is can only be ascertained once a detailed report is received from the NSG," said DCP (North) Jatin Narwal.



The incident comes just a few months after a similar incident in February when explosives and live cartridges were found in a well in the complex during a cleaning exercise.
Hyderabad: Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday asked the Centre to move the Supreme Court to seek death penalty for the convicts in the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riot case involving the gang-rape of Bilkis Bano and the killing of her family members.



The All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen chief raised the demand a day after the Bombay High Court upheld the conviction and life sentence of 12 people in the Bilkis Bano case and set aside the acquittal of seven others.



The high court, however, had rejected the CBI's appeal on Thursday seeking death penalty for the three of the convicts.



Bano was gang-raped and several members of her family were murdered during the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat.



"The judgement that came in the case of Bilkis Bano, I respect the high court, but I feel I should also ask as to why there are double standards in communal cases and the rape cases, particularly in awarding death sentences..." he said.



The Supreme Court on Friday confirmed the death sentence of four convicts in the Delhi gang-rape case. However, Owaisi didn't refer to it.



"I believe this (Bilkis Bano) is a fit case in which the culprits should have been awarded the death penalty.



"Here comes a chance (for Prime Minister Narendra Modi). File appeal in the Supreme court against the high court judgement and see to it that it is converted into death penalty," he said.



Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat when Bilkis Bano was raped and her family members were killed, the AIMIM leader said.



The Supreme Court handed over the case to the CBI because earlier there was no proper investigation, he said.



The Hyderabad Lok Sabha member said he had welcomed the death penalty to Yakub Memon in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, even though the court awarded the capital punishment on the basis of "circumstances".




New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence for all four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case, which shook the collective conscience of the nation. However, the story has not been the same for several other similar cases.



While most cases go unreported; the ones that are, have been caught in the slow judicial process. Here are the numbers on reported cases since 2012 and the convictions -



2012: Charge sheets were submitted in 56.5% of reported rape cases



2012: Trials were completed in 14.6% of the total rape cases



2012: Convictions were carried out in 24.2% of the total completed rape case trials



2015: Charge sheets were submitted in 59.3% of reported rape cases



2015: Trials were completed in 13.6% of the total rape cases



2015: Convictions were carried out in 29.3% of the total completed rape case trials

(Conviction rate of rapists have increased from 1.9% in 2012 to 2.3% in 2015)



2015: 16,118 rape cases pending investigation with police



2015: 118,522 pending rape cases in courts



2012: 14,695 rape cases pending investigation with police



2012: 86,032 pending rape cases in courts



Source: NCRB
The court issued a contempt notice and ordered a fine of Rs 25,000 on Kerala government and its chief secretary.



In a first such order on reinstatement of a top police officer, the court nullified the state governments order dated June 1, 2016 whereby Senkumar was shunted out as DGP and made chairman and managing director of Kerala Police Housing and Construction Corporation Ltd.



Senkumar was removed following his indictment in the Puttingal Temple tragedy in Kollam in which more than 100 people lost their life. The government blamed him for allegedly protecting erring police officials. The second case related to alleged laxity in the initial probe into the murder of a Dalit girl.



The Supreme Court on Friday slammed Kerala government for not reinstating IPS officer T P Senkumar as the State Police Chief despite its April 24 order.Kerala government will now have to file a reply on Monday, explaining why it should not be held guilty of contempt of court.Kerala Law Minister A K Balan, however, refused to see it as a setback for the state government. The government was using the remedial measures available legally. We asked for clarification because there were grounds to ask for it, Balan said.On April 24, the apex court had ordered Kerala government to reinstate Senkumar who was removed from the post of DGP in June last year.On Wednesday, Kerala government had moved the Supreme Court, claiming that Senkumar cannot be reinstated as the State Police Chief. Seeking further clarification on the courts judgment, the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had contended that Senkumar was appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP) before his removal in June 2016 and therefore he cannot be reinstated as Director General of Police & State Police Chief.In its application, the state government had argued that Senkumar was neither empanelled nor selected as the State Police Chief and he was holding the post as DGP and Head of Police Force when he was removed. The state government had said there was another person appointed as the State Police Chief.Examining the Kerala Police Act 2011, which assures a minimum tenure of two years for DGPs, the court had held there was no justification in law to displace Senkumar before the end of his term. Senkumar was appointed in May 2015.It further stated that the court was disturbed by the fact that aspersions were cast on Senkumar only after the LDF government came to power in May 2016. The removal or displacement or transfer out of an officer from a sensitive tenure post requires serious consideration and good reasons that can be tested so that the officer is not dealt with as a pawn in a game. Unfortunately, the somewhat exacting standards are absent in the present case and the appellant (Senkumar) was displaced from the post of state police chief summarily and without reasonable cause, it held.However, in his affidavit in the court, Senkumar said the CPM was acting maliciously against him since he had conducted honest probe into the murders of RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan, Muslim League activist Ariyil Shukkoor and RSS leader Kathiroor Manoj. The involvement of CPM leaders in all these cases was alleged.The bench, in its judgment, had noted that there was nothing to hold Senkumar directly responsible for any lapses.
For securing a social order, she said gender justice should become a part of the school curriculam since young minds must be sensitized towards the women and be taught to respect them. Justice Banutmathi regretted that despite the progress made by the women in all fields, the respect for them was still elusive and there was a spurt in crimes against women.

The educational institutions, Government institutions, the employers and all concerned must take steps to create awareness with regard to gender sensitization and to respect women.

Sensitization of the public on gender justice through TV, media and press should be welcomed, said the judge adding police should be on its toes always to ward off any untoward incidents.

She also invoked Swami Vivekananda, who said: The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women.

Sending convicts to gallows would not be enough rather teach your children to respect women the way they are taught to respect men  this is the message sent out loud and clear by Justice R Banumathi, who happens to be not only the lone woman judge on the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court that sent four convicts in 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case to gallows but also the only woman judge in the top court at present.Even as she agreed with her brother judges, Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Ashok Bhushan, in handing down capital punishment to the four convicts, the lady judge was unequivocal that neither the laws nor the punishment to offenders were adequate to bring about the radical changes in our tradition-bound society.Stringent legislation and punishments alone may not be sufficient for fighting increasing crimes against women. In our tradition-bound society, certain attitudinal change and change in the mind-set is needed to respect women and to ensure gender justice. Right from childhood years children ought to be sensitised to respect women. A child should be taught to respect women in the society in the same way as he is taught to respect men, asserted the judge.She added that issues of womens rights were issues of human rights, for crimes against women not only affected womens self-esteem and dignity but also degraded the pace of societal development. Justice Banumathi said that there was a duty cast upon the parents as well as teachers to keep a watch on the behavioural pattern of the children so as to make them gender-sensitized.Apart from effective implementation of the various legislation protecting women, change in the mind- set of the society at large and creating awareness in the public on gender justice, would go a long way to combat violence against women, held Justice Banumathi.While she awarded death sentence to all four because the question of any other punishment was unquestionably foreclosed in the wake of their horrific acts, the judge said that Nirbhayas should be a case that could perhaps lead to a mass movement of sorts for securing respect for women and their dignity.We have a responsibility to set good values and guidance for posterity. Public at large, in particular men, are to be sensitized on gender justice. Every individual, irrespective of his/her gender must be willing to assume the responsibility in fight for gender justice and also awaken public opinion on gender justice, appealed Justice Banumathi.I hope that this gruesome incident in the capital and death of this young woman will be an eye-opener for a mass movement to end violence against women and respect for women and her dignity and sensitizing public at large on gender justicewe hope that this incident will pave the way for the same, concluded Justice Banumathi in her separately authored 114-page judgment.
The security cover for the 70th Cannes Film Festival, due to begin May 17, is being beefed in the wake of attacks in France.



The forthcoming edition of the film jambooree will be its first since the tragic July 2016 attack in Nice, just 29 km away from Cannes. The city, which hosts numerous events such as Mipcom, MipTV, and the Cannes Lions, is working on its security standards to make international visitors feel secure, reports variety.com.



Cannes mayor David Lisnard has taken strong measures; substantial barriers, mostly in the form of huge concrete planters, have been installed along the sidewalk which leads to the Palais, the headquarters for most Cannes premieres and festivities.



Yves Darros, who heads up Cannes police, says the city will also spend $6 million to place automatic retractable bollards at every entry point to the town.



The city has also increased maritime surveillance of Cannes bay and the harbour. Mock drills have also been taking place.



Darros said: "I've been doing the festival for 35 years and the security has always been great, but this year it will reach new heights."



From India, no film has made it to Cannes film fest this year, but actresses Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor and Deepika Padukone will attend the gala as brand ambassadors of a cosmetic giant.



Despite having some of France's tightest security standards, Cannes has had some high-profile heists, variety.com reported.



In 2015, as much as $19 million worth of jewellery and watches were stolen from Cartier boutiques in in the city just before the festival. With the aim to prevent such thefts, the number of surveillance cameras was increased from 400 to 550 across the city's tourist and festival venues in the last two years.



Cannes has also recruited a wide network of 500 local volunteers plus 80 "vigilant neighbours", who are in charge of patrolling across the city to watch out for suspicious activity and report it to authorities.



Authorities have been tight-lipped about revealing any details of the preparations for security reasons, as well as political ones, since the presidential and legislative elections are coming up.



Some stars will arrive with their own security staff, who would have to be cleared by Cannes authorities and the festival staff.
In a communication, the Union Home Ministry asked the Arvind Kejriwal-led party to explain certain fundings from abroad after suspecting that it might have violated FCRA provisions.

The official made it clear that it was not a show cause notice and a decision on it would be taken only after the AAP submits its reply.

"It's worth mentioning that the Ministry of Home Affairs had given us a clean chit before the High Court on this issue and now they are sending us fresh notices," the statement further said, however, adding that it was a clear case of a political witchhunt.

: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday asked the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to furnish details of overseas funding to it following suspicion that it might have violated the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, an official said.The MHA has served notice to the AAP on grounds of allegedly violating the Foreign Contribution (regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) norms.An MHA official said the communication to the AAP was part of its "routine" queries sent to a few other political parties regarding overseas funding to them. "We do ask political parties for details of their funding from time to time and the letter to AAP is also keeping with that system," the official said.The Aam Aadmi Party, in a statement, responded, saying that the party had nothing to hide and it was ready to fully cooperate the officials and agencies.AAP had sought donations from common public at the time of inception and a majority of its donors were from outside India. In 2013, the UPA government had also probed the funds of AAP but no discrepancies were found.
"I can say with confidence that everyone will be safe in the state without any discrimination, and rule of law is the priority of the state government," he said.

"You might not be accepting the change in Uttar Pradesh in the past one and a half month but the entire country is accepting it on law and order... investment opportunities have been created and people's confidence has grown," the chief minister said.

: There is no remedy if someone makes up mind to blame a particular outfit, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said on Monday, after right-wing activists were accused of repeatedly taking law and order into their own hands.The UP CM was asked a question about the clashes in Saharanpur, where an MP and a senior police officer were injured, and the Bulandshahr lynching in which alleged Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) activists were arrested."There is no remedy if someone makes up his mind that he has to blame a particular outfit... you will have to take this into consideration that the victims have already stated that not any outfit but dispute among themselves was the cause of incidents," the Chief Minister said.In Saharanpur, local MP Raghav Lakhanpal Sharma, a senior police officer and several others were injured in stone pelting between members of two communities during a rally on April 20 to mark Ambedkar Jayanti.In Sohi village of Bulandshahr, a man was beaten to death by right-wing activists on May 2 after an inter-faith couple eloped. Yesterday, UP police's press statement said that Hindu Yuva Vahini activists were allegedly involved in the lynchingincident.The Chief Minister had recently directed the HYV workers to maintain a decent behaviour and not to misuse the colour saffron as the image of the outfit or that of the BJP would suffer.Adityanath is the founder of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, a social, cultural and nationalist group of youth who seek to provide rightist Hindu platform. He had founded the organisation in April 2002.Regretting the state's poor rating in 'Swachh Survekshan-2017', with only one city, Varanasi, figuring in the list of 100 clean cities of the country, he said as many as nine of the 15 most dirty districts are in Uttar Pradesh."Although this survey was taken up before we took over (came to power in UP), our government has decided to work in this area and by December declare 30 districts open defecation free. By October next year, the entire state will be declared open defecation free," Adityanath said.On the Lucknow Metro project, the chief minister said operations on about 8 km stretch in the first phase is likely to start by next month.(With PTI inputs)
Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party (SP) is ready to support any secular alliance for the presidential poll, which is a few months away, its president Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday.



"If there is any secular alliance (for the presidential poll), my party will support it," he told reporters at the SP headquarters.



His remarks came against the backdrop of CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury recently meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi to explore the possibility of fielding a joint candidate for the presidential poll, even as RJD boss Lalu Prasad talked about cobbling together a Bihar-style 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance).



West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too has called for a larger unity among the regional parties ahead of the presidential election.



Significantly, senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav today announced that party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will head a "new, secular front" to be formed by him.



The presidential election is scheduled in July and opposition unity for contesting it may well be a precursor to an anti-NDA front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.



Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar had recently ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with the SP for the upcoming local bodies polls in the state. Akhilesh though played it down saying, "Our friendship with the Congress will continue." He, however, did not elaborate.



The Congress has decided to go it alone in the urban bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh.



The move is being seen as an impending end to the SP-Congress alliance, which was forged before the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.



The alliance suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the BJP in the UP polls. It managed to secure only 54 seats (SP 47, Congress seven) as opposed to the BJP-led NDA's 325.



In the aftermath of the dismal poll performance, speculation was rife that the allies might part ways for the urban bodies polls as the local Congress leaders had voiced opposition to the continuance of the tie-up.



On the Bulandshahr lynching incident, in which a Muslim man was allegedly beaten to death by the workers of the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), a right-wing group formed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after an inter-faith couple eloped, Akhilesh said they (HYV) should also prepare a list of those BJP leaders, who have had similar marriages.



"The people should know how many BJP leaders have had such marriages. The HYV should go to Delhi and prepare such a list," he said.
Apple is getting ready to open its first Apple Store in Singapore on the island's prime Orchard Road shopping boulevard.The storefront at Knightsbridge Mall is covered by a white facade with a large red Apple logo next to a heart and red dot above the store name "Apple Orchard Road".Singaporeans often refer to their city-state as a "little red dot" on the map of Southeast Asia.The Straits Times newspaper reported that barricades outside the store were removed on Wednesday night, suggesting the store would open soon.In the Asia-Pacific region the Cupertino, California-based company already operates retail stores in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau and Australia.
Sennheiser HE 1 in pictures. (Image: Sennheiser)

German Audio specialist Sennheiser has added another crown to its line-up after its legendary $55,000 (~ Rs 35 Lakh) headphones Orpheus. This time, the company has taken it even further and is calling the release the worlds best and finest headphones and they have named it theWith such claims being made, you can bet that the new Sennheiser headphones are not your everyday headphones and that they just might be heavy on your pocket as well. But just how expensive are the new Sennheiser HE 1? Well, the German company has priced the worlds best headphones at a whoppingAnd now you are left wondering, what exactly is going on here? You might understand the sound correctness, frequency response, amplifications and all the things required to make a headphone great but 45 Lakh?Here is why the Sennheiser HE 1 beats the price barriers and the regular audio concepts known to many.To start with, Sennheiser claims that the headphones deliver a frequency response that extends beyond the range of human hearing. As a result, the Sennheiser HE 1 have recorded the lowest total harmonic distortion ever measured in an audio reproduction system. Sennheiser claims to have brought the distortion down to 0.01 percent.Daniel Sennheiser, CEO of the company, puts it in simple words No other sound reproduction system in the world is able to deceive our senses like the HE 1. It creates the absolutely perfect illusion of being directly immersed in the sound,- Sennheiser has put to use, an entirely new amplifier concept that combines a tube amplifiers impulse processing with a transistor amplifiers low distortion.- Italian Carrara marble has been used to make the Amplifier housing to monitor the sensitivity to air-borne-noise.- The cups of the headphones house a patented, ultra-high impulse amplifier stage.- Sennheiser puts its new amplifier concept in Cool Class A, which provides Class A power at any volume in the low-frequency range and switches to Class AB in ultra-high frequency range.- The amplifier and the diaphragm are placed less than 1 cm away, reducing the power requirement for charge reversal.- A combined effect ensures high impulse fidelity with relatively low power requirements.- The Sennheiser HE 1 constitutes of more than 6,000 individual components.- Sennheiser HE 1 uses platinum-vaporised diaphragms and gold-vaporised ceramic electrodes.- The eight wires of the cables are made of oxygen-free copper and silver plated for optimum transmission of audio signals.- Also, the wires are covered with an insulating layer to eliminate any sound waves acting on the cable.- Sennheiser HE 1 uses ESS SABRE ES9018 chip to convert digital music data into analog signals.- HE 1 houses 8 internal DACs to convert audio data with 32 bits resolution and a sampling rate of up to 384 kHz into analog signals.- 4 DACs are connected in parallel for each stereo channel for noise reduction.- The Italian Carrara marble used in the HE 1 is the same type of marble using which Michelangelo created his sculptures.- A single piece of brass is used to make the rotary switches for the source and the volume controls which are also chromium-plated.- A microprocessor is used to control the position of four switches.- Each element follows the listeners adjustments and can be remote controlled.The HE 1 will be available in India from May 2017 for Rs 45,00,000.
We are a united family of South Asian countries, united in our pursuit of peace, progress & prosperity of our region & the entire humankind.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

I congratulate the team of scientists who worked hard for the successful launch of South Asia Satellite. We are very proud of them. @isro  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

The GSAT 9 'South Asia' Satellite meant as a gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the neighbouring nations of India has taken off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 4:57 pm today. The satellite, meant for boosting communication network in the South Asian peninsula, was launched using a GSLV F-09 Rocket by the Indian Space Research Organisation today.The mission, which is expected to last for the next 12 years, is completely funded by India at a total expense Rs 235 Crore.Previously, the Geostationary Communication Satellite was aimed at helping all the SAARC nations gain increased communication in the region. However, Afghanistan and Pakistan pulled out of the mission and hence, the satellite will now serve 5 countries in South Asia, namely Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also put out a tweet congratulating all south asian countries.He also praised the ISRO scientists for achieving this remarkable feat.The lift-off mass is around 2,230 Kg, including both the launch vehicle and the satellite.
India is set to launch its GSLV F-09 rocket today, which will carry the South Asia satellite into orbit. The GSAT-9 satellite, or the South Asia satellite as it is called, comes as a gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the neighbouring countries of India.The GSLV rocket is set to take off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 4:57 pm today. ISRO had started a 28-hour countdown for the launch on Thursday at 12 pm.Previously, the Geostationary Communication Satellite was aimed at helping all the SAARC nations gain increased communication in the region. However, Afghanistan and Pakistan pulled out of the mission and hence, the satellite will now serve 5 countries in South Asia, namely Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka.The entire mission is funded completely by India, with the total cost for the mission reaching up to Rs 235 Crore.The lift-off mass is estimated to be around 2,230 Kg, including both the launch vehicle and the satellite. The mission is expected to last for 12 years.The main goal of the GSAT-9 satellite is to provide communication channels and hence meet the telecommunication needs of the participating nations. All the participating nations will have access to data from the satellite and will have to build their own ground infrastructure to further deploy the data.
The Brussels tourism office is dispatching a special delegation of Smurf ambassadors as part of a major tourism campaign aimed at bringing back tourists following last year's terrorist attack.



Dubbed "Where will Brussels take you?" the tourism offensive is meant to boost lagging visitor numbers following the terror attacks which killed 32 people at the Brussels airport and metro station last spring.



"Numerous actions were undertaken immediately after the attacks and have yielded positive results," said Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President in a statement.



"We have witnessed a very clear recovery of tourism in Brussels at the beginning of the year. The campaign 'Where will Brussels take you?' represents an additional effort and aims at revealing our region's hidden secrets -- the best and most remarkable of what Brussels has to offer."



The campaign was launched simultaneously in cities across Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK this week, with the assistance of the Brussels-born blue inhabitants who were dispatched to promote their city.



An online platform called takemeto.brussels has also been launched to help visitors personalize their trip. The site offers recommendations on the best restaurants, Instagram-worthy sites, museums for kids, best coffee and wine bars.



As part of the promotional campaign, the tourism office is also giving away a city break to Brussels every week, which includes accommodation and transportation within Europe.



The campaign ends Oct. 31, 2017.
Scholars and experts hand-picked by Beijing to work on the project say only they will be able to make entries  the latest example of the Chinese government's efforts to control information available on the internet.

The online Chinese Encyclopedia will focus primarily on entries that are less likely to change as opposed to recent events, and with academic value, "while also trying to strike a balance between that, being timely and what people are searching for," she said. She declined to comment on how events that are politically sensitive in China, like the Cultural Revolution and the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, would be treated.

Wikipedia is edited and maintained by hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world, and has more than 40 million articles encompassing nearly 300 languages. More than 900,000 entries are in Chinese, compared with more than 5 million in English.

To create the history of science and technology entries, Zhang said professors from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Natural Sciences first hold meetings with veterans and young experts in their fields to form a committee. The committee will then find the most authoritative person on the topic to write the draft, including sometimes foreign experts, said Zhang, who is director of the institute.

:It'll be free. It'll be uniquely Chinese. It'll be an online encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia  but without the participation of the public. And don't expect entries on "Tiananmen Square 1989" or "Falun Gong spiritual group" to come up in your searches, either.The scholars say truth is their guiding light, and their editing and review process is a rigorous one. If there is a difference of opinion, a committee should figure it out, said Zhang Baichun, chief editor of the history of science and technology section."Of course, science does not come from democratic votes, to convince others you will have to present the most convincing proof," he told The Associated Press.The effort to compile 300,000 entries that span science, literature, politics and history is being led by the ruling Communist Party's central propaganda department, which guides public opinion through instructions to China's media, internet companies and publishing industry as well as overseeing the education sector. They have instructed the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, known for its offline Chinese Encyclopedia, to produce it.The ruling party has struggled to manage public opinion in the internet age, when citizens can comment on news and topics of outrage and post photos of protests on social media  at least until such messages are scrubbed away or rendered unsearchable by censors. China also regularly blocks overseas sites including Facebook and Twitter, and has periodically blocked Wikipedia's English and Chinese versions. Currently, the Chinese Wikipedia is inaccessible in the mainland.Jiang Lijun, senior editor at the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, said Thursday that they plan to have entries on political leaders, the history of the Communist Party, and subjects including virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the European Union.Qiao Mu, an independent media analyst in Beijing, said the Chinese Encyclopedia would be "quite different" from Wikipedia because of the need to toe the line on political taboos."If it's not blocked in China, the publisher must accept censorship, either self-censorship or censored by authorities," he said.He said the encyclopedia would likely present a single, official version of sensitive historical events, and exclude items like the Tiananmen crackdown and the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual group, which "never exist on the internet."The publishing house behind the Chinese Encyclopedia is paying 20,000 scholars and experts from universities and research institutes to write entries and it is slated to go online next year. Jiang said initially the encyclopedia will just be in Chinese, but they are also doing research to see how viable an English version would be.Jiang said they met with a team from San Francisco-based Wikipedia to learn from their experience."There is Chinese content on Wikipedia too, but sometimes it is not as accurate as it could be," said Jiang.Jiang said that as Wikipedia's content is generated by users, they can create more entries faster. "But we try to eliminate self-promotion and inaccuracy as much as possible."Zhang, the professor of history of science and technology, said the online version will make it easier to reach more people, particularly young readers.The draft is reviewed by a section chief editor and then the committee."If there is a difference of opinion, all deputy and chief editors should participate in the discussion and figure it out together," Zhang said. "We will reason things out with the author until we reach an agreement, or change the author."
Speaking at the 27th session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group at the UNHCR, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that the Indian Constitution enshrines various provisions for the protection of the rights and interest of the minorities.

The Pakistan delegation raked up the Kashmir issue and demanded a ban on the use of pellet guns by Indian security forces. It also asked India to allow a UNHRC fact-finding team to visit Kashmir and review the situation

"We believe in peace, non-violence and upholding human dignity. As such, the concept of torture is completely alien to our culture and it has no place in the governance of the nation," the Indian delegate said.

"We have overhauled the legal framework for dealing with child sexual assault," he said, adding that India remains deeply committed towards reinforcing and accelerating the efforts towards combating human trafficking.

India is a secular state with no state religion and safeguarding the rights of minorities forms an essential core of its polity, said Mukul Rohatgi, who led the Indian delegation at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.Rohatgi was reacting to criticism from Pakistan over treatment of minorities. He said India makes no distinction between caste, creed, colour or religion of a citizen and the Indian constitution guarantees freedom of religion to every individual, PTI reported.He said the right to free speech and expression occupies its rightful place in the core of the Indian Constitution."As the world s largest multi-layered democracy, we fully recognise the importance of free speech and expression. Our people are conscious of their political freedoms and exercise their choices at every opportunity," Rohatgi told the member states.It also raised the issue of "mob violence" against the minorities Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits in India.On the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Rohatgi said the Act is applied only to disturbed areas and these areas are very few and in proximity to some international borders."Whether this Act should be repealed or not is a matter of on-going vibrant political debate in my country," he said.On transgenders, he said India has been at the forefront of recognising their equal rights. The Supreme Court gave a landmark judgement in 2014 directing the government to declare trans-genders a "third gender" and included them as an "Other Backward Class" entitled to affirmative action benefits.The apex court also reinforced that trans-genders should have all rights under law, including marriage, adoption, divorce, succession and inheritance, Rohatgi added.He said India has made significant progress in addressing the special needs of persons with disabilities through its Accessible India Campaign, and by overhauling its legislative framework on the rights of persons with disabilities and the rights of persons with mental health issues.On global warming, he said India remains alert to the problem and as part of the thrust towards fulfilling its people's right to a clean environment, it has launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan-Clean India Campaign nationwide.Rohatgi said India seeks to ensure inclusive development and the protection of rights of vulnerable groups and it has enacted a range of laws to address sexual assault and other gender based crimes.India has taken various steps to ensure a safe and dignified work environment for women and to facilitate their overall socio-economic empowerment, he said.He said India attaches utmost priority to poverty eradication and achieving inclusive sustainable development.Major initiatives like Smart Cities, Make in India, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao--Celebrate the Girl Child and Enable her Education, Swachh Bharat--Clean India, Jan Dhan Yojana--Bank Accounts for All, Digital India, Skill India, Start up India etc. mirror the targets of the Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals for achieving the 2030 Agenda, he added.(With PTI inputs)
Actors Michael Fassbender, left, and Katherine Waterston pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Alien Covenant' in London, Thursday, May 4, 2017. (Image: AP)
Appomattox Christian Academy is hosting a Wildfire Preparedness Day on Saturday in conjunction with National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day.

Jeannette Brady, a marketing and community outreach official with ACA, said while debris cleanup is ongoing in Appomattox after last years tornado, what remains increases the risk of wildfires.

Joni Organ, an official with event partner Safety Education Solutions LLC of Lynchburg, said populated areas mostly have been cleared of debris, and the risk of wildfire is largely in Appomattoxs wooded areas.

The [Virginia Department of Forestry] and [Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department] have really made a lot of progress in cleaning up the brush, she said. When you have a natural disaster, it takes away the empowerment of a community because youre really at the mercy of nature and the elements, and by collaborating  that right there is empowering.

That is taking the community and bringing everyone together and saying, We can mitigate the damage that our community suffers because of fire based on proven methods.

The goal of the event is to educate the public, Brady and Organ said.

The event, third in a wildfire awareness series by the school, is offering a visit with Smokey the Bear, a lumberjack photo booth, a Smores bar, a movie screening about fire safety, an escape room meant to teach attendees how to get out of a burning house and more, Brady said.

There will be two campsites set up, and one will be horribly wrong, and the other will be correct, she said. And families and students will be encouraged to walk through it and say, Okay, whats wrong with this campsite?

Organ said science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) will be incorporated into many of the fire safety lessons.

Were trying to help kids learn to respect nature and do the things they need to do to get out of fire situations safely, she said. And were also incorporating that to support their [academics].

Though the event is Saturday, wildfire season in Virginia ended April 30, according to a Virginia Department of Forestry news release.

While battling the 411 wildfires [this past wildfire season], VDOF firefighters protected 2,575 homes and other structures that were at risk. People burning yard debris and trash caused the largest percentage of these wildfires, and the second leading cause was arson, the release states.

For more information on the event, contact the Appomattox Christian Academy at (434) 352-7373.
The Virginia Legal Aid Society honored one resident Thursday for his work in the community.

VLAS works to resolve the serious legal problems of low-income people, promote economic and family stability, reduce poverty through effective legal assistance, and to champion equal justice, according to its website.

Jim Childress, of Rustburg, received the Marion T. Baker Award.

Childress was recognized for his outstanding contributions as a pro bono attorney, said Cliff Glickman, a grantwriting and communications coordinator with VLAS.

Childress was the chief deputy commonwealths attorney in Pittsylvania County until 2015, when he went into private practice, Glickman said.

Childress is the 26th lawyer to receive the award.
Bruce fights the Robins and the Alfred question is answered in Batman vs. Robin #3

Bruce Wayne's inner demons are weaponized as he fights the Bat family in Batman vs. Robin #3
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ERRORS IN SEA

Speaking at a press conference at the Ministrys Port-of-Spain office, Minister Garcia placed the blame squarely on the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), which is based in Barbados and which is tasked with overseeing all major national exams in the Caribbean including SEA, CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) and CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam).

Chief Education Officer Harrilal Seecharan told reporters that based on reports from monitors who visited schools, the ministry was informed that there were two issues identified in the exam.

In the maths paper we had one question where the dimension of a triangle was switched. In looking at the question, we found it would not have made a difference in which way the student utilised the dimensions. He continued, In the language arts paper there were two questions which required words to be underlined, to facilitate a response from students. The lines were left out and that would have impacted on how they responded.

Now these items in the exam will be dealt with by a standard procedure utilised by CXC, Seecharan said.

After questions are reviewed and analysed, there is a final process which moves the test itself to production and it appears within that process those errors took place, he explained adding that no one at the ministry sees the final version of the test and were only aware of these issues when the papers were opened at schools yesterday.

Seecharan indicated that CXC officials will be in the country today to take possession of the papers and the issue will be discussed. I want to assure the public especially students and their parents that those concerns raised with us through our monitors will be addressed and they can be reassured that no student will be put at a disadvantage.

The three questions will be removed from the exercise. The two in the Language Arts paper were one mark item and the other in the Mathematics was a two mark item. Seecharan said once the three items are dealt with, there were no other issues to treat with the exam. Lets say the test was originally designed to be marked out of 100, and if we take out two marks, it means 98. But it does not mean the student will now get 98 percent.

Once we use standard scores, the overall score of the student will not be affected. In other words it will still be treated as if they are marked out of 100 per cent. Seecharan said standard scores are used to place students, and whether the exam is marked out of 50, 60 or 98 it will not make a difference because the marks are converted to a standard score and will not impact on students overall score.

Minister Garcia said as far as the ministry is concerned the administrative aspect of the exam went very smoothly. There were no hiccups in terms of the physical accommodations, no hiccups in terms of supervision, the testers and assistant testers, supervisors, center managers all went well. The seating accommodation for our students also went well and the concessions that we gave to students who were in need of assistance, was also seen to, Garcia said.

Efforts to contact officials of both the National Primary Schools Principals Association and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) on several attempts, all calls went unanswered.

Several parents contacted Newsday to complain that students may have been affected by spending time on these questions which will not not be marked when they could have spent that time on other questions in the exam.
Headless body found in Ste Madeleine

Police said the unidentified mans. head was found near to the body.

Police said at about 10am, they. received an anonymous call alerting. them to the body.

They then went to Stanley Ville. Road near the Old Railway line. settlement, Ste Madeleine. Sgt. Sankar, Cpl Bacchus and others. searched the bushes there for. more than 30 minutes before the. headless body was found along. a gravel road some distance into. the bushes.

Police said the body was clad in. a blue t-shirt, blue jeans and blue. underpants. Due to decomposition,. the age and ethnicity could. not be determined. Investigators. said that the body may have. been at the location for over two. weeks. Anyone with information. is asked to contact the San. Fernando CID or the Homicide. South Bureau.

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Stop terrorising people for $10 a month

Why on earth is the Opposition going out there and frightening squatters about this tax, Imbert asked. Stressing that the issue of ownership must be settled first, Imbert said a squatter in his Diego Martin North/ East constituency would pay property tax of $20 per month if determined to be a property owner.

If it is the building alone, it is $10 (per month). Imbert continued, So you want to tell me you want to frighten a whole country for $10 a month and that is what they (Opposition) are doing. He said the truth will, come out in the wash, after the current valuation exercise is completed and notices are subsequently sent to property owners.

Al-Rawi said when squatters apply to the State for certificates of comfort, this is a situation, where the State acknowledges that somebody has a propriety right as a squatter. He said those people can then move from certificates of comfort to leases.

In those circumstances, Al-Rawi stated, The advice rendered so far, is that they will be entitled to pay taxes because you cant claim that youre the owner, be recognised by the State that you have an entitlement value and then not pay your taxes as a land owner or a property owner. The AG explained that people can acquire State land by way of adverse possession, if they have been in uninterrupted occupation of that land for 30 years. Adverse possession is a doctrine under which a person in possession of land owned by someone else may acquire valid title to it, so long as certain common law requirements are met, and the adverse possessor is in possession for a sufficient period of time, as defined by a statute of limitations.

In the case of private lands, Al-Rawi said people can claim for adverse possession if they have occupied those lands, uninterrupted for 16 years.

He said people who want to acquire lands by adverse possession, take an application to the court and the court considers bringing the land under the provisions of the Real Property Limitation Ordinance. The AG said this process allows these people to provide clear evidence that they are property owners.

On whether people occupying State and private lands for less than 30 and 16 years respectively would pay property tax, Al-Rawi said,  That matter I have asked the Solicitor General Department to consider. He said the matter is complicated and one must be, very careful not to run away with conclusions. The AG explained this is why Government has laid four bills in Parliament, that deal with the compulsory registration of all lands in TT. He said this, is going to have the method of verifying title for every single inch of land in TT. Al-Rawi said this is an Inter-American Development Bank project that, will begin in Tobago and make its way in declared areas, inch by inch throughout TT. He added, So the entire process of property tax is going to fit in very neatly to the system by which we claim title in TT. Imbert observed that under the Property Tax Act, State land is exempt from property tax. He reiterated that if a person is squatting on State land, that person owns the dwelling house but ownership of the land must be determined. Imbert also reiterated that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley never said squatters would have to pay property tax.

Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said after all of the determinations Al-Rawi and Imbert referred to are done, the issue boils down to the rental value of the property and the fear mongering tactics by the Opposition were uncalled for.
Students: Maths hard, English easy

But finally, after months of no cellphones, TV, or games...they were free.

I think number 41 in Section Three was the hardest, Justin Rambarran, 11, a student of Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School in San Fernando, told Newsday. It was about a runnerI think? They asked...I cant really remember but I know for sure that question was hard. Rambarran was not the only student to have completely forgotten the exam having just written it. It was good, said Joshua Hosein, 12, also of Grant Memorial. Maths was tough and somewhere in section three was the hardest but I cant remember the question. This forgetfulness was shared by other South students, hundreds of whom had already shed the burden of their heavy book bags and months of intense studying to flock to Chuck-E-Cheese at the C3 Centre in Corinth.

Studying for SEA was the most frustrating thing ever, said 11-year-old Angeline Sookeran of Penal Presbyterian Primary School as she blissfully knocked down pin after pin with a ball in Chuck-ECheeses arcade. It was more frustrating than chores at home. Now I just want to party and have fun, and finally I can get back my phone for the first time this year. The consensus among students yesterday was that English and Essay writing were easy while Mathematics - in keeping with the history of results coming out of the SEA examinations - was tough. Despite the challenge however, most students remained confident that they would achieve the goals they set out to when they began studying for the exam.

At the El Dorado North Hindu Primary School, students were greeted by Tunapuna MP Esmond Forde who took time off to visit the school and congratulate students.

Forde advised that the SEA exam was a stepping stone in their path to educational success. Students Ashleigh, Sanjana, Chelsea, Samara and Erin all agreed that the exam was fairly straightforward and the topics in the exam were covered during their intense studies led by Standard Five teachers Mr Rishi Ramsingh, Mr Vivek Mohan and Mr Ashish Deonarine
No decision on 2016, 2017 taxes

After he said there was absolutely no truth to media reports which claimed officials from his ministry said property taxes would be paid for this year and last year, Imbert explained, The Property Tax Act was subjected to legislative action by the former government where they waived the implementation of the collection of the tax up to December 31, 2015. He said the Act is the law and because of the Peoples Partnerships action, the first year for the collecting of the tax was 2016. Imbert continued, In order to make that not happen, this government will have to go to the Parliament and amend the property tax act to allow a waiver for the year 2016. He told reporters, That proposition that is outside there, that there is going to be retroactive application of tax is also part of the rumour campaign out there. Reminding reporters that his ministry is currently engaged in an information gathering exercise as it pertains to the collection of property tax for 2017, Imbert said, The law must be implemented unless you amend it. I can tell you this government has not taken any such policy decision one way or the other. He stressed that any decision to waive the property tax payment for 2016 will depend on a number of factors, including the countrys economic circumstances.

We are far from that decision,he reiterated. Imbert reiterated the property tax figures he mentioned at a Peoples National Movement (PNM) meeting to underscore that there is equity in the assessment and payment of the tax, contrary to claims made by the Opposition.
SEA parents beg for new schools completion

In the existing school, the ceiling could fall down anytime because there are no ring beams to hold up the roof. The walls are cracking, rats are overrunning the school and there is a sewer problem. Are those conditions fair to the children? questioned a parent yesterday.

The existing dilapidated school at Mission Road, Preysal, houses 362 students, 47 of whom wrote the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SE A) examinations yesterday.

Construction for the new school started under the previous administration, however, work came to a halt in August 2015, a month before the present government was elected. The incomplete structure is located next to the school.

A sign erected in front of the compound listed the Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) as the client and Pricemaster Hardware and Electrical Ltd as the contractor. It further stated that work started on April 9, 2014.

Every week, at least one child gets sick.

They claim it is because of normal sickness but, I believe that it has to do with the sewer and overall unsafe conditions.

It is also unfair to the 22 members of staff and we want the Ministry to complete our school, another parent said.

Despite the conditions, SE A students said they were relieved that the examinations were over and everything went well.

Student Lishel Broomes smiled as she walked out the school compound having completed the exams. Her younger brother, Leon, six, handed her a rose as she exited.

The exam was ok.

Grammar was easy. I woke up normal time this morning at 6 am.

To prepare for this exam I gave up watching tv , did pass papers and attended lessons on Saturdays, Broomes said.
UWI mourns Anthony N Sabga

In reflecting on his life and contributions, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal Professor Brian Copeland said, Sabga is best known for his acumen for cultivating business opportunities, but his legacy of generosity towards The UWI and the country as a whole will never be forgotten. In 1998, Sabga was conferred the honorary Doctor of Laws honoris causa, for his contribution to the entrepreneurial landscape of Trinidad and Tobago.

In the citation read at that ceremony by then public orator Professor Emeritus Kenneth Ramchand, Sabga was hailed as master entrepreneur. He was a man who defied easy generalisations about what it means to be successful, according to the late Michael Mansoor, former campus council chair.

All of us who know him, know that the concomitant of the lions bravery is his roar  a roar which can send shivers down the spines of some, though it may be a clarion call to excellence for others, the UWI said. Sabga and by extension the AnSa McAl Group have had strong ties to The UWI dating back to 1989 when ANSA McAL funded a building that housed the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre.

The desire to pay back the country for all the blessings bestowed to ANSA McAL was also seen as a motivating factor for the companys involvement with The UWI. The UWI also noted that in 2005, Sabga launched the far-reaching philanthropic initiative  the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence.

It is the only privately funded enterprise in the region that recognises and provides significant awards in the areas of arts and letters, science and technology, public and civic contributions and entrepreneurship.

In 2014, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the St Augustine Campus and ANSA McAL.

The event signalled a deepening of the relationship between ANSA McAL and The UWI with the launch of the Guardian Media School of Journalism, the Anthony N Sabga School of Entrepreneurship and the reopening of the ANSA McAL Psychological Research Centre.
Carmona hails reporters, disability advocates

Carmona, on Wednesday evening at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Portof- Spain, hosted a reception for regional delegates participating in a training seminar on The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities hosted by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

February gone it was 15 years since Daniel Pearl was beheaded, he said.

Since then, many journalists have died in their attempt to send messages to the world at large about mans inhumanity to man. He remembered the journalists who have gone beyond the call of duty by presenting stories of human suffering such as now unfolding in Aleppo, Syria.

Many journalists have died trying to do this. About Pearl, Carmona said, It appears, from what was said about him, that he was a beautiful human being who was decapitated.

This tells you that in life we all have to make a stand at some point in time. Carmona hoped ways would be found to recognise such journalists.

Also making a stand, he said, are activists for the rights of the differently-abled.

He hailed the work of such activists, including those attending the training conference. He said he hoped they would sensitise the Caribbean to the plight of the differently-abled and their loved ones, whom he collectively described as those who endure, those who suffer, family members, friends, colleagues, having a disability whether it is mental, physical or otherwise. Carmona thanked the evenings event organiser, his wife, Reema Carmona, saying they believe disability rights needs more attention including establishing equity in all areas of our society.
Jones P honoured at TTPBA awards

Madeira has worked locally as well as throughout the Caribbean as a print journalist, broadcaster, news editor and manager.

Jones P as he has become popularly known, was awarded at the 13th Annual Dinner and Awards for Media Excellence hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA). The event was held at Jaffas at the Oval in St Clair.

Madeira was also honoured for his contribution in other areas of communication, including promoting regional news production and content as well as in training and mentoring many who came into the business.

TTPBA president Daren Lee Sing lamented the realities of life in the media during a recession saying that it was difficult because advertising was the first thing to be affected during a downturn.

Now, I would like you to imagine waking up everyday and not being able to shake a migraine that confronted you from the evening before, and perhaps for the last six months before that  that is: Whats my masthead like today? Will it be a better seller than X or G or Ns? Will I make budget? If I dont, what are the next steps? What are my ratings if any? And how can they improve? Will I have to send home folks who have become family to me? Will I make payroll? The realities of life in media during a recession, places the world on your shoulders.

But yet, if we are smart enough, there is a silver lining that can see us navigate through these doldrums, and that is doing it together as one association. That is what TTPBA represents and why it is crucial to be onboard and rowing in the same direction at this very time. Lee Sing called for a few moments of silence to honour media pioneers who died during the past year. Among them were business magnate Anthony Norman Sabga; television personality Holly Betaudier and Mervyn Telfer.

Economist Dr. Terrence Farrell referred to the myriad of things that go wrong in the country and all the failures which are accepted in various sectors, asking why these things are allowed to continue, whether it was that the population liked it so.

He said sometimes people are placed in positions for which they have neither the knowledge nor capability, whether that position is a ministerial one or the chairmanship of a State enterprise. Farrell said sometimes these people do not know that they do not know.

Others, he said, accept the position because of the status it offers while knowing in their hearts they will not be able to accomplish much and set about enjoying the perks.

So it is not surprising that Trinidadians and Tobagonians do not trust their institutions - the President, Government, Parliament, Judiciary and the media. While noting that the media is mainly the place where other institutions and their leadership are held to account, he questioned who holds up the mirror to the media itself.
Seetahals family holds vigil outside courthouse

Its three years now that Dana was stolen from us. We as a family feel that loss so excruciatingly everyday although three years have passed, I can tell you it is no easier now than when it happened, Seetahals sister Susan Francois said yesterday.

Francois, her brother Omar and daughter Danielle, along with friends, including Senior Counsel Sophia Chote, held a small vigil outside the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court yesterday, where 11 men charged with Seetahals murder appeared minutes earlier.

The small group also handed out yellow roses to motorists along St Vincent Street.

She meant so much to us. She was sister, best friend, confidant.

We just wanted the public to know that this great woman, that we are so proud to call our sister, should be remembered. We are doing our part to ensure that what she did for everyone, not just for the country but all the personal touches she would have made, Francois said.

Francois said family members were attending all the court hearings and continue to expect and hope for justice. Im sure eventually it would come whether man made or otherwise, Francois said.

Yesterdays hearing before Senior Magistrate Indrani Cedeno was adjourned shortly after it began as one of the men, Stephan Cummings, did not have a lawyer.

His said he could no longer afford to pay his previous attorney and applied for one through the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority.

Another attorney appointed by the LAAA last week turned down the brief so another has to be appointed for Cummings.

Seetahal was shot dead behind the wheel of her SUV while driving along Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook, on May 4, 2014. She was returning home after a spending the night at the Ma Pau casino on Arapita Avenue.

A little over a year later, Rajaee Ali, his brothers Ishmael and Hamid Ali, Devaughn Cummings, Ricardo Stewart, Earl Richards, Stephan Cummings, Kevin Parkinson, Leston Gonzales, Roget Boucher, and Gareth Wiseman were charged with her murder
Farmers take Namdevco to task

Yesterdays meeting included all farming associations throughout TT, and farmers were more than willing to get advise on the best ways of exporting their products.

In this case, it was hot peppers and pimientos.

The Moruga hot pepper has been labelled as the best in the world.

Sookoo said there was an inefficiency within Namdevco in delivering information to farmers, adding that the entity needed to be restructured.

Sookoo said if she was asked, I would tell them to shut down Namdevco. Cumuto/ Manzanilla MP Christine Newallo-Hosein stated she was disappointed in the lack of attention being paid to agriculture in this country.

Farmers need to be respected, she said.

The farmer who hosted the event yesterday, Rajendra Phagoo, said he began his business producing hot peppers and pimientos 20 years ago.

He admitted that he was squatting as the State had nothing in place for farmers to cultivate lands.

Phagoo exports his own produce, as well as other pepper farmers, and always guarantees that they would get the best price for quality product.




Fate of the Senate

Is Being Decided:

4 Big Races Still

Too Close to Call
When traveling to unfamiliar lands, it pays to listen to the localsespecially when you're on the island of Komodo and they're telling you to stay away from the dragons. A 50-year-old Singaporean tourist who failed to heed that advice was severely bitten on the left leg after getting too close to the animals while they were feeding, the BBC reports. Authorities on the Indonesian island say the man, Lon Lee Alle, was taking photographs of the lizards and had ignored villagers' warnings. "He must have been too close. A Komodo doesn't like to be disturbed when eating," the chief of Komodo National Park tells the Jakarta Post.

The park chief says that to save money, Alle had been staying with local villagers and had been observing the Komodo dragons, the world's biggest lizards, away from the official area set up for tourists to watch the animals. The Post reports that residents were able to drag him away from the dragons, and he was rushed to a hospital on another island in a military speedboat. The animals have venomous bites and, in rare cases, have been known to kill people. The park chief says this is the first Komodo attack in five years. (A ban on treats "angered" the dragons.)
Just after the three-year anniversary passed marking the beginning of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan (where its still not recommended to drink from an unfiltered tap), residents protesting their water bills have been told to pay up or ship out. NBC25 News reports that after first posting shut-off notices, the city has now sent letters threatening tax liens to the 8,000 homes that havent paid water bills in six months or more. Residents who do not comply within the stated timeframe will be at risk of foreclosure. This comes after the recent ruling to end state subsidies to Flint residents, even though replacement of the lead-tainted pipes has only just begun, reports the Washington Post. The decision to pay water bills is not easy for residents who have been fighting for a solution.

Im failing them by paying this, says mother and water activist Melissa Mays, who struggles with what kind of example shes setting for her children by paying her almost $900 bill. But also being homeless would fail them even more. City officials say theyve been put between a rock and a hard place, claiming they cannot move forward to fix the water crisis without the necessary funds from residents and that they were legally obligated by city law to send out the notices. But Flint Mayor Karen Weaver hopes to find a better solution, stating, I understand its the law, but I dont like it because of the circumstances. We are working to see if any changes or something can be done to help the residents affected by this. (Read more Flint, Michigan stories.)
The family of a 10-year-old boy who died on a giant waterslide at a Kansas water park will receive nearly $20 million in settlement payments, the AP reports, citing court documents. The largest payment to Caleb Schwab's family, $14 million, will come from SVV 1 and KC Water Park, two companies associated with the Texas-based water park operator Schlitterbahn, according to the Kansas City Star. The rest of the money will come from the general contractor, the raft manufacturer, and a company that consulted on the 17-story "Verruckt" waterslide that was dubbed the tallest in the world. The waterslide at the park in Kansas City has been closed since Caleb's death on Aug. 7, 2016.

The settlements had already been announced, but the amount wasn't disclosed. The Star obtained the court documents after filing motions to intervene. The newspaper argued that the amounts paid by each defendant should be released to ensure those responsible for Caleb's death are held publicly accountable. Verruckt featured multi-person rafts that made a 17-story drop at speeds of up to 70mph, followed by a surge up a hump and a 50-foot descent to a finishing pool. During the ride, Caleb was decapitated, a person familiar with the investigation has said. The two women who took the ride with Caleb suffered serious facial injuries. They have settled their claims against the companies involved in the making of Verruckt. (Read more water slide stories.)
A full two weeks before graduating from high school, 18-year-old Raven Osborne will be getting another diploma from college. According to CBS News, Osborne will graduate Friday from Purdue University Northwest, then graduate high school in Gary, Ind., on May 22. On-campus college courses are a graduation requirement at Osbornes 21st Century Charter High School. Osborne began taking courses at a local community college during her freshman year, and after gaining an associates degree, decided to keep going, reports the Big Ten Network. Osbornes tuition and transportation costs were funded by a state program. She began balancing her coursework by taking high school classes over the summer to make room for harder Purdue online and on-campus courses during the academic year. But keeping up the pace wasnt always easy.

"Sophomore, that was the most work. I had five high school classes, four college classes," Osborne remembers. But she maintained her cool, with some professors at Purdue admitting they initially didnt know she was still in high school. She majored in sociology with a minor in secondary education. While five of Osbornes graduating high school class of 43 earned associates degrees, achieving a bachelors degree while still in high school is a first-time accomplishment in the schools history. Shell be returning to her high school in the fall, but this time as a teacher. (Read more students stories.)
The 23-year-old Scottish surfer rescued Monday night after 32 hours adrift at sea says he was prepared to die as he faced the prospect of a second night spent clinging to his surfboard, the BBC reports. "I was watching the sunset, and I'd pretty much made peace with it all," the Press Association quotes Matthew Bryce as saying. Bryce was surfing Sunday morning when "relentless" winds and tides carried him out to sea. He yelled at fishing boats for help but they didn't see or hear him. His first night at sea was "incredibly lonely and quiet." "I didn't think I would see sunrise," Bryce tells the BBC.

Bryce spent Monday close to passing out and falling off his board. As the sun set, Bryce says he "knew" he wasn't going to survive. That's when he was spotted by a helicopter 13 miles from the coast. "These guys were the most beautiful sight I had ever seen," Bryce says. The helicopter had been searching for Bryce for five hours, the Telegraph reports. Bryce calls everyone who joined the search for him "heroes." He's currently recovering from hypothermia and says he doesn't think he'll ever go surfing again. (Read more lost at sea stories.)
Teens aren't necessarily as in love with social media as they're portrayed to be. The results of an AP poll released last week show that nearly 60% of teens in the US have taken social media breaksmost of the time voluntary ones that last at least a week. Now researchers at the University of South Wales have presented findings to the British Psychological Society that suggest even what are perceived to be straightforward perks of social mediasuch as getting attention via likesmay not exactly elevate the end user's mood. "Although this is just a relatively small-scale study, the results indicate that the ways we interact with social media can affect how we feel, and not always positively," one researcher says.

To test this, the team reports in a Science Daily news release that it recruited 340 participants on Twitter and Facebook to complete personality questionnaires and then agree or disagree with 25 statements. Key findings include that people who go out of their way to rack up more likes tend to have low self-esteem and be less trusting of others, and that those likes don't actually lift their mood or how they see themselves. Previous research has looked not at more likes, but at more time, reports Medical Daily. It cites a study published in 2016 that surveyed 19- to 32-year-olds and found "individuals in the highest quartile of [social media] site visits per week ... had significantly increased odds of depression." (Young people average at least an hour a day on social media.)
ObamaCare is "dead," President Trump declared after the House narrowly passed the American Health Care Act Thursdaybut before he can sign the death warrant, a bigger battle looms in the Senate. Republican senators say they're going to craft their own ObamaCare replacement bill, and with the chamber divided 52-48, they're going to have to come up with something senators with views as different as Ted Cruz, Susan Collins, Rob Portman, and Rand Paul can all agree on. A roundup of coverage:

Republican senators have made it clear that they plan to write their own legislation instead of rubber-stamping the House bill, and they say they're going to take as long as they need, Politico reports. "Any bill that has been posted less than 24 hours ... needs to be viewed with suspicion," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, while Sen. Bob Corker said he "turned the volume off some time ago" and has no idea "what the House is even passing."

A big sticking point will be Medicaid expansion, with senators from states that expanded the program under ObamaCare fighting rollback efforts, the Hill reports. Nevada's Sen. Dean Heller and Ohio's Sen. Rob Portman are among those who've said they cannot support the House bill in its current form.

The Washington Post reports that other wild cards include moderate GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Bill Cassidy, who've already introduced an alternative plan, and the conservative trio of Sens. Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Mike Lee, who, like the House Freedom Caucus, favor an aggressive repeal of ObamaCare.

Republicans plan to get their bill through the Senate through budget reconciliation to avoid a filibuster to pass it with a simple majority, though Democrats warn that parts of the House bill violate the budget rules involved, the New York Times reports. "This bill is going nowhere fast in the United States Senate," Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, telling Republicans they "should refuse to follow their House colleagues over a cliff, reject repeal, and work with Democrats to improve our health care system in a bipartisan way."

Some analysts predict that the Senate will be ready to vote on its bill by summertime, but senators have declined to provide a timeline. "When we get 51 senators, we'll vote," said Sen. John Cornyn.

Reuters reports that unlike House lawmakers, senators will be waiting for health care legislation to be scored by the Congressional Budget Office before they vote on it.

The Wall Street Journal looks at how the health care system would be affected in the unlikely event that the Senate passes the House bill as is. Winners would include health insurers and high earners, while hospitals, Medicaid users, and many people with pre-existing conditions would take a hit.

(Read more American Health Care Act stories.)
If Trayvon Martin were alive today, he would be 22 and perhaps preparing this month for his college commencement. One Florida school is giving his parents the honor of accepting a degree for him. CNN reports that Florida Memorial University will bestow a posthumous bachelor's degree in aeronautical science as a nod to Trayvon's "obvious love of flying," per a university spokeswoman. His parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fultonan FMU grad herself, the Atlantic reportswill be in attendance at the school's May 13 graduation ceremony to accept their son's degree.

The degree will feature a concentration in flight education, "in honor of the steps [Travyon] took during his young life toward becoming a pilot," per a Wednesday Facebook post by the school. CNN notes Trayvon had taken a few aviation classes while in high school. FMU also praised Martin and Fulton, noting Trayvon's dad has "committed his life to transforming tragedy into change" since his son was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in 2012, while Fulton "epitomizes strength and dignity as she uplifts other victims of violence while effecting change for a more equal and just society." Fulton returned the kind message, offering her thanks to her alma mater on Twitter. (Rapper Jay Z is honoring Trayvon in his own way.)
North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency is out with a doozy of a report: It says the North has "uncovered and smashed" a plot by the CIA and South Korea's Intelligence Service to assassinate Kim Jong Un. The North says the two agencies worked in cahoots with a North Korean citizen and an unnamed terrorist group on the plot, which involved using a "biochemical substance" on Kim, reports the BBC. The idea was apparently to deliver some kind of slow-acting poison, possibly at a military parade, that would kill the North Korean leader over the course of six months to a year. The report said the "terrorists" who were to carry out the plot had entered the country, but the North said it would "mercilessly destroy" them.

As for the traitorous North Korean citizen, the report said only that he had a surname of Kim. Pyongyang, of course, is known for its far-out claims, though CNN notes that South Korea has previously acknowledged having plans in place to assassinate Kim. Still, this latest claim is likely to be bogus and just part of the recent war of words between the countries, a professor at Tongji University in Shanghai tells the Washington Post. "There is no doubt that the United States and South Korea have been thinking about eradicating Kim Jong Un, but it is hard to put into practice," he said. There's no official reaction from the US or South Korea. (Read more North Korea stories.)
The Minnesota Department of Health has identified 34 cases so far in a measles outbreak, with a University of Minnesota infectious disease expert worried it's leading to a "gas-and-match situation" that will result in more cases and possibly even deaths, NPR reports. What health officials are worried may help along the outbreak, so far mainly concentrated in Hennepin County: a fear among local Somali-Americans that the measles vaccine causes autism. Measles was declared eradicated in the US in 2000, but it's still brought into the country by travelers, spurring recent outbreaks. The current situation a tinderbox, per Kris Ehresmann, the director of the infectious disease unit of the state's health department, because measles is such a highly contagious disease that its presence in a community that often lives in congested quarters and fears the vaccine is a recipe for disaster.

Ehresmann says health officials are trying their best to step up outreach efforts, which includes sending representatives to appear on Somali TV and radio and in chatrooms, as well as involving local imams in the conversation. What may also help spread the word: community members who've come around to the health officials' way of seeing things. A young Somali mother in Minneapolis profiled in the Washington Post explains how her two young children got measles this spring, her 18-month-old hospitalized for four nightsand how she now plans to encourage others to get the vaccine, especially those who attend local anti-vax meetings. "Because when the kids get sick, it's going to affect everybody," she notes. (The first US measles death in a dozen years took place in 2015.)
To a craft beer aficionado, the only sin worse than drinking a Bud would be if your favorite brewery sold out to the company that owns it. That's the situation that has fans of the Wicked Weed brewery now crying "treachery," per the Washington Post, which reports on the news that the Asheville, NC, institution has teamed up with Anheuser-Busch InBev "as a strategic partner." The reason for the move by Wicked Weedwhich the Citizen-Times notes was founded in 2012 by Walt and Luke Dickinson and friends Ryan, Rick, and Denise Guthyis, as Walt Dickinson explains, to stay competitive. A fellow craft brewery owner in Oregon backs him up, noting that his own brewery's acquisition by AB InBev offered him access to better ingredients and distribution.

But the buyout has craft beer fans livid, especially after Budweiser's 2015 and 2016 Super Bowl ads that mocked craft beer drinkers. Wicked Weed's Facebook announcement was met with angry and sad emoji, with "very disappointed" and "disheartened" just a sampling of the negative comments. Some of Wicked Weed's distributors and partners aren't happy, either, with Denver's Black Project brewery cutting its ties to WWnot because it doesn't love the beer, but because it believes AB InBev has "unethical practices" and "intends to systematically destroy American craft beer as we know it." Other commenters on Wicked Weed's Facebook page say they will remain loyal fans. "At the end of the day, great beer will win," Walt Dickinson tells the Citizen-Times. (Walmart recently took heat on the craft beer front.)
A Navy SEAL was killed and two other US service members were wounded in an attack on al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabab in Somalia on Thursday, say US officials. US Africa Command says the casualtiesincluding what is believed to be the first combat death of a US soldier in the country since 1993occurred as forces were "conducting an advise and assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army" some 40 miles west of Mogadishu, per Fox News.

A Somali intelligence official tells the AP that the mission was to raid a terrorist hideout, but forces were met with heavy resistance from al-Shabab fighters after a helicopter dropped them nearby. An official tells CNN that the soldiers came under small-arms fire. The incident comes a month after the US military announced that 40 additional soldiers would join US troops in Somalia to train and assist the Somali National Army in its fight against al-Shabab. (Read more Navy SEALs stories.)
President Trump's choice for Army secretary withdrew his nomination on Friday in the face of growing criticism over his remarks about Muslims and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans, the AP reports. Mark Green, a Republican state senator from Tennessee, said in a statement that "false and misleading attacks" against him had turned his nomination into a distraction. "Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain," Green said, expressing "deep regret" over the decision. Green is the second Trump nominee for Army secretary to withdraw.

The move to step aside comes after a video began circulating of remarks Green gave in September to a tea party group in Chattanooga. Green, who is opposed to gay marriage, said being transgender is a disease. He urged that a stand be taken against "the indoctrination of Islam" in public schools and also referred to the "Muslim horde" that invaded Constantinople hundreds of years ago. Green's withdrawal underscores the challenges Trump has faced in filling two of the service secretary posts. The president's first pick to be the Army's top civilian, Vincent Viola, dropped out in early February because of financial entanglements, and about three weeks later Philip B. Bilden, the Navy secretary nominee, withdrew for similar reasons. (Read more US Army stories.)
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New Delhi:

After Supreme Court announced its verdict in December 16 Nirbhaya gang rape case giving death sentence to all the four convicts, entire Bollywood has come out in support of the decision. Several bigshots of B-town including Sonu Nigam, Varun Dhawan, Dia Mirza, Rishi Kapoor etc voiced their opinion on micro-blogging site Twitter and hailed Supreme Court's verdict.

Sonu Nigam stated, "An emotionally apt consolation 2 Jyoti #Nirbhaya family though nothing can bring d unfortunate daughter back. Supreme Court of India, Salute".

An emotionally apt consolation 2 Jyoti #Nirbhaya family though nothing can bring d unfortunate daughter back. Supreme Court of India, Salute a Sonu Nigam (@sonunigam) May 5, 2017

Actress Dia Mirza said, "Justice has been delivered in the #NirbhayaCase. I hope that this verdict serves as a deterrent to the monsters in our society..."

Justice has been delivered in the #NirbhayaCase. I hope that this verdict serves as a deterrent to the monsters in our society... a Dia Mirza (@deespeak) May 5, 2017

Simi Garewal tweeted, "#Nirbhaya Hail to the Solomons of the SC! Only regret is the evil one got away...Rewarded with a new identity, money to start a new life", she said in an apparent reference to a fifth convict, who was a juvenile when he committed the crime.

#Nirbhaya Hail to the Solomons of the SC! Only regret is the evil one got away..rewarded with a new identity, money to start a new life..Y a Simi Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) May 5, 2017

Rishi tweeted, "Nirbhaya verdict. Justice prevails. Being in a civil society, in this case, 'Public hanging' was needed to set an example for an everyday menace."

Nirbhaya verdict.Justice prevails.Being in a civil society,in this case,"Public Hanging" was needed to set an example for an everyday menace a Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) May 5, 2017

Varun wrote, "Even hanging the four criminals is not enough justice but it should serve as a reminder that how India deals with this crime #Nirbhayaverdict (sic)".

Even hanging the 4 criminals is not enough justice but it should serve as a reminder that how india deals with this crime #Nirbhayaverdict a Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) May 5, 2017

Raveena posted her own picture with the victim's mother, and tweeted, "May her tears flow no more...May the mother's daughter finally rest in peace...May all evil know there is a price to pay."

May her tears flow No more..may the mothers daughter finally rest in peace..may all evil know there is a price to pay pic.twitter.com/6uuyAdg6bP a Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) May 5, 2017

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha said he did not endorse the death penalty, but believed that this "heinous rape" was an exception.

I never agree with Capital Sentence but with an exception to the crime of such heinous rape. a Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) May 5, 2017

Sonal Chauhan wrote, "Should've happened long back. No punishment is big enough 4these monsters. Bt better late thn never. Justice finally served".

Should've happened long back. No punishment is big enough 4these monsters. Bt better late thn never. Justice finally served #Nirbhayaverdict a SONAL CHAUHAN (@sonalchauhan7) May 5, 2017

Fashion Designer Masaba Mantena tweeted, "Finally!the only end they deserve.Kudos to the Supreme Court for this decision.May she finally rest in peace".

Finally!the only end they deserve.Kudos to the Supreme Court for this decision.May she finally rest in peace.#NirbhayaCase a Masaba Mantena (@MasabaG) May 5, 2017

The apex court today confirmed the sentence saying it had sent a "tsunami of shock" all over and was a "rarest of rare" case in which the most brutal, barbaric and diabolical attack was carried out on the victim.









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New Delhi:

After the veteran actor Vinod Khanna breathed his last on April 27, 2017, a prayer meet was arranaged in the memory of the late actor.

Vinod Khanna died at age of 70 after fighting a long battle with cancer.

Bollywood biggies like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhisekh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, Aamir Khan had been seen attending the prayer meet arranged to pay tribute and honour to the legendary actor.

Young fames like Athiya Shetty, Sooraj Pancholi, Kiara Advani, Mustafa and Naseeruddin Shahs son Vivan were also the part of the gathering.

Rishi Kapoor who himself was present on the meet was touched this time with the presence of a big fat numbers of B-town stars in the meet.

Last week, Kapoor burst out after spotting the absence of the young stars of the industry in Khanna's funeral.

Being ashamed of them the senior actor also posted a series of tweets to express his fury.

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

But this time it seems like the actor has again restored his believe in young stars from the industry.

Being delighted with the gesture of the B-town artists Rishi took to micro-blogging site twitter and wrote,"Thank you my film brethren for your solidarity shown towards the Khanna family. Hum mein ab bhi insaniyat baaki hai. Love you all"

Thank you my film brethren for your solidarity shown towards the Khanna family. Hum mein ab bhi insaniyat baaki hai. Love you all

 Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) May 3, 2017









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New Delhi:

Bengali actor Vikram Chatterjee, who was accused of negligence for a road accident that killed model Sonika Chauhan, has been granted bail by the city court in Kolkata. Reportedly, the actor was granted bail against a personal bond of Rs 1,000. Post his bail, Chatterjee assured that he will cooperate with the police in their investigation into the accident in every possible manner.



Vikram, who was himself injured in the accident, had reportedly surrendered soon after he was relieved from the hospital on Thursday as he was summouned by the police to appear for questioning. The actor was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304A (causing death due to negligence) and 279 (rash or negligent driving) by Kolkata Police followed by a complaint by Sonika's family. The model's family has alleged that Chatterjee was under the influence of alcohol which eventually led to the fatal accident.

Also Read | Sonika Chauhan death: Bengali actor Bikram Chatterjee is OUT OF DANGER



According to the media reports, the actor was accused of causing death due to negligence, rash driving and causing grievous hurt by endangering personal safety of others. Reprotedly, Chatterjee might end up serving a two year jail term if proven guilty.



Vikram and Sonika's accident took place in the wee hours of April 29. Reportedly, Vikram, who was behind the wheel, lost the balance of the car and rammed it into a shop on the pavement. While Vikrma suffered serious injuries, Sonika died on the spot.

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Panaji:

Goa Police charge-sheeted Maharashtra Congress MLA Nitesh Rane in connection with a 2013 case of vandalism of a toll booth in North Goa.

Pernem police on Thursday charge-sheeted Nitesh, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, and eight of his supporters under IPC sections related to rioting, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty and damage to public property.

Nitesh Rane represents Kankavali Assembly constituency in Sindhudurg district.

"The charge sheet has been filed before Judicial Magistrate First Class in Pernem," inspector Rahul Parab told on Friday.

The incident occurred on December 3, 2013 after Nitesh, who was travelling to Goa from neighbouring Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, was stopped at Dhargal toll booth near Pernem taluka in North Goa and asked to pay the entry tax.

Also read: Bombay HC notice to Nitesh Rane on petition challenging his election

Also read: Will clean Gujaratis who hate Marathis from Mumbai, says Nitesh Rane



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New Delhi:

It was a historic moment for India when ISRO on Friday successfully launched the South Asia Communication Satellite GSAT-9 from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Fully funded by India, it is touted as an invaluable gift to its South Asian neighbours. The 50-m-tall rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) carried the GSAT-9 called SAS.

The GSLV-F09 successfully injected the GSAT-9 into the orbit in a flawless flight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had called the GSAT-9 as the 'gift' to SAARC nations, on Friday took it to Twitter to congratulate the team of ISRO scientists and called it a 'historic moment'.

The Geostationary Communication Satellite was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 4:57 PM at Sriharikota, about 135 km from Chennai. The total cost to be incurred in the launch of the satellite is estimated to be about Rs 235 crore.

The satellite offers full range of applications and services in the areas of telecommunication and broadcasting applications viz. Television, Direct-to-Home (DTH), Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), Tele-education, Telemedicine and Disaster Management Support.

Here are the highlights:

6:02 PM

This will be helpful to provide communication services in mountain &hilly regions of Nepal: Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal



6:01 PM:

Sincerely hope that we'll be able to aside differences&work together as org that can fulfill hopes. Sabka saath, sabka vikas: Maldives Pres



6:00 PM:

Congratulate on launch, it signifies intent to build cordial relations&vision for cooperation with SAARC countries:Srilankan Pres M Sirisena



5:59 PM:

Launching of SouthAsiaSatellite signifies India's neighbourhood first policy: Abdulla Yameen, Maldives President



5:58 PM:

If cooperation through land is not possible, it is certainly possible through sky& we are confident that we will integrate: President Ghani



5:55 PM:

The launch of this satellite will boost regional cooperation & bring about common progress of our region: Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay



5:50 PM:



Development must become citizen centric. Today's initiative is child centred& women centred, it makes governance accessible: President Ghani



5:48 PM:

I congratulate government of India. Hope this will open a new horizon of cooperation in the region: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina



5:45 PM:

The gap between talk&action is bridged today,the imperative of regional cooperation is changed to the reality: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani



#5:30 PM: PM Modi addresses post launch of South Asian Satellite:

-Convinced that when we join hands and mutually share fruits of knowledge, technology & growth, we can speed up development and prosperity

-ISRO team has led from the front in developing the South Asia Satellite as per the regions' requirements and flawlessly launching it

-Space technology will touch the lives of our people in the region

-Through this we will achieve effective communication, better governance, better banking services & better education in remote areas

-Our coming together is a sign of our unshakeable resolve to place the needs of our peoples in the forefront

-Grateful to fellow leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka for joining me to celebrate this launch

-We extend our close links into Outer Space

-With this launch we have started a journey to build the most advanced frontier of our partnership

-A promise to extend the advanced space technology for the cause of growth and prosperity of our brothers and sisters in South Asia

-Two years ago, India made a promise

-Today is a historic day for South Asia...a day without precedence

#5:12 PM:

I congratulate the team of scientists who worked hard for the successful launch of South Asia Satellite. We are very proud of them. @isro  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

This will also greatly benefit South Asia & our regions progress.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

Successful launch of South Asian Satellite is a historic moment. It opens up new horizons of engagement.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

#5:10 PM:

#WATCH: ISRO launches South Asia Satellite GSAT-9 from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota. pic.twitter.com/wbANKY4yq2  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

ISRO launches South Asia Satellite GSAT-9 from Andhra Pradesh's Srikharikota. pic.twitter.com/59ElQn26n0  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

#4:57 PM:

ISRO successfully launches GSAT-9 satellite from Sriharikota

#4:50 PM:

ISRO set to launch South Asia Satellite at 4:57 PM

ALSO READ | ISRO develops affordable solar hybrid car for Indian automobile industry

The announcement was recently made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he was addressing the nation in his Mann ki Baat. The South Asia satellite is being built by India and will be used by countries belonging to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region.

While announcing the launch date, PM Modi said the capacities of the satellite and the facilities it provides will go a long way in addressing South Asias economic and developmental priorities.

Natural resources mapping, tele-medicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people to people contact  this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region. It is an important step by India to enhance co-operation with the entire South Asia it is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia, he said.

PM Modi had first announced the satellite during the 2014 SAARC Summit in Nepal. All the SAARC countries except Pakistan have since joined it.

Few key details about the South Asia Satellite:

# On May 5, the skies above the island of Sriharikota on the coast of the Bay of Bengal will be lit up as the Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) also called the 'naughty boy of ISRO' on its 11th mission will carry a message of peace like never before.

# PM Modi described it as a "priceless gift" from India, he said the project is a significant step towards promoting cooperation with the entire South Asia.

# The benefits will be in the areas of mapping of natural resources, tele-medicine, education, IT connectivity and people-to-people links.

# PM Modi thanked the countries which became part of this project. These countries, besides India, are Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan.

# South Asian Satellite will provide a significant capability to each of the participating countries in terms of DTH, certain VSAT capacity plus linking among the states for both disaster information transfer and also in terms of library type of things.

# The satellite was initially proposed to be launched in December last year but it got delayed.

# Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is providing this space-based platform that would cost the participating nations almost USD 1,500 million over the 12-year life of the satellite.

ALSO READ | ISRO's SAARC satellite GSAT-09 launch: All you need to know about PM Modi's pet project

# Prashant Agarwal, an IIT Kanpur-trained engineer and the point-person in the Ministry of External Affairs piloting the project, says, "Prime Minister Modi has actually extended his slogan 'Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas' to India's neighbourhood essentially to service the needs of the poor in South Asia."

# The nearly 50-m-tall rocket that weighs about 412 tons will carry what is now dubbed as the 'South Asia Satellite' or what the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) still prefers to call GSAT-9.

# The 2230-kg satellite has been fabricated in three years and is purely a communications satellite costing Rs 235 crore.

# The uniqueness of this satellite is that it will have a footprint that extends all over South Asia and India is gifting this heavenly messenger to its neighbours who according to India's assessment could be helped in better utilising these space based technologies.

# The South Asia Satellite has 12 Ku band transponders which India's neighbours can utilise to increase communications.

# Each country will get access to at least one transponder through which they could beam their own programming and there could be common 'south Asian programing' as well.

ALSO READ | Mission to Venus: ISRO's next ambitious project after Mars explained in detail

# Each country has to develop its own ground infrastructure though India is willing to extend assistance and know-how.

# The satellite will "enable a full range of applications and services to our neighbours in the areas of telecommunication and broadcasting applications viz. television, direct-to-home (DTH), very small aperture terminals (VSATs), tele-education, telemedicine and disaster management support".

# The satellite also has the capability to provide secure hot lines among the participating nations in addition since the region is highly prone to earthquakes, cyclones, floods, tsunamis, it may help in providing critical communication links in times of disasters.

# In this unusual message of peace, India's most hostile neighbour Pakistan has fully opted out. Rest of the seven nations part of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) are already on-board with Afghanistan still to ink the deal with some minor technical details still to be fixed in Kabul.

# Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to be part of this mission.



When was the announcement made?

ALSO READ | Chandrayaan 2 after Chandrayaan 1: Here is how ISRO's second Moon mission is different from the first one



# Just 4 weeks after taking over as PM, Modi on June 30, 2014 surprised the world while speaking to the scientists at ISRO in Sriharikota as he asked "the space community to take up the challenge of developing a SAARC satellite that we can dedicate to our neighbourhood as a gift from India".

# The proposal emerged directly from Modi and the leadership at ISRO was stunned into silence not knowing what this space animal will look like.

# A highly-impassioned Modi, who had just witnessed a successful launch, said "I believe that the fight against the poverty of the countries of SAARC is the fight against illiteracy, the fight against superstitions, the challenge of moving forward in the scientific field is the possibility of providing opportunities to young people of SAARC countries.

# Modi reinforced this idea five months later when speaking in Kathmandu at the SAARC Summit on November 26, 2014.He said, "India's gift of a satellite for the SAARC region will benefit us all in areas like education, telemedicine, disaster response, resource management, weather forecasting and communication.



Pakistan opted out

# Modi's sincere efforts got a jolt when even after participating in the planning meeting on June 22, 2015, Pakistan decided to 'opt out' from the proposed SAARC satellite suggesting that 'Pakistan has its own space program'.

# So the project was renamed to 'South Asia Satellite' but sources say Pakistan was not allowed to veto the development project. Meanwhile frequency co-ordination activities took longer than expected and the launch got postponed by almost six months.



Beneficiary nations

# Among India's neighbours, three nations already possess full-fledged communication satellites with Pakistan and Sri Lanka having been helped by China; Afghanistan also has a communication satellite actually an old India-made satellite acquired from Europe.

# Bangladesh is likely to have its first bird in the sky later this year made with help from Thales.

# Essentially, it is the tiny nations of Bhutan and Maldives that may benefit in the long run. Incidentally, Nepal has already floated a tender to acquire two communications satellites.

# Experts say "Pakistan has missed an opportunity" since its own space program is currently in a primitive stage as compared to India's.

# This is despite the fact that Pakistan actually launched its first rocket five years ahead of India and its space agency Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is older than ISRO.

# Pakistan has had five satellites in space but today lacks heavy duty launchers and satellite fabrication facilities.

ALSO READ | ISRO creates history by launching more than 100 satellites at once; PM Modi says 'proud moment' | Top Highlights



India aiming to counter China's influence in South Asia

# There is no doubt that through the South Asia Satellite India is actively trying to counter China's growing influence on its neighbours. But in the 21st-century Asian space race, China already has the first mover advantage.

# Better late than never is prevailing mood and for this unique space diplomacy it is almost certain that India is likely to get applauded by the world's powers for this one of a kind friendly confidence building measure.

(With inputs from PTI)

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New Delhi:

A Himachal-based Muslim IAS-IPS couple has decided to adopt Khushdeep Kaur, the daughter of naib subedar Paramjit Singh, who was killed and beheaded by the border action team of Pakistan Army.

Kullu deputy commissioner Yunus Khan and his wife Anjum Ara, an IPS officer have contacted the martyrs wife, Paramjit Kaur and expressed their will to bear the expenses of Khushdeep's studies and other things.

"Khushdeep will continue to stay with her family. We will be paying for all her expenses and meeting her from time to time to know about her problems and solve them. If she wants to become an IAS or IPS officer or choose some other career, we are there to help," a leading English daily quoted Anjum Ara, SP of Solan district as saying.

Also Read: Pakistan International Airlines to suspend Mumbai-Karachi flight services from May 11

Its very tough to alleviate the pain of the martyr's family but we are sharing their grief, said Yunus Khan.

"We would be there for her throughout her life to help her in making decisions," he added.

Yunus said that it is up to Khushdeep whether she wants to change her school or continue studying at her village school.

On May 1, Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh and BSF Head Constable Prem Sagar were slain by Pakistan Border Action Team (BAT) which sneaked 250 metres into Indian territory in Poonch district of J&K.

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New Delhi:

In an exclusive interview with News Nation TV, former Pakistani President and Army General Pervez Musharraf denied all the allegations made by the Indian Government with regards to operations at the Line of Control in Kashmir.



Here are the highlights of his interview:

# We need to stop blame game for a good relation

# 'Beheading' is just a cooked up story to bring down the image of Pakistan

# Our soldiers are well trained and deciplined and not indiciplined tribals

# Our religion does not allow us to take out eyes and behead the body

# There was no surgical strike

# We are not wearing bangles that you will punish us

# Do not take Pakistan lightly

# It's India which is creating mass hysteria

# It's India which has stopped Pakistani artists from working in the country

# Fishermen's issue should not be compared and both Pakistan and India must leave the poor people

# I am sick of the mass hysteria that has been created in India

# I am pointing PM Modi and the Government directly for creating the mass hysteria

# What will PM Modi talk about me?

# Pakistan has never supported terrorism

# Activity in Kashmir is not terrorism but Mujahideen activity

# Do not force Hindusim over our religion

# I know my voice is popular in Pakistan

# I am in politicts just because I see that Pakistan's potentiala and powers are not being used properly

# There is a substance needed for a good relation

# Our products, people and government are not being respected in India

# I believe that India and PM Modi are arrogantly anti-Pak and they don't have any peaceful solution

# Pakistan is unpopular just because it is not responding agressivly to Indians

# We shouldn't talk about 170 instaces of ceasefire violations in four months

# Everything has a cause even when it comes to ceasefire violation

# Why will terrorist carry identiy card along with them to attack India

# RAW agency of India is just making up stories

# Kashmir has a United Nation Resolution

# I will not believe on Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and his video

# People in Kashmir hate India

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New Delhi:

Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal while speaking at the two-day State Power Ministers' Conference said that "a final push" is needed to provide electricity to the 4,141 un-electrified villages in the country by 2018.

According to the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, in the next 3-4 months, "a final push is needed to electrify the remaining 4,141 un-electrified villages in the country."

"Further, the conference intends to forge new policies for achieving the goal of providing 24x7 quality and affordable power for all in the stipulated time...," the Ministry of Power said in a statement.

Also Read: Union Power minister Piyush Goyal dedicates four wind power plants to Nation

Piyush Goyal also mentioned about the last resolution taken in State Power Ministers' conference to provide electricity to every household in the country by December 2018. The last such meeting was held in Vadodara, Gujarat.

The minister observed that the objective of the current conference is to review the work done in the power, coal, renewable energy and mining sectors by the state and union territories' governments in the past six months.

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New Delhi:

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has the potential to become the Prime Minister of the country, said Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday, adding that the time was also right for a generational change in the party.

Praising the AICC vice president, the Punjab Chief Minister said he had always found "extremely perceptive and decisive".

There was a "deliberate" attempt to undermine Mr Gandhi's image by calling him names and he has potential to become the Prime Minister of the country, Mr Singh said.

He further added that the time was right for a generational change in the Congress to cater to the aspirations of the over 70 per cent youth population of the country.

Read more: Rahul Gandhi takes dig at PM Modi, says Congress believe in listening to people's 'Mann Ki Baat'

While killings and skirmishes had been going on for long, the kind of brutality we see now was not there earlier, the Chief Minister said referring to incidents along the LoC.

Incidents like the recent mutilation of the bodies of two Indian jawans were understandably provoking the wrath of the people and the Indian Army needed to counter such acts effectively, he asserted.

However, striking a note of caution, he said that in the long term, both India and Pakistan needed to think about peace and the future of the coming generations.

The Chief Minister exhibited confidence over the response by investors and industry to the change in dispensation in the state, saying his government had, in just six weeks, been able to build their confidence.

He endorsed his claim by adding that the Bathinda refinery was all set for a Rs. 20,000 crore expansion.

Our government had succeeded in creating the right enabling environment for the elimination of drugs, which were now becoming increasingly less available, as was evidenced in the spike in their prices, Mr Singh exuded strongly.

As the number of youth going to rehabilitation centres increased, the Chief Minister termed it as another indication that his government had successfully broken the backbone of the drugs mafia.

Read more: Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat: When farmers ask for their rights, police beat their women

However it would be difficult to wean youth completely away from drugs without giving them employment, to which his government was committed, Mr Singh said.

He further added that his government was going all out with efforts to generate employment, as there were 90 lakh youth in Punjab that is either unemployed or underemployed.

Referring to the state of agriculture in Punjab, the Chief Minister said his government was working to encourage farmers, about 70 percent of whom were small farmers, to diversify and shift from paddy to high cash crops.

Such small farmers, with less than 5 acres each of land, could not survive imposition of taxes, he added referring to a suggestion by NITI Aayog member Bibek Debroy to tax farm income.

However NITI Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya had said that the question of levying taxes from agricultural income does not arise.

Mr Singh also credited the previous Akali government in the state for creating surplus power.

He however came down heavily on the Shiromani Akali Dal leadership for the huge debt they had left behind, leaving the Congress government with no money to pay salaries or for development.

Pointing towards the education sector Captain Amarinder said that the state government was working to improve education and health in the state adding that without good schooling, higher education remained a problem, which was also reflected in the fact that Punjabis were not faring too well in competitive exams, including those for Army recruitment.

Read more: Lawyer objects to Navjot Singh Sidhu's appearance in advertisement, asks Punjab CM Amarinder Singh to discontinue him as cabinet minister

Without mincing words, Captain Amarinder once again repeated that Khalistani sympathisers sitting in Canada were misleading people with false information and he would not allow the peace and stability of Punjab to be destroyed by such elements at any cost.

While Punjabi language accorded due prominence, it was important also to promote English to enable the youth to find jobs in the competitive global market, the Chief Minister said.

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New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentences of four convicts of the brutal gang-rape and murder of 23-year-old physiotherapy student.

Terming the crime as brutal, barbaric and diabolic, the court said the incident shook the conscience of humanity and they deserved the extreme punishment.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, while upholding the death sentence awarded to the four convictsPawan Kumar Gupta, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh and Akshay Kumar Singhobserved that the DNA profile developed from the blood stains obtained from the iron rods was consistent with the DNA of the victim.

The apex court accepted all the Scientific and forensic evidence like DNA, fingerprints and bite marks analysis and this is how the fate of the four convicts in the December 16, 2012 gang rape and murder case sealed.

The apex court, which upheld the death sentence awarded to the four convicts - Pawan Kumar Gupta, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh and Akshay Kumar Singhsaid the recent advancements in modern biological research has regularised forensic science resulting in radical help in the administration of justice.

The DNA profiling, which has been done after taking due care for quality, proves to the hilt the presence of the accused persons in the bus and their involvement in the crime. The submission that certain samples were later taken from the accused and planted on the deceased to prove the DNA Must Read: Women security at stake: Nirbhaya Fund hardly utilised says Supreme Courtaspect is noted only to be rejected because it has no legs to stand upon, it said.

Also Read: E-portal for women employees to file complaints against sexual harassment

Justifying the death penalty, the court said, if the dreadfulness of the men who raped and inserted iron rod in the victims private parts, does not fall in the rarest of rare category, then one may wonder what else will.

Rejecting the appeal of accused the apex court said, the circumstances stated by the accused in their affidavits are too slender to be treated as mitigating circumstances.

The injuries caused to the December 16 gang rape victim by horrendous use of two iron rods by the convicts were so grave that death was an inevitable consequence, the Supreme Court said.

The present case is one where there can be no denial that the narrative is long, the investigation has been cautious and to bring home the charge, modern and progressive scientific methods have been adopted, it said.

The police had said that in a most inhumane manner, the iron rods were inserted into the private parts of the victim and the men had also taken out her internal organs.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel had claimed that the police had fabricated the story about the use of iron rods as neither the victim nor her friend, who was also assaulted inside the bus, had mentioned about it in their first statements.

In its verdict, the bench said, A victim who has just suffered a ghastly and extremely frightening incident cannot be expected to immediately come out of the state of shock and state the finest details of the incident.

In the end, justice prevailed and the entire nation along with politicians and film stars have expressed their satisfaction and thanked the Supreme Court.

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New Delhi:

The combing operations launched by Indian Army in south Kashmir are biggest in past 15 years. According to a report, cordon and combing operations of this magnitude has not been undertaken in Kashmir in the last 15 years.



The purpose of the operation is to exert pressure on militants and force them to move out of their comfort zone. The ravines and orchards around the Rambi Ara river (in Shopian) provide ideal hideouts for militants they will not be able to congregate and move in large groups now, a senior Army officer told Indian Express.



Army General Bipin Rawat on Thursday told media in Delhi that massive operations were launched by Indian Army after the recent incidents of bank robberies, attack on policemen and cash van loots by terrorist hiding in the region.

Read | Kashmir: Terrorists attack Army patrol party clean-up operation; civilian killed, 2 jawans injured



Here are some points which will highlight the massive scale of the combing operations in Shopian, south Kashmir:



#Almost 4,000 personnel, comprising of four battalions of Rashtriya Rifles, eight companies of CRPF, and five platoons of J&K police, including 30 women constables, and the Indian Reserve Police have been deployed to conduct thorough search.



#The operation started in the early hours of Wednesday when soldiers and security personnel, using Mine Protected Vehicles (MPVs) and Bullet Proof Rakshaks, moved into 20 villages in Shopian district and laid a cordon around an area of 10kmx10km.



#House-to-house searches were reportedly conducted in the villages of Sugan, Turkwangam, Heff and Shirmal, from where many youngsters are suspected to have joined militant ranks. Some residents reported seeing helicopters and drones over the area.



#The areas being searched fall at the centre of Yaripura, Pulwama and Kulgam from where instances of rifle-snatching from police were reported last week.



#During the operations, protesters clashed with police at Sugan, Drazpora, Malduor and Turkwangam, with four persons said to have been injured, including one with a pellet injury on his forehead. They also alleged that four persons were arrested during the security operation.



#According to reports, police and Army had received information about the presence of militants in the area, including some involved in the attack on the J&K Bank cash van in which five policemen and two private guards were killed on Monday.



#Army is also conducting through search in the apple orchards of Shopian as it has been reported that terrorists have used those orchards to shoot several propaganda videos to share on social media.



#Soldiers came to our village around midnight. In the morning, dozens of soldiers and policemen entered my house and searched every room. They conducted similar searches in other houses of our village, said Gulzar Ahmad, from Sugan told a news daily.



#The Army and policemen took us out of our houses and conducted searches. They inquired about the presence of militants and left the village late in the afternoon, another villager Abdul Gaffar Sheikh, from Heff, was quoted by an English website.



#Mohammad Akram Khan, a resident of Shirmal, said they had not seen such an operation in the last two decades. This is first time that such big crackdown was launched in our area, he said.



Is Army reverting to 1990s policies?



The combing operations of this nature used to be common in 1990s but due reports of discomfort to villagers, the Army switched to specific intelligence-based operations undertaken by small teams. However, Thursdays operations may indicate a shift in Indian Armys operational philosophy in Kashmir.



Combing ops were due for a month



Indian Army had reportedly had planned this operation a month ago. But could not carry it out due to unavailability of CRPF in wake of Anantnag Lok Sabha bypoll scheduled for May 25.



Once the bypoll was cancelled, police and the CRPF have moved from law and order mode to CT (counter-terrorist) mode. It has little to do with any immediate provocation, a senior official told Indian Express.



According to Army estimates, there are 100 active militants in south Kashmir, including around 80 local residents who have joined militancy in the last two years.

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New Delhi:

SpiceJet, the fourth largest airline in the country by number of passengers carried, will start direct flights to Patna from Mumbai, Kolkata and two other cities from July 1.

Besides, it has plans to introduce double daily direct flights from Patna to the national capital soon.

"With this new sector, the airline will now cover 41 destinations across India", the carrier said in a release on Friday.

From July 1, the airline would operate daily direct flights on Patna-Mumbai, Patna-Kolkata, Patna-Hyderabad and Patna-Bengaluru routes.

Read more: Pakistan International Airlines to suspend Mumbai-Karachi flight services from May 11

"The onward connections for the new station include Patnato Surat via Kolkata and Patna to Chennai via Hyderabad through daily flights", the release said.

SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh said the airline's extensive schedule for Patna would offer great synergies for eastern India while connecting it to the other key cities across the country.

The airline operates an average of 350 daily flights to 46 destinations, including 7 international ones.

Read more: Kingfisher Airlines employees say their main concern is recovery of unpaid dues

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New Delhi:

The fate of four death row convicts in the gangrape and murder case would be decided on as the Supreme Court would deliver its verdict on their appeals challenging the Delhi High Court judgement.



A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan would deliver the judgement on in the case that had shaken the entire nation's conscience.



The apex court had, on March 27, reserved its verdict on the appeal of four convicts -- Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh -- against the conviction and death penalty awarded to them by the high court on .

Read | 2012 Nirbhaya Gangrape case: SC likely to decide today on pleas of 4 convicts who challenged death penalty awarded by HC



Here's the timeline of entire case:



: Six men, including the 17-year-old juvenile, gang-rape a 23-year-old medical student in a moving bus on . The girl and her friend were returning home after watching a movie when they were coaxed into the bus by the accused who then beat up her friend before taking turns in raping her.



: Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar jail.



#: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) presided over by Principal District Magistrate Geetanjali Goel finds the juvenile accused guilty of rape and murder of the medical student, sentences him to 3 years in Special Home.



#: Supreme Court dismisses transfer petition.



#: Four remaining accused sentenced to death by Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna.



#: Delhi High Court Bench of Justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani upholds the trial Court verdict.



#: Supreme Court stays the execution of the accused after allegations of a denial of fair trial.



#: Delhi High Court refuses to stay the release of the minor accused, who walks free after three years in a juvenile home.



#: Nirbhaya hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph to hear the case.



#: Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae.



#: Nirbhaya hearing begins with a change in Bench. Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan to preside.



#: An interesting hearing takes place in courtroom 4.



#: High drama in the courtroom as allegations of police tampering with evidence are made; M L Sharma breaks down.



#: Advocate M L Sharma concludes his submissions.



#: Former DCP (Delhi) Chaya Sharma, who was transferred to Mizoram post the Delhi gang rape case attends the hearing



#: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions in Court, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside.



#: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Sanjay Hegde argues against the reliability of evidence in the case.



#: Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused.



#: Supreme Court decides to rehear the case on the sentencing aspect after the petitioners contend that there have been violations of the procedure.



#: All the accused submit additional affidavits to the Court.



#: Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case.

Read | Nirbhaya fund: Mere 16 per cent of grant used in 3 three years since inception

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described the launch of the South Asian Satellite by India as a historic moment and said it opens up new horizons of engagement among the countries of the region.

Hailing the scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for ensuring the successful launch, he said the satellite will greatly benefit South Asia and the regions progress.

Successful launch of South Asian Satellite is a historic moment. It opens up new horizons of engagement, Modi tweeted immediately after the GSLV-F09 carrying South Asia Communication Satellite lifted off from Sriharikota spaceport.

Soon after the launch, PM Narendra Modi addressed people along with heads of Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan.

Here are the top quotes of head of states on the launch of the South Asian Satellite:

# This launch tells us that even the sky is not the limit when it comes to regional cooperation: PM Narendra Modi

# I thank each one of you for your words: PM Narendra Modi

# May this initiative support people in all regions, enhance economic conditions & help eliminating poverty: Sri Lanka President

# This initiative will provide assistance to many priority areas of the region: Sri Lanka President

# It is an honour to congratulate you on this historic occasion: Sri Lanka President

# This will be helpful to provide communication services in the mountain and hilly regions of Nepal: PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal

# We extend hearty congratulations to PM Modi and Government of India. This will enhance connectivity: PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal

# 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', says President Abdulla Yameen

# We must work for common good, better economic opportunities: President Abdulla Yameen

# This launch is an example of India's 'neighbour first policy': President Abdulla Yameen

# Gives me immense pleasure to be a part of this occasion. On behalf of the Maldives my gratitude to PM Modi & India: President Abdulla Yameen

# This gift from India is an example of true friendship and cooperation. It will bring common progress of our region: Bhutan PM

# Launch of this satellite, our satellite, augurs well for our region and for nations like Bhutan: Bhutan PM

# My heartfelt thanks to the visionary leader, PM Modi for dedicating it to the common progress of the South Asian region: Bhutan PM

# Launch of the South Asia satellite historic moment for the world, it ushers in a new era of regional cooperation: Bhutan PM

# Betterment of our people can happen through fruitful engagement: PM Sheikh Hasina

# On today's auspicious occasion, I congratulate the Government of India (for the successful launch): PM Sheikh Hasina

# Happy to be able to talk to PM Narendra Modi & other esteemed leaders: PM Sheikh Hasina

# Development must be citizen centric. Today's development is child centred and women centred, it makes governance accessible: President Ashraf Ghani

# Through this cooperation, we have to work for the poor and the deprived: President Ashraf Ghani

# Convinced that when we join hands & mutually share fruits of knowledge, technology & growth, we can speed up development and prosperity: PM Modi

# ISRO team has led from the front in developing the South Asia Satellite as per the regions' requirements and flawlessly launching it: PM Modi

# Space technology will touch the lives of our people in the region: PM Modi

# Through this we will achieve effective communication, better governance, better banking services & better education in remote areas: PM Modi

# Our coming together is a sign of our unshakeable resolve to place the needs of our people in the forefront: PM Modi

# Grateful to fellow leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives & Sri Lanka for joining me to celebrate this launch: PM Modi

# We extend our close links into Outer Space: PM Modi

# With this launch we have started a journey to build the most advanced frontier of our partnership: PM Modi

# A promise to extend the advanced space technology for the cause of growth and prosperity of our brothers and sisters in South Asia: PM Modi

# Two years ago, India made a promise: PM Modi

# Today is a historic day for South Asia...a day without precedence: PM Modi

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Sambhal:

The practice of 'triple talaq' has been banned by a small group of Muslims living in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh at one go.

The 'Turk' group will also consider it a husband's fault if a case of 'triple talaq' at one go is reported before the panchayat.

However, it was suggested that in unavoidable cases, a man should utter talaq but only once and give time to his wife for things to resolve.

The decision was on Thursday taken in a meeting of the 'Turk' group, which has about 50,000 members living in 50 villages of this Sambhal district.

Read more: Triple Talaq case: Supreme Court permits Salman Khurshid to assist as amicus curie

Asrar Ahmed, who presided over the panchayat meeting, termed the practice of 'triple talaq' at one go as wrong and said the community has decided to do away with it.

"If it is extremely necessary, then a man should say talaq but only once and give a month's time to his wife", he said.

If someone divorces his wife by uttering talaq thrice, then the panchayat will punish him, Ahmed warned.

In a case of any dispute with his wife, a man should raise the matter with the panchayat which will try to resolve it.

The group had last month banned cow slaughter, and also the practice of demanding dowry and extravagant weddings.

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New Delhi:

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the decision of Delhi High Court in 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case and sentenced 4 culprits to capital punishment.



The four accused - Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh had filed a petition in the apex court challenging HC verdict of death penalty.

The three-judge bench, which gave the decision, was headed by Justice Dipak Misra and comprised of Justices R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.

After the verdict, Nirbhaya's mother expressed satisfaction with the apex court's decision. According to sources, the verdict was welcomed with applause by those present in the courtroom.

Meanwhile, the defence lawyerAP Singh termed the verdict against human rights, "We cannot give capital punishment to set an example in the society, it is a defeat of human rights. Justice not done, we will file review petition after reading the order."

The Government has increased the security of Tihar Jail where the four culprits are serving their sentence to avoid any untoward incident after the verdict.

Here is what SC bench said while giving the verdict:

#Nature and manner of the crime devastated social trust, falls in 'rarest of rare' category

#Victim's dying declaration is consistent; it has been proved beyond doubt and corroborated

#Justice Bhanumati quoted Swami Vivekanand on how should tradition enrich society with knowledge&understanding to ensure justice for women.

#Cannot believe that this kind of crime was committed in this world

#Justice Bhanumati said that there should be systematic education of children of to ensure how they will give respect to women

#It is a barbaric incident

#Taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committed by the convicts, we are upholding the sentence: SC

#Aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances: SC

#It is evident that they fulfilled their pleasure by the devilish manner she was treated: SC



Who said what: Reactions on the verdict

# It is a big day for judiciary. I am feeling a lot of relief after the verdict: Union Law Minister RS Prasad

# Many ups and downs came, I made them my strength. I was confident that justice will be done: Asha Devi, Nirbhaya's mother

# Even today after Nirbhaya so many women continue to be raped/humiliated and denied justice. I hope today we reach out to them as well, says Tehseen Poonawala

# Justice has finally been done and has brought a closure: Kiran Bedi

# I want to thank everyone, everyone got justice today, says Asha Devi, Nirbhaya's mother

# Justice delivered in heart-wrenching Nirbhaya case, says Randeep Surjewala



#Now there is no remorse, justice took time but it is served now: Badri Singh, Nirbhaya's father



#In principle, I am against death penalty, but this was such a heinous crime that strictest punishment was needed. Selective nature of the judicial process of our country is why I am against death penalty. What happened in Bilkis Bano case?: Brinda Karat,CPIM



#Delhi Police's investigation stands vindicated, its an important verdict: Deependra Pathak,Delhi Police Spokesperson



#After the verdict, Nirbhaya's mother expressed satisfaction with the apex court's decision. According to sources, the verdict was welcomed with applause by those present in the courtroom.

#Meanwhile, the defence lawyer AP Singh termed the verdict against human rights, "We cannot give capital punishment to set an example in the society, it is a defeat of human rights. Justice not done, we will file review petition after reading the order."

#I am happy that the verdict has been upheld though I wish it had come sooner: Maneka Gandhi, Union Minister

Justice Dipak Kumar is considered highly sensitive towards women-related issues. In the past, he upheld rape as depravity and not curable and recently, passed a woman-friendly judgement saying that "no woman can be compelled to love; she always has right to say no."

Six people gang-raped the 23-year-old Nirbhaya in a moving bus on December 16, 2012. Later, she succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Singapore.



Ram Singh, the main accused in this case had already committed in suicide by hanging himself in the prison. The sixth accused, who was a juvenile had been ordered by the court to serve three years in a reform house.

Trial court and Delhi High Court awarded death penality to remaining four culprits in the case.

#NNPoll: Should SC uphold death penalty to 4 accused in #Nirbhaya gang rape case?  News Nation (@NewsNationTV) May 5, 2017

Nirbhaya's parent sure that SC will award death sentence







Earlier in the day, Nirbhaya's mother said that she has full faith in the judiciary and is sure that the apex court, through its ruling, will give justice to her daughter.



"We have full faith in the judicial system and I am sure that the Supreme Court will announce death sentence in its verdict for the guilty. I am sure the Supreme Court will give justice to my daughter. This will set an example for the world," Nirbhaya's mother said.



Nirbhaya's father also said that he is sure of the fact that the apex court will award death sentence to the convicts.



"They will be awarded death sentence. Leave Supreme Court, even God will not forgive such people," said Nirbhaya's father.



Read | 2012 Nirbhaya Gangrape case: SC likely to decide today on pleas of 4 convicts who challenged death penalty awarded by HC

Here's the timeline of entire case:

#December 16, 2012: Six men, including the 17-year-old juvenile, gang-rape a 23-year-old medical student in a moving bus on . The girl and her friend were returning home after watching a movie when they were coaxed into the bus by the accused who then beat up her friend before taking turns in raping her.



#March 11, 2013: Main accused Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar jail.



#: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) presided over by Principal District Magistrate Geetanjali Goel finds the juvenile accused guilty of rape and murder of the medical student, sentences him to 3 years in Special Home.



#: Supreme Court dismisses transfer petition.



#: Four remaining accused sentenced to death by Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna.



#: Delhi High Court Bench of Justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani upholds the trial Court verdict.



#: Supreme Court stays the execution of the accused after allegations of a denial of fair trial.



#: Delhi High Court refuses to stay the release of the minor accused, who walks free after three years in a juvenile home.



#: Nirbhaya hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph to hear the case.



#: Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed Amicus Curiae.



#: Nirbhaya hearing begins with a change in Bench. Justices Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan to preside.



#: An interesting hearing takes place in courtroom 4.



#: High drama in the courtroom as allegations of police tampering with evidence are made; M L Sharma breaks down.



#: Advocate M L Sharma concludes his submissions.



#: Former DCP (Delhi) Chaya Sharma, who was transferred to Mizoram post the Delhi gang rape case attends the hearing



#: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions in Court, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside.



#: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curiae Sanjay Hegde argues against the reliability of evidence in the case.



#: Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused.



#: Supreme Court decides to rehear the case on the sentencing aspect after the petitioners contend that there have been violations of the procedure.



#: All the accused submit additional affidavits to the Court.



#: Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case.

Read | Nirbhaya fund: Mere 16 per cent of grant used in 3 three years since inception

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Seoul:

The CIA and Seouls intelligence services were on Friday accused by North Korea of conspiring to assassinate the isolated countrys leader Kim Jong-Un with a biochemical weapon, amid heightened tensions in the region.

In a statement the powerful ministry of state security, said it had foiled a vicious plot by a hideous terrorists group to attack the Norths supreme leadership.

The accusations come with the US and North trading threats over the latters nuclear and missile programmes, and as Washington considers whether to re-designate Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism.

That follows the killing of Kims estranged half-brother Kim Jong-Nam by two women using the banned nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur international airport.

Both Malaysia and South Korea have blamed the North for the assassination, which retorts that the accusations are an attempt to smear it.

The security ministry statement, carried on the Norths official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), said the CIA and the Souths intelligence had suborned, bribed and blackmailed a North Korean citizen named only as Kim to carry out the attack.

Also read: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspects military unit responsible for bombarding an island

Possible locations included the mausoleum where Kim Jong-Uns father and grandfather - the Norths founder - lie in state, or a military parade.

Such an operation would be extremely difficult to prepare and carry out successfully. The Norths leader is surrounded by tight security at all times, and Pyongyang maintains a gigantic surveillance system over its own population that is ingrained at every level of society, where open dissent is unknown.

The CIA told its agent Kim it had access to radioactive and nano poisonous substances whose lethal results would appear only after six to 12 months, the statement said.

Kim - described as human scum - received payments totalling at least USD 740,000 and was given satellite transceivers and other materials and equipment, it said.

He had multiple contacts with South Korean intelligence personnel, and an accomplice who had a Chinese-sounding name, Xu Guanghai of the Qingdao Nazca Trade Co.

Also read: US changes stance on North Korea? Trump says will be honoured to meet Kim Jong-Un

Checks on Chinas National Enterprise Credit Information system show that a company of that name was formed on March 7 this year, with a Xu Guanghai named as its legal representative, and business areas including chemical products.

No details were given in the ministry statement of how the supposed plot was uncovered, or of Kims fate. But in a potential sign of an internal purge, it said that the ministry will ferret out and mercilessly destroy the terrorists.

The lurid accusations come with Pyongyang and Washington at loggerheads over the Norths banned weapons programmes, which have seen it subjected to multiple sets of United Nations Security Council sanctions.

Pyongyang, which says it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against invasion, has carried out a series of missile launches and threatened a sixth atomic test, while the administration of new US President Donald Trump has said that military action was an option on the table - raising fears of a spiralling conflict.

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Seoul:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspected a military unit that was responsible for bombarding a southern island, state media said on Friday ahead of a presidential election in the South.



Pyongyang fired a barrage of 170 artillery shells onto Yeonpyeong island in November 2010, killing four people including two civilians in the first North Korean attack on a civilian area since the 1950-53 Korean War.



Tensions have soared on the Korean peninsula in recent weeks amid a string of missile launches by Pyongyang and speculation that the regime was preparing to conduct a sixth nuclear test, with Washington warning that military action was an option on the table to confront its nuclear and missile programmes.



The Norths Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim visited military detachments on Jangjae and Mu islets and was briefed on the recent movements of the enemy.



Kim looked at Yeonpyeong from an observation post and examined the plan for fire strike of the newly organised forces at the objects of the enemy, KCNA said.



The Mu islet unit was responsible for the bombardment of Yeonpyeong, which KCNA quoted Kim as calling the most delightful battle.

ALSO READ | North Korea shows off inter-continental ballistic missiles at Kim Jong Un birthday parade



The Norths artillery should should keep highly alert to break the backbone of the enemy once ordered, he added.



KCNA did not give an exact date for his visit. The North regularly issues threats of military action without following through on them.



But it carried out a controversial supposed satellite launchwhich Seoul and Washington say was a covert test of a long-range missilejust a week before the last presidential election in 2012.

ALSO READ | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un acting very badly after new rocket engine test: Trump



The two neighbours are technically still at war, as the Korean War ended with an armistice that was never ratified by a formal peace treaty, and the border remains one of the most militarised places in the world.

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Robert Parry Warns  The New York Times is Cheering on Censorship Algorithms

The 2016 Presidential election was a gigantic wakeup call for the corporate press in the U.S. not so much because Hillary Clinton lost, but because it represented the end of mainstream medias ability to seamlessly force feed narratives down the throats of a gullible and pliant American public. The marketplace of ideas had been flooded by the internet and the people made a decision. The media wars came and went, and the corporate press lost, badly.

(Article by Michael Krieger republished from LibertyBlitzkrieg.com)

The election of Donald Trump was as much a middle finger to the U.S. corporate press as anything else, and the corporate media didnt take too kindly to that. Rather than admit failure, refocus and compete within the freewheeling information age, the corporate media has resorted to endless whining and support for tech-overlord censorship. It simply knows it cant win a fair fight, so it has decided to cheat.

As Robert Parry of Consortium News explains in his recent post, NYT Cheers the Rise of Censorship Algorithms:

Just days after sporting First Amendment pins at the White House Correspondents Dinner  to celebrate freedom of the press  the mainstream U.S. media is back to celebrating a very different idea: how to use algorithms to purge the Internet of what is deemed fake news, i.e. what the mainstream judges to be misinformation. The New York Times, one of the top promoters of this new Orwellian model for censorship, devoted two-thirds of a page in its Tuesday editions to a laudatory piece about high-tech entrepreneurs refining artificial intelligence that can hunt down and eradicate supposedly fake news. Since the Times is a member of the Google-funded First Draft Coalition  along with other mainstream outlets such as The Washington Post and the pro-NATO propaganda site Bellingcat  this idea of eliminating information that counters what the group asserts is true may seem quite appealing to the Times and the other insiders. After all, it might seem cool to have some high-tech tool that silences your critics automatically? But you dont need a huge amount of imagination to see how this combination of mainstream groupthink and artificial intelligence could create an Orwellian future in which only one side of a story gets told and the other side simply disappears from view. As much as the Times, the Post, Bellingcat and the others see themselves as the fount of all wisdom, the reality is that they have all made significant journalistic errors, sometimes contributing to horrific international crises. For instance, in 2002, the Times reported that Iraqs purchase of aluminum tubes revealed a secret nuclear weapons program (when the tubes were really for artillery); the Post wrote as flat-fact that Saddam Hussein was hiding stockpiles of WMD (which in reality didnt exist); Bellingcat misrepresented the range of a Syrian rocket that delivered sarin on a neighborhood near Damascus in 2013 (creating the impression that the Syrian government was at fault when the rocket apparently came from rebel-controlled territory). These false accounts  and many others from the mainstream media  were countered in real time by experts who published contrary information on the Internet. But if the First Draft Coalition and these algorithms were in control, the information scrubbers might have purged the dissident assessments as fake news or misinformation. The Times quotes the promoters of this high-tech censorship effort without any skepticism: Algorithms will have to do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to fighting misinformation, said Claire Wardle, head of strategy and research at First Draft News, a nonprofit organization that has teamed up with tech companies and newsrooms to debunk fake reports about elections in the United States and Europe. Its impossible to do all of this by hand. The article continues: So far, outright fake news stories have been relatively rare [in Europe]. Instead, false reports have more often come from Europeans on social media taking real news out of context, as well as from fake claims spread by state-backed groups like Sputnik, the Russian news organization.

Beyond failing to offer any evidence of Russian guilt in these fake news operations, Tuesdays Times story turns to the NATO propaganda and psychological warfare operation in Latvia, the Strategic Communications Center of Excellence, with its director Janis Sarts warning about an increased amount of misinformation out there. The Stratcom center, which oversees information warfare against NATOs perceived adversaries, is conducting a hackathon this month in search of coders who can develop technology to hunt down news that NATO considers fake. Sarts, however, makes clear that Stratcoms goal is not only to expunge contradictory information but to eliminate deviant viewpoints before too many people can get to see and hear them. State-based actors have been trying to amplify specific views to bring them into the mainstream, Sarts told the Times. The key thing to understand about this push, is that it has nothing to do with fighting back against actual fake news, i.e. stories that promote total fabrications. The existence of truly fake articles is simply being used as a smokescreen to disappear alternative opinions from the public debate. That is the real intent of the fake news meme. With the myth of the American dream rapidly being exposed as a sham, the corporate press needs to be able to efficiently propagandize the public in increasingly absurd ways, but the problem is much of the public no longer believes its nonsense. How can corporate media push Americans to support things against their interests and better judgement such more war, billionaire worship, and the surveillance state without silencing the opposition? It cant, which is why it needs to marginalize intelligent and thoughtful people espousing a different perspective. I know for a fact that the corporate press doesnt care in the least about truth or fairness in reporting following my own personal experience with The Washington Post. Recall that last November, in the aftermath of the medias panic at Hillarys loss, the paper pushed forth slanderous accusations against 200 alternative websites including Liberty Blitzkrieg. For more on that truly deplorable episode, see: Liberty Blitzkrieg Included on Washington Post Highlighted Hit List of Russian Propaganda Websites. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (which couldnt find a bank executive to imprison if its life depended on it), is hard at work trying to institutionalize attacks agains the non-corporate press by going after Wikileaks and Julian Assange. As Glenn Greenwald observed earlier today:

Who wants the FBI & CIA Directors to be the arbiters of what is and is not real journalism? Apparently, many people do. https://t.co/YbeexhKuHG  Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 3, 2017

The battle against alternative ideas is truly picking up steam now, and the fight is happening on multiple fronts. Its not just through algorithms and the DOJ though, it is also very much an economic battle. Im sure you all know by now what is happening to political commentators on YouTube of all stripes. Their videos are being demonetized en masse. There is an attempt to hurt alternative voices through technology, the legal system as well as via revenues streams. We will lose this battle unless decent citizens of all political leanings rally around us to support our right to have a voice.

Read more at: LibertyBlitzKrieg.com

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DANBURY  With a child on the way and the desire to return to their suburban roots, former New York City residents Blake and Kiersten Winokur looked for relocation opportunities in northern New Jersey and Westchester County.

Then a unique opportunity came up in Danbury and, after visiting the area, they jumped at it. Blake Winokur took over the dental practice previously owned by Dr. David Maletzky at 53 North St., and rebranded the business as Rolling Hills Dentistry, to reflect the terrain of the area.

We thought about staying in the city, but realized with the things I like to do and the way I like to live, we couldnt do that in New York City, Blake Winokur, 35, said. We didnt want to be locked into the city and I didnt want to commute into the city. Im less than 10 minutes from work. It was a good move, but what I learned in the city will help me tremendously.

The Winokurs purchased a condominium in Danbury and are settling into the community.

What attracted us to Danbury is the friendly community, Kiersten Winokur, 31, said. There are a lot of opportunities to be involved in the community here and we want to do that. Everything fell in line, so we are lucky in that sense.

The couple got a good feeling from Danbury right away as a coincidence was discovered when they met with Maletzky for the first time. Blake was a fraternity brother with Maletzkys son at Tulane University.

Winokur previously worked at Central Park West Dentistry and Manhattan Dental Studio. He and Kiersten have renovated their new 2,400-square-foot space and brought in more up-to-date technology. He offers more dental services, such as implants, to eliminate the need to refer patients to other offices.

We are trying to create something that is more than a mom-and-pop dental shop in terms of services and having a professional feel, but not a corporate feel, Winokur said. Theres a niche in the middle we can fit into. We want to be one of the premier practices in the area.

Rolling Hills Dentistry will have an endodontist on staff in the next couple months. That is one of several ideas Winokur has for growing the practice. The size of the space was one of the attractions to taking over the practice.

The space was much more than (Maletzky) needed, but I like that theres room to expand, he said. By taking over a practice instead of starting from scratch we have patients right away. We have a base to start with and can expand from there. We have four patient rooms and theres room for six. We want to utilize all the space here. The goal is to not refer patients all around town.

Kiersten Winokur said the renovation of the space has progressed to the point where Rolling Hills Dentistry can welcome new patients. The renovation included updating the flooring, taking down wallpaper, adding a coffee bar, and bringing in new technology such as lasers, cameras and digital record-keeping.

The renovation paved the way for a small-town moment for the former New York City residents.

The painter is now a patient of mine, Blake Winokur said.

To reach Rolling Hills Dentistry, call 203-743-0783.

cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
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DANBURY  Third-grade students from King Street Elementary School got a taste of the inner workings of the judicial system during the annual Law Day celebration at Superior Court.

Judge Dan Shaban reminded the students that Law Day was founded during the Cold War by President Dwight Eisenhower as a counterpoint to the military parades that took place in Moscow on May 1.

Eisenhower started Law Day to show that our strength was not in our military, but in our rule of law as established by our citizens, Shaban told the students.

Students took a tour of the court. As part of the day, one student was even found guilty and taken into custody.

Judge Kevin Russo also explained to the students the importance of the 14th Amendment, which provides for due process and equal protection of the laws. It was put into place after the Civil War.

Despite freeing the slaves, many states still tried to bring people back into slavery, by preventing them from doing such things as getting married or owning land, Russo said. We needed to make sure that everyone in the country was being treated equally.

Connecticut was the first state in the union to ratify this amendment.

The morning included an annual award presentation by the Danbury Bar Association.

Det. Roger Brooks, who served with the police department for more than three decades and retired earlier this week, was honored with the Liberty Bell Award of his lifetime of service to law enforcement.

Lisa Rivas, an attorney with Cramer and Anderson, was given the Pro Bono Award for her work providing free legal services to the immigrant community this year, including weekly sessions at the Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury.

Lisa has worked night and weekends advising new comers to this country about their rights and how to seek citizenship, said attorney Dan Casagrande, who presented the award.

Students with Immaculate High School received the Mock Trial Award for co-winning the citys annual mock trial competition.

dperrefort@newstimes.com
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NEW FAIRFIELD - A man identified as the the prime suspect in the suspicious death of a local woman earlier this week was arraigned Friday on a larceny charge in Danbury Superior Court.

Authorities said Steven Flood, 32, became a person of interest soon after Susan Guido was found dead Tuesday in the home she rented on Candlewood Drive. Court officials confirmed Friday that he is the main suspect in her death.

Its unclear how Guido died, as autopsy results have not been released. But police have said the manner in which she was found and injuries noted to her body were suspicious in nature.

About noon Thursday, state troopers searching for Flood found him camping in the woods in Union, a town on the Massachusetts border in the northeastern part of the state. He was driving the victims car, police said, and was taken into custody on a third-degree larceny charge.

Assistant States Attorney Sharmese Hodge asked for a $1 million bond during Floods arraignment Friday, saying he is the prime suspect in Guidos death and that he poses a significant flight risk, owing to the severity of the potential charges against him.

She added, however, that if no probable cause is found connecting him to the death, she would accept a lower bond in the case.

Judge Dan Shaban set Floods bond at $100,000, noting that he faces only a larceny charge at present. The public defenders office, which represented Flood during the arraignment, said he suffers from a disability and requested that he get medical attention while in jail.

State police listed Floods address as the same Candlewood Road address where Guidos body was found Tuesday morning. Other records list addresses for Flood in Bethel, South Salem and Carmel. N.Y.

A neighbor told the News-Times earlier this week that a man and woman had moved into the Candlewood Drive house in early January. An attorney for the family that owns the property confirmed that the property was rented to a woman several months ago.

A Facebook account bearing Steven Floods name and photos identified him as a former security guard and veterinarians assistant who lives and works in New York and Connecticut.

Flood is expected to appear again in court on June 2.

dperrefort@newstimes.com
New law would provide immunity from simple possession charges for those who call 911 in the case of an overdose



OTTAWA, May 4, 2017 /CNW/ - Opioid overdoses are claiming the lives of thousands of Canadians of all ages, and from all walks of life. The impact of the opioid crisis continues to be devastating to individuals, families and communities. Many of these deaths are preventable if medical attention is received quickly, but evidence shows that witnesses to an overdose often do not call 911 for fear of police involvement. This is why the Government of Canada has taken action to encourage and protect people who are witnessing an overdose so they can seek help, and ultimately, save lives.

The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice, announced today that the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act received Royal Assent and became law. The Act provides an exemption from charges of simple possession of a controlled substance as well as from charges concerning a pre-trial release, probation order, conditional sentence or parole violations related to simple possession for people who call 911 for themselves or another person suffering an overdose, as well as anyone who is at the scene when emergency help arrives.

The Act was originally introduced as a Private Member's Bill by MP Ron McKinnon, the original Bill sponsor and Member of Parliament for Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam.

Drug addiction is an illness that requires care and compassion like any other health condition. The Government of Canada recognizes the dedication of first responders as key players on the front line in addressing the opioid crisis. Over the past year, the federal government has been building a new approach to drug policy by working collaboratively with communities, provinces, territories and key stakeholders, including addiction experts, the medical community, first responders, Indigenous groups, non-governmental organizations, as well as Canadians with lived experience.

The Government of Canada is committed to implementing a comprehensive, collaborative, compassionate and evidence-based response to Canada's opioid crisis. For more information on what the Government of Canada is doing to combat the opioid crisis, please visit Canada.ca/opioids.

Quick Facts

In December 2016 , the Government of Canada announced the new Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy, which reinstates harm reduction as a core pillar of Canada's drug policy.

, the Government of announced the new Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy, which reinstates harm reduction as a core pillar of drug policy. The new strategy is supported by Bill C-37, which proposes to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Customs Act to better equip both health and law enforcement officials to reduce the harms associated with drug use in Canada .

and the to better equip both health and law enforcement officials to reduce the harms associated with drug use in . The Bill would streamline the application process for supervised consumption sites in Canada and allow border officers to open international mail of any weight, should they have reasonable grounds to suspect the item may contain prohibited, controlled or regulated goods.

and allow border officers to open international mail of any weight, should they have reasonable grounds to suspect the item may contain prohibited, controlled or regulated goods. Other proposed amendments would make it a crime to possess or transport anything intended to be used to produce a controlled substances (such as pill presses), allow for temporary scheduling of new psychoactive substances and support faster and safer disposal of seized chemicals and other dangerous substances.

The passing of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act complements the Government's new drug strategy, as well as ongoing federal action on opioids and the Joint Statement of Action to Address the Opioid Crisis signed at the Opioid Summit in Ottawa last November.

Quotes

"During an overdose, a call to 911 can often be the difference between life and death. We hope that this new law, and the legal protection it offers, will help encourage those who experience or witness an overdose to make that important call, and save a life."

The Honourable Jane Philpott

Minister of Health

"Protecting the lives of Canadians is our most important priority. This law ensures that you can call for help when someone is having a drug overdose and stay to provide them support until emergency responders arrive with guaranteed immunity from charges for simple possession of illegal drugs as well as certain related charges."

Ralph Goodale

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Associated Links

Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act

Backgrounder - The New Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy

Opioid Action Plan

Joint Statement of Action to Address the Opioid Crisis

SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Andrew MacKendrick, Office of Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, 613-957-0200; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983; Public Inquiries: 613-957-2991, 1-866 225-0709
MONTREAL, May 4, 2017 /CNW/ - HNZ Group Inc. (TSX: HNZ) (the "Corporation") will release its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017 on Thursday, May 11, 2017, after market close.

The HNZ Group Inc. conference call will take place Friday, May 12, 2017 at 2:00 pm (ET) to review the financial results. To participate in this conference call, please dial one of the following numbers approximately five minutes prior to commencement.

Local number: 514-807-9895 (Montreal)

Toll free number: 1-888-231-8191

Please state that you are participating in the HNZ Group Inc. call. Should you be unable to participate, an instant replay will be available until May 19, 2017 by dialing:

Local number: 416-849-0833 (Toronto) or 514-807-9274 (Montreal)

Toll free number: 1-855-859-2056

Access code: 10742211

ABOUT HNZ GROUP INC.

The Corporation is an international provider of helicopter transportation and related support services with operations in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Southeast Asia and Antarctica. The Corporation operates in excess of 115 helicopters to support offshore and onshore charter activities under a number of different brands. Offshore operations are provided under the Norsk brand in Norway and HNZ elsewhere in the world, while onshore charter operations are under the Canadian Helicopters brand in Canada, Acasta in Northern Canada and the HNZ brand in Asia-Pacific and Antarctica. Clients consist of multinational companies and government agencies including offshore and onshore oil and gas, mineral exploration, military support, hydro and utilities, forest management, construction, air ambulance and search and rescue. In addition to charter services, it provides ancillary services which include third-party repair and maintenance services and flight training including the internationally recognized HNZ Topflight advanced training center in Penticton, British Columbia. The Corporation is headquartered near Montreal, Canada and employs approximately 600 personnel from 37 locations around the world.

SOURCE HNZ Group Inc.

For further information: HNZ Group Inc., Matthew Wright, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, Tel: 780-429-6903

Related Links

http://hnz.com/


/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

MIRAMICHI, NB, May 5, 2017 /CNW/ - SLAM Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: SXL) (the "Company") announces that further to its news release dated April 13, 2017, the Company has closed the first tranche of the Private Placement for 1,400,000 Units at a price of $0.05 per Unit and 2,020,000 FT Units at a price of $0.055 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of $181,100. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one Warrant. Note the terms of the FT Units have been amended. Each FT Unit is priced at $0.055 (not $0.05) and is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company issued on a "flow-through" basis and one Warrant (not one-half of one Warrant) issued on a "non-flow-through" basis. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one non-flow-through common share at a price of $0.10 for a period of 24 months, expiring on May 4, 2019. The Units and FT Units are subject to a four-month and one day hold period expiring on September 5, 2017.

The first tranche Private Placement is subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Michael Taylor and Eugene Beukman, Directors of the Company, subscribed, either directly and/or indirectly, for an aggregate 200,000 FT Units and 400,000 Units, constituting related party transactions pursuant to the TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("M1 61-101"). The Company relied on Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 for exemptions from the formal valuation requirement and Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for exemptions from the minority shareholder approval requirement of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transactions did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

Proceeds received from the Units will be used for general corporate purposes. Proceeds received from the FT Units will be used to fund exploration on SLAM's gold and base metal projects in New Brunswick. The main focus is the Menneval gold project where SLAM intends to continue its program to extract and process a 2,000 tonne bulk sample from the high grade Maisie gold vein. The Company also intends to complete preliminary work that may include trenching and diamond drilling on its wholly owned Connector and Lower 44 zinc-lead-silver properties.

About SLAM Exploration Ltd:

SLAM is a project generating Resource Company with a portfolio of gold, base metal and lithium projects in the mineral-rich Province of New Brunswick where SLAM's main focus is the wholly-owned Menneval gold project. SLAM holds an NSR royalty on the Superjack and Nash Creek zinc-lead-copper-silver deposits and owns a portfolio of base metal properties in the Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC"). The Company is utilizing its extensive BMC mineral database to explore and develop properties such as the recently acquired Connector and Lower 44 projects in this historic mineral region. SLAM also owns the Cumberland lithium project in southeastern New Brunswick as well as the Reserve Creek and Miminiska gold projects in Ontario. Additional information about SLAM and its projects is available at www.slamexploration.com or from SEDAR filings at www.sedar.com. Follow us on twitter @SLAMGold.

Qualifying Statements: Mike Taylor, P.Geo. President and CEO of SLAM Exploration Ltd., as the Qualified Person, approves the scientific and technical disclosure in the news release.

Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information, including statements that address the Private Placement, the closing of the Private Placement, future production, reserve potential, exploration and development activities and events or developments that the Company expects. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. There are a number of risk factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those described herein. Information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SEDAR: 00012459E

SOURCE SLAM EXPLORATION LTD.

For further information: Mike Taylor, President & CEO, Contact: 506-623-8960, [email protected]; Eugene Beukman, CFO, Contact: 604-687-2038, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.slamexploration.com


I have decided to write in this vein in view of the surprising announcement by the General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, to his congregation last Sunday that he would Todays piece is a departure from my usual articles. The above quote taken from the Holy Book is a clear indication of where I am going, moving away from my usual secular writings.I have decided to write in this vein in view of the surprising announcement by the General Overseer of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, to his congregation last Sunday that he would relocate his ministry from his country of birth to Israel , the home of Christianity. He said he had held meetings with three prominent Israeli mayors of Jerusalem, Tiberias and the Jordan valley and he had been offered land in an area around the biblical site of the Sea of Galilee to organise meetings for international pilgrims.

And why is Prophet Joshua contemplating moving from his most familiar environment? One of the reasons he gave was persecution. This is the most persecuted ministry in the world. Who are the people persecuting the ministry? My people, Africa, he said.

Indeed, he is not too far wrong on the persecution. It is as old as his ministry but in all these, he has come out stronger. There have been institutional persecutions and persecution from people who were supposed to have the same calling  religious leaders. I recall that as far back as 1995, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) stormed his fledgling ministry then, and invited him to their headquarters. Pray, what has a man professing Christ whose fame was on the ascendancy got to do with drugs? Of course, nothing incriminating was found in the ministry. Years later, the NDLEA visit was found to be not unconnected with the conspiracy to do him in over his growing popularity which was making some Ministers of God and General Overseers uncomfortable. Also years later, the chairman of the same NDLEA became a convert to T.B. Joshuas ministry and never missed a service or the weekly teachings in The Synagogue.

We all know how and where the ministry started  in an unmapped, unchartered area of Ikotun-Ebgbe, Alimosho local government area of Lagos State. Old site as the place is called is a tourist attraction today. Apart from the spiritual element where most who come for religious tourism can commune and be at peace with their Maker, it is also a tourism wonder with mechanized facilities. You can even take a boat cruise in the areas as the waters of that areas have been dredged. The foreigners who come for religious experience hardly ever want to leave the country without a visit to that wonder in the swamp of Egbe.

It was from there that a new worship center opened on Irefin Street, off Ikotun Road. It was another humble beginning. The church was without covering on its sides. The only protection then from the elements was the corrugated iron sheet on the roof. The floor was simply that  the floor. The chairs were long wooden benches. Bu the ministry kept growing, due to the spirituality displayed by Prophet Joshua. The crowd kept coming. They all came for the same thing  healing from their infirmities. They were not disappointed.

The G.O. was unassuming and could be seen in those days washing and cleaning the gutters and generally keeping the surroundings of the church clean. The Synagogue was a home for everybody, both the high and low in the society. He is a man attuned to giving. Despite the difficulty of building a ministry, supplicants who came for one thing or the other never went back without something in their pocket. That has continued till today. He does not need to know you. Widows and orphans have always enjoyed is generous nature. Apart from money, food items have been given out. His philanthropy didnt end there; houses have bene given out, people have been set up in business. He donated items worth millions to Haiti during its earthquake disaster. He has intervened similarly in other parts of the world. To my knowledge, he is the first Nigerian religious leader to have intervened in a disaster zone at such a high level. I may be wrong, though. But that just by the way.

Persecution was there. Other men of God did not see him as one of them. They demonized him. The said it was magic that he was weaving. That he had strange powers and the power would not last. He was ostracized, not being a member of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) nor that of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

That is what brought about the quote above. For over 20 years, save for the blot occasioned by the collapse of one of the church buildings, SCOAN has grown from strength to strength. It has international recognition. The United Nations had once written to the GO to commend him. The President of the United States had written to acknowledge him. He is as popular in Korea as he is in Nigeria. South Africa like a second home, as is most parts of Africa. World leaders have visited Nigeria to see T.B. Joshua for healing. If the ministry is not of God, shouldnt it have folded up?

But in Nigeria, the biblical quote also comes to mind  a prophet is never popular at home. In one particular year, the acrimony was such that he and another Man of God were invited to the police headquarters to ensure that peace reigned. Foreigners kept trooping into the country, looking for healing and balms for their spiritual yearnings.

Now, he seems tired of the entire persecution. He wants to leave to a place where he feels he would be received with open arms. But he should not be allowed to leave. His ministry has helped to further project the image of the country positively. The local economy has gained tremendously with his presence in the country. If he is allowed to leave, he would be followed to wherever he is by those desirous of his services. That is income loss for the country. Hotels and others who make brisk businesses would be in loss. Jobs would be lost as businesses would no longer boom. In all these, those that would be majorly affected would be the hordes of Nigerian who daily besiege the church for one help or the other, either for cure for their infirmities or in their request for succor. They would be left like sheep without shepherds. Whatever it takes, the Federal Government should ensure that he does not leave the country. It is thus heartening when Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who incidentally has the tourism agency under his portfolio, said Prophet Joshua should reconsider his decision, adding that he should dialogue with the appropriate authorities on whatever challenges he is facing.

That will be very unfortunate in the sense that if he does move out, it will affect tourism in Nigeria. Pastor Joshua is an important person; he must bear with us. This is his country. If he moves out and goes to South Africa, for example, the revenue will go to South Africa. It is better that Pastor Joshua sits down with the relevant authority and resolve whatever problem he has.

The minister has said it all and he should be rightly concerned. But he should not leave it a that; he should find a way to dialogue with the GO on steps to take to ensure he does not relocate. More so, it is his ministry that stands to lose in the event of Prophet Joshuas relocation. The earlier this is done, the better for the country and all concerned.

Bolaji Tunji is a seasoned Nigerian journalist and currently the executive director of The Sun Newspaper where this article was first published.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
North Korea recently uncovered a hideous terrorists group that the National Intelligence Service of South Korea, working with the C.I.A., had sent into the North on a secret mission to kill Mr. Kim with biochemical agents, said a spokesman for the Norths Ministry of State Security.

In a statement carried by the Norths official news agency, KCNA, the unidentified spokesman said the National Intelligence Service had hired a North Korean logger working in Khabarovsk, in the Russian Far East, in 2014 to prepare for state-sponsored terrorism.

Officers at the National Intelligence Service were said to have trained the man, providing him with $20,000 and a satellite transmitter-receiver. They then infiltrated the human scum into North Korea, giving him instructions last year on how to assassinate Mr. Kim, the spokesman said.





The idea was to launch a bombing attack at a military parade attended by Mr. Kim, the North Korean statement said.

The spy agency later provided the man with additional cash to hire co-conspirators, the statement said.

Korean-style antiterrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organizations of the U.S. imperialists and the puppet clique, the most mean and brutal hideous terrorist group in the world, the statement added.

The National Intelligence Service dismissed the accusations as groundless.

North Korea stands accused of assassinating Kim Jong-nam, Mr. Kims estranged half brother, with a banned chemical weapon at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in February.

The Malaysian police have arrested two women, one from Indonesia and the other from Vietnam, and charged them with murder, accusing them of smearing VX nerve agent on Kim Jong-nams face at the instruction of North Korean officers. The North suggested that the victim, whose body was released to North Korea, had died of a heart attack.

North Koreas claim on Friday came amid a growing movement in the United States Congress to have the country returned to the State Departments list of designated state sponsors of terrorism. It was removed in 2008 as part of an effort to get the North to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. North Korea has since continued to test nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, escalating tensions in the region, and it has vowed not to be dissuaded.

In recent years, North Korea has arrested a few South Korean citizens on charges of spying for the National Intelligence Service. It is also holding at least three Americans on charges of hostile acts, including a Korean-American named Kim Dong-chul , whom it accused of spying for the South.

It remains impossible to verify these claims. The National Intelligence Service dismisses them as propaganda.

North Korea also makes an improbable claim that more than 30,000 North Korean defectors who fled to South Korea in the last two decades had been kidnapped by the South.





When it accused the South Korean spy agency in these cases, it usually named the C.I.A. as a co-conspirator or the mastermind. In North Korean propaganda, South Korea remains a puppet of the Americans.

Still, it is highly unusual for the North to assert that the Souths spy agency plotted to assassinate Mr. Kim.

In recent months, as tensions intensified on the Korean Peninsula, the North has reacted stridently to news reports out of South Korea that United States and South Korean commando units were training to decapitate the North Korean leadership in case of war. The Norths totalitarian leadership is especially sensitive to any hint of criticism of or threat to its top leader.

It is widely believed to have mounted a hacking attack of Sony Pictures in 2014 as a retaliation against The Interview, a comedy based on a fictional plot to assassinate Mr. Kim.

Over the decades, there have been occasional, unconfirmed reports of quickly put down, armed rebellions or assassination attempts in the North. But longtime North Korea observers say that organized subversion is highly unlikely in the Norths police state, where huge numbers of soldiers and security agents are dedicated to the sole task of protecting Mr. Kim.

When Mr. Kim and his father, the dictator Kim Jong-il, before him were scheduled to appear in public, agents removed residents from apartments near the location of an appearance and even searched roadside ditches as a precaution, said defectors from the North who had served in its security agencies. Soldiers who were designated to shake hands with Mr. Kim had to wash their hands first, the defectors said.

In 2004, an enormous explosion at a train station on the border with China prompted rumors of an attempt to kill Kim Jong-il, who had passed through nine hours earlier on his way back from Beijing. Two trains carrying fuel had collided, killing or injuring as many as 3,000 people, but no connection to the leaders travel was ever confirmed.

The Supreme Guard Command, an elite bodyguard unit protecting the Kim family, once arrested an enemy agent, a former North Korean Army captain said in an interview in 2015. But he added that the command might have concocted the case as propaganda. Like most defectors from the North, the former captain insisted on the condition of anonymity when speaking to the news media.

In the fraught history of Korea, however, the idea of there having been assassination attempts is not far-fetched.

North Korean commandos came within striking distance of the South Korean presidents home, the Blue House, in 1968 before being repelled. One agent caught alive said his team had snaked through the inter-Korean border to slit the throat of the South Korean leader at the time, Park Chung-hee. In retaliation, Mr. Parks government trained a secret unit with a mission to assassinate his nemesis, Kim Il-sung, Mr. Kims grandfather. The unit was disbanded without carrying out its mission.

North Korea tried to assassinate another South Korean dictator, Chun Doo-hwan, while he was visiting Burma, now Myanmar, in 1983. The bombs planted by its officers destroyed the Martyrs Mausoleum in what was then the Burmese capital, killing 21 people, including several South Korean cabinet ministers. Mr. Chun escaped the attack because his arrival there had been delayed.

NYtimes

SEOUL, South Korea  In a region already tense over nuclear threats, North Korea accused the South Korean and American intelligence agencies on Friday of plotting to assassinate its leader, Kim Jong-un, and it warned of an unspecified counterattack.
The first batch of 1,400 top-performing sales agents selected from 100,000 agents at China's Bao Jian Commodity arrived on the southern resort island of Jeju on Tuesday as part of an incentive trip offered by the health products manufacturer in China. The company plans to reward a total of 11,200 top-performing sales agents with similar trips to Jeju. And they are just a small portion of Chinese visitors. In fact, the total number surged from 57,000 in 2000 to 115,000 in 2005 and 406,000 last year.

In 1993, only 3.74 million Chinese tourists traveled abroad. But last year, 54 million headed overseas. Jeju is close to China and offers its people visa-free access. A growing number of Chinese are being drawn to the island due in large part to the Korean Wave across Asia. According to a survey conducted by China's English-language daily Global Times last year, Chinese ranked Jeju along with Hawaii and the Maldives as their three ideal island destinations.

If Jeju, which was designated as a UNESCO world natural heritage site in 2007, utilizes its scenic attractions, such as the "Jeju Olle" hiking trails and "Oreum" mountains, the Chinese will no doubt continue to flock to the island. They can also enjoy the area's World Geopark status, as well as a range of unique sightseeing and culinary experiences.

The number of Chinese traveling abroad is believed to have surpassed 100 million last year. At present, two million Chinese visit Korea each year. No other industry has the power to create as many jobs and invigorate a region's economy like tourism.

Critics say Korea lacks sufficient natural attractions and cultural assets to become a global tourist attraction, but it will be able to attract tourists from all over the world if it utilizes its human resources and cutting-edge IT capabilities.

The ancient city of Petra in Jordan became famous after it featured as one of the locations in an Indiana Jones movie in 1989. It subsequently grew into a major tourist attraction that now draws more than a million visitors a year.

Perhaps Hong Kong can also provide some inspiration. The territory's tourism board recently came out with a smartphone application called DiscoverHongKong, which searches the addresses of nearby tourist sites, restaurants and stores for visitors. Meanwhile, in Australia, a company that offers rides on fighter jets is attracting hordes of enthusiastic tourists.

In order to succeed as tourist destinations, Korean provinces must create highly competitive, accessible and affordable accommodation. They also need world-class leisure facilities and restaurants, with world-class service. And Korea must use the growing foreign interest in its TV dramas and K-pop to attract tourists from around the world.
Three medical doctors today arrived in Abuja, Nigerias capital, to attend to the ailing President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, SaharaReporters has learned. The doctors, all British and Caucasian, are two males and one female, according to our highly placed source at the Presidency.

Mr. Buhari, who has not made any public appearance in two weeks, is described as greatly emaciated, according to two sources knowledgeable about his condition. Despite statements by the government a few days that the president had resumed work, Mr. Buhari remains holed up in his official residence.

Apprehension within the Presidential Villa about the presidents condition was heightened yesterday as the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, was seen moving a lot of documents out of the villa. Our sources said it was unclear why Mr. Kyari made the move to take away documents to an unknown location.

However, the arrival today of a new set of medical doctors to attend to him might be a further attempt by a cabal of some of his closest associates to frustrate his departure from Nigeria.

Some members of the Buhari administration accuse the cabal of opposing Mr. Buharis foreign medical trip for fear that his absence would cost them political influence.

SaharaReporters learned that no advance team of aides has yet left Nigeria to prepare for Mr. Buharis arrival in London, another sign that members of the presidents inner circle, who pull the strings in his administration, continue to oppose such a trip.

In an apparent attempt to reduce pressure on themselves, the cabal last week allowed Mr. Buharis wife, Aisha, to have access to funds to cater for her husband. They also persuaded her to draft a series of tweets asserting that the presidents health was not as bad as perceived. However, our sources described Aisha Buhari and other family members as frustrated and sober over Mr. Buharis slow pace of recuperation. In addition, the cabal around the president arranged for Mr. Buhari to make phone calls to a number of persons, including businessman Aliko Dangote and some political aides and friends. However, sources close to some of the recipients of the phone calls said the calls did not last more than 30 seconds each. On Monday, Attorney General Abubakar Malami and the Group Managing Director of Nigerias National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Baru Maikanti, claimed they held extensive meetings with Mr. Buhari to discuss a range of issues.

However, no videos or photographs were produced of the ostensible meetings. Twenty-four hours after Mr. Malami claimed he had met the president, Mr. Buhari failed to attend the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the fourth consecutive time he was absent at the gathering where a number of policy initiatives are discussed. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who presided at the meeting, apologized for Mr. Buharis absence, telling ministers that the president could not make it to the meeting because his doctors had advised him to rest.

The presidency has reportedly invited three foreign doctors, which includes two Britons to Aso Rock to treat President Buhari of his undisclosed ailment. According to Sahara Reporters, the doctors came in today. Read how Sahara Reporters is reporting it after the cut... A Presidency source told SaharaReporters that the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has set up a safe house in Abuja where Mr. Buhari is being treated by a relay of mostly foreign doctors. Even though President Buhari and his aides have refused to divulge the nature of his ailment, SaharaReporters learned several months ago that the Nigerian leader is ravaged by Crohns Disease, an intestinal disorder.He is also known to have prostate issues as well as age-related disorders, including early-stage dementia. Mr. Buharis official age is listed as 74, but he is widely believed to be much older. One of our sources disclosed that Mr. Buhari was slated to leave Nigeria on May 10 for another medical trip to Britain.
The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has claimed that no fewer than 15,000 medical doctors in the country have left for overseas in search of greener pastures.The body said that, over 15,000 doctors have traveled out of Nigeria to developed countries where they are now practicing medicine.NMA President, Dr. Mike Ogirima, said that between 10,000 and 15,000 Nigerian doctors are working outside the country. He added that about 90 per cent of those working outside the country are trained in Nigeria where they acquired their skills.Ogirima further disclosed that between 40,000 and 60,000 doctors are working in the country.Ogirima told New Telegraph, Nigeria has trained these doctors while other countries are making use of them. That is a sad thing. Of course in a country where the working environment is not conducive, what do you expect?So, we expect the government to improve the working environment, provide the necessary tools for the doctors to work with and give them needed welfare to encourage them to stay in the country.Just last month, over 500 doctors took examination for possible recruitment placement abroad.For Nigerian doctors looking for employment in the United States, they write the United States Medical Licensing Examination, while those seeking employment opportunities in the United Kingdom write examination with the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB).Unfortunately, the conditions driving the migration have worsened with more doctors working for several months in the country without salaries.
The president, alongside his aide-de-camp, chief security officer, personal physician and State Chief of Protocol, arrived the mosque at ...

The president, alongside his aide-de-camp, chief security officer, personal physician and State Chief of Protocol, arrived the mosque at exactly 1.30pm.







Buhari's absence at the mosque for the weekly prayer last Friday as well as his failure to attend the Federal Executive Council meetings three times had elicited speculations about his health condition.





Those who joined the president for Juma'at prayer today included the Minister of FCT Muhammed Musa Bello and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.





Others were National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno, the acting chairman of the EFCC Ibrahim Magu, Director-General of the Department of State Security Lawal Daura and the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, among others.

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A group of male students of the Falomo Senior High School in Ikoyi, Lagos state are currently on the run after they allegedly molested fe...

A group of male students of the Falomo Senior High School in Ikoyi, Lagos state are currently on the run after they allegedly molested female students of Ireti Grammer School on May 3rd.

According to residents of the area who confirmed the incident today, the male students had just finished their final year exams and were leaving their school premises when they saw the female students who were also leaving their school premises at the same time.

The boys, who were excited that they were done with secondary school, decided that the best way to express their joy was to molest the girls in broad daylight.

The boys who were armed with scissors, cornered some of the girls, ripped their skirt with the scissor, pushed them to the floor, pulled their trousers mid length and then climbed on the girls. Some of their colleagues surrounded them and cheered them on.

It took the intervention of some of the residents of the area to stop the boys from further molesting the girls. The girls who were frightened to go home, were escorted to the bus stop by some able bodied men in the area.

When the school was visited by some press men, police presence was seen. No one was allowed to enter into the school.

Dear Reader,

Today the 3rd of May 2017, I almost saw this evil happen. 'Almost' because I got so moved in my spirit with great indignation that I decided to speak up.

I am in my office about 4 pm waiting for my driver to bring my older son from school so we can get home on time to prepare the younger one for his common entrance exams into secondary school coming up in two weeks.

I called the driver, and he said he was around, and as I leave my niece's office upstairs, I hear a lot of shouting and commotion outside our office.

I then ask the receptionist what it was about and he says it's the secondary school students who have finished their final exams tearing their clothes. I mumble to myself that if any of them were my children I will deal with them. As they don't earn money so how can they tear what was bought for them.

Suffice to say I give my older son who is helping me with my bags that speech and we head out into the car. As we come outside the noise is overwhelming and as my son kept saying when we were later discussing what happened, he described it as being very intense when we had a chance to discuss the events that followed as people were running and upon my looking closer I saw pockets of people actually students and then girls running with palpable fear in their faces.

At this point I quickly enter my car to leave so one doesn't meet whatever the problem was and to avoid traffic too. And as we entered the car and I look a bit closely at a crowd of boys who have surrounded two persons on the floor who appear to be fighting.

Their shouting overpowers any other sound and looking closely I see the most unreal thing. It's actually a boy trying to force himself on a girl with his trousers partly down and the boys are cheering him on.

People are looking and some persons the security guards in the office near us are recording it. I open my car in disbelief and shout on the boys to break it up while shouting at my security and the second driver to assist me. I walk towards them and as I make my way towards them I see another group and this time they have cornered one of the the girls who fell while running from them.

In almost a surreal way I am looking but not quickly processing. I see her kicked down, she bravely pushes herself up and another guy tries to clear her legs and she lunges at him and then a guy takes a pair of scissors in his hands and with one swoop tears her skirt from the bottom and also a part of the black spanx shorts she has on underneath.

All this happens really in a few minutes and he proceeds to push himself into her through her back. His trousers is open too and another one tries to do same from the front. As this is going on the crowd of boys are wild with frenzy, cheering the two boys on, while grabbing at her hair, breasts and she is fighting for dear life.

I am still making my way towards the first group but they bolt when they see me coming and when I see them do so I move ahead and rush towards the second group this time shouting at the top of my lungs at my own office security, the office next door and thankfully mine follow me and when they see us coming they break up and run but there more girls running back.

I reach the girl and we gather her things together. She ties the torn skirt around her spanx shorts like a wrapper and holds onto to me.

I see the boys have run forwards and stopped, waiting for me to enter my car while threatening other teenage school girls still. I have a crowd of over 25 girls huddled together frantically telling me their various ordeal.

I ask them to take another route back and am told if the go back from where they are coming there is another group behind and the our office road is a crescent so they are technically locked in.

And most of them have their skirts ripped as they claim the boys in the various groups have scissors on them. Further questioning tells me the best way is to go out is towards the other side but since they are too scared to go I ask my security, some other men have come out to escort them too, with myself as the only adult female and there begins over an hours walk towards the obalende roundabout from off awolowo road in Ikoyi.

We meet other girls who have had their clothes ripped as the boys fled once the boys realized I was not backing up. The boys would reach a distance and stop to taunt the girls. We now had a crowd of over 60 girls who needed to get safely to the bus stop and find their way home.

We ( being myself and the other men escorting the girls) start talking about how to get hold of one of the boys so we can use him as an example. At this point I call a friend and ask for a Mopol to be sent to me. I describe my location.

My attention is drawn to another girl who had just been manhandled by the fleeing boys. A woman warns the girls to beware as the boys have spilt up and are waiting as some live in that locality.

We then break into three groups to escort the girls to their various bus or home points. I take the two girls whom I saw personally manhandled and begin to make careful inquiries.

Feedback shows that they go to a senior high school called Falomo Senior High School next to Ireti grammar school that these boys go to. Today was both schools final day after which they will come only to collect their results from Wednesday of the following week so the boys who had already started raping some girls last week now planned this brazen rape and manhandling activity.

They had also stolen their phones and transport money. We then made arrangements to transport them home. By now the mopol has come. He walks me to obalende under bridge to put the two girls and their friends going to Yaba into a bus.

This is not before I get the names of the boys as George and Abiodun as the main perpetrators, they are final year students of Ireti Grammar School SW Ikoyi. I call a friend and am told to take pictures but most of the girls have gone but we arel able to take pictures of at least 7 girls with me who had torn clothes in various stages of disarray.

I give my number to the only girl left with a phone and this was because she put it into her spanx shorts as she wore two and used one to roll her phone into it. I am amazed at this whole thing and we agree that they should come through to my office on Wednesday of the following week but I will go ahead and make a report to the two schools tomorrow and begin finding these evil boys so we can use them as examples to deter other from this abominable behavior perpetrated in broad day light.

One of the girls says she can identify them. She gives me her number. I ask my security to ensure he receives them at 9am when we agreed to meet. I turn and leave but I will never be the same again. The evil is terrible. The lack of regard and the indignity.

My mind runs through and is still running through all I have seen. I have a friend who normally stops to help distressed persons or attend to traffic situation and I always warn him to desist and he will say someone has to do it.

Today I am most grateful I was that someone. I had other people join me especially a man who saw me and said madam a girl was raped last week by this office. Am tired of this. Removed his tie and followed me. They stayed with me till the last set of kids entered the bus and as they came so they left when we got done.

I did not get to say thank you to them. My older son was like mum, they must be angels or Jesus. Actually he said the man that followed me first must be Jesus. I don't know who he was but if he ever reads this post my heartfelt thank you to him for that large hearted action.

God is kind oh, that there are still good men but we must speak up and as such I am following up to ensure we do something collectively to help the boys of this school as I believe mentoring is required if this cycle is to be broken but the ones who committed this dastardly act must be brought to book first. I ask those in authority to look into this as I am told it's quite prevalent.

God bless Nigeria and we all have a part in ensuring the blessing ~

I don't know what to say




The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of a Supervisory Councillor from Mafa Local Government Ar...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of a Supervisory Councillor from Mafa Local Government Area, Umar Ibrahim and one Bulama Ali Zangebe.They were prosecuted before Justice F. Umaru of the State High Court Maiduguri on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy to sell and misappropriate the proceed of rice meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mafa Local Government.Ibrahim was arrested alongside Zangebe and Modu Bulama, for allegedly diverting 180 bags of rice donated by Danish Refugee Council (DRC), a Non Governmental Organization, for victims of insurgency in Mafa Local Government.In his Judgment, Justice Umar held that The EFCC proved its case beyond reasonable doubt as there was an agreement to do illegal act. The convicts conspired to do illegal act to sell rice meant for the IDPs.He therefore sentenced both convicts to two years and a fine of N1m each on the charge of criminal misappropriation and two years in prison for conspiracy. The N50,000 recovered from the agents that sold the rice was ordered forfeited to the Borno State Government.Count two of the charge read:That you, UMAR IBRAHIM and one SHETTIMA LAWAN MAINA (now at large) sometime in November, 2016 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court dishonestly converted to your personal use the sum of N1,440,000.00 (one million, four hundred and forty thousand naira) only, being the proceeds from the sale of 180 bags of rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State contrary to and punishable under Sections 308 and 309 of the Penal Code Law Cap 345, Laws of the Northern States of Nigeria respectively.
The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has urged Nigerians to be wary of some new and unregistered products being introduced into markets, saying many of such products were injurious to health.Mr Garuba Ahmad, the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the council, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Osogbo.Ahmad said many unscrupulous persons, who were desperate to make money, were flooding the markets with adulterated and injurious new products.He, however, said that CPC had the duty to carry out market surveillance from time to time to check the introduction of such fake products into markets.Ahmad recalled that fake products such as food and beverages worth N56 million were confiscated in the zone in 2016.He said that many sachet water factories were also sealed off in the zone for failing to meet the required standards. We ensure quality of products in the markets and also prevent circulation of fake and injurious products,  Ahmad said.He appealed to consumers to always check for NAFDAC approved number, address of manufacturers as well as manufactured and expiry date of new products before buying them.Ahmad also said the council received 128 complaints from consumers out of which 110 were resolved.
The Nigerian Customs Service and vehicle dealers appeared to have drawn a battle line in Kaduna, as the duo clashed yesterday over vehic...

The Nigerian Customs Service and vehicle dealers appeared to have drawn a battle line in Kaduna, as the duo clashed yesterday over vehicle import duty. A Customs Hilux patrol vehicle was set ablaze in the process.It, however, took a timely intervention of the Kaduna State security outfit (Operation Yaki) to prevent the clash from leading to a major crisis within the Kaduna city.The incident, which took place on Rabah Road, in Kaduna North Local Government, occurred at about 3.00pm when Customs officials had gone on patrol to impound vehicles without import duties from car dealers in the city.Meanwhile, when our correspondent arrived at the scene at about 4.00pm, men of the Kaduna State Fire Service were still battling to put off the fire on the patrol vehicle.Motorists and other road users as well as passersby scamper for safety while security operatives from the Operation Yaki outfit cordoned off the area.An eyewitness told our correspondent that the Customs officials had gone to an unamed car dealers showroom around the Isa Kaita road area, also in the metropolis, to impound about six luxury vehicles which they claimed had no import duties.However, according to the eyewitness, on getting to the showroom, the Customs officials who were few in numbers, sensed there could be danger and decided to go back for reenforcement.At this juncture, it was gathered that the dealers decided to go and hide some of the vehicles. But the Customs officials were able to tow away four of the luxury vehicles, he narrated. .NE gathered that it was when Customs officials came back to impound more vehicles, that the car dealers mobilised chased the officials.They (car dealers) caught up with the patrol vehicle and set it ablaze. Onlookers cheered the dealers.Another eyewitness said: The Customs officials had gone to Issa Kaita Road to impound vehicles without import duties from an unknown car showroom. They succeeded in impounding four of the vehicles but came back to tow the remaining two.As they took the remaining two, the car dealers mobilised and ran after the Customs officials, they caught up with them and dragged down the driver and set the patrol vehicle on fire, he saidMeanwhile, Customs spokesman could not be reached at press time, but a source close to the service said they would brief the press later.
Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State yesterday granted bail on self-recognisance to the embattled former Governor Sul...

Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State yesterday granted bail on self-recognisance to the embattled former Governor Sule Lamido.Lamido was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Usman Mohammed Lamin for allegations of making inciting statement capable of breaching public peace.Chief Magistrate Lamin said he granted Lamido bail on self-recognisance to enable the police conclude investigations of allegations against the former governor.The chief magistrate, however, appealed to counsel to the accused, Felix John Osimerah, to caution his supporters to be law-abiding.There was sanity during the resumed hearing, following an effective crowd control by law enforcement agents within the court premises.Lamido was brought to court before 8 a.m., a situation that prevented an unprecedented crowd, which later stormed the court hours after he was granted bail.Moments after Lamido was granted bail, he left the court room to board a waiting black Mercedes Benz, which took him away as part of a convoy.The convoy, comprising 100 vehicles, left for his hometown, Bamaina  about 40 kilometres from Dutse.On arrival in Baimaina, a tumultuous crowd of supporters were already at his home to welcome him with talking drums, amid jubilation.
After paying a contractor N34 billion for the dredging of the River Niger, former President Goodluck Jonathans administration failed t...

After paying a contractor N34 billion for the dredging of the River Niger, former President Goodluck Jonathans administration failed to get the job done.The Muhammadu Buhari administration is spending N100m on the job, Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi said yesterday in Lagos. It was at the opening of a conference on Fast-tracking Port Reforms.The minister said: When the River Niger was first approved for dredging by the previous administration, it was approved for N47billion and N34billion was paid to the contractor. Dancers were called in and there was a party.We are not dredging the River Niger with billions of naira; we are dredging the River Niger with just N100m. When we flagged it off recently, did you see us dancing? Was there a party? I just went to see the governor and told him that the project will start today and will be finished in one month.The governor said he will accompany me, and I said ok. So, I asked the governor to flag it off since its located in his state.Amaechi went on: People are wondering how on earth we are going to dredge the River Niger for N100m when the previous government awarded same contract for N47billion? But we are going to dredge the River Niger, using dredgers owned by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).NIWA has dredgers, but the previous government preferred to give contractors money to dredge the river with private dredgers while NIWAs dredgers were lying idle somewhere in Port Harcourt.The NIWA MD told me the agency has dredgers, but its been hired out to somebody in Port Harcourt. So, we had dredgers, but the previous administration hired them out to some persons in Port Harcourt while paying a contractor billions of naira to use privately owned dredgers at a very high cost.I told the NIWA MD that I will look for money to fuel their dredgers, and work has started. That is why we are dredging the River Niger with just N100m, Amaechi said.In 2011, the Jonathan administration approved the Lower River Niger Dredging Project from Warri, in Delta State, to Baro, in Niger State, to four contractors  Fung Tai Eng Company Nigeria Limited, Dredging International Service Nigeria Limited, Van Oord Nigeria Limited and Williams Lloyds Technology Company Limited.Last year, the Nigerian Indigenous Ship-Owners Association (NISA) accused NIWA of bungling the dredging contract of the Lower River Niger.NISA President Aminu Umar told a national daily: We keep hearing that the River Niger has been dredged down to Warri, but how has that improved the traffic of vessels along that route? I dont think that river was dredged.If truly NIWA dredged that River, then there ought to have been increase in movement of goods along that route. Nothing has changed before and after the so-called dredging that they claimed to have done.To be honest with you, from the shipping community, we dont think any dredging has taken place on that river.How can the Federal Government approve N43 billion for the dredging of the River Niger and nothing would have changed? How can such money have been spent on that river and it still looks like that?Please help us ask NIWA to make public the draft of the River Niger before and after the dredging. We need to know what such money was used for because we are talking of hundreds of millions of dollars if it is converted into foreign currency.NIWA should come out with details of what they did with N43 billion on that river between 2011 and 2015.Addressing over 800 participants at the forum, Amaechi said $186m had been approved by President Buhari for the fight against piracy and other criminalities on the waterways.Part of the money, the Minister said, would be spent on three helicopters and three other aircraft, among others.His words: Mr. President has approved $186million to fight piracy in our waters. The funds will be used to buy three helicopters, three aircraft, 12 vessels stationed in the water. In the next three months, all of them would be deployed to fight piracy on our waters.We promised change. Change is not talked about; it is felt. That is why we asked that the people should give us time.Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director Ms Hadiza Bala Usman spoke of gateways to international trade as major accelerators of local economic development.Said Ms. Usman: According to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the Netherlands has been able to sustain a relatively high economic growth rate because of the Port of Rotterdam, in spite of the intensely competitive environment in Europe. The success of Singapore is equally attributed to the Port of Singapore, which has developed a transport logistic centre and has successfully been able to attract foreign investment.It is thereby acknowledged that the maritime sector, an essential component of the transportation system, is crucial for wealth creation.However, a port becomes an active wheel of an economy only if it is run efficiently. One of the key areas of efficiency that our ports require is the national single window .I am pleased to announce that the Authority and the Nigerian Customs Service have concluded the operational model for establishing the national single window and will in the next few months commence with the public tender process of selecting the vendors that will deploy the required information technology infrastructure.Presently, the function of a port is not only limited to traditional activities but has expanded to a logistical platform. Ports not only perform the basic operations (embarking, disembarking and transferring of passengers and crew, loading, unloading and transhipment of cargo to and from the vessels, storage and warehousing of merchandise on land and stevedoring to and from vessels), they provide inland access and intermodal connections as well as complementary services to shipping carriers, she said.Given the abundant mineral and agricultural resources available in most regions of Nigeria and the desire of the Federal Government to diversify the economy, Ms Usman said there was the need to explore opportunities to boost economic development.The President Buhari administration, she said, has identified agriculture and solid minerals as upbeat and that the maritime Industry will play a major role in the movement of the produce and minerals to international market. In February this year, all terminal operators and shipping companies were mandated by the Nigerian Ports Authority to set up fast-track desks for export of solid minerals and agricultural produce. Process of review of associated existing procedures and protocols has been commenced to ensure efficiency and intended results are achieved.For the Nigerian ports to play this key role in the economy an efficient rail system will be needed in moving agricultural produce and solid mineral from the locations of production that are usually in the hinterlands to the seaports for export. The Federal Ministry of Transportation has embarked on a $2 billion concession rail project to be handled by General Electric which will provide the needed intermodal support. It will cover about 3,500km (2,200 miles) of existing narrow gauge lines from the Southwestern commercial capital, Lagos to Kano in the North and Southeastern oil hub, Port Harcourt, to Maiduguri in the Northeast.We are already recording increase in export of agricultural produce. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in its Trade Intensity Index Report for the Q3, 2016, export of frozen shrimps and prawns for the period July to September were worth over N5billion; Sasame seed export was worth over N4.8billion in the same period; income from cashew export exceeded N2billion; soya beans yielded over N4billion; ginger contributed over $30million.Developing the ports is very crucial for realising the lofty but achievable development objectives of the Federal Government, she said.
The Federal Government says it will on May 29 mark President Muhammadu Buharis two years in office because it has a good story to tell Nigerians.Information Minister Lai Mohammed made this known in Abuja yesterday.He said; Weve been able to restructure the economy on a very sound footing, weve succeeded in not just looking for quick fixes, but we are addressing the fundamental issues of our economy, which is basically that we are moving away from relying solely on oil to other areas like agriculture, solid minerals and the rest.But more importantly in the area of the economy is that for the first time, our emphasis is now more on infrastructure and capital projects rather than on recurrent.And in the area of fighting insecurity and the criminality in the Northeast, we have a good story to tell. In the area of fighting corruption, we have a good story to tell, in agriculture, we have a good story to tell.Before the Presidential Initiative on Fertilizer, what we had was that we were importing and subsidizing fertilizer and scarce foreign exchange was going to fertilizer subsidy.Today, with the presidential initiative on fertilizer, we now take phosphate and potassium from Morocco and Europe and we now blend it locally in Nigeria here. And with that, we are cutting the cost of fertilizer by 33 percent.Not that alone, weve been able to revive 11 blending plants. Before now, only five blending plants were working at 10 percent capacity, and we saved about $100 million in foreign exchange and about N60 million in budgetary provision.In the area of power, we have signed 13 power purchase agreements with 13 solar companies. And that is going to add at least 1gw to the national grid. So, we have a good story to tell Nigerians and I think that is what they want to hear.
California family says they were forced off a Delta plane and threatened with jail after refusing to give up one of their children's seats on a crowded flight.

A video of the April 23 incident was uploaded to Facebook on Wednesday and adds to the list of recent encounters on airlines that went viral, including the dragging of a passenger off a United Express plane.

Brian and Brittany Schear of Huntington Beach, California, told KABC-TV in Los Angeles that they were returning from Hawaii with their two toddlers when they were removed from the plane.

On the video, Brian Schear can be heard talking with a person off-camera -- it is not clear whether that person is a Delta employee, a security officer, or somebody else.


Justice Maruf Adegbola of an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, on Friday sentenced one Gafar Asimiyu to seven years in prison for raping a 12- year- old girl.Adegbola said evidence before him showed that the accused was guilty of the charge of rape preferred against him.The medical report from Adeoyo Hospital indicated that there was forceful penetration in the private part of the victim, he said.He also said the statement of the accused did not contradict that of the victim, adding that instead, it helped to strengthen the case against him.The judge further said the testimony of the accused in the court was an after taught.The earlier statement made by the accused with the investigating police officer indicated that the accused had sexual intercourse with the victim without her consent.The prosecution was able to prove the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.Adegbola said though Section 259 of the Criminal Code of Oyo State provides a life sentence for offenders; he sentenced Asimiyu to seven years imprisonment.Base on the plea made by counsel to the accused, the court hereby sentence Asimiyu to seven years imprisonment.The judge said that the sentence should start from May 5.The prosecutor, Mr Olayiwola Oloso, had told the court that the accused committed the crime on Feb.18, 2013 in Yemetu area of Ibadan.
The presidency has hinted that President Muhammadu Buhari may attend the State House mosque for today's juma'at service.The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on the postponement of the proposed visit of the President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou to Nigeria.Adesina noted that the re-scheduling was at the instance of the visiting president, as all arrangements had been made to receive him in Abuja, including plan to attend the Jumaat prayers togetherAll arrangements had been concluded for President Buhari to receive his Nigerien counterpart and his delegation at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa and attend the Jumaat prayers together as well as lunch, before the last-minute postponement, said Adesina.Recall that the president, last Friday, was not at the State House mosque for juma'at service.The service was attended by the governors of Kano, Zamfara and Ogun States, Abdullahi Ganduje, Abdulaziz Yari and Ibikunle Amosun respectively.
North Korea is accusing the United States of America (USA) and South Korean of a joint plot to kill its leader, z, according to state media report.The ministry of state security said a terrorist group backed by the CIA and South Koreas intelligence agency had entered the country to attack Kim with a bio-chemical substance.It said North Korea would find and mercilessly destroy the terrorists.It comes amid high tensions in the region.North Korean news agency KCNA claimed the alleged plot included the use of biochemical substances including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance.The Supreme Leader would have been targeted at a military parade and public procession, with the results not visible for six to 12 months afterwards, it said.It alleged that a North Korean, identified only by the surname Kim, had been corrupted and bribed by South Korean intelligence services while he was working in Russia.It listed several payments made to him, and said on his return to Pyongyang he was instructed to provide detailed information about a frequently used event ground and to assess possible methods of attack.Korean-style anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organisations of the U.S. imperialists and the puppet clique, Pyongyang said.A war of words between the West and North Korea has escalated in recent weeks, with the communist enclave threatening to carry out a sixth nuclear test.A week ago, North Korea conducted its second failed ballistic missile test in two weeks.The U.S. has sent a warship to the region and installed a controversial anti-missile defence system in South Korea.
Former President Jonathan this morning on his Facebook page, shared excepts from the chapter one of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of...

Former President Jonathan this morning on his Facebook page, shared excepts from the chapter one of Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of Jonathan Years, Chibok, 2015 and The Conspiracies, a book that is being written by his former media aide, Reno Omokri.





The book is being written to counter the contradictions in the recently launched book titled, "Against The Run of Play" written by the Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board, Olusegun Adeniyi.





In Adeniyi's book, Jonathan was quoted as saying that he lost the 2015 election to President Buhari because the Obama administration and some other world leaders worked against him. Now in the yet to be released book, Reno said he interviewed one Matthew T. Page who until his resignation in 2016 was the U.S. State Department's top intelligence analyst on everything regarding Nigeria. Reno said Page gave an insight into why the US government was not pleased with the Jonathan administration.



According to Reno, what he could deduce from the interview with Page is that the main reason why Obama and his administration were angry with Jonathan was because of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013. Recall that Jonathan signed the Anti-same sex bill into law in January 7th 2014. Continue to read excepts of the book as shared by ex-president Goodluck Jonathan on his Facebook page This is not the full chapter. It is an excerpt.





It will be continued tomorrow and on subsequent days until the chapter is concluded. Facts Versus Fiction: (The True Story of Jonathan Years, Chibok, 2015 and The Conspiracies) by Reno Omokri will be released on the second week of July 2017. Chapter 1  THE CONSPIRACY TO REMOVE JONATHAN The recent revelations from Segun Adeniyi's book, Against the Run of Play: How an incumbent president was defeated in Nigeria, have promoted reactions and counter reactions to some of the more astounding accounts detailed in that book. Former President Jonathan in his interview with Segun Adeniyi, gave some detail of a conspiracy to remove him from office due to patriotic policies and actions he undertook which might have set him at variance with foreign powers.





Amongst other things, Adeniyi quotes Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as saying "I got on very 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 know how far President Obama was prepared to go to remove me until France caved into the pressure from America.





Since these revelations came to light, a former Governor of Niger state, Mr. Babangida Aliyu has also been quoted making comments in Segun Adeniyi's book that corroborate the statements by Dr. Jonathan. According to Mr. Aliyu, the Obama administration had invited twelve governors from Northern Nigeria to sound them out on their commitment to the plot to unseat Dr. Jonathan. Mr. Aliyu is quoted in Segun Adeniyi's book as saying "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.





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. Mr. Aliyu was referring to a series of meetings that twelve Northern governors had in the U.S. in March 2014. Why did the Obama administration organize those meetings? What occurred at those meetings? Who said what, where, when and why?





The answer to those questions will help throw light on whether or not there was a conspiracy by the Obama administration (not the United States) to remove then President Jonathan from office. I tracked down Mr. Matthew T. Page who until his resignation in 2016 was the U.S. State Department's top intelligence analyst on Nigeria. Matthew Page also served as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Africa with the National Intelligence Council. He sat in on each of the meetings the twelve Northern Nigerian governors attended, beginning from their meetings at the United States Institute for Peace and thereafter their meetings at the State Department.





In 2016, Mr. Page left the State Department and moved to Cambridge in the United Kingdom from where he spoke to me. He was adamant that Mr. Babangida Aliyus version of the events at those meetings where not accurate and was keen to set the records straight. According to Mr. Page, the meetings were attended by twelve Northern governors of whom the most vocal was the then governor of Adamawa state, Admiral Murtala Nyako. Others at the meetings who voiced anti Jonathan sentiments were then Kano governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto and Kashim Shettima of Borno.





The then governors of Kwara and Kogi were in attendance but were non-committal. Mr. Page noted that the meetings at the United States Institute for Peace were innocuous but that when the governors proceeded to the closed-door sessions at the US State Department, things changed. According to Mr. Page, present at the State Department meetings were Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield who was then the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs.





Also present at the meeting was the then number three man at the State Department, Ambassador Thomas Alfred "Tom" Shannon Jr., acting Deputy Secretary of State of the United States and the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. At that meeting, Admiral Murtala Nyako read out a memo he had written itemizing the case against Jonathan. He was so openly and almost violently against the Jonathan administration in his speech that he had to be openly rebuked at the meeting by the then Nigerian ambassador to the US, Ambassador Adebowale Adefuye of blessed memory. Admiral Nyako's belligerence against the Jonathan administration was so venomous that it prompted a rebuttal from the Gombe state governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, who showed loyalty to the then Nigerian President. According to Mr. Page, this prompted most of the other Northern governors present to turn on him.





In my interview with him, Mr. Page revealed to me that after the anti Jonathan tirades by these governors, they were shepherded to the White House on March 18, 2014 for more meetings. Even though Mr. Page attended the reception at the White House for the Northern governors, he did not make me privy to who were at that particular meeting other than stating that the governors met with then National Security Adviser, Susan Rice.





Ms. Rice is however a known Nigerian specialist and was the person who on July 7, 1998, allegedly made the tea that the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Nigerian Presidential election, chief MKO Abiola, drank minutes before passing away after reportedly foaming at the mouth. After the meeting, the Obama White House released a statement which said, amongst other things; Rice and the governors discussed the need to bring an end to the violence and insurgency in northern Nigeria; create broad-based economic opportunity in the north and throughout Nigeria; protect and respect human rights; strengthen democratic governance; and ensure that the 2015 election in Nigeria are free and fair.





What the White House statement did not say, but which I verified from other sources, was that at that meeting, Admiral Nyako accused then President Jonathan of being behind Boko Haram, the Islamic terrorist group that is behind the insurgency in Nigerias Northeast (the same accusation was publicly made by Nasir El-rufai in 2014. El-rufai was one of a handful of All Progressive Congress party officials that related directly with David Axelrods firm as AKPD Message and Media prepared the APC for the 2015 elections).





One question arises though. When sub national officials from a nation that is friendly to the United States espouse comments that undermine the President of that friendly nation, why would such persons be honored with very high level meetings that stretched from the State Department to the White House? When I asked Mr. Page if he thought that the Obama administration was opposed to the re-election of the then Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, he paused and said my objective opinion is that it was not as if the administration was against Jonathan. There were a few issues.





The Obama administration was a bit disappointed (I know that sounds paternalistic) but there were some issues they felt let down on, and you have to remember that the Obama administration supported the transfer of power to Jonathan in 2010. The issues were the human rights situation in the Northeast which has still not changed under Buhari and Diezani Alison-Madueke who they felt should have been removed. Washington also took issue with some clauses in the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013, even though they understood that Nigerian cultural values were more conservative on the issue than American ones".





Mr. Page continuing said the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria at the time was actually anti-Buhari, believing he failed to call his followers to order during the post-election violence of 2011. Although he listed three reasons why the Obama administration felt let down on by Dr. Jonathan, my conversation with Mr. Page gave me a sense that the first two reasons were just excuses and that the main reason was because of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill 2013.





That issue was a deal breaker for the Obama administration because of the strong support they had from the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender) community for Mr Obamas re-election campaign of 2012. Per the New York Times, the gay vote was crucial to Obamas re-election, whereas to CNN, the LGBT community not only made the difference in 2012 by trooping out to vote for Obama, they were also his top donors.




Several people have been hospitalised on Thursday , following a bloody clash between supporters of Atiku Abubakar and a rival gang loyal t...

Several people have been hospitalised on Thursday , following a bloody clash between supporters of Atiku Abubakar and a rival gang loyal to a former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Ganye, Adamawa state.

Former Vice President Atiku and Adamawa State Governor, Bindow had visited the town on Wednesday ahead of a turbaning ceremony on Thursday , where they also launched a political tour of three local governments of the Ganye Chiefdom.

Witnesses said those attacked were members of Kwankwasiyya movement in the town who were supporting Mr Kwankwasos presidential bid, in opposition to Mr Atikus.





A resident of the town, Bamanga Mohammed alleged that an associate of the former vice president, simply called Arabo was the one who brought in the suspected thugs from neighbouring Gombe and Bauchi states.





The thugs were said to have gone after anybody wearing red cap, a symbol for support for Kwankwaso and those wearing black cap, signifying support for former Adamawa state governor, Murtala Nyako.

"As I am talking to you at least ten of our youths are in the hospital because of the serious nature of the wounds inflicted on them. Sadly, the whole scenario played out before the eyes of policemen who took no action. "We are saddened that someone who claimed to be from this town will import thugs from another state to launch attack on his own people for expressing their political choice," he said. He said residents of the area have decided to petition the inspector general of police, the National Human Rights Commission and other concerned institutions over the attack.

More photos below...
The Police in Taraba say they have arrested a 60-year-old man, Abubakar Abdulkadir, for allegedly being in possession of roasted human parts.The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the Police Command in the state, Mr David Misal, who told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jalingo on Friday said the suspect was arrested at Alin-Gora Village, Ardo-kola Council Area of the state.The police image maker said Abdulkadir was arrested with the body parts suspected to be that of his nephew, Ali Gimba, reportedly missing on April 27.He was found in possession of body parts of the missing boy. He roasted part of the boys body and loaded it in a sack.We also recovered a knife and a hoe which the suspect used in digging a hole to pour and cover the boys blood, the police spokesman said.Misal further said the police were investigating the motive behind the crime, adding that the suspect would be charged to court, after the investigation.We want to know the purpose of this crime. Is it for ritual; to eat the flesh, or for sale.
Military personnel under the 707 Special Forces Brigade of Nigerian Army have rescued a retired Police officer and three women in what it terms clearance operation at Mangodo village in Niger State.According to the statement issued and signed by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations 707 Special Forces Brigade, Major Olabisi Ayeni in Makurdi on Friday, a copy made available to our correspondent explained that the rescued persons include a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Bahago Ibrahim.Others, according to the military spokesman are: Mrs. Louisana Aliyu from Zazga, Mrs. Hadiza Auta from Gwanda and Mrs. Jamila Idris from Sarkin Pawa town, all in Niger State.The statement added that the people had been reunited with their family.The 707 Special Forces Brigade of Nigerian Army which operates across the country has its head office in Makurdi, Benue State capital.The statement added that the troops which carried out the operation were drawn from 133 Special Forces Battalion under 707 Special Forces Brigade, adding that three soldiers died in the operation and another three wounded.The statement added, It will be recalled that the Police officer, ASP Bahago Ibrahim, was shot and whisked away by unknown heavily armed bandits at Mangodo village, Niger State, while the women were abducted from different locations.The troops, which acted on a tip off, responded swiftly to rescue the victims from the armed bandits who were also alleged to have stolen over 100 cows from the village.During the pursuit, the troops entered into an ambush laid by the armed bandits.The troops fought their way out of the ambush by exchanging fire, killing many of the bandits, while a few of them withdrew in disarray. Unfortunately, three soldiers lost their lives and three others were wounded during the encounter.The statement reiterated the mission of Nigerian Army and its commitment to protecting the law-abiding citizens against all forms of internal and external aggression anywhere in the country.The statement further encouraged citizens to report any form of irregularity and illegality around them to security agencies.
The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded the immediate resignation of the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for constituting himself a nuisance and for belittling the high office that he occupies.The party in a statement issued on Friday in Port Harcourt, berated Wike for failing to keep his vow to sue the Federal Government if it failed to return the $43m found in a luxury apartment in Ikoyi Lagos to the Rivers State Government within one week.Wike had claimed that the money belonged to the Rivers State Government and was part of the funds allegedly looted by his immediate past predecessor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the incumbent Federal Minister of Transportation.Rivers APC said in the statement signed by the State Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Davies Ibiamu Ikanya: It is now over two weeks since Governor Wike issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to return the money to the Rivers State Government or be sued accordingly. Governor Wike had claimed that he has records, documents and facts to prove that the contentious $43m was kept by Amaechi.Apart from Rt. Hon. Amaechi vehemently denying the accusation as one from the pit of hell; it is on record that Mr. Abayomi Oke, the suspended DG of the National Intelligence Agency, has claimed ownership of the money, thereby exonerating Amaechi.Wikes failure to sue the Federal Government as he vowed to do is the height of his shameful theatrics and repulsive actions that have brought shame and public odium to Rivers State and her people. We, therefore, demand without equivocation, the immediate resignation of Wike as the Governor so as to save the good people of Rivers State further embarrassment.The party said it knew from the very beginning that Wike is an alarmist whose single agenda since he assumed office as the Governor of Rivers State is to destroy Amaechi by any means. Assessing Wikes stewardship, the party lamented: Here is somebody whose tenure as Governor has brought untold hardship to our people! Worst of all is the uncountable number of Rivers people who have been killed and are still being killed in order to sustain the evil administration of Wike in Rivers State. He has put the account of the State in the red through barefaced looting and the borrowing of over N100 billion from banks, without investing it in any tangible projects but using it to bribe judges and sponsoring worthless PDP Conventions without paying salaries of our civil servants and pensioners. What is more, Wike has abandoned our children on scholarship in foreign schools, stopped the free education scheme initiated by the government of Amaechi and committed sundry other atrocities that make him unworthy to be addressed as the Governor of any State in any part of this world.Wike, for reasons best known to him, did all he could to stop the nomination and screening of Amaechi as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has threatened both Amaechi and his followers and is now threatening President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration. Such a character surely does not qualify to be a Local Government Chairman, not to talk of being a Governor of a State like Rivers, which he has turned to Rivers of Blood.Rivers APC predicted that Wikes needless fight against Amaechi, who made him politically, will eventually consume him. According to the party, Psalm 83, Isaiah 63 and Psalm 10 of the Holy Bible will go a long way to show Wike and his ilk that their fight against Amaechi is a fight against God and God who has protected him this far he will surely consume each one of them. In this regard, we wish to counsel him to leave the Inspector General of Police (IGP) alone as he is not a bloodthirsty fellow. Wike, from all indications, is being pursued by the ghosts of those innocent Rivers State people killed in order to install and sustain him in office.Finally, we will urge him to emulate his Ekiti counterpart, Governor Ayo Fayose, by visiting the prisons and to advocate the improvement of conditions there as the prison yard awaits him in the future.
Three gunmen on Friday attacked a Chinese expatriate in Owerri, the Imo state capital, and made away with the N10m he withdrew from a branch of Diamond Bank on Item Street.The gangsters shot the expatriate, believed to be a Chinese contractor working in the state and killed his police orderly, who was an inspector during the operation.According to reports, the foreigner was attacked by the hoodlums immediately he came out of the bank.One of the sources said, Immediately the foreigner was driven out of the bank premises in his black Toyota with the number plate Abuja 723 JR by his driver, the gunmen who were already waiting double-crossed his vehicle.Two of them jumped out of their car and attacked their target.
The Borno Police Command on Friday confirmed the killing of seven persons after two suspected female suicide bombers attacked Mandarari ward in Konduga Local Government Area of the state.Malam Murtala Ibrahim of the Borno Police Command Public Relations Unit confirmed the incident in a statement he issued in Maiduguri.Ibrahim said that the attack took place on Thursday.Yesterday at about 22.45 hours, two suspected female suicide bombers detonated explosives strapped to their bodies at Mandarari ward in Konduga LGA, killing themselves and five others.Six persons sustained various degrees of injuries.The corpses and injured persons were evacuated to General Hospital Konduga, and normalcy restored to the area.Security operatives had on Wednesday killed three suspected female suicide bombers who attempted to attack a military outpost near Muna garage in the outskirt of Maiduguri.
MOU to tap demand for imports in China

From:Shanghai Daily | 2017-05-04 10:52

Alibaba Group and the Argentine government have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop new trade opportunities to meet rising demand for imported goods in China.



The two partners will support merchants marketing to Chinese consumers through Alibabas e-commerce platforms, according to a statement released yesterday.

The ultimate beneficiaries will be the merchants, especially small and medium enterprises, which will gain access to unprecedented cross-border trade opportunities through Alibabas platforms, Alibaba President Michael Evans said in the statement.

Wine and fresh food are two particular areas of focus under the MOU, and Alibabas platforms will be designated as official channels by the Argentinian government, which will also provide online and offline support for Argentine wine exports to China.
For the third (or fourth) time in a row, President Muhammadu Buhari has missed the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting fueling insinuations that he must be critically ill.Some online media platforms reported on Tuesday, May 2, 201, that the President in fact reported to his office holding meetings with some officials but this does little to refute doubts on his health because a day before, the president was expected to address the nations hardworking workers on May Day which he failed to do. The efforts of the Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, to clear the air on her husbands health appeared to have added to the suspicions that things were not well with the nations Number One citizen.Like most patriotic Nigerians, I wish the President well and hope he succeeds. But my fear for him today is simply those so-called Cabals that have exploited his failing health to take over his administration. The anti-corruption war appears to be tuning down. The cabal, allegedly, has been hiding the President and engage in looting spree. They have now arrogated powers to themselves that even the President himself does not have. This is what you get when people ask, Who is the Presidency? But, should the Presidents health condition at any time be an issue? Is the President not just a mortal like any of us that can fall ill, or even give up the ghost at any time even without prior warning? What is the big deal in anyone falling sick? Lets rid him of the status of President he is just human!Why I am of the view that the President should just simply resign to attend to his health and make history as the first African to do so. But, in the case, he may choose (or not) to take my advice in which case both can be justified. I dont know, for instance, an US president that have resigned due to poor health. I am also aware a total of eight out of 45 US president have died in office, out of which four were assassinated. Of those that died of natural courses none disclosed their health status publicly and none resigned. In this case, there is nothing really unusual about the President not declaring his health status publicly if the American presidential system we copy doesnt allow for such!It is understandable for people to play politics with the presidents health. In Nigeria, everything seems to be politics, including something as petty as Jollof Rice. In January 1992, 67-year old US President George H. Bush suddenly ill and collapsed at a state dinner being given for him on a night at the home of the Japanese Prime Minister, Kiichi Miyazawa a big as this news was, no responsible US politician made a political capital of it. It was normal for anyone to fall ill and at any time. No one told the President to resign due to his poor health. Buhari has not collapsed in a foreign country, yet some people are calling for his impeachment even though the Constitution doesnt say so!The President is ill, we all know. His handlers cannot hide that fact anymore. Like I said in a previous piece on the subject of the Presidents health, his handlers should simply have come out clean on the presidents health status rather than this weekly drama as to whether the president will attend the weekly FEC meeting or not. If they have done that it will then have been the case of: Im sick, so what?When next anyone asks for the presidents health status, their response should be the following lines from David Aragons song So What? Which goes thus (hopefully I will get the lines correct):So what if I'm crazier than crazy?So what if I'm sicker than sick?So what if I'm out of control?Maybe that's what I like about itSo what?So what?That the presidents ill is not a big deal. The big deal is how to handle such without necessarily creating an atmosphere of tensions!
The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has donated N47 million to the Sokoto State Government to boost sanitation and hygiene.Mr Mohammed Mohiuddin, the Chief of the Field Office, Sokoto, announced the donation during a sensitisation programme for traditional leaders and local government councils chairmen on Friday in Sokoto.Mohiuddin said that the money was provided to support the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme in the state.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Sustainable Development Goal  Six (SDG-6) emphasises provision of clean water and sanitation for the populace.The UNICEF official explained that the donation entailed provision of technical assistance through procurement, contract, management, implementation and monitoring of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in rural areas.According to him, the aim is to work with government in accelerating access to water and sanitation for all people in the state.He recalled that the state government had begun the mission of achieving the Sustainable Development SDG-6 by 2030.He said that the donation was therefore aimed at encouraging the state to intensify efforts at achieving that goal in record time.UNICEF has also been working with the Rural Water and Sanitation Agency for the implementation of community-led total sanitation model.This is being done in 122 communities to be certified as open defecation free in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state, he said.He said that the Fund had supported the state to provide access to safe water in 30 communities in the local government through rehabilitation of 44 water facilities.The Fund has also developed a system for water safety planning, household water treatment and hygiene promotion aimed at improving health outcomes.UNICEF also supports the state government in other areas of maternal and child health, nutrition, polio and basic education.It also helps in social protection through conditional cash transfer to poor families and communication for development among others.Mohiuddin advised the state government to scale up the WASH model interventions to cover other local governments through increased funding.
CAMDEN -- On the seventh day of the murder trial of David "D.J." Creato Jr., accused of killing his 3-year-old son, jurors heard about the various items that investigators sent to the State Police lab for DNA testing.

They ranged from swabs of small blood stains at Creato's apartment to cigarette butts found at the spot in Cooper River Park where Brendan's body had been found Oct. 13, 2015. None provided any DNA evidence linking Creato to the boy's death, according to testimony from the lab's forensic scientists.

But there were two pieces of evidence that were noticeably absent from the list of items tested: the pajamas the boy was wearing when he was found.

In fact, Detective Bill Rumell, who collected the pajamas from the autopsy, testified Wednesday that he didn't even go over the pajamas very closely before putting them in evidence storage because he assumed they were going to be sent to the lab for testing. They weren't.

The statement was not missed by Creato's attorney, Richard J. Fuschino Jr., and he brought it up again Thursday -- following the morning's testimony about the lack of DNA evidence connecting Creato to the crime.

Assistant Prosecutor Christine Shah told jurors in her opening statement that because Brendan's socks were clean when he was found, he must have been carried to the spot, about three-quarters of a mile from his father's home.

If there was DNA on the pajamas from the person who allegedly carried the boy, it was never discovered through testing.

The prosecution's theory is that Creato killed his son sometime the night or early morning before he called 911 to report that he woke up to find his son missing from his apartment. Shah told jurors he did it because his girlfriend, Julia Stensky, didn't want the child around and had threatened to leave him.

Creato has denied the charges.

In conversations with the boy's mother and with police, Creato has at times suggested that his son may have walked out of the apartment, possibly drawn to the stream by "spirits," or been taken by someone if the door was left unlocked.

Test questions

Patricia Taulane, a retired captain and former head of the Camden County prosecutor's office's homicide unit, testified for the prosecution about directing her detectives to canvas and recanvas the neighborhood in case anyone saw anything when Brendan died, and about questioning every sex offender in Haddon Township.

But when Shah brought up the pajamas and whether they were tested, Taulane seemed ready for the question.

"I don't believe they were. I probably should have oversaw that and made sure they were sent" to the lab, she testified.

Later, she said that she actually would not have had them tested because they had been submerged in the stream, and her experience is that there "would be no evidence" on them due to the water.

"My experience with the crime lab is they wouldn't have tested it," she said. "There would be no significant DNA evidence."

But Fuschino had anticipated that explanation and was ready to contradict it during cross-examination. He had asked Christina Knipper, a forensic scientist from the crime lab, whether it would still be worth it to test for DNA evidence even if an item had been submerged in water.

She said that while water would likely make it harder to find biological material, "that doesn't mean it wouldn't be there."

He informed Taulane of the statement, and she still said it was not a mistake to forego testing.

She explained that her earlier statement -- that she probably should have sent them -- was just referring to the fact that it could have precluded the line of questioning at trial.

"They were processed by crime scene," she said, referring to Rumell collecting the pajamas and securing them in the evidence room. "The decision was made not to send them."

She did not say who made the decision not to test the pajamas.

Fuschino asked her if Rumell had made a mistake in not examining the pajamas "with a magnifying glass" for biological evidence like hairs, which could have been collected as evidence, even if the pajamas were not tested. She declined to call it a mistake.

"He must have planned to" have them tested, she said. She acknowledged there could have been "communication issues."

Also testifying Thursday morning was Jennifer Banaag, a forensic scientist working in the DNA unit of the crime lab.

She told jurors that she tested swabs from two blood stains from the floor of Creato's bathroom, and determined the DNA profile matched a mix of Creato and Stensky's blood.

She also tested two cigarette butts that jurors have heard were fresh when they were found near where Brendan was discovered. She confirmed that the DNA from the cigarettes did not match Creato, Stensky, any of his family members or any of the other people police had collected DNA swabs from in their investigation.

It also has never matched any of the DNA profiles in the federal criminal DNA database despite weekly searches, Banaag testified.

The crime lab was also unable to get a usable DNA profile from a stroller that was sent to them from investigators in the case, she said.

Police found the stroller, covered in leaves, bugs and other debris, at an abandoned home on Strawbridge Avenue. They were interested in it because they had received a tip that someone was seen pushing a stroller in the area about an hour after Creato had called 911, according to testimony.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
MILLVILLE -- A third person as been identified after their arrest in connection with a brutal beating in the city which was captured on video, authorities say.

Dwayne Green, 24 of Meade Avenue, Bridgeton, was taken into custody Wednesday night, according to Millville Police Lt. Ross Hoffman.

Green was picked up by New Jersey State Police in Bridgeton and then turned over to Millville authorities, Hoffman said Friday. Green was charged with aggravated assault and sent to the Cumberland County Jail in Bridgeton.

Green is the third person to be identified after their arrest for their alleged role in a beating of a Millville woman on April 26. As the 30-year-old victim, who had been knocked to the ground, was hit and kicked, bystanders just looked on, some recording cellphone video of the incident.

The street beating took place around 7 p.m. in the area of 4th Street and Garrison Avenue. The victim was taken to Inspira Medical Center Vineland for treatment and was initially listed in stable condition.

That video of the incident made its way onto social media and also into the hands of police who have used it to identify suspects in the case.

On May 1, Hoffman announced that Lashanta McCrae, 34, of the 100 block of South 4th Street and Keyona Frain, 21, of the 700 block of South 2nd Street, both in Millville, had been charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct in the case.

Hoffman said Friday that more arrests are expected in the case.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- Every year since 1999, New Jersey Institute of Technology has offered a college-prep program for low-income high school students from Newark who hope to become the first in their family to attend college.

Now, the program may end, not by way of budget cuts or lack of interest but because the university submitted an application for $1.25 million in federal funds and didn't double space it.

NJIT is among the dozens of colleges and organizations nationwide whose application for the federal Upward Bound program was recently rejected for not following new formatting rules put in place this year, according the university.

The U.S. Department of Education's decision means NJIT won't receive the $250,000 in annual funding it anticipated over the next five years and, barring a reversal, the university will be forced to cancel the 65-student program, NJIT said.

The university will also need to eliminate a position at its Center for Pre-College Programs, it said.

"NJIT will appeal the decision," the university said in a statement.

The decades-old Upward Bound program provides tutoring, counseling and other support for students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in postsecondary education.

In Newark, the program was open to English language learners from East Side High School, Barringer High School S.T.E.A.M Academy and Barringer High School Academy of Arts and Humanities.

Students had access to Saturday classes in computers, science, math, English, and Spanish at NJIT as well as counseling, mentoring and financial aid workshops, among other opportunities.

According to the federal government's application guidelines for Upward Bound, titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and captions may be singled spaced. But all text in the application narrative, including charts, tables, figures, and graphs need to be double spaced, with a specific requirement of "no more than three lines per vertical inch."

NJIT did not double space its narrative, according to the university.

The school isn't alone in its formatting ignominy. Other colleges also lost out on the federal money because they failed to double space, used the wrong font or had the wrong size margins, according to a report by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The rejections have caused an uproar among college officials and lawmakers but concerns were met with little sympathy, according to the report. The U.S. Department of Education did not respond to the Chronicle's request for comment.

Even if the decisions are reversed, the Upward Bound program may still be in jeopardy. It's among a group of education programs slated for major budget cuts in the Trump Administration's proposed budget.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
ATLANTIC CITY -- Michael Symon's new fine dining destination at the Borgata in Atlantic City can be boiled down to two words: Mamma mia!

Angeline, which opens Saturday, is not only named for the celebrity chef's mother Angel, but it is directly inspired by her Sicilian home cooking, from the towering lasagna, with layer upon layer of pasta, meat sauce, ricotta and mozzarella ($29) to the hearty Mom's meatball appetizer ($14) to the multi-course family-style Sunday supper (but available every day) starring braciole and sausage and peppers ($49 per person).

It's the food the Iron Chef grew up eating, along with dishes from the red sauce Italian-American joints in his native Cleveland, as well as more classic Italian cooking informed by his many visits to Europe.

"It's almost like my life story of Italian food, from childhood to now," Symon tells NJ.com during the restaurant's soft opening Thursday, when he was also taping a segment of his ABC talk show "The Chew" and inspiring squeals and flash pops from excited diners. And what did his mother think of Angeline when she visited earlier this week? "She cried," he says. "What any good Mediterranean mother would do."

Though Atlantic City has seen a series of casinos close in recent years, some of the remaining casinos are continuing to upgrade their properties. Last month, the Tropicana welcomed fellow Iron Chef Jose Garces and his two new restaurants, Olon and Okatshe. At the Borgata, Symon joins two other Iron Chefs, Bobby Flay with his eponymous steakhouse and Geoffrey Zakarian, the culinary consultant to the Water Club. (The casino's fine dining offerings also include Wolfgang Puck American Grille, Izakaya Modern Japanese Pub and Old Homestead Steak House.)

There are plenty of crowd-pleasers on the Angeline menu: the creamy arancini with smoked mozzarella nestled in a slick of tangy red sauce ($12), tableside Caesar ($12), linguini with clams and pancetta ($28), and wood-fired favorites such as ribeye ($52) and brick chicken in marsala ($28).

But Symon says the hidden gem on the menu is the porchetta with mustard fruit ($34). "To me it's just a perfect dish. I don't think anybody does it quite like we do. We roll the loin and the belly together, roast it for about 12 hours, and get the skin like a cracker."

Desserts include a strawberry cassata cake ($12), tiramisu for two ($14), and orange, ricotta and chocolate cannoli ($9), among others. Longtime Symon collaborator David Earle created the bar program, heavy of course on Italian liqueurs and cocktails, including a bracing Negroni sweetened with limoncello ($14) and the lighter Borgata spritz, with Cappelletti apertivo, San Pellegrino Chinatto, Contrato Bianco vermouth and rosemary ($14).

The 220-seat space, formerly Michael Mina's SeaBlue, has been given a clubby but sophisticated makeover, with bottle green velvet upholstered chairs and leather banquettes, touches of brass, wood and milk glass, a rich green subway tile wall framing the kitchen, a ceiling inlaid with gleaming cream-colored penny tile, and a glass rear wall showcasing the extensive wine collection. A private dining room on one side is even more directly inspired by Mama Symon, with black and white family photos, vintage floral wallpaper and lace drapes.

The restaurant is open for dinner Wednesdays through Mondays. Reservations are available by calling (609) 317-1000 or going to theborgata.com.

Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy or like her on Facebook.
They're standing in line next to the silhouette of a large boat that symbolizes their journey.

There are 12 adults and two children. The men, carrying suitcases, are wearing suits and hats. The women are clad in long dresses with scarves over their heads. All of them are immigrants who have settled in Newark's Ironbound section with hopes of pursing the American dream.

When their sculptor, Camilo Satiro, is done, the expression on their faces will be pleasant, not weary like the many images he's seen of immigrants coming to America.

"I wanted to show something that says the future is bright,'' said Satiro, 46, of Newark "I prefer to show something beautiful.''

MORE: Recent Barry Carter columns

He's about half done with the "Immigrants Memorial Monument," an important piece of public art that, when finished, will stand on a traffic island where Ferry Street meets Wilson Avenue.

It's the spot in the Ironbound that everybody knows as five corners, in front of St. Stephan's Grace Community Church, where five streets intersect.

The idea for the monument came from East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador, who said he wanted to honor all immigrants who have contributed to the fabric and life of the Ironbound.

"Nothing had been done in our community to celebrate the contributions of all of the immigrant communities, including those who came from within the United States, to work in the factories,'' Amador said. "We usually recognize individuals who have made a huge contribution to the quality of life in the area, but we never really recognized all of the immigrants.''

The sculpture will do just that, and you won't be able to miss it. Satiro, who is Italian and African-American, said the people look real, as if they were on the street with you.

Etched from granite, the monument measures 16 feet tall and 18 feet long and weighs about 100 tons. Satiro, who has a studio in Kearny, is working on the project in Pennsylvania, where he has a larger workspace.

Because of its size, Satiro said, he divided the monument into 65 sections that will be boxed and transported by truck. When the monument arrives in Newark, Satiro will assemble the pieces and the entire project will be loaded onto a flatbed truck with a crane to be placed at the site.

Since the early 19th century, generations of immigrants from eastern and southern Europe have found their way to Newark's Ironbound, as have many African-Americans from Southern states. Each group established its own enclave to create a diverse mosaic of nationalities: Germans, Irish, Italians, Polish, Jewish, Lithuanians, Portuguese, Spanish, Brazilians, Ecuadoreans, Mexicans, Peruvians and more.

Maria Durkan, an Ironbound resident since 1954, said her family, which came from Spain, was among the last wave of immigrants to enter the United States through Ellis Island before it closed.

She was 8 years old at the time, traveling with her three sisters and father on the SS Constitution, an American ocean liner.

"I saw the lady for the first time,'' said Durkan, speaking of the Statue of Liberty. "My mother met us at Ellis Island, and we came straight Down Neck to Market Street.''

She's never left the Ironbound and never will.

"I love the Ironbound, honey," she said. "I'm not going anywhere.''

Loretta Fallone, an Ironbound resident for 53 years, said she is first-generation American in her family, which came to Newark from Italy.

They moved to Jefferson Street, and she's still there, choosing to stay so her middle school-age son could grow up in a diverse community.

"The monument is a symbol of America and its true meaning. It's all of us together. One nation under God.''

MORE CARTER: N.J. Korean high school student captures Princeton prize on race relations

As each group moved in and left, African-Americans migrating from the South also looked to make the Ironbound their home.

Walter Chambers, who grew up in the Ironbound, said five generations of his family came to the area from northern Virginia, starting before World War I.

He said his paternal grandfather delivered furniture by horse and buggy, and the horses were kept in a stable on Calumet street.

"There is a long history of African-Americans in the Ironbound section of Newark,'' said Chambers, who lives in East Orange. He calls the monument "appropriate for this community.''

Considering the current political climate in the country surrounding immigrants, the Newark monument couldn't have come at a better time to show what this city represents.

Joseph Della Fave, executive director of the Ironbound Community Corp., said this tribute is a reminder of how important immigrants have been to Newark and the country.

"But unfortunately, they are being targeted under this Trump presidential administration and now living in hysteria and fear,'' Della Fave said. "They're working so hard to raise their families to be part of our community.''

Seth Grossman, executive director of the Ironbound Business Improvement District, said Amador had the vision for this project, raising $250,000 in donations from the Ironbound business community, individuals and social clubs.

"The idea of (immigrants) coming here is a real, palpable thing,'' Grossman said. "It's not just a concept in people's mind. They are honoring a feeling, a sensation, an experience that is happening to them today.''

If everything goes well, the monument could be unveiled as soon as July 4th -- an appropriate day for Newark to celebrate its long history as a cultural melting pot.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or http://connect.nj.com/user/bcarter/posts.html or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL
EDISON -- Although a Democratic party committeewoman's complaint didn't move forward in court, she may have may still have achieved her goal of getting back onto the June primary ballot.

Deborah Andrews is currently the only sitting African-American on the Edison Democratic Organization, but her petition for re-election to the party seat "got lost" somewhere between local chairman Keith Hahn and township clerk on filing day.

In response, Andrews sued, accusing Hahn of dropping her from the party line and endorsing someone else for the seat because he had found out she was black. Andrews was appointed to an empty seat in February after another committeewoman moved out of town.

Edison Democratic Party Chairman Keith Hahn

Local Democratic party members vote during the June primary to fill the organization's 156 seats, which come with significant amount of clout in local politics.

Hahn previously called the omission of Andrews' name from the ballot a paperwork mix-up and has denied race played any role.

On Thursday, Superior Court Judge Arthur Bergman dismissed the lawsuit, saying he couldn't see how the court could fix the situation.

"The issue is I can't order them [the Edison Democratic Organization] to put her on the ballot," Bergman said, explaining he couldn't stop the county from printing the ballots because the organization itself was not named in the lawsuit.

The judge also said there was no legal basis for him to order the organization to put Andrews on the ballot despite Andrew's attorney's claim that Hahn had a fiduciary duty as chairman to file her petition, even if it was as an independent.

"You're asking me to do things I can't even do," Bergman said to Andrew's attorney, Louis Mangione. "

The judge, however, said he'd issue a consent order to the county clerk to change the ballot if the two sides came to an agreement, as long as the ballots haven't gone to print.

Mike Baker, who represented Hahn and the Edison Democrats, told the judge he and his clients have offered to put Andrews on the ticket and drop Krupa Patel from the party line. Patel's petition was handed in and notarized by Hahn.

Baker said Mangione has refused the proposal because of the 22 others listed in the suit claiming that Hahn allegedly pushed out from their committee seats in the April filing.

"We could have gone to the clerk right now to handle this but [Mangione] doesn't want to do that," Hahn said after the proceeding.

Mangione said he will discuss the proposal with Andrews. He said his client filed the legal complaint in Middlesex County Superior because she "just doesn't want this to happen to anyone else."

"We included the other 22 people because we believe there was discrimination on other levels," Mangione said.

It was unclear if the ballots have been printed. They were supposed to be printed last week but that was delayed due to another case in front of Bergman, according to the judge.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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NEW BRUNSWICK - Michael Doce bragged about his ties to the mafia to trick a gangster-wannabe into killing an Edison man he didn't like, prosecutors allege.

Doce's attorney described a man from Woodbridge that always wanted to be the center of attention who would tell tall tales of organized crime scores and ways to plan a hit to impress his friend but never imagined that friend would brutally murder the 28-year-old with a pickaxe.

A jury of 10 women and six men will decide over the next several weeks in Middlesex County Superior Court what the now-28-year-old's role was, if any, in the 2011 death of Kelvin Dumo, whose body was found at a Sayreville site on Jernee Mill Road.

Daniel Medaglia, 32, admitted to fatally bludgeoning the Edison man in 2014, but authorities allege Doce was the "mastermind" behind the murder and faces charges of murder and conspiracy.

Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor's Kristen Pridgen told the jury Thursday morning that Doce had manipulated Medaglia into believing he had ties to the organized crime and convinced the now-convicted murderer that Dumo was a "snitch," working with law enforcement.

"You can but you have to go alone," Pridgen said reading from Doce's text messages. "In the back is a river and my dad's aght [sic] is in the water. Go to the dock. We always have rope and concrete blocks there. Tie him and put him in the water behind the back of the boat. The crabs will eat him in two days. Put the car in drive into the river too..."

An excerpt of a text message sent by Michael Doce to Daniel Medaglia presented by the prosecution in their opening statement to the jury. Michael Doce of Colonia stands trial for murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the slaying of Kelvin Dumo, who was bludgeoned to death in November 2011 on the property of Viking Terminal Marine in New Brunswick on Thursday, May 4, 2017. Authorities stated in 2011 that Doce encouraged Daniel Medaglia to kill Dumo. (Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media)

Doce's defense attorney Eric Breslin dismissed the state's accusations, telling the jury in Middlesex County during his opening statement that his client was simply playing around and the exchange was only a snapshot of texts between the two out of hundreds over a year span.

"It was a game, an escape from reality," Breslin said. "They were involved in a fictional world of organized crime. These things were not real, just a long running joke -- albeit a cruel one. No one was supposed to get hurt ever."

Breslin said none of the texts detailed how the actual murder went down, and when Medaglia told Doce, who, at the time, was watching a movie with his parents in Colonia, he didn't believe his friend about his criminal actions on the night Nov. 6, 2011.

After hearing news reports of the murder, Doce went to the Sayreville Police Department, where he gave a four-hour statement without a lawyer and was let go, according to Breslin.

"Does that sound like someone who is guilty?" he said.

Pridgen said Doce reaction was to tell Medaglia to make sure all their text messages were deleted.

Medaglia and Dumo were childhood friends but grew apart in their late-20s.

Pridgen said that was due to Doce's influence, who didn't like Dumo.

The two only got close again two weeks before the murder as part of the alleged plot hatched by Doce, according to Pridgen.

"Dumo was a problem that Doce wanted Medaglia to fix," said Pridgen. The prosecutor said Doce allegedly threatened Medaglia if he didn't carry out the plan.

Medaglia was given 30 years in prison as part of the plea deal struck with the prosecutor's office, which requires him to testify against Doce in the case.

Doce's defense team argued he had no reason to hurt Dumo.

Breslin attacked the credibility of the state's primary witness. The attorney described Medaglia as an addict and a person with a life constantly in crisis, who relentlessly tried to pull Doce into his world.

Doce used the made-up stories of organized crime, some of which he borrowed from television shows and mafia movies, such as "Goodfellas," as a way to rebuff Medaglia when he wouldn't leave him alone, Breslin said.

"My client is a BS artist," Breslin said. "Was he foolish? I'll give you that, very foolish. Was he immature? Yes. Was he a murderer? No."

Pridgen said these stories were part of Doce's "sophisticated manipulation" of Medaglia, who sought acceptance into the world of organized crime in New Jersey.

"He, [Doce], controlled every aspect of this murder even though he was 15 miles away," Pridgen said.

Assistant Prosecutor Vincent Vitale called the owner of the Viking Terminal Marine site as the first witness Thursday in the trial, which is expected to last at least five weeks.

Another man in the case, Ryan Morrell, 34 of Dunellen, pleaded guilty in 2014 to a charge of hindering Medaglia's apprehension by driving him from the crime scene in Sayreville.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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NEWARK -- State officials are trying to shut down the office of a Monmouth County man they say has posed as a doctor for nearly 30 years.

A complaint filed in Superior Court by the state Division of Consumer Affairs and the state Board of Medical Examiners accuses Raymond Salani Jr., the owner of Lifestyles Medical LLC in West Long Branch, of treating patients and writing prescriptions without ever having a license to do so in New Jersey.

Salani had been prosecuted criminally and civilly in the past but continued to practice medicine, state Attorney General Christopher Porrino said on Friday.

"Despite repeated civil and criminal actions against the defendant, he has allegedly chosen to continue to represent himself as a physician," Porrino said in a press release. "The egregious violations of consumer and patient protection laws alleged in this complaint will not be tolerated."

The business's website says it is a "professional team of medical, nutritional, psychophysical and counseling clinicians."

It says it offers services including bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, anti-aging medicine, stress management, medical weight loss, intravenous treatment and biofeedback.

A recording at the office identifies the business as "physicians for alternative medicine." A message left for Salani at the office had not immediately been returned on Friday.

In developing evidence for the case, the Division of Consumer Affairs sent undercover investigators twice o the office to pose as patients, which aided officials in getting a court order on April 11 to impound records there and from other locations where Salani practiced medicine.

Porrino said that in both visits, the undercover investigators, after speaking with Salani, were given prescriptions without having seen or spoken to a physician.

Consumer Affairs and the Board of Medical Examiners first sought to stop Salani from practicing medicine in 1989. He was held in contempt of court in 1994 and convicted of theft by deception in 1995 in connection with his unlicensed practice, authorities said.

During its investigation, the division discovered several instances where Salani and his son, Randy Salani, allegedly had offered medical advice to patients, Porrino said.

In one case, a male patient appeared to have a seizure, he said, and Salani and a doctor who was advertised as the office's medical director sought to minimize the situation by saying a hospital evaluation of the patient was not necessary, the complaint said.

"Such refusal bespeaks a desire to hide his unlawful conduct from the sight of the law at the detriment of his patient," a letter prepared by the state and accompanying the complaint says.

The investigation also revealed that the doctor advertised as the office's medical director was actually not involved in the day-to-day operations there, according to the complaint. It was Salani who interacted with new and existing patients, the complaint said.

The state is seeking a six-month prison sentence for contempt for Salani, Porrino said. Also, state officials want Salani to pay civil penalties, restitution to all the affected people and entities and costs associated with the prosecution of the case, Porrino said.

The division's Enforcement Bureau conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The State Council executive meeting on April 19 presided over by Premier Li Keqiang decided to further promote tax cuts to drive the real economy and released a slew of tax cut incentives, which are estimated to reduce businesses tax burdens by more than 380 billion yuan.

First, the countrys nationwide VAT reform will proceed with a simpler tax rate structure. The four-tiered VAT system, with tax rates of 17, 13, 11, and 6 percent, will be reduced to three levels starting on July 1. The sectors involved are agricultural products and natural gas.

Second, tax cut incentives for small enterprises with limited profits will expand from January 2017 to December 2019. Businesses with profits under 500,000 yuan will be eligible, instead of the previous 300,000.

Third, the proportion of pre-tax deductions for innovation-based tech firms will be further expanded from the present 50 percent of R&D prime cost to 75 percent, valid from 2017 to 2019.

Fourth, tax incentives currently given to venture capital firms will expand their coverage to incubators and new high-tech companies, securing venture capital support in eight designed locations, including the Beijing-Hebei-Tianjin hub, Shanghai and Guangdong, as well as Suzhou Industrial Park, effective from Jan 1, 2017.

In addition, starting July 1, the preferential policy will be expanded to individual investors, and investments in the past two years will also be included.

Fifth, further tax cuts for commercial health insurance will be applied nationwide, with an upper limit of 2,400 yuan in tax deductions per person.

Sixth, part of the preferential tax policies that expired at the end of 2016 will be extended to the end of 2019, including the 50 percent reduction in tax rates on urban land use for logistics facilities that store commodities such as agricultural and mineral products.

In addition to the detailed measures, the Premier also urged speeding up the implementation process of the tax preferential policies to benefit various market entities, including small and micro businesses, innovation-based tech companies, and reform pilot zones.
A firefighter has been charged with murder following a street shooting in Paterson.

A man sought for allegedly exposing himself to people in multiple towns for months has been arrested.

The pair are among a group of people either charged with, indicted for, convicted of or sentenced in a wide array of crimes that made news across New Jersey in the past week.

Click through the gallery above to catch up on any law and order news you might have missed. Here's some of what's there:

A 30-year-old

Police in Medford say they have

A 48-year-old Palmyra man

Two Trenton men

A 34-year-old former corrections officer

A 19-year-old Trenton

A 38-year-old Plainfield man who tried to flee to Iowa after he

Three men have been indicted on charges that

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
If patients don't ask, hospitals won't tell how much care really costs
A Louisiana House tax committee has pushed forward bills that would eliminate tax exemptions permanently. (Photo by Brianna Paciorka, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)(Photo by Brianna Paciorka, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
The federal government plans to pour $125 million into the fight against a mysterious disease that has ravaged corals in Florida and much of the Caribbean, and now poses a dire threat to the treasured reefs off the Louisiana and Texas coasts.
In the aftermath of the shooting that claimed the life of Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Deputy Mark Burbridge and injured Deputy Pat Morgan and Council Bluffs man Jerry Brittain, public figures have offered their thoughts and condolences.

Putting together words to provide comfort is very difficult. The county, we look at it as a family. We lost a family member, Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors Chairman Justin Schultz said. Were trying to navigate those waters as best we can.

Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh called this a solemn time for our community.

Walsh said he hopes for those personally impacted by this tragedy to find peace and comfort.

I would like to thank all of the public safety professionals for your admirable collaboration and for your perseverance, the mayor said. My thoughts and prayers are with the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office during this time of loss. Sharing in your sorrow.

In a statement, Gov. Terry Branstad called Mondays shooting a senseless act of violence. The thoughts and prayers of (his wife) Chris and I go out to the families of these officers and to those who serve beside them, Branstad said.

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds  who will soon take over for Branstad after his expected confirmation as U.S. ambassador to China  also issued a statement:

Men and women across Iowa put their lives on the line every day to make our communities a safe place to live and raise a family.

Were reminded of the selfless and ultimate sacrifice they sometimes face, Reynolds said.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said my prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues of Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Deputy Mark Burbridge as they cope with this unimaginable loss.

Like Mark, members of Iowa law enforcement selflessly put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our communities, Ernst said. We are grateful for his service, and his legacy will not be forgotten.

Also issuing a statement from Washington, Sen. Chuck Grassley said he was saddened to hear about Burbridges passing.

Law enforcement officers like Mark are heroes, and tragedies like this show the danger of the job and how much they put themselves at risk every day for the safety of others, Grassley said. We should remember how much first responders and law enforcement officers sacrifice for public safety, and use this as an opportunity to thank them for their service.
The man accused of shooting two Pottawattamie County sheriffs deputies, one fatally, and escaping from jail soon will be returned to Iowa to face charges there.

Wesley Correa-Carmenaty, 24, waived extradition at an Thursday hearing at the Douglas County Jail. Wednesday, a judge ordered Correa-Carmenaty held on $10 million bail on charges of kidnapping, use of a firearm to commit a felony, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest.

After todays extradition hearing, he will be taken back to Iowa, where he has been charged in warrants with murder, two counts of attempted murder, kidnapping and six other felonies.

Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber said Correa-Carmenaty will be held in Iowa during the trial. However, he will not be held in Pottawattamie County.

For security reasons, we will not likely disclose (the location Correa-Carmenaty will be held) until hes there, Wilber said. Correa-Carmenaty is expected to be brought to Iowa sometime next week, Wilber added.

Correa-Carmenaty was heavily guarded at todays hearing, as he was at his first appearance in court on Wednesday. He was cuffed and shackled to a chain around his waist and flanked by several correctional officers.

Correa-Carmenaty is accused of attacking Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Deputy Mark Burbridge with a shank, according to a source close to the investigation, then grabbing a gun from either Burbridge or fellow Deputy Pat Morgan and shooting both. Burbridge died about an hour after the attack, which occurred at the Pottawattamie County Jail about 10:55 a.m. Monday.

Morgan, who still was at the Nebraska Medical Center on Thursday afternoon, is expected to make a full recovery.

The Douglas County Attorneys Office dismissed charges it had filed against Correa-Carmenaty so he could be returned to Iowa. The office has the option to refile the charges within three years.

Burbridges funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. A public visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home, 1221 North 16th St. in Council Bluffs.

Visitation for law enforcement officers will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Officers not in uniform must bring their law enforcement identification to be allowed entry.
The mass layoffs, the first in Meta's 18-year history, follow thousands of job cuts at other major tech companies including Elon Musk-owned Twitter and Microsoft Corp.
Anna LeBaron  one of more than 50 children of infamous polygamist cult leader, Ervil LeBaron  endured abandonment, horrific living conditions, child labor and sexual grooming. At age 13, she escaped the violent cult, gave her life to Christ and sought healing.

LeBarons book, The Polygamists Daughter, was released in March. The Tyndale author is currently on a nationwide book tour and will be stopping Monday at Bible Supplies in the Westfield Shopping Center. Bible Supplies will be hosting LeBaron at 2 p.m. for a public reading, talk and question and answer time. She will be available to sign books until 4:30 p.m.

In the fall of 2015, LeBaron sent a Tweet to a new author she wanted to support. Unknown to her, author Ruth Wariner was her cousin. She is the daughter of Joel LeBaron, who was killed by his brother Ervils followers in 1972. LeBaron accidentally broke a decades old silence between their families with a simple Tweet. But after a tenuous introduction through social media, the cousins bridged the gap between their families and Anna offered to help Ruth promote her book, the New York Times bestseller The Sound of Gravel.

North Platte author and podcaster Andrea Joy Wenburg published the cousins first long-form interview together. That interview can be found at voiceofinfluence.net or Voice of Influence on iTunes and other podcasting apps.

Bible Supplies has copies of LeBarons The Polygamists Daughter for a discounted price. Books can be purchased and saved to sign by the author if people are unable to attend the May 8 event.
MERRILLVILLE  The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana prepared to recognize out-of-the-box thinking for the 13th year when it hosted its annual Call for Nominations Thursday at the Purdue Technology Center.

The society seeks to honor innovators with its annual awards, the nominations for which will close at 5 p.m. July 5. Teams and individuals may be nominated for the awards at the groups website, at www.nwisoi.org.

The 2017 nomination program included Bill Barnes, operations and entreprenuerial manager for Purdue Technology Center; OMerrial Butchee, director of the Gerald I. Lamkin I&E Center for Excellence; and Whiting Mayor Joseph Stahura.

The program also included an appearance by society Chairman Richard Marrell, president and founder of RLM Prosthetics, in character as Leonardo Da Vinci.

The Society is rebranding one of its team awards as the Leonardo da Vinci Accelerating Greatness Award in honor of da Vinci. The other team award is the Octave Chanute Prize for Team Innovation, named for the aviation pioneer who experimented along the dunes.

The more we promote ourselves, the better off well be, Barnes said in his opening remarks.

As keynote speaker, Stahura recounted how Whiting worked to reinvent itself after a property tax hike left its residents struggling. Whiting opted to grow its tax base by turning our city into a place to visit.

In addition to promoting its quirky Pierogi Fest, Whiting received millions in grant money from the Regional Development Authority that allowed it to transform its Lake Michigan shoreline into a tourist destination.

Currently, Whiting and its partners are at work on a National Mascot Museum that could be a world-class family attraction and be open by the spring of 2018.

Following Marrells turn as da Vinci, Cindy Hedge of the Center for Creative Solutions in Michigan City provided a history lesson and reminder of how great an innovator da Vinci was and that he can still serve as an inspiration today.

I hope you will let da Vinci talk to you and guide you wherever in the world you express your own creativity, she said.

Nominees for the 2017-2018 Innovator Awards can be either individuals or teams. Nominees should have originated a new and different idea, implemented that idea and ensured that it contributes to the greater good.

Technology is not a requirement and the nominee can come from any sector or discipline. More information can be obtained from the societys website.

The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana cultivates creativity and innovation as a growth strategy by discovering, encouraging, celebrating and honoring our most innovation people across our seven counties, according to its website.
Winning Purdue University Northwest's Big Sell contest requires a good business plan, a sharp two-minute pitch and some entrepreneurial flair, but isn't usually rocket science.

This year, it was.

Purdues School of Aeronautics and Astronautics graduate student Alex Finch won the first place prize of $5,000 at the Big Sell in Hammond for his low-cost rocket engine startup. He's one of the founders of Tri-D Dynamics, which is looking to reduce the cost of rocket engine manufacturing through 3-D printing and "other additive manufacturing processes."

We have signed our first client and are looking to add more, Finch said.

Hydro Grow LLC co-founder Scott Massey took second place at the annual entrepreneurship contest at the Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center in Hammond, where a panel of judges and the audience decides which entrepreneur has the best business idea. His company is making large vegetable growing pods for the home.

Oliver Wendt won the third-place prize of $1,000 for the company he co-founded, Speak MODalities, which designs apps to help children diagnosed with autism or other communication issues.

We had eight finalists who all had very strong presentations and top-notch business plans. It was very difficult to select the top awardees, but the three winners all had perfect or nearly perfect presentations, said Mont Handley, event coordinator and associate director for the Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center. They truly represent the best of the best in the entrepreneurial ecosphere.
Two workers remain hospitalized after an industrial accident that hurt four at the BP Whiting Refinery on April 28.

BP spokesman Michael Abendhoff said two of the four injured workers were released from the hospital but two were still hospitalized a week after the mishap.

The company reported "an incident at a power distribution center" inside the former Standard Oil Refinery on the shore of Lake Michigan, but has not elaborated on what exactly happened. Abendhoff said an internal investigation is underway.

The accident did not disrupt production at the 430,000-barrel-per-day refinery, which supplies gasoline to seven states across the Midwest and can produce enough gas in a day to fuel 6 million cars.

"The refinery is running normally and I do not have any information regarding the ongoing investigation," he said.

The London-based company has been working to improve safety at its facilities worldwide after serious accidents at a Texas City refinery, an Alaskan pipeline and in the Gulf of Mexico in the 2000s. BP says Tier 1 process safety events in which materials are unintentionally released have plunged by 73 percent between 2010 and 2015 as a result of new safety procedures.

No BP employees have died on the job since 2013 and the number of recordable injuries fell to 0.21 percent last year, down from 0.35 percent in 2012.

The BP Whiting Refinery employs more than 1,800 workers at its sprawling 1,400-acre refinery that spills into Hammond and East Chicago, as well as hundreds of union contractors who are often on-site. It's the largest refinery in the Midwest and single-handedly produces about 5 percent of the asphalt in the country.
Amid rough conditions for retail in general and supermarkets in particular, the century-old Strack & Van Til parent company Central Grocers is winding down its distribution operations over the next two months and will lay off nearly 550 workers.

The Joliet-based company announced it is filing for bankruptcy and looking to sell 22 Strack & Van Til stores and its 934,490-square-foot distribution center in Joliet through an auction in bankruptcy court. Central Grocers reported it owes more than $16 million in debt to its 20 largest creditors, including $3 million to Kellogg, $2.3 million to Kraft Foods, $1.9 million to Nestle USA, and $1.3 million to Tyson Foods, according to its bankruptcy filing.

Strack & Van Til stores will remain open.

Our stores are open, and we are as focused as ever on supporting our customers and providing the legendary service that we are known for," Strack and Van Til Chief Executive Officer Jeff Strack said. "As we move through this process, our priorities, values and commitments to our customers and our communities will not change. We thank our loyal customers for their continued support, and we thank our employees for their hard work and dedication.

Saying Central Grocers hadn't been paying its bills, creditors such as Coca Cola and General Mills had filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition earlier this week trying to liquidate the Joliet-based company  a $2 billion cooperative which has been in business for 100 years. Central Grocers, which supplies 400 independent grocery stores across the Chicago area, responded by filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which would let it sell off its assets before going out of business instead of being stripped apart by a court-appointed liquidator.

The impact will be far-reaching and extend beyond the Region's largest locally owned grocery chain, which once operated as many as 38 stores under the Strack & Van Til, Ultra Foods and Town and Country brands across Northwest Indiana and the greater Chicago metro. Central Grocers distributes the Centrella brand products, meat, produce and other grocery items to many local independent grocers, including Save More Foods in Gary, Central Market in Lake Station, Reliable Supermarket in Hammond, Walt's Food Centers in Dyer and the south suburbs and Treasure Island in Chicago.

Its dissolution may mean the end of the Centrella Brand, a store brand of supermarket staples like ketchup, mayo, beef stew, green beans, canned peas and bottled water.

The wholesaler is looking to sell remaining Strack & Van Til stores to an interested buyer of its choosing to avoid a low bid. The grocery chain expects to sell off the 22 remaining Strack & Van Til stores, its distribution center in Joliet and other assets through a court-supervised auction process under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

In light of the increasingly difficult environment for independent supermarkets and retailers, we have been working tirelessly to achieve an outcome that is in the best interests of our stakeholders," Central Grocers President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Nemeth said. "We are using this court-supervised sale process to provide us the time and flexibility to conduct an orderly sale of the Strack & Van Til stores, while we work to sell the warehouse in Joliet and wind down our wholesale distribution operations.

Conditions have been rough for the retail sector, which has announced more than 3,100 store closings nationwide so far this year as e-commerce continues to sap market share from brick-and-mortar shops, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates more than 90,000 retail jobs have vanished since the fall.

It's been particularly tough for grocery stores, low-margin businesses that have been struggling with the worst price depreciation in decades and intense competition. Michigan City-based Al's Supermarket has closed locations in South Haven and LaPorte over the last two years. Indianapolis-based Marsh announced Friday it was closing nine more locations, just weeks after it said it would close 10 of its grocery stores. Even tony, high-end Whole Foods has been struggling and activist investors have clamored for it to find a buyer to take it over.

Amid industrywide pressures, Central Grocers faced competition from the much larger co-op Associated Wholesale Grocers, which has a warehouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and has been making an increased push into the Chicago area market.

The Joliet-based co-op, which allowed mom-and-pop grocers to pool their resources and negotiate lower prices by buying in greater volume, is sending employees a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or WARN notice saying it expects 549 layoffs in Joliet. It said in the letter that no buyer had stepped forward to operate the central warehouse as a distribution facility so there was no expectation that any jobs would be retained.

"This is anticipated to be a permanent shutdown of the entire plant; no bumping rights will exist," Nemeth wrote in the letter to employees.

Warehouse workers and truck drivers are expected to lose their jobs between June 26 and July 10. Central Grocers expects to completely wind down operations in the next six to eight weeks.

It owns 80 percent of its largest customer Strack & Van Til, which it acquired in the 1990s, according to the bankruptcy filing. Andrew Raab and Jeff Strack each own 10 percent of the grocery chain, which started in 1959 and is widely considered the Region's grocery chain.
Highland-based Strack & Van Til has reported to Illinois that it will lay off more than 750 workers when it closes seven Ultra Fresh Foods stores, bringing the total number of layoffs at the supermarket chain and its embattled parent company to 1,935 this year.

The 58-year-old grocery store chain submitted Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, Act notices to the Illinois Department of Security that it would lay off 752 workers when it closes its Ultra stores in Lansing, Chicago Heights, Crestwood, Calumet Park, Forest Park, Wheaton and Joliet.

That includes 138 layoffs at the Lansing Ultra at 16831 Torrence Ave., which it spent millions to renovate in 2015, adding a sushi bar and other modern amenities. Ultra had just opened the Crestwood store, which employed 86, in 2012.

All the Ultra stores are slated to close by June 17, which is when the layoffs are slated to take place, according to the WARN notices.

Strack & Van Til earlier warned the Indiana Department of Workforce Development it would lay off 174 workers at its locations on Ridge Road in Gary and the Merrill Point shopping center in Merrillville, which are also slated to shutter by June 17.

The latest wave of layoffs came as troubled cooperative Central Grocers, which filed for bankruptcy Thursday, looks to sell 22 Strack & Van Til stores to a yet-unnamed buyer. The cooperative, which serves other Region grocery stores like Save More in Gary and Walt's Food Centers in Dyer and the south suburbs, told employees it was shuttering the nine Ultra stores because they were underperforming and the prospective buyer wasn't interested.

Central Grocers, a 100-year-old business that served 400 independent grocers in the Chicago metro, told its employees it plans to lay off 549 truckers and warehouse workers when its main warehouse closes and is sold off in an auction.

The business also is hoping to sell off the 22 remaining Strack & Van Til stores through a bankruptcy court-supervised auction, though unpaid creditors are petitioning a court for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy that would liquidate its assets.

Earlier this year, Strack & Van Til announced 460 layoffs when it closed five stores in April, including a longtime Merrillville location.

The entire grocery industry has been struggling with historically low prices and increased competition, including from online meal home delivery services such as Blue Apron, Hello Fresh and Home Chef. Al's Supermarket, Marsh, Meijer and Whole Foods all have been closing stores  in Indiana, the Chicago metro and across the nation.
HAMMOND  Two people are in custody after fleeing from police Thursday in Hammond during a bi-state law enforcement blitz, police said.

Lake County Deputy Chief Dan Murchek said police were in pursuit of a vehicle on Michigan Avenue in Hammond until officers decided to terminate the chase for safety reasons.

When two county officers pulled up by Hohman Avenue and Michigan Street, they saw the vehicle had crashed into a brush area and two people were running from the vehicle. Officers apprehended one person and a second person was found hiding in the woods along the railroad tracks, he said.

Both were taken into custody for fleeing police, traffic charges and driving while suspended, Murchek said. More details, including the circumstances of the pursuit, were not immediately known. Law enforcement agencies from Hammond, Calumet City, Indiana State Police, Whiting and Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District assisted, he said.

The suspects' names were not immediately available. Murchek said he will release more information about the incident and the bi-state blitz Monday.

The annual Illinois-Indiana blitz on Thursday targeted violent offenders, high-crime areas, narcotics and weapons. The mission is "designed to maximize multi-jurisdictional resources to enhance visibility within the region," Murchek said in a news release.
CROWN POINT  Two former cleaning company employees are accused of stealing more than $7,000 worth of gift cards from Strack & Van Til's corporate office.

Rolando M. Leal Jr., 27, and Johnna Kalinowicz, 41, were charged Wednesday in Lake Criminal Court with felony theft.

The former employees of Bryco Cleaning Services allegedly stole the gift cards two years ago while cleaning the grocery store chain's corporate offices at 2244 45th St. in Highland, according to a probable cause affidavit.

The company's officials installed a hidden camera in the office last January after employees noticed gift cards were missing, the affidavit states.

Leal and Kalinowicz were allegedly caught on camera rifling through desk and cabinet drawers looking at gift cards on Jan. 15, 2016, but did not steal any cards on that date, according to the affidavit.

A manager at the cleaning company told police he confronted the employees about the theft, and Leal and Kalinowicz both allegedly admitted to stealing gift cards, the affidavit states.

Strack & Van Til officials said $7,140 worth of gift cards were stolen.

Bryan Lazorik, president of Bryco Cleaning Services, said Friday he fired the two employees after he was told about the surveillance footage.

He said his company also fully reimbursed Strack & Van Til for the missing gift cards and the grocery store chain continues to use his company's services.

"We want to do right by our clients," Lazorik said.

Lazorik said his company performs a background check on all potential employees and will not hire anyone convicted of theft, or a drug or felony offense.

He said Leal's background check did not reveal his criminal record, which included a July 2014 conviction for failure to stop after an accident resulting in death.

Leal is currently jailed without bond on murder charges filed in March.

Kalinowicz was convicted in December 2007 of sexual misconduct with a minor on allegations she molested a 14-year-old boy. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison and required to register as a sex offender due to that conviction.

Lazorik said Kalinowicz told him during her interview that the boy was 17 years old. He said Kalinowicz was also referred for the job by her mother, a former employee and ex-cop.
INDIANAPOLIS  Northwest Indiana's most dangerous rail crossings soon could receive critical safety upgrades thanks to the infrastructure funding legislation enacted last week by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb.

In addition to hiking fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees to pay for road and bridge construction, House Enrolled Act 1002 allows the Indiana Department of Transportation to spend up to $10 million to improve crash-prone rail intersections with local roads and state highways.

State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, the sponsor of the new law, said it requires INDOT to develop an empirical measurement to officially determine which rail crossings will be fixed first.

But he said it's obvious where the most work is needed.

"The majority of heavy congestion, at-risk crossings are in Northwest Indiana," Soliday said.

The veteran lawmaker acknowledged that $10 million won't go very far toward addressing the state's nearly worst-in-the-nation rankings for most rail crossings and most rail crossing fatalities.

"This is just the beginning of dealing with our at-grade crossing issues," he said.

Soliday also is not expecting INDOT to get to work immediately on the railroad component of his legislation, since state policymakers have made it clear that getting Hoosiers to "smell asphalt" from road repairs is the top priority.

Indeed, INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield suggested it could be a little while before Region residents, and Hoosiers generally, start seeing rail intersection modifications.

"INDOT is exploring ways to make the best use of the new legislation and will identify construction projects over the coming months," Wingfield said.

The transportation agency is moving much more quickly in soliciting applications from local governments for state matching funds to support local road construction projects.

A provision of the new law allows municipalities that share jurisdiction over a road or bridge to aggregate their requests in an effort to secure a larger Community Crossings grant.

Soliday said given how Northwest Indiana communities generally run into each other, the aggregation option could bring a lot more state money for local projects to the Region if its cities, towns and counties choose to work together.
PORTAGE  Its too early to tell what, if any, actions will be taken against U.S. Steel for last months toxic release of a cancer-causing chemical into the Burns Waterway near Lake Michigan, IDEM said Wednesday.

The companys Midwest plant in Portage spilled nearly 300 pounds of hexavalent chromium into the Burns Waterway near Lake Michigan between April 11 and 12  or 584 times the daily maximum limit allowed under state permitting laws, Indiana Department of Environmental Management documents show.

In the aftermath of the chemical spill in Portage, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requiring U.S. Steel to take part in long-term water monitoring for hexavalent chromium, a toxic byproduct of industrial processes released hundreds of feet away from Lake Michigan due to a reported equipment failure, an agency spokesperson said this week.

Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen that appeared in the 2000 biographical film "Erin Brockovich."

Last months chemical spill forced the temporary closure of several area beaches and Indiana American Waters intake in Ogden Dunes, worrying parkgoers, environmental groups and local elected officials. The water intake and beaches reopened April 17 after EPA water samples detected no levels of the chemical.

Three days after the incident, the company finished equipment repairs and began a controlled restart of operations amid ongoing sampling and monitoring. A multi-agency investigation into the incident continues, IDEM said. A preliminary investigation revealed that an expansion joint in the rinse water pipe failed and resulted in the water being released to a different wastewater treatment plant and ultimately Burns Waterway through an outfall, U.S. Steel has said.

A fact sheet provided by U.S. Steel states ongoing water sampling showed the facility continues to be in compliance two weeks after the initial release. The company agreed to the long-term monitoring plan through Labor Day that will assess Lake Michigan beaches and public water intake to ensure there is no impact.

A robust EPA

U.S. Steels chemical spill also sparked outrage from environmental groups against the backdrop of massive IDEM and EPA budget cuts proposed under President Donald Trumps administration.

The companys major industrial spill illustrates the need we have for a robust EPA to prevent and respond to situations like this, Cindy Skrukrud, Clean Water program director for Sierra Club Illinois, said Wednesday.

We cannot bear cuts to the EPA staff and to its programs that protect the Great Lakes from pollution and cleanup legacy contamination sites. We are all depending on the EPA as we seek answers to the remaining questions about the impacts of the spill on the aquatic life in Burns Waterway, Skrukrud said.

As potential penalties are considered, they should include funding for restoration projects in and near the impacted area, she added.

Last month, NPS noted park staff was concerned with potential impacts to both beach users' health and long-term harm to wildlife and other park resources, adding that periodic beach patrols are underway at the National Lakeshore looking for evidence of fish kills or other environmental damage. Lake currents and waves have the ability to move this hazardous material onto park beaches at a later date, NPS said.

584 times allowable limit

Approximately 346 pounds of total chromium  including 298 pounds of hexavalent chromium, the most toxic form  was released between April 11 and 12 in the Burns Waterway based on 24-hour composite EPA sampling results.

U.S. Steels Midwest plant is permitted to release only a maximum of 0.51 pounds daily of hexavalent chromium at the outfall, under the companys wastewater permit issued by IDEM. According to composite samples taken by EPA, the spill exceeded 584 times the maximum daily limit.

Sam Henderson, a staff attorney for the Hoosier Environmental Council, denounced U.S. Steel for last months chemical spill while arguing there needs to be more effective oversight and enforcement of industry in Indiana.

If U.S. Steel had set up its system responsibly, it wouldn't have been possible for a single mechanical failure to dump nearly 300 pounds of hexavalent chrome into Lake Michigan, Henderson said. Spills like this show that U.S. Steel isn't taking that responsibility seriously. Industry needs to step up.

U.S. Steel said the company took immediate action following the equipment failure by shutting down production, notifying government agencies, inspecting the pipeline and making necessary repairs. Last month, the company said it takes all incidents "very seriously" and are "fully committed to researching and taking corrective actions to prevent a future occurrence."

IDEM's budget has been slashed to the bone, and we see the consequences of that in accidents like these, Henderson added.

Now we face the risk that EPA will be severely cut back as well, Henderson said. If those cuts go through, nobody will be minding the store. And if nobody's minding the store, it's inevitable that spills like this will become more common.

IDEM said Wednesday that U.S. Steel has cooperated throughout the investigation with all the agencies and continues to do so.

Due to the number of agencies involved and pending incident reports, it would be premature to say if any action will be taken against U.S. Steel, Brian Rockensuess, chief of staff for IDEM, said in an email Wednesday.

"All of the agencies are sharing information and data in order to come up with a comprehensive plan to address the site that takes into consideration the aspects of the law that each agency is charged with implementing and enforcing. Assessment and sampling continues both in the canal and in the lake and shoreline in proximity to the canal," Rockensuess said.

Communication and information sharing among the response agencies has been excellent and will be beneficial in developing an appropriate remedy, he added.

Weekly samples through swim season

The long-term monitoring plan requires an independent third-party laboratory to conduct sampling at beaches subject to oversight by the National Park Service, Indiana American Water and the U.S. EPA, plan documents show.

Sampling will occur once per week at four beaches  West Beach, Portage Lakefront Beach, Porter Beach and Ogden Dunes Beach  through swimming season, which runs from Memorial Day, May 29, through Labor Day, Sept. 4, according to the monitoring plan dated April 25.

Analytical results will be reported to NPS each week before 9 a.m. Thursday.

U.S. Steel will sample the Indiana American Water intake at the surface and mid-depth levels once per week until the end of May with reporting every Friday, the plan states.

The plan notes sampling may be reduced or discontinued, but only if the EPA, NPS, Indiana American Water Co. and U.S. Steel unanimously agree.

Bruce Rowe, spokesman for NPS, said Wednesday the park service is encouraged that there has been no detectable amount of the material found in the waters or on the beaches at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. We are looking forward to a normal beach season this summer.

Lynn McClure, Midwest director for National Parks Conservation Association, said many questions about the companys violation need to be answered.

Questions about protocols, communication, enforcement and testing, as well as the most important question of all  how can we better protect the waters and beaches near our national parks? The answers to those questions will be critical to ensuring that incidents like this never happen again, McClure said.

Lake Michigan is a primary source of drinking water for many residents of Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.
MERRILLVILLE  A local group is seeking assistance to keep first responders nourished as they train to protect the Region if a major natural disaster were to strike.

The Northwest Indiana Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) group is encouraging businesses to donate a variety of items, such as pallets of water, bags of ice, food, snacks, fruit and coffee, before Monday to accommodate the hundreds of participants in the upcoming United Front 2017.

Businesses also can make monetary contributions that will be used to buy items in need for the massive disaster response training exercise scheduled to occur between Saturday and May 12 at the site of the Radisson at Star Plaza. The facility will simulate a collapsed building from a tornado for the large scale rescues and other drills planned there.

Military units and local first responders are among the organizations that will actively participate in the activities.

Businesses interested in contributing to the event are asked to contact COAD Capacity Builder Jo Anne Johnson at joanne@unitedwaypc.org or 219-629-3193 to confirm items needed for the training and to schedule a time to drop off the donations. No homemade goods are being accepted.

Johnson said COAD commends first responders for the daily service they provide and for donating their time to participate in United Front 2017.

This is a great opportunity for our private and business community members to come together and support our first responders, who will be there for us in time of a true disaster, Johnson said in an email.

When the upcoming drills take place, Merrillville police and the town's Emergency Management Agency will provide assistance with security and traffic control at the site.

Merrillville Police Chief Joseph Petruch said the training program is not open to the public. There will be heavier traffic on U.S. 30, Interstate 65 and Broadway while the training occurs, and those traveling through that area are likely to see a large number of military and local emergency response vehicles there.

Petruch encourages motorists to avoid the area if possible during the drills.

Merrillville Deputy Fire Chief Jim Lilley said United Front 2017 will include nighttime training. He said a nearby residential community could expect to hear some noise during evening hours, but there will be efforts to limit the noise as much as possible.
SCHERERVILLE  Children from newborn infants to teenagers arrive in foster care homes throughout the year, sometimes in the middle of the night, some with just the clothes on their backs.

Providing resources and information for foster parents and adoptive parents continued to be the focus of Campagna Academys daylong Foster Care Conference on Thursday.

Seven years ago, we made a commitment to bring a free conference to Northwest Indiana for you foster parents, adoptive parents and professionals. The first conference had 60 people. Today there are over 300 attendees, said Elena Dwyre, Campagna Academy CEO, at the annual conference at Patrician Banquet Center.

This says something positive about your commitment to children."

Guest speakers and breakout sessions offered attendees information on a variety of subjects, including the resilience in foster children, navigating special needs, violence intervention, human trafficking, adoption from foster care and transition to adult life.

Dwyre said the event celebrates our foster families. We want them to feel they are valued, and recognize the professionals who work with families.

Children are removed from homes by the Department of Child Services (DCS) for such reasons as abuse and neglect. However, Dwyre said, the goal is always to reunify the children with their familiesOlder children need to feel they belong, to be wanted and be part of a family.

Keynote speaker Teresa K. Hollandsworth serves as referee with the Lake Superior Court Juvenile Division, appointed to the bench in 2015 by Lake County Juvenile Court Judge Thomas Stefaniak Jr.

I dont have a whistle, Hollandsworth, an attorney, joked about her referee title. Im similar to a magistrate, an assistant judge.

Her duties include presiding over Child in Need of Service (CHINS) proceedings and termination of parental rights proceedings.

The law says the focus is on reunification of the family, Hollandsworth said. The termination of parental rights is equivalent to a death sentence (in a criminal case).

She explained that parents have due process rights, which is why they can be represented by attorneys in the courtroom, while foster parents cannot. Parents can also appeal the rulings to the Indiana Court of Appeals and ultimately the Indiana Supreme Court.

Our goal is permanency for the kids, Hollandsworth said. It is unacceptable that any child is left behind.

However, she said, Im not a big fan of moving a child around. For example, an 8-year-old has anger issues and is taken from his home, the only home he knows and moved to another home and another home. What youre telling that child is youre at fault.'
HIGHLAND  It was a night of prayer for the 73 courageous children in Northwest Indiana who came forward earlier this year to report child sexual abuse  the result of the No More Secrets campaign school tour.

The campaign, launched in February by North Township Trustee Frank Mrvan, seeks to increase awareness about child sexual abuse in the Region.

Indiana has the second-highest reported rate of forced sexual intercourse among high school females in the nation, with 1 in 6 girls reporting to have been a victim of sexual assault by 18 years old.

Shaniqua Robinson, a minister-in-training with the Greater Destiny Bible Church in East Chicago, and other area clergy members prayed for others to have the courage to open up about abuse in the home.

God told me this was not just going to be a day for no more secrets. This is going to be a day for no more shame, no more pain, no more guilt, no more feeling that its your fault, Robinson said.

Robinson said she was sexually abused as a child, told a school counselor, but didnt receive the help she deserved. Years later, she found God and slowly began to heal, she said.

The 7 p.m. prayer service and candlelight vigil at Wicker Park Social Center  held on National Day of Prayer  honored the 73 children who reported alleged abuse to the states Department of Child Services as part of the No More Secrets campaign. In all, the campaign has reached 11,461 kids.

Its important that when we educate people  that if someone comes to them and says 'I was a victim,' the first step is believing them and asking What can we do for you now? Mrvan said. "They had to have enormous courage, trust and faith to come forward."

The campaign toured several schools in the Region to raise awareness about the issue and give children opportunity to confide in someone, he said. Children were also afforded mental health counseling on the spot and aftercare if need be.

Education as a weapon

Mrvan said he was motivated not by politics but because of his wife, who is also a survivor, he said. Mrvan, who added he had permission to speak about his wifes experience, said the biggest weapon against a predator is education.

The campaign also promoted Senate Bill 355  a state mandate to provide age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention curriculum in schools.

In March, child sexual abuse survivor Erin Merryn visited Purdue University Northwest as part of the campaign to talk about her experience with abuse and lobbying efforts to pass similar legislation in states across the U.S. Senate Bill 355, also known as Erins Law, was signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb last month and will go into effect July 1, 2018.

The Times Media Co. is a partner in the trustee's campaign, along with local nonprofits, law enforcement and other media organizations. Other partners include Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, Geminus Corp., WJOB, the Regional Mental Health Center, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana, and the Lake County Prosecutor's Office.

Isha Haley, a child sexual abuse survivor and consultant for Mrvans office, said she was sexually abused by two family members while growing up in Yonkers, New York. She said she is proud of the work shes accomplished with Mrvans office.

Honestly, as much as this was politics (in getting legislation passed), its also about the heart of the people. We would have done injustice to this campaign if we did not close it out in prayer, Haley said. We have a moral obligation to stand up and pray for them.

The campaign is far from over, she said. The next stop on the tour is May 22 at Munster schools.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP  Ind. 2 reopened early Friday morning after a rollover accident involving a tanker truck closed the roadway for eight hours Thursday night.

Just before 5 p.m. Thursday, Porter County sheriff's police received a report of a rollover crash involving a tanker truck and passenger car on Ind. 2 near County Road 450 North.

Initial investigation and witness statements show the driver of a 2003 Toyota Corolla was traveling southwest on Ind. 2 from Westville when the car went left of center, into oncoming traffic. Robert Garrett, 30, of LaPorte, was identified as the driver of the Toyota, said Sheriff's Department spokesperson Cpl. Jamie Erow.

He was extricated and flown by UCAN medical helicopter to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois, with incapacitating injuries to his arm and upper leg.

The second vehicle involved was a 2010 International Cargo Tank hauling propane, traveling northeast on Ind. 2. The driver of the Cargo Tank was identified as Phillip Hannon, 66, of LaPorte.

Hazmat was called to the scene due to the rollover of the Cargo Tank and leak of propane. Once the scene was deemed safe by hazmat, Hannon was extricated from his vehicle and transported to Porter Regional Hospital for incapacitating injuries to his shoulder and upper arm, Erow said.

The road remained closed for more than eight hours due to cleanup from the propane leak.

Garrett was cited for driving while suspended and driving left of center, police said.
Every year in America, an estimated 21,000 kids 14 and younger go to the emergency rooms after suffering traumatic brain injuries on the playground.

Chris Hanson, working as a salesman in the playground industry, wanted to do something to lower those numbers.

The Munster man saw that all the equipment to test playground safety was too expensive or required multiple people to operate. Thus, not much testing was being done.

So he teamed up with his brother, a mechanical engineer, to develop a lower-cost, less cumbersome testing device.

The result is the ST Impact Analyzer CH, a handheld electronic tester that measures the impact of falls on playground surfaces. The device recently received a design patent and is on the market now.

"In the past, a parks and recreation guy or a school maintenance guy would go out and give it the eyeball test," Hanson said. "With the growing awareness of the long-term repercussions of brain injuries, especially in children, what was out there was not good enough. The technology hadn't progressed past where it was 20 years ago."

Hanson's company, Sonam Technologies, is located at the Purdue Research Park in Crown Point.

Sonam Technologies sells the equipment to professional safety auditors, schools and municipal parks and recreation departments across the U.S., Canada and Southeast Asia. The device, which is the size and weight of a 6-year-old's head, is dropped onto the playground surface, measuring the impact of a fall.

Hanson said park inspectors traditionally had checked for things like loose bolts and choking points. His device, fitting into a case that's about 1 cubic foot, will allow them to easily test the safety of the playground surface, which can change over time due to use and climate.

"That ability to take it from site to site to site in quick succession means the testing is going to be done," he said. "If the technology is too difficult to use, people aren't going to take advantage of it."

He noted that park and school districts can be sued if a child injures his or her brain on the playground. He said his device is a way for them to reduce their legal liability while improving the health and safety of children, who inevitably fall while they're playing.

"You can't make a safe playground," he said. "You can only make a safer playground."
The NYPD is hunting for a group of men who they say viciously attacked a merchant on a busy shopping strip. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.

A brutal beating was caught on video, as a street vendor was knocked unconscious by several attackers.

Soulyemane Porgo was jumped after one of the menu allegedly tried to steal one of the handbags he was selling on 149th Street and Third Avenue.

"He comes out every day. He sets up and sells his stuff. He's out here every day doing his hustle. But I mean, for somebody to try to steal something from you and you almost lose your life, that is horrible," said one person in the neighborhood.

A close look at the video shows Porgo fighting one of the men when another man sucker punches him. Five men then take turns hitting him while he is on the ground.

Porgo is an immigrant from Burkina Faso in West Africa who has been a street vendor in the area for many years.

The attack happened Tuesday at around 5 p.m. in front of a large crowd on the shopping strip.

Charles Cooper, the head of the Bronx African Advisory Council, says Porgo was beaten in front of his family.

"See this happen in front of his wife and his children. That should never happen nowhere within New York City, nowhere within our district. And we need to stop this now," Cooper said. "The community wants justice."

He says Porgo suffered brain damage and needed an operation.

Police released photos of the men they believe are responsible for the attack.

A food vendor who works on the same corner as Porgo considers him a close friend.

"I feel no good too. This is very bad," the vendor said.. He has the little two kids. Two small kids."

With the major hustle and bustle of 149th Street, people say there's always some sort of controversy jumping off.

"The very next day, somebody stole something, and they came all the way down here and was fighting, and the police came and everything," said one person in the neighborhood. "It's not good. It is not a good thing."

People here say Porgo was a well-liked presence in the neighborhood. And they say some of his attackers are known here, too.
The Mexican drug lord known as "El Chapo" returned to a Brooklyn courtroom Friday under heavy guard as a trial date is now set.

The 59-year-old's appearance came a day after a judge rejected efforts to loosen the tough terms of his confinement in a Manhattan jail.

Judge Brian Cogan denied a motion on Thursday to move Joaquin Guzman to the general inmate population at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

Guzman has been under lockdown in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day since his extradition to the U.S. back in January.

In turning down the request, the judge cited Guzman's two previous escapes from Mexican prisons.

The judge will allow Guzman to communicate with his wife through written questions and answers.

But his wife will not be allowed to visit him.

The federal government says the tough rules are needed because Guzman used coded messages and bribes to keep running his drug empire from behind bars in the past.

Guzman has pleaded not guilty to charges he ran a multi-billion dollar drug trafficking cartel that was responsible for murders and kidnappings.

His trial date is set for April 16, 2018.



Guzman's defense team plans to file motions arguing that the 59-year-old is being charged in the wrong jurisdiction.

"What's clear to everybody is that the U.S. government petitioned for Mr. Guzman to be extradited to either the western district of Texas or the southern district of California," Guzman's attorney Michelle Gelernt said.



"As you can all see, we are standing in Brooklyn," Gelernt continued. "So there's an issue about whether or not these charges here are legal."

A packed courtroom Friday also heard that four prosecution witnesses, all drug mules for Sinaloa, were once represented by U.S. public defenders. Therefore, cross examination by Guzman's defense team  which is also made up of public defenders  could be hampered by attorney-client privilege.

Guzman was asked four times if he was sure he did not want to change lawyers now. Each time he answered, "yes."

The judge warned Guzman that if he is convicted, he will not be able to appeal on the grounds his lawyers had a conflict of interest, because he insisted during this hearing that he wanted to keep them. And Guzman said he understood.
Police are questioning a person in connection with two violent incidents in Harlem within the past two weeks.

The latest happened early Thursday morning on 146th St. near 7th Ave. in Harlem.

Police say the man in the surveillance video sexually assaulted and robbed a German woman staying at a nearby Airbnb.

Police said the video showed a man confronting the victim and taking her purse.

He allegedly punched her in the face repeatedly, knocked her out, and sexually assaulted her.

The victim was treated at the hospital for trauma to her face.

Police believe the same man robbed a different woman in Harlem on April 24.

In each case, police said, the suspect threatened the victim with a gun.

"Right now, they look to be the same case, the same M.O., without the sexual assault in the first one," NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said. "So we're going to see if we can pick him up and see if he did both crimes. That's where we stand right now with the case."

Police have not yet released the suspect's identity.
A 28-year-old woman recently ended up in the emergency room at University Hospital of Santander (HUS) in Bucaramanga, Colombia, after swallowing over $9,000 in $100 bills to make sure that her ex didnt get half of it.

The bizarre incident took place on April 22, when Sandra Milena Almeida showed up at the hospital complaining of severe stomach pain. Doctors quickly realized that the 28-year-old woman had a gastric obstruction so she was rushed into the operating room for emergency surgery. When they opened her up, doctors were shocked to find that Almeidas stomach was full of rolled up $100 bills. They managed to extract most of the money from the small intestine, with the rest making its way through the colon to be evacuated naturally.

Photo: University Hospital of Santander (HUS)

Its not every day that you find $5,700 in cash in a patients stomach, so the University Hospital of Santander notified local police of their unusual discovery. They questioned the woman about her motives as soon as she recovered from the surgery, and learned that they werent dealing with a criminal action, but with an act of desperation.

Sandra Milena Almeida revealed that she and her partner had been saving money to move to Panama and make a better life for themselves, but their relationship had hit rock bottom and the man wanted to break up with her. He also wanted half the money they had saved from selling furniture, a motorcycle and various other items, but Almeida wouldnt hear of it.

Photo: University Hospital of Santander (HUS)

To avoid giving her ex half the money she decided to eat it all instead. She rolled up the $100 bills, wrapped them in plastic foil and secured the wrapping with rubber bands before swallowing them all and washing them down with water. Soon after she ingested the $9,000, Sandra started to feel severe stomach pain and had to go to the hospital.

Bucaramanga police investigated Almeidas claims and soon announced that the story checks out, and they dont plan on filing any charges against her. She was released from the hospital on Friday and received the $5,700 retrieved from her stomach.

Photo: video screengrab

Contacted by Colombian news outlets, the woman refused to comment on what had happened, saying that she wanted to put it all behind her. Shell probably still have to give her ex partner half of their savings, only now shell be left with even less

Sources: Vanguardia, Noticias UNO
Orange Countys Idea Hall, an integrated agency offering branding, advertising, public relations, and website/digital/video production, has added virtual reality capabilities to its offerings.

360 virtual reality videos for client Visit Anaheim are paired with insightful narrative to give event planners and organizers the ability to experience some of the Southern California destinations newer and unexpected features that go beyond established attractions.

Virtual reality creates a sense of presence and first-hand experience unlike anything previously possible, Jeff Cole, senior creative producer at Idea Hall, told ODwyers.

Cole explained that its important to help clients understand that virtual reality is an umbrella term that can take shape in different forms such as video footage captured on-location or computer-generated content that introduces viewers to architectural renderings of places that dont exist yet.

We remind clients that the technology is only a part of it. Our virtual reality experiences pair best-in-class visual craftsmanship with authentic, story-driven content that inspires and engages, Cole said.
It was a good year for PR firms boasting major healthcare practices. Each of the top 10 agencies in ODwyers 2017 Rankings of Healthcare PR firms witnessed upticks in revenue in 2016  a group including Spectrum (+34.8 percent overall, with $20 million in healthcare revenue), Crosby Marketing Communications (+21.7 percent, $10.6 million healthcare revenue), ReviveHealth (+40.1 percent, $14 million healthcare revenue), Cooney Waters Unlimited (+8.2 percent, $15.2 million healthcare revenue) and W2O Group (+33.0 percent, $103.2 million healthcare revenue).

Agency executives said that level of performance has its roots in the pivotal role that PR now plays in helping stakeholders across the healthcare sector deal with a range of emerging trends. Among them: an increasingly empowered and tech-savvy consumer base, an explosion in the role of personalized health data in determining the way patients manage their well-being and, perhaps most significantly, the mixed signals being sent by Washington in regards to where government healthcare policy is heading.

2016 was a banner year for Crosby, said Crosby President and CEO Raymond Crosby. The firm, with clients that include Kaiser Permanente and the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, grew more than 20 percent, added more than 20 new staff and maintained strong client satisfaction and staff satisfaction ratings.

Crosby said two strategies continued to drive his companys success last year. First, he said, we stay hyper-focused on our three practice areas of healthcare, nonprofits & causes and federal government. But perhaps even more important, he notes, is the importance of delivering fully integrated communications programs. Our company structure, strategic planning process and talent is built on true integration, which we believe is critical to maximize results.

Raymond Crosby

With a major investment in beefing up its digital and social media teams and analytics tools, Crosby looks to keep on thriving in an increasingly digitized healthcare landscape. The continued shift to more consumer-directed care and the Yelpification of patients and their family members using social media channels to rate and comment on everything from individual doctors to overall quality of care is changing the way that organizations build customer trust, Crosby said. This is requiring greater levels of attention and resources to protect and enhance an organizations reputation.

Timothy Bird, CEO of Cooney Waters, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, said his company bounced back from a 9.1 percent dip in 2015 by building on its long-term relationships with clients as well as making its own investments in the latest communications and research tools and technology. That focus has allowed Cooney Waters to add a range of new client engagements across academia, healthcare technologies and diagnostics, new disease areas and international health organizations.

Patients take a more active role

Timothy Bird

Bird also emphasizes the importance of the more active stance that patients are taking toward their own care. Being visibly in control is emerging as a powerful aspiration for consumers who want to show they are making the most out of every opportunity in their personal and professional lives, he said. One way in which PR firms can aid in achieving this goal, he adds, is by spreading information about the new tools patients can use to help give more up-to-date, accurate information to their doctors  whom he said still have a high degree of patient trust.

But encouraging patients to interact with each other is also turning out to be a key strategy for delivering the healthcare industrys message. Consumers today are casting a wide net looking for health information, Bird said. They have an ever-increasing appetite for new sources of information with authentic content from those with conditions like themselves. One example of such a resource is Parkinsons More Than Motion, a Parkinsons disease Facebook community sponsored by UCB, a Cooney Waters client. Since its launch in 2012, the community has amassed a base of over 75,000 fans.

Investing in innovation

Jim Weiss

It was also a big year for W2O, whose 2016 acquisitions included healthcare consultancy Pure Marketing and digitally focused marketing agency Sentient Interactive, as well as social research and analytics consultancy Marketeching Solutions. Jim Weiss, W2O Groups CEO and Founder, said the companys acquisitions, coupled with a continued emphasis on helping clients negotiate an increasingly volatile healthcare marketplace, drove us to grow by more than 30 percent at the highest margin in our history.

Weiss said that W2O has been active in many aspects of the healthcare field over the past year. We helped launch and support many exciting organizations and companies to launch new clinical trials, products and initiatives to help people suffering from multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, heart disease, Alzheimers disease and multiple myeloma, to name just a few, he said. That work has cemented what he said is W2Os long-standing commitment to the healthcare sector.

Among the changes that Weiss sees in the pipeline for 2017 are continuing market pressure on drug pricing, changes in the access and reimbursement landscape and a potentially new approach to, and funding for, the FDA and NIH.

That combination of factors is, for him, a source of excitement rather than cause for trepidation. We are in what we believe is the most exciting era in healthcare communications, he said, where our spirit of innovation and investment in new, more targeted and cutting-edge approaches and ideas may finally pay off as the marketplace is more ready than ever to accept them.

Jonathan Wilson

An emphasis on guiding people through the process of dealing with the healthcare system is an important factor for Spectrum President and CEO Jonathan Wilson. Clients are uncertain as to whats happening around healthcare, Wilson said, and he notes that helping bring a level of certainty and awareness to consumer interactions with the healthcare system is one cause of Spectrums success.

About three-and-a-half years into what he terms a five-year plan for the company, Wilson has seen his vision for Spectrum pay off. Over that period, he said that revenues have jumped about 300 percent. Another clear example of growth is the rising number of employees at Spectrumfrom 26 when Wilson arrived to 90 now. He also cites a constantly diversifying client base as key to his strategy, saying that 43 percent of the firms 2016 revenue increase stems from new business.

That diversity can also be seen in the five practice groups that are currently part of Spectrums approach: biopharma, smaller biotechs, consumer science, public affairs and health technology. Together, those areas constitute a broad-based strategy that Wilson said is a major part of the companys rising fortunes.

As regards the near future, Big Data and its effects will prove to be pivotal in the transformation of the healthcare market over the next few years, Wilson adds. We are just at the tip of the iceberg as regards how Big Data is going to affect consumers, he said. Technology as a whole is going to keep determining the course the industry, with wearables constituting a massive trend, and a new range of machinery and interfaces allowing healthcare professionals to deliver quality care in the most effective manner. Using such methods as informational webinars, Wilson said that Spectrum is making the Big-Data perspective understandable through consistent messaging delivered by a talented workforce.

A new range of services

Brandon Edwards

At ReviveHealth, the changes taking place across the healthcare sector also represented a major opportunity for growth. In its first year under the Weber Shandwick umbrella, the companys strong gains were due largely to the expanding range of its services. The agencys revenue diversification accelerated significantly in 2016, said ReviveHealth Founder and CEO Brandon Edwards, with almost half of revenue now generated by digital, social, creative, advertising, and strategic planning capabilities.

Edwards said that Revive Health has built a content machine one that includes such functions as branding, advertising and social media in addition to public relations and crisis management. One day, he said, we will look back on 2016 as the most pivotal year in Revive Healths transformation from a PR firm to a full-service agency. That transformation reflects the market that ReviveHealth serves. According to Edwards, the massive shift in healthcare marketing currently happening in the industry (particularly in our sectors  health systems, health services and health information technology) is exactly what ReviveHealth was built to address.

By emphasizing deep industry experience, knowledge of business-to-business dynamics and a wide range of integrated capabilities, he said that the company is well set up to continue its success. Bringing together strategy, creativity and execution is a key value proposition for ReviveHealth since many organizations want to work with just one firm, he notes.

That kind of one-stop shopping has obvious benefits for agencies as well as clients. There is a business reality in this market opportunity, Edwards said. We are positioned for greater share of wallet with our clients and shift our relationships from the PR budgets to the marketing budgets.

Following Washingtons lead

No discussion of the future of the healthcare sector is complete, however, without considering the questionable future of the Affordable Care Act. Spectrum has addressed the potential effects of Trumpcare with Riding Out the First 100 Days of Trumpcare, an infographic that highlights the major healthcare policy developments of the early days of the Trump administration. Two of its webinars, Trumpcare: Finding a Path Forward and Buckle Up: Your Essential Guide to Trumpcare, also aim to inform industry professionals about what may be facing them.

It seems that one thing that everyone can agree on is that uncertainty is the only sure thing as the history of Trumpcare progresses. Regardless of how the policy battle over the Affordable Care Act plays out, Crosby said, it will create varying levels of upheaval and opportunity across the healthcare continuum. He notes that stakeholders, from employers and healthcare providers to patient advocacy groups, will need help adapting their messaging strategies to accommodate any of the various scenarios that could face them.

Providing that help, Bird adds, is a job tailor-made for PR firms, With our understanding of the healthcare policy and regulatory landscape and political realities, he said, we can help our clients navigate the new realities and position themselves wisely for long-term success.

Weiss notes the transformations that could ensue from a new administration looking to evolve the Affordable Care Act, as well as make changes in regulating both drug pricing and development. But he also notes the gains that could result from those transformations. We are innovating with our clients more than ever before, he said, and helping them succeed by helping them anticipate and prepare for issues and challenges, he said.

The coming policy shifts, in addition to the many other changes in the healthcare landscape, are creating what Edwards terms New World Order marketing. As he sees it, New World Order marketing recognizes the growing confluence of the various marketing communication disciplines such as marketing, branding, public relations and digital. When all of those things come together, the result is a new way of doing business that promises to be uniquely qualified to address the developments facing the healthcare sector in 2017 and beyond.
The May 8 New Yorker devotes 12 pages to What would it take to cut short Trumps Presidency? Trump supporters said it is another example of the liberal media bias that brought Trump the Presidency.

Writer of the article is Evan Osnos, a staffer writer at the magazine since 2008 who is best known for his coverage of China. A graduate of Harvard, he has authored Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China.

Nobody occupies the White House without criticism, says the article, but Trump is besieged by doubts of a different order, centering on the overt, specific, and, at times, bipartisan discussion of whether he will be engulfed by any one of myriad problems before he has completed even one term in officeand, if he is, how might he be removed.

Cited is the Trump approval rating of 40% which Osnos says is the lowest of any newly elected President since Gallup started measuring it.

Control of House Needed for Impeachment

Democratic control of the House of Representatives would be needed as a first step toward impeachment since GOP leadership in the House will almost certainly not initiate the ouster of a Republican President, says Osnos.

Republicans are confident of maintaining their control in part because their re-districting in 2010 tilted the Congressional map in their favor, he says. The GOP has a 23-seat majority in the House.

Conceding that impeachment is an unlikely possibility, Osnos says Trumps most urgent risk is not getting ousted; it is getting hobbled by unpopularity and distrust. He is only the fifth U.S. President who failed to win the popular vote/.

Except George W. Bush, none of the others managed to win a second term.

The possibility is that Trump will simply limp through a single term, incapacitated by opposition, concludes Osnos.
Tom Madden, chairman and CEO of Boca Raton-based TransMedia Group, was hoping to be interviewed by the BBC on the grounds of the Boca Raton Resort & Club, which hes been a member of for 15 years, for his new book Is There  Enough Brady in Trump To Win The Insuperable Bowl?

But the clubs lawyer responded to Madden's request by e-mailing, It is my understanding that the book you are promoting is about President Trump and frankly, I am leery of the topic. We live in a polarized time where corporations need to walk a neutral line so as to avoid upsetting any group which may have an emotionally charged interest.

Madden says the book is neither for or against Trump. Its just a collection of blog entries about last falls election and the countrys reaction to Trump. He feels the incident is just emblematic of the anxiety that Trumps name is causing.

To be fair to the club, their lawyer did also say filming wasnt allowed because of contractual issues with the BBC related to rights and usage of the clubs image.

Theyre just fearful, and its silly, Madden said.
Trayvon Martin Will Receive a Posthumous Bachelors Degree From Florida Memorial University Dimas Sanfiorenzo Dimas Sanfiorenzo is the Managing Editor for Okayplayer. He specializes

Trayvon Martin wanted to be a pilot. So much so, that Martin took pilot classes in high school.

However, he was never given that opportunity. And now a university is trying to honor those dreams posthumously.

Five years after Martin was fatally shot  a killing that sparked a new era of black activism  Florida Memorial University will honor him with a posthumous bachelors degree in aeronautical science, with a concentration in flight education.

Martins parents Sybrina Fulton, who is a graduate of the university, and Tracy Martin will accept the degree on behalf of their son, who would have been 22 if he would have been alive. The commencement ceremony will happen on Saturday, May 13th.

The school announced the news on their Facebook page:

Sybrina took to Twitter to thank the university:



On February 26, 2012, Trayvon Martin was coming home from the store when he was profiled and killed by a neighborhood watch captain. A movement was sparked when that neighborhood watch captain was acquitted of second-degree murder in 2013.

H/T: NYDailyNews
Agricultural News

Producers Pleasantly Surprised by Unexpected Increases in Cattle Prices, But How Long Will It Last?







Packers are chasing fewer market-ready cattle right now, which has in turn caused cattle prices to rise. Oklahoma State University Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel told Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays that those in the cattle business have been pleasantly surprised to see these stronger cash cattle prices.





"We knew there was reason to have some strength in the markets this year from a supply standpoint," Peel said. "But what really is coming out of this that we didn't really see or know for sure before was the strength in beef demand, that has really been carrying this market. So, we continue to be surprised."





The big question that remains is - just how long can we expect this party to last?





"The supply situation will carry forward for a while although seasonably, we're going to move into larger slaughter numbers through May and June," Peel said. "So, we're probably going to see a seasonal peak in here somewhere, but at the same time, as long as the strength in demand is there, we can carry through this year with higher prices than we would have projected just a few weeks ago."





Listen to Dr. Peel and Hays discuss what's happening in the beef markets right now that is sparking unexpected price increases, on today's Beef Buzz. Click here to view today's Daily Livestock Report, referenced in today's show.





The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.



























Listen to Dr. Peel and Hays discuss what's happening in beef markets right now sparking higher prices

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Agricultural News

Ag Economy May Moderate in 2017 But Wise Farmers Will Hope for the Best and Plan for the Worst

In recent years, the rural community has watched as commodity prices have plummeted, and with them so too has net farm income. Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with Dr. Bob Young, chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, to find out how long this challenging economic trend is expected to continue. Young says some reports are calling 2016 the low and cautiously predict that farm income could actually slightly improve during 2017, assuming that the weather cooperates. You can listen to their complete conversation by clicking or tapping on the LISTEN BAR below at the bottom of this story.





"I think the weather could have as much to do with it as the economics," he said. "Again though, it's early days yet and we'll have to wait and see. Give me a weather forecast and I'll give you a price forecast."





Weather has already played a major role in this year's harvest, having caused significant damage to the Kansas wheat crop just this past week, but like Young says, it is still too early to tell at this point exactly what the extent of the damage is. But regardless, he says not to expect that to have dramatic effects on the market.





"On the wheat side - just an awful lot of wheat out there in the world right now," Young shrugged. "I think there's just enough supplies there, just hard-pressed to see a whole lot of price moves come out of that."





In order to literally and figuratively weather the storm of these tough economic times in the ag sector, Young advises producers to carefully manage their expenses and keep their pencils sharp.





"It's watching what's going on, on the personal expense side," he advised. "Folks that have been in business this long in agriculture know that."





















Listen to Dr. Young and Hays discuss the ongoing economic situation in rural America, click below

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LINCOLN  Fourth-graders are taking aim at a perpetrator that occasionally muddies their playground at Wheeler Elementary School in Omaha.

This week, about 50 of them scrambled over a dirt bank adjacent to the playground, stretching tape measures and jotting figures. Their mission: devise a way to control storm runoff and protect the playground.

Were thinking about doing a terrace, said student Annalise Pfeifer.

The pilot science program at Wheeler is the kind of hands-on, problem-based learning that state educators want to see in science classrooms.

New draft science standards unveiled Thursday call upon students to think and act like scientists, gathering data, analyzing it and communicating their results.

Were testing this out, said Ellen Kramer, a Millard Public Schools educator who served on the writing team for the Nebraska Department of Education. We want to be ahead of the curve when the standards come out.

The draft standards list what officials believe students should know and be able to do from kindergarten to high school.

The Big Bang theory, climate change, evolution and genetically modified organisms are among the topics addressed. On these weighty topics, the standards push students to draw their own conclusions after analyzing data.

For instance, the standards would prompt students to analyze global climate models to forecast the rate and scale of global or regional climate changes. The phrase climate change is not in the current standards.

Theres plenty of evidence that supports that climate change is happening, said Sara Cooper, science education specialist for the Nebraska Department of Education. Thats part of the beauty of this, that its the unsettled science. We know that its happening, but we dont necessarily know why or whats causing it. So engaging kids, and digging into that evidence ... they can come to conclusions about causes.

Likewise, students would explore evidence supporting the Big Bang theory for how the universe began, drawing their own conclusions. Students would learn to explain the theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies and composition of matter in the universe. Neither the draft standards nor the current ones mention intelligent design, a theory that living things and the universe were created by an intelligent being.

Under the standards, students would be expected to understand the factors causing natural selection and the process of evolution of species over time, including how multiple lines of evidence contribute to the strength of scientific theories of natural selection and evolution. In the current standards, students do explore biological evolution as a theory.

Genetically modified organisms would be new to the standards. Students would learn why structural changes to genes may result in harmful, beneficial or neutral effects to organisms.

The standards borrow from the Next Generation Science Standards. Those standards were developed by the National Research Council with states and other partners, including the National Science Teachers Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As of last year, 18 states and the District of Columbia had adopted the Next Generation Science Standards. Iowa adopted a modified version.

Cory Epler, chief academic officer in the Nebraska Department of Education, said the writing team of about 50 educators drew from a variety of sources.

I think at the end of the day, weve got a set of standards written by Nebraska educators for Nebraska students, he said.

Kramer, who facilitates K-5 curriculum and instruction in the Millard Public Schools, said the new standards would advance science education beyond the current standards.

Were going from knowing about to figuring out,  she said.

If adopted by the State Board of Education next fall, the standards would replace standards adopted in 2010. School districts must, within a year, adopt state standards or their own standards of equal or greater rigor.

The current elementary standards were a step in the right direction, Kramer said. The approach to learning went from reading about science to doing science, she said. But the current standards still reflect a more passive approach to learning: asking kids to identify, recognize or describe, she said.

Were raising the bar, and were making it a much more active learning process for the kids, she said.

Kids will gather the information, and teachers will facilitate, rather than recite facts. The idea is to make the kids self-directed learners, rather than teachers pouring all the knowledge into their heads, she said.

At Wheeler, the driving question in the playground project is what can students do to eliminate the negative effects of storm water  how to slow the water, get it to settle and to spread out, she said.

The fourth-graders are prompted to think even more broadly about the problem, for instance, how the problem and solution would affect plants and animals, she said.

Involving the playground hits home for kids, she said.

When it rains of snows, there are times when it gets so muddy they cant go out there and play, she said. So it is a relevant issue for them.

Officials say the standards reflect the content knowledge and skills needed for success in college and the workforce.

Under the standards, kindergartners would have to learn fewer standards than older students. Some examples would be to develop an understanding of weather variations and patterns, and where animals live and why.

One standard says kindergartners will make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on the Earths surface.

High school standards cover much more. They would study forces and interactions, waves and electromagnetic radiation, structure and properties of matter, DNA, cells, heredity, biological evolution, space systems, weather and climate, Earth history and sustainability.

The standards give Nebraska-specific examples to make the concepts relevant for kids. For instance, the standards point to eastern and western coyote hybrids when discussing the variation and distribution of traits in a population.

The standards note that lessons on radioactive dating and evolution could make use of Nebraska sites such as Ashfall Fossil Beds, Agate Fossil National Monument and Hudson-Meng Bison Bone Bed.

The draft of standards can be viewed at www.education.ne.gov. The board expects to add a link from the website to a survey for people to comment.

Adoption by the State Board of Education is anticipated in September.
LINCOLN  Nebraska is breaking with its academic testing contractor and heading in a new direction.

The state will use computer-adaptive testing to evaluate math, English language arts and science skills of students in grades 3 through 8 in the public schools.

Computer-adaptive tests adjust questions to a students ability level, which can provide a quicker assessment of the students proficiency. When a student answers correctly, the difficulty is increased. Answer wrong and the difficulty ratchets down.

The State Board of Education voted 8-0 Friday to approve the $6.4 million contract with Northwest Evaluation Association for the 2017-18 school year.

The current tests are provided by Data Recognition Corp. and are called Nebraska State Accountability or NeSA. Those tests are not computer-adaptive.

The new testing method could be deployed as early as next year.

Were pretty sure it cant be done in one year, but were hoping two  maybe one, said Valorie Foy, the states director of assessment.

State officials awarded Northwest Evaluation a one-year contract, beginning July 1, with options to renew for up to four additional years. Over five years the company could get close to $29 million to test students in Nebraska public schools.

Northwest Evaluation Association was among six bidders vying for the contract. Other bidders included the current contractor, Data Recognition.

After experiencing computer problems with the writing test under Data Recognition, Nebraska officials made it clear that they wanted reliability in the next contract.

They also said they wanted assessments that would test the state academic standards at higher depth of knowledge and include rigorous questions that are better at assessing higher-order thinking and at engaging students.

Many Nebraska districts already use one of Northwest Evaluations products: the Measures of Academic Progress, or MAP test. It, too, is a computer-adaptive assessment.

Data Recognition Corp. still will be involved in Nebraska testing, providing alternate assessments under a one-year, $1.6 million contract approved Friday. Those assessments are for children with severe cognitive disabilities.

The board also approved contracting with ACT for a second year of 11th-grade accountability testing at a cost of $1.7 million. Officials said the test was well-received this year, the first year of statewide administration.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump's choice for Army secretary withdrew his nomination on Friday in the face of growing criticism over his remarks about Muslims, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.

Mark Green, a Republican state senator from Tennessee, said in a statement that "false and misleading attacks" against him had turned his nomination into a distraction.

"Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain," Green said, expressing "deep regret" over the decision.

Green is the second Trump nominee for Army secretary to withdraw.

The move to step aside comes after a video began circulating of a remarks Green gave in September to a tea party group in Chattanooga. Green, who is opposed to gay marriage, said being transgender is a disease. He urged that a stand be taken against "the indoctrination of Islam" in public schools" and also referred to the "Muslim horde" that invaded Constantinople hundreds of years ago.

Several Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, declared they would oppose Green's nomination over what they said were intolerant and disturbing views. Democrat Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a combat veteran who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm during the Iraq war, said in a statement Friday that Green wasn't fit to lead the service.

Schumer welcomed Green's move to step aside.

"Mark Green's decision to withdraw his name from consideration as Army secretary is good news for all Americans, especially those who were personally vilified by his disparaging comments directed toward the LGBTQ community, Muslim community, Latino community and more," he said in a statement.

Also on Friday, a coalition of 41 organizations led by the Human Rights Campaign called on the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee to reject Green's nomination. The letter to Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Jack Reed of Rhode Island said Green's "shameful rhetoric" is at odds with the Army's core values and will affect recruiting.

Green's withdrawal underscores the challenges Trump has faced in filling two of the service secretary posts. The president's first pick to be the Army's top civilian, Vincent Viola, dropped out in early February because of financial entanglements, and about three weeks later Philip B. Bilden, the Navy secretary nominee, withdrew for similar reasons.

The GOP-led Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on the nomination of Heather Wilson to be Air Force secretary.

Trump's decision to tap Green in early April represented a stark contrast to President Barack Obama's choice of Eric Fanning for the post. Fanning, who'd been a senior Pentagon official, was the first openly gay leader of one of the military branches.

Green graduated from West Point in 1986 and served as an Army physician. Green is the CEO of Align MD, which provides leadership and staffing to emergency departments and hospitals, according to the White House. He served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment where he made three combat tours to the Middle East.

As a Tennessee state senator, Green sponsored legislation last year that his critics have said would make it easier for businesses to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

During his remarks before the Chattanooga tea party group, Green said the Obama administration has "bred general officers who are afraid of their shadow." He also said that "if you poll the psychiatrists, they're going to tell you that transgender is a disease."
The writer is a former House member representing Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District and a former state senator.

Only in Omaha.

Generous donations from our local philanthropic community are now finalized for Omahas new VA medical facility. The ambulatory care facility will be built  on time and on budget  because thats the Nebraska Way.

This innovative effort was bipartisan, and I was part of the process. Now is the time to share how this came to be, to serve as an example for others.

For years, the Veterans Administration has struggled with the challenge of providing health care to veterans. The majority of VA facilities are decades old.

I knew from day one we had to find a way to address Omahas VA. Thanks to former Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., the VA had $56 million for Omaha. The VA was well aware of Omahas needs, but building plans had stalled.

Early in my term, I met VA Secretary Bob McDonald, who was eager to apply private-sector solutions to the VA bureaucracy. He was open to considering Omaha as the best place to attempt innovative approaches with the private sector.

We resolutely marched forward. First we needed legislation authorizing the VA to participate in public-private partnerships. Toxic partisanship in Congress made any chance of success challenging.

U.S. Reps. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb.; David Young, R-Iowa; and Tim Walz, D-Minn.; and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., jumped on board with their full support, which was critical to passing this legislation.

Second, what would the innovation look like? Was there an appetite in the region for this partnership?

We approached Walter Scott, Mike Yanney and Mike McCarthy with the idea of partnering with the VA. As business leaders and philanthropists, they knew their way around major projects. Support from other leading local voices, such as former Nebraska U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey and former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, became essential as we lobbied for private financial backing.

The Omaha VA Medical Centers incredible leader, Don Burman, convinced national VA leaders that innovation was possible in Omaha.

For a solid year we worked with the VA to craft legislation. The idea was to combine local philanthropic dollars with the $56 million in federal funds. Scott insisted the new facility meet the needs of veterans and be completed on time, on budget and under local control. McDonald encouraged his team to think out of the box.

After innumerable twists and turns, in April 2016, House Bill 5099 was introduced. Fischer brought the legislation to the Senate.

There were many key moments during the legislative journey. It was not simple getting the measure through committee and up for a vote. Thankfully, Fortenberry worked with me, navigating the House.

As a freshman in the minority party, I approached Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee. He became an advocate for our cause, and I gained a friend.

Before the 2016 election, Miller moved our resolution through the committee. After the election, discussions with the VA, the Omaha team and Fischer continued as we tried to beat the clock and get a floor vote.

We had a job to do  get HR 5099 passed so our veterans would have access to the best possible health care. In those final days, our legislation was hanging by a thread.

Matt Collier had joined the VA to help develop public private partnerships and navigated the VA as a valued partner.

The evening before the last day of the House session, Majority Leader McCarthy was balking. With minutes to spare, our leadership, Young, Fortenberry and Walz stepped in, and McCarthy relented. The next day HR 5099 passed unanimously.

Two days later at 5 a.m., the measure passed the Senate, minutes before the end of the 114th Congress. President Barack Obama signed it into law. Last month, the generous donations from the Omaha community were finalized.

This project took focused dedication from our team in Omaha and numerous individuals in Washington. Without their unrelenting commitment, it never would have happened. In the end, I can say with certainty it could have only happened here.
Demands will be met soon

The report was submitted to the finance ministry. It is still under examination. The Cabinet Secretary during the meeting assured that the same would be implemented soon. The concerns would be considered and it may take some time. The report is currently ebing examined by the Empowered Committee of Secretaries headed by P K Siinha.

What are the demands?

During the meeting the NJAC spoke about the arrears and said that the employees should be given the amount pending from January 2016 onwards. Further they also demanded that the government resolve the anomalies related to the minimum wages, fitment factor and family pension under the 7th Pay Commission. A demand for upgradation of the fitment factor from 2.57 to 3.16 for minimum wage revision was also made. However this is negotiable they said.

Modifications suggested

There are a few modifications that have been suggested in some allownaces applicable to all central government employees and other allowances which are applicable to specific employee categories. The 7th Pay Commission had suggested the abolition of 52 out of the 196 existing allowances, apart from subsuming 36 smaller allowances. Further it had also reduced the HRA from the existing 10, 20 and 30 per cent to 8, 24 and 16 respectively.
Man rapes 8-year-old to use her blood for removing obstacles to his marriage

Action begins: Six detained for boozing in open at Goa beach

India

oi-Gulam Rabbani

Panaji, May 5: After the Superintendent of Police Kartik Kashyap (North Goa) directions on Wednesday to arrest those who booze in open or in the public areas, the Panaji police on Thursday night arrested six tourists who were found drinking in open at Goa beach of Calangute.

Following the complaint, police reached north Goa's coastal areas and arrested said to have arrested the six persons from the beach.

The four tourists among six were said to be from Karnataka while the remaining two were from Maharashtra and Delhi.

The police said that the tourists were booked under Section 34(iv) of the Indian Police Act.

The accused have been booked under section 34(iv) of the Indian Police Act.

Later the detained tourists were produced before the Judicial Magistrate court in Mapusa after the medical examination. It is said that the bail for the six persons will be issued after they were produced before Magistrate court again on Friday.

Go to jail if you booze in open:

On May 3, Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Karthik Kashyap had asked its personnel to arrest people who are found drinking in public places. He had also given instructions to arrest people found drinking in open under section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

The instruction was given after a meeting between members of general public, representatives from the tourism sector and the police at Calangute police station.

"Kashyap called upon the general public to inform the police about such incidents so that action can be taken against the offenders," said a statement issued by the police department.

The meeting was attended by around 60-70 people, including beach shack owners and people in the tourism trade. The gathering also highlighted the menace of tourists consuming liquor on the beach at the night time.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 9:45 [IST]
Finance ministry expects banks to get back over Rs 1 lakh crore with resolution of 12 major NPAs

NPA situation likely to worsen further, says RBI

Over optimistic bankers, lack of due diligence responsible for bad loans: Raghuram Rajan

Congress and BJP to slug it out over creation of NPA; IBC at work

Gross NPAs have come down to Rs 7.9 lakh crore, says Nirmala Sitharaman

Banking regulation act to expedite resolution of bad debts: Jaitley

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

In a bid to tackle the bad loans problem which has clogged the banking system, the Union Government on Friday notified the Banking Regulations Amendment Ordinance.

The ordinance empowers the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and banks to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against chronic defaulters.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Centre is committed to 'expeditious resolution of stressed assets' which has hampered the growth of banking sector.

"Recent enactment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 has opened up new possibilities for time bound resolution of stressed assets," Jaitley told media persons.

The ordinance authorises RBI to issue directions to banks for resolution of stressed assets. The central bank can also form committees to advise the banks on tackling bad debt problems.

It has also made it easier for banks to invoke the insolvency and bankruptcy code which will help them reduce the time for resolving a default cases.

The Union Cabinet had earlier approved an amendment and sent an ordinance to President Pranab Mukherjee for his approval. President Mukherjee on Friday approved the ordinance to amend the Banking Regulation Act 1949.

The increasing non performing assets among banks is one of the biggest factors hampering the growth of banking sector. The government had earlier said that banks' stressed assets are 'unacceptably' high and called for urgent steps to resolve the problem.

According to reports, total NPAs at the end of December 31, 2016, was estimated to have crossed Rs 7 lakh crore.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 17:12 [IST]
Sushma Swaraj, the External Affairs Minister yesterday by tweeting on Twitter assured a man of providing assistance to his daughter, who met with an accident in Netherlands.

"@SushmaSwaraj Madam, my daughter Meghna, studying at Groningen University had been hit by a car driven by Dutch, hand fractured her leg. Today tweeted on Twitter.

"I will ask Indian Embassy in Netherlands to extend all help. Plz, do not worry. @vijaypdwivedi she tweets.

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Morbi Bridge is not the only Incident - Quality of Bridges, roads and Highways in BJPs government!

BJP leader Eshwarappa to attend party executive in Mysuru, but won't speak

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

Leader of opposition in Legislative Council KS Eshwarappa will be attending party executive meet to be held on May 6-7 in Mysuru, Karnataka.

Talking to media on Friday Eshwarappa said ' we are loyal party workers to the party, when state executive is happening how can we stay away. We all attend as loyal party workers tomorrow.'

Asked about 'Rayanna Brigade', Eshwarappa said he will not any meetings in near future'. According to sources, however, denied closing down of the brigade.

But, Eshwarappa's name doesn't feature in the list of speakers at the meet.

Rumours were rife that Eshwarappa may give a miss to the executive meet and hold one-day workshop organised by the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade in Raichur.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 19:25 [IST]
CM Raman Singh calls for unified command naxal-hit districts

India

pti-PTI

Raipur, May 5: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday made a pitch for setting up unified operational command in each naxal-hit district in the state to give a sharp edge to anti-naxal operations.

Singh chaired a meeting of unified command at the Mantrayala (state secretariat) to discuss anti-Maoist strategy in the wake of the deadly Maoist attack in Sukma district recently.

"The chief minister stressed the need to constitute unified operational command in LWE-affected districts in the state to eliminate the menace," a state public relation officer said.

To achieve success in the counter-insurgency operations at the ground level, it is necessary to set up district-level unified commands and convene its meetings on weekly and fortnightly basis, the CM said.

"The district-level unified command should be headed by the superintendent of police of the district concerned, while officials of the central armed forces working in the region should be made its members so that both the Centre and the state can together take on the challenge with more seriousness," he said.

Besides, he also suggested setting up a joint training centre in Sukma and Bijapur districts for combined training of central and state forces.

"Around 50-60 jawans from both central and state forces should be provided training at the joint training centre in order to enhance mutual coordination among them," Singh underlined.

He further said that central and state agencies were working with a better coordination on both development and security fronts to flush out the menace of naxalism.

"The central and state armed forces are also working with a better coordination," the chief minister added.

State's schemes like livelihood training college are yielding good results in the affected districts, through which local youths are being associated with skill development training for securing jobs, he said.

Describing the recent attack on CRPF personnel as an unfortunate incident, the CM said, "The naxals are frustrated with increasing influence of public welfare schemes in the affected areas and hence indulging in such cowardly acts."

"But the forces' morale is high and soon naxalism will be wiped out with joint efforts," the CM said.

All the security forces should have better understanding of geographical location, information about armed naxals, their supporters and their strategy, in the concerned area of their working, he said.

All the officials and employees involved in anti-Maoist operations should be shown video clippings of such operations so that they can have its better understanding, he added.

State Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra, Senior Security Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs K Vijay Kumar, Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, Director General of Police A N Upadhyay and top officials of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force (BSF) and other wings of security forces attended the meeting.

On April 24, naxals had ambushed a patrolling team of CRPF's 74th battalion near its Burkapal camp under Chintagufa police station limits, killing 25 troopers and injuring seven others. Chief ministers and top civil and police officers of naxal-hit states were invited to attend the meeting convened by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on May 8 to review anti-Maoist strategy.

PTI
Congress party Women's Wing protest outside BJP HQ with bangles

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

The Congress party Women's Wing on Friday protested outside the BJP headquarter with bangles over recent killing and mutilation of two soldiers by Pakistan in Poonch sector.

Protesting women were present with a box of bangles to challenge BJP's inaction over the killing and mutilations of soldiers. The protests comes days after Congress leadership has criticised the dastardly act of Pakistan.

In a shameful incident bodies of two Indian jawans were mutilated by Pakistan Army following ceasefire violation in J&K's Poonch district. An army JCO and a BSF head constable were killed and another soldier was injured as Pakistan fired rockets at a forward defense location post of the paramilitary force along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Delhi: Congress Women's Wing protests outside BJP HQ with bangles over recent attacks that claimed lives of security personnel. pic.twitter.com/0MmlBeYUli  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad forced the BJP to hold talks with Pakistan. He said "BJP president Amit Shah and general secretary Ram Madhav say they won't talk to Pakistan and other stakeholders . How will the situation improve then? It's a political issue."

"It is a matter of grave concern. It looks like the situation (in Kashmir) is not under control (Ye bada chinta ka vishay hai,aisa laghta hai halaat pe kaabu nhi paya ja raha)," added Azad, in regard to the report of the mutilation of two Indian soldiers by Pakistani attackers on Monday, he further said.

Another leader Kapil Sibal even asked 'In 2013, when Hemraj was beheaded, Sushmaji had said they will bring 10 heads from the other side.' Now I ask PM how many heads he will bring for two soldiers'. Lance Naik Hemraj's body was mutilated by Pakistan's Border Action Team along the Line of Control in 2013.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 15:01 [IST]
UP: SP leader's car hit by truck, dragged for more than 500 meters in Mainpuri | VIDEO

Mulayam Singh Yadav passes away; Prez Murmu, PM Modi join leaders in mourning the death of SP founder

Mulayam Singh Yadav: A quick look at his controversies that made headlines

SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav to be cremated at native village on Tuesday

Country needs secular face to take country on development path: Akhilesh Yadav

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

In the first statement, after Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav floated Samajwadi Secular Morcha, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the country needs a secular face that takes the country on the path of development.

Akhilesh spoke to the media at a meeting of Samajwadi Party's cultural cell in Lucknow.

In a veiled attack on Shivpal Yadav Akhilesh said, ' We are political people. we are aware of deceitful people'

Desh mein zaroorat hai ki aisi taakat bane, jo secular ho aur desh ko vikas ke raaste par le jaaye: Akhilesh Yadav pic.twitter.com/dgb3Txh1t7  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 5, 2017

Earlier Shivpal Yadav said, "For social justice, 'Samajwadi Secular Morcha' will be formed. Netaji (Mulayam) will be its National President," in Etawah, the bastion of the Yadav clan. The warring uncle of Akhilesh made the announcement after a meeting with Mulayam at a relative's house in Etawah this morning.

Shivpal held discussions on forming the new secular front with them. He, however, did not explain what the new front would do - whether it would contest polls against the SP or strengthen it by bringing socialists under one roof.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 17:48 [IST]
Crisis in Karnataka BJP: An eerie calm before the storm?

India

oi-Anusha

By Anusha Ravi

As the Karnataka unit of the BJP gears up for its executive meet, embers of dissent are threatening to flare up once again. While the senior leadership has categorically asked the state unit leaders to 'stay united or perish', unity is a long way to go. Yes, Eshwarappa will attend the executive meet but does that mean the end of the standoff between him and B S Yeddyurappa?

After the BJP senior leadership suspended supporters of both Eshwarappa and Yeddyurappa, an eerie calm prevails in state BJP. State in-charge general secretary Muralidhar Rao minced no words while stating that B S Yeddyurappa is the boss of Karnataka BJP. K S Eshwarappa had no option but to accept the same and agree to cooperate at least on the face of it.

It may be recalled that in January 2017 when dissent had hit the ceiling, both leaders were summoned by BJP National president Amit Shah. They were both pulled up for the public rift but Eshwarappa was sternly warned against taking part in Sangolli Rayanna brigade activities. As compensation, he was also made the chief of BJP's OBC morcha. All hell broke loose soon after the leaders returned to Bengaluru.

This time around, once again K S Eshwarappa has been snubbed. So much so that Muralidhar Rao spoke to most senior leaders in the party last week but left without holding talks with K S Eshwarappa. He submitted a report on the ongoing crisis in Karnataka to the senior leadership that is now mulling action.

Setting aside all speculations K S Eshwarappa confirmed to the media that he would attend the state executive meeting. What may irk the leader, however, is the fact that he will not be a speaker at the meet. Incidentally, B L Santosh, the man that B S Yeddyurappa accused of being the brain behind the rebellion against him will head a program on Sunday during the meet.

What led to the crisis in BJP: A recap

January 9, 2014: B S Yeddyurappa rejoins the BJP after the party's defeat in Karnataka assembly polls

April 8, 2016: B S Yeddyurappa made BJP state president

May 2016: Differences crop up within the party over the selection of members to core committees. Yeddyurappa accused of making unilateral decisions.

June 2016: B S Yeddyurappa loyalists accuse B L Santosh, the Joint secretary (organisation) of keeping select members away from core committee, especially Shobha Karandlaje.

August 2016: K S Eshwarappa begins mobilising support of OBC leaders under the banner of Sangolli Rayanna brigade

September- October 2016: B S Yeddyurappa asks party members not to become members of Sangolli Rayanna brigade. Rebellion brews within the party.

December 17, 2016: Defiant K S Eshwarappa officially launches Sangolli Rayanna brigade

January 10, 2017: Brigade begins to distance itself from the party. After brigade's general secretary D Venkatesh Murthy is suspended for anti-party activities.

January 26, 2017, Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa summoned to Delhi.

January 28, 2017: Amit Shah chides both leaders. Warns Eshwarappa against getting involved with Sangolli Rayanna brigade. Makes him OBC morcha chief to pacify.

February 11, 2017: K S Eshwarappa rekindles the brigade fire. Tells media that OBC members will be consolidated through the brigade.

April 27, 2017: K S Eshwarappa attends rebel leaders meeting. Sets a deadline for B S Yeddyurappa to yield to demands.

April 30, 2017: four office bearers of the BJP relieved of their duties. Two each from Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa camps shown the door

May 1, 2017: State in-charge general secretary Muralidhar Rao deems B S Yeddyurappa the boss of the BJP in Karnataka. Says rebellion has no place in the party.

Despite multiple interventions by the senipr leadership, the Karnataka BJP continues to be a divided house. The party hopes that the executive meet will provide an opportunity to sort differences that are impacting the morale of the workers.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 21:32 [IST]
Delhi HC dismisses AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa's plea seeking police protection

India

oi-Anusha

The Delhi High court on Friday dismissed AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa's plea seeking police protection. The MP had sought protection claiming threats to life. The Delhi police told the court that Sasikala Pushpa was already being provided with security like a VIP.

In her petition, Sasikala Pushpa had alleged that the Delhi police was not willing to provide security for her when she stepped out. She claimed that her car was vandalised, her husband was assaulted and she had been receiving death threats. The Delhi police who were respondents in the case told the court that the MP was not cooperating with officials providing security.

"She left the house without informing us. She is not cooperating. We are providing her with every arrangement for security. But she has to tell us in advance when she steps out of the house. How can we provide security if she does not inform us in advance," asked Rahul Mehra, counsel for the Delhi police.

The court reiterated that she has to be provided security and assured the Delhi police that cooperation would be extended henceforth. Sasikala Pushpa had alleged that she was not given protection by Delhi police outdoors.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 16:21 [IST]
Exclusive: How 4,000 Army personnel thwarted an attempt to declare Shopian as 'Azaad Kashmir'

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Had the 4,000 personnel of the Armed Forces not carried out the mammoth operation at Kashmir, Shopian district would have been declared as "Azaad Kashmir," by the terrorists with the help of several locals. The banners were ready and several local leaders had been threatened to resign from their posts and support the movement for an 'Azaad Kashmir.'

A majority of the 160 terrorists who have infiltrated into the Valley over the past year had sneaked into the Shopian district and adjoining areas. There was concrete intelligence to suggest that the terrorists had made their move and the decision to declare the district as Azaad Kashmir was to be put into force.

Had the Army not stepped in:

It was a plan that was being set in motion. Terrorists had both lured and thretened people and leaders to join the movement and declare the district as Azaad Kashmir. This is a call that Pakistan has been making for several years now. It was decided that they would start with a district and then carry forward the plan to the other parts of the state.

In a bid to raise funds for this operations, militants of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Jaish-Mohammad and the Hizbul Mujahideen had robbed several banks. Intelligence Bureau officials say that there was ample information about the declaring an Azaad Kashmir on Thursday.

With the help of the locals, over 1,000 banners had been prepared with the text reading, Azaad Kashmir. Preparations were underway to put up these banners. This was to be followed by the resignation of some leaders and officials from their respective government posts. A massive rally across the district was planned where the announcement was to be made.

How Azaad Kashmir was foiled?

This was the biggest combing operation that was undertaken by the Indian Army in 15 years. There was a huge risk involved in this and it meant that so many jawans were putting themselves out in the open where several terrorists were hiding.

However the huge presence of the Army pushed most of the terrorists back. The terrorists who were planning to come out on the streets were pushed back to their hiding spots in the forest areas. The personnel did face an attack later on Thursday evening. A vehicle carrying soldiers of the 62 rifles came under attack at the Imam Sahib area. A civilian driver was killed in the attack.

The operations are still underway. Sources say that the bigger part of the operation would be to snuff the terrorists out. There are many hiding still in the villages. If they are not brought to justice, then they may make another attempt to declare Shopian as 'Azaad Kashmir.'

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 10:58 [IST]
UP polls 2022: Yogi Adityanath the 2nd CM to contest assembly elections from Gorakhpur

Why the NIA needs to take up the Gorakhnath Temple attack case

Frogs married off in UP to please rain God, end drought like situation

Gorakhpur Riots Case: Allahabad High Court Summons Uttar Pradesh Chief Secy

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar

By Chennabasaveshwar

The Allahabad High Court on has summoned Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary in connection with 2007 Gorakhpur riots case in which the then local MP and current Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is one of the accused.

A division bench of justices Ramesh Sinha and Umesh Chandra Srivastava directed the chief secretary to appear in person on 11 May and file a personal affidavit besides producing all documents relating to the 2007 riots, including the sanction given by the state government to prosecute the accused.

2007 Gorakhpur riots case: Allahabad HC summoned UP Chief Secy on May 11, on a petition filed by Asad Hayat & journalist Parvez Parwaz.  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 4, 2017

The order was passed on a petition filed by Parvez Parwaz, the complainant in the FIR that was lodged at Cantt police station of Gorakhpur in connection with the riots, and Asad Hayat, a witness in the case.

(With agency inputs)

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 12:04 [IST]
How Mukul Rohatgi defended India's human rights record at the UN

India

oi-Prabhpreet

The right to fair trial and free legal aid up to the highest court are enshrined as fundamental rights in the Constitution of India and thus guaranteed to all individuals.

The world asked tough questions of India at the United Nation's Human Rights Council, on issues such as Kashmir, minority rights, crack down on NGO's, racism, women's rights and others.

As these issues were raised, the country's record on human rights issues came under sharp attack, but Attorney General, Mukul Rohatgi, who was presenting India's case, issued strong rebuttals to all allegations made.

Rohatgi, is reported to have said at the review, ""The right to fair trial and free legal aid up to the highest court are enshrined as fundamental rights in the Constitution of India and thus guaranteed to all individuals. So much so that as the Attorney General of India, I was summoned by the Supreme Court at 2 in the morning to hear a last-ditch petition, after several rounds of litigation, by a convict who was guilty of terrorism to escape punishment (Yakub Memon case). This shows the importance attached to upholding of human rights by India."

The hearing, which was a part of the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Right's Council in Geneva, which is held every five years for every country. This was India's third such voluntary review.

As Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka backed India on its human rights record, other countries raised various concerns, which were responded to by India.

While Pakistan raised the issue of the use of pellet guns, which had been in the news recently following their use in Kashmir by security forces to tackle violent protests, India countered by stating that the situation in Kashmir is due to Pakistan's actions and there is zero tolerance to terrorism.

The issue of "Afrophobia" was raised by Haiti, related to the recent incidents in the country where students from African countries were victims of violence. The Indian delegation denied these by calling the country the "land of Buddha" which did not have a racist mindset and saying that these incidents were a case of local crime.

Another major concern that was raised at the hearings was that of the recent crack down of the government on the NGO's citing their foreign funding.

Countries, including the US, Australia, Germany, Czech Republic, Norway and Ireland, asked India to look into its laws pertaining to foreign contributions, with the US saying that there is "complete lack of transparency" in the implementation which affects NGOs in India.

Also, concerns over religious rights of minorities and growing intolerance were expressed by countries such as Germany, Vatican, Kazakhstan, Kenya, UK, South Korea and the Netherlands.

Issues of women's rights were raised by Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan and Liechtenstein, while Israel and Ireland questioned India on the issue of equal rights for the LGBT community. In addition, several countries asked India to ratify the convention against torture.

Pointing out that India made no distinction between caste, colour, creed or religion of a citizen, Rohatgi said, "India is a secular state with no state religion," and adding that the freedom of religion to every individual is guaranteed in the Indian Constitution. He also said that the right to free speech and expression is enshrined in the Constitution.

"As the world's largest multi-layered democracy, we fully recognise the importance of free speech and expression. Our people are conscious of their political freedoms and exercise their choices at every opportunity," Rohatgi said. "We believe in peace, non-violence and upholding human dignity. As such, the concept of torture is completely alien to our culture and it has no place in the governance of the nation."

The issue of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, was also raised by countries like the US, which led to the AG to explain that the Act is applied only to disturbed areas which are in proximity to some international borders. He said, "Whether this Act should be repealed or not is a matter of on-going vibrant political debate in my country."

On the issue of rights of transgenders, Rohatgi, pointed to how India has been at the forefront of recognising their equal rights with the Supreme Court in a landmark judgement in 2014 directing the government to declare trans-genders a "third gender" and included them as an "Other Backward Class" entitled to affirmative action benefits. It had also reinforced that trans-genders should have all rights under law, including marriage, adoption, divorce, succession and inheritance

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 8:46 [IST]
FM Nirmala Sitharaman hints at possibility of Centre considering restoration of state status to J&K

In J&K, 14,000 dropouts find their way back to schools

J&K governor Vohra meets PM Modi to discuss security situation in valley

India

oi-Gulam Rabbani

New Delhi, May 5: Days after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Prime Minister Narendra Modi over law and order issue in the state, the governor N N Vohra on Friday met PM Modi in the national capital to discuss the present security situation in the state.

According to reports, the continuous unrest in the valley was raised during the meeting that was held at Prime Minister's Office.

Vohra had earlier met Union Home minister Rajnath Singh on the same issue.

Vohra is believed to have raised about the two bodies of jawans was mutilated by the Pakistan army across the Line Of control.

On May 1, Two Indian security personnel were killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the LoC in Poonch district and their bodies were mutilated by Pakistan army which they denied later.

A junior commissioned officer of the army and a BSF head constable were killed in the attack, a senior officer of the paramilitary force said.

Pakistan Army carried out unprovoked rocket and forward mortar firing on two forward posts on the Line of Control in Krishna Ghati sector.

Simultaneously, Border Action Team action was launched on a patrol operating in between the two posts," the Northern Command of the Indian Army said in a statement. "In an unsoldierly act by the Pakistan Army, the bodies of two of our soldiers in the patrol were mutilated," it said. The Indian Army has warned of appropriated response for the despicable act.

Soon after the incident, the Indian armed forces comprising nearly 3,000 security personnel undertook search operation in the valley to sniff out terrorists

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 16:09 [IST]
Kannada actor Rekha Sindhu dies in road accident

India

oi-Gulam Rabbani

Vellore, May 5: A 22-year-old ad film actor Rekha Sindhu from Bengaluru was killed in an early morning road accident at Natrampalli in this district on Friday, police said.

Rekha Sindu was killed on the spot when the driver of the car she was travelling 'dozed off' and rammed the vehicle into the median, Natrampalli police said. The incident happened on the busy Chennai-Bengaluru highway and three other occupants of the car, including the driver, sustained injuries, police said.

The victim was on her way to Bengaluru. Meanwhile, in an apparent case of mistaken identity, some reports claimed that another Kannada actor, Rekha Krishnappa, was the one who was killed in the mishap, prompting her to issue a clarification.

Krishnappa, also seen in some Tamil TV serials, said she was in Sringeri. "I am all fine guys.....at present in Sringeri sharada peeta temple," she wrote on her Facebook page and also put up a video.

In a similar incident, model-actress Sonika Chauhan on April 29 died in a road accident when the car in which she was travelling in, crashed into the divider and climbed the pavement on Rashbehari Avenue in Kolkata. Sonika was travelling with her actor-friend Vikram Chatterjee in Toyota Corolla Altis.

After hearing the deafening sound, locals rushed to the accident spot and pulled the duo out. Both were shifted to a nearby hospital where doctors declared Sonika brought dead.

Meanwhile, Vikram who sustained minor injuries, was discharged from the hospital but later he was again admitted, after he complained of discomfort. The ill-fated car was completely wrecked in the accident.

OneIndia News (With PTI inputs).
Delhi enveloped in thick smog with 'very poor' air quality

'Kejriwal ji, if my claims true, you'll resign and retire': Sukesh writes a new letter

Solving Delhi's air pollution problem little difficult but not impossible: Gadkari

IRCTC update: 151 trains cancelled on Nov 09; here is the complete list

MHA asks AAP for details of foreign funding

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

The Home Ministry has asked the Aam Aadmi Party to provide complete information on funds received from overseas sources, said reports.

The Delhi High Court in December, 2015, dismissed a plea seeking CBI probe into the funding of AAP in alleged violation of provisions of FCRA.

The court had then taken note of the Ministry of Home Affairs reply that nothing was found against AAP in its probe report regarding allegations that it had received offshore funds in violation of FCRA provisions.

AAP was earlier accused by a group of its former members of accepting donations from dubious companies with no credible source of income or legitimate addresses.

Allegations by the AAP Volunteer Action Manch (AVAM) had in 2015 claimed that four bogus companies made donations of Rs 50 lakh each through cheques to AAP at midnight.

In February 2015, the Home Ministry told the court that the Intelligence Bureau has found nothing against AAP.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 18:49 [IST]
Mosque can be constructed anywhere, but not where Lord Ram took birth: Swamy

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

If the Muslims are not ready for a compromise then the court is there to do it, BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Subramanian Swamy said on the Ram Temple issue at Ayodhya. We have already won in the Allahabad High Court, which has ruled that Lord Rama was born at a place of central dome of faith, Swamy also said.

If you talk of Hindu-Muslim unity, a mosque can be constructed anywhere, but it cannot be constructed where Lord Rama took birth, Swamy said after his meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath.

There was a temple where a mosque was constructed. The clerics, who are adamant, should know that." There is a way of settlement through the Supreme Court. I have a fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution to worship at the place of my faith.

I am fighting for my fundamental right, while they are fighting for property right, Swamy said.

It may be recalled that Swamy had recently urged the Muslim community to support the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site. Ram temple can only be built at one place in Ayodhya where the structure of a temple was found at the disputed site following investigation by the Archaeological Survey of India," Swamy had said.

He further said that if the issue is settled amicably, it will be all right, otherwise we will enact a law to construct a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya when we get majority in the Rajya Sabha by April, 2018.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 7:49 [IST]
Nirbhaya: Still sad, but at peace knowing that justice has been delivered

Victory for Nirbhaya: Supreme Court upholds death sentence for killers

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

"Evidence presented by the prosecution shall be relied on", Justice Dipak Mishra

Two separate judgements being read out in the Nirbhaya case

Judgement being read out in Supreme Court

Nirbhaya's parents reach Supreme Court. Arrive inside court room 2

"We have waited for five long years. I only want justice for my daughter. I am certain they will be hanged", says Nirbhaya's mother

Nirbhaya would have turned 28 on May 10, 2017

"We have full faith in the judicial system and I am sure that the Supreme Court will announce death sentence in its verdict for the guilty. I am sure the Supreme Court will give justice to my daughter. This will set an example for the world": Nirbhaya's mother.

"They will be awarded death sentence. Leave Supreme Court, even God will not forgive such people": Nirbhaya's father

It was one of the most brutal cases that the nation had witnessed. Known as the Nirbhaya rape and murder case, the nation awaits with bated breath for the Supreme Court order. The SC is all set to decide whether the killers will hang to death or spend the rest of their life in jail.

Nirbhaya's killers will hang to death says Supreme Court

The SC Bench headed by Justice Dipak Mishra is expected to pronounce its verdict at 2 pm today. Follow all the live updates here.

Nirbhaya was brutally assaulted and raped by six persons before being thrown out of a bus in South Delhi on December 16 2012. She passed away at hospital a few days later at Singapore.

The Delhi police strongly argued for upholding the death penalty for the convicts and termed the incident as a brutal crime.

A three judge Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra concluded hearings on the appeals on March 27. The appeals were heard for almost a year on a day-to-day basis.

The Delhi police strongly argued for upholding the death penalty for the convicts and termed the incident as a brutal crime. An Amicus Curae who was appointed in the case opposed death penalty sought that a lifer be awarded.

The Bench had prima facie agreed with the contention of the amicus that Section 235 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which provides that a trial court should individually hear a convict before sentencing him was not followed in this case.

The counsel appearing for the convicts, asked the court to consider their family background and young age as mitigating factors.The convicts Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh had approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court decision confirming the death penalty awarded to them by the trial court.

OneIndia News
Nirbhaya's killers will hang to death says Supreme Court

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Nirbhaya's killers will hang to death the Supreme Court has held. The Supreme Court on Friday confirmed the death sentenced awarded to the four killers of Nirbhaya.

Little did Nirbhaya know her world would end: SC's key observations

The Bench held that the case fell under the category of the rarest of rare cases. The Bench held that the accused persons were beyond reforms and hence they should hang by the neck until dead.

Justice Dipak Misra while delivering the verdict said that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused. He also said that the criminal conspiracy has been established.

As nation awaits Nirbhaya verdict, the juvenile who raped her works at a dhaba

The Bench also held that the appetite for sex and hunger for brutality has been proven in this case. The court also observed that the juvenile was present in the bus and there is no need to discard this fact.

The court also said that it had analysed several facets and come to the conclusion that the guilt of the accused had been proven. Further the court also observed that the arrest of the accused proven by the prosecution and the custodial confessions. The dying declaration of the victim also proves that the four are guilty the court also held. Further the SC also held that the presence of the accused in the bus has also proven the crime.

The court was hearing appeals filed by four death row convicts against the death penalty in the December 16 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. The crime against the 23 year old girl had created a public furore. She was brutally assaulted and raped by six persons before being thrown out of a bus in South Delhi. She passed away at hospital a few days later at Singapore.

A three judge Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra concluded hearings on the appeals on March 27. The appeals were heard for almost a year on a day-to-day basis.

The Delhi police strongly argued for upholding the death penalty for the convicts and termed the incident as a brutal crime. An Amicus Curae who was appointed in the case opposed death penalty sought that a lifer be awarded. Incidentally, the Bench had prima facie agreed with the contention of the amicus that Section 235 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which provides that a trial court should individually hear a convict before sentencing him was not followed in this case.

The counsel appearing for the convicts, asked the court to consider their family background and young age as mitigating factors.The convicts Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh had approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court decision confirming the death penalty awarded to them by the trial court.

OneIndia News
What is an offence?

To be put on the no-fly list, the passenger should have created problems either on a flight or airport. Any disruption to a normal flying process is considered to be an offence and you may not fly again. The new rules will be announced by the Civil Aviation Ministry today.

What happens to a person on a no-fly list?

If a passenger is placed under the no-fly list then he or she would not be able to book a plane ticket. It may be recalled Gaikwad after he claimed that he had hit the manager was not allowed to book an air ticket. It would however be the DGCA which would decide on whom to place in this list.

How long can a passenger be banned?

A passenger can be placed under this list for a fixed period. There is an option to file an appeal once placed on the no-fly list. The no-fly list would be public. The airlines can ask the passengers to voluntarily disclose their Aadhaar numbers when they buy tickets. This would help identify passengers on the list.
Sanjay, Sandip Jhunjhunwala arrested by CBI for Rs 3,871 crore bank fraud

India

oi-Anusha

The promoters of REI Agro Limited Sanjay and Sandip Jhunjhunwala were on Thursday arrested by the CBI. The siblings, who are also manufacturers of Rain Drops Basmati rice, were arrested by the central bureau of investigation for allegedly cheating a consortium of 14 banks led by UCO bank of Rs 3871 crore.

The UAE authorities had issued an Interpol red corner notice against Sanjay Jhunjhunwala while the CBI had also issued a lookout circular. While a FIR was registered against him in 2015, he was arrested on Thursday when he arrived in Delhi. The siblings' company is accused of defrauded banks to the extent of Rs 3,871 crore since 2013 through conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

The company is said to have cheated the banks using close to 150 shell companies. The modus operandi was based on a fixed commission that was routed through a group of brokers by creating false invoices, documents of money transfers for non-existent transactions. CBI sources claimed that Sanjay Jhunjhunwala was also facing a case of misappropriation of AED 160 million for which the UAE authorities had issued a Red Corner Notice against him.

14 public sector banks were cheated by the accused persons through diversion of funds, showing high cost of false capital expenditure, suspected investment in related companies, falsely inflating debtors, sale at higher price to related or doubtful parties, fraudulent high sea transactions, non-compliance with fund utilization, corporate guarantee without permission of consortium members etc.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 18:02 [IST]
SC issues contempt notice against Kerala government in Senkumar case

India

oi-Anusha

The Supreme Court on Friday slapped the Kerala government with a contempt notice. The court further imposed costs of Rs 25,000 on the Kerala government after it filed a petition seeking clarification on the court's order directing it to reinstate the IPS officer. The cost was imposed after the court allowed the government to withdraw its petition. The Supreme Court has asked Kerala government to reply to the notice by Monday.

Taking cognizance of the contempt petition filed by Senkumar against the Kerala government, the court issued a notice to the Pinarayi Vijayan government. In his contempt petition filed before the Supreme court on April 29, the IPS officer had accused the Kerala government of delaying his reinstatement in spite of a Supreme CPurt order. Following the petition, the Supreme Court has now asked the Kerala government to file its reply.

The Kerala government had on Thursday filed a review petition before the Supreme Court seeking clarity on Senkumar's reinstatement. In its petition, the Kerala government had claimed that Senkumar was only an in-charge DGP. The Supreme Court held that there was no clarification needed and that it was going to impose cost for the petition.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 11:14 [IST]
Equality cornerstone of India's progress, we should be united through mantra of 'India first': PM Modi

In a first, made-in-India gun used for ceremonial salute at Red Fort on Independence Day

Security scare as grenade found near Red Fort

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

In a security scare, a grenade was found in a well at the Red Fort, Delhi. The NSG which was immediately pressed into action has however moved the grenade, santised the area before declaring it a safe zone.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Delhi (North), Jatin Narwal said that a preliminary inquiry conducted revealed that the grenade was an old one. It was found by the police on Thursday evening.

Following the discovery of the grenade, the entire area was cordoned off. However normalcy has returned with the area being declared safe. The Red Fort is a high security zone.

Several intelligence alerts come up where this iconic area is concerned. It has been subject to a terror strike once in the past. Ahead of the Independence Day, there is always an alert stating that terrorists are looking to strike at the Red Fort from where the Prime Minister addresses the nation.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 10:35 [IST]
Shiv Sena calls for 'crushing' Pakistan

India

pti-PTI

Mumbai, May 5: Amid the heightened tension at the border after the mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers, the Shiv Sena on Friday said merely angry rhetoric against Pakistan was not enough and it needed to be "crushed" now.

In a scathing editorial in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana,' the Sena also said despite India having given substantial proof to Pakistan over Hafiz Saeed's involvement in the 26/11 terror attack, the Pathankot airbase attack, the Uri attack and the recent beheading of two jawans, the neighbouring country has shirked all its responsibility.

It is poking fun instead at India saying we have a habit of blaming Pakistan for everything that happens here, it added.

"This is going on for many years now. Everybody knows that the ISI, the Pakistani military and the terror outfits based there are behind the terror attacks in India," the Sena mouthpiece said.

"Despite throwing ample proof on their face each time, the terrorism emanating from Pakistan and violence in Kashmir has refused to cease. The banks are being looted in the valley and the soldiers are being killed. But the government only summons Abdul Basit, gives him proof against his nation and lets him off with a warning," it said.

It said the nation is tired of hearing about the revenge that will be taken against Pakistan.

"The anguish of the families of the martyred soldiers numbs all senses. Had the families of the martyred jawans been called when Basit was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry, they would have peeled his skin off. He would not be able to smile in front of the mediapersons then," it said.

"The continuous use of words like shameless for Pakistan will not be enough now. It needs to be crushed. The country was expecting 50 heads (of the Pakistani soldiers) for every Indian killed. But here, it seems that revenge is only taken by summoning Basit and warning him," the Sena said.

PTI
Shootout in Bengaluru: Woman shoots husband in full public view

India

oi-Anusha

By Anusha Ravi

Tense moments were witnessed in Bengaluru on Friday after a woman opened fire at her husband. In the midst of peak hour traffic, a woman shot at her husband on Hosur road.

The woman identified as Hamsa has been arrested by the Bengaluru police while her husband, Sairam was rushed to a hospital.

The couple was travelling in a car and was allegedly in an inebriated state. The police claim that an altercation broke out between the two. In a fit of range, Hamsa is said to have shot her husband in the abdomen. The man, who tried to get down from the car and run, was shot at once again. In all Sairam is said to have received three bullet injuries. Hamsa shot at her husband in full public view even as people tried to stop her.

The police who rushed to the spot shifted the victim to a nearby hospital and took the woman into custody. Police claim that the woman was also bleeding from her mouth when they arrived. Domestic issues seem to be the issue in this case but a shootout in broad daylight in the midst of a busy junction sent shockwaves.

OneIndia News
UK PM Liz Truss resigns after 45 days in office, successor to be elected next week

Stalin urges Modi secure TN fishermen's release during Sri Lanka visit

India

oi-PTI

Chennai, May 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sri Lanka later this month should secure the release of five Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy and 134 boats seized, DMK working president M K Stalin said on Friday.

Referring to the recent arrest of five fishermen of Ramanathapuram and assault of four Nagapattinam fishermen, allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy personnel, he said the state's fisherfolk who put to sea to eke out their livelihood were living in fright.

Citing the recent incidents, Stalin, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, said the arrest and assault of the state fishermen and impounding of their boats were continuing at the hands of Sri Lankan Navy.

During his visit to Sri Lanka between May 12 and 14, Modi should take up the fishermen's issue and secure release of the five fishermen and 134 boats seized, considering their livelihood, Stalin said.

He hit out at the K Palaniswami regime for stopping with writing only letters to the Centre on the issue.

PTI

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 17:51 [IST]
The love-hate relationship between Pakistans ISI and JKLF

ISI chooses UK for week-long event to mark Geelani's death anniversary, but no one's surprised

NIA raids at 50 locations expose the dirty nexus between ISI, Khalistanis and gangsters

Suspected ISI agent Aftab Ali sent to nine-day ATS remand

India

oi-Vikas

By Vikas

A Lucknow court on Friday sent suspected ISI agent Aftab Ali, who was arrested from Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, to nine-day Anti-Terrorism Squad remand.

Ali was arrested on Wednesday by the Anti-Terrorism Squad in coordination with the Military Intelligence.

Electronic surveillance revealed that Ali was passing on information about Indian Army's activities to his link in Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi.

Ali's arrested led to the arrest of another ISI operative, Altaf Qureshi, from Masjid Bunder area in South Mumbai.

Qureshi, a hawala operator, had allegedly deposited money in the bank account of Aftab Ali.

[Two suspected ISI agents arrested in Mumbai]

The Uttar Pradesh ATS produced Ali before special CJM court on Thursday after which he was sent to 14-day judicial custody.

Uttar Pradesh ADG (law&order), said, Ali came in contact with Pakistan High Commission last year and went to Pakistan once. He might have been indoctrinated during his visit, he added.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 18:38 [IST]
Thunderous applause in courtroom as Nirbhaya's killers are sent to the gallows

India

oi-Anusha

Loud claps resounded the courtroom as the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Nirbhaya's killers. The thunderous claps reflected the mood of the nation that awaited justice for India's daughter brutally assaulted, mutilated and killed.

Nirbhaya's killers will hang to death says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra on Friday confirmed the death sentenced awarded to the four killers of Nirbhaya. The Bench held that the case fell under the category of the rarest of rare cases. The Bench held that the accused persons were beyond reforms and hence they should hang by the neck until dead.

As Justice Dipak Misra read out the judgement, the emotionally charged courtroom was filled with applause for the justice that was finally delivered to Nirbhaya. Not just the family but an entire nation waited with baited breath as two judgements were being read inside court room 2.

The Delhi police strongly argued for upholding the death penalty for the convicts and termed the incident as a brutal crime. An Amicus Curiae who was appointed in the case opposed death penalty sought that a lifer be awarded. Incidentally, the Bench had, prima facie, agreed with the contention of the amicus that Section 235 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which provides that a trial court should individually hear a convict before sentencing him was not followed in this case.

However, the bench minced no words when it came to judgement that all four accused deserved no less than a death sentence. The Bench also held that the appetite for sex and hunger for brutality has been proven in this case. The court also observed that the juvenile was present in the bus and there is no need to discard this fact. While the accused may have more legal options to explore, for now, they are sentenced to hang till death.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 14:55 [IST]
'Verdict is a violation of human rights', says counsel for Nirbhaya's killers

India

oi-Anusha

Even as the nation celebrated the Supreme Court's verdict upholding the death sentence to Nirbhaya's killers, their advocate called in a violation of human rights. The counsel for the accused, AP Singh said that justice was not done and that a review would be filed.

Victory for Nirbhaya, a nation celebrates

"You cannot give death sentence to anyone simply because you want to give a message to the society. This is a violation of human rights. Justice has not been done and we will file a review petition," said AP Singh as he walked out of the courtroom. "The meaning of punishment is improvements. There is a right to live. In the judgement human rights have been neglected, Mahatma Gandhi's ideology has been neglected as this is violence," he said.

Samaaj mein message dene ke liye kisi ko phansi nahi de sakte, human rights ki dhajiyaan udd gayi: AP Singh, Lawyer of convicts #Nirbhaya pic.twitter.com/DKMVXBwizn  ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

His statements came even as Nirbhaya's parents and the entire nation hailed the Supreme Court's order. His statements came under severe criticism with people slamming him for defending Nirbhaya's killers. Despite the Supreme Court upholding the death sentence to all four accused, they have a range of legal options to explore.

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Story first published: Friday, May 5, 2017, 15:45 [IST]
At the speed of 0.7 mach, Nirbhay subsonic cruise missiles to defend LAC

UP: 50-year-old woman suffers Nirbhaya like torture, gangraped, rod inserted in private parts and ribs broken

Nirbhaya: Still sad, but at peace knowing that justice has been delivered

Victory for Nirbhaya, a nation celebrates

India

oi-Anusha

As the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for all four accused in the Nirbhaya case a nation celebrated. Justice was finally served to India's daughter on May 5. After almost five years of legal battle, the Supreme court ordered all four accused to hang till death. Nirbhaya was India's daughter and the applause in the courtroom was only indicative of it. This is how India reacted to the Supreme Court's order on Nirbhaya's killers.

Nirbhaya's killers will hang to death says Supreme Court

"I am happy that the verdict has been upheld. Though, I wish it had come sooner," said Maneka Gandhi, the Union minister for women and child welfare.

The chairperson of Delhi women's commission Swati Maliwal welcomed the verdict.

DCW welcomes SC decision. Finally, justice was delayed but not denied. Nirbhaya's rapist will be served death penalty now. https://t.co/I9tGZQ9fFx  Swati Jai Hind (@SwatiJaiHind) May 5, 2017

"Delhi Police's investigation stands vindicated, it is an important verdict," said Deependra Pathak, the spokesperson of Delhi Police Spokesperson

Even those who do not support capital punishment were of the opinion that the accused in this case deserved nothing less than being sent to the gallows.

" In principle, I am against death penalty, but this was such a heinous crime that strictest punishment was needed, " said CPI(M)'s Brinda Karat. She, however, added that Selective nature of the judicial process of our country is why she was against the death penalty.

Twitterati thanked the Supreme Court for the verdict and ensuring justice to Nirbhaya, her family and the entire nation.

Though I don't favour capital punishment in general but rapists and terrorists deserve nothing less. Justice has been served. #Nirbhaya.  Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) May 5, 2017

Netizens were all praises for the Supreme Court for ensuring Justice for Nirbhaya's parents. While Nirbhaya's mother broke down in the court hall as the judgement was being read out, the support in the court hall as well as on social media showed that the nation stood by the family

The Nirbhaya verdict by the SC brings hope and relief to parents who care for girls that justice will prevail  Nimish (@fluidicverna) May 5, 2017

Many lambasted the counsel for the accused, AP Singh, for calling the verdict a violation of human rights.

#Nirbhaya SC gave actual justice to her soul today. We stand with her.Equally shocking is the reckless comment of the lawyer of the accused.  Mohit Kumar Sinha (@Mohit_Kr_Sinha) May 5, 2017

OneIndia News
Who is Draupadi Murmu?

She is currently the Governor of Jharkhand. Her career in politics spans over 2 decades. She will be the first tribal to be the President of India. She is the daughter of late Biranchi Narayan Tudu. Hailing from Odisha, she was also a former minister in the government there.

Best MLA award

Draupadi Murmu was awarded the best MLA of the year award by the Odisha Legislative Assembly. In 2007 Droupadi Murmu was awarded "Nilakantha Award. She was elected as a councillor in 1997 and went on to become the vice-chairperson of the Rairangpur NAC. She was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly, Rairangpur, Odisha and then went on to become Minister of State. Between 2002 and 2009, she remained the National Executive Member of the ST Morcha, BJP.

To succeed Pranab Mukherjee

She is likely to succeed Pranab Mukherjee whose term expires on July 25 2017. If elected, she will become the first tribal to become the President of India. Sources say that it would be hard for the opposition to reject her candidature. She is most likely to emerge as a consensus candidate.
Rawalpindi police file report against Pakistan PM for 'Anti-army' Speech

International

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By Oneindia Staff Writer

The Pakistan police have registered a report against their Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Rawalpindi. The Nawaz Sharif faces charges for allegedly 'provoking people and creating hatred against the Pakistan armed forces'.

The report was registered at the Civil Line police in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. It was filed by advocate Ishtiaq Ahmed Mirza who claimed to be the chairman of the 'IM Pakistan' party. The one-page report is not a FIR but is locally referred to as 'roznamcha'. Pakistan's The Dawn newspaper reported that the complaint claimed to have received a video clip on WhatsApp which showed a man making a speech against the Army. He said that the man delivering the speech was Sharif himself. The complaint further states that the speech was allegedly provoking people and creating hatred against the armed forces.

The complainant asked for a case to be registered against Sharif, who is the head of the PML-N party. Mirza claimed that his political party was registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan, the report quoted.

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Online Casino Reports Cambodia Launched

Published May 5, 2017 by Mike P

Cambodian players now have their very own Online Casino Reports. This portal will publish all reviews, and guides directly in Cambodian (Khmer).

The globe-spanning Online Casino Reports (OCR) brand is one that is trusted by gamers and gamblers from more nations than a geography teacher could name. We at OCR are constantly seeking out new ways to make the gambling portal more helpful and more accessible for users.

In recent years, this has taken the form of OCR improving its accessibility from a language perspective. Today, OCR maintains numerous global websites where all of the content is directly written for and aimed centred around players who live in the country. And the latest site to be launched is the dedicated OCR Cambodia destination.

Cambodian Reviews

OCR Cambodia is now live and can be reached right here. Cambodian players can expect to encounter an array of top online gambling brands that have been reviewed in a fair and balanced manner. Among the categories that will be covered will be software, mobile access, offers, banking, support, and more.

Around the world, players can find it difficult to identify gambling sites that will be able to accept them. At OCR Cambodia, residents of the country can seek out brands that are ready for them. And making matters easier is the fact that all reviews will be displayed in Cambodian. There can be no confusion when content has been directly shown for players in their native tongue.

Cambodian gambling guides will be another crucial form of support. In online gambling, it always helps to have informative guides detailing how to play. Now, though, Cambodian players can conveniently read guides in their own language.
Opalesque Industry Update - Hedge funds investing in Emerging Asia, specifically in India and China, posted the strongest quarterly performance since 2Q15, benefitting from improving investor expectations for global growth and favorable currency market trading in 1Q17, according to the latest HFR Asian Hedge Fund Industry Report, released today by HFR, the established global leader in the indexation, analysis and research of the global hedge fund industry. The HFRX India Index surged +19.05 percent in 1Q, its strongest quarterly gain since 2Q09, and topping Indian equity performance, as measured by the BSE Sensex 30 Index, by 780 basis points, leading all HFR indices for the quarter. Despite the strong performance, total capital invested in Asian-focused hedge funds increased only slightly due to an investor net outflow of $3.2 billion, ending the quarter at $110.43 billion (762 billion RMB, 12.4 trillion JPY). As previously reported by HFR, total hedge fund capital invested globally increased to $3.066 trillion in 1Q17, the third consecutive quarterly capital record. Chinese hedge funds also posted a strong start to 2017, with the HFRX China Index gaining +10.4 percent in 1Q17, the highest quarterly performance since 2Q15. The Index topped Chinese equity markets, as measured by the Shanghai Composite Index, by over 650 basis points and reverses the decline of -3.2 percent for FY 2016. Similarly, the HFRI EM: Asia ex-Japan Index jumped +9.07 percent in 1Q17. Total capital invested in Emerging Asia-focused hedge funds was little changed from the prior quarter at $48.6 billion. The HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index, consisting of hedge funds globally, advanced +2.5 percent in 1Q17. Hedge funds investing in Japan also produced gains in 1Q17, as well as topped the performance of regional equity markets, with the HFRI Japan Index advancing +3.6 percent in 1Q. The gain for Japanese hedge funds topped the decline of the Nikkei 225 by 469 basis points for the quarter. Total capital invested in Japan-focused hedge funds increased to $26.9 billion, while capital invested in hedge funds investing in pan-Asia fell slightly to $35 billion. By strategy, Asian-located Event-Driven (ED) and Equity Hedge (EH) funds posted the strongest gains in 1Q, as both indices advanced +6.8 percent in the quarter. Comparatively, the HFRI Event-Driven (Total) Index and HFRI Equity Hedge (Total) Index produced returns of +2.1 and +3.9 percent, respectively, for 1Q17. Asian-located Macro hedge funds posted a decline of -0.6 percent in the quarter, trailing the minor +0.3 percent gain for the HFRI Macro (Total) Index, while Asian-located Fixed Income-based Relative Value Arbitrage funds added +0.9 percent, trailing the HFRI Relative Value (Total) Index gain of +2.2 percent in 1Q. "India and China led the Asian hedge fund industry in the first quarter, topping global hedge fund industry performance, as well as regional equity markets. The gains are a welcome and stark contrast for investors after experiencing a weak start from these funds in 2016," stated Kenneth J. Heinz, President of HFR. "Geopolitical and economic trends towards increased global economic growth and strength in the US economy are favorable to these strategies, albeit with the continued and ongoing risk of military conflict in the Asian region. It is likely that growth in Asian hedge fund capital increases in coming quarters as investors seek higher performance with increased risk tolerance through sophisticated, specialized Asian hedge fund strategies." press release Bg Article source - Opalesque is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Image Editing Software 2017 Global Key Players - Adobe Photoshop, ACD See,Windows Photo Gallery, PCPaint, Cyber Ink, PhaseOne Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022

Image Editing Software

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Image Editing SoftwareReport Details:This report studies the market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturerMajor Key PlayersAdobe PhotoshopACD SeeWindows Photo Gallery,PCPaintCyber InkPhaseOneAffinity PhotoBefunkyMagixPaintShopPixlrClick here for sample report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Image Editing Software in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe On the basis of product, the Image Editing Software market is primarily split intoEntry Level SoftwareEnthusiast/Prosumer LevelProfessional LevelOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report coversIndividual UseSchoolCommercial UseOthersSome Major Points from Table of content:2017-2022 Image Editing Software Report on Global and United States Market, Status and Forecast, by Players, Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source2.1.1 Secondary Sources2.1.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 Image Editing Software Market Overview2.1 Image Editing Software Product Overview2.2 Image Editing Software Market Segment by Type2.2.1 Entry Level Software2.2.2 Enthusiast/Prosumer Level2.2.3 Professional Level2.3 Global Image Editing Software Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global Image Editing Software Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)2.3.2 Global Image Editing Software Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.3 Global Image Editing Software Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Types (2012-2017)2.3.4 Global Image Editing Software Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2012-2017)2.4 United States Image Editing Software Product Segment by Type2.4.1 United States Image Editing Software Sales (K Units) and Growth by Types (2012, 2016 and 2022)For Detailed Reading Please visit @7 Image Editing Software Players/Manufacturers Profiles and Sales Data7.1 Adobe Photoshop7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.1.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Adobe Photoshop Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 ACD See7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.2.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 ACD See Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Windows Photo Gallery7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.3.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Windows Photo Gallery Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 PCPaint7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.4.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 PCPaint Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Cyber Ink7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.5.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Cyber Ink Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 PhaseOne7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.6.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 PhaseOne Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Affinity Photo7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.7.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Affinity Photo Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Befunky7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.8.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Befunky Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Magix7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.9.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Magix Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 PaintShop7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors7.10.2 Image Editing Software Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 PaintShop Image Editing Software Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%) (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview..ContinuedBuy now @Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About UsWise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042Mail :info@wiseguyreports.com
Global Patient Monitoring Equipment Market Drivers, Trends and Opportunities Forecasts from 2017 to 2022

Patient Monitoring Equipment Market

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Executive SummaryGlobal Patient Monitoring Equipment Market:WiseGuyReports.com adds Patient Monitoring Equipment Market 2017 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2022reports to its database.WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Request a Sample Report @The 2016 study has 615 pages, 365 tables and figures. Worldwide Patient Monitoring markets are poised to achieve significant growth as a resurgence in tracking vital signs extends from the intensive care unit ICU and emergency department to all areas of the hospital, to patient transport venues, and to home outpatient treatment locations.The patient monitoring platform is modular, integrating various components. Modular systems are developed in the context of consideration of probable specifications for the interaction of system components. Patient Monitoring systems are making a market resurgence because smaller, lighter, wireless units are less costly and more valuable in the context of treatment evaluations and recommendations. People who have cardiac or respiratory difficulty have more treatment options, making more extensive patient monitoring useful.Designs take into consideration users with mild, moderate, and severe chronic disease condition restrictions. Users come from chronic disease groups and older age groups.The core of a patient monitoring platform is an integration of separate vital signs detection sensors that form a system that supports adapting to numerous clinical requirements. Modules implement ways to determine patient condition. Market driving forces for multi-parameter and specialized vital signs patient monitors relate to more societal willingness to pay for vigilance, an increase in vigilance of sick people at risk. Cardiac and respiratory symptoms are measured as vital sign shifts by patient monitors.Symptoms are represented by shifts in vital sign monitoring that measures disease conditions impacted deterioration of patient well-being. The monitoring is frequently done in conjunction with blood work.There is a lot of complexity in determining the meaning of the patient monitor vital signs measurements. Shortness of breath is a common symptom of cardiac disease. It is frequently misdiagnosed as a respiratory symptom or ignored by patients and is not even considered a symptom.Vital signs monitoring is a way to get a window into patient condition that can provide alerts when a small change signals a possible shift in patient condition. Hospital cardiac patient monitoring technology is a vital aid in providing treatment for severely ill patients.Alerts can be used to take action before a patient gets even more seriously ill. Hospital and outpatient cardiac patient monitoring can detect arrhythmias and get people to treatment faster before it is too late to correct heart failure. Early detection of a problem in the home is a way to avoid a hospital stay. Appropriate treatment of chronic conditions is difficult and is essential to helping people protect quality of life after recovery from a serious illness.Revitalization of patient monitor markets is occurring because units are smaller, less costly, and more useful across a variety of venues. Patient monitoring is moving toward the ability to help with wellness and to participate in the wearables markets. As people shift resource toward medical treatment, patient monitoring equipment becomes a priority.Lifestyle is supported by patient monitoring products that support earlier detection of disease conditions. Increasing market share has been achieved by providing value to the clinicians. The technical expertise of the sales force, the effectiveness of the distribution system, the strength of the dealers, and the availability of prompt and reliable service for products when addressed are able to help patient monitor vendors achieve competitive advantage.Patient monitor markets at $11 billion in 2015 are anticipated to reach $26.2 billion by 2022. Strong growth is predicated on the increasing reliance on multi-parameter patient monitors in every bed of the hospital, in multiple areas of specialized clinics, and in many rehab centers.Market growth occurs with the expansion of multi-parameter patient monitors connected to a central station beyond the intensive care unit to all floors of a hospital. Clinical care depends on monitoring. Vital signs monitors transmit data wirelessly directly to the electronic patient record, generating alerts if data is outside preset parameters. Patient monitors are expanding the use base in the hospital and expanding use in rehab centers, clinical settings, and home.Companies ProfiledMarket LeadersPhilipsGeneral Electric (GE)DragerNihon KohdenFukuda DenshiHill-Rom / Welch AllynMindray MedicalOSI / SpacelabsViterionMaquetPenlonCriticare SystemsMedtronicBiotronicCare InnovationsSoteraMortara InstrumentMarket ParticipantsAbbott LabsAlten Calsoft LabsAMD Global TelemedicineAmerican TelecareBoston ScientificBPL Group / PenlonCardiocomCardioNetCare InnovationsCriticare TechnologieseCaringGetinge Group / MaquetGuangdong Biolight Meditech Co.,Ltd.HealthSenseHoneywellInfiniumLifeWatchMedtronicNSD / ViterionOpto CircuitsBPL Group / PenlonQualcomm IncorporatedRocheSchillerSotera WirelessSmiths MedicalSt. Jude MedicalVitaphoneKey TopicsPatient Monitoring SystemsMonitoring Market Driving ForcesHospital Cardiac MonitoringVital Signs MonitorsMonitoring Modular systemsTransforming Health Care LandscapeMulti-Parameter Patient MonitorWireless Patient MonitoringHospital Cardiac Patient MonitoringVital SignsWrist MonitorsPulse Oximeter MonitorsTelemedicinePulse Wave Transit Time PWTTRemote Patient MonitoringBrowse Full Report Details@Some Major Points from Table of Content:Table of ContentsPatient Monitoring Systems Executive Summary 33Patient Monitoring Systems Market Driving Forces 33Hospital Cardiac Patient Monitoring Company and Technology Challenges 36Patient Monitoring Market Shares 37Patient Monitoring Market Forecasts 391 Patient Monitoring Market Description And Market Dynamics 411.1 Transforming Health Care Landscape Provides Opportunity 411.1.1 Quality Healthcare Delivery 461.2 Advances In Remote Patient Monitoring 461.3 Vendor Positioning in Hospital Patient Cardiac Monitors 471.3.1 Improving Supply Chain Efficiency 481.3.2 Vendors Seek to Become More Competitive 481.4 Multi-Parameter Patient Monitor Market Shares and Market Forecasts 491.5 Healthcare Markets 501.6 Wireless Patient Monitoring 531.6.1 Wireless Patient Monitoring Category 542 Patient Monitoring Systems Market Shares And Market Forecasts 552.1 Patient Monitoring Systems Market Driving Forces 552.1.1 Hospital Cardiac Patient Monitoring Company and Technology Challenges 582.1.2 Lives Improved: Striving to Make the World Healthier and More Sustainable Through Innovation 602.1.3 Addressing Patient Monitoring Technology Challenges: Social and Ecological Approach 612.2 Patient Monitoring Market Shares 692.2.1 Philips Healthcare 722.2.2 Philips IntelliVue MX40 732.2.3 GE Healthcare 742.2.4 Nihon Kohden Dominating High-Tech Asia-Pacific Patient Monitoring Market, 742.2.5 Fukuda Denshi 752.2.6 Dragerwerk 762.2.7 Getinge Group / Maquet 772.2.8 Mindray Medical International 772.2.9 Penlon 782.2.10 Honeywell Life Care Solutions 782.3 Patient Monitoring Market Forecasts 792.4 Patient Monitor Equipment Market Segments Market Share and Forecasts 822.4.1 Competitive Analysis 832.4.2 Patient Monitor Market Segments 862.4.3 Patient Monitor Segments by Company 872.4.4 Central Stations 902.4.5 Bedside Monitoring 973 Patient Monitoring Products 1403.1 Philips Patient Monitors 1403.1.1 Philips IntelliVue MX40 1413.1.2 Philips IntelliVue MX400 1433.1.3 Philips Neonatal Monitoring Features 1523.1.4 Philips IntelliVue MX800 1543.1.5 Philips IntelliVue MP2 1553.1.6 Philips IntelliVue MP5 1563.1.7 Philips IntelliVue MX700 1573.1.8 Philips IntelliVue MMS X2 1583.1.9 Philips IntelliVue MX500 1593.1.10 Philips IntelliVue MX550 1603.1.11 Philips IntelliVue MX450 1613.1.12 Philips IntelliVue MP90 1623.1.13 Philips IntelliVue MP5SC 1633.1.14 Philips SureSigns VSi 1643.1.15 Philips SureSigns VM1 1653.1.16 Philips SureSigns VS3 1653.1.17 Philips SureSigns VS2+ 1663.1.18 Philips SureSigns VS4 1673.1.19 Philips Telehealth Home Monitoring 1685. Patient Monitoring Company Description 4705.1 Abbott Labs 4705.2 Alten Calsoft Labs 4735.2.1 Alten Calsoft LabsRevenue 4735.3 AMD Global Telemedicine 4745.4 American Telecare 4745.5 Biotronik 4745.5.1 Biotronik Business Areas Of Electrotherapy And Vascular Intervention 4755.5.2 Biotronik Electrotherapy 4755.5.3 Biotronik Vascular Intervention 4765.5.4 Biotronik CHF Study 4775.6 Boston Scientific 4785.6.1 Boston Scientific / AMS Portfolio Acquisition 4795.6.2 Boston Scientific Cardiovascular Interventional Cardiology 4805.6.3 Boston Scientific Cardiac Rhythm Management 4805.6.4 Electrophysiology 4815.7 BPL Group / Penlon 4815.7.1 Penlon Secures Investment From Leading Indian Medical Devices Company 4825.7.2 BPL Medical Technologies 4835.7.3 Penlon 4835.8 Cardiocom 484List of Tables and FiguresTable ES-1 Cardiac Patient Monitoring Market Driving Forces 34Table ES-2 Cardiac Patient Monitoring Market Factors 36Figure ES-3 Patient Monitors Market Shares, Dollars, 2015 38Figure ES-4 Patient Monitoring Forecasts, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016-2022 40Table 1-1 Transforming Healthcare Market Landscape 42Table 1-2 Transforming Healthcare Market Functions 43Table 1-3 Transforming Healthcare Continuum 44Figure 1-4 Transforming Healthcare Market Landscape 45Figure 1-5 Typical Patient Parameters Monitored 52Table 2-1 Cardiac Patient Monitoring Market Driving Forces 56Table 2-2 Cardiac Patient Monitoring Market Factors 58Table 2-3 Patient Monitoring Technology Challenges: Wearables 62Table 2-4 Patient Monitoring Technology Challenges: Systems Integration 63Table 2-5 Patient Monitoring Technology Challenges: Wireless Communications 64Table 2-6 Patient Monitoring Technology Challenges: Analytics 65Table 2-7 Patient Monitoring Technology Challenges: Quality 67Figure 2-8 Patient Monitors Market Shares, Dollars, 2015 70Table 2-9 Patient Monitoring Market Shares, Units and Dollars, Worldwide, 2015 71Table 2-10 Philips Patient Monitoring Portfolio Targets 72Figure 2-11 Philips IntelliVue MX40 73Figure 2-12 Patient Monitoring Forecasts, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016-2022 79Table 2-13 Patient Monitor Market Forecasts, Dollars, Worldwide, 2016-2022 80Table 2-15 Patient Monitor Market Segments, Central Station, Bedside, Neonatal, Anesthesia, Transport, Vital Signs and Wrist Monitors, Implant Device Home Monitors, and Telemedicine Home Monitors, Dollars, Worldwide, 2015 82Purchase a Copy of This Report @CONTINUEDMore about WiseGuyReports:Contact Us:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune  411028Maharashtra, India
Global Condoms Market Opportunities And Analysis Of Top Key Player Forecasts To 2022

Global Condoms Market

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In this report, the global Condoms 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.Global Condoms market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer;the top players includingKarexThai Nippon RubberTTK-LIGHLL LifecareSuretex(Ansell)Qingdao DurexGuilin LatexUnidus CorpDoubleone LatexPleasure LatexSSL(Thailand)OkamotoSuretex India(Ansell)Church&DwightNulatex Sdn BhdJ.K. AnsellDalian LatexDouble ButterflyAngel LatexHuman-care LatexMINGBANHBMXibeiGet Sample Report @Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Condoms 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 intoLatex CondomNon-latex CondomOn 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 Condoms for each application, includingAge: Under 25Age: 25-34Age: 35-49Age: Above 50If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Leave a Query @Table of ContentsGlobal Condoms Market Research Report 20171 Condoms Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Condoms1.2 Condoms Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Condoms Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category) (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Condoms Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Latex Condom1.2.4 Non-latex Condom1.3 Global Condoms Segment by Application1.3.1 Condoms Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Age: Under 251.3.3 Age: 25-341.3.4 Age: 35-491.3.5 Age: Above 501.4 Global Condoms Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Condoms 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 Condoms (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Condoms Revenue Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Condoms Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2012-2022)7 Global Condoms Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Karex7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Karex Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Thai Nippon Rubber7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Thai Nippon Rubber Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 TTK-LIG7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 TTK-LIG Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 HLL Lifecare7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 HLL Lifecare Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Suretex(Ansell)7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 Suretex(Ansell) Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Qingdao Durex7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Qingdao Durex Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Guilin Latex7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 Guilin Latex Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 Unidus Corp7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 Unidus Corp Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Doubleone Latex7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Doubleone Latex Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Pleasure Latex7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Condoms Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Pleasure Latex Condoms Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2012-2017)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 SSL(Thailand)7.12 Okamoto7.13 Suretex India(Ansell)7.14 Church&Dwight7.15 Nulatex Sdn Bhd7.16 J.K. Ansell7.17 Dalian Latex7.18 Double Butterfly7.19 Angel Latex7.20 Human-care Latex7.21 MINGBAN7.22 HBM7.23 Xibei9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9.1 Condoms Industrial Chain Analysis9.2 Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing9.3 Raw Materials Sources of Condoms Major Manufacturers in 20159.4 Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders10.1 Marketing Channel10.1.1 Direct Marketing10.1.2 Indirect Marketing10.1.3 Marketing Channel Development Trend10.2 Market Positioning10.2.1 Pricing Strategy10.2.2 Brand Strategy10.2.3 Target Client10.3 Distributors/Traders ListBuy Now@CONTACT US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Pune, India
Global Warehouse Robotics Market Projected To Grow At a Steady CAGR During Forecast Period

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The industry survey report Global Warehouse Robotics Market Research Report (2017-2022) is an overview of the market. It covers all the recent trends including key developments in the Global market in present and in future. Analyses of the Global Warehouse Robotics market trends along with the projections of CAGRs (compound annual growth rates) are provided in the research report.The existing advancements in the Global Warehouse Robotics industry have helped in reshaping the biotechnology, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and environmental markets. We have launched a whole new service that can further support the Global Warehouse Robotics sector with their reliable and comprehensive market research reports and analysis.For More Inquire@Any successful Global Warehouse Robotics company conducts market research periodically to stay tuned to the dynamically changing market trends in order to create the traction they need or to retain their booming competitive edge. Whether your company is in the start-up or the expansion phase, you need market research to grasp the vital characteristics of your target market to boost your sales and ROI. We can now be your reliable partner in understanding the different factors that can affect your business success.We back the Warehouse Robotics firms by making available their wide and comprehensive database of reports and analysis on various areas of the market. The company supports the growth of the industry through its market analysis of the latest technologies, trends, predictions, and company profiles of the major players in the field. Theyre proud to support a huge industry that has had a huge impact on the world. The advancements in Global Warehouse Robotics have led to great innovation and discoveries of photonics and drug products. It has also favorably impacted the environment in terms of decreasing a number of pollutants and discovering water treatment. We take pride in helping the marketers, founders, and staff of these Global Warehouse Robotics companies because they know that what these companies are up to can change the world.Get 30% Discount on The Full Report Purchase @On top of supporting the ground-breaking discoveries that these companies create, the company also supports them by making sure that their business operations flow well using their market research expertise.We cares about your business like its theirs. Thus, they make sure that the business decisions that you make are the best. They want to help you develop the best business tactics for your product pricing, logistics, distribution, marketing, etc. They are ready to guide you in starting, diversifying, consolidating, and strengthening your business activities. Contact us now to access the widest and most comprehensive database of Global Warehouse Robotics market research and reports from the best and most reliable publishers in town.The company specializes in helping these firms cater their customers needs better. Their market research can be of help in modifying the products and services of these various medical device firms for the better. They have a series of reports and analysis that show the behavior patterns of any target market. Knowing the markets preferences can help you proceed more successfully in your projects and campaigns. We also help these businesses understand how their competitors work. Knowing what the crowd does will help you figure out how to make your tactic and approach unique and efficient. This eventually creates whole new opportunities that can help you tap the markets that the rest hasnt ever tapped. If your company is also having problems in your business, they have the right reports and market research products that can help you locate the root of any issue, helping you craft better plans and receive solutions to your troubles.About Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat Global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact:(Research N Reports)10916, Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX, Pin - 77064,Sunny Denis(Sales Manager),+1-8886316977,sales@researchnreports.com ,
Market Analysis: Global Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2017

Global Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2017

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This report studies the Heavy Construction Equipment 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 Heavy Construction Equipment market by product type and applications/end industries.The global Heavy Construction Equipment market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.The major players in global Heavy Construction Equipment market include Caterpillar, Komatsu, Liebherr Group, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Volvo Construction Equipment, SANY Group Company Ltd., Zoomlion, Terex, XCMG, Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, CNH Global, Demag, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Kubota, Doosan, Deere, JCBTable of ContentsAsk a complete & professional report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com or visit atTable of contents:1 Industry Overview of Heavy Construction Equipment2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Heavy Construction Equipment3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Heavy Construction Equipment4 Global Heavy Construction Equipment Overall Market Overview5 Heavy Construction Equipment Regional Market Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Heavy Construction Equipment Segment Market Analysis (by Type)7 Global 2012-2017E Heavy Construction Equipment Segment Market Analysis (by Application)8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Heavy Construction Equipment9 Development Trend of Analysis of Heavy Construction Equipment Market10 Heavy Construction Equipment Marketing Type Analysis11 Consumers Analysis of Heavy Construction Equipment12 Conclusion of the Global Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 201613 Methodology and Data SourceRelated Reports:Global Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2017Europe Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2017China Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2017India Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2017Korea Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2017Japan Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey Report 2017USA Heavy Construction Equipment Market Professional Survey 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
Market Analysis: EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Surgical Robotics System Market Report 2017

EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Surgical Robotics System Market Report 2017

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This report studies the Surgical Robotics System market status and outlook of EMEA and major regions, from angles of players, countries, product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in EMEA and major countries, and splits the Surgical Robotics System market by product type and applications/end industries.The global Surgical Robotics System market is valued at XX million USD in 2016 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2022, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2016 and 2022.EMEA also play important roles in global market, with market size of xx million USD in 2016 and will be xx million USD in 2022, with a CAGR of XX. EMEA will occupy for more market share in following years, especially in China, also fast growing India and Southeast Asia regions.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of Surgical Robotics System in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering Europe covers Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Benelux; Middle East includes Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE and Iran; Africa includes South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria. The major players/manufacturers in EMEA market include Mazor Robotics, Intuitive Surgical, Medtech SA.Ask a complete & professional report sample, please send message to tinaning@qyresearch.com or visit atTable of contents:1 Surgical Robotics System Overview2 EMEA Surgical Robotics System Competition by Manufacturers/Players/Suppliers, Regions, Type and Application3 Europe Surgical Robotics System (Sales, Revenue and Price), by Players, Countries, Type and Application4 Middle East Surgical Robotics System (Sales, Revenue and Price), by Players, Countries, Type and Application5 Africa Surgical Robotics System (Sales, Revenue and Price), by Players, Countries, Type and Application6 EMEA Surgical Robotics System Manufacturers/Players Profiles and Sales Data7 Surgical Robotics System Manufacturing Cost Analysis8 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers9 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders10 Market Effect Factors Analysis11 EMEA Surgical Robotics System Market Forecast (2017-2022)12 Research Findings and ConclusionRelated Reports:Global Surgical Robotics System Market Report 2017Europe Surgical Robotics System Market Report 2017China Surgical Robotics System Market Report 2017India Surgical Robotics System Market Report 2017Korea Surgical Robotics System Market Report 2017Japan Surgical Robotics System Market Report 2017USA Surgical Robotics System 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
2017 Global Computer-Aided Design Market by Product Application - Automotive industry, Aerospace and defense industry, Industrial machinery industry

Global Computer-Aided Design Market

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According to Computer-Aided Design Market Report by Market.Biz: China Computer-Aided Design market sales revenue and India Computer-Aided Design market sales revenue is expected to register CAGRs of XX.XX % and XX.XX% respectively over the forecast period. Computer-Aided Design consumption in the ASEAN region's growth rate of XX.XX% outperforming many countries in the Europe and Americas on Computer-Aided Design scinario. Middle East Computer-Aided Design market and Africa Computer-Aided Design market, followed by Europe are the other attractive regions with an estimated revenue share of XX.XX% and XX.XX% of the global Computer-Aided Design market by 2017 end.The Global Computer-Aided Design Market Report 2017 primarily focuses on the inclusive research study on the prevailing scenario of the Computer-Aided Design market worldwide. This study improves the business productivity and Computer-Aided Design market forecast of the industry. It gives the information about the Computer-Aided Design market size for each category during the forecasting period from 2017 to 2022.For Any Query, before Purchasing Report Click Here:Global Computer-Aided Design Market 2017: Competitive Study and Key Sellers1 Autodesk2 Dassault Syst?mes3 PTC4 Siemens PLM Software5 Menhirs NV6 Encore Software7 Stratasys8 Graebert9 SolveSpace10 TurboCADComputer-Aided Design Market Analysis: By ProductInteractive TechnologyGraph Transformation TechniqueSurface ModelingSolid Modeling TechnologyOthersComputer-Aided Design Market Analysis: By ApplicationAutomotive industryAerospace and defense industryIndustrial machinery industryElectrical and electronics industryOthersThe report basically includes the overview of Computer-Aided Design market, along with Computer-Aided Design definitions, classification, Computer-Aided Design industry chain structure and a certain area of applications. Computer-Aided Design report also includes the scope of the Computer-Aided Design market, market share and promising users. It also gives the development study of the Computer-Aided Design industry, price structures, Computer-Aided Design competitive analysis of the industry and competitive players from various regions including United States Computer-Aided Design market, EU Computer-Aided Design market, Japan as well as China Computer-Aided Design market.The Computer-Aided Design report provides information about the company profiles, description of the product, product specification, Computer-Aided Design sale, price of the product. Additionally, it also gives information about the Computer-Aided Design production, cost, Computer-Aided Design market revenue, gross margin, capacity as well as import/export details, Computer-Aided Design industry supply and usage figures. Growth rate and Computer-Aided Design development processes of each category of product are also mentioned in the Computer-Aided Design report. The Computer-Aided Design market study gives a clear idea to the individuals regarding the major statistics on the status of Computer-Aided Design industry.You can Purchase the Full Report Here:Further, the Computer-Aided Design industry research report determines the usefulness of investment, investment return analysis and gives the complete idea of Computer-Aided Design market development scope followed by various business strategies of Computer-Aided Design industry. Lastly, the report contains essential outcome help could boost the interest level of the individuals in Global Computer-Aided Design Market 2017.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-
Global Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate Market Research Report Forecast 2017-2021

Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate Market

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The report, titled Global Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate Market 2017 is a methodical research study based on the Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate market, analyzing the competitive framework of the industry in the world. Using efficient analytical tools such as SWOT analysis and Porters five forces analysis, the report provides a comprehensive assessment of the Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate market.The report estimates the market size in terms of volume (kilo tons) and revenue (US$) produced, whereas, the key segments and the geographical subdivision of the Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate market are also analyzed in detail. The market drivers, limitations, and growth prospects of each segment are discussed in this report and, based on that, analysts have determined the future of the market for Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate in the global arena.Get full report with TOC @The report covers each aspect of the market for Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate in globally, starting from the basic information about the market and advancing to the various criteria on the basis of which the market is classified. The major applications of the Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate market are also discussed in the report.The report studies the Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate market by evaluating the market chain, prevalent policies, and regulations as well as the manufacturers, their manufacturing chain, cost structures, and contribution in the industry. The regional markets for the global Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate market are examined by analyzing the pricing of products in the region compared to the profit generated. The production capacity, demand and supply, logistics, and the historical performance of the market in the given region is also evaluated in this market report.Get Free sample report @The report is arranged to provide an overview of the Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate market by product, company and geography. Forecasts are broken down by geographic region or by country. The worldwide market is analyzed and data provided for each disease sub-segment.The report determines the leading players in the global market. The company profiles of the major participants operating in the global Ethanolamine Laurylsulfate market have been reviewed in this study.Market Research Store 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 UsJoel 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. 1-855-465-4651Email: sales@marketresearchstore.com
Telecom Tower Market Foreseen to Grow exponentially over 2016  2026

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Telecom Tower Market: IntroductionMobile telecom industry has witnessed significant growth rate in last decade and it is expected to grow consistently over different generations of network communications. Starting from 0G mobile telecom service (MTS) to current long term evolution (LTE) 4G, the mobile telecommunication has turned as necessity to everyone. The second generation (2G) mobile telecommunication gave a major boost to the mobile telecom industry as it surprised consumers with internet browsing offering on mobile phones along with clear voice calling facilities. Now, most of the countries possess 4G connectivity which is a highly dense networking system providing real time voice calling and enhanced data transfer rate. Also, few countries like Japan and U.S. are implementing 4.5G and in development of 5G network communications.A sample of this report is available upon request @The telecom tower are the arteries of any mobile telecommunication system. The telecom tower is a structure hosting a transceiver unit to maintain connection with thousands of mobile phones and The Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO). The telecom tower offers wide range of multi-channel frequencies to thousands of cell phones in the network zone. The main advantage of multichannel frequency is that it can offer tens of mobile phones in single network like conference calling, where many devices are connected to single network and can transmit and receive at same time. Also, it offers better data transfer rates and connectivity. The telecom tower are tall steel structures with transceiver unit at the top to cover maximum possible area.Telecom Tower Market: DynamicsThe telecom tower market is primarily dependent on mobile subscriber density and number of telecom service providers in any region. The increasing reach of mobile phones to almost every remote area, increasing competition among service provider for better network coverage are some of the current drivers of telecom tower market. Also, permissible height limits in any area restricts service provider to install multiple towers in small zones. Moreover, increasing the number of telecom service providers, internet providers, Wi-Fi and broadband providers are expected to drive the telecom tower market in the forecast period.Whereas, the harmful effects of high frequency radio waves or microwaves on human and environment is expected to limit telecom tower market. Also, regulations from government and telecom authorities is expected to put restraints on telecom tower market. Moreover, high installation cost, high operational costs and squeezing space are some other factors which can suppress telecom tower market growth.Recent trends have shown high prospective of strengthening of telecom tower network, where multiple new technologies are liable to grow. Ongoing researches on Internet of Things (IoT), real time security devices monitoring and accessibility, remote health care services, etc. are some emerging technologies projecting to increase the burden on telecom tower in coming years.Telecom Tower Market: SegmentationThe telecom tower market can be segmented in two categories based on type of tower and mounting area. On the basis of type of tower the telecom tower market can be segmented as  Lattice tower, Guyed tower, Monopole tower, Camouflage towers and Mobile (vehicle mounted) tower.On the basis of mounting area the telecom tower market can be segmented as  Green Field Tower (mounted on ground or suitable foundation) and Roof Top Tower (mounted on roof of any building).To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Telecom Tower Market: Key PlayersThe telecom towers are generally installed either by telecom service provider or third party infrastructure providers. Some examples of telecom service providers are China Mobile Ltd., Verizon Communications Inc., AT&T Inc., Vodafone Group Plc, Bharti Telecom Ltd., China Unicom Ltd., Telenor Group, MTN Group and Telstra Corp. Ltd.Whereas some examples of third party tower erection and service providers includes  Indus Towers Ltd., 3Z Telecom, GTL Infrastructure Limited, Tower Systems, Inc., American Tower Corporation, Reliance Infratel Limited, LeBLANC Communications (M) Sdn.Bhd., ATC IP LLC., and Vertical Bridge, LLC.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:
Edible Insects Market Worth US$ 722.9 Mn by 2024

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Nurturing of insects involves low costs as compared to other livestock such as swine, chicken and cattle. Decreasing resources and significantly increasing global population are factors driving demand for alternative food resources. As per United Nations, the global population is estimated to reach 9 billion in 2050, which will outgrow available food resources. Insects comprise of amino acids and high protein which can be a food source sustaining the requirements of ever growing population. The global edible insects market is estimated to witness a healthy 6.1% CAGR, during the forecast period, 2016 to 2024, according to the report by Persistence Market Research (PMR).Affordability of Edible Insects to be Advantageous for Low-Income PopulationNutrients required by humans like minerals, vitamins, fiber, fats and proteins are present in insects making them highly nutritious. Some people are unable to devour soy, milk or egg derived protein owing to related allergic reactions, for example milk sugar causes severe allergic reactions such as bloating, diarrhea, bloating etc. Insects comprise of amino acids and high protein, owing to which few manufacturers add insect protein to several food products. No artificial colors, fillers or sweeteners are present in insect protein and it is organic. Insects reproduce rapidly and are found all around the world. Farmers are provided with entrepreneurship opportunities by harvesting and farming of edible insects. Since edible insects are affordable, low-income population would have an advantage over this food source.A sample of this report is available upon request @Tree Bugs and Orthoptera Insect Type Estimated to Witness Relatively High Growth During 2016 to 2024Based on insect type, the global edible insects market is categorized into hymenoptera, beetles, tree bugs, caterpillar, orthoptera and others. Tree bugs and orthoptera are estimated to account for comparatively high CAGRs of 7.3% and 8.1% respectively during the forecast period. Based on product type, the market is categorized into product as an ingredient and product as a whole. Product as a whole is categorized further into raw, BBQ and steam or fried. While Product as an ingredient is categorized further into insect confectionery, snack & baked products, drinks and others.Request to view table of content @Europe Remains Lucrative in Global Edible Insects MarketRegion-wise, the market is categorized into North America, Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Latin America and Asia Pacific (APAC). Europe and North America are estimated to witness highest CAGRs of 7.3% and 6.9% respectively during the forecast period. In 2015, Middle East & Africa held 28.4% market value share and is estimated to hold 28.9% by 2024 end. Europe, the fastest growing edible insects market, is estimated to witness 7.3% CAGR during 2016 to 2024. Among the European countries, EU5 is estimated to register highest growth of edible insects market during the forecast period.Rapid global population growth, egg and diary protein alternatives, low capital investment, ease of harvesting & processing, food safety and low disease risk, less water consumption and compact space for farming are factors influencing the growth of global edible insects market. Key market players in the global market for edible insects include Thailand Unique, Nordic Insect Economy Ltd., Enviro Flight LLC, Entotech, Eat Grub Ltd., Kreca, Entomo Farms, Proti-Farm Exo Inc., and Deli Bugs Ltd.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA  Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Educational Software Market viewpoint, overall analysis, size, share, hike, trends and predictions 2022

Educational Software

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bigmarketresearch.com include new market research report North America Educational Software Market By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022 to its huge collection of research reports.Educational software is computer software, the primary purpose of which is teaching or self-learning. Educational software is the developmental and non-developmental software which are specifically used for education. It also reflects on the technical and also instructional design for developing the courseware or educational application.Request sample report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Educational Software in North America market, especially in United States, Canada and Mexico. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversNeusoftWiseduJuchengKingsunHongenGuangdong Dongtian Digital TechnologyZhengfang SoftwareKingosoftBeijing China Education Star TechnologyIntelHouse TechnologyLay eyes on complete report @Market Segment by Countries, coveringUnited StatesCanadaMexicoMarket Segment by Type, coversK-12 Educational SoftwareUniversity Education SoftwareAdult Education SoftwareElderly Education SoftwareMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoQuality-oriented Education SoftwareExamination-oriented Education SoftwareKey Chapters to deeply display the North America Educational Software market :Chapter 1, to describe Educational Software Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Educational Software, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the North America market by countries, covering United States, Canada and Mexico, with sales, revenue and market share of Educational Software, for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the segment market in United States, Canada and Mexico, by manufacturers, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and market share by manufacturers, types and applications;Chapter 10, Educational Software market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Ask for discount @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:
Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Market Report 2017 - Olympus, Ethicon, Karl Storz

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Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Market Report 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This examination looks at the global Gynecology Surgical Instruments market in a persistent way by explaining the main features of the market that are relied upon to hold a sizeable impact on its improvements over the given time frame. The key drivers of the market's development, restrictions, and patterns affecting the global Gynecology Surgical Instruments market are surveyed in extraordinary detail, notwithstanding a subjective and quantitative examination relating to the anticipated effect of these elements on its development prospects sooner rather than later.The vast volumes of data on the Gynecology Surgical Instruments by and large makes it an intense undertaking to take it down to the exceptionally significant bits of data and the genuine bits applicable to the present business issues in the market. Many organizations are additionally known to not have the fundamental committed assets and aptitude for taking up an illustrative statistical surveying in view of recorded information. Centered statistical surveying procedures can help these associations in framing clearer thoughts on their business systems and gather significant stakes in the market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @A sweeping volume of information concerning the basic components of the Gynecology Surgical Instruments that can impact its extent of development is given in the report. The report in this manner makes for an exceptionally useful review and can successfully permit organizations and their leads in tending to the main difficulties that  as of now  control the market, and deliberately increase greatest conceivable advantages inside the profoundly focused market scene.The report likewise gives data on the current improvements in items and innovations as currently visible in the market, alongside an examination of the general impact that these progressions may have on any future advancements. The report likewise offers its clients a 360-degree examination of the competitive situation in the Gynecology Surgical Instruments. This is legitimate for organizations of all sizes and development levels inside the worldwide Gynecology Surgical Instruments market and helps different associations get a handle on the main dangers and openings that sellers regularly need to manage.For more information on this report, fill the form @Table of ContentGlobal Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Market Report 20171 Gynecology Surgical Instruments Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Gynecology Surgical Instruments1.2 Classification of Gynecology Surgical Instruments by Product Category1.2.1 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20161.2.3 Scissors1.2.4 Forceps1.2.5 Trocar1.2.6 SIMS1.2.7 CUSCO1.3 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Hospital1.3.3 Clinic1.3.4 Ambulatory Surgery Center1.4 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Market by Region1.4.1 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Gynecology Surgical Instruments Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 China Gynecology Surgical Instruments Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe Gynecology Surgical Instruments Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 Japan Gynecology Surgical Instruments Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Gynecology Surgical Instruments Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 India Gynecology Surgical Instruments Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Gynecology Surgical Instruments (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments Revenue and Market Share by Region (2012-2017)2.4 Global Gynecology Surgical Instruments (Volume) by Application3 United States Gynecology Surgical Instruments (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Gynecology Surgical Instruments Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Players3.3 United States Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Application4 China Gynecology Surgical Instruments (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 China Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 China Gynecology Surgical Instruments Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 China Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 China Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Players4.3 China Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Type4.4 China Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Application5 Europe Gynecology Surgical Instruments (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 Europe Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 Europe Gynecology Surgical Instruments Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 Europe Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 Europe Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Players5.3 Europe Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Application6 Japan Gynecology Surgical Instruments (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Value (2012-2017)6.1.1 Japan Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.2 Japan Gynecology Surgical Instruments Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.3 Japan Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)6.2 Japan Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Players6.3 Japan Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan Gynecology Surgical Instruments Sales Volume and Market Share by ApplicationAbout 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
Competitive Landscape for Hyperuricemia Market by Global Segments - 2024

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Global Hyperuricemia Market: OverviewHyperuricemia is condition in which the level of uric acid in the blood increases to abnormally high levels. Various factors are responsible for hyperuricemia, which include insulin resistance, renal failure, obesity and alcohol consumption which is found to be the most prevalent factor. Scientists are still trying to confirm obesity as a predisposing factor for hyperuricemia,According to data published in National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, U.S. an average of 17 million U.S. citizens suffered from alcohol use disorder in 2011. In another statistics published by World Health Organization (WHO) global alcohol consumption in 2010 was around 6 liters of pure alcohol per person aged 15 years above. The incidences of alcohol abuse are increasing across the globe and also act as a major contributing factor to disorders such as liver cirrhosis, and hyperuricemia. Approximately 70% of the uric acid produced in the body is filtered by the kidneys, while the remaining amount is eliminated by intestine. In individuals suffering from renal failure, the elimination of uric acid by the kidney decreases, leading to increased uric acid levels in blood. Further, an article published in the Journal of the America College of Cardiology in the year 2012 suggests that hyperuricemia is found to be associated with dyslipidemia of insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and hepatic steatosis independent of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Another article published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research in 2013 also suggests further confirmation of obesity as a factor leading to hyperuricemia.However pre diabetes and insulin resistance are found to be one of the factors leading to hyperuricemia. Articles published in Current Opinion in Rheumatology and BMC Cardiovascular Disorders published in 2013 and 2012 have confirmed the factors.Obtain Report Details @Global Hyperuricemia Market: Trends and ProspectsVarious drugs especially cancer drugs are also found to cause hyperuricemia. High level of uric acid in the blood for a prolonged period of time is also a major cause of gout. These factors will increase the prevalence of hyperuricemia as drive the market in the future. Currently ULORIC (febuxostat) manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals is widely prescribed for treating hyperuricemia. However the drug is not prescribed for treatment of high uric acid without a history of gout.Various clinical trials are carried out by research institutes and companies in order to discover most efficient drug for rearming the disorder. Ardea Biosciences, Inc. is conducting phase 2 clinical trials for testing efficiency of RDEA806 for treatment of hyperuricemia. Hebei Medical University is conducting phase 3 trials to test the hypothesis that prednisone is superior over allopurinol in renal function improvement in heart failure patients with hyperuricemia. TWi Biotechnology, Inc. was awarded with U.S. patent in 2014 for AC  201 which is effective in treating hyperuricemia. Similar research and development activities will add more products to the market and expand its reach globally. Lesser competition and wide scope for research and development activities have made the market more attractive. As newer drugs receive regulatory approvals, the market is expected to boost in the near future. Due to high cost of branded drugs, the market will have a restricted growth in the regions of Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa which majorly comprise of under developed and developing economies.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Global Pump Coffee Machines Market Professional Survey Report 2017

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This report studies Pump Coffee Machines 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, coveringDelonghiLa PavoniHamilton BeachRussell HobbsKrupsCapressoNespressoGaggiaMr.CoffeeDualitEspressioneMinimokaSolacKeurigTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @By types, the market can be split intoType IType IIBy Application, the market can be split intoApplication 1Application 2By Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaTable of ContentsGlobal Pump Coffee Machines Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Pump Coffee Machines1.1 Definition and Specifications of Pump Coffee Machines1.1.1 Definition of Pump Coffee Machines1.1.2 Specifications of Pump Coffee Machines1.2 Classification of Pump Coffee Machines1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.3 Applications of Pump Coffee Machines1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 IndiaBrowse Complete Report with TOC @2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Pump Coffee Machines2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Pump Coffee Machines2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Pump Coffee Machines2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Pump Coffee Machines3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Pump Coffee Machines3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Pump Coffee Machines Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Pump Coffee Machines Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Pump Coffee Machines Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Pump Coffee Machines Major Manufacturers in 20154 Global Pump Coffee Machines Overall Market Overview4.1 2012-2017 Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2012-2017 Global Pump Coffee Machines Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2015 Pump Coffee Machines Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2012-2017 Global Pump Coffee Machines Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2015 Pump Coffee Machines Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2012-2017 Global Pump Coffee Machines Sales Price4.4.2 2015 Pump Coffee Machines Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)5 Pump Coffee Machines Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Pump Coffee Machines Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Pump Coffee Machines Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2015 Pump Coffee Machines Market Share Analysis5.2 China Pump Coffee Machines Market Analysis5.2.1 China Pump Coffee Machines Market Overview5.2.2 China 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Sales Price Analysis5.2.4 China 2015 Pump Coffee Machines Market Share Analysis5.3 Europe Pump Coffee Machines Market Analysis5.3.1 Europe Pump Coffee Machines Market Overview5.3.2 Europe 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.3.3 Europe 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Sales Price Analysis5.3.4 Europe 2015 Pump Coffee Machines Market Share Analysis5.4 Southeast Asia Pump Coffee Machines Market Analysis5.4.1 Southeast Asia Pump Coffee Machines Market Overview5.4.2 Southeast Asia 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.4.3 Southeast Asia 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Sales Price Analysis5.4.4 Southeast Asia 2015 Pump Coffee Machines Market Share Analysis6 Global 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Segment Market Analysis (by Type)6.1 Global 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Sales by Type6.2 Different Types of Pump Coffee Machines Product Interview Price Analysis6.3 Different Types of Pump Coffee Machines Product Driving Factors Analysis6.3.1 Type I Pump Coffee Machines Growth Driving Factor Analysis6.3.2 Type II Pump Coffee Machines Growth Driving Factor Analysis7 Global 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Segment Market Analysis (by Application)7.1 Global 2012-2017 Pump Coffee Machines Consumption by Application7.2 Different Application of Pump Coffee Machines Product Interview Price Analysis7.3 Different Application of Pump Coffee Machines Product Driving Factors Analysis7.3.1 Application 1 Pump Coffee Machines Growth Driving Factor Analysis7.3.2 Application 2 Pump Coffee Machines Growth Driving Factor AnalysisQYReseachReports.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.QYresearchreportsContact Us1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Adult Diapers Market - Global Industry Analysis Trends and Forecast by 2023

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Global Adult Diapers Market: OverviewOver 19 million people in the U.S. have some form of incontinence or other, and almost 85% of them are women. Incontinence is a common condition, which can treated by suitable medication or surgery in some special cases. However, those unwilling to undergo intrusive procedures have the option of choosing adult incontinence products. An adult diaper can be classified as incontinence care products and those meant to be worn if suffering from severe diarrhea, incontinence, mobility impairment, or dementia. The growing aging population, urbanization, greater affordability, and improved awareness are the chief factors driving the global adult diapers market.Obtain Report Details @By product, the global adult diapers market can be segmented in terms of product, application, and geography. By product, the market constitute reusable and disposable adult diapers. The market can be further classified into pad type diapers, pant type diapers, and flat type diapers. The report provides a detailed analysis of the various factors supporting the markets growth across the aforementioned segments. It also lists the restraints that could inhibit the markets expansion. It compiles exhaustive information sourced through proven research mythologies to help stakeholders get a better perspective of the global adult diapers market.Global Adult Diapers Market: Trends and OpportunitiesSlow growth in personal income, lingering unemployment, and high cost of living have continued to weigh on the spending habits of consumers and their decisions to expand families. As per information shared by the Census Bureau, the retiring baby boomers have resulted in the surge of geriatric population (65 years of age and older) in the U.S., which is expected to nearly double itself from that in 2012 and reach nearly 83.7 million in 2050. The rapidly growing aging population, improvement in the healthcare system, and economic affluence are the chief factors driving the global adult diapers market.The geriatric care takers and parents are commonly educated and trained through media regarding the importance of hygiene when using baby or adult diapers. Some of the branded manufacturers are consciously focusing on creating awareness regarding the same, which is projected to have a positive influence on the market.For more information on this report, fill the form @Despite the favorable opportunities, lack of awareness and social stigma often attached with incontinence especially in underdeveloped economies are hindering the growth of the market. Nevertheless, with efforts by governments and big brands to eradicate such social stigma, in future the market will witness considerable growth for raking in higher profit.Global Adult Diapers Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, the global adult diapers market can be segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, MENA, and Rest of the World. As China, trailed by India, has the largest population of aged people, these countries are also expected to demonstrate the fastest growth in terms of the demand for adult diapers through the course of the forecast period. Market trends suggest, a majority of new entrants will focus on expanding their business in emerging economies to capitalize on the opportunities prevalent therein.Global Adult Diapers Market: Vendor LandscapeSome of the most prominent companies operating in the global adult diapers market are DSG International, Covidien, First Quality Enterprises, Inc., Daio Paper, Hengan Group, Fu Burg Industrial, Medline Industires, Kao Corp., Nippon Paper Industries, Kimberly Clark, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA), P&G, Ontex International, Unicharm., and Tranquility. In the forthcoming years Procter & Gamble (P&G) is projected to strengthen its market position as compared to other leading brands in the market.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Lyocell Fiber Market for Apparels, Home Textiles - Trends and Forecast By 2020

Lyocell Fiber Market

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Lyocell fibers are used in several end-user industries such as home textiles, apparel, medical equipment, and nonwoven apparel such as baby diapers. Products such as casual wear; high-end designer clothes, sportswear, home textiles (including bedsheets, curtains, drapes, and carpets) and other products (such as medical gloves and surgical equipment) are made from lyocell fibers. With rising awareness about environmental sustainability in the textile industry, lyocell fibers have gained popularity among a broad spectrum of end-users owing to their eco-friendly manufacturing process.Lyocell, derived from cellulose, is known as a man-made fiber. It is popularly known by the brand name Tencel. Lyocell, a type of rayon fiber, is manufactured in a closed-loop method through a solvent spinning technique, wherein the cellulose undergoes a limited chemical change. Lyocell fibers are widely used in the textile industry in a broad range of apparels and home textiles. These fibers are also used in the medical industry in the production of medical equipment and surgical products.Browse Market Research Report @Lyocell fiber is manufactured through an environmentally sustainable closed-loop method. Closed-loop manufacturing is a process, wherein most chemicals and solvents employed can be reused. Akin to most man-made fibers, the production of lyocell fiber requires more energy than that for natural fibers. However, according to Lenzing AG, low-carbon biofuels can be used to manufacture lyocell fiber.Demand for lyocell fiber was the highest in the apparel application segment, accounting for over 55% of the volume share in 2013, owing to its favorable properties such as soft, absorbent, and superior qualities. Demand for lyocell fibers in home textiles application is also increasing rapidly, as these are used to make drapes and curtains. Lyocell fibers are biodegradable; hence, these are extensively used in the manufacture of surgical products and baby diapers.Lyocell fiber is a strong and absorbent fabric, wherein the absorbent property and wet strength of the fiber is better than the traditional cotton fiber. These fibers are washable and resistant to shrinkage. Therefore, lyocell fiber is used widely in the apparel industry. Lyocell fibers are biodegradable materials; hence, these are used in various applications. For instance, these fibers are used in the manufacture of surgical products and baby diapers. Lyocell fibers are extensively employed in the production of surgical materials such as surgical coats for doctors and nurses.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Lyocell Fiber Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Demand for lyocell fiber is expected to increase significantly in North America and Europe during the forecast period. Developed countries such as the U.S. in North America and UK, Germany, and France in Europe are likely to drive the demand for lyocell fiber owing to the presence of well-established textile industries in these regions. The environmentalist approach of most countries in Western Europe has boosted the demand for lyocell fiber in the region. Although lyocell is a man-made fiber, it is produced from natural raw materials such as wood pulp.Companies such as Lenzing AG, Aditya Birla Group, smartfiber AG, Acelon Chemicals & Fiber Corporation, Chon Bang Company Limited, Weiqiao Textile Company Limited, and Qingdao Textiles Group Fiber Technology Co., Ltd. have been covered in the report.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:
United States Surgical Gloves Market Performance to Soar During the Forecast Period

Surgical Gloves

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Big Market Research recently added a report titled, United States Surgical Gloves Market By Manufacturers, States, Type And Application, Forecast To 2022, that offers useful insights such as the market share, size, and growth worldwide.Surgical gloves are personal protection equipment (PPE) designed to protect clinicians in operating room (OR) environments. The primary purpose of surgical gloves is to act as a protective barrier for surgeons and nurses to prevent possible transmission of diseases or pathogens during procedures while working with surgical instruments.Request sample report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Surgical Gloves in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversAnsell HealthcareTop GloveMedline IndustriesCardinal HealthMolnlycke Health CareKossanShangdong Yuyuan Latex GlovesGlobusKanam Latex Industries Pvt. Ltd.Asma Rubber Products Pvt. Ltd.Kurian Abraham Private Limited (KAPL)Lay eyes on complete report @Market Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMarket Segment by Type, coversNatural Latex Surgical glovesNon-Latex Surgical glovesMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoHospitalNon-HospitalKey Chapters to deeply display the United States Surgical Gloves market :Chapter 1, to describe Surgical Gloves Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by States, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Surgical Gloves, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share 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 United States market by States, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Surgical Gloves, for each state, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key States by Type and Application, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, revenue and market share by types and applications;Ask for discount @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:
Industrial Scrubber Market - Drivers & Restraints, Market Segmentation, Region-wise Outlook and Key Players 2023

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An industrial scrubber is an air pollution control device that is used for removing particles or gases from industrial exhaust systems. Such industrial scrubbers are generally used in factories that use or emit harmful gases or dangerous chemicals to carry out their production processes. These scrubbers are also capable of reducing emissions from exhaust systems that are not associated with chemicals or toxic fumes. It captures both solid and gas particles and prevents them from entering into the atmosphere, thus saving against ozone depletion and global warming.Browse Market Research Report @On the basis of types, the industrial scrubber market is segmented into dry scrubbers and wet scrubbers. The dry scrubber market is further segmented into dry spray absorbers and dry sorbent injectors among others. The wet scrubber market is further segmented into sulphuric acid scrubbers, dust or particulate scrubbers, chlorine scrubbers, ammonia scrubbers, particulate or venture scrubbers and gas or chemical scrubbers among others. On the basis of orientation, the market is segmented into vertical orientation and horizontal orientation. On the basis of end-use industries, the industrial scrubber market is segmented into automotives, oil and gas, food and beverage, maritime and chemicals among others.The increasing stringent government policies in the developed economies to monitor air polluting factors are the prime factor fuelling the growth of industrial scrubber market. Such stringent policies drive the manufacturing plants to install these scrubbers so as to comply with the regulations. For instance, the State Environment Protection Policy (SEPP) in Australia implements stringent controls on industrial pollutants that are highly toxic resulting in adverse health conditions. Such stringent controls protect and ensure well being of living beings thereby supporting the deployment and growth of industrial scrubber market.For more information on this report, fill the form @Another factor fuelling the growth of industrial scrubber market is the initiatives taken by the industries to implement scrubbers to save time and labor costs on clean-up methods of exhaust systems. Industrial scrubbers reduce the amount of time and labor required for the cleaning tasks of exhaust systems thereby enhancing revenues. However, industrial scrubbers need to be periodically checked and maintained for ensuring smooth operation and optimum efficiency. Also, since industrial scrubbers are complex in methods of operation, formulating maintenance procedures that fit all industrial scrubbers is difficult. Due to such complexities involved in maintaining industrial scrubbers, some industries are reluctant in implementing their use and prefer the conventional methods for handling the exhaust systems. Government regulations in the developing economies to control the air pollution where there are increasing numbers of industries being setup provides tremendous growth opportunities for industrial scrubber market.For providing innovative air pollution control equipment, some of the major players in industrial scrubber market are being awarded with several new projects for designing the scrubber systems. For instance, KCH Services Inc., one of the prominent players in industrial scrubber market, on November 4, 2013, was awarded the contract of designing exhaust air handling equipment by a solar manufacturing company. This solar manufacturing company provides high quality crystalline photovoltaic products and makes use of chemicals that are highly corrosive. Due to the efficiency of KCH Services Inc. for offering quality air pollution control equipment, the project was awarded to this company. Some of the other prominent players in the market include Croll Reynold Inc., Fabritech Engineers, Beltran Technologies, Inc., Hamon Research-Cotttrell Inc. and Edlon Inc.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Styrene Butadiene Latex Market - Significant Growth In Upcoming Years | Research Report 2023

Styrene Butadiene Latex Market

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Styrene butadiene latex is an emulsion polymer containing styrene and butadiene. Feedstock required for the production of styrene butadiene latex includes styrene, butadiene, water, and emulsifier. Carboxylic acid is added in order to manufacture carboxylated styrene butadiene latex. The mixture then undergoes polymerization reaction, following which the unreacted monomers (light and heavy) are recovered from the emulsion. Latex is generally manufactured through cold process for which efficient refrigeration equipment is required. Finally, the latex is stored and later packaged to be marketed. The main raw materials for styrene butadiene latex are styrene and butadiene, both of which are downstream derivatives of crude oil. The prices of the two feedstock vary with the price of crude oil and mostly exhibit similar trends.Based on the composition of styrene butadiene latex, content of styrene is higher than butadiene. The higher content of styrene facilitates improved plasticity of the end product. The content of styrene and butadiene varies based on end-user applications. Styrene butadiene latex finds extensive applications in paper processing, fiber processing, glass fiber processing, paints & coatings, adhesives, and mortar additives among others. One of the major applications of styrene butadiene latex is in manufacturing coated paper. Moreover, styrene butadiene latex is generally used in the carpet industry as it is used for carpet backing especially in manufacturing tufted carpet.Browse Market Research Report @Paper processing application accounted for the largest share of the global styrene butadiene latex market in 2014. Styrene butadiene latex is used for paper processing which includes manufacturing of coated papers. In coated paper, the treatment of styrene butadiene latex provides gloss, opacity, brightness, image quality, and printability. Coated papers are used in advertising flyers, magazines, and catalogues. Styrene butadiene latex is used in the manufacture of carpets, as it acts as a binding agent to hold the tuft in the carpet, and is crucial in carpet backing. Carpets are used both for residential and non-residential purposes. Most manufactured carpets are used in residential applications and the remaining is utilized in commercial and industrial applications.Mortar additives are anticipated to be the most promising application of styrene butadiene latex during the forecast period, as these additives are used in cement in the construction industry. Mortar additives offer compressive strength, bonding adhesion, water resistance, and tensile strength when added to cement. Global demand for cement due to rising construction activity is expected to increase the consumption of styrene butadiene latex. Styrene butadiene latex is also used as binder and for surface treatment in glass fiber processing applications. Furthermore, it is used in emulsion polymer for paints & coatings applications. The inclusion of styrene butadiene latex in paints & coating provides a classy look to walls, wood, etc. Styrene butadiene latex is also used in other applications such as adhesives, molded foam, and hand gloves.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Styrene Butadiene Latex Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market @Asia Pacific is the major producer and consumer of styrene butadiene latex accounting for more than 40% of the global market in 2014. The key demand for styrene butadiene latex is a result of the growing carpet industry along with high demand for paper coating in Asia Pacific. In terms of volume, the demand for styrene butadiene latex in Asia Pacific is expected to rise at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2015 and 2023. In the Asia Pacific region, Japan and China account for the bulk of demand for styrene butadiene latex. Developed regions such as Europe and North America are expected to hold a major share of the global market despite the slowdown of paper processing application in this region. Latin America and Middle East & Africa (MEA) are expected to see strong demand for styrene butadiene latex during the forecast period. Latin America and Middle East & Africa (MEA) are anticipated to experience significant demand due to the increasing construction industry across the region coupled with growing usage of carpets in this region.The global styrene butadiene latex market is highly concentrated in nature with the top two companies commanding majority of the market share. Major companies operating in the market include Dow Chemical Company, Trinseo S.A., BASF S.E., Synthomer Plc, LG Chem Ltd., Synthetic Latex Company (Pty) Ltd, NANTEX Industry Co., Ltd, Asahi Kasei Chemical Corporation, and OMNOVA Solutions Inc. Some of the major players of styrene butadiene latex are intensifying their production capacity to tap the potential demand that would arise due to growth of coated paper in the Asia Pacific market.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insights for decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Blow Fill Seal (BFS) Technology Market - Key Players, Growth, Analysis, 2017  2024

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Latin America Blow Fill Seal (BFS) Technology Market: OverviewThe Transparency Market Research report examines the Latin America BFS technology market for the forecast period 2016-2024. The primary objective of the report is to identify opportunities in the market and present updates as well as insights pertaining to various segments of the Latin America BFS technology market.Browse Market Research Report @The report begins with an overview of the Latin America BFS technology market, evaluating market performance in terms of revenue, followed by TMRs analysis of key trends, drivers, and restraints witnessed in the Latin America market. Impact analysis of the key growth drivers and restraints based on the weighted average model is also included in the report. To compute the market size, in-depth secondary research is done. Data points such as regional splits and market split by material type, and end use has been assimilated to arrive at appropriate market estimates. The report comprises the forecast of the Latin America revenue generated by the sales of flexible packaging market.TMR triangulates the data via different analysis based on supply side, demand side as well as the dynamics of flexible packaging market. It not only conduct forecasts in terms of value, but also evaluate the market on the basis of essential parameters, such as Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) growth. This helps providers to recognize the future opportunities as well predictability of the market.Latin America Blow Fill Seal (BFS) Technology Market: Research MethodologyIn order to understand and assess opportunities in the Latin America BFS technology market, the report is categorically divided into four key sections on the basis of product type, material type, end use and region. The report analyses the Latin America BFS technology market in terms of value (US$ Mn) and volume (Mn Units).For more information on this report, fill the form @Another vital feature of this report is the analysis of the BFS technology market by corresponding revenue forecast in terms of absolute dollar opportunity. This is traditionally overlooked while forecasting the market. However, absolute dollar opportunity is critical in assessing the level of opportunity that a provider can look to achieve as well as to identify potential resources from a sales perspective of the Latin America BFS technology market.To understand key segments in terms of their growth and performance in the BFS technology market, Transparency Market Research has developed a market attractiveness index. The resulting index should help providers identify existing market opportunities in the Latin America BFS technology market.Latin America Blow Fill Seal (BFS) Technology Market: Competitive LandscapeIn the final section of the report, BFS technology market competitive landscape is included to provide a dashboard view of companies that manufacture and provide services of BFS technology market. The report contains company profiles of some of the key players in the Latin America BFS technology market.Some of the key players in LATIN AMERICA BFS technology market include Unither Pharmaceuticals, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International AG, Brevetti Angela S.R.L., Unipharma, LLC, Horizon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Weiler Engineering Inc., Rommelag Kunststoff-Maschinen Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH, and Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Folding Cartons Market Analysis, Segments, Growth and Value Chain 2016-2024

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ASEAN Folding Cartons Market: OverviewASEAN folding cartons market is expected to be driven by the mounting growth of packaged and takeaway food products in ASEAN countries. The takeaway food industry is growing in ASEAN as it is now considered to be a new business avenue for investors to make money. Moreover, the number of expats and tourists is increasing every year in ASEAN. This group of people prefer having their daily meals from such takeaways which in turn intensifies the sales of folding cartons during the forecast period.Browse Market Research Report @Moreover, folding cartons used in bulk storing and transportation cost less compared to other packaging solutions which makes it profitable for such uses. Flexible plastic packaging and rigid boxes are still being adopted owing to their low cost nature and flexibility in comparison to folding cartons which can pose a major challenge in the ASEAN folding cartons market.ASEAN Folding Cartons Market: Scope of the StudyThis report provides forecast and analysis of the ASEAN Folding Cartons market. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with forecast from 2016 to 2024 based on volume (Thousand Tons) and revenue (US$ Mn). It includes drivers, restraints and the ongoing trend of the ASEAN Folding Cartons market along with their impact on demand during the forecast period. The report also comprises the study of opportunities available in the market for ASEAN Folding Cartons market.In order to provide the users of this report with comprehensive view of market, we have included detailed competitiveness analysis and company players. The competitive dashboard provides detailed comparison of ASEAN Folding Cartons market manufacturers on parameters such as companys revenue, unique selling propositions and key strategic developments. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, by end use, material type and order type.For more information on this report, fill the form @ASEAN Folding Cartons Market: Research MethodologyMarket statistics have been estimated based on average consumption and weighted average pricing of ASEAN Folding Cartons market by product type and the revenue is derived through regional pricing trends. Market size and forecast for each segment have been provided in the context of ASEAN market. The ASEAN Folding Cartons market has been analyzed based on expected demand of the various Folding Cartons products.Prices considered for the calculation of revenue are average prices obtained through primary quotes from numerous industrial packaging manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. All key end users have been considered and potential applications have been estimated on the basis of secondary sources and feedback from primary respondents. Market numbers for the product type and application segments have been derived using the top down approach. The market has been forecast based on constant currency rates.A number of primary and secondary sources were consulted during the course of the study. Secondary sources include Factiva, Industrial Association, Packaging Digest, Packaging world, and Hoovers, and company annual reports and publications.Companies Mentioned in this ReportThe report provides detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of key participants operating in the ASEAN market. Key players in the ASEAN Folding Cartons market include Amcor Limited, AR Packaging Group AB, HUHTAMAKI GROUP, Mayr-Melnhof Karton Gesellschaft M.b.h., International Paper, DS Smith PLC, and Rengo Co., Ltd.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
The US Virtual And Remote Laboratories Market to grow at a CAGR of 36.65% during 2016-2020

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Albany, NY, May 05, 2017: Online retail is a part of B2C e-commerce and refers to commerce activities over the Internet. A wide range of products is sold in the B2C e-commerce market, and these broadly fall under one of these product categories: apparel, footwear, and accessories; consumer electronics and electricals; beauty and personal care; infants and mothers; publications; food and beverages; and other products.The sheer consumption potential of China has resulted in the country gaining the interest of retailers across the world. While traditional retailing has a significant hold in the retail space in the country, e-commerce has gained considerable traction in the last few years. Within the e-commerce space, the B2C space in particular has been the interest of global heavyweights such as Amazon and Alibaba, which are active in multiple verticals in the online retailing space.The B2C e-Commerce Market in China to grow at a CAGR of 30.62% during the period 2016-2020. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the B2C e-Commerce Market in China for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the online business-to-consumer sales of products such as apparel, footwear, accessories, consumer electronics and electricals, cosmetics, food and beverages, infants and mothers, publications and others.Get a Sample Research PDF with TOC:Technavio's report, B2C e-Commerce Market in China 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors- Alibaba- Dangdang- JD.com- Suning (Suning Commerce Group)- VipshopOther prominent vendors- Amazon China- Best Buy- GOME- Jumei- LightInTheBox- Overstock- Rakuten- Sun Art- Walmart- YixunMarket driver- Free shipping and hassle-free returns- For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge- Slow pace of growth in payment options- 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:
Global Ethrel (Ethephon) Market - Bayer, Jiangsu Anpon, Donghu, Huanghua Hongcheng

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Global Ethrel (Ethephon) Market Report introduced a Market Segment, Product Types, with Sales, Revenue, Price, Market Share and Growth, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, Size, Share, Demand, Analysis, Manufacturers, Type and Application, Forecast 2017 to 2022.Ethephon is the most widely used plant growth regulator. It is often used on wheat, coffee, tobacco, cotton, and rice in order to help the plant's fruit reach ripeness more quickly. Cotton is the most important single crop use for ethephon. It initiates fruiting over a period of several weeks, promotes early concentrated boll opening, and enhances defoliation to facilitate and improve efficiency of scheduled harvesting. Harvested cotton quality is improved.Get Full Report with TOC:Ethephon also is widely used by pineapple growers to initiate reproductive development (force) of pineapple. Ethephon is also sprayed on mature-green pineapple fruits to degreen them to meet produce marketing requirements. There can be some detrimental effect on fruit quality. Although many environmental groups worry about toxicity resulting from use of growth hormones and fertilizers, the toxicity of ethephon is actually very low, and any ethephon used on the plant is converted very quickly to ethylene.This report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Ethrel (Ethephon) from 2011-2016, and provides extensive market forecasts (2016-2021) by region/country and subsectors. It covers the volumes, prices, historical growth and future perspectives in the Ethrel (Ethephon) market and further lays out an analysis of the factors influencing the supply/demand for Rice Huller (Rice Husker), 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.The report has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global Ethrel (Ethephon) 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.Global Ethrel (Ethephon) Market: key industry playersBayer (Germany)Jiangsu Anpon (China)Changshu Pesticide Factory (China)Donghu (China)Huanghua Hongcheng (China)To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @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 Ethrel (Ethephon) industry has been provided.About Market Research Store:Market Research Store 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. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,United States
Variable Displacement Pumps Market : Latest Technology Innovations, Size, Growth and Forecast Report

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Global Variable Displacement Pumps Market: SynopsisTo control the amount of flow in fixed displacement pumps, the speed of the pump has to be altered, which is not energy-efficient and requires manual control. These two factors make fixed displacement pumps undesirable for industrial applications, wherein variable displacement pumps are preferred instead, as they allow flow management via valves that control speed of hydraulic actuators. As the requirement for energy conservation escalates across the world, engineers at various industries such as construction, mining, and automotive now are constantly looking to reduce energy consumption at the production sites. Concurrently, the demand in the global variable displacement pumps market is estimates to expand at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025.This report on global market for variable displacement pumps is a thorough analysis of all the prominent factors that are expected to influence the demand over the course of next few years. It also highlights some of the trends and opportunities available for the players to strategically plan and gain advantage over their competitors. In the section on company profiles, several key players have been analyzed for their product portfolio, market share, and recent developments. The global variable displacement pumps market can be segmented on the basis of type into piston and vane, on the basis of application into hydraulic and IC engine, and end-use industry into construction, automotive, oil and gas, mining, agriculture, material handling, and plastic. Geographically, the report studies the opportunities available in the regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Variable Displacement Market: Drivers and RestraintsProsperity of the construction industry is the primary driver for the incremented demand for variable displacement pumps, which are used to gain better control over large machine activities. Over the course of next few years, construction industry is anticipated to continue surging due to the rising population and rapid urbanization, and consequently positively influencing the variable displacement market. Similar positive impact is expected from the automotive industry too, which is at an all-time peak, with extended demand from several emerging economies such as India, China, and Brazil, and Japan.By type, piston pump earns maximum uptake owing to their advanced technical properties such as wide volume functionality and pressure efficiency range. By application, hydraulic machine have the maximum demand, and is expected to remain most profitable segment through-out the forecast period, serving the end-use industries, which is dominated by the construction sector, and followed by automotive and oil and gas.Request TOC of the Report @Global Variable Displacement Market: Regional OutlookCurrently, vastly populated Asia Pacific is the most profitable region for the players, with rapid economic growth of several countries, improving lifestyle of the urban population, and increased investment in the end-use industries such as construction, automotive, and agriculture. Developed countries such as the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and France have moderate construction going on, although the industries of automotive and oil and gas will ensure healthy demand coming from North America and Europe during the forecast period. In addition to it, the liberalization of foreign trade and investments and the change in industrial policies is resulting into rapid industrialization in China for the past three decades. As China and India reside vast population base, this factor is contributing to the increasing demand for variable displacement pumps in the Asia-Pacific region.Companies mentioned in this research reportSome of the prominent players identified by the report in the global variable displacement pumps market are: Bosch Rexroth AG (Germany), Eaton Corporation (U.S.), Parker Hannifin Corp. (U.S.), Danfoss A/S (Denmark), Hawe Hydraulics (Germany), The Oilgear Company (U.S.), Yuken Kogyo Co., Ltd (Japan), Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Japan), Atos Spa (Italy), and Casappa Spa (Italy).Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting ser-vices 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: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Software-defined Security Market : Intelligence Report Offers Growth Prospects

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Global Software-defined Security Market: OverviewThe possible security profits and disadvantages within a software-defined network (SDN) are equally high. To be operational, security needs to be omnipresent, it needs to be converted into an architecture, as well as distributed as a service in order to protect the integrity, availability, and privacy of all the connected resources and desired information. A software-defined security is a computer embedded network security architecture and a methodology that syndicates defensive protection and network security that further leverages both the external and internal intelligence sources. A software-defined security infrastructure is designed to be secure, scalable, and modular. The software-defined security architecture divides the security architecture into three layers. The Enforcement Layer reviews the traffic and imposes defense within the well-defined network segments. The Control Layer produces security strategies and installs those protections to the enforcement points. The Management Layer composes the infrastructure and assimilates security with the business processes.Beyond the development of the architecture, the deployment, management, and control of the security in a SDN environment is up for grabs. The presence of competing approaches such as it is believed that security is best embedded inside the network or it works best when embedded in storage, servers, or other devices. Irrespective of all the solutions, the architecture of SDS must be simple in order to install, manage, and retain the highly dynamic environment, be cost-effective to ensure that the security can be installed everywhere, and be secure in order to provide protection against all the advanced threats.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The market intelligence publication delves into the possible growth opportunities for the global software-defined security market and the chronological growth of the market throughout the forecast period. It also uniquely provisions required data related to facers such as dynamics influencing the progress in all possible retrospective manner. Several ubiquitous and non-ubiquitous trends have also been mentioned in the study. An outlook of extensive nature keeping in mind the Porters five forces analysis has been provided to make the vendor landscape transparent to the reader. The report further reaches out to point out accomplishments related to R&D, acquisitions, mergers, and crucial partnerships and verifications. The companies in limelight have been analyzed on market shares, products, and key strategies.Global Software-defined Security Market: Trends and OpportunitiesDemand for quick response and better security and growing use of cloud services are a few of the chief factors powering the market growth. Nevertheless, encounters related to hacking, data protection, and the lack of skilled personnel are the aspects hampering the growth of the software-defined security market. Growing investments and ongoing technological advancements are likely to provide lucrative growth opportunities to the players in the global market. Organizations are anxious about the security of the automated and virtualized infrastructure before implementing Software-Defined Networking (SDN). SDSec aids enterprises in the automation and placement of network security controls by employing software instead of the conventional security controls. It is accomplished through specific policies that are distinct and tailored according to particular business needs.Request TOC of the Report @Global Software-defined Security Market: Regional AnalysisThe global software-defined security market is expected to be led by North America owing to the growing awareness among people regarding the benefits of SDS. The Middle East and Africa is also expected to witness strong growth due to robust technological advancements in the region.Global Software-defined Security Market: Companies Mentioned in the ReportSome of the companies in the market are Juniper Networks, Inc., Fortinet, Inc., EMC Corporation, Symantec Corporation, VMware, Inc., and Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting ser-vices 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: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Mothersdaycelebration.com: Exploring the Zeal of Mothers day Celebration around the world

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Mothersdaycelebration.com calls for global peace and equality by helping the masses to celebrate mothers day around the world by providing to the readers every piece of information on mothers day which is celebrated on second Sunday of May in most parts of the world. Around the world the festival is observed to highlight the achievements of women.New Delhi, Friday, May 5, 2017: The role of a mother in a childs life and its overall growth and development is exceptionally important is often acknowledged insufficiently. Not only a mother contributes to her childs life but she makes a staunch difference to the society set up. She instills values and makes the child adept to righteousness and the right path in life. For the oodles of contributions that she makes to the society should essentially enjoy recognition throughout the world. And, therefore Mothers day in USA, Canada, Australia and various other parts of the world is celebrated with zeal and fervor and womens efforts, from around the world is celebrated.The concept of revering the mother has a long history, and the idea dates back to ancient Romans and Greeks who used to worship during spring month their mother. The Christians of England in early 1600s celebrated on the forth Sunday, the mothering Sunday. While the holiday and the early reference to it was started in 1800s. That establishes the concept of Mothers day is not and early one is significant.Speaking on the significance of celebration of Mothers day around the world said that, Mothers day is an extraordinarily special day which is dedicated to paying tribute to all the women in our life including our mother. As per a research Mothers day is celebrated throughout the world on 32 different dates every date. Mothers day in Canada, USA and many such countries is observed on second Sunday of the month of May. While in Some countries like Ethiopia and Argentina mothers day is celebrated on some different date. To know more subtle details in this regard can have an easy access to all the information at our website Mothersdaycelebration.com. No matter where a person is right now, the zeal of celebration is same. We just want to celebrate the selfless efforts of our mother towards building our dreams. Keeping the spirit in mind, the website highlights various tips and traditions of celebrating mothers day and adds to the celebration some novel ideas.Talking further on the issue the official spokesperson questioned that, Why it is that the economic and social values of a mother have not been given that significance, that it deserves? Thought, mothers have been impacting the life style of the world, it has always been taken for granted. The answer is lack of awareness and the motivation factor. Our website therefore, trying to find out a way by informing people.Other than focusing on Mothers day around the world, the website revolves on various other aspects covering comprehensively every corner of the topic. Some of which include Mothers Day date @, Mothers Day story, Mother's Day celebration, Mother's Day History, Mothers Day Art, Mother's Day Proclamation and many more.Contact Us:scfifestivalnetwork@gmail.comAbout the WebsiteThe website Mothersdaycelebration.com is one of an informative websites which focuses on raising awareness on economic, cultural and social contribution of a mother to the society. The website is internationally present and it touches the chords of millions of people and encourages them to recognize their effort. To get more information on the Mothers day worldwide one can visit the website.New Delhi - India
Veterinary Hematology Analyzers Market - Global Industry Analysis by Technologies: Fully Automated, Semi Automated, and Point of Care

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Global Veterinary Hematology Analyzers Market: OverviewHematology analyzers are usually used in blood sample testing. The bulk of the machines in the global veterinary hematology analyzers market that count different types of red and white blood cells, along with blood platelets and other key components. The analyzers are therefore useful in detecting diseases in various animal species but largely catering to feline, canine, bovine, ferret, equine, rabbit, and guinea pig. Veterinary hematology analyzers are featured with different techniques such as open vial testing and closed sampling testing techniques.This Report Gives Readers a Comprehensive Overview of Veterinary Hematology Analyzers Market:The primary research methodologies applied in the report occupy the bulk of the overall research efforts, still keeping all secondary avenues as descriptive and conclusive as possible. The report incorporates multiple product literature and content obtained from top companies. Secondary research patterns include data derived from sources external to the global veterinary hematology analyzers market, such as statistical sources from government agencies, credible links from the Internet, and the latest activities and trades. The report also dictates the forecasts for the global veterinary hematology analyzers market using industrially-known and stable methods, including Porters Five Force Analysis and an industry SWOT analysis.Global Veterinary Hematology Analyzers Market: Trends and Opportunities:One of the key factors augmenting the growth rate of the global veterinary hematology analyzers market at the moment, is the introduction of advanced technologies that are imparting various advantages and ease of use features that veterinarians can benefit from. One of the more popular innovations in the market currently is the ability of a player to provide automated machines. This includes machines such as VetScan HM5 Hematology System, released by Abaxis, Inc. Other players are also coming up with machines that serve specific purposes or systems that can provide specialized services within a clinical facility. New types of analyzers are providing superior performance parameters that are also aimed at reducing the overall margin of error for clinicians. Another innovative measure is the increase in accuracy of measurement while using as little blood as possible.Simultaneously, the overall demand for veterinary hematology analyzers in world is increasing due to the rising rate of animal disease cases. An increasing urban population is adopting animals as pets, while the animal husbandry industry is also rising due to a growing demand for animal products. Both factors are responsible for the increasing demand for superior treatment options for animals. The global veterinary hematology analyzers market is, however, expected to show a restrained rate of growth due to the reduced priority for animal treatment systems and services post the global economic downturn.Global Veterinary Hematology Analyzers Market: Region-wise Outlook:From a geographical perspective, the global veterinary hematology analyzers market is segregated into the key regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the MEA. The demand for animal treatment has been very high in North America, which combined with the advanced state of its healthcare industry puts the region at the forefront of the global veterinary hematology analyzers market. North America has a large and active animal husbandry industry and at the same time, the number of pet owners is already quite high and continues to increase. Owing to these factors, North America is likely to continue dominating the global veterinary hematology analyzers market for the coming years. Europe is also showing a high demand volume in the global veterinary hematology analyzers market for similar reasons.Request a sample of this report to know what opportunities will emerge in the rapidly evolving Veterinary Hematology Analyzers Market by 2023:Companies Mentioned in the Research Report:The key players in the global veterinary hematology analyzers market currently include Abaxis, Inc., Beckman Coulter, Inc. HemoCue AB, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Heska Corporation, Analytical Technologies Ltd., HORIBA ABX Inc., and Beckman Coulter.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:
Workforce Management Software Market 2017 Trend, Analysis and Forecast to 2021

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Workforce management is a set of processes that helps organizations to optimize the productivity of its employees on individual, departmental, and enterprise-wide levels. Workforce management matches employee skills to tasks and helps to estimate the number and type of workforce required to finish tasks on a daily or hourly basis. Workforce management software automates processes such as employee scheduling, time tracking, and attendance tracking. The software helps enterprises to streamline processes, enabling managers to spend more time to ensure that their operations run efficiently. Overstaffing or understaffing at any level can reduce the organization's profitability, overall productivity, frustrate its employees, and upset its clients and customers.Publisher's analysts forecast the global workforce management software market to grow at a CAGR of 8.49% during the period 2017-2021.For more information about this report:Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global workforce management software market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:-Americas-APAC-EMEAPublisher's report, Global Workforce Management Software Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendors-ADP-Ceridian HCM-Kronos-Oracle-SAP-Ultimate SoftwareRequest Sample Copy atOther prominent vendors-Ascentis-ATOSS Software-BambooHR-HR Bakery-iCIMS-Infor-JDA Software Group-NICE-PeopleFluent-Performly-Reflexis Systems-The Sage Group-Workday-Zoho CorporationMarket driver-Need for management of workforce diversity.-For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challenge-High implementation and maintenance price.-For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend-Increasing popularity of advanced workforce analytics.-For a full, detailed list, view our reportInquire for Report atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Fabric Filter Market 2017 : LONGKING, Thermax, Hitachi, XINZHONG & SHENGYUN JIEHUA

Fabric Filter

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This report studies Fabric Filter in Global market, especially in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific(W/O China), China and South America, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringALSTOM(GE)DonaldsonFLSmidthHamonBabcock & WilcoxLONGKINGThermaxHitachiXINZHONGSHENGYUNJIEHUAWENRUIKelinThe survey report by Market Research Store is an overview of the global Fabric Filter market. It covers all the recent trends including key developments in the global market in present and in future. Analyses of the global Fabric Filter 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 Fabric Filter 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 Fabric Filter 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 Fabric Filter 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 Fabric Filter 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
Humanized Mouse Model Market : Manufacturers, Region, Application and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: SnapshotThe pharmaceutical industry has been experiencing a consistent surge in the past decade, owing to rising prevalence of a number diseases, and biotechnology promises to revolutionize the field going forward. This surge is quite evident on the global humanized mouse model market too, which is based on humanizing mice with a short strand of human DNA, tissue, tumor, or microbiome. The mice that are humanized make for a highly useful model to study genetics, and ultimately leading to the development of new drugs.Some of the leading companies in this market are aggressively investing on research and development as well as pursuing alliances and acquisitions to maintain their stronghold. For instance, Horizon Discover Group plc. recently announced the signing of a Master Services Agreement (MSA) with three pharmaceutical companies in order to expand their drug discover efforts and attain full suite of services from their organization. Services included under the MSA are: target identification and validation screening, customer line engineering, cell-based assay services, and drug combination screening. On the other hand, another prominent name in this industry, The Jackson Laboratory, has developed humanized NSG (hu-NSG) and NSG-SGM3 mouse models as tools to study cancer, infectious and inflammatory disease, and hematopoiesis. Taconic Biosciences, Inc., another key vendor in the global humanized mouse model market, offer nearly 4,500 genetically engineered mice and rats with health status such as germ-free (GF), defined flora (DF), excluded flora (EF), restricted flora (RF), and murine pathogen free (MPF). Type of animal offered by Taconic Biosciences include conditional knock out, constitutive knock out, double knock out, congenic, hybrid, inbred, microinjected, and outbred.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: OverviewA humanized mouse is referred to as a mouse transmitting functioning human organs, tissues, cells, and genes. Humanized mice are basically employed in medical and biological therapeutics as animal models. Immunodeficient mouse are often act as recipients of tissues or human cells, as they can easily receive heterologous cells because of lack of immunity in the host. Conventionally, the severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse and the nude mouse have been employed for the aforesaid purpose. However, recently the NSG and NOG mouse have been exposed to engraft human tissues and cells more effectively than any other model variant. Such models of humanized mouse might be employed for modelling the human immune system in situations of pathology and health, and also is likely to enable the evaluation of therapeutic candidates in an in vivo setting which is relevant to human psychology.CD34 mouse models are employed as in vivo platforms for the purpose of examining the safety and efficiency of possible new drugs that can moderate the immune system. Moreover, they are also used for long-term research in the fields of infectious disease, immuno-oncology, and graft versus host disease. Therefore, the rising application fields of CD34 models are anticipated to intensify the demand for these humanized mouse models over the coming years.Request TOC of the Report @The market intelligence publication delves into the possible growth opportunities for the global humanized mouse market and the chronological growth of the market throughout the forecast period. It also uniquely provisions required data related to facers such as dynamics influencing the progress in all possible retrospective manner. Several ubiquitous and non-ubiquitous trends have also been mentioned in the study. An outlook of extensive nature keeping in mind the Porters five forces analysis has been provided to make the vendor landscape transparent to the reader. The report further reaches out to point out accomplishments related to R&D, acquisitions, mergers, and crucial partnerships and verifications. The companies in limelight have been analyzed on market shares, products, and key strategies.Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe progress of the global humanized mouse model market can be credited to the incessant support by the governments across the globe for research projects in the form of grants and investments, a significant upsurge in the amount of research projects concerning humanized mouse models, high R&D activities by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and the mounting adoption of personalized medicines. Based on type, the humanized mouse model market can be classified into cell-based and genetic humanized mouse model. The segment of genetic models is projected to hold for the leading share in the global humanized mouse model market until the end of the forecast period. The segment of cell-based models is likely to expand at a strong CAGR from 2017 to 2025 due to the cumulating number of applications of cell-based humanized mouse models. The cell-based mouse model segment can be further classified into PBMC, BLT humanized mouse, and CD34. In 2016, CD34 model held the dominating share in the global cell-based humanized mouse model market and also exhibited a strong CAGR.Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: Regional OutlookOwing to the significant rise in expenditure on R&D and biomedical research by several leading pharmaceutical companies, North America is expected to emerge as prominent region in the global humanized mouse model market in the near future. Asia Pacific is also expected to exhibit strong growth due to the growing focus on personalized medicines in China and rising investment by the governments of various countries in the region in the development of the life science sector and regenerative medicines.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Humanized Mouse Model Market: Vendor LandscapeThe leading companies in the market include Horizon Discovery Group PLC, genOway S.A., Axenis S.A.S, ingenious targeting laboratory, HuMurine Technologies, Inc., Harbour Antibodies BV, and The Jackson Laboratory.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting ser-vices 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: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
High Temperature Resin Market : Report Analysis and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Global High Temperature Resin Market: OverviewThe global high temperature resin market is likely to register promising growth potential in the forthcoming years. The rising demand for thermoplastic resins in the high temperature composites market is driving the global market. High temperature resins are used in some of the most rigorous applications for composite materials. They exhibit superior thermal stability, minimal mechanical degradation, and excellent chemical resistance. They are available in various types including epoxy, polyethersulfone, silicone, polyutherane, acrylic, polyester, alkyd, and phenolic. These resins are used as primarily used as adhesives and sealants, composites, and paints and coatings.The research report is an outcome of an in-depth analysis of the various important parameters of the global high temperature resin market including its dynamics and region-wise outlook. The data presented in the report has been derived from various paid and unpaid sources including white papers, press releases, journals, presentations, and directories. The report offers both qualitative and quantitative insights into the competitive landscape of the market. It meticulously studies the business strategies and latest developments of the key players in the market. It performs SWOT analysis that reveals the potential growth trajectory of each prominent player in the market. There is a separate section of recommendations for both new and existing players in the global high temperature resin market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global High Temperature Resin Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growth of the global high temperature resins market is receiving a significant boost from the upswing in the consumption of high temperature composites in the railway, defense, and aerospace applications. The exposure of most of the structural components of aircraft to harsh environment such as high velocity and extreme heat creates a dire need for materials with excellent stability. Additionally, the increasing emphasis on fuel efficiency is fuelling the use of advanced materials including composites. Moreover, high temperature resins are being increasingly adopted as an alternative to mechanical fasteners, thereby providing a fillip to the growth of the market.On the other hand, the high cost of these resins is limiting their widespread adoption across different end-user industries. Furthermore, the increasing stringency of regulations set by several governments pertaining to the use of hazardous chemicals is hindering the growth of the market. However, the future of the market looks bright with the anticipated upsurge in the demand from the electronics industry for newer applications.Request TOC of the Report @Global High Temperature Resin Market: Geographical SegmentationThe key regional markets covered in the report are North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Rest of the World. Asia Pacific will be a prominent market throughout the forecast period. The growth of the region is largely supplemented by emerging economies such as India and China. The rapid urbanization and industrialization along with the robust growth of end-user industries such as electronics and aerospace in these countries are contributing to the growth of the region.North America is also expected to account for a large share in the market owing to the presence of a large number of aerospace OEMs and tier players. The presence of advanced aviation and automotive sector in the U.S. is augmenting the growth of the region.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global High Temperature Resin Market: Competitive LandscapeProminent players in the global high temperature resins market are strategically shifting their research and development centers and manufacturing units to developing nations owing to tremendous growth opportunities in such countries. Several players are adopting technological advancements and product portfolio diversification as their key growth strategies to strengthen their positions in the market. Some of the key players are E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Henkel AG & Co., KGaA, BASF SE, Dow Corning Corporation, Royal Tencate N.V., and Solvay S.A.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting ser-vices 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: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Cardiac Monitoring & Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices Market : Type, Growth, Demand, Price and Revenue

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Global Cardiac Monitoring & Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices Market: OverviewIn recent times, the global cardiac monitoring and cardiac rhythm management devices market has exhibited a phenomenal growth rate. Rapid technological advancements and the advent of innovative products such as MRI pacemakers, durable batteries, and biocompatible materials are providing a significant boost to the market. Cardiac monitoring and cardiac rhythm management devices are primarily used in hospitals, home, and ambulatory care. Manufacturers are focusing towards developing compact versions of these devices, which is likely to revolutionize the market in the near future.The report is a professional study on the global cardiac monitoring and cardiac rhythm management devices market, compiled by meticulously analyzing various critical parameters of the market. It provides a detailed overview of the factors impacting the growth of the market. It offers qualitative and quantitative insights into the competitive landscape of the market. Competitive profiling of the prominent players in the market along with their market shares, business strategies, cost and revenue structures, latest developments, and contact information forms a vital part of the report. It performs SWOT analysis to reveal potential growth trajectory of each prominent player in the global cardiac monitoring and cardiac rhythm management devices market.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Cardiac Monitoring & Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe growing occurrence of cardiovascular disorders is the foremost factor driving the uptake of cardiac monitoring and cardiac rhythm management devices. The changing lifestyles and rapidly growing geriatric population are among the key factors leading to the increasing incidence of such diseases. Moreover, the rising awareness regarding the availability of sophisticated treatment options coupled with increasing use of home and ambulatory services is providing a thrust to the market. Conducive regulatory environment is also working in favor of the growth of the market.On the other hand, the lack of healthcare professionals with expertise in cardiac and electrocardiography monitoring is restricting the market from realizing its utmost potential. Furthermore, the high cost of cardiac monitoring and cardiac rhythm management devices is hampering their widespread adoption. This is further compounded by the absence of favorable reimbursement policies for remote cardiac monitoring devices.Request TOC of the Report @Global Cardiac Monitoring & Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices Market: Geographical SegmentationOn the basis of geography, the key segments analyzed in the report are Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. North America and Europe are expected to account for a large cumulative share in the market throughout the forecast period. The presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure and growing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases are escalating the growth of the market in the region. Rapid technological advancements, high patient awareness regarding the accessibility of treatment options, and rising geriatric population are also propelling the growth of the region.Asia Pacific is likely to show tremendous growth in the forthcoming years, thanks to improving healthcare infrastructure along with the rising consumer expenditure on healthcare. The increasing investments by large, international players in the healthcare facilities are supplementing the growth of the region. Moreover, the growing popularity of remote cardiac monitoring devices is fuelling the growth of the region.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report@Global Cardiac Monitoring & Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices Market: Competitive LandscapePlayers are increasingly adopting mergers and acquisitions as their key growth strategy to strengthen their position in the global cardiac monitoring and cardiac rhythm management devices market. Some of the prominent players in the market are St. Jude Medical Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic PLC, GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, Welch Allyn, Ecardio Diagnostics, Mortara Instruments, Nihon Kohden Corporation, and Life Watch.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting ser-vices 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: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com
Global Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter Market 2017 : Meilun, Conasen, Taosonics, Haifeng, Gentos & Sonic

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Global Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingBadger MeterGETexas InstrumentAnalog DeviceST MicroelectronicsEmersonKrohneE+HSiemensFujielectricThe survey report by Market Research Store is an overview of the global Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter market. It covers all the recent trends including key developments in the global market in present and in future. Analyses of the global Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter 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 Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter 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 Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter 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 Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter 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 Ultrasonic Doppler Flowmeter 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
Personal Accident and Health Insurance in New Zealand, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020

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"The Report Personal Accident and Health Insurance in New Zealand, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020 provides information on pricing, market analysis, shares, forecast, and company profiles for key industry participants. - MarketResearchReports.biz"Timetrics 'Personal Accident and Health Insurance in New Zealand Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segment, and a comparison of the New Zealand insurance industry with its regional counterparts.It provides key performance indicators such as written premium, incurred loss, loss ratio, commissions and expenses, combined ratio, total assets and total investment income during the review period (20112015) and forecast period (20152020).The report also gives a comprehensive overview of the New Zealand economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country.The report brings together Timetrics research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure.Get Sample Copy Here :SummaryTimetrics 'Personal Accident and Health Insurance in New Zealand, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2020' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segment, including:An overview of the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segmentThe New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segments growth prospects by categoryA comprehensive overview of the New Zealand economy and demographicsA comparison of the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segment with its regional counterpartsDetails of the competitive landscape in the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segmentDetails of regulatory policy applicable to the New Zealand insurance industryView Report @ScopeThis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the personal accident and health insurance segment in New Zealand:It provides historical values for the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segment for the reports 20112015 review period, and projected figures for the 20152020 forecast period.It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2020.It provides a comparison of the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segment with its regional counterpartsIt profiles the top personal accident and health insurance companies in New Zealand, and outlines the key regulations affecting them.Reasons To BuyMake strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segment, and each category within it.Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the New Zealand personal accident and health insurance segment.Assess the competitive dynamics in the personal accident and health insurance segment.Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories.Gain insights into key regulations governing the New Zealand insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future.Key HighlightsThe personal accident and health segment accounted for 32.7% of the industrys direct written premium in 2015.Due to the introduction of the Insurance Prudential Supervision Act (IPSA) in 2010, all insurers must maintain compliance with solvency standards and appropriate risk management policies.Unsustainable levels of public spending on healthcare and a rise in healthcare costs initiated reforms in the health segment, prompting the government to contemplate the role of private insurance.On November 25, 2016, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) increased the contribution of treatment providers by 2.2%.The segments growth potential led competitors to develop their distribution channels, adopt cost control measures and collaborate with other businesses to expand their product portfolios and market reach.MarketResearchReports.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.State Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Global Medical Image Sensors Sales Market Report 2017

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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 ContentsGlobal Medical Image Sensors Sales Market Report 20171 Medical Image Sensors Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Medical Image Sensors1.2 Classification of Medical Image Sensors1.2.1 Type I1.2.2 Type II1.3 Application of Medical Image Sensors1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.4 Medical Image Sensors 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)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Medical Image Sensors (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Medical Image Sensors Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Medical Image Sensors Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2022)2 Global Medical Image Sensors Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Medical Image Sensors Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Medical Image Sensors Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Medical Image Sensors (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.2.2 Global Medical Image Sensors Revenue and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)2.3 Global Medical Image Sensors (Volume and Value) by Regions2.3.1 Global Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)2.3.2 Global Medical Image Sensors Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2012-2017)2.4 Global Medical Image Sensors (Volume) by Application3 United States Medical Image Sensors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Medical Image Sensors Sales and Value (2012-2017)3.1.1 United States Medical Image Sensors Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.2 United States Medical Image Sensors Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)3.1.3 United States Medical Image Sensors Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)3.2 United States Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers3.3 United States Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Type3.4 United States Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Application4 China Medical Image Sensors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Medical Image Sensors Sales and Value (2012-2017)4.1.1 China Medical Image Sensors Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.2 China Medical Image Sensors Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)4.1.3 China Medical Image Sensors Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)4.2 China Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers4.3 China Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Type4.4 China Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Application5 Europe Medical Image Sensors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Medical Image Sensors Sales and Value (2012-2017)5.1.1 Europe Medical Image Sensors Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.2 Europe Medical Image Sensors Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)5.1.3 Europe Medical Image Sensors Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)5.2 Europe Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers5.3 Europe Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Type5.4 Europe Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Application6 Japan Medical Image Sensors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Medical Image Sensors Sales and Value (2012-2017)6.1.1 Japan Medical Image Sensors Sales and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.2 Japan Medical Image Sensors Revenue and Growth Rate (2012-2017)6.1.3 Japan Medical Image Sensors Sales Price Trend (2012-2017)6.2 Japan Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Manufacturers6.3 Japan Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by Type6.4 Japan Medical Image Sensors Sales and Market Share by ApplicationQYReseachReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. 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Global Cationic Cure Epoxy Market 2016: Focuses on top players Royal DSM N.V, Allnex Belgium SA/NV, Alberdingk Boley GmbH, BASF SE, Covestro AG, Nippon Gohsei,

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The Cationic Cure Epoxy research report by QY Research represents an inclusive evaluation of the Global Cationic Cure Epoxy Market and comprises considerable insights, historical data, facts, and statistical and industry-validated data of the global market. Additionally, it consists of estimated data that is evaluated with the help of suitable set of methodologies and assumptions. The research report highlights informative data and in-depth analysis of Cationic Cure Epoxy market and its corresponding segments that are based on technology, geography, and applications.The examination on value chain of Cationic Cure Epoxy market is provided which covers the growth factors and restraints of the industry along with the key market competitors.To Request Sample Copy Of This Report:The report comprises precise information, comprehensive analysis in two waysqualitative and quantitativeindustry experts inputs, and information provided by industry analysts and industry participants involved in the entire value chain. The report highlights exhaustive study of major market and their present trends, along with corresponding market segments. The Cationic Cure Epoxy report also provides data regarding various market factors and their impact on the overall market and its segments.Global Research report analyzes the scope of Cationic Cure Epoxy industry including size, share, analysis, sales, supply, production, definition, specification, classification, demands, application, forecast trends, industry policy, and news. The report focuses on regional as well as global market, its key players, along with market segments including detailed study on various divisions and its applications. The report provides comprehensive information on each and every segment covered of the Cationic Cure Epoxy market.Furthermore, the report evaluated major market points such as production, revenue, capacity utilization rate, gross, price, capacity, gross margin, supply, cost, demand, export, consumption, import, growth rate, market share, and so on.Browse Complete Report At:The global Cationic Cure Epoxy market report is a helpful source which assists manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, customers, and individuals and investors who have interest in this market.Notes:Sales, means the sales volume of Cationic Cure EpoxyRevenue, means the sales value of Cationic Cure EpoxyThis report studies sales (consumption) of Cationic Cure Epoxy in Global market, especially in United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these regions, coveringRoyal DSM N.VAllnex Belgium SA/NVAlberdingk Boley GmbHBASF SECovestro AGNippon GohseiWanhua Chemical GroupAbout Us:MRS Research Group is the worlds giant collection of the Market research Reports. Where we specialized in global publisher, tailor made reports and specialists consulting. Global Publisher provides in-depth analysis of global and Chinese market. Tailor-made reports represent methodologies deliverable to proper insight of the client. While, expertise research specialist helps to provide strategic solution in specialists consulting. It consists of head such as, latest report, category, niche market and news. Reports published on the million of category like chemical, machinery and equipment, consumer goods, manufacturing and construction etc. Latest national, international, business News published under news portal.3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442,Tel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No. 1-855-465-4651
Global Motorcycle Locks Industry Production - Bosch & Zentorack

Motorcycle Locks

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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 Motorcycle Locks 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 Motorcycle Locks market. It also provides with different types of product segments of the global market. Furthermore, the Motorcycle Locks 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 Motorcycle Locks 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 Motorcycle Locks 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 Motorcycle Locks market along with various product segments. The research report provides an overview of the current market situation, historic development, and future outlook of the Motorcycle Locks 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.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 Dental Implants Market Size, Shares, Segmentation, Analysis, Competition, Applications & Challenges Forecast 2022

Global Dental Implants Market

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Market Highlights:The Global Dental Implants Market has been evaluated as steadily growing market and it is expected that the market will continue to grow similarly in the near future. Dentistry is one of the oldest medical profession and it became more defined and professional after 1700s. Dental implant is replacement teeth roots. Dental implant is artificial tooth root and it is fixed in jaw. Dental implants do not affect nearby teeth and it helps to improve appearance, oral health, eating and confidence as well. Increasing awareness among the consumers regarding the oral health is major driver for the growth of the dental implants market worldwide. Consumers are becoming more conscious about oral health and appearance which is leading the growth of niche segment like cosmetic dentistry.Rapidly increasing aging population is another important driver for the dental implants market, because after certain age, elderly people may face some dental problems and it is necessary to take some dental treatments. Dental Implant Market manufacturers and solutions providers are investing huge money in R&D to develop more innovative product or solution for the growing dental implant market. Hospitals are also providing advance facilities to the patients which is helping them to attract more number of patients.Global Dental Implants Market was around US$ 4.3 billion in 2015 and it is expected to reach USD 5.9 billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period.Test the market data and market information presented through more than 120 market data tables and figures spread over 95 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Dental Implants Market  Global Forecast to 2022Major Key Players: Institut Straumann AG (Switzerland) 3M (US) Osstem Implant (South Korea) Nobel Biocare (Part of Danaher corporation)(US) Dentsply Sirona (US) Zimmer Biomet (US) CAMLOG Biotechnologies AG (Switzerland) Neobiotech USA. Inc. (US)Request a Sample Report @Regional Analysis:Considering the global scenario of the market, North America region is believed to be the largest market for Dental Implants. Moreover the European market is also growing and second largest market for Dental Implants. On the other hand, Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow at fast rate in the Dental Implants during the forecasted period. Middle East and Africa is likely to have a limited but steady growth in the market.Segmentation:Dental Implants market has been segmented on the basis of Material type which comprises of Titanium dental implants, Zirconium dental implants and others. Titanium implants holds 75.8% of global dental implant market by type of material and expected to continue its growth during the forecast period. Zirconium dental implant is growing and expected to grow at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period.On the basis of procedure type it is segmented into Root-Form dental implant, Plate-Form dental implant, and others. Root-form dental implants are most commonly used throughout the World, while plate-form implants are expected to grow at fast pace during the forecast period. On the basis of End User it is segmented into Dental Hospitals & Clinics Market, Dental Research Laboratories, and others. Dental hospitals and clinics holds largest market share in end user segment of dental implants market. Dental research laboratory is expected to grow at fast pace, Dental research laboratory is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period.Browse Full Report Details @Intended Audience: Dental Implant suppliers Dental Implants manufacturers Dental research laboratories Research and Development (R&D) Companies Government Research Laboratories Government and Independent Regulatory Authorities Medical Research InstitutesTable of Contents1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Additional Facts & Figures1.3 Scope Of Study1.4 Research Objective1.5 Assumptions & Limitations1.5.1 Assumptions1.5.2 Limitations2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary ResearchContinuedList of TablesTable 1 Global Dental Implant Market, By Type Of Material, 2014-2022 (USD Million)Table 2 Global Titanium Implant Market, By Region, 2014-2022 (USD Million)Table 3 Global Zirconium Implant Market, By Region, 2014-2022 (USD Million)ContinuedList of FiguresFigure 1 Dental Implants Average Selling Price (Us$), 2015Figure 2 Dental Implants Sold In 2011Figure 3 Research ProcessContinuedAbout 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
2017 Masonry Tools Industry: Global Trend, Profit, and Key Manufacturers Analysis Report

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In our aim to provide our erudite clients with the best research material with absolute in-depth information of the market, our new report on Global Masonry Tools Market is confident in meeting their needs and expectations. The 2017 market research report on Global Masonry Tools 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 Masonry Tools Market report is a noteworthy.Request a sample of this report @The Global Masonry Tools 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 Masonry Tools 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 Masonry Tools Industry. Accurate forecasts and expert opinion from credible sources, and the recent R&D development in the industry is also a mainstay of the Masonry Tools Market report.Browse the full report @The report also focuses on the significance of industry chain analysis and all variables, both upstream and downstream. These include equipment and raw materials, client surveys, marketing channels, and industry trends and proposals. Other significant information covering consumption, key regions and distributors, and raw material suppliers are also a covered in this report.Purchase a copy of this report @Finally, the Masonry Tools 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 Masonry Tools Industry is the holy grail of information which serious knowledge seekers can benefit from. The report which is the result of ultimate dedication of pedigree professionals has a wealth of information which can benefit anyone, irrespective of their commercial or academic interest.Some Points From Table of Contents:Chapter One: Masonry Tools Market Overview1.1 Masonry Tools Product Overview1.2 Masonry Tools Segment by Types (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Masonry Tools Sales and Growth (%) Comparison by Types (2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Masonry Tools Sales Market Share (%) by Types in 20161.2.3 Masonry Trowels1.2.4 Masonry Chisels1.2.5 Masonry Jointers1.2.6 Masonry Miscellaneous1.2.7 Other1.3 Global Masonry Tools Segment by Applications1.3.1 Global Masonry Tools Sales (K Units) Comparison by Applications (2012-2022)1.3.2 Professional Construction1.3.3 Amateur Use1.4 Global Masonry Tools Market by Regions (2012-2022)1.4.1 Global Masonry Tools Market Size and Growth (%) Comparison by Regions (2012-2022)1.4.2 North America Masonry Tools Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 Asia-Pacific Masonry Tools Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.4 Europe Masonry Tools Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.5 South America Masonry Tools Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.6 Middle East and Africa Masonry Tools Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.5 Global Masonry Tools Market Size (2012-2022)1.5.1 Global Masonry Tools Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)1.5.2 Global Masonry Tools Sales (K Units) Status and Outlook (2012-2022)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 customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019For more information contact sales@orbisresearch.com
Know in Detail about the Global Market of NEXT GENERATION BIOMETRICS analysis, forecasts, and Overview and market development.

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Next generation biometrics - Global Market Outlook (2016-2022) Purchase This Report by calling ResearchnReports.com at +1-888-631-6977.The report, titled Next generation biometrics presents an in-depth study of the Next generation biometrics market. Providing a brief history about the market, the report analyses the entire value chain of the market and points out the key drivers and restraints affecting the growth of the market during the forecast period. The report also analyses the market attractiveness and the effect of Porters Five Forces on the various factors governing the overall Next generation biometrics market.The report studies the different product segments and end-user applications segment of the Next generation biometrics market. Compiling important data from relevant sources, the report estimates the growth of individual segments of the market. Also, the market size and the growth rate of each of the market segments have been discussed in the report. The report pays very special attention to the growth exhibited by the Next generation biometrics market in key geographic segments and talks about all the favorable conditions propelling the market growth. Growth trajectory of the market across the key geographic segments is discussed in the report.Major players in the Next generation biometrics market have been listed down in the report. The report talks about the key players eyeing the development of the market in emerging economies due to the numerous significant efforts taken by the policymakers to transform the economic landscape. The report also discusses the product offerings and revenue segmentation of the key players to throw light on the highly competitive environment prevailing in the Next generation biometrics market. Key strategies of growth adopted by leading industry players are also analyzed in detail by the report.Get Discount on this report:The research report Global Next generation biometrics Market is a market study examining and profiling the current state of the Next generation biometrics industry in a professional manner. The report systematically categorizes the Next generation biometrics market, explaining the definition of Next generation biometrics before making clear the classification of the market by the various parameters employed by market experts. The multiple applications of Next generation biometrics in the global industrial scenario are profiled along with an explanation of the industry supply and value chain developed around it. The regional segments of the global Next generation biometrics market are also examined and data gained from this analysis presented. The development trends in and competitive landscape of the Next generation biometrics market are also studied and data regarding the same is presented in the report.Other industry-related processes about the Next generation biometrics market, such as a detailed explanation of the manufacturing structure, the financial background of the market, supply and demand dynamics, trade figures, and production value margins are also analyzed in the report. Prime development policies and plans concerning the Next generation biometrics market are examined with regard to their impact on the market in the forecast period.The strong trends shaping the growth pattern of the Next generation biometrics market are examined in the report in detail, in addition to the numerous marketing channels for the industry and their respective importance. In accordance with this information detailing the various aspects of the Next generation biometrics market, the report examines the links between the Next generation biometrics industry and the Next generation biometrics market, including an upstream raw materials and downstream demand analysisFor More Enquiry on This Report:A detailed analysis of the international and Next generation biometrics market is presented in the Next generation biometrics Industry. The report analyses of the Next generation biometrics market based on a variety of important industry verticals such as variety of products, key applications, developments, key market trends, key technologies in the marketplace, and the competitive landscape.The reports segment of industry overview covers basic information about Next generation biometrics, including the core definition, classification, structure of demand and supply chain, analysis of regulatory policies in the marketplace, important news related to the Next generation biometrics market, etc.Table of Content:-1 Executive Summary2 Preface2.1 Abstract2.2 Stake Holders2.3 Research Scope2.4 Research Methodology2.4.1 Data Mining2.4.2 Data Analysis2.4.3 Data Validation2.4.4 Research Approach2.5 Research Sources2.5.1 Primary Research Sources2.5.2 Secondary Research Sources2.5.3 Assumptions3 Market Trend Analysis3.1 Introduction3.2 Drivers3.3 Restraints3.4 Opportunities3.5 Threats3.6 Application Analysis3.7 Emerging markets4 Porters Five Force Analysis4.1 Bargaining power of suppliers4.2 Bargaining power of buyers4.3 Threat of substitutes4.4 Threat of new entrants4.5 Competitive rivalry5 Global Next Generation Biometrics Market, By Application5.1 Introduction5.2 Military & Defense5.3 Travel & Immigration5.4 Government5.5 Banking & Finance5.6 Security5.6.1 Home Security5.6.2 Commercial Security5.7 Healthcare5.8 Consumer Electronics5.9 Others6 Global Next Generation Biometrics Market, By Function6.1 Introduction6.2 Non-Contact Biometrics6.3 Contact Biometrics7 Global Next Generation Biometrics Market, By Authentication Type7.1 Introduction7.2 Single Factor Authentication7.2.1 IRIS7.2.2 Fingerprint.7.2.3 Face7.2.4 Palm Vein.7.3 Multi-Factor Authentication7.3.1 Biometrics With Pin7.3.2 Two-Factor Biometrics Authentication7.3.3 Three-Factor Biometric Authentications7.3.4 Face and Pin7.3.5 Fingerprint and Pin/Card7.3.6 Palm Vein and Card.7.3.7 Multi-Modal.7.3.7.1 Face and Fingerprint7.3.7.2 Iris and Fingerprint7.3.7.3 Face and Palm7.3.8 Voice Recognition7.3.9 Signature Recognition7.3.10 Other Biometric Technologies7.3.10.1 Keystroke Recognition7.3.10.2 Gait Recognition7.3.10.3 DNA Recognition8 Global Next Generation Biometrics Market, By Geography8.1 North America8.1.1 US8.1.2 Canada8.1.3 Mexico8.2 Europe8.2.1 Germany8.2.2 France8.2.3 Italy8.2.4 UK8.2.5 Spain8.2.6 Rest of Europe8.3 Asia Pacific8.3.1 Japan8.3.2 China8.3.3 India8.3.4 Australia8.3.5 New Zealand8.3.6 Rest of Asia Pacific8.4 Rest of the World8.4.1 Middle East8.4.2 Brazil8.4.3 Argentina8.4.4 South Africa8.4.5 Egypt9 Key Developments9.1 Agreements, Partnerships, Collaborations and Joint Ventures9.2 Acquisitions & Mergers9.3 New Product Launch9.4 Expansions9.5 Other Key Strategies10 Company Profiling10.1 NEC Corporation10.2 Precise Biometrics Ab10.3 3M Cogent, Inc.10.4 Fujitsu Ltd.10.5 Safran SA10.6 Bio-Key International, Inc.10.8 Suprema Inc.10.9 Fulcrum Biometrics10.10 Thales SA10.11 ZK Technology LLC.10.12 Cross Match Technologies10.13 FUTRONIC Technology Co. Ltd.10.14 IDEX Group10.15 RCG Holdings Limited.Complete Report available at:Company Overview: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 and Global and Global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports)
Worldwide Handset Proximity Sensor Market 2017 by Region, Players, Type, Application and Forecast To 2021

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Publisher's Handset Proximity Sensor market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.The market is expected to expand at 14.68% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2021.Global Handset Proximity Sensor Market: Product Segment AnalysisOptical Displacement SensorUltrasonic Displacement SensorGlobal Handset Proximity Sensor Market: Application Segment AnalysisMobile phoneFor More Information About This Report:Global Handset Proximity Sensor Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaThe Players mentioned in our reportAMS-TAOSSharpAvagoHeptagonMaximST MicroelectronicsIntersilPanasonicEpticoreVishay (Capella)Sitronix (Sensortek)EverlightLiteonRequest Sample Copy At:Table of ContentChapter 1 About the Handset Proximity Sensor IndustryChapter 2 World Market Competition LandscapeChapter 3 World Handset Proximity Sensor Market shareChapter 4 Supply Chain AnalysisChapter 5 Company ProfilesChapter 6 Globalization & TradeChapter 7 Distributors and CustomersChapter 8 Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major CountriesChapter 9 World Handset Proximity Sensor Market Forecast through 2021Chapter 10 Key success factors and Market OverviewInquire For This Report At:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
LED Billboard Worldwide 2017 Market by Revenue, Major Players, and Forecast To 2021

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Publisher's LED Billboard market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, Publisher's LED Billboard market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry players.Publisher Market Research states that the world LED Billboard market held an opportunity worth US$521 Million in 2015.The market is expected to expand at 6.82% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2021.Global LED Billboard Market: Product Segment AnalysisIndoor LED BillboardOutdoor LED BillboardOthersGlobal LED Billboard Market: Application Segment AnalysisIndoor LED BillboardOutdoor LED BillboardFor More Information About This Report:Global LED Billboard Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeSEAChinaIndiaThe players mentioned in our reportAbsenAOTOBarcoDaktronicsEuro DisplayFORMETCOLedmanLeyardLiantronicsLighthouseLopuMaryOptec DisplayQSTechRequest Sample Copy At:Table of ContentChapter 1 About the LED Billboard IndustryChapter 2 World Market Competition LandscapeChapter 3 World LED Billboard Market shareChapter 4 Supply Chain AnalysisChapter 5 Company ProfilesChapter 6 Globalization & TradeChapter 7 Distributors and CustomersChapter 8 Import, Export, Consumption and Consumption Value by Major CountriesChapter 9 World LED Billboard Market forecast through 2021Chapter 10 Key success factors and Market OverviewInquire For This Report At:Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.comReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028
Global Genetic Testing Reagents Market Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Genetic Testing Reagents Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Genetic testing is oftenly performed as a part of genetic consultation. These tests are performed either on blood, skin, hair, or amniotic fluid. Genetic tests include the analysis of an individuals genetic material (DNA or RNA), in order to determine the susceptibility to certain abnormalities or specific disorders or to identify the genetic differences (variants) if any. Currently, genetic tests have developed to a larger extent that in turn facilitates the doctors to detect any defective or missing genes. Specific genetic tests are designed for specific disorders to be identified. There are several instances where a doctor may recommend genetic testing or counseling, for example, if a couples first child suffers from a severe birth defect, or if a woman has more than two miscarriages, or a woman who is pregnant at or after age 35.Genetic consultation is crucial as it helps determination of a genetic or inherited disorder before giving birth to a child and hence avoids the serious birth defects. Diagnostic, pharmacogenetics, prenatal testing, preimplantation testing, presymptomatic and predictive testing and newborn screening constitute several types of genetic tests performed for various reasons. These tests involve the use of reagents of high purity and quality. These are essential in order to ensure accurate results of the tests. Any compromise in the quality and composition of the reagent results in deviation from accurate results and can be misleading.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @There is an extensive usage of reagents at each and every step of the process such as from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction to isolation and purification. With the rapid pace of technological advances in the field of genomics, more and more genetic tests are being implemented in several laboratories across the globe. This is leading to marketing of the genetic tests without proper regulation. Genetic testing finds application in various areas such as determination of genetic disorders, paternity testing, forensics and others.Three federal agencies namely, Center for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) play a very significant role in regulating genetic tests. CMS regulates the clinical laboratories and confirms the quality of the lab processes implemented. FDA regulates the marketing of various test kits possessing reagents while FTC puts a check on misleading and false advertising. On July 31, 2014, FDA announced that it would release draft guidelines to regulate laboratory developed tests (LDTs) owing to the increased mismatch between the tests performed in commercial laboratories and the physicians ordered tests.Genetic tests has the capability to revolutionize the clinical practice however, increased adoption of these tests depends on coverage and reimbursement provided by several insurance providers. If these insurance providers are not willing to pay for the tests, it might result in stagnant growth of the market. There is very limited information available on the reimbursement decisions about genetic testing. The genetic test kits include the standard sample, distilled water, buffer solutions and other extraction and isolation reagents. The usage of these reagent kits is prominent in developed regions such as North America and Europe as compared to Asian countries such as India and China.The market for genetic testing reagent kits can be analyzed by various geographies such as Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. Furthermore, this market can be analyzed by various application areas such as new born screening, prenatal testing, forensics and paternity testing. Factors such as regulatory and reimbursement policies govern the commercialization and marketing of genetic testing reagent kits. The major factors favoring the market growth are continuous technological advances, increasing acceptance of genetic consultation and counseling. On other hand factors such as high cost of the procedures and lack of reimbursement and medical coverage restrain the market growth. Danaher Corporation, Sigma-Aldrich Co., LLC. ThermoFisher Scientific, Hologic, Inc., Roche Diagnostics and Abbott Laboratories 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. Geographies analyzed under this research report include- North America- Asia Pacific- Europe- Rest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis of- Market growth drivers- Factors limiting market growth- Current market trends- Market structure- Market 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.Reasons for Buying this Report- This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics- It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth- It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow- It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future- It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors- It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segments- It provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsMake 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 @
Cancer Genome Sequencing Market Report Overview - Key Futuristic Trends And Competitive Landscape 2023

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Over the last few years, the genomic era of cancer studies is developing at a rapid pace fueled by the emergence of next-generation sequencing technology rendering exquisite resolution and sensitivity. Frequent alterations in their gross chromosomal structure by means of amplification, deletion and inversion of their chromosomal structure forms a characteristic feature of cancer genome. These gene alterations or modifications ultimately lead to cancer onset and progression. Additionally, the gene sequencing for cancer has several advantages over traditional approaches which include the ability to perform complete gene sequencing in single test including the detecting copy number alterations, translocations, and exome-wide base substitutions in all related cancer cells. The reduction in the cost associated with whole genome sequencing and overall time required to perform these sequencing has drastically reduced in last couple of years. A study published by TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. in 2013 illustrated that five years ago expenses for performing whole genome sequencing were in millions of dollars which currently can be performed solely for few thousand dollars. Numerous technological advancements have significantly contributed in advancing the research studies pertaining to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Despite this the recombinant DNA cloning is still in its infancy and is yet not competent enough in unraveling the full complexity of the human cell.This Report Gives Readers a Comprehensive Overview of Cancer Genome Sequencing Market:In June 2014, a new genome sequencing test developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering known as MSK-IMPACT made cancer analysis far more comprehensive and can be used on any type of solid tumor, irrespective of its location in the human body. According to the scientists of Memorial Sloan Kettering, cancer identification and its predisposition can benefit patients, health practitioners and eventually help in reducing the morbidity and mortality with respect to cancer. A study by Johns Hopkins scientists published in April 2015 illustrated that in last few years several hospitals and companies have collaborated to sequence patients tumor in an attempt to personalize therapy for cancer treatment. In addition to selecting personalized therapies for patients with cancer, sequencing the normal tissue genome can also increase the overall understanding of cancer, including finding reasons for cancer predisposition due to germline genome changes.Regulations pertaining to personalized cancer sequencing are primarily governed by the accreditation of the laboratories performing the sequencing services and analysis, and also the usage of FDA approved tests for conducting these tests. Drivers to the cancer genome sequencing encompass comprehensive view of whole genome, ability to majority of mutations, and eliminating the need for having any prior knowledge about the patient history and current disease status. Such potential growth attributors are likely to boost the demand for gene sequencing-based personalized cancer treatment in the near future. High procedural cost and time consuming interpretation of large datasets are among the key restraints to the market. An alternative to the whole genome sequencing is the targeted gene sequencing method that is comparative less costly, with easy results interpretation and high sensitivity for rare clones.Geographically, the market is studied for four regions; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. North America market includes the United States and Canada which form the major revenue contributors owing to increasing inclination towards gene therapy-based cancer treatment. The region is followed by Europe which has also initiated several genome-based studies in cancer. An analysis conducted by Genomics England Ltd. in 2014, revealed that the U.K. is set to become the world leader in ground breaking genetic research into cancer and rare diseases post a grant of USD 473.3 million by Prime Minister of U.K. Asia Pacific and Rest of the World are still in nascent stage owing to the need for high initial investment on laboratory set-up and conducting research activity. However the APAC market is expected to grow in the forthcoming years due to availability of skilled and scientific-based manpower, strength in information technology and its growing economy.Request a sample of this report to know what opportunities will emerge in the rapidly evolving Cancer Genome Sequencing Market by 2023:Some of the major companies operating in cancer genome sequencing market include Illumina, Inc., Beckman Coulter Genomics, SeqWright, BGI Americas Corporation, Pacific Biosciences, Ambry Genetics, and Foundation Medicine.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:
At A CAGR Of 16.95% Global Advanced Authentication Market To Grow During The Period 2016-2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Advanced Authentication Market 2016-2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Data security is a major concern for enterprises, government organizations, and individuals. Identity badges, numeric keypads, and PINs were the most popular devices used to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data and assets. However, hacking these security codes was easy. Advanced authentication solutions, which were introduced in 2012, use a number of authentication techniques such as hardware OTP authentication, smart card-based authentication, phone-based authentication, and biometrics. Advanced authentication solutions are security systems that require two or more types of authentication to verify a transaction, which act as a security layer and make it difficult for an unauthorized person to access a database or computing device. Increased usage of mobile devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets for banking and e-commerce has increased the need for advanced authentication solutions.Technavios analysts forecast the Global Advanced Authentication Market to grow at a CAGR of 16.95% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the Global Advanced Authentication Market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of multi-factor authentication solutions (two-factor authentication solutions and three-factor authentication solutions) and biometrics technologies. The revenue includes hardware tokens, biometrics scanners and cameras, software solutions, and services. The revenue generated from after-sales services is not considered.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Technavio's report, Global Advanced Authentication 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 vendorsCA TechnologiesCrossmatchEMCEntrust DatacardGemaltoOther prominent vendorsAuthenexBIO-KeyDeepnet SecurityDellDuo SecurityEarly WarningEquifaxFEITIAN TechnologiesFortinetHID GlobalMicrosoftSecureAuthSecurEnvoySecuTech SolutionsSMS PasscodeSwivel SecureSymantecTechnology NexusTeleSignTricerionVASCOVMwareYubicoMarket driverImplementation of BYOD policyFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeInferior telecom infrastructure in developing countriesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendEmergence of mobile biometricsFor 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 @
Frequency Converters Market: Global Industry Trend Analysis 2012 to 2017 and Forecast 2017 - 2025

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Frequency Converters Market: IntroductionFrequency converters, also known as frequency changers, are electronic or electromechanical gadgets that convert AC (alternating current) of one frequency to AC of another frequency. Frequency converters are power transformation gadgets. Conventionally, these gadgets were electromechanical machines and were known as motor generator sets. As a rule, these devices comprise of a rectifier (to produce direct current), which is then modified to deliver AC of required frequency. A battery may be added to the DC hardware to enhance the converters ride-through of brief blackouts in information control. There are three basic components of any frequency converter, namely rectifier, inverter, and DC-link.A sample of this report is available upon request @In order to convert stable power frequency to variable frequency, frequency converters work on a basic principle, which can be defined in two steps. In the first one, an AC power source is rectified into DC voltage, and in the second step, this DC voltage is chopped into AC voltage in order to convert it into the required frequency.Frequency converters offer several advantages, such as low maintenance costs, controlled ramp-up speed, limited torque, easy start, etc. Several benefits enable their adoption in several applications, such as temperature control of any process, pressure and flow control, capability of being good sensors, etc.Another application is in the aviation and aircraft businesses. Regularly planes utilize 400 Hz control so a 50 Hz or 60 Hz to 400 Hz frequency converters are required for use in the ground control unit used to control the plane while it is on the ground. Carriers may likewise use the converters to give in-air divider current to travelers for use with tablets and so forth. In renewable vitality frameworks, frequency converters are a basic segment of double bolstered acceptance generators as utilized as a part of present day multi-megawatt class wind turbines.Frequency converters are ordinarily used to control the speed of engines, fundamentally pumps and fans. The most requesting application ranges are found on modern preparing lines, where the control precision necessities can be high. This is especially valid in the atomic power and weapons industry, where these gadgets control the operation of refinement axes.Frequency Converters Market: DynamicsThe frequency converters market is driven by many factors, such as increasing demand from end user side, research and testing activities, uses in the defense mechanism, etc. Along with aforementioned factors, the demand for electric machinery, and the need for effective and efficient equipment are associated with the growth of the market.Increase in usage of technologically advanced equipment and utilization of high-speed rails can be considered as trends in the frequency converters market.Frequency Converters Market: SegmentationSegmentation of the frequency converters market on the basis of type: Rotary frequency converters, Static frequency converters. Segmentation of the frequency converters market on the basis of end-user: Power & energy, Oil & gas, Marine/offshore market, Aerospace & defense, Traction.Frequency Converters Market: Regional OutlookEurope holds a major share of the frequency converters market, followed by North America and Asia-Pacific. Rising demand from some sectors, such as aerospace, defense, oil, gas, etc. has contributed to growth of the frequency converters market. Also, growth in infrastructure, industrialization, and modernization in some regions, such as Western Europe and Eastern Europe is expected to enhance the market for frequency converters in the forecasted period. Additionally, some countries such as the U.K. and Germany are forecasted to exhibit comparatively high growth in this market.The market share of some developing countries, such as India and South Africa is expected to grow owing to increasing awareness to reduce air and noise pollution.3Developing economies from Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa show productive market opportunities for frequency converter manufacturers.Frequency Converters Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants in the frequency converters market identified across the value chain are Nova Electric, ABB Ltd, Danfoss Engineering Tomorrow, Siemens Ltd, Sinepower, Aelco, Aplab Limited, Avionic Instruments LLC Corporation, General Electric, Georator Corporation, KGS Electronics, Magnus Power Private Limited, NR Electric Co Ltd, Langley Holdings Plc, and Power Systems & Controls Inc.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @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.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:
Cardiovascular Disease Drug Market Key Trends, Industry Opportunities And Projections for Upcoming Years

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in the U.S. and rest of the world. These diseases are primarily related with heart and blood vessels disorders, such asischemic heart disease, dyslipidemia, stroke, thrombosis, atherosclerosis, coronary artery diseases, peripheral artery disease and others. These disorders are mainly reported due to obesity, high cholesterol, smoking, excessi alcohol, and poor lifestyle. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CVD is responsible for approximately 15 million deaths each year across the globe. The same source also states that it is a major cause of death in adults and accounts for 50% of total deaths worldwide.This Report Gives Readers a Comprehensive Overview of Cardiovascular Disease Drug Market:Cardiovascular diseases can be prevented or treated using various medications. The drugs used for treatment either enhance the pumping capacity of the heart or increase oxygen supply to the heart. Major drugs prescribed for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases includes heparin, Coumadin (warfarin), Sectral (acebutolol), Zebeta (bisoprolol), Lopressor, Toprol XL (metoprolol), Norvasc, Lotrel (amlodipine), Vascor (bepridil) andSular (nisoldipine). The market for cardiovascular drugs can becategorized drug class on the basis of mechanism of action: beta blockers, beta agonists, alpha blockers, alpha agonists, sodium channel blockers, calcium channel blockers, vasodilators, renin inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, diuretics, and thrombolytics. Furthermore, the CVD market can also be subdivided based on various indications such as stroke, hypertension, dyslipidemia and others. In terms of geography, the market can be analyzed by major geographies: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of the World.Presently, antihypertensive drug class holds the largest share of the global CVD market in terms of revenue. The dominance of this drug classis primarily witnessed due to presence of multibillion drugs such as Diovan and Benicar brands. On the contrary, thrombolytic drugs currently accounts for a small market share but is expected to grow at the fastest rate in future. Geographically, North America accounted for the highest market share in 2013 due to high awareness about the heart diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year about 610,000 people in America die of heart diseases. Likewise, annually 735,000 Americans are victims of heart attacks. Thus, increasing incidence of heart attacks in North America would surge the demand for cardiovascular drugs. However, Asia-Pacific region is expected to showcase the fastest growth rate in the future due to rise in aging population, increasing awareness and other factors.Cardiovascular disease drug market is expected to demonstrate healthy growth rate due to the increasing incidence of population suffering from cardiovascular disease and rising number of obese and diabetes patients. Poor life style, geriatric population and presence of high number of innovative drugs under the clinical studies are other key factors expected to fuel the market growth. Development of drugs for a broad range of applications is a major challenge faced by the manufacturers operating in this industry. Thus, for addressing the unmet needs, researchers are focusing on development of cell-based therapies. For instance, Darapladib (GlaxoSmithKline Inc., UK), is a lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 inhibitor, Dabigatran (Pradaxa; Boehringer Ingelheim, USA) is direct thrombin inhibitor. In addition, apart from ingestion of drugs through conventional mode (oral and parenteral),various advanced devices are also being introduced in the market that facilitate drug delivery by mode of drug eluting stents, balloons, and drug eluting vascular grafts. Hence, based on abovementioned factors, cardiovascular drugs market is anticipated to witness significant growth in the future.Request a sample of this report to know what opportunities will emerge in the rapidly evolving Cardiovascular Disease Drug Market by 2023:Some of the key players operating in the cardiovascular disease drug market are AstraZeneca plc, Pfizer, Inc., Sanofi S.A., Merck & Co., Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited, Novartis AG, Bayer AG, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Astellas Pharma Inc., Johnson & Johnson, United Therapeutics Corporation, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Roche Holding AG.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:
Incubators Market: Global Outlook and Competitive Dynamics 2023

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Incubators are devices that facilitate the growth of an organism by providing them an optimum temperature and environment. Mechanical incubators were invented around 1700s in France, whereas the first commercial incubator was designed by Hearson in 1881. Medically, incubators are used to provide a suitable environment for the growth of infants, hypothermic patients, and new born animals. In microbiology, culture incubators are used to facilitate the growth of microorganisms or eukaryotic (animal and plant) cell cultures. In hatching centers, incubators are used to facilitate the hatching process of chicken and other poultry used either for research or for human consumption. Incubators therefore form a critical part of hospitals, research labs, vaccination production centers, pharmaceutical companies and diagnostic labs.This Report Gives Readers a Comprehensive Overview of Incubators Market:Neonatal incubators consist of a variety of equipment that assist in the growth and survival of the newborn by providing them nutrition and suitable environment. Some equipment include: oxygen supplementation, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mechanism, mechanical ventilation, air humidifier, intravenous provisions, pulse oximeter, cardio-respiratory monitor, neonatal defibrillator and neonatal ventilator. For microbiological use the first and simplest incubators were just insulated boxes with attached thermometers to denote the temperature within the chamber. Modern culture incubators have inbuilt thermostats, gas concentration monitors, along with pH monitors and humidifiers. CO2 incubators are other variants of culture incubators that provide an optimum concentration of CO2 gas for proper growth of animal/plant cell cultures. On the other hand compressor cooled incubators are designed to provide a lower than room temperature for certain microorganisms that require such specifically cooler temperatures. Peltier cooling incubators are variants of cooling incubators used to incubate insects, they apply the Peltier technology to provide a cooler environment within a hotter outer environment with minimal disturbance from the vibration and noise of compressors. Culture incubators are also designed for easy sterilization, periodic fumigation and can occupy around 20 liters to more than 800 liters capacity of cultures. Hatcheries perform large scale incubation by either multiple individual incubator machines or large incubator rooms. In such institutions the function of incubator is limited to provide a constant source of heat and temperature maintenance. Animal incubators are generally used for mammals and adult animals during various veterinary procedures; they are similar to neonatal incubators in their function and equipment design.At present the market for incubators is largest in the North American, European and Asia-Pacific region because these regions together form the most populated yet urbanized region in the world that routinely require medical incubators for varied purposes. In general the largest market for all variants of incubator (neonatal, hatching and microbiological) together is present in the Asia Pacific region. The largest market for advanced neonatal incubators remains highest in the North American and West European region. The RoW and Asia Pacific region exhibits the fastest growth in incubator purchases worldwide, with a recent trend shifting towards more advanced versions. Another factor would be the presence of a majority of the manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region.Request a sample of this report to know what opportunities will emerge in the rapidly evolving Incubators Market by 2023:Some of the neonatal incubator manufacturers include: GE Healthcare (General Electric Company), Phoenix Medical Systems (P) Ltd, Memmert GmbH, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Natus Medical Incorporated.etc to name a few. Microbiological and hatching incubator manufacturers include: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Memmert GmbH, Andreas Hettich GmbH & Co.KG, Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd., and VWR International Ltd, to name a few. Neonatal animal incubators include: DRE Medical, Inc., ThermoCare Ltd, BMT Medical Technology s.r.o., etc to name a few.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.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.
Global Physician Computer Assisted Coding for Professionals Market Shares, Strategies and Forecasts 2017 to 2023

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Physician Computer Assisted Coding for Professionals: Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2017 to 2023" to its huge collection of research reports.Next generation Computer Assisted Coding of medical information is able to leverage natural language software technology to support some automation of the billing process and use of analytics to achieve higher quality patient outcomes. The study has 301 pages and 110 tables and figures.Computer assisted coding of medical information uses natural language solutions to link the physician notes in an electronic patient record to the codes used for billing Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies.Natural language processing is used determine the links to codes. 88% of the coding can occur automatically without human review. Computer assisted coding is used in all parts of the healthcare delivery system. The coding systems work well to implement automated coding process.Physicians think about patient conditions in terms of words. Software is configured to achieve working with physicians who are more comfortable describing a patient treatment in words than codes. The electronic patient record, created using physician dictation, is used to form the base for the coding. Natural language solutions implement computer coding to identify key words and patterns of language. The physician dictation can be done using regular language that the software recognizes and translates into billing codes.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Properly designed natural language processing (NLP) solutions do not require physicians to change the way they work. They can dictate in a free-flowing fashion, consistent with the way they think, and are not limited to structured inputs that may or may not fully capture the unique circumstances of each patient encounter.Matching codes generated from physician notes to standard treatment protocols promises to improve health care delivery. Accompanying that type of physician patient management against best practice promises to revolutionize health care delivery. The ability to further check as to whether the recommendations for follow up made by radiologists and matching the commendations with the actual follow up heralds significant promise of vastly improved health care delivery.Computer assisted coding applications depend on the development of production quality natural language processing (NLP)-based computer assisted coding applications. This requires a process-driven approach to software development and quality assurance.A well-defined software engineering process consists of requirements analysis, preliminary design, detailed design, implementation, unit testing, system testing and deployment. NLP complex technology defines the key features of a computer assisted coding (CAC) application.Automation of process will revolutionize health care delivery. In addition to automating the insurance, billing, and transaction systems, streamlined care delivery is an added benefit. The ability to look at workflow and compare actual care to best practice is fundamental to automated business process.The ability to link diagnostic patient information to treatment regimes and drug prescriptions is central to improving medical care delivery. Once a physician can see what conditions need to be followed, and see that appropriate care has been prescribed 100% of the time, care delivery improves dramatically. Diagnosis of conditions using radiology frequently results in detection of events that need follow-up.Growing acceptance of computer assisted coding for physician offices represents a shift to cloud computing and billing by the procedure coded. Because SaaS based CAC provides an improvement over current coding techniques the value is being recognized. Administrators are realizing the benefits to quality of care. Patients feel better after robotic surgery and the surgeries are more likely to be successful.The worldwide market for Computer Assisted Coding is $898 million in 2016, anticipated to reach $2.5 billion by 2023. The complete report provides a comprehensive analysis of Computer Assisted Coding in different categories, illustrating the diversity of software market segments. A complete procedure analysis is done, looking at numbers of procedures and doing penetration analysis.Major health plans report a smooth transition to ICD-10. This is due to rigorous testing for six years. ICD-10 has had a positive impact on reimbursement. ICD-10 coding system requires use of 72,000 procedure codes and 68,000 CM codes, as opposed to the 4,000 and 14,000 in the ICD-9 system. Managing high volume of codes requires automation. Healthcare providers and payers use complex coding systems, which drives demand for technologically advanced CAC systems.The market for computer-assisted coding grows because it provides management of workflow process value by encouraging increasing efficiency in care delivery for large Professional Physician Practice and Ambulatory Clinical Facility. By making more granular demarcation of diagnoses and care provided for each diagnosis, greater visibility into the care delivery system is provided. Greater visibility brings more ability to adapt the system to successful treatments.Companies ProfiledMarket Leaders- 3M- Optum- DolbeySelected Market Participants- Artificial Medical Intelligence- Cerner- Craneware- EPICGroup One / CodeCorrect- M*Modal- nThrive / Precyse- Nuance- Quest Diagnostics- TruCode- UnitedHealth Group / OptumMake 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 @
Asthma Therapeutics in Asia-Pacific Markets : Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2017-2021

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ALBANY, NY, May 5, 2017 : Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing, which vary in frequency and severity from patient to patient. The exact causes of asthma are currently unknown, and may be the result of a combination of factors, although two major factors thought to be involved are environmental exposure and host factors, particularly genes.Asthma treatment can be classed as either a long-term control medication, aimed at controlling persistent asthma, or a quick-relief medication, for the relief of exacerbations and acute symptoms. Long-term control medication includes Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS), immunomodulators, leukotriene modifiers, cromolyn sodium, nedocromil and methylxanthines. In addition, Long-Acting Beta-Adrenoceptor Agonists (LABAs) can be used in combination with ICSs  but not as monotherapies  for moderate or severe persistent asthma. Currently, only one biologic  Xolair (omalizumab)  is approved as an add-on therapy for the treatment of allergic asthma in the Asia-Pacific region. Nevertheless, significant unmet need remains for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma.Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @ScopeThe current asthma market in the Asia-Pacific region contains novel products, including Xolair, a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody; Seretide/Adoair, an ICS-LABA combination therapy; Relvar/Breo, an ICS-LABA combination therapy, and Spiriva, a LAMA.What are the competitive advantages of the existing novel drugs?With over 274 active pipeline molecules, most of the late-stage investigational drug candidates are being evaluated, with improved dosing regimens and administration routes in comparison to currently marketed products.Which classes of novel drugs are most prominent within the pipeline?Is there strong potential for the pipeline to address unmet needs within the asthma market  specifically for severe eosinophilic asthma?Analysis of clinical trials since 2006 has identified that the failure rates of asthma molecules were highest in Phase III (46%), with the overall attrition rate for asthma in development being 78%.How do failure rates vary by product stage of development, molecule type, and mechanism of action?How do other factors, such as average trial duration and trial size influence the costs and risks associated with product development?Over the 20142021 forecast period, the asthma therapeutics market in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to increase in value at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.2%, from $3.5 billion to over $5.6 billion.Which markets make the most significant contribution to the current market size?What are the epidemiology trends in these markets?Will new market entrants lead to substantial changes in annual therapy costs?How will different treatment usage patterns impact growth in the five assessed Asia-Pacific markets?Rising asthma prevalence and uptake of newer biologics will lead to significant market growth over the forecast period, in spite of affordability concerns.Will affordability threaten the commercial success of existing drugs as well as newer biologics?Which of the assessed countries have affordability concerns?Make an Enquiry of this report @Reasons to buyThis report will enable you to -Understand the clinical context of asthma by considering symptoms, etiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment options.Identify the therapeutic strategies, products, and companies that dominate the current marketed products landscape and recognize gaps and areas of unmet need.Identify key pipeline trends in molecule type, administration route, mechanism of action, and novelty.Consider market opportunities and potential risks by examining trends in asthma clinical trial size, duration, and failure rate by stage of development, molecule type, and mechanism of action.Recognize the late-stage pipeline molecules that have demonstrated strong therapeutic potential in asthma by examining clinical trial data and multi-scenario product forecast projections.Compare treatment usage patterns, annual therapy costs, and market growth projections for China, India, Australia, South Korea and Japan.Discover trends in licensing and co-development deals concerning asthma products and identify the major strategic consolidations that have shaped the commercial landscape.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
Content Delivery Network (CDN) Market to Rise at a CAGR of 29.66% to 2021: Growth Factors & Trends

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Content Delivery Network (CDN) Market Report offered by Market Size Forecasters gives a market overview of the Content Delivery Network (CDN) 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.CDN is a large distributed system of servers deployed in multiple data centers across the Internet. CDN aims to make contents easily available to end-users with a high performance of websites. CDNs serve a large fraction of the Internet content, which includes web objects like text, graphics, URLs, scripts, and downloadable objects such as media files, software, and documents. It is also used for e-commerce, portals, live streaming media, on-demand streaming media, and social networks. For instance, a website can be hosted in the US, but some of the heavy files can be hosted elsewhere so that the main server serving the content is not slowed down. In addition, these files may be hosted on a different country or even continent as well, so the visitors from those regions experience faster site loading times.The Report analysts forecast the global content delivery network market to grow at a CAGR of 29.66% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global content delivery network market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.Request a sample copy of Content Delivery Network (CDN) Market Research Report @The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas, APAC, EMEAThe report, Global Content Delivery Network 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 vndors operating in this market.Key vendors Akamai Technologies, CDNetworks, CloudFlareOther prominent vendors Abacast, Accelia, Alcatel-Lucent, Amazon Web Services, AT&TMarket driver High server availability., For a full, detailed list, view our reportThe listed pricing for this Content Delivery Network (CDN) Market report starts at $ 3500. Request Discount for Content Delivery Network (CDN) Market Research Report @Market challenge High price of CDN solutions., For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Increasing development of content delivery clouds., For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be What are the key market trends What is driving this market What are the challenges to market growth?, Who are the key vendors in this market space?, What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?, What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendorsBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Content Delivery Network (CDN) Market Report @Related Reports: -United States Enterprise Cyber Security Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022Cyber Security is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from major cyber threats, such as cyber terrorism, cyber warfare, and cyber espionage. In their most disruptive form, cyber threats take aim at secret, political, military, or infrastructural assets of a nation, or its people. In a computing context, security includes both Cyber Security and physical security.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:News:
Worldwide Analysis Of Radiology Oncology Surgical Robots Market: Shares, Strategies and Forecasts From 2016 to 2022

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Worldwide Analysis Of Radiology Oncology Surgical Robots Market: Shares, Strategies and Forecasts From 2016 to 2022" to its huge collection of research reports.The 2016 study has 557 pages, 82 tables and figures. Worldwide Radiology Oncology surgical robot markets are poised to achieve significant growth as next generation systems provide a way to improve traditional open surgery and use radiology for cancer surgery. New systems pinpoint the delivery of radiation precisely, eliminating the radiological overdosing that has been such a problem previously, limiting the quantity of radiation that can be delivered.Radiosurgery robots take cancer surgery far beyond what has been available, promising a cure for cancer. Radiology oncology surgical robots use mechanical mobility and continuous image guidance to remove tumors. The Accuray CyberKnife robotic system follows the oncology target throughout treatment, intelligently delivering sub-millimeter precision, sparing healthy tissue. A robotic manipulator and a compact, lightweight linear accelerator, can deliver beams from thousands of non-coplanar, isocentric or non-isocentric angles. Treatments have excellent tumor coverage, steep dose gradients, and tight dose conformality.The radiation oncology market is growing globally due to a number of factors centered around the aging of the population and the benefits accrued from new technology. The number of new cancer cases diagnosed annually is projected to increase from 14.9 million in 2015 to 20 million by 2025. The increase in new cases is due to a steadily aging population. Both developed and developing countries have aging populations.Technology advances improve the precision and applicability of radiotherapy and radiosurgery. Expanding uses of radiotherapy and radiosurgery equipment occur because the units are able to treat a broader range of cases. Advances in hardware and software are creating a market for replacing an aging installed base. New designs are able to deliver higher standards of care.The rise in cancer cases, together with the increase in sophistication of new treatment protocols, have created demand for more automated products. Automation depends on integration of several devices into clinically practical systems. Integrated systems make treatments rapid and cost effective.Technology advances lead to improvements in patient care. The availability of advanced, automated and efficient clinical tools in radiation therapy has brought more precise forms of radiotherapy treatment (IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS, SBRT, brachytherapy and proton therapy). Technology includes the EDGE and Truebeam, and the Accuray TomoTherapy H Series and CyberKnife M6 platforms that enable treatments that reduce treatment times and increase patient throughput .International markets are under-equipped to address the growing cancer incidence. Patients in many foreign countries must frequently endure long waits for radiotherapy.9,000 additional treatment machines will be required by 2020 in developing countries. China, India and Brazil are estimated to require over 3,800, 1,200 and 400 additional machines. Demand in emerging markets, coupled with ever increasing incidences of cancer, represent additional drivers for continued growth.Make an Enquiry of this report @Radiology oncology surgical robot market driving forces relate to an opportunity to achieve change in medical practice regarding the treatment of cancer. Change would lead to utilization of stereotactic body radiosurgery more regularly as an alternative to surgery or other treatments. Radiosurgery is poised to revolutionize the treatment of cancer by eradicating tumors while not harming surrounding healthy tissue.The ability to use high doses of radiation to precisely eliminate a tumor while leaving healthy tissue unharmed is compelling. It means that high doses of radiation can be delivered without killing the person, that doses of radiation delivered can be enough to kill the cancer without killing the person, this represents a change in what has been possible previously.The Varian, Elekta, and Accuray radiology oncology surgical devices offer robust clinical treatment capabilities. Flexibility of the Accuray InCise Multileaf Collimator and robotic delivery permit treatment of tumors previously thought untreatable. With radiosurgery and SBRT cancer can be treated efficiently and effectively. The device offers accuracy.The complete report provides a comprehensive analysis including procedure numbers, units sold, market value, forecasts, as well as a detailed competitive market shares and analysis of major players success, challenges, and strategies in each segment and sub-segment. The reports cover markets for Radiology Oncology robotic surgery medical specialties and sub-specialties.Companies ProfiledMarket LeadersVarianElektaAccurayMarket ParticipantsBest Theratronics, LtdBrainlab AGMitsubishi Heavy IndustriesViewRayTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @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 @
Market Shares & Strategy Of Cardiac and Lung Surgical Robots During The Forecasts Period 2015 to 2021

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Market Shares & Strategy Of Cardiac and Lung Surgical Robots During The Forecasts Period 2015 to 2021" to its huge collection of research reports.The 2015 study has 223 pages, 85 tables and figures. Worldwide Cardiac and Lung surgical robot markets are poised to achieve significant growth as next generation systems provide a way to improve traditional open surgery and decrease the number of ports needed for minimally invasive surgery.The automated process revolution in surgery and communications is being implemented via robots. Robots automation of systems is providing significant improvement in the accuracy of surgery and the repeatability of process.Intuitive Surgical owns the market as the major participant with compelling market share in cardiac and lung surgical robots. This leadership position will need to be defended as other vendor products, now in clinical trials come to market. Advanced technology, an installed base and a well trained core group of surgeons give Intuitive Surgical market advantage.Patients for some types of procedures fare better when the heart or lung surgery is done by surgical robots. The documentation of improvements in care delivery, the ability to ensure better outcomes from surgery promise that cardiac and lung surgical robotics is a strong growth market.Heart disease is still the largest disease worldwide. The issue for cardiac and lung robotic surgery is that so many heart patients exist.Every leading surgeon working to perform heart and lung robotic surgery has worked to be accepted to practice at a hospital that has those robotic devices. The really talented surgeons depend on hospitals having the cardiac robotic equipment. In order to attract physicians and patients, the hospitals have to purchase the surgical equipment.The market penetration of the cardiac and lung surgical robots will go to 100 percent in the US top hospitals within five years. As the surgeons migrate to the places that have the robotic surgical equipment, other hospitals and their potential patient populations notice. If the hospital does not have the surgical robotic equipment, it will not have any surgeons, this is a bad situation for a hospital. The cardiac and lung robotic surgical equipment permits better surgery and the surgeons and patients know this.Make an Enquiry of this report @Cardiac and lung robotic surgery is poised to eclipse open surgery. It is used in the categories of lobectomy, thoracic revascularization, and mitral valve repair surgery. Surgical robots are positioned to become the standard of care for hospitals in the delivery of some heart surgery. The emerging group of several surgical robotic companies will collectively have enough marketing dollars and enough marketing clout to drive replacement of virtually all open cardiac and lung surgery.Larger hospitals that can afford the expenditure are adopting heart and lung robotic surgical devices to improve their outcomes numbers. Hospitals are measured on outcomes, robots for surgery, when used by a trained physician are improving outcomes significantly. Hospital robotic systems have an emphasis on outcomes improvement during surgery. This has resulted in investment in robotics technology that is useful, and achieves positive patient outcomes.Technology is enhancing a wide variety of procedures in many cardiac surgical specialties. Cardiac and thoracic surgeons at leading hospitals use robotic surgical systems increasingly. The aim is to perform more of the one-hundred thousand MIS surgical procedures of various types using robots. The surgeries performed by robot include cardiothoracic and vascular surgery. These surgical applications are cleared by the FDA.Existing open cardiac and lung surgery can be replaced in some part by robotic surgery during the forecast period. Cardiac and lung robotic surgical approaches complement existing open surgery techniques. Soon, all surgery will be undertaken with at least come aspects of robotic surgery replacing or complementing open surgery.Companies ProfiledIntuitive SurgicalMarket ParticipantsChinese Surgical RobotsCorindusFreehandJohnson and Johnson / DePuy SynthesGoogle / Johnson & Johnson / EthiconMedroboticsMedtronicTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @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 @
Eyewear Market to Reach US$ 170 Bn by 2026  PMR Report

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Factors such as strong demographic changes are expected to drive the global eyewear marketIn 2015, the global eyewear market was valued at more than US$ 90 Bn, which is expected to register a CAGR of 5.8% over the forecast period to reach nearly US$ 170 Bn by the end of 2026. The global eyewear market is expected to represent absolute dollar opportunity of nearly US$ 80 Bn between 2016 and 2026. In 2015, total eyewear consumption across the globe accounted for 1,250 Mn units in volume terms, which is expected to increase to 2,147 Mn units by 2026. The global eye wear market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.1% in terms of volume over the forecast period.The global eyewear industry has witnessed major expansion of key players with a diverse product portfolio. The global eyewear market is highly competitive with players focusing on offering unique eyewear designs. Competitors with an objective to gain high market share and increase their geographical presence are focusing on strategic acquisitions and on increasing their marketing and distribution channels.Growing premiumization coupled with affordable luxury is boosting the global eyewear marketModern day changing lifestyles entails individuals to purchase sunglasses, lenses, and frames according to the ongoing fashion trends. Earlier, premium range of eyewear was available only in selected stores and was not easily accessible. In the current market scenario, global eyewear manufacturers are expanding their businesses to developing economies with an aim to accommodate the high demand. Also, the number of consumers who long to experience luxury eyewear is growing. These simultaneous factors increase the penetration of premium range products. Further, companies are launching new products in growing markets with an affordable price tag in the premium range as well, making the global eyewear market highly competitive.A sample of this report is available upon request @Innovation in the eye care industry strengthens the growth of the global eyewear marketThe eye care industry is technologically developing at a faster pace. From evolution of eyeglasses to soft contact lenses, technology is being developed in order to meet the unmet demands of consumers. In this journey of development, the important objective of manufacturers is to search and develop the technology or product that will support consumers throughout their lives. These technological advancements in the eye care industry are driving the global eyewear market.Global Eyewear Market Forecast, By Product TypeIn terms of volume, the spectacles segment is expected to register a moderate CAGR over the forecast periodIn 2015, the spectacles segment was valued at nearly US$ 28 Bn, which is expected to register a CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast period to reach nearly US$ 50 Bn by the end of 2026. The spectacles segment is projected to create absolute $ opportunity of nearly US$ 22 Bn between 2016 and 2026. In 2015, total spectacles consumption stood at 404 Mn units in volume terms, which is expected to increase to 667 Mn units by 2026. This segment is expected to register a CAGR of 4.7% in terms of volume over the forecast period.Global Eyewear Market Attractiveness Analysis, by Product TypePlano sunglasses segment is expected to be the most attractive segment in the global eyewear market over the forecast periodAmong the product type segments, the plano sunglasses segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The plano sunglasses was estimated to account for the highest value share of 46.8% in 2016 and is expected to project significant market share by 2026 end.View Report Table of Contents, Figures, and Tables@Key RegionsIn terms of revenue, Western Europe was estimated to account for the highest revenue share of 32.4% in 2016 followed by North America. Revenue from the eyewear market in Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) is projected to expand at a CAGR of 7.0% over the forecast period. Moreover, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ) is expected to be the most favorable region in terms of incremental opportunity lying ahead for high revenue generation. The mature markets i.e. Western Europe and North America are more structured and likely to create a substantial demand for eyewear during the forecast period. The Latin America and Middle East & Africa eyewear markets are estimated to collectively represent 7.5% of global eyewear market value share.Analyst ViewpointCollaboration between Essilor International and Luxottica Group is likely to have a major impact on the global eyewear marketIn January 2017, Essilor International announced a partnership with Luxottica Group, an Italy based prominent player of eyewear products. The objective of this partnership is to grab the increasing demand for eyewear products in the global market along with creating a strong market position.Global Eyewear Market Report 2016-2026 is available for $4900 (Single User License) @Persistence Market Research OverviewPersistence 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.ContactPersistence Market ResearchU.S. Sales Office:305 Broadway, 7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesUSA - Canada Toll-Free: 800-961-0353Web:Email: sales@persitencemarketreserach.com
Direct Drive Wind Power Converter Sales Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2017

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Direct Drive Wind Power Converter Sales Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2017" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies sales (consumption) of Direct Drive Wind Power Converter in Global market, especially in United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions/countries, with sales, price, revenue and market share for each player in these regions, coveringSiemensGEVestasEnerconGamesaMHI VestasGold WindUnited PowerMingyangENVISIONXEMCShanghai ElectricMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with sales (consumption), revenue, market share and growth rate of Direct Drive Wind Power Converter in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSplit by product Types, with sales, revenue, price and gross margin, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoAir CoolingWater CoolingOthersMake an Enquiry of this report @Split by applications, this report focuses on sales, market share and growth rate of Direct Drive Wind Power Converter in each application, can be divided intoCoastal RegionInland?CityTable of ContentsGlobal Direct Drive Wind Power Converter Sales Market Report 20171 Direct Drive Wind Power Converter Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Direct Drive Wind Power Converter1.2 Classification of Direct Drive Wind Power Converter1.2.1 Air Cooling1.2.2 Water Cooling1.2.3 Others1.3 Application of Direct Drive Wind Power Converter1.3.1 Coastal Region1.3.2 Inland?City1.4 Direct Drive Wind Power Converter 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)2 Global Direct Drive Wind Power Converter Competition by Manufacturers, Type and Application2.1 Global Direct Drive Wind Power Converter Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1.1 Global Direct Drive Wind Power Converter Sales and Market Share of Key Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.1.2 Global Direct Drive Wind Power Converter Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2012-2017)2.2 Global Direct Drive Wind Power Converter (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Direct Drive Wind Power Converter Sales and Market Share by Type (2012-2017)To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @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 Mint & Menthol Market Research Report 2017 - Industry Consumption, Growth, Trends, Sales : Barry Callebaut, Hershey, Lindt & Sprungli, Nestle, Vital Flavours, Sweetlife, Ricola, Kanegrade

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Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Mint & Menthol in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaGlobal Mint & Menthol market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value)and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingArcher Daniels MidlandBarry CallebautHersheyLindt & SprungliNestleOlam InternationalWILD Flavors and Specialty IngredientsWrigley Jr. CompanyKanegrade LimitedGold Cost Ingredients, IncVital FlavoursSweetlifeRicolaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoHard TypeChewing TypeScotland TypeOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Mint & Menthol for each application, includingDrinksDairy ProductsDried Processed FoodsTobaccoConfectionaryIce CreamOthersTo Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of Contents1 Mint & Menthol Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Mint & Menthol1.2 Mint & Menthol Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Mint & Menthol Production and CAGR (%)Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2012-2022)1.2.2 Global Mint & Menthol Production Market Share by Type (Product Category)in 20161.2.3 Hard Type1.2.4 Chewing Type1.2.5 Scotland Type1.3 Global Mint & Menthol Segment by Application1.3.1 Mint & Menthol Consumption (Sales)Comparison by Application (2012-2022)1.3.2 Drinks1.3.3 Dairy Products1.3.4 Dried Processed Foods1.3.5 Tobacco1.3.6 Confectionary1.3.7 Ice Cream1.3.8 Others1.4 Global Mint & Menthol Market by Region (2012-2022)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.QYresearchreports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Global Solar Cables Market Research Report 2017 - Lumberg, Phoenix Contact, Lapp Group, Allied Wire & Cable, Ram Ratna Group, Taiyo Cable, Renesola

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Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Solar Cables in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesEUChinaJapanSouth KoreaTaiwanGlobal Solar Cables market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingLapp GroupAllied Wire & CableGeneral CableEldraHuber+Suhner AgKBE Elektrotechnik GmbhLumbergMulti-ContactPhoenix ContactAmphenol Industrial Products GroupNingbo Pntech New EnergyRam Ratna GroupTBEARenesolaTaiyo CableAtkoreOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoCopper CoreAluminum Alloy CoreOtherOn 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 Solar Cables for each application, includingResidentialCommercialTo Get Free Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of Contents1 Solar Cables Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Solar Cables1.2 Solar Cables Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.3 Copper Core1.2.4 Aluminum Alloy Core1.3 Global Solar Cables Segment by Application1.3.2 Residential1.3.3 Commercial1.4 Global Solar Cables Market by Region (2012-2022)1.4.2 United States Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.3 EU 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 South Korea Status and Prospect (2012-2022)1.4.7 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2012-2022)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.QYresearchreports1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com
Product Life Cycle Management Market to Generate Over USD 835 Million Revenue by 2022

Product Life Cycle Management Market

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Market Synopsis of Product Life Cycle ManagementMarket ForecastThe Global Product Life Cycle Management Market is growing rapidly over 8% of CAGR and is expected to reach at USD ~835 million by the end of forecast period. Cost reduction, high efficiency in the process and ability to provide the overall information and initiate early stage development for the products are the major driving factors of this market.Market Overview:In this rapidly changing environment, companies are expanding their scale of operations by expanding their product portfolio to sustain in the market. Management of ideas for the implementation of new product is very important and can play very crucial role in the overall development of any company. PLC management softwares are designed in such manner which allows the user to make a deep analysis about the life cycle of any product. As the functionality of the products are becoming more complex, their development and support are giving huge pressure on the company and to overcome from this problem, PLC management plays very vital role by giving the option of analyzing the status of the products and providing notification to user if any re-development is required.Request to Get a Sample Copy @Global Product Life Cycle Management Market - Key Players:The prominent players in the product life cycle management market are- Dassault Systemes (France) Autodesk, Inc. (U.S.) PTC (U.S.) Siemens PLM Software (U.S.) Apparel magic (U.S.) Oracle Corporation (U.S.) SAP SE (Germany) Infor, Inc. (U.S.) Aras Corporation (U.S.) Arena Technologies (U.S.) Omnify software (U.S.) Infor Company (U.S.) Accenture PLC (U.S.)Product Life Cycle Management Market SegmentationThe Global Product Life Cycle Management Market has been segmented on the basis of components, deployment, functions, and end user. The components include software and service were software is sub segmented as NC, EDA, AEC and Simulation and Analysis S&A. The services are sub segmented as integration, consulting, maintenance and operation. By deployment the market includes- on-cloud and on-premises whereas the functions include system engineering, product portfolio management, product design, manufacturing process management and others. End users for this market has been identified as automotive and transportation, industrial machinery, electronics and semiconductors, retail energy & utilities, aerospace and defense, pharmaceutical, it& telecom and others.Access Report Details @Market Research Analysis:Market Research Future Analysis shows that with arrival of cloud computing in industrial process the on-cloud deployment segment will grow rapidly. Cloud based PLC solution offers unique features and can be helpful to company as the information stored on cloud has no geographical boundaries and a designated person can access it from any place on the earth. On cloud PLC solution also helps in collaborating, tracking and regulating all changes and brings the data from various processes.By Geography, North America is expected to dominate the market.Presence of global players such as Autodesk, Inc., Parametric Technology Corporation, Arena Technologies and Accenture PLC gives this region a competitive advantage over other countries. Furthermore, Asia-Pacific region has emerged as fastest growing market owing to factors such as high focus on the collaborative product development, rapid expansion of manufacturing sector and steady migration towards intelligent manufacturing. The Europe region is also showing positive growth towards PLC management market due to growth of cloud computing and increasing adoption for efficient manufacturing processes.Make an Enquiry for this Report @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
Pharmacy Management System Market Growth Forecast Shows 10.93% CAGR to 2021

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Market Research Report on Pharmacy Management System Market is a professional and in-depth research report. The Report include basic information like definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain overview, industry policies and plans, product specifications, manufacturing processes, cost structures and so on.Pharmacy management system helps to improve and automate every major pharmacy process. Developed for ease-of-use, the solution features accessibility in just a click, thereby, increasing the speed of transaction processing and profitability. The pharmacy software enables easy processing of new prescriptions and keeps a track on the stock of drugs available at the pharmacy and the physician. Additionally, it manages purchase orders, tracks the inventory requirement efficiently, maintains the entire supply chain, and the drug order maintenance. It upholds the purchase indents, quotation entry, stock audit, and connectivity with retail store.The Report analysts forecast the global pharmacy management systems market to grow at a CAGR of 10.93% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global pharmacy management systems market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of pharmacy management system across the globe.Request a sample copy of Pharmacy Management System Market Research Report @The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas, APAC, EMEAThe report, Global Pharmacy Management 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.Key vendors Allscripts, Epicor Software, Cerner Corporation, McKesson CorporationOther prominent vendors ACG Infotech, Clanwilliam Health, Datascan, Foundation Systems, GlobeMedMarket driver Adherence to compliance of pharmaceutical industry., For a full, detailed list, view our reportThe listed pricing for this Pharmacy Management System Market report starts at $ 3500. Request Discount for Pharmacy Management System Market Research Report @Market challenge Selection of vendors according to specific needs., For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trend Introduction of new features in the pharmacy management system., For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be What are the key market trends What is driving this market What are the challenges to market growth?, Who are the key vendors in this market space?, What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?, What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendorsBrowse full table of contents and data tables For Pharmacy Management System Market Report @Related Reports: -Global and Chinese Touch panel Industry, 2017 Market Research ReportGlobal and Chinese Touch panel Industry, 2012-2022 Market Research Report' is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Touch panel industry with a focus on the Chinese market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Touch panel 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:News:
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia to Host Summer Classes for English Language Learners

Falls Church, VA -- The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia is hosting JuneJuly classes for beginning-level adult English language learners in Alexandria, Annandale, Falls Church, Herndon and Lorton. These classes provide adult learners with the fundamentals of English to improve their communication skills, engage in the community and advance in their careers. In addition to beginning English classes, the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia offers English writing classes and English conversation classes in Falls Church, VA. Book and assessment fees are $50.00 unless otherwise noted. Registration information is below. In-person registration is required, and students may attend any registration for any class location.Registration DatesAlexandria Beginning English ClassesWilliam Ramsay Recreation Center, Monday, May 15, 6:308:30 p.m.Lincolnia Senior Center, Tuesday, May 16, 6:308:30 p.m.Annandale Beginning English ClassesKorean Community Service Center, Monday, May 15, 13 p.m.Falls Church Beginning English ClassesJames Lee Community Center, Tuesday, May 16, 10 a.m.12 p.m. or Tuesday, May 23, 6:308:30 p.m.Woodrow Wilson Library, Wednesday, May 17, 6:308:30 p.m.Herndon Beginning English ClassesHerndon Neigborhood Resource Center, Monday, May 22, 6:308:30 p.m.Lorton Beginning English ClassesLorton Senior Center, Wednesday, May 24, 6:309 p.m.Falls Church Writing Classes ($65.00)James Lee Community Center, Tuesday, May 16, 10 a.m.12 p.m. or Tuesday, May 23, 6:308:30 p.m.Falls Church Conversation Classes (Free)James Lee Community Center, no registration required, daytime classes are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, June 7July 26, 12:051:30 p.m. Evening classes are Mondays, June 12July 24, 6:308:30 p.m.The mission of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia is to teach adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and understanding English in order to empower them to participate more fully and confidently in their communities.###The mission of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia is to teach adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and understanding English in order to empower them to participate more fully and confidently in their communities.Literacy Council of Northern Virginia2855 Annandale RoadFalls Church, VA 22042Christopher Griffithscgriffiths@lcnv.org703-237-0866 x103
THE US SAAS MORTGAGE SOFTWARE MARKET: GROWTH, SHARE, SIZE, TRENDS & FORECASTS TO 2021

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The report titled The US SaaS Mortgage Software Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2017-2021), provides an in-depth analysis of the US SaaS mortgage market opportunity by value. The report also gives an insight of the global SaaS software market and the share of the US in same.The report also includes the analysis of the US total production expenses per loan and non-personnel expenses per loan.Request Free Sample Report@It 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 US Saas Mortgage Software market has also been forecasted for the period 2017-2021, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the subprime lending crisis of 2008-2009, the growth drivers and the current and future trends. The competition in the US SaaS Mortgage Software market is fragmented. However Ellie Mae dominates the market.Further, key players of the US SaaS Mortgage Software Market, Ellie Mae, Black Knight Financial Services, Inc., Accenture and Wipro are also profiled with their financial information and respective business strategies.Company CoverageEllie Mae, Inc.Black Knight Financial Services, Inc.AccentureWiproExecutive SummaryThe collateral that is kept while initiating a loan for the purchase of real estate or property or a house is known as mortgage. The banks or the mortgage lenders loan a large chunk of money that is around 80% of the price of home that the borrower is required to pay back with interest over a set period of time. On failure of repaying the loan, the lender takes the mortgage through a legal process known as foreclosure.The mortgage origination process has slightly changed over the decades. The technology penetration into mortgage institutions is considered of significance increasingly.The loan servicing software therefore helps the banks, wholesale lenders, commercial finance, and specialty lenders to manage all types of instalment loans, notes, contracts, mortgages, and deeds of trust, as well as some clients and contracts. Loan servicing software automates the loan decisions and plays an important role in increasing the speed of service and borrower satisfaction.The loan servicing software are of two types: the in-house or the on-premise server and cloud based server.The cloud-based software is secured on the host companys server. The software and the server are managed at one place. The data and the software both are located on cloud. The data is accessible from anywhere to the mortgage lender.The Saas software in mortgage enables the customers to utilize a seamless workflow across point-of-sale, processing, underwriting, closing and funding, post-closing, shipping, delivery and CRM requirements. Such solutions serve all the players in the loan origination market from borrowers to lenders to investors.Read Full Report with TOC@The US SaaS Mortgage Software market is expected to increase at a significant CAGR during the years 2017-2021. The SaaS mortgage software market is expected to increase due to growth in network effect, increase in employment levels in the US, etc. Yet the market faces some challenges such as, need for data security, risks associated with SaaS offerings, compliance regulations, etc.About Market Research Hub:Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of Market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Details:90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:
Global Smoke Ingredients for Food Market In-Depth Analysis and Forecast for the Period of 2016  2024

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Albany, New York, May 5, 2017: A new forecast report focusing on the future growth prospects of smoke ingredients for food market has been recently added to the vast online archive of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) with a title of Smoke Ingredients for Food Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2024. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the ongoing market trends as well as the future potential of the global smoke ingredients for the food market.Request for Sample Report:This study provides an exhaustive evaluation of the industry. It does so via segregation, in-depth insights, historical data and reliable predictions about the market data for the period of 2016-2024. Standard industrial analytical tools such as Porters five forces analysis and SWOT analysis have been covered in the report for proper understanding of the markets competitive landscape. The report also examines market dynamics like drivers, restraints, risks and opportunities that could have a strong impact on the global market and could influence the market during the forecast period.The global market for smoke ingredients used in the food industry is evaluated on the basis of the form, application and geographical region. Smoke ingredients are commonly available in the form of liquid, powder, oil, concentrates and emulsions. Among these, liquid is the most preferred form among consumers and is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. The major factors for this dominance are the beneficial properties of liquid smoke ingredients, such as high solubility in water and easy handling. In terms of application, the key market segments are dairy, bakery and confectionery, meat and seafood, snacks and sauces. Among these segments, the segment of meat and seafood exhibits the highest demand among the smoke ingredients market. However, the market share of the bakery and confectionery segment is projected to rise rapidly throughout the forecast period. On the basis of geographical region, the market for smoke ingredients for food includes North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa. It is clearly revealed that the European and North American market has reached the stage of maturity. However, there is a rising demand for smoke ingredients in Asia-Pacific.Browse Full Report with TOC:Some of the key players operating in the global market for smoke ingredients used in the food industry are Azelis, Dempsey Corporation, Associated British Foods plc, Besmoke, Kerry Ingredients, FRUTAROM Savory Solutions GmbH, Red Arrow, Redbrook Ingredient Services and WIBERG GmbH.About UsMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.ContactState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY  12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comFollow Us on LinkedIn-Follow Us On Twitter-
Global Virtual Training Market Analyzed at Global Scale with Insights and Opportunities Forecasted for the Period 2017-2022

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The virtual training market is globally gaining immense popularity due to its usage in various sectors comprising education, simulation and others. For further instinct into the market, Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently added an analyzed report titled as Global Virtual Training Market 2017 - Demand, Insights, Analysis, Opportunities, Segmentation and Forecast to 2022 to its report database. This research study provides virtual training market analysis by classification, application, and regions at global scale detailed from 2012 to 2017 and forecasted from 2017 to 2022.Request Free Sample Report:Virtual training is a training methodology that uses a simulated virtual environment in which an instructor is able to explain, show or test certain abilities that can contribute to the learning process. Moreover, it is important to note that virtual training includes simulation in various fields, such as flight simulation that is used for aircraft design, flight training, thorough research into aircraft characteristics and control handling qualities. Shooting simulator is used to improve his or her shooting skills and enjoyment of the sport, Driving simulators are being increasingly used for training drivers all over the world. Also, medical simulator involves simulated knowledge of human patients, casualty assessment in homeland security and military situations, educational documents with detailed simulated animations, as well as emergency response.The report starts with the virtual training definition, specification and further segmented by classification and application. The classification of virtual training market comprises flight simulators, shooting simulator, driving simulator and a medical simulator that provides a realistic imitation of the control and operation of a device, vehicle or another complex system. Further, the report provides the application of virtual training that includes military, pilot training, medical school and others. The industry chain structure is also presented with industry policy analysis and industry news analysis. Manufacturing cost structure and technical data & manufacturing plants analysis for virtual training can also be checked by the readers.Finally, at the global level, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue, supply, import, export, and consumption is valued from 2012-2017 and analyzed for 2017-2022. The regions included are the United States, EU, China, and Japan. Moreover, the major manufacturers of virtual training comprise of the following players: Lockheed Martin Corporation, Boeing, CAE, Saab, AAI Corporation, DCNS, Cassidian, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Rockwell Collins, Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Teledyne Brown Engineering, and Cycleops. The report concludes with the detail of the marketing trends, distributors, industry chain analysis, development trend analysis and new projects SWOT and feasibility analysis for the prescribed forecasted period.Browse Full Report With TOC:About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: press@marketresearchhub.comFollow us on:Twitter: twitter.com/MktResearchHubLinkedIn:Facebook:
Sugar Confectionery Market

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The top five players in the Asia Pacific sugar confectionery market, namely Nestle S.A., Perfetti Van Mella SpA, Mondelez International Inc., Ferrero Group, and The Hershey Co, accounted for a combined share of just over 51% in 2014. Similarly, the leading five companies in the market in Latin America held a share of just over 47% in 2014. These players are Nestle, Mondelez, Mars, Ferrero, and Arcor. These figures by Transparency Market Research indicate that the sugar confectionery market is rather fragmented and a large number of players, both international and local, have been operational in this market.Obtain Report Details @The APAC sugar confectionery market is characterized by the strong presence of numerous local players in India, Japan, South Korea, and China, the lead author of the study observes. Looking to compete against these manufacturers, a number of global companies have ventured into these emerging markets. In May 2013, the Hershey Company launched the Lancaster brand of confectionery products in China. This was the first global brand launch for the company outside the U.S.Considering the recent rise in the demand for premium chocolates and confectioneries, several companies have been introducing newer products and widening their product range in the premium confectioneries market. Acquisitions are another growth strategy that companies have been adopting to increase their competitiveness in various industry segments.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Growing Preference for Healthy Products a Massive Growth OpportunityAlthough the demand for premium and healthy sugar confectioneries remains high across the Asia Pacific and Latin America market, the palate varies with location. Keeping this in mind, players have been focusing more on product innovation to suit local preferences and provide consumers with healthier variants, the TMR analyst notes. For instance, in 2015, Nestle S.A. removed all artificial flavors, colors, and ingredients from its portfolio of sugar confectioneries in all its regional subdivisions. This growing preference for healthy products and the subsequent innovation that drives company activities has fueled the APAC and LATAM market for sugar confectioneries.Other factors driving this market include a largely untapped target audience with increased purchasing power and the growing young population base in both the regions.Medicated confectioneries such as lozenges and hard candies are already available in the market. However, TMR predicts that the limited product range is expected to present numerous opportunities for players in the Asia Pacific and Latin America sugar confectionery market.APAC Surpasses LATAM in Revenue from Sugar ConfectioneryThe Asia Pacific and Latin America sugar confectionery market was valued at US$26.1 bn in 2014 and expanding at a 5.7% CAGR from 2015 to 2023, the opportunity in the market is estimated to rise to US$46.1 bn by 2023. By geography, the sugar confectionery market is led by Asia Pacific, which accounted for more than 66% of the market in 2014 in terms of revenue. Latin America, on the other hand, is projected to expand the fastest pace during the forecast period. Accounting for a share of over 28% in 2014, toffees, caramels, and nougats emerged as the leading revenue generator in the sugar confectioneries market in APAC and LATAM.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:
The Best View in the House: New 32-inch Philips LCD Display brings stunning colours in an elegant, curved design

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 Ultra Wide-Color technology for true-to-life visuals Adaptive Sync for smoother fast-action viewing Elegant 1800R curvature for the homeAmsterdam, 5 May 2017  MMD, the leading technology company and brand license partner for Philips monitors, announces a new 32-inch curved display in its E Line for home users that brings a fantastic colour and curved-viewing experience to the living space. Featuring wide viewing angles and Full HD resolution to complement its Ultra Wide-Color technology, this new display enriches the already impressive Philips monitors curved line-up and further testifies to MMDs commitment to offering a versatile and comprehensive portfolio within the curved display segment.All-round versatility and performanceIn the home, displays are expected to perform a variety of tasks. At 32 inches, the new 328E8QJAB5 is large enough to give viewers a sense of space with whatever activity they are performing. The curvature ensures the screen wraps gently around the users line of vision, which can help concentration by promoting greater focus on the task at hand  all the more important in busy home environments.The latest display is configured to give users great viewing quality for a range of activities  anything from routine tasks like mailing friends or checking timelines on social media, to activities where viewing quality makes a huge difference, such as watching a favourite series on the web, or touching up videos before posting them online. With a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, 16:9 format and advanced vertical alignment (VA) technology, users will enjoy a sharp picture with every activity. The latest Ultra Wide-Color technology enables the 32-inch display to offer an expansive colour gamut of 103% of the NTSC gamut and 126% of sRGB colour space (CIE 1931), which notches up the quality and accuracy of colour reproduction and creates an even more lifelike viewing experience. With the innovative Adaptive Sync technology, the display is fine-tuned for fast action and provides super-smooth viewing with no stuttering, tearing or motion blur.Explaining the displays positioning, Artem Khomenko, Product Manager Philips monitors Europe at MMD, says: The E Line monitors are designed to deliver viewing performance that is the right fit for the home. This new 32-inch curved model is the latest in a stream of innovative curved displays were bringing to market this year. The 328E8QJAB5 has been developed to give users versatile performance for the many activities that are part of todays digital lifestyle. Users of course also enjoy the reassurance of an established brand that can provide convincing economics by combining great quality and service at a highly affordable price point.E for EleganceIn terms of looks, the latest 32-inch curved display certainly lives up to the E for Elegance signature of the lines name. The eye-catching screen curvature is complemented by the curved stand, and the glossy black and gunmetal finish are perfect for the understated chic of the design, making this display a stylish addition to the decor of any living space.Smart modes for even smarter viewingWith a display like this, theres no one-size-fits-all approach to settings. Like other models in the E Line, the 328E8QJAB5 features an impressive choice of smart technologies with which visuals can be fine-tuned to the task at hand. SmartContrast analyses the screen content and automatically adjusts colours and backlight intensity to enhance the viewing experience. When playing games, users will appreciate the SmartImage Game mode, with its choice of settings to optimise dark themes, response times and highlighting. The incorporated Flicker-free technology is developed to minimise potential eye fatigue with a solution that regulates brightness and reduces flicker for more comfortable viewing.The display also takes care of sound: it features two integrated stereo speakers for crisp audio reproduction.The new Philips 328E8QJAB5 E Line display, with an RRP of 279, will be available in May 2017.Technical Specifications:Specification Philips 328E8QJAB5 displayLCD panel type VA LCD technologyBacklighting technology W-LEDPanel size 31.5 inch / 80 cmAspect ratio 16:9Effective viewing area 698.11 (H) x 392.69 (V) at 1800R curvatureOptimum resolution 1920 x 1080 @ 60HzViewing angle 178 (H) / 178 (V), @ C/R > 10Brightness 250 cd/mDisplay colours 16.7 millionColour gamut (typical) NTSC 103% (based on CIE 1976)sRGB 126% (based on CIE 1931)Picture enhancement SmartImage gameConvenience  Built-in Speakers: 2 x 3W Kensington lock Plug & Play Compatibility: DDC/CI, Mac OS X, sRGB, Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7Connectivity  Signal Input: VGA (Analogue), DisplayPort, HDMI (digital, HDCP) Sync Input: Separate Sync, Sync on Green Audio (In/Out): PC audio-in, Headphone outStand  Tilt: -5/10 degreeSustainability  Environmental and energy: RoHS, Lead-free, Mercury Free Recyclable packaging material: 100 %Compliance and standards Regulatory Approvals: CE Mark, FCC Class B, CUEAC, TUV/ISO9241-307, VCCI, RCM, CECP,BSMI, WEEECabinet Colour: Black & GunmetalFinish: GlossyWhats in the box  Monitor with stand Cables: D-Sub cable, HDMI cable, Audio cable, Power cable User DocumentationAbout MMDMMD is a wholly owned company of TPV established in 2009 through a brand license agreement with Philips. MMD exclusively markets and sells Philips branded LCD displays worldwide. By combining the Philips brand promise with TPVs manufacturing expertise in displays, MMD uses a fast and focused approach to bringing innovative products to market. MMD serves the Western European markets from its headquarters in Amsterdam. The Eastern European and CIS markets are served by a local office in Prague. Through its network of local sales teams MMD works with all major IT distributors and resellers. The companys design and development centre is located in Taiwan.Press contact:united communications GmbHElena StrzelczykRotherstr. 1910245 BerlinTel.: +49 30 7890760Philips.Displays@united.deCompany contact Europe:MMDIvilina BonevaPrins Bernhardplein 200 6th floor1097 JB AmsterdamTel.: +31 20 5046945Ivilina.Boneva@tpv-tech.com
Awem Releases Cradle of Empires for Mac

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Awem Games announces the release of its first free-to-play title Cradle of Empires, the most adventurous match-3 puzzle game everMogilev, Belarus  Awem Games, the developer of such titles as Cradle Of Rome 1-2, the Golden Trails series, Letters from Nowhere 1-2, and other casual games and mobile apps, announce the official release of Cradle of Empires for Mac. The application is now distributed for free and available on Mac worldwide.Cradle of Empires is an adventurous match-3 game with elements of city builder that features a rich storyline, thrilling quests, and a lot of appealing characters! It is the successor of the well-known Cradle titles that has an absolutely unique twist on the classic gameplay of the series.Cradle of Empires is an exciting, yet cool, calm and collected family-friendly adventure. The player takes the role of the Chosen One, whose mission is to help the Egyptian Empire rise from the ruins. Fulfilling tasks from the citizens, collecting powerful artifacts and bonuses on match-3 levels and in the city, the player can work out his own gameplay strategy in his battle against the evil and bring the ancient civilization to its former glory.Cradle of Empires Key Features: A unique mix of match-3 puzzle, adventure and city builder never seen before. Build the ancient city: Collect resources by playing match-3 levels, which help to build the city destroyed by evil Different game modes: 6 unique match-3 modes and 4 special modes of play, a variety wont find anywhere else. Mega-sized adventure: Engaging adventurous story with unexpected twists, gripping quests and memorable characters. All-new bonus system including spells, totems, artifacts and more to help players choose their own gameplay tactics. Mesmerizing hand drawn graphics: The artwork isn't a simple, bland cartoon. it's a graphical masterpiece, drawn down to the smallest detail. Never ending story: New quests, collections, levels, buildings and special events in every update.Pricing and AvailabilityCradle of Empires is officially launched worldwide for Mac. It requires Mac OS X 10.10 or later and 64-bit processor. The application is free to play and includes in-app purchases. More information is available atMac App Store:Game Trailer:Game on Mac App Store:Web site:Game page on Facebook:About Awem GamesAwem Games, an independent game development and publishing company founded in 2002 with the sole mission of creating high quality casual games for the whole family. The company has established itself as the premier casual game developer in Eastern Europe. Its superior titles include Cradle of Rome 1-2, Cradle of Egypt, Golden Trails 1-3, Letters from Nowhere 1-2, Letters From Nowhere: A Hidden Object Mystery, The Island: Castaway 1-2, Romance of Rome, Cradle of Persia and Star Defender 1-4, which have delighted families across the world.In 2014, Awem Games published another hit title  Cradle of Empires. Since then, company has focused on free-to-play games for smartphones and tablets. Since its release, Cradle of Empires has consistently been among the Top 50 Grossing Apps in the Apple Apps Store. This is the first port on a stationary devices of the mobile game already loved by millions of players. The company will also consider porting Cradle of Empires to the Windows App Store in the foreseeable future.To learn more, please visitCompany: Awem GamesAddress: Lazarenko str. 29/1, Mogilev, BelarusPress contact:Volha YashchankaE-mail: press@awem.comPhone: +375336688215
Spohrer & Dodd provides scholarships to Florida Coastal Law school students

Steven Browning, Jamesha Mitchell, Zachary Register, Nathan Watters and Keith Maynard

www.sdlitigation.com/

Jacksonville, Fla., May 2, 2017  For the ninth year in a row, Spohrer & Dodd held a closing argument competition at Florida Coastal School of Law with the student winners receiving cash scholarships from the firm. The competition was held in the law schools courtroom and the top eight students from the schools mock trial team competed for the chance to win.Each of the students gave a ten-minute closing argument on a fact pattern provided by the attorneys from Spohrer & Dodd. A panel of judges, comprised of practicing attorneys from law firms throughout Jacksonville, scored the students on their arguments and chose a first, second and third place winner. Spohrer & Dodd attorneys did not participate in the judging process. Taking first place honors was Zachary Register, Nathan Watters was the second-place winner and in third place was Jamesha Mitchell.An effective closing argument can be a major factor in the outcome of a case, said Steven Browning, attorney with Spohrer & Dodd. Each student put a lot of hard work into their argument and were very deserving of the scholarship prize. I look forward to seeing them excel in the courtroom.The Florida Coastal School of Law Mock Trial Team is made up of a group of law students trained in the art of trial-level litigation. Acceptance on the team is based on the students ability and talent. Each of the team members is trained on proper courtroom demeanor, presentation abilities and legal reasoning. The mock team trial members also represent Florida Coastal in mock trial competitions with students from law schools across the nation.About Spohrer & DoddSpohrer & Dodd is an elite law firm comprised of seasoned trial attorneys, expert professionals and specialized staff. Their experience, diligence, and creativity allow them to help clients achieve positive legal outcomes in the most challenging and complex personal injury cases, which are often cases that other personal injury law firms are unwilling to undertake. Their team of board certified trial lawyers, attorneys and staff, the firm's intellectual and financial resources, and their network of specialized experts are dedicated to every case their Jacksonville law firm handles. For more information, visitSpohrer & Dodd701 W. Adams StreetJacksonville, FL 32204Media Contact: Kelly WhiteKelly.white@cfmedia.net
Global Surgical Staplers Market Overview | Forecast & Analysis Outlook -2021

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The Global Surgical Staplers Market Research Report Forecast 2017-2021 is a valuable source of insightful data for business strategists. It provides the Surgical Staplers industry overview with growth analysis and historical & futuristic cost, revenue, demand and supply data (as applicable). The research analysts provide an elaborate description of the value chain and its distributor analysis.This report provides comprehensive analysis of Key market segments and sub-segments Evolving market trends and dynamics Changing supply and demand scenarios Quantifying market opportunities through market sizing and market forecasting Tracking current trends/opportunities/challenges Competitive insights Opportunity mapping in terms of technological breakthroughs.Global Surgical Staplers Market: Regional Segment Analysis North America Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaThe Major players reported in the market include: J&J(Ethicon) Medtronic Purple surgical Grena B.Braun Medizintechnik Frankenman Conmed company 9Reasons to buy This report of Surgical Staplers Market provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics It provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growth It provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their future It provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitors It helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsGet Free Sample Brochure of report @For complete report @About us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated. It curates the list of reports, publishers and studies to ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients.MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand  Supply Gap. We cover more than 15 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Contact us:Mayur S.Sales Manager2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington, Delaware, 19808United Statessales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-261-5343
High Purity Alumina Market to Perceive Substantial Growth 18.56 % CAGR Worldwide from 2016 to 2022.

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The global high purity alumina market by region statistical report published by Market Research future contains a brief overview of global high purity alumina market by region. The market has been segmented on the basis of regions in globe as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa to provide a clear picture of high purity alumina industry in world. The global market for high purity alumina has witnessed continued demand during the last few years and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.56 % from 2016 to 2022.Make an Enquiry @Growing Demand of LED lightings and growing demand of lithium ion batteries are likely to drive the global high purity alumina market.Asia-Pacific accounts for the largest market share of more than half of the global high purity alumina market in 2015. The Asia-Pacific region is segmented into China, Japan, India and Rest of APAC, where the impact of China is very strong in the global APAC as well as global market. China has acquired around more than half of the total market in terms of value and volume and known for the leading producer as well as consumer of high purity alumina. Furthermore, Japan is the second largest market in APAC by acquiring a healthy market share. The emerging economies, presence of established players, increasing demand from automotive as well as electronics industries and for LED lightings are the major growing factors which are driving APAC high purity alumina market.Market Research Future predicts as North America is the second leading region in the global high purity alumina market. In North America, Sasol is named as one of the leading producer of alumina which has the overall production of 1,800 tons per annum. Apart from this, China is one of the major exported for North America with respect to high purity alumina. As per the study, the North America market has been segmented into the US and Canada, where, the US has accounted huge market share as compared to Canadian market.Market Research future through this report aims to provide understanding of the global high purity alumina market on the basis of region, and also assists identification of ongoing trends along with anticipated growth during the forecasted period.Access Report Details @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 color master batch market.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global High Purity Alumina Market, By Region, Forecast to 2022 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 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 Articaine Hydrochloride Market to Observe Strong Development USD 605.4 million with CAGR of 7.2% by 2021

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North America Articaine Hydrochloride Market, is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% and is expected to reach USD 605.4 million by 2021. In North America articaine hydrochloride market, U.S. accounted for the largest market share in 2015.Make an Enquiry @The North America comprises of the U.S. and Canada. Moreover, at present the U.S. is dominating the articaine hydrochloride market in this region as it has deployed the majority of the applications in dentistry. Furthermore, the acceptance of the articaine by dental professionals is one of the factors for the growth of articaine hydrochloride market in this region.The US market for articaine hydrochloride is one of the most developing markets in the globe. The federal government is also helping and encouraging the dental industry personnel and organizations which lead to the growth of the market. US has many dental organizations to help the new business in the dental industry some of them are, The American Dental Association, American Student Dental Association, International Association for Dental Research (IADR), Georgia Dental Association and many more are present in US to provide assistance in the North American market. While Canada generates a favorable amount of revenue from the articaine hydrochloride market. The market for articaine hydrochloride is growing in Canada due to its greater ability to diffuse through dental tissues and it has become very widely used local anesthetic in the Canadian markets.North America articaine hydrochloride market statistical report published by Market Research future contains a brief overview of North America articaine hydrochloride market. By country, the market has been segmented as U.S. and Canada. U.S. commands the largest share and is expected to grow continuously during the forecasted period of 2013-2021. The report analyzed the North America articaine hydrochloride market and presents systematic data of market share on the basis of segments and countries and its growth rate for 2013 to 2017, along with forecast till 2021.Market Research future through this report aims to provide understanding of the North America articaine hydrochloride market on the basis of segments and countries, and also assists identification of ongoing trends along with anticipated growth during the forecasted period.Access Report Details @For this report, extensive primary research was conducted to gain a deeper insight of the market performance. Various industry experts and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) were contacted and interviewed to get an idea of North America articaine hydrochloride market.ContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from North America Articaine Hydrochloride Market from 2013 to 2021 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 Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Market to Expand with Significant 5.1% CAGR Global by 2025

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The Market research future delivers a detailed analysis of 10 years forecast between 2015 and 2025 and it is expected that Commercial Refrigeration Equipment market will register the CAGR of more than 5.1% during the forecast period.Make an Enquiry @Commercial refrigeration equipment refers to those refrigeration equipments & designs which are used for commercial retail, storage for hypermarket, large supermarkets, restaurants, convenience store and others. This equipment includes- display case, ice making machineries, walk-in coolers, beverage machines, parts & other equipment (Reach-in coolers, vending machines, liquid-chillers and cryogenic refrigeration).Global Commercial Refrigeration Equipment market is driven by supermarkets, hypermarkets & other organized food retail chain. Growth of this sector gives boost to the commercial refrigeration equipment market.America has witnessed a prospective growth in the last few years because of the huge retail sector across all the countries and is leader. Followed by Americas, Europe is considered to be the 2nd largest market. Asia-Pacific is one of fastest growing economy where the product has seen a superior opportunity to grow. Increasing urbanization in developing countries such as China and India, there is huge development of organized retail sector in respect to commercial refrigeration equipment market.Also the demand for ready to eat product has increased through with the demand for the product has increased. The demand of commercial refrigeration systems has increased in various places such as hypermarket, supermarket, grocery stores and restaurant chain along with increasing of food consumption in the emerging economies has become the major growth prospects for commercial refrigeration systems market. Apart from this the distribution channel has also become one of the major growing reasons.After this, the report provides comprehensive analysis of industry overview of Commercial Refrigeration Equipment which includes types, applications, regional analysis, supply chain management and key regulations in various regions along with the distributor analysis.Furthermore, the Commercial Refrigeration Equipment market has been segmented into types (display cases, beverage refrigeration, walk in coolers, ice making machineries, parts and others), applications (food manufacturing industries, supermarkets, hypermarket, restaurants, grocery stores and others) and by regions (Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa).The Commercial Refrigeration Equipment market research report provides detail analysis of market in terms of value market. The report also provides the future outlook of the market till 2025. Moreover, the global as well as market share of various players based on types is also analyzed in the report. Lastly, the report provides company profiles of major players in the market along with market drivers, trends, restraints.The Food Safety Testing market research report provides detail analysis of market in terms of value market. The report also gives the future outlook of the market till 2024. Moreover, on whole region as well as market share in different countries. Lastly, the report provides company profiles of major players in the market.Research MethodologyTo calculate Food Safety Testing market size, we have considered top players in the market and to offer accuracy, our research is supported by industry experts who offer insight on industry structure and technology assessment, competitive landscape, penetration, emerging products and trends. Their analysis is based (80 to 85%) on primary&(15 to 20%) on secondary research as well as years of professional expertise in their respective industries. In addition to analyze current and historical trends, our analysts predict where the market is headed over the next five to ten years. It varies by segment for these categories geographically presented in the list of market tables. Top-down and bottom-up are important strategies of processing the information and knowledge ordering, used in a variety of fields including humanistic, software and scientific theories and management and organization. In practice, they can be seen as a style of thinking, teaching, or leadership.Speaking about this particular report we have conducted primary surveys (interviews) with the key level executives (VP, CEOs, Marketing Director, Business Development Manager and many more) of the major players active in the market.Access Report Details @Table of Content1. Introduction2. Research methodology3. Global commercial refrigeration equipment market industry: overview4. Market dynamics5. Global commercial refrigeration equipment market industry: value/supply chain analysis6. Global commercial refrigeration equipment market industry: porter's 5 forces analysis7. Global commercial refrigeration equipment market industry: market value & volume forecast (2016-2027) (us$ million)8. Global commercial refrigeration equipment market industry: by product type9. Global commercial refrigeration equipment market industry: by application type10. Global heavy construction equipment industry: by country11. Company landscape12. Company profileContinueWe are thankful for the support and assistance from Global Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Market Research Report - Forecast to 2025 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 Contact:Akash Anand,Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: akash.anand@marketresearchfuture.com
Power Electronics Industry Trends and Global Major Key Players Research Report to 2027

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https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/power-electronics-market

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Market ScenarioThe major growth driver of Power Electronics Market includes rising demand for high-power electronics, increasing adoption of renewable energy sources such as electric vehicles, and growing ICT and telecommunication sector among others.However, high initial cost and time consuming manufacturing process are the major factors which are hindering the growth of Power Electronics Market.Market SegmentsGlobal Power Electronics Market can be segmented as follows: Segmentation by Components: Diodes, Silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), MOSFET, AC/DC converter, and static switches among others. Segmentation by Application: Commercial, industrial, consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, and healthcare among others.Request a Sample Report @Study Objective of Power Electronics Market To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Power Electronics market. To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth. To Analyze the Power Electronics 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 component, by applications 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 Power Electronics market.Browse Report Details @Key Players:Some of the major players in Global Power Electronics Market include- Fairchild (U.S.) Infineon (Germany) Mitsubishi (Japan) STMicroelectronics (Switzerland) Toshiba (Japan) ABB (Switzerland) Cree (U.S.) Micro semi (U.S.) Renesas Electronics (Japan) Rockwell Automation (U.S.)Industry News: Fairchild has announced on July 2016 about its new development FDMQ8205, the first member of its next generation GreenBridge series. The GreenBridge is used for application that receives power through Power over Ethernet which include security cameras, wireless access points and LED lighting. Infineon technologies has announced on July 2016 about its acquisition of wolfspeed power and RF division of Cree. This acquisition will provide broadest offering for Infineon in producing compound semiconductor which will strengthen Infineon in high growth market such as electro-mobility, renewables and next generation cellular infrastructureRequest Table of Contents for this Report @The reports also cover brief analysis of Geographical Region including:Americas North America US Canada Latin AmericaEurope Western Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Western Europe Eastern EuropeAsia Pacific Asia China India Japan South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific The Middle East and 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
Smart Appliances Market Outlook and Worldwide Forecast to 2027

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Market Synopsis of Smart Appliances MarketMarket ScenarioSmart Appliances market has been growing significantly and with the introduction of IoT and smart devices, this market has seen tremendous opportunities in the upcoming years. Smart appliances are those product which can be operated through a mobile device and is accessible from anyplace. As IoT is growing and companies are discovering new products to change the living style, demand for smart appliances has grown. Technological advancement and high adoption rate of IoT are the major drivers of this market whereas high cost are some restrains for this market.Market Segmentation Segmentation by Technology: Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth, and NFC. Segmentation by Deployment: On cloud and on Premise. Segmentation by Type: Major Domestic Appliances (Washer, Refrigerator, Dryer, Dishwasher, Air conditioner & Freezer) & Small Domestic Appliances (Food Processors, Toasters, Coffee Makers among others)Request a Sample Report @Key playersThe key players in the market of Smart Appliances are- Samsung (South Korea), Panasonic Corp. (Japan), Whirlpool Corp. (U.S.), Haier Co. Ltd. (China), Electrolux AB (Sweden), BSH Hausgerate GmbH (Germany), LG Inc. (South Korea), General Electric Co. (U.S.), Miele & Cie. KG (Germany), Philips N.V. (Netherlands), Groupe SEB (France) among others.Browse Report Details @Industry News In the January 2016, Samsung electronics announced the launch of complete new concept based refrigerator. In the December 2015, Whirlpool announced the new smart products for kitchen which are compatible with nest. In May Electrolux announced the launch of new products for next generation housing.Request Table of Contents for this Report @Study Objective of Smart Appliances Market To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Smart Appliances Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Smart Appliances 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)Regional AnalysisThe main reason behind this is the technologic advantage which countries of North America holds. The consumption ratio of electronic equipments in North America is very high resulting more demand. Asia-Pacific has emerged as fastest growing market.The reports also covers brief analysis of Geographical Region includes:Americas North America US CanadaEurope Western Europe Germany France Italy Spain U.K Rest of Western Europe Eastern EuropeAsia PacificAsia China India Japan South Korea Rest of AsiaPacificThe Middle East& AfricaAt 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
Warehouse Management Systems Market: Higher Cost-effectiveness of Cloud-based Warehouse Management Systems a Plus Point

Warehouse Management Systems Market, Global Warehouse Management Systems Market

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The emergence of digital technology has led to the increased adoption of warehouse management systems (WMS) in a number of applications. A booming e-commerce industry and the subsequent adoption of WMS in this sector is expected to drive the global warehouse management systems market. Another significant factor supporting its growth is the increasing adoption of BYOD in various industries such as retail, 3PL, healthcare, and manufacturing. This has led to an increasing demand for cloud-based WMS solutions, subsequently driving the warehouse management systems market.The market is anticipated to expand at a revenue-based CAGR of 14.1% during the forecast period, rising from a value of US$1.2 bn in 2015 to US$4.1 bn by 2024.On the basis of the component, the market can be bifurcated into software and services. The software segment comprises on-premise and cloud-based warehouse management systems. In 2015, on-premise WMS accounted for the maximum revenue share of the warehouse management software market at around 77%. However, cloud-based warehouse management software is expected to show sustainable growth during the forecast period due to various technological advancements and a higher cost-effectiveness as compared to on-premise warehouse management software.Obtain Report Details @Based on services, the WMS market is segmented into consulting, system integration, and operations and maintenance. In 2015, the operation and maintenance segment held a higher revenue share compared to the rest and is also expected to expand at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.In terms of revenue, Europe was the leading regional market for warehouse management systems, accounting for around 43% of revenue share in 2015. The region is expected to retain its dominance in the WMS market throughout the forecast period. This market is primarily driven by the role of third-party logistics. Third-party logistics companies are increasingly adopting warehouse management systems to enhance various functionalities, improve customer relationship experience, and support a cost-effective management system.The warehouse management systems market in North America is projected to show moderate growth during the forecast period, with the U.S. emerging as one of the most attractive regional segments.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Warehouse Management Systems Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@Asia Pacific also plays a key role in the development of the global warehouse management systems market. The WMS market in Asia Pacific is growing at a rapid pace and is expected to maintain its momentum due to the rising demand for extended WMS solutions supporting in-store inventory, cloud integration, and order management along with standard warehouse management system offerings.The warehouse management systems market in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa is anticipated to witness sustainable growth in the near future. The major factor fuelling these markets is the rising adoption of WMS solutions in retail applications in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Israel, the UAE, and Turkey, where the e-commerce market is expanding substantially.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:
Intelligent Polymers Market: Latest Trends,Analysis & Insights 2024

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A new research report by Transparency Market Research offers a comprehensive evaluation of the global Intelligent Polymers Market. The study, titled Intelligent Polymers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024, is available for sale on the firms website.Intelligent Polymers Market: OverviewIntelligent polymers, also known as smart polymers or stimuli-responsive polymers, are high-performance polymers that are sensitive to the slightest environmental changes. These change according to the temperature, humidity, pH, and electrical, or magnetic field. They are synthesized by combining reactive functional groups to backbone chains during polymerization. Based on the selection of backbone chain and functional group, intelligent polymers possess different properties such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, and optical.Browse Market Research Report @They are flexible, easy to color, strong, easy to mold, and tough. Intelligent polymers are primarily used in the production of hydrogels, biodegradable packaging, and biomedical engineering products. They are also employed in the manufacture of daily-usage products such as nappies, helmets, plastic bags, plastic bottles, and chewing gums.Based on physical features, intelligent polymers can be classified into free linear chain solutions, reversible gels covalently cross linked and polymer chain grafted on a surface. Based on stimuli, these polymers can be classified into physical stimuli (temperature, ultrasounds, light, and mechanical stress), chemical stimuli (pH and ionic strength) and biological stimuli (enzymes and biomolecules).Intelligent Polymers Market: Trends SnapshotIntelligent polymers are used in various industries such as biomedical, tissue engineering, textile engineering, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. These polymers are employed in drug delivery systems, where they can safely transport a pharmaceutical compound into the body, in the biomedical industry. This is done automatically without the use of sensors, transducers, switches, or pumps. When the polymers are exposed to critical temperature they show certain changes in their properties, which is used in tissue culture application. Certain category of new polymers are being developed by companies; these have the ability to return to their original shape from the deformed shape once exposed to external stimuli. These polymers are known as shape-memory polymers and are used in textile engineering. Smart polymers are employed in biotechnology and pharmaceutical formulations, as they get physically mixed or chemically conjugated to biomolecules. These are used for yielding other products.Intelligent Polymers Market: Region-wise InsightNorth America and Europe have been dominating the intelligent polymers market since the last few years. These polymers are used extensively in the biomedical sector, which is expanding significantly in North America and Europe. These regions have been considered among the most technologically advanced across the globe. Companies operating in the intelligent polymers market in North America and Europe focus on product innovation through research and development.Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in the intelligent polymers market in the near future. The emerging economies of developing countries in Asia Pacific region, like India and China are expected to drive the growth of this market. Other regions such as Middle East & Africa and Latin America are expected to provide growth opportunities for intelligent polymers market during the forecast period.Intelligent Polymers Market: Competitive LandscapeIntelligent polymers have the potential to drive the growth of all the industries, as they can adapt to the environmental changes. This increases product performance and extends its lifespan. Various companies are applying the concept of intelligent polymers to their products to improve their performance and quality. Autonomic Materials, Inc. uses intelligent polymers as self-healing agents in products such as elastomers, thermosets, and powder coatings. This allows the use of products for customized solutions and various applications. High Impact Technology, LLC uses intelligent polymers in its resin systems for self-sealing technology. This provides superior corrosion and abrasion protection to prevent leakages.Fill the form for an exclusive sample of this report @Key players operating in the intelligent polymers market include The Dow Chemical Company, Huntsman International LLC, Akzo Nobel N.V., Covestro AG, Autonomic Materials Inc., and High Impact Technology LLC.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.The study is a source of reliable data on:Key market segments and sub-segmentsEvolving market trends and dynamicsChanging supply and demand scenariosQuantifying market opportunities through market sizing and market forecastingTracking current trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive insightsOpportunity mapping in terms of technological breakthroughsThe 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, Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, 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 :
Global Learning Management Systems (LMS) Market: Focus Shifts from Traditional to Technologically-advanced Learning Solutions in Business and Education

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In recent years, the increased efficiency of the Internet has promoted e-teaching and e-learning practices worldwide. This, coupled with advancements in networking technologies has enabled improved communication and integration, thereby resulting in flawless online learning and training sessions. This has had a significant impact on the emergence as well as development of learning management systems (LMS).The global LMS market is projected to witness steady growth over the forecast period. This can be attributed to factors such as the increasing preference for distance learning, developing network infrastructure in developing regions, the adoption of cloud-based LMS by SMEs, and corporate sectors offering online trainings to its employees.The market for learning management systems is projected to amount to US$18.8 bn by 2024, rising from a valuation of US$3.4 bn in 2015. If these values hold true, the market is expected to develop at an impressive CAGR of 19.9% therein.Obtain Report Details @On the basis of deployment, on-premise deployment dominated the market in 2015, especially in the Middle East and Africa and South America. This can be primarily attributed to the adoption of learning management systems by large enterprises. However, analysts predict that hosted deployment is expected to lead the market in the coming years, with the increasing adoption of LMS by small and medium enterprises due to its cost benefits over on-premise deployment.By user group, the education and corporate sectors account for nearly the same share in the global LMS market and are likely to witness high growth during the forecast period. In recent years, corporate sectors have been emphasizing on online corporate trainings and orientation programs for employees. On the other hand, growing educational awareness in developing countries and government initiatives to provide quality education is expected to benefit the education segment of the global LMS market.e increasing demand for greater telecom capacity and faster internet services has resulted in the extensive use of optical fiber connectors in telecom networks.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Learning Management Systems (LMS) Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@Learning management systems are predominantly adopted in education and corporate sectors in North America, because of which, the region accounted for the leading share in the global LMS market in 2015. The U.S. has been the major contributor to the LMS market in North America, considering the established network facilitating e-learning in the country. The presence of a large number of universities offering online courses also contributes to the high adoption of LMS in the U.S. The rise in technological investments in the corporate sector has also supported the rapid adoption of online training and subsequently learning management systems. The proliferation of smart devices such a smartphones, laptops, and tablets has further influenced the LMS market in North America.The Asia Pacific market for LMS is projected to present high scope for growth during the forecast period. Developed countries such as Japan are the leading contributors in terms of the adoption of learning management systems in the region. Ongoing network infrastructure developments in India and Philippines and growing investments in the commercial sector are also anticipated to favor the LMS market in Asia Pacific. Government initiatives to promote digital education is another factor expected to create potential opportunities for LMS vendors in the coming years.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Ad Blue Industry Survey, Trends, Outlook, Overview and 2027 Forecast

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Global Ad Blue Market, by Type (Packaging, Equipment, Can, Tank, Drums, Pistol, Container, Pump), by Application (Railway, Commercial Vehicle), by Method (SCR, EGR, Post combustion) - Global Forecast 2027Growing consumer demand for better fuel efficiency is encouraging automobile buyers to do more investment in diesel engine vehicles. Unlike petrol engines where normal catalyst reduces CO, NOx and Hydrocarbon can be reduced by a SCR catalyst which involves usage of Ad Blue.Ad Blue is a kind of Urea having high quality solution and thus is easy to use and manufactured according to ISO 22241. It is used with Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide from the exhaust of vehicles. It is a colorless clear liquid which has no harmful effect on environment as well as on health. Ad Blue is the composition of more than 30% of Urea and rest 60 % of deionized water. It is available in various forms such as drums, pumps, Cans and other forms.The average usage of Ad Blue is depends on the type of vehicle a consumer is using. The time duration of the journey through vehicle also drives how much quantity of Ad Blue is required by the Vehicle. Some characteristics of Ad Blue include suspensions, corrosiveness, crystallization and Not ADR classified.Get a sample report atIt is widely used for applications such as Commercial vehicle, cars, and passenger vehicles. For instance, if a commercial vehicle is equipped with SCR technology, Ad blue is needed. In SCR technology Ad Blue is injected into the exhaust system which releases ammonia and the SCR catalytic converter reduces harmful nitrous oxides into harmless nitrogen and water. It is also used in heavy vehicles such as trucks, busses and Railways.Global Ad Blue Market by Types: Packaging (Packets, containers, Cans and Drums) Equipment (Filling equipment, Tanks, Pumps, Pistols, and Adaptors) OthersGlobal Ad Blue Market by Usage method: Pre combustion (Inter cooling, Swirl and reduction of oil consumption) Post combustion (SCR, Particulates filters, EGR) OthersGlobal Ad Blue Market by Applications: Commercial vehicles Non-road mobile machines Cars and passenger vehicles Railways OthersEurope:The Europe is dominating the Global Ad Blue market followed by Asia-pacific due to increase in consumption from the on-road heavy, medium and light duty vehicles, passenger cars segments as well as non-road mobile machinery sectors such as agricultural, construction, forestry and mining equipment. Also, improvement required in air quality for the benefit of public health and environment is also driving the usage of Ad Blue in the vehicles in the region.Complete Report Available atAsia-Pacific:Asia-Pacific is the emerging region in Global Ad Blue market due to growing urbanization, increasing awareness about harmful effects of fuel combustion for the environment, and government initiatives to support the growth of automotive sectors. China and Japan are the emerging countries in Asia-Pacific region because China is changing and developing its technical expertise with the help of new and emerging techniques and strict regulations imposed by the Government.Global Ad Blue Market Report: Major PlayerSome of the major players in Global Ad Blue Market include Shell, BASF, Bosch, Daimler AG, Fiat group automobiles, Nissan chemical, Komatsu, Kruse Automotive, Alchem AG, Mitsui Chemical, and Yara among others.Global Ad Blue Market Report: Latest NewsBosch one of the renowned automobile industry introduces intelligent sensor systems to reduce the cost of equipment and to support research projects with the help of robust multi-sensor technology. It is also planning to expand in North America due its growing economy in automotive sectors.The reports also covers brief analysis of Geographical Region includes:Americas -North America -US -CanadaEurope -Western Europe -Germany -France -Italy -Spain -U.K -Rest of Western Europe -Eastern Europe -Poland -RussiaAsia Pacific -Asia -China -India -Japan -Rest of Asia -Pacific Countries -Australia -New Zealand -The Middle East& AfricaThe report on Ad Blue Market comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance.This report will provide the clear picture of current market scenario of Ad Blue Market globally as well as the country level markets. The report also provides the information about various methods which are used to provide solutions for the exhaustive of vehicles and its also deliver details information about its various applications. It will also depict detailed information about companies with their market dynamics involved in Ad Blue market.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 AnandMarket Research FutureMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: Akash.Anand@Marketresearchfuture.ComWeb:
Linear Actuators Market: Electric Actuators to Remain Most Promising Product Variety

Linear Actuators Market, Global Linear Actuators Market, Market Trends

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The North America market for linear actuators is chiefly driven by the rising adoption of automation across a number of industries, an increased focus on wastewater management, and the flourishing aerospace and defense industry. An exponential rise in shale gas exploration activities in the region is also expected to levy a significant positive impact on the markets overall development in the next few years.Transparency Market Research estimates that the market will exhibit a promising 6.9% CAGR over the period between 2016 and 2024. At this rate, the market, which valued at US$2,893.5 mn in 2015, will reach a valuation of US$5,236.6 mn by 2024.Of the key varieties of linear actuators available in the North America market, the report examines hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and mechanical linear actuators. Of these, the segment of electric linear actuators emerged as the most attractive segment, accounting for a 24% of the market in 2015. The rising adoption across industrial automation practices, better flexibility options, and the lower cost of ownership are some of the key factors that helped boost the consumption of electric linear actuators in the North America market. In the near future, the demand for actuators with high power efficiency and low weight will drive the demand for electric actuators.Obtain Report Details @The demand for electric actuators has also considerably increased in the region owing to the several limitations of mechanical actuators. The rate of replacement of mechanical actuators has considerably increased in the past few years, stimulating the uptake of electric actuators in the region. The segment is also expected to remain the most promising product variety in the North America market in the near future, exhibiting a 7.2% CAGR from 2016 through 2024. Electric actuators are expected to account for a nearly 25% of the overall market by 2024. The manual and hybrid varieties of linear actuators are also expected to witness promising growth over the said period.From a geographical perspective, the North America linear actuators market is examined for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Of these, the U.S. accounted for over two-thirds of the markets overall revenue in 2015 and is expected to retain its top spot through 2024 as well. The high rate of adoption of industrial automation, the rising demand for wastewater management, and the boom in the shale gas and food and beverages industries have been boosting the application of linear actuators in the U.S. market. These factors will continue to drive the increased demand for linear actuators in the U.S., keeping the country at the top spot in the North America market.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Linear Actuators Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@However, the market in Mexico will exhibit the most promising growth over the forecast period, registering a more than 8% CAGR. The rapid growth across the construction and manufacturing sectors witnessed over the past few years is expected to remain one of the key factors responsible for the robust development of the linear actuators market in the country in the near future. Furthermore, rising government investment aimed at improving power supply infrastructure, airports, and pipelines is also expected to boost the demand for linear actuators in Mexico over the forecast period.The competitive landscape of the North America linear actuators market is highly fragmented, with none of the top five players accounting for a share of over 5% in the overall market in 2015.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 alternators market is expected to be worth US$28.9 bn by 2024

Alternators Market, Alternators Market Share, Alternators Market Trends

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Alternators have become an integral part of several industries due to their ability to convert mechanical energy or direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). They consist of multiple poles and come with varying rotation speeds, both of which determine its output frequency. Alternators are being extensively used in several industrial verticals, such as automotive, power generation, and mining, apart from having commercial and residential applications. Analysts anticipate that the opportunity in the global alternators market is expected to be worth US$28.9 bn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$20.3 bn in 2015. Between the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global alternators market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 4.0%.The rise of the automotive sector the majority of the emerging economies is the primary growth driver for the alternators market. Emerging economies such as China, India, South Africa, Mexico, Taiwan, and Indonesia are undergoing a massive transformation and are on the cusp of being major manufacturers of automobiles for the next few years. Citing this trend, the uptake of alternators is likely to remain high in these countries. The demand for alternators across the globe is also likely to be complemented by the 3% rise in the sales of automobiles across the globe as compared to 2014.Obtain Report Details @The market is also expected to benefit from the soaring demand for power in recent years. Rising investments in the construction industry and the industrial infrastructure sectors, especially in the upcoming economies, has generated lucrative opportunities for alternators. The burgeoning utility sector and the relentless rise in the overall population have also played a crucial part in the direct and indirect rise in demand for alternators. The strict regulatory framework designed to protect the environment has also created a demand for unconventional sources of power generation such as tapping tidal energy and using windmills. Alternators are also being used for these purposes.Application of alternators is seen in industries such as the oil and gas, marine, power plant, stand-by power, mining among others. The report states that the stand-by power industry was the leading segment in 2015. This segment is expected to show its unwavering dominance in the coming years due to increasing demand for stand-by power equipment that requires alternators, in commercial & residential buildings, telecommunication towers, and other industries.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Alternators Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@In terms of geography, the global alternators market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), South America and Middle-East & Africa (MEA). Though North America held a dominant position in the market in 2015, Asia Pacific is expected to dominate in the coming years. The shift in regional dominance will be due to remarkable growth of the automotive industry in countries such as South Korea and India among others emerging economies of the region. Furthermore, the emergence of several industrial sectors in these countries is also expected to create a demand for alternators in the coming years. The foreseeable economic development and growth of sectors such as telecommunication and railways industry will prove to be instrumental to the dominance of Asia Pacific in the coming years.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Collaborative Robot Market is expected to be worth US$95.0 bn by 2024

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Collaborative robots are tools designed and developed for automating tasks and making work simpler for humans. The continuous development in the automation industry is expected to boost the growth of the global collaborative robot market in the coming years. The safety of these robots has increased their demand in various end-user industries are they can perfectly work in tandem with the human workforce. The report states that the global collaborative robot market is expected to be worth US$95.0 bn by the end of 2024 as compared to US$10.3 bn in 2015. Between the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 30.0%.The global collaborative robot market is expected to be fueled by the wide range of collaborative robots that have allowed automation companies the chance to pick the perfect product. Furthermore, the ability of these machines to work with other workforces without interference and without any stringent needs for safety are also augmenting the demand for collaborative robots. The movements of these robots can be easily programmed through logical processes that include intuitive tools.Obtain Report Details @The report states the growing need for automation in sectors such as packaging, automotive, food and beverages among others will definitely contribute to the soaring revenue of the global market. Currently, these robots are predominantly being used for material handling, packaging, machine tending, and assembly tasks. A unique feature of collaborative robots is their force-limited joints, which have been designed with utmost deliberation to identify forces due to impact and react quickly. The low weight of collaborative robots has played an important role in the growth of the global market.On the basis of application, the global collaborative robots market is segmented into packaging, material handling, quality testing, assembling, machine tending, welding, and others. Material handling segment accounted for the highest market share in the global collaborative robot market. These robots play an important role in storing of materials in distribution centers and warehouses. Depending on payloads the collaborative robot market is bifurcated into up to 5 kg, 6-10 kg, and above 10 kg. The various capacities of collaborative robots also have different sensors. These have rounded edges for safety purposes and to reduce the risk of impact.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Collaborative Robot Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@On the basis of geography, the global collaborative robot market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. As of 2015, Europe dominated the global market in 2015 in terms of revenue. The steady focus on automation has kept the demand for collaborative robots in the region at an all-time high. As of 2015, Europe collaborative robot market held a share of 36.4% in the overall market. Analysts predict that North America will follow the lead in terms of revenue as the regions economy climbs back to normalcy after the slump. Asia Pacific is also expected to offer several lucrative opportunities to the global market in the coming years as the manufacturing activities gain momentum.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:
System-on-Chip (SoC) Market is expected to reach USD 71.98 Billion in 2021

System on Chip Market, SoC Market, Global System on Chip Industry

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Global market for System-on-Chip (SoC) has been covered under the scope of this report. Functionally, a source is similar to a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer. The differentiating points of a SoC from a CPU are that all the features of the source are embedded on a single chip and is also much smaller in size. Additionally a SoC also may contain a graphic processing unit (GPU), memory and power management circuits among others. The smaller form factor combined with computing power of SoCs has led to its integration into various devices such as mobile phones, smart washing machines, tablets, smart air-conditioners, smart television and set-top boxes among others. Upgraded SoCs are being designed to smaller size, but has doubled the computing speed than its predecessors. Also, the newer SoCs are more energy efficient and generates much less heat when compared to their predecessors.The global source market is primarily driven by an increase in the demand for smarter and power efficient electronic devices across all sectors. Recent years have seen a huge increase in demand for connecting devices such as smart phones and tablets among others. Also, the advent of smart gadgets, such as smart television and smart air conditioners among others, has also been highly influential in the growth of the demand for SoCs.The global increase in internet users has been significantly boosting the demand for connected devices which are again mostly powered by SoCs having internet centric applications. Thus, it also boosted the global market for SoCs. The dimensional scaling of integrated circuits (IC), leading to declining cost per function and increased manifestation of Moores law have also been playing a significant role in positively driving this market. Development of newer generations of SoCs having multi-core technologies and embedded graphics systems has been another factor which also played a huge role in the growth of this market. With the rising demand of compact and scalable ICs in global electronic industry, the SoC market can be expected to be impacted positively.Obtain Report Details @The global source market has been segmented into four regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (RoW). Asia-Pacific held the largest market share in 2014. Increased demand for smarter consumer electronics coupled with high growth in the number of internet users and higher acceptance of connected devices are the main driving factors in this part of the world. North America was the second largest market, followed by Europe.The SoC market in North America was mainly driven by factors such as an increase in demand for smart devices, higher application of SoCs in automobiles and advancement in electronic devices targeted at sectors such as telecommunication, military and healthcare among others. The growth in Europe can also be attributed to factors similar to North America.The global SoC market, in terms of types, can be divided into four segments such as digital, analog, mixed signal and others. The demand for smarter devices with advanced functionalities has led the mixed signal SoCs segment to have the largest market share. On the basis of applications, the market can be segmented into four segments. They are telecommunication, consumer electronics, automotive and others. The high growth in demand for smart devices has led to consumer electronics being the largest segment of market revenue.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the System-on-Chip (SoC) Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@Some of the leading players profiled in the report are Apple, Inc. (US), Broadcom Corporation (US), Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (US), Infineon Technologies AG. (Germany), Intel Corporation (US), Qualcomm, Inc. (U.S.), Samsung (South Korea.), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Taiwan), STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland), Toshiba Corporation (Japan) and MediaTek Inc. (Taiwan) among others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. 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:
Power Tools Market: Rising Construction Activities Worldwide to Boost Demand for Power Tools

Global Power Tools Market, Power Tools Market Research, Power Tools Market Forecas

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Power tools consume less time and workforce due to which their use has considerably increased across manufacturing industries globally. The demand for power tools has been primarily robust in emerging economies such as China, Brazil, and India. The rapid industrialization has further bolstered opportunities for power tools sales across these developing nations. Supported by the emerging concept of do-it-yourself (DIY) techniques, demand for power tools is expected to rise at a CAGR of 5.3%. As per Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global power tools market, which stood at US$26.1 bn in 2014, is expected to reach US$38.03 bn by the end of 2021.Since the use of power tools is considerably high in the construction industry, investment in infrastructural development will subsequently bolster their sales. Despite their rising application across diverse industries, the high maintenance cost of power tools will threaten the markets growth to an extent.Obtain Report Details @Regionally, producers of power tools have been witnessing rising demand in Asia Pacific and North America. Since the market in North America has already reached maturity, it demonstrates not many prospects for growth. The Asia Pacific market for power tools on the contrary is bustling with opportunities. As per TMR, the region held a dominant share of 34% in the global power tools market in 2014. The infrastructural development currently underway in India and China has been crucial in fuelling demand from the Asia Pacific power tools market.TMR estimates the power tools market in Asia Pacific to reach US$13.4 bn by 2021 from a valuation of US$8.8 bn in 2014. If these figures hold true, the Asia Pacific power tools market will exhibit a CAGR of 5.9% from 2015 to 2021. Based on technology, the demand for electric power tools is expected to surge at the highest pace during the forecast period.Growth witnessed by the market in North America is expected to stagnate in the forthcoming years. Nevertheless, due to the changing lifestyle preference, the demand for electric power tools is projected to rise at a steady pace. The U.S. and Canada will emerge as the primary contributors to the power tools market in North America. The rise in construction applications will, however, secure demand for power tools in the region through the forecast period.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Power Tools Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@In terms of application, automobile, aerospace, construction, and electronics constitute the key segments in the power tools market. Of these, the construction industry emerged dominant in the market with a share of over 72% in 2014. The robust infrastructural development witnessed across emerging nations and the likelihood of the infrastructural investment to further increase in these nations have strengthened the markets overall growth prospects.Besides this, TMR expects the application of power tools to considerably increase in the automotive industry. Changing lifestyles and the rising disposable incomes across emerging nations have been fuelling demand for automobiles. This in turn creates opportunities for the increased application of power tools in the automotive sector.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:
Mobile Advertising Market: Key Trends, Industry Opportunities And Projections for Upcoming Years 2024

Mobile advertising market, Global Mobile advertising market , Mobile advertising market Industry

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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. 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.Obtain Report Details @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. 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.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Mobile Advertising Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@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.The growth of the mobile advertising market is mainly contributed by major players such as Amobee, Inc. (Singtel Limited), Apple, Inc. (iAd), Chartboost, Euclid Analytics, Facebook, Inc., Flurry (Yahoo, Inc.), Google, Inc. (Admob Ads), Inmobi, Microsoft Corporation, Millenial Media, Mopub Inc., and Tune Inc. (HasOffers).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 Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market: Gas Analyzers to Remain Most Valued Product

Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market, Global Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market

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The rising levels of air pollution have emerged as a matter of serious concern across the world. Coupled with the increasing enforcement of stringent government regulations, this factor is reflecting positively on the demand for air quality monitoring equipment, globally.According to Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global market for air quality monitoring equipment stood at US$4.2 bn in 2015. Expanding at a CAGR of 9.10% between 2016 and 2024, the market is likely to cross US$8.9 bn mark by the end of 2024.Air pollution sampler, particle counter, gas analyzers and detectors, anemometers, and electrostatic precipitators (ESP) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) control systems are the main products available in the global market for air quality monitoring equipment.Obtain Report Details @Gas analyzers have been the most valued products in this market are likely to remain so over the period of forecast. However, the NOX and ESP control systems are projected to offer the most lucrative growth opportunities to manufacturers due to their widespread application in a number of industries.Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World, including South America, the Middle East, and Africa, are the predominant geographical segments in the global market for air quality monitoring equipment. With the implementation of a number of government regulations to control air pollution, North America has acquired the leading position in the overall market. The ongoing expansion in the power generation sector is also adding significantly to the growth of the market for air quality monitoring equipment in North America.Analysts expect this regional market to continue to lead during the forecast period, thanks to the technological advancements in North America. The growing prevalence of respiratory disorders is also projected to influence the demand for air quality monitoring equipment in this region over the next few years.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@In terms of revenue, the North America air quality monitoring equipment market is closely followed by the European market. The rising count of strict regulations to maintain air quality standard in the U.K. and Germany has been driving this market substantially. Moreover, the rise in the chemicals and the power generation sectors is likely to fuel the demand for air quality monitoring equipment to a great extent in the coming years.Similarly, Asia Pacific and the Rest of the World is also expected to witness a rising adoption of these systems in the near future. China, Japan, and India are likely to be the leading domestic markets in Asia Pacific. The expansion of the chemicals and the oil and gas sectors in these countries is projected to emerge as the key driving force behind the growth of the Asia Pacific market for air quality monitoring equipment in the years to come. The markets in the Rest of the World is likely to be impacted by the swift rise in the oil and gas and the power generation sectors over the next few years.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Spatial Light Modulator Market: Key Players Focus on Evolving market Trends and Dynamics 2025

Spatial Light Modulator Market,Spatial Light Modulator Market share,Spatial Light Modulator Market Size

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A SLM (Spatial Light Modulator) is a reflective or transmissive device that is primarily used for spatially modulating the phase, polarization or amplitude of a light wave in two dimensions. The mechanism of modulation refers to an intermediate step between addressing a spatial light modulator with an input signal and altering the beam of incident light. The working principle of a spatial light modulator is majorly based on the uses of either microelectromechanical system (MEMS) or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology. The utilization of liquid crystal (LC) materials in a spatial light modulator is dependent on their electrical and optical anisotropy. The spatial light modulator market is anticipated to witness a robust growth during the forecast period owing to rapid adoption of advanced technology such as utilization of projectors and hologram in education sectors across the globe.For the purpose of providing a comprehensive and precise analysis of the market, the spatial light modulator market has been segmented based on application, resolution, type and geography. Based on the type of input signals that is majorly used to control the optical property of a spatial light modulator, the market has been classified into optically addressed SLM and electrically addressed SLM. Again, on the basis of resolution, the spatial light modulator market has been bifurcated into less than or equal to 1024*768 pixel resolution and more than 1024*768 pixel resolution. On the other hand, spatial light modulator also finds its application in optical correlator, beam shaping, holographic data storage, projection system and optical crossbar switch among others. In addition, detailed market analysis regarding current market condition along with future trend of all the above mentioned application, resolution and type of spatial light modulator across different regions including North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle-East and Africa (MEA) and Latin America is also provided in this report.Obtain Report Details @Rapid technological advancements taking place in the field of information and communication technology in order to achieve higher bandwidth is the most important factor anticipated to trigger the market growth of spatial light modulator during the forecast period from 2017 to 2025. Increasing demand for higher bandwidth and long distance data transmission is the primary factor anticipated to trigger the need of dynamic channel equalization with minimal loss of signal power in order to provide total wavelength flexibility at every network node. The rising adoption of holographic displays across different industries is also expected to drive the demand of the spatial light modulator in the near future.However, in spite of so many factors driving the market, lack of awareness coupled with complex usage is one of the most important restraining factor anticipated to restrain the market growth of spatial light modulator during the forecast period.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Spatial Light Modulator Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@Based on resolution type, the spatial light modulator having less than or equal to 1024*768 pixel resolution held the largest market share in 2016. On the other hand, spatial light modulator having more than 1024*768 pixel resolution is anticipated to hold dominating market share by 2025. Launching of higher resolution pixel spatial light modulator by various major players is the most important factor behind this segments growth.Again, among the different applications in which spatial light modulator are used, beam shaping application is anticipated to drive the market of spatial light modulator throughout the forecast period from 2017 to 2025. Rapid utilization of beam shaping techniques across various industrial sectors is the most important factor behind this segments dominance.Geographically, Asia Pacific region generated the highest revenue in the spatial light modulator market across different regions in 2016 and is predicted to witness the most promising growth in the coming years. The market of Asia Pacific region is majorly driven by the Japan, South Korea and China owing to wide concentration of spatial light modulator manufacturers coupled with rising demand for various beam shaping and projection applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Terminal Automation Systems Market: Trends and Forecast by 2025

Terminal Automation Systems Market,Terminal Automation Systems Market share

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Terminal automation systems are a combination of hardware and software, which are utilized for enhanced safety of various types of terminals. A terminal generally refers to storage facilities of products such as oil, gas, and chemicals among others. It can also refer to the distribution centers, from where the products are sent to the point of sales (POS) locations. Oil terminals are usually located near the refineries or in close proximity of docks, from where petroleum products can be discharged by the marine tankers. Similarly, terminals for chemicals and petrochemicals are also utilized for safe and efficient storage of chemicals, prior to transportation to its desired destinations. Additionally, terminals are also utilized for effective distribution of stored products, via different modes of transportations, such as roadways, railways and marine.Hence, the important roles played by terminals has rendered the need for effective monitoring and heightened security of these terminals. Terminal automation systems aids monitoring and safety of these terminals. In general, terminal automation system aids in coordination of operations, such as receipt, reconciliation, storage and distribution of products, prevention of fraud, raising alarms for untoward events and ensuring overall safety of the terminal among others. It consists of various sub systems and covers a wide variety of hardware and software solutions. Terminal automation systems require relatively less real-time process control and can offer superior transactional capabilities.Terminal automation systems market is primarily being driven by the higher level of safety and security provided by these systems. The oil & gas industry, coupled with the chemical industry, is slowly recovering from the recent downturn faced for the past few years.Obtain Report Details @This has been boosting the demand for terminal automation systems offering higher safety, effective management and efficient distribution of these products, as the demand for petroleum products continue to grow at a fast pace globally. Additionally, the demand for terminal automation systems is being further boosted by the recent upgrading of Greenfield terminal infrastructure across the globe. Such upgrading has increased the application of various components of terminal automation systems. Furthermore, the growing regulatory stringency, pertaining to environmental concerns and public health hazards, has been further boosting the demand for terminal automation systems. However, factors such as extended timelines for regulatory approvals and relatively slow recovering process of the chemical industry have been restraining the growth of the terminal automation systems market. The recent growth in interest for shale gas and growing exploration of shale gas can offer unique growth opportunities for the terminal automation systems market globally.The terminal automation systems market, on the basis of architecture, has been segmented into hardware and software. On the basis of hardware, the market has been further segmented into sensors, networking components, programmable logic controller (PLC), access control systems, and others. Others segment includes flow meters, valves, actuators, weigh scale etc. Several vendors offer proprietary software solutions, such as PLC interface and real-time host interface among others, for these systems. Based on end-use industry, the market for terminal automation systems has been segmented into oil & gas, chemicals and others. Oil & gas was the largest segment in 2016, owing to the presence of large number of terminals and growing automation of such terminals globally. The global market for terminal automation systems, by region, has been segmented into five major regions. They are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), South America and Middle-East & Africa (MEA).Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Terminal Automation Systems Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@The major companies of the terminal automation systems market globally are Schneider Electric SE (France), Emerson Electric, Co. (The U.S.), ABB, Ltd. (Switzerland), Siemens AG (Germany), Honeywell International, Inc. (The U.S.), TechnipFMC Plc (The U.K), Rockwell Automation Inc. (The U.S.), Larsen & Toubro, Ltd. (India), Implico GmbH (Germany) and General Electric, Co. (The U.S.) among various other companies.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Retail Clinics Market: Global Markets & Advanced Technologies

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Retail clinics are a convenient way for patients to visit a walk-in health care clinic. These clinics are located inside retail stores such as supermarkets and department stores. They are sometimes referred to as convenient care clinics. These clinics offer benefits similar to that offered by traditional clinics. They are usually staffed by nurses and physician assistants. Retail clinics provide medical services such as treatment for flu, cold, dehydration, fever, cough, diagnostic services, vaccination, laboratory tests, physiotherapy, and treatment for injuries.View Report @The first retail clinic was opened in 2001 in Minnesota. Retail clinics are experiencing a commendable growth due to patient preference for convenient care options, cost effectiveness, easy accessibility, and multiple services offered. Furthermore, factors contributing to the growth of this market are increase in shortage of primary care physician, growth in health care expenditures, and rise in incidence rate of communicable diseases. Also, several retail clinics are providing treatment and management for chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol disorders. This factor is likely to propel the market growth during the forecast period. However, retail clinics are a secondary choice for many patients, which limits customer volume in these clinics. Low patient population visiting retail clinics and regulations in some countries are impacting the growth of the retail clinics market.The retail clinics market can be segmented on the basis of location, types of suppliers, and geography. Based on location, retail clinics are further segmented into stores, malls, and other retail locations. Geographically, this market is further divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East Asia and Africa. North America accounted for a significant growth rate due to factors such as large population base turning toward convenience care, adoption of electronic medical and chart records, and introduction of digital tools. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 18 million adults suffered from asthma in 2012, which was one of the factors that had driven the growth of the retail clinics market. South East Asia, Middle East, and Latin America are projected to be the potential markets in the near future due to higher adoption rate of retail clinics, rise of disposable income, increase in disease burden, shortage of physicians, and ease of usage. Star Dental Care, a U.S. based institute, is aiming to open up retail dental clinics in India by 2017, which is estimated to enhance the growth of the market in this country.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Retail Clinics Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.Major players operating in the retail clinics market include Kroger, Rite Aid, Doctors Care, Clear Balance, CVS Healths MinuteClinic, NEXtCARE, RediClinic, Target Brands, Inc., The Little Clinic, U.S. HealthWorks, Inc., Urgent Care MSO, LLC, and Walgreen Co. Growth of retail clinics and the companies are related to initiatives aimed at patients satisfaction. With growing experience, companies are expanding their services and experiment with new methods such as telemedicine integration, point-of-care technologies, and offering new services. For example, Minute Clinic (CVS) launched a digital tool in May 2016 which helped patients to estimate the wait time at several locations.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:
Vial Adaptors for Reconstitution Drug Market: Key Players & Global Industry Analysis

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Global Vial Adaptors for Reconstitution Drug Market: SnapshotThe global market for vial adaptors for reconstitution drugs has been experiencing a steady demand as these vial adaptors have come to be the safest solutions for quick transfer for drugs between vials. The demand for these vial adaptors is also expected to shoot up as they are exceptionally cost-effective and come with a reduced the risk of needlestick injuries. The growing prevalence of infectious diseases, widening pool of geriatrics, and increasing safety concerns have all triggered a demand for vial adaptors for reconstitution drugs. According to the research report, the global vial adaptors for reconstitution drug market was valued at US$780 mn in 2015 and is expected to reach US$1.3 bn by the end of 2024. Between the forecast years of 2016 and 2024, the global market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 7.5%.View Report @Autoimmune Diseases to Drive Global Vial Adaptors for Reconstitution Drug MarketOn the basis of therapeutic area, the vial adaptors for reconstitution drug market has been segmented into autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, metabolic conditions, reproductive health and others. Currently, the infectious diseases segment holds a major share in the global vial adaptors for reconstitution drug therapeutic area segment. However, the autoimmune diseases segment is expected to show robust growth rate in the coming years. As of 2015, it was the second largest segment in the overall market in terms of revenue. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) states that more than 50 million individuals are affected by autoimmune disorders in the U.S. every year. This is expected to drive the autoimmune diseases segment in the coming years.North America to Remain the Leading Regional Market during Forecast PeriodIn terms of geography, the global market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Out of these regional markets, North America remained dominant in the global vial adaptors for reconstitution drug market in 2015. Europe followed this lead closely. The high incidence of autoimmune diseases, rising technological advancements, and growing demand for needle-free products likely to support the growth of the vial adaptors for reconstitution drug market in North America. On the other hand, the demand in Europe will be fueled by increasing advancements in healthcare technology amidst rising safety concerns.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Vial Adaptors for Reconstitution Drug Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.Analysts estimate that Asia Pacific is also likely to be a lucrative market for the vial adaptors for reconstitution drugs during the forecast period. The growing adoption of technology, high prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, and increasing adoption of technology are all expected to make a significant contribution to the soaring vial adaptors for reconstitution drug market in Asia Pacific. This regional market will also be propelled by the swelling pool of geriatrics, who are prone to various medical conditions and a vast pool of unmet medical needs. The strengthening economies of Asia Pacific and improving access to healthcare in the region are also likely to augment the demand for vial adaptors for reconstitution drugs.The key players operating in the global vial adaptors for reconstitution drug market are Baxter International Inc., Becton, Dickinson and Company, Cardinal Health, Inc., Sensile Medical AG, Unilife Corporation and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. The market is largely consolidated as major players hold a dominating share.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:
NAND Flash Memory Market: Key Trends, Industry Opportunities And Projections for Upcoming Years 2025

NAND Flash Memory Market, NAND Flash Memory Market Size

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NAND Flash technology delivers a cost-effective solution for applications demanding solid-state storage and high density. NAND Flash design together with NOR Flash construction dominates the market for non-volatile Flash. Thus, NAND Flash's various characteristics which includes low power, scalable design, cost effective and high-density, make it an ideal choice to fuel the demand of new multimedia products which are entering the global market. In addition, current memory designs are moving to NAND Flash to take various advantage that includes lower cost and higher density for high performance applications.In recent trends, a number of applications have been catered by NAND flash memory. Additionally, NAND flash memory have been developed and commercialized recently for various memory application which includes mobile phones, solid state drives, MP3/PMP players, Flash memory cards and USB Flash drives. Therefore, the NAND Flash Memory market is predicted to witness a steady growth during the projection period from 2017 to 2025. However, more advanced NAND devices and higher density devices may have additional features and different parameters have added extra benefit for consumer storage, audio, and video products among others. This in turn is fuelling the demand of NAND Flash Memory market during the forecast period.Global NAND Flash Memory market has been segmented on the basis of product type, end use industry and geography. On the basis of product type, global NAND Flash Memory market has been segmented into smartphone & tablets, laptop & PC's and camera among others. Across the globe new technology embedded product has been growing at a high rate and as the existing technology do not have the competency of handling massive data accurately.Obtain Report Details @Therefore, various smart devices manufacturers are now focusing on installation of NAND flash memory in electronics devices to increase the operation efficiency of the product. This is expected to increase the demand of NAND Flash Memory Market in coming years.In addition, global NAND Flash Memory market is classified on the basis of end use industry into consumer electronics, industrial, automotive and healthcare among others. This NAND flash memory devices has superior speed and also relatively cheaper than other available options in the global memory market. Therefore, the new technological advancement of NAND flash memory has been adopted by various major manufacturing company for consumer electronics product in order to fulfill the demand of larger storage space.This is anticipated to increase the demand of NAND Flash Memory Market in coming years. At this present time, NAND flash memory is one of the major popular, flexible and reliable nonvolatile memories to store software code and constant data values.Additionally, the rising demand of storage solution across various applications of consumer electronics and enterprise storage sectors is growing significantly which is driving the growth of the NAND Flash Memory market during the forecast period. On the flip side, expensive initial prices of NAND flash memory is restraining the growth of global NAND flash memory market.Geographically, global NAND Flash Memory market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle- East and Africa (MEA), Latin America. In 2016, Asia Pacific held the largest share of the NAND Flash Memory market due to the high technological adoption of memory devices in consumer electronics and enterprise storage sectors among other industries in this region. North America is estimated to be the second largest market for NAND Flash memory market currently, followed by Europe. Furthermore, in Asia Pacific region owing to industrially developing economies in China, South Korea and India is enhancing the demand for Global NAND Flash Memory market. Furthermore, global memory devices manufacturers are now adopting various strategy of joint ventures and collaboration to extend their business and market share in global NAND Flash Memory market.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the NAND Flash Memory Market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market@The key players operational in the global NAND Flash Memory market includesSamsung (South Korea), Toshiba (Japan), SanDisk (The U.S), Micron Technology (The U.S), Hynix (South Korea), Intel (The U.S), Numonyx (Switzerland), Spansion (The U.S), Powerchip Technology Corporation (Taiwan) and Renesas Electronic (Japan) among others.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector  such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA  Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Application Specific Integrated Circuit Market Share, Trend, Segmentation and Worldwide Forecast to 2022

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Global Application Specific Integrated Circuit Market: OverviewThe report covers the analysis and forecast of the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with the forecast for the period between 2016 and 2024 based on revenue (US$ Bn). A comprehensive analysis of the market dynamics that is inclusive of market drivers, restraints and opportunities is included in the purview of the report. Additionally, the report includes potential opportunities in the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market on the global and regional level. Market dynamics are the factors which impact the market growth, thereby helping to understand the ongoing trends of the global market. Therefore, the report provides the forecast of the global market for the period from 2016 to 2024, along with offering an inclusive study of the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market.This 130 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market Browse through 6 data tables and 92 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market.Global Application Specific Integrated Circuit Market: Segmentation AnalysisThe study provides a detailed view of the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market by segmenting it based on product type and application. On the basis of product type, the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market has been further segmented into full custom design ASIC, semi custom design ASIC and programmable ASIC. Semi custom design ASIC is further segregated into standard cell based ASIC and gate array based ASIC. On the basis of application, the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market is segmented into telecommunication, industrial, automotive, consumer electronics and others. Others application segment includes auto emission control, medical, military and aerospace, sensors, environmental monitoring and personal digital assistants (PDAs) among others.Global Application Specific Integrated Circuit Market: Regional OutlookRegional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA) and Latin America. These have been further sub-segmented into countries and regions with relevance to the market. The segmentation also includes demand for individual product and applications in all regions.The report provides the size of the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market in 2015 and the forecast for the next nine years up to 2024. The size of the global Application Specific Integrated Circuit market is provided in terms of revenue. Market revenue is defined in US$ Bn. The market size and forecast for each product and application segment are provided in the context of global and regional markets. Numbers provided in this report are derived based on demand generated from different applications and types products. Market dynamics prevalent in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific have been taken into account for estimating the growth of the global market.Global Application Specific Integrated Circuit Market: Scope of the ReportMarket estimates for this study have been based revenue being derived through regional pricing trends. The price for commonly utilized quality of Application Specific Integrated Circuit in each application has been considered. Demand for Application Specific Integrated Circuit has been derived by analyzing the global and regional demand for Application Specific Integrated Circuit in each application for its respective functions. The global Application Specific Integrated Circuit market has been analyzed based on expected demand. Average selling price of Application Specific Integrated Circuit products in the major countries has been taken into consideration to estimate regional and global revenue. Forecasts have been based on the expected demand from Application Specific Integrated Circuit applications. We have used the bottom-up approach to estimate the global revenue of application specific integrated circuit market, split into regions. We have initially determined the price in every region for the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market. Revenue has been determined with the help of volume and price derived from every region.Based on product type and application, we have summed up the individual revenues from all the regions to achieve the global revenue for Application Specific Integrated Circuit. The application split of the market has been derived using a bottom-up approach for each regional market separately, with the global application segment split being an integration of regional estimates. Companies were considered for the market share analysis based on their product portfolio, revenue, and manufacturing capacity. In the absence of specific data related to the sales of Application Specific Integrated Circuit of several privately held companies, calculated assumptions have been made in view of the companys product portfolio and regional presence along with the demand for products in its portfolio.Key Players Mentioned in this Report are:The competitive profiling of the key players in the global Application Specific Integrated Circuit market across five broad geographic regions is included in the study. These include different business strategies adopted by the leading players and their recent developments as in the field of Application Specific Integrated Circuit.The report covers a detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and company profiles of key players operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report are Texas Instruments Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, Analog Devices, Maxim Integrated Products Inc., NXP Semiconductors N.V., ON Semiconductor, Qualcomm, Inc., Linear Technology Corporation and Intel Corporation among others.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Application Specific Integrated Circuit market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.The global application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) market has been segmented into:Global Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) Market: By Product Type Full Custom Design ASIC Semi- Custom Design ASICo Standard Cell Based ASICo Gate Array Based ASIC Programmable ASICGlobal Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) Market: By Application Telecommunication Industrial Automotive Consumer electronics OthersGlobal Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) Market: By Geography North Americao U.S.o Canadao Mexico Europeo U.K.o Italyo Germanyo Franceo Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Indiao Chinao Japano Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East and Africao UAEo South Africao Rest of Middle East and Africa Latin Americao Brazilo Rest of Latin AmericaRequest 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:
Dashboard Camera Market Growth, Demand, Price and Forecasts To 2022

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Dashboard cameras are real-time video recording devices usually attached on the windshield of vehicles and integrated with dashboards in the vehicle. These devices are designed to record real-time videos that capture the inward as well as outward sides of vehicles. Dashboard cameras find its applications in private cars, law enforcement vehicles, and rental and other commercial vehicles.These cameras provide continuous video recording, which could be used as evidence in event of an accident or civil or criminal lawsuits. Dashboard cameras are categorized based on technology, type and geography. The demand for dashboard cameras is majorly driven by their numerous advantages, especially their utility in case of accidents, emergency services, and for evidence gathering, among others. Dashboard cameras help insurance companies to expedite claim settlements as these cameras provide lucid evidence of the incidents. Various insurance companies offer discounts on insurance premiums for car owners who equip their vehicles with dashboard cameras. Rising support from insurance companies to install dashboard cameras is another major factor influencing the growth of this market.This 127 page report gives readers a comprehensive overview of the Dashboard Camera market Browse through 50 data tables and 82 figures to unlock the hidden opportunities in this market.The report on the dashboard cameras market provides the current scenario as well as the future market potential of dashboard cameras, globally. The market for the dashboard cameras has been extensively analyzed on the basis of product type, technology and geography. Based on type, this market is also segmented into basic dashboard cameras, advanced dashboard cameras and smart dashboard camera. The market size and forecast in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) as well as volume (thousand units) for each of these segments have been provided for the period from 2012 to 2020, considering 2012 and 2013 as the base years. Based on the technology, dashboard cameras are categorized into single lens (single channel), multi lens (dual channel) and rearview dashboard cameras. The report also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for each segment of the market for the forecast period from 2014 to 2020 and analyzes the contribution of sales channels i.e. OEMs (car manufacturers and retail). This would help dashboard camera manufacturers to select ideal distribution channels according to their requirements. The report also highlights the views of car manufacturers about integrating dashboard cameras with their new cars.Geographically, the market for dashboard cameras has been segmented into regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Rest of the world. The market size and forecast for each region have been provided for the period from 2012 to 2020 along with the CAGR (%) for the forecast period from 2014 to 2020. The report also includes country level analysis for major markets in Europe (Russia, France, Germany, UK, Norway and Sweden) and Asia Pacific (China, Korea, Japan and Oceania). The dashboard camera market report includes the quantitative analysis in terms of unit shipment (thousand units) as well as revenue (US$ Mn) and forecast for the period 2014 to 2020. The report also highlights attractive market segments in each regional and global market which helps manufacturers and suppliers in their tactical decision making. The study also includes qualitative analysis of the competitive scenario in these regions. The market overview chapter in the report includes qualitative analysis of the overall market highlighting the factors determining the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with market attractiveness analysis and value chain analysis. This report also highlights demand supply trends, product and technology trends, original equipment suppliers and manufacturer trends in the global as well as in regional markets.The report also provides a section on the competitive landscape, wherein the market positioning of leading players in the global dashboard cameras market in 2013 has been analyzed. The report concludes with the profiles of major original equipment suppliers (OESs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the global dashboard cameras industry such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) US LLC, Delphi Automotive Systems Pvt Ltd, Papago Inc., Toyota Motor Corp, Harman International Inc, Garmin International Inc, Qrontech Co., Ltd. (Lukas), Pittasoft Co. Ltd. (BlackVue), DCS Systems Ltd. (RoadHawk UK), and others.Get accurate market forecast and analysis on the Dashboard Camera market. Request a sample to stay abreast on the key trends impacting this market.The global dashboard cameras market is categorized into the following segments:Dashboard Camera Market, by Type Basic Dashboard Cameras Advanced Dashboard Cameras Smart Dashboard CamerasDashboard Camera Market, by Technology Single Lens (Single Channel) Multi Lens (Dual Channel) Smart Dashboard CamerasDashboard Camera Market, by Geography North America Europeo Russiao Germanyo UKo Swedeno Franceo Norwayo Rest of Europe Asia Pacific (APAC)o Chinao Koreao Japano Oceaniao Rest of APAC Rest of the World (RoW)Request 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:
Camp Fish Tales, a barrier free camp that provides unique and specialized camping experiences for individuals with special needs, will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20 at 2177 E. Erickson Road in Pinconning.

The event will showcase the beauty of the camp and the various specialized summer camping programs offered by its staff. During the event, guests will be able to tour the camp lodge and grounds, go on a pontoon boat ride, take part in arts and crafts projects, tour the camps fully accessible nature trails and even get the chance to ride the camps zip-line, a specialized fully accessible floating swing. Customized camp hotdogs, popcorn and other snacks will be provided.
Great Lakes Safety Training Center will offer a free safety training class for light industrial temporary workers thanks to funding from MIOSHAa CET Division.

In this class, students will learn about a variety of topics, including machine guarding, lockout/tagout, electrical hazards, fall prevention, occupational noise exposure and the rights of a temporary worker. All people seeking a job with a light industrial/manufacturing focus are welcome to attend.
Midland County Habitat for Humanity and Lowes invite women to build alongside future homeowners during the 10th annual National Women Build Week.

Midland County Habitat for Humanity is one of 300 Habitat organizations nationwide hosting Women Build projects during the week with support from Lowes, a longtime partner in the event.

Next week, more than 200 women will volunteer with Midland County Habitat for Humanity during Women Build Week to build a decent, affordable home for a future homeowner.

National Women Build Week brings together women to devote at least one day to building housing in their local communities. Nearly 100,000 women from all 50 states have volunteered in previous years.

We are excited to participate in the 10th annual National Women Build Week, said Jennifer Chappel executive director of Midland County Habitat for Humanity. This is a great opportunity for women of all skill levels to come together to help a family build or repair a decent and affordable place they can call home, and we are grateful to Lowes for their financial and volunteer support.

No construction skills are necessary to participate in this years project.

To volunteer or donate, call (989) 496-0900 ext. 24 or email ireland@midlandhabitat.org

Each year, Lowes provides volunteers and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills. This year, Lowes contributed nearly $2 million to National Women Build Week.

For more information on National Women Build Week, visit Habitat.org/wb
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department.

Wednesday, May 3

2:04 a.m.  Property in the 1400 block of Fournie Street was damaged.

10:42 a.m.  A detective received a referral from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding inappropriate contact between a teen and his sister, ages 15 and 5. The case was investigated and nothing warranting further action was discovered.

7:19 p.m.  A deputy responded to a 9-1-1 call about people climbing over the railing of a bridge in Sanford. No one was found in the area.

7:54 p.m.  A deputy was sent to a Greendale Township neighborhood for a report of domesticated ducks eating food that residents leave outside for cats and dogs. The identity of the owner of the ducks is not known.

11:05 p.m.  A motorist was arrested at Abbott Road and Alta Court for drunken driving.
To the editor:

My wife and I recently attended Congressman John Moolenaars listening session at Central Michigan University. We had expected to hear how things were going in Washington with the new administration in place. There was a large crowd, and raffle tickets were handed out to anyone who wanted to ask the congressman a question. This was apparently done to ensure that questions were to be selected as randomly as possible by the moderator, Art Lewis.

Very quickly it became obvious that this was not going to be a civil listening session. Moolenaars answers were often met with shout downs to the point where you could not even hear his answers. Red and green papers were waved by many in the audience to indicate whether or not they approved of his statements, skirting the rules stipulating that there were to be no signs in the auditorium. In summary, this clearly organized group of people was very disrespectful to Congressman Moolenaar and the rational people in the audience.

I recently read where a similar situation occurred in Gaylord when Congressman Jack Bergman conducted a town hall meeting. A similar group of people even shouted down a Baptist minister as he was giving an opening prayer. It is very obvious that these groups are made up of people who simply cannot accept the fact that Hillary Clinton lost the election in November. It is really sad what the Democrat Party has become.

JOHN LYNN

Midland
BLOOMINGTON  Army Sgt. Josh Rodgers will be laid to rest Saturday in Bloomington after his body was returned home Friday amid a ceremony of solemn dignity that drew both family and strangers.

A large flag hung between ladder trucks from the Bloomington and Normal fire departments symbolically tied together the two communities in recognition of the sacrifice made by Rodgers, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on April 27.

The family drove under the arch of honor created by the ladders and flag when they arrived at the old terminal area at Central Illinois Regional Airport. Then they drove under it again in a procession that included the hearse carrying the remains of the decorated Army Ranger.

Among the estimated 200 people who gathered to show their quiet respect were about 35 students from Calvary Christian Academy, older people wearing caps or jackets indicating their military service, parents with young children and members of the Patriot Guard. Many held U.S. flags.

The charter jet carrying Rodgers' remains landed around 9:45 a.m., taxiing under a water cannon salute provided by the Bloomington Fire Department, using the airport's rescue-firefighting vehicles.

An Army chaplain said a few words next to the jet as the soldiers carrying the casket bowed their heads.

An honor guard of military personnel wearing tan Army Ranger berets, plus police and firefighters, stood at attention as the flag-draped casket was moved from the jet to a hearse, then taken to Kibler Brady Ruestman Funeral Home.

All the agencies wanted to be involved to show their respect, said airport spokeswoman Fran Strebing.

Several of those in attendance who were of Rodgers' age, 22, were visibly weeping during the ceremony that ended about 10:25 a.m.

Meghan Hillebrandt of Bloomington was there with her two young children.

I wanted my kids to know there are people who give their lives to protect their freedoms every day, said Hillebrandt.

John Beck of Tuscola, a leader of the Patriot Guard, said, We're just here for the family to let them know they are not going through this alone.

More than 30 motorcycles plus support vehicles from the Patriot Guard provided an escort to the funeral home as others watched the procession along the route.

It's an honor to be here, said Beck, a Navy veteran.

Many members of the Patriot Guard are veterans, said Beck, adding that providing escorts at military funerals is another way we can give back, even though our service has ended.

The public watched from a viewing area set up in the parking lot north of Dumont Aviation hangar at the Platinum Jet Center.

Mary Lou VanValey of Bloomington was there with her husband, sisters and other family members.

We don't know the family, but they're from our community, VanValey said. We wanted to show our respect.

Rodgers and a fellow Ranger, Sgt. Cameron Thomas of Kettering, Ohio, died April 27 as a result of small arms fire during a joint American-Afghan operation in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

A public visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Eastview Christian Church, 1500 N. Airport Road, Normal, followed by a celebration of life at 1 p.m.

A procession, escorted by squad cars from various agencies, will go from the church to Evergreen Cemetery, where a private ceremony will take place. The cemetery will be closed to the public from 1-6 p.m. Saturday.

Rodgers was a 2013 graduate of Normal Community High School. Students, faculty and staff at Normal-based Unit 5 and Bloomington District 87 wore red, white and blue in his honor on Friday. Employees at State Farm Insurance, where his parents, Kevin and Vonda, work, also wore patriotic attire on Friday.
CONGERVILLE  Robert Edward Preller, 81, of rural Congerville, died Wednesday (May 3, 2017) at Roanoke Apostolic Christian Home, where he had been a resident for the past three years.

A private family memorial will be at a later date. Arrangements are being made through Otto-Argo-Calvert Funeral Home, Danvers.

Robert was born Jan. 9, 1936, in section 16 Rutland Township, Kane County, to John Adolph Preller and Norma Jean Steven Preller, both deceased. Robert married Barbara Ann Hoffman on June 14, 1957, in Evanston; also deceased.

He is survived by his brother, John Richard (Joyce) Preller, Rio Hondo, Texas; his son, William, Hudson; and his grandson, Alexander, Lebanon, Ind.

Robert graduated from Dundee High School in 1953, and from Northwestern University in Evanston in 1957 with a bachelor of arts in mathematics and education. He received his master of arts in education from the University of Illinois in 1960 and earned his doctorate from Illinois State University in education administration and foundations in 1972. Robert worked for the Illinois State Board of Higher Education during the formative years of the Illinois junior college system, and then worked at Illinois Central College from 1968 until his retirement in 1992, beginning his administrative career as director of educational research and then returning to his true love as a teacher, becoming a professor in the mathematics department. He received the Outstanding Teacher Award in recognition from his students for his deep commitment to them and to his love of teaching. Many of his students remember his kindness, stories with a point of learning, and his ability to relay complex mathematical concepts in easy to comprehend ways.

He owned a small farm southwest of Congerville and for many years ran a cattle operation. He and Barbara were ahead of their time, marketing high quality freezer beef, custom cut to the customer's specifications, long before that was commonly available. He was also highly interested in conservation working in conjunction with farming, working to establish wildlife habitat including a number of native prairie grass areas and species.

Robert was a member of the Northwestern University Alumni Association, the National Rifle Association, Illinois State Rifle Association, Champaign County Rifle Association, National Conference of Teachers of Mathematics, the Libertarian Party, the Republican Party, the American Farm Bureau, Illinois Farm Bureau, McLean County Farm Bureau, the DuPage County Pioneer Cemetery Association, the Preservation Society of Lockport Illinois, the Louisiana Forestry Association, the Missouri Prairie Foundation, the Henry County (Ind.) Historical Society, Dawson County (Neb.) Historical Society, Lexington (Ky.) Historical Society and Venango County (Pa.) Historical Society.

Robert was a highly intelligent individual who was interested in a wide variety of things, from mathematics, education and protection of the Second Amendment to the Constitution as one element of a strong commitment to personal freedoms and the accompanying personal responsibilities to the preservation and restoration of Illinois natural prairie. He enjoyed traveling and learning about family genealogy, having visited and helped to preserve and restore family cemeteries from Quebec to Montana, but relished most especially spending time with his cherished wife, Barbara. He will be sadly missed by family and friends.

Memorials can be made to a charity of the donors choice.

Condolences may be left at www.calvertmemorial.com.
Cheers

... to the ParkLands Foundation, for planning a guided hike  on May 13  as part of its 50th anniversary celebration.

Established in 1967 by Loring Merwin, then-publisher of The Pantagraph, the foundation's mission is to preserve the Mackinaw River watershed and protect declining open space in Central Illinois.

Cheers

... to the McLean County Law & Justice Center for instituting a cellphone ban. Although cellphones are everywhere these days, they can be disruptive or used inappropriately.

Safety and decorum are paramount in a courthouse or other legal setting. We applaud the decision to keep them in locked bins while the phones' owners conduct their business elsewhere in the building.

Take a bow

... After several administrations not noticing we exist, that's no longer the case for the state's current gubernatorial candidates. Gov. Bruce Rauner has been a frequent visitor since before his election and was here again on Saturday after a visit last week. The past weekend also brought visits from Democrat challengers JB Pritzker, Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss, among others.

The election is in 2018. Get your yard signs now.

Cheers

... to District 87 for considering the use of comfort and therapy dogs at some of its facilities.

Medicine long has made the connection between lower blood pressure and petting a dog or cat. Comfort animals can provide a safe space for an upset or stressed-out student.

To be sure, rules need to be applied, but such programs go a long way in providing help and nurturing for students and adults.

A thought

... Parents from Parkside Elementary have asked Unit 5 why it took so long to tell parents about an incident involving a teacher who was threatened. When we send our kids to school, we want them to be safe and  99 percent of the time  they are. But as parents, we also want to know about the possibility of unsafe behavior, and that's where a simple, timely and informative email can ease a lot of worries.

Cheers

... to The Mill in Lincoln and Lincoln Christian Church that will share the gift of a plaque that designated the church as a former courthouse site where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. The long-lost plaque recently was found among a pile of donated goods at the The Mill, and Mill organizers returned it to the church.

Lincoln traveled and worked at many places in Central Illinois. After all these years, it's always fascinating to find a new nugget of information connected to him.

Cheers

... to the Illinois Department of Corrections for rescinding its earlier plan to lay off 124 prison nurses while continuing to negotiate with the state employees' union.

The department earlier planned to replace the nurses with those hired by a private health care provider.
As a farmer, I appreciate U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis making himself available to meet and discuss issues that impact agriculture. He and his staff have taken the time to meet with farmers here in McLean County and in Washington, D.C., on numerous occasions.

Last May, Congressman Davis joined a group of farmers, including myself, for a tour of the Peoria Lock and Dam to take a firsthand look at the need for infrastructure improvements on the Illinois River. In our discussions, I have found Rodney to be thoughtful and candid in addressing issues like trade, transportation and health care.

As a member of the House Ag committee, Congressman Davis provided leadership in passing the last Farm Bill  legislation that authorizes funding for food assistance and school lunches, in addition to farm programs. He also worked in a bipartisan way to pass the last transportation bill. Both pieces of legislation are critical for the strength of the economy in Central Illinois.

Congressman Davis represents a large and diverse district, and has a lot of territory to cover during his time in the district. I appreciate his efforts to meet and engage with many groups of constituents. I have found that when we approach our congressional representatives in a respectful and civil manner, they value our input.

Fred Grieder, Carlock
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the recently finished sections of the Route 66 Bicycle Trail celebrated a 1.1-mile extension from Shirley towards Funks Grove; a four-mile section that connects our Constitution Trail from Normal to Towanda; and a 2.5-mile extension from Towanda to Lexington. We hope to complete from Chenoa to McLean as part of our Rails to Trails county-wide, safe bicycle route.

Without federal funding and intergovernmental agreements with all the communities this would not be possible.

We are grateful to Fred Walk for his vision and commitment to the Route 66 historic linear parkway in Towanda. Thanks to the village board of Towanda, Mayor Tom Wagner and special thanks to Jodi Wharton for her efforts, the Wednesday Weeders, Route 66 linear park volunteers and Towanda Lions Club and residents for ongoing maintenance and plantings.

Recently over 104 trees were donated and planted along the new sections. The Illinois Department of Transportation donated 50 trees and Friends of Constitution Trail donated over $16,000 to purchase over 54 trees generously planted by Friends Chairman Patrick Dullard. Joining Patrick were Rick and Carol Meyer, McLean County Parks and Recreation Department Director Mike Steffa and his staff, county highway Director Jerry Stokes and Fred Walk.

Thanks to U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood for sponsorship of a bill designating Route 66 a national historic trail eligible for National Park Service funds and U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, who sponsored the bill to create a Route 66 Centennial Commission to plan the 2026 100th anniversary.

John D. McIntyre, Normal

The writer is McLean County Board chairman.
Health care experts warn parents of the possible diseases that can surface this summer season. Parents are reminded to stay cautious as a deadly and rare tick-borne disease called the Powassan virus is currently on the rise.

A life-threatening virus, which is usually carried out by fleas, is making rounds this summer. The tick-borne virus includes three types of ticks, including the deer tick that is responsible for transmitting Lyme disease. Seventy-five cases of the Powassan virus have been reported, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It remains uncertain as to how the virus would take over, as well as its intensity, but health care providers urge parents to take the necessary precautions. Everyone can be placed at risk, may it be infants and teenagers, as CNN mentioned.

Patients with weak immune system are bound to have a tough time in terms of recovery. There are those who won't be able to survive the virus, while almost 50 percent would end up with a long-term neurological damage.

"About 15 percent of patients who are infected and have symptoms are not going survive," Dr. Jennifer Lyons, who is also an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, said. "Of the survivors, at least 50 percent will have long-term neurological damage that is not going to resolve."

Patients that are bitten would first experience flu-like symptoms. People who are bitten would also experience muscle pains, rash, a fever and a severe headache. As the disease progress, the patient would have difficulties in maintaining consciousness and may develop seizures.

Goudarz Molaei, a research scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, mentioned that this 2017, ticks will be on the loose, and they might be infected with Lyme disease. Just this month, a woman was left bed-bound after she was bitten by a tick while traveling 10 years ago.

Emma Horlock, 42, was stuck by Lyme disease and suffered the effects of the ailment without getting treatment, Daily Mail reported. She's scheduled to travel by boat from Liverpool to the U.S. next week to finally receive her treatment.
There's finally progress in the U.S. schools! A new study revealed bullying has been on the decline and experts noted the decreasing trend has been happening in the last 10 years. Do this signal good news for school kids and their parents? Do the children really feel safer and did anti-bullying campaigns work?

Experts from the University of Virginia gathered data from 246,000 students in the fourth to 12th grade across 109 Maryland schools. They looked into the prevalence of bullying for their 10-year study. They published their findings in the journal Pediatrics last Monday.

The researchers saw a significant decline in bullying, whether online or in person, from 2005 to 2014. Some 80 percent of the students said they felt safe in school even as 28 percent said they experienced bullying and half of the respondents witnessed someone getting bullied, as per Pix 11 News.

The researchers also saw a drop in bullying incidents at the rate of one to two percent per year. Over the last years of the study, the number dipped further to 10 percent, as per US News.

The researchers defined bullying as "actions like threatening, teasing, name-calling, ignoring, rumor-spreading, sending hurtful emails and text messages, and leaving someone out on purpose," Reuters reported. Their findings seemed to go against the common perception that bullying increased, especially with social media use among teens.

The researchers, however, determined bullying appeared to happen often in the last decade because of media attention. The actual incidents, however, occurred less and less, especially since most schools already established its anti-bullying policy. The researchers also determined previous studies on bullying were flawed in that only victims were surveyed or there were limited parameters on what constituted bullying.

Regardless of their findings, Dr. Catherine Bradshaw said this doesn't mean parents, schools and communities shouldn't concern themselves with the problem any longer as bullying still happens. Their study should help "give some ideas that what we're doing continues to work." "We want to build momentum and not lose any traction," Bradshaw said.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue recently approved changes to the school lunch rule the previous administration established. From rigid standards, the changes currently reflected more flexible food choices. Health experts, however, expressed concern over the school lunch rule changes. They said nothing was wrong with the previous regulations, so why fix what was not broken?

The American Heart Association released a statement in light of the school lunch rule changes. It criticized the Department of Agriculture's decision as a "rollback on nutrition standards" and not a flexibility of choice.

"The American Heart Association is very disappointed that the USDA has decided to put special interests back on the school menu." the group's press release read. "We strongly urge the agency and Congress not to give politics priority over the health of our children."

The Center for Science in Public Interest also released a statement saying the current administration "undermined" nutrition advances made in the last eight years. "It makes no sense to freeze that progress in its tracks and allow dangerously high levels of salt in school lunch," the group stated in its press release.

Effective next school year (2017-2018), schools can keep sodium levels of school lunches on the level, instead of reducing it. Schools can also serve whole grain foods and flavored milk.

Perdue signed the new ruling Monday, May 1, as per ABC News. He also acknowledged former First Lady Michelle Obama's school lunch initiative, saying she worked hard to address childhood obesity among school kids.

Changing her policies, however, didn't mean "reducing the nutritional standards whatsoever," Perdue said. The new administration justified they were addressing complaints from kids their school lunches had "palatability issues."

Because of Obama's strict standards, like low sodium and no dairy selections, some kids allegedly do not eat their school meals. "If kids aren't eating the food and it's ending up in the trash, they aren't getting any nutrition - thus undermining the intent of the program," Perdue said in a statement via the USDA.
Lawmakers are debating over a controversial petition a man in prison raised. Karl Teangiotau Nuku, who is serving a life sentence in New Zealand for murder, is asking the Parliament to allow incarcerated fathers like him to donate blood and organs for medical reasons, as well as semen to father children.

Some lawmakers sided with Nuku citing his basic rights. Labor MP Trevor Mallard presented his petition on April 13, as per the New Zealand Parliament. Others opposed the petition believing murderers cannot be fathers.

Courts convicted Nuku, then 18-years-old, for hammering and killing 38-year-old Dean Browne in 2011. New Zealanders cannot forget the brutal murder involving Nuku's gang, the Killer Clown Fiends.

Mallard said he introduced the petition because he doesn't think Nuku's reason for being in prison was relevant to his bid. He also said he has never met Nuku in person to assess the motivation behind his petition. "Whether you agree with stuff or not, it is every citizen's right to petition Parliament," Mallard said, as per New Zealand Herald.

New Zealand's Department of Correction also cited there are no specific laws banning blood, organ or sperm donations from prisoners. Thus, legally, Nuku's petition had a bearing.

Prison officials, however, stressed they could consider such a case-to-case basis, especially for safety and security concerns, NZ City reported. As a matter of policy, specimen samples don't usually get collected from prisoners because of the high incidence of hepatitis and other health issues.

Lobbyist First Family issued a statement opposing the petition. "If prisoners want to repay their debt to society by donating blood and their organs, then they're welcome to do that," Family First National Director Bob McCoskrie said, as per Scoop New Zealand. "But fatherhood is not a right - it's a privilege based on the person's ability and commitment to being an active and responsible dad for that child."
The majority of the employees finds it difficult to discuss their mental health struggles at work. Despite going through challenges that affect their workload, the majority prefers to stay mum due to the fear of being judged.

A survey involving 1,104 employed adults in Britain share their work-life experience and their views on mental health. Ninety-four percent of the employees mention that they refuse to tell their boss regarding their mental health status. The majority of which, share that they find in uncomfortable to talk about their anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder to their superior.

Employees may find it difficult to open up about their mental health, but there are companies that are willing to help them with their struggle. A British employee, Oliver, shares his personal experience as to how his manager helped him cope with his trauma after being attacked.

"He helped point me in the right direction in terms of who to speak to at work, a confidential advice line we have at Laing O'Rourke, who helped me start therapy and has really helped me since then in terms of getting my career on track and do what I can to really help myself," Oliver tells BBC during an interview.

Mental health is one of the most sensitive issues that needs to be discussed. Educating children and teenagers about it is vital for them to be more open about the topic. Schools are urged to discuss mental health, especially depression and anxiety as these are common among teenagers and young adults.

Students spend more time in school than they do at home, which makes awareness and mental health crucial. The American Psychological Association highlights the importance of mental health, stating that it plays an essential role in the child's overall wellness.

More than 10 million youth are said to have mental health problems in the United states alone. These numbers continually increase, thus the need for education and awareness among schools and the mainstream media are encouraged.
A 16-year-old girl scout dauntlessly came toe-in-toe against a far-right demonstrator during a neo-Nazi march in Brno, Czech Republic. The teenager, who fought the fierce demonstrator peacefully, received praises as she exuded bravery in curtailing the rise of the political belief that once killed over 20 million people.

Amateur photographer Vladimir Cicmanec told CNN that the girl scout, Lucie Myslikova, caught his attention after his friend pointed out the encounter. Cicmanec said Myslikova stood tall and proudly and made profound arguments why neo-Nazism should be dead.

Cicmanec did not hear Myslikova's conversation with the neo-Nazi very clearly but he added that they argued about the concept of nations, immigration and refugees. "She tried to explain to him that nationalism makes no sense because we are all people and should not be treated differently based on some arbitrary distinctions," Cicmanec said.

As it turned out, it was not only Cicmanec who got caught into Myslikova's sharp discussion against the far-right demonstrator. Other marchers took photos of Myslikova during the debate and her images became viral on Twitter, according to New York Times.

A young Girl Scout protesting against a neo-Nazi march in Brno, Czech republic. pic.twitter.com/nE4TXoy2pa  Rob (@R0BERTeM) May 2, 2017

Different angles showed Myslikova's banner. It read "We will raise your girls," the motto of Myslikova's organization, written in Czech.

Along with Myslikova, Cicmanec also said seven or eight girl scouts attended the demonstration. Counter-demonstrators outnumbered neo-Nazis during the march as they sang and played music.

Some of the counter-protesters poke fun and trolled the neo-Nazis, Cicmanec added. The peaceful resistance showed that neo-Nazism was not welcomed in the nation.

The World Organization of Scout Movement recognized Myslikova's courage in the face of burgeoning neo-Nazism. The organization posted Myslikova's astounding photo on its Facebook account.

"People from all walks of life, and #Scouts among them, came to the streets during an extreme right march yesterday, to express their support for values of diversity, peace and understanding," the Facebook post read. "Creating a better world!"
A group of four students from Albany High School got suspended after they followed a racist Instagram account handled by another student from the same school. The students then sought legal help and sued the school and Albany Unified School District over the suspension and they contended that their First Amendment rights got violated because their actions fell under the free speech rights of the country.

The students, all juniors, asked a federal judge to delete their records of the suspension. They also asked the judge to allow them to have make-up activities for the missed classes. They also hoped to seek reimbursement but the details about what they want as a payment remained unclear.

They posted racist statements and comments on the private Instagram account ran by another student. The students contended because they posted their comments and statements outside of school, they should have not been suspended. The attorneys of the plaintiffs also claimed school officials paraded the group before they got suspended and their schoolmates yelled at them and some got beaten up, NBC News shared.

For the violation of their First Amendment rights, the students' attorneys said the way the school officials handled the situation and how they tried to discipline their clients caused the damage. The defense team pointed out the Instagram account was private so there was no ground for any form of discipline. The posts, which showed African-American students at the school, only became public after the school district ordered it to be visible to others.

Meanwhile, other reports said a total of 13 students got reprimanded for following the Instagram account and for liking and commenting on the racist posts. Some faced the possibility of expulsion from the school. It remained unknown what the other students' moves are regarding the disciplinary actions imposed on them.

In response to the lawsuit, Albany Unified School District said they take great care to ensure their students feel safe at school and they are committed to providing inclusive and respectful learning environment. They added they will defend their core values no matter what.

Albany High School's black student population is less than five percent of its whole student body, SF Gate shared. Some students believe how the school officials handled the matter is correct.
According to a new report, Robert Bosch GmbH has won orders from Apple Inc. to supply the next iPhone with some of its motion sensors, according to a person familiar with the deal, a potential blow to InvenSense Inc., currently the main supplier of those smartphone components.

The change -- hinted at by InvenSense's finance chief in August -- comes as the San Jose, California-based maker of motion-sensing chips seeks to complete its $1.3 billion sale to TDK Corp., a deal partly aimed at boosting the Japanese company's business with Apple. InvenSense shares declined more than 5 percent in extended trading Thursday.

Bosch may supply as much as half of these components for the new iPhone, with InvenSense supplying the rest, the person said. Bosch already supplies barometric pressure sensors for the iPhone, according to product teardowns by iFixit and other firms that analyze the guts of gadgets. Representatives for Apple, InvenSense and Bosch declined to comment. TDK didn't respond to requests for comment outside of normal business hours in Japan.

The components produced by Bosch and InvenSense contain gyroscopes and accelerometers. Gyroscopes can tell if a phone is being held horizontally or vertically, being shaken, or pointing in a particular direction. An accelerometer detects different movements, such as side-to-side motion. Together, the sensors help measure step count, and they're useful for mobile games and augmented reality applications. In the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7, these were supplied exclusively by InvenSense, according to teardowns.

What the Bloomberg report didn't point out is that Bosch notes that their Gyroscope has properties that Apple plans to bring to future products that may even begin with the iPhone 8. As the Bosch graphic in our report points out, their Gyroscope's can meet the needs of products related to Augmented Reality, in-air gesture recognition, indoor navigation and smart glasses. These are known markets that Apple is aiming for. They're areas that Apple has supporting patents on.



If the Bosh chips are going to be used in the iPhone 8, then more than likely one of the the major strengths of this chip may make it to market. This chip also happens to be used in smart car systems.

All of a sudden the ho-hum news of Apple bringing Bosch sensors onboard today has taken on a whole new and exciting twist.

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Shirin Ebadi: Iran's 2017 Presidential Hopefuls Have Unacceptable Human Rights Records

05/04/17

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

Not one of the candidates running for Iran's presidency has an acceptable human rights record, Iranian Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) in a recent interview .





Shirin Ebadi





Ebadi said she was especially appalled by the candidacy of Ebrahim Raisi, who served on a committee that implemented the executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988.

"His involvement in atrocities and the massacre of prisoners because of their political or religious views in the 1980s will not be forgotten," said Ebadi, who defended activists and dissidents as a human rights lawyer in Iran.

"They sent waves of young people to their graves for their views against the state and would not tell their families where many of them were buried," added Ebadi, who was forced to flee Iran in 2009 because of her profession.

On May 19, 2017, Iranians will elect their president from among six candidates: current President Hassan Rouhani; current Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri; the current custodian of the wealthy Astan Quds Razavi religious institution, Ebrahim Raisi; former vice president Mostafa Hashemitaba; the former mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf; and former Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Mostafa Mirsalim.

The majority of the estimated 4,500-5000 people who were killed during the summer of 1988 were members of the opposition group, the Mojahedin-e Khalgh (MEK).

"My husband's brother was 17 when he sold the Mojahed newspaper at his high school," Ebadi told CHRI. "Back then (in the early 1980s), Mojahed was a legal publication, but nevertheless he was arrested after the school principal told on him to the Intelligence Ministry."

"He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in an unfair trial without having access to a lawyer. He was in prison for seven years and then in 1988 his family received a phone call that he had been executed, even though he had only been sentenced to prison," said Ebadi, who was forced to leave Iran because of her occupation in 2009.

"The authorities refused to say where the young man had been buried and warned his mother not to hold a memorial ceremony," she said. "Of course, the family did not listen and they did hold a special gathering for him. Then, a year later, the authorities identified his grave."

The Iranian government has never acknowledged that the mass executions, mostly by hanging, took place in 1988. Many of the victims were buried or dumped in unmarked graves and many families were never told where their loved ones were buried.

In August 2016, Ahmad Montazeri, the son of the late Grand Ayatollah Hosseinali Montazeri, posted online an audio recording of a meeting in 1988 between the ayatollah and the "Death Committee" that was appointed to question the prisoners.

Montazeri, who at the time was the heir apparent to the Islamic Republic's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini-who appointed the committee-condemned the killings, telling the members of the committee in Tehran: "I believe this is the greatest crime committed in the Islamic Republic since the [1979] revolution and history will condemn us for it.... History will write you down as criminals."

"Mr. Raisi was one of the officials who signed those execution orders," Ebadi told CHRI. "He is even identified by name on Ayatollah (Hosseinali) Montazeri's tape recording."

The prisoners, who had already been sentenced, did not know they were facing death when they then faced the inquisition-like proceedings held by the committees, which operated in Tehran and around the country.

In Tehran, the prisoners were executed after one meeting in which members of the committee asked them questions about their religious and political beliefs.

Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her defense of human rights in Iran, also criticized President Rouhani for failing to defend human rights during his first term, which began in 2013.

"Unfortunately, the current president and the other candidates don't have an acceptable human rights record either," said Ebadi. "Mr. Rouhani cannot escape responsibility and blame the judiciary for the fact that the Intelligence Ministry under his administration has ordered the arrests of many journalists and civil rights activists."

"One of them is my colleague, Narges Mohammadi, who has been in prison for many years because of charges brought by the Intelligence Ministry," she said.

"We must not forget this and many other cases and just blame the judiciary."

"Also, when Mr. Mirsalim was the minister of culture and Islamic guidance, he was nicknamed 'the butcher' for banning books and newspapers," she added. "Mr. Ghalibaf's astronomical abuses of power are truly a shame on the Tehran municipality's hard-working staff."

Continued Ebadi: "People are always left to choose (a president) between bad and worse because of the Guardian Council's strict vetting of candidates."

The 12-man conservative Guardian Council, an unelected clerical body in charge of vetting all presidential candidates, rejected 1630 out of the record-number of 1636 people who applied to run for president in 2017, including all female and religious minorities.
An Interview with Scholar and Historian Ervand Abrahamian on the Islamic Republic's "Greatest Crime"

05/05/17

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

Presidential Hopeful Ebrahim Raisi Served on Committee That Ordered Executions of Thousands



Dr. Ervand Abrahamian

Distinguished professor of Iranian and Middle Eastern history and politics.



The executions of thousands of political prisoners in Iran in 1988 has received renewed attention due to the presidential election coming up on May 19, in which one of the candidates-Ebrahim Raisi-was a member of the committee that ordered the killings.

The "Death Committee," as it came to be known, ordered the killings on the basis of two fatwas issued by the Islamic Republic's founder and then-supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Some were killed after being deemed apostates by the committee.

"This was more of a medieval inquisition, and we have not seen anything like it in modern Iranian history," prominent scholar and historian Ervand Abrahamian, who chronicled the massacre in his book, Tortured Confessions, told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

At the time, Khomeini's own heir apparent, Hosseinali Montazeri, bitterly condemned the murders, which seemed intended to end all internal dissent in the then-young Islamic Republic, saying, "...history will condemn us for it.... History will write you down as criminals."

No Iranian official has ever been held accountable for this crime against humanity. Indeed, Raisi went on to serve in senior judicial positions, and currently heads Astan Quds Razavi, one of Iran's wealthiest shrine-based religious institutions that effectively functions as a major business conglomerate.

The exact death toll in 1988 remains unknown, because the Iranian government refuses to provide a list of those executed or even acknowledge that the killings took place. Montazeri put the number of executed prisoners between 2,800 and 3,800 in his memoirs. Estimates by human rights organizations, based on lists of names gathered by the United Nations and former political prisoners, state 4,500-5,000 prisoners were killed.

In a 1988 audio recording of a meeting with the committee Raisi served on, the now deceased Montazeri is heard telling the members: "I believe this is the greatest crime committed in the Islamic Republic since the revolution."

A renowned expert, Dr. Abrahamian has taught modern Iranian history at the universities of Oxford, Columbia, New York, and Princeton, and for over forty years at Baruch College, City University of New York. Excerpts of CHRI's interview with Dr. Abrahamian follow.

Why did the founder of Iran's 1979 revolution, Ruhollah Khomeini, order the executions in 1988?

There is much speculation on the reasons for it. One interpretation is that he wanted to empty out the overcrowded prisons, but he could have done that by releasing the prisoners. Another interpretation is that the regime was so insecure, that it saw the executions as a way get rid of the opposition, to improve its security. But that doesn't make sense either because the regime had basically just concluded the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) and this was a time of relief, with no upsurge by the opposition.

Since there was no upsurge, we arrive at the interpretation that this was a way for the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini, to really cement who was 100 percent behind the regime. By doing something as outrageous as the horrendous executions, he could divide the half-hearted, from the liberal, to the solid supporters of the regime.

Why did Khomeini decide to appoint Ebrahim Raisi, who will be running for president in May 2017, to the committee?

Khomeini issued two fatwas (Islamic decrees) for the creation of the committees, and clearly he wanted the executions, so he appointed hardliners. He must have thought Raisi was a good person for that.

Raisi was very young at the time, and not very prominent. Only after he was appointed to head Astan Quds Razavi did people remember his role in the executions.

The only person of the four (then-Judge Hosseinali Nayeri, then-Tehran Prosecutor Morteza Eshraghi, then-Deputy Prosecutor General Ebrahim Raisi and the Intelligence Ministry's representative in Evin Prison at the time, Mostafa Pourmohammadi) who was less hardline and tried to bend the rules to save some people, was Eshraghi. But the others were all hardliners.

Can you elaborate on the fatwas issued by Khomeini?

There is one thing that people don't realize. There were two fatwas, one was directly aimed at the Mojahedin-e Khalgh (MEK), [an opposition group dedicated to the overthrow of the regime] the other was directed towards non-Mojahedin prisoners. Now, the fatwa for the Mojahedin was designed to see who was still sympathetic enough to the MEK that, even if they disassociated themselves from it, they were not willing to go against it and fight it. This was a fatwa against "warring against God." These were political executions, which is not abnormal for a revolutionary regime.

The second fatwa was more sinister and more significant. Very few people have mentioned it, and even Montazeri doesn't mention it in his denunciation of the executions. This was basically a fatwa against apostasy, on whether you were born a Muslim, but no longer believe in Islam. So this was no longer a political issue. This became about prisoners' belief in God.

This time the committee wasn't asking questions like, "Do you support the regime? Are you against the regime?" Because most of the prisoners were actually supportive of the regime. Now they were asking things like: "Do you pray? Do you believe in the afterlife? Do you believe in the Koran is the word of God?"

This was more of a medieval inquisition, and we have not seen anything like it in modern Iranian history.

And these prisoners, if they gave the wrong answer, for example, if they said, well this is a personal belief and I don't have to answer, or were raised as a Muslim and no longer believe, that would be proof of guilt. Then they were an apostate, and being an apostate according to the regime's interpretation of sharia (Islamic law), meant you could be executed. So this is a very different type of trial than a political trial. This is like a trial in medieval Europe on heresy.

The executions for apostasy had not happened before?

The execution of people for apostasy is a novelty. It hasn't ever happened in Iran. In the past people have been executed for misinterpreting Islam, but I don't know of anyone being executed for not believing in the afterlife.

There is another interesting thing about the Montazeri revelations. In there, he figures out that (current Supreme Leader) Ali Khamenei, who was at the time president, was not even aware of the second fatwa. So it was really just known about by Khomeini, his son Ahmad, and those who were directly involved in the executions.

Montazeri sent his protest to Khamenei as president, trying to get Khamenei to do something about it and didn't succeed. Then, in the discussions, he discovers that Khamenei didn't even know about the second fatwa.

Were the executions legal?

According to the law, you must have been found guilty of something that would warrant execution, such as armed struggle against the regime. But the people who were executed in the mass executions had not been accused of that, and had been serving sentences for much lesser crimes. They had already been tried and not found guilty of capital offenses before, and then they were suddenly brought back and executed.

How involved was Khomeini in the process?

As with many of Khomeini's decisions, he wasn't directly involved. He issued the fatwa for the committees to carry out the retrials of the people, and appointed the judges, so then he wasn't made responsible for deciding who was executed.

Did the government document the killings?

They tried to hide everything and were completely secretive about it. If anyone did raise questions at the time, the government just denied it happened. Of course, the information did eventually get out because they killed so many family members.

What were the main prisons that the executions took place?

The vast majority were killed in Tehran, primarily at Gohar Dasht Prison, and the majority of those executions were done under the first fatwa. The list I found said about 300 were killed under the second fatwa.

In Tehran, the sentencing was carried out by a special committee appointed by Khomeini. Later the families of the victims would call it the "Death Committee" Local judges would have been appointed to do the task in the provinces. This all took place in the course of about three months.

How were the families informed?

The ones who were killed for apostasy were not placed in the official cemeteries. They were dumped near the desert towards Khorasan Province. It was again through word of mouth that family members discovered the graves.

Some of the bodies were not properly buried, so parts of the bodies would reappear in the desert land and formerly the families would gather there and take flowers.

The other families (killed under the first fatwa) often got some of their last testaments. There was a tradition that prisoners who were to be executed could write their will and it would be sent to the family. Again, the regime is very bureaucratic, so if they had eyeglasses or clothes, those would be returned to the family. But usually it took a while. The government stretched it out so it would be months before all the family members knew what had happened.

After the 1980s, did Iran see any more mass executions of this type and this scale?

No, since then there hasn't been a real opposition. After the executions, those who were not executed were released en mass. So if you survived the inquisitions or the Mojahedin trials, within months of the executions the prisons were emptied out.

But a lot of the people who were then released were so fearful that this could happen again, that many of them basically just left the country.

The regime was already successful at defeating the opposition before that. The Mojahedin had really been defeated long before and their last bid for power was when they came across the border to invade Iran [in the Iran-Iraq war] and they were militarily defeated in 1988.
Russia, Turkey, Iran Agree on 'De-Escalation Zones' for Syria

05/05/17

By Daniel Schearf, VOA

MOSCOW - Russia, Turkey, and Iran agreed to a Moscow-proposed deal Thursday to establish so-called "de-escalation" zones in Syria to try to end the six-year conflict in the country.





Representatives of the three Syria cease-fire guarantor nations signed a memorandum to that effect at the end of the latest round of peace talks in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.



The proposal calls for taking measures to reduce fighting in four designated areas of Syria where rebels not associated with Islamic State terrorists control significant territory.

Progress on peace?

Despite what appears to be progress after four rounds of talks in Astana, there remains a great deal of skepticism about whether such a deal can be implemented.



No details were released on how the three countries, which support different sides in the conflict, would attempt to end the violence. And while the Syrian government voiced its support for the agreement, neither Damascus nor the Syrian rebels signed any deal.



Members of the Syrian opposition delegation in Astana walked out of the meeting Thursday, shouting their dissatisfaction with Iran being part of the talks. The head of the opposition delegation, Mohammed Alloush, did not attend the second day of talks.



The rebel delegation suspended its participation on Wednesday over ongoing airstrikes but members returned to the table for the final day of talks.



While Russia and Iran support the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey backs the rebels.

Turkey, Russia agree on Syria?

But during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's joint press briefing with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi Wednesday, Erdogan concentrated on condemning terrorism rather than Assad's government.



"We never drew distinctions between terrorist organizations, whether (the Kurdish) YPG, ISIS (Islamic State) or al-Qaida. They are all the same to us," said Erdogan. "They all feed on blood, chaos and tears. It is our common responsibility to eradicate these terrorist organizations."



And while Erdogan condemned a suspected chemical weapons attack early last month on civilians in Khan Sheikhun, and said Putin agreed those responsible must be punished, he did not call out Damascus as the culprit.



Despite an earlier fallout over Syria, Putin declared a returning to normal cooperation with Turkey and expressed confidence they could set up "de-escalation" zones.



"As guarantors of the cease-fire, Turkey, Iran, and Russia, will do their best to ensure that these mechanisms get better and are effective. We will support this proposal," said Putin.

Much work ahead

But analysts say there is much yet to be negotiated on Syria and remaining differences between Turkey and Russia.



"The Russian concept differs from that of both Turkey and the United States," says Alexander Shumilin, head of the Center for the Analysis of Middle East Conflicts at the Institute for U.S. and Canadian Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.



"What Russia suggests is aimed at the reduction of the level of tension by maintaining control over certain territories by the main international players like Russia, Iran and Turkey. The Turkish view is to create no-fly zones as well as territories to collect refugees. They could be controlled solely by international organizations," Shumilin said.

Syrian rebels have said they would not accept Russian or Iranian monitors on the ground and voiced doubts that the Syrian government or its Russian backers would stop bombing them. Damascus has rejected previous suggestions of establishing "no-fly" zones in Syria. Putin said the grounding of aircraft would be conditional.



"With regard to a no-fly zone, if this is a de-escalation zone, then aircraft will not operate there either, provided that these zones show no sign of military activity," Putin said at the joint briefing Wednesday.

US participation

The United States and some Arab countries are also backing rebel groups that want to overthrow Assad. The U.S. sent its highest-level official yet to observe the talks in Astana - Acting Assistant Secretary of State Stuart Jones.



The Kremlin's plan is similar to calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for "safe zones" in Syria, and Putin said Trump seemed to support the idea when the leaders talked Tuesday by phone.



More details, concerns and objections are expected to be aired in the coming weeks.



Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry said the next round of expanded Syria talks in Geneva is set for late May while the next Russia, Turkey, and Iran-brokered Astana meeting is set for mid-July.



Olga Pavlova contributed to this report.
Microsofts Windows 10 in S Mode (or Windows 10 S) is Microsofts answer to Googles Chrome OS: a secured, walled garden allowing only approved apps from the Microsoft Store. Thats fine for classrooms and family PCs, but eventually youll want to switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Home. Heres how.

With most Windows 10 S devices reserved for closely managed classrooms, theres arguably only one current Windows 10 S device where the transition from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro becomes an important decision: the Surface Laptop Go, which follows the original Surface Laptop and the original Surface Go as Microsofts mass-market devices that used Windows 10 S.

Your PC will likely refer to Windows 10 S as Windows 10 in S Mode, or Windows 10 Home in S Mode. Theyre all the same. In any event, switching from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Home is free. Just realize that your path from Windows 10 in S Mode goes directly to Windows 10 Home, and that its a one-way street.

Mark Hachman / IDG Microsofts Surface Laptop Go, which ships with Windows 10 in S Mode installed.

What is Windows 10 S again?

Microsoft designed Windows 10 S to accompany students from elementary school all the way through college, ready to graduate to full-fledged Windows PCs. The operating system and its small flock of laptops are designed to shoulder Chromebooks out of the market, where Googles ecosystem currently dominates.

Windows 10 S is simple enough: Users are presented with an OS that appears to be almost identical to Windows 10. Microsoft prevents users from downloading apps from anywhere but the Windows Store, however, and secures those apps inside a sandboxed container. That means that certain Windows apps wont run, either, including PowerShell and the Command Line, as well as Windows Defender. In fact, theres really no antivirus support at all within Windows 10 in S Mode, though Microsoft would argue that its required approval of every app means nothing can sneak in. (You can pin a Web app, like Facebook, to the Start menu or Taskbar as an app, however.)

Because of the additional security surrounding Windows 10 S, the operating system actively blocks any attempts to sideload apps from the Web or other sources. (This includes other browsers like Google Chrome, for instance.) Instead, Windows 10 S may pop up a notice warning you that your app is forbidden, and refers you to the Windows Store for alternatives.

To support Windows 10 S, Microsoft orchestrated two hardware ecosystems around it: a collection of sub-$300 rugged clamshell notebooks for younger students, and the handful of Surface devices that weve mentioned above. The Surface Laptop Go creates the most confusion, because itll likely be used in classrooms where others are using full-fledged Windows 10 machines. If a teacher wants their students to use a non-Store app, those students will be forced to switch to Windows 10 Home.

Where can I buy a PC with Windows 10 S?

Though Microsoft likely hopes that Windows 10 S PCs will be handed out by educators in the classroom, youll more commonly find some inexpensive PCs sold with Windows 10 with S Mode at major retailers like Amazon. Chances are that Windows 10 in S Mode will be called out in the product description, such as in this HP laptop with S ModeRemove non-product link.

Melissa Riofrio/PCWorld Dells Latitude 11 EDU was one of the first laptops built for Windows 10 S. Now, dozens of low-cost laptops have replaced it.

You can also buy a Surface Laptop GoRemove non-product link directly from the Microsoft Store, traditionally accompanied by a 10-percent discount for educational purchases.

How to switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Home

Microsofts path to switch out of Windows 10 in S Mode to Windows used to go through the Windows Store. Today, if you type in Windows 10 Home within the Store while in S Mode, youll see a page summarizing the advantages of Windows 10 S and Windows 10 Home.

Melissa Riofrio/PCWorld Windows 10 S devices will use only Windows Store apps, as Microsofts Terry Myerson originally demonstrated. If you try to download another app, a dialog box will appear suggesting comparable Windows Store apps.

Its in the Windows 10 Settings menu, however, where the switch between Windows 10 in S Mode and Windows 10 Home takes place. Within the Windows 10 Settings menu (Update & Security > Activation) lies the Switch to Windows 10 Home option. While its doubtful that youll lose data, just ensure everything is backed up regardless. Remember, too, that theres no easy way to go back to Windows 10 S.

Mark Hachman / IDG You really dont have to go back to the Microsoft Store to switch over, which takes just a second or two regardless.

Click it, and the switch takes place almost instantaneously. Your PC may not even need to reboot. You should have access to every file and app you had before, with the advantage that you now can run every app that Windows can.

I did notice one quirk that I hadnt before. I typically use the Command Line app (or PowerShell) as a way for Windows to tell me about the laptops battery. For whatever reason, after switching the Surface Laptop Go to Windows 10 Home, that app wasnt accessible from the Start menu. Accessing the Run app, though, and typing Cmd brought it up, however, and it ran as before.

If youd like, you can then upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Proand for power users, there are some reasons for doing so. But wed probably say that if your PC began with Windows 10 S, it probably doesnt need to run Windows 10 Pro, and it will cost $99 to upgrade unless you have a separate Windows 10 Pro license key lying around.

Mark Hachman / IDG Windows 10 S makes it a little difficult to find the Windows 10 Pro upgrade, but searching will bring it up. Oddly, in 2020 Microsoft has eliminated the suggested Windows 10 upgrade result that appears at the top of the suggestions, here. But if you type upgrade and hit ENTER, youll be directed to the Windows 10 Pro upgrade page within the Store.

When we say that switching from Windows 10 S to Windows Home is a one-way street, we mean it. Resetting your PC wont bring Windows 10 S backwe tried, even with a cloud download. Technically, its possible: Microsoft advises that you can try out Windows 10 S on Windows 10 Prowhich, of course, means a $99 upgrade just so you can go back to Windows 10 S.

Basically, if you decide Windows 10 S isnt for you, just make sure of your decision!

Updated on Oct. 15, 2020 to note changes in the switching process and make reference to the Surface Laptop Go.
Microsofts taking aim at Chromebooks and MacBooks alike with Windows 10 S, a new version of Windows 10 designed foremost for educational use. But schools alone arent Microsofts target audience, and while the new operating system shares the same underlying bones as the standard version of Windows 10, there are some stark differences too.

Heres everything you need to know about Windows 10 S, mostly from a mainstream consumer perspectiveand starting with the question everybodys asking.

Update 8/28/17: For a more hands-on perspective, read our full review of Windows 10 S.

Okay, so whats the S for?

Windows chief Terry Myerson claims it stands for four different aspects of the operating system:

Secure

Superior performance

Streamlined for simplicity

The soul of Windows 10

And sure, those all apply. Even the last one! But really, the S could stand for Store.

What is Windows 10 S?

Windows 10 S is a version of Windows 10 that can only run apps from Microsofts Windows Store. Traditional desktop software will work on Windows 10 S, but only if its developer packages it up as a Windows app in the Windows Store first. (For example, Microsoft is bringing the full desktop Office apps to the Windows Store to support the Windows 10 S release.)

Microsoft

Not all Windows Store apps will run on Windows 10 S however. Just because an app comes from the Windows Store does NOT automatically mean that its safe and suitable for running in Windows 10 S, Microsofts Rich Turner wrote in a MSDN post. There are some apps that are not allowed to run on Windows 10 S, including all command-line apps, shells and consoles. That means Windows 10s Linux apps wont run on Windows 10 S.

Microsoft screens Windows Store apps, and Windows 10 protects things even more by running those apps in secure containers that cant access other parts of the operating system. That keeps software from mucking with your registry or spawning tons of processes, which helps the system run fast and boot as quickly on day one-hundred as day one. (The banned apps reach outside their sandbox.) The startup process should take less than 15 seconds, and the login process less than five seconds.

Those perks are a boon to beleaguered school admins and teachers, and Microsofts answer to the rapid rise of Google Chromebooks in the classroom. (Well get more into that later.) Windows 10 S laptops will also be sold to consumers, however.

What if I want to run desktop software?

You cant, unless its been packaged as a Windows Store app. Trying to run other software will prompt a pop-up telling you its banned, and a suggestion for a similar app in the Windows Store.

Mark Hachman / IDG If you try to load an unapproved app on Windows 10 S, youll see this pop-up.

If you really need to run desktop software, Microsoft makes it easy to upgrade from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro. (Theres no apparent way to convert to Windows 10 Home.) A link at the bottom of the aforementioned pop-up will bring you to the Windows 10 Pro upgrade page in the Windows Store, where an administrator can start the install process. No, school kids wont be able to do it themselves, and thats a good thingthis is a one-way process. Once youve switched to Windows 10 Pro, you cant go back to Windows 10 S.

Depending how where your Windows 10 S device came from, however, that Windows 10 Pro upgrade may or may not cost you money.

Can I run Microsoft Office?

Microsoft is including 1 year of Office 365 Personal on Surface Laptop running Windows 10 S that ships during the preview period. During that time, youll be able to get preview versions of the following Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote for Windows 10 (not OneNote 2016), Outlook, Access, and Publisher. Unfortunately, the simplified Office Mobile apps will not be available, Microsoft says in a FAQ.

After the preview period expires, the Office apps will be automatically be upgraded to the release build.

How much is an upgrade to Windows 10 Pro?

Like I said, it depends. Educators will be able to upgrade school systems for free. If you buy Microsofts swanky new Surface Laptop or another Windows 10 S laptop that costs more than $799, you can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro for free through the end of 2017, or for $49 after. If you pick up any other Windows 10 S device itll be $49 to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro from day one. PCWorlds Mark Hachman digs into the details here.

How much does Windows 10 S cost?

Trick question! You wont be able to buy Windows 10 S by itself, only on devices that come with it preloaded.

What Windows 10 S laptops are there?
A former government appointee at the Kumasi metropolitan assembly Mr.Francis Dodovi has petitioned the Commission for Human Rights and Admnistrative Justice over some Two Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis bribery allegation between the presiding member Hon.Abraham Boadi, some members of the assembly and an investor known as Alpha Power Company Limited.



According to him, Pursuant to a petition written by three members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) dated 24th, April, 2017, addressed to the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Kumasi, and copied to the Metro Coordinating Director of same, imploring them to conduct an investigation into a matter of bribery and conflict of interest against the Presiding Member and some Assembly Members of the KMA, he is also urging CHRAJ to further cause an investigation into this important matter that bothers on serious allegations of bribery against these public officers who are members of the Assembly.



Attached; copy of the petition



2ND MAY, 2017



THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR



COMMISSION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE (CHRAJ)

KUMASI.



Dear Sir/Madam,



PETITION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF BRIBERY AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST AGAINST SOME ASSEMBLY MEMBERS OF THE KUMASI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY.



Pursuant to a petition written by three members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) dated 24th, April, 2017, addressed to the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Kumasi, and copied to the Metro Coordinating Director of same, imploring them to conduct an investigation into a matter of bribery and conflict of interest against the Presiding Member and some Assembly Members of the KMA, I wish to petition your noble office to also further cause an investigation into this important matter that bothers on serious allegations of bribery against these public officers who are members of the Assembly.



In the said petition, the petitioners alleged that the Hon. Presiding Member of the Assembly, Hon. Abraham Boadi, assisted by the convener of the Environmental Sub-Committee of the Assembly, Hon. Nana Yaw Wiredu, led a delegation of some selected Assembly Members to Accra to meet and negotiate with an investor called Alphar Power Co. Ltd. on behalf of the Assembly.



The petitioners further alleged that this company in question, in its quest to secure a contract with the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, sponsored the air travelling expenses, paid an amount of GH30,000.00 and promised an additional payment of GH200,000.00 to the Presiding Member and his colleagues should they be able to facilitate the companys bid to secure a contract with KMA.

Source: ISAAC KWAME OWUSUS/ email: [email protected]









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A suspected homosexual has been nabbed for dressing like a woman and allegedly seducing men into homosexuality in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.



Chris Boateng, 26 aka Nana Kwame, a resident of Medoma, near Kumasi, claims to have been practising homosexuality for 16 years now.



Chris is also called Tracey or Ciara when she dresses like a female and purportedly visits night clubs in the city to woo men to sleep with him for a fee.



He was apprehended at about 9pm on Friday at Adum, the Central Business District (CBD) of the city by police patrol team.



Police



The Ashanti Regional Police Crime Officer, Chief Supt. Peter Baba, told DAILY GUIDE that his outfit was yet to prefer charges against the suspect.



He said the police would also investigate to see if Chris intentionally dresses like a woman to trap men.



Rumours



Unconfirmed reports indicate that Chris might be a criminal who only dresses like a woman to trap men, after which he robs them.



The paper gathered that some time ago, he was nearly lynched by some men when they realized that hes a man and had deceptively dressed like a woman.



A police patrol team reportedly arrived at the scene on time and prevented the angry mob from manhandling Chris, who was then looking hapless.



Confession



Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, Chris, who didnt look worried, admitted that hes a gay, adding that he had been a homosexual since age 10.



He said his mother died when he was just six years old and was forced to leave home at the age of 10 because his step-mother was maltreating him.



Chris told the paper that some friends introduced him to homosexuality, adding that he had been a gay to date.



According to him, he usually dresses like a lady and dances at night clubs to entertain people who give money to him for his performance.

Source: Daily Guide









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Journalists have been called to uphold and adhere to ethical standards, as nations across the globe mark 2017 World Press Freedom Day.



Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), an anti-corruption media advocacy non-governmental organisation, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

May 3, marks the World Press Freedom Day as declared by the United Nations General Assembly back in 1993.

It is set aside to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom to evaluate press freedom around the world to defend the media from attacks.

Mr Ahenu said journalists would be free from violence and to contribute to peace, sustainability, poverty eradication and human rights, if the media remained neutral and are guided by acceptable standards.

He said since the media continues to be a major influence in globalization, there is the need to strengthen free and quality journalism to enable the practitioners and reporters to contribute effectively to nation building.

Speaking on the theme for the 2017 World Press Freedom Day Justice for all as a prerequisite for freedom of expression and sustainable development, Mr Ahenu said African journalists would get support from the society if they discharged their duties in a more responsive and professional manner.

He said the media could contribute significantly to accelerated national development if it worked in tandem with the fundamental principles of contemporary journalism.

Source: GNA









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The Ghana Armed Forces has denied reports that Ghanaian soldiers in peacekeeping operation in Mali have been attacked.



The supposed bloody attack on the Ghanaian contingent has gone viral on social media platforms, especially whatsApp.



The bloody images circulating on social media has a soldier being treated of multiple injuries from the supposed attack.



But Speaking to Starrfmonline.com Friday, the Public Affairs Director of the Ghana Armed Forces, Colonel Aggrey Quashie, said although the UN compound in Mali which accommodates soldiers on peacekeeping operations has been raided, no Ghanaian officer was hurt in the attacks.



My information is that the UN compound where many of the soldiers are based has been attacked by rebels but no Ghanaian soldier has so far been hurt. So as far as we know, the Ghanaian soldiers are safe, he said.



Ghana since time immemorial has been a reliable partner and a major contributor to the UN on peacekeeping operations across the African continent.



The Ghanaian soldiers have on many occasions been commended by the UN for their professionalism at war theaters.

Source: Starr News









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A former Northern regional minister and government envoy to Angola, Moses Bukari Mabengba was escorted out of the Tamale International Airport VIP lounge Monday by a worker.



According to the worker, it was a decision from higher authority not to allow former NDC diplomats and heads of government departments to use the leisure room any longer.



Since January weve been using this place until this morning I got to the place and a young man came to inform me that please you are no more allowed to come and use the VIP lounge, and I asked why and he said orders from above, Mr. Mabengba told Starr News.



Mabengba noted he was relaxing in the lounge with raft of other VIPs including an NPP Member of Parliament for Ewutu Senya East Constituency and Minister for Special Development Initiative, Mavis Hawa Koomson whose pleas for the senior statesman to be spared was ignored.



Her other interventions were not recognized and the airport worker who was sent to carry out the orders adamantly took the former minister out to join private citizens at the public waiting room.



Fortunately for me, I was sitting in the lounge with one of the NPP MPs and also a minister, Hawa Koomson, and I told her look at what your people are doing  they are asking me a former ambassador, minister, an MP not to use the lounge.



Meanwhile, I know that while were in government this place was free and even cited several examplesI remember when we lost [and] the vice president visited, I received them at the airport, all of them including non-appointees of government, we were all allowed to pass through the VIP and today they did that to me, Mabengba told Starr News.



The former ambassador was heard loudly protesting while being driving out of the hospitality facility.



In fact, I wanted to refuse that order but I said if I do it that young man might lose his job because they would say he asked me to leave and I didnt leave, he stated.



Another former NDC government appointee Joyce Bawa-Mogtari, now spokesperson for former president John Mahama, was also seen waiting with a pack of travellers at the public waiting room. It is, however, not clear whether she was also denied access to the lounge. She was unavailable for comments.



The VIP lounge patrons enjoy special privileges and do not go through tedious booking procedures.



Mabengba, a former Ghana ambassador to Angola, said the decision to bar former NDC government appointees from using the lounge was politically motivated.



I told them, fortunately for me there was so many NPP people in the lounge with the minister that I will make case out of it not because I want redress but just wanted to be on record that after we left off, we were prevented from using some facilities so that if in future my party comes to government and the same measures are put in place, no sanctimonious pastor or civil society organizations or whatever should come and tell us that what we are doing are not correct , the NDC executive warned.



However, authorities of the airport have responded denying issuing such orders and said they were yet to receive briefing on the Monday incident.



Airport manager Micheal Omane Mensah spoke to Starr News saying, all former diplomats are allowed to use the VIP, adding: I dont know where that directive is coming from.



Omane who said he was away from the region pledged to launch an immediate probe into the issue.

Source: starrfmonline.com









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has charged leaders to be accountable to citizens in order to build trust in public institutions.



He explained that citizens are entitled to know what public funds are used for. For him, this is one of the important ways to build confidence in public institutions of the country.



Every month when I work, part of my salary is taken as tax, so as a citizen I want to be sure that whoever has been elected into government is going to be accountable on how he uses that money to improve my life, he said.



He made this known on Thursday, May 4 at the three-day 2017 World Economic Forum (WEF) being held in Durban, South Africa.



He was of the view that leaders must be held accountable to the people that voted them into office.







Source: classfmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former President John Mahama has blamed his defeat in the 2016 election on what he describes as incumbency disadvantage.



According to the former President, while his main opponent, now President Akufo-Addo, was promising everything to secure votes, he as president, was restricted on the kind of promises he could make because he knew the strength of the economy.



I had an incumbency disadvantage. I knew what the economy could give the people and I told the people the truth that we need more hard work to be able to get out of where we are; my opponent promised heaven and you have the constraints of not being able to promise all the rosy things he was doing. The people made a choice and voted me out Mr. Mahama said while he addressed a gathering at Durban in South Africa.



He added:  If he [President Nana Akufo-Addo] is able to deliver on his promises, good; if he is not able too, the people would have learnt that not all that glitters is gold.



Mr. Mahama also Africans to show interest in how their government manages their resources.



Every month when I work, part of my salary is taken as tax, so as a citizen I want to be sure that whoever has been elected into government is going to be accountable on how he uses that money to improve my life.



Mr. Mahama is the first Ghanaian sitting president to have an lost election.

Source: starrfm









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President Akufo-Addo says his government will be working with the Electoral Commission to ensure the law allowing Ghanaians abroad to vote in the country's elections becomes fully operational.



Addressing the Ghanaian community in Togo, President Akufo-Addo expressed disbelief that ten years after the Representation of People Amendment Law was passed, it is yet to be implemented. "We passed the law and I can't understand why 10 years later it is dormant on the statute books," he said reiterating an NPP 2016 campaign promise to revive ROPAL. Ghana has organised three general elections since the law was passed in 2007. But at each election, the elections governing body, the Election Commission, has signalled it is not ready to implement the law.



The then Electoral Commissioner Dr. Afari-Gyan remarked in 2007, "ROPAL is in stages and....we are in the preparatory stages."



A decade later, the Electoral Commission's 2016-2020 strategic plan states there is currently no plan to implement the law.



Nonetheless, the Commission has set a 2018 deadline to clearly define a roadmap for ROPAL implementation. The document mentions staffing and funding as some of the barriers to its implementation.



The signal from the President that "there is going to be an engagement by this govt" on ROPAL, is likely to renew public discussion on the controversial law.



It became a source of acrimonious opposition when the bill was first introduced into Parliament on June 14, 2005 under the former NPP government of President John Agyekum Kufuor. Three parties, the main opposition NDC, the CPP, PNC and a pressure group Committee for Joint Action were in vehement opposition to the law.



The CJA, led by veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt organised street protests to rally public disapproval of the law. A placard during one of the demonstrations called ROPAB, 'Robbery of People Abroad Bill'.



The NDC in parliament led by Alban Bagbin, boycotted debate on the legislation.



ROPAL and matters arising



ROPAL amended Section 7 and 8 of PNDCL 284 which states that Ghanaians abroad are allowed to vote except they should have continuously stayed in the country at least six months to the elections.



It meant that interested citizens should have returned to Ghana by July ahead of the December general elections.



The EC only makes provision for persons who work in diplomatic missions or international organisations of which Ghana is a member. Their spouses are also allowed to vote. Students on government scholarship and members of the Army and Police on peacekeeping duties are eligible to vote.



The commission has said administrative challenges such as mode of voting, either by proxy, mail or at an embassy would have to be resolved.



Opposition parties are sceptical about having the vote conducted at the embassies fearing incumbency could interfere with the process.



Opposition position on ROPAL



Critics of the law have said, ROPAL is not a priority for the ordinary Ghanaian looking to government to resolve 'bread and butter issues'.



They pointed out that for a country that relies on donor partners to fund its elections, extending the process to cover citizens outside Ghana is an unnecessary burden.



The General Secretary of the Peoples National Convention Bernard Mornah described it as "an inimical law that should not find space in our political system."



Some argued that if Ghanaians in the Diaspora are interested in voting, travelling to Ghana to do so should not be too much to ask.



Founder of the NDC and former President Jerry Rawlings accused the government then, of planning to use the law to rig the 2008 elections.



The NDC also felt the NPP government was in a haste to pass the law and warned of possible conflict if ROPAL was used in the general elections in 2008.



NPP position



The NPP pointed out other countries in Africa such as Mali, Senegal, Cape Verde and Botswana which allowed their citizens in the Diaspora to vote.



Advocates for the bill argued that Ghanaians abroad contribute to the growth of the economy through remittances and should be given the opportunity to vote.



Remittances to Ghana was estimated at about two billion dollars in 2015.



Majority Leader at the time Felix Owusu Agyapong criticised the NDC for opposing the bill for opposition sake.



"What we have observed is that whenever a bold decision is taken by this government to move the country forward the Minority always drag their feet. It happened with HIPC. It happened on the National Reconciliation Commission. We saw it with the National Health Insurance. And we are seeing it with the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill".



The EC in 2008 doused the controversy somewhat after its chairman Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan stated the law was not going to be applied in the 2008 elections. He blamed partisan gridlock as part of the commission's reasons for deciding to shelve the law.



"The voting rights of citizens abroad became an issue a long time ago during the NDC; at that time the NPP sang "over our dead body; now NPP says ROPAL is the best policy and the NDC is singing 'over our dead body,'" he said.



Any effort by the current government to ressurect the law is certain to reignite debates over its necessity.

Source: myjoyonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Kwesi Pratt has downplayed the relevance in studying French language in Senior High Schools as widely held by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.



President Nana Akufo-Addo has disclosed that his government plans to make the study of French language compulsory in all Senior High Schools from next academic year in September.



The government intends to make the language compulsory to promote neighborliness between Ghana and her neighboring countries.



The President made this remark in Togo during a two-day official visit to the country.



According to him, Ghana, which is surrounded by three Francophone countries should be proficient in the French language.



[Im] strongly for making French a compulsory language in our schools right up to the end of Senior High School. Im fortified in taking this decision because as far back as 10 years ago when I left Ghana into la Francophone I did so in Bucharest. The decision was that the Francophone organization will help us with the teachers of French in the schools because at the end of the day everything you did in the education always comes back to the teachers, he said.



But Kwesi Pratt disagrees with the government because to him, the French language doesn't have an international appeal as compared to the Hausa language.



Contributing to a panel discussion on Friday's edition of "Kokrokoo" on PeaceFM, Mr. Pratt preferred Hausa takes precedence over the French language, and therefore called on the government to make the study of Hausa compulsory instead of French.



If you want to introduce common language in West Africa to facilitate trade and so forth, the most widely spoken language in West Africa is Hausa not French or English. I dont know anywhere in Ghana that they dont speak Hausa. Nigeria which is the largest economy in West Africa, Hausa is the dominant language and so on. So, if we want to promote West Africa trade and so on, why would we promote French instead of Hausa? Hausa is the dominant language in West Africa and Hausa has become an international language



To him, Hausa should become the official language in the nation.



If Hausa is already the widest spoken language in West Africa, why dont we use Hausa? Why dont we develop Hausa to become the official language of West Africa if that is what we want? Why do you go for French?



so what future are we looking at? Are we looking at the next 5 years? Are we looking at the next 30 years? Are we looking at the next 100 years? What projections have we made that were saying French should be a compulsory language in our Senior High Schools? he questioned.



Mr. Pratt backed his assertions with a claim that "language is carried on the back of economic development and development in scientific technology if your influence in the world is what makes the language grow and thrive and so if the government wants to market the country, then the choice for French isn't the sure way.



"...if were taking a global approach to language as an instrument for business and so on, why French? Why not Chinese? Chinese is more widely spoken than FrenchChinese is becoming an international language today he said on Peace FM's Kokrokoo.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The governments of Ghana and Burkina Faso have pledged to work towards strengthening the ties of co-operation that exist between them, after the Presidents of the two countries expressed satisfaction with the current state of the relations between them.



In a joint communique issued at the end of the 2-day official visit to Burkina Faso by President Akufo-Addo, it was resolved that the two countries reinforce their co-operation in the areas of railway transport, road transport, agriculture, water, security, trade, works and housing and energy.



To realize an increase in the movement of goods and persons, and the corresponding economic and commercial benefits long the rail corridor of Ghana and Burkina Faso, both sides re-affirmed the crucial need to rapidly establish the railway interconnection project.



To this end, the two countries have agreed to reactivate the Joint Expert Committee to examine the various feasibility studies already undertaken, and define the modalities and conditions of the selection of a technical and financial partner for the project.



On agriculture, and in order to curb the smuggling of agro-chemicals across the borders of both countries, the Heads of State agreed to put measures in place to stop the illegal movement of agro-chemicals from Ghana into Burkina Faso. They also agreed to formalize Government to Government trade in cereals from Ghana, and vegetables from Burkina Faso.



With the annual opening of the spillways of the Bagre dam destroying lives, farmlands, livestock and property in Ghana, President Akufo-Addo and President Roch Marc Kabore have agreed to extend cooperation in the utilization of the excess water from the dam for irrigation purposes in the two countries.



The decision to reactivate the Joint Technical Committee on Integrated Water Resource Management (JTC-IWRM) to oversee and manage the annual spillage, so as to reduce the perennial flooding downstream, was also taken.



Touching on the issues of security, it was agreed that a framework to exchange and share information in tackling terrorism, violent robberies and organized crime be established. The activities of trans-humans from Burkina Faso into Ghana were identified as a security concern, and in this regard, both countries decided to hold frequent consultations to address this issue.



To efficiently address the issue of illegal activities at the borders, notably corruption and racketeering, both sides agreed to hold regular meetings in order to put an end to these practices, the communique noted.



It continued, Both sides agreed to assist companies from their respective countries to export their products under the Protocol of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS). They further agreed to collaborate, with the support of ECOWAS, to establish a Joint Border Post to facilitate trade and free movement of their peoples, goods and services. The two leaders also decided to work together in support of the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) under the auspices of the Africa Union (AU).



The Ghanaian government also agreed to collaborate and learn from the best practices of the Burkinabe Bank for Housing to enable the reactivation of the Bank for Housing and Construction in Ghana.



In the area of energy, Ghana and Burkina Faso decided to cooperate further to ensure the completion of the Ouagadougou-Bolgatanga Power Interconnection Supply project, to enable the importation of 85 megawatts into Burkina Faso by the close of 2017. Both sides also commended the completion of the Bolgatanga  Bingo Pipeline Project.



In addition to this, both sides commended the completion of the feasibility studies concerning the extension of the ECOWAS Gas Pipeline Network, the first connection of which would be between Accra and Ouagadougou.



In conclusion, President Akufo-Addo and President Kabore reiterated the attachment of their respective countries to the ideals of ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations. They, therefore, decided to increase consultations between their countries within international bodies to further harmonize their views on regional and international issues.



Prior to the issuing of the communique, President Roch Marc Christian Kabore decorated President Akufo-Addo with the highest national award of Burkina Faso, the Grand Croix de lOrdre National.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Fashion and Design students of Radford University College (RUC) have exhibited some talent of creativity when the school officially launched its 2017 fashion show at their forecourt.



The main event is schedule on May 27, at the plush Kempiski hotel in Accra  patrons would see the fashion students displaying on stage some artistic collections and designs.



Organizers of the event have compared upcoming event to the fashion shows at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.



This will be RUCs 5th edition of the fashion show  the school has made fashion-design an integral part of its curricula.



The school can boast of promising designer, Papa Oppong who was the best fashion design graduate of RUC and was featured on international news network CNN.



Speaking at the launch, Head of the Fashion Department at Radford University, Yvonne Ntiamoah urged students to endeavor in the fashion industry after describing it as more lucrative business venture.



She however noted that, the fashion industry can rejuvenate to Ghana ailing economy just like it is being done in countries like the United Kingdom and Italy.



"The London fashion week contributes about 28 billion pounds directly to the UK economy in 2014 according to oxford economics. But in Ghana the situation is different," she bemoaned.



Yvonne Ntiamoah, therefore, called on the Minister of Trade and Industry to support the fashion industry to flourish.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Students Representative Council (SRC) of University of Cape Coast (UCC) has honoured gospel musician SP Kofi Sarpong.



The King of Africa Borborbor received Life Changing Award at the 2017 SRC Choice Awards held at the institution on Saturday, April29. The award was given to the superintendent for his good works that has been affecting the lives of many Ghanaians since he started music.



SP Kofi Sarpong speaking at the awards thanked organisers of the event for the honour. He promised to continue his good works and live a life worth emulating.



SP Kofi Sarpong holds first edition of SP Kofi Sarpong Live In Concert on May 28 at the National Theater.



Gospel musicians who will join the King of Africa Borborbor on stage at the event are Ohemaa Mercy, Nacee, Joyce Blessing, Gifty Osei, Cecce Twum, Abena Ruthy, Francis Amo, Niella, Kinskid, KODA and many others.



Tickets for the event are selling at Gh50 for singular, Gh70 for double and GH100 for VIP.

Source: Zionfelix.net









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Fans of Celestine Donkor were astound as she asked the crowd if she should kiss her husband Kofi Donkor who also doubles as her manager on stage after the 12 years married couple renewed their wedding vows officiated by Bishop Yaw Owusu Ansah of Adom FM.



This follows an electrifying and spirit filled performance by Celestine Donkor as she performed her new singles entitled "ADANSIDIE", "OKAMAFO JESUS", and "WA HYIRA MI".



The event commenced with an amazing performance by Cpraiz Choir and band. Three uprising gospel sensations Bella,Michael Peters and Sara Naa Dede also wow the crowd after performing " I Need You", "Eze" and "Majabo" respectively.



Fans of Celestine Donkor were astonished to see popular Ghanaian gospel musicians Eugene Zutah,OJ and Ceccy Tsum perform on stage as they elevated the crowd's expectation to the highest level.



The climax of the event was when Celestine ministered her new single recorded last year entitled Kweter which features Mkhululi Bhebhe of Joyous Celebrations fame.



Patrons were privileged to see Mkhululi Bhebhe and Celestine Donkor minister

together for the first time.





Mkhululi Bhebhe delivered a fantastic performance which brought patrons to their feet throughout his entire performance.



Nigerian celebrated gospel act Steve Crown finally crowned the night with a soul inspiring songs of praise which made patrons kneel and lay on the floor through out his ministration to praise God.



Even though it was a rainy day, the sixth edition of the annual anticipated Celestial Praiz had a packed crowd at the Perez Dome in Accra and was graced by Ohemaa Mercy, SP Kofi Sarpong, Abena Ruthy and a host of popular Ghanaian gospel acts.



The event saw the presence of highly respected men of God such as Dr. Lawrence Tetteh ,Rev. Samuel Antwi head pastor for ICGC Destiny Temple branch ,Rev.Clement Anchebah of Fountain Gate Chapel and Rev. Wale Akintonde of Redeemed Christian Church.



The sixth edition of Celestial Praiz brought together the most exciting and chart-topping hit makers of the year on one stage.



The anticipated concert drew Christians from all walks of life, from different denominations and gave them the opportunity to enjoy a night of anointed musical praise, worship and thanksgiving through song ministrations.



Celestine Donkor will soon release a song she is currently recording with Nigerian celebrated gospel musician Steve Crown.

Source: Sammy Kuma









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Apparently Australia is in the middle of a precious metals crime spree the likes of which we havent seen or fathomed since the prospecting days of yore.

A man in Western Australia has been charged with stealing a gold bar worth more than $50,000 from the Perth Mint.

The 25-year-old man from Ballajura was employed as a contractor at the Mint when the alleged theft occurred.

Security services at the mint noticed the bar was missing on April 7th, and the Mint subsequently conducted an internal inquiry that lead to the discovery of the alleged theft.

Personnel then alerted the WA Police Gold Stealing Detection Unit, a very thing that exists apparently, who conducted a search on the mans home. They then charged the man with stealing as a servant, and he will subsequently appear in the Perth Magistrates Court today to have the charge heard.

This incident comes hot on the heels of another theft of gold in Victoria, where $70,000 worth of the precious metal was reportedly stolen from the home of a woman in Ballarat.

But stealing gold from a mint? Thats next-level thievery, right there.

Were not quite sure whats more shocking: that youd attempt to swipe a brick of gold and leg it from the very secure place where that stuff is kept and held and also where you work, or that theres a dedicated unit of the police force whose sole responsibility is investigating the theft of gold. No silver thefts, dont come to them with that everyday boring shit. Just gold. Only the good stuff, baby.

At this stage it appears the theft in Perth is a one-man operation and theres no suggestion that anyone else was involved. Regardless, PEDESTRIAN.TV deputy editor James Hennessy refuses to comment on the issue, and we, as a wider editorial department, remain suspicious.

Source: The West Australian.

Photo: Michael Gottschalk/Getty.
Scott Broadbridge, the fiance of accused drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury, has spoken about his fears for Sainsburys wellbeing in a Colombian prison.

However, the 23-year-old did not respond to media requests for more details regarding Sainsburys trip to the South American nation.

Appearing alongside lawyer Stephen Kenny in Adelaide this morning, Broadbridge said it is extremely stressful for her, but we are able to talk almost every day and that is a great comfort for both of us.

He said his partner is concerned about the conditions of El Buen Pastor prison, and reiterated that its very difficult for her not knowing anyone in the country.

Broadbridge admitted there are many unanswered questions in this case, and questions directed to Kenny were met with similar responses.

When asked if he knew who in Hong Kong purchased Sainsburys ticket to Colombia, Kenny said I dont have the answers to a lot of the questions that have been in the media of recent, and neither does Scott for that matter.

Regarding the exact dates and destinations of Sainsburys trip, Kenny said no, I probably cant give you a timeline. Similarly, Kenny answered a question over whether Broadbridge was aware of her travel plans by saying I think there are still a lot of things that we need to investigate.

Kenny intimated that neither he nor Broadbridge were aware of any ties Sainsbury had in Colombia that would require her to travel there for a week.

Earlier, Broadbridge had responded to claims that Sainsbury owed money to several individuals after her gym failed by saying there absolutely were no debts She ran a business and it didnt work out. Shes just an ordinary girl with aspirations.

Source: The Advertiser.

Photo: Colombian Police.
The fiance of accused drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury has spoken to Australian media, confirming that he has enlisted the services of the lawyer who defended Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks, and that Sainsbury is not doing great in the Colombian womens jail she is currently incarcerated in.

In response to claims yesterday that Ms Sainsbury owed thousands of dollars thanks to a failed business, Scott Broadbridge told The Advertiser that there were no debts. There absolutely were no debts, he said. She ran a business and it didnt work out. Shes just an ordinary girl with aspirations.

Im just scared for her and dont want to jeopardise anything as its early stages. Were worried for her future  shes not doing great.

Broadbridge confirmed he had enlisted the help of Stephen Kenny, who represented accused terror supporter David Hicks. Sainsbury is currently being represented by Colombia-based lawyer Orlando Herran, who has said his client was yet to decide how to plead.

Herran told Adelaide radio yesterday that while he believes Sainsburys story  that she was given the headphones which allegedly contained 5.8kg of cocaine  he admits they do not have any proof she really was tricked.

The current understanding is that if they go to trial with an innocent plea but are found guilty, Ms Sainsbury could be imprisoned for between eight to 20 years. If she pleads guilty, they may be able to secure a deal where she serves as little as four.

Source: The Australian.

Photo: Facebook.
A Colombian judge has poured cold water on a plan for Cassandra Sainsbury to serve her jail time in Australia if she is found guilty of smuggling 5.8 kilograms of cocaine allegedly found in her luggage.

Judge John Jairo Zambraro, who initially put Sainsbury behind bars, said through an interpreter that it is extremely unlikely that such a request would ever be granted on her behalf.

The system is clear. Do the crime in Colombia, do the time in Colombia, he told reporters.

Judge Zambraro also expressed surprise at Sainsburys youthfulness, saying what caught my eye was her age  she was 22, too young to be caught up in something like this.

Sainsburys lawyer Orlando Herran told media that his client is having a difficult time behind bars and is permanently crying and finding it psychologically difficult to cope with her current situation.

He also spoke about Sainsburys mystery Colombian contact Angelo, who allegedly supplied her with boxes of headphones containing drugs. He gave details of their alleged meeting, saying:

The first day she didnt trust him, the second day a little bit more, the third day she trusted him, because he seemed very friendly. He spoke English and Spanish. He helped with everything, with translation, he showed her around. She thought she had made a good friend.

Sainsburys fiance Scott Broadbridge has said that he will stand by her, while acknowledging that there are still many unanswered questions about the case.

Source: News Corp.

Photo: Supplied.
I dont pretend to know a lot about the law, but even I, a humble idiot, can spot some flaws in the logic of this particular would-be legal eagle.

According to a decision published on Caselaw.nsw.gov.au, a bloke called Adrian Ashley of the House of Cooper is currently in jail because he didnt show up to a court date after being charged with cannabis possession.

He ascertained the services of another bloke called Keith Charles of the House of Haffey to petition for his release. Their argument as to why Ashley should be released is as follows: a) hed been wrongfully imprisoned; b) he is a self-governing man not subject to Australian laws; and c) God gave him the weed.

Take a moment to compose yourself if youd like, because there is a lot going on here.

The published judgement is a masterpiece of shade on behalf of the judge, and I encourage you to read all of it, but here are some of the choicest parts:

The petitioner objected when I addressed him as Mr Charles, asserting that Mister is a military title and that he is not in the military. Without acceding to the correctness of that contention, I will refer to him (as a matter of respect) as the petitioner. The petitioner indicated that Adrian Ashley also objects to the title Mister on the same basis. I will refer to Adrian Ashley as the applicant.

The petitioner informed me that he is not a legal practitioner and is not legally trained. As best I was able to ascertain from the information provided, the application was based on a number of grounds. I will address those grounds in the order I consider logical rather than the order in which they were presented in the material relied upon by the petitioner. First, it was suggested that the applicant was arrested for conduct which is incapable of amounting to an offence. The petitioner explained that the applicant was charged after being found in possession of cannabis. The petitioner contended that all plants were given to man by God, citing Genesis 1:29 of the King James Version Bible 1611, which states: And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

The point might have been made in response to the petitioners submission that, according to those words, if it is God who supplies cannabis to man, it is for nutritional rather than recreational purposes. In order to make sense of the petitioners statement, it is necessary to understand that he adopts the curious practice of referring to himself variously in the third person singular, as One, and in the first person plural, as We. Any such application is likely to be better received without the embellishment of insistence upon medieval modes of address or ill-informed incantation of Gods law and Magna Carta.

And especially this bit of the catchwords section:

I dunno what kind of LARP-inducing, Westeros-grown kush these two olde mates have been smoking, but if it results in more petitions for release on the basis of, like, being my own man, you cant judge me, anyway if God didnt want us to smoke the ganj he wouldnt have put it on this good green earth  then theyve got my blessing.

Source: Caselaw NSW.

Image: Fox.
Well this is excruciating.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has, for the first time, met President Donald Trump face-to-face in a staged meeting for media today in New York.

The meeting was delayed by Trump as he lingered in Washington, taking something of a victory lap after the US House of Representatives voted in favour of essentially scuttling Obamacare. Major elements of the Affordable Care Act will be torched in a move that will affect how millions of Americans access health services and treatment. Some 217 Republicans voted in favour of scrapping Obamacare, while 20 opposed it. All house Democrats voted against the move, and sarcastically chanted at those Republicans who voted for it after the motion passed, believing this repeal will cost scores of Republican representatives to lose their seats in next years mid-term elections.

Following that, Trump was whisked away to New York to meet with Turnbull and the pair fronted media for a profoundly awkward and forced chat.

Firstly, Trump stated that he loves Australia and always has, then he mentioned that Greg Norman is here this evening, because apparently thats the only Australian person hes able to name.

The pair addressed their infamous phone call, with Trump insisting it was great and Turnbull grimacing through gritted teeth. President Trump, in reasoning why they had such a great, tremendous, really terrific phone call, asserted that were not babies, ignoring the fact that most babies dont possess the conversational skills required to talk cohesively on the phone, or anywhere else for that matter.

The footage is utterly wild and worth watching purely to see Turnbull, a grown man and elected leader of a major nation, decay rapidly internally as his soul visibly writhers.

Hows that first denied handshake? B R U T A L.

The meeting was originally supposed to be a much longer affair held in a Manhattan hotel, but due to Trumps healthcare posturing in Washington, it was shortened to a 30-minute media call on-board the USS Intrepid, a military museum anchored in New Yorks Hudson River.

The museum is playing host to a gala dinner marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, at which both Trump and Turnbull are scheduled to speak. What in the blue hell Greg Norman is doing there is anyones guess.

This is what you wanted, Malcolm. Enjoy it.

Source: Twitter.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has sucked the hell up to US President Donald Trump over his first successful crack at repealing the Affordable Care Act, a move which has been slammed for potentially depriving millions of Americans of their health care coverage.

After their first meeting  which itself was delayed, after Trump went overtime celebrating the Obamacare replacement bill passing the House of Representatives  a jovial Turnbull said well done, congratulations, its always good to win a vote in the Congress  or, the Parliament, as we call it.



And Ive got to say its always reasonably satisfying to win a vote when people predict youre not going to win it, too. So keep at it. No, its great. Well done, Mr. President.

For what its worth, that great move really isnt for a large chunk of the American populace. Should the bill go on to pass in the Senate, itll mean that insurance companies will be able to charge higher premiums for people with pre-existing conditions.

Oh, itll also be especially rank for women, and victims of sexual abuse. If the bill passes, insurance companies may be able to classify continuing treatments for injuries sustained during sexual assault and rape as treatments for a pre-existing condition.

Similarly, post-partum depression and caesarean sections could also qualify, drastically limiting the treatment options available to individuals in need of continuing medical care.

Turnbulls statement is bloody worrying here, too. If he wasnt just being offensively congratulatory as a means of winning over the notoriously vain president, Turnbulls comments suggest hes down with limiting government funding within the healthcare space.

Thats really not great, considering how opposition to the Liberal Party at the last election focused on the Coalitions supposed desire to gut Australias Medicare system. Should Turnbull bring that rhetoric back home, Labors so-called Mediscare campaign may hold a little more water in retrospect.

Also, all of this came after Trump praised Australias healthcare system as better than the one in the United States  and we have universal health care. The mind boggles.

Source: ABC / New York Magazine.

Photo: ABC.
That piercing screech you can hear cannoning through the city is not the council testing out the flood alarm. Rather, its the furious howl of Harry Styles fans raging at ticketing websites today, after tickets for his extremely short Australian tour went on sale and summarily sold out in the blink of an eye.

Getting a foot in the door for the two-city tour was always going to be a tough task for fans, given that Styles is playing exceedingly small (comparatively) venues in Sydney and Melbourne.

Sydneysiders will be squeezing themselves into the 1,600-capacity Enmore Theatre when he arrives in November. While in Melbourne its the 1,500 person Forum Theatre playing host to the former One Direction lad.

Those arent big venues, by any stretch of the imagination. And Styles is popular enough to fill rooms 10-times that size. So this was always going to be a shitshow.

Still, hell apparently hath no fury like a scorned Harry Styles fan short-sheeted out of getting tickets to one of the two shows, because HOLY SHIT theyve been letting Styles, Ticketmaster and Ticketek have it.

@Ticketek_AU whos bright idea was it to put Bruno mars tickets on sale at the same time as HARRY STYLES  t (@tiarnabrie) May 5, 2017

@Harry_Styles HOW TF AM I MEANT TO SEE YOU WHEN UR SHOW SOLD OUT IN LESS THAN A MIN WTAF  Zoe Mcsweeny (@michaelslilchic) May 5, 2017

Tru heartbreak is waiting on a ticket site for 2 hrs to buy @Harry_Styles tix but when u finally get on u find out thy sold out in 2 secs ??  x Eden x (@okurrrrrrrrrr) May 5, 2017

@Angus_OL @Harry_Styles omg I literally got in at 5:00:03pm for Sydney and they were all gone how does this even happen?!?!  Rhi (@LittleBeanHarry) May 5, 2017

When you wait for @Harry_Styles tickets since 2pm and dont get anything for either show pic.twitter.com/vRdzDvSW4m  Holwa (@holwa159) May 5, 2017

I WAS ON TICKETEK FOR AN HOUR TRYING TO GET HARRY STYLES TICKETS FOR SYNDEY AND THEY SOLD OUT IN ONE MIN THIS IS BULLSHIT HARRY WTF  Zoe Mcsweeny (@michaelslilchic) May 5, 2017

Fucken hell.

It also didnt help that the Bruno Mars tour *also* went on-sale today, causing Ticketeks already strained website to go into full-on meltdown. At the time of writing the home page is still redirecting people to a busy waiting queue.

Thats the bad news.

The good news, if youre so inclined, is that there is a few spare days on Styles schedule on the off-chance that the tour is planning on announcing more shows.

So if youre keen, we suggest keeping your ear to the ground and your phone at the ready. Or something like that.

And if you did manage to get a ticket in, you should probably start preparing to fight your way through a hoard of screaming ticketless lunatics crowding the outside of the theatre. Its gonna get wild real quick.

Harrys arriving in Sydney on Sunday, November 26th, before the whistlestop tour of Australia shifts to Melbourne on Thursday the 30th.

Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty.
This was one police chase that should have never happened: An on-duty Philadelphia police officer is accused of chasing his wife in a marked police car early Tuesday, with the chase leading to a crash that badly injured another driver.

According to CBSPhilly.com and 6ABC, 10-year-veteran officer Antonio Mayhew, 30, pursued his wife in his police cruiser, with lights and sirens blazing - all part of an alleged domestic violence incident in which Mayhew is accused of punching her.

Mayhew, who was on duty around 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, is accused of leaving his assigned post and becoming involved in a domestic violence incident with his wife.

He allegedly struck his wife in the head with his fist while she was inside her car in 5200 block of Market Street, prompting her to take off and sparking his illegal chase.

The officer's unauthorized chase then led to a crash at 61st and Walnut streets in which the other driver, a woman, was hospitalized with injuries, the news stations report.

As a result, Mayhew has been handed a 30-day suspension with intent to terminate his job.

And the cop also is facing criminal charges, including: aggravated assault and official oppression.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture oversees restaurant inspections in the state. Inspection reports are "snapshots" of the day and time the inspections took place. In many cases, violations are corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving.

The following restaurants and other establishments in Lebanon County that handle food were inspected during the week of April 9-15 and were recorded as of April 26.

READ MORE: Reports from Lebanon County for the week of April 2-8.

READ MORE: Past reports from around the midstate.

Lebanon County

Establishments with violations.

April 13

QUENTIN HAUS, THE

ROUTES 72 & 419 QUENTIN

Regular inspection.

Dust on overhead fixtures in prep area posing a risk of contaminating exposed food; food in walk-in cooler was held at 45 F rather than 41 F or below as required; several plastic food containers had splits or cracks making it difficult to clean surfaces; ice machine not cleaned at a frequency to prevent the presence of mold; food employee was storing clean food equipment while wet, and not allowing time for draining and/or air-drying.

April 12

CORVETTE GRILLE

202 W. MAIN ST., ANNVILLE

Regular inspection.

Food facility has an original certificate posted, but the location is not conspicuous for public viewing - corrected on site; walk-in cooler floor has old-food debris accumulations and residue.

April 11

LIN GARDEN

106 NORTHSIDE COMMONS, PALMYRA

Regular inspection.

Counter-top-mounted can opener has heavy residue accumulations; door handles to refrigeration equipment are not clean to sight and touch; hand-wash sink does not have water at a temperature of at least 100 F - hot and cold running water to sink is turned off.

REDNER'S WAREHOUSE MKT. #60

110 NORTHSIDE DRIVE, PALMYRA

Regular inspection.

Working chemical containers stored on shelves above food and single-service items in produce prep room; light bulbs are delaminating on hot-hold display unit for deli; rear man-door to facility has a gap at the bottom and is not tight-fitting.

SPEEDWAY #06757

1 LICKDALE ROAD, JONESTOWN

Regular inspection.

Two opened boxes of cigarettes & two vape units (belonging to employees) were placed on the doughnut-preparation table; food employee was preparing food without wearing required hair restraint; build-up of residue on bulk ingredient bins; food crumbs on the interior bottoms most refrigeration units; black, mold-like growth around the floor drain under the three-compartment sink.

SUBWAY SANDWICHES

104 NORTHSIDE COMMONS, PALMYRA

Regular inspection.

Food facility does not have the certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view - repeat Violation; mops are not being hung to air dry.

April 10

DOMINO'S PIZZA

103 NORTHSIDE COMMONS, PALMYRA

Regular inspection.

Working chemical container is located on shelf over filled sanitizing bay of three-compartment sink; food facility has a certification posted but the employee is not assigned on a regular basis at the facility; shaving razor was located in hand-wash sink in ware-washing area. Indicating use other than hand washing; paper towel dispenser empty at the hand-wash sink in the front prep area and rear ware-washing area; mops are not being hung to air dry.

Establishments with no violations.

April 12

GREEN ACRES JERSEY FARMS

725 PRESCOTT ROAD, LEBANON

Regular inspection.

No violations.

April 11

WENDY'S #6456

2 EVEREST LANE, JONESTOWN

Change-of-owner inspection.

No violations.
On May 6 in 1937 the German passenger airship Hindenburg crashed in Lakehurst, N.J., killing 36 people - 13 passengers and 22 crew along with a worker on the ground.

The hydrogen-filled airship - also called a zeppelin or dirigible - in 1936 started passenger service with 10 round trips from Germany to the United States, carrying 1,002 passengers.

The Hindenburg launched its first trip of 1937 on May 3. It was headed for Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey.

As it was attempting to land, the Hindenburg caught fire and was engulfed in flames in less than a minute.

Herb Morrison, a reporter for the Chicago radio station WLS, was covering the event live.

"It's burst into flames! Get out of the way! Please! Oh my, this is terrible. Oh, the humanity. And all the passengers," Morrison reportedly said.

According to history.com, "The fire was officially attributed to a discharge of atmospheric electricity in the vicinity of a hydrogen gas leak from the airship, though it was speculated that the dirigible was the victim of an anti-Nazi act of sabotage. The Hindenburg disaster marked the end of the use of rigid airships in commercial air transportation."
Somalia US Military Death

FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2009 file photo, al-Shabab fighters sit on a truck as they patrol in Mogadishu, Somalia. The U.S. military said Friday, May 5, 2017 that a service member has been killed in Somalia during an operation against the extremist group al-Shabab as the United States steps up its fight against the al-Qaida-linked organization. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor, File)

(Mohamed Sheikh Nor)

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- A U.S. service member has been killed in Somalia during an operation against the extremist group al-Shabab -- the first U.S. combat death there in more than two decades -- as the United States steps up its fight against the al-Qaida-linked organization in a country that remains largely chaos.

"We do not believe there has been a case where a U.S. service member has been killed in combat action in Somalia since the incident there in 1993," U.S. Africa Command spokesman Patrick Barnes said Friday. The United States pulled out of Somalia after that incident in which two helicopters were shot down in the capital, Mogadishu, and bodies of Americans were dragged through the streets.

In a statement, the U.S. Africa Command said the service member was killed Thursday during the operation about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Mogadishu. Two other service members were wounded, the Pentagon said.

A Somali intelligence official said U.S. forces killed at least six people during the raid on a building housing al-Shabab's Andalus radio station at a farm near Dare Salaam village. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, said the dead included al-Shabab journalists.

The deputy governor of Lower Shabelle region, Omar Mohamud Elmi, told The Associated Press that another goal of the raid was to "surgically target" senior al-Shabab members hiding in the area. He acknowledged "casualties on our side" but said the extremist group lost far more people. He did not give details.

The U.S. special operations troops came under fire after U.S. aircraft delivered Somali forces to the target area, a Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, told reporters. He said the U.S. troops were "a distance back" from the compound which had been associated with attacks on nearby facilities used by the U.S. and Somali partners.

Al-Shabab via its Shahada News Agency claimed it had thwarted "an air landing operation by U.S. special forces," with a number of them killed or wounded, the SITE Intelligence Group reported.

Both the United States and Somalia in recent weeks have declared new efforts against al-Shabab. President Donald Trump has approved expanded military operations against the extremist group, including more aggressive airstrikes and considering parts of southern Somalia areas of active hostilities.

Somalia's new Somali-American president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, last month declared a new offensive against al-Shabab, which is based in Somalia but has claimed responsibility for major attacks elsewhere in East Africa.

Also last month, the U.S. military announced it was sending dozens of regular troops to Somalia in the largest such deployment to the country in roughly two decades.

The U.S. Africa Command said the deployment was for logistics training of Somalia's army.

The U.S. in recent years has sent a small number of special operations forces and counter-terror advisers to Somalia and carried out a number of airstrikes, including drone strikes, against al-Shabab.

The extremist group, which was chased out of Mogadishu years ago but continues to carry out deadly attacks there, has vowed to step up the violence in response to the moves by Trump and Mohamed. It continues to control rural areas in parts of the country.

Aid groups have raised concerns about the new military efforts, saying civilians could be at risk as hundreds of thousands are displaced by a drought that threatens roughly half the country's population of 12 million.

Pressure is growing on Somalia's military to assume full responsibility for the country's security as the 22,000-strong African Union multinational force, AMISOM, that has been supporting the fragile central government plans to leave by the end of 2020.

The U.S. military has acknowledged the problem. The AU force will begin withdrawing in 2018, and head of the U.S. Africa Command, Commander General Thomas Waldhauser, has said that if it leaves before Somalia's security forces are capable, "large portions of Somalia are at risk of returning to al-Shabab control or potentially allowing ISIS to gain a stronger foothold."

Fighters linked to the Islamic State group are a relatively new and growing challenge in the north of the country, which has seen a quarter-century of chaos since dictator Siad Barre fell in 1991.

"The wider context, and hence why the U.S. may be being more aggressive vs. al-Shabab now, is to try and engineer a timely and successful exit strategy for AMISOM, which means degrading al-Shabab and bolstering the Somali security forces," Paul Williams, an associate professor at George Washington University and author on peacekeeping operations in Africa, said in an email.

Somali political analyst Mohamed Shire told the AP that the increase in counter-terror efforts in the country under Trump "is not something that is strange, this is not something that is out of the blue, it is something that is expected and we foresee this happening more."
This post was updated at 8:13 p.m. to include some additional information about Tim Piazza's medical condition as he arrived at Hershey Medical Center on Feb. 3.

BELLEFONTE -- They could not have known how bad it would get.

Otherwise they would never have let it happen.

That's what you'd like to think as you read the grand jury's report of what Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller has characterized as a criminal level of inattention to Penn State student Timothy Piazza after what would prove to be a deadly "pledge night" at the Beta Theta Pi house this February.

But tragically, this did happen.

And now, one 19-year-old full of promise is dead after a night of excess drinking that led to a fatal accident. And 18 other Penn State students face criminal charges for what authorities say were their roles in letting that happen.

Piazza's death aside, this may be the hardest part of it all.

The grand jury presentment shows that over a period of 12 hours from about 10:45 p.m., Feb. 2 -- when a drunken Piazza fell down a flight of stairs leading to the fraternity's basement barrooms -- his "brothers in bonds" had no less than 10 contacts with a prostrate Piazza before summoning any medical help.

And for that, Parks Miller said, 18 members of the Beta Theta Pi house had to be charged with crimes, including eight with charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault.

Here's a hour-by-hour look into the events that, according to the grand jury report, led to Piazza's death:

It started at about 10:45 p.m., when an obviously wobbly Piazza fell down the steps at the Beta house.

Measurements of Piazza's blood-alcohol content have shown that it was likely between .28 and .36 percent, about four times Pennsylvania's legal limit for driving, at 11:22 p.m.

It was a level of intoxication, pathologist Dr. Harry Kamerow told the grand jury, where Piazza couldn't have prevented himself from falling even if he perceived the risk because "the alcohol would have stripped away all power to protect himself."

10:47 p.m.: Piazza returns into the field of view of a surveillance camera in the frat's "Great Hall," carried up by four brothers and placed on a couch. Prosecutors note that the video footage shows Piazza limp, with his eyes closed and a bruise already blooming on left side of his stomach.

Over the next several minutes, there are a number of apparent attempts to bring Piazza around, including one brother who rubs his chest and splashes a liquid on his face. There is no response.

10:55 p.m.: Beta brother Jonah Neuman attaches a backpack to Piazza's back -- frat house-style preventive medicine for keeping someone who may have had to much to drink from rolling onto their back, where they could choke on their own vomit.

11:14 p.m.: Fraternity brother Kordel Davis, according to the report, becomes alarmed at Piazza's condition. He testified that he eventually screamed at his friends to get help for Piazza, but was shoved away by an irritated Neuman, who told him "they had it under control."

Davis persisted when Beta Vice President Ed Gilmartin came into the hall a minute later.

Davis said he told Gilmartin they should wake Piazza up, call for an ambulance and get him to the hospital. But Gilmartin noted, according to Davis's testimony, that the other brothers on hand were kinesiology and biology majors, "so Davis's word meant nothing to him when compared to theirs," the prosecutors wrote.

Davis, incidentally, told the grand jury he had fallen to the ground during his own bid acceptance at the Beta house in December 2016, suffering a gash over his left eye that resulted in a trip to a local urgent care facility.

11:25 p.m.: A Beta pledge master, Daniel Casey, slaps Piazza in the face three times, in another apparent attempt to rouse him.

Piazza is eventually "backpacked" again, and largely left on his own through the night, witnessed only by the camera as he appears to fight the consequences of his catastrophic internal injuries.

1:48 a.m.: Piazza rolls off the couch and is "slammed" back onto it by three brothers.

3:22 a.m.: Piazza tries to stand, buts falls backward and strikes his head on the hall's hardwood floor. Another brother in the Great Hall, Jerry Coyne, sees this, attempts to shake Piazza, and then leaves the room.

4:59 a.m.: Piazza stands up and staggers into the fraternity's front lobby, falling again onto a stone floor. There, at 5:15 a.m., Beta brother Jonathan Martines steps over the prone Piazza on his way to the kitchen for a glass of water.

5:26 a.m.: Another brother comes downstairs. This person, Frederick Steimling, tries to help Piazza back to the Great Hall, but leaves him when Piazza falls to the ground again.

6:44 a.m.: One of Piazza's fellow pledges, according to the report, enters the hall. At 6:57 a.m., he starts to take a video of Piazza using the "snapchat" app, according to the report.

7:18 a.m.: Piazza is seen by surveillance cameras rising to his feet again, this time staggering toward the basement stairs. It's not clear if he fell down the steps a second time, but the next time he's seen, it's on the basement floor.

10 a.m.: Two Beta brothers talk about Piazza, see his shoes in the Great Hall, and start to search for him. His condition as they found him:

"Timothy was lying on his back with his arms clenched tight at his sides and his hands in the air. His chest was bare, his breathing heavy, and he had blood on his face.

"(Daniel) Erickson further observed that Timothy felt cold to the touch, his skin appeared pale, and his eyes remained half-open."

Three brothers carried the limp Piazza back into the hall, where, according to the report, there was a final, 42-minute hand-wringing session before an ambulance was called.

During that time, Parks Miller said brothers consulted Google about Piazza's symptoms, debated about whether to contact Tim Bream, the fraternity's live-in senior advisor, and waited for the frat's president to arrive.

10:48 a.m.: An ambulance is called.

Erickson said he recalled someone suggesting trying to dress Piazza so he would look better when the EMS crews arrived, but that was abandoned, according to the report, because of the stiffness of Piazza's body.

By the time Piazza was flown to Hershey Medical Center later that day, surgeons detected an estimated 80 percent of his body's blood supply was in his abdomen.

They also found bleeding on the brain so severe there that there were no gag or corneal reflexes, or response to pain-causing stimuli. Surgeons removed about a quarter of Piazza's skull to reduce compression on the brain.

As the surgeries progressed, doctors came to believe Piazza's injuries would be fatal. he was pronounced dead at 1:23 a.m. on Feb. 4.

Parks Miller said that she could not say with certainty whether the delay in medical attention caused Piazza's death, but she believes it is clear from the evidence that many members of the fraternity recklessly failed to act.

And, text messages among the brothers reveal, they also "understood that their actions constituted hazing and what the likely consequences would be if discovered," the report concluded.

It adds up to this, in the prosecutors' eyes: "Timothy Piazza's death was not simply an unfortunate accident, but was the direct result of encouraged reckless conduct that demonstrated a reckless disregard for human life, or a reckless indifference to the possible consequences of such conduct."
A Carlisle man accused of shooting another man last year in the borough was found not guilty on all charges, including attempted criminal homicide, after a trial this week.

Chad Edward Stanback was acquitted of numerous charges Thursday in Cumberland County Court, according to online court documents. He had been accused of shooting Antoine Pugh on May 8, 2016, inside of a home on the 1300 block of North Pitt Street in Carlisle.

Pugh and his wife Damita Pugh-Evans said Stanback was the shooter. According to the couple's account, Stanback had been at the house earlier the night before, then came back and started ringing the doorbell.

Chad Stanback.

When Pugh-Evans opened the door about 4 inches to see who was there, Stanback forced the door open and made his way inside. She told police she saw a black semi-automatic handgun in his hand.

As she went upstairs to hide, Stanback went into the dining room and got into an argument with Pugh before firing one round and leaving the home, officials said.

Pugh-Evans told police she heard the shot and saw Stanback leaving the home and fleeing in a red sedan.

Stanback turned himself in the following day.

In addition to being found not guilty of attempted homicide, a jury did not find enough evidence to convict Stanback on felony aggravated assault, burglary and illegal possession of a firearm charges.
Cumberland County Clerk of Courts Denny Lebo in December used a county computer to compose a statement asking the county Republican party to endorse him for another term and emailed the statement to himself and a co-worker.

Two other county Republicans say that was a violation of the county's policy against using county equipment to do political work.

Denny Lebo

"I was absolutely shocked," said Bryan Gembusia, a South Middleton Township supervisor, who found the email after filing a right-to-know request in January for Lebo's emails. "He's doing politics at work."

And it's not the first time, he added.

But Lebo says the single email did not violate the county's Internet usage policy. He called the accusations by Gembusia and Cumberland County Prothonotary David Buell a politically-motivated "witch hunt."

Scouring through the voluminous documents he received in late February in response to his Right-to-Know request, Gembusia said he found a Microsoft Word document Lebo had written on his work computer over the course of nearly 11 hours over several days in December.

Lebo's letter to the Cumberland County Republican Party's screening committee outlined highlights of his term as the county's clerk of courts and asked the committee's members to endorse him in for another term. He is opposed in the May 16 primary by Republican Cathy Little.

"This is a record of service to the citizens of Cumberland County I am proud and confident to present to you for your consideration in your deliberation of endorsement for the office of Clerk of Court and I humbly ask for that consideration," Lebo wrote in the letter.

He then emailed the document to his personal email and to his first deputy clerk of court, asking her to review the letter, Gembusia said.

Buell said he and other row officers and county employees all sign a code of conduct that prohibits use of county resources for political purposes.

"What it tells me is either he does not respect the rules the county made him sign for, or he thinks he's above those types of rules and regulations," Buell said.

The reason Gembusia asked the county for Lebo's emails is because he saw the same thing two years ago.

According to a 2015 Carlisle Sentinel story, Gembusia's sister, Denise Gembusia, was running against county Treasurer John Gross when Gembusia filed a similar right-to-know request. According to that article, Gembusia found a Word document in Lebo's email examining claims made at the time by a commissioner on the state of the county.

Lebo said at the time that an email sent to himself was not a violation of the county's policy.

"My understanding is that a 'campaigning' or 'political' email would involve an email that was sent trying to influence an election or involve the management of a campaign. ... On the face, I do not believe that emails sent from me exclusively to me can possibly fall under that definition."

"If that's the standard, then doing it for your own campaign and for yourself meets that criteria," Gembusia said.

Cumberland County communications manager Heather Ilgenfritz confirmed that the county's policy does prohibit political activity on the county's computer systems.

Staff members who use county equipment for political work could be subject to disciplinary actions, depending on the severity of the violation, she said. The county, however, cannot discipline an elected official.

Cumberland County Chief Clerk Larry Thomas said this email has not been brought to his attention in an official capacity, but upon seeing it Wednesday, he said, on the face of it, the email appears to be political activity, violating the county's policy.

"This is generally outside of what is appropriate," Thomas said.

Lebo said, as he did in 2015, that he committed no violation.

Lebo said one email from his county account, sent only to his first deputy and close confidant for a review, does not fit the definition of political activity.

The email was not soliciting votes or promoting campaign meetings, he said, which would be examples of political activity.

"If I sit at my computer and type this up and ask the opinion of my first deputy, how is that political activity?" Lebo said. "This is a total political witch hunt and it's costing the taxpayers money to go on a fishing expedition."

He drew a distinction between political "content" and political activity, saying the former is not prohibited under the county policy. And he said private use of county computers is permitted as long as it is incidental and does not interfere with work.

Though the letter itself was intended to seek an endorsement, the email was sent to his first deputy for her to review on her lunch hour, he said. She knows the way the office operates and he wanted to her to make sure the information about his office's accomplishments was correct, he said.

He added his deputy is not on the committee and does not have a vote in who is nominated.

Lebo also pointed out that the right-to-know request was vetted by county solicitors, who have not raised any concerns with him.

County solicitor Keith Brenneman would not comment for this story, saying he does not talk to reporters because it's out of the scope of his job of providing legal advice to the county.

The right-to-know request was politically motivated, Lebo said, adding Gembusia supports his opponent in the Republican primary, Cathy Little, and is still upset about his sister's loss to another county row officer two years ago. Gembusia, however, denied that his request was politically motivated and said "this is knowing the difference between right and wrong."

Lebo pointed out that the operation of his office a decade ago cost the citizens of Cumberland County 46 cents per resident. Through innovations in the last 10 years, in 2015, his office contributed 15 cents for each person to the county's general fund.

"What is this single email compared to that?" Lebo asked.
Full coverage of the case

BELLEFONTE - The Beta Theta Pi fraternity and 18 individuals are facing charges ranging from manslaughter to furnishing alcohol to minors in connection with the February frat house death of sophomore engineering student Timothy Piazza.

A total of 8 students and the fraternity are charged with involuntary manslaughter and other counts. Charges against 10 other students include such counts as furnishing alcohol to minors, recklessly endangering, hazing or tampering with evidence.

The charges were announced at a mid-morning press conference held by Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller and her special deputy in the case, veteran prosecutor Bruce Castor.

The president of the fraternity and other students were among those charged. Some of the individuals charged are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon, Parks Miller said. Other arraignments will take place next week.

Parks Miller arrived at her aggressive charging decision after a 10-week grand jury investigation.

"This has been a very intense investigation," she said. "I am not sure we have charged as many people at one time in one case."

Piazza's parents, from Lebanon, N.J., were in attendance for Parks' announcement.

"We are devastated," said Piazza's father, Jim. "He was an incredible young man and an excellent student. He was an amazing son, brother, boyfriend and friend. We are going to miss him terribly. He just wanted to make people laugh and be a good friend."

Piazza died Feb. 4 at Hershey Medical Center, just two days after he arrived at the Beta house for pledge night activities that were marked by heavy consumption of booze.

In the midst of the celebration, police have said, Piazza fell down a set of stairs.

His would-be brothers, apparently believing he was simply drunk and would have to sleep it off, carried Piazza to a couch in the expansive home but did not summon medical help until the following morning.

The charges, however, may bring an epic court battle.

Even during the grand jury probe, attorneys for several defendants argued that Piazza's death -- while tragic for all involved -- was the result of injuries that no layman could have detected, or even suspected.

The case has already had university-wide ramifications for Greek organizations at Penn State.

Just last month, President Eric Barron, imposed a harsh set of new restrictions on alcohol service at any fraternity event. Barron also warned, after several chapters broke the new rules this spring, that he will banish fraternities and soroities at Penn State if the reforms aren't taken seriously.

Penn State did close the Beta house shortly after Piazza's death.

Notice 11 FINAL Charges and Presentment by PennLive on Scribd
Police cruisers are parked outside the terminal at Yeager Airport in Charleston, W.Va after a fatal plane crash, Friday, May 5, 2017. A cargo plane contracted by UPS went off the runway and over a hillside at the West Virginia airport Friday morning, an airport official said. (AP Photo/Ben Queen)
New East Jordan trail to be named for Don and EIleen Klein

environment
OPEC oil cut extension roll over most liked - delegates





LONDON/DUBAI

Petroleumworld 05 05 2017

OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers look likely to extend their agreement to limit supplies beyond its June expiry to help clear a glut, three OPEC delegates said on Thursday, downplaying the chance of additional steps such as a bigger cut.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers originally agreed to curb production by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) for six months from Jan. 1 to support the market.

Oil prices have gained support but stockpiles are still high and production from non-participating countries such as the United States has been rising, keeping crude below the $60 level that OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia would like to see.

However, OPEC officials generally believe the agreement is helping to bring the market closer to balance between supply and demand and that it should be extended into the second half of the year with the same numbers.

"The willingness to extend the current understanding is strong among OPEC and non-OPEC participants," an OPEC delegate said, declining to be identified by name.

"I have doubts that more cuts will be discussed as the current agreement is yielding a positive outcome."

Officials from the 13-country OPEC - which accounts for a third of global oil production - are in Vienna on Thursday and Friday to attend a meeting of the group's governing board. Such meetings provide an occasion to chat informally, but they deal with administrative matters and do not decide policy.

"A rollover with the same numbers," another OPEC delegate said on Thursday, asked about the chance of a larger cut being agreed when OPEC and non-OPEC ministers meet on May 25.

To be sure, some OPEC delegates have raised the possibility of a larger supply cut and others have said the existing agreement could be tweaked.

But another official familiar with the supply deal said an increase in the size of the reduction was not likely.

"I don't expect any surprises," this official said. "Especially now almost everyone is complying reasonably well."

OPEC members including top exporter Saudi Arabia have voiced support for extending the deal. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak made Moscow's position clearer on Thursday, saying Russia was inclined to prolong the accord.

Compliance by OPEC and non-OPEC with pledged cutbacks stood at 98 percent in March, OPEC said  higher than the organisation achieved during its last cut in 2009.








Russia hold LPG exports to Ukraine again - traders





MOSCOW

Petroleumworld 05 05 2017

Russian exporters have suspended liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exports to Ukraine for the second time in a month because Russia's regulator has not given clearance for the shipments, traders said on Thursday.

Russia restricted LPG exports to Ukraine in early April for a few days citing concerns it could be used for military purposes.

Russian railway statistics, seen by Reuters, also showed there had been no LNG exports to Ukraine from Russia since May 1.

Relations between Kiev and Moscow plummeted after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in March 2014 and separatist fighting erupted in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region.

Traders said the Russian regulator, the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control (FSTEC), had not given clearance for the LPG shipments.

The FSTEC was not immediately available to comment.

LPG, or propane and butane, is usually cheaper than many other kinds of fuel, such as gasoline. It can be used in cars, household utilities or to produce electric power.

Ukraine is Russia's second-largest LPG market after Poland. Last year, Russia shipped 800,000 tonnes of the fuel to Ukraine.






Mexico' war againt oil theft leaves at least 10 dead, including four soldiers





MEXICO CITY

Petroleumworld 05 05 2017

At least four soldiers and six suspected oil thieves died in a battle in the central Mexican state of Puebla, authorities said on Thursday, as the army launched a major operation against organized criminals who siphon fuel from pipelines.

Some 600 soldiers were involved in the initial operation, the state government said, with another 400 backed by helicopters and truck-mounted weapons joining them.

The troops were called in to investigate a report of an oil pipeline theft at around 8:15 p.m. local time (0115 GMT) on Wednesday, near the village of Palmarito, when they were shot at by a group using women and children as human shields, the army said in a statement.

The soldiers decided not to return fire, but two of them died in the attack and another was wounded.

A few hours later in the same location, armed men in five sport-utility vehicles opened fire on a different group of soldiers, the army said in a statement on Thursday.

Two more soldiers died in the ensuing firefight and nine were wounded, the army said. Six suspected fuel thieves were killed, while one was wounded, it added. The army said soldiers also arrested at least 12 people, including two minors.

Television images on Thursday showed locals blocking a nearby highway with burning tires and a semi truck in the wake of the attacks. Local media reported that the protesters blamed the army for starting the incidents, and said a number of minors were still missing.

The clash is the latest chapter in a growing problem for the Mexican government. State-run oil company Pemex says it is losing a record 27,000 barrels per day of gasoline and diesel as criminal gangs have become more involved in oil theft.






Pemex to develop most of oil fields granted, will return very few: CEO



Company must return fields this year where work insufficient. Pemex plans to continue oil hedge program in future years.

MEXICO CITY / SAO PAULO

Petroleumworld 05 05 2017

Petroleos Mexicanos plans to develop most of the 120 oilfields the government granted the state-owned company, returning "only a very low percentage," according to the company's chief executive officer.

The production regions were given to Pemex, as the company is known, when Mexico's oil industry opened to private competition in 2014. Pemex had three years to invest in the fields or return them to the regulator to be auctioned in future bidding rounds.

As the three-year deadline nears, Pemex is likely to maintain the majority of these fields, Jose Antonio Gonzalez Anaya, the company's CEO, said in a Bloomberg Television interview from Houston.

"We are trying to make progress to make sure we meet the regulator's requirements, especially the ones where we know there is oil and where there is production," he said. "I think we will develop the fields that have been assigned to us."

Appointed as Pemex's CEO last year, Gonzalez Anaya's impact on the company's ailing financial standing has been immediate. After four years of losses, Pemex yesterday reported first-quarter earnings of 87.9 billion pesos ($4.6 billion).

"The last time we posted a profit the price of oil was $100 per barrel. To post a profitable result when the price of oil is around $40 is important," Gonzalez Anaya said. "This is no small achievement."

Production Growth

Pemex, which has seen oil output fall every year since 2004, hopes production will stabilize this year and possibly increase as soon as 2018, he said. In addition to joint ventures planned in onshore, shallow and deep waters fields, Pemex is also looking to "cluster small allocations and small fields so that we can migrate them together," he said.

The company is counting on a recently implemented oil price hedge -- independent of the Mexican government's hedging program -- to give Pemex "some degree of certainty to our investment and to our planning," Gonzalez Anaya said. Pemex, which hadn't hedged independently from the government in 11 years, will likely use the tool again next year, he said.

Pemex will also seek additional hydrogen unit joint ventures at its refineries, similar to the partnership signed with Air Liquide SA in February at the Tula refinery, he said.

This model will be replicated for other refineries, and I think things will run much better, Gonzalez Anaya said of the additional partnerships planned for refineries.






This piece, titled, The New Plague, depicts life in Philadelphia in the age of COVID. Artist and educator Raphael Tiberino began painting at the age of four and has been in the spotlight as a professional creative for over 25 years.
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...
Ho Chi Minh Bike Food Tour Experience in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh or better known as Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam. The beauty of traveling to Ho Chi Minh is there are a number of direct flights from Kuala Lumpur and the city is just minutes away from the airport. Recently, I visited Ho Chi Minh with my traveling partner Mynn Lee to check out some of the places of attractions as well as the local food.

Where to find good local food?

We read quite a lot of positive reviews on local bike food tour or food tour on wheels (motorcycle) and when we searched online there are so many websites offering the same tour packages. It is hard to determine which website offers the best deal for food tours on wheels but we chose this new travel website call Actxplorer.com.

Actxplorer.com is a travel platform that provides unique local travel experiences in South East Asia. On top of that, they work closely with locals and NGOs to offer experiences like workshops, farm stays, food tours and volunteer initiatives.

What is so special about Actxplorer is they want to create more job opportunities to the locals by introducing them to the tourism industry so they can earn more and at the same time they get additional benefits such as knowledge and training. This will bring tourists to have a closer understanding with the locals and also generating income for them.

That is the main reason why we select Actxplorer.com than the other websites. They help and enrich the lives of the locals instead of exploiting them. That is another reason why the travel packages they offer is rather unique compare to other travel websites.

You can actually book it here and hit the PROMO CODE WILSONKNOWSBEST and you will get 10% discount off the tour.

How is the Ho Chi Minh Bike Food Tour Experience?

It is called Food on Wheels and it is priced at US$ 35 per person for five hours of food tour experience. We checked around and they are one of the most affordable food on wheels tour in Ho Chi Minh. Some are charging as much as US$ 70 per person.

The beauty of this Food on Wheels Tour is it is run by a group of University students who can speak fluent English and passionate in sharing their local food secrets to the visitors to Ho Chi Minh. Most of the places we went is their favourite local food stalls and these are the food places they have been eating since they were young. You cant find these food stalls in websites or blogs and these food stalls are truly hidden gems.

The Food on Wheels tour starts around 5 to 6 pm in the evening (after their classes) and it takes around 5 hours. If you calculate the money you pay for the tour, it is worth every dollar you pay.

How does it work? First of all, you need to do a booking in advance at Actxplorer.com and get the dates and also the location you will be picked up.

They will come with an extra helmet and you just have to sit tight and enjoy the evening with the young men. We had two local guides and their names are Hai and David and we had lots of fun breezing thru the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh.

This pretty cool as you can experience how the local commutes in Ho Chi Minh. Cars are extremely expensive in this part of the world so there are thousands of bikes in the streets of Ho Chi Minh.

Stop 1: Banh Trang Tron

Our first stop was at District 3 and we went to a little shop called Co Thao for a unique local Vietnamese food called Banh Trang Tron. This is not your ordinary Malaysian street food, we have to eat in tiny chairs with a low table. Yes, tiny chairs and that is quite challenging for me but some how I survived.

Banh Trang Tron is probably one of the most underrated Vietnamese food ever. It is the Vietnamese rojak with ingredients like of shredded rice paper, pork floss, shredded green mango, quails egg, peanuts, fried shallots, dried shrimp and different kinds of jerky (beef &squid); topped with a mix of sweet, savoury and sour sauces.

What is unique about this is it is served in a plastic bag and you really need to mix all the ingredients properly. You get different types of texture from the softness of the green mango and also the toughness of the jerky and not forgetting the elastic texture of the rice paper and also the crunchy texture of the peanuts.

The combination of flavour and texture is unbelievable but it will be nice if they added more sauce. According to our guides, Banh Trang Tron is a popular food among students and a bag of it costs from VND 15,000 and above (US 0.60) and this is really affordable.

Stop 2: The Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office and Book Street

This is how the Food on Wheels Tour work. There are five stops in total, three stops for food and two stops for places of attractions or interest. For stop two, we visited The Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office.

Ho Chi Minh is quite relaxing to walk around at night as the working crowd goes back home. You can still find local chilling in parks and open areas and that is something you cant find in Malaysia.

Both Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office is closed at night but the view of the buildings at night is different during the day.

What is interesting is the new Book Street (Nguyen Van Binh) that is located next to Central Post Office. It is a dedicated lane selling Vietnamese and English books with dozens of book stalls and shops. If you want to read something interesting, you should visit the Book Street here.

Stop 3: Pha Lau Bo

Next stop is for another local food. This time we road to Ho Chi Minhs Chinatown to taste the Pha Lau Bo. This is Vietnamese version of Pig Intestines Soup. Since I am not really a big fan of Pig Intestines Soup, I didnt really want to comment on this. However, partner in crime Mynn Lee decribes this as definitely an acquired taste, and not for the faint-hearted. Pha Lau Bo is a combination of pig innards that consist of stomach, intestines and lungs in a sweet and sourish fish broth and it is served with baguettes and a sugary kumquat sauce. This is something different you can taste in Ho Chi Minh.

Stop 4: Bun Beo Hue

For Stop 4, we were supposed to visit The Flower Market but since we started the tour late, the market was closed so we went to another food stop.

This is a corner little shop in District 3 and we were there for Bun Beo Hue. This is another unique local food originated from the ancient royal capital of Hue. It is steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimp and shallots in fish sauce.

First time having this is really hard to describe the taste. The texture is similar to our kuih but the taste is rather exquisite. Thats the purpose of the Ho Chi Minh Bike Food Tour, tasting local food that we unheard of and with unfamiliar food taste. If you are looking forward the usual Banh Mi or Pho Beef Noodles, you need to spread your wings and join a food bike tour like this to know more and taste more of local food.

Stop 5: Che Sweet Soup

When they promised you five stops, they will bring you five stops. We managed to stop at this shop for desserts before they closed. This is a popular dessert shop as you can find many locals stopping here and it is called Xoi Che. The restaurant is one of a few branches in the city, and not only serves desserts but a whole range of local Vietnamese food as well. Their specialties are Xoi, meaning sticky rice; and Che, which means sweet soup, or desserts.

Thanks to Mynn as she listed down all the food here and she had Sam Bo Luong, the Vietnamese version of Lin Chi Kang. This cold drink is a sweet with dried longan, red dates, lotus seed, seaweed and barley. If you look at the ingredients you know this is a kick ass drink.

We also ordered Suong Sa Hot Luu which is tapioca jelly, pomegranate seeds and coconut milk, Thach Dua their type of coconut jelly and juices like kumquat, passion fruit and coconut juice.

What I enjoyed is their version of creme caramel pudding. This version of soft and delicious pudding is the locals favourite and it can rival many other similar pudding anywhere else in the world.

The Ho Chi Minh Bike Food Tour is definitely an eye opener and a journey of unique local food. Our guides very friendly and they shared some of their stories and experiences during the tour. What is interesting is the interaction between us and the guides and giving them knowledge on our food and travel experiences. What is the most important thing is the Ho Chi Minh Bike Food Tour gives them some side income and also exposure to the outside world thru interactions and conversations with the tourists.

Please take note that the Ho Chi Minh Bike Food Tour do not include drinks (which doesnt much) and remember to hit the PROMO CODE WILSONKNOWSBEST and you will get 10% discount off the tour when you book it at ActXplorer.com. (Offer limited to the first 50 coupons)

Thera are also other local tours and experiences in Ho Chi Minh at ActXplorer.com and so do check it out. You could have travel to Ho Chi Minh many times but if you never tried the Ho Chi Minh Bike Tour, your trip is still incomplete.

We have lots of memorable and positive experiences and moments in Ho Chi Minh Vietnam and we would love to come back again soon.

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
Photo: Connie Tyler

There was a time when helmetsusually for impact protection, not to stop bulletswere common kit for patrol officers. Switch to today, however, and patrol officers are rarely issued hats, much less helmets.

But that may be changing.

After last year's Dallas and Baton Rouge ambushes, which claimed the lives of eight officers, and the Pulse Nightclub Massacre in Orlando where officers engaged an active shooter terrorist in close quarters, more and more agencies are purchasing hard armor and helmets for their patrol officers. The NYPD, the Fort Worth Police Department, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced last year they were purchasing ballistic helmets to give their officers better protection during high-intensity incidents.

Sources contacted for this article say many other agencies are also considering or buying helmets for their officers. Tactical Channel Manager for Armor Express Steve Murphy says he received "no less than six calls from chiefs" wanting ballistic helmets for their patrol officers in the week following the Dallas sniper attack. And the demand for ballistic helmets from public safety agencies wasn't just limited to law enforcement, as fire departments and emergency medical units are also acquiring head protection for their personnel.

Murphy says it was hard to meet the orders. "The problem was that nobody could make [helmets] that fast. It was the same thing with plates. They were flying off the shelves so fast that nobody could keep up."

Head Shots

In the popular "John Wick" series of movies, a hit man played by Keanu Reeves specializes in killing his enemies at close range with pistol shots to the head. The reason he goes for their heads is he knows they are wearing soft body armor that will defeat his rounds. One of the big questions in law enforcement is whether bad guys are taking the John Wick approach when attacking officers and does that warrant issuing ballistic helmets to patrol personnel.

Comprehensive data on how officers are feloniously killed is compiled by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division and published each fall in a report titled "Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted" (LEOKA). The report's details on feloniously killed officers includes how the officer was killed and the location of the fatal wound as reported by the officer's agency.

So the data is readily available on how officers are attacked. Unfortunately, though, it's very hard to establish any trends from this data because the numbers are all over the place.

One thing is clear, however, from the LEOKA reports: Each year the majority of officers feloniously killed in this country are shot. Another thing that can be established from the data is that a significant number of murdered officers are killed by shots to the head. About a third of all officers fatally shot each year are felled by head shots. But there is no discernible upswing in this percentage.

It becomes even more difficult to establish a trend when looking at reports on officers shot and wounded. The LEOKA reports include officers shot or stabbed on duty without lethal outcomes, but reporting is not as comprehensive as it is for officers feloniously killed. Also, the data does not include details on whether attacks were aimed at the officers' heads.

Perhaps the best evidence that some bad guys are targeting the heads of officers in attacks comes from interviews with felons convicted of the attacks. One of the goals of the LEOKA team at FBI CJIS is to enhance officer safety through gathering information on attacks and sharing it in free training sessions. (For more information, contact [email protected].)

Phillip Wright is a LEOKA trainer and a retired West Virginia State Police trooper, and he has interviewed felons about their attacks on officers. He says only once in his prison interviews has a cop killer or attempted cop killer said he aimed above the officer's body armor. "The kid knew based on past experience that the officer wore soft body armor, so he tried to shoot the officer in the neck. Fortunately, the officer positioned himself in such a way alongside the car during that traffic stop that the round hit him in the soft body armor. That probably saved his life," Wright says.

So the answer to the question of whether bad guys are intentionally aiming at officer's heads is Maybe.

Officer Discretion

Even if ballistic head protection could save a significant number of officer lives, it's unrealistic to expect officers to wear their helmets for the duration of their entire patrol shifts. So that means the helmets will end up in patrol vehicle trunks with other active shooter response gear.

Dale Stockton, creator of and a core trainer for the officer safety program Below 100 (www.below100.org), is not against giving officers increased protection, but he is skeptical that helmets in the trunk will make a difference in the majority of incidents where officers are shot in the head, which tend to be sudden attacks at domestic calls and during traffic stops.

Stockton says officers arriving at such calls, unless they have prior warning of an active shooter or person with a gun, will probably not have a premonition to go to the trunk and put on their helmets. "Experience has shown that items in the trunk are seldom deployed in time to address whatever they are needed for unless we're talking about a specific tool where the task can't be accomplished without it," he says.

Experts say agencies issuing ballistic helmets to patrol will probably take one of two approaches to their use: create a policy that covers when they can or must be used or leave the matter up to officer discretion. Either way, in order to prevent officer deaths, the decisions will have to be tactically sound. "I would hope that if they receive a 'shots fired' call, they will be able to and want to gear up as quickly as possible on arrival at the scene," says Dan McNeil, director of tactical hard armor for Protech (Safariland).

Stopping and Deflecting

Gearing up at a high-intensity incident typically means patrol officers slipping into plate carriers that hold hard armor certified to stop common rifle rounds. At the agencies that issue helmets to patrol, it could also now mean adding head protection. But unlike hard armor plates, the vast majority of ballistic helmets are not specifically rated to defeat high-velocity rounds fired from long guns. Military helmets are better suited to protecting the wearer from shrapnel. Law enforcement ballistic helmets are typically designed to protect the wearer from handgun bullets. They are rated to stop NIJ Level IIIA rounds. But that can be misleading.

Modern ballistic helmets are made of aramid materials such as Kevlar or of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. And the ballistic properties of this material are such that it should catch a bullet and slow it down. That's what happens when a bullet strikes this material in flat armor. But a bullet striking a helmet behaves very differently than a bullet striking flat armor.

Helmets are not flat and they have contours, so unless they are hit square in the front, what armor experts calls a zero-degree strike, then they may have the ability to deflect a rifle round even if they are not rated to do so. "Any kind of angle that you put on that shot will almost universally help the performance of the helmet more than if the bullet came in at zero degrees," says Ron Szalkowski, director of product development for Team Wendy.

Bullet deflections from angular shots in testing are an argument against the belief that helmets only protect the wearer's head from impact, handgun bullets, and shrapnel. Better arguments can be found in real-world examples.

At last June's Pulse Nightclub Massacre, Orlando SWAT officer Michael Napolitano was one of the first officers on the scene. In an exchange of fire with the terrorist, Napolitano was struck in the head and saved by his helmet. It's unknown what kind of round hit Napolitano because the terrorist had both a rifle and a handgun, but it was likely a rifle round. And because of the angle at which it struck Napolitano's helmet, it was deflected.

A more definitive example of a pistol-rated helmet saving an officer from a potentially fatal rifle shot occurred in October 2010. The Humboldt County (NV) Sheriff's Office Special Response Team was called out to a scene where a man squatting on federal land was shooting at local and federal officers. During this incident Capt. Kevin Malone was struck in the head by a 30.06 round. Fortunately, his Protech Tactical Model 774 helmet, which is rated Level IIIA, deflected the round. Malone was not seriously injured, and he is now a member of the Safariland Saves Club.

In addition to protecting the wearer from pistol and perhaps even rifle rounds, ballistic helmets can of course shield the wearer from impact. That's one reason why some agencies are switching out their riot control helmets for ballistic models that can protect officers from thrown bottles, rocks, and bricks as well as bullets.

The economics of this are easily understood, especially if an agency is buying both. "Why buy two separate helmets when a ballistic helmet can be used for riots?" says Murphy, who adds that ballistic helmets can be quickly modified for riot duty. Clip-in face shields are available for ballistic helmets, with some even capable of offering protection against handgun rounds.

Militarization Concerns

Economics will be a determining factor in whether some agencies will be issuing ballistic helmet protection to their patrol officers in the near future. But politics will also play a role.

At a time when law enforcement uniforms and equipment are often described by the press and other police critics as "militarized," adding ballistic helmets may be just too much in some jurisdictions. "Should that be a consideration when discussing officer safety?" asks Stockton. "No. But unfortunately we don't get to make that call."

Even when new protective gear such as hard armor and ballistic helmets are acquired for active shooter response, some police critics begin to scream about militarization. But Murphy has this response to those critics: "If an officer has extra protection during an active shooter incident, he or she can take more extraordinary measures to come and rescue you," he says.
A man convicted in the 1985 plot to kill a Los Angeles police detective will be released on parole within the week, over the objections of Gov. Jerry Brown and city police leaders, according to California state corrections officials, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Voltaire Williams, 54, has spent 27 years in state prison after being convicted of joining the scheme to kill LAPD Det. Thomas C. Williams.

Voltaire Williams has no relationship to the slain detective, who was fatally shot while picking up his 6-year-old son from a Canoga Park school. The child was not harmed, but the detective died almost instantly from the spray of gunfire.

A jury convicted Williams of conspiracy to commit murder, and in 1989, he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, according to a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The union that represents rank-and-file LAPD officers said Wednesday that it was appalled by the decision, saying that Williams should remain behind bars for life.

"Detective Williams was assassinated because he did his job. The Parole Board's decision is an affront to every peace officer who risks their lives to protect others on a daily basis," the Los Angeles Police Protective League said in a statement. "He does not deserve freedom."
Officer Betty Shelby faces a charge of first-degree manslaughter in the shooting of Terence Crutcher. Her trial is expected to begin Monday. (Photo: Tulsa PD)

The Tulsa police union lodged an ethics complaint Wednesday against District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, alleging he unfairly charged Officer Betty Shelby without probable cause because he rushed to a decision before all evidence had been submitted to his office.

The ethics complaint, filed with the Oklahoma Bar Association, alleges Kunzweiler didnt have probable cause to charge Shelby merely based on watching a video of her fatal encounter with Terence Crutcher. The grievance accuses Kunzweiler of failing to adhere to his own procedures.

We believe D.A. Kunzweiler seems to have unfairly and unethically rushed to charge Officer Shelby before all of the critical evidence had been provided and reviewed, contrary to the way he normally handles all other cases, including police related shootings, the complaint states.

Shelby's jury trial is slated to begin Monday, the Tulsa World reports.

Jerad Lindsey, board of directors chairman for the Tulsa Fraternal Order of Police, explained in a news conference the FOPs goal is to avoid allowing a precedent of filing charges before police investigators finish their reports  no matter whether it is against an officer or citizen.

A central issue at dispute in the case is whether Crutcher attempted to reach with his left hand through a half-open window, prompting Shelby to shoot because she feared he was trying to grab a gun. Crutcher was found to be unarmed, and no weapons were in the SUV.

Wood has said Shelby pulled her firearm instead of her Taser because she felt Crutcher might be armed and was exhibiting signs of being under the influence of PCP.
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It has always been curious why in a secular nation with a secular Constitution that expressly prohibits religion from being endorsed or supported by the government, there is something as patently unconstitutional as the National Day of Prayer. Today, the federal government-designated prayer day serves as an opportunity for Trump to mark the day with an executive order granting churches and other religious groups freedom to campaign for Republicans from the pulpit without risking their tens-of-billions of dollars in tax-exempt non-profits; what normal people call welfare.

Trump hosted conservative religious organizations leaders to fulfill a long-sought-after campaign pledge to the GOPs most reliable voting bloc; fanatical Christians. On this particularly absurd national day of prayer the evangelical dream of overcoming a secular tax code provision prohibiting churches from directly opposing or supporting political candidates will be realized. According to primarily evangelical groups, not being allowed to financially benefit from taxpayers largesse because they use captive congregations to campaign for Republicans is a violation of their religious freedom. There has never been a prohibition on the clergy preaching religion, period! But this issue has nothing whatsoever to do with preaching religion or using their gods word to minister to the flock; it is about campaigning for religious Republicans and preserving their taxpayer-funded welfare payments for being churches advancing theocratic agendas.

Now, there are some members of the clergy who say they are not interested in using sermons to endorse Republican candidates because it might split their congregations or dog forbid, distract from their religious messages. It is even the case among some members of the evangelical clergy, but the conservative evangelical advisers dominating Trumps administration insist that he does their bidding now and without question. The previous plan was to insert an amendment abolishing the Johnson Amendment in tax reform legislation, but evangelicals have been emboldened to exert their new-found authority due to so many high-ranking evangelicals running the government.

Trump is forbidden from unilaterally striking down the Johnson Amendment; the Constitution says that is the purview of Congress, at least until Trump abolishes that archaic document he claims is bad for the country. That seems to present a problem for Trumps theocratic edict, but the evangelicals in the administration and Christian faith leaders say Trump can just order the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to stop enforcing the federal law and cease and desist from investigating or pursuing cases of political campaigning by the evangelical clergy.

The New York Times noted that a decidedly theocratic edict may quickly be challenged in court, but pastors will feel freer to violate the federal law and actively participate in coming elections with veritable impunity. With Trumps executive order and an evangelical attorney general who says the Separation Clause in the Constitution is unconstitutional, preachers can rest easy and without fear of ever being investigated or ever losing their tax-exemption and the tens-of-billions in theocratic welfare.

One expert in church/state issues, and a law professor at Notre Dame, Richard W. Garnett, said:

He could say something like, Im instructing the I.R.S. to respect the rights of religious institutions to participate in the public square fully. That might be symbolic. Or he can instruct the I.R.S. to carve as wide a berth as possible and allow churches and other houses of worship to participate openly in campaigns for political candidates without any repercussions.

Still, that is not going to sate the lust for power driving the evangelical movements intent to impose a theocracy on Americans; that is the real meaning of the rights of religious institutions [churches] to participate in the public square fully.

It is no surprise that the greedy evangelicals expected much more in remuneration for their electoral support for Trumps candidacy than freedom to violate IRS rules with impunity. What they demanded was Trump dictate compliance with a draft of a religious liberty executive order that surfaced in February. One of the abominations in that soon-to-come religious order allowed churches, religious-affiliated colleges and privately-held corporations to stop offering contraceptive coverage in their healthcare plans if it violated the Catholic Churchs dogma banning sex without the intent to produce offspring.

That same draft order would allow religious-affiliated adoption agencies to reject placing orphans with same-sex couples due to religion. In fact, that same evangelicals dream order allowed hospice providers to refuse visitation to the same-sex spouse of someone in their care. It also permits housing programs that receive federal funds to refuse to accept a gay, lesbian or bisexual teenager into the program; all because of evangelicals bastardized interpretation of the Christian religion.

If anyone thinks the religious right will be satisfied with anything less than complete dominance over the government, the Heritage Foundations senior research fellow specializing in religious liberty, Ryan T. Anderson said Trumps order today and the upcoming religious liberty order will at least be a good first step.

American civil liberty groups see this transfer of power to theocratic groups as blatantly unconstitutional and an unprecedented license to discriminate. The legal director for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Sarah Warbelow said Freedom of religion does not give people the right to impose their beliefs on others, harm others, or to discriminate.

Ms. Warbelow is right, of course, according to the U.S. Constitution. But this is Donald Trumps America and like their corrupt hero, evangelical fanatics in the religious right do not acknowledge the Constitutions authority any more than they acknowledge the right of Americans to live in a secular democracy. And, it is noteworthy to mention again that this imposition of theocracy is due in large part to Democrats and the media, including most liberal media, who fear of uttering the words religious imposition as the driving force behind most Republican anti-social legislation.
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It has often been remarked that Republican lawmakers who make decisions regarding every womans reproductive system are inevitably old, white, and male.

For example, the House Freedom Caucus that was intent on removing the requirement that insurance companies offer maternity care while making rape a preexisting condition.

Look in vain for a woman in this crowd making decisions on womens reproductive rights:

Appreciated joining @POTUS for meeting with the Freedom Caucus again today. This is it. #PassTheBill pic.twitter.com/XG6lQIy5a6  Vice President Pence (@VP) March 23, 2017

It has never been done, however, with such aplomb as that of actress/activist Alyssa Milano, who tweeted,

These are the lawmakers making the decisions for my vagina. Looks like none of them have made contact with one in a while. pic.twitter.com/VSiDujca6b  Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 5, 2017

Republicans are intent on controlling womens sexuality. This is an ancient battle and patriarchys current crowd of old white men are not willing to surrender so easily to newfangled ideas about equality and treating women like more than breeding stock.

There is more than a little irony in HHS Secretary Tom Prices claim yesterday that Patients and families and doctors ought to be making medical decisions, not Washington, DC when it was Washington, DC that just made those decisions for 24 million of those patients and families.

Womens control of their own vaginas is a threat to old white men because if women can decide what to do with their own, where are old white men going to get access to one?

Women cant be allowed to simply offer theirs to whoever they wish without male guidance, let alone decide on a course of action after a man decides to place his seed inside.

The shocking thing is generally the complete lack of response from media types when showing photos of film of these Republican cabals. I dont know if that speaks worse of the media or of a society so inured to this sort of thing that it hardly earns a response anymore.

Things have to change. We are past the point where old white men can celebrate stealing from women, children, and minorities without a level of public condemnation and outrage that should send them fleeing in shame rather than celebrating on stage.

Photo: Twitter
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An ethics complaint has been filed against the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) for obstructing the progress of the investigation into the Trump campaigns potential collusion with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

The Democratic Coalition Against Trump has called for an investigation into why Sen. Burr is impeding the Trump/Russia probe.

Scott Dworkin, Senior Advisor Senior Adviser to The Democratic Coalition Against Trump, said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, Senator Richard Burr has made a complete mockery of the office he holds. The American people deserve to know what really happened. Whats Burr afraid of? Whats he working so hard to hide?

Executive Director Nate Lerner added, This investigation has stalled because Republicans are more focused on taking away peoples healthcare and cutting taxes for the rich than they are about the erosion of our democracy. Thats just gross. They should be ashamed.

Sen. Burr served as the national security adviser to Trumps campaign, so if Trump colluded with Russia, Burr is up to his eyes in it too. Sen. Burr also bragged to North Carolina voters during the 2016 campaign that there was no separation between himself and Trump, and he took credit for getting Hillary Clintons emails investigated.

The reason why the Russia scandal poses a threat to the entire Republican Party is that it reaches beyond the White House. The scandal impacts the House and Senate too. One should not look at the Russia/Trump scandal as an Executive Branch only issue. The Republican-controlled Legislative Branch of the federal government is also deeply involved, which is why it impossible to see how the Legislative Branch is capable of carrying out the type of investigation that is needed.

An independent investigation that will take place outside of partisan politics is needed to get to the bottom of the Trump campaigns relationship with Russia.

Richard Burr is Devin Nunes in a nicer suit, which is why Burr must be investigated and removed from overseeing the Senate Judiciary Committees probe into Trump and Russia.

(PoliticusUSA has reached out to The Democratic Coalition Against Trump for a copy of the ethics complaint against Sen. Burr, which will be added to the story after it is provided.)
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Trumpcare delivered a crushing blow to the already broken wing of abuse survivors.

It said without a doubt that the abusers are in charge. They are empowered. And they are coming for victims.

Women marched with p*ssy hats because they knew that Donald Trump, as a proud abuser of women, would do things like he and the House Republicans just did  punish women legislatively; that is to say, punish victims of his own abuses.

And so he has. It should not be missed that House Republicans, the Freedom Caucus specifically, demanded these changes in the MacArthur-Meadows Amendment in Trumpcare, like the preexisting condition clause that would allow insurers in some states to deny health insurance to victims who have been raped, molested, or assaulted by a partner. There is also a waiver that would allow states to deny essential health benefits, including mental health treatment.

Theres no getting around the fact that Republicans elected a man who they heard bragging about sexual assault on tape, hes now pushing what he hopes to be his legacy healthcare bill, and it punishes the victims and serves to chill their reporting of the same kinds of assault hes been accused of and bragged about.

This is a feature, not a bug.

Women who have been assaulted know this. Its why they had such a visceral reaction to Donald Trump, long before that Access Hollywood tape proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that the women coming forward to accuse him of various assaults were not alone in their experience.

This matters, it matters that people get this. The private act of grabbing women by the p*ssy and thinking it was his right to do so, the private act of leering at a young girl and saying he would be dating her one day, the public act of talking about his daughter Ivanka in alarmingly sexual terms  these things all signaled the assault on women that is Trumpcare.

Its not specifically ideology that makes certain women recoil from Donald Trump. The Womens March was full of people of different political identities, and yet the value they marched for was a liberal Democratic one. That is, respect for women and all others.

If Republicans attempt to turn the Violence Against Women Act into a piece of legislation that would have incentivized rape and assault against women wasnt a tell, if their constant attacks on womens medical freedom werent a tell, if their attempts to give rapists the control they seek wasnt a tell, Trumpcare is the final tell.

Republicans are often on the legislative side of the criminal predator. Somehow they manage to defend and protect criminal predators of women again and again, while denying that they are waging a war on women.

Trumpcare sides with the men who assault and abuse women by punishing women further for having been a victim  what a tasty morsel for any abuser, the pleasure of knowing the pain they inflicted continues.

Trumpcare takes us back to the days before Obamacare, when rape and abuse victims were afraid to report the crime because they didnt want to lose their health insurance.

Who does that help? It helps the criminal. And of course its not just women who are victims of sexual abuse and assault. Men are as well.

Trumpcare rewards men who sexually and physically attack their victims, and that is not a bug. Its a feature.

I conclude this because Republicans are so proud to have passed Trumpcare without any real debate. Without any town halls. Without any input from actual healthcare experts, apparently. And they took this action because it was more important to repeal Obamacare and pass something for Trump to have a win than it was to try to actually put a decent piece of legislation together.

It was more important to give Donald Trump a win than it was to help people.

It was more important to give Donald Trump a win than it was to listen to the people they supposedly represent.

It was more important to give Donald Trump a win because that is how Trump operates. Hes a predator. A man who thinks only of himself. A man who punishes those who speak out against his abuses (for evidence, see his trail of victims).

Sadly, House Republicans gave Trump the ability to inflict his sickness on women and victims once again. That implicates all who voted for Trumpcare in being not just a participant in the war on women, but an enabler who rewards predators around the country.

Women were already suffering from Trump Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Trumpcare is another punch to the gut that says not only do women not matter, but women are to be punished for being assaulted. They do not deserve care because they are victim of a crime. They will literally have to pay even more now for being assaulted.

This punishment isnt an accident. Republicans dont get to pass a piece of huge legislation without debate  figuratively in the dark of night  and then claim they just overlooked parts of it and that was an accident. No, this was their choice and the own it.

Just like Republicans passed this with the alleged oopsie that gives them Obamacare while giving the rest of the country Trumpcare.

Their intentions are in the bill; not in their words. We know this because their words told us that Donald Trump admitting to sexual assault was just locker room talk, but Trumpcare proves once again why it matters that the people who represent us dont take pleasure in harming us.

Republicans also told us that the war on women is not real. Republicans claim to be pro-life. None of those things are true, either, according to this bill. This bill that they are so proud of, this bill that they cheered and celebrated over.

Unless Republicans are so horrible at their jobs and so incompetent that they just took aim at a fifth of the U.S. economy without any thought, these buried gotchas are a feature, not a bug. Given the totality of the evidence and the failure to show any interest in the most basic concerns facing women, logic leads me right back to this was a deliberate choice.

Trumpcare is yet another assault on women from the p*ssy grabber in chief. Another way to silence victims. Another attack on victims.

Politics is supposed to be about representing the people. But every 98 seconds, someone in this country is sexually abused. Those people could be denied health coverage for their lifetime if Trumpcare were to pass as House Republicans wrote it.

This isnt about impugning motives, although somehow it escapes notice that Republicans impugn womens motives regularly (e.g., women want to get an abortion for the free trip to the city!) and dont bother asking for comment from women; its about why it matters when someone who is running for office says and does things that indicate that they do not respect the human rights of the people they will be representing. The at best careless-once-again-in-a-way-that-harms women legislation speaks for Trump and House Republicans. This is why women speak of a war on women.

Republicans knew Trumpcare could harm victims and took no action to remedy that, and then celebrated their bill. We are told that Republicans in the Senate wont pass this monstrosity, but I have lost faith in the word of Republicans and their commitment to process, given the Senates willingness to change the rules in order to steal a SCOTUS seat for a president who is currently under investigation for possible collusion with Russia.

Either way, this bill demonstrates the way Republicans treat women legislatively.
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AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters)  A suburban Dallas police officer was charged with murder on Friday for shooting a rifle into a car of unarmed teenagers driving away from him, killing a 15-year-old boy, a lawyer for the childs family said, after the incident sparked national outrage.

Family lawyer S. Lee Merritt did not provide further details on his Twitter feed. A judge signed the murder warrant for former Balch Springs Police officer Roy Oliver, the Dallas Morning News reported, citing law enforcement sources.

Oliver was fired by the force earlier this week for policy violations.

The Balch Springs Police Department was not immediately available for comment. A lawyer representing Oliver did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jordan Edwards, a black high school student described by family and friends as a stand-out student and athlete, was struck by a bullet to the head on Saturday and died. Two of his brothers were in the car with him and watched him die, Merritt has said.

The killing that took place in a primarily black and Hispanic neighborhood stoked simmering tensions of perceived racial bias in U.S. policing.

Oliver, 37, has not been taken into custody, the Dallas Morning News said.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by G Crosse and Andrew Hay)
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It is no exaggeration to state that according to most human beings with a conscience, withholding medical care when it is available is the definition of barbaric. In fact, in every industrialized nation on Earth, and even developing countries, healthcare is considered as basic a human right as clean water. Of course, that isnt the case in the richest nation on the planet and that fact garnered the attention of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR).

When House Republicans voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) yesterday, they revelled in a feat the U.N. said was a violation of several international treaties; primarily the right to social security of the people in the United States. Trump knew repealing Obamacare was at odds with Americas international obligations because he received a letter in the form of a confidential, five-page urgent appeal from the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights in Geneva.

The reason very, very few Americans are aware of the U.N.s warning to Trump is because although it was issued on February 2, 2017, it would have been lost if not for a leak to congressional Democratic leadership by someone in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

That leak was necessary because, despite the U.N.s OHCHR request that copies of the letter be sent to the majority and minority leadership in both chambers of Congress, Trump kept it concealed. The U.N. High Commissioner wanted congressional leaders and the wider public [to] be alerted to the potential implications of the above-mentioned allegations. The allegations are deep concerns that Trump and Republicans have no intention to take adequate measure to prevent their occurrence as well as to guarantee the accountability of any person responsible. The alleged violations are taking away health care coverage for almost 30 million people the United Nations says is a violation of the right to social security of the people in the United States.

It was fortunate that Washington Post writer Dana Milbank obtained a copy of the letter last week and reported that upon inquiries no member of the Congressional leadership ever received a copy or notice of the letter; Nancy Pelosi, Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer were all completely unaware it existed. One State Department spokesperson told Milbank that his inquiry was the first Im hearing of this.

Not that anyone in Trumps administration or Republican Congress would pay any heed to the U.N.s urging that all necessary interim measures be taken to prevent the alleged violations of taking healthcare from tens-of-millions of Americans. The letter also stated that if the allegations proved correct, there be adequate measure to prevent their occurrence as well as to guarantee the accountability of any person responsible.

The persons responsible are Trump and now House Republicans, but there is no possibility, much less a guarantee, that anyone will be held accountable; Republicans have been taking away basic human rights and necessities from the American people for decades with impunity and great personal satisfaction.

The U.N letters author, Dainius Puras, is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Mr. Puras writes that Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Establishes everyones right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being, including food, medical care and necessary social services.

He also said that Article 5(e) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, ratified by the United States in 1994, calls on states to guarantee the right[s] of everyone. That includes the rights to public health, medical care, social security and social services without regard to race or color.(author bold)

The special rapporteur also cited that as a signatory, America has an obligation under Article 18 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties to comply with the core obligation to ensure the right of access to health facilities, goods and services on a non-discriminatory basis, especially for vulnerable or marginalized groups. Although only a signatory, America is still obliged to refrain from acts that would defeat the covenants object or purpose, in conformity with Article 18 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

One can say with confidence that even if Trump had acquiesced to the urgent appeal to comply with international treaties, or share the U.N.s letter with congressional leadership, House Republicans would have voted precisely as they did on Thursday. It may be true that sharing the appeal with the wider public may have had an effect on their opinions, but Republicans still would have voted to take healthcare from tens-of-millions of Americans. Republicans are well-aware that the ACA is popular with the people, but they have never demonstrated any willingness to legislate according to the will of the people.

The U.N.s Human Rights Commission has condemned Republican acts in the past, including less than a month ago when it harshly criticized Republican states for legislation criminalizing peaceful protests on Trumps behalf. Still, those anti-First Amendment bills are working their way through Republican legislatures with no sign of slowing down. Three years ago the U.N.s Human Rights Commission condemned Americas mistreatment, and criminalization of homeless people as well as a separate condemnation for not providing its citizens with clean water; all to no avail.

The reality is that Republicans could not care less what international laws, treaties or conventions their draconian measures violate; they could not care less what Americans think of their draconian measures. Their jobs, as they see them, are to take any and everything possible from the people and it explains precisely why they celebrated like drunken frat boys at taking healthcare away from tens-of-millions of Americans who are also predominately their staunchest supporters.

h/t DanaMilbank
BMW vehicles built at the automaker's Upstate campus are ready for export at the Port of Charleston's Columbus Street Terminal. BMW exports about 70 percent of the vehicles it builds in South Carolina. File/Leroy Burnell/Staff
Paul Bowers is an education reporter and father of three living in North Charleston. He previously worked at the Charleston City Paper, where he was twice named South Carolina Journalist of the Year in the weekly category.
FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2015, file photo, Stephen Colbert participates in "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" segment of the CBS Summer TCA Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. Colbert says he has no regrets about insulting President Donald Trump in a monologue that included a crude sexual reference and prompted calls to fire him and boycott Late Show advertisers. In his Wednesday, May 3, 2017, monologue, Colbert says he would change a few words that were cruder than they needed to be but hed still do it again. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
Deanna Pan is an enterprise reporter for The Post and Courier, where she writes about education and other issues. She grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati and graduated with a degree in English from Ohio State University in 2012.
Russell Laffitte, a former top executive for Palmetto State Bank, faces trial this week in Charleston's U.S. District Court. He stands accused of helping Alex Murdaugh defraud his former law clients, while using money from his family's bank to prop up the disbarred attorney's shaky finances. Read moreEx-Murdaugh banker Russell Laffitte faces federal witnesses at 2nd day of fraud trial
GREENVILLE  South Carolina suffers from a brain drain. Addressing this brain drain is the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity for South Carolina to improve our economy. Read moreCommentary: SC loses too many of its college graduates. Here's how to keep more of them.
State agencies nearly tripled their spending on employee travel in the year following COVID reductions, and South Carolina's top accountant is asking directors to cut those taxpayer-funded expenses. Read moreSC agencies' travel spending rises sharply coming out of COVID; Eckstrom seeks 5% cut
On Sunday night we have a great conjunction, or what I like to call a celestial hugging, between the nearly full moon and the planet Jupiter in southern sky. The moon and the largest planet in our solar system will only be separated by 3 degrees. That's the width of three of your fingers together held at arm's length.

It should be quite a sight that you won't want to miss. Let's hope and pray for clear skies. With even a small telescope you can have a field day, or should I say night. Check out the mountains and craters of the moon, as well as Jupiter's moons that resemble little stars on either side of the planet.

You might even see some of the cloud bands on Jupiter and maybe the great red spot that's three times the diameter of Earth. The red spot is a storm that's been raging in Jupiter's atmosphere for hundreds of years.

Every month we have least one or two of these conjunctions, or celestial huggings. Next weekend we'll have another conjunction, this time between the moon and Saturn. All of these conjunctions happen because of the ecliptic, the super highway of the planets and moon in our skies.

Planets are certainly wanderers among the stars from night to night and year to year. In fact, the word planet has a Greek origin that's roughly evolved from what they called wandering stars. Back then, as far we know, no one really knew the nature of the planets except that they appeared to roam among the fixed stars in the celestial dome of heaven.

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Early civilization observed that the moon, as well as the wanderers or planets, certainly didn't move randomly among the fixed stars, but rather took about the same path among the stars, mostly migrating to the east but at times retrograding in a westward direction. This path is called the ecliptic because it was along that path where eclipses of the sun and moon occur.

The reason all of the planets and our moon pretty much take the same ecliptic path among the stars is that they, along with our Earth, all orbit the sun in the nearly the same geometric plane. They also move along the ecliptic at different speeds. The planets close to the sun, like Venus and Mercury are on a celestial caffeine high, and they zip along the ecliptic because they whip around the sun much faster than outer planets like Uranus and Neptune, that really take their sweet time completing the ecliptic circuit. Consider the ecliptic the long and winding road in the stars.

Along and on either side of the ecliptic are 13 constellations referred to as zodiac constellations. On any given night or day, a planet or our moon will be in one of these as they travel down the ecliptic highway.

The planets and moons aren't the only wanderers in the night sky. Human-made satellites rip across the sky in just about all directions. For about 60 years we've shot hundreds and hundreds of satellites into space. Many of them are still functioning, fulfilling their various missions and tasks, but there's also a lot of junk up there, like dead satellites and spent rocket stages. When I hold my star-watching parties, someone will inevitably call out, "Hey, look at the satellite up there!"

Early in the evening and early in the morning are the best times to spot satellites. While the sun has gone down from our point of view on Earth, the sun is still above the horizon high up in space where the satellites are, and the light is bouncing off of them. That's what we see when we observe satellites, sunlight bouncing off their reflective surfaces.

Of course some satellites are brighter than others. The absolute king of the satellites is the International Space Station. At first glance it more closely resembles a high-flying jet airliner. The International Space Station is even brighter in the sky when the U.S. Space Shuttle is docked to it, but unfortunately those nights are coming to an end.

There are a lot of good websites for helping you spot and identify satellites, but I think the best one is Heavens Above at www.heavens-above.com . Once you configure the site to your location with the database, you're good to go. Not only will it help you with satellites, but it can also do a lot of other neat stuff, like produce rough but still useful star maps.

Enjoy all the wanderers!
One resident, numerous anecdotes

Name: Kim Ohly

Occupation: Retired teacher, law office co-owner

Age: 54

Where we found her: NAMI fundraiser

You had trouble coming up with your law office title.Theres really no title to what I do. I do a ton of filing and organizing. I run documents all day to other law firms and banks and loan officers. I check in on our staff and make sure everyones happy. Im getting in lots of steps and Im keeping myself out of trouble! I cant be retired yet. Im only 54 and none of my friends are retired, so that wouldnt be any fun. You want to be retired when your friends are retired and you can volunteer with them.

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I met you at a volunteer-focused event.Yes, the annual Whistle Binkies fundraiser for NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness]. A plethora of individuals get together to plan for months and months, and brainstorm what we can do to make more money to raise awareness and stop the stigma of mental illness. There are people every day that suffer from this and are dying.

How did you get involved?Connie and Randy, the owners of Whistle Binkies, are our best friends. Fourteen years ago, one of the bartenders at Whistle Binkies committed suicide, and they said, "What can we do?" They started a fundraiser and [later] approached Courtney Lawson at NAMI. My husband and I also had [a family member] attempt suicide and shes a survivor.  Its something we still think about all the time. I feel so bad for the people who are left behind. You feel like, I just saw them yesterday, what could I have done? What did I miss? Sometimes there arent signs. Sometimes someone is feeling lonely or not feeling a part of a community, or feels like no one cares about them and you dont know. What Ive learned from everything is that everyone has a story.

How much did you raise this year?$60,786.55 and counting, and 100 percent of those proceeds go to NAMI Southeast. They use it for suicide prevention and awareness programs in junior highs, high schools, and out in the community.

Are you from Rochester?Yes. Born and raised here. Graduated from Lourdes.

Have you always lived here?We moved away for 14, 15 years. My husband and I met in high school when we were 16. Thats a true story. We dated all through high school and we both went to the U. From there, he went to law school and we lived in the Cities until 1995. When his dad retired, we were asked to take over the law firm with his brother. We scooped the kids up and moved here. Rochester was such a great place to raise kids. Im happy that we made the move.

Do you remember your first date?It was a mixer at Lourdes. It was on a Friday night, September 19. He had football on Saturday afternoons, so he had curfew. I walked him out to the front and we had our first kiss under the flagpole that still sits in front of [the old] Lourdes. We still go to the flagpole on September 19. We dont go every year, but every now and then, hell text me: "Want to meet under the flagpole?" We were sophomores and on June 28 well be married 32 years.

Last song you listened to?Thats so funny. Just on the way here, I heard "Youre the Inspiration" by Chicago on the radio. I was going to quick text my husband and tell him I heard it! [Wedding music] is a big deal in the Catholic churchthey wouldnt allow any songs that werent hymns or church music. I wanted "Youre the Inspiration" and they said, "We dont do that." I said, "Why not? Give me one reason. Listen to the words!" The priest said, "Weve never done anything like this  I guess we could." So we did.

Is Chicago a favorite band?Jimmy Buffetts my favorite, come on. And I love Pink. I just saw her. She is like no other, so freaking amazingan amazing human being, an amazing mom, an amazing artist. I just sit there and my jaw drops.

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Best vacation?The only vacation we take every year is to Negril, Jamaica. We are three doors down from Margaritaville. My idea of vacation isnt going to New York City, every day rushing around to look at something. My idea is going to the beach and thats all you dowalk the beach every single day and talk to people. Theres nothing better than toes in the sand and sun in my face.

What story do you tell time and again?Im married to a man who has 13 siblingshes 12 of 14. When I tell people my last name, they say, "Are you part of that big Ohly family?" Occasionally, they do say, "Do you own Thee Only Shoe Repair?" and I have to say, "No, Ohly." But normally, its "Oh, youre part of the Ohly family." 

Family reunions must be huge.The only time we get together now is weddings, and theyre humongous. The Ohly family is three-quarters of the guest list.  When our kids were going through elementary school and had to make the family tree, they were so excited and Id say, "Go sit with Grandma Ohly and shell help you fill all the squares in." Of course it never all fit.

What advice do you give your kids?I probably give too much advice. I cant ever shut up.  The one thing we wanted for our kids was to be good people. To be kind. And I cant stress enough how filled I am with what good people they both are. I like to think when you raise them with mutual respect and love, they, in turn, will live that way as well.
WINONA  The Winona Area School Board rescinded its previous facilities plans Thursday night and replaced them with a new one.

Now the issue  all $81.8 million of it  goes before district voters in November.

Board President Ben Baratto said the school board had previously passed two separate plans to close elementary schools in the district. The first plan to close elementary schools came in February 2016 with a vote to keep open Rollingstone and Goodview elementary schools and build a third school on the east side of Winona.

The second came in December when the board voted to close all but Goodview and Jefferson elementary schools. That plan was abandoned in February of this year  but remained a passed motion  after the resignation of Superintendent Stephen West.

Both of those options were officially rescinded  though not without some discussion  so the district could start over.

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"I've been advised by legal counsel to wipe the slate clean," Baratto said.

Board Member Steve Schild said he did not want to rescind the December vote that would have closed Rollingstone, Madison and Washington-Kosciusko. That option, he said, would save the most annually on operating expenses  about $200,000 more in savings by closing Rollingstone than keeping it open  and it would reflect the will of the people who participated in the facility task force last fall.

Schild and Board Member Jay Kohner questioned the idea of rescinding both previous plans before having a new plan on the table.

"We better make sure we have four votes," Kohner said. However, the board voted to rescind the second previous plan as well.

In the place of those options came a third plan to close elementary schools. This time, the district voted 4-3 to close Madison and Jefferson elementary schools while keeping open Goodview on the west side of town, W-K on the east side, and Rollingstone as a third school.

Schild, Kohner and Board Member Allison Quam voted against the new plan. Schild has repeatedly said he would like the plan that cuts the most in operating expenses. Kohner questioned putting 575 students in a school on just 2.2 acres of land. And Quam said she would like to find a way to keep all five elementary schools open.

Mike Leonard, a parent with students in the district, said the board has not been doing its job, keeping too many schools open and wasting district money.

"We passed a tech levy, and now we're not going to use it for tech?" he said, referring to a cost shift during the budget cutting sessions where more than $400,000 from operating budget was shifted to the $1 million-a-year technology bond for the next school year. "And now you think the taxpayers are going to trust you?"

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Now the district will ask voters to approve a $81.8 million bond at the ballot box. That money would cover additions and renovations at the two larger elementary schools, a new roof at Rollingstone and deferred maintenance at all the remaining district school buildings.

Part of the bond would include $31.9 million spent on additions, renovations and deferred maintenance for the high school, middle school and alternative learning center. There would also be $678,600 for the roof at Rollingstone.

Goodview and W-K would receive $25.1 million and $24.1 million, respectively. Both schools would be expanded to accommodate up to 575 kindergarten to fourth-grade students apiece. Rollingstone can take an additional 117 students. The district currently has about 1,050 students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

Closing would be Madison and Jefferson elementary schools. Central Elementary, also owned by the district, has already closed as a school. That move will save $1.1 million annually in the district's operating budget. The district cut and cost-shifted about $1.5 million in April from the 2017-18 budget and needs to cut about the same each year going forward, according to a report prepared by Wold Architects, the company the district has hired to help guide the process.

If voters approve the move, the district would only need to find about $400,000 a year going forward each year to balance the operating budget, Baratto said.

The next step, said interim Superintendent Kelly Halvorsen, is to hold a public hear on the schools that will close. A heading on Madison will be held May 22 while a heading on Jefferson will be held May 23.
A fundraiser for Hunter Gifford is planned for 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13

The event is being held at Zumbrota Lutheran Church, 624 Third Ave. SW, Rochester.

Hunter, 8, is battling Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare type of cancerous tumor that grows in the bones or soft tissue around the bones. The event is being held to raise funds for medical expenses.

The fundraiser will include direct sales exhibitors, a silent auction, a wine wall, a bake sale, a plant sale, a kid's corner and a concession from Mr. Pizza.

Admission is free and the event is open to the public. For more information, go to hunterstrong2017@gmail.com
Nasra Giama and Abdirashid Shire created the Somali Health Advisory Council in Rochester about seven years ago. It's now playing a critical role in the state's ongoing effort to educate Minnesota-based Somali Americans about the importance of vaccinations.

The two Somali health care professionals met last week with officials from Mayo Clinic, Olmsted Medical Center and Olmsted County Public Health to discuss education and vaccination efforts within the local Somali community.

Vaccination has been a hot topic since Somali vaccination rates began plunging in Minnesota a decade ago  from 90 percent in 2006 to just 42 percent in 2016  but has become more urgent in recent weeks as the Twin Cities struggles with its second measles outbreak since 2011. Minnesota Department of Health issued an expanded alert Thursday as the outbreak has gained momentum.

"I applaud Olmsted County, Mayo Clinic and OMC because they're taking this step before there's even an outbreak (here)," said Giama, a professor at the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and a Mayo Clinic researcher. "It shows they value us and understand the community's needs."

41 confirmed cases

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According to Minnesota Department of Health, 41 measles cases have been confirmed, and "almost all" of the victims are unvaccinated. More than 2,500 people have been exposed to the disease, and more cases are deemed likely in the weeks ahead.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared measles eradicated in the United States 17 years ago, but it's become an increasing concern with more than 1,500 cases now reported since 2010 .

While local health officials haven't reported a measles case in years, they remain on high alert because of about 5,000 Somalis living in Olmsted County and their increasing resistance to having children vaccinated due to lingering autism fears. Those issues led to the recent health care summit and the creation of a vaccine fact sheet that's now being circulated throughout the local Somali community.

"If we want to change this narrative, we absolutely need more engagement and asking simple questions," said Dr. Shire, director of Health and Research Institute for Somali Americans . "If we ask questions of parents who are declining the MMR vaccine, I don't think they'll have solid data. They'll have anecdotal examples, so if we present proper data, I think they'll be more inclined to (vaccinate their kids)."

Debunked claims

Giama and Shire both continue to blame controversial researcher Andrew Wakefield's retracted and debunked 1998 study, which led to his medical license being revoked, for continuing misconceptions within the Somali community. They say Wakefield's 2011 visit to Minneapolis further inflamed fears that the MMR vaccine causes autism, a claim that repeatedly has been debunked by other researchers  including Mayo Clinic's Robert Jacobson through the Rochester Epidemiology Project in 2005.

However, Giama suffered a case a deja vu last weekend while attending another forum in Minneapolis. Mark Blaxill, of Health Choice, told a large group of Somali parents Sunday that vaccines and autism may be linked, according to the Star Tribune.

She said the panel of speakers included no medical professionals, and a translator was not provided, which she and Shire argue is a critical component in erasing existing misconceptions within the Somali community.

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"I left after an hour because I couldn't stand (Blaxill) anymore," Giama said. "I was getting really upset. It was a complete setup. They were playing with people's emotions  and anti-vaccine groups are taking advantage of that. It's such a tender subject."

May 23 public forum

Giama and Shire are finalizing plans for a public forum to combat misconceptions about vaccines and autism, specifically targeting messages from Wakefield, Blaxill and President Donald Trump, among others. It's tentatively been scheduled for May 23 in Rochester and likely will include officials from MDH, Mayo Clinic and Olmsted County Public Health. A similar meeting last year drew about 100 from the Somali community.

Shire hopes to see representatives from Rochester Public Schools and other local groups to build on the current level of engagement with the largest outstate Somali community in Minnesota. Kari Etrheim, communications director at public health, said it's important that everyone work together to "encourage outreach to our Somali residents with infants and children to get vaccinated and dispel myths about a link between certain vaccines and autism."

In an interview conducted before the current outbreak, MDH Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann said her department has been conducting "targeted outreach" to the Somali community for years in response to plummeting vaccination rates. That includes many one-on-one meetings to reinforce the idea that "vaccinations are the normative behavior in Minnesota." Minnesota's MMR vaccination rate among non-Somali children has remained between about 85-90 percent since 2004, according to MDH data.

"Once measles begins to spread in unvaccinated populations, it can be very difficult to stop," Ehresmann said Thursday. "We would not be surprised if we saw additional cases in other parts of the state where there are clusters of unvaccinated people before this is over."

Shire dreams of eventually creating a center for vaccine-preventable diseases, which would be focused on outreach and education to prevent future outbreaks. For now, he and Giama intend to redouble their own efforts while continuing to collaborate with health care experts to reverse the trends that have emerged during the last decade.

"We really need to do more as health care professionals because we're not as visible as we could be," Giama said. "When you get a case of autism, that speaks a lot louder than a vaccine. This requires continued engagement. Our message has to sink in  and that requires (repetition). Right now that image of a child with autism is speaking much louder than our public health officials."
WINONA  The Winona Family YMCA building is off the market.

CEO Derek Madsen said the YMCA has reached an agreement with Partners in Excellence of Minnesota, an autism treatment center with offices in the Twin Cities and La Crosse, Wis.

"The sale meets our objectives of significant proceeds towards the construction of our new facility and allowing the Y to operate in our current location until the opening of our new facility," Madsen said. "YMCA leaders are also glad to know that children and families with autism diagnoses are able to be supported at the site of our long-time home."

Currently, the YMCA has commitment of $8.68 million in pledged donations to fund its $13 million capital campaign for construction of a new YMCA facility on a 5.5-acre site near Winona Health. Madsen said the Y has another $250,000 in other commitments and the funds from the sale, but is still short of the goal to build the new facility.

"We're feeling strongly about our position to achieve our goal by year end," he said. "The proceeds of the sale of this deal compared to the proceeds of the last deal are different." For example, Kwik Trip, which was going to purchase the YMCA building until the city refused to make a zoning change for the property, had planned to donate $500,000 to the YMCA capital campaign until that deal fell through. "We still believe they'll make a donation."

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Madsen said the sale  and the use of the building by Partners in Excellence  will not be impacted by zoning changes to the property that are currently being considered by the Winona City Council. Currently, the zoning for the property is "traditional neighborhood," though the YMCA was grandfathered in because it was an established business before the current zoning code was implemented.

The city is considering changing the area's zoning  the neighborhood, with the addition of the new Winona bridge has changed in recent years  to "downtown mixed use." That change would allow the YMCA or Partners in Excellence more flexibility than the current designation.

The existing YMCA facility was built in 1949 and has about 77,000 square feet, though the Y uses less than half of that for programming, Madsen said.

Deb Thomas, founder of Partners In Excellence, said her organization is happy to be coming to Winona. "With our success in LaCrosse and the Twin Cities we look forward to connecting with families and providing supportive services that help them thrive," she said. "Partners will open at their interim Winona site in the Winona Knitting Mills complex on July 10."
Howard Root is a hero who deserves to be better known. He was the founder and CEO of a medical products company called Vascular Solutions, Inc. at a time when Barack Obamas Department of Justice, in its own words, needed a body. That is, a business executive they could send to prison. Howard Root became their chosen target.

For five years, Howard and his company battled baseless criminal charges asserted by Obamas DOJ. Sally Yates, whose name may be familiar to you, played a key role. The case couldnt be settled, not without providing a body. So Howard risked his company and his freedom by taking his case to a jury, trusting to the sense of justice of twelve average Americans.

Howard Root tells his story in a book called Cardiac Arrest. It is a riveting story and, surprisingly often, a funny one. It ends happily: the jury acquitted Howard and Vascular Solutions on all charges. One of the jurors later emailed to Howard, What the federal government did to you, your company and your employees is nothing short of criminal. It was a victory, but the victory cost Howard and his company $25 million and five years of agony.

Howard wants to share his story with the widest possible audience. One week from today, Friday, May 12, at noon at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Minneapolis, Howard will speak at Center of the American Experiments quarterly lunch forum. If you can get there, you are invited.

All you have to do is call Samantha Peterson at 612.584.4559 to reserve a ticket, or you can register online here. Tickets are $30.

Having heard Howard speak and read his book, I know the event will be interesting. It may also prove historic. Howards presentation will be videotaped, and he hopes to take the video to Washington to meet with Attorney General Jeff Sessions. There is a new sheriff at DOJ, and Howards experience may be a catalyst that helps Attorney General Sessions clean out the politicized corruption that characterized the Department under Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch.

Two final notes. First, if you happen to be a lawyer licensed in Minnesota, the program has been approved for an hour of CLE credit.

Second, we had Howard Root as a guest for a live Power Line VIP event several weeks ago. It was a unique opportunity not only to hear Howard, but to ask him questions. If you are not already a VIP, you can join, for only $4 a month or $40 a year, by clicking on the blue rectangle at the top of the right sidebar on this site.

If you can make it to our lunch forum next Friday, you should come. I hope to see you there!
Elections interrupted by outside forces seem to be a recurring theme these days.

No, were not talking about the recent U.S. presidential elections. Rather, today were looking at the fact that a power outage forced a polling place serving six precincts in Middletown, Ohio, to be moved.

A car crash knocked over a utility pole, causing power at Grace Baptist Church to be cut off. As a result, 3,700 voters registered voters had to be notified that they would have to vote elsewhere. This was accomplished, according to officials, via the posting of detour signs by the county engineers office and through notifications by the Emergency Management Agency.

This example illustrates that government entities, like any other businesses, should have proper power protection and backup systems in place to ensure continuity in case of a power outage. Given the current environment, the preponderance of security breaches, and allegations of election fraud and manipulation, governments should want to avoid any irregularity in the process. And having backup power can help with that.

Power outages cost U.S. businesses in eight key market segments $27 billion last year, according to consulting and research company E Source (News - Alert). Those segments include batch manufacturing, continuous manufacturing, financial services/digital economy, offices, healthcare/hospitals, government/education, grocery/food stores, and retail.

These outages can result from a wide variety of events.

The biggest threat to the power grid is squirrels and birds. According to T&D World, birds are responsible for about 25 percent of power outages in the U.S.

As noted above, traffic accidents can also sever power. So can backhoes during construction.

Storms are another culprit of power outages. In that case, heavy winds or lightning strikes can bring down trees, limbs, or branches into power lines. Speaking of weather, on extremely hot days when air conditioning usage is high, or very cold days when people have turned up their electric heaters, equipment can become overloaded and cause outages.

Edited by Alicia Young
Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, has written an open letter to her estranged husband, Lanre Gentry, after he, in an interview, allegedly said she is mentally unstable.

The actress published the letter on her official Instagram account on Friday morning. Mr. Gentry responded to her post by saying, Its not true.

The pair is currently involved in a domestic violence case, which the police is investigating. Mercy published the letter just as her husband is billed to appear in a Lagos court today. The court appearance is a result of a physical assault case levelled against him by the Lagos State Department of Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT.

A fight between the couple allegedly led to her bleeding, a situation which informed her decision to storm the office of the Lagos State Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Commissioner, Lola Akande, on Tuesday, to report the matter. Mrs Akande was said to have handed over the case to the state Ministry of Justice. Despite the explanations given by Mr. Gentry that the pictures of the actress bruised face were behind-the-scene images from a movie set, the actress has secured a restraining order against him.

Mr. Gentry has been ordered by a court not to come within one mile of Mercy Aigbes location at all times.

Vanguard reports the Coordinator of DSVRT, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, as saying that the order prevents Mr. Gentry from getting close to his wife until further notice, assuring that government would pursue the case to a logical conclusion.

Mercy Aigbes seven-year-old marriage crashed after photos of her battered face went viral on the Internet last weekend, as she accused her husband of physical assault.

Read Mercys open letter below

Dear Lanre Gentry, It breaks my heart that I have to do this but as it is you have left me with no choice. I had sleepless night because I just couldnt comprehend why someone I loved, someone with whom I have a child will be hell bent on destroying me, I just cannot comprehend it.

I read with tears in my eyes all the LIES you fabricated against me, LIES you feel will justify your inhumane act, LIES you feel will gain you public sympathy and LIES calculated to bring my person to public opprobrium.

You claim, I am Mentally Unstable (2) That you have caught me with different men (3) That I do not take care of my parents (4) That a man rented an apartment for me. LIES all LIES. Dear hubby I challenge you to back on your claims with PROOF! Hmmmm Lanre you forget quickly!, you forget how I have labored and stood by you all these years, even though all what I was getting from you was constant beating, harassment, threat to my life and threat to destroying my image if I dare leave you. You must PROVE all your allegations otherwise God knows I am going to add another lawsuit to the one on ground! Although my Team has been pleading with me to stay silent all these while, but I have come to realise that you want to ride on my keeping mum.

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In most states across the nation, fuel sells at an average of N120.

Petroleum marketers in Nigeria are making excess profits off petroleum products, swindling the government of billions in subsidy refunds and fleecing citizens with high petrol prices.

A survey carried out by PREMIUM TIMES early November reveals that the N97.00 per litre controlled price of petrol is sold only in Abuja city (though not readily available), the central streets of Lagos, and in filling stations owned by governments Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

In other states, consumers buy petrol at prices ranging from N110.00 to N170.00 per litre. In Kogi for instance, fuel sells at N110 while in Taraba state, the pump price of fuel is N170.

Following a massive civil unrest in January, with thousands protesting the total withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products by President Goodluck Jonathan, the government accepted to partially reinstate subsidy.

The government subsidizes petrol by N44.00, forcing down its price from the proposed N141.00 to N97.00. But while the government has continued to pay the subsidy fee to genuine importers, according to the Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the marketers fleece Nigerians with a countrywide pump price of N120.00 average, N23.00 higher than the approved price.

The PREMIUM TIMES survey shows that the fuel scarcity which began in Abuja last August before spreading to other states persists in 18 states. The scarcity has also triggered a nationwide disregard for the government controlled price while government officials watch without taking actions.

The survey shows that in states where the products are available at a drive -in-and-buy quantity, the pump price is higher than the approved amount.

Huge perfidy

Nigerias daily domestic consumption of petrol is estimated at 32 million litres.

At that rate, marketers, including the NNPC, make N1.4 billion daily from subsidy payments and at least, N736 million extra from consumers, daily.

In a 30-day month, petroleum marketers rob Nigerian consumers of about N22 billion; which is different from the expected monthly subsidy payment of about N42.24 billion.

DPR unable to regulate

The Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, a major regulator in the oil industry, which is supposed to ensure that marketers sell petrol at approved amount is comatose.

The possible reason for the incompetence of the agency, one of several under controversial oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was stated on Tuesday by a senior official of the agency.

The Operation Controller of the Department in charge of Nassarawa and Benue, Manasseh Akpah, said the department lacked funds and human resources to enforce the subsidized price in fuel stations.

We cannot embark on exercise that will have mitigated the activities of illegal marketers due to paucity of funds, he said.

Mr. Akpah said the understaffed department needs funds to employ additional staff, to procure more operation materials and to make sure that petroleum products are sold at the approved prices.

Cat and mouse game

Back in august, when the fuel scarcity first began, the Federal Government blamed it on 21 petrol marketers indicted for corruption in the 2011 fuel subsidy scam.

These companies were earlier indicted of large scale fraud by Access banks Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede-led presidential committee which investigated the 2011 fuel subsidy payments.

According to the Finance Minister, companies owned by wealthy Nigerians such Conoil Plc business mogul, Mike Adenuga (who was later honoured with the second highest official award in Nigeria, the GCON); and Eterna Oil, whose directors are Mahmud Tukur, son of Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, and Fola Adeola, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the last presidential elections  were behind the fuel crisis.

The oil marketers fired back immediately, denying the claims. Despite the claims and counter claims, fuel scarcity, unavailability and inflated prices still persist across the country even as black market operators have taken over in some states including Abuja.

The subsidy payment scam broke late 2011, following a motion to investigate the sector by a Senator from Kwara State, Bukola Saraki. Since then, the government and oil marketers have been playing the Cat and Mouse game.

Mr. Sarakis motion was followed by an inconclusive senate probe. The House of Representatives also launched a probe after the January protest.

The findings of the House panel had groundbreaking revelations of massive fraud in the subsidy sector. The report was quickly drowned by allegations that a businessman, Femi Otedola, whose company was to be indicted by the report bribed the panels chairman, Farouk Lawan, with $600 thousand, part which Mr. Lawan allegedly stuffed in his cap on one transaction.

The corruption allegation has been blamed for governments non implementation of the House of Reps report. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has however begun the prosecution of some of the marketers believed to have fleeced the nation of subsidy funds.

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Turkish citizens living in Germany would not be allowed to vote in a Turkish referendum on reintroducing the death penalty, a government spokesman said on Friday.

It is politically unthinkable that we would agree to a vote on a matter that is contradictory to our constitution and to European values.

If another country wants to hold an election or vote in its embassies or consulates here in Germany, it is subject to approval.

Germany is not obliged to grant that approval, Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel said.

Some 1.41 million Turks living in Germany are eligible to vote in Turkish elections.

Nearly two-thirds (63.1 per cent) of those who voted in April referendum are to adopt constitutional changes that will grant Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers voted in favour of the alterations.

Mr. Erdogan has repeatedly stated that he plans to let the people of Turkey decide whether they want the death penalty to be reintroduced in their country.

Such a move would spell the end of Turkeys accession talks with the European Union.

Martin Schulz, the Social Democrats popular new leader who plans to challenge Merkel in the September 24 national election kicks against Turks voting.

Allowing Turks to vote on the matter would be incompatible with our values and our constitution.

Capital punishment was abolished in Turkey in 2004 as part of its bid to join the bloc.

The EU does not permit the death penalty, so its reintroduction by Ankara would automatically exclude Turkey from joining the bloc.

However, since a coup attempt by a faction of the military in July 2016, Erdogan has been calling for its reintroduction in order to rid the country of alleged supporters of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The Turkish government had blamed Gulen for the uprising. However, he denies the charges.

(dpa/NAN)

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The Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Sani Aliyu, has called for the integration of HIV treatment into the Health Insurance Scheme.

This, he said, will help increase the number of people that will be placed on treatment.

Mr. Aliyu who spoke at the stakeholders meeting on integrating comprehensive HIV/AIDs services into health insurance in Abuja on Thursday, said that the agency has realized that health insurance, especially community health insurance could be a mechanism that would allow more people to be placed on treatment.

This would also allow the state governments to contribute as well because we know the budgets are limited, the priorities are great, the needs of our people are great and HIV is only one component of the health sector, he said

Mr. Aliyu who stated that the cost of treating HIV has restricted so many people from receiving treatment, said including HIV treatment in the scheme would protect patients from hardship.

He said, There is a need for a scheme that allows you to fund the supply of drugs for People Living With HIV/AIDS.

For now, it costs about 50,000 to put one HIV patient on treatment. If HIV treatment can be integrated into the health insurance scheme, all an individual will need for treatment of HIV/Aids +TB care is N1700.

He therefore called on the government and NHIS to not only include HIV testing as part of the scheme but also integrate HIV treatment into the scheme.

What I want in the next one year is for us to have a sustainable mechanism for funding HIV, funds that is not dependent on budget circles, that is not dependent on government having to put in money.

Our patients with HIV need to be on treatment for life, so we need a long-term solution, not short term, the NACA boss said.

In his response, the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, Usman Yusuf, said that the agency has agreed to work closely with all health agencies, including NACA.

Mr. Yusuf said all the heads of health agencies in the country were working together to make a difference.

We are working together to ensure qualitative health for the people. Therefore, we will continue to talk to ensure this comes into existence, he said

He, however, urged individuals to contribute more to the health of others, as the government has done a lot.

It is shameful we still depend on foreign donors. Government has done a lot, we need to start doing so much for ourselves

If theres a large pool of individuals who contribute to fund healthcare, then there will be coverage of gaps Mr. Yusuf said.

In his goodwill message, the executive secretary of Civil Society For HIV/Aids in Nigeria, Walter Ujwuocha, said that the group would continue to mount pressure to ensure that the right things were done for people living with HIV/Aids in the country.

With over three million, Nigeria has the second highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world.

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My friends niece has been sulking and shedding tears. She does not want to attend university in Nigeria. Government officials here send their children abroad to school. Families that can afford it also do the same. It is rare to find anyone with an alternative choosing to stay behind.

All my friends are going to school abroad, the girl said. I want to go abroad, even if its Ghana.

Beyond the quality of education, the looming possibility of disruptive lecturer strikes and student unrest are further deterrents to schooling here. I spent six years at the University of Ibadan, studying a four-year course. In addition, it is easier to pass through the eye of a needle than to gain admission into a Nigerian university without having connections or paying bribes. The schools abroad usually welcome you with wide open arms once you meet their basic requirements and pay their hefty foreign student fees. Admission without tears.

There is another reason why Nigerian students are heading overseas in droves. They have learnt by association, by observing action and reaction. The most highly acclaimed Nigerians, in almost every field of endeavour, have been trained abroad. Those who return home automatically have elevated status thrust upon them. They get the juiciest positions, the highest salaries, and the greatest respect.

As the recent global financial meltdown flushes more and more people from the diaspora back here, the rumbles of discontent among the homeschooled  those who studied here  are gradually increasing. Anyone who cares to listen will hear their bitter complaints. And the resentment goes beyond watching the repatriates pluck choice jobs from right under the locals noses. Other charges abound as well.

They think they are better than the rest of us, someone said to me. They treat us with contempt, as if we dont know anything. All they do is find fault and criticise. They dont realise that the way we do things here is different from over there.

In many cases, these sour feelings morph into outright office warfare. An Abuja worker told me that he was determined to watch one UK-trained consultant at his workplace fail.

I just make sure that I do the little bit Im meant to do, and nothing more, he said. Since she thinks the rest of us dont know anything, she can go ahead and do everything herself.

His other homeschooled colleagues took the same stance. Together, the department was determined to make that consultants life hell.

My friend, Ngozika, experienced this kind of hostility a few years ago. After returning with a masters degree from the UK, she was given a top position at a Nigerian bank.

The staff were so cold and hostile, she said.

Later, she found out that they had jointly decided to give the chick from the UK a hard time.

Some argue that the repatriates condescending attitude could simply be a reaction to the half-baked skills of many graduates from Nigerian universities. Employers complain that you often have to put them through a series of training sessions before they can be of the most basic use to you. Others say that the repatriates, as skilled and knowledgeable as they may be, usually lack the native sense required to exceland survivein the extremely peculiar Nigerian working environment. It usually takes at least one grave failure before their eyes finally open to the fact that Nigeria is not designed to work the same way as the USA or Australia.

Ugochi Bede worked for the Nigerian offices of an international recruitment company. For years, she found both locals and repatriates for some top Nigerian companies. Shes noted that returnees can lack the sensitivity to appease the resentment from their local colleagues  and so ignite a great deal of hostility that obstructs their work.

But they usually have better work ethics, she said.

You rarely find the repatriates doing things like selling dried stock fish or designer shoes in the office, or taking three weeks leave because their great-grandmother died.

Actually, none of this is new. The same conflict played out vehemently between Nigerian employees and their expatriate colleagues both before and after independence in 1960. But this current crisis is different. The two warring camps both have a right to be here. They are all Nigerian by birth.

At this rate, a foreign degree may soon become essential for anyone wanting to gain top employment in Nigeria. More and more revenue will flow from here to the foreign schools while this countrys own educational system continues to suffer.

(This piece first appeared on the BBC World Service Radio programme, From Our Own Correspondent http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/p00yk1nm/)

Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani is the author of the novel, I Do Not Come to You by Chance, winner of the 2010 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book (Africa).

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The fight against corruption is a personal and serious one. A review of Integrity Nigerias Spirit of Egunje campaign

Corruption is endemic in Nigeria and its pangs are far reaching, denying millions of Nigerians the rights to life, daily.

This is the reason Integrity Nigeria, an organization that focuses solely on combating corruption and promoting good governance has taken the campaign against anti corruption a notch higher.

The group said the the cost of corruption has become more costly to Nigerias existence now, more than ever before.

Since it has eaten into the very fabric of our nation, we want to expose it we do not want to sit down and watch it destroy us, the Integrity group holds.

Hence, it created a means to set fire to corruption in Nigeria  The Spirit of Egunge.

The Spirit of Egunje is a journey out of the box. Very much unlike other anti-corruption campaigns, it is set in form of a competition. Promoting critical thinking and intellectualism amongst its target audience young people within the age range of 15-40 years, the Spirit of Egunje will seek to chase out corruption in Nigeria for good.

The Spirit of Egunje will engender debates on bribe giving and taking, with ordinary citizen giving their perception of the culture of bribe which is the literal meaning of Egunje.

It will utilize the widened public sphere created by the internet and social media to encourage citizen participation in the fight against corruption.

The Spirit of Egunje competition is divided into five categories  best story, best poem, best song/video, best art/cartoon and the most involved person on twitter advocating against corruption using the hashtag #Egunjeinfo.

The launch will take place on November 20, 2012 in Abuja. However, entry for the competition closes on Friday, November 2.

In order to be eligible to participate in the competition, candidate must follow Public Integrity networks on facebook and on twitter with the handle @PINS2015.

On the integrity website, useful information about anti-corruption and the Spirit of Egunje competition can be found.

Integrity Nigeria

Originated in 1995, has maintained a reputation in research and intense combat against corruption. With visionaries its helm, Integrity Nigeria has stood out and has until now never been enmeshed in ethical controversies.

Empowering people, their transactions, systems and institutions against corruption, this includes by building better livelihoods, Mr. Apampa speaks about his work. With Visionaries at the helm of affairs at Integrity, the organization is poised to contribute to good governance in Nigeria.

This is a sponsored post

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A civic environmental group says its time to zero-in on the challenge of renewable energy

Nov.2 (PREMIUM TIMES)  A strong plea has gone to the Jonathan administration to act promptly and decisively in formulating a renewable energy strategy for the country that will shift focus from the current over-dependence on fossil fuel.

This plea came from the civic group, Green Deal Nigeria, at its just concluded conference at the Shehu Musa YarAdua Center in Abuja where the point was also made that while public officials owe it to Nigerians to met-out their responsibilities without fear or favour, the higher burden is on citizens who were enjoined to seat up and hold government officials accountable for their actions and inactions.

Green Deal Nigeria defined its challenge as helping to propel a consciousness towards averting the disaster that awaits Nigeria when her crude oil reserve dries up.

The organization said the fears of oil drying up is as real as the records go, stressing that the most optimistic reading of the nations proven reserve puts the records between 2027 and 2052.

The future portends a dismal picture, the group said, for a country that depends mainly on proceeds from the oil sector for its economic growth.

Why do we wait for disaster to knock before we react, and not act now? What defense do we have for where the energy sector in Nigeria is today? the group queried, blaming the failure to address cogent environment crises like desert encroachment in Taraba State and Yobe State, as well as erosion in Anambra State which has destroyed lives, farm land and property, on the apparent deficit in governance.

The way out of the predicament, says the group, is the application of a cocktail of issues: a vigorous fight against corruption to address the quality of governance; a honest and transparent evidence of political will at the leadership level; and the application of science and technology to the development of renewable energy sources.

A speaker at the conference, Mercy Abang, drove the point home by decrying what she called the alarming culture of waste and damage among citizens and the government in our country.

Ms. Abang observed that every time you have to eat, trees have to be chopped down and asked in a biting irony if indeed we really need the government in the country because, according to her, this was the question on the lips of most Nigerians, based on abject report card on policy development that has only pain, poverty and political dissatisfaction.

When citizens come together, however, and dont wait on the government, she said, a lot of insight and development can be generated.

The Lagos bio-gas plant was cited as a model citizens initiative to address the power crisis in an environmentally sensible sense. The plant, at mile 12 market, Lagos, converts waste into gas that can power a generator producing 10kva of electricity.

Participants at the conference urged government to be pro-active and inclusive in its policy formulation and implementations, adding that notions in policy suggests that government only exist for the affluent, which should be challenged and addressed.

Government should be prepared and put measures in place to check social problems like epidemics resulting from the floods, social vices resulting from destruction of livelihoods and property according to participants. They also want urgent attention on starvation and deforestation caused by desert encroachment.

Green Deal Nigeria and its conference were being supported by the Heinrich Boll Foundation, a German foundation with strong concerns for a green future.

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The visit of President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic to President Muhammadu Buhari scheduled for Friday has been postponed indefinitely.

The rescheduling, according to a statement by Mr. Buharis spokesperson, Femi Adesina, late on Thursday is at the instance of Mr. Issoufou who has another domestic engagement.

All arrangements had been concluded for President Buhari to receive his Nigerien counterpart and his delegation at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa and attend the Jumaat prayers together as well as lunch, before the last-minute postponement? Mr. Adesina said.

The spokesperson said a new date for the visit will be announced in due course.

Mr. Adesinas statement on the reason for the postponement shows it is not related to the bed rest of President Buhari who has not been seen in public in a while and has missed three successive weekly Federal Executive Council meetings.

The Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, has, however, said the president was fine and was only heeding doctors advice to take a rest.

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The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of wasting N34 billion on the dredging of the River Niger.

According to The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Amaechi disclosed that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is spending N100 million on the job, adding that after paying a contractor N34 billion for the dredging exercise, former President Goodluck Jonathans administration failed to get the job done.

The minister said this at a conference on Fast-tracking Port Reforms, hosted by The Nation newspaper in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, in Lagos.

When the River Niger was first approved for dredging by the previous administration, Mr. Amaechi said, it was approved for N47 billion and N34 billion was paid to the contractor. Dancers were called in and there was a party.

We are not dredging the River Niger with billions of naira; we are dredging the River Niger with just N100 million. When we flagged it off recently, did you see us dancing? Was there a party? I just went to see the governor and told him that the project will start today and will be finished in one month.

The governor said he will accompany me, and I said ok. So, I asked the governor to flag it off since its located in his state.

Commenting on concerns raised in certain quarters on how the government plans to execute the dredging exercise with N100 million as against the N47 billion earmarked for same by Mr. Jonathans government, the former Rivers State governor said the government would not employ the services of private dredgers.

People are wondering how on earth we are going to dredge the River Niger for N100m when the previous government awarded same contract for N47billion?, he said.

But we are going to dredge the River Niger, using dredgers owned by the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA. NIWA has dredgers, but the previous government preferred to give contractors money to dredge the river with private dredgers while NIWAs dredgers were lying idle somewhere in Port Harcourt.

The NIWA MD told me the agency has dredgers, but its been hired out to somebody in Port Harcourt. So, we had dredgers, but the previous administration hired them out to some persons in Port Harcourt while paying a contractor billions of naira to use privately owned dredgers at a very high cost.

I told the NIWA MD that I will look for money to fuel their dredgers, and work has started. That is why we are dredging the River Niger with just N100 million, Mr. Amaechi said.

The Jonathan administration had in 2011 approved the Lower River Niger Dredging Project from Warri, in Delta State, to Baro, in Niger State, to four contractors, including Fung Tai Eng Company Nigeria Limited, Dredging International Service Nigeria Limited, Van Oord Nigeria Limited and Williams Lloyds Technology Company Limited.

Meanwhile, in 2016, the Nigerian Indigenous Ship-Owners Association (NISA) had lamented the poor handling of the dredging project, saying no work was done despite the huge fund earmarked for it.

We keep hearing that the River Niger has been dredged down to Warri, but how has that improved the traffic of vessels along that route? I dont think that river was dredged, Aminu Umar, NISA president, had said.

Nothing has changed before and after the so-called dredging that they claimed to have done.

To be honest with you, from the shipping community, we dont think any dredging has taken place on that river.

How can the Federal Government approve N43 billion for the dredging of the River Niger and nothing would have changed? How can such money have been spent on that river and it still looks like that?, he had lamented.

Meanwhile, Mr. Amaechi also disclosed that $186 million had been approved by Mr. Buhari for the fight against piracy and other criminalities on the waterways, adding that part of the money would be spent on three helicopters and three other aircraft, among others.

Mr. President has approved $186million to fight piracy in our waters, he said.

The funds will be used to buy three helicopters, three aircraft, 12 vessels stationed in the water. In the next three months, all of them would be deployed to fight piracy on our waters.

We promised change. Change is not talked about; it is felt. That is why we asked that the people should give us time.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has attended Friday Muslim prayers at the Mosque inside the presidential villa.

The president, who has been ill, had not been seen in public for weeks, fuelling speculations about his health.

Mr. Buhari also missed cabinet meetings for three consecutive weeks, but his wife, Aisha, said his health was not as bad as perceived.

The president has not disclosed the nature of his ailment.

On Friday, Mr. Buhari arrived the Mosque at 1:28 p.m., escorted by a retinue of aides.

Dressed in all white attire, he walked briskly from his official residence to the mosque and back, covering about 600 metres.

President Muhammadu Buhari discussing with NSA Babagana Munguno immediately after observing Juma'at Prayer at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. pic.twitter.com/0HKLE3uMHo  Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) May 5, 2017

He stopped to greet people who told him they wished him full recovery, answering  Amen.

More details later.

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The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, said on Friday that political interference and poor funding had ruined the education sector in the country.

This is contained in the communique issued at the end of its 60th annual congress held in Port Harcourt.

The congress had as its theme, Political Interference In Education: A Threat to Effective School Management.

The principals noted that there was general poor funding of the sector across the country, adding that most of what was appropriated for the sector ended up in the pockets of top government officials.

They lamented that appointments, postings and promotion of teachers have tilted away from merit to political patronage.

The heads of secondary schools observed that there was high disregard for continuity in the formulation of educational policies while politically significant persons unnecessarily interfere in school discipline.

The principals added that cheap politically motivated programmes such as free education and free feeding have been allowed take priority over payment of teachers salaries and provision of infrastructure.

The ethos of diligence, sacrifice and self-dignity is fast losing its place among heads of schools in Nigeria, they added.

They urged various levels of government to depoliticise the education sector and allow the system to run itself freely.

Government and stakeholders should put in place necessary in-built feedback mechanism that will guarantee continuity in educational policies.

The UNESCO 26 per cent funding policy on education should be adopted, while prudent management of available resources is advised.

Adequate enlightenment and sensitisation should be put in place by stakeholders on the roles of education as solution to most of the issues that breed agitation, they said.

The principals further advised stakeholders to be more realistic in setting priorities in education and formulate relevant laws to insulate school managements from undue harassment.

Schools managers should uphold the ethics of the teaching profession in the day-to-day discharge of their duties and responsibilities, they added.

The principals commended the Rivers Government for providing enabling environment and support for the congress to hold in Port Harcourt.

(NAN)

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For the second time in two weeks, the Lagos State government has denied that its officials were involved in the demolition of a market in the state.

Goods worth millions of naira were lost after government officials, accompanied by armed police officers, arrived the Sabo market on Itoikin road in Ikorodu on Thursday night to begin demolition of the property.

The traders said they were served a notice of demolition two weeks ago.

But Steve Ayorinde, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said on Friday that the demolition was carried out by unscrupulous and desperate developers suspected to be acting in connivance with certain local government officials.

According to Mr. Ayorinde, the state government did not demolish the market and would not demolish any market or property in the state without following due process.

The State Governments preliminary investigation revealed that the market was demolished by some private developers, in connivance with some local government officers and a certain uniformed personnel who acted beyond their brief, the commissioner said in a statement.

He explained that government had observed a pattern which engages uniformed personnel to carry out spurious orders without any proper notice being served to deny market women of the means of their livelihood.

Mr. Ayorinde said the state government would no longer tolerate such brazen act of illegality.

The commissioner said to forestall similar occurrence, the government would henceforth beam its searchlight on the excesses of developers, local government officials and their cohorts in order to protect the interest of hard working traders.

The current administration in the state is committed to the socio-economic empowerment of the people and has formulated policies and taken measures that would guarantee their economic well-being.

It would therefore not fold its arms and watch desperate individuals or groups deny hard working people in the state their means of livelihood, Mr. Ayorinde said.

The statement reiterated the commitment of the government to protect the right of every citizen and warned against further acts of connivance between developers and their cohorts.

Similar demolitions, same denial

Mr. Ayorindes statement came exactly two weeks after a similar denial over the demolition of the retail market in the Berger area of the state.

Wasiu Anifowose, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, while denying the states responsibility for the demolition said the government does not embark on demolitions without organizing a stakeholders meeting with the affected people, as well as giving them adequate notice.

Our story is that some of the market women came to my office yesterday saying that their market was being demolished, and after finding out from relevant agencies because I have not given any directive on demolition and having confirmed that our agencies were not involved, I told the market people that the demolition never came from us, Mr. Anifowose had said in a statement on April 21.

In November last year, the state government also denied involvement in the demolition of Otodogbame, a waterfront community in Lekki.

Responding to the development, Taofeek Gani, the Peoples Democratic Party spokesperson in the state, said the government should identify those who participated in the demolitions and prosecute them.

It calls to question, we need to know whether we are on auto-pilot now in Lagos State where we cannot identify who is governing, said Mr. Gani.

Because if such exercise continues and the state government represented by the governor indeed is denying knowledge, it means we do not have an active government in place.

It is not only in this arrangement of demolitions, so many other things are happening in the state and the government is always quick to come and deny. Let them not allow Lagosians to become anarchic because once it is confirmed that the government will want to put up an alibi whenever an injury is inflicted on them, they will turn to anarchy.

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The Nigerian government is set to employ 47,000 people in its drive to construct roads across the country, an official has said.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, made this disclosure at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr. Fashola noted that to implement the plan, the government would collaborate with the National Assembly.

The former Lagos State governor, who explained how vocational and technical education had significantly contributed to the development of Singapore, Canada and South Africa , amongst others, said Nigeria must shape its educational system to facilitate the growth of the economy.

The minister reiterated that the Muhammadu Buhari-led government had worked out plans on how to engage thousands of artisans and technicians, particularly through the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, to fix roads across the country.

We, therefore, conclude that technical education systems are dynamic, the challenges are, of course, unique because human needs vary with time, the minister said.

We have to shape our educational system based on our economy. Our system must therefore be relevant and responsive; We must plan for the future and not the past.

Mr. Fashola also explained that Nigeria is investing in infrastructure, adding that the plan accounted for the thirty per cent earmarked for capital allocation in the entire 2016 budget.

In the 2016 national budget , capital allocation alone was N1.8 trillion, which is a jump to 30 per cent of the total budget, he said.

We are currently planning for all these infrastructure that we are buildingthe idea is to actually change FERMA (Federal Road Maintenance Agency), which is to review the FERMA law and come up with another law.

The essence is that FERMA should ultimately be the biggest construction company in this country.

The idea is to employ about 47 ,000 people just to fix roads and the plan is there, he submitted.

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The Senate Press Corp has expressed concern over drastic reduction of television cameramen and women covering Senate proceedings by Senate bureaucracy.

The Chairman of the Senate Press Corps, Mr Cosmas Ekpunobi in a statement described the decision of the Senate bureaucracy as unhealthy and an attempt to cause friction between the media and the National Assembly.

The attention of Senate Press Corps leadership has been drawn to decision of the Senate bureaucracy to further reduce the number of television news crews (cameramen) covering plenary from 13 to 6. The change came into operation today, precipitating the reported boycott of the cameramen of todays senate proceedings.

We want to reiterate here that the Senate Press Corp leadership will never condone any unprofessional conduct by any of our members.

We accepted to call our erring members to order and get back to the Clerk of the Senate for further action.

We expected the clerk to rescind his decision pending the outcome of our meeting with the cameramen today.

We believe that this issue can still be resolved through dialogue as we are amenable to consensual decision reached by all parties, he said.

He said journalists in the senate had often been told that no parliament in the world allowed cameramen into the chamber.

The chairman said while such was true, those parliaments, however, had functional central pool units to deliver quality feeds.

Until such equipment is installed with the requisite broadcast professionals to man them, we plead for a stay of execution, he said.

Mr. Ekpunobi urged the Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdullahi Sabi, to intervene in the matter.

(NAN)

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Dozens of residents have fled a community in Akwa Ibom after repeated attacks by a suspected cult group, locals and security officials say.

Residents of Midim Atan village in Essien Udim local government area of the state said at least two people have so far been killed and many more injured in attacks by a group known as Akwa Marine.

Akwa Marine led by Emmanuel Ben has been disturbing our community for many years. The problem is not just the cultists but the people sponsoring them and that is why it has been difficult to clamp them down, said a local chief, Efene Jeremiah.

The unrest has lasted years, and police have made limited success against the group despite an investigation by a team set up by the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to probe its activities.

The divisional police officer for Essien Udim, Alhassan Guda, said he was new at the post and could not comment on the activities of the gang.

But the spokesperson for the polices Criminal Investigation Department, Chike Nwabuwa, told this newspaper that an investigation team had long been set up by Mr. Arase, to monitor and investigate the activities of the gang following several complaints. He declined to disclose the findings of the panel.

The Investigating Police Officer in charge of the case, Abdul Mohammed, did not also disclose the findings when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES.

Many residents say the group has been emboldened by police inaction.

The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which also received multiple petitions on the matter, also said police had not responded to its request for details of the attacks.

The civil rights department of the ministry told PREMIUM TIMES that the ministry had written to the Police IGs office regarding the case, but had received no response for months.

Security officials and locals, many of whom had fled the community, blame the lack of aggressive police response on links between the group and powerful politicians from the area.

They say the group was set up ahead of the 2011 elections to go after perceived opponents of top politicians from the area, including former Governor Godswill Akpabio, whom they accuse of providing support for the group.

Mr. Akpabio denies the allegation. His spokesperson, Anietie Ekong, told PREMIUM TIMES the former governor, who is now the Senate minority leader, would not sponsor a criminal gang.

It is pure political mischief to link the distinguished Senator to a criminal gang, Mr. Ekong said.

He said several petitions sent by community members to different law enforcement agencies, linking Mr. Akpabio to the group, were politically motivated.

Any criminal who has been apprehended by the security agencies should be made to face the consequences of his action, Mr. Ekong said, referring to the recent arrest of Mr. Ben.

Attacks and killings

Ahead of the elections in 2011 and 2015, attacks by the group largely targeted those perceived to support political parties other than the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the states governing party, several security officials and witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES.

Victor Udom, a community member, told this newspaper how he and another resident of the community, Samuel Ikpa, fled the community after being attacked in 2015 on suspicion they supported the main opposition, All Progressives Congress, APC.

On that fateful morning, we were suddenly surrounded by members of the gang led by Emmanuel Ben. Before we could say jack, kicks, hits and blows rained on us, Mr. Udom, a former ExxonMobil staff said. If not for some community members who saw what was happening and alerted the police on surveillance team on ground for the election, we would have been dead.

In recent months, the attacks have been more random, with gang members going after non-members suspected of supporting efforts to clamp down on the group.

Mr. Udoms cousin, Udo Udom, was killed and set alight alongside another community member, Ekpenyong Uwa, in September 2016, by the group, this paper confirmed. The group accused them of theft, an allegation their families strongly denies.

After evading capture for years, Mr. Ben was finally arrested in February by the police, with the support of the State Security Service, SSS, and locals.

Mr. Ben was transferred to Abuja where he is currently being held at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, office on allegations of terrorism and murder.

But some community members say the police, under pressure from politicians, are making efforts to send him back to Akwa Ibom on claims his offences are not federal crimes. Police did not respond to that claim.

Seeking justice

In recent weeks, attacks have escalated in the small community largely in response to Mr. Bens arrest.

A fortnight ago, members of the gang attacked the local market, called Urua Nsong Eto, and vandalised shops, sending traders scampering for safety. They also torched homes of those suspected to be in support of Mr. Bens arrest.

In a bid to get governments attention on the activities of the gang, fleeing community members mobilised and travelled to Abuja for a protest march on April 27, but were denied permission by the commissioner of police, FCT command, Musa Kimo.

Mr. Udom said police advised them to take the protest to Akwa Ibom. The community leaders later marched to Louis Edet House, the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where they narrated their personal experiences at the hands of the groups leader, Mr. Ben.

Amongst several crimes, Mr. Ben is accused of ordering the killing of the two men murdered in Midim Atan: Udo Udom and Ekpenyong Uwa.

Mr. Udoms mother, Nse John, was one of the over a dozen community members who managed to travel to Abuja in April to seek justice.

She told PREMIUM TIMES her son was killed by the gang led by Mr. Ben on September 28, 2016.

They came and took my child from the house at 7 pm. When they left with my child, I was not feeling well, I put on my clothes and walked gently. Before I could get there, they had killed him and cut him into pieces, Mrs. John narrated amidst tears.

The community chief, Mr. Jeremiah, who corroborated the story, told PREMIUM TIMES the attacks have continued because of the support the group receives from powerful individuals.

We have gone to many security agencies, when we call them, they will say the situation is a very bad one but nothing will be done, he said.

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People believed to be supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have reportedly clashed with those backing former Kano governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, over 2019 presidential election, witnesses say.

The clash occurred on Wednesday in Jada, the birth place of Mr. Abubakar.

Residents told PREMIUM TIMES that supporters of Mr. Abubakar and the Adamawa State governor, Mohammed Jibrilla, attacked some youth for wearing red cap in support of former Kano governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Messrs. Abubakar and Bindow had visited the town on Wednesday ahead of the turbaning of the newly-appointed traditional ruler of the town on Thursday.

Those attacked were members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement in the town who are supporting Mr. Kwankwaso, who is believed to be planning to run for president in 2019. Mr. Abubakar is also expected to run.

The thugs were said to have gone after anybody wearing red cap, a symbol of support for Mr. Kwankwaso and those wearing black cap, signifying support for former Adamawa state governor, Murtala Nyako.

As I am talking to you at least 10 of our youth are in the hospital because of the serious nature of the wounds inflicted on them, a resident, Bamanga Mohammed, said. Sadly, the whole scenario played out before the eyes of policemen who took no action.

He said the thugs appeared to have been brought in from neighbouring Bauchi State to go after Mr. Kwankwasos supporters.

We are saddened that someone who claimed to be from this town will import thugs from another state to launch attack on his own people for expressing their political choice, he said.

Source of conflict

Another resident, Yusif Yahaya, told PREMIUM TIMES that trouble started after the youth accused the former vice president of influencing the choice of the new emir.

He said most indigenes had wanted the son of the late emir, known as Chubado, to succeed his father, but the younger brother of the late emir, Ardo, a friend to Mr. Abubakar, was instead chosen.

Since then, the youth and indeed many people here moved their loyalty to Kwankwaso and they set up the Kwankwasiyya movement with strong membership in Jada and Ganye, he said.

Mr. Yahaya said the investiture of the new emir was fixed for Thursday and news filtered in that both the former vice president and Governor Bindow would arrive Jada Wednesday.

Kwankwasiyya members mobilised themselves and called on all their people to wear white clothes and red cap.

When Atikus convoy arrived town, his thugs saw one man by the road side wearing red cap and they descended on him beating him mercilessly. As we speak, he is still in the Hospital battling for life, he said.

Another resident, Ibrahim Jereng, said the thugs descended on anyone they was wearing red cap.

They even went to the shop were the red caps are produced and seriously beat the people in the area with all sorts of dangerous weapons. They completely destroyed the shop, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that calm has returned to the town and both Messrs. Abubakar and Bindow have proceeded to nearby Ganye town where the Mr. Bindows Deputy, Martins Babale, would be conferred with the traditional title of Shettima on Friday.

Atiku not involved

When contacted, the spokesperson of Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, said no one from the former vice presidents side was involved in any form of violence.

He said even if some people attack others, how were they identified as being Mr. Abubakars supporters.

Were they wearing a T shirt bearing Atikus name. Was there anything on them showing them to be Atiku supporters?, he asked.

Mr. Ibe said the political situation in the country is now at a stage where people ferment trouble to bring others down.

The security details attached to his excellency got wind of the plans by some people to cause trouble and relevant agencies were alerted.

I am aware that the security agencies advised them to stay away and they stayed away, he said.

Mr. Ibe said, this is not the kind of politics that Atiku engage in. He can never allow violence around him.

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The absence of the EFCC prosecution team in court on Friday stalled the corruption trial of Joseph Nwobike before Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of the Ikeja High Court in Lagos.

Mr. Nwobike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, is being tried by the EFCC for allegedly perverting the course of justice.

He was also accused of offering gratification to public officials, including court registrars and judges of the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court.

At the last hearing on March 28, the defence team led by Olawale Akoni had argued that the EFCC did not carry out a thorough investigation of the allegations before charging Mr. Nwobike to court.

But at the resumed hearing on Friday, the EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, and his team were absent in court.

When the case was announced from the cause list, Zainab Ettu, an EFCC lawyer who was in the courtroom for a different trial, could not explain her colleagues absence.

My Lord, I am here for another trial, I dont know why Mr. Oyedepo is not in court for this trial, she said.

Mr. Akoni, however, registered his displeasure about the development.

I am quite surprised by the absence of the prosecution; he should have at least informed the court if he had some other engagements.

There is apparently no reason for their absence, they should show some respect to the court.

We have been on this matter since April 21, 2016; the prosecution should come to court and prove its case against the defendant so that the defendant can defend himself.

I will be seeking your Lordships direction on at least imposing a time frame for all the parties in this case.

We have another court date on May 18, we will be praying for your Lordship to give us an additional date, Mr. Akoni said.

Ms. Adebiyi, while responding to Akonis submission, noted that the court would not be sitting on May 18 because she had other official duties.

It is unfortunate that the prosecution did not show up in court, I will be attending a special court session on May 18.

The previously adjourned date of May 18 is hereby vacated and the case adjourned to May 23, June 5 and June 6, she said.

The judge instructed Ms. Ettu to inform her absent colleagues of the adjourned dates.

Miss Zainab Ettu of the EFCC, who is in court for another matter, is to inform Rotimi Oyedepo of the adjourned dates, Ms. Adebiyi said.

(NAN)

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The Oyo State Police Command on Friday paraded a 55-year-old pastor for alleged unlawful possession of a human head, buffalo horn as well as gun powder and charms.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the police also paraded 18 suspects arrested for alleged armed robbery, stealing and cultism.

The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, told journalists in Ibadan that the pastor, said to be the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Idapomimo Zion, Alagbado, Lagos, was arrested by operatives of the Federal Highway Patrol during a stop and search operation.

Mr. Odude said that the pastor was arrested at about 10:30 p.m. on May 4 on his way to another branch of the church at Imini in Afijo Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspect, on his part, told journalists that he got the human head during a demolition exercise in Alagbado, Lagos.

Mr. Isaiah, who claimed to be the son of a herbalist, said that he was taking the human head to the branch of the church at Imini to offer sacrifice in order to chase away thieves terrorising the area.

He, however, said that such an attitude was not expected from a pastor.

Items recovered from other robbery suspects were eight vehicles, 14 cell phones and 106 rounds of ammunition.

(NAN)

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The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has reiterated its appeal to the public to disregard any announcement of recruitment or invitation to its interview.

The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ndu Ughamadu, made the disclaimer in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, the announcement is the third in recent times coming from recurrent fraudulent vacancy claims on various social media platforms purporting to have emanated from the corporation.

We are constrained to announce, once again, that NNPC is not recruiting at the moment.

Members of the public are, therefore, advised to disregard any vacancy announcement on any online or social media platform as they are the handiwork of fraudsters intent on fleecing innocent Nigerians, Mr. Ughamadu said.

He said the syndicates method of operation included deployment of various means, ranging from text messages to forged letters inviting gullible job seekers for non-existing job interviews, to extort money from them.

To this end, we wish to once again appeal to members of the public, particularly unsuspecting applicants, to be wary of fraudulent vacancy announcements or invitations for job interviews at the NNPC Towers.

Anyone who entertains such invitations or deals with peddlers of such invitation does so at his or her own risk, the spokesperson reiterated.

He advised that anyone contacted for the purpose, other than through advertisement duly placed by the corporation in national newspapers, should report such invitations to relevant law enforcement agencies.

He pledged that the corporation would continue to report and engage security agencies on such matters.

(NAN)

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The deputy director of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Akinbode Oluwafemi, has accused the tobacco industry of laying the groundwork to a major subversion of the countrys tobacco control policies.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Mr. Oluwafemi said the industry had been coercing government officials to advocate on their behalf, interfering in policy making through trade committees and third parties, and aggressively lobbying and bribing policy makers.

As we speak today, there is an aggressive attempt to derail the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act which was signed into law by former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and now nearing implementation as the Ministry of Health fashions regulations for its implementation.

Mr. Oluwafemi said the first attempt to thwart the tobacco control policy was a public notice by the Initiative for Public Policy Analysis, IPPA,  an organization he described as a tobacco industry front group  casting doubts on the integrity of members of the National Tobacco Control Committee, NATOCC.

The role of the NATOCC which boasts credible individuals determined to ensure Nigeria implements the tobacco law to the last detail is advisory.

Having found its membership untainted, the tobacco industry tried to sell the public a dummy by insinuating that the NATOCC members were funded agents of international donor agencies and NGOs.

The IPPA had placed an advertorial in a national newspaper on October 6th last year titled SOS: Save National Tobacco Control Committee from Subversive Elements questioning the integrity of the NATOCC members.

The Health Minister, Isaac Adewole, had responded swiftly to the claims saying his ministry had the constitutional authority to collaborate with both local and international partners to advance the countrys public health initiative.

Thompson Ayodele, IPPAs Executive Director, told PREMIUM TIMES there was nothing wrong with taking a position different from that of anti-tobacco groups.

If they think their position is the only valid position, then they are mistaken, Mr. Ayodele said in a phone interview on Thursday night.

If they keep on antagonizing any group opposing them and associating them with the tobacco industry, then you should ask them what is their own interest? Who is funding them?

These groups want tobacco banned and we have always advocated that banning tobacco is not the solution. Have they noticed any market where tobacco is banned?

Tobacco industry at it again

At Thursdays press conference, Mr. Oluwafemi said following the health ministers vote of confidence on members of the NATOCC, the tobacco industry had begun other moves to undermine the governments policy.

We have learnt of a very suspicious Bill to amend the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 sponsored by Honourable Dickson Tarkighir representing Makurdi/Guma federal constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, said Mr. Oluwafemi.

Among others, the Bill seeks to vest the implementation of the NTC Act with the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and as anticipated, has the full support of the tobacco industry.

Mr. Oluwafemi said the latest moves did not come as a surprise because in the run up to the passage of the tobacco law in 2015, the tobacco industry stopped at nothing to upturn efforts already put in place at the time.

The suspicious Bill removes all powers of the Minister of Health and vests same with the Director General of the National Agency for Foods, Drug Administration and Control, putting tobacco control absolutely under NAFDAC.

It also vests full administration of the NTC Act in the NAFDAC. Dubiously, the new bill deleted Sections 2, 3, 4, and 6 of the NTC Act, which established the NATOCC and seeks to create a National Tobacco Control Directorate under NAFDAC.

Mr. Oluwafemi further accused the tobacco industry of planting moles in government ministries that are involved in tobacco control policy.

It may interest you to know that we learnt of the recent leak of a confidential document relating to the implementing guidelines and regulations for the NTC Act at the Ministry of Justice.

This alleged breach in form of the smuggling of a supposed confidential document to one of the leading tobacco corporations in the country, is a sad reminder that an official from the same ministry who was on the delegation of the Nigerian government to the Seventh Session of the Conference of Parties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in November 2016 advanced tobacco industry-laced arguments that shocked the world at the talks.

Mr. Oluwafemi called on the Nigerian government to identify those behind the leaks at the Justice Ministry as well as put a mechanism in place to insulate tobacco policies from tobacco industry interference.

As we have said time and again, delay in the full implementation of the NTC Act will be exploited by the tobacco industry to begin a new onslaught on our nation and particularly our youth. The Nigerian government must be wary of the tobacco industry.

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The Association of Senior Civil Servants, ASCSN, of Nigeria has resolved to proceed with an indefinite strike if the federal government does not address the non-payment of their N200 billion promotion, salaries and death remunerations.

The National Executive Council, NEC, of the association, made the resolution during its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. They also agreed to picket the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office, which the workers believe, are sabotaging the swift directives by President Muhammadu Buhari to release funds to pay several arrears owed them.

The verdict of the associations executive council was disclosed to journalists by Ojemhenka Isaac, Association Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory chapter.

According to the Punch Newspaper, Mr. Isaac said the money approved by the National Assembly to pay their outstanding arrears was channelled to pay contractors handling unfamiliar projects.

The President of ASCSN, Bala Kaigama, who also serves as the President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, told journalists after the meeting that the ASCSN, an affiliate Union of the TUC, would collaborate with the NLC to carry out the intended industrial action.

Yes, the picketing would be done and I will lead it because this thing has taken so long. The idea of the payment of arrears of promotions, death benefits, first 28 days, started as soon as the President was sworn in. he said.

Mr. Kaigama, stated that the picketing of the Ministry of Finance and the Budget Office would be followed by a strike, adding that the dates for actions would be worked out later.

He also stressed that the arrears owed the workers were not paid even when the president directed the Head of Service to work out the details with unions and to commence payment immediately.

He said when submissions on the issue were made to the federal government, it argued that there was no budgetary provision for the payment of the arrears.

We wrote to Mr. President, he responded positively and then directed the office of the Head of Service to sit with us and work out the details. The details were worked out through the MDAs and our representatives at the MDA level and submissions were made to the Office of the Head of Service.

That was done, then the National Assembly approved a virement but a chunk of the money was earmarked for the settlement of part of these arrears. But today, the explanation they are giving us is that the virement approved by the National Assembly has lapsed; that it is only capital projects that it (virement) can accommodate, it cannot accommodate overhead.

In fact, except if the National Assembly intervenes now, there is a tendency that even this years budget may not capture these issues. And that is why we have decided that enough is enough. We are going to picket where we know the problems are.

Mr President has directed; the delay we have now is between Finance and Budget. So, if we picket these offices, somebody must come out to tell us the truth so that the whole world will know where the problem is; and on this we stand, he added.

He also said all necessary plans and arrangements have been concluded to involve NLC in the planned action.

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The EFCC is seeking an order of final forfeiture of the money recovered from a flat at Osborne Towers to the Federal Government even as it revealed that the wife of the embattled director general of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, paid a princely $1.658 million to acquire the Osborne flat.

Mrs. Oke was said to have made a cash payment of $1.658 million for the purchase of the flat between August 25 and September 3, 2015 in the name of a company, Chobe Ventures Limited.

She and her son, Ayodele Oke Junior, are said to be directors in the company.

Mrs. Oke was also said to have made the cash payment in tranches of $700,000, $650,000 and $353,700 to a Bureau de Change, Sulah Petroleum and Gas Limited, which later converted the sums to N360,000,000 and subsequently paid it to Fine and Country Limited for the purchase of the property.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, tendered as exhibit the receipt issued by Fine and Country Limited to Chobe Ventures Limited.

According to Mr. Oyedepo, The circumstances leading to the discovery of the huge sums stockpiled in Flat 7B, Osborne Towers, leaves no one in doubt that the act was pursuant to an unlawful activity.

The very act of making cash payment of $1.6 million without going through any financial institution by Mrs. Folashade Oke for the acquisition of Flat 7B, Osborne Towers, is a criminal act punishable by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act. I refer My Lord to sections 1(a), 16(d) and 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Amendment Act. 

Also, in the affidavit filed by the prosecution, Chobe Ventures, which is not into any business, was said to be merely incorporated to retain proceeds of suspected unlawful activities of Mr. Oke.

While urging the court to order the permanent forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government, Oyedepo argued that the property, which was purchased in a criminal manner, made the money recovered therein to be proceeds of unlawful acts.

Mr. Oyedepo further said that that despite the newspaper advertisement of the initial order of April 13, 2017 temporarily forfeiting the money to the Federal Government, no one showed up in court today to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Mr. Oyedepo also observed that Chobe Ventures Limited, in whose apartment the huge sums were recovered, did not come to court to challenge the forfeiture order, despite being served with the motion on notice at its registered address of No. 18 Ogunmodede street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

He added: The failure of Chobe Ventures Limited, in whose custody these properties we are seeking to forfeit were found, to show cause before My Lord today why the property (money) should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Your Lordship should hold that Chobe Ventures Limited has admitted all the facts deposed to in our affidavit and order the final forfeiture of the property to the Federal Government. 

Earlier, a lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, had filed an application urging the court to suspend further action in the forfeiture proceedings pending the outcome of the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo three-member panel constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the claim by the NIA boss, Mr. Oke, that the money belongs to the agency.

They further argued that the Commission had not yet identified the owner of the money as required by Section 44(2)(k) of the Constitution

However, Mr. Oyedepo urged the court to dismiss the lawyers application and award a heavy cost against him for seeking to waste the time of the court.

I submit that coming to My Lord through the back door by way of this application is a violent abuse of the processes of this court. The application is standing in the way of justice and the applicant even lacks the locus standi to be a party in this suit,  he added.

Justice Hassan adjourned the matter June 6, 2017.

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The Osun State governorship election holds today August 9, with 20 candidates representing 20 political parties vying for the ticket to the Osun Government House.

Apparently, the contest is between Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Candidate (APC) and Iyiola Omisore, a former Senator and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Fatai Akinbade, a former Secretary to the State Government and candidate of the Labour Party (LP), is, however, hoping to spring a surprise on both major contenders.

A total of 1,407,222 registered voters (INECs post March 2014 CVR) spread across three Senatorial Districts  each of the Districts have 10 local governments  are expected to cast their votes.

The gender distribution of the voters shows that there are 661,394 (47%) male and 745,828 (53%) female voters across 332 Wards, 3,010 Polling Units, and 3,379 Voting Points in the state.

Osogbo, the state capital, has the highest number of registered voters with a 110,670, followed closely by Ife Central with a voting population of 95,471. While Mr. Aregbesola enjoys a huge support in the capital, Mr. Omisore hails from Ile-Ife.

19 domestic and 10 foreign observers were accredited by INEC to monitor the election. PREMIUM TIMES Festus Owete and Ben Ezeamalu are in Osun State and will be bringing you live updates on the election.

You can also follow our live updates on twitter with the hashtag #OsunDecides.

Please refresh your this page manually to get latest updates. Due to a tech glitch, we are unable to continue the automated updates.

LIVEBLOG

====================================

OSUN GUBER  RESULTS FROM #OSUNDECIDES

S/N LGA APC PDP Winner 1 Aiyedaade 12,801 11,255 APC 2 Aiyedire 7,724 7,813 PDP 3 Atakunmosa East 9,287 6,294 APC 4 Atakunmosa West 6,928 5,142 APC 5 Boluwaduro 4,891 5,035 PDP 6 Boripe 12,723 9,344 APC 7 Ede North 15,403 10,427 APC 8 Ede South 11,738 7,462 APC 9 Egbedore 10,615 7,024 APC 10 Ejigbo 17,700 12,495 APC 11 Ife Central 9,680 24,555 PDP 12 Ife East 13,821 20,831 PDP 13 Ife North 8,603 9,841 PDP 14 Ife South 7,325 12,811 PDP 15 Ifedayo 4,225 3,982 APC 16 Ifelodun 17,447 12,442 APC 17 Ila 10,825 7,916 APC 18 Ilesa East 16,106 5,913 APC 19 Ilesa West 15,427 5,449 APC 20 Irepodun 13,314 7,386 APC 21 Irewole 18,328 10,330 APC 22 Isokan 9,758 10,028 PDP 23 Iwo 20,827 15,493 APC 24 Obokun 11,696 8,618 APC 25 Odo Otin 11,950 12,902 PDP 26 Ola Oluwa 7,927 4,963 APC 27 Olorunda 26,551 8,483 APC 28 Oriade 12,523 10,214 APC 29 Orolu 8,558 6,786 APC 30 Osogbo 39,983 11,513 APC TOTAL 394,684 292,747 APC  22, PDP  8

Above table is courtesy Prof. Mobolaji Aluko

4:50AM

Ejigbo LGA

Wards: 11

Reg voters: 50,674

No. of accredited voters: 33,752

APC: 17,700

PDP: 12,495

LP: 391

Total valid votes: 31,301

Rejected votes: 1,604

Total votes cast: 32,905

We had a problem a problem in a polling unit where we discovered over voting and forging of signatures of EOs and POs, said the Collation Officer.

================

4:46AM

Ife South LGA

Wards: 11

Reg voters: 44,555

No. of accredited voters: 23,033

APC: 7,325

PDP: 12,811

LP: 146

Total valid votes: 20,901

Rejected votes: 1,108

Total votes cast: 22,079

===========

4:42AM

Atakumosa East LGA

Wards: 10

Reg voters: 31,136

No. of accredited voters: 17,597

APC: 9,287

PDP: 6,294

LP: 120

Total valid votes: 16,395

Rejected votes: 974

Total votes cast: 17,369

Election did not hold in one of the polling units because of some disagreements there, the Collation Officer said.

================

4:35AM

Olorunda LGA

Wards: 11

Reg voters: 71,981

No. of accredited voters: 38,301

APC: 26,551

PDP: 8,483

LP: 410

Total valid votes: 36,234

Rejected votes: 1,263

Total votes cast: 37,497

============

4: 29AM

Osogbo LGA

Wards: 15

Reg voters: 118,535

No. of accredited voters: 56,741

APC: 39,983

PDP: 11,513

LP: 673

Total valid votes: 53,387

Rejected votes: 2,066

Total votes cast: 55,453

==============

4:24 AM

Iwo LGA

Reg voters: 66,898

No. of accredited voters: 41,229

APC: 20,827

PDP: 15,493

LP: 790

Total valid votes: 38,377

Rejected votes: 1,996

Total votes cast: 40,373

===========

4:21AM

Ayedire LGA

Wards: 10

Reg voters: 25,880

No. of accredited voters: 17,200

APC: 7,724

PDP: 7,813

LP: 423

Total valid votes: 16,268

Rejected votes: 799

Total votes cast: 17,067

==============

4:15 AM

Egbedore LGA

Reg voters: 33,547

No. of accredited voters: 19,293

APC: 10,615

PDP: 7,024

LP: 157

Total valid votes: 18,144

Rejected votes: 819

Total votes cast: 18,963

=============

4:11AM

Obokun LGA

Wards: 10

Reg voters: 37,985

No. of accredited voters: 22,063

APC: 11,696

PDP: 8,618

LP: 84

Total valid votes: 20,932

Rejected votes: 871

Total votes cast: 21,803

==========

4:06AM

Irewole LGA

Reg voters: 52,885

No. of accredited voters: 31,731

APC: 18,328

PDP: 10,330

LP: 117

Total valid votes: 29,850

Rejected votes: 1,131

Total votes cast: 30,981

============

3:53AM

Ayedade LGA

Wards: 11

Reg voters: 51,108

No. of accredited voters: 27,311

APC: 12,801

PDP: 11,255

LP: 137

Total valid votes: 25,428

Rejected votes: 1,441

Total votes cast: 26,869

===================

3:48AM

Ifelodun LGA

Wards: 12

Reg voters: 56,058

No. of accredited voters: 32,613

APC: 17,447

PDP: 12,442

LP: 96

Total valid votes: 33,113

Rejected votes: 1,298

Total votes cast: 32,129

==============

3:43 AM

Ede North LGA

Wards:

Reg voters: 49,253

No. of accredited voters: 28,289

APC: 15,403

PDP: 10,427

LP: 54

Total valid votes: 26,591

Rejected votes: 1,288

Total votes cast: 27,879

==============

3:40AM

Isokan LGA

Wards:

Reg voters: 28,472

No. of accredited voters: 22,194

APC: 9,758

PDP: 10,028

LP: 197

Total valid votes: 20,860

Rejected votes: 1,028

Total votes cast: 21,888

================

3:35AM

Ife North

Wards: 10

Reg voters: 45,457

No. of accredited voters: 21,175

APC: 8,603

PDP: 9,841

LP: 265

Total valid votes: 19,506

Rejected votes: 1,231

Total votes cast: 20,737

====================

3:30AM

Ola-Oluwa

Wards: 10

Reg voters: 25,550

No. of accredited voters: 16,495

APC: 7,927

PDP: 4,963

LP: 2,476

Total valid votes: 15,735

Rejected votes: 614

Total votes cast: 16,349

===================

3:24AM

Ife East LGA

Wards: 10

Reg voters: 81,437

No. of accredited voters: 39,008

APC: 13,821

PDP: 20,831

LP: 297

Total valid votes: 36,142

Rejected votes: 1,836

Total votes cast: 37,978

=================

3:20AM

Ife Central

Wards:

Reg voters: 94,722

No. of accredited voters: 37,955

APC: 9,680

PDP: 24555

LP: 102

Total valid votes: 35,308

Rejected votes: 1,742

Total votes cast: 37,054

=====================

3:14AM

Irepodun LGA

Wards: 11

Reg voters: 36,521

No. of accredited voters: 22,426

APC: 13,314

PDP: 7,386

LP: 343

Total valid votes: 21,401

Rejected votes: 856

Total votes cast: 22,257

====================

3:06AM

Ila-Orangun

Wards: 11

Reg voters: 33,577

No. of accredited voters: 20,076

APC: 10,825

PDP: 7,916

LP: 43

Total valid votes: 19,150

Rejected votes: 727

Total votes cast: 19,877

However, in Ward 1, 571 votes were cancelled for the following reasons: results of the election was not collated as there was some anomalies reported at that polling booth, said the Collation Officer.

=============

3: 00AM

Ede South

Wards: 10

Reg voters: 35,941

No. of accredited voters: 21,250

APC: 11,738

PDP: 7,462

LP: 46

Total valid votes: 19,933

Rejected votes: 933

Total votes cast: 20,866

=====================

2:54

Atakumosa West LGA

Wards: 11

Reg voters: 24,625

No. of accredited voters: 13,173

APC: 6,928

PDP: 5,142

LP: 76

Total valid votes: 12,575

Rejected votes: 446

Total votes cast: 13,021

=====================

2:53

The Returning Officer inquires from the Collation Officers if there were any cancelled results.

They replied, No.

====================

2:49

Oriade LGA

Wards: 12

Reg voters: 47,140

No. of accredited voters: 25,398

APC: 12,523

PDP: 10,214

LP: 136

==============

2:43AM

Orolu LGA

Reg voters: 24,914

No. of accredited voters: 16,882

APC: 8,558

PDP: 6,786

LP: 440

Total valid votes: 16,070

Rejected votes: 569

Total votes cast: 16,639

===================

2:36AM

Boripe LGA

Wards: 11

Reg voters: 47,100

No. of accredited voters: 24,497

APC: 12,723

PDP: 9,344

LP: 249

Total valid votes: 23,014

Rejected votes: 1,004

Total votes cast: 24,018

However, we received a petition from APC complaining about over voting in Ward 11, said the Collation Officer.

===================

2:28 A.M

Ilesa West

Wards:

Reg voters: 52,397

No. of accredited voters: 23,553

APC: 15,427

PDP: 5,449

LP: 32

Total valid votes: 21,641

Rejected votes: 1,128

Total votes cast: 22,769

==================

2:25AM

Odo-Otin LGA

Wards: 15

Reg voters: 48,577

No. of accredited voters: 27,398

APC: 11,950

PDP: 12,902

LP: 518

Total valid votes: 25,946

Rejected votes: 1,146

Total votes cast: 27,092

=======================

2:18 A:M

Ilesa East

Wards: 11

Reg voters: 54,566

No. Of accredited voters: 24,718

APC: 16,106

PDP: 5,913

LP: 44

Total valid votes: 22,970

Rejected votes: 1,104

Total votes cast: 24,074

====================

2:13 AM

Boluwaduro LGA

Wards: 10

Reg voters: 16,839

No. Of accredited voters: 10,603

APC: 4,891

PDP: 5,035

LP: 19

Total valid votes: 10,175

Rejected votes: 355

Total votes cast: 10,530

============

2:10

The results:

Ifedayo LGA

Wards: 10

Reg voters: 13,044

No. Of accredited voters: 8,627

APC: 4,225

PDP: 3,982

LP: 17

Total valid votes: : 8,405

Rejected votes: 165

Total votes cast: 8,570

==================

2:08 AM

About 15 representatives of political parties have introduced themselves and release of results begin

2:00 AM

After a short prayer by Mr. Oladimeji, the INEC Director of Operations, the Returning Officer takes over the mic.

Mr. Omole introduces himself as a Professor of International Relations and the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

We started now because we were waiting for some of our officers who were coming from far distant places.

My assignment will be in this form. First and foremost, Id like to publicly show to the media that this form EC8A is sealed and unbroken. Please can you see it?

1:55 A.M

The announcer says that the final collation of the election is about to begin.

We thank God for the safe arrival of the state returning officer for the 9th August 2014.

The Returning Officer is no other than a great erudite scholar. He is none other than Professor Bamidele Omole, he says.

He also introduced the National Commissioner supervising the election, Ambassador M.A Wali, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Kogi State, Olusegun Agbaje.

The introduction continues.

1:51

INEC officials arrive the collation centre at the INEC secretariat in Osogbo at about 1:45 a.m.

1:47AM Sunday, August 10

As at 1:35 a.m. on Sunday, journalists and party agents were gathered at the INEC secretariat in Osogbo waiting for the electoral officials to commence announcement of results.

21:14

Wild jubilation by thousands of APC supporters in Oke Fia, Osogbo, as a large screen displays (INEC-unapproved) results showing Governor Rauf Aregbesola as winner of the election.

20:56

Osun Election: APC alleges plot to change results as Atiku urges voters to resist manipulation

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of planning to subvert Saturdays governorship election in Osun State by declaring a false result.

The APC said while its candidate, incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola, leads in the polls, there are plans by the PDP to declare Iyiola Omisore as winner. Mr. Omisore is the PDP candidate.

Credible information at our disposal indicates another criminal plot by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its allied forces to corrupt the open results of the election which have shown clearly the excellent outing of our party, the APC said in a statement by its Osun state spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi.

The party said the PDP officials were in hurried and clandestine meetings to subvert the process after failing to win in the fields.

The people of Osun have spoken and spoken well. The result of the election must be upheld, the APC said.

Collation of the results in the intensely-contested poll is ongoing.

In a separate call late Saturday, a former vice president, Atiku Abubkar, called on Osun State voters to defend their votes, saying peoples choice must be respected no matter who wins.

Mr. Abubakar is a member of the APC.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the will of the people is not subverted in order to restore confidence to the electoral and democratic process.

20:33

At the final collation center in INEC headquarters. Journalists are setting up their equipment while INEC officials are tidying up the seating arrangement.



Outside the headquarters, there is a heavy presence of armed soldiers and police.

We will bring your the final results, as announced by INEC, if our reporters are not singled out for exclusion. In both Anambra and Ekiti elections, PREMIUM TIMES reporters were not allowed access to the the final collation centers.

19:35

Osun Election Result: By our own collation , PDP is ahead of APC  Fani-Kayode

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, [PDP], Femi Fani-Kayode, has responded to claim that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress [APC], Rauf Aregbesola, is coasting to victory in todays governorship election in Osun state.



Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES via telephone, Mr. Fani-Kayode said the tallying of the votes was still going on and that it was therefore too early to award victory to any of the candidates.



As far as we are concerned, by our own collation, we are ahead, the former minister said. We defeated them (APC) heavily in our strongholds and in their strongholds, the race has been very close.



All these claims that they have won is not true. It is disinformation and we advise that people wait for INEC to announce the authentic result.



I can tell you that it is not over.



Analysts have however pointed at early results from polling booths as indicating a lead for the APC.



While the PDP candidate, Iyiola Omisore, performed well in parts of his Ife stronghold, the APC candidate appears to be leading in most parts of the state.



Results will however first be collated at the local government level before they are forwarded to INECs headquarters in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, for final collation.



The Chief Returning Officer for the election is expected to announce final result by Sunday morning.

19:08

Result at PU 4 Ward 2, Ile Olojin, Gbongan, in Ayedada LGA.

PDP 142 APC 155



The crowds celebration is muted due to the presence of armed security officers who had ordered them to move yards away from the counting point.

18:25

Things are getting charged at PU 4 Ward 2, Ile Olojin, Gbongan. An APC agent slapped a PDP agent during an argument over the validity of a ballot paper.



Armed police and army officers have arrived to restore calm.



The INEC officials are still sorting the ballot papers.

18:14

6.10 p.m. Sorting still ongoing at PU 4 Ward 2, Ile Olojin, Gbongan, in Ayedada LGA. The crowd wait patiently.

17:27

Below is the full text of Governor Rauf Aregbesolas statement after voting.

The People Will Protect their Votes, Aregbesola says after voting

Beside the initial show of unwarranted force shown by a section of security agencies, one cannot understand why this is heavily biased against my party. Starting from 1am this morning not less than 150 of my party members have been harassed, threatened, bastardised. Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of my state was manhandled and maltreated. When you have such a discriminatory attitude such action in a democracy, this is a bastardised democracy. Let is be known that we are under the siege of gun.

Having said this about the run up to the election, I must not fail to recognise the smooth nature of the process in my polling g centre, the people received us enthusiastically and in a very orderly manner which was void of any crisis. What I witnessed when I visited the polling centre was commendable. My hope is that what happened when I visited this polling unit is the experience state wide. It is my hope that if this is the case, we will sing a good song of the strength of democracy.

The strength of the people in a democracy is to freely, fairly and transparently choose whoever is most appropriate to govern them, by their own judgement.

We expect that the enthusiasm of our people is sufficient to douse the exuberance of the over zealous miscreants.

Aregbesola. August 9; 2014

17:18

Results at PU 4, Ward 3 in Modakeke (there are three ballot boxes):

1. PDP 33 APC 103

2. PDP 73 APC 161

3. PDP 53 APC 126



The crowd jubilate as the last result is announced.



Earlier, a couple of motorcyclists from Ife, a short distance away, had sped past the polling unit celebrating the PDP victory in their own polling units.

17:02

The Labour Partys candidate has issued the statement below saying he is the candidate to beat in the ongoing election and advising his major challengers to step down to save themselves from imminent defeat.

Read full statement below:

The All Progressive Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party have failed in their unholy strategies on the Labour Party candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, aimed at confusing the electorate.

The APC through one Adabanija and the PDP through Diran Odeyemi had claimed separately on their facebook accounts, that Akinbade had teamed up with their cursed parties

The question is: how many parties will Akinbade merge with at the sametime? Anyway,we at the Labour Party know that both the APC and the PDP are already seeing defeat that is why they are dropping Akinbades name all over the place but they have failed! The people of our dear state are wiser and have rejected the APC and the PDP. It is Labour Party they want.

Akinbade has said it severally that he would never step down for anybody because it is him the people of the state want.

He is in the race to win and not just to partake like the olympians. So disregard all rumours from the APC and the PDP.

If Aregbesola and Omisore are threatened by Akinbades profile,they should just withdraw from the race to save their face. It is never too late!

16:58

@pmnewsnigeria is reporting that former governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke, could not vote as he fled from his home to avoid being arrested by security operatives. #OsunDecides

More results:

Ward7 PU002 Ede North PDP 99, APC 138, APA 2, PPA 2, Void 14

Ward7 PU001, Ede North result: ADC 1, APC 180, PDP 169, PPA 2, Void 9

Ward7 PU008, Ede North result: PDP 161, APC 183, ADC 1, PPA 3, UDP 1, Void 9

16:37

4.30 p.m. at PU 3, Ward 4 in Modakeke. The INEC officials are sorting the votes, the voters wait patiently.

16:27

More results

Ward7 PU003, Ede North result PDP 91, APC 139, AA 01, ACPN 02, PDM 02, Void 13

Ward7 PU006, Ede North result APC 223, LP 03, ACPN 02, UPN 01, NNPP 01, PPA 01, PDP 110, Void 20

16:15

More results from Ife Central. These wards are few meters away from the palace of Ooni of Ife.

Iremo 4: PDP 141 APC 79



Iremo 5: APC 52 PDP 143



Iremo 6: PDP 150 APC 49



The people have taken to the streets here in wild jubilation.

15:37

Voting still ongoing at Ward 01 Unit 11 Church Street Olorunda LGA. 439 accredited voters, out of 863 registered voters.

15:35

Final results in Ward 10, Ife Central:



Unit 3: PDP 140 APC 62



Unit 8: PDP 95 APC 26



Unit 12: PDP 148 APC 47



Unit 4: PDP 100 APC 64



Unit 11: PDP 34 APC 14



Unit 2: PDP 118 APC 61



Unit 10: PDP 101 APC 41

15:31

Result for Ward03 PU005, Ejigbo LG: ACPN 01, APA 01, LP 04, PDP 43, APC 122 #OsunDecides

15:21

There is rowdiness at Ward 8 Unit 7, Iragbi Road, Olorunda over suspicion that a young man is planning something untoward. Again some voters are complaining they have been denied right to vote even though they were accredited.

INEC polling officials said at the time they were counting people and marking fingers for the actual voting those complaining were not around.

Meanwhile, voting is in progress and out of 1324 registered voters only 691 were accredited and 683 were on queue when voting commenced 12.30pm.

15:07

Wild jubilation at Ife Central.

14:58

More results from Ife Central.

Unit 9 Ward 10: PDP 52 APC 21



Unit 6 Ward 10: PDP 94 APC 47.



Unit 7 Ward 10: APC 19 PDP 37

14:55

The results are out at Ward 10 Unit 1 in Ife Central.

APC 73. PDP 149.



The crowd erupts in cheers.

14:24

At Ward 007 Unit 005, Owode 2, in Olorunda LGA, voting is going on calmly. Officials said out of 1007 registered voters, only 300 accredited to vote.

In Ile-Ife, a helicopter hovers overheard.

14:15

At ward 008 Unit 3, Osofiri Olorunda LGA, 359 out of 700 registered voters were accredited to vote. Voting going on smoothly.

At Ward 4 Unit 001, by 7UP, Gbangan Road, Osogbo, Voting has commenced. 264 out 1041 registered voters were accredited to vote.

13:47

Brutalization of APC members may affect election results  Aregbesola

Mr. Aregbesola after casting his vote told journalists that the brutalization of several of his party members could affect the entire result.



Several of our party members were singularly intimidated, harassed, terrorized, and brutalized. After all of these, were equally arrested.



The Attorney General, a known officer of this state, was without justification brutalized and taken into custody. They released him barely 45 minutes ago, since 1 a.m early this morning.



My Commissioner for Agriculture, Wale Adedoyin, was equally brutalized and taken into custody since 1 a.m, he has just been released.



Several of our people, people who have demonstrated some interest in the election were arrested and brutalized.



Election is just an aspect of the democratic process. It is not just the art of voting. A democratic process begins from the registration of voters to verification of people, and collation of voters cards.



The question we must ask is, what we have witnessed here, is it replicated statewide?



I pray that our security agents live up to their billing. Leading members have been at the receiving end of their molestation.



The authorities in Abuja are just abusing their powers. This could affect the overall effect of the entire result.



I wish that the orderliness we have witnessed here would permeate the entire state.

13:30

The governor has cast his vote and is now addressing journalists.

voting in progress in most polling units at the moment. At ward 5 unit 05 Salvation Army School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, a total of 468 voters, out of 924 registered voters were accredited and are currently voting.

13:24

An argument at the governors polling unit. Two female SSS operatives, standing too close to the ballot booth, refused to move away. They have been let alone.



The INEC presiding officer has finished explaining the voting procedures. Make sure I sign, stamp, and date your ballot paper. Else, it will be invalid.



Voting has begun.

13:20

550 voters accredited out of 866 reg. voters in Ward2 PU001, Ejigbo LG. Voting is yet to commence at 1pm.

13:07

Security is intensified in many locations as voting begins.

Aregbesola is waiting to cast his vote in his hometown in Ilesa-East.

12:51

At Maitainmi Mosque 001 PU ,336 voters were registered while 228 were accredited.

Aregbesola waiting to cast his vote in his hometown in Ilesa-East.

At Ward 10 unit 002, Dada Estate, Egbedore LGA, accreditation has ended. Voters are queuing to vote. They formed three long lines. the turnout is huge.

Women hold the key to deciding this election.

12.29 The governor, beaming with smiles, steps out of his family home to cheers from children and supporters. He waves his trademark two finger salute to the crowd. The children scream APC! But were quickly cautioned to stop. Voting is about to start. 12.13 Rowdiness as voters struggle to queue for voting at the state governors polling unit in Ilesa-East. 11.32 At ward 8 unit 7, Iragbiji Road, opp Police station, Olorunda LGA, five party agents  PDP, APC, LP, PPA and NCP are complaining that they were not allowed to get accredited. At the unit, INEC officials said 1324 were registered to vote and accreditation is almost concluded. 11.14 A lot of people are waiting to vote at Ward 8, Unit 1, Mr. Aregbesolas PU in Ilesa East. All of them have been accredited. Adekunle Busuyi, a PPA agent, says that accreditation began at 8 a.m. Everything is alright so far, he adds. The governor had been accredited five minutes ago. 11.10 So far so good. 11.04 12 important facts to know about Osun Election 1. Osun State was created from old Oyo State in 1991. 2. It has 30 local governments. 3. Each of the three senatorial districts in Osun has 10 local governments. 4. Osun has 9 federal constituencies (House of Reps members) and 26 State Assembly Constituencies. 5. According to the 2006 census, Osun has 3,423,535 people. 6. Valid Number of Registered Voters (post March 2014 CVR)  1, 407, 222 7. There are more female voters in Osun Gender Distribution of Voter Population: Male: 661,394 (47%) Female 745,828 (53%) 8. Number of Registration Areas (Wards)  332 9. Number of Polling Units  3, 010 10. Number of Voting Points  3, 379 11. Osogbo has highest number of registered voters, 110,670, followed by Ife Central, 95,471. 12. There are 20 governorship candidates recognised by INEC for the Osun Election. None of them is female. There are, however, 7 female deputy governorship candidates. (All facts sourced from the website of the Independent National electoral Commision, INEC). 10.47 At Unit 5, College of Education, Ilesa, no accreditation going on. The INEC officials say they are done with every voter on ground and waiting for more people to come. Stephen Kolade says that things are okay. We are just waiting to start voting, he adds. Mr. Kolade, a 300 level Agricultural Science student, however, said that they had been unable to sleep in their hostels due to soldiers disturbance. Yesterday, a group of people were about entering the school, the soldiers told them to sit on the ground and arrested them. Up till now, we dont know their whereabouts. Up to 20 of them. Another student says,  We dont know if those soldiers are genuine or fake soldiers. 10.18 The APC in Osun sent the below updates to our newsroom from its Situation Room in Osogbo. PREMIUM TIMES is unable to confirm any of the claims at this time. We are trying to reach out to the appropriate authorities to confirm the claims. 1]. A huge number of APC agents denied tags in many local government areas including Osogbo, Ifedayo, Atakumosa West. In Osogbo, only 60 out of 227 agents were given tags. 2]. The Good Governance Forum in Osun has urged all eligible voters to go out en-masse to cast their votes and not be intimidated by the presence of security agents in the state or news of arrests of political leaders. 3]. Clampdown on APC leaders in Osun continues as Alhaji Tijani Oladosu, (aka TILAD), Quadri Owonikoko (a.k.a Integrity) were arrested midnight and whereabouts unknown. 4]. After hours of interrogation, Lai Mohammed, Sunday Dare released by security agents. 5]. Over 40 voters arrested in Erin Osun while on queue for accreditation. 6]. Alhaji Raimi Shitu, Vice Executive Secretary, Odo-Otin LG arrested midnight. 7]. Chairman of OSCHOOL in Osun and Chieftain of APC, Alhaji Lai Oyeduntans house invaded in Osogbo. 8]. APC stalwarts Octogenerian lawyer, Pa J.O Fakayode, being detained in Ora Igbomina after being picked up by security agents from Oke Ila 9]. All APC agents in Osu, Atakumosa West have been arrested by soldiers 10.17 At Gbangan Rd Polling Unit, opposite Omisores campaign office, Osogbo, accreditation is going smoothly under the rain. 10.11 In several polling units in Ilesha West voters are done with accreditation, they are now waiting for voting to commence. Election proper starts at noon, about 120 minutes away. 10.04 Premium Times spoke with John Oyegun, National Chairman of APC and he confirmed the arrest of Lai Mohammed and 4 others but have been released. He said he was released in such a way that his day has been made useless. 09.50 PDP candidate cries out over of unfair treatment of agents Diran Odeyemi, director of Media and Strategy for the Senator Iyiola Omisore governorship campaign in Osun State, told PREMIUM TIMES that INEC officials at Polling Units in Obokun local government were requesting for a letter of introduction from PDP agents. How it works is that the party writes a single letter to INEC to introduce all the agents, and then INEC will issue tags to them. But whats happening now is that when our agents get to their respective polling units, they will request for another letter introducing the individual. Ive complained to INEC and they have rectified the problem. But we have lost about two hours, said Mr. Odeyemi. Mr. Odeyemi is Mr. Omisores Director of Media and Publicity. 09.46 At Ward 05 Salvation Army School, Osogbo accreditation is in progress. There is huge presence of voters anxious to get accredited. Agents of PPA, PDP, APC and ADC are here. 09.35 At ward 10 Dada Estate, Osogbo, accreditation commenced 8am. However some voters cannot find their names in the register and they are worried. Only one party agent  Oyerinde Ayodele Lukman of APC is here for now. 09.33 At Ward 005 unit 002 Osogbo Grammar school, the turnout is impressive. Voters are queing up peacefully for accredition which began a few minutes past 8am. A total of 900 persons registered to vote here according to INEC adhoc staff. There are 4 party agents out of 20  PPA, PDP, LP and APC 09.25 Accreditation ongoing smoothly in many polling units in Osogbo. 08.54 There is light showers of rain in Osogbo. Many voters came prepared with umbrellas, it appears. Voters queue under umbrellas, accreditation not disrupted. 08.41 Accreditation has begun in PU (Polling Unit) 16 Ward 4 in Osogbo. 08.09 Accreditation of voters commenced at 8:00 a.m. in Agbale Vill PU (009), Agbongbe II, Ede North LGA. 07.55 Its a humid morning in Osogbo. The temperature is 24 degrees Celsius. Voters have begun to head towards their polling units for accreditation which starts by 8 a.m. Military checkpoints dot several locations around the capital.

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The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday declared that it was a subversion of the principles of the constitution for the federal government or its agencies to bypass the states to relate directly with local governments.

The governor, who offered his arguments on the nations federalism while inaugurating new Executive Secretaries for the 67 local councils and development areas in Osogbo, said only the states and the federal governments were constitutionally envisaged as federating units.

The governor spoke against the backdrop of agitations by local governments for autonomy, a system where their allocation would be received directly from the federation account.

Several efforts by the National Assembly to enact the local government autonomy through the review process of the 1999 Constitution had met with defeat at the state houses of assembly, under the directive of state governors.

According to Mr. Aregbesola, federalism is a constitutional arrangement in which power is shared between the units of government and the central government in which the sphere of authority of each is clearly delineated.

He said the federal government is not superior to the states and it is also not a supervising authority to the states, but just primus inter pares, (the first among equals).

Local governments on the other hand, are not federating partners and therefore do not have direct relationship with the federal government, he argued.

It is a subversion of the federal principle for the federal government or any federal institution or agency to begin to undercut states and forge direct relationship with the local government.

Understanding this point is important in defining the autonomy of the local government.

The local government is an integral part of a state and its autonomy therefore is definable within the state. I agree and support therefore the notion of its autonomy in this light.

He added that local governments should be not be shackled but they should be empowered to operate freely within their domain.

We have had challenges and abuse. Some states have turned their councils into cash cows. While the constitution requires states to guarantee a democratic system in the local government, this has also been subverted into states fiefdom. But we cannot throw out the baby with the bath water, he further said.

The principle of federalism is important and we cannot sacrifice this on the altar of convenience. If there are abuses, let us address it, but dont let us undermine federalism.

Mr. Aregbesola queried the desire of local governments to go to Abuja to collect monthly allocations from the federation account, noting that it amounted to power without responsibility.

The greater responsibility and true autonomy consists in being able to mobilise the people in your domain for development through revenue generation and economic participation by all, he said.

The officials we are inaugurating today have their autonomy within this umbra of responsibility. It is a new day in local government administration.

Many people have strange ideas on how access to local government administration could be a get rich quick scheme. I have bad news for them.

All of you being inaugurated today should have it at the back of your mind that this is a call to service, with little or no reward. the governor stressed.

Osun State has added 31 new Local Council Development Areas LCDAs, three Area Councils and two Administrative Offices to make 67 local governments and development areas.

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The Lagos State Government has denied involvement in the demolition of Sabo market on Itoikin road in Ikorodu axis of the state.

Steve Ayorinde, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, in a statement issued on Friday said that the state government did not demolish the market and would not demolish any market or property in the state without following due process.

The market was demolished on Thursday night.

The statement noted further that the state governments preliminary investigation revealed that the market was demolished by some private developers, in connivance with some local government officers and certain uniformed personnel who acted beyond their brief.

It explained that government had observed a pattern which engages uniform men to carry out spurious orders without any proper notice being served to deny market women of the means of their livelihood.

It affirmed that the Lagos government would no longer tolerate this brazen act of illegality.

To forestall similar occurrence, Mr. Ayorinde said,, the government would henceforth beam its searchlight on the excesses of developers, local government officials and their cohorts in order to protect the interest of hard working traders.

It also reiterated the commitment of the government to protect the right of every citizen.

The current administration in the state is committed to the socio -economic empowerment of the people and has formulated policies and taken measures that would guarantee their economic well-being, the statement said.

It would therefore not fold its arms and watch desperate individuals or groups deny hard working people in the State their means of livelihood.

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GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  Despite the wind-swept rain, they came.

A line of people greeted managers and store employees at 8 a.m. Friday when Wawa opened its first New Jersey store of the year at the corner of Pomona Road and the White Horse Pike.

Joe Marchese, of Galloway Township, stood nearby at the coffee bar.

Youll never have too many Wawas, he said. Marchese and his wife, Linda, picked up the first of their 10 days of free coffees.

The Pomona Wawa contains 4,691 square feet of retail space and a 12-pump gasoline facility along with new in-store graphics, colors, restroom design and merchandising features.

You walk in through the front doors and see our focus on food, said public relations representative Alyson Mucha.

The store also offers all of the traditional items expected in a Wawa: cigarettes, bananas, snack bars, potato chips, soda, coffee, energy bars.

Im lovin it, said Rene Widecrantz, of Port Republic, while she prepared to pour a cup of coffee. Wait, that might be McDonalds.

The Pomona Road Wawa is the 10th new store opening in 2017.

Wawa plans to open 55 new stores and remodel 75 facilities in the mid-Atlantic and Florida markets. The company anticipates adding 2,000 new jobs with the store growth.

Beth Ann McCourt grew up nearby in Galloway and said the Pomona facility mimicked the new stores back where she now lives in central Florida.

The store adds something nice to the corner, she said.

The Wawa was built where the Kennedys Bar had stood for decades. Kennedys was destroyed by a March 21, 2011, fire and had been torn down.

We try to make the customer feel like they are at home, said Nichelle Cherry, of Galloway, a customer service associate who normally works at the Pleasantville Wawa on Delilah Road.

A team of Galloway police officers made more hoagies than members of the Pomona Fire Company in a three-minute competition. The Galloway officers plan to donate a $1,000 check to the Police Unity Team No. 2 that will ride to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for fallen officers.

The Pomona fire company will use its $1,000 donation from Wawa to buy equipment.

Wawa has more than 730 convenience stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida.

More than 500 sell gasoline.

Galloway is a hotbed of Wawa activity, however.

Full-service Wawas are located at Tilton Road and the White Horse Pike, Pomona Road and the White Horse Pike and at Fifth Avenue and the White Horse Pike, all in Galloway.

A Wawa at Pitney and East Jimmie Leeds Road also offers gasoline.
ATLANTIC CITY  The 97 passengers and crew aboard the Hindenburg soared above the resort 80 years ago Saturday, as the zeppelin waited for clear weather before heading to its destination at Lakehurst Naval Air Station.

City firefighter Franklin Hewitt climbed on a firehouse roof at Connecticut and Atlantic avenues and took a photograph of the 804-foot zeppelin, according to Atlantic City Heritage Collections archives at the Atlantic City Free Public Library.

It glided over the St. Charles and Breakers hotels with two Nazi swastika symbols on the tail on May 6, 1937, four years before Americas involvement in World War II.

The hydrogen-filled zeppelin burst into flames and crashed as it began to descend into Lakehurst in Ocean County, killing 35 people in a public display of horror.

Oh, the humanity, and all the passengers screaming here, radio broadcaster Herbert Morrison cried in what became one of the worlds most famous broadcasts.

I cant talk, ladies and gentlemen. Honest, its just laying there, a mass of smoking wreckage, and everybody can hardly breathe and talk, he said, according to an excerpt from the National Archives.

The U.S. Commerce Department determined the accident was caused by a leak of the hydrogen that kept the airship aloft. It mixed with air, causing a fire. The theory that a brush discharge ignited such mixture appears most probable, the departments report said.

Eight decades later, Werner Doehner, now 88, is the only one left to remember what it was like on the Hindenburg that night, when the fire killed his father and sister.

As the Hindenburg arrived at its destination, flames began to flicker on top of the ship.

The front section of the Hindenburg pitched up and the back section pitched down.

Suddenly the air was on fire, Doehner said.

We were close to a window, and my mother took my brother and threw him out. She grabbed me and fell back and then threw me out, he said.

She tried to get my sister, but she was too heavy, and my mother decided to get out by the time the zeppelin was nearly on the ground.

His mother had broken her hip.

I remember lying on the ground, and my brother told me to get up and to get out of there. Their mother joined them and asked a steward to get her daughter, whom he carried out of the burning wreckage.

Only two others who ever flew on the airship are alive, said Carl Jablonski, president of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society. But they werent on the last flight.

Interest in the disaster remains strong as ever, Jablonski said.

The internet and social media has exposed and attracted the interest of a younger generation, he said.

The Hindenburg, Doehner said, is something you dont forget.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Control dogs to prevent attacks on mail carriers

In April, the U.S. Postal Service promoted National Dog Bite Prevention Week. Our customers should help make this National Dog Bite Prevention Year.

Pet owners efforts are critical. Postal employee attacks by dogs last year reached 6,755  more than 200 higher than the year before. In the South Jersey District, there have been 43 dog attacks since the beginning of the fiscal year.

My concern is not only for our employees, but with the general population as well. Here are three critical points to remember:

 If a letter carrier delivers mail or packages to the front door, close the dog in a separate room before opening the front door. Dogs have burst through screen doors or plate-glass windows to attack visitors. Owners should keep the family pet secured.

 Parents should remind children and other family members not to take mail directly from letter carriers in the presence of the family pet, as the dog may view handing mail as a threatening gesture.

 If a letter carrier feels threatened by a dog, or if a dog is loose or unleashed, the owner may be asked to pick up mail at the post office until the letter carrier is assured the pet has been restrained. If a dog is roaming a neighborhood, the neighbors also may be asked to pick up their mail.

If all pet owners are responsible, everyone can be safeguarded from unnecessary and potentially devastating dog attacks.

Christopher Collins

Acting postmaster

Atlantic City

On life, killing, sanity

Regarding the April 25 letter, U.S. leadership insane:

The writer stated she detests the idea that the GOP can take away womens reproductive rights (sounds better than aborting or killing, right?) and then says happily that all people have the right to life.

So the letter concludes that its time for America to become sane again. Wow! OK, I consider myself enlightened! I had to check if the letter was signed by HIllary Clinton.

Frank Murphine 3rd

Millville

Cumberland should put inmates on litter duty

The trash problem in Cumberland County has been a concern of mine for a long time. All anyone has to do is take a drive to get a sample of the litter problem throughout the county.

Cumberland is home to several prisons. However, its rare to see the incarcerated out picking up trash. Common sense dictates this is a tremendous resource, and a good value for high tax dollars. I was told the current governor stopped it because of injury liability. Waivers address potential situations.

It was also explained as a Department of Corrections overtime issue. I think most people would choose DOC overtime over living in a landfill. It would be interesting to see the original contracts for the prison system here.

I live in an environmentally sensitive area, but many people dont give it the care it deserves. I am personally hurt when wildlife, marine life or any animal is injured or killed by trash. Its irresponsible. It must be kept off the ground, out of waterways. Studies have also proven a correlation between high amounts of litter and crime. A serious candidate would make litter an election issue.

Leaders on all levels should pursue the use of prison labor. The county needs a committed war on trash, like the Vineland initiative. If the county is ever going to improve, it must start by cleaning up.

Lisa Morse Morrison

Port Norris
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids:

According to media reports, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that Australia's pioneering law requiring plain packaging for tobacco products does not violate international trade and intellectual property agreements. If Australia has prevailed, it is a landmark victory in the global fight against tobacco use and a resounding defeat for the tobacco industry, which has fiercely fought plain packaging laws. To date, the tobacco industry has lost every legal challenge to plain packaging both in international and national courts, not only in Australia, but also in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and the European Union.

A victory for Australia would provide a tremendous boost to the growing global movement to require that cigarettes and other tobacco products be sold in plain packaging, without colorful logos and other branding that attract youth, mislead consumers and increase the appeal of these deadly and addictive products. Plain packaging laws are both scientifically and legally sound. Other countries considering plain packaging should move forward with confidence that they can defeat tobacco industry challenges.

Tobacco companies have fought plain packaging because they know it works. After Australia implemented plain packaging and other tobacco control measures in 2012, public understanding of the dangers of tobacco use rose and smoking rates fell at the fastest pace in more than two decades (see our summary of the scientific evidence supporting plain packaging).

Plain packaging laws subsequently have been implemented by France and the United Kingdom (the UK law takes full effect on May 21, 2017) and adopted, but not yet fully implemented, by Hungary, Ireland, Norway, New Zealand, Romania and Slovenia. Numerous other countries are considering such laws (see our list of countries that have adopted or are considering such laws).

The WTO challenge against Australia was initiated by Ukraine, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia and Cuba on the basis of alleged breaches of international trade and intellectual property agreements. It has been reported that Ukraine, Honduras and the Dominican Republic received technical and financial support from British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International. It was also reported that Ukraine filed the complaint against Australia at the request of the American Chamber of Commerce, a group with a well-documented history of working on behalf of tobacco companies. Ukraine subsequently withdrew its complaint.

Tobacco use kills more than six million people worldwide each year and is projected to kill one billion people this century unless countries take strong action now to prevent it. Plain packaging is a bold strategy to save lives that should be implemented as a key element of a comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco use, along with graphic health warnings, advertising bans, higher tobacco taxes and 100 percent smoke-free laws.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/449263/CAMPAIGN_FOR_TOBACCO_FREE_KIDS_Logo.jpg

Related Links

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org



SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
PEORIA, Illinois, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT/Euronext: CATR) informs its stockholders that, in accordance with Section 16(a) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, five Forms 4 (the report on Form 4 being a statement of beneficial ownership of its officers, directors and 10% owners) were filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Caterpillar files electronically with the SEC required reports on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q, Form 10-K and Form 11-K; proxy materials; ownership reports for insiders as required by Section 16(a) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and registration statements on Forms S-3 and S-8, as necessary; and other forms or reports, as required. All of the forms and reports filed electronically with the SEC are available on the SEC Internet site (www.sec.gov).

Caterpillar also maintains an Internet site (www.Caterpillar.com) and copies of its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports filed or furnished with the SEC are available free of charge through Caterpillar's Internet site (www.Caterpillar.com/secfilings ) as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant document has been filed with the SEC.

CONTACT: Rachel Potts, Corporate Public Affairs, +1-309-675-6892

This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire.

SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.
DUBLIN, May 05, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --



Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Thailand Tire Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2022" report to their offering.

Thailand's tire market is projected to cross $5.6 billion mark by 2022. In 2016, two-wheeler tire segment dominated the country's tire market, followed by light commercial vehicle, passenger car, medium and heavy commercial vehicle and off-the-road tire segments. Tire replacement segment accounts for around two-thirds of the tire demand emanating in the country in 2016, and the segment is anticipated to maintain its dominance through 2022.



Thailand is among the largest global producers of natural rubber, which is the prime raw material used in production of tires. As a result, a large number of renowned tire manufacturers have their production bases in the country due to abundant availability of natural rubber. This has contributed significantly towards development of tire industry in the country. Most of the major global tire players such as Bridgestone, Michelin, Sumitomo, Yokohama, Goodyear, etc., operate their production facilities in Thailand.



Besides that, the government is also taking diverse measures to gear up for green automotive production, which is expected to positively impact the country's tire market in the coming years. Further, consistently increasing tire prices and expanding automobile fleet size are predicted to boost Thailand tire market during the forecast period.

Moreover, sales of radial tires in the country is also expected to witness an uptrend in the coming years. Rising innovation and technological advancements in manufacturing of tires by various flagship brands are predicted to fuel tire ASP in the country during 2017-2022.

Thailand Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2022 discusses the following aspects of tire market in Thailand:



Thailand Tire Market Size, Share & Forecast

Segmental Analysis - By Vehicle Type (Two-Wheeler, Light Commercial Vehicle, Passenger Car, Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle, & Off-The-Road); By Demand Category (OEM Vs. Replacement); and By Radial Vs. Bias

Policy & Regulatory Landscape

Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities

Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations

Market Trends & Developments



Expanding Retread Tire Market

Growing Demand for Chinese Tires

Increasing Tire Radialization

Rising Demand for Two-Wheelers

Surging Online Sales

Companies Mentioned



Deestone Company Limited

Goodyear ( Thailand ) Public Company Limited

) Public Company Limited Michelin Siam Co., Ltd.

Otani Tire Company Limited

Pirelli Asia Pte Ltd

S.R. Tyres Co. Ltd.

Sumitomo Rubber ( Thailand ) Co., Ltd.

) Co., Ltd. Thai Bridgestone Co., Ltd

Vee Rubber International Co., Ltd.

Yokohama Tire Sales ( Thailand ) Co., Ltd.

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/tcr7q4/thailand_tire

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

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com



SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, May 05, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --



Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market Opportunity Outlook 2022" report to their offering.

Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market Opportunity Outlook 2022 report highlights the current transformation in the mutual fund market in Saudi Arabia. The total assets under management by fund managers in Saudi Arabia are valued at more than US$ 23 Billion. Majority of the funds have been invested in domestic assets valued at US$ 19 Billion and foreign investments accounts for close to US$ 4 Billion.



This report gives comprehensive insight on the mutual fund assets allocation by fund type, open & close ended schemes, number of subscribers and operational schemes, open & closed ended funds, Sharia Funds and the current regulatory landscape in the Saudi Arabia.

The concept of mutual fund was first familiarized in Saudi financial industry by National Commercial Bank in 1979 through its open-ended Al-Ahli Short Term Dollar Fund. The program was aimed at smaller investors, particularly small workers and thus, experienced a fast success due to lesser service charge, easy entry and improvement. Over the years, the public interest in the investment policy has risen to a great extent.

History has shown a changing trend of mutual fund market in Saudi finance industry. Saudi investors moved out of mutual fund market segment to try direct investing in the stock market during 2006. However, they reverted back to the mutual funds in very next year. The reasons behind this switch is considered to be high rise in Saudi share prices as compared to international equity market, rising demand of Islamic funds and growing number of expertise for independent management over time amongst Saudi banks. History also narrates the demand of pension by small workers whether in private or government sector in early times but presently, increasing number of Saudis are willing to invest in these funds for their retirement hedging.

Saudi Arabia mutual fund market has shown a tremendous rise in the market potential and financial benefits to its citizens. The kingdom has experienced significant changes in the total number of mutual fund programs and thus, the industry has evolved as a secure financial investment option. In 2016, Saudi accounts for more than 270 mutual funds managed by more than 40 fund managers. More than 60% of the mutual funds schemes operating in Saudi Arabia are Sharia compliant.

The growth of mutual funds in Saudi Arabia has been impressive over a short period of time. Initially, the focus was on private bank investors, but later all Saudi banks started paying attention to other sectors as well including middle income and top-tier expatriates. Soon, competition amongst banks has become more serious and started developing in-house expertise for managing funds whereas, other started strategic alliances with international investment agents for designing new investment programs for domestic clients.

The prominent Islamic institutions have also started to widen their coverage across financial instruments to serve the more sophisticated and ethical approach to investment programs for the citizens of the state. In addition to financial deposits and basic savings and current accounts, Islamic institutions implemented several investment schemes which are targeted to manage the savings of the citizens related to the Sharia law.



Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market Opportunity Outlook 2022 Report Highlights:



Financial Sector & Mutual Fund Market Overview

Mutual Fund Program & Managers

Mutual Fund Asset Allocation

Saudi Arabia : Special Purpose Vehicles

: Special Purpose Vehicles Bonds Market: Sukuks vs. Conventional Bonds

Mutual Fund Market Regulatory Authorities

Mutual Fund Market Future Forecasts

Mutual Fund Market Competitive Landscape

Key Topics Covered:

1. Saudi Arabia Financial Sector Overview

2. Saudi Arabia Stock Market & Exchange Overview

3. Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market Overview

4. Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Program & Managers

5. Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Asset Allocation

6. Why Sharia Compliant Funds are Preferred?

6.1 Favorable Factors

6.2 Sharia Funds in Saudi Market

7. Saudi Arabia: Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)

8. Saudi Arabia Bonds Market: Sukuks vs. Conventional Bonds

9. Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market Regulatory Authorities

10. Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market Dynamics

11. Challenges Faced by Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market

12. Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market Future Forecasts

13. Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market Policy Framework

14. Saudi Arabia Mutual Fund Market Competitive Landscape



ALBILAD Investment

Al Rajhi Capital

Alawwal Capital Company

Alinma Investment Company

Alistithmar for Financial Securities & Brokerage

Aljazira Capital

Arab National Investment Company

HSBC Saudi Arabia Limited

Jadwa Investment

KSB Capital Group

NCB Capital Company

Riyad Capital Company

Samba Capital & Investment Co.

Saudi Fransi Capital

Saudi Hollandi Capital

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/49bv3x/saudi_arabia

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

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com



SOURCE Research and Markets
Rises in Angola, Nigeria offset drops in Libya, Iraq

Saudi output at 9.97 million b/d  Iran below quota at 3.77 mil b/d

LONDON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 10 Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members' crude output stayed unchanged in April at 31.85 million barrels per day compared to March, according to an S&P Global Platts survey released today. OPEC is still showing high compliance with its production cut agreement, as increases in Angola and Nigeria were offset by declines from Libya and Iraq.

"OPEC members can go into their May 25 meeting in Vienna feeling good about their compliance levels. Even countries, like Iraq and the UAE, which have come in for some criticism over their production levels, moved closer to compliance in April. But an extension to the production cut agreement is far from a done deal, with many details to be negotiated, including cut levels, exemptions and duration, amid an increasingly skeptical market. OPEC still has much to discuss," said Herman Wang, OPEC Specialist, S&P Global Platts.

Thus, the April production figures in the S&P Global Platts survey and the five other secondary sources used by OPEC to monitor output will be some of the final data points that the organization considers at its meeting. OPEC's collective April output was some 80,000 b/d above its stated ceiling of 32.5 million b/d, when Indonesia, which typically produces about 730,000 b/d, is added in. Indonesia suspended its OPEC membership in November and is not included in the S&P Global Platts survey estimates for 2017.

OPEC's largest producer Saudi Arabia averaged 9.97 million b/d in April, according to the survey, below its quota under the deal of 10.058 million b/d. The kingdom is seen as a driver of OPEC's production cut deal, with energy minister Khalid al-Falih saying at a conference in Abu Dhabi last month that there appeared to be a growing consensus on a need to extend the cuts, as global inventories remain stubbornly high.

Iraq, which has faced criticism for not fully complying with its required cut, produced 4.36 million b/d in April, the survey found, as the Taq Taq field in the Kurdistan Region of the country has seen output decline, while exports from Iraq's Persian Gulf terminal also fell during the month. The country's April output is 9,000 b/d above its quota under the deal, the closest it has been to compliance. Over the January through April period, however, its average remains 60,000 b/d above its quota, the highest among OPEC members.

Iran, which is allowed a slight output increase under the deal, held production steady in April at 3.77 million b/d, the survey found, below its quota of 3.797 million b/d. The UAE, also under pressure from fellow OPEC members to come into compliance with its quota, lowered production slightly to 2.84 million b/d, down 10,000 b/d from March, the survey found.

EXEMPTIONS IN FOCUS

Angola saw new production come online in its offshore East Hub development, with the country's output rising 80,000 b/d in the month to 1.68 million b/d. Nigeria, meanwhile, ended maintenance on key export grade Bonga in April, with production at the field ramping up throughout the month. The country's output averaged 1.65 million b/d in April, according to the survey.

In Libya, a blockade of a pipeline from the Sharara field to the Zawiya terminal in the country's west by a militia knocked production down significantly in the month to 550,000 b/d. Libya's National Oil Company declared force majeure on Zawiya on April 9, but NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla last week announced that a deal had been struck with the Petroleum Facilities Guard militia to reopen Sharara, as well as the nearby El Feel field. Nigeria and Libya, both impacted heavily by militancy over the last year, are exempt from the production deal, which led some OPEC watchers to doubt the effectiveness of the agreement, if production from the two countries were to recover and offset any cuts. But the two countries' combined January-April average output of 2.273 million b/d is just 6,300 b/d higher than their October levels, according to the S&P Global Platts survey.

STRONG COMPLIANCE

Of the 11 members of OPEC that have a quota under the deal, compliance is 117%, based on January through April averages. If Iran is not included, the 10 members of OPEC required to cut production have achieved a collective 105% of their cuts, based on January through April averages. Since the deal covers an average of January to June output, month-to-month fluctuations are to be expected. The S&P Global Platts estimates were obtained by surveying OPEC and oil industry officials, traders and analysts, as well as reviewing proprietary shipping data.

In concert with OPEC, 11 non-OPEC countries led by Russia have also agreed to cut output by a combined 558,000 b/d in the first half of 2017, with many of those countries phasing in their reductions or relying on natural declines. Russia last week announced it had reached its commitment to cut 300,000 b/d. Ministers from those 11 non-OPEC producers will also be meeting in Vienna with OPEC on May 25 to review their participation in the deal and any extension.

OPEC production (in million b/d)



Country April Change March Algeria 1.04 0 1.04 Angola 1.68 0.08 1.60 Ecuador 0.52 0 0.52 Gabon 0.21 0 0.21 Iran 3.77 0 3.77 Iraq 4.36 -0.04 4.40 Kuwait 2.70 0 2.70 Libya 0.55 -0.07 0.62 Nigeria 1.65 0.06 1.59 Qatar 0.61 0.01 0.60 Saudi Arabia 9.97 -0.03 10.00 UAE 2.84 -0.01 2.85 Venezuela 1.95 0 1.95 Total 31.85 0 31.85









Notes: OPEC ministers on November 30 finalized a deal to freeze production at around 32.5 million b/d, beginning January 1 for six months. The agreement exempts Libya and Nigeria, while allowing Iran a small increase in production. Non-OPEC producers led by Russia also agreed to cut output by 558,000 b/d in the first half of 2017, with Russia set to cut 300,000 b/d. OPEC will meet in Vienna on May 25 to review the deal, along with the 11 non-OPEC participants. Indonesia suspended its OPEC membership on November 30, but its output is being counted by OPEC under the production ceiling. The estimate for Iraq includes volumes from semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan.

About S&P Global Platts

At S&P Global Platts, we provide the insights; you make better informed trading and business decisions with confidence. We're the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets. Customers in over 150 countries look to our expertise in news, pricing and analytics to deliver greater transparency and efficiency to markets. S&P Global Platts coverage includes oil and gas, power, petrochemicals, metals, agriculture and shipping.

S&P Global Platts is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for companies, governments and individuals to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.platts.com.

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Chinese investment and embracing of the Belt and Road Initiative are helping nations become a thriving gateway to Europe

Every European country boasts of its advantage as a gateway when trying to attract foreign investment.

But the reality is that in Central and Eastern Europe, and even in the south, no ports can compete with Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, no airports are busier than those near Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam and London, and the financial hubs are all in Western Europe.

To combat the negative impacts of the financial and European debt crises since 2008, the Central and Eastern European countries have been aiming to improve their competitiveness by exploring opportunities.

They have taken notice of the model used to revive the Asian economies, especially China's lasting boom. They have started to improve infrastructure by expanding highways, ports and airports, building high-tech parks and ambitiously attracting foreign investment.

Since 2012, China and 16 CEE countries have held annual summits in Warsaw, Bucharest, Belgrade, Suzhou and Riga to discuss and implement plans.

In 2016 alone, up to 50 projects in different areas, such as infrastructure, energy, education and finance, were completed and a work program has been set out, lasting until 2020. At the Riga summit last year, they rolled out a list of dozens of tasks, which will be reviewed at the upcoming summit in Budapest.

Duan Jielong, Chinese ambassador to Hungary, says that since President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, new impetus has been injected into cooperation between China and the CEE countries.

"Within the background of President Xi's Belt and Road Initiative, new opportunities and perspectives have occurred regarding cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries," says Duan.

In his view, China's investment in the region has started to become active.

Duan says that the number of Chinese businesses investing in Hungary reached 40 at the beginning of this year.

"Last year, the number was around 30," says Duan. He doesn't reveal the exact amount invested, but says the targets were mainly auto parts, the chemical industry and electronic products.

Duan says the railway project linking Budapest and Belgrade is a landmark investment, and the governments of the three countries involved have maintained close communication in an effort to launch the plan by the end of this year.

The European Commission is reviewing the project report before it gives the green light.

Using the land-sea expressway, containers arriving at the port of Piraeus in Greece can be offloaded and directly transported by rail to Budapest, via Skopje in Macedonia, and Belgrade, the Serbian capital. The countries have also reaffirmed their support for a cooperation initiative involving ports in the Adriatic, Baltic and Black Seas, and along the in land water ways.

They know that the Adriatic-Baltic-Black Sea seaport cooperation will help widen the scope of China-CEE cooperation and contribute to greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative, the development strategies of CEE countries and the European Union's Trans-European Transport Network.

Meanwhile, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic have already benefited from the China-Europe freight train service, which was launched in 2011 and has become an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xinhua reported that, by the end of March, a total of 3,557 freight trains had used the route, with services reaching 27 Chinese cities and 28 cities in 11 countries in Europe.

After the announcement of Xi's initiative and the implementation of initial projects - which aim to connect Asia, Europe and Africa by improving infrastructural connectivity and boosting investment and trade - the countries' "gateway advantage" of regional, and even cross-continental, importance has stood out.

The Czech Republic aims to build itself into a regional aviation and financial center, says Ma Keqing, Chinese ambassador to the country.

The leaders of Poland, with a population of up to 40 million, hope to turn it a regional and European hub.

And even Greece, a country often making headlines as it struggles with bailout talks, has a national strategy of embedding itself in the Belt and Road Initiative and turning itself into a regional energy, shipping and logistics center.

"Greece has been implementing its national development strategy while participating in the Belt and Road Initiative," says Zou Xiaoli, China's ambassador to Greece.

To further engage with the project, Czech President Milos Zeman, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo have confirmed they will be joining other leaders from Europe and the rest of the world at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on May 14 and 15.Up to 30 state leaders from around the world will be attending the forum and the leaders' round table.

Those from Eastern and Central Europe will be putting forward their opinions on how to expand cooperation on infrastructure, industrial investment, economy and trade, energy and resources, finances, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, ecological civilization and maritime affairs.

Czech President Zeman has invested a lot of energy in it. In the month before his departure to China, he has met China's young sourcer players and a group of students from Sichuan Airlines who are working for their pilot certificates at the flight school F AIR, about an hour's drive from Prague.

Michal Markovic, director of the flight school, says the students will stay for 14 months to complete their pilot license integral course, which consists of almost 900 hours of theoretical knowledge and 230 hours of flight training.

"In the end, the students should obtain a European licenses and this is the first time we have invited a large group from China," says Markovic, who believes that his project plays a useful part in deepening people-to-people exchanges between China and the CEE countries.

In the Czech Republic, three Silk Road-themed think tanks have been setup, and former prime minister Jiri Paroubek has been busy promoting bilateral cooperation.

Now he is mobilizing resources to set up a cooperation promotion center for Zhejiang province in the Czech Republic.

"I think we have had a satisfying start in boosting our economic cooperation and it still needs some time to create the infrastructure for relations," says Paroubek.

"Some Chinese companies are very successful in our country, and I think that others are now studying the possibilities of the Czech market."

To further explore opportunities, the China-CEE Institute, a think tank, was set up in Budapest in April by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to focus on cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe.

President of CASS Wang Weiguang says the setting up of the new institute is a milestone for China's think tanks going global. Huang Ping, general director of the Institute of European Studies of CASS, also heads the China-CEE Institute.

"This will be the first think tank we have set up in Europe, and it will play a big role in boosting the Belt and Road Initiative," Wang says.

The trade volume of the CEE countries, which have a population of 123 million, with China amounted to just $50 billion in 2012, equaling that between China and Italy.

China's investment in the countries had equaled that of China in Sweden, and their investment in China was no more than that of Austria.

The countries were eager for road and railway construction, port and power plant expansion and keen on attracting Chinese investment.

Now, according to figures from the Ministry of Commerce, trade volume between the two sides has grown at a moderate speed despite the bleak global situation, and investment has increased by a big margin in many countries.

Li Manchang, China's ambassador to Serbia, says the amount of Chinese investment underway and in the pipeline in the country amounts to more than $10 billion. Serbia has a population of around 7 million and was the first country to grant Chinese passport holders visa-free entry for stays of up to 30 days.

"I trust China's investment and Serbia's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative will help my country speed up accession of European Union," says Dusko Dimitrijevic, former director of the Belgrade-based Institute of International Politics and Economics.

"They can help us improve connectivity and infrastructure standards."

Zheng Jinqiang, Wang Keju and Zhang Zhaoqing in Brussels contributed to this story.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

Young Chinese students take pilot course at F AIR flight school in the Czech Republic. Fu Jing / China Daily A Chinese student with his instructor in the pilot course at F AIR flight school in the Czech Republic. Fu Jing / China Daily Duan Jielong, Chinese ambassador to Hungary. Melissis Dimitrios (left), and his co-worker John Stamatelopo (right), at the container terminal of Piraeus Port Authority. They said COSCO management expertise has enlarged job prospects for the port. Photos by Fu Jing / China Daily

(China Daily European Weekly 05/05/2017 page1)
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- XCMG's Africa-Ethiopia Water Cellar Project has yield impressive results since the first water cellar was built in Oda Nebe primary school in the country's capital, Addis Ababa, in August, 2016.

In the past nine months, new water cellars constructed by XCMG have brought clean water for drinking and agricultural irrigation to schools, families and farms in several Ethiopian villages.

Tasew, a villager from the Kitcha village, grows lemons and oranges as a source of income. But the lack of water meant he had to travel 15 kilometers away every day to buy water for irrigation. Now, new water cellars under construction in Kitcha are about to change his life. They will give villagers easy access to clean water thanks to the company's technologies that not only increase storage capacity but also keeps water sanitary.

"I'm helping the experts and construction teams to build our water cellars. Everything is in place; once the project finishes I'll be able to expand the planting area. I'm very grateful for what XCMG and CFPA (the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation) have done for us, making life better with clean water," Tasew told CFPA recently.

By partnering with CFPA and the office of Mrs. Roman Tesfaye, Ethiopia's First Lady, XCMG's water cellar project is bringing much-needed help to the country, where the most severe drought in 30 years is affecting every aspect of life. The company has donated 1.85 million yuan (US$ 268,743) to CFPA to establish the BlueDream foundation, and 750,000 yuan (US$ 108,949) is being invested to build 50 water cellars to accommodate more than 4,000 villagers and students in Ethiopia.

"The water cellar initiative is part of our 'For Better Life' global public welfare campaign, which consists of 14 precisely positioned projects that support education and community development. XCMG is fully committed to fulfilling our promise and contributing to social progress with the goal of making the world a better place," said Wang Min, chairman and president of XCMG.

About XCMG:

XCMG is a multinational heavy machinery manufacturing company with a history of 74 years. It currently ranks ninth in the world's construction machinery industry. The company exports to more than 177 countries and regions around the world.

For more information, please visit: www.xcmg.com, or XCMG pages on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram.

SOURCE XCMG
MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nonprofit organization BetterInvesting's dedicated volunteers will teach Main Street investors how to secure their financial futures at the 66th annual BetterInvesting National Convention May 18-21 at the historic Hilton Netherland Plaza in Cincinnati.

"We're excited to return to the Cincinnati area, the home of many BetterInvesting members," says event chairman Sue Spurlin. "This year we'll have a keynote speech and several sessions dedicated to dividends and income investing, along with panel discussions and classes on finding quality growth stocks selling at reasonable prices. Attendees are sure to leave the event with not only a deeper understanding of successful investing practices but also dozens of stock ideas for further study."

Charles Carlson, CFA, CEO of Horizon Investment Services and author of The Little Book of Big Dividends, will provide the keynote address on Saturday, May 20, titled "Big Safe Dividends: Strategies for Dividend Investing." From Thursday through Sunday, the convention will offer more than 60 sessions on a variety of investing topics for investors of all experience levels. These include classes on stocks in particular industries, portfolio management, estate planning, studying financial statements, and options and exchange-traded funds. A beginners track also is offered.

To learn more about the convention and link to the registration site, go to its homepage at:

www.betterinvesting.org/biconvention

On May 20, the public is invited to attend a free day of investment education. Besides Carlson's speech, guests can attend a live portfolio review, a class on ETFs, a panel discussion on stock ideas and other sessions. They can also visit the Corporate Expo featuring company investor relations representatives.

To register for the free public day, go to:

https://binc2017public.eventbrite.com

The convention is the premiere education event of BetterInvesting, a nonprofit investment education association. The association's BetterInvesting Volunteer Advisory Board, comprising volunteers who are passionate about the association's mission, conducts the annual event.

About BetterInvesting

BetterInvesting is a national nonprofit organization that has been empowering individual investors since 1951. Founded in Detroit, the association (formerly known as National Association of Investors Corporation) was borne out of the conviction that anyone can become a successful long-term investor by following commonsense investing practices. BetterInvesting has helped more than 5 million people become better, more informed investors by providing webinars, in-person events, easy-to-use online tools for analyzing stocks, a monthly magazine and a community of volunteers and like-minded investors. For more information about BetterInvesting, visit its website at www.betterinvesting.org or call toll-free 877-275-6242.

SOURCE BetterInvesting

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WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP announced its support of the bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage Family Caregivers Act that would require the development of a national strategy to support family caregivers. The legislation (S. 1028) was introduced this week in the U.S. Senate by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

"AARP appreciates the leadership of Senators Collins and Baldwin on the RAISE Family Caregivers Act and we urge Congress to get behind this commonsense, bipartisan step to recognize and support our nation's more than 40 million family caregivers," said AARP Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Nancy A. LeaMond. "Every day, these ordinary Americans take on extraordinary physical, emotional and financial challenges as they help their parents, spouses, children and adults with disabilities, and other loved ones live independently at home and in their communities and out of costly nursing homes, saving taxpayer dollars."

The nation's family caregivers provide assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, transportation, medical tasks, managing finances, and moreunpaid care that is valued at around $470 billion annually, more than the entire Medicaid program in 2013. "The RAISE Family Caregivers Act will help elevate the contributions of these unsung heroes, and identify support to help make their big responsibilities a little bit easier," said LeaMond.

The legislation would create an advisory council of representatives from the private and public sectors, including family caregivers, older adults and people with disabilities, health care providers, employers, state and local officials, and others to make recommendations regarding the national strategy. The advisory council meetings would be open to the public with opportunities for public input. The strategy would identify specific actions that communities, health care providers, employers, government, and others can take to recognize and support family caregivers.

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

SOURCE AARP

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DALLAS, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ACE Cash Express, Inc. announced that on May 11, 2017, it will provide financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017 to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, the trustee under the Indenture dated as of February 10, 2011 governing the Company's 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2019. The Company also announced it will host a conference call for Noteholders on Friday, May 12, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. CT to discuss the financial results.

Noteholders should contact David Sternblitz, Vice President, Treasurer of ACE Cash Express, Inc. to obtain access to the Company's financial statements and information concerning the conference call.

About ACE

ACE Cash Express, Inc. is a leading financial services provider serving consumers online and through a network of over 1,000 retail store locations. ACE provides a range of retail financial products and services including short-term consumer loans, check cashing, prepaid debit cards, money transfers, bill payments and money orders. ACE Cash Express, Inc. is the largest owner and operator of check cashing stores in the United States.

SOURCE ACE Cash Express, Inc.

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WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Asbestos Double-Victims Workgroup (ADVWG) is calling on additional state officials and federal authorities to join 13 states investigating whether several large national asbestos bankruptcy trusts are mismanaging funds, including if they failed to reimburse Medicaid and other medical providers as required in federal secondary payer laws.

In March, attorneys general from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin joined forces in issuing a Civil Investigation Demand (CID) to four of the nation's largest bankruptcy trusts. The trusts did not comply with the CID which led to the Utah-based lawsuit asking the court to require compliance.

Those trusts are formed under a law allowing companies with asbestos liability to emerge from a bankruptcy process solvent while creating trusts to pay currents and estimated victims. The AGs are concerned that negligent management of the trusts is cutting the amounts available to help victims, a disproportionate number of whom are veterans, and may not be repaying health care costs. Those victims may be unaware of possible claw-back actions coming down the pike.

The multi-state investigation comes on the heels of the "Garlock" case in North Carolina when a federal judge disclosed that evidence had been suppressed in all 15 cases where he had allowed specific discovery. Both the CID and the Utah lawsuit make clear links to the Garlock case and represent the first law enforcement action on the judge's findings.

Statement from Sara Warner, a founding member and spokesperson for the ADVWG:

"Every day we see health care costs driving national debates, and the strong showing of 13 AGs demonstrates just how concerning this situation is. But sadly, this is not an issue that only pertains to just these states. This is a deep seeded problem and the potential corruption must be fleshed out, and that requires coordination with more states and even federal involvement.

"The core issue is transparency. It is due to a lack of transparency that nobody knows how deep or how costly the fraud might run. Transparent compliance with public quarterly filings is the only answer. If publicly traded companies face similar transparency, why not the trusts?



"This seems a step toward exactly what we feared might happen; asbestos victims are being implicated in the complexities of potential fraud and many of them are going to be military veterans, and we simply must get in front of this potential crisis."

About the Asbestos Double-Victims Workgroup (ADVWG):



The Asbestos Double-Victims Workgroup was formed to explore the idea that current  and future  changes in the asbestos litigation world are going to impact a very specific group of victims of asbestos disease  those who have already gone through the legal system. These individuals and their families are already victims of America's longest-running personal injury challenge; now they might become victims of the very legal system they turned to for justice and they may find themselves under scrutiny and even financial liability for actions taken years ago under advice of their legal representatives.

Background on the Asbestos Double-Victims Workgroup can also be found on our website and a recent article by Sara Warner published on the The Huffington Post.

About the Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts Complaint:

On March 7, 2017, 13 attorneys general filed a civil lawsuit in Utah to investigate into whether several large national asbestos trusts reimbursed Medicaid and other medical providers when they received settlements and compensated victims. This lawsuit comes after the trusts failed to comply with a "civil investigation demand" letter (see page 13) issued in December 2016. The letter states the following:

"As chief legal officers for our respective states, we are concerned about potential abuse of the asbestos trusts. Plaintiffs' attorneys are using the trusts to obtain significant monetary recovery for claims, even where they would fail in the tort system. The abuse injures our states by improperly draining the trust assets, precluding future legitimate claimants from relying on the trust, and leaving states with the high cost associated with asbestos-related disease....This evidence suggests that the trusts are not sufficiently rigorous in scrutinizing their claims. This lack of oversight also raises questions as to whether the trusts and claimants attorneys are ensuring that state medical assistance programs are being reimbursed once the trust pays claimants who have also received compensation from those programs"

The bankruptcy trusts involved include:

Armstrong World Industries Asbestos Personal Injury Settlement Trust, a Delaware corporation

corporation Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Settlement Trust, a Delaware corporation

corporation DII Industries, LLC Asbestos PI Trust, a Pennsylvania common law trust

common law trust Owens Corning/Fibreboard Asbestos Personal Injury Trust, a Delaware corporation.

corporation. The litigation comes as the U.S. Congress is considering compelling asbestos bankruptcy trusts to adopt a transparent method of reporting activity. The Fairness in Class Action Litigation and Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2017, sometimes called the FACT Act, the transparency was included in the class action bill passed by the U.S. House last month (March, 2017).

Additional Resources:

SOURCE Asbestos Double-Victims Workgroup
DUBLIN, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) today announced that it is proceeding with its previously initiated cash dividend of $0.70 per ordinary share for the second quarter of 2017. The dividend will be paid on June 15th, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 18th, 2017.

About Allergan plc

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model  Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world.

Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health, urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories.

Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, the Company's R&D model, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. This approach has led to Allergan building one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry with 70+ mid-to-late stage pipeline programs in development.

Our Company's success is powered by our more than 16,000 global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what is right.

With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.

For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Payment of the ordinary share dividend is subject to applicable law. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

CONTACTS: Allergan:

Investors:

Daphne Karydas

(862) 261-8006





Media:

Mark Marmur

(862) 261-7558

SOURCE Allergan plc

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IRVINE, Calif., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ALPHAEON Corporation (www.alphaeon.com) announced completion of a private placement of Secured Convertible Notes in a financing transaction led by existing investor Dental Innovations BVBA alongside Sailing Capital, Longitude Capital Management Co., LLC and other current investors. In addition to the funds provided at closing, future tranches of financing are subject to regulatory milestones related to its DWP-450 (Botulinum toxin Type A) product candidate for the treatment of adult patients with glabellar lines, also known as frown lines between the eyebrows. Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

ALPHAEON Chief Executive Officer Murthy Simhambhatla said, "We are excited that our existing investors have reinforced their confidence and support for ALPHAEON through a financing program that we believe puts us in a good position to fund the company through FDA approval of our DWP-450 product candidate."

ALPHAEON Chairwoman and Co-Owner of Dental Innovations, Simone Blank said, "We are very pleased with the progress the company has made including the on-target completion of the DWP-450 Phase III trials. We are confident in management's ability to continue to advance the DWP-450 program with the next step being the submission of the Biologics License Application to the FDA."

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction.

About ALPHAEON Corporation

ALPHAEON Corporation is a privately held company focused on bringing highly innovative products and services to the aesthetics market. ALPHAEON's lead product candidate is DWP-450, a Botulinum toxin Type A for the treatment of glabellar lines. For more information, please visit www.alphaeon.com.

About Dental Innovations BVBA

Dental Innovations is a privately held investment company located in Belgium. One of its focus areas is innovative healthcare solutions.

About Sailing Capital

Founded in 2012, Sailing Capital, with offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai, is a global private equity firm affiliated with Shanghai International Group ("SIG"), the financial holding arm of the Shanghai Municipal Government. In addition to SIG, Sailing's LPs also include some of the most successful and influential companies in China. Sailing is actively deploying capital from its inaugural fund, primarily in growth equity and buyout investments outside of China. Sailing invests across all industries and has a strong focus on technology, healthcare, and consumer sectors. Sailing seeks to enhance investment returns by leveraging unique corporate and government relationships in China and abroad.

About Longitude Venture Partners

Longitude Capital is a private investment firm that focuses on venture growth investments in leading healthcare companies. Founded in 2006, Longitude has offices in Menlo Park, CA and Greenwich, CT. The firm builds balanced healthcare portfolios focused on creating value in special situations, including acquisitions, spin outs, PIPEs, and structured transactions, as well as traditional venture and growth equity. Longitude most recently raised $525 million for its third fund, Longitude Venture Partners III, L.P. For more information, please visit www.longitudecapital.com.

ALPHAEON PRESS CONTACTS:

September Riharb, Vice President, Marketing

Tel: +1-805-764-6300

Email: [email protected]

Jeff Plumer, Vice President, Legal

Tel: +1-949-246-2233

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ALPHAEON Corporation

Related Links

http://www.alphaeon.com


WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The ALS Association, the only national nonprofit fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on every front, applauded the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) announcement today that it has approved Radicava (edaravone), the first new treatment approved specifically for ALS in 22 years. The FDA approved Radicava less than a year after Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation submitted a New Drug Application. The only other approved treatment specifically for ALS, riluzole, was approved in 1995.

"We thank the FDA and MT Pharma for working together to expedite the approval of the first new ALS-specific treatment in decades," said Barbara Newhouse, president and CEO of The ALS Association. "We hope today's announcement signals the beginning of a new chapter in the fight against this terrible disease. There are several drugs to treat ALS currently in clinical trials and we are hopeful that people living with ALS have even more therapies available to them sooner rather than later."

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Eventually, people with ALS lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis. For unknown reasons, veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS as the general population.

Edaravone was originally approved in Japan to treat stroke and in 2015, it was approved for use as a treatment for ALS in Japan and South Korea. In the United States, it will be commercialized under the brand name radicava. According to MT Pharma, the drug has been demonstrated to slow decline of physical function in ALS patients by 33 percent.

More information about Radicava, including Frequently Asked Questions, can be found at www.alsa.org/radicava.

About The ALS Association

The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig's Disease on every front. By leading the way in global research, providing assistance for people with ALS through a nationwide network of chapters, coordinating multidisciplinary care through certified clinical care centers, and fostering government partnerships, The Association builds hope and enhances quality of life while aggressively searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about The ALS Association, visit our website at www.alsa.org.

About MT Pharma America, Inc.

Based in Jersey City, NJ, MT Pharma America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTPC's 100% owned U.S. holding company, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Holdings America, Inc. MT Pharma America is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that address the unmet medical needs of patients in the United States. It was established by MTPC to commercialize approved pharmaceutical products in the U.S. with plans to expand its product line through collaborations with partners.

SOURCE The ALS Association

Related Links

http://www.alsa.org


CLEARWATER, Fla., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- America's Auction Network, (AANlive), a leader in live television auctions has moved to a new location in Clearwater, Florida, and changed its format, kicking off a new era of home auction excitement. New sets have been constructed and gorgeous inventory have been procured. All of the hosts that viewers have come to know and love, once relegated to off-screen voices, will now be featured on camera for another added element of drama and fun to the heart pumping action.

"We've gotten a great response," said Rob Weingarten, AAN veteran host specializing in real estate. "Our audience love the sharp graphics and gorgeous sets, and are especially thrilled that they will finally be able to see everyone, including our call center representatives, on camera."

Live auction networks were first classified under the term 'bid shopping'. This was coined by Shop at Bid, a channel in the United Kingdom. This system was popular for a very long time, although it changed very often in terms of what people could buy, and how they could buy things. The industry saw an eventual need to move from television and onto the internet. AAN then appeared, redefining how the system works as a whole.

America's Auction Network (AAN) broadcasts live 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. You can watch AAN worldwide on the web or on satellite and cable TV across the United States in North America. AAN is a licensed and bonded auction house for the best in jewelry, gemstones, rare coins, currency and real estate.

AAN's reputation as a a great place to work is reflected in its reviews of the company's methods of working.

"It's live TV, so it's stressful. You may have to work during the holidays, overnights or on the weekends. They do go out of their way to make sure that you do like your schedule most of the time so that's good. You get paid holidays and healthcare benefits which is great. Every day is different. Always something new."

The employees' happiness translates into greater customer satisfaction. AAN continues to listen to both its employees and customers, enabling them to remain the go-to place for online live auctions of high quality, beautiful, and unique pieces.

You can check out the auction action at http://www.aantv.com for a complete list of AAN's live television auctions.

Contact: Pamela Ames 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 AAN - America's Auction Network

Related Links

http://www.aantv.com


WHAT:

The top two youth volunteers of 2017 from each state and Washington, D.C. will gather for the 22nd annual Prudential Spirit of Community State Awards Ceremony. From 6-7 p.m., they will hear from Prudential Financial Chairman and CEO John Strangfeld, a celebrity keynote speaker and four past honorees who have remained involved in service. Later, each 2017 honoree will be presented with a $1,000 award. Youth volunteers from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ireland, India, China and Brazil will also be honored.
By An Baijie in Beijing and Huang Zhiling in Chengdu | China Daily Europe | Updated: 2017-05-05 08:50

Endangered creatures head for Scandinavia as Denmark prepares new research center

When Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen made his recent three-day trip to China, what he probably most wanted to see were pandas, as the Nordic country prepares for the arrival of two of the adorable creatures.

Soon after arriving in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, on May 2, Rasmussen traveled to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where he fed two of the animals - Maosun and Hexing - with apples and bread.

The two pandas are scheduled to be lent to Copenhagen for 15 years of research, following an agreement made during Danish Queen Margrethe II's state visit to China in April 2014. It will be the first time that pandas have traveled to a Nordic country.

The giant panda has been one of the most endangered species in the world, with fewer than 2,000 in existence. Sichuan is known to the world as the home of pandas.

By the end of last year, China had cooperated in panda research with 13 countries, seven of them in Europe: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium. Denmark is the first Nordic country to start cooperation on panda research with China.

Apart from feeding pandas, Rasmussen talked with Zhang Zhihe, director of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, about pandas' lives and environment.

On May 3, the Danish prime minister, together with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the protection of pandas at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Jia Jiansheng, deputy director of the Department of Wildlife Protection and Nature Reserve Management at the State Forestry Administration, expressed gratitude for Denmark's support of panda protection and research.

The two countries could make fruitful progress in scientific research on pandas, he said after the signing ceremony.

Since November 2015, Copenhagen Zoo has sent vets, feeders and nutrition experts to Chengdu to study the protection, feeding and wild training of pandas, according to a statement released by the base on May 3.

In March, the zoo unveiled the design of a planned enclosure for the two pandas, which are scheduled to travel to Denmark around the end of next year.

Construction of the Panda House will begin in November and last for 12 to 13 months. It is estimated that the whole project will cost around 125-150 million Danish kroner ($18 million to 22 million; 16 million to 20 million euros; 14 million to 17 million), Copenhagen Zoo director and CEO Steffen Straede told Xinhua News Agency.

The Panda House is a brainchild of the zoo in collaboration with two local architects and landscape companies, Bjarke Ingels Group and Schonherr A/S.

According to BIG, the design of the enclosure begins with a circular shape, formed by the surrounding existing facilities. The site will be divided into two parts, following the yin-yang symbol from China's traditional philosophy and creating separate enclosures for male and female pandas.

"The Panda House is designed to feel like humans are the visitors in the pandas' home, rather than the pandas being exotic guests from faraway lands," according to a BIG presentation.

Following Denmark, Finland became the second Nordic country to agree with China to cooperate on panda research. During President Xi Jinping's state visit to Finland last month, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on panda research.

According to a report on Yle, also known as the Finnish Broadcasting Company, the pandas are set to arrive at the end of this year and will be hosted at Ahtari Zoo, an animal park in the South Ostrobothnia region of Finland. Leading panda experts from China will travel to the zoo to help construct a panda center.

China and Finland agreed to "make the pandas messengers of friendship between our two countries," Xi said at a joint news conference held with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki on April 5.

"I want to thank President Xi for his trust that the pandas will be protected in Finland. We know that pandas are a national treasure for China and we will honor and value them," Niinisto said at the news conference.

Contact the writer at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 05/05/2017 page3)
DULUTH, Ga., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG) ("Asbury" or the "Company"), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., today announced that Sean D. Goodman will join the company as its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective July 5, 2017.

"Sean brings a wealth of financial knowledge with a proven track record to his new position. He will be responsible for providing leadership to the finance and accounting functions while also continuing the development of our shared services initiatives," said President and CEO Craig Monaghan. "I am thrilled about Sean joining our team and am certain that his contributions will lead to further success for our organization."

Mr. Goodman joins the Company from Unifi, Inc., a NYSE-listed multinational manufacturer and distributor of innovative textile solutions, where he served as Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer since January 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Goodman was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Americas region for Landis+Gyr, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation, from April 2011 to January 2016. Mr. Goodman also served in various roles at The Home Depot, Inc. ("Home Depot") from February 2006 to April 2011, including Director of Strategic Business Development and Director of Finance responsible for financial leadership of the Home Services Division, and Financial Planning and Analysis for Home Depot. Before joining Home Depot, he held various capital markets, finance, strategy accounting and treasury positions with Morgan Stanley, Inc. in London, England and Deloitte & Touche LLP in New York. Mr. Goodman has a B.Bus.Sc. with honors in business strategy and corporate finance and an M.A. in accounting from University of Cape Town, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He is a certified public accountant.

About Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. ("Asbury"), a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA, is one of the largest automotive retailers in the U.S. Asbury currently operates 80 dealerships, consisting of 96 franchises, representing 29 domestic and foreign brands of vehicles. Asbury also operates 24 collision repair centers and 2 stand-alone used vehicle stores. Asbury offers customers an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicle sales and related financing and insurance, vehicle maintenance and repair services, replacement parts and service contracts.

SOURCE Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.asburyauto.com


NORTHBOROUGH, Mass., May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (NYSE: ASPN) ("Aspen Aerogels") today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2017, which ended March 31, 2017, and discussed business developments during the quarter.

Total revenue for the first quarter was $23.0 million compared to $32.8 million in the first quarter last year. First quarter net loss was $9.1 million compared to net loss of $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2016. Net loss per share for the first quarter was $0.39 compared to net loss of $0.08 per share in the first quarter of 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $(5.1) million compared to $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2016. A reconciliation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to net loss is provided in the financial schedules that are part of this press release. An explanation of this non-GAAP financial measure is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Net loss and Adjusted EBITDA included legal and related expenses associated with Aspen Aerogels' ongoing patent enforcement actions of $2.7 million during the first quarter of 2017 compared to $0.2 million in the first quarter last year.

First Quarter 2017 Business Developments

"As expected, our first quarter performance reflected the impact of constrained capital investment and low activity levels in the global energy markets. Continued softness in our downstream and subsea businesses, in combination with the conclusion of shipments to the South Asia petrochemical project, resulted in much of the decrease in total revenue during the quarter. This decrease in total revenue and an increase in expense associated with our patent enforcement actions led to the decline in net income and Adjusted EBITDA," said Don Young, President and CEO of Aspen Aerogels.

"We made solid progress during the first quarter with our efforts to diversify our markets and expand the reach of our aerogel technology platform. We saw strong activity in the district energy and LNG markets and remain on track to introduce products optimized for the power market in the second half of 2017. We remain focused on creating commercial momentum during the remainder of the year with market share gains in our core and adjacent markets," continued Mr. Young.

"We also remain committed to sustaining our investment in new aerogel technologies, innovative products, and strategic partnerships to drive long-term growth in a diversified set of markets. During the quarter, we continued work on our joint development initiatives with BASF focused on the building materials market. We see our efforts with BASF as a blueprint for additional partnerships with world class companies to expand the markets served by our aerogel technology platform. We believe these product and market development efforts and strategic partnerships will position Aspen for strong long-term growth," concluded Mr. Young.

2017 Financial Outlook

Aspen Aerogels confirms its 2017 full year outlook:

Total revenue is expected to range between $102 million and $112 million

Net loss is expected to range between $18.2 million and $21.2 million

Adjusted EBITDA is expected to range between $(2.0) million and $(5.4) million

Net loss per share is expected to range between $0.78 and $0.91

Our 2017 outlook also assumes depreciation and amortization of between $10.6 million and $10.8 million, stock-based compensation expense of between $5.0 million and $5.2 million, interest and other expense of $0.2 million, and weighted average shares outstanding of 23.4 million for the full year. In addition, our 2017 outlook reflects an expected $3.9 million to $4.4 million of costs and expenses associated with our ongoing patent enforcement actions.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for this 2017 financial outlook is provided in the financial schedules that are part of this press release. An explanation of this non-GAAP financial measure is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Aspen Aerogels may incur charges, realize gains or losses, incur financing costs or interest expense, or experience other events in 2017 that could cause actual results to vary materially from this outlook. In addition, the timing of projects may have a significant impact on quarterly and annual revenue and profitability and can be difficult to predict.

Conference Call Notification

A conference call with Aspen Aerogels management to discuss first quarter 2017 results and business developments will be webcast at 5:00 pm EDT on May 4, 2017. During the call, management will respond to questions concerning, but not limited to, Aspen Aerogels' financial performance, business conditions and industry outlook. Management's discussion and responses could contain information that has not been previously disclosed. The conference call will be available live as a listen-only webcast and will be hosted at the Investors section of the Aspen Aerogels website, www.aerogel.com. In addition, you may call 877-201-0168 (toll free, U.S. & Canada only) conference ID "8175016" or +1 647-788-4901 (international) conference ID "8175016" to listen to the live webcast.

Following the live event, an archived version of the webcast will be available on the Aspen Aerogels website for convenient on-demand replay.

A copy of this press release is posted in the Investors section on the Aspen Aerogels website.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to providing financial measurements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), Aspen Aerogels provides additional financial metrics that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP ("non-GAAP"). The non-GAAP financial measure included in this press release is Adjusted EBITDA. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as a measure of operating performance because the non-GAAP financial measures do not include the impact of items that management does not consider indicative of Aspen Aerogels' core operating performance. In addition, management uses Adjusted EBITDA (i) for planning purposes, including the preparation of Aspen Aerogels' annual operating budget, (ii) to allocate resources to enhance the financial performance of its business, and (iii) as a performance measure under its bonus plan.

Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect Aspen Aerogels' ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful comparisons and analysis of trends in its business, as they exclude expenses and gains not reflective of Aspen Aerogels' ongoing operating results or that may be infrequent and/or unusual in nature. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating Aspen Aerogels' operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods and to those of peer companies. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.

The non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of Aspen Aerogels' GAAP financial results and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, Aspen Aerogels' financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. In this press release, Aspen Aerogels has provided a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Management strongly encourages investors to review Aspen Aerogels' financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single financial measure.

About Aspen Aerogels, Inc.

Aspen Aerogels is an aerogel technology company that designs, develops and manufactures innovative, high-performance aerogel insulation used primarily in the energy infrastructure and building materials markets where thermal energy efficiency is at a premium and Aspen's products offer unique value. Headquartered in Northborough, Mass., Aspen Aerogels manufactures its Cryogel, Pyrogel and Spaceloft products at its East Providence, R.I. facility.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release and any related discussion contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements relating to Aspen Aerogels' 2017 Financial Outlook. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on Aspen Aerogels' current expectations, estimates and projections regarding Aspen Aerogels' business, operations and other factors relating thereto, including with respect to the 2017 Financial Outlook. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "anticipate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "outlook," and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, Aspen Aerogels' expectations about revenue, expenses, Adjusted EBITDA, GAAP EPS, cash balances and related variations or trends; beliefs about the general strength or health of Aspen Aerogels' business; beliefs about current or future trends in the energy or other markets, and the impact of these trends on Aspen Aerogels' business; beliefs about Aspen Aerogels' market diversification and technology strategy and implementation; beliefs about growth opportunities in the LNG and District Energy markets; beliefs about Aspen Aerogels' ability and timeframe to develop, introduce and sell products optimized for the power market; beliefs about Aspen Aerogels' strategic partnership with BASF, including the potential for the joint development agreement to create new product and market opportunities; beliefs about Aspen Aerogels' ability to form partnerships with market leaders to assist in Aspen Aerogel's market diversification and growth strategy; expected adoption rates or revenue growth in the LNG and district energy markets; future operating performance on an annual or other basis; accounting and other assumptions involved in arriving at the expectations; and expectations about the cost, timing or success of Aspen Aerogels' patent enforcement actions and defense of challenges to the validity of its patents. All such forward-looking statements are based on management's present expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, outcome of events, timing and performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: any delay, failure or inability to timely develop or introduce a product optimized for the power market; any inability by Aspen Aerogels and/or BASF to achieve the goals of the strategic partnership, and an inability to create new product and market opportunities, including in the building materials market; any sustained downturn in the energy industry or energy prices; any disruption or inability to achieve expected capacity levels in any of our three production lines or the manufacturing facility in which they are located; any failure of demand for Aspen Aerogels' products; any failure to achieve expected average selling prices for Aspen Aerogels' products; the failure to generate sufficient operating cash flow or to obtain significant additional capital to pursue Aspen Aerogels' strategy; the failure of our products to become widely adopted; lack of wide adoption in LNG or district energy markets; the competition Aspen Aerogels faces in its business; any failure to enforce any of Aspen Aerogels' patents, including pursuant to any finding of invalidity of any patent in any jurisdiction; any failure of Aspen Aerogels' products to meet applicable specifications and other performance, safety, technical and delivery requirements; the general economic conditions and cyclical demands in the markets that Aspen Aerogels serves; the economic, operational and political risks associated with sales and expansion of operations in foreign countries; the loss of any direct customer, including distributors, contractors and OEMs; compliance with health and safety laws and regulations; shortages of raw materials, utilities or any other manufacturing consumable; the maintenance and development of distribution channels; and the other risk factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 2, 2017, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our subsequent periodic and current reports filed with the SEC. All statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and Aspen Aerogels does not intend to update this information unless required by law.

ASPEN AEROGELS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited and in thousands)













March 31,

December 31,



2017

2016 Assets







Current assets:







Cash and cash equivalents

$ 11,228

$ 18,086 Accounts receivable, net

17,248

17,535 Inventories

15,132

12,868 Prepaids and other current assets

1,192

1,697 Total current assets

44,800

50,186 Property, plant, and equipment, net

82,719

84,394 Other assets

97

89 Total assets

$ 127,616

$ 134,669









Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity







Current liabilities:







Accounts payable

$ 14,169

$ 13,065 Accrued expenses

4,112

3,987 Deferred revenue

789

1,043 Other current liabilities

20

35 Total current liabilities

19,090

18,130 Other long-term liabilities

1,082

975 Total liabilities

20,172

19,105 Total stockholders' equity

107,444

115,564 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 127,616

$ 134,669











ASPEN AEROGELS, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited and In thousands, except share and per share data)













Three Months Ended



March 31,



2017

2016 Revenue:







Product

$ 22,326

$ 32,286 Research services

676

535 Total revenue

23,002

32,821 Cost of revenue:







Product

20,470

25,992 Research services

311

302 Gross profit

2,221

6,527 Operating expenses:







Research and development

1,576

1,310 Sales and marketing

3,110

3,062 General and administrative

6,587

3,913 Total operating expenses

11,273

8,285 Loss from operations

(9,052)

(1,758)









Interest expense, net

(26)

(39) Total interest expense, net

(26)

(39)









Net loss

$ (9,078)

$ (1,797)









Net loss per share:

















Basic and diluted

$ (0.39)

$ (0.08)



















Weighted-average common shares outstanding:















Basic and diluted

23,257,541

23,063,471





















Square Foot Operating Metric

We price our product and measure our product shipments in square feet.



Three Months Ended

March 31,

2017

2016

(amounts in thousands)







Product shipments in square feet 8,273

11,846

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure included in the Aspen Aerogels, Inc. press release dated May 4, 2017 to the most directly comparable GAAP measure:

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss)

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense and other items, which occur from time to time and which we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:





Three Months Ended



March 31,



2017

2016



(amounts in thousands)









Net loss $ (9,078)

$ (1,797)









Depreciation and amortization 2,676

2,410 Stock-based compensation 1,244

1,370 Interest expense 26

39









Adjusted EBITDA $ (5,132)

$ 2,022











For the 2017 full year financial outlook:





Year Ending



December 31, 2017



Low

High



(amounts in thousands)









Net loss $ (21,200)

$ (18,200)









Depreciation and amortization 10,600

10,800 Stock-based compensation 5,000

5,200 Interest expense, net 200

200









Adjusted EBITDA $ (5,400)

$ (2,000)





















SOURCE Aspen Aerogels, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.aerogel.com


HONG KONG, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A unique international software platform licensed to Australian company Boost Reviews will provide local businesses with an easy way to boost their online reputation when its launches this month.

Boost Reviews International communications manager, Ms. Jon Keung, said she was excited to be launching the business in Australia. "Online business reviews are the new black, and engaging consumers online is essential for the success of local businesses."

New statistics reveal the importance of digital profiles to both buyers and businesses, with 92 per cent of consumers confirming they read online reviews and use ratings to judge local businesses, their products and services.

Boost Reviews director Ross Gardner said reputation in today's digital world was more about what customers say about a business and less about what a business says about itself.

He said helping clients manage their online reputation by responding effectively to negative reviews, amplifying positive feedback, and generating reviews was essential for business success.

"Monitoring a business's digital profile is much more than responding to reviews and social media, it's about being proactive and creating an authentic online image with the help of customers through reviews," Mr. Gardner said.

"Australians spent 552 million hours 'Googling' in 2015 alone. Consumers are complicit in marketing now."

He said review sites were a two-way conversation favouring the consumer and businesses were finding it harder to broadcast the message they wanted people to see.

"A dissatisfied client is likely to tell many people and post a negative review, whereas a happy customer is happy and likely to tell few people or no-one," Mr. Gardner said.

"This is where Boost Reviews can assist the local business greatly.

"Boost Reviews implements systems that encourage your clients to provide fresh, relevant reviews and ratings on major sites."

Boost Reviews works because:

1. 92% of customers read online reviews

2. 40% of customers form an opinion by reading just one to three reviews

3. Star rating is the number one factor used by consumers to judge a business

4. Only 13% of consumers consider using a business that has a one or two star rating

5. 51% of consumers will select a local business if it has positive reviews

6. 68% of customers read at least four reviews before they can trust a business

7. 87% of people go online to check information on a business

8. 45% of consumers will only deal with businesses rated four-plus stars

9. A one star rating increase can lead to a 5-9% boost in revenue

10. Australians spent 552 million hours 'Googling' in 2015

For more information go to www.boostreviews.com

Media Contact:

Zhang Wei

[email protected]

+852 81927468

SOURCE Boost Reviews International

Related Links

http://boostreviews.com


San Antonio, TX, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Biglari Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BH) announces its results for the first quarter of 2017.

Biglari Holdings Inc.'s earnings for the first quarter 2017 and 2016 are summarized below. To become fully apprised of our results, shareholders should carefully study our 10-Q, which has been posted at www.biglariholdings.com.

(dollars in thousands)







First Quarter

2017

2016







Pre-tax operating earnings $ 2,195

$ 4,690 Investment partnership gains (losses) (24,968)

78,973 Interest expense (2,824)

(2,922) Income tax (expense) benefit 9,776

(29,578) Net earnings (loss) $ (15,821)

$ 51,163







Shares outstanding 2,067,613

2,066,864









Analysis of Results:

Investments held through investment partnerships affect our reported quarterly earnings based on their carrying value. We do not regard the quarterly or annual fluctuations in the partnerships' carrying values to be meaningful. Therefore, our operating businesses are best analyzed before the impact of investment gains. As a consequence, in the preceding table we separate earnings of our operating businesses from our investment gains.

About Biglari Holdings Inc.

Biglari Holdings Inc. is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities, including media, property and casualty insurance, and restaurants. The Company's largest operating subsidiaries are involved in the franchising and operating of restaurants. All major operating, investment, and capital allocation decisions are made for the Company and its subsidiaries by Sardar Biglari, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Comment on Regulation G

This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. In addition to the GAAP presentations of net earnings, Biglari Holdings defines pre-tax operating earnings outside of the investment gains/losses of the Company.

Risks Associated with Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ markedly from those projected or discussed here. Biglari Holdings cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, for actual results may differ materially from expectations. Biglari Holdings does not update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. Further information on the types of factors that could affect Biglari Holdings and its business can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC.

SOURCE Biglari Holdings Inc.

Related Links

http://www.biglariholdings.com


BOSTON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Block & Leviton LLP (www.blockesq.com), a national securities litigation firm representing investors nationwide announces that it has commenced an investigation of Home Capital Group Inc. ("Home Capital" or the "Company") (HMCBF) concerning possible violations of the federal securities laws.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Home Capital (HMCBF) securities in the United States and have questions about your legal rights, you are encouraged to contact attorney Bradley Vettraino at (617) 398-5600, by email at [email protected], or by visiting www.blockesq.com/homecapital.

On February 10, 2017, after the markets had closed, Home Capital disclosed that the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") had preliminarily concluded that Home Capital failed to meet its continuous disclosure obligations for 2014 and 2015. Home Capital also disclosed that the OSC served the Company with an enforcement notice regarding information on certain loan applications in its 2015 disclosure that had been falsified.

Then, on April 19, 2017, the OSC formally alleged that Home Capital's Chief Financial Officer, Robert Morton, and two former Chief Executives of the Company, Gerald Soloway and Martin Reid, misled shareholders by waiting until after the May 2015 filing of its 2014 annual report and its first-quarter 2015 report to disclose the fraudulent activities performed by 45 of its brokers.

Since February 10, 2017, shares of Home Capital have fallen more than 80%, causing hundreds of millions in losses to investors.

U.S. purchasers of Home Capital securities interested in learning more about their legal rights are encouraged to contact attorney Bradley Vettraino Bradley Vettraino at (617) 398-5600, by email at [email protected], or by visiting www.blockesq.com/homecapital.

Confidentiality to whistleblowers or others with information relevant to the lawsuit is assured.

Block & Leviton LLP is a Boston-based law firm representing investors nationwide. The firm's lawyers have collectively been prosecuting securities cases on behalf of individual and institutional investors for over 50 years, and have recovered billions of dollars on their behalf. Block & Leviton's investigations into corporate wrongdoing were recently covered by the New York Times.

This notice may constitute attorney advertising.

CONTACT:

Block & Leviton LLP

Bradley J. Vettraino

155 Federal Street, Suite 400

Boston, MA 02110

(617) 398-5600

[email protected]

SOURCE Block & Leviton LLP

Related Links

http://www.blockesq.com


MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BloomReach, the leader in personalized digital experiences, today announced the market's first open and intelligent digital experience platform (DXP) that drives one-to-one personalized experiences across the entire customer journey. BloomReach DXP is the only data-native platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver real-time personalization at scale across all customer touch points. It also comes with a full toolset of analytics that allows digital marketers and merchandisers to maximize business outcomes.

Since acquiring Hippo B.V. last October, BloomReach has continued to integrate its Relevance Engine into Hippo's web content management system (WCM), engineering the first self-learning DXP with semantic understanding of content and the ability to determine consumer demand and visitor intent. Its intelligence can learn from and understand context behind every customer interaction - whether online or offline - then delivers personalized content to any digital experience (mobile site, app, desktop, kiosk, display, etc.).

BloomReach DXP supports a microservices architecture with an experience orchestration layer that delivers transactional data and services from external systems, ultimately providing a consistent, unified customer experience. Plugging into external data sources and third-party platforms - including marketing automation, commerce and CRM - BloomReach DXP fully understands the voice of the customer by parsing and uniting search, behavioral, channel and content-specific data. The open model also gives businesses the ability to break down siloed commerce and content experiences - providing a single platform that merges personalized product offerings and marketing content.

In addition, the open architecture of BloomReach DXP provides an advantage to reuse content and services across multiple environments by decoupling the presentation layer from the content and its associated metadata, known as a headless CMS. This allows businesses to amortize content-resource investment across touch points while also freeing up resources by consolidating content creation. With an experience-as-a-service approach, BloomReach DXP allows organizations to optimize customer engagement not only across traditional desktop and mobile web channels but also new digital touchpoints, including mobile app, kiosk, digital display and more.

"People leading digital transformations at enterprises are finally finding that their customers are worthy of their own platform for personalizing digital experiences. BloomReach DXP delivers a 360-degree view of your customer, and can automate the personalized experience or provide you with decision-making tools needed to optimize for your goals," said BloomReach co-founder and CEO Raj De Datta. "Companies don't need to be stuck with the significant issues caused by having an army of marketers, financial consultants and IT systems integrators to fix conflicting rules, detangle JavaScript and determine ROI from point-solution vendors. BloomReach DXP provides a streamlined integration that has proven applications for the entire customer journey - from acquisition to retention and loyalty."

Comprised of three core modules, BloomReach DXP enables creation, management, marketing and measurement of digital experiences across the customer journey  including discovery, inspiration, action, retention and loyalty. It also puts business users in control of the AI, so they can blend personalization strategies for specific use cases with full automation, segmentation, rules-based or manual approaches. The three modules include:

AI-driven Personalization with BloomReach Personalization

With continually and cumulatively learning applications for personalized site-search, personalized category pages, personalized recommendations and a set of merchandising analytics and impact-tracking tools, BloomReach Personalization gives commerce businesses a full spectrum of personalization to create and market their products.

Whether a business wants AI to fully automate the experience or to prescriptively inform its team's strategic decision-making, BloomReach Personalization includes comprehensive intelligence, with algorithms to understand content, layout, customer journeys, channels, behavior, language semantics, intent, performance optimization and user personalization (segmentation and one-to-one).

BloomReach Personalization also supports advanced decision-making with built-in testing and targeting for category and site-search-results pages, in addition to diagnostic tools to evaluate algorithms. BloomReach Personalization is offered to commerce companies as a single product with a unified user interface, but the independent applications - Search (formerly Commerce Search), Merchandising (formerly Commerce Categories) and Insights (formerly Compass) - are also available individually. Each of the personalization applications have been shown to improve revenue per visit significantly - creating the opportunity for hundreds of millions in incremental revenue - for many of the top 500 retailers and other large brands.

One-to-One Experiences with BloomReach Experience

BloomReach Experience (formerly Hippo CMS Enterprise Edition) is a unified platform for experience management across all customer interactions points. It is an open platform that integrates data, content and application services to drive customer acquisition, loyalty and retention across marketing channels, online and in-store commerce experiences, customer community and self-service, and all supporting employee experiences (including internal portals and mobile applications). Based on open standards and designed with a modern, modular, extensible open-source core, BloomReach Experience creates a new web infrastructure stack - tailored for on-demand, personalized, transactional experiences - that drives new digital services, business models and revenue. It also serves as an orchestration platform for content and experience delivery in context across any customer touchpoint. As a platform for both CIOs and CMOs, BloomReach Experience enables seamless collaboration between IT and marketing for continuing customer-engagement innovation and building one-to-one customer relationships, advocacy and lifetime value.

SEO at Scale with BloomReach Organic

BloomReach Organic optimizes customer acquisition through organic search at scale. It improves site structure by linking related searches and products, surfaces a business's most-relevant content for search engines and automatically identifies content gaps to create category pages without IT.

BloomReach sees all digital businesses having three core cloud platforms: a back-end or transactional platform, a digital experience platform for personalizing the customer journey and an acquisition platform. BloomReach DXP serves as the experience platform  where data and algorithms determine each visitor's intent and either return the most-relevant experience or inform the business user's objectives. The insights provided by the DXP's supporting tools and analytics also will more effectively inform initiatives executed through the acquisition platform.

BloomReach debuted its DXP on May 4 at its first-ever North American customer summit, BloomReach Connect NYC. The company expects to hold future Connect events in London this summer, and its annual global customer conference, BloomReach Connect Amsterdam, this November.

About BloomReach

BloomReach is a Silicon Valley firm that brings businesses the first open and intelligent Digital Experience Platform (DXP). BloomReach drives customer experience to accelerate the path to conversion, increase revenue, and drive customer loyalty.

With applications for content management, site search, page management, SEO optimization and role-based analytics, BloomReach is a central location for all players who drive customer experience to come together and intelligently drive business outcomes. BloomReach's Relevance Engine algorithmically understands content and users, matching demand and intent data from across the web. BloomReach's industry-leading tools unlock the powerful creativity of humans to improve omnichannel customer experiences at scale. Together, human and machine drive millions of dollars of proven incremental sales.

BloomReach's portfolio of customers include: Neiman Marcus, Staples, REI, Mailchimp and Autodesk. Incorporated in 2009, BloomReach is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., with offices worldwide and is backed by investment firms Bain Capital Ventures, Battery Ventures, NEA, Salesforce Ventures and Lightspeed Ventures. Learn more: www.bloomreach.com

SOURCE BloomReach

Related Links

http://www.bloomreach.com


SEOUL, South Korea, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BOScoin announces its ICO (Initial Cryptocurrency Offering) for its self-evolving cryptocurrency platform. The BOScoin ICO starts on May 10th, 2017 (GMT). The ICO will last for 41 days. In total, 276,093,688.786 BOScoins will be distributed.

During the ICO, participants can exchange 1 Bitcoin for 40,000 BOScoin. Through this ICO, the BOS Platform aims to raise over $10 million USD. Prior, in November 2016, BOScoin raised $3 million USD through their Pre-ICO.

BOScoin: Self-Evolving Cryptocurrency Platform

BOScoin aims to create a self-evolving cryptocurrency platform. With recent technological advances in genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and quantum computers, it's even difficult to predict the next 5 years. BOScoin aims to create a cryptocurrency adaptable in every environment.

BOScoin utilizes executable smart contracts called "Trust Contracts" and has a decision-making body called the "Congress Network" to ensure perpetual adaptation. The BOS Platform aims to accelerate the usage of BOScoin by creating two premade apps that use BOScoin: celebrity popularity index "Stardaq" and crowd-sourced decision-making solution "Delicracy."

Changki Park (CEO) founded the largest financial information portal in Korea, Paxnet, worked at Samsung for 14 years, and is the former head of the Financial Engineering Research Center at the State University of New York's Korean campus.

"BOScoin is the first blockchain-based cryptocurrency that is designed to evolve. The embedded funding system and voting solution make BOScoin fit for every environment," said Changki Park, BOScoin CEO.

BOScoin demonstrated Trust Contracts on their Demo Day. The event was filled with journalists from major broadcasting studios, alongside over 200 attendees. A general overview of BOScoin, a technical demo of Trust Contracts, and the current marketing progress was presented.

BOScoin is managed by the BOS Platform Foundation, a non-profit organization in Switzerland.

Website

https://boscoin.io

Contact

[email protected]

Related Links

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Facebook

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66qNrfr9F5M

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.

SOURCE BOScoin

Related Links

http://boscoin.io


CHICAGO, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Brilliant, an award-winning search, staffing and management resources firm specializing in accounting, finance and information technology, was named on Forbes 2017 lists of America's Best Recruitment Firms this week. For America's Best Professional Recruitment Firms, Brilliant ranked No. 6, and for America's Best Executive Recruitment Firms, Brilliant ranked No. 25.

A total of 250 firms ranked on each of the lists.

Brilliant CEO Jim Wong says, "We are truly honored to be recognized on both of Forbes' 2017 lists of America's Best Recruitment Firms. These rankings may be by far our proudest achievements to-date. We are humbled to be placed on the same stage as some of these larger, national-based firms. Brilliant's mission is to make peoples' lives better. The recognition by Forbes is a result of our team's efforts in living our mission every day. Although we may be more localized than many of the firms recognized by Forbes, the caliber of our team continues to go unmatched in the industry."

Forbes partnered with an analytics firm Statista to compile two lists of America's best recruiting firms. The first list ranks 250 professional search firms, which place employees in roles with less than $100,000 in annual income. The second set ranks 250 executive search firms, defined as companies that place executives in positions with at least $100,000 in annual pay.

Statista consulted with trade organizations and company databases to identify 4,000 recruiters in each of the two categories. Then it invited thousands of recruiters, professionals who had worked with recruiters over the past three years, and HR managers to take an online survey. The survey asked them to recommend up to 10 recruiting firms (excluding their own), and it gathered 20,000 recommendations. The companies with the most recommendations ranked highest.

Chicago had the second-highest number of recruiters on the lists, only lower than New York.

To learn more about the Forbes Lists of America's Best Recruiting Firms 2017, click here.

To learn more about Brilliant, click here.

About Brilliant

Connecting People and Opportunities

Founded in 2009, Brilliant is an award-winning search, staffing and management resources firm specializing in accounting, finance and information technology. Brilliant's team of business development and recruiting experts include former Big 4 CPAs, hiring managers and leading industry professionals in the greater Chicago and south Florida markets. Brilliant's mission is to make people's lives better and that includes its clients, candidates, colleagues and communities. Since its inception, Brilliant has made impressive strides emerging as a leader within the staffing industry achieving many awards including Inaveros' Best of Staffing Talent, Crain's Chicago Business Fast 50, Staffing Industry Analysts Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms, Chicago's and the Nation's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, Inc. 5000, Staffing 100 List for North America and Best Places to Work South Florida, just to name a few. To learn more, visit www.brilliantfs.com or follow us on social media @BrilliantFS.

Media Contact: Laurie Canning, CSMP, Marketing Director, 312.582.1812, [email protected]

SOURCE Brilliant

Related Links

http://www.brilliantfs.com


SAN DIEGO, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bumble Bee Foods S.a r.l. and Bumble Bee Holdco S.C.A. announced today that they will issue their reports for the first quarter of 2017 via IntraLinks on May 10, 2017. A conference call to discuss Q1 2017 financial results will be held at 12:30 p.m. EDT on May 12, 2017. Qualified investors will receive notice via IntraLinks regarding the call-in number.

An audio replay of the call will be available to qualified investors until midnight on May 12, 2018.

About Bumble Bee

Bumble Bee Holdco S.C.A. owns Bumble Bee Foods S.a r.l. which owns Bumble Bee Foods, LLC and Connors Bros. Clover Leaf Seafoods Company. On a combined basis, they represent North America's largest branded shelf-stable seafood company. Bumble Bee and Clover Leaf offer a full line of canned and pouched tuna, salmon, sardine, and specialty protein products marketed in the U.S. under leading brands including Bumble Bee, Brunswick, Snow's and Beach Cliff, and in Canada under the Clover Leaf and Brunswick brands.

For more information on Bumble Bee, visit www.bumblebee.com.

SOURCE Bumble Bee Holdco S.C.A.

Related Links

http://www.bumblebee.com


SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 40 local business owners, chambers of commerce officials and other organizations interested in economic challenges facing the region gathered today to discuss the impacts California's fuel policies have on business in the San Luis Obispo region.

The meeting held in San Luis Obispo featured local perspectives on fuel policies that increase costs at the pump, such as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), and the recently approved SB 1 transportation package that would raise $52 billion by imposing additional fees on gasoline, diesels, and vehicle registrations to fund road improvements.

"The cost of fuel not only impacts local businesses, but working families as well." San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Debbie Arnold said. "Today's forum highlighted how the fuel policies, programs and taxes voted on in Sacramento affect our local businesses and regional economy,"

"SB 1 and programs like the Low Carbon Fuel Standard are adding another costly layer on top of a myriad of overlapping regulations," said Catherine Reheis-Boyd, Western States Petroleum Association President. "We need to create policies that take into consideration the business climate in California, and that foster job creation and strong local economies."

The event in San Luis Obispo is the first of five events throughout the state that will bring together local and regional businesses, business associations, academia, and elected officials to discuss the realities of these regulations, including implementation as it relates to fuel costs, supply, availability and timing, as well as its impact on local communities and jobs.

The consensus at the forum was that California's fuel policies are increasing the cost of doing business in the Central Coast.

"My family's company has provided fuel and related products and services on the Central Coast for more than 80 years. Each year it seems our business and our customers face new regulations that increase costs, making it more difficult to operate. Not only does this challenge businesses, we must always remember the impact these decisions have on the working employees, families and members of our community." said Morgan Dewar, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator at JB Dewar, Inc. "It is important that the policymakers in Sacramento understand the implications programs like LCFS, Cap and Trade and other regulations can have on jobs and local economies; our state can lead in environmental policies without hurting businesses and families."

Following the event in San Luis Obispo, the next California Fuel Cost Forums will be held in Bakersfield on May 12, San Diego, San Jose, and will conclude in Sacramento.

For more information on the fuel forums visit endlcfs.wspa.org.

Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) is a non-profit trade association that represents companies that account for the bulk of petroleum exploration, production, refining, transportation and marketing in the five western states of Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

SOURCE Western States Petroleum Association
Two nations share common goals on globalization, protecting the environment and much more

On May 7, France will elect a new president and, as has been the case in previous electoral campaigns, candidates have been focusing on domestic issues.

President Francois Hollande's successor will nevertheless rapidly realize that, in a globalized world, domestic and international issues are deeply interrelated and that, in a century in which China has regained centrality, relations between Paris and Beijing not only deserve the greatest attention but also call for strategic actions.

China should be at the top of the next French president's agenda for at least six reasons: necessity to strengthen links between China and the European Union to balance the trans-Pacific interactions, the design of more effective global governance, the absolute imperative of sustainability, the creation of an Afro-Eurasian partnership of prosperity along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, shared economic growth and the quest for equilibrium between a world of ubiquitous technology and human dignity.

Following the election of Donald Trump as US president, China has de facto become the most important external supporter of European integration. Paris and Beijing have to boost EU-China relations so their interactions can continue to carry weight in a world whose center of gravity is rapidly shifting toward the Pacific.

In the post-Brexit world, France and China stand as the only two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council representing the EU and Asia. The synergies between Paris and Beijing have, therefore, a unique role to play in global security issues.

A wise political combination between what former French foreign minister Laurent Fabius called the "puissance d'influence" of France, France's influential power, and China's growing centrality can contribute to the progress of global governance. The G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, in July will be an opportunity for the two countries to demonstrate that their strategic partnership is really productive.

On environmental issues, France and China, architects of the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference's success, have to make sure the Paris agreement is implemented despite the regressive attitude of the new US administration.

China's Belt and Road Initiative takes into account the Eurasian realities, but it also involves Africa. With its traditional presence in Africa, France is ideally positioned to co-build an Afro-Eurasian partnership of prosperity and peace. Such an ambitious and pro-active approach would also introduce much-needed new dynamics in Sino-French economic relations.

Sino-French economic relations are certainly significant, but there is still considerable space to develop trade and investments between the two countries.

Following an increase in 2015, commercial exchanges between the two sides dropped by about 4 percent last year. France's market share in China was 1.6 percent last year, compared with 5.5 percent for Germany.

Besides, China and France should also have a renewed ambition for culture and make humanism a keystone of their global approach. Cyberspace and intelligent machines do not have to be in contradiction with humanity, culture and arts, and China and Europe have a responsibility to find for humankind the right balance between technological advancement and human dignity.

The mutual appreciation between the two countries, the vibrant Chinese community in France and the entrepreneurial French community in China constitute the unique and solid foundation of Sino-French relations.

Rapid global transformation does not necessarily diminish their importance, but to remain mutually beneficial and globally significant, Paris and Beijing have to fully appreciate their potential and strategically understand the objectives to be achieved.

The author is founder of the Europe-China Forum and the New Silk Road Initiative, and director of the Academia Sinica Europaea, China-Europe International Business School. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(China Daily European Weekly 05/05/2017 page12)
SAN FRANCISCO, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is offering high school students around the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area the opportunity to gain professional-level experience this coming summer in transportation planning, engineering and related fields through its High School Internship Program. Conceived in 2000 to encourage young people to consider careers in transportation, the internship program is now accepting applications for 34 paid summer jobs with a variety of local public transit agencies, city planning departments and public works agencies throughout the region.

Students will be employed, either full-time or part-time, for up to 250 hours between June and August under the mentorship of a transportation professional at the public agency. Students hired through the program are expected to attend an orientation session in late June as well as a wrap-up session in mid-August where they will present highlights of their work over the summer. Both events will take place at MTC's offices at 375 Beale Street, in the SoMa area of San Francisco.

"We often see an amazing transformation over the course of the summer," said MTC Recruiting Manager Ann Macaulay. "At the orientation in June, the students tend to be shy and a bit nervous about what they're going to encounter at their jobs. But at the closing session, they are bursting with pride about what they've accomplished, and with confidence in their ability to communicate about their experience in front of their peers, supervisors and mentors."

Previous interns have left the program with skills in such areas as marketing, public outreach, data analysis, AutoCAD and GIS (geographic information systems). The internship program not only helps students build technical skills and experience in an office environment, but also exposes them to the job application process. Applicants compete with other students for a position and answer typical job application questions, with many of them going through a formal interview process at the public agency doing the hiring. They will also receive direct mentorship by the professionals at the agency.

"This year we have a variety of different positions that will help students gain those technical and interpersonal skills  anywhere from internships for students interested in civil engineering or environmental issues, to students interested in exploring careers in social media, website maintenance, event coordination or accounting," said MTC High School Internship Coordinator Manisha Davesar. "I think it is really important for students, at a young age, to explore all their career and educational options. I had the opportunity and privilege to do so during my undergraduate years, and am now on a path that I know I want to pursue."

Davesar noted that the internships give students essential real-world experience in an area with high job demand and competition. The internships also allow students to make connections and seek recommendation letters for college applications and future job opportunities.

Thirty paid internships are available in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties. A list of internship opportunities and the online application are available at: http://jobs.mtc.ca.gov/InternshipOpportunities/jobinternship.html.

The interns earn between $13 and $14 per hour, with their wages paid by MTC. To apply, students should submit the completed application online, including an attached one-page letter that describes in the applicant's own words a transportation problem in his or her community and what the applicant thinks could be done to resolve it. A letter or letters of recommendation from a teacher, principal, counselor, religious leader or employer also must be included. For students with a GPA higher than 2.8, only one letter of recommendation is required; for students with a GPA lower than 2.8, two letters of recommendation are required. Students can only apply for internships in the county where they live and go to school; must have completed 10th grade; and must be at least 16 years old by the start of the program in June. Students graduating in 2017 also are eligible to apply for the internships. The application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Monday, May 15, 2017.

MTC is the regional transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

SOURCE Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)

Related Links

http://mtc.ca.gov


"Carol's strong leadership, steady hand and hard work have been extremely influential in helping B|O|S grow from a small boutique advisory firm to a $4 billion top tier Bay Area wealth management firm," said Kevin Dorwin, Managing Principal at B|O|S. "She managed to accomplish this while also giving back tremendously to the local community and to the wealth advisory industry as a whole."

"It is an absolute pleasure to be recognized with so many talented and community minded women leaders in the Bay Area," said Carol Benz. "I am honored to be representing B|O|S and to be leading a tremendous team intently focused on meeting the unique financial and investment needs of our clients."

A resident of San Francisco, Benz joined the firm in 2001 and serves as Managing Principal with Kevin Dorwin. Benz also serves as the firm's Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for firm management, including finance and reporting, portfolio operations, human resources, compliance, technology, and strategic planning.

Prior to joining the firm, Benz worked for 10 years for Barclays Global Investors, currently known as Blackrock, where she managed account operations, domestic operations, international operations, and the data services group, and for three years with Ernst & Young as a Supervising Senior where she worked with insurance, technology, and manufacturing clients.

Benz is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive status) in the state of California. She is currently Vice Chair of the Stanford Alumni Association Board of Directors and holds positions as a member of the Stanford Cap & Gown Alumnae Board, a Director of the San Francisco Opera Guild, treasurer of the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary, a committee member of the C.A. Buck Educational Foundation, and a sustaining member of the Junior League of San Francisco. Previously, Benz served as a member of the Schwab Advisor Services Advisory Board, president and treasurer of the San Francisco Ballet's ENCORE!, as treasurer of the San Francisco Opera Guild, as a member of the board of the Merola Opera Program, and as Dinner Chair of the San Francisco Ballet's 2010 opening night gala. Benz earned her BA degree in economics from Stanford University.

For more information on B|O|S, please visit: www.BOSinvest.com

For media inquiries or interview requests, contact: [email protected]

About B|O|S

B|O|S is a leading California Bay Area independent wealth management firm with over 30 years of experience serving high net worth clients. B|O|S manages approximately $4 billion* in client assets through its complete picture approach -- understanding clients' complete financial lives and the complex world of investing in order to create customized, thoughtful investment plans.

*As of March 31, 2017

Media Inquiries:

B|O|S

David Newson

[email protected]

415-781-8535

SOURCE BOS

Related Links

http://www.bosinvest.com


BEIJING, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- China Distance Education Holdings Limited (NYSE: DL) ("CDEL", or the "Company"), a leading provider of online education in China focusing on professional education, today announced that it plans to release unaudited financial results for the second quarter fiscal year 2017 ended March 31, 2017, after market close on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. The earnings release will be available on the investor relations page of its website at http://ir.cdeledu.com.

Management will hold a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time the following morning on Thursday, May 18, 2017 (8:00 p.m. Beijing Time on May 18, 2017) to discuss financial results and answer questions from investors and analysts. Listeners may access the call by dialing:

US Toll Free: +1-866-5194-004 International: +65-6713-5090 Mainland China: 400-620-8038 Hong Kong: +852-3018-6771 United Kingdom: +44-203-6214-779 Passcode: CDEL or DL

A telephone replay will be available two hours after the call until May 25, 2017 by dialing:

US Toll Free: +1-855-4525-696 International: +61-2-8199-0299 Mainland China: 400-632-2162 Hong Kong: 800-963-117 United Kingdom: 0808-234-0072 Replay Passcode: 18369626

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://ir.cdeledu.com.

About China Distance Education Holdings Limited

China Distance Education Holdings Limited is a leading provider of online education in China focusing on professional education. The courses offered by the Company through its websites are designed to help professionals seeking to obtain and maintain professional licenses and to enhance their job skills through our professional development courses in China in the areas of accounting, health-care, engineering & construction, and other industries. The Company also offers other professional education courses for the national judicial examination, online test preparation courses for self-taught learners pursuing higher education diplomas or degrees, test preparation courses for university students intending to take the nationwide graduate school entrance exam, and online language courses. We also offer third-party developed online courses through our Online Open Learning Platform, a proprietary education platform that allows people to share their educational content or deliver live courses online. For further information, please visit http://ir.cdeledu.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Contacts:

China Distance Education Holdings Limited Investor Relations Department Tel: +86-10-8231-9999 ext.1805 Email: [email protected] The Piacente Group | Investor Relations Brandi Piacente Tel: +1 212-481-2050 Email: [email protected]

SOURCE China Distance Education Holdings Limited
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a repeal and replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). While the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has yet to analyze and score it, the bill is expected to increase the number of uninsured Americans, remove key protections and ultimately shift financial burdens of uncompensated care onto states and local governments. In response to today's action, National League of Cities President Matt Zone, councilmember, Cleveland, released the following statement:

"Congress cannot promise to fix the American health care system and stick the bill on local governments. By threatening Medicaid funding, withdrawing services for drug addiction and mental health during the nation's deadliest drug epidemic, and reducing funding for preventative medicine and wellness programs, today's health care bill threatens to leave millions of Americans uninsured.

"When the federal government pulls back on its commitment to health care, local governments, states and health care providers are left to pay the bills of increasing rates of unreimbursed care.

"Local governments simply cannot afford this health care bill. We urge the Senate to stand with cities and American families and scrap this flawed piece of legislation. The National League of Cities calls on senators to fight for a health care bill that protects and promotes healthy communities without passing the financial burden onto local governments."

The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. www.nlc.org

SOURCE National League of Cities

Related Links

http://www.nlc.org


WILTON MANORS, Fla., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dust off your oars and join the City of Wilton Manors for their annual Island City Canoe Race on Saturday, May 20, 2017. Participants will be in for an afternoon of action from 10 a.m.  2 p.m. as they race to the finish line.

"The Canoe Race is a long-standing Island City tradition," said Mayor Gary Resnick. "Combined with the City's 70th anniversary, this year's race will be an especially fun and memorable one."

Beginning at Colohatchee Boat Ramp (1975 NE 15th Ave., Wilton Manors), 25 teams consisting of 10 people each will compete in an exciting 7-mile relay race along the Middle River. Immediately following the race, participants are invited to enjoy the trophy ceremony and celebrate the Island City's 70th anniversary with BBQ, beer and music. The after-party, hosted by the Leisure Services Department, will take place at Richardson Historic Park and Natural Preserve.

Registration is $200 for a team of ten and includes canoes, life jackets and paddles. Each team captain should collect the completed team registration forms and mail or deliver them to the Hagen Park Community Center, located at 2020 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. All registration forms must be submitted no later than Monday, May 15, 2017 at 5 p.m.

The Island City Canoe Race is presented by Whole Foods, AccuDock, WE Florida Financial, Adrienne Foland, Florida Medical Center and Ygrene. For more information and to register, please contact the Leisure Services Department at (954) 390-2130 or visit http://bit.ly/CanoeRace2017.

ABOUT THE CITY OF WILTON MANORS

Wilton Manors was laid out in 1925 by Edward John "Ned" Willingham, a land developer from Georgia, as an upscale residential community. It was recognized as a Village in 1947 and incorporated as a City in 1953. Today, the City of Wilton Manors offers all the benefits of a big city from shopping to hip restaurants and bars, a burgeoning arts community and tons of community events, yet still maintains a cozy, community-feeling offering miles of natural waterways perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding and other outdoor activities. Recently named the "Second Gayest City" in the United States, the City of Wilton Manors celebrates a diverse population of approximately 12,000 residents. To learn more about the live, work and play opportunities in Wilton Manors, call (954) 390-2100 or visit www.wiltonmanors.com.

CONTACT: Laurie Menekou Ernest-Jones, (954) 732-0754 (or) [email protected]

SOURCE City of Wilton Manors

Related Links

http://www.wiltonmanors.com


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Column5 Consulting announces the next round of its popular quarterly EPM Leadership Summit Roadshow. On June 1, both New York City and San Francisco will host free, one-day workshops focusing on SAP Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) customer needs.

The EPM Summit Roadshows are part of Column5's EPM Summit series. This event series began in 2009 with the onsite EPM Leadership Summit in Las Vegas, an event targeted specifically to enhance SAP customers' knowledge of the product. The event continues to rise in popularity, sparking the advent of both the quarterly EPM Summit Online and traveling Summit Roadshows.

"New York and San Francisco are two of the country's busiest and most forward-thinking cities. We're excited to visit each market, bringing our best-in-class training and experience directly to our customers in their own cities free of charge," says Jami Giovannini, Director of Marketing for Column5 Consulting. "Since we started the Summit Roadshows last year, we have filled virtually every seat available in each location. It is very clear that the EPM user market finds significant value in this innovative new offering."

Attendees can expect three hours of hands-on training delivered by Column5's award-winning EPM Academy, as well as the opportunity to network with other professionals working with SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation (BPC). The other half of the day will feature breakout sessions including a keynote, customer case study, and an SAP-led session. The breakout sessions that will be delivered will also be streamed to the EPM Summit Online platform so the most recent EPM Leadership Summit attendees located in cities outside of San Francisco or New York City can view the sessions as well.

Space is extremely limited for the on-site events in San Francisco and New York and seats are filling up quickly. For more information, detailed agendas, or to register for the EPM Summit Roadshow in New York City or San Francisco, please click one of the links below:

EPM Summit Roadshow  New York City

EPM Summit Roadshow  San Francisco

About Column5

Column5 is the world's premier consulting firm dedicated to providing high-value services that help customers leverage the power of SAP's Enterprise Performance Management product suite. Column5 was founded in 2005 by key players from OutlookSoft, and quickly evolved into a global team of experts who are uniquely qualified to properly design and deliver comprehensive systems, addressing a wide range of industry and process-specific requirements. Column5's custom tailored solutions combine proven software with unparalleled technical skills and visionary enterprise performance management process expertise to deliver prompt return on investment, long-term independence and a competitive edge for our elite list of discerning clients. Additional information is available at http://www.column5.com.

For more information, contact Jami Giovannini at [email protected]

SOURCE Column5 Consulting

Related Links

http://www.column5.com


IRVINE, Calif., May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CommerceWest Bank (OTCBB: CWBK) supported healthy childhood development by joining the Pretend City Children's Museum for their annual fundraiser. The Pretend City Children's Museum is a child-size interconnected city built with rich educational intention, where children can assume various real-world roles. Through interactive exhibits children learn foundational math, reading and science skills.

"Pretend City is a great resource for our community to help children develop self-confidence and other social skills through imaginative play," commented Ivo A. Tjan, CEO of CommerceWest Bank. He continued, CommerceWest Bank is proud to support Pretend City and help them provide more tools and resources to help children reach their greatest potential."

CommerceWest Bank is a California based full service commercial bank with a unique vision and culture of focusing exclusively on the business community. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Irvine, California. The Bank serves businesses throughout the state with an emphasis on clients in Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties. We are a full service business bank and offer a wide range of commercial banking services, including concierge services, remote deposit solution, online banking, mobile banking, lines of credit, working capital loans, commercial real estate loans, SBA loans, and cash management services.

Mission Statement: CommerceWest Bank will create a complete banking experience for each client, catering to businesses and their specific banking needs, while accommodating our clients and providing them high-quality, low stress and personally tailored banking and financial services.

Please visit www.cwbk.com to learn more about the bank. "BANK ON THE DIFFERENCE"

SOURCE CommerceWest Bank

Related Links

http://www.cwbk.com


"We are a company all about kids, creativity and color, so we strive to keep our color palette innovative and on-trend, which is why we're excited to introduce a new blue crayon color inspired by the YInMn pigment," said Smith Holland, CEO and President of Crayola. "The new blue crayon color will help Crayola to continue to inspire kids and kids at heart, to create everything imaginable."

The partnership between Crayola, Oregon State University and Shepherd Color Company was announced today during an on-campus event where leaders in color, creativity and design joined forces in a panel to discuss the importance of color in everyday life through the many ways science, art and consumer products intersect.

Mas Subramanian, the Milton Harris Chair of Material Science in the College of Science at Oregon State University who discovered the pigment and a panelist said, "It's truly an honor that our YInMn Blue pigment has inspired one of the most beloved instruments for creativity  a Crayola crayon. We could not imagine a better partner than Crayola, a brand synonymous with color and creativity, to help us share this discovery with the world."

Dr. Chris Manning, Global Sales and Marketing Manager for The Shepherd Color Company and panelist states, "We are also very excited about our partnership with OSU and Crayola to brighten lives with YInMn Blue. We pride ourselves on being at the leading edge of inorganic color and pigment technology. "

Crayola is also inviting North America to help name the new blue, which will replace the recently retired Dandelion color across its crayon portfolio. The name submission contest kicks off today at Crayola.com/NewColor and runs through June 2, 2017. Consumers who submit name ideas will be entered for a chance to win one of four weekly prizes.

"Fans in North America have told us through previous polls and surveys that blue is their favorite color. Now, not only will they have a new blue color to fall in love with, but also the opportunity to be a part of Crayola history by naming it," said Melanie Boulden, Senior Vice President, U.S. and Global Marketing at Crayola. "Starting today we invite fans to unleash the power of their creativity and submit name ideas for the new Crayola blue crayon."

On July 1, 2017, Crayola will release the top five blue crayon color names at Crayola.com/NewColor. Consumers will then be able to vote on their favorite color and view the real-time, daily voting results. To add to the excitement, voters will be entered for a chance to win one of six grand prizes of an all-expense paid trip for four to the Orlando Crayola Experience and a daily prize of the award-winning Crayola Air Marker Sprayer.

Crayola will unveil the new fan-selected blue crayon color name and the six grand prize winners in early September 2017. The new blue crayon inspired by Oregon State University's YInMn blue pigment will begin appearing in Crayola products in late 2017 through early 2018, just in time for holiday gifting.

About Crayola

Crayola LLC, based in Easton, Pa. and a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Incorporated, is the worldwide leader in children's creative expression products. Known for the iconic Crayola Crayon first introduced in 1903, the Crayola brand has grown into a portfolio of innovative art tools, crafting activities and creativity toys that offer children innovative new ways to use color to create everything imaginable. Consumers can find the wide array of Crayola products in the "Crayola Aisle" at all major retailers. For more information visit www.crayola.com or join the community at www.facebook.com/crayola.

About Oregon State University College of Science

Home to the life, statistical, physical and mathematical sciences, the College of Science is a vibrant scientific community committed to expanding the nation's intellectual capital and preparing a scientifically literate public. The college is recognized as a national and global center for excellence in research and scholarship, teaching every OSU student and building the next generation of leaders in science. For more information, visit science.oregonstate.edu or follow us on social media at facebook.com/OSUScience or Twitter, @OSUScience.

About Shepherd Color Company

The Shepherd Color Company brings expertise, better performance and best value with a wide range of high-performance Complex Inorganic Color Pigments (CICPs) used in coatings, plastics and specialty materials. These pigments are an extraordinary class of inorganic materials that offer stable, long-lasting color for many applications because of their unbeatable weatherability, heat and chemical resistance, and ease of dispersion. With constant advances in color and technology, Shepherd Color brightens life with quality products and the latest innovation that push the edge of the durable color envelope.

Erika Merklinger

Crayola

[email protected]

(610) 253-6272 ext. 4625

Alexandria Denti

Golin for Crayola

[email protected]

(212) 373-6022

SOURCE Crayola

Related Links

http://www.crayola.com


ONTARIO, Calif., May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CU Direct, the nation's leading lending technology and automotive solutions provider for credit unions, has partnered with 12 credit unions to implement Lending 360, the company's comprehensive account and loan origination system (LOS).

To remain not only competitive, but to improve member experience in applying for a consumer loan and opening a new account, and to drive more loans, credit unions are recognizing the need to get to "yes" faster.

An industry-leading complete account and loan origination system, Lending 360 offers dynamic features that streamline the entire loan application process, giving credit unions the ability to greatly enhance the loan officer efficiency and member experience. As a result, credit unions and CUSOs gain a true competitive edge by increasing efficiency and productivity, driving more lending.

"We reviewed several lending platforms and came to the consensus that Lending 360 would be the best fit for us," notes Joe Lilly, vice president of operations for Southwest Airlines FCU (46,779 members/$416.2 million in assets). "We found that it would provide a more seamless experience for the member and aid our staff in processing loans more efficiently. Additionally, the CU Direct staff has been very helpful from the first demo to post implementation."

"We rolled out Lending 360 within the last six months, and already see major improvements in the amount of human errors and the speed at which we can decision loans," notes Stephanie Haskell, loan manager at Texas Tech FCU (14,050 members/$125.4 million in assets). "The decision engine is incredibly robust and is allowing us to build thousands of custom rules. Our project team at CU Direct has given us immense support and we can't thank them enough for their ongoing commitment to credit unions."

Additional credit unions implementing the Lending 360 LOS are:

Sacramento, California's Schools Financial CU (132,082 members, $1.8 billion in assets)

Schools Financial CU (132,082 members, in assets) Waltham, Massachusetts's RTN FCU (46,599 members, $873.4 million in assets)

RTN FCU (46,599 members, in assets) Wichita, Kansas' Credit Union of America (60,706 members, 702.2 million is assets)

Credit Union of America (60,706 members, 702.2 million is assets) Palmer, Alaska's Matanuska Valley FCU (41,790 members, $467.5 million in assets)

Matanuska Valley FCU (41,790 members, in assets) Dallas, Texas' Resource One CU (56,166 members, $454.5 million in assets)

Resource One CU (56,166 members, in assets) Bel Air, Maryland's Freedom of Maryland FCU (PSCU) (30,446 members, $289.2 million in assets)

Freedom of Maryland FCU (PSCU) (30,446 members, in assets) St. Cloud, Minnesota's Great River FCU (14,300 members, $162.5 million in assets)

Great River FCU (14,300 members, in assets) Bristol, Connecticut's First Bristol FCU (7,618 members, $87.9 million in assets)

First Bristol FCU (7,618 members, in assets) Irving, Texas' Las Colinas (11,168 members, $71.2 million in assets)

Las Colinas (11,168 members, in assets) Dallas, Texas' Employees CU (6,297 members, $66.1 million in assets)

The Lending 360 System's powerful, and configurable, workflow engine provides credit unions with a single platform that automates loan application processing activity across all consumer lending channels.

"CU Direct is committed to assisting credit unions improve their member experience through innovative technologies," noted Brit Barker, vice president of credit union solutions at CU Direct. "We're excited to be working with these new credit union partners, and helping them gain a competitive edge in the marketplace, and greater market share, by leveraging our platform's capabilities."

About CU Direct

For more than twenty years, CU Direct has been a lending technology leader, helping credit unions fund $209 billion in loans. More than 1,000 credit unions rely on CU Direct's solutions to generate loans, create efficiencies, and grow membership. From CUDL, the industry's number one auto lending platform, to the industry's revolutionary Lending 360 Loan Origination System, and Lending Insights dynamic analytic tools, CU Direct develops the technology that helps credit unions advance their lending programs and overall portfolio success. 13,000 auto dealers nationwide use CU Direct's automotive solutions to connect with credit unions and their members to drive sales and increase their bottom lines. For more information, visit www.cudirect.com. Connect with CU Direct on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Bill Meyer

909.481.2360

[email protected]

SOURCE CU Direct

Related Links

http://www.cudirect.com


NEW YORK, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CTERA Networks today announced that the company is attending, sponsoring and presenting at Dell EMC World 2017 from May 8-11 in Las Vegas.

The CTERA team will be available at booth #1276 for product demonstrations and raffle giveaways, and to discuss how modern organizations are working with CTERA and Dell EMC to enable the digital transformation of enterprise file services. CTERA and Dell EMC have partnered for years to deliver file services solutions for organizations around the world such as Swisscom, Celine, Post Luxembourg, and many more.

CTERA senior product marketing manager Jim Crook will speak at the Dell EMC Solutions Expo Booth on May 9 at 3:45 pm PST. Crook will demonstrate how CTERA integrates with Dell EMC's object and software-defined storage solutions during his talk: Enabling the Secure Digital Transformation of Enterprise File Services .

For more information, please visit: http://www.ctera.com/meet-ctera-dell-emc-world/.

About CTERA

CTERA enables the digital transformation of enterprise file services. Trusted by the Fortune 100 and leading service providers, CTERA delivers the only cyber-hardened and completely unified file services platform for the enterprise. To learn more, visit www.ctera.com.

Media Contact:

Skye McIvor

InkHouse for CTERA

[email protected]

SOURCE CTERA Networks

Related Links

http://www.ctera.com


Pacts on food and drug regulations are among the documents signed

China and Denmark will strengthen cooperation in areas such as fishing, agriculture, food safety and drug regulations through a new collaborative work plan for the next three years, which is expected to bring the two countries' relationship to a new level.

Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen of Denmark agreed to the joint work plan for their two nations from 2017 to 2020 during their meeting in Beijing on May 3.

The plan details the road map and timetable for further cooperation.

Premier Li Keqiang guides Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen at an inspection of the People's Liberation Army Honor Guard outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People in Tian'anmen Square on May 2. Feng Yongbin / China Daily

Rasmussen was making the first official visit by a Danish prime minister since the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2008.

Li said he believes China and Denmark have great potential for further cooperation. And, since next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership, China is willing to use this opportunity to explore more cooperation between the two countries. Denmark is the first Nordic country to sign such an agreement with China.

Li emphasized that China also is willing to work with Denmark in dealing with regional issues and international affairs while promoting free trade and investment convenience.

Rasmussen praised China's rapid development since his last visit in 2010 and said China has shown increasing leadership on important global issues such as climate change.

He expressed his willingness to fully implement the three-year work plan between the two countries and said Denmark, a firm supporter of free trade, warmly welcomes investment from Chinese companies.

He also said that Denmark, as a member of the European Union, will promote the bilateral investment treaty between China and the EU to deepen relations.

After the meeting, Li and Rasmussen witnessed the signing of six documents on food and drug regulations, quarantine and sanitary requirements and giant panda protection, among others.

Liu Weimin, deputy director of the Department of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says the two leaders had long and candid discussions on promoting free trade amid increasing trade protectionism worldwide. He says Li emphasized that free trade benefits all countries and contributes to global peace and stability as well as the recovery of the global economy, while trade protectionism serves no one's interests.

Liu says the two leaders agreed to send strong signals to promote free trade and globalization in the upcoming China-EU Leaders' Meeting.

Liu says both countries would work to enhance cooperation and, since 2017 is the year of tourism between China and Denmark, the first such activity between Chine and an EU country, steps to increase tourism were part of the discussion between the leaders on May 3.

China remains Denmark's largest trade partner in Asia, with bilateral trade reaching more than 110 billion Danish kroner ($16.1 billion; 14.8 billion euros; 12.5 billion) a year, according to Denmark's statistics.

zhangyue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 05/05/2017 page13)
Each year to celebrate oncology nurses, CURE magazine gives readers a unique opportunity to honor a special oncology nurse by nominating one through an essay that describes the compassion, expertise and helpfulness exhibited by their nominee. Sargente was recognized at the Extraordinary Healer awards reception last evening that was held in conjunction with the Oncolgy Nursing Society's (ONS) Annual Congress in Denver, Colorado. Sargente and the winning essay will be featured in an upcoming issue of CURE magazine

In accepting the award, Sargente said she considered herself a representative of "all oncology nurses out there who all know that oncology nursing is a passion and a love done with compassionate hands and hearts for the real heroes: the patients."

She added that, "now that my dad was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma, I truly see the importance of what we do as nurses. I dedicate this honor to my dad and to all of our patients going through their cancer journey."

"Sara Sargente, RN, ONC, exemplifies what it means to be an extraordinary healer who goes above and beyond the call of duty to help patients, their families and healthcare co-workers," said Michael J. Hennessy Jr., president Michael J. Hennessy Associates, parent company of CURE Media Group. "Oncology nurses have very challenging jobs that blend specialized medical knowledge with a passion to provide comfort, education and advocacy to patients undergoing complicated, and sometimes long-term, treatments for the disease."

Since the inception of the Extraordinary Healer Award for Oncology Nursing in 2007, more than 1,000 nurses have been nominated. The winners and essayists honored over the past ten years have included men and women, adults and children, representing a variety of cancer centers and hospitals in seven different states. The other 2017 finalists were Jessica Kobs, BSN, RN and Janet Schadee, RN, MHA.

"The CURE Extraordinary Healer Award has been recognizing outstanding oncology nurses for their exceptional care and commitment for more than a decade. Amgen is proud to have supported this important honor since its inception," said Richard Paulson, VP & GM, Oncology Marketing, at Amgen. "We join with thousands of dedicated oncology nurses to congratulate Sara Sargente, RN, ONC for her remarkable dedication to patients. Oncology nurses play a critical role in helping to improve the lives of patients by supporting them and their families in their fight against cancer."

An ambassador for Breakaway from Cancer since 2007, actor Patrick Dempsey is passionate about providing free support, education and wellness services to anyone affected by cancer. In 2008, he founded The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at the Central Medical Center- the same hospital where Patrick was born and his mother received her cancer treatment. Dempsey continues to remain actively involved with Breakaway from Cancer and helps spread the word about the importance of available resources for those whose lives are touched by cancer.

Founded in 2005, Breakaway from Cancer is a national initiative to increase awareness of important resources available to people affected by cancer, from prevention through survivorship. Breakaway from Cancer represents a partnership between Amgen and four independent nonprofit organizations dedicated to empowering patients with education, resources and hope, offering a broad range of services to people affected by cancer.

For more information on CURE's Extraordinary Healer Award, please visit: www.curetoday.com

About CURE Media Group

CURE Media Group is the leading resource for cancer updates, research and education. It combines a full suite of media products, including its industry leading website, CUREtoday.com; innovative video programs, such as CURE Connections; a series of widely attended live events; and CURE magazine, which reaches over 1 million readers. CURE Media Group is part of the Cranbury, N.J.-based Michael J. Hennessy Associates, Inc., family of businesses, which includes the acclaimed OncLive (http://www.onclive.com) platform of resources for the practicing oncologist. For more information, visit http://www.curetoday.com or http://www.mjhassoc.com.

Cure Media Group Press Contact:

Theresa Burek/609-716-7777

[email protected]

SOURCE CURE Media Group

Related Links

http://www.curetoday.com


DALLAS and BOULDER, Colo., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) today announced a minority investment and a distribution deal with Good Karma Foods , the leading producer of flaxseed-based milk and yogurt alternatives. The partnership with Dean Foods, a leading food and beverage company, will allow Good Karma to more quickly expand distribution across the U.S., as well as increase investments in brand building and product innovation. Dean Foods will take a position in the brand and joins lead investor 2x Consumer Products Growth Partners in support of Good Karma.

"We love Good Karma as a fit for Dean Foods as we focus on diversification both within and beyond dairy," said Ralph Scozzafava, CEO of Dean Foods. "This opportunity with Good Karma is a way for us to build a platform for a larger plant-based portfolio. The management team has deep category expertise, the brand is a disruptor in the plant-based, non-dairy space, and we believe we can support its growth."

Scozzafava continued, "One of the pillars of our strategic plan is to build and buy strong brands, and Good Karma embodies the exact type of opportunity we're interested in as we look to add leading and high potential brands in adjacent growing categories such as plant-based beverages."

"Good Karma isn't just our name, it's the inspiration for everything we do," said Doug Radi, Good Karma Foods CEO. "This partnership validates that Good Karma has become one of the leading and fastest-growing brands to watch in the plant-based category. We are excited about how this partnership will give us the opportunity to advance our mission of inspiring goodness by making our flax-based non-dairy beverages and yogurts more accessible across the U.S."

Good Karma will continue to operate as a Boulder-based independent company led by its existing leadership team. As part of the investment agreement, Dean Foods will lend support to Good Karma's growth plans in the conventional retail channel through its experienced sales team. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Piper Jaffray served as an advisor to Good Karma.

ABOUT DEAN FOODS

Dean Foods is a leading food and beverage company and the largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of fresh fluid milk and other dairy and dairy case products in the United States. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Dean Foods portfolio includes DairyPure, the country's first and largest fresh, white milk national brand, and TruMoo, the leading national flavored milk brand, along with well-known regional dairy brands such as Alta Dena, Berkeley Farms, Country Fresh, Dean's, Friendly's, Garelick Farms, LAND O LAKES* milk and cultured products*, Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms, Mayfield, McArthur, Meadow Gold, Oak Farms, PET**, T.G. Lee, Tuscan and more. Dean Foods also has a joint venture with Organic Valley, distributing fresh organic products to local retailers. In all, Dean Foods has more than 50 national, regional and local dairy brands as well as private labels. Dean Foods also makes and distributes ice cream, cultured products, juices, teas, and bottled water. Almost 17,000 employees across the country work every day to make Dean Foods the most admired and trusted provider of wholesome, great-tasting dairy products at every occasion. For more information about Dean Foods and its brands, visit www.deanfoods.com.

*The LAND O LAKES brand is owned by Land O'Lakes, Inc. and is used by license.

**PET is a trademark of Eagle Family Foods Group LLC, under license.

ABOUT GOOD KARMA FOODS

Good Karma isn't just our name, it's the inspiration for everything we do. We are a company and a group of people with good hearts who inspire goodness with the tiny but mighty choices we make every day, from selecting our ingredients, to how we make our products and give back to our community. Based in Boulder, Colo., we are dedicated to making plant-based, dairy alternative food and beverage products that deliver a mighty bundle of nutrition along with surprisingly good taste and texture. In 2012, Good Karma was the first company to create a flax-based milk alternative based on the need for a dairy alternative that was free of all major allergens, and also delivered on nutrition, taste and texture. Since then, we have launched Flaxmilks with added protein, Probiotic Drinkable Yogurts and Dairy Free Yogurts Cups. By providing allergen-friendly products that put a smile on your face, we hope you'll be inspired to pour some goodness forward. Join our Good Karma movement and find additional inspiration by connecting with us online at goodkarmafoods.com, and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Contact Dean Foods: Corporate Communications, Jamaison Schuler, +1-214-721-7766, [email protected]; or Investor Relations, Sherri Baker, +1-214-303-3438

Contact Good Karma Foods: Elexis Schroder, +1-720-352-3961, [email protected]

SOURCE Dean Foods Company

Related Links

http://www.deanfoods.com


BEIJING, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- DHgate and the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) launched the DHgate-eWSF program. The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Kayseri, Turkey. During the signing ceremony, they discussed the platform and the establishment of a Digital Trade Center (DTC) in Turkey. President of TOBB, Rifat Hisarckloglu; the President of the Turkey Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation, Mehmet OZKAN; and CEO of DHgate, Diane Wang attended the ceremony. Learn more about DHgate.com.

Upgraded Cooperation with New Features

The upgrade of the cross-border e-commerce platform and the Digital Trade Center (DTC) enables SMEs in Turkey and China to export goods to the corresponding country.

The new cooperation includes 4 parts:

1. Establishing a platform that enables two-way trade and merges online and offline business;

2. Providing capacity building with the APEC Cross-Border E-commerce Training (APEC CBET) program;

3. Facilitating Sino-Turkish trade through cross-border e-commerce;

4. Building a platform oriented to serve Turkey's neighboring countries.

Program Origins and Chinese National Strategy

On October 15, 2015, in the presence of a senior Chinese official and Turkish President Erdogan, China signed its first Cross-border E-commerce Cooperation Agreement with Turkey. The cooperation was proposed by Diane Wang, co-chair of G20 Business Summit and Founder and CEO of DHgate.

The Online Silk Road of the Belt and Road Initiative is where the "Internet+" and "the Belt and Road Initiative" overlap. It's also a powerhouse for economic and trade development of countries along the Belt and Road.

DHgate will continue to help SMEs to realize their dream to "buy globally, sell globally", and help to extend the Online Silk Road to the whole world and bring more opportunities for future business.

Comments from the Two Parties

"The Sino-Turkish program is the first bilateral cross-border e-commerce cooperation witnessed by Presidents from two countries. It is a great honor for DHgate to be part of this cooperation. We hope the program can be a successful model for future cross-border e-commerce bilateral cooperation. The Sino-Turkish program has been very fruitfulDHgate has successfully helped 150,000 Chinese SMEs to enter the Turkish market, and has already held APEC CBET workshops in Turkey. Today, the Sino-Turkish program welcomed its 2.0 stage. As the founder, enabler and integrator of cross-border e-commerce platforms, DHgate will continue to help more SMEs to "buy globally, sell globally."

-- Diane, CEO of DHgate

"The Turkish e-commerce market is developing fast and has huge potential. Turkish consumers like Chinese products such as wigs, outdoor products and consumer electronics products. High-quality Turkish products are also waiting to enter the Chinese market through cross-border e-commerce. We look forward to promoting the development of Sino- Turkish digital trade, and benefit business people from the two counties by merging the online with the offline."

--Rifat, president of TOBB

About DHgate

DHgate is the biggest B2B transactional cross-border e-commerce marketplace in China, offering integrated services for international logistics, cross-border payments, internet financing, and online marketing. DHgate's 1.4 million sellers offer 40 million products and serve 10 million buyers from 230 countries and regions. Import now @DHgate.com.

SOURCE DHgate.com
MILAN, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Didofa, the brand that created the 3D watch trend, will soon be available in duty-free shops throughout the U.S. and Asia. The move caps a blockbuster 2016 in which the company sold 50,000 units in its first year of U.S. sales.

Didofa Duty-Free Watches and Jewelry Didofa

Launched in 2013 as a labor of love by founder Giuseppe Petti, Didofa grew to 2,000 authorized Italian retailers by 2015; 1,000 more are currently slated to begin retailing the brand over the next year in Europe and around the world. When Didofa's distinctive watches and fun, fashionable jewelry began flying off the shelves of the first authorized U.S. retailers to stock the products, Petti realized American consumers were just as hungry for Didofa as were the brand's hundreds of thousands of Italian fans. Airport duty-free shops were the perfect point of sale: Thanks to their depictions of instantly recognizable landmarks and hand-painted 3D theme scenes featuring accents like miniature flags and country-specific memorabilia, Didofa 3D watches had found an early following among travelers.

"For me, Didofa is a way of remembering both distant and nearby places, those which I have visited and those I would like to visit, memories of a gesture or an experience," Petti explained. "Didofa represents both dreams and everyday reality, which I attempt to recreate in miniature with my creations."

With over 263,000 followers on Facebook and another 25,000 on Instagram, Didofa has a loyal brand following--in fact, the March 2017 issue of Cosmopolitan Italia featured a Didofa watch. With a high-end boutique aesthetic and an affordable price point, Didofa appeals to a wide variety of consumers, from trendsetters to jetsetters. The company's Facebook post featuring a sneak peak of the upcoming Didofa handbag line prompted one fan to comment, "Cannot wait to see them. If they are even 1/10 as cute as your watches they will be amazing!"

"We are thrilled to make Didofa watches and bracelets available in person to fashion-forward travelers all over the world through our new airport retail locations," Petti said. "And, of course, Didofa fans can still find the latest designs at Didofa.com."

With the ink barely dry on the Didofa duty-free shop agreements, Petti and his team are already hard at work designing and hand-crafting the Didofa handbag and perfume lines, to be debuted later this year. Stay up to date on all new product offerings by following Didofa on Facebook and Instagram (@didofawatch); see the full line of Didofa watches and jewelry at http://www.didofa.com.

Contact:

Emanuela Rago

Didofa

+39 0892598675

[email protected]

http://www.didofa.com/

SOURCE Didofa

Related Links

http://www.didofa.com


CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy will invest heavily in cleaner power, natural gas infrastructure and the energy grid during the next 10 years, CEO Lynn Good told investors during the company's first online shareholder meeting today.

The switch to an online meeting made it easier for shareholders worldwide to participate, without the expense and time required to travel to Charlotte.

"The new format gave small shareholders like me, who live outside Charlotte, a chance to participate in the meeting for the first time," said long-time Duke Energy shareholder Lester Schwartzman of Boynton Beach, Fla. "The webcast allowed me to hear directly from Lynn Good about the company's strategy, and I was really happy to hear about the investments in the natural gas business."

Good fielded 14 shareholder questions, submitted before and during the meeting. The company soon will post on its website a response to each question submitted.

Cleaner energy through renewables, natural gas

Duke Energy will invest $11 billion to generate cleaner energy through renewables and natural gas as it moves to a low-carbon future, Good told shareholders.

"By retiring coal plants and bringing on more natural gas and renewables, we have already reduced our carbon emissions by nearly 30 percent since 2005. Today, we are among the top five companies in terms of renewable capacity, and we are committed to doing more," she said.

"We have set a new goal to reduce our carbon emissions by 40 percent from the 2005 level by 2030."

Natural gas is expected to increase to 35 percent of the company's electricity generation portfolio during the next 10 years, while renewable energy  such as solar, wind and hydro  will grow to approximately 10 percent, she said.

Modernizing nation's largest energy grid

Meanwhile, Duke Energy's planned $25-billion modernization of its energy grid  the largest grid in the U.S. and "a critical part" of the nation's infrastructure  will provide "improved reliability and the services customers expect," Good said.

"The cornerstone of our comprehensive grid investment is Power/Forward Carolinas, our $13-billion plan to upgrade and strengthen our system in North Carolina."

The grid investments also will enable higher levels of renewable energy, she said.

Infrastructure to meet growing natural gas demand

Duke Energy's natural gas business also will play a key role in the company's future, Good said.

"We're expanding our natural gas infrastructure to supply our plants and customers with this cleaner fuel.

"With Piedmont in the fold, we now operate a five-state gas distribution business and have investments in natural gas pipelines that will supply customers in the eastern United States. Through these investments, we will double the earnings contribution of our natural gas business by 2026," she said.

Transformative year

Good called 2016 "a pivotal year" for the company as it advanced its "transformation" into the future "while providing customers safe, reliable energy."

Duke Energy's 2016 sale of its Latin American assets and acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas  key components of the company's portfolio transition  will help ensure future financial strength and stable earnings growth, she said.

"With our portfolio transition complete, today's Duke Energy operates as a premier, regulated energy company, focused on delivering value for our customers and growth for our investors."

Customer focused

Customer service and customer satisfaction also continue to rank among the company's top priorities, Good said.

"We're focused on creating smarter solutions" that give customers "more control and convenience.

"We're connecting with customers through new tools like outage alerts and usage updates. We're also offering free home energy audits and a menu of energy-saving tips, programs and incentives. And this is just the start."

The company knows "that every dollar counts," she said. "I'm proud to say that Duke Energy's electric rates were below the national average across our six states, and we're committed to efficient operations to keep bills low."

Economic engine, community leader

The company also continues to serve as an economic engine in the communities and states it serves  in 2016, helping to attract $4.1 billion in capital investment that led to the creation of more than 14,000 jobs, Good said.

In addition, the company remains an active community leader and financial contributor through the Duke Energy Foundation.

"In 2016, our total charitable giving was over $53 million," she said.

Shareholders reject 3 proposals

Also at today's meeting, shareholders rejected three non-binding shareholder proposals  none of which received a majority of shares voted, as required to pass:

"Shareholder proposal regarding providing an annual report on Duke Energy's lobbying expenses."

"Shareholder proposal regarding providing a report on the public health risk of Duke Energy's coal use."

"Shareholder proposal regarding preparing an assessment of the impacts on Duke Energy's portfolio of climate change consistent with a two degree scenario."

Separately, a binding company-sponsored corporate governance proposal was not approved after failing to receive 80 percent of total outstanding shares, as required: "Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Duke Energy Corporation to eliminate supermajority requirements."

Details about the three shareholder proposals and the company-sponsored proposal appear in the company's 2017 proxy statement  https://www.duke-energy.com/_/media/pdfs/our-company/investors/de-annual-reports/2016/2017proxystatement.pdf

Shareholders also elected the 14 board of director nominees, with each receiving at least 93 percent of the shares voted.

About Duke Energy

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.

The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.

Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: Dave Scanzoni

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

Related Links

http://www.duke-energy.com


ET Energy acquired the development rights to these projects during 2016 and sold them to funds managed by Octopus Energy Investments at the end of the year. A turnkey EPC contract was provided by ET Solutions, a subsidiary of ET Energy. The six projects, all ground mounted PV sites, are situated in different locations across England, Wales and Scotland.

One of the project package was built on a dormant landfill site in Wales, which presented ET Energy with added design, engineering and construction challenges, but they were successfully overcome.

Dennis She, President and CEO of ET Energy, said, "With these six UK solar projects, we have demonstrated again that we are capable of delivering high quality, investment grade solar project assets. They represent another example of our execution capabilities, as well as the success of our transition into the downstream segment of the market."

Matt Setchell, head of Octopus Energy Investments, said, "The 1.2 ROC subsidy cliff made this a challenging project. As ever the March deadline placed pressure on construction timetables. Our solar experience, together with ET Energy's development and construction capabilities, proved a successful combination. We're pleased to add these projects to our continually growing clean energy activities."

About Octopus Energy Investments

Octopus Energy Investments is part of the Octopus Group, which seeks to improve the lives of millions of people by transforming the industries we operate in. Over the last six years Octopus Energy Investments has managed over GBP2bn of new funding for clean energy across solar, wind, gas reserve power plants, anaerobic digestion, landfill gas and biomass, predominantly located in the UK, but also in France and Italy. Octopus continues to grow this business.

About ET Energy

ET Energy is a global leading clean energy developer and operator. With innovative solar technologies and tailored financial solutions, ET Energy provides professional solutions across the entire solar power plant lifecycle including development, financing, engineering, procurement, construction, and operations & maintenance. To learn more about ET Energy, please visit http://www.etsolar.com.

For more details, please contact:

Eric Zhang

Tel: +86 25 8689 8098 ext.9011/+86 136 4518 8386

Fax: +86 25 8689 8097

E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE ET Solar Group

Related Links

http://www.etsolar.com


WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolent Health (NYSE: EVH), a company providing an integrated value-based care platform to the nation's leading health systems and physician organizations, today announced it will host its second annual Investor and Analyst Day on Thursday, May 11, 2017, in New York City.

Evolent's Investor and Analyst Day will be available via live audio webcast. An audio file will be archived on the investor relations section of the company's website at ir.evolenthealth.com following the event.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact [email protected] or 443.450.4189.

About Evolent Health

Evolent Health partners with leading health systems to drive value-based care transformation. By providing clinical, analytical and financial capabilities, Evolent helps physicians and health systems achieve superior quality and cost results. Evolent's approach breaks down barriers, aligns incentives and powers a new model of care delivery resulting in meaningful alignment between providers, payers, physicians and patients. For more information, visit evolenthealth.com.

SOURCE Evolent Health

Related Links

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NEWPORT, N.H., May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- What Dr. Mark Christensen loves most about his job is that he has the chance to come face-to-face with teachers and educational staff, go to their schools, and really become involved with the things that are important. The field of education doesn't stand still, nor do the expectations. Currently, it is all about connecting with each other, which matters for faculty, students, and parents alike. Not just that, education is becoming more complex. Admissions officers, for instance, have to stay up to date with the latest enrollment software packages, after they decide to implement them. Furthermore, it is now hugely important that parents are properly involved in the education of their children.

Mark Christensen New Hampshire

During Dr. Mark Christensen's many years on the job, he has had some amazing experiences. And every time he visits a school, he learns something new. One of the things he has learned, for instance, is that both the school community and faculty find it much easier to transition into a new software system if key educators are provided with individualized training on that software. If that is done properly, then they will enjoy the experience more, and they will be more ready to champion the software and encourage others to use it as well.

There are three things that really stood out to Christensen, and he believes that they will be insightful for you as well.

1. Connecting Your Whole School

The buzzword for schools nowadays is "connected." Schools have been working toward this for years, trying to determine what it actually means. Bentley School is one establishment that seems to have figured it out. Students who are enrolled in this school find themselves and their family/carers getting involved in the entire journey. This involvement is seen everywhere, from submitting dinner requests to checking schedules, from waking up in the morning to sending teacher's notes. The school has figured out how to deliver important information the right way, at the right time, and, most importantly, by using the right types of devices.

A good video for those who want to learn from Bentley School in terms of online interaction, which is a really good source, can be found here: https://whipplehill.wistia.com/medias/dacygf0mu6

2. The Courage to Change

This is an example of a school that did all that could be done with existing software systems, but the school community needed more. The entire school's experience was redefined by board members, parents, teachers, and faculty members alike. The school had to move on to a new interactive, online system. The decision to do so was the right decision, but it also meant making many changes. They redesigned their admissions system to make it more user-friendly, and they changed their website to make it fully responsive. Furthermore, they enabled staff and faculty to use an interactive grading experience, while at the same time students and their parents could access all learning resources whenever they wanted to. Best of all, they were able to combine all of this into one system.

Check out the following video to see how the Miami Country Day School implemented new technology: https://whipplehill.wistia.com/medias/8046khob7n

3. Engagement During the Enrollment Process

Last but certainly not the least, there is Miss Porter's School, where admissions officers focused on how they could remain competitive, ensuring they could overcome any barriers and obstacles that stopped students from not just enrolling, but from staying in the school as well. Any new system they would use had to make life easier. Miss Porter's School is a K-12 school for girls in Connecticut, and they have implemented an enrollment management system that ensures the whole process is easier and cleaner.

The following short video explains the various benefits in terms of enrolling and retaining students, and personalizing the experience for parents/carers, while at the same time avoiding lost time chasing contracts: https://whipplehill.wistia.com/medias/k0e6k1tpb0.

About Mark Christensen:

Dr. Mark Christensen has worked in various roles throughout his educational career from classroom teacher to school administrator to marketing communications. He holds his MBA in Marketing from Rivier College and his Ed.D. in Curriculum & Technology from Plymouth State University/Argosy.

Press Contact: Chris Haywood, phone: 786-332-6550

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SOURCE Mark Christensen
MINNEAPOLIS, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fallon today announced an expanded agency of record relationship with its seven-year client H&R Block by adding media planning and social media strategy and creative to its existing brand strategy and creative responsibilities with the tax brand.

The decision to grow the agency partnership follows the strongest growth year since 2011 for H&R Block. Fallon supported the brand's 2017 season with the launch of a new advertising campaign featuring actor Jon Hamm. The "Get Your Taxes Won" campaign helped promote Block's interest-free loan and free, do-it-yourself tax preparation, and introduced a transformational new technology partnership with IBM Watson.

"Fallon continues to impress with creative ideas and business solutions. This expanded partnership will allow us to better integrate creative and media across channels, so we are very excited about this next chapter of our relationship," said Kathy Collins, chief marketing and strategy officer for H&R Block.

A collaborative Publicis Groupe team will support H&R Block's media, creative and social business. In addition to Fallon's media planning and social strategy, MediaVest | Spark will handle broadcast media buying, and SapientRazorfish will lead digital media management.

"Seven-year client relationships are rare, but our partnership with H&R Block continues to grow stronger, as evidenced by this year's performance fueled by creativity and innovation. The spirit of trust and collaboration that exists between our two companies creates the environment in which transformational thinking can occur," said Fallon CEO Mike Buchner.

Learn more about H&R Block at https://www.hrblock.com/ and Fallon at http://www.fallon.com/.

About Fallon

Fallon Worldwide is a Minneapolis-based advertising agency that's part of Publicis Communications, the hub of creative agencies within Paris-based Publicis Groupe S.A. Fallon clients include Arby's, Comedy Central, H&R Block, Loctite and Whitewave. Fallon Worldwide is one of the world's most critically acclaimed creativity companies, delivering breakthrough ideas for some of the world's leading brands. Additional information can be found at www.fallon.com.

Media Contact:

Alex Steinman

612.758.2666

[email protected]

SOURCE Fallon

Related Links

http://www.fallon.com


WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington DC's Black Cat has hosted no shortage of iconic bands over the years including Radiohead, Beck, the Foo Fighters, and the Kings of Leon. On May 25, 2017, the renowned music venue has partnered with DC rock band Stone Driver to organize a benefit concert to support The Joe Strummer Foundation, a charity created in honor of the Clash's co-founder and one of the biggest icons in punk and rock music history, which raises money to provide opportunities to musicians and support to projects around the world that create empowerment through music.

Concert Poster Stone Driver press photo

"As a musician and huge fan of Joe Strummer's work, I was humbled to learn about the foundation that was created to help others. When our band was brainstorming ideas of how we could contribute, we spoke with Lindsay from the Black Cat who suggested holding a benefit concert. The Black Cat team is going above and beyond to assist the Joe Strummer Foundation and the communities they assist, and are hosting an outrageously good rock concert to make it all happen," - Chad Lesch, member of "Stone Driver" musical group.

Stone Driver is a critically acclaimed DC rock band that recently completed their sophomore full length album "Rocks" with famed London producer Sefi Carmel (David Bowie, Phil Collins, Bruno Mars), and will be joined on stage with the exceptionally talented power pop quartet Classified Frequency, and high energy rocker and DC music veteran Derek Evry.

The Joe Strummer Foundation was established in 2002 shortly after the rock icon's passing. The non-profit organization is committed to the prevention or relief of poverty, particularly of young people, anywhere in the world by providing grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organizations working to prevent or relieve poverty.

The Joe Strummer Foundation Benefit Concert will take place on May 25th, 2017 at the Black Cat in DC. Doors open at 7:30PM, and the benefit concert will begin at 8:00PM and end by 11:30PM. Tickets are available in advance on Ticketfly for $12, and the Black Cat is located at 1811 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009.

To purchase tickets in advance on Ticketfly, please go to http://www.ticketfly.com/event/1434040-stone-driver-washington/

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Chad Lesch via email at [email protected].

For more information about Stone Driver, please go to www.facebook.com/StoneDriverBand and/or www.StoneDriver.com

For more information about the Black Cat music venue, please contact them at (202) 667-4490 or email at [email protected].

For more information about the Joe Strummer Foundation, please contact them at +44 (0) 208 133 9101 or email at [email protected].

Media Contact:

Chad Lesch

302-542-2662

[email protected]

SOURCE Stone Driver
Zhong Risheng was determined to go to Africa, despite his family's protests. The lure of the continent was irresistible-as was the doctor's passion for helping people.

While working as an anesthetist at the Second People's Hospital of Nanning, he didn't heitate to join a Chinese medical team sent to Niger in 2004.

"The country was tackling poverty and poor healthcare, but you can never understand it unless you see it," he says.

At the age of 34, the youngest of the 30 members of the team, Zhong arrived in Zinder, a city in southern Niger.

Zhong Risheng with local doctors in Comoros Islands during his second Africa mission in 2013. Provided to China Daily

Now 47, he remembers clearly the sights that greeted him.

On the very first day he arrived at the hospital, a patient was sent for emergency treatment.

"I could barely understand what he said, and we ourselves were suffering jet lag, but he looked miserable."

The equipment was rudimentary and doctors had to diagnose based on their skill and observation.

On this occasion, the patient was saved, but Zhong was pretty sure that he was the only anesthetist in the hospital and probably in the whole city.

Then the scourge of famine hit the area in 2005.

"Death from starvation was becoming more common and we could do little to prevent it. The doctors were depressed at their inability to save lives."

The medics themselves had little to eat, just sweet potatoes.

"Even in the deepest frustration, we harvested hope from humanity," he says, describing how many patients shared their precious peanuts and pumpkins.

Some of them even dedicated their amulets - usually made of fur or leather-to the doctors, making them feel truly blessed.

With seven or eight operations each day, the work took a toll on his health and he fell ill with malaria.

"What I suffered is quite ordinary in Niger. Human beings are all equal before disaster and misfortune. That's why we help each other" he says.

The medical team ended its work in 2006.

His second Africa mission was six years later, in 2012. He went to the Comoros Islands, where 600,000 people shared just one anesthetist.

He delivered lectures once a week to train nurses and doctors and also helped set up operation regulations.

"Knowing how to fish is better than having a fish. The mission of Chinese doctors is to impart knowledge and our humanitarian spirit," he says.

He wrote a book about his experiences in Africa, Chinese Doctors in Africa, which won a prize.

"In 1963, the Chinese government sent its first medical team to Africa. As a result, 180 million people from 47 African countries and regions have benefited from China's aid," Zhong says. Generations of Chinese doctors have sacrificed their youth, or even their lives, for their career, a truth that people should know but few do."

zhangli@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 05/05/2017 page19)
WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae (OTC Bulletin Board: FNMA) today reported its first quarter 2017 results and filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing provides condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. The following documents are now available on Fannie Mae's web site at www.fanniemae.com.

Fannie Mae helps make the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and affordable rental housing possible for millions of Americans. We partner with lenders to create housing opportunities for families across the country. We are driving positive changes in housing finance to make the home buying process easier, while reducing costs and risk. To learn more, visit fanniemae.com and follow us on twitter.com/fanniemae.

SOURCE Fannie Mae

Related Links

http://www.fanniemae.com


ROHNERT PARK, Calif., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- California-based supplementary benefits company, The Financial Education Benefits Center (FEBC), has rounded out their benefits packages to fully include health, wellness, and lifestyle services in addition to the robust financial and savings benefits already provided. New and existing members have access to a variety of services through name-brand third-party companies that promote lifestyle wellness, including mental, emotional and physical health applications.

"We want our members to live full lives and that means more than just financial help and discounts," said Jennifer Martinez, a manager at FEBC. "Physical and emotional well-being are just as important to living a stress-free life as feeling financially secure and free."

With an impressive foundation, FEBC already has hundreds of financial planning resources available to help members with their personal and business finances. They also offer a variety of other services, such as a savings program, roadside assistance and identity theft protection. "But what would a benefits program be without attention to health and physical wellness?" Martinez was asked. "Our new upcoming service offerings will pay special attention to members' physical, mental, and emotional health. Our members will have tools available to them to help with concentration, stress, optimism, and energy levels."

The CDC webpage about well-being describes it as an integration of mental health  the mind  and physical health  the body. Both are needed for preventing disease and promoting health. "We know that physical health is important to living a long life," Martinez said. "But mental health and well-being is just as important. We want to ensure our members have access to the tools they need to improve their overall life."

FEBC describes their goal as providing the nation's most robust benefits program in one place that is easy to access and use. To reflect this goal, FEBC will be launching a redesigned website that will showcase the new services and streamline the experience for new and existing members. "Our main goal isn't just to help our members get all the stuff," Martinez said. "It's to make it all easily accessible by putting it all in one place."

"We're optimistic that our members will take advantage of the new wellness services so they can focus on living a long life they'll be proud of," said Martinez. "Every person needs different things from a benefits package, and we want to ensure that they will find what they are looking for in ours."

About The Financial Education Benefits Center

The Financial Education Benefits Center is a financial and lifestyle wellness benefits company located in Rohnert Park, California. The Company has already helped thousands of people save money and obtain the necessary education required to live a financial and stress-free life.

The Financial Education Benefits Center has partnered with several third-party companies to expand the financial and educational products and services available to its members and to provide a variety of wellness services at the click of a button.

Contact

To learn more about The Financial Education Benefits Center, please contact:

Financial Education Benefits Center

5880 Commerce Blvd. STE 105,

Rohnert Park, CA 94928-1652

1-800-953-1388

[email protected]

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SOURCE Financial Education Benefits Center

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ATLANTA, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexport, a leading technology-enabled freight forwarder and customs broker, has announced today its latest expansion: the opening of a fourth North American office in Atlanta this summer. Flexport expects to bring on over 200 employees in the Atlanta area in the three years after starting operations on June 1, 2017.

Following the company's $65M Series B funding round in 2016, Flexport has worked to identify the ideal location to further its global expansion and ultimate goal of simplifying the complexities of global trade. With offices in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Shenzhen, the company's seventh global office in Atlanta is evidence of its commitment to putting sales and operations teams closer to clients and supply chain partners.

Invest Atlanta and Georgia's Department of Economic Development, the primary economic development authorities in Atlanta and Georgia, were instrumental in facilitating Flexport's decision to expand to Atlanta and offering ongoing support.

"Flexport's decision to establish a major operation here further cements Atlanta's role as a global logistics hub and home to many of the world's leading supply chain technology companies," said Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta. "By choosing Atlanta, the company will be right at the heart of our region's burgeoning cross-sector tech community and at the doorstep of Georgia Tech, the Atlanta University Center and other talent-rich academic institutions."

"Georgia continues to rise as a leader in the technology sector, and Atlanta is at the epicenter of this growth," said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. "Flexport's decision to invest and create jobs in Atlanta is a testament to our commitment to supporting innovative technologies in Georgia, and meeting the growing demands of this industry. I look forward to watching them grow and thrive here."

Flexport's decision to expand into Atlanta was solidified by Georgia's exceptional talent pool and enthusiastic adoption of the latest technology in logistics and freight. The city's location, transportation infrastructure, and strong logistics sector will enable Flexport to form lasting relationships with local service providers, working together to reach clients more quickly and efficiently. By air, Atlanta's airport offers access to 80 percent of the U.S. market within a two-hour flight, while, by land, Georgia's six interstates connect the state to 80 percent of the U.S. population within a two-day truck drive. Finally, by sea, the port of Savannah is the most efficient seaport operation in North America due to its large single-terminal design. The company hopes its presence in the state will support local clients and small businesses in identifying and managing global shipping solutions.

"Atlanta is a booming technology center and is a natural fit for our next North American office," said Ryan Petersen, CEO and founder of Flexport. "The city has the busiest airport in the world to bring us closer to our air freight operations and is advantageously located near the port of Savannah, where they've been making huge investments to handle the bigger ships coming through the newly widened Panama Canal. On top of that, we already move hundreds of tons of freight through Georgia's major logistics gateways every year, so establishing a local presence will make customs clearance and local trucking cheaper. Simply put, Atlanta is giving us added access to air, land and sea, plus some of the country's best and brightest talent."

Flexport is invested in continued growth of company functions in Atlanta, and is excited to begin immediate recruiting for the Atlanta office. The company will be hiring for its sales, operations, customs, and small business development departments. Flexport Recruiting Partners are looking for folks with a client-first mentality, strong communication skills and an entrepreneurial spirit and are interested in meeting Georgia's top talent from universities like Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Interested candidates should reach out to Kristen Hayward, Global VP of Recruiting for Flexport, [email protected] and check out Flexport.com/Careers.

CONTACT:

Anna Beyder

(925) 408-9333

[email protected]

SOURCE Flexport

Related Links

https://www.flexport.com


BERLIN, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

GISMA Business School today announced an exclusive academic partnership with the Milan-based SDA Bocconi School of Management. The partnership will see the delivery of executive and customised programmes, as well as collaboration on research projects at GISMA's Hannover and Berlin campuses. Considered one of the top 10 management schools in Europe, SDA Bocconi is the School of Management of Bocconi University, one of the most prestigious academic institutions in Italy.

SDA Bocconi and GISMA come together to offer global organisations industry-relevant programmes and customised training to meet their business needs. The programmes offer a fresh perspective on critical business disciplines and an updated approach on emerging areas.

Triple-accredited by the top graduate management education bodies, AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, SDA Bocconi offer a portfolio which aligns real-world business expertise with Bocconi University's leading, research-led knowledge. GISMA partners with leading academic institutions such as Grenoble Ecole de Management and Porto Business School to deliver, from its campuses in Berlin and Hannover, AMBA-accredited MBAs and high-ranked master's programmes to students from around the world.

Starting in the second half of 2017, the initial course portfolio will include executive programmes covering the topics of International Negotiation; Influencing & Persuasion for Managers; Leading Multinational Teams and Start-up Finance.

According to Dr Thorsten Thiel, Managing Director at GISMA, the partnership is likely to expand to include more programmes after the initial intakes. He said: "We are extremely proud to have the privilege of working with SDA Bocconi and offering their programmes at our campus in Berlin. With Europe's constant changing political and business landscapes and the impact that technological developments and artificial intelligence are likely to have on business in Germany in the coming years, it is crucial that organisations of all sizes stay ahead of the curve so they can assess potential risks and make the most of the opportunities arising from these changes.

Professor Giuseppe Soda, SDA Bocconi Dean, confirms the relevance of this new Partnership: "Our goal is to be an increasingly international School of Management, capable of conducting rigorous, relevant and multidisciplinary studies, and this collaboration constitutes an important opportunity to directly impact on the German market. Internationalisation is a top priority for SDA Bocconi and the launching of new and challenging International Executive Programs in partnership with GISMA totally reflects our mission: to contribute to the development of individuals and organisations by creating and disseminating innovative managerial knowledge."

Professor Maurits van Rooijen, GISMA's Acting Rector, added: "Partnering with leading universities and offering the very best business programmes from across the world to Germany is at the heart of GISMA's historic mission formulated by Chancellor Gerhard Schroder during its foundation. We are very proud to welcome our new partner and are confident that SDA Bocconi's programmes will be the perfect match to our existing programme portfolio."

The campus-based programmes are open to corporate clients, self-funded and also sponsored delegates. The partnership also includes SDA Bocconi's Customised Executive Programmes, which can be delivered at GISMA's campuses or at the client's premises. Programmes will be jointly certified by both institutions.

About GISMA Business School

GISMA, the German International School for Management and Administration, was founded in 1999 to support the business community of Lower Saxony in its internationalization efforts by providing international management education to young professionals and executives from Germany and all over the world. Since then, GISMA has graduated a global community of alumni who have accelerated their careers in Germany and abroad with a sound foundation in management theory, diverse practical experience, and invaluable connections with fellow graduates and other GISMA alumni. GISMA classes are taught by expert faculty from around the world who bring both academic and practical experience to the classroom.

About SDA Bocconi School of Management

The leading School of Management in Italy and the only Italian School present in all of the most important International rankings (Financial Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The Economist, Forbes), SDA Bocconi has established itself as a European leader in education. SDA Bocconi School of Management is part of Universita Bocconi, the first Italian University to grant a degree in economics. For over a century, Bocconi has played a leading role in Italy's social and economic modernization. SDA Bocconi has been engaged in the promotion and organization of executive education since 1971, with an international approach.

SOURCE GISMA
SAINT PAUL, Minn., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Inventory liquidation sales are now under way at all Gander Mountain store locations  offering shoppers deep discounts on top brand-name outdoor gear. The nationwide sale is being conducted by a joint venture consortium consisting of Tiger Capital Group, Great American Group, Gordon Brothers and Hilco Merchant Resources.

Gander Mountain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 10. The consortium prevailed in its April 28th bid to become the liquidating agent for the Gander Mountain inventory. The joint venture consortium will immediately commence the sale of Gander Mountain inventory at all Gander Mountain retail locations.

"Since 1960, Gander Mountain has offered the most sought-after, high-performance outdoor gear at extremely compelling prices," stated a representative of the joint venture. "This final liquidation sale presents outdoor enthusiasts with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take deep discounts on this terrific gear. Many of these brands are rarely, if ever, discounted, so shoppers will want to come in early to take advantage of these sales."

Gander Mountain, known as "America's Firearm Supercenter," offers extensive lines of shooting sports, hunting, fishing, camping, marine, apparel, footwear and outdoor lifestyle merchandise. Brands offered include Under Armour, Yeti, The North Face, Coleman, GoPro, Shimano, Columbia, Guide Series, GSX, Carhartt, Merrell, Keen, Rocky, New Balance, and Reebok.

Stores will continue to honor Gander Mountain gift cards until May 17, 2017. The liquidation sales will end when all merchandise has been sold. Stores participating in the liquidation event are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. A full listing of closing locations can be found here.

About Tiger Capital Group

Tiger Capital Group (www.tigergroup.com) provides asset valuation, advisory and disposition services to a broad range of retail, wholesale, and industrial clients. With over 40 years of experience and significant financial backing, Tiger offers a uniquely nimble combination of expertise, innovation and financial resources to drive results. Tiger's seasoned professionals help clients identify the underlying value of assets, monitor asset risk factors and, when needed, provide capital or convert assets to capital quickly and decisively. Tiger maintains domestic offices in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco, and international offices in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia.

About Great American Group

Great American Group, LLC is a leading provider of advisory and valuation services, asset disposition and auction solutions. Great American Group efficiently deploys resources with sector expertise to assist companies, lenders, capital providers, private equity investors and professional service firms in maximizing the value of their assets. To learn more about Great American Group, please visit www.greatamerican.com

About Gordon Brothers

Since 1903, Gordon Brothers (www.gordonbrothers.com) has helped lenders, operating executives, advisors, and investors move forward through change. The firm brings a powerful combination of expertise and capital to clients, developing customized solutions on an integrated or standalone basis across four service areas: valuations, dispositions, operations, and investments. Whether to fuel growth or facilitate strategic consolidation, Gordon Brothers partners with companies in the retail, commercial, and industrial sectors to put assets to their highest and best use. Gordon Brothers conducts more than $70 billion worth of dispositions and appraisals annually. Gordon Brothers is headquartered in Boston, with 25 offices across four continents.

About Hilco Merchant Resources

Hilco Merchant Resources (www.hilcomerchantresources.com) provides a wide range of analytical, advisory, asset monetization, and capital investment services to help define and execute a retailer's strategic initiatives. Hilco Merchant Resources' activities fall into several principal categories including acquisitions; disposition of underperforming stores; retail company or division wind downs; event sales to convert unwanted assets into working capital; facilitation of mergers and acquisitions; interim company, division or store management teams; loss prevention; and, the monetization of furniture, fixtures and equipment.

SOURCE Tiger Capital Group
MIAMI, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenspoon Marder today filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida on behalf of all ticket purchasers defrauded and wronged by the organizers of Fyre Festival  an exclusive music festival on a private island falsely promoted as "the best in food, art, music and adventure." The lawsuit seeks more than $5 million in damages, as well as a motion to limit the Defendants' communications with the Plaintiffs and potential class members.

This will be the first lawsuit filed against the organizers of the Fyre Festival in the Southern District of Florida  a region considered to be the "hub" for Fyre Festival. To attend the festival, all festival-goers were required to take a flight from Miami to the Bahamas. Further, while the event was supposed to take place in the Bahamas, the tickets list the location of the event as a Florida address.

This is also the first lawsuit to address the Defendants' efforts to escape liability by offering a vague, unknown refund. On April 30, 2017, ticket purchasers received an email containing a link where the consumer can "apply" for a refund  notably without a guarantee that a refund will actually be provided. Ticket purchasers were then required to fill out a vague, lengthy multi-question application form, which also failed to advise the potential class of their litigation rights. The Rule 23(d) Motion to Limit Communications is designed to protect the Plaintiffs and potential class members from misleading communications such as the April 30 refund email that seek to unfairly deprive them of their legal rights and reimbursement of all of the costs they incurred and damages they suffered.

"Festival goers who spent thousands of dollars on what they thought to be a vacation of a lifetime should be fully apprised of their rights, they should be made aware of the pending lawsuits, they should be given the opportunity to consult with counsel, and they should be reimbursed every single penny and possibly more," comments Jeffrey Backman, a Shareholder at Greenspoon Marder and co-counsel for the Plaintiffs.

This lawsuit is also the first to name as Defendants the Public Relations agencies representing Fyre Festival. Hired to coordinate Fyre Festival's marketing and advertising campaign, 42West and Matte Projects knew or should have known that their advertisements and promotions were false and likely to mislead consumers.

"Even with the slightest bit of due diligence, we believe that the PR agencies knew or should have known that what they were promising could never be delivered," comments Backman.

For more information on the class action, please contact Jeffrey Backman ([email protected]; 954-734-1853)

About Greenspoon Marder

Greenspoon Marder is committed to providing excellent client service through our cross-disciplinary, client-team approach. Our goal is to understand the challenges that our clients face, build collaborative relationships, and craft creative solutions designed and executed with long-term strategic goals in mind. Since our inception in 1981, Greenspoon Marder has become a full-service, Am Law 200 and NLJ 350 law firm with more than 200 attorneys. We serve Fortune 500, middle-market public and private companies, start-ups, emerging businesses, individuals and entrepreneurs across Florida and the United States.For more information, visit www.gmlaw.com

SOURCE Greenspoon Marder

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Laguna Turf recently installed artificial grass for a Rossmoor resident, converting their front yard from natural grass to over 800 square feet of Synthetic Grass Warehouse's Diamond Light Spring . The artificial grass blades feature multiple shades of green, from dark to light, and even have brown thatch blades for added realism.

The homeowner's natural lawn suffered significantly because of California's mandated water restrictions. While searching for a drought friendly solution, the homeowners specifically wanted something that would allow their pets to continue to play on. Artificial grass seemed to be the perfect solution for the homeowner, especially after learning that it was tough enough to withstand heavy usage and was safe for kids and pets.

Laguna Turf, a southern California turf installer and landscape designer, has been the company to beat in this Rossmoor neighborhood. After bringing artificial grass to over 15 lawns around the area, an increasing number of homeowners see the realism of the turf and can't seem to resist making the switch. "The neighbors see the turf in other yards on their street and are always amazed at how good it looks. A lot of our projects come from referrals because everyone wants it for themselves," Enrique Tuccio, Laguna Turf owner, says.

"Every homeowner wants their house to look great from the street and since turf has become so realistic, everyone has the option to switch and enjoy the added benefits," Tuccio says. "We give people a lawn replacement and landscape option that they can be proud of that will help them save time, money, and water!"

Laguna Turf is the May 2017 "Install of the Month" winner by Synthetic Grass Warehouse.

About Laguna Turf:

Laguna Turf, founded by Enrique Tuccio, provides landscaping services throughout Southern California. The company was formed over 20 years ago, and has offered artificial grass services for over a decade. You can learn more about Laguna Turf by visiting their website at http://www.lagunaturf.com/

About Synthetic Grass Warehouse, Inc.:

Synthetic Grass Warehouse is the exclusive national distributor for TigerTurf and Everlast brands of synthetic grass products. Founded in 2004, Synthetic Grass Warehouse specializes in turf products designed for landscaping, pets, putting greens, and playgrounds. SGW provides same-day shipping on all turf orders. https://www.syntheticgrasswarehouse.com

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Synthetic Grass Warehouse, Inc.

Related Links

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COLLEGE PARK, Md., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- HIT Robot Group (HRG), one of China's top robot manufacturing companies, will host HRG Golden Partner Forum (the Forum) at the University of Maryland's Riggs Center on May 14, 2017. The event, which aims to further exchanges and resource-sharing in the areas of robotic technology and technological innovation between China and the U.S., is expected to play a part in beefing up cooperation among academic institutions, peer companies and governments on a global scale.

The event, which is conveniently located for the myriad academic, government, and industry professionals in the Washington D.C. area, will feature discussions with senior experts from advanced research institutes including University of Maryland, Cornell, John Hopkins, and Harvard's Wyss Institute, and representatives from companies such as Ramana Rachakonda, principal engineer of Joule at Intel and Karen Lu, regional general manager of Alibaba Cloud International.

"We would like to create more resources and insight-sharing opportunities for manufacturers of and investors in robotics from China and the U.S. Through this Forum, HRG is doing our part to bolster international cooperation in smart manufacturing and research and development," said Lei Zhu, Vice President of HRG.

Following the morning forum, a Roadshow Competition on robotics innovation will be held, where ten teams, selected previously in smaller competitions, will compete for cash awards, investment opportunities and strategic guidance and support from HRG and potential investors. HRG is using this competition as a way to encourage start-ups' incubation and growth, talent development and support.

The event will be concluded with a VIP dinner. Themed, "China-U.S. Cross-border Cooperation and Investment", the reception, co-hosted by HRG and the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC), will include government officials and businesspeople who are leaders in the field of China-U.S. cooperation.

The Forum is a further step in support of the Chinese government's "Made in China 2025" initiative. By bolstering potential cooperation opportunities in the smart manufacturing of robots and robotic equipment, HRG is injecting vigor and vitality into the cause of China's national economic restructuring and adjustment. Since its establishment, HRG has followed a "golden partner" approach in reaching out to global resources, developing partnerships with leading companies, achieving mutual success with business entrepreneurs who intend to invest in the Chinese market.

"With this Forum, and by leveraging its potential resources and expertise in robotic technology, HRG will continue to work to establish channels of high-tech knowledge sharing and exchange for international players worldwide," said Mr. Zhu.

About HIT Robot Group

HIT Robot Group (HRG), founded in 2014, is one of China's high-tech giants in robotics with a joint investment from the Heilongjiang provincial government, the Harbin municipal government, and the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). The company manufactures a range of robots and robotic equipment for various industries, and also provides solutions and services for technology companies. HRG has presence in 13 major Chinese cities, along with offices in Washington D.C., California, Frankfurt, Seoul and Tokyo.

SOURCE HIT Robot Group
AUSTIN, Texas, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The 3rd annual gathering of the largest water and water technology investor forum in Texas and the Southwest US is set for June 14-16th in Austin Texas, starting with the first-ever Texas Water Internet of Things Hackathon for youth and students on June 14th and concluding with investment pitches from 50+ Texas, US and international technology in front of representatives from among family offices, private equity, corporate venturing, venture capital, wealth management, public funds, and individual, high net worth investment capacity.

"We have grown into the only annual gathering of market intelligence, analysts, leading technology firms, and project developers with across Texas and Southwest US  and as a result we are sparking new investments in both urban and rural opportunities for enhanced water management," Jerry Kane, Chairman of AccelerateH2O's Executive Committee and former CEO of Sam Kane Beef Processors.

Added to the schedule of this year's InvestH2O are keynote speakers and panels showcasing large-scale public-private partnerships in water infrastructure that have leveraged technology applications and integrated solutions, a 'Reverse Pitch' session with Corporate 500 companies and major municipal water systems, and a series of presentations from investors and leading water firms from Los Angeles to Boston, Ireland to Israel. "We are connecting the best of the world with the best of Texas and the states around us to really drive home one key point: disruptive technologies and innovative investment scenarios are being tested and demonstrated here at a scale and scope that few other locations can offer!", according to Richard Seline, Executive Director and Senior Advisor to AccelerateH2O.

To date, the following individuals have confirmed; a complete list of speakers and panelists can be found at www.InvestH2O.com and will be updated daily:

Reese Tisdale , CEO, Bluefield Research

, CEO, Bluefield Research Christopher Gasson , CEO and Editor, Global Water Intelligence

, CEO and Editor, Global Water Intelligence Will Sarni , former Managing Partner, Deloitte Sustainability Practice

, former Managing Partner, Deloitte Sustainability Practice Amanda Brock , CEO, Water Standard

, CEO, Water Standard Stephen Blalock , Amazon Web Services

, Amazon Web Services Hubble Haussman, CEO, Earth Water Minerals

John Duran , Partner, WaterBridge Capital

, Partner, WaterBridge Capital Kevin Ward , General Manager, Trinity River Authority

, General Manager, Trinity River Authority Mary Conley Eggert , Global Water Works

Joining on panels or as pitch-session moderators are senior executives of PepsiCo, Shell, Tysons Food, Coca-Cola, Dow, the Cities of Houston/El Paso/Austin Water Systems, ExxonMobil, Sandia National Laboratory, and 20 other representatives from real-estate, oil and gas, data and instrumentation, and food-beverage companies.

Former Chairman of Frost Bank and Co-Chairman of AccelerateH2O's Advisory Board, Dick Evans notes: "I attended last year's InvestH2O and this year's agenda is even stronger. If you are an investor or a technology company anywhere in the world, we want you in Texas in June. Our relationship with Wells Fargo Foundation and other partners to be announced will generate more opportunities in 72 hours than any other gathering. Fifty pre-vetted companies and 75 unique investors is a fertile ground for solving Texas and the world's greatest water challenges!"

About AccelerateH2O:

We are singularly focused on overcoming barriers and limitations to innovating water and the deployment of technology to address critical challenges for citizens, consumers, businesses, and communities. The Texas water technology accelerator was established as a 501c3 statewide initiative to organize the innovation capacity of academic, industry, entrepreneurial, public sector, and investment expertise to spark immediate solutions to the ongoing drought and growth prospects demanding additional sources of water, and to generate efficient and economic solutions in Texas and the Southwest US unique marketplace. More about AccelerateH2O can be found at www.accelerateH2O.org

About InvestH2O:

InvestH2O is our ongoing forum of connecting the best technologies, products, services, and integrated solutions with investors, procurement decision-makers, water managers, and collaborative partners in the private and public sectors. In 2015 and 2016, InvestH2O convened 125 and 250 water and water technology attendees respectively, and attracted 20 and 45 emerging, growth technology firms to pitch their capabilities, applications, and investment needs. Through our ongoing platform, AccelerateH2O and InvestH2O connect interested parties, incubators/accelerators, and end-users with a broad spectrum of investment scenarios including pre-commercialization, equity, project, and infrastructure opportunities in Texas and increasingly the Southwest U.S. More information on InvestH2O can be found at www.investH2O.com

Related Files

InvestH2O 2017 Tech Pitch Sessions, One-on-One Proposals - Background, Agenda, and Opportunities.pdf

InvestH2O 2017 Forum- Background, Agenda, and Opportunities.pdf

Related Links

InvestH2O Website

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE AccelerateH2O

Related Links

http://www.accelerateH2O.org


DUBLIN, May 05, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --



Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Kenya Diesel Genset Market (2016-2022): Market Forecast by KVA Ratings, Verticals, Regions and Competitive Landscape" report to their offering.

Over the last few years, Kenya's industrial and commercial sectors have witnessed significant growth on account of stable political environment and growing FDIs. With development of industrial parks, ICT parks and agricultural zones, economy of Kenya is projected to reflect key growth amongst all African countries. With the rise in infrastructure, the need for power has surged resulting into progression of diesel genset market.

Kenya is a key genset market in the East Africa region. Establishment of SEZs, EPZ's government infrastructure projects such as tech cities, railway, expansion of state & national highways as well as rising demand for power are expected to fuel the market for diesel gensets in Kenya. Further, growing telecom sector, rising manufacturing industries and expansion of business parks would boost the market for diesel gensets in the country.

Kenya's diesel genset market is projected to touch $206.5 Million by 2022. In Kenya, diesel gensets with rating 5KVA-75KVA accounted for majority of the market volume share due to ease of availability, low cost and wide usage across various applications. 5KVA-75KVA rating genset market is expected to maintain its market dominance throughout the forecast period in-terms of market volumes. The utilization of these gensets to power telecom infrastructure in the unreliable and off-grid areas would also spur their market growth.



Amongst all verticals, manufacturing vertical accounts for key share in the overall Kenya diesel genset market. Retail, commercial offices, hotels and hospitals are the other key revenue contributing verticals.

The report thoroughly covers the Kenya diesel genset market by KVA ratings, verticals and regions. The report provides the unbiased and detailed analysis of the on-going trends, opportunities/high growth areas, market drivers which would help the stakeholders to device and align their market strategies according to the current and future market dynamics.

Markets Covered



The report provides the detailed analysis of the following market segments:



- By KVA Ratings

-- 5KVA-75KVA

-- 75.1 KVA- 375 KVA

-- 375.1 KVA-750 KVA

-- 750.1 KVA-1000 KVA

-- Above 1000 KVA

- By Verticals

-- Retail and Logistics

-- Oil & Gas and Power Utility

-- Commercial (Hospitality, BFSI, IT & ITES)

-- Manufacturing

-- Rental

-- Residential

-- Others (Telecom, Hospital, Mining, Government & transportation, Education, Construction)

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary

2 Introduction

2.1 Report Description

2.2 Key Highlights of the Report

2.3 Market Scope & Segmentation

2.4 Methodology Adopted and Key Data Points

2.5 Assumptions

3 Global Diesel Genset Market Overview

3.1 Global Diesel Genset Market Revenues

3.2 Global Diesel Genset Market Volume

4 Kenya Country Analysis

4.1 Country Overview

5 Kenya Power Sector Overview

6 Kenya Diesel Genset Market Overview

6.1 Kenya Diesel Genset Market Revenues and Volume

6.2 Industry Life Cycle

6.3 Porter's Five Force Model

6.4 Kenya Diesel Genset Market Revenue & Volume Share, By KVA Rating

6.5 Kenya Diesel Genset Market Revenue Share, By Verticals

6.6 Kenya Diesel Genset Market Revenue Share, By Region

7 Kenya Diesel Genset Market Dynamics

7.1 Market Drivers

7.2 Market Restraints

8 Kenya Diesel Genset Market Trends

8.1 Hybrid Technology

8.2 Remote Monitoring Devices

9 Kenya 5 KVA-75 KVA Diesel Genset Market Overview

10 Kenya 75.1 KVA-375 KVA Diesel Genset Market Overview

11 Kenya 375.1 KVA-750 KVA Diesel Genset Market Overview

12 Kenya 750.1 KVA-1000 KVA Diesel Genset Market Overview

13 Kenya 1000.1 KVA & Above Diesel Genset Market Overview

14 Kenya Diesel Genset Vertical Market Overview

15 Kenya Diesel Genset Regional Market Overview

16 Kenya Diesel Genset Market Price Trends

17 Kenya Diesel Genset Market Import Scenario

18 Kenya Diesel Genset Market competitive landscape

19 Company Profiles

- Atlas Copco

- Caterpillar Inc.

- Cummins Inc.

- FG Wilson

- Kirloskar

- MTU Onsite Energy Corporation

- Perkins Engines Co. Ltd

- SDMO Industries

- YorPower Ltd.

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xfhx6m/kenya_diesel

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

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By Ren Xiaojin and Jing Shuiyu in Beijing and Sun Ruisheng in Taiyuan, Shanxi province | China Daily Europe | Updated: 2017-05-05 08:53

TISCO's innovation is powering space and nuclear programs and boosting exports

If you see Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co's recently attained capability to make homemade pen-tip steel for ballpoint pens as a sign of focusing on small things, you'd be mistaken. The nation's top maker of stainless steel has decidedly big plans.

For one, TISCO is going global in line with the Belt and Road Initiative. For another, it is strengthening the supply of high-strength and high-end steel available for China's big-ticket projects, such as bullet trains, next generation nuclear power plants and aerospace programs.

It is now a key cog in the massive manufacturing wheel that powers China's endeavors in industry and science.

A technician inspects the surface of a stainless steel component at a factory of Shanxi-based Taiyuan Iron and Steel (Group) Co, which is staking its future on research and development efforts. Provided to China Daily

As of March, TISCO started to supply stainless steel to Hualong One, the country's domestically developed third-generation reactor, adding one more name to the list of over 10 completed or under construction nuclear power stations that use only TISCO-made stainless steel.

TISCO's high-end products also will shine on the global stage through integration with the Belt and Road vision of huge advances in infrastructure and trade, company officials say. TISCO-made materials are used in the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, the Temburong Bridge in Brunei, the China-Russia and China-Myanmar natural gas pipelines, a nuclear power station in Pakistan, and even for coins cast in Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland and Brazil.

For China's military forces, TISCO's materials have proved essential in making Dongfeng missile shells and the latest series of destroyers. It is the only qualified Chinese supplier of low-magnetic steel plate for warships and vessels, TISCO officials said in a statement released exclusively to China Daily.

TISCO's staff has worked hard to achieve technical prowess, particularly in research and development. It has further sharpened its competitive edge through research and development, say officials at the company, which is based in Shanxi province.

Last year, TISCO introduced more than 10 new products, which have garnered a more than 70 percent share of the Chinese market.

Its products have given a major boost to the country's aerospace industry, TISCO says.

The company made a number of components for the new Long March 7 Y2 rocket, which lifted China's first cargo spacecraft, the Tianzhou 1, into orbit on April 20. Tianzhou 1 is the nation's largest and heaviest spacecraft.

The Long March 7Y2 included TISCO's stainless steel, electromagnetic pure iron, high-strength alloy structural steel and other materials. The company's materials also played a key role in the Long March 7 Y1 rocket, the Y2's predecessor and an important milestone in Chinese rocket science.

According to the SOE's military and nuclear power business department, TISCO's high-end steel and iron have been widely used in China's crucial aerospace programs, including the Shenzhou spaceship series and the Chang'e lunar orbiters. Rocket engines use TISCO stainless steel that is resistant to high temperatures.

"With Tianzhou 1's launch behind us, we're set to supply essential materials for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, the world's largest and one of the most critical fusion experiments," the company said in the statement to China Daily.

All the moves mark TISCO's proactive expansion beyond China and into the international market, its chairman, Li Xiaobo, said in the statement.

"We need to move fast to figure out potential demand and to design the best material for clients," Li said. "Simply following others isn't going to work. We'll provide optimized solutions to win the (world's) trust."

TISCO's next ambition is to become the world's most competitive stainless steel enterprise, Li said.

TISCO is further fine-tuning its alignment with visionary national campaigns such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Made in China 2025 industrial upgrading plan, and the go-global drive of Chinese enterprises. In doing so, TISCO aims to serve high-end markets as well as burgeoning industries from a global perspective, Li said.

Experts see merit in TISCO's plans. Belt and Road and the go-global drive will create new, long-term opportunities for iron and steel companies, says Chen Ziqi, deputy director of metallurgical and building materials for China International Engineering Consulting Corp.

Zhao Ying, a researcher at the Institute of Industrial Economics, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says that when Chinese companies, particularly SOEs, seek to expand abroad, industrial innovation and long-term investment goals are key to maintaining earnings.

TISCO is allocating 3.5 percent of its annual sales to R&D and innovation, which could mean several billion yuan annually for leading-edge work. This is expected to help it go from a traditional manufacturer to a digital-age global supplier of new products.

"TISCO needs to grab the opportunity presented by supply-side structural reform to expand its product catalog and enhance its competitive edge," Li said.

The company has set a goal to produce 4.5 million metric tons of stainless steel this year, the nation's largest amount. It also intends to top its peers in more than 20 high-end stainless categories, such as steel for spacecraft and nuclear power reactors.

By the end of 2020, TISCO expects high-end and specialized steel to account for 90 percent of its total production, with R&D expenses reaching 5 percent of annual sales.

The company says it made a major breakthrough early this year by launching its duplex stainless steel products - a type of high-strength steel with a high amount of chromium - in Europe's high-end materials market.

"In the past, we had to import steel to produce motors for new energy vehicles, which require extremely good quality," says Zhang Wenkang, chief engineer of TISCO's silicon steel mill. "Now, we've independently developed such material that also performs better in energy efficiency."

Last year, TISCO launched its steel for ballpoint pen tips after spending five years in R&D to develop its own patented technology. It is a breakthrough that could help end China's long reliance on imported products.

Pen-tip steel imports cost the industry $17.3 million a year, according to the China National Light Industry Council.

Contact the writers at renxiaojin@chinadaily.com.cn

( China Daily European Weekly 05/05/2017 page29)
K2D will support InspectionXpert Corporation in expanding a European reseller network to sell the InspectionXpert product line and provide service and support to customers in Europe. "K2D has done extremely well in serving InspectionXpert customers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We have decided to build on that success and further expand our reseller network in Europe," says Jeff Cope, CEO of InspectionXpert Corporation.

"We are very pleased to become a distributor partner of InspectionXpert Corporation and to expand the reseller network in Europe. InspectionXpert provides AS9102 FAI and PPAP software for ballooning inspection prints and automating inspection reporting," explains, Jochen Layer, CEO of K2D. "This is critical for improving productivity and accuracy in the quality department of any company in Europe, particularly with aerospace, defense, automotive, medical device, oil and gas and contract manufacturers."

A combination of the software solutions InspectionXpert OnDemand and the brand-new QualityXpert enables companies to work paperless throughout the entire inspection process. These processes are continuously optimized allowing the highest manufacturing quality to be reached. "Automating the creation of ballooned drawings and inspection plans become self-evident," says Layer. "InspectionXpert OnDemand streamlines the generation of these from PDF drawings as well as native 2D & 3D CAD files. The created inspection plans can then be published seamlessly to QualityXpert, which extends InspectionXpert's solutions to real-time shop floor in-process inspection, non-conformance notification and process analytics."

About K2D-KeyToData GmbH

K2D-KeyToData GmbH, which is headquartered in Leonberg, Germany, was formed out of the Products & Solutions segment of Infotech Enterprises GmbH in 2011. K2D combines decades of experience and success in the CAD and CAD visualization market. Furthermore K2D offers software for design and conversion of CAD data as well as quality management and license management solutions.

About InspectionXpert Corporation

Since 2004, InspectionXpert Corporation has developed integrated software solutions for manufacturing and quality inspection. Leveraging our expertise in software development and deployment, we provide innovative and high-quality solutions to customers across the globe.

Contact: www.keytodata.de, www.inspectionxpert.com, www.qualityxpert.com, [email protected], 800-379-0322

InspectionXpert, the InspectionXpert Logo and QualityXpert are registered trademarks of InspectionXpert Corporation. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.  2017 InspectionXpert Corporation. All rights reserved.

SOURCE InspectionXpert Corporation

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BALTIMORE, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Legg Mason, Inc., (NYSE: LM) today announced the appointment of three executives to its Executive Committee, each in roles that reflect the organization's continuing evolution and ongoing commitment to expand choice for clients and partners globally. The appointments are effective June 1 and will bring the total number of executive committee positions to nine.

Legg Mason announced the following appointments to the Executive Committee:

Frances (Fran) Cashman , named Global Head of Communications and Engagement, with responsibility for communications, marketing, digital experience and brand, ensuring that the firm's strategic initiatives are communicated clearly across all of its constituencies. Ms. Cashman was previously the Co-Head of US Sales and has led the firm's diversity initiatives since 2015.

, named Global Head of Communications and Engagement, with responsibility for communications, marketing, digital experience and brand, ensuring that the firm's strategic initiatives are communicated clearly across all of its constituencies. Ms. Cashman was previously the Co-Head of US Sales and has led the firm's diversity initiatives since 2015. John Kenney , named Global Head of Affiliate Strategic Initiatives, a role that he has held since 2015. In keeping with best corporate governance practices, Mr. Kenney serves on the Boards of each of Legg Mason's nine investment affiliates, along with senior executives at Legg Mason and each affiliate. The Global Affiliate Strategic Initiatives role has been elevated to an executive position to ensure that the investment affiliates' points of view are well represented within the Legg Mason executive team.

, named Global Head of Affiliate Strategic Initiatives, a role that he has held since 2015. In keeping with best corporate governance practices, Mr. Kenney serves on the Boards of each of Legg Mason's nine investment affiliates, along with senior executives at Legg Mason and each affiliate. The Global Affiliate Strategic Initiatives role has been elevated to an executive position to ensure that the investment affiliates' points of view are well represented within the Legg Mason executive team. Patricia (Patty) Lattin , named Chief Human Resources Officer, a role she has held since 2009. The Global Human Resources Role has also been elevated to an executive role, underscoring the importance of finding and supporting the appropriate talent to execute the firm's strategy. As part of this role, she will also lead the firm's efforts in Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy.

Legg Mason also announced that, in conjunction with these appointments, it has named Jeff Masom as head of U.S. Sales, with responsibility for National Accounts and US Retail Sales, reporting to Terry Johnson, Head of Global Distribution.

Joseph A. Sullivan, Chairman and CEO of Legg Mason said, "As we continue to evolve and execute on our strategy of expanding client choice through diversification, sharpening our lens with a deeper Affiliate and employee perspective is critical to our success. Adding these executives to our leadership team will help us more effectively deliver for our clients, distribution partners, shareholders, employees and the communities in which we do business and engage them more consistently in our communications."

Mr. Sullivan continued, "We intend to continue expanding the ways in which we can address evolving investor needs and better serve clients through greater product and vehicle innovation, while expanding use of technology in alternative distribution channels. To do so, we need to constantly evaluate how we do business and openly embrace change as opportunity to evolve our organization. Each of these individuals has the passion for and a proven track record at Legg Mason of doing just that."

Background of Fran Cashman

Fran Cashman is Global Head of Communications and Engagement, with responsibility for communications, marketing, digital experience and brand.

Previously, she was Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of US Sales for Legg Mason. In this role, she was responsible for US Sales and the strategic efforts of the US Retail Sales Teams focused on the distribution of Legg Mason's broad array of investment solutions to wirehouse, regional and independent financial advisors nationally.

Ms. Cashman also serves as Chair of Legg Mason's Executive Diversity Council, Co-Managing Director for Legg Mason Investor Services (LMIS) and has been a member of the Looking Outward initiative, Branding Engagement Committee and 401k Committee.

Previously, Ms. Cashman was in sales management positions at Legg Mason as well as one of its affiliates. Prior to returning to Legg Mason in 2010, Ms. Cashman was Managing Director and a senior institutional sales manager for Stifel Nicolaus. She held a similar position with Legg Mason, having started there in 1995. Ms. Cashman's 30 year financial services background also includes expertise developed at regional banks in both derivatives and cash management.

Ms. Cashman completed The Wharton's Securities Industry Institute. She graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Masters in Industrial Management.

Ms. Cashman serves on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board to the President, the Catholic Community Foundation Board, the Loyola Blakefield Board of Trustees and is active with St. Ignatius Loyola Academy.

Background of John Kenney

John D. Kenney is Global Head of Affiliate Strategic Initiatives, working with Legg Mason's Executive Committee, Investment Affiliates and Business Development teams. In this role, he reports to the CEO of Legg Mason, and collaborates with the Executive Management team of each Affiliate on corporate governance practices while also ensuring that each Affiliate has an advocate within the broader Legg Mason organization. The Affiliate Strategic Initiatives team provides ongoing strategic support, consults on business development and operating issues, and integrates new Affiliates.

Mr. Kenney initially joined Legg Mason in 2002. Prior to his current role, he was a Managing Director in Legg Mason's Corporate Strategy and Business Development Group, and was formerly the CEO and Head of Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation (LMGAA).

Mr. Kenney has 23 years of investment management and capital markets experience, including broad-based expertise in the fixed income capital markets. He was previously employed at Legg Mason as Managing Director, Co-National Sales Manager of the Legg Mason Fixed Income Capital Markets Group, the capital markets business sold by Legg Mason in 2005. Other previous roles include senior positions at regional investment banking firms in institutional fixed income sales, sales management, trading, and trading management.

Mr. Kenney is a member of the Board of Directors of each of the Legg Mason investment advisory Affiliates, is a member of Legg Mason's Capital Committee, and is an officer of the Legg Mason Charitable Foundation. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Baltimore School for the Arts.

Mr. Kenney is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Background of Patty Lattin

Patty Lattin is Chief Human Resources Officer. With over 25 years of experience in Human Resources, Ms. Lattin has held the position of Head of Global Human Resources at Legg Mason since 2009 and in 2016 she became a Senior Managing Director.

Ms. Lattin has been with Legg Mason for 20 years joining financial services from the healthcare field. She has held a variety of positions in every functional area of Human Resources including Head of Employee Relations, Director of Benefits, Director of Employment and is a member of Legg Mason's Operating Committee.

She is a regular volunteer in the community and currently sits on the board of Paul's Place, Thread and on the HR Committee for the Board of Catholic Charities.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in English, is SPHR certified, is a graduate of the SII Leadership Program through the Wharton School and has completed the Greater Baltimore Committee Leadership Program.

Background of Jeff Masom

Jeff Masom is a Senior Managing Director of all US Sales for Legg Mason. In this role, he is responsible for US Sales and National Accounts.

The National Accounts team provides institutional client service and marketing to retirement platforms, insurance companies, banks, Registered Investment Advisors, broker-dealer home offices, consultants, and institutional clients.

The US Retail Sales Team is comprised of over 120 field and internal sales professionals focused on the distribution of Legg Mason's broad array of investment products to Wirehouse, Regional and Independent Financial Advisors across the country.

Jeff is a member of the Global Distribution Management team, various internal and investment affiliate steering groups as well as the ICI Sales and Marketing committee and SIFMA's Asset Management committee.

Jeff started his career as an analyst for Smith Barney's Consulting Group division. He joined Legg Mason in 1997, and has since served in various roles, including managing the firm's defined contribution business and sub-advised unit and as a salesperson for the institutional team. He also headed the sales effort for Americas Offshore business.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elizabethtown College and a Juris Doctor degree from Delaware Law School. He passed the Bar examination in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and is also a Level III candidate in the CFA Program.

Jeff is a Miracle Maker Leadership Council member and an active supportive of the Expect Miracles Foundation, an organization that is comprised of the financial services community that seeks research and support of families impacted by cancer. He is an active board member for Living Classrooms, a foundation that strengthens communities and inspires young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training using urban, natural, and maritime resources as "living classrooms."

About Legg Mason

Legg Mason is a global asset management firm, with $728.4 billion in AUM as of March 31, 2017. The Company provides active asset management in many major investment centers throughout the world. Legg Mason is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, and its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: LM).

SOURCE Legg Mason, Inc.
Mr. Rowlands has an extensive background in information technology and executive management. Prior to joining Lumina, Mr. Rowlands was the First Vice President of Application Technology Delivery for Servicelink (a Fidelity company) in Denver, Colorado. Additionally, he served as: Chief Information Officer and CoChief Executive Officer of Good Choice Preservation (GCP) in Tampa, Florida; Senior Vice President of Technology for Mortgage Contracting Services in Tampa, Florida; Information Technology Manager for AMI Systems in Liverpool, England; Senior Programmer for Key Computer Applications in Leigh, England.

Mr. Rowlands attended Winstanley College of Higher Education in Winstanley, England, where he earned a degree in English Language/ Literature.

"I am very excited to be part of the Lumina team, said Rowlands. "Working at Lumina provides me with the unique opportunity to work in the emerging field of data analytics with an extremely talented group of data scientists and analysts."

"Andrew has proven to be an extraordinary and innovative leader throughout his career," said Lumina CEO, Allan Martin. "Andrew adds significant bench-strength to our executive staff. It is good to be working with Andrew again."

Mr. Rowlands will have oversight over Lumina's global operations, with emphasis on customer-facing technologies.

About Lumina Analytics. Lumina is a big data analytics company based in Tampa, Florida. The company provides data aggregation and analytics services to corporate and government clients throughout the United States. Its focus is on the aggregation of external, publicly available data for actionable intelligence and risk management analysis. Lumina uses proprietary machine learning algorithms to address certain risks within healthcare, financial services, defense and corporate and national security. The company was founded by serial entrepreneurs Dr. Morten Middelfart (Lumina's Chief Data Scientist) and Allan Martin (Lumina's CEO). Lumina is capitalized by its founders and Atlantic Merchant Capital Investors of Tampa and its principals.

Contact: Candace Cole, (813) 443-0745

SOURCE Lumina Analytics
Awarded by Center of Automotive Management and PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany

New welding method provides cost-efficient weight savings to vehicles

Second time a Magna technology has been selected

SAILAUF, Germany, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - For the second time in three years, Magna has won an AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Award from the Center of Automotive Management (CAM) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Germany. Magna was recognized as the Most Innovative Automotive Supplier in the chassis, car body and exterior category for its new process of welding steel and aluminum together.

Magnas Christian Knollmayr and Werner Karner accept the AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Award in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 4, 2017. (CNW Group/Magna International Inc.)

With Magna's new welding process, aluminum components can be joined to steel to make a multi-material vehicle structure with less mass and weight than an all-steel version. Magna's innovation makes use of traditional spot-welding techniques, which means no additional assembly line machinery or steps are necessary.

"This innovation includes cross-group collaboration within Magna, where Magna Steyr and Cosma are working together to industrialize this new process into our Graz contract manufacturing facility," said Gunther Apfalter, president of Magna Steyr. "In the future our customers will be able to benefit from this cost-effective lightweighting technique we can offer as part of our full-vehicle expertise."

For more than 10 years CAM and PwC have been conducting an annual study of the most innovative companies in the automotive industry. Based on the results, they honor the industry's most outstanding achievements.

"Innovation comes in many forms and for Magna that means both in product and process," said Swamy Kotagiri, Magna Chief Technology Officer. "As global automakers continue to look for ways to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions by making their cars and trucks lighter, the ability to join different materials becomes a market advantage."

In 2015, Magna received the Most Innovative Automotive Supplier award in the driveline technologies category for its FLEX4 technology. This is the first all-wheel drive (AWD) disconnect system that automatically shifts between true two- and four-wheel drive and reduces fuel consumption by up to 10 percent compared to other AWD systems.

TAGS

Automotive spot welding, CAM Innovations, AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Award

ABOUT MAGNA

We are a leading global automotive supplier with 317 manufacturing operations and 102 product development, engineering and sales centres in 29 countries. We have over 155,000 employees focused on delivering superior value to our customers through innovative products and processes, and world class manufacturing. We have complete vehicle engineering and contract manufacturing expertise, as well as product capabilities which include body, chassis, exterior, seating, powertrain, active driver assistance, vision, closure and roof systems. We also have electronic and software capabilities across many of these areas. Our common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MG) and the New York Stock Exchange (MGA). For further information about Magna, visit our website at www.magna.com.

THIS RELEASE MAY CONTAIN STATEMENTS WHICH CONSTITUTE "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" UNDER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION AND ARE SUBJECT TO, AND EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED BY, THE CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMERS THAT ARE SET OUT IN MAGNA'S REGULATORY FILINGS. PLEASE REFER TO MAGNA'S MOST CURRENT MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL POSITION, ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM AND ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 40-F, AS REPLACED OR UPDATED BY ANY OF MAGNA'S SUBSEQUENT REGULATORY FILINGS, WHICH SET OUT THE CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMERS, INCLUDING THE RISK FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL EVENTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE INDICATED BY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW ON MAGNA'S WEBSITE AT WWW.MAGNA.COM.

SOURCE Magna International Inc.

Related Links

http://www.magna.com


CENTER VALLEY, Pa., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mathway, LLC today announced that their flagship product is now available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Korean. Hindi, Japanese, German, and French are planned for availability in late spring. Mathway's AI provides an alternative to traditional tutoring, allowing students to type (or snap a picture of) their math problems and receive instant solutions.

"Millions of students in the US rely on Mathway to provide homework assistance when they need it most. We are very excited to introduce Mathway to users around the world." said Jake Kuehner, Mathway's Co-founder.

Mathway has over 10 million monthly users primarily in the US, and has solved more than 3 billion problems to date using a proprietary artificial intelligence engine. Available in seven languages online at www.mathway.com, and as a free download in the App Store (iOS) and Play Store (Android), Mathway solves and graphs problems from a wide range of subjects including Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, and Statistics.

"The world is shrinking." said Frank Balcavage, Mathway's Co-founder. "As Mathway expands to more and more countries, we are getting closer to our goal of providing quality automated tutoring to any student that needs it."

Mathway's long-term goal is to make quality on-demand math assistance accessible to all students. Mathway is an ambitious, long-term creative endeavor that will deliver increasing features and functionality over the years to come.

www.Mathway.com

SOURCE Mathway

Related Links

http://mathway.com


NEW YORK, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MFA) (the "Company") announced the pricing of a public offering of 20,000,000 shares of its common stock, for expected gross proceeds of approximately $157 million before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Company has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 shares of its common stock. The offering is expected to close on May 10, 2017, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Company intends to add the net proceeds of the offering to its general corporate funds, which the Company may use for general working capital purposes, including to invest in additional residential mortgage-related assets, including but not limited to, residential whole loans, MBS, CRT securities and investments related to mortgage servicing rights, and for working capital, which may include, among other things, the repayment of amounts outstanding under repurchase agreements.

The underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock from time to time for sale in negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are serving as joint book-running managers for the offering. JMP Securities LLC is serving as co-manager for the offering.

All shares of common stock will be offered under the Company's existing shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering of these shares will be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, a copy of which may be obtained by contacting: Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, One Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, by telephone at (800) 221-1037 or by email at [email protected] and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the shares or any other securities, nor shall there be any sale of such shares or any other securities in any state or other 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 other jurisdiction.

About MFA Financial, Inc.

MFA Financial, Inc. is a real estate investment trust primarily engaged in the business of investing, on a leveraged basis, in residential mortgage assets, including residential mortgage-backed securities and residential whole loans.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ from the Company's beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are not historical in nature and can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "will," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend," "seek," "plan" and similar expressions or their negative forms, or by references to strategy, plans, or intentions. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's beliefs, assumptions and expectations of the Company's future performance, taking into account information currently available to it. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be consummated, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Consummation of the offering and the application of the net proceeds of the offering are subject to numerous possible events, factors and conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company and not all of which are known to it, including, without limitation, market conditions and those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the prospectus supplement relating to the offering and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which can be accessed at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov . All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible to predict those events or how they may affect the Company. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Investor Contact: [email protected]

MFA Investor Relations

212-207-6488

SOURCE MFA Financial, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.mfafinancial.com


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The BASIS Curriculum Schools network continued its rankings season of unprecedented accolades, with seven charter schools dominating both of The Washington Post's unique rankings lists.

The top list is commonly referred to as the "Public Elites"  and is officially a selection of "top-performing schools with elite students." There are just 30 "Public Elites" in the United States this year, and BASIS Curriculum Schools is the only network to have four schools included, an unparalleled accomplishment.

The second Post list is the national rankings list called "America's Most Challenging High Schools", and BASIS Phoenix is #1.

All seven of the ranked schools in the BASIS Curriculum Schools network are open-enrollment, tuition-free public charter schools. These are the only seven schools in the network eligible for assessment by The Washington Post this year. The seven schools are:

Washington Post "Public Elites" : Washington Post rankings : - BASIS Chandler - BASIS Phoenix, #1 in nation - BASIS Peoria - BASIS Oro Valley, #8 in nation - BASIS Scottsdale - BASIS Flagstaff, #10 in nation - BASIS Tucson North



"Our goal was never to run just one great school," co-founder Olga Block said in response to the latest set of rankings. "It was to create a network of the best schools in the country, and the world. These national rankings help prove not only that our educational model works, but that it's among the world's best. And that means our students have great choices and opportunities in their futures."

Co-founder Michael Block added, "It's a well-deserved honor for our students and teachers to be so highly ranked by The Washington Post, as well as by U.S. News. But it's quite a different distinction to be ranked by both esteemed publications, with quite different ranking methodologies."

Block noted that these national accolades aren't the only measure of success. "Add to that BASIS Curriculum students' achievement on the OECD Test for Schools (based on PISA), which measures critical thinking skills, and it's fair to say that no matter the source of assessment, our schools measure up as among the best on earth."

"We have always said every community should have a BASIS charter school," said Craig Barrett, Chairman of BASIS Schools. "I believe these rankings give great support for that concept."

As referenced by Michael Block, last week BASIS charter schools were ranked #1, #2, #3, #5, and #7 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its 2017 list of "America's Best High Schools." Those five schools  in U.S. News rankings order, BASIS Scottsdale, BASIS Tucson North, BASIS Oro Valley, BASIS Peoria, and BASIS Chandler -- were also the top five charter schools in the United States, per U.S. News' 2017 charter school rankings.

About BASIS Curriculum Schools

The BASIS Curriculum Schools network is among the best in the world, serving students from Preschool through Grade 12. The BASIS Curriculum  founded in 1998, and cultivating excellence every year since -- educates students at the highest international levels, preparing them to be participants, not spectators, in the 21st-century global workforce of commerce and innovation. The network currently has twenty-one public charter schools in Arizona, Texas, and Washington, D.C., five independent schools in California, New York, and Virginia, and two international schools in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, China. For more information, please visit BASISed.com or vectors.BASISed.com.

SOURCE BASIS Curriculum Schools

Related Links

http://www.basised.com


ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Murray Energy Corporation, and its five West Virginia subsidiaries, filed a lawsuit today in that state seeking to hold The New York Times Company accountable for the false and defamatory statements that newspaper made in an article it published on April 24 and 25, 2017. In the lawsuit, Murray Energy is seeking to recover damages for the harm caused by The New York Times' false statements, and is also pursuing the imposition of punitive damages.

In its article, "Money Talked Loudest at Trump's Inaugural," The New York Times falsely accuses Robert E. Murray of lying about the cause of a 2007 mine collapse that tragically killed nine people. In addition, it also falsely implies that the Murray Energy organization was found guilty of a significant number of violations outside the norms of industry regulatory compliance. Murray Energy Corporation, and its five West Virginia subsidiaries, filed suit in that state to defend itself against these false accusations.

Data shows that the triggering event for the 2007 mine collapse was what is commonly understood as an earthquake, consistent with Mr. Murray's understanding. Moreover, even the U.S. Attorney for Utah admitted that "they were unable to demonstrate, given the evidence, a direct connection between the violation and the fatal mine collapse." And The New York Times also made no attempt to provide a full portrayal of Murray Energy's true safety record. Nor did The New York Times make any mention of Murray Energy's efforts toward ensuring mine safety. Indeed, The New York Times did not even call Mr. Murray or anyone at the Murray Energy organization to fact check any of its false statements.

While The New York Times' false statements impact all of the entities in the Murray Energy organization, Murray Energy is the largest coal mining employer in the State of West Virginia, and coal mining is one of the primary foundations of that state's economy. In fact, according to recent, expert studies by a major accounting firm, every coal mining job in West Virginia is responsible for $1.2 million in economic output and $6.3 million in annual economic activity.

The New York Times, of course, supported Hillary Clinton, who famously declared her agenda to "put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business." Murray Energy instituted this suit, in part, in attempt to ensure that such an agenda is not furthered by The New York Times' false and defamatory statements.

SOURCE Murray Energy Corporation

Related Links

http://www.murrayenergycorp.com


WASHINGTON, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Geographic Expeditions announced today that it has acquired Global Adrenaline, a full-service tour operator that designs, plans and operates customized trips for groups and independent travelers on all seven continents. The transaction is a key part of its overall growth plan for the travel business.

Global Adrenaline has been a valued partner for over a decade, currently operating a number of land-based National Geographic Expeditions' itineraries as well as its growing private and custom expeditions business. The acquisition of Global Adrenaline provides National Geographic with a platform for developing its own call center and significantly expanding its land-based trip offerings.

By acquiring Global Adrenaline, National Geographic will increase the scale of its portfolio of travel offerings, in addition to expanding its reach within the travel business. Existing partnerships with Lindblad Expeditions in small ships, TCS World Travel in private jets and other relationships in key travel segments remain a vital part of future growth plans.

"Global Adrenaline has delivered extraordinary experiences to our guests over the past 13 years," said Declan Moore, National Geographic Partners CEO. "We're excited to welcome them into the National Geographic family, and to leverage their tour operator platform to expand our Expeditions' offerings. This acquisition enables us to become a tour operator, and to more directly control all aspects of the unique travel experiences we provide guests."

Global Adrenaline was founded in 2001 by current President and CEO Nancy Schumacher.

"Global Adrenaline is thrilled to be joining forces with the National Geographic Expeditions team," said Schumacher. "National Geographic has been a wonderful, long-term partner, and as a combined entity, our team will offer even more enhanced tour operations expertise and international reach for the existing Expeditions trips. We are excited to be part of the National Geographic family and look forward to continuing to provide high-quality, authentic and sustainable travel experiences that support local economies and inspire people to protect and preserve the places we visit."

National Geographic Partners LLC

National Geographic Partners LLC (NGP), a joint venture between National Geographic and 21st Century Fox, is committed to bringing the world premium science, adventure and exploration content across an unrivaled portfolio of media assets. NGP combines the global National Geographic television channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO, Nat Geo PEOPLE) with National Geographic's media and consumer-oriented assets, including National Geographic magazines; National Geographic studios; related digital and social media platforms; books; maps; children's media; and ancillary activities that include travel, global experiences and events, archival sales, licensing and e-commerce businesses. Furthering knowledge and understanding of our world has been the core purpose of National Geographic for 129 years, and now we are committed to going deeper, pushing boundaries, and going further for our consumers  and reaching over 730 million people around the world in 172 countries and 43 languages every month as we do it. NGP returns 27 percent of our proceeds to the nonprofit National Geographic Society to fund work in the areas of science, exploration, conservation and education. For more information visit nationalgeographic.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn and Pinterest.

Global Adrenaline, Inc.

Global Adrenaline, Inc. is a luxury travel specialist and tour operator providing the finest in customized itineraries worldwide. Global Adrenaline is dedicated to providing top quality educational and culturally compelling trips that encourage adventure, exploration, cultural celebration and responsible tourism. Global Adrenaline's mission since its founding in 2001 has been to create once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences that inspire our travelers to positively impact the world around them. We believe that travel is a powerful form of education and can help make the world a more peaceful and sustainable place for all.

SOURCE National Geographic

Related Links

http://www.nationalgeographic.com


With the addition of the 45mm endocutter, the ECHELON FLEX GST System now provides a complete offering that addresses the unique challenges of thoracic and colorectal procedures involving diseased, thick and thin tissue. The ECHELON FLEX GST System is uniquely designed to enable precision stapling performance with exceptional staple line integrity across the broadest range of tissue thickness ii , and is ideally suited for thoracic, colorectal and bariatric surgery.

"The Echelon Powered Endocutter family has been shown in a very large retrospective study to be associated with significantly reduced hemostasis complications as well as total hospital costs," says Tom O'Brien, Vice President, Global Endomechanical Platform Leader at Ethicon. "The GST technology in this new device minimizes lateral tissue movement which may reduce mucosal bleeding and aids in the capture of all tissue layers, including the mucosa. Failure to capture the mucosa may disrupt the healing process, reduce transection site integrity and decrease staple line integrity."

Exceptional Stapling Precision for Optimal Outcomes

Designed for stability, the ECHELON FLEX GST System delivers less tissue slippage during firing by controlling tissue movement with pre-compression and Gripping Surface Technology, which is more likely to completely capture mucosa in the staple line versus the other leading endocutter on the market.iii Better mucosal capture improves staple line integrity and leak resistance, and provides optimal conditions for tissue healing.iii

The ECHELON FLEX GST System is efficient and cost effective and may eliminate one reload due to less tissue slippage during firingiv compared to ENDO GIA Reloads with Tri-Staple Technology. The system is associated with reduced procedural costs related to staple line interventions compared with standard reloadsv, with 42% fewer staple line interventionsvi and now offers a new black 45mm reload, intended for use in very thick tissue.

To learn more about the ECHELON FLEX GST System visit: http://www.ethicon.com/healthcare-professionals/products/staplers/endocutters/echelon-flex-gst-system.

About Ethicon

From creating the first sutures, to revolutionizing surgery with minimally invasive procedures, Ethicon, part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, has made significant contributions to surgery for more than 60 years. Our continuing dedication to Shape the Future of Surgery is built on our commitment to help address the world's most pressing health care issues, and improve and save more lives. Through Ethicon's surgical technologies and solutions including sutures, staplers, energy devices, trocars and hemostats and our commitment to treat serious medical conditions like obesity and cancer worldwide, we deliver innovation to make a life-changing impact. Learn more at www.ethicon.com, and follow us on Twitter @Ethicon.

* Ethicon represents the products and services of Ethicon, Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC and certain of their affiliates.



ISystem components include ECHELON FLEX Powered Plus Stapler and ENDOPATH ECHELON Reloads with Gripping Surface Technology.

iiECHELON FLEX GST System designed and tested to accommodate a tissue thickness range of 1.0mm to 4.0mm (measured at 8g/mm2) vs the Medtronic Tri-Staple portfolio intended for a thickness range of 0.75mm to 3.0mm (per IFU & materials downloaded from Medtronic website on Nov 16,2016).

iiiECHELON FLEX GST System Blue and Green Reloads compared to Endo GIA with Tri Staple Technology Purple Reloads evaluated via gross observations of firings in 1.5mm to 3.0mm thick animate porcine ileum. Mucosal capture was rated via a 5-point Likert scale with the highest rating representing fully captured mucosa.

ivBenchtop testing in porcine stomach tissue. Mean tissue movement from after clamping on tissue to after firing ECHELON FLEX Powered Plus Stapler (PSEE60A) and ECHELON Reload with GST vs ENDO GIA ULTRA Handle (EGIAUSTND) and Endo GIA Reload with Tri-Staple Technology at 1.5, 2.5, 3.3 and 4.0mm tissue thicknesses (1.5mm: GST60B 1.067mm vs EGIA60AMT 2.452mm p<0.001; 2.5mm: GST60G 1.148mm vs EGIA60AMT 3.261mm p<0.001; 3.3mm: GST60T 0.642mm vs EGIA60AMT 4.806mm p<0.001; 4.0mm: GST60T 0.654mm vs EGIA60AXT 5.116mm p<0.001).

v Based on a Budget Impact Model utilizing Ethicon sponsored US clinical trial-reported data on intra-operative surgical interventions associated with GST vs standard reloads in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and procedural costs inputs from published literature and US market intelligence.

viBased on a prospective, multi-center study of staple line interventions required during transection of the greater curvature of the stomach in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy procedures, comparing the [ECHELON FLEX] GST System (mean # of interventions 1.1) to standard reloads (mean # of interventions 1.9). Evaluation of a Powered Stapler System with Gripping Surface Technology on Surgical Interventions Required During Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. Fegelman E, Knippenberg S, Schwiers M, et al. Accepted for publication in J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech.

SOURCE Ethicon

Related Links

http://www.ethicon.com


JAMESTOWN, Va., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Downtown Abbey producer, Carnival Films, released its new television drama, Jamestown, on Sky 1 in the United Kingdom. Set in 1619 Virginia, the eight-part television drama series charts the early days of the first English settlers as they embark on their new lives in Virginia. Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation President and CEO James Horn was a historical consultant on the series, providing counsel to ensure an accurate portrayal of the conditions in the early days of Jamestown. While the series is based on historical events that took place in Virginia in 1619 and following years, it is an interpretive drama and not a documentary of actual events.

"We can only imagine the bravery of the women who set sail for Jamestown and the unknown in these years," says James Horn. "This compelling drama portrays in vivid color the challenges they faced and what it took to be among the first women pioneers in English America. Without these courageous young women, the colony would not have survived."

"Virginia's 2019 Commemoration, AMERICAN EVOLUTION is pleased that this production will drive interest in the historic sites and properties in Virginia," said Kathy Spangler, Executive Director of the 2019 Commemoration. "It is serendipitous that the release of Jamestown is concurrent with the timing of AMERICAN EVOLUTION events that commemorate the 400th anniversary of pivotal events that occurred in 1619 Virginia and continue to influence America today. We will harness this heightened public interest with our signature events, education programs and legacy projects that inspire local, national and international engagement in the 2019 Commemoration themes of democracy, diversity, and opportunity."

Set in 1619 Virginia, the first season tracks the arrival and interactions of a large number of women in the colony. Actresses Naomi Battrick, Sophie Rundle and Niamh Walsh play three fictional heroines among the group of about 150 young women sent to Jamestown to become wives for the planters in these years. Another key storyline for the show will be relations between the settlers and Virginia Indians. The cast of male settlers is portrayed by actors Max Beesley, Jason Flemyng, Dean Lennox Kelly, Shaun Dooley, Stuart Martin, Steven Waddington, Matt Stokoe and Burn Gorman.

Today, viewers of the Jamestown television series can learn more about the Jamestown colony at Historic Jamestowne, site of the original settlement jointly administered by the National Park Service and Jamestown Rediscovery on behalf of Preservation Virginia, and Jamestown Settlement, a living-history museum of 17th-century Virginia administered by the Commonwealth of Virginia's Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

For information on AMERICAN EVOLUTION, visit www.americanevolution2019.com.

About the 2019 Commemoration

The 2019 Commemoration, AMERICAN EVOLUTION, highlights events that occurred in Virginia in 1619 that continue to influence America today. Featured programs, events and legacy projects will position Virginia as a leader in education, tourism and economic development. AMERICAN EVOLUTION commemorates the ongoing journey toward the key ideals of democracy, diversity and opportunity. Dominion Resources is an AMERICAN EVOLUTION Founding Partner and Altria Group is a Virginia Colony Partner. The 2019 Commemoration is a sub-agency of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.

CARNIVAL FILMS

Carnival Films is a division of NBCUniversal International Studios and one of the UK's leading drama specialists. The company is responsible for the global television phenomenon Downton Abbey and current primetime series such as The Last Kingdom for the BBC and co-produced with Netflix and Sky 1's Jamestown and Stan Lee's Lucky Man. Other shows produced over Carnival's history include Poirot, Hotel Babylon, Whitechapel and Dracula as well as award-winning mini-series such as Traffik, Any Human Heart, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies and The Hollow Crown anthology. Carnival has received a host of national and international awards including Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes and BAFTAs and has been recognized as the UK's best production company at both the Bulldog Awards and Broadcast Awards.

CONTACT

Sarah Mars Bowie

2019 Commemoration

[email protected]

PH: (202) 974-5081

SOURCE 2019 Commemoration

Related Links

http://www.americanevolution2019.com


SANTIAGO, Chile, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Faced with rising operational costs, slim margins, and mounting revenue pressures, airlines must break through legacy technology barriers that impede growth and profitability, and optimizing pricing is the perfect place to start, according to Airnguru, a company that helps airlines better analyze and update fares to react quickly to market conditions, increase profits, and improve pricing effectiveness and coverage.

Airline professionals Javier Jimenez, Sergio Mendoza and Daniel Pizarro founded Airnguru in 2015 to address their collective frustration and inability to define profitable fare structures because of insufficient market data, outdated competitor prices and hundreds of thousands of pricing variables. At the time, they worked in airline pricing analysis, revenue management and data sciences.

Airnguru's scalable platform radically accelerates data-gathering and pricing analysis, enabling airlines to extend their coverage, speed time to market for updated fares, eliminate fare filing errors and modernize traditional pricing processes still used by many airline revenue management and pricing teams.

"Now that we have the technology to transform the industry, airlines no longer need to be wedded to legacy systems that soak up IT investments while failing to meet modern business needs," said Mendoza, Airnguru's CEO and co-founder. The company estimates that up to 70% of airline technology investment is currently spent "maintaining obsolete systems."

Data-driven pricing solutions like Airnguru come at a time when airlines are experiencing a third straight year of profitability but meager margins, according to The International Air Transport Association (IATA). Net 2017 airline projects are projected at $30 billion, with a 7.9% return on invested capital.

The Airnguru platform provides 100% market coverage and updates fares hourly, in contrast to current pricing processes and systems that typically provide just 10% to-30% coverage on a daily basis. With a focus on efficiency and profitability, the company's technology allows airlines to price their origin-destination markets based on the most current data, and identify price changes that reflect same-day competitor actions and other fast-moving market developments.

Avianca Airlines, the second largest carrier in Latin America, recently signed with Airnguru. The airline's goal is to improve revenues per available seat mile (RASM) and leverage current fare data to compete in a multichannel distribution scenario that includes online travel agencies, metasearch engines, social networks and other digital sources of fare data.

"Avianca intends to lead the industry in terms of intelligent IT and pricing applications," said Mario Cruz, the airline's recently appointed head of Pricing and Revenue Management. "We are eager to deploy a pricing intelligence platform that delivers the ability to maximize revenues and operational efficiencies with faster, more accurate data-gathering and analysis that gives our airline a competitive edge."



Tackling Inherent Airline Challenges Head On

According to Mendoza, Airnguru's tools address common challenges that airlines face when determining optimum pricing, including:

Slow reaction to competitors' prices, resulting in diluted revenues and lost market share

Fare filing mistakes caused by hard-to-handle legacy systems

Missed opportunities from low-priority origin-destination markets that are not monitored and priced effectively by current processes and tools

Manual pricing strategies that rely on an analyst's expertise rather than real-time data and proven processes

Hidden immediate-revenue opportunities that are impossible to detect with current technologies.



The Airnguru founders see their technology as crucial to airlines' digital transformation strategies that accelerate data-gathering and pricing analysis. "Our pricing solution will forever change the ways that revenue managers and pricing analysts find, optimize and act on data to unlock revenues and take advantage of new pricing opportunities," says Jimenez, Airnguru's Chief Commercial Officer. "Our technology is not replacing airlines' functions. It is helping them make better and faster pricing decisions that can significantly impact the bottom line."

Airnguru will be participating in the Aviation Festival Americas conference (Booth #517) in Miami on May 9-10. To schedule an interview with Sergio Mendoza or Javier Jimenez, please contact Vanessa Horwell at [email protected]. For more information about the company's pricing intelligence tools for airlines, visit www.airnguru.com.

About Airnguru - Pricing Intelligence Solution Built by Airline Professionals for Airline Professionals

Airnguru modernizes airline pricing processes by providing real-time data, insights and technologies that help airline pricing analysts and revenue managers monitor, visualize and promptly adjust fares for maximum revenues and increased profits. Airnguru's cloud-based solutions and visualization platforms represent a new generation of pricing intelligence tools that will revamp current fare-tracking and management processes, helping airlines analyze and optimize their fares to take advantage of market conditions, competitors' prices and revenue opportunities from more origin-destination markets. Airlines gain detailed insights into global fares in all markets and all routes -- and the ability to react quickly in order to capture revenues and streamline pricing efficiencies. The company has received financial backing from Innova CORFO, the Chilean Economic Development Agency, and the Inzpiral group (an Endeavor global entrepreneurship). For more information, visit www.airnguru.com.

Media Contact

Vanessa Horwell

[email protected]

+1.305.776.8817

SOURCE Airnguru

Related Links

http://www.airnguru.com


DUBLIN, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "North America Concentrated Milk Market By Product Type (Condensed and Evaporated Milk), By End User (Food Services, Food Processing and Retail), By Country (United States, Canada, etc.), Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2012-2022" report to their offering.

Demand for concentrated milk in North America is projected to surpass $ 1.5 billion by 2022

Condensed milk garnered the largest share in North America concentrated milk market in 2016, and the segment is anticipated to continue dominating the market through the forecast period as well. United States was the largest regional market for concentrated milk in North America and this trend is also anticipated to prevail, on account of high disposable income of consumers and high concentration of leading industry players in the country. Few of the major companies operating in North America concentrated milk market include Nestle USA, Eagle Family Foods LLC, Dairy Farmers of America Inc., Santini Foods Inc., and O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative Inc., among others.



North America Concentrated Milk Market report discusses:



North America Concentrated Milk Market Size, Share & Forecast

Segmental Analysis - By Product Type (Condensed Milk and Evaporated Milk), By End User (Food Services, Food Processing and Retail), By Country ( United States , Canada and Mexico )

, and ) Policy & Regulatory Landscape

Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities

Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations

Market Trends & Developments



Increasing Online Market for Concentrated Milk

Growing Sales Channels

Continuous Innovation in Product & Packaging

Increasing Health Consciousness

Rising Demand for Evaporated Milk

Key Topics Covered:



1. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Analyst View



4. Global Concentrated Milk Market Overview



5. North America Concentrated Milk Market Outlook



6. United States Concentrated Milk Market Outlook



7. Canada Concentrated Milk Market Outlook



8. Mexico Concentrated Milk Market Outlook



9. Import & Export Analysis



10. Market Dynamics



11. Market Trends & Developments



12. Policy & Regulatory Landscape



13. Competitive Landscape



14. Strategic Recommendations



Companies Mentioned



Alpura

Amalgamated Dairies Limited

Aurora Organic Dairy

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.

Dean Foods

Eagle Family Foods, LLC

Goya Foods, Inc.,

Grupo Lala SAB de CV

Industrias Cor Sa De Cv

Nestle USA

O-AT-KA Milk Products Cooperative, Inc.

Organic Valley

Parmalat Canada Inc.

Santini Foods, Inc.

Saputo Inc.

For more information about this report visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/vxv67s/north_america

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


NEW YORK, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The North Fork Table & Inn, located in Southold, in the heart of Long Island's wine country, has retained HP-PR for its public relations services. It is the newest client for HP-PR, a boutique firm specializing in travel, hospitality, culinary and lifestyle brands. The company also represents Swallow Restaurant Group.

Helen Patrikis is president and founder of HP-PR, a boutique PR firm specializing in travel, hospitality, culinary and lifestyle brands. HP-PR is expanding with new clients, including The North Fork Table & Inn and Swallow Restaurant, and a collaboration with social influencer Sal DiBenedetto ("TheGrubfather").

To help elevate the social media presence of its fast-growing roster, HP-PR has also collaborated with Sal DiBenedetto (aka The Grubfather), a food and travel writer, photographer, and influencer. His keen eye for food and lifestyle trends will strategically support HP-PR clients with experiential marketing, content creation, social media, videography and photography.

"It's an honor to be working with the culinary talents at both the North Fork Table & Inn and Swallow Restaurant," said Helen Patrikis, president and founder of HP-PR. "As Long Islanders, we're committed to showcasing the talent and incredible food and wine the region has to offer. Our clients single us out for the personalized, hands-on approach we provide and for the strong results we're able to achieve. Long Island is in the midst of a culinary renaissance, and I look forward to helping these and other clients get the recognition they deserve."

Patrikis, a PR agency veteran, launched HP-PR in 2014. The firm's client roster includes luxury resorts such as Manoir Hovey, The Fearrington House, Wickaninnish Inn, and Langdon Hall, as well as Amy's Bread and the National Greece Tourism Office.

Patrikis' strategic talents include media relations, product launches, events, consumer campaigns, and consulting. She specializes in media training for chefs, athletes, authors and CEOs to ensure that they are comfortable and credible during interviews and media appearances.

The North Fork Table & Inn offers progressive American cuisine with a seasonally inspired menu. Executive chef Stephan Bogardus succeeds acclaimed late chef Gerry Hayden, working closely with proprietor/pastry chef Claudia Fleming and partners Mike and Mary Mraz, all veterans of New York's finest restaurants (Gramercy Tavern and Hearth).

At Swallow Restaurant, Chef James Tchinnis specializes in new American cuisine served on small plates designed for sharing. Dishes are composed of the freshest, seasonal and local ingredients. Diners enjoy simple, refined cuisine in the casual, relaxed settings at the two Swallow locations in Huntington Village and Montauk.

Website: www.hp-pr.com

Contact:

Helen Patrikis

631-553-1370

[email protected]

SOURCE HP-PR

Related Links

http://www.hp-pr.com


NEDERLAND, Texas, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OCI Partners LP (NYSE: OCIP), a Delaware limited partnership ("Partnership"), announced today that on May 1, 2017, Mr. Frank Bakker resigned as President, Chief Executive Officer and director of the general partner of the Partnership, effective May 12th, to pursue other opportunities. On May 4, 2017, Mr. Ahmed El-Hoshy, Chief Executive Officer of OCI N.V. in the Americas ("OCI Americas") and a director of the general partner of the Partnership since July 2016, was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of the general partner of the Partnership, effective May 12th. In addition to this new position, he will continue to serve as a director of the general partner of the Partnership and CEO of OCI Americas.

Mr. El-Hoshy has extensive and global experience in the financial, industrial, business services and petrochemical industries. He has been with OCI N.V. (Euronext: OCI) for seven years, and has helped lead OCI's growth in North America since 2011, undertaking various roles including project development and oversight, investments, M&A and business development. He is currently the CEO of OCI Americas and heads all investments, operations and activities in the Americas. Mr. El-Hoshy began his career at Goldman Sachs, as a member of the special situations, investment banking and leverage finance groups in New York and Dubai. Mr. El-Hoshy received his Bachelor's degree in economics with honors from Harvard College.

"The board of directors thanks Frank for his valuable contributions and leadership. During his tenure, the company has made significant progress toward achieving our strategic goals, including the initial plant restart, the 2013 initial public offering and the debottlenecking program", said Mike Bennett, chairman of the board of directors. "Ahmed is a strong and experienced executive. As a member of the Partnership's board and thanks to his successful time at OCI, Ahmed's extensive capabilities and familiarity with the business will ensure a smooth transition."

"I am very proud of the achievements we have realized over the last several years since OCI purchased the mothballed plant. We got the plants up and running very quickly and have increased production capacity by more than 25%, while maintaining an excellent safety record. We have a great team that succeeded in achieving OSHA VPP STAR and ISO certification in a record time," said Mr. Bakker.

"I would like to thank Frank for all his contributions to the Partnership and am excited to continuing work with the highly experienced OCI Beaumont team in this new role, with an unwavering focus on safety, operating reliability and efficiency to create long-term value for our unitholders," said Mr. El-Hoshy.

About OCI Partners LP

OCI Partners LP owns and operates an integrated methanol and ammonia production facility that is strategically located on the Texas Gulf Coast near Beaumont. The Partnership is headquartered in Nederland, Texas and currently has a methanol production design capacity of 912,500 metric tons per year and an ammonia production design capacity of 331,000 metric tons per year.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate" and other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and that do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, among others, the following: our business plans may change as the methanol and ammonia industry and markets warrant; the demand and sales prices for methanol, ammonia and their derivatives may decrease due to market, governmental and other factors; we may be unable to obtain economically priced natural gas and other feedstocks; we may be unable to successfully implement our business strategies, including the completion of significant capital programs; the occurrence of shutdowns (either temporary or permanent) or restarts of existing methanol and ammonia facilities (including our own facility); the timing and length of planned and unplanned downtime; and the occurrence of operating hazards from accidents, fire, severe weather, floods or other natural disasters. For more information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those conveyed in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of the Partnership's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed thereafter. The Partnership undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, unless required by law.

Contacts:

Hans Zayed

Director of Investor Relations

Phone: +1 917-817-5159

[email protected]

SOURCE OCI Partners LP

Related Links

http://www.ocipartnerslp.com


ODESSA, Texas, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- OFS Energy Fund ("OFS") has partnered with Larry Richards and Dave Latch ("Richards Management") to acquire VanZandt Controls, LLC ("VanZandt" or the "Company"), an automated valve distribution and service company based in Odessa, Texas. VanZandt has developed a strong reputation in the west Texas area for its superior products and services. Richards Management plans to utilize VanZandt as a platform to build a market-leading provider of premier valve automation and instrumentation components to the energy industry.

Acquisition of VanZandt Controls, LLC

VanZandt was founded in January 2015 by Lance VanZandt in Midland, Texas. The Company specializes in the packaging, distribution, and servicing of automated valves. Lance has quickly grown VanZandt into one of the top providers of automated valves in west Texas. The Company serves blue chip upstream, midstream, and downstream customers active in the construction of energy-related infrastructure throughout the Permian Basin. For his achievements, Lance was recently selected by the Small Business Administration as the Entrepreneur of the Year in the Permian region. Lance will remain with the Company as a member of its senior management team, serving as the Vice President of Sales. Prior to founding VanZandt, Lance was a top automated valve salesman at both Precision Measurement and Control (acquired by AGI Specialty Valves) and Bertrem Products.

Partnership with Richards Management

In acquiring VanZandt, OFS partnered with Larry Richards and Dave Latch, both former senior management team members at Hy-Bon Engineering and Key Energy Services. While at Hy-Bon, Larry served as CEO and grew the Company from a regional packager of vapor recovery units to a global leader in vent gas management solutions with projects in 35 countries and every major oil basin in the United States. Dave served as the Vice President of Operations of Hy-Bon throughout Larry's tenure as CEO and led the company's service center expansion. Larry and Dave ultimately sold Hy-Bon to Regal Beloit in February 2014.

Larry plans to leverage VanZandt's established distribution network to create a market-leading provider of premier automated valve, controls, and instrumentation components that have demand across multiple packaged energy products and in the buildout of energy infrastructure. Larry also plans to expand into new geographic segments and diversify VanZandt's legacy customer base by targeting customers in the midstream and downstream energy verticals.

OFS was introduced to Larry during his time at Hy-Bon. OFS began exploring a partnership and evaluating acquisition candidates with Larry in early 2016. Larry currently serves as an industry advisor to the Board of Directors of Bold Production Services, an OFS portfolio company.

"We are very excited to partner with Larry and his team in the acquisition of VanZandt. Larry has an established track record of successfully growing and selling companies, as he demonstrated during his time at Hy-Bon. We believe that VanZandt is the perfect platform to execute on Larry's vision of creating a market-leading distributor of premium components used in energy-related applications," said Jerad McMayon, Partner at OFS.

"Lance and his team have built an extremely well-respected company that has excelled and grown rapidly despite the downturn by providing customer-driven technical solutions, coupled with a remarkable level of customer service. We're honored to be partnering with OFS and incredibly excited about the growth opportunities and potential to leverage some truly 'best-in-class' solutions across a broader customer base and geographic area," Larry Richards said.

About OFS

OFS Energy Fund is a Houston-based private equity firm specializing in acquisitions and recapitalizations of middle-market companies in the energy industry with enterprise values between $5 million and $100 million. For more information, please visit www.ofsfund.com.

About VanZandt

VanZandt Controls, LLC specializes in valve automation, valve sourcing, instrumentation, and process controls. The Company is headquartered in Odessa, Texas. For more information, please visit www.vanzandtcontrols.com.

SOURCE OFS Energy Fund

Related Links

http://www.ofsfund.com


VANCOUVER, Wash., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Onboard Systems International, Inc., a leading provider of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment, today announced that it has obtained FAA STC certification for several new cargo hook kits for the Bell 407 aircraft featuring their Surefire release technology. Onboard has also submitted these systems to Transport Canada for certification. The Surefire circuit requires a purposeful, half-second press against the hook release button, guarding against inadvertent releases caused by accidental contact with the release button during flight.

TALON LC Hydraulic Hook Kit with Fixed Provisions and Onboard Weighing System with 28VDC backlighting (P/N 200-413-10) TALON LC Hydraulic Cargo Hook with Surefire

"Based on customer request, we are continuing to roll out our Surefire release technology across our entire line of our cargo hook kits," said Karsten Lemmon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Onboard Systems. "The Bell 407 is extremely popular with our external load customers, which is why we have so many cargo hook kit options available for this aircraft. We're pleased to now be able to offer our customers the extra load security that our Surefire release technology provides."

The newly certified Surefire cargo hook kits for the Bell 407 include the TALON LC Keeperless Hook Kit (P/N 200-329-10), the TALON LC Hydraulic Hook Kit with Fixed Provisions (P/N 200-412-10), the TALON LC Hydraulic Hook Kit with Fixed Provisions and Onboard Weighing System with 28VDC backlighting (P/N 200-413-10), and the TALON LC Hydraulic Hook Kit with Fixed Provisions and Onboard Weighing System with 5VDC backlighting (P/N 200-413-11). In addition to offering the Surefire release technology option on new equipment, Onboard Systems can upgrade existing equipment for select models of certified cargo hooks at the factory during overhauls or upon request. Upgrade kits will also be available for operators with the capabilities to perform this work in house or through a local service facility. Please contact us for more information.

About Onboard Systems

Onboard Systems International, Inc. designs and manufactures a complete line of innovative helicopter cargo hook equipment under its TALON brand, including belly hooks, cargo hook suspension systems, Onboard Weighing Systems and remote hooks. Its low-weight, high quality products provide helicopter operators with increased cost efficiencies and safety through customer-driven designs, responsive service and support, and low ongoing maintenance costs. Onboard Systems maintains a rigorous quality management system (QMS) designed to meet or exceed the strict requirements of AS9100 Revision C, ISO 9001:2008, helicopter airframe manufacturers, and the FAA. Founded in 1975, Onboard Systems is a privately held US corporation located in Vancouver, Washington.

Contact: Contact: Sheri Gormley Karsten Lemmon [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 360.546.3072, x 280 Tel: 360.546.3072, x 215

SOURCE Onboard Systems
"In combat, the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces fight for the ideals of freedom. Even if they become severely injured, servicemembers keep fighting for their lives. These military heroes are driven to recover due to the love and support of family, friends and loved ones who remind them every day that a grateful nation stands behind them," said James Schenck, PenFed Foundation CEO. "So as you look out across this room and see nearly 800 patriotic Americans, it is your care and your concern for our nation's heroes that inspires them. By supporting our nation's defenders who were injured defending our way of life, your love and support for them is making a real difference."

US Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said, "At the VA, there is no way we could do the work we are doing without our partners. The work being done by the PenFed Foundation is absolutely critical to the type of partnerships that we need to help our nation's Veterans. We are really proud that working with foundations like PenFed and others, the number of homeless Veterans is down by half."

Bob Carter, President of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. and Executive General Manager, Toyota Motor Corporation, received the Community Hero Award for the extraordinary contributions Toyota has made to numerous military community-based philanthropic programs, including partnering with the Hiring-Our-Heroes Organization, founded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "It is imperative for all of us to remember that as supporters of our men and women of service, our responsibility does not end when they return home. In fact, for companies like us, their homecoming is where our duty begins," Carter said. "We know that hiring Veterans is not just the right thing to do; it's the smart thing to do," he continued, noting that "companies of all sizes, including over 500 Toyota dealers, have committed to hire over 700,000 veterans and military spouses in conjunction with the Hiring-Our Heroes program."

Marine Corporal (Ret.) Joshua Himan received the Military Hero Award in recognition of the contributions he has made to other Veterans after returning home paralyzed from the chest down from injuries he suffered while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. "I accept this award on behalf of the 16 men that died in my battalion in Afghanistan," Himan said. "My sacrifice is so insignificant compared to what those men gave. Whenever I feel sorry for myself I think about these men and I know every single one of them would trade places with me today. I owe it to them to live my life to the fullest. Because of that motivation, I'm here with you today."

Claudia Avila received the Hero at Home Award for her unending support as caregiver for her husband Captain Luis Avila who was severely wounded on his fifth deployment in Afghanistan in 2011. Claudia said, "Soldiers are the backbone of our nation and we, the caregivers, are the backbone for them. To the PenFed Foundation I'm grateful for creating awareness that caregivers do exist, that we do want help and we appreciate everything you all do. All of you are heroes in one way or another. You made the life of our families better and we are grateful for that. Life is fragile, it can happen to anyone of us; we need to take care of one another."

Since it was founded in 2001, the PenFed Foundation has provided more than $30 million of financial support to Veterans.

To learn more about the PenFed Foundation and see a short video about its mission, please visit The PenFed Foundation's website.

About the PenFed Foundation

Founded in 2001, the PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to helping members of our military community secure their financial future. It provides service members, Veterans, their families and support networks with the skills and resources they need to improve their lives through programs on financial education, credit-building, home ownership, and short-term assistance. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has the resources to effectively reach military communities across the nation, build strong partnerships, and engage a dedicated corps of volunteers in its mission. The credit union funds the Foundation's personnel and most operational costs, demonstrating its strong commitment to the programs the Foundation provides. To learn more, visit: www.penfedfoundation.org.

SOURCE PenFed Foundation

Related Links

http://www.penfedfoundation.org


NEW YORK, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network who are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area.

You can also submit a query to the hundreds of thousands of experts in our network  it's easy and free! Just fill out the query form to get started: http://prn.to/queryform

EXPERT ALERTS

Overcoming the Stigma Related to Substance Use Disorders

New Restaurant Calorie Labeling Laws

Ethical and Legal Implications of Artificial Wombs

Solutions for Handling Mother's Day as a Divorced Father

as a Divorced Father Prom Season Makeup: The Glitter Eye Shadow Trend

Mother's Day : Ways to Appreciate and Bond With Your Mom

MEDIA JOBS

US Editor  Telegraph Media Group

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Associate Editor, Leveraged Finance - Debtwire

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Expert Roundup: The Future of Obamacare

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Blog Profiles: Composting Blogs

-------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPERT ALERTS:

Overcoming the Stigma Related to Substance Use Disorders

Dr. Elizabeth Harwood

Assistant Professor of Psychology and Department Coordinator

Rivier University

"Overcoming the stigma related to substance use disorders is one of the key ways to help fight this epidemic. Stigma is not only devastating to the individual suffering from addiction, but also has far-reaching scientific, medical and social consequences, such as a reduction in funding for research, a lack of access to healthcare, and a reluctance on the part of the individual to ask for help for fear of others' reactions. We need to take drastic steps to fight the opioid crisis in this country, and that starts with educating the community on substance use disorder. The opioid epidemic has hit New Hampshire extremely hard. We need to look at this problem from an educational standpoint. All drugs of addiction are rewarding, activating the pleasure centers of the brain, which encourage repeated use. With the development of tolerance, this reward pathway becomes impaired and negatively affects several areas of the brain leading to the compulsive behaviors characteristic of substance use disorders. Unpacking these complex concepts helps communities understand how substance abuse can occur as well as the necessity of involving all areas of the community to combat it."

Dr. Harwood is an accomplished educator with a passion for teaching. She has spoken extensively about the opioid epidemic and the science behind substance use disorders. A key to overcoming the opioid epidemic in states such as New Hampshire is to understand the science behind addiction. Overcoming the stigma related to substance use disorders is also necessary to fight this epidemic. Due to the stigma related to these issues, researchers may not receive the necessary funding, treatment is difficult to access, and communities may be reluctant to talk openly about this crisis. In addition, Dr. Harwood can comment on a variety of topics including substance use issues, health and wellbeing in college students, and excellence in teaching.

Website: https://www.rivier.edu

Contact: Maggie Fiertz, [email protected]

New Restaurant Calorie Labeling Laws

Sara Burnett

Director of Wellness and Food Policy

Panera Bread

Soon, new restaurant calorie labeling laws will go into effect, requiring all restaurants with 20+ locations to add calorie labeling to their menu boards. Says Burnett: "There's no debate about the importance of food transparency. The FDA menu calorie labeling may be delayed, but the industry must continue to give information that helps people make informed decisions. Because people want to know what is in the food they eat, leading companies like Panera will continue to comply with the federal law as it was written."

Panera, which has been displaying calorie information on menu boards since 2010, recently announced that they will be displaying added sugar information on the menu and at point of pour -- the only national restaurant chain to do so. All beverages, including soda, tea and juice, are now labeled with added sugar and calorie information. The chain also launched a new line of clean drinks with no artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Burnett is available to discuss: Panera's commitment to menu transparency and leadership in the category; health and wellness and shifting consumer tastes in the fast casual space; and food and beverage trends, including using in-season ingredients.

Website: www.panerabread.com

Contact: Lauren Myefski, [email protected]

Ethical and Legal Implications of Artificial Wombs

Dena S. Davis

Presidential Endowed Chair in Health - Humanities/Social Sciences; Professor of Religion Studies; Associate Director of Personnel for Health, Medicine and Society

Lehigh University

Four scientists have just announced, in Nature Communications, that they have successfully created an artificial womb in which "extremely premature" lambs were nurtured for four weeks, enough to make them ready to meet the world. The goal is to advance this technology until it is available for very premature (23-26 week) human infants. At present, very premature infants have extremely poor prognoses: likely death, or severe disabilities. Four to five weeks would be enough to allow a "very premature infant" to become merely a "premature infant," with a good prognosis.

Says Davis: "If successful, this could be a terrific technology. At present, we put preemies into Neonatal Intensive Care Units, which are super stressful for the babies and their families, and the things we do to try to support them very often cause serious damage if the baby does survive. Fetuses, for example, are meant to breathe liquid while in the womb, but if they are born prematurely, all we can do is to force air into their little lungs, often causing permanent lung damage. A calm, soothing environment that mimicked the human uterus would be a wonderful thing. But it does make me wonder: Would this make humans somewhat like marsupials? At present, one is either born or not. A fetus just a day away from delivery is still just a very late-term fetus. And a very premature infant, once it is born and draws breath, is now an infant, legally and ethically a human person. Would this technology create a new, intermediate stage? What are the ethical and legal implications?"

Website: http://www.lehigh.edu

Contact: Lauren Stralo, [email protected]

Solutions for Handling Mother's Day as a Divorced Father

Michael A. Klein

Psychologist, Consultant

MK Insights LLC

Mother's Day is complicated for divorced fathers. While anger, resentment, and jealousy can quickly rise to the surface, divorced dads can and must manage these feelings in order to support the emotional health of their children. There are, however, easy solutions to address this often-hidden problem. Says Dr. Klein: "It is critical for divorced fathers to be aware of any negative feelings surrounding Mother's Day. If they fail to recognize them, it is inevitable that kids will suffer the consequences, including guilt for celebrating their mother, confusion about how to react to dad's emotions, and even their own misplaced anger."

Dr. Klein has almost 20 years of experience as a psychologist and consultant to business. He has worked as a human resources professional, and is the author of "Trapped in the Family Business: A practical guide to understanding and managing this hidden dilemma."

Expert Contact: [email protected]

Prom Season Makeup: The Glitter Eye Shadow Trend

Kerry Spindler

Beauty Expert

"The glitter eyeshadow trend has taken social media by storm, and although it is made to look easy to apply, there are some tricks to applying a flawless glitter application that won't shed or crust."

Based in New York, Spindler is available to discuss the glitter eye shadow trend, as well as age-appropriate makeup application so tweens and teens do not look too mature for their age. She has been quoted in numerous media outlets, including InStyle Magazine, Lifetime for Women and Arise 360.

Website: www.kerryspindler.com

Contact: Kerry Spindler, [email protected]

Mother's Day: Ways to Appreciate and Bond With Your Mom

Dr. Frieda Birnbaum

Research Psychologist, Psychoanalyst

Birnbaum, who had twins at age 60, is available to discuss how to appreciate and bond with your mother: "1) Respect: Mothers love to know that their children love and respect them. Offering a thank you, remembering to call -- little gestures like these may seem small to you but, they bring an abundance of joy to moms. 2) Inquire: Ask your mother what is going in her life. Keep aware of all major things. Moms love it when you remember something important to them that they weren't expecting you to remember, because it shows you attentively listen to them. 3) Peaceful: Chances are you and your mother may not see eye to eye on everything -- or anything, for that matter. It's OK. If you can accept your mom for who she is and accept that you both are different, you'll have many days of peace between you. 4) Surprise: It doesn't have to just be on Mother's Day. Any day is a good day to surprise your mom by taking her out to dinner or shopping. If you regularly take your mom off guard with something positive, it'll make her very happy."

Based in the New York metro area, Dr. Birnbaum is an expert on depression, women's issues and attaining happiness. She is the author of "Life Begins at 60: A New View on Motherhood, Marriage, and Reinventing Ourselves" and "What Price Power: An In-Depth Study of the Professional Woman in a Relationship."

Contact: Ryan McCormick, [email protected]

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US Editor  Telegraph Media Group

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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line.

EXPERT ROUNDUP: THE FUTURE OF OBAMACARE: In light of the recent healthcare vote in the House and upcoming vote in the Senate, following is an expert roundup we ran in January that featured experts from the ProfNet network who are available for interviews on the future of the Affordable Care Act, the likelihood of a repeal, what a new plan could look like, and more: http://prn.to/2qDr9vg

BLOGGER EVENTS: TOP EVENTS TO ATTEND IN MAY. Blogger Events is a monthly column of what's happening in the blog world. Here's what's in store for May: http://bit.ly/2oXdlyh

BLOG PROFILES: COMPOSTING BLOGS. Each week, PR Newswire's Audience Relations team selects an industry/subject and profiles a handful of sites that do a good job with promoting and contributing to the conversation. This week, they look at composting blogs:http://bit.ly/2q44ECw

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PROFNET is an exclusive service of PR Newswire.

SOURCE ProfNet

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LEHI, Utah, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Property Management Inc.(PMI) was recently included in Entrepreneur magazine's Best of the Best Franchises list, which recognizes the 105 companies that ranked at the top of their industry categories in Entrepreneur's 2017 Franchise 500 ranking.

Randall Henderson, Executive Director of Training and Support, said, "When someone invests in a PMI franchise, our goal is to provide them with the best tools and support available so that they can succeed in the property management business. We truly believe at PMI that we don't succeed unless our franchisees succeed in their business, that is the code we live by every day." Henderson believes that this is the foundation of PMI's substantial and continued growth in the real estate market.

"Prospective franchisees often already know what type of franchise they want to own," says Jason Feifer, editor in chief of Entrepreneur. "So by distilling our Franchise 500 list down to the No. 1 company in each category, we help them decide exactly where to start their search."

Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 rankings are based on a comprehensive evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs, size, growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. PMI's position at the top of its category proves it's a leader within its industry. To view Property Management Inc. in the full listing, visit entrepreneur.com/article/292717 or see the May 2017 issue of Entrepreneur.

ABOUT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.

Property Management Inc. (PMI) is a premier real estate management company providing industry leading technology, training, systems and support to more than 180 franchises globally. The PMI franchise network manages more than $4 billion in assets and is one of the fastest growing property management franchises in the country. PMI's proven comprehensive franchise program gives franchise owners the tools for success and provides the competitive advantage required to succeed in the property management industry. PMI has been ranked on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list for three years running, is currently named "Best in Category" for 2017 and listed as one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Franchises. Each PMI franchise is locally owned and operated. For more information, please visit PropertyManagementInc.com.

Corporate media contact:

Cassie Gross, Property Management Inc.

385.455.4151

[email protected]

SOURCE Property Management Inc.

Related Links

http://propertymanagementinc.com


AMSTERDAM, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Quietroom foundation  creator of the Quietroom label, the only objective standard for quiet hotel rooms  is setting up the first worldwide certification process for manufacturers of soundproofing products used in the hotel industry.

"Using certified products will help architects and developers meet objective standards for sound insulation," says Lucas Keizer, president of the foundation, "and hotels can demand the use of certified products as a guarantee that their rooms will be properly insulated."

In the construction sector, and therefore in the hotel business, small errors can lead to big lapses in performance. These errors tend to only become visible at a late stage: through bad reviews, high repair costs or the unavoidable demolition of a building. These type of costly errors can be avoided by the use of certified products. Manufacturers of soundproofing building products for the hotel industry can apply to the Quietroom foundation.

A wide range of products from manufacturers around the globe are being examined, and so far 36 have received the Quietroom Product Certificate. The certificate is available in various categories such as Floors, Walls & Ceilings, Doors & Windows, Acoustics, Ventilation and Water & Discharge Pipes.

According to the Architect Institute: "Industry professionals have already called the certification an excellent initiative and an important step to achieve better quality control for soundproof products."

The Quietroom foundation has also created the Design & Build Certificate which is aimed at (acoustic) consultants, designers and constructors involved with projects in the hotel industry. Certification of their building systems, construction processes, and services will make them more attractive to clients in the hotel industry.

The aim of the foundation is to create a worldwide database of certified products, systems, processes, and services, which will be freely accessible through the foundation's website, www.quiethotelroom.org. Certificates will be annually revised to ensure that they reflect the latest standards.

For more information about the Quietroom Product Certificate and Design & Build Certificate, please contact:

[email protected]

Keizersgracht 241

1016 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Related Files

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SOURCE Quietroom Foundation

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https://www.quiethotelroom.org


SINGAPORE, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RamGroup, a Singaporean based technology firm focused on the development of new smart semiconductor materials and molecular engineering of nano-systems, has just announced a major breakthrough for monitoring cardio-pulmonary function that has the potential to save lives globally and revolutionize the wearables and remote monitoring markets.

RAM Group Wearable Hemodynamic bracelet with continuous monitoring of cardiac and pulmonary function with integrated Bluetooth and Mobile App for Android devices.

Ram Group's cardio-pulmonary monitoring sensor for wearables is a cutting-edge sensor solution that can substitute for expensive, invasive monitoring equipment requiring surgery, with a powerful, low-cost sensor that can be worn at any contact point on the body. The current approach to monitoring cardio-pulmonary function requires surgery for pulmonary catheterization or a multiple electrode belt halter. Ram Group's solution enables continuous monitoring of the cardiopulmonary and circulatory system, but also decreases risks for patients in the event of heart surgery compared to existing approaches. This hemodynamic sensor enables Ram Group to monitor a wide range of biometrics and high-acuity vital signs from a single-point of contact anywhere on the body and is completely non-invasive. The impact of this breakthrough will be to empower a new generation of wearables and remote monitoring solutions that can save lives and reduce costs for consumers and healthcare providers. RAM Group's innovative wearable technology is set to unleash the full potential of telehealth and telemedicine platforms throughout the medical, health and wellness industries worldwide.

Ram Group's hemodynamic monitoring sensor is a patient-centric solution that eliminates the need for surgery and is even more robust than much more expensive, invasive, hospital-based equipment. Ram Group's sensor not only monitors the right atrium of the heart but can monitor the left-atrium and central venous pressure at the same time without the need for surgery. Utilizing RAM technology wearables can now do more with less invasive approaches. No surgical procedures or invasive probes are required. RAM Group's sensor based on revolutionary new class of smart semiconductor material developed by the Company and its partners is extremely powerful and sensitive, a single sensor placed on the body can provide real-time data on heart rate, heart rate variability, left and right atrium pressures, central venous pressure, cuff-less blood pressure, cardiac output, breath dynamics, and provide a complete picture of the entire heart, lungs and circulatory system's interaction as a single system for the first time by merely coming into contact with the body without the need for electrodes, surgery or any other system components. This is revolutionary in the world of monitoring vital signs, and the first wearable device ever to provide high-acuity monitoring non-invasively in a single integrated chipset. Furthermore, RAM Group's sensor can help reduce risks and improve patient safety by enabling non-invasive approaches that reduce risks of stroke, seizure, infection and surgical complications associated with traditional approaches. This technology can help reduce the length of stay in hospitals and the overall risk of hospital-acquired infections and enable remote monitoring of patients at home without the need for the patient to episodically use manual blood pressure readings, for example. This new class of ultra-powerful sensors will enable new devices that are ideal for improving outcomes and saving costs in value-based payment schemes.

One of the most exciting aspects of this technology is the application for neonatal and pre-mature infants non-invasive monitoring. One million pre-mature babies die each year, and three million babies die in their first three months of life throughout the world. A non-invasive technology for monitoring the heart and lungs of pre-mature infants could help to dramatically reduce neonatal deaths. Ram Group, for the first time, is introducing a new technology that can be placed next to the baby or in a sock as well as in the incubator to provide continuous full high-acuity monitoring that will fundamentally change the way healthcare is provided in neonatal care. This technology development has the potential to save millions of infant lives in the coming decades worldwide.

Pending regulatory approvals, the hemodynamics sensor offered by Ram Group promises to empower the next generation of wearables globally, not just in more affluent economies. While current wearables manufacturers are struggling to provide medical-grade sensors with the accuracy of medical devices and hospital-based equipment, Ram Group's biosensing platform will fill the current gap in the market with medical-grade sensors at an attractive price point that is extremely disruptive to devices dominating the market currently. An additional feature of RAM Group's sensors are their ultra-low-power sensors and have a negligible impact on battery life of devices in contrast to existing sensors on the market. This opens opportunities for low-cost wearables, applicable to emerging markets where affordable chronic disease monitoring solutions are in short supply given the limitations for battery charging opportunities in many of these regions.

Ram Group will initially focus on the wellness and fitness markets pending approval for medical applications within the next year. The initial market offering will be focused on health-fitness applications for wearables where our sensor can be deployed in smart-watches, smartphones, or other wearables such as smart clothing.

ABOUT RAM GROUP

Founded in 2010, Ram Group has the mission of revolutionizing sensors and analytics technology across the Internet-of-Things and healthcare industry. Headquartered in Singapore, the firm has R&D facilities in Germany and Israel. The Company's research has been protected by a wide range of patents and its staff have been published in over 60 respected medical and scientific journals worldwide. In 2016, RAM Group won the "High Technology Innovation Competition" for 2016, awarded by the German Federal Ministry of Research for the validation of the Company's non-invasive continuous hemodynamic and vital-signs monitoring healthcare platform. This prestigious award is annually sought by some 100 of the top biotech companies in Germany. ( Company Website: www.ram.group )

MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected] for all questions and inquiries.

RAM Group has a dedicated team of specialists who manage the Company's Partner and Investor relations. For all inquiries, please email: [email protected]

RAM Group Singapore Direct #: (+65) 6809 5121 - Germany Direct #: (+49) 6332 5692110

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Ram Group Holdings PTE. LTD.

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http://www.ram.group


PANAMA CITY, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

New Bonds Offering

The Republic of Panama (" Panama ") hereby announces that yesterday it priced a global offering (the " New Bonds Offering ") of U.S.$253,988,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.875% Global Bonds due 2028 (the " 2028 New Bonds ") and U.S.$1,168,292,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.500% Global Bonds due 2047 (the " 2047 New Bonds " and together with the 2028 New Bonds, the " New Bonds "). The 2028 New Bonds will be consolidated and form a single series with, and be fungible with, the outstanding U.S. $1,000,000,000 3.875% Global Bonds due 2028 (CUSIP 698299 BF0, ISIN US698299BF03, Common Code 138083179), previously issued by Panama.

The aggregate principal amount of New Bonds includes approximately U.S.$103,988,000 of 2028 New Bonds and U.S.$118,292,000 of 2047 New Bonds intended to fund the purchase of outstanding debt in the concurrent tender offer described below, and the amount may be adjusted based on final acceptances in the tender offer. The closing of the New Bonds Offering is expected to occur on Monday, May 15, 2017.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as Joint Lead Underwriters for the New Bonds Offering.

The New Bonds Offering was made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and an accompanying base prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement, the final prospectus supplement (when filed) and the related base prospectus for the New Bonds Offering may be obtained by contacting Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, by calling 1-800-294-1322 (U.S. toll free); or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, by calling 1-800-624-1808 (U.S. toll free).

Application will be made to have the New Bonds listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the Euro MTF Market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Tender Offer

Panama previously announced an offer to purchase for cash (the " Tender Offer ") its outstanding 5.200% Global Bonds due 2020 (the " Old Bonds ") in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in an aggregate Purchase Price that exceeds an amount determined by Panama in its sole discretion (the " Maximum Purchase Amount "), subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, dated May 3, 2017 (the " Offer to Purchase "). The Tender Offer expired as scheduled, with respect to Non-Preferred Tenders, at 12:00 noon, and, with respect to Preferred Tenders, at 4:00 p.m., New York Time, yesterday. All capitalized terms used but not defined under the heading "Tender Offer" in this communication have the respective meanings specified in the Offer to Purchase.

Panama has instructed Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as the Billing and Delivering Bank for the Tender Offer, to accept subject to proration and other terms and conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase, valid Preferred Tenders and Non-Preferred Tenders in the aggregate principal amounts as set forth below.

The Maximum Purchase Amount is U.S.$345,473,000.

The aggregate principal amount of Preferred Tenders and Non-Preferred Tenders and the aggregate principal amount of Preferred Tenders and Non-Preferred Tenders that have been accepted are shown in the table below. The Billing and Delivering Bank has accepted Old Bonds with appropriate adjustments to avoid purchase of Old Bonds in principal amounts other than Permitted Tender Amounts.

Old Bonds Aggregate Principal

Amount of Preferred

Tenders Aggregate Principal

Amount of Preferred

Tenders

Accepted Aggregate Principal

Amount of Non-

Preferred Tenders Aggregate Principal

Amount of Non-

Preferred Tenders

Accepted 5.200% Global Bonds due 2020 U.S.$206,508,000 U.S.$206,378,000 U.S.$139,095,000 U.S.$139,095,000

The settlement of the Tender Offer is scheduled to occur on Thursday, May 11, 2017 (the " Tender Offer Settlement Date "), subject to change without notice. Failure to deliver Old Notes on time may result, in Panama's sole discretion, in any of the following: (i) the cancellation of a tender and the investor's becoming liable for any damages resulting from that failure, and/or (ii) the delivery of a buy-in notice for the purchase of such Old Notes, executed in accordance with customary brokerage practices for corporate fixed income securities, and/or (iii) in the case of Preferred Tenders, the cancellation of a tender and the investor's remaining obligated to purchase his or her allocation of New Notes in respect of his or her related Indication of Interest. Panama reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept any or all Tender Orders and to terminate the Tender Offer for any reason.

The Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer were:

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated Attention: Debt Advisory Services One Bryant Park New York, New York 10036 Attention: Debt Advisory Services

In the United States:

+1 (646) 855-8988 or +1 (888) 292-0070 (U.S. toll free) Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC Attention: Liability Management 1585 Broadway New York, New York 10036

In the United States: +1 800-624-1808 (U.S. toll free) or Outside the United States, call collect:

+1 212-761-1057

The Billing and Delivering Bank for the Tender Offer was Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.

Panama has filed a registration statement (including the preliminary prospectus supplement and the prospectus) with the SEC for the New Bonds Offering. Before making an investment decision, investors should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents Panama has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Panama and such New Bonds Offering. Investors may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Joint Lead Underwriters, the Dealer Managers or the Information Agent, as the case may be, will arrange to send the prospectus supplement and the prospectus if investors request it by calling any one of them at the numbers specified above and below.

Important Notice

The distribution of materials relating to the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer and the transactions contemplated by the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Each of the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer is void in all jurisdictions where it is prohibited. If materials relating to the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer come into an investor's possession, such investor is required by Panama to inform himself or herself of and to observe all of these restrictions. The materials relating to the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, including this communication, do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation in any place where offers or solicitations are not permitted by law. If a jurisdiction requires that the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer and a Dealer Manager or any affiliate of a Dealer Manager is a licensed broker or dealer in that jurisdiction, the New Bonds Offering or the Tender Offer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Manager or such affiliate on behalf of Panama in that jurisdiction. Owners who may lawfully participate in the Tender Offer in accordance with the terms thereof are referred to as "holders."

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other 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 other jurisdiction. The offering of these securities will be made only by means of the [preliminary] prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

Belgium

In Belgium, the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer are not directly or indirectly, being made to, or for the account of, any person other than to qualified investors (gekwalificeerde beleggers/investisseurs qualifies) within the meaning of Article 10, 1 of the Belgian Law of June 16, 2006 on the public offering of investment instruments and the admission of investment instruments to trading on a regulated market (Wet op de openbare aanbieding van beleggingsinstrumenten en de toelating van beleggingsinstrumenten tot de verhandeling op een gereglementeerde markt/Loi relative aux offres publiques d'instruments de placement et aux admissions d'instruments de placement a la negociation sur des marches reglementes), as amended or replaced from time to time (Belgian Qualified Investor), that do not qualify as consumers (consumenten/consommateurs) within the meaning of Article I.1, 2 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law of February 28, 2013 (Wetboek van economisch recht/Code de droit economique), as amended or replaced from time to time (Consumers). A Consumer within the meaning of Article I.1, 2 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law is any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside their trade, business, craft or profession.

Belgian Qualified Investors are professional clients and eligible counterparties as referred to in Annex A and Article 3,  1 of the Belgian Royal Decree of June 3, 2007 containing detailed rules implementing the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive ("MiFID") and the Commission Directive 2006/73/EC implementing MiFID as regards organizational requirements and operating conditions for investment firms and defined terms for the purposes of that Directive (Koninklijk besluit tot bepaling van nadere regels tot omzetting van de richtlijn betreffende markten voor financiele instrumenten/Arrete royal portant les regles et modalites visant a transposer la directive concernant les marches d'instruments financiers), as amended or replaced from time to time.

As a result, the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer do not constitute a public takeover bid pursuant to Articles 3, 1, 1 and 6,  1 of the Belgian law of April 1, 2007 on public takeover bids (Wet op de openbare overnamebiedingen/Loi relative aux offres publiques d'acquisition), as amended or replaced from time to time.

Consequently, the New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer and any material relating thereto have not been and will not be, notified or submitted to, nor approved by the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autoriteit voor Financiele Diensten en Markten/Autorite des Services et Marches Financiers) pursuant to the Belgian laws and regulations applicable to the public offering or tendering of securities.

The New Bonds Offering and the Tender Offer as well as any materials relating thereto may not be advertised, nor distributed, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than Belgian Qualified Investors acting for their own account who are not Consumers, and may not be used in connection with any offering in Belgium except as may otherwise be permitted by law.

The New Bonds Offering cannot be considered to be a regulated investment service such as investment advice as listed under Annex I to the European Directive 2004/39/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on markets in financial instruments (MiFID), as amended or replaced from time to time.

Canada

In Canada, the New Bonds are not directly or indirectly being made to, or for the account of, any person other than purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and who are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the New Bonds must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

European Economic Area

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "Relevant Member State"), no offer to the public of the New Bonds may be made in that Relevant Member State other than under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they have been implemented in that Relevant Member State:

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive; to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) per Relevant Member State, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the Dealer Managers for any such offer; or in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of the New Bonds shall result in a requirement to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or a prospectus supplement pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression "offer to the public of the New Bonds" in relation to any New Bonds in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the New Bonds to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the New Bonds, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State; the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

Germany

The Tender Offer is made in Germany to existing holders of the Old Bonds only.

The prospectus supplement does not constitute a Prospectus Directive-compliant prospectus in accordance with the German Securities Prospectus Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz) and does therefore not allow any public offering in the Federal Republic of Germany ("Germany") or any other member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive pursuant to  17 and  18 of the German Securities Prospectus Act. No action has been or will be taken in the Federal Republic of Germany that would permit a public offering of the New Bonds, or distribution of a prospectus, a prospectus supplement or any other offering material relating to the New Bonds and that, in particular, no securities prospectus (Wertpapierprospekt) within the meaning of the German Securities Prospectus Act or any other applicable laws of Germany has been or will be published within the Federal Republic of Germany, nor has the prospectus supplement been filed with or approved by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) for publication within the Federal Republic of Germany. Accordingly, any offer or sale of the New Bonds or any distribution of offering material within the Federal Republic of Germany may violate the provisions of the German Securities Prospectus Act.

There has been no offer, sale or delivery and there will be no offer, sale or delivery of any bonds in Germany other than in accordance with provisions of the German Securities Prospectus Act; and any offering material relating to the New Bonds will be distributed in the Federal Republic of Germany only under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of the Federal Republic of Germany. The prospectus supplement is strictly for use of the person who has received it. It may not be forwarded to other persons or published in Germany.

Hong Kong

The New Bonds have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (a) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) (the "CWUMPO"), or (b) to "professional investors" as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) (the "SFO") and any rules made thereunder, or (c) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" as defined in the CWUMPO.

No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the New Bonds has been or will be issued, or has been or will be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the New Bonds which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Japan

The New Bonds have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended, the "Financial Instruments and Exchange Act") and there will be no offer or sale of any New Bonds, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (as defined under Item 5, Paragraph 1, Article 6 of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act of Japan (Act No. 228 of 1949, as amended)), or to others for re offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, this announcement has been prepared on the basis that the offer of the New Bonds, the Tender Offer and the potential exchange offer will be made pursuant to an exemption under Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities.

Malaysia

Nothing in the prospectus supplement constitutes the making available, or offer for subscription or purchase, or invitation to subscribe for or purchase, or sale, of the New Bonds in Malaysia. No approval, authorization or recognition from, or registration with, the Securities Commission of Malaysia ("SC") has been or will be obtained for the making available, offer for subscription or purchase of, or invitation to subscribe for or purchase, or sale, of the New Bonds or any other securities under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 to any persons in Malaysia. Neither the prospectus supplement or any amendment or supplement nor any prospectus, disclosure document or other offering document has been or will be approved by, or registered or lodged with, the SC, Registrar of Companies, or any other authority in connection with the offering or invitation in Malaysia. Accordingly, no offering or invitation in respect of the New Bonds or any other securities is or will be made in Malaysia pursuant to the prospectus supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto. The prospectus supplement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any other offering document in relation to the New Bonds may not be circulated or distributed in Malaysia, whether directly or indirectly, for the purpose of making available, or offer for subscription or purchase, or invitation to subscribe for or purchase, or sale, of the New Bonds, and no person may offer for purchase any of the New Bonds directly or indirectly to anyone in Malaysia. The New Bonds will only be made available or offered or sold exclusively to persons outside Malaysia.

Panama

The Tender Offer, the prospectus supplement, the Old Bonds and the New Bonds have not been and will not be registered with the Superintendence of Securities Markets of the Republic of Panama under Decree Law 1 of 1999, as amended, as they are exempted to do so. Therefore, the Old Bonds and the New Bonds may be publicly offered and sold in the Republic of Panama to any investor pursuant to registration exemptions applicable to government securities.

Singapore

The prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, there has been, and will not be, any offer or sale of any New Bonds nor will such New Bonds be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and there has not been, nor will there be, any circulation or distribution, of the prospectus supplement or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of such New Bonds, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the "SFA"), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275, of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the New Bonds are subscribed or purchased in reliance on an exemption under Sections 274 or 275 of the SFA, the New Bonds shall not be sold within the period of six months from the date of the initial acquisition of the debt securities, except to any of the following persons:

an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA);

a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA); or

any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA,

unless expressly specified otherwise in Section 276(7) of the SFA or Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

Where the New Bonds are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries' rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the New Bonds pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;



where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;



where the transfer is by operation of law;



as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or



as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore .

South Korea

The New Bonds have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Services Commission of the Republic of Korea ("Korea") for public offering in Korea under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act of Korea and its subordinate decrees and regulations. None of the New Bonds may be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Korea or to any resident of Korea (as defined under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law of Korea) except pursuant to applicable laws and regulations of Korea. In addition, no tender offer for any bonds in exchange for the New Bonds may be made, directly or indirectly, in Korea or to any resident of Korea except pursuant to applicable laws and regulations of Korea.

Switzerland

The prospectus supplement is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the New Bonds described therein in Switzerland, except as permitted by law. The New Bonds may not be publicly offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland.

Neither the prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Bonds constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange or any other regulated trading facility in Switzerland or a simplified prospectus or a prospectus as such term is defined in the Swiss Collective Investment Scheme Act, and neither the prospectus supplement nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the New Bonds may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Taiwan

The New Bonds have not been and will not be registered or filed with, or approved by, the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or any other regulatory authorities of Taiwan pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations of Taiwan and may not be sold, issued or offered within Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which constitute an offer or a solicitation of an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act or relevant laws and regulations of Taiwan that requires a registration, filing or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan and/or any other regulatory authorities of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer or sell the New Bonds in Taiwan.

United Arab Emirates

The prospectus supplement is being provided at written request and is not intended to constitute an offer, sale or delivery of bonds or other securities under the laws of the United Arab Emirates. The New Bonds have not been and will not be approved or licensed by the UAE Central Bank, the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), the Dubai Financial Services Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority or any other relevant licensing authorities in the UAE, and accordingly does not constitute a public offer of securities in the UAE in accordance with the UAE Commercial Companies Law (Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 (as amended)), SCA Resolution No. 3 R.M. of 2017 Regulating Promotions and Introductions or otherwise. Accordingly, the New Bonds may not be offered to the public in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre and Abu Dhabi Global Market).

United Kingdom

Neither the communication of the Offer to Purchase nor any other offer material relating to the Tender Offer has been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. The Offer to Purchase and the prospectus supplement are only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (as so amended, the "Order") or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Articles 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such other persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment or investment activity to which the Offer to Purchase relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. The New Bonds will only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the New Bonds will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the Offer to Purchase, the prospectus supplement or any of their contents.

There has only been, and will only be, communications of an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the United Kingdom Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA")) in connection with the issue or sale of the New Bonds in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the issuer. There has been, and will be, compliance with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by the Underwriters in relation to the New Bonds in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Contact information:

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, NY 10005

E-mail: [email protected]

Call Collect:: +1 (212) 269-5500

Call Toll-Free: (800) 290-6428

website: www.dfking.com/panama

SOURCE Republic of Panama
DENVER, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A prolonged period of low feed prices combined with steadily growing demand for animal protein continues to fuel profitability and optimism for U.S. feed mill operators, according to a new report from CoBank. However, changes in the industry are spurring the need for newer, larger facilities and forcing the closure of older mills that lack the newest technology.

The abundant and affordable supply of grains and oilseeds has led to a 19 percent increase in total domestic feed usage since 2012, when use had plummeted to its lowest level since 1995. With many mills operating at capacity, they are now gearing up for the next surge in demand, due to come from the swelling U.S. hog population.

"Many feed mills are investing in upgrades to aging facilities or replacing them with new facilities that boost capacity and efficiency to meet the growing demand for livestock feed," said Tanner Ehmke, CoBank senior economist, grains, oilseeds and ethanol, and farm supply. "There are several reasons for the huge investments being made, but expansion in the hog sector is the leading factor," added Ehmke.

As the level of feed demand from the animal production sector has expanded and evolved, so has the nature of that demand. It's become considerably more diverse and specialized. Livestock and poultry operators are increasingly calling for custom feed formulations with micro-ingredients. New feed mills are more frequently focusing on serving single specie markets with fewer general purpose toll mills.

"Large bulk orders are increasingly replacing smaller orders and bagged feed," said Ehmke. "There's also a greater tendency for new mills to offer animal nutrition expertise and consulting services, along with formulations requiring veterinarian feed directives (VFDs)," said Ehmke.

Rising labor costs and a tightening labor market are also driving feed mills to pursue new efficiencies through technology and automation. Consequently, the total number of feed mills continues to decline as older mills are consolidated.

Additionally, the new regulatory environment highlighted by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is expected to hasten consolidation within the industry with bigger, technology-driven mills that meet the more stringent requirements.

The costs associated with FSMA compliance may lead some mill operators to exit the business, while others will merge, consolidate or invest in new procedures to ensure compliance.

"Despite these challenges, the outlook for the feed business remains strong over the next few years, particularly for those mills positioned to invest in facility enhancements," said Ehmke. "Meat packers are making plans to increase slaughter capacity, while profitability at the producer and integrator level is triggering production expansion. That adds up to a positive outlook for improved feed demand, particularly over the next two years before animal production is expected to stabilize."

A brief video synopsis of the report, "Feed Mill Expansion & Outlook" is available on the CoBank YouTube Channel. The full report is available to media upon request.

About CoBank

CoBank is a $128 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 75,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.

CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.

For more information about CoBank, visit the bank's web site at www.cobank.com.

SOURCE CoBank

Related Links

http://www.cobank.com


PITTSBURGH, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Robomatter announced that it will partner with Fundacion Talento Matematico y Cientifico to bring its award winning, research-based, K-12 STEM curriculum to students in Spain and Portugal. As an exclusive partner, Fundacion Talento Matematico y Cientifico will be bringing both Robomatter's Robotics TREC curriculum as well as the Computer Science IDEAS curriculum.

"We are proud to partner with Fundacion Talento Matematico y Cientifico to bring Robomatter's research-based TREC and IDEAS curriculum to Spain and bring critical 21st century skills to thousands of students in the country," said Jose Perez, Managing Director, Partnerships at Robomatter, Inc.

Fundacion Talento Matematico y Cientifico sponsors institutions such as The Computing Talent School. The school prepares students by promoting excellence in Computational Mathematics, Robotics, Software Engineering and Informatics Engineering.

"Fundacion Talento Matematico y Cientifico sows seeds of talent, taking care of the future of science. The Foundation works with students, their families and school teachers to identify, participate and help the students reach their greatest potential," said Osvaldo Carrillo, Director at Fundacion Talento Matematico y Cientifico.

For more information about Robomatter's STEM education solutions, visit www.robomatter.com.

About Robomatter

Robomatter Incorporated is a technology and engineering curriculum solutions provider focused on bringing STEM experiences to students by leveraging the motivational effects of computer science and robotics. Robomatter's solutions include research-backed curricula, interactive technology tools, STEM teacher professional development programs, and certification programs through a partnership with Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Academy.

About The Computing Talent School & Fundacion Talento Matematico y Cientifico

The Computing Talent School, sponsored by the Fundacion Talento Matematico y Cientifico (Mathematic and Scientific Talent Foundation), prepares and promotes excellence in Computational Mathematics, Robotics, Software Engineering and Informatics Engineering. The objective of the school is to guide children precocious in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and/or those with a solid mathematical base, using integral experimental processes and methodology.

Robomatter, Incorporated

210 Sixth Avenue, Suite 3570

Pittsburgh, PA 15222

412-312-3100

SOURCE Robomatter

Related Links

http://www.robomatter.com


WASHINGTON, May 4, 2017 The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced the Veteran Federal Procurement Entrepreneurship Training Program (VFPETP-2017-01) funding opportunity competition. The funding will be given to a U.S.-based organization to expand an existing program providing federal procurement entrepreneurship training to veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, while building the capacity of VOSBs and SDVOSBs to compete for and win federal contracts.

The funding opportunity, offered by SBA's Office of Veterans Business Development, will enable one awardee to deliver, and scale as required, an existing veteran federal procurement entrepreneurial training program to VOSBs and SDVOSBs who intend to pursue, or are already engaged in federal procurement.

SBA anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement from this announcement. A maximum of $500,000 in funding is available annually for up to four years. The period of performance consists of a base period of 12 months and three option periods of 12 months each.

The VFPETP funding competition is open to eligible nonprofit or private sector organizations with a demonstrated history of providing quality entrepreneurship and/or business management training for VOSBs and SDVOSBs. Other criteria to be evaluated will include performance metrics, outcomes of the existing program and the ability to scale operations of the existing program to serve SDVOSBs and VOSBs from all U.S. states and territories.

"Federal agencies are expected to conduct at least three percent of their procurement actions with SDVOSBs. This three percent goal is our floor, not our ceiling," said Barbara Carson, Associate Administrator for SBA's Office of Veterans Business Development. "Fortunately, we've surpassed this three percent minimum over the past four fiscal years, and I look forward to working with the successful awardee to ensure we continue this progress."

OVBD will host a webinar on Wednesday, May 24 at 2 p.m. EDT to provide additional information and address any questions related to the VFPETP grant announcement. To ensure your questions are addressed during the webinar, please submit them to Jerry Godwin at [email protected] no later than Friday, May 19, by 4 p.m. EDT.

The webinar link, call-in number, and access code are listed below:

USA Toll-Free: (888) 958-2144 or (646) 746-3008

Access Code: 1183010

Web Conference URL: https://www.connectmeeting.att.com

Information, including a transcript of the webinar once it's available, will be posted on grants.gov and www.sba.gov/ovbd .

Eligible, interested parties should submit their application for funding opportunityVFPETP-2017-01 through the grants.gov web portal at www.grants.gov. Applications submitted via other media or sites will be rejected and will not be evaluated.

Applications must be submitted via grants.gov no later than Friday, June 8 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

About the U.S. 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. Visit the website at www.sba.gov.

Contact: Carol Chastang (202) 205-6987

Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Blogs

Release Number: 17-33

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

Related Links

http://www.sba.gov


SODERTALJE, Sweden, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Scania is making it possible for employees based in Sodertalje, Sweden to fuel their cars with renewable diesel, so called HVO. The pilot, which is one of the largest of its kind, targets some 2,250 company cars and complements other sustainable commuting options available to Scania employees.

"Scania's approach to sustainability is firmly rooted in our core values and it stretches beyond our own products and services. Since 2015, HVO is approved as fuel for our heavy vehicles and it is very positive that we now can contribute to a broadening of the adoption of renewable diesel also for cars," says Kent Conradson, Executive Vice President and Head of Human Resources at Scania.

The pilot is a collaboration between Scania, the fuel station company Circle K and Volkswagen Group Sverige. This consitutes the largest HVO-pilot globally for cars from the Volkswagen Group brands.

"Our success is built upon our dedicated and skilled employees and their commitment to Scania. With this pilot it is possible for employees to contribute to more sustainable transport, not only in their work-roles, but also in their daily mobility. We hope for a high sign-up ratio for the pilot," says Conradson.

Employees at Scania's head office who have a 4-cylinder diesel engine of the brands Audi, VW, Skoda or Seat are invited to be part of the pilot. A prerequisite is also that they have a company car or a car which is part of the company's lease program.

"HVO is an interesting fuel that can contribute to reaching the goals for reduced CO2 emissions in a good way. We will follow the pilot at Scania with great interest," says Claes Jerveland, head of Volkswagen Group Sverige.

HVO stands for hydrotreated vegetable oil and is 100 percent renewable. In Sweden, HVO is mainly produced by rape seed oil and waste from the food industry. With HVO, CO2 reductions of up to 90 percent can be achieved.

Scania has since long been engaged in supporting employees to communte in a more sustainable way. Since 2012 years, Scania has provided Scania Job Express, running on 100 percent renewable fuels, from Stockholm to its head office in Sodertalje.

For further information, please contact Karin Hallstan, Public Relations Manager, phone +46769428104, email [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/scania/r/scania-launches-large-scale-renewable-diesel-pilot-for-employees,c2258826

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/209/2258826/669919.pdf Scania launches large-scale renewable diesel-pilot for employees http://news.cision.com/scania/i/dsc-0102,c2136088 DSC 0102 http://news.cision.com/scania/i/dsc-0143,c2136089 DSC 0143

SOURCE Scania
NEW YORK, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Home Capital Group Inc. ("Home Capital" or the "Company") (OTCMKTS: HMCBF). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.

The investigation concerns whether Home Capital and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here to join a class action]

On February 10, 2017, post-market, Home Capital disclosed that the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") had reached the preliminary conclusion that Home Capital failed to meet its continuous disclosure obligations in 2014 and 2015, and that the OSC had served the Company with an enforcement notice related to its 2015 disclosure that information on certain loan applications had been falsified. On this news, Home Capital's share price fell $1.49, or $6.57, to close at $21.16 on February 13, 2017.

On March 27, 2017, post-market, Home Capital announced the departure of the Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") Martin Reid. On this news, Home Capital's share price fell $1.39, or 6.75%, to close at $19.29 on March 28, 2017.

On April 19, 2017, post-market, the OSC alleged that Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") Robert Morton and two former CEOs of Home Capital, Gerald Soloway and Martin Reid, had unlawfully misled shareholders of the Company during their respective tenures. On this news, Home Capital's share price fell $3.57, or 21.54%, to close at $13.00 on April 20, 2017.

On April 24, 2017, Home Capital announced that Gerald Soloway, the Company's founder, was resigning from Home Capital's board, and that CFO Robert Morton would be reassigned to a new role within the Company. On this news, Home Capital's share price fell $1.10, or 7.74%, to close at $13.10 on April 24, 2017.

On April 26, 2017, Home Capital disclosed that the Company was seeking a $2 billion line of credit to backstop a significant decline in deposits at its Home Trust subsidiary. On this news, Home Capital's share price fell $8.68, or 66.25%, to close at $4.42 on April 26, 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

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

http://www.pomerantzlaw.com


SUGAR LAND, Texas, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Royal Dutch Shell plc plans to invest roughly $25 billion this year in new oil and gas projects, following a rally in commodity prices in the first quarter. With a major acquisition now wrapped up, the Oil & Gas behemoth is aiming to boost production in the Gulf of Mexico, Malaysia, Europe and other areas. Industrial Info is tracking more than $97 billion in active projects involving Shell.

For details, view the entire article by subscribing to Industrial Info's Premium Industry News, or browse other breaking industrial news stories at www.industrialinfo.com.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the www.industrialinfo.com "Contact Us" page.

Brian Ford

(713) 980-9393

SOURCE Industrial Info Resources

Related Links

http://www.industrialinfo.com


Journey between destinations in the Swiss Alps, such as St. Moritz or Lucerne by trains, boats and buses with the Swiss Travel Pass. It is part of the Swiss Travel System and includes travel on scenic trains such as the Glacier Express, GoldenPass Line and Bernina Express, free admission to over 500 Swiss museums, public transportation in over 90 Swiss cities, a 50% reduction off most mountain railways and cable cars, and free access to Mt Pilatus and Mt Rigi. E-passes are available  making ticket delivery a breeze.

Families can enjoy more savings, as children under 16 years travel free with a parent or legal guardian with a free Swiss Family Card. Children under 6 do not require rail pass or family card.

To book, visit Rail Europe at raileurope.com. Passes are nonrefundable and nonexchangeable. Terms and conditions apply, see site for details.

About Rail Europe

Rail Europe, the largest distributor of European rail products in North America, represents more than 50 European train companies and is a one-stop-shop for European rail travel planning and booking. Rail Europe provides a worry-free, cost and time-effective and seamless travel experience by enabling customers to purchase tickets and plan travel details in advance. An essential part of the vacation planning process, Rail Europe offers a user-friendly booking engine, knowledgeable experts, online rail pass finder, virtual tours, interactive maps and more. For more information or to book a trip with Rail Europe, visit raileurope.com or call 1-800-438-RAIL.

About Swiss Travel System Ltd.

Swiss Travel System AG is a Zurich-based marketing company co-founded in 2011 by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), Switzerland Tourism (ST) and five private railway companies. Its mission is the joint marketing worldwide of Switzerland's comprehensive public transport network. Key tasks include the global marketing of the Swiss Travel System range of travel passes, as well as the promotion of cross-border travel to the neighboring countries of Switzerland.

SOURCE Rail Europe

Related Links

http://www.raileurope.com


DURHAM, N.C., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Spyryx Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics to address severe lung disease, announced today that it will serve as the presenting sponsor of Cystic Fibrosis Canada's 16th Broken Arrow Conference. As the presenting sponsor, the company will host more than 150 cystic fibrosis (CF) healthcare providers and researchers from across Canada and internationally, opening the conference with a welcome reception. Additionally, Alistair Wheeler, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Spyryx will participate as a panelist discussing current clinical trials, research results, and the digital health revolution. Spyryx will also use this opportunity to enhance relationships with both CF families and researchers.

As part of its continued leadership in the CF space, the Company is working toward the initiation of a multinational Phase 2 clinical study for its lead pipeline therapeutic, SPX-101, scheduled to begin mid-2017. This study will be conducted in CF patients, with the goal of assessing SPX-101's ability to improve lung function, as well as the safety and tolerability of the inhaled drug. The Phase 2 design will enroll patients regardless of their CFTR mutation.

"We look forward to our time with CF patients, families and researchers at the Broken Arrow Conference to hear their stories," said Dr. Wheeler. "As we continue our SPX-101 clinical program, we're excited to share some of our work that potentially provides hope for CF patients in Canada and around the world regardless of their underlying mutation."

SPX-101 is an inhaled peptide with a novel, biological mechanism that regulates epithelial sodium channel density in the airway. The drug is designed to restore a cellular pathway in the lung that promotes airway hydration and mucociliary clearance, which are dysfunctional in CF. The mechanism of action of SPX-101 is independent of the genetic mutations that cause CF, which makes it a potential therapy for all CF patients.

"Broken Arrow is an opportunity for donors, sponsors, people with CF and their families to celebrate advancements, and focus on emerging topics in research and care," said Norma Beauchamp, President and CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Canada. "We especially look forward to highlighting Canadian achievements toward creating a world without CF."

About Cystic Fibrosis

CF is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder affecting approximately 75,000 individuals worldwide. The disease is caused by mutations in the gene for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. CF profoundly affects the lungs and respiratory tract and is characterized by dehydration of the airway surface, resulting in reduced mucus clearance, the lung's principle mechanism for maintaining a clean environment. The mucus becomes thick and sticky, progressively accumulating into obstructions that block airflow and result in recurrent colonization of the airways by viruses and bacteria. These pathogens lead to frequent, acute lung infections, chronic inflammation, exacerbations, and impaired lung function. The long-term result of the disease, is progressive, permanent tissue damage and scarring (fibrosis) in the lung. No cure for cystic fibrosis is known, although several treatments have been approved to address the underlying cause of the disease in some patients. Despite currently available treatment, the median age of survival for CF patients is approximately 40 years of age.

About Broken Arrow

The 16th Broken Arrow Conference takes place from May 4-6, 2017, at the Toronto Reference Library. The 2017 conference theme is Clinical Trials and the Digital Health Revolution: Better Health for All Canadians with CF.

About Cystic Fibrosis Canada

Cystic Fibrosis Canada is a national charitable not-for-profit corporation established in 1960, and is one of the world's top three charitable organizations committed to finding a cure for cystic fibrosis (CF). As an internationally recognized leader in funding innovation and clinical care, the company invests more in life-saving CF research and care than any other non-governmental agency in Canada. Since establishment, Cystic Fibrosis Canada has invested more than $235 million in leading research, innovation and care. As a result, Canadians with cystic fibrosis have one of the highest median survival rates in the world.

About Spyryx Biosciences

Spyryx Biosciences is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics to address severe lung diseases. Spyryx's lead clinical candidate, SPX-101, is a novel treatment for cystic fibrosis that has successfully completed a Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers and is advancing into Phase 2 in CF patients. The product has demonstrated a robust ability to restore mucociliary clearance in animal models of the disease and has the potential to improve lung function in all cystic fibrosis patients independent of their CFTR mutation. The Spyryx leadership team and scientific staff have extensive experience in the development of respiratory medicines and work closely with a broad group of clinical and scientific experts in the pulmonary field. Spyryx is funded by a first tier syndicate of life science investors, including Canaan Partners, 5AM Ventures and Hatteras Venture Partners. Further information regarding Spyryx Biosciences is available at www.spyryxbio.com.

SOURCE Spyryx Biosciences

Related Links

http://www.spyryxbio.com


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, has extended its exclusive Zero Complaint Guarantee to subscribers of International Travel News, a website and magazine based in California.

Squaremouth's Zero Complaint Guarantee is its promise to customers that every policy sold on squaremouth.com is from a reputable provider. If a customer is not happy with how their claim is handled, Squaremouth's licensed claims adjusters will mediate with the provider on their behalf in effort to have the claim resolved.

"We understand the importance of choosing a provider that will handle all claims fairly and honestly," said Squaremouth spokesperson Megan Singh. "We want all of our customers to be confident with the policy they buy from Squaremouth, and we are always prepared to work on their behalf."

Extending the Guarantee to International Travel News Subscribers

The Zero Complaint Guarantee had previously been available exclusively to Squaremouth customers. Now, subscribers of International Travel News also have access to Squaremouth's team of travel insurance experts.

Any International Travel News subscriber can submit their travel insurance complaint for Squaremouth's Zero Complaint Team to investigate. If Squaremouth believes the claim was handled unfairly, they will mediate with the provider to understand their decision and work to reverse the outcome of the claim.

"Once we've opened a case, we maintain all contact with the provider and mediate on the claimant's behalf," said Squaremouth Zero Complaint Director Brandi Morse. "Not every claim will be approved, but it's our job to understand why and to ensure travelers receive the claim refunds they are justly entitled to."

How the Guarantee Works for International Travel News Subscribers

One of Squaremouth's licensed claims adjusters will interview the claimant to fully understand the nature of their claim. They will then schedule a meeting with the travel insurance provider and present their case for reconsideration. Squaremouth cannot guarantee that a claim will be approved, but their Zero Complaint Team will always obtain a clear explanation of the outcome.

"The very real assistance extended to selected travelers will result in actual cash savings in some cases," said International Travel News Editor David Tykol. "In every case, it will help clarify complicated issues regarding travel insurance."

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


These workers are members of Teamsters Local 701 in North Brunswick, New Jersey. Local 701 had been in negotiations for a new contract with Shore Point since Feb. 28, 2017. The workers and their union wanted to continue negotiations, but Shore Point locked them out instead.

Many retail outlets are placing signs in their windows that say:

"No MillerCoors Sold Here Until Shore Point Lockout Ends" and "I [heart] Locked-Out Teamsters at MillerCoors Distributor."

"These workers do physically demanding labor every day that helps Shore Point earn its millions," said Ron Lake, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local Union 701. "It is unconscionable that they would put their loyal workers out on the streets with no paychecks. That's why we're asking people to pass up beers that Shore Point delivers, like MillerCoors products, and why many of Shore Point's customers aren't serving beer the company distributes."

One customer, Portside Bar & Liquors, posted a photo of the signs in its window on Facebook, along with these comments:

"At Portside we support the efforts of the hard working people of Teamsters Union 701. Many of whom we know personally. These are men with families who are simply looking for a fair contract to support themselves & their loved ones. As a result of the treatment of these workers, we will not be ordering any more products from Shore Point Distributing until this issue is resolved. We will sell the products we have remaining from previous orders. We apologize for an inconvenience this may cause you. Sometimes it is more important to stand up for what is right, rather than what is profitable."

Another customer, Main Street Bar & Grill, posted on Facebook:

"ATTENTION ALL CUSTOMERS: There is a labor dispute happening with the Drivers for Shore Point Distributors. From what we know they have been locked out and the benefits for them and their families have been cancelled. WE HAVE DECIDED TO STAND BEHIND THE DRIVERS. We have relationships with them all for many years. We will STOP selling products from Shore Point Distributors once we run out of product on hand. We will not be buying any new inventory. WE feel it is THE RIGHT THING TO DO."

"I want to work," said JD Lacey, a driver and member of Local 701. "I've worked at Shore Point for 12 years and my family depends on my paycheck. It's like the company is trying to starve us into giving in to all its demands."

"When wages don't keep up with the cost of living and when people don't have secure retirements, this is bad not only for families but for local businesses and entire communities," Lake said. "Employees can't afford to subsidize Shore Point's profits with their retirement plans. New Jersey communities deserve better, and Shore Point needs to end the lockout and meet us back at the bargaining table. We are grateful for all the community support we've received so far, especially from many bars, restaurants and stores."

Jim Keady, owner of the Lighthouse Tavern, distributed this statement of support:

"ON MAY DAY (AND BEYOND) THE LIGHTHOUSE TAVERN WILL STAND WITH THE TEAMSTERS LOCAL 701.

To Our Loyal Customers:

Some of you may be aware that the Shore Point Distributing Co. has locked out their workers due to a stalemate in contract negotiations. Given my commitments to labor rights, the collective bargaining process, and solidarity with working families (I did labor rights advocacy for 15 years prior to taking over the bar when my Dad died), I have made the decision that we will not purchase products from Shore Point until this matter is resolved.

It is not lost on me that the owners/management of Shore Point chose to take this action of bad faith on May Day - International Labor Day. Now more than ever in our nation, working families and labor rights are under attack and it is imperative that those of us in the middle class, union and non-union alike, stand together in solidarity.

This means that in the coming days we may be short on some of your favorite domestic, import, and craft beer choices. To be clear, we will still have a selection of beers from our other distributors, we may just run out of the stock we have from Shore Point's selection.

We hope you will be understanding during this time and will join us in letting Shore Point know that as beer drinkers, you care about the men and women who deliver the beer, and you want them to be bargained with in good faith."

Contact:

Ron Lake (732) 297-2701

SOURCE Teamsters Local 701
HONG KONG, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

World-renowned innovators from higher education, government and business sectors will gather in an international summit in Hong Kong this summer to explore how to enhance universities' impacts through innovative research and teaching for the benefit of the society and mankind.

The inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) Innovation & Impact Summit, co-hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and THE, will run from 31 May to 2 June 2017 at Hotel ICON in Hong Kong. A key celebratory event of PolyU's 80th anniversary, the Summit will feature keynote speeches and a series of thought-provoking panel discussions under the theme of "Powering Universities' Economic and Social Impact through Innovative Research and Teaching".

PolyU Showcase

The Summit will commence with a PolyU Showcase on 31 May, highlighting the four areas that PolyU innovations have been creating impacts to the economy and society, while uplifting university-industry partnership. The feature contents in the four sessions are:

1. Space, aviation and railway

There will be presentations of how PolyU ventured into space, and how we developed optical fibre sensing system for railway monitoring and technologies in enhancing aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.

Visits: Aviation Services Research Centre and University Research Facility in 3D printing

2. Sustainable urban development

PolyU will share how we develop and implement new technologies and solutions for sustainable urban development and smart cities, and will open up discussions of the role of higher education institutions in changing and sustaining the landscapes of urban development.

Visits: Underground Utility Survey Laboratory, Construction Virtual Prototyping Laboratory and Fire Engineering Laboratory.

3. Human-centered innovation

The Showcase will feature the application of human-centered innovation in genetics research in healthcare, advanced solutions to the development of the garment industry, and how research on Asian head and face shapes changes the world's perception of sizing, benefiting a host of industries that create products such as sunglasses, helmets and more.

Tour: SizeChina, radiation-free scoliosis scan system, Public Design Lab.

4. Hospitality

Pioneering teaching innovations in global hotel and tourism management will be highlighted and there will be Chinese wine appreciation at Vinoteca Lab.

Visits: state-of-the-art facilities in School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Designer Suite by Vivienne Tam and other facilities in Hotel ICON.

Thought-provoking Summit contents

In the two-day Summit (1-2 June), a series of keynote addresses and panel discussions will cover a wide spectrum of topics, including:

 Universities innovate to address the grand challenges

 Translating research into business: turning ideas into impact

 Creating and empowering entrepreneurs and future leaders

 Calculating the economic and social impact of higher education

These discussions will serve to inspire participating universities and organisations on how to address the global shifts in the economic, social and environmental landscape through creating and enhancing impact with higher education, research and innovations.

World-class speakers include high-profile innovators, entrepreneurs and policy-makers will join, including Charles Chen Yidan, founder of Yidan Prize and core founder of Tencent Holdings Limited; Hermann Hauser, co-founder of Amadeus Capital Partners; Candace Johnson, Founder/Co-Founder SES, Loral-Teleport Europe, Europe Online, VATM, GTWN, OWNSAT, Success Europe; Greg Simon, Former executive director, White House Cancer Moonshot Task Force and Nicholas Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, HKSAR government.

Other influential higher education figures to address the Summit include leaders of renowned institutions from, to name just a few, Australia, England, Finland, France, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Spain, the United States. It will be an incredible fusion of East and West.

For registration, details of the PolyU Showcase and the Summit, as well as the full list of speakers, please visit the official website: https://goo.gl/kedVru

Press Contact

Ms Denise Wong

Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs Office, PolyU

Telephone : +852-3400-2131/ 9842-6002

E-mail : [email protected]



SOURCE The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
Blanket Stories: Western Door, Salt Sacks, and Three Sisters is a collaboration between artist Marie Watt, The Rockwell Museum, and the greater Corning, NY, community, as well as an ongoing series in the artist's practice. Watt  who draws upon biography, history, Iroquois teachings, and Seneca proto-feminism  was invited by The Rockwell to gather stories that tether people to place and community.

Each story is represented by a textile in this sculpture. The textiles were contributed in response to a call for blankets and their stories from the community including local residents, the greater Finger Lakes region, and friends of The Rockwell. While each blanket in this column represents one person's story, it also serves as a marker for the collective memory of a larger extended family. Each story communicates the universal nature of our shared human condition and has the potential to unite us.

"Blankets are everyday objects. We take them for granted, yet as we use them, they quietly record our histories: a lumpy shape, a worn binding, mended patches," says Watt. "Every blanket holds a story, and with the secondhand and thrift-store blankets I use in much of my work, I can only guess at the story. But when I can work with contributed blankets and learn about the stories attached to them, they remain with the blankets in their installations, and are also transcribed and collected, so that others can share them."

"Marie's work is a compelling story that connects the local Corning community with its deep-rooted Seneca and Iroquois history," says Brian Lee Whisenhunt, executive director of The Rockwell Museum. "We believe her vision is directly in line with The Rockwell's programming and community connections and look forward to having the installation remain part of our permanent collection and eventually installed in our Modern and Contemporary gallery."

Each blanket has been photographed and can be viewed by the public at: http://www.mariewattstudio.com/projects/western-door

For more information about the exhibit and The Rockwell Museum, please visit: www.rockwellmuseum.org

About Marie Watt

Marie Watt is an American artist. She holds an MFA in Painting and Printmaking from Yale University, attended Willamette University and the Institute of American Indian Arts, and in 2016 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Willamette University. Among other residencies, she has attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, received a fellowship from the Joan Mitchell Foundation, and the Anonymous Was a Woman Award.

Selected collections include the National Gallery of Canada, The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and Renwick Gallery, The Tacoma Art Museum, The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Facebook, The Seattle Art Museum, and The United States Library of Congress.

In 2015 she exhibited in the 'Unsuspected Possibilities' show at SITE Santa Fe, curated by Janet Dees, and in 2016 was commissioned by the Art in Embassies program to build a 36' tall sculpture to be permanently installed in the newly expanded US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. Ms. Watt lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, the graphic designer Adam McIsaac, and her daughters, Maxine and Evelyn. She exhibits internationally, and is represented in Portland by PDX Contemporary Art, and in Seattle by Greg Kucera Gallery.

About The Rockwell Museum: A Smithsonian Affiliate

The Rockwell Museum, in association with the Smithsonian Institution, collection tells the story of the American experience through a display of stunning art about America. Founded in 1976, The Rockwell is an evolving community center which showcases the best of America through compelling exhibitions and imaginative programs. The diverse collection includes a mix of contemporary Native American art with traditional bronze sculptures, landscape paintings and other works that embody America. Housed in the beautifully restored 19th century Old City Hall building, The Rockwell is active in the local community and holds special events and educational programming with area public schools. The Rockwell provokes curiosity, engagement and reflection about art and the American experience.

SOURCE The Rockwell Museum

Related Links

http://www.rockwellmuseum.org


ATLANTA, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The expert editors at Autotrader have compiled their list of the top certified pre-owned (CPO) programs available for May. Get your summer off to the right start with the best deals on good-as-new vehicles from an assortment of automakers.

"Shopping CPO is ideal for price-conscious car shoppers that do not want to sacrifice quality over a good deal," said Brian Moody, Autotrader executive editor. "With CPO inspection and warranty coverage, you're likely to get a vehicle that is among the better choices out there."

The editors of Autotrader release their list of their picks of the best CPO deals and incentives for the month of May to assist buyers on finding their perfect car match to start the summer season.

Autotrader Editors' Top Picks for Certified Pre-Owned Deals for May 2017

BMW's certified pre-owned program offers models that are available with an excellent warranty that offers coverage for up to 6 years or 100,000 miles from the original sale date. Through the end of May, qualified shoppers interested in a certified pre-owned 3 or 4 Series can get 0.9 percent interest for up to 36 months -- a new-car deal on a used model.

Chevrolet's certified pre-owned program is offering qualified shoppers interested in a certified pre-owned Chevrolet Cruze, Equinox, Malibu, Silverado, or Traverse can get 1.9 percent interest for up to 36 months -- a good rate for a used vehicle.

Ford's certified pre-owned program offers excellent coverage, boasting up to 7 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain protection from the original sale date, along with an extra year or 12,000 miles of bumper to bumper coverage. Through the end of the month, Ford is offering qualified buyers 2.9 percent interest for up to 66 months on all certified pre-owned models.

Nissan's certified pre-owned program offers some impressive incentives to qualified buyers, including 1.95 percent interest for up to 36 months or 3.95 percent interest for up to 72 months -- deals that are available on any model among Nissan's certified pre-owned fleet. The automaker is even taking things a step further, offering up to $500 cash back on certified pre-owned examples of the Altima, Maxima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Land Rover's excellent CPO warranty which offers bumper-to-bumper coverage for up to 7 years or 100,000 miles, but a certified pre-owned Evoque is also offered with some excellent deals. The best deal is on certified pre-owned 2013-2015 Evoque models, as Land Rover is offering qualified shoppers 0.9 percent interest for up to 60 months -- but even a certified pre-owned 2016 Evoque can be had with an alluring 2.9 percent for up to 60 months.

Toyota's certified pre-owned program is among our favorites: it offers 7 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain protection, and boasts an additional year of bumper-to-bumper coverage. Through the end of the month, the Prius is offered with 1.9 percent interest for up to 60 months to qualified shoppers-- a deal that also extends to the smaller Prius c and larger Prius v.

Volkswagen's certified pre-owned program is even more enticing than usual in May thanks to a special offer aimed at qualified shoppers interested in financing a used Volkswagen. That deal touts 1.99 percent interest on all certified pre-owned Volkswagen models for up to 60 months -- a great rate and a long term that you'll typically only find in the world of new vehicles.

Volvo's certified pre-owned program touts bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage for 7 years or 100,000 miles from the original sale date -- among the longest warranties in the industry. In May, qualified shoppers interested in financing a certified pre-owned Volvo can get 0.9 percent interest for up to 24 months -- not a very long term, but a great rate that you seldom see on used models.

For additional details on the CPO programs mentioned, please visit http://www.autotrader.com/car-deals/cpo-deals-may-2017-265072.

Learn more about the advantages of CPO at Autotrader.com's "What are the Benefits of Certified Pre-Owned?"

About Autotrader

Autotrader is the most visited third-party car shopping site, with the most engaged audience of in-market shoppers. As the foremost authority on automotive consumer insights and expert in online and mobile marketing, Autotrader makes the car shopping experience easy and fun for today's empowered consumer looking to find or sell the perfect new, used or certified pre-owned car. Using technology, shopper insights and local market guidance, Autotrader's comprehensive marketing solutions guide dealers to personalized digital marketing strategies that grow brand, drive traffic and connect the online and in-store shopping experience.

Autotrader is a Cox Automotive brand. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. For more information, please visit http://press.autotrader.com.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader, Dealer.com, Dealertrack, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim, NextGear Capital, vAuto, Xtime and a host of other brands. The global company has 33,000 team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises' other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

SOURCE Autotrader

Related Links

http://autotrader.com


"Two Brightline trainsets traveling 3,052 miles from California to Florida represent innovation in transportation and U.S. manufacturing at its finest," said Dave Howard, CEO of Brightline. "Our Florida team looks forward to welcoming BrightGreen and BrightOrange to their new home as we continue with preparations to launch our service this summer."

BrightGreen and BrightOrange will join Brightline's other two trains, BrightBlue and BrightPink, at Workshop b, the 12-acre railroad operations facility in West Palm Beach that serves to maintain, clean and store Brightline's trains. Once service begins, Workshop b will serve as the on-duty location for train crews, providing more than 120 jobs at the facility alone. The trains are expected to arrive at Workshop b late next week. The fifth and final trainset, BrightRed, is being completed at Siemens and is expected to ship in mid-June.

Brightline's trains abound with innovations and comfortable features, from automatic level boarding platforms and aisles that exceed ADA compliance standards to custom seats with multiple outlets for devices and complimentary robust Wi-Fi, powered by multiple antennas on every car.

The send-off milestone signals Brightline's ongoing commitment of private investment toward transportation infrastructure benefiting the public. Brightline will provide a much-needed, hospitality-driven alternative to South Florida's congested roadways. Introductory express service is scheduled to begin between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale in late July, with initial service to Miami added in late August. The company is anticipating a grand opening and official launch of the full service in September.

About Brightline

Brightline is the new benchmark for travel by train in America with express inter-city passenger rail service connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, with future service to Orlando. Providing a travel option that lives at the intersection of transportation and hospitality, the service will ease the stress of traffic, provide a simple and intuitive experience from door to destination, and foster new opportunities to explore more of Southeast Florida. Brightline is the only privately owned, operated and maintained passenger rail system in the United States. For more information, visit our website: www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Brightline

Related Links

http://www.gobrightline.com


Uponor has also leased an 8,500-square-foot office and lab space in a building next to its manufacturing annex, which the company's technology group will occupy beginning mid-May 2017.

The company's North American investments and growth are not limited to the United States. Uponor announced last year it was consolidating the Canadian head office with its eastern distribution center, which moved to Mississauga, Ont., last June; the Canadian headquarters moved into the same building last month. To further unify the Canadian team and take advantage of centralized efficiencies, they are expanding its estimation and commercial piping design services, also located in Mississauga, which will add significant value to its Canadian customers. This alignment resulted in closing its Regina, Sask., office.

New features in Mississauga include a training facility that will hold up to 50 attendees as well as a hands-on application lab. To complement the new venue and its traditional plumbing and radiant heating/cooling training classes, the new Canadian facility will begin offering engineering continuing education units (CEUs) beginning June 2.

"These are exciting times at Uponor and the building industry as we continue to experience significant growth in both commercial and residential construction; and it's an exciting time for our partners," says Bill Gray, Uponor North America president. "Central to our culture and values is our commitment to our customers; we are continually striving to exceed their expectations. Investments in capacity and our focus on enhancing the customer experience support our strategic direction and set us up for more opportunities."

Uponor's North American headquarters are located in Apple Valley, Minn., and the company has a distribution center and resin-receiving facility located in nearby Lakeville, Minn. By year-end, the total Twin Cities metro area footprint will amount to 738,000 square feet, which is nearly 17 acres of facilities under roof.

The building expansion is required to meet forecasted growth for its crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) tubing in plumbing, fire sprinkler, radiant heating and cooling and hydronic piping systems used in residential and commercial buildings. According to Gray, Uponor North America's investments represent more than just a larger manufacturing footprint. The company created more than 100 new jobs last year in the Twin Cities and anticipates adding a significant number of jobs as a result of the manufacturing expansion  all of which contributes toward economic development in the metro area.

"Apple Valley's latest expansion with its automated packaging technology will become operational as Uponor celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2018," says Jyri Luomakoski, president and CEO, Uponor. "In an established organization like Uponor, we always remind ourselves that we constantly need to introduce new solutions, new ways of working and new ways to view the world to better serve our loyal customers. Our North American region has consistently performed well in this area  and the outlook remains solid  thanks to our dedicated staff in North America, our customers and business partners."

Uponor's decision to expand again in Apple Valley was partly due to the successful cooperation of both the State of Minnesota and the City of Apple Valley and their willingness to provide an attractive business climate for Uponor's continued growth.

"When making this investment decision, we spent a significant amount of time evaluating our options," says Gray. "Throughout the process, the City of Apple Valley has demonstrated its support and the State of Minnesota has also shown its appreciation for Uponor. We truly appreciate their support and, as always, do our best to honor and exceed our commitments."

For the special press page, which includes a high-resolution image, please visit:

http://uponor.oreilly-depalma.com/2017/expansion-part-2.shtml

About Uponor

Uponor, Inc. is an award-winning provider of plumbing, fire safety, radiant heating/cooling, hydronic piping and pre-insulated piping systems for residential and commercial applications. In 2016, Uponor partnered with Belkin International to form Phyn, a new intelligent water company to revolutionize the way consumers interact with water and help solve major challenges facing the global water supply. Recognized for best-in-class manufacturing, sustainability, energy efficiency, safety, business growth, economic development, workplace giving and a top workplace, Uponor employs more than 3,900 worldwide.

uponorpro.com

 2017 Uponor, Inc.

Uponor is a trademark of Uponor Corporation and Uponor, Inc.

SOURCE Uponor

Related Links

http://www.uponorpro.com


VANCOUVER, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - UrtheCast Corp. (TSX:UR) ("UrtheCast" or the "Company"), in accordance with the requirements of the Toronto Stock Exchange, today announces that the six nominees listed in its management proxy circular dated March 29, 2017 were re-elected as directors of the Company. The detailed results of the vote held at the Company's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") on May 4, 2017 in Vancouver, British Columbia, are set out below.

A total of 26,647,707 common shares were voted in connection with the Meeting, representing approximately 22.44% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. On a vote by ballot, each of the following nominees proposed by management was re-elected as a director of UrtheCast to hold office until the next annual general meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed:

Nominee Votes For % Votes For Votes Withheld % Votes Withheld Tye W. Burt 23,484,279 95.32 1,152,960 4.68 Wade Larson 24,472,781 99.33 164,458 0.67 William M. Evans 23,408,672 95.01 1,228,547 4.99 Greg Nordal 23,384,672 94.92 1,252,547 5.08 Letitia A. Long 24,479,477 99.44 137,762 0.56 James Topham 23,224,979 94.27 1,412,260 5.73

ABOUT URTHECAST CORP.

UrtheCast Corp. is a Vancouver-based technology company that serves the rapidly evolving geospatial and geoanalytics markets with a wide range of information- rich products and services. The Company operates Earth Observation (EO) sensors in space, including two satellites, Deimos-1 and Deimos-2, to produce imagery data that is displayed on UrtheCast's cloud-based web platform and sold to partners and customers. Through its subsidiary Deimos Imaging, UrtheCast processes and distributes imagery data and value-added products on behalf of the PanGeo Alliance, a network of eight satellite operators with a combined 15 medium- and high-resolution EO sensors. UrtheCast is also developing and expects to launch two EO satellite constellations: the world's first fully-integrated constellation of sixteen multispectral optical and SAR satellites, called OptiSAR, and an eight-satellite constellation designed to capture high-quality, medium- resolution optical imagery of the Earth's entire landmass (excluding Antarctica) every day, called UrtheDaily. Together, the Company believes these constellations will revolutionize monitoring of our planet with medium- and high-resolution, high-coverage and high-revisit imagery in all weather conditions. Common shares of UrtheCast trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange as ticker "UR".

Forward Looking Information

This release contains certain information which, as presented, constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information involves statements that relate to future events and often addresses expected future business and financial performance, containing words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", and "expect", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could" or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions and includes, but is not limited to: UrtheCast's expectations with respect its current sensors and proposed OptiSAR and UrtheDailyTM constellations; its plans for and timing of expansion of its product offering and value-added services; and its future growth and operations plans. Such statements reflect UrtheCast's current views with respect to future events. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by UrtheCast, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause UrtheCast's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others: any delays or failures in the design, development, construction, launch and operational commissioning of the proposed OptiSAR or UrtheDailyTM constellations; the Company being unable to adequately finance the development, building, launch and commissioning of the UrtheDaily Constellation or to convert the remaining MOUs and other customer discussions in respect of the OptiSAR constellation into binding, definitive agreements; the inability of the confidential OptiSAR customer described in this press release to obtain budgetary approval from government or to otherwise comply with its obligations under the binding agreement for the purchase and operation of two satellites; any failure by Geosys, the Government of Canada or one of UrtheCast's third-party lenders to comply with the terms of their respective contracts with UrtheCast, and UrtheCast's ability to comply with any of its covenants thereunder; the decline of key relationships in, or termination of, the PanGeo Alliance of EO satellite operators; loss of key EO imagery sales contracts or customers; failures aboard the ISS or the Deimos-1 or Deimos-2 satellites; failure to obtain, or loss of, regulatory approvals, as well as those factors and assumptions discussed in UrtheCast's annual information form dated March 28, 2017, (the "AIF"), which is available under UrtheCast's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information is developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, in the AIF, and as disclosed from time to time on UrtheCast's SEDAR profile. UrtheCast undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by Canadian securities laws. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

SOURCE UrtheCast Corp.

Related Links

www.urthecast.com


WASHINGTON, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

CINCO DE MAYO

Profile America  Friday, May 5th. In Spanish, today's date is Cinco de Mayo, and celebrations will be held in many cities across the U.S., as well as Mexico. These events mark the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when outnumbered Mexican troops defeated the invading French forces of Napoleon III. Over the years, the celebration has evolved from one of military victory to a colorful and vibrant event, celebrating Mexican culture. This is also National Salsa Month, appropriate in an evolving United States where sales of salsa, tortillas and tortilla chips outsell ketchup, hamburger buns and potato chips. There are some 34 million people of Mexican descent in the U.S., or about 11 percent of the total population. Some 26 million Hispanic people live in either California or Texas. Profile America is beginning its 21st year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources:

Observance/accessed 2/23/2017:

www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cinco-de-mayo

National Salsa Month/accessed 2/23/2017:

www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-salsa-month-may/

Foods/accessed 2/23/2017:

www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/10/17/changing-face-america-is-influencing-our-taste-buds-one-tortilla-chip-at-time/

Mexican population in U.S./American Community Survey: https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/13_3YR/DP05

California and Texas/Population Estimates: https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2015/PEPASR6H/0400000US06|0400000US48?slice=GEO~0400000US48!hisp~hisp!year~est72015

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotion of the U.S. Census Bureau. Statistics and accounts drawn from cited non-Census sources are employed for illustrative or narrative purposes, and are not attested to by the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for "Audio" in the "Library" pull-down menu).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

Related Links

http://www.census.gov


"We are very excited to rekindle a data share agreement with VCRDS," said Art Carter, CEO of CRMLS. "Our previous partnership was mutually beneficial to agents and brokers of both MLSs, as well as to home buyers and sellers in Ventura County and across the state. This agreement represents another step in the right direction toward breaking down artificial barriers to data access for all California real estate professionals."

"VCCAR is committed to providing our members all possible avenues to grow their business," said Lyle Elliott, 2017 President of Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS. "The data share with CRMLS will support that strategy and provide members with more data and more options. We look forward to the reestablishment of this important data share."

"CSMAR and VCRDS are excited about the re-creation of our data share with CRMLS through our current MLS vendor," said Debbie Hake, 2017 President of Conejo Simi Moorpark Association of REALTORS. "We regret the interruption during our recent MLS conversion and look forward to growth in data availability for our agents and, ultimately, the clients we serve."

CRMLS enters into this and other data share agreements to enhance MLS services for its subscribing brokers and agents by providing them access to as much current and accurate MLS listing data as possible. CRMLS will continue efforts to expand access to MLS listing data across the State of California in accordance with the charge of its "It's My Business" campaign for statewide listing access. The campaign seeks to take advantage of current technologies to the benefit of all California real estate professionals, eliminating the need to join multiple MLSs or utilize multiple points of access.

About California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS)

California Regional MLS is the nation's largest and most recognized subscriber-based MLS, dedicated to servicing over 81,000 real estate professionals from 32 Associations, 3 Boards of REALTORS and 1 MLS. CRMLS is the industry powerhouse and thrives on providing the most relevant products and services to its subscribers. For more information on CRMLS visit www.crmls.org.

About Ventura County Regional Data Share (VCRDS)

Ventura County Regional Data Share is a data share between Ventura County Association of REALTORS and Conejo Simi Moorpark Association of REALTORS, with approximately 4,500 subscribers covering most of Ventura County and portions of LA County.

SOURCE California Regional MLS

Related Links

http://www.crmls.org


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MC Companies was a proud sponsor of the Great Strides Walk in Tucson last month benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Southern Arizona. Great Strides is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest national fundraising event. Each year, more than 125,000 people participate in hundreds of walks across the country to support the Foundation's mission to cure cystic fibrosis and raise awareness for this rare, genetic, life-shortening disease that makes it difficult to breathe.

MC Companies has been a proud sponsor of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for many years with hundreds of employees across Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma fundraising and walking in solidarity. This year there were over 400 attendees from 35 different teams that participated in the walk, and raised a total of $80,000.

This year's walk also featured a new location and took place at Reid Park that accommodated 32 vendors, food trucks, kid's zones and the MCLife Instagram Kiosk. Without all the incredible sponsors both local and national, dedicated volunteers and fearless walkers, this powerful event would not have been possible.

MeMe Aguila, the Development Director for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Southern Arizona has a few words about this year's walk: "We have had such positive responses this year from our team captains and their walkers about holding it at Reid Park. Everyone loved the more festive environment that the walk committee was able to create. People stayed around and really enjoyed themselves. The addition of the food vendors was also a real plus."

MC Companies is committed to supporting local and national charities throughout the American Southwest. With properties throughout Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma, MC Companies team members are encouraged to participate in philanthropic giving. The Sharing the Good Life Foundation was established by MC Companies

About MC Companies: MC Companies http://mccompanies.com is a real estate investment, development, construction, and management company specializing in the multifamily properties and commercial markets. MC Companies has completed over $500 million in multi-family and commercial value-added transactions since 1985.

About The Sharing the Good Life Foundation: MC Companies' Sharing the Good Life Foundation is a program designed to build strong and vibrant communities, improve quality of life, and make a positive difference where we live, work, learn and play. By working together, we can share the good life and build a better world.

https://www.mccompanies.com/about/sharing-the-good-life/

About The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Southern Arizona: The CF Foundation is the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis, and nearly every CF-specific drug available today was made possible with our financial support. We are a donor-funded, 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is fully accredited by the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance program. https://www.cff.org/SouthernAZ/

PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12638090

SOURCE MC Residential Communities

Related Links

http://www.mccompanies.com


NEW YORK, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the Board of Directors of Capital Bank Financial Corp. ("CBF" or the "Company") in connection with the proposed merger of the Company with First Horizon National Corp. ("FHN"). Under the terms of the agreement, the Company's shareholders will receive cash or stock with a value equivalent to 1.750 of a share of FHN and $7.90 for each CBF share they own, representing consideration of $40.83 based on FHN's May 3 closing price.

WeissLaw is investigating whether CBF's Board acted to maximize shareholder value prior to entering into the agreement. Notably, at least one analyst set a target price of $50.00 per share. Additionally, CBF recently reported a remarkable 112% year-over-year growth in net income, and a $167.4 million sequential increase in total asset.

The acquisition is a strategic and financially attractive transaction for FHN, a point emphasized by FHN's CFO when he highlighted the four compelling benefits of the transaction, which include:

Enhancing FHN's footprint in the fast-growing Southeast markets;

Leveraging infrastructure investments and improving FHN's competitive positioning;

Strengthening FHN's business mix; and

Accelerating FHN's growth.

Finally, upon closing CBR shareholders will own a meagre 29% of the combined companies.

Given these facts, WeissLaw is investigating whether CBF shareholders will obtain their fair and proportionate share of the Company's continued success and future growth prospects. If you own CBF shares and would like more information about your rights or our investigation, or if you have information to share with us, please contact Joshua Rubin by telephone at (888) 593-4771 or by email at [email protected]m.

WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected] or fill out the form on our website, http://www.weisslawllp.com/capital-bank-financial-corp/

SOURCE WeissLaw LLP

Related Links

http://www.weisslurie.com


BASEL CITY, Switzerland, May 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Yerra Solutions AG, a global provider of innovative solutions for in-house legal & IP, eDiscovery and compliance, has been ranked as the 5th Best Employer in Switzerland in its size category in the Great Place to Work 2017 research study. The research study, conducted annually, was based on an independent assessment evaluating central work place topics such as trust, team building, professional development, management style, quality of leadership and work-life balance. It included an anonymous survey of all employees of Yerra Switzerland and an in-depth assessment of the company's leadership and policies.

Given that Yerra was founded in 2013 and is just over four years old, its ranking number 5 of similar-sized companies in Switzerland is especially noteworthy.

"This is a proud moment for Yerra in Switzerland and around the world," notes Nadine Stuttle, Managing Director Switzerland for Yerra Solutions. "As a company, we firmly believe that when our team is thriving, Yerra will do well and when Yerra is doing well, the team should benefit. Having independent recognition that we are building a culture that matches our vision is a huge validation."

"The award stands for credible management, which works with its employees respectfully and fairly, enjoys strong alignment between staff and the company's vision and represents strong teambuilding," says Michael Hermann, Managing Director at Great Place to Work.

An example of the employee feedback received in the survey is this quote by an attorney and compliance analyst on our team in Zurich.

"Yerra was my entry card in the Swiss Financial Market and probably one of the best work opportunities I came across in the last years. A company made of clever, well-educated, and innovative people with a 'can-do' attitude. What makes Yerra unique is a multicultural and united team, with a familiar touch. A company where we feel we work as one and not for one. Not only was I able to progress in one year, as I was given the chance to improve myself with trainings in areas of my choice. Working with different cultures, in different countries and continents is also a plus!"

You can learn more about what makes a career with Yerra special here.

About Yerra Solutions

Yerra serves the operational and technology needs of in-house legal & IP, eDiscovery and compliance organizations. The company's offerings include consulting, managed services and technology solutions that drive operational efficiency and improved outcomes. Yerra is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland with offices in the UK, US, Singapore, Hong Kong and Poland. Learn more at www.yerrasolutions.com.



About Great Place to Work



Great Place to Work is a consulting company with representations in 50 countries. In addition to employee studies and cultural analysis, Great Place to Work supports companies in their development towards becoming an excellent employer. With more than 6,000 studied companies annually, the ranking of the best employers of Great Place to Work is the biggest and most known initiative for the improvement of work culture in the world. Great Place to Work Switzerland was founded in 2008 in Zurich. The national benchmarking competition "Best Employers in Switzerland", in which companies of all sizes, industries and regions can take part, has been taking place annually since 2009.

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12637891

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Yerra Solutions
Navaz Kuttakkaren, from Kerala a student at the Faculty of Theology at Ankara University. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, May 1 : For Indian students seeking to study abroad, Turkey, with its government-funded higher education scholarship programme, is slowly emerging as a popular destination.

The "Turkiye Scholarships" -- specifically designed for international students -- is one of the most extensive programmes being coordinated from a single centre.

In 2016, the country received as many as 122,000 applications from 175 countries, according to the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, which is responsible for the Turkiye Scholarships.

Since 2012, over 100 Indian students have received the scholarship.

"I belong to a farmer's family from south India. It was unthinkable for people like me to come here to Turkey and get a high-quality education. I applied to 'Turkeye scholarships' and I was accepted," said Mustafa Ujampaaly, a PhD student at Ankara University, in a statement.

Currently in India, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said before embarking on the official visit: "We embrace students from all over the world coming to Turkey."

The Turkiye Scholarship project first began in late President Turgut Ozal's rule in 1992. The project initially covered Central Asian Turkic Republics and was later extended to other parts of the world.

The scholarship, offered for undergraduate, graduate, PhD, proficiency in art and research levels, includes allowance, accommodation, tuition and fees, health expenses and a compulsory Turkish language course.

"There is a misconception propagated by the media that being a Muslim country, Indian students of other religions may face difficulty many restrictions. But I am living here, it feels really awesome to be here nice place," said Kanika Walia who is pursuing PhD in communications from Gazi University.

The students who are eligible for the "Turkiye Scholarships" and do not speak Turkish are also granted free Turkish language training for one year.

Students who successfully complete the language course are allowed to pursue their education at the university they have registered with.

In addition, the programme is aimed at enhancing Turkey's relations with other countries in the fields of higher education and culture.

For students who wish to know about the art, culture, history or music of the country, additional certificate-level programmes are also available. For such students, study tours are also conducted free of cost.

"It is a very good thing to be in Turkey. I had always dreamed of studying abroad and never dreamed that I could study in Turkey. I was accepted after I applied to the government-funded 'Turkiye Scholarships' of the Turkish Prime Ministry (YTB)," said Navaz Kuttakkaren, a BA student from Kerala at Ankara University.
New Delhi, May 1 : With the rise in corporate power in the country, is the trade union movement on the wane? On International Labour Day, stakeholders across the political spectrum, however, assert to the contrary, insisting the fight for labour rights has intensified.

The RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), however, while observing that trade union movement has evolved from being anti-industry, said only the Left-affiliated labour movement has lost relevance.

"Its the Left model of trade union movement which is dying. Labour movement led by the Left philosophy has completely lost its relevance. Its because of this fact that it is being presumed that trade union movement has weakened," BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay told IANS.

He said the Left trade unionism was characterised by hooliganism and disruptions which led to its demise.

"Because of the Left, trade unionism only meant strikes, lockouts and hooliganism in the name of protests. Workers are aware now that these practices are not just irrelevant but counter-productive," added Upadhyay.

The Trinamool Congress-affiliated Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC) expressed a similar view.

"Because you don't see lockouts, strikes or workers going on rampage doesn't mean trade unions are dead or they are incapable of securing and protecting labour rights. The Left parties are gone and with them gone are the days of disruptive labour movement," INTTUC President Dola Sen told IANS.

She maintained that to protect workers' interests, it was imperative that industry was given a congenial environment to grow.

"Our motto is save labour, save industry. You cannot secure workers' interests by jeopardising industries through disruptive practices. Left trade unions are examples of how labour movement should not be," said Sen. She blamed the erstwhile CPI-M-led Left Front government in West Bengal for destroying industry and work culture in the state.

Sen also said the government has an integral role in settling industrial disputes.

"Other trade unions prefer bipartite settlement of disputes that facilitate under-the-table compromises. We believe in active involvement of the government and this has yielded desired results -- zero loss of mandays and increased protection of workers' rights and improved worker-industry relationship," said Sen.

The CPI-M affiliated Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) rejected the allegations of being disruptive and said under the Narendra Modi regime, workers' rights are increasingly under threat.

"Under the pro-corporate Modi regime, there have been increased attacks on labour rights. It is mostly because of trade unions like the BMS and the INTTUC pro-government and pro-corporate approach," CITU Vice President A. Soundararajan told IANS.

He said the Modi government, in the name of "ease of doing business", was "drastically diluting" labour laws and taking away workers' rights.

"When the corporates do not approve of your tactics and ways of protests, it means you are on the right path, it is a certificate that our protests and movement is yielding a result," he said, dismissing the charge of "hooliganism".

However, the Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), contended that trade unions were becoming weak and called for building up unity to take on the Modi government.

"This government doesn't believe in cooperation and consultation," INTUC President G. Sanjeeva Reddy told IANS, blaming Modi's "rigid" and "adamant" attitude for the trade unions becoming weak.

"There is a need for the labour unions to strengthen themselves and collectively confront the Modi government," he added.

(Anurag Dey can be contacted at anurag.d@ians.in)
New Delhi, May 2 : Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Tuesday to discuss the prevailing security situation in the state.

According to officials, the Home Minister and the Governor also discussed Monday's attack in which the Pakistan Army killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.

Singh had chaired a high-level meeting on Monday to review the situation in the state, which was attended by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Jain, RAW chief Anil Dhasmana and Central Reserve Police Force chief Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar.

According to informed sources, the meeting discussed the fresh trouble in the valley, where a spike in stone-pelting incidents by students has caused law and order problems.

The Monday meeting took place hours before the Pakistan Army attack on the Indian soldiers, and the killing of five policeman in a bid to rob a bank cash van in Kulgam in the Valley.

Singh and Vohra discussed on how to control the situation at the earliest.
New Delhi, May 2 : Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra met Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Tuesday to discuss the worsening security and law and order situation in the state.

According to officials, the Home Minister and the Governor also discussed Monday's terror attack in Kashmir's Kulgam district that killed seven people and the killing of two Indian soldiers and mutilation of their bodies by Pakistan Army personnel near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch.

Vohra is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him of the situation in the state, especially against the backdrop of Monday's violence.

The spike in stone-pelting incidents by students which has caused law and order problems in the valley was also discussed, the officials said.

They said the issues like infiltration from across the border with Pakistan and steps to control the situation also figured during the meeting.

The meeting comes after the Home Minister chaired a high-level meeting on Monday to review the situation in the state.

Monday's meeting was attended by Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Jain, RAW chief Anil Dhasmana and Central Reserve Police Force chief Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar.
New Delhi, May 2 : BJP ally Shiv Sena and the Congress party on Tuesday attacked the government over mutilation of two soldiers' bodies by Pakistani forces along the Line of Control (LoC), with Uddhav Thackeray asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop his "Mann ki Baat" and instead take up "Gun ki baat".

Congress leader and former HRD Minister Kapil Sibal recalled the remarks of Smriti Irani in 2013 when she had threatened to send bangles to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when two Indian soldiers were mutilated by Pakistani soldiers in similar fashion and asked whether she would be sending bangles to Prime Minister Narendra Modi now.

Sibal also asked the government to "take off its bangles", take action against Pakistan and evolve a policy.

Clarifying the government's stand, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government was acting tough against border violations and the sacrifice of the soldiers would not go a waste.

In a sharp reaction to the killing and the mutilation of two Indian soldiers near the Line of Control, Thackeray said Kashmir was "burning" and the government must take action.

"It's time to stop 'Mann ki Baat' and start 'Gun ki baat' against Pakistan," he demanded, referring to the Prime Minister's monthly radio broadcast.

Congress leader and a former Defence Minister A.K. Antony said that during the party-led UPA regime, there was just one incident of mutilation but since the BJP-led NDA took over, at least three such incidents had taken place.

"It (the incident) has affected the morale of Indian people and Indian Army, and the continuous attacks on military installations has also put a question mark on the security structure on the border. More than anything, it has affected the prestige, respect and morale of the Indian Army," Antony said.

He termed the act as cowardly and inhuman and asked the government to give a free hand to the army to seek retribution.

His party colleague Sibal wondered if Union Minister Smriti Irani would now "gift bangles" to Modi.

"During the UPA regime there was a woman MP (Smriti Irani), who said the Prime Minister should be gifted bangles. Will the same MP, who is now a Minister, send bangles to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Sibal asked.

Sibal also said the BJP-led NDA government would have time to protect the borders "only if they have time to spare from election campaigns".

"What kind of a government is this that despite knowing that Pakistan will not change its ways, they invited the ISI to Pathankot," said Sibal, referring to the Pakistani team that went to Pathankot to probe the 2016 terror attack on an Indian airbase.

"In the last 35 months, 135 soldiers have died in Jammu and Kashmir. Who is responsible for this" he asked.

"They said demonetisation will end terrorism, but terror attacks only increased after that. I remember when Hemraj was beheaded (in 2013), Sushmaji (External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj) said 'We should get 10 heads for one'... How many heads will they get for two" Sibal wondered.

Maharashtra Minister Ramdas Kadam, of the Shiv Sena, also took potshots at Modi, saying he should concentrate more on national security than elections.

"What's stopping the Centre from taking direct action against Pakistan? How many more soldiers should we lose and how many more widows should we see before India does something?" he said, demanding direct action against the neighbouring country.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi said that Modi's remarks on Pakistan and black money had become an albatross around his neck.

Prasad rejected the opposition criticism and said the government was taking tough action on border violations.

"The army has issued a public statement that adequate, suitable and effective response shall be given. Let's leave it to the armed forces to completely concretise their strategy," Prasad told CNN News 18 channel.

The Aam Aadmi Party said it would support the government over its response to the mutilation by the Pakistan Army of bodies of army's Naib Subedar Paramjeet Singh and BSF's Head Constable Prem Sagar along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
Canberra, May 3 : Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will on Wednesday depart for a whirlwind trip to the US and meet President Donald Trump for the first time since he took office in January.

The meeting between the two leaders in New York, on the deck of a World War II-era aircraft carrier, the USS Intrepid, coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, during which Australian and US forces repelled Japanese Imperial Army, Xinhua news agency reported.

Turnbull will be required back in Australia before the weekend to finalise details of the nation's federal budget, set to be handed down by Treasurer Scott Morrison on Tuesday.

He said the "flying visit" to the US would involve discussion about regional issues and trade.

Turnbull and Trump had an infamous phone call in January, which the US President labelled as his "worst" of the day and reportedly cut short the scheduled one-hour telephone conversation to 25 minutes.

Turnbull before embarking his US trip brushed off concerns that the relationship between the two leaders was already strained following the fallout to the phone call.

"We'll talk about a wide range of security and economic issues," he said.

"(But) reports (of the phone call) were pretty exaggerated. It was a very frank, courteous and forthright call."

By emphasising that his trip will "commemorate and honour" the Battle of the Coral Sea -- which protected Australia from a Japanese invasion, Turnbull would like to remind the US the camaraderie that both countries share since the World War II.

"It's a great event that we're both attending. It's on the USS Intrepid and there'll be both Australian and American veterans. This was the sea battle in 1942 which was the first time the Japanese were turned back and defeated," Turnbull talked about the scheduled ceremony on Wednesday.

"This was a great turning point in the war, so it's really a time to celebrate, commemorate and honour the rock solid alliance between the US and Australia."

While describing the year 1942 as "bleak," Turnbull and Trump are facing with the gravest regional security situation in many decades as the tension on the Korean peninsula escalated recently.

Turnbull also said the issue of Korean peninsula will be top of the topics between him and Trump.

The Labour opposition has also weighed in before Turnbull's visit to the US. Labour's defence spokesman Richard Marles said maintaining a close relationship with the US was crucial to Australia's prosperity.

"When you assess the value of the alliance with the US -- irrespective of who is the President and who is the Prime Minister -- it becomes clear how important this relationship is to Australia in terms of defence, economy, in terms of scientific cooperation and in medical research."

"So I think it is really important that the alliance is invested in by Australia because it remains the centrepiece of our foreign policy and the nation's defence strategy," Marles said.
Washington, May 4 : The US House of Representatives will vote on Thursday on a Republican bill to repeal and replace Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the media reported.

The long-awaited announcement on Wednesday night has put to an end to a flurry of speculation about whether the Republican health care bill would come up on the House floor for a vote or collapse again like it did on March 24 when President Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the bill from consideration, reports CNN.

Top Republicans are very confident. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy emerged from Speaker Ryan's office all but triumphant.

"We will be voting on the health care votes tomorrow. Because we have enough votes. It'll pass. It's a good bill," McCarthy told the media.

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus told CNN he is "optimistic" about the outcome.

According to the bill, Trump has committed to backing an amendment spending $8 billion over five years to fund high-risk pools and go toward patients with pre-existing conditions.

As originally introduced, the bill would leave 24 million fewer people insured by 2026 than under Obamacare, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said.

The Republican health care bill would eliminate Obamacare taxes on the wealthy, insurers and others, and get rid of the individual mandate.

Instead of the Obamacare subsidies that are tied to income and premiums, the Republican plan would provide Americans with refundable tax credits based mainly on age to purchase health insurance, CNN reported.

The legislation would also allow insurers to charge higher premiums to those in their 50s and early 60s, compared to younger consumers.

It would also significantly curtail federal support for Medicaid and allow states to require able-bodied adults to work.

However, the move was slammed by top Democrat and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

"...tomorrow, House Republicans are going to tattoo this moral monstrosity to their foreheads, and the American people will hold them accountable."
New Delhi : Title: Discretion, Discrimination and the Rule of Law; Author: Mrinal Satish; Publisher: Cambridge University Press; Pages: 310; Price: Rs 695 Even with stringent laws in place to deter sexual violence against women, inconsistencies in the judicial process many a time leads to lighter punishment for the perpetrators. Often women are judged by their past sexual history -- whether she had been sexually active or she was in acquaintance with the accused.

Lawyer and academician Mrinal Satish's book "Discretion, Discrimination and the Rule of Law: Reforming Rape Sentencing in India", examines the rape sentencing regime in India to tell us why the judiciary needs sentencing guidelines.

The well-researched book throws light on the rape sentencing pattern in India by examining about 800 cases decided by the Supreme Court of India and 21 High Courts over a quarter of a century -- between 1984 and 2009.

The author argues that rape adjudication in India has always been impacted by pre-conceived notions, myths and stereotypes about the offence and about victims of rape.

Rape myths -- such as absence of injury indicates consent during intercourse; or rape by a stranger is necessarily "more traumatic" than by an acquaintance -- are prime factors considered in rape sentencing, the author says.

Satish's book narrates various examples to convey to readers that a higher sentence is given to convicts for "taking away" the virginity of a chaste woman.

He says this stems from stereotypes prevailing in the country which consider virginity to be of utmost importance to a woman. He gives an example of a Supreme Court case where it opined that an unmarried woman would not falsely allege rape because that would hamper her prospects of finding a match in a "respectable or acceptable" family.

In Madan Gopal Kakkad vs. Naval Dubey, the Supreme Court noted the "pitiable" state of the victim and observed: "(the victim) having lost her virginity still remains unmarried... (she) is under the impression that there is no monsoon season in her life and that her future chances for getting married and settling down in respectable family is completely marred."

The book says that courts often take into consideration various factors, which are not related to law, or even the facts of the case, but on the personal philosophy of the sentencing judge.

His analysis shows that presence of injuries on victim or violence lead to increased sentence and their absence translates to "consent" of victim and "non-injuries rapes are not really violent crimes".

The book also takes a look at the consideration of mitigating factors by courts while sentencing the offenders. For instance, in a case where a six-year-old-girl was raped by a man, the judge let him free considering that he was suffering from tuberculosis and was 65 per cent paralysed in his left limbs.

The judge said since "nature has punished him enough", a custodial sentence of 23 days (which he had already spent during pre-trial detention) would be sufficient.

"The inconsistent application of mitigating factors is a major cause for unwarranted disparity in sentencing and also raises issues of fairness. It amounts to an arbitrary exercise of judicial discretion, which could lead to the entire sentencing system being unconstitutional," says the author.

In order to do away with such disparity in punishment in rape cases, the book suggests formulation of sentencing guidelines for court that detail factors that should and should not be considered while sentencing, to ensure principled sentencing by courts.

Read the book if you are looking for well-researched and in-depth knowledge on sentencing patterns in rape cases by Indian courts. The book will definitely benefit its readers -- specially law students, law researchers, lawyers and even the general public.

Satish, an associate professor at the National Law University, Delhi, assisted the Justice J.S. Verma Committee that was set up in the immediate aftermath of the December 16, 2012, gang-rape in Delhi to review the laws and suggest amendments.
New Delhi, May 4 : An amendment in the Banking Regulation Act, which will be effected through an ordinance, is aimed at quick resolution of some bad debt cases, Union Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said on Thursday.

"The government is looking at ensuring an arrangement to resolve some of these (bad debt) cases quickly. In totality, the entire institutional mechanism to deal with bad loans has to be made more effective. That's all about the exercise," Lavasa told CNBC-TV18 here.

"The ordinance will enable banks and the Reserve Bank of India in the resolution of stressed asset cases," he said.

The senior officer said he would not be able to give how much the NPAs will go down after the new law comes into force, but felt that the changes being made would make the system more effective in handling bad debts.

The policy decision on tackling the mounting bad loans or non-performing assets (NPAs) was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday evening.

The amendment in the Banking Regulation Act is said to empower the RBI to take strict action against defaulters while being lenient in cases of genuine business failures.

The policy is also likely to contain guidelines regarding public auction of assets of the defaulting companies/individuals.

The details of the ordinance have not been revealed as it awaits President Pranab Mukherjee's approval.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday gave hints about the decision, but declined to go into the details citing protocol constraints about disclosing something even before the President gets it.

Jaitley merely said the Cabinet has taken an "important decision" relating to the banking sector.

Refusing to divulge details of the ordinance, Lavasa said: "We should see what enabling provisions are there. Let us wait for the notification."

"Eventually, the ordinance will have to be passed by Parliament," he added.

The ordinance assumes significance in the context of the government's attempts to get liquor baron Vijay Mallya extradited to India.

His Kingfisher Airlines had defaulted to the tune of about Rs 9,000 crore in loans to public sector banks. As banks started hounding him for recovery of their loans, Mallya fled to London last year.
Srinagar, May 4 : A massive eight-hour search operation by security forces in around 20 villages of Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district ended on Thursday afternoon.

The operation, described by a senior police officer as "unprecedented", started early in the day and involved over 3,000 soldiers, paramilitary troopers and police personnel.

They carried out searches in some 20 villages including Turkwangam and Sugan where militants had been reportedly seen moving about freely in recent days.

The security forces searched for militants responsible for the killing of political activists and security personnel and those blamed for snatching of weapons as well as bank robberies, the officer said.

Government sources said helicopters and drones were also used in the operation.

The security forces faced stone pelting from villagers at three places. The crowds were dispersed with tear smoke.

There was no official word on any arrests made during the searches although Thursday's was the biggest search operation by security forces since last year's summer unrest.

A senior police officer earlier told IANS: "The operation is part of a routine anti-militancy and area domination exercise in south Kashmir.

"Such operations will continue till we are able to completely sanitize (rid areas of militants) in south Kashmir."

Police have announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone giving information leading to the arrest of Umar Majeed, a militant operating in south Kashmir.

Majeed allegedly masterminded the killing of seven people, including five policemen and two bank guards, in Kulgam on Monday.
Paris, May 5 : A French prosecutor opened a preliminary investigation into allegations that the presidential front-running contender Emmanuel Macron holds an offshore bank account, local media reports said.

Earlier on Thursday, Macron lodged a legal complaint over allegations made by his rival Marine Le Pen in a televised debate on Wednesday that he held secret funds in a foreign tax heaven, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I've never had an account in any tax haven. Le Pen is behind this. She has an internet army mobilizing to spread false information and lies," Macron told France Inter Radio.

Speaking to news channel BFMTV, Le Pen said that she had no proof her rival had an offshore account.

Hours before Wednesday's debate, an anonymous account posted documents on an internet forum allegedly showing the former Economy Minister had an offshore bank account.

The information was quickly distributed online.

In February, Macron's staff said their campaign had been the target of cyber attacks targeting databases and e-mail servers.
Rome, May 5 : Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano announced that Italy is to work hard to ensure that the next G7 Summit recognizes the need to establish a clear dialogue with Russia During an intervention at the Italian Parliament on Thursday, Alfano said the upcoming G7 Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held May 26-27 in the Sicilian city of Taormina, should prioritize relations with Moscow, Efe news reported.

He pointed out that the Foreign Ministers of the world's seven most developed countries had already stressed, during their meeting last April in the Italian city of Lucca, the fundamental role Russia could play in resolving international conflicts such as the Syrian civil war.

In April, the G7 Foreign Ministers, representing Italy, France, Germany, Britain, the US, Japan and Canada, backed a "political, not military" solution in Syria that included Russia and discarded a British proposal to apply further sanctions on Moscow.

The Syrian crisis and the international community's relationship with Russia are to be two of the top issues on the next summit's agenda, which are scheduled to be discussed by the G7 leaders alongside the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council.
Fie picture of Indian peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on patrol in Pibor, Jonglei State, in 2013. (Photo credit: UN/via IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Yukio Takasu, the Under-Secretary-General for Management, right, briefs journalists on the United Nations financial situation on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. He is accompanied by Stephane Dujarric, the ... Image Source: IANS News

United Nations, May 5 : The UN owes India $55 million for its participation in peacekeeping operations, which is more than the annual mandatory dues paid by New Delhi in 2016 to the world body.

India paid a total of $34.28 million to UN in 2016, as its contributions towards the world body's regular budget, the peacekeeping operations and the tribunals as mandated by the General Assembly.

So far in 2017, it has contributed $20.76 million although the amount will go up as it pays more of the instalments for the peacekeeping dues as they become due.

Yukio Takasu, the Under-Secretary-General for Management, who briefed reporters on the UN's finances on Wednesday, said that paying India and the other troop contributing nations was one of the "highest priorities". He added, "We are making every effort to expedite payments."

The UN reimburses troop-contributing countries for costs they incur for sending personnel and equipment to the operations. The current rate of reimbursement for troops is about $1,330 per soldier per month.

While Takasu disclosed only the amount currently owed to India for its participation in the peacekeeping operations, the total payments New Delhi received is not publicly known.

Responding to a query by IANS about the total reimbursements to India for providing troops to peacekeeping operations, an official in the Peacekeeping Financing Division said the data was "potentially sensitive" while the assessments "are mostly public information".

"Details of payments to a specific member state are based on memoranda of understanding between the UN and the member states concerned, which are not public," Jasminka Haznadar McCauley, who heads a section in the division, wrote.

India now has 7,768 personnel serving in UN peacekeeping operations.

India was one of 39 countries Takasu listed as having fully paid their regular and peacekeeping contributions for 2017.

Dues India paid to the regular UN budget was $18.589 million in 2017, and $18.449 million in 2016, Contributions Service Chief Lionel Berridge told IANS. This is an increase of $140,000.

In addition India paid $469,000 in 2017 for UN tribunals.

India's total contributions to peacekeeping was $15.55 million in 2016 and $8.44 million in 2015, Berridge said.

The total peacekeeping contribution for 2017 will be higher than the $1.69 million paid so far because of differences in the accounting period, he added.

Explaining the difference of $7.11 million between India's 2015 and 2016 contributions, he said that the annual contributions by countries are fixed for three year periods as a per cent of the total UN budgets and, therefore, the actual contributions vary according to the sizes of the budgets set by the General Assembly for each year.

India's contributions for 2016 to 2018 are fixed at 0.737 per cent for the regular budget and 0.474 per cent for peacekeeping.

The UN's peacekeeping budget was $6.377 billion in 2015 and rose to $10.631 billion in 2016.

The regular budget rose marginally from $2.549 billion in 2016 to $2.578 billion in 2017.

The percentage of contributions mandated for member nations are based on a complex formula that takes into account the capacity to pay.

If India's economy keeps on track to grow in comparison to others, its percentage share will go up when the next round of assessments are made in 2018.

In addition to the mandated dues, India also makes voluntary contributions to various UN programmes. Contributions during the past year included $250,000 to the election assistance programme, $500,000 to the Central Emergency Response Fund, $100,000 to Haiti cholera relief and $250,000 for the General Assembly President's office.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
Tokyo, May 5 : South Korea, Japan and China, at a trilateral meeting on Friday, vowed to fight against "all forms of protectionism" amid growing concerns of US President Donald Trump's protectionist policies.

The pledge came after a meeting of senior financial officials and central bankers of the three countries on the sidelines of an annual gathering of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Yokohama, eastern Japan, Yonhap news agency reported.

The Northeast Asian powers agreed that "trade is one of the most important engines of economic growth and development", the joint statement said.

They "will resist all forms of protectionism", the statement said.

The language is seen as being stronger than a statement issued by the financial chiefs of the Group of 20 economies in March, in which they dropped the line against protectionism apparently in the face of opposition from the United States.

The three nations said the pace of a recovery in the global economy is quickening on the back of manufacturing growth accompanied by a recovery in financial markets.

However, they will step up cooperation in the face of lingering uncertainties in the global economy and geopolitical risks, according to the statement.

The meeting was attended by the Finance Ministers and central bank governors of South Korea and Japan and China's deputy Finance Minister and senior central bank official.

Chinese Finance Minister Xiao Jie skipped the meeting. The reason for his absence was unclear, but China has been at odds with South Korea over the deployment of an advanced US missile defence system and with Japan over history and security issues.

The South Korean delegation was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho.

Yoo told South Korean reporters that he has no plan to hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the ADB gathering.

Yoo also held talks with his Singaporean counterpart Heng Swee Keat and said that the two nations must take a leading role in promoting free trade worldwide and pre-emptively cope with uncertainties in the global financial market.
London, May 5 : A vote for UK's ruling Conservative Party is a vote to escalate the war in Syria and prolong the suffering of its people, the opposition Labour Party has said.

The remarks on Thursday came after it emerged that Prime Minister Theresa May could try to push a motion through the House of Commons on joining military action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if she wins The June 8 snap general elections, The Guardian reported.

Labour MP Emily Thornberry said such a move would "risk open conflict between our armed forces and those of Russia and Iran" and could lead the UK to repeat the mistakes of the Iraq war.

She warned May against allowing the UK to "follow (US President) Donald Trump's lead with blind loyalty, no matter where it takes us, and no matter what our other allies think."

The Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish National Party and Greens are lining up to oppose any escalation of military action against the Syrian President.

"Instead of this headlong rush to war, the British government should be working flat out through the UN to support the current talks on de-escalation of the conflict, with a view to creating a permanent ceasefire, a political solution and a lasting peace."

"That is what the Syrian people need, not Theresa May's secret plans to escalate the war," The Guardian quoted Thornberry as saying.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, said it was deeply worrying that May "would back military intervention against Assad in Syria outside of a wider diplomatic strategy and without UN backing."
Islamabad, May 5 : Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Friday that it was "likely", on "purely economical" grounds, to suspend its Karachi-Mumbai operations, while flights to New Delhi will continue.

PIA Spokesperson Daniyal Gillani, told Dawn online that PIA is considering the move and is yet to take a final decision.

Dismissing reports that operations are being suspended due to tense relations between India and Pakistan, the spokesperson asserted that the reasons behind the move are "purely economical".

He explained that the move may be taken due to declining traffic along the route, adding that flights along the Karachi-New Delhi route will continue operations.
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Chennai, May 5 : Kannada television actress Rekha Sindhu died in a road accident on Friday near Vellore in Tamil Nadu, police said.

The accident happened on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway around 2.30 a.m., a police official told the media here.

"She was travelling to Chennai for an ad shoot. There were six people in the car including Rekha. The vehicle lost control and hit the median," he said.

Rekha died instantly while the others were injured.

"Two of them who were critically injured were admitted to the CMC Hospital at Vellore. Others with minor injuries have been brought to Chennai," the official said.

Rekha, 22, was a resident of Bengaluru.
New Delhi, May 5 : Timeline of the Nirbhaya gang-rape case in which the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentences of the four convicts.

December 16, 2012: A 23-year-old paramedic student and her boyfriend take a private bus home after watching English film "Life of Pi" at the Select City Walk Mall in Saket. The woman was brutally raped and beaten up by six men in the moving bus and thrown out of it near Mahipalpur along with her male friend. They are admitted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital the same night.

December 17: Delhi Police identify four men who raped and assaulted her -- bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta. Doctors say the woman has suffered grave internal injuries.

December 18: Ram Singh and three others are arrested. People come out on the streets to protest the gang-rape.

December 19: The woman undergoes a fifth surgery, with doctors removing most of her intestines.

December 21: The accused juvenile is nabbed from Anand Vihar bus terminal in Delhi. The government appoints a panel of physicians to ensure she receives best medical care. The woman's friend identifies Mukesh as one of the culprits. Police conduct raids in Haryana and Bihar to nab sixth accused, Akshay Thakur.

December 22: Akshay Thakur is arrested in Bihar and brought to Delhi. Victim records her statement before the SDM in hospital.

December 25: The woman's condition deteriorates December 26: She is flown to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital for advanced treatment

December 29: The woman dies in Singapore due to organ failure

January 2, 2013: The then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir inaugurates fast track court for speedy trial in sexual offence cases

January 3: Police files charge-sheet against five adult accused for offences including murder, gangrape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences and dacoity

January 17: Fast track court starts proceedings against five adult accused

January 28: Juvenile Justice Board rules that sixth accused is a minor

February 2: Five adult accused are charged with 13 offences including murder

February 28: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) frames rape, murder charges against the juvenile accused

March 11: Ram Singh, the bus driver, is found hanging in his cell in Tihar jail

March 21: Government approves new tougher anti-rape law to punish sex crimes, including death for repeat rape offenders

July 5: Trial against juvenile concludes, the JJB reserves verdict for July 11

July 11: The JJB holds the minor guilty of illegally confining and robbing a carpenter on December 16 night before the gangrape. It defers to July 25 its verdict in the gang-rape case.

July 25: JJB defers to August 5 its verdict after a PIL is filed in the Supreme Court seeking fresh interpretation of the term "juvenile".

August 19: JJB again defers verdict to August 31 August 22: Supreme Court allows JJB to pronounce verdict in gangrape case

August 31: JJB convicts the juvenile for gangrape and murder and awards three years term at a probation home

August 22: Fast track court begins hearing of final arguments in trial against the four adult accused.

September 10: Court convicts Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan of 13 offences including gangrape, unnatural offence and murder of the woman and attempt to murder her male friend September 13: Fast track court awards death to all four convicts. Trial court refers the case to Delhi High Court for confirmation of death sentence November 1: The Delhi High Court starts hearing the case on a daily basis

January 3, 2014: The Delhi High Court reserves its verdict on confirming the death sentence and appeals of the four convicts.

March 13: The Delhi High Court upholds the death sentences awarded to the four convicts June 2: Two death row convicts move the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court verdict

July 14: The Supreme Court stays till further orders execution of death penalty of two of four convicts -- Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur

December 18, 2015: Delhi High Court refuses to stay the release of the juvenile. He walks out of a correction home after spending three years.

April 3, 2016: Supreme Court begins hearing in the case July 11: Hearing begins with a change in Bench to Justices Dipak Misra, R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan August 2016: Vinay Sharma tries to commit suicide in Tihar Jail

January 6, 2017: Supreme Court seeks mitigating circumstances from the accused

March 27: Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case

May 5: SC upholds death penalty of four accused - Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh
New Delhi, May 5 : Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and apprised him of the security situation in the state, sources said.

Vohra apprised the Prime Minister of the development work undertaken by the state government. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office at South Block and lasted for about 45 minutes.

There has been a spike in militant attacks as also unrest in parts of the Kashmir Valley. A civilian driver was killed and three soldiers were injured on Thursday when militants ambushed their vehicle in the state's Shopian district.

The opposition Congress has accused the BJP-led central government of lacking a clear policy on Kashmir while the National Conference has demanded imposition of Governor's rule.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and the People's Democratic Party are in power in the state.
New Delhi, May 5 : Chikankari is one of the finest traditional embroideries of India, a symbol of Lucknawi culture and a just released book by an Italian author brings to life the history of this unique craft tradition.

Paola Manfredi's "Chikankari: A Lucknawi Tradition", (Niyogi Books/252 pages/Rs 2,495) is in the true sense a book dedicated to the incredible Chikankari style of embroidery, which remains relatively unknown in the west.

The book was jointly launched by activist, author and Indian handicrafts curator Jaya Jaitly; along with fashion designers and film producers, Meera Ali and Muzaffar Ali.

"The book charts the journey of Chikankari with so much care and dedication that it is going to Bible for us. Paola has gone into such great detail to document the craft. I give this book full marks for coming in the horizon and guiding us in the future," said Muzaffar Ali after unveiling the book.

Born in Italy, Paola Manfredi lived and worked in India for over thirty years. Her beautifully illustrated book showcases unknown gems from personal and public collections, and brings to life the history of this unique craft tradition.

"The book beautifully takes the readers to the lives of the craftsmen as well as the craft. Paola tells us how we can successfully bring the reality to the fore. I am thrilled to see the way this book has come out," commented Jaya Jaitley.

Combining scholarly approach and design interactions, she has worked with craftspeople and their traditional skills to promote the excellence of South Asian craftsmanship particularly in Aary, Chikankari from Lucknow and Nakshi Kantha from Bangladesh.

The author said that the research of the book involved a tedious journey through the many streets of Lucknow and that she was happy at the way it has come up.

"This book is a product that took many years to be compiled and yet working on it raised many more answers than I was able to find answers to. Chikankari is a very evocative word, it is an expression of Lucknow. It embodies the very idea and concept of aesthetics," Manfredi shared.

Various chapters of the book describe the mysterious origins of the craft, the range of costumes, the inspirations behind common Chikankari motifs, the time-honored elaborate production process, and the bewildering array of stitches that raised this craft to its status as a truly exceptional art form.

Chikankari appeared in Lucknow in the late 18th century and its exquisite aesthetic and craftsmanship has sustained the tradition to this day, through changing patronage and market trends.
Mumbai, May 5 : Filmmaker Anil Sharma is a "happy father" as his son Utkarsh is set to start shooting for his film "Genius" on May 22.

Sharma shared his excitement on his Twitter handle and posted: "Set construction for 'Genius' started ... My son's first film shoot begins on May 22 Utkarsh... I am the happiest father today."

Utkarsh has earlier worked as a child artiste in the film "Gadar: Ek Prem Katha" (2001) as Charanjeet-- the son of Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel's characters.

-*-Arfi Lamba to visit Germany for 'Poison' premiere Actor Arfi Lamba, who has appeared in films like "Slumdog Millionaire", "Fugly" and "Singh Is Bliing", will travel to Munich for the premiere of his first German film "Poison".

Directed by Daniel Harrich, the film will release on May 15 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

"I am leaving for Munich in the coming week. I am super excited for it. This is my first German film and I learnt German language for the film. In fact, I dubbed for the film in December (2016)," Arfi said in a statement.

"The story of the film is about how international companies are using third world countries for their own benefit," he added.

Besides him, the film also features German actor Heiner Lauterbach.
New Delhi, May 5 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday discussed recent developments in India-Nepal relations in a meeting with the Himalayan nation's Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat here.

"Both the Ministers discussed the recent developments in India-Nepal relations, particularly recent high-level bilateral exchanges and implementation of all ongoing bilateral economic and developmental cooperation projects," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"Both the Ministers reiterated their commitment to further strengthen and deepen age-old, close and friendly ties in diverse sectors of mutual interest," it said.

Mahat spoke about the local body elections in Nepal later this month and the ongoing efforts of his government to take all stakeholders on board in the constitution implementation process.

He thanked India for extending logistical assistance for elections. India has handed over several vehicles to the Election Commission of the Himalayan republic for smooth conduct of the polls.

Sushma Swaraj "conveyed her good wishes to government and people of Nepal in their national efforts to achieve peace, stability and socio-economic transformation", the ministry statement said.
New Delhi, May 5 : Political and rights activists on Friday called for a mass movement against the West Bengal government's "repression" to suppress a campaign against land acquisition and sought the scrapping of a controversial power project in the state.

Representatives from Left parties and rights organisations accused the Trinamool Congress of "unleashing unprecedented" terror including charging people with anti-terror laws and sexually assaulting women opposing the Power Grid Corp of India Ltd (PGCIL) project at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas.

Since its inception in 2013, the project has run into stringent opposition from farmers as well as environmentalists. The area has been on the boil since November over "forced" acquisition of 16 acres of farmland -- spread over several villages.

In violent clashes between the protestors and police in January, two people were killed.

"The Trinamool, which came to power riding on farmers protests in Singur and Nandigram, is now indulging in state sponsored terrorism to suppress a farmers movement. This is betrayal of the huge mandate which the people of Bnegal gave her in 2011 and again in 2016," said CPI-ML (Red Star) general secretary K.N. Ramachandran.

He said opposition parties will march to the Raj Bhavan on May 8 seeking the intervention of West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi.

Anuradha Talwar of the Bhangar Andolan Solidarity Committee, which has been spearheading the protests, said that besides implicating over 2,000 people in criminal cases, there have been widespread sexual assault on women.

"At least 36 people have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)," said Talwar who was among a number of activists who lent support to Mamata Banerjee in her anti-acquisition protests against the erstwhile Left Front government in Bengal.

Talwar, who herself is facing several cases, said a host of human rights activists who have been part of the movement have been named on an average "10-12" cases including those with non-bailable offences.

The country's oldest rights organisation, the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), said it had petitioned the NHRC seeking a probe into the crackdown on the people of Bhangar.

"We have urged (NHRC) to probe the widespread human rights violations of villagers including sexual assault of women," said PUCL National Secretary Kavita Srivastava.

CPI-ML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya alleged a nexus between the Trinamool and the Centre's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"The BJP, which forgoes not a single opportunity to attack Mamata, has been silent on this issue. It is evident there is a nexus and the BJP is hand in glove with the Trinamool in carrying out this oppression," said Bhattacharya.
Islamabad, May 5 : At least nine people were killed and dozens injured when Afghan border forces fired at a census team in Pakistan's Balochistan on Friday -- a day after the Afghan President turned down invitations to visit Islamabad.

Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent, Akhtar, said in a statement that five children and three women were among those killed in the firing in Chaman area. Police said that four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were among the injured.

The Afghan forces used heavy artillery to fire at the Pakistani side of the border, the Inter-Services Public Relations said, adding that border forces retaliated to the firing in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir areas of Chaman.

"Afghan border police opened fire on FC detailed for security of population census team," the military's media arm said.

Mortar shells fired from the Afghan side also hit houses in a village of Kali Luqman. At least three children were among the injured, who were shifted to Civil Hospital.

An emergency was imposed in Chaman.

The gunfight prompted authorities to shut the Chaman border crossing, one of the two major crossing points along the disputed frontier.

"Since April 30, Afghan border police has been creating hurdles in conducting census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area on Pakistani side of the border," it said.

"This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conducting census."

The country embarked on the enormous task of conducting its first census in almost two decades in March.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office expressed serious concerns over the unprovoked firing, and summoned the Afghan Charge d' Affairs to lodge protest over the firing.

"The Afghan Charge d' Affairs was conveyed the unprovoked firing from the Afghan side not only led to the loss of precious lives and injured many, but has also disrupted the census in areas," a Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.

Zakaria said the border between the two countries is clearly demarcated and Pakistani teams were conducting the census drive in their own area, which is the country's sovereign right.

If such incidents do not stop, Pakistan reserves the right to respond to preserve its sovereignty and protect its civilians, he added.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also condemned the firing as "unfortunate".

"It is the responsibility of the Afghan government to ensure that such incidents are permanently stopped," Sharif said.

The attack came a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani turned down Pakistan's invitation to visit the country. The president's deputy spokesperson Dawa Khan Mina Pal said Ghani was invited by Pakistan's Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. Gen Naveed Mukhtar and parliamentarians to visit the country.

The two nations are divided by the Durand Line, a 2,400 km frontier drawn by the British in 1896 and disputed by Kabul, which does not officially recognise it as an international border.
New Delhi, May 5 : India and China should have mutual trust and respect rather than disrespect for each other, and come to an agreement on contentious issues which benefits both sides, a Chinese scholar has said.

Shen Dingli, from the Institute of International Studies Fudan University, said that Chinese foreign policy is shaped by three Ms -- namely, money, muscle and mind.

He was speaking on the subject "Chinese Foreign Policy and its Regional Impact" organised by the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) in collaboration with India International Centre here on Thursday evening.

He acknowledged that China is "running out of steam" and is therefore bringing in reforms to boost the Chinese economy.

Social upliftment is kept in mind while formulating the policies in order to achieve President Xi Jinping's "Chinese Dream", he said.

The $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the One Belt One Road initiative are some of these policies which aim for development through clean governance, accountability and transparency, he said. Instead of confining China into a Communist state or a Capitalist state Shen calls it a "preliminary socialist state" due these new development policies.

While addressing the worries between India and China, he quoted President Xi Jinping as saying "Humankind has a common destiny" and noted that there has to be mutual trust and respect rather than disrespect for each other. Mutual understanding of the disputes and cooperation is needed to improve the relations between the two South Asian powers, he said.

The international relations scholar recalled Confucius and suggested that persuasion and tolerance is vital for both the countries to coexist.

As leaders of South Asia, he believes India and China should come to an agreement which benefits both the countries and builds trust. According to him, a fail-safe approach is required to develop this friendship of consulting, constructing and sharing together on which OBOR is based. He opines that 'If India cannot win, China cannot win' and therefore, China should openly support India and vice versa.

Shen asserted that India is "Too moral, naAve and simple, which is the reason why it is often played by the US".

Shen hopes that the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation Summit this month in Beijing will alleviate India's concerns on boundary issues, terrorism, Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the One Belt One Road Initiative.

The summit will be held from May 14 to 15.
New York, May 5 : US President Donald Trump met Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and declared they "get along great", following a testy phone exchange earlier that strained ties between the two countries.

Both leaders met face to face aboard the aircraft carrier Intrepid in Manhattan on Thursday, the New York Times reported.

"We get along great. We have a fantastic relationship, I love Australia, I always have," Trump told reporters who witnessed a portion of the meeting between the two politicians in a room near the ship's main dining area.

The two attended a dinner aboard the Intrepid, now a museum docked in the Hudson River, to honour the 75th anniversary of the victory of the US and Australia over Japan in the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II.

Their earlier encounter, an acrimonious first phone call in January, was spoiled by Trump's hostile reaction to a deal with Australia that his predecessor Barack Obama negotiated in the final weeks of his second term.

In it, the US agreed to take in as many as 1,250 refugees that Australia was holding at offshore detention centres.

During that call, Trump told Turnbull that the agreement would hurt his new administration politically, officials said at the time.

The President said on Twitter after the phone conversation that the deal was "dumb" and that he would study it, raising concerns that the US might back out.

The White House later agreed to honour the agreement, provided the refugees were subject to "extreme vetting". Since then, the two leaders have worked to move beyond the phone call.

"We can put the refugee deal behind you and move on," Turnbull said on Thursday.

"It's all worked out. It's been worked out for a long time," Trump added. "We had a great telephone call. You guys exaggerated that call. That was a big exaggeration. We're not babies".

Turnbull chuckled and said: "Young at heart".

Trump sat near Turnbull at Thursday night's event and gave a speech that heavily lauded the strong relationship or "mateship" between the two countries. "Our two nations were born as the rebellious children of the same parent."

The pair were originally meant to meet in midtown Manhattan, but the introduction was delayed after Trump decided to remain in Washington to celebrate Republicans' House vote on a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.

An official with the Australian government said the President's decision to make Turnbull wait was "an amazing snub", CNN reported. An American official denied it was a snub.
New York, May 5 : Reading books with a child beginning in early infancy can boost vocabulary and reading skills four years later, before the start of elementary school, a study has shown.

The findings showed that children whose parents have conversations with their children about the book while reading, such as labelling the pictures or the emotions of the characters in the book are more likely to have early reading skills as well as literacy skills.

"These findings are exciting because they suggest that reading to young children, beginning even in early infancy, has a lasting effect on language, literacy and early reading skills," said lead author Carolyn Cates, Assistant Professor at New York University (NYU).

"What they're learning when you read with them as infants, still has an effect four years later when they're about to begin elementary school," Cates said.

The findings were presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco.

For the study, mothers and their babies were recruited from the newborn nursery of an urban public hospital, with more than 250 pairs monitored between ages of 6 months and 4 and a half years (54 months) for how well they could understand words, and for early literacy and reading skills.

The results highlight the importance of parenting programmes used in pediatric primary care that promote shared book-reading soon after birth, Cates said.
New Delhi, May 5 : A court here on Friday acquitted Utsav Bhasin, the son of a Haryana-based businessman of harsher charges of culpable homicide but convicted him under the lighter offence of causing death by rash and negligent driving in the 2008 BMW hit-and-run case in south Delhi.

Additional Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kumar convicted Bhasin, accused of ramming his BMW car into a motorcycle and killing a man in 2008, under sections 304-A (causing death by rash and negligent act), 279 (driving rashly which could endanger human life) and 338 (causing grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

However, the court acquitted him of a harsher section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) saying that there is lack of evidence to prosecute the accused on harsher charges.

The court observed that the witnesses did not support the charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, for which a person can be jailed for a minimum 10 years or maximum for life.

However, under sections 304 and 338 of the IPC, Bhasin may face imprisonment for two years or a fine.

Bhasin was driving his BMW car when he allegedly hit the two-wheeler on Moolchand flyover in south Delhi, killing Anuj Singh, who was riding as a pillion, and injuring journalist Mrighank Srivastava on September 11, 2008.

Anuj Singh was working as a freelance journalist and was also pursuing a course in graphic designing and animation from a private institution in south Delhi.

The victim's father and brother were present in the court room when the court delivered the judgement.

The court asked the brother and the father of the victim to remain present on the next date of hearing, May 26, as it will hear arguments on the quantum of sentence and amount of compensation.

The court asked the police to file a report on the economic condition of the victim's family and the convict and his family.

The court also asked injured Mrighank Srivastava to appear before it on the next date fixed for hearing.
Lucknow, May 5 : The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has seized 2.5 kg opium, valued at Rs 50 lakh in the international market, from the India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district, an official said on Friday.

The 42nd battalion of the border guarding force also arrested a Nepali woman from Rupaidiha in Bahraich who was carrying the contraband, the SSB official said.

He said that the SSB troopers carried out the raid on a tip-off on Wednesday evening in a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

"We recovered 2.5 kg opium worth Rs 50 lakh and one mobile phone during the frisking of the woman. She has been handed over to the NCB," the official said.

The SSB this year till date has registered 124 cases of narcotics smuggling, arrested 127 smugglers and recovered contraband valued at over Rs 67 crore.
Bengaluru, May 5 : Five persons, including a woman, were arrested here for allegedly selling fake marks cards and degree certificates of 38 universities across the country, police said on Friday.

"They sold each fake marks card for Rs 1 lakh and each provisional degree certificate for Rs 50,000 to gullible students," Deputy Commissioner of Police H.D. Anand Kumar told reporters here.

The accused, in 30-40 years age group, are Kunal Kumar Mondal, Deepankar Sen and Aruna from Bengaluru; Saurav Kumar Sharma from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Sandesh Agarwal from New Delhi.

"We have seized 732 marks cards and degree certificates of various boards and universities and equipment used for printing them," said Kumar.

A FIR has been registered against the accused under sections 420, 465 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint from one of their victims.

"Their modus operandi was to send e-mails to gullible students from 'Join Us For Education' office at Manipal Centre in the city and lure them into buying the fake marks card and degree certificates," Kumar said.

Mondal, who hails from Katihar district in Bihar and lives in Bengaluru, was the first to be arrested on the charge of selling a fake marks card to Satvik, a failed pre-university student who wanted to join an engineering college.

"On Mondal's confession, a CCB team arrested Agarwal from Delhi and Sharma from Ghaziabad. Another accused, Kaushal, is still at large," added Kumar.
Islamabad, May 5 : The three-member bench of the Supreme Court overseeing the implementation of the apex court's verdict in the Panama papers case on Friday named the five members who will probe Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family business dealings abroad.

The officials included in the inquiry team are Brigadier Nauman Saeed from the Inter-Services Intelligence, Aamer Aziz from the State Bank of Pakistan, Bilal Rasool from the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Irfan Naeem Mangi from the National Accountability Bureau and Wajid Zia from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The team will be headed by the FIA director.

"The JIT is directed to commence and complete the investigation and submit its final report in terms of the order dated April 20. It shall also submit fortnightly progress reports," states the order issued on Friday.

Earlier, the three-judge special bench of the apex court constituted by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar for implementation of the top court's verdict, expressed its anger over attribution of false statements to the superior judiciary by some politicians.
Srinagar, May 5 : A top paramilitary officer said on Friday that militancy was on the rise in south Kashmir as more locals were joining the militant ranks, causing serious concern to security forces.

Ravideep Sahai, Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), said: "The situation in south Kashmir is a challenging one. Militancy is on the rise there and more locals are joining the militant ranks.

"It is a cause for concern and that is why the intensity of security operations is being increased in these areas," he said.

About the bank robberies in south Kashmir, he said: "A largescale cordon and search operation has been started in the areas to instil confidence among the people and to stop robberies and killings in these areas."

The CRPF officer said it was unfortunate that local police and security men living in south Kashmir areas were being threatened by the militants.

The officer said if "motivated news" against the security of the country was spread through any medium, such media should be banned in national interests.
Noida, May 5 : Oscar winning composer A.R.Rahman, who has stepped into direction with Virtual Reality (VR) multisensory episodic film "Le Musk", launched the Indian prelude of the movie here on Friday. He finds filmmaking a tough job.

"Filmmaking is a very tough job. It takes two years to direct a film and I didn't have that much time. I love music and love making it. Doing 'Le Musk' didn't seem like that much exhausting as I made it quickly. It was a 13-day schedule and I didn't have to spend two years behind it," Rahman said at the launch here at PVR ECX, Mall of India.

"Virtual Reality gives you a real experience. It feels like 70 per cent you are at the place that you are watching," he added.

Shot in Rome, "Le Musk", featuring foreign actors like Nora Arnezeder, Guy Burnett and Marian Zohrabyan, follows the journey of an orphaned heiress and part time musician, Juliet, who grows up to be a diva on a mission.

"In the year 2015, somebody gave me a VR and asked me to use it. At first I was hesitant and then after three months I thought of trying it. Then I started using it for six hours a day. Some of the content was incredible and some was insensitive," Rahman said.

"Then one day my wife told me why don't you make a story on perfumes. That's how it started. Then I thought where to shoot it. After Croatia, London and Paris, finally we decided to shoot it in Rome," he added.

Besides directing, Rahman has also written the script and given music to the film.

Speaking on the occasion, Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Ltd, said: "It was Rahman, who got us on the path of launching VR in India. It was 18 months back when we met him. This technology is here to stay."

Rahman said after "Le Musk", he has already started planning for his second film.

"The next one is even more exciting. It's based on Indian culture and it will explore the various dance forms here," Rahman said.

Before India, Rahman launched the prelude of the film in Las Vegas on April 24.
New Delhi, May 5 : The government on Friday promulgated an ordinance empowering the RBI in a big way to deal with the crisis of huge bad loans of banks to break the "paralysis" that prevails in the name of autonomy by initiating insolvency process against defaulters and formation of oversight committees.

The government has also issued a separate order authorising the RBI to exercise jurisdiction under Section 35AA under the ordinance that aims at tackling the mounting bad loans estimated at over Rs 6 lakh crore in the case of public sector banks.

Briefing media on the features of the ordinance, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that a number of steps will be taken to revitalise public sector banks, including those relating to sale of assets, closure of non-profitable branches and reduction of overheads when MoUs are signed with them when they seek recapitalisation.

The ordinance was notified this morning after President Pranab Mukherjee signed the executive order late last night on the recommendation sent by the Cabinet on Wednesday night.

Declining to go into details of the big defaulters or the timeline to recover the bad debts, Jaitley said there is a list of stressed assets which Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would be looking at.

"Paralysis in the name of autonomy is detrimental to the economy. One of the objectives behind issuing the ordinance is that the present status quo cannot continue. The present status quo is that nothing is moving. Therefore there is paralysis in the name of autonomy and that should be broken," he said.

He said one of the objectives would also be that bankers take commercial decisions on the basis of commercial considerations and business decisions will be protected. Oversight committees being set up under the ordinance will give sufficient comfort to the commercial decisions.

Giving the background to the decision to bring the ordinance, he said banks necessarily need to be in a robust position to support growth and if they have unacceptably high level of non-performing assets (NPAs), it hinders their capacity.

In order to empower the RBI in this effort, he said Section 35A was being amended by insertion of Sections 35AA and 35AB. Section 35A deals predominantly with policy directives and matters that relate to the functioning of the banking companies and their policies.

Jaitley said the RBI required to be empowered in relation to specific stressed assets also. "It was doubtful whether the language of Section 35A covered this empowerment and therefore it was felt necessary that RBI should be empowered in this direction."

Tracing the steps taken by the government to deal with the problem, he said that in 2016 the government had enacted the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code along with substantial amendments to SARFAESI and Debt Recovery Acts in order to ensure expeditious recovery of outstanding debts to banks and financial institutions.

The RBI has been simultaneously exercising its own authority under the Banking Regulation Act.

The minister said there was the Joint Lenders' Forum (JLF) framework prescribed by the RBI, which was currently functioning. "Over the last few years we have been able to bring about certain structural reforms to the economy. One of the key problems that remains is that of stressed assets. Banks necessarily need to be in a robust position to support growth and if they have unacceptably high levels of NPAs, it hinders their capacity."

He said the first part of the ordinance relates to the issuance of the government authorising RBI to initiate the insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings relating to stressed assets and the second to specific directions for formation of oversight committees.

In relation to resolution of the specific accounts either within the bankruptcy insolvency framework or under any other JLF framework, the RBI will be empowered to deal with this matter, he said.

He said there were some other steps being taken. "We are also planning the process that when MoUs are signed with public sector banks, which seek capitalisation then there would be specific provisions in those memorandum of understanding (MoUs) which will be incorporated. They would relate to immediate cash relief initiatives such as sale of assets, closure of non-profitable branches, reduction of overheads, business turnaround initiatives such as strengthening credit appraisal processes under active NPA management and several others."

He said that the RBI and government will continue to work together towards expeditious resolution of the challenge of stressed assets.

"The empowerment of RBI, I hope will enable the issuance of several directions and steps in this regard. This is an ongoing process in which there are resolutions. The JLF resolution took time and without the full approval of the bank, the process used to get delayed. In this connection also, there can be directives and empowerment to RBI," he added.

The minister said the RBI steps will bind everyone under the ordinance. "This will expedite commercial decision making. Keeping the health of the banks intact is one of the focus points of RBI."

Replying to questions he said, "The regulation and to ensure the health of the banking system is one of the primary responsibilities of the RBI. Conventionally, under the Act even powers under 35A was with RBI. So it's only logical that powers under 35AA and 35AB also remain with RBI."

"This action (ordinance) will have a direct impact on effective resolution of stressed assets, particularly in consortium or multiple banking arrangements as the RBI will be empowered to intervene in specific cases of resolution of NPAs to bring them to a definite conclusion."
New Delhi, May 5 : The "brazenness and coldness" with which the men convicted in the Nirbhaya gang-rape picked up the young woman from a public space in the evening hours to carry out their vicious crime reflects the "threat" to which society is posed to in case the convicts are not appropriately punished, the Supreme Court said, while observing that if at all there is a case warranting award of death sentence it is the Nirbhaya gang-rape case.

Justice R. Banumathi in a separate but concurring judgement observed that "respect for women is on the decline" and to ensure that "gender justice does not remain only on paper".

The gruesome offences were committed with "highest viciousness" and human lust was allowed to take such a "demonic form", said Justice Banumathi.

Calling it a "rarest of rare" case, the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence on all four convicts -- Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur, in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case of 2012 that led to her death and caused nationwide outrage.

In a majority judgement Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Ashok Bhushan said the "aggravating circumstances" against convicts far outweighed the mitigating circumstances, such as their poor family background, age, good conduct in prison and their children -- cited in their favour.

"If the dreadfulness displayed by the accused in committing the gang-rape, unnatural sex, insertion of iron rod in the private parts of the victim does not fall in the 'rarest of rare category', then one may wonder what else would fall in that category," said the lady judge.

She opined that when the crime is brutal, shocking the collective conscience of the community, sympathy in any form would be misplaced and it would shake the confidence of public in the administration of the criminal justice system.

Justice Banumathi said that we live in a civilized society where law and order is supreme and the citizens enjoy inviolable fundamental human rights but when the incident of gang-rape surfaces, it causes "ripples" in the conscience of society and serious doubts are raised as to whether we really live in a civilized society and whether both men and women feel the same sense of liberty and freedom which they should have felt in the ordinary course of a civilized society, driven by rule of law.

"Certainly, whenever such grave violations of human dignity come to fore, an unknown sense of insecurity and helplessness grabs the entire society, women in particular, and the only succour people look for, is the state to take command of the situation and remedy it effectively."

She also said that despite the progress made by women in education and in various fields and changes brought in ideas of women's rights, "respect for women is on the decline" and "crimes against women are on the increase".

Justice Banumathi also opined that offences against women are not a women's issue alone but a human rights issue. Increased rate of crime against women is an area of concern for the law makers, she said while suggesting an emergent need to study in depth the root of the problem and remedy through a strict law and order regime.

She said it is important to ensure that "gender justice does not remain only on paper".

We have a responsibility to set good values and guidance for posterity, Justice Banumathi said and quoted a line of Swami Vivekananda, who had said: "The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women."

She said that crime against women not only affects women's self esteem and dignity but also degrades the pace of societal development. "I hope that this gruesome incident in the capital and death of this young woman will be an eye-opener for a mass movement "to end violence against women" and bring about "respect for women and her dignity" and sensitize public at large on gender justice.

Crimes like the one before us cannot be looked with "magnanimity", she said. "I do not find any justification to convert the death sentence imposed by the courts below to a life imprisonment for the rest of the life," she held.

The four were convicted for raping and assaulting a 23-year-old paramedical student inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012 which led to her death 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.

The rapists, six in all including a juvenile, enticed the woman to board the bus alongwith her boyfriend to go home after seeing a movie. They raped her by turns on the moving bus and assaulted her.
New Delhi, May 5 : Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday greeted the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for launching the South Asia Satellite, and said a new era of regional cooperation has begun.

"Congratulations to team ISRO on successful launch of South Asia Satellite. A new era of regional cooperation in space technology has begun," the Minister tweeted.

An Indian rocket with the over two tonne South Asia Satellite or GSAT-9, intended to address the region's "economic and developmental priorities", blasted off from the Sriharikota spaceport on Friday.

The satellite is expected to help in better communication, weather forecasting, telemedicine and response to disaster management.
New Delhi, May 5 : Three Indian journalists have been chosen for the International Health Media Fellowship by the Australian High Commission, in collaboration with an Indian start-up on data research and storytelling.

The fellowship will provide the journalists an opportunity to examine public health programmes in Australia with a focus on digital health, medical technology and health systems.

Australian High Commissioner Harinder Sidhu congratulated the journalists and said the fellowship was "the first cooperation activity" that "will contribute to developing closer links in the deepening bilateral health relationship".

"Australia and India have strong bilateral ties in health policy and research. The relationship was further strengthened by the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding on health and medicine, during the (India) visit of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull," Sidhu said, according to a statement.

The MoU covers cooperation in topics such as digital health, mental health, anti-microbial resistance and health security, as well as in communicable and non-communicable diseases.

The three Indian journalists selected are Dinesh C. Sharma, Managing Editor India Science Wire, Vidya Krishnan, Health Editor of The Hindu and Nabeela Khan, Deputy Editor at Health Analytics India.

Syed Nazakat, founder and Editor-In-Chief of the startup DataLEADS, thanked the High Commission for initiating the fellowship.

"Health is often a neglected subject in newsrooms. The fellowship will provide the three journalists an excellent chance to examine public health programmes in Australia more deeply."
New Delhi, May 5 : Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday stressed the need to integrate different modes of transport and said 34 MoUs worth over Rs 2 lakh crore were signed at a transport and logistics summit here.

Speaking at the end of the three-day event, Gadkari said there was an urgent need to bring down logistics cost in the country to globally comparable rates to achieve double-digit growth figures and ensure welfare of the weakest sections.

He said while logistics cost in China was 8-10 per cent, in India it was as high as 18 per cent.

Gadkari said there was a need to connect different modes of transport. He said while it was feasible to reach some places comfortably through road, others were more accessible by railways, waterways or airways.

"So it is important for the nation to integrate all these" so that any of those modes - or a combination of them - could be used to effectively transport goods and passengers with minimal logistics cost, Gadkari said.

He said 34 MoUs were signed in different sectors including for port connectivity, development of multi-modal logistics parks, dredging of inland waterways, development of port roads and connectivity to airports.

The minister said even states from the northeast had come forward to sign MoUs and this would be instrumental for their development.

Gadkari announced that work on 10 waterways would start this year while there were also plans to construct access-controlled expressways from Delhi to Jaipur and Katra in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Imagine where it takes 12 hours to reach from Delhi to Katra, it would only take around four-and-a-half hours. The whole economics would change."

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said multi-modal integrated transport and logistics would benefit Rajasthan to a great extent.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the state had a lot of potential to contribute to the growth of warehousing and supply chain logistics.

He said Haryana was already working to enhance and modernise its transport and warehousing network.

The India Integrated Transport and Logistics Summit from May 3 to 5 was attended by around 3,000 delegates from India and abroad including international organisations like World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
New Delhi, May 5 : The Congress on Friday taunted BJP chief Amit Shah over his 2014 remarks that once Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister, intruders from Pakistan will not dare enter India.

The Congress also accused the Modi government of not having a clear policy on Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was a cause for worry.

"What's happening in Kashmir worries me. Such a situation existed 27 years back. The government's policy is not clear," he said.

Sibal said the Congress-led UPA government had a clear policy on Kashmir.

"We followed a policy. (Former Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh was clear that terror and talks cannot go hand in hand. But they (BJP) have no policy on either Kashmir or Pakistan."

He targeted Shah over the killing and mutilation of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan Army.

"He (Shah) used to say that had Modiji been PM, Pakistani intruders would not dare to cross the Line of Control. Why is it happening now. Terror and birthday celebrations are going together," Sibal said, referring to Modi's visit to Pakistan in 2015 on its Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's birthday.
Patna, May 5 : Akshay, a convict in the fatal 2012 gang rape of a 23-year-old paramedical student, deserved the death sentence, his family members said after the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty for him and three others in the case on Friday.

"We have ended our relationship with him; Akshay is no more our family member; we have nothing to do with him," a close family member told IANS over telephone from Lahang Karma village in Aurangabad district, about 150 km from here.

"Please, we do not want to talk about him, he is our past, not present," said another family member, as most of the family members of Akshay termed the apex court's decision "right".

People in his village refused to talk about him as he brought disrepute to the village. "Our village was defamed due to Akshay's involvement in the infamous case. We don't want to discuss anything to defame our village any further," Satender Kumar Singh, a villager said.

However, according to a neighbour of Akshay's family, the entire family and some relatives were glued to the television set on Friday, "hoping against all hope that the apex court would overturn the death penalty."

"They were hopeful against all hope for some relief. It proved useless as Akshay's fate was sealed the day he was convicted. The apex court only upheld it," a villager said.

The four -- Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur -- were convicted for raping and assaulting the 23-year-old paramedical student inside a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012.

The rapists, six in all, pounced on the young woman who had boarded the bus with her boyfriend to go home after seeing a movie "Life of Pi".

As the bus moved on south Delhi roads, the convicts pulled out her internal organs with a rusted L-shaped iron rod used with a wheel jack. This led to her death due to internal injuries 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.

After committing the crime, they dumped the woman and her friend on the side of a road. Some onlookers alerted the police. The sheer brutality of the crime led to nationwide revulsion and street protests.

A fifth accused, Ram Singh, committed suicide in Tihar Central Jail in the national capital. The sixth, a juvenile, who was accused of ripping apart the woman's intestines, was sent to a correction home and has been released after serving his probation period.
Rajkot, May 5 : Gujarat Lions opening batsman Brendon McCullum and pacer Nathu Singh have been ruled out of the remainder of this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injuries.

"While McCullum endured a strain in his left hamstring during fielding against Delhi Daredevils on May 4, Nathu suffered back spasms during the Lions' home game in Rajkot against Kings XI Punjab.

"Nathu hasn't played a match since then," the IPL franchise said in a statement on Friday.

"The New Zealander has been advised three-four weeks of intensive rehabilitation so as not to aggravate the damage in his hamstring," the statement added.

McCullum has scored 319 runs at a poor average of 29 in the 11 matches he has played so far in this year's IPL. His highest score was 72.

Nathu has struggled to find a place in the playing XI this season. He has played only two matches and has claimed just one wicket.

Latest updates on IPL 2020
New Delhi, May 5 : Over four years have passed since the 2012 brutal gang rape of a para-medical student in Delhi that shook the collective conscience of the country. But, for many women, the national capital is yet to instil a sense of security in them.

With sexual predators prowling around in buses, metros and public places, both women activists and commoners feel Delhi is far from being safe for them.

On a day when the Supreme Court upheld the death penalty for all the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape case, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Jaihind said the women are not at all safe.

"Women are not at all safe in Delhi. Even after four years of Nirbhaya case, not much has changed," Jaihind told IANS.

"Between 2012-2014, only 146 people have been convicted out of 31,446 cases related to crime against women," she said buttressing her claim.

She said the DCW helpline on a daily basis receives 1,500-2,000 calls relating to women issues.

She said until "swift, strict and exemplary punishment" was ensured, such heinous crimes would continue.

Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) leader Brinda Karat also said the city is unsafe.

"I wish I could say it is safer for women, but unfortunately Delhi is not at all safe for women," Karat told IANS.

"No recommendation of the Justice J.S. Verma committee has been implemented in its true spirit," she said referring to the three-member panel that reviewed laws for sexual crimes in the country.

Nidhi Sharma, a fashion stylist echoed the views.

"Women don't feel safe in Delhi. There are lots of factors behind such a state of affairs," she told IANS, lamenting the lack of adequate police presence in public places and transport.

"Delhi Metro, which is considered safest, shuts down around 11.30 p,m.-11.45 p.m. Late night commuting for women is a major security concern," she said pointing to several cases of rape and molestation in cabs, auto-rickshaws and buses.

"Plans of installing CCTV cameras and lighting up dark spots are still on paper. Taking public transport is a risky affair," she said.

According to the Delhi government, there are around 40,000 dark spots across the city.

Atmaja Chowdhury, who works in a multinational company, also lamented the government's failure to ensure adequate security measures particularly in public transport.

"Government talked of deploying marshals in buses but I am yet to see them," she said.

The 23-year-old Nirbhaya was brutalised inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012, which led to her death due to internal injuries 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.

However, for Mudita a journalist, initiatives like one-stop centres or women helpline numbers are not enough and things will not change until the "nasty mindset of men" changes.

"Our values, attitudes, customs, expectations and institutions are patriarchal in nature. This country needs a big revolution against that. Eve-teasing in metros, buses and other public places is a routine affair," she said.

"I don't feel free. I don't feel safe. I have to protect myself all the time," she said blaming women equally for encouraging patriarchy.

Talking about women security measures in Delhi, Jaihind said a special task force has been formed headed by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.

"Since the Delhi Police is under the Centre, we had recommended setting up a high-level panel comprising the Union Home Minister, Delhi Chief Minister, the LG and the DCW chief, entrusted exclusively to deal with crimes against women.

"I have been pitching for this for quite a long time but to no avail. However, a special task force under LG has been formed," she said.

Women activist Kamla Bhasin said women were equally unsafe inside their houses.

"When we talk about women safety, we should also talk about the crimes being perpetrated on them within their houses," Bhasin told IANS referring to incidents of domestic violence, dowry cases and sexual assault by family members.

"Law should of course be strong enough to deal with such crimes, but there is a dire need to change the mentality. You cannot stop crime only by installing CCTV cameras," she added.

(Ashish Mishra can be contacted at ashish.m@ians.in, Anurag Dey can be reached at anurag.d@ians.in)
New Delhi, May 5 : With Australia seeking a role as an "observer" in the India-US exercise Malabar, US Pacific Fleet commander Scott H. Swift said on Friday that discussions are still on over the issue.

Talking to reporters here, Admiral Swift, who is on a visit to India, said there is a desire to increase participants in the exercise, but added that it can be done only step by step.A

"What countries are included in Malabar exercise is a dialogue which is robust and ongoing. Last year the Japanese participated... a final consensus on who will be the participants this year is still open.

"As for observer's status, there is a process we go through Afor all our exercises. The first step is to attend in observer's status and then as participant. But ultimately it is a bilateral dialogue between the US and India, there is a desire to increase the participant but it must be done step by step in a collaborative way," he said.

Asked if anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is going to be an important component of the exercise, scheduled to be held in the Bay of Bengal in July, he said it has always been a part, but added that whether US Navy's P-8 aircraft will participate depend on their availability.

"ASW has always been an element of Malabar. There is a desire on my part and of Indian Navy to continue to deepen all elements of the exercise, so I expect ASW training would deepen. We continues to learn more about how to operate our P8s more effectively, I expect the Indian Navy has the same experience," he said.

"I won't comment on whether P8 or submarines will be there, but that is what the desire is," he said.

Malabar is a joint exercise between India and US, which now has Japan as a permanent partner.

In 2007, Australia was included along with Japan in the exercise. An outlash from China led to its withdrawal.

Australia has expressed interest in participating in the Malabar exercise, seeking the observer's role this time.

Asked if India and US were planning any joint patrols in the Indian Ocean Region, Swift said: "I hesitate a bit on the term joint patrol, terms are important. We do pass-ex, have done multiple operations throughout the Pacific with many nations, this is more a norm than an exception. But this is a decision for individual countries to make."

He also stressed that security should not be about security alone, and it should bring prosperity, adding thatthe rule of international law has brought prosperity to Asia-Pacific and made it the world's "growth engine".

"Many suggest the Indo-Asia-Pacific region is the economic engine of the world. The mechanisms by which that prosperity was enabled has been those norms and rules... the question is why would we want to change that rules-based order. Specifically if changes are needed, we have set up institutions to manage those changes," he said.
Chennai/New Delhi, May 5 : India's space diplomacy took a giant stride on Friday with the successful launch of the South Asia Satellite, a "gift" to its neighbours that is aimed to provide the one and half billion people of the region with better communication, weather forecasting, tele-medicine and response to disaster management.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and leaders of six South Asian countries -- Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives and Sri Lanka -- came together via video conferencing to hail the launch of the communication satellite from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

All the leaders applauded as at 4.57 p.m., the GSLV-F09 rose into the sky from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota carrying the satellite. Pakistan had opted out, saying it has its own space programme, forcing a change in the name from Saarc Satellite to South Asia Satellite.

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tasked the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to develop a satellite for use by the Saarc countries.

Costing around Rs 235 crore, the satellite has a life span of over 12 years, and its objective is to provide communication applications in Ku-band for the user nations.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena congratulated the initiative, saying it would usher in a new era of regional cooperation.

"'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', Maldives President Abulla Yameen said, terming the launch an example of India's 'neighbourhood first policy'.

Modi said the South Asia Satellite would go a long way in addressing the region's economic and developmental priorities.

"Natural resources mapping, telemedicine, the field of education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact, this satellite will prove to be a boon in the progress of the entire region," he said.

"It is an important step by India to enhance cooperation with the entire South Asia... It is an invaluable gift. This is an appropriate example of our commitment towards South Asia. I welcome all the South Asian countries who have joined us on this momentous endeavour," he said.

Reacting to the launch, Pakistan said on Friday that since the satellite was solely made by India it therefore cannot be called a regional project.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said his country has its own space programme at an advanced level and was keen to participate in the project.

But India was not willing to develop the project on a collaborative basis, so it was not possible for Pakistan to support it as a regional project under the umbrella of Saarc, he said.

President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful launch of the South Asia Satellite, as did Congress President Sonia Gandhi, among other leaders.
New Delhi, May 5 : Three persons, including a former call centre employee, have been arrested on charge of running a fake job racket from a call centre in east Delhi, police said on Friday.

The accused -- Abhimanyu, 24, Om Vasudev Sharma, 27, and Ravi Kashyap, 24, -- are natives of Agra, Firozabad and Noida in Uttar Pradesh, according to police. Sharma earlier worked with a Noida-based call centre.

They were arrested on Wednesday night after police teams raided a fake call centre running in Laxmi Nagar area with the help of technical surveillance, police said.

Police said the incident came to light on March 6 after a victim, Rachna, filed a complaint with the Crime Branch of Delhi Police against the online job racket, as she was duped of Rs 2,300.

Rachna, who is a resident of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, was called by the accused on February 18, after she submitted her job application on Monster.com.

"After she deposited the registration fee Rs 2,300, the accused asked her to deposit Rs 600 more as interview fee. The victim, suspecting to have been trapped in a fake job racket, cancelled the entire process and sought her money back. She was told that she would get the refund after two months," said Deputy Commissioner of Police G. Ramgopal Naik.

"The accused told police that they have duped job aspirants of Rs 30 lakh so far in the last four months. They purchased the data of unemployed youths from Monster.com and contacted them from the call centre," Naik added.

They ran a similar job racket earlier from Noida's Sector 3 and duped applicants of Rs 40 lakh. But they had to change the company name and shift base to Delhi after being chased by some victims, in April last year, he said.
Kolkata, May 5 : A Cebu Pacific flight, flying to Manila from Kuwait, made an emergency landing at the international airport here after a pregnant female passenger went into labour pains, airline sources said on Friday.

"Flight 5J 019 bound for Manila from Kuwait was diverted to Kolkata.

"The expectant mother reported contractions mid-air. She was assisted by the cabin crew, along with three other passengers who were nurses, while the plane was diverted to the nearest airport," a source said.

The flight landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport at about 3 p.m.

The passenger was admitted in a city hospital. The airline contacted the Philippine Embassy in India for immediate assistance of the passenger, sources said.
New Delhi, May 5 : The woman held for 'honey-trapping' a BJP MP to extort money has been engaged in her sordid activities of entrapment and blackmail for more than two decades now with her first case surfacing in 1993 when she extracted Rs 70,000 from a Uttar Pradesh Police constable, a police officer said on Friday.

"She is a native of a village in Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) where it was found, when we contacted our state counterparts, that she had first levelled rape charges against a police constable named Subhash and took Rs 70,000 from him to quash her complaint," a Delhi Police officer told IANS.

"This was her first attempt 24 years ago. She has been extorting as many as 25-30 people including many politicians and businessman till April 2017 with the same modus operandi. She has obtained allegedly over Rs 12 crore from her victims -- all identified by police," the officer said.

According to the officer, she, posing as a senior Supreme Court lawyer, used to contact Members of Parliament after getting their numbers from parliament's official site. After a casual meeting, she invited them to lunch at her residence in Indirapuram (in Ghaziabad), lured them into a secret room and later captured their intimate moments by hidden cameras.

"She later blackmailed them, threatening to destroy their political career and family life by uploading an MMS clip on porn sites and thus extorted crores for not making it in public. Police teams recovered many DVDs of MMS of some politicians and businessmen from her laptop at her house," he said.

Noting that the court has given Delhi Police five days custody to collect evidence against her, he said that police have collected adequate proof against her to prove criminal charges. "She will be produced before the court on Monday after her police custody ends," the officer said, adding that her father and younger brother were also called for questioning and asked if they know of what she did.

Police have found, on examination of her call details, that her gang comprised over a half a dozen others including two women. All these are still at large but police teams are raiding their residences and hideouts in Uttar Pradesh, he said.

With some of her targets not coming forward, the woman was interrogated to ascertain identities of her victims over the last 24 years, the officer added.

The woman had in 2014 extorted money from an Uttrakhand MP and in 2016, from senior politician Shadi Lal Batra after accusing them of rape and molestation. But when police started investigating, she denied her charges and backed off to avoid legal action, the officer said.

In some other cases, it was found that she levelled charges against some politicians after they refused to accept her extortion demands to the tune of crores, the officer said.

The woman was arrested on Tuesday, a day after Bharatiya Janata Party MP K.C. Patel filed a complaint with Delhi Police against her.

(Sanjeev Pal can be reached at sanjeev.p@ians.in)
New Delhi, May 5 : International lifestyle retailer MUJI, which offers an extensive range of furniture, homeware, stationery, electronics, travel goods, beauty products and apparel, launched its maiden store here at Select Citywalk mall.

The brand promises to focus deeply on creating products that are truly fundamental to everyday life, sans unnecessary complexities. The brand also adheres to its three founding principles - selection of the most suitable raw materials, streamlining of production processes and simplification of packaging.

Japanese Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu and his wife Patricia Hiramatsu were present at the occasion.

"After a tremendous response in Bengaluru and Mumbai, we are very excited to begin a new chapter of our Indian story with the launch of this store," said Satoru Matsuzaki, President and Representative Director, Ryohin-Keikaku Co. Ltd.

Darshan Mehta, President and CEO , Reliance Brands said: "Their unparalleled brand offering, both in terms of use and price appeal, is sure to attract consumers across age groups and mind sets, making it the go-destination store."
Bogota, May 6 : A member of the high command of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) called on dissident members of that guerrilla group to free a UN official they kidnapped two days ago.

In remarks to Caracol Radio on Friday, Carlos Antonio Lozada urged those who abducted the official to release him as soon as possible, Efe news reported.

Harley Lopez, a Colombian who is employed by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and working on an illegal crop substitution program, was kidnapped Wednesday night by FARC dissidents led by Ivan Mordisco.

The abduction occurred in Barranquillita, a remote hamlet two hours by land from Miraflores, a municipality in the southeastern Colombian province of Guaviare.

Lozada, a member of the FARC's secretariat, said incidents like these placed roadblocks on a path forged with great effort in recent years, referring to the process that led to the signing of a peace agreement between the national government and the FARC last November.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday that a delegation had traveled to the site where the kidnapping occurred to facilitate Lopez's release.

The UN System in Colombia, for its part, denounced the kidnapping and demanded that the official be released immediately.

The abduction coincided with the arrival of a group of UN Security Council ambassadors who are visiting Colombia this week to demonstrate their support for the peace agreement and for the process that is to lead to the FARC's full laying aside of its weapons by June 1.
Center for Hospice Care (CHC) and the Hospice Foundation (HF) announce that two new hires have recently joined the organizations. Craig Harrell has joined CHC as the Director of Marketing and Access. Mr. Harrell is charged with promoting CHC services to the community, and with overseeing the admissions process for patients seeking hospice or palliative care. Prior to CHC, Mr. Harrell served for 17 years as Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Hospice of the Calumet Area based in Munster, Indiana.

We are thrilled to have someone with such deep expertise in marketing and admissions become a part of the leadership team, commented CHC President & CEO Mark M Murray. Craig has spent years in the hospice field and we know that his passion and commitment to what we do will serve our patients well.

Mr. Harrell earned his bachelors degree form Purdue University in Business Administration. He and his wife recently relocated to South Bend and are looking forward to becoming a part of the community and enjoying all the area has to offer.

Joining the Hospice Foundation is Peter Ashley, as Director of Communications and Annual Giving. Mr. Ashley has responsibility for overall communications and brand strategy for the Foundation, as well as overseeing its outgoing fundraising efforts. Prior to joining the Foundation, Mr. Ashley served as the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.

Having someone with both corporate and not-for-profit communications experience will be a real asset to the organization, noted Mike Wargo, Vice President and COO of the Hospice Foundation. Peter brings years of communications and marketing experience across a variety of organizations, which will enhance our efforts to reach our donors and stakeholders.

Mr. Ashley holds both bachelors and masters degrees in communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in Granger with his wife and two children.

About Center for Hospice Care and the Hospice Foundation

Established in 1978, Center for Hospice Care is an independent, community-based, not-for-profit organization, improving the quality of living through hospice, home health, grief counseling, and community education. With offices in South Bend, Plymouth, Elkhart and Mishawaka, Center for Hospice Care serves Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Marshall, St. Joseph and Starke counties in Northern Indiana.

The Hospice Foundation is committed to supporting the work of CHC through community outreach and education, fundraising activities and other special events. The Foundation helps CHC keep its 37-year promise that no one eligible for hospice services will be turned away, regardless of their ability to pay.
At Pathpartner, we make application specific customizations easy with our decade long experience in quickboot and fastboot optimization across various platforms and devices.

PathPartner Technology, a leading provider of embedded design services and solutions, will be at GENIVI AMM, Birmingham, UK. Catch them in action at STATION #23 as they demonstrate their latest innovations in speeding up the boot-time on embedded devices.

RamKishor Korada, Co-founder and Marketing & Sales Head of PathPartner, said, For a good user experience, it is important that a device is usable within seconds of its booting. These optimizations cannot be standardized, as the user space varies from application to application. At Pathpartner, we make application specific customizations easy with our decade long experience in quickboot and fastboot optimization across various platforms and devices.

Pathpartner also specializes in other IVI solutions like:



Optimized BSPs with ultra-fast Boot-up Time, early camera preview and multi-OS in AMP configuration

Miracast source and sink solutions with HDCP 2.2 and key security

Multimedia decoders like H.264, HEVC /H.265, VP8 and framework plugins

Their IVI services include:



Development and optimization of audio, video and image codecs

Multimedia middleware development and integration

Multimedia, Graphics and Connectivity performance optimization

Automotive Linux and Android

CE and Smartphone connectivity: USB, WiFi, Bluetooth integration; Apple MFI integration; MirrorLink implementation

About PathPartner Technology: Founded in 2006, PathPartner is headquartered at Bangalore with an offshore research facility based out of California, U.S.A. PathPartner offers design, development and integration services in advanced embedded technology to solve complex challenges for clients around the world. Licensable multimedia software products and proprietary IPs for vision and connectivity applications to run intelligent systems such as autonomous cars, action cameras, wearable devices, smartphones etc. are our forte.

PathPartner is dedicated towards creating next generation multimedia experience through technologydriven execution and quality delivery for leading corporations across industries including automotive, semiconductor, broadcast, healthcare, cameras and surveillance.
Budapest is just one of the great cities to be reached on a Danube cruise. ...itineraries offer Globetrotters the chance to explore a wide variety of other European destinations, including the Greek Islands, the Western Mediterranean, and the Baltic Capitals.

Goway is opening the waterways of Europe for summer 2017, partnering with several of the continents best providers to offer unique cruise vacations across the continent.

Passengers can save on Portugal and Spain, booking an 8-day cruise between Seville and Lisbon. Those who book by May 31 will save $594 US or $724 CA per couple when they travel by June 29. Other savings include no single supplement on the Classic Danube cruise when booked by May 15, and 10% off Barging in France, when booked by May 31. Barging is such a unique way to see the destination with an intimate small group. This tour includes a guide which is really the cherry on top of this once in a lifetime experience, says Goways Europe Product Manager, Nadya Phelan.

For a completely different taste of Europe, cruise lovers can set out from Reykjavik, circumnavigating Iceland. One big advantage of an Iceland cruise is its ability to reach parts of the country many Iceland tours wont, including the remote sights of the northeast coastline. Cruising also offers a convenient way to keep costs under control in one of the most expensive countries in Europe. Getting a good deal in Iceland means planning ahead, so bookings are now being taken for summer 2018. Passengers who book by June 15 will receive 20% off this 10-day itinerary.

A range of Norwegian Cruise Line itineraries offer Globetrotters the chance to explore a wide variety of other European destinations, including the Greek Islands, the Western Mediterranean, and the Baltic Capitals.

Since 1970, Goway has been providing unforgettable travel experiences to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Central & South America, Idyllic Island destinations and Europe. Today Goway is recognized as one of North America's leading travel companies for individuals, families and groups to select exotic destinations around the globe. Goway has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Manila, and Sydney, Australia.

For reservations and information, visit http://www.goway.com, or call 1-800-387-8850.
Originally released on DVD, Ciao Bambolini  Italy for Kids is now available via digital streaming on Amazon. The show, created by award-winning actor Michael Tassoni, was born out of a love for Italy and desire to introduce it to his children and kids across the country. I looked for something that would show Italy to my kids in an entertaining way, and found nothing that could keep them watching, said Tassoni, who also produced, directed and created the show, now streaming at Amazon.com and via ciaobambolini.com. I decided to do it myself. I grew up speaking Italian and traveling to visit my family in Italy.

Tassoni Media, an Arizona-based production company, announced today the launch of Ciao Bambolini  Italy for Kids in streaming digital format. The show features one professional actor (Tassoni) playing five different characters with the goal of teaching Italian language, music, art, food and culture in a fun, entertaining and engaging way. The show features original music and graphics.

Tassonis parents left a financially bereft Italy in the 1950s for the then-thriving Venezuela and became clothing designers. In 1961 they made the move to Phoenix and built a successful business in the Biltmore Fashion Park. Tassoni was born in Phoenix 8 years later. My parents were true artists, and they instilled a drive for success and a need for Italian culture in my life, said Tassoni. They spoke only Italian at home, so I learned the language through them, and through visits to our family in Naples and Abruzzo all my life. The show is the natural culmination of Tassonis list of talents coming together along with his past, and his current life with his children. My kids and my parents are the inspiration for this show. Im glad I was able to bring such a talented team together to create it for kids all over the country to enjoy.

The script was written by Tassonis wife, writer Kristine Tassoni. Ive been exposing my wife to the Italian culture for ten years now, so it was a natural fit for her to do the writing, said Tassoni. We came up with the characters, she wrote it and we started shooting.

Characters include chef Luigi, Raphael the painter, Mario the racecar driver, Paolo the singing gondolier, and host character, Michael. Playing five characters wasnt much of a stretch for Tassoni, who has performed in professional regional theater for years. Tassoni produced and starred in two independent, award-winning feature films and won Best Actor for one role at the San Diego Film Festival in 2008. He also performed the lead character Dimitri in 20th Century Foxs Anastasia.

To view the trailer go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBZwfB8I1P4. To learn more about Ciao Bambolini  Italy for Kids go to http://www.ciaobambolini.com or visit Facebook.

About Michael Tassoni

Michael began his career as an actor at the age of 15. Since then, and having received a BS in Acting from Arizona State University, he became an Equity actor and performed in regional theatre. In 1995, Michael had the opportunity to work with the legendary Don Bluth on the 20th-Century Fox Feature Film Anastasia, for which he performed the lead role of Dimitri. In 1997 Michael produced and starred in the feature film 14 Ways to Wear Lipstick. The film was

selected in the 1999 Slamdance Film Festival among others. Michael later produced and starred in The Appearance of a Man, for which he won Best Actor in the San Diego Film Festival in 2008. Michael started his own production company, Tassoni Films, in 2006.
Arthritis is the No. 1 chronic condition that brings us into a seniors home and we wanted to share our advice, curated from twenty years of caring for seniors with arthritis.

Arthritis is the No. 1 cause of disability in the United States, affecting more than 50 million Americans, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Those with this chronic disease experience painful inflammation and stiffness, making it difficult to accomplish daily tasks, which can lead to anxiety or a diminished positive self-image.

This month, America observes Arthritis Awareness Month  a month dedicated to sharing experiences and letting others see and hear about the disease and its impacts. To join in the discussion, Home Instead Senior Care  the worlds leading provider of in-home care services for seniors  is offering tips to family caregivers of those living with the disease.

Without proper care and treatment, an individual becomes more and more likely to have their life severely impacted by the effects of arthritis, said Lakelyn Hogan, caregiver advocate at Home Instead. We are offering these tips to help family caregivers better understand the needs of their loved one with this disease. Arthritis is the No. 1 chronic condition that brings us into a seniors home and we wanted to share our advice, curated from twenty years of caring for seniors with arthritis.

Keep the following seven tips in mind when assisting loved ones living with arthritis:



Educate yourself. Learn about all the different types of arthritis. Accompany your loved one to the doctors office so you can have a better understanding on the diagnosis and ask questions.

Arrange for physical or occupational therapy. Therapists have the expertise to help you make changes to your loved ones routines which will help them live life easier. For example, a physical therapist can recommend exercises to make it easier for your loved one to stand, sit or get dressed. Also consider massage therapy to reduce pain, stiffness and anxiety.

Encourage daily activity. Numerous studies validate movement as a therapy for arthritis. Daily movement can help your loved one maintain independence and mobility, while improving balance and minimizing falls. Looking for a low-impact option? Consider water aerobics.

Implement adaptive solutions. Small changes can make the tasks of daily life a bit easier. For example, add a foam curler to a toothbrush handle to make it easier to grasp.

Make your home "arthritis-friendly. Remove clutter from traffic areas, make sure areas are well-lit and consider home improvements, such as converting to lever-handle faucets, which makes it easier to control water temperature and pressure.

Prepare nutritious meals. Some research suggests certain foods may help fight the inflammation of common types of arthritis. Prepare meals that honor your loved one's eating preferences while incorporating inflammation-fighting foods like fruits, vegetables and olive oil.

Reduce inflammation with antioxidants. Among the best drinks for arthritis are tea, coffee and juices, all containing antioxidant properties to reduce inflammation. The occasional piece of dark chocolate can also be a source for antioxidants.

Home Instead CAREGivers deliver responsive and customized in-home care to each clients specific needs. Home Instead offers everything from arthritis help to advanced Alzheimers careto keep them safe at home.

A Caregivers Guide to Arthritis provides additional tips on how to help a loved one with arthritis. Download the guide at http://www.caregiverstress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/A-Caregivers-Guide-to-Arthritis_web.pdf. For more information on Arthritis Awareness Month events and resources, visit http://blog.arthritis.org/news/arthritis-awareness-month/.

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ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today this network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchises that are estimated to annually provide more than 50 million hours of care throughout the United States and 12 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 65,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network strives to partner with each client and his or her family members to help meet that individuals needs. Services span the care continuum from providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimers care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. At Home Instead Senior Care, its relationship before task, while striving to provide superior quality service.
Chicago-based Signature Bank, a commercial bank serving privately-held and middle-market businesses, served as a donation counting site for the Misericordia Heart of Mercy non-profit during their annual Candy Days fundraiser on April 28th and 29th for the eleventh year in a row. The annual event raises money for the Misericordia Heart of Mercy Home, a residential facility for more than 600 developmentally and physically disabled children and adults. Signature Bank employees raised money for the cause and showed their support by wearing jeans to work.

Misericordia is such an important institution in Chicago and Signature Bank is very proud to offer our services to Sister Rosemary and all of the hard-working Misericordia staff and volunteers, said Signature Bank CEO Mick ORourke. Candy Days provide a great opportunity to see Chicagos true community and volunteer spirit in action and we look forward to helping again next year.

More than 10,000 volunteers blanket the streets of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs during Candy Days, collecting donations in exchange for Jelly Belly candy packets with information about Misericordia. The money raised during Candy Days goes to support Misericordias various services, including residential placement, educational opportunities, and health and wellness activities.

Signature Bank has been a great friend to Misericordia during Candy Days and beyond, said Misericordia Chief Financial Officer Kevin Connelly. Their support for Chicago charities like Misericordia shows how deeply invested they are in this great city.

Signature Bank is a full-service commercial bank focused exclusively on serving the needs of privately owned businesses and their owners.

About Signature Bank

Signature Bank is wholly owned by Signature Bancorporation, Inc. Signature Bancorporation is the largest privately funded de novo bank holding company in Illinois. Based in Chicago, Signature Bank specializes in middle-market commercial banking and is a full-service retail bank offering a full breadth of financial product lines to consumers. Signature Bank offers a unique balance of relationship-driven service with leading-edge technology to provide customers with the personalization they expect from a community bank and the technology capabilities they demand from a national bank.

Visit Signature Bank online at http://www.signature-bank.com.
This event allows us the opportunity to graciously thank those who continue to do so much to make a bright and lasting impression on our community. Were also excited to unveil some of Riesberg Institutes recent innovations!

Dr. Michael Riesberg and his wife Mary, Pensacola ear, nose, and throat specialists and philanthropists, will host an event honoring the stars of Pensacola during a grand-reopening of Riesberg Institute, on Tuesday, May 9 from 6-8pm. The community is invited to enjoy networking, dining, and drinks beginning at 6pm at Riesberg Institute, 4900 N. Davis Hwy in Pensacola, Florida. Attendees must RSVP to 850.476.0700 by Monday, May 8 to be admitted.

Mary and I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Pensacola community that has offered us overwhelming support since Riesberg Institutes inception, said Dr. Michael Riesberg, Otolaryngologist and Founder of Riesbserg Institute. This event allows us the opportunity to graciously thank those who continue to do so much to make a bright and lasting impression on our community. Were also excited to unveil some of Riesberg Institutes recent innovations!

Riesberg Institutes Centers of Sinus, Hearing, and Voice will review latest innovations in ear, nose, and throat technology along with enhancements of the patient experience. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the updated Riesberg Institute facility while learning about the breakthrough in-office balloon sinus procedure, custom hearing aid solutions, and other offerings.

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About Riesberg Institute

Riesberg Institute offers a spa-like patient experience with VIP care and a highly-skilled medical team. Riesberg Sinus Center, Riesberg Hearing Center, and Riesberg Voice Center are conveniently located at Riesberg Institute in Pensacola  the areas only ENT medical doctor and audiologist under one roof. Dr. Riesberg is fondly known as the Pensacola Opera Doc, and has a 20 year history treating the cast of the Pensacola Opera and performers from around the world. To learn more, visit RiebsergInstitute.com.
Dr. Whitney Nash, founding director of the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center, and associate dean of practice and service, University of Louisville School of Nursing. There are untold numbers of hard working people behind the scenes in the thoroughbred racing industry who struggle to obtain affordable and accessible health care."

The American Academy of Nursing today announced the designation of Whitney Nash, PhD, APRN, and Sara Robertson, DNP, APRN, FNP, as Academy Edge Runners for their model, the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center. The Academys Raise the Voice Edge Runner initiative recognizes nurse-designed models of care that impact cost, improve quality and enhance patient satisfaction.

The Kentucky Racing Health Services Center is a not for profit, nurse-designed and nurse-staffed clinic providing the full spectrum of primary care annually to 1500-1800 low wage workers and their families in Kentuckys thoroughbred horse racing industry. In addition to four primary care nurse practitioners, the clinic also has a womens health nurse practitioner and a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Located just one block from Churchill Downs, the clinic provides comprehensive care for a flat rate fee of $5.00, which includes lab work

Just days in advance of the Kentucky Derby is a wonderful time to celebrate Drs. Nash and Robertsons nurse-designed clinic, the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center, said Academy President Bobbie Berkowitz, PhD, NEA-BC, FAAN. There are untold numbers of hard working people behind the scenes in the thoroughbred racing industry who struggle to obtain affordable and accessible health care. Drs. Nash and Robertson are to be applauded for their commitment to this underserved population."

The Kentucky Racing Health Services Center is affiliated with the Kentucky Health and Welfare Fund, which assists with funding obtained from uncashed parimutuel tickets at horse racing tracks throughout Kentucky, and the University of Louisville, which provides students from a variety of fields the opportunity to obtain experience while serving the needs of people in the community.

It is a privilege to be recognized with such a prestigious designation, and we are honored to serve one of the most vulnerable populations, said Dr. Nash, founding director of the clinic and associate dean of practice and service, University of Louisville School of Nursing. Dr. Robertson is the clinics current director and an assistant professor at the University of Louisville School of Nursing.

An Edge Runner profile of the Kentucky Racing Health Services Center is available here: bit.ly/2pGaPdb

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About the American Academy of Nursing

The American Academy of Nursing (http://www.AANnet.org) serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. The Academy's more than 2,500 fellows are nursing's most accomplished leaders in education, management, practice, policy, and research. They have been recognized for their extraordinary contributions to nursing and health care.

CONTACT:

Barry Eisenberg

202-777-1174

Barry_Eisenberg(at)aannet(dot)org
Dale Dabbs, EZShield CEO, Entrepreneur of the Year 2017 Finalist Identity crimes impacted 35.2 million consumers in the U.S. last year. At the end of the day, were here to help our customers protect themselves from fraud and identity crimes. - Dale Dabbs, EZShield CEO

On May 1, 2017, EZShield CEO Dale Dabbs was named a finalist for EYs 2017 Entrepreneur Of The Year Award.

This prestigious award honors exceptional business leaders across 145 cities and 60 countries. The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who have made great strides in areas such as innovation and financial performance, and those who are committed to their businesses and communities alike.

I cannot express how proud I am to be an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist, as well as part of the amazing team that makes our success possible, Dabbs said. It humbles me to think of all that weve achieved since the start [of EZShield], and I only hope to continue with our track record of innovation, exceptional service and tremendous growth. Identity crimes impacted 35.2 million consumers in the U.S. last year. At the end of the day, were here to help our customers protect themselves from fraud and identity crimes.

EZShield, based in Baltimore, Maryland, is a leading provider of identity theft and fraud protection solutions. The company provides its value-add offerings through partnerships with companies in the financial services, employee benefits, insurance, communications and other select industries. EZShields go-to-market strategy enables the company to offer an unparalleled customer value proposition for its partners.

Dale understands that leadership is multi-faceted, said Laura Bruck, EZShield Vice President of Marketing and Solution Strategy. He knows that effective leadership requires a combination of concise decision-making skills, collaborative teamwork and a strong company culture to achieve our goals. Its clear that he is passionate about the growth of our organization, our people and our surrounding communities.

A gala honoring the finalists and announcing award winners will be held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel on June 28, 2017. On Nov. 18, 2017, overall awards will be announced in Palm Springs, California. For a full list of Maryland finalists, click here.

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About Entrepreneur Of The Year

Entrepreneur Of The Year, founded by EY, is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance, and the local community. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in over 145 cities and more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

About EZShield

Owned by the Wicks Group of Companies, L.L.C., EZShield was named Best Overall Identity Protection Services Leader for the past three years by Javelin Strategy & Research. Their focus is on delivering services through trusted partners in the financial services, benefits/payroll, insurance, telecommunications and warranty markets to provide fraud protection to consumers and small business customers. The Companys full range of identity theft and fraud services are offered on a secure, flexible platform, and backed by best-in-class customer support. For more information about EZShield and our partnership opportunities, visit http://www.EZShield.com.
Mr. Selbka is an experienced litigator who represents clients of the firm across a range of practice areas within his vast realm of experience.

The Chicago law firm of Pluymert, MacDonald, Hargrove & Lee, Ltd. recently welcomed the addition of Joseph Selbka to its roster of attorneys. Mr. Selbka is an experienced litigator who will represent clients of the firm across a range of practice areas within his vast realm of experience, including business and corporate law, education law, residential and commercial real estate, employment law, estate planning and litigation, and construction law.

Joseph Selbka graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1996 and immediately went to work as a special assistant attorney general representing the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) as litigation counsel before entering private practice. During his tenure at IDES, Mr. Selbka defended hundreds of administrative review actions and gained an enormous wealth of experience in administrative and employment law. In 2001, he earned a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, where he currently serves as an adjunct lecturer teaching a master's level course to public administration graduate students.

Mr. Selbka also possesses several years of experience serving as a Hearing Officer for the Illinois State Board of Education as well as the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

In his many years of private practice, Mr. Selbka has represented clients before a great many tribunals, including the Illinois Circuit Courts and the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Labor Relations Board, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

A frequent author and lecturer, Mr. Selbka has made presentations on behalf of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association and Attorneys Title and Guaranty on various estate planning and probate matters, and has lectured on expert testimony in administrative hearings for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. He is the author of Special Education Due Process Litigation, published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Mr. Selbka is also active in the legal profession as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, and serves his community as a member of the Arlington Heights Board of Zoning Appeals.

About Pluymert, Hargrove, MacDonald & Lee, Ltd.

Pluymert, Hargrove, MacDonald & Lee, Ltd. is a Chicago area law firm with offices in Hoffman Estates and Des Plaines which represents individuals, businesses, churches and not-for-profit organizations across a wide variety of legal areas; business corporate, estate planning, employment law, commercial real estate, family law, school and education matters and Probate and Trust Administration. The well-established firm is well-known and respected in the Chicagoland legal community for practicing with exceptional skill, integrity, ethics and professionalism.

Contact Information:

Pluymert, Hargrove, MacDonald & Lee, Ltd.

2300 Barrington Road, Suite 220

Hoffman Estates, IL 60169

847-310-0025

http://www.lawpmh.com/
Marco E. Fava, Senior Associate, Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP We are pleased to welcome Marco to our firm. His experience and industry knowledge have already made him a valuable resource for our clients.

The law firm of Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP, with offices in Somers and White Plains, N.Y., is pleased to announce Marco E. Fava has joined the firm as a Senior Associate attorney. Mr. Favas practice areas include General Civil Litigation, Estate Litigation, Family Law and Divorce, Contested Guardianship Proceeding and Real Property Law.

Prior to Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, Mr. Fava maintained a private practice representing clients in matrimonial law, family law, real estate closings, and other civil litigation. He received a B.S. in Business Administration from Pace University and a J.D. from the Michigan State University College of Law. Mr. Fava is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. He is fluent in Italian and Spanish.

We are pleased to welcome Marco to our firm, said elder law attorney Anthony J. Enea, managing partner at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano. His experience and industry knowledge have already made him a valuable resource for our clients.

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano concentrates its practice on elder law planning, asset protection planning, wills, trusts & estates, Estate Litigation, Medicaid applications (home care and nursing home), Guardianships, special needs planning, estate litigation, as well as real estate, corporate and commercial law. The firm has attained Martindale-Hubbells Highest Peer Review Rating in the legal community, AV Preeminent, and has been named a Best Law Firm by U.S. News  Best Lawyers for seven consecutive years. Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP serves Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, the Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island and Queens and is committed to providing the highest quality legal services to seniors and the disabled.

Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP is located at 245 Main Street in White Plains, N.Y. with additional offices in Somers, N.Y. Call 914-948-1500 or email a.enea(at)esslawfirm(dot)com for more information. For the latest news, visit Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano online at http://www.esslawfirm.com.
Vaughn College is celebrating its second annual International Drone Day on Saturday, May 6, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a variety of activities for all area drone enthusiasts. Attendees can bring their own drones to fly in Vaughns hangar; attend interactive workshops on the design, building, programming and certifying of drones; see the Zero Gravity FPV racing team and the DJI-USA exhibition/sale of drones.

There will be an exciting Changing the Skies guest panel featuring experts in the aviation and drone industries, speaking on topics including aviation, law and transportation.

Panelists include:



Dr. Maxine Lubner (Vaughn College management department chair and moderator): Educational Approaches

Edward Kostakis, Sen. Pilot at DJI and Co-Founder Xizmo: Commercial and Career Applications of Drones

Honorable John Goglia, National Transportation Safety Board (ret) and Vaughn adjunct professor: Safety of Drones

Loretta Alkalay, Esq. Legal Advisor for FAA (ret) and Vaughn adjunct professor: Legal Updates for Drone Users

Steve Cohen, President, Drone User Group: STEM Education and Grassroots Growth of Drone Users

Adam Dershowitz, Managing Engineer at Exponent, Inc.: History, Future Directions and Risks

Jimmy Olivero, SkyCam USA: Commercial Applications of Drones in NY

Peter Sachs, Esq.: Drone Law Journal

The public is welcome to attend the free event at Vaughn College: 86-01 23rdAvenue in East Elmhurst, N.Y. 11369. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-drone-day-registration-33396791703

International Drone Day was founded by David and Sarah Oneal of That Drone Show to educate people about the ways drones are used for good, such as in search and rescue, conservation, agriculture, sport, and film. May 6 is the third annual International Drone Day event, and 90,000 people are expected to attend events throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. More information is available at http://www.internationaldroneday.com

VAUGHN COLLEGE: Founded in 1932, Vaughn College is a private, four-year college that enrolls more than 1,600 students in masters, bachelors and associate degree programs in engineering, technology, management and aviation on its main campus in New York City and online. The student-faculty ratio of 14 to 1 ensures a highly-personalized learning environment. Ninety-eight percent of Vaughn graduates are employed or choose to continue their education within one year of graduation. The institution serves many first-generation college students and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. For more information on Vaughn College, please visit http://www.vaughn.edu.
Pictured are Branches youth Karen Martinez, Branches Director of Student Services Kim Torres, and Ocean Reef Grants Committee Chair Janie Sims. "The Ocean Reef Community Foundation is truly making an incredible difference in South Dade, said Brent McLaughlin, Executive Director, Branches. We are excited to bring impactful programming to our children and families to help them succeed long-term."

Branches, Inc. has been partnering with the Ocean Reef Community Foundation for over 8 years, and has received more than $350,000 in grant funding. The majority of these dollars have also been matched by Trish and Dan Bell, more than doubling the investment that the Foundation has made.

Most recently, Branches, Inc. was awarded a grant by the Foundation of $25,000 to support both its Grow & Climb children and youth program at Branches Florida City. This grant is designated for the Grow & Climb Guide Program which will train, equip and employ several Branches youth from low-income families as Grow Guides and Summer Shade Camp Guides at the Florida City location. The Grow Guides work with elementary students after school during the school year, and the Summer Shade Guides serve as camp counselors and lead summer programming, along with staff. The Grow & Climb Guide Program makes a huge impact in the lives of these youth since it offers work-based learning opportunities that not only offer employment but also prepare participants for success in post-secondary education and careers.

Branches is a local non-profit organization based in Miami and primarily focuses on student services and financial stability. Its Grow Program serves elementary students, preparing them for lifelong success through enrichment of their minds, bodies and hearts. The Climb Program serves middle and high school students, focusing on the development of their individual assets in order to maximize opportunities to become better students and better people. Branches Achieve Programs target the well-being of the entire community through services fostering financial stability and long term success. Services include the ASSETS small business solutions program, the Ways to Work car loan program for working families, free VITA tax preparation and hunger relief. Branches is also proud to house and operate the United Way Center for Financial Stability (UWCFS).

We are honored to partner with the Ocean Reef Community Foundation. The Foundation is truly making an incredible impact in our South Dade community, said Brent McLaughlin, Executive Director of Branches, Inc. We are excited to bring impactful programming and services to the children, youth and families in our communities and to help them succeed in the long-term.

About Branches

For over 40 years, Branches has made a positive impact in the community by delivering on its mission to serve, educate and inspire people through student, family and financial stability services. Branches provides long-term, holistic services for motivated individuals and families. We help people grow deeper and climb higher in life by building a foundation through education so they can achieve their goals and fulfill their potential. For additional information about Branches, please call 305.442.8306 or visit http://www.branchesfl.org.

About the Ocean Reef Community Foundation

The Ocean Reef Community Foundation Community Grants Program funds dozens of charities in the areas of Education, Youth, Health & Family Services and Community in Homestead/Florida City and the Upper Keys each spring. The program has awarded $1 million this year and more than $6.1 million since 2008. To learn more, visit the Community Grants page at http://www.orfound.org.
UltraShipTMS - Beyond TMS As the number of high volume shippers using UltraShipTMS continues to rise, we continue to invest in improving and expanding our platform beyond the expectations of the market.

UltraShipTMS is recognized as a notable vendor of enterprise transportation management systems and associated logistics IT solutions in Gartners esteemed Magic Quadrant report for Transportation Management Systems. With the field of TMS providers rapidly expanding, the Gartner Magic Quadrant report has become a trusted resource for buyers seeking to differentiate between legitimate, proven-effective solutions and less complete, under-developed ones.

Four hundred and fifty providers - including a whos-who of TMS industry leaders - completed Gartners research survey. Roughly one in ten respondents was included in the report due to the stringent criteria used by Gartner.

UltraShipTMS president, Nicholas Carretta said, As the number of high volume shippers using UltraShipTMS continues to rise, we continue to invest in improving and expanding our platform beyond the expectation of the market. Inclusion in the Notable Vendors section of the Gartner Magic Quadrant report marks a milestone in this organizations growth and notoriety in the industry. Were honored to have earned the accolade.

The inclusion in the Gartner report comes amidst a flurry of national recognition for UltraShipTMS. The company was also informed this week of its status as a 2017 American Business Award Winner (the "Stevie Awards") in the category of Best User Interface for the UltraShipTMS platform. UltraShips Supply Chain Collaborator blog also won a Stevie in the category, Best Online Newsletter for providing the consistent thought leadership indicative of the type of organization capable of earning notice by Gartners Magic Quadrant report.
The Federal Savings Bank is proud to announce that the company recently earned multiple industry and regional accolades for its banking services, safe and sound lending practices, as well as overall growth. As one of the largest privately held federally chartered banks in the country, The Federal Savings Bank operates 23 offices nationwide and employs nearly 1,000 employees. The Banks strong growth is demonstrated through its origination of $70 million in loan volume in 2011 and more than $4 billion in loans in 2016.

The Federal Savings Bank earned recognition from Seifried & Brew (S&B), LLC, a community bank consulting and risk management firm. Seifried & Brew ranked The Federal Savings Bank as a high-performing bank in its prestigious 2016 S&B Top 15th Percentile. The designation is assigned to banks whose overall performance ranks them within the top 15 percent of all community banks in the nation. To receive the honor, The Federal Savings Bank demonstrated exemplary performance by managing their exposure to risk while maintaining a notable level of reward.

The ranking is based on the S&B index, which measures individual bank performance and then compares banks across the United States. The Bank received an S&B composite score percentile rank of 99.3 of 100. The banks included in this index have assets between $10 million and $30 billion. Whereas other organizations rank bank performance, the S&B composite score takes into consideration both risk and reward.

Mortgage Executive Magazine also ranked The Federal Savings Bank #32 in its annual list of Top 100 Mortgage Companies in America 2016. The ranking is based on mortgage companies total dollar volume. For The Federal Savings Bank, total volume for 2016 was $4.3 billion, which totaled 19,100 loans. This is the third consecutive year that Mortgage Executive ranked the Bank in the top 100. Mortgage Executive Magazine seeks to recognize and celebrate the service, dedication, and hard work that mortgage originators, managers and executives put into building their companies and serving their clients.

I am extremely proud and grateful of the hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence of the entire team at The Federal Savings Bank, said Steve Calk, chairman and CEO of The Federal Savings Bank. This recognition represents the trust that our customers and referral sources place in the Bank, as well as the Banks measured growth, safe lending and laser-like focus on helping customers achieve the American Dream of home ownership.

Crains Chicago Business also named The Federal Savings Bank, with headquarters in Chicago, to the business publications annual ranking of Chicagos largest private companies. This year, 347 companies were included on the list, with combined revenues of roughly $342.8 billion and 162,000 employees in the Chicago metro area. As an indicator of its growth in Chicago, from 2012 to current, the Bank has hired 881 new employees in Illinois alone, of which 387 reside in Chicago.

Crains list is ranked by 2016 revenue and includes only firms with revenue greater than $75 million. The full list includes firms in the seven-county region: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Lake (Ind.), McHenry and Will.

About The Federal Savings Bank

The Federal Savings Bank, one of the largest privately held and most successful veteran-owned banks in America, is an industry leader providing tens of thousands of Americans a path to home ownership through residential home lending. As a federally chartered bank, its highly experienced bankers are experts in lending in all 50 states and have the ability to help those customers achieve the American Dream. In recent years, the Banks exceptional work has earned accolades from Ellie Mae, Wells Fargo, The ABA Banking Journal and Bauer Financial. For more information, visit http://www.thefederalsavingsbank.com.
The return of year-round Pell marks a step forward for many students pursuing a postsecondary degree, who were limited by the current Pell Grant program.

Lawmakers took steps today to ensure that the Federal Pell Granta cornerstone of the federal student aid programs that gets awarded only to students with the highest proven financial needwill go even further to help low-income students get to and through college.

The $1 trillion omnibus spending bill, passed Wednesday evening by the House and today by the Senate, funds the government through the rest of fiscal year (FY) 2017 and restores year-round Pell Grants beginning in the 2017-18 award year.

Currently, regardless of a schools cost, Pell Grants are capped at $5,815 per year$5,920 per year starting July 1 and students can have only one scheduled award per academic year. These antiquated restrictions can be detrimental both for students who hope to complete college sooner by enrolling in summer courses, and for students who take larger than normal course loads in some semesters. But under a year-round Pell Grant program, as long as a student is working toward completion of an eligible program and attending at least half-time, eligible students can receive up to one and a half Federal Pell Grants during a single award year.

Attending college continuously throughout the year is a huge step toward helping students to stay in school. Unforeseen circumstances can arise over the summer that may prevent students from coming back the following fall. Even the costs of getting home for the summer and then back to campus can be challenging for some low-income students.

The year-round Pell Grant program also offers flexibility that the current Pell Grant does not. Under year-round Pell, students struggling to balance work and family obligations with their school work can choose to take fewer courses one semester and more the following semester without worrying about not having enough Pell Grant left to help cover the larger course load.

Justin Draeger, president and CEO of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), made the following statement regarding the continued outage:

The return of year-round Pell marks a step forward for many students pursuing a postsecondary degree, who were limited by the current Pell Grant program. The way the Pell Grant program is currently structured doesnt work for nontraditional studentsthose who may have entered the workforce and then come back to school or those who dont take the standard full course load every semester. Under year-round Pell, students who wish to pursue their degrees throughout the year will receive financial aid when they need it, rather than having to wait until the following semester, ultimately allowing them to complete their education more quickly so they can take on less debt and enter, or re-enter, the workforce more quickly.

NASFAA applauds this much-needed change, which we have long championed. We look forward to working with policymakers and implementers to ensure that the new structure will eliminate the administrative burden that year-round Pell created for financial aid administrators in its last iteration.

To request an interview with a NASFAA spokesperson about the importance of the Federal Pell Grant and the impact this move toward reinstating year-round Pell Grants could have for students, families, and post-secondary institutions, please email timmonse(at)nasfaa.org or call (202) 785-6959.

About NASFAA

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is a nonprofit membership organization that represents more than 20,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every ten undergraduates in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., NASFAA is the only national association with a primary focus on student aid legislation, regulatory analysis, and training for financial aid administrators. For more information, visit http://www.nasfaa.org.
Mark Casady, General Partner & Advisory Board Chairman, Vestigo Ventures We are delighted to partner with a company that is on the forefront of financial technology innovation and also distinguished for creating a dynamic, stimulating workplace for employees to grow their careers.

Vestigo Ventures is pleased to announce that Vestmark, a leading company in its investment portfolio, was named to the Boston Business Journals 2017 Best Place to Work program 2017. Vestmark was one of fewer than 20 mid-size Greater Boston companies (100-249 employees) to receive this recognition.

We are delighted to partner with a company that is on the forefront of financial technology innovation and also distinguished for creating a dynamic, stimulating workplace for employees to grow their careers, said Mark Casady, General Partner at Vestigo Ventures.

Receiving the Boston Business Journals Best Places to Work award is the latest in a string of awards the company has received in the last twelve months. Vestmark has been widely recognized by numerous industry publications for its continuous leadership role in advancing the state of technology for financial institutions and advisors. Their flagship solution, VestmarkONE, is a wealth management platform designed to enable wealth management firms to deliver holistic advice across all of the accounts they manage with tools that automate the investment management process.

At Vestmark we are innovators and technologists with a mission of enabling investors to better their financial well-being by developing and delivering innovative wealth management software and services to advisors and financial institutions. With Vestmark technology, our clients can reach more investors efficiently while improving the advice they offer, said Rob Klapprodt, President of Vestmark.

Vestmark illustrates the potential for Fintech companies to use data analytics to provide transformative efficiencies to incumbent enterprises around not only relationship management but also areas such as transaction processing and compliance, according to Vestigos Casady.

Vestmark will be recognized along with the Boston Business Journals other Best Place to Work honorees the evening of June 22d at Boston Symphony Hall.

About Vestigo Ventures

Vestigo Ventures, founded by Dave Blundin, Mark Casady and Ian Sheridan, is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It leverages proprietary big data capabilities to invest in technology companies focused on financial services. Equally important, Vestigo leverages its deep financial industry expertise and powerful network of advisors to support the success of portfolio companies. Since Vestigos launch in the first quarter of 2016, three investments have been completed:



Vestmark: Software as a Service-based provider of comprehensive unified wealth management solutions for financial advisors and institutions

Netcapital: A private securities platform that brings together entrepreneurs and investors

Life Yield: SaaS after-tax return optimizer that allows financial advisors to employ multi-account, tax smart investment management on behalf of their clients.

Learn more at http://www.vestigoventures.com.

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Contact: Vestigo Ventures Managing Director, Ian Sheridan

isheridan(at)vestigoventures(dot)com

781-378-2250

One Kendall Square, Bldg. 200, Ste. B2106 Cambridge, MA 02139
We are developing capabilities to give squads extra sets of eyes on the ground and in the sky to provide actionable intel in real time without overloading warfighters with additional data.

Kitware reported that it will present the brief Linking Unmanned Systems, Visible and IR Video, Computer Vision, and Humans Together for Real-Time, Squad-Level, Battlefield Situational Awareness at the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI) XPONENTIAL 2017 conference. In the brief, Keith Fieldhouse, assistant director of computer vision, will grant insight into support of squad-level activities from Kitware with contributions to unmanned systems, sensors and computer vision software. He will discuss the intelligent integration of various platforms, sensors, software and humans to demonstrate the techniques, challenges and value that intelligent integration provides. The brief will occur Monday, May 8, 2017, from 4:30 to 5 p.m. CDT in room C140 of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas.

Currently, our warfighters at the squad level do not have the tactical advantages available at the brigade level, Fieldhouse said. We are developing capabilities to give squads extra sets of eyes on the ground and in the sky to provide actionable intel in real time without overloading warfighters with additional data.

According to the conference website, XPONENTIAL will host the largest global community of leaders in drones, intelligent robotics and unmanned systems. For more details on the Kitware presentation, please visit its dedicated webpage.

Kitware utilizes computer vision and deep learning to solve challenging problems in the areas of object detection, recognition, content-based retrieval and semantic segmentation for projects that relate to manned and unmanned systems. The company works with government customers as well as large and small commercial companies through consulting services and collaborative projects. To set up a time to meet with Kitware at the conference, please email computervision(at)kitware(dot)com.

About Kitware

Kitware is an advanced technology research and solutions provider for laboratories, government institutions and corporations worldwide. Founded in 1998, Kitware specializes in research and development in the areas of HPC and visualization, medical imaging, computer vision, data and analytics and quality software process. Among its services, Kitware offers consulting and support for high-quality software solutions. Kitware is headquartered in Clifton Park, NY, with offices in Carrboro, NC; Santa Fe, NM; and Lyon, France. More information can be found on kitware.com.
Having announced the addition of Nicaragua to the Tony Romas Central American roster earlier this year, we are thrilled to announce that South American fans in Bolivia will have the opportunity to enjoy our world-famous ribs for the first time in history.

Romacorp, Inc., the parent company of Tony Romas, announces the signing of a new development agreement that will bring Tony Romas world-famous ribs to Bolivia for the first time. The agreement with Grupo RIB S.R.L. is for three Tony Romas restaurants, with the initial brand launch planned for Santa Cruz. This agreement strengthens Tony Romas presence in South America by adding to the already vast list of locations in the region, including Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.

Having announced the addition of Nicaragua to the Tony Romas Central American roster earlier this year, we are thrilled to announce that South American fans in Bolivia will have the opportunity to enjoy our world-famous ribs for the first time in history, said Stephen K. Judge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Romacorp, Inc. Our fans are incredibly loyal, and we are confident that their strong passion for the brand  and for our signature food and beverages  will continue to strengthen as our expansion throughout South America continues.

This announcement is the latest in a string of landmark growth announcements for Tony Romas as it celebrates its 45th birthday, an incredible milestone unmatched by any American casual dining restaurant chain. Romacorp recently announced renewed US growth with Tony Romas development and franchise agreements in Tennessee and West Palm Beach, Florida. Earlier this year, Romacorp also announced the signing of a development agreement that will bring Tony Romas world famous ribs to Nicaragua for the first time. Additional new domestic and international agreements are in the works and will be announced in the near future.

Its an honor to have the opportunity to bring Tony Romas world-famous ribs to Bolivia for the first time, and we are proud to be part of the incredible success the Tony Romas brand has seen, said Diego Alcazar, Public Relations Manager for Grupo RIB S.R.L. The Tony Romas franchise is one of the most recognizable brands in the world due to its dedication to great food and impeccable service, and we are confident that our team will represent the brand to the highest of standards.

About Romacorp, Inc.

Romacorp, Inc., is the parent company of Tony Roma's restaurants, the world's largest casual dining concept specializing in ribs. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Romacorp, Inc. has more than 150 restaurant locations in more than 30 countries and is one of the most globally recognizable names in the industry. The first Tony Roma's restaurant opened 45 years ago in North Miami, Florida. Tony Roma's is also proud to partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation (http://www.cnfl.wish.org), one of the world's leading children's charities, in an effort to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses across Central and Northern Florida. For more information about Romacorp, Inc. and Tony Roma's, visit http://www.tonyromas.com.

Please visit http://www.tonyromasfranchise.com or call (866) 981-0586 for information about Tony Roma's franchising opportunities.
Trident University, Academic Excellence - Compassionate Commitment Were thankful for the effort and care Trident put into this event. They lead by example when it comes to helping out our men and women in uniform. - Reginald A. Hardy, Chief of Voluntary Service at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System

On May 26th, Trident University International (Trident) will distribute hygiene care packages at the Austin (TX) VA Outpatient Clinic. The event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., is part of the Universitys ongoing commitment to be active and involved in the communities where its students and alumni reside.

Representing Trident at the clinic will be Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach Services, Esmeralda Silva, and Director of Alumni Engagement and Outreach Operations, Kendra Temple. Also in attendance will be James Spargo, the president of Tridents Houston Alumni Chapter.

The Austin VA Outpatient Clinic is one of the largest facilities of its kind in the country. Opened in 2013, the clinic serves a growing veteran population in the Austin-metropolitan area.

Were thankful for the effort and care Trident put into this event. They lead by example when it comes to helping out our men and women in uniform, said Reginald A. Hardy, Chief of Voluntary Service at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Beginning in early April, Trident started collecting materials for the hygiene care packages. Donations were collected across the entire University community, including Trident Alumni Chapters located in Texas. Chapters in Killeen, Dallas, Houston, El Paso, and San Antonio also contributed to this effort.

In the past few years, community events have become commonplace for Trident. The University has taken part in Snowball Express Walk of Gratitude for the past two years, as well as hosting their own Snowflake Family Adventure at Universal Studios in Los Angeles last year. Trident has also hosted multiple letter-writing campaigns for Operation Gratitude, which collectively generated well over 2,000 letters sent to members of the military and first responders.

Austin-area media who wish to cover this event should contact Deborah Myers, Public Affairs Officer, at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System by 3:30pm local time on May 25th. She can be reached at 254-743-2376.

Trident is a 100% online university that has been in operation since 1998 and is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Active duty military, veterans, National Guard, and military dependents make up 79% of the Universitys student population, and Trident is proud to employ many veterans at its faculty, staff, and management levels.

About Trident University

Founded in 1998, Trident University International (Trident) is a leading online postsecondary university serving adult learners. Trident developed the Trident Learning Model, which employs case-based learning in an online setting to teach real-world relevant critical thinking skills to enhance the lives and careers of students. Trident offers high-quality bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs, led by a qualified faculty team, over 80% of whom have doctoral degrees. Visit http://www.trident.edu, Tridents Facebook page, or call at (855) 290-0290 to learn more about Trident's wide range of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.
The movie LGBT UNITED -- created, hosted, directed and produced by Dr. Luciana Lagana, a California State University Northridge (CSUN) professor and NIH-sponsored researcher  was tested experimentally at CSUN with the intent to increase empathy towards LGBT individuals and reduce homophobia in those who watched it. Dr. Luciana presented her preliminary findings in this area at the 97th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, in Sacramento, California. In her study, conducted in collaboration with CSUN former graduate student, Kelcey Sholl, she documented the reduction in homophobia among individuals who watched her film. LGBT UNITED has won several film festival awards, including the Best Political Statement Movie Award at the 2016 Action on Film International Film Festival and the California Endowment Special Sons and Brothers Award for positive and balanced depictions of young men of color at the 2016 Long Beach Indie Film Festival.

(from the WPA poster presentation): The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to use an original documentary to attempt to enhance empathic feelings, knowledge, and attitudes towards LGBT individuals. To our knowledge, no published literature is available on the effects of watching a documentary on college students empathy, attitudes, and knowledge regarding the LGBT population. Attempting to fill a gap in the available literature on whether watching a movie could reduce bias against this population, we tested the potential anti-bias effect of a 90 minute award-winning documentary produced by the second author, titled LGBT United. It features the personal stories of five ethnically diverse self-identifying LGBT individuals - on topics such as coming out, family rejection, harassment, micro-aggression and overt aggression, as well as acceptance and support. We predicted that, after viewing this documentary, young heterosexual college students who watched our film would improve their scores on LGBT-related knowledge, as well as report higher empathy and more positive attitudes towards LGBT individuals. In line with prior research findings, we also predicted that, at baseline, those who expressed higher levels of religiosity would have more negative attitudes as well as less empathy and knowledge regarding LGBT individuals. A total of 97 ethnically diverse students (22 men and 75 women), who were enrolled in an introductory psychology course at CSUN, participated in this research for course credit. Fifty-two participants, 41 females and 11 males, randomly assigned to the treatment group, viewed the 90-minute LGBT film. Forty-five participants, 34 females and 11 males, viewed a documentary of the same length about the parks of New Zealand (i.e., the control group). Participants in both groups filled out: 1) at baseline only, a short demographic list; 2) both pre- and post-test, surveys to quantify their attitudes, empathy, and knowledge about LGBT individuals. Results showed that, at baseline, students with higher levels of religiosity held significantly more negative attitudes towards LGBT individuals and had less knowledge about them. We conducted paired samples t-tests; participants homophobia scores in the experimental group decreased significantly from pre-test (M = 62.75, SD = 18.27) to post-test (M = 59.67, SD = 19.59), t(51) = 3.01, p < .004. As hypothesized, there were no significant changes within the control group.

Dr. Luciana is currently running a second experiment, in order to test whether the reduction in homophobia seen in her first study will be replicated in the new investigation. She will also test whether empathy towards the LGBT population will improve and shared that, my research team is working hard to collect the data for this second study. We hope to achieve positive anti-bias results, as we found in our preliminary study, as well as positive changes in empathy. There is certainly a need to develop and test original documentaries to hopefully reduce biases against discriminated minorities.

Written by Stefanie Friesen

Luciana Lagana is a caring clinical and experimental psychologist. She is also a professor of psychology, gerontology, womens health, and sexuality at CSUN, where she teaches classes and mentors many undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, since 2002, she has been conducting government-funded research at CSUN on the physical, psychological, sexual, and social health of ethnically diverse, primarily low-income older women. Since 2006, she has also been pursuing her creative endeavors by studying acting, TV and radio hosting, screenwriting, directing, and producing in Los Angeles. She has over 50 IMDb credits for hosting and acting in many independent feature films, TV pilots, and web series, as well as several credits for her award-winning acting, screenwriting, directing, and producing. She is the writer/lead actor/director/producer of the 2014 award-winning satirical web series INTIMATE TEMP AGENCY on helping young people with special needs find employment, which won Best Trailer at the 2015 Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival, among other awards. Her 2014 DR. LUCIANA SHOW  AGING AND FALLING web series won numerous awards, including Best Educational Show at the 2015 WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival. Within the past three years, her TV pilot DR. LUCIANA ON AGING AND FALLING fared well on the film festival circuit; she also wrote, hosted, directed, and produced three award-winning social impact feature documentaries, LGBT UNITED, UNDERSTANDING PAIN IN OLDER AGE, and AGING AND FALLING.
As we celebrate National Nursing Home Week, I hope young professionals looking for a career that will give them a sense of purpose will visit the website and visit skilled nursing centers in their communities.

On May 14, 2017, skilled nursing care centers across Indiana will begin a week of celebration in honor of National Nursing Home Week. The annual recognition is an opportunity for residents and their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and surrounding communities to acknowledge the role of skilled nursing care centers in caring for Americas seniors and individuals with disabilities. This years national observances theme, The Spirit of America, highlights the bond among staff, volunteers and residents that captures the American spirit.

The celebration of the tireless efforts of caregivers in these long term care facilities underscores the significant challenge providers face in filling critical frontline positions. Indiana is no exception to a national staffing shortage in the post-acute care industry. With an aging population, the demand for direct care workers is expected to reach critical levels over the next several decades. By 2050, one-fifth of the total U.S. population will be 65 or older, up from 12 percent in 2000, and the number of people age 85 or older will grow even faster, constituting 4 percent of the population by 2050, or 10 times the percentage in 1950.

In an effort to draw more job seekers to the profession, the Indiana Health Care Association/Indiana Center for Assisted Living (IHCA/INCAL) launched carefortheaging.org, the first website to offer comprehensive information on skilled nursing and assisted living careers in Indiana.

Carefortheaging.org provides information on a range of careers available at skilled nursing and assisted living facilities throughout Indiana, including education requirements, salaries and paths for career advancement. The site also links individuals seeking educational opportunities, internships or job placements with facilities looking to fill those roles.

As we celebrate National Nursing Home Week, I hope young professionals looking for a career that will give them a sense of purpose will visit the website and visit skilled nursing centers in their communities, said IHCA/INCAL President Zach Cattell. They will quickly discover these centers are vibrant places full of rewarding job opportunities.

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About IHCA/INCAL

The Indiana Health Care Association/Indiana Center for Assisted Living (IHCA/INCAL) is Indianas largest trade association and advocate representing proprietary, not-for-profit and hospital-based skilled nursing, assisted living and senior independent living communities. Founded in 1958 as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to quality long term care, IHCA/INCAL's more than 350 member facilities care for more than 25,000 of Indiana's citizens in addition to providing rehabilitation services and other short-term care for many more. IHCA/INCAL members provide services to some of the most vulnerable Hoosiers, including geriatric, disabled, chronically ill and developmentally disabled individuals, the majority of whom are low-income Medicaid recipients.
Better World Campaign President Peter Yeo issued the following statement today on the funding levels for the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping included in the FY17 Omnibus spending bill:

We are deeply appreciative of the successful efforts made by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees for the past eight years to fully fund Americas contributions to the United Nations. As a result, American leadership at the UN has been greatly strengthened and our country has been able to successfully push for far-reaching and meaningful reforms in the organization.

In the Omnibus bill, we are pleased that the Trump Administration and a bipartisan majority in Congress maintained this progress by agreeing to fully fund the UN regular budget and a number of UN agencies, including the UNs Children Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Program (UNDP), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). These funding commitments come just one week after nine former U.S. Ambassadors to the United Nations under five different Republican and Democratic administrations sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging full funding for the organization.

Unfortunately, the bill eliminates funding for key environmental programs like the Green Climate Fund and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, doesn't redress the misguided determination that defunded the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and falls short on fully funding the U.S. negotiated share of UN Peacekeeping operations.

Of equal concern, the reinstatement of the 25 percent cap on the U.S. share of peacekeeping costs, instead of the actual 28 percent rate previously negotiated by the U.S. will return the U.S. into arrears on its UN contributions for the first time in nearly a decade. As a result, our ability to achieve American national security and foreign policy objectives in the UN Security Council, and to lead on continued UN reforms, will be diminished.

Despite a decade-long streak of bipartisan support for the UN on Capitol Hill, the FY 2017 Omnibus bill is mixed in terms of meeting our financial obligations to the United Nations.

We urge Congress and the Administration to restore our nations commitment to the UN and UN Peacekeeping by paying our bills in full in FY 2018.

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About the Better World Campaign

The Better World Campaign works to foster a strong relationship between the U.S. and the UN to promote core American interests and build a more secure, prosperous, and healthy world. The Better World Campaign engages policymakers, the media, and the American public alike to increase awareness of the critical role played by the UN in world affairs and the importance of constructive U.S.-UN relations.
Peterbilt with Twist & Lock Aero Covers Past News Releases RSS RealWheels Launches a Line of...

RealWheels Corporation (RWC) is pleased to have their new Twist & Lock Aero Covers with Windows offered through Peterbilt on Model 579 Tractors. These Twist & Lock Aero Covers maintain the same clear windows to view the wheel and wheel end components, but are now offered standard in a Mirror Finished Stainless Steel to enhance exterior appearance. The design also allows for quicker installation and removal without the use of tools for improved serviceability. The patent pending Twist & Lock mounting system features a large diameter, spring-loaded top plate that provides quick and secure cover mounting. The engineering team at RealWheels has developed this bracket design to work on all trucks and trailers with 22.5" or 24.5" dual or wide base wheels.

The American-made, mirror-finish Aero Stainless with Windows are the only one on the market to combine a lightweight stainless cover with a high-impact, clear polycarbonate viewing window. RealWheels' smooth designs are engineered to reduce drag by closing off the deep well cavity of the wheel. Smartway J1321 testing shows a fuel cost savings of 1% to 2%. Real-world testing by fleets that are running RWC's Aero Covers reported even greater fuel savings.

RealWheels Corporation has been designing and producing wheel covers, hub covers and other wheel accessories for commercial trucks and specialty vehicles for over thirty-five years. For more information on the Twist & Lock Aero Covers, visit http://www.realwheels.com.

Peterbilt Motors Company, located in Denton, Texas, has a global reputation for superior quality, industry leading design, innovative engineering and fuel efficient solutions, and is recognized as the "Class" of the industry. Peterbilt provides a comprehensive array of aftermarket support programs through its 350-plus North American dealer locations that complement its full lineup of on-highway, vocational and medium duty products, including alternative fuel vehicles. For more information about Peterbilt, visit http://www.peterbilt.com.
This Financial Poise Webinar series explores the purchase of ownership shares in private companies via crowdfunding websites. "Crowdfunding" for this series refers both to investments made in this way by accredited investors -- given greater scope by Title II of the 2012 JOBS Act -- and those made by any investor under Title III of the JOBS Act. Episodes in the series address the modes of angel investing in a company during its early stages, the opportunities and perils of crowdfunding real estate investments, the money-raising entity's perspective, and a close look at crowdfunding options under federal and state law.

The fourth episode of the Equity Crowdfunding series, Raising Money for a Start-Up through Equity Crowdfunding, (Register Here) airs on May 11 at 2pm CST and features Moderator Chris Cahill of Lowis & Gellen. He is joined by Jordan Fishfeld of CFX Markets, Andrew Stephenson of Crowdcheck, Richard Swart of NextGen Crowdfunding and Raj R. Mahale of Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt.

This webinar looks at crowdfunding from the perspective of the folks trying to raise capital. Whether a start-up, a real estate developer, or some other business, it is increasingly common to consider raising capital by means of the crowd. What does this really mean? What is involved? Is it advisable? And if money is raised this way, what are some of the key issues that must be considered? This webinar looks to answer these and other questions from the perspective of the issuer.

Each Financial Poise episode is delivered in Plain English understandable to business owners and executives without much background in these areas, yet is proven to be valuable to seasoned professionals. Each episode in the series brings you into engaging, sometimes humorous, conversations designed to entertain as it teaches. And, as with all Financial Poise Webinars, each episode in the series is designed to be viewed independently of the other episodes, so that participants will enhance their knowledge of this area whether they attend one, some, or all of the episodes.

ABOUT FINANCIAL POISE:

Financial Poise (http://www.financialpoise.com ) provides unbiased news, continuing education, and intelligence to private business owners, executives, investors, and their trusted advisors. For more information contact Emily Goldin at egoldin(at)financialpoise(dot)com or 312-469-0135.
Husson University School of Pharmacy students pursuing their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees include (from left to right) Suzanne Dang, Courtney Colligan and Walid Jamaleddin. The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree at Husson University is a rigorous program. Those who complete this degree will have the skills and knowledge demanded by todays employers.

A recent survey conducted by Career Services at Husson University has revealed that higher education continues to lead to higher earnings. Data from a survey of 2015 and 2016 Husson University Doctor of Pharmacy degree graduates revealed that 72.7 percent of the survey respondents were making $100,000 a year or more within a year of graduation.[1]

Future research will help determine if this percentage would be even higher within two or three years of graduation. A portion of Husson graduates may be continuing their education with pharmacy residencies immediately after earning their doctorate. These residencies are full-time jobs that pay between $40,000 - $45,000/year. Most residencies are 1-2 years long and lead to six-figure positions.

The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree at Husson University is a rigorous program. Those who complete this degree will have the skills and knowledge demanded by todays employers, said Rodney A. Larson, Ph.D., R.Ph., founding dean of the Husson University School of Pharmacy.

According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual wage for pharmacists was $122,230 in May 2016. An aging population and an increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services.

The survey conducted by Career Services also found that 87.7 percent of Pharm.D. graduates were working full-time, while 7.7 percent of Pharm.D. graduates were working part-time. [1]

Those who complete a Pharm.D. degree are qualified to work in pharmacies, including those in grocery and drugstores. In addition to retail environments, those with a Pharm.D. degree can also work in hospitals, research laboratories and other healthcare facilities as research pharmacists.

Several factors may be contributing to the career success of Husson University School of Pharmacy graduates.

First, the Husson University School of Pharmacy has a strong peer network. Husson has taught me to challenge limits and embrace new opportunities, said Courtney Colligan, Husson University Class of 2018, Doctor of Pharmacy candidate. Being surrounded by people striving for success, and who are there to lift you higher, has really helped in developing my career.

In addition to fellow students, Husson University has a faculty dedicated to helping students make the most of their education. Many of the School of Pharmacys faculty members are some of the nations leading experts in their field. While Husson University prides itself as a teaching institution, the importance of faculty scholarship and research to contemporary pharmacy education is highly valued. As a result, the School of Pharmacy has been able to attract nationally renowned educators with expertise in wound healing, protein mutations, cancer prevention, and national board certification in the specialty areas of pharmacotherapy.

This years graduation will feature four unique individuals. In addition to earning their Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree, these students simultaneously completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. This powerful combination will allow these four students to excel in both the business and healthcare-oriented segments of the pharmaceutical industry. An educational degree combination like this is ideal for students interested in working for a large pharmaceutical company, retail chain or starting their own retail drug store.

Founded in 2008, the Husson University School of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The School graduated its first class with Doctorate of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees in May 2013. Since the School of Pharmacy has one of the lowest student-to-faculty ratios, students are able to get the individualized attention they deserve.

More recently, the School of Pharmacy launched a Master of Science in Pharmacology program. Designed for individuals who want to pursue a career in scientific research, this degree provides students with an in-depth understanding of laboratory bench skills, pharmacology, and toxicology. Unlike other masters degree programs, Husson Universitys Master of Science in Pharmacology also focuses on industry regulatory issues. Hiring qualified professionals with a knowledge of regulatory issues is an important priority for todays research laboratory and pharmaceutical industry employers.

For more than 100 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent superior value in higher education. Our Bangor campus and off-campus satellite education centers in Southern Maine, Wells, and Northern Maine provide advanced knowledge in business; health and education; pharmacy studies; science and humanities; as well as communication. In addition, Husson University has a robust adult learning program. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu.

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[1] Husson University, "Outcomes Data Survey". https://survey.theoutcomessurvey.com/outcomes/survey/requestlink. Survey conducted by James Westhoff, Director of Career Services at Husson University.
Worldwide Community of Industry Professionals Were excited to be expanding our collaboration with i-Meet, said Evan Michaels, CEO and Co-Founder of Pow Wow Smart. Our business is experiencing a positive growth spurt, and being able to tap in to industry professionals has helped us tremendously."

Pow Wow Smart (PWS), a leading provider of turn-key solutions and data aggregation for ground transportation in connection with meetings and events, and i-Meet, the worldwide business community for people who plan meetings and events, announced a strategic partnership to work together on recruiting experienced industry resources to support PWS business operations.

The agreement centers around using industry veterans from i-Meets global community of meeting professionals to support PWS and their growing need for talent, as they bring on additional enterprise clients. John Pino, i-Meets Founder and CEO, has been a part of the PWS Board of Advisors for the last 18 months, and this agreement with i-Meet is an extension of that collaboration.

Additionally, Pow Wow Smart has also become a global partner for the Meeting Professional Badge program, adding ground transportation expertise to this initiative. PWS joins American Express, Hilton and Tourist Office of Spain as the programs newest global partner, which also has over 20 global brands participating as sponsors.

Were excited to be expanding our collaboration with i-Meet, said Evan Michaels, CEO and Co-Founder of Pow Wow Smart. Our business is experiencing a positive growth spurt, and being able to tap in to industry professionals that understand SMM and strategic sourcing has helped us tremendously.

Were thrilled to dive in deeper with PWS as they innovate ground transportation for events, said John Pino, i-Meet Founder and CEO, And our community of industry professionals is ready to bring their skills and experience to PWS and their expanding list of global enterprise clients. As a further indicator of their industry commitment, were also happy to welcome them as a Global Partner for our Meeting Professional Badge.

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About Pow Wow Smart (PWS)

PWS is a leading provider of turn-key solutions and data aggregation for ground transportation. Through our patented technology, we source and contract the best companies and rates in all markets, provide manifest list management and coordination of all services, reconcile billings and generate reports to enable spend management strategies in this category.

Contact: Evan Michaels, CEO (emichaels(at)powwowsmart(dot)com)

About i-Meet

i-MEET is the worldwide business community for people who plan meetings and events. Ive Been There allows meeting professionals to record their travels and meeting experiences, rate them, and share with their colleagues and customers. The Meeting Professional Badge is the industrys only acknowledgement of practical, on-the-ground experience.

Contact: John Pino, CEO (jpino(at)i-Meet(dot)com)
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More than 500 librarians gathered in Washington D.C. on May 1-2 for a daylong workshop and visits with lawmakers as part of the American Library Associations annual National Library Legislative Day. And despite facing some of the most serious political challenges in recent memoryincluding a proposal by President Trump to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (and thereby virtually all federal library funding) librarians arrived to some good news: a fiscal 2017 budget deal that spared libraries from the axeat least for now.

Released about 2 a.m. on Monday, May 1, the 2017 budget deal actually increases federal funding for libraries by roughly one million dollars for the year ending September 30. But the message from ALA officials in Washington D.C. was clearthe fight for future funding is already underway. And outgoing ALA Washington Office executive director Emily Sheketoff told attendees, that fight will not be easy. This is a very tough year, Sheketoff told librarians. If a tax bill goes through, that means less money [for libraries]. If a wall goes up that means less money, she said, referring to two of Trumps signature policy proposals.

In his opening remarks to librarians, ALA executive director Keith Fiels put things in even starker terms. Libraries are facing the challenge of a lifetime, he said. This is where the rubber hits the road.

Fighting for Dollars...

If the challenges facing libraries are great in the Trump era, librarians certainly appear up for the fight. Attendance at this years National Library Legislative Day in Washington D.C. was the highest in over a decade. And a thousand more librarians participated online.

The event includes a daylong meetingpart master class on talking to legislators, part primer on key issues and legislation, and part pep rallyand culminates the following day with delegations of librarians from each state visiting their representatives on the Hill.

 'This is a very tough year,' Sheketoff told librarians. 'If a tax bill goes through, that means less money [for libraries]. If a wall goes up that means less money.' 

So what issues were foremost for libraries in 2017? Most prominent: the 2018 budget. Throughout the day, the message was drilled home for librariansask their legislators to fully fund the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) for 2018 at $186.6 million; appropriate $27 million for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program. And, reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA)the broader legislation that supports library funding.

LSTA is the federal funding program for libraries, with most of the resources administered through the IMLS as grants to the states. IAL is a vital literacy program, that among other things has supported programs dedicated to digital reading, improving school libraries, and fostering greater parental engagement with their childrens reading experiences. And though Congress can allocate library funding without reauthorizing the MLSA, Sheketoff stressed to librarians the importance of reauthorization.

It says to the president, to the executive branch, that there is strong support in Congress for libraries, Sheketoff explained. And it stops all this foolishness about eliminating the IMLS.

Librarians also urged their Senators to sign the ALAs Dear Appropriator letter in support of library funding for 2018. Already, over a third of house members have signed the letter, and the goal is to get more than 51 senators on board by May 19. Appropriator letters are an important tool, ALA officials explained, as they let legislators know which issues have strong support among their peersand therefore what programs must be funded when budget negotiations heat up.

Beyond funding, librarians also huddled with lawmakers on a range of other issues: copyright, open government, and privacy issues among them.

On Copyright, they urged the Senate to reject HR 1695, a bill passed by the house last month that would make the Register of Copyrights a presidential appointmentalthough librarians strongly support efforts to modernize the U.S. Copyright Office. They also urged the Senate to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty, which would provide a copyright exception that would enable libraries to provide services across borders to print-disabled patrons.

They also urged lawmakers to support Net Neutrality rulescurrently under fire by new FCC chairman Ajit Paiand to support the FCCs E-rate Modernization Orders of 2014, which would provide significant funding for better broadband for libraries and schools. And in one of the key issues of the day, librarians insisted that Congress must act on privacy protections and surveillance law reform.

In a morning keynote, Hina Shamsi, director of the American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU) National Security Project, recalled librarians work in opposing the USA PATRIOT Actand spoke of their alliance in reigning the governments warrantless data collection.

The spying powers have long been cause for concern because they violate our rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and freedom of association, Shamsi told librarians, but they are now wielded by a president who previously invited Russia to hack his political opponent who reportedly eavesdropped on his own hotel guests, and has called for the expanded surveillance of Americans, especially American muslims.

Notably, in addition to the suddenly tense political atmosphere in D.C., ALA will have another challenge: rallying librarians for battle with new leadership of its own. Sheketoff is retiring this week after more than 17 years. Hired to raise the library communitys profile on the Hill, she has certainly succeeded, notching a string of legislative victories over the year on behalf of libraries, and more precisely, for the public libraries serve.

Because of her leadership and the hard work of her staff in DC, ALA has been a force for good in Washington, said ALA President Julie Todaro.

And Fiels is also retiring this summer, following the ALA Annual Conference, in Chicago. In his talk, he acknowledged the ALA's political success in recent years, and thanked librarians for their efforts. But he urged them to remain engaged. "It could all go away with a stroke of a pen," he warned.
A Kewanee man entered a guilty plea to child pornography and failure to register in Henry County Circuit Court on Thursday.

Judge Jeffrey O'Connor accepted a partially negotiated plea from LeeAlan Cotes, 26. Three other counts of child pornography and one additional count of failure to register were dismissed.

According to the amended Class 3 pornography charge, Kewanee Police Detective Michael Minx executed a search warrant at Mr. Cotes' residence May 27, 2015, finding an LG cellphone, which the defendant acknowledged was his. A forensic download found an image of a 15-year-old female depicting her exposed breasts. She was later identified and interviewed and she admitted to sending the picture to Mr. Cotes.

The Class 3 failure to register charge is based on a sexual abuse charge Mr. Cotes incurred as a juvenile. By law, he was required to register online accounts within three days and he had an Instagram account to which he uploaded content, possessing it for at least a couple of months without registering it.

Some of the delay in the case was due to Mr. Cotes' health with seizures. In December, he had a brain tumor removed. His attorney Ed Woller said he had no concerns about Mr. Cotes' fitness now.

As part of the plea agreement, Mr. Cotes will not serve any prison time. Sentencing was set for July 5.
MOLINE  Quad-Cities residents and businesses were among the 1 million Google gmail accounts hit with a phishing attack on Thursday.

The company said they had the attack under control in about an hour. But that wasn't fast enough to affect many local accounts, including about 50-100 Augustana College accounts, according to Augustana Manager of Educational Technology Shawn Beattie.

"Around 2 p.m., the emails started showing up in my inbox and we started getting phone calls (about the emails)," he said. "Once we saw it was becoming a widespread problem, I crafted an email response to tell students not to open those emails.

"I started getting notifications from other schools that were hit," Mr. Beattie also said.

The attack prompted the East Moline Police Department to issue a statement on its Facebook page. According to the department, "many area schools, businesses and government emails have been compromised nationwide by a Google Doc phishing attack.

"Don't open any suspicious and unexpected emails," the department's message read.

A phishing attack occurs is when a hacker, posing as a trusted source, sends a malicious link to steal credentials and hack into peoples emails, bank accounts or other private accounts.

Google released a series of three tweets Wednesday stating the Google Docs team had "taken action to protect users against an email impersonating Google Docs." That action included disabling offending accounts and removing fake pages.

Mr. Beattie said the good side of the attack was, it wasn't malicious.

"In a way, people dodged a bullet because it was designed to spread, not be malicious," he said. "It didn't wipe out any hard drives or crash any computers."

According to Google, it is believed the scam was achieved through the creation of a fake document called "Google Docs" that slipped through Google's protections. People only had to click the link to let the fake "Google Docs" access their information and steal their contact information to spread the phishing scam.

What helped it further was the email was, rather than coming from a random person, the email pretended to be from a friend, work colleague, family member or someone in a Gmail member's contact list.

To prevent Google account from being compromised, Mr. Beattie recommended people change their passwords and not open attachments without being sure where they originated.

"People need to be suspicious, scrutinous and look very closely," he said. "I encourage everyone to use it as a warning."
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!
Mr Kaspars Rokens, formerly CEO for the Baltic states of Schneider Electric, is named chief operating officer of RB Rail; Mr Ignas Degutis, CFO with Vilniaus Kogeneracine Jegaine UAB - a Lithuanian energy company, becomes CFO of RB Rail; and Mr Deniss Murasko, head of the railway department with Estonian civil engineering company Lemminkainen Eesti, is appointed chief technical officer. They report to RB Rails CEO Ms Baiba Rubesa, who has been elected chairperson of the management board.

The Rail Baltica project foresees the construction of an 870km mixed-traffic standard-gauge railway with a design speed of 240km/h running from the Estonian capital Tallinn, via Riga and Riga Airport in Latvia, and Panevezys and Kaunas in Lithuania, to the Polish border with a branch from Kaunas to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

The line will be equipped with ERTMS and will provide the first standard-gauge connection between the Baltic states and the rest of the European Union (EU). Logistics hubs will be developed in each country and links will be provided to Finland across the Baltic Sea. The new railway would also re-establish direct passenger links between the three Baltic states, as only domestic passenger rail services are currently provided on the existing 1520mm-gauge network.

The cost of the project is estimated at 5.79bn with a 6.32% economic rate of return. Mr Nauris Klava, a director of Ernst & Young Baltic, which conducted the cost-benefit analysis, says this is above the 5% EU funding threshold. The EU is expected to fund 4.634bn of the cost leaving the three Baltic states to contribute 1.154bn. So far, the project has been allocated 765m from the EUs Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and tenders have been invited for the first section from Riga to Riga Airport. Construction of Rail Baltica is expected to start in 2018-19 with commercial services commencing in 2026.

Passenger traffic is estimated at 3.6-5.5 million journeys in 2026 rising to 9.9-14.9 million in 2055. The forecast for freight traffic ranges from 12-17.5 million tonnes in 2026 to 16-26 million tonnes in 2055.

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In a press release, Idros deputy director for expansion of industrial investment Mr Fardad Daliri said that the first phase of the project will focus solely on the production of passenger vehicles. Daliri added that the partnership will attract investment and use up-to-date technology in the domestic manufacture of freight and passenger cars.

No further details of the contract have been disclosed.

Last October, Siemens signed an agreement with Mapna, Iran, for the local assembly of diesel locomotives for Iranian Islamic Republic Railways (RAI).
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has selected a trio of consultants to help plan the future of the New Haven Line and the entire statewide rail system.

Developing the investment program to significantly improve the performance of the rail system is a key element of Gov. Dannel P. Malloys Lets Go CT! 30-year, $100 billion transportation plan.

The team will be composed of one executive each from transit engineering specialists AECOM, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, and STV, the agency said.

The team will first develop a strategy to improve capacity, frequency, and speed of rail service on the New Haven Line, long a heavily-patronized commuter route operated by Metro-North Railroad from New Haven to Mount Vernon, N.Y., where it joins Metro-Norths Harlem Line going south to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.

The crux of the informally-known 2+2 Plan calls for running local trains on two outer tracks and express trains on the two inner tracks. The study will develop service and infrastructure investment strategies to meet key performance targets for the rail system, and evaluate the optimal strategy for creating direct service to New York Penn Station as well as to Grand Central.

The initial planning phase is funded with $3 million allocated by the Connecticut State Bond Commission as part of Lets Go CT!, and will help guide future capital investment decisions such as the configuration of new stations, rail yard improvements, interlockings and procurement of addition rail cars and locomotives.

This critically important initiative marks the beginning of a new era in the states rail system, moving us from the traditional commuter business model to a dynamic, interconnected transit network, said CTDOT Commissioner James Redeker. Customers and business leaders are demanding these new services, which will unleash the true economic potential of Connecticuts communities.

With the opening of the Hartford Line next year, we have an opportunity to take a fresh look at rail service across the state, to rethink schedules, fares, branding and other operational details, said CTDOT Bureau Chief of Public Transportation, Richard Andreski. It will soon be possible to travel with ease between Hartford and the states major cities along the coast.

The studys initial phase will look at concepts and alternatives for future train service as well as investment needs. The first phase, including recommendations for future rail car and locomotive purchases, is due to be completed in 2018, he said. It will then be up to CTDOT, the General Assembly and the Governor to act on any recommendations.

Explore the Challenges, Issues, and Trends Affecting the North American Rail Market. REGISTER NOW for Railway Ages 3rd Annual RAIL INSIGHTS June 7 & 8, 2017, Chicago.
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One more defendant in Culture Ministrys embezzlement case pleads guilty

MOSCOW, May 5 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  One of the defendants in a criminal case over large-scale embezzlement of public funds allocated for restoration of cultural heritage objects, Nikita Kolesnikov, admitted guilt and made a deal with the investigation, RAPSI learnt in the Moscow City Court on Friday.

A criminal case against Kolesnikov was separated from the main one and will be reviewed under separate procedure.

In November 2016, Komersant newspaper reported that some of the defendants, including Deputy Culture Minister Grigory Pirumov, pleaded guilty.

In March 2016, Pirumov, director of the Ministrys department of property management and investment policy Boris Mazo, head of the Center of restoration Oleg Ivanov, head of BaltStroy Dmitry Sergeyev and the companys manager Alexander Kochenov, businessman Nikita Kolesnikov, head of a state-owned Directorate for construction, reconstruction and restoration Boris Tsagarayev and project manager of companies Stroykomplekt and Baltstroy Vladimir Svanbek were arrested and put in detention in the so-called case of restorers.

Investigation has presumably started basing on a report by the Auditing Chamber on restoration of the Izborsk Fortress in the Pskov region presented yet in 2013; however, it may also involve such cultural heritage sites as the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, as well as works carried out at the Ivanovsky Convent in Moscow, and a theater in Pskov, as reported earlier.

In December, Dmitry Medvedev, the Chairman of the Russian Government, relieved Pirumov of his post.
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Going ahead, the likely implementation of the goods and services tax bill in July and how the monsoons play out will have a bearing on India's demand for gold and gold jewellery

Coming from the demonetisation shock in the last quarter of calendar year 2016 (CY16), the demand for gold jewellery rose 16 per cent to 92.3 tonnes in the first quarter of calendar year 2017 (Q1CY17), says the latest World Gold Council (WGC) report titled Gold Demand Trends Q1 2017.

It was the third such instance in a decade where the total demand was less than 100 tonnes.

The rise also pushed the world gold jewellery demand higher in the recently concluded quarter, which was up by 1 per cent at 480.9 tonnes.

The overall consumer demand for gold in Indian during the March 2017 quarter stood at 123.5 tonnes, a 15 per cent rise as compared to the previous corresponding period.

WGC attributes spurt to the government's remonetisation efforts. By March-end, nearly 85% of the value of currency removed from circulation under demonetisation had been returned.

That apart, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also eased temporary restrictions on withdrawal from bank accounts, aiding cash dependent rural demand in particular. Although the effects of the policy lingered, rural spending partially recovered as cash was injected back into the system.

Going ahead, the likely implementation of the goods and services tax bill in July and how the monsoons play out will have a bearing on India's demand for gold and gold jewellery, WGC feels.

"Given the likely GST implementation, we have maintained the full year forecast at 650 - 750 tonnes. We see the 15 per cent growth in the first quarter as a signal more than a milestone.

We feel that the demand factors are robust and will come back over the longer period. The second half of CY17 will see the biggest tax reform in terms of GST. We also need to monitor the progress of monsoon. That apart, price is another factor that needs to be watched," says Somasundaram PR, managing director, India at the World Gold Council.

"The Indian demand, typically is around 800 - 900 tonnes per annum. The shortfall, if any in the next one - two years on account of GST implementation, is likely to be made up in the subsequent years," he adds.

Bar and coin demand

India's bar and coin demand inched up during the March 2017 quarter, but remains at historically low levels. At 31.2 tonnes in Q1, the bar and coin demand moved up 3.8 tonnes compared to the last year's level, but is just half its five-year quarterly average.

"This belies the modest improvement in the market following the sharp liquidity squeeze caused by demonetisation in November. Economic activity almost ground to a halt at the end of 2016 as cash was pulled from the economy - currency in circulation fell 50 per cent from November 11 to January 6," the WGC report says.

Gold price, on the other hand, held mixed fortunes for Indian jewellery consumers during Q1, according to the WGC.

"Rupee strength meant the domestic price rose by 3 per cent, compared with a 9% rise in the LBMA price. The local price rose steeply in the opening weeks of 2017 before a sharp appreciation of the rupee in February and March," the WGC report says.

Global view

Global gold demand dipped 18% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 1.034.5 tonnes from 1,262 tonnes in the previous corresponding period, mainly led by a fall in inflows into the exchange traded funds (ETFs) at 109.1 tonnes (342.1 tonnes in Q1CY16) and lower central bank demand.

Continuing the trend from the second half of 2016, European investors accounted for the bulk of investment in the sector in Q1 with inflows into European listed products were 92.4 tonnes, compared with just 14.1 tonnes added to holdings of US-listed products.

Central banks, on the other hand, had a slow start to CY17 as net purchases dropped to 76.3 tonnes in Q1 - a fall of 27% decline from the 104.1 tonnes seen in Q1CY16 and almost a third lower than the 108.5 tonnes in Q4CY16. The lower rate of purchases, WGC feels, is likely to continue throughout CY17.

Photographs: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters and Neil Hall/Reuters
Together with Jet Airways we will have 61 flights to Amsterdam and Paris during the winter season. That also makes us the second largest airline group after Lufthansa, which has 67 weekly flights, and we are catching up to become the first, says KLM CEO Pieter Elbers.

IMAGE: KLM together with Jet has 61 flights in winter to Amsterdam, the capital of cheese and Paris. Photograph: Francois Lenoir/Reuters.

KLM, a part of one of the largest airlines in Europe, is looking to increase its presence in India.

It plans to launch a new flight to Mumbai and enhance cargo co-operation within the country.

At present, the airline, which is a part of the Air France-KLM group, operated in a limited capacity and faces intense competition from airlines based in Europe and the Gulf.



We hear KLM plans to resume its Amsterdam-Mumbai service after nearly 20 years. Can you share details?



We are seriously considering launching a flight to Mumbai but it is not confirmed yet.

There has been an enormous growth of business and relations between India and the Netherlands. We have moved from having no connection between Amsterdam-Mumbai to a daily service by Jet Airways. Moreover, the Airbus A330 aircraft, which had a capacity to accommodate 254 to 293 passengers, was upgraded to a Boeing 777 aircraft with 346 seats in six months' time.





IMAGE: "Together with Jet Airways... (we are) stepping up our presence in the market. (With 61 flights) that also makes us the second largest airline group after Lufthansa, which has 67 weekly flights. We are catching up to become the first," says Pieter Elbers, CEO, KLM Airlines. Photograph: Charles Platiau/Reuters.

How are your relations with Jet Airways shaping up? Does the partnership with Jet Airways allow you to bridge the gap with Lufthansa, which is the largest European airline group in India?



Our strategy is to have a strong local partner in a country where we operate.

Until now, the Air France-KLM group had three destinations in India including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. With Jet Airways launching flights between Paris and Chennai in winter, we will have a fourth destination and Bengaluru will be connected to both Paris and Amsterdam.

Together with Jet Airways, we will have 61 flights to Amsterdam and Paris during the winter season, thereby stepping up our presence in the market. That also makes us the second largest airline group after Lufthansa, which has 67 weekly flights, and we are catching up to become the first.

Our strategy is to connect the networks and passengers from tier II towns in India can travel to tier II towns in the US via Amsterdam. This is a win-win situation for the Air France-KLM group as well as the Jet Airways.



Is Air France-KLM expanding co-operation with Jet Airways to other areas such as cargo and aircraft maintenance?



We are exploring a partnership with Jet in cargo. We think we have a good opportunity with increasing trade between India and Europe. A Boeing 777 aircraft has 15 to 17 tonnes of cargo capacity. We are exploring all opportunities involving, cross selling, sharing of aircraft belly space and cargo handling with Jet.

We do have some co-operation on engineering but it is relatively on a small scale and there could be an opportunity to further it.



Last year Jet Airways signed an MoU to enter into a commercial joint venture pact with Air France-KLM. What is the status of the proposed JV?



We have put in a lot of effort to ensure daily operations work well. It is important for our customers to have a seamless connection and a smooth transfer at hubs.

The way we conduct financial settlements among airlines is not relevant for customers. For customers, it is relevant that they have good products and a seamless service.

A JV is always a point on the horizon and at some point, it could happen. But if we look at the most successful and enhanced partnership like the one we have with Delta Airlines, it took us years for us to come to that point.

Personally, I prefer to make sure everything is good for customers first and then take steps on financial settlements and JVs.



How is your relation with Etihad and other Gulf airlines? Do you see them as partners or adversaries?



We do have co-operation with Etihad. We do have code shares between our hub and Abu Dhabi. We have partnership with Etihad and we are competing with Qatar Airways and Emirates.



Airlines are now looking for partners outside their alliances. Is that going to be a new trend?



If you look at our code-sharing agreements, we have such pacts with Delta, China Southern, China Eastern, Kenya Airways (all Sky Team members). Our partnerships are with the core members of the Sky Team. There are a few exceptions and every airline has a few exceptions. I would not put it as a new trend.
Pakistan International Airlines, which operates a weekly flight between Mumbai and Karachi, will suspend its service from May 11.

The national flag carrier of Pakistan operates the flight on Thursday.

"Pakistan International Airlines, in a communication to authorities concerned, has said that its Karachi-Mumbai flight will not be open for sale (bookings) from May 11," a company associated with the flight operation told PTI in Mumbai.

However, the PIA communication did not specify the reason for suspension of its flight service, a company official said.

"Apart from the current situation (prevailing tension between India-Pakistan), the suspension of the service might be due to commercial reasons as well," the official said.

The airline did not operate its service this Thursday as well, he said.

However, the Pakistan airline had informed the relevant authorities about the non-operation of service on May 4 in a communication last month, the official said.

Image used for representational purpose only.
Patanjali, to a large extent, has penetrated the target group for its products. As a result, increasing the consumer base and revenue by 100 per cent in FY18 will be a stiff challenge.

With a reported turnover of Rs 10,561 crore (Rs 195.61 billion) in financial year 2017 (FY17), Baba Ramdev- and Acharya Balkrisha-led Patanjali Ayurved Ltd (PAL) expects its revenue to hit the Rs 20,000-crore mark in FY18.

Analysts, however, are sceptical and are of the view that Patanjali may not be able to achieve this steep revenue target in FY18 purely on the basis of growth in the FMCG segment, given the current industry growth rates and that the revival in rural demand is still some time away.

One must be mindful that this Rs 20,000 crore will also include commodity-related products such as rice, wheat, edible oil, and milk. Growth rates for pure FMCG products are likely to slow.

Patanjali is now quite big in products like honey, toothpaste, shampoos, and hair oil. So from the base these pure FMCG products has created, doubling of revenue looks very difficult.

The category growth rates will be around 13 per cent at best. Though penetration into newer markets will help, doubling still seems a farfetched idea as of now, says Abneesh Roy, an analyst tracking the sector with Edelweiss Securities.

For the rural demand to kick in, analysts say the monsoon season this year will also be crucial. That apart, companies are now in the process of catching up with Patanjali in terms of ayurvedic products. In this backdrop, Patanjali will find it difficult to double this huge revenue base it has already created.

I have doubts whether Patanjali can achieve the Rs 20,000 crore revenue target it has set for itself. Volume-wise, the FMCG industry is growing in single digits (4-6 per cent) for most players.

For FMCG players, we need a good monsoon to act as a catalyst to trigger a demand revival. Even one good monsoon (last year) was not enough to revive the rural demand, explains G Chokkalingam, founder and managing director of Equinomics Research & Advisory.

Experts also suggest that Patanjali, to a large extent, has penetrated the target group for its products, i.e. people have shifted from the products of multinational companies (MNCs) and other domestic players to Patanjali. As a result, increasing the consumer base and revenue by 100 per cent in FY18 will be a stiff challenge.

I think the Rs 20,000 crore (rs 200 billion) revenue figure for FY18 is too steep for Patanjali to achieve. There are alternative products in the ayurvedic segment from other players, such as Hindustan Unilever (HUL), Dabur, Colgate-Palmolive (India), and Emami.

That apart, the pricing advantage for Patanjali over other players has also reduced, with the FMCG companies resorting to aggressive pricing for their ayurveda products. I believe 20-25 per cent revenue growth for Patanjali in FY18 is a more realistic and an achievable target, says AK Prabhakar, head of research at IDBI Capital.

Earlier in August 2015, Patanjali Ayurved had caught the attention of foreign research and brokerage house, CLSA, which wished that the company got listed at the bourses.

Patanjali is the 3rd largest FMCG player in India!

To challenge multinational restaurant chains like McDonalds, KFC and Subway, Patanjali will soon venture into the business. Growing at a rapid pace, Baba Ramdevs Patanjali group has become the third-largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) player in the country, surpassing firms like Nestle, Godrej Consumer, Britannia, and Dabur. The ayurveda major posted Rs 10,216 crore in FMCG and ayurveda sales during 2016-17, a jump of over 100 per cent from Rs 5,000 crore the previous year, the group announced on Thursday. While most of FMCG companies, including ITC and Hindustan Unilever, are yet to announce their results for the January-March 2017 quarter, Patanjali is behind ITC and Hindustan Unilevers trailing 12-month revenue in the January-December 2016 period of Rs 38,293 crore and Rs 30,783 crore, respectively. Patanjali is ahead of Nestle India (Rs 9,159 crore) and Godrej Consumer (Rs 9,134 crore), when compared to their January-December 2016 revenue. Analysts expect Nestle and Godrej to post 10-15 per cent growth in Q4, which will keep Patanjali at third place based on its 2016-17 revenue. Patanjali is now aiming at a two-fold increase in sales to Rs 20,000 crore and doubling its retail network to 12,000 outlets by March 2018. Founded in 2006 by Ramdev and his close aide Acharya Bal Krishna, Patanjali Ayurved has grown exponentially in the past five years. While the growth rate for most FMCG companies in the country ranged between eight and 12 per cent during this period, Patanjalis revenue multiplied by over 20 times - from Rs 453.4 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 9,346 crore in 2016-17. Its revenue continued to grow in triple digits even during the past two years, when all its peers witnessed muted growth owing to general slowdown. The Patantaji groups total sales touched Rs 10,561 crore during 2016-17, with its FMCG business, Patanjali Ayurved, posting revenue of Rs 9,346 crore; the ayurvedic and herbal medicines business, Divya Yog Pharmacy, contributing Rs 870 crore; and Patanjali Gramodyog Nyas, a trust that works in the fields of animal husbandry and economic and social uplift of villagers, generating Rs 345 crore. The group, however, refrained from revealing profits, and only said its profits had grown 100 per cent since 2015-16. Business Standard excluded Patanjali Gramodyog Nyas while comparing the FMCG companies ranking by revenue. Patanjali cow ghee (clarified butter) remained the most-sold product, generating Rs 1,467 crore. Its Dant Kanti toothpaste raked in Rs 940 crore, followed by Kesh Kanti shampoo (Rs 825 crore), herbal bathing soap (Rs 574 crore), and Kachhi Ghani mustard oil (Rs 522 crore). Patanjali biscuits, honey, and washing powders and soaps did well by posting Rs 380 crore, Rs 335 crore and Rs 325 crore in sales, respectively. Among its branded commodities business, Patanjali Atta remained second only to mustard oil with sales at Rs 407 crore. Currently, Patanjali holds a 15 per cent share in the domestic shampoo market. Its market share in toothpaste and honey businesses is about 14 per cent and 50 per cent, according to Ramdev. The firm had ventured into the personal beauty and cosmetics market early last year with its Saundarya brand, which contributed Rs 231 crore to its top line, while its facewash business grabbed a 35 per cent market share with sales worth Rs 228 crore. Its skin care business clocked Rs 231 crore. To meet its stated target for the current year, Patanjali will be investing Rs 5,000 crore in five new food parks in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh. The unit at MP will be dedicated for products to be exported to the US, the UK, and Canada, besides neighboring countries like China. Patanjali, which currently employs 100,000 people, will take that number to 500,000 in the next one year, Ramdev said. To challenge multinational restaurant chains like McDonalds, KFC and Subway, Patanjali will soon venture into the business. We are working on the business plan and branding. So, dont be surprised if you find one day that Patanjali restaurants are serving nutritious and safe food in your neighbourhood. We will venture into segment very soon, said Ramdev. Taking a dig at other FMCG companies, Ramdev said his fight against economic colonisation of the domestic market would continue. Unlike Unilever, MHC, P&G, and Colgate, Patanjali spends its whole profit on education, research, cow promotion and protection, and will continue doing so. Patanjali is an organisation owned by 125 crore (1.25 billion) Indians. So, I seek their cooperation in our mission, he said. Arnab Dutta from New Delhi



Photograph: PTI Photo
In the next 25 years or so, we will have intelligence in computers that will exceed man's in every way.

The speculation is that artificial intelligence will not be malevolent, meaning deliberately wishing to harm us, but it will treat us as we treat insects.

It will ignore us while it goes about perfecting itself, says Aakar Patel.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

In the United States, the world's most advanced nation, there has been a strange issue that is being discussed.

It is being written about in books, and there are talks on it (which one can access on YouTube), but there is yet no action on it, though this is expected soon.

The issue is that of artificial intelligence becoming smarter than man.

To us in India this does not seem like something to think about much. Computers are to us devices that we have control over.

Our laptop or mobile phone is to us a tool and our servant. It is not our master.

However in America, some of the smartest people working on technology are thinking about and discussing what will happen when artificial intelligence, meaning computer programmes, overtakes man in the ability to think.

They are thinking about this for two reasons.

The first is that there is an agreement on what 'intelligence' means. There is no magic to the way that the human mind works.

Thinking can be explained in scientific and biological terms that is quite precise.

Intelligence is information and the ability to know what to do with it.

In the last 20 years, and particularly in the last three, computers have become very good at intelligence.

To give the most basic example, America has today self driving cars and it is being predicted that a fully independent car is no more than two years away.

Meaning you can get into your car and go to sleep or read a newspaper while you are driven to your destination.

This is a car that can do all the functions we can do -- start the engine, shift the gears, brake when needed, speed up when required -- but also do things we cannot.

It can detect dangers front, back and side at a level humans cannot.

It can optimise driving speed for best fuel consumption.

It can be connected to a network of cars and know about conditions up and down the road for hundreds of kilometres.

And this, as I said, is just a basic example of what computer intelligence can already do.

And artificial intelligence will continue to improve, and improve fast. Why?

Because we humans have many problems that we need technology to solve.

From finding cures for diseases to developing business systems. Everything in the modern world currently requires the use of computer intelligence and this is not going to change.

The other aspect that people are beginning to accept is that man will not be able to keep pace with this explosion of intelligence. Why?

Because our brain is of fixed size and can contain only a limited amount of cerebral cortex and the supporting material that gives us the ability to remember and think.

Computer intelligence can have no such limitations. It is possible to build a computer the size of a large building.

The question is why would someone want to build that large or powerful a device when it is clear that there are dangers we have not anticipated.

And the answer is that technological progress is how the world's companies and the world's armies compete with one another.

And so this race, which was began some time ago, will continue without pause.

Corporations and militaries will keep building smarter and more capable and more intelligent computers and computer programmes. And this intelligence will have to be given autonomy because man will not be able to keep up with it.

Twenty years ago this year, a computer defeated the world's best chess player, Garry Kasparov.

In the two decades since, computers have become many, many more times smarter.

The estimate is that in the next 25 years or so, we will have intelligence in computers that will exceed man's in every way.

At this point, computer intelligence will be able to get itself faster than man can. And then the speed of improvement will be explosive.

Computers process information much faster than us and they are not limited by the bio-chemical process as the human being is.

We have no idea, absolutely zero idea, of what sort of progress this super-intelligence will be able to make after it arrives.

The speculation is that artificial intelligence will not be malevolent, meaning deliberately wishing to harm us, but it will treat us as we treat insects. It will ignore us while it goes about perfecting itself.

This, then, is what people in America are thinking about. And it is a subject that even we will not be able to ignore for too long.

Aakar Patel is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own.
Building toilets, however essential, must not be confused with sanitation. Or the crying need for a revamp of India's sewage systems, says environmentalist and political activist Sunita Narain.

IMAGE: A public toilet in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Photograph: Kind Courtesy Jorge Royan/Wikimedia.

The NDA government is close to completing its third year.

Mid-term corrections are definitely needed when it comes to one of its most important programmes to clean rivers, in particular, the Ganga.

IMAGE: Mumbai slum dwellers use an improvised raft to cross a sewage canal in Mumbai, February 11, 2015. Residents pay Rs 2 per trip. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters .

The fact is that not much has changed on the ground; rivers are still polluted; drains that bring waste from the cities are still full of muck. Toilets that are being built are only adding to the pollution. The fact is that toilets are mere receptacles to receive waste; when we flush or pour water, the waste flows into a piped drain, which could be connected, or not, to a sewage treatment plant. This STP could be working, or not.

IMAGE: A labourer is lowered to clean a sewage hole in Kolkata. Photograph: Parth Sanyal/Reuters.

The key is to build toilets that work and toilets that are connected to systems that will safely dispose of human excreta so that it does not become another source of pollution and another source of bad health.

So, building toilets, however essential, must not be confused with sanitation.





IMAGE: A boy takes bath outside newly-built toilets in a village on the outskirts of Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu. Photograph: Jagadeesh NV/Reuters.

This is where the opportunity also lies in doing things differently. Till now, the paradigm for urban sanitation has been costly. It requires first the supply of water -- costly water as it is transported longer and longer distances. The more the water that is supplied, the more the sewage that is generated.

IMAGE: Labourers work at the construction site of an underground sewage pipeline in Mumbai. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters.

So, the next part is to build underground conveyance systems to connect each household and to transport the wastewater also longer and longer distances to sewage treatment plants so it is cleaned before discharge.

Even this is not enough.

IMAGE: Morning traffic at a temporary toilet installed on the Ganga in Allahabad. Photograph: Jitendra Prakash/Reuters.

The fact is that our rivers have little clean water to assimilate even treated effluents. This means sewage treatment plants have to clean waste to near bathing water quality before release into rivers.

This never happens.

IMAGE: A man and his monkey go through morning ablutions near a beach in Mumbai. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters.

Pollution grows even as governments chase pipe-dreams of building more sewage treatment plants, underground drains, and toilets. It never adds up.



This approach also misses the opportunity.

IMAGE: Toxic waste is given off from Bellandur Lake, Bengaluru. The lake is polluted with both sewage and chemicals. Photograph: Abhishek N Chinnappa/Reuters.

The citys shit-flow diagram -- the map of the journey of sewage -- shows two realities.

One, almost no Indian city treats or safely disposes the bulk of the human excreta.

IMAGE: A groom emerges from a toilet, as brides stand outside the venue of a mass wedding ceremony, Ramlila grounds, New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters .

Two, most toilets in almost all cities are not connected to underground pipes, but to individual septic tanks. This is on-site treatment, which needs to be recognised and worked with.



In this case, the household flush or pour latrine is connected to a septic tank, which, if it is well constructed, will retain the sludge and discharge the liquid through a soak pit. The faecal sludge can be emptied and conveyed for treatment.

IMAGE: A man offers a prayer as he takes a dip in the waters of Tolly's Nullah in Kolkata. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters.

The system would work if the septic tank is built to specification; if the system for collecting the human excreta (faecal sludge) is regulated; and if the sludge, so collected, is taken to treatment points so that it can be made safe for reuse.



The fact is that sludge is nutrient-rich. Today, the global nitrogen cycle is being destroyed because we take human excreta, which is rich in nutrients and dispose it in water.

IMAGE: The area below a leaking water pipeline is a man's bathroom in New Delhi. Photograph: Parth Sanyal/Reuters.

In this case, we can return the human excreta back to land, use it as fertiliser, and reverse the sanitation cycle.

The faecal sludge, after treatment, can be given to farmers and used as organic compost. Or, it can be treated and mixed with other organic waste -- like kitchen waste -- and used for biogas or to manufacture fuel pellets or ethanol.





IMAGE: A student enters the bathroom at a school for the visually impaired in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters.

Governments are slowly beginning to realise that this is not yesterdays system but can be re-engineered to work for today and tomorrow. Septic tanks are decentralised waste-collection systems. Instead of thinking of building an underground sewerage network -- that is never built or never completed -- it would be best to think of these systems as the future of urban sanitation.

After all, we have gone to mobile telephony, without the landline. Individual septic tanks could be the way to achieve full sanitation solutions.



The citys sanitation plan must recognise that these systems exist and incorporate them for improvements. The key is to provide oversight to the building of these systems -- the codes exist, but they need to be implemented and structures certified. The most important is to provide minimal regulation for the collection and transportation of faecal sludge so that waste is taken for treatment and not dumped somewhere.

IMAGE: A man takes a dip in the Ganga, Allahabad. Photograph: Jitendra Prakash/Reuters.

Today, there is a thriving, private but underground sewage collectors tanker business. Today, the business is only about collection and not safe disposal. So, the faecal sludge is emptied into the nearest drain, river, lake, even a field or forest.

But the answer is not to destroy this business but to regulate it so that the waste is indeed collected and the waste is taken to treatment for re-use.



This system waste management is more affordable and so more sustainable. It provides employment in the business of cleaning waste. It provides sustainable solutions so that waste is not waste, it is a resource. This is our win-win. Our futures solution. The rivers only hope.



The writer is at the Centre for Science and Environment. She can be contacted at sunita@cseindia.org. Twitter: @sunitanar
Before undertaking such difficult projects as a 378 km railway line to Tawang, the government must seriously examine whether having quality roads is a better option, says Sanjeev Nayyar.

IMAGE: The road to Dirang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh in September 2013.

Photographs: Sanjeev Nayyar

Even before the Dalai Lama's recent visit, and in response to the excellent infrastructure constructed by the Chinese in Tibet, there have been reports of India proposing to construct a railway line to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

According to one such report, the 378-km railway line, with an elevation of 3,048 metres, would begin from Missamari near Tezpur in Assam and would, in most places, follow the existing 320-km Tezpur-Bhalukpong-Bomdila road.

Given the jingoism that surrounds such infrastructure projects, there was hype of India catching up with China, with a minimal understanding of the ground realities.

Anyone who has travelled to Tawang would know what a Herculean task it is.

The drive from Tezpur to Tawang is 320 km long via Bhalukpong, Seesa, Bomdila, Dirang, the Sela Pass and Tawang.

Yours truly drove from Tezpur to Tawang in September 2013.

The road from Tezpur to Bomdila passes through dense forests.

In most parts, the road is single lane. We moved from a height of 700 feet at Bhalukpong to 6,000 feet at the Nechiphu Pass, down to 4,000 feet at Tenga Rupa Valley and up again to 8,500 at Bomdila.

In spite of being only four people in a Tata Sumo, the drive was tough and exhausting. Moreover, we were lucky there was no rain or landslide that morning.

En route, we were shown a hill where, years ago, a helicopter crash took the lives of some Art of Living devotees -- a sobering thought as we drove up.

The drive from Bomdila to the Dirang Valley, a drop of about 3,500 feet, was really tough. It was very foggy both ways, and one could barely see ahead up to a few metres.

It did not matter whether the road had a black cover or was dusty as long as there was a road.

The road from Dirang to the Sela Pass meant a gain of 8,700 feet. The road going up to the Sela Pass, the world's second highest motorable pass at 13,700 feet, was the toughest.

The road goes up a single giant mountain.

A stop at the Jaswant Garh War Memorial cheered us up and made the drive post the Sela Pass relatively easier.

My experience could give one a sense of the terrain and difficulties while driving to Tawang in September.

IMAGE: The road near Bomdila in April 2017.

Vir Nakai of Helmet Stories, a company that organises Adventure Motorcycle Tours, says two months ago, they were unable to reach Tawang and had to turn back six km before the Sela Pass because of heavy snow and a blizzard.

Can the Indian Railways construct and maintain a 300+ km line in such terrain and weather?

By all means, one must think big. But before starting work on such an ambitious project, it might be useful to know the fate of the rail project from Jammu to Kashmir.

According to a July 2016 report on the Kashmir rail project, 'Metroman' Dr E Sreedharan said '12 years after the project sanction in 1994, work on the 124-kilometre Katra to Banihal section has been lingering. Progress on this section is not even 20 per cent. With the present style and speed of construction, it would take another 10 years for completion with severe cost escalations.'

Dr Sreedharan had also pitched for a safety review of the proposed Chenab bridge -- touted as the world's tallest rail bridge -- that is being constructed on the route.

In October 2014, I visited Reasi, where the bridge is being constructed, about a four hour drive from Jammu.

Though the work is in progress and thousands of crores of rupees have been spent, the completion date is still uncertain.

According to a media report of May 4, the bridge will be completed in two years' time, but it does not say when the railway line from Katra to Banihal will be operational.

Before undertaking such difficult projects, the government must seriously examine whether having quality roads is a better option.

The recently inaugurated Chenani-Nashri tunnel that links Kashmir with Jammu by an all-weather route, and built at a cost of Rs 2,500 crore (Rs 25 billion), is a good example.

Alternatively, if railway connectivity is needed, it must be along the same alignment as the road being planned; which means having good roads in such cases as Tawang is a precursor to rail connectivity.

Sounds like a good plan, but what is the condition of the roads today?

IMAGE: The bridge under construction over the Chenab.

According to H V Kumar, who runs a very popular road travel blog and who visited Arunachal Pradesh in 2016, the condition of the road to Tawang has improved since 2013, even though there is scope for huge improvement. Roads are being widened and most of them are tarred.

However, sources in Tawang say the Border Roads Organisation is lagging far behind in the improvement of the Balipar-Charduar-Tawang road.

Kicked off during the United Progressive Alliance regime, only about 40 per cent work on the 317 km has been completed.

Worse, the stretches that have been completed are again calling for maintenance because of the poor quality work.

A January 2015 report quotes then BRO director general Lieutenant General R M Mittal as saying that the BCT road would be completed by 2016. We are in 2017 and the road is nowhere near complete.

Sources say a two-lane road from Orang-Kalaktang-Rupa-Tenga, which was started almost a year or two after BCT, was inaugurated in October 2016.

To be fair to the BRO, the OKRT road is 158 km long as compared to the BCT's 317 km. But that there is a delay in completing the work is beyond doubt.

The good thing is one can use the OKRT road to reach Tawang via Tenga (Shergaon) or Bomdila.

The OKRT, Kumar says, is not as popular as the BCT. Mostly because of the powerful Tezpur-Tawang taxi lobby which prefers the BCT. But the OKRT route is more popular with some taxi operators directly operating from Guwahati.

At a more macro level, Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd) struck a discordant note in a recent article: 'The Parliamentary Committee for Defence has been rapping the government for its lackadaisical approach to defence, however, this time it is the Comptroller and Auditor General who has pulled up the Border Roads Organisation for inordinate delays in building strategic roads facing China.'

'It has pointed out several deficiencies like faulty construction, defective alignment and improper contract management; not that the CAG doesn't not bring out such anomalies from time to time against government organisations including the army, navy, air force,' General Katoch added.

On Army Day (January 15) this year, army chief General Bipin Rawat stated that of the 72 strategic roads, only 22 have been completed after so many years, and 'all of the 14 strategic rail lines approved remain on paper only.'

Why does the BRO not give out border road contracts to large infrastructure companies?

Let there be a healthy competition between service providers. Higher cost could get compensated with timely completion, better quality of work and penalties for delays.

Lack of adequate infrastructure demoralises the border population and makes them vulnerable to external influences.

Improvement of border infrastructure must get priority under the prime minister's 'Sab ka saath, Sab ka vikaas' goal.

Instead of announcing huge border projects and letting them remain on paper or incomplete, the government must undertake a few mission critical projects and complete them.

The construction of a quality, all-weather road to Tawang must become a national priority.

Sanjeev Nayyar, an independent columnist, tweets @sanjeev192

MORE FEATURES in the RELATED LINKS BELOW...
Last updated on: May 05, 2017 17:09 IST

'As far as I know, Burhan Wani did not kill anyone.'

'Kashmiri Pandits will be more comfortable with Kashmiri Muslims than anybody else in India.'

'Kashmiri Muslims have committed a sin by stealing the properties of Kashmiri Pandits.'

The streets of Kashmir have been rocked by violent protests for months on end after the death of the Hizbul Mujahideen's Burhan Wani last July, and the valley suddenly seems inhospitable like never before.

But not for filmmaker Sreejith Karanavar who lived in Srinagar for six months in the aftermath of Wani's killing to shoot a documentary on the conflict rocking the border state.

Karanavar screened his three-part documentary on Kashmir at a media interaction in Thadomal Shahani Centre for Media and Communication Mumbai on Wednesday, May 3.

"The message I wanted to give people through my documentary is that you have to accept the problem in Kashmir, but at the same time I am not telling you what to do," says Karanavar.

In an interview with Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf soon after his talk, Karanavar, below, discussed the politics behind the unrest in the Kashmir valley.

Why did you decide to go to Kashmir?

I had a friend there. When I went there, I realised there was a lack of media representation for various reasons.

The local journalists had to write what they were told from the centre (their head offices) so they ended up quitting their jobs.

So there was hardly any media representation. The few newspapers in Srinagar were only writing about what was happening around the city and they were not critical of the government.

We thought there was a space to be filled. Therefore, we came out with this kind of documentary.

What did you experience in six months?

We are filmmakers and went there for a feature film.

In doing so, we shot regular news footage of protests and shootings which a news channel would do.

Our work is somewhere between a documentary and news.

Why are the people of Kashmir upset with India, as you have tried to show in your presentation?

They are not upset with India.

There are 12.5 million people in Kashmir and 7 lakh military personnel.

India has an army of 13 lakh out of which 7 lakh are in Kashmir.

The question is very simple: Do we need 7 lakh army personnel in Kashmir?

When the local people step out of their homes, they see men in uniform everywhere. This has been going on from 1991.

People want a normal life and they do not want army people hanging around all the time.

That is the primary reason for anger for an average Kashmiri.

Then there are a plethora of problems like scarcity of funds from the central government and bad infrastructure.

They (often) do not get food (due to blockades).

But the images of students, particularly schoolgirls, throwing stones at security personnel convey a deeper problem than what you are saying.

Definitely it does. It is like playing into the hands of the Indian government.

Suppose I have a neighbour who disturbs me everyday. One day I break down and protest.

And then he tells everyone, 'Look, I told you he is the bad guy.' This is what the Indian government has been doing in Kashmir.

They are successful because the Kashmiri people have no voice in the Indian mainstream.

Nobody knows what the Kashmiris' point of view is and whatever the Indian government says, the people of India accept.

What about separatist groups like the Hurriyat Conference?

They are also struggling to maintain their sort of integrity. You know how politics is, you have to give and take a lot.

The Hurriyat, to some extent, is forced to make deals with the government and they do that.

Having said that, right now, the Hurriyat has the support of the people of Kashmir. If they call for a strike, people come out in support.

This wasn't the case earlier, but (has been like this) after Burhan Wani's death.

He was an educated boy, he never went to Pakistan.

He managed to get guns and was basically indulging in fantasy.

Burhan was tortured by the cops and therefore he turned that way.

There was no known case against him for having shot anybody or any kind of damage.

Though Home Minister Rajnath Singh talked about cases against him, but if you read those cases, they are funny.

There were 7, 8 such cases against him which were forcefully registered.

Are you saying Burhan Wani did not kill anyone?

As far as I know, he did not kill anybody.

I have met his father. They are very nice people.

Burhan snatched guns, but did not kill anyone.

But he is a terrorist.

He was the Hizbul Mujhadeen's 'commander,' so he is a terrorist, but he did not do anything for which he should have been shot.

It is illegal. They built up the whole case (against him).

Do you think the government needs to build confidence among Kashmiris?

India needs to address the people and show some concern for Kashmiris. This is not what I need to tell the government, it is their job.

Everybody is insisting on my responsibility towards the country, but not about the country's responsibility towards me. That is what the case is in Kashmir.

It has reached such a point that they do not want to be a part of an India which does not care about them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken of Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat and Insaaniyat. Why does his message not go across to the Kashmiris?

The prime minister is not sending this message on the ground. He says something and does something else.

In the morning he makes such statements and in the afternoon, protestors are shot (in Kashmir).

But why are these protestors throwing stones?

Because they cannot live properly. Their lives are blocked.

For four months they put Kashmir under non-stop curfew. It means students did not go to school, nobody went to work.

Business is dead and there is no tourism. People are frustrated now.

How do they get food when everything is shut?

They are habituated to living in such a system.

In winter, very few people visit Kashmir. There is not enough business.

So the Kashmiris have a habit to store and survive.

The Indian government too puts a lot of money into Kashmir.

Its total annual budget is Rs 48,000 crore (Rs 480 billion) out of which Rs 22,000 crore (Rs 220 billion) is given by the Indian government.

Does this money trickle down to the people?

It mostly goes in salaries. 50 per cent of people in Kashmir are government servants and they are the ones who retard the process (of hartals and protests).

They do not want trouble because their salaries come from the Centre.

So why are they protesting against India which gives them salaries?

But the same government also does not allow them to live freely.

There are people who feel India has cheated them.

Kashmiri Muslims have committed atrocities against the Kashmiri Pandits.

During (then governor) Jagmohan's time (in 1990), things got hairy because Pakistanis send kabalis (tribesmen) and other mercenaries into Kashmir to destabilise the situation.

Pakistanis wanted Kashmiri Muslims to drive away Hindus from Kashmir.

Many people hold Jagmohan responsible for jeopardising the situation. Pandits say they left Kashmir to save their lives.

But it was Jagmohan who said in a statement that he would not be able to protect the lives of Kashmiri Pandits.

He told the Kashmiri Pandits that if they wanted to be safe, then they should leave.

When that exodus started, the Muslims started occupying the homes of Pandits because they were empty.

So you blame Jagmohan for the Kashmiri Pandit exodus?

Not that way. I am saying that there was a situation when Jagmohan made that call which created such a situation.

Otherwise, it would never have happened.

Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims are brothers and are of the same racial stock.

They will fight, but they are brothers. Kashmiri Pandits will be more comfortable with Kashmiri Muslims than anybody else in India. This is a fact.

For 26 years, Kashmiri Pandits have not been able to go back home!

Because they are scared. There have been many attempts from Kashmiri Muslims to get them back, but the atmosphere of conflict does not allow them to go back.

You were asking me what the government must do. They must do all these things.

I have told Kashmiri Muslims that they have committed a sin by stealing the properties of Kashmiri Pandits. They have done wrong.

IMAGE: Students pelt stones at security forces in Srinagar. Photograph: Umar Ganie

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Among the 17 new AICC secretaries named so far, 10 are below 50 years of age, indicating the generational change in the 132-year-old Congress being brought in by 47-year-old Rahul, reports Amit Agnihotri.

The process of change in the Congress, kicked off by the party vice-president Rahul Gandhi last week, is slowly but surely getting a firm footing as more younger leaders are being given key roles in the grand old party.

There was a strong demand from within for changes in the party since the 2014 national poll loss but it peaked after the recent assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur which the Congress lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Punjab was the only bright spot.

Continuing with changes announced in Gujarat, Goa and Karnataka, All India Congress Committee secretary Avinash Pande, who was assisting veteran C P Joshi in Assam, was promoted as general secretary in charge of Rajasthan, replacing senior leader Gurudas Kamat.

Vivek Bansal, Qazi Mohd Nizamuddin, Devendra Yadav and Tarun Kumar will assist Pande as the new AICC secretaries.

Kamat, who is keen to focus on the 2019 national elections and wants to devote more time in his home town Mumbai, stands relieved from the charges of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Former minister Sunil Jakhar replaced Punjab unit chief Amarinder Singh as the latter is now chief minister. Jakhar was leader of the Congress legislators in the Punjab assembly.

Sunil, son of Congress veteran Balram Jakhar, who worked closely with former prime minister Indira Gandhi, lost assembly poll from Abohar. It remains to be seen how Amarinder and Sunil now get along as Rahul wants to charter a new course in the Punjab.

Four-time legislator Pritam Singh, who was a minister in the Harish Rawat government, replaced Uttarakhand unit chief Kishore Upadhyay following the party's drubbing in the recent assembly elections. The BJP had won 57 of the 70 assembly seats in Uttarakhand, reducing the ruling Congress to dismal 11 seats.

Among the 17 new AICC secretaries named so far, 10 are below 50 years of age, indicating the generational change in the 132-year-old Congress being brought in by 47-year-old Rahul.

Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha has replaced K C Mittal as the Chairman of the AICC legal affairs department. Tankha played a key role in unearthing the Vyapam recruitment scam in Madhya Pardesh flagged by senior leader Digvijaya Singh to target Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Facing a volley of queries, Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Rahul was seized of the need to change the party but was doing it in a phased manner. Besides Rajasthan, which will have assembly polls in 2018, the Congress vice-president was focused on Himachal Pradesh, where assembly polls are due by year end, as well, said Surjewala.

The party changes reflect a well thought out action plan, placing seniors as general secretaries and brining in youngsters as secretaries, to harness their youthful energy, said Surjewala pointing out that former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had appointed 33 year old Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan unit chief but the veteran, now 66, has been deployed to steer the party in poll-bound Gujarat.
United States President Donald Trump met Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for a patch-up meeting and said all issues had been "worked out" after a January telephone spat between the leaders had soured ties.

Trump said he had a "productive discussion" with Turnbull on a wide range of issues in New York after he returned to the city for the first time since taking office.

He said they discussed the future of the two countries from the perspective of national security and trade to immigration and enhanced economic cooperation.

"We affirmed the tremendous friendship between the US and Australia," Trump said, adding that the reports that they had a rough telephone call on January 28 was exaggerated.

"It's all worked out. It's been worked out for a long time," Trump said, adding, "We had a great telephone call. You guys exaggerated that call. That was a big exaggeration. We're not babies."

Trump's showering of praise came in stark contrast to what was reportedly a verbal spat between the two leaders over accepting refugees. Trump claimed the acrimonious call with Turnbull early in his White House tenure had been "fake news".

Turnbull was among the first foreign leaders with whom Trump spoke with after taking office on January 20. Trump was reportedly irritated because he was expected to honour a deal made by his predecessor Barack Obama to accept more than 1,200 refugees.

The US president had abruptly hung up the call with the Australian premier after merely 25 minutes, rather than an hour the call was supposed to last.

Last month, Vice President Mike Pence visited Australia on a fence-mending visit. Although he too made it clear that Trump was not happy with the refugee deal, the US nonetheless would honour it.

At the patch-up meeting, Trump delivered a charm offensive through his speech at an event to honour the 75th anniversary of Australian and US victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Trump said for nearly a century Americans and Australians have "fought together, bled together."

"Our brave warriors have fought shoulder to shoulder in every major conflict together," he said.

"Our two nations were born as the rebellious children of the same parent. Americans have had no better friends than the Australians, I mean that," he said.

Trump thanked Australia, saying the US was "profoundly grateful" for its role to limit the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Turnbull underscored the closeness of the two countries. "We are always more assured of winning when we are fighting together," he said.

On the refugee deal, he said, "We can put the refugee deal behind you and move on."

He also supported the American stand on the North Korean issue. "Today and together we condemn and resist the reckless provocations of North Korea. We fight together in Iraq and Afghanistan to defeat and destroy the terrorists who threaten our way of life. Today Australians and Americans stand shoulder to should defending our freedoms," he said.

IMAGE: United States President Donald Trump and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull deliver brief remarks to reporters as they meet ahead of an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, aboard the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
BJP rule in Gujarat has spread depression says the Congress, which plans to come up with ideas to spread cheer among voters.

Amit Agnihotri reports.

If you want to be happy, vote us back to power, the Congress plans to tell voters in Gujarat ahead of the assembly election.

Elections for the 182 seats in the state assembly will be held by the end of this year. For the past 19 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power in the state.

At present, the BJP has 121 seats; the Congress has 57.

Keen to win back power in the state, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as chief minister from 2001 to 2014, the Congress is thinking of novel ways.

As Gujarat is already economically developed, party strategists plan to focus on the human factor.

"BJP rule has caused depression among the people," Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki said. "We want to generate hope and happiness."

Taking a leaf out of Bhutan's happiness index, the Congress' Gujarat unit will come up with ideas to spread cheer among voters.

Coined by Bhutan's fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuk in the 1970s, Gross National Happiness takes a holistic approach to development, putting as much importance on non-economic aspects as on the economic ones.

"The depression index in our state has increased over the past two decades," Solanki said. "We will promote happiness."

During several weeks of brainstorming sessions, to draft its poll manifesto, the party has identified the reasons for happiness.

With growing prosperity and demands of contemporary life, Solanki felt the number of nuclear families were growing.

Young professionals did not have the support system of traditional joint families. The party would promote traditional values.

Another issue was paucity of jobs, in a state famous for entrepreneurship.

"Things are changing. Many young people are seeking jobs and unemployment is making them depressed," said Solanki.

This was the reason for the Patidar protests last year, he added.

Taking a cue from the success of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the Congress' Gujarat unit is wooing people aged between 18 and 35 years. The party has started enrolment camps across the state.

If elected, the Congress promises to create jobs. Also, till they get jobs, the Congress would give an unemployment allowance of Rs 4,000 for those who have postgraduate degrees, Rs 3,500 for graduates. School pass-outs would get Rs 3,000 per month.

Gujarat has a population of 65 million, with about 40 million voters. According to Congress estimates, there are about 5 million unemployed youth in the state.

"Contrary to the image of a developed state sold by Modi, industry is down in the state," said Solanki.

The party also plans to woo women, who comprise half the state's voters. It is promising them houses and assuring them that prices of essential items would be controlled.
Fourteen people were on Friday killed and 28 others injured when a truck carrying a marriage party lost control and fell into a canal Uttar Pradesh's Etah.

The incident took place near Sarai Neem in Jalesar area, nearly 230 km from the state capital of Lucknow, at around 3 am when the truck was returning from Agra, the police said.

The deceased have been identified as Girand Singh (65), Prashant (12), Lavkush (21), Mukesh (23), Nerapal (25), Padam Singh (50), Omveer (19), Shaitan Singh (50), Padam Singh (40), Bani Singh (45), Rajendra (60), Vijay (22), Pravendra Fauji (35) and Sanju (25).

All of them died on the spot. The injured have been rushed to hospital.

Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 each for those seriously injured in the accident.

"My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the accident in Etah, UP. May those injured in the accident recover quickly," the prime minister said.

The incident comes a few months after 15 children were killed and over 20 others injured in January when their school bus collided with a lorry amid dense fog on Aliganj-Patiyali road in Etah.

Photograph: ANI
IMAGE: December 16, 2012 gang rape case investigative officer Chaya Sharma with her team outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo



Former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, who led a team that probed the 2012 Delhi gang rape, said on Friday his forces solved the case within 72 hours, despite the lack of initial leads.

The Supreme Court, in its judgment on Friday upholding the conviction of four men who raped and killed a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, appreciated the investigation conducted by the Delhi Police.

I am very happy that the court, at every level, has appreciated our investigation. But people should also realise how difficult the case was. Nobody is talking about the polices role and how the case was investigated well, Kumar said.

He recalled how a team from Delhi arrested one of the four men from a Naxalite-dominated area in Bihar, and another from the interiors of Rajasthan.

The police, he stressed, ended up cracking the case in 72 hours, and filed a chargesheet within 10 days.

But there were no clues to begin with, and no witnesses, he said.

The police had no details about the vehicle in which the victim was raped on December 16, 2012. But they soon found that the victim and her male partner had been assaulted in a moving bus.

They got their first break when they checked the CCTV footage from the area in south Delhi where the two had been dumped.

We got the CCTV footage, interpreted it and then overnight we located the bus and then its driver and interrogated him. By the next afternoon, we had Ram Singh confessing that he had been driving the bus, he recalled.

Singh, who was subsequently jailed, allegedly committed suicide in his cell in Tihar in March 2013.

What made matters more difficult for the police was the mounting public and media outrage over the crime, and the demand for quick results.

Political bosses were baying for the blood of all the officers working on the case, he said.

But one clue led to another, and the police soon zeroed in on another of the accused, Akshay Thakur, picking him up from the troubled region of Aurangabad in Bihar.

The local police refused to give us help. But our team went to Aurangabad and arrested Thakur, he said.

Another accused, who had fled to Rajasthan, was also arrested.

The juvenile involved in the crime was apprehended from Delhis Anand Vihar bus terminal by our team, he said.

The police had been told by the juveniles co-accused that he had a particular way of hailing passengers.

He had started working as a bus conductor and was apprehended on the basis of this clue, the officer recalled.

After the arrests, the police focused on filing a chargesheet, which took 10 days.

I took care of the chargesheet, plugging all the loopholes, he said.

Kumar stressed that he took all the brickbats and ensured that his officers did not face public anger that grew as more and more gory details about the crime were exposed.

I faced the media outrage and the public wrath. I succeeded in shielding my officers. I told them, I will face the brunt of the media trial and all the criticism. You people carry on, he said.

The polices job didnt end with filing the chargesheet; they had to also build up a strong case for prosecution.

Evidence was gathered from Singapore, as doctors who treated her there were examined over video conferencing.

Almost five years later, the polices work had been upheld by the apex court.

We welcome the verdict, Kumar said.

As a father of two daughters, I was very upset when this incident happened. Today I feel very happy, he said.

The paramedic student, who was assaulted and raped by six people in the moving bus, died in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.
The Centre on Friday asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to take immediate steps to stop the unauthorised broadcast of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian channels in the state.

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu spoke with the state chief secretary and also sought a compliance report at the earliest, official sources said here.

He expressed concern over reports that these channels are being broadcast in Jammu and Kashmir without permission.

Earlier in the day, Naidu's deputy in the ministry, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, had said the local administration in the state has right to confiscate the equipment of cable operators allegedly airing unauthorised channels.

Noting that the government has sent an advisory to the state, Rathore said such communications are regularly sent by the Centre on unauthorised channels.

"We also monitor whenever such news comes up. It is our work to ask for report about such incidents. The action is being taken," he said.

Rathore said it is the responsibility of the local administration to monitor unauthorised channels in their area and they have the right to take action against them.

"In Kashmir, the district collector or the authorised government official can confiscate the equipment and take action against cable operators," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi.

The minister was responding to reports that over 50 Saudi and Pakistani channels besides Zakir Naik's banned Peace TV and others indulging in "anti-India" propaganda were allegedly running without necessary clearances via private cable networks in Kashmir.
In the second incident of violence in Saharanpur within a fortnight, one person was on Friday killed and at least 15 others, including a police officer, were injured as members of two castes clashed over loud music being played during a procession.

Around 20-25 youths of upper caste Thakur community from Shabbirpur village were on their way to Simlana village under Badgaon police station to take part in a function to garland the statue of Rajput warrior-king Maharana Pratap, when the Dalit locals objected to the loud music being played by them.

A police report sent to the state headquarters in Lucknow said the Dalits objected to the raucous celebration, triggering an exchange of words.

It soon snowballed into a full-blown clash with both the groups throwing stones and bricks at each other, it added.

The Dalits asked the processionists to turn off the music blaring out of loudspeakers as they passed by a Ravidas temple.

A police team, which rushed to the spot, managed to pacify the Thakur youths and asked them to return to their village, but they soon returned with more people and indulged in brick batting and arson, torching 15 to 20 Dalit houses as well as vehicles including those of the police.

As many as 16 persons, including a police officer, were injured in the resulting clashes. Of them, Sumit Rajput, 35, later succumbed to his injuries.

Fire tenders were rushed to the village, the report said, adding that the Inspector General of Police, Meerut, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Saharanpur, besides the local District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police were camping in the village to monitor the situation.

On April 20, communal clashes had broken out in the district during a Dalit procession to celebrate Dr B R Ambedkars birth centenary.

Around a dozen people were injured in the clashes that erupted after members of another community objected to the procession.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Saharanpur Raghav Lakhanpal was among those booked in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, I can say with confidence that everyone in the state will be safe. There will be no discrimination and the rule of law is the priority of the state government.

He was responding to a question on the Saharanpur violence at a press conference in Lucknow.

IMAGE: People near a damaged bike after a clash during a Shobhayatra in Saharanpur on Friday. Photograph: PTI Photo
Leaders of six member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation congratulated India on the successful launch of GSAT-9, popularly known as the South Asia Satellite.

"The gap between talk and action is bridged today. The imperative of regional cooperation is changed to the reality. If cooperation through land is not possible, it is certainly possible through sky and we are confident that we will integrate," said Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani.

President Ghani said that development must become citizen centric. Todays initiative is child centred and women centred, it makes governance accessible.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, I congratulate the government of India. And hope this will open a new horizon of cooperation in the region.

Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the satellite will be helpful to provide communication services in mountain and hilly regions of Nepal.

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen said the launching of South Asia Satellite signifies Indias neighbourhood first policy.

"Sincerely hope that well be able to set aside differences and work together as an organisation that can fulfil hopes. Sabka saath, sabka vikas," Yameen said.

Congratulating India on the launch, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said, It signifies intent to build cordial relations and vision for cooperation with SAARC countries.

Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay said the launch of this satellite will boost regional cooperation and bring about common progress of our region.

IMAGE: The fully integrated GSLV-F06 carrying GSAT-9 at the second launch pad. Photograph: ISRO
'Not only will Peter, Indrani, Sanjeev be making twice monthly trips to the sessions court for many years, so will their family, their lawyers and the journalists covering the case, becoming almost like bittersweet friends, as large portions of their lives play out there.'

Rediff.com's Vaihayasi Pande Daniel reports from Courtroom 51.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

I reached the sessions court at Kala Ghoda, south Mumbai, a little late, on Friday, May 5, morning, for the Sheena Bora murder trial.

It would likely be a long hearing. I wasn't worried I'd miss anything. The trial was meant to start up again.

The court building's X-ray machines weren't working -- even if the lifts were, singing some bizarre Cat Stevens tune -- and umpteen people streaming in were displaying the contents of their bags to the police officers.

As I took the stairs to the third floor to Courtroom 51, where the trial is being heard by Judge H S Mahajan, I bumped into Peter Mukerjea.

He was in his usual white shirt and khaki trousers, escorted by three policemen, one holding a rifle.

There was no Sanjeev Khanna.

As I walked ahead, I contemplated what his thoughts must be as he walked up these flights of stairs every 15 days.

Was he seized by dread? Foreboding? Anger? Rage? Despair? Frustration? Resignation? Guilt? All?

Or would his spirits be mildly uplifted, each trip, as he anticipated meeting his family. Be it brother Gautam or son Rabin or whoever.

Today it was sister Shangon, with a dabba of mangoes and a steadfast friend with a box of tea.

Or was there that sense of being part of a bad dream, that you never wake up from.

The trial is inching painstakingly along, so there is yet no revelation or understanding of his role -- if there is one -- in the crime.

Till such time, as another journalist pointed out, seeing alleged murderers in 'real life' doesn't make them feel that different from any of us.

Coming to terms with the agonising time taken by a trial would probably require the greatest yogic effort it would seem.

From a fast moving world at the court's doorstep, as one crosses this threshold, one is catapulted into a world where time puzzlingly comes nearly to a halt.

So it was when I reached the third floor.

The trial, which has been in limbo for 71 days awaiting an opinion from the Bombay high court, should have resumed, because the high court's view came in on Wednesday, May 3.

But no. The order, in this era of the Internet, had not been actually received by the CBI special court, which is located a few streets away from the high court. So the trial would recommence on May 22.

Indrani Mukherjea, wearing demure white from head to toe, including her bindi, was already there, sitting on a bench outside the courtroom, with her lady lawyer, radiating smiles.

But no Sanjeev Khanna? Why was he missing? Even his lawyer, who comes infrequently, was absent.

Adding another dimension of complexity to the proceedings was the news that Judge Mahajan, who came to the CBI special court in June 2014, had been transferred to Aurangabad by an April 27 order.

May 22 will be the judge's last hearing in the Sheena Bora murder case, which he has been presiding over for approximately more than a year.

For over two months, this headline-grabbing murder trial has awaited an opinion sought from the Bombay high court.

Proceedings came to a standstill on February 23 over the testimony of Khar police station Constable Ganesh Dalvi on what the Mukerjeas' driver Shyamvar Rai had confessed to him.

Rai has turned approver in the case, so that part of Dalvi's testimony was not considered acceptable.

Since the high court has given its ruling in favour of the defence, the case was once again on track to move ahead, except the order had not reached yet.

With Judge Mahajan now moving out of the court, he ruled in the five minute hearing on Friday that he planned to hear Dalvi's testimony -- the part that does not involve Rai's statement -- on May 22 and wrap up the first witness in the case.

Then the next judge will take over. Who that will be is not clear; the appointment has not been made public yet.

Perhaps it is this peculiar sense of being together in a situation that may go on for many years that strangely melts the boundaries in the corridors outside the courtroom.

Between defence and prosecution.

Between the accused and accusers.

Between the police and the imprisoned.

Between lawyers and the media.

There was plenty of evidence of that on Friday as Sanjeev Khanna and the woman who was once his wife chatted in a drawing room fashion with the prosecution team, about the long delays, among other topics.

In these conversations, Indrani always sparkles, showing off her charm, often throwing high voltage smiles at Sanjeev too.

Sanjeev, wearing blue, looked cheerful (he had three friends to see him) as he finally made an appearance in court.

He was late, because he had missed the prison bus.

In a humorous, self-deprecating way -- he has a low voice -- he recounted to the assembled company about how he always gets ready quickly and was down with the police guards bright and early, waiting at the jail gate on Arthur road, central Mumbai.

But Peter always takes his time.

The guards lost their tempers. They apparently took Sanjeev and moved away from the prison gate.

Meanwhile, Peter showed up at the gate, or maybe it was another gate, and not finding Sanjeev, the police took him on a bus to Kala Ghoda.

Sanjeev was bussed in later, only after it was discovered that Peter had left.

"Sanjeev is a garib, bechara," someone from the prosecution remarked. "Peter paisawallah hai..." He didn't complete his sentence. Implying wealth explained much.

Discussion again commenced about Indrani's hair dye. And the number of questions that had been asked about it.

If I heard right, Sanjeev said even he was asked how Indrani was able to dye her hair and he hadn't seen her till then.

Indrani, in a lively fashion, informed the CBI party that hair dye is available in the prison shop and so are all kinds of cosmetics that a woman might need.

She did not say why she had chosen to dye her hair again though. Or maybe she did, out of earshot.

Not only will Peter, Indrani, Sanjeev be making twice monthly trips to the sessions court for many years, so will their family, their lawyers and the journalists covering the case, becoming almost like bittersweet friends, as large portions of their lives play out there.

So do the CBI officers, even the out-of-town ones, showing up from wherever they are now posted, at the court every 15 days.

That, someone from the prosecution team said, with a sad shake of his head, was a sentence of its own.

Bharat Badami, the good humoured CBI prosecutor, showed up only after Judge Mahajan had set the new date and the matter had concluded for the day.

As Badami entered the courtroom, he spoke about a CBI team being in London for the Vijay Mallya extradition case.

Peter exited the courtroom with an inscrutable smile, respectfully bowing to Judge Mahajan who will not deliver the judgment in this case.

Peter and Indrani exchanged no greetings. No nothing. Like they had never met.

EARLIER IN THE TRIAL...

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April Ceasefire in Donbas: Opportunity for Renewed Russian Gains?

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Oleksandr Gavrylyuk Publication Date 13 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 52 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, April Ceasefire in Donbas: Opportunity for Renewed Russian Gains?, 13 April 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 52, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c26134.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

"Despite the declared truce, our forces have lost several [the exact number depends on the day] soldiers, several others have been wounded over the past day Notwithstanding the casualties, the Ukrainian army has not returned fire." This is how a typical daily press release put out by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has read since April 1, when the Armed Forces declared a ceasefire (at 00:00 hours) in the conflict area of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region (Mil.gov.ua, April 12).

Thus, from April 11 to April 12, the Russian occupation forces and their local proxies fired at Ukrainian positions over 45 times, using various weapons, including heavy artillery prohibited by the Minsk agreements (Mediarnbo.org, April 12).

The Ukrainian army stopped firing on enemy positions by the order of President Petro Poroshenko, following the agreement on a full ceasefire reached during the meeting of the trilateral "Contact Group," in Minsk, on March 29. According to Poroshenko, resolute actions were necessary to ensure the ceasefire, including a withdrawal of heavy weaponry and artillery (President.gov.ua, March 30).

Boris Gryzlov, Russia's envoy to the Minsk Contact Group, stated that, during the talks, the sides agreed on the inevitability of the Minsk agreements and expressed to respect the ceasefire (Rbc.ua, March 29). Russia's clientele in Donbas also confirmed their preparedness to stick to the brokered deal. "We are ready to fulfill our obligations," said Eduard Basurin, the deputy head of operational command of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), while speaking to journalists (Rian.com.ua, March 30).

However, the truce was broken almost immediately: Russia-backed separatists started firing on Ukrainian positions just hours after the ceasefire went into effect. "Every time such a truce has been arranged, we are redoubling our vigilance, since we do not trust them. As you can see, it has been confirmed today," commented a Ukrainian fighter nicknamed "Dock" (Fakty.ictv.ua, April 1).

A full ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact in Donbas were the keystones of the agreement signed by Kyiv and the Moscow-controlled separatist authorities, in Minsk, back in February 2015. However, since then, all armistices have been regularly violated. As long as part of the Ukrainian-Russian border remains beyond Kyiv's control, Moscow can easily reinforce the Donbas separatists with fresh soldiers and new armaments, including tanks and heavy artillery, before the next ceasefire agreement is reached (Depo.ua, March 29).

"From the agreed-upon beginning of the ceasefire, the [Russia-backed] terrorists try to shoot [at us] everything they have at that moment, using tanks and mortars," commented a Ukrainian fighter with the nom de guerre "Bakhmat." "When the truces first start, there is no fighting indeed, but just for a few hours. Then, single firefights start, sometimes backed by shelling. So it goes on for a couple of days, while tensions mount to finally bring the war back to the front line," he described (TSN, April 1).

During only the first quarter of the current year, the opposing forces have requested from each other "minor ceasefires" more than 11,000 times, with four "major" truces officially declared since the beginning of the conflict in 2014. But all those were quickly broken. Ukrainian soldiers do not believe any armistice can last. "A truce during a war is absurd. But, if it is a need, we will try to observe it," said another soldier, who called himself "Basalt" (TSN, April 1). As a result, even the Ukrainian president himself was forced to admit that "unfortunately, we do not have great optimism that the other side will comply with the agreements, but life and health of every Ukrainian warrior is the most precious value" (President.gov.ua., March 30).

In the eyes of the Ukrainian public, the regularly declared armistices along the line of contact in Donbas (ironically, the latest one having been in force since April Fools' Day) have become an object of open criticism and ridicule. "In our experience, a similar ceasefire started on September 1, last year, and lasted hardly a single day," recalled Oleg Zhdanov, a former officer of the operations division in the Ukrainian General Staff (Dialog.ua, March 30).

In the opinion of Yuriy Karin, the editor of the Ukrainian website Sprotyv.info, the latest ceasefire had no chance of being observed in light of what has been going on in Donbas militarily. "The Kremlin's propagandists have filmed bombardments of the settlements controlled by the self-proclaimed republics by Russian gunners themselves and then shown the damage as supposedly the outcome of the Ukrainian army's shelling," he said. "So having [itself] violated the Minsk agreements, Russia keeps blaming Ukraine" (Obozrevatel.com, March 30).

Dmytro Tymchuk, a Ukrainian member of parliament and military expert, believes that the April 1 ceasefire was a senseless project because of Moscow's recent activities aimed at initiating a "Transnistria scenario" in Donbasthat is, recognizing the self-proclaimed republics' "passports," "state borders," etc. So the important issue, according to him, is not so much whether the ceasefire would be broken, but what may happen after it is. The Kremlin will continue to try its best to destabilize and then to dismantle Ukraine, while using both the Donbas conflict and the negative social and economic situation in the country to achieve this goal, Tymchuk argued (Sprotyv.info, March 31).

According to Zhdanov, the Kremlin has an excellent opportunity to put pressure on Kyiv now, while many Western leaders are busy with approaching election campaigns in their own countries (notably in Germany and Francetwo members of the Minsk "Normandy Group," along with Ukraine and Russia). "He [Putin] now has the best moment to deliver blows [against Ukraine] with impunity. The stronger he strikes, the stronger he seeks to impose his will on our leaders," Zhdanov maintained (Dialog.ua, March 30).

Under these circumstances, Ukrainians are increasingly questioning the continued relevance of the existing Minsk conflict resolution format, with calls for a more viable alternative being heard ever more often. Even, the co-chair of the Greens faction inside the European Parliament, Rebecca Harms, has openly stated that since the truce in Donbas was violated from the very first day after the signing the Minsk agreements, there is no point to expect that they will be implemented in their current form. While attending the Kyiv Security Forum in early April, she called for sending United Nations peacekeepers to Donbas. Only such a truly international and independent force would be capable of guaranteeing observance of the reached agreements, she stated (Eurointegration.com.ua, April 6).

The latest failed ceasefire in Donbas, like the countless other before it, will soon be forgotten. But it will be important to closely monitor the situation there to see whether the Russia-backed forces will try to use the current situation to make renewed gains against Ukrainian positions.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Tbilisi Still Waiting on Delivery of Its Purchased Missile and Air Defense Systems From Paris

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Giorgi Menabde Publication Date 27 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 56 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Tbilisi Still Waiting on Delivery of Its Purchased Missile and Air Defense Systems From Paris, 27 April 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 56, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c27024.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria traveled to France, on April 18-19, for a working visit. One of the main topics of his talks with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Paris, was the execution of the previously signed contract on delivery of the latest air defense systems to the Georgian army (Civil Georgia, April 20).

The contract with France on the delivery of high-tech anti-aircraft missile systems to the Georgian military were concluded by the previous head of the Georgian Ministry of Defense, Tinatin Khidasheli. On June 15, 2015, the Georgian side signed a contract with the French-American joint venture ThalesRaytheonSystems to purchase several 3-D mobile air target detection radar stations-Ground Master 200 (GM200) and Ground Master 400 (GM400) models (Civil Georgia, June 16, 2015). A month later, on July 10, Khidasheli signed a contract with the French branch of the European MBDA group (MBDA France) and Thales for the delivery of one VL MICA short-range surface-to-air missile system battery (Civil Georgia, July 10, 2015).

The details of the transaction are considered a state secret in Georgia, but it is known that last year, the country's parliament permitted the government to receive a loan of 82.82 million euros ($90.26 million) from the French bank SocieteGenerale under the auspices of the French export-import insurance agency Coface. In total, 77.63 million euros ($84.61 million) from this loan was allocated to finance the purchase of air defense systems: specifically, 52.65 million euros ($57.4 million) went to the purchase of radar stations and battle management posts from the ThalesRaytheonSystems, and 24.98 million euros ($27.23 million) paid for the VL MICA air-defense battery from MBDA France (Bmpd.livejournal.com, April 20).

However, these purchased defensive weapons systems still have not arrived in Georgia. The editor-in-chief of the military-analytical magazine Arsenali, Irakli Aladashvili, told this author that due to the secrecy of the transaction, the parties did not publish the exact schedule of deliveries. Perhaps, Aladashivili suggested, this schedule provided for several stages of execution of the contract. "In the first stage, the French military would train Georgian professionals who, in the future, would operate the high-tech anti-aircraft missiles. Our specialists are currently well acquainted [only] with the Soviet/Russian air defense systems that the Georgian army is armed with," Aladashvili said. In his opinion, the actual delivery of the French air defense and missile defense systems will begin only in the second stage (Author's interview, April 20).

After his talks with Le Drian, in Paris, Izoria said that the ministers "outlined a specific cooperation plan" that, "in the first place, concerns the strengthening of the air-defense system of Georgia. "We are fulfilling the contract terms very well, and we spoke on its next stage," Izoria noted. "Specifically, we plan to retrain our specialists so that they have the [necessary] skills [to use] the system," the Georgian defense minister noted, without specifying any additional details of the deal (Civil Georgia, April 20).

But in Tbilisi, some observers suggested that other reasons may be behind why France had still not delivered the promised weapons to Georgia. According to doctor of military sciences Vakhtang Maisaya, "the Georgian side has had internal disputes and problems." He continued, "Let me remind you that the contract was 'endorsed' and 'initialed' as early as in 2014 by the first defense minister of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, Irakli Alasania. But soon, Alasania was forced to resign because of disagreements with the Georgian Dream's founder, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili; a few months later, the contract was signed by Tinatin Khidasheli, who also did not have time to implement it, since she resigned and was replaced by Levan Izoria. In the course of these changes, the Georgian side had internal disagreements and, as far as I know, Tbilisi several times tried to change the terms of the contract regarding technical characteristics of the purchased weapons" (Author's interview, April 20).

Following the meeting with his French counterpart, Defense Minister Izoria did not address any of these problems. On the contrary, he radiated optimism and declared that, as a token of gratitude to France for its "active assistance," Georgia is ready to keep a platoon of Georgian soldiers in the Central African Republic (CAR) until September 2018. France, under the aegis of the European Union, is carrying out a peacekeeping operation in CAR, and the Georgian contingent is part of the French expeditionary corps. The Georgian leadership decided to send about a hundred Georgian soldiers to CAR in 2014, at the request of French President Francois Hollande. Izoria also named military education one of the fruitful areas of French-Georgian defense cooperation. "We have very successful officers who obtained a military education in France. Our [Sachkhere] Mountain Training School is also very successful. France and its defense minister have made a huge contribution to establishing and developing the School," Izoria underlined (Civil Georgia, April 20).

Despite such upbeat statements, some experts in Tbilisi are skeptical about the prospects of Georgia receiving its purchased high-tech French weapons in the near future-at least until the conclusion of the current presidential election in France. "Russia is not very happy about the prospect that Georgia may [soon] have the means to protect its airspace. Now, in France, the presidential campaign is coming to an end, and its outcome is absolutely unclear. There are candidates (for example, Marine Le Pen) on whom Moscow can exert an impact and compel her to refuse to fulfill the 2015 contract [with Georgia]. But there are other candidates that will be more immune to Russian influence, and [if one of them is elected], Georgia will have an opportunity to strengthen its defensive potential," former Georgian deputy defense minister (2009-2012), Nodar Kharshiladze, told this author on April 21.

The French air defense systems will not be able to protect Georgia against all types of attack. Unclear is their effectiveness in countering Russian Iskander mobile, short-range ballistic missiles (NATO reporting name SS-26 Stone), which Moscow used during the military conflict in 2008. But once the Western-made VL MICA is adopted by the Georgian army, this will send "a strong message" to Russia that the latter needs to respect Georgia's independence.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Latvia Pursues 'Total Defense' Concept, Rejects Conscription

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Olevs Nikers Publication Date 2 May 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 58 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Latvia Pursues 'Total Defense' Concept, Rejects Conscription , 2 May 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 58, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c2aa14.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

In early April 2017, the Latvian Ministry of Defense's (MoD) Parliamentary Secretary Andrejs Pantelejevs publicly announced the country was returning to the concept of total or "comprehensive" defense, which it had abandoned after joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Latvia will maintain the strategy of total defense over the long term, Pantelejevs declared, and he conclusively rejected the idea of returning to a system of conscription (LA.lv, April 4).

The Latvian defense ministry emphasizes the need to enhance direct public involvement in order to strengthen national security. But neither of its two most important proposals in this regard recommend a return to conscription, which, according to the MoD's calculus, is not affordable for Latvia. First, the defense ministry recommends giving elementary and high school students a "mandatory choice" to sign up for basic lessons and training in state defense. Second, it calls for reforming the National GuardLatvia's all-volunteer force, which is fully integrated with the professional military.

In advocating "defense lessons" in the high schools, Defense Minister Raimonds Bergmanis has argued that the country's national defense doctrine requires each Latvian resident to know what to do in case of a crisis. Latvia must move toward comprehensive national defense awareness, he declared. "We encourage a paradigm shift in thinking on national defense[from] the idea that only a weapon in the hands of a Latvian soldier or Allied forces can protect the country, to [an understanding] that every patriot of this country can also make an invaluable contribution to the national defense," the minister stressed (Jauns.lv, April 5).

The Latvian government also plans to introduce military summer camps for young people that will prepare them to later potentially join the reserves. Every year, 20,000 students graduate high school in Latvia. If only 10 percent of those graduates were to choose to undertake such military training, the Latvian Armed Forces could add some 2,000 reserve soldiers per year. Currently, the country's reserves total around 3,000 soldiers (LA.lv, April 4).

To further strengthen Latvia's territorial defense, the MoD wants to change the functions and tasks of the National Guard. According to the Ministry's proposals, each National Guard battalion should henceforth cover a certain territorial area of responsibility. Moreover, battalion commanders should be better informed as to what resources are available in their area of command, and use such assets accordingly. For example, if a battalion commander is tasked with blocking a local highway, he or she must know where to procure logs or heavy machinery to accomplish such a mission goal. Finally, the head of the National Guard should be responsible for nationwide civil protection activities (LA.lv, April 4).

The concept of total defense also relies on a country's efficient economic mobilization during war time and the involvement of domestic entrepreneurs in helping to achieve specific priorities related to national security. Currently, many Latvian entrepreneurs already support the National Guard and their employees who are members of this voluntary force. But the MoD is planning to encourage even broader buy-in from businesses by clarifying their responsibilities pertaining to "comprehensive defense." This reflects core principles laid down in Latvia's Mobilization Law, which provides that in a State of Exception (when mobilization is activated), private business resources are redirected toward the national defense (LA.lv, April 4).

Ugis Romanovs, a retired lieutenant colonel of the Latvian Armed forces and currently a lecturer at the Baltic Defense College (BDCOL), underlines why the concept of total defense has become increasingly important not only for Latvia, but all the Baltics: "For many years, Russia has been positioning units and infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of the Baltic States and in Kaliningrad, purposefully shaping favorable conditions for itself in case of a military confrontation. Favorable conditions for Russia, first of all, mean that Allied [NATO] forces would not be able to deploy before Russia can achieve its set goals. Therefore, in the initial phases of the operation, the Baltic States must be prepared to fight without or with limited support from Allied forces" (LA.lv, March 29).

According to Romanov, when facing conventional attack, the core mission of the defending ground forces is not just to protect the country's territory, but ultimately to destroy the enemy's equipment and invading force by using targeted attacks. Moreover, defense forces need to be able to create conditions conducive for allies to be able to deploy into the theater. To achieve these goals, Latvian units must be mobile, know how to properly utilize their equipment, successfully improvise on the fly, and be able to operate in an information vacuum.

The BDCOL lecturer also supports the government's plans to review current deployment locations of units of the Latvian Armed Forces as well as the National Guard. "For example," he noted, "it is unacceptable that along the Vidzeme coast, from Saulkrasti to Ainazi [Baltic Sea shore, north from Riga], there are no military units that would be able to carry out coastal defense tasks or secure ports that could potentially be used by Allies or to deliver non-military aid. The National Guard, can be more effectively utilized as [] an early warning network to cover the entire Latvian territory" (LA.lv, March 29).

Meanwhile, Estonia is discussing expanding its compulsory service and opening the door to women recruits. Mariita Mattiisen, a member of the Estonian Atlantic Treaty Association, explained that compulsory service has a strong symbolic value for Estonia, demonstrating the country's willingness to protect itself. "Small countries like the Baltic States have little reason not to adopt compulsory service, because the sizes of our populations are smaller than some country's professional armies. In countries such as ours, a reserve army is the most efficient way to ensure the national defense. Compulsory service is much cheaper because it does not compete with professional salaries," Mattiisen said (News.lv, April 7).

The debate over conscription in Latvia is unlikely to disappear in the near future. This issue, in fact, constitutes the most notable difference among the Baltic States' militaries: Estonia and Lithuania are maintaining and expanding the draft, while Latvia has chosen a different path. Specifically, Latvia aims to not rely only on professional soldiers and its NATO allies, but hopes to consolidate all of Latvian society under a comprehensive defense strategy.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Popular Myths About the Belarusian Economy

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Grigory Ioffe Publication Date 3 May 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 59 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Popular Myths About the Belarusian Economy , 3 May 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 59, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c2b6f4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Stereotypes reduce the complexity of the world into a few simple guidelines, which can enter everyday thoughts and decisions. For years, Belarus has been repeatedly labeled "Europe's last dictatorship," thus inhibiting deeper and more serious analysis of the country. Moreover, fighting this stereotype can prove awkward. For is Belarus a paragon of democracy? No. But that is the presumed implication if it is asserted that Belarus is not a dictatorship. Recently, a well-known Western specialist with a distinguished record of scholarship on Belarus and a history of being sharply critical of its leadership suggested publicly that President Alyaksandr "Lukashenka is no dictator" (Svaboda.org, April 18). In response, some vigilant readers quickly suggested that the scholar in question was perhaps on Lukashenka's payroll. Yet, this was only one of the more innocuous reactions to such a contrarian view regarding the Belarusian leader. Others denounced the entire body of the Western expert's scholarship and argued that the scholar was probably allowed to enter Belarusafter seven years of being denied a Belarusian visain exchange for the aforementioned public statement.

Perhaps a less notorious but equally tenacious stereotype applies to the Belarusian economy. According to a "commonly held" view, Belarus has a socialist economyan extension of its Soviet predecessor. The argument further insinuates that rampant privatization, a repeal of all government subsidies on utilities, and a curtailment of social programs would set in motion a painful but necessary transformation of the country. By remaining on life support financed by Russia, Belarus is simply postponing the inevitable, this line of reasoning goes, and drives the problem into a dead end (Naviny.by, April 21). Meanwhile, a group of government-friendly pundits, whose professional specialization is in the humanities, not economics, embraces a mirror stereotype. These commentators assert that anything evocative of economic liberalism is harmful for Belarus and reflects color revolution conspiracies immanent to treacherous Western puppet masters. They declare that their country will survive while preserving its current socio-economic model (Eurasia-Expert, April 26).

The point about those stereotypes is that they are neither right nor wrong. But they exist in a parallel world. Their authors and disseminators are fixated on a certain aspect of objective reality congruent with their preconceived notions, which are then projected onto an entire economic and political system. It is true that Belarusian state-run enterprises produce a larger fraction of the country's gross domestic product compared to its post-Soviet neighbors. However, Belarus significantly outperforms Russia and Ukraine on social indicators such as morbidity, mortality and social infrastructure (Grigory Ioffe and Viachaslau Yarashevich, "Debating Belarus: An Economy in Comparative Perspective" Eurasian Geography and Economics, 2011, 52, No. 6, pp. 750779). At the same time, comparisons with the European Union's former Communist member states undervalue how much more support their economies receive thanks to large financial transfers from Brussels compared with what Belarus receives from Moscow. Even so, Belarus outperforms its neighbors Latvia and Lithuania when it comes to the quality of their roads and the maintenance of their cities, not to mention the scale of outmigration of their best and brightest. Russians routinely praise Belarus while on personal visits, although they prefer to attribute Belarus's positive attributes exclusively to the good management of Russia's generous financial aid.

It is also true that Belarus's consumption boom of 20032008 and its uninterrupted economic growth from 1996 to 2014 partially derive from high international oil prices and the fact that Russian tycoons used the country as an offshore tax haven. When oil prices fell, this had a three-pronged effect on Belarus. First, the price of refined oilan important component of Belarus's exportsalso dropped. Second, the Russian market shrank, and Belarus was unable to export as much of its machine-building products to Russia as before. Third, Russia's ability to support Belarus went down, as well. Thus, according to Alexei Pikulik, who heads the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies, in 2006 the share of Belarus's GDP attributable to Russia's price concessions on oil and gas was 24.5 percent; by 2012, it had declined to 20 percent; and by 2016, it was only 4.6 percent (Kyky, April 19).

Because succession does not equal causality, it is not clear whether Belarus's ever-increasing reliance on classic market mechanisms has resulted from this staggering decline. Regardless, whereas in 2006, Belarus was 126th in the World Bank's Doing Business report, today it is 37th; Russia is in 40th place (Kyky, April 19). This progress largely pertains to the ease of registering a private business. For a number of years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) commended Belarus's Central Bank for its healthy financial policy (Tut.by, April 2). The Belarusian government is no longer attempting to inflate the GDP via subsidies and by printing money. A gradual reduction in subsidies to consumers of communal utilities and a cutting back on subsidies to state-run enterprises has been underway. The priority local authorities enjoyed when it came to acquiring shares of local enterprises has been outlawed; and a five-day visa-free travel regime for Westerners has been introduced. Retail regulations and public catering areas of private business have been curtailed. In early March, a "revolutionary document" was prepared for the president's endorsement. In includes a moratorium on all state inspections of retail, catering, and consumer services establishments (except sanitary and fire inspections)a scourge of small businesses. It also relieves retail outlets smaller than 100 square meters and restaurants with fewer than 50 seats from having to pay value-added and profit taxes; whereas individual entrepreneurs are to be relieved from paying the income tax (Tut.by, March 6). Lukashenka has not yet signed this document. But the fact that it has been drafted by a government ministry is telling.

In the meantime, several state-run industrial giants, notably the Minsk Tractor Factory, the Gomel Agricultural Machinery Plant, and the Belarusian Metallurgy Plant, have stopped incurring losses (Tut.by, April 26). Moreover, in the first quarter of 2017, Belarus's GDP recorded growth (+0.3 percent) for the first time in two years (Tut.by, April 17). The government predicts 1 percent growth for the year (Belta.by, April 18).

When it comes to stereotypes, all or most of them will linger a long time. As per Nickolas Kristof, "when we have a narrative in mind, we often plug in anecdotes that confirm it." Nevertheless, reality will evolve down its own path, undisturbed by popular mythology.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Belarus: Popular Myths About the Belarusian Economy

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Sudha Ramachandran Publication Date 20 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 59 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Belarus: Popular Myths About the Belarusian Economy, 20 April 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 59, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c2c064.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Stereotypes reduce the complexity of the world into a few simple guidelines, which can enter everyday thoughts and decisions. For years, Belarus has been repeatedly labeled "Europe's last dictatorship," thus inhibiting deeper and more serious analysis of the country. Moreover, fighting this stereotype can prove awkward. For is Belarus a paragon of democracy? No. But that is the presumed implication if it is asserted that Belarus is not a dictatorship. Recently, a well-known Western specialist with a distinguished record of scholarship on Belarus and a history of being sharply critical of its leadership suggested publicly that President Alyaksandr "Lukashenka is no dictator" (Svaboda.org, April 18). In response, some vigilant readers quickly suggested that the scholar in question was perhaps on Lukashenka's payroll. Yet, this was only one of the more innocuous reactions to such a contrarian view regarding the Belarusian leader. Others denounced the entire body of the Western expert's scholarship and argued that the scholar was probably allowed to enter Belarusafter seven years of being denied a Belarusian visain exchange for the aforementioned public statement.

Perhaps a less notorious but equally tenacious stereotype applies to the Belarusian economy. According to a "commonly held" view, Belarus has a socialist economyan extension of its Soviet predecessor. The argument further insinuates that rampant privatization, a repeal of all government subsidies on utilities, and a curtailment of social programs would set in motion a painful but necessary transformation of the country. By remaining on life support financed by Russia, Belarus is simply postponing the inevitable, this line of reasoning goes, and drives the problem into a dead end (Naviny.by, April 21). Meanwhile, a group of government-friendly pundits, whose professional specialization is in the humanities, not economics, embraces a mirror stereotype. These commentators assert that anything evocative of economic liberalism is harmful for Belarus and reflects color revolution conspiracies immanent to treacherous Western puppet masters. They declare that their country will survive while preserving its current socio-economic model (Eurasia-Expert, April 26).

The point about those stereotypes is that they are neither right nor wrong. But they exist in a parallel world. Their authors and disseminators are fixated on a certain aspect of objective reality congruent with their preconceived notions, which are then projected onto an entire economic and political system. It is true that Belarusian state-run enterprises produce a larger fraction of the country's gross domestic product compared to its post-Soviet neighbors. However, Belarus significantly outperforms Russia and Ukraine on social indicators such as morbidity, mortality and social infrastructure (Grigory Ioffe and Viachaslau Yarashevich, "Debating Belarus: An Economy in Comparative Perspective" Eurasian Geography and Economics, 2011, 52, No. 6, pp. 750779). At the same time, comparisons with the European Union's former Communist member states undervalue how much more support their economies receive thanks to large financial transfers from Brussels compared with what Belarus receives from Moscow. Even so, Belarus outperforms its neighbors Latvia and Lithuania when it comes to the quality of their roads and the maintenance of their cities, not to mention the scale of outmigration of their best and brightest. Russians routinely praise Belarus while on personal visits, although they prefer to attribute Belarus's positive attributes exclusively to the good management of Russia's generous financial aid.

It is also true that Belarus's consumption boom of 20032008 and its uninterrupted economic growth from 1996 to 2014 partially derive from high international oil prices and the fact that Russian tycoons used the country as an offshore tax haven. When oil prices fell, this had a three-pronged effect on Belarus. First, the price of refined oilan important component of Belarus's exportsalso dropped. Second, the Russian market shrank, and Belarus was unable to export as much of its machine-building products to Russia as before. Third, Russia's ability to support Belarus went down, as well. Thus, according to Alexei Pikulik, who heads the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies, in 2006 the share of Belarus's GDP attributable to Russia's price concessions on oil and gas was 24.5 percent; by 2012, it had declined to 20 percent; and by 2016, it was only 4.6 percent (Kyky, April 19).

Because succession does not equal causality, it is not clear whether Belarus's ever-increasing reliance on classic market mechanisms has resulted from this staggering decline. Regardless, whereas in 2006, Belarus was 126th in the World Bank's Doing Business report, today it is 37th; Russia is in 40th place (Kyky, April 19). This progress largely pertains to the ease of registering a private business. For a number of years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) commended Belarus's Central Bank for its healthy financial policy (Tut.by, April 2). The Belarusian government is no longer attempting to inflate the GDP via subsidies and by printing money. A gradual reduction in subsidies to consumers of communal utilities and a cutting back on subsidies to state-run enterprises has been underway. The priority local authorities enjoyed when it came to acquiring shares of local enterprises has been outlawed; and a five-day visa-free travel regime for Westerners has been introduced. Retail regulations and public catering areas of private business have been curtailed. In early March, a "revolutionary document" was prepared for the president's endorsement. In includes a moratorium on all state inspections of retail, catering, and consumer services establishments (except sanitary and fire inspections)a scourge of small businesses. It also relieves retail outlets smaller than 100 square meters and restaurants with fewer than 50 seats from having to pay value-added and profit taxes; whereas individual entrepreneurs are to be relieved from paying the income tax (Tut.by, March 6). Lukashenka has not yet signed this document. But the fact that it has been drafted by a government ministry is telling.

In the meantime, several state-run industrial giants, notably the Minsk Tractor Factory, the Gomel Agricultural Machinery Plant, and the Belarusian Metallurgy Plant, have stopped incurring losses (Tut.by, April 26). Moreover, in the first quarter of 2017, Belarus's GDP recorded growth (+0.3 percent) for the first time in two years (Tut.by, April 17). The government predicts 1 percent growth for the year (Belta.by, April 18).

When it comes to stereotypes, all or most of them will linger a long time. As per Nickolas Kristof, "when we have a narrative in mind, we often plug in anecdotes that confirm it." Nevertheless, reality will evolve down its own path, undisturbed by popular mythology.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Philippines Choose Chinese Investment Over Territorial Defense

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 5 May 2017 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Philippines Choose Chinese Investment Over Territorial Defense, 5 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c2cd84.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

In early April, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made waves by promising to improve Philippine defenses on islands in the South China Sea. "We have to fortify. I must build bunkers there or houses and make provisions for habitation." Renovation and expansion of facilities on Paga-Asa (Thitu Island) "has my full support" (Philippine Star, April 7; Manila Bulletin, April 17). Additional comments claimed that the Philippine armed forces would seize unoccupied islands, and that Duterte himself would plant a flag in Pag-asa. Duterte adopted this stance after questions were raised about his close relations with China and increasing number of apparent violations of Philippine sovereignty. Philippine defense officials announced in March, for example, that Chinese vessels were detected near Benham Plateau, a subsea formation to the east of Luzon, the Philippines main island (Philippine Star, March 29). However, less than a week later Duterte rolled back these comments "Because of our friendship with China" (ABS-CBN News [Philippines], April 12). Earlier in March Duterte had declared that he did not wish to confront China in the South China Sea and that "I deeply believe the Philippines-China relations will scale new heights (Xinhua, March 17).

Despite winning a judgement against Chinese occupation of islands in the South China Sea before the international court of arbitration in July 2016, Duterte, then newly elected, put the Philippines on a path toward closer relations with China. Most importantly, he also appears to have adopted many of China's attitudes toward economic and strategic issues.

The Philippines are an interesting test case for the effectiveness of Chinese attempts to export values and win allies through economic incentiveseven those with whom it has competing territorial claims.

During his October 2016 state visit to China, Duterte secured $24 billion worth of loans and infrastructure projects (China Brief, November 11, 2016). Economic development is a core plank of Duterte's political appeal, one he is unlikely to risk through real action in the South China Sea. Moreover, his desire for better relations with China appears to go beyond a need for investment. During his meeting with CCP Liaison Department Head Song Tao (), Duterte expressed admiration for the CCP's governance of China, saying he wished to send members of his PDPLaban political party to China to learn (Guangming Daily, February 24). Perhaps unsurprisingly, Duterte's national security policy appears to at least "rhyme" with Chinese President Xi Jinping's "Comprehensive National Security Outlook" ().

Duterte's "National Security Policy 20172022", proposed in October 2016, places internal conflicts (Moro secessionism and the communist insurgency), economic and social threats, poverty, corruption, drugs, food security) as its focusnot external security (Manila Bulletin, March 14). [1] Fiery rhetoric about improving bases aside, budgetary figures indicate that the focus will be on these internal economic and security issuesnot confrontation with China (Rappler, January 21).

A pronounced realignment of resources toward internal security will have long-term negative consequences for the Philippine Armed Forces' ability to challenge Chinese intrusions. A recurring problem with Philippine assertiveness is not just the tremendous imbalance in Filipino vs Chinese military capabilities (for example, the PLA Navy's 9th Zhidui, homeported in Sanya, Hainan province, has more firepower than the entire Philippine Navy) but also in terms of maritime and aerial surveillance. If possession is nine-tenths of the law, then being able to monitor airspace and ship traffic is its maritime equivalent.

The features and islands that the Philippines occupy in many cases lack proper facilities. A handful of Philippine Marines live in the BRP Sierra Madre, a 1940s-era ship run aground on Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal). Pag-asa Island, for example, has a short unpaved airstrip, barely capable of handling C-130 transport planes. The largest occupied island in the Kalayaan municipality, it is home to less than 200 full-time residents. Palawan, the long and narrow island further east, was planned to be the home to an expanded U.S. presence.

"Flight Plan 2028", an overview of the Philippine Air Forces' modernization plans, which was drafted under previous President Benigno Aquino anticipates extending the Philippines' Air Defense Identification Zone to adequately cover the country's Exclusive Economic Zone and claims taking until 2028. Current radars and interception capabilities are insufficient to cover even the majority of Philippine territory, and most of the radars date to the 1960s (see map). [2]

For Duterte, backing down on territorial claims could mean that his government misses out on major economic windfalls. In addition to its importance for fishing, one contended area, Reed Bank is believed to have 115 million barrels of oil and 4.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (Manila Bulletin, November 20, 2016).

Given the Philippines economic problems (12 million Filipinos live in extreme poverty), such a "guns vs butter" calculation is incredibly difficult (Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 18, 2016). Even Duterte's predecessor, President Benigno Aquino backed off some aspects of his ambitious modernization program, noting that for the cost of a single fighter jet, the government could build 2,000 classrooms (Philippine Star, July 22, 2013). Duterte's acceptance of Chinese investment in exchange for not challenging territorial claims has important security implications for the rest of Southeast Asia.

President Duterte has clearly changed the direction of Philippine defense policy, prioritizing achieving internal security and economic prosperity first. However, with Chinese island reclamation projects nearing completion, and expanded U.S. access to Philippine facilities uncertain, Duterte may have traded away the Philippines ability to effectively enforce their claims. It also sets a precedent for other states which face similar hard choices: improve defenses and bring China to the negotiation table over territorial claims, or accept economic investment for acquiescence.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Political Indoctrination in Chinese Colleges

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Zi Yang Publication Date 20 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol China Brief Volume: 17 Issue: 6 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Political Indoctrination in Chinese Colleges, 20 April 2017, China Brief Volume: 17 Issue: 6, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c2da04.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

In a system where ministers are incentivized to report only good news, China's Minister of Education public censure of failures in ideological and political education (; IPE) at Chinese universities came as a surprise (FRI, March 12). A campaign has been underway to intensify IPE since a December 2016 conference on ideological and political work in China's universities and colleges. At the conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping strongly reaffirmed the supremacy of Marxism and socialism in Chinese institutions of higher learning, and pressed for strengthening of ideological and political work to indoctrinate the country's 37 million college students (Xinhua, December 9, 2016). Yet the Minister of Education's criticisms indicate that IPE is not proving successful.

The Status Quo of IPE

Chinese colleges have a long history of radicalism that stirs fear among Party elites. Whether it was the Red Guard movement, the 1989 student demonstrations, or the recent nationalist protests, the college campus, with its proclivity for freethinking, is a place where the Party cannot afford to let go of the reins. Chinese universities are firmly controlled by the state through finances and appointment of administrative leadership. Even outwardly independent private colleges are falling under the control of newly installed Party secretaries with the clear intention of being the "backbone of ideological and political work (China Wenming Online, January 13)."

According to surveys completed by Chinese researchers, the Party enjoys majority support among college students-with one poll showing that 73.3 percent "support" or "strongly support" the Party's leadership. [1] Although we must be aware that China's political climate deeply influences how interviewees answer a survey, research has shown that the Party does have a healthy level of support among college students. [2] Nonetheless, student support for IPE, the Party's signature indoctrination program, is comparatively low.

Mixing Marxism, patriotism, and some traditional Chinese values, IPE aims to rally mass support for the Party, its ideology, and its governance. Taught as a required course, one study shows that 64.4 percent of students are "unsatisfied" with IPE, with another 17.9 percent "very unsatisfied." [3] Likewise, 50 percent of respondents in another study find IPE "almost pointless," but forced themselves to attend due to school rules. Plagiarism and cheating are common due to students' falling enthusiasm. [4] Despite interest in Red Culture (), a set of state sponsored cultural values based on the Chinese Communist Party's revolutionary experience-a notable minority (28.3 percent) of students find Red Culture events (a component of IPE) boring. Over half (53.2 percent) said they were forced to attend, and 60.5 percent view these events as irrelevant to real life. [5]

Why is IPE so Unpopular?

Political indoctrination is rarely fun, especially for students living in a relatively open society. While students demand more discussions, debates and field work, IPE teachers can only continue with monotonous lectures because any exercise involving critical analysis will shatter the perfect image of Marxism. [6] Thus, while Chinese college students loathe IPE for being a "single-voice class" () where the teacher dominates the conversation, changes are less likely to come as it could possibly destroy IPE in its entirety. [7]

IPE is fighting an uphill battle in three areas. The increasing Internet usage by Chinese college students is corroding the hold of official ideology. For example, the officially championed myth of the Chinese Communist Party as the mainstay in expelling Japanese invaders is slowly losing believers, because more and more students are learning the truth from the Internet. [8] Eighty percent of Chinese college students spend more than two hours a day surfing the Web, 92 percent say they use the Internet as a source of information, and 88.9 percent use Weibo (Chinese equivalent of Twitter) and WeChat (Chinese equivalent of WhatsApp)-two apps that allow students some modicum of privacy when discussing current affairs. [9]

The arrival of organized religion to Chinese campuses poses another threat to official ideology. Besides offering mental comfort, organized religious groups serve as a social safety net for students, in comparison to communist political organizations that are fraught with corruption and exclusivism. Recent studies show that interest in religion is gaining strength in Chinese colleges, even in the Communist Youth League. [10] Forty-nine percent of students do not know that Party members must be atheists, and a third (31.4 percent) do not mind campus proselytizing-an act forbidden by the state. [11] While the growing interest in religion has not openly challenged the Party's dominance of campuses, one trend might spell trouble in the near future. In one survey of Xinjiang colleges, 5.8 percent of respondents believe one can force a religion on others. [12] More alarmingly, 8.6 percent agree with the extreme position that spreading one's religion using violent means is permissible. [13]

IPE educators face additional difficulties in areas dominated by ethnic and religious minorities, in particular among Tibetans and the Turkic Muslims of Xinjiang. Few of these groups played major roles in the events of the 20th century that conditioned the contemporary Chinese psyche. Compared to Mongols and Hui Muslims that allied with Chinese communists in the fight against Japan, Tibetans and Turkic Muslims played next to no role in the in the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937-1945) which forms the core of the CCP's national narrative. Moreover, Marxism's anti-religion doctrine makes IPE difficult when teaching Tibetan college students who hold Lamaism in high regard. Most Tibetans live their entire life according to Buddhism precepts and hold deep reverence for their religious leaders. To teach religion as obsolescent is not only deeply offensive to Tibetans, but also counterproductive to IPE in general. [14] The same can be said for Xinjiang, where ethnic Turkic Muslims constitute more than half of the province's population. Although students would pay lip service to the curriculum just so they can graduate, the doctrinaire system of pedagogy is not truly winning over hearts and minds.

The Role of Political Counselors

Outside of the classroom, Political Counselors (; PCs) take care of a student's all-around needs while attending college, and are tasked with shaping his/her ideological and political values. As the "backbone of ideological and political education for college students," PCs are "the organizer, implementer and mentors of college students in everyday ideological and political education and management" (Ministry of Education, July 23, 2006).

Working closely with selected student cadres, the PCs spread the Party's message when students are outside of the classroom. Although the law stipulates that there should be one PC to every 200 students, in reality, personnel shortage makes the ratio much higher. One to 300 or 400 is not an unusual number. In extreme cases, it has been reported that a PC have to take care of 1,000 students, making the job impossible. [15]

Besides being over-encumbered, 56 percent of PCs are unsatisfied with their salary and benefits. To add to the already tense environment, PCs are governed by a dual command regime, where school and department leadership can sometime issue conflicting orders. [16]

Under these circumstances, it is not a surprise to find that some PCs do not even agree with the Party line themselves. One poll shows that 31.92 percent of PCs do not believe in the Marxist dogma that a communist society is inevitable. Straying from the government narrative, close to half (47.1 percent) of PCs do not believe that the income gap will close in ten years. [17]

The Role of Protection Divisions

If IPE teachers and PCs are the softer side of political indoctrination, then Protection Divisions () are the "stick" that police political behavior. Present in every university bureaucracy, the Protection Division have several functions-public safety, fire prevention, registering visitors and temporary workers-and most importantly, political policing. Underneath each Protection Division there is a Political Protection Section (; PPS). While taking on different names at different colleges, the mission of the PPS remain more or less the same-propagate official ideology and counter any attempts by "hostile forces" in influencing students. Although the PPS do not have law enforcement power, a power reserved for the public security police, it does have the power to investigate. [18] Political Protection Informants (), selected from the student body, serve as the PPS's "eyes and ears ()" (Xi'an Shiyou University, June 6, 2014).

Given the secrecy surrounding its work, most PPSs do not publicize their duties, but the PPS of the Harbin Institute of Technology, self-referred to as the Political Protection and State Security Office (), openly declares its responsibilities as the following:

Responsible for propaganda and education of the national security concept, enemy awareness, and political stability. Responsible for understanding, controlling, tracking, and ideological education of key people that can influence political stability. Responsible for carrying out research and information gathering; grasp the ideological trends among faculty and students in a timely and accurate manner to provide the basis for higher-level leadership decision-making. Cooperate with public security and state security police in detecting and investigating cases endangering state security. Responsible for security of important leaders and foreign dignitaries. Assist relevant agencies in implementing security measures for foreign experts, teachers, exchange students, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and visiting foreign staff. Assist relevant agencies to prevent and punish infiltration, incitement, and sabotage of schools by domestic and foreign hostile forces, illegal religious forces, and ethnic separatist forces. Assist relevant agencies in secure management of the campus's computer network system and identification of sources of harmful information. Assist relevant agencies in confidential work. Conduct political review of school staff in accordance with the requirements of relevant agencies. Assist relevant agencies in managing student associations. Conduct basic business work. Establish and improve the management of various data files. Assist other sections and offices in completing tasks. Complete any other mission assigned by the division director (Harbin Institute of Technology).

In essence, PPS is the monitor of campus security and ideological uniformity, in addition to serving as the workhorse of counterintelligence. While IPE staff focus on pedagogy, it is the PPS's mission to keep out unofficial people and ideas. This repressive regime is likely to receive greater state investment due to the risks associated with liberalizing IPE.

Conclusion

Among Chinese college students, support for the Party and government remain strong-at least on paper. However, most students have shown their dissatisfaction with IPE and their inability to intake additional political coursework void of liberal teaching methods. In the future, the state will likely strengthen IPE in the following ways. Firstly, the state will try to assert greater control of the cyber sphere by clamping down on alternative sources of information popular among students-also by intensifying propaganda and counterpropaganda on Weibo and WeChat. Secondly, more PCs will be trained to alleviate the current personnel shortage. Thirdly, greater attention will be diverted to indoctrination in ethnic areas, especially to the Tibetan and Turkic Muslims most susceptible to what the state calls the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism and religious extremism. Finally, there will be a renewed pushback against the spread of religion in colleges, a trend, if unchecked, will present significant challenges in winning over China's brightest young minds.

Zi Yang is an independent researcher and consultant on China affairs. His research centers on Chinese internal security issues. He holds a M.A. from Georgetown University and a B.A. from George Mason University. Follow him on Twitter @MrZiYang.

Notes

Jianbo Dai, "'90'-- [An Empirical Study of Political Identity of College Students Born after 1990-a Study Based on Surveys of Seven Hubei Universities]," Higher Education Exploration, no. 7 (July 2016), p. 105. Yingna Huang, "-- [The Current Situation of University Students' Socialist Core Values]," Modern Education Management, no. 11 (November 2016), p. 99. Xingyu Chen, "--7 [Investigation on Practical Teaching of the Ideological and Political Theory Course in Colleges and Universities: Taking Seven Colleges and Universities in Yunnan Province as Examples]," Journal of Dali University, no. 5 (May 2015), p. 89. Weixia Zhang et al., "--S [Reflections on College Students' Political Participation in Local Universities:Taking S University as an Example]," Meitan Higher Education, no. 3 (May 2016), p. 71; Xingyu Chen, p. 91. Shengqi Luo, Chao Wang, and Qingzhi Zheng, "'' [A Survey of 'Student Recognition and Demand of Red Culture Education in Universities' and Its Enlightenment]," Shanghai Journal of Education Evaluation, no. 5 (October 2016), p. 55; Ibid, p. 57. Haoye Wang and Wu'er Yan, "95-- [An Analysis of Post-1995 Undergraduates' Understanding of Ideological and Political Education-using Beijing Jiaotong University as an Example]," Journal of Chinese Youth Social Science, no. 4 (July 2016), p. 104. Tingjian Lang and Bingzhuo Bai, "-- [Dilemma and Countermeasures of Ideological and Political Course in Colleges and Universities--Based on the Viewpoints of Teaching Faculty]," Social Sciences Journal of Universities in Shanxi, no. 6 (June 2016), pp. 44-45. Qingxin Shi and Anzhou Fu, "''-- [Identity and Its Influencing Factors of the Idea 'The Chinese Communist Party as the Mainstay in the War of Resistance against Japan'- Based on the Questionnaire Survey of Four Universities in Wuhan]," Theory and Reform, no. 3 (May 2016), p. 83. Na Chen, " [Challenges to Teachers of Ideological and Political Course in Colleges on Their Media Literacy in the Circumstances of New Media]," Journal of Urumqi Vocational University, no. 3 (September 2016), p. 15; Qing Min, "-- [Current Situation of College Students' Online Political Participation and the Countermeasures: An Empirical Research in Four Northwest Universities of Hubei Province]," Journal of Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology, no. 4 (April 2016), p. 46. Jianhui Liang, "--1200 [Comparative Analysis on the Current Situation of Religious Fever and Ideological and Political Education in Colleges and Universities- Based on an Empirical Investigation of 1200 National College Students]," Journal of Guangzhou Institute of Socialism, no. 3 (July 2016), p. 104. Hongmei Wang and Lin Gui, pp. 55-56. Fayang Chen, " [An Analysis of the Survey of Religious Penetration of College Students in Xinjiang]," Inheritance & Innovation, no. 10 (October 2015), p. 119. Ibid, p. 120. Shuguang Liu, "-- [Difficulties in the Teaching of the Ideological and Political Theory Course and the Effective Use of Religious Resources in Tibetan Universities-Taking Gansu Normal University for Nationalities as an Example]," Course Education Research, no. 23 (August 2016), p. 64; Longhua Wang, " [On Political Counselor's Methods of Choosing Student Cadres in Colleges and Universities]," Journal of Harbin Vocational & Technical College, no. 2 (March 2013), p. 76; Hongxia Zhou, Xuelong Yang, and Kui Liu, "--2231 [Analysis of Status Quo of and Solutions to Mental Health of College and University Counselors: Empirical Investigation into 2231 Counselors in Zhejiang Province]," Journal of Zhejiang Normal University (Social Sciences), no. 6 (November 2015), p. 92. Yaya Li and Guodong Zhang, "--897 [Construction of College Advisors Team with Humanistic Vision-Based on the Investigation of 897 Counselors in Gansu Province]," Journal of College Advisor, no. 5 (October 2016), p. 38; Haijun Zhao and Junping Fan, " [The Mental State of Ideological Political Work of Political Instructors in Colleges and Universities]," Heilongjiang Science and Technology Information, no. 36 (December 2012), p. 231. Yaya Li and Guodong Zhang, p. 36; Nan Zhao et al., "--20 [The Plight of Marxist Beliefs and beyond Based on a Survey of College Counselors from 20 Universities]," Journal of Chongqing University (Social Science Edition), no. 2 (March 2016), p. 197. Ibid, p. 195. Tianling Wang and Haobin Chi, " [The Innovation of College Security Work in the New Situation]," Ability and Wisdom, no. 27 (September 2016), p. 164.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
New Uzbek President Courts Moscow During State Visit

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Fozil Mashrab Publication Date 24 April 2017 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, New Uzbek President Courts Moscow During State Visit, 24 April 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c2e2c4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Uzbekistan's new head of state, President Shavkat Mirziyaev made his first official visit to Moscow, on April 45. Though the visit was in fact the Uzbekistani leader's third foreign trip as president, after traveling to neighboring Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, Russian commentators nevertheless called it Mirziyaev's most important foreign visit since his election in early December 2016. Uzbekistani officials reportedly concurred that the visit was a historic one, elevating relations to a qualitatively new level never seen before (Sputniknews-uz.com, April 5).

The results of the visit indicate that Uzbekistan under Mirziyaev will continue to stay out of Russian-led regional economic and military-political blocks, like the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). But Tashkent is apparently prepared to remove all barriers and restrictions to furthering all-round and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. In a new development, President Mirziyaev will rely on Kremlin-friendly Russian oligarchs of Uzbek originlike the chairman of UMS Holding, Alisher Usmanov, and the owner of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Company, Iskander Mahmudovto make substantial investments into Uzbekistan's economy. Most of the lucrative investment and economic cooperation deals agreed to during the visit (together valued at $16 billion), such as the creation of new mining and metallurgical plants in Uzbekistan, the supply of at least half a million tons of Russian oil to Uzbekistani refineries, and other projects, would be financed using the private capital of these two Russian businessmen, who enjoy close personal relations with both President Mirziyaev and President Vladimir Putin (Ozodlik Radiosi, April 6).

In return for facilitating Uzbekistan's agricultural, textile, automobile and other exports to the Russian market, the government in Tashkent significantly reduced or completely removed excise taxes on Russian-made cars, rolled steel, food items and construction materials (Mk.ru, April 5). Both sides also reached a landmark agreement on the orderly recruitment of migrant laborers from Uzbekistan for temporary employment in Russia. Uzbekistan's officials hailed the agreement as a great success and an important document for ensuring the protection of the legal rights of the Uzbekistani migrant workers in Russia, who are often subjected to police abuse and rights violations by some unscrupulous employers. The usefulness of the said labor agreement will eventually be judged by the real impact it makes on the lives of around two million migrant workers. Importantly, however, it does not exempt Uzbekistani guest workers from any of the existing obligations imposed on migrants from non-EEU countries, such as compulsory residence registration and buying costly work permits (Ut.uz, April 11).

As expected, military-technical cooperation was singled out as another important area for bilateral ties (see EDM, February 15). On the day Mirziyaev landed in Moscow, the State Duma (lower house of the Russian parliament) ratified the military-technical cooperation agreement between the two sides, which was signed in November 2016. According to Vladimir Drojjov, the deputy head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Uzbekistan placed orders for the purchase of Russian military helicopters, the repair of military airplanes and tanks, and for ammunition supplies. Moreover, both sides are reportedly in talks over opening service centers and joint enterprises in Uzbekistan for the maintenance of Russian-made military equipment and the modernization of Soviet-era armored vehicles and tanks (Pnp.ru, April 5).

It was also underlined that both countries have similar positions regarding various global and regional issues of mutual interest. Uzbekistan's president said that he will support all Russian international initiatives that help to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan. He further promised to send an Uzbekistani delegation to attend an international conference on Afghanistan, which was scheduled to take place in Moscow on April 14. Most likely, these international initiatives toward Afghanistan do not include the Kremlin's suspicious contacts with and support for the Taliban, which were exposed by both US and Afghan officials (see EDM, February 1; VOA, April 11). Previously, one of the reasons cited for Uzbekistan's withdrawal from the CSTO in 2012 was the disagreement with Russia over approaches toward Afghanistan (News-asia.ru, June 29, 2012).

When Mirziyaev became president of Uzbekistan, Russian commentators dubbed him a "pro-Russian politician" due to his supposedly close ties with Kremlin-friendly Russian billionaires of Uzbek origin. Rumors also spread that Putin used his influence to back Mirziyaev during the succession struggle in Uzbekistan, following the sudden death of the late president Islam Karimov in September 2016 (Haqqin.az, September 9, 2016). Given all this, it was quite surprising that during Mirziyaev's visit to Moscow, there were no public pronouncements of support by the Russian leadership toward the Uzbekistani president's domestic reform agenda. And this is despite the fact that the Mirziyaev reforms include economic liberalization plans that would benefit all foreign investors, not least Russian companies working in Uzbekistan.

On the other hand, Uzbekistan's reform program, called "Development Strategies 20172021," has already received strong support from international financial institutions like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, as well as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (News.uzreport.uz, January 19; Uza.uz, March 3; Gazeta.uz, March 16). United States President Donald Trump also reportedly hailed the Uzbekistani leader's reformist agenda in his recent Navruz greetings by highlighting the progress and reforms that President Mirziyaev was undertaking in the country (President.uz, April 1). International support could help President Mirziyaev consolidate his power at home and persevere with his reformist agenda, despite strong resistance from certain powerful domestic rivals (Reuters, March 5).

According to observers well-versed in Russian behavior within the former Soviet space, the potential for Mirziyaev's Uzbekistan to genuinely become a strategic partner of and an ally to Russia will mostly depend on Russia itself. It is not a matter of how generous the Kremlin is with investments; rather, it will hinge on the Russian leadership's political tact and its understanding of the limits of Russian influence in Uzbekistan. Indeed, the latter country usually does not tolerate outside meddling or patronage. Instead, Uzbekistan prefers to keep all great powers at arm's length and to distance itself from military-political unions and blocs. Any acts of jealousy or ill-will on the part of Moscow over Uzbekistan's contacts with other countries and investors, including Western ones that could benefit this Central Asian republic's economy and serve the country's interests, would not be received well in Tashkent. Whether Russia is capable of nurturing the current unprecedented willingness from Uzbekistan for all-round and comprehensive cooperation remains to be seen. Successful bilateral cooperation will largely depend on the Kremlin's ability to understand and accept these realities (Rosbalt.ru, April 12).

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Nazarbayev's Call for Latin Alphabet for Kazakh Worries Russia

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author George Voloshin Publication Date 25 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 54 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Nazarbayev's Call for Latin Alphabet for Kazakh Worries Russia, 25 April 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 54, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c2ee84.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev authored an article, on April 12, in the government-owned newspaper Egemen Kazakhstan (in Kazakh: Independent Kazakhstan) under the intriguing title "Looking Into the Future: Modernization of Public Conscience." The phrase "public conscience" actually stands for the way Kazakhstani citizens view themselves in the world and identify with their country. Nazarbayev has long called for a change of outlook given the effects of globalization, Eurasian integration and Kazakhstan's increased role in regional affairs. While his article is, as could be expected, full of grandiloquent promises to strengthen Kazakh cultural identity while pursuing modernization in all notable spheres, Nazarbayev also touches upon a particularly sensitive linguistic issue. Specifically, the president suggests changing the current Kazakh alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin. The whole process, he declares, needs to be finalized by 2025, but an active propagation of the new script will commence with the state's backing as early as 2018. The government's policy input is due by then (Kazday.kz, Akorda.kz, April 12).

The Latin alphabet was used in Kazakhstan between 1929 and 1940, when Soviet authorities decided it was time to switch back to Cyrillic. In fact, a special, so-called "missionary" version of Cyrillic had been developed in the 19th century by learned Russian immigrants settled in Kazakh lands as part of the geographic expansion of the Russian Empire into Central Asia. A prominent Kazakh educator, Ybray Altynsarin, had greatly contributed to the mass introduction of Cyrillic among native Kazakh speakers. It was in use until the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Prior to that, Kazakhs had been using a 29-character Arabic script with a few modifications to reflect phonetic specificities. Written Arabic had been present throughout Kazakhstan since the tenth century. For Nazarbayev, the 1940 decision to return to Cyrillic was purely "political" and did not reflect the cultural reality of Kazakhstan nor its linguistic history (Tengrinews.kz, April 14; Today.kz, April 12).

The domestic debate about a transition to Latin has been underway since 2007, when then-culture minister, Yermukhamet Yertysbayev, publicly voiced Nazarbayev's thoughts. Since then, this issue has regularly reappeared in the official discourse, only to be quickly forgotten again due to a lack of concrete follow-through proposals. In 2013, a group of linguists and well-known individuals from the arts and academia published an open letter criticizing any change of script, citing the unintended consequences of such a move. Among them, the letter authors suggested, a change to the Latin alphabet would generate additional difficulties that ordinary Kazakhs would encounter in trying to master their own tongue. Under the 1995 Constitution (revised in 1997, 2007, 2010 and 2017), which is currently in force, Kazakh is the official language, while Russian has the status of a "language of inte-rethnic communication" (Akorda.kz, April 5, 2017; Zonakz.net, February 13, 2013; Kazpravda.kz, February 3, 2007).

In reality, Russian is still widely used today in the media, education, healthcare and science. While Kazakh is massively spoken in rural areas, Russian remains dominant in the urban setting. Many young people are unable to speak Kazakh fluently, because their parents either do not know the language themselves or made a voluntary decision to not teach it at a time when it did not seem to serve any particular purpose. A special phrase even exists in Kazakhstan to designate those not using their language in daily life-"shala Kazakh" ("shala" means "raw" or "incomplete"), in contrast with "nagyz" or "true" Kazakhs. It is also not uncommon for Kazakhs to recognize each other's regional provenance by the level of proficiency in the official language. Natives of western and southern provinces are usually confident Kazakh speakers, whereas those who come from northern and eastern Kazakhstan, where Russia's cultural influence has been strongest, prefer Russian instead (Nomad.su, April 20, 2012).

The most important question today is what is driving President Nazarbayev's thinking. To many, it mirrors his desire to wean Kazakhstan away from Russia, even though the two countries are founding members of several high-profile regional organizations, such as the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The Russian government has so far abstained from commenting on the story. Russian President Vladimir Putin's special representative for cultural affairs, former culture minister Mikhail Shvydkoy, only said that abandoning Cyrillic in favor of Latin could further detach many Kazakhs from the Russian language. Meanwhile, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, a pro-government newspaper, published an article entitled "Kazakhstan's Transition to Latin is a Signal for Russia." Others went further, such as Moskovsky Komsomolets, a popular Russian daily. It released an interview with Daniil Kislov, the editor-in-chief of the Fergana News Agency, whom it identified as its own "expert"; Kislov said that Kazakhstan would eventually find itself in a state of cultural and economic "backwardness" (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, April 18; Nezavisimaya Gazeta, April 13; Moskovsky Komsomolets, April 12).

In contrast, some Kazakh experts believe that the move is well-calculated and will result in "de-colonization," meaning a radical departure from the former master, Russia. "This is a symbolic decision that will accompany Kazakhstan's exit from the Russian orbit known as Russkiy Mir [the 'Russian World']," Almaty-based political scientist Aydos Sarym told the media. While this may be true to a certain extent, Nazarbayev's main motive is probably concerned more with reaching out to Turkey than escaping from Russia. In 2009, Turkey, Kazakhstan and a number of fellow countries from Central Asia and the South Caucasus founded the Turkic Cooperation Council. Kazakhstan has long been associating itself with the Turkic world and counts Turkey among its closest friends and trade partners (Dsnews.ua, April 13; Svoboda.org, April 12).

Although Turkey has a troubled relationship with Europe, it stands on the doorstep to the West; hence, the country is seen as the ultimate role model in Kazakhstan. Making the transition from Cyrillic to Latin could potentially help Kazakh become more accessible to foreigners and better integrate Kazakhs into the global information space. It is a tall order, and the road will be bumpy. Azerbaijan successfully implemented its own transition in the early 1990s, followed by a less fortunate Turkmenistan where a new, slightly adjusted script was introduced in 2000. Uzbekistan has been experimenting with Cyrillic and Latin for almost 20 years and only recently started printing new banknotes with Latin characters. It bears noting that all the above post-Soviet countries have-to a greater or lesser extent-exited the Russian orbit of influence, drifting toward Turkey or into neutrality. Only time will show where Kazakhstan's journey will end (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, April 13; Gazeta.ru, April 12).

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Putin Calls for Safe Zones in Syria Under Russian Supervision

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 4 May 2017 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Putin Calls for Safe Zones in Syria Under Russian Supervision, 4 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c2f6d4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

In an apparent attempt to revive the so-called "Astana peace process"peace talks between the Syrian government and armed opposition in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, under the auspices of Russia, Turkey and Iran (see EDM, February 15, March 20)Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a seemingly bold plan to establish safe zones in Syria. These areas would apparently be under the control of the moderate Syrian opposition but would also be "no-fly zones," where the Russian aerospace forces (VKS) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's air force would restrain from carrying out aerial bombardments (Militarynews.ru, May 4). The Geneva peace talks, involving al-Assad's government and the political wing of the Syrian opposition, and guided by the United Nations' Syria mediator, Staffan de Mistura, are completely deadlocked. The Astana talks were intended to revive the stalled peace process by involving the moderate opposition's military leaders directly and to deal with the practical matters of reinforcing a fragile ceasefire announced by Russia and Turkey at the end of December (see EDM, January 26).

Since the first Astana get-together last January, this separate peace process seemed to be going nowheredeadlocked as any other Syrian conflict resolution discussion. But now, Moscow is pressing for a memorandum on the establishment of safe "de-escalation" zones. Putin has phoned United States President Donald Trump to gain his support; and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during his summit with Putin in Sochi, on May 3, already announced his backing for the idea (Militarynews.ru, May 4). Western and Arab leaders have long been clamoring for the establishment of "no-fly" zones to protect the Syrian opposition and civilians from indiscriminate bombing by al-Assad's air force, but Russia has previously opposed such a solution. In February 2016, the Kremlin angrily rejected a proposal by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to create a no-fly zone along the Syrian-Turkish border extending to Aleppo, which was then besieged by al-Assad's and allied forces (TASS, February 18, 2016). After the fall of Aleppo in December 2016, and after his inauguration on January 20, Trump called for the establishment of safe zones in Syria to protect civilians. Moscow and Damascus did not reject Trump out of hand like Merkel: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed that safe zones may appear, if the conditions are right and if al-Assad consents (Militarynews.ru, January 31).

Damascus has announced it agrees with Putin's initiative to create de-escalation zones (Militarynews.ru, May 3). According to Russian paper Kommersant's sources, there will be four "safe" rebel-controlled de-escalation zones in Syria: the rebel-controlled province of Idlib, in the north; a zone north of Homs, in the center of the country; Western Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, east of downtown; and also an area in the south, bordering Jordan. Military activities in these zones will cease, and peace will be ensured by the deployment of armed peacekeepers or observers, which apparently could be Turkish soldiers in the north, Jordanian in the south, as well as Russian military police battalions, manned by Chechen and other Russian North Caucasian Sunni Muslims. As the ceasefire regime consolidates, humanitarian aid will be provided and reconstruction work may begin (Kommersant, May 3).

Russia's chief negotiator in Astana and Putin's special representative on Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev, told reporters about "four zones" but apparently indicated that eventually more "zones" could be created in Syria. According to Lavrentyev, "four zones where al-Assad's forces are engaged in heavy fighting with the al-Nusra Front [renamed Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in mid-2016] and the moderate opposition, will be specially designated." In these four zones, the "moderate opposition will take over and fight the terrorists [the Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham], supported by the guaranteeing powers [Turkey, Russia and Iran]." As the opposition rebels turn against the hard-line Islamists, their confrontation with al-Assad's forces will decrease, and the ceasefire will strengthen, Lavrentyev argued (Militarynews.ru, May 4).

According to Putin, despite the creation of safe zones, the war on "terrorists" in Syria will continue, while the Russian VKS and al-Assad's air force "may stop bombing the de-escalation zones if military activity on the ground ceases" (Militarynews.ru, May 4). These de-escalation zones will not be "no-fly" zones per sethe Russian VKS will apparently continue sorties unabated, while al-Assad's bombers will apparently be banned from overflying the designated safe areas, though they will not be "grounded" completely; there will be no outside policing of the partial no-fly compliance. Putin, in effect, is offering the Syrian opposition a tough deal: to die hard or sign up as de facto collaborators.

The Syrian opposition delegation in Astana is led by Mohammed Alloush, the leader of Jaysh al-Islama coalition of Islamist and Salafist units primarily operating in the Damascus area, in the cities of Douma and Eastern Ghouta. On May 4, the de-escalation memorandum was signed in Astana by representatives of Turkey, Russia and Iran. The Syrian opposition did not sign: Alloush did not appear at the signing, while other opposition representatives loudly protested Iran's signature on the memorandum (Interfax, May 4). Nonetheless, it was announced in Astana that the implementation of the memorandum would begin without delay. All hostilities within the designated zones between the moderate opposition and al-Assad's forces must stop, while the designated de-escalation zones will be surrounded by checkpoints and security zones (Interfax, May 4).

It is not clear whether Alloush will comply with the agreement or if al-Assad's forces will allow Jaysh al-Islam and its allies to turn Eastern Ghouta into a designated fiefdom. Nor is it readily apparent what the other major opposition fractions will do. Moscow wants to split the Syrian rebels and has been trying to establish contacts with Ahrar al-Sham in particulara dominant Islamist force in Idlib province. The Russian ambassador in Damascus, Alexander Kinshak, recently praised Ahrar al-Sham as a force actively opposing Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. According to Kinshak, fighting a common enemy may consolidate the moderate Syrian opposition, including Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam and the Free Syria Army, with al-Assad's forces (Interfax, February 7).

Moscow wants to win the Syrian war and use this victory as a basis of a future dominant role in the Middle East. But this is impossible to achieve only through bombing: Moscow must split and undermine internal Syrian and international resistance to its actions. If Trump, Erdogan and Merkel want "safe zones" in Syria for a public relations win and to curtail the flow of refugees, they may have them, the Kremlin apparently believes. Selected Syrian opposition warlords may, in turn, receive designated fiefdoms"de-escalation zones." Such a strategy worked in Chechnya; it could work in Syria. Or at least that is seemingly the plan.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Somalia: Ramping up Action on al-Shabaab

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Alexander Sehmer Publication Date 21 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 8 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Somalia: Ramping up Action on al-Shabaab, 21 April 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 8, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c2fbf4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Somalia's recently elected president has declared "war" on al-Shabaab and offered an amnesty to militants who lay down their weapons, backing his rhetoric with an overhaul of the country's security establishment aimed at strengthening efforts to defeat the group.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo made his declaration dressed in military fatigues at a news conference on April 6 (Horseed Media, April 6). Part of his efforts involve a 60-day amnesty for militants willing to surrender - promising training and jobs to those willing to desert the group - but he has also replaced the leaders of the army, police and national intelligence service (Garowe, April 6).

The new military chief is General Ahmed Mohamed Jimale Irfid, who survived an assassination attempt just three days after his appointment - an al-Shabaab suicide car bomb struck his convoy as it was leaving the defense ministry, killing at least 15 people (Hiiraan, April 9). The militants claimed military officials were among the dead, though that has not been borne out by media reports, which say the fatalities were mainly civilians in a passing minibus that was caught in the blast.

Taking over the intelligence services is Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe, a former ambassador to the United Kingdom. Sanbaloolshe has held the position before - in 2014, he was head of Somalia's national intelligence and security agency for a matter of months before being sacked as a result of a political dispute (Garowe, September 7, 2014).

Sanbaloolshe is thought to be an able pick for the job, but he faces a daunting task and will need to re-build many burnt bridges. Moves to overhaul Somalia's security structures and improve coordination and intelligence sharing between the central authorities and state-level actors have been a long time coming but do finally appear to be making some progress (Goobjoog, April 17). There is still a ways to go, however. A lack of a properly integrated national intelligence framework is considered to be a major hindrance in the fight against al-Shabaab, especially when faced with al-Shabaab's own fearsome and effective Amniyat intelligence wing.

The changes to the security services come amid a marked increase in militant activity in Mogadishu. Car bombs and mortar attacks are becoming more frequent. On April 16, militants attacked the airport, killing two people (Garowe, April 16). On April 18, at least five people were killed and several others injured when mortar shells struck a primary school (Garowe, April 19).

President Farmajo hopes his new appointments will be able to deliver a tougher response. No doubt he has also been influence by the hardening U.S. stance toward al-Shabaab (Horseed Media, March 30). That has included the deployment of dozens of troops to Somalia, the largest such effort since the ill-fated mission to Mogadishu in 1993.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Pakistan: Terror Arrest Puts Spotlight on Universities

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Alexander Sehmer Publication Date 21 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 8 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Pakistan: Terror Arrest Puts Spotlight on Universities, 21 April 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 8, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c302a4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Pakistani security forces in Lahore have foiled an alleged plot to bomb a church over Easter, capturing a suspected female militant in the process whose subsequent confession has provoked much media interest and raised concerns about the extent of radicalization in Pakistan's universities.

Noreen Leghari, a second year medical student at Liaquat University in Sindh province, was arrested after an army raid foiled the planned Easter Sunday attack. Her husband, who appears to have masterminded the plot, was killed in the ensuing shootout, and security forces recovered explosives and suicide jackets at the scene (Dawn, April 16). In a videotaped confession, Leghari told the authorities she had travelled to Lahore of her own free will and was to be a suicide bomber in the operation (Samaa, April 17; The News, April 18).

Leghari had been missing from her family home in Hyderabad since February. Police appear to have been aware that she had circulated extremist material online before going missing, and they suspected that she had joined Islamic State (IS) and travelled to Syria for training (Dawn, April 17). Her family, meanwhile, insists she was kidnapped and say she has no connection with the group (Punjab News Express, April 17).

Wading into the media coverage, Liaquat University, where Leghari was studying, has been keen to distance itself from events. Vice Chancellor Naushad Sheikh characterized Lehjari to journalists as an introvert and suggested she was radicalized online and recruited through social media, rather than as a result of anyone she encountered on the campus (Geo News, April 17). The university's concerns are understandable. Pakistani institutions feel unfairly characterized as places of radicalization, but they battle against bad publicity and claims their administrations do too little to tackle the issue.

This month a journalism student at Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan was killed by a lynch mob of fellow students, apparently for posting "blasphemous" material online (Dawn, April 15). So far 24 people have been arrested, and the university has suspended seven of its employees (Geo News, April 18). Last year, counter-terrorism forces rounded up lecturers at institutions across Punjab province accused of having connections to the banned Islamist group Hizbut Tahrir (The News, June 13, 2016). Meanwhile, in Sindh, one report suggested about a dozen female students have gone missing from institutions across the province, ostensibly to join IS (The News, March 18).

Such incidents suggest fears about Pakistani universities cannot be entirely dismissed. While young Pakistanis - in keeping with their tech-savvy counterparts elsewhere in the world - doubtless face dangers online, recent events suggest the country's universities need to do more to combat radicalization on their campuses.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
AQIM's Alliance in Mali: Prospects for Jihadist Preeminence in West Africa

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Jacob Zenn Publication Date 21 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 8 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, AQIM's Alliance in Mali: Prospects for Jihadist Preeminence in West Africa, 21 April 2017, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 8, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c31014.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Trends in the two main theaters of jihadist activity in West Africa have moved in al-Qaeda's favor in recent months. In the Mali/Sahel region, the formation of a new alliance has consolidated al-Qaeda's position as the preeminent jihadist force in the region, while in Nigeria/Lake Chad, the faction of Boko Haram loyal to Islamic State (IS)  known formally as West Africa Province  has stayed relatively quiet and even shown continued signs of an ideological and logistical disconnect from its parent organization.

With the IS leadership currently in too much disarray in Libya and too distracted in Syria to consistently focus on West Africa, it is unlikely IS will be able to compete in the long-term with al-Qaeda for supremacy over jihadist groups in West Africa. Instead, al-Qaeda's strategy of "localization"  which it has employed to a greater or lesser extent successfully in theaters such as Syria and Yemen  is likely to see al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) gaining increasing prominence as jihadism in West Africa becomes both more local and more diffuse.

The establishment of the new alliance, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM, Group of Supporters of Islam and Muslims), in Mali in March 2017 sees al-Qaeda's "localization" strategy at its most effective. It also demonstrates how adaptable al-Qaeda can be. The group can continue to exist in the region as an umbrella organization, accepting new members and groups tied to it by interpersonal and strategic bonds, while making open affiliation with IS and the massacre of civilians redlines for membership.

Al-Qaeda Alliance in Mali: JNIM

When the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra merged with Syrian rebel groups to become (or at least appear to become) a more locally rooted organization and reduce its al-Qaeda "branding," it did so with the approval of a Syria-based deputy of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. The al-Qaeda leader himself would have rejected such a merger because many of the groups with which Jabhat al-Nusra merged were too secular or outwardly nationalist for al-Zawahiri's liking. An al-Qaeda insider has revealed that Jabhat al-Nusra's localization in Syria was nonetheless consistent with al-Qaeda's overall philosophy, but this specific merger represented an "organizational dispute" with al-Qaeda leadership that, once undertaken, could not be reversed. As a consequence, al-Qaeda's leadership has subsequently accepted it (s04.justpaste.it, April 4).

In direct contrast, the formation of JNIM in Mali was welcomed wholeheartedly by AQIM leader Abdelmalek Droukdel and al-Qaeda's General Command, including al-Zawahiri (justpaste.it/14k9a, March 17).

The new alliance brings together leaders of multiple ethnic groups, including: Ag Ghaly, the ethnically Tuareg leader of Ansar Dine who is the overall leader of JNIM; Muhammed Kufa, the ethnically Fulani leader of Ansar Dine sub-affiliate Katiba Macina; Yahia Abu al-Hamam, the ethnically Algerian Arab leader of AQIM's Sahara Region; the AQIM Islamic law judge Abou Abderrahman al-Senhadji, who is ethnically Berber; and al-Hasan al-Ansari, a Malian Tangara Arab (referring to his clan's Mauritanian ancestry) who is the deputy leader of al-Mourabitun (al-Masra #42, March 6).

This allows al-Qaeda to portray itself as a pan-Islamic movement unconstrained by tribalism, something particularly important in the context of AQIM's earlier bias in favor Algerian Arabs.

The inclusion of Kufa's Katiba Macina group  the name Macina is a reference to a historic Fulani Islamic emirate of central Mali  is a particular boon. Kufa was a leader of the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA) in 2013 when the group controlled parts of northern Mali and began shifting toward central Mali. By bringing him into the JNIM alliance, AQIM can consolidate its presence among Fulanis in central Mali where in previous years it has had limited operations.

The group has so far seen one setback  a key "sub-faction" that had been expected to join JNIM's orbit, the relatively new Burkina Faso-based Ansaroul Islam, has openly criticized it. Ansaroul Islam's leader, Mallam Dicko, may suspect JNIM chief Ag Ghaly is an Algerian agent, or be unimpressed by his Salafist credentials, especially considering Dicko appears to be an even more radical Salafi-jihadist than AQIM members (Alakhbar.info, April 16).

Given Ansaroul Islam's increasingly high level of operations and impact in a part of the Sahel that formerly experienced almost no jihadist activity, it is likely the group has backing from a larger entity (Lemonde.fr, April 9). Burkina Faso says the group's supporters are members of the former government deposed in a coup in 2016, but it is also possible that the IS faction in northern Burkina Faso under Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, who was also a MUJWA leader, is working with it (Aib.bf, March 24). Indeed, pro-IS channels on social media have announced that a new pledge of allegiance to IS "from the Sahel" will be forthcoming, although they have not identified Ansaroul Islam by name. Al-Qaeda supporters dismiss the reports as a "myth" intended to embellish IS' strength in the Sahel.

Strengthened Position in Northern Mali

The emergence of JNIM comes as Mali is attempting to implement the Algiers Accord of 2015, a peace deal agreed between the government and armed groups in northern Mali. AQIM's sustained attacks  or, since March 2017, JNIM's attacks  undermine the Malian people's confidence in the agreement. Moreover, JNIM can portray itself as an indigenously rooted alternative if the new regional government's attempts at bringing together various former rebels fails (Liberation.fr, March 3). Ag Ghaly, familiar with Mali's political terrain from his former life as a Malian diplomat in Saudi Arabia, which is where he developed his Salafist worldview, can be expected to exploit any failure in the Algiers Accord's implementation.

The JNIM alliance represents the most effective employment of al-Qaeda's localization strategy and puts a nail in the coffin of IS' hopes to grow its own network in West Africa, even if Ansaroul Islam announces a pledge to IS caliph Abubakr al-Baghdadi.

IS can still count as loyal the faction of Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, whose pledge of allegiance to al-Baghdadi was aired by IS in October 2016, as well as that of another former MUJWA commander, Hamadou Kheiry. But al-Sahrawi has been quiet for several months, and Kheiry has done little since announcing his loyalty to IS in 2015.

Both factions would seem to benefit from Ansaroul Islam joining IS, although it is unclear what financial or other benefits they could offer Dicko's group. It may therefore be the case that a link with Ansaroul Islam is mostly ideological, albeit IS propaganda support could significantly upgrade Ansaroul Islam from the platform it currently uses  Facebook. There could also be a latent MUJWA connection, given that Dicko too is a former member.

Islamic State's Faltering West Africa Network

Further south in the Nigeria/Lake Chad region, IS has a more effective operational presence, but has seen limited success on the propaganda and ideological end. Its West Africa Province  the Abu Musab al-Barnawi-led faction of Boko Haram  is still loyal to al-Baghdadi, but has issued only a single video since Abu Musab al-Barnawi deposed Abubakr Shekau as leader in August 2016. Even then, that video's narrative was tailored more toward contextualizing events in Nigeria in order to encourage IS sectarian narratives in Syria and Iraq, rather than inspire jihadists in Nigeria or the Lake Chad region (the video portrayed Iranian and Shia influence in Nigeria, for example) (archive.org, February 13).

While some West Africa Province propaganda photos released by IS have shown its hisba (sharia enforcement) patrols in villages around Lake Chad, West Africa Province's de-facto reign over territories it has held in northern Borno State since 2014 has otherwise rarely been featured in IS propaganda. Indeed, this may be because West Africa Province is barely governing its territory. Unlike IS, which enforces its social provisions, West Africa Province allows the population in areas it controls to live with little interference, as long as they avoid collaborating with the Nigerian government (Naji.com, March 28).

In addition to the apparent disconnect between West Africa Province and the IS media apparatus, which likely reflects a broader disconnect to IS leadership, the group also appears to be coordinating with various cells in Nigeria that are or were part of Ansaru, the now operationally dormant al-Qaeda sub-group in Nigeria.

Such coordination would be unlikely if these Ansaru members believed West Africa Province was behaving toward the population in the same way IS does in Syria and Iraq. Indeed, evidence from conversations between West Africa Province leaders suggests the main area where West Africa Province does respect IS orders is the kidnapping of women, including the Chibok schoolgirls (Sahara Reporters, August 5, 2016).

West Africa Province leaders claim al-Baghdadi has permitted them to take captive only Christian women, not Muslims, even if the Muslim women are "apostates" who participate in democracy. Shekau, by contrast, considers any apostate  whether Muslim or Christian  to be deserving of enslavement and does not trust the West Africa Province leaders' claims about relaying al-Baghdadi's orders on the issue of slavery. In all other respects, West Africa Province appears not to take orders from IS on day-to-day affairs.

Developments in Kogi State

The West Africa Province-Ansaru relationship can be seen most prominently in developments in Nigeria's Kogi State, which, like virtually all states south of Abuja, has been largely free from attacks since the start of the insurgency in 2009. There have, however, been a small number of notable incidents that show Ansaru is the main group to have a presence there, including:

an ambush by Ansaru in late 2012 on Mali-bound Nigerian troops before the French-led intervention that ousted AQIM, MUJWA and Ansar Dine from northern Mali commenced in 2013 (Vanguard, January 20, 2013);

the arrest of Ansaru leader Khalid al-Barnawi in April 2016 (Vanguard, December 28, 2016); and

a series of raids on bomb-making factories and prison breaks in 2012-2013, although these were not claimed by Ansaru or any other faction (Leadership, April 6, 2012).

Kogi State came back into the spotlight in February 2017 when the Nigerian government reported that a Kogi-based group called the Muslim Brotherhood  with no apparent relation to the Egypt-founded global Islamist group of the same name  had sent fighters for training with IS in Libya.

Some of these fighters are now returning to Nigeria. In February, members of the new group attacked police stations in Okehi, Kogi State, killing two people (thecable.ng, February 10; Premium Times, February 10).

A possible explanation for this Kogi State-Libya nexus is that the Salafist extremist cells that have reportedly been brewing in Kogi for years have finally connected with a broader umbrella jihadist movement, such as IS (Newsrescue.com, October 28, 2015).

It may also be the case that Ansaru cells in Kogi have grown impatient with the operational dormancy of Ansaru, left the group to form the Muslim Brotherhood and then traveled to Libya with West Africa Province's support (al-Risalah, January 10). The overlap between the Muslim Brotherhood sending fighters to Libya and Ansaru can be seen in reports from the Nigerian security forces in northwestern Nigeria, where Ansaru was formed in 2011, that say at least two Ansaru cells there have been sending fighters to train with IS in Libya (Thenewsnigeria.com.ng, August 22, 2016; Premium Times; February 9, 2016).

While some Nigerians traveled to Libya independently to fight with IS, West Africa Province has likely facilitated others  at least five men and one child have featured in IS propaganda in Libya, and several Nigerian women have been recorded as married to IS fighters.

The reason for this coordination is that West Africa Province, Ansaru and presumably the Muslim Brotherhood share a common ideology, history (West Africa Province's key leaders were former Ansaru members), area of operations and strategic objectives in Nigeria that make experience and training in Libya mutually beneficial. The West Africa Province-planned attack on the U.S. and UK embassies, for example, which was exposed in April, reflects the long-standing "far enemy" targets of Ansaru (Vanguard, April 12).

In sum, the new Muslim Brotherhood group is likely related to Ansaru and both the Muslim Brotherhood and Ansaru may be cooperating with West Africa Province for mutual gain, regardless of their affiliations.

The State of Play for JAS

Boko Haram's faction under the leadership of Abubakr Shekau  known as Jamaat Ahlisunnah Liddaawati Wal-Jihad (JAS)  is neither affiliated to al-Qaeda nor IS and is operating independently but keeping a hand extended to IS.

It still claims to be an Islamic State in West Africa and issues video footage with IS branding, even though its films are not made or promoted by IS, and Shekau still declares al-Baghdadi to be the caliph. That aside, West Africa Province (and mainstream Muslims more generally) criticize JAS for its killing of Muslims civilians who Shekau deems to be "apostates" for not joining his group.

JAS has been engaged in a new narrative campaign targeting Nigeria's Salafists and Ansaru sympathizers. JAS argues that Nigeria's largest Islamic group, the Salafist/Wahhabist Izala movement, was wrong to have ultimately rejected the preaching of Boko Haram founder Muhammed Yusuf, whose blood JAS says "is valuable to us, more valuable than the blood of all Nigerians, all Nigerians, starting from [Nigerian President Muhammadu] Buhari, his aides, ministers, judges, military and everyone" (Youtube, April 3).

At the same time, JAS has reaffirmed its commitment to Yusuf's successor, Shekau, who JAS describes as "the strong, courageous one, feared by the West, who is now the biggest threat to Nigeria." Two other recent JAS videos have focused specifically on JAS attacks in Cameroon. They also, for the first time in JAS' media output, highlighted French-speaking fighters, suggesting Shekau is trying to break out of his isolation by targeting Nigerian Salafist/Wahhabist and Cameroonians (Youtube, April 1; Vanguard, February 27).

Despite JAS's "outreach," West Africa Province's Abu Musab al-Barnawi  along with his close allies Mamman Nur and Abu Fatima, both of whom used to operate with Ansaru  continues to criticize Shekau's killing of fellow Muslims (Sahara Reporters, August 5, 2016). This criticism, which is the same as that al-Qaeda levies against IS, suggests there are ideological differences between the leaders of West Africa Province and the leadership of IS, even if for the time being West Africa Province's belief in the legitimacy of al-Baghdadi's position as IS caliph supersedes these differences.

Ansaru, for its part, is leaderless and largely inactive operationally, even if its members or former members still engage in jihadist activities. Some supporters still post on Facebook and criticize Shekau. Historically, Ansaru criticized Shekau not only for his killing of Muslims civilians and his bizarre mannerisms  such as a "crotch-scratching" incident during his video claiming the bombing of the Grand Mosque in Kano in November 2014  but also his apparent heterodoxy (al-Hiddaya, February 10, 2015). For example, Ansaru supporters in a video posted on Facebook declared Shekau as an apostate for saying that Jesus Christ was not born through the word of God (Zalunci Haram, April 1).

Maintaining Preeminence in West Africa

The jihadist landscape of West Africa is prone to shifting alliances. To maintain its pre-eminence in the region, al-Qaeda will attempt to keep the newly formed JNIM clear of IS infiltration and JNIM is unlikely to openly cooperate with any IS-affiliated group.

In the long-term, if West Africa Province withdraws its support for IS  especially if al-Baghdadi dies, or IS loses its territory and there are doubts over the legitimacy of the caliphate  then JNIM could be further strengthened. An IS collapse could see West Africa Province, together with former Ansaru members and Muslim Brotherhood members, re-integrate into al-Qaeda structures and ultimately join JNIM.

Issues such as Ansaroul Islam's current rejection of JNIM are manageable for JNIM. It seems unlikely that even if the Burkina Faso-based group pledges allegiance to IS it can overshadow JNIM's operational tempo, even if allied with the other IS factions operating around Burkina Faso.

In Nigeria, JAS is unlikely to re-integrate into al-Qaeda structures unless Shekau is killed. But even that scenario is not so difficult to imagine  an assassination could come at the hands of West Africa Province or by former Ansaru members who tend to know the location of his hideouts. Shekau now refuses to meet with West Africa Province leaders for fear they will plant a tracking device on him (Vanguard, February 24).

The best-case scenario for JNIM  and as such for al-Qaeda  would be if al-Baghdadi dies, the IS caliphate folds and Shekau is killed. In that situation, it would not be inconceivable that JNIM could pull a newly united West Africa Province, JAS, Ansaru and the Muslim Brotherhood into the JNIM fold, likely under new names.

In such a case, Ansroul Islam or any other pro-IS leaning factions would be left marginal and obsolete, and would likely eventually fall into JNIM's orbit.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Anti-Western Propaganda in Georgia Grows in Strength and Sophistication

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Vasili Rukhadze Publication Date 1 May 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 57 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Anti-Western Propaganda in Georgia Grows in Strength and Sophistication, 1 May 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 57, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c31f44.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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Georgia's Media Development Foundation (MDF) recently released a 53-page report on anti-Western propaganda in the country. The April 18 report covers the period from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016. It relies on a year-long study of anti-Western messages and information (or often disinformation) spread by a number of Georgian TV, print, and Internet sources as well as various politicians, non-governmental organizations (NGO), and some renowned members of Georgian society (Mdfgeorgia.ge, April 18). This is the MDF's second such report, the first one released in 2015, which covered the time period from February 2014 to February 2015 (Mdfgeorgia.ge, February 2015).

The MDF's latest report reveals a growing strength and sophistication of anti-Western propaganda in Georgia. It concludes that a collection of old media sources and non-governmental organizations that existed before 2012 (that is, before the ruling Georgian Dream coalition's ascent to power) in addition to multiple outlets founded after 2012 have been gradually altering public opinion in the country. The MDF report conditionally divides them into two groups: those outright pro-Russian and those that are anti-liberal and ethno-nationalistic but do not necessarily support Moscow. Nonetheless, both groups are united by the fact that they are distinctly anti-Western (Mdfgeorgia.ge, April 18).

Some of these identified media outlets and NGOs include, but are not limited to, the TV channel Obieqtivi; newspapers Asaval-Dasavali, Alia and Kviris Qronika; Internet news sites geworld.ge and saqinform.ge; as well as Russian-linked NGOs the Eurasian Institute and the Global Research Center. Other media outlets, such as Kavkasia TV, Maestro TV, the paper Kviris Palitra and the website marshalpress.ge, are also often used by various domestic anti-Western political parties, politicians and some clergy as a platform for the dissemination of their opinions and sometimes outright disinformation. Moreover, a growth in the number of once marginal, but now vocal Georgian anti-Western political parties and groups is also noteworthy (see EDM, February 14, 2015); they now number around a dozen across the country (Civil Georgia, April 17).

However, the increase in numbers is not the only trend. Anti-Western propaganda in Georgia has demonstrated increasing sophistication as to its ability to capitalize on the public mood and to skillfully frame issues and narratives in ways that manipulate existing public opinion. For instance, various anti-Western media sources and politicians have quickly seized on Georgian society's frustration with the country's yet unfulfilled expectations of joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Hence, anti-Western media outlets and political groups constantly frame the question of Georgia's NATO integration as "utopian," as the Alliance has been reluctant to grant Georgia membership at this point (Sputnik-georgia.com, May 10, 2016; Marshalpress.ge, April 25, 2016).

Such a discourse is frequently "backed up" by outright disinformation and groundless assumptions. For instance, anti-Western media sources and politicians often emphasize that Georgia's NATO membership would lead to a final loss of the Russian-occupied separatist territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia). Nonetheless, these outlets never provide a valid explanation or hypothesis for how the first could lead to the second, nor more generally, whether there really exists any causality between the two (Civil Georgia, April 17). Moreover, these anti-Western media outlets regularly portray NATO as an aggressor organization and the United States as an unreliable political and military partner. Illustratively, the US was accused of only sending Georgia "water and diapers" (referring to summer 2008 humanitarian aid) during the 2008 Russian-Georgian war, when instead the country most needed real military help with troops and weapons (Mdfgeorgia.ge, February 2015).

Clearly, such anti-Western propaganda is already having a significant impact on Georgian public opinion, as exemplified, first and foremost, by the rapidly declining Georgian backing for NATO membership. According to a recent survey by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), from 2013 to 2016, support dropped by a staggering 20 percent: from 81 percent to 61 percent (Ndi.org, November 2016).

However, anti-Western propaganda in Georgia is not limited to NATO. In addition, it skillfully plays to the cultural sensitivities of a deeply conservative, religious Georgian society. Specifically, the Western world (including the United States and European Union) is portrayed as a force that "imposes homosexuality [] and fights against national identity, traditions, Orthodox Christianity, [and] family as a social institution." Georgian NGOs are demonized as complicit Western puppets that sell out their country's interests. Against this background, Russia is perceived as a fellow Orthodox country and a counterweight to the West. Whereas, Georgian military deployments to international missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Central Africa are framed not as contributions to collective global security, but as unnecessary sacrifices made for others (Mdfgeorgia.ge, April 18). In this avalanche of carefully mixed lies, truth, disinformation and false accusations, it can become nearly impossible for an average citizen to dissect what is really taking place.

And now, these narratives are gaining ground in Georgian society, as shifting polling data as well as the increasing number of anti-Western media sources and groups suggest. One of the reasons for the success of anti-Western propaganda in Georgia is likely connected to the detachment of pro-Western Georgian political and intellectual elites (as well as of Georgian NGOs) from regular Georgian people and their problems. Also to blame are arguably the elites' inability to introduce and relate Western values to Georgian society in any meaningful way, as well as a general public disappointment with the West's failure to provide Georgia a clear path toward NATO and EU membership.

Yet, Georgian political elites do not appear to fully realize the extent of anti-Western propaganda or the true impact it is having on Georgia. Aside from occasional statements of concern (Info9.ge, July 19, 2016), Georgian pro-Western politicians have not done much, if anything at all, to counter this growing narrative in Georgia's information space. Georgian public opinion is rapidly changing, and it is certainly time to address the growing problem before it become irreversible.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
When Europeans lose their taste for democracy, bad things have been known to happen.Whether it's Hungary or Poland, both of which have authoritarian, illiberal governments, or the rise of authoritarian movements in the Netherlands, France and Britain, good old liberal democracy is taking something of a beating in Europe.Now Deutsche Welle reports that just half of young Europeans, 16 to 26, still believe that democracy is the best form of government.In the seven countries polled, an average of one in five respondents said they were in favor of their country leaving the EU. This figure was highest in Greece (31 percent for leaving the EU) and lowest in Germany and Spain, where 12 percent would vote for an EU exit.Greek respondents were most in favor of the EU returning some power to national governments, with 60 percent indicating they supported this idea. The average of those polled was 38 percent, while only 22 percent of Germans indicated they would want the EU to give up some power to national governments.If you doubt that neo-nationalism is sweeping Europe, especially in the east, check out the photo-essay at the bottom of the page.
Georgia's State Security Service Annual Report Downplays Country's Terrorist Threat

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Devi Dumbadze Publication Date 26 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 55 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Georgia's State Security Service Annual Report Downplays Country's Terrorist Threat, 26 April 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 55, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c325d4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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On April 12, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) released its annual report for 2016, assessing the country's security threats (Ssg.gov.ge, April 23). Unsurprisingly, the report states that "the existence of occupied territories" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia remains "the main challenge," with the Russian military presence there constituting "an existential threat" to Georgia's statehood (Netgazeti.ge, April 12). Moreover, the document focuses on covert foreign activities such as last August's foiled attack on the Russia-Armenia natural gas pipeline near Saguramo (Civil Georgia, April 13).

Once again, the SSG bluntly asserts that "Georgia does not belong to the countries with a high risk of terrorist attacks," though acknowledging "certain challenges in the aforementioned direction" (Ssg.gov.ge, April 23). Yet, this explicitly contradicts the US State Department's updated "Georgia 2017 Crime & Safety Report." Along with the occupied territories, the State Department document qualifies the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, as "a high-threat location for terrorist activity directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests" (Osac.gov, April 23). The SSG report thus seems to disregard the insights of its partner US intelligence agencies concerning Georgia's domestic terrorist threat level.

The SSG contends that "the number of radicalized citizens willing to engage in terrorist activities has declined." It reports that to prevent Georgians from traveling to Syria and Iraq to join terrorist groups, as well as to undercut non-citizen terrorist transit through Georgia, last year the authorities submitted 1,500 individuals to border control "and denied entry into Georgia to 750" (Ssg.gov.ge, April 23). But the overall figures for 2015 were similar: 1,286 persons were submitted to border controls and 1,014 were denied entry (Ssg.gov.ge, March 29, 2016)in other words, only 50 fewer individuals suspected of terrorist activities or links to terrorist groups were submitted to border controls or denied entry in 2016 than in the previous year. The report did not specify whether any of those suspected of terrorist activities or links to terrorist groups were Georgians, whether they were staying in the country long term, with or without visas, or how many were transiting through the country toward other destinations.

Moreover, the report does not mention Georgians who continue to fight in the ranks of the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist organizations. This is striking, as the 2015 report did admit to 50 such individuals. Independent experts claim that between 100 to several hundred Georgian fighters are active in the Levant. Factcheck.ge tracked 11 confirmed Georgian terrorists killed in 2016 alone. Crucially, an unknown number of prospective Georgian fighters has undergone radicalization after leaving for Turkey for work or education at Islamic madrassas (see EDM, January 20). The report lacks any information on whether Georgia cooperates with Turkey to track such cases.

Therefore, based on the SSG's own conservative estimate, at a minimum about 40 terrorists from Georgia were active in 2016. Yet, their whereabouts are unaccounted for by the report. Nor does the document address the scenario of their return to Georgia with the potential aim to wage a decentralized jihad there. In light of the IS's continued territorial losses in Syria and Iraq, the terrorist threat is expected to rise as international fighters return to their home countries to establish local terrorist cells for low-cost deadly attacks. A significant recent case of such a returning fighters' cell was the "Khasavyurt Group" in Dagestan, bordering with Georgia (see Terrorism Monitor, February 10).

Other data provided by the SSG appears to also contradict its own assessment of "no high risk of terrorist attacks." The SSG has identified "several persons linked to terrorist activities" in Georgia, without providing exact numbers. Last December, it began an investigation into a foreign citizen charged with developing a pro-IS terrorist group. Fifteen "foreign students" were also "subjected to lawful measures" for "ideologically aiding terrorism with extremist propaganda." Additionally, "up to 20 citizens of foreign countries" were charged with funding terrorism. The SSG is investigating an unspecified number of Georgian expatriates allegedly disseminating pro-IS propaganda on social media.

Together, these facts suggest a threat of possible terrorist attacks at home. Nonetheless, Georgia's opposition parties have so far failed to question these apparent discrepancies in the SSG document. The report's committee-level hearing in the parliament was held behind closed doors and lasted only two hours (Rustavi2, April 13).

The expert Giorgi Gobronidze claims "Georgia is not an attractive state for terrorists." He assumes attacks on Georgian soil would not have "the same scale of informational impact as in Western Europe." Moreover, he argues, Georgia lacks a "demographic structure" conducive to domestic terrorism unlike, for example, France, with its "large naturalized Islamic community" (Accent.ge, April 12).

But comparing Georgia's social fabric and preconditions for terrorism primarily with those of geographically and sociologically distant France makes little sense; and it is problematic to underestimate Georgia's integration into global informational networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Russia and Turkey, both Georgia's immediate neighbors, provide a much more self-evident and relevant point of comparison. In both countries, recent suicide attacks, in St. Petersburg and Istanbul, appeared to be motivated by their military involvement against the Islamic State, likely carried out by homegrown terrorists and aided by returning fighters (Gazeta.spb.ru, April 21). Georgia, too, supports international military counterinsurgency efforts, currently in Afghanistan and, previously, in Iraq. It is a member of the Global Coalition Working to Defeat ISIS (Civil Georgia, March 23). Should Georgia decide to also contribute kinetically to the anti-IS fight, this could further increase the risk of terrorist attacks on its soil.

Notably, Georgia also has about a 13 percent Muslim population, with a Shia majority in the south. This Shia community is actively courted by the Islamic Republic of Iran through soft power efforts (see EDM, March 29). Moreover, the Sunni minority of about 10,000 Kists who live in Pankisi Gorge has supplied the majority of Georgian foreign fighters to Syria and Iraq. The intent of suicide attacks by radical Islamist militants is primarily to seek a general destabilization of societies perceived as their enemies (Matthias Kuntzel, Jihad and Jew-Hatred: Islamism, Nazism and the Roots of 9/11, New York, 2007). Georgia constitutes such an enemy, not only for its actual military involvement in counterinsurgency operations abroad, but also by the fact of its majority Christian population. To this one should add Georgia's strategic position as an energy and commerce transit hub between numerous stakeholders.

The SSG report downplays both the number of Georgian terrorists in the Middle East, and the threat of returning fighters possibly preparing attacks in Georgia. In addition, it ignores the threat assessments by its purportedly closest allies, such as the US.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Moscow and Damascus Accuse Rebels of Deploying WMDs All Over Syria

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Pavel Felgenhauer Publication Date 13 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 52 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Moscow and Damascus Accuse Rebels of Deploying WMDs All Over Syria, 13 April 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 52, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c32f54.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

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The United States' April 7 cruise missile attack against a major Syrian airbase sent US-Russian relations into a nosedive. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's April 12 talks in Moscow with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin seemed doomed to fail. But Putin did eventually invite Tillerson for an almost two-hour-long meeting in the Kremlin, after which Tillerson and Lavrov entered a joint news conference and sat side by side. Tillerson was laconic compared to Lavrov, and his answers to reporters seemed much shorter than their questions. No major breakthroughs were announced, but both sides apparently wanted to demonstrate some level of business as usual, to stabilize their relationship, and possibly to reverse the current dangerous tailspin. They announced that Russian and US military forces will resume exchanging so-called "de-confliction" information about each others' activities in and over Syria, which Moscow severed last week in response to the US missile strike. Special intergovernmental working groups led by special representatives will be established to try to disentangle and repair bilateral relations (TASS, April 12, Kommersant, April 13).

Russian foreign policy experts expected an open confrontation and a possible exchange of insults during Tillerson's visit. But they were gratified by the apparent demonstrated desire of both sides to seek common ground. The visit was hailed as a success, at least in comparison with previous dismal expectations. The US Secretary of State is being praised for being "constructive" and avoiding following the lead of "anti-Russian hawks in Washington" (Mk.ru, April 12). According to Lavrov, "practical measures to form the mechanism of dialogue will be established, though results will not appear soon" (Interfax, April 13). Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed that Putin lectured Tillerson at length, "analyzing" the dismal state of US-Russian relations as well as pointing out what the United States did wrong and what must be done to rectify the situation. Peskov expressed "steadfast hope" that Tillerson will deliver the outline of Putin's "analysis" directly to President Donald Trump. During the meeting with Tillerson, Peskov noted, there was little talk about the Ukrainian crisis or apparently other problems, like the need to denuclearize Korea. The possible future Putin-Trump summit was not discussed; the conversation revolved predominantly around Syria and what the Kremlin believes must be done there (Interfax, April 13).

The acute US-Russian fracas began on April 4, when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces (the Syrian Arab Army or SAA) allegedly carried out a chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held area of Khan Sheikhoun, in Idlib province. Some 89 people, mostly civilians, including many women and children, were reportedly killed, and hundreds more were injured by the attack with what is believed to have been sarin gas. Damascus and Moscow adamantly rejected any involvement or complicity. In 2013, a deadly sarin gas attack by SAA forces killed hundreds in Ghouta-the rebel-held suburb of Damascus. At the time, Russian officials doggedly denied the SAA did anything wrong and claimed the incident was a "provocation by the Syrian opposition." A United Nations expert report confirming the sarin attack was angrily dismissed as false and one-sided. But to avoid possible US punitive missile and air attacks against SAA installations, Moscow signed, in September 2013, in Geneva, an agreement with Washington to destroy the Syrian chemical arsenal. Damascus was forced to acknowledge it had weaponized chemical agents, which were later destroyed at sea, and delivery systems, which were destroyed inside Syria under international supervision (see EDM, September 19, 2013).

This week, in Moscow, Lavrov dismissed as "baseless accusations" any implication of al-Assad or the SAA's involvement in the Khan Sheikhoun attack. Lavrov called on Tillerson to support a Russian move to establish a special independent international inquiry, under UN auspices, that would include Western and Russian specialists to investigate the Khan Sheikhoun chemical attack. According to Lavrov, Tillerson declined to co-sponsor such an inquiry (Militarynews.ru, April 13). In an interview to state-run MIR TV, Putin insisted the al-Assad regime has fully destroyed its WMD arsenal. Putin proposed that a rogue rebel weapons of mass destruction (WMD) arsenal could have been hit by a conventional SAA aerial bombardment, thus spilling poisonous gas and causing civilian casualties. Or the entire Khan Sheikhoun chemical attack was a deliberate hoax, staged by the rebels to implicate al-Assad, the Russian president suggested (kremlin.ru, April 12).

The Khan Sheikhoun attack seems to indicate some fraction of Syria's WMD potential is still operational. Moscow's theories implying the opposite do not carry much weight. On April 7, US destroyers USS Porter and USS Ross launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles against the SAA's large Shayrat airbase, in Homs province, from which the WMD attack on Khan Sheikhoun was allegedly launched. Shayrat is also used by the Russian air force for jet refueling and to base helicopters. SAA jets, installations and stockpiles were hit, but there were no Russian casualties. The Russian reaction was furious: Moscow accused the US of aggression under "the pretext of farfetched accusations." The main Russian fear seems to be that the US Tomahawk missile attack on Shayrat airbase may be the beginning of a sustained US air campaign to weaken and eventually undermine the al-Assad regime under the pretext of combating WMD. A serious reversal or collapse of al-Assad's forces is seen in Moscow as unacceptable-a strategic defeat in the Middle East and a humiliation for Putin.

Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy, the chief of the Operational Main Directorate of the General Staff told journalists this week, "According to our information, the rebels are deploying additional chemical weapons to Khan Sheikhoun, Eastern Ghouta and other parts of Syria to provoke additional US attacks." Rudskoy warned the US, "Such attacks are unacceptable" (Militarynews.ru, April 11). On April 13, Damascus accused the US-led coalition of bombing Islamic State positions near the eastern Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor and hitting a rebel WMD dump that resulted in multiple casualties, including civilians. The Pentagon dismissed the charge as absolutely false, while the Russian military says it will investigate (Militarynews.ru, April 13).

Tillerson apparently convinced the Kremlin the attack on Shayrat airbase was a one-time event, and Moscow agreed to resume the exchange of "de-confliction" information. Its severing by the Russian side after the Shayrat attack increased the possibility of accidental US-Russian military clashes, which presumably no one wants in Moscow or Washington-but al-Assad may have other objectives. The Khan Sheikhoun attack could, indeed, have been a deadly provocation by an embattled ruthless regime to prevent any possible US-Russian deals, thus guaranteeing al-Assad unyielding Kremlin backing for the foreseeable future.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Why Egypt's Nationalist Hasm Movement Could Gain Greater Traction

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Michael Horton Publication Date 21 April 2017 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Why Egypt's Nationalist Hasm Movement Could Gain Greater Traction, 21 April 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c33bf4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Egypt's government, led by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, is battling multiple insurgent groups, and while the Islamic State (IS) affiliate Wilayat Sinai is by far the most formidable, it is the nationalist Hasm Movement that may pose the more durable threat to the country.

The Egyptian government has waged an intense and well-resourced war against IS in the Sinai but has failed to defeat or even significantly impede the group's ability to launch attacks in and outside of that region. This was evidenced by IS' April 9 bombing of Coptic churches in Tanta and Alexandria, attacks which combined killed 45 people (al-Ahram, April 9). The attacks on Coptic churches, not the first by IS, are part of the group's strategy of heightening sectarian tensions among Egypt's estimated 10 million Coptic Christians and its majority Muslim population. While stoking sectarian tensions has worked well for IS in Syria and Iraq, such a strategy is likely to fail in Egypt where there is a strong Egyptian identity that transcends religious affiliation.

IS' extreme views and its callous disregard for civilian life limit its appeal among the vast majority of Egyptians. IS will not be able to build the broad base of support that would allow it to expand in mainland Egypt. In Sinai, IS has benefited from what are, so far, conditions unique to the Sinai - it draws on a deeply alienated indigenous population and benefits from the government's scorched earth approach to counter-insurgency.

In contrast with IS, Egypt's Hasm Movement has the potential to gain traction in mainland Egypt, most particularly in its dense urban environments. The Hasm Movement (Hasm can be translated as the settling of an argument, termination or decisiveness) announced itself in July 2016 when it claimed credit for an attack on a police officer in Fayoum (Daily News Egypt, July 18, 2016). Since then, Hasm has targeted a number of high profile government officials, including a failed attempt in August 2016 to assassinate the former Grand Mufti of Egypt, Ali Gomaa (Aswat Masriya, August 5, 2016).

In September 2016, Hasm attempted to assassinate Assistant Attorney General Zakaria Abdel Aziz (Egypt Independent, November 6, 2016). On November 2, 2016, Hasm targeted Judge Ahmed Aboul Fotouh, one of three judges involved in the trial of former Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi (The New Arab, November 4, 2016). The group has also claimed responsibility for a number of attacks on low-ranking police officers, including a December 2016 attack on a checkpoint in which six officers were killed (al-Jazeera, December 9, 2016).

Thus far Hasm's attacks have been narrowly focused on members and representatives of the Egyptian government, its police and security services. In its "military communiques," Hasm presents itself as a group aiming to install social justice and fighting to overthrow what it describes as a "military occupation" by the Sisi government. Several of the communiques make reference to "defending the defenseless" and seeking to right the wrongs of the regime.

Tapping into Discontent

The Hasm Movement's use of rhetoric aimed at pointing out what it sees as abuses by a government that it views as illegitimate is an important indicator of how the group wants to position itself. This and its efforts to target only government officials may indicate that the Hasm Movement is trying to set itself up as being opposed to the current regime but with no ambitions outside of Egypt. The group has also emphasized that it will not target or endanger civilians. The Hasm Movement claimed that they called off the failed attack on the former Grand Mufti due to the risks posed to civilians. This may or may not be true, but it does, along with the other attacks, point to a conscious effort to avoid killing civilians. The Hasm Movement has also condemned a December 2016 IS-led attack on a Coptic church and has distanced itself from the most recent church bombings. [1]

The leadership of what is, for now, undoubtedly a small organization clearly recognizes that the kind of mass casualty attacks perpetrated by IS will undercut its ability to broaden a base of support within Egypt. By positioning itself as a nationalist organization dedicated to combating what it views as an abusive regime and "defending the defenseless," the Hasm Movement may well be able to tap into significant levels of popular dissatisfaction with the Sisi government.

It is notable that many of Hasm's attacks are on the Egyptian police, who have been the subject of popular scorn since before the 2011 revolution that overthrew former President Hosni Mubarak.

Following Morsi's ouster by General Sisi, the police and security services were emboldened and launched a crackdown not only on Muslim Brotherhood members, but on anyone who opposed the Sisi-led government (al-Jazeera, March 28, 2016). This heavy-handed approach continues, with many of Egypt's police stations commonly referred to as "homes for the living dead."

Abuses by the police and security services combined with Sisi's failure to deliver on economic reforms is fueling discontent in Egypt. The country's moribund economy and startlingly high youth unemployment mean that insurgent groups, particularly those with less extreme views, will have little trouble recruiting young people to their cause.

Ties with the Muslim Brotherhood?

The Sisi government's crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood in the wake of its ouster of former President Morsi has undoubtedly radicalized some members of the Brotherhood. So far, the older generation of the Muslim Brotherhood's leadership in prison and in exile has eschewed calls for violence. However, that does not mean that some members and former members have not taken up arms.

The Hasm Movement's relatively moderate religious views, national focus, and its attacks on individuals that are emblematic of the state, may well indicate that its membership includes former members of the Muslim Brotherhood. However, there is no proof of this and as yet. Neither the Hasm Movement nor any other insurgent group has openly identified with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Regardless of whether the Hasm Movement has ties with the Muslim Brotherhood or not, the group's leadership seems intent on positioning it as a moderate Islamist organization that will fight to "defend" those who it deems cannot defend themselves against the government. The space that the Hasm Movement is trying to occupy offers an abundance of opportunities in terms of securing the support of those who have been oppressed by the government security services and police.

Increasing Capabilities

The Hasm Movement's targeting of individual officials indicates a degree of sophistication. Relatively high-profile officials, such as the assistant attorney general, enjoy well-trained security details and are subject to independent monitoring by Egypt's security services. While Egypt's approach to physical security for soft and hard targets is often lacking, its human intelligence network is deep, multi-layered, low-tech and highly effective. Evading this formidable human intelligence network requires a high-level of expertise.

Surveillance images of future targets released by the Hasm Movement show that its operatives are able to get and remain close to its targets. [2] The group has also released an exceedingly well-produced video that shows its operatives undergoing firearms and explosives training, as well as the targeting and assassination of government officials and police officers. [3]

While the Hasm Movement's operations are incomparable with those of Wilayat Sinai, they do demonstrate a clear ability to carry out surveillance and to plan and execute attacks in a challenging environment. If the group continues to grow, it will undoubtedly be able to attract recruits with the expertise to carry out ever more sophisticated attacks. Many of these recruits with specialized training could be drawn from the hundreds (likely thousands) of members of the Egyptian army and security services that were purged for suspected ties to the Muslim Brotherhood following the overthrow of President Morsi. [4]

Outlook

Egypt's security services may well successfully disrupt and destroy the Hasm Movement. The group is small, has few resources and has had insufficient time to become "self-healing" in the manner of Wilayat Sinai. However, the Hasm Movement's rhetoric and tactics make it worthy of particular attention. The leadership has identified, and is trying to exploit, a rising tide of dissatisfaction with a government that is viewed by many as ineffective, corrupt and increasingly dependent on violence to enforce its will.

The Hasm Movement - or a group like it that is moderate in its religious views and disciplined and discriminate in its use of violence - may well have the ability to become a formidable foe for Sisi's government. In contrast with IS, such a group will likely find it can recruit from a much broader pool and build a genuine (albeit limited) support-base in Egypt's urban areas.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Yezidis and Yerevan Complicating Moscow's Efforts to Influence Kurds in Iraq and Syria

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author Paul Goble Publication Date 25 April 2017 Citation / Document Symbol Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 54 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Yezidis and Yerevan Complicating Moscow's Efforts to Influence Kurds in Iraq and Syria, 25 April 2017, Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 54, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c38464.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

The convocation, last February, of a Kurdish conference in Moscow that included the Yezidis (Aranews.net, February 16), combined with new Kurdish-Yezidi claims that the Russian military has promised to provide them with training (Deutsche Welle, March 21), have highlighted Moscow's continuing effort to win over those minority nationalities to its side in Iraq and Syria.

More than that, these developments have drawn attention to the Yezidis themselves, an often neglected but sometimes critically important player in the Middle East and the South Caucasus. But Armenia, which has a sizeable Yezidi population that has grown over the last five years as a result of the influx of recent refugees, has been undercutting the Russian government's ability to gain influence over the Kurds. All this is despite the long history of Russian involvement with the Kurds going back to imperial times and, most prominently, in the aftermath of World War II (on this, see James Aldridge's roman a clef, The Diplomat, London, 1949).

The Yezidis are estimated to number 700,0002,000,000, and they live throughout the Middle East and the South Caucasus. At least half a million of them are found in Iraq, and a large community resides in Syria. In the former Soviet space, there are approximately 40,000 in Russia, 35,000 in Armenia and 14,000 in Georgia. These provide the cadres from which Moscow has been deploying its agents of influence into the Middle East. Most but not all of the Yezidis identify and are identified by others as Kurds, but they are set apart from that larger nation by their religion, which is based on a combination of Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Islam. As such, the Yezidi religion is sometimes characterized by others as "devil worship" or even worse (Kavpolit.com, April 21).

Armenia has always had a significant Yezidi Kurdish minorityit is the second largest ethno-religious group thereeven though the country is the most mono-ethnic and mono-religious among all the former Soviet republics. Because of that, Moscow has traditionally used Armenia and Armenian Yezidis and Kurds to promote its interests among the Kurds of Iraq and Syria. And Yerevan has not been shy about declaring its willingness to work hand in glove with Moscow in this regard (Kavpolit.com, April 21).

Nonetheless, the massive recent influx of Yezidis to Armenia from Iraq and Syria has sparked an almost equally large outflow of Yezidis from this South Caucasus country. According to one estimate, some 70 percent of Yezidi refugees have since left, either to return to their original homelands or to travel on to the West (Kavpolit.com, April 21). Their reasons are two-fold according to Rizvan Guseynov, a Baku-based specialist on the Middle East. On the one hand, many of them have left because they cannot find any work in Armenia's still-depressed economy. And on the other, they have faced a disorienting combination of official declarations of friendship from the government but open hostility from the Armenian Orthodox Church and, apparently, many ordinary Armenians as well.

At Moscow's behest and in Armenia's own national interests, Yerevan has been pursuing the Yezidis actively over the last few years, hoping to exploit this community because, like the Kurds, the Yezidis tend to be anti-Turkish. Yerevan and Moscow's goal is to turn the Yezidis into an actively pro-Armenian and pro-Russian instrument to counter Washington's efforts to form tactical or strategic alliances with the Kurds in the region. As Guseynov notes, there have been a series of visits by Armenians to Yezidi areas in Iraq and Syria as well as by Yezidi officials from there to Armenia. Reportedly, there has also been talk of opening consulates. And Armenian investment has already been seen in the Syrian and Iraqi Yezidi areas, most of it by Yezidis currently living in Armenia. All these moves, plus Yerevan's willingness to give Yezidis refugee status, has won Yerevan and Moscow support from this group.

But almost all of that good will may potentially be lost because of the decision, two years ago, of the Armenian Orthodox Church to ban marriages between Armenians and Yezidis. In the words of the Church leadership, the Kurdish Yezidis "worship Satan." Any Armenian who married one, the Church said, would be excluded from the Armenian communion (Blagovest-info.ru, November 18, 2015). Not surprisingly, many Yezidis were offended, something made worse because many Armenians felt that this was a signal to isolate rather than make friends with the members of that community. In one dramatic move, all the Yezidis from the Iraqi city of Shangal decided to return home (Kavpolit.com, April 21).

Some Yezidis in Armenia have remained loyal to Yerevan and Moscow largely because of the anti-Turkish position of the first and monetary support from the latter. But they are far outnumbered by Yezidis who now view Armenians and Russians with obvious distaste and even outright hostility, thus costing Russia the support of an ally it had relied upon for more than a century (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, July 14, 2016).

All this may seem like a small development in the grand scheme of things, but in fact it highlights three important issues: First, Russia cannot count even on Armenia to conduct its affairs in ways that will invariably support Moscow's goals. Second, Russia has now put in play a group whose allegiances were really not in question until quite recently. And third, this Yezidi shift underscores that alliances in Syria and Iraq that many assume are eternal are actually far more fragile and situational.

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Russian Military Braces for Possible Follow-Up Attacks by US in Syria and Beyond

Publisher Jamestown Foundation Publication Date 27 April 2017 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Russian Military Braces for Possible Follow-Up Attacks by US in Syria and Beyond, 27 April 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c39734.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Link to original story on Jamestown website

Russian state propaganda has definitively changed its portrayal of United States President Donald Trump after the April 7 Tomahawk cruise missile strike on the Syrian airbase of Shayrat (Homs province). The forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (the Syrian Arab ArmySAA) had allegedly used this base to launch chemical weapons attacks, on April 4, against a rebel-held area of Khan Sheikhoun (Idlib province). According to a poll published this week by the Kremlin-controlled pollster VtSIOM, 82 percent of Russians believe Washington's attack on the Shayrat airbase was "unjust" and a "US provocation designed to destabilize the situation." According to VtSIOM general director Valery Fedorov, only 6 percent of Russians believe the US attacked Shayrat to punish the al-Assad regime for allegedly using chemical weapons. The rest believe it was an act of illegal aggression and a provocation designed to harm Russia and its allies. The Russian public supports its country's continued military involvement in Syria (53 percent), though this support is not overly high despite a continuous pro-war message broadcast by state TV propaganda. VtSIOM data reveals that 34 percent want Russian forces to withdraw from Syria. According to Fedorov, the Tomahawk attack has dramatically diminished the previously positive image of President Trump in Russia (Wciom.ru, April 20). The latest VtSIOM poll concludes that Trump's popularity among Russians has decreased from 38 to 13 percent; 39 percent of Russians see him today in a negative light, compared to 7 percent a month ago (RIA Novosti, April 17).

Damascus and Moscow have both adamantly rejected any involvement in the alleged April 4 sarin gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun. Initially the main spin coming from Moscow was a theory that a rogue rebel chemical weapons arsenal in Khan Sheikhoun could have been hit by a conventional SAA aerial bombardment, and the inadvertent spill of poisonous gas caused civilian casualties (see EDM, April 13). Now, the emphasis has shifted: The Russian military insists the entire Khan Sheikhoun chemical attack was a deliberate hoax staged by the rebels to implicate al-Assad (Militarynews.ru, April 18). At a meeting in the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in The Hague, Russian high-level diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov presented photo evidence that, according to Moscow, implies there was no real chemical weapons attack in Khan Sheikhoun (TASS, April 19).

The same day, in a special statement, the OPCW announced it had irrefutable forensic evidence sarin was used in Khan Sheikhoun (TASS, April 19). Apparently Moscow knew the use of sarin would be confirmed by OPCW and attempted to preempt that news. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the OPCW of perpetrating regime change in Syria and of "one-sidedness" (Militarynews.ru, April 19). The defense ministry has accused the OPCW's Director General Ahmet Uzumcu of "a politically motivated statement" about the use of sarin in Khan Sheikhoun and of "ignoring the facts" (Militarynews.ru, April 20).

Moscow seems to have gone into total denial over the alleged chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun. This month's visit to Moscow by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who met with Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin, apparently changed little in the US-Russian standoff. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov acknowledged that Tillerson presented in Moscow a detailed plan of a possible resolution of the crisis in Syria, but "we [Russia] do not see much that is new." According to Ryabkov there are some fresh suggestions, but they are mostly the same talking points that have always come out of Washington (Kommersant, April 19).

The US missile attack seems to have seriously hampered the operational capabilities of the SAA air force. The Shayrat airbase's air defenses, which Russia had reportedly enhanced, turned out to be incapable of stopping the Tomahawks; and the Russian aerospace forces (VKS) in Syria proved equally powerless. Last October, Russia enhanced its air defenses in Syria by deploying its newest army mobile S-300V4 anti-missile/anti-aircraft system to its naval base in Tartus, in addition to the S-400 missiles that were deployed at the Khmeimim air base in 2015. The S-400 and the S-300V4 both reportedly have a range of some 400 kilometers, theoretically allowing them to cover all of Syria (Militarynews.ru, October 6). At that time, the Russian foreign ministry declared that these additional deployments were intended to deter a possible US cruise missile attack threat (RIA Novosti, October 7).

More recently, however, reports surfaced that the SAA has flown a number of its still-operational jets to an airfield adjacent to the Khmeimim airbase, apparently to avoid another devastating US attack. But according to Russian military experts, being based out of an area near Khmeimim could seriously hamper further Syrian air operations (Militarynews.ru, April 20). Russia's public bluff was called, and it turned out the Russian "denial of access" air defenses are not as formidable as believed and apparently guarantee cover from cruise missile attack only in the immediate vicinity of the Tartus and Khmeimim basesa sobering climb-down for Russian state/military propaganda.

This week (April 26), in Moscow, top Russian generals demonstrated additional public humility at an international security conference organized by the Ministry of Defense. Russian officials condemned Western actions in Syria, denounced the enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and alleged that the Alliance was carrying out a military build-up along its eastern flank, facing Russia (Kommersant, April 27). According to the chief of the Russian General Staff, Army General Valery Gerasimov, "NATO expansion changes the regional balance of power in Europe; increased reconnaissance activity amplifies the risk of clashes. NATO actions are destructive and provocative" (Militarynews.ru, April 26). Whereas, according to the Russian deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Viktor Poznikhir, by 2020 the Pentagon will have the capability to instantaneously kill Russia's top political and military leadership, destroy its command-and-control systems, and seriously maim its nuclear strategic forces in a sudden preemptive "global strike" (Interfax, April 26). At the same time US missile-defense capabilities are dramatically expanding and may soon exceed the number of Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), Poznikhir implied, which "forces Russia to improve its strategic nuclear forces to meet the US challenge"(Interfax, April 26).

Copyright notice:  2010 The Jamestown Foundation
Philippines: UN Members Should Denounce Killings, Abuses

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 3 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Philippines: UN Members Should Denounce Killings, Abuses, 3 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c3a414.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

United Nations member countries should denounce the Philippines' brutal "war on drugs" that has killed more than 7,000 people since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in June 2016, Human Rights Watch said today. The Philippines will appear for the third cycle of the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on May 8, 2017, in Geneva.

UN member countries should urge the Philippines to support an international investigation into the killings, given the Philippine government's own failure to impartially investigate or prosecute those responsible, Human Rights Watch said. Various UN bodies, the media, and Human Rights Watch and other nongovernmental organizations have reported on the extrajudicial killings, which may amount to crimes against humanity.

"The UN review of the Philippines is critical because of the sheer magnitude of the human rights calamity since President Duterte took office last year," said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Duterte's 'war on drugs' has been nothing less than a murderous war on the poor."

At the UPR, the human rights progress of each UN member country is reviewed every four years. Members and observers of the UN Human Rights Council will raise the Philippines' past human rights pledges and new concerns. The previous reviews of the Philippines were in 2008 and 2012. This year's review covers the last four years of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III and the period since Duterte took office.



Immediately after the UN review of the Philippines on May 8, Human Rights Watch will moderate a side event in Geneva, co-hosted with other NGOs, to assess the review and the Philippine delegation's responses. This event will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 14:30 p.m. in room XXIII of the Palais des Nations, Geneva.

Human Rights Watch, in its UPR submission in September 2016, highlighted some of the human rights problems the Philippines faces:

Extrajudicial Killings

The killings of activists, peasant and indigenous peoples' leaders, environmentalists, journalists, and - especially under the Duterte government - suspected criminals, persist. Duterte has instigated the police and incited vigilantes to kill suspected drug dealers and drug users in his anti-drug campaign. He has ignored calls for an official probe into these killings. Instead, he has praised the killings as proof of the "success" of the "drug war" and urged police to "seize the momentum."

Human Rights Watch has also documented the existence of police-linked death squads in several cities, including Davao City, where Duterte served as mayor for 22 years. A 2014 Human Rights report examined the death squad in Tagum City in Mindanao.

Torture

The military and police have continued to commit torture and other ill-treatment in custody. The passage in 2009 of the Anti-Torture Act was met with enthusiasm but has resulted in only one torture conviction to date. There is evidence that the military engages in torture of civil society activists and alleged insurgents in its custody. In October 2013, Human Rights Watch documented the mistreatment of detainees, including children, by security forces in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.

The national Commission on Human Rights has received numerous torture allegations that mainly implicate the Philippine National Police. An April 26, 2017 raid by the commission on a police station in Manila resulted in the discovery of a secret jail where at least a dozen drug suspects were illegally detained. They alleged mistreatment and extortion by the police.

Enforced Disappearances

In its last UPR review in 2012, the Philippines accepted recommendations to carry out impartial investigations into all allegations of enforced disappearances. Two bellwether tests of military impunity for enforced disappearances are the abduction and alleged torture of activists Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan in 2006. Although police eventually arrested retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan for his alleged role in that crime, his trial is ongoing. The case of Jonas Burgos, a peasant leader who was abducted by military personnel from inside a mall in Quezon City in April 2007, and has not been seen since is also emblematic of impunity for enforced disappearances.

Indigenous Peoples

Tribal and environmental groups have accused the military of using local paramilitaries to help clear ancestral areas to pave the way for mining companies and other business interests. Military operations against suspected communist New People's Army rebels have also displaced hundreds of students in several tribal schools in four provinces in Mindanao since 2010. In 2015, domestic human rights groups alleged that the military conducted a series of attacks against indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

Reproductive Health Rights

Human Rights Watch has documented policies designed to derail the full enforcement of the country's Reproductive Health Law. A temporary restraining order issued in 2015 by the Supreme Court, which was responding to conservative opposition to contraceptives, threatens to render obsolete a considerable number of contraceptives already procured by the government because these would expire in 2018. The court has since expanded the ruling, instructing the Food and Drug Administration to not approve any new applications for contraceptives.

At least two cities - Sorsogon City and Balanga City - have issued ordinances that effectively banned the sale and distribution of contraceptives, among them pills, implants, and condoms.

Children's Rights

Human Rights Watch has documented how thousands of children - some as young as 9 - risk their lives in small-scale gold mines, mostly financed by local businessmen. Children work in unstable 25-meter-deep pits and dive underwater to mine along shores or in rivers. Children also work with mercury, a toxic metal that is commonly used to process gold.

Attacks on schools by the military and its paramilitary group continue to be a concern. On September 1, 2015, the Magahat paramilitary group allegedly attacked a tribal school in Surigao del Sur province, torturing and killing an educator and two tribal leaders.

HIV/AIDS Epidemic

The Philippines currently has one of Asia's fastest-growing HIV/AIDS epidemics. Although the national prevalence rate is still low, the country is experiencing a sharp rise in new infections particularly among men who have sex with men. That increase is linked to policies at the local, provincial, and national level, compounded by resistance of the Catholic Church and other elements hostile to sexual health education and condom use. They include obstacles to condom access and HIV testing, and inadequate educational HIV prevention efforts.

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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.
Indonesia: 'Gay Porn' Arrests Threaten Privacy

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 4 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Indonesia: 'Gay Porn' Arrests Threaten Privacy, 4 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c3b594.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

An Indonesian police raid targeting gay men in Surabaya, Indonesia, on April 30, 2017, threatens the rights of the country's already beleaguered lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, Human Rights Watch said today. The police ordered 14 men to undergo HIV tests and arrested eight of those men on charges of violating the country's draconian and discriminatory anti-pornography law.

The police, acting on tip-offs from neighbors, carried out a midnight raid on the 14 men, who had gathered in two rooms of a hotel in central Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city, according to local activists and media reports. Police detained the group while confiscating condoms, mobile phones, and a flash drive that allegedly contained pornographic videos, among other items.

On May 1, police informed the media that all 14 men underwent tests for sexually transmitted infection, including a rapid test for HIV, and that five had tested HIV positive. The police indicated that eight of the men were detained on Law on Pornography charges, and that two of them would be charged with organizing the event and providing pornography - offenses carrying prison terms of up to 15 years.

"Indonesian police are again violating the basic rights of LGBT people by invading their privacy," said Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The Surabaya raid subjected these gay men to traumatic humiliation, puts two at risk of long prison terms, and threatens the privacy rights of all Indonesians."

Mandatory HIV testing is contrary to the ethical and human rights principles of privacy, autonomy, and informed consent. Under the World Health Organization's 2015 Guidelines on HIV Testing and Counseling, "Mandatory, compulsory or coercive HIV testing is never appropriate."

The two men who allegedly organized the party face charges of violating the Law on Pornography, which prohibits sex parties and the use of pornography, and the Electronics Information and Transaction Law, which prohibits making accessible electronic content that contains "indecent" material. Indonesia's Law on Pornography defines "deviant sexual acts" to include: sex with corpses, sex with animals, oral sex, anal sex, lesbian sex, and male homosexual sex.

The arrests in Surabaya follow an unprecedented anti-LGBT campaign in 2016 that featured a series of biased and false statements about LGBT people from government officials and politicians. The anti-LGBT onslaught led to harassment and violence against LGBT Indonesians and death threats by militant Islamists. Government institutions, including the National Broadcasting Commission and the National Child Protection Commission, issued censorship directives banning information and broadcasts that portrayed the lives of LGBT people as "normal," as well as so-called "propaganda" about LGBT lives.

Despite President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's rhetorical support for the basic human rights of Indonesia's LGBT community, the authorities target the vulnerable minority with impunity, Human Rights Watch said. In April, authorities in Aceh province arrested two men for allegedly having consensual sex in the privacy of their home. The men face a public flogging sentence - which violates international legal prohibitions against torture - under the province's Sharia (Islamic law) ordinances.

Privacy rights are a fundamental protection that underlie everyone's physical autonomy and identity, Human Rights Watch said. The United Nations Human Rights Committee, the independent body of experts that interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Indonesia is party, has stated: "it is undisputed that adult consensual sexual activity in private is covered by the concept of 'privacy.'"

In 2013 Indonesia co-sponsored a UN Human Rights Council resolution on the right to privacy. In the report on that resolution, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reminded governments that privacy rights (enshrined in ICCPR article 17) should be upheld jointly with the right to nondiscrimination (ICCPR article 26).

"So long as the government permits police raids on private gatherings under a discriminatory law, it will fail to curb anti-LGBT harassment and intimidation." Kine said. "President Jokowi should make good on his commitments to protect privacy rights and put an end to state-sanctioned discrimination."

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Malaysia: Longtime Turkish Residents Detained

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 5 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Malaysia: Longtime Turkish Residents Detained, 5 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c3bb34.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Malaysian authorities on May 2, 2017, detained without charge two Turkish nationals who are longtime Kuala Lumpur residents, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should provide the basis for holding the men - Turgay Karaman, the principal of Time International School in Ipoh, and Ihsan Aslan, a Kuala Lumpur-based businessman - and allow them full access to legal counsel and contact with their families.

Expand

Khalid Abu Bakar, Malaysia's inspector general of police.

 2017 Reuters

On May 3, Malaysia's inspector general of police, Khalid Abu Bakar, tweeted that police were holding the men on suspicion of national security offenses under article 130 of Malaysia's penal code, relating to harboring or assisting a "prisoner of State." But at a news conference the next day, Khalid said the two were being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA), an administrative detention law.

"Malaysian authorities should explain why they are holding two longtime residents of Malaysia without charge on security grounds," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director. "Malaysia's administrative detention laws open the doors to easy abuse, so it's important for the government to provide the men's location and to allow them immediate access to their families and legal counsel."

SOSMA allows the police to detain people for up to 28 days without charge or judicial review to investigate "security offenses."

Article 130 of the Malaysian penal code states:

Whoever knowingly aids or assists any prisoner of State or prisoner of war in escaping from lawful custody, or rescues or attempts to rescue any such prisoner, or harbours or conceals any such prisoner who has escaped from lawful custody, or offers or attempts to offer any resistance to the recapture of such prisoner, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Malaysia's administrative detention laws open the doors to easy abuse.

Phil Robertson

Deputy Asia Director

Turkish media reports suggested that Karaman and Aslan have alleged links to Fethullah Gulen, whom the Turkish government accuses of masterminding the July 15, 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. However, Malaysian authorities, including Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Khalid, alleged that the men were connected to the Islamic State (also known as ISIS) but did not provide any evidence to substantiate that claim. Khalid denied that Malaysia had received any extradition or other request from Turkey for the two men.

On October 14, 2016, the Turkish foreign minister announced that the previous day the Malaysian authorities had extradited to Turkey three men with alleged Gulenist affiliations.

Two of the families of the three men said at the time that witnesses had seen them taken away by unidentified men on the day of their extradition to Turkey. Human Rights Watch does not have information about their treatment upon return to Turkey but is concerned that they were detained on suspicion of terrorism offenses without adequate due process.

October 24, 2016 Report

Turkey's Post-Coup Suspension of Safeguards Against Torture

Since the attempted coup, Turkish courts have placed over 47,000 people in pretrial detention. The majority face terrorism charges based on their alleged links to the Gulenist movement and many have been held in prolonged detention without due process or credible evidence of personal criminal wrongdoing. Others have been held because of alleged ties to Kurdish armed groups.

Among those detained in Turkey are military personnel, police officers, civil servants, teachers, academics, businessmen, judges, and prosecutors. Some of those held have alleged that they were subjected to torture or other ill-treatment by the police and have excessive restrictions on visits by family members, receiving and sending letters, and having private communication with lawyers. Their detention conditions may amount to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment in violation of international law.

"Malaysia's kneejerk use of SOSMA highlights the dangers of allowing detention without judicial review, not just to foreign residents, but to all Malaysians," Robertson said. "The authorities should release these men from custody if they haven't charged them with a credible offense."

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Ukraine: Russian-backed separatists 'sentence' prominent academic in sham trial

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 4 May 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Ukraine: Russian-backed separatists 'sentence' prominent academic in sham trial, 4 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c3e1a4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The de facto authorities of the self-proclaimed, Russian-backed "Donetsk People's Republic" in eastern Ukraine have convicted a retired university professor after unfair and absurd proceedings, Amnesty International said today.

The organization named the academic, Ihor Kozlovsky, 63, a prisoner of conscience after the unofficial military court yesterday "sentenced" him to two years and eight months behind bars on trumped-up charges of weapons possession.

"If the outcome were not so serious, it would be laughable that the de facto prosecution presented the court with two metal pipes as 'evidence' that Kozlovsky was keeping weapons in his home. But it is outrageous that this renowned former academic will spend time behind bars as a prisoner of conscience," said Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International.

"All Ihor Kozlovsky is 'guilty' of is his opposition to the de facto authorities in Donetsk. This clearly transpired as soon as the 'judge' described him as 'an especially untrustworthy citizen' on account of some of his past contacts. This sham trial by unrecognized authorities cannot stand and he must be released immediately and unconditionally."

Amnesty International is also urging the de facto authorities in Donetsk to refrain from the practice of unlawfully detaining civilians in the territory under their control.

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Brewing beer battle bubbles toward top court

TORONTO - The battle over provincial beer prices continues to brew in Canada.A court ruling that threw out a New Brunswick mans $292.50 fine for buying cheaper beer in another province and taking it home has upended decades of legal thinking and strikes at the heart of Canadian federalism, the provincial government argues in a request to have the countrys highest court weigh in on the case.The ruling and a refusal by the provinces Appeal Court to review the decision, the request states, could hamper government control over interprovincial trade and create nationwide confusion around the extent of provincial authority.The combined effect of these two decisions calls into question several judgments of this court beginning in 1921 as well as 150 years of constitutional compromise, the New Brunswick government says in its memorandum of argument to the Supreme Court of Canada. This is a decision of polarizing national interest.In October 2012, RCMP fined Gerard Comeau, of Tracadie-Sheila, N.B., for violating a New Brunswick liquor law as he returned from a regular beer run into Quebec with 14 cases of beer and three bottles of liquor. The law  related to federal anti-smuggling efforts implemented at the height of Prohibition  barred importing more than one bottle of wine or 12 pints of beer  about 19 regular bottles  from any other province.Comeau, a retiree, argued at trial that the law violated part of the Constitution he said mandates free trade within Canada. Judge Ronald LeBlanc last April agreed. The province appealed but the New Brunswick Court of Appeal refused to hear the case.Even though LeBlancs decision is not binding, the province is now urging the Supreme Court to decide the case in light of what it says is the national importance of the issues at hand.The judgment of the provincial court lays the base for a national contest between interprovincial free trade and the regulatory authority of the provinces and the federal government, the filing argues.It also notes that Comeau, backed by the Canadian Constitution Foundation, did not oppose the provinces initial attempt to appeal.Despite having won, Comeau is also urging the Supreme Court to hear the case  for reasons different from the province.In his reply, his lawyers argue federal and provincial governments have repeatedly violated Section 121 of the Constitution since the countrys founding in 1867 by erecting protectionist barriers  such as New Brunswick did with its alcohol import restrictions, although beer is just one part of a much bigger picture.A Supreme Court ruling from 1921 that interpreted the provision far more narrowly than LeBlanc allowed governments to erect a plethora of interprovincial trade-barriers around alcohol, wheat and even products regulated by provincial marketing boards, the document states.These legislative and policy initiatives were created to benefit special interest groups, and now all fall under the shadow of the Comeau interpretation, the document states. (The interpretation) creates profound economic-rights implications for individuals and for government programs and policies.As such, the foundation says, its important for the Supreme Court to weigh in to minimize future legal fights over specific interprovincial trade barriers  others fights are already brewing  and to alert governments that they need to adjust programs and tax policies.An analysis last year by Malcolm Lavoie of the University of Albertas law faculty hinted at just how far-reaching LeBlancs decision could be.The approach...adopted by the trial judge threatens to shift the structure of Canadian federalism, as well as the structure of economic regulation in Canada, Lavoie wrote. There is simply no question that a robust interpretation of the Constitutions free-trade provision would restrict the power of democratic majorities, especially at the provincial level, to set economic policies.Howard Anglin, the constitution foundations executive director, said in a statement that real free trade among provinces would be a massive economic boon to the country. At the very least, the foundation says, a favourable ruling would throw open Canadas closed provincial alcohol monopolies and could spell the end of provincial agricultural cartels.
Brazil: Spike in killings by Rio police as country faces UN review

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 4 May 2017 Related Document(s) Brazil: Police Killings, Impunity And Attacks on Defenders Cite as Amnesty International, Brazil: Spike in killings by Rio police as country faces UN review, 4 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c3e9c4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Authorities in Brazil are increasingly turning a blind eye to a deepening human rights crisis of their own making, Amnesty International said in a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council ahead of a review of the country on 5 May.

Since Brazil last faced scrutiny at the UN's Universal Periodic Review in 2012, a spike in violence has seen killings by the police in Rio de Janeiro nearly doubled to 182 in the first two months of 2017, as well as soaring rates of killings and other human rights violations elsewhere in the country.

"Since the last review at the United Nations, Brazil has not taken enough steps to tackle the shocking levels of human rights violations across the country, including soaring police homicide rates that leave hundreds of people dead every year," said Jurema Werneck, Executive Director at Amnesty International Brazil.

"Very little has been done to reduce the number of homicides, to control the use of force by the police, or to guarantee Indigenous rights as claimed in Brazil's Constitution. UN Member States must make clear to Brazil that this has to change.

"What we see today is Brazil's deep political, ethical and financial crisis being used as excuse to trample on well-established human rights."

In January and February 2017 in Rio de Janeiro alone, at least 182 people were killed during police operations in marginalized neighbourhoods (favelas) a 78% increase in comparison to the same period in 2016, according to official figures.

In 2016, there were 920 killings by police documented in the city, up from 419 in 2012.

Brazil has a very high number of homicides overall with nearly 60,000 people killed in the country in 2015. The majority of victims are black young men. Police officers are responsible for a significant percentage of the total number of homicides in the country, and many of them may amount to extrajudicial killings  a crime under international law.

In 2015, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, police officers were responsible for one in every five murders, and in Sao Paulo, one in every four, according to official records.

Despite the fact that more than 70% of homicides in Brazil involve the use of firearms, it is troubling that Congress is currently debating the so called "Disarmament Statute", which would loosen restrictions on bearing firearms, which have been in place since 2004.

Violence in rural areas has also increased in recent years, with a significant number relating to land conflicts involving Indigenous people and rural peasants. In 2016, the Land Church Commission (Comissao Pastoral da Terra) registered 61 murders, 200 threats and 74 attempted murders related to conflicts over land and natural resources. These numbers are the second highest in the last 25 years  the highest were in 2013 when 73 people were killed. Nineteen people have been killed so far in 2017.

In its report to the United Nations, Amnesty International also raised serious concerns about Indigenous Peoples' rights, torture, and ill-treatment, prison conditions, freedom of expression and repression of peaceful protests.

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Peru: Peruvian authorities put an end to the criminalization of defender Maxima Acuna

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 3 May 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Peru: Peruvian authorities put an end to the criminalization of defender Maxima Acuna, 3 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c4e8c4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The ruling of the Supreme Court of Peru marking the end of the trial for land invasion against the human rights defender Maxima Acuna Atalaya is a landmark decision for environmental defenders in the country, Amnesty International said today.

After almost five years of proceedings in relation to unfounded criminal charges of land invasion, the Supreme Court of Justice ruled that there was no reason to pursue the groundless trial of the defender for land invasion.

"Many environmental defenders in Peru have been criminalized through the use of groundless criminal proceedings which seek to prevent them from carrying out their legitimate work to defend human rights, by exhausting their physical and emotional strength and their limited resources, in addition to publicly portraying them as criminals," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

It is fundamental that the authorities take effective measures to stop the use of the criminal justice system to intimidate and harass human rights defenders."

On 14 February this year, an Amnesty International delegation visited Maxima Acuna and her family to deliver over 150,000 messages of support and solidarity collected from around the world, calling on the Peruvian government to protect her from any attack or act of harassment or intimidation. That same day she was visited by the Minister for Justice and Human Rights in order to confirm the status of the implementation of the precautionary measures granted to Maxima Acuna by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Between 2011 and 2014, Maxima Acuna Atalaya reported several incidents of harassment, attacks and eviction attempts on the part of the Peruvian National Police.

Background

Despite a lack of evidence since the beginning of the criminal proceedings in 2011, the Peruvian Attorney General's office decided to continue with the criminal investigation and take the case to court. This added to the stigmatization of Maxima Acuna, portrayed as a criminal by a smear campaign in which representatives of the Yanacocha mining company referred to her activities as "squatting" throughout 2015 and at the beginning of 2016, even though the issue of the ownership of the land is still awaiting legal resolution.

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Southern Africa: A year of persistent attacks on media threaten press freedom

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 3 May 2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Southern Africa: A year of persistent attacks on media threaten press freedom, 3 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c4f3c4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Persistent attacks against journalists and media owners are threatening press freedom and the growth of independent media across Southern Africa, Amnesty International said today to mark World Press Freedom Day.

"From Angola to Zambia, we have seen disturbingly brazen attacks on press freedom which have a chilling effect on those working in the media. Across the region, journalists have been targeted simply for exposing the truth," said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's Regional Director for Southern Africa.

"This cynical onslaught is weakening independent journalism and rolling back the hard won media freedom fought for since colonial times. The authorities across Southern Africa must urgently reverse the closing of the media space."

In Lesotho, Lesotho Times editor Lloyd Mutungamiri narrowly survived a shooting after being attacked by unknown gunmen on 9 July 2016. He was previously intimidated and harassed, including through trumped up charges of criminal defamation in September 2014, for his newspaper's investigative journalism work. Since the shooting he has abandoned his job and left the country. Another journalist working for the same newspaper, Keiso Mohlobodi, has left the country fearing for her own safety after facing harassment by the police for exposing corruption.

In Botswana, journalists continue to face harassment and intimidation for carrying out investigative and critical journalism. In March 2017, two journalists from INK Centre for Investigative journalism were briefly detained and threatened with death by plain clothed security agents after they tried to access the area where the private holiday home of President Ian Khama is being constructed. They were stopped and told that it was a "restricted area" which they cannot access. They were warned that if they tried to come back, they would be killed.

In Malawi, Teresa Chirwa-Ndanga, a journalist working for privately owned television station Zodiak Broadcasting was harassed by security personnel at State House in October 2016 during her visit to cover President Arthur Mutharika's press conference. They later told her not to ask "stupid questions" during the press conference.

During the press conference, President Mutharika attacked Zodiak Broadcasting, calling them "liars" without specifying what lies he thought they had broadcast.

In South Africa, eight South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) journalists were summarily dismissed for questioning editorial interference by the broadcaster's executives in July 2016. Seven of them were later re-instated to their positions after challenging their sacking through their lawyers. However, some of the journalists have since received threatening messages through their mobile phones for standing up for editorial integrity.

In Zambia, authorities shut down the independent newspaper, The Post, on 21 June 2016 demanding US$6.1 million in tax arrears. The newspaper's owner, Fred M'membe, his wife Mutinta M'membe and the newspaper's Deputy Managing Editor, Joseph Mwenda, were arrested in the early hours of 28 June and held at the Lusaka Central Police Station without any charges. During their detention, they were severely beaten by the police.

In Zimbabwe, the government continues to stifle critical reporting in the privately owned media. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) recorded assaults on 32 journalists as they went about their work between January and September 2016.

Two staff members at the prominent daily newspaper Newsday, were charged with "insulting" the President in 2016, they are still awaiting trial.

"When journalists are constantly harassed, intimidated and jailed simply for doing their work, it sends a frightening message to other journalists - causing them to self-censor and undermining the whole profession," said Deprose Muchena.

"Journalism is not a crime and media professionals should be given a safe space in which to do their work."

Background

The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and articulated in subsequent international and regional human rights treaties.

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Nicaragua: the state must uphold, without delay, the judgement issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 3 May 2017 Reference AMR 43/6173/2017 Cite as Amnesty International, Nicaragua: the state must uphold, without delay, the judgement issued by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, 3 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c51f74.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

On 28 April 2017 the Inter-American Court of Human Rights served notice of the judgement on the case of Acosta et. al. v. Nicaragua, determining the international responsibility of the state of Nicaragua for the violation of the right to access to justice and truth suffered by the human rights defender Maria Luisa Acosta following the murder of her husband Francisco Garcia Valle.

The grounds for the case was the lack of diligent investigation into the events which led to the death of Francisco Garcia on 8 April 2002 in Bluefields, Nicaragua.

Amongst other factors, the Court examined the lack of serious investigation into the theory that the murder could have been related to Maria Luisa Acosta's work to defend the rights of Indigenous Peoples. (1)

In particular, the Court indicated that in cases of attacks against human rights defenders, states are responsible for ensuring impartial and timely justice, which involves an exhaustive review of all the facts in order to develop and implement an investigation leading to the proper review of presumed perpetrators.(2) This should include, without a doubt, attacks against family members of human rights defenders which are possibly carried out in retaliation for their work.

In addition, the Inter-American Court declared that human rights defenders in Nicaragua continue to face worrying and risky situations, particularly those who work on issues related to land and territory. Therefore the Court has ordered the state to establish protection mechanisms and investigation protocols for situations of risk, threats and attacks against human rights defenders.(3)

The judgement issued by the Inter-American Court constitutes a clear ruling from the highest judicial body in the region which must give rise, without delay, to the Nicaraguan state adopting all measures necessary to ensure the right to legal safeguards and protection of Maria Luisa Acosta and other relatives of her husband, and in particular put an end to the impunity which has prevailed to date.

It is unacceptable that the Acosta family is still waiting for a serious and efficient investigation into these events which occurred over 15 years ago. The Nicaraguan state must, without delay, implement any actions necessary to ensure that this does not go unpunished and guarantee adequate reparation for the victims according to the terms dictated by the Inter-American Court.

Amnesty International calls once again on the Nicaraguan authorities to guarantee a safe environment for human rights defenders to carry out their vital work, without risks to them or their families.

(1)Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Case of Acosta et.al. v. Nicaragua, Judgement of March 25, 2017, para. 1.

(2) Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Case of Acosta et.al. v. Nicaragua, Judgement of March 25, 2017, para. 143.

(3) Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Case of Acosta et.al. v. Nicaragua, Judgement of March 25, 2017, para. 252.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Skin markings save farmer escaping DRC violence

Publisher UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Author Pumla Rulashe Publication Date 5 May 2017 Cite as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Skin markings save farmer escaping DRC violence, 5 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c57e31.html [accessed 9 November 2022]

The smoke form the burning village hung in the air as the militiamen fanned out through the fields in search of residents to butcher.

As her family scattered in different directions, Elena Kita was grabbed from behind by a strong pair of hands. The man who snatched her took out a machete and she begged for her life.

"It was then that something quite surprising happened," recalls Elena. "He whispered to me to listen to him. He recognized me through certain traditional markings on my body and that I was from the Chokwe tribe, which was his tribe too."

The man beat her feet with the handle of his machete, telling her to run into the forest in a certain direction that would ensure she avoided the militia.

"After letting me escape, I ran in the direction he suggested. I couldn't believe he had let me go!"

She eventually found some of her family members deeper in the forest, and is now among thousands of men, women and children who have fled surging violence in their native Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, to seek safety in neighbouring Angola.

The conflict in DRC's Kasai Province began with the violent uprising of the Kamwina Nsapu militia in August 2016, which displaced over one million people in the country and destroyed their livelihoods. By the end of last month, over 20,000 people had sought refuge in Angola's Lunda Norte Province.

Elena, who reached Angola last week, is among 5,000 newly arrived refugees currently staying in Cacanda, a temporary reception centre that the Angolan government has made available to those fleeing the current upsurge in violence.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has dispatched an emergency team from the regional office in Southern Africa and its headquarters in Geneva. It is working closely with the Angola's Social Assistance Ministry and other humanitarian agencies to identify refugees' most pressing needs and provide assistance.

There are numerous accounts like Elena's of summary executions and other violent acts targeting those perceived to support either the government or militia. Concerned over the ongoing violence, UNHCR is coordinating a joint response with the government and humanitarian agencies to protect and assist refugees, pending a more long-term solution.

Top on the list of priorities is to identify and develop a refugee hosting site to which the new arrivals can be relocated.

"The government has identified three sites which are almost 100 kilometres from the border with DRC," says Asis Das, a UNHCR official leading the emergency response team. "We are inspecting the sites jointly with the Government and then we will begin the ground work to make the sites habitable as quickly as possible."

UNHCR has already started registering refugees currently living in two of the reception centres in Dundo. "This is important as we are getting reliable data about the refugees' origins and identifying people with vulnerabilities and specific needs," Das explains. "The process will strengthen the delivery of humanitarian assistance."

The registration will culminate in the distribution of food and non-food items which are desperately needed. As the numbers continue to rise beyond the initial planned figure of 5,000 people, UNHCR is working closely with the World Food Programme to continue providing food to the arrivals. Other humanitarian agencies including UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders are continuing to provide water, sanitation and health care.

"Once we are able to stabilize the population by providing the most basic needs, especially at reception centres where they usually arrive exhausted, malnourished or ill, we can then look into issues relating to sexual and gender based violence, child protection and some of the psycho-social concerns that occur due to trauma," adds Das.

As she adapts to her new circumstances, Elena is still in pain, both physically and emotionally, although she can now smile. She is unexpectedly grateful to the militia man who beat her so as to deflect any suspicion about his actions towards her.

"Though he beat me, I will always be grateful to him for sparing my life and allowing me to reunite with my family. It is what puts a smile on my face, in spite of the pain in my feet," she says.

Meanwhile her brother-in-law, Celeste Kasenga, is simply relieved that she is alive. "If she hadn't escaped we would have been accused by her family of neglecting to protect her," he says.

"That would have destroyed relations between both families. At a time like this, unity is the strength families need to heal the trauma and stress we have just gone through."
How Many Tetri Are in a Lari? The Importance of Municipal Statistics for Good Governance

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Koba Turmanidze Publication Date 25 April 2017 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, How Many Tetri Are in a Lari? The Importance of Municipal Statistics for Good Governance, 25 April 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c59914.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

The government of Georgia has committed itself to collecting and publishing policy-relevant data in a timely manner under the Open Government Partnership. Yet while most ministries and state agencies are happy to provide national-level statistics, they often fail to break them down to the municipal level.



Framing it in monetary terms, the current system means that officials do not know how many tetri are in a lari.



Reliable municipal statistics can contribute to good governance in several important ways. First, municipal-level data can let citizens assess the quality of state services they receive compared to other municipalities or to the national average. Second, municipal-level data can help policy makers improve the targeting of programs, and therefore, spend public money more efficiently. Third, it can help both government and citizens evaluate the successes and failures of municipal governance.



The following scenarios highlight the potential benefits of comprehensive data on a local level:



Imagine you want to move from one town to another for a better job. You consider moving with your spouse and a child of school age. However, your spouse does not want to move, arguing that your current town has much better public schools than the new one. In such cases, it would help if you could look at municipal-level education data to see if schools in the two towns are similar or different in terms of the student-teacher ratio, exam scores, success rate on national examinations, etc.



Imagine you are a civil servant and are working with an investor to build a new factory in a municipality. You want the factory to be built in the municipality where its social impact will be highest. To persuade the investor, you use municipal statistics to demonstrate that the municipality of your choice has high unemployment, yet its labor force is younger and better trained than in comparable municipalities.



Imagine you are an analyst in a think-tank and your task is to advise the government on whether to extend a poverty reduction program or not. The government claims the program helped to reduce poverty by two percentage points nationwide, but you have reasons to suspect that the reduction happened in certain settlements, whereas in others the program had a negligible impact. You look at relevant data on the program and poverty statistics, and conclude that the program's effect across municipalities was truly unequal. Importantly, it made no difference in the most economically deprived communities. Therefore, you advise the government to redesign the program to improve its impact on the communities with the highest poverty rates, before pouring more money into it.



Unfortunately, we can only imagine the above. These three scenarios remain purely hypothetical since, in Georgia, reliable municipal data is rarely available on education, employment and poverty.



CRRC-Georgia's repeated interactions with a multitude of state agencies over the past three years have uncovered at least three problems regarding municipal data. First, when municipal data of potentially good quality exists, it is often not processed and made available to the public. Second, if municipal data is accessible, its quality is often questionable. Third, municipal data often does not exist at all, since the responsible agency does not recognize its value, or it is unable to collect it due to lack of relevant training.



Below are three concrete cases that correspond to these three problems:



Case 1: Until recently, the National Assessment and Examination Center (NAEC) maintained detailed and high-quality data on the results of the Unified National Exams (UNE) for many years. The data allowed one to see which municipality's and even school's students were most successful in the exams. Such data was not proactively shared on the Center's website, but was available upon request. The situation changed when the Center introduced electronic applicant registration in 2011. Under the new system, an applicant's place of residence and school was no longer recorded. However, the Center could still identify the municipality based on an applicant's ID number.



For the 2015 UNE results, NAEC processed the data this way and made the data file available on its website. However, when CRRC-Georgia requested the same data for 2016, the Center turned the request down, arguing it no longer processed data per municipality, and would not do so for our sake. As a result, it is no longer possible to analyze municipal- or school-level performance and map it as we did in this blog post. At the time, this map drew attention to large differences in educational attainment countrywide, including an important fact - that Unified National Exam scores in Upper Ajara were among the worst in the country. In part in response to this fact, AGL, a Norwegian company building a hydro-electric dam in upper Ajara created a tutoring program for students in the region to help them prepare for the exams. If the NAEC withholds such data, it will hinder the ability of interested parties to spot trends and develop remedial policies.



Case 2: The Social Service Agency (SSA) is a leading organization in the country in terms of providing access to comprehensive data on poverty and targeted social assistance at the national and municipal levels. Among other statistics, the Agency reports monthly data on applicants and recipients of social aid. The 2014 census data, however, casts some doubt on whether the SSA poverty statistics are trustworthy.



The scale of mismatch between the agency's data and the 2014 census results is evident from the chart above. Using Geostat's population estimates, the agency calculates the share of the population registered for targeted social assistance in each municipality. The census was conducted in November 2014, so it is possible to re-calculate the share of those registered for targeted social assistance based on the census data and compare it with the agency's estimates.



Let's take the extreme case of Lentekhi. The agency reported that 44 percent of the population applied for targeted social assistance. When the census data is used, the finding is that 89 percent of Lentekhi residents registered for social assistance. Thus, the SSA estimate was 45 percentage points lower than the actual percentage. The chart above plots the differences between the shares of the population registered for targeted social assistance, as calculated and reported by the SSA on the one hand, and updated calculations based on the 2014 census data on the other, for each municipality in November 2014. Overall, the agency underestimated the share of applicants by 14 percentage points, on average. However, publicly available data has yet to be adjusted based on the 2014 census.



Case 3: In a number of cases, municipal statistics do not exist. Measuring the scale of economic activity (level of employment by sector, total value added, etc.) in every municipality would require large-scale surveys that are both time-consuming and expensive. Geostat's periodic Integrated Household Survey cannot provide this information, due to the cost that such a large sample size would entail.



However, the Revenue Service (RS) under the Ministry of Finance of Georgia could help solve this challenge. Based on taxpayers' IDs, the agency can provide information about the number of taxpayers, be it individuals or organizations, and the amount of taxes collected in each municipality. This information would serve as a good proxy of economic activity by municipality. However, as the RS told CRRC-Georgia, it can only break the data down for regions. Officials claimed that breaking the data down further was not possible.



Undoubtedly, the collection and analysis of municipal data would require additional resources. However, the three concrete cases highlighted above show that a little increase in awareness regarding municipal data could go a long way toward promoting better municipal governance. Investors could have clearer insight into the best investment destinations, for one. Civil society groups would also have better ways to assess the successes and failures of government actions. Likewise, citizens would have a better idea of where their place of residence stands compared to other parts of the country or the national average. Government could have better tools to ensure equal access to services in the country or to achieve efficiencies in the provision of services.



All of this is possible. Unfortunately, it is not reality. And as a result, the government does not know how many tetri are in a lari.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Russia: Petersburg Metro Blast Sets Off Hunt for Central Asian Terrorists

Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 27 April 2017 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Russia: Petersburg Metro Blast Sets Off Hunt for Central Asian Terrorists, 27 April 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c5ab94.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

There is work under way to lay down new water pipes near the family home of Abror and Akram Azimov in Jalal-Abad, in southern Kyrgyzstan. A deep trench dug along the length of the street has turned the web of lanes in this largely ethnic Uzbek neighborhood into an obstacle course.

So when a man came visiting on April 11 claiming to be from the local waterworks company, nobody was surprised. His questions did seem strange, however.

"Are there any Russian citizens living here?" he asked. Pressing further and betraying evident detailed knowledge about members of the household, he asked, "Is Akram here?" Spooked by the line of questioning, the woman at the door cut the exchange short.

Six days later, the Federal Security Service in Russia, the FSB, announced triumphantly that they had detained Abror Azimov. The 26-year old, they alleged, was the organizer of the April 3 blast on St. Petersburg metro that, to date, has claimed 16 lives, including that of the suspected bomber. Abror's capture was depicted in dramatic FSB-produced footage that showed agents pouncing on the young man as he approached a railway underpass in a town outside Moscow. The heavily edited sequence then shows a security agent finding a handgun tucked into the back of the young man's loose-fitting jeans, and a plastic carrier bag holding two cellphones.

Investigators say that moments before explosion, the suspected perpetrator, 22-year old Akbarjon Jalilov, received a call on his mobile phone from Abror. The confiscation of Abror's cellphones, then, provided confirmation of a link between the two men, they argued.

The circumstances leading to the FSB's capture of Abror's older brother, Akram, were altogether odd.

Again, the FSB released a dramatic video to illustrate their operational success. In a scene that officials say unfolded on April 19, FSB agents are seen emerging from a vehicle and grabbing Akram as he stands at a bus stop in Moskovsky, a town a few kilometers outside the Moscow ring road. Agents are then shown looking into Akram's fanny pack and finding a Soviet-vintage RGD-5 hand grenade.

Akram is alleged by investigators to have fulfilled perhaps the most crucial task of all - supplying funds and forging documents for all the people involved in the attack. More than a dozen people have been arrested to date in connection with the blast, all of them originally hailing from Central Asia.

But the FSB story about Akram's detention is full of holes.

Even in the days before Akram's name was first floated in the media, some outlets were reporting that he was actually in Kyrgyzstan. EurasiaNet.org inquiries have confirmed that to be the case.

When the man posing as a waterworks company employee visited the Azimov family home in Jalal-Abad, what he failed to learn was that Akram was at that time in Osh, around 150 kilometers away.

Akram has lived in Russia since around the end of 2013, having moved there from the Ukrainian city of Khmelnitsky, where he and his brothers once ran a snack stand in a bustling market. In 2014, only a few months after moving to Russia, both Akram and his brother Abror sought and received Russian citizenship.

As a younger Azimov brother, Bilol, who still lives in Jalal-Abad, told EurasiaNet.org, Akram flew to Osh on March 28 to spend a few weeks with his family and undergo minor surgery to treat a stubborn case of sinusitis.

On April 3, the day of the attack in St. Petersburg, several members of the Azimov household - Akram, Bilol, their mother, the wives of the brothers and their children - went on a daylong outing. According to Bilol, as chance would have it, on that day, a traffic police officer confiscated Akram's driver's license for parking illegally. Keeping drivers' documents is a typical method used in Kyrgyzstan to ensure people pay their fines. It was several days before he got his license back.

In the ensuing days, as Bilol tells it, Akram mostly hung around home. He spent much of his time playing with his small children - two sons and a daughter - relaxing in the house and repairing a broken old bicycle. Bilol said he noticed no particular newfound obsession with religion in Akram, or anything that would suggest a sudden a newfound deep piety.

"While he was here, he didn't go to the mosque," Bilol said.

The first sign that something was awry came on April 15. On that day, in the afternoon, the man who had previously posed as a waterworks employee visited the house again, this time identifying himself as a taxi driver. He told the family that Akram had asked to have his passport delivered to Osh.

Disbelieving the story, Akram's mother, Vazira Mirzahmedova, tried to call her son, but was unable to make contact. Instead, the man himself made a call and then handed the phone to Mirzahmedova. On the other end, Akram explained that he was being detained by officers from the State Committee for National Security in the Osh clinic where he was being treated for sinusitis.

It was only at this point that it became clear that the waterworks employee-cum-taxi driver was connected to the Kyrgyz security services all along.

The privately run Hosiyat clinic confirmed in a signed and stamped letter provided to the Azimov family that Akram was in their care until April 15. Staff at the clinic confirmed to EurasiaNet.org that the letter was genuine.

How Akram ended up in Russia remains a mystery.

On the day Akram was detained, on April 19, four days after he was picked up from the clinic, a security source in Kyrgyzstan told Russian news agency RIA-Novosti that he had gone to Moscow of his own volition. "Akram Azimov was not deported from Kyrgyzstan. At the request of Russian law enforcement organs, he volunteered to leave for Moscow to provide testimony," the source told RIA-Novosti.

But Bilol said it was completely unlike his brother not to call home to let his family know about plans to leave for Russia.

As far as is known publicly, the only piece of evidence linking the suspected bomber, Jalilov, to the Azimov brothers is the phone call allegedly made minutes before the metro blast. From there, Russian investigators have furnished a broad account, without many details, that hints at a complex, transnational criminal conspiracy.

The most incriminating circumstantial evidence against the brothers stems from their trips abroad. Akram is said to have been in touch with international terrorist groups and to have received money during a brief visit to Turkey.

Bilol confirmed Akram had been to Istanbul in 2016 for two days and supposedly at the advice of his doctors, who suggested he spend some time by the sea. While in Istanbul, Akram used his mobile phone to film himself standing on a beach for a snippet of footage he then sent to his relatives.

Abror also passed through Istanbul last year, on his way to South Korea, where he hoped to gain entry into the country posing as a short-term visitor and get a job there, Bilol said. The idea was purportedly floated to him by a relative already working in South Korea. But Bilol said his brother was rumbled by passport control officers and ordered to leave the country, which he did by flying to the Russian Pacific city of Vladivostok, and then onward to Moscow.

Istanbul is a far costlier transit point for flights from Moscow to Seoul than, for instance, the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, raising questions about the choice of travel plans.

The investigation into the St. Petersburg blast has taken in more people than just the Azimov brothers.

Possibly to avoid compromising the investigation, little concrete information is being provided, although the few scraps emerging from court hearings reveal largely circumstantial evidence.

Among the first suspected accomplices to be detained included at least half a dozen people said to have been Jalilov's roommates. A search of their apartment allegedly revealed a trove of small arms.

Another recent court hearing involved Abror Azimov's roommate in Moscow, Tajik national Sodik Ortikov. Investigators say they found a Makarov handgun in the bedroom they shared. Ortikov denies owning the weapon. The Moscow-based Kommersant newspaper said another part of the state's case for Ortikov being somehow involved in the metro bombing hinges on evidence that he exchanged phone calls with Azimov, with whom he lived.

The General Prosecutor's Office in Tajikistan at one stage denied reports that Ortikov was a Tajik citizen at all. But when the Interior Ministry was contacted by EurasiaNet.org, a spokesman confirmed Ortikov was indeed from Tajikistan's Tursunzoda district, an area on the border with Uzbekistan. The spokesman asked, however, not to dwell on this information for fear of smearing the country's reputation.

Incongruities seem to be cropping up at many points in the investigation.

What unites the dozens of people arrested in recent weeks - either in connection with the St. Petersburg blast, or on seemingly unrelated terrorism charges - is that they almost all originally come from Central Asia.

That point was made explicitly by Russian state television in an April 23 broadcast, which featured a lengthy report from Osh that cast the city and Central Asia as a hive of potential radical religious activity.

"They came especially to our country to carry out terrorist acts," the First Channel newsreader said, teeing up the report.

A slew of similar reports has ignited concerns in the region about the specter of migrant-phobia in Russia. An online petition calling for a tamping down of rhetoric singles out the head of Russia's FSB security services, Alexander Bortnikov, for what has been described as his irresponsible remarks.

"Collective responsibility for the [St. Petersburg] terrorist act has been heaped on migrant laborers from [the former Soviet Union]," reads the petition, which has been backed by dozens of activists, writers and journalists from across Central Asia. "The consequences have been quick in coming  Law enforcement agencies have embarked on a chaotic wave of indiscriminate and unjustified detentions and threats, and they are using violence and extortion against Central Asian labor migrants who had nothing to do with the blast in St. Petersburg."

Editor's note: Peter Leonard is EurasiaNet's Central Asia editor.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Freedom in the World 2017 - Colombia

Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 3 May 2017 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2017 - Colombia, 3 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c5ca913.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Freedom Status: Partly Free

Aggregate Score: 64/100 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free)

Freedom Rating: 3/7 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)

Political Rights: 3/7 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)

Civil Liberties: 3/7 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free)

Quick Facts

Population: 48,800,000

Capital: Bogota

GDP/capita: $6,056

Press Freedom Status: Partly Free

Net Freedom Status: Partly Free

Ratings Change, Trend Arrow: 

Colombia's civil liberties rating improved from 4 to 3, and it received an upward trend arrow, due to the historic reduction in violence resulting from the peace process between the government and left-wing FARC guerrillas.

OVERVIEW

Colombia is one of the longest-standing democracies in Latin America, and its foundational institutions serve an effective role in checking executive power. However, a low-intensity internal conflict has afflicted the country since the 1960s and greatly affected both political rights and civil liberties. A peace process between the government and Colombia's main left-wing guerilla group, launched in 2012, led to the ratification of a peace accord in 2016 and has contributed to a significant decline in violence.

Key Developments

The government and left-wing guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) reached a deal on a peace accord in August. Although it was narrowly rejected in an October referendum, renegotiations yielded a revised accord in November, which the legislature ratified without an additional plebiscite.

In March, the government agreed to initiate formal negotiations with another left-wing guerrilla group, the Army of National Liberation (ELN).

In February, the chief of Colombia's National Police resigned amid a deepening scandal involving a prostitution ring within police ranks; in response to this and other revelations of malfeasance, his successor initiated an extensive purge of the force as part of a crackdown on corruption.

A wave of lethal attacks against human rights defenders and other social activists occurred during the year  including dozens in the months after the signing of the first peace accord.

Executive Summary

The peace process between the government and the FARC dominated the political environment in 2016. Although domestic opposition created a tense negotiating environment, the two sides announced in August that they had reached a final accord, including an agreement on ceasefire and disarmament as well as provisions for UN monitoring. The agreement was formally signed in September and put to a referendum in October. While most polling suggested an advantage for the "yes" vote, the accord was rejected by roughly 53,000 votes  a margin of less than 0.5 percent  amid a 37 percent turnout.

In the aftermath of the plebiscite, the two sides relaunched talks amid a fragile calm. Following six weeks of discussions, as well as a series of large pro-peace demonstrations throughout the country, the government and the FARC produced a new accord in November. The deal contained some changes requested by opponents of the initial document, including revisions to the transitional justice system and stricter terms regarding the confinement of guerrillas convicted of war crimes under the system. Colombia's Congress subsequently ratified the agreement, and demobilization officially commenced on December 1. Later that month, the Constitutional Court confirmed Congress's ability to fast-track many laws required for implementing the accord; absent such a mechanism, legislative delays could diminish confidence in the government's ability to uphold its responsibilities.

Although UN monitors and other observers expressed concern about delays in the movement of guerrillas into demobilization and disarmament zones, implementation appeared stable at year's end. Both supporters and skeptics of the accord expressed concern that some members of the FARC would migrate to the ELN or paramilitary successor groups, and members of several FARC fronts were reported to have broken with guerrilla leadership and rejected the accords during the year. ELN activity has indeed increased in recent years, but the group agreed in March to hold formal peace talks with the government.

The peace process contributed to a significant decline in the level of violence. The homicide rate dropped to its lowest point in 40 years, and the FARC maintained a ceasefire through the year, resulting in the lowest number of conflict-related victims in over five decades. However, significant rule of law challenges  including a compromised judiciary, corrupt military, and climate of impunity  persisted. Human rights defenders and other social activists were again the targets of violent attack during the year. According to the We Are Defenders coalition, 77 activists had been killed as of mid-December.

POLITICAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

Political Rights: 29 / 40

A. Electoral Process: 10 / 12

A1. Is the head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections?

A2. Are the national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections?

A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair?

The president is directly elected to a four-year term. As part of a series of 2015 constitutional amendments known as the Balance of Power reform, immediate presidential reelection was eliminated. Congress is composed of the Senate and the Chamber of Representatives, with all seats up for election every four years. The nation at large selects 100 Senate members using a closed-list system; indigenous communities choose two additional members. The Chamber of Representatives consists of 166 members elected by closed-list proportional representation in multimember districts. The final peace accord between the government and the FARC, ratified in November 2016, included a provision guaranteeing former guerrillas five seats in each chamber in the 2018 and 2022 elections.

The 2014 legislative and presidential elections were relatively peaceful, although the former was plagued by accusations of fraud, vote buying, and connections with criminals. President Juan Manuel Santos's main allies, the Liberal Party, the Social National Unity Party (U Party), and Radical Change, won a substantial majority in the Chamber of Representatives, taking 92 seats. In the Senate, however, the coalition won only 47 seats. Former president Alvaro Uribe's Democratic Center took 20 seats in the Senate and 19 in the Chamber of Representatives, becoming the primary opposition force.

President Santos won the second round of the 2014 election with 51 percent of the vote against Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, who had won the first round with 29 percent to Santos's 26 percent. The balloting was considered relatively free and fair; the most dramatic scandal involved allegations that Andres Sepulveda, arrested in 2014 and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment on charges of cyberespionage, had shared illegally intercepted intelligence with Uribe and members of the Zuluaga campaign.

Regional elections in 2015 fortified parties allied with the government, which won gubernatorial races in 23 of the 32 departments. In the most closely followed race, independent former mayor Enrique Penalosa won the seat again in Bogota, ending 12 years of rule by the left-wing Democratic Pole. The polls were characterized by accusations of improper influence by illegal groups, irregularities in voter registration, and insufficient candidate vetting by the major parties.

The nine members of the National Electoral Council  elected by Congress for four-year terms based on party nominations  oversee the conduct of the country's elections, including the financing of political campaigns and the counting of votes.

B. Political Pluralism and Participation: 11 / 16

B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system open to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings?

B2. Is there a significant opposition vote and a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections?

B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, totalitarian parties, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group?

B4. Do cultural, ethnic, religious, or other minority groups have full political rights and electoral opportunities?

The traditional Liberal-Conservative partisan duopoly in Congress has been supplanted in recent years by a newer party system that is still evolving. The system consists of the traditional parties  which are often characterized by factionalism  as well as regional movements, ideological groups from both the right and the left, and technocratic or issue-oriented parties. Santos's centrist National Unity coalition, which enjoyed dominance in both chambers during his first term, maintained the loose support of a significant majority of legislators following the 2014 elections, despite the vocal and cohesive presence of the Uribe-led right.

In 2016, the ELN and criminal gangs subjected government officials to sporadic threats, harassment, and violence. Police forces and the National Protection Unit, a body under the Ministry of Interior, provided protection to hundreds of public officials during the year.

While general progress remains slow, the government has undertaken a series of steps to incorporate indigenous and Afro-Colombian voices into national political debates in recent years, including training programs to increase Afro-Colombian communities' capacity for governance and awareness of their broader political rights. The peace accord ratified in November 2016 included provisions for improving consultation mechanisms for marginalized groups.

C. Functioning of Government: 8 / 12

C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government?

C2. Is the government free from pervasive corruption?

C3. Is the government accountable to the electorate between elections, and does it operate with openness and transparency?

Corruption occurs at multiple levels of public administration. Graft scandals have emerged in recent years within an array of federal government agencies. The "parapolitics" scandal, which linked scores of politicians to illegal paramilitary groups, resulted in the investigation, arrest, or conviction of more than 90 legislators by the close of the 200610 Congress.

Part of the responsibility for combating corruption rests with the inspector general, who is charged with monitoring the actions of elected officials. Inspector General Alejandro Ordonez, who removed multiple mayors and bureaucratic officials from office or suspended their right to stand for election, was forced out in September 2016  just months before his term was scheduled to end  due to alleged ethics violations during his reelection bid in 2012. Numerous officials from the Uribe administration have been convicted of corruption, trading favors, and spying on political opponents. In February 2016, the national chief of police resigned following renewed revelations of a prostitution ring within police ranks that had been used by both officers and legislators between 2004 and 2008. His successor carried out a far-reaching crackdown on corruption within the force, with more than 1,400 officers dismissed by year's close. Colombia was ranked 90 out of 176 countries and territories surveyed in Transparency International's 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Public access to government information is generally available for a reasonable fee, though some lower-level officials have reportedly required bribes to expedite access. Congress maintains an online platform on which legislators can voluntarily publish financial disclosures.

Civil Liberties: 35 / 60 (+1)

D. Freedom of Expression and Belief: 12 / 16

D1. Are there free and independent media and other forms of cultural expression?

D2. Are religious institutions and communities free to practice their faith and express themselves in public and private?

D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free of extensive political indoctrination?

D4. Is there open and free private discussion?

The constitution guarantees freedom of expression, and opposition views are commonly expressed in the media. However, journalists face intimidation, kidnapping, and violence both in the course of reporting and as retaliation for their work. Dozens of journalists have been murdered since the mid-1990s, many of them targeted for reporting on drug trafficking and corruption. Although no journalists were killed in 2016, a local media watchdog recorded at least 216 threats and other abuses against the press, a sharp rise from 2015. Among other cases during the year, members of the ELN kidnapped six reporters in May, holding them for nearly a week before releasing them unharmed. The government has prosecuted several notorious cases of murdered journalists in recent years, but convictions have been made in fewer than 15 percent of killings since 1977. In December 2015, evidence emerged that police had spied on journalists investigating the prostitution ring within its own ranks.

Self-censorship is common, and slander and defamation remain criminal offenses. The government does not restrict access to the internet, nor does it censor websites. Twitter and other social-media platforms have become important arenas for political discourse.

The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right in practice. The authorities also uphold academic freedom. University debates are often vigorous, though armed groups maintain a presence on some campuses to generate political support and intimidate opponents.

Human rights groups have criticized the government's use of civilian informants to gather information about suspected criminal and terrorist activities, warning that the practice threatens civil liberties, including the right to privacy.

E. Associational and Organizational Rights: 5 / 12

E1. Is there freedom of assembly, demonstration, and open public discussion?

E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations?

E3. Are there free trade unions and peasant organizations or equivalents, and is there effective collective bargaining? Are there free professional and other private organizations?

Although provided for in the constitution, freedoms of assembly and association are restricted in practice by violence. From May to June 2016, indigenous and peasant farmer groups across the country held a coordinated strike to demand government action on agrarian and mining policies, human rights concerns, and other issues, and to request inclusion in deliberations on such questions. The strikes, which included road blockades, led to a heavy police response. At least three participants died and more than 100 people were injured in the ensuing clashes.

The government provides protection to hundreds of threatened human rights workers, but trust in the service varies widely. Scores of activists have been murdered in recent years, mostly by the criminal organizations that succeeded paramilitary groups following a government-backed demobilization process in 2005. Although the Santos administration has reiterated its respect for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), violations against activists have continued. In 2016, despite an overall decline in the level of violence through the country, fatal attacks against human rights defenders and other activists increased. According to We Are Defenders, a coalition of local and international organizations, 77 activists had been murdered as of mid-December, a dramatic increase compared with the previous two years. Land rights and victims' rights campaigners in particular are threatened by former paramilitaries and other local actors seeking to silence criticism of assets acquired during the conflict and halt the implementation of rural development programs. Observers noted that a significant number of the 2016 killings occurred after the signing of the first peace accord with the FARC, and that many victims were affiliated with the Patriotic March, a rural political movement expected to absorb former FARC members.

Workers may form and join trade unions, bargain collectively, and strike, and antiunion discrimination is prohibited. Over the past two decades, Colombia's illegal armed groups have killed more than 2,600 labor union activists and leaders. Killings have declined substantially from their peak in the early 2000s but still occur regularly. Although a special prosecutorial unit has substantially increased prosecutions for such assassinations since 2007, few investigations have targeted those who ordered the killings.

F. Rule of Law: 8 / 16 (+1)

F1. Is there an independent judiciary?

F2. Does the rule of law prevail in civil and criminal matters? Are police under direct civilian control?

F3. Is there protection from political terror, unjustified imprisonment, exile, or torture, whether by groups that support or oppose the system? Is there freedom from war and insurgencies?

F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population?

The justice system remains compromised by corruption and extortion, although the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court have demonstrated independence from the executive in recent years. In 2015, however, the Constitutional Court's reputation was severely damaged by allegations that its president had solicited a $200,000 bribe to rule in favor of an oil company; in August 2016, he was formally suspended from the court.

Many soldiers operate with limited civilian oversight, though the government has in recent years increased human rights training and investigated a greater number of violations by military as well as police personnel. In 2016, these efforts included an investigation of corruption within the National Police following revelations about a prostitution ring within its ranks. Collaboration between security forces and illegal armed groups has declined since the 2005 demobilization, but rights groups report official toleration of paramilitary successor groups in some regions. Primary responsibility for combating these groups rests with the police, who lack the resources of the military, are frequently accused of colluding with criminals, and are largely absent from many rural areas where the groups are active. In late March and early April, the Usuga Clan, a paramilitary group involved in drug trafficking, announced an "armed strike" in the northeast of the country. The group forced residents of some towns to cease work and public activities, and engaged security forces in armed combat. The clashes resulted in six deaths and temporarily paralyzed economic activity in some areas.

The systematic killing of civilians to fraudulently inflate guerrilla death tolls has declined substantially since a 2008 scandal over the practice led to the firing of dozens of senior army officers. More than 3,000 people may have been killed for such reasons. As of early 2016, more than 900 soldiers had been convicted of these crimes, and thousands of security personnel remained under investigation during the year. However, rights groups have claimed that high-ranking officers largely escape punishment. The military continued to lobby for the maximal inclusion of these crimes under the transitional justice umbrella.

Civil-military relations have been a source of significant tension in recent years. A multiyear project to expand the jurisdiction of the military justice system has prompted sustained domestic and international outcry during much of Santos's time in office. Legislation passed in 2015 omitted many of the most controversial provisions regarding jurisdiction for human rights violations. In 2016, a portion of the armed forces opposed the peace process, and there was public uncertainty regarding the ability of accused human rights violators within the military to receive benefits under the transitional justice system.

Some areas, particularly resource-rich zones and drug-trafficking corridors, remain highly insecure. Guerrillas and paramilitary successor groups regularly extort payments from business owners and engage in forced recruitment, including of minors. The use of landmines in the internal conflict has added to casualties among both civilians and the military. Impunity for crime in general is rampant, with convictions achieved in only 10 percent of murders. Most massacres during the conflict have gone unpunished. In October 2016, prosecutors indicted Santiago Uribe, the former president's brother, for allegedly leading a paramilitary group responsible for dozens of deaths in the 1990s.

Nevertheless, violence has significantly subsided since the early 2000s. In 2016, the homicide rate declined to its lowest point in four decades. The peace process specifically has contributed to a significant reduction in violence. The FARC maintained a ceasefire through much of 2015 and all of 2016, resulting in the lowest number of conflict-related victims in over 50 years.

Colombians' experience of the conflict played a role in voting patterns during the October referendum. In many regions most directly afflicted by the conflict, the "yes" vote garnered a significant majority, but the "no" campaign triumphed in areas characterized by lower violence and a greater state presence. The local media and public attributed the referendum result to several factors, including the depth of negativity toward the FARC among many Colombians, Santos's low approval ratings, low mobilization of "yes" supporters, and a vigorous "no" campaign led by former president Uribe. Pro-accord observers accused the "no" campaign of distorting perceptions of the agreement by suggesting that it would grant FARC members large payouts and by creating controversy around its provisions on women's and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights.

Afro-Colombians, who account for approximately 25 percent of the population, make up the largest segment of Colombia's more than five million displaced people, and 80 percent of Afro-Colombians fall below the poverty line. Areas with concentrated Afro-Colombian populations continue to suffer from abuses by the FARC, security forces, and paramilitary successors. In 2016, territorial clashes among militant groups in Choco department displaced more than 6,000 peoplelargely Afro-Colombian and indigenous residents of the area  between March and May alone.

Most of Colombia's more than 1.7 million indigenous inhabitants live on approximately 34 million hectares granted to them by the government, often in resource-rich, strategic regions that are increasingly contested by various armed groups. Indigenous people have been targeted by all sides in the country's various conflicts. In October 2015, the Constitutional Court upheld the validity of a decree issued by the government in 2014 that satisfies a commitment to increased autonomy for indigenous territories.

LGBT people suffer societal discrimination and abuse, as well as high levels of impunity for crimes committed against them. According to the local NGO Colombia Diversa, more than 110 LGBT individuals were murdered in 2015. Members of the transgender community have experienced difficulties changing their gender designations on national identity documents and have been denied medical care when health care providers have refused to accept their government identification cards. In August 2016, tens of thousands of Colombians marched to protest Education Minister Gina Parody's proposals to de-emphasize gender in school policies and create a student manual about sexual orientation, which the protesters claimed would lead to pro-LGBT indoctrination. The controversy prompted Parody  who is openly lesbian and managed the "yes" campaign before the October referendum  to resign.

G. Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights: 10 / 16

G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of travel or choice of residence, employment, or institution of higher education?

G2. Do individuals have the right to own property and establish private businesses? Is private business activity unduly influenced by government officials, the security forces, political parties/organizations, or organized crime?

G3. Are there personal social freedoms, including gender equality, choice of marriage partners, and size of family?

G4. Is there equality of opportunity and the absence of economic exploitation?

Freedom of movement, choice of residence, and property rights are restricted by violence, particularly for vulnerable minority groups. Travel in rural areas is further limited by illegal checkpoints operated by criminal and guerrilla groups. Progress remains uneven on the implementation of the landmark 2011 Victims and Land Law, which recognized the legitimacy of claims by victims of conflict-related abuses, including those committed by government forces. While affected citizens continue receiving compensation, the legal process for land restitution is heavily backlogged, and the resettlement of those who were displaced during the conflict continues to move slowly.

Sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation remain major concerns. Thousands of rapes have occurred as part of the conflict, generally with impunity. The country has restrictive abortion laws, though a 2006 Constitutional Court ruling allowed abortion in cases of rape or incest or to protect the life of the mother. In 2015, Congress adopted legislation specifically criminalizing femicide, the killing of a woman because of her gender or gender identity or as part of a campaign of violence. In October 2016, a unit within the prosecutor general's office reported a sharp rise in reports of gender violence in the first nine months of 2016.

In April 2016, after several years of contradictory judicial and administrative decisions regarding same-sex unions, the Constitutional Court voted to legalize them. The court legalized adoptions by same-sex couples in 2015.

Child labor, the recruitment of children by illegal armed groups, and related sexual abuse are serious problems in Colombia. A 2011 free trade agreement with the United States and a subsequent Labor Action Plan called for enhanced investigation of abusive labor practices and rights violations, but progress remains deficient in several areas.

Scoring Key: X / Y (Z)

X = Score Received

Y = Best Possible Score

Z = Change from Previous Year

Copyright notice:  Freedom House, Inc.  All Rights Reserved
Armenia: Voters Opt for More of the Same

Publisher EurasiaNet Publication Date 3 April 2017 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Armenia: Voters Opt for More of the Same , 3 April 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c5e6e4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Armenia's governing party consolidated its grip on power following parliamentary elections marred by widespread allegations of vote-buying and voter intimidation.

The governing Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) was the clear victor in the April 2 elections, as expected, winning over 49 percent of the vote and an apparent absolute majority of seats in parliament (55 out of 105). An alliance led by populist oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan was the runner-up with 27 percent of the vote. Two other parties secured seats in the legislature: the Yelk Alliance won just under 8 percent of the vote; and the nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation, just under 7 percent.

Another bloc, featuring political heavyweights like former defense minister Seyran Ohanian, 2013 presidential contender Raffi Hovannissian, and former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, won just over 2 percent and will not be represented in the new parliament.

The Central Election Commission reported that turnout was about 61 percent.

A number of irregularities were reported on Election Day, including an instance in which at least two reporters were attacked as they pursued apparent cases of vote-buying.

Despite the strong indicators of skullduggery, RPA officials sounded a triumphal note in reacting to the results. "This was a victory by all political forces, civil society, by our citizens, indeed, this is not a step, but rather a leap forward," said Armen Ashotyan, deputy head of the RPA.

These elections were significant in that they set the terms for a new parliamentary system of government, under which executive power is diminished and the authority of the legislative branch is enhanced. The new parliament will elect a largely figurehead president in 2018 when the term of the incumbent, Serzh Sargsyan, runs out. Under the new arrangement, the prime minister will be head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

"Armenia is moving to a new administrative system, and it's extremely important that these elections instill trust in Armenian citizens and all our partners," Sargsyan said at a meeting of the observation mission delegation of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Sargsyan's post-2018 plans remain unclear, but critics have argued that the constitutional changes pave the way for him to consolidate power, either by becoming prime minister himself, or by enabling him to continue to wield power behind the scenes.

The CIS monitors gave the elections rave reviews. The conditions under which the vote took place "exceeded even Western countries, who were teaching us how to correctly organize elections," said Sergey Lebedev, the head of the mission.

Other outside observers were less impressed. "The elections were tainted by credible information about vote-buying, and pressure on civil servants and employees of private companies. This contributed to an overall lack of public confidence and trust in the elections," said the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe election monitoring mission in its preliminary assessment.

The vote itself was "well administered and fundamental freedoms were generally respected," the OSCE statement added.

The leader of the Yelk Alliance, Edmon Marukyan, said that, according to his party's observations, their vote count was accurate. "So we have no reason not to accept the results," he told the Armenian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Local rights activists complained that the vote, like many others before it in Armenia, was corrupted by vote-buying and intimidation. The elections represented "the victory of perversion of all democratic institutions," said Avetik Ishkhanian, a prominent human rights activist and the head of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia.

The RPA enjoyed a big advantage over its electoral rivals, given the large numbers of Armenians who work in state-sector jobs, including teachers, healthcare workers and soldiers. "They [state-sector employees] depend on the government, they have to" vote for it, analyst Ruben Mehrabyan told EurasiaNet. "Considering this, we need to prepare for the next elections starting today, taking all that into account."

These parliamentary elections saw the introduction of new electronic equipment, including fingerprint scanners, intended to reduce voter fraud. But a few experts said the equipment may have enabled, in some instances, nefarious practices. Many voters were convinced that the fingerprint scanners recorded information about who they voted for. "And it worked, people were scared of those devices," said analyst Armen Badalyan.

Party activists intent on skewing the results appear to have played on voters' concerns, Badalyan alleged. "They said that if you took money from the RPA or some other political group and if you dared to vote for someone else, we will see that," Badalyan said.

The election results were cause for cynicism among many Armenians.

"Many thought that they would wake up in a new Armenia but things went the same way they always do," Narine Galstyan, a 33-year-old linguist in Yerevan, told EurasiaNet.org. "They have to accept the situation, or understand that other methods are necessary for change."

Editor's note: Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter based in Armenia and editor of MediaLab.am.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Georgia: Can Democracy Thrive Without Opposition?

Publisher EurasiaNet Author Kornely Kakachia & Joseph Larsen Publication Date 5 April 2017 Cite as EurasiaNet, Georgia: Can Democracy Thrive Without Opposition?, 5 April 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c707e4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Bidzina Ivanishvili (center, by the microphone) and other leaders of the governing Georgian Dream party, seen here celebrating their victory in the October parliamentary elections, may also be tempted to break out the champagne and toast the recent demise of the United National Movement, the only opposition party strong enough to challenge them in parliament. But they would be advised to take a deep breath and consider the potential downsides, since the UNM's split could end badly for everyone involved, analysts argue. (Photo: Georgian Dream)

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili led a triumphant delegation in late March on a visit to Athens and then Brussels. The Georgian officials were celebrating a hard-fought victory, as the European Union finally made good on its promise to allow Georgians to travel to Europe visa-free.



But while Georgia has taken a step closer to the EU, the democratization process at home seems to be moving backward.



Visa liberalization makes life easier for Georgians traveling to Europe. It also has symbolic importance, affirming Georgia's deepening integration with Europe and showing its citizens a tangible benefit of the country's reform efforts. But beyond this symbolic victory, the future of Georgia's democratic development remains in question.



The delicate balance that helped Georgia make progress toward its goal of EU membership is in peril of being upended. This January, the United National Movement, the political force behind the country's Rose Revolution in 2003, split into two. The party's disintegration means the country no longer has an opposition party capable of counterbalancing the governing Georgian Dream coalition. That has observers asking: Will the absence of strong opposition parties hinder the evolution of civil society in Georgia?



The answer starts with Georgian Dream. In the short term, Bidzina Ivanishvili and other leaders of the governing party may be tempted to break out the champagne and toast the demise of the only opposition party strong enough to challenge them in parliament. They would be advised to take a deep breath and consider the potential downsides, too. Most obviously, Georgian Dream runs the risk of becoming arrogant and unaccountable.



This has been a recurring theme in Georgian politics since the 1990s: a new political party is swept into power with broad-based public support and a mandate to undo the excesses of the previous rulers; the party is relatively unopposed and eventually comes to govern in a self-serving and self-defeating manner; a new political party then sweeps into power with broad-based public support and a mandate to undo the excesses of the previous rulers. Wash, rinse, repeat.



The risks to the democratic system in Georgia are heightened by Georgian Dream's constitutional majority. Without a viable opposition to at least challenge the party in the court of public opinion, chances increase that its members will overreach, and thus pervert the existing balance, by amending the constitution to further their parochial interests - thus provoking a backlash from the public.



The early indication is that Georgian Dream leaders have not learned that lesson of history. The party plans to amend the constitution to make the president elected by MPs, and members of municipal councils - not by direct ballot. It is also talking about ditching the country's mixed majoritarian-proportional voting system for parliament in favor of a fully proportional system, albeit with a catch: parties would be barred from forming electoral blocs, and any unallocated seats - left over by the failure of smaller parties to pass the 5 percent threshold to enter parliament - would automatically go to the leading party, which, for the moment, is Georgian Dream.



Those measures would go a long way toward cementing the current governing party's hold on power; they would also be a setback for the separation of powers necessary for further democratic development.



The risk of Georgian Dream falling prey to the overreaching is high. There could be a more immediate downside, too. It seems the Georgian electorate has forgiven the ruling party for many of its shortcomings because of deep-rooted antipathy for the United National Movement. After all, public opinion polls gave Georgian Dream underwhelming approval ratings during the months leading up the last parliamentary election, and its huge parliamentary majority came despite receiving only 48 percent of the popular vote. That is not exactly coming in on a wave of euphoria.



The United National Movement's split could end badly for everyone involved. The schism completed the ongoing fragmentation of Georgia's political opposition, shattering the relative equilibrium between the governing party and opposition that underpinned democratic development over the past several years. As a country that is still striving toward consolidated democracy, Georgia cannot afford to backslide. A strong opposition keeps the ruling party honest, helping ensure that necessary reforms take place and democratic institutions take root.



As in other democracies, the emergence of a strong, institutionalized party system is not a sufficient condition for democratic consolidation, but it is a necessary one. Parties serve to distill preferences into policies, and act as vehicles for holding elected officials accountable before the public. At the moment, Georgia's opposition parties are unable to offer a viable alternative to the agenda of the governing party. This situation heightens the level of uncertainty in years to come, especially if Georgian Dream uses its dominant position to entrench itself in power, and impede the country's democratic development.



There is still hope that Georgian democracy could emerge strong, however. The split has created an opening for a new opposition force to emerge. According to the political cycle sketched out above, Georgian voters are willing to put up with a ruling party for roughly eight years at a time, meaning that Georgian Dream's current term may very well be its last. By 2020, voters will be calling for a strong, unified opposition force to step forward and challenge the current leadership.



The big question at this point is whether that expected demand will be met with adequate supply.

Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material  Open Society Institute
Online censorship rounds off Aliyev's control of Azerbaijani media

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 3 May 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Online censorship rounds off Aliyev's control of Azerbaijani media, 3 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c75424.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Reporters Without Borders condemns the blocking of five leading independent news websites for the past five weeks in Azerbaijan, which the government is now asking a court in the Baku district of Sabail to endorse.





Displaying a nice sense of irony, the authorities have scheduled the next hearing for today, World Press Freedom Day. The five websites  those of the newspaper Azadlig, Meydan TV and Turan TV, the programme Azerbaycan Saati and Radio Azadlig  have been blocked since 27 March.





Recent legislative amendments gave the government the power to block any website "posing a danger to the state or society." Ordered by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technology, this "preventive" blocking requires subsequent approval by a court  a formality in a country where the justice system acts as the executive's armed wing.





The Sabail district court has already held two hearings on this blocking  on 27 April and 1 May. At no point has the ministry said explained how the five websites have broken the law. Pressed by the defence, a ministry official cited several articles without specifying which sections of the articles had been contravened and how.





"By blocking five leading news websites, President Ilham Aliyev's government is demolishing all the remaining vestiges of media freedom in Azerbaijan," said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF's Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.





"The persecution of the government's critics continues to intensify online, offline and even among exiles. The international community must finally end the government's impunity and hold it to account for its systematic violations of the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."





The Internet was the newspaper Azadlig's sole remaining way of reaching its readers since it was forced to stop producing a print edition under pressure from the authorities in September 2016. The newspaper's financial director, Faiq Amirov, has for the past eight months been in prison, where he is in very poor health.





Several members of Azadlig's staff, including interim editor Rahim Hajiyev, have been forced to flee the country in recent months to escape a similar fate. Meydan TV chief Emin Milli, who lives in exile in Berlin, reported in February that he had received new death threats. Aziz Orujov, the head of the Kanal 13 Web TV, was given a 30-day jail sentence yesterday for "refusing to comply with police instructions."





Azerbaijan is ranked 162nd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2017 World Press Freedom Index and Aliyev, whose powers were reinforced by a referendum last September, is on RSF's list of press freedom predators. His wife was appointed first vice-president in February, thereby becoming the country's second highest official.
Iran deprives 55 million voters of freely reported news

Publisher Reporters Without Borders Publication Date 5 May 2017 Cite as Reporters Without Borders, Iran deprives 55 million voters of freely reported news, 5 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c75944.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

With the campaign for the Iranian presidential election officially under way since 28 April, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the many obstacles - new and old - to freely reported news and information in Iran.

The social media app Instagram's live video feature (Instagram Live) has been blocked since 28 April. The feature was very popular in Iran and reformists had been making great use of it in recent weeks to circulate information in real time about the candidates and their campaign.





Until now, Instagram had been monitored but not blocked in Iran. According to several sources, it was the judicial authorities that ordered the blocking that began last week.





Prosecutor-general Mohammad Jafar Montazeri meanwhile announced on 23 April that the messaging service Telegram's new voice-call option was being blocked in Iran because "the intelligence agencies cannot monitor it." According to official figures, this very popular service has more than 15 million users in Iran.

Although formally banned, Facebook and Twitter are currently playing an important role in disseminating news and information in Iran and most of the candidates have accounts.

Since 16 March, Revolutionary Guards have arrested a dozen editors and managers of reformist news pages that use Telegram. They include Ali Ahmadinia, the manager of Eslahat News ("Reform News).





The arrests have triggered a controversy pitting members of President Hassan Rouhani's government against the conservative judicial system. Intelligence minister Mahmud Alavi criticized the arrests on 12 April. "Those in charge of these pages committed no crime," he said.





A week later, Golamhossien Mohsseni Ejehi, the judicial system's spokesman, responded: "Some of them committed actions against national security and others have been accused of publishing immoral articles and images (...) The intelligence minister is himself accused in this case, so he cannot investigate or give his opinion on the subject."

The bitter feud being waged between the rival government factions during the election campaign shows a complete lack of consideration for freedom of information and the public's right to be informed.





RSF condemns the censorship imposed on all the media, which are unable to do their job of providing freely-reported coverage of the election and the crackdown on journalists. With 28 journalists and citizen journalists currently detained, Iran is one of the world's five biggest prisons for the media.

"The right to vote necessarily implies that voters also have the right to be freely informed in advance, which is not the case in Iran," said Reza Moini, the head of RSF's Iran/Afghanistan desk.

"What with journalists in prison, newspapers censored, news websites and social networks blocked, and critical opinion suppressed, it is impossible to speak of a democratic election process. The Islamic Republic must put an end to this unacceptable state of affairs, and it should start by freeing all the journalists."





One of the world's biggest prisons for women journalists

The many journalists arrested since 27 December include Tahereh Riahi, who covered social issues for the Borna News Agency; Zeniab Karimian, who hosted a programme on Iran's third TV channel; Saleh Deldam, a young filmmaker; Henghameh Shahidi, a very well known journalist; Morad Saghafi, the editor of the magazine Goft o Gu ("Dialogue in Persian); and Ramin Karimian, a journalist and translator who worked with Saghafi and who was arrested on 14 March.





The intelligence ministry has rightly criticized the arbitrary and illegal arrests of pro-government journalists by the Revolutionary Guards but it has unfortunately said nothing about the arrests by its own agents of the three women journalists among those mentioned above - Riahi, Karimian and Shahidi.





They were all arrested quite recently. Other women journalists have been held much longer. They include Roya Saberi Negad Nobakht, a citizen journalist held since 2013, and Narges Mohammadi, a well-known human rights defender and journalist who has completed an initial six-year jail sentence and recently began a second, ten-year one.
Human Rights Watch Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of South Africa

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 5 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Watch Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of South Africa, 5 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c87ec4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Despite making commitments to act on recommendations from its second UPR cycle, South Africa has struggled to stop attacks on the businesses and homes of refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants, denying that such attacks were motivated by xenophobia or other forms of intolerance. The government has also failed to realize the right to education for an estimated half-a-million children with disabilities.

Violence against women, including rape and domestic violence, remains very high. Although annual crime statistics for 2015 released by the South African Police Services showed that sexual offences decreased slightly by 3 percent, many gender activists and human rights groups expressed concerns about the continued under-reporting of rape and the failure of the government to introduced a national strategy to combat violence against women.

Rights of Children and People with Disabilities

The South African government has yet to fulfil its obligation to guarantee the right to education for many children and young adults with disabilities, affecting an estimated half-a-million children. Despite the government's international and domestic obligations, many children with disabilities do not have equal access to primary or secondary education and face multiple forms of discrimination and barriers when accessing schools. They are turned away from mainstream schools and referred to special schools by school officials or medical staff simply because they have a disability. The referrals system needlessly forces children to wait for up to four years at care centers or at home for placement in a special school. Children with disabilities who attend special schools pay school fees that children without disabilities do not, and many who attend mainstream schools are asked to pay for their own class assistants as a condition to stay in mainstream classes. Once in school, many children with disabilities do not have access to the same curriculum as children without disabilities. Many children are exposed to high levels of violence and abuse by teachers and students.

In 2001, the government adopted a national policy to provide inclusive education for all children with disabilities, but key aspects of the policy have not been implemented to-date. South Africa has not adopted legislation that guarantees the right to inclusive education for children with disabilities. The majority of the government's limited budget for learners with disabilities is allocated to special, segregated schools rather than to inclusive education.

South Africa became the first country to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration at a global conference in Norway in May 2015. By joining the Declaration, it agreed to protect students and education in times of conflict, and to avoid using educational building for military purposes.

Recommendations:

Adopt new measures to guarantee quality inclusive education for all children, access to free and compulsory primary education and to secondary education, enforce people with disabilities' right to access adult education, and ensure adequate resources are invested in inclusive education.

Implement the Guidelines on Protecting School from Military Use during Armed Conflict in its domestic military doctrine, practice and trainings.

Asylum seekers and foreign nationals

The situation of foreign nationals and asylum seekers in South Africa is precarious and remains an area of serious concern.

In April 2015, thousands of people looted foreign-owned shops and attacked non-South African nationals in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal province. The targets of the widespread violence were immigrants of African origin, mostly from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic, Mozambique, Malawi, and Somalia. Although the police arrested at least 22 people following the violence, the authorities neither thoroughly investigated nor successfully prosecuted those involved. No one was held to account for the attacks. Authorities also failed to prosecute those who had incited the violence against foreign nationals.

Government officials denied the violence was motivated by xenophobia or other forms of intolerance and said it was a result of "pure acts of criminality." The secretary general of the African National Congress (ANC) Gwede Mantashe told the media in April 2015 that he believed the solution to xenophobia is the establishment of refugee camps. Xenophobic violence in 2008 led to the deaths of over 60 people across the country.

Recommendations:

Ensure that asylum seekers, refugees, and foreign nationals are protected from xenophobic violence throughout South Africa.

Ensure justice and accountability for xenophobic crimes.

Sexual orientation and gender identity

South Africa has a progressive constitution that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and protects the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has taken significant steps to improve coordination between government and civil society in combatting violence (including rape and murder) against lesbians and transgender men. Despite the country's progressive legislation on the rights of LGBT people, discrimination remains institutionalized in families, communities, and in the behaviour of some government officials, such as police, some health care workers, and educators.

Recommendations:

Require the police services, in collecting data on physical and sexual violence, to disaggregate the data by motive to track incidents of homophobic and trans-phobic violence;

Ensure the police and prosecution services have the requisite training to effectively identify crimes motivated by homo and trans phobia;

Work with the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure that cases of sexual and physical violence against women and transgender persons come to trial in a timely manner, and that prosecutors prioritize cases involving sexual offences.



Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Brazil

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 5 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Watch Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Brazil, 5 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c88734.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

I. Summary

Brazil has taken some positive measures that address recommendations it received during the previous UPR cycle, such as the creation, in 2013, of a National System to Prevent and Combat Torture, and a 2015 disability rights law. Its judiciary has also taken an important step toward addressing prison overcrowding and potentially combatting police abuse by starting, in 2014, to bring some detainees before a judge promptly after arrest, as required by international law.

However, other serious concerns addressed by the UPR recommendations require further measures by Brazils government. Confronted with high levels of violent crime, some Brazilian police officers continue to engage, with impunity, in abusive practices, including extrajudicial executions. Torture and ill-treatment in police custody and in prisons and jails is an enduring problem in various states. Many Brazilian detention facilities are severely overcrowded and experience high levels of violence. Some juvenile facilities subject children in conflict with the law to degrading conditions. There has also been little progress in prosecuting those responsible for atrocities committed by state agents during the military dictatorship period from 1964 to 1985.

II. Human Rights Issues

Public Security and Police Conduct

Widespread violence, often perpetrated by criminal gangs, plagues many Brazilian cities. Police are also implicated in violent abuses, including extrajudicial executions.

The number of killings by police officers, including those off-duty, rose by almost 40 percent, in 2014, to more than 3,000, according to official data compiled by the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Brazilian Forum on Public Security.[i]

Police routinely report these deaths as resulting from shoot-outs with criminals. While some police killings do result from legitimate use of force, others are extrajudicial executions.

In our 2016 report "Good Cops are Afraid, The Toll of Unchecked Police Violence in Rio de Janeiro," we documented 64 cases showing credible evidence that police sought to cover up unlawful killings.[ii] The 64 cases reflect a much broader problem, according to local justice officials, who told Human Rights Watch that a large number of the "shootouts" reported by police in the state in recent years were in fact extrajudicial executions. Official government data supports this conclusion. For instance, Rio police killed five people per each person they injured from 2013 to 2015, the reverse of what one would expect.

Unlawful killings by police officers take a heavy toll, not only on the victims and their families, but on the police force itself. The killings escalate cycles of violence and poison the police relationship with communities, making residents reluctant to alert officers to criminal activities, including ambushes, or to testify as witnesses. Without the cooperation of local communities in fighting crime, officers become more vulnerable. In 2014-the latest data available-398 police officers were killed in Brazil.[iii]

Justice officials in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo told Human Rights Watch that officers responsible for abuses are rarely brought to justice. A notable exception was the conviction of homicide of 73 military police officers in 2013 and 2104 for their participation in the 1992 killing of 111 detainees in the Carandiru prison in Sao Paulo state. However, on September 27, 2016, an appeals court voided the convictions. One of the members of the three-judge panel claimed that "there was no massacre" and all killings were in self-defense, despite the overwhelming evidence that the detainees were executed by police.

The prosecutors offices in a few states have taken important steps to address police violence by establishing special units to investigate cases of police abuse.[iv] Such units should be created in every state, and in states where they exist, authorities should strengthen them by assigning sufficient personnel, resources, and expertise to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of police abuse cases. Further steps should be taken to implement recommendations 65, 122 and 123, accepted by Brazil during the UPR in 2012, and to ensure that police who commit abuses are held accountable.

Prison Conditions, Torture, and Ill-Treatment of Detainees

Many Brazilian prisons and jails are severely overcrowded and violent. The number of adults behind bars jumped more than 72 percent during the past decade and exceeds 622,000 people, 67 percent more than the prisons were built to hold, according to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Justice's Integrated System of Penitentiary Information (InfoPen).[v]

A key contributor to the dramatic rise of Brazils prison population has been a 2006 drug law that replaced jail sentences for drug users with such penalties as community service but increased sentences for traffickers. The law was worded vaguely, allowing users to be prosecuted as traffickers, the reverse of the laws intent. In 2005, only nine percent of those in prison had been detained on drug charges. By 2014, the percentage had risen to 28, and among women, 64, according to the latest data available.[vi]

In a January 2016 report to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment wrote, after a visit to Brazil, that severe prison overcrowding had led to chaotic conditions that amounted to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.[vii] Similarly, the National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combatting of Torture, whose members are appointed by Brazils government, found human rights violations that could constitute torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in "most, if not all" of the 17 jails and prisons it inspected from April 2015 to March 2016.[viii]

In our 2015 report "The State Let Evil Take Over, Prison Crisis in the Brazilian State of Pernambuco," we documented dangerous, unhealthy and inhumane conditions in prisons that hold three times as many inmates as their official capacity. For instance, a researcher from Human Rights Watch entered a cell in Curado, the largest prison complex in Pernambuco, which provided only six cement bunks for 60 men and lacked even enough floor space for all to sleep at the same time. Detainees and two state officials told Human Rights Watch that prison officials had delegated authority over prison grounds at Curado and the state's other detention facilities to inmates known as "keyholders," who sell drugs and extort payments from fellow prisoner

The situation in the Curado complex continued dire in June 2016, when the Interamerican Court of Human Rights visited. The Court reported that "alarming" conditions there put at risk the lives of both detainees and prison staff.[ix]

In 2015, Human Rights Watch documented a lack of security at prisons in the state of Maranhao. This, aggravated by overcrowding, has been a major factor in the creation of gangs that have spread outside prison walls.[x] Recruitment into gangs has been facilitated by a routine practice of housing pretrial detainees -who accounted for 66 percent of all inmates, in December 2014[xi]- with convicted criminals, in violation of international standards. More than 90 inmates were killed in Maranhao's prisons in 2013 and 2014, most by members of rival gangs, according to data from the National Council of Justice and the Maranhao Human Rights Society.[xii]

Brazils judiciary took an important step toward addressing prison overcrowding by starting, in 2014, to bring detainees before a judge promptly after arrest -as required by international law- in state capitals and some other jurisdictions. Such "custody hearings" help judges determine who should be in preventive detention and who should be set free pending trial. In the absence of custody hearings, detainees may wait many months to see a judge for the first time. In Brazil, 40 percent of people in prison are pretrial detainees.[xiii] At time of writing Brazils Congress was examining a bill to make such hearings mandatory throughout the country.

Custody hearings have potential as a powerful weapon against police abuse of detainees. They allow judges to detect and hear about mistreatment soon after arrest. However, the Institute for the Defense of the Right of Defense (IDDD), an NGO, analyzed more than 700 custody hearings in Sao Paulo in 2015 and showed that judges asked detainees about their treatment in custody in only about 40 percent of cases, and took no action in a third of the 141 cases of alleged abuse that they heard.[xiv] Judges sent the rest to police internal-affairs divisions. When the IDDD published its report in May 2016, it had received no information from those divisions as to the result of any inquiry into such cases.[xv]

In its January 2016 report, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment found that torture and ill-treatment by police and prison staff are "frighteningly regular occurrences" in Brazil.[xvi] Impunity for abuses remains the rule rather than the exception, the Rapporteur wrote. The government's National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combatting of Torture, on visits to six states from April 2015 to March 2016, found cases of torture by police that ranged from beatings to electric shocks to near drownings.[xvii]

Human Rights Watch found compelling evidence that security forces or prison authorities, in 64 cases in five Brazilian states from 2000 to 2014, engaged in cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of people in custody.[xviii] In 40 of these cases, the evidence supported the conclusion that the abuse rose to the level of torture.

Further efforts are needed to ensure the implementation of recommendations 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78, accepted by Brazil during the previous UPR.

Childrens Rights

Children in conflict with the law live in overcrowded conditions in some juvenile centers in Brazil. Juvenile centers held close to 22,000 children in 2014, but had capacity for only about 18,000, according to the latest data published by the National Council of the Prosecutors Office, which inspects those units. [xix]

The National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combatting of Torture visited nine juvenile centers in three states from April 2015 to March 2016, and found that their physical infrastructure did not comply with the Federal Governments regulations: Instead of promoting rehabilitation and education, those centers were built as places of isolation and punishment.[xx] In most units, children spent more than 20 hours-and in one unit, 24 hours-locked in their rooms.[xxi] Conditions were especially dire in the state of Ceara, where children were kept in units that lacked mattresses, basic hygiene products, and adequate sanitation and ventilation--and that were infested with rats and cockroaches. In one case, children were temporarily held in an adult prison, in violation of Brazilian law and international standards.[xxii] In all the units it visited, the Mechanism collected and reported allegations of torture and ill-treatment. It found that victims of mistreatment were usually not granted medical exams to document their injuries, and their allegations were not properly investigated by Brazilian authorities. [xxiii]

Brazils Chamber of Deputies is examining a bill, already approved by the Senate, to raise the maximum time of internment for children in conflict with the law from 3 to 10 years. If enacted, the bill would aggravate overcrowding in the juvenile detention system. [xxiv]

Furthermore, Brazils Senate is considering a Constitutional amendment-a version of which was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in 2015-that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds accused of serious crimes to be tried and punished as adults.[xxv] If enacted, the proposal would violate international norms enshrined in human rights treaties ratified by Brazil, which hold that people under 18 should not be prosecuted as adults.

Confronting Past Abuses

Under international law, governments have an obligation to provide victims of serious human rights abuses with an effective remedy, including justice, truth, and adequate reparations.

In a 2014 report, a national truth commission found that human rights violations during military rule, from 1964 to 1985, were "widespread and systematic," and planned by officials at the highest level. The report identified 377 individuals responsible for abuses, including torture, killings, and enforced disappearances.

The perpetrators have been shielded from justice by a 1979 amnesty law that was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2010 in a decision that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights quickly ruled was a violation of Brazil's obligations under international law.

Federal courts did allow the prosecution of at least two former military officers for killings during military rule, but the Supreme Court temporarily halted those prosecutions in 2014 and 2015, pending its re-examination of the validity of the amnesty law.

III. Recommendations to be made to the government of Brazil

Regarding Public Security and Police Violence:

Ensure that all police officers who commit serious human rights abuses are brought to justice. To this end, Brazil should be urged to create or strengthen permanent units of prosecutors at the state level tasked with investigating and prosecuting police abuses, including extrajudicial killings.

Ensure that homicide divisions within the civil police carry out thorough and independent investigations into all police killings and cover ups.

Regarding Prison Conditions, Torture, and Ill-Treatment of Detainees:

Ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of all detainees, including guarantees of due process, detention conditions that comply with international and Brazilian law, and protection against cruel and inhumane treatment.

Establish Mechanisms to Prevent and Combat Torture, which are torture-prevention bodies, in all states.

Broaden the current custody hearings programs to cover all detainees and approve a bill that is pending in Congress at time of writing that would require those hearings by law.

Ensure thorough investigations of all allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees.

Decriminalize the possession of drugs for personal use.

Childrens Rights:

Ensure that conditions at juvenile centers comply with international and Brazilian law.

Ensure thorough investigations of all allegations of torture and ill-treatment of children confined in juvenile centers.

Ensure that children under 18 in conflict with the law are not tried as adults, but rather are processed in juvenile justice systems designed to protect children's rights, and ensure that, in accordance with international standards, children are never incarcerated with adults.

Regarding Confronting Past Abuses:

Ensure that those responsible for grave human rights abuses committed during the military dictatorship are brought to justice.

[i] Forum Brasileiro de Seguranca Publica, "Anuario Brasileiro de Seguranca Publica 2015," October 2015, http://www.forumseguranca.org.br/produtos/anuario-brasileiro-de-seguranca-publica/9o-anuario-brasileiro-de-seguranca-publica (accessed October 4, 2016).

[ii] Human Rights Watch, "Good Cops are Afraid. The Toll of Unchecked Police Violence in Rio de Janeiro," July 2016, https://www.hrw.org/report/2009/12/08/lethal-force/police-violence-and-public-security-rio-de-janeiro-and-sao-paulo. See also Amnesty International, "You Killed My Son: Homicides by military police in the city of Rio de Janeiro," AMR 19/2068/2015, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr19/2068/2015/en/ (accessed September 13, 2016).

[iii] Forum Brasileiro de Seguranca Publica, Anuario de Seguranca Publica 2015, 2015, http://www.forumseguranca.org.br/storage/download//anuario_2015.retifica... (accessed September 13, 2016).

[iv] For instance, such units exist in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

[v] Departamento Penitenciario Nacional, "Levantamento Nacional de Informacoes Penitenciarias," December 2015, http://www.justica.gov.br/seus-direitos/politica-penal/infopen_dez14.pdf (accessed September 13, 2016).

[vi] Luciana Baiteux and Joao Pedro Padua, "A !esproporcionalidade da Lei de Drogas. Os Custos Humanos e Economicos da Atual Politica do Brasil," Coletivo de Estudos Drogas e Direito, November 2013, http://www.drogasyderecho.org/publicaciones/prop_del/proporcionalidad-brasil.pdf (accessed September 13, 2016). Departamento Penitenciario Nacional, "Levantamento Nacional de Informacoes Penitenciarias," December 2015, http://www.justica.gov.br/seus-direitos/politica-penal/infopen_dez14.pdf (accessed September 13, 2016).

[vii] Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on his mission to Brazil, UN Doc. A/HRC/31/57/Add. 4 (January 29, 2016), p. 1, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/BRIndex.aspx (accessed September 14, 2016).

[viii] Mecanismo Nacional de Combate a Tortura, "Relatorio Anual 2015-2016," 2016, p. 28,

http://www.cnj.jus.br/files/conteudo/arquivo/2016/06/4b63892a5643662be57c9faf221ac9d0.pdf (accessed September 14, 2016).

[ix] Interamerican Court of Human Rights, "Corte Interamericana observo in situ las condiciones de detencion de personas privadas de libertad en el complejo penitenciario Curado en Brasil," June 10, 2016, http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/comunicados/cp_17_16.pdf (accessed September 14, 2016).

[x] Human Rights Watch, "Brazil: Prison Crisis Spurs Rights Reform," April 8, 2015, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/08/brazil-prison-crisis-spurs-rights-re...

[xi] Departamento Penitenciario Nacional, "Levantamento Nacional de Informacoes Penitenciarias," December 2015, p. 25, http://www.justica.gov.br/seus-direitos/politica-penal/infopen_dez14.pdf (accessed September 14, 2016).

[xii] Human Rights Watch, "Brazil: Prison Crisis Spurs Rights Reform," April 8, 2015, https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/08/brazil-prison-crisis-spurs-rights-re...

[xiii] Departamento Penitenciario Nacional, "Levantamento Nacional de Informacoes Penitenciarias," December 2015, http://www.justica.gov.br/seus-direitos/politica-penal/infopen_dez14.pdf (accessed September 13, 2016).

[xiv] Instituto de Defesa do Direito da Defesa, "Relatorio do IDDD de monitoramento das audiencias de custodia em Sao Paulo e apresentado em evento do CNJ sobre tortura e violencia," June 27, 2016, http://www.iddd.org.br/index.php/2016/06/27/relatorio-do-iddd-de-monitoramento-das-audiencias-de-custodia-em-sao-paulo-e-apresentado-em-evento-do-cnj-sobre-tortura-e-violencia/ (accessed September 13, 2016

[xv] http://www.iddd.org.br/index.php/2016/06/27/relatorio-do-iddd-de-monitoramento-das-audiencias-de-custodia-em-sao-paulo-e-apresentado-em-evento-do-cnj-sobre-tortura-e-violencia/

[xvi] Human Rights Council, Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment on his mission to Brazil, UN Doc. A/HRC/31/57/Add. 4 (January 29, 2016), p. 1, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/LACRegion/Pages/BRIndex.aspx (accessed September 14, 2016).

[xvii] Mecanismo Nacional de Combate a Tortura, "Relatorio Anual 2015-2016," 2016, p. 28,

http://www.cnj.jus.br/files/conteudo/arquivo/2016/06/4b63892a5643662be57c9faf221ac9d0.pdf (accessed September 14, 2016).

[xviii] Human Rights Watch, "Brazil: Reforms Fail to End Torture," July 28, 2014, https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/28/brazil-reforms-fail-end-torture

[xix] http://www.cnmp.mp.br/portal/images/Um_Olhar_mais_Atento_09.06_WEB.pdf

[xx] Mecanismo Nacional de Combate a Tortura, "Relatorio Anual 2015-2016," 2016, p. 49,

http://www.cnj.jus.br/files/conteudo/arquivo/2016/06/4b63892a5643662be57c9faf221ac9d0.pdf (accessed September 14, 2016).

[xxi] Mecanismo Nacional de Combate a Tortura, "Relatorio Anual 2015-2016," 2016, p. 54,

http://www.cnj.jus.br/files/conteudo/arquivo/2016/06/4b63892a5643662be57c9faf221ac9d0.pdf (accessed September 14, 2016).

[xxii] Mecanismo Nacional de Combate a Tortura, "Relatorio Anual 2015-2016," 2016, p. 50,

http://www.cnj.jus.br/files/conteudo/arquivo/2016/06/4b63892a5643662be57c9faf221ac9d0.pdf (accessed September 14, 2016).

[xxiii] Mecanismo Nacional de Combate a Tortura, "Relatorio Anual 2015-2016," 2016, p. 55,

http://www.cnj.jus.br/files/conteudo/arquivo/2016/06/4b63892a5643662be57c9faf221ac9d0.pdf (accessed September 14, 2016).

[xxiv] Bill No. 2517/2015, 2015.

[xxv] Proposal of Constitutional Amendment No. 33/2012, 2012

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Algeria/Morocco: Syrians Stranded at Border

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 5 May 2017 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Algeria/Morocco: Syrians Stranded at Border, 5 May 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/590c891f4.html [accessed 9 November 2022] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

Algerian and Moroccan border authorities appear to be blocking two groups of Syrian asylum seekers from leaving the border area near the Moroccan city of Figuig, Human Rights Watch said today. The Syrians, including women and children, have been trapped there since April 18, 2017, in abysmal conditions, Human Rights Watch said. Expand

People stand near a border post on the Algerian side of the Morocco-Algeria border in the north east of Morocco July 31, 2011.

 2011 Youssef Boudlal/Reuters

According to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Morocco, the two groups total 55 people, including 20 women, 2 of them in advanced states of pregnancy, and 22 children. One woman gave birth in the border area on the evening of April 23. It is unclear whether she had medical assistance. Authorities in both countries should step up to share responsibility, consider claims for protection based on the preference of the Syrian asylum seekers, and ensure that all the asylum seekers have access to necessary services, especially pregnant and breast-feeding women.

"While Algerian and Moroccan authorities squabble over which country should take the Syrians, men, women, and children are trapped in a desert-like area near the border between them, sleeping in the open and unable to apply for asylum," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa executive director at Human Rights Watch.

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Moroccan authorities have indicated that they will grant entry visas to nine of the Syrians who have relatives living legally in Morocco, a spokesperson for UNHCR told Human Rights Watch on May 3.

The two groups arrived at the border area after leaving Syria and traveling through Libya and Algeria. Moroccan authorities publicly accused Algeria of deporting the asylum seekers to Morocco. The Algerian Foreign Ministry denied the allegations, saying they were aimed at "harming Algeria," yet did not offer another version of events. One of the Syrian asylum seekers, who spoke with Human Rights Watch on April 24, said that her group had left Algeria with guidance from local people around April 17. However, on April 18, Moroccan security forces intercepted them and pushed them back toward Algeria, she said:

We were a group of 14 people, mostly women and children and only one man. We traveled to Algeria from Syria, transiting through Libya and Sudan. We crossed the Moroccan border with the help of local people, but Moroccan border guards stopped us and made us spend the night. The next day, they pushed us back toward Algeria. But Algerian border guards intercepted us and didn't allow us to enter Algerian territory. Now we are stuck between the Algerian and Moroccan borders and no one is providing us with any food or any kind of assistance. I have family living in Morocco, which is why I wanted to go there.

It is a violation of Morocco's international obligations to remove asylum seekers from its territory or from under the control of Moroccan authorities, without a fair hearing to determine refugee status. It is also a violation to send them to a country where they face the risk of persecution or inhuman and degrading treatment or that might deport them to a third country where they would face that risk. Such removals also may violate article 29 of Morocco's Law 02-03 on the Entry and Presence of Foreigners in the Kingdom. That article also prohibits the removal of pregnant women.

While international law does not prohibit the deportation of pregnant or breast-feeding women, both countries should ensure that all the trapped asylum seekers, in particular pregnant or breast-feeding women, have access to appropriate services while their claims for protection are being considered. If countries issue lawful deportation orders, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has said, they should "to treat each case individually, with due consideration to the gender-related circumstances."



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Nebraska statutes require property owners to keep trees or bushes out of fences that divide their property from a neighbors.

Nebraska revised statute section 34-103 states: Every person . . . shall maintain his [fence] portion in good repair, including the necessary removal or trimming of trees and woody growth within or encroaching upon the fenceline to repair or avoid damage to, or dislocation of, the division fence. The occurrence of trees and woody growth within or encroaching upon a division fence that causes damage to, or dislocation of, the fence shall constitute a private nuisance to the adjacent landowners [property rights].

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY NEIGHBOR HAS TREES OR BUSHES THAT GROW INTO THE FENCE? You can trim everything on your side of the fence so long as that does not kill or damage the tree or bush. However, you cannot remove your neighbors trees or bushes in the fence without your neighbors permission.

WHAT IF THE NEIGHBOR DOES NOT KEEP THEIR TREES OR BUSHES OUT OF THE FENCE? If you have talked to the neighbor and they have refused to trim or remove the trees and bushes from the fenceand have not given you permission to do so, you should contact an attorney. The attorney will likely write your neighbor a letter informing them of their legal responsibility to keep the fenceline clear of trees and bushes. That letter may also indicate that you will be forced to file suit against them if they dont keep their side of the fenceline clean. With any luck your neighbor will show that letter to their own attorney, who will check the law and then tell them what their legal responsibilities are to keep their side of the fenceline clear of trees and bushes. If that doesnt get them clean up the fenceline, you will need to file suit to force them to keep their side of the fenceline clear of trees and bushes.

THIS SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF TROUBLE. CANT I JUST GO CLEAN THE FENCE OUT ON THEIR SIDE? Noif you did that you would be trespassing onto their private property, which is illegal in Nebraska. Private property rights are very important in American law, even protecting the property rights of those who may not be not good or responsible property owners. The law that protects your neighbor from your trespass also protects you from their trespass. So work with your attorney and it should get taken care of in the end. The judge wont be very happy with your neighbor for not taking responsibility to keeping their side of the fenceline free of trees and bushes, and the neighbors attorney will let them know that as well. So the chances of your actually needing to go to court to get the neighbors trees and bushes out of the fence should be relatively small.
From 2-7 to sectional champs, Monrovia has one question: 'Why not us?'
FREMONT  Two Louisville High School students were honored for their leadership skills this past week during an awards banquet at Midland University.

Grace Jacobsen and Lia Senser both traveled to the school for the 11th annual Pinnacle Bank Outstanding High School Leaders Award Luncheon. They joined 49 other high school juniors from across the eastern half of Nebraska at the event. They received a leadership award from Pinnacle Bank and a $1,000 scholarship to Midland University.

A panel of local community leaders sorted through scores of nominations to select the award recipients. Students from Archbishop Bergan, Arlington, Bishop Neumann, Douglas County West, Fort Calhoun, Fremont, Guardian Angels Central Catholic, Howells-Dodge, Logan View, Louisville, North Bend Central, Schuyler, Scribner-Snyder, Wahoo and West Point-Beemer attended the reception.

Jacobsen and Senser are both honor roll students who are involved in multiple extracurricular activities at Louisville. Both students have helped Louisville teams and groups achieve success at many conference, district and state competitions.
Cambodias government on Friday dismissed accusations by an environmental group that the country is still exporting sand, despite a national ban, saying a vessel seen loading the material in a video the group posted on social media was doing nothing illicit.



On May 1, the NGO Mother Nature Cambodia posted a video to its Facebook page purportedly showing a vessel named the Deryoung Sunflower loading white sand for export in Sihanouk provinces Stung Hav district two days earlier.



On Friday, Cambodias Ministry of Mines and Energy said in a statement that Mother Nature did not accurately identify the vessel or its location in the video, and also gave the wrong time for when the video was taken.



It said the video claimed the vessel could carry up to 30,000 tons, while the Deryoung Sunflower can only load up to 8,679 tons, and that the Deryoung had left Cambodia on May 1 after gathering silica sand for producing glass, while the video was likely filmed afterwards.



The ministry banned sand exports in November 2016 after public outrage over large inconsistencies between Cambodias recorded sand exports and Singapores recorded sand imports from Cambodia, but has recently said that silica sand was not part of the ban.



Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, director of the NGO Mother Nature Cambodia, on Friday told RFAs Khmer Service that the ministrys response was an excuse and suggested that sand exports are continuing, despite the ban.



We have collected ample evidence and I will absolutely not stop posting the videos on Facebook as the ministry has asked, said the Spanish environmentalist, who was expelled from Cambodia in February 2015 after leading a campaign against a controversial dam and placed on a black list that prevents his return to the country.



If we report sand exporting activities to the ministry, it will tell the owner of the vessels to destroy the evidence. The ministry has a record of collusion with criminals to destroy natural resources, he said.



By posting such activities on Facebook, we hope we can keep people informed and that it will lead to some sort of resolution.



In the meantime, Gonzalez-Davidson said, the Deryoung Sunflower had arrived in Taiwan Friday with its cargo.



The Taiwanese authorities told reporters that the sand was imported from Cambodia, he said.



We believe that the Deryoung Sunflower has stolen sand from Cambodia and we will do our best to pressure the Taiwanese authorities to take action against such illegal activities.



The Phnom Penh Post quoted officials in Taiwan on Thursday confirming that the Deryoung was carrying sand to the countrys Port of Taichung, but said the sand was silica.



The Post was unable to confirm what kind of sand a second ship, identified by Mother Nature as being named Ocean Beauty, was carrying.



The paper also quoted Gonzalez-Davidson calling the governments recent claim that silica sand was not part of the ban on exports a pathetic lie, adding that the type of sand on the Deryoung was totally irrelevant.



Mong Reththy Group Co Ltd and Silica Services Cambodge are two licensed companies that received recent approval for exports of silica sand, but the Post reported that the locations of departure and the names of the boats did not match those of Ocean Beauty or the Deryoung Sunflower.



Reported by Sonorng Kher for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
A Uyghur man dances for tourists in a teahouse in the old town of Kashgar, northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, May 27, 2016.

Chinese authorities in the troubled northwestern region of Xinjiang have issued a region-wide clampdown on the tourism industry, asking tour guides to monitor the behavior of visitors ahead of the ruling Chinese Communist Party's regional economic cooperation summit next week, RFA has learned.

A manager of a branch of state-owned travel agency China International Travel Service (CITS) in Kashgar (in Chinese, Kashi) prefecture, in the south of Xinjiang, said the industry has been asked to "monitor foreign tourists and report on any sensitive issues" ahead of a conference on President Xi Jinping's "One Belt, One Road" trade and infrastructure project connecting China to Europe.

"Only CITS is permitted to manage foreign tour groups," the manager, who declined to be named, told RFA. "There are some place that are off-limits to foreigners, and some topics of conversation must be avoided."

"We are obliged to report back to the police, not on everything they say, but if somebody won't take no for an answer and insists on asking questions on banned topics, then this will cause a lot of problems [for them]," the manager said.

"These public security measures are for everyone's safety," he said. "The police have a right to know who the tourists are, and where they are going, and we have a duty to report those details to the police."

Among the topics flagged as "potentially troublesome" were foreign media reporting on Xinjiang, and any criticism of Beijing's policies in Xinjiang, he said.

"There are also clear rules for the tour guides, who aren't allowed to say anything that is unfavorable about China," he said. "This has all been a part of their training. They're not allowed to reveal any state secrets ... "They're not allowed to say anything that is damaging to national unity, or ... talk about taboo topics."

Taboo topics include "trying to forcibly impose Western thinking over here," he said, adding: "That's definitely a no-no."

Limited discussions of China's policies in Xinjiang might be permissible, others not, the manager said, but tour guides are advised to find a way to circle around the topic without specifying that there is an official ban in place.

"We can only answer these questions within the limits prescribed by national law," the manager said. "If we can't talk about it, we will tactfully change the subject rather than saying that we're not allowed to talk about it."

Bingtuan tourism industry

The guidelines come after a slew of political activities across the region targeting the tourism sector, and after a set of regulations on April 25 titled "Strengthening security and stability measures in the bingtuan tourism industry," were issued by the quasi-military Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, or bingtuan, which controls huge tracts of Xinjiang.

An official who answered the phone at the Kashgar municipal tourism bureau confirmed the travel agency manager's account.

"They have to be aware of anything to do with religion or ethnic minorities; anything that might potentially damage China's reputation," the official said.

"Such matters must be reported back [to the tourism bureau] who will decide whether to take the matter any further by reporting it to [the police]," he said.

Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the Germany-based World Uyghur Congress group representing the Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim Uyghur group who call Xinjiang home, said the rules are even stricter for Uyghurs hoping to work in the tourism sector in their own backyard.

"Uyghur tour guides are required to fill out a political appraisal form indicating that there have been no 'separatist actions' in their family for three generations," Raxit told RFA on Friday.

"At the same time, they may undertake monitoring of Uyghur tour guides to ensure that there are no damaging reports or leaks," he said.

Delegates from 28 countries are converging on China ahead of the One Belt, One Road Forum in Beijing on May 14-15, which will promote President Xi Jinping's plan to build a modern-day Silk Road through Asia to Europe.

In a related development, a police officer in Toksun County (Tuokexun, in Chinese) of Turpan (Tulufan) prefecture in Xinjiang said all Uyghur tourists who wish to travel abroad, including self-supported individuals or government-sponsored group tour members, must attend political indoctrination education that covers Chinas constitution, anti-extremism legislation and stability maintenance, and bilingual education.

Right now, the Toksun County government has organized a political indoctrination education entitled the 'three-study course,'" the officer told RFA's Uyghur Service.

Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Eset Sulaiman for the Uyghur Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.
Chinese rights lawyer Chen Jiangang, who helped to expose the torture of his client and fellow lawyer Xie Yang, was in the custody of China's state security police on Friday.



Chen went 'missing' with his wife Zou Shaomei and the couple's two sons during a family trip to the southwestern province of Yunnan after making a video saying he was concerned that he might be detained.



An officer who answered the phone at the municipal state security police bureau in Yunnan's Jinghong city appeared to confirm the agency's involvement.



"Don't you worry about them, they're just fine," the officer said when contacted by RFA on Thursday. "OK, let's leave it there."



Chen and his family were detained on Wednesday afternoon, activists close to Chen said via social media.



His family was released Thursday morning and permitted to take a flight back to Beijing, but Chen was forced drive the 3,200-kilometer (2,000-mile) journey home with three police escorts, Agence France-Presse reported.



Sources said Zou and the children remain under police surveillance at their home, while Chen's current whereabouts are unknown.



A fellow rights lawyer who asked to remain anonymous said Chen may have been hoping to help his family flee China by crossing the border into northern Myanmar from Yunnan.



"They were on a trip, but the possibility that he wanted to take his wife and kids out of the country can't be ruled out," the lawyer said. "Our biggest concerns are for his family, because I think it unlikely that Chen himself will want to leave."



"A lot of people are sending their wives and kids overseas now, because they all have the same fears ... and it's very common for the Chinese authorities to retaliate against loved ones [of dissidents]," he said.



"We see a lot of cases where they target the relatives for speaking out against the injustice [faced by the dissident or activist]," he said.



The family was detained alongside rights activist Zhang Baocheng and his wife, who also remain incommunicado, sources told RFA.



Repeated calls to Chen and Zou's cell phones rang unanswered on Wednesday, while an employee who answered the phone at the Mengyang police station in Yunnan where the six people were detained declined to comment.



Rights lawyer Ge Yongxi said he had received a brief smartphone chat message, including a location notification, from Zou, indicating that the family had been detained.



"She sent me a WeChat message [on Wednesday] ... but I can't confirm any other details because I haven't spoken directly with Chen Jiangang's wife," Ge said.



"But Chen Jiangang should be at liberty, because he was taking a trip within China's borders," he said.



UN weighs in



The United Nations human rights agency on Friday denounced Chinas ongoing detention and harassment of human rights lawyers and activists, including Chen.



"Prior to being reportedly taken by police last Wednesday, Chen had, in a video message, expressed concerns that he too may lose his freedom and that he may be coerced into self-incrimination," U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.



"We are dismayed by this continuing pattern of harassment of lawyers, through continued detention, without full due process guarantees and with alleged exposure to ill-treatment and coercion into self-incrimination," she said.



The U.N. human rights commission said the vast majority of rights lawyers detained or placed under surveillance or travel bans by China since July 2015 were defending the basic rights of Chinese citizens, mostly economic, social and cultural rights.



"We urge the Chinese government to abide by its international human rights obligations, to ensure due process and fair trials, and to release without delay those being held for exercising their fundamental human rights or for defending the exercise of such rights by others," it said in a statement on Friday.



The reports of Xie Yang's torture in police detention were slammed by China's state-run media as "fake news," but Chen stood by them, saying they were "totally accurate."



He has since been prevented from meeting with Xie, and police say he has been replaced with a government-appointed lawyer.



Xie has lodged a formal complaint saying that he was subjected to confinement in a "hanging chair" made of plastic chairs stacked high above the ground for hours at a time, so that his legs swelled up and he was in excruciating pain.



He was also deprived of sleep and repeatedly beaten, humiliated, and taunted with death threats against his family, according to his lawyers' notes.



Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Ng Yik-tung and Wen Yuqing for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The chief minister of central Myanmars Magway region on Friday confirmed the receipt of 8 billion kyats (U.S.$ 5.8 billion) in missing money by the regions previous leader in an alleged embezzlement of regional development funds.

Magway Chief Minister Aung Moe Nyo told a press conference that former Chief Minister Phone Maw Shwe and Kyi Tun, chairman of the Shwe Thukha Microcredit Association and chairman of the Magway Division Development Foundation, returned 3 billion kyats (U.S. $2.2 million) on Thursday and another 5 billion kyats (U.S. $3.6 million) on Friday.

They transferred this money to the Magway regional governments bank account, he said.

We are keeping the returned money in an account, and we will use it according to the rules and regulations of the region if its needed, he said.

Questions about the money arose a year ago when a lawmaker from Magways Pwintbyu township asked parliament about the alleged embezzlement of regional development funds collected as taxation from small-scale oil producers in Magway region by the previous regional government.

An investigation by the Bureau of Special Investigations under the Ministry of Home Affairs found that 7.5 billion kyats (U.S. $5.5 million) was missing, more than 3 billion of which had been spent on the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which was then in power.

Regional government investigators are still reviewing a claim of 4 billion kyats (U.S. $2.9 million) that was supposedly used for regional development in Magway.

The Magway regional government has asked the Magway Region Special Investigation Department to work on where and how the 4 billion kyats were used, because the public wants to know about it, Aung Moe Nyo said.

The ruling government under the National League of Democracy (NLD) party sent letters dated April 18 to Phone Maw Shwe and Nyi Tun asking them to return 3.2 billion kyats (U.S. $2.3 million) that had been transferred to the Shwe Thukha Microcredit Association during the previous governments term along with four motor vehicles, a backhoe, and two boats that had been donated to the USDP through the Magway Division Development Foundation.

Meanwhile, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported that the USDP will not take action against Phone Maw Shwe because he has returned the funds.

Ayeyarwady region funds

The scandal has prompted lawmakers in other regions to raise questions about government funds.

Meanwhile, Zeya Min Thein, a lawmaker from Pyapon township in Ayeyarwady region, told RFAs Myanmar Service on Friday that that the former USDP government did not transfer any development funds to its successor.

Such funds are earmarked for providing power to the region and for the building and maintenance of clinics and roads in villages, he said.

When a regional parliament committee asked about the funds, Ayeyarwadys social minister responded that the Office of the Auditor had been notified about the matter, and in turn informed the relevant authority to clarify the issue.

I asked a question about this development fund, and the Ayeyarwady regions social minister answered, saying that the regional government hasnt received any yet and will investigate the matter, Zeya Min Thein said.

Reported by Zaw Tu and Kaung Htet Kyaw for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A reception for iconographer Jane Tan Creti of Omaha is planned from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Gallery 92 West in Fremont.

The public is invited. The May exhibit will be in the Tracy Gallery of the Fremont Area Art Association building at 92 W. Sixth St.

Tan Creti writes icons and her works are 24 karat gold leaf on wood panels written with egg tempera, which achieves a luminosity in the finished icon  a signature of the 14th century Russian masters.

Her work has been shown in independent shows including in 2013 at the Sunderland Gallery at St. Cecilias Cathedral.

She facilitates classes for The Prosopon School, writes commissioned icons and hosts iconography classes in her own studio.

Her interest in iconography was first inspired by her brother. In the 1960s, he wrote icons for the New Skete monastic community in Cambridge, New York.
Twenty workers at a power plant in northern Laos have quit their jobs after managers refused to raise their salaries, offering instead only to help them with the cost of their meals, sources said.



The workers, formerly employed by Ratch-Lao Service Co. Ltd.a firm subcontracted to the Hongsa Lignite Power Company Ltd. In Sayabouri province-had petitioned since March for an increase in their pay and benefits, one employee told RFAs Lao Service.



In a meeting on April 10, the management board did not agree to the employees proposals, so 20 of the workers decided to quit, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



Even though the company affirmed that the requested raise was justified by Lao law, they said only that they could increase the subsidies for meals by an additional 50,000 kip [U.S. $6] per person each month, he said.



The company had previously told employees that their pay and benefitsincluding sick leave and vacation leavewould be increased if the Hongsa Power Plants units 1, 2, and 3 were kept fully operational, the source said.



But when the employees asked for their promised increase, they were turned down.



Workers at other companies subcontracted to Hongsa have meanwhile received their requested increases in benefits and pay, he said.



Chance to withdraw



Initially, 96 of the more than 100 workers employed by Ratch-Laos operations and maintenance sections had signed letters threatening to quit, Bounthavy Phimmasone, human resources manager at the company, told RFA.



After they submitted their letters, the company told them they could withdraw their requests no later than March 31 to give them a chance to reconsider, Bounthavy said.



They were told that after that date anyone who hadnt withdrawn their request would be considered to have resigned.



As a result, some of them did withdraw their requests, he said.



Also speaking to RFA, a senior manager at Ratch-Lao said that workers salaries at the companyaround 4 million kip (U.S. $500 approx.) per monthwere already high and in line with standards provided by the law.



Reported by RFA's Lao Service and Ounkeo Souksavanh. Translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh. Written in English by Richard Finney.




Authorities in Vietnam have issued a warrant for the arrest of an activist blogger who has drawn attention to the governments handling of a toxic waste spill last year that devastated the countrys central coast, he and a fellow rights campaigner said Friday.



The warrant to arrest Bach Hong Quyena champion of democracy, human rights and the environmentwas signed into effect on April 19, fellow activist Thao Teresa told RFAs Vietnamese Service, adding that Quyen anticipates he could be detained at any time.



Warrant No. 245 was obtained in Ha Tinh province and [information about the warrant] was published by the Ha Tinh media, she said.



Quyen plans to allow them to arrest him, though he doesnt know how the arrest will be carried out.



Teresa said the blogger, who has reported on last years toxic waste spill by Taiwan-owned Formosa Plastics Groups steel plant in Ha Tinh, has two options available to him now.



One is to flee to another country, but he does not like that option, she said.



He always knew he would one day go to jail for his activism.



Quyen told RFA that he is prepared to serve time in prison.



I accepted it when I chose this path fighting for human rights, because I am a member of the Vietnam Path movementthe mission of which is to act as an advocate and educate people about their rights, he said.



The possibility of being arrested does not scare me or hold me back, because we must fight when there is injustice.



Several activists have been harassed by the authorities for covering the April 2016 Formosa waste spill, which killed an estimated 115 tons of fish and left fishermen jobless in four coastal provinces, or for their involvement in protests against the company.



Earlier this week, thugs believed hired by local police assaulted Hanoi-based activist Le My Hanh, who had slammed the governments handling of the spill, and two others at her friends home in Ho Chi Minh City. A man believed to have orchestrated the beating posted a video of the incident on his Facebook page.



Last week, nearly a thousand protesters surrounded a police station in central Vietnams Nghe An province to demand an apology from authorities for their confiscation of 200 T-shirts carrying Formosa protest slogans and beating of the two men caught transporting the shirts.



Formosa has voluntarily paid U.S. $500 million to clean up and compensate coastal residents affected by the spill, but slow and uneven payout of the funds by the Vietnamese government has prompted protests that continue to be held more than a year later.



Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy with her two sons after being released from prison, May 5, 2017. Photo courtesy of Huynh Ngoc Chenh Sentence served



Also on Friday, activists in Vietnam confirmed to RFA that authorities released blogger Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy from Prison No. 5 in Thanh Hoa province after she completed a three-year sentence for abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the state under Article 258 of Vietnams penal code.



Thuy is the assistant of well-known blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh, a former police officer also known as Ba Sam, who is currently serving a five-year sentence on the same charge after criticizing the government in his online writings.



The two were convicted together in March last year after being held in prison since their arrests on May 5, 2014. Sentences in Vietnam typically include time spent in jail before conviction.



In September, a court in Vietnams capital Hanoi rejected an appeal by Vinh, sending him back to prison to serve out the remainder of his sentence.



The ruling prompted condemnation from several international human rights groups, which expressed concerns over the case against Vinh and Thuy and demanded that the government immediately release them.



The U.S. Embassy in Vietnam has called the convictions of Vinh and Thuy inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press provided for in Vietnams Constitution, and with Vietnams obligations under its international commitments.



Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
A Montenegrin court on May 5 postponed a hearing to confirm the indictments of 14 people, including two Russians and two pro-Russia opposition leaders, who are charged with plotting to overthrow the government last year.

The High Court in Podgorica said the session was delayed until May 24 to give defense lawyers more time to sift through thousands of pages of documents and other materials and evidence in the case.

Lawmakers Andrija Mandic and Milan Knezevic of the Democratic Front, two Russians, nine Serbian citizens, and one other Montenegrin have been charged with "creating a criminal organization."

The Russians were also charged with "terrorism."

Montenegrin officials allege that Serbian and Russian nationalists plotted to take over parliament during the October 2016 parliamentary elections, assassinate then-Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, and install a pro-Russia leadership to halt Montenegros bid to join NATO.

Prosecutors said the Russian citizens, 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 trial against the opposition."

Montenegro's special prosecutor has said "Russian state bodies" were involved in the alleged coup, something Russia denies.

Montenegro's parliament ratified the country's NATO membership on April 28, marking a historic turn toward the West amid protests from traditional ally Russia and the country's pro-Russian political opposition.
Vigilante chemical attacks against Kremlin critics.

Teachers berating -- and even threatening -- students for supporting the opposition.

Online video smear campaigns against opposition leaders.

And Vladimir Putin's regime is shocked -- shocked! --and has absolutely nothing to do with any of it. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

Don't look now, but the Kremlin's campaign against the opposition appears to have gone hybrid.

On this week's Power Vertical Podcast, we look at the rising protest mood in Russia and the degree to which vigilante attacks on opposition leaders like Aleksei Navalny are sanctioned by the regime.

Joining me is co-host Mark Galeotti, a senior research fellow at the Institute of International Relations in Prague, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and author of the blog In Moscow's Shadows; and journalist and playwright Natalia Antonova, an associate editor at OpenDemocracy-Russia.

Enjoy...

Listen to or download the podcast above or subscribe to The Power Vertical Podcast on iTunes.
President Vladimir Putin says he will speak to top law enforcement officials about reports alleging a campaign of abuse targeting gay men in Russia's southern Chechnya region, which he suggested may be nothing more than "rumors."

Putins pledge during a May 5 meeting with Kremlin human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova in Moscow comes amid mounting international pressure over the alleged torture and killing of gay men in Chechnya, first reported last month by the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

Chechnya's Kremlin-backed leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has denied any such campaign has taken place in the mainly Muslim region, and Putin also suggested the allegations may be false.

"Of course, I will talk with the prosecutor-general and the interior minister so that they support you on the issue that you have raised here based on well-known information -- or on rumors, you might say -- about what is happening in the North Caucasus with people of nontraditional sexual orientation," Putin told Moskalkova.

Since the Novaya Gazeta report in early April, gay men from Chechnya have given personal accounts to RFE/RL and other media of their escape from the abuse they faced in the region in the North Caucasus, which Kadyrov has ruled with an iron hand and with strong Kremlin support for a decade.

Rights activists and Western governments have urged the Russian government to investigate the alleged abuses.

The United States has said it is "increasingly concerned" about the reports, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the issue in a May 2 meeting with Putin in Sochi.

"We have heard some very negative reports about the treatment of homosexuals in Chechnya, and I asked President Vladimir Putin to use his influence to guarantee minority rights here," she said.

With reporting by Interfax, TASS, and Reuters
The leader of a radical pro-Kremlin group says police plan to question him and his colleagues over an attack on Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny that has impaired his eyesight.

Igor Beketov, leader of a group calling itself the South East Radical Block (SERB), told RFE/RL on May 5 that Moscow police contacted him "a few days ago" concerning the April 27 attack in which Navalny's face was splashed with a green antiseptic.

"They said that we'd be called in for questioning," Beketov, an actor who goes by the nom de guerre Gosha Tarasevich, said in a conversation via the popular Russian social-networking site VKontakte.

The attack on Navalny comes amid his push to run in next year's presidential election, which is expected to hand President Vladimir Putin another six-year term.

Russian opposition activists have repeatedly faced similar attacks with the antiseptic, known as "zelyonka," and other substances in recent years with few repercussions for the assailants.

The attack on Navalny, however, has drawn wide attention in Russia and triggered denunciations -- including from officials loyal to the Kremlin -- after Navalny said he had suffered potentially permanent eye damage due to the incident.

Amid mounting pressure, Moscow city prosecutors said on the evening of May 4 that a criminal battery investigation had been launched on April 29, two days after the attack.

The case is being investigated by city police investigators, said Yelena Rossokhina, a spokeswoman for Moscow prosecutors.

At least one SERB member, Aleksei Kulakov, was caught on video appearing to film the April 27 attack on Navalny, in which an unidentified man runs up to the presidential hopeful and tosses zelyonka into his face.

The Russian newspaper RBK, which first reported that police had contacted SERB members about the attack, quoted Kulakov as saying late on May 4 that a "police probe is being conducted into specific people," including himself.

Kulakov has admitted to being at the scene, though he and Beketov have denied that SERB was involved.

Navalny and his supporters accuse another SERB activist, Aleksandr Petrunko, of tossing the liquid in his face, though Beketov has said that Petrunko has an alibi. A video of the attack published by the Kremlin-friendly network REN-TV blurs the assailant's face as he runs toward the camera.

Beketov told RFE/RL that he believes police contacted Petrunko as well but that he could not confirm that this was the case. He declined to comment further, saying he did not want to "harm the investigation."

A lawyer for Navalny, Ivan Zhdanov, said neither his client nor the lawyers had been officially notified about the probe yet.

Navalny has accused Putin's administration and Russian security services of complicity in the attack and demanded that authorities prosecute the assailant.

He said his doctors believe the antiseptic was mixed with another substance that caused a chemical burn to his right eye that has left him partially blinded.

On May 4, Navalny said he obtained his passport after five years of refusal by the Federal Migration Service, and expressed hope that he might now travel abroad to treat the damaged eye.

However, his lawyer said Russian correctional authorities then warned him not to leave the country.

Navalny has been convicted three times of financial crimes at trials that he contends were baseless, politically motivated reprisals for his opposition activity. He is serving two suspended sentences, which requires him to visit the corrections office twice a month.

Another lawyer for Navalny, Vadim Kobzev, said Russian law allowed him to travel outside the country for medical purposes as long as he provides a written explanation to authorities ahead of time.

With reporting by RBK, Interfax, TASS, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, and The Moscow Times
Tajikistan's Interior Ministry has dismissed 10 police officers for failing to lose weight.

Ministry spokesman Umarjon Emomali told RFE/RL on May 4 that 100 more police officers were warned about their excessive weight and given deadlines to get into shape.

"Police officers must be sharp, fast, and physically fit. They must be ready to act in any situation and fully carry out their service duties," Emomali said.

Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda warned in December that overweight police officers will be fired, and called on the law enforcement personnel to start working on getting physically fit.

The ministry announced in December that male police officers should be at least 168 centimeters tall, and female ones at least 160 centimeters tall. The standard weight for a 168-170-centimeter-tall police officer was set at 75 kilograms.
ON MY MIND

Vigilante chemical attacks against Kremlin critics.

Teachers berating, and even threatening students for supporting the opposition.

Online video smear campaigns against opposition leaders.

And Vladimir Putin's regime is shocked, shocked, and has absolutely nothing to do with any of it -- nod, nod, wink, wink.

Don't look now, but the Kremlin's campaign against the opposition appears to have gone hybrid.

On this week's Power Vertical Podcast, we look at the rising protest mood in Russia and the degree to which vigilante attacks on opposition leaders like Aleksei Navalny are sanctioned by the regime.

Joining me will be co-host Mark Galeotti, a senior research fellow at the Institute of International Relations in Prague, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, and author of the blog In Moscow's Shadows; and journalist and playwright Natalia Antonova, an editor at OpenDemocracy-Russia.

So be sure to tune in later today!

IN THE NEWS

Russia, Turkey, and Iran on May 4 signed a memorandum that calls for establishing safe zones in Syria where ceasefires are meant to be implemented -- including no-fly zones -- in order to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.

A Russian diplomat has emphasized that safe zones that would be established in Syria under a deal reached by Russia, Turkey, and Iran would be closed to warplanes of the U.S.-led coalition.

U.S. jets have intercepted two Russian Tu-95 bombers accompanied by two Su-35 fighters that flew near the Alaskan coast, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) says.

Russian media reports that the Interior Ministry's Moscow office has launched a criminal inquiry into an assault on opposition leader Aleksei Navalny that left him nearly blind in one eye.

Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny said on May 4 that he has obtained a passport and hopes to travel abroad for medical treatment, but his lawyer said corrections officials warned him not to leave the country.

A new opinion poll indicates that 48 percent of voters would cast their ballots for incumbent President Vladimir Putin's reelection as president.

The United States Congress has authorized a new $100 million effort to counter "Russian influence and aggression" and to support civil society organizations in Europe and Eurasia.

Russian protest performance artist Pyotr Pavlensky has received political asylum in France.

Germany's domestic intelligence agency has said it expects more cyberattacks directed against German politicians and officials ahead of a general election in September.

The prosecutor's office in Paris has begun a preliminary investigation into whether so-called fake news is being used to influence voting in the May 7 French presidential election.

WHAT I'M READING

Russia's New Military

Keir Giles, an associate fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House, has a white paper for The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Assessing Russia's Reorganized And Rearmed Military.

Dialogue And Deterrence

The German Marshal Fund talks to veteran Kremlin-watcher James Sherr about relations between Moscow and the West and the rise of a new generation in Russia.

Godwin's Law

Peter Dickinson has a piece on The Atlantic Council's website looking at why Russia is fixated on "phantom fascists."

The Crimean Offshore Zone?

In Republic.ru, Aleksandr Zakharov reacts to recent proposals to turn the annexed Crimean Peninsula into an offshore zone.

Partitioning Syria

In his column for Bloomberg, political commentator Leonid Bershidsky argues that Putin is aiming for a partition of Syria.

The Destruction Of The Khrushchevki

Bershidsky also gives his personal take on the Moscow's demolition of five-story apartment blocks built during the era of Nikita Khrushchev, the so-called Khrushchevki, noting that his childhood home is slated for destruction.

The Putin Majority

A recent report titled The Putin Majority by the Kremlin-backed Foundation for the Development of Civil Society predicting that Putin will win 70-75 percent in next year's presidential election is getting some attention in the Russian media. Gazeta.ru's Andrei Vinokurov weighs in with a report here and Kommersant's Irina Nagornikh has a piece here.

The Navalny Factor

Pro-Kremlin commentator Mikhail Rostovsky has a piece in Moskovsky Komsomolets looking at how the Kremlin's efforts against opposition leader Aleksei Navalny are transforming Russian politics.

Putin And Le Pen

In the Financial Times, Max Seddon and Michael Stothard look at the degree of influence Putin has over French National Front leader and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen.

Fake Russia Experts

In a piece for Medium, OpenDemocracy-Russia editor Natalia Antonova (who will appear on today's Power Vertical Podcast) calls out the fake Russia experts.
Turkmenistan's prosecutor-general has been dismissed for "failing to fight corruption among law enforcement officers," Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov said.

Berdymukhammedov harshly criticized Amanmyrat Khallyev at a State Security Council session on May 4, saying he had been "unable to prevent corruption in a timely fashion" among police and prosecutors.

Khallyev's removal from the post of prosecutor-general was approved by parliament the same day.

Berdymukhammedov also announced a formal reprimand for Interior Minister Isgender Mulikov, citing corruption among police officials.

The president also said that several other officials at the prosecutor's office and in the Interior Ministry were sacked, and urged Supreme Court Chairman Begench Charyev to examine their actions thoroughly."

Berdymukhammedov has ruled the gas-rich former Soviet republic in Central Asia with an iron fist since the death of his autocratic predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, in December 2006.
The Pentagon has suggested it will carry out air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants within Syrias so-called "de-escalation zones," despite Russias announcement that the areas would be closed to U.S.-led coalition military aircraft.

A Pentagon spokesman, Major Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway, said on May 5 -- just hours before the Russian-backed safe zone plan was to be implemented -- that "the coalition will continue to target [IS militants] wherever they operate to ensure they have no sanctuary."

Rankine-Galloway noted that the U.S. government is not party to the safe-zone agreement that was signed by Russia, Turkey, and Iran on May 4 at Syria peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The Pentagon spokesman also said the United States continues to "effectively de-conflict coalition operations. However, we are not going to discuss the specifics of how we de-conflict operations in the highly congested and complex battlespace in Syria."

Russian state-run TASS news agency reported that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had spoken by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson about the de-escalation arrangement, but it did not provide details.

The safe-zone agreement was due to be implemented in Syria at midnight on May 6.

Earlier on May 5, Russia's chief representative at Syria peace talks in Astana said the safe zone areas will be closed to warplanes of the U.S.-led coalition.

"In the de-escalation zones, aviation operations -- especially by the forces of the international coalition forces -- are absolutely not envisaged, with or without prior notification. This question is closed," Russian envoy Aleksandr Lavrentyev said.

However, Lavrentyev said later on May 5 that U.S.-led coalition aircraft would still be able to operate against IS militants in specific areas. He did not clarify whether that included IS targets inside the designated safe zones.

Lavrentyev also has said neither Russian nor Syrian warplanes would fly within the de-escalation zones unless Syrian opposition fighters attack Syrian government forces.

But he said they will continue to attack IS militants in areas outside of the safe zones.

Meanwhile, Russia's military said on May 5 that it will continue fighting IS extremists and the Al-Qaeda linked affiliate previously known as Al-Nusra, including inside the "de-escalation zones."

The Russian announcements have raised concerns among Syria's armed opposition groups, whose members say such declarations have been used in the past by President Bashar al-Assad's government to enable his Russian-backed forces to strike anywhere and claim they are attacking terrorists.

The pact was opposed by the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the main Syrian opposition umbrella group backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia.

In a statement issued on May 5, the HNC rejected Irans role as a guarantor of the plan. It also said only the United Nations should be entrusted with talks on the Syrian conflict, and it urged against moves that would "partition the country through vague meanings of what has been called...'de-escalation' zones.'"

The HNC also said the safe-zone plan would allow Syrian government forces to achieve military goals that they could not on the battlefield by neutralizing forces in rebel-held territories.

Senior Russian military commander Sergei Rudskoi said on May 5 that Russian military officials would meet "with U.S. colleagues in the near future" to discuss Russias return to full-scale participation in an agreement aimed at direct conflict with each other in Syrian airspace.

Russia suspended its participation in the agreement in early April after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a cruise-missile strike against a Syrian air base in response to what Washington said was a chemical attack against civilians by Assads forces.

Separate air strike campaigns by Russia and the United States have caused tension in the past two years.

The United States reacted cautiously to the agreement, saying that it "supports any effort that can genuinely de-escalate the violence in Syria" but expressing concern about Iran's role as a cease-fire guarantor and saying Russia must ensure compliance by the Syrian government.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the United States "supports any effort that can genuinely de-escalate the violence in Syria, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, focus energies on the defeat of ISIS and other terrorists, and create the conditions for a credible political resolution of the conflict."

However, the State Department said it continues to have concerns about "the involvement of Iran as a so-called 'guarantor.' Irans activities in Syria have only contributed to the violence, not stopped it, and Irans unquestioning support for the Assad regime has perpetuated the misery of ordinary Syrians.

"In light of the failures of past agreements, we have reason to be cautious. We expect the regime to stop all attacks on civilians and opposition forces, something they have never done. We expect Russia to ensure...compliance" by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, she said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautiously welcomed the agreement on May 4 but suggested it is important to see results on the ground.

Guterres "is encouraged by the agreement...to de-escalate violence in key areas in Syria," his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement on May 4.

"It will be crucial to see this agreement actually improve the lives of Syrians," he added.

Within safe zones that are being set up, the memorandum signed in Astana by Russia, Turkey, and Iran calls for a cease-fire, a ban on all overflights, rapid deliveries of humanitarian aid to the designated areas, and the return of refugees.

The Astana safe-zone plan for Syria calls for setting up four "de-escalation zones" in northern, central, and southern Syria, where Assads forces are fighting rebels in a war that has killed some 400,000 people since 2011.

They would be surrounded by checkpoints manned by opposition and government troops.

Foreign troops also could be deployed in observer roles.

With reporting by AFP, AP, The New York Times, and Reuters
U.S. jets have intercepted two Russian Tu-95 bombers accompanied by two Su-35 fighters that flew near the Alaskan coast, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) says.

This was the first time in several years that Russian bombers flying by were accompanied by fighter aircraft, officials said.

The Russian aircraft flew within 80 kilometers of the Alaskan coastline on May 2, officials said on May 4.

That was outside U.S. territorial airspace, which begins 20 kilometers from shore, but within a 320-kilometer zone where the U.S. military requires aircraft to identify themselves.

The four Russian aircraft, including the nuclear-capable bombers, were intercepted by two F-22 Raptor fighters.

NORAD spokesman Captain Scott Miller described the interaction with the Russian aircraft as "professional," and said that had historically been the case in encounters with Russian military aircraft off Alaska.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the flight over neutral waters of the Pacific Ocean along the Aleutian Islands was "routine" and in compliance with international airspace rules.

After a two-year lull, Russian military activity has increased significantly off Alaska's coast this spring. Russian military aircraft flew four flights near Alaska in four consecutive days the week of April 17, triggering various responses by NORAD.

Based on reporting by ABC News, the Washington Examiner, and TASS


About eight years ago, the Rev. Joel Schroeder was visiting with an area couple.

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Snyder had closed due to declining membership. The couple was concerned about the future of their church, too.

So Schroeder suggested they all pray for God to open avenues so this wouldnt happen. Schroeder took the concerns to the cluster, a group of clergy from area congregations in the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In the meantime, an organization called ERMAA (Enhancing Rural Ministry for Aging Adults) began in the area. Clergy including Schroeder and the Rev. Nicki McIntyre, brought representatives from different congregations together to see what they could do to improve life for older area residents. Out of that came a food pantry and all sorts of health efforts and personal services for those who didnt have family around to help.

We didnt realize it at the time, but that was Gods answer in a real way for us to address the issue of small congregations in our area, Schroeder said.

Area residents realized that by working together, a parish with several worship centers (churches) could do more than what one center could do by itself.

And last Sunday, the Faith Ambassadors Lutheran Parish officially formed during a celebration service in Hooper Auditorium.

Five area churches have combined to form one parish. Basically, these five centers have become a larger church, but each one retains its own individuality. They each have their own Sunday worship services and Sunday schools, youth and womens groups and property, but they can collaborate on projects and other ministries.

Members may go to any of these worship centers.

The worship centers are: St. Johns Lutheran Church Cuming County Line, St. John Ridgeley Lutheran Church and United Evangelical Lutheran Church, all of Scribner; St. Pauls Evangelical Lutheran Church of Uehling and Redeemer Lutheran Church of Hooper.

During Sundays event, two pastors, Schroeder and McIntyre, and one parish minister associate student Vicar Bob Ball were installed as Faith Ambassador Lutheran Parish clergy. Council members were installed as well.

The five worship sites share the clergy, who collaborate to teach confirmation class students who usually meet at Redeemer. There are 27 students from several area towns.

Schroeder noted something else.

We have a goal in 2018 to have at least one youth from each worship center who will go to the ELCA National Youth Gathering in Houston, he said.

ERMAA was the brainchild of Vance Valerio, who worked at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and was a dean of students at Midland University. It continued to expand.

Now congregations in Scribner, Hooper, Uehling and the surrounding area is part of ERMAA, which is not clergy-led.

Its quickly obvious that laypeople are very capable of taking charge and they were being creative and its just continuing, she said.

Initially, seven churches were involved in the parish collaboration. Two decided not to become part of the parish, but council representatives were elected from five of the other worship centers.

In 2015, the worship centers formed and voted on a covenant, detailing how they could work together structurally and functionally, focusing on where their work would be most productive.

The parish isnt a merger, but a collaborative effort for sharing the Gospel.

Were one parish with five worship centers, Schroeder said.

The parish also has a new transformation ministry team with representatives from all the worship centers. The team is a subgroup of the council and its purpose is to present a mission plan for the parish.

In Uehling, evangelists are preparing to start a parish Kids for Christ group for those in kindergarten through sixth grade. Participants will study Scripture, play games and have food and fellowship.

Schroeder noted that the collaborative effort is a community endeavor.

We are seeking to work in the public church, Schroeder said. Theres people all over who believe in God, who dont go to church and they seek to be spiritual with their families. They pray, but theyre nor members of a church.

So you come and ask them to help for a project like the food pantry and theyre more than willing to help, but for some reason they choke when it comes to becoming a member of an organization, Schroeder continued. So were doing public Gospel work with people who respond and want to do it.

And we welcome anybody who wants to help us accomplish something for God and help us dream up and shape what it could look like.

McIntyre said any congregation that would like to join is welcome to come and sit in the conversation.

She noted that in August members of the Ridgely congregation plan to bake bread and visit the 20 to 30 families living on acreages within a 5-mile radius of that worship center.

We dont know them personally, but we need to as a worship center be a better neighbor to our neighbors, McIntyre said. The purpose is not to fill pews. The purpose is to finally do what Jesus said and be a good neighbor.

She said the Ridgely congregation also plans to provide a potluck meal for people in its neighborhood and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Scribner plans to bake cookies which will be taken to new people who move to town.

A Stephen Ministry, where people are trained to provide additional help for pastoral care. Laypeople also are being trained to deliver Holy Communion to the homebound.

Future plans include having collaborative summer vacation Bible school activities.

Thats one of our dreams and goals, she said.

The website at www.faithambassadors.org has more information about special and joint services, programs, Bible study, adult and youth education, service activities and fellowship opportunities.

Leaders may be reached at 402-704-6444.
A travel ban is drawing judges from five states  and attention from around the world  to a courtroom of the Richmond-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today.

The government is challenging a preliminary injunction that blocks President Donald Trumps revised executive order suspending entry into the U.S. for the citizens of six predominantly Muslim countries.

The 4th Circuit serves Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland, where the injunction was issued by a lower court judge in March. The legal and political stakes in the case are high.

The court usually hears arguments in three-judge panels, and a few cases a year are granted en banc rehearings before all the 15 active judges. An initial en banc hearing like this one has not happened for at least 25 years.

And for the first time in the courts history, the arguments will be broadcast live, on C-SPAN.

Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory, who grew up in Petersburg, is the only appeals court judge in the country appointed by presidents of two different parties.

Nine of the courts other active judges were appointed by Democratic presidents and five by Republicans  one of them, Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, has reportedly recused himself because his son-in-law, Jeffrey Bryan Wall, the acting solicitor general, is one of the lawyers for the government.

The clerks office cannot confirm if any judge or judges have recused themselves and said Thursday that the composition of the en banc panel will be revealed Monday. The office said only active judges would sit for an initial en banc hearing, so any missing judge would not be replaced by one of the two senior judges.

Arguments are set to begin at 2:30 p.m.

The government is appealing U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuangs March injunction blocking the part of Trumps revised executive order that bars entry to the U.S. to citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The injunction was granted in a suit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Law Center on behalf of the International Refugee Assistance Project and others challenging the Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States executive order of March 9.

The presidents original executive order of Jan. 27 was revised following challenges in other courts, and the revised order was to take effect March 16.

Chuangs 43-page March 16 ruling noted that the second executive order differs from the first, in that the preference for religious minorities in the refugee process has been removed.

Chuang, however, held that, Despite these changes, the history of public statements continues to provide a convincing case that the purpose of the second executive order remains the realization of the long-envisioned Muslim ban.

The judge wrote that government officials defending the order do not directly contest that this record of public statements reveals a religious motivation for the travel ban. Rather, they argue that many of the statements may not be considered because they were made outside the formal government decision-making process or before President Trump became a government official.

In this highly unique case, the record provides strong indications that the national security purpose is not the primary purpose for the travel ban, he wrote.

While the travel ban bears no resemblance to any response to a national security risk in recent history, it bears a clear resemblance to the precise action that President Trump described as effectuating his Muslim ban, Chuang concluded.

In pleadings to the 4th Circuit, the government argues that the revised order is an appropriate national security measure temporarily suspending the entry of nationals from the six countries while it is determined if current screening and vetting practices are adequate to detect terrorists. It denies that it discriminates on the basis of religion.

Dozens of friend-of-the-court briefs have been filed by advocacy organizations, legal scholars, religious groups, former government officials, members of Congress and states including Virginia.

The brief filed by Virginia and more than a dozen other states urges the 4th Circuit to uphold Chuangs preliminary injunction determining that the purpose is to exclude Muslims in violation of the establishment clause of the Constitution that bars the government from preferring one religion over another.

A dozen other states and many organizations are supporting the governments appeal.

Scheduled to argue for the government is Wall, the acting solicitor general, and Lowell Vernon Sturgill Jr., deputy solicitor general. Omar Jadwat, of the ACLU, will argue for the International Refugee Assistance Project.

Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law and an expert on the court, said it is hard to predict when there might be a ruling.

On the one hand, they agreed on an initial en banc because they wanted to expedite it and realized it was so important nationally. So I think they want to move quickly, Tobias said. But, he said, if (the court) splinters, it may take a while.

He believes there will be a majority opinion and a dissent, and there might be concurrences.

I think it will just take more time to write all those opinions and circulate them and then respond to one another, he said.

Tobias said, My sense is it probably would be in June. ... I think it would be tough for them to do it by the end of May.

The potential absence of Wilkinson is interesting, Tobias said.

Hes just a real leader on that court so Im not sure how it cuts, he said. Its not clear at all.

Though President Ronald Reagan appointed Wilkinson to the court, I dont think people consider him conservative on lots of issues. ... Hes got great analytical skills, and hes not afraid to dissent when he has to, Tobias said.

The 4th Circuit will be the first federal appeals court to consider an appeal of the revised travel ban. The losing side can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

An injunction won by the state of Hawaii will be heard by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on May 15. That panels ruling could be appealed to the full 9th Circuit before going to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The funeral Mass with military honors will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 8, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church with the Rev. Steve Emanuel as celebrant. Lunch will be in the church hall with burial at a later date. Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. Sunday with a vigil service at 7 p.m., all at the church.
Democrat Ralph Northams gubernatorial campaign sent an email Wednesday that quoted NBC4 Washington journalist Tom Sherwood calling Northam just right for the job.

But Sherwood didnt say that.

On Thursday, Republican Ed Gillespies campaign released a TV ad that quoted NBC29 Charlottesville journalist Alana Austin saying Gillespies tax plan would create 50,000 private sector jobs.

But Austin didnt say that.

What the two journalists actually said was quite different from what was purported by the campaigns.

Sherwood on Saturday moderated a debate in Fairfax County between Northam and Democratic rival Tom Perriello, who are in a tight race for their partys nomination in the June 13 primary.

In a weekly column, Sherwood later commented on the primary race and wrote of Northam: He also holds a very progressive record that many believe is just right for rapidly changing Virginia.

Thats significantly different than Sherwood actually expressing that opinion as his own. But the Northam campaign email subject line reads: Tom Sherwood Calls Northams Progressive Record Just Right for Virginia.

Sherwood contacted the Northam campaign when he saw the mischaracterization.

The Northam campaign issued a corrected news release that said the earlier subject line was not intended to mischaracterize the views of Tom Sherwood. It should have read many believe Northams progressive record is just right for Virginia.

Sherwood said via email that he appreciated the quick correction by the campaign. I value my integrity as a reporter and analyst, he wrote.

In an email Thursday, Northam campaign spokesman David Turner downplayed the mistake.

We literally miswrote a subject line, Turner wrote. I dont get how that is news. Yall issue corrections all the time, Im sure.

In the case of the Gillespie ad, journalist Austin said in a news report that the Gillespie campaign expected his tax plan to create 50,000 jobs. But she didnt state that as fact herself. Her voice can be heard in the ad saying, simply: It would create 50,000 full-time private sector jobs.

Gillespie spokesman David Abrams said the campaign would be happy to change the ad to make clear Austin was reporting on the conclusion of a campaign analysis, not making her own conclusion. Its an easy fix, and wont take away from the ad at all, he wrote in an email.

Harold Wright, vice president and general manager of WVIR-TV NBC29, wrote by email Thursday, Unfortunately, we can do nothing about how candidates use our material. All of us have seen network correspondents used by presidential candidates ... often out of context.

State Sen. Frank W. Wagner and Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, are competing with Gillespie in the June 13 GOP primary.
A tornado caused damage in Dinwiddie County on Friday as severe weather swept across Virginia, causing damage in several localities.

Near the corner of state Route 40 and Baskerville Mill Road in Dinwiddie, a two-story warehouse was blown over. Nearby, Emily Marshalls house suffered no structural damage but windows were broken and roof tiles came off. More than 20 trees in her yard were snapped or uprooted, including one that had been standing for nearly 100 years.

Marshall got a severe weather alert Friday morning on her cell phone, which prompted her and her husband to seek shelter in a closet.

It was only seconds after I got the alert that I heard the infamous train sound, said Marshall, referring to the roaring and rumbling of the incoming storm. It was textbook.

Though the back window of her vehicle was smashed in, Marshall felt relieved after her brush with the tornado.

The tornado passed in a matter of seconds, then she sent text messages to her friends and daughter to let them know she made it through.

The twisters path was wide enough to cause damage on both sides of the street.

Across Baskerville Mill Road from the Marshall home, Shane Bishop and Windell Tucker inspected an indoor baseball facility.

The structure was intact, which Bishop credited to the amount of plywood inside the structure.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for that area at 6:49 a.m. when an area of rotation within a severe thunderstorm suddenly strengthened as it moved out of Brunswick County.

According to a survey team from the National Weather Service, Dinwiddie County was hit by an EF-1 tornado that damaged structures at around 6:50 a.m. on state Route 40 west of McKenney. That damage was consistent with winds between 85 and 95 mph on the Enhanced Fujita scale, but the weather services damage survey is ongoing.

Farther north, a trained spotter saw a funnel cloud west of Sutherland along U.S. 460 at 7:13 a.m., where more trees were blown down.

Nick Sheffield, Dinwiddie Countys fire marshal, said there had been no reports of injuries .

Dinwiddie had not seen a tornado since the outbreak of April 16, 2011, when an EF-1 tornado injured five people and caused $1.5 million in damage in the Five Forks area.

Wind damage in region

As it moved northeast, the thunderstorm triggered another tornado warning for Chesterfield County and a portion of Richmond, but there are no reports of another touchdown in that area. The rotation weakened as it moved across Chesterfield County, but winds were strong enough to bring down trees near Hickory Road and River Road at 7:25 a.m.

In Charles City County, a tree fell onto the Wings of Love Outreach Ministries southwest of Roxbury.

Nearby resident Georgia Pulliam said the storm sounded like a train of wind blowing through the house.

In Powhatan County, fire and rescue crews were on the scene where strong winds knocked down trees in Moseley.

The storms brought down trees during the 6 a.m. hour in Amelia County along Genito Road and U.S. 360.

There were multiple reports of downed trees in Prince George County, including one that hit a house just south of Fort Lee.

A tractor-trailer crash temporarily closed all northbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Prince George County near Exit 41 and state Route 35.

More than 7,700 Dominion Power customers were without power at 8:30 a.m.; 3,044 in New Kent County. As of 12:30 p.m., 1,556 in the Richmond and Tri-Cities area were without power.

More tornadoes in Virginia

The National Weather Service also confirmed an EF-1 tornado with winds up to 90 mph about 8:20 a.m. Friday near Naval Support Facility Dahlgren in King George County.

Four vehicles were overturned in the high winds and several more were damaged, according to Andrew Revelos, spokesperson for Naval Support Activity South Potomac. No injuries have been reported .

In Bedford County, an EF-0 tornado touched down briefly after crossing Smith Mountain Lake just after 4 a.m., according to the National Weather Service in Blacksburg.

In Southampton County, the National Weather Service in Wakefield reported that a tornado was sighted in the early evening.
The event marked the completion of the inaugural year of the service project-oriented club, which was founded last fall in honor of former Montgomery County sheriffs deputy Louie Heslip, who unexpectedly died of a heart attack in May 2016.
The scale of damage to mountain ridges in the path of the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline remains open for debate, but Bill and Lynn Limpert say they have no doubt what the project would do to an old-growth forest along the mountain ridge facing their retirement home in Bath County.

If the Atlantic Coast Pipeline comes through our property, all these trees will be gone, Bill Limpert said at a midday protest on Thursday outside the office of Gov. Terry McAuliffe in downtown Richmond.

As an early and vocal supporter of the $5.1 billion project, McAuliffe has become the target of environmental groups that say construction of the 600-mile natural gas pipeline would remove a 38-mile swath of mountain ridges in Virginia and West Virginia.

They contend construction of the 42-inch-diameter pipeline would result in mountaintop removal, with a 10- to 60-foot layer of rock and debris blasted from ridges in the Blue Ridge and Allegheny ranges.

How do you remove the tops of mountains in an environmentally friendly way? asked Mike Tidwell, executive director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network, one of the organizations that released the analysis last week and organized the protest outside of the Patrick Henry Building on East Broad Street.

Officials at Dominion, managing partner of the pipeline company, say the groups have grossly exaggerated the effects of pipeline construction. The company said it would clear a 125-foot-wide construction right-of-way that would level no more of mountain ridgelines than necessary to dig a trench 8 to 10 feet deep and wide; create a travel lane for work vehicles; and fit pipe sections together.

The overburden, as the rock and other debris is called, also would be kept within the right of way, used in part as a travel lane, and then restored to the original contour of the slope, said Brittany Moody, manager of engineering projects for Dominion Transmission Inc. Its all going back.

That wont be possible for the centuries-old trees in the proposed path of the pipeline up the steep slopes of Jack Mountain on the Limperts 120-acre property in Little Valley.

Moody acknowledged that the pipeline company couldnt restore 200-year-old trees, although it would reforest parts of the construction corridor outside the permanent 50-foot right-of-way for the pipeline.

But she and construction manager Greg Park said the restored mountaintops wouldnt resemble the strip-mined landscape that opponents have depicted.

We only use exactly what we need to, said Park, who has supervised pipeline construction for Dominion in West Virginia.

Some ridges may be cut as much as 10 feet, but nowhere near the 60 feet predicted by opponents, he said. Ive never cut down that far to build a pipeline.

The pipeline wasnt originally proposed through Bath, but the company rerouted the path last year in response to opposition by the U.S. Forest Service to a route that would have passed through the habitat of endangered salamanders in the George Washington and Monongahela National Forests.

Similarly, the pipeline originally wasnt proposed to pass along the ridge of Roberts Mountain next to the Nelson County property where Joe and Nancy McMoneagle live .

But the company changed the route two years ago in part to avoid Davis Creek  on the other side of the mountain  where the worst landslides and loss of life occurred after torrential rains from Hurricane Camille in 1969.

Its a very unstable mountain, warned Joe McMoneagle, president of the New Land Home Owners Association for residents at the base of Roberts Mountain .

Park and Moody say they have designed the project to avoid the areas most prone to landslides and use best in class practices for stabilizing slopes to avoid landslides, as well as erosion and sedimentation of stream valleys.

McAuliffe has also endorsed the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a separate natural gas transmission line project that would traverse sections of the New River and Roanoke valleys.
The Christiansburg/Montgomery Triad SALT (Seniors and Law Enforcement Working Together) is sponsoring a free care fair for senior citizens on Tuesday, May 16.

The fair will be held at the Christiansburg Recreation Center at 1600 N. Franklin St. from 8 a.m. to noon, and will feature a variety of vendors and free giveaways. Fair vendors will provide information about local services, programs and agencies for senior citizens in the area.

Triad is a three-way commitment among law enforcement and community agencies to work together to reduce criminal victimization of the elderly, and increase the availability of law enforcement services to older persons through development and implementation of crime prevention and education programs.

Theres still time to sign up as a vendor for the upcoming senior care fair! Applications are due Monday, May 8, along with a $25 vendor fee, which includes one table, two chairs and a door prize.

Local organizations and businesses interested in being part of the fair should contact Tammy Caldwell at the Christiansburg Recreation Center to receive an application. Call 382-2349 ext. 2003 or email tcaldwell@christiansburg.org.

 Submitted by Melissa Powell
HotelsPro announced the key points about the accurate and efficient usage of big data which enable travel professionals to touch the customers properly.

The main points that travel professionals should pay attention to while using big data, which will enable them to jump one step ahead of the competition and increase both their productivity and their profitability, are as follows:

Touch the right customer

Since technology became an essential part of our daily lives, the habits of travelers have changed radically. Big data term is used by authorities in order to describe this situation because the data left behind on a global scale is so big. Now, travel professionals that can manage the big data they have can identify the right customers and understand what they enjoy, what they react to, what they expect more easily by the data they collect and interpret it.

Send personalized messages

Travel professionals can gain very different achievements by making logical conclusions from the data they collect. Travel professionals who develop all their strategies as data-oriented, particularly in marketing and sales, can jump one step ahead of the competition and increase both their productivity and their profitability. They can also raise awareness as they send personalized messages.

Make information available

The details of what the customers enjoy and which services or products the customers desire must be in the information repository of travel professionals. This information should be created in a meaningful way and should be usable in order to obtain customer satisfaction as well as extra income.

Be careful when storing the data

While talking about sizes such as megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte in the past, now we are talking about petabyte, exabyte, zettabyte, yottabyte. When storing data, travel professionals should keep the information that will actually help them since the storage of such big data requires large amounts of energy and resources. Moreover, within the scope of customer information security, it is also a very sensitive and important issue to store the data safely as well as not sharing the collected data with the 3rd parties without permission.

Process the data correctly

It is also important to know how to process the obtained data. Processing the data correctly and making it meaningful will be the most important path to the end. If the data is not meaningful, the time and work will be wasted. Moreover, it is another important issue to pay attention to the areas where the customer may be sensitive.

Be aware of the way you use the data

The last but not least thing to pay attention is how to use the meaningful data. If travel professionals clearly specify what they want to achieve, it comes to evaluate and finalize the data, and improve the conversion rates. By using the obtained data wisely, the desired targets can be reached more easily.
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James has proven to be a thorn in the side of Trump and has faced criticism from him over legal action taken by her against him and his family. Read More Donald Trump spent Tuesday evening at his club in Palm Beach, hosting a lavish midterm election watch party for a whos who of MAGA elite and reporters from some of the top media outlets in the ... Read More
White House President Donald J Trump Announces Intent To Nominate Matthew Bassett To The United States Department Of Health And Human Services | RobinsPost News & Noticias

It was not the first time Trump touched on antisemitic tropes. The White House on Monday blasted former President Donald Trump for ... the Jewish people in the United States either don't like ... Read More (CNSNews.com) - The White House on Monday condemned as anti-Semitic former President Donald Trumps comments about Jews needing to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel. ... Read More The White House on Monday called Donald Trump ... President Isaac Herzog on Oct. 26, for a visit that underscores the enduring partnership and friendship between the United States and Israel. ... Read More The White House has slammed former president Donald Trumps claim that American Jews should be more like evangelical Christians and appreciate him more because of his policies towards Israel. Read More Routine "bullying" and job threats by Trump administration officials led to changes in pandemic-related public health guidance to suit the White ... President Donald Trumps aides that the House ... Read More The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to force the top two lawyers from the Trump White House to testify ... conversations with former president Donald Trump are not protected by ... Read More Former President Donald Trump and the Justice Department are already at odds over the first batch of government-seized White House documents ... against the United States.'" It was not clear ... Read More The White House on Monday condemned former US president Donald Trumps antisemitic ... In a Sunday statement, Trump called on Jews in the United States to get their act together ... Read More The stock market enjoyed four years of strong returns during Donald ... After serving as the President of the United States for four years, Trump vacated the White House on Jan. 20, 2021. Read More The White House yesterday accused Donald Trump of antisemitism after the former president questioned why American Jews were not more supportive of him. In a post on Truth Social, his social media ... Read More article with video 5:33 AM UTC United States Pelosi says attack on her husband will affect decision whether to retire, article with gallery 5:06 AM UTC Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday ... Read More Donald Trump's recent comments that American Jews have offered insufficient praise of his policies toward Israel were "insulting" and "antisemitic," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre ... Read More
Product Reviews Thailand Removes Apple Google Logos From Royal Funeral Statue | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Google updated the documentation on how to write product reviews to add examples of kinds of product reviewers and to tighten the focus of the documentation with more precise wording. Overall ... Read More Google's Danny Sullivan told us that the Google product reviews update primarily evaluates product review content on a page-level basis, but not always. Danny added "for sites that have a ... Read More We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews ... premium products like those sold by Apple, to be ... Read More Google has confirmed that structured data is one of the many signals the search company uses to help identify if a page has product reviews content or not. This was first said by Alan Kent of ... Read More For MacBooks, Kuo predicts that the main non-China production site for the product category is Thailand. Currently, the majority of MacBook assembly takes place in China, though Apple has made ... Read More Kuo said Apple plans to increase shipments of products to the U.S. from non-Chinese factories within the next 3-5 years, but it's unclear if this would include MacBooks assembled in Thailand ... Read More Just look at Apple's new iPad lineup and ... The new tablet isn't launching until 2023, but Google provided a preview of the device during its fall product launch on Oct. 6. Read More And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products ... like the Apple Watch is for the iPhone. At first glance, the Google Pixel Watch ... Read More With the debut of the new third-generation Apple TV 4K, Apple has removed the Apple TV HD from sale on its online store. At a price of $149, the Apple TV HD was first released in ... Read More I unbox, set up, test, and review a wide range of consumer tech products from my home in Florida, often with the help of my pitbull Bradley. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively ... Read More If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, we may receive an affiliate commission. Learn more. Apple ... deals and product reviews are picked ... Read More Review An assessment or critique of a service, product ... like there's one thing missing: a Google watch. A watch that is to the Android ecosystem what the Apple Watch is to iPhone users ... Read More
Science News The Science Behind Boost Converters | RobinsPost News & Noticias

[Lutz] needed a converter that could boost 5 V to 30 V to power a string of LEDs. The solution was to use low cost ATtiny85 and some passive components to implement a boost converter. This circuit ... Read More Applications such as automotive LED drivers, audio amplifiers, and telecommunications, to name a few, require boost converters to create a higher output voltage from a lower input. To the boost ... Read More The marketing of embargoed science news releases -- especially about sticky and controversial topics -- too often do a disservice to science community. Read More Hydrogen, a clean fuel, is incredibly dense in energy -- three times more than diesel or gasoline. Its ability to power a sustainable future has been hindered by a lack of high performing catalysts. Read More Science is a social process, and teaching students how researchers work in tandem to develop facts will make them less likely to be duped by falsehoods ... Read More Guest host Shahla Farzan talks with Dr. Xuan Zhao, a psychologist at Stanford University, about the psychology behind asking for help. JOHN DANKOSKY: This is Science Friday ... Well, I have some news ... Read More Immunologist Dr Brian Ferguson, associate professor of immunology at the University of Cambridge, tells Live Science that you cant really boost the immune system. You can keep it ... Read More Music therapy, which helps treat a variety of neurological disorders like depression, anxiety and Alzheimers, draws on this science and can reduce blood pressure and improve mental health and mood. Read More That might not last Thats bad news for the trees because the timing of when leaves first emerge and when they drop is crucial for their long-term health, Blonder added. He also noted that his ... Read More The DNA was heavily degraded and mixed in with other environmental DNA, including that left behind by microbes ... in The Scientist Magazine, Science News, The San Jose Mercury News and Mongabay ... Read More English speakers have a particular fascination with words that dont exist in the language but that sum up a universal feeling or experience. For example, in Russian, the word razbliuto roughly ... Read More Stay up to date on Integral Ad Science analyst ratings. If you are interested in following small-cap stock news and performance you can start by tracking it here. Analysts work in banking and ... Read More
Technology News Colorado Health Information Exchange Launches Emerging Fhir Technology To Improve Data Access And Patient Care | RobinsPost News & Noticias

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Edifecs, Inc., a global health information technology solutions company, today announced its cloud Payer-to-Payer Data Exchange and Member App for FHIR solutions are approved ... Read More The concept of a health data utility ... adding to the mix. The exchange of justice-involved patient health information aims to improve care during and after incarceration and address social ... Read More Ranked by No. of full-time employees in Denver area Ranked by No. of full-time employees in Denver area Ranked by No. of full-time employees in Denver area Communications Strategy Group (CSG), a ... Read More Colorado state Capitol Building in Denver ... an integrated view of technology and accountability. Read More The acquisition will add Health in Motion's Parawell software for organizing and centralizing patient information to Custom ... By adding our Parawell technology to Custom Health's growing product ... Read More Hyphen enables seamless sharing of patient data across the ... and partners to improve health outcomes and advance health equity through better access to care  especially in underserved ... Read More Oct 11 (Reuters) - Intel Corp (INTC.O) and Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google Cloud on Tuesday said they have launched a co-designed chip that can make data centers more secure and efficient. Read More Get 7 Days Free Sign In Sign In Topics ... Read More October 18, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Edifecs, Inc., a global health information technology solutions company, today announced its cloud Payer-to-Payer Data Exchange ... to 40 patient access ... Read More
Technology News Ibm Strengthening Economic Development Technology Higher Education Diversity In Romania | RobinsPost News & Noticias

It was a historic moment, validating the educational benefits of diversity and upholding the ... I have spent my entire career in higher education in the pursuit of knowledge and discovery. Read More Denella Clark, President and CEO of Boston Arts Academy Foundation, has been recognized by The Arcadis IBI Group, an award-winning landscape architectural design and environmental planning ... Read More In these times of economic ... is key to strengthening your financial position and ensuring you remain ahead of the game. The latest recessions and crises have demonstrated that technology should ... Read More Theyve been raised with the belief that education is supposed to be transformative, turning students into true believers in leftist socio-economic goals. Read More During IBMs IBM, +4.73% earnings call, Chief Executive Arvind Krishna said customers were turning to its technology and the ... staying strong even if economic growth flattens or enters ... Read More They should also commit to ongoing learning and development ... to a company's success in tough economic times. Companies must urgently take steps to strengthen their boards if they are to ... Read More A man stands near an IBM logo at the Mobile World Congress in ... The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Technology Airbnb changes price display on app after customer complaints, article with ... Read More After a quarter-century of working in higher education and having run the ... the answer had been staring her in the face all along: diversity, equity and inclusion. Every job Ive had ... Read More IBM has released ... retail technology, and venture capital investment. He has previously written for AltFi, FStech, Retail Systems, and National Technology News and is an experienced podcast ... 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 On the internet, size matters. If you've ever had to send PDF files to a friend or colleague, or if youre running a business, it's quite likely that you've faced the problem of not being able ... Read More
Travel News Is This The Best Way To Travel Across Cambodia | RobinsPost News & Noticias

One of the oldest lifestyle magazines in the United Kingdom has ranked Siem Reaps Wat Bo village number three in its 2022 list of the 51 coolest neighbourhoods in the world, which is seen ... Read More Sometimes, a piece will travel through ... antiquing across Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. Finding a guide or exploring by foot may be the best option, as many vendors lack an online presence. Read More He adds, "While a globe-circling journey is the pinnacle of life-changing travel experiences ... is right for you, U.S. News has compiled a list of some of the best sailings that are still ... Read More A travel fund is a good way to save money specifically for traveling. There are several more strategies you can use to afford traveling and fit it into your schedule. Check out our picks for best ... Read More Prices are up considerably across the board, said ... but demand is high for all aspects of travel, he said. Airports are slammed. Here are 6 ways to manage the chaos. Read More Barbara Boone of Direct Travel Houston ... rail combinations across the Continent over the past year. Switzerland is really built for rail, and they have one of the best rail systems in the ... Read More Read on to find the best carry-on luggage across a ... the perfect way to see how a bag measures up," Brown says. Based on consumer reviews and travel expert insights, U.S. News has complied ... Read More The best airline for holiday award travel based on the value of its points is a four-way tie among American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines. Here's how we came ... Read More Business Travel News: How has Coupa incorporated travel into its larger ... We recently were listed as No. 19 on Fast Company's [Best Workplaces for] Innovators. T&E is a shining example, because we ... Read More More than 75 airlines operate out of BER from across Europe and the Mediterranean ... I almost always use public transport to travel to and from the airport. The airport is well-connected to ... Read More So, you may be inclined to deny or refuse travel insurance as a way to cut costs. But sometimes that decision can end up costing you even more in the long run. Before finalizing travel plans ... Read More Being flexible in your travel dates is the best way to find the best deals on airfare. Book early departures to minimize the chance of your flight getting delayed or canceled. Take advantage of ... Read More
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Travel News Trump To Travel To Israel And Vatican On Upcoming Trip | RobinsPost News & Noticias




Travel News First Choice Travel Provides Members With Hawaii Beach Tips | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Which is the best Hawaiian island for families? We asked expert family travelers to weigh in on the best places to stay in Hawaii with kids & activities. Read More Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered ... The project will provide showers, picnic tables, parking stalls and upgraded utility connections. The sand beach portion of the park will stay ... Read More HONOLULU (KHON2)  Do you suffer from motion sickness when traveling to or from Hawaii ... flight more enjoyable. Travel Lens came out with their study on top tips for beating airsickness ... Read More Here Breaking Travel News takes a look at the new properties ... Gaston Acurio is going to be all about, Nobu by the Beach will be the first of its kind globally, while Spanish cuisine crafted ... Read More Photo Credit: Shawn Zhang/Shutterstock After the winter holiday, United Airlines will halt service to Hilo Airport on the Island of Hawaii's east coast. The final service is scheduled for Jan. 7. Read More and we will not cooperate with any other state that tries to sanction medical professionals who provide abortion in Hawaii, Ige said at a news conference. Hawaii was the first state in the ... Read More and leaves Hilo without a direct connection to the mainland for the first time since 2011. Hilo is located on the east side of Hawaii Island (which is often referred to as the Big Island). Read More View all of the 2022 Readers Choice Awards winners here ... waterfalls, and white sand beach version of Hawaii. Another huge point of differentiation for this hotel is that it is not on ... Read More Canadian travel management ... was a founding member of GlobalStar when it launched in 2001 but left in 2009, according to an organization spokesperson. The partnership "significantly" strengthens ... Read More Get free quotes now. (Note: If you're concerned about the cost of travel, then sort results by price to see lowest to highest first.) Ultimately, the decision is up to you. Everyone's ... Read More Editor's Note  Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations ... Stanley Tucci visits Puglia -- a beach lovers' paradise located in the heel ... Read More Travel in Asia-Pacific is soaring this year  restrictions were first eased in India and Australia, then Malaysia and Thailand and other Southeast Asian nations, followed most recently by Japan ... Read More
Travel News Oregon Wine Company Hiring For A Seasonal Employee To Travel The Country And Drink Canned Wine | RobinsPost News & Noticias

This is the season for engaging extra help. Whatever reason drives your decision to hire seasonal employees, be sure to understand tax and legal rules for this work arrangement. Read More The FINANCIAL  Amazon last week announced that it is hiring 150,000 employees throughout the U.S. in full-time, seasonal ... company. While there are jobs available across the country ... Read More And this year, inflation and the corresponding high prices are top of mind for many budgeting for gifts and travel ... to hire seasonal employees in Charlotte and beyond. The company will host ... Read More As people try to hire ahead of the holidays, the difference this year is that they need long-term employees on top of seasonal employees. Read More Amazon.com Inc. is gearing up to hire scores of local workers ... and can grow into full-time positions at the company, she said in an email. Seasonal employees help manage increased orders ... Read More Radial, an e-commerce solutions company that has been in the Louisville area for 23 years, is preparing to hire a few thousand seasonal employees to prepare for the holiday shopping season. Read More the travel management company announced. Behner boasts a career of more than 30 years in the travel industry, including more than eight years as a national sales manager with Travel and Transport. Read More And well-being ranks right up there with compensation as a priority for employees in todays competitive talent market. Leaders should hire ... and news coverage about your company. Read More There are plenty of reasons to buy travel insurance but saving money and ... Fill out traveler information (state, country, citizenship, number of travelers and their ages) Fill out trip cost ... Read More business travel has been slower to rebound. Company off-sites could make up a larger share of that budget than in years past. Doist, a software company with employees distributed around the globe ... Read More "Popular benefits on a policy include coverage for trip expenses, medical emergencies, travel delays, and luggage," travel insurance company Squaremouth ... information (country and state of ... Read More
Travel News Interview Brothers Travel 2 000 Miles Of Us Mexico Border Documenting Life In Border Towns | RobinsPost News & Noticias

US border authorities encountered more than 2 ... to Mexico. Administration officials have cited that as reason for a recent drop in border crossings by Venezuelan migrants. For more CNN news ... Read More activists from the United States and Mexico have joined forces to try to protect the biodiversity corridor. "This part of the border is one of the most interesting places in North America," said ... Read More Doug Ducey had placed to fill gaps in the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border PHOENIX -- The state ... 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events ... Read More Migrants were stopped 227,547 times in September at the US border ... applied 2.4 million times since it began in March 2020 but has fallen disproportionately on migrants from Mexico, Guatemala ... Read More Travel expenses can be pricey, depending on where you're going and when. So, you may be inclined to deny or refuse travel insurance as a way to cut costs. But sometimes that decision can end up ... Read More And while travel ... news: Many rewards programs points have become more valuable this year compared with the previous year. American Airlines miles increased in value, from 1.2 cents ... Read More US border authorities encountered more than 2 million migrants ... been grappling with a growing number of migrants at the US-Mexico border over recent months, many of whom are now from Venezuela ... Read More The border wall snaking along the US-Mexican border was built to keep migrants out -- but conservationists say the towering metal barrier also stops wildlife from moving between natural habitats. Read More The Cocopah Indian Tribe is welcoming the federal government's call for the state of Arizona to remove a series of double-stacked shipping containers placed along the U.S.-Mexico border near the ... Read More Built in 1994 and reinforced during the Trump presidency, the wall that snakes along the US-Mexican border ... Mexico have joined forces to try to protect the biodiversity corridor. The Barron's ... Read More An aerial view of part of the US-Mexico border wall between Arizona and Mexico's Sonora state. An image released by the Sky Island Alliance shows a mountain lion in the Patagonia Mountains of Arizona. Read More
Us News Us Boosts Libya Presences With Base In Country S South | RobinsPost News & Noticias

For decades, residents of Japan's Okinawa have strongly opposed the US military bases that dot the region but a subtle shift is under way, driven by Chinese sabre-rattling and economic challenges. Read More US soldiers assigned to the 3rd Cavalry ... drone targeted with a barrage of missiles the US base in the Al-Omar Field in Syrias eastern Deir ez-Zur region. The channel cited several sources ... Read More Okinawa comprises 0.6 per cent of the Japanese archipelagos territory but contains 70 per cent of the land used for US bases, and over half the 50,000-strong troop presence. Base-related crime ... Read More Several blasts were heard in the US base in the al-Omar field in the eastern Deir ez-Zur countryside, the sources told Al Mayadeen. Stating that there is still no information about the number of ... Read More The plaintiffs who sued Khalifa Hifter had been waiting for years to question him directly about his role in fighting that has plagued the country over the last decade. Hifter, commander of the ... Read More US energy department research links megablazes ... away have become commonplace in the US in recent years as the countrys western states battle megablazes with increasing frequency. Read More Fort Belvoir is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Washington along the Potomac River in Virginia's Fairfax County. The base has more ... of breaking news and live events ... Read More The United States government is pulling out all the stops to boost ... country faces in developing a competitive semiconductor manufacturing hub. To understand the latest US efforts, its ... Read More Thats a historic increase and welcome news for American retirees and others ... His rent in an apartment building subsidized by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development is based ... Read More Okinawa comprises 0.6 per cent of the Japanese archipelago's territory but contains 70 per cent of the land used for US bases, and over half the 50,000-strong troop presence. Base-related crime ... Read More For decades, residents of Japan's Okinawa have strongly opposed the US military bases ... accept their presence". But "I think the opposition is gradually fading". The Barron's news department ... Read More
Us News Us Photographer Captured Moment Of Her Death In Afghanistan | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Fox News's Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra Kuvshynova died and Benjamin Hall was severely injured. Michelle Ross-Stanton tried to reconstruct what happened. Read More In 1934, when American-born photographer Richard J ... Dan had no idea they even existed until that moment and when he suggested they might try having them developed, Scheuer was not interested. Read More A California photographer captured a Sharknado moment as a great white was seen leaping out of the Pacific behind a surfer. Jordan Anast was taking pictures of a surf competition at San ... Read More The bee-level close-up was captured by US photographer Karine Aigner and makes her the fifth woman in the competition's 58-year history to claim the grand title award. The other main title of ... Read More A U.K.-based nonprofit says the Taliban captured, bound, and shot 27 men to death in Afghanistan's Panjshir province last month as part of their operations against resistance forces in the area ... Read More An army specialist stationed in Germany has claimed in a viral TikTok that she feared for her life after the death of a fellow ... master box on the barracks. A US army specialist named Sgt ... Read More We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can ... Read More On Tuesday, American Photographer ... captured a behavior that's rarely seen in photos. Cactus bees normally live lives of solitude but then amass in huge numbers in mating events. Her image ... Read More An Afghan couple who arrived in the United States as refugees are suing a marine and his wife for allegedly abducting their baby. The newly-wed couple were saved from Kabul and taken to Washington ... Read More Because of this, disaster preparedness officials look for teachable moments like big news events to get their ... important offices overseeing the USs nuclear preparedness efforts ... Read More Photographer Brent Stirton memorialized the death of an endearing mountain gorilla named Ndakasi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The animal lay dying in the arms of her rescuer and keeper for ... Read More
Us News Iraq Pm No Us Combat Troops To Stay In Iraq After Is | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The U.S. military is prepared to take action to defend American troops and allies in the Middle East, following a media report that Iran could be preparing attacks against Saudi Arabia and Iraq, ... Read More Iraqs new government is rethinking how to deal with the thousands of Iraqis stuck for years in northeastern Syria's al-Hol camp. Read More WASHINGTON : The United States said it welcomed the end of a deadlock in Iraq as its parliament on Thursday elected Kurdish politician Abdul Latif Rashid as president, who then immediately named ... Read More US State Department spokesman Ned Price published an official statement marking one year since Iraqs early elections. "A year ago, Iraqis voted in credible early elections with the hope that ... Read More "I shall spare no effort to form a strong government ... Western governments swiftly welcomed the move to end Iraq's political standoff. The US State Department called on the new leaders to ... Read More The US occupation forces looted on Monday new quantities of ... bringing them out through illegitimate al-Waleed crossing to northern Iraq, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported. The sources added ... Read More In ancient times, the area comprising Iraq was known as Mesopotamia and gave rise to some of the worlds first civilizations. 1921  After ... US troops remain in the country to continue ... Read More Iraq's news agency quoted a government source as saying. Abdul Jabar's removal came four days after the parliament had decided to dismiss him from the post, however the government did not ... Read More
Us News 1 Us Navy Seal Killed 2 Wounded In Battle With Al Shabaab In Somalia | RobinsPost News & Noticias

The US military conducted an airstrike over the weekend against the al-Shabaab terror group in Somalia, which was attacking Somali National Army forces near ... Read More U.S. Africa Command carried out an airstrike on Sunday targeting al-Shabaab terrorists in coordination with the Somali government, the Pentagon said. The terrorists, two of whom were killed ... Read More BRISTOL, Conn. (AP)  A Connecticut police officer who was wounded in an apparent ambush that killed two of his fellow officers fired the shot that killed the attacker, police said. In a ... Read More At least 100 people were killed and 300 people were wounded by two car bombs in Somalia's capital of Mogadishu on Saturday, Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said. Al-Shabaab, which the ... Read More A police officer who was wounded in an apparent ambush that killed two of his fellow officers fired the shot that killed the suspect BRISTOL, Conn. -- A Connecticut police officer who was wounded ... Read More
World News Russia Procession Held To Commemorate World War I Heroes In Moscow | RobinsPost News & Noticias

UK predicts bridge unlikely to be fully operational until September 2023; city officials say preparations for new refugees necessary this winter ... Read More The admission of Ukraine to NATO could result in a third world war, the deputy secretary ... after President Vladimir Putin held a ceremony in Moscow to proclaim the four partially occupied ... Read More But military analysts say its far from clear whether the strikes mark a turning point in a war that ... bridge linking Russia to Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula seized by Moscow in 2014. Read More Many of the clients  along with half of the barbers, too  have fled Russia to avoid President ... Young cadets at the World War II museum in Moscow. Many married women remained in Moscow ... Read More At least four people killed in drone strikes on capital Kyiv; Iran denies supplying weapons to Russia At least four people have been killed and three others hospitalised after a series of ... Read More Russia currently holds the rotating presidency of the UNESCO World Heritage ... of war. The Ukrainian president repeated his insistence that no peace talks can be held with Russian President ... Read More Ukraine's accession to NATO would lead to World War III, a Russian official warned ... said in an interview with Russia's state-run news agency, Tass. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ... Read More Moscow: With rising conflicts, shellings and lives being lost, the tensions between Russia and Ukraine is only escalating. Amid the ongoing conflict, the admission of Ukraine to NATO could ... Read More A senior Russian official says that authorities have taken steps to boost weapons production amid the fighting in Ukraine MOSCOW ... war  Macron: Ukraine to decide time, terms of peace with ... Read More Moscow has used them extensively in recent days in its war against Ukraine, especially against civilian targets in Ukrainian cities. After Iran has become an accomplice in Russias aggression ... Read More
World News Dp World Limassol Upgrades Infrastructure To Enhance Operational Services | RobinsPost News & Noticias

Limassol port management company DP World on Monday announced that on Thursday last week, October 13, it welcomed Royal Caribbeans Odyssey of the Seas on her stopover at DP World Limassol ... Read More After three years of uninterrupted operations at Posorja ... global intermodal transportation services across shipping, rail and road. In other news, DP World has launched the Global Business ... Read More We are delighted to have been awarded the contract with DP World and to begin delivering this vital piece of national infrastructure. We bring with us extensive experience in the marine ... Read More The long run-up to this months World Cup has brought unprecedented scrutiny to the treatment of the millions of foreign workers who built stadiums and other infrastructure, and who will staff ... Read More Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), announced on Sunday a collaboration with DP World ... operational approach for ambitious and regional companies in the digital economy and related ... Read More Vladimir Putin issued fresh veiled threats against the world yesterday as he said all international infrastructure is ... told state news agency TASS on Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr ... Read More The worlds infrastructure needs an upgrade. Heres how investors can ... Australia and the United States. This is good news for listed infrastructure. With most public balance sheets under ... Read More 23 (UPI) --Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that some power has been restored in the country after Russian troops renewed strikes on infrastructure ... World News // 7 hours ago 35 ... Read More To combat natural disasters and the devastating destruction they bring, the U.S. must drastically upgrade infrastructure across the country. In a state where countless homes were destroyed and a ... Read More DP World Tour chief Keith Pelley has been urged to resign by the brother of former LIV Golf star Pablo Larrazabal as tensions continue to rise in golf's fierce civil war. CEO Pelley was slammed by ... Read More BOISE, Idaho (AP)  The Idaho National Laboratory in the eastern part of the state will receive $150 million for infrastructure improvements to boost nuclear research and development, the U.S ... Read More in the season ending $10 million DP World Tour Championship. Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News Well send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking ... Read More
Kirsty Taylor

A STUDENT is holding an under the sea fund-raiser to help her fund a volunteer trip to Indonesia.

Kirsty Taylor is holding the fun event at the Phoenix Pavilion in Brinsworth tomorrow (6) from 11am to 1pm.

It will feature face painting, a bake sale, raffle, live music and games for all the family.

Proceeds will go to the charity Volunteer Bali, which coordinates student visits to the island of Bali to teach English to children in poverty.

Entry is 5 for one adult and one child, 2.50 for further adults and 2 for each further child.

Tickets are available on the door or by calling 07828 057482.
Mr Healey lays a wreath at the service.

JOHN Healey and Sarah Champion joined relatives and union members in remembering those killed at work in Rotherham.

The Labour representatives, who are both out to be re-elected as MPs, joined the annual Workers Memorial Day service in the towns Minster Yard on Sunday.

Ms Champion, trade union officers and a representative from the TUC health and safety magazine Hazards gave speeches and wreaths were laid.



Andy Searson, chairman of Rotherham Trade Union Council, which organised the event, said: Each year thousands of workers experience serious accidents at work, causing injuries which can and often do lead to permanent disability.

Worse still, far too many workers die - either immediately or in some cases years afterwards following long periods of pain and suffering.

We need safer workplaces, proper and effective health and safety legislation and trained and qualified trade union health and safety representatives.
De Beers said it is leading a ground-breaking research project, which seeks to deliver carbon-neutral mining at some of its operations in as few as five years.

The group, which has diamond mines in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa, started the project in 2016.

The project aims to accelerate what was already a naturally occurring and safe process of extracting carbon from the atmosphere and storing it at a speed that could offset man-made carbon emissions, it said.

Scientists estimate that the carbon storage potential of kimberlite tailings produced by a diamond mine every year could offset up to 10 times the emissions of a typical mine.

This project offers huge potential to completely offset the carbon emissions of De Beers diamond mining operations, said company project lead for the initiative, Evelyn Mervine.

Mineral carbonation technologies are not new, but what is new is the application of these technologies to kimberlite ore, which is found in abundance in the tailings at diamond sites, and which offers ideal properties for the storage of very large volumes of carbon.

She said the research was in its early stages and it may take some time before it was economically or practically achievable to tap into the full storage potential.

However, even just tapping into a small amount could greatly reduce the net emissions at many of our mine sites in the near future, and possibly lead to carbon-neutral mining at some sites within the next five to ten years, said Mervine.

Group chief executive Bruce Cleaver said by replicating this technology at other mining operations around the world, the project could play a major role in changing the way not only the diamond industry, but also the broader mining industry, addresses the challenge of reducing its carbon footprint.

By investing in ground-breaking projects such as this, aligned with the FutureSmart Mining innovation programme of our parent company, Anglo American, we have the real potential to leave a positive, long-lasting legacy for the global mining industry, he said.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau from Arusha, Tanzania, Rough&Polished




The Tanzanian government said it heard rumours that some people were planning to bring synthetic stones packaged as natural tanzanite and sell them to unsuspecting buyers at the ongoing Arusha Gem Fair.

Commissioner for minerals Benjamin Mchwampaka told Rough & Polished on the sidelines of the gem fair that they were on high alert to keep synthetics out of the show.

Ours (the fair) in Tanzania is for genuine stuff only, so we dont encourage or entertain anybody trying to tamper with our show by introducing synthetic stones which could tarnish the image of our show, he said.

I strongly warn anyone who is intending to do so that once they are found [on the wrong side of the law] their stuff will be confiscated by the commissioner for minerals and necessary measures according to the existing laws will be taken against such people. I warn them to refrain from tampering with our show by bringing unwanted synthetic stones.

Mchwampaka also said that the government had set up three labs during the fair where customers in doubt of the authenticity of any stone will go to get it tested before any purchase.

The three-day gem fair started Wednesday with several rough and polished gemstones, including the rare tanzanite, up for grabs by local and international buyers.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau from Arusha, Tanzania, Rough&Polished




WATERLOO -- A giant magnifying glass used to read the newspaper caught sunlight streaming through a window, starting papers and a couch on fire inside a Landmark Commons apartment Friday morning.

The male resident got out safely, as did all of the estimated 200 to 220 residents of Landmark Commons, a Friendship Village property in Waterloo.

"It's bizarre," said Waterloo battalion chief Marty Freshwater, admitting he hadn't seen that cause of a fire before.

Residents said they heard the fire alarms go off in the 128-unit building around 7 a.m. Friday, followed by a warning to evacuate over the building's loudspeakers.

Nancy Shirey, a former Eight over 80 recipient with her husband, Craig, said she stepped out of her apartment door and smelled smoke, grabbed her purse and computer and left.

"In my five years of living here, this has never happened," she said.

Joe Brandt immediately saw smoke in the hallway upon hearing the alarm and went investigating. The fire turned out to be next door, in the building's D wing, so he tried to see if he could help put it out.

"I really wasn't expecting more than a smudge," he said.

A couple of steps into the doorway, however, Brandt was overcome with smoke. He dropped to his knees and tried crawling.

"I couldn't see anything, and it was getting warmer and I couldn't stand the smoke," he said. "I decided to leave it to the professionals."

He said he told his wife, Sheryl, to grab the couple's Yorkipoo, Muffin, and leave right away. He said also alerted a neighbor, who has hearing impairment and had slept through the alarm.

Freshwater said a sprinkler head right above the couch helped put out most of the fire right away.

The apartment resident was being relocated because of the smoke damage, and an unoccupied apartment directly below sustained water damage, Freshwater said.

Landmark Commons CEO Lisa Gates said the male resident was unharmed.

"He's fine -- shaken, but fine," she said. "He's more concerned about the papers in his living room."
Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (AEZS) (AEZS.TO) is all set to announce top-line results from its phase III study of Zoptrex in women with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer prior to the commencement of trading on Monday, May 1, 2017.

The phase III study, dubbed ZoptEC, enrolled over 500 patients, who were centrally randomized in a 1:1 ratio and received either Zoptrex or chemotherapy medication Doxorubicin intravenously, every three weeks and for up to nine cycles.

Response was evaluated every three cycles during treatment, and thereafter, every 12 weeks until progression. All patients were followed for survival as the primary efficacy endpoint. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, objective response-rate, and clinical benefit rate.

AEZS closed Friday's trading at $3.35, up 9.84%.

Galapagos N.V (GLPG) presented pre-clinical data of GLPG1972, a first-in-class small molecule, for the treatment of osteoarthritis, which demonstrated cartilage protection in both rodent and human explant assays.

GLPG1972 is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of ADAMTS-5, a key enzyme involved in cartilage breakdown.

The Company plans to initiate a phase 1b study of GLPG1972 in osteoarthritis patients in the United States this quarter.

GLPG closed Friday's trading at $86.86, up 1.01%.

Merus B.V. (MRUS) has a couple of catalysts to watch out for in the coming months.

The Company is expected to submit an Investigational New Drug application for MCLA-117 to the FDA and initiate a phase I trial in patients with acute myeloid leukemia during the second half of 2017.

Top line data from part 2 of phase 1/2 monotherapy trial of MCLA-128 in patients with solid tumors in multiple indications are expected during the second half of 2017.

Interim results from Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating MCLA-117 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia are expected to be reported during the second half of 2017.

By the end of 2017, Merus expects to file a CTA for a planned Phase 1/2 clinical trial of MCLA-158 in patients with colorectal cancer.

MRUS closed Friday's trading at $22.20, down 0.63%.

The FDA has approved Radius Health Inc.'s (RDUS) TYMLOS for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a silent disease, often displaying no signs or symptoms until a fracture occurs, leaving a majority of patients undiagnosed and undertreated.

TYMLOS, also known as Abaloparatide-SC, becomes the first new bone anabolic treatment option in the U.S. since 2002 for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. (Anabolic means the building of tissue).

The drug is expected to be launched in the U.S. in May.

RDUS closed Friday's trading at $39.07, up 0.90%.

Sanofi (SNY) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (REGN) resubmitted Biologics License Application for Kevzara has been accepted for review by the FDA - with a decision date set for May 22, 2017.

The two companies are seeking approval of Kevzara for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate.

Kevzara, also known as Sarilumab, was turned down by the FDA last October due to certain deficiencies identified during a routine good manufacturing practice inspection of the Sanofi Le Trait facility where Sarilumab is filled and finished, one of the last steps in the manufacturing process.

On April 24, 2017, the European Medicine Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended approval of Kevzara in Europe. The European Commission is expected to make a final decision in the coming months.

Kevzara was approved in Canada in February of this year.

According to market research firm EvaluatePharma, Kevzara could garner peak sales of $1.8 billion by 2020.

REGN closed Friday's trading at $388.49, up 5.97%.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (TKPYY.OB) has received accelerated approval from the FDA for ALUNBRIG for the treatment of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who have progressed on or are intolerant to Pfizer's Xalkori.

ALUNBRIG, also known as Brigatinib, is developed by ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, which Takeda acquired early this year.

Since the indication has been granted only accelerated approval, continued approval may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

ALUNBRIG is also under review in the European Union.

TKPYY.OB closed Friday's trading at $24.83, up 3.54%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Pearson plc. (PSON.L) said that Sales in the first quarter increased 6% in underlying terms led by growth in revenues in North American higher education courseware, professional certification, Online Program Management (OPM), US K12 courseware, South African school textbooks and UK student assessment, offset by expected declines in US student assessment and in Learning Studio, a higher education learning management system which is being retired; and declines in Middle East and India due to exits.

The company plans to reduce its cost base exiting 2019 by 300 million pounds on an annualised basis. It announced a strategic review of K12 courseware publishing business.

The company said its guidance range remains for operating profit in 2017 of 570 million pounds to 630 million pounds, adjusted earnings per share of 48.5 pence to 55.5 pence and cash conversion in excess of 90%.

The company noted that its US K12 courseware publishing business has seen a slow pace of digital adoption in basal courseware, high capital intensity and a challenging competitive and market environment and as a result it is announcing that it has initiated a strategic review of this business.

The company noted that its Global Learning Platform development and Digital Roadmap are on track to deliver new digital products with greater personalisation, enhanced engagement and cognitive tutoring. In Fall 2017 we will launch new digital courseware products in Business & Economics from leading authors including Professor Glen Hubbard and will pilot new innovative courseware in Developmental Math.

The company is investing 700 million pounds - 750 million pounds per annum, more than ever before, in building better digitally powered businesses, which offer improved learner outcomes and stronger financial performance.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
US President Donald Trump will meet Pope Francis in Vatican later this month when he visits Italy as part of a five nation Middle East-Europe tour.

In his first foreign trip as President, Trump will also tour Saudi Arabia, Israel and Brussels, the White House said.

It did not announce the dates, but the Vatican announced the Pope will receive the President on 24 May at 8:30 a.m. in the Apostolic Palace.

In February last year, both the leaders had issued statements critical of each other.

Referring to Trump, the head of the Catholic church had said, "A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian".

The White House Press Secretary said Trump will discuss with Francis cooperation between the United States and religious communities in areas of joint concern.

Trump Thursday signed an executive order which he says would lift free speech restrictions on churches and other religious groups.

He will also meet, in Rome, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella to discuss multilateral cooperation and bilateral relations between the United States and Italy. Trump will later participate in the G-7 Summit in Taormina hosted by the Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

From Rome, the President will continue on to previously announced visits to Brussels for the NATO summit and meetings with EU and Belgian leaders, and to Sicily for the G7 meeting.

Trump's foreign tour begins in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, he will discuss with King Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz issues of strategic concern, including efforts to defeat terrorist groups and discredit radical ideologies, the White House said.

From Saudi Arabia, Trump will fly to Israel, where he will meet President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The leaders will discuss a range of regional issues, including the need to counter the threats posed by Iran and its proxies, and by ISIS and other terrorist groups. "They will also discuss ways to advance a genuine and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians," according to the White House.

Trump is also scheduled to meet his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas. "They will discuss ways to advance peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, as well as efforts to unlock the potential of the Palestinian ."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
NEVADA  With steam from a nearby ethanol plant visible behind him, the nations new agriculture secretary confirmed his support for the fuel and its production Friday.

Sonny Perdue, recently confirmed as the U.S. secretary of agriculture, told a crowd you have nothing to worry about regarding the future of the Renewable Fuel Standard and President Donald Trumps commitment to support the industry.

Did you hear what he said during the campaign? Renewable energy, ethanol, is here to stay and were going to work for new technologies to be more efficient, Perdue said, later sporting a Dont Mess with the RFS pin.

A veterinarian and former Georgia governor, Perdue gave a town hall-style speech on a cattle farm in Nevada.

Nevada is home to an ethanol production plan run by Lincolnway Energy and a cellulosic ethanol production plant run by DuPont.

Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, hailed Perdues comments.

We fully expect he will continue the USDAs legacy in this area and continue to aggressively pursue greater access to renewable fuels at the pump, Shaw said in a statement.

The speech was pegged as Perdues first major policy talk since becoming agriculture secretary.

While he stayed away from many specifics, Perdue made priorities of trade, support for farm labor and working as the nations chief agriculture salesman.

Im going to be the unapologetic chief advocate, chief salesman for American agriculture products around the world. You grow em, were going to sell em, he said.

Speaking with reporters after his talk, Perdue said the administration is looking at about a six-month long renegotiation period for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Members of Iowas congressional delegation  U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and U.S. Rep. Steve King  joined Perdue, as did Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey.

Fridays visit also came as rumors have swirled that the White House is eyeing Northey for a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Northey has said himself that he would consider leaving his current position for a role with the USDA.

I dont know what role that might be, Northey said on a call with reporters last week. I certainly would love to work with him as Iowa secretary of ag. If there is another job that is offered, I would be very willing to consider that as well.

Perdue said he and his agency are still examining candidates for about 17 positions. He did not give hints about who he would tap for his deputy, but joked that Northeys name has been dropped  including by Grassley.

I think the timeline, youll probably hear some announcements in the next couple of weeks.  Ive even had some suggestions from Iowa about some people, Perdue said with a wink.

He takes over the role at a time when the nations farm economy faces significant headwinds from lower commodity prices. Net U.S. farm income has dropped from $123 billion in 2013 to an estimated $62.3 billion this year, according to the USDA.

In Iowa, it has fallen from $8.3 billion in 2013 to an estimated $5.6 billion.

Perdue, sworn in April 25, is the first U.S. ag secretary to come from outside the Midwest since 2001 when George Bush appointed Ann Veneman from California. Mike Johanns of Nebraska replaced her in 2005.

The last agriculture secretary to come from a Southern state was Mike Espy of Mississippi during Bill Clintons administration.
TITONKA | After 76 years of lying unidentified in a mass grave in Hawaii, Navy Fireman First Class William Henry Kennedy will be laid to rest next to his mother at the Buffalo Township Cemetery.

Kennedy was the son of William Henry Kennedy Sr. and Elizabeth Martha Erickson Tienan Kennedy.

Growing up in the Titonka area, he attended business school in Texas under the sponsorship of his uncle and decided to make the Navy a career.

Enlisting in Des Moines, he was eventually sent to duty at Pearl Harbor.

Kennedy was on duty upon the USS Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked the harbor Dec. 7, 1941.

Four hundred and twenty nine Marines and sailors, including Kennedy, lost their lives that day aboard the Oklahoma as it plunged into the water.

Receiving word that her son was certainly deceased, Kennedys mother deeply mourned her sons passing for the rest of her life, said Sharron Miller, Kennedys niece.

A memorial service was held at the Titonka United Methodist Church in February 1942 and a headstone was placed in his honor at the Buffalo Township Cemetery.

For 18 months to two years, Kennedy and his fellow crewmembers remained at the bottom of the ocean until they were retrieved and buried in mass vaults at what is commonly known as the Punchbowl, Miller said.

The Navy did what they could do at that time, she said. They had no way of knowing who was who.

Family members' negative reactions spurred the first look into DNA testing to identify and sort out the remains for proper burial. This process waxed and waned over the years with start-ups and stops, Miller said.

Four years ago, Miller received a surprising phone call from a genealogist in Texas, requesting a DNA sample from both herself and her son to identify possible remains of her uncle.

After submitting samples, Miller didnt hear anything back from the facility, recalling that it seemed as if nothing was happening.

When news services began announcing the return of men killed in action at Pearl Harbor, she began to get excited.

This January, Miller received a phone call announcing that her uncles remains had been identified. I was jumping up and down," she said.

A naval chaplain, Chief Marsh, was assigned to Kennedys case. He met with Miller to help her through the process.

Through these meetings, Miller discovered that the only remains identified was Kennedys skull. This was done through dental records and DNA testing.

The dental match up was perfect, Miller said. The DNA match was 1.21.

Although Miller was skeptical of the accuracy of the slight match, Marsh explained to her that the match was excellent, a bingo.

At this time, Miller was informed that only large bones could be identified with DNA testing, due to sample size. If any more remains are identified in the future, Miller will be contacted once again to make a decision of what to do with the remains.

It started growing and taking on a life of its own, Miller said. She thought, Let's do it big, let it grow and develop and turn into its own entity.

Accompanied by a naval escort, Kennedys remains will begin the journey home on Wednesday, May 10.

Oakcrest Funeral Services is handling the arrangements.

The military treats this as an act of duty death, said Victor Garry, Oakcrest Funeral Services.

A period uniform will be draped in the casket along with his skeletal remains.

The remains will be treated as if they died yesterday, Miller said. The Navy is really stepping up to the plate and treating these remains with a great deal of honor.

A visitation service will be held on Thursday, May 11 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Oakcrest Funeral Services in Titonka with a memorial service on Friday, May 12, at 10 a.m. at the Titonka United Methodist Church. A graveside service with full military honors will follow the memorial service.

I feel honored that I have the ability to get him home, commented Miller. It is something I never expected to do in my lifetime.
MASON CITY | A Mason City man who had been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for a break-in at a Rockwell supermarket is now only serving up to five years.

Frederick Olson, 44, pleaded guilty in 2014 to third-degree burglary as an habitual felony offender in connection with the break-in at Dugan's Supermarket on Dec. 30, 2012.

Man to plead guilty in supermarket burglary MASON CITY | A Mason City man accused of the December 2012 burglary of Dugan's Supermarket i

In exchange the state agreed to amend an attempted murder charge against Olson in connection with the August 2013 stabbing of Ricky Roby, also of Mason City, to interference with official acts while displaying a dangerous weapon as an habitual felony offender. Olson pleaded guilty to that charge.

He received a 15-year prison sentence on each count. Concurrent sentencing was ordered.

Olson later appealed, claiming there was no evidence he possessed a dangerous weapon during his interaction with police officers.

The Iowa Court of Appeals vacated both sentences in May 2015. The case was sent back to district court to see if evidence existed to support Olson's guilty plea to the interference charge and re-sentence him accordingly.

Man claims self-defense in attempted murder case MASON CITY | A Mason City man charged with attempted murder is claiming self-defense.

The original charges in the stabbing case, which also included first-degree burglary, were re-instated. The Cerro Gordo County Attorney's Office dismissed those charges in July 2015, citing insufficient evidence to justify prosecution.

In November 2015 the district court re-sentenced Olson to up to 15 years in prison on the third-degree burglary as an habitual felony offender conviction in connection with the Dugan's break-in. The defense objected to the sentence.

In January of this year the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled that when a factual basis could not be developed for the interference charge, the entire plea bargain was invalidated  including the plea on the burglary charge.

The appeals court stated Olson should have the opportunity to negotiate a new plea agreement.

Olson pleaded guilty in district court this week to third-degree burglary. In addition to the five-year prison sentence, he was given a $750 fine, which was suspended. He was ordered to pay a $125 surcharge.
MASON CITY | Revell Toney testified in his attempted murder trial Friday claiming his memory from the night has gaps.

The defense began testifying Friday morning and called Alisha Herman, Toneys girlfriend, to the stand first.

Herman, 19, said that she saw Toney at their apartment before he left for a party. The next time she saw him was the following day, after the shooting, at his mothers house.

He looked beat up, tired, exhausted, Herman said.

She said she was there to convince Toney to turn himself in. Herman said Toney had decided to turn himself in because he knew he did something wrong.

During cross-examination, Herman was questioned on whether she saw Toney mix a Xanax cocktail at the party.

All I knew was that he was going to a party, and I didnt see him until the next day at his moms, Herman said.

The defense called Toney and discussed the events leading up to and following the Oct. 23 shooting of 25-year-old Stephen Williams on the plaza near Southbridge Mall in Mason City.

Defense attorney Letitia Turner asked Toney about his Xanax addiction and the Xanax drinks or dirty Sprite he drank at the party he attended that night.

Once you taste it and you do it, you get to liking the feeling, Toney said.

Xanax drinks are made with Sprite, Xanax and dissolved Jolly Ranchers. The drinks he made had at least eight pills mixed in, according to Toney.

When we started, it was four (pills), Toney said. Eight, then sometimes, 10.

He was invited to a high school party by someone on Snapchat.

Im really popular in social media and Snapchat, Toney said.

Toney, 19, said he finds it difficult to distinguish what he remembers and what he was told happened.

At the party, he and his brother downed a 2-liter bottle of the dirty Sprite but his brother only had two cups, he said. Toney said he did not share with anyone else.

I was being greedy; I was addicted, Toney said.

He and a friend went to Lorados after the party. He remembers seeing people he knew, including Williams, but maintained that he didnt remember shooting him.

During cross-examination, Toney said he was not trying to kill Williams, only scare him. After the fight, Toney's nose was bleeding and he had cut lip, but Toney claims he didnt feel a thing.

Toney said he does not remember the fight or the shooting, just a vague memory of running.

I dont remember; I remember running, but it felt like slow motion, Toney said. Like the Matrix.

The next memory he said he has is waking up in a hotel room with someone elses pants on and a shaved head. His hair had been dyed red, and he was wearing a red outfit the night before.

He received a phone call from his cousin saying the police were looking for a man who matched Toneys description.

I was confused, Toney said. I was in shock; I didnt know what was going on.

He eventually went to his mothers house.

I thought about leaving, just run away from the problem, Toney said. I thought about my brother; I thought about my family.

Toney said he decided to turn himself in to be a good example for his little brother.

The state rested its case early Thursday afternoon.

The trial began Tuesday in Cerro Gordo County District Court.

Closing arguments begin Monday at 9 a.m.
A civilian driver was killed and three soldiers were injured on Thursday when militants ambushed their vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, officials said.

"Exchange of fire occurred between a returning column in Imam Sahib area. The operation against terrorists is under way," Army spokesperson Col. Rajesh Kalia said.



Nazir Ahmad, who was driving the solders in a private vehicle, succumbed to his injuries, police confirmed.

The security forces had carried out a massive search operation in 20 villages of the district to trace militants responsible for recent attacks on policemen, political activists and also those involved in the recent spate of bank robberies.
At least 14 persons were killed and twenty-four injured in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Etah early on Friday morning.



The mishap happened in Sarai Neem area when a mini-truck carrying the victims from a pre-wedding function overturned and fell into a roadside pit.



Senior district officials, including the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) rushed to the spot to oversee rescue and relief operations.



The injured were sent to a district hospital in Agra, where condition of at least four others was said to be critical.



All the deceased were reportedly from Agra.



Officials said the people involved in the accident were returning from Kundal Nagariya village on Fatehabad road when their truck, apparently negotiating a steep turn at a high speed, turned turtle and fell into the pit.



Police fear the death toll could rise.


At least three Pakistani civilians were killed and 17 others injured as Afghan border forces opened fire on security personnel guarding a census team in Balochistan on Friday, police said.

The incident took place in Chaman area near the Afghan border, media reported.



The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement that said Afghan Border Police opened fire on Frontier Corps (FC) personnel.



Four FC Balochistan men are among those injured.



The ISPR said Friday's firing comes despite the fact that Afghan authorities were informed in advance about the census exercise in the area and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels.



The Chaman border crossing has been sealed as Pakistani and Afghan troops continue to exchange fire, the ISPR press release said.



Pakistan had closed its borders with Afghanistan at Chaman and Torkham on February 18 after a series of terrorist attacks in the country killed over 100 people, media reported.



Militants having sanctuaries in Afghanistan were blamed for the attacks.



After over a month of closure, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered reopening of the borders as a goodwill gesture.
At least nine people were killed and dozens injured when Afghan border forces fired at a census team in Pakistan's Balochistan on Friday -- a day after the Afghan President turned down invitations to visit Islamabad.

Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent, Akhtar, said in a statement that five children and three women were among those killed in the firing in Chaman area. Police said that four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were among the injured.

The Afghan forces used heavy artillery to fire at the Pakistani side of the border, the Inter-Services Public Relations said, adding that border forces retaliated to the firing in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir areas of Chaman.



"Afghan border police opened fire on FC detailed for security of population census team," the military's media arm said.



Mortar shells fired from the Afghan side also hit houses in a village of Kali Luqman. At least three children were among the injured, who were shifted to Civil Hospital.



An emergency was imposed in Chaman.



The gunfight prompted authorities to shut the Chaman border crossing, one of the two major crossing points along the disputed frontier.



"Since April 30, Afghan border police has been creating hurdles in conducting census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area on Pakistani side of the border," it said.





"This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conducting census."



The country embarked on the enormous task of conducting its first census in almost two decades in March.



Meanwhile, the Foreign Office expressed serious concerns over the unprovoked firing, and summoned the Afghan Charge d' Affairs to lodge protest over the firing.



"The Afghan Charge d' Affairs was conveyed the unprovoked firing from the Afghan side not only led to the loss of precious lives and injured many, but has also disrupted the census in areas," a Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.



Zakaria said the border between the two countries is clearly demarcated and Pakistani teams were conducting the census drive in their own area, which is the country's sovereign right.



If such incidents do not stop, Pakistan reserves the right to respond to preserve its sovereignty and protect its civilians, he added.



Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also condemned the firing as "unfortunate".



"It is the responsibility of the Afghan government to ensure that such incidents are permanently stopped," Sharif said.



The attack came a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani turned down Pakistan's invitation to visit the country. The president's deputy spokesperson Dawa Khan Mina Pal said Ghani was invited by Pakistan's Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. Gen Naveed Mukhtar and parliamentarians to visit the country.



The two nations are divided by the Durand Line, a 2,400 km frontier drawn by the British in 1896 and disputed by Kabul, which does not officially recognise it as an international border.
The Iowa Reinvestment Act funding for the River City Renaissance project amounts to 25 percent of the $36 million project, or $9 million. Divided by 10,578 dwelling parcels within the city limits (based on Mason City Assessor's 2016 records), this amounts to an average return of $850 for each Mason City residence.

It's a huge return to us of our tax dollars from the State. The State takes the lion's share of the risk. Compared to the State, our risk is small.

It won't happen unless both the Council and the people of Mason City collectively pull the trigger in the voting booth to take the States money.

Assume that the few critics of the project are correct, that projections for the operation of the ice arena are overly optimistic; that the arena will not be totally self-supporting: Worst-case scenario, we see a modest increase in our property taxes. With an average State contribution of $850 per residence, Iowa Reinvestment Act funding more than compensates every resident for the small risk in approving a top quality amenity that we get to keep, use and enjoy for many years.

It's a good deal for us, even if looked at in a vacuum.

When you dial in the potential this downtown project has to draw others to come spend money here to shop, dine, play, stay, attend conventions and encourage them to move here and invest here, it just gets better for us. In the long run, this will have the affect of reducing local taxes because more people will share the load.

Mason City needs to do better to attract more and better paying jobs. It's not easy to attract new people and new business from out of town with a vacant, blighted city center.

If our community is not willing to take a small risk to invest in itself, why should outsiders choose to locate and invest here?

Vance Jorgensen, Mason City
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly confident, saying, 'We will win'

Results in the Kansas governor's race remained too close to call as Gov. Laura Kelly clung to a 14,000-vote lead over Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Dear Editor,

Re: Ancient mystery reveals the future

Ua e fetalai faafaleupolu, ua e saunoa faatamalii ma ua e tulei faakerisiano. Faafetai mole manatu faaalia. Ole agaga e tasi, ia faapupulaina (enlightened) le mea moni i nai o tatou tagata Samoa.

Weve been misled for too long by those that claimed they have the truth.

We never suspected that theres a lot more to what they claim to be true until we connected the dots and found out that its a geo-political ploy for the domination of the world politically and economically.

I have studied and researched all religions and the motives behind each of them and I may say I have uncovered a lot of flaws in their belief systems.

As Albert Einstein once said; Condemnation without investigation is the height of folly.

Before anyone condemn anything, first and foremost investigate it first before we draw any conclusion and we need to question everything because each and everyone of us were given independent sovereignty rights by the all mighty and is reminiscent of his famous declaration to Moses in the burning bush; I AM OF WHAT I AM; Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent is the very essence of what God is.

Faafetai tele i le faalauteleina ole tatou mataupu. Your alias says it all Emanuel, oloo ia te oe the mea alofa a le Atua.

Leituala Roger B
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  The All Blacks have taken the unprecedented step of selecting a player based in Japan among an enlarged squad of 51 for autumn test matches against Australia, Japan, England, Ireland and Italy.

Flanker Matt Todd, who is playing for the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan's top domestic competition, has been picked for the European section of New Zealand's tour in the absence of Sam Cane, who is convalescing after fracturing his neck.

Todd is set to return to New Zealand next year in time to play for the Christchurch-based Crusaders in Super Rugby but would normally not be considered for All Blacks selection while based overseas.

The All Blacks have a steadfast policy of not picking overseas-based players on the basis that doing so would lead to an exodus of top players who could accept lucrative club contracts in Europe and Japan while still playing tests.

All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said the 14-test flanker had been granted an exemption in recognition of his long service to New Zealand rugby and the fact he is returning to New Zealand in 2019.

"We thank the New Zealand Rugby board and Panasonic for supporting the selection of Matt," Hansen said.

He announced a squad in two parts Monday in a complex selection process for the five-match tour.

A squad of 32 players will travel to Yokohama to play Australia in a Bledisloe Cup test on Oct. 27. A group of 22 or 23 of those players will then head on to Britain for the tests against England, Ireland and Italy.

The remaining nine or 10 players will be joined by a secondary group of 19 players, including seven uncapped players, for the test against Japan at Tokyo on Nov. 3.

The 32-man squad is effectively Hansen's main group which played mid-year tests against France and in this season's Rugby Championship. The notable feature of that selection is the inclusion of 21-year-old uncapped flanker Dalton Papalii and the return of former first-choice hooker Dane Coles, who played the latest of his 54 tests in November last year.

Coles has been sidelined for much of the past two seasons with issues related to concussion and with knee and calf injuries.

Prop Nepo Laulala, who has not played since his appearance against Wales in Cardiff last November, also returns after a long recovery from a complex arm fracture.

The seven newcomers in the 19-man squad are props Tyrel Lomax and Reuben O'Neill, flanker Gareth Evans, scrumhalf Bryn Hall, flyhalf Brett Cameron, center Matt Proctor and winger George Bridge. Three other players  hooker Asafo Aumua, flanker Dillon Hunt and scrumhalf Mitchell Drummond  have played non-test matches for New Zealand.

"Having the extra group come to Japan will allow us to send the bulk of our main squad to London early to acclimatize and prepare for what will be three big test matches in the northern hemisphere," Hansen said. "Bringing in the wider squad also allows us to grow our player depth and will expose them to the international arena.

"We'll also be using the Japanese leg of our tour to road test a few things ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup as we'll be using the same hotels and training facilities while we are there."

Hansen may face accusations of cheapening the All Blacks jersey by naming so many newcomers in his squad for a relatively short tour, or of including some players to prevent their later selection by other teams.

___

Squads:

For Australia, England, Ireland and Italy: Forwards: Dane Coles, Nathan Harris, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Whitelock, Vaea Fifita, Dalton Papalii, Kieran Read (captain), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Matt Todd. Backs: T.J. Perenara, Aaron Smith, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith.

For Japan: Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Liam Coltman, Tyrel Lomax, Reuben O'Neill, Tim Perry, Angus Ta'avao, Luke Romano, Jackson Hemopo, Gareth Evans, Dillon Hunt, Luke Whitelock, Mitchell Drummond, Bryn Hall, Brett Cameron, Ngani Laumape, Matt Proctor, George Bridge, David Havili, Nehe Milner-Skudder.
Nothing is impossible when you commit yourself to a goal. Just ask two female pilots flying with Polynesian Airlines and they will tell you that.

Being in a predominantly male profession, does not faze first officers, Whitney Churchward and Fanaafi Sooaemalelagi.

They love the challenge. For New Zealand born Ms. Churchward, she has been flying since 2012 and in her line of work; accumulating flying hours is what its all about.

She said she wanted to accumulate her hours in Samoa where her father, Emmanuel Churchward is from. She hails from Tuanaimato.

I heard all these stories of my fathers family and growing up I knew that I had to come here, she said.

I wanted to come where my roots are, where my father was born and raised. While I grew up in New Zealand, I was told this is where my family is from and Ive always wanted to come back to Samoa.

To work in my community, to give back to the country that my family holds dear in their hearts.... thats why Im here.

Ms. Churchward graduated from Admore Flying School in Auckland. She proceeded to retain her pilot commercial license and received it in April 2013.

But it wasnt an easy task. According to Ms. Churchward, there is a lot that goes into getting a license, such as theory exams and flight tests and then those hours of flying. There's a lot of sacrifices made, sweat and tears shed by the time its done.

In 2013, she started working as a commercial pilot, and trying to boot hours she worked two jobs.

She spoke of her first experience piloting an airplane.

It was amazing," she said. Thats when I knew right then and there, I was making the right decision."

Asked about the challenges of her profession, Churchward explained this is a mans arena.

When you're a pilot in a school where the number of girls attending you can count in one hand its difficult.

"However that is slowly changing. Ive seen a lot more female training pilots over the years.

She said the good thing about Samoa is that they are all about family and that mentality is also shown at Polynesian Airlines. She doesnt have a problem being in a male dominant profession as the pilots are all family.

Ms. Churchward also has a message for the young girls who want to be in the skies one day.

Never give up on your dreams, there will be many challenges and road blocks on your journey but always stay strong. I always remind myself that life will never give you more than you can handle," she said.

Don't let anything and anyone discourage you, work hard and stay focus, there will be plenty of failures along the way but youll have to experience those to really grow.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has laughed at claims that poverty and hardship are to blame for the growing number of sex workers in Samoa.

He has also attacked the newspaper over its coverage of the issue describing the reporting as rubbish.

Tuilaepa was responding during his weekly media programme yesterday.

He was asked for a comment on the connection being made between hardship, poverty and sex work.

If that is true then you shouldnt find that in America, the wealthiest country in the world, yet there are a lot of women like that in America, Tuilaepa said.

Thats where its wrong; you cant control this type of behavior.

Tuilaepa then had a go at a newspaper which he did not name.

I know the newspaper is trying hard, he said laughing.

It doesnt matter how far off the issue is, they always try to pull it towards my doorstep. They blame me as the reason for everything.

Thats why I hardly read their rubbish, I try to free my mind day after day, to avoid being dragged into issues.

Earlier this week, the Samoa Observer revealed that in 2016, the number of female sex workers in Samoa was estimated at around 400.

This is according to the Multi-country Mapping and Behavioural study 2016, quoted by the Ministry of Health in their sixth annual report to UNAIDS.

A copy of the report had been obtained by the Samoa Observer.

The Pacific Multi-country Mapping and Behavioural Study 2016 found that there are an estimated 400 female sex workers in Samoa, the report reads. Most women are doing sex work for economic reasons.

Payment varies considerably from $50 to $200 tala.

These women have a wide range of clients, including local and foreign men and 58.3% had children and the majority had no other employment.

The study was the work of the U.N.D.P, U.N.I.C.E.F and the University of New South Wales which called for urgent need for reforms in Pacific island countries to adequately address HIV and sexually transmitted infections (S.T.Is) among vulnerable populations. Samoa was among nine countries the Study covered.

According to the report, the number of partners some of the women have had in the last 12 months was 10. Nine were clients.

Only 33% of the participants used a condom on the last occasion of vaginal intercourse with a client; a majority were inconsistent condom users with clients in the last 12 months, the report reads.

Condom use with casual non- paying partners was low; 50% used a condom on the last occasion.

The report further says that a minority of the women drank alcohol and their HIV knowledge was moderate.

None of the women had accessed a sexual health service in the last 12 months, although 60% had been given condoms in that period.

None had been tested for HIV in the previous 12 months.

There is therefore a need for extensive condom programming and health education outreach to this group.

Interventions should also seek to provide female sex workers with housing, sanitation, and economic services to support their participation in prevention interventions.

The Prime Minister was responding to an article published by the Samoa Observer that there are an estimated 400 female sex workers in Samoa and most women are doing sex work for economic reasons.

The Prime Minister stated in any country there is good and bad.

The health report is evidence of Samoas commitment to the global response to HIV, AIDS, and Sexual Transmitted Infections.
An eyewitness of a horrific smash at Puipaa at the beginning of the week has expressed disbelief about how no one died when a dyna truck carrying more than 10 people crashed.

The man who wants to be identified as Paulo said what happened can only be described as a miracle.

With that many people on the truck, it could have been very deadly, he said. But how they all survived is a miracle. I thank God.

The truck belongs to a local company at Vaitele and was heading towards Faleolo to drop off some of their workers.

Paulo said the crash happened so quickly.

It was around half past six to seven oclock on Monday evening, Paulo said.

My family was getting ready for our evening prayers when we heard people shouting and then a loud bang after, right in front of our house.

I thought to myself, oh my God, this is scary because it was too close to our house.

So we cancelled our lotu and we just ran out curious.

When we got there we saw that a truck loaded with people had crashed on the side of the road. It stopped about 30 metres from the road.

Paulo said a child was inside when the truck crashed.

He blamed speed.

To be honest, I felt very disappointed, I mean a four-year-old-boy was inside the truck, the driver should have slowed down. It was also wet.

The family contacted the Police and emergency services.

The ambulance took the four year old to the hospital that evening...hopefully hes doing fine.

Paulo said the truck had overtaken another vehicle when the accident happened. It smashed their fence.

I dont care how much money it costs to fix some of the damages but at least no one died. This is something everyone should think about.

He added that perhaps the driver was tired.

If the driver was tired, he could have stopped for a rest or let someone else drive.

The crash could have been worse though.

It was lucky because they nearly crashed into the high voltage box that belongs to Bluesky. I thank God that didnt happen.

If it happened I think many of them would have been electrocuted.

Paulo used the opportunity to call for caution.

We have to be careful all the time and take care of ourselves, he said. Always remember to say a prayer to the Man Above for protection before heading out and heading home everyday.
The Samoa Land Corporations $4.4million headquarters at Tuanaimato is on the market once again.

This was confirmed by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lautafi Fio Purcell, during an interview with the Samoa Observer.

Government has been looking for a tenant to rent the abandoned building since 2014. Since then, there have been several attempts at locking down a good tenant.

But nothing has materialised.

The Committee that the government appointed to deal with the Hope for Cancer has been disbanded. This happened when the organization contacted us to give them more time, Lautafi said.

Hope for Cancer is a foreign group which the government had offered the building to.

But the delay in their plans meant the government needed to move on.

That means that theres no need for the three C.E.O.s appointed by the government to work with them (Hope for Cancer), said Lautafi.

We can find another space for them when they come and whatever they want."

He said one of the reasons for the delay was that they need more time to plan.

"So we've already contacted them (Hope for Cancer) that weve let the building go so we could look into other developments to make use of the facility.

For now, the Minister said there is interest from few organisations like F.A.O., Peace Corps and others.

Thats why we are continuing with this process as usual, he said about the building being tendered. So if anyone wants it, theres a chance to submit a proposal.

The Samoa Land Corporation is working on it (re-advertisement) now. When its finished, then well advertise it again.

He went on to say that better planning is what the government is looking at.

The fact is  we can never foretell what happens next but we can minimise whatever problems that involve the government," he said.

We need to work carefully on due diligence, business plans, you know, like - what kind of designs of project(s) to meet businesses and people's needs."

He said this was a good strategy to prepare for any problems that might arise in the future.

There are unavoidable risks but at last...we can calculate it."

He said there was no need for a professor to come and work out a solution for whatever the problem might be.

"Once we look at it then automatically we know how to deal with it through tofa fetuutuunai.

The Corporation vacated the Tuanaimato premises in 2014 and have since moved their offices to the top floor of the Vaitele Market.
South Pacific Business Development (S.P.B.D.) Microfinance staged a Market Place Exhibition yesterday.

For the third year in a row, the Exhibition was to showcase the successful ventures of its clients.

Over 200 women clients from both Upolu and Savaii of S.P.B.D. displayed a wide range of products, most of which they had made themselves, with the help of micro loans from S.P.B.D.

The exhibition was housed at a central location in Apia, Samoas capital where the colourful display and enticing aromas attracted a large number of visitors.

As the visitors poured in, the products saw brisk sales which was immensely gratifying to the women entrepreneurs. The event drew the attention of the media and received good coverage, with the local media putting in a special word for SPBDs efforts.

This was a unique opportunity for the members of S.P.B.D. to come together, to meet, interact and learn from the experiences of other members. The event was instrumental in strengthening their bonds with each other and with S.P.B.D. besides helping them in developing their marketing skills and securing new clients.

The market was a busy, happy space as many people stopped by to sample some of the delicious foods at the food stands and buy some exclusive handicraft items, lovingly made and cheerfully sold by women who were enjoying every minute of the day.

The exhibition highlighted the diverse types of businesses the Samoan women have set up including the production and sales of vegetables, snacks, fruits, traditional clothes such as lava-lavas, potted plants, decorations and jewellery.

Koreti Ioane, a woman entrepreneur from Vailele Maugafiafia Centre, shared that she had been unemployed when she first joined S.P.B.D. 8 years ago. She used her first loan to operate a banana chips business selling them to the people within and around her village. Koreti has managed to expand her entrepreneurial skills in elei printing and operating a sewing shop.

Before with her chips business, her earnings was $300 a week, now with her current business, she is making $8000 a week selling her products overseas and supplying Farmer Joe Supermarket.

Koreti, says her business has enabled her to improve the standard of living of her family and to provide better education opportunities to her children.

Happy with the encouraging response to the initiative, Gregory Casagrande, the President and Founder of S.P.B.D Microfinance, said: S.P.B.D. has over seven thousand micro entrepreneurs spread across all of Samoa.

This event intends not only to display the wide array of goods, wares and services our clients offer but also to showcase their courageous, eventful journeys and their perseverance which carried them forth.

It is such a joy to watch the steady increase in their self-esteem and self-confidence with the upturn in their fortunes, brought about by their dedicated efforts and facilitated by our loans. S.P.B.D. has plans to roll out such exhibitions on a regular basis in the future.

For Taeao Siitia of Neiafu Tai Centre, they were able to raise $450 of sales from their oranges, Samoan koko and handicraft.

I am so thankful for SPBD because they teach Samoan ladies how to start a small business and expand it. It gives uneducated women the opportunity to increase their earnings. The young women in my village are very interested in participating in this program.

We are also grateful to the company for hosting this market exhibition which has enabled us to earn this much in just 2 hours. she said.

Ajay Verma, General Manager, SPBD Samoa, said, The exhibition has effectively brought the limelight to the never say die attitude of the women entrepreneurs of Samoa. All that these exceptional women needed was a nudge in the right direction, training on setting up of and management of small business and ready access to finance.

Their initiative, determination to make a difference and sheer hard work has done the rest.

Our association with them is a matter of pride for us. Today I salute the spirit of these successful entrepreneurs and enjoin upon them to pass on this message of empowerment to their fellow women.

Empowered women is what every family and nation should strive for because herein lie the seeds of a better, more prosperous future for all of us.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (F.A.O) Subregional Office of the Pacific Islands has welcomed their new Nutrition and Food Systems Officer, Joseph Nyemah.

A Liberian-Canadian national, Mr. Nyemah arrives directly from Malawi where he was with the One UN as humanitarian advisor.

In this role, I led inter-cluster coordination for the food security, agriculture, nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (W.A.S.H), education, protection and health clusters over a $395 million humanitarian response, Mr. Nyemah said.

Working for the One UN did not only help me to see humanitarian and development work from a broader and integrated vantage point; it also strengthened my partnership building capacity across different UN and government agencies, NGOs, etc

In his new role as Nutrition and Food Systems Officer for F.A.O, Mr. Nyemah hopes to contribute to the work of his colleagues in F.A.O and across other UN agencies, governments, national and regional N.G.O and civil society partners to improve resilience in agriculture, nutrition and food security.

I want for us to collaboratively study the contextual applicability of a food systems approach  the analysis of food from the handling of the seeds to the point of disposal  and how the generated knowledge can inform programming, he said.

Mr. Nyemah is a former food security cluster coordinator with F.A.O in Mali, West Africa, where he coordinated two IPC  Integrated Phase Classification analyses for food and nutrition security.

He also worked in HQ in Rome with the World Food Program as an integrated context analyst in VAM (Vulnerability Analysis Mapping), where he led the publication of Tracking the Development of Urban Food Security Assessment Tools: 2010 to 2015.

While working for the Paris-based Action Contre La Faim, he managed integrated agriculture and food processing, aquaculture, nutrition and socioeconomic analyses in Liberia, Cote dIvoire, Sierra Leone, the Somali Region of Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sri Lanka from 1996 to 2005.

From 2008 to 2014, Mr. Nyemah worked in the Canadian public service across community, rural and economic development. His last post was director of regional planning, government of Nova Scotia, where he developed Nova Scotias first ever social enterprise strategy.

Mr. Nyemah has published in several peer-reviewed academic journals, for example, the Australian Journal for Studies in Continuing Education, and Canadian Social Studies Journal.

He is has a multi-disciplinary academic background that straddles rural sociology/development, development economics, political science and adult education.

Mr. Nyemahs research interest looks at the politics and interconnectedness of gender, culture, migration, and capacity building. He is a research fellow with the European-North American Borders in Globalization (BIG) project and the Delmore Buddy Daye Afrocentric Learning Institute, Halifax.

Mr. Nyemah is joined in Samoa with his family including his wife, four year old son, two year old daughter, and his sister.
Subsistence living was how many Samoans lived in the past.

And while some people have forgotten all about it, Fialelei Faitua from Faleseela- tai and Solosolo, has not.

For the hardworking woman who comes from a family of farmers, it remains the only way to deal with the cost of living.

Our lands consist of all the wealth that we ever need, we just need to work for it, she said.

Village Voice caught up with Faitua and her husband Leva as they were busy cutting and cleaning the grass at the plantation yesterday.

Im here to help my husband to do some work, she said.

We havent been here for a while, weve been busy with so many things and my husband was busy with his job as well.

But see this plantation, its one of our most important assets because it took us five months to try and develop it.

I think two of those five months went by, and we had already planted 14,000 taro. We had to buy a few crops to start off our plantation and this is how far weve come.

Fialeleis husband Leva, works as a security officer at Le Amosa and they try to use up their free time to develop their plantation.

Fialelei used to work as a chef at Aggie Greys but since there was no one to take care of her children and father in-law, she left work to take care of her family.

My family runs a small business at Faleseela where we export our taro so thats why we come here to collect our taro so they can export it for us and we earn money from that.

Its really good money and I believe we earn more from this than from working for any company and to me, I think this is where Samoas richness lies within.

Fialelei is a mother of five children and two of them are living in Australia while the rest are attending school here.

I love helping out my husband with the plantation, its one of the things I want to invest most of my time in.

The family I was born in is a hardworking one so Im not used to being lazy.

The saying goes reap what you sow so everytime we receive a huge amount of money from our plantation, its always an amazing feeling.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Former President Barack Obama endorsed a candidate in the race for France's presidency on Thursday, taking his first dive back into international politics since leaving the White House in January.

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron released a video from Obama Thursday morning with the former president touting his candidacy.

"I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run," Obama said. "He has stood up for liberal values; he put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world; and he is committed to a better future for the French people. He appeals to people's hopes, and not their fears."

Macron is facing far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday's runoff vote. Polls suggest Macron is well ahead.

Obama said he doesn't plan to get involved often in political situations. "I'm not planning to get involved in many elections now that I don't have to run for office again, but the French election is very important to the future of France and the values that we care so much about. Because the success of France matters to the entire world," he said.

Macron asked Obama for his support, an Obama aide said. Obama called Macron privately in April and praised him, but declined to make an endorsement. But now, Obama decided to weigh in because he believes France's success impacts international challenges on the global stage, the aide said.

The aide spoke on background because the aide wasn't authorized to speak about Obama's deliberations.

Political scientist Dov H. Levin of Carnegie-Mellon University called Obama's endorsement unusual for a former president. Presidents like Bill Clinton have tried to personally influence elections in places like Russia and Israel while in office, but Levin said he has not come across an instance where a former president has offered an endorsement in a foreign leadership race like Obama.

Levin, who studies U.S. attempts to influence elections in other countries, said it is rare for a former president to have enough popularity or influence in a foreign country for his assistance to even be desired. "My guess is that Macron found that Obama, even as a former president, still has enough cachet, enough influence with French voters to make it worth asking for his endorsement," Levin said.

Obama ended his message with the words "En Marche," the name of Macron's political movement which means "In Motion" in English, and "Vive La France."

President Donald Trump has praised Macron's opponent, Le Pen, although he has not explicitly endorsed her.

"She's the strongest on borders, and she's the strongest on what's been going on in France," Trump said in an April 21 interview with The Associated Press. "Whoever is the toughest on radical Islamic terrorism, and whoever is the toughest at the borders, will do well in the election."

Obama has mostly stayed in the background in American politics since Trump moved into the White House. When congressional Republicans first planned to vote down his signature health care plan, the Affordable Care Act on its seventh anniversary, Obama broke his silence to tout the law's effectiveness. "Thanks to this law, more than twenty million Americans have gained the security and peace of mind of health insurance," he said back in March.

House Republicans narrowly approved a bill striking down parts of the law on Thursday.

Obama, through a spokesman, has also criticized Trump's attempt to ban the entry of citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries into the United States, which was eventually halted by the federal courts.
EDMONTON, Alberta, May 04, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Edmonton Jewish Film Festival (EJFF) will once again be presenting a selection of the very best in Jewish cinema from around the world from May 17-18, 21-23 & 28-29, with a slate of films making their Edmonton premieres! All screenings will take place at the Landmark Cinemas 9 City Centre Edmonton.



The Edmonton Jewish Film Festival is an initiative of the the Jewish Federation of Edmonton, the central organizing body of Edmonton's Jewish Community. Now in its 21st year, the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival (EJFF) has gone through several incarnations and venues as it has developed from a small Jewish Community program to the second-largest Jewish cultural program in Edmonton, drawing thousands of attendees every year to its current home at the Landmark Cinemas 9 City Centre Edmonton in the heart of the city.

Brought about through the generosity of our sponsors, the EJFF is proud to be a financial supporter of Partnership 2Gether (P2G), Edmonton's bridge-building partnership with Northern Israel, operated by The Jewish Agency for Israel.

Every year, the EJFF seeks to grow and work on new initiatives learned 'in the field' and we are pleased that our 2017 edition will be our biggest yet, with ten Edmonton-premiere screenings across seven days and exclusive guest speakers too!

This will be the second year that the Festival will award the Earl Parker Award for Jewish Film, and last years winner, Adam Bentley, will be in attendance and we will see the film he produced.

Remember, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival, there's something for everyone!

For tickets and more Information about the full festival lineup, visit www.JewishEdmonton.org

Media outlets are asked to confirm their attendance if they wish to cover the event.
A missing New Zealand/Samoan Navy man who was last seen at the To Sua last Saturday could have fallen into the ocean.

This is the latest update from the Police as the frantic search for Kilino Joseph Lemafoe Tua, 24-years-old, of Otahuhu New Zealand and Leauvaa, continued yesterday.

He has been missing for a week today.

Police Spokesperson, Sua LeMamea Tiumalu, said they are not giving up hope and they are doing their best to recover his body.

We suspect that he either fell into the ocean or he was struck by a wave, he said. On the day of the incident, the sea was very rough.

A spokesperson from To Sua confirmed the Polices theory.

The woman who did not want to be named said Mr. Tuas belongings were found at a lava pool not far from the popular trench. She said they suspect he was there enjoying the view and the scenery when he got in trouble.

Earlier suggestions that he might have drowned in the trench have been dismissed.

According to Sua, Police officers are working with the family and helpers to find Mr. Tua.

The search will go on, he said.

We will probably have to scale down the numbers but I can confirm that the Police are still looking for the young man.

Sua said Mr. Tuas parents and several relatives have arrived in Samoa to help with the search.

A request for assistance has also been made with the Office of the New Zealand High Commissioner, as Mr. Tua is a member of the New Zealand Navy.

Mr. Tua flew to Samoa last week for a short holiday. He visited To Sua on Saturday where he was last seen.

According to the New Zealand Herald the missing man's sister, Isabel Tua, said their family and friends had been trying to search for any clues by going onto the 24-year-old's Snapchat to look at recent posts.

Ms. Tua told the publication, "We managed to log on to his Snapchat and look at the most recent photos he had posted.

"There were lots of photos of him from Friday spending time with family, and then the last photo was of him standing near some rocks close to the edge of the water. There were some really rough-looking waves crashing behind him."

Ms. Tua said that last social media post was from Saturday morning. It is reported that the family will not publicly release the video.

Mr. Tuas father declined to comment when he was approached by the Samoa Observer.
The Moataa Centre is the overall winner of the South Pacific Business Development (S.P.B.D.) Microfinances 16th Annual Businesswoman Awards.

They were awarded during the celebration yesterday which kicked off with a parade on Beach Road, led by the Police band towards the Tuutuuileloloto hall.

Hundreds of mothers from different centres in Upolu, Savaii, Manono and Apolima joined government officials and special guests for the joyous occasion.

Among them was the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lautafi Fio Purcell. The ceremony was to applaud and recognise the entrepreneurial zeal and business achievement of women leaders who have made a mark in the community in their chosen fields.

Founder and President of S.P.B.D., Gregory F. Casagrande, congratulated all the entrepreneurial mothers and encouraged them to dream big.

I encourage you to be ambitious and dont be afraid to dream big. Make grand plans for your business, for yourself and for your family, he said.

If you set your sights and ambitions too low then you will never know what might have been. He warned them however that there would be obstacles along the way.

You may not achieve everything that you set out to do and that is okay, there will be many obstacles but a tenacious person will persevere and find new ways around those obstacles.

You dont need to change the world in one day, you just need to keep moving forward and when you get knocked down, get back and keeping making small steady progress each day.

President Casagrande encouraged the women to be grateful always and lead a good virtuous life.

Being grateful for the countless blessings, small, large, that we have each and everyday is at the foundation of leading a happy and good life.

So I encourage you to be grateful and then let that gratitude carry through so that you are truly decent, caring human beings.

S.P.B.D. has over seven thousand micro entrepreneurs spread across all of Samoa. The organisation has provided them with over $100million in unsecured credit.

And as many of you may know, the success you created here in Samoa has enabled S.P.B.D. to spread further throughout the region to provide meaningful economic opportunity to women in micro-entrepreneurs in Tonga, Fiji and the Solomon islands.

Ajay Verma, General Manager, S.P.B.D Samoa, said their role is to direct women and give them a helping hand.

She spoke about the never say die attitude of the women entrepreneurs of Samoa.

All that these exceptional women needed was a nudge in the right direction, training on setting up of and management of small business and ready access to finance.

Their initiative, determination to make a difference and sheer hard work has done the rest. Our association with them is a matter of pride for us.

Today I salute the spirit of these successful entrepreneurs and enjoin upon them to pass on this message of empowerment to their fellow women.

Empowered women is what every family and nation should strive for because herein lie the seeds of a better, more prosperous future for all of us.

Minister of Public Enterprises, Lautafi Fio Purcell congratulated all the mothers especially winners of this years ceremony.

After 17 years, S.P.B.D. have successfully worked with over 22,000 families in over 280 villages spread across Samoa.

The S.P.B.Ds mission is centred on the importance of offering an opportunity and ongoing motivation to improve the quality of life of individuals living in poverty, by providing them access to financial services.

In keeping with its mission of helping the underprivileged through its innovative product and services.

The S.P.B.D. has five key product offerings; (1)S.M.E. loan for funding needs of clients with mature and larger businesses, (2) overseas Worker loan for overseas travel for work by a member, (3) spouse insurance, (4)higher education loans and (5) Inter Island Money Transfer service.

The Annual Business Women Awards are a salute to these winners;

S.P.B.D. Best Saver of the Year 2016  Maria Tui, Utulaelae Centre

S.P.B.D. Micro Businesswoman of the Year 2016  Aaone Ripine, Salani Centre

S.P.B.D. Business Woman of the Year 2016  Faalo Tiumalu, Tuasivi Centre

S.P.B.D. Overall Best Centre for 2016  Moataa Centre
Samoa paused yesterday to honour the dedication and hard work of firefighters.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi led the tribute during the official ceremony at the Fire and Emergency Services Authority headquarters.

He congratulated the brave men and women who often risk their lives to save others and their properties.

We are here to join the global celebration of the International Fire Fighters Day in honour of all fire-fighters around the world, past and present, who have dedicated their lives to ensure the protection of life and properties of the communities they serve, he said.

 I am told that Samoa joined the international fire fighting community to hold this commemoration last year and will continue to do so as an annual event.

The ceremony also marked the 10th anniversary of the Authority.

Since then they have been involved in many emergencies, among them the 2009 Tsunami, Cyclone Evan in 2012, the flea market fire and Oil Tank Explosion in 2016 as well as the Chan Mow Wholesale fire, he said.

I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support of Samoas development partners and all stakeholders who have assisted the Board of Directors, management and staff to ensure that F.E.S.A delivers its services to the public in the most effective and efficient way.

I would also like to give and acknowledge the services of all the volunteers who have provided continuing support to F.E.S.A.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sure that you will all join me in wishing F.E.S.A a happy and memorable 10th anniversary and International Fire-fighters Day.

Each year on 4 May, International Fire-fighters Day is celebrated by many countries around the world.

The day is to show support for all fire-fighters worldwide, remember those lost or injured in the line of duty and say thank you.

Awards were also presented to fallen comrades and former members of Samoa Fire Fighters yesterday.
Bluesky Samoa reached another milestone yesterday, celebrating six years of service to Samoa.

To mark the occasion, Bluesky gave away over $30,000 worth of cash to their customers and much, much more.

Country Manager Alex Abraham said this is an exciting time for Bluesky.

Bluesky introduced their Superior 4G Plus Network in March and in April to Celebrate their 6th birthday on 1st of April, a special text to win promotion was carried out all month to continue the message, he said.

Forty two lucky customers walked away richer.

Thirty-one people walked away with $1,000 in cash while the rest came away with a new Samsung S7 Edge or a brand new Iphone 7!

We want to give our customers a reason to choose Bluesky, Mr. Abraham said.

At Bluesky, were always looking for ways to improve the lives of our customers and give back to the community.

We also want to really drive our Superior 4G Plus Network and get customers on so they can experience internet like never before.

Our mobile phones given away as part of this competition are all 4G capable. And our cash winners can now purchase 4G handsets with their cash winnings, if they dont have one already.

For all our businesses big or small, talk to us and we will make you the best proposition in Samoa.

The festivities concluded like any birthday party does, with a cake and ice cream.
A delegation from Pacific Trade Invest (P.T.I) Australia is in Samoa to check out some of Samoas finest exports.

Since they arrived, they have been working with Tupuola Savave Sapolu of the Samoa Chamber of Commerce to facilitate meetings with various businesses.

These include Women in Business who attended Fine Foods Australia last year as part of P.T.I Australias Pacific stand.

Other companies include the Samoan Coconut Cluster, Samoa Wild Tumeric, Futino, Natural Foods International Ltd, Fuatino Natural Products, Vaoala Vanilla and fashion designers Janets and Eveni Carruthers Carruthers who attended the Pacific Runway in

So far, the delegation has been excited by what they have seen.

To tell a buyer about Samoa is one thing, however to allow the buyer to be immersed and to see firsthand how where Samoas exports are produced and where the raw materials are sourced is so valuable to create a connection with the country, business and its people, said Mona Mato, Manager Export Services, P.T.I Australia.

With only a week in Samoa, the delegation has a very full meeting schedule and are looking for forward to meeting further businesses to strengthen relationships, understand challenges they facing in the export market and how P.T.I Australia can further support the export success of Samoan businesses.

P.T.I Australia is an agency of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. They work with export and investment ready Pacific Island business establishing opportunities in international markets with a focus on Australia.
The Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention has failed, for the sixth consecutive time, to reach consensus on addressing chrysotile asbestos and paraquat, both of which are known hazardous substances.

The repeated failure of this key Multilateral Environment Agreement has prompted the Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P), Leota Kosi Latu, to call on Pacific island members to address the issue of hazardous substances at a regional level.

Speaking from the Convention in Geneva, Switzerland, Leota explained:

The Rotterdam Convention was created to help protect countries, particularly the most vulnerable, from unknowingly importing hazardous and toxic substances. The repeated blocking of known harmful substances from being listed in Annex III of the Convention, despite strong support from the majority of Parties, is bitterly disappointing and is contrary to what the Convention was established to achieve.

Like all forms of asbestos, chysotile asbestos causes severe illness and death.

The Chemical Review Committee of the Rotterdam Convention agreed to the listing of chrysotile on Annex III of the Convention prior to 2003. However, a small number of Parties continue to take advantage of the Conventions consensus rule to prevent the listing from taking place.

The issue of asbestos in the Pacific came into the spotlight in 2015 following a regional asbestos baseline survey conducted by the European Union-funded PacWaste project.

As well as significant legacy stockpiles of asbestos, the survey found that new building materials containing chrysotile asbestos are being imported into the Pacific.

Leota believes that Pacific island nations must now band together to protect the health of their communities and the environment:

The Rotterdam Convention has failed small island developing states. In light of this, I urge S.P.R.E.Ps Pacific island members to consider support for a regional mechanism to address the influx of hazardous substances into the Pacific region.

A Pacific-wide ban on asbestos, for example, would protect our islands from being used as dumping ground for asbestos-containing products that other countries around the world will not accept on account of their own national bans.

Another issue that is of great importance to the health of Pacific island communities and the environment is the use of the toxic pesticide paraquat. Like chysotile asbestos, paraquat, which is used widely in the Pacific region has been debated by Convention delegates at successive COPs but a consensus on its listing has failed to eventuate.
San Diegos Cubic Corp. said Thursday that it won a $35 million contract to provide services to its previously installed ground combat simulation training systems used by the British Army.

The three-year contract includes services and repair on the Area Weapons Effects Simulator at the Salisbury Plain Training Area in the United Kingdom and at the British Army Training Unit Suffield in Alberta, Canada.

The system allows the British Army to conduct large-scale, force-on-force combat exercises with realistic but simulated direct fire from artillery, mortars, mines and bombs, as well as nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

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Cubic first developed the training system in 1998 and installed it at the 150-square mile Salisbury Plain training base in 2002. It was deployed at the 1,100-square-mile Alberta training center  which the British Army leases from the Canadian government for combat exercises  the following year.

The company said the system tracks the actions of more than 1,400 individual soldiers and 250 vehicles using GPS technology. It also records hits, kills and misses of small-arms fire with Cubics Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System technology, and it recreates combat exercises for post-mission analysis.

Cubic has worked with the British Army for nearly 15 years providing industry-best ground combat training solutions for its war fighters, said Dave Buss, president of Cubic Global Defense, in a statement. Our U.K. customer is very important to us and this award extends the work we have accomplished together to advance the British Ministry of Defenses training experience and standard.

Cubic has three main businesses  providing military training systems to global defense customers, selling secure communications technology used mostly by the military and delivering transit fare collection and transportation management services to some of the worlds largest public transit agencies.

The companys shares ended trading Friday up 25 cents at $52 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Business

mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com;

Twitter:@TechDiego

760-529-4973
Tourists last year contributed nearly $16 billion to San Diego Countys economy, a new high that mirrored similar record spending across California, says a travel industry report released Thursday.

Statewide, tourism was responsible for a record $126 billion in spending last year  an increase of 3.2 percent  even as spending by foreign visitors showed signs of slowing over the last two years.

The release of the annual report, a collaboration of Visit California and Dean Runyan Associates, was timed to coincide with the inaugural celebration of California Tourism Month.

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In addition to documenting steady growth in tourism over the last two decades, measured by metrics such as job growth, spending and tax revenues, the report also shows an impressive and relatively quick rebound since the Great Recession.

California, as did San Diego County, recorded seven consecutive years of travel industry growth following the steep economic downturn between 2007 and 2009.

This report shows that tourism is a powerhouse that generates community benefits and economic value for all Californians, said Visit California President Caroline Beteta.

SAN DIEGO BY THE NUMBERS

Local tax revenue: $543.5 million

Total jobs: 140,300

Spending growth, 2015-16: 2.6 percent

Spending on accommodations: $2.9 billion

Spending on food: $4.1 billion

She noted that Californias tourism economy outpaces, by far, that of all other states. Not only is it the No. 1 visitor destination among all other states, but were about 2- times the size of the Florida tourism economy and five times the size of the Hawaiian economy, she said.

Spending by California travelers grew 3.2 percent in 2016, outpacing the nation by nearly a percentage point, while San Diego Countys growth rate was slightly slower, at 2.6 percent, the report shows. Over the course of the last 22 years, though, San Diego Countys average annual increase in travel spending  4.6 percent  outranked all other regions in the state.

For this year, Visit California is forecasting a more moderate 2 percent increase in travel spending.

Even as the states tourism economy enjoys record-breaking growth, international visitation, which remains a key source of tourism revenue, is flattening, due in part to the strength of the U.S. dollar.

While the share of spending attributable to international visitors has grown to about 22 percent, it has flattened over the past two years following substantial run-ups in previous years, Runyan reported. In San Diego County, overseas spending accounts for a much smaller percentage of travel spending than in metro areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles where there is more robust air service.

Because the report does not cover travel trends beyond the end of last year, it could not have documented fallout, if any, from President Donald Trumps travel ban.

More recently, however, tourism bureaus are seeing a sharper drop-off in visitors to California from Mexico and Canada, said San Diego Tourism Authority CEO Joe Terzi. Visit California is concerned enough that it is leading a mission to Mexico City and Toronto at the end of this month to remind its travel partners that California is still very much a welcoming destination, Terzi said.

Visit California, which will be accompanied by other local tourism bureaus, including San Diegos, is contributing $1 million to the trip. San Diego, Terzi added, is chipping in $100,000.

We want to say, look, were California and were welcoming, which is a soft way of saying dont pay attention to whats happening in D.C., Terzi said. We planned this trip as soon as we saw what was coming out of D.C. and the concerns from our travel partners in Canada and Mexico. And because theyre two major markets for the state of California, we thought we should do something.

Beteta, who was asked during a conference call with journalists about any impacts she has seen since Trump was elected, largely sidestepped the question.

Its a very fluid situation, and there are many factors affecting a persons decision to travel: dollars in the pocket, safety and security, currency is a major issue, and the price of fuel, Beteta said. While theres a strong narrative from our leaders, every day is different, from when the state department issues a travel warning to other dynamic factors in the global environment.

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what sway policy makers have on travel.

Business

lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-2251

Twitter: @loriweisberg
A lawsuit seeking to overturn San Diegos 2 percent tourism levy on hotel guests room bills was dismissed Friday by a Superior Court judge.

The class-action complaint, one of several lawsuits that have challenged a hotelier-approved levy used to fund tourism marketing, not only sought to bar the city from continuing to assess the fee but also asked for the repayment of funds paid by hotel customers over a more than 3--year period.

Superior Court Judge Richard Strauss ruled in favor of the city and its Tourism Marketing District, sustaining all objections to the lawsuit, including claims that it was filed too late, long past the statute of limitations.

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Strauss also rejected attorney Ronald Marrons claim that the tourism marketing levy was unconstitutional under federal law.

The complaint, Strauss said, asserted that the TMD procedural ordinance violates equal protection under the law because it only permits Business Owners to vote on the assessment. A public entity may limit approval of an assessment to those entities which pay it  The vote on the assessment is limited to those hoteliers who must pay it.

Marron had argued in his original lawsuit, filed late last year that the tourism fee is an unlawful hidden hotel tax and that the citys retention of its ill-gotten gains would result in the unjust enrichment of the city at the expense of plaintiff and the class members,

Strauss, following a court hearing Friday, upheld his earlier tentative ruling siding with the city.

Marron has said he intends to appeal.

We always expected this to ultimately be settled in the appellate courts, he said. We are thankful the court ruled decisively so we can move on quickly to obtain redress at the appellate level.

Hotelier William Evans, who chairs the tourism marketing board, said he was pleased by the ruling.

There was never a basis for this cases late challenge to the City Councils 2012 renewal of the TMD, he said. We are gratified by Judge Strauss ruling and it is important to have this distraction behind us.

The city and Tourism Marketing District are still battling another lawsuit filed last year that also seeks to invalidate the marketing surcharge. Last month, Superior Court Judge Joel Pressman gave Irvine attorney John McClendon a second chance to make his legal arguments before deciding whether to dismiss the suit.

McClendons complaint seeks to bar the city from continuing to levy the room surcharge and also asks for the repayment of funds paid by hotel customers since 2012, when the San Diego City Council renewed the Tourism Marketing District and the marketing fee for 39 years. Pressman noted that McClendon would have an uphill battle prevailing in his arguments.

Last year, a similar suit filed years earlier by attorney Cory Briggs on behalf of San Diegans for Open Government was dismissed after the City Council decided to eliminate the tourism surcharge for all small lodging businesses and home-sharing rentals under 70 rooms.

Business

lori.weisberg@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-2251

Twitter: @loriweisberg
The California Supreme Court on Thursday grilled attorneys for the state Coastal Commission and two Encinitas homeowners in a hearing over a seawall dispute that could impact ocean-front homes throughout the state.

Neptune Avenue neighbors Tom Frick and Barbara Lynch are challenging whether the commission has the authority to impose a 20-year expiration date on a permit for a new seawall the pair built after a decades-old structure collapsed during a 2010 storm.

That question could be preempted, however, by the commissions contention that the property owners waived their right to sue over the matter when they built the new wall.

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Many of the justices rapid-fire questions Thursday focused on the latter issue. If the court finds the homeowners waived their rights, it could choose not to rule on whether the 20-year time limit violates the states constitution  the question central to the commissions authority over some of the most prized properties in the state.

In their lawsuit, the Fricks and Lynches have called the time limit an unconstitutional regulatory taking of private property, which devalued their homes.

In some of their questions Thursday, the justices appeared to push back against that argument, noting that for now, the permit is secure and so are the homes.

Deputy Attorney General Hayley Peterson, representing the commission, said that after the permit expires, theres no reason to assume the agency would deny a new one.

And if they do, thats the time to litigate a taking, said Justice Kathryn M. Werdegar. The possibility that the commission may deny this in 20 years, does not constitute a taking today.

Nonetheless, she also acknowledged that government taking can also occur because of onerous conditions that diminish the value of homes.

Jon Corn, an Encinitas land use attorney who represents the families, said uncertainty over the permits renewal casts a cloud over the properties that damages their worth and marketability.

That argument prevailed in San Diego Superior Court, but the commission challenged the decision. The 4th District Court of Appeals concluded that the commission could impose the time limit, and the homeowners had waived their right to dispute it when they accepted the permit. They appealed to the state Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments Thursday.

The Coastal Commission declined to comment on the hearing, but Rick Frank, director of the California Environmental Law and Policy Center at the UC Davis School of Law, said he thought most of the justices were persuaded by the states argument.

They seemed to be skeptical of the homeowners claims that they should be entitled to build the seawall, while simultaneously challenging the constitutionality of that provision, he said.

The case is being closely followed by environmental groups, property rights advocates and coastal homeowners across the state. Roughly a dozen groups have weighed in with friends of the court briefs, including the League of California Cities and the Surfrider Foundation, in support of the Coastal Commission, and the National Association of Realtors and California Building Industry Association, in support of the plaintiffs.

In Encinitas, the median sale price of a single-family home was $918,500 last year, and beach-front homes are among the most coveted in the city. Many of those are perched on sandy cliffs, and rely on seawalls for protection from erosion.

The commission says, however, that such structures actually accelerate erosion of the states cherished public beaches. With sea level projected to rise by three feet or more by the end of the century, the commission says it must keep close tabs on how seawalls affect the sand below.

That debate could remain unresolved, however, if the court decides that the homeowners forfeited their right to challenge the restriction when they built the wall under the permits conditions.

John Groen, executive vice president and general counsel for the Pacific Legal Foundation, which advocates for property rights and is representing the families pro bono, argued that the families accepted the condition under duress.

With their homes threatened by the crumbling bluff, they could not wait to litigate the complaint before starting construction. Moreover, he noted, they filed the lawsuit before receiving the final permit, suggesting that the commission knew of their objections when it issued it.

Then two and a half years later (the commission) said, oh, you waived your rights. said Corn, the private attorney who also represents the plaintiffs. A waiver has to be a knowing and intelligent relinquishment.

At times the justices seemed to sympathize with the homeowners quandary, acknowledging the conflict between their need to act quickly to repair the seawall and their desire to preserve their legal options.

It could be quite a challenge for the homeowner to wait until all of this (is resolved,) Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar said.

Peterson, representing the Coastal Commission, argued that applicants who enjoy the benefits of a permit also accept its burdens, and said California maintains a bright line on that premise. She said the plaintiffs could have applied for an emergency permit, or asked commission to allow them to proceed with litigation while the construction was happening. Cuellar said, however, that the the range of options seemed to muddy that line.

It subtracts from your argument about a bright line rule, he said.

The Supreme Court will decide the matter within 90 days, but its unclear which portions of the arguments it will consider. If the court decides to rule only on whether the homeowners had the right to sue, it may not weigh in on the constitutionality of the time limit, attorneys for both sides said, leaving that question open in future cases.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan
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First flight of the Comac C919

Zodiac Aerospace is a major partner of the program

Plaisir, May 5, 2017 - Zodiac Aerospace is delighted at the first flight of the COMAC C919 which took place today and congratulates COMAC on the success of this important milestone in the development of this new Chinese commercial aircraft.

Zodiac Aerospace is a major partner of this program. The Group is indeed, through its various divisions, the supplier of the evacuation slides, of the passenger oxygen system, of pilot and crew seats, of water and waste system, of galleys, lavatories and cockpit armored door.

About Zodiac Aerospace

Zodiac Aerospace is a world leader in aerospace equipment and systems for commercial, regional and business aircraft and for helicopters and spacecraft. It develops and manufactures state-of-the-art solutions to improve comfort and facilities on board aircraft and high-technology systems to increase aircraft performance and flight safety. Zodiac Aerospace has 35,000 employees worldwide and generated revenue of 5.2bn in 2015/2016. www.zodiacaerospace.com
Longtime Escondido City Attorney Jeffery Epp has unanimously been named city manager of Escondido, the City Council announced at its Wednesday meeting.

Epp replaces Graham Mitchell, who served as city manager for just over a year until resigning for personal reasons in October. Mitchell stayed on until early March at the councils request. Epp has been the acting city manager since then.

Mayor Sam Abed Thursday said more than 100 applications were received for the job but the council decided to go with what they knew was already working.

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We have been watching closely the performance of the interim city attorney and city manager, Abed said. The entire council believes their performance has exceeded our expectations.

The council also announced Wednesday that interim City Attorney Michael McGuinness has been appointed to fill that opening which was created when Epp moved into the managers office.

Epp made headlines last year when the watchdog agency Transparent California reported that his 2015 compensation  which included benefits and cash payouts for unused leave  made him the second highest paid municipal employee in California that year.

It was no secret that Epp, who has worked for Escondido 31 years, had planned to retire in 2017. He said Thursday those plans are on hold, although he declined to say just how long he will stick around.

Im going to be around as long as were making positive changes and building a great city, Epp said. Ill be around indefinitely.

Epp said he will be working with the council on a number of things to improve the safety and appearance and viability and dynamics of our city.

He will focus particularly on parks, Epp said, especially Grape Day Park, and on gangs, graffiti, general appearance of the city and financial issues that could threaten Escondidos future.

As city attorney, Epp had been making a base salary of $252,000 annually. He said his base salary as city manager will be about $286,000 a year, the same amount the city manager of Carlsbad.

My message to the council was we are as good or better than every other city and its time to start acting like it, he said.

In 2015, Epps total compensation was nearly $521,000, with benefits and cash outs of unused leave time, according to Transparent California. In fact, Epp and former Escondido City Manager Clay Phillips had been listed as two of the highest paid municipal employees in the state for three years running. Phillips retired in 2015.

Epp said the inflated figures were because he and Phillips had signed nearly identical contracts in 2013 that allowed them to cash out unused leave time for three years.

The way the state reported those numbers, they reported it as salary, he said this week. It made it look like I had a hugely inflated salary. Thats over now.

Epp said he told the council the only way he would accept the permanent city manager post was on the condition that he had the enthusiastic support of all five members of the council.

Abed said he did.

We truly believe that Jeff Epp brings fresh leadership to the city managers office and hes willing to make changes to reflect the financial challenges that we face.

jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones
At the San Diego Jewish Food Festival in Poway on Sunday, May 7, organizers will sell at least 500 blintzes, 300 pastrami sandwiches, 400 corned beef sandwiches and thousands of rugelach, mandelbrot, hamentashen and black-and-white cookies. And behind all of them will be one very tired kitchen supervisor, Diane Hillman.

Over the past two months, the Escondido retiree and her dozens of volunteers have put in nearly 2,000 hours sifting, chopping, weighing, baking, boiling and cooking items for the sixth-annual event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Temple Adat Shalom.

Hillman grew up cooking Jewish foods by her mothers side and many of the recipes, including her apple strudel, were handed down in her family for generations. Because she believes strudel must be served fresh from the oven, she and her husband, Bill, will once again camp overnight Saturday in the temples parking lot so she can hand-roll and bake her strudel during the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning.

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For Hillman, a retired doctor of pharmacy for Sharp Healthcare, Jewish food is more than sustenance. Its a connection to her childhood and culture.

I found a great deal of joy in cooking my whole life, but my heart is in Jewish cooking, she said. This is Jewish soul food. It not only brings back memories of our family but also memories of our people. Our tribes were truly scattered. There are people of Asian, African, Eastern European and Sephardic descent who are Jewish. We come from all walks of life and from all over the world.

__________________________________

San Diego Jewish Food Festival

When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 7

Where: Temple Adat Shalom, 15905 Pomerado Road, Poway

Tickets: $20 (punch card can be used for any food items). Additional tickets can be purchased onsite

Details: sdjewishfoodfest.com

______________________________________

Hillman grew up in Chicago, where she remembers chasing her mother around the kitchen as a child trying to learn her unwritten recipe for blintzes (crepe-like pastries that are rolled with sweetened cheese and topped with berry sauce).

In her mid-teens, she convinced her parents to enroll her in cooking school, where she learned the different cuts of meat, how to buy fresh fish and much more. Her career in pharmacy meant long workdays, but Hillman said she always made time to cook for her family, particularly Jewish dishes like stuffed cabbage and challah bread.

Six years ago, Temple Adat Shalom created the Jewish Food Festival as a way to raise money for temple programs and to benefit Interfaith Community Services food pantry. Festival co-chair Lou Harris said the event draws about 1,500 people each year, and only about half of them are Jewish.

The first year of the festival, Hillman volunteered in the falafel booth, but when word spread that she was an accomplished cook, she was moved the following year into the kitchen. By year three, she was kitchen supervisor and for the past two years, shes been the events chair. But this year she asked to return to the job of kitchen supervisor because cooking is where her heart is.

The work to organize the event begins a year ahead, when organizers study what sold and what didnt to plan the next years menu. Then two months before the festival, Hillman and her crew of more than a dozen volunteer cooks each spend about 24 hours a week baking the various cookies and other items that freeze well. The final week before the festival is crunch time, where Hillmans crew are in the kitchen all day, every day until Sunday.

Volunteer Mitchell Birenbaum slices pastrami on Thursday for the sandwiches that will be served May 7 at the San Diego Jewish Food Festival at Temple Adat Shalom in Poway. (Don Boomer / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Harris said Hillman is an excellent cook and tireless volunteer and shes also a skilled problem-solver. Besides coordinating the eight-week cooking schedule, she planned out the weekly shopping lists and searched around Poway to find additional refrigerator and freezer space for all the prepared foods.

Shes full of volunteer hours, fights all the headaches related to food storage and has done a very good job. I cant say enough good things about her, Harris said.

This past Wednesday, the crew was rolling the final matzo balls for chicken soup and making tahini sauce for the falafel and hummus dishes. On Thursday, they were cutting, weighing and pre-packaging pastrami for sandwiches. And on Friday, they are scheduled to work in the kosher kitchen at Ner Tamid Synagogue in Poway, preparing spice rubs for the kosher flank steak and kafta sliders that will be grilled at the festival. Other items on the festival menu are pomegranate chicken, kugel, majadrah, salads, knish, latkes and challah.

Wet weather is in the forecast this weekend, but the festival will be held rain or shine. The outside areas will be tented.

Staffed by nearly 150 volunteers, the event will also feature live klezmer music, Jewish dancing and childrens games and activities. There will also be cooking demonstrations by four area chefs: Deborah Scott of Cohn Restaurant Group; Ron Oliver from The Marine Room in La Jolla; Nicoletta Grippo of Eataly NY; and Noor Amiri of Pamir Kabob House.

Tickets are $20, which buys a punch card that festival-goers can use for their choice of items.

Twenty dollars will buy someone a nice meal with a beverage and dessert and enough left over to take something home, she said.

Hillman said one of her favorite parts of the festival each year is seeing how excited people get when they taste the dishes from their childhood, like her great-grandmothers chopped liver, which she prepares with schmaltz (chicken fat).

People have an emotional reaction when they taste it. It takes them back, she said. Its not health food, but its only once a year so we encourage them to indulge themselves for a day. And for people who arent Jewish, they can get a feel for the wonderful tastes of Jewish cuisine.

Temple Adat Shalom is at 15905 Pomerado Road, Poway. For details, visit sdjewishfoodfest.com.

Volunteer Sid Bernsen, left, measures pastrami into 6-ounce portions that will be made into pastrami sandwiches at the sixth annual San Diego Jewish Food Festival at Temple Adat Shalom in Poway on May 7. (Don Boomer / San Diego Union-Tribune)

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com
Long before her name went up on a new performance and gathering space at the Old Globe in 2009, Kathryn Crippen Hattox put the full force of her energy and support behind the Balboa Park theater and other San Diego institutions.

And hers was a formidable force indeed: The former Globe board chairwoman was a fierce advocate for and longtime patron of the arts, and a woman of wide-ranging interests and accomplishments who embraced adventure, world travel and fresh challenges throughout her life.

Mrs. Hattox  known as Kathy to friends and family  died April 29 at her Point Loma home after a short illness. She was 86.

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Born Kathryn Alice Roche in San Diego on Dec. 15, 1930, Hattox grew up in Kensington and graduated from Hoover High School.

It was there that she first developed an interest in drama, said her husband, John S. Hattox.

As a high schooler, she was fascinated by theater, he said. She started going to theatrical productions at the Globe very early in life.

Mrs. Hattox attended San Diego State University, and then graduated from the University of California Los Angeles after her first marriage.

By that time a mother of four children, she became active in the San Diego County Medical Auxiliary and then was admitted to the University of San Diegos law school. After earning her degree, she specialized in estate planning and became an active investor.

Generous with her time, expertise and financial support, Mrs. Hattox served as the Globes board chairwoman in 2006-07, and supported the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Natural History Museum and the San Diego Museum of Art.

She also served recently on the board of San Diego Opera, and assisted organizations outside the arts, including Sharp Memorial Hospital.

A great city needs culture to nourish its soul, a Globe news release quoted her as once saying. San Diego really is one of the finest cities for theater in the country. The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse are treasures.

Overall I believe San Diego is a wonderful center for culture, perhaps more so than any place outside New York.  We should be proud to live in a place with such a rich cultural foundation.

Mrs. Hattox donated $5 million to a Globe capital campaign for building new facilities; her support was honored in 2009 with the naming of Hattox Hall, used as a venue for cabaret performances, lectures and other events.

Kathy Hattox helped shape the cultural vibrancy of our city, and her passing leaves behind an emptiness that will be hard to fill, said Barry Edelstein, the Globes Erna Finci Viterbi artistic director. Her generosity to the Old Globe over decades transformed this institution.

Whenever we meet in our hall that bears her name, we celebrate her impact. She loved theater and loved talking about this art and how it gets made, and she took great pride in the fact that San Diego is a national force in this field.

Kathy was on the committee that hired me, and she took pains to make sure that my family and I settled in happily to our new hometown. I will always cherish our close friendship, and I will hold her up as the ideal of a philanthropist and civic volunteer.

Vicki Zeiger, the Globes current board chairwoman, said Mrs. Hattoxs intellect, her love of the theater, and her love of this community helped to guide the Globe for many years. I looked to her as a former board chair for support and was inspired by her strength, knowledge and generosity. I will personally miss her very much.

Mrs. Hattoxs sense of adventure spurred her to journey to some 100 countries, with John Hattox (who was her third husband) accompanying her on many trips.

Travel was a really important part of our lives, and we looked forward to every trip we took, he said. Kathy had been to Africa three times, and we went twice together. She also had a love of India; she went there four times.

And she was a water lover. She used to swim in San Diego Bay every summer. We had a place in Maui, and she loved snorkeling there.

And then we made a habit of traveling to New York at least once a year and taking in recommended plays there. As a matter of fact, we had planned to go in May, before this catastrophe struck.

My love of the theater came with Kathy. I was casually interested in theater, but never really involved. So I have her to thank for that part of my own life.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Hattox is survived by her daughters, Sue Blessey, Margaret Maas, and Sylvia Maas; three grandchildren, Quentin Cobb, Tay Blessey, Erroll Maas, and a great grandchild, Lily Cobb. Her son, Alex Maas, and her former spouses, Harry Maas and Ken Crippen, preceded her in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to any of the institutions Mrs. Hattox supported. A celebration of her life will be held at the Old Globe on a date to be determined.

She always wanted a celebration of life at the Globe, because she loved it so much, said her husband. So were going to carry through with that.

Twitter: @jimhebert

jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
There arent many people left who do what Mike Zuccaro does: an AM radio music DJ. Yes, thats AM, not FM.

The Mira Mesa resident hosts a weekly show on AM 1170 (KCBQ) called The Saturday Night Sock Hop. From 9 to 11 p.m. he plays classic 50s and 60s rock, R&B and Doo-wop. He takes requests, talks to listeners and makes you feel like youre back in the early days of rock n roll.

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Zuccaro, who moved to San Diego from New York in 1984, tells us how this full-time stereo repair guy became a disc jockey.

Q: Why did you start The Saturday Night Sock Hop?

A: There was nothing at all I wanted to listen to on the radio anymore. It was just awful and got tired of complaining about the quality of radio. I was lucky KCBQ sold me a few hours affordably or it would never have happened. I had zero radio experience. I knew for sure I couldnt do any worse than I was hearing on the air.

Q: For those of us who may not remember, when was the golden era of AM radio and what was it like?

A: The Golden Era of AM radio was the 30s and 40s, lets say the Silver Era was the 50s through the mid-70s. Radio was fun, dynamic and the DJs seemed to really know how to put across the music to the audience. I grew up listening to Dan Ingram on WABC and Jack Spector on WCBS-FM. There was no one better than these two guys, then or now.

Q: What is it like to be one of the few people playing music on AM radio?

A: Its an honor and a privilege, especially since its such a novelty. AM always had a different vibe than FM, and I can assure you that Ill be the last guy doing it. If AM keeps going all deadly-dull political, religious and money talk, it will be dead altogether in 5 years. Its almost there now. This old rock n roll fits perfectly.

Q: Do you play actual records or is the music digital?

A: The show early on was off a lot of vinyl, but the table was pulled out when the studio was remodeled. Now its CDs and digital, but I program the whole show. The computer picks nothing, it just runs the tunes.

Q: You take requests, what are the top five songs people ask for?

A: People request everything. There is really no one most common tune. Remember there were more than 15,000 group recordings and many thousands more duets, instrumentals and single performers to choose from. The age range and the music requests are pretty wide. Sometimes theyre not tunes I would normally program, but 99 percent of the time, Ill play em if they request em. Not much is requested from the very early years of doo-wop since few people remember it. Whenever you hear it on my show, its almost always because I decided to play it.

Q: Why do you like oldies so much?

A: Its good time, fun music that sounds so different from what came just a little later, 1966 or 67. I was about 12 when WCBS-FM in New York started its great format that ran the gamut from 1951 to the latest top 40 hits, and even then it just clicked with me right away. And now it bothers me that its virtually completely gone from the radio, thanks to the tacit agreement of almost all program directors and music directors. What a mistake ...

Q: What was the first concert you ever attended?

A: A Dick Clark Best of the 50s show featuring Fats Domino back in New York around the late 70s. Im not a big fan of live shows (though I saw the Beach Boys recently and that was something else), I usually much prefer playing the original hits by the original artists.

Q: Do you listen to modern music?

A: I always tune in to the radio twice a day looking and listening for something that moves me. It rarely happens. But there is so much being released directly to the web by the artists themselves, that Im sure Im missing something.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?

A: I read a lot. Ive got, easily, more than 500 books at home.

Q: Where is the best coffee in San Diego?

A: Anywhere its not two bucks a cup!

Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.

A: Easy  both swap meets (Kobeys and Santee), hopefully some cool piece of old stereo gear or radio gear picked up cheap, maybe a good book sale, the show on Saturday night and dinner with good friends on Sunday night.
Although thousands upon thousands of well-meaning Americans on Facebook and Twitter are asking people to pray for the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, the grunts arent suffering any casualties in Afghanistan. Theyre home at Camp Pendleton, preparing to deploy to sea.

The latest hoax seems to have broken out on Facebook in late February before dying down in mid-March. It has come roaring back in recent days, however, triggering a flood of social-media support for the Darkhorse battalion that once suffered heavy losses in Afghanistan but isnt actually in combat now.

We are asking everyone to say a prayer for Darkhorse 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and their families. They are fighting it out in Afghanistan and have lost nine Marines in four days. Please repost this, reads the typical message being circulated on social media.

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As the rumors circulated in March and April, the battalion was training for a future deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Between March 24 and April 4, for example, 3/5 Marines underwent a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Camp Pendleton.

This week, elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit have been participating in a Composite Unit Training Exercise  COMPTUEX  off the coast of Southern California aboard the Navys amphibious assault ship America.

The urban legend about 3/5 Marines currently suffering major combat losses in Afghanistan has roots in truth.

Deployed to Afghanistans restive Helmand Province in 2010-11, 3/5 Marines and the 1st Combat Engineers suffered 25 deaths and nearly 200 wounded. Some of the most brutal fighting was concentrated near the district of Sangin, triggering widespread support on the social media from well-wishers at the time.

After the Darkhorse Marines rotated home, calls for prayers for their safety continued to flare up in late 2012, both the summer and late winter of 2013, the summers of 2014 and 2015, late December of 2015 and then again two months ago, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune analysis of Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Twitter and Facebook followers often have demanded to know why the mainstream media or MSM refused to cover the old story, failing to realize that the Union-Tribune and other news outlets reported extensively about the Darkhorse battalions real deployment of 2010-11 in Afghanistan.

Internet rumor-slayer Snopes.com updated a special page on the Darkhorse dilemma on May 1, pointing to articles about the earlier deployment in the Union-Tribune and its sister paper the Los Angeles Times. Snopes rated the latest eruption of 3/5 prayer requests outdated.

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cprine@sduniontribune.com
Three World War II aviators  including two whose planes went down in combat  took to the skies again on Thursday in the same kind of vintage aircraft they hadnt touched in 70 years.

Among them was U.S. Army Air Corps. Capt. Freelin Alan Carlton, 98, who boarded a fully restored B-24 Liberator at the Ramona Airport, happy to be a passenger for a short flight to Carlsbad as part of the annual Wings of Freedom Tour.

Its still my favorite plane, Carlton said, after the Liberator landed.

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Getting onto the plane was difficult for Carlton, who uses a walker to get around. He bumped his leg while climbing aboard, and one pant leg was bloody. Still, he was eager to go.

It was a darn good plane, he said in anticipation. To fly it was to love it.

Also on the B-24 was retired Brig. Gen. Robert Cardenas, 97, who was shot down by the Germans on his 20th mission near the border of Switzerland on March 18, 1944. He was rescued by the Swiss, and spent the next few months in Switzerland overseeing the repairs of damaged Allied aircraft.

1 / 23 97-year-old Retired Air Force Brigadier General Robert Cardenas rides in the WWII Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, Witchcraft, like the B-24s he flew and was shot down in during World War II. The flight from Ramona to Carlsbad was part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour stop at the McClellan-Palomar Airport in through Sunday. This was there first time since the end of WWII he had been in a B-24. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 23 The WWII Consolidated B-24 bomber, Witchcraft, with pilot Jim Pappy Goolsby, co-pilot Mark Pollard and flight engineer Gary Dunn on the flight deck, make their way from Ramona to McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad as part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour stop in Carlsbad through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 23 Army Air Corps Tech. Sgt. Rudolph Rudy Villalobos, who turns 94 next month flew Thursday in the B-17 Flying Fortress Nine-O-Nine, similar to the one he was a radio operator and gunner in and was a crew member on during D-Day, talks with Air Force retired Brig. Gen. Robert Cardenas, 97, who was a B-24 pilot and shot down by the Germans on his 20th mission near the border of Switzerland on March 18, 1944, when he was a Capt. They flew in their respective planes as passengers, Villalobos in the Nine-O-Nine, and Cardenas in the B-24 Liberator, Witchcraft, on the short flight from Ramona to McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad where the planes will be with the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 23 One of two .50 caliber waist gunner positions on the WWII Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, Witchcraft, as it approaches McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour stop through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 23 98-year-old Alan Carlton is assisted as he gets into the WWII Consolidated B-24 bomber, Witchcraft, like the B-24s he flew and was shot down in on this 15th mission as a pilot over Germany. The flight from Ramona to Carlsbad was part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour stop at the McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 23 The WWII Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Nine-O-Nine, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour is at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. It arrived there from Ramona, Thursday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 23 The tail gunners position of the WWII Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, Witchcraft, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour which is at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 23 The WWII Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, Witchcraft, with pilot Jim Pappy Goolsby and co-pilot Mark Pollard make their way from Ramona to McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad as part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour stop in Carlsbad through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 23 Army Air Corps. Capt. Freelin Alan Carlton, 98, walks away from the WWII Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, Witchcraft, after arriving at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad on the plane from Ramona. He flew B-24s during the war and was shot down in one similar to it. The stop in Carlsbad is part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour which is at the airport through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 23 Tondelayo, a North American Mitchell B-25 bomber takes off from the Ramona Airport. Its one of the four WWII planes that will be at the McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 23 WWII Consolidated B-24 bomber, Witchcraft, makes its way from Ramona to McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad as part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour stop through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 23 Visitors climb up the ladder to the WWII Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Nine-O-Nine, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour that is at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. It arrived there from Ramona, Thursday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 23 The tail gunners position of the WWII Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Nine-O-Nine, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour that at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday, it arrived there from Ramona, Thursday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 23 The WWII Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Nine-O-Nine, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour is at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. It arrived there from Ramona, Thursday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 23 The WWII Consolidated B-24 bomber, Witchcraft, will be on display and flying from the McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad as part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour stop through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 23 The WWII Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Nine-O-Nine, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour is at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. It arrived there from Ramona, Thursday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 23 WWII Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, Witchcraft, co-pilot Mark Pollard, during the flight from Ramona to McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad as part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour stop at the McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 23 Army Air Corps Tech. Sgt. Rudolph Rudy Villalobos, who turns 94 next month, holds his original flight jacket with the bombing missions he was on in the 8th Air Force. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 19 / 23 Tondelayo, a North American Mitchell B-25 bomber is one of the four WWII planes that will be at the McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 20 / 23 The WWII Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Nine O Nine, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour is at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, through Sunday. It arrived there from Ramona Thursday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 21 / 23 The WWII Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Nine-O-Nine, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour is at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. It arrived there from Ramona Thursday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 22 / 23 One of two .50 caliber waist gunner positions on the WWII Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber, Witchcraft, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour which is at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune) 23 / 23 The WWII Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, Nine-O-Nine, part of the Collings Foundations Wings of Freedom tour is at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad through Sunday. It arrived there from Ramona, Thursday. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune)

I was the command pilot for the bomb group, he said, which included about 18 planes. That mission was so tough, we lost 50 percent of the bombers.

On Thursday, what transported him back in time more than anything else was the sound of the airplanes four loud, droning engines, Cardenas said.

What I remember most is that noise constantly, for seven or eight hours ... flying in formation, he said. The fun began when they started shooting the flak up.

Rudy Villalobos, 93, left, talks with Air Force retired Brig. Gen. Robert Cardenas, 97, right, before taking to the skies as passengers for the short flight from Ramona to McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad. (Howard Lipin / San Diego Union-Tribune)

Rudolph Rudy Villalobos, who turns 94 next month, flew Thursday in a B-17 Flying Fortress that was also part of the tour.

That was my plane, Villalobos said. I was a radio operator and gunner  we knocked down three German planes.

He flew 32 missions in the war, including two over Normandy Beach during the D-Day invasion of France.

No one knew what was about to happen, he said. At 3 or 4 in the morning on June 6, 1944, Villalobos and the rest of his crew were escorted to the briefing room, where a curtain was drawn to reveal a map with a ribbon from England to the coast of France.

The amazing part was trying to get into the air without hitting somebody, he said. We were 2,000 to 3,000 planes out there.

Their orders and the target for the D-Day bombing mission were in a sealed envelope that they opened after they were thousands of feet in the air.

The Wings of Freedom Tour is run by the Collings Foundation, a nonprofit educational group founded in 1979.

The veterans on Thursdays flights were all from the San Diego area. Several family members attended to watch the takeoff and landing.

Also aboard the B-17 was Tom Crosby, who remembers the airplane as his savior.

Now 83, the first time Crosby saw one of the planes was in September 1944 when the Americans flew in to liberate the Japanese prison camp where he and his family had been held for three years. He was one of about 300 children in the camp.

My mom worked for the Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, he said. He was 8 years old when his family was captured.

When I got out (at age 11), I weighed 48 pounds, he said. We were one of the lucky families, (because) all five of us got out.

The B-24, one of the workhorses of World War II, was designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego. About 19,000 of the planes were built in San Diego and four other plants across the United States. The B-24 on the Collings Foundation tour is believed to be the last one still in flying condition.

The two heavy bombers, along with B-25 Mitchell medium-sized bomber and a P-51 Mustang fighter plane will be on display near the Western Aviation hangar in Carlsbad from 2 to 5 p.m. daily through Sunday.

The Wings of Freedom Tour will then continue on to Riverside May 8-10 and Santa Ana May 10-14.
Ron Vitiello took a trip down memory lane Thursday, making a visit to the high school library where he studied as a teenage boy and began to think about his future.

He said his senior yearbook quote was not something that would be considered inspirational but was prophetic nonetheless.

There was something about going out and getting a good job, Vitiello said. That was my aspiration. And I predicted my own future.

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Vitiello, 53, a career Border Patrol official, was appointed chief of the federal agency by President Trump in January.

The 1981 Santana graduate spoke to nearly 50 students taking criminal justice and U.S. history classes about life as a teenager in the mid-1970s and early 80s in Santee.

Those were the days, he recalled, when people referred this this as the sticks, although it certainly isnt that now. And it wasnt then.

Vitiello was born in suburban Chicago but moved to California as he was going into his freshman year of high school. He attended Helix for one semester before attending Santana.

I had wonderful experiences at this school, Vitiello said. I made good friends and I learned a lot.

He gave high marks to his history and automotive shop teachers for life lessons they taught him. Being informed about world events and being accountable, were some of the most important, he said.

(High school) is a good time to start thinking about what the future is like, and what you want to accomplish as an individual, he said. Its good to think about where you want to be in 10 years.

Vitiello told the students that being in the Border Patrol has cemented his work ethic, which he said was always strong. He started his patrol career in 1985 in Texas.

He said things have changed a lot since he first started, including growth from 3,000 Border Patrol agents then to more than 19,000 today.

Vitiello served as deputy chief under President Obama before his promotion to chief.

His appointment came a week after former Chief Mark Morgan resigned, and after the presidents pledge to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. Morgan had held the post for seven months.

The current administration has a lot of support for (what we do), Vitiello said. And we feel like weve got some momentum, that we are capable of doing more.

He also said that American residents seem now to have a better understanding of the important role Border Patrol agents have, in not only stopping illegal entry into the United States but also apprehending drug smugglers and human traffickers.

People do care about what we do now in a way they didnt when I started my career, Vitiello said.

He was accompanied by a group of other Border Patrol agents, several of them with East County ties, including Richard Barlow, chief patrol agent for the San Diego sector.

Barlows son, Alex, graduated from Santana last year.

Santana Principal Tim Schwuchow said Vitiellos visit was orchestrated by Santana government teacher Doug Coffin, who knew Vitiello was a Santana graduate.

While in San Diego County, Vitiello said he would be going to Eastlake, to the San Diego sector there, but no trip was planned to Otay Mesa, where the Department of Homeland Security has proposed to build border wall prototypes in June.

He will be speaking at a convention in San Diego later this week for the Fraternal Order of Retired Border Patrol agents.
The California Supreme Court grilled attorneys for the California Coastal Commission and two Encinitas homeowners Thursday in a hearing over a seawall dispute that could affect oceanfront homes all along the coast.

Neighbors Tom Frick and Barbara Lynch are challenging whether the commission has the authority to impose a 20-year expiration date on the permit for a seawall the pair built after a decades-old structure collapsed during a 2010 storm.

That question could be preempted, however, by the commissions contention that the property owners waived their right to sue over the matter when they built the new wall.

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Many of the justices rapid-fire questions Thursday focused on the latter issue. If the court finds that the homeowners waived their rights, it could choose not to rule on whether the 20-year time limit violates the state Constitution  the question central to the commissions authority over some of the most prized properties in the state.

In their lawsuit, the Frick and Lynch families call the time limit an unconstitutional regulatory taking of private property, which devalued their homes.

In some of their questions, the justices appeared to push back against that argument, noting that, for now, the permit was secure and so were the homes.

Deputy Atty. Gen. Hayley Peterson, representing the commission, said that after the permit expires, theres no reason to assume the agency would deny a new one.

And if they do, thats the time to litigate a taking, said Justice Kathryn M. Werdegar. The possibility that the commission may deny this in 20 years, does not constitute a taking today.

Nonetheless, she acknowledged that government taking also can occur because of onerous conditions that diminish the value of homes.

Jon Corn, an Encinitas land use attorney who represents the families, said uncertainty over the permits renewal casts a cloud over the properties that damages their worth and marketability.

That argument prevailed in San Diego Superior Court, but the commission challenged the decision.

The 4th District Court of Appeals concluded that the commission could impose the time limit, and the homeowners had waived their right to dispute it when they accepted the permit. The homeowners appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The Coastal Commission declined to comment on Thursdays hearing, but Rick Frank, director of the California Environmental Law and Policy Center at the UC Davis School of Law, said he thought most of the justices were persuaded by the states argument.

They seemed to be skeptical of the homeowners claims that they should be entitled to build the seawall, while simultaneously challenging the constitutionality of that provision, he said.

The case is being closely followed by environmental groups, property rights advocates and coastal homeowners across the state. Roughly a dozen groups have weighed in with friend-of-the-court briefs, including the League of California Cities and the Surfrider Foundation, in support of the Coastal Commission, and the National Assn. of Realtors and California Building Industry Assn., in support of the plaintiffs.

In Encinitas, the median sale price of a single-family home was $918,500 last year, and beachfront homes are among the most coveted in the city. Many of those are perched on sandy cliffs and rely on seawalls for protection from erosion.

According to the commission, however, such structures actually accelerate erosion of the states public beaches. With sea level projected to rise by three feet or more by the end of the century, the commission said it must keep close tabs on how seawalls affect the sand below.

That debate could remain unresolved if the court decides that the homeowners in the current case forfeited their right to challenge the restriction when they built the wall under the permits conditions.

John Groen, executive vice president and general counsel for the Pacific Legal Foundation, which advocates for property rights and is representing the families pro bono, argued that the families accepted the condition under duress.

With their homes threatened by the crumbling bluff, they could not wait to litigate the complaint before starting construction. Moreover, he said, they filed the lawsuit before receiving the final permit, suggesting that the commission knew of their objections when it issued it.

At times the justices seemed to sympathize with the homeowners quandary, acknowledging the conflict between their need to act quickly to repair the seawall and their desire to preserve their legal options.

It could be quite a challenge for the homeowner to wait until all of this is resolved, Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar said.

The Supreme Court will decide the matter within 90 days.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com

Brennan writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune
Insects and disease are killing an unprecedented number of Southern Californias urban trees, but each day on his way to work, Los Angeles County plant pathologist Jerrold Turney sees opportunity amid the biological nightmare.

On the drive between his home in South Pasadena and his laboratory in South Gate, he takes stock of the survivors, the trees that offer some hope to the region.

Theres dead and dying liquidambars, oleanders and olives almost everywhere you look, he said, backing his car out of the driveway.

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Sycamores and plums? Forget it. He snapped his fingers. They go like that.

But there are winners out there too, he said. Ginkgoes, Southern magnolias, pink trumpets, pepper and pines are hanging in there. I would even recommend replanting with pecans, if youve got room for those huge trees.

Amid the devastation, the race has begun to develop new lists of stronger, less vulnerable trees.

Its a first step in trying to reconstruct the treescape of Los Angeles and surrounding communities, which is withering under a deadly confluence of invasive pests, prolonged drought and climate change.

An estimated 27 million trees are at risk of infestation in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including parts of the desert. Thats roughly 38% of the 71 million trees in the 4,244-square-mile urban region with a population of about 20 million people.

The polyphagous shot hole borer and its cousin, the Kuroshio shot hole borer, are known to transmit a fatal fungal disease in 64 species of trees across Southern California, including willows, avocados, palo verdes, sycamores and Japanese maples.

The goldspotted oak borer has killed tens of thousands of drought-stressed oak trees from San Diego County to Los Angeles County. The aphid-size Asian citrus psyllid is transferring an incurable bacterial disease as it feasts on citrus leaves. Oleander leaf scorch is an incurable bacterial disease spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a flying insect. The South American palm weevil threatens palms throughout the region.

Oleanders in South Pasadena show symptoms of leaf scorch, a bacterial disease transmitted by an insect called the glass-winged sharpshooter. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

So far, state and local government agencies have been slow to react with plans to address the devastation, which stands to significantly change the way Southern California looks, feels and smells and the way Southern Californians live.

Part of the problem is a lack of knowledge about how many trees have been attacked and how likely it is that some species will rebound.

Methods to reduce the threat posed by the onslaught of pests, many of them new arrivals with poorly understood life cycles, are the focus of debates among research scientists, arborists and urban planners.

The Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services, which is responsible for trees in the citys public right-of-ways, relies on a tree inventory compiled in 1996. It stopped planting trees in 2008 because of budget cuts, and it limits its services to removal of dead, dying or hazardous trees.

We need to start dressing up our communities with trees suited for the future climate we are transitioning into.  Jonathan Parfrey, executive director, Climate Resolve

Yet without an accurate inventory, it is all but impossible for the agency to devise a plan to protect its trees from invasive, fast-spreading insects, according to a report conducted in 2015.

In San Diego County, officials contend green leaves on the sprouts of 144,000 willows in Tijuana River Valley Regional Park attacked by shot hole borer beetles last year show they are growing back at a fast pace.

Akif Eskalen, a plant pathologist at UC Riverside, however, says that when those sprouts grow larger than 1 inch in diameter, the beetles will bore into them too.

Such disagreements, he said, can complicate efforts to obtain funding and approvals for research needed to develop a response to the devastating insect attacks.

The cost of removing and replacing the 27 million trees at risk of infestation by the most destructive threat, polyphagous shot hole borers, would exceed $36 billion if all were to die, according to a study by Greg McPherson, a research forester with the U.S. Forest Service.

Cities and counties spending heavily on removing troubled trees within their jurisdictions are prohibited from assisting private property owners, who must pay commercial operators an average of $1,000 per large tree to clear the deadwood.

Meanwhile, the race is on to develop new lists of trees that are less susceptible to invasive pests, prolonged drought and climate change.

The look of Southern Californias green canopies has changed several times over the past two centuries. Untold numbers of native oaks and sycamores fell in the 1800s to ranchers eager to expand grazing land. In the 1950s and 60s, developers turned their noses up at those species, landscaping their subdivisions instead with huge numbers of nonnative trees, including palms, crape myrtles, olives and liquidambars, also known as American sweet gum.

This time around, planners hope to learn from the regions mistakes.

We need to start dressing up our communities with trees suited for the future climate we are transitioning into, said Jonathan Parfrey, executive director of the environmental nonprofit Climate Resolve.

Ficus trees on Main Street in Alhambra show symptoms of botryosphaeria canker according, to Los Angeles County plant pathologist Jerrold Turney. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Sycamores, purple leaf plum, liquidambars and olive trees already have fallen off the list of trees recommended by City Plants, a city of Los Angeles agency that provides free trees to residents and plants street trees. Instead, it has increased plantings of black acacia, African sumac and Brisbane box trees, among other hardy species.

Turney, the plant pathologist, has made a habit of taking deliberately circuitous routes to work in the interest of making informal spot checks of the damage.

Some of the hardest hit areas include the city of Pasadena, home of the Rose Parade and winner of this years Tree City USA honor by the National Arbor Day Foundation; Alhambra; Arcadia; Claremont; and South Pasadena, Turney said.

I understand the concern in peoples voices when they ask: How can I save my trees? What can I replace them with? Turney said.

Less than a mile from his home, Turney brought his car to an abrupt stop along a broad street median in Alhambra dominated by rows of ficus microcarpa more than 50 feet tall. Lets go for a walk, he said.

Moments later, he was striding beneath the boughs of the trees that had lost most of their leaves from a fungal disease that had coated their branches with a sooty residue.

Just a few years ago, this was one of the prettiest streets in California, he said. Now, its going to cost Alhambra a chunk of money to rip out all these trees. And once theyre gone, nearby residents can expect to see their monthly electricity bills rise by 20% because it will be harder to keep their houses cool in summer without the shade.

In Alhambras nearby historic and tidy Emery Park Hills neighborhood, Maria Luz, 66, like many of her neighbors, opted to save some money by paying a commercial arborist to trim, rather than remove, three 20-foot-tall liquidambars stricken with what she described as a plague.

Theres dead and dying liquidambars, oleanders and olives almost everywhere you look.  Jerrold Turney, Los Angeles County plant pathologist

The arborist said if we only trim, we could keep them around awhile longer, Luz said in Spanish. Otherwise, it would have cost us $300 to remove each tree, plus more money to grind up the stumps.

A few miles away, in Pasadena, self-employed recycler Ernesto Cousin, 57, was methodically emptying the water remaining in plastic bottles hed plucked out of local trash bins onto the base of a ficus tree.

Looks like it could use some help, he said.

I remember when all these trees were so thick and full of life you couldnt see the sky above them, he said. Now, they dont look so good, and most people around here blame it on the drought. But its not that. Something else is wrong.

Im going to help them in any way I can, he said, until theres not one leaf left on their branches.

Louis.Sahagun@latimes.com

@LouisSahagun

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Whether on two feet, two wheels or four legs, Pacific Beach remains a great place to get a ticket.

Public records obtained by Data Watch show the bar-friendly neighborhood  long a favorite among tourists and partygoers, and already a leader in tickets issued to bicyclists and jaywalkers  accounted for more off-leash dog citations than any other in San Diego since 2012.

City rules require leashes on any animal, fowl, or bird of any kind in city-owned spaces outside of city-designated off-leash dog parks and training areas. Tickets written for alleged violations of those provisions start at $50, with various assessments could bring the total to as high as $400.

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Police officers wrote 678 such citations over the past five years citywide, more than of third of which were issued in Pacific Beach.

That tally does not include 864 similar tickets written by San Diego Countys Department of Animal Services. Records turned over by the department, which handles animal-related code enforcement for the city, show its officers doled out more tickets in Pacific Beachs ZIP code than anywhere else since 2012. The department did not immediately provide a more detailed geographic breakdown of those citations.

Nearly one in 10 police-authored tickets was accompanied by a separate write-up for low-level offenses that ranged from drinking in public and littering on the beach to driving without a license and using seditious language. Police arrested six people on charges that included an off-leash dog violation. Department spokeswoman Sgt. Lisa McKean said she didnt have enough information on the arrests to comment further.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, almost one-third of the citys off-leash tickets were issued within the sprawling confines of Balboa and Mission Bay parks.

But Pacific Beach accounted for more than both parks combined, racking up 238 tickets from February 2012 through the end of March  or more than half of all off-leash tickets written in San Diego neighborhoods.

Its unclear why police wrote nearly one citation per week in a neighborhood that makes up only 3 percent of the citys population. McKean said it would require conjecture to answer questions about whats behind those numbers.

Laurie Joniaux, North County Region Deputy Director for the San Diego Department of Animal Services, said her office writes such tickets only when they receive a complaint, and only if one of their 31 enforcement officers is not already handling a more pressing concern.

We never go looking for problems, Joniaux said. So if (tickets are written) in a particular area, its because its complaint-driven.

Citation data puts 79-acre Kate Sessions Park, renowned for its eye-popping views of downtown and the Pacific Ocean, at the heart of Pacific Beachs off-leash dog problem.

No place in the neighborhood has racked up more tickets for the offense since 2012, though unlike most of the areas other off-leash dog hotspots, the hilltop park sits about 1.5 miles from the neighborhoods famed bars and beaches, and a full mile from Mission Bay.

The local residents like to stand up on their hind legs and get out here with video cameras, said David Davidson of Clairemont, visiting the park with his Maltese, Brodie. They think its their park and their park alone.

He and others said the police would go to great lengths to catch off-leash rule violators, describing sting operations that featured officers lying in wait behind bushes or sneaking up on offenders in darkened police cruisers.

Davidson was handed an off-leash ticket at the park in December 2014. It came to $280, he said, although it was later whittled down after an appearance in front of a sympathetic traffic court judge.

She said, on the record, that she didnt think it was right that we charge as much for an off-leash ticket as we do for a moving violation, Davidson recalled. I thanked her, because I agreed 100 percent.

Its revenue generation, theres no question about why theyre doing it.

Ron Bishop, a park regular with two golden retrievers, seconded that view. The part-time Pacific Beach resident was surprised the neighborhood wasnt subject to even more tickets in recent years.

Its certainly a source of income, he said of the citations. Where does the money go for these tickets? How do they use it? Because these tickets are not cheap.

Nearby Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and La Jolla also landed among San Diegos top-ticketed neighborhoods for off-leash dog violations.

Those four areas, together with Mission Bay and Balboa parks, made up 90 percent of violations citywide.

Sunday was the most popular day to receive such a ticket, most of which were written between March and November, under the extra sunlight provided by Daylight Savings Time.

Nearly five dozen people received multiple off leash dog-related tickets over the past five years.

A 41-year-old San Diego man was cited on four occasions. A 35-year-old man was ticketed twice in the same week.

Citywide, the typical accused violator of off-leash rules was a white 27-year-old male.
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Reactions were swift Thursday after Congress narrowly passed an Obamacare overhaul bill, with most in San Diego expressing significant concerns about the new American Health Care Act which now must spend some time in the Senate.

In general, that reaction wave seemed to break into two camps: Those who though it went way too far and those who didnt think it went nearly far enough.

In San Diegos North County, two women typified that split. Both are currently on Obamacare plans, and both have studied the Affordable Care Act closely since it passed in 2010.

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Cynthia Parkinson of Encinitas, who said she has been taking medication for a tumor on her pituitary gland since 2000, saw higher prices in her future if the Senate goes the way of Congress.

I think what youll find is that the plans going forward wont be as comprehensive as what we have now under the ACA. The prices are going up, and I think theyre going to give the Congress ways to get around paying for pre-existing conditions, Parkinson said.

She added that she is happy with her current plan which costs her $315 a month after an income-based subsidy reduces her premium by hundreds of dollars. It was $913 per month before Obamacare, she added. And those folks who report not being able to keep their doctors? Well, she hasnt seen that.

I can go to the same doctor I had before. Every doctor that Ive gone to has accepted my Obamacare, Parkinson said, adding that shed rather have a single-payer system than what was approved Thursday morning.

Nancy Walery of Escondido, on the other hand, said she thinks the new plan looks way too much like the system it replaced. She would have preferred, she said, to do away with all of the subsidies and other requirements that remain in the AHCA which many are starting to call Trumpcare.

Why do I need to have the government sitting between me and my health insurance? What I need is a competitive market where I can choose what I want, Walery said.

Last year, she said, she spent hours on the phone with Covered California, the states health insurance exchange, trying to untangle a financial mess that occurred when her husband dropped his Obamacare coverage to enroll in Medicare. She was temporarily thrown into Medi-Cal coverage, and that experience, she said, left her certain that the government is just never going to get this right.

Though she reserved final judgement until she learns more about the current bills particulars, what she has heard so far, she said, makes her feel like Congressional leadership is making too many compromises.

Theyre so gun shy about being picked on by the Democrats that they cant even make a decent decision, Walery said, adding that she reserves judgement on the new bill until she learns more, but is leaning towardsupports some sort of subsidies for those with pre-existing conditions who cant afford their premiums.

National, state and local-level leaders were quick to issue statements Thursday:

Gov. Jerry Brown: This cruel and ill-conceived bill  the so-called American Health Care Act  rushed to a vote with no fiscal analysis, will hurt American families and its bad for California. Millions will lose coverage, those with pre-existing conditions will be abandoned and costs will skyrocket.

Duane Dauner, chief executive, California Hospital Association: California leads the nation in expanding health care coverage, with 91 percent of all Californians now covered. If the current version of the AHCA is enacted, some of this gain could be undone, resulting in a loss of health care coverage for many Californians.

Rep. Darrell Issa: Lets stop pretending Obamacare is going to fix itself or that somehow, someday, its going to get better. Todays vote gives a voice to the victims of Obamacare, the millions of Americans who are paying higher premiums, receiving less coverage and for whom the status quo offered no end in sight.

Peter Lee, director, Covered California: We have analyzed the American Health Care Act, and as currently structured, it would greatly increase the ranks of the uninsured and increase costs for millions more.

Rep. Scott Peters: This vote takes us one step closer to going back to a system where families go bankrupt over an unexpected illness and our emergency rooms are filled with mothers seeking basic care for their children.

Rep. Susan Peters: Its a sad day for the constituents who called my office worried about losing their coverage. This bill will provide fewer protections, less coverage, and higher costs. All to pay for a major tax cut for millionaires.

Chris Van Gorder, chief executive, Scripps Health: This is just one more example of our elected officials refusing to compromise and work together for the good of the country. As I have said many times over many years  health care should not be political  its personal  its about life and death. No health care legislation approved by only one party will last the test of time.

Rep. Juan Vargas: Today is a disappointing and scary day for millions of Americans. House Republicans voted to take away health care from 24 million people, increase out of pocket costs for families, undermine individuals living with pre-existing conditions, and force seniors to pay more for their health care.

Dr. James Veltmeyer, a San Diego family medicine physician whose wife struggled with breast cancer on an Obamacare plan: Im disillusioned. From a doctors perspective, it doesnt do anything to save lives or reduce costs. Its still about mandates from people who dont give care or receive it. They could have been bold and structured a health care system that put doctors and patients back in charge of their health care, but they didnt.

Health Playlist On Now Video: Why aren't Americans getting flu shots? 0:37 On Now Video: Leaders urge public to help extinguish hepatitis outbreak On Now San Diego starts cleansing sidewalks, streets to combat hepatitis A On Now Video: Scripps to shutter its hospice service On Now Video: Scripps La Jolla hospitals nab top local spot in annual hospital rankings On Now Video: Does a parent's Alzheimer's doom their children? On Now Video: Vaccine can prevent human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer 0:31 On Now 23 local doctors have already faced state discipline in 2017 0:48 On Now EpiPen recall expands On Now Kids can add years to your life

paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1850

Twitter: @paulsisson
A few months ago, I adopted a fat, fuzzy 8-year-old puss named Gus at the local animal shelter on one of its Five Dollar Feline Fridays  a discount day that helps it clear out elderly cats that might otherwise be put down. Hes a great buddy even though he occasionally gets in a literal pissing contest with one of my other male cats.

Most animal-lovers are like me. We will put up with an amazing amount of annoyance, expense (and pee) to keep them around. Its not entirely rational. Ask the person who spends thousands of dollars on surgery for an aging dog. But our societys approach toward caring for unwanted pets often is mired in controversy.

Localities operate, or contract out, shelters such as the one that housed Gus. They usually are clean but bleak places overwhelmed by unwanted pets  a large percentage of which are put down to make room for new ones. The typical response by policy makers: seek more public dollars or new laws designed to reduce the number of strays.

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For instance, Los Angeles County officials this month have introduced a mandatory spay and neuter law for cats (in unincorporated areas) that is touted as a model for other locales. Currently, dog owners there are required to spay and neuter their pets. About 70 percent of cats brought into county shelters end up being killed, compared with 30 percent of dogs, according to the Los Angeles Times. But it is unclear whether such laws will fix the problem or create unintended consequences.

Theres long been a contentious debate about mandatory spay-and-neuter edicts. Several years ago state legislators pushed that approach, but the measure died. This year so far, the only related state bill is a resolution creating Pet Care Education Month to encourage people to spay, neuter and otherwise care for their pets. Its as toothless as a 20-year-old dog.

Opponents of spay/neuter laws argue they are ineffective. Most middle-class people dig deeply into their wallets to take care of their pets. The burden falls heavily on the poor, who cant afford the high cost of veterinary procedures and risk losing their prized companions. Most kittens euthanized in Los Angeles County are feral. Its hard to see how additional fines would cut back on kittens born in the wild, or on the pit-bull-looking dogs that crowd most animal shelters.

Instead, such laws could lead to more unwanted animals as people who cant afford to spay or neuter their pets end up surrendering them to the shelter after being cited by animal control agents. Many of the backyard breeders such laws target are scofflaws anyway. This effort reminds me of a quotation from Plato: Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.

Activists who champion no kill alternatives argue for a different approach to running shelters  and the creation of many more low-cost spay and neuter clinics. Make it easy and affordable to do the right thing, and experience shows that people will, argue Nathan and Jennifer Winograd, in their blog promoting alternatives to euthanasia.

Because local governments largely fund shelters, little innovation takes place. Typically, the shelters arent open during convenient shopping hours. The prices rarely reflect supply and demand. Five Dollar Feline Fridays was one of the rare instances Ive seen where shelters try a little creativity in their marketing.

The incentive to take care of animals would be greater if we didnt have the government (doing) it for us, said Tibor Machan, a Chapman University professor who writes extensively about animal-rights issues. With a private approach, we would get more creative solutions and not throw animals into a defective system run by a bureaucracy.

Machan isnt claiming to have some easy solution. Neither am I. Given how much people care about animals, though, its hard to believe the current system is the best we can do  or that a spate of mandatory spay/neuter laws will fix the problem. Maybe more cats like Gus could find good homes if we thought outside the box, or at least outside the typical animal-shelter model.
One day in February, agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched a home on a quiet street in the Los Angeles County city of Sierra Madre, and left with enough guns to fill two trucks.

The home was owned by Pasadena police Lt. Vasken Gourdikian, the departments spokesman and former top aide to the chief. Federal records show investigators seized 57 firearms from the home, including pistols, rifles and shotguns.

The search also led to a letter six weeks later from the head of the ATF field office to police agencies across California, warning them of an emerging problem of police officers who may be illegally selling guns.

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The search and letter have shined a light on a little-known provision of the states gun control measures that allows peace officers to buy weapons the general public cant.

California maintains a list of handguns that can be legally purchased by the public. But the law establishing that list also includes an exemption that allows some members of law enforcement  police officers and sheriffs deputies, for example  to buy off-roster guns.

The Sierra Madre search came five months after Gov. Jerry Brown signed an Assembly bill that widely expanded the number of peace officers eligible to purchase weapons that are otherwise unavailable to the public.

The legislation, AB2165, specified sworn peace officers in 19 different agencies qualified for the off-roster exemption. It said that if they passed a three-day basic firearms training course they were covered under the exemption. One gun control advocate said the bill made tens of thousands of peace officers potentially eligible to buy off-roster weapons.

The legislation includes state peace officers in the Parks and Recreation Department, Alcoholic Beverage Control, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of State Hospitals, and state university and community college systems. It also includes rangers with water districts, county welfare fraud investigators and probation officers.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, does tighten one part of the exemption: It limits the newly exempt officers to reselling the off-roster guns to other law enforcement members only.

That might not be all that it seems.

Brandon Combs, executive director of The Calguns Foundation, a group that advocates for gun owners and gun rights, said the law puts the onus on licensed firearms dealers  who have to broker any sale through a private-party transfer  to verify that the buyer and seller are both in law enforcement and can make the sale.

But Combs said there is no database or any other method available for dealers to verify that information.

The state doesnt give any mechanism for dealers to understand  are you subjected to this exemption, are you bound to this limitation, he said.

So if a person on the latest list decided to break the rules and sell the weapon to someone who wasnt in law enforcement, the buyer could simply claim to be an employee of one of the many groups that now has permission from the state to buy them  and theres no way for the dealer to check.

Combs said some dealers, concerned they could lose their license or face criminal charges if they unwittingly facilitate an illegal sale, have resorted to obtaining signed declarations promising no laws are being broken from anyone who wants to transfer an off-roster gun.

Opponents of the legislation were concerned about expanding the exemption and questioned whether the state had the ability to enforce the provision limiting resales to other law enforcement officers, said Griffin Dix, co-chairman of the Oakland chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

A lot of us in the gun violence prevention camp did not like this, Dix said. It expanded that exemption for law enforcement to too many people, and for government employees who were really nor primarily police officers.

Since the bill became law, Dix said he has been told the state Bureau of Firearms has said it has the ability to track the sales.

That could not be confirmed. The state attorney generals press office would not answer a question about whether the state can track such sales. In a statement, it said it could not provide legal analysis or legal opinion.

Bontas legislation was also sponsored by three large law enforcement groups  the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, State Coalition of Probation Organizations and the Police Officers Research Association of California.

Another two dozen law enforcement unions and organizations supported the bill, including unions for San Diego police and county probation officers.

Bonta, who has sponsored several gun control bills, said in a statement that AB2165 was designed to allow certain trained law enforcement officers to continue using their firearms after the states list of prohibited guns changed.

He also said that after discussions with the Brady campaign the language restricting sales only to other law enforcement officers was added.

Advocates for stricter gun measures contend that each exception to the states roster undermines the effect and intent of the law. Combs, who advocates for gun owners and who has long argued against the existence of the states roster and its growing list of exemptions, said he rarely agrees with gun control supporters  except on this issue.

Every time you create a special exemption, and you say this one over here is better than this person over here because of who they work for, that is undermining equality in our society and it is inherently wrong, Combs said.

The ATF letter sent on March 31 after the search of Gourdakians home said the agency is concerned about the growing trend of law enforcement officials engaging in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing.

While private party transfers are limited to five per year, there is no limit on the number of guns that can be sold in each sale. But if officers are buying and reselling multiple weapons for profit as a business, they need a federal firearms license.

Officers selling multiple weapons without a license was one of the concerns ATF identified in its letter. It is unknown if that is what led to the search of Gourdakians home. The search warrant signed by a federal judge is under seal, and the Pasadena police officer has not been charged.

Twitter: @gregmoran

greg.moran@sduniontribune.com
The question that torments police, the media and the public in the wake of a mass shooting always is the same: Why did the shooter do it?

San Diego County has raised the question before. In the past 38 years, there have been nine such shootings, and 40 people were killed. Many more were wounded.

Those numbers include Sundays shooting at a University City apartment complex, where seven people were wounded and one woman killed. The shooter, Peter Selis, was distraught over a breakup, police said. Records show he was heavily in debt.

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Taking a look at the previous mass shootings provides a glimpse into the forces that seemingly motivated the other shooters.

March 24, 2009: Lonnie Glasco, 47, gunned down two co-workers at the bus maintenance facility in San Diegos East Village neighborhood before police fatally shot him in the parking lot. Glasco had suffered some losses in recent years  first his marriage, then a house near Alpine.

April 11, 2001: Eugene Molter, 68, stormed through a senior complex in Chula Vista, killing two resident managers, a neighbor and himself. Police said Molter was on the verge of eviction.

March 5, 2001: Charles Andy Williams, 15, killed two students and wounded 13 others during a shooting at Santana High School in Santee. Williams is in prison. A forensic psychiatrist diagnosed Williams with acute depression.

October 31, 1993: Gordon Neumann, 62, opened fire from a window of a second-story apartment in El Cajon, killing two people and injuring five others. Most of the victims shot were children. Neumann was found dead after his apartment burst into flames. Neighbors recalled Neumann being hostile toward children, who, in turn, liked to heckle him.

October 14, 1993: College student James Buquet, 19, shot and killed four people and then himself at the El Cajon Family Fitness Center. An attorney for the family said Busquet had recently been treated for depression stemming from a knee injury that required surgery.

August 10, 1989: Postal worker John Merlin Taylor shot and killed his wife, then killed two co-workers and wounded a third at the Orange Glen post office in Escondido. Taylor fatally shot himself. Im really ready to go, and these (expletives) have given me a reason, Taylor wrote in a suicide letter.

July 18, 1984: James Huberty, 41, killed 21 people when he opened fire in a crowded McDonalds in San Ysidro. Huberty was killed by police. Huberty called a mental health clinic to request an appointment two days before the shooting.

January 29, 1979: Brenda Spencer, 16, killed the principal and a janitor and wounded eight children while firing on a San Carlos elementary school. She is in prison. Psychiatric evaluations determined Spencer was suicidal and depressed.

Staff librarian Merrie Monteagudo contributed to this report.

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Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
A Solana Beach fitness model arrested by the FBI in North Park this week was a fugitive in a cross-country crime spree including bank robberies, stolen cars and pursuits in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and Arizona.

David Emery Byers, 34, known for art nude photos revealing tattoos and chiseled muscles, also faces local charges of grand theft.

FBI agents in tactical gear cornered him in a parking lot at Upas and 30th streets about 9 p.m. Tuesday. They fired a flash-bang round, apparently to distract Byers, as they took him into custody. Byers was evaluated for injuries before being booked into jail on a fugitive warrant from Connecticut.

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He appeared in San Diego Superior Court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to the grand theft of a rowing machine from Rancho Penasquitos apartment complex, Cresta Bella on Via Livorno, in April 2016. Bail was set at $35,000 but he remains jailed pending extradition to Connecticut.

Allegations that Byers is suspected of robbing gas stations and banks in Connecticut and New York surprised Los Angeles-based fine arts photographer Michael Stokes. In an email, Stokes said Byers was one of his most popular models because of his bad-boy, handsome looks.

Stokes said he and Byers got to be friends in the course of three photo shoots between 2013 and 2015. Byers images were used on the covers of four novels and Stokes coffee-table book of male nudes, Exhibition.

He has always been a hard worker, respectful and kind. He is devoted to his girlfriend and his pet dog, Stokes said. He said he didnt think Byers is violent, but has to re-evaluate what he thought he knew about the man.

Byers texted Stokes in the middle of his alleged East Coast robberies last week.

He did not indicate that anything was wrong, in fact quite the opposite, Stokes said. Letting me know he had moved to New York, sent me some photos of his new digs.

According to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday by Greenwich, Conn. police, Byers stole a black Range Rover in San Diego on March 28. That SUV was used as a getaway car in an April 26 robbery of a Chase bank branch in Greenwich. The complaint says the same robber held up the same branch the day before, and a Greenwich gas station on April 24. The three robberies netted $12,346.

The SUVs license plate had been stolen in Suffolk County, N.Y. on April 20. Authorities there were investigating a string of gas station and bank robberies similar to the ones in Greenwich.

The complaint alleges Byers eluded Greenwich police in an April 28 pursuit by ditching the SUV and his white pit bull and running away. He is suspected of stealing another Range Rover in Port Chester, N.Y. that night. Detectives pinged his cellphone on Sunday, when he was in Gallup, N.M.

The next morning, an officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety got into a pursuit with the driver of a stolen black Chevrolet pickup. They headed west on Interstate 8 for about three miles, reaching Yuma, until the driver stopped, got out of the truck and ran into a motel parking lot, DPS Detective Chuck Ordonez said Thursday.

Ordonez said officers, with Yuma police, searched extensively for the driver but didnt find him. The pickup had been stolen in Pennsylvania on Saturday, its license plate was stolen in Maryland, and another plate in the truck bed was stolen in Indiana.

Fingerprints in the truck revealed Byers had been driving it, Ordonez said.

Byers called a friend to get a ride from Yuma, said Special Agent Davene Butler of the San Diego FBI office. She said Byers then borrowed a car from a friend, and he was in that vehicle when he was arrested.

He had evaded other law enforcement before. We wanted to get him off the streets, Butler said.
Thousands of dollars in cash and about 800 marijuana edibles were seized from an unlicensed marijuana dispensary in Logan Heights Wednesday morning, police said.

Officers raided Downtown Wellness on Commercial Avenue about 9 a.m., San Diego police Lt. Matt Novak said.

In addition to money and edibles, about 2.5 pounds of pot were found. Two employees were arrested on suspicion of operating a business without a license and selling marijuana.

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Since March 2016, 55 unlicensed marijuana dispensaries have been shut down, police said. Dozens of property owners and shop operators have been fined, charged, and prosecuted in connection with the businesses.

With only a few unlicensed dispensaries left, police and the city attorneys office have turned their attention to marijuana delivery services, marijuana farmers markets and other illegal operations.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com
Stephen Jaffe entered the cafe with a small grin, a riotous print shirt and the blithe confidence of someone who doesnt much care if people think hes crazy.

The 71-year-old employment attorney, a political novice, was one of many Democrats swept up in the fist-shaking presidential crusade of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Thus inspired, hes now fixed his sights on winning a seat in Congress.

But not just any seat.

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He hopes to knock off Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, the current Democratic minority leader and a political fixture in San Francisco for nigh on 50 years.

Not by portraying her the way a succession of failed Republican challengers have, as the lipsticked embodiment of the ludicrous left.

Rather, Jaffe suggests Pelosi is not liberal enough or, for that matter, even a true liberal, a proposition that would be dismissed as outlandish anywhere other than San Francisco.

Here, the political spectrum pretty much runs along a sliver of bandwidth from left to far left to kerplop!, off the continents edge into the Pacific Ocean.

Enter Jaffe  quixotically  a small part of a much larger heart-and-soul fight among Democrats, between the aggrieved Sanders faction and what, for lack of a new figurehead, remains the Clinton, or establishment, wing of the party.

Californias Republicans all voted yes on the healthcare bill. Now Democrats have a campaign issue 

His platform is very Bernie, including support for universal government-paid healthcare and banishing contributions to the party from a list of corporate villains, among them the oil, pharmaceutical and financial industries.

He also wants to banish so-called super-delegates, the Democratic party leaders and other insiders who, in the mythological postmortem, cost Sanders the Democratic nomination. (For the record, Clinton would have won even without their support.)

Pelosi, he said, fails the litmus test on all counts and no longer represents San Franciscos progressive values, even if most people outside the city most certainly see her that way. Nancy Pelosi, he insisted, is much more popular among Democrats nationally than she is here in her own district.

That would seem to run counter to the available evidence.

After narrowly winning a 1987 special election  against, its worth noting, several more liberal contestants  Pelosi has been regularly reelected with support in the neighborhood of 80%. Her landslide victories have become so routine, in fact, it has been years since Pelosi ran anything resembling an actual reelection campaign, even as antagonists around the country have poured millions into repeated efforts to beat her.

Does that sound like someone out of touch and wildly unpopular? It sounds to me, Jaffe scoffed, like somebodys got a very powerful machine in San Francisco and a very firm grip on the party here.

A spokesman for Pelosi, who makes a practice of ignoring her election opponents, had no comment.

Stephen Jaffe is a 71-year-old employment attorney who is challenging Nancy Pelosi. (Mark Z. Barabak / Los Angeles Times)

Like every congressional leader, Pelosi serves dual roles.

She is, for good and ill, the national face of House Democrats: an epic fundraiser  a big part of why she has kept her leadership job through myriad political setbacks  and a regular feature of GOP ads portraying the Democratic candidate, whoever he or she may be, as a disciple of Pelosi and her wacky Left Coast liberalism.

At the same time, she is the representative of Californias 12th Congressional District, which takes in all but a southwest smidgen of San Francisco.

In that latter role, she has been instrumental in bringing home billions of dollars for the city and its 850,000 residents: for earthquake safety, cleaning up and repurposing old military facilities, funding AIDS research and treatment, expanding public transit and on, at considerable length.

No matter, Jaffe insisted.

Why would that change? he asked. San Francisco is still going to remain San Francisco, whether its me or Miss Pelosi representing it. We still have the same needs.

But not, absent Pelosis leadership role, anywhere near the same clout, something the more pragmatic-minded voter might choose to consider. (At age 77, shes had 30 years to build up seniority.)

As if his challenge wasnt formidable enough, Jaffes campaign has not, to be charitable, gotten off to a terrific start.

Recently, a Facebook posting surfaced from last October, in which he bemoaned his status as an old white straight guy in a city where few sins are worse than stodginess and conventionality. In San Franciscos Democratic Party circles, Jaffe lamented, we are perceived as a politically incorrect liability.

Over coffee this week, he first tried explaining away the comment  I had no idea at the time I was going to run for Congress  then decried the prevalence of identity politics. He invoked the famous words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

I dont want to be judged by the color of my skin, or by my age, Jaffe said. I want to be judged by what I stand for, what Im able to do for the people of San Francisco.

I want to be judged by what I stand for, what Im able to do for the people of of San Francisco.  Stephen Jaffe

The plight of the elderly white male may not have been top of the mind for King when he spoke on the Washington Mall, or for the gay rioters outside New York Citys Stonewall Inn, but the country has come a long way since then.

Jaffe harbors no illusions about the long odds he faces. Politically, hes charging up a hill steeper than any of San Franciscos vertiginous slopes. I dont know if I can quantify it, he said, as traffic rushed by outside along the Embarcadero, but its certainly very daunting.

See how California lawmakers voted on health care bill 

But, he went on, recent circumstances give him hope.

I do think its possible that I might pull off a spectacular upset and surprise everybody, Jaffe said, just as our current president did exactly the same thing.

Crazy, indeed.

mark.barabak@latimes.com

@markzbarabak on Twitter

ALSO

Heres why Dianne Feinstein could well become the longest-serving U.S. senator in California history

Pete Wilson looks back on Proposition 187 and says, heck yeah, hed support it all over again

The Republicans who made Reagan president mourn the party they once knew
TORONTO, May 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sprott Inc. (TSX:SII) will host a conference call on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its 2017 first quarter results. Peter Grosskopf, CEO of Sprott will host the call with Kevin Hibbert, CFO of Sprott. The Company plans to release its financial results at 7:00 a.m. ET the same day.



Conference Call Details

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About Sprott Inc.



Sprott Inc. is a global alternative asset manager with three primary lines of business: Private Resources Investments; Exchange Listed Products; and Alternative Investment Management. The Private Resource business platform houses the Company's private resource-focused asset management activities; the Exchange Listed Products business platform houses the Company's closed-end physical trusts and exchange traded funds ("ETFs"); and the Alternative Asset Management business platform houses the Company's full suite of public mutual funds, alternative investment strategies and managed accounts. Sprott Asset Management LP is the principal subsidiary of Sprott Inc. and the manager of both the Exchange Listed Products business line and the Alternative Investment Management business line.

Investor contact information: (416) 943-4394 or ir@sprott.com.
Consumer advocates and public-interest lawyers joined Thursday in calling on leaders in the California Senate to block the confirmation of one of Gov. Jerry Browns latest nominations to the Public Utilities Commission.

The advocacy groups Consumer Watchdog, Food & Water Watch, Rootskeeper and Save Porter Ranch joined San Diego law firm Aguirre & Severson in urging Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon and his colleagues not to confirm Clifford Rechtschaffens seat on the utilities panel.

Rechtschaffens record shows that he will pander to the largest energy companies in the state at great expense to the public, to the proper role of government and to fair play, the coalition wrote to committee members.

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In December, Brown named Rechtschaffen and Martha Guzman Aceves to the commission to succeed former commissioners Michel Florio and Catherine J.K. Sandoval.

Cliffs experience as a lawyer, teacher and specialist in environmental and energy matters equips him to do an outstanding job on the commission, Brown said in announcing his nominations.

The consumer groups are skeptical of Rechtschaffen, who has been serving as a commissioner pending confirmation.

Among other things, they criticized the commission nominee for terminating two oil and gas regulators in 2011, after Occidental Petroleum and its attorney  former Gov. Gray Davis  lobbied Brown to hasten some permit approvals.

They also accused Rechtschaffen of eliminating regulations in order to benefit oil and gas companies.

Rechtschaffens ignoring of (Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources) standards may have directly led to the failure of injection well SS 25 in Aliso Canyon, the letter said, referring to a large methane gas leak near Porter Ranch.

The 2015 blowout in a well owned by San Diego-based Sempra Energy drove thousands of people from their homes for months on end.

On behalf of Rechtschaffen and the commission, spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said, These baseless allegations do not merit a response.

De Leon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35

jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald
If you Google scandals that end in gate you will find a long list, starting with Watergate. San Diego is now in the midst of what many of us feel is our own gate scandal: Citygate.

Citygate is an independent consulting firm run by retired firefighters which serves as advocates for firefighter interests. Citygate was hired by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department to prepare a report justifying its agenda to build more fire stations and create more firefighter jobs.

The key to that justification is a thing called gap time. Gap time is when a fire engine is not able to make it to a call within 7.5 minutes. This includes one minute for dispatching, 1.5 minutes for crew turn-out time and five minutes for travel time. If a station or area cannot meet the 7.5 minute goal 90 percent of the time, that area is considered to need better coverage.

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On the surface, this seems like a reasonable approach. The fire department, armed with this formula, can now provide data to convince the public and the city that we are in urgent need of more fire stations. After all, the city is growing and fire protection must grow with it. What is missing from the equation is an independent evaluation of how fire department procedures are being used to inflate these statistics.

Before the gap time model was introduced in the Citygate report, fire department dispatch evaluated calls and sent appropriate personnel based on the type of emergency. This changed in 2012 when the department implemented automatic dispatch to all medical aid calls. Rather than taking a minute to evaluate if a call is a low-level medical aid or simple transport that only requires an ambulance, fire department dispatch now automatically sends an engine and ambulance to all medical calls and numerous engines to other calls.

In theory, this saves the one minute that was used before to evaluate the need. But these procedural changes resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of calls the fire department responds to each year. Now engines dispatched to low-level medical aids are not available to respond to higher-priority calls in the area. Other engines must respond from further away.

This not only delays response for high-level medical aids, fires and vehicle accidents, it artificially inflates the gap time used to justify new stations.

Take for example the new inland water rescue procedure imposed by Fire Chief Brian Fennessy last year. The new policy mandates an automatic response of one engine, one truck, one rescue rig, a battalion chief, ambulance and a helicopter  a total of 18 firefighters.

This is the new response whenever there is a call of an overturned boat or other lake rescue. For a stranded car in moving water, the department will automatically dispatch 22 firefighters. This is in addition to the four to six lifeguards who have historically handled these emergencies in the past.

The fire departments cliff rescue response also requires 18 firefighters, and sometimes swells to more than 30. These procedural changes resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of calls the fire department responds to each year. In 2011, the year prior to the procedural change, San Diegos 911 emergency call system processed 118,000 incidents.

Approximately, 83,000 of these incidents resulted in the fire department being dispatched to a medical emergency. In 2016, the fire department responded to 154,263 total incidents, and 135,399 were medical-related.

Compare this response to that of police and lifeguards. Remember, police and lifeguards still patrol and respond with one or two people. The vast majority of the calls are accomplished with this model. If a situation requires more resources, they make the request and others are dispatched.

This allows staffing levels to remain reasonable and cost-effective. This year, the fire department again greatly exceeded its allotted budget, in part because of these new procedures. This year, the fire department budget will grow by $21.4 million. In order to cover these budget overruns, the fire department proposed to cut $1.1 million out of the lifeguards fiscal year 2018 budget and $437,000 from future annual lifeguard budgets.

With the city facing a significant budget shortfall next year, unnecessary expenditures  like the fire departments new dispatch policy  take away from other high-priority city services and public needs.

Harris is a former City Council member and current lifeguard sergeant.
The case of Edward Peruta v. California et al. is an excellent example of our democratic system at work. The United States Constitution established three branches of federal government. Those branches are duplicated under the California Constitution.

The legislative branch is responsible for passing laws. The executive branch, which includes law enforcement, is tasked with enforcing laws enacted by the legislative branch. The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting laws once they are enacted and providing a forum for citizens to address their grievances.

As sheriff, and the chief law enforcement officer of San Diego County, I am proud to be a part of the executive branch, whose responsibility it is to enforce the law regardless of personal beliefs. The executive branch is an important pillar of our democracy and the responsibility of being a member of it is something that I take very seriously.

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The case of Peruta v. California et al. involved applicants who were denied licenses to obtain concealed carry permits because they failed to establish good cause, as required by California law. Californias legislative branch has clearly required that good cause be proved prior to the issuance of a license to carry a concealed firearm.

Because the applicants believed that the Second Amendment gave them the right to possess a loaded handgun in public, they chose to seek redress in the judicial branch and sued over the denial of their applications.

The good cause requirement is at the heart of the Peruta case. The Sheriffs Department has, since well before my time as sheriff, defined good cause as a set of circumstances that distinguishes the applicant from other members of the general public and causes him or her to be placed in harms way.

The issue in the Peruta lawsuit is really whether Californias good cause requirement can be satisfied by an applicant who simply states that he or she wants to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense, without providing anything more to the issuing agency.

The federal district court held that the San Diego County Sheriffs Departments interpretation of good cause under California law was not unconstitutional and dismissed the applicants case.

The applicants then appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the state of California eventually stepped in to defend the constitutionality of its concealed licensing statutes.

In its appellate brief, to the appeals court, sitting en banc, the state argued that if the 9th circuit found that merely asserting self-defense equaled good cause, then it would effectively eliminate the statutory good cause requirement and transform it into a no cause limitation for the general public.

In issuing its decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals examined whether the Second Amendment protects the ability to carry concealed firearms in public.

The court analyzed the history of the right to bear arms and came to the conclusion that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms does not include the right of a member of the general public to carry concealed firearms in public.

As a result, the 9th Circuit concluded that states could place good cause restrictions on the issuance of licenses to carry concealed firearms without violating the Second Amendment.

The applicants have now asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. It is anticipated that the justices will make their determination, as to whether or not to hear the case, within the next few days. If they decide to hear the case, California will most definitely get guidance on the constitutionality of its good cause requirement.

If the Supreme Court decides not to take the case, then the decision of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the finding of the district court  that the departments interpretation of good cause under California law was not unconstitutional  will stand.

The amendments to the Constitution enumerated in the Bill of Rights often stir the passions of persons on both sides of discussions regarding their meaning and scope. Rightfully so. The Bill of Rights sets forth many of the principles that make us a free and democratic society.

For these reasons I look forward to the final determination of the judicial branch on such an important issue.

Gore is the sheriff of San Diego County.
University City area isnt a part of La Jolla

University Citys collective heart is broken after the shooting at La Jolla Crossroads. Our town is more Grovers Corners, New Hampshire, in the Thornton Wilder play than a site for murder. In University City everybody knows your name and feels your pain. Once again though, University City will be remembered more for the murder.

In the U-T splashy opening of an upscale restaurant (O, finally Red O set to open, May 4) a couple of blocks from La Jolla Crossroads, the community is listed as La Jolla.

It used to be that east of Interstate 5 was University City. ZIP codes changed when Scripps had to have a La Jolla address. University City feels the way the Native Americans felt when the white man discovered them.

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Sandy Lippe

University City

Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below.

Skipping communities in almanac inexcusable

I am dismayed and disappointed that you somehow managed to omit listing communities that are traditionally minority-centric in your recent publication, San Diego Community Almanac. In fact, you omitted an entire City Council District, District Four.

That omission is unconscionable, indefensible and outrageous. It is an affront to Council President Myrtle Cole and all of her constituents.

The communities of Oak Park, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Valencia Park and Paradise Hills have rich histories that far surpass some of the newer areas that were featured (Santaluz and Del Sur, really?).

I get it that advertising dollars drive publications, yet I wonder if any businesses in the omitted areas were approached about being featured.

In any event, your omissions smack of classic institutional racism, also known as redlining that defined the insurance and banking industries that operated on a premise of exclusion much like you have demonstrated.

Jon Connor

Temecula

* * *

Imperial Beach just one of many hit by pollution

The front-page article concerning Imperial Beach (Tijuana pollution contaminates South Bay beaches at astounding rate, April 27) incorrectly states La Jolla beaches had fewer than a dozen days of beach closures due to pollution. For years, Childrens Pool has been too polluted for humans.

All last summer the La Jolla Cove was polluted every day; so much so that the lifeguard service announced its lifeguards will enter the water only for emergency life-threatening rescues.

Last summer a half-dozen lifeguards were treated and/or hospitalized for staph infection. The centennial event of the La Jolla Rough Water Swim was canceled last September due to pollution. Last summer La Jolla Shores was posted as polluted eight to 10 days.

Of course, none of this was as a result of the Tijuana River, but simply the overpopulation of sea lions in these beaches.

The La Jolla beach situation is easily fixable, but City Hall and the U-T do not dare challenge the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals influence.

Bill OConnor

Sunset Cliffs

Want to see more letters that appear only online? Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook.
Regarding Trump seeks action on priorities (May 1): Secrecy, misinformation, conflicts of interest, nepotism, cronyism and vitriol characterize the Trump White House during his first 100 days. He has demonstrated no respect for the accountability demanded of elected officials.

While Americans seek leadership, Trump indulges his personal ambitions.

If Trump doesnt govern wisely, we are the losers.

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Bunny Landis

Ocean Hills

Regarding Rico Gardiners missive (Trump shouldnt count on finishing his term, April 29) accusing President Trump of bringing us to the brink of nuclear war concerning the on-going standoff with North Korea: he and those of his ilk can thank others of said ilk in past administrations for kicking the can down the road in not dealing with the situation more forcefully.

Those administrations, the more recent, the more cowardly, knew they had time to refrain from meaningful actions, opting instead for pie-in-sky sanctions thwarted by China, bribes to behave or other wishful thinking.

The Trump administration realizes the threat posed by a nuclear-armed N. Korea to Japan, South Korea, et al, not to mention Kim Jong Uns threat to attack us. To wait much longer might, indeed, bring Gardiner his nuclear war.

Frank Leech

Linda Vista

Letters and commentary policy

The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below.

Trumps biographer, Michael DAntonio, said, What we have seen in the presidents distortion, misstatements, and really occasionally outright lies, is him attempting to use the message he always used in the past to get out of a jam  say anything, divert attention and run on to the next topic.

His only surprise since Trump became president was Trumps humanitarian attack on Syria, as Trumps previous moral outrages were personal.

Trumps saber rattling is say anything, divert attention and run on to the next topic. His humanitarian attack on Syria served the purpose to run on to the next topic. With investigations closing in on his ties to Russia to win the presidency, Trump will do anything, which makes him extremely dangerous. Who cares about treason when faced with nuclear war? Remember, Trump asked, If we have nuclear weapons, why cant we use them?

Cheryl Martin Ede

San Diego

Opposing Trump does not make one liberal

Letter writer Dave Dowler (Ludicrous articles do not win publics trust, May 4, 2017) refers to New York Times columnist David Brooks as far left. Of course, Brooks has a long history as a moderate Republican, and certainly not on the left.

Along with many Republican writers, including George Will and Charles Krauthammer, he has been critical of Donald Trump.

That, however, does not position him far left.

Hugh R. Cobb

Carlsbad

Want to see more letters that appear only online? Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook.
We were floored by all the funny captions this week, but our favorite was submitted by Sidney Smith. Congrats, Sid! He will receive Steve Breens signed original in the mail. Thanks to all those who participated.

Next weeks cartoon is below. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. Good luck!

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Winner

Dont worry, we live in San Diego. It wont impact our asking price. Sidney Smith, Carlsbad

Finalists

Why was that coyote holding a safe? Tom DeBolt, Spring Valley

I think it was Uniteds stock. Carrie Scott, Oceanside

Not sure about the Amazon drone delivery system ... Mark Shults, San Diego

Im done. Youre helping Joey with his Science Fair project next time. Davis DeVore, Encinitas

I told you we should stop ignoring the elephant in the room. Wayne Zucker, Rancho Penasquitos

I know he said he was having a blast, but I thought that was just a figure of speech. Howard Crabtree, Coronado

I think were going to need a bigger couch to cover this. Mary Ainsworth, El Cajon

Harrison Ford must be in town again. Michele Lagoy, San Diego

Do you think our homeowners policy covers space junk? Brian Swanson, Escondido

So you still believe baseball players arent using steroids anymore? Kevin Hippensteel, Santee

No wonder it didnt explode. It says North Korea on it. Lee Witham, San Diego

Chicken Little was right. Bill Seager, Coronado

Hey, Superman ... you OK? Dick Roppe, Hemet

Well, at least its not water damage. Patty Bradbury, San Diego

K-12

Grandmas fallen and she cant get up Finn Palmer, sixth grade, Muirlands Middle School

We should leave. Jack Harenski, fifth grade, Dingeman Elementary SchoolI knew we shouldnt have put a zoo on the second floor. Eve Stidham, fifth grade, Siuslaw Elementary School, Oregon

Next weeks cartoon

To enter, email entries to cartooncontest@sduniontribune.com by 10 a.m. Tuesday. Please remember to limit your submissions to three and keep em brief. View last weeks winners
Will it be goodbye Obamacare or goodbye to the Republicans who voted to repeal it and are up for re-election next year?

Almost immediately after House Republicans voted to end Obamacare and send the replacement American Health Care Act to their Senate colleagues on Thursday, a chant broke out on the House floor to mark the moment as the beginning of the end for ... something that wasnt entirely clear to those watching on TV.

Related: Darrell Issa's yes vote on Obamacare repeal makes him center of attention

Turns out it was Democrats singing.

Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the proposed bill known as the American Health Care Act so when the vote was wrapping up, the Washington Post reported, Democratic lawmakers began to chant Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye!

You can listen to the original song here.

CNN aired video of the House floor where some of the chants can be heard.

Democrats believe that the AHCA is so bad for Americans that they will vote Republicans out of the House of Representatives during the 2018 midterm elections.

Republicans, on the other hand, argue that Obamacare is on a death spiral and that the AHCA gives states the flexibility to opt out of certain provisions of the law, such as mandatory coverage for pre-existing conditions, measures they believe will make health care better.

The question as to who was doing the chanting was unclear to many observers on Twitter on Thursday. Conservatives took to social media to echo a similar chant to celebrate the beginning of the end of Obamacare. And liberals did the same for Republicans.

The House version of the bill will now head to the Senate where more debate could dramatically change what the health care legislation looks like. No date has been set for that vote.

Are you for or against the overhaul of Obamacare? Tell us what you think of lawmakers chanting bye bye to their counterparts in Washington, D.C.

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.
Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a health care bill Thursday that is designed to repeal and replace its predecessor, the Affordable Care Act, and every Democrat voted against it.

There were 20 Republicans who joined them.

The new bill, the American Health Care Act, received 217 yes votes and 213 no votes to gain approval and will now head to the Senate for more debate. House Republicans had pulled an earlier version of the bill last month after realizing it lacked the votes for passage.

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Much of the news surrounding the earlier health care fight in March focused on the House Freedom Caucus, a group of Republicans who held out on voting yes then because they felt the changes didnt go far enough.

Deals were made, policies were adjusted and Thursdays vote was successful.

Here are the 20 Republicans who broke ranks.

Andy Biggs, Arizona Mike Coffman, Colorado Barbara Comstock, Virginia Ryan Costello, Pennsylvania Charlie Dent, Pennsylvania Dan Donovan, New York Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington Will Hurd, Texas Walter Jones, North Carolina David Joyce, Ohio John Katko, New York Leonard Lance, New Jersey Frank LoBiondo, New Jersey Thomas Massie, Kentucky Patrick Meehan, Pennsylvania Dave Reichert, Washington Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Florida Chris Smith, New Jersey Michael Turner, Ohio

Why did they vote no? Lets take a look at some of these politicians and their reasons.



They didnt get the changes they wanted

Last night I submitted two amendments for the #AHCA. Unfortunately those amendments were not included. My statement: https://t.co/vjf6YoT6sP  Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) May 4, 2017

As Republicans rushed to make changes to the bill that would please those previously set on voting no, lawmakers were given the chance to propose amendments. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, said he voted no because his two proposed amendments were not accepted.

The two amendments I offered to the AHCA were made in good faith, were reflective of my districts desires, and would have come as close as possible to a full ACA repeal, Biggs statement on the issue said. I am disappointed that my amendments will not be included in the final AHCA package. However, I remain committed to a full repeal of Obamacare and will continue to work with my colleagues to accomplish this end.

They opposed specific aspects of the bill

Coffman on his No Vote on AHCA: pic.twitter.com/jcsYqLmVid  Mike Coffman (@RepMikeCoffman) May 4, 2017

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, felt the bill would negatively affect patients with preexisting health conditions hoping to get insurance.

At this time, I cannot support the AHCA with the MacArthur amendment because Im concerned that a small percentage of those with preexisting conditions may still not be protected, Coffman said. I made it clear that additional language was necessary to protect this vulnerable group.

Representatives Frank LoBiondo, R-New Jersey, and Charlie Dent and Ryan Costello, R-Pennsylvania felt similarly.

Morning #SouthJersey. Vote on healthcare bill set for 1-2pm. My concerns about Medicaid, preexisting conditions not resolved. Will vote NO  Frank LoBiondo (@FrankLoBiondoNJ) May 4, 2017

Rep. Dan Donovan, R-New York, says he voted no because the bill would impose a tax hike on New Yorkers and that it conflicts with local insurance laws.

Statement from Congressman Dan Donovan on Voting No on the American Health Care Act pic.twitter.com/h6moiWwAzM  Archive: Dan Donovan (@RepDanDonovan) May 4, 2017

They dont think it goes far enough

The AHCA is like a kidney stone- the House doesn't care what happens to it, as long as they can pass it. #sassywithmassie  Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 3, 2017

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, was part of the group  the Freedom Caucus  who pledged to vote no the first time around because they felt the new bill didnt completely repeal and replace Obamacare. He feels the same about the second version.

Im voting against it because its not a full repeal, Massie told The Blaze on Tuesday.

Why Democrats voted no

Every Republican who votes for #Trumpcare will have it tattooed on their forehead. They will be held accountable. https://t.co/xi8pM5aT7B pic.twitter.com/U6N5miwp2G  Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 3, 2017

Democrats in the House opposed the legislation for many reasons, especially those who are proponents of Obamacare and dont want to see it repealed. They also oppose the loss of coverage for millions of Americans and call it a tax cut for the wealthy.

Im about to go to the Floor to vote no on #TrumpCare. Well hold every Republican who votes for this bill accountable. pic.twitter.com/INH9i14ce0  Steny Hoyer (@LeaderHoyer) May 4, 2017

What do you think about the vote? Sound off in the comment section below.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin

ALSO

What is the Freedom Caucus, how did it derail Obamacare repeal?
Seniors Helping Seniors wants to help care for your elderly loved one.

The home care business started in Reading, Pennsylvania by Kiran Yocum in 1998. Now, the business has over 200 affiliated franchises, including one in Rancho Bernardo owned by Gideon and Lutchi Abraham. It serves Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Sabre Springs, Miramar Ranch, Mira Mesa and Black Mountain Ranch.

The local business is at 16959 Bernardo Center Drive in Suite 104.

Seniors Helping Seniors is an in-home support service, where we match seniors who can still help, with seniors who need help, said Gideon Abraham, a former nurse with 20 years of experience.

Having seniors providing care for other seniors creates opportunities for friendships and allows the caregivers and clients to bond over similar life experiences and memories, said Abraham.

The care providers working for Seniors Helping Seniors help cook meals, do chores, assist their clients with going on errands or to appointments, help them get out of bed if needed and provide general companionship.

Abraham said that Seniors Helping Seniors in Rancho Bernardo has added more than 60 caregivers over the past few years, allowing them to help more seniors than ever, both in private homes and in some care facilities, both independent living and assisted living.

The caregivers at Seniors Helping Seniors are hired through referral, often referred by family members or members of the community.

Thanks to Californias Home Care Service Bureau, all the caregivers Seniors Helping Seniors employs are background checked and fingerprinted by the state and the business is licensed as an official home care business.

Caregivers are carefully chosen for clients, Abraham said, through an orientation and interview process. The free orientation gives the client a chance to say what they want done so the caregiver is ready on their first day. After the first day, both the client and caregiver are spoken to again to ensure the match is a good fit.

Its useless to send the caregiver again if the client doesnt want them, and vice-versa, Abraham said.

Abraham called the caregivers the stars of the company and said they are proud of the pool of caregivers the company has.

To find out more about how you can get help around the house for your loved one, or how you can become a provider, call 858-774-8194, email admin@sandiegoSHS.com or visit seniorshelpingseniors.com/SDNorthCounty Inland.

Email: news@pomeradonews.com
Del Norte High School and Oak Valley Middle School recently won their respective divisions in the SoCal Cyber Cup Challenge.

The competition is a national model program focused on raising awareness of cyber security, education and empowering youth to play safe in the cyber world. It also teaches students the rules that major companies rely on for their security needs, which presents them potential career paths in the future, according to contest officials.

Led by computer experts, the students were given various cyber security breaches that were to identify and defend in a simulated real world scenario.

Del Norte High School was the varsity winner. It received $4,000 for the teams 2017-18 school year. The team has also been invited to participate in an elite Cyber Boot Camp this summer. The second place prize of $3,000 went to Westview High School in the Poway Unified School District.

The Junior Varsity winner was Oak Valley Middle School, which also won $4,000 for its team. Other Poway Unified campuses that placed were Black Mountain Middle School (received $3,000 for second place) and Design 39 Campus (won $2,000 for third place).

Over the course of several months, more than 800 students competed and eight campuses (four at each level) won cash prizes in the contest finals. The competition was open to teams from San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, officials said.

The contest is sponsored by the Securing Our eCity Foundation in partnership with the National Defense Industrial Association, National University and Leidos.

Email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com
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Press release / Regulated information



IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - 19.30 p.m. CEST, May 5, 2017 - MDxHealth SA (the "Company") (Euronext Brussels: MDXH) announced today, in conformity with Article 15 of the Belgian Act of May 2, 2007 on the publication of significant shareholdings in issuers shares of which are admitted to trading on a regulated market, that on May 5, 2017, 103,813 new ordinary shares were issued by MDxHealth resulting from the exercise of 103,813 warrants.

As a result of the aforementioned exercise of warrants, the share capital of MDxHealth increased from EUR 39,761,328.75 to EUR 39,844,140.38, and the number of outstanding shares increased from 49,845,595 to 49,949,408. All outstanding shares have voting rights.

In addition to the outstanding shares, the total number of outstanding warrants on the date of this press release amounts to 2,041,250 warrants which (if exercised) would entitle their holders to 2,041,250 shares with voting rights.

About MDxHealth

MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Company's tests are based on proprietary genetic, epigenetic (methylation) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of urologic cancers, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. The Company's European headquarters are in Herstal, Belgium, with laboratory operations in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and US headquarters and laboratory operations based in Irvine, California. For more information visit www.mdxhealth.com and follow us on Twitter at: twitter.com/mdxhealth.

For more information:







Shalon Roth, EVP Corporate Communications

MDxHealth

UK: +44 (0)7393 906278

@ShalonRoth

info@mdxhealth.com

Important information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company's control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of MDxHealth in any jurisdiction. No securities of MDxHealth may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws.

NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx and PredictMDx are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
Its been a great week for anglers at Lake Poway, with some trophy fish showing up.

The Diacosta family from Rancho Penasquitos, including Erwin, Benz and Cheska, checked in with rangers after hauling a 9.5-pound, 7.5-pound and 6-pound trout.

Ranger Marc Baca said the family was using green and orange Mice Tails and were fishing from shore near Hidden Bay. The total combined weight of their catch was 27 pounds.

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Baca said bass anglers are also hooking into some nice fish with top water lures and swimbaits. The hottest bass fishing at Lake Poway has been along the eastern shore.

As springtime temperatures continue to rise, look for trout action to slow down and the bass bite to pick up during the spawn. Summer will also bring catfish season.

Baca said the lake is scheduled to be stocked with catfish in late June or early July. Lake Poway is open to fishing daily, except Monday and Tuesday.

The crappie bite has started at Escondidos Lake Wohlford. Many consider this little panfish to be one of the most delicious. Rangers are reporting the crappie bite has been good off the rock piles in the early morning as the fish arrive in tight schools chasing shad.

Anglers are also catching crappie by trolling. Live golden shiners and finger jigs have been getting the best results. For the latest lake conditions, contact the ranger station at (760) 839-4346.

The overflow waters into the upper basin at Lake Cuyamaca have turned into a trout fishing honey hole. Lake Manager Butch Paddock reports that some monster trout are being caught there.

There were some folks who were trying to get out of the wind on (April 28) that decided to fish the backside of the dike. The smallest trout taken was 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and the largest was a little over 8 pounds, Paddock said.

Heavy winter rains expanded the lake from its normal 110 acres to several thousand acres spread into the basin east and north. That water, and the excellent trout fishing, should continue for several more weeks.

Senior anglers

Wildlife artist Jill Field-Duerr will be the guest speaker Fridayat the monthly meeting of Escondido Senior Anglers. Guests are welcome at the 9:30 a.m. meeting at the Park Avenue Community Center, 210 Park Ave., Escondido.

A painter and fisherman since childhood, Field-Duerr grew up fishing with her family in Californias Eastern Sierra and the Oregon coast. Her work has been compared to American masters such as Whistler, Moran, Homer, and influences by the French masters. Her creations are not illustrations, but art in its highest form. In particular, her depictions of trout have taken on a heightened form of realism.

Part of Field-Duerrs mission is to donate to organizations and foundations that participate in the preservation and conservation of land and fisheries that support the great tradition of fly-fishing.

People often ask me if I catch the fish that I paint. The answer is yes, said Field-Duerr.

Members of the club enjoy local surf and freshwater fishing, summer saltwater charters, RV camping, and community service to help kids go fishing. For additional club information, visit senioranglersofescondido.net.

Firearm safety

A firearm safety class for anyone who owns or is anticipating the purchase of a handgun is being offered May 14 at the Escondido Fish and Game Association shooting range east of Lake Wohlford.

The three-hour class begins at 2 p.m. and includes instruction on the basics of handguns, home firearm safety and the responsibilities of firearm ownership. Participants will also have a chance to fire handguns. Handguns and ammunition will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own handgun. Cost of the course if $60.

The Escondido Fish and Game Association range is at 16525 Guejito Road.

To register, call Jack Bryson at (760) 746-2868.

If you have a story of interest,

email ernie@packtrain.com. Visit erniesoutdoors.blogspot.com.
CORONADO  The queen of the true crime genre has taken on the mysterious death of Rebecca Zahau in her new book, laying out a case for murder at the historic Spreckels mansion in Coronado.

While best-selling author Ann Rule raises many questions surrounding the death, she provides few answers.

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The case that captured the attention of San Diego and the nation is one of a handful of deaths she explores in the book, Fatal friends, deadly neighbors and other true cases, released last month.

Zahaus death was ultimately ruled a suicide by the Sheriffs Department and Medical Examiners Office, a conclusion that her family has vehemently fought ever since.

Anyone would agree that the circumstances surrounding the 32-year-old womans death on July 13, 2011, are far from ordinary. Zahau, the girlfriend of Arizona pharmaceutical tycoon Jonah Shacknai, was found by police naked on the back lawn of Shacknais summer house, her wrists and ankles bound, and a rope around her neck.

Shacknais brother, Adam, told police he discovered her body hanging from a balcony as he walked out of the guesthouse, and he cut her down before calling 911.

Just two days earlier, Shacknais 6-year-old son, Max, had been gravely injured in a fall from a second-story landing at the oceanfront home. Investigators concluded that Zahau, who had been the only adult home during the accident, was so distraught that she killed herself. Max died in the hospital days after Zahau.

Detectives said the physical evidence gathered at the scene pointed to suicide, and there was  and still is  no substantial evidence indicating foul play. No one elses fingerprints or DNA was found to be connected to the scene, and there was no sign of a struggle, investigators said.

Science is our best witness in this case, Sheriff Bill Gore told reporters when he announced the suicide ruling last year. It is not biased, and it does not lie.

Rule, a former Seattle policewoman who has written more than 30 true crime books, writes in the second chapter that she found the case both appalling and intriguing when she first heard about it.

In the roughly 120-page section devoted to the case, Rule relies on the sheriffs investigative files, autopsy reports and expert analysis to tell the story, ultimately making an argument that Zahau was murdered. But how, or by whom, is left for the reader to decide. Rule does offer many what ifs and could haves.

One possibility she does rule out is any involvement by Shacknai, whose whereabouts are recorded and well-documented. A spokesman for Shacknai declined to comment on the book.

The book rehashes many of the questions that have vexed investigators and the public alike, such as the complicated knots used in the bindings, the strange message painted on a bedroom door (She saved him, can you save her), and unexplained contusions and tape residue on her body.

The book does reveal some never-before-printed details of the investigation and raises new questions, including:

 A strange comment Adam Shacknai made to Coronado Police Chief Lou Scanlon in the beginning stages of the investigation: I dont think my bedside manner is that bad. Adam also willingly took a polygraph exam at the Sheriffs Department  despite a lawyers advice not to  but the examiner decided his answers were inconclusive.

 The seemingly cozy relationship the Sheriffs Department has with Paul Pfingst, the former district attorney who was hired by someone connected to the Shacknai family. Pfingst was photographed inside the crime scene tape early on in the investigation at the home.

 What was, and wasnt, found on Zahaus computer. Investigators found no Internet searches related to suicide, hanging or knots. And in the 24 hours before her death, someone searched and viewed numerous pornography sites.

 Two neighbors who said they heard a womans screams the night before Zahau was found.

Seattle-based attorney Anne Bremner, who represents the Zahau family in their quest for a new investigation, said she gave Rule access to the sheriffs full investigative file to help with the book.

If Ann Rule wrote about it, it could really be helpful to our cause. She is the ultimate crime writer, Bremner said. She does a nice job of laying out piece by piece why this is a homicide and not a suicide.

Zahaus sister, Mary Loehner, said in an email Saturday that the family continues to pray for justice and truth in the case.

While we are aware of some incorrect factual assertions in the book, we agree that the death of my beloved sister Rebecca was murder and not suicide, she wrote.

Holidays are heart wrenchingly painful as these are times when we got to see Rebecca and now theres a void that can never be filled.

The Sheriffs Department has stood by its conclusion of suicide despite scrutiny from the public, outside experts hired by the Zahau family and amateur web sleuths.

Our investigation and the forensic science that supported the medical examiners conclusion of suicide stands, sheriffs spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said Friday.
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., May 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mariner Health Central, Inc. renewed its commitment to fostering an environment of quality service at each client facility that was the focus of last years training at the Disney Institute and recognition dinner at the Disneyland Hotel by hosting its 2nd Annual Leadership & Customer Relations Training Conference and its 8th Annual Employee Recognition Dinner for its client facilities at the Hilton Universal City on March 16th and 17th.



This years Leadership and Customer Relations Training was led by Mariner Health Centrals Regional Director of Customer Relations, Kimberly Auvil. The position was recently created to drive Mariner Health Centrals commitment to helping its client facilities foster an environment of quality service to enhance the customer experience. Customer relations is one of the key critical components to the success of any business. It is what sets a company apart from the competition. We, at Mariner Health Central, are committed to making customer relations one of our top focuses for 2017 and the years to follow," said Ms. Auvil.

Kimberly did a fantastic job of energizing the room and motivating active participation by both our client facilities and the consultants, said Christine Zack, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, for Mariner Health Central, Inc. The level of engagement that Kimberly commanded was impressive and there were many team-building exercises that continued beyond the allocated time because no one wanted the training to end.

The finale to the training was an Employee Recognition Dinner, where Ms. Auvil served as the Master of Ceremonies, along with her colleagues, Don Patterson and James Woody Woodward. The dinner featured client facility employees who were recognized for their commitment to quality care and the patient experience. The highlight of dinner involved the presentation of the Facility of the Year Award to Jenik Akopian and her team at Autumn Hills Healthcare Center, located in Glendale, California.

About Mariner Health Central, Inc.

Mariner Health Central, Inc. operates under the trade name Mariner Health Care and provides operational, clinical and administrative support services to skilled nursing facilities in California. Mariner Health Centrals client facilities offer skilled nursing, rehabilitation, social and nutritional services, activity programs, and other related services.
Montreal, Quebec, May 5, 2017 - SEMAFO (TSX, OMX: SMF) announces that at its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on May 4, 2017, all directors nominated in the 2017 management proxy circular were re-elected. A total of 238,039,880 common shares or 73.27% of our issued and outstanding common shares were represented in person or by proxy at the meeting.

Detailed results are as follows:

Nominee Votes for % of

Votes for Votes

Withheld % of Votes

Withheld Terence F. Bowles 235,641,125 99.95 123,808 0.05 Benoit Desormeaux 234,588,600 99.50 1,176,472 0.50 Flore Konan 224,349,365 95.16 11,415,707 4.84 Jean Lamarre 214,876,692 91.14 20,888,380 8.86 John LeBoutillier 205,832,392 87.30 29,932,680 12.70 Gilles Masson 232,650,458 98.68 3,114,614 1.32 Lawrence McBrearty 233,164,203 98.90 2,600,869 1.10 Tertius Zongo 224,927,466 95.40 10,837,606 4.60

The proposal to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors was approved:

For: 97.57% Withheld: 2.43%

A resolution amending and restating SEMAFO's Shareholder Rights Plan was approved:

For: 94.41% Against: 5.59%

Additionally, the resolution to adopt By-law No. 2017-1 was approved:

For: 99.89% Against: 0.11%

Finally, an advisory resolution on the Corporation's approach to executive compensation was approved.

For: 98.29% Against: 1.71%

About SEMAFO

SEMAFO is a Canadian-based mining company with gold production and exploration activities in West Africa. The Corporation currently owns and operates the Mana Mine in Burkina Faso, which includes the high-grade satellite Siou deposit, and is targeting production start-up of the Boungou Mine in the second half of 2018. SEMAFO's strategic focus is to maximize shareholder value by effectively managing its existing assets as well as pursuing organic and strategic growth opportunities.

The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of SEMAFO under the Swedish Securities Market Act and/or the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. This information was publicly communicated on May 5, 2017 at 2:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.

For more information, contact

SEMAFO

Robert LaValliere

Vice-President, Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations

E-mail: Robert.Lavalliere@semafo.com

Cell: +1 (514) 240 2780







Ruth Hanna

Analyst, Investor Relations

E-mail: Ruth.Hanna@semafo.com







Tel. local & overseas: +1 (514) 744 4408

North America Toll-Free: 1 (888) 744 4408

Website: www.semafo.com

Attachments:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31c7b589-578a-409d-b0de-b59432d536b7
In the news for the week ending May 5, 2017, are a typing controversy, generational finger-pointing, and Tony nominations, but not a strike.

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A Typing Controversy

Like a lot of people of a certain age, I took a typing class in high school. I hated it and didnt do well, which always makes me chuckle because now I actually type for a living, every single day. I think what I disliked at the time was having to sit a certain way, holding my hands in a certain position, endlessly recording the events of all good men who come to their countrys aid. Like a kid who just wants to play the guitar instead of learning chords or how to read music, I just wanted to type. Also, my teacher looked a lot like Larry Fine of the Three Stooges, and that distracted me.

One thing I remember from typing is you needed to put two spaces after a period. But thats not really true online, and that has a lot of people who still like to put in two spaces a little, well, irritated. In this piece at Mel, amusingly titled For the Love of God, Stop Putting Two Spaces after a Period, John McDermott explains in detail why you should now only put one space after a period. In this follow-up piece, McDermott explains how a lot of people didnt like to be told to put only one space after a period and let him know it in often colorful, vulgar terms (and often using only one space after a period).

Ive never really thought about how many spaces come after periods in print books and magazines and newspapers. It does really stick out when I get an e-mail where someone uses two spaces. Now Im going to really notice it, and its probably going to drive me batty.

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Boomers vs. GenXers vs. Millennials

Every generation complains about the generation that preceded them. Millennials blame Generation X for everything, Generation X blames Boomers for everything, and Boomers blame The Silent Generation, who then blame The Greatest Generation. At least I think thats how it goes. Its hard to keep track of who is named what when and why.

I have a slightly different take. Im a GenXer, and Ive never blamed Boomers for anything. It never occurred to me to blame Boomers. Instead, like any normal GenXer or Boomer, I complain about Millennials.

BuzzFeed has the results of a poll conducted by the Ipsos firm that found out what older people and younger people think they should do to be considered an adult. The topics range from living at home and doing your own laundry to paying your own bills and having an annual medical checkup.

Shouldnt all of these numbers be near or at 100 percent? Not every category for every age group, of course, but some of these numbers seem low to me. Only 39 percent of people aged 3554 consider cooking for themselves more than twice a week to be a sign youre an adult? Only 43 percent of those aged 1834 think getting no financial support from their parents is a sign youre an adult? Only 16 percent of everyone polled gets a flu shot? Id love to see a similar poll taken in 1980 or 1960.

Some of the results shock me, but not as much as finding out that the word adult is now used as a verb.

And the Tony Nominees Are 

I could go into detail about this years Tony nominations. About how this person or this show got a lot of nominations or how this person was snubbed or what the nominations mean. But I havent seen any of the shows, dont really know much about the shows, and Ive never been to a Broadway show. But heres the list of this years nominees. You probably know more than I do.

The awards show will air June 17 on CBS.

Strike Averted!

Three weeks ago, I told you about a possible writers strike that was about to hit Hollywood. But now we dont have to worry about it because the two sides came to an agreement at the last minute on Tuesday. Its a three-year deal that gives writers more money (including increases in residuals), expanded contract protection, and changes to healthcare.

Now, if you were actually hoping for a Hollywood strike, you might be in luck: An actors strike could be next.

Frozen in Time

Whenever I watch House Hunters I get a little irritated, for two reasons. One, I dont really believe that the show is completely honest. The setups seem staged, and everything is a little too scripted (and a 2012 investigation seems to back up that theory). Second, I hate when the couples are shown an older home, maybe a midcentury home with its original rooms and design and appliances, and the first thing that comes out of their mouths is we have to tear this out! I hate that. Those homes should be owned by people who want to keep most of the original features intact.

Like the people shown in this Wall Street Journal piece titled Life Inside a Time Capsule. Its about people who buy older homes and decide to keep them the way theyve always been, almost like living their lives the way the previous owners lived theirs decades ago. The slideshow is terrific, even if some of the designs of the 70s homes may disorient you for a moment.

RIP Florence Finch, Norman T. Hatch, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Lorna Gray, Trustin Howard, Leo Thorsness, and Bruce Hall

Florence Fitch was a World War II hero whose bravery wasnt even known to the public until decades later. She actually died on December 8 at the age of 101, but her family didnt make the announcement until this week.

Norman T. Hatch had a connection to World War II as well. He was a Marine cinematographer whose shocking footage of a battle in the Pacific won him an Academy Award in 1946. He died April 22 at the age of 96.

Colonel Bruce Hampton was considered the Godfather of the Jamband Scene and played with such people as Frank Zappa, Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, and Widespread Panic, as well as many of his own bands. He collapsed on stage on Monday during a birthday celebration. He was 70.

Lorna Gray was an actress who appeared in several shorts of the aforementioned Three Stooges and in movies with people like John Wayne and Buster Keaton, as well as many other films during the 30s, 40s, and 50s. She passed away Sunday at the age of 99.

Trustin Howard was the head writer of The Joey Bishop Show and often acted in movies under the name Slick Slavin. He died in April at the age of 93.

Leo Thorsness was an airman held captive along with John McCain in the prison known as The Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War. He died Tuesday at the age of 85.

Bruce Hall was a CBS newsman for 20 years and an NBC newsman for 17 years. He covered space for both networks, as well as thousands of other stories. He died Tuesday at the age of 76.

This Week in History

Citizen Kane Premieres (May 1, 1941)

The classic Orson Welles film had its world premiere at the RKO Palace Theatre in New York City. The movie is usually on best movies of all time lists, including this critics poll in The Saturday Evening Post in 1978.

Hindenburg Explodes (May 6, 1937)

Heres how reporter Herbert Morrison described the event on the ground. By the way, this is how Morrison actually sounded. The video we usually see has an audio recording that was running too fast, and Morrisons voice has always sounded higher than it was.

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Stan the Man Cover (May 1, 1954)

The man called Stan was Stan Musial, outfielder and first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, and in this cover from John Falter, hes shown signing autographs for fans. Heres the profile from that issue of the Post, titled The Mystery of Stan Musial.

May Is National Hamburger Month

Who invented the hamburger? Its an odd thing to think about since it seems to have been with us forever. Taking a look at the Wikipedia page for hamburgers (yes, theres a Wikipedia page for hamburgers), a version of its origin story goes all the way back to 1758, but its not really the modern one we enjoy. Some people say the first hamburger was served at Louis Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1900. Others say it was Charlie Nagreen in 1885 (a meatball sandwich), while White Castle says it was the invention of Otto Kuase in 1881. And thats only three of the many possible inventors. Theres a dispute because it all comes down to not only when it was invented but also what the exact definition of hamburger is.

Someone should make a movie about it.

Here are three burgers to make this month: a Spiced Buffalo Burger from Emeril Lagasse, a Turkey-Meatloaf Burger from Martha Stewart, and a Cheese-Stuffed Burger from country star Trisha Yearwood.

By the way, if you do get a hamburger this month and have to borrow the money to do so, make sure you pay it back by Tuesday. Like Wimpy.

Next Weeks Holidays and Events

V-E Day (May 8)

Also known as Victory in Europe Day, its the day in 1942 when we celebrated the formal surrender of Germany, which ended World War II in Europe.

National Teachers Day (May 9)

In April, the 2017 Teacher of the Year was honored at the White House. Her name is Sydney Chaffee, and she teaches at the Codman Academy in Boston.
Derby, England -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/05/2017 -- Al- Monitor, a Middle East online website has recently released an article detailing that hydroponic farming has now found its way to Egypt. Egypt have always faced struggles with water scarcity, soil nutrient repletion and fast-shrinking lands, however Amr Bassiouny has founded one of Egypt's first hydroponic farms. Hydroponics is a farming method which doesn't use soil yet relies on water to grow plants. This is an environmentally friendly way of growing which doesn't use any chemical pesticides, and actually saves water.



Egyptian Hydrofarms, the hydroponics farm founded by Bassiouny has been incredibly popular among many, providing affordable, yet healthy leafy greens which are pesticide-free. Bassiouny spent a lot of his time studying about farming systems in a way to boost the agricultural industry, and he came across hydroponics. The harm has been said to produce around twelves different types of lettuce and are said to produce around one-thousand heads of hydroponic lettuce in two months.



A spokesperson from the hydroponics supplies provider was keen to comment saying, "We were incredibly please when we heard about this hydroponic farm which was founded in Egypt. It is important to us for people to know how beneficial hydroponic growing is to many people, and yet again it helps people all around the world have affordable and pesticide-free vegetables and fruit. If you're wanting to starting growing hydroponically, then please get in touch, we have a wide variety of hydroponic equipment which can help you."



About Tropicanna Horticulture

Tropicanna Horticulture is the UK's fastest growing online supplier of hydroponics equipment of the highest quality, available to all at competitive prices. For further information on their supplies, please visit their site.



PR Contact

Company name: Tropicanna Horticulture Ltd

Contact name: Mike Stimpson

Tel: 01332 348787

Email: info@tropicannahorticulture.com

Website: www.tropicannahorticulture.com

Address: Unit 1A, Upperdale Yard Colombo Street Derby DE23 8LW
When scientists joined non-scientists on Earth Day (April 22) to march for science and against climate change, the vulnerable Asia-Pacific region, and much of the developing world, were conspicuously missing.



The nerve centres for the march were Washington, London and Paris, but media reported smaller satellite marches in 600 or more cities all over the world on the same day.



That tens of thousands of scientists from hundreds of cities, empowered by social media, came together with non-scientists even for a day, was an achievement. Scientists "are not famous for their camaraderie," a professor of carbon management at the University of Edinburgh, David Reay, has said. "We are trained to question, criticise and, where needed, contest each other's work. (1)



Unfortunately, the march happened mostly in the West and hardly a word was heard from Asia-Pacific and the developing world in general. There was a sense that the march was driven by politicsto which scientists are known to be allergic.



But, the first global March for Science had two non-political objectives: to defend science and to defend the earth against the threat of climate change and climate change deniers.

Scientists are not famous for their camaraderie, we are trained to question, criticise and, where needed, contest each other's work. David Reay, University of Edinburgh



For scientists concerned about the threat of climate change mainly, this first worldwide march for science was rather timely, happening soon after the Paris Climate Change Agreement came into force in 2016. The Paris Agreements central aim is to keep global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsiusas low as 1.5 degrees Celsius. The march gives needed impetus to push the accord forward.



At the same time, the marchers staunchly defended science against the threat of alternative facts as they brandished placards that shouted: Stop the assault on facts! Down with alternative facts! Stop assault on fact-based thinking! Keep our science great! Tell taxpayers why science matters!



The beginnings of the movement were apparently triggered by that guy over there in the White House. According to the placards, it happened when U.S. President Trumps blueprint budget proposed to cut $12.6 billion from the Department of Health and Human Services. (2)



Asian scientists missing



We therefore note with dismay that Asian world scientists were not more prominent in this March for Science. Except for Tokyo, Seoul and Manila, not a peep. The giant economies of China, India and Indonesia were conspicuous by their absence.



The 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), having a summit meeting in Manila (April 29) at the time of the march, were nowhere to be heard. In Manila, there was just a small demonstration and a public statement on the website by 350.org Philippines, and calls for phasing out of fossil fuels and a shift to renewable energy by Agham Youth and activists.



But, we hope this march has broken the ice and will not be one and done. We have argued in this column many times in the past that Asian and developing world scientists should come out of their laboratories and speak out their minds on issues of the day. They certainly are more knowledgeable on science issues and their impact on society.



Scientists could consider several courses of action: engage in politics like in the Philippines when they formed a political party recently and got elected to Congress, although they lost in the following election. This will ensure that laws passed by Congress are evidence-based.

They could lobby for scientists to advise the courts on scientific issues to avoid a repeat of a recent Philippine Supreme Court decision to permanently ban the field testing of genetically modified eggplant , a decision which a Philippine national scientist called quaint. (3)The probably 10,000 prominent and potentially influential scientists who are members of some 50 national academies of science and technology in the Asia-Pacific region can make their voices be heard. (4)These eminent citizens of the developing world should go out to the streets figuratively, give lectures on the role of science in society and fight for bigger government budgets for science.We urge that the United Nations proclaim a month for science each yearMarchand call it March for Science. Earth Day, April 22, should focus on the environment.Let scientists voices be heard. Let the marches continue.Crispin C. Maslog, a former journalist with Agence France-Presse, is an environmental activist and former science professor at Silliman University and University of the Philippines Los Banos, Philippines. He is a founding member and currently Chair of the Board, Asian Media Information and Communication Centre based in Manila.This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Asia & Pacific desk.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen discovered that people who have an identified FGF21 - a hormone secreted by the liver - can affect a number of sweet intakes like candies, chocolates, cakes and ice cream. On that account, the liver has a great effect why there are people who have sweet tooth.

In a data found by Matthew Gillum, who led the research study along with Niel Grarup, an assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen, said that there is really surprising evidence of how the lifestyle of 6,500 Danish individuals affects their sweet tooth. Also at the same time, the researchers found that FGF21 a hormone secreted by the liver has a great role in regulating the food that an individual is eating, via Phys.org.

Gillum and Grarup discovered that once food passed through the liver it put away sweets and the FGF21 a hormone secreted by the liver is also suppressing the sweet tooth in primates. However, to see how this hormone affects the human being, the researchers used Inter99 to gather data, which measures the glucose and level of cholesterol among the participants, Clinical Trial defined.

On that account, to have a better understanding of this FGF21 a hormone secreted by the liver and how it affects people with sweet tooth, researchers monitor the blood stream of a participant who took two cans of coke prior to testing. Gillum and Grarup measured the level of sweets among the participants within 12 hours and monitored the changes for 5 hours.

What Gillum and Grarup found is that the participant who doesn't like the sweets had an increased level of FGF21 a hormone secreted by the liver, up to 50% higher than those individuals with a sweet tooth. As of now, the researchers believed that this study can help them to discover variants associated with obesity and diabetes type 2.
Paleontologists have identified a new species of dinosaur that is declared as the most recent species of dinosaur until today. This sauropod species, named Galeamopus pabsti has evolved 150 million years ago, as described by the researchers from Italy and Portugal.

The evidence was analyzed by the group of paleontologists from the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Turin in Italy, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and the Museum of Lourinha in Portugal. In the journal of PeerJ, researchers mentioned that the specimen of Galeamopus pabsti was first discovered by a swiss team led by Hans-Jakob "Kirby" Siber and Ben Pabst from the excavation site of Wyoming, the United States in 1995.

Paleontologists Emanuel Tschopp and Octavio Mateus started studies on this species in 2012 and finally declared the characteristics on May 2, Tuesday. According to Science daily, Galeamopus pabsti is one of the closest relatives of famous dinosaur Diplodocus. However, their legs were more massive and the high and triangular neck close to their head.

Galeamopus pabsti is the second species of Galeamopus genus and the first one is discovered in 2015 and it was also reinstated with the genus brontosaurus. However, it is totally different from Diplodocus, as described by the same researcher. Researchers dedicated the name of newly discovered species to Ben Pabst, who first unearthed the skeleton from the excavation site.

Pabst restored and mounted the parts at Sauriermuseum Aathal in Switzerland. Besides Galeamopus pabsti, Diplodocid sauropod is classified as one of the most iconic dinosaur species. Elongated necks and tails represent their body feature as a typical body shape of a sauropod. Researchers confirmed that the species used to live in Africa, South America, and Europe along with 15 other species of dinosaurs which also includes Brontosaurus. Now researchers are studying on different aspects to understand how such a diversity could be maintained by the ecosystem in which they lived.
A lost monitor lizard was rediscovered on an island in Papua New Guinea by a zoologist from Finland. The lizard was declared lost after it was reported to be a casualty in an 1800s shipwreck.

In an article published in Science Daily, Valter Weijola, a zoologist from the University of Turku in Finland, discovered the one lost species of the monitor lizard in their fieldwork at New Ireland island. In their fieldwork that aims to survey the monitor lizards in the island, he and his colleagues discovered that the lizard they have found was different morphologically and genetically compared from the usual "Varanus indicus" species.

The monitor lizard, a medium-size monitor, was first discovered by French naturalist Rene Lesson back in 1823. It's scientific name "Varanus douarrha" was inspired by the pronunciation of the lizard's name of the people's language in New Ireland island called Siar, where people share the lizard's home.

The "Varanus douarrha" monitor lizard was reported to have been present on the Bismarck Islands, in which the New Ireland is part of. In a journal published in Australian Journal of Zoology titled "Reinstatement of Varanus douarrha Lesson, 1830 as a valid species with comments on the zoogeography of monitor lizards (Squamata : Varanidae) in the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea," this type of monitor lizard was discovered to have inhabited the island way longer than the "Varanus indicus".

The specimen of the monitor lizard collected by Lesson was one of the things that went down with the ship after it was struck down at the Cape of Good Hope in 1824. Unfortunately, the monitor lizard was not systematically studied after that incident.

Although scientists are aware that some type of monitor lizards are roaming New Ireland, they figured that these lizards are the "Varanus indicus," the most common mangrove monitor species found all over New Guinea. That is the "Varanus indicus" and there are about 90 species of monitor lizard around the world.

The "Varanus douarrha" monitor lizard is described as a black with yellow speckles concentrated more densely on its underbelly. It could grow to about 4.3 feet in length. It is the only large native animal that is known to live in New Ireland island.
After a long gap of 200 years, wolves have finally returned to Denmark. An interesting incident that surprises all and increases the enthusiasm among the zoologists.

According to The Telegraph, at least five wolves that include four males and one female have come from another European country Germany. These predators settle in the agricultural region of the western Denmark. A zoologist who has already obtained the DNA evidence reveals that the current existence of the animals is visible after a gap of two centuries.

Peter Sunde, a scientist at the University of Aarhus, utters significantly about these animals. It is believed that the wolves have crossed more than 310 miles or 500 km to enter into Denmark, scientist Peter Sunde reported. The researcher said that most probably these predators are rejected by their families who are in search for the new hunting grounds.

A current genetic profile is established by the scientists from these five predators' faces. So far they have created the profile from one female and four males, though chances are still alive about the existence of more numbers. Researchers had earlier suspected about the presence of wolves since 2012 in Denmark, and now they have got the evidence.

According to Newsweek, Peter Sunde reveals that before 2012 a wolf was last sighted in 1813. An estimation showed that 47 reproducing family groups of this species were present in Europe in 2016. High adaptability is a key feature of the young wolves and currently, they are dispersing into Denmark and Northern Germany.

Constant video surveillance and the fingerprints of the wolves indicate their location. But, the scientists are not ready to reveal those locations in order to protect them from the clutches of hunters. If the location is exposed, then there is an obvious chance that hunters may find them. So currently, Denmark is a safe destination for these five predators.

Henrik Hagen Olesen, the spokesman of the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, says protection is necessary for these wolves. He utters that no one is allowed to hunt these animals. Rapid extermination by the hunters ultimately made these predators completely extinct in the said Scandinavian country.

It was the early phase of the nineteenth century when visibility of the wolves was completely gone. Thanks to these new intruders from Germany who have created a new hope for the zoologists in Denmark. It is a great opportunity for them to explore many important facts about this species.

There is a list of Nordic countries, where wolf population is very high. After the Bern Convention, a fierce debate is going on about the culling of this species. Currently, wolves are very precious animals as they play a significant role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Protection of this species is the current need of the hour.
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: MMCAP International Inc. SPC (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 Sandstorm Gold Ltd (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 26 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" Mariana Resources Ltd





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:



Common Shares NPV



Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:







(2,478,314) (1.63) (2) Cash-settled derivatives:



(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: 6,500,000







856,722 4.10







0.56 (2,505,200) (1.65)



TOTAL:







4.66



(3.28)

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



Common Shares NPV



Sold Short



60,300



4.9644 CAD



Common Shares NPV



Sold Short



37,922



5.0025 CAD



Common Shares NPV



Sold Short



272,500



4.9729 CAD



Common Shares NPV



Sold Short



100,000



3.5913 USD

(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





(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? YES





Date of disclosure: 05 MAY 2017 Contact name: ULLA VESTERGAARD Telephone number: 001 416 408 0994

Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. 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.







SUPPLEMENTAL FORM 8 (OPEN POSITIONS)

DETAILS OF OPEN STOCK-SETTLED DERIVATIVE (INCLUDING OPTION) POSITIONS, AGREEMENTS TO PURCHASE OR SELL ETC.

Note 5(i) on Rule 8 of the Takeover Code (the "Code")

1. KEY INFORMATION

Full name of person making disclosure: MMCAP International Inc. SPC Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities the disclosure relates: Sandstorm Gold Ltd

2. STOCK-SETTLED DERIVATIVES (INCLUDING OPTIONS)

Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Written or purchased Number of securities to which option or derivative relates Exercise price per unit Type

e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Common Shares NPV Warrants Purchased 6,500,000 3.50 USD 27 Oct 2020 Common Shares NPV Warrants Purchased 856,722 4.00 CAD 03 Nov 2020 Common Shares NPV Call Option Written 50,000 3.00 USD American 19 Jan 2018 Common Shares NPV Call Option Written 1,414,100 4.00 USD American 19 Jan 2018 Common Shares NPV Call Option Written 48,000 5.00 USD American 19 Jan 2018 Common Shares NPV Call Option Written 47,200 7.00 USD American 19 Jan 2018 Common Shares NPV Call Option Written 25,000 4.00 USD American 18 Jan 2019 Common Shares NPV Call Option Written 869,900 5.00 USD American 18 Jan 2019 Common Shares NPV Call Option Written 50,000 4.00 USD American 16 Jun 2017 Common Shares NPV Call Option Written 1,000 5.00 USD American 16 Jun 2017

3. AGREEMENTS TO PURCHASE OR SELL ETC.

Full details should be given so that the nature of the interest or position can be fully understood:





It is not necessary to provide details on a Supplemental Form (Open Positions) with regard to cash-settled derivatives.

The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

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.
Tempe, Arizona , May 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Valley Management Group took the southwest by storm this year, already quintupling the companys foothold throughout the Phoenix area. Director of Operations, Kurtis Spahr quickly made his mark in the Grand Canyon State, proving The Valley is a force to be reckoned with in 2017.

In January, The Valley Management Group oversaw marketing and promotional operations for several multi-million dollar clients in two local, Phoenix locations. Three short months later, nearly doubling every major projection released at the turn of the year, the company grew into nine more locations.

Their metropolitan reach now extends from Phoenix to Surprise, Scottsdale, Tempe, Maricopa and Glendale. The ability for The Valley Management Group to expand at such a rapid rate and sustain remarkable production across the region is unprecedented.

Kurtis explains the catalyst behind the revolution now dubbed the Phoenix Phenomena in saying, We owe 100% of our recent growth to our associates. They are the true heroes in this story. Their motivational leadership, and their ability to lift each other up in such a positive way is remarkable.

Revolutionizing the promotional marketing game throughout the Phoenix area is just the start, says Human Resources Director Jessie Kohler, as she hints at another surge of growth expected in Prescott and Tucson.

As The Valley begins to settle into their newly acquired territories, the executive team takes on another initiative; community outreach.

It is incredibly important that the local residents know The Valley Management Group is on their side. We are willing to put in work to ensure a better future for our children and our neighborhoods, says Kurtis.

The first of many charities Kurtis and The Valley team vow to give their time to is Feed My Starving Children. On May 2nd, on Alma School Road in Mesa, several associates assisted the foundation in their daily duties of packing and arranging meals for those in need.

We love to have fun, explains Jessie. Our associates had a blast preparing meals to be shipped out nationally for the less fortunate. Our team always turns fun events like this one into friendly competitions. We probably helped pack 178 boxes, which provided 38,448 meals for nearly 105 children. It was an incredibly humbling and positive experience.

The unwavering commitment to business growth and local outreach beams from the thriving marketing firm. To continue to help their local and national efforts, join the movement by visiting www.thevalleygroupphoenix.com.
NEW YORK, May 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Ocwen Financial Corporation (Ocwen or the Company) (NYSE:OCN) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, and docketed under 17-cv-80500 is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Ocwen securities, seeking to recover compensable damages caused by defendants violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you are a shareholder who purchased Ocwen securities between May 11, 2015 and April 19, 2017, both dates inclusive, you have until June 20, 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]

Ocwen Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services holding company. The Company's primary businesses are the acquisition, servicing, and resolution of sub-performing and nonperforming residential and commercial mortgage loans, as well as the related development of loan servicing technology and business-to-business e-commerce solutions for the mortgage and real estate industries.

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) Ocwen engaged in significant and systemic misconduct at nearly every stage of the mortgage servicing process; (ii) the foregoing conduct, when it became known would subject the Company to heightened regulatory scrutiny and potential criminal sanctions; (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Ocwens public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On April 20, 2017, the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a press release entitled Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sues Ocwen for failing borrowers throughout mortgage servicing process, reporting that the Company had generated errors in borrowers accounts, failed to credit payments, illegally foreclosed on homeowners, and charged borrowers for add-on products without their consent.

On that same day, it was further reported that the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks and state regulators from more than twenty states issued a cease-and-desist order to Ocwens subsidiaries as a result of the Companys mishandling of consumer escrow accounts and a deficient financial condition. The Order specifically prohibits the acquisition of new mortgage servicing rights and the origination of mortgage loans by Ocwen Loan Servicing (NMLS number 1852), a subsidiary of Ocwen, until the company is able to prove it can appropriately manage its consumer mortgage escrow accounts.

On this news, Ocwens share price fell $2.91, or 53.89%, to close at $2.49 on April 20, 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
Royal Vopak and AltaGas Ltd. (AltaGas) announced today that they have entered into a joint venture and will invest together in the development of the Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal (RIPET). RIPET is expected to be the first propane export facility off the west coast of Canada.The project is to be designed to ship 1.2 million tonnes of propane per annum, with approximately 96,000 cubic meters of storage capacity. The facility is expected to be commissioned in Q1 2019.

Vopak will take a 30 percent interest in RIPET. Vopak's investment is underpinned by long-term customer contracts and is fully aligned with Vopak's long-term strategy where storage and handling of gas has been earmarked as one of the strategic focus areas. Canada has a structural surplus in gas and natural gas liquids for which Asia is an important market to export these energy products.

"We are excited to form this joint venture with Vopak and have them as a partner in RIPET," said David Harris, President and CEO of AltaGas. "Vopak is a very strategic global tank storage company and brings significant experience in terminals worldwide. We look forward to working with them on RIPET as well as considering future opportunities to further build out our joint venture."

"We are very much looking forward to working together with AltaGas in this new partnership", said Eelco Hoekstra Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Royal Vopak. "Storage and handling of gas is an important strategic focus area for Vopak. We are confident that we have found a strong partner in AltaGas that is a well-respected Canadian company with experience in developing energy projects".

The RIPET site is near Prince Rupert, British Columbia, on a section of land leased by Ridley Terminals Inc. (RTI) from the Prince Rupert Port Authority. The site has a locational advantage given very short shipping distances to markets in Asia, notably a 10-day shipping time compared to 25-days from the U.S. Gulf Coast. The brownfield site also benefits from railway access and ample deep water access to the Pacific Ocean which is ice-free year round.

Propane from British Columbia and Alberta will be transported to the facility using 50-60 rail cars a day through the existing CN rail network. The extensive land and water rights held by RTI and its world class marine jetty enables the efficient loading of Very Large Gas Carriers that can access key global markets without limitation.

Separate from RIPET, Vopak has additional land rights on Ridley Island. Vopak and AltaGas will explore the potential to expand their relationship on Ridley Island.

For Vopak this press release contains inside information as meant in clause 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation.

Vopak Profile

Royal Vopak is the world's leading independent tank storage company. We operate a global network of terminals located at strategic locations along major trade routes. With a 400-year history and a strong focus on safety and sustainability, we ensure efficient, safe and clean storage and handling of bulk liquid products and gases for our customers. By doing so, we enable the delivery of products that are vital to our economy and daily lives, ranging from oil, chemicals, gases and LNG to biofuels and vegoils. Vopak is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange and is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Including our joint ventures and associates, we employ an international workforce of over 5,500 people. As of 5 May 2017, Vopak operates 67 terminals in 25 countries with a combined storage capacity of 35.7 million cbm, with another 2.8 million cbm under development, to be added before the end of 2019. www.vopak.com

AltaGas Profile

AltaGas, a Canadian publicly traded corporation, is a North American diversified energy infrastructure company with a focus on natural gas, power and regulated utilities. AltaGas creates value by acquiring, growing and optimizing its energy infrastructure, including a focus on clean energy sources. For more information visit: www.altagas.ca

For more information, please contact:

Vopak - Media

Liesbeth Lans, Manager External Communication,

Telephone : +31 (0)10 4002777, e-mail: global.communication@vopak.com

Vopak - Analysts and investors

Chiel Rietvelt, Head of Investor Relations,

Telephone : +31 (0)10 4002776, e-mail: investor.relations@vopak.com

AltaGas - Investment Community

Telephone : + 1-877-691-7199

investor.relations@AltaGas.ca





AltaGas - Media

Telephone : +1 (403) 691-7197

media.relations@AltaGas.ca
We are delighted to bring CMA CGM on board. We see it as a ringing endorsement of our aim to make the booking process fast, simple and transparent, said AgreeFreight md Nick Coverdale.

AgreeFreight is the first online portal to offer live container freight rates directly linked to a vessels sailing.

With the collaboration with AgreeFreight, CMA CGM now offers its customers another option to book shipments on-line, said Ludovic Rozan, CMA CGMs global accounts senior manager for the Asian Office.

Both carriers and shippers are increasingly looking to independent platforms such as ours to streamline their booking operations and inject efficiencies into the supply chain," noted Coverdale.

Currently we are offering port-to-port rates but are fully prepared to roll out gate-in-to-gate-out rates as and when the market demands it, which will lead to our ultimate target of a Global Door to Door option by numerous modes of transport," he added.

Coverdale said AgreeFreight wants to attract more carriers to the Asia-Europe trade as well as other routes.

He noted that the transpacific market would be its first priority. "It is littered with middlemen and tedious contracts, giving a fantastic opportunity for freight buyers to bypass this long and tiresome process, Coverdale pointed out.

In addition to full container loads, AgreeFreight will also be offering European customers direct access to Sea/Air services and is currently in discussions with a number of rail operators to cover central and northern China.
HOUSTON, May 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR) announced today the results of its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held Friday, May 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.



Based on the voting results from the meeting, stockholders re-elected Messrs. John F. Bookout, III, David Dickson, Stephen G. Hanks, Erich Kaeser, Gary P. Luquette, William H. Schumann, III and David A. Trice and Ms. Mary L. Shafer-Malicki to McDermotts Board of Directors, all for one-year terms, with each director receiving the affirmative vote of over 98 percent of the votes cast by stockholders.

In addition, stockholders approved, on an advisory basis, McDermotts named executive officer compensation with an affirmative vote of over 96 percent of the votes cast by stockholders, voted on an advisory basis for the Company to hold the advisory vote on executive compensation annually and ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017.

About the Company

McDermott is a leading provider of integrated engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) services for upstream field developments worldwide. The Company delivers fixed and floating production facilities, pipelines and subsea systems from concept to commissioning for complex offshore and subsea oil and gas projects to help oil companies safely produce and transport hydrocarbons. Our customers include national and major energy companies. Operating in approximately 20 countries across the world, our locally focused and globally integrated resources include approximately 13,500 employees, a diversified fleet of specialty marine construction vessels, fabrication facilities and engineering offices. We are renowned for our extensive knowledge and experience, technological advancements, performance records, superior safety and commitment to deliver. McDermott has served the energy industry since 1923. As used in this press release, McDermott includes McDermott International, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. To learn more, please visit our website at www.mcdermott.com.
Signing the document were chairmen George Gratsos of HELMEPA and Khamis Juma Buamim of DcmmiEmirates, within the framework of the 3rd Joint Cooperation Committee of Greece and the UAE taking place in Athens.

HELMEPA was set up as a joint initiative of Greek shipowners and seafarers in 1982, and has since specialised in outreach campaigns to local communities, especially schoolchildren, on the importance of marine conservation, as well as volunteer beach clean-up efforts. It also carries out voluntary STCW refresher training for Greek seafarers in areas which can minimise risk to the marine environment..

The Greek body will now work with DcmmiEmirates with a view to establishing an Emirates Marine Environment Protection Association (EMEPA) dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment and enhancement of safety. Other MEPAs already exist in Cyprus, Turkey, Ukraine, Australia and North America.
Evan Sernoffsky / Evan Sernoffsky / San Francisco Chronicle

A man killed by police Tuesday night in San Jose in the first of two fatal officer-involved shootings in the South Bay city this week was identified by authorities on Thursday.

The man, 28-year-old Joseph Tourino of San Jose, allegedly charged at Officer Mario Martinez with a knife held over his head when Martinez responded to a family disturbance call on the 1500 block of Mount Frazier Drive about 11:35 p.m. Tuesday, according to Officer Albert Morales, a spokesman for the San Jose Police Department.
While on the campaign trail last year, Donald Trump lamented the loss of manufacturing jobs in the United States and set his sights on companies like Apple to help rectify the situation. Im going to get Apple to start making their computers and their iPhones on our land, not in China, he said.

On Wednesday, Apple appeared to meet Trump halfway.

While it did not announce a new manufacturing facility with thousands of jobs, Apple, the worlds most valuable public company, said it plans to dedicate resources to American job creation with a $1 billion fund to invest in advanced manufacturing in the United States. The company said it would announce the first investment from its new fund this month.

The fund can be the ripple in the pond, Apple CEO Tim Cook said during an interview with CNBC in which he announced the new fund. Those manufacturing jobs create more jobs around them because you have a service industry that builds up around them.

In introducing the fund, Apple joined a growing list of companies that have said in recent months that they will add, promote or keep jobs  many of them related to manufacturing  in the United States.

Carrier, a furnace maker that had been excoriated by Trump for potentially outsourcing jobs to Mexico, decided to keep 800 of 1,400 jobs in Indianapolis. SoftBank, a Japanese company that has invested in many businesses worldwide, told Trump it would use a $100 billion technology fund to create 50,000 American jobs. This week, Infosys, a tech outsourcing company in India, said it would hire up to 10,000 American workers.

Some critics have suggested that the Trump administration is too focused on manufacturing, as opposed to more quickly cultivating service occupations  in the leisure and hospitality or health care industries, for instance.

But for the roughly two-thirds of Americans who lack a four-year college degree, manufacturing remains one of the few sectors that can deliver a middle-class income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical factory worker earns more than $26 an hour, compared with $14 an hour for the average hotel or food services employee.

Even if more manufacturing jobs are created, however, there may be too few Americans with manufacturing skills to fill them. LinkedIns most recent monthly report on employment trends found there are not enough people with manufacturing skills in areas like New York City, Los Angeles and Denver, which lack the industrial bases found in cities like Cleveland and Detroit. Many high school graduates have avoided going into the sector as it has shed jobs, creating a labor shortage as workers retire.

Apples focus with its new fund is on a slice of the industry known as advanced manufacturing. That typically involves the production of specialized products in sectors like technology, aerospace, automobiles, sustainable energy and medical equipment.

In some cases, that means making much smaller batches than mass-production-oriented assembly lines churn out, or using robotics and 3-D printing to create custom items.

Cooks announcement of the fund came midway through his interview with Jim Cramer of CNBC, when he was asked what he was doing to create jobs. Cook answered that Apple had asked itself, How can we get more people to do advanced manufacturing in the United States?

Cook did not address whether creation of the fund was influenced by Trumps policies and statements on manufacturing.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Asked by Cramer about working with the president, Cook said there are always issues to agree on and disagree on with any administration in any country. You look to find common ground, he said, and try to influence areas where there is disagreement.

Cook added that Apple would announce what it plans to do to support its current employees and add to their ranks, and to aid the software developers who make apps for Apples phones, watches and computers.

Apple, which reported its quarterly earnings Tuesday, had $257 billion in cash and marketable securities on its balance sheet as of April 1, so a $1 billion fund is relatively paltry for the company. Much of Apples cash is held overseas, but Cook told CNBC that the company will use U.S. money for the fund.

An Apple spokesman said he did not have anything to add beyond what Cook said during the interview.

Katie Benner and Nelson D. Schwartz are New York Times writers.
Since its launch in 2013, the neo-Nazi website the Daily Stormer has quickly become the go-to spot for racists on the Internet. Women are whores, blacks are inferior and a shadowy Jewish cabal is organizing a genocide against white people. The site can count among its readers Dylann Roof, the white teenager who slaughtered nine African Americans in Charleston, S.C., in 2015, and James Jackson, who fatally stabbed an elderly black man with a sword in the streets of New York earlier this year.

Traffic is up lately, too, at white-supremacist sites like the Right Stuff, Iron March, American Renaissance and Stormfront, one of the oldest white-nationalist sites on the Internet.

The operations of such extreme sites are made possible, in part, by an otherwise very mainstream Internet company, Cloudflare. San Franciscos Cloudflare operates more than 100 data centers spread across the world, serving as a sort of middleman for websites  speeding up delivery of a sites content and protecting it from several kinds of attacks. Cloudflare says that some 10 percent of Web requests flow through its network, and the companys mainstream clients range from the FBI to the dating site OKCupid.

The widespread use of Cloudflares services by racist groups is not an accident. Cloudflare has said it is not in the business of censoring websites and will not deny its services to even the most offensive purveyors of hate.

A website is speech. It is not a bomb, Cloudflares CEO Matthew Prince wrote in a 2013 blog post defending his companys stance. There is no imminent danger it creates and no provider has an affirmative obligation to monitor and make determinations about the theoretically harmful nature of speech a site may contain.

Cloudflare also has an added appeal to sites such as the Daily Stormer. It turns over to the hate sites the personal information of people who criticize their content. For instance, when a reader figures out that Cloudflare is the Internet company serving sites like the Daily Stormer, he or she sometimes write to the company to protest. Cloudflare, per its policy, then relays the name and email address of the person complaining to the hate site, often to the surprise and regret of the person complaining.

This has led to campaigns of harassment against those writing in to protest the offensive material. People have been threatened and harassed.

ProPublica reached out to a handful of people targeted by the Daily Stormer after they or someone close to them complained to Cloudflare about the sites content. All but three declined to talk on the record, citing fear of further harassment or a desire to not relive it. Most said they had no idea their report would be passed on, though Cloudflare does state on the reporting form it they will notify the site owner.

I wasnt aware that my information would be sent on. I suppose I, naively, had an expectation of privacy, said Jennifer Dalton, who had complained that the Daily Stormer was asking its readers to harass Twitter users after the election.

Andrew Anglin, the owner of the Daily Stormer, has been candid about how he feels about people reporting his site for its content.

We need to make it clear to all of these people that there are consequences for messing with us, Anglin wrote in one online post. We are not a bunch of babies to be kicked around. We will take revenge. And we will do it now.

ProPublica asked Cloudflares top lawyer about its policy of sharing information on those who complain about racist sites. The lawyer, Doug Kramer, Cloudflares general counsel, defended the companys policies by saying it is base constitutional law that people can face their accusers. Kramer suggested that some of the people attacking Cloudflares customers had their own questionable motives.

Hate sites such as the Daily Stormer have become a focus of intense interest since the racially divisive 2016 election: how popular they are, who supports them, how they are financed. Most of their operators supported Donald Trump and helped spread a variety of conspiracy theories aimed at damaging Hillary Clinton. But they clearly have also become a renewed source of concern for law enforcement.

In testimony Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chief Will D. Johnson, chair of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Human and Civil Rights Committee, highlighted the reach and threat of hate on the Internet.

The Internet provides extremists with an unprecedented ability to spread hate and recruit followers, he said. Individual racists and organized hate groups now have the power to reach a global audience of millions and to communicate among like-minded individuals easily, inexpensively and anonymously.

Although hate speech is offensive and hurtful, the First Amendment usually protects such expression, Johnson said. However, there is a growing trend to use the Internet to intimidate and harass individuals on the basis of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, or national origin.

A look at Cloudflares policies and operations sheds some light on how sites promoting incendiary speech and even violent behavior can exist and even thrive.

Jacob Sommer, a lawyer with extensive experience in Internet privacy and security issues, said there is no legal requirement for a company like Cloudflare to regulate the sites on its service, though many Internet service providers choose to. It comes down to a companys sense of corporate responsibility, he said.

For the most part, Sommers said, a lot of companies dont want this stuff on their networks. He said those companies resist having their networks become a hive of hate speech.

Jonathan Vick, associate director for investigative technology and cyberhate response at the Anti-Defamation League, agrees. He said that many of the hosts they talk to want to get hate sites off their networks.

Even the most intransigent of them, when theyre given evidence of something really problematic, they do respond, he said.

Cloudflare has raised at least $180 million in venture capital since its inception in 2009, much of it from some of the most prominent venture-capital firms and tech companies in the country. The service is whats known as a content delivery network, and offers protection from several cyber threats including denial of service attacks, where hundreds of computers make requests to a website at once, overwhelming it and bringing it down.

Company officials have said Cloudflares core belief is in the free and open nature of the Internet. But given its outsize role in protecting a range of websites, Cloudflare has found itself the target of critics.

In 2015, the company came under fire from the hacker collective Anonymous for reportedly allowing ISIS propaganda sites on its network. At the time, Prince, the companys CEO, dismissed the claim as armchair analysis by kids, and told Fox Business that the company would not knowingly accept money from a terrorist organization.

Kramer, in an interview with ProPublica, reiterated that the company would not accept money from ISIS. But he said that was not for moral or ethical reasons. Rather, he said, Cloudflare did not have dealings with terrorist groups such as ISIS because there are significant and specific laws restricting it from doing so.

In the end, Kramer said, seedy and objectionable sites made up a tiny fraction of the companys clients.

Weve got 6 million customers, he told ProPublica. Its easy to find these edge cases.

One of the people ProPublica spoke with whose information had been shared with the Daily Stormers operators said his complaint had been posted on the site, but that he was not interested in talking about my experience as its not something I want to revisit. Someone else whose information was posted on the site said that though she did get a few odd emails, she wasnt aware her information had been made public. She followed up to say she was going to abandon her email account now that she knew.

The entire situation makes me feel uneasy, she said.

Scott Ernest had complained about the Daily Stormers conduct after Anglin, its owner, had used the site to allegedly harass a woman in the town of Whitefish, Mont. After his complaint, Ernest wound up on the receiving end of about two dozen harassing emails or phone calls.

F off and die, read one email. Go away and die, read another. Those commenting on the site speculated on everything from Ernests hygiene to asking, suggestively, why it appeared in a Facebook post that Ernest had a child at his house.

Ernest said the emails and phone calls he received were not traumatizing, but they were worrying.

His threats of harassment can turn into violence, he said of Anglin.

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Anglin appears quite comfortable with his arrangement with Cloudflare. It doesnt cost him much, either  just $200 a month, according to public posts on the site.

[A]ny complaints filed against the site go to Cloudflare, and Cloudflare then sends me an email telling me someone said I was doing something bad and that it is my responsibility to figure out if I am doing that, he wrote in a 2015 post on his site. Cloudflare does not regulate content, so it is meaningless.

Representatives from Rackspace and GoDaddy, two popular Web hosts, said they try to regulate the kinds of sites on their services. For Rackspace, that means drawing the line at hosting white-supremacist content or hate speech. For GoDaddy, that means not hosting the sort of abusive publication of personal information that Anglin frequently engages in.

There is certainly content that, while we respect freedom of speech, we dont want to be associated with it, said Arleen Hess, senior manager of GoDaddys digital crimes unit.

Both companies also said they would not pass along contact information for people who complain about offensive content to the groups generating it.

Amazon Web Services, one of the most popular Web hosts and content-delivery networks, would not say how it handles abuse complaints beyond pointing to an acceptable use policy that restricts objectionable, abusive and harmful content. It also pointed to its abuse form, which says the company will keep your contact information private.

According to Vick at the ADL, the fact that Cloudflare takes money from Anglin is different from if hed used just their free service.

Thats a direct relationship, he said. That raises questions in my mind.

Some companies offering other services vital to success on the Web have chosen not to do business with Anglins Daily Stormer. Google, PayPal and Coinbase, for instance, have chosen to cut off his accounts rather than support his activities. Getting booted from service to service can make it hard to run a hate site, but Cloudflare gives the sites a solid footing.

And, by the Daily Stormers account, advice and assurances. In a post, the sites architect, Andrew Auernheimer, said he had personal relationships with people at Cloudflare, and they had assured him the company would work to protect the site in a variety of ways  including by not turning over data to European courts. Cloudflare has data centers in European countries such as Germany, which have strict hate-speech and privacy laws.

Company officials offered differing responses when asked about Auernheimers post. Kramer, Cloudflares general counsel, said he had no knowledge of employee conversations with Auernheimer. Later, in an email, the company said Auernheimer was a well-known hacker, and that as a result, at least one senior company official has chatted with him on occasion and has spoken to him about Cloudflares position on not censoring the Internet.

A former Cloudflare employee, Ryan Lackey, said in an interview that though he doesnt condone a lot of what Auernheimer does, he did on occasion give technical advice as a friend and helped some of the Stormers issues get resolved.

I am hardcore libertarian/classical liberal about free speech  something like Daily Stormer has every right to publish, and it is better for everyone if all ideas are out on the Internet to do battle in that sphere, he said.

Vick at the ADL agrees that Anglin has a right to publish, but said people have the right to hold to task the Internet companies that enable him.

Andrew Anglin has the right to be out there and say what he wants to say. But the people who object to what he has to say have a right to object as well, he said. You should be able to respond to everybody in the chain.

Ken Schwencke is a ProPublica writer.

This article is part of ProPublicas Documenting Hate series. For more: https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/hatecrimes
How GOP health care bill would affect Californians

The Republican plan  the American Health Care Act  would help younger people, corporations and the wealthy but would hurt older and poorer residents.

Winners

Some people in their 20s who receive federal subsidies to buy insurance on Covered California

The bill changes the structure of the subsidies so that many younger people would receive larger subsidies, lowering their insurance premium costs (see chart to right).

People who earn $200,000 or more

The bill repeals a tax on investment income for high-income earners. Also, people who earn higher incomes are most likely to benefit from the increased limit on contributions to tax-free health savings accounts.

Health insurers, medical device makers, pharmaceutical companies, indoor tanning salons

The bill repeals taxes imposed on these companies that help pay for the Affordable Care Act.

Losers

People in their 50s and 60s who receive federal subsidies to buy insurance on Covered California

The bill changes the structure of the subsidies so most older Americans would receive smaller subsidies (see chart to far right), raising their insurance premium costs. The bill also allows insurance companies to charge older people five times more than what they charge younger people.

People with pre-existing conditions

The bill does not technically allow insurers to deny people coverage based on pre-existing conditions. But it does allow states to opt out of an ACA requirement that protects sick people from being charged more than the overall, healthier pool of people. Policy analysts say this could effectively price many sick people out of buying insurance. California, however, is unlikely to opt out.

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Poor Californians on Medi-Cal

The bill would cut $24 billion in federal funding to Californias Medicaid program over the next 10 years, as well as cap federal contributions to the program in the long run. Unless the state could make up the difference on its own, Medi-Cal recipients would likely see benefits reduced.

People whose insurance has lapsed for two months in a row, which often happens in between jobs

The bill allows insurance companies to impose a 30 percent surcharge on premiums, for one year, for people whose coverage has lapsed for more than 63 days.

People who have health insurance through their employer

The bill allows states to apply for a waiver that would allow insurers selling plans in that state to potentially impose lifetime caps on essential benefits, which include prescription drugs, hospitalization and maternity care. Californias Democratic leaders are unlikely to seek such a waiver. But large employers in California could still choose looser benefits elsewhere.

 Catherine Ho
A plea bargain that could allow a Silicon Valley CEO to serve barely two weeks in jail in his second domestic violence case has prompted outrage from his estranged wife, who believes the deal is too lenient and that justice is being thwarted by efforts to ensure her abuser isnt removed from the country.

The case against Abhishek Gattani, co-founder of customer analytics startup Cuberon and a native of India, offers a window into Californias efforts to shield immigrants from undue harm  which includes a 2015 law that requires prosecutors to consider ways to head off deportations.

The case began in July when Neha Rastogi, a former Apple engineer, told Sunnyvale police that Gattani  with whom she has a 3-year-old daughter  had beaten her. It came to a head April 13, when Rastogi ripped the plea deal in Santa Clara County Superior Court, prompting a judge to postpone sentencing.

The system has shown me that concerns over Abhisheks immigration status have completely trampled rights of my daughter, and my own, Rastogi said.

Gattani, 37, had been charged with two felony counts of domestic violence, but pleaded no contest to felony accessory and a misdemeanor count of offensive touching. People without full citizenship are more likely to be deported when convicted of violent felonies.

Prosecutors agreed to a six-month jail term, to be served through a weekend work program with 30 days of incarceration. With credits, Gattani could spend 15 days in custody.

In an April 28 memo to the court, Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney Brian Welch defended the plea deal as tough, saying it struck hard blows, but not foul ones, and took into account several factors, including the strength of the evidence, inconsistent statements in the past by Rastogi, and the likelihood of winning a conviction if the case went to trial.

Ms. Rastogi laments that Defendant is once again getting a reduction of felony domestic violence charges because of possible immigration consequences, as he did in 2013, but that is not so, Welch wrote, referring to Gattanis previous arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence.

While the 2013 case ended with Gattani pleading out to a misdemeanor count of disturbing the peace, Defendants immigration status was only one factor in the decision to offer that disposition, Welch wrote, just as it is only one factor in the current case.

Prosecutors said the deal was consistent with a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2015, which requires prosecutors to consider the avoidance of adverse immigration consequences in the plea negotiation process as one factor in an effort to reach a just resolution. They noted that Gattani has been in the country lawfully since 2003, has a child who is a U.S. citizen, and employs nine people at his company.

Prosecutors sought a conviction that would hold the defendant accountable but at the same time not make the defendant necessarily deportable, Welch said in an interview. The negotiated disposition was really meant to achieve the ends of justice for this victim but also for the defendant.

Michael Paez, Gattanis attorney, called the settlement fair and said he, too, was legally obligated to protect his clients immigration interests. While Rastogi is a U.S. citizen, Gattani is believed to have a green card, according to court documents.

Rastogi, 35, declined to be interviewed. But Karen Ewart, a domestic-violence survivor who helped Rastogi report the alleged abuse and has been attending court hearings with her, called the plea a sweetheart deal and said she was relieved when sentencing was postponed.

I saw mouths drop because nobody expected that judge to do what he did. And thank God for him, said Ewart, a paralegal at Silicon Valley Law Offices in Mountain View, which is representing Rastogi in her divorce and custody case.

Rastogi criticized the deal while making a victim-impact statement to the court. Judge Rodney Stafford, who was filling in for Presiding Judge Allison Danner that day, put off sentencing so Danner could return to make a ruling.

Danner then ordered prosecutors and defense attorneys to provide memos outlining how they reached the plea deal, and the judge asked for a probation report as well. Sentencing is now scheduled for June 15.

Ewart said she had met Rastogi when she walked into the law office in June 2016, seeking a restraining order against her husband. Rastogi would burst into tears in the office at times, and faint at others, Ewart said.

Rastogi said in her court statement that her husband of 10 years abused her for the entire duration of their marriage by hitting her, pulling her hair, calling her names and threatening to kill her. In a statement to a divorce judge in 2016, Rastogi said she was eight months pregnant when Gattani allegedly beat her during the 2013 incident that prompted his arrest.

However, prosecutors said in their April 28 memo, she actually gave birth to her daughter three months before that incident.

Rastogi went to Sunnyvale police on July 1, 2016. According to a police report, she said that on June 19, after the couple had argued while returning from a Tahoe trip, Gattani punched her in the left thigh, leaving a mark that she photographed. Gattanis attorneys said there was evidence that Rastogi had, in fact, bumped her thigh on a desk at work.

She also said her husband had struck her repeatedly on May 17, 2016, after a heated back-and-forth about a computer bug. She secretly recorded audio of the incident and made it public.

What is a bug? Come on, bitch, what is a bug? says the voice of a man purported to be Gattani. As the conversation goes on, Rastogi can be heard crying and saying, Please dont do this, and there are noises that sound like slaps.

In their memo explaining the plea deal, prosecutors said they expected the defense would have seized on the fact that Rastogi had moved $943,600 out of the couples joint checking accounts in the days before she reported being battered.

Under the initial charges, Gattani faced up to 3 years and 8 months behind bars, but prosecutors and the defense said its difficult to gauge how much time he would have gotten if convicted. Paez said his client would never have entered a plea to a charge that made him vulnerable to removal from the country. Welch said the modified charges may have actually led to a more severe sentence.

The law that influenced Gattanis deal stemmed from the Supreme Courts Padilla vs. Kentucky ruling in 2010, which held that defense attorneys must advise clients about the immigration risks of certain guilty pleas.

Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for the majority, said, Deportation is an integral part  indeed, sometimes the most important part  of the penalty that may be imposed on noncitizen defendants who plead guilty to specified crimes.

California Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, D-Richmond, went a step further with the state law he authored, requiring that prosecutors consider immigration status when negotiating a plea and that defense attorneys defend against adverse immigration consequences.

The same debate has been playing out in other states. Michael Schatzow, the chief deputy states attorney in Baltimore, sent a memo to staffers last week telling them to be cautious when deciding whether to prosecute undocumented immigrants for relatively minor crimes.

The memo, obtained by the Baltimore Sun, stated that crackdowns under the Trump administration have increased the potential collateral consequences to certain immigrants of minor, nonviolent criminal conduct.

Bill Hing, a University of San Francisco professor who directs the schools Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic, said theres nothing unusual about prosecutors considering defendants immigration status, noting that they also take into account whether someone is elderly, a minor or disabled.

I understand why the criminal victim may be upset at this and may look at it as favoring an immigrant, but my response is its like any other factor thats a part of that persons existence that should be taken into consideration when it comes to charging and sentencing, he said. The prosecutors job is to seek justice.

Gattanis first domestic violence case was complicated as well. Prosecutors said a mail carrier called Sunnyvale police in 2013 as Gattani allegedly hit Rastogi outside their home, leading officers to arrest him on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence.

Rastogi, though, defended him, denied at one point that he had hit her, said she was partly to blame, and sought leniency. Gattani ended up with a disturbing the peace conviction that meant two years of probation and a two-day jail sentence. He was also ordered to take a 52-week domestic violence course  which prosecutors say he will be ordered to take again when he is sentenced.

I hoped that he could change his ways and that I could give a complete family to our child, Rastogi said of her actions in the earlier case. But she said she was done defending her husband.

Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno
A year and a half after a 31-year-old man was shot to death in Hayward in December 2015, police Thursday said they were still searching for the man they believe killed him.

The suspect, Joseph Darling, who may be frequenting Hayward, Union City or Fremont, had been previously identified by investigators as responsible for the killing, said Sgt. Tasha DeCosta of the Hayward Police Department. But police havent been able to track down the 41-year-old, she said.
One of Northern Californias most enduring crime mysteries was declared solved Friday when a survivalist with a history of violence was accused of gunning down a young engaged couple in August 2004 as they lay in sleeping bags on a beach in Jenner.

For more than a dozen years, Sonoma County sheriffs investigators searched for suspects across the state and well beyond, combing beaches and gun records, scrutinizing coastal drifters and serial killers. But in the end they pointed to a familiar face, 38-year-old Shaun Michael Gallon of Forestville, whose trips in and out of county jail were so frequent that he was long considered a person of interest in the double homicide.

The break in the case arrived March 24, tragically, when Gallon allegedly killed his younger brother in Forestville, shooting him multiple times. After his swift arrest, investigators said, he confessed enough to tie him to the cold-case killings of Lindsay Cutshall, 22, of Fresno, Ohio, and her 26-year-old fiance, Jason Allen of Zeeland, Mich.

Gallon, who was 25 at the time, shot the pair with a .45-caliber Marlin rifle at close range as they slept on secluded Fish Head Beach near the mouth of the Russian River, said Sheriff Steve Freitas.

The couple had been working that summer at a Christian youth camp along the American River in El Dorado County, and had gone on a three-day sightseeing trip up the coast that would have taken them through Forestville. Investigators said Cutshall and Allen didnt know Gallon, though its unclear whether they might have had an interaction with him hours before their deaths.

We believe this is a random crime and there is no connection between them, said Freitas, whose office plans to turn the case over to county prosecutors next week and ask for murder charges to be filed.

He did not discuss a possible motive in the beach killings, nor in the shooting of Gallons brother. On that day, the mother of the two men called for help, saying 36-year-old Shamus Gallon had been shot with a rifle at the home where the family lived on the 9800 block of River Road. The family had moved to the home from Guerneville after the brothers father killed himself in 2013.

The mother reported that Shaun Gallon had left the house with the rifle and driven away in his minivan, officials said. Shaun Gallon was apprehended that day, accused of a slate of charges including murder and booked into Sonoma County Jail, where he remained Friday without bail.

It wasnt Gallons first serious brush with the law. He was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon for shooting an arrow at a man in Guerneville, just west of Forestville, on Jan. 27, 2009. Gallon, described by investigators in that case as a survivalist, served a three-year sentence  spending some of his time at San Quentin State Prison  after wounding James McNeil of Monte Rio.

McNeil was sitting in a parked convertible on Mill Street when an arrow came through the soft top of the car and grazed his head. After deputies determined the arrow had been shot from the balcony of a nearby home, a SWAT team went inside, but Gallon had fled. He surrendered a little more than a month later, after taking to the dense woods of west Sonoma County.

County court records reveal that Gallon amassed a long and varied rap sheet, with convictions in his 20s for resisting arrest, weapons possession, theft, drunken driving and hunting abalone without proper paperwork. The Sonoma County public defenders office, which is representing Gallon, declined to comment Friday.

On his Facebook page, Gallon posted about world conflict, weapons, martial arts, protests and conspiracy theories. On Feb. 27, he posed in camouflage with a homemade spear, writing, Check out this nice spear I made.

No one appeared to be home Friday at the Forestville house where Gallon had lived, which sits on stilts on an isolated stretch of River Road in the shadows of towering redwoods. Around noon, a team of sheriffs deputies ordered a reporter off the property and put up crime-scene tape, but didnt say what they were looking for.

At Gallons former residence in Guerneville, an apartment above a thrift store, neighbors said Friday that they remembered two men living there with their mother. But the family didnt interact much beyond casual greetings, and Gallon seemed pretty quiet, they said.

Id see him wandering in town, said Andrea Hill, 35, who used to live next door to the family and now resides in their apartment and runs the shop downstairs. While she didnt often engage with Gallon, she said he had a strange manner about him  his looks, his reclusiveness.

You could kind of feel something heavy here when I moved in, she said.

Though Gallon was a person of interest in the early investigation of the Jenner case, he could never be definitively linked to it, Freitas said. But he said that after Gallon allegedly killed his brother, he made statements that indicated he had information on the (Jenner) killing that no other person could have known besides the killer.

We have located evidence corroborating his statements, Freitas said. We are confident we have Jason and Lindsays killer.

The sheriff said the rifle used in the killing of Shamus Gallon had not been used in the Jenner homicides.

After Freitas spoke at a news conference in Santa Rosa, the parents of the slain couple released a statement saying they were extremely pleased that our childrens murderer is in custody where he belongs. We praise the Lord for his capture.

When we at times wondered whether this day would ever come, the detectives in particular wouldnt allow us to lose hope, they said. We want to thank our Lord and savior Jesus Christ for sustaining us and our families throughout this journey. We know we have miles to go before this case is closed.

The two were killed sometime after nightfall on Aug. 14, 2004, and before sunrise Aug. 16, officials said. Their bodies were found in their sleeping bags Aug. 18. Both were shot in the head. Cutshall and Allen were killed just weeks before they were to return to the Midwest to get married.

Detectives on the case have pursued a number of possible motives in the killings  from sexual assault to murder-suicide, all of which were ruled out.

A timeline of the couples last days was established based on sightings of the two victims and photographs from their camera. Police said that on Aug. 13, 2004, Cutshall and Allen left the Christian youth camp, Rock-N-Water in Coloma (El Dorado County), where they were working as river guides for the summer. They visited San Francisco the next day, where photos showed them on the Golden Gate Bridge and on Alcatraz. Then they headed north for the Sonoma coast.

I think theres a lot of joy and happiness that its been resolved, Freitas said. This shocked the community of Jenner and Sonoma County.
If you were wondering why young Americans are less enthralled with the idea of free speech than their elders, look no further than this weeks appalling conviction of Desiree Fairooz.

Fairooz is a 61-year-old woman from Bluemont, Va., and an activist with Code Pink, the antiwar group well-known for its theatrical protests.

During the confirmation hearing of Jeff Sessions, our current attorney general, Fairooz was sitting in the hearing when she heard something she felt was ridiculous: an assertion from Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., that Sessions had a track record of treating all Americans equally under the law.

Fairooz was right about one thing  the assertion is ridiculous. Sessions, who was considered too racist in the 1980s to be elected to a federal judgeship, has a well-documented history of discrimination.

So she did what plenty of Americans who believe in the idea that they have a right to free speech might have done: She laughed.

Officers came over and pulled her out of the hearing, and the Justice Deparment  now under the purview of the apparently thin-skinned Sessions  decided to prosecute her.

They won, too: Fairooz was convicted of disorderly and disruptive conduct and parading or demonstrating on Capitol grounds.

For laughing.

Theres been a lot of smug, self-righteous chatter about free speech for Milo Yiannopoulos and Ann Coulter in the Bay Area lately. Im not buying it, and Im not the only one.

Forty percent of people age 18-34 believe the government should be able to censor offensive speech toward minorities, a larger proportion than any other age group.

These young people dont feel this way because theyre fragile or delicate  far from it. Its because they grew up in a society that expects them to cede the floor to racists and hatemongers, while accepting violent pushback against activists on the other end of the spectrum.

While Baby Boomers are lecturing them about tolerance for hateful speech and misrepresenting the history of Berkeleys Free Speech Movement, young people are thinking about the Occupy protesters who were pepper-sprayed by police at UC Davis.

Theyre thinking about the hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters tossed in jail for demonstrating against police brutality.

Now, theyll be thinking of Desiree Fairooz.

If free speech applies only to some Americans, its hardly free.

When I point this out, some (comfortable, reasonable) people like to tell me that free speech is a must in a liberal society. They tell me it ensures a marketplace of ideas from which people can pick the strongest ones. The assumption, of course, is that people will inevitably pick the best ones.

That assumptions based on an Enlightenment-era idea about the rationality of human beings. It makes my heart swell with nostalgia.

Look, kids, we used to imagine everyone had a fair chance in the marketplace! We used to believe people would make rational judgments!

The marketplace doesnt mean much to a generation facing staggering levels of student debt and a society mired in wealth and income economic inequalities.

For this generation, its an easy leap to recognize that the marketplace of ideas is unequal, too. Todays public squares are owned by businesses, and Facebook and Twitter can do whatever theyd like with your free speech. What those platforms certainly dont seem to be doing is much to drown out the trolls and abusers who plague outspoken women and people of color in particular.

As for the inevitability of rational judgment, its past time to put that old chestnut to rest.

If you believe in science, you may be aware of the growing body of research about the profound limitations of the human mind to successfully integrate facts contrary to our long-held belief systems. (If you dont believe in science, well, this might be why.)

Usually, people are swayed not by facts but by our emotions and our social group. Which brings me back to our current debate around free speech.

Its easy to believe in free speech if youve always had a platform for your own. Its easy to talk about speech as a universal right if youve never been dragged to jail for your laughter or your protest. Its also easy to tolerate hateful speakers if their vitriol isnt directed at you.

The younger generation  more diverse and more disadvantaged than their parents  is less interested in free speech because they see its benefits accruing only to those who want to do them harm. I understand where theyre coming from.

Personally, I believe that free speech is a right worth having and protecting. But like all rights, free speech needs to have equal worth for everyone. At the moment, it doesnt.

Sadly, the reason it doesnt is quite simple: Far too many Americans believe our countrys less-enlightened values of prejudice, greed and power are more important right now. A country where Desiree Fairooz can be convicted for laughing at a lie is a country where young people quickly learn whose rights have worth and whose do not.

Caille Millner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cmillner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @caillemillner
When companies produce a brand-new product, like lab-grown meat or milk brewed like beer, all kinds of issues around regulation pop up, says Joseph Puglisi, professor of structural biology at Stanford University and a member of Beyond Meats scientific advisory board.

The technology has galloped far ahead of the FDA, said Puglisi, while speaking at the Future Food Tech conference in Burlingame in March. What are they going to do with cultured meat? Will it be covered by the FDA or USDA?

The traditional setup is already confusing enough. The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspects facilities that produce meat, poultry and eggs, including slaughterhouses, meat processors and egg farms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for inspecting dairy farms and all other food processors.

Will lab-based meat, which wont have contact with certain riskier aspects of agriculture, such as cow manure, be under the same inspection standards as regular meat?

The situation is a little more cut-and-dried with the product Perfect Day Foods is making  a vegan milk made with yeast-fermented cow milk proteins  which will likely be regulated by the FDA. There is one stumbling block, though: The FDAs definition of milk involves the lacteal secretion of healthy cows, which the product has nothing to do with.

But Perfect Day co-founder and CEO Ryan Pandya was reassured after speaking with someone at the FDA recently.

Theyve told us their job is to make sure consumers are safe and not misled, and to encourage innovation of companies, and they want to do both, he says.

Pandya is not even sure what word the company will use for its faux dairy product yet. Milk doesnt seem quite right, and he doesnt want to use the term beverage. However, he is open to suggestions.

Tech Topic
Over a decade ago, when chef Daniel Patterson professed his love for yuba to the world, Hodo Soys Minh Tsai  at the time, the only producer of fresh yuba in the U.S.  was not prepared for the surge in interest that followed.

Patterson, the chef-owner of Coi, had recently returned from a trip to Japan, where he experienced yuba, also known as tofu skin. He developed a sort of obsession with the stuff. And after several failed attempts to put it on the menu at Coi, he reached out to Tsai for guidance, and later wrote about the experience in the New York Times.

We got dozens of phone calls from chefs asking us if we could make yuba for them after that, but we didnt even have a factory up and running at that point, says Tsai, owner of the fast-growing Oakland beanery. Tsai got his start selling tofu and soy milk at farmers markets around the Bay Area in 2004. Recognizing the interest, he carved out a small space in his factory to make yuba, though tofu remained his primary focus.

Fast forward a few years, and now Hodo Soys yuba can be found in limited quantity at grocery chains and independent supermarkets across the country, including Costco and Whole Foods. Its also popping up more frequently on the menus of dozens of top-name restaurants, including State Bird Provisions, Single Thread, Slanted Door, Mister Jius and Burma Superstar in the Bay Area. With the backing of chefs and a newly developed line of yuba products, Tsai is finally prepared to ramp up production and push yuba to the mainstream.

I want to introduce the consumer to a tofu-based product that is vastly different in texture than what theyre used to, Tsai says. Unlike tofu, which has 40 to 50 years of education around it, yuba is relatively young, so were hoping the chefs will help us with that education part of it.

For the uninitiated, fresh yuba is the milky, sweet and nutty skin that forms on the surface of soy milk when its heated. Each batch of soy milk produces about eight sheets of yuba, the first of which are the creamiest, most delicate, and the last of which are pliable and chewy.

The type of yuba that Bay Area chefs have been clamoring for, according to Tsai, is the softer form  the one he traveled all the way to Kyoto last year to learn how to perfect. It has the consistency of cheese curd, and is too delicate to be pasteurized.

That unique texture is the one people love because it reminds us of things that we know, like custard, since its so rich and creamy, says Kyle Connaughton, chef and owner of Single Thread in Healdsburg, which pulls its own yuba everyday from Hodos soy milk and has recently been experimenting with Tsais newest yuba products. Hes really nailing it. I used yuba a lot in Japan, where the quality is really high, and Minhs product is at that level, Connaughton says.

In Kyoto, where generations of families have been making yuba in the same way for more than 300 years, yuba is eaten like sashimi, served straight up with a variety of condiments, or sliced into sheets that are tossed in a brothy soup. Some restaurants even sell it table side by heating a pot of thick, creamy soy milk and scooping up the layers as they form.

Here, chefs like State Birds Stuart Brioza are treating it like a noodle replacement, tossing it with crab butter and kimchi or guanciale and tomatoes.

I would love making something like a creme brulee with the silky, creamy one, says Brioza. To me, its such a thing that the more you do with it, the more you will take away from the beauty of the texture.

As more consumers are exposed to yuba on restaurant menus, Tsai is confident that his yuba will also take off. The biggest holdup to mass production, however, is that yuba takes time. And there are few ways to automate the process. Its also not shelf-stable, and the softest form will keep only for a few days. Everyone has tried to figure out how to speed up this process, and the truth is that it just needs time, Tsai says.

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Theres a lot of room for growth. With very few marketing efforts outside of restaurants, Hodo Soy is churning out about 1,000 pounds of yuba per day, and growing its overall business at 50 percent year over year. Still, yuba comprises just about 10 percent of the companys overall sales. Tsai says hes purposefully controlling the growth at retail, with plans to ramp it up once more consumers become familiar with it.

As more chefs start to use it, then well make a greater push into retail, Tsai says. Thats always how weve grown our business. We let the chefs be our advocates.

Renee Frojo is a freelance writer. Twitter: @frojofeed Email: food@sfchronicle.com

The four kinds of yuba

There are four distinctive textures of yuba as defined by traditional Kyoto yuba makers. Each differs based on its precise maturity during the formation of yuba. The first is the most delicate and creamiest form. Its called kumiage, or scooped yuba, because you can only eat it with a spoon. Brioza likens it to a rich, vegan soy cream that can be blended into a sauce. The next level of yuba is referred to as pinched yuba, or tsumami, which is reminiscent in texture to burrata, with a little bite between the teeth. The third level, which sets for longer, is pulled yuba, or hikiage. This level maintains some of the creaminess from the first two types and remains in the soy milk to keep its texture. Because these three products cant be pasteurized and have a short shelf life, retail is difficult. The fourth level is the most common type of yuba, which is categorized by solid sheets that can be cut into noodles.
The idea that a society at least as sophisticated as ancient Rome existed simultaneously on the other side of the world still has the capacity to shock some people. How fortunate to have the Asian Art Museum in our midst, always ready to remind us how big the world really is, and how rich.

The latest such proof is Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from Chinas Han Dynasty, on view at the Asian Museum through May 28. It is an expansive look at the intimate lives of Chinese nobility in the provincial kingdoms north of present-day Shanghai, during the period 206 B.C. to A.D. 9.

The show and its accompanying major catalog are the personal project of Jay Xu, director of the museum and a specialist on early Chinese art and archaeology. He edited the book, and he co-curated the exhibition with the Asians senior associate curator of Chinese art, Fan Jeremy Zhang. Most of the objects come from excavations that took place in 1995 and 2011, and are on loan from several Chinese museums.

Xuzhou Museum

The line between archaeology and ancient art is a fine one. A well-crafted object, no matter how utilitarian its purpose, will often have an innate physical charm. And works accepted as the finest artistic masterpieces can be immensely important documents of human history.

Many of the objects on view are lovely versions of things we use now in our daily lives, but not spectacular: simple bowls and basins, cups, ladles and cooking pots. The wall texts, typically for an Asian Art Museum show, are long on historical and social context. Xus scholarly background shines through everywhere. Forced to choose whether to call this an archaeology exhibition or a fine art show, I would have to go with the prior.

When a show is this good, though, to heck with such distinctions. Spend 90 attentive minutes here and you will leave with a much-enhanced knowledge not only of Chinese history, but of urges to power, wealth and immortality familiar across all of time and every land. The exhibition is splendidly designed, and those wall texts are so lively, so well written they will surprise anyone who has waded through the prose of most museum presentations.

Even objects in the show with the most humble of functions are often made with exquisite care, and their backstories can be fascinating. The last of three exhibition themes, Enduring Remembrance without Fail, centers on homely aspects of the afterlife.

Certainly, a reborn noble will need a cosmetics box and a pumice-like stone for washing, but who knew a toilet will also be required? The carved rock example unearthed from Tomb 2, Tuolan Mountain, and preserved at the Xuzhou Museum could be, in its geometric simplicity, a model for todays strictest Minimalist.

And while we are talking basic human needs, let us not bypass the two bronze dildos boldly included here. Unlike religious symbols of phallic power like, for example, the Hindu lingam, these appear to have been fashioned for actual use. One has a convenient handle. The other, a gargantuan enhancement to any mere human, is hollow, smoothly polished and has holes in the base to be used to securely strap it to the body.

And if the preponderance of the works on view will be utilitarian in the next life, that life will also have music and art. Grave robbers might have skimmed the more precious objects over the centuries, but there are extraordinary things to appreciate, particularly in the first section of the exhibition. Everlasting Happiness without End opens to a view of a grand set of bronze bells, topped with a cloudscape inhabited by dragons. It is flanked by another pair of dragons, of bronze and inlaid silver, supporting on their backs stands that would have held musical chimes.

Several earthenware figures of dancers create a sense of what the experience might have been, more than 2,000 years ago, to be in attendance at a performance. (Short, unobtrusive video and sound clips of dance and music enhance our understanding  though we would do well to keep in mind that they are, necessarily, speculative.) One particularly expressive dancer, at the center of the room, sways and swirls impossibly, her arms enveloped in long bell sleeves that swing like fuchsia blossoms at the ends of their stems.

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Elsewhere, two tiny weights meant to keep a floor mat from furling are cast in the form of tigers. Barely longer than 4 inches, their bronze bodies, inlaid with gold stripes, slink low, ready to pounce. They are the liveliest sculptures in the exhibition, though they could be overlooked in their corner vitrine.

Not so easily missed is the custom-fitted, head-to-toe jade burial suit. It had a dual function. It protected, like a magical suit of armor, the queen of the Jiangdu Kingdom it enveloped. But jade was also used to prevent the escape from the body of vital essences. Its wearer, like all of us, was both protected by culture and enmeshed within it.

Charles Desmarais is The San Francisco Chronicles art critic. Email: cdesmarais@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Artguy1

Tomb Treasures: New Discoveries from Chinas Han Dynasty: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, Thursdays until 9 p.m., through May 28. $15-$25. Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., S.F. (415) 581-3500. www.asianart.org
Dorothy DeBose is back home.

The 76-year-old retired phone company employee who was evicted in March from the East Oakland house she inherited from her mother got the keys back on Friday afternoon.

The plywood and No Trespassing signs  put on the windows by a property management company that bought the house at auction  are gone.

And the plastic bags into which she had stuffed her clothes when she was given only 10 minutes to move out in March have been hauled back into the Bancroft Avenue house. On Saturday, she went to work pulling weeds in the backyard.

I was thinking of my place as alien, said DeBose, chuckling to herself as she sat on her couch on Sunday. But now, Im back in it.

DeBose was living with her nephew, Omar Taylor, in a unit attached to the house. She has an agreement to purchase the house from Community Fund LLC, the San Leandro property-management company that bought it for $347,100 at a foreclosure auction in October.

Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

She had owed $128,000 to Wells Fargo when the bank foreclosed on the property after she fell behind on the mortgage payments following her sisters death.

Now, she has 120 days to come up with the $420,000 shell need to buy back the house she lived in for four decades.

Wheres she going to get the money?

When a house is sold at auction, the foreclosed owner is entitled to the sale surplus above the amount the homeowner owed the bank. In DeBoses case, that amount was $219,000, but she was unaware of that provision, or that the money was set aside for her, until a few weeks ago. That means she still has to take out a mortgage of more than $200,000, which is $70,000 more than she owed before this financial mess.

To me, this hardly seems like a fair deal.

But its the best DeBose could get, according to David Hall, the attorney who represented Taylor as Community Fund tried to evict him. Taylor had a lease with DeBose that established him as a tenant, and it had allowed him to stay in the unit. Because an agreement was reached, a trial to kick him out was averted.

The alternative is, even if we had gone to trial and won, that wouldnt have gotten Dorothy in the front unit, Hall told me. That wouldve only secured the back unit where Omar was. This settlement got Dorothy back in, which was a huge incentive and that was a high priority for us.

Together, DeBose and Taylor are paying $3,200 a month to rent the house from Community Fund until the sale goes through. If it does, 75 percent of the paid rent will be credited toward the purchase.

I spent time with DeBose on Sunday. She was chipper, a ball of energy moving between the living room and kitchen. She was much more talkative than when we met the first time, in late March  after she had been evicted. At that time, the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, a tenant activist group, was protesting her eviction on the overgrown lawn in front of her house.

On Saturday, the grass was cut.

DeBose is already back to her old routine of sleeping on the couch. A floral blanket keeps her warm at night.

I sleep on the couch more than I do my own bed, she said.

She wants to clean up the place, because she said it looks likes shes a hoarder. There are stacks of books on shelves and the floor. Same with VHS tapes. And there are tumbleweeds of plastic bags containing who knows what.

If we had an emergency, and you have to run, what are you going to do with all that stuff, said DeBose, sitting underneath the keypad for the alarm system Community Fund installed.

You need to get the necessary stuff apart from the crap, she said. I thought I was doing a lot, but when I got up this morning, I could see I was going from one thing to another  no organization.

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She had left a lot behind  medicine, important paperwork, family heirlooms  when she was evicted on March 8 and moved to Taylors unit. Both are relieved that shes back home.

Were not where we were, Taylor said. Now were in a situation where we have to be diligent, we have to be organized. Its not enough to be here.

There are still a lot of questions that still need to be addressed, like why DeBose wasnt notified that she had $219,000 after her home was auctioned by the company Wells Fargo turned to when she fell behind on her mortgage payments.

My clients never got that letter, Hall said. Its hard to say why they didnt get that notice, but my understanding is they shouldve gotten some kind of notice, particularly because thats a fairly large amount of money.

And get this: A woman in San Bernardino has already made a claim on the money.

The woman, whose middle name is DeBose, also claimed that Dorothy DeBose was dead. According to Taylor, none of DeBoses family has heard of the woman. Still, Hall sent evidence of Dorothy DeBoses identity. He hasnt heard back from the womans attorney, and he hopes they dont take the case to court because that will delay getting the money  and buying back the house.

As I sat with DeBose and Taylor in the living room, an early-evening breeze crept through the open front door. Cars sped past on Bancroft, and a neighbor unloaded tile for a backyard patio. DeBose said she was looking forward to sitting on her steps again.

Life is almost back to normal.

Im extremely lucky, DeBose said. Im aware of that.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
The recent column about the tough tactics that Public Defender Jeff Adachis office employs against undocumented crime victims and witnesses testifying against his clients got a lot of heated reaction on both sides.

Thats outrageous! said some. Its outrageous you even wrote about this! said others.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, the ever-pragmatic legislator who as a city supervisor even managed to make banning public nudity a businesslike affair, has offered a sensible solution.

He has introduced a bill that would require that any attorney  for the prosecution or the defense, in a criminal case or civil  who wants to question a witness about his or her immigration status present the list of questions to the judge in chambers first. The judge would then rule on whether the questions may be asked in court.

Court records show Adachis attorneys have quizzed immigrants living in the country without documentation about whether they were testifying against the defendant just to obtain a special visa available to crime victims. They did this regardless of whether the witness applied for the visa and even if the witness said he or she didnt know about the visa when reporting the crime.

Adachis attorneys sometimes put the victims full name, immigration status and date of birth in public court records, potentially making them easy targets for federal immigration agents. Adachi defended the practices, saying theyre part of his offices duty to defend its clients.

Wiener said he only learned of the tactics in The Chronicle. He said he understands why Adachis office uses them, but he doesnt agree with them.

While I understand why an attorney, in order to win a case, might be tempted to inquire about immigration status, as a matter of public policy its a terrible idea, Wiener said. The minute people feel unsafe going to court and testifying, our public safety is harmed.

The idea for the bill came from the office of District Attorney George Gascon, who called Adachis tactics egregious.

We need to create safeguards, he said. We want to make sure they are forced to alter their tactics.

Adachi said he wouldnt oppose Wieners bill. He said the judge often makes a ruling in advance about whether a line of questioning is admissible, and this would simply codify existing practice.

Wieners bill is being co-authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego. But even if public defenders dont oppose the bill, its not a sure thing. California voters in 1982 passed a tough-on-crime initiative requiring a two-thirds vote in the Legislature to pass any law that would prevent evidence from being entered in a criminal trial.

Nothings ever easy, is it?

Glad somebody at City Hall is paying attention to the crisis at the 911 call center.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin has called for a hearing into slow response times after last weeks columns. I told you about a man who suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed at St. Boniface Church last month. Three people called 911, only to hear it ring. After someone finally got through, an ambulance arrived quickly, but the man died days later at San Francisco General.

The center, which has been understaffed for years, is getting more calls than ever in a city with a swelling population. (Youd never believe it, but it turns out that a city that lures tech companies, fosters an economic boom and sees a big influx of people needs the services and infrastructure to support them!)

The 911 dispatch center is supposed to answer 90 percent of calls within 10 seconds, but only hits the mark 74 percent of the time. There were 500 calls to 911 during the citys recent power outage that were abandoned, meaning the caller hung up before it was answered.

As one dispatcher said, Good luck in an earthquake.

During Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting, Peskin called the situation absolutely unacceptable, especially when it can literally mean the difference between life and death.

I dont always say this about Peskin, but I couldnt agree more.

Remember Tallia Hart, the new CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce  the first woman, the first minority and the youngest person to ever head the old-school business group?

I told you about her fascinating backstory in January. A nun found her abandoned as a newborn in a Vietnamese rice paddy, malnourished and covered in boils. She was adopted by an American family and later adopted her own abandoned Vietnamese baby. Forty-three years later, shes a superstar in the business world.

Youd think if anyone could find housing in San Francisco, it would be the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. Youd be wrong.

While Harts husband and daughter remain in their Orange County home until it sells, shes on her own in San Francisco. She wanted to rent a fully furnished corporate apartment on a month-to-month lease in the Financial District, but apartment buildings are so maxed out already, most managers didnt bother to return her calls. Even when she included her impressive title in her messages.

I got maybe two calls back, she said.

Staff at one high-rise apartment did return her call, but wanted $7,650 per month for a one-bedroom apartment or $5,850 for a studio. But they assured her the units even came with towels. What a bargain. She is now living in a one-bedroom apartment she found on Airbnb for $5,035 a month through June.

If Im not getting return calls and can barely afford to live in the city, it concerns me for our service providers, nurses and teachers, she said.

Yep. Welcome to San Francisco!

P.S. In keeping with the chambers desire to modernize and diversify, it is hosting its first-ever Women Empowering Leadership and Learning event at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the offices of LinkedIn. Yours truly will be in conversation with Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint water. For information and to register, visit www.sfchamber.com/WELL.

Hope to see you there!

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Tuesdays and Fridays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf
Consumers are in danger of paying much more for far less health coverage, courtesy of a reckless Republican rewrite of the Affordable Care Act that brought medical insurance to millions of Americans.

The product that won approval in the House of Representatives is a political trophy, not a serious health care plan. Theres no impartial study of its costs. There were few public hearings, and a tangle of loose ends remains over key issues for patients, employers and public agencies. Its a contrived, irresponsible response to a serious issue.

The latest version, with changes added at the last moment, guts the encompassing nature of the Affordable Care Act. That law, better known as Obamacare, used taxes, mandates and guarantees that provided coverage for some 24 million uninsured consumers.

Now that comprehensive system is flattened. Uncertainty and worry over the future is one reason that even skittish Republicans in swing districts held out until the last minute before arm-twisting by party leaders and President Trump brought them on board. The vote was a squeaker, 217 in favor and 213 opposed. No Democrats voted for it.

The debate isnt over, nor should it be. The Senate will need to give its blessing, and that outcome isnt assured even with a Republican majority there. Senators are feeling the same heat as members of the House have in town halls as voters berate politicians over dismantling the 7-year-old law.

Republicans are emphasizing cost savings and personal choice in pushing their plan. Its an appealing but hollow argument. Older patients will likely pay more. Subsidies that consumers use to buy insurance will be cut. Billions of dollars for Medicaid, the federal program that offers states money to cover indigent patients, will be cut in future years. The GOP bill also provides hundreds of billions in tax cuts to households with annual incomes of $250,000 or more.

One example of the crass, rushed nature of the plan is the issue of insurance seekers with pre-existing conditions. Instead of the current ban on higher charges that single out this group, the Republican plan segregates them into costlier high-risk pools and offers loopholes and short-term payments that shouldnt fool anyone. Eventually, people with serious ailments hunting for coverage will be socked with sky-high charges. Its a looming predicament that will be felt across the country.

The list of flaws and uncertainties is long. It would be more sensible to wait for a Congressional Budget Office assessment of the GOP proposal, but political pressure for a quick win wouldnt allow that. Now its the Senates job to brake this runaway train.

Washington is rightly roasted for its political dysfunction, with each party obstructing the other in a get-even game. This time, the GOP is winning, getting a chance to pick apart a Democratic achievement.

But there will be consequences. This jumbled and hurried plan shows just how complicated and wide-ranging health care is. Demolishing Obamacare comes with enormous public risks and personal worries. Republicans will have to answer for the suffering ahead.
Regarding Past time to rename Justin Herman Plaza (May 2): Not only should Justin Herman Plaza be renamed, but it should be completely redesigned. It is a hideous, unfriendly, trash-swept blot on the entire Ferry Plaza and Embarcadero area. As a counterpoint to the equally unpleasant freeway overpass, it might have made some design sense. But with the freeway gone and the return of a human scale to the area, it repels human activity rather than inviting it.

The changes to the small park near it have helped. But the area still needs a makeover. With the citys population growth, we need more public spaces that are calming and inviting. This space is a lost opportunity that we can ill afford.

Loretta Wood, San Francisco

Self-sufficient

Regarding BART crime a sign of challenges in East Oakland (May 3): People are weary, and when they do cry out for help, no one seems to hear or see them. I cannot at all claim to be the person who does, but I have been thinking for a long time and occasionally saying out loud that the black population of America must create their own national political party to hold the balance of power in Washington. This is in order to get resources and monies for individuals and communities to get education, jobs, housing and health. It is the only way.

Guy Vigier, Novato

Not enough weed?

Regarding Medical cannabis comes of age (Editorial, May 3): I cant help but note that the new draconian regulations for medical weed have limited sales to patients to a mere 8 ounces per day!

Does our state government realize that means a fellow could smoke only 320 joints in any 24-hour period! At least theres a loophole for those who need more, a doctors recommendation, thank goodness. Seriously, now, that was a typo, wasnt it?

Peter Smalley, Berkeley

Proper nutrition

Regarding Junk this bad policy (Editorial, May 4): U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdues attempt to weaken former President Barack Obamas administrations healthy school-lunch law is not surprising. Republicans have an embarrassing history when it comes to promoting good nutrition.

Remember the former President Ronald Reagan years, when ketchup was considered a vegetable? Or when the first former President George H.W. Bush publicly proclaimed, I do not like broccoli, and vowed to never see another sprig of it on his plate? With childhood obesity and diabetes as national health issues, this science-challenged White House ought to endorse  not reject  National Institutes of Health guidelines for proper childhood nutrition.

Claire Rutherford, San Francisco

Resign, Comey

At this late date, well after influencing the 2016 election results, FBI Director James Comey stated that the October Surprise announcement that he was reviving the investigation into Hillary Clintons emails makes (him) feel mildly nauseous.

Meanwhile, the American people are stuck with a lunatic in the White House and a newly appointed activist, legal retrocedent with lifelong tenure on the Supreme Court. Feeling mildly nauseous is not enough. Comey ought to be feeling strongly that his letter of resignation, and clearing out his office, are well past due.

Pat Willard, Redwood City

Facebooks path

Regarding Facebook will increase video monitoring (May 4): Although Facebook has announced the hiring of over 3,000 people to screen video postings for sexual or violent imagery, it will not mask a larger truth: This company has become a victim of its own success. Originally envisioned as a neutral platform for its users, Facebook now has over 1.3 billion users, and many stockholders to satisfy. In focusing on how to generate more revenue, it has overlooked user behavior, including fake news and violent video posts. Ultimately, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg must ask himself: Do profits matter more than morality?

Jaime Oliviera, San Francisco

Feinsteins policies

As a lifelong Democrat, Ive voted for Sen. Dianne Feinstein every time she ran, but not this time. Its not her age, its her policies that I reject. For one: the water giveaways to California farmers who use 80 percent of our water, yet create only 10 percent of our states economy. For another: her often haughty attitude toward her constituents, evidenced by the Affordable Care Act negotiations, when she sat on the fence, not supporting former President Barack Obama and had her aides turn off the phones in her office. Only when nudged by labor leaders did she start receiving phone calls again. Maybe Ill vote for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti or Rep. Adam Schiff, but not Feinstein.

Donald Lowrey, Oakland

No liberal hawks

It is time for Sen. Dianne Feinstein to retire, because on the most important issue a leader faces, regarding war and peace, she repeatedly ignored the wishes of her constituents, telling them she knew things they didnt, yet has been tragically, repeatedly wrong. Wrong on Iraq, wrong on regime change in Syria, wrong on regime change in Libya. These sequential disasters have led to untold misery, death and instability for the people of the Middle East, and the flood of refugees that is destabilizing Europe.

Libya is a bloody failed state, with its huge weapons stocks finding their way into Africa and the Middle East, aggravating conflicts in both areas. We dont need any more liberal hawks in Washington. These are mistakes of huge consequence, not only for the U.S., but for Europe, as instability grows as refugees from these wars flood in.

Gary Rose, Los Gatos

No ethics violation

Regarding City Planning flap over voting on housing rate (April 27): There is a mistake in the article about the San Francisco Ethics Commissions April 24 decision to send a request to a Planning Commission member to recuse herself from an upcoming vote. The article states that the Ethics Commission violated the Brown Act because this matter was not on our agenda.

The Brown Act specifically allows actions not on an agenda if a matter comes up during a meeting and an emergency requires such action. At our meeting we were informed that the upcoming Planning Commission vote would occur just three days later on April 27. This created an emergency exception which the Brown Act allows. Our Commission complied with the Brown Act.

Peter Keane, Chairman,

San Francisco Ethics Commission, San Francisco

Keep out racists

Regarding Red Sox apologize for fans racist taunts (May 3): Vallejos own CC Sabathia said, Ive never had it anywhere else except there... Boston, according to several athletes, may be the whitest city in the U.S. Considering the tenor of the times, which really began in earnest when Donald Trump announced his run for the presidency, this type of racist behavior seems to have found new life.

Tossing these miscreants out of the stadium is a good start. Using facial recognition software to keep them out forever would be the best remedy against further infractions.

Michael Haworth, Vallejo

Know the details

The House passes the repeal of the Affordable Care Act without any numbers from the Congressional Budget Committee. I question how many, including the president, have actually read the bill and know its details.

Phil Points, San Francisco

Landlord rentals

I am glad that a law regarding mandatory registering of hosts will take place. This will stop landlords who take multiple rental units off the market to rent them as full time Airbnb. I know of two rental units where this is happening. Plus, the landlord also rents out a room where she lives on Airbnb. This means she has three Airbnb rentals.
It seems everyone has a strong opinion about Donald Trumps border wall. But we should at least talk about it in the right way. That is, with clarity, pragmatism and common sense.

Not just in terms of how much this project would cost, with estimates soaring beyond $50 billion. Or whether Mexico is going to pick up the tab, as Trump has insisted. Or whether our neighbor will be forced to pay for it indirectly through a tariff on imported Mexican goods. Or whether Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas might be on to something with his attention-grabbing proposal to use the confiscated assets of drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman to help offset the walls cost.

Not in a partisan way where the public is expected to swallow whole the fantastical narrative that Democrats harbor some deep-seated moral objection to building structures on the U.S.-Mexico border. Dont be fooled by Sen. Chuck Schumers phony tears when he talks about how a wall would divide families; the New York Democrat voted in favor of the Secure Fence Act of 2006, as did his then-Senate colleagues Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Most Democrats love border enforcement, especially walls and fences.

Not in Washington parlance, where the only thing that seems to interest most of the Beltway media is the question: Will he, or wont he? As usual, what reporters in the nations capital are obsessed with is the politics, not the policy. They never tire of speculating about whether Trump will follow through on building a big beautiful border wall, or whether he will ultimately cave to opposition from Democrats.

Judging from the reaction on conservative talk radio, Trump supporters are worried about a cave-in. They fear that the outsider they sent to change Washington has, in just over 100 days, been changed by Washington. Theyre also concerned that the businessmans obsession with getting deals done might soon become a liability if it prompts him to accept bad deals that give away too much to Democrats.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tried to calm fears by telling reporters this week that the wall will indeed be built.

Maybe, maybe not. The administration failed to get the down payment it was asking for in the recent $1.07 trillion spending package.

But instead of getting bogged down talking about cost, politics and broken promises, there is only one question we should be asking: Is the border wall a good idea?

The answer is no.

For one thing, the border stretches nearly 2,000 miles from Brownsville, Texas, to San Diego, and about a third of it is already covered by a wall or fence. Another third is made up of uncoverable terrain  rivers, mountains, Native American land, private ranches, a university. This whole debate is over what to do with the remaining 700 or so miles along the border.

Also, even if a wall does go up, it wont do much to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants. In the past few years, that flow has become a trickle as the economy in Mexico has improved and the human smugglers have raised their prices. The Trump wall is irrelevant before its even built, given an existing and sophisticated network of underground tunnels.

This could explain why  in my conversations with Border Patrol supervisors and rank-and-file agents  they tend to ask for tunnel-detection equipment and not for walls. They also want better roads to make it easier to apprehend border crossers, and the latest technology to help them win what is a battle of wits with smuggling cartels. And for their own safety, they would rather not contend with 20-foot-high walls they cant see through or around.

But what do these experts know? They just walk the line every day.

Lastly, a wall could make the problem worse by penning in many of the estimated 11 million immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally on this side of the border. Many of them have been separated from their families for so long that they consider it normal. They wont go home for a visit  at Christmas or Mothers Day  because theyre afraid they wont be able to get back unless they pay a smugglers new and exorbitant Donald Trump rate. So they stay here, put down roots, and never leave.

Guess what, Mr. President. Its not just health care, Syria and North Korea. Who knew a border wall could be so complicated?

 2017, Washington Post

Writers Group

Email: ruben@rubennavarrette.com
A federal lawsuit against Albany High School alleges that four students suspended for following, liking or commenting on a racist Instagram account run by another student were brought before a makeshift public square at the East Bay campus where their incensed peers hurled obscenities and berated them.

The suit contends the youths were wrongly suspended and their First Amendment rights infringed. Through their attorneys, the four suspended juniors asked a federal judge to expunge their records of the matter and allow them to make up classwork missed during their suspensions. Their lawyers, Darryl Yorkey and Alan Beck, also seek reimbursement of their fees and unspecified damages.

The lawsuit also names the Albany Unified School District as a defendant.

Albany police started probing racially insensitive photos posted to a private Instagram account run by one student in March, and the suit alleges that the racist images came to light after a student took screenshots of the offensive pictures and reported them to administrators.

Laurie Roberts, a parent of an uninvolved student at the school, told The Chronicle that one image depicted a black doll juxtaposed with a KKK member.

Beck said student anger at the school, whose student body is less than 5 percent black, culminated March 30 with what the lawsuit says was an atonement exercise orchestrated by school administrators when the suspended students returned. Up to 15 involved students, including Becks four plaintiffs, were lined up in full view of the student body to be screamed at, Beck said.

The suit charges school officials did not provide adequate security for the disciplined students  saying two were struck in the head on their way out  and only stopped the exercise after a parent of one of the students complained.

The school humiliated our clients and put them in a position of danger where several were assaulted, Beck said.

In a statement, Valerie Williams, the superintendent of the Albany Unified School District, said the district is reviewing the lawsuit and intends to respond in court.

The district takes great care to ensure that our students feel safe at school, and we are committed to providing an inclusive and respectful learning environment for all of our students, Williams said.

Michael Bodley and Sarah Ravani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com, sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley, @sarravani
Rallies and protest events are a part of political life in the Bay Area. Heres a roundup of whats happening:

Saturday

Travel ban: 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., San Francisco. Contact Chinese for Affirmative Action: (415) 274-6750.

May Day assessment: A report on the impact of May Day protests, hosted by the Peace and Freedom Party. The discussion is from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Starry Plough Pub, 3101 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley. For information, contact (510) 332-3865 or cuyleruyle@mac.com.

Sanctuary cities: 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. New Valencia Hall, 747 Polk St. in San Francisco. For information, call (415) 864-1278 or email bafsp@earthlink.com.

Health care film: Now Is the Time: 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.

Sunday

Ethics: A conversation on how to Live Ethically in an Unethical World and cope with the current political climate. The free event is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Grace Cathedral, Gresham Hall, 1100 California St. in San Francisco. For information: www.gracecathedral.org/events/thomas-plante-living-ethically-in-an-unethical-world.

Police forum: A presentation on the lawfulness of police shootings, led by attorney Christopher Boscia. The event is from 11 a.m to 12:15 p.m. at the Humanist Community in Silicon Valley, 1180 Coleman Ave. in San Jose. For information: www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/239404521.

Health care film: Now Is the Time: Healthcare for Everybody will be shown, followed by a health care discussion on proposals for a single-payer system in California. The event is from 2 to 4 p.m. at the San Lorenzo Library, 395 Paseo Grande. For information, contact aruchlis@gmail.com.

Town hall: Hosted by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Fremont, at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center of Santa Clara High School, 3000 Benton St. in Santa Clara.

Tuesday

Town halls: Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove (Sacramento County), hosts two town halls: at 9 a.m. at the McBride Senior Center, 91 Town Square Place in Vacaville; and at 1:30 p.m. at the Fairfield Senior Center, 1200 Civic Center Drive in Fairfield.

Thursday

Town hall: Hosted by Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, at 3 p.m. at the Alameda Free Library, 1550 Oak St. in Alameda.

Nuclear weapons: A talk by former Defense Secretary William Perry on how to end the threat of nuclear weapons. The event is from 7 to 9 p.m. at Menlo School, 50 Valparaiso Ave. in Atherton. For information: http://bit.ly/2pJIL8D.
For seven weeks straight, hundreds of sharks have been washing up dead on the shores of the San Francisco Bay.

Sean Van Sommeran, executive director and founder of the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation, says he's been getting calls daily since March of reported sharks washed up along the waterways of San Mateo County, Alameda and even Lake Merritt.

"We cant actually keep up with the volume of calls we get on a day-to-day basis," Van Sommeran said.

Several types of marine life have been turning up dead, including rays and large fish like halibut. But primarily, Van Sommeran has been seeing hundreds of leopard sharks washing up. He estimates the number of dead and dying sharks in the bay could be in the thousands.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," Van Sommeran told SFGATE. "We're only seeing a fraction of the actual losses."

Van Sommeran's years of research have led him to believe the explanation for the recent spike in stranded sharks can be found in Redwood City. "That appears to be the epicenter of all these incidents," he said.

The researcher explained it all comes down to the city's use of tide gates in residential areas near inland waterways. To keep from flooding during the rainy season, Redwood City closes its tide gates during low tide. That way, when there are heavy rains, the extra precipitation doesn't combine with high tides to flood homes along the water.

The problem, according to Van Sommeran, is that leopard sharks come into the shallow waterways to mate and pup during the spring and summer, so they often get trapped when the tide gates close.

The storm runoff that fills the waterways isn't good for sharks' health in any case, but years of drought followed by an extremely rainy season have exacerbated the damage. "During drought, stuff that would usually get washed away congeals and backs up," Van Sommeran explained in an interview. "So with the hard rain there's extra crud going into the watershed."

The stagnant water in these inland waterways quickly goes foul (just like a home aquarium would if not regularly cleaned) and sickens the sharks. "The water becomes toxic and the sharks can't cope with it," Van Sommeran said.

When the tide gates reopen, the rotting and decaying sharks are released back into the bay, where Van Sommeran fears they could be contaminating more animals.

While this isn't the first mass stranding of leopard sharks in the San Francisco Bay (The San Francisco Chronicle reported on a spike in 2011), the full extent of this most recent die-off may still not be known.

Van Sommeran argues this is a major conservation issue that is being overlooked. He said, "It's definitely a recognized environmental issue for San Francisco, which is otherwise known to be exemplary in that area."
A mob of juveniles attacked a man in San Francisco on Thursday evening after he told them to stop having a water fight near where his son was playing at a park in the Portola neighborhood, officials said.

The 30-year-old victim was with his young son at the Sululagi M. Paliga Jr. Recreation Center park near the intersection of Felton and Holyoke streets when the violence erupted about 7:15 p.m., according to police.
Air travel has become a combustible mix in which passengers arent the only ones treated unfairly, senators were told Thursday. Travelers frequently take out their frustrations on flight attendants and gate agents, speakers said at a Senate hearing.

Senators from both parties said airlines must improve the way they treat passengers, but also said airline employees must be treated with respect. Lawmakers also revived talk of a congressionally imposed Passenger Bill of Rights.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said air travelers frequently tell him they feel like theyre being treated as self-loading cargo rather than as valued consumers.

Courts

Firms sued over shooting

Family members of San Bernardino terror attack victims sued Facebook, Google and Twitter, saying their services helped the Islamic State spread propaganda, recruit followers and raise money.

The federal suit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles alleges that the companies are liable for the wrongful deaths of three of the 14 victims killed in the 2015 attack at a holiday party.

Chronicle News Services
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A brilliantly dynamic nine-story electronic sculpture will top the new Salesforce Tower with ever-changing LED light in what is being touted as the tallest public art installation in the United States, according to plans unveiled Thursday before the San Francisco City Planning Commission.

The piece by San Francisco artist Jim Campbell will comprise four separate but integrated lighting patterns that will be at the top of the 61-story building, which is scheduled to open in July.

The main element is a low-resolution moving image on all sides of the building. Within the image is a montage of the cityscape to be captured each day by six cameras posted around the city. These will include people on the streets, the surf and the sky, Campbell told the commission.

It will be a diary of the day that you will only see at night, he said, adding that the low-resolution lighting will be subtle and best viewed from a distance. You cant get close to it. You only see it from far away. Thats rare for an artwork.

At 1,070 feet, Salesforce Tower, at the corner of First and Mission streets, will be the second tallest building in California and 12th tallest in the country. Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli, the building narrows to a crown at the top. The top nine floors will be unoccupied, and will contain the light installation, rising 150 feet. The top six stories will feature the imagery, and the lower three will form a foundation of colored light. The installation will comprise 11,000 lights in any number of colors and combinations.

The end result will be a slow, meditative moving image display that connects to the city in a direct way, he said. This is the signature style of Campbell, an MIT-trained electrical engineer who designed chips for tech firms before becoming a full-time artist nine years ago.

In his Dogpatch studio, called White Light, Campbell, 61, has been working on the project for three years. The budget is around $4 million.

The casing for the lights will be perforated aluminum, which will add texture. The lights will be on the outside of the sheeting and face inward toward the building so that the viewer will see the LED colors bounce off the aluminum.

This process of reflecting the light off of the surface, as I have done in previous studio work, creates a soft and continuous image instead of a harsh direct image like a Times Square video screen, Campbell wrote in his artistic statement.

There will be a small companion piece on the plaza level that will be on during both day and night.

The project was commissioned by Boston Properties, developer of the tower. It falls under the citys 1 percent for art program, in which a developer of a major downtown project must either commission an artwork valued at the equivalent of 1 percent of the cost of the project, or make a cash contribution to the Public Art Trust administered by the San Francisco Arts Commission.

In addition to the still-untitled artwork at the crown of Salesforce Tower, Campbell has designed a sister work for Mission Square, the public plaza attached to the project. Unlike the installation at the crown, this installation will be visible during the day.

Thursdays presentation before the commission was a courtesy. City approval is not required, and the first lights were being installed at the time of the meeting.

This is a great work and a very critical piece for San Francisco, said planning commissioner Rodney Fong.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: @sfchronicle_art

Light art

Artist Jim Campbell introduces his Grace Cathedral installation at: http://bit.ly/ladderoflights
With a terrific subject, a good cast and a capable director, A Quiet Passion, which dramatizes Emily Dickinsons life, should be better than it is. The film refuses to soft-pedal Dickinsons heartbreaking descent into bitterness and near-misanthropy, but sometimes operates with a heavy-handedness thats certainly at odds with her poetry.

The opening scene shows Emily (played as a youth by a very appealing Emma Bell) receiving a fierce tongue-lashing from a Mount Holyoke schoolmistress for, essentially, marching to a different drummer. Young Emily declines to back down. Its a conflict that the movie dwells on  19th century America is a society where women should neither write poetry nor talk back, and ought to cultivate an air of gentility.

Though a bit of a homebody, Emily is far too intelligent, and has too much of an acerbic streak, to submit. The filmmaker, Britains Terence Davies, is capable of finesse (he directed The House of Mirth in 2000), but seems content here to repeat the point as bluntly as possible. The idea, I guess, is that there was nothing subtle about the restrictions on women in Emilys time  in any case, Davies lays it on thick.

While there are funny moments of dialogue, often barbed, between Emily and her younger sister Lavinia (Jennifer Ehle) and catty friend Vryling (Catherine Bailey), there is also a certain amount of speechifying. Dickinsons was an educated and highly literate household, but the films level of conversation presses us hard to acknowledge that these are very elevated folk.

Time passes (the adult Emily is played  very well  by Cynthia Nixon), and the conventions of the day begin to weigh heavily on Emily. She is convinced that she is homely, an obstacle to romantic pursuits. Very little of her poetry is published, which vexes her mightily, as does one editors decision to simplify her punctuation. One of the few people who actually appreciates her writing is a married pastor, who eventually moves to far-off San Francisco.

As to her poetry, we hear quite a few lines, which is good if the idea is to give a general flavor of her work. But her writing was so dense and complex that its hard to imagine how it can be absorbed on the fly by viewers who have not studied Dickinson.

What Davies and Nixon do well is show how Emily became a recluse overcome by rancor. There are men who come to court her, but its to their chagrin  they are made to feel most unwelcome. Its very sad to witness how this supremely talented woman was so disappointed by life  or, maybe more accurately, by the life of her time.

In addition to the good work by Nixon and Bell, the main supporting players acquit themselves well. Ehle and Bailey are full of life. Duncan Duff, as Emilys brother, and Keith Carradine, as her father, resist what must have been a mighty temptation to overplay their parts.

Walter Addiego is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: waddiego@sfchronicle.com

A Quiet Passion

Drama. Starring Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Ehle, Catherine Bailey, Emma Bell, Duncan Duff and Keith Carradine. Directed by Terence Davies. (Not rated. 126 minutes.)

To see a trailer: http://bit.ly/2emDxdh
Catch SFGATE news producer Amy Graff discussing a new study finding that screen time delays speech in children under 2 and ways she limits technology with her own kids on KTVU's "Morning's on 2" show at 9:20 a.m., Friday, May 5, 2017.

A couple weeks ago, my 3-year-old asked me to play the popular children's tune "Baby Beluga" for her in the car.

Before turning on the ignition, I found the song on YouTube and as it started to play, she noticed the video of Raffi happily singing and strumming the guitar.

"Can I watch, Mamma?" she asked with delight.

How harmless could Raffi possibly be? I thought.

I handed her the phone and at the end of the song, she quickly figured out that by pushing the screen she could play it again.

On our 20-minute drive from San Francisco to her swim class in Pacifica, she was glued to the screen and we listened to the song about the little white whale on the go some 10 times. (I wanted to pull my hair out.)

After swim class, what can you possibly imagine were the first words out of my daughter's mouth?

"Can I have your phone?"

Exhausted and not in the mood for reasoning with a stubborn toddler, I found "Baby Beluga" once again and handed over my phone.

Same thing when I picked her up in the car after school the next day. And the next.

And then I realized my toddler, who I'd diligently kept away from all hand-held devices for three years, was addicted to my iPhone in a matter of a few days. I was constantly in negotiations with her over my phone and it was becoming maddening.

It took several days, countless tantrums and a whole lot of strength on my part to get her to kick the habit.

Finally, she stopped asking and we were back to more peaceful moments listening to the radio or Pandora in the car and having our chats.

Fourteen years into raising three children, I'm still figuring out a lot about parenting, but there's one thing I know for suregiving kids free reign with technology is dangerous.

Let a fourth-grader keep his iPad next to his bed and after you tuck him in, turn off the lights and walk out the door, he's going to turn that iPad on and stay up until midnight playing Minecraft. I know. My son did this for about a week before I figured out why he had black circles under his eyes.

Over time I've found the key to kids and technology is choosing the appropriate age to allow it and setting clear boundaries. These age limits and boundaries are exhausting to enforce because we're now living in a world where technology is readily available. Everyone has it and everyone is using all the time.

I've found that it's most effective to set rules that you can consistently enforce. I spent an entire year monitoring a system for my son that entailed him earning 5 minutes of Minecraft time for every 15 minutes he practiced the violin. To keep track, we put a penny in the jar after every 15 minutes of practice. The system worked brilliantly and he was incredibly motivated to play his violin and this motivated me to closely track pennies and practice and game time. And then my son and I tired of the details of the system and things started to fall apart.

I came up with something more simple: No video games during the week, and unlimited video game time within reason on weekends. He learned to stop asking on weekdays and he started playing with his little sister when he finished his homework.

On most weekends, there's little time for video games and mostly he plays them on a Friday or Saturday evening when a friend comes over. Yes, this might be for four hours straight but that might be all he gets that week.

With my three-year-old, I've decided absolutely no phones or tablets. She has learned this is something she's not allowed to touch and I love that I don't have to negotiate with her every time I pull out my iPhone to check my email. She never asks for my phone (except during that brief blip when I broke my rule).

I do let her watch some TV because sometimes after I pick her up from school I still have more work to do and I need to park her in front of the television for a half-hour (and yes once or twice it was like two hours). As a result, she asks to watch "Princess Sophia" most every day and gets a little grumpy when I say, "No." That's the price you have to pay if you're going to give a toddler screen time.

Age limits are also key. When my oldest entered middle school at age 12 she got a phone because she was getting herself to school on the bus. All of her friends at school had phones and they also all had Instagram and SnapChat. She wanted to be on social media too.

Much to her dismay I said, "Absolutely not," and told her she couldn't be on any social media until age 14. At that point, I didn't think she had the mental maturity to monitor her use nor deal with a situation where someone sent her a nasty message or where a group of girls decided to not like any of her photos.

And here's what happened: She spent two years watching many become glued to their phones and checking social media constantly. Yes, at times she felt left out and blamed me, but through her observations she realized that when she finally had access she'd use social media differently.

Think of it like those parents who have their first child after all their friends. They spend years watching others raise children and make mistakes and formulate their idea of how they want to parent once they have a child.

The day I finally let my 14-year-old download SnapChat, she literally jumped up and down with joy and her body shaked with excitement. In the days that followed, she was taking every opportunity to be on her phone but of course there were boundaries. No ShapChat while you're doing homework. No SnapChat after 9 p.m. so you can let your mind unwind before bedtime. Absolutely no SnapChat or phones at the dinner table. No SnapChat in the car when mom picks you up from an activity...and the list that I actually made her sign in the form of a contract goes on and on.

Boundaries! Boundaries! Boundaries!
The Circle As chilling as any horror film and even more disturbing, because the world it depicts is so close to our own. This is a dystopian vision of what could happen to human interaction if the big tech companies have their way. Based on Dave Eggers novel and starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks. Rated PG-13. 110 minutes.

Mick LaSalle

Citizen Jane: Battle for the City This documentary is a good introduction to the life and work of writer and urban activist Jane Jacobs, focusing on her epic battle with New York planning czar Robert Moses. Moses was the embodiment of the slash-and-burn urban renewal policies that disrupted many lives in the middle of the last century. The story of how Jacobs won the war has been told many times, and this film can only skim the surface  but it still has value. Not rated. 92 minutes.

Walter Addiego

Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent From director Lydia Tenaglia, this is a well-made documentary about the celebrity chef, one of the originators of California cuisine and of the legendary Stars restaurant. Tower is a complicated figure and makes for fascinating viewing. Rated R. 115 minutes.

Mick LaSalle

The Fate of the Furious In this latest installment of the Fast & Furious action franchise, Dominic (Vin Diesel) falls prey to the machinations of an unscrupulous new lover (Charlize Theron). This new film is a welcome return to the series true, silly nature. Rated PG-13. 136 minutes.

Mick LaSalle
ALBUQUERQUE  For years, Yazmin Irazoqui Ruiz saw Cinco de Mayo as a reason to eat tacos and listen to Mexican music.

The 25-year-old medical student left Mexico for the U.S. as a child and celebrates the day to honor a homeland she hardly remembers.

But the Albuquerque resident said shes reluctant to take part in Cinco de Mayo festivities this year as President Trump steps up federal immigration enforcement and supporters back his call for the building of a wall on the border.

You want to eat our food and listen to our music, but when we need you to defend us, where are you? Irazoqui Ruiz asked about the wave of anti-immigrant sentiment in the country.

She isnt alone. Trumps immigration policies are leaving some Mexican Americans and immigrants feeling at odds with a holiday they already thought was appropriated by liquor companies, event promoters and bars.

Latino activists and scholars say the ambivalence is bolstered by the hazy history of Cinco de Mayo and by stereotypes exploited by marketers.

The once-obscure holiday marking a 19th century-battle between Mexico and invading French forces is now a regular celebration in the U.S., where partygoers flock to bars for cheap margaritas and tacos. Television beer commercials often show mostly white actors on a beach celebrating.

The narrative around Cinco de Mayo seems to say, This day really isnt yours, said Cynthia Duarte, a sociology professor at California Lutheran University.

Tequila company Jose Cuervo is playing off the notion that the holiday is largely overlooked south of the border by throwing a party in a small Missouri town called Mexico. More than 90 percent of people there are white and less than 2.5 percent of Mexican descent. The company is marketing the event on its Facebook page as Mexicos First Cinco de Mayo.

Jose Cuervo said in a statement the idea came from Crispin Porter + Bogusky, a Los Angeles advertising agency, and has been well received on social media.

Consumers consistently tell us that Cinco de Mayo is a great way for them to reconnect with people they care about and enjoy a few cervezas, said John Alvarado, vice president of marketing for Corona beer, which is made by Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla between the victorious ragtag army of largely Mexican Indian soldiers against the invading French forces of Napoleon III. The day was celebrated in California by Latinos and abolitionists who linked the victory to the fight against slavery. During the Chicano Movement of the 1970s, Mexican Americans adopted Cinco de Mayo for its David vs. Goliath story line as motivation in civil rights struggles.

This year, some immigrant enclaves have canceled or reduced Cinco de Mayo celebrations over fears that partygoers could be exposed to possible deportation. In Philadelphia, a Cinco de Mayo-related celebration was scrapped after organizers determined turnout would drop over concerns about immigration raids.

Russell Contreras and Adriana Gomez Licon are Associated Press writers.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico  Puerto Rico is closing 179 public schools in a move expected to save $7 million amid a deep economic crisis that has sparked an exodus to the U.S. mainland in the past decade, officials said Friday.

An estimated 27,000 students will be moved elsewhere when their schools close at the end of May, said newly appointed Education Secretary Julia Keleher.

The announcement about the schools closure was just latest news this week that saw the U.S. territory take an unprecedented step into federal court to restructure a portion of its $73 billion debt.

Many economists had anticipated the islands move Wednesday to seek a bankruptcy-like process amid a 10-year recession, but it is impossible to predict what lies ahead.

The school shutdown announced Friday will be the largest mass closure of schools in the history of the U.S. territory. Officials shuttered 150 schools over the span of five years from 2010 to 2015.

Opponents of previous school closures say that transportation logistics and special education needs were not taken into account. An estimated 30 percent of Puerto Rico students receive specialized education, twice the average in the U.S. mainland.

Puerto Rico currently has a total of 1,292 public schools that serve 365,000 students. The island has seen its school enrollment drop 42 percent in the past three decades, and an additional 22 percent drop is expected in upcoming years, according to a report that the Boston Consulting Group submitted to the previous administration to help restructure Puerto Ricos education system.

Much of the drop was the result of parents moving to the mainland U.S. in search of jobs and a more affordable life, as well as thousands of teachers being recruited from the island for their bilingual skills.

The islands low birth rate also is expected to keep driving down enrollment.

In related news on Friday, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain from the Southern District of New York was designated as the presiding judge in Puerto Ricos bankruptcy-like case. The judge will ultimately decide how and which Puerto Rico assets will be distributed to bondholders.

The decision to resolve a portion of the debt in court is the largest effort ever made by a U.S. government to shield itself from creditors.

Puerto Ricans already have been hit with new taxes, higher utility rates and cuts to public employee benefits. Many people have also struggled to find jobs on an island of 3.4 million people with an unemployment rate that has hovered around 12 percent. Nearly 450,000 people have left for the U.S. mainland in the past decade to flee the crisis.

Danica Coto is an Associated Press writer.
A south Sacramento woman is holding her baby a little closer after she said three men approached her and tried to kidnap her and her 18-month-old daughter.

Sacramento County sheriff's deputies are investigating the incident as an attempted kidnapping.

Alexa Vaughan said she was walking home from a nearby convenience store when the men started "hollering" at her shortly after 11 a.m. Monday near 15th and Nichols avenues.

Vaughan talked to KCRA's Tom Miller about the attempted kidnapping and how she got away.

Q: How did this start?

Vaughan: I just came home from dropping off my kids and dropping my timesheets off at work. It was a nice day outside, so I just decided to walk. The guys were out in front of the store initially, and then they were trying to holler at me or whatever.

Once Vaughan left, the men followed her in a van described as a white Honda Odyssey. When she turned to look, two men had already jumped out of the car and one had his hand on her stroller.

Q: What did you do when the first man grabbed you?

Vaughan: He was lifting like this. So, I just socked him in the throat, in the Adam's apple to get him to drop, which he did. And then I turned around to my guy, which I shoved my thumb into his eyeball -- from then he let go, and I took off running.

Q: What do you think they were going to do to you?

Vaughan: Sex trafficking, or something to do with that. Rape.

Q: What about your daughter?

Vaughan: I don't know what they were trying to do with her. That's kind of the most terrifying part. Because I don't know why they would want to take her.

Q: How were you feeling when you made it back home?

Vaughan: I was terrified. I'm only 5 feet 1 inch -- I'm a little female. So, it was terrifying.

Q: I know you talked with your neighbors and alerted them about what happened. Do you have any advice for women who might find themselves in a similar situation?

Vaughan: Never did I ever think it was going to happen to me, but you never do. You need to keep aware of your surroundings, you need to make sure that you're completely aware before you go anywhere -- especially when you have your kids with you. Stay vigilant, always keep your eyes open.
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A Santa Clara County jury began deciding the fate Thursday of a 26-year-old man charged with capital murder in the high-profile disappearance five years ago of Morgan Hill teenager Sierra LaMar.

The jury started deliberations after a more than three-month-long trial, in which prosecutors argued that Antolin Garcia-Torres kidnapped and killed the South Bay 15-year-old.

Santa Clara County deputy district attorney David Boyd called the defendant cold, calculated and evil during his final statements before the jury was sent to examine the heap of evidence.

The prosecution, though, faced challenges from the start. With no body, crime scene, weapon or other direct evidence, Boyd built his case with circumstantial evidence that he said, when examined as a whole, leaves no doubt Garcia-Torres is a killer.

Look at not just one piece of evidence, but all of it, Boyd told the jury. Do they make sense in totality? See all the improbabilities that have to be true in order for him to be innocent.

While the evidence was largely circumstantial, prosecutors presented compelling physical evidence at trial. Garcia-Torres DNA was found on Sierras clothing. Her DNA was discovered on the defendants car and on a pair of gloves inside the vehicle. Investigators said they found Sierras hair on a rope found in the trunk of the defendants car.

Prosecutors said Garcia-Torres and Sierra had not previously met.

Security video shows Garcia-Torres leaving his trailer park in his red Volkswagen Jetta the morning Sierra disappeared on March 16, 2012. The home is approximately 7 miles from where Sierra vanished.

Garcia-Torres told investigators he had been driving on Palm Avenue near where Sierra disappeared around the same time she would have been catching a school bus.

He told the same detectives he had been fishing alone that day at the Uvas and Chesbro reservoirs in the opposite direction of Palm Avenue from his home.

Garcia-Torres attorney argued in a closing statement on Wednesday that the prosecutions case was built on shame evidence, and his client is no killer.

The heart of his defense focused on Sierra. Without a body, defense attorney Alfonso Lopez said, prosecutors could not prove Sierra is even dead.

Shes not communicating with her family, thats all that it is, Lopez said.

Lopez said prosecutors overstated the other evidence and were asking the jury to make unproven assumptions. He attempted to cast doubt on the physical evidence, arguing that the DNA and hair may have been corrupted by investigators and crime lab technicians.

Garcia-Torres is also charged with three counts of attempted kidnapping stemming from three separate attempted carjacking incidents at Morgan Hill Safeway stores in 2009.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky
Estimados amigos,

Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia.

Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro.

Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras.

There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen.

You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.

No soy alguien que sabe, sino alguien que busca.

Only Gold is money. Everything else is debt.

Las grandes almas tienen voluntades; las debiles tan solo deseos.

Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada.

History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.
We rely on your support to make local news available to all

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Haifa is on the "front line" in any action in the north but this blog looks at life in the shadow of danger to all of Israel
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Perched above a Milpitas elementary school sits a most unconventional family: a pair of bald eagles and their newly hatched chick.

Since touching down in December, the birds have become local celebrities of sorts, with photographers and birdwatchers camping out near the school, cameras and binoculars in-hand.

The "paparazzi" has been present for many of the family's major milestones, which culminated in the hatching of a healthy chick on April 17.

Fremont resident Jyoti Chalpe says she was so taken by the birds, that she bought a Nikon camera and began snapping away (see Chalpe's photos above).

"Prior to this sighting I had never seen bald eagles in the wild before," said Chalpe, who has visited the nest almost every day since April 15. "I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to watch the bald eagle pair grow their family."

Bald eagles  known to prefer secluded treetops near bodies of water  rarely light down in an urban environment, such as the arbors above Curtner Elementary School. But to the delight of schoolchildren and scientists alike, this eagle family continue to call the school's trees home.

Story continues below.

The eagles have been altogether absent from the Bay Area since the 1960s, but in a conservation success story, the majestic birds have made a comeback in the past decade.

California currently hosts about 317 eagle nesting sites, a spokesperson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) told the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society. Twenty of these nests reside in the Bay Area.

In the early 1960s, the birds' numbers plummeted to 417 nesting pairs nationally, largely due to the deadly effects of pesticide DDT. After fierce conservation efforts and national policy changes, as of 2007, scientists estimated that nearly 10,000 nesting pairs lived in the US. The species was officially removed from the Endangered Species List later that year.

The tale of the eagle is a happy one, and conservationists are hoping to keep it that way, especially as the birds begin to roost near urban centers.

"It's easy to love them to death," said Glenn Stewart, director of the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, which monitors the Milpitas nest.

While the Milpitas nest is easily accessible and its inhabitants accustomed to humans, in most cases, Stewart strongly advises against looking for nesting eagles.

"Typically the nest locations are kept secret from the public," he said. "When threatened, the birds could fly away from their nests." This leaves the eggs susceptible to predators and the chicks without a food source.

After nesting season, which begins in January and lasts until June, the public can more safely search for eagles, but you might end up on a wild goose chase if you don't know where to look.

According to Andrea Jones, the director of bird conservation at Audubon California, fish-eating eagles are most often found near bodies of water. The Midwinter Bald Eagle Count, last conducted in 2012, recorded the highest number of birds in the following locations:

Eagle Lake, Lassen County (57 eagles)

Shasta Lake (54)

Lake Oroville, Butte County (38)

Trinity Lake (35)

Lake San Antonio, Monterey County (33)

New Melones Reservoir, Calaveres-Tuolomne counties (30)

Because of the birds' tendency to move around  and fast  Jones advises tracking a rare bird alert, such as eBird, to learn when eagles are nearby.

As unpredictable wild animals, you never know when bald eagles will come to rest in the most unexpected of places.

"I never imagined in a million years we'd see bald eagles nesting in the urban Bay Area," said Stewart. "The Milpitas nest is a complete shock."

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.
I like to think of Krakow  in the southern region of perhaps Europes most underappreciated country  as the Boston of Poland. Its a charming, vital city with a strong sense of history, unforgettable sights and fun-loving college students. Though not the capital, Krakow is the cultural and intellectual center of the country  and deservedly Polands most popular destination.

While Krakow seems made for aimless strolling, those with a smart sightseeing plan are well rewarded. Its historic walls and former moat corral a full range of attractions: wonderful museums, captivating churches that evoke a powerful faith (including many sights relating to Polands favorite son, St. John Paul II), leafy parks, stirring Jewish heritage sights and a burgeoning foodie and nightlife scene. The city also makes a good base for a compelling side trip to the most notorious Holocaust site of the Third Reich (Auschwitz-Birkenau).

Within its medieval walls, Krakows Old Town converges on one of the most charismatic squares in Europe: the Main Market Square. Any time of the day, I enjoy choosing a cafe, sinking deep into my chair and absorbing the gorgeously intact buildings around me.

Vast as it is, the square has a folksy intimacy. It bustles with street musicians, cotton candy vendors and the lusty coos of pigeons. A folk band  swaggering in its colorful peasant costumes  gives me a private concert. Feeling flush, I tip it royally. (Perhaps too royally. Be warned: A big tip gets you The Star-Spangled Banner.)

I suddenly hear a bugle call. Glancing around, I pan up to see its source: a trumpet poking out of the tallest tower of the hulking, red-brick St. Marys Church. Just as I spot the sun glinting off of the trumpets bell, the song stops abruptly, causing the crowd below to chuckle and applaud appreciatively. This tune  performed every hour on the hour  comes with a legend: During the 1241 Tatar invasion, a watchman saw the enemy approaching and sounded the alarm. Before he could finish, an arrow pierced his throat  which is why even today, the music stops  subito  partway through.

Ready to move on, I toss a few coins on the table to cover my tab  and head into the Rynek Underground Museum. When the square was excavated about a decade ago, workers found so many coins, tools and artifacts of archaeological value that the city opened this excellent museum. Here, at 12 feet below street level, I get an intimate look at medieval life in Krakow.

Back on the street, I linger as I find my way through town. Curiosity leads me into Staropolskie Trunki (Old Polish Drinks), a friendly little place with a long bar and countless local vodkas and liquors  each one open and ready to be sampled. For about $3, I get a complete vodka education with a cheery local bartender who talks me through five different tastes.

After my private vodka tour (which makes me uncharacteristically giddy for so early in the day), I keep walking and end up in Wawel Hill. The most visited sight in Poland, this is considered sacred ground, a symbol of Polish royalty and independence. Though a castle has stood here since the 11th century, the highlight is Wawel Cathedral, which houses the tombs of the countrys greatest rulers and historic figures. A stony jungle of memorials, its the Westminster Abbey of Poland.

Eventually, my stroll takes me to Kazimierz, the citys historic Jewish Quarter. Once upon a time, most of Europes Jews lived in Poland. And Krakow was their social and political base. This is where the big events of World War II intersected with ordinary, everyday lives. The businessman Oskar Schindler ran his factory here, saving the lives of more than a thousand of his Jewish workers. Now, one of Europes best museums about the Nazi occupation fills Schindlers building. The museum tells more than the story of Schindler and his workers, it explains the full experience of Krakow during the painful era of Nazi rule.

The market square of Kazimierz retains the gritty flavor of the town before tourism and gentrification. While travelers come to see Kazimierzs historic sights during the day, it isnt a preserved neighborhood like the cute town center. Throngs of young clubbers bring the streets to life after dark, and an ever-changing array of bohemian-chic restaurants make Kazimierz an evening foodie destination.

Ten million Americans trace their roots to Poland. Many of those who visit their ancestral homeland for the first time feel as if theyre coming home: from the comfort food their busia (grandmother) cooked them to the kindness of distant cousins they encounter. But you dont have to be Polish to fall in love with Krakows vibrant main squares, in-love-with-life pedestrian drags and sophisticated shopping boulevards. This mingling of a rich historic and thriving contemporary scene makes Krakow the ideal place for the traveler to feel the beating heart of Polish culture.

Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com
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A United Airlines passenger boarded a plane in Newark believing that she was headed to Paris. Hours later, the plane touched down at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

Lucie Bahetoukilae, a French woman who does not speak English, carried a boarding pass that read, "Newark to Charles de Gaulle," reports ABC 7. She approached the gate listed on the pass, where a flight attendant scanned her ticket before she boarded the plane.

With her niece acting as translator, Bahetoukilae recalled approaching her seat  22C  only to find it already occupied. Bahetoukilae said the flight attendant came over to look at her boarding pass before assigning her a new seat.

Three thousand miles later, Bahetoukilae disembarked at SFO, where she reportedly waited an additional 11 hours before boarding a flight back to Paris. In total, she claims to have been traveling for 28 hours.

Story continues below.

Bahetoukilae said she did not realize that the airline had changed her flight's boarding gate. She told ABC that United did not make a gate announcement in French or notify her by email.

United gave Bahetoukilae a flight voucher and said they were "working with their team in Newark to prevent this from happening again."

The airline has repeatedly made headlines in past weeks, most notably for an incident in which a passenger was dragged from a flight.

See also: Passenger who was dragged off jetliner settles with United

"This is not about money," Bahetoukilae's told ABC, "This is about United getting serious with their employees."

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.
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Sharp knives and fires don't often mix well with teen boys. Adam Wadhwani is an exception.

The 13-year-old Sacramento resident has made it to the last rounds of Gordon Ramsay's "MasterChef Junior" (FOX), and he wields flames and sharp objects with finesse.

Wadhwani, an eighth-grader at Sutter Middle School, has thus far excelled in the culinary competition in which young chefs, ages eight to 13, compete in a series of cooking challenges.

Unlike the adult iteration of "MasterChef," notoriously hotheaded Ramsay proves to have a gentler touch with the children. There have been plenty of tears, but the waterworks are often induced from the blow of losing a challenge, rather than Ramsay's critical tongue.

Wadhwani has been cooking for just three years, he revealed in an interview on his school district's website, but he's already dabbling in molecular gastronomy.

"I really enjoy making liquid spheres which are encased with a film," he said, referencing his molten lava cake.

More for you Howard Stern and Robert Plant dined at same Marin restaurant

While Wadhwani's "MasterChef" fate won't be revealed for another few weeks, win or lose, he credits Ramsay with helping improve his technique.

"His critiques were very honest," he told the school district.

Come fall, Wadhwani will face another challenge  starting high school. He plans to combine scholarly pursuits with his passion for fine food.

"I see myself going into engineering or mathematics," he said in the interview, "But I'd like to open a test kitchen where I can show the science behind my dishes."

Read Michelle Robertsons latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.
FLORENCE, Italy  The European Unions chief Brexit negotiator warned Friday that the bloc will not discuss a future relationship with Britain until all 27 member states are reassured that their citizens living in the United Kingdom will be treated properly and humanely.

French negotiator Michel Barnier said such assurances are needed to build trust for a new post-Brexit relationship.

Speaking at a conference on the EU state of the union in Florence, Barnier said protecting the rights of EU citizens was a moral duty as well as a political necessity. The European Council has decided that preserving the rights of EU citizens and families will be the priority, will be my priority.

It will not discuss our future relationship with the U.K. until 27 member states are reassured that all citizens will be treated properly and humanely.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also stressed the need to protect the interests of EU citizens in the United Kingdom. She said Germany will push to create clarity and planning security as quickly as possible for EU residents in Britain, including about 100,000 Germans.

Earlier Friday, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said British expectations in its divorce proceedings from the EU are not realistic, sending a clear warning that Britain will not escape having to foot a hefty bill for its momentous decision.

Over a few testy days this week, both sides sparred about the negotiations, which are to start after the British June 8 elections, with some questioning what, if anything, Britain should pay for. Over the past months, the estimates have ranged from $22 billion to $66 billion before the Financial Times upped the figure to as much as $109 billion  a figure that Britain has flatly rejected paying.

The 27 other EU nations have shown a united front in facing Brexit.
1 Gay torture probe: Russian President Vladimir Putin told Russias human rights ombudsman that he will speak with law enforcement officials about the reported torture of gay men in Chechnya. Tatyana Moskalkova asked Putin on Friday to support her request to form a group to investigate the treatment of gays in the southern Russian region. Putin agreed to her proposal for investigating what he called the well-known information, or rumors, about what is happening to people with a nontraditional sexual orientation. The abuse was first reported in April by the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which said about 100 suspected gay men were rounded up and tortured, and at least three were killed.

2 Border violence: Authorities say gunbattles between rival drug gangs in the Mexican border city of Reynosa have killed 12 people. The security spokesman for the northern state of Tamaulipas said five people died in two gunbattles Thursday. Another seven people were killed earlier in the violence that began Tuesday. The disputes between rival factions of the Gulf cartel follow the killing of leader Julian Loisa Salinas, known as Comandante Toro, by military personnel in late April.
SEOUL  North Korea on Friday accused the U.S. and South Korean spy agencies of an unsuccessful assassination attempt on leader Kim Jong Un involving biochemical weapons.

In a statement carried on state media, North Koreas Ministry of State Security said it will ferret out and mercilessly destroy the terrorists in the CIA and South Korean intelligence agency responsible for targeting its supreme leadership.

North Korea frequently lambasts the United States and South Korea, but its accusation Friday was unusual in its detail.

The ministry said the spy agencies in June 2014 ideologically corrupted and bribed a North Korean citizen who was working in Russia to carry out the alleged assassination on Kim after returning home.

It said South Korean agents gave money and satellite communication equipment to the North Korean to attack Kim during a public event using a biochemical weapon such as a delayed-action radioactive or nano poisonous substance.

The ministry said after a series of contacts and payments, the agents told the North Korean last month that the type of biochemical substance had been decided and would be supplied by the CIA.

The statement, carried by North Koreas official news agency and read on state TV, didnt describe how the alleged plot was broken up or give the full name of the North Korean suspect, identifying him only by his surname, Kim, and didnt say whether anyone else was in custody.

In Washington, the CIA declined to comment, and officials at South Koreas National Intelligence Service did not answer repeated phone calls.

The alleged plan to use a biochemical agent on a member of North Koreas ruling family resembles the assassination earlier this year of Kim Jong Uns exiled half brother at a Malaysian airport. That attack, using the chemical war agent VX, was widely blamed on North Korea and led to calls in the U.S. to relist the North as a state sponsor of terrorism. North Korea denied involvement.

In the statement Friday, the ministry said the alleged plot on Kim Jong Un, a Korean-style anti-terrorist attack will be commenced from this moment to sweep away the intelligence and plot-breeding organizations of the U.S. imperialists and the puppet clique, referring to South Korea.

Kim Tong-Hyung is an Associated Press writer.
The Santa Fe Police Department and the New Mexico State Police appear at odds over what exactly happened in the minutes before Santa Fe officer Leonardo Guzman fatally shot 33-year-old Andrew James Lucero in a dark driveway Saturday night in Eldorado.

On Wednesday, NMSP issued a press release stating that the SFPD began pursuing Lucero in a stolen Mercedes around 9:23 pm. Once Lucero began driving against traffic on I-25, the press release says, the "pursuit was terminated."

Even so, Guzman and his SFPD recruit officer, Alexis Carlos, who NMSP says had been on the force only 12 days at the time, continued following Lucero on the frontage road toward Eldorado. They kept following him even after a dispatcher called the pursuit off, according to dispatch recordings provided to SFR by the Regional Emergency Communications Center.

Guys, dont follow him the wrong way, hes going the wrong way, you guys stop there, said an unidentified voice to the two Santa Fe officers pursuing Lucero. Were gonna terminate the pursuit at this time.

One of the Santa Fe officers replied that the pair would continue following Lucero on the frontage road.

"Just don't activate your lights," the unidentified voice urged.

"We're acknowledging  no lights, no sirens, we're trying to catch up, making sure there's no accident," replied one of the Santa Fe officers.

"Just back off a little," the voice said, "don't force the issue."

The SFPD disagrees that the pursuit had been "terminated" after Lucero started driving northbound in the southbound travel lanes. This matters because the legal basis for SFPD's decision to continue the chasewhich would eventually lead to Lucero's deathrests on a state statute called the Fresh Pursuit Act, which gives police in New Mexico authority to continue pursuing a suspect and making an arrest outside their jurisdiction if the person has committed or is suspected of having committed a felony.

According to SFPD spokesman Greg Gurule, although the "active pursuit" of Lucero had been discontinued, the overall pursuit had not officially ended, and was therefore a legal action under the Fresh Pursuit Act.

"We did not terminate the pursuit," Gurule tells SFR. "We continued looking without lights and sirens.  He's a felon, a fleeing felon, so we continued to pursue him." Gurule explained that the discrepancy between NMSP and SFPD may come down to different terminology employed by the two departments. He added in an email that the SFPD Internal Affairs bureau would examine the "Issue of 'Fresh Pursuit'" [sic] in its investigation of the night.

Geoffrey Alpert, a national expert on police pursuits, says the legal distinction between pursuing and not pursuing is sharper than Gurule seems to acknowledge.

"Normally, when they call off a pursuit, that's what they mean," Alpert tells SFR. "I don't know how they can continue a pursuit once it's been called off."

Guzmans decision to continue the chase even after somebody who sounded like a superior officer had terminated it is significant, says Alpert, a professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina.

"When a department supervisor calls a pursuit off, he's not calling it off for officer A or B; they're calling it all off," he says. "Why an officer continued the pursuit is something that needs to be investigated."

NMSP spokesman Sgt. Chad Pierce, when asked about the discrepancy over whether the pursuit had been called off, said his knowledge was based on information he had received from investigators.

"I can not speak to what SFPD told you," Pierce tells SFR.

The NMSP criminal bureau is investigating the shooting and the wider events of the night. NMSP patrolman Hector Vacio is leading that probe, according to an incident report obtained by SFR, and its aim is to determine whether a crime was committed.

The Santa Fe Police Department has released footage of the police killing of Andrew James Lucero to SFR.

The footage comes from the body camera of Officer Alexis Carlos, who the New Mexico State Police described as a "12 day veteran of the Santa Fe Police Department" at the time of the shooting.

At the start of the video, Lucero is seen walking toward the back of the stolen Mercedes with his hands up. After Santa Fe Police Officer Leonardo Guzman and New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agent Jeremy Stricklin urge Lucero to get on the ground, Lucero suddenly makes a run for one of the police vehicles. It's unclear whether Lucero enters it from the driver's or passenger's side, but footage shows one of the officers inflicting multiple punches into something on the driver's side of the car, presumably Lucero's body. According to a press release from New Mexico state police, both Stricklin and Guzman are struggling with Lucero in the vehicle at this time. Somebody is pressing on the gas pedal as the car stays in park; the sirens go off erratically, as does a hip hop sound track punctuated by car horns. "Fucken A," says Officer Carlos. One of the other officers in the car with Lucero urges, "Stop resisting!"

As Carlos is attempting to radio that Lucero is taking the vehicle (but only emitting static to dispatchers), the car starts taking off, with Guzman near the driver's side. It's unclear where Stricklin is at this time. The car then accelerates forward into a Chinese elm tree, and Guzman is heard screaming something. As Carlos approaches, Guzman seems to scream "My leg's broke!" Carlos helps Guzman out from the tree, which he was pinned against for around 25 seconds. It was during that time that Guzman fired the fatal shot; it's difficult to hear when it happened, but a sharp sound that could be a gun shot occurs at 21:56:13.

Lucero appears to be dragged out of the police vehicle at this time. Somebodyprobably Carlosyells for him to put his hands behind his back. Lucero's dying body is handcuffed, and one of the officers not handling him radios for help. One of the officers calls for a medic, and another begins giving Lucero CPR.

The video mostly confirms the New Mexico State Police's account of the incident. WARNING: Graphic contents.

Here's the complete contents of the NMSP press release:

Santa Fe Reporter
'Just back off a little'

Santa Fe police and New Mexico State Police disagree over whether the pursuit of a suspected car thief had ended by the time SFPD officer Leonardo Guzman shot and killed Andrew James Lucero in a Santa Fe County driveway. The disagreement has legal ramifications as police and prosecutors try to determine if the shooting was justified. Police also released dispatch and video recordings.

Lawmakers want new budget forecasts

As the state hurtles toward the fiscal year that starts in Julywithout funding for higher education or the legislative branchlawmakers are calling for a final economic forecast. But the governor, whose economists have to be part of that process,

. Lawmakers are still at odds with her over her characterization of a current fiscal crisis that might mean forced days off for state workers. There's still no special session on the calendar and much of the work seems to be going on behind closed doors.

State budget pinch forces K-3 Plus cuts at SFPS

Four Santa Fe elementary schools that are part of K-3 Plus, a program to provide 25 extra days of school each summer for some of New Mexico's poorest students, will

this year. The state says the popular program isn't funded enough and it has had to reshuffle the available money.

State issues permit for wolves

New Mexico has been battling the feds for years over the release of additional Mexican gray wolves into the wild here. After winning its latest court battle, though, in its quest to reintroduce greater numbers of the threatened animal, the federal government

that allows it to put two captive-born pups into a den here. The catch isand advocates call this "a sordid bargain"that the feds also have to remove two pups. The swap allows biologists to broaden the gene pool to make it easier for wolves to sustain their population.

Stunning numbers on lead poisoning

In the US, 64 percent of children age 5 or younger who are diagnosed with lead poisoning have that determination made through testing. In New Mexico, that number is

. Not only that, despite guidelines that say all Medicaid-eligible children are supposed to be tested between their first and second years of life, New Mexico tests only 40 percent of them at best. The state has been making it hard,

, to find useful information on its lead-testing practices.

Border Patrol protest in Las Cruces

There were some harsh exchanges at a protest in Las Cruces yesterday, as about 150 immigration advocatesincluding a state legislator and at least one military veteranprotested the militarization of the border and Trump administration immigration policies. At one point, protesters

to the Border Patrol station.

New Mexico congressional reps toe the health care line

The state's US House delegation

on the Republican alternative to Obamacare. Rep. Steve Pearce voted for it, calling it a step in the right direction, while Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Ray Lujan called the bill and its hasty vote shameful.

Another week, another weather pattern

It looks like a

is in store for Santa Fe, with pop-up storms a possibility a bit later, but otherwise a lovely time to get out and enjoy our fair city!

Thanks for reading! The Word's ready for a morning walk.

Subscribe to the Morning Word at sfreporter.com/signup

Santa Fe Reporter
Less wool than forecast was offered at New Zealand's weekly auction as farmers held back bales from sale in a weak market.

Just 6,821 bales were put up for sale at yesterday's South Island auction after 11 percent of the expected bales were withdrawn before the sale started, according to AgriHQ. Even with the low number of bales on offer, the clearance rate fell 2 percentage points from last week's auction to 73 percent, lagging behind last year's levels, AgriHQ said.

New Zealand is the world's largest exporter of crossbred wool and weak demand for the fibre, which makes up about 80 percent of the national clip, has weighed on prices this season. Wool export volumes were down 20 percent in the first quarter of this year, with exports to China down 34 percent. The Ministry for Primary Industries noted in its latest quarterly outlook that wool export prices may remain subdued until inventory is worked through and demand from China returns. That's prompted some farmers to hold back bales from sale in anticipation prices may lift in the future.

The gap between North Island prices and South Island prices closed at this weeks sale. Normally a premium is achieved in the South Island. Compared to last weeks sale in the North Island crossbred wool remained steady with 35-micron wool remaining at $3.85 per kilogram and 37-micron wool at $3.80/kg. Still, 30-micron lamb wool improved by 20 cents/kg to $3.70/kg, AgriHQ said.

Compared to the last South Island sale two weeks ago, prices were fairly steady with 35-micron and 37-micron crossbred wool both up 5 cents/kg. Still, 35-micron crossbred wool remains 22 percent below the same time last year. Lamb wool was unchanged compared to the last South Island sale, but a large fall occurred for 37-micron second-shear crossbred wool, which was down 20 cents/kg to $3.70/kg, AgriHQ said.

Some 5,500 bales are expected to be offered at next weeks North Island sale, 11 percent below the last sale in the North Island, AgriHQ said.

(BusinessDesk)

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Funds raised by Oceania Healthcare will be used to develop its existing land bank but the company is open to new sites down the track, both in New Zealand and potentially in Australia, its chief executive said after its shares debuted at 82 cents, 3.8 percent higher than the offer price of 79 cents in the NZX's first listing of the year.

We were expecting to see a bit of a lift given the demand and the fact that we had to scale back the allocations quite significantly during the book-build process. It's good to see the buy orders coming in," chief executive Earl Gasparich told BusinessDesk.

Oceania Healthcare raised $200 million through an initial public offering last month and listed today on the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges under the ticker OCA. It issued 253.2 million new shares under the offer, which equates to 41.5 percent of the total shares in the company at listing. The shares recently traded at 81 cents.

James Snell, First NZ Capital institutional equities director, said it was "pleasing" to see another new IPO trading well, both in volume and price. He said the stock may have dipped slightly as some investors - who bought at 79 cents - opted to take some profits, but he expects to see longer term investors coming back in on the buy side.

Oceania Healthcare's Gasparich said the capital raising will allow the company to build out its current pipeline. The company has enough land on its 50 existing sites to build another 1,700 beds and units over the next seven-to-eight years. Given that some beds and units will also be decommissioned it expects to have 5,211 beds and units within that time period, up from the current 3,950.

This capital raising we have done will enable us to continue the build out of that pipeline, commence some of our larger villages in Auckland as well as some great sites we have in Hamilton, Nelson, Tauranga and Christchurch, he said.

The company would look to replenish its land bank at some point over the seven-to-eight-year horizon and would also be open to new brownfield or greenfield acquisitions should the opportunity arise in the near term, he said.

Longer term, it could turn to Australia. Gasparich noted there is a looming shortage of aged care beds in New Zealand and Oceania Healthcare is well positioned to take advantage of that. We have a lot on our plate over the next decade but certainly in the longer term we would be willing to look into Australia, he said.

The company doesn't need further capital for its current plans. However, "business plans can change day to day and opportunities can arise," he said. "If an opportunity arises that we believe has the potential to create longer term shareholder value we would come back to our investors if need be but there's nothing on the table right now that would require us to do that."

According to Gasparich, about 73 percent of the company's total product is in aged care while the balance is in retirement village units. The focus on care has a number of benefits in terms of steady cash flow and government funding. "It is very robust and is almost a social infrastructure type asset," he said. Aged care, which includes facilities for people with dementia and other issues, is for when "an elderly person's needs increase to the extent they need full-time care," he said.

Gasparich said a recent move by the government to lift the pay of aged and residential care workers "was a fantastic outcome." Last month the government announced a pay equity deal for aged and residential care workers worth $2.05 billion of extra pay for some 55,000 people  close to 2 percent of the total New Zealand workforce. "It's long overdue that the government recognise that pay rates in the sector are low," he said.

Gasparich said it had no impact on Oceania Healthcare's finances as the government is contributing the extra funds but would have positive benefits as it will make it possible to attract and retain staff. Regarding possible tension with people who fall outside of the deal, such as registered nurses, he said he expects that issue to be addressed by the government over the coming years.

(BusinessDesk)

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Shares of residential aged care provider and retirement village operator Oceania Healthcare debuted at 82 cents, 3.8 percent higher than the offer price of 79 cents in the NZX's first listing of the year. As the morning progressed the price soon fell to 80 cents however.

Oceania Healthcare raised $200 million through an initial public offering last month and listed today on the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges under the ticker OCA.

It issued 253.2 million new shares under the offer, which equates to 41.5 percent of the total shares in the company at listing. At 82 cents per share it has an implied market capitalisation of $500.4 million.

"Oceania Healthcare offers investors a unique opportunity. Compared to our listed peers, our focus on aged care sets us apart. It means we provide a more needs-based product offering compared to other retirement village developers," chief executive Earl Gasparich said in a statement.

Shares were allocated to institutions primarily in New Zealand and Australia, and to brokers on behalf of New Zealand retail clients. Oceania is indirectly owned by Macquarie Group through Macquarie Infrastructure & Real Assets, which did not sell any shares into the offer.

The company, which was formed through the merger of ElderCare and QualCare in 2008, runs 48 facilities in New Zealand, with 3,950 care beds, suites and units. It has 1,700 new beds and units in the pipeline with more than half consented or under construction, mainly at its Lady Allum rest home site on Auckland's North Shore, as well as in Tauranga, Hamilton, Nelson and Christchurch.

(BusinessDesk)

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NEW DELHI: Vivo is one Chinese brand that has created a niche in the Indian smartphone market for its top-of-the-line camera and music experience.

With the smartphone penetration maturing and demand for high-end devices retailing at competitive prices continuing to grow in the country, Vivo, with its strong offline presence, has been investing substantially in the domestic market.

The company has differentiated itself by introducing the "Moonlight Glow" feature in its Vivo V5 and V5 Plus devices, raising the bar for closest Chinese rivals like Oppo and Gionee when it comes to selfie-focused smartphones.

Taking design cues from Apple, Vivo has now launched Vivo V5s at 18,990.

Here is what works for the device.

The phone has neat looks and the Apple design influences are apparent. One of great features is the fingerprint sensor which is located on the front, below the display, and works just like Apple's Touch ID on iPhone, unlocking the device in a jiffy.

The device runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but it is a modified version called Funtouch OS.

During the review period, the phone was fast and responsive. Playing games like "Asphalt 8: AirBorne" was smooth and social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat worked without hiccups -- even while adding filters.

The "Smart Screen-Split" feature allows users to multitask without having to switch back and forth every time a message pops up. Users can chat and watch videos simultaneously on one screen.

The camera uses a 20MP sensor similar to the previous V5 series, is fast and has accurate auto-focus speed. In most situations, the device produced sharp pictures.

The 13MP rear camera is above average in colour reproduction. In darker environments like inside a bar, noise becomes obvious.

The "Moonlight Glow" feature gives a natural glow to the face, without being a strain on the eyes, and brightens up the selfie irrespective of the lighting conditions.

What does not work?

The custom Android OS tries very much to copy iOS but is a mess -- meaning you get a cluttered control centre. The back of the phone is prone to finger-print smudges.

Conclusion: Vivo V5s is yet another strong Android smartphone that looks, feels and operates like a flagship mid-price segment device and is certainly a great deal for wallet-watchers.

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WASHINGTON: NASA has announced a $55,000 award for tweaking its aircraft designing software to run 10,000 times faster than one of the world's most powerful supercomputers.



The competition, called the High Performance Fast Computing Challenge (HPFCC), invites qualified contenders to manipulate the NASA's FUN3D design software and make it faster than the Pleiades supercomputer.



"This is the ultimate 'geek' dream assignment. Helping NASA speed up its software to advance our aviation research is a win-win for all," said Doug Rohn, director of NASA's Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Programme (TACP).



NASA's aviation research is based on what is often described as a three-legged stool.



One leg sees initial designs tested with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) which relies on a supercomputer for numerical analysis and data structures to solve and analyse problems.



Another leg involves building scale models to test in wind tunnels and hopefully confirm previous CFD results.



The third leg takes the research into the air, such as with experimental aircraft - or X-planes - that can fly with or without pilots, to further analyse and demonstrate a particular technology's capability.



"This challenge is specifically targeted to speed up the CFD portion of our aerospace research," said Michael Hetle, TACP programme executive.



"Some concepts are just so complex, it's difficult for even the fastest supercomputers to analyse these models in real time," Hetle said.



The FUN3D software is written predominately in Modern Fortran programming language. Since the code is owned by the US government, it has strict export restrictions requiring all challenge participants to be US citizens over the age of 18.



NASA is looking for qualified people who can download the FUN3D code, analyse the performance bottlenecks, and identify possible modifications that might lead to reducing overall computational time.



Examples of modifications would be simplifying a single subroutine so that it runs a few milliseconds faster. If this subroutine is called millions of times, this one change could dramatically speed up the entire program's runtime.



A prize purse of up to USD 55,000 will be distributed among first and second finishers in two categories.



Code submissions must be received by June 29, and winners will be announced August 9.

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NEW DELHI: Stressing the importance of open trade, a US embassyofficial in India on Thursday called for enhanced India-America commercial engagements in sectors like civil aviation, defence and education.

"We are positive about the transformative potential of our commercial relationship with India. As India seeks to promote domestic manufacturing, create jobs and attract investment, it is important to recognise the crucial role that open trade plays in this process," said MaryKay Carlson, Charge D'affaires at the US embassyhere.

For this reason, she felt, "we must work with our counterparts in the Indian government" to identify policies and practices that could further improve ease of doing business in India and incentivise trade.

"This includes addressing issues such as enhancing the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, rationalising taxes and tariffs, and harmonising standards with international best practices.

"We will continue to engage in dialogue with the government of India on each of these issues," she said addressing an event organised here by the American Chamber of Commerce in India.

On bilateral trade, Carlson identified civil aviation, defence, education and tourism as promising sectors for growth and synergy.

"We want to work in areas where US companies are especially competitive, including airport development and planning, ICT, and air safety and security," she said, adding that the US was looking for enhanced defence ties with India.

"We are also eager to expand commercial opportunities in education. Over the last decade, Indian students brought 31 billion dollars of economic activity to the United States," she said.

"We also see market potential for environmental technologies. Based on decades of addressing environmental challenges in the United States, the US companies are well-positioned to be valuable partners in providing solutions ranging from air pollution monitoring to wastewater management," she added.

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Source: IANS
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...
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Imagine you were told, as you headed onto the field, that your team would have nearly one-third fewer players than the opposing team  and that the other team would get to set the rules that you would have to play by.

For Democrats in the 2017 Legislature, that has been our reality.

As the minority and the loyal opposition, our mission is clear: to be a voice and a vote for what is right, and to fight every day for the people who sent us here, all the while knowing that the odds are not in our favor. This session, that was ourcall, and we are proud of our caucus for answering that call with absolute resolve and determination.

In order to get good things done, Democrats worked hard to reach across the aisle and bring others on board. We did this successfully in numerous issue areas and found others who were willing to set aside political differences to pass good legislation. Together with a group of reasonable Republicans, Democrats led the way on legislation that will benefit Montanans for years to come. Here are some of the highlights:

 Criminal Justice Reform: We passed the most comprehensive package of criminal justice reform legislation in a generation -- more than a dozen bipartisan bills that give judges and prosecutors the tools to make our system smarter, save money, reduce recidivism and get people the help they need.

 Earned Income Tax Credit: One of the most progressive anti-poverty tax bills in years, the Earned Income Tax Credit will help thousands of working families in Montana keep more of their hard-earned money.

 Apprenticeships: We helped Montana workers and businesses with a tax credit for businesses that hire and train apprentices  and a double credit for hiring veterans in an apprenticeship program.

 Mental Health and Suicide Prevention: Its imperative that we reduce the stigma around mental illness and make care and treatment more available. We established that insurance companies must cover mental health on the same level as physical health. We also dedicated $1 million for local communities and school districts to develop their own suicide prevention programs, with particular emphasis on rural areas, Native Americans and veterans.

 Early Childhood Education: We know that when we invest in kids through early education, we improve their prospects for graduating from high school and beyond. We were finally able to make some headway on this front by providing funding for preschool pilot programs across the state.

 Sexual assault: We passed a package of bills to protect victims of sexual assault by making our laws more consistent with a scientific understanding of predatory behavior and victim response. We made it a crime to coerce children into viewing pornography, and we made clear that a victims silence, or lack of forceful resistance, does not equate to consent in a sexual assault case.

 Foster care: We made important investments in our foster care system that put children first and address the significant challenges we are facing due to a resurgence of meth addiction in Montana.

 Protecting Public Lands: Democrats worked hard to fight off some extremely dangerous legislation that would have forced Montana hunters to compete with out-of-staters for licenses.

Although we celebrate these many successes, it is no secret that we also experienced significant disappointments this session. The number one priority of the Democratic caucus this session was to pass a comprehensive infrastructure package and get people to work on important projects across this state. Although we carried and passed several important public works bills, and supported a major roads and bridges bill that will bring a 7-to-1 federal funding match for highway repairs across Montana, we were not able to overcome Republican opposition to the most important infrastructure bill of the session.

When we approached the jobs/infrastructure package, Democrats made it clear from Day One that we were not going to pick winners and losers or pit communities against each other. Since all Montanans pay taxes, all communities should benefit from infrastructure projects and the jobs they create.

With these ideas in mind, Democrats and reasonable Republicans worked out a fair infrastructure package that would have benefitted communities across Montana, east and west, north and south, rural and urban, with critical projects: rural water and sewer systems; repairs and upgrades to dozens of schools; improvements to our MSU campuses in Bozeman, Billings and Great Falls; a needed water intake in Laurel; improvements to Makoshika State Park near Glendive; and a loan to finally build the long-planned Southwest Montana Veterans home in Butte.

This package passed out of the Republican-controlled Senate with the required two-thirds majority. But when it got to the House, we came up against the resistance of Republican House leadership, which did not want it to go forward. We gave them every opportunity to say yes and they took every opportunity to say no. At the end of the day, we couldnt get around the fact that they were in charge and they had the ability to block progress.

We can promise you that Democrats will continue to fight for infrastructure into 2019. In the meantime, we hope the people of Montana will reach out to lawmakers and let us know what matters to you. Emails and phone numbers of all legislators are available on the Legislatures website (www.leg.mt.gov). We want to hear your opinions, positive or negative. And we will work throughout the interim and beyond to make Montana a better state for all of us.

Rep. Jenny Eck, D-Helena, is the Montana House Minority Leader. Sen. Jon Sesso, D-Butte, is the Montana Senate Minority Leader.
BILLINGS  U.S. House candidates Rob Quist and Greg Gianforte differ sharply on laws affecting womens health care, particularly abortion.

The candidates outlined their differences for Lee Montana Newspapers this week, particularly on whether abortion without government inference, a right protected by the 14th amendment, could still be changed. Both candidates then discussed federal funding of Planned Parenthood and federal health care policy affecting women.

Quist, a Democrat, and Gianforte, a Republican, are vying for Montanas only U.S. House seat. Voting is underway and ends May 25. Libertarian Mark Wicks is also on the ballot.

Divided stances

I am pro-life. We should have a culture that values life from conception to natural death, Gianforte said. We have an obligation to help the most vulnerable in our society who cant help themselves. Science, faith and common sense compel us to the common understanding that life begins at conception, and should be protected. This is one of our most fundamental freedoms, the first one mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life.

Quist said abortion is none of the governments business.

Politicians should not be in charge of making womens health care decisions, Quist said. These kind of decisions should be made by women with their doctor, their family and their faith and without any government intrusion. This is a settled question, particularly in Montana, where our state constitution has an explicit right to privacy, which I strongly support.

There is room, Gianforte said, for the federal government to place restrictions on abortions, namely by prohibiting the abortion when a fetus is developed enough to feel pain. Late-term and partial-birth abortions can be limited, he said.

The United States is just one of seven countries that permits elective abortions more than halfway through pregnancy, beyond 20 weeks," Gianforte said. "Infants born premature at the age of 20 weeks are patients in Neonatal Intensive Care Units, proving their viability before our very eyes. In poll after poll, a clear majority of Americans support protecting unborn children after 20 weeks of gestation from abortion procedures as science tells us that it is at this point that the baby can feel pain. Protecting unborn infants at this stage of life is a bipartisan position in this country and the accepted practice in other nations of the industrialized world.

Quist said Congress shouldnt meddle.

"My opponent has consistently put his own political ideology ahead of the health and safety of Montana women," Quist said."He even opposes abortion in cases of rape or incest. I believe abortion should be safe, legal and rare. Unlike my opponent, I trust women and their families to make their own health care decisions. He wants to roll back the clock and put the government in charge of womens health care decisions.

Federal funding

Last month, President Donald Trump signed a law allowing states to deny federal family planning funds to health clinics offering abortion. That means states could deny Title X funding for family planning services like contraception, fertility care and breast and cervical cancer screenings, if abortion was also provided.

Federal funding was already banned from paying for abortion. Federal courts have already struck down similar attempts to deny funding to clinics like Planned Parenthood in states like Florida and Utah. The candidates split on whether they supported the law.

Tax dollars should not directly or indirectly subsidize abortions, Gianforte said. Title X funds were established in 1970 for family planning programs via grants to public and not-for-profit providers. Montana has 25 Title X providers, only five of which are Planned Parenthood. For example, we have 17 community health care centers that can provide all the same services as Planned Parenthood with the exception of abortions. Redirecting Title X funds to the scores of other clinics in Montana that are eligible for Title X tax dollars, such as our community health centers, will expand access to womens health services.

Quist said too many Montana women rely on Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions, to cut off funding.

"With regard to Planned Parenthood, in a rural state like Montana, leaders should be working to make sure we have more health care options, not fewer," Quist said. "Thousands of Montana women and men rely on Planned Parenthood for affordable primary care including contraception, family planning and cancer screenings, and defunding Planned Parenthood threatens Montanans' access to health care. Federal law already prohibits taxpayer dollars from being used for abortions, and we should not eliminate funding for preventative care, cancer screenings, and family planning, which helps reduce the number of abortions, simply because Planned Parenthood provides abortion services. Thats playing politics with critical womens health care, and Montanans dont tolerate those types of political games.

Both candidates agreed that federally funded health care programs like Medicaid, the Military Health System and the Indian Health Service should offer contraceptives and maternity care.

Yes, they should as they already do, because they are intended to cover large swaths of the population and not be competitive policies designed for individuals' needs," Gianforte said. "Though it's critical to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not pay for abortions. It is common sense for programs such as these to provide quality maternity care, which increases the likelihood of healthy and happy babies.

Quist again said that contraception services reduce the number of abortions and should be covered by federal health care programs.

"We should increase womens access to preventative health care, family planning and contraception services and maternity care in other federal programs like the military health system or Indian Health Service to the extent they are not already covered, Quist said.

Equal rates

As Congress works to the repeal the Affordable Care Act, replacing it with a Republican plan, as the House did Thursday, lawmakers should not be charging different rates to men than women, the candidates said. However, Gianforte framed the same-rate argument in the context of same care.

Just like we shouldnt be denying health care to individuals with pre-existing conditions, we should not be charging different rates for men and women for the same care, Gianforte said. In any health care reform, we must give Montanans more options to choose the right health care plan that best fits their needs. We absolutely need to have health care plans that cover maternity services, and they need to be affordable. I believe more choice and competition will result in lower health care prices.

Quist said the ACA had stopped insurance companies from setting rates and coverage limits based on pre-existing conditions. He would support changing those policies.

As recently as a few years ago, insurance companies considered being a woman to be a pre-existing condition. That wasnt right, Quist said. Yet my opponent wants to give insurance companies the power to do that again. Women should not pay more for health insurance just because of their gender, and I will not support any health care legislation allowing them to do so.
Moderators are sometimes employees at the companies that need them. But often, they're contractors. Perhaps they do this work for multiple companies at a time. They might live in the Philippines, or in another country; they might live in Seattle. Company to company, the moderators are called different names. Facebook relies on its users to report possible violations to its "community operations" team, which is then responsible for applying Facebook's broad, often vague, rules to each situation. Based on multiple reports of what these jobs are like across companies, moderators don't have long to make that decision, maybe seconds.
"We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta, and we've reached out to them to refund their travel and provide additional compensation," the statement read. Delta said its goal is to work with customers to resolve travel issues, "that did not happen in this case and we apologize."
Anyone who uses the slave labor that North Korea exports to other countries would be subject to sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the bill states. At times when the nation is facing unusual or extraordinary threats, the president has wide authority under the law, including the power to block or prohibit transactions involving property located in the U.S.
Drug reform advocates will give out hundreds of pill-testing kits to festival-goers at Groovin The Moo on Sunday.

The harm minimisation group chose not to wait for the ACT government's decision on a professionally managed drug-checking trial at festivals, and instead took matters into its own hands.

Drug reform advocates have taken pill testing into their own hands and will be handing out do-it-your-self kits at Groovin The Moo on Sunday. Credit:Gilaxia

Volunteers with the ACT drug testing kits group will give out "legal" do-it-yourself drug-checking kits. The kits allow people to test the contents of their illicit pills - the group hopes people will discard their drugs if they contain unexpected dangerous substances.

While possessing illegal drugs is an offence, there is no law in the ACT that stops the creation, possession or supply of drug-testing kits.
The Turnbull government has ruled out doing special deals as it stares down the Catholic education sector - and Tony Abbott - over its schools funding package.

The Education Minister, Simon Birmingham, and other cabinet members have rejected Mr Abbott's claim the coalition is "on a loser" if its plan disadvantages Catholic schools.

Asked if the former prime minister was wrong, Senator Birmingham told reporters, "That is certainly not an accurate reflection of the reforms we are proposing."

The minister insists what's been labelled as Gonski 2.0 by the government will ensure all schools are treated consistently.
Iron ore is in full-scale retreat, with futures in China plunging to end limit-down on investor concern about the outlook for demand in the world's top user, fresh signs of burgeoning supply from Australia and the hostile backdrop of a broad-based sell-off in base metals.

"Iron ore's centre of gravity is constantly moving lower," said Zhao Chaoyue, an analyst at China Merchants Futures Co.

BHP has published production data for the December quarter. Credit:Bloomberg

"Concerns about the glut have always been there. Port stockpiles are maintaining near a record and there's a consensus that supply will go on expanding, especially in the second half."

The raw material sank into a bear market last month amid concern supplies are rising just as China's mills enter a weaker period for demand. The steel industry's purchasing managers index for April fell below 50, signalling a return to contraction, according to data at the weekend. And figures on Thursday showed shipments from Port Hedland, Australia's main terminal, rose to the highest this year even as holdings at ports in China remain near a record high.
Telstra ran a scare campaign in an attempt to maintain its dominant position in the mobile phone market in regional Australia, the consumer watchdog has claimed.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Friday released its draft ruling on whether telcos should have to share its mobile network with rivals in regional areas.

The regulator sided with arguments made by Telstra after the mobile phone giant claimed that its superior network was a key part of its commercial offering and opted not to "declare" domestic roaming.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims accused Telstra of running a scare campaign although he insisted that the tactics had not swayed the commission in reaching its decision.
Some action on these chemicals has been global - PFOS is listed on the Stockholm Convention and the closely related PFOA has been nominated.

All related to perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS substances) used in fire-fighting foams for years until health concerns began emerging in the early 2000s and products were being pulled from the market.

Class actions over such contamination at Defence bases in Queensland and New South Wales; investigations into other bases nation-wide; former aviation technicians affected; similar problems at Victoria's Fiskville fire-fighter training base and a spill of similar foams at Brisbane Airport.

There is, however, an exemption under the Stockholm Convention that has allowed the continued use of these substances in fire-fighting foams, given their effectiveness for that purpose.

Stockpiles remain around Australia and the world; but calls grow each day, from urging for outright bans to calls for more concerted, expedited action and stronger strategies for dealing with them if use continues.

Queensland has banned the use of the chemicals in that state, and has called on Canberra to do the same, but has little power over Commonwealth-owned airport land.

Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester has promised to consider "transitional arrangements" for the potential phasing out of the substances. But it is time for the government to do more than consider this issue.

Government statements in recent months spout the line that "while it is known PFAS can persist for a long time, there is no consistent evidence that PFAS exposure is harmful to human health".
On Sunday, France will hold its presidential run-off election. Most observers expect Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, to defeat Marine Le Pen, the white nationalist  please, let's stop dignifying this stuff by calling it "populism". I very much hope the conventional wisdom is right. A Le Pen victory would be a disaster for Europe and the world.

Yet I also think it's fair to ask a couple of questions about what's going on. First, how did things get to this point? Second, would a Le Pen defeat be anything more than a temporary reprieve from the ongoing European crisis?

Some background: like many Americans, I can't help seeing France in part through Donald Trump-colored glasses. But it's important to realise that the parallels between French and American politics exist despite big differences in underlying economic and social trends.

To begin, while France gets an amazing amount of bad press  much of it coming from ideologues who insist that generous welfare states must have disastrous effects  it's actually a fairly successful economy. French adults in their prime working years (25 to 54) are substantially more likely than their US counterparts to be gainfully employed.
WASHINGTON  Vice President Mike Pence plans to travel to Montana next week to campaign for a Republican congressional candidate running in a special election.

The vice president's office said Friday that Pence is expected to campaign for Greg Gianforte during the weekend of May 13. Details on the trip have not yet been finalized.

Montana is holding a May 25 special election to fill the seat vacated by Ryan Zinke, who resigned from Congress earlier this year to serve as President Donald Trump's interior secretary.

Gianforte is competing against Democrat Rob Quist and Libertarian Mark Wicks for the state's only congressional seat.

A spokesman for Gianfortes campaign could not immediately be reached for comment. Katie Waldman, a spokesperson for Daines, said she didnt have any update to share.

Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. is campaigning for Gianforte next week in Helena, Great Falls and Sidney, making his second trip on the GOP candidate's behalf.

Sen. Bernie Sanders announced hell be coming to Montana in May to campaign for Rob Quist, but those dates are still undetermined.

Pence's trip was first reported by The Washington Post.
Voters have every reason to be cynical. They have every reason to believe that they are being had. And, without a fulsome explanation, why should they believe? Why not suspect that a change in the budget benchmark, from cash to operating balance, isn't any more than just another "accounting con"?

Yet, clearly, most would accept that some debt is "good", in the sense that none of us would be able to buy a house, or build a business, without it.

It looks like Treasurer Scott Morrison will once again be able to dodge the bullet of a ratings downgrade. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The tragedy is that this could, indeed, be a significant and defining shift by the government, in both policy emphasis and substance, but I fear it will fall short.

I have argued for many years that it is important to separate the recurrent from the capital account in the budget  indeed, to run them as two separate budgets, with separate financing.
New York: Billionaire Australian businessman Anthony Pratt has received a standing ovation from US President Donald Trump after pledging $US2 billion ($2.7 billion) in investment in the US.

Mr Pratt made the announcement at the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea event in New York.

Billionaire Anthony Pratt bet heavily on Donald Trump to win the US election. Credit:Louie Douvis

Mr Pratt, during a speech on stage, told Mr Trump he was making the decision because the President had made "America the greatest place in the world to manufacture".

"Tonight I'd like to pledge another $US2 billion over the next 10 years doubling our rate of investment to create an additional 5000 high paying manufacturing jobs mainly in the midwest," Mr Pratt, who was seated beside First Lady Melania Trump at the dinner, said.
Two Indigenous curators will represent Australia at the 57th Venice Biennale as part of the Australia Council for the Arts' professional development program for first nations curators.

Clothilde Bullen and Emily McDaniel are members of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) and will act as First Nations senior and emerging curators, respectively. The MCA is the only cultural institution with more than one first nations curator participating at the event.

Emily McDaniel and Clothilde Bullen are part of Australia's presence at the Venice Biennale. Credit:Jacquie Manning

Ms Bullen expressed her pride at being selected for the role. "To be able to show leadership in the Indigenous visual arts area, and to align this with the MCA's values around supporting the professional development of Indigenous staff is a privilege. On this unique occasion, embedded round the opening of My Horizon by Tracey Moffat, it is critical to have Indigenous arts workers participate fully in the experience."

Australia has had a presence at the event since 1954, with esteemed artists including Sidney Nolan and Arthur Boyd having works showcased throughout the past 60 years. Moffatt will this year become the first Indigenous Australian to have a solo exhibit at the Biennale.
An American man is believed to have fallen overboard from a cruise ship which arrived in Sydney this week.

A steward aboard the Golden Princess liner raised concerns about the 61-year- old's whereabouts on Wednesday after he joined the South Pacific cruise in Noumea.

An American man is believed to have fallen overboard from the Golden Princess.

NSW Police and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority were alerted after a thorough search failed to find the missing passenger, a Princess Cruises spokesman said.

"Having ruled out other possibilities, this is being treated as a man overboard incident," he said.
Save Dave.

It's the small, two-word slogan at the centre of a massive union-led fight to get sacked Appin miner Dave McLachlan his job back.

Appin miners at the now-controversial undie protest in early March. Inset: Dave McLachlan Credit:Illawarra Mercury

The Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union (CFMEU) has joined forces with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) to embark on a national campaign against mining company South32.

Dubbed "Save Dave", the campaign includes a short video and other multimedia elements that will be distributed across social media and on free-to-air television.
A Sydney GP has been jailed for at least 20 years and three months for murdering his second wife with a lethal dose of insulin.

Brian Kenneth Crickitt gave no visible reaction after Justice Clifton Hoeben imposed the sentence on Friday, while the victim's brother David called out "hear hear judge" and people around him clapped.

Brian Crickitt with his new wife Julie Crickitt. Credit:Daniel Munoz

The 63-year-old GP was found guilty in December of murdering Christine Crickitt late on New Year's Eve 2009 or early on New Year's Day 2010.

His third wife, Julie, who supported her husband throughout his judge-alone trial, left the NSW Supreme Court complex without making any comment.
Charges against a top Sydney lawyer accused of grabbing a young woman on the crotch have been dismissed.



Carl Harrap had pleaded not guilty to the indecent assault of a 20-year-old university student on the Clontarf Track in December last year.



Magistrate Christopher Longley dismissed the charges at the Manly Local Court on Friday afternoon.



Earlier the woman, who cannot be named, told the court how Mr Harrap grabbed her from behind as she took a morning walk before he turned and "bolted".

Mr Harrap is a senior partner at FPA Patent Attorneys.

Cleared: Carl Harrap leaves Manly Local Court in January. Credit:Daniel Munoz

AAP
Two people have been injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the M2 at North Rocks on Friday afternoon.

The incident about 4.10pm involved at least five cars and a truck and caused extensive traffic delays.

A CareFlight medical team arrives at the scene of the crash on the M2 Credit:CareFlight

At 8pm, one citybound lane on the M2 remained closed from Windsor Road to Pennant Hills Road. Heavy traffic that had congested the motorway back to the M7 had eased.

A 61-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman were trapped in their vehicle after the crash until emergency workers could free them and take them to hospital, where they are both in stable conditions. The woman was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital while the man was admitted to Westmead Hospital.
"I don't really understand it, because as a researcher I've seen the evidence, I've talked to survivors, I've interviewed survivors, I've watched testimony, I've read testimony of all different genocides and this is not made up," she said.

Dr Melanie O'Brien, an expert in genocide studies from the UQ school of law, said she was disappointed to hear the flyers had made their way to UQ.

It is understood the flyers, which have also shown up at universities in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney, have been pinned to noticeboards and put on car windshields.

The University of Queensland, their student union and the chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission have all condemned Holocaust denial flyers that have been distributed on campus.

"The evidence is there, it's there for people to actually see with their own eyes and to hear with their own ears from survivors, and I cannot comprehend how anyone will deny what happened."

Dr O'Brien, who is also part of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, said the flyer itself is "strange".

"It's not very well written and the grammar and the punctuation is not great, so you can't really tell what they're saying in detail," she said.

The flyer, citing a Holocaust denial website, condemns a Hollywood film about a court case that proved the Holocaust happened. While the film is not named, Dr O'Brien said it could be assumed the film they are talking about is Denial, a movie based on the book by Deborah Lipstadt History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier. She said the film looks "amazing".

"Just because what Deborah Lipstadt did is so admirable, and also the fact that she had to do it, the fact that she had to get up in court and speak out against someone who was denying the holocaust is quite depressing in the first place, but it's really really important what she did," Dr O'Brien said.
The US Department of Justice has begun a criminal investigation into Uber Technologies' use of a software tool that helped its drivers evade local transportation regulators, two sources familiar with the situation said.

Uber has acknowledged the software, known as "Greyball," helped it identify and circumvent government officials who were trying to clamp down on Uber in areas where its service had not yet been approved, such as Portland, Oregon.

The company prohibited the use of Greyball for this purpose shortly after the New York Times revealed its existence in March, saying the program was created to check ride requests to prevent fraud and safeguard drivers. The Times report triggered a barrage of negative publicity for the company.

The criminal probe could become a significant problem facing the company that is already struggling with an array of recent business and legal issues.
EXCLUSIVE

A judge has deemed domestic violence a form of "intimate terrorism" in jailing a man for the "cowardly and brutal" assaults on his defacto partner.

Judge Jane Campton told John Grima he had inflicted "sustained violence" on the woman over four days in breach of an intervention order against him.

Judge Campton said Grima, 37, had punched and kicked her, tried to gouge her eyes, bit her and smashed her head against a wall.

The County Court judge on Thursday said he also had threatened to cut her tongue out and on one occasion hit her on the legs and buttocks with a meat tenderiser until she passed out.
A man has been charged with 29 offences over the stabbing of three people in Doveton.

The 24-year-old Clayton South man appeared at an out of session's hearing on Saturday night and has been charged with aggravated burglary, intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury and false imprisonment.

Hero father Ina Maramotoa (right) and his partner Anna Meteka at their home in Doveton. Credit:Paul Jeffers

The drama unfolded about 6.30am on Saturday, when a man stabbed another man and two women at a house on Lacebark Street in Doveton.

The male victim was left in a critical condition with life threatening injuries to his upper and lower body.
For almost two decades, North Korea has looked to south-east Asia for diplomatic and economic and support while the so-called "hermit nation" was shunned in most countries other than its only major ally, China.

All 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations allowed North Korean embassies in their capitals and invited its diplomats to join two dozen other nations in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which meets each year to discuss security issues.

Kim Jong-nam, in grey, gestures towards his face while talking to airport security shortly before his death. Credit:Fuji TV/AP

But the carefully nurtured ties with Pyongyang and its leader Kim Jong-un came under enormous strain on February 13 when a group of men believed to be North Korean spies orchestrated the VX nerve-agent assassination of Mr Kim's estranged elder brother, Kim Jong-nam, in a busy terminal at Kuala Lumpur airport.

Furious Malaysian leaders recalled their ambassador from Pyongyang, expelled North Korea's ambassador in Kuala Lumpur and ended an arrangement in which North Koreans could enter Malaysia without first obtaining a visa.
LONDON: In voting for local councils Thursday, just five weeks before the British general election, the governing Conservative Party made significant gains, the opposition Labour Party did badly and the centrist Liberal Democrats had mixed success.

The results, released Friday, are a disaster for the far-right, anti-immigrant UK Independence Party, which pushed for Britain's exit from the European Union but saw many of its voters move toward the Conservatives, who promised to end unrestricted immigration while carrying out the divorce.

UK prime minister Theresa May.

In contrast, the results display the strength of the Conservatives under Prime Minister Theresa May and the weakness of Labour under its left-wing leader, Jeremy Corbyn, going into the June 8 general election. May hopes to sharply increase her majority in Parliament as she tries to negotiate a good deal for Britain as it withdraws from the EU.

Normally, governing parties are punished in local elections, but in England and Wales, at least, there was a sharp swing to the Conservatives from Labour, in what appeared to be a protest vote against Corbyn and his management of the opposition. The problem for Labour is that previous UKIP voters, many of whom were Labour loyalists, are moving to the Conservatives instead of returning to Labour. This has raised the chances of a sweeping Conservative victory next month, while Labour has collapsed in its former stronghold in Scotland.
New York: Reports on that withering January phone call that threw US-Australian relations into a spin were a figment of media imagining  or, as jointly declared by Donald Trump and Malcolm Turnbull in New York on Thursday, fake news.

Speaking minutes before a dinner to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, there was no daylight between the American and Australian leaders.

Tables at the dinner sold for up to $US150,000 and outshining the political and business stars, were seven old men  five Aussies and two Americans who actually fought on the Coral Sea.

Imagery and optics for the celebrity bash to mark that first joint US-Australian air and sea effort, were in the eye of the beholder  as an early American aircraft carrier, the decks of the Intrepid are replete with lethal weapons and powerful aircraft; but these days, it's a decommissioned museum piece, firing blanks from fixed moorings on the Hudson River, on the west side of Manhattan.
French prosecutors have launched a probe into whether "fake news" - allegedly with Russian links - was being used to seek to torpedo front-runner Emmanuel Macron's presidential campaign ahead of Sunday's run-off.

The preliminary investigation was opened after Mr Macron sued his far-Right rival Marine Le Pen for implying he had an "offshore account in the Bahamas".

Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron faced off in a televised debate on Wednesday. Credit:AP

It came as Barack Obama, the former American president, endorsed Mr Macron for president, saying he represented "liberal values" and "appeals to people's hopes not their fears".

Mr Macron's legal complaint referred to comments Ms Le Pen made in Wednesday night's TV debate between the anti-EU, anti-immigration candidate and her liberal, pro-EU rival, widely dubbed the most brutal in French presidential history.
The fiance of accused drug mule Cassandra Sainsbury says he has no doubt the 22-year-old South Australian is innocent and still intends to marry her.

Scott Broadbridge says he will support Ms Sainsbury no matter how long it takes.

"I would just like to say, I have no doubt that Cass is innocent of the charges," he told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.

"Cass is the delight of my life. I know that she is not involved in the drug trade.
North Korea has accused the United States and South Korea of conspiring to assassinate leader Kim Jong-un amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

The regime's official Korean Central News Agency alleged that the US Central Intelligence Agency and South Korea's intelligence services bribed a North Korean citizen to "hurt the supreme leadership" using a bio-chemical substance.

North Korea has accused the CIA of orchestrating a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-un. Credit:AP

KCNA has a track record of allegations of plots to assassinate North Korea's leadership, none of which have been verified.

Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high for weeks, driven by concern that North Korea might conduct its sixth nuclear test or test-launch another ballistic missile in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Matt Smith as Prince Philip and Claire Foyas Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown. Credit:Alex Bailey/Netflix When he arrived in London as a young man, he had impeccable credentials: he had attended the Cheam School in Britain and Schule Schloss Salem in Germany; later he went to the prestigious Scottish boarding school Gordonstoun and then the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. Even a cursory examination of his biographical details would have thrilled even the most laconic editor at Debretts, the yellow pages of the peerage: Philip was born a prince of Greece and Denmark, his godmother was Queen Olga of Greece and his grandfather was the Marquess of Milford Haven. The then Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountabatten at Buckingham Palace following the announcement of their engagement in 1947. It was the latter of those two personalities  the Marquess of Milford Haven - and Philip's uncle, Louis Mountbatten  who would shape a royal destiny out of this chiselled-to-perfection young protege.

Scratch the surface, however, and the cracks in Philip's story begin to appear. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, heads into retirement as he lived: strangely grand, quaintly inappropriate and royally indifferent. Credit:Getty Images He was rather ignominiously born on a kitchen table on the Greek island of Corfu, and evacuated in a wooden box by his family after his uncle, Greece's King Constantine I, was forced to abdicate during the Greco-Turkish War. Philip's father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, ended up living in a small flat in Monaco. His mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, became a nun and lived, for a time, in an asylum. And despite the floridly royal titles they all possessed they were, for the most part, penniless.

Worse, three of his four sisters  the Princesses Margarita, Cecilie and Sophie  had married German aristocrats who had become prominent figures in the Nazi party. For Britain's royal family, having only a generation and a smidgen earlier shed their own Germanic roots by exchanging the name of the royal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha for the far more English-sounding House of Windsor, such connections could have easily undone the upstart prince. The young prince was thus re-invented as Philip Mountbatten, later Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten. Though many assume his title of Prince is one he had from birth, in fact that birth title was renounced prior to his marriage to then-Princess Elizabeth. It was not until 1957 when the now-Queen Elizabeth II issued letters patent creating him a Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that his present title was acquired.

And it even came with a gift with purchase: he was also given the peerage title Duke of Edinburgh (with Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich and Knight of the Order of the Garter thrown in for good measure) and permission to use the definite article  that is, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The definite article, one of the genuinely proper treats from the sovereign's titular lolly basket, is usually reserved for the children of the sovereign only. The young Prince Philip we meet in The Crown  all floppy hair, aspiring aviator, dashing man about town and one-time Doctor Who  is indeed a fair portrayal of the man in his younger married days. And the particular axes he grinds  notably his preference to stay at Clarence House rather than move to the larger, more miserable-seeming Buckingham Palace, and his wish for his children to take his surname, Mountbatten  are indeed taken from real events. Of course, Philip would lose on both counts.

He had no choice but to move to Buckingham Palace, which was anointed as the official residence of the sovereign in London. And he was unable to give his children his surname of Mountbatten, itself a fictitious tweak of the more German-sounding Battenberg; instead they had to take the name of the royal house, Windsor. One concession came later: an instruction from the Queen that any of her descendants who did not bear royal titles and styles  that is, anyone who wasn't a prince or princess, or styled a royal highness  would be named Mountbatten-Windsor. That said, there was always a wrinkle in the royal logic. Mountbatten-Windsor is still sometimes used by members of the royal family when a surname was required  as a rule of thumb, royals don't have surnames  and the first proper example of the rule in modern use, Prince Edward's daughter Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, actually goes by Lady Louise Windsor.

Makes no sense? It isn't supposed to. It seems slightly romantic, as he sails into retirement, to imagine Philip as the misunderstood man, and yet that's the most likely window into his unusual blend of strength and servitude, and frankness and rudeness. Despite what might be interpreted as his too-grand manner, he was candid when asked in 1969 about the subject of republicanism: "[Monarchy] exists in the interests of the people," he said. "If at any time any nation decides that the system is unacceptable then it is up to them to change it." And despite the perception, amplified by low-budget American royal television dramas, that he was a disapproving figure in the collapse of Charles and Diana's marriage, in truth he was a faithful correspondent with Diana to the last, urging her to find a happy way forward. That is not to say his reputation is not without substance.

This is after all the man who called the Chinese "slitty eyed", who referred to Papua New Guineans as cannibals and who asked indigenous Australians if they still "throw spears at each other?". He even famously said of his own daughter, Princess Anne: "If it doesn't fart or eat hay then she isn't interested." And yet, this is also the man who swore, on bended knee at his wife's coronation  a ceremony in which, if you subscribe to the ritual, the newly crowned Queen is in communion with God  to be her "liege man of life and limb". He is, on casual glance, a character in a royal soap opera well past its prime. Loading
A surfer who was rescued after 32 hours adrift at sea said he had prepared himself to die.

Matthew Bryce was found clinging to his board after being swept 26 kilometres from Scotland into the Irish Sea near the Northern Island border.

He described the moment he was spotted by a helicopter as "the most beautiful sight I had ever seen."

"The wind and water was just relentless," he told the BBC from his hospital bed.
DECATUR  Archer Daniels Midland Co. said it was growing towards a brighter earnings future Thursday at its annual general meeting in Decatur, but at least one shareholder was worried the company's stock price was looking like the Midwest weather: gloomy and waterlogged.

Carol Alexander, who stood up during question time at the meeting and described herself as a shareholder from Taylorville, was not happy. She displayed a copy of the Herald & Review's Money page from Wednesday and pointed out to Juan Luciano, ADM's chairman and CEO, that after the company's first quarter results came out Tuesday, its shares had the second largest drop of any stock listed on the page.

ADM shares foundered $4.06 to finish that day at $41.67, their biggest drop in eight years. The firm had earlier reported first quarter revenue of $14.99 billion, which missed analyst expectations of $15.15 billion. ADM also reported earnings per share of 60 cents, which missed Street estimates by a penny.

So would you kindly inform your shareholders, your beleaguered shareholders, about what you are doing about this rather disappointing performance ...? asked Alexander. Obviously I know you are committed to shareholders as you just said, but this does not really show a very good commitment.

Luciano replied that the gyrations of stock prices do not reflect ADM's commitment to delivering shareholder value and he believed the share price would become more buoyant as earnings improved. Archer Daniels Midland Co. grew earnings 45 percent in the first quarter versus the same quarter last year, he said. ADM shares finished Thursday at $42.40, up $1.09 or 2.64 percent.

Later Thursday, the Reuters news service rewrote a story that initially said ADM was planning major cutbacks to its European operations. The revised story, posted later in the day, said the firm was actually planning to expand its European footprint and mentioned the acquisition of French sweetener firm called Chamtor.

ADM had complained to Reuters about the original story, said spokeswoman Jackie Anderson, who issued the following statement: "There are no current plans to scale back our European operations. On the contrary, our strategic plan encompasses growth through acquisition and expansions in the region."

ADM's board of directors also had a reward for its worldwide shareholders with the announcement of a cash stock dividend of 32 cents a share, payable June 8. That's the 342nd stock dividend the company has paid in 85 years of straight dividends, rain or shine.

The heavy rains that have hammered the Midwest recently may also hold another future reward for the ADM stockholders who gathered for their company meeting at the James R. Randall Research Center. With early planting washed away or drowned, grain supplies could be tighter at harvest time, helping ADM's bottom line. Previous bumper harvests from around the world have hurt the core trading business for firms such as ADM, which seek profits by buying and selling corn and beans between areas of plenty and areas of shortage.

There have been other worrying trends for the grain trading desks, too. Some industry analysts say savvy farmers are increasing their own on-farm storage capacity, making them less reliant on elevators operated by big agribusiness companies. And with up-to-the-second pricing updates now easily available via cyberspace, farmers can be smarter about when to sell, and when to hold.

Luciano told shareholders he believed there was still much to be upbeat about, however, and said the company, working hard since last year's shareholder meeting, had taken decisive action to pull the levers under our control to shore up its prospects. Those levers included cutting $300 million in costs, pulling $540 million in revenues from investments and selling assets worth $700 million.

Luciano said company performance in the second half of 2016 had improved significantly compared to the second half of 2015, and the better prospects had continued into the first quarter. Already, we foresee a strong recovery in 2017 despite the lingering tough conditions in the grain industry, he added.
PHILIPSBURG - The President of the Collectivite of French St. Martin, The Honorable Daniel Gibbs paid his first courtesy visit to Prime Minister The Honorable William Marlin on Thursday, May 4th. The courtesy visit marked the first visit of President Daniel Gibbs to the New Government Building since its inauguration.

Prime Minister William Marlin officially welcomed President Daniel Gibbs to his chambers where they exchanged gifts on behalf of the Governments in Philipsburg and Marigot. During the brief discussion, both leaders stressed the need for meaningful cooperation between both sides of the island.

Following the meeting, President Gibbs accepted an invitation to attend the Memorial Day Ceremony that was held at the Captain Hodge Wharf.
GREAT BAY(DCOMM)  On Thursday, May 4, the Government of Sint Maarten observed Memorial Day, (Dodenherdenkingsdag) similar to the other countries within the Dutch Kingdom, at the Captain Hodge Wharf in Philipsburg.

During this National Commemoration Day all Dutch victims  civilians and soldiers  who have been killed or murdered in the Kingdom of the Netherlands or anywhere else in the world in war situations or during peace-keeping operations since the outbreak of the Second World War, were commemorated (www.4en5mei.nl).

A short ceremony took place on Thursday afternoon that also included a number of dignitaries including President of the Collectivite of St. Martin Daniel Gibbs, who had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister.

Those taking part in the official wreath-laying ceremony were Acting Governor Reynold Groeneveldt, President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams and Prime Minister William Marlin.
Minister refuses to provide the names to Parliament stating it is not good for business.

PHILIPSBURG:--- At the closing of the public meeting of parliament on Friday where Minister of Public Health Emil Lee returned to answer questions that were posed to him by Members of Parliament. MP Meyers stated that since the Minister did not answer his question where he asked for the names of the businesses that were tested positive for E-coli, he intends to make that information known to the public since he has the information and in his view the members of the public including tourist must know where there are health risks.

Minister of VSA Emil Lee in his response to the question from the get-go said that 15% of the businesses that were tested showed that they had E-coli in their water. He said that the Ministry has in place a committee that is busy working controlling the problems with E-coli and he has no intention to publish or reveal the names since that will hinder the committees process. When MP Meyers made his statement he also said that he has seen in the newspapers where residents and visitors were warned not to use certain beaches for whatever health risk and he also believes that if certain businesses such as hotels are tested positive for E-coli then there must be a publication to warn people. The Minister in his response said that the Ministry of Health cannot chlorinate the ocean but other measures can be taken for buildings. He said did say if the MP thinks making the names of the establishments public is good for business then he could go ahead and make the publication.

Other questions that were posed were those regarding the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) with their continued refusal to work with the inspectorate. Minister Lee was asked if any medical institution could refuse to cooperate with the Inspectorate. The Minister said that the Inspectorate can conduct announce or unannounced inspections at any healthcare institution such as SMMC and that institution must comply.

The Minister was asked who called for the audit and he told parliament that he called for an independent audit but since the Inspectorate and SMMC are having a difference of opinions the SMMC does not want to cooperate. He said the audit he called for has nothing to do with the five-year audit that is scheduled by the Inspectorate for SMMC and he has already given his approval and signed off for Inspectors from the Netherlands to come to St. Maarten and assist the Inspectorate on St. Maarten. The Minister went on to say that the Inspectorate and SMMC are having discussions which he believes is healthy discussions. He informed parliament that they should not confuse themselves with the baseline study and the planned audit of SMMC. Minister Lee told parliament he even offered to hire a mediator to better improve the working relationship between SMMC and the Inspectorate. As for the gag order, he issued to the Inspectorate, he told parliament that SMMC is of the opinion that the Inspectorate breached patients confidentiality when they responded to a LOB request and the information provided by the inspectorate and its letter was published online. This he said has damaged the trust between SMMC and the Inspectorate since SMMC considers the actions of SMMC as a breach of confidentiality and trust. Minister Lee said he asked the Inspectorate for their policy and the Inspectorate refused to hand over their internal guidelines but did allow a staff of his cabinet to review those guidelines under supervision. He said because of that the MB was issued because there are some grey areas with the policy of the Inspectorate --- an example he gave which stated that the Inspectorate has the right to give out information on their own initiative or when it is requested. He did tell parliament that he later received a copy of the internal policy but it was stamped confidential all over it which means he cannot even give it to parliament. He told parliament that the MB was withdrawn when the Inspectorate asked for a hearing (ed. Note: the Inspectorate filed an appeal and was heading to court when they received the gag order. It was after the Minister was served with court documents he withdrew the MB and granted the Inspectorate a hearing.) Asked about his working relations with the Inspectorate the Minister assured parliament there is no crisis but there are some grey areas in the workings of the Inspectorate that has to be worked on. What the Minister failed to tell parliament is that the Inspectorate filed a complaint against him with the Ombudsman and he agreed to have the Ombudsman mediate. He also did not tell parliament that in his view the Inspectorate is interfering and not him interfering with the job scope of the Inspectorate. (ed note. The Minister made this statement on April 26th at the Council of Minister's press briefing when SMN News asked him about the complaint filed against him. He further stated that he opted to take the mediation offered by the Ombudsman.)

As the Minister continue to explain the deadlock between SMMC and the Inspectorate he said that SMMC has taken the Inspectorate to court for the breaching patients confidentiality and since the case is in court he cannot discuss it further but would wait on the outcome of the court case. As per the memo issued to the staff of SMMC where they were instructed not to speak with the Inspectorate, the Minister clarified to parliament that he did not issue any memo but the memo was issued by the management of SMMC.

With regards to the Minister of Finance taking decisions with SZV to invest the AOV funds, Minister Lee told parliament that government had owed SZV and because of that it became a matter of finance which falls under the Minister of Finance Richard Gibson. He also told parliament that he was aware of the discussions that took place with the Minister of Finance and SZV.

Regarding the New General Hospital the Minister told parliament that all procedures were followed and that SZV could pay the settlement to VAMED since VAMED and filed and won a court case against SZV, he said even though SZV paid that settlement the budget for the New General Hospital to be constructed by INSO remains in line.

The Minister told Parliament in response to a question posed by MP Tamara Leonard regarding Dr. De Windt that so far he did not receive any report from the Inspectorate regarding Dr. De Windt clinic.

As for the nurses that were demoted from RN to LPN, the Minister said some of the nurses did not pass the examinations even though they wrote the examinations three times. He said while SMMC demoted the nurses to LPN their salaries remain the same. He further stated that those nurses will have the opportunity to do the examinations in July and if they pass it then they will regain their RN title.

The Minister told Parliament that SZV dispensed just over NAF20M in the Government Building and the New General Hospital and that whatever investment they make with the New General Hospital will benefit SZv since they will be saving monies by not having to sending a large number of patients abroad from treatment if they could be treated on St. Maarten.
Claim: The Cinco de Mayo holiday is a celebration of Mexico's achieving independence from Spain. Rating: About this rating False

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Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick's Day share many common elements from an American perspective: Although neither is a legal holiday in the United States, they are both nonetheless widely observed as celebrations of another nation's culture, both occasions are marked with parties featuring national music and cuisine (and involving a good deal of drinking), both events have become heavily commercialized, and most Americans have little idea what either holiday is actually about.

Many Americans mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo ("May 5th") is the Mexican equivalent of the United States' Fourth of July holiday  a date marking the official casting off of colonial rule via the announcement of a new independent country. However, the Mexican version of Independence Day is celebrated on September 16, for it was on that date in 1810 that the commencement of the war for Mexican independence from Spanish rule was pronounced in the small town of Dolores by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla -- an event now referred to as the "Grito de Dolores" ("Cry of Dolores") or "El Grito de la Independencia".

What Cinco de Mayo really commemorates is the Mexican victory against French forces led by Emperor Napoleon III in the Battle of Puebla, which took place on 5 May 1862. The French had invaded Mexico at Veracruz in 1861 (while the United States was preoccupied with its own Civil War) with the intent of establishing a dominance in Mexico that would favor French interests.

After beating President Benito Juarez and his government into retreat, the French army moved on from Veracruz toward Mexico City, where they encountered heavy resistance from Mexican forces just outside the city of Puebla. Despite possessing an overpowering superiority in weaponry and numbers (6,000 well-armed French troops battled 2,000 poorly-equipped Mexican troops), the French were forced to retreat after a full day of fighting.

Although the French later overran Puebla, conquered Mexico City, and installed Emperor Maximilian I as ruler of Mexico, the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla was celebrated for its importance in symbolizing Mexican unity, pride, and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. (The event is roughly equivalent in national lore to the American celebration of the Battle of the Alamo: although the Texan defenders of the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Bexar were decisively defeated by Mexican forces in 1836, the tenacity and courage of the 200 or so combatants who fought to their deaths against about 1,800 Mexican troops served as inspiration for the Texan defeat of the Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto a few months later.)
Claim: Cargo lost in the Titanic's sinking led to the creation of the Cinco de Mayo observance. Rating: About this rating False

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Although this item is nothing more than a seemingly obvious setup for a groan-inducing pun, we've been receiving "Is this true?" inquiries about it from readers every year since 1997 (the year the Academy Award-winning film Titanic was released), particularly around May 5th (i.e., Cinco de Mayo):

Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York.

This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.

The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.

The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo.

We don't know why this joke tends to produce more inquiries than similar long-form puns, but we can hazard a few guesses:

The level of detail found in the setup (i.e., specific names, dates, and places) is atypical and distracts readers into considering the piece as factual rather than humorous.



Many non-Mexicans are completely unfamiliar with the history and significance of the Cinco de Mayo celebration and are therefore inclined to read this joke as a genuine explanation of its origins.



With the ongoing controversy over the implementation of immigration reform in the U.S., some people wishfully cling to the notion that a trivializing description of an important aspect of Mexican culture is actually true.

Not that the "Sinko de Mayo" really needs any serious debunking, but for completeness' sake we note that the final destination of the Titanic was in fact New York (not Vera Cruz, Mexico), the great ship was carrying no jars of mayonnaise among its cargo, and Hellman's brand mayonnaise was not sold or manufactured in England until fifty years after the Titanic's ill-fated voyage.
Inuvo Reports First Quarter 2017 Results

LITTLE ROCK, AR  (Marketwired)  05/04/17  Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE MKT: INUV), an advertising technology company, today announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The company reported revenue of $17.2 million.

This was a very busy quarter having acquired the NetSeer operations in February and then executing on the integration of people, data centers, accounting and technology. The combined company will now be better described as the Inuvo MarketPlace, a set of technologies designed to connect advertisers (demand) with consumer audiences through publishers (supply), stated Rich Howe, Chairman and CEO of Inuvo. We are building what we expect to be a larger, stronger and more sustainable company.

Mr. Howe continued, Our 2017 guidance for revenue is in the range of $88  $93 million with positive adjusted EBITDA on the year. We anticipated a negative adjusted EBITDA in the quarter as we absorbed an additional $1.6 million of operating expense associated with the acquisition. We expect to complete the integration of the NetSeer operations by the second half of this year at which time the operating efficiencies are expected to be fully realized.

First Quarter 2017 net revenue was $17.2 million compared to $18.7 million in the same quarter last year. The average quarterly revenue for the first half of 2016 was $17.2 million.

First Quarter 2017 adjusted EBITDA was negative $663,000 or $0.02 per share loss compared to positive $1.3 million in the same quarter last year.

First Quarter 2017 GAAP net loss was $1.7 million or $0.06 net loss per share compared to $374,000 net income in the same quarter last year.

Cash balance at March 31, 2017 was $3.9 million, unchanged from December 31, 2016.

The outstanding balance on the revolving credit bank facility at March 31, 2017 was $3.6 million.

The assets of NetSeer, Inc. were acquired advancing our technology strategy and increasing the number of advertisers and publishers within the Inuvo MarketPlace.

The companys bank agreement was amended to accommodate the NetSeer acquisition.

A major demand partner agreement was signed for another two years.

Through December 2016, we reported our business as two segments, Partner Network (advertising technology) and Owned & Operated Network (digital publishing). Both business segments recognize revenue identically. Virtually all the revenue generated within the Owned & Operated Network comes from advertising technology delivered by the Partner Network. Operationally, these websites are no different from any other website we serve ads to and in this regard, have always been managed internally as an additional source of supply. Particularly with the recent acquisition, Inuvo has an increased technology centric vision and manages the company as such. As a result, starting in 2017 we will report as a single segment. We believe this will bring more clarity to shareholders as we provide enhanced consolidated metrics and other information more germane to the Companys business model.

Net revenues for the first quarter of 2017 were $17.2 million compared to $18.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Net revenue for the first quarter 2017 was approximately $1.5 million lower than the same quarter last year due in part to an uncharacteristically strong first quarter last year followed by an uncharacteristically weak second quarter. The average quarterly revenue for the first half of 2016 was $17.2 million. There was also lower marketing spend this year resulting in lower revenue from our owned websites. This lower revenue was partially offset by higher revenue from serving ads to third party publishers and by $1.9 million of revenue attributable to the NetSeer acquisition.

Operating expenses were approximately $11.0 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to $14.0 million in the same quarter of 2016, a 22% decrease. The lower operating expense in the current year first quarter compared to the prior year quarter is due to lower marketing costs. The first quarter absorbed $1.6 million of additional NetSeer operating expense of which $350 thousand were transactional and integration costs. We believe the remaining additional NetSeer operating costs will be lower in future quarters as the business is integrated into Inuvo.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, adjusted EBITDA was negative $663,000 or $0.02 per share loss compared to positive $1.3 million in the same quarter last year. GAAP net loss was $1.7 million or $0.06 net loss per share compared to $374 thousand net income, or $0.02 net income per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

At March 31, 2017, cash and cash equivalents totaled $3.9 million and the outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility was $3.6 million.

Date: Thursday, May 4, 2017

Time: 4:15 p.m. EDT

Domestic Dial-In: 1-888-576-4380

International Dial-In: 1-719-325-2123

Webcast:

In addition, the call will be webcast on the Investor Relations section of the Companys website at where it will also be archived for 45 days. A telephone replay will be available through May 18, 2017. To access the replay, please dial 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international). At the system prompt, enter the code 4365160 followed by the # sign. You will then be prompted for your name, company and phone number. Playback will then automatically begin.

Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE MKT: INUV) is an advertising technology business. The Inuvo MarketPlace is a set of technologies designed to connect advertisers (demand) with consumer audiences through publishers (supply) across device types. Inuvo has the ability to serve ads within content, video and images. To learn more about Inuvo, please visit or download our app for Apple iPhone or Android.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words or expressions such as anticipate, plan, will, intend, believe or expect or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements made with respect to expectations with respect to our lack of profitable operating history, successful integration of the NetSeer business, changes in our business, potential need for additional capital, fluctuations in demand; changes to economic growth in the U.S. economy; and government policies and regulations, including, but not limited to those affecting the Internet, all as set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, many of which are generally outside the control of Inuvo and are difficult to predict. Inuvo undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In addition to disclosing financial results in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), our earnings release contains the non-GAAP financial measure Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance defined in accordance with GAAP. However, management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating the Companys performance because it is commonly used financial analysis tools for measuring and comparing companies in the Companys industry in areas of operating performance.

Management believes that the disclosure of Adjusted EBITDA offers an additional view of the Companys operations that, when coupled with the GAAP results and the reconciliation to GAAP net income, provides a more complete understanding of the Companys results of operations and the factors and trends affecting the Companys business.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income from continuing operations before taxes plus (i) interest expense, net, (ii) depreciation, (iii) amortization, and (iv) stock-based compensation. These further adjustments are itemized below. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same or similar to some of the adjustments in the presentation. Our presentation of these metrics should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.
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FORSYTH  Comcast plans to open an XFINITY store in Forsyth later this year, the company announced in a news release.

The new 4,300-square-foot space would be located at 108 E. Barnett Ave, and would provide demonstrations of XFINITYs range of products and services, from cable TV, high-speed Internet and home phone services, to the companys home security and home automation platform, XFINITY Home.

The store will feature iPads and other mobile devices visitors can use to explore XFINITYs apps, including XFINITY Stream and XFINITY WiFi. Customers also will be able to pay bills, pick up and return equipment and get assistance from sales and service consultants, the company said.

The goal of the new store is to give customers the best possible experience, said John Crowley, Comcasts Greater Chicago Region senior vice president.

The XFINITY Store will have about 12 full- and part-time employees. Store hours will be Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m.

Im pleased that Comcast chose Forsyth for one of its first Central Illinois stores, said Andrew Zupkoff, Community & Economic Development Coordinator for the Village of Forsyth. The location is in a dynamic area with a significant amount of retail traffic and it will serve thousands of our customers in the Decatur area and the surrounding communities.

Comcast last year expanded its advanced telecommunications network in Decatur, including the addition of fiber-optic cable, the company said. It also announced the launch of Xfinity On Campus at Millikin University, allowing students to watch live TV and On Demand and DVRd content on laptops, tablets and smartphones.
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Police are appealing for help in locating a young man with diabetes who has been missing since Thursday night, (May 4).

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said officers were becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of Isaac Morris.

The 25-year-old was last seen leaving Cambridge Park in Westbury Park at around 10.30pm on Thursday.

He is diabetic and doesnt have any medication with him.

Mr Morris is white, has dark or auburn hair which is long on top, has a distinctive ear and lip piercing and a two lines of Japanese writing tattooed on his wrist.

He was last seen wearing a black hooded top (pictured middle) with a dollar sign and a yellow Pikachu Pokemon character pictured on the front.

If you see Mr Morris or know where he is, please call 999 and give the call handler the reference number 5217099261
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Conservative Party member Tim Bowles has been elected as the first Metro Mayor for the West of England.

He netted a total of 70,300 total votes in comparison to Labours Lesley Mansell, who gained 65,923 votes.

He will control a 31million annual budget which will be split between four main portfolios  transport, planning, adult education and skill and business infrastructure.

So what is exactly does a Metro Mayor do?

The Bristol Post reports that the Metro Mayor will be in charge of a 1 billion budget which will be drip fed to the region over a 30 year period.

The Mayor will be required to divide that money between five main portfolios which include planning and house building, transport, adult education, helping the long-term unemployed find work and promoting the South West region as a business hub.

Who is Tim Bowles?

Tim Bowles is aged 57 and lives in Winterbourne. He has lived in the Bristol region for 30 years having previously lived in Somerset.

He works as a business development manager in the exhibitions and events industry. He is an experienced Councillor and member of the South Gloucestershire Council leadership team.

Speaking to The Bristol Post, he said the main aims of his term in office will be:

Tackle the regions transport problems



Invest in our thriving local economy so it continues to grow and provide even more good jobs for local people.



Invest in skills to meet the needs of all our employers



Deliver the homes we need, where we need them



Plan the digital and other infrastructure we all need for the future.

Which geographical areas will they cover?

The Metro Mayor authority will cover the Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset council administrations, in what is now called the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

The new Mayor will not usurp the elected councillors, rather, he or she will work with the Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees, leader of BANES Council, Tim Warren, and leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Matthew Riddle, to make decisions.

Each of the four members on the Metro Mayor board will have equal power to vote on decisions. Most of the decisions can be passed with a majority vote  ie if three of the four board members agree. However, a decision cannot be passed if the Metro Mayor does not agree.

Some decisions, including any made on the Combined Authority Spatial Plan, will require unanimous agreement.

What about North Somerset?

North Somerset Council voted against the creation of a Metro Mayor position last autumn and will not be directly included in the new administration.

The exact mechanics of how the authority will be run is yet to been ironed out, however, North Somerset will not be banished from the table. With Bristol Airport firmly within the North Somerset boundary it is in the Metro Mayors interest to keep the authority onside.

It is anticipated that the council will be given an observational role where it will be permitted to make suggestions as to how money is spent, it is unlikely that it will be able to vote.

How long will the Metro Mayors term last and how much will they be paid?

The Metro Mayor will serve a four year term with the next set of elections taking place in 2021.

The Metro Mayor will be entitled to an allowance of 62,000 a year.

Why do we need a Metro Mayor?

Many view the increased autonomy and decentralisation of power from central government as the main benefits to the Metro Mayor position.

The devolved South West authority will enable local councils to have a greater say over decisions which will directly affect its constituents.

In theory the combined administration will also have more sway when it comes to lobbying central government over large projects or bids. However, in reality the political party of the elected Metro Mayor may have more of an influence when it comes to vying for investment.

Are there any drawbacks?

For some, the Metro Mayor authority means the addition of another layer of government and bureaucracy which moves decision making further away from the electorate. Voter turn-out is also expected to be low, which gives the elected Mayor a weaker mandate.

There is also a fear that the combined authority will morph in to a large reincarnation of the former county of Avon, with the majority of funds being diverted to Bristol.
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Yeovil Hospital has submitted plans to build a new day surgery unit on its site in the town.

The plans will see the new unit built on the site of its old car park, which is now redundant after the building of the multi-storey car park.

Proposals have been submitted to South Somerset District Council for the unit to be operated by Daycase UK.

Daycase UK is a joint venture between Yeovil Hospital and US based firm Ambulatory Surgery International (ASI).

The new facility will be used to carry out a wide range of surgical work - ranging from optical operations, minor plastic and dental surgery, as well as some key-hole surgery, next year.

The hospital hopes it will reduce waiting times, be more efficient and have the highest quality equipment available.

The key objectives of the unit are as follows:

Deliver a more efficient and highly specialised model of day case surgery.

Relocate all current activity within the hospitals day surgery and endoscopy unit to the DSU.

Improve the patient experience by providing high quality facilities and reduced waiting times.

Improve the staff experience and attract new clinicians by providing high quality and specially designed/equipped facilities.

Realise space and operational efficiencies.

Reduce pressure and over-reliance on hospital beds by providing day surgery options wherever possible.

Improve the cost effectiveness of the hospitals current services by moving as many surgical procedures to a day case setting as possible.

Provide flexibility for the future, including a proportion of day case work which is currently carried out within the general and womens hospital operating theatres.

The unit is for referred NHS patients who would normally be treated in the existing day surgery unit, as well as private patients, in exactly the same way as it currently functions.

The Royal College of Nursing has been highly critical of the move by Yeovil Hospital Trust to outsource day surgery to a new joint venture company with US firm Ambulatory Surgery International.

The trust has formed the company in partnership with ASI and has co-opted 60 NHS staff to the new organisation which is called Daycase UK Ltd.

A spokesman for Yeovil Hospital said: The establishment of Daycase UK, including the formal public procurement process, has been conducted in line with our statutory responsibilities, within our authority as a foundation trust, and with the full knowledge of the NHS regulators.

"We have also been in discussion with hospital union representatives about this matter for a number of months.

"Daycase UK is a joint-venture which is 70 per cent owned by Yeovil Hospital NHS Trust. This means it is still very much part of the hospital and the NHS family.

"Our partners, Ambulatory Surgery International, have been formed by one of the world's best and most experienced providers of day surgery, AmSurg, and will use their expertise to complement the skills and knowledge of our staff.

"Together, we will provide local NHS patients with the latest in surgical procedures and approaches. People will be seen more quickly, treated more efficiently, and discharged more quickly and safely, with services overseen by an NHS team.

South Somerset District Council is due to make a decision on the plans in August.
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.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois' financial mess is hurting almost every entity in the state, and school districts have felt the pain in their budgets as much as any.

Transportation and special education reimbursements for mandated services have not been fully paid this year, though in late April, the Illinois comptroller sent out the first quarter's payments for the fiscal year that began July 1. When the Illinois State Board of Education's annual financial rankings came out in mid-April, some districts pointed right back at the state.

Meridian's ranking dropped to early warning, with a score of 2.8 out of 4. Rankings are based on revenue to fund balance, expenditure to revenue ratio, and days cash on hand.

The way I look at it, of course we'd like to have (a score) somewhere in the 3s, but we've been using some of our reserves because the state has underfunded us, Meridian Superintendent Dan Brue said. It's ironic they come out with these rankings when our rankings go down because we're not getting the money from the state like they promised us.

The categories, ranked from highest to lowest, are: financial recognition, financial review, financial early warning and financial watch. They are based on a cumulative score calculated from several weighted financial factors.

Decatur and Argenta-Oreana improved from the second-highest to highest rating, while Maroa-Forsyth advanced from the third-highest to second-highest. Sangamon Valley and Mount Zion maintained the highest rating, and Warrensburg-Latham maintained the second highest.

Brue said Meridian is doing the best it can with its resources, putting the emphasis on programs for the students and, so far, not issuing bonds. Doing that would bring in money for the working cash fund and improve the district's ranking, but the district would rather not use debt, he said.

Brue and 360 other superintendents statewide signed a joint initiative called Pass Illinois' Budget, demanding that legislators end the state budget impasse, now approaching the end of its second year; improve the state's education funding formula; invest in students and schools, including higher education; and pay school districts what they are owed for this school year. They're owned a combined $13 billion in unpaid bills.

State revenue accounts for about 35.5 percent of Meridian's budget, Brue said, and the state owes the district more than $412,000.

In Decatur, the district moved up a notch to achieve the "financial recognition" rating, the top category. Based on the scores released by the state board, an improvement in the ratio of the district's expenses to revenues was the cause for the gain.

Chief Operational Officer and Treasurer Todd Covault said last month that the news was positive, but somewhat misleading. He said the district's fund balance appears higher because the district receives property tax proceeds a month early, in June.

Argenta-Oreana schools also improved one step from last year with a financial recognition rating, and Superintendent Damian Jones said several years of very conservative spending and cost-saving measures over the past decade are the reason.

The district issued a $1.7 million bond several years ago that allowed it to have a cash reserve, and no cuts are planned in programs or personnel for the coming school year, Jones said.

School district administrators facing major cash flow difficulties continue to make hard choices, the Illinois State Board said in a statement. They have chosen to reduce expenditures via reductions in force, forgo supplies, delay facility repairs/maintenance and delay purchase of replacement buses. They have also increased cash balances by issuing debt or restructuring debt payments.

"Districts are now at a point where additional budget reductions are going to be very difficult to realize without impacting the education of students.

About a dozen school districts are suing the state, saying officials are violating the Illinois Constitution by not providing enough education funding. Gov. Bruce Rauner has recommended changing how districts are funded to make it more equitable to cash-struggling districts.

Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, have been locked in a dispute about funding priorities and regulatory changes, prompting Illinois to have the longest stretch of any state in at least 80 years to not have a full-year budget, since June 2015. The stalemate has caused a growing cry from social service providers, school superintendents and universities.

Of 852 school districts in the state, 409 are in deficit spending. When a district's budget is not balanced, the fund balance must be three times the deficit amount, or the district is required to submit a deficit reduction plan to the state board. In this fiscal year, 34 districts were required to submit such a plan, and state board personnel are monitoring districts in deficit spending.

Parent Rhonda Bray, whose son is a kindergartner in Warrensburg-Latham schools, said she hasn't noticed any cutbacks so far.

I wouldn't necessarily say that the schools' struggles have me disturbed at this point, but I am certainly concerned for what may come in the future if things are not put on the right track, Bray said. I haven't witnessed any signs of (Warrensburg-Latham) struggling, but that doesn't mean we won't experience it at a later date.

Even though the state has been paying the full amount of general state aid, the state paid only a percentage of that for several years, said Kristen Kendrick-Weikle, superintendent for Warrensburg-Latham.

Prorated is a nice way of saying they cut our funding, she said. They're not paying what they're obligated to pay.

Additionally, for rural districts, transportation is a significant, required, expense. Until a few weeks ago, the state had yet to make a single reimbursement payment this year for getting children to school.

The state owes Warrensburg-Latham $116,914 for special education transportation, $69,096 for special education personnel reimbursements and $208,189 for regular education transportation as of April.

Districts like us, who made $1 million in cuts five years ago, that's a lot, she said. And at some point, there's not a lot left to cut. We want to provide a solid foundation and educational experience, but the state makes it difficult.

At one time, a bill was proposed that would drop the requirement to offer transportation to students who live 1.5 miles from school or farther. In a rural district, that's a lot of students, Kendrick-Weikle said. And in a rural district, there is no city bus service to pick up the slack. The district is also trying to rearrange positions and avoid hiring, when possible, to save expenses.

We're trying to hold on, Kendrick-Weikle said. We're looking for ways to provide the highest quality education we can while maximizing personnel and other resources.
BLOOMINGTON  Army Sgt. Josh Rodgers will be laid to rest Saturday in Bloomington after his body was returned home Friday amid a ceremony of solemn dignity that drew both family and strangers.

A large flag hung between ladder trucks from the Bloomington and Normal fire departments symbolically tied together the two communities in recognition of the sacrifice made by Rodgers, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on April 27.

The family drove under the arch of honor created by the ladders and flag when they arrived at the old terminal area at Central Illinois Regional Airport. Then they drove under it again in a procession that included the hearse carrying the remains of the decorated Army Ranger.

Among the estimated 200 people who gathered to show their quiet respect were about 35 students from Calvary Christian Academy, older people wearing caps or jackets indicating their military service, parents with young children and members of the Patriot Guard. Many held U.S. flags.

The charter jet carrying Rodgers' remains landed about 9:45 a.m., taxiing under a water cannon salute provided by the Bloomington Fire Department, using the airport's rescue-firefighting vehicles.

An Army chaplain said a few words next to the jet as the soldiers carrying the casket bowed their heads.

An honor guard of military personnel wearing tan Army Ranger berets, plus police and firefighters, stood at attention as the flag-draped casket was moved from the jet to a hearse, then taken to Kibler Brady Ruestman Funeral Home.

All the agencies wanted to be involved to show their respect, said airport spokeswoman Fran Strebing.

Several of those in attendance who were of Rodgers' age, 22, were visibly weeping during the ceremony that ended about 10:25 a.m.

Meghan Hillebrandt of Bloomington was there with her two young children.

I wanted my kids to know there are people who give their lives to protect their freedoms every day, said Hillebrandt.

John Beck of Tuscola, a leader of the Patriot Guard, said, We're just here for the family to let them know they are not going through this alone.

More than 30 motorcycles plus support vehicles from the Patriot Guard provided an escort to the funeral home as others watched the procession along the route.

It's an honor to be here, said Beck, a Navy veteran.

Many members of the Patriot Guard are veterans, said Beck, adding that providing escorts at military funerals is another way we can give back, even though our service has ended.

The public watched from a viewing area set up in the parking lot north of Dumont Aviation hangar at the Platinum Jet Center.

Mary Lou VanValey of Bloomington was there with her husband, sisters and other family members.

We don't know the family, but they're from our community, VanValey said. We wanted to show our respect.

Rodgers and a fellow Ranger, Sgt. Cameron Thomas of Kettering, Ohio, died April 27 as a result of small arms fire during a joint American-Afghan operation in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

A public visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Eastview Christian Church, 1500 N. Airport Road, Normal, followed by a celebration of life at 1 p.m.

A procession, escorted by squad cars from various agencies, will go from the church to Evergreen Cemetery, where a private ceremony will take place. The cemetery will be closed to the public from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Rodgers was a 2013 graduate of Normal Community High School. Students, faculty and staff at Normal-based Unit 5 and Bloomington District 87 wore red, white and blue in his honor on Friday. Employees at State Farm Insurance, where his parents, Kevin and Vonda, work, also wore patriotic attire on Friday.
Sunday, April 30

Rain, rain go away

It was the start of a soggy week of downpours and swollen rivers. A belt of punishing storms pummeled the region, putting most of Central Illinois under a Flash Flood Warning. Our region was spared the kind of damage that hit St. Louis and other places.

Monday, May 1

New look for Decatur council

Two new members have joined the six-member Decatur city council. Sworn in were David Horn and Chuck Kuhle, as well as incumbent Pat McDaniel, who won top votes in the April election. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe, who beat John Phillips in the election last month, also took the oath of office.

Council members also unanimously selected Councilwoman Dana Ray to serve as mayor pro tempore.

Tuesday, May 2

4 join Decatur school board

Beth Nolan, Beth Creighton, Kendall Briscoe and Courtney Carson became the newest Decatur school board members. Dan Oakes was elected as the board president.

The positions cap an emotional election season that saw an overhaul of the school board.

We have a responsibility to kids to provide them with an education, and I'm just glad to have other people who feel the same way, Oakes said.

Wednesday, May 3

Sweeney agreement reached

Former Decatur police Chief Brad Sweeney and the city reached an agreement over a contentious  and lengthy  legal battle over his termination in 2016. Sweeney says he shouldnt have been fired and planned to ask the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn dismissals by lower courts. Sweeney gets about $30,000 as part of the agreement and will be considered retired, rather than terminated.

Thursday, May 4

Moore Wolfe points to cooperation

Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe used her annual State of the City to point to continued regional partnerships that will help create jobs and boost the economy. She pointed to the Midwest Inland Port and the Macon County Beltway as signs of progress and cooperation.

Its the city and the county, yes, but it is also businesses and labor, Moore Wolfe said. All of us together to make these projects a reality. That would not have been the case a decade ago.

Friday, May 5

Automatic-voter registration gets Senate approval

The Illinois Senate approved legislation that would automatically register qualified voters when they visit Secretary of State's offices and a handful of other state agencies unless they decide to opt out. A previous version passed both chambers last fall but Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed it over concerns it didn't do enough to prevent voter fraud. Sponsor state Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, says this version addresses nearly all of the governor's concerns.

CORRECTION

An earlier version of this story had the incorrect amount of money former Decatur police Chief Brad Sweeney is receiving. The information has been corrected.
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In a rare post-2016 public venting on CNN, Hillary Clinton made it perfectly clear last week why she lost the presidency to the unfit, unprepared, unlikely likes of Donald Trump.

The defeated Democratic presidential candidate firmly and unequivocally blamed her electoral loss on unprecedented interventions by two culprits who couldnt have been more effective if they had planned to act as a tag-team: FBI Director James Comeys bizarre announcement just 10 days before the voting that he was re-opening the investigation of Clintons private email server  based on new evidence that turned out to be old and proved nothing new at all; and of course, Russian President Vladimir Putins unprecedented cyber-invasion theft and leaking of Democratic emails to damage and defeat her.

But neither of those now-familiar facts, which indeed contributed to her defeat, are the jaw-dropping Clinton revelation we will be talking about here. No, we are focusing today on yet another mind-numbingly wrong blame-claim she made in a half-hour-long interview on CNN.

Clinton said it near the end of her interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour, long after she had made her case that she was defeated because of Comeys political interference in the name of crime-fighting and Putins cybercrime against Americas democracy.

Amanpour told Clinton, (Y)our supporters are sad, theyre devastated, theyre disappointed, and some are angry. And some say, you know, could it have been different? Could the campaign have been better? Could you have had a better rationale? Amanpour noted that Trump had stuck with one consistent message  Make America Great Again. Then she asked: And where was your message? Do you take any personal responsibility?

Oh, of course  I take absolute personal responsibility, Clinton quickly replied. I was the candidate. Then she launched into a rather introspective soliloquy that somehow segued into a rationale in which she grasped that responsibility shed just accepted and flung it right at the mainstream media, where it landed with all the subtlety of a pie in the face.

She blamed debate media questioners for failing to ask about her solutions for creating jobs. Which, she says, is why she never got to tell voters about all these great job solutions she was locked and loaded and ready to announce in a debate.

Just listen for yourself:

Id obviously given a lot of thought about what kind of president I wanted to be, what I thought we could do, said Clinton. You know, I kept waiting for the moment. Ive watched a million presidential debates in my life, and I was waiting for the moment when one of the people asking the questions would have said, Well, so exactly how are you going to create more jobs? Right? I mean, I thought that, you know, I thought at some moment that would happen. And I was ready for that moment.

Well, speaking of moments, weve just reached the moment where we should all be rolling our eyes skyward. We all know the bottom line of this blame game: If Clinton had great solutions and wanted to be Americas Jobs President, all she had to do was give a speech and say them. Better yet, many speeches.

Also, every rookie candidate knows Debate Trick No. 1: If youve got something you want to say, simply twist any question toward your topic and say whatever you want!

But in Campaign 2016, Clinton didnt even need to pull Debate Trick No. 1. Because in the very first question of the very first fall campaign debate, NBCs Lester Holt asked her: Beginning with you, Secretary Clinton, why are you a better choice than your opponent to create the kinds of jobs that will put more money into the pockets of American workers?

Clinton began with a bromide, the importance of building for the future. Then this: Today is my granddaughters 2nd birthday, so I think about this a lot. She wallowed, wandered and tap-danced on a quicksand of cliches and generalities, but no solutions. All un-memorably, for the nations voters and, quite obviously, for herself.

And now shes apparently still wallowing in the muck of strained rationales and self-denial.
Remember when late-night TV used to be entertaining - and actually funny?

You used to be able to turn off the tube and go to bed with a smile on your face.

Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Joan Rivers, Jay Leno & early David Letterman, Arsenio ... they were entertainers, first and foremost.

Their main shtick was topical jokes, quips and silly sketches. Their material was PG with an innocent hint or wink of R now and then.

In their monologues, the founding fathers of late-night were gentle, equal-opportunity mockers. They knew how far to go when they made fun of their fellow Americans, movie stars or presidents.

You didn't really know if they loved or hated Richard Nixon, my father or Bill Clinton, or whether they were conservatives or liberals or Republicans or Democrats. It didn't really matter what their politics were anyway. They weren't hosting cable TV opinion shows, pushing their own opinions or trying to rile us up. They and their writers and guests were trying their best to entertain and please us at the end of our day, not tick us off.

And now in 2017 we have the irrepressibly obnoxious Stephen Colbert.

Not only is Colbert not nearly as funny as he, his fans and the rest of the liberal media think he is, but he's also a proud, in-your-face liberal who's decided it's his partisan duty to pander to his political base every night by bashing President Trump in childish, vulgar and offensive ways.

Colbert's crude homophobic joke about Trump's relationship with Vladimir Putin last week didn't get him fired from CBS the next morning. It didn't spark a national campaign calling for advertisers to abandon "Late Night With Stephen Colbert," either, but it did start a twitter storm in the media.

Conservatives and gay groups called for CBS to do to Colbert what Fox News did to Bill O'Reilly - send him on a long vacation and never let him back in the building.

It'll never happen. Colbert is a liberal. Liberals don't get fired by TV networks or get hounded out of their jobs by their liberal lapdogs in the media.

Colbert has said he doesn't intend to apologize for what he said. He doesn't have to. Since he's a liberal, and liberals are hypocrites, anything Colbert says or does that is politically incorrect or insulting or slimy is quickly forgiven. Plus, thanks largely to the victory of his nightly punching-bag-in-chief, President Trump,Colbert has vaulted to the top in the late-night ratings race.

Colbert is a big money-maker. CBS is never going to slaughter its prized cash cow, whose ratings are sure to spike for a while because of the flap over his tasteless comment.

He'll have to be careful and censor himself from now on so he doesn't offend his gay viewership. Since few Republicans, Flyover People or Trump voters watched Colbert's show anyway, his vulgarity won't cost him many ratings points with those demographic groups.

From now on, he can continue beating up President Trump like he's on MSNBC, not CBS. And he can continue delivering his learned spin on tax reform and climate change to his fans.

Colbert will have his fun for a while, anyway. But I can hear the greats of late night -- Steve, Johnny and Merv -- spinning in their graves. And they're not laughing.
The Hands Free Hectare project aims to be the first in the world to plant, tend and harvest a crop by only using autonomous vehicles.

The end of the six hour long drilling operation was marked by cheers of relief and delight from the team  their tractor, which they only received in December and then made autonomous, had successfully navigated the whole hectare site and sown the spring barley seeds.

The drilling came after the pre-seeding herbicide application which the tractor also completed successfully using a GPS controlled precision sprayer developed for the project.

Martin Abell, from Precision Decisions, the projects industry partner, said: The tractor is able to navigate the hectare using an autopilot system for drones. This allows it to follow a pre-determined path in the field. It runs entirely on GPS and follows the requested route making its way between waypoints. The waypoints are digital GPS markers created using our software that we have positioned at the ends of the field for the tractor to navigate to; like a more advanced version of dot-to-dot. Our waypoints for the drilling also incorporated lifting and lowering signals that picked the drill up at one end and place it back down once it had turned around.

The SimTech Aitchison drill that we used is normally for drilling in-between the vines of vineyards to plant cover crops used as green manures to help fertilise the vines naturally. Its suited us perfectly as its a conventional agricultural system, just on a smaller scale; like our whole project.

Kit Franklin, agricultural engineering lecturer at Harper Adams University and project lead added: Although the system sounds very technical at the moment, and a lot of work has gone into making it work, we do hope that in the future systems based on this concept will exist. Theyll be easy enough for a farmer to use by simply inputting what they require in their computer and the robotic vehicles will go off and do it.
DARIEN  The new Netflix series 13 Reasons Why takes place in a small, suburban town that could be anywhere...even Darien.

But the setting of the series isnt the only thing hitting close to home, rather, it is the way it addresses issues important to teens, such as suicide  something that has prompted school districts across the state and country to caution parents about the controversial show.

Although many of our students have the coping skills and maturity to process these challenging topics, we are most concerned about those who are vulnerable and may find this challenging content overwhelming or confusing, read a letter sent to

Darien High School parents. We are also alarmed by the portrayal of the school as a place where a students voice would be ignored because we want our students to feel safe to share their fears.

The series, based on a 2007 book by Jay Asher, follows a boy in the wake of his classmates suicide; she left 13 tapes to 13 people who hurt her during her life and he is listening to the tapes she left, one of which is addressed to him.

Besides New Canaan, local school districts including New Canaan, Danbury, Weston, New Milford, Newtown and Norwalk have sent letters to parents notifying them of the popular show.

We are reaching out with this information so that you are aware of the content and may take the opportunity to open dialogue with your children about the series and the feelings it may be bringing to the surface, said the Darien letter.

In the series, adults are not shown as a resource to help students in need, something that really troubled Susan Bliss, the school climate coordinator in New Canaan.

There was a lack of messages in help-seeking behaviors that was a major concern, because we know [seeking help] is possible, she said. Its important to have kids reach out for help and that wasnt something conveyed in this particular show. There were no positive messages for people to trust adults and reach out to adults. Even the school counselor in this situation was not helpful to the girl. For vulnerable kids, they can identify with these figures.

Bliss said she was also concerned by the romanticization of suicide, particularly as a form of revenge and without addressing its mental health components, as well as the graphic portrayal of rape, drug use and drinking.

Its the portrayal of these activities onscreen that raise concerns about the show, despite the fact the novel the show was based off of was published 10 years ago. According to Kathleen Crouse, teen services librarian at New Canaan, the book has not been under nearly as much scrutiny as the show.

Based on what Ive heard about the series versus the book, one of the main differences is how graphic and visual the series is based on the audience, she said. I think the book, like most books, is able to delve more into the psychology behind certain characters and of certain things going on, so its a little more thoughtful that way... I dont think the book is without its problems and Ive seen some of that in reviews and people talking about it now, but I havent heard as many concerns about the book as the show.

Despite its problems, most school officials admit the show has its benefits in that it is a jumping-off point for conversations about topics like suicide, mental illness and sexual assault.

While worried the show could trigger copycat behavior Vanessa Elias, a Wilton mom and volunteer with the Southwest Connecticut National Alliance on Mental Illness, also believes it could have a positive effect by increasing awareness about the issues it presents.

The scary thing is how it is showing an easy out for kids to hurt those who have hurt them, said Elias, who added her 15-year-old daughter watched the show. But the positive side is that the show offers an opportunity to talk about something thats highly stigmatized and taboo in our society.
T he City today put its faith in formidable turnaround king Archie Norman to help revive High Street stalwart Marks & Spencer as its new chairman.

Shares in the chain surged more than 5% as it unveiled its choice. Norman, who will come on board in September, is the retailers second major appointment this week  two days ago it poached Halfords boss Jill McDonald to lead its struggling clothing business.

Norman, known for rescuing Asda from ruin in the early Nineties, will replace Robert Swannell, who announced in December his plans to retire after six years in the role.

Norman will be charged with assisting chief executive Steve Rowes revival of M&S after a prolonged poor performance in its womenswear business amid the rise of online and low-cost rivals.

Rowe, who became chief executive last year, has already revamped ranges, reduced the number of sales and announced plans to close 60 stores. M&S is also reportedly set to trial online food delivery in the autumn.

Hired: Archie Norman / ITV/PA

Norman said today: I am looking forward to taking on the role of the chairmanship of Marks & Spencer as the business under Steve Rowes leadership faces into the considerable challenges ahead in a rapidly changing retail landscape.

M&S shares rocketed 19.6p to 377.1p and were on course for their best day on the stock market since July.

Norman conquests Archie Normans illustrious career has taken him from the aisles of Asda to the House of Commons. Educated at Cambridge and Harvard Business School, Norman started in consulting at McKinsey, where he met William Hague. After a stint as Kingfishers finance director, he ran Asda, bringing it back from the brink. He became the only FTSE 100 chief to sit as an MP after winning the Tunbridge Wells seat for the Conservatives in 1997 and quit Asda after its sale to Wal-Mart in 1999. But he ruffled Tory feathers and in 2005 returned to business full-time. He has since served as chairman of ITV, Hobbycraft and Lazard.

Shore Capitals Clive Black said Norman was a formidable appointment. The combination of Messrs Norman and Rowe should be a force for good for M&S in our view.

Investecs Kate Calvert added: Archie has a fantastic reputation and great experience in retail and Im sure he can help them formulate their strategy.

Tom Gadsby at Liberum, who also praised the appointment, said one of Normans first tasks should be to make sure that the boards remuneration is aligned to delivering what M&S needs to do, which is to reduce space by significantly more than is currently planned.

Veteran retail analyst Nick Bubb said Norman was highly respected but added: It remains to be seen how much of a back-seat driver he is to chief executive Steve Rowe.
E xecutives at Inmarsat may have just about escaped from yesterdays pay revolt at the AGM, but they could not dodge a rebellion in the City today as investors dumped the satellite communications groups shares.

A downgrade to Underweight from analysts at Barclays was the trigger, causing the shares to dive 50.5p, or 6%, to 774p.

They agreed yesterdays first-quarter results were solid, but argued the 25% rally from the shares over the past three months makes them far too expensive as its concerns have not abated.

Analyst Mathieu Robilliard thinks the company will meet its guidance for the year, but is wary about after that.

Supply is set to increase materially while demand growth should be more volatile; technological obsolescence is a question mark with VHTS [very-high-throughput satellite] around the corner, he said, referring to the superfast speeds on the way from rival satellite communications firms.

The company said it would review its remuneration policy next year after almost half of shareholders rejected the report at yesterdays AGM.

On the wider market, the FTSE 100 rose 14.06 points to 7262.16 despite yesterdays collapse in crude oil prices to their lowest level since November.

Hip and knee replacement firm Smith & Nephew was in rude health on the large-cap index, up 31.44p at 1301.44p. It came after its first-quarter update impressed investors as it left its full-year guidance intact.

On the AIM, Highland Gold, the Russian gold miner part-owned by Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, shone 5p higher at 137.75p after unveiling increased reserves at its Mnogovershinnoye mine.

It also revealed Eugene Shvidler, Highlands largest shareholder and Abramovichs business partner, pledged part of his stake to Citibank as security in respect of a personal loan.

Israeli internet-of-things specialist Telit Communications, edged down 8.38p to 351.88p after raising 39 million through a share placing to fund potential acquisitions.

Management Resources Solutions, the scandal-struck support services firm, returned to the market after several months suspension. The shares resumed 9.96p, or 66%, off at 5.17p.
O pposition to the Chinese takeover of Sepura, which makes walkie-talkies for the Met Police, grew today as Germany launched a review into potential national security risks.

Germanys Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy is reviewing Hytera Communications 74 million agreed takeover on public policy and/or national security grounds, the company said.

Cambridge-based Sepura supplies radio systems to emergency services in Germany, its largest market.

Last month, Business Secretary Greg Clark issued an intervention notice on national security public interest grounds, having received advice from Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

The competition watchdog has been preparing a report on aspects of the deal including potential national security risks, which was posted to Clark yesterday.

Theresa May pledged to block foreign takeovers not in the national interest when becoming Prime Minister last year.

Goldman Sachs former Europe boss Michael Sherwood bought Sepura out of administration in 2002 for just 1 with three other ex-Goldman bankers including GLG co-founder Jonathan Green.They floated it five years later for a 200 million valuation.

Shares tumbled 3.99p, or 25%, today to 11.76p.
T he Duke of Edinburgh has done rather more in his near seven decades as the Queens consort than he is being given credit for.

Not only has he been a crucial force behind modernising the monarchy, he has promoted the advancement of science, technology, medicine, conservation, graphic design and physical fitness, among hundreds of causes. A polymath with insatiable curiosity, he has written 14 books, including collections of essays on religion and philosophy. Since 1956 he has enjoyed painting in oils, signing them with a Greek phi a circle bisected by a vertical line.

From the start he wrote his own speeches  which now number 5,493  delivered, he once said, with an eye towards simplicity, humour, and above all brevity... with no axe to grind and nothing to sell.

On his first tour of Canada with then Princess Elizabeth in 1951, he learned to walk at a discreet distance behind his wife, always attentive to her needs. But his irreverent streak  wisecracks to put people at ease before they met her  earned him a reputation for gaffes that often masks his intellect and serious purpose.

While he doesnt meddle in the Queens government business, he has helped her streamline operations at Buckingham Palace. He taught her how to use an Autocue before her first Christmas television broadcast in 1957, and he installed solar panels at Sandringham back 1982.

Prince Philip: The Duke of Edinburgh - In pictures 1 /90 Prince Philip: The Duke of Edinburgh - In pictures Getty Images 2020 The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, looking at their homemade wedding anniversary card, given to them by their great grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, ahead of their 73rd wedding anniversary PA 2020 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh arrives for the transfer of the Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles ceremony at Windsor castle AFP via Getty Images 2020 The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle. The Queen in the 70th year of her reign PA 2017 Prince Philip, in his role as Captain General, Royal Marines, attends a Parade to mark the finale of the 1664 Global Challenge on the Buckingham Palace Forecourt Getty Images 1947 Princess Elizabeth (The Queen) and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at their wedding in 1947 1969 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh painting at Buckingham on 15 June 1969 Joan Willams/Rex Features 2008 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh laugh as they watch the games during the Annual Braemar Highland Gathering on 06 September 2008 Getty Images 2019 The Duke of Edinburgh talks to the Duke of Sussex as they leave after the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle PA 2019 The Duke of Edinburgh watching Lady Louise Windsor in the Adelaide Arena during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, Berkshire PA 2019 Prince Philip stands with other guests as he as they leave following the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA 2018 The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh wait for the carriage carrying Princess Eugenie of York and her husband Jack Brooksbank to pass at the start of the procession after their wedding ceremony at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on October 12, 2018 AFP/Getty Images 2018 The Queen, Prince Philip and other members of the royal family wave, after the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle AP 2018 Prince Philip waves as he is driven away from King Edward VII's Hospital where he underwent hip replacement surgery Reuters 2017 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh gestures as he is followed by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry with Meghan arriving to attend the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk AFP via Getty Images 2017 Prince Philip, in his role as Captain General, Royal Marines, attends a Parade to mark the finale of the 1664 Global Challenge on the Buckingham Palace Forecourt Reuters 2017 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Honorary Life Member, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is shown a cricket bat which belonged to West Indies batsman Eveton Weekes, by former England cricketer John Stephenson during his visit to open the new Warner Stand at Lord's Cricket Ground AFP/Getty Images 2017 The Duke of Edinburgh talks to school children from St Edwards Catholic Primary School, during a visit to Lord's cricket ground PA 2017 The Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall observe from a balcony during the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph PA 2017 The Queen and Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (C-R) attend the Royal Maundy Service in Leicester Cathedral EPA 2017 Prince Philip prepares to sign the guest book during the Royal Maundy service at Leicester Cathedral Reuters 2017 The Queen and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh leave the National Army Museum in London Reuters 2017 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Tom Cruise meet during a dinner to mark the 75th anniversary of the Outward Bound Trust at Buckingham Palace Getty Images 2017 The Queen watches Prince Philip feed an elephant during a visit to Whipsnade Zoo Reuters 2016 The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot Getty Images 2016 The Queen's Speech as Prince Philip listens during the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords on 18 May 2016 AP 2016 The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh leave St Paul's Cathedral in London following a national service of thanksgiving to celebrate the 90th birthday of Queen PA 2016 The Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of Edinburgh and Peter Phillips in the Royal Box during the Patron's Lunch in The Mall, central London, in honour of the Queen's 90th birthday PA 2016 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh leaves a service of thanksgiving for the Queen's 90th birthday at St Paul's cathedral Getty Images 2016 The Queen ccompanied by her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh greet well wishers during a 'walkabout' on her 90th birthday in Windsor, west of London, on April 21, 2016. Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images 2015 Prince Philip leaves after attending the British royal family's traditional Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on 25 December 2015 AP 2015 The Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Cambridge during the Rugby World Cup Final at Twickenham, London PA 2015 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh smiles during a visit to the headquarters of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force's (RAuxAF) 603 Squadron on July 4, 2015 in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images 2014 The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visit the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red poppy installation at the Tower of London on 16 October 2014 2014 Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth II, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Harry and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge look on from the balcony during Trooping the Colour - Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Parade, at The Royal Horseguards on 14 June 2014 Getty Images 2014 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attends day two of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on 18 June 2014 Getty Images 2014 The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attend the Thistle Service at St Giles' Cathedral on July 3, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland on 03 July 2014 Getty Images 2014 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh speaks with guests in the Great Hall as he attended a commemorative service for the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle on 03 July in 2014 Getty Images 2013 Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, have an audience with Pope Francis, during their one-day visit to Rome in Vatican City Getty Images 2012 The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh look out from the Spirit of Chartwell during the Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant on 03 June in 2012, Getty Images 2011 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh meets female Chelsea pensioner Majorie Cole during a visit to the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey Getty Images 2011 Queen Elizabeth II poses with U.S. President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle Obama and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace ahead of a State Banquet on May 24, 2011 Getty Images 2010 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attends a reception at the Ambassador's residence in Muscat, Oman Getty Images 2009 The Queen and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh arrive in the parade ring in a horse drawn carriage on the first day of Royal Ascot Getty Images 2007 The Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh walk at Broadlands AFP/Getty Images 2006 The Queen and her husband The Duke of Edinburgh ride out of Buckingham Palace towards Horse Guards Parade AFP/Getty Images 2006 The Duke of Edinburgh speaks to Prince William and Prince Harry at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy after The Sovereign's Parade that marked the completion of Prince Harry's Officer training PA 2005 The Duke of Edinburgh rides on his mini motorbike during the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Home Park, Windsor Castle Getty Images 2003 HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at the dressage event of the International Grand Prix in the Royal Windsor Horse Show on 16 May 2003 at Home Park, Windsor Castle Getty Images 1997 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales walk outside Westminster Abbey during the funeral service for Diana, Princess of Wales AFP/Getty Images 1991 Kuwait. British forces homecoming parade. The Queen wiith Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh Associated Newspapers 1989 The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh watch the fly past of The Trooping the Colour in 1989 Associated Newspapers 1986 The Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, on the Great Wall of China at the Bedaling Pass PA 1977 The Queen and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, wave goodbye at Heathrow Airport today, as they embark on the Queen's Silver Jubilee Tour of Canada Associated Newspapers 1976 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh drives a team of bays owned by Queen Elizabeth II whilst competing in the Marathon event at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Berkshire on 15 May 1976 Getty Images 1975 M.C.C. president Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh looks on as West Indies captain Clive Lloyd raises the trophy after his team won the final of the Prudential World Cup against Australia on 23 June 1975 Getty Images 1967 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (centre) meets Kumara, a 7 month-old elephant, during a visit to Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire on 19 July 1967 Getty Images 1958 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh playing cricket at Highclere Castle, Highclere, Hampshire on 03 August 1958 Getty Images 1958 English boat designer Uffa Fox sailing at Cowes with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Charles, Prince of Wales at Isle of Wight in 1958 Getty Images 1957 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on television, broadcasting from Studio 2 at Riverside, Hammersmith. Prince Philip, making his television debut as lecturer-entertainer in BBC Children's Hour, overran his time by 12 minutes eight seconds on 17 May 1957 1951 Princess Elizabeth and Philip, wearing formal dress as they attend a concert at Festival Hall, London in May 1951 Getty Images circa 1951 Princess Elizabeth and Philip with their two children, Charles and Anne AFP/Getty Images 1950 Philip at polo on 1 June 1950 Getty Images 1949 Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh hold their first child Prince Charles (aged six months) in April 1949 PA 1949 Philip climbing a ladder as he visits Aberdovey Training Camp, Wales in July 1949 Getty Images 1949 Princess Elizabeth talking to Philip at the Royal Horse Show at Windsor, England on 12 May 1949 Getty Images 1948 Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, taking an oath as he receives the Freedom of the City of London, watched by Princess Elizabeth and the Mayor of London (right), Guildhall, London on 8 June 1948 Getty Images Circa 1927-1930 Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, as a boy PA

He was an early adapter of computer technology, once claiming to have patted the first microchip on the head, and even urged the Palace to launch the British Monarchy website in 1997.

The Queen has long relied on Prince Philip when making decisions about her household. Assuming his mind remains sharp  and by all accounts he is as inquisitive and keen as ever  he will continue to be her main sounding board after his retirement from official duties. He will also remain a valued source of advice to his grandson, William, who regards him as someone who will tell me something that maybe I dont want to hear... Im glad he tells me.

Prince Philip: 10 memorable quotes from the Duke of Edinburgh

His public appearances will be sorely missed: those perfectly choreographed turns he and the Queen make as they meet and greet, the children he lifts over barriers to offer a better view of Her Majesty, the whispered asides that puncture her tense moments.

But when she returns from her royal rounds, he will still be her emotional touchstone, ready to hear her reports on the events of the day, and to share a private laugh.

Prince Charles (Michael Joseph, 25) by Sally Bedell Smith is out now.
American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour celebrated her appointment as a Dame Commander at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

The 67-year-old was made a Dame by the Queen after she was named in the New Year Honours diplomatic and overseas list.

She was editor of British Vogue between 1985-87 before taking the helm of the US magazine in 1988.

Dame Anna, who is also artistic director of publisher Conde Nast, has since spent almost 30 years editing the American fashion bible.

Dame Anna Wintour: Commander of the British Empire - In pictures 1 /6 Dame Anna Wintour: Commander of the British Empire - In pictures Dame Anna Wintour is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II Yui Mok/PA Dame Anna Wintour is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II Yui Mok/PA Dame Anna Wintour is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II Yui Mok/PA Dame Anna Wintour is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II Yui Mok/PA Dame Anna Wintour is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II Yui Mok/PA

Dame Anna, who has spent almost 30 years editing the fashion bible, described the Duke of Edinburgh as an "inspiration to us all" following the announcement that he will retire from public service in the autumn.

The 67-year-old removed her signature sunglasses shortly before entering the ballroom of Buckingham Palace, where she received an honour for services to fashion and journalism.

But the Queen struggled to attach the insignia to the editor's pink belted Chanel outfit during the ceremony.

Dame Anna said: "She couldn't find where to put the brooch.

"I congratulated her on Prince Philip's service because obviously that's so remarkable and such an inspiration to us all."

Anna Wintour - style file 1 /97 Anna Wintour - style file Arriving at the 2019 Met Gala Getty Images September 24, 1996 Princess Diana of Wales, Washington Post owner Katheryn Graham, Anna Wintour, Ralph Lauren, and Georgetown University President Leo J. O'Donovan during a multi-million dollar fundraising event for the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research in Washington DC AFP/Getty Images September 18, 2013 Anna Wintour attends the Gucci show as part of Milan Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2014 Getty Images February 20, 2018 Queen Elizabeth II sits next to Anna Wintour as they view Richard Quinn's runway show Getty Images September 22, 2000 Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley attend the Donna Karan SS01 show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images September 17, 2002 At at the Diane von Furstenberg SS03 show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images September 17, 2002 At the New Yorkers for Children gala Getty Images October 24, 2002 At the 19th Annual Night Of Stars Honoring 'The Provcateurs: Those Who Dare' Getty Images February 3, 2003 At the amfAR Benefit Honors Gala Getty Images April 28, 2003 At the Met Gala Getty Images May 6, 2003 At Cartier's "Le Baiser du Dragon" honoring New Yorkers for Children Getty Images May 23, 2003 With Clavin Klein before FIT's graduation ceremony at Radio City Music Hall September 14, 2003 With daughter Bea at the Tuleh SS04 show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images September 22, 2003 At the New Yorkers For Children gala Getty Images February 8, 2004 At the Derek Lam AW04 show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images April 26, 2004 At the Met Gala Getty Images June 21, 2004 At the Metropolitan Museum Of Art after a reception that celebrated the publication of former President Bill Clinton's new book 'My Life' Getty Images September 13, 2004 At the J Mendel SS05 show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images May 2, 2005 At the Met Gala Getty Images September 7, 2005 Watching the quarterfinal matches on Day 10 of the US Open Getty Images September 11, 2005 With Donald Trump at the men's final between Andre Agassi and Roger Federer of Switzerland at the US Open Getty Images September 13, 2005 With Robert Duffy at the Marc By Marc Jacobs SS06 show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images 19 February 2006 At the BAFTAs AFP/Getty Images June 5, 2006 At the CFDA awards Getty Images May 14, 2007 At the Dior Cruise show in New York Getty Images September 5, 2007 At the U.S. Open with Oscar de la Renta Getty Images September 29, 2008 At the Patrick Demarchelier's exhibition Party in Paris Getty Images May 4, 2009 At the Met Gala Getty Images May 18, 2009 At the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala Getty Images February 23, 2010 At the Burberry Prorsum AW10 show during London Fashion Week Getty Images May 3, 2010 At the Met Gala Getty Images September 7, 2010 At Fashion's Night Out: The Show at Lincoln Center Getty Images May 16, 2011 At the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala Getty Images September 19, 2011 At the Burberry SS12 show during London Fashion Week Getty Images September 29, 2011 At the Balenciaga SS12 show during Paris Fashion Week Getty Images February 18, 2012 At the Stella McCartney Special Presentation during London Fashion Week Getty Images May 7, 2012 At the Met Gala Getty Images September 12, 2012 At the Reed Krakoff SS13 show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images November 25, 2012 At the 58th London Evening Standard Theatre Getty Images May 6, 2013 At the Met Gala February 16, 2014 Anna Wintour, Sir Philip Green, Kate Moss and Lottie Moss at Tate Modern January 6, 2014 At the "Girls" season three premiere Getty Images May 5, 2014 At the Met Gala Getty Images May 4, 2015 At the Met Gala Getty Images September 12, 2015 At the Altuzarra SS16 show during New York Fashion Week Getty Images September 21, 2015 At the Burberry Prorsum SS16 show during London Fashion Week Getty Images May 2, 2016 At the Met Gala Getty Images June 10, 2018 British Editor-in-Chief of the American Vogue magazine Anna Wintour attend the 2018 Tony Awards AFP/Getty Images June 12, 2016 At the 70th Annual Tony Awards Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions May 1, 2017 At the Met Gala Getty Images May 3, 2017 At the Chanel Cruise show in Paris Getty Images May 4, 2018 Attending Prada's Cruise 2019 show Getty Images May 5, 2017 Editor-in-Chief, American Vogue and Artistic Director Dame Anna Wintour after receiving her Dame Commander from Queen Elizabeth II at an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London. PA March 2, 2018 Front row at Balmain's Autumn/ Winter 2019 show Getty Images September 23, 2018 Vogue chief editor, Anna Wintour poses as she arrives to attend the Green Carpet Fashion Awards 2018 AFP/Getty Images November 5, 2018 Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour attends the 15th annual CFDA / Vogue Fashion Fund event at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Invision/AP November 7, 2018 Anna Wintour attends the 2018 Brand Genius Awards at Cipriani 25 Broadway Getty Images January 24, 2019 Anna Wintour arrives at the AO Inspirational Series Brunch at The Glasshouse in Australia Getty Images January 25, 2019 Anna Wintour leaves after the men's singles semi final match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Lucas Pouille of France at the Australian Open EPA January 27, 2019 Anna Wintour (C) is seen in the crowd before the start of the men's singles final between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Rafael Nadal of Spain at the Australian Open EPA February 11, 2019 Attending the Carolina Herrera New York Fashion Week show Getty Images March 14, 2019 Attending the Ellie Awards Getty Images April 12, 2019 Speaking at the Women In The World Summit Getty Images April 22, 2019 Getty Images May 6, 2019 Getty Images May 8, 2019 At the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2020 Show at JFK Getty Images May 14, 2019 Arriving at the HBC Foundation HEADFIRST Cocktail Reception Getty Images June 3, 2019 At the CFDA Fashion Awards Getty Images June 9, 2019 Attending the 73rd Annual Tony Awards Getty Images August 30, 2019 Attending the US Open Getty Images September 9, 2019 Attending the Teen Vogue Celebrates Generation Next event Getty Images September 9, 2019 Attending Tom Ford's New York Fashion Week show Getty Images September 21, 2019 Attending the Laver Cup in Switzerland Getty Images

Dame Anna said it was "wonderful" to receive the honour from the Queen for her services to the industry, watched by her daughter Bee Shaffer.

"Obviously this is a city that I grew up in, a city that I have so much affection and love for," she said.

"It's always wonderful to get an award but this one is extra special."
I t's strange to hear the poet Rupi Kaur sounding so uneasy about Instagram and Twitter, because her success has been driven by it. I never open my direct messages, says the 24-year-old Canadian, whose vulnerable, short but shareable verses about love, trauma, feminism and abuse have captured an audience of 1.2 million Instagram and 124,000 on Twitter since she began posting them. I can read 2,000 comments about how great I am, but if I read one comment saying Im ugly Ill cry for a week.

The internet-fired sensation, whose first collection Milk & Honey sold more than a million copies worldwide and reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list, knows the medium better than many.

Her rise began in 2015 when she fought Instagrams removal of a photo she posted showing menstrual blood  part of a university project on taboo. Theres such a negative dialogue there about periods, and I was so tired of cursing and hating myself for it, she says. I knew people would be uncomfortable, but I didnt think thered be such a wild reaction to it.

After Kaur wrote about the censorship on Facebook there was an online backlash  including death threats  and Instagram eventually lifted the ban.

Kaur, her photography and her poetry, went viral. Milk & Honey, self-published in 2014, was bought by US publisher Andrews McMeel and reissued in October 2015. Kaur was 23 and caught the imagination of a large, atypical poetry audience of young readers, much like her contemporary Warsan Shire, whose work featured on Beyonces Lemonade. We think poetry is old and dead, and then all of a sudden were creating something for us, says Kaur. When you read it, it kicks you in the stomach and makes you feel so seen.

With a new collection out later this year, Kaurs easy posture, sitting on a sofa in her Toronto home, belies the weight on her shoulders. I honestly didnt think that Id be able to write another book, she says. The pressure of following up on huge sales and supporting myself, my family, my team, and so many other people was debilitating. I told my agent I thought I had lost it  I think it was a one-time thing. She told me to cut myself some slack.

Kaur is determined not to be a one-hit wonder. After a three-month writing trip to California she returned with the new collection. Each poem is a part of a body: a finger, a nail, she says. They stand on their own but together its all one body. Thats why the structure is important.

The collection has a cover (she designed it herself, along with the illustrations) and a title but shes not sharing them with anyone before her fans on social media see them. Theyre the ones who got me here. Its like my readers have been the ones sleeping over, and they know all my secrets, right?

After she moved from India to Canada with her family when she was three to escape the persecution of Sikhs, adjusting to life in the West was hard for Kaur. Although she now has a Canadian accent she didnt learn English until the age of 10, and only made friends at 11. My dad was making a couple of hundred dollars a month as a truck driver and there was just not enough money. She lived with her parents and three younger siblings in a one-bedroom basement flat, where they slept in the same bed. I went from a very warm place in India that was full of love, where you had the attention of dozens of people all the time, to a place that was cold, rigid and where you couldnt understand anything.

Her poetry, which she also performs, was not instantly well-loved. People thought it was too much and raw. Its not easy to digest. But I was like, I dont really care. And now the same people who said that come to the show, and they tell me I still make them uncomfortable, but they support it now.

Arts picks of the week: 1st-7th May 1 /5 Arts picks of the week: 1st-7th May Angels in America Its here! 2017s hottest ticket officially opens this week, starring Andrew Garfield, Russell Tovey and Denise Gough. The run is sold out but the critics have yet to give their verdict. Either way, expect an epic experience from the National Theatres revival. Read what the original National company said about starring in the play twenty-five years ago.



Until August 19, National Theatre; nationaltheatre.org.uk Helen Maybanks The Ferryman Hot on the heels of the epic Angels is Jez Butterworths eagerly anticipated major follow-up to Jerusaleum. Early reaction on Twitter suggests the playwright may be about to repeat his success, with a play set in Derry during the Troubles starring Paddy Considine.



Until May 20, Royal Court; royalcourttheatre.com Rex Features Turner Prize shortlist is announced Keep your peepers peeled for the announcement of the Turner Prize shortlist this Wednesday (May 3), which was won last year by Helen Marten. Its the UKs biggest art prize and has previously been won by Damien Hirst, Gillian Wearing and Steve McQueen to name but a few, so its a game-changing endorsement even to make the shortlist. This years exhibition will take place in Hull as part of the City of Culture celebrations. PA Oh Yes Oh No Performer Louise Orwins show is the centrepiece for Camden Peoples Theatres festival of sex (well, that means performance about sex. Not an actual sex festival). It promises to explore the disconnect between sexual fantasies and political principles, and the show includes a terrible Radiohead cover. Not a sentence you hear often.



Until May 11, Camden Peoples Theatre; cptheatre.co.uk Belief and Beyond Belief The Southbank Centre will be a hub of thought and debate this weekend as part of their Belief and Beyond Belief festival. The theme will be: how has religion shaped society? and will include discussions on faith and fashion and terrorism and society.



May 6-7, Southbank Centre; southbankcentre.co.uk

Her parents were the hardest to convince. I have immigrant parents who have given up their health, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Kaur, though, is of a different generation  and fights her own demons. Social media has been such a big platform for my success. But it can also be a toxic place. Beauty standards today, she says, are just about followers and numbers but the negative effect that can have on people is frightening. They worry about their numbers all the time, asking: How do I get my followers up? or are constantly looking at other people who they think are doing better than themselves. I think thats really, really, really unhealthy.

Her own self-esteem is an everyday battle. Shes struggled even to look at herself in the mirror. Youre beautiful was the compliment I craved so much. I didnt care if people called me smart or innovative  it was the number-one compliment I gave out to other women hoping it was given back to me. I heard people saying it to my best friends. It was the one I wanted to hear more than anything else.

Being in the spotlight hasnt helped. In the last years its been quite bad. I think all of a sudden there are so many photographs, and Im meeting so many people. Theyre all so beautiful, and I think: Maybe I should do that to my face, or put more make-up on.

But Kaur knows the good her poetry does: it saves lives, judging by the letters her publisher reads to me over the phone. Yesterday I was stopped on the street by a woman who said exactly that, says Kaur, that shed found the book at the perfect time, when everything was falling apart.

If her last book was about holding a mirror up to myself her second will be about holding a mirror up to the world in general. The world needs healing, she says. Looking at my skin colour you would assume, visually, that if I were to vote I would vote Hillary Clinton. When the election results came out I was at Dubai airport and we were watching the results come in, and looking at the people there I couldnt read them. They didnt seem disappointed. It was just like: What is happening?

The day Trump was inaugurated she was in San Diego and, on a friends advice, didnt leave the apartment. Ive never been more aware of my colour, she says. She has friends in California and in New York and many are undocumented. I wanted to help, but its just such a helpless situation. The fear is the worst part. People are now just cooped up living in their houses because they think if they go outside theyll be shipped back.

Arts picks of the week: 1st-7th May 1 /5 Arts picks of the week: 1st-7th May Angels in America Its here! 2017s hottest ticket officially opens this week, starring Andrew Garfield, Russell Tovey and Denise Gough. The run is sold out but the critics have yet to give their verdict. Either way, expect an epic experience from the National Theatres revival. Read what the original National company said about starring in the play twenty-five years ago.



Until August 19, National Theatre; nationaltheatre.org.uk Helen Maybanks The Ferryman Hot on the heels of the epic Angels is Jez Butterworths eagerly anticipated major follow-up to Jerusaleum. Early reaction on Twitter suggests the playwright may be about to repeat his success, with a play set in Derry during the Troubles starring Paddy Considine.



Until May 20, Royal Court; royalcourttheatre.com Rex Features Turner Prize shortlist is announced Keep your peepers peeled for the announcement of the Turner Prize shortlist this Wednesday (May 3), which was won last year by Helen Marten. Its the UKs biggest art prize and has previously been won by Damien Hirst, Gillian Wearing and Steve McQueen to name but a few, so its a game-changing endorsement even to make the shortlist. This years exhibition will take place in Hull as part of the City of Culture celebrations. PA Oh Yes Oh No Performer Louise Orwins show is the centrepiece for Camden Peoples Theatres festival of sex (well, that means performance about sex. Not an actual sex festival). It promises to explore the disconnect between sexual fantasies and political principles, and the show includes a terrible Radiohead cover. Not a sentence you hear often.



Until May 11, Camden Peoples Theatre; cptheatre.co.uk Belief and Beyond Belief The Southbank Centre will be a hub of thought and debate this weekend as part of their Belief and Beyond Belief festival. The theme will be: how has religion shaped society? and will include discussions on faith and fashion and terrorism and society.



May 6-7, Southbank Centre; southbankcentre.co.uk

The catch-all term of Generation Snowflake is one she takes issue with. I grew up thinking I was going to change the world, but not because I was treated like a special snowflake. Its a silly label. People are starving. We need to feed them. Thats the end of the conversation.

How does she want the world to have changed by the time she has kids of her own? Just in to a better one. Theres so much up in the air, but as long as its better. When things get better, theres a swing to the pendulum where things get worse for others. But I hope theyre writing about different topics  because I hope by that time well maybe have worked through the ones I write about.

An Evening with Rupi Kaur is at St Jamess Church, W1 on May 13; waterstones.com
F innish-born and French-trained, Helena is head chef at Victorias Aster. Prior to that she led the kitchen at Skylon, and was lucky enough to train under Pierre Koffmann and Pierre Gagnaire.

When shes not in the kitchen, she enjoys oysters, chicken Kiev and a walk through Hyde Park.

Where do you like to grab a quick bite? One of my regulars is the Ottolenghi on Ledbury Road in Notting Hill.

And which would be your ultimate London restaurant for a special occasion? Elystan Street, Ive loved Phil Howards cooking since day one at The Square.

You often get out of work late. Where do you head to eat and drink? To eat Id head straight to Novikov and for a drink youll find me at Bar Boulud.

Local gem: 108 Garage / Adrian Lourie

Whats your favourite local gem? 108 Garage - the secrets out!

Where do you go to cure a persistent hangover? Id go for brunch at Granger & Co, you cant beat it.

Whats your favourite cocktail, and where do you drink it? Not quite London, but it would be a Virgin Mary at Hotel Costes, Paris

Where do you rate for food shopping? For the freshest produce I head to Provenance Village Butcher in Notting Hill.

Your favourite pub? The Cow in Notting Hill for fresh oysters and a chicken kiev.

Whats the most indulgent experience you have ever had in London? Table Lumiere at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. It was very special

Perfect day: Sartoria

Imagine you had a surprise day off tomorrow. You cant leave London. What would you do? I would walk through Hyde park and Mayfair to Cecconis for an early breakfast. Then Id continue to the Royal Academy of Arts, browsing fabulous shops in Mayfair before lunch at Sartoria to catch up with Francesco Mazzei. Id finish the day at Royal Opera House watching my favourite opera, Nabucco, sipping Ruinart Blanc de Blanc pre and interval.
Martin Waller, known as the 'Indiana Jones' of the design world', is celebrating his fourth decade in the industry.

Now 61, Waller is the co-founder of the Andrew Martin brand and is known for pioneering design trends influenced by his travels- and set designs for several James Bond films. His South Kensington showroom, is famed as a treasure trove of artefacts from the most far-flung corners of the globe.

Ahead of the 30th anniversary of his Walton Street showroom and the 20th anniversary of the Andrew Martin International Designer of the Year Awards, we caught 10 minutes with the Notting Hill-based designer.

When was Andrew Martin brand born?

In 1978 - the 70s were the decade that taste forgot and our hair and clothes were more embarrassing than it is safe to recall. But it was also an era of design cool and invention.

Can you describe the Andrew Martin design ethos?

Layered, relaxed, comfortable, built around art and artefacts from every corner of the world and every age of human achievement.

What advice do you have for someone hoping to break into the industry?

Don't - be a hedge fund manager instead. But if you must, design is about a multi-faceted grasp of culture, history, and the arts in the very broadest sense, and not fabrics and furniture.

www.andrewmartin.co.uk

What has been your most exciting project to date?

I have always enjoyed working with movie designers, who are brilliant talents; stepping into M's office in the Bond films was a thrill. I'm currently working on a quintessential Miami Beach hotel, plus designing two huge stores for a major US retailer.

What was the last thing you bought for your home?

New sheets: they always seem like the most affordable and simple luxury.

And your most treasured item of furniture?

A Jacobean bible chest full of 19th century family photos, letters and documents. As you get older you feel the connection with your antecedents more poignantly.

What would you top design tip?

Paint is the single most important way to transform a space. It's simple - just not easy.

www.andrewmartin.co.uk

What interior trends, if any, do you predict for the coming months?

Colour is the big thing. Blue is ubiquitous and orange accents are de rigueur.

Is there a hotel or restaurant in London that you admire for its design?

Kit Kemp's work for Firmdale Hotels. Everyone loves Ham Yard. And the new Jaks in South Moulton St.

www.andrewmartin.co.uk

Describe a day in the life of Martin Waller...

I'm flying more than 100 days a year, so usually I'm having breakfast in the airport lounge. I split my days between projects, product design, factory visits, and meeting our international distributors. But I'm happiest exploring lost cities in Guatemala, lost tribes in Naga land or lost goats in Mali.

Find out more at andrewmartin.co.uk

Follow Kate on Twitter @kate_lough and Instagram @kateloughtravel
L iving in London isn't cheap. This is especially true if you work in a creative industry and you're expected to complete months of unpaid internships before you start earning a half-decent salary.

While some people can live off the bank of mum and dad for a while, others aren't so lucky. For some people, this can make breaking into their dream job incredibly difficult.

If this applies to you, today might be your lucky day. Rental company UNCLE has just started advertising for someone to spread the word about the brand through a blog, vlog, illustration, or other creative idea. In return, the company will offer the chosen candidate 12 months living in one of its properties rent-free.

The competition is targeting young professionals who "want to live in a buzzing city, but need the peace of mind that comes with a good deal and a landlord they can trust."

The ideal candidate should have plenty of "witty and refined" content ideas to help spread the world about UNCLE's apartments on social media.

On the application the company is asking to see your ideas in whatever format you want to work with: a photo, 60-second video, meme or GIF, illustration, infographic, or blog.

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

"We're not fussy," the advert says.

If you think this sounds like the ideal opportunity for you, you can apply here.

The competition will start on Monday May 8 and run through to July.
P retty canals, street food markets and cool concept stores  Amsterdam has all the vital components for the ideal city break. But where should you stay? If you want a prime location coupled with style and outstanding value, the Hoxton is the answer. Heres everything you need to know about the Amsterdam outpost of the hotel.

Where is it:

For its first European site outside of London, the Hoxton took over a photogenic stretch of Herengracht, one of the 9 streets and right in the centre of town  just a quick punt downriver from the Anne Frank House. Its a 25 euro cab ride from the airport and walking distances from all the major museums.

Style:

Hoxton

Cool, urban, hip and a touch of the mid-Century. The facade of the Hoxton, which spans across five canal houses, is postcard-perfect. Just like its London counterparts, its dominated by its buzzy public spaces where discerning locals  not just guests  gather. The downstairs interiors are all exposed brick, battered leather sofas and jewel-toned velvet armchairs and retro lighting  all style hallmarks fans of the Hoxton brand will recognise.

Food & drink:

Breakfast at the Hoxton comes in the form of a brown bag which you leave outside your bedroom to be filled with orange juice, yoghurt and granola  a nice starter but not the main event. For brunch, lunch and dinner, you can book into Lottis, the restaurant downstairs that does Transatlantic classics like Eggs & Avo, burgers and steak.

Lotti's / Hoxton

We preferred to explore what the world outside had to offer when it came to eating, but the bar was the perfect sultry location for pre-dinner negronis and nightcaps.

Facilities:

One of the buzzy public spaces with velvet armchairs / Hoxton

As well as Lottis bar and restaurant, the Amsterdam has an Apartment which functions as a cool events and meetings space with its own courtyard and games room, so its worth checking out whats on during your stay.

Extra-curricular:

Borrow one of the hotels bikes (Tip: get in there early - there are only a handful) and pedal your way up and down the canals, exploring without a map. Amsterdam is small, so you can easily reach other neighbourhoods for a little wander. We loved De Pijp for its cool concept stores like Circle of Trust and organic wine bar Glou Glou.

Foodies will be very kept busy in Amsterdam, although its worth planning in advance as the best places tend to be out of the centre. My highlights were healthy pancakes at newish joint Mook in Amsterdam West, whose interiors were just as Instagrammable as the stacks of pancakes. And charcoal grilled rib eye steaks for a Saturday night at Wilde Zwinjnen, a trendy new restaurant in Amsterdam East. For a Borough Market-meets-Street Feast experience, bike to the Foodhallen for a very long (and boozy) medley of street food, from bao buns to dim sum and juice burgers  and the dedicated G&T bar.

Which room:

We had a Cosy Canal View, which was small (you might keep knocking against the mini bar and/or desk) but perfectly formed. A super comfy bed and a superb view of the canal were all we needed.

Hoxton

It might be worth paying a little more for one of the Roomy Rooms which have super king beds and a lot more space to hang out, but youre in a city so theres exploring to be done.

Best for:

Couples or friends  anyone looking to sample the stylish side of Amsterdam from a central base.

When to go:

Amsterdam is a year-round destination, altho it can get very wet and chilly in winter. Spring was lovely when the sun shone  but I have summer in mind for my next visit to take advantage of all the canal-side drinking to be had.

Details

Rooms from 119 euros, The Hoxton, 255 Herengracht, Amsterdam, 1016 BJ; thehoxton.com/amsterdam

Follow Kate on Twitter @kate_lough and Instagram @kateloughtravel
T he widow of a mechanic killed as he cycled home from work today slammed a decision not to jail the guilty driver as a travesty of justice.

Clifton James, 60, was knocked off his bike by Mishal Alshammary as he crossed a mini-roundabout in Harrow in June 2015. The father of three suffered head injuries and died at the scene.

Alshammary, 32, who failed to slow down before entering the roundabout on Forward Drive, admitted causing death by careless driving.

He was yesterday sentenced at the Old Bailey to four months in prison, suspended for a year, and ordered to carry out 300 hours of community service.

Mr Jamess widow Sandra criticised the decision not to jail Alshammary, accusing him of showing no remorse for taking Cliff away from us.

She said: He has put us through hell by not admitting his crime until 20 months after the crash. Now, for him to walk away from court a free man is nothing short of a travesty of justice.

The court heard Mr James had once been awarded a police bravery award for tackling a mugger in the street, but did not collect it because he did not want a fuss.

Cliff was the most kind, generous and thoughtful man who would do anything for anybody, added Mrs James. He was quite simply one of the nicest men you could ever meet and his passing has left a huge hole in our lives. To us he was our idol and our hero and he will always be missed.

The court heard the scene of the crash was disturbed as paramedics fought in vain to save Mr James, thwarting investigators attempts to gather evidence.

Prosecutors accused Alshammary of speeding prior to the crash, at about midnight on June 20, but later accepted he had not broken the 30mph limit.

The sentence doesnt try to place any kind of value on Mr James life  that is beyond measure, said Judge Anthony Bate. Alshammary, from Willesden, was banned from driving for 15 months.
Defense Minister of Artsakh Levon Mnatsakanyan ruled out the outbreak of war with Azerbaijan in the near future at a press conference yesterday in Stepanakert, although noting that the threat of renewed warfare has existed since the 1994 ceasefire between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, and that Baku remains committed to resolving issues by military means.

Mnatsakanyan said that given Bakus military intentions, the Artsakh Defense must be prepared for all eventualities.

Regarding the possibility of war breaking out, the minister noted that following the Four Day War of April 2016, Artsakh witnessed the subversive activities of the Azerbaijani military on February 24-25 of this year, but that Baku understood that it couldnt speak via a language of power.

Mnatsakanyan said that tensions on the frontline grew at the time and that it was possible for a local incident to turn into a full-scale military operation. He believes that such incidents might reoccur.

However, Mnatsakanyan said that the enemy's movements are being monitored, and full-scale warfare isnt expected anytime soon.

The minister did say that the outbreak of war couldnt be totally ruled out.

The replenishment of arms and equipment of the front continues following the Four Day War. "We must always improve and never stop. We still have work to do," he said.

Most of the victims on the front are killed by Azerbaijani snipers, the minister claimed.

Steps to prevent such deaths are being taken and some of the frontline positions are already equipped with special anti-sniper systems. Mnatsakanyan said that within a year they will achieve greater efficiency in that sphere. Unfortunately, there are cases of losses due to personal negligence and carelessness, he told reporters. But no action of the enemy remains unanswered, according to the minister.

In conclusion, referring to social programs for the military, Mnatsakanyan said that provision of apartments remains the main issue. Recently, seventy retired military officers and soldiers were allocated apartments in Martouni. Dozens of other apartments are under construction in Stepanakert, Martouni and Hadrout.
T wo hooded thugs who shot a teenager in the head and left him for dead in north London have been jailed for life.

Denizen Karadag, 20, and Jayson Duir-Kota, 21, left their 18-year-old victim in a coma after six shots were fired at him and a bullet passed through his brain.

The teenager remains in a coma in hospital and it is unlikely he will ever be able to communicate again, police said.

Following an argument with the victim at a petrol station in Hornsey, the pair of thugs, armed with a gun and covering their faces, shot him before fleeing the scene on bicycles.

Jailed: Jayson Duir-Kota / Metropolitan Police

On August 30 last year, the same day as the shooting, the 18-year-olds friend had a brief conversation with Duir-Kota while they both filled up their cars at the Tottenham Lane petrol station.

Duir-Kota then contacted Karadag, who police said had issues with the victim and his brother in the past.

When Karadag arrived at the scene, and following the altercation, the teenager and his brother chased him on foot until he cycled away.

The brothers then also left the scene and later parked in Denmark Road.

Jailed: Denizen Karadag / Metropolitan Police

Karadag and Duir-Kota met again and made their way to the same street before six shots were fired at the victim and his brother.

One bullet hit the victim in the head, just above his right eye.

Police and paramedics were scrambled to the scene and he was rushed to hospital.

Karadag and Duir-Kota must serve a minimum jail term of 13 and a half years each after being sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday.

Detective Inspector Joe Daly, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "Only one firearm was used but the jury found Karadag and Duir-Kota equally culpable of attempted murder due to the clear element of planning involved in this incident.

"Although the victim's family remain as positive as they can, his injuries are so severe he will never fully recover and will need round-the-clock care for the rest of his life.

"It is an incredibly sad and needless situation and I hope Karadag and Duir-Kota feel the burden of their actions for a long time to come in prison."
P olice have launched a manhunt for the ex-boyfriend of a young woman knifed to death in east London.

Karolina Chiwluk was fatally stabbed at an address in Mile End just before 11pm on Thursday.

She had been visiting the home of ex-boyfriend Grzesiek Kosiec, 23, when a fight broke out between the pair, Scotland Yard said.

A woman, aged 42, and a man, 24, who also lived at the house, stepped in to protect the 20-year-old victim but were also injured.

Miss Chwiluk, who is yet to be formally identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

'Violent' man: Police have launched a manhunt for Grzesiek Kosiec / Met Police

The suspect fled the scene before police arrived.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Jones from the Homicide and Major Command urged anyone who knows where Mr Kosiec is to call 999 and warned members of the public that he is violent.

He said: "I would like to speak to Kosiec about the murder of Karolina. He was last seen at the house where she and two others who were trying to protect her were stabbed.

Stab victim: Karolina Chwiluk / Facebook

"It may be that friends of Kosiec who do not realise what has happened are giving him a place to stay, or other help. If that is the case, I'd urge them to get in contact with us as soon as possible.

"If you see Kosiec, or have information about where he may be, please contact us. He is known to work in south London and to have links to Tottenham

"Given what took place at Dora Street that night, I have every reason to believe that he is violent, and so would ask anyone who sees him to call police immediately."

The suspect, from Poland, is described as 5ft 10ins tall and of skinny build.

He has brown hair usually worn in a top knot and was last seen wearing black jogging bottoms and a dark t-shirt, police said.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact police on 020 8345 3734.
A murder probe has been launched after a young woman was stabbed to death and several others were injured in east London.

Police and paramedics were scrambled to Dora Street, Mile End, on Thursday night.

A 20-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene in the capital's eighth knife killing in two weeks.

Two other people, a woman, 42, and a man, 24, were rushed to hospital with stab wounds.

Their injuries were not thought to be serious and both have since been discharged, police said.

Before officers arrived shortly before 11pm, a suspect fled the scene, Scotland Yard said.

Detectives believe at this stage in the investigation that all those involved know each other.

No arrests have been made.

In statement, the Metropolitan Police said: The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival.

"The Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating. At this early stage it is understood all parties are known to each other.

Any with any information is urged to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3734, or police via 101 or by tweeting @MetCC.

To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.
A killer who beat and stabbed a teenager to death boasted about knifing south London gang members in a sickening video filmed just months before the murder.

In the shocking footage, Ali Zahawy grins while brandishing a large knife. He later killed 19-year-old Andre Aderemi by stabbing him in a Croydon street last August.

The clip, which was shown to a jury during the trial, shows Zahway behind the wheel of a car talking about shanking.

He can be heard saying: Bruv, listen yeah, tell Monks Hill and the rest of them yeah, Money Habits, yeah, shanking habits, watch.

Convicted killer Ali Zahawy grins while brandishing a large knife in footage filmed just months before he stabbed a teenager to death / Metropolitan Police

Zahawy, 19, was referring to Mr Aderemis gang Money Habits, a rival of his own gang named Shrublands Boys  which included Cela and Rodney Mukasa.

Mukasa, 20, and Zahawy were both handed life sentences at the Old Bailey on Thursday after they were found guilty of murdering the teenager.

Metropolitan Police

Fabio Cela, 19, who is also pictured in the clip, was found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter at the same court.

The three men, all from Croydon, carried out their attack on the aspiring rapper following a long-running feud between him and Cela.

Teenage killing: a picture of victim Andre Aderemi

There were several violent confrontations between them in the months leading up to the murder, police said.

Andres family had even moved out of the area over fears for their safety.

However, Andre, a former John Ruskin College pupil, was targeted by the group in the Monks Hill Estate after they discovered he was visiting the area on August 16.

The group, carrying knives and a metal pole, chased him down the street before catching up and launching a brutal attack. They then got into a white vehicle and drove off.

Andre, who had been living in Chatham, Kent, died in hospital from his injuries later that evening.

A knife found thrown from the car following the murder / Met Police

Meanwhile, Cela attended Croydon University Hospital with knife wounds to his head.

When asked by police how he had sustained the injuries, he was uncooperative. Cela was subsequently arrested.

Police investigating the murder found three knives near the scene which had been thrown from the car, while a metal pole was found with Andres blood on it and Celas DNA.

Andres mother, Yemi Hughes, 38, who taught design technology to Cela at Shirley High School where Zahawy and Mukasa were also pupils, said she felt no satisfaction in watching her sons killers face life sentences.

She told the Standard: Five lives have been ruined for nothing. Im not happy, Im not rejoicing that those verdicts have come back.

I just feel like it was a waste of lives. Their lives have been ruined, their families lives have been ruined, my life has been ruined, all our lives have been ruined  for no particular reason.

Mukasa and Zahawy were given life sentences with a recommendation to serve a minimum of 22 years each. Cela was jailed for 16 years.
T his is the moment a masked thug wields a hammer as he and a fellow moped raider target terrified pedestrians in the heart of London.

The men, joined by another pair of raiders armed with a crowbar, roared around the West End on two scooters and carried out at least one theft.

Evening Standard photographer Alex Lentati was almost knocked down by one of the bikes when it mounted the pavement outside the BBCs HQ, Broadcasting House.

Other witnesses described how the pillion passengers waved their weapons to ward off any have-a-go heroes.

The four brazen thieves were photographed at about 2pm on Thursday as they targeted pedestrians in Langham Street, yards from the entrance to the BBC Radio 1 studio.

Scotland Yard said officers were investigating one report of a theft of an iPhone from a woman in her forties on Great Portland Street just before 2pm.

Moped Gang wielding hammers - In pictures 1 /8 Moped Gang wielding hammers - In pictures Moped gang with hammers seen riding around near the BBC Broadcasting studios in a threating manner and trying to steal people mobile phones The Mega Agency Moped gang with hammers seen riding around near the BBC Broadcasting studios in a threating manner and trying to steal people mobile phones The Mega Agency Moped gang with hammers seen riding around near the BBC Broadcasting studios in a threating manner and trying to steal people mobile phones The Mega Agency Moped gang with hammers seen riding around near the BBC Broadcasting studios in a threating manner and trying to steal people mobile phones The Mega Agency Moped gang with hammers seen riding around near the BBC Broadcasting studios in a threating manner and trying to steal people mobile phones The Mega Agency Moped gang with hammers seen riding around near the BBC Broadcasting studios in a threating manner and trying to steal people mobile phones The Mega Agency

Police said the pedestrian was about to cross the road when a moped drove towards her. The pillion passenger pushed her and snatched her phone from her hand. She was uninjured.

The incident is the latest in a crimewave involving criminals on mopeds carrying out robberies and snatches. Met figures show moped-enabled crime has risen seven-fold in two years, from 1,053 in 2014 to 7,668 last year.

Mr Lentati was walking on Langham Street when he saw this motorbike come round the corner fast.

He said: At first I thought it was just bad driving, but then he mounted the pavement and started coming at me at fairly high speed. Id just come off the phone and was putting it in my pocket.

Radiers: Another thief wields a crowbar / The Mega Agency

"As the bike got closer it rode at me on the pavement, then whizzed past me on the inside next to the wall.

The audacity of it was that another one turned up and then they went round the block and came back again tearing down Great Portland Street.

"When they came round the second time one of them brandished the hammer, like they didnt want anyone to chase them or get close. It felt very brazen.

BBC staff told the Standard that in recent months such incidents have become commonplace. Internal memos within the corporation have warned staff to be vigilant of the moped gangs.

Andrew Bomford, a reporter for BBC Radio 4, saw the two bikes zoom down Great Portland Street and try to snatch something from a man on a zebra crossing.

He said: They almost clipped him as they were going past. He threw his hands up in the air and started running after them. They turned up the street towards the BBC.

"The guy that had been almost hit was chasing after them, and they came past me. Someone on the second bike was waving a hammer in his hand.

It seemed to me like it was a warning to not try and follow them or grab them, or he would hit you. Its completely brazen, and its happening all the time, and its the same thing each time.

Police have drawn up a list of about 200 individuals who they suspect of the majority of moped-related crimes, but they are hard to prosecute because of the difficulty in securing evidence.

Many are not pursued because of fears for their safety and that of other road users and it is difficult to identify them when they are covering their faces.

Chief Superintendent Peter Ayling, head of policing in Westminster, said: We are working hard to keep the public safe. We have been made aware of this serious incident and it is a top priority to identify and arrest these reckless offenders.
T wenty people beat up a child in a horrifying gang initiation ritual in south-west London, police say.

Police rushed to an estate in Battersea shortly after 7pm on Thursday after hearing reports that the boy, believed to aged 12 or 13, was being attacked.

When officers arrived, they searched the stairwells of Scholey House on the Winstanley Estate and came across several males matching the description given of the group.

They saw the police and fled, but were chased on foot down the stairwells and were detained several floors down.

A spokesman for the Met Police said: During the pursuit one of the officers noticed a bag in the stairwell, believed to have been discarded by the males as they fled police.

On searching it, officers found what they believed to be a firearm inside."

Four teeange boys aged between 16 and 19 were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm, and one male was further arrested in custody for possession of cannabis, police said.

The firearm has since been confirmed as an imitation.

If you know anything which may help with police enquiries, please call 101 or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
P arents who have lost children to knife crime are to lead a peace march and rally in London on Sunday.

Hundreds of marchers are expected to take to the streets in Hackney and Islington amid a growing outcry over the number of fatal stabbings.

There were also calls for the Metropolitan Police to boost the number of stop-and-searches in London to detect knife carriers.

March organiser Janette Collins, who runs the youth intervention project The Crib, said: We are saying we have had enough.

There are no police on the streets, we do not see them walking on the streets in Hackney and Islington, they are in their cars.

Stab victim: Marcel Addai

We need to bring back stop-and-search. If people object to it, I ask do they want to see kids running around with big knives?

Among the marchers will be mothers who have lost children to stabbings, including Philippa Addai, the mother of 17-year-old Marcel Addai, who was killed by a gang in Hoxton in 2015.

Ms Addai said: Now is the time to actually sort this epidemic out. No one is immune. Its our future and we need to care about it.

In south London a rally is being held in a Battersea church on Sunday.

Police this week launched a new phase of the Operation Sceptre campaign against knife crime, seizing 91 knives in three days after carrying out nearly 400 searches.
A man has died after being hit by a lorry on a busy road in south-east London.

Emergency services rushed to the scene of the crash on the south circular in Catford at 12.30pm on Friday.

Paramedics and firefighters attended while Londons Air Ambulance was also scrambled.

The man, whose age is not currently known, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene / Tim Gluckman

Tim Gluckman, who witnessed the aftermath of the incident, said a "very big lorry" had hit the man.

He said: "Lots of police vehicles, lots of ambulances and the fire brigade are all here.

"They keep increasing the size of the police cordon."

A huge police cordon was put in place / Tim Gluckman

A spokesman for the Met Police said: The driver of the lorry was uninjured.

The male pedestrian received life threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Next of kin have not yet been informed.

No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.
V ictoria Beckham has received a letter from the US Federal Trade Commission about her Instagram account. So too have Heidi Klum and Lindsay Lohan. Why is a US agency trawling through these celebrity accounts?

Because last month the FTC said it was watching out for products being promoted on social media by celebrities and reminding all concerned that marketing messages must be clearly identified. The American publication, the National Law Journal, submitted an FOI asking who was under scrutiny and those were just a handful of the nearly 100 celebrities, influencers and companies.

Victoria, pictured above, received a letter with a print out of her Instagram post of Lancer Contour Decollete (decolletage de-wrinkler) and a note reminding her that: The FTCs Endorsement Guide states that if there is a material connection between an endorser and the marketer of the product... the connection should be clearly and conspicuously disclosed.

There is no accusation of any untoward activity from Ms Beckham or others on the list. This is just a reminder of the rules.

For all of today's Diary click here.

Follow The Londoner on Twitter and Facebook here.
S adiq Khan is proving to be a very different mayor from his predecessors  more deliberate and more unifying.

He has been criticised for remaining in campaign mode, but does not have much hard power and needs to exercise his soft power as effectively as he can.

He has done well in getting the message out there that London is open, pushing air pollution up the political agenda and calling for more power for the capital  although he could perhaps do more to sell London to the rest of the UK. He appears to move easily through Londons many worlds. Polls suggest he is popular with voters.

The Mayor has eschewed eye-catching initiatives. But he did not come to City Hall with a particularly well developed set of plans or a large team of experienced leaders, so a lot of time and energy has gone into setting up the City Hall machine, making mayoral appointments and developing policy.

One hallmark of his term so far: the determination he has shown in appointing women and ethnic minority people to senior positions in the Greater London Authority and beyond. It feels far beyond tokenism.

We have seen most action in transport where Mr Khan has frozen fares, introduced the Hopper bus ticket and is cracking down on air pollution. Hes told Transport for London that he wants the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street and a pedestrian and cycle bridge from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf before the next election, three years away.

But like previous mayors he is discovering that it is easier to campaign on housing and infrastructure than deliver it. With cuts to public spending, notably the end of the central government grant to TfL, he is seriously short of money.

Its early days, however, and Mr Khan is right to spend time on getting the people and policy right. We will have to see what he has achieved in three years time and beyond.
L ooking every bit the victor, Sadiq Khan entered the ring at Wembley on Saturday night to embrace world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua after his defeat of Wladimir Klitschko.

The beaming Mayor, who learned to box as a boy and often cites the life skills he picked up, hailed the British boxer as a Londoner and a legend.

Now the Labour Party is putting its faith in Khans pugilistic streak, recruiting him to help fight off the Conservative blue tide across the capital.

Sitting in his eighth-floor office at City Hall in front of London prints by modern British artists, he pulls no punches when it comes to the Prime Minister. Theresa May is the most anti-London leader of a mainstream party since Margaret Thatcher, he declares.

As he approaches his first anniversary as Mayor this weekend, he rattles off a list of reasons why she is a disaster for London: she is jeopardising small businesses by increasing rates; failing to invest in infrastructure; breaking promises to devolve commuter rail services; taking away money from schools; ignoring toxic air.

But he goes for the knockout with Brexit. Khan claims the PM wants to win a big majority in next months general election not so that she can negotiate a softer deal with Brussels, but so she can push for the hardest one possible.

Anthony Joshua celebrates with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan following victory over Wladimir Klitschko / Getty Images

He warns that walking away from talks without a deal would be catastrophic for London. My worry is it will give her the wriggle room and the autonomy to negotiate an extremely hard Brexit. This really is the last chance to stop that.

Brexit has huge traction in a city that voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, and Khan is putting it at the heart of Labours London campaign.

He casts doubt on whether the PM even voted to stay. People have criticised, fairly or unfairly, Jeremy Corbyns enthusiasm for the Remain campaign. But I tell you what, he campaigned far harder than Theresa May to remain in the European Union.

Theresa May said that she was in favour of remaining in the European Union  all the evidence there has been since she became the leader is the opposite.

He is scathing of her failure to reassure EU nationals in Britain and her target of cutting net migration to below 100,000. We need immigration, we need talent, we need people to come here to work. If immigration from the EU and around the world falls, that will have a devastating effect on businesses in London.

He raises the idea of a London-only visa, but does not want to tie the Governments hands, instead arguing for a more flexible immigration system.

You can call it what you like. I accept there are parts of the country that dont want immigration, even though they may need it. But London wants and needs it. If the Government wants London to continue being the engine of the countrys economy, it needs to recognise that.

Khan is realistic enough to accept that it is not unfair criticism that Labours Brexit policy lacked clarity, although he insists it is now robust. He also defends Jeremy Corbyn over claims that London would be less safe if the Labour leader makes it to No 10, suggesting that government cuts to Metropolitan Police funding are the real danger.

He plays down concerns that Mr Corbyn might struggle to take difficult decisions during a terrorist attack. When youre a leader, you rely upon the advice you are given. Of course, your experience and values help you make the right decision, but the idea of scaring people not to vote for another party using security as a device is ridiculous.

While Khan is loyal to the party he joined at 15, he is also a pragmatist who privately shares many of the criticisms of Mr Corbyns leadership.

Labour might lay claim to great swathes of the capital, but he is alive to Londoners concerns about the party. He promises to stand up for them after John McDonnell hinted that he could target incomes of more than 70,000. The shadow chancellor has also suggested inheritance tax relief on expensive London homes could go.

Khan says that many on decent salaries in the capital are by no stretch of the imagination wealthy because of high living costs. He is quite clear that Labour should reduce the tax burden for Londoners. London is different from the rest of the country, he adds. He would also oppose Tory tax rises. I will always stand up for London, whether the chancellor is a Labour chancellor or a Conservative one.

But he commends the Government, with whom he struck a record 3.15 billion deal for affordable housing, for finally waking up to this crisis.

What of his own plans? Mr Khan is often tipped as a future Labour leader, if he can just get the timing of a return to Parliament right.

Just as Boris Johnson did before him, he sticks to a stock answer: Im looking forward to serving the next four or five terms as the Mayor of London.

Then he makes a surprising revelation. Before the election was called, he wrote to the Electoral Commission asking for the next mayoral contest to be delayed for a year until 2021, because having it on the same day as the 2020 general election would cloud the issues.

Such a move could also have made it easier to become an MP again. That wasnt the reason. I think youre being mischievous, he says. But the political fighter is straining to get out.
T heresa Mays hopes of securing a big victory in the General Election were boosted after Labour suffered losses and the Ukip vote collapsed in local polls.

Labour's election co-ordinator Andrew Gwynne acknowledged there were "challenges" for the party as it struggled in some of its Welsh heartlands and failed to resist Tory advances in England.

Ukip suffered significant reverses, with voters switching to the Tories in a pattern which could provide a major boost to Mrs May as she hopes to increase her Commons majority next month.

The Liberal Democrats were having a mixed election night, failing to prevent the Tories retaining control in Somerset, but making inroads in other areas.

By 9.30am on Friday, the Conservatives had secured 561 seats, gaining 155, while Labour was down by 125 with 403 seats overall.

Staff count ballot papers for the local election at Riverside Ice Leisure Centre in Chelmsford, Essex / PA

The Liberal Democrats had 142 seats, losing 29.

Ukip had lost 41 seats and had so far saved not one of the seats it held facing a total wipeout.

In Lincolnshire, the county where Mr Nuttall is standing to be an MP next month, the party lost all nine of its seats.

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Mr Nuttall had cited the party having councillors right across the constituency as the reason he had chosen to stand in Boston and Skegness in the General Election on June 8.

Labour was dealt a severe blow in the south Wales valleys, with independents taking control of Blaenau Gwent and the result on a knife edge in Merthyr Tydfil - where the final three seats will be declared on June 8 with Labour needing to win them all to retain a majority.

Experts have forecast heavy losses for Mr Corbyns party in Scotland with counting expected to begin at 9am.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Chelmsford West, Jude Deakin (centre) celebrates with colleagues after retaining her seat in the Essex County Council local elections / PA

As the first results began to trickle in after Thursday's vote, shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said: "It's never good to hear that we are losing seats."

In England, the councils being contested were "historically the Conservatives' strongest areas" and in Wales, Labour would struggle to emulate the success it enjoyed in 2012 when the party dominated the results, he said.

Mr Gardiner said he would be "desperately disappointed" if Labour lost control of Merthyr, telling BBC Radio 4 it would be a "huge loss to us".

Mr Gwynne told Sky News the results showed a mixed picture in Wales, but he expected a difficult night in Scotland.

Prime Minister Theresa May (C) on the campaign trail in Ormskirk in north-west England / AFP/Getty Images

He added that the Ukip vote had seemingly collapsed and transferred to the Conservatives, which was where Labour was being squeezed.

"There are challenges for the Labour Party around the country, I'm not going to hide from that," he said.

"But I think the one thing we've really got to look at here is how we now take forward the Labour campaign going into June 8 and the General Election."

Brendan Toomey, who was the leader of Merthyr Tydfil Council, lost his seat in the Labour heartland.

"It's the birthplace of Labour, we are having a very disappointing evening to say the least," he admitted on BBC Radio 4.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on the campaign trail in Oxford on Thursday / PA

"It is quite clear that huge numbers of the public aren't entirely happy, to say the least, with the way the Labour Party is going at the moment."

In a sign of the problems facing Labour in England, a campaign visit to Harlow by Mr Corbyn the week before the vote failed to boost support in the Essex town, traditionally viewed as a bellwether seat, with the Tories winning a clean sweep on their way to retaining control in the county.

Mr Corbyn's party also lost ground in Cumbria.

While the county council remains under no overall control, the Conservatives replaced Labour as the biggest party, with the Tories effectively taking 10 seats from Labour.

There was better news for Labour in Doncaster, where Ros Jones was re-elected as mayor after taking more than 50 per cent of the vote in the first round.

In Warwickshire, the Tories gained control as Labour's representation collapsed from 22 to 10, while in Lincolnshire the Conservatives benefited from Ukip being wiped out.

Although the Lib Dems failed to prevent the Tories retaining Somerset, former Wells MP Tessa Munt defeated the Conservative council leader while in Eastleigh in Hampshire ex-MP Mike Thornton secured one of three gains from Ukip.

Lib Dem former business secretary Sir Vince Cable called the night "neutral" for his party.

He said the party's overall vote share had increased significantly, while it had also made progress in areas like Cheltenham and Eastleigh, where it hoped to gain back MPs at next month's General Election.

"We're in a relatively encouraging position, though there hasn't been a spectacular breakthrough," he said.

In the contests for new metro-mayors, former Labour cabinet minister Andy Burnham hopes to begin life after Westminster by winning in Greater Manchester.

He is regarded as the favourite in the contest which will result in new decision-making and spending powers being in the hands of the winner.
D avid Davis has accused European politicians of trying to bully the British people in the Brexit negotiations.

The Brexit secretary launched a stinging attack on Brussels, saying a line was crossed during an appearance on BBCs Question Time.

It comes just days after Prime Minister Theresa May sensationally accused Brussels of trying to influence the general election by making threats.

European Council President Donald Tusk has urged politicians on both sides to not let their emotions get out of hand.

Theresa May made a statement in Downing Street criticising European leaders / PA

Speaking during Thursday night's show, Mr Davis claimed that EU chief Jean-Claude Juncker had deliberated misled the Prime Minister during a dinner between the pair.

He said: Clearly what was happening was the commission was trying to bully the British people.

The British people will not be bullied, and the government will not allow them to be bullied.

He added: We want to keep this stable and calm and sensible so we get an outcome thats good for both sides.

Eventually it got to the point where the line was crossed.

Mrs May claimed on Wednesday that she would be bloody difficult in the negotiations, after details of a dinner she held with him and key negotiator Michel Barnier were leaked to a German newspaper.

In the leaked report, it was alleged Mr Junker told the Prime Minister Brexit cannot be a success.

Earlier this week, it was reported Brussels was seeking a divorce deal that could cost Britain up to 60 billion (51bn).

Mr Davis said that Britain would not have to pay such a settlement.
D iane Abbott has suffered another numbers meltdown as she massively underestimated Labours local election losses.

During a car crash interview with ITN, the Shadow Home Secretary was left floundering over figures for the second time this week.

When queried by the interviewer about the number of seats Labour has lost in the local elections, she said: At the time of us doing this interview I think the net losses are about 50.

The interviewer replies: Theyre actually about 125.

Ms Abbott pauses before altering her answer, saying: Well the last time I looked we had net losses of 100 but obviously this is a moving picture.

On social media many listeners hit out at the politician, describing her as "embarassing" and "comedy gold".

One Twitter user said: "This is the woman Labour are putting forward as HOME SECRETARY. It's amazing ANYONE votes for them at all."

Another added: "Potential Home Secretary....utterley frightening."

It comes after she was slammed for an embarrassing interview on Tuesday in which she appeared to stumble over the cost of Labour policies live on national radio.

Diane Abbott in car crash interview on LBC

The Hackney MP had been asked the details of a newly-launched Labour Party plan to introduce an extra 10,000 police officers during an radio interview on LBC.

At first she quotes the figure at just 300,000  which would work out at a wage of just 30 for each officer.

She then revised the cost to 80 million  which would still see the extra officers paid a yearly salary of just 8,000.

Ms Abbott eventually laid out Labours correct spending plans for the extra officers, running up to around 300 million a year.
E uropean Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker openly derided Brexit today by telling European grandees the English language was losing importance following Britains decision to leave the EU.

He was loudly applauded at a State of the Union conference in Florence when he declared that he would speak in French. He said: I will express myself in French because, slowly but surely, English is losing importance in Europe.

The jibe prompted a delighted round of applause and gave a signal that Mr Juncker is prepared to square up to Theresa May.

The British Prime Minister protested earlier this week against leaks from Brussels that she claimed were timed to influence the general election.

In other developments, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, which employs 6,500 people in the UK, warned that London will stall because of Brexit. Lloyd Blankfein said that the company had contingency plans to move people out of the UK.

Mr Juncker, who claimed the EU was going from strength to strength, said Brexit was a tragedy and implied that Britain could expect no favours in negotiations.

There should be no doubt whatsoever that it is not the EU which is abandoning the UK, it is the opposite  they are abandoning the EU, he said. And this is a difference which will be felt over the next few years.

Now growth in the EU is twice that in the US and I feel we can be reassured as far as the immediate future is concerned. And at that point our British friends decided to leave the EU, which is a tragedy.

This morning Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said talks would be easier if European Commission officials kept their views to themselves.

Brexit Secretary David Davis claimed the commission was trying to bully the British people on BBC Ones Question Time last night.

Ex-Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith accused Brussels of dripping poison into the ears of European leaders and of making comments some of them absurd and many of them abusive about the UKs position.
S hadow chancellor John McDonnell has attempted to distance himself from demonstrators who flew Syrian regime and communist flags while he spoke at protest.

The senior Labour figure said he was unaware, and that he felt furious after learning about the banners flown in Trafalgar Square for the annual May Day rally.

He was criticised by British Ukrainians for speaking under the Communist hammer and sickle banner at the event.

Photos from the scene also show some people at the mass rally holding portraits of Joseph Stalin, and other Soviet iconography.

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB), reacting earlier this week, said politicians had "no excuse" for sharing a platform with others carrying banners of Stalin - a "tyrant" who killed millions of their countrymen, and a hammer and sickle representing "repression and mass murder".

Mr McDonnell, asked if he knew he was standing in front of the controversial banners, told BBC Radio 4's Today: "No, of course I didn't know.

"It was a TUC march, it was a TUC May Day celebration. I was there to celebrate May Day, which was a celebration of the contribution workers make to our economy."

Asked if he would have insisted on the banners being removed if he had known about them, Mr McDonnell said: "Of course I would, my goodness yeah.

"It was only afterwards - the TUC organisers didn't know they were there, someone had obviously shoved them up, I was furious afterwards and I think so were the organisers themselves.

"We're talking about the Trades Union Congress. It isn't an organisation that backs any of these sort of movements. That's appalling."
U kip today tried to claim it was still relevant in British politics despite its vote share collapsing in its English strongholds.

The party lost all nine of its seats on Lincolnshire county council, all six seats on Essex county council and faced a tense day in Kent where it was fighting to cling on to its 14 seats there.

In another blow, Ukips senior officers in Rotherham resigned in protest at the direction of the party and Paul Nuttalls leadership, the Yorkshire Post reported.

Elections expert Michael Thrasher told Sky News he expected Ukips share of the national vote to fall as low as three per cent, down from 22 per cent in the equivalent contests in 2013.

The partys local government spokesman, Peter Reeve, said Theresa May had been successful in cynically promoting a myth that the Tories had replaced Ukip as the party of Brexit.

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He told the BBC the suggestion that Ukip was no longer needed following Brexit couldnt be further from the truth, adding: Even if we dont win a single seat later on today,

Ukip still has 300 councillors across the country and is still a very relevant, real voice in local politics. Labours Stephen Kinnock said: We have seen the back of Ukip.

Its heavy losses to the Tories in core Eurosceptic areas casts a shadow over Mr Nuttalls attempt to take Lincolnshire seat Boston & Skegness at the general election next month.

Ex-Tory MP Neil Hamilton, now Ukip leader in Wales, said the party would keep calm and carry on despite the Tories gaining Monmouthshire council.

The area had returned two Ukip Welsh Assembly members in 2016. Lincolnshire revealed an almost clean transfer of votes to the Tories as the party bounced 17.4 per cent while Ukips vote share was down 16.8 per cent.

In Essex, which voted 62 per cent Leave in the EU referendum, the Tories gained 14 seats altogether, and held seats in Clacton  the home of the partys ex-MP Douglas Carswell.

Former leader Nigel Farage suggested he was expecting losses for Ukip last night on his LBC radio show, while Mr Nuttall kept a low profile this morning.

Mr Farage told listeners: Its not just Labour thats going to lose seats tonight  and Im very glad Im coming off air in a moment.

Ukip enjoyed a breakthrough in 2013 when it fielded a record 1,734 candidates and Mr Farage declared it was Britains third party.

But the Conservatives pursuit of a hard Brexit and public infighting among Ukip members, including an alleged brawl at the European Parliament, has seen voters desert the party.

In London the repercussions of a swing from Ukip to the Tories could be significant. Labour could lose marginal seats such as Eltham at the general election if the 6,000 who voted Ukip there last time switch to the Tories.

In Labour seat Dagenham and Rainham, where Ukip finished second in 2015 with 29 per cent of the votes, even a small swing to the Tories could boost candidate Julie Marson.
U kip was pulverised in local elections today, clearing another hurdle between Theresa May and a decisive general election victory.

Jeremy Corbyn suffered a major setback in his hopes of mounting a challenge for No 10 as Labour haemorrhaged scores of council seats.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, in an exclusive Evening Standard interview, said his leader had a mountain to climb if he was to win on June 8.

After a night of political drama Mrs May was looking the clear winner in the county council elections, with the Tories winning the first of six new metropolitan regional mayors.

Significantly, former Ukip backers appeared to have swung behind her call for a mandate for Brexit.

Conservative candidate for Chelmsford Central, Dick Madden, celebrates with colleagues after retaining his seat in the Essex County Council local elections / PA

Ukip leader Paul Nuttall suffered an utter disaster in the early results, losing every seat in Lincolnshire, where he plans to stand as an MP, and in their former stamping ground of Essex.

The Conservatives had taken control of five councils  Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and the Isle of Wight  and had stolen 160 seats from other parties by mid-morning.

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Labour lost control of two councils, Blaenau Gwent and Bridgend, and had lost over 70 councillors by mid-morning. They held onto Cardiff and several other towns where the Tories hoped to make gains, however.

Tim Farrons Liberal Democrats failed to achieve the resurgence in the West Country they hoped, falling short of targets such as Dorset and Somerset, losing 27 seats so far.

Astonishingly, the Tories came close to winning control of Northumberland  failing when the two candidates drew lots in a tied ward.

Staff count ballot papers for the local election at Riverside Ice Leisure Centre in Chelmsford, Essex / PA

Ukips poor result was significant, as it is the first major election since the Brexit referendum.

Deputy chairwoman Suzanne Evans said: Unfortunately, we have been in a sense the victims of our own success. We do have a duty now to reform, because what concerns me is that there is still a desperate need for a sensible third party in British politics.

For Labour, shadow chancellor John McDonnell put on a brave face saying it had not been the wipeout that people expected but had been a tough night.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said Labour, Ukip and Lib-Dem supporters were transferring over to the Tories.

Mr Corbyns leadership was being blamed by some unsuccessful candidates who said his name had come up repeatedly on the doorsteps.

Welsh assembly member Vaughan Gething said:  On the doorstep theres obviously mixed messaging about Jeremy Corbyn and theres no point us soft-soaping that or trying to tell you that isnt happening.

When you look across these results there hasnt been a uniform break to the Tories as was predicted in the national polls.

But it does show weve still got an awful lot of work to do ahead of the general election.

Lib-Dem former business secretary Sir Vince Cable said Ukips collapse had important implications.

Ukip has virtually disintegrated, and that matters politically because, if you are a middle-of-the-road Conservative who voted Remain and you see your own party effectively assimilating Ukip and its values as well as its voters, I think they will have pause now and worry about the future, he said.

Counting of the full results will not be over until tonight.

In his interview with the Standard, Mr Khan, who is seen by many as a future Labour party leader, also vowed to stand up for Londoners against income tax hikes after Labour hinted it could target those earning more than 70,000 and expectations the Tories could drop their triple tax lock.

He warned that walking away from the European Union without a Brexit deal would be catastrophic for the capitals economy and accused Mrs May of running away from serious challenge by ruling out television debates and refusing to meet the public at events.
F ormer Business Secretary Vince Cable has accused Theresa May of playing a dangerous game with the jobs of Londoners after she accused the EU of meddling in the General Election.

It comes as new figures reveal 440,000 people in London are employed by more than 100 companies whose ultimate owner is based in the EU.

This includes 18,000 Santander staff, which has its headquarters in Spain and 16,471 staff working for Lidl, with its firms operations based in Germany.

Restaurant chain Nandos has its headquarters in Luxembourg and employs 16,101 staff in London, according to information provided by the House of Commons Library.

The party said Theresa Mays accusation European bureaucrats were trying to influence the General Election ahead of Brexit could ultimately be a threat to the UK jobs market if EU-British relations unravel.

David Davis on BBC Question Time: "The British people will not be bullied"

Sir Vince, who is standing as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Twickenham, said: Theresa May is playing a dangerous game that risks the jobs of people across London by increasing the chances of a chaotic UKIP-style Brexit.

The list of EU head quartered firms illustrates the extent to which the economies of Britain are interwoven. Once you start unpicking the relationship with the EU and severing the links with the single market then the advantages of operating out of the UK become considerably less.

Santander, Lidl and Nandos have all given commitments since the EU referendum in 2016 that intend on staying in the EU and there is no threat to workers jobs.

However Deutsche Bank, which employs 7046 staff in London and is headquartered in Germany has already indicated that up to 2000 staff could be asked to relocate to the EU.

Former Business Secretary said the type of Brexit Mrs May is pursuing could lead to more expensive operating costs for companies in the UK and raises the potential of the introduction of none-tariff barriers.

He said: Im not predicting that any of these people are going to walk away but it does raise an additional element of uncertainty.

Weve already had a good example of this with Deutsche bank based in London. Half of their labour force are going to be shipped out to Europe.

A Conservative spokesman said: We know what voters think of Vince Cable  they kicked him out at the last election.

He would happily put Jeremy Corbyn in charge of negotiating Brexit, and people know how much of a disaster that would be for Twickenham, London and the whole UK.

Only Theresa May and the Conservatives can deliver the strong and stable leadership for Brexit and beyond which will protect peoples jobs.

The House of Commons Library figures show that 127 firms employ more than 500 people in London, but have their headquarters in an EU-27 country.

They include Vigin Active International Limited which employs 13,629 staff in London, and has its HQ in Malta, Deutchse Bank which has 7046 staff and Accenture which has 9330 staff in London but is run from Dublin.

Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive of London First, said: There is some uncertainty but no indication of a wholesale move, with global giants including Apple, Facebook and Google committing their futures to London alongside reassurances from many European companies that theyre here to stay.
A scallop diver who was rescued after being stranded in the sea for 11 hours has told how tried to "stay positive" during the terrifying ordeal.

Ivan Doychev, 40, was forced to swim for hours in the freezing waters after he was pushed out to sea by a strong tide into the Pentland Firth off the far north of Scotland.

He said it was the sight of helicopters and boats searching for him that helped keep him going during the mass search operation.

The search was launched after Mr Doychev, from Bulgaria, was reported missing from the dive boat Fair Morn at 5.20pm on Wednesday, off Burwick in Orkney.

Lifeboat Rescue Rejection

He was spotted in the water at 3.15am on Thursday by the crew of Russian sail training vessel Yunyi Baltiets, and managed to swim towards them.

He told The Press and Journal: "The first hour was terrible, the tide pushed me out and out and out - I was in the middle of the sea. The tides changed and I started to go back.

"I am very appreciative. I could see the choppers and boats. They were far away but I could see them so I knew they were looking for me, which kept me going."

He added: "Maybe I'm lucky. All I did was stay positive. I did not panic. I knew not to panic and just keep swimming."

Mr Doychev appeared to be in reasonable health but was taken to hospital in Wick for a check-up.

RNLI Thurso coxswain Wing Munro said: "He is a very lucky chap to be still alive after being about 11 hours in the water in the Pentland Firth as it is very chilly.

"He had all his diving gear on, that would have helped a lot, and probably very good quality, thick gear.

The search operation involved RNLI lifeboats from Thurso, Longhope and Stromness and two Coastguard rescue helicopters.
T he Duke of Cambridge stepped up on Friday to join the Queen on her first day of Royal business since Prince Philip announced his resignation yesterday.

Smiling together, they welcomed Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi at Buckingham Palace ahead of a private lunch at Clarence House.

Prince Philip, who announced yesterday that he was stepping down from his Royal duties aged 95, was absent from the lunch.

Suu Kyi - who is Myanmar's foreign minister and de facto head of its civilian government - later met Prince Charles and his wife Camilla.

The Queen appeared in good spirits as she met Suu Kyi at the Palace, flanked by Prince William / Getty Images

Continuing her plan announced yesterday to "continue to carry out a full programme of official engagements with the support of members of the Royal Family", the Queen this morning also bestowed a series of honours at the Palace.

The Prince of Wales has also increasingly been supporting the Queen in her more onerous duties such as travel abroad / Getty Images

American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, named in the New Years Honours list, was made dame for services to fashion and journalism.

In recent years the Queen has, slowly but surely, been handing over to other senior royals some of her more onerous duties including all those involving long-haul travel to her heir, the Prince of Wales.

Prince Charles, Prince William and the Princess Royal now carry out many of her regular investitures.

Recently the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced they would be finally moving back to London from Norfolk, where Prince William works as an air ambulance pilot, in order to help shoulder the burden more.
A teenage girl was left fuming after McDonalds staff in south London refused to accept her old 5 note despite it still being legal tender.

Her father Keith Mason has slammed the restaurant chain, saying who are McDonalds to make their own rules up.

He had given his daughter, 16, money so she could purchase a Big Mac from the restaurant in Sydenham, but she was told on Friday afternoon that the note could not be accepted.

My daughter went in there and handed it over and they refused to accept it. She phoned me up and I said its legal until midnight, Mr Mason told the Standard.

Its all wrong, I bet they would take a fiver off a police man, he said, adding: I could go and spend it in William Hill and they would accept it, or Sainsburys or anywhere else.

The old paper note is set to go out of circulation at midnight on Friday / PA

Today (Friday) is the last day Brits are able to spend old paper 5 notes before they lose their legal tender status.

The notes will no longer be considered legal tender from midnight Friday going into Saturday but the Bank of England has estimated there are still about 165 million in circulation across the country.

Keith Mason's daughter was unable to buy a Big Mac at this McDonald's in Sydenham / Google

A McDonalds spokesperson said: We apologise for the confusion caused. All restaurant teams are being reminded that this is legal tender until midnight this evening.

The Bank of England is expecting local banks and building societies to continue to accept the 5 notes for a short period of time. But if local banks and building societies will not accept the notes, the Bank of England will.

A spokeswoman for the Bank of England told the Standard: We are expecting banks and building societies to still accept 5 notes for a period after today, so from tomorrow people can still either pay them in or exchange them.

However even if it is two or 20 years down the line, the Bank of England will always reimburse people for them. They never become worthless.

Spend them today as normal and from tomorrow take it to a bank or building society or bring it to us.
A family claim they were removed from an overbooked Delta Air Lines flight and threatened with prison after refusing to give up their two-year-old sons seat.

Brian Schear and his wife Brittany had boarded the flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles with their one and two year old sons when they were asked by staff to get off.

An eight-minute video posted on YouTube by Mr Schear shows him arguing with crew members as they try to convince him to give up the seat being used by his son Grayson.

The crew member asks Mr Schear, from Southern California, to carry Grayson on his lap so someone else can have the seat.

Mr Schear argues that he has paid for the seat, initially reserved for his 18-year-son Mason, who had travelled on an earlier flight.

He tells the staff: Youre saying youre gonna give that away to someone else when I paid for that seat? Thats not right.

An airline official then replies: With him being two, he cannot sit in the car seat. He has to sit in your arms the whole time.

Crew members said Mr Schear's son could not sit on his own in a plane seat / Brian S/YouTube

Crew members claimed this is banned under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, however this is at odds with Delta's published advice, which says that for children under two years "we recommend you purchase a seat on the aircraft and use an approved child safety seat".

The FAA's website also "strongly urges" parents to put young children in a safety device in their own seat during flights.

Mr Schear has since told news station KABC that the staff threatened that he and his wife would be sent to prison if they didnt give up the seat.

He said: You have to give up the seat or youre going to jail, your wife is going to jail and theyll take your kids from you.

Mr Schear later claimed he and his wife were threatened with prison / Brian S/YouTube

His wife Brittany told ABC although the family believed they were in the right there was little they could do.

"As a mother, you have a one-year-old and two-year-old - it doesn't matter whether that's true or false. It put fear in me," she said.

The incident, which happened on April 23, came to light when the video was posted online.

Delta apologised in a statement on Thursday evening.

The company said: "We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta, and we've reached out to them to refund their travel and provide additional compensation."

"Delta's goal is to always work with customers in an attempt to find solutions to their travel issues. That did not happen in this case and we apologise."
L iam Neeson surprised staff and customers at a local sandwich shop when he popped in after it put up a sign saying he could eat for free.

After hearing that he was in town to shoot his new film, staff at the Big Star Sandwich Company in Vancouver put up a chalkboard that read Liam Neeson eats here for free on Thursday morning.

And it seems that the Taken star caught wind of the generous offer and popped in to the cafe just hours after they posted it to their Instagram.

According to TMZ, the Irish actor walked into the shop and used one of his most famous line: Where is my free sandwich?

Free lunch: Liam Neeson takes them up on their kind offer / Big Star Sandwich

We absolutely did not think hed actually show up, Alex Johrden, director of operations, later told Huffington Post.

He added: Were not sure how he saw the sign. We assume he heard it through the production crew, who had been in and out all day.

Silence Exclusive Interview with Liam Neeson

While the A-lister didnt actually get anything to eat in the end, he did take the time to pose for a photo with staff.

Were hoping he comes back in to take us up on the offer, said Johrden.

Neeson is currently in Vancouver to shoot scenes for his new film Hard Power, which is another revenge action thriller.
H elen McCrory gets to grips with another complex character in ITVs brand new drama, Fearless.

The first official pictures show the actress in the lead role as Emma Banville, a human rights lawyer who has built a reputation for defending lost causes.

In the new thriller, Banville sets out to prove the innocence of convicted murderer Kevin Russell, who maintains he didnt kill schoolgirl Linda Sims 14 years earlier.

Convinced that Russell has been wronged, the lawyer begins to search for the truth about Lindas death.

As she learns more about the case, she uncovers involvement from powerful figures in the police and intelligence services who try to hinder her investigation.

When l was at drama school l was inspired by Prime Suspect, watching as Britain led the way in creating strong female characters to lead their dramas said McCrory of the new show.

The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 1 /13 The biggest and best TV shows of 2017 Doctor Who The classic sci-fi show got a new lease of life with new companion Bill Potts BBC Line of Duty The BBC's acclaimed crime drama moved up to BBC One with more twists than ever before World Productions / BBC / Aidan Monaghan Broadchurch Chris Chibnall's mystery drama came to a close with a compelling final series ITV The Moorside Sheridan Smith puts in a stellar performance as she returns to TV in the BBC's Shannon Matthews drama Stuart Wood/ITV/BBC Apple Tree Yard Emily Watson starred in the BBC's gripping psychological thriller BBC/Kudos/Nick Briggs Fortitude, Series 2 Sky Atlantic's original Nordic noir-inspired chiller is back for more bloody mysteries Sky Atlantic Sherlock, Series 4 Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman return as Holmes and Watson in the BBC's mega hit PA Taboo Tom Hardy's dark thriller is unlike any period drama you've seen before FX Networks No Offence, Series 2 Paul Abbott's comedy-drama continues to walk a tonal tightrope with total ease Channel 4/Ian Derry The Voice A move to ITV has given singing contest The Voice a new lease of life ITV

She added: l'm thrilled to be leading ITV's new drama - its a thriller that starts deceptively small, then begins crossing borders to different cultures and continents.

The six-part series is produced by Mammoth Screen, the makers of Poldark and Downton Abbey who will also be creating the BBCs new War of the Worlds drama next year.

Writer Patrick Harbinson shared his vision for the main role, saying: I wanted to create a character who fights for those outside the normal run of society, and who is uncompromising, difficult, and completely indifferent to unpopularity and danger.

Alongside McCrory, the series will star Michael Gambon, best-known for playing Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films, Jessica Jones Robin Weigert and Jonathan Forbes from Catastrophe.

Fearless airs on ITV later this year.
T he makers of Downton Abbey have come up with an enthralling programme packed with adventure and emotion. New series Jamestown will take viewers on a journey to 17th century America to witness the beginnings of a nation.

Heres everything you need to know:

Whats it about?

A period drama given the Western treatment, Jamestown is set in Virginia in 1619. It tells the story of three women who set sail for an all-male colony in America to marry men theyve never met.

The first British settlement in what would become the US, Jamestown is a lawless place where the women are forced to use their wits and rely on each other to survive. Deemed the property of their husbands, intense rivalries, affairs and fierce competition ensue.

Settlers: the new series follows three women as they journey to America / Sky TV

Whos in the cast?

Peaky Blinders Sophie Rundle will play kind-hearted Alice, Naomi Battrick (Waterloo Road and Ripper Street) is quick-witted Jocelyn, and Niamh Walsh (Holby City) will play strong-willed Verity.

Max Beesly, Gwilym Lee and Dean Lennox Kelly play the trios husbands, Henry, Samuel and Meredith respectively.

Jamestown - In pictures 1 /6 Jamestown - In pictures Jamestown starring Max Beesley Sky TV Jamestown starring Naomi Battrick, Niamh Walsh and Sophie Rundl Sky TV Jamestown Sky TV Jamestown starring Naomi Battrick and Sophie Rundle Sky TV Jamestown starring Niamh Walsh Sky TV

What happens in episode one?

After meeting on the long passage from England, Alice, Jocelyn and Verity arrive with a boatful of other wives-to-be and are flung headfirst into the brutal world of Jamestown.

The first show sees them meet their husbands and get to grips with the grisly reality of their new lives in America.

Will it be a one-off?

Sky is so confident in the success of its new period drama Jamestown that its already commissioned producers Carnival Films to create a second series.

Where was it filmed?

Despite being set in Virginia, the rolling countryside seen in the series was shot in Hungary.

Whens it on?

Jamestown airs on Sky1, tonight at 9pm.
K ayvan Novak must be the only man in Britain whose heart leaps with joy at the very thought of a nuisance call.

I immediately play an old person, he says. Theyre like: You were involved in an accident. And then Im like  he adopts the voice of a doddery old man  Yes ... Did the insurance payment come through? Oh, thank God! Because we were about to lose the house!

"Then I start telling my wife in the background: Were saved! Were saved! He chuckles to himself. They basically hang up on me.

For this 38-year-old west Londoner, such elaborate jokes are not only a very expensive hobby, they are the foundation of a long-running career in TV and film which reaches new heights tonight, when Britain Today Tonight starts on Channel 4.

As with his Bafta-winning comedy Fonejacker (and later, Facejacker) Novak dons outlandish prosthetics.

This time, though, his characters are all reporters for the fictional Channel 9Nine News Network and the pranks take the form of interviews with unsuspecting members of the public.

Kayvan Novak - In pictures 1 /10 Kayvan Novak - In pictures Digger Daley in Britain Today Tonight with Kayvan Novak Channel 4 Kayvan Novak as Fonejacker Channel 4 Britain Today Tonight with Kayvan Novak Channel 4 Jon Donovan in Britain Today Tonight with Kayvan Novak Keyvan Novak Adrian Lourie Britain Today Tonight with Kayvan Novak Channel 4 Peter P Powers in Britain Today Tonight with Kayvan Novak Channel 4 Ken Kildoon in Britain Today Tonight with Kayvan Novak Channel 4

Its full of funny moments but Novak says getting laughs isnt his prime motivation. Really, I just want to go around being these people.

"The fact that I need to carve comedy out of it to justify it, that is the prank. Its not like Im going: Ooh, use a whoopee cushion! Or get some itching powder!

His varied list of credits bears this out. Novak has appeared in cult films (he was dimwitted terrorist Waj in Chris Morriss 2010 film Four Lions and Tom in last years Prevenge) in Hollywood fare (Syriana, Paddington) and made numerous memorable contributions to quality British TV comedy (Inside No 9, Rev, Phoneshop, Uncle).

The 2015 sitcom SunTrap, in which Novak played an undercover reporter fond of fake identities, was short-lived but once again foregrounded what he calls the humble prank.

When, as an under-employed drama graduate, Novak grew bored of waiting for the phone to ring, he began dialling out instead, sometimes recording calls for the amusement of friends and family.

This evolved into Fonejacker, co-created with Ed Tracy and commissioned for a full series by Channel 4 in 2007.

So whats with the masks and disguises? Does Novaks preference for hiding his face indicate a deep-seated shyness? No, its nothing like that.

The prosthetics are necessary. If I want to play a British member of the secret service [like Britain Today Tonight character Sir Nicholas Charles] hes not going to look like me.

"Id never get that acting job but in my own show I can be whoever I want. That, for me, is the ultimate gig.

Professional comedians are famously dour off-camera and while Novaks friendly conversation is peppered with impressions, true to type, hes deadly serious when it comes to the work.

The night before a shoot I cant really eat, he says. I have to organise my thoughts because the next day is huge. The production team has spent two, three weeks organising it, making sure that everythings in place and then its all about my performance.

Hell stay in character for long stretches at a time, though not for reasons of actorly indulgence.

The situation dictates how method you have to be. I cant go: Sorry, Im just gonna break character now and go and get a flat white, yknow what I mean?

Over the years hes honed his natural instincts for pranking strangers into a delicate performance art and, being a vintage Porsche fan, describes it mostly in motoring metaphors.

Once I win their trust, Ill take them on a journey You cant put your foot on the throttle too quick.

And: Theres a different engine that whirrs to life when Im in these characters that I wish I had access to just as me. Im quite a low-revving kind of guy, but these guys are like brrrrrrROOOM!

People dont realise how much serious thought goes into being this silly, he says.

In fact, one goal of the new show has been to elevate the humble character-driven prank to something that is actually topical  thats just as funny and doesnt in any way feel like its preaching a message.

New faced: The reporters of prank show Britain Today Tonight / Channel 4

The Channel 9Nine team reports on issues such as equal pay, doping in sport and global security, all presided over by Fox News-esque anchor Douglas Digger Daley.

The show is topical, says Novak, but not particularly political, and while he admires the more vocal activism of his old Four Lions pal Riz Ahmed, he does so from afar.

Id love to go and do a speech in Parliament [as Ahmed did] but I probably wouldnt go as myself. He thinks for a moment.

Id go as Jon Donovan [adopts voice of Britain Today Tonights Aussie security expert] More must be done! Were under threat from every angle!

It would also be a mistake to see this new show only as a response to Trumps America. What I would say about the Trump travel ban is there goes my Hollywood career! he laughs.

Novak isnt actually Muslim, in any case. He describes his family as posh Iranians well-educated and definitely not religious, but he will embrace any confusion about his background and ethnicity in the name of comedy.

From Fonejacker, multiculturalism has been a big part of my repertoire, he says. Im the guy that can play all the different races and get away with it.

The extent to which Novak does get away with it, though, is moot. Part of the thrill of watching Britain Today Tonight is wondering how many times the feminist campaigner will put up with being called honeybunny before she rips off her lapel mic and walks out.

Or how long reporter-on-a-bike Ken Kildoon can harangue motorists (in a broad Scottish accent) before one leans out the car window and thumps him.

A highlight of the first episode is watching the patience with which teens at a London youth club tell terrorism expert Sir Nicholas that Lmfao isnt a Chinese hacker and theres no such thing as an emojihad.

Britain Today Tonight might not be a biting satire but it does have something topical to offer . Its a celebration of those most British values, tolerance and politeness.

My pranks have never been about getting a negative reaction, says Novak. Theyve always been a tolerance test for the person Im engaging with. I almost want them to call me out and go, Are you stupid? And yet, somehow, they never do.

Britain Today Tonight starts tonight at 10pm on Channel 4
M el Giedroyc has thrown her support behind the new Great British Bake Off lineup, deeming it "absolutely as it should be".

Giedroyc and Sue Perkins stepped down from their role as presenters on the popular baking show ahead of its move from the BBC to Channel 4. They were replaced by Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding while judge Mary Berry was replaced Prue Leith.

Speaking about the new line-up, Giedroyc told the Standard: "I'll be intrigued, of course I'm excited. I think it will be something completely different. I think the line-up is bold and new and it's absolutely as it should be. Noel Fielding is a friend of mine and I love what he does."

Giedroyc hinted that she may have encouraged the Mighty Boosh comedian to take on the challenge, adding: "Who knows what was said."

The new line-up, featuring Paul Hollywood, Sandi Toksvig, Noel Fielding, and Prue Leith / Channel 4

Giedroyc has been exploring her 'panto' roots, inspired by Christmas visits to what is now the "Leatherhead Theatre", where she had to be hauled off stage after a crowd of children ran on.

The TV favourite co-hosted the Magic at the Musicals event at London's Royal Albert Hall last night with Cats star Ruthie Henshall.

The line-up featured musical performances from 15 different productions including, On My Own, from Les Miserables; New York, New York from classic On The Town; Wicked's memorable Defying Gravity; and Friend Like Me from Disney's Aladdin.

Giedroyc said: "I love performing in front of a live audience and just stepping out in front of ruddy Royal Albert hall is just something, I can't describe it."

Great British Bake Off line-up stirs up fans

"I have to remember to do up my fly and put my teeth in."

The TV personality admitted how she 'embarrassed myself so badly' in front of production Jesus Christ Superstar's Declan Bennett after talking 'at' him reflecting characteristics of a 'super fangirl'.

She said: "The main attraction was of course when he (Bennet) ripped off his shirt."

Giedroyc also presents a Magic radio show every Saturday with "ruddy genius" Andy Bush.

Speaking about the job she said: "Performing on radio is great, you roll up with no makeup in pyjamas and nobody will know."
Exit Obamacare, enter Trumpcare?

The U.S. House of Representatives took a major step on Thursday in making this scenario a reality. By a margin of only four votes, the House passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which is already being referred to by many as "Trumpcare." Here are 10 things that the legislation will change in healthcare if ultimately enacted with all current provisions.

1. Eliminates individual mandate

Obamacare required every American to obtain health insurance, or pay a penalty. Trumpcare allows people not to purchase health insurance if they choose. However, there's a financial incentive to encourage individuals to maintain health insurance coverage: Insurers will be allowed to charge a 30% penalty on those who buy insurance after having a gap in coverage of more than 63 days.

2. Replaces Obamacare premium subsidies with tax credits

All of the Obamacare subsidies for helping some individuals pay for health insurance will go away. These subsidies will be replaced by tax credits for anyone who isn't covered by their employer, or through a government program. The tax credits will range from $2,000 to $14,000 based on age -- with families receiving higher credits than individuals. The credits will be reduced for individuals making over $75,000 annually and for families making over $150,000 annually.

3. Allows states to obtain waivers to change "essential health benefits"

Obamacare imposed federally established minimum benefits that all health insurance policies had to offer. These "essential health benefits" included mental health and substance-abuse services, prescription drugs, preventive care, maternity care, emergency services, and lab services. Trumpcare will allow states to apply for waivers that allow them to change these minimum benefits for purposes such as reducing healthcare coverage costs and increasing the number of people with healthcare coverage.

4. Allows states to obtain waivers to allow insurers to charge more for pre-existing conditions

Under Obamacare, health insurers are prohibited from charging higher premiums for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Trumpcare allows states to obtain waivers to allow insurers to charge more for people with pre-existing conditions. However, the higher charges would only apply to individuals with pre-existing conditions who have a gap in coverage.

5. Provides subsidies for some with pre-existing conditions

Trumpcare will provide $8 billion specifically for states that obtained the waiver mentioned in the previous point to provide subsidies to individuals with pre-existing conditions who don't maintain continuous coverage. The legislation also provides $130 billion that states could use for this purpose, or for expanding coverage and reducing costs in other ways.

6. Allows insurers to charge older adults up to five times the rates charged for younger adults

Obamacare limited insurers to charging older adults a maximum of three times the rates charged to younger adults. Trumpcare will raise the ratio limit from three to five.

7. Rolls back Obamacare Medicaid expansion

Obamacare provided funds for states to expand Medicaid. Trumpcare repeals this expansion. States will receive a set amount per beneficiary from the federal government, or if they choose, a lump-sum block grant.

8. Allows states to implement Medicaid work requirement

Trumpcare will allow states who choose to do so to require "able-bodied" Medicaid recipients to either work, participate in job-training programs, or help with community service.

9. Expands Health Savings Accounts

Currently, the maximum annual health savings account (HSA) contribution is $3,400 for individuals and $6,750 for families. Trumpcare increases the maximums to $6,550 for individuals and $13,100 for families beginning in 2018.

10. Repeals Obamacare consumer taxes

Obamacare included a laundry list of taxes, such as a tax on some health insurance plans, a tax on certain prescription drugs, a tax on indoor tanning services, a medical device tax, and a capital gains, dividend, and interest income tax for higher-income Americans. Trumpcare eliminates all of these taxes.

What's next?

Obamacare remains the law of the land at the moment. Now that the House has passed AHCA, the legislation will go to the U.S. Senate for deliberation. If it's passed by the Senate with no changes, the bill will go to President Trump for signature.

The Senate could make its own changes, though. If that happens, the bill would then go to a conference committee consisting of senators and representatives who work out the differences. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives would have to vote on the final compromise bill. If passed by both houses, it would then go to President Trump.

There are still hurdles to jump, but the likelihood of Trumpcare replacing Obamacare appears much higher than it ever has.

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The key question in the July 2008 death of 2-year-old girl has always been about which of three adults in the home was responsible for the gir
The Nebraska Supreme Court issued a reprimand Friday against a local attorney regarding statements he made during a high-profile case.

According to the reprimanded, issued Friday, May 5 and considered by the state's Counsel for Discipline, the court took the action against attorney Bell Island after statements he made in defending client Charyse Geurts. Geurts, the mother of 2-year-old Juliette Geurts killed in July 11, 2008, refused to testify during the February 2015 trial of Dustin Chauncey, accused of intentional child abuse that resulted in the death of the girl. A jury convicted Chauncey in the girls death. During trial, a pathologist testified that the girl had three injuries that could have been fatal  a lacerated liver, bleeding on the brain and bruising in an intestinal area.

In July 2016, a complaint was filed against Island, alleging that he had violated provisions of the Nebraska Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys in trial publicity in his truthfulness in statements to others and misconduct. According to the complaint, the complaint regarded statements to the press regarding Geurts refusal to testify at the trial. Island had issued a press release to the media during Chaunceys trial and special prosecutor James Zimmerman filed a complaint regarding those comments.

In the statements, Island said that Geurts desired to cooperate with the prosecution, but the only testimony they want to believe is their version of the truth. The prosecutions versions of the truth, while inconsistent with the actualevents, forces (Geurts) to either lie or face perjury charges. She continues to desire justice for her daughter ... but will not lie to achieve that result.

A referee heard Zimmermans complaint and Islands response. According to the findings, the referee determined that respondent knowlingly made false statements of material fact and/or law to a third person, made an extrajudicial statement that was disseminated by means of public communication that would have had a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing the adjudicative proceeding at issue, and engaged in conduct which is prejudicial to the administration of justice. The referee found that Island violated professional conduct rules, but did not violate his oath of office as an attorney or the professional conduct rule.

The finding notes that Island had previously had a public reprimand at about the same time for statements, but that Island had indicated that he regretted the press release and he did not mean to call into question Zimmermans integrity and ethics.
SCOTTSBLUFF  The Western Community College Area (WCCA) Board of Governors has declared a vacancy in District 4 due to the resignation of Timothy Daniels effective May 1. The Board is seeking individuals who are interested in filling the vacant position.

Persons residing in Western Community College Area Electoral District 4 who are interested in being considered for an appointment to fill the remainder of Daniels term on the Board (through December 2020) should send a letter and a resume by May 22 to: WCCA Board of Governors, c/o Coral E. Richards, Board Secretary, 1601 East 27th Street, Scottsbluff, NE 69361.

District 4 contains the following precincts: Banner County: All Precincts, Scotts Bluff County: Fanning, Ford A & B, Gering Rural, Gering I, Gering II, Gering III, Gering IV, Kiowa-Lyman, Mitchell Rural, Mitchell I, Mitchell II, Morill, Roubadeau, Terrytown, Castle Rock A, and Castle Rock B Precincts.

For more information about the position, contact Coral Richards at richards@wncc.edu or 308-635-6009.
I dont remember what I had done, but my moms words of advice have stuck with me: Just because you can do something, doesnt mean you should do it.

It is advice a couple teenagers should have used when they found a man laying face down in a ditch. The man was dead, but he had a family and friends who will miss him.

The teens took pictures of the dead man and posted them on social media. Nothing they did was illegal and they had every right to publish the photos.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of speech.

In todays high-tech, social-media driven world, everyone can publish all kinds of things from political views to crimes, from newborn babies to a body found in a ditch.

As more and more has been shared through social media, we have seen video of fights, groups assaulting individuals, suicides and even a live murder.

The publication of which is all protected under the First Amendment.

As a journalist, I will fight for the right of anyone wishing to publish anything. This includes the fights, pictures of dead bodies, even the hate speech that turns my own stomach.

But hate speech is not politically correct.

No, but I am also not a fan of political correctness. Political correctness is nothing more than a politically correct way to censor.

We in the press will fight for the rights of anyone to publish both good and bad speech. We will fight for the right for people to publish real and fake news, but it doesnt mean we have to or will publish it in our paper.

In fact, our policy is not to publish photos of dead bodies. We also will not publish any letters to the editor using the N-word, the S-word, the R-word or any other word used to degrade ones nationality, religion or sexual orientation.

It is our way of taking my moms advice, self-censorship.

We all do it. You can tell our boss what you really think when he asks if you mind doing a new project, but often times you self-censor. When the police officer pulls you over and asks, Do you have any idea how fast you were going?

You dont say, Well, if you dont know Im not about to tell you!

Sometimes, its best not doing or saying something, even if we have the right to do so. How many fights would never start if we all would take my moms advice before posting our anger on social media?

As we continue traveling down the ever-changing, social-media road, we need to remember my moms advice.

Yes, you can publish photos of a dead man that you were the first to come across, but you dont have to. Instead, you can put yourself in the shoes of that persons loved ones.

How would you feel if it was your father, your husband, your son or your friend in the photo? Is that how you would like them to find out they are dead? What if the one in the ditch was you? Is that how you would want your loved ones to learn of your death?

Is that how you would want to be remembered, as clickbait opening up more views and helping someones photo or video go viral?

Social media can be great. It can open doors to reaching old friends, connecting us as friends with people from around the word. It can give us a free avenue to share our thoughts, ideas, successes and so much more with the world.

However, we must remember the advice of my mom, Just because you can do something, doesnt mean you should do it.
TORRINGTON, Wyo.  Eastern Wyoming College Board has announced that Lesley Travers of Casper, Wyoming, has accepted the position as EWCs next president. She will replace interim President Rick Patterson.

As the torch is passed to a new leader, I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Rick Patterson for his commitment and dedication to EWC as witnessed by his willingness to assume the presidency at a difficult moment for our college, and to steer it successfully through the stressful situations created by significant funding cuts imposed during a period of decreasing funding from the State of Wyoming, said EWC Trustee President John Patrick.

The EWC Trustees completed a highly structured search, led by Gold Hills Associates, which included all constituencies within EWC, as well as external communities. The process resulted in six applicants visiting the EWC campuses in Torrington and Douglas, and participating in the final selection steps.

The Board felt confident that any one of those candidates would have been an effective and capable president, and thanks them for their interest in EWC, Patrick added.

Travers will begin her EWC duties July 1.

Today I am excited about everything, Travers said, following the announcement. This is the realization of a huge dream, and I am humbled and honored to be chosen as Eastern Wyoming Colleges president. Eastern Wyoming College has a great history that spans almost 70 years and is a leader among Wyoming community colleges. It is with excitement and trepidation that I look ahead to the coming years.

With all of the opportunities and challenges that come with this position; I will endeavor to bring my best to this college everyday; you can expect lots of energy and new ideas. You can also expect good listening and hard work. When you start with a dynamic college, great people and students that are willing to learn, you cant go wrong.

Thank you for placing your trust and faith in me as president, and I look forward to getting to know the college community, the Torrington community, and the six counties and outreach centers that we provide services to in Wyoming. I am looking forward to this wonderful opportunity and cannot wait to see the challenges that lie ahead, Travers said.

Travers received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, minor Native American studies, from the University of Montana, a Master of Science in community counseling from the University of Wyoming/Casper College, and Doctorate in higher education and marriage and family therapy from the University of Wyoming. She also holds the following licenses in the State of Wyoming: marriage and family therapist, addictions therapist, and professional counselor. She is also a National Board Certified Counselor.

She is the Dean of the School of Business and Industry at Casper College, a position she has held since 2009.

From 2002-2009 she was the Department Head of Addictionology at Casper College. Since 1993 she has owned and operated her own consultant, meditation and private practice in Casper. She served as a treatment coordinator at Casper Alternatives from 2001-2002 and was an adjunct faculty member at Casper College from 2000-2001.

While attending the University of Wyoming she was a graduate assistant. She has served as the executive director, director of administration and general business manager for the following organizations: Brain Injury Association of Wyoming, JETS Technology, Northern Arapaho Trust, and Wyoming Senior Citizens, Inc. She also has over 10 years of counseling experience from 1979 to 1987 while in Montana.

Travers received the Wyoming Counseling Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, was nominated for the Outstanding Administrator Award in 2012, 2016 and 2017. She received the Rosenthal Outstanding Educator Award in 2009, and the Wyoming Counseling Association Outstanding Service Award in 2008. In 2007 she was nominated for the Rosenthal Outstanding Educator award and the Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Honorary, University of Wyoming, 1999-present. She has done numerous local, state and national presentations and has been involved with research projects and publications. On the Casper College campus, she was involved in several campus leadership and committee experiences.
LOS ANGELES  Delta Air Lines is offering refunds and compensation to a California family that says they were forced off a plane and threatened with jail after refusing to give up one of their seats on a crowded flight.

A video of the April 23 incident was uploaded to YouTube on Wednesday and added to the list of recent encounters on airlines that have gone viral, including the dragging of a bloodied passenger off a United Express plane.

Brian and Brittany Schear of Huntington Beach, Callif., told KABC-TV in Los Angeles that they were returning from Kahului Airport in Maui, Hawaii with their two toddlers. They wanted to put one of the children in a seat they had bought for their 18-year-old son, who instead flew home on an earlier flight.

Delta says on its website that tickets cannot be transferred and name changes are not allowed. Federal regulations do not bar changing the name on a ticket as long as the new passenger's name can be run through a data base before the flight, according to a Transportation Security Administration spokesman.

By late Thursday afternoon, Delta still had not explained why the Schears were removed from the plane. A spokesman said the flight was not overbooked.

On the video, Brian Schear can be heard talking with a person off-camera  it is not clear whether that person is a Delta employee, a security officer, or somebody else.

After Schear says that he won't leave  the airline will have to remove him  the person off-camera replies, "You and your wife will be in jail ... it's a federal offense if you don't abide" by an airline crew's order.

"I bought that seat," Schear protests.

Schear then suggests that his wife could hold one of the toddlers during takeoff and then put the youngster in the car seat. Another person, who appears to be a Delta supervisor, tells him that federal rules require that children under 2 must stay in a parent's lap throughout the flight.

That is false. The Federal Aviation Administration "strongly urges" that infants be in a car seat, although it permits those under 2 to be held in a parent's lap. On its website, Delta recommends that parents buy a seat for children under 2 and put them in an approved child-safety seat.

Brian Schear spoke briefly to The Associated Press by telephone Thursday and said he has been overwhelmed by media requests. He declined additional comment said the family may hold a news conference.

The Atlanta-based airline issued an updated statement late Thursday afternoon.

"We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta, and we've reached out to them to refund their travel and provide additional compensation," the statement read. Delta said its goal is to work with customers to resolve travel issues, "that did not happen in this case and we apologize."

A spokesman said Delta would not disclose the amount of the refund or compensation.

Congress held two hearings this week on airline customer service  a response to the video of Chicago airport security officers dragging a 69-year-old man off a United Express flight to make room for crew members who were traveling for work.

Executives from United, American, Southwest and Alaska testified at one or both hearings. Delta was notably absent.
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Mark Fontana was named executive director of The Sheridan at Laumeier Park, a newly opened 84-unit assisted living/memory care community in Sunset Hills.

Fontana has more than 25 years of experience in medical service and geriatric care administration. Previously, he was administrator of the Missouri Veterans Commission-St. Louis.

Fontana has a nursing degree and is pursuing a bachelors degree in health administration from Webster University.

The Sheridan at Laumeier Park is one of three senior living communities being built in the area by Senior Lifestyle Corp. of Chicago. The others are in Chesterfield and Creve Coeur.
Anthem Inc. says it will begin enforcing a policy in Missouri of refusing payment for certain visits to emergency rooms.

Starting this summer, if a Missourian with Anthem insurance shows up at an emergency room with a minor ailment such as a common cold that could have been treated at an urgent care center, the patient will be on the hook for the entire bill.

Anthem, the nations second-largest insurer and one of two companies still providing coverage on the states Obamacare exchange, has cited increasing costs related to inappropriate ER use as a need for tough stance on payment.

The company, which last week reported a big jump in quarterly profits, has begun notifying its Missouri members and hospitals throughout the state about the change.

Should members choose to receive non-emergency care in the ED [emergency department], they will be responsible for the charges incurred, the letter states, according to a copy that was shared with the Post-Dispatch by the Missouri Hospital Association.

The letter says minor conditions include sore throat, rash, mild fever, eye or ear pain and that can be safely treated in less acute facilities.

Hospital officials are concerned over a decision they say may put patients at risk.

It seems like a dangerous thing to do, Dave Dillon, spokesman for the Missouri Hospital Association, told the Post-Dispatch Wednesday.

Every Missourian benefits from appropriate ED use. Inappropriate use drives up cost for all and leads to overcrowding. However, not every venue of care is available 24/7, and not every Missourian is in a position to judge whether they are having a heart attack or acid reflux, which can mimic a heart attack, Dillon said.

But Anthem said their approach is more nuanced than that and there are exceptions to the new rule.

ER services for children under the age of 14 will always be covered regardless of the reason for the visit.

If there isnt an urgent care within 15 miles of the patient, ER payments will be covered by Anthem.

If a patient was directed to the emergency room by another physician, it will be covered.

Any visit that occurs on a Sunday or major holiday will be covered.

Anthem said it had to act to change members behavior when it comes to accessing the emergency room.

Weve had an increase over time in emergency room utilization rates and we have been working on trying to reverse that trend, Dr. Jay Moore, chief medical officer for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Missouri, told the Post-Dispatch Wednesday.

Moore said theyve increasingly seen members go to the emergency room for colds and urinary tract infections.

As employers have seen their health care costs increase, Anthem has faced pressure to curb those expenditures and this is an area in need of change, he said.

Missouri is the third state in which Anthem has started enforcing this policy. Moore said the policy is already part of members coverage contracts, but it was never enforced.

ER usage rates have decreased for Anthem in Kentucky and Virginia where the practice was already rolled out.

Moore said Anthem is trying to be as transparent as possible with its Missouri members. It says it has talked to the Missouri Department of Insurance about the policy, and it has started notifying employers. The company has also sent letters to Anthems Missouri members and health care providers.

Federal law requires hospitals with emergency departments to screen and stabilize patients regardless of their ability to pay. But Moore, a former hospital administrator, says the ER is not legally required to treat a patient who isnt experiencing an emergency and can instead encourage the patient to go elsewhere.

Aetna, which does business as Coventry in Missouri, said it covers services provided in an ER if the member is experiencing an emergency. If a Coventry member is not experiencing an emergency, coverage of services will be denied, a spokesman for the company said.

UnitedHealthcare did not respond to a request for comment.
A white woman checked my privilege, and Im glad she did.

She was presenting at an education writers conference at Stanford University where top experts discussed research on the academic achievement gaps between various groups of students. I asked her if there were aspects of the second-generation immigrant experience that could be valuable to helping lower-income students improve their academic outcomes.

I said this as a child of working-class immigrants, who came to America with very little and worked hard to raise six high-achieving children. We grew up on the outskirts of an upper-middle class, mostly white suburb, where I frequently felt like an outsider.

She asked me a few pointed questions:

Even though my mother didnt speak English, was she educated in her native country? Yes.

Even though we qualified for reduced-price lunch growing up, did we ever worry about our next meal? No. Did my parents model the behaviors one needs to succeed in middle-class society? Yes. Did we attend high-quality public schools? Yes.

In fact, our house was filled with books and high expectations, even though we were a working-class minority, by race, ethnicity and religion. I certainly didnt feel privileged in comparison to the wealthy white Christian families I grew up around, but looking back I see I was far more privileged than poor children in failing schools. She helped me realize my own assumptions that it was primarily our hard work and learned values that got us where we are. Those played an important role, of course, but there were unearned advantages we had that we benefited from, and it was naive for me to suggest that our experience could be compared to that of far more disadvantaged students.

It was from this conversation that I decided to approach the topic with my own middle schoolers. Weve always talked to them about the responsibilities that come with blessings and the importance of gratitude, but this is a different conversation. I wanted to help them see the difference between societal privilege, enjoyed by certain groups, and a blessing, a spiritual favor that can be bestowed upon anyone.

I also didnt want my children to buy into the false narrative about their identity as American Muslims  that they belonged to a group of villains or victims so often portrayed in the media.

I talked to them about how power works in society. They are already aware that certain people are treated differently based on factors outside their control. So, there will situations when they may be singled out while traveling based on their names or religious background, but there will also be situations in which they will benefit from being born into circumstances, whether its their gender, their socio-economic background, their skin color, their lack of disabilities or their sexual orientation. So, we talked about what it means to use that privilege to work toward a more just society.

Nicole Hudson, the director of racial equity and priority initiatives for St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, has taken a different approach with her own children, who are several years younger than mine. She will point out scenarios in which people are treated differently for the same thing and let them form their own conclusions. Privilege is often about who gets the benefit of the doubt and who gets second chances, she said. Parents often explain to minority children that their white friends may not get in trouble (or to the same degree) for the same mistakes because its a reality borne by history and years of data.

Some people get a larger margin of error, she said.

But she tries to avoid using the word privilege at all when talking about issue related to race or inequality.

Its a trigger word, she said. It so quickly shuts down the conversation with some people, who see it as an attack. They assume they are being told they dont deserve something or that their work didnt matter. Or that they should feel guilty for something they couldnt control.

It becomes a debate about what they did or didnt do instead of helping them see a recurring systemic issue, she said.

That defensiveness is learned, which is why I wanted my own children to recognize the ways in which they benefit from societys power structures and when they dont. More importantly, I want them to think about what can they do to listen to and lift up the voices of people who deal with challenges they wont experience.

It was embarrassing to me that, as an adult, I failed to take into account the advantages in my upbringing before implying there were lessons in it for those less fortunate.

You dont see it because it was there for you, Hudson said.

I had failed to see the privilege from the blessings.
ST. LOUIS  Edward Crawford, the man featured in a Ferguson protest photograph throwing a tear gas canister back toward police, was found dead late Thursday, his father said. Police say it appears the death was from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Crawfords father, Edward Sr., confirmed his sons death to the Post-Dispatch. He said his sons mother called him and they went together to the morgue early Friday to identify their sons body. Crawford Sr. was in tears Friday as he spoke with a reporter.

The medical examiners office says the death of Edward S. Crawford Jr. was reported as a suicide at 11:46 p.m. Thursday. However, the official cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy. The shooting was in the 1400 block of Salisbury Street, in the Hyde Park neighborhood of St. Louis.

Crawford lived in the 7000 block of Dover Court in University City.

According to a police summary, Crawford was in the back seat of a car heading east on Salisbury, approaching Blair Avenue near Hyde Park. Two women were in the car with him.

The women told police that Crawford had started talking about how distraught he was over personal matters. They heard him rummaging for something in the backseat, and the next thing they knew he shot himself in the head.

Crawfords father, 52, said he believed it was an accidental shooting, not intentional. I dont believe it was a suicide, he said. He said investigators werent saying much to him yet. Theyre being hush-hush, the father said.

The case is being handled by district detectives, not homicide investigators.

Edward Crawford Sr. said he last saw his son two days ago; he was in good spirits, certainly not suicidal.

He was wonderful, great, always in a good mood, the father said. He just got a new apartment and was training for a new job at a Schnucks warehouse.

The younger Crawford, 27, was the father of four children. He loved them to death, Crawford Sr. said.

In 2014, during the Ferguson protests, Crawford grabbed a smoking tear gas cylinder, fired by police at Ferguson protesters, and threw it back. In a photograph taken by Post-Dispatch photographer Robert Cohen, Crawford became an iconic image of the protests along West Florissant Avenue. Crawford found instant fame after coming forward as the man in the photograph.

The incident was part of protests on Aug. 12-13, 2014, near Chambers Road. The photograph was part of the Post-Dispatchs coverage that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography in 2015.

For many, the act summed up the anger directed at police after the shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown. It represented defiance against police aggression. Crawford told the Post-Dispatch that throwing the canister wasnt an act of rebellion, but an instinct.

I didnt throw a burning can back at police, Crawford told the newspaper in August 2015, after the county counselors office cited Crawford under two county ordinances for interfering with a police officer and assault. I threw it out of the way of children.

The case is pending. A court date is set for later this month, County Counselor Peter Krane said.

Crawfords attorney, Jerryl Christmas, said he had a meeting with Crawford set for 4 p.m. Thursday to discuss plea negotiations on the pending charges of interfering with a police officer and assault stemming from August 2014 protests in Ferguson. But Crawford didnt show.

The plea deal would have dropped Crawfords charges in exchange for community service, Christmas said, but he said Crawford was adamant that he was not guilty and wanted a trial. Christmas said he had no indication that Crawford was suicidal and was suspicious about his death. Edward was a very bright, energetic, young man and I think he had a wonderful future ahead of him, Christmas said.

After learning of his death Friday morning, Missouri Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, reflected on social media:

He is #Fergusons hero, the senator wrote on her Twitter account. For those of us tear-gassed, he was our local champion. Chappelle-Nadal said she never met Crawford. But he became a symbol. For him to throw it back, it was a rebellion  to say this is not right. We are gonna stand here and not be invisible.

She said some people, locally and nationally, were living in desperate times with a feeling of hopelessness. She said the death was equally sad regardless of whether it was a suicide or an accident.

Christine Byers and Joel Currier of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report.

Kim Bell  314-340-8115 @kbellpd on Twitter kbell@post-dispatch.com
RACINE  A 21-year-old Racine man accused of driving drunk and causing the fall 2015 death of Robert L. Rob Johnson has pleaded guilty to the most serious charge he was facing.

Rob Johnson's inspiration to others recalled as hundreds attend vigil RACINE  A Racine man was remembered Sunday for his infectious love of life that left many people with a smile and hopefully inspired others to pursue their own talents.

Dartavian D. Watson was charged on Oct. 12, 2015, with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle, and two counts of first-degree reckless homicide in connection with the fatal Oct. 8, 2015 crash.

Man charged with homicide in car crash RACINE  A 20 year-old Racine man has been charged with homicide as well as two other felonies in connection to an Oct. 8 crash at West Sixth Street and Mound Avenue that killed a man and injured himself and another man.

On Thursday, Watson pleaded guilty to the homicide charge in exchange for a plea deal that saw the remaining charges, including a separate marijuana possession case, dismissed.

According to his criminal complaint, Watson was reportedly driving at speeds between 60 and 70 mph when the vehicle he was driving, a 2006 Chevrolet Impala, failed to stop at the intersection of West Sixth Street and Mound Avenue and crashed into a building. Watson was later found to have marijuana in his system and a blood alcohol level of 0.11. The legal limit in Wisconsin is 0.08.

Johnson, a 25 year-old Racine resident, was one of the three people inside the car. He suffered head injuries and later died.

Watsons attorney, Mark Richards, said Thursday that his client conceded the basic facts of the case, but objected to the rate of speed alleged by the prosecution.

We agree that my client was speeding, but to this day I do not know where that 70 mile per hour number came from, Richards told Racine County Circuit Judge Mark Nielsen.

Watson faces up to 15 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision for the charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, a class D felony.

A sentencing hearing in the case has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on July 6.
JEFFERSON CITY  New limits on campaign donations in Missouri will stay in place for now, but other parts of a law approved by voters in November are on hold after a federal court decision issued Friday.

In a 40-page ruling, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Ortrie Smith said much of the new law didnt meet constitutional muster when it came to limiting certain kinds of organizations from contributing to political candidates and causes.

The ruling came on a day when the Missouri Senate spent hours engaged in sometimes emotional debate over campaign finance issues, including a push to force a new organization formed by allies of Gov. Eric Greitens to reveal its donors.

In the court case, the Association of Missouri Electrical Cooperatives and Legends Bank argued the new law unfairly stops them from donating to campaigns and political action committees.

Attorneys argued that if the law stayed in place, the electrical cooperatives would be unable to raise adequate money to ensure members voices were heard by the Legislature and in upcoming elections.

In his decision, Smith said the Missouri Ethics Commission, which regulates campaign finance and lobbying activities, could not enforce the new law regarding giving by certain groups.

My clients are happy with the ruling. The judge acknowledged that the First Amendment places limits on how much the state can restrict campaign contributions, said Chuck Hatfield, a Jefferson City-based attorney for the co-ops.

Under the November change to the state constitution, Missouri voters capped contributions to individual candidates at $2,600 per election. Contributions to a political party were capped at $25,000.

The change also attempted to ban the current practice of funneling money through different committees to hide the source of the contributions. It prohibits contributions by foreign interests and companies not legally authorized to conduct business in Missouri.

Smith said the latter provisions were unconstitutional and the ethics panel could not enforce that part of the law.

A spokeswoman for Attorney General Josh Hawley, who was among candidates in the 2016 election receiving six-figure contributions, did not say whether the decision would be appealed.

We are carefully reviewing todays decision, deputy chief of staff Loree Paradise said.

Attorney Todd Graves, who represented other groups fighting the limits, said the decision could lead to the entire constitutional amendments being voided.

Whats left now is, at best, Swiss cheese, said Graves, who also is chairman of the Missouri Republican Party. We consider this a big win.

The Missouri Democratic Party urged Hawley to take the necessary legal action to fully restore the campaign finance rules that Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved with nearly 70 percent of the vote just last November.

Attorney General Josh Hawley should honor the will of the voters and take immediate legal action to restore these campaign finance rules, Democratic Party chairman Stephen Webber said.

Webber also said Graves connection to the case showed that the GOP wanted to restore unlimited contributions. Graves, a former U.S. prosecutor, said he became involved in the case before being named chairman of the state Republican Party.

Missouri lawmakers removed campaign contribution limits in 2008. That led to an era in which seven-figure contributions to candidates became common, including during the most recent election.

The referendum that brought back campaign contribution limits was backed by Fred Sauer, a Republican and Clayton businessman who made an unsuccessful run for governor in 2012. He says megadonors such as Joplin, Mo., businessman David Humphreys and retired financier Rex Sinquefield have tilted the political system toward the wealthy.
The third time seems to be the charm for President Donald Trump's military service nominees.

After Trump's picks for Army and Navy secretary both withdrew amid problems with their financial vetting, Air Force secretary nominee Heather Wilson is moving forward with her confirmation.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has scheduled a hearing for the former New Mexico congresswoman on Thursday, after Wilson submitted her financial paperwork to the Office of Government Ethics.

In her ethics agreement, Wilson pledged to divest from more than a dozen stocks of defense contractors, including Raytheon, Honeywell, Comcast and Verizon. She also said she would resign her as university president of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and from the boards of Raven Industries and Peabody Energy.

Wilson's hearing will be the first for a Pentagon nominee in the Trump administration since James Mattis was confirmed as defense secretary in January.

Trump's initial picks for Army secretary, Vincent Viola, and Navy Secretary, Philip Bilden, both were business executives who withdrew over issues related to their need to divest from their financial holdings.

Mattis and the White House have clashed over who should be selected for the Pentagon's senior positions, which are currently filled by acting officials, including some Obama holdovers. Earlier this month, Trump named Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan as his pick for deputy defense secretary.

Wilson was a New Mexico Republican congresswoman from 1998 to 2009, leaving the House after she lost the Republican primary for Senate in 2008. She also ran for Senate in 2012, but was defeated by Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich.

Wilson served as an Air Force officer in Europe during the Cold War, and she was on the National Security Council staff in the George H.W. Bush administration.
At least eight civilians martyred while 26 were injured including six children and four Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan personnel in an unprovoked firing and shelling from Afghan side of the border in Chaman in the wee hours of Friday.

Pakistani authorities have closed the Chaman border crossing with Afghanistan to stop all cross border movement after unprovoked shelling and firing from the other side of the border.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan Army media wing, Afghan Border Police opened fire on FC Balochistan personnel who were deployed in the area to provide security to the Population Census team.

The statement further added that since 30th April, the Afghan Border Police had been creating hurdles in conduct of census in two villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area, on Pakistani side of the border.

The statement also added that Afghan authorities had been informed in advance about the ongoing census.

Moreover, the cross-border shelling and firing was reportedly started around 4:00am, in which the Afghan forces used light and heavy weapons.

Frontier Corps and Levies personnel reached the spot and giving a befitting response to Afghan forces aggression. The exchange of fire is still ongoing in the area, sources said.

The sources further said one of the mortar shell fired from Afghan side hit a house in village bordering Afghanistan, injuring seven people including two women and three children.

All the injured were rushed to district hospital where at least two injured who sustained serious injuries referred to hospital at Quetta.

In aftermath of the abrupt attack by Afghan forces, security at Quetta-Chaman road has been beefed up to prevent any possible terror movement.

However, the identification of injured and dead could not be established.

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan had closed its borders with Afghanistan at Chaman and Torkham on February 18 by lodging a protest with neighbouring country after a series of terrorist attacks in the country, killing over 100 people and the militants taking sanctuaries in Afghanistan were blamed for the attacks.

The border closure resulted in massive economic loss and affected Afghan trade enormously. After over a month of closure, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had ordered the reopening of the borders as a goodwill gesture.
Interior Minister Ch Nisar said on Friday that Afghan forces set a bad example by opening unprovoked fire over instigation on villages beside Chaman Border in Pakistan.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan made telephonic contact with Frontier Corps IG Major General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum who told him it all started when Afghan forces opened unprovoked fire on security forces deployed for census activities.

According to Interior Ministry spokesperson, Anjum briefed Nisar on the Chaman issue.

Nisar expressed grief over the loss of innocent lives and told Afghanistan government and security agencies are unable to handle their own country, adding that they had set a terrible example by unprovoked firing at civilians. Also, he said that such incidents would not be tolerated from onwards.

He praised the Pakistani forces for making Afghan firing ineffective by retaliation. Nisar prayed for quick recovery of injured and paid condolences to relatives of the martyred people.
Pakistan People s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has on Friday expressed that Sindh is the land of Sufis and the terrorists are scared of the sufisms message.

He professed this while addressing the opening ceremony of a two-day Sufi conference in Karachi.The conference was attended by certain national and international delegates.

PPP Chairman expressed at the occasion that the terrorists are scared of the message preached by Sufis and that is why they are targeting the shrines of prominent Sufis.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also addressed the conference and professed that the message of Sufism is for every religion and language.

At the occasion, Murad Ali Shah also appreciated the organizers for putting up a great show while organizing such a grand function.

Something that really won laurels at the conference was the performance of artists as they sang the sufiana kalam of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and which truly was the show-stopper at the occasion.
The Trump administration wants to keep American and Nato troops in Afghanistan for as long as it takes to stabilise that war-torn country.

The Trump administration is negotiating a proposal with the Iraqi government for a continued presence of US troops in Iraq even after the ongoing campaign against the Daesh militants is over, officials say.

Such reports indicate that the US military involvement in both Afghanistan and Iraq will continue, at least in the foreseeable future.

Largely, the presence of the force there seems to be a stabilising presence, said Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq, when asked if he could foresee an expanded footprint of US troops in the country.

At a news briefing at the Pentagon, Col. Dorrian also said since the beginning of 2015 the US has trained more than 96,000 Iraqi security forces but the need to replenish these forces with fresh troops would require continued US military presence in the country.

But a US and Iraqi officials told the US Military Times newspaper that Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has directly asked the Trump administration to keep American troops in his country even after the fight against the IS group is concluded.
Simon Bridges

National MP

simonbridges.co.nz

We all know that Tauranga is a city on the move and recently I had the honour of showing our booming city off to our Prime Minister Bill English.

I was lucky enough to show him various organisations and businesses in Tauranga including Top Kids Mount Maunganui, the Paradox exhibition at Tauranga Art Gallery and he officially opened the new building for EmployNZ.

He was also able to speak to business leaders and it was great to hear about how he sees Tauranga in a positive light and he praised people here for their hard work and innovation.

The Government recognises that not only Tauranga but many parts of New Zealand are growing faster than they have for a long time. This is not only creating more jobs, but is boosting our local economies, which is great, but to keep growing its important we keep investing in the infrastructure that supports growth.

This Government is New Zealands infrastructure government. Were already investing hugely in new schools, hospitals, housing, roads and railways, and broadband. In roading alone, Kiwis are travelling on new highways across the country, including one here in the Bay.

We are increasing our investment further with Finance Minister Steven Joyce announcing in his pre-Budget speech an $11 billion boost for new capital infrastructure during the next four Budgets.

This new investment will extend our run-rate significantly, and include new investment in the justice and defence sectors. It represents the biggest addition to our capital stock in decades.

Details of how the first tranche of that money will be invested will be laid out in the Budget.

As a country we are now growing at an incredible rate and we need to invest in the infrastructure required to maintain that growth. Budget 2017 will show we are committed to doing just that.
Brian Rogers

Rogers Rabbits

www.sunlive.co.nz

Its not easy to soar like an eagle, while youre surrounded by turkeys.



So goes the old saying. Its also difficult to soar like an eagle when youre surrounded by wind turbine blades, researchers are finding.



While wind generation is considered a green solution to power production, it is dangerous to soaring birds such as bald and golden eagles.



The wind turbines have wingspans similar to a Boeing 747 and the blade tips spin at up to 200 miles per hour.



The solution: Hi-tech detection equipment to trigger ground movement, including figures of humans, hoping that the birds natural aversion to people will cause them to alter course away from the deadly spinning blades.



Incredible, that the answer to this new age problem is centuries old. A modern version of the scarecrow.



Beer for pain



A news story this week claimed two beers are more effective for pain relief than painkillers.



Over the course of 18 studies, researchers from the University of Greenwich found that consuming two pints of beer can cut discomfort by a quarter, reports the Independent. (A bald eagle struck by a spinning blade may need more than two.)



By elevating your blood alcohol content to approximately 0.08 per cent, youll give your body a small elevation of pain threshold and thus a moderate to large reduction in pain intensity ratings.



The researchers explained: Findings suggest that alcohol is an effective analgesic that delivers clinically-relevant reductions in ratings of pain intensity, which could explain alcohol misuse in those with persistent pain, despite its potential consequences for long-term health.



Its not clear, however, whether alcohol reduces feelings of pain because it affects brain receptors or because it just lowers anxiety, which then makes us think the pain isnt as bad.



Tidal stairs



Theres a bit of bleating about the new Tidal Stairs on the Tauranga waterfront.



Since opening, the stairs and pontoon have been thronging with kids and families, jumping off the pier, enjoying the proximity to the water and generally doing what the Tidal Stairs project aimed to achieve....



Get us closer to our harbour. Bring some life to downtown Tauranga, and it certainly has done that.



But from the outset there have been the usual knockers some saying it would never be used, some warning people will die. Some ironically saying both.



Now theyre being proven wrong, the knockers are wishing and hoping someone cracks their head open, just so they can be proven right.



But its just concrete. We manage to navigate our way around the rest of the city which is mostly concrete. Its nothing like the danger faced by eagles trying to avoid 200mph spinning blades.



Head first



Sure, its only a matter of time before someone goes crocs-over-sunhat. A slip or trip or push headfirst onto the concrete. Then the knockers will be in full force reminding us how dangerous this project is.



So following that warped logic, we might as well fence off the entire harbour. Make helmets compulsory around the coastline, just like it is for bike riders. In fact, fence off the surf beach as well. Plenty of people put their lives at risk in the surf every day. But you dont hear the outcry of protest the same as the Tidal Stairs Knockers are drumming up.



Close all the schools, because too many children are injured or killed on the way there. Ban anything with wheels.



They are a fast track to harm and disaster. Stay home, but dont do anything while youre there, because 80 per cent of statistics happen in the home. Whatever you do, dont take any risks, not even well calculated ones because that may lead to enjoying yourself, learning about the outside world and its hazards, or generally living life.



Learning experience



The RR view is let them go for it. There are warning signs about strong currents and other hazards at the stairs. Yes the concrete will get slippery, just like it does at those dastardly boat ramps. But we still use them at our peril. Let some blood be spilt on the Tidal Stairs, because guess what someone will learn from it. Maybe the kid who slips over will be more careful next time. Perhaps his mates watching will learn from it.

Maybe they wont and will continue to come repeatedly unstuck, until they have a fatal mishap. Thats called natural selection. And sometimes bad luck.



Eventually, yes, someone may meet their demise while using this part of the harbour. But guess what thats been happening for hundreds of years. Tauranga folk have been falling in the harbour for centuries.



Some of those probably had more than two beers for pain relief. Whether it be from man-made structures or the natural features, there always has, and probably always will be, casualties. We can do our best to encourage safety, but it always ends with self-responsibility.



One thing is for sure, for every injury or close call, there will be thousands of people who enjoy and learn from this long-overdue facility on our waterfront.



For too long its been relegated to a shabby carpark with a user-unfriendly and threatening rock-strewn waterline. Now at least some of it has some mana.

Its a brilliant project and thousands of families will agree. Even the ones with scars.



If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldnt sit for a month.

- Theodore Roosevelt





brian@thesun.co.nz




Straight from city council

A personal view,

by Councillor Steve Morris

Are you interested in the latest developments that affect your town? Do you want to influence those making decisions on your behalf? Then look no further than your local ratepayers association.



The Mount Progressive, Papamoa Progressive, Matua Residents Association and the Welcome Bay Community Centre have a track record over the years of influencing decisions in the council chamber.



The largest of these groups, the Papamoa Progressive Association, meets at 7.30pm every second Monday of the month at the Papamoa Sport and Recreation centre at the Gordon Spratt Reserve. About 50 interested residents attend regularly and the format is constructive and entertaining with guest speakers on topics of local and national interest.



Councillor Leanne Brown and I attend every meeting for questions and feedback and I find it extremely helpful in forming my opinions. Ive been going for seven years, two as chair and four as a councillor. If you have an interest in serving through local politics or an aspiration to lead your community, there is no better place to start.



Last week I attended the Annual General Meeting of the Mount Progressive Association and as you would expect, the Phoenix Carpark was a hot topic of discussion. After many years of service, the chair, David Burnett has stood down and the association needs a new leader.



Its not an onerous position but one that needs filled so the Mount community can continue to progress. If youre interested feel free to give David a call on 07 575 6906.




The start of the duck shooting season on Saturday coincides with the arrival of a large area of high atmospheric weather over most of the country, bringing with blue skies and light winds  and high flying birds.

Hunters usually prefer low clouds, a bit of drizzle, even a few showers of rain, to bring the ducks nice and low and in range of their guns.

But three days of widespread rain is not expected across the Bay of Plenty until Tuesday - and by next weekend the skies are expected to be clear again.

Theres going to be lots of ducks because Eastern Region Fish & Game has been counting them. The April issue of the online magazine Both Barrels says they are expecting a better hunting season than the eastern region has experienced in the last seven years.

The numbers are based on duck numbers trapped over summer and banding data collected over the last 20 years, says Fish & Game senior officer Matthew McDougall.

We trapped 1500 ducks in total this year which is more than we have in any of the preceding years of trapping and banding.

Trapping and population modelling tells them there are lots of ducks around in reasonable condition, and were predicting that this opening could be one of the best in years, adds Matthew.

Fish & Game research, which includes aerial flyovers to estimate bird numbers, indicates a mallard population in the order of 350,000 to 450,000 birds.

Their harvest regulations are set according to estimated duck numbers, and this years region wide estimate falls into the intermediate zone in which a six week season and daily bag limit of eight birds applies.

One area where duck numbers are of concern is Reporoa. Eastern Fish & Game Council has decided to impose more restrictive conditions there, with a shorter season which runs from Opening Day on May 6 to June 5, with a daily bag limit of only four mallards.

There is still a lot of water around in some areas and the ducks are not in their normal haunts. Staff advise that hunters may have to change how they hunt and be prepared to move out into paddocks where the birds are congregating to feed.

Hunters need to note changes to the regulations. This season a three-shot rule applies and hunters are required to plug their shotgun magazines so that the gun holds no more than two shots in the magazine and one in the breech, three shots in total.

Hunters are encouraged to report any banded birds they might harvest to Fish & Game along with their contact details, the band number, and location and date it was recovered. This will assist mallard research programmes, and sustainable management of the species.

FISH & GAME IN FEDERATED FARMERS CROSSHAIRS

Federated Farmers has published an open letter to all anglers, hunters and farmers today warning that some Fish & Game licence holders may not face a friendly welcome by their farmer friends this year.

With duck hunting season opening this Saturday, May 6, the organisation has taken issue with Fish & Games treatment of farmers over water quality issues in an open letter titled Stop the open season on farmers.

Federated Farmers national board member Chris Allen warns that some Fish & Game licence holders may not face a friendly welcome this year.

Chris says in some regions the Fish & Game licence revenue has been used to make the life of landowners that much more difficult.

In the Horizons region, for example, Wellington Fish & Game took the regional council to court on a legal technicality - ignoring the wishes of the wider community and in the face of the fact that improvements in water quality are being achieved. This move will simply add cost for dubious environmental benefit.

In the Hawkes Bay your local Fish & Game Council is seeking an extremely broad definition for a wetland that will severely restrict farmers ability to farm wet paddocks.

Chris says many farmers are over the constant claims that New Zealand has terrible water quality and farmers are largely at fault when in fact 80 per cent of New Zealands waterways are stable or improving and all communities - across rural and urban - are part of the problem and therefore need to be part of the solution.

He says farmers, often in partnership with Fish & Game, have spent significant time and money creating and restoring wetland habitats.

The open letter calls on Fish & Game licence holders to support farmers, and speak louder.

Please acknowledge the great fishing and shooting experiences you enjoy and work with farmers to identify and address water quality issues where they exist.

We urge all Fish & Game licence holders to support the men and women who support you in providing access to great fishing and hunting experiences and encourage their organisation to work with, not against, the farming community. Dont let the opportunities be lost by undermining farmers generosity.

- Additional reporting from newsie.co.nz
A regional council decision to spend $24 million a year to protect and improve Bay of Plentys rivers, lakes, streams and aquifers is being endorsed by a Ministry for Environment report on the state of the countrys fresh water.

The MOEs Our Fresh Water 2017 report finds nitrogen levels at over half of monitored river sites are getting worse, and furthermore, 72 per cent of the 29 native fish species monitored are either threatened with or at risk of extinction.

Our Fresh Water 2017 is the first dedicated report on fresh water in New Zealands Environmental Reporting Series, and will become a baseline for tracking change over time in water quality, biodiversity and cultural health.

Bay of Plenty Regional Councils Science manager Rob Donald says the reports results largely reflect what is occurring in the region and reinforces the councils work as part of implementing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

While we have yet to go through the report in detail, were pleased to see that it shows that our lakes monitoring is on track and were seeing improvements in our lakes water quality.

This is largely due to proactive interventions being delivered by the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Programme.

Strategy and Science manager Ian Morton says the report highlights worrying trends nationally for fish species, but adds there was plenty of work taking place across the Bay of Plenty showing promising results for native fish species.

Fish surveys in the region show some exciting results with two endangered native fish, dwarf galaxiads and koaro, found in a number of upper catchment streams. It is the first time koaro have been found in the Rangitaiki catchment.

Koaro have been found in the Ikawhenua Ranges at four sites which seems to confirm the success of a trap and transfer programme which has been carried out by the Kokopu Trust as part of the Matahina Dam consent, says Ian.

Weve also discovered new populations of dwarf galaxiads in three small streams draining the ranges  the Ohutu, Hikurangi and Horomanga.

In addition, a joint project with the Department of Conservation, Te Arawa Lakes Trust and Ngati Rangiwewehi to help native fish is having positive results.

This includes the installation of a weir in Hamurana Stream near Rotorua, providing a barrier to prevent trout moving into the upper reaches of the stream, leaving the habitat safe for native fish, especially koaro.

The weir doesnt stop the koaro as they are famous for their ability to climb steep waterfalls and rocks. The outcome is also a win for downstream users as there are still trout in the lower reaches of the stream for recreational fishermen.

Other work taking place across the region includes the regional council working with community groups and landowners in the Kaituna Water Management Area to restore inanga spawning and rearing habitat, and to do the same with the Nukuhou Saltmarsh Care Group.

This work taking place on the ground links with the work our scientists are doing to improve our knowledge on fish spawning habitats and passage, adds Ian.

The regional council is currently strengthening water allocation limits through a Region-wide Water Quantity Plan Change, while it also works with communities to set water quality and quantity targets for specific areas and waterways.

This is part of our work to implement central governments National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. Weve started with the Kaituna Maketu, Pongakawa Waitahanui and Rangitaiki catchments. This work will roll out to other parts of the region in the coming years.

People are encouraged to visit the BOPRCs Freshwater Futures webpage for further information about the regional councils water work and to sign up to its Freshwater Flash e-newsletter.
Welcome to parliament, said the voice on the phone. The Labour Party moderating committee, which sets the party list, had slotted Merivale Primary School principal Jan Tinetti in at number 14, more or less writing her own ticket to Wellington.

I cant remember much else about the call because I was gob smacked, blown away, says Jan. I know it doesnt sound very academic but I am still fizzing at the news. Thats five days later.

It means that after the September 23 general election, Tauranga will have Labour Party representation in parliament. Definitely one and possibly two MPs  because if the numbers stack up theres just a chance Angie Warren-Clark could be headed to the corridors of power too.

Wouldnt that be awesome? says Angie. Two local Labour candidates in parliament.

If we get up around that 35 per cent of the vote, which is what we are aiming for because we are currently around 30 per cent, then we would almost get Angie in as well, says an optimistic Jan.

Thats where the cut off would be. Its hard to say because as soon as you lift the party vote you are starting to win some of those marginal seats as well.

The school teacher was hoping to slot in the party list up to the mid-20s. That would have been really good. So number 14 is very surprising really.

She says its exciting for her but its also exciting for Tauranga to have alternative representation in parliament. And I will provide an added dimension because I come from a social justice background.

But Jans not planning on waiting for a slow comfortable ride into parliament. She intends to be even busier.

We are really looking to ramp up the campaign and use my list position as leverage for the campaign.

Angie Warren-Clark says itll be an advantage that people now understand Jan is headed from the principals office in Merivale to the parliamentary benches in Wellington.

Tauranga will have Labour representation no matter what  it will certainly support and grow our profile in the community. And help spread the Labour messages.

Jan Tinetti told RNZ National she is unfazed by the cold, cut throat reality of central government politics. She has been running a difficult low decile school with all the associated day to day problems for 11 years. So surely I can cope with politicians.

She has been running a massive business and very successfully, says Angie. She will transition very easily.

Meantime they are hunting as a pack. The teacher and the womens refuge manager continue to campaign together. Doing it together, says Angie. Its always been about the party vote, our community and our values.
Education Taurangas first conference held today marked a new step for a partnership programme that has been working in the back ground since 2013.

Taking place at The Tauranga Club in the Devonport Towers, the conference not only celebrated international education in the Bay of Plenty but also saw Education Tauranga launch its five-year strategy.

International education is a bit of a silent achiever, working away in the background, says Education Tauranga regional manager Anne Young. But this gives us the direct recognition that I think the industry deserves here. So we are really excited about it.

Today we have members of Education Tauranga here who are the institutions involved with international students and they have come to hear the associate minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Louise Upston.

In 2016, the export value of educating international students in Tauranga was estimated to be $55 million.

In the three years to 2016, Education Tauranga developed one of the most successful international education regional groups in the country, and increased the economic value of the sector in the region by 35 per cent.

And now we are looking at how we continue to build the growth of our student numbers and also to ensure that the students have a really positive experience and they get the outcomes they have come here for.

The willingness of the region to begin stronger collaboration in all international activities has linked international education to local business, skilled migration, export activity and tourism which has given the sector more profile and in turn made it more powerful and productive.

Education Taurangas member institutions have also embraced the collaborative model of Education Tauranga and taken opportunities to broaden their delivery to international students and explore new markets.

International Education is New Zealands fourth largest export industry and it is also a major contributor to economic prosperity and growth. Contributing over $4.28 billion to New Zealand and over $50 million to the Tauranga region annually and growing rapidl.

Education Tauranga has a crucial role to play in facilitating these important social, cultural and economic outcomes for the region, says Anne.

On a worldwide scale, demand for international education is growing. The British Council has forecast an additional 3.8 million students globally will study as international students by 2024, and India and China will contribute 35 per cent of this growth.

While the most popular destination countries for international students are likely to remain as the USA, UK and Australia, New Zealand remains a significant player and will increasingly look to its regions as destinations for international students to cater for increased demand and reduce the risk of creating international student silos in the main centres.

The Western Bay of Plenty International Strategy created in 2016 affirms the regions vision to become more internationalised. It positions the regional economy for growth through strong engagement in priority international markets and supports the region to maximise trade and investment opportunities with priority international economic partners such as China, Korea and India.

Education Tauranga has worked in partnership with Priority One over the past four years to attract, support and retain international students to the region and deepen the trade and cultural links between the Tauranga region and the home countries of international students.

Priority One led the development of the Western Bay of Plentys collaborative International Strategy which affirms the regions desire to become more internationalised and drives collaboration between key agencies on international activities.

They include: Priority One, Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Education Tauranga, Tourism Bay of Plenty and Export Bay of Plenty.

Priority One is the Western Bay of Plenty regions economic development organisation, established in 2001 by the Tauranga and Western Bay Of Plenty business community in partnership with the subregions local authorities.

It is the first economic development organisation in New Zealand to be initiated by the business community and run along business principles of action and results.
A Madison man who was charged with trafficking women and girls between Wisconsin and Nevada for prostitution could face up to life in prison after he was found guilty Thursday on federal sex trafficking charges, including two counts of trafficking a minor.

Maurice A. Withers, 28, was also convicted of three counts of sex trafficking by force or threats or coercion, one count of attempted sex trafficking by force, one count of transporting a minor from Wisconsin to Nevada with the intent that the minor engage in prostitution, and two counts of transporting individuals from Wisconsin to Nevada to engage in prostitution.

The convictions came after the jury deliberated for just under three hours, closing out a four-day trial in U.S. District Court in Madison.

Withers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison on the four sex trafficking by force convictions of the adults, a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life on convictions for sex trafficking of a minor and transporting a minor for prostitution, and up to 10 years in prison on the two convictions for transporting an individual for prostitution.

Withers was originally charged in a six-count indictment in January 2016. He had signed a plea agreement in September 2016 that would have had him pleading guilty to one of the charges against him, but backed out and instead fired the attorney representing him at the time, according to court documents.

About two months later, however, prosecutors secured a nine-count superseding indictment, and on Thursday Withers was convicted on all nine charges.

U.S. District Judge William Conley set sentencing for July 17.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, which prosecuted the case, evidence at the trial included testimony from five victims who said Withers forced them into prostitution in 2015. Other evidence included statements that Withers made on Facebook and in videos recovered from a cellphone that showed Withers to be a sex trafficker. Other witnesses testified that Withers had been involved in prostitution since 2010.

In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Jeff Anderson commended the team that secured the convictions against Withers, saying that Withers exploited vulnerable young women by forcing them into prostitution.

State Attorney General Brad Schimel, whose Division of Criminal Investigation was involved in the case, said that the shameless actions of Johns who pay for sex and pimps who facilitate sex trafficking are destroying lives.

Because of partnerships between law enforcement agencies, he said, Withers, and many like him, have been successfully investigated, prosecuted and held accountable for this form of modern-day slavery.

Other agencies involved in the investigation included the Madison Police Department, the Wisconsin Dells Police Department, the Sauk County Sheriffs Department and the FBI.
Rise Up Taurangas first truckload of furniture for Edgecumbe residents arrived in Whakatane on Friday.

Claire Pye, who manages the Bay of Plenty District Health Board funded community service Pou Whaakaro, was full of praise for the good quality furniture collected from Tauranga residents and delivered by Modern Office trucks.

Thank you so much for the amazing donations yesterday and for the team who brought the furniture over. We were really pleased with the quality of the furniture sent.

We had three families in who had lost everything in the floods and went away with many great goods to help them set up. They were so grateful and humbled by the generosity of the people of Tauranga. Please pass ours and their appreciation on.

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.

Once dropped off to the Cargo Shed on Dive Crescent in Tauranga, the furniture will be stored in Whakatane while Edgecumbe residents wait to move back into their homes.

The Cargo Shed is open daily from Monday to Saturday until the end of May from 11am3pm, with volunteers from Bethlehem Te Puna Lions helping people unload and bring in their furniture.

So far, in just five days, over 60 homes in Tauranga have dropped off lounge suites, tables, chairs, beds and many household items.

For those who cant bring in their own furniture, a furniture pick up has been organised with Modern Office providing two trucks, staff and three full days to go and collect from houses from Te Puna to Papamoa.

In just a few days more than 50 requests for pickups have come in, and the furniture from the first day was delivered straight to Whakatane.

There was so much furniture to pick up from each home that many residents on the first schedule had to wait until another day to have their furniture collected.

Rise Up Tauranga is asking for volunteers from businesses, churches and organisations with trucks, trailers and time on their hands to form teams during May to go out for four hours and help pick up the furniture and bring it into The Cargo Shed

For more details, visit www.facebook.com/RiseUpTauranga, email rosalie@topshelfdesign.com or text mobile 022 658 1458.

Martin Buchanan from Bethlehem Te Puna Lions
At a meeting on 29 April the European Council unanimously adopted the proposed guidelines for its negotiations with regard to the UKs withdrawal from the EU. Many in Gibraltar had hoped that the infamous Clause 22 which appeared in the initial draft would have been removed after pressure from the Gibraltar and UK governments, but it still features, with the same wording, although it has now become Clause 24.

The clause reads: After the United Kingdom leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom.

The Gibraltar government issued a press release after the announcement that the guidelines had been adopted, saying that the clause is discriminatory and unfair. It flies in the face of the principle of sincere cooperation which the EU is committed to and which it repeats elsewhere in the guidelines.

Nor is Gibraltar prepared to take such perceived discrimination lying down. In his speech during the May Day celebrations this week, chief minister Fabian Picardo said that his government would respond with reciprocity to any discrimination or prejudice by the European Union against the people of Gibraltar.

Opposition leader Daniel Feetham also had strong criticism of the EU after the announcement that the guidelines had been endorsed, tweeting Clause 24 epitomises everything that is wrong with the EU. Political expediency over people. People who voted to remain. #Betrayal #Gibraltar.

En last years referendum, Gibraltar voted 96 per cent in favour of the UK remaining in the European Union. As the only British Overseas Territory in Europe, it has no choice but to leave the EU alongside the UK. The chief minister insists that Gibraltar can prosper after Brexit despite the challenges, and since the EU negotiating guidelines are perceived to favour Spain and discriminate against the Rock, more Gibraltarians are now feeling that they will be better off out of the European Union after all.
Charles IV of Spain, or to give him his full name, Carlos Antonio Pascual Francisco Javier Juan Nepomuceno Jose Januario Serafin Diego, was born in November 1748 and was king for 20 years, from 14 December 1778, when his father died, until his abdication in favour of his son Ferdinand on 18 March 1808.

He was the second son of Charles III, the king of Naples and Sicily, but his elder brother Philip suffered from learning difficulties and epilepsy so the throne passed to Charles.

Ruling a country did not come easily to him, as he preferred to spend his time on leisure pursuits such as hunting, so he took a back seat and left matters of estate to his wife, Maria Luisa, and prime minister, the Count of Floridablanca, until the latter was forced out of office by political opponents and replaced by Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea, the Count of Aranda. Following the war against republican France, Aranda was replaced by Manuel de Godoy, a close friend of the king and widely believed to have been the queen's lover.

Those were troubled years, with France first of all declaring war on Spain in 1793, and then entering into an alliance with the country to declare war on Great Britain in 1795. That alliance continued until the Battle of Trafalgar, when Spain decided to ally itself with Britain, but then after Napoleon's victory over Prussia in 1807, under Godoy's guidance, it once again joined forces with France.

As a result of these regular changes, the monarchy and Godoy lost their reputation and there was a growing movement in favour of Charles IV's son Ferdinand, who wanted an alliance with Britain again. Amid an atmosphere of dissatisfaction and unease, the Crown Prince made an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow his father in 1807. By March 1808, after riots and a popular revolt at the Aranjuez palace, Charles IV was under such pressure that he decided to abdicate in favour of Ferdinand, but then regretted it almost immediately and asked Napoleon to help him regain his throne. On 5 May the same year, Napoleon forced both Charles and Ferdinand to abdicate, and appointed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, as king instead.

This was an unpopular move in Spain, and in 1813, having been kept under guard in France for several years, Ferdinand was restored to the throne, but had to rule under the liberal Constitution of 1812.
A doctor from Malaga, Eduardo Fernandez, 53, has been named president of the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO), the professional society for specialists in radiation oncology practice in the United States.

The main focus of the organisation is on promoting the highest quality of radiotherapy care to patients with cancer, while also spreading awareness of the benefits of radiation oncology and the advanced technology used in treatments.

Fernandez went to Los Olivos school before studying medicine at the University of Malaga, where he also obtained his doctorate and became an associate lecturer of Radiology.

In the 1990s Fernandez moved to the United States, spending four years in Cleveland before moving to Florida, where he has resided since 1998.

The 53-year-old is also the Medical Director of the company 21st Century Oncology.

I have a very busy clinical practice, I see an average of 40 patients a week, he explained to SUR on Tuesday.

As recently as Monday, he had the opportunity to meet senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson in Washington, as part of a delegation representing radiotherapists in Florida state, but a packed schedule complicated matters and he therefore decided not to attend.

On being elected president by members of the college, the doctor stated that it was a huge honour, having already been vice president of ACRO since 2015.

However, Fernandez realises that this is just the beginning: We have many challenges ahead such as, for example, the role of radiotherapy in modern oncology, the approach to economic and legislative issues, as well as the fight against unqualified practice, he explained to SUR.

The specialist from Malaga holds both Spanish and American passports, and is now one of the most distinguished figures in his field.

Asked about his current connections with Spain and with Malaga, Fernandez added: I keep in touch with friends and family there. I have good friends in the field of oncology in Spain in general and in Malaga in particular, but I am not involved in oncological issues over there.
Police have arrested a middle-aged Spanish man who they believe ran from the San Francisco church in Velez-Malagas old town after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at an image of Our Lady of the Abandoned. Friar Isidore, who was in the church just before midday on Tuesday, said he went outside after hearing a noise to see a young person running away from the church. Sources say petrol seeped into the image but there was no explosion.
One of Marbellas original hotels from the 1970s is set for a 70-million renovation after being closed for over ten years.

The Hotel Don Miguel, behind the resorts old town near the bus station, is set to reopen in 2019 after Arab investors, who bought the abandoned property in 2013 under the name Magna Hotels & Resorts, reached a deal with top French hotel operator, Club Med.

Club Med specialises in high-end all-inclusive family holidays and is ironically the same brand that operated the hotel until 2000, before eventually pulling out of the country. The hotel will now be renamed.

The reopening will mark Club Meds return to Spain, explained the operators project director, Gregory Lanter at a presentation in front of Marbellas mayor Jose Bernal on Wednesday.

Magna Hotels invited 23 different operators to bid for the running of their empty property before finally choosing Club Med. A full refurbishment will soon get under way and the opening will create some 300 new jobs.
Students from over 60 countries across the globe attending Spanish language courses at the Malaga International Centre for Spanish (CIE) had the chance last week to learn about Miguel de Cervantes and his most famous story, Don Quixote, as the school paid tribute to the legendary Spanish writer.

The week culminated in the reading of the first chapter of Don Quijote in 20 different languages at the schools centre in El Palo. European languages such as German, Swedish and Greek were intertwined with languages from further afield such as Korean, Chinese and Japanese as a number of students and teachers took to the podium in front of their peers to read extracts of the text in their native language.

At the end of the reading, some of the students also presented the short stories they had written in Spanish earlier in the week, as part of a task designed to help students practise their writing skills. Adaptations of the original tale, set in the students native countries, were read out and saw the fabled Don Quixote appear in South Korea, China and the Netherlands.

In a separate Cervantes Week event, the students had also participated in a discussion about how Don Quixote was received by the public when it was first published in the 17th century, and how it is interpreted today.

A video recorded over the course of the week, which was presented at the end of the readings, showed students discussing what they had learned about Cervantes and his work, demonstrating that they had really engaged with the activities.

Abdulmalik Aloufi, from the UAE, said: It was something different. I learned a lot about the characters of Don Quixote, Cervantes literature and Spanish history too. I would definitely recommend that other students wanting to learn Spanish participate in the Cervantes Week and attend the classes at the CIE school.

I enjoyed the whole week, but especially having the chance to be creative in Spanish by writing my short story, Don Quixote in China.

It was something different. I learned a lot about the characters of Don Quixote and about Cervantes literature and the history of Spain too.

The week was good but difficult. I have learned a lot of new vocabulary as a result of reading Cervantes literature and participating in discussions with my classmates.
A young actor from Benajarafe has secured the leading role in Billy Elliot the musical, which will premiere in Madrid in October.

Eleven-year-old Cristian Lopez Zamanillo, who lives with his mum, 34-year-old Soraya Zamanillo and grandmother, Arganda del Rey, had been playing the part of the young Simba in Madrids The Lion King, but had to give up the role as he got older and his voice changed.

He is now preparing to be Billy Elliot, the character played by Jamie Bell in the 2000 film set in Newcastle during the miners strike in the 1980s. The young Billy Elliot achieves his ambition of becoming a professional ballerina with a London dance academy, despite the odds.

Cristian says that he is, very excited about landing the role, for which he is rehearsing four hours a day from Monday to Friday and says that some of the steps are very complicated and need to be very polished.

The young actor likes the rebelliousness of the character he will be playing, as well as his will power which sends out the message that if you resolve to do something you can achieve it without worrying what others say.

Cristian was trained in Malaga at the Escuela de Artes Escenicas ESAEM, but sees his future in Madrid where the big musicals are.

Peter Darlings original film choreography is being used for this Spanish version of the show, for which tickets are already on sale.

The first performance will be in the Alcala theatre in the Spanish capital on 5 October. Producers say that the theatre has had to undergo works to accommodate the show and therefore Billy Elliot is expected to run there for several years and will not be going on tour around the country.
The Malaga Colegio de Abogados - the official association of local lawyers - and environmental prosecutor, Fernando Benitez, are trying to change the law so that judges are able to impose harsher sentences in particularly serious cases of ill-treatment of animals, such as the recent one involving the Parque Animal association in Torremolinos.

The president of that association was recently given a prison sentence of three years and nine months, but only one of those years was actually for continued cruelty to domestic animals (under the previous criminal code before it was reformed). The remainder of the sentence was for falsifying documents.

The proposal has already been presented to Avelino Barrionuevo, a Partido Popular MP for Malaga and member of the parliamentary justice committee, and Joaquin Ramirez, also PP, who represents Malaga on Spains Senado and sits on the corresponding committee. They have agreed to start the process of trying to have the change enshrined into law.

Lawyer Rosario Monter, the coordinator of the animal-wellbeing section of the Colegio de Abogados and president of the Tidus animal welfare federation, is involved in this project. She says they are asking for the Spanish penal code to include a new aggravated subtype in article 337. This would apply in cases of continued ill-treatment of animals, those with a large number of victims and for entities which are supposed to protect animals. In all these cases, the prosecution would be able to ask for a longer prison sentence than the present 18 months, which only applies to cases of cruelty resulting in an animals death. The maximum sentence which would apply after the modification has yet to be determined.

Cases such as that of the Torremolinos animal association are not isolated. They have happened elsewhere and people want severer penalties to be applied. There is a greater sensitivity towards animals nowadays, said Rosario. Malagas Colegio de Abogados plans to hold meetings with other lawyers associations in Spain and with animal welfare societies, to enlist them in the cause. Supporters of animals have to be more united than ever to make this proposal become reality and pass the necessary legal and parliamentary processes. It means that our criminal code will show that the justice system is, in the end, fair, she said.

Complicated change

Rosario wanted to dedicate this work to Tidus, the dog from which the federation took its name, that was burned alive in Valencia in December 2012. I will never forget him, because his ill-treatment showed in his eyes and shows in the eyes of many others, and that has to change, she added.

Ramirez said the proposal is interesting, but the process will be complicated because it requires a change to an organic law, with a qualified majority. It wont happen immediately, but we will do what we can to get it through, he said.
An epic journey across three countries, fleeing discrimination for their sexual orientation, will have a happy ending. Hispano-Argentinian Maria Jimena Rico, 28, and Egyptian Shaza Ismail, 21, will be getting married very soon in Torrox, the town where the former moved in 2001, and where her father Francisco, 69, is from.

The pair are already planning the big day and say they wouldnt mind if the towns mayor, Oscar Medina (PP), officiated. Medina welcomed them to the town hall on Tuesday and accompanied them to a press conference where they gave details of the ordeal they faced.

Every second, something new came up; a new emotion, a new fear, said Jimena Rico who was advised not to disclose every detail given that Shazas legal situation in Spain still needed to be resolved.

The couple have filed a complaint over their mistreatment by the Turkish authorities

Every second, something new came up; a new emotion, a new fear

The whole episode began on 14 April when the couple flew from London, where they lived, to Dubai, where they had been tricked into going by Shazas father who said that her mother was ill. It proved to be a rouse as he had reported their relationship to the authorities - in a country where homosexuality is punishable by 14 years in prison.

When they felt their life was in danger, they fled to Georgia where they had friends.

After staying there for three days, they were about to catch a flight back to London when Shazas father intercepted them at Tiflis airport. He faked having a heart attack, destroyed our documentation and threatened to kill us, she said.

After this altercation, in which the police intervened, Shazas father was arrested and the couple were escorted to the border with Turkey, where they entered legally having secured replacement documents.

Despite this, though, they were detained as suspected members of ISIS, something the couple suspect was the doing of Shazas fathers lawyer. Whats more, they were required to sign a document, in Turkish, which would relinquish their right to consular assistance.

They were detained for three days - the first two without being given anything to eat - and on being transferred, Jimena Rico got hold of a phone and raised the alarm with her family. This is when the search began, because up until that point, Turkey had denied that they were in the country, she said.

The worst moment was when they separated us and they made Shaza believe that I had gone and left her there, she said, adding: I would never have left without her because if I had, she would never have got out of there.

The level of distrust that was created meant that even when they were at the airport to be deported, they didnt believe it would actually happen.

For her part, Shaza Ismail confessed that she expected her parents reaction to a certain extent because they are very religious people, but also hoped that with time they will come to accept it.

She was less forgiving about the treatment they received in Turkey, however, calling it unexpected, inhumane and horrible. The couple have officially filed a complaint over their mistreatment at the hands of the Turkish authorities.

Asked whether she thought their story would have any repercussions in the Arab world, Jimena Rico said that she hoped it would help a lot of people who live in repression because of their sexuality.
When the packs are put on their backs, the weight means they have to run. If someone falls over in front of them, they have no choice but to keep going and run over them. They cant stop; it is pure inertia. Sooner or later a woman will stop and be trapped among hundreds of people with heavy packs on their backs. She will try to move forward, but will fall onto the floor and wont get up again; she will die, trampled by a stampede of bodies and merchandise. All for ten euros and all happening just across the Strait of Gibraltar from the Costa del Sol.

A BORDER BETWEEN TWO WORLDS 9,000 Although there are no definitive figures, it is calculated that before the ticket system was introduced - 2,000 for men and the rest for women - between 7,000 and 9,000 carriers crossed the border with Ceuta every day. Some sources, however, talk of 20,000. 10 euros is the average amount earned for carrying a pack weighing between 60 and 90 kilos, although the money can vary depending on the weight and the quality of the materials contained in the packs. Years ago, people could do several trips a day; these days, they are lucky if they manage one. 45,000 Moroccans - 75% of them women - live on money earned directly from unusual commerce and another 40,000 do so indirectly, according to the American Chamber of Commerce in Casablanca. It has been calculated that 90 million euros a year are spent on bribing police officers at the borders.

Thats what happened recently to Batul, a 40-year-old Moroccan woman who died in a stampede of carriers when she was trying to cross the Tarajal II border, between Ceuta, the Spanish town on the north African coast, and neighbouring Morocco. She suffered the same fate as Soad, a 22-year-old who lost her life in March, and Zhora and Bushra, who died in 2009. People also talk about Karima. They say she died in hospital after being trampled. And another woman, Lubna, broke both her legs on the same day. Those two cases, however, have not been officially recorded. Its possible that there have been more fatalities, and certain that many more women have been injured in their desperate race to earn some money, but the numbers are not known. If nobody does anything about it, there will be more deaths.

Every day several thousand Moroccan citizens, most of them women, cross the border and head for the Tarajal industrial estate in Ceuta, to load large packs of merchandise weighing between 60 and 90 kilos on their backs. They then return across the border and deposit what they are carrying in what is known as the parking area, where it is collected by men from the same companies who prepared the packs in Spain.

The merchandise - new and used clothing, boxes of crisps, toilet paper, nappies, household products - is taken to the Moroccan town of Castillejos (or Fnideq), where it is sold or distributed all over the country and even elsewhere on the continent.

You can find plastic bags from Lidl, Mercadona and Eroski in numerous places in Africa, says Ana Rosado, a member of the southern border team of the Association of Human Rights of Andalucia.

The Spanish authorities call it unusual commerce, but in reality it is contraband. Products which arrive in Ceuta port are taken to industrial estates close to the border and put into packs which are large but can be carried. It is a way of exporting goods without paying taxes. In Morocco, anything which a person can carry across the border is considered hand luggage; a huge amount of this hand luggage is taken across every day.

This is nothing new, but there has been a notable increase in the number of carriers since the economic crisis began. A year ago there were as many as 14,000 a day, which caused serious security problems. In an attempt to bring order to the chaos, on 27 February a new border channel was opened at Tarajal II, and the Spanish authorities introduced a ticket system to limit the number of carriers a day to 4,000. The only thing this has achieved is to increase the risk of stampedes.

The real situation is much worse than the photos, says Reduan Mohamed, from an NGO which assists migrants. The queues of people carrying packages are incredible, and if its bad now then just imagine what it is going to be like in the summer. People are injured every day, and the way things are going there are bound to be more deaths.

All the packs are marked so the companies can recognise them the other side of the border. / J.G.

The day begins at 6am around Tarajal II. By then, a long queue of carriers has already formed. Most are women, although the number of men is increasing, and they are waiting for the tickets which they will have to show at the border when they come back into Morocco with a package on their back. Many of the women have spent all night there to ensure that they will be able to cross, and others will fight to obtain a ticket.

Like the Middle Ages

The opening of the new border channel has meant that around 10,000 Moroccans have gathered in recent days to try to obtain a ticket from the Spanish police or from the people who resell them because they would rather earn a little less money than have to spend an exhausting and humiliating day. The queues, in which men and women are separated in the last few metres before the border but together during the long hours of waiting, are very tense and any incident could have serious consequences.

Its like a frontier in the Middle Ages. There are no scanners to check the packs, no identification systems; anybody could come through here carrying anything, even weapons, says Ivan Ramos, the spokesman in Ceuta of the Central Independent and Civil Service Union (CSIF).

The Tarajal II crossing point is very close to the industrial estate where the merchandise is kept, but there is a fence which means that those who manage to cross the border, running, shoving and trying to avoid blows from the majaznis (members of a security force similar to the Guardia Civil), have to go round it, a distance of about four kilometres, to reach their destination. Later they will have to return along the same route with tens of kilos on their shoulders, but before that they will have to wait again until they are called by the people who distribute the packages.

The men wait on the industrial estate, but the women have to go to the beach and wait there in an enormous queue, says Ana Rosado. With no shade, no public lavatories and no way of leaving the queue without losing their place, the female carriers are exposed to conditions which are inhumane in summer. The heat is unbearable, especially for them because they wear several layers of clothes so the blows from the police dont hurt as much.

When its their turn, the stevedores from the Tarajal place the packs on their backs. They have been prepared by some powerful companies in the unusual commerce sector, including some from Casablanca, Tangier, Madrid, Barcelona, Brussels and Shanghai , using this as an entry point to Africa without payimg customs duties. The Chinese buy cheap clothes and shoes in different international markets and sell them for a slightly higher price on the other side of the border. They prepare the packs in warehouses in Madrid.

The companies save money and the carriers die in stampedes. If they are lucky theyll cross the border without injury, carrying tens of kilos on their backs. However, almost as a reminder of the difficult lives they lead, and that they will be doing it all over again the following day, a new obstacle awaits them once theyre across: the last stretch of road to the place where they can put their heavy load down is uphill.
With just a month to go before the UKs snap election on 8 June, Britons on the Costa del Sol who are still eligible to vote are being reminded to register to do so before 22 May.

The organisation Bremain in Spain has put together a fact sheet with links on its website (www.bremaininspain.com).

The group is one of many representing Britons living in EU countries that have complained at the current Conservative governments failure to bring in the votes for life bill, which previous prime minister, David Cameron, made as an election promise in 2015.

Under current UK law, any Briton who has lived outside of the country for over 15 years is unable to vote in general elections or a referendum, an issue which led to thousands of disaffected Britons not being able to vote in last Junes in-out ballot.

No time for votes for life

Bremain in Spain said this week, The prime minister has called a general election on a date that disables people who have lived overseas for over 15 years from voting, despite the Tories 2015 manifesto promises to provide votes for life in subsequent elections. The organisation added that June 8 does not allow enough time to enable votes for life through an Act of Parliament.

In the Queens speech to Parliament on 27 May 2015, reference was made to the Votes for Life Bill, in which the Queen said the bill would scrap the current 15-year time limit on the voting rights of British citizens living overseas for UK parliamentary and European parliamentary elections, including provisions relating to the registration of overseas electors.

However, with a change of prime minister and Brexit top of the agenda since this manifesto, the bill has not been passed, once again leaving thousands without a voice in what some say is the most important general election for Britons living abroad in many years.

Bremain in Spain member Margaret King told the group, All British citizens, including those who live outside the UK, were promised votes for life before the next general election. We now have a general election looming and still no votes for us. This election will culminate in the decision to leave the EU, or not, and will affect those of us living in the EU as much as anybody living in the UK. I want my vote that was promised.

Brexit theme

Brexit remains at the core of Junes general election, with politicians from all parties using it in their campaigns. In a speech given outside 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, prime minister Theresa May accused European officials of hardening their stance on a Brexit deal and spoke of threats by European politicians, which she believes have been timed to influence the polls.

Using words which chimed with those used by David Cameron before the 2016 referendum, she addressed voters saying, The choice you now face is all about the future, referring to the winning partys responsibility to get the best deal out of Brexit for this United Kingdom.

May also claimed in her speech, Britains negotiating position in Europe has been misrepresented in the continental press.

Opposition leaders immediately hit back, with Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party saying, She is, it appears, almost wilfully sabotaging the prospects of getting the best possible deal.

Groups representing EU nationals living in the UK and Britons living in other European countries have shown their concerns after Wednesdays speech, suggesting that this stance could potentially lead to more difficult negotiations over guaranteeing rights of EU citizens post Brexit.
The Moroccan government decided to temporarily close the border at Tarajal II until 2 May to prevent more stampedes, much to the dissatisfaction of the growing numbers of people who make a living as carriers. They are able to do so thanks to the Schengen exception, an agreement signed in 1992 between the authorities in Spain and Morocco to allow the border with Ceuta to be crossed from Tetouan without a visa. This meant that Moroccan citizens with a passport issued in that province didnt need any other documents to enter the Spanish town, although they would need a visa if they were to continue on to the European continent. When the agreement was signed, 200,000 people lived in Tetouan. Now the population has risen to one million.
Im sure you will have read and seen a lot about mental health in the media recently, everything from Prince Harry recounting his personal reflections, to the many events and campaigns advertised to raise awareness. We are led to believe that mental health problems are on the increase and that we can all be affected by it; for many of us, at first glance, that may not always ring true. But if we take the time to sit down and have a good think about the stresses and challenges everyday life brings there will almost certainly be times when we have felt anxious, down or just not quite ourselves.

Thats not a problem of course, thats life, but just as a heart murmur or high cholesterol readings can be warning triggers to do something about your physical health, then it could be that certain feelings or circumstances are starting to tip you off that your mental health might need recharging.

Next week, 8 to 14 May, is Mental Health Awareness Week and this year the Mental Health Foundation wants us all to take a different approach. Rather than asking why so many people are struggling with mental health problems think about why too few of us are enjoying good mental health.

Are you surviving rather than thriving? And if so, what steps can you take to change that? What help is available to you or what help can you offer others?

How can we build resilience to protect ourselves against slipping downhill and continue thriving and improving?

All next week and beyond, the Mental Health Foundation will be encouraging debate and discussion on whether we are surviving or thriving and what we can do to bring about change.

To find out more check the website www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week where you will find all you need to know about getting involved and info on the social media channels.

This is a monthly message from Charmaine Arbouin at the British Consulate in Malaga. Charmaine is the Consul for Andalucia and the Canary Islands. Her team help thousands of British nationals in distress every year.
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Corey Carbery, 25, of Woodgate Road, Chittenango, was charged Wednesday in Syracuse with DWI and fleeing from police.

(Onondaga County Sheriff's Office)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man on parole for driving while intoxicated was charged Wednesday with drunkenly crashing an SUV in Syracuse while fleeing from police.

A deputy spotted an erratic driver around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday while patrolling the 3700 block of James Street, said Sgt. Jon Seeber, an Onondaga County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

When the red Chevrolet Trailblazer turned onto East Milford Street, the deputy tried to pull over the driver. The driver, Corey Carbery, refused to stop -- speeding away from the deputy at speeds that topped the 30 mph limit, Seeber said.

Carbery refused to pull over for "several" blocks, Seeber said. The traffic chase ended when Carbery hit a small tree and a parked Honda CRV on Northcliffe Road, he said.

With his SUV still moving, Carbery jumped out of the vehicle and ran away, Seeber said. The driver was found and arrested after a short foot chase, he said.

The abandoned Trailblazer slowly continued onto Nichols Avene, stopping on a sidewalk.

Carbery, of Woodgate Road, Chittenango, was charged with DWI, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, reckless driving and third-degree unlawful fleeing a police officer. He also issued traffic tickets.

Carbery, who is on parole, is being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center without bail.

According to state prison records, Carbery was convicted in December 2014 in Madison County of DWI and possessing stolen property. He was released from the Wyoming Correctional Facility onto parole in August 2016, records show.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- County Executive Joanie Mahoney called the ongoing conversation over Syracuse's status as a "sanctuary city" a manufactured controversy designed to score political points.

Mahoney Friday suggested Mayor Stephanie Miner's declaration that Syracuse is a sanctuary is part of a campaign for higher office.

"This whole topic of sanctuary cities is a hot topic that creates controversy and by virtue of going out and calling us a sanctuary city, the mayor didn't affect anything," Mahoney said in an interview Friday.

Miner took exception to that characterization. She said she has always stood up for issues important to her constituents, even when those are outside the purview of City Hall. That includes causes like same-sex marriage, healthcare and a higher minimum wage. She said Mahoney's comments say more about how the county executive views leadership.

"I'm not taking any of these positions -- sanctuary city status, healthcare, equal rights -- because I'm looking to run for higher office," she said. "I'm doing it because it's what I think is the right thing for our community."

In her State of the City address in January, Miner proclaimed Syracuse is, and will remain, a sanctuary city. She said she will not direct city police to detain people based on their immigration status. The comments came after President Donald Trump threatened funding for cities that harbored illegal immigrants.

Miner said her stance tells immigrants in the city they don't need to be afraid that police will question their citizenship.

Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway has final say on whether local authorities detain immigrants until federal agents can take them into custody, which generally defines sanctuary status. During his first two years, Conway never received a request from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to detain an undocumented immigrant, he said.

If he did receive such a request, Conway said he would likely comply with federal authorities. He said, however, his deputies will not question people about their immigration or citizenship status or go out looking for illegal immigrants.

It's unclear whether the federal government, then, would consider Onondaga County a sanctuary jurisdiction, since the current administration has offered no details on how it would determine sanctuary status.

Mahoney today said the decision on sanctuary policies is Conway's to make, and she would not weigh in for the sake of weighing in. Conway is an elected official who does not report to Mahoney. In the last 10 years, she said, the county has no instance of controversy surrounding the treatment of immigrants.

"The city, I think, really just inserted itself in a political way that generated a lot of controversy but didn't change anything," Mahoney said. "It's just not a fight I want to get into for the sake of fighting."

Miner said she does not plan to comment on whether she is running for a higher office next year until she has decided her plans. Her term as mayor ends at the end of 2017.
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Linda LeMura, Le Moyne College's 14th president, speaks at the college's 66th Commencement, May 22, 2106.

(Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

Linda LeMura is the 14th president of Le Moyne College, in Syracuse.



By Linda LeMura | Special to Syracuse.com



In his letter to the citizens of Central New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo asserted that his "first-in-the-nation free college program will fuel growth and opportunity across Central New York." I commend the governor for his efforts to make higher education more affordable. I must, however, respectfully disagree with his assertion that the Excelsior Scholarship will fuel economic growth. A free education for some may mean a poor education for many. In Central New York, this plan will inevitably result in the diminution of good paying, private sector jobs, an economic consequence that no government policy should drive.



As a first-generation college student myself, I am intimately aware of how a rigorous education can change a life. It changed mine. As the president of a private college and as a former State University of Pennsylvania professor, I have not only studied the business models of higher education, both public and private, I have also worked with and in them. Finally, as a native New Yorker, and more importantly as a mother, I want to preserve and nurture a transformative education for all children in New York state, no matter what or where they choose to study and what resources they need to succeed.



Cuomo's initiative attempts to lower tuition without addressing the cost of higher education, which means that while it will solve problems for some students in the short term, it will do little to reduce the cost of teaching and inspiring the 21st century workforce. The costs of higher education in the United States can be explained by several factors: the recruitment of top talent; increased reliance on technology; research and development costs; the intricate regulation and compliance costs mandated by the state and federal governments; spiraling insurance and health care expenses; increasing utility costs; student services such as mental health and career counseling; and the costs of maintaining a modern infrastructure, particularly for technology-rich science and business spaces.



The nature of these costs does not differ appreciably between independent and public institutions. What does differ is who pays the bills. In the case of public institutions, it is New York state's taxpayers who are being asked to assume approximately $7 billion in expenses. The governor's plan, though well-intentioned, does not address the underlying, fundamental costs of an undergraduate education. Here is why:



In "A Portrait in Letters of an American Visionary," Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan described a phenomenon known as "Baumol's Law," which affects selected sectors of the economy. The principle posits that in certain "high-touch" economic sectors that rely upon highly trained professionals, productivity does not keep pace with the rising cost of labor, and thus costs associated with those sectors tend to increase at a faster pace. For example, should we pay cardiologists more if they perform open-heart surgery faster, without regard for the health consequences of the patient? No, nor should we pay professors more to run laboratory experiments in organic chemistry classes faster and without regard for the learning outcomes. The senator argued that certain indispensable sectors of the economy, like higher education and healthcare, which cannot fully benefit from cost reductions resulting from productivity gains, warrant government support to ensure quality services remain for all, regardless of the ability to pay. Moynihan's intensive study of economic policy led him to the conclusion that supporting both public and private educational institutions offered the best possible solutions that would save the taxpayer money, enhance graduation and job placement outcomes, and foster collaboration, rather than pitting one sector against the other.



In its current form, the governor's Excelsior Scholarship does not inspire excellence in education. Instead, it threatens one of the Empire State's most precious assets, the public-private higher education ecosystem, and it misses a crucial opportunity to demonstrate how a real public-private partnership could address costs and increase academic outcomes.



The New York taxpayer will absorb the inevitable escalating costs that are fundamental to any labor-intensive sector of the economy. The unintended consequences of the Excelsior Scholarship are best illustrated by a recent Brookings Institution analysis entitled "Lessons from the end of free college in England." The authors reported that "concerns about the declining academic quality" ultimately led to the end of free college in 1998. Their research concluded that "a free college system actually stands in the way of increasing quantity, quality and equity in higher education."



The future of a sustainable business model must involve strategic collaboration within the public-private educational ecosystem in New York. According to "Strength in numbers," a 2016 report by Parthenon-EY, we are now in a new era in higher education that "demands a significant shift in strategy for institutions around the idea of collaboration and the development of much deeper partnerships than higher education has ever seen before."



I am committed to working on concrete, collaborative solutions to tackle the real and complex issues around higher education affordability. In the meantime, we need inspired government policy that encourages collaboration while treating students equally, so that they may attend the college that best meets their needs. This sort of smart public policy is good for both students and the taxpayers.




ICS publishes wide ranging review ahead of AGM

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published its latest Annual Review, ahead of its AGM in Istanbul next week.

The 2017 review can be accessed free of charge via the ICS website. Providing an insiders view of the key issues affecting shipping, the ICS review contains a unique insight into the global shipping industry and the complex legislative and economic landscape currently faced by ship operators, the chamber said. It explores the challenges presented by the need to reduce CO2 emissions in line with the ambition set by the Paris Agreement on climate change; the worldwide entry into force of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention in September, 2017; and the implementation in 2020 of the global 0.5% sulfur in fuel cap, each which will have profound implications for the economics of shipping. The review also covers developments on a wide range of other issues in which ICS is involved, ranging from legal and insurance developments, seafarers employment standards and the maintenance of free trade principles, to the resurgence of Somali piracy and the continuing migrant rescue crisis in the Mediterranean. While much of our work is about preparing for the future, the Annual Review reflects the sheer volume and diversity of issues being addressed by ICS, said ICS chairman, Esben Poulsson. The 2017 AGM will be held in Istanbul from 9th-11th May and hosted by the Turkish Chamber of Shipping. It will be Poulssons first AGM as chairman, following his election to the post at the previous AGM in Tokyo last year.




InterManager welcomes first ship registry member

The international ship managers body, InterManager, has signed up three new members - the Republic of the Marshall Islands Ship Registry, Africa Risk Compliance (ARC) and SC Innovation.

Welcoming the three new members, InterManager secretary general, Capt Kuba Szymanski, said: Our mandate to our members is clear and it is this support and collaboration that has caused our membership to grow. As we welcome our first ship registry member, it is a reminder that by working as a multi-sector association, together we can ensure a rich sustainable industry for generations to come. We look forward to working closely with our three new members. We are delighted to be part of this quality ship managers trade association. As the Marshall Islands Registry grows in popularity as a ship registry, we want to forge a closer relationship with InterManager and its members. We look forward to working together on issues which affect our members and the maritime industry more widely, said John Ramage, International Registries, Inc COO, which provides administrative and technical support to the Republic of the Marshall Islands maritime and corporate registries. Max Williams, fleet operations director, Africa Risk Compliance (ARC), said: At a time of global high security alert, maritime security intelligence is crucial. By working with organisations to keep clients well-briefed, we are building a robust network. Joining InterManager will allow us to share expertise with shipmanagers and to build a sustainable network to ensure the industry is safe. SC Innovative Ukraines QHSSE manager, Capt Vitaly Smolets, said: We are looking forward to working with like-minded companies, intent on ensuring best practice throughout the maritime industry. InterManagers renowned reputation makes this new collaboration all the more exciting.




Markets - Holidays put a dampener on activity

Despite widespread holidays, Some action was seen in the VLCC market.

In the MEG, the focus was predominantly on older or ships ex drydock, while rates softened to the low WS50s MEG/East, Fearnleys reported. Sparse activity was seen MEG/West but rates were also under pressure. WAFR/East was a bit slow with patient charterers trying to shave rates further. Sustained Suezmax activity in the shortened working week between the Easter holidays and the Bank holiday weekend maintained a level of stability to rates in WAFR, which peaked at WS92.5 for TD20 and then plateaued. It has been a different story at the start of this week with sparse activity thus far in all geographical areas leading to a build up of tonnage over the holiday weekend. Very little of the third decade has thus far emerged and seemingly the VLCCs, albeit late, have taken a large slice of the action. On Wednesday morning, it was reported that WS82.5 had been agreed for a WAFR/UK-Cont-Med voyage, which gave the market an element of reality. The Black Sea and Med are in tandem under the same pressure with limited enquiry thus far. Without doubt, the week ahead will be challenging for owners. Fearnleys posed the question - has the overdue poor market predicted now arrived? Following the holiday period, brokers reported that Xedex had fixed the 1994-built Suezmax Tirupati for 12 months, option 12 months, for $13,000 per day. Koch reportedly took the 2006-built Suezmax Archangel for 12 months at $12,000 per day. As well as fixing the LR2 Captain John reported recently, Navig8 was also believed to have chartered the 2014-built LR2 sisters Captain Spiro and Captain Paris for 12 months, plus options, for $17,000 per day and the 2012-built Lady Henrietta and King Philippos for six months at $16,000 per day. ATC reportedly fixed the 2009-built Aframax Blue Sky for 12 months, plus a 12 month option, for $16,250 per day, plus $17,250 per day for the option period. Cargill was said to have taken the 2004-built MR Box for six months at $14,300 per day. In the S&P sector, Union Maritime was said to have purchased the 2007-built MRs Iver Example and Iver Express for about $15.6 mill each, while sistership Iver Exact was thought committed to undisclosed interests for $15.5-$16 mill. STI has concluded bareboat lease back sales of the 2013-built sister MRs STI Le Rocher, STI Larvotto and STI Beryl with Chinese Bank of Communications Financial Leasing for about $29 mill each. The bareboat rate was said to be around $8,000 per day. In the Handysize segment, Soechi was said to have purchased the 2002-built Port Louis for $6.1 mill. Said to be leaving the fleet were the 1999-built Aframax Kiowa Spirit sold to unknown interests, as is Singapore, while the 1991-built Aframax Iron Lady renamed Lady was believed sold to Bangladesh breakers for $366 per ldt. News of newbuildings continued to trickle in. Among the latest batch were Kyklades ordering five plus two optional Aframaxes at Sungdong for $280 mill en bloc. They are due for delivery in 2018-2019. In the VLCC segment, Sentek booked two, option two, at Hyundai Samho for delivery in 2019, while Frontline was believed to have agreed two, option two, at Hyundai also for 2019 delivery. Having sold its VLCC fleet to DHT, BW ordered another four, plus two optional VLCCs at Samsung for around $83.7 mill each. The company has revealed that DHT was involved in the contract talks so could end up owning or managing the vessels. All of the VLCCs are scheduled for delivery by the middle of 2019. Reports were circulating on Thursday that Samsung had also won an order for four VLCCs from Greek holding company, Capital Maritime and Trading. They are to be delivered by the end of 2019. The financial details were not disclosed. Hong Kongs Goldwin Shipping was said to have ordered one, plus three optional Handysize chemical tankers at Nantong Xiangyu. They will be fitted with stainless steel tanks. Finally, TB Marine was said to have ordered two 22,000 dwt IMO II chemical tankers at the same yard.




Markets - Looking at VLCCs

In the first quarter of this year, freight rates on the major VLCC benchmark trades assessed and tracked in McQuilling Services Daily Tanker Market Rate Snapshot were stuck in a downward spiral with limited upward swings.

The weakness in rates could be attributed to a multitude of factors, the most influential being vessel supply, the consultancy said. During the last five years, the VLCC fleet has experienced huge growth, expanding by 117 vessels (net) through the end of 2016. Another 17 ships have hit the water in the first quarter of this year, while just two have exited the trading fleet  the DHT Ann for conversion and the Varada Blessing for demolition. An increase in the number of newbuilding deliveries hasnt been the only factor that has led to an oversupply issue this year. Port delays and floating storage, which act as temporary supply reduction factors, have not been as prominent in 2017 as they were last year. By utilizing remotely-sensed position data (AIS) and the consultancys proprietary fleet management software, McQuilling is able to effectively monitor and track the global tanker fleet, including these market conditions. In the Far East last year, discharge delays, which turned into short-term floating storage opportunities, were a topic of interest. Of particular significance was the backlog of tanker traffic at Qingdao in China, caused by teapot refiners thirst for foreign crude oil. For example, in February, 2016, discharge delays for VLCCs nearly doubled, reaching as high as 28 days. McQuillings analysis showed that every one additional day in port is equivalent to a tonnage reduction of nine to 10 VLCCs. While this scenario would have been helpful to VLCC owners in the first quarter of the year, a situation of the same magnitude has yet to transpire. Both delays and floating storage have been minimal, allowing for well supplied position lists and more opportunity for charterers to put downward pressure on rates. At the start of 2017, McQuillings TCE assessment for AG/Japan was roughly $53,500 per day, while AG/USG was about $25,500 per day. In the Atlantic Basin, the figure for WAFR/China was slightly in excess of $48,000 per day. The Caribbean/Singapore route commenced at $36,100 per day. This was the first and last time daily earnings were this high as week after week, rates steadily fell from these levels throughout 1Q17. March proved to be the bottom of the market, with some TCE earnings reaching negative territory on the AG/USG route and as low as $11,400 per day on AG/Japan. The West Africa/China route fell over 60% from the start of the year to its lowest point of $18,422 per day at the end of March, while Carib/Singapore fell about $10,000 per day throughout the first quarter. Rates began to find some strength in April on the back of sustained inquiry and resistance from owners to accept lower rates. Worldscale spot rates on the AG/Japan benchmark rose from WS47.5 (TCE $13,706 per day) at the start of April to a peak of WS76 ($35,796 per day), an increase of 60%. Meanwhile, in the Atlantic Basin, spot rates on the WAFR/China route climbed from WS56 (TCE $19,000 per day) to a high of WS73 ($31,356 per day). However, the rally didnt last long and rates have since abated as at the time of writing, due to a swift re-population of the tonnage list. Despite mounting financial pressures being faced by VLCC owners in the spot market, the pace of scrapping has remained muted over the past few years. However, with demolition values on the rise and impending environmental regulations that will require costly upgrades to existing vessels, McQuilling expects to see an accelerated scrapping programme begin this year and persist throughout the five-year forecast period. In 2017, the consultancy forecast that 10 VLCCs will exit the trading fleet, followed by 23 in 2018 and an average of 34 ships per year in the succeeding years of the forecast cycle. Should an increase in tanker exits transpire, it would help to offset some of the fleet growth in recent years, especially as fewer vessels are anticipated to deliver from 2018-2021, despite a rather strong start to VLCC contracting this year. VLCC newbuilding orders placed thus far in 2017 have caused some market participants to become wary about the future of this tanker segment. At the end of the first quarter, some 14 VLCC newbuilding orders were placed by TMS Tankers, NS Lemos, DHT Holdings, Kyoei Tanker and the Angelicoussis group. Adding to this are the three orders reported by Shandong Landbridge and one option one by Neda Maritime in April, bringing the total to 18 orders, the highest level seen since 2014. In addition, Hyundai Merchant Marine has signed a letter of intent with Daewoo for up to 10 VLCCs. Meanwhile, Sentek Marine recently emerged as having ordered up to four VLCCs from Hyundai Samho. McQuilling said it expected weakness in rates to persist in the second quarter of this year, with TD3 averaging WS57 and Carib/Spore $3.7 mill on a lumpsum basis. Of note, the consultancys original forecasts from the beginning of the year for TD1, TD3, TD15 and Carib/Spore have been within 6% of actual market levels. Oversupply will continue to be a concern for this tanker segment in 2Q 17 and the remainder of the year, as it is expected that another 25-30 ships will join the trading fleet before 2018. While McQuilling predicted that 10 ships would exit the trading fleet in 2017, activity has been slow thus far. A notable increase in scrapping will need to transpire over the next eight months. Additional pressures will likely stem from Brazil failing to meet production expectations, due to FPSO delays, creating less tanker demand than initially anticipated. In addition to this, a drawdown in currently high crude oil inventories could have a negative impact on cargo demand moving forward, as could a tightening in the WTI/Brent spread, pressuring long-haul US exports. An in-depth view of these scenarios and our five-month rate forecasts will be published in McQuillings upcoming May Interim Update. Four VLCCs have been sold for demolition since October, 2016, matching the number of VLCCs sold for demolition in the preceding two years, BIMCO said in a note. Most recently the 1999-built double-hull VLCC Good News, returned $15.5 mill to her owner, as demolition prices reached levels not seen since first half of 2015 ($400 per ltd). BIMCOs chief shipping analyst, Peter Sand, said: January struck an upbeat tone for demolition in all sectors, but the overall pace of fleet renewal, via demolition, has slowed down since then. Crude oil tankers being the one exception to that, as capacity removals spiked in April, reaching the highest level since February, 2015. Still a long way to go though, as net fleet growth for the large crude oil tankers are already up by 2.4% year-to-date, he warned. Around 1.3 mill dwt of crude oil tanker capacity has been demolished. The total is expected to be 9 mill dwt for the full year. As deliveries are seen on a par with 2016, the crude oil tanker fleet is forecast to grow by 3.7% this year, BIMCO said.. The first four months of 2017 saw eight crude oil tankers sold for demolition - two VLCCs, two Suezmaxes, three Aframaxes and one Panamax. As only nine crude oil tankers were recycled in 2016, eight sold in the first couple of months is positive. In contrast, there was low interest in product tanker demolition thus far this year. As 2017 is set to be a year where supply growth will outpace demand growth, much more needs to be done to limit the looming overcapacity in the product tanker sector, BIMCO concluded.




The European XFEL, the creme de la creme of X-ray radiation lasers currently existent in the world, is up and running and has successfully completed its first lasing.

Scientists at the German research center DESY, in Hamburg, fired the European XFEL on Thursday, May 4, to witness its first X-ray beam, thus reaching "the last major milestone" before the facility is officially opened in September.

"The European XFEL has generated its first X-ray laser light. The facility, to which many countries around the world contributed know-how and components, has passed its first big test with flying colors," said Professor Robert Feidenhans'l, European XFEL managing director.

Come autumn, international research teams will be able to harness the power and accuracy of the X-ray laser for the benefit of scientific experiments, paving the way for "a new era of research in Europe" and throughout the world.

By then, DESY and European XFEL representatives estimate two scientific instruments will be fully operational and ready to welcome external users. This number will eventually be extended to six.

The Biggest X-Ray Laser In The World

There are only five X-ray lasers worldwide, and the European XFEL is the largest and most powerful laser of them all. The laser is housed in an underground facility that stretches for 3.4 kilometers (or about 2.1 miles).

The European XFEL is an X-ray laser of superlatives. It generates synchrotron radiation in X-ray range, emitting electrons that are accelerated to relativistic speed (close to speed of light). Its X-ray laser is extremely intense and a billion times brighter than conventional synchrotron light sources.

The laser light is produced with what DESY describes as "the most advanced and most powerful linear accelerator in the world."

The first lasing of the European XFEL yielded an X-ray beam of 0.8 nanometers in wavelength, about 500 times shorter than the wavelength of visible light.

During the test, the X-ray laser recorded a repetition rate of one pulse per second. Once the European XFE is running at full capacity, the laser will generate 27,000 pulses per second, each so short and intense that researchers can make pictures of structures and processes at the atomic level. By comparison, the previous was of just 120 pulses per second.

How The European XFEL Works

The laser fires streams of electrons that go through an accelerator tunnel 2.1 kilometers (or about 1.3 miles) in length. Here, the electron pulses are accelerated and travel at near-light speed and very high energies through a photon tunnel.

This tunnel contains a stretch of X-ray generating devices 210 meters long (or about 689 feet), where a series of more than 17,000 permanent magnets drive the beams through a lengthy series of mirrored tunnels.

The magnets have alternating poles and are called undulators. They interact with the electron pulses from above and below, steering the electrons into a "slalom" course.

At each turn, the beams release extremely short-wavelength X-ray radiation which magnify over the course of each beam's trip through the tunnels.

"We can now begin to direct the X-ray flashes with special mirrors through the last tunnel section into the experiment hall, and then step by step start the commissioning of the experiment stations," explained Feidenhans'l.

Cool Scientific Applications For The European XFEL

Once in operation, the key component of the XFEL  the superconducting linear accelerator  will generate the fastest, most powerful laser pulses on the planet. The laser facility will also be extremely versatile, capable of conducting biological, chemical and physical experiments.

According to a DESY and European XFEL joint news release, the wavelength of the X-ray laser light corresponds to the size of an atom, which means that "the X-rays can be used to make pictures and films of the nanocosmos at atomic resolution."

"The European XFEL will provide us with the most detailed images of the molecular structure of new materials and drugs and novel live recordings of biochemical reactions," noted Helmut Dosch, DESY chairman.

In other words, the XFEL will allow scientists to better study biomolecules, leading to a more complex understanding of how diseases progress. This will enable researchers to develop novel therapies.

Another scientific application of the European XFEL is a more comprehensive study of chemical processes and their catalysts, in an effort to improve their efficiency and make them less harmful to the environment.

Other areas of interest include materials research and investigating conditions similar to those found in the interior of planets.

The superconducting linear accelerator was developed by DESY, the largest shareholder of the European XFEL, and made operational on April 19.

"The European XFEL's particle accelerator is the first superconducting linear accelerator of this size in the world to go into operation. With the commissioning of this complex machine, DESY and European XFEL scientists have placed the crown on their 20-year engagement in developing and building this large international project. The first experiments are within reach, and I am quite excited about the discoveries ahead of us," said Dosch at the time.

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Fun times, tan lines, and the threat of tick-borne diseases. Apparently, this is what summer has got in store for us this year.

As if blacklegged ticks in the country aren't already teeming with enough pathogens to make us go crazy, there's a new tick infection to add to the list  Powassan virus. Rumor has it, it's even worse than Lyme disease.

What Is Powassan Virus?

Powassan or POW virus is a type of RNA flavivirus. It was first identified in Powassan, Ontario in 1958, thus its name.

Similar to other mosquito- and tick-borne diseases  such as Lyme disease, West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, and tick-borne encephalitis viruses  the infection is passed onto humans once they're bitten by the host of the virus.

In the United States, there are currently two types of POW virus:

 Lineage 1 POW virus  This type is associated with Ixodes cookei or Ixodes marxi ticks, which seldom bite humans.

 Lineage 2 POW virus  Otherwise known as the deer tick virus, this type is linked to Ixodes scapularis ticks, the primary vector of Lyme disease, human anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.

Over the last decade, there have been approximately 75 confirmed cases of POW virus disease reported to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

More Lethal Than Lyme Disease

Although rare compared with other tick-borne diseases that are more prevalent and widespread in most parts of the United States, Powassan virus is stealthier and potentially fatal.

Dr. Jennifer Lyons, chief of the Division of Neurological Infections and Inflammatory Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, cautions that almost anyone is at risk of getting Powassan, particularly newborns, the middle-aged, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.

"About 15% of patients who are infected and have symptoms are not going survive. Of the survivors, at least 50% will have long-term neurological damage that is not going to resolve," Lyons, who is also an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, told CNN.

Symptoms and Complications

Unfortunately, most people who become infected with Powassan virus hardly ever show any signs, except for common flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, vomiting, and seizures.

The POW virus can reach the central nervous system and cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), according to the CDC. What's worse is that almost half of Powassan virus survivors are left with permanent neurological problems, such as recurrent headaches, muscle wasting, and memory decline, after a long and arduous battle with the infection.

A Looming Health Threat

As of now, there is no definitive data as to how fast and how far the Powassan virus has spread, although new reported cases mostly come from the Northeast and northern areas of the Midwest  including Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York.

The current CDC data are based on people who developed severe disease from the infection.

"The bottom line is that we should be very scared of it because nobody is safe from it. And it could be that it is emerging and will explode over the next few years," Lyons warned.

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Microsoft just released the newest Windows 10 preview for PCs, with significant improvements to Edge in tow.

Mainly, the new additions improve the browser's integrated PDF reader, and its new features might better convince you that you don't need a separate PDF reader program at all  Edge can take care of that, and more.

Microsoft Edge: New PDF Features

First off, Edge users may now fill out all types of PDF forms directly from the browser. Whether it's an invoice, an application or an entry form, you can fill those right inside Edge's PDF reader.

Users may now also annotate PDFs right from the browser by clicking the "Make a Web Note" button located at the top right, which brings up the annotation bar. Users can highlight or ink text, and erase annotations, too.

Often, PDFs contain many pages, and it's hard to keep track of everything, especially if one is looking for something specific. Thankfully, users may now use the Table of Contents to navigate between pages.

Microsoft wants Edge to become the de facto tool for viewing, filling out, and annotating PDFs, and Edge's new and improved PDF navigation features are a testament to that. Users may now rotate PDFs, turn them into two-page layouts, and enable page-wise scrolling for improved navigation and reading experiences.

Microsoft Edge: Windows Defender Application Guard

Windows Defender Application Guard was already announced back in September, but only now is Microsoft making it available for those enrolled in Windows Insider Previews, or for Enterprise users in the Fast Ring.

For the uninitiated, Edge running in Application Guard protects one's computer from malware and zero-day attacks against Windows. For those who want to perform a test drive, simply turn on Windows Defender Application Guard via the "Turn Windows features on or off" dialog. Then, start Edge, click on the menu, and choose to open a new Application Guard window. With it turned on, any site a user visits will be be isolated in Application Guard.

The features highlighted above are all available via Microsoft's latest PC Fast Ring Redstone 3 test build, carrying the build number 16188.

Changes And Fixes For PC

Microsoft also added a bevy of improvements to this latest Windows 10 Build. For one, the company has ironed out an issue where the candidate window doesn't appear when the user types on certain apps using Simplified Chinese IMEs or the Changjie and Quick IMEs.

Also, Microsoft has enabled universal dismiss of Cortana reminders across Windows devices.

Furthermore, with this update, when users double click the Windows Defender Security Center icon inside the notification area, it will now open the Windows Defender Security Center.

There are quite a number of things Microsoft fixed with this latest build, and you should read the company's official blog post if you want to know all the details. But in a nutshell, new PDF and Application Guard features on Edge are the highlights of Windows 10 build 16188.

Thoughts about the latest Windows 10 build? Have you tried the new PDF features on Edge? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Samsung fans who have been waiting to get their hands on a smartphone with a dual camera setup might be getting their wish earlier than the release of the Galaxy Note 8.

It was originally expected that the Galaxy S8 will come with the feature, but the smartphone was released without a dual camera. Users then expected that Samsung will instead incorporate the camera upgrade in its next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note 8.

The First Samsung Dual Camera Phone May Not Be The Galaxy Note 8

Samsung initially planned to include a dual camera on the Galaxy S8, but a report from December 2016 claimed that the company gave up on the idea. The report turned out to be true, as the Galaxy S8 was unveiled with a 12 MP rear camera instead of the rumored 12 MP and 13 MP dual cameras.

The logical assumption was that if Samsung was not able to get the dual camera setup into the Galaxy S8, then the company would instead introduce the feature into the Galaxy Note 8, which is its next flagship smartphone.

However, according to a prolific leaker who goes by the handle mmddj_china on Twitter, the Galaxy Note 8 will not be the first Samsung smartphone with a dual camera. Instead, the feature will first be introduced in an upcoming Galaxy C device.

The leaker followed up the tweet with a hand-drawn sketch that places the dual cameras in a vertical arrangement at the center of the smartphone's back. The sketch does not really evoke confidence in the rumor, but Samsung's decision to roll out dual cameras outside of its flagship smartphone lines is certainly a plausible move.

One of the major selling points of Galaxy S device has been their groundbreaking cameras, which has so far reduced the need for a second lens module to improve the quality of pictures. However, features such as the Portrait Mode of Apple's iPhone 7 Plus is not possible with just a single lens.

Introducing dual cameras into the Galaxy S8 may have been seen as a risk, especially with how Samsung relies on the smartphone to pull it out of the controversy generated by the Galaxy Note 7. Launching dual cameras outside the flagship Galaxy lines would allow Samsung to work out certain issues before introducing the feature into the Galaxy Note 8.

Next Samsung Galaxy C Smartphone Specs

Aside from the information that the next Galaxy C smartphone will feature dual cameras, there is not much else known about the device. The missing model number means that we have no idea on how big the display of the device will be, and there is no information on what kind of dual cameras will be fitted into the smartphone.

Rumors, however, claim that the next Galaxy C smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. Qualcomm has not yet officially unveiled the chipset, but reports claim that it will be a mid-range version of the Snapdragon 835 with the same cores but less powerful GPU. The Galaxy C device is also said to be coming with a metallic body featuring antenna grooves similar to the Galaxy C9 Pro.

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China hits a milestone in commercial aerospace May 5, Friday, as its first homegrown passenger jetliner flies for the first time, embodying its goal of challenging the leadership of Boeing and Airbus.

The white C919, which the Chinese government decided to develop in 2007, successfully took on its maiden flight after a detailed pre-flight check. Its manufacturer, the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China or COMAC, declared the endeavor a success even before takeoff.

Cracking The Commercial Passenger Flight Duopoly

It is widely known that China developed the aircraft to crack Airbus and Boeings duopoly on the commercial jet market, seeking to have a share in the global aviation sector, Chinese news agency Global Times reported.

The paper added that 23 foreign as well as domestic customers have already ordered 570 of the narrow-bodied jets, including the likes of Air China and China Southern Airlines Co.

The C919 jet has a standard range of 4,075 kilometers, a maximum altitude of 12,100 meters, and a capacity of 158 seats. It boasts of comprehensive avionics system, structure design, fly-by-wire control system and active control technology, and a large proportion of advanced metal components, the report noted.

The first C919 aircraft was delivered to COMACs Flight Test Center in December last year, and it underwent its first high-speed taxiing test and liftoff of front wheel just last April 23.

Top Chinese leaders attended the historic event, including President Xi Jinping who told workers during a recent visit that they need to spend more on the research and manufacture of their own airliners.

We used to believe that it was better to buy than to build, better to rent than to buy, he said.

The C919 is designed to directly compete with the Airbus 320 as well as the Boeing 737, both single-aisle planes considered the global airlines workhorses. This vision of competing in the global commercial aircraft market took off from 1972, when President Richard Nixon made his trip to China in a Boeing 707.

Chinese officials adored the plane and later purchased 10 Boeing 707 jets, along with spare Pratt & Whitney engines.

A Long, Arduous Journey For The C919

It could take years or decades to develop an aircraft that is cheaper to fuel and more efficient to maintain. Parts such as engines and cockpits are another crucial consideration, where the C919 itself is filled with materials made by Western companies such as General Electric.

Flight safety regulators in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere in the world also need to certify planes before their broader sale outside China.

The Shanghai-based COMAC is directly controlled by the Chinese cabinet. And for the country itself, the birth of the C919 is deemed the beginning of a long journey, where, for instance, the state-controlled airline industry may still be required to purchase the jet even if it proves less fuel-efficient than Western options.

Optimism remains, and $15 billion is expected in C919 sales in its 20 or more years of production. COMAC is also looking to design and manufacture a wide-body jet that can fare well against larger planes such as the Boeing 747 and the A340.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The high level of participation of young people and women highlights the profound democratization of Nicaraguan society that has taken place in the last fifteen years. | Read More
Controller of BBC Drama Piers Wenger has announced over 47 hours of new commissions, including adaptations of A Suitable Boy, Black Narcissus, The War of the Worlds and Little Women.

The slate includes projects from writers such as Andrew Davies, Heidi Thomas, Russell T Davies and Danny Brocklehurst, and directors like Stephen Poliakoff and Stephen Frears.

The shows are produced by indies including Neal Street, Red, DNA Films, Mammoth Screen, Sister Pictures, Playground, Blueprint, Rollem, Snowed-In and Little Island.

Wenger said that in a world of ever more drama content, BBC drama had to deliver the unexpected and to be clear on what sets it apart.

"I want us to be less bound by conventions of genre, slot and channel even when considering new work. We know that the biggest risks deliver the biggest hits and in a landscape which is so fast changing, ideas need to be well ahead of the curve. And that means giving ourselves maximum creative headroom to allow ideas to develop and grow.

"I also want a strong streak of Britishness to run through the centre of everything we do. It gives us distinctiveness in a crowded landscape and a strong identity internationally. I think that its the individuality, chutzpah, determined vision and tireless curiosity at the heart of Britains creative community which has played a huge part in turning drama from the UK into such a valuable cultural export and so Id like the next five years of drama from the BBC to be a celebration of British authorship, identity and life in all its most diverse forms.

BBC One



Giri/Haji (860) (Duty/Shame)

From Joe Barton, the writer of Our World War and Humans, comes an eight-part crime series about a middle-aged Tokyo detective (Kenzo) who travels to London in search of his wayward younger brother (Yuto). Once thought dead, Yuto is now believed to be posing as a Yakuza gangster in London and wanted for the murder of a Japanese businessman there.

Giri/Haji has been commissioned by Piers Wenger and Charlotte Moore for BBC One, and Elizabeth Bradley and Alex Sapot for Netflix, and is a Sister Pictures production. Executive Producers are Jane Featherstone, Chris Fry and Joe Barton for Sister Pictures, and Piers Wenger for the BBC. Giri/Haji will make its world premiere on BBC One and Netflix will stream the series globally outside of the UK.

Informer (660)

From Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, two new writers for television, comes Informer  a contemporary thriller about a young, second generation Pakistani man from East London who is coerced by a Counter-Terrorism officer to go undercover and inform for him.

Informer will be produced by Neal Street Productions (Call The Midwife, The Hollow Crown) for BBC One. Executive producers are Nicolas Brown and Julie Pastor for Neal Street Productions, and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for the BBC.

The War Of The Worlds (360)

From Peter Harness comes the first British television adaptation of H. G. Wells novel The War Of The Worlds, produced by Mammoth Screen for BBC One.

Horsell Common in Surrey is struck by a huge meteor, and the inhabitants of Earth slowly fall victim to a vicious invasion. The three-part drama follows one mans attempt to escape the ruthless Martians  but they are determined to destroy all human life as they attempt to conquer the earth

The War Of The Worlds has been written by Peter Harness (Doctor Who, Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell, Wallander) and will be produced by Mammoth Screen (Poldark, The City And The City, The Witness For The Prosecution, NW) for BBC One. Filming will begin early 2018.

Black Narcissus (360)

From writer Amanda Coe (Apple Tree Yard, Life in Squares) comes a new three-part BBC One adaptation of Black Narcissus, Rumer Goddens tale of sexual repression and forbidden love.

Returning thislove story to its original setting in the 1930s, Black Narcissus follows Sister Clodagh and the nuns of St Faiths, who travel to Nepal to set up a branch of their order in the remote palace of Mopu.

The series will be produced by DNA Films (Ex-Machina, Far From the Madding Crowd) for BBC One, with Producer Tom Winchester, and Executive Producers Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich for DNA; and Lucy Richer for the BBC.



A Suitable Boy (860)

Andrew Davies will adapt Vikram Seths bestseller A Suitable Boy for BBC One. About a young womans search for love and identity in a newly independent, post-Partition India, the novel has never been adapted for the screen before.

It is a Lookout Point (War And Peace, Les Miserables) production for BBC One. Executive Producers are Andrew Davies and Vikram Seth, Faith Penhale and Laura Lankester for Lookout Point, and Lucy Richer for the BBC. The series will be filmed on location in India.

Little Women (360)

Based on the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women is being adapted by Heidi Thomas (Call the Midwife) and is directed by Vanessa Caswill (Thirteen, My Mad Fat Diary). Principal photography is set to begin in July and casting will be announced in due course.

Little Women will be produced by Playground (Wolf Hall, Howards End) for BBC One. The series is a co-production with Masterpiece on PBS. The producer is Susie Liggat. Executive producers are Colin Callender and Sophie Gardiner for Playground, Heidi Thomas, Lucy Richer for the BBC and Rebecca Eaton for Masterpiece.

A Very English Scandal (360)

Based on the book A Very English Scandal: Sex, Lies And A Murder Plot At The Heart Of The Establishment, by journalist John Preston, the drama is written by Russell T Davies and directed by Stephen Frears. A Very English Scandal is the true story of Jeremy Thorpe, first British politician to stand trial for conspiracy and incitement to murder.

A Very English Scandal will be produced by Blueprint Pictures (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, In Bruges) for BBC One. Executive producers are Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin for Blueprint Pictures and Lucy Richer for the BBC.

Come Home (360)

What does it take for a mother to walk out on her family, leaving her children behind? What impact does it have, and how do others judge her? From Danny Brocklehust, Come Home explores the messy realities of parenthood, marriage, and what happens when a mother switches the reset button on their life.

Come Home will be produced by Red Production Company (Happy Valley, Last Tango In Halifax) for BBC One, and the Executive producer for Red Production Company is Nicola Shindler. Filming will start in Northern Ireland later this year.

The Wilsons (w/t, 360)

Inspired by a true story and written by Anna Symon, this three-part drama is set in 1960s London, 1940s London and India in the 1930s. In 1963, Alison Wilson thinks she is a normal, happily married woman. But when her husband Alec suddenly dies, a woman turns up on her doorstep, claiming that she is the real Mrs Wilson. Alison is determined to prove the validity of her own marriage  and Alecs love for her  but is instead led into a world of dark and troubling secrets. Alec was a British spy and a best-selling novelist.. .but what else besides? Where did his truth end and his fiction begin? Alison will be pushed to the very brink to find out.

Ruth Wilson, who will star and Executive Produce said: "I am so excited to bring to the small screen the extraordinary lives of my grandparents. Theirs is a profoundly moving story and the BBC is the perfect home for it."

The Wilsons will be produced by Snowed-In Productions for BBC One. Written by Anna Symon (Indian Summers). Executive Producers are Ruth Wilson (The Affair, Luther), Ruth Kenley-Letts (Strike, The Casual Vacancy), and Neil Blair (Strike, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them) for Snowed-In Productions and Lucy Richer for the BBC.

BBC Two

Summer Of Rockets (660)

Stephen Poliakoffs semi-autobiographical Summer Of Rockets is a six-part series for BBC Two produced by Little Island Productions. Set in the UK during the tumultuous year of 1957. Fear and excitement of the future permeates the lives of all, as Britain tests its first hydrogen bomb, the Prime Minister declares that "most of our people have never had it so good", the Soviets launch their first ballistic missile and beat the Americans by successfully sending a Satellite into space. All this washed down with the emergence of Elvis and rock n roll.

The Summer Of Rockets is written and directed by tPoliakoff (Close To The Enemy, Lost Prince, Shooting The Past). Helen Flint (Snatch, Close To The Enemy, Longford, The Take, Galavant) will executive produce for Little Island Productions and Lucy Richer for the BBC.

BBC Three

Overshadowed (810)

Based on Eva OConnors play, Overshadowed tells the story of a young girl called Imogene (Imo) whose life spirals out of control when she meets the monster of anorexia personified. The eight-part short-form series has been written by television newcomers Eva OConnor and Hildegard Ryan, and will be produced by Kay Mellors Rollem Productions for BBC Three.

Overshadowed will be produced by Rollem Productions (Love, Lies And Records, In The Club, The Syndicate). Executive Producers are Kay Mellor for Rollem Productions and Elizabeth Kilgarriff for the BBC.

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Two Baton Rouge policemen received the long-awaited word this week that they will not face civil-rights charges in the shooting death of Alton Sterling, but officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II have a long way to go before returning to duty.

As new details of their fatal encounter with Sterling emerged with the closing of the federal probe on Wednesday, calls have renewed for their termination, with Sterling family members, some Baton Rouge lawmakers and others saying that if they won't be criminally charged, they should at least lose their jobs.

Friends and family members of Sterling took particular exception to Salamoni's actions, which included threatening and cussing at Sterling and pointing a gun at his head within seconds of the officers arrival in the parking lot of the Triple S Food Mart.

"At a minimum, these officers ought to be disciplined and fired," said Michael Adams, an attorney for Sterling's three youngest children.

Both officers remained on paid leave while the federal inquiry unfolded, and they will remain sidelined while state Attorney General Jeff Landry determines whether to pursue state charges in Sterling's death. An internal affairs investigation begun around the same time as the 10-month federal investigation remains ongoing, a Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman said.

Civil-rights charges carry a high burden of proof, one federal authorities on Wednesday said couldn't be met in Sterling's death despite disturbing footage of his death that prompted days of protests in Baton Rouge last summer.

But numerous community leaders and elected officials have argued the officers should be immediately fired, asking whether either officer could remain an effective policeman in the wake of a controversy that drew national attention and pointing to accounts of Salamoni's language as part of a growing body of public evidence against them. Other lawmakers were less certain, saying they wanted to see the process play out more before the BRPD takes action against the officers.

A number of law enforcement experts told The Advocate they also doubt the officers will ever again wear a badge.

Salamoni drew his handgun and pointed it at Sterling's head within 20 seconds of arriving in the convenience store parking lot where Sterling allegedly brandished a gun earlier that night. With his gun aimed at Sterling, federal officials told Sterling's family, Salamoni said, "I'm going to kill you, bitch," according to L. Chris Stewart, an attorney for Sterling's two oldest children.

Two law enforcement officials who reviewed body-camera footage of the shooting said Salamoni shouted profanities and repeatedly threatened to shoot Sterling, though they recalled Salamoni's exact words differed slightly from the quote relayed by Stewart. One source said Salamoni used the word "shoot" not "kill."

Criminal defense attorneys representing the officers both declined to comment on calls for their firing and the internal affairs investigation on Thursday. Salamoni's attorney, John McLindon, referred questions to another lawyer working with the police union, who didn't respond to messages.

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The Baton Rouge Police Department regularly waits until after parallel criminal investigations are concluded before the chief decides how or whether to punish an officer accused of a crime, said Lt. Jonny Dunnam, a department spokesman who spent a number of years working in the internal affairs division.

It isn't clear how far along the internal affairs investigation into the shooting is. Dunnam declined to comment on what evidence they've reviewed, though an attorney for Salamoni said the officer had submitted to a compulsory interview with internal investigator, questioning conducted under so-called "Garrity warning" and inadmissible in criminal court because officers are required to answer even potentially incriminating questions.

Dunnam said criminal investigators usually provide evidence and refer potential policy violations to internal affairs investigators working the same case. But the team of federal agents and prosecutors who poured over the evidence in the Sterling case haven't turned over new evidence or findings as their investigation proceeded, Dunnam said, something he expected to change with the federal probe now closed.

Whether internal affairs investigators with Baton Rouge police had access to evidence independently remained unclear. A federal judge placed at least one piece of evidence in the case  Sterling's autopsy report  under seal, and Dr. William "Beau" Clark, the parish coroner, said the terms of the judge's order prohibited him from saying whether he could provide it to internal investigators.

The revelations on Wednesday provided the first new significant public information in the case since federal authorities took over within days of the shooting. Acting Baton Rouge U.S. Attorney Corey Amundson provided a public account of the fatal confrontation shortly after providing an more detailed version to Sterling's family during a private, nearly two-hour meeting.

Federal officials sharply criticized Salamoni's actions and called them "disturbing" during the private meeting Wednesday, attorneys for the family said.

"They hands-down agree the actions of the police officers that night were outrageous, were inappropriate, were not following procedure, were unexplainable," Stewart said.

The new details of the shooting from federal officials only solidified what many around Baton Rouge already felt, said state Rep. Ted James, a north Baton Rouge Democrat who played an active role in protests over Sterling's death. Firing the officers, James said, would go a long way toward building confidence in the police department from those angry over the killing.

"For the community, that tells us that police officers, when they violate policy, they are taken off of the force," James said. "That goes a long way toward establishing trust."

"I wholeheartedly believe that some of the relief could be by firing them and let that play out the way it needs to play out for them to prove their case," said Democratic Councilwoman Erika Green, pointing to a case earlier this week in suburban Dallas, where a Balch Springs officer was fired after shooting and killing a high school freshman who was riding in a car with friends.

But, even from those who've called Sterling's killing an injustice, calls for the officers' immediate firings weren't unanimous. Council members LaMont Cole and Tara Wicker, both Democrats, both said more investigation is needed before that step. And James, who earlier this year introduced a bill in the Legislature to limit the number of months an officer can collect a paycheck while on leave, said he's also wary of moving too quickly and falling afoul of the officers' civil service rights.

"I don't want the city in a long, drawn-out legal battle, either," said James.

Others said the Justice Department investigation turned up no reason to fire the officers, and that the attorney general's investigation should further help to establish whether Salamoni and Lake acted rightly or wrongly with Sterling.

Republican Metro Councilman Buddy Amoroso said he will stand by Salamoni and Lake if the attorney general's investigation also finds them in no violation of state law. And former Metro Councilman John Delgado, now a lobbyist for the BRPD union, said the officers are still entitled to Civil Service protections and due process.

"Any calls for terminating the officers, or for terminating Salamoni because I think that's the cause-du-jour right now  any of those calls are premature," Delgado said.

Former New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas, who also led the Nashville Metropolitan Police and the Washington State Patrol and now teaches criminology at Loyola University, said he held off on considering discipline for officers until after criminal detectives wrapped up their investigations.

Moving forward with both investigations simultaneously risked tainting a possible criminal case against a policeman, Serpas said, a lesson learned with great difficulty in New Orleans, where the U.S. Department of Justice alleged in an extensive investigation that detectives for several years after Hurricane Katrina intentionally crossed administrative and criminal investigators to shield fellow cops from justice.

Holding off on a firing or other disciplinary action for months as the criminal investigation plays out "can be frustrating to people and families, and I certainly always understood that," Serpas said. "If you truly want justice and you truly want accountability, you can't rush investigations."

But Samuel Walker, a professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who has written extensively about police accountability, disagreed, saying he saw little reason to hold off on firing the officers the department reviewed the case.

This is another one of those lawful but awful cases, Walker added, criticizing Salamonis use of profanity. It couldve had a different outcome.

Joseph Giacalone, a former New York City police detective and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said it would better for both the officers and the Baton Rouge Police Department "to go their separate ways." He said Sterling's death polarized the community too much for the policemen to remain effective.

"There's zero chance that they will ever see another uniform again, and even if they did stay, they're going to be kept inside somewhere," Giacalone said.

It's not unheard of, however, for officers involved in high-profile killings to return to their jobs. Daniel Pantaleo, the New York police officer who placed Eric Garner in a fatal chokehold in 2014, remained on the force after a grand jury declined to indict him in Garner's controversial death.

"It's a lot easier to hide somebody in a city of 8 million than down in Baton Rouge," Giacalone said.

Another question that has emerged is whether it will be safe for the officers to return to active duty. Darren Wilson, the police officer who fatally shot Michael Brown in Missouri, a shooting that sparked national protests, resigned from the Ferguson Police Department a few months after Brown's death, citing safety concerns for himself and fellow officers. Wilson, who also was not charged in Brown's death, went into hiding during the controversy.

Jill Craft, a Baton Rouge attorney who has represented police officers for years, said the officers, at a minimum, could face discipline for being discourteous.

The bigger question Id have is what the department is waiting for, she said. Theres no requirement that people cool their heels while we wait for things, while we, the taxpayers, keep them on the payroll.

I dont understand why theres a sit-back-and-just-wait, Craft added. If theres an officer that violated policy  as the Baton Rouge Police Department deals with all the time  they generally act and act swiftly.

Advocate staff writer Grace Toohey contributed to this report.
East Baton Rouge Council on Aging Executive Director Tasha Clark Amar has filed a defamation lawsuit against the family of a now deceased Council on Aging client who had named Amar to oversee her estate.

The lawsuit, filed in late April in state 19th Judicial District court, is yet another twist for an agency that has oozed controversy for several months. Amar's focus is the family of Helen Plummer, who accused her in March of unduly influencing 95-year-old Plummer into leaving Amar in charge of her estate. Plummer died in March and her will specified that Amar, as overseer of the estate, was to collect $120,000 over 20 years from a trust.

Plummer's granddaughter, Tracie Davis, and daughter, Jacquelyn Antoine, publicly accused Amar of wrongdoing for using her position to capitalize on a financial gain from a client.

Amar asked to withdraw from overseeing Plummer's estate after multiple media outlets started reporting on the matter. But now, Amar is fighting back.

She claims in her lawsuit that the statements from Davis and her family members were "meant to sway public opinion in a negative light to Mrs. Amar and affect her job as CEO of with (sic) East Baton Rouge Counsel (sic) on Aging."

LSU law professor Elizabeth Carter, who specializes in successions and trusts, has been closely following the dispute between Amar and the Plummer family. Looking over the typo-filled lawsuit Thursday evening, Carter said it was not a smart move for Amar to file it.

Our Views: Honk if you have doubts Council on Aging can be trusted with our tax dollars If we could condense our reaction to recent revelations about Baton Rouges Council on Aging

Defamation lawsuits are often meant to intimidate the people they are filed against, Carter said. And she said the statements she has seen from the Plummer family have either been truthful  as Amar did stand to collect $120,000 as the estate's trustee  or opinions, like the family prefacing their thoughts on Amar with "we believe."

Neither of those meet the bar for a defamation case, and the case Amar is pursuing will require a malicious and intentional falsity, Carter said.

"When you're bringing a defamation lawsuit against a public figure, the burden is even higher than it is for a private figure," Carter said. "She's a public employee, so that's probably enough to be considered a public figure. She's the face of a pretty significant agency with a lot of money."

Reached early Thursday evening, Davis said she could not comment on the lawsuit and that she did have a lawyer yet.

Amar's attorney, Charlotte McDaniel McGehee, said Thursday night that Amar acted in her personal capacity and not her professional capacity when she was named executor of Plummer's estate. And McGehee said again that Amar is now acting in her personal capacity in her lawsuit against Plummer's family members.

Amar is still the head of the Council on Aging, despite calls from some Republican lawmakers for her to resign. Yet, her lawsuit alleges she suffered a loss of earning capacity and a loss of her reputation.

She also says the family's statements caused her to suffer mental anguish and distress, medical and pharmaceutical expenses, fear, embarrassment, humiliation, aggravation, fear and more.

"It's her reputation that suffers because of untrue statements about her," McGehee said. "If you're not well-received or well-recepted, you're not going to increase in your livelihood."

The Council on Aging's board of directors this week instituted a conflict-of-interest policy that says employees can be fired for having a financial interest in matters involving the Council.

Carter said Amar's defamation lawsuit against the Plummer family also seems like a conflict of interest.

Carter pointed out that Amar was the subject of criticism long before the Plummer family made their case against her, which will make it hard for her to prove their statements solely affected her reputation. The Council on Aging received multiple bad audits with her at the helm, and a political action committee supporting the Council on Aging misused the nonprofit's discounted postage status during a campaign for a dedicated tax.

A Council on Aging employee under Amar solicited donations from candidates in turn for endorsing them. And the Council on Aging cut checks in its name to a political action committee, though Amar said the money came from employee payroll deductions and not the agency itself.

"Her reputation was already so damaged from things she did that had nothing to do with the succession, I think that would be difficult to show as well," Carter said.

+14 How Democrats' walkout at council meeting delayed COA tax timeline even further A tube of lipstick, a pair of glasses and a popcorn ball were all that remained at Democrats

Amar is asking for a "reasonable amount" in monetary damages from Davis and her family and she is asking that they pay for all legal proceedings. She is requesting a jury trial. A date has not been set yet.
Almost a year after agreeing to the idea in principle, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Thursday tentatively approved contracts with a Texas-based group and a New Orleans-based group to open as many as eight charter schools by 2022 that could enroll more than 11,000 children.

Rio Grande Valley-based IDEA Public Schools plans to open two charter schools in Baton Rouge in fall 2018 followed by a third in 2020 and a fourth in 2021. They would be K-12 schools divided between an elementary academy and a secondary college. The proposed contract allows them to enroll as many as 6,144 students and state law would allow them to enroll another 1,228.

Inspire NOLA Charter Schools, based in New Orleans, plans to open a high school as well as three more elementary schools. The proposed contract allows them to enroll as many as 3,187 students and state law would allow them to enroll another 637.

Public education funding for that many students could eventually top $100 million a year.

The vote Thursday was 6-0 and discussion was limited. Board member David Tatman was absent and board members Vereta Lee and Kenyetta Nelson-Smith abstained. A final vote is set for May 18 when the board holds its regular monthly meeting.

East Baton Rouge School Board accepts 2 of 10 charter school applications The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board on Wednesday approved a charter school group from t

IDEA and Inspire NOLA were approved last May 25 in a 6-3 vote, only two of 10 applicants approved. Lee and Nelson-Smith were joined that night by board member Dawn Collins in opposition. Both charter school organizations were recruited and have the financial backing of the prominent nonprofit New Schools for Baton Rouge.

Charter schools are public schools run by private organizations under short-term contracts. The proposed contracts for IDEA and Inspire NOLA would run for five years.

Ken Campbell, executive director of IDEA, was present for Thursdays vote. Campbell is a former director of the states charter school office.

This contract is key. Right now were at the phase of being able to close out the finances, of dotting the i's and crossing the ts, Campbell said after the meeting. Getting this done now is important to keeping our commitment to parents and kids but also to the district.

Campbell said one of IDEAs schools will be in north Baton Rouge and the other in south Baton Rouge and they will be in newly constructed buildings.

The location of the north Baton Rouge school will likely be just north of Cortana Mall on 15 acres IDEA has reached a purchase agreement to buy, pending the approval of the contract with the school district, Campbell said.

IDEA has had lengthy discussions with LSU about locating the south Baton Rouge school on LSU property in the Gardere area, but Campbell said those talks are still ongoing and he hopes they will be resolved in the next two weeks.

Campbell said the contract talks were slowed by the aftermath of the August flood, but theyve been amiable throughout.

Domoine Rutledge, general counsel for the school system, had similar things to say.

Its been a pleasure working with them. Its very collaborative, and we hope to have (the contract) done in the near future, Rutledge said.

Rutledge said the contracts for IDEA and Inspire NOLA will be identical but the addenda known as exhibits, several of which are still being negotiated, will be different.

Campbell said he worked with Rutledge to make the language in the contract mirror the language in other charter school contracts that the state has with charter school groups.

Baton Rouge charter organization to build five schools, aims to 'transform' educational possibilities A prominent nonprofit group that has helped lure several charter schools to Baton Rouge anno

IDEA, which started in the Rio Grande Valley, runs 51 schools and educates 30,000 children and has schools that have made national best high school lists. All of its schools so far are in Texas, in the Rio Grande, Austin and San Antonio areas.

Inspire NOLA runs three charter schools in New Orleans: two elementary schools and a high school. Alice Harte elementary and Edna Karr high school are both in Algiers and both have A letter grades from the state. The third school, Wilson Charter School, in Broadmoor, is in its second year. It received only a provisional transition letter grade from the state for its first years performance.
During a debate over the $29 billion spending plan for the budget that begins July 1, lawmakers rejected a proposal that aimed to direct $190 million from the state's federal flood recovery aid and put it toward the Comite River diversion project.

Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, had suggested that more than 10 percent of the $1.6 billion the state has received to aid the recovery from floods in north Louisiana last March and across south Louisiana last August, should go to the long-stalled capital region flood mitigation project.

Her proposal was OK'd by the House Appropriations Committee earlier this week, but stripped from House Bill 1 as the full chamber had a chance to vet it.

Several legislators, particularly those whose districts flooded but wouldn't see their flood risks lowered by the project, objected to taking from the pool meant to spread across the affected areas. Many noted that they generally agree with the idea of the project but specifically disagreed with the funding mechanism that had been proposed.

"I think this is not fair to all of us," said Rep. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport.

The state has set aside most of the federal funds, some $1.3 billion, to go toward homeowner rebuilding programs. The rest would go toward programs to help flood-affected businesses, farmers and renters.

"I feel like I'm under an obligation to make sure funds are distributed as equitably as possible," said Rep. Jay Morris, R-Monroe.

Hodges, whose home flooded in August, defended her proposal.

"When are we going to start thinking long-term?" she said.

She eventually acquiesced to a proposal from Rep. Pat Smith, D-Baton Rouge, to strip her amendment that had aimed to direct the money to the Comite project.

he U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has already approved the state's plans for spending the money, with the bulk of it going toward home rebuilding programs. The $190 million would provide assistance for as many as 4,000 homeowners under the HUD-approved plan.

A change to that would have required HUD's OK or the state could be penalized. The governor's office had warned that such a restart would further delay the process of distributing aid to flood-affected families.
To produce an event the size and scale of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival each year is to conquer a million minor logistical challenges, and sometimes a few major ones.

Put staging the groundbreaking Cuban showcase, featuring some 150 musicians, artists and chefs from the politically isolated island nation, in the second category.

Jazz Fest highlights a different region each year, but the two-year-long process of getting the Cubans here required some intensive international diplomacy. On the Cuban side was ambassador Jose R. Cabanos. Speaking for Jazz Fest was a familiar face, Mary Landrieu, who represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate for 18 years and is now a senior policy advisor with Washington-based Van Ness Feldman.

Against the backdrop of gradually thawing relations between the United States and its communist neighbor  with Louisiana's political leaders eagerly on board  Jazz Fest hired Landrieu be its "guide through the State Department," as Festival Productions CEO Quint Davis put it.

The chief challenge wasn't resistance but bureaucracy, Landrieu said, noting that the process of negotiating visas, travel arrangements and other details is just more complex than with other countries. Among the complications: Jazz Fest can't pay artists directly, and some groups that the fest's notoriously focused organizers wanted do not normally travel abroad. They include a parading organization called Conga Los Hoyos from Santiago, which, like local second line groups, is made up of community members who hold down other jobs.

From his end, the ambassador said he had to come to terms with both the "magnitude" and the specificity of the fest's needs, and translate it to for officials back home.

Gnawing at Jazz Fest organizers was the experience of the Smithsonian Institution, which recently scrubbed a major Cuban culture showcase set for this year because negotiations between the two countries broke down. Donald Trump's election in the midst of all this, Landrieu said, "was a little bit of a heart stop," but didn't wind up disrupting progress.

So officials were all smiles last weekend when they highlighted the exchange's success, as well as the closer cultural and economic ties between Louisiana and Cuba that the program heralds.

"We're reconnecting," Davis said.
Political journalists can be somewhat loose with the speculation. Call it an occupational hazard, when the occupation involves trying to figure out what's really happening amid self-serving rumors and rampant spin.

That's worth remembering for those who are trying to figure out if this week's New York Times report that New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu "may consider" running for president in 2020 has any legs.

Anyone can say that anyone else might run, particularly if the speculation is unattributed, as it was in this case. Still, Monday's story, which listed an extensive array of potential challengers to Donald Trump, ramped up some low-level chatter that had been circulating in New Orleans about Landrieu's future plans, so it didn't come out of absolutely nowhere. For the record, Landrieu says that, while it's nice to be recognized, he hasn't decided what he'll do when he leaves office next year.

That Landrieu would find himself on such a list says something about the ambition he practically oozes, as well as his lack of prospects for statewide office in a state where voters tend to go with Republicans in congressional elections and picked a different Democrat for governor.

Although he was elected twice as lieutenant governor, the state's growing partisan division, his sister Mary's 2014 defeat after three productive terms in the U.S. Senate, and John Bel Edwards' rapid rise all bode ill for a future run for Senate or governor. His decision to target four Confederate-themed monuments displayed on public ground in his majority-black city has played poorly elsewhere in the state, and probably extinguished any possibility he could win a major post.

Still, the anti-monument campaign has raised his national profile. And while mayors of medium-sized cities generally don't make such a big leap, federal-level experience doesn't seem to matter much to some voters these days. Plus, Landrieu's got a longer record than many and a history of speaking out on national issues, particularly since Trump's rise. This summer he'll become head of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which will give him an even bigger platform on issues from sanctuary cities to health care to climate.

Indeed, even before the rumors of a presidential run surfaced, many Landrieu observers predicted he'd move on to some sort of national role after his second and final term as mayor. Trump's victory over Hillary Clinton, whom Landrieu had hit the road to support, ended the possibility of a cabinet position for Landrieu in the near term, but there are plenty of think tanks and interest groups that could hire him.

But the real reason Landrieu is attracting at least a little outside notice probably has more to do with the national Democratic Party than with anything he has to offer.

The best-known figures who might run next time around, Bernie Sanders (who isn't even a Democrat), Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, are all in Trump's age bracket. So are Clinton and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

There just hasn't been much oxygen left over for the next generation of politicians, and with the Democrats' dreadful political track record during the Obama years, not much of a pipeline to place up-and-comers in more visible positions. Sure, there are some intriguing politicians in the Senate, House and elsewhere, but not too many household names.

Besides, maybe the Democrats are ready to start thinking beyond traditionally credentialed candidates as well. Sure, Clinton came up short despite a resume that seemed perfectly tailored to the job, but so did more conventional Republican candidates than could fit onto a primary debate stage.

With Trump in the White House, maybe it's no surprise that Democratic political insiders would be casting a wide net in search of new blood. Landrieu may not be an obvious presidential-level contestant. But then, who is?
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republicans are claiming a triumph by pushing their legislative centerpiece scuttling much of President Barack Obama's health care law through the House. It was a perilous journey, and its Senate pathway will be at least as bumpy with little doubt the measure will change, assuming it survives.

Thursday's 217-213 House passage  with 20 GOP defections  was preceded by several near-death experiences for the legislation, even though repealing Obama's statute helped guide Donald Trump's presidential run and multitudes of GOP congressional campaigns.

And that was in a chamber Republicans control 238-193. Had just two additional Republicans voted "no," the measure would have lost because bills need majorities to pass. Now, Republicans must try maneuvering the measure through a Senate terrain that is different politically and procedurally from the House.

"We must manage expectations and remain focused on the art of the doable as we move forward," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, among several cautionary statements issued by Senate Republicans after the House vote.

The House bill would end the Obama law's fines on people who don't purchase policies and erase its taxes on health industry businesses and higher-earning people. It would dilute Obama's consumer-friendly insurance coverage requirements, like letting states permit insurers to charge higher premiums for customers with pre-existing medical conditions.

Can't see the video below? Click here.

The measure would replace Obama's federal subsidies for lower-income insurance buyers with tax credits geared to consumers' ages. And it would cut Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor and disabled, including ending extra federal payments 31 states are accepting to expand Medicaid to cover more people.

The notoriously understated Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., lauded the House bill as "an important step" to erasing Obama's law but left the door open to changes.

"Congress will continue to act on legislation to provide more choices and freedom in health care decisions," McConnell said.

+4 Joyful House Republicans vote to repeal reviled 'Obamacare' WASHINGTON (AP)  Delivering at last, triumphant House Republicans voted Thursday to repeal 

The House bill was written by Republicans representing districts often drawn to incorporate strong majorities of GOP voters. Senators represent entire states, and many tend to reflect more pragmatic views than their House colleagues.

Several come from northeastern and Midwestern states with large numbers of low-income people receiving Medicaid. Many of the 31 states that accepted Obama's expansion of that program are led by GOP governors, and senators have no interest in cutting their states' funds and taking coverage away from voters.

Republican senators also represent states ravaged by deaths caused by opioid abuse. The House measure would let states escape Obama's requirement that insurers cover anti-drug services.

"I've already made clear that I don't support the House bill as currently constructed," said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio. He cited its Medicaid cuts, including for treating people with drug problems, and said he'd make sure that "those who are impacted by this epidemic can continue to receive treatment."

In March, Portman joined three other GOP senators in opposing Medicaid cuts in an early version of the House legislation. In a letter to McConnell, they wrote that the measure "does not provide stability and certainty for individuals and families" who use the program.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said the House bill poses "more questions than answers about its consequences." She said there should be "no barrier for coverage" for people with pre-existing medical conditions and that the House's tax credits "do not adequately take into account income levels" or regional differences in health costs.

Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have opposed cutting federal money for Planned Parenthood. The House bill blocks federal payments for a year to the organization, which provides abortions but doesn't use federal funds for them by law.

Other senators are also seeking changes. No. 3 Senate GOP leader John Thune of South Dakota is working on a plan to skew the bill's tax subsidies more toward lower-income people.

States that did not expand Medicaid under Obama's law are looking for additional funding for their programs. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., whose state did not enlarge Medicaid, said he would not back a health care bill "that rewards people for taking Medicaid expansion at the expense of those who did not."

Then there are senators like Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky, former presidential candidates who seldom back away from fights and have already signaled they're looking for changes.

The Republican edge in the Senate is just 52-48. Using special rules, the Senate could pass its version of the bill with just 50 votes and rely on Vice President Mike Pence to break a tie. But that means they can lose just two GOP senators assuming Democrats uniformly oppose scrapping Obama's signature domestic achievement.

Those same bylaws bar provisions that aren't chiefly aimed at federal spending or revenue, meaning some House language dealing strictly with policy changes could fall out.

"The Senate will now finish work on our bill, but will take the time to get it right," said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. He chairs the Senate health committee.
Three female-fronted acts have been booked for the ANU Bar's last curtains gig after the event drew criticism for its all male lineup.

Canberra bands Betty Alto and House of Strangers will now take to the stage on June 17, along with female solo artist PHENO.

Female-front, Canberra rock band Betty Alto were added to the gig after controversy over the male heavy lineup. Credit:Mus Musgrave

Betty Alto guitarist Alan Hilvert-Bruce said the rock band was excited to join the lineup.

"We're up early so we get the rest of the night to party," Mr Hilvert-Bruce said.
University of Canberra students are petitioning the ACT government for parking fine revenue made on campus to be given to the university in future.

The ACT government raised $557,039 from parking fines in the 2015-16 financial year.

Students are hoping to use the money raised from parking fines on campus to pay for a new parking lot. Credit:Gabriele Charotte

Organisers hoped money raised in the future could be used to build a new multi-storey car park on campus.

UC Students Representative Council president Darcy Egan said organisers hoped to gather 1500 signatures before taking the petition to the ACT government.
Energy giant Woodside Petroleum has lashed federal government policy making on immigration and tax saying current proposals could rob the country of skills and investment.

The company called on Canberra to ensure a fiscal regime for development of Australian resources and to avoid any policy changes that could deter investment.

Woodside chairman Michael Chaney flagged "several issues of concern" including the government's impending review of the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, recent changes to the 457 visa programme and delays in corporate tax cuts.

He said it will get much harder to attract highly skilled international employees to Australia if they are not confident of being able to stay beyond an initial two-year period, a result of the federal government changes to visas.
Independent Northern Territory politician Gerry Wood has blamed abortions for the loss of millions of dollars in GST revenue due to glacial population growth.

The Territory's GST share has been slashed by $269 million next financial year, which the Labor government projects will blow out to $2 billion over four years.

Independent Northern Territory politician Gerry Wood pictured in 2011. Credit:Glenn Campbell

During a parliamentary debate about the NT budget, Mr Wood said $77 million of that cut was linked to a reduction in the Territory's share of Australia's population growth.

"We lose 600 to 1,000 people (each year) through abortion," he said.
Unborn babies are being contaminated with toxic firefighting chemicals while they are in the womb.

It's a devastating reality that has forced Mark Grant and his wife Karen to desert their property - they could not sell - on the fringe of Williamtown's "red zone", in the NSW city of Newcastle.

Mark and Karen Grant with daughter Audrey and son Dempsey, have left their home because Audrey was born with high levels of PFOS in her blood. Credit:Jonathan Carroll

They took the drastic action after they blood tested their baby daughter Audrey just minutes after she was born and found she already had a perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) level of 6.2 ng/ml, above the national average for children up to four years of age.

"We were already fretting over the decision, because you can't put a price on your kids' health," Mr Grant said. "But when the results came in, we were out of there. We didn't want to wake up in 20 years' time and say 'Sorry, we should of moved.' "
Dates have finally been set for an inquest into the 1975 gangland-style murder of Perth brothel madam Shirley Finn.

Ms Finn was wearing a ball gown and sitting in her parked car near the freeway in South Perth when she was shot four times in the head at close range.

Shirley Finn was found shot dead in her car in 1975. Credit:Facebook

There have long been rumours of police involvement or a cover-up, with an investigator at the time linked to notorious NSW corrupt cop and convicted killer Roger Rogerson.

The rumours were fuelled last year after author Juliet Wills said a retired WA policeman broke his 40-year silence for her book to reveal Ms Finn was in the police canteen shortly before her murder.
A 61-year-old former airport security guard has been spared an immediate jail term after he beat up his neighbour over two offensive social media posts.

Raymond John Thompson, his wife and the couple next door had been friendly for years and even holidayed together but the relationship between the men turned sour in the months leading up to the October 2015 altercation.

A post on social media sparked a fight between two elderly neighbours. Credit:Reuters

The Perth District Court was told on Thursday the 60-year-old victim became annoyed his wife was spending a substantial amount of time at Thompson's house and "fell about the place" after drinking perhaps a bit too much.

When the victim saw two innocuous Facebook messages sent by Thompson's wife to a group that included his spouse, he replied rudely, telling her to "piss off" and saying she wasn't welcome in their house anymore.
The top two items on the new WA Labor government's federal budget wishlist are cold, hard cash to compensate for getting the lowest share of GST and funding for its new $2.53 billion Metronet rail network.

The state will get the GST money, WA Liberal Senator Mathias Cormann said last weekend, although the $226 million towards infrastructure is less than the near $500 million it got in each of the last two years.

Under Labor's funding model, Metronet needs $416m in Commonwealth funding. Credit:6PR

The contentious GST distribution issue will be the subject of a new Productivity Commission inquiry.

WA's share will languish at 34 cents for every dollar raised this year compared to about or above the 100 cent mark for the rest of the country, with Victoria and NSW around 90 cents.
LISTEN HERE: Auto Lab Talk Radio LIVE From New York Saturday May 6, 2017 7-9 AM







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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.

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Mazda to Launch New CX-8 Crossover SUV in Japan

- First new-generation model in Japan to seat more than five on sale this year -

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Apr, 28 2017 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation today announced plans to launch the Mazda CX-8 crossover SUV in Japan. The new model, the first in the new-generation lineup in Japan to feature three rows of seating, will go on sale before the end of the year.

http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_MazdaCX8CrossoverSUV.jpg Mazda CX-8 crossover SUV (six passenger specification)

The latest new-generation model featuring the full suite of SKYACTIV technologies and KODO-Soul of Motion design, the CX-8 will be the flagship of Mazda's SUV lineup in Japan.

"Our latest offering, the CX-8 is a new crossover SUV for people who appreciate quality and need a car that seats more than five," said Masamichi Kogai, Mazda's Representative Director, President and CEO. "It has the looks, performance and high-end feel customers expect from a Mazda, and even adults can sit comfortably in the third row. Mazda aims to create a strong emotional connection with customers, and we will achieve this by continually advancing our lineup to offer all customers our unique combination of driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance."

Key specifications for Mazda CX-8 http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_KeySpecificationsMazdaCX8.jpg

About Mazda Mazda Motor Corporation started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan's leading automakers, and exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. For more information, please visit www.mazda.com
Honoring the helpers Awards recognize those who support autism community

Thirteen community members and providers were recognized for their resilience, passion and heart at the 2022 Awesome in Autism Awards ceremony. The 14th annual event, hosted by Autism Society Ventura County, was held Oct. 20 at Wood Ranch Golf Club...

Go purple to support those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer November is the busiest month of the year for cancer awareness campaigns. Im going to focus on one of thempancreatic cancer because its a type weve seen a noticeable rise in over the last few years. And because it remains...

Hospital offers safe option to dispose of meds, narcotics Los Robles Health System is working to crush the opioid drug crisis by raising awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications. Crush the Crisis will take place...

Alzheimers Foundation to host free conference The Alzheimers Foundation of America will host a free virtual educational conference from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tues., Nov. 15. The event is part of the foundations 2022 national Educating America Tour. The conference, which is free and open...
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Steinbach Neighbours for Community welcomes the return of Ted Swartz, who presented Listening for Grace two years ago to local audiences.

His new piece, Laughter is Sacred Space, is on tour and coming to Steinbach on Friday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. at SRSS theatre.

In this gritty and dramatic play, Swartz walks audiences through his relationship with friend and business partner, Lee Eshleman, who died by suicide in 2007. Swartz explores the paradox of working with a comedic partner struggling with bipolar disorder, as well as the challenge of writing and performing stories about God while experiencing the absence of God after Lees death by suicide.

Tickets are available for $12 at Steinbach Arts Council. The production is sponsored by Steinbach Neighbours for Community and Eden Health Care Services.
As Republicans were scrambling to pass Trumpcare through the House on Thursday, far-right media were increasingly focused on something else: their war against Late Show host Stephen Colbertand whether the Federal Communications Commission could get involved.

The Drudge Report, Breitbart, and InfoWars repeated a talking point that spread first on right-wing social media websites like Twitter and Reddits r/The_Donald calling for Colbert to be fired for joking Monday that President Donald Trumps mouth is Vladimir Putins cock holster.

Colbert refused to apologize in his Wednesday night monologue, and by Thursday, the outrage had reached Fox News and its sister station. On Fox Business Network, Neil Cavuto brought on Trump-appointed Republican FCC chairman Ajit Pai to ask him if its possible to regulate or at least police offensive comment.

I know you said, By and large, the FCC, outside of our indecency rules, we dont get into the business of regulating content, said Cavuto. But you can regulate or at least police offensive comment, cant you?

If we do get complaints, then we will take a look at the facts that are alleged, and well apply the law, said Pai.

There are a lot of people saying he should be fired, Cavuto also said, kicking off the segment. Theres an internet cause saying just that.

That internet cause was largely focused in r/The_Donald, the largest Trump community on the web, which bragged that the Colbert story is now 1st column on Drudge with 31 Million visitors per day in a high-ranking post on the site on Thursday.

Another top post better defined the groups gripe. Paula Deen uses the N-word in private; loses her job and publically shamed. Stephen Colbert makes a homophobic slur against the President, uses the Its just a joke! excuse and keeps his job, reads a submission with more than 7,600 upvotes.

When not voiced by Colbert, however, homophobic slurs otherwise appear to be welcome on the subreddit. A post headlined, in part, The ShareBlue faggots are here RIGHT NOW. Report every cuck you see, was one of the top posts on the subreddit for Feb. 7. (ShareBlue is a leftwing content site that users of the subreddit believe is constantly voting down stories within r/The_Donald, despite a lack of evidence.)

Three days ago, a top post on r/The_Donald was headlined Ok, theatre fags. (Its seriously amazing the amount of talent in our camp) and linked to a video about far-right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. The post received more than 6,200 upvotes.

On Wednesday, InfoWars brought on far-right Twitter ringleader Mike Cernovich to talk about Colberts comments in a video headlined Colbert must be held accountable for inflammatory speech.

The website has been feuding with Colbert directly for the last two weeks, after the Late Show host created an Alex Jones-based character named Tuck Buckford who would scream things about how the Sesame Street character Snuffleupagus is a false flag operation from the Department of Justice.

On Monday, Jones called Colbert a coward who refuses to debate me.
The first thing to say about the betrothal of Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, the It Couple of cable news for a decade, is heartfelt congratulations.

May the 4th be with them!

If their wedding is as triumphant as Thursdays brilliantly orchestrated public relations rollout of their engagement announcementan obviously authorized gossip item in the New York Posts Page Six column, followed at 9 a.m. sharp, just as their MSNBC show Morning Joe went off the air, by Vanity Fairs on the record interview with the happy duo (along with a tender photo of them, showing off Mikas substantial diamond)they will have a long and loving marriage.

On Thursdays installment of Morning Joe, the coupledressed, perhaps serendipitously, in complimentary ensembles of blue and pinkacted coy about their big news, deflecting felicitations from show regulars Harold Ford Jr. and Steven Rattner by pretending that they were being feted for Morning Joes robust ratings.

The numbers have been up latelythe shows going well, regular co-host Willie Geist quipped, playing along with the fiction.

More people have watched us in the last two months than ever before, so thank you, Scarborough responded with a smirk.

Its like were family, Geist retorted.

You can almost drop the like, Ford chimed in with a laugh.

Im reading over here that theres other things to say congratulations about, Rattner added, while Joe & Mika pretended not to hear.

Later on in the program, Scarborough blushed when Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker of Tennessee gushed: Congratulations, by the way. Congratulations on all the news that are coming out.

Scarborough pretended that Sen. Corker was referring to Buckingham Palaces announcement of a royal retirement: He knows Im a big Prince Phillip fan, and its good that after all these years of working he can relax.

Through it all, Brzezinski gesticulated with her left hand, sometimes flaunting the shiny thing on her ring finger and sometimes keeping it out of view.

For their close colleagues and friends, the proclamation of Joe & Mikas pending nuptials is a moment of private joy.

It is also a nearly miraculous demonstration, in the public sphere, of how savvy, scrupulous and vigorous press-handling can sometimes prevent unwelcome rumors from inconvenient publicationi.e., the persistent rumor that Scarborough and Brzezinski have been romantically entangled for years.

Its one of the great mysteries that people speak to each other aboutHow is it that none of this ever appears in the newspapers?, a television industry insider told The Daily Beast. I dont know how they do it, or what magic they worked.

Only their sometime frenemy and lately enemy Donald Trump has been uncouth enough to hurl the tittle-tattle into the public domain.

Irked by their criticisms of his campaign, the future president tweeted last August: Some day, when things calm down, Ill tell the real story of @JoeNBC and his very insecure long-time girlfriend, @morningmika. Two clowns!

In the Vanity Fair story, Joe & Mika confided that in January, when they were on better terms, the president offered to officiate at their wedding over lunch at the White House with Trump, his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner.

If it werent Trump, it might be something to think about, Mika said. The mental picture is just fascinating, but the reality is just no. No, no, no, no, no.

So far, the wedding plans are apparently undecided.

Yet the gossip column cemetery is chock-a-block with killed stories about Joe & Mikas alleged off-air intimacies.

In one such case in November 2013, shortly after Scarboroughs divorce from his second wife was finalized (and three years before Brzezinskis official split from her own spouse), The New York Posts Richard Johnson was preparing to declare them an item.

According to sources familiar with the situation, a distraught Brzezinski reached out to then-Fox News CEO Roger Ailes like Johnson, a vassal in the Murdoch media empireand tearfully asked Ailes, with whom she was friendly, to intervene with the gossip columnist, arguing that their respective children would be hurt by such publicity.

Ailes made his pitch to Johnson on Brzezinskis behalf, and the columnist obligingly stood down.

The next day, the sources said, Johnson was rewarded when Scarborough phoned him and gave him the juicy scoop that Alec Baldwin was about to be fired from his short-lived MSNBC program.

Not only did everybody win (with the possible exception of Alec Baldwin), the outcome suggested that Joe & Mika have a virtuosic mastery of the power gridand know precisely which buttons to push.

In retrospect, the public positioning of their private ardor looks like a textbook illustration of PR expertise. Little by little, especially in recent months, they have sent public signals of their passion, and members of the Fourth Estate have apparently agreed not to challenge them on their insistence that nothing physical was happening between them while their respective marriages were legally in force.

In a profile of Scarborough published in September, GQ writer Jason Zengerle chronicled their amatory gradualism, starting with another apparently authorized Page Six report last June about Brzezinskis quiet divorce and the prediction that they could soon go public as a couple.

But inside MSNBC, and even on the set of their own show, its widely assumed that they are a couple, Zengerle wrote. They are frequently spotted outside 30 Rock, traveling together on Nantucket and in Charleston, or sitting at tables for two over cozy dinners in Manhattan.

Last December, when Scarborough hosted a Christmas party for friends and colleagues at his home in New Canaan, it was Brzezinski who welcomed guests at the door. Visitors also couldnt help but notice that the giant Peter Max painting of the pairthe one that greets visitors at the Morning Joe officesalso hangs in Scarboroughs home.

More recently, last month, Scarborough pretty much acknowledged to the Hollywood Reporter what everyone by then had assumed was true: We have a crackling on-air chemistry, and a crackling off-air chemistry, too.

The timing of Thursdays big reveal might have come as a surpriseScarboroughs bended-knee proposal happened at the end of a romantic weekend in Cap dAntibes to celebrate Brzezinskis 50th birthdaybut the general reaction is shock, shock, in the Casablanca sense.

Indeed, for at least the past five years, Scarborough and Brzezinskis on-air chemistry and body languagealong with their penchant for traveling to each others out of town speeches, book launches and other events, when both were married to other people and then going through their respective divorcesfueled endless speculation in the business as to the true nature of their relationship.

They met cute. Their first conversation, recounted by both in profiles over the years, reads like Bogie and Bacall.

Fired from CBS News, washed-up at age 40, Brzezinski was a freelancer, doing news cut-ins for Scarborough Country, Joes evening MSNBC show. He asked her what she thought of it. I dont watch, she replied cheekily. He was smitten, and persuaded her to join him on tryouts for a brand new morning program.

It was a raging success. These days, the 54-year-old Scarborough, a Republican former congressman from Florida, and his four-years-younger bride-to-be, the well-connected daughter of foreign policy guru Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carters national security adviser, have an all-access pass to the high and mighty.

Ten years ago, they had instant chemistry as TV spousessometimes warm and fuzzy, and other times tense and irritablethe cable news answer to The Bickersons.

As recently as April 26, Joe exploded at Mika when she mocked his comparison of Ivanka Trumps and Jared Kushners role as presidential advisers to her father to Bobby Kennedys role with JFK.

You dont have to be so snotty, Scarborough scolded as Mika smiled winsomely and rolled her eyes. You dont have to be so rude. The fact of the matter is that they are not Bobby Kennedy as I was about to say, but you wanted to get your cheap shot in so you got your cheap shot in. No I am not saying Jared and Ivanka are Bobby Kennedy.

Now that they are officially intimate, their will-they, wont-they allure could wither, and that crackling onscreen tension might dissipate. Its an open question how viewers will react to the freshly formalized Mika & Joe. It matters, because their Acela corridor power-politics franchise is extremely important to the Comcast-owned MSNBC, both as a profit center and prestige enhancer.

But an executive at the cable outlet sounded sanguine about the future. Theres little or no concern that this changes anything about their relationship, said the exec. Their well-established on-air dynamic is consistent with this latest development.
One night after making his last-ditch argument against the GOPs Zombie Trumpcare bill, Seth Meyers was at it again on Thursday. Only this time, the House had actually managed to pass the legislation.

President Donald Trumps claims about what his partys health care plan will do for the American people are much like his supposed plan to bring peace to the Middle East, the Late Night host said: Naive, overconfident and detached from reality. As for how Trump plans to square the discrepancies between his promises and that reality, Meyers said we now know he will just lie.

If the American Health Care Act becomes law, Trump and the GOP will not be able to escape the negative consequences, Meyers added. They will own them. That includes the disastrous ramifications like 24 million people losing their health insurance, cutting Medicaid and giving the wealthiest Americans a giant tax cut.

The bill literally takes from the poor and gives to the rich, Meyers said, before slamming Republicans for adding new provisions to the bill that made it even worse in an attempt to get hardline conservatives on board. They basically took an oatmeal raisin cookie and added cilantro, he said.

Despite all that, Republicans hastily arranged a victory celebration at the White House today, and they were absolutely giddy, Meyers added, before playing the clip of Trump literally saying, Im president, can you believe it?

No! Meyers answered. No, I cant.

Also, look how happy those old, white guys are, he continued. I guess theyre just happy they finally passed something that wasnt a kidney stone. No longer covered, by the way.

One of the most galling aspects of this whole story, Meyers said, is the fact that the same Republicans celebrating today complained constantly when Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act that the process was too rushed.

I just wish someone would have the courage to come out against such a secretive process, Meyers said. I wish someone would just tell Paul Ryan that we shouldnt pass bills we havent read and dont know what they cost.

As expected, Meyers cut to a young Congressman Ryan saying just that on MSNBC in 2009. Youll never guess how much of what Ryan claimed to hate back then hes totally cool with today, the host said. No wonder he doesnt care about health care. His resting heart rate is he doesnt have one.

Everything Paul Ryan claimed to hate about the Obamacare process in 2009 hes doing now. Republicans are lying through their teeth, Meyers went on, adding that Americans are being conned and there will be consequences for the people doing the conning.
President Donald Trump is answering critics who call him anti-Islamic by making his first trip overseas to Saudi Arabia, to meet with Arab leaders to talk about fighting the so-called Islamic State.

It lays to rest the notion that America is anti-Muslim, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters Thursday, saying it would change the conversation with regards to Americas relationship with the Islamic world.

After Riyadh, Trump will travel to Israel and the Vaticana tour meant to unite the worlds great religions against radicalism and to put a marker down for restarting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, senior administration officials told reporters Thursday.

The trip indicates that Trump is re-aligning the White House with Saudi Arabias and Israels anti-Iran position, while the Obama administration had sought to stay more neutral in order to deliver the Iranian nuclear deal. Its also a signal that Trump is returning to the Bush-era reliance on Sunni Arab strongmen to quell a roiling Middle East, and its an in-your-face rejection of critics who called him anti-Islamic.

Senior administration officials said Saudi Arabia has invited leaders who who share the values and the ideas and the visions President Trump shares, to discuss how to step up the fight against the so-called Islamic State, come up with a war plan to fight extremism, and most of all, to plot how to counter Irans influence throughout the region.

In return, Saudi Arabia has pledged to use its influence to drive likeminded Gulf and Mideast leaders to invest more in the ISIS and al Qaeda fightand to step up efforts to check radicals in their midst, al-Jubeir said.

Trump will be meeting with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as members of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, minus Iran and Syria, an Arab official added. The Arab and administration officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the visit.

In Israel, the goal is to get both sides back to the negotiating table after deadlocked talks were abandoned in 2014 under the Obama administration. Trump will reinforce our relationship and lay out what we hope is a peaceful future, the administration officials said, following meetings in Washington with the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas this week, and Israels prime minister earlier this year.

Trump had already thrown both leaders strategic curveballs by asking Netanyahu to hold back on settlement building, and announcing that he has accepted a one-state or two-state solution. The presidents comment marked the first time in decades that a White House had indicated a willingness to abandon hope for a Palestinian state, and a warning to Abbas that unless the Palestinian National Authority negotiates with Trump, they might end up permanently stateless.

This president is challenging the policies of the past that have had limited success, National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster told the crowd at the Israels Independence Day celebrations in Washington this week, in defense of Trumps willingness to lay waste to longstanding U.S. policies. Some describe him as a disruptor. Theyre right. And this is goodHe wants to see results.

Saudi minister al-Jubeir thought the unorthodox approach might just deliver.

Given his creative thinking and his unconventional approach to this conflict, the probability he can succeed is fairly high, al-Jubeir said Thursday.

The officials said the Arab mini-summit was born from outreach by the Saudis to Trump officials just after the election, a turnaround from the diplomatic deep freeze that had settled in between Riyadh and the Obama administration.

It felt like the days and weeks after 9/11 when Saudi Arabia realized the responsibility it had in defeating radical terrorism, one of the officials said of initial meetings with Saudis. There is a similar feeling, of being responsible for stemming radical ideology but also of being threatened by Iranian influence from its support of armed rebels in Yemen to helping prop up Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

None of the officials used the term radical Islamic terrorism, during a briefing with reporters, a term the Saudi Kingdom has asked previous administrations to avoid. Al-Jubeir would not comment on the apparent change in terminologythough Trump himself still uses the term in speeches and rallies.

If Trumps embrace of Saudi Arabia produces some capital he can cash in to encourage a regional de-escalation with Iran, that would be a good thing, said Colin Kahl, a national security official from the Obama administration. But it will only work if the Trump administration is willing to engage Iran too, which they appear unwilling to do. And an unconditional embrace of the Saudi position on Iran in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere, it is more likely to escalate rather than de-escalate the sectarian tensions tearing the region apart.

This could eventually drag the U.S. into a military confrontation with Iran, warned Trita Parsi of the National Iranian American Council, of the Trump re-alignment. Even if it doesnt go toward that, the Iranians are likely going to move further into the Russian orbit and were going to see a more bipolar region with Hezbollah, Russia and Iran on one side and Israel, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. on the other.

The Obama administration had hoped instead to get Riyadh and Tehran to talk to each other, and accept each other as regional powers. Their problems are resolvable, said Parsi, who writes about this issue in the forthcoming book Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman said this week that there could be no dialogue with a government that was planning for the return of the Imam Mahdi, because that means the Tehran government believes it has to rule all the Muslim world for its savior to return. That was a religiously based jab by a Sunni prince at a Shiite Muslim government. (The Sunni and Shiite faiths are each waiting for a Mahdi who will appear and rule before the world endsbut each rejects the beliefs of the other.)

These are things you say when you want to skip diplomacy and go to confrontation, Parsi said.

Trump has been courting the Saudis from the first days of his tenure, said former CIA officer Bruce Riedel, director of the Brookings Intelligence Project. The Saudis are delighted that human rights and gender equality issues are off the table and confronting Iran is on it.

He said they expect to be able to prosecute the war against Iranian backed Houthis in Yemen with little complaint from Washington because of it. But their expectations are high and they have doubts about the competence of the President to deliver after his rocky start, he said.

Senior administration officials said there would be deliverables on each step of the trip, possibly policy pronouncements or the launching of projects, but they offered no details.

They described Trumps foreign policy goals as loosely defined but with an end target in sight, pragmatic rather than wedded to an ideology.

That could render the trip a listening tour rather than a lectureor be a cagey Trumpian bargaining technique. Those who want membership to this particular club are bidding against each other for admission, wondering who among them is offering America more, be it troops for the physical fight or money to support education efforts to fight radical ideology.

Administration officials insist contentious subjects like human rights arent off the table, but theyre discussed behind closed doors, unlike the tongue lashing the last administration gave some Arab leaders, the officials said.

One of the senior officials cited the release of American aid worker Aya Hijazi from a Cairo jail as an example of a return to quiet diplomacy focused on results rather than publicly shaming the offending country or leader.

Let us take a shot at doing this in a respectful manner, one of the officials recalled telling Hijazis family and friends, who had wanted to protest loudly about her detention. The quiet diplomacy helped secure her release along with several others, the official said. People dont want to be lectured.
One of the presidents contentious religious-liberty executive orders may have more to do with fundraising than freedom.

Among a host of provisions President Donald Trump signed Thursday was an order directing the IRS to be lenient about a law that blocks pastors from endorsing candidates from the pulpit. Just one issue: The IRS is already incredibly lenient about enforcing this lawso much so that some pastors have been trying for years to goad the agency into enforcing it, to no avail.

That law, called the Johnson Amendment, has been in place since 1952. Trump spoke out against it on the campaign trail, which surprised many long-time religious liberty activists.

Ive never heard it come up as a priority, ever. Not once, said Tim Schultz, who heads the First Amendment Partnership, an organization with the stated goal of promoting and protecting religious freedom. Theres probably been more discussion of the Johnson Amendment in the last 24 hours than Ive heard in the last six years.

One Republican lobbyist who has been working with social conservatives for decades said he had heard absolutely zero conversation about the Johnson Amendment beyond a few small circles. The ringleader in those circles, he added, is Tony Perkins, who heads the conservative Family Research Council. Before Trump started bringing up a Johnson Amendment repeal on the campaign trail, the lobbyist said, he never heard anyone describe it as a top priority.

Thats because the IRS doesnt enforce it. The Family Research Council and the conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom have an effort called Pulpit Freedom Sunday, where pastors explicitly violate the amendment by endorsing candidates from the pulpit and then send video of themselves doing so to the IRS. Thousands of pastors have done this over the last ten years. The IRS has yet to bite.

There have been people literally begging the IRS to enforce it because they want it to be enforced because they think its unconstitutional and they need it to be enforced to have a case to bring to the courts, said Schultz.

North Carolina pastor Mark Harris participated in the project in 2012 by endorsing the re-election bid of state Supreme Court Justice Paul Newby. He told The Daily Beast that he has yet to hear from the IRS about it.

One long-time, well-connected social conservative leader said he thought the Pulpit Freedom Sunday project was just a ploy for the groups involved to raise money.

The people who like this like to grandstand for fundraising, he said. This is one you send to your people. You say, Look what we did, look how great this is. These guys are not moving the needle on actual policy, but theyll run around and their donors will like it.

They go to major Evangelical/Catholic donors with this pitch and it feels good, he added. But practically, it takes a lot more work to give pastors and conservatives running non-profits the courage to stand up than to give them permission under the Johnson Amendment.

Perkins called that charge ludicrous, and said their work on the Johnson Amendment is significant.

Thats laughable, he said. Thats just a way to be dismissive of any effort that we undertake, especially as a non-profit organization that exists not on government money but on the support of the public. We take up issues that the public cares about and is willing to support us in doing.

Perkins was at the White House for the signing of the presidents executive order, and attended a dinner there the night before as well. He said he thinks Congress will formally vote to repeal the Johnson Amendment before the end of the year. Rep. Steve Scalise, the House Majority Whip, is sponsoring legislation that would do so.

Were plotting all of that out, Perkins said. I dont know when exactly its going to come about, but stand by, its coming.

Perkins added that he believes Trump is going out of his way to work with Evangelical conservativeslike on the Johnson Amendmentso they will help him on legislative issues where they wouldnt typically get involved.

He sees themwell, he knows, because he brings it up every time I talk to himthe critical part they played in his election and the critical part they play in helping bring support to his legislative agenda, Perkins said. So thats why he pays attention to issues that are important to them, to Evangelicals, because he wants them to be helpful on issues that are important to him.

He said Evangelical support for Trumps Obamacare replacement bill was part of that. Ralph Reeds organization, the Faith and Freedom Coalition, urged members of Congress to back Trumps bill. So did Perkins Family Research Council.

Perkins said Trumps friendliness with Evangelical leaders has grown deeper during his time in the White House.

I see him growing to the point that he actually enjoys being with Evangelicals and is building a good rapport, he said, and I think part of it is because he doesnt find such a large bloc of support anywhere else.
Its been a bad year so far for free speech on campus, and not just at Berkeley: Students all over the country pressured university administrators to discipline dissident professors, retaliated against journalists who offended them, and waged war on right-leaning speakers.

College campuses are supposed to be zones of maximum toleration, where everyone can speak their mind without fear of formal punishment. But while many university leaders remain committed to the principles of free expression and unfettered discussionon paper at leasttheir students are increasingly hostile to the view that uncomfortable speech belongs on campus.

Lets get something out of the way up front: No, leftist college students are not the most serious threat the First Amendment is facing right now. That distinction belongs to President Donald Trump, who was abusing the law for the purposes of attacking his critics even before he became the most powerful person in the world. Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to expand the scope of libel lawssomething that weve looked at, according to White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebusin a manner that would invariably erode protections for the press.

But in order for the American people to prevent Trump from overthrowing the First Amendment, the next generation of political leaders, businessmen, and activists must be capable of providing an intellectual, moral, and legal defense of free speech. Unfortunately, too many students at some of the most elite institutions of higher learning have become radicalized against free speech. Their illiberal activities do their classmates a disservice, and ultimately make it harder to effectively counter Trumps anti-free speech rhetoric.

Here are five of the worst moments for free speech on campus in the 2016-2017 school year.

1. Charles Murray Attacked at Middlebury. In March, Charles Murray, a conservative author and scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, visited Middlebury College for the purposes of discussing his most recent book, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010. The book, which chronicles the economic frustrations of white working-class Americansand why they might have voted for Trumpdeserves to be taken seriously.

But Middlebury students, whose average household income is $244,000, strenuously rejected the opportunity to learn something about lower-income voters. Thats because Murray is also the author of 1994s The Bell Curve, which made the controversial claim that intelligence is a racially inherited trait.

If Murrays ideas are wrong, then an elite college campus is the perfect place to challenge them. And indeed, the event was setup as a conversation between Murray and a capable foe, liberal political scientist Allison Stanger.

The conversation ended before it could even begin, as students screamed over Murray, preventing him from speaking. As Murray and Stanger left the auditorium, they were mobbed and assaulted by protesters, resulting in a trip to the emergency room for Stanger.

This was the saddest day of my life, Stanger later wrote in a statement.

2. Kimberly Peirce Harassed at Reed College. Kimberly Peirce doesnt seem like someone who would normally provoke the ire of the social justice left. A queer, gender-fluid film director, Peirce is the creator of the 1999 film Boys Dont Cry, which told the true story of Brandon Teena, a young transgender man. The film, in fact, was a milestone: among the first to depict the humanity and suffering of trans people.

One might have expected Peirce to be well-received among the socially liberal students at Reed College. But when she visited campus last December to screen the film and discuss it, students shouted her down with unbelievably vile language. You dont fucking get it, and fuck this white cis bitch, were just two of the comments.

Yesterdays groundbreaking portrayals of trans people are todays problematic appropriations of marginalized culture, it seems. The protagonist of Boys Dont Cry is played by Hilary Swank, instead of an actual trans personthis is trans erasure, in the eyes of some students, who explained that they wanted to strip away Peirces sense of entitlement. By harassing her.

Lucia Martinez, an English professor at Reed who identifies as gay and mixed-race, posted a comment on an article about the controversy in which she admitted, I am intimidated by these students.

I am scared to teach courses on race, gender, or sexuality, or even texts that bring these issues up in any wayand I am a gay mixed-race woman, she wrote. There is a serious problem here and Im at a loss as to how to begin to address it, especially since many of these students dont believe in either historicity or objective facts.

3. Students Destroy a 9/11 Memorial Display at Occidental. The night before the 15th anniversary of 9/11, Occidental Colleges Republican Club planted 2,997 small flags in the campus quadone for each victim of the terrorist attacks. They did so with the permission of college officials.

By the next morning, the display had been destroyed. Hundreds of flags were trampled and broken. Others were discovered in the trash.

Its no mystery what happened: Members of the Republican Club caught the perpetrators in the act. They were students.

A student group, the Coalition for Diversity an Equity, offered a partial explanation.

When this institution allows thousands of American flags to be placed in the center of campus, it speaks volumes to the students that have lived their lives under the oppression of this flag, said the group.

Another student group, Occidental Students United Against Gentrification, said this: We have no tolerance for stolen land, colonizers, oppression, genocides, xenophobia, and/or erasure of culture/people (aka U.S. nationalism).

Its vexing that students were willing to violate the free expression rights of other members of the Occidental community. Its positively astounding that they did so with such reckless disregard for the victims of 9/11.

4. Heather MacDonald Censored at Claremont McKenna College. The best thing that can be said for students behavior during the Heather MacDonald incident is that at least no one was sent to the hospital. MacDonald, a conservative writer and thinker at the Manhattan Institute, tried to give a talk to Claremont McKenna students about her new book, which criticizes the Black Lives Matter movement.

One can object to MacDonalds ideasI certainly dowhile still recognizing that students who want to hear her speak should get that chance. Its quite possible that even her critics have something to learn from her.

But thats not what happened. Irate protesters barred the entrance to the building where MacDonald was supposed to talk. Police officers actually had to smuggle her out of a back door.

Afterward, students at nearby Pomona College denounced the administration for allowing MacDonald to come to campus. They also explicitly rejected free speech on the grounds that the concept is nothing more than a tool for advancing white supremacy.

5. Berkeley Is Burning. Which brings us to Berkeley. The former home of the Free Speech Movement is now ground zero for the activist movement against free speech. Local activistsnot all of them studentshave set fires and smashed windows in order to prevent Milo Yiannopoulos from speaking. And their threats to do the same to Ann Coulter led the university to reschedule, and ultimately cancel, her speech.

The alt-right, of course, is no better behaved. Pro-Trump white nationalists recently held a rally near Berkeley; when anti-fascist demonstrators appeared, some of the alt-right members actually attacked them.

In a free society that extends equal speech rights to protesters and controversial speakers, pro-Trump and anti-Trump forces should be able to occupy the same campus spaces without violence breaking out. Demonstrators should be able to make symbolic stands against right-wing pundits while still respecting the pundits rights to speakand other students rights to hear them speak. The fact that this isnt happening anymore is a tragedy for enlightened democracy.

These incidents have not shut down a single bad idea, wrote the American Civil Liberty Unions Lee Rowland. When you choose censorship as your substantive argument, you lose the debate.
An FBI agent tricked accused Chelsea bomber Ahmad Rahimi into surrendering a hair sample by leading Rahimi to believe he was a member of the defense team, according to a motion filed in Manhattan federal court Thursday.

Rahimi and his attorneys allege that the agents manner, speech, and approach indicated to Rahimi that he was sent by Rahimis lawyers, when the agent was actually collecting evidence for the prosecution. Its one of a number of allegations listed in a jam-packed motion filed by Rahimis team to dismiss some charges and exclude evidence.

The move comes shortly after Rahimis lawyers asked for a change of venue for the trial, arguing that press coverage of the September 2016 bombings makes it impossible for Rahimi to get a fair trial in Manhattan. Judge Richard Berman has yet to rule on that motion, but a New Jersey judge denied a similar request. The new motion seeks to dismiss two of eight counts in the indictment against Rahimi, relating to his alleged use of an improvised explosive device, to suppress statements made in the hospital and the hair sample, and to block the governments expert witness.

Rahimi is charged with planting explosive devices near a military 5K race at the Jersey Shore, in Chelsea, and at a New Jersey train station in September 2016. There were no serious injuries from the blasts, and some of the devices did not explode . Rahimi was arrested after a shootout soon after he was found sleeping outside a bar in Linden, New Jersey.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges including the use of a weapon of mass destruction and bombing a place of public use. (Rahimis name has also been spelled as Rahami in court documents and news reports.)

The FBI agent who came to collect Rahimis hair sample on Dec. 28, 2016, was friendly, according to an affidavit Rahimi filed in support of the motion. The agent referred to one of Rahimis attorneys, Sabrina Shroff, but just her first nameas Sabrina, the way she is commonly referred to by clients and others working on the defense team.

The man was wearing a suit and tie, Rahimi said in his affidavit. He did not have a badge or any other identification or items displayed on his jacket, shirt, or waistband.

The agent shook Rahimis hand, without introducing himself, and asked how Rahimi was doing, according to the affidavit. He then asked, Did Sabrina tell you I was coming? and other questions about Rahimis review of evidence in the case.

When the agent asked me this question, I answered because I understood him to have been sent by Sabrina or her office, and it was natural that she would be inquiring about my progress in reviewing discovery that she had sent to me for my review at [Metropolitan Correctional Center], Rahimi said in his affidavit. The agent replied that I should not worry, because I would be sent the most important materials that I needed to review later in the week.

Then the agent said he just needed a couple of strands of Rahimis hair, a request Rahimi now says he thought was being made on behalf of the defense team. When Shroff, the attorney, came to visit him later that day, Rahimi found out the man had not been a representative from her office but an FBI agent. The sole and exclusive reason I provided the hair sample to the agent was because I believed that he was working for Sabrina and my attorneys at the federal defenders and that the sample was being taken in the connection with their defense of my case, he wrote.

Going around Rahimis lawyers instead of presenting them with the search warrant violated Mr. Rahimis Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights, as well the New York State Rules of Professional Conduct, the defense lawyers charge. Although the government acted pursuant to a search warrant, the warrant did not authorize the government to communicate directly with Mr. Rahimi outside the presence of his counsel.

The defense team is asking Judge Berman to block the hair evidence and also to block any statements made during that meeting.

The detailed affidavit, filed Thursday, also asserts that Rahimi was repeatedly questioned in a semi-conscious state while still in the hospital , never read his Miranda rights, and often awoken by agents putting pressure on his body to wake him up. Alongside Rahimis affidavit, attorneys submitted FBI notes showing agents questioned Rahimi as he slipped into unconsciousness long after the immediate threat of the bombings had passed.

Rahimi was questioned on four separate occasions, notwithstanding that he was encumbered by needles and restraints, often unconscious, and effectively held incommunicado, deprived of the assistance of an attorney, family, or friends, attorneys said. He had been hospitalized after being shot 11 times in the course of his arrest.

Law-enforcement interrogations began on Sept. 27, 2016, and lasted for two more days, according to the motion. This was eight days after officials announced that all persons believed to be responsible for placing the [explosive] devices had been found and that no one else was being sought on Sept. 19, the motion said. By that point, Rahimi already had an attorney in at least one of the cases in which he was facing charges, but neither that attorney nor the federal defenders were present for the interrogations.

During that first interrogation, a surgeon told FBI agents that it was unlikely that [Rahimi] was fully coherent, according to FBI records filed with the motion. But Rahimi was interrogated for 30 minutes nonetheless, shaking his head yes or no for answers because he was intubated. But Mr. Rahimi does not recall responding to the agents questions, his lawyers allege. They say he eventually became unresponsive and that doctors told the agents Rahimi was fading into an unconscious state. The interrogation ended when Rahimi was taken to surgery for a tracheotomy, according to the motion.

During the second interrogation the next morning, Rahimi again mouthed and nodded answers to the agents, the motion reads. But it adds that his medical records note that his mouthing was not discernable. A third interrogation stopped only when Mr. Rahimi lost consciousness and needed resuscitation, according to the motion. A yellow fluid had begun to seep from his mouth.

On some occasions, I would wake up naturally to find the agents standing over me, and then they would begin to ask me questions, Rahimi wrote of the three-day period. On other occasions, I would feel a push or pressure. The pressure would wake me, and I would find the agents there next to my bed. They would then begin questioning me.

I do not recall the agents telling me that I was under arrest, he continued. I do not recall the agents ever giving me the Miranda warnings before asking me questions.
It was day one, the so-called VIP day, at Frieze New York, and wherever she went, the art collector Carolyn Wade was being stopped by people who either knew her, people who had once met her, or those who simply wanted to lavish praise on her fabulous jacket designed with neon pink cutouts of what looked like giant poppies.

Her friend Susan Fleischer was in a vibrant red jacket, with a startling brooch on its shoulder. The lesson offered by Wade and Fleischer: when attending day one of Frieze, dress appropriatelywhich is to say, strikingly.

Oh we love Frieze, Wade told the Daily Beastwho is from Birmingham, Alabamawith a gentle, warm Southern drawl. If only I was younger and had more energy, but its outstaaa-nding.

Wade comes to this very smart art fair held in a big white tent on Randalls Island every year to browse and buy.

Her large house is furnished with the contemporary art she has collected over a quarter of a century, including by her favorite artist Kiki Smith. Shes talking about womens issues, and its very challenging and I like that, said Wade.

She had already spotted a new Smith work, had not yet bought it, but in years past I have always bought something, and the days not over, so maybe Ill buy something.

Wade has never left Frieze empty-handed?

No, no, she said, as if the very idea were preposterous.

Around the two friends surged the familiar Frieze scrum of beautiful people, rich people, and beautifully dressed super-rich people, purring accents from all continents and swapping air-kisses and embraces, and then chatting to the more than 200 gallerists whose stands packed with contemporary art dot the huge space on Randalls Islandand who dearly hope over the next three days to part the super-rich beautiful people from as much of their money as possible.

We just flew in from is as common an icebreaker at Frieze as, How are you? Nightmare tales of lost or unavailable Ubers are the most plaintively told stories of hardship.

As Greg Lulay, Director of the David Zwirner gallery, told the Daily Beast, Frieze is the most buzzy component of a concentrated and precisely planned and calculated few days of high-profile art auctions, art fairs, and gallery and museum openings acting as a vector for art-lovers, and high-spending ones at that, to converge on New York from all parts of the globe.

There are the contemporary and postwar art auctions [from Sothebys and Phillips], the other fairs, and this influx of visitors from South America, North America, Asia, and Europe, Lulay said.

Marc Payot, a partner with the gallery Hauser & Wirth, said Frieze offered the opportunity to show the more contemporary part of program to a very American but also quite international audiencefor sure this is the best New York fair for the contemporary end of the market. We use it as a business card.

Payot said it wasnt crucial if the work on the stand didnt sell outthis year, H&W is showcasing the work of Lorna Simpsonas Frieze was an opportunity to connect with collectors, curators, and buyers from museums. The response from collectors is important, but its of second degree importance after museums. Whenever possible we sell to museums. The Fair is to sell and buy. Serious collectors are here and are active, so it is absolutely about that.

How does he know if someone is a serious collector when they come browsing? 20 years in the business, Payot smiled.

But it is a sensitive business. So early in the fair, few galleries wanted to forecast how lucrative their weekends would be. But the rich people circulating were intensely discussing, in intimate clumps, what they had seen, and what they wanted, and where they needed to be. The business of art and the appreciation of it is the tense balance at the Fair.

Another gallery owner, who asked for anonymity, said she always hoped to meet new people, to find new opportunities for her artists and make sales. The average collecting audience is in their 50s, 60s and above. There are some younger ones, and there are some museum collectors here. You have to treat everyone as if they could be a serious buyer.

Collector Pat Owens was standing by a huge of wall of John Currin watercolors at the Gagosian Gallery stand. I come every year, he said. Theres always something surprising at Frieze.

Although he purchased art from galleries, Frieze offered the incentive of being able to access work from other galleries around the world you otherwise wouldnt see.

As well as the work from galleries from the UK, France, and Italyamong other countries, special installations to watch out for include three Leonardo DiCaprio doppelgangers walking through the fairs warrenous corridors.

The brainchild of artist Dora Budor, the three actors are dressed in the garb of three DiCaprio roles: Frank Abagnale, Jr., the pilot from Catch Me If You Can (2002), Jordan Belfort from The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and a furs-bedecked Hugh Glass-simulacrum from The Revenant (2016).

The last one is the scariest to come across in the corridors, as Glass strides towards you just as angrily as you might be having been a violent bears play-thing. Youre not sure Glass would appreciate you pointing that he was safe now, not just safe but so close to so much delicious sustenance like a Russ & Daughters bagel pop-up cafe, a Stumptown Coffee bar, a pop-up Sant Ambroeus, and enough stands selling Ruinart fizz to set the tent afloat.

Tellingly, because of the all-round bizarre extremity of the fashions at Frieze, no one batted an eyelid at any of the DiCaprio incarnations as they wandered about. A pin-striped businessman with slicked-back hair isnt an unfamiliar sight at Frieze, and fancy dress is positively encouraged. Wandering around looking like a wild-man in fur pelts is just more performance art.

The other standout installation, Jon Rafmans film Dream Journalan hour-long video with a soundtrack by Oneohtrix Point Never and James Ferrarois a bit like being stuck in a video game while on an acid trip.

This animation may keep you engrossedas it did mefor some minutes more than you had intended, as you follow a young girl who goes through a series of surreal adventures, with heads being chopped off, eyes falling out, spaceships obliterating people, and then sudden blossomings of porn, like mouths waiting in urinals to pleasure those visiting them. There are animals that seem human, castles, a suspicious green gloop, and animals that wander around and smile. And lots of bloody murder.

Rafman told ArtNews that he hopes Dream Journal will penetrate mainstream culture, and it is certainly a transfixing watch that would benefit from being shown on a big screen.

Also, do check out the daily-changing installations of the Tribute to Romes Galleria La Tartaruga: on Thursday, it was Giosetta Fiorinis peephole work, La Spia Ottica; Ryan McNamara, Adam Pendleton, and Fabio Mauri have very different performance and video and installation pieces running Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (Mauris Luna is a moonscape you can walk around and lie down in.) A separate section of the fair, Focus, houses work from 32 galleries founded after 2004.

Frieze will swallow you as much as you wish, but its real pleasures are often accidentally found away from the hawkish, dollar-signed faces of collectors and art advisors, such as the fuel cans artfully made into insects, the huge golden jail with a kink in its bars (who could that be for?), a table set for tea covered in what looks like lace, beautiful, human-sized ceramics, a vibrating wooden table (at Glasgows Modern Institute, one of the best-curated stands at the whole Fair), and, at Galerie Lelong, Nancy Speros washing line of knickers and clothing, Sheela-Na-Gig at Home.

You may come across the huge neon instructing us in a series of wordsfor example, Try, Breathe, Forgiveto live better. You may come across Vlassis Caniaris Child, the human form of a child on a bicycle, his face obscured.

At the Galerie Bernard-Bouche, there are the wonderful sculptures of Etienne-Martin. Peres Projects from Berlin are exhibiting in a tiny side-cubbyhole Dean Sameshimas artistic tributes to key LGBT cultural totems, like the 1990 drag documentary Paris Is Burning and Edmund Whites 1980 book, States of Desire: Travels in Gay America. Yes, a lot is being sold at Frieze, but there is also much art to immerse yourself in.

As Greg Lulay told the Daily Beast, beyond the sales and professional and profit-focused connections it services Frieze provides a great platform to bring all kinds of art to audiences of all kinds. Its a public service to bring the work out for the audiencewhether that audience is curators, collectors, first-timers, or children.

This year, David Zwirner is premiering photographer William Egglestons latest collection, The Democratic Forest, at Frieze alongside the visual art and installations of Carol Boveall of which, Forbes reported Friday, sold out on the first day, alongside four Eggleston photographs.

Other galleries had reported strong VIP day sales, reported Forbes, including a $1.56 million Anish Kapoor work at Lisson Gallery.

Over the last five years, Lulay told the Daily Beast he had noted an increase in Frieze attendees from around the world: The art fair as a whole has become more of a global exchange of ideas and artwork. New Yorkers are especially quite wonderful and very excited: they make a conscious decision to go out and support the arts and intercede. Especially in the last 10 to 15 years, the gallery and museum-going audience has become very active.

This appetite is visible in Frieze-goers like Carolyn Wade and Susan Fleischer. They had already hit the Guggenheim and the Whitney museums before coming to Frieze. Wade had attended the first two Friezes in Londonbirthplace of the Fair in 2003but she judged the lighting at the 2017 iteration on Randalls Island superlative.

She had started collecting art, because I was bored of what was going on Birmingham, so I went back to school, and studied art and art history. She and Fleischer met 24 years ago on a Guggenheim art trip to India, and connected immediately. I live here, and she lived in Alabama, but she comes here to look at art, said Fleischer, smiling at her buddy.

Wade keeps her collection at home. I have a big house, she said.

She lives in the South, she can afford a house, said Fleischer, mock-pursing her lips as many a New Yorker might at the amount of money a house might cost.

The art explosion, said Wade, begins as soon as you walk through her front door. There are 44 chairs and 24 model snakes hanging from the ceiling of Wades entrance hall.

We didnt want it to be too decorative, Wade said, with a joking smile. My husband had a friend. They hunted, and would always say, Lets go out and shoot snakes. When it came to the entrance hall, I said I dont think I want real snakes.

The two friends-of-almost 24 years laughed merrily, and rejoined the surging Frieze throng.

Frieze New York runs until May 7. Details here.
An Instagram star and her boyfriend were arrested last year for allegedly extorting the Queen of Snapchat with her hacked sexual videos. This week, a court ordered the pair to unlock their phones to produce more evidence of their supposed blackmail scheme.

Julieanna Goddard goes by YesJulz on Snapchat where she has more than 300,000 followers, her publicist told The New York Times in June. On Instagram, nearly 500,000 fans follow her modelling career and glamorous lifestyle. Her social media empire has translated to her own publicity agency and a number of lucrative advertising deals.

And with fame came misfortune.

Last summer, an explicit video of Goddards allegedly wound up in the hands of Hencha Voigt and Wesley Victor. Prosecutors say the couple then tried to shake down Goddard for $18,000, threatening to release the video if she didnt pay up.

Like her alleged target, Voigt is also a social-media star with nearly 200,000 Instagram followers. She gained popularity by dating professional athletes and appearing on a show dedicated to their wives and girlfriends, WAGS Miami.

Court records show a conversation between the alleged extorters and Goddards personal assistant. Someone had hacked Goddards phone and stolen sex videos, Voigt allegedly told Goddards assistant. Voigt allegedly sent the assistant screenshots and clips of the personal videos, telling her that the blackmailers would call from a trap phone to demand money.

Dont threaten them, be super nice, Voigt allegedly texted, according to court records. U give them the money  And they dont something with [the videos].

Later, Victor allegedly demanded 18k cash within 24 hours to return a USB flash drive with the videos. Bizarrely, Victor allegedly signed off by telling Goddard he was a fan. As I said you dope chick I like your movement, the texts read, warning that If I feel any fun business GAME OVER your choice have great day.

He and Voigt were arrested on extortion charges the following week. During a police interview, Voigt admitted to owning one of the phones that issued the blackmail threats, although her lawyer has argued that both Voigt and Goddard were the victims of a photo hack, and that Voigt only messaged Goddards assistant to warn her that the compromising videos had been stolen.

Last week, prosecutors asked a Miami-Dade circuit court to compel the pair to unlock their phones, and on Wednesday, Judge Charles Johnson ordered them to do it.

For me, this is like turning over a key to a safe-deposit box, Johnson said.

But the legal precedent for ordering a defendant to unlock their phone is more complicated than Johnsons metaphor of a safe-deposit box. In a handful of recent cases, courts have ordered defendants to unlock their smartphones, either with a password or their fingerprint. But privacy advocates argue that forcing a person to unlock their phone is tantamount to self-incrimination. And in a high-profile 2016 legal battle, Apple fought the FBIs request to unlock the phone used by one of the San Bernardino terrorists. The FBI eventually dropped the demand, having found a way to hack into the device.

Florida is one state with the clearest precedent in favor of compelling a defendant to unlock their phone. In making his ruling, Johnson cited a December ruling in a Florida appeals court in which a man suspected of taking upskirt photos was ordered to unlock his phone.

We need to examine the laws and find a way to adjust to the digital age without compromising our rights as citizens, Goddard told the Miami Herald. In my opinion, in this particular case, it made sense for the court to rule for her to unlock the phone. The crime at hand is not a misdemeanor, it is a felony and was a serious offense.

In a more succinct statement on Twitter, Goddard tweeted dat way, linking to a Miami Herald reporters tweet on the courts ruling.

Neither Goddard nor Voigts attorney returned a request for comment, although Voigts attorney indicated to the Herald that he might appeal the ruling. But precedent is against him, Johnson suggested when he handed down the order on Wednesday.

Thats the law in Florida at this point, said Johnson.
A U.S. Navy SEAL has become the first American military casualty in Somalia in decades, killed while accompanying Somali forces raiding an al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab hideout.

U.S forces were conducting a partnered operationtargeting an al- Shabaab group that had been associated with attacks against US, Somalia and AMISOM forces, from the African Union Mission in Somalia, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters Friday.

The joint patrol was attacked on the ground while approaching the enemy compound, after being dropped off by U.S. helicopters.

This was a Somali mission, Davis said. We helped bring them in with our aircraft. Thats when our forces came under fire.

Davis would not say if the mission was successful, but said there was no need for air strikes after the joint patrol moved through the compound.

The attackers were quickly neutralized on the ground, he said.

A senior defense official confirmed to The Daily Beast that the casualty was a SEAL, as first reported by CNN. Navy SEAL spokesmen did not immediately respond to requests for comment, as per Pentagon regulations requiring a 24-hour wait before identifying a combat casualtys name or unit. A handful of U.S. service members were injured, but Davis declined to say how many.

The roughly 50 U.S. special operators stationed in Somalia are part of a mission launched under the Obama administration in 2013 to help Somalia rid itself of an al-Qaeda linked group that has carried out bloody attacks inside the country and nearby. The Trump administration expanded their authority to operate unilaterally in Somalia in March, but Davis said the raid was conducted under the Obama-era guidance allowing advise and assist missions.

The U.S. National Counterterrorism Center says al-Shabaab is responsible for frequent terrorist attacks within Somalia, and has claimed responsibility for high-profile violence like the September 2013 Westgate mall attack in Nairobi that killed 67 people, and the April 2015 massacre of some 150 mostly Christian university students in Garissa, Kenya

Davis said this is the first U.S. combat death in Somalia since the 1990s. Eighteen U.S. troops were killed there and around 80 injured in 1993 when Somali militia brought down two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters in Mogadishu during a special operations raid.

This is the third U.S. service member killed in action in a little more than a week. On April 27, two soldiers died during a raid in Afghanistans Nangarhar Province.
Many entrepreneurs in the legal cannabis space have meandering, almost mythic origin stories of how they ultimately landed in the marijuana industry.

Chris Yang is one of those dreamers.

As a biochemistry major at the University of Southern California, Yang surprised himself when he instead started leaning toward organic chemistry classes and labs. After a stint in Shanghai working for Pfizer, where he worked with Viagra, Robitussin, and other brands, he moved to Taiwan to secure a masters degree in hospital management.

But Yang later clashed with what he saw as that industrys profit-over-health-care values and returned to Los Angeles, where he taught himself to cook while watching YouTube videos. His career in the kitchen truly started while entertaining Instagram influencers at his home with creatively extravagant five-course meals, thus boosting his own social media presence. Later, he used his thriving Instagram profile as his only resume to cook at Marina del Reys now-shuttered Paiche, a seafood-centric Peruvian hotspot from chef Ricardo Zarate.

These days, Yang is still carefully juggling his disparate passions, including a tech startup play for property management firms. His primary focus, however, remains in the kitchenonly now hes cooking with a new herb, throwing one of southern Californias most celebrated cannabis-infused pop-up dinners once a month.

These dinners are a lot trickier when theres weed in evolved, Yang said recently from his Los Angeles home. Like with any of these normal, non-cannabis pop-ups, the challenge is being able to do everything with a level of consistency and on a regular basis. Its logistical coordinationhow to house these events and have the kitchen needed to cook for and serve 30-60 people, and those are all challenges we need to work with.

Then you need to find the 30-60 people to come out and pre-buy tickets and show up on timeand finding that clientele is hard, Yang continued. With a restaurant you find a good location and put a sign up, but this is still underground, so you have to actively be marketing and talking to people all of the time.

The fact that were infusing our drinks and food with cannabis makes these a lot more complicated.

Yangs monthly parties operate under the Pop Cultivate banner and include walk-in apps, weed-infused cocktails, and five sit-down courses. Two of the courses are infused with psychoactive cannabinoid THC, and Yangs desserts are generally infused with a healthy serving of THCs non-psychoactive sibling CBD, which has the medicinal benefits and gives you some mental clarity and alertness, says Yang.

Each dinner is paired with a different artist, who displays their work all over the makeshift dining room and also creates a new piece as the evening progresses. Most of Yangs customers are doctors and accountants and other white collar workers, he says, and his next few dinners include the barbecue-centric Taste of Summer on Memorial Day Weekend as well as dinners on June 24 and July 29.

The most common questions customers ask are about dosing: How high will this meal make me? Each course of drinks and food can be ordered individually sans marijuana, and around 20 percent of Yangs customers generally opt for uninfused mealsthough about half of them change their minds at some point in the evening. Those with higher tolerances can supplement the infused courses with weed-packed nonalcoholic cocktails available at the bar throughout the night, and the Pop Cultivate space also includes a bring-your-own smoking section.

With our dinners what were trying to provide is a safe experience for anyone who is curious about cannabis, Yang said. There are a lot of people who are curious about cannabis but they dont know how to approach it, and thats a big gap between being curious about pot and going to a medical dispensaryand a Pop Cultivate dinner is somewhere in between those two experiences. We dose it for you and serve it to you in a way that is more relatable and understandable and easier to control.

Yangs dinners straddle two very different worldsLos Angeles trendy $100-a-plate fine dining scene as well as the citys explosive D.I.Y. renaissance, which is currently benefitting from a migration of artists and creatives fleeing the billionaire playground of San Francisco.

Pop Cultivates events also straddle the semi-legal reality of pop-up dining and the fully illegal world of unlicensed drug distribution. California voters overwhelmingly said yes to recreational pot in Novembers election, but those rules and regulations are still being writtenand the specific laws regarding the non-retail distribution and social consumption of cannabis arent the legislative priorities figuring out retail sales and commercial and personal cultivation are.

But Pop Cultivate has never had to fight the law, and Yang is careful to do what he can to stay in line with the most common operating procedures for these kinds of not-quite-legal events.

In Colorado, theyre still trying to figure out how to get permits for any experience-based cannabis business, which allows cannabis consumption on site, Yang said, referencing Denver Countys historic Initiative 300 social consumption measure. California is a couple years behind Colorado in any kind of policymaking, and we dont expect theyll have permits for our businesses in these early days. But we run everything as private events, and that doesnt fully make us legal but it gives us some sort of protection. It gives us something of a shelter.

Yang and his once-a-month team of cooks, hosts, servers, and helpers are also struggling with the current business models inability to scale. At Yangs most recent Pop Cultivate dinner, a dreamy late-April gathering, his team hustled to serve a record 70 customersbut a decent-sized restaurant can serve 70 customers on any Friday or Saturday night, Yang told me. Our number one concern right now is to get frequency and volume up, to move from doing these monthly to doing them weekly.

Ideally well be doing these three nights a week, and two seatings per night, in the coming months once we settle down in the new space. At 50 people per seating, thats 300 people per weekand that economy of scale makes a lot more sense than what were doing now.

Yang will soon move his Pop Cultivate dinners from a container yard in the downtown Los Angeles arts district to a new undisclosed space near his alma mater USC. In an attempt to fill out his business offerings, Yang is also expanding Pop Cultivates cannabis empire beyond these culinary events.

Were definitely not limited to just food, Yang said. Weve been working with other groups who do cannabis yoga and smoke-and-paint nights, and were currently playing around with launching different cannabis-themed nights. We have a cannabis yoga event scheduled in three weeks time, and well definitely add the painting classes once we get in the new space.

Yangs is a quintessential L.A. story, one that is as cinematic as it is unexpected: A scientist moves abroad and goes corporate, only to return to California and his artistic roots to create an empire in a boomingif not-yet-legalindustry.
President Trumps plan for a deportation force is meeting resistance in the courts, but Texas is about to pass a bill that will make all of the states law enforcement part of itwhether they like it or not.

Seven years after Arizona passed SB1070, Texas is on the verge of passing a similar bill that would give every police officer in the state the power to say show me your papers. The bill, SB4, demands that local police hold people for immigration agents and permits them to investigate a persons immigration status upon arrest. If you plan on traveling to Texas, you may want to plan for spending a few extra days therein jail.

In March, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that he was willing to throw law enforcement leaders in prison if they didnt spend their resources on immigration enforcement. Talking specifically about Travis County (i.e., Austin) Sheriff Sally Hernandez, Abbott said that Texas would pass legislation that will impose criminal penalties where the sheriff herself can wind up behind bars, and hence be removed from office, fines that could add up to millions of dollars per year, as well as other penalties. Were gonna make it so costly, so expensive, theres no way that any city or county can take on sanctuary city policies.

What is a sanctuary city, exactly? It depends on who you ask. As one popular narrative goes, sanctuary cities are helping immigrants who have committed crimes evade federal agents, and may be violating federal law themselves. Right-wing author Michelle Malkin suggested rebranding them outlaw cities.

This is, of course, nonsense. The Department of Justice has gradually slid toward a definition of sanctuary cities as those that violate a specific federal law, 8 U.S.C. Section 1373, which prevents local and state governments from having policies that prohibit sharing information about a persons immigration status with federal immigration agents. Few, if any, localities are violating this law, meaning that sanctuary cities are rare, or entirely mythical. However, more often when people talk about sanctuary cities, they are talking about local law enforcement agencies that require a warrant signed by a judge before holding people in their custody for federal immigration agents. This is what Texas is on the verge of outlawing.

Why would a local law enforcement agency have such a policy? Because for many years, ICE would essentially ask local police to do them an unconstitutional favor: hold a person up to 48 hours (maybe more, over weekends and holidays), without probable cause, until ICE agents were able to pick them up. This favor is usually called a detainer request. In recent years, multiple federal courts have determined that local police (PDF), in the course of doing ICE that favor, had violated peoples Fourth Amendment rights. Government data show that 834 U.S. citizens and 28,489 legal permanent residents had detainers placed on them between 2008 and 2012. When a local law enforcement agency agrees to hold a person, it assumes liability, which some departments have learned the hard way: paying thousands in damages and other costs from lawsuits. Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, paid $95,000 in damages and attorneys fees for holding Ernesto Galarza, a U.S. citizen born in New Jersey, based on a detainer request from ICE.

Fulfilling a detainer request is entirely voluntarythe form ICE uses (PDF), even under Trump, still says request on it. Anything different would violate Tenth Amendment protections against commandeering by the federal government. So, its actually not sanctuary cities that are violating the lawin fact, law enforcement agencies with these policies are doing right by their residents by taking a step to avoid violating their constitutional rights. As the constitutional problems surrounding detainers became clear, more and more local sheriffs and police departments decided that doing ICE a favor wasnt worth the time and expense. According to the National Sheriffs Association, which would like ICE to provide a judicial warrant alongside detainers, a majority of the nations sheriffs have a policy to demand more than ICEs say-so before agreeing to hold someone.

For local law enforcement in Texas, deciding whats best for your communityand budgetis about to become a Class A misdemeanor under SB4. The Texas Majors Cities Chiefs, Texas Police Chiefs Association, and sheriffs from the states largest cities, oppose the bill. It was always the case that Trump was going to need local law enforcement to build a deportation force. Where they wouldnt sign up willingly, the administration sought to bully them with threats to their funding and a weekly report shaming them for refusing to honor detainers. With the funding threats blocked by a federal court, Trump may have to rely on governors like Abbott to force local law enforcements hand.

Trump inherited a constitutionally flawed immigration enforcement system from his predecessor. Demanding compliance with that systemby either states or the federal governmentthreatens the safety and rights of us all. If passed, SB4 will almost certainly lead to frequent and systematic violation of peoples constitutional rights, regardless of ones immigration or citizenship status. Texas may get a few laudatory presidential tweets for passing SB4, but everyone in Texas will soon come to regret it.
Youre going to be reading and hearing lots of breathless stuff over the next few weeks on health care. My advice to you would be not to take it seriously if it doesnt recognize this basic fact: The is going to come down to the conference committee. Thats where the action is here.

You remember what a conference committee is? The House passes its version of a bill . The Senate passes its version. Theyre different. Then, leaders from both chambers appoint a conference committee to smooth out the differences. Then, the agreed-upon bill goes back to both houses for passage a second time. Only then does it go to the presidents desk.

No, they didnt make this easy. But usually conference committees do what theyre designed to do for the simple mathematical reason that if a bill passed both Houses, it was nearly by definition supported by the majority party in both houses, and its those partys leaders who appoint most conference committee members, and they can stack it however they like.

All that is presumably a few weeks away. First, the Senate gets to work. All eyes turn to the wily Mitch McConnell. There is a slim chancereally slimthat McConnell, for whatever baroque set of insider-y reasons, doesnt really want this to pass. Maybe opposition to what the House did really rises up over these next few weeks and he senses that his majority may be in danger. Maybe enough Republican senators come to him and say things like Mitch, Im getting hammered back home on this.

If thats the case, he can easily fix things behind closed doors in such a way that the House bill fails in the Senate, and he can say hey, we tried.

Another failure scenario is that three Republicans vote against it. This isnt impossible. Dean Heller of Nevada, whos up for reelection next year; Susan Collins of Maine; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Those are the three Republicans to watch. If youre against what the Republicans are doing here and want to devote some time or energy to stopping this, devote it to groups working in those three states, trying to pressure those three senators.

But whats more likely is that the Senate Republicans pass something. It will be their own bill. Tennessees Lamar Alexander, for one, has already said as much . Probably the two biggest points of departure from the House bill will be 1) senators, even most Republicans, wont go for nearly a trillion dollars in Medicaid cuts, and 2) senators, even a lot of Republicans, would prefer to keep Obamacare rules on covering people with pre-existing conditions.

So the Senates going to pass a bill thats less conservative than the House, and probably unacceptable to a lot of the Freedom Caucus people. And make no mistakethe Freedom Caucus people, the hottest of the red-hots, are who pushed this bill over the line yesterday. On the first go-round in late March, only seven of the caucus members voted yea. Thursday, 30 of them did. The caucus doesnt disclose any official list of members but is thought to have around 35, so thats a huge flip.

Theyre not going to like what comes out of the Senate. And then itll all come down to the conference committee. Can those members get in a room for a week and hash something out that McConnell and Ryan just make people vote for because, folks, this is our only shot at this? In that case, Im sorry to say, I think enough of them will vote yes, even to something they know is terrible. And Id bet the conference bill looks more like the House version than the Senate one, because the House people are bigger crybabies, and crybabies get their way.

So thats the inside game. Its not especially hopeful.

But theres an outside game, too, and the outside game can influence the inside game. It starts with pressuring those three GOP senators. It extends to letting so-called moderate Republicans who voted for this monstrosityand there were 33 of them , from the Tuesday Groupknow their constituents anger at their vote.

And the outside game also involves the two pivotal special elections that approach. Both are in red areas, but in both, the Democrat is running competitively, and the choice between the candidates is stark.

The first one youve read about, its the Georgia race where Democrat Jon Ossoff is facing Republican Karen Handel. After the vote, Handel praised it , while Ossoff, whos been running a pretty moderate-ish campaign, said that this bill puts Georgians lives at risk.

The lesser-known race is out in Montana, where Democrat Rob Quist is running against Republican Greg Gianforte. This is to fill the seat vacated by Ryan Zinke, whos now the secretary of the interior (but its the whole state, as Montana has just one at-large representative in the House). Gianforte gingerly endorsed the bill, but Quist yesterday came out guns-a-blazin against it , even highlighting its defunding of Planned Parenthood: No Montanan would vote for this bill[Gianforte is] all for de-funding Planned Parenthood, which this bill does. Montana deserves a Congressman who will speak out when something as disastrous as this bill that will raise healthcare costs for working Montanans.

The Montana district is rated R+11 by Cook. The Georgia district, R+8. Those numbers mean Republicans should win them both fairly easily.

But here we have Democrats in both districts hitting Republicans hard over this bill, standing up for Obamacare and Planned Parenthood, and running strong. The Montana election is May 25, the Georgia one June 20. If the Democrats win, you can be very sure that McConnell and all his fellow Senate Republicans will take notice.
When the White House backed off its efforts to dump Sebastian Gorka on another federal agency, the controversial counterterrorism advisor had the president himself to thank, The Daily Beast has learned.

After news emerged last week that the Trump administration was setting the stage to move the British-born national security aide out of the White House, President Donald Trump and his chief strategist Stephen Bannon personally intervened to put a halt to Gorkas White House eviction, two senior administration sources said.

Last Friday, The Daily Beast broke the news that the Trump administration had been actively exploring options to remove Gorka from the West Wing, where he serves as deputy assistant to the president, and place him at another federal agency. News of Gorkas looming departure from the White House came amid security clearance issues and a mounting controversy over his involvement with a far-right Hungarian group notorious for its collaboration with the Nazi regime during the World War II. Gorka also holds fringe, clash-of-civilization views that many have criticized as anti-Muslim and extreme.

Senior administration sources described the situation to The Daily Beast last week as a pain in the ass, and said that Gorkabiding his time on the federal payrollhad virtually zero substantive duties at the White House or role in its decision-making or national-security policy decisions.

However, Gorka owes his continued presence in the White House to President Trump himself, who views him as a robust communicator of the administrations anti-terrorism, anti-ISIS policies, particularly on conservative radio and TV interviews.

Gorka and Bannon are close. They worked together at Breitbart Newsthe far-right Trump-boosting outlet that Bannon once ran as a dictator, according to former employeeswhere Gorka served as national security editor even as he was also a paid consultant for the Trump campaign.

As the White House explored alternative employment for Gorka, staffers there dropped hints to other agencies that he was in Trumps good graces. According to a senior administration official, who described the comment as a subtle suggestion that Gorka should be given a post in the officials office, the White House referred to Gorka in those interagency communications a friend of the president.

Following The Daily Beasts initial report last week, rumors swirled that Gorkas expulsion from the White House was mere moments away. Thats when Bannon stepped in.

[Bannon] put a stop to ithes loyal and a friends job was in danger and reputation was getting dragged through the mud, another Trump administration official said, noting that Bannon had acted decisively to lobby for one of his ideological and personal allies in the West Wing. Trump then privately assured Gorka that his job was safe for now.

It was at this point that interagency chatter regarding moving Gorka out of the White House abruptly ceased.

According to multiple administration sources, a White House faction led by Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser, isnt pleased with this development. Kushner, who warred with Team Bannon last month, also co-founded with Bannon the Strategic Initiatives Group, an informal think tank within the White House. Though Gorka was a member of the group, one White House source says Kushner now views him as a clown and wants nothing to do with him.

Still, Gorka is sitting pretty this week.

He told a reporter with Ami Magazine that he had personally met with Trump in the wake of reports of his impending departure, according to a since-deleted tweet from the Jewish publication. The president, Gorka said, assured him that hes not being asked to step down.

But he did not shut the door on a White House departure. I will be in the White House as long as the president wants me there, and if he needs me to do something somewhere else, I will do whatever he needs me to do, Gorka told Fox News Radio.

The White House also seemed to leave the door open to a future move. Asked about reports of Gorkas ouster on Monday, press secretary Sean Spicer said he had no personnel announcement at the time. I have no belief that he is currently leaving the White House.

The initial pressure to place Gorka at another agency riled some administration officials who viewed him as a liabilityno matter where he was. One official at an agency to which the White House had shopped Gorka saw it as an attempt to offload a staffer with few official duties and mounting public relations baggage without having to upset the president and Gorkas other White House allies.

For now, Trumps affinity for Gorka and his ability to communicate administration policy on national security matters means he is staying put, even if his official duties remain sparse.

The president really likes him and appreciates him as a good spokesperson for the administration, but he isnt part of the [National Security Council] policy making process, a senior administration official said of Gorka last month, adding that his contributions to foreign policy have been minimal, with National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMasters team overshadowing the relevance of his input. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters.

Gorka ignored questions about his future employment plans after a speech to the Republican National Lawyers Associations annual policy conference in Washington on Friday morning. He rushed to the elevator as New York attorney and RNLA vice-chair Larry Levy tried to keep a physical barrier between Gorka and a Daily Beast reporter.

Were not taking press questions at this time, Levy said as he attempted to block a hallway at the National Press Club.

Gorka simply asked The Daily Beast on Friday morning if we had emailed the White House press shop. He had previously asked that questions be put in an email to him directly. He hasnt responded to multiple requests for comment since.
Several States, Not Everywhere, Vote to Ban Slavery

WHAT YEAR IS IT?

One former slave-holding state rejected a ballot question on outlawing involuntary servitude as a punishment.
The report from the Illinois Civil Justice League - Illinois Asbestos Trust Transparency  shows how personal injury lawyers are rigging the timing of asbestos lawsuits to double dip for the same claim.

MARION - A new report shows how personal injury lawyers are gaming the system in Illinois by strategically timing asbestos lawsuits to inflate legal costs and further erode the states business climate.

It should come as no surprise, but personal injury lawyers have now found a new way to game the system in Illinois, said Travis Akin, Executive Director of Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch, a non-partisan legal watchdog group. Illinois has long been known as the 'Land of Lincoln,' but due to aggressive efforts by personal injury lawyers to game the system to their advantage, Illinois has been turned into the Land of Lawsuits.

The new study shows how plaintiffs attorneys file an asbestos claim in court against small businesses and other defendants. Then after the case is resolved they file claims against various asbestos trust funds which then allows them to get paid twice for the same claim.

This lack of transparency and incentive to double dip creates a perverse profit motive for personal injury lawyers to file even more lawsuits here that target Illinois businesses, explained Akin. This is especially troubling given the fact neighboring states Missouri and Iowa have just passed laws this year that target this kind of double dipping through increased transparency.

The two bordering states say that they hope to lure Illinois businesses that want to cross the river to flee being a target in the Land of Lawsuits.

"Missouri, the Show Me State, is showing Illinois the way to create jobs by restoring fairness and common sense to their courts, and yet here in the 'Sue Me State,' Illinois legislators have so far failed to advance similar common sense legislation," Akins said.

As a result of the system gaming, personal injury lawyers win, and the rest of us lose, Akin said.

"It is time for Illinois legislators to stop siding with the personal injury lawyers that game the system and start standing up for fairness and common sense in our courts that will help us retain and expand jobs here," he said.

As part of the new study, the law firm of Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy, LLP conducted an asbestos trust review and analysis on a sample of 100 asbestos cases recently filed in Illinois and found in 92 percent of the cases there was no disclosure for double dipping.

Akin said it is not a surprise personal injury lawyers have found a new way to game the system in Illinois. He said personal injury lawyers have been gaming the system for years in Illinois, which is a big reason why Illinois is home to three of the worst Judicial Hellholes (Madison, St. Clair and Cook Counties) in the country and why Illinois is ranked the third-worst state in the country for legal fairness, according to a report from the Harris Poll company.

The study also documents how judges in Illinois allow cases to be heard hear that have nothing to do with Illinois. In Madison County, less than 1% of all asbestos-related lawsuits filed there are on behalf of Illinois plaintiffs.

For more information on this report and I-LAWs efforts to restore common sense and fairness to Illinois courts, visit I-LAWs website at www.ILLawsuitAbuseWatch.org.
A Bryan couple remembered by friends and family as jokesters who loved video games and rock music were killed Tuesday in Temple when their car collided with a dump truck on Texas 95.

Jeffrey Smith, 56, and his wife, Shirley, 61, were in Temple for a doctor's appointment. The two worked as medical technologists -- Jeffrey at CHI St. Joseph for 17 years and Shirley rotating between CHI St. Joseph and the College Station Medical Center for 16 years. Though they technically worked in different labs, the husband and wife had similarly important jobs.

"Shirley, as a microbiologist, would determine what type of bacteria was found in a patient's samples, report that to the doctors and tell the doctors how to treat it," explained Kim Dubose, Shirley's supervisor at CHI St. Joseph. Dubose said with a specialty in hematology, Jeffrey would also look at a range of biological samples, but much of his work specifically involved blood. He would diagnose diseases such as leukemia, based on his observations. Both Smiths worked tirelessly to ensure the betterment of patients at the hospital, Dubose said, doing critical behind-the-scenes work to assist doctors and nurses. Both were good mentors to other staffers, taking new hires under their wing and acting as cheerleaders.

"They were both jokesters," Dubose said. "They had a lot of laughter. They were loud, but not in a bad way; bristly on the outside but soft, huge hearts on the inside."

The couple met in the late 1980s when they were working at a hospital in Huntsville. Jeffrey, a medical technologist specializing in hematology, had graduated from a small college in Illinois, while Shirley received a microbiology degree from Texas A&M in 1976 and a medical technology degree from the University of Texas in 1987. They wed in 1993 and moved from Huntsville to the Bryan-College Station area almost 20 years ago.

The Smiths never had children, but devoted their time to other passions. Stan Stover of Glen Rose, who is Shirley Smith's big brother, said his sister loved animals, even as a child, taking care of horses, guinea pigs, ducks and geese.

The couple had two cats, Scorch and Blitz, and bonded over a shared love of video games, rock music, comedians and trips to the movie theater. Shirley obsessed over the television series The Walking Dead, and both were avid fans of the show Game of Thrones.

More than they loved their work in the medical field, their animals and their silly attitudes, the Smiths loved each other.

"They were so close, and matched so well," Stover said of his sister and brother-in-law.

Dubose said hospital staff haven't adjusted to a workplace without the Smiths, sometimes expecting them to be around the corner, ready to analyze a sample. Though it's hard to lose two technologists at once, there is one silver lining to the circumstances:

"One couldn't live without the other," Dubose said. "It is a comfort to know that they're together."

The Smiths had been in Temple this week to see a specialist for glaucoma, which Shirley had recently been diagnosed with.

The crash remains under investigation. The Smiths' car was going east on US 36, and the dump truck was headed south on Texas 95, according to KXXV-TV. The truck's driver had minor injuries, according to the Temple Daily Telegram.

Services are pending with Hillier Funeral Home and are tentatively scheduled for May 19.
HEARNE -- Hearne City Councilman Rodrick Jackson's jury trial for a misdemeanor assault charge was canceled Thursday, and will likely be moved outside of the small town, his attorney said.

Speaking from outside the Hearne Municipal Court, Jackson's lawyer, Ty Clevenger, said the cancellation came after learning from the judge overseeing the case that the trial would be closed to the public. Clevenger has also accused the judge of discussing the case outside of his or Jackson's presence, and asked that he be recused from the trial.

Moving the trial from Hearne would be a step forward, Clevenger said, because there has "just been so much bizarre stuff going on behind the scenes."

Jackson faces a Class C misdemeanor assault by contact charge, which is punishable by a fine up to $500, stemming from an investigation launched by the Hearne Police Department in May 2016 into an accusation against him that he engaged in inappropriate conduct with an underage girl.

An emotional Jackson said outside the municipal court Wednesday that he's innocent of the allegations and isn't backing down, but is ready for the trial to be put behind him.

"I just want it over with," Jackson said. "Everywhere I go, people [are] looking at me like I'm guilty of whatever they're assuming. I'm not guilty, so I want it over with."

Jackson said he wants the trial open to the public so they can "hear [and] see everything so that they can see who's all involved." Clevenger also said the public has a right to know details of the case. While he understands the judge wanting to protect the minor during her testimony, Clevenger said, the rest of the witnesses are adults.

The Department of Public Safety's Texas Ranger Division and the Robertson County District Attorney's Office both investigated the case, but transferred it to the city's municipal court after sufficient evidence could not be found to merit a more serious charge.

Clevenger characterized the case as "pure politics," and referred to "all kinds of gross improprieties" in how it's been handled. The attorney was planning to call on Hearne Police Chief Thomas Williams to testify, as well as Interim City Manager John Naron, who he believes "has basically been running the case."

Naron told The Eagle on Wednesday that he's not sure why Clevenger thinks he's running the case. Naron wrote in an email that as part of his duties as interim city manager that he supervised the release of all information on the case that was passed along from the city's previous law firm -- Hearne is currently without an attorney -- and moved a television into the municipal court room to display videos.

Had the police department not handled the case in a professional manner, Naron added, the prosecutor assigned to the case likely would have refused a jury trial.

The case has now been pending for almost a year, and Clevenger said he'll be asking for the trial to be rescheduled "sooner rather than later. The next step will be for the administrative judge to assign a new judge to preside over the trial, he said.

Jackson tearfully said the case against him is affecting both Hearne and the City Council, and believes the accusation against him stems from people who want him off the council. Several months after the misconduct accusations, nearly 300 Hearne residents signed a petition for a recall election of Jackson's position on the council. That initiative, though, did not make it to the ballot for Saturday's municipal election.

Jackson said he's both innocent of the crime and in how he takes care of city business. Therefore, he won't pay a fine for a crime he didn't commit, he said tearfully.

"If you're not guilty, don't admit to being guilty... standing your ground," Jackson said. "And yes, I'm tired. I want it to be over with, but I've got to stand my ground because I'm innocent."
A Hearne man was arrested Wednesday after leading authorities on a chase that reached speeds of up to 115 miles per hour, officials said.

Eric Bernard Walker, 35, also faces drug charges.

According to the Brazos County Sheriff's Department, a motorist called authorities about a car driving erratically on Texas 6, and a sheriff's deputy stopped the car on Texas 6 just south of College Station. Authorities spoke with Walker, who said he was heading back to Hearne from Houston and was tired.

The deputy called for backup and asked Walker to exit the car, but when he stepped back so Walker could open the door, Walker sped away. The sheriff deputy and Department of Public Safety troopers chased Walker on and off Texas 6 and the access roads before Walker stopped near the intersection of Technology Parkway, where he was taken into custody. A witness called authorities and said Walker had thrown several items out of the car, which authorities located. Officials found three sandwich bags -- one containing cocaine and two containing marijuana.

Walker is charged with possession of cocaine, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison; evading arrest in a vehicle with a previous conviction, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison; and a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana.

Walker was released from the Brazos County Jail on $47,000 bond.
November 3, 1919 - April 30, 2017

Lavonia Ward passed away on April 30, 2017 in Bryan Texas at the age of 97.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 siblings and her husband William Allen Ward.

She is survived by her children Dianne Patterson, Richard & wife Darlene Ward; grandchildren, Lisa, Lorna, Daren & Stacey; 4 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild all of whom she loved with all her heart.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the Faith Outreach Christian Center in Navasota. Cremation services are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral and Cremation services of Bryan College Station.

Express condolences at CallawayJones.com
A 42-year-old convicted felon from Madisonville was taken in to federal custody Friday as part of what authorities described as a "joint effort in ensuring the safety of local communities."

Authorities said a grand jury returned an indictment against Reginald Scott for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was convicted in federal court in 2006 of possession with the intent to distribute at least 5 grams of cocaine and was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in prison.

Since Scott has that on his criminal record, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm per federal law. The indictment states that on March 30 he was in possession of a Springfield XD .45 caliber pistol.

He faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 if he's convicted.

Details surrounding his arrest or what led authorities to Scott were not released Friday.

A statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Houston states that the arrest was the result of an effort among local, state and federal agencies who are "partnering together to combat violent crime and to ensure the safety of Madison County."

The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Madison County District Attorneys Office and the Madisonville Police Department.
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Senate passed in a 48 to 0 vote Friday another effort to automatically register to vote persons applying for drivers' licenses.

Shortly after the vote, the same group - Asian Americans Advancing Justice - that boasted getting the sanctuary state legislation (#ILTrustAct) out of the Senate, bragged their part in pushing forward automatic voter registration (#AVRinIL). The group's tweet featured photos of the legislation's lead Democrat sponsor in the Senate Daniel Biss, as well as Republican Senator Sam McCann.

(Note: Senator McCann voted against the sanctuary bill Thursday. He voted for the automatic voter registration bill, as did all other voting senators, both Republican and Democrat.)

"Big week for @AAAJ_Chicago & @JustDemocracyIL & #WelcomingIL allies passing #AVRinIL and #ILTrustAct out of state senate!" the group said.

Last month on their website, Asian Americans Advancing Justices celebrated the Federal court blocking President Trump's second attempt to protect Americans from dangerous threats entering the country.

We applaud the court for recognizing the blatant discriminatory intent behind the executive order, said Elica Vafaie, Staff Attorney and Program Manager at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus. If this is implemented, it will have devastating consequences for our communities.

They also condemned Trump's nomination of Jeff Sessions for U.S. Attorney General.

UPDATE at 7:31 PM: Senator Sam McCann is unhappy with the way the information in this post was presented. He expressed his opinion on Illinois Review's Facebook page:
During election time, everyone wants to know what the public think. Polls abound trying to gauge our mood on a host of different issues so it's good to see that public support for wind and solar is at an all-time high according to the results of a quarterly tracking survey conducted by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

And as all parties finalise their manifestos they would do well to take heed the findings.

Onshore wind is backed by nearly three quarters of the public (73%), with offshore even more popular at 79% while solar has almost universal support at 86%. Less well-known renewables are also popular with wave and tidal power supported by 79% of the public. These are all record highs since the tracking started in 2013.

Even biomass, another lower carbon energy source, is at its highest favourability level of 66%, with only 6% opposed. In fact only 1% of the population is strongly opposed' to renewables the survey found.

Concern about climate change seems to be a driver of this clean energy push, with 71% saying they are very or fairly concerned. The economic and environmental case for renewables has long been clear. Getting ourselves off polluting fossil fuels is essential if we're to meet our international obligations to decarbonise and create an energy system fit for the 21st century. And as far back as 2015 onshore wind became the cheapest form of electricity, beating fossil fuels even without subsidies.

For a long time it was believed opposition to renewables came from the nimbyism' of not wanting to look at wind turbines outside the back window. But this seems to be changing with 6 out of 10 people (58%) saying they would be happy to have a large-scale renewable energy development in their area. Seventy per cent recognised that renewable industries and developments provide economic benefits to the UK.

The overwhelming support for renewables is even more stark when compared with the results for other energy options. Nuclear is pretty stable with 38% in favour and 22% against, but things really start to drop off when the public were asked about fracking: Only 19% offered support, with 30% opposed and 49% indifferent. The most common reason for opposing fracking was the loss or destruction of the natural environment at 56 per cent, which shows that there remains a high level of concern among the public for environmental protection in Britain.

The tide is clearly flowing in favour of ditching fossil fuels, not only here in the UK but also abroad. Both Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, the two candidates in the run to be the next French President, have promised to ban fracking. Front runner, Macron, has also come out strongly for renewables promising to double wind and solar capacity by 2022.

China's big push for renewables is well known but even in Trump's United States the growth of renewables is striking. There are already more jobs in US solar than in generating electricity through coal, oil and gas combined and renewables are generating jobs 12 times faster than the rest of the economy.

Like in the UK, clean energy is a hit with people across the political spectrum. If deep red Texas was its own country it would be the sixth largest generator of wind power and there are now more renewable energy projects in Republican districts than Democrat ones.

Elections are naturally divisive times for a country - this one more so than usual following the EU referendum which split the UK down the middle. But for all parties looking to find policies for their manifestos that receive widespread support and unite the country, they need look no further than embracing renewables and accelerating the big shift from dirty to clean energy.

This Author

Joe Ware is a journalist and writer at Christian Aid and a New Voices contributor to The Ecologist. He is on twitter @wareisjoe
By Herman Thind,

Special to The Post

Growing up in rural Saskatchewan and Alberta, I always had a sense of what is fair, just, and decent.

Raised in a liberal home, we embraced values of tolerance, equality, and evidence-based policy.

As I became more involved in the political process, my small l liberal ideological side weighed heavily. I was part of the founding group of campus Young Liberals in university in the late 80s. I held several elected party positions in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC. My latest involvement was as communications director for the Liberal Party of Canada in BC (not to be confused with the BC Liberals).

Along the way, I stood up for minority rights at every conceivable junction. I was involved in the RCMP turban debate against some very unpleasant Reform Party (i.e. Federal Conservative) activists on campus. I opposed the war in Iraq. I also stood as first speaker in support of the Liberal Party of Canadas same-sex marriage resolution (it was adopted as policy).

As someone with a background in science, I have always favoured evidence and policy based on evidence and expert opinion. Show me the unbiased research first. Dont gloat about reports done by industry insiders, or partisan think-tanks. As such, Ive always favoured parties with a liberal ideology.

As an adult, Ive worked in the tech sector, service sector, as well as in the oil and gas industry in Calgary, the heart of the new west. Ive worked in middle management positions in the corporate world, AND served as a union shop steward as a communications worker. Im currently a small business owner, working exclusively with small businesses. I also work in the alternative energy sector, serving as a communications liaison for a green tech startup.

Like many of my generation, I have a family. My wife and I have a 5 year old daughter. Through her weve had the fortune of working with incredible teachers, and amazing recreation centre staff. We've also met some of the greatest doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff anywhere. As parents, these things make up the core of our existence. They matter.

What drives our generation's discussions, are affordability, healthcare, and education. These are not just important issues for us, but for all professionals and members of what author Richard Florida calls the creative class. We are the thinkers, innovators, researchers, social activists, artists, artisans, and other creators. We write the apps you use daily. We build the websites you browse. We design the buildings you live in. We plan the parks your children play in. We brew the craft beers you sip on. We fuel the worlds most dynamic urban power centres.

Regions like New York, Boston, the SF Bay Area, and Cascadia succeed for specific reasons. They succeed because they have the services, planning, and infrastructure to attract and engage people like us. They have affordable housing options, and urban plans that encourage creativity. They have great centres of research, progressive neighbourhood and workplace planning. They have access to the best accessible education anywhere.

In the past 10 years, and longer, people like us have not seen this in the Lower Mainland, and to be honest, anywhere else in BC. Rather than fuelling the economy and jobs of the 2020s, we seem to be stuck in a time-warp pitching the economy of the 1920s. While we sit pat, the world has been passing us by. Many American states have adopted more progressive approaches to policy. They have managed to shore up entire new sectors for employment and GDP growth.

Our rush to fund one industry has seen cuts to education - the exact place you want to spend the most, particularly when planning for the future. As parents, we are forced to organize fundraisers for textbooks and field trips. We also have to live in fear of the next earthquake, since there are over 180 schools in BC deemed seismically unsafe, which have yet to see any upgrade work.

Our myopic future planning seems to be based on the whims of a single industry. We need a serious look at what we can offer with our strongest resource - our people. Our proximity to Seattle and Silicon Valley have resulted in some growth in the local tech sector. The election of Trump has provided companies with a few more skilled staff, yet we fail to engage local companies on major projects. As one industry insider put it, the tech sector has grown by itself, with little government leadership. She added, the government seems to prefer awarding contracts to American companies, ignoring the local shops. Local tech workers end up focusing on short-term contracts for small projects working with local businesses, while the Oracles, IBMs, and Microsofts swoop in and take long-term, good-paying government contracts. Many of these contracts end up employing foreign workers - not locals.

BC has generous wind, solar, geothermal, and tidal resources, yet we fail to include these in any discussion of resources. The green tech sector are left to feel like a third-wheel. They end up working directly with municipalities that see a real need for the technology. The opportunity to employ thousands of welders, electricians, general construction workers, engineers, and other labour in green tech is completely untapped. In the 80s and 90s we emerged as a global leader, with companies like Ballard. Since then weve fallen far behind. We chose to run with the last remnants of the fossil fuel sector instead.

Not only are we focused on the wrong industries, but our preference for boom & bust economies has led to unaffordable living conditions for most of our generation. Constructions jobs are great, but they just dont offer the salaries required to live in Metro Vancouver affordably. Workers end up couch-surfing, or living in their trucks. Based on the average salary in Greater Vancouver, the average home price is technically out of reach for most of us. Without affordable living space, we simply wont attract the creative class, the builders of great cities. BC has focused on the boom economy, and when it busts, our generational cohorts are just expected to pick up and move to Alberta or Ontario to chase the jobs as weve done for decades.

Weve also ignored the needs of young families, when it comes to childcare. A family in Metro Vancouver has to ensure they have $2000 or so kicking around for childcare services, just so parents can work to pay their mortgages. Many choose to live with parents in large homes, to avoid the cost of childcare. People complain about mega-homes, but lack of affordability and childcare is just one of the reasons why inter-generational mega-homes exist. In Vancouver we have friends who are forced to find nanny-shares to mind children after school. Nannies are also getting hard to find, since they cant afford to live here either.

As a parent, an owner of a tech-based business, these shortfalls are troubling. My kindergartener has a passion for science. She has built a solar-powered robot. Shes started programming in Scratch. Shes studied laminar flow and tidal power (okay, shes spent a lot of time on a particular Science World display). Shes ready for the new economy. So are all our kids.

The foundations laid out by progressive governments in Ottawa in the 1970s and 80s led to the ability to handle the growth of the 90s and beyond. Education, universal accessible healthcare, and affordability were policy mainstays. We became a better society for those ideas, but weve lost our way.

My liberal convictions seem to have become stronger since the birth of our child. I not only want whats best for her, but also for the greater society around me. Classic liberalism is not just a brand or label that one can affix to a party. It is an adherence to principles and ideology that works to benefit all society, the environment, and the economy.
The biggest cowards in our country today can be found in our colleges and universities; they are the administrators, followed closely by a large number of their faculty. They have and continue to allow our institutions to be taken over by a monolithic world view that is increasingly totalitarian and antithetical to the diversity of opinion on which the search for truth depends. The inmates are running the asylum -- and not with any of the humor of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It's only a slight exaggeration to say that these Social Justice Warriors are to social justice what the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea is to democracy. In a few years, freshman handbooks may no longer be necessary. They can give out copies of Orwell's Animal Farm instead.

In this very telling article ( HERE ) Roger Simon states if fascism comes to America it will be through our college and university system. Simon goes on to explain:

Yes, it really is that bad and worse yet all of us are paying for this Liberal indoctrination of our youth. You may not be fully aware of how Liberal our colleges have become, as most of our nations media sources are just as Liberal and thus largely approve of what has happened. Sadly, all this is in direct opposite of the free speech movement of the 60s, which ironically started at Berkeley. Today, Berkeley is one of the most liberal universities in our nation. Consider what has happened most recently at this school, when radical threats of violence prevented conservative, Ann Counter, from a scheduled speech on the campus. This happened even though not long before, Milo Yiannopoulos was prevented from speaking on their campus due to radicals who trashed the campus causing $100,000 in damages to the school. Both school and city police stood by and simply watched the chaos continue, even though at least one student had to be taken away by ambulance. Our colleges were once bastions of free speech but today they have become bastions of political correctness, all in accordance to what the Leftist radicals (fascists) determine that to be.

Message of Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA

Fortunately, there are a few who have become extremely alarmed by this radical movement and are actively engaged in making positive changes. Charlie Kirk, Founder and Executive Director of Turning Point USA, is leading the charge to restore freedom of thought on our College campuses. He has called universities the least diverse places in America today. This video explains Kirks concerns and his part in an exciting partnership with PragerU to reach students with a Conservative message. Hopefully, he and others will reverse this anti-American trend which defies what our forefathers knew to be important for our nation to prosper.

It is not just colleges who have allowed the Left to dominate, by hiring exceedingly Leftist professors over Conservatives at a ratio of 12 to 1. For the past several years children of all ages have been forced to endure a Liberal ideological slant through Common Core curriculum. Developed under the Obama administration, the program had strong opposition from the start as parents as well as teachers found the curriculum puzzling and laced with Liberal ideals. However, the Teachers Union, known for their Liberal ideology and power over schools, had a deaf ear to parental concerns.

Our youth have not been taught the tools of listening to others' opinions and having dialogues with those with whom we have opposing viewpoints. They have not encountered skills to cope with opposing thoughts. No wonder the so-called "Snowflake" generation of students has surfaced and thus require safe places on college campuses, so they aren't upset with language which offends them. This sad phenomena does not bode well for this nation, as these fragile and narrow-minded students advance to become tomorrow's leaders. Thus, it is incumbent upon the public to demand appropriate changes be made in hiring practices and curriculum to reflect Conservative ideals, not just Liberal ideology. This is to enable and prepare our youth to consider opposing viewpoints and be open to understanding others reasoning. Open minds at the college level is exceedingly important and necessary for every students future, as well as the health of our nation.

Rush Limbaugh expounds on radicalization of schools

Rush Limbaugh in his commentary of April 18, 2017 gave examples of what is happening at colleges that demonstrate how radicalized our schools have become, especially since the election of Donald Trump. He provided these examples: Angeles Maldonado, a professor at ASU, offered her Global Politics of Human Rights class an option: Take a test or create a group project. They opted for the project, which was to take part in a school rally to protest Trump and in so doing they would get an automatic A. The Daily Caller stated: Students at Virginia Commonwealth University are applying for $2,500 awards from a Social Justice Fund, which will finance student projects focused on social justice activism.

Breitbart discovered that the Wellesley Student Newspaper threatened students who would not conform to progressive values, and that more than 70 Liberal groups partnered for Anti-Trump tax day protests. David French at National Review wrote about the battle at Berkeley and the resultant violence that resulted in many thousands of dollars of damage to the University.

As set forth in this report of Feb. 16, 2017, Obama is not likely going to sit back and allow his Leftist political agenda to be unraveled by President Trump. Observing the unrest and anger in the Democrat Party, it has been reported that Obama is participating in a program that is training thousands of radicals at Alinsky camps to sabotage Trump, through a network of leftist nonprofits led by "Organizing for Action." These activists, once thoroughly trained, are then dispersed to college campuses, or wherever else needed, to shut down free speech and/or protest American patriots with whom they disagree.

Leftist-oriented college campuses use violence to achieve ends

In this present political climate marked by angry rhetoric and a willingness to use violence to achieve ends, it should be no surprise that this zeitgeist is clearly leaving its mark on Leftist-oriented college campuses. This was evidenced by the violent kerfuffle at Middlebury College when social scientist Charles Murray arrived on campus at the invitation of a student group to speak about his book, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 19602010, but rather than a respectful reception, he encountered a nasty, orchestrated student protest.

In April of this year, Heather Mac Donald, the author of The War on Cops, was prevented from speaking at Claremont McKenna College after angry student protesters interrupted her speech. The protesters were reportedly yelling, Fk the police and black lives matter.

Many of these protests are the result of off campus political groups who help specific people on campus to plan and/or take part in these attacks on free speech. An example is an extremist group that is touring the country known as "Refuse Fascism." The group, which calls the Trump/Pence regime a catastrophic danger to all of humanity, organized a demonstration on Cornells campus in mid-April of last month to drive out the Trump and Pence fascist regime.

Conservative students vilified by Left

Not only are Conservative speakers being railed against on college campuses, but there are numerous accounts of Conservative students being vilified by Left leaning professors. Yale recently punished a male student for writing an essay that said rape is an irrational act, according to a lawsuit. A Christian student was suspended after challenging a Muslim professors claim that Jesus wasnt crucified.

The good news is that Conservative speakers and students are beginning to fight back, but their task will not be easy. They do not have the same support from teachers or school administrators, who largely favor liberal positions and do little to protect Conservatives rights, even at the risk of denying free speech. The fact is Liberal Administrations approve exceedingly more Leftists to speak on their campus than they allow Conservatives and are unapologetic about the discrepancy.

College campuses are perfect places to debate political issues and thus all tax-payer funded schools must be required to demonstrate equality, and when they do not do so, federal and state funding should be denied them. The American public has the right to expect this, and if we do not demand it, we all may experience a time in which it will no longer be possible to speak out for this cause.
Kim Reynolds wins reelection, promises to let Iowans 'keep more of your money'
The public can get free haircuts and hot dogs on Saturday.

The Haircut Barbecue will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday outside the Salvation Army, 818 W. Third St.

Deny Cacy, mens shelter director at the Salvation Army, said a similar event last year served only clients of the Salvation Armys shelter and Hope Harbor. But this year, organizers decided to open it up and show the love to everybody.

Josephs College of Cosmetology and volunteers from Abundant Life Christian Center who have trained as cosmetologists will provide the haircuts for men, women and children, Cacy said, free of charge.

Any other members of the community who also have been trained to cut hair are welcome to volunteer, he said.

Chairs will be set up outside the Salvation Armys service center for the haircuts. Tables will be available for people to sit and enjoy a free lunch of grilled hot dogs, chips and a drink.

One of the Salvation Armys red kettles will be set up to accept contributions, but making a donation is entirely voluntary, Cacy said.

If you feel moved to do so, youll have that opportunity, he said.

But mostly it will be a day of music, food and fellowship, Cacy said, and an opportunity to get a haircut for folks who need one but may not be able to afford it.

It will also be a chance for community residents  who may think of the group mostly for its bell ringers at Christmas  to see more of what the Salvation Army is all about, he said.

Much of the food to be served on Saturday has been donated by the Central District Health Department and Abundant Life Christian Center, Cacy said.

The Salvation Army, Abundant Life and Josephs College will also offer their second annual Cutz for Kidz event on Aug. 5 at Josephs College to provide haircuts for children before they head back to school.

For more information on Saturdays Haircut Barbecue, call Deny at the Salvation Army at (308) 627-9501 or Mike at Abundant Life Christian Center at (308) 850-1229.
HASTINGS  Silence isnt always golden.

Thats part of Warriors of Purposes main message. The group, which includes many reality television stars from shows like Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race and Naked & Afraid, aims to bring hope and purpose to students through substance abuse and mental health education and awareness.

As a kickoff, Warriors of Purpose started spreading their mission in Nebraska. The warriors made their fourth (of 12) stop at Hastings College on Thursday night. The nonprofit organization will make 12 stops total on the Nebraska tour and hope to tour all over the country.

About 50 people heard from the reality stars, who shared their connections and experiences with mental health and addictions.

Four warriors spoke as part of the Hastings College presentation and attendees were able to speak with all of the stars afterward.

Trish Hegarty, who appeared on season 28 Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty of Survivor, shared her past struggle with bulimia.

What a lot of people dont know about me, is that I was surviving my life way before I was on Survivor, Hegarty said.

In college, Hegarty said she really struggled with the eating disorder. She said her family never shared personal struggles, so she always kept it to herself. She wasnt the only one stuffing personal struggles and not talking about the elephant in the room. Her brothers were both heroin addicts.

I couldnt be at college and be happy because I was so worried with everything else that was going on in my house, Hegarty said.

As a junior in college, Hegarty said she took a class on women and mental health. A speaker came to the class and shared her story of struggling with anorexia.

I really didnt know how sick I was (until that woman shared her story), Hegarty said.

The woman advised Hegarty to seek counseling, which she did.

I went in and I was so self-conscious and afraid to say what was happening in my life, she said.

After a few sessions, Hegarty said she unpeeled the first layer of my sickness.

After she heard the woman speak to her college class, Hegarty said she made a promise to never stick her finger down her throat again. And she didnt, though it wasnt easy. She said every meal was tough, but she stuck to her mantra, Everything that goes down, stays down.

Among others who also spoke were Shane Lewis from Naked & Afraid, Carolyn Rivera from Survivor and author RJ Vied.

Big Brother season 18 star Victor Arroyo said he doesnt deal with some of these issues himself, but said he advocates for the awareness of them. He said its important to talk about these things.

Current Survivor star Sierra Dawn Thomas shared that she deals with anxiety. She said many people think that they cant talk about mental health struggles, because its so stigmatized. However, she said people shouldnt be afraid or feel alone, as everyone deals or is connected with these issues in some way.

Hegarty said, through warrior and survivor tears, that the woman who spoke to her college class all those years ago saved her life.

The reason why I know that dreams come true is because Im standing here right now, Hegarty said. None of us are perfect. Were all surviving something.

She said silence is dangerous with these issues. If they arent talked about or brought to the forefront, people could spiral into a darker place.

If anybody told you it (life) was going to be easy, they lied, Hegarty said. Dont ever be alone in what youre going through.

To learn more about Warriors of Purpose, visit www.warriorsofpurpose.org/
When Mark Weinman found out that fellow Hastings resident Gary Golter was dying last year, he knew he had no choice. He had to help.

Weinman learned about Golter by reading a Facebook post. His family was asking for prayers because his kidney was faltering and they couldnt find a match.

Weinman had grown up with Golters two stepdaughters, but hed never met the man. Golter was a husband, father and grandfather. Because of his age, chances for a kidney transplant were slim. And Weinman knew he had a kidney he could live without.

So Weinman started tests to see if he was a match. Even though those tests lasted three months, Weinman never hesitated.

On Nov. 2 of last year, at a hospital in Omaha, the transplant was performed. Kidney transplants are harder for the donor than the recipient.

But Weinman, 50, has no regrets.

Id do it again if I could, he said. Its just the way I was brought up  doing whatever I can to help somebody else.

Weinman was presented with the Good Samaritan Hero award Thursday evening at an American Red Cross gathering at the Hotel Grand Conference Center. The award honored Weinman for his kindness, selflessness and courage.

When he was 16, Weinman signed up to be an organ donor after his death. He doesnt mind at all the thought of losing his organs after hes gone. I wont be able to take them with me, he said.

Weinman said he was ready to return to his job at Eaton in Hastings the Monday after the operation. But his doctor ordered him to stay away from work for eight weeks.

Weinman said hes always wanted to give. He regularly donates blood. He learned a lot of his generosity from his mother, he said.

Weinman says hes feeling excellent now. Golter, meanwhile, tells Weinman he feels great. Im on the go all the time, he said recently. I have energy.

Thursday nights event, Heartland Heroes: A Centennial Celebration, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the American Red Cross arrival in Central and Western Nebraska. The Grand Island chapter was founded 100 years ago to the day.

Two other awards were presented at the banquet.

Elba Fire and Rescue, the Howard County Department of Roads and Nebraska Department of Roads  St. Paul were honored as Call to Action Heroes. They were recognized for getting Dan Griffin of Elba to Omaha for a heart transplant. Friends and total strangers came together to transport Griffin and his wife, Peggy, during a terrible blizzard.

The Elba Fire and Rescue delegation on hand included Randy Faaborg, Bobbi Lytle, Jim Beeler, Russ Spilinek, Karen Beeler, Billy Spilinek, Tony Morrow and Tamy Morrow.

In addition, the Public Servant Hero award was given to Deuel County Deputy Mike Hutchinson, who was shot when he attempted to serve a warrant to a man who was out of jail on an attempted first-degree murder charge. On Dec. 3, 2015, Hutchinson was hit four times by a shotgun in his chest, abdomen and thigh.

Hutchinson was on hand to receive the award. According to the program, His dedication in upholding his oath to protect and serve is nothing short of extraordinary.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Josh Stewart differs from most atheists. Hell tell you there is no God.

But when he gets together with other faithless folks in the Kansas City Atheist Coalition, they color code their name tags. One hue for those who are proudly public about their beliefs, another for whom photographers are asked to avoid.

It is an issue, said the 31-year-old Westport resident and coffee shop worker. Theyre worried how their boss or their family or somebody else might react. Its not always good.

Even in anonymous surveys, atheists tend to keep their views secret.

Theres a lot of atheists in the closet, University of Kentucky psychologist Will Gervais, whose research suggests their numbers are undercounted, told Vox. If they knew there are lots of people just like them out there, that could potentially promote more tolerance.

Yes, America is becoming steadily less religious.

Fewer parents raise their children in the church. Those kids grow up less likely to worship. Its not just that more people self-style their faith outside sect or denomination  although thats happening, too. More people reject faith in the supernatural entirely.

Yet even as their numbers grow, researchers continue to find atheists a particularly unpopular lot.

Americans, pollster Gallup reports, would vote for a Catholic, a woman, an African-American, a Jew, a Mormon, a gay or lesbian person, an evangelical Christian or a Muslim  in that order  before theyd consider an atheist president. Only socialists ranked in less regard.

Sociologists and opinion researchers define an atheist as someone who doesnt believe in God. Yet even in anonymous telephone interviews, people are a third as likely to accept the label as to concede the belief (or lack thereof). Said one researcher: Theyre hiding it.

A research group surveyed Americans in 2004 and again in 2014. The numbers remained virtually unchanged and declared a clear preference for the faithful over the irreligious.

A quarter of those surveyed thought atheists didnt share their values. More than a third said atheists held a different vision for the country. A third said they lacked a moral center. Nearly half dont want their children to marry an atheist.

A recently published study based on 2,000 interviews suggested that a quarter of Americans or more are atheist  multiples of what other surveys have found.

Gervais and fellow University of Kentucky psychologist Maxine Najle posed a list of innocuous statements  I own a dog, I enjoy modern art  and asked how many of the declarations applied to a respondent. Then they put the same statements to another group but added the statement, I believe in God.

By comparing the results, they concluded that 26 percent of the U.S. population doesnt believe in God. Previous surveys in 2015 by Pew and Gallup asked directly about the belief in God and found the number of atheists at between 3 and 11 percent.

Obtaining accurate atheist prevalence estimates may help promote trust and tolerance of atheists  potentially 80 million people in the USA and well over a billion worldwide, the study said.

For now, though, atheists remain largely out of view and broadly disliked.

Anti-atheist sentiment is still really high, said Penny Edgell, a sociologist at the University of Minnesota. That doesnt decrease with exposure, doesnt change as the number of atheists grow. That stigma is why there could be quite a few people out there who dont identify as atheist. Theyre not comfortable.

She sees a religious and political polarization at work. Christians are likely to see faith in the teachings of the New Testament as central to their identity. The same is true for Muslims and the Quran. So when atheists suggest there is no higher power, Edgell said, people of faith often take that as an attack.
Luck is often thought of as a necessary component to success. Well, as my father always said, you make your own luck, . I think Nebraska has been lucky, but that is not because we were divined to be so. We bought into hard work, we bought into the value of entrepreneurship, and most importantly we bought into education. It is upon education and the dissemination of that education that our modern agricultural society has been built. It is the continuation of that system that our society will need to survive the coming changes to our environment, culture, and governance.

Today I am part of a team of former UNL graduates that run an Agricultural Tech startup on the Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC). As I connect the dots in my life of what took me from growing up on a cattle operation near Darr, Nebraska, to running Quantified Ag and traveling the globe as an animal systems consultant, I owe a lot to the University of Nebraska.

My experience with UNL started very young as my mother worked for UNL extension for years out of the Dawson county extension office. As kids my sister and I were involved in 4-H and allowed most of our upbringing to be dominated by 4-H projects, trips and events. This gave us a solid education outside of school that has prepared us for who we are today and what our role in society is. The motto of 4-H is to make the best better, and this was what was instilled in us by the 4-H programs run by UNL extension. When it came time to go to college I did look around, but UNL was always my pick in the back of my mind.

At UNL I took a non-traditional route by studying abroad for a year and doing overseas internships. The flexibility and desire of my advisors to build me into the best person I could be paved the way for me to accomplish this and still graduate in a reasonable time. People like Bryan Reiling and Dennis Brink helped me to navigate the UNL system and find greater opportunities to grow in every area of my life. This set me on a path to not only work in agricultural operations around the globe but to find myself advancing in leadership activities like the National Student Leadership Forum. It was also during this time at UNL that I met my wife, Nicolette, and I am proud to say we have 2 wonderful children and are hoping they can have the same level of education we were offered.

I received a Master of Applied Science a few years ago at UNL under the direction of Ronnie Green, Tom Field, and Deepak Keshwani. I naively believed this would be the end of my involvement with the university and was happy to devote a lot of time to one-of-a-kind programs like the Morrill Scholars and Engler Entrepreneurship Program. Little did I know that this experience would propel me to meet the men with whom I would co-found Quantified Ag. Connecting another dot in the picture of my life and seemingly a lucky chance. Along with that we decided to office out of the new Nebraska Innovation Campus where we continually impress investors, partners, and vendors with the quality of facilities and industry expertise that we have at an arms reach. NIC is truly a world-class facility that represents the future of our university and the culmination UNLs research, education, and extension and Nebraskas entrepreneurial acumen.

I owe a lot to the University of Nebraska and hope to continue staying involved with mentoring students, collaborating with research, and donating my time. This state too owes a lot to the University of Nebraska and should continue to invest in the university system that offers the ability to help guide us into new times. The university system helped build Nebraska and many of our greatest citizens and leaders. Extension, education, and research benefit all of our daily lives and will continue to offer returns for generations to come. We have successfully navigated the last 150 years, and with a strong investment into our university system we can navigate the next 150.

Clearly we as a global community are in a period of great upheaval and change, and it will take all the luck we can muster to navigate these interesting times. With Nebraska being at the center of everything related to water, energy and food we have the power to create this luck with our known work ethic and innovative approach. Let's work with the University of Nebraska to guide and nurture that luck we work so hard to create.
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Linkedin Sebastian Partogi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 10:25 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec3f674 4 People eko-supriyanto,dance,traditional-arts Free

In the past few years, dancer-choreographer Eko Supriyanto has been grooming young dancers to play significant roles in Indonesias future dance scene.

He has been training teenagers in Jailolo, West Halmahera regency in North Maluku, for that purpose, while at the same time preserving traditional dance forms from the region.

Eko revealed there is a generation gap among art workers in Jailolo, where traditional dances are performed either by adults above 30 or children below 12.

In a nutshell, teenagers there have not been involved [in preserving their traditional dances], said the man, whose international career was mostly distinguished by his work as a dancer for pop icon Madonna during her 2001 Drowned World tour.

He said former West Halmahera regent Namto Hui Roba invited him to the region in June 2012 to choreograph a classical colossal dance to be staged at the annual Jailolo Bay Festival, while scouting young talents to take part in the performance.

Read also: Eko Supriyanto's 'Cry Jailolo' dazzles in Paris festival

I asked the regent to help me do some field research first to understand the complexity of the local culture and dances because I am a Javanese and at that time I was not quite familiar with the local tradition yet, said Eko.

Based on the research, he provided dance workshops involving senior high school students he had scouted. The first outcome was the Sasadu on the Sea dance piece performed during the 2013 festival.

The research and his immersion in the Jailolo culture have turned out to be a great source of inspiration for the 46-year-old Eko. He choreographed three pieces, Cry Jailolo ( 2014 ), Daunt in Soya-Soya ( 2015 ) and Balabala ( 2016 ), all of which have been featured in international festivals, based on his experiences living in the area.

Balabala, a dance number inspired by a couple of Jailolo war dances, cakaleleand soya-soya, has just been performed by an all-female troupe of local dancers at the recent Tokyo Performing Arts Meeting 2017 in Yokohama, aside from being staged in Antwerp, Belgium and Frankfurt, Germany.

Modern interpretation: Five female dancers perform a 60-minute piece called Balabala by internationally acclaimed Indonesian choreographer Eko Supriyanto in the Salihara arts center in South Jakarta.(Salihara Community/Withak Widhi Cahya)

Ekos ability to add something new to the Jailolo Bay Festival each year, coupled with his ability to promote the regions traditional dance to the global scene by performing pieces inspired by local culture featuring local dancers in international festivals, has strengthened the local governments trust in him.

As a result, he has been the local governments constant partner in preparing the annual festival and grooming local talents, supported by the current West Halmahera Regent Danny Missy.

To ensure regeneration, once these senior high school students graduate, they can no longer participate in the festival so as to make room for the first graders, said Eko, who holds a Masters of fine arts degree in dance and choreography from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Department of World Arts and Cultures, as well as doctorate in performance studies from Yogyakartas Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

Read also: Celebrating resilience of Jailolo women

Currently, he is preparing local youngsters to be dance trainers as well so that in the future they could work independently in grooming new talents in their region.

He is also working on a new dance piece called Salt, which is slated to be premiered on Oct. 14 in Belgium before being performed at home on Nov. 10 and 11 at the Salihara cultural center in Jakarta.

Salt is a solo number that will be danced by Eko. The piece, which concludes his Jailolo trilogy preceded by Cry Jailolo and Balabala, has been inspired by the diving lessons he takes in the region.

My diving lessons have helped me discover many new forms of physicality explorations that are quite different from those I explore onstage. The physical effect that the body creates when it adapts to waters anti-gravity space helps me to enter a new realm.

In creating the new dance piece, Eko challenges himself to get out of his Javanese dancer body, which is firmly planted on the ground, to adjust to the nature of diving, which defies gravity.

He said he was impressed by the development of Indonesias contemporary dance scene, showcasing explorations of new zones and media that had never been tapped into before.

Right now, performance art that combines dance and visual arts are very popular. New trends introduced by the Dance on Camera Festival [in the United States], also expand the possibility of new spaces for performing arts in Indonesia, Eko said.

Indonesia, an archipelagic nation that has more than 17,000 islands, is rich with traditional dances that provide lots of room for exploration.

Artists who are interested in exploring Indonesias dances, particularly outside Java, Sumatra and Bali, could derive their inspiration from our traditional dances, Eko said.

Artists who are interested in developing and preserving local dances, however, need to be supported by local governments to turn the formers endeavors into success stories. According to Eko, this kind of support is still hard to find in Indonesia.

To make such partnerships successful, the local governments and artists have to synergize. Local governments need to promote their regions assets and to achieve this, they have to give artists complete creative freedom.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 17:45 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec55db5 1 Lifestyle controversy,#controversy,Instagram,model,backlash,Jaylene-Cook,Playboy,Mount-Taranaki,New-Zealand Free

Jaylene Cook, a Playboy model, is facing a backlash for climbing New Zealands Mount Taranaki and posing naked for a photo, which she subsequently posted on Instagram.

The local Maori community believe she disrespected the mountain, due to the fact that it has great spiritual significance to local Maori, according to the New Zealand governments website. "The crater and summit is the sacred head of Taranaki, the rocks and ridge are his bones, rivers his blood and plants and trees are his cloak and offer protection from the weather [] Respect the mountain.

Still, the model believes that what she did was not wrong.

"[The photo] is not crude or explicit in any way, Cook told stuff.co.nz.

Read also: Dolce & Gabbana fires back at sneaker critics

She continued, We made ourselves knowledgeable on the history of the mountain. We were quite respectful. Being nude is not something that is offensive in any way. It's natural and pure and it's about freedom and empowerment.

Local Maori academic and spokesman Dennis Ngawhare, told The Telegraph, I accept people climb up to the summit, but what we do ask is that people be respectful.

"I'd imagine you will be getting a few comments from people saying 'what's wrong with that? Who cares?' But I also know cousins and relatives who will be quite upset about it. They would consider it as being disrespectful towards the mountain, he continued.

Neil Holdom, the mayor of New Plymouth, a city near the mountain, echoed Ngawhares message of respect. [People] should ask themselves how they would feel if someone took a photo of themselves naked, on the grave of a great grandparent. (sul/kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 14:39 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec4c996 1 National house-of-representatives,Broadcasting-bill,Broadcasting-draft-law,digital-broadcasting,digital-migration Free

The government and the House of Representatives should pay attention to seven crucial issues when deliberating the draft revision of Law No.32/2002 on broadcasting, an association says.

The Indonesian Private Television Station Association (ATVSI) said making a digital blue print and strategic plan and ensuring the associations involvement both in the issuance of broadcasting permits and in the digital broadcasting policy-making process, including in the formation of an ad-hoc digital migration agency, were crucial to anticipate developments in the broadcasting industry.

It is also important to implement a hybrid system in digital broadcasting, regulate the duration of commercials and public service announcements, limit cigarette ads, increase locally produced content and manage broadcasting permit (IPP) revocation, it further said.

A strategic plan is needed to anticipate developments in broadcasting technology, said ATVSI chairman Ishadi SK during a press conference on the sidelines of the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) conference in Jakarta on Thursday.

The strategic plan should include issues on the availability of frequencies, the use of frequencies, the development of digital technology, digital migration and broadcasting infrastructure and human resources development, he added.

(Read also: Jakarta Declaration calls for greater press role for peaceful, inclusive societies)

Ishadi said the ATVSI had given input on the revision to the Houses Legislation Body (Baleg) on April 3. He added that better synergy was needed to implement policies in the broadcasting industry.

Here, we need to build an organization, consisting of radio and TV broadcasting companies.

Ishadi said the ATVSI agreed that the broadcasting bill should be visionary not only in anticipating technology developments but also in providing quality content. (rdi/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 20:44 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec61cc3 1 City fire,East-Jakarta Free

As many as 136 of the 200 people who lost their homes to a fire that razed 50 houses in Klender, Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, on Thursday night remain in a makeshift shelter at the Klender subdistrict office.

The fire was allegedly caused by a short circuit in the electrical system of one of the houses.

The East Jakarta Social Agency has provided meals and sanitation facilities for the displaced people, said Duren Sawit district chief Abu Bakar on Friday.

He said that of the approximately 200 residents whose houses were destroyed in the fire, only 136 were recorded as staying at the camp.

"Not all residents moved to the camp. Some of them were taken in by their neighbors or relatives," he said as quoted by beritajakarta.com.

The East Jakarta Red Cross also helped by providing food and medicines, he said.

"Based on our emergency procedures, the camp will stay up for the next three days. However, if [the dislocated] still need it, we will extend its existence," Abu Bakar said. (dea)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 10:20 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec3ef67 1 City ahok,#ahok,#Ahok-Djarot,basuki-tjahaja-purnama,anies-baswedan,Anies-Baswedan-Sandiaga-Uno,2017JakartaElection,#2017JakartaElection Free

Outgoing Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama has said he will leave politics after he passes the baton to presumptive governor-elect Anies Baswedan in October.

Ive decided that I want to be a speaker. I dont want to be a member of a political party, a minister or a presidential staff member. I dont want to be any of it, Ahok said at City Hall as quoted by Kompas.com on Thursday.

Ahok talked about his program, the Ahok Show, which was broadcast on social media during his Jakarta electoral campaign.

He said he hoped such a program could be broadcast by a television station in the future.

I want to make an Ahok Show with one television station, with a revenue-sharing scheme. If it receives advertisement revenue, I will receive only 20 to 30 percent of it, he said. By making such a program, Ahok said he could educate people. (cal/ebf)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Malang  Fri, May 5 2017

Dairy producer PT Greenfields Indonesia kicked off on Thursday operations on its second milk factory in Malang, East Java.

The new factory, located in Palaan subdistrict, was built with an investment of Rp 335 billion (US$25.18 million). With an annual production output of 70 million liters of milk, the new factory will support another production facility in Babadan, another subdistrict in Malang, which produces 40 million liters of milk annually, or 5 percent of total national demand.

The firm, a subsidiary of Australia-based AustAsia Dairy Group, said the facility will strengthen its position as a major integrated dairy producer in the country.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 11:09 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec4026b 1 City fire,houses,East-Jakarta Free

Fire destroyed 50 houses in Klender, East Jakarta, on Thursday night.

The East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency deployed 17 fire trucks to fight the fire, which started at 7:30 p.m. It had been extinguished by 9:30 p.m. and no casualties were reported.

Agency head Gatot Sulaiman said firefighters had difficulty reaching the site, which was why it took so long to put out the flames.

"We haven't as yet determined what started the fire, but we assume it was caused by a short circuit," Gatot said as quoted by beritajakarta.com.

Head of the East Jakarta Public Order office Andik Sukaryanto said 10 of his officers had helped residents safe their belongings.

"So far we have not set up tents for displaced residents. If [the authorities] instruct us to do so, we will," said Andik, adding that tents would most likely be erected in the compound of the Klender subdistrict office. (dea)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 06:55 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec2fe89 1 Business aquaculture,trawls-seine-nets,Jokowi,comments Free

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo wants the Indonesian fishery sector to pay closer attention to modern breeding methods, such as offshore aquaculture, instead of focusing on fishing trawlers.

The government has issued a ministerial decree prohibiting the use of trawlers for environmental reasons. However, the ruling, which was supposed to have come into effect back in January, has been met with opposition from fishermen, especially in Central Java.

"Every year, we need to deal with trawlers like a never ending story. Why dont we talk about offshore aquaculture?" Jokowi said during the Maritime Coordinating Ministry meeting in Jakarta on Thursday.

The President called for lessons to be drawn from Norway and Taiwan, which have already successfully developed offshore aquaculture industries.

Offshore aquaculture in these countries is far more productive than the traditional methods practiced in Indonesia.

"It is not expensive, one site only needs an investment of Rp 47 billion (US$3.53 million). If we cannot afford it by ourselves, then we can make it a joint venture. There will be technology transfers," he said.

"We are too monotone, too linear, while the world is changing rapidly." (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 15:27 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec4ffd2 1 City ahok,City-Hall,flowers,MURI,Djarot-Saiful-Hidayat,basuki-tjahaja-purnama Free

The high number of flower arrangements received by Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat has broken a record at the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI).

MURI founder Jaya Suprana handed over the award of the longest flower arrangement parade on Thursday to the pair.

Because we are busy with our own schedules, we have been unable to meet. However, we have agreed to deliver the award on Thursday morning, Jaya said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

The MURI initially attempted to give the award to the initiator of the idea to send the flowers. However, Jaya said that he had difficulty finding the person.



[Therefore], the MURI decided to give the award to Pak Ahok and Pak Djarot as the recipients of the longest flower arrangements parade, he said.



The latest report on Tuesday suggested that 5,016 flower arrangements were sent to City Hall, prompting the city administration to relocate some of them to the National Monument in Central Jakarta. (fac)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 08:15 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec344ee 1 Business garlic,imports,import-quota,horticulture,Agriculture-Ministry Free

The government plans to revise Article 11 of Agriculture Ministry regulation No. 78/2013 on the Import recommendations of horticulture products concerning importer obligations, to include an additional provision that will require garlic importers to cultivate the vegetable.

In the revised draft, the Agriculture Ministry requires garlic importers to cultivate 5 percent of the granted import quota as part of an effort to decrease garlic imports that reach an average of 450.000 tons per year. With the new measure, the government hopes to build a garlic self-sufficiency program in the future.

Responding to the plan, the Indonesian Garlic Entrepreneurs Association (APBPI) president Piko Nyoto Setiadi called for the Agriculture Ministry to grant them one to two years to find land for garlic farming before the implementation of the new rule.

We also ask the Agriculture Ministry to assist us in acquiring land that is scientifically proven to be suitable for garlic farming, Piko said on Thursday in Jakarta.

The association is optimistic that the local garlic price will be competitive and can compete with Chinas garlic. The major factor is increasing demand for local garlic, he added.

The Agriculture Ministrys horticulture director general Spudnik Sujono said the Agriculture Ministry is currently collecting and accommodating the opinions of garlic importers so that the regulation will not have adverse effects, especially on the national stock supply of garlic.

We are still gathering information from the importers so as to prevent adverse effects, after which we will issue the regulation, he said. (ags)
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Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru  Fri, May 5, 2017 18:52 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec5d268 1 National inmates,Sialang-Bungkuk-prison,Pekanbaru,Pekanbaru-prison,Riau,#Inmates Free

Dozens of inmates ran off from the Class IIB Sialang Bungkuk Penitentary, Pekanbaru, Riau, at 12:45 p.m. local time on Friday, spreading fear among people living nearby.

The situation became tense when prison authorities beefed up security, deploying personnel to pursue the fleeing inmates.

In late afternoon, the situation in areas around the Sialang Bungkuk prison remained tense as a number of inmates who had managed to escape their cells continued to search for ways to exit the prison. Two company-level units of Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel blockaded the facility.

Riau Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Ermi Widyatno personally monitored the security measures taken to control the situation. Police officers fired warning shots into the air to force the inmates back to the prison.

One report stated only 30 inmates ran from the prison, but another claimed about 200 had fled.

I do not yet know the exact number [of escaped inmates]. Some of them have been arrested and returned to the prison, said Ferdinan Siagian, head of the Law and Human Rights Ministrys Pekanbaru office.

The mass escape was reportedly triggered by the prisoners' anger and disappointment over the harsh attitudes of prison officers. Information we received says several prison officers had often triggered conflicts with prisoners, so they decided to flee via several doors in the prison that were open during the Friday prayer, said Ferdinan.

Pekanbaru Police spokesperson Second Insp. Dodi Vivino said dozens of fully armed officers had been dispatched to pursue the inmates. (mos/ebf)

Arrested: Police immobilize inmates who ran off from the Class IIB Sialang Bungkuk Penitentary, Pekanbaru, Riau, at noon on Friday.(JP/File)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 11:35 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec41baf 1 Business Jokowi-administration,low-cost-housing,Bekasi,inauguration Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo attended on Thursday an event to inaugurate affordable housing for low-income people in Bekasi, West Java, on Thursday as part of his 1 million homes program.

The Villa Kencana Cikarang housing complex was developed by PT Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) in cooperation with PT Arrayan Bekasi Development on 105 hectares of land in Bekasi, West Java.

The developer has constructed 4,734 of the 8,749 planned houses there. A 25-square-meter house on 60-square- meter plot of land sells for Rp 112 million (US$8,396) to Rp 141 million.

The houses are being sold through a credit scheme that requires a 1 percent down payment. I don't think the Rp 800,000 or so in monthly installments will be a burden for those who want to buy a house. It would be better for them to buy a house rather than rent one for Rp 500,000 a month, he added.

In a speech during the ceremony, Jokowi shared his experience when he had to rent a house before finally managing to buy his own home.

I rented a two-bedroom house, like the houses here, for about nine years before I finally got my own house, he said.

The government issued its flagship 1-million homes program last year to reduce the housing backlog to 6.8 million houses in 2019 from 13.5 million in 2014. (ecn/bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 10:04 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec3da39 1 National kalla,jusuf-kalla,JusufKalla,anies-baswedan,Anies-Baswedan-Sandiaga-Uno,2017JakartaElection,#2017JakartaElection,#JakartaGubernatorialElection Free

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has denied allegations that he had anything to do with the nomination of Anies Baswedan as a Jakarta gubernatorial candidate in the recent election.

Kalla acknowledged, however, that he had communicated with Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto and discussed the election.

I was abroad [when I communicated with Prabowo]. Whats wrong with having a conversation with a party leader for the good of the country?" the Vice President said after he launched the 2017 Indonesia Smart City Rating (RKCI) at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta, on Thursday.

Kalla said communication could not be considered intervention. When people talk to each other, does it always mean intervention? If I talk to you, is it intervention? Whats wrong with that? Everyone is my friend," he told journalists.

Kalla was responding to a recent statement by Peoples Consultative Assembly Speaker Zulkifli Hasan. Zulkifli said Prabowo had not considered Anies as a gubernatorial candidate until after he talked with Kalla.

Kalla said everyone had a right to vote and be elected in a democracy. He said Anies nomination was a good decision as he was capable and had the ability to lead Jakarta.

Anies is a very moderate person whose running mate is a businessman who has vast experience. He [Anies] was close to Jokowi [President Joko Widodo]. He was his spokesman for six months during his presidential campaign [in 2014]. No one was closer to Pak Jokowi than Anies during the campaign. No one," he said. (dis/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 11:05 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec3fa86 1 City drug-dealer,marijuana,CrystalMeth,crystal-methamphetamine,CrystalMethamphetamine,Depok,West-Java Free

The Depok Police have apprehended a man on suspicion of selling drugs to university students in Depok, West Java.

Depok Police narcotics division chief Comr. Putu Kholis said officers arrested the suspect, Hairul, 36, when he was allegedly about conduct a transaction on Jl. Juanda, Depok, on Wednesday. The police suspected Hairul, who is a former drug convict, was a part of a narcotics network controlled from inside Bogor penitentiary.

We confiscated 127 small packages of marijuana and 14 packages of crystal methamphetamine from the suspect, Putu said on Thursday as quoted by tempo.co.

He further said the police had been monitoring the area following reports by local residents, who said drug transactions were often conducted in the area.

Hairul has been charged under the 2006 Narcotics Law, which carries a 20-year prison sentence. (kuk/ebf)
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Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 19:15 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec5dfd7 1 Business NU,government,business,assistance,Jokowi Free

Indonesias largest Islamic organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), through its Nahdliyin Employers Association (HPN), has asked the government to help boost its businesses during the association's first meeting in Jakarta on Friday, which was attended by President Joko Jokowi Widodo.

The association currently has 305 members, which are mostly small-to medium enterprises, said HPN chairman Abdul Kholik, who called on the president to help NU's entrepreneurs partner with state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

"We organized the meeting with our own funds. The HPN name isnt high-profile enough yet to get a sponsorship from the SOEs. Hopefully, we will be a good partner for SOEs," Kholik.

"No entrepreneurs in Indonesia can improve [significantly] without the [help] of the government," he added.

Jokowi welcomed the idea, promising to arrange a meeting between the HPN, ministries and SOEs.

"Within two weeks, I will arrange the meeting between HPN and the ministries, who have many projects. But you have to follow procedure," Jokowi said in response, which received laughter from the audience.

Jokowi also promised to help the HPN meet with conglomerates.

"If we [the government] dont do this, I will receive complaints from Pak Kiai," he joked, referring to NU chairman Said Aqil Siroj, who also attended the event. (bbn)

Topics : NU government business assistance Jokowi
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 17:58 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec568cb 1 National PKS,lawmaker,shooting,#PKS,shooting-incident Free

The police have found no spent bullets or empty shell casings following a reported shooting attack on the house of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician Jazuli Juwaini in Ciputat, Banten.

They werent found, said Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono as quoted by Antara in Jakarta on Friday.

He said personnel from the South Tangerang Police and a team from the National Polices Forensic Laboratory Center (Puslabfor) had conducted an examination of the scene.

Investigators suspected a hole in the window of a bedroom in Jazulis house resulted from a shooting but they could not yet confirm the type of weapon used by the perpetrator of the incident.

Argo said the police were still waiting for results of the examination conducted by the Puslabfor team.

The Puslabfor team has collected data on the angle of the shooting and will later analyze the data to determine the shooting distance and weapon the perpetrator may have used.

Investigators have questioned eight witnesses, including Jazulis wife, two relatives, a security guard and four household assistants.

Jazuli, the head of the PKS faction at the House of Representatives, said earlier that an unidentified person shot at his house on Wednesday evening.

He said the shot hit the window of his childrens bedroom but fortunately it was empty at the time so no one was injured.

Jazuli said he knew of no motive for the shooting and was leaving the police to investigate the incident. (rdi/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 14:51 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec4e453 1 National Bakamla,Jakarta-Corruption-Court,graft,bribery,bribery-case,corruption,corruption-case Free

Prosecutors demanded that the Jakarta Corruption Court sentence two defendants to two years in prison on Friday.

They also demanded that Muhammad Adami Okta and Hardy Stevanus, both staff members of tech firm PT Melati Technofo Indonesia, be fined Rp 100 million (US$7,495).

Prosecutors have accused Hardy and Adami of bribing four top officials of the Maritime Security Board (Bakamla) so that their company would win a bid for the procurement of satellite monitoring equipment.

In their sentence demand, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors said the alleged bribery by Adami and Hardy was against the government's program to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism, kompas.com reported.

Previously, former Bakamla deputy chairman Eko Susilo Hadi was indicted on bribery charges carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence. Bakamla chief Vice Adm. Arie Soedewo has also been implicated in the case. (mos/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 16:55 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec538cd 1 City anti-ahok-demo,GNPF-MUI Free

An organizer of a rally on Friday against Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has asked protesters to respect whatever verdict the court brings down in the Jakarta governor's trial on blasphemy charges.

Bachtiar Nasir, chairman of an organization called Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Councils Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) formed specifically to stage protests against the governor and see him sent to prison because of comments he made about how some people had used a verse of the Quran to dissuade Jakartans from voting for him, said everyone at the May 5 rally should accept the ruling scheduled to be delivered on Tuesday.

"You are ready to accept the decision right?" Bachtiar told people gathered at the Grand Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta on Friday, as quoted by tempo.co.

He added that the protesters must believe there would be justice from God if the court failed to deliver the verdict they wanted.

The protesters, he said, must maintain the peace and refrain from any violence, such as brawling with security officers.

The GNPF-MUI organized a rally on Friday to demand the maximum five-year sentence for Ahok, even though the prosecutors themselves admitted they could not prove he was guilty of blasphemy. The North Jakarta District Court will hand down a ruling on May 9. (idb)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 18:24 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec5ba8a 1 City ahok-blasphemy-trial,rally,Supreme-Court Free

The Supreme Court has made assurances that the verdict in the trial of Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama on blasphemy charges, set to be handed down on May 9, will be free from any outside interference.

We will watch the trial without affecting the judges independence, said Supreme Court spokesman Ridwan Mansyur during a press conference on Friday after a meeting with participants of an anti-Ahok rally.

The protest delegation consisted of 11 members of the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Councils Fatwa (GNPF-Mui), including its deputy chairman and spokesperson. The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) chairman, Shobri Lubis, was also in the meeting.

(Read also: Ahok did not defame Islam: Harvard alumni petition)

Ridwan added that the rally would not affect the judges independence during the determination of the verdict as the judges have been trained to be independent.

The GNPF-MUI protestors demanded the Supreme Court ensure the judges sentence Ahok to the maximum five-year sentence, even though the prosecutors themselves admitted they could not prove he was guilty of blasphemy.

GNPF-MUI spokesman Kapitra Ampera said the organization would decide whether the forthcoming verdict could be considered fair after the hearing on Tuesday. We have some normative and legal indicators. We will discuss the verdict based on those indicators.

Hours earlier, GNPF-MUI chairman Bahtiar Nasir asked protesters to respect whatever verdict the court brings down on May 9. (kuk)
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Tangerang City, Banten  Fri, May 5, 2017 19:20 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec5e954 1 Business Taiwan,vocational-programs,Indonesia,cooperation Free

Industrial Taiwanese city Taichung City's administration on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with technical vocation provider PT Formosa Teknologi Sentral to fund the operational costs of the latter.

The fund will be disbursed to pay trainers and to draft the curriculum, said a press statement. Details on the size of the fund and timeline of disbursement are not yet available.

Formosa, which started classes last March, aims to enroll another 180 students in six batches this year in addition to its first 10 students who graduated on Friday.

It expects to train high-school equivalent graduates or factory employees.

It runs two classes: one for computer numerical control (CNC) and one for human-machine interface control and programmable logic control (HMIC and PLC), all of which use Taiwans latest machines, compatible with various materials, including metal, steel, brass, textile and bottles.

Taichung City Government Economic Development Bureaus senior executive Zhen-Wei Chiang said such a vocational provider could improve Indonesias manpower skills for using Taiwanese machinery and consequently increase Taiwans machinery exports to Indonesia.

Indonesia is the sixth largest market for machinery exports for Taiwan. We export roughly US$1.5 billion to $2 billion worth of machinery to Indonesia and would like to double that value by 2025, he said during the MoU signing in Formosas training center in Tangerang City, Banten. (bbn)
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Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Magelang, Central Java  Fri, May 5, 2017 20:32 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec61ab1 1 National murder,murder-case,Taruna-Nusantara,PremeditatedMurder,#MurderCase Free

The judicial panel of the Mungkid District Court in Magelang regency, Central Java, on Friday sentenced a 16-year-old student of senior high school SMA Taruna Nusantara to nine years in prison after declaring him guilty of killing his schoolmate, Krisna Wahyu Nurachmad, 15.

The judges delivered their verdict in a session closed to the public because the defendant was still categorized as a child. The sentence imposed by the panel, led by judge Aris Gunawan, was one year less than what the prosecution had demanded.

Mungkid District Court spokesperson Eko Supriyanto said during the trial the defendant acted politely and spoke frankly. What mitigated his sentence is that he is still young and it is hoped he can improve his behaviour in the future, said Eko.

Factors that worsened his sentence were that his act was very sadistic and really hurt the feelings of the victims family members. It was a premeditated murder.

In a previous session, the prosecution team, led by Eko Hening Wardono, demanded the judges sentence the boy to 10 years in prison. He was found guilty of committing premeditated murder, violating Article 340 of the Criminal Code.

Krisna was killed early in the morning on March 31 when he was sleeping on his bed.

Responding to the verdict, Eko said he and his team would study it first before deciding whether they would file an appeal. We have seven days before making a decision over the ruling, he said. (ebf)
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Linkedin Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post) Jambi  Fri, May 5, 2017 08:00 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec32dee 1 National Wings-Air,Lion-Air,Jambi Free

Wings Air, a subsidiary of Indonesias largest private airline, the Lion group, will soon open flights to Kerinci regency in Jambi.

The airline plans to open at least six routes serving Kerinci, Kerinci regent Adirozal said, adding that the possible flights would service Kerinci to Bungo regency in Jambi, Curup in Bengkulu, Padang in West Sumatra, Jambi city, Pekanbaru in Riau and Batam in Riau Islands.

The routes were mostly requested by local people, he said, adding that there were also requests to connect Kerinci to Jakarta, which could not be realized yet.

Prioritizing the six routes is better because there are many Kerinci natives living in Malaysia and they usually go through Padang or Batam before heading home to Kerinci, he said on Thursday.

He also said the airline had expressed its commitment to the regency to start the flights soon.

We hope Wings Air can start operations before Idul Fitri this year, Adirozal added.

Meanwhile, Depati Parbo Airports engineering and operations unit head Tri Pono said the airport had been in contact with Wings Air in relation to the preparations for the flights to Kerinci. (rin)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 08:24 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec360be 1 News new-route,AirAsia,flights,Airlines,#airlines,Macau,India,Mumbai Free

AirAsia has opened new international routes to Mumbai, India, and Macau, China, to tap into high demand among tourists from the two countries.

"The growing number of Chinese and Indian tourists coming to Indonesia boosts our spirit to launch the new routes," said AirAsia Group CEO for Indonesia Dendy Kurniawan on Wednesday, as quoted by tempo.co.

Dendy added that the company was committed to supporting the government's efforts to develop Indonesian tourism by extending its route network and offering services at affordable prices.

Read also: AirAsia to launch Denpasar-Tokyo route

AirAsia Indonesia is set to operate the direct flight from Jakarta to Macau three times per week in a first phase starting on Aug. 7 and four times per week starting on Sept. 1 for the second phase. With promo fares starting from Rp 888,000 for the period of Aug. 7 to June 5, the new service will use an Airbus A320-200 that can accommodate 180 passengers.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai route will start on May 19 and connect to Bali  with a transit of 65 minutes in Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia X Indonesia plans to serve the flight seven times per week using Airbus A330-300 aircraft that can accommodate 377 passengers. (vod/kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 17:33 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec54dde 1 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Global-Muslim-Travel-Index,halal-destination,halal-tourism Free

Among the 130 countries evaluated by the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2017, Indonesia has taken third spot with a score of 72.6, an increase from last year's score of 70.6.

Malaysia earned the highest score with 82.5, followed by United Arab Emirates (UAE) with 76.9. Turkey followed behind Indonesia with 72.4.

Read also: Aceh prepares halal destinations to lure more tourists

CrescentRating & HalalTrip CEO Fazal Bahardeen says that the Muslim travel market is expected to reach US$220 billion by 2020.

Indonesias rise in the GMTI 2017 is due to the lifestyle of young travelers who want to have more options, unique experiences and constant connectivity.

We are definitely seeing the influence of a new breed of young travelers, millennials and generation Z who are combining technology with real desire to explore the world, while still adhering to their faith-based needs, Bahardeen said.

Read also: 2018 set to be exciting year for Indonesian tourism

In 2016, Indonesia had an increase of 2.7 million or up 20 percent in the number of tourists that visited the countys halal, or family-friendly, destinations.

This year, the Tourism Ministry is aiming to reach the 3.7 million mark, a 30 percent increase.

According to Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, the most visible increase has occurred in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, which recorded a 50 percent tourist increase in 2016 from the previous year thanks to halal tourism.

The growth and hotel occupancy rate in Lombok has also reached 80 percent, said Arief. (kes)
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Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 15:49 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec50f0c 1 Activities glodok,#JakpostGuideTo,Jakpost-guide-to,travel,#travel,tourism,#tourism Free

Glodok in West Jakarta is recognized as the capitals Chinatown. The area dates back to colonial times when in November 1740, the East Indies Company (VOC) designated Glodok as a residential area for ethnic Chinese.

Glodok covers three main areas, namely Gang Gloria (Gloria alley), Jl. Pancoran and Petak Sembilan.

Once a trading center, Glodok is now a spot to buy Chinese food, traditional Chinese medicine and cheap electronic goods.

Here are recommended activities for those wanting to visit the area.

Getting there

It is easy to reach Glodok as it is located in the heart of the city. To visit Glodok, one can take either the Transjakarta bus or a train.

For those coming from South Jakarta, the best option is to take a Blok M-Kota Transjakarta bus and get off at the Glodok bus stop.

Meanwhile, those coming from East Jakarta can take a Tanjung Priok-Penjaringan Transjakarta bus and alight at the Kota bus stop. From there, take a Kota-Blok M Transjakarta bus.

Those opting for a train can take a one heading to Kota Station and continue on a Kota-Blok M Transjakarta bus.

What to wear

Casual wear such as a T-shirt, pants and sandals are recommended for waking through the alleys and traditional market.

Read also: Jakpost guide to Pasar Baru

What to see

Established in 1650, Dharma Bhakti temple is the oldest temple in Jakarta. (Shutterstock/File)

With Glodok being home to many ethnic Chinese, three temples can be found in Petak Sembilan, namely Dharma Bhakti Temple, Dharma Sakti Temple and Hui Tek Bio temple.

Established in 1650, Dharma Bhakti is the oldest temple in Jakarta. The temple was previously known as Koan-Im Teng as it houses the Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) altar. Dharma Bhakti temple caught on fire in 2015, and at the time of Jakpost's visit, had yet to be fully restored. However, the temple still welcomes people for prayers.

Dharma Sakti Temple is located next to Dharma Bhakti Temple. Here, visitors can find the Tee Jong Ong Po Sat and Han Tan Kong altars.

Hui Tek Bio temple can be found in a corner of Jl. Kemurnian III. It was established in 1964. Here visitors can find the Hui Tek Cun Ong altar. In addition to the prayer room, the temple also offers traditional therapy every Thursday evening and Sunday morning. Open to the public, those wanting to join the internal energy power healing treatment need to register prior to a scheduled session.

In another corner of Jl. Kemurnian III, visitors can find the Santa de Fatima Catholic Church. The church is known for its Chinese architecture.

What to do

Shopping and sampling Chinese food are the recommended activities for visitors to Glodok.

However, in addition to the two activities, Glodok is a popular area for those looking for traditional Chinese medicine.

Tay Seng Hoo and Mutiara are said to be the most popular, as the two stores offer the services of traditional Chinese healers as well as medicine.

A Mutiara staff member weighs traditional Chinese medicine ingredients. (JP/I Gede Dharma JS)

Mutiara is known as the go-to place for those wanting fertility therapy. Traditional Chinese medicine, which includes imported roots, seeds and insects, is available with prices starting from Rp 80,000 (US$6).

What to eat

Glodok, specifically Gang Gloria, is a food haven.

The entrance to Gang Gloria, Glodok. (JP/Leo)

Inside Gang Gloria, food enthusiasts can find a wide array of dishes, including gado-gado (mixed vegetables served with peanut sauce), soto betawi (beef cooked in coconut milk), ketupat sayur (rice cakes served with coconut milk and vegetables), sek ba (pork offal stewed in soy sauce) and more.

Coffee lovers can try the legendary Kopi Es Tak Kie. Established in 1927, the coffee shop specializes in iced coffee.

Since its establishment in 1927, Kopi Es Tak Kie, as the name suggests, serves iced coffee with one mission: fighting thirst and sleepiness at the same time.(Qraved/File)

In Gang Gloria food court, food enthusiasts will find gado-gado direksi (directors mixed vegetables), which was established in 1967. Priced at Rp 32,000, the gado-gado is said to have been popular among the directors of Export-Import Bank (now Bank Mandiri) and where its name came from.

Those wanting to get away from the hectic Gang Gloria may want to consider Siauw A Tjiap.

Situated on Jl. Pancoran, the eatery offers a wide array of Chinese cuisine, including ayam rebus siram minyak (boiled chicken served with oil), lindung cah fumak (eel and vegetables) and mun tahu (braised tofu and meat).

Meanwhile, on Jl. Pancoran 6, a small eatery selling mie kangkung (noodles and water spinach soup) and asinan sayur (pickled vegetables) can be found.

Read also: The glorious culinary gem of Gang Gloria in Glodok

What to buy

Glodok offers a lot of goods, such as cheap electronic goods from China, fresh produce and snacks.

Electronic goods are mainly found in Glodok City building, while those looking for Chinese books may want to check bookshops located on Jl. Pancoran.

Meanwhile, those looking for baking and kitchen utensils may want to drop by Tan Liong. Established in 1935, Tan Liong is one of the oldest shops in Glodok.

In regards to food, Toko Kawi in Gang Gloria is a go-to place for those wanting Bali pork.

Chinese snacks, such as candied fruit, are also available in shops located on Jl. Pancoran.

A candied fruit store on Jl. Pancoran. (JP/I Gede Dharma JS)

As for fresh produce, sellers are mostly located in the traditional market near the Chinese temples. Here, aspiring cooks can find fresh vegetables as well as exotic ingredients.

Tips:

- Bargain when purchasing electronic goods in Glodok City.

- Check the schedule for traditional healers before visiting a drugstore.

- Most food vendors close at 4 p.m., so those wanting to have a culinary adventure should visit in the morning.

- The area is quite packed, so keep an eye on your belongings. (asw)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 15:22 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec4f94c 1 News music,cross-border-tourism,TimorLeste,dance Free

The Belu administration will stage the Music On Vacation event on May 14 at one of Belus main tourist attractions, the white-sand Atapupu Beach.

There will be band and dance competitions, and Timor Leste residents are expected to attend the event.

Atapupu Beach is located 6 kilometers from the border between Indonesia and Timor Leste. It is a 50-minute drive from downtown Atambua and the beach is bordered by mangrove trees.

Read also: White sand awaits tourists in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara

We plan to make it [Music On Vacation] a monthly event, said Belu Tourism Agency head Johanes Andes Prihatin.

Johanes said the regency has prepared 10 events for this year in order to attract foreign tourists, especially those from Timor Leste.

Tourism is one of the regencys priority programs for the next five years, The development of infrastructure has been accelerated followed by tourism facilities and the last [priority] is agriculture, he explained. (asw)
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Linkedin Jessicha Valentina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, May 5, 2017 09:40 2014 a291276806121264c0bd211cdec3c117 1 News LinkedIn,#LinkedIn,young-adult,young-generation,tips,social-network,social-networking-app,#socialnetwork,professional Free

Greater Jakarta is ranked the fourth most-connected city in the world according to business and employment-oriented social networking platform LinkedIn.

In Indonesia, LinkedIn has around 8 million members, mostly students and young professionals.

"They use LinkedIn to explore opportunities and connect," the companys Asia Pacific managing director Olivier Legrand told The Jakarta Post via phone.

High school students use LinkedIn to connect with their parents, their parents friends, or professors. These students realize that their first job will come from these connections."

Legrand also said that between 2020 and 2030, the younger generation would drive a lot of growth in the Indonesian economy. This has led LinkedIn to focus on the younger population who are looking for their first or second job.

Legrand offers four tips for young professionals who want to maximize their LinkedIn account.

Read also: Greater Jakarta ranked fourth most connected city on LinkedIn

1. Build a meaningful profile

Storytelling is extremely important. Instead of listing down job experiences, Legrand suggests that young professionals give examples of what they are doing and how it has driven the success of the company. Furthermore, do not forget the simple things, such as uploading a picture.

2. Connect with the right people

To build the network effect, LinkedIn members should also consider connecting with their classmates or colleagues.

3. Access the professional content

Use the network as a tool to access professional content. There are many [experts on LinkedIn] who are publishing and sharing their perspectives [on the platform], said Legrand, adding that members could use the platform to find interesting content and improve themselves as professionals. At the same time, he suggested that young professionals share relevant articles with their network.

4. Learn new skills

In addition to helping people build networks, LinkedIn also offers learning and development features. For instance, LinkedIn Learning is available for young professionals who want to improve specific skills. (kes)
Statement by Rabbi Abba Cohen, Vice President for Federal Affairs and Washington Director, Agudath Israel of America.

Agudath Israel of America welcomes the news that the U.S. Congress today passed bipartisan legislation allocating $25 million for the FY17 Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This represents a $5 million increase over last years level and brings the appropriation up to where it was when the program began over a decade ago.

NSGP, which provides funding for security enhancements to high risk non-profit institutions, has been a top priority for Agudath Israel and other Jewish groups. With the dramatic rise in anti-Semitic incidents and with the ever-present threat of terrorist attack, our community institutions are especially vulnerable targets.

We are grateful that Congress understands this threat and, on a bipartisan basis, has in recent years steadily increased security funding to better protect the nations citizens and institutions against terrorist violence. Our community has worked hard to educate members of the House and Senate as to the incidents we have experienced and the dangers we face. NSGP is a major focus of Agudath Israels year-round advocacy in Washington, including during its annual National Leadership Missions.

Given the increasing threat, funding levels must continue to increase if NSGP is to adequately secure American institutions. Proposals are currently being considered that would double the programs allocation. Such a boost will help provide more security to more institutions in more communities  enhanced protection that our nation urgently needs.
Its easy for those out of touch to see graffiti as simply vandalism. For those who are a bit more savvy, it is seen as an expression of hip hop culture and an art explosion that dragged youth out of the ghetto.

Wall Writers goes one better, shining a light on the real pioneers of the art form that is now a million-pound industry with the likes of Banksy household names.

What this unique documentary shows is graffitis simple beginnings, from teenagers who had no hope and no chance of being known, literally spreading their name on the only canvas they had  the city walls!

Legendary actor John Waters narrates this story of the Philadelphia and New York origins of this form of expression (the original taggers didnt really consider themselves artists), the motivations, limitations and growth of their fame.

What is particularly interesting about this documentary is it shines a light on this art form away from any hip hop, fashion or other cultural context clearly showing that has emerged as its own stand-alone form of expression that was eventually adopted as part of the wider cultural boom.



Although the original news footage and images from the time bring the past to life, the trump card is played with the interviews with the scenes central characters who are still larger than life.

The unprecedented access to and exclusive interviews with graffitis originators CORNBREAD, TAKI 183, LSD OM as well as journalists, historians and politicians means that the story is told with a true personal air and covers all perspectives.

Watching Wall Writers you may well come away with some new heroes and a respectful understanding of what the protagonists were up against and how they used artistic expression as a means to escape.

Youll also learn about CORNBREADs most unlikely tagging target... which, trust me, is more than unexpected.

Wall Writers is a brilliantly constructed examination of a unique topic that deserves to be looked at more. Fascinating stuff.

Wall Writers was shown at Derby Quad as part of an evening celebrating graffiti art for the Derby Film Festival. A panel of local graffiti art talent discussed their relationship with the art form, chaired by Andy McAllister of Four Three Six.
A Syrian refugee who fled the war-torn country with his violin on his back is to release a debut album.

After escaping the Syrian city of Homs in 2015, Rami, 21, travelled almost 2,500 miles by foot and boat across eight countries with the instrument wrapped in clingfilm.

Journeying through Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary and Austria, Rami would entertain security guards and fellow refugees with his music before eventually finding refuge in Germany.

He became separated from his violin after being thrown off a train in Hungary and chased through a Budapest forest by police.

After arriving in Germany he was given a replacement by a local before being housed by a German couple who learned of his story.

Rami recorded the album, titled My Journey, with award-winning producers James Morgan and Juliette Pochin.

Rami (Uli Weber)

It features traditional Arabian music from his roots alongside a classical version of the American band OneRepublics Counting Stars and a rendition of Silent Night.

The albums lead single, an Arabic-influenced version of Beethovens Ode To Joy, is being released digitally in support of British Red Cross Red Cross Week, raising awareness of people in crisis across the world.

My Journey is available on Decca Records from May 5.
April saw Religion nightclub in Walsall open its doors to people who dont usually get the chance to boogie on down.

Jamie Firman is a DJ who has worked with people with learning disabilities for three years. He has implemented a number of functional events, including small discos, with the belief that EVERYBODY should experience what they want to in life, no matter what!

The 27th April was significantly memorable as it was the first event held in a real nightclub.

Firmans main motivation for the night was born through a conversation with fellow DJ Chris Rollason, AKA DJ Rollo. Rollason has Aspergers Syndrome, which could have been a huge hindrance to his dream of being a DJ - but after two year's training with Firman his dream has become true.

Despite playing numerous venues, Rollason had never before been to a nightclub - due to his concern of feeling socially awkward.

Firman and Rollason organised an event that welcomed over 250 people, offering carers and parents had free entry.

The DJs provided for their guests' sensitivity by dimming and lessening the frequency of the lights, turning down the music and stationing security at all entrances/exits so everyone could arrive and leave safely.

The night was a massive success, with a video of the event going viral on Facebook the next day and an abundance of positive feedback from carers and parents.

The manager of Religion, Nick Parkinson, was overwhelmed by the night and said that out of all the events his venue had hosted this was the proudest one of all.

Now clubs in Coventry, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire have also been requested to host nights specifically for people with learning disabilities.

The event follows a campaign from UK charity Stay Up Late, which

believes "that people with learning disabilities have the right to stay up late and have some fun.

Carers' hours usually finish at 10pm, meaning most people with learning disabilities dont have any opportunity to enjoy evening activities.

The campaign suggests the government should alter the shift patterns of carers so that the people they care for can lead a more social and active life.

Firman has set his second event for the 24th May from 6.30pm-9.30pm, so that carers can attend.

This combination of effort to improve the quality of life for people with learning disabilities has received enormous support. Hopefully, more people will take the initiative and create more accessible events for people with learning disabilities as they have every right to enjoy the same activities as everyone else.
survey carried out last week by HEPI and YouthSight has revealed the voting intentions of students in the upcoming general election.

According to its findings, 55% of students say they would vote Labour in an election held tomorrow.

The Conservatives are second most popular among students, with 18%. The Liberal Democrats and the Greens, both previously popular parties among students, polled at 12 and 6% respectively.

2% said they would be voting for UKIP.

The support for Labour among students surpasses that displayed in the run up to the last three elections, with 23, 32, and 35% of students expressing support for Labour in April of 2005, 2010, and 2015 correspondingly.

This increase in support for Labour seems in large part related to the change in leadership, with Jeremy Corbyn receiving a net favourability score of +29, compared with Tim Farron who received -10, and Theresa May who scored -33.

Labour party leaders Corbyn and John McDonnell have stated their support for the abolition of tuition fees and the reintroduction of maintenance grants, but it has not yet been confirmed whether this promise will appear in their manifesto. Half of students dont believe that they will carry through on this pledge if they win the election.

93% of students entitled to vote are registered, with only 5% certain that they are not. When asked on a scale of one to ten how likely they were to vote, four fifths chose between eight and ten.

With this election being held five weeks later than usual, this survey reveals that over two thirds of students will vote in their home constituencies, rather than at university. It is yet unknown what impact, if any, this will have on the outcome of the election.
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When automotive entrepreneur Preston Tucker died in 1956 at the age of 53, the Mellus Newspapers described the former Lincoln Park resident in the obituary as, one-time devil-may-care motorcycle patrolman on the Lincoln Park police force, whose meteoric career in the automotive world made him one of the industrys most controversial and spectacular figures.

Nearly thirty years later, the same paper (now publishing as The News-Herald Newspapers) provided substantial coverage to the release of the film Tucker, The Man and His Dream, starring Jeff Bridges in the title role.

The local premier of the film, held on August 12, 1988 was announced as a benefit for the Downriver Council for the Arts and took place at the Lincoln Park Theater 8 with 450 people in attendance including many members of Preston Tuckers family.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the debut of Preston Tuckers car of tomorrow, the Tucker 48 or Tucker Torpedo, which was first unveiled to the media, to car dealers, and to the world on June 19th, 1947.

In the spirit of celebration of that event and to commemorate Tuckers many accomplishments and his pioneering automobile, the Lincoln Park Historical Society is presenting the program Preston Tucker and the Tucker 48 on Thursday May 18th at 6 p.m. at the Historical Societys Annual Dinner, held at Lincoln Park High School.

The cost of the dinner is $20 for Historical Society members and $25 for non-members.

Reservations are required and should be made by May 15th. Reservations and information are available by calling 1-313-386-

The evening program will be led by author Steve Lehto whose book Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow was recently published to wide acclaim, with the book having been named a Michigan Notable Book for 2017 by the Library of Michigan.

Mr. Lehto is an attorney and historian who practices and teaches law in the Detroit area. Joining Mr. Lehto is John Tucker, Jr., of Ann Arbor, the grandson of Preston Tucker who was born in the Ypsilanti home of his grandparents in 1953. John Tucker serves on the boards of the Tucker Automobile Club of America and the Ypsilanti Automobile Heritage Museum, where he volunteers considerable time to both, and continues to promote and protect the Tucker legacy; also taking part is T.A.C.A. Technical Director and director of the Tucker Club archives, Mark Lieberman, who has owned four Tuckers and continues to restore and consult on many Tucker restorations, including manufacturing new parts for the cars and rebuilding Tucker engines.

The Lincoln Park Preservation Alliance president, Leslie Lynch-Wilson will open the evening speaking on the Tucker familys early Lincoln Park connections. Copies of Lehtos book will be available for sale and signing that evening.

Tuckers Lincoln Park roots were substantial. His mother Lucille Preston Tucker, a widow before she was 30, moved her young family from Capac, where Preston was born, to the Detroit area seeking work as school teacher.

Still a young teen, Tucker worked as office boy for Cadillac Motors and attended Cass Tech High School, later working on the line at the Ford plant. By 1920 the family had settled in the new village of Lincoln Park, where, now remarried, Lucille Longprey found work in the local school district, first teaching at Goodell and Strowig Schools (both now long gone) and later on the staff of the new Lafayette School.

Tucker joined the Lincoln Park police force, mostly lured by its high-powered squad cars and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Cars and especially their racing capabilities were of great interest to him.

Legendary tales are still shared about Tuckers work as a Lincoln Park patrolman during the days of Prohibition in the 1920s. One anecdote is particularly telling of Tucker as the whiz at mechanics and his embrace of innovation. One winter night during his early days on the force he was assigned a new police touring car.

The heaterless vehicle was too cold for Tucker, so, borrowing an acetylene torch from the public works department, he cut a hole through the firewall under the dash, permitting heat from the motor to enter the car  and also leading to his demotion to walking the beat.

Tuckers interest in auto racing took him to many circuit stops, primarily Indianapolis where he rubbed shoulders with Henry Ford and other high profile auto men, most influentially with Harry Miller, the famous race car engineer. Miller and Tucker became good friends and business partners, and worked together in building a number of impressive ground-breaking race cars. Miller would continue to provide mentorship and guidance to Tucker as he became more and more interested in building his own cars.

The Tuckers lived in homes on Garfield, Warwick, and Fort Park during their years in Lincoln Park. In 1923, Tucker married Vera Fuqua and started their family in Lincoln Park, eventually moving to Memphis, Buffalo, and Indianapolis with progressively better sales jobs in the auto industry.

Tucker and family were back in Lincoln Park in 1933 when he made an unsuccessful bid for mayor, at the same time working as a transportation director for Mundus Brewery in Detroit after Prohibition was repealed that year. The family would finally settle in Ypsilanti by 1939.

Tuckers career path kept him involved in the automobile world, from his early stint working at the Ford factory to later positions in sales for Stutz, Studebaker, Dodge, Pierce Arrow and Packard.

It was his keen interest in racing and his exposure to the racing circuit that presented him with opportunities to meet up with men like Harry Miller, which led Tucker into the development of race cars and eventually his dream car.

When the United State entered the war in 1941, Tucker had already been putting together plans for a combat car and an electric-powered gun turret.

Though neither of his inventions were utilized by the military, Tucker was undaunted, a sign of his ever-present optimism, which, combined with an unrelenting energy and innovative spirit, made him into one of the most remarkable automobile men of the 20th century.

By 1945 Tucker had crafted plans that shaped the basis of his revolutionary dream car.

To create the prototype of a workable car he hired auto designer Alex Tremulis, who had a reputation for taking chances and ignoring convention. Tremulis was tasked with making Tuckers dreams practical, incorporating all of Tuckers ideas in his design.

The result, with some practical modifications by Tremulis, was the Tucker Torpedo, or Tucker 48. In addition to its streamlined design, the car was technically advanced for the 1940s, featuring an air-cooled rear-mounted engine, disc brakes, a distinctive center cyclops headlight that turned with the cars wheels, a padded dash board, break-away windshield, and other innovations and safety features which would later become standard in the industry.

Following the historical societys annual dinner, another opportunity to learn more about Tucker and his remarkable Torpedo, about the 51 cars that were manufactured by the Tucker Corporation at its plant in Chicago, and the seemingly endless difficulties that Tucker and his company encountered in their venture, will be offered to the public with the exhibit Preston Tucker and His Dream Car which opens at the Lincoln Park Historical Museum this summer.

The exhibit, produced in collaboration with the Tucker Automobile Club of America and the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, will open with a public reception on Monday evening, June 19th  the 70th anniversary to the day of the Tuckers unveiling  and will run through September 30th.

For more information, contact the Lincoln Park Historical Museum, 1335 Southfield Rd., Lincoln Park, at 313-386-3137 or lpmuseum@gmail.com.
Home >Police Enforcement > Checkpoints and Stops > New Mexico Court: Brushing The Edge Of A Lane Is Not Illegal
An opportunity for foodies and beer lovers to get lost in a world of food and drink from a hand-selected range of food trucks and breweries from around New Zealand.
By Michael Cummings

cummings@grinnell.edu

The 2017 Iowa Legislative session may be over but divisive political battles in the Statehouse are continuing to unfold. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller (D) announced in a ruling this week that when a lieutenant governor assumes the office of governor, Iowas Constitution will not permit them to appoint their own lieutenant governor.

This is important because Governor Terry Branstad (R), who became the longest serving governor in American history last year and is currently in his twenty-third year in that office, is expected to leave office within the next few weeks pending a confirmation vote in the U.S. Senate concerning his appointment as President Trumps ambassador to China.

Miller announced that after Branstad leaves office, Lieutenant. Governor Kim Reynolds (R) will assume the full powers and duties of the office of the governor. However, she would not be able to appoint her own lieutenant. Reynolds will become Iowas first woman to hold the office of Governor.

This announcement, coming in the form of an official legal opinion, is contradictory to a statement Miller made in December in which he said that Reynolds should be able to appoint a lieutenant govenor. Miller explained that while he still personally believes she should be able to make that appointment, his staff convinced him to change his mind based on legal and constitutional arguments. Republicans have accused Miller of partisanship for his change of opinion.

Reynolds responded to the statement by expressing her intention to appoint a lieutenant governor once she takes office, regardless.

The last time an Iowa lieutenant governor assumed the position of governor was in 1969. No lieutenant governor in that position has ever appointed their own lieutenant.
Actress Priyanka Chopra, the brand ambassador for Assam tourism, will be shooting a series of short promotional films in the northeastern state from June 20, an official said here on Friday.

"She is coming to Assam on June 20 and she will be there till June 30. We are planning to shoot some video films. She will be in Guwahati and travel across entire Assam. She may also attend Ambubachi Mela," Jayanta Malla Baruah, Chairperson, Assam Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, told.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the 'Indo-US Promotion of Travel and Tourism' conference organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce in support with US Consulate General.

Asked on the criticisms levelled against roping in Priyanka for the job as also the flak that the tourism department drew for the new logo, Baruah stood by the decisions as being in the interest of promoting Assam globally.

"Our main motivation is to promote tourism. She promotes Assam and she is a known face in India and abroad as well. As for the logo, one item is not chosen by everybody. It is better than the first logo and it reflects all of our aspects like rhino, tea etc," he said.

Baruah also said the Assam government wants to convert music legend Bhupen Hazarika's Kolkata residence into a memorial.

"Discussions are on for that," he added.
The University of Jammu on Thursday banned sale of Chinese delicacies, junk food and cola drinks on the campus. The ban will come into effect immediatey.

The Dean (students welfare), Prof. Satnam Kour, has ordered the canteen and kiosk holders to immediately stop selling junk food, including momos etc.

The UGC had last year asked all universities to order ban on sale of junk food on the campus. However, following the initiative of the Youth and Vivekanand group the Jammu university authorities issued the ban orders.
The government on May 4 announced signing of Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs) for purchase of 1,000 MW wind power under its first wind auction scheme.

MoAs for purchase of 1000 MW wind power under MNRE's first wind auction scheme were signed here on between PTC India, the trading company, and discoms of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Odisha and Assam, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said in a statement.

The signing ceremony took place during the two-day Conference of Power, New & Renewable Energy & Mines Ministers of States and UTs.

As per MoAs, the discoms of UP to buy 449.9 MW, Bihar 200 MW, Jharkhand 200 MW, Delhi 100 MW, Assam 50 MW and Odisha 50 MW wind power for meeting their non-solar RPO (renewable powerobligation), it said.

The Letter of Award (LoA) to the successful wind power developers under the scheme has been issued by Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) on April 5 and the projects are to be commissioned within 18 months from the date of issue of LoA, it said.

This was the first time such auction process was done in the country for wind power through e-reverse auction and its success can be seen from the fact that a record low tariffs of Rs.3.46 per kWh was obtained.

With the success of first wind auction scheme, MNRE on May 4 launched the scheme for another round of wind auction for 1000 MW capacity wind power projects, it said.

The scheme is open for all obligated entities purchasing wind power for compliance of their non-solar RPO.

The differentiation between windy and non-windy states has been done away with. The SECI will sign Power Purchase Agreements with selected wind developers and back-to-back Power Sale Agreements with buying utilities.

Further, provision of 10 per cent additional capacity for Central Public Sector Entities (CPSEs) has been kept under the Scheme without participation in the bidding, however, they have to supply wind power at lowest discovered tariff through bidding process.

The Ministry sanctioned a scheme for setting up of 1000 MW ISTS connected wind power project on 14 June 2016, with the objective to encourage competitiveness through scaling up of project sizes and introduction of efficient and transparent e-bidding and e-auctioning processes.
Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano announced that Italy is to work hard to ensure that the next G7 Summit recognises the need to establish a clear dialogue with Russia

During an intervention at the Italian Parliament on May 4, Alfano said the upcoming G7 Summit of Heads of State and Government, to be held May 26-27 in the Sicilian city of Taormina, should prioritise relations with Moscow, Efe news reported.

He pointed out that the Foreign Ministers of the world's seven most developed countries had already stressed, during their meeting last April in the Italian city of Lucca, the fundamental role Russia could play in resolving international conflicts such as the Syrian civil war.

In April, the G7 Foreign Ministers, representing Italy, France, Germany, Britain, the US, Japan and Canada, backed a "political, not military" solution in Syria that included Russia and discarded a British proposal to apply further sanctions on Moscow.

The Syrian crisis and the international community's relationship with Russia are to be two of the top issues on the next summit's agenda, which are scheduled to be discussed by the G7 leaders alongside the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council.
Eight state assemblies have passed the State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) Bill in April-May as the Centre gears up to roll out the new indirect tax regime nationwide from July.

While Telangana passed the SGST Bill on April 9, the legislation was approved in Bihar on April 24. In Rajasthan, it was done on April 26, Jharkhand  April 27, Chhattisgarh  April 28, Uttarakhand  May 2, Madhya Pradesh  May 3 and Haryana  May 4, a Finance Ministry statement said on Thursday.

The remaining states/UTs (having Legislative Assemblies) are likely to pass the Bill before the end of this month, it said. Some that get left would be approving it next month.

The GST Council, the top decision making body headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, had approved the model SGST Bill at its 12th Meeting on March 16 this year.

The next GST Council meeting will be held at Srinagar on May 18-19 to fix the tax rates of various commodities.

The central government proposes to roll out the GST from July 1.

The quick passage of the State GST Act by the State Assemblies, the statement said, shows the keenness on their part to ensure timely roll out of the GST.

The tax officials of the centre as well as the states have already launched the outreach programme to create general awareness among people about the new tax regime which will subsume service tax, excise and various other levies.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who began his week-long visit to the US, sought California state's help in areas like technology, industry and agriculture.

Naidu, leading a high-level delegation, met California Governor Jerry Brown at Sacramento on Thursday.

The Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh would emerge as the gateway to Southeast Asia given its long coastline and the presence of deep water ports.

Naidu also explained to the Governor about the unscientific manner in which Andhra Pradesh was divided.

"Due to that hasty decision, Andhra Pradesh was left without a capital. Now we have a great opportunity to build a capital for ourselves," the statement quoted Rao as saying.

Soon after his arrival in San Francisco, Naidu met Mike McNamara, CEO, Flextronics, and highlighted the enormous advantages Andhra Pradesh has to offer in terms of location and accessibility.

The Chief Minister spoke about the friendly business atmosphere in Andhra Pradesh besides citing that it stood first in the 'Ease of Doing Business' rankings.

Naidu said Andhra Pradesh was a potential logistics hub of India and it was the right time for Flextronics to expand the scope of their existing operations in Visakhapatnam.

The Chief Minister also met Simon Segars, CEO of ARM Holdings.
Security agencies in the national capital went into a frenzy after a live grenade was found on the premises of the iconic Red Fort here, officials said.

The grenade was found on Thursday evening while a well on the premises of the fort was being cleaned, triggering a security scare.

Found by the Archaeological Survey of India officials, the Delhi Police along with the Central Industrial Security Force were immediately alerted.

Police cordoned off the area while the elite National Security Guard (NSG) was called in, said a senior police officer.

The NSG commandos safely removed the grenade from the site on Friday.

In February, the police discovered explosives from another well of the same fort complex during a clean up drive.

The Red Fort is one of the heavily secured monuments of Delhi after it was attacked by the Lashkar-e-Taiba in December 2000. The attack left two soldiers and a civilian dead.

(With inputs from agencies)
The State Election Commission, Haryana has directed the state government to declare and notify dry days under relevant laws for such period during Panchayat elections as are appropriate at or around the area where the Panchayat elections are to be held.

A spokesperson of the State Election Commission said that polling for general elections of Gram Panchayats Berwal Nandla of block Barwala, district Panchkula, Jakhal Mandi of block Jakhal, Fatehabad district, Firozepur Jhirka (Rural) of block Firozepur Jhirka, Mewat district and Nissing (Rural) of block Nissing, Karnal district is scheduled to be held on May 28.

He said that such period of dry days so declared and notified must include the period of 48 hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll and the day on which counting of votes is to be taken up.

He said that it has also been directed that no liquor shops, hotels, restaurants, clubs and other establishments selling or serving liquor would be permitted to sell or serve liquor to any person whosoever, may be on the aforesaid dates. Similarly, no proprietary clubs, star hotels, restaurants and hotels run by anyone even if they are issued different categories of licenses for possession and supply of liquor would be permitted on these days.

The storage of liquor by individuals would be curtailed during the above period and the restrictions provided in the excise laws on the storage in unlicensed premises would be vigorously enforced. Apart from this, steps would also be taken to prohibit the sale of liquor in adjoining areas of above mentioned districts so that there are no chances of clandestine movement of liquor from those areas, whereas, the restriction has not been in operation, he added.
In a bid to dispel doubts over the working of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and silence the voices against it, the Election Commission (EC) has announced to hold a meeting of all political parties on 12 May to assure them that the EVMs are tamper-proof and secured.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the EC said that it intends to use voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) in the coming elections in Himachal Pradesh and other states to bring in more transparency and boost public confidence in the poll process.

As the EVM tampering issue came to light following the assembly elections held in five states recently, leaders of various political parties raised their voice concerning the EMV's functioning. Here is a list of political leaders who raised their doubts and voiced concern over the EVM tampering.

Among the first to raise doubt over EVM tampering post the assembly election in Uttar Pradesh this year was Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati. The BSP chief on 11 March 2017 blamed tampering of EVM for her party being decimated in the state elections and said: "Either the EVMs did not accept votes other than that of the BJP, or the votes of other parties have gone to the BJP in the EVMs."

She said this after counting leads showed the BJP sweeping the state elections.

The next to raise doubt over EVM tampering after Mayawati was AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Alleging that the EVM tampering has led to the AAPs poor showing in Punjab assembly poll, Kejriwal said: "Around 20 to 25 per cent of its votes may have been transferred to the SAD-BJP coalition. AAPs poor tally of 20 seats is beyond understanding and raises a big question mark on the reliability of electronic voting machines."

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on 16 April 2017 alleged that Electronic Voting Machines can be tampered with even before they are deployed. "The Election Commission was limiting objections to EVM to hacking. It must allow examination of possibility of software tampering at (the) stage of writing it from server. There is a strong possibility of tampering coding at the stage of writing software ie EVM can be pre-tampered. So no need for hacking," he said in a tweet.

After submitting a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee over EVM tampering issue, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said: "Recent allegations of EVM tampering have raised questions on electoral process and an environment of fear and hatred prevails across the nation. An attempt is being made to destroy of the secular fabric of India."

After suffering a setback post the Delhi MCD poll debacle, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia too raised doubt on the EVM and said: "EVM tampering is a bitter truth in our democracy which can be mocked early on but we cannot stop talking truth on it."

Talking about the BJP's win in the Delhi MCD poll, Delhi Minister Gopal Rai said, "This is not Modi wave, instead this is EVM wave."

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken too said, "Election Commission should investigate electronic voting machines. While if we can't trust EVM, we must trust EC."

Former Delhi chief minister and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit said, "The Election Commission and the government should clear the air surrounding electronic voting machine. The losing party attribute failure to EVMs whereas winning affirms that EVMs are fine."

Raising EVM tampering allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on April 25, 2017 said, The Election Commission should answer on cases of EVM tampering. In future, elections must be held on ballot paper.

Leaders of other political parties, who diubted EVM tampering, include the JD-U, DMK, NCP and Left parties.
Nine cities from eight Northeastern states have found place in Swachh Survekshan-2017, with Sikkim's capital Gangtok emerging as the region's cleanest city.

The report of the evaluation, conducted in 434 cities and towns across the country, was released by Union Urban Development Minister M Venakaiah Naidu in New Delhi on Thursday. Gangtok ranked 50 with a score of 1,414.

Mizoram capital Aizawl and Manipur capital Imphal ranked 105 and 122, respectively, followed by Assam's main city of Guwahati at 134, Nagaland capital Kohima (208), Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar (216), Meghalaya capital Shillong (276), Assam's commercial city Silchar (280) and Tripura capital Agartala (290).

An official of Tripura's Urban Development Department said that cities were evaluated on five parameters  waste collection, solid-waste management, construction of toilets, sanitation strategies and behaviour change communication.

"The rankings are based on the data provided by municipal bodies, independent assessors and feedback from people," the official added.

Northeast India's largest city Guwahati which was ranked 50 in 2016, is ranked 134 this time and is the fourth cleanest city in the region after Gangtok, Aizawl and Imphal.

In 2016, Agartala was ranked 33rd, Shillong 53rd and Itanagar 71st while Kohima was not listed in 2016.

Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Prafulla Jit Sinha said: "We did not accept various schemes under the Swachh Bharat Mission that's why our position was lowered this time."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused "three promoting entities" of being behind the South 24 Parganas' Bhangar stir against a power sub-station project.

"The power sub-station project was almost completed. Out of 28 towers, 24 were erected. But three promoting entities, who wanted to build multi-storeyed buildings near the sub-station, had indulged in the conspiracy," she said.

"With the high tension electric transmission lines, they could not have come up with their real estate projects," she said.

"They hired anti-social elements from outside, offering cash, to create disturbances there (Bhangar) so that the power sub-station project could not come up," she said.

Banerjee said her state government has been working to deal with the problems of low voltage in power supply and that was why the sub-stations were being set up across districts.

The opposition parties  Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India -Marxist and others, including Maoists, have been planning to create disturbances in some areas where such projects were going on, she said at an administrative meeting in Nadia district.

Bhangar, known for its history of political violence, was on the boil earlier in 2017 over "forced" acquisition of 16 acres of farmland  spread across the villages of Khamarait, Machhi Bhanga, Tona and Padmapukur  by the state government for setting up the sub-station by the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL).
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Supreme Court verdict in the Nirbhaya gang-rape reminded people of their duty towards guaranteeing women safety.

"Nirbhaya case shook the conscience of the nation. Final verdict reminds all of us about our duty towards ensuring women safety," Kejriwal tweeted.

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence on all four convicts in the gang rape that led to the victim's death.


Actors Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif stepped out of studio hand-in-hand after wrapping up the shooting of Anurag Basus much-delayed directorial Jagga Jasoos. Basu shared the news of wrapping up the films shooting by posting two photos of the actors on Twitter. In one photo, he used their childhood photos and morphed. The other one showed the actors smiling and stepping out of the studio holding hands. He captioned it as Day 1 Jagga Jasoos to Last Day Jagga Jasoos. How time flies. According to reports, the film has been in the making for over four years. Said to be a family holiday film, it tells the story of a teenage detective in search of his missing father.
Organised by the Society for the Preservation of Satyajit Ray Archives, the fifth Satyajit Ray Memorial Lecture was delivered at the Satyajit Ray Auditorium, ICCR by renowned actor and filmmaker Aparna Sen recently.

The director extolled the auteur and enumerated instances from several of Rays films. Ray can be called the master in the portrayal of death scenes, said Sen. The death of Indir Thakrun and Durga in Pather Panchali, Harihar and Sarbajaya in Aparajito, Aparna in Apur Sansar and Biswambhar Roy in Jalsaghar are evidences of his craft that will always be remembered. She also put in contrast the death in Pratidwandi with all the others.

Making the audience revisit Rays various depictions of death, Sen explained that the death of Indir Thakrun was a kind of an extension of her life. She felt Durgas death, on the other hand, was the most dramatic death scene Ray had ever filmed. Sen said, Aparnas death is so unthinkable that it cannot be shown but only imagined. Nothing that a director can direct or actors can act or a cinematographer can film will match the audiences imagination of the magnitude of Apus loss.

In the Apu Trilogy, loved ones are snatched away from Apu by the randomness of death. Despite Apus misery after Aparnas death, Ray ends his saga with an affirmation of life, she said. Apus gradual warming to his vulnerable little son Kajal is such an instance. Deep down Ray was always aware that death is the culmination of all human activities and therefore tried to remind viewers about that through his creations.

Sen said that in Parash Pathar and Jalsaghar, Rays tenderness and compassion was quite evident. While in Pratidwandi, there is a genuine attempt on the auteurs part to understand the plight of Calcuttas youth of the time and recognise the reasons for their anger.

Sen also recalled the days when Ray cast her in Samapti as Mrinmoyee. I remember when he had told me at the last close-up shot. Put the tip of your finger in your mouth and think of lovely wonderful things. She said it was undoubtedly a piece of masterly direction for a young girl who was confused about what romantic love is made of.

As a soft-hearted human being, Sen said that Ray never depicted negative characters in black and till Charulata. Before Charulata, we hardly came across a villain in Rays work till he brought forth Umapada, brother-in-law of Charus husband Bhupati, she said.

Many of Rays critics have called him indifferent to the plight of the urban poor and criticised him for being apolitical but I disagree. Rays politics was not the politics of parties, which are constantly at each others throats, Sen said.

Sen also denied the claim that Ray had projected India as a poverty-stricken country. He had rather given a face to Indias poverty, she said. Before signing off, Sen said, As the next generation of filmmakers, there is no escape for us from Ray. We have inherited him as Ray had inherited Tagore.
Among Sapphires initiatives to spread the word of contemporary dance, a special event series, meant to showcase young artistes from various disciplines and their new endeavours, was presented. The event was to recognise them as well as to acknowledge established artistes and scholars. The venues for this initiative opened up new non-proscenium art spaces to encourage more audiences to come and indulge in art; from cafes, bookshops to art galleries, cultural centres and corporate boardrooms, the choices were myriad. Sapphire believes in fostering contemporary arts in the country as a whole. The series has now been running for 28 quarters from 2010 and has presented works by Sapphire and non-Sapphire artistes, collaborations and installations.

Sapphires International Choreographers Residency has been continuously updating audiences in current techniques, trends and interests in the field of contemporary dance across the world. International choreographers, teachers and dancers are invited to come and work with the Sapphire Company and school dancers to give them a perspective of the here and now in the world of global dance. Some of the resident choreographers have been Michel Casanovas (Switzerland-France), Christopher Lechner (Germany), Roger Sinha (Canada), Daniel Galaska (USA), Idan Cohen (Israel), Darryl Thomas (USA), JS Wong(Malaysia) and Jacek Luminski (Poland).

This time they had Mary Carbonara from Mary Carbonara Dances, San Francisco, US to be a part of INCRES XIV. Carbonara has been teaching for over 25 years, working with children, young adults, adult beginners and aspiring and seasoned professionals. The students of Sapphire Dance Academy and members of Sapphire Creations Dance Company had an exciting and enriching fortnight with her.

About her piece Frozen Angels, Carbonara says, My dances have always addressed social, spiritual and intellectual concerns. Ive been told that my themes are often dark and difficult  faith, homelessness, the culpability of witnesses to an act of violence or murder and memory. Yet, it is at the circumference and centre of conflict and loss that I am most interested. It is the place where we are most challenged to be ourselves. Whether I am dealing with the inner lives of women, the consequences of group loyalty, the impact of architecture or the mystery of faith, I work to reveal the nuances of the dancers and their situations on stage.

The movement is technically challenging, requiring a deep base of gravity, and an emphasis on shape and gesture. Carbonara is drawn to dancers who are simultaneously powerful and vulnerable. Her role as a dance educator is to help students perform better and to deepen their knowledge  and hopefully, their love  for the art form. She guides them to a greater understanding of dance, their bodies, their potential and their own creativity. She is into constant research on the best practices and effective methods for the subject. Her standards are high for young and old, beginners and professionals. Her aim is to awaken the passion to dance among her students and develop a healthy and efficient practice that they can access no matter what style of dance they pursue. Carbonara has taught, choreographed, and performed in the US and internationally for over two decades. Her work has been presented throughout the San Francisco Bay area, and she has choreographed commissions for many institutions. Carbonara has earned the prestigious Isadora Duncan Award for Alcatraz: Art Behind Bars, produced by Stanford Universitys Re-Designing Theatre programme. With Robert Moses, Carbonara is a cofounder of Studio 200, a dance teaching, learning and community studio in San Francisco. Carbonara choreographed Group work for Ankita Duttagupta, Paramita Saha, Koushik Das, Pintu Das, Rima Halder, Prasenjit Dutta, Dibyendu Nath, Manju Roy Dutta, Somnath Mondol, Sayantani Mukherjee, Nitai Parui, Rajesh Sahu, Megha Sharma, Anwesha Basak, Avishek Mitra and Arshi Bhattacharjee, the repertory members of Sapphire to the music of Zoe Keating. It was highly appreciated by aficionados.

We believe in diversity, we believe in growth. We believe in being one, regardless of gender, religion, nationality and class. We believe in spreading love, we believe in spreading smiles, said Sudarshan Chakraborty, the artistic director of Sapphire before presenting his group work, Larger than Life by Ashlesha Lodh, Anumehaa Ghosh, Aaroshii Das, Aarshia Das, Aanvi Das, Aahana Kushari, Adiana Kala, Abhilasha Roy, Biyas Dutta, Debangshi Saha. Diya Debnath, Ishan Kumar Saha, Neelakshi Ghosh, Oishani Choudhury, Priyani Mukherjee, Ruhani Chakraborty, Rohan Roy Chowdhury, Rupsha Ghosh, Rupam Sahu, Saanvi Mazumdar, Pakhi Roy, Sylvia Dey, Sneha Das, Subhankar Chowdhury, Suniska Paul, Sampurna Dutta, Vedatrayee Nandy, concept and choreography of which were by Anubhav Gupta and Prasenjit Dutta. Music was from a variety of sources like Dark Horse by Katy Perry, Get Low by Dillon Francis and DJ Snake (remix), Little Do You Know by Alex and Sierra, The Fault In Our Stars by Troye Sivan, Run The World (Girls) by Beyonce, Me & My Girls by Selena Gomez and All My Love featuring Ariana Grande and Machel Montano (remix) by Major Lazer.

Works by Sapphire Repertory Members like Hijibiji: Emotions of Childhood were showcased. Fitting In choreographed by Ankita Dutta Gupta and Koushik Das, was an attempt to find calm amid chaos.
A small moment in cinematic history took place at the close of this years Tribeca Film Festival, staged in New York City.

The Godfathers cast, and director Francis Ford Coppola, reunited to celebrate the films legacy, 45 years down the line; reflecting on what its like to be part of whats frequently considered the greatest film of all time.

Organised by Robert de Niro, one of the founders of Tribeca, the panel also saw Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Diane Keaton and Talia Shire all in attendance.

Conversation during the panel was largely dominated by the idea that The Godfather was a significant risk to pull off  relying on the talents of a young, untested director, an unknown actor in Pacino, and a source material widely regarded as unfit for the screen.

Indeed, Coppola described Mario Puzos bestseller as a bit of a potboiler, stating, I was disappointed in the book when I first read it because its very long. The director was then forced to fight tooth and nail to cast Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, with the actor admitting hed done more screen tests for the role than he could remember, including after he was given the part. But Pacino was the only one right for the role, Coppola insisted, as, I just saw his face. Everywhere we went, all the girls lit up for Al, for some reason.

Pacino himself was less enthused by the part, even suggesting to Coppola that he shouldnt fight so hard for him (Its OK. Well work again. There are other things to do.), with him having far more interest in the role of Sonny Corleone (James Caan), a part Robert de Niro also auditioned for before playing the young Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather II.

After a shaky start to the shoot, Pacino was convinced, Its over! This is the worst film ever made! Recalling hearing people giggling at his performance, Pacino was taken aside by Coppola for a pep talk, showing him early footage of his performance and telling him, to get your chops together.

The director then shifted the films famous restaurant scene up in the schedule, as Paramount looked for reasons to fire Pacino, so that both actor and director could prove the studio wrong  which they certainly did.

Coppola, too, seemed under constant threat of being given the boot by Paramount; he recalled being told he was going to be fired that weekend, after rumours had spread that the production was troubled. The director reacted by (and he wasnt sure whether this was allowed) finding 12 of his naysayers and firing them on the spot, in true Godfather style.

The independent
Actress Jennifer Lawrence was spotted flaunting bangs haircut while filming for upcoming movie Red Sparrow at Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport here.

Sporting a typically spy-like ensemble on Wednesday, Lawrence donned a tight black polo neck sweater, dark trousers and flat shoes, reports aceshowbiz.com.

She completed her look with a long camel trench coat and a black leather bag.

The 26-year-old was previously spotted filming scenes in Vienna. She sported the same blonde hair, which she tucked into the inside of a wolly blue coat.

In Red Sparrow, Lawrence plays Russian spy Dominika Egorova, who falls for a CIA officer and considers becoming a double agent.

Directed by Francis Lawrence, the movie also stars Joel Edgerton, Jeremy Irons, Matthias Schoenaerts and Ciaran Hinds among others. It is scheduled to release on March 2, 2018.
As the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence on all four convicts in the December 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, the judement was hailed by many especially those who have been closely following the brutal case.

As per the SC order, Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur who were convicted on charges of brutally raping and assaulting a 23-year-old paramedical student inside a bus that led to her death will be sent to the gallows.

The order comes after the Delhi High Court earlier upheld their conviction and death sentence.

Heres a timeline of the horrific incident that shook the nation:

*Dec 16, 2012: A 23-year-old physiotherapy intern is raped by six people, including a juvenile, inside a moving bus in Delhi.

* Dec 17: The driver of the bus along with two others are arrested. Another accused is arrested a day later.

* Dec 21: Fifth accused, a juvenile is arrested from east Delhi while the sixth accused is nabbed from Bihar.

* Dec 22: The victim, fighting for her life with grievous injuries, records statement before a sub-divisional magistrate.

* Dec 23: A fast track court is set up by the Delhi High Court.

* Dec 27: The condition of the victim deteriorates and she is airlifted to Singapore for treatment.

* Dec 29: The victim succumbs to her injuries and her body is flown back to Delhi the next day for cremation.

* Jan 3, 2013: All the six accused are charged with rape, murder, kidnapping, destruction of evidence, and attempted murder.

* Jan 28: The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) declares that one of the accused is a minor who at the time of the crime was 17-year-old.

* Feb 2: The Fast track court charges the five men, excluding the juvenile for murder, gang rape and other offences. Trial begins on Feb 5.

* March 11: One of the accused lodged in Tihar Jail, Ram Singh is found hanging in his cell.

* Aug 31: Juvenile Justice Board sentences the minor accused to a three-year stay in a special home.

* Sep 10: All the four accused Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh are held guilty on all counts.

* Sep 13: The court sentences to death Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh.

*March 13, 2014: The Delhi High Court upholds the trial court verdict of death for the convicts.

*March 15: The Supreme Court stays the execution of the convicts after they alleged that they were denied a fair trial.

*Dec 18, 2015: The juvenile convict walks out free after spending three years in a correction home.

*April 3, 2016: The Supreme Court begins hearing in the Nirbhaya case

*March 27, 2017: The Supreme Court reserves verdict after hearing the case for nearly a year.

*May 5, 2017: A three-member bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice R Banumathi upheld the death sentence on all four convicts.
BJP president Amit Shah will begin his two-day Tripura visit on Sturday to lay the groundwork for the party's expansion in the Northeastern state the Left has ruled for the last 19 years.

Shah, the architect of several electoral victories of the BJP, is likely to flag alleged lack of development of the state under the Left government and violence against his party workers.

Tripura, with only two Lok Sabha seats, may not be electorally crucial to the BJP's fortunes at the national level but the state now figures high on Shah's priority list as assembly polls there are due next year.

The BJP chief, known for his aggressive brand of politics, was instrumental in salvaging Goa for the party earlier this year when it had finished second after Congress in the assembly election, and neither party got a majority.

He had quickly despatched Union minister Nitin Gadkari to cobble together a majority with the help of smaller regional parties and managed to form a BJP-led government in the tiny coastal state.

Shah will take stock of the party's organisational work in meetings with state BJP leaders and hold a public rally on Sunday.

With the BJP and RSS activists allegedly at the receiving end of violence by the ruling Left, traditionally seen as an ideological foe by saffron groups in Kerala and Tripura, the BJP chief has been devoting considerable time to strengthen the organisation in the two states.

Having forfeited security deposit in 47 of the 50 seats it contested in Tripura in the 2013 assembly election, the BJP has increased its vote share and its candidates finished second to winning CPI-M nominees in three bypolls held there since.

BJP leaders claim the party has emerged as the principal challenger to the Left and pointed to the recent defection of a top Trinamool Congress leader and some others to the party.

Less than a week after the BJP formed government in neighbouring Manipur, virtually the entire state unit of the Trinamool Congress in Tripura had joined the saffron party.

The revolt was led by Ratan Chakrabarty, chairman of the state TMC coordination committee. Chakrabarty had joined BJP with 15 other members of the state committee.

"The BJP has emerged as a strong alternative in the state. It is seen by people as a symbol of development and hope as the state has witnessed no progress and the Left has used organised violence to target us," its national media head Anil Baluni said.

The party has increased the number of its primary members to 2 lakh in the state from 15000 in 2014, he said.

The saffron rise has prompted the Left cadres to attack its workers more and more, the BJP leader said, citing 10 such instances recently.

The Left leaders have, however, consistently denied the allegations and instead blamed the BJP for fanning violence.

CPI-M's Manik Sarkar has been the state's chief minister since 1998.

In 2013, he led his party to a resounding win in 50 out of the state's 60 assembly seats with the Congress pocketing the rest.

However, the Congress' tie-up with the Left in West Bengal led to a mass desertion in its ranks in Tripura. A nation-wide surge in the BJP's vote share has given the saffron party hope that it can repeat the success in Tripura when it goes to the polls early next year.
Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately recall two Maharashtra ministers, who are on a junket as part of a legislative delegation visiting Australia, Singapore and New Zealand, in the backdrop of protests across the state over Tur dal procurement.

Tur farmers in Maharashtra are facing a crisis due to a bumper production of the commodity and resultant low prices.

In a letter to Modi dated May 4, Chavan said that after PM's appeal for increasing pulses production, farmers from the state responded with a record production of Tur dal.

Sadly, the government procurement system has badly let them down, the former Maharashtra Chief Minister rued.

Tur producing farmers are agitating for procurement at MSP (minimum support price) throughout the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions in the state and the number of farmer suicides is rising, he wrote.

Chavan said that instead of personally attending to this crisis, Agriculture minister along with the Food and Public Distribution minister in the state have gone abroad as part of a legislative delegation led by the Speaker to Australia, Singapore and New Zealand.

It is appalling that these two ministers directly responsible for handling the current farm crisis have gone on a 15-day junket along with their family. The timing could not be worse. Farmers in the state are shocked, Chavan charged.

The former CM said, I am sure you are aware that as per rules of business, specific sanctions from the Chief Minister and the PMO is mandatory before any minister of the state government is permitted to travel abroad. Surely, these two ministers have obtained prior permission before leaving.

He said, I request you to ask the Chief Minister to immediately recall these two ministers back to their duty. The legislative delegation led by the Speaker can continue on their visit. I am sure you will appreciate the seriousness of the matter and take appropriate steps.

Chavan posted this letter on his Twitter handle and tagged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in it.

Agriculture Minister Pandurang Phundkar, Food and Civil Supplies minister Girish Bapat are part of the delegation led by Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde.

Legislators cutting across party lines are part of the tour, which is part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Half of the tour cost is borne by the members and the remaining by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Earlier this week, on May 2, Fadnavis had directed officials concerned to complete the procurement of tur in the next five to six days. He had asked officials to work in two shifts and complete the procurement of tur on war footing.

Also, the state government has decided to call for a global tender to auction tur.

Till April 22, 40 lakh quintal tur worth Rs 1839 crore was procured by Maharashtra at Rs 5050, including bonus of Rs 425, from 2,58,341 farmers.
Two days after meeting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed security situation of the Valley with him.

The governor discussed the ongoing unrest in parts of the Kashmir Valley and informed the prime minister about various developmental works being done there.

The meeting with PM Modi and HM Rajnath Singh comes in the wake of two Indian soldiers being mutilated by Pakistani forces in the Poonch sector and also the killing of five cops and two bank officials by terrorists in the Kulgam district of the state.
The Congress on Friday said that justice has finally been done in the Nirbhaya gang rape case with the Supreme Court upholding the death sentence of all four convicts.

It also urged the central government to address other sexual crimes against women that have been rising.

Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Nirbhaya case will remain an example and a deterrent to all sexual predators that justice for victims of sexual exploitation will always be delivered, come what may.

"Justice has finally been done in Nirbhaya case," Surjewala said.

He said the verdict will be a "reminder to the society and lawmakers to work towards building a safe environment for the country's women".

Surjewala, however, noted that "at least six women in the national capital undergo the trauma of rape everyday and the National Crime Records Bureau had in a 2015 report brought out that there had been a 22 percent spurt in rapes against women".

"All this is worrisome. We hope that the government will take note and take deterrent action," Surjewala said.

Party leader Kapil Sibal also welcomed the verdict but said that Delhi was "number one" in attack, rape and harassment of women.

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence on all four convicts in the brutal Nirbhaya gang rape here of 2012 that led to her death and caused nationwide outrage.

The four were convicted for raping and assaulting the 23-year-old paramedical student inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012 which led to her death 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.


Noting that India's forest policy calls for maintaining a third of the country's total land as forest cover, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said a lot was to be done towards this goal.

"India has an area of 79.4 million hectares designated as forests. This is about 19.32 percent of the country. The forest policy of the year 1952 calls for maintaining one third of the total land of the country as forest cover. This clearly indicates a gap of about 15 percent, which has to be bridged," he said in his address at the annual convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy here.

The President said the Indian Forest Service does not only have the responsibility of serving the sector of forestry in the country, but a much larger onus of arresting climate change apart from preservation of bio-diversity, enhancement of forest cover and encouraging forest-based livelihood.
The Supreme Court will on Friday deliver the verdict in the 16 December Nirbhaya gangrape case.

An apex court bench comprising Justice Dipak Misra, Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan will deliver the verdict.

On 16 December, 2012, six people gang raped a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus and used an iron rod to inflict gruesome internal and external injuries on her. She later succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on 29 December, 2012.

The prime accused in the case, Ram Singh, allegedly hanged himself in Tihar jail in March 2013, while the teenager involved in the case was sent to a juvenile correction facility and was later released in 2015.

The other convicts  Akshay, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Mukesh  had moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court's order, which had announced death sentence to them on 13 March, 2014.

Meanwhile, the parents of the victim on Friday told news agencies that they are sure that the apex court would award death sentence to the guilty.

(With inputs from agencies)
The Samajwadi Party (SP) is ready to support any secular alliance for the presidential poll, which is a few months away, its president Akhilesh Yadav said on Friday.

"If there is any secular alliance (for the presidential poll), my party will support it," he told reporters at the SP headquarters here.

His remarks came against the backdrop of CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury recently meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi to explore the possibility of fielding a joint candidate for the presidential poll, even as RJD boss Lalu Prasad talked about cobbling together a Bihar-style 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too has called for a larger unity among the regional parties ahead of the presidential election.

Significantly, senior SP leader Shivpal Yadav on Friday announced that party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will head a "new, secular front" to be formed by him.

The presidential election is scheduled in July and opposition unity for contesting it may well be a precursor to an anti-NDA front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar had recently ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with the SP for the upcoming local bodies polls in the state. Akhilesh though played it down saying, "Our friendship with the Congress will continue." He, however, did not elaborate.

The Congress has decided to go it alone in the urban bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh.

The move is being seen as an impending end to the SP- Congress alliance, which was forged before the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

The alliance suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the BJP in the UP polls. It managed to secure only 54 seats (SP 47, Congress seven) as opposed to the BJP-led NDA's 325.

In the aftermath of the dismal poll performance, speculation was rife that the allies might part ways for the urban bodies polls as the local Congress leaders had voiced opposition to the continuance of the tie-up.

On the Bulandshahr lynching incident, in which a Muslim man was allegedly beaten to death by the workers of the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), a right-wing group formed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, after an inter-faith couple eloped, Akhilesh said they (HYV) should also prepare a list of those BJP leaders, who have had similar marriages.

"The people should know how many BJP leaders have had such marriages. The HYV should go to Delhi and prepare such a list," he said.
Kolkata, May 5 (IBNS): After the kickoff of the Land Rover Experience tour in Hyderabad, Land Rover will continue its adventurous journey in Cochin. The customers will get to explore some of the toughest off-road terrains with the most versatile and stylish Land Rover vehicles.

Crafting experiences that customers will love for life, this one of its kind event offers a unique opportunity to embark on a real-life adventure. With over 2500 customers experiencing the true breadth of capability of these extraordinary vehicles in FY 2016-17, Land Rover will now drive this spirit of adventure this year as well. It started in Hyderabad last month and now will travel to Kochi followed by many other Indian cities. The Land Rover Experience in Cochin will be held at River Banks Madapparambil Resort, Idduki Road, Thodupuzha, Kerala from 5th to 7th May, 2017.

Rohit Suri, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd (JLRIL), said:

Over the years, these unique drive experiences have received an overwhelming response and we are thrilled to take the Land Rover Experience to car enthusiasts in more cities across the country this year and provide an opportunity to experience the unmatched drive capability of these cars. Every year we go above and beyond, to ensure that each Land Rover fan & customer gets to experience the breadth of capability of these cars.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday inaugurated the annual conference of Indian heads of mission here.

She also released a booklet, India Surges Ahead, "on successful economic diplomacy", External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay tweeted.

At a media briefing here ahead of the conference, Baglay said the meet would extensively deliberate the important matters in foreign policy and their implementation. The conference will conclude on Sunday.
Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday handed over release order of Rs.1,263 crore to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for different projects in the state.

Naidu reviewed the progress in implementation of various central schemes in the state and handed over the release order of Rs.375 crore for Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Rs.442 crore for Smart City Mission and Rs.446 crore for Lucknow Metro project.

He said that with the coming of the Yogi government, Uttar Pradesh has joined the 'Mission Modi', an acronym for "Making of Developing India".

"Uttar Pradesh lagged behind in implementing the schemes of the central government and the reason is that the previous government did not have the intention to do so. I'm not levelling any allegation but stating a fact, people have already given them a reply," he said in a joint press conference with the chief minister.

Lucknow has been given Rs.119 crore, while Rs.107 crore each has been given to Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi, Naidu said, adding that Rs.2 crore have been given to Meerut and Rae Bareli for sending a proposal under the smart city mission.

The Union minister said that 61 cities of the state, including Ayodhya, have been included in AMRUT to work on three main components of potable water, sanitation and solid waste management.

The recommendation for Noida and Greater Noida metro rail project of 29.7 km, worth Rs.5,503 crore, will soon be okayed and there is also a proposal before the NCRTC board of Delhi- Meerut regional rapid transit system on a 90 km stretch, worth Rs.32,000 crore, Naidu said.

To a question on some banned channels telecasting visuals in Jammu and Kashmir, Naidu, who is also the Information and Broadcasting Minister, said action has to be taken by respective district magistrates.

"We have reviewed it and asked for taking strong action and will monitor it," he said.

To a question on whether there is any move to give pension to victims of triple talaq, Naidu said the issue is not connected to pension but is a social problem.

"The entire society should work to find a solution to it and our stand is known and that is there should be no discrimination with anyone on religious grounds. Soon a decision will be given by the apex court, he added.
Fake news spread during the presidential election of the United States caught global attention last year. The fake news went viral and shocked the public. Some even regarded President Donald Trumps victory as the outcome of fake news.

If fake news or rumours had an impact on the US presidential election, similar cases have also occurred in Malaysia. Although the situation and magnitude of the cases are not comparable to the US, it is enough to show the abuse of fake news on internet. Many are unable to identify authentic news and those with vested interests are exploiting the situation.

The creation and spread of fake news and hoaxes on the internet are money-oriented, politically-oriented or linked to other hidden agendas.

Tracing back to the Malaysian General Elections in 2013, when the opposition was seen as capable of winning, fake news and photographs went viral on the internet. The ruling party was accused of importing 40,000 foreign workers from Bangladesh to be voters. Many took it as genuine and even heeded the call made by non-governmental organisations on social media to arrest the phantom voters at polling stations.

Despite denials made by agencies such as the Election Commission, immigration authorities, police and the national registration department, many voters still believed the fake news.

On polling day, voters who resembled foreign workers were cornered and questioned. Many were unable to defend themselves in such situations. Although the phantom voter arresting team apologised later for wrong identification, the incident proved that fake news can have a far reaching impact.

Other fake news which went viral during the same election was a rumour that a power outage had occurred in the vote counting centre in Bentong parliamentary seat, as well as reports that a suspicious ballot box had been sent to the centre. Hence, the electoral result was seen as fabricated.

When Wong Tack, a candidate from the opposition party lost marginally to Liow Tiong Lai of MCA under the ruling party coalition, rumours went viral on social media. Although opposition leaders came forward to clarify that there was no blackout at the vote counting centre and no appearance of a suspicious ballot box at the 11th hour which overturned the electoral result, many voters still believed lights were switched off or there was some unseen transaction taking place after the election.

In the phone theft incident at Low Yat Plaza digital mall in Kuala Lumpur, the version of events circulated on social media stated that after the suspect bought the hand phone, he realised that he was short changed and the dealer declined to change the hand phone for him. Clash took place after that. Fanned by emotional posting, the incident almost turned into a racial conflict.

Gleaneagle Hospital in Kuala Lumpur also fell victim to a fake news story alleging that staff members released a toxic fragrance for a period of 16 years. Despite the hospitals repeated clarifications, someone is still spreading the news until today. The hospital is helpless.

Fake news and rumours continue to dominate cyberspace in Malaysia. Early this year an elderly Chinese lady was falsely accused of being part of a syndicate to kidnap children. After investigation and verification by the print media, the lady was identified as a regular at a shopping mall who was close to some of the staff in the shops. As newspapers reported the truth, the ladys name was cleared. However, the damage was done. The elderly lady was afraid of going out. She shied away from people, remaining at home throughout the entire Chinese New Year.

At present, fake news and rumours on social media are still hot, prompting the Najib administration to set up a portal called sebenarnya.my to combat the problem, as the authorities and personalities involved are having a tough time debunking false stories.

At the end of the day, readers or netizens should have a better understanding of the media. The root cause of widespread of fake news is due to lack of understanding of media. The public is unable to identify fake news, or do not know how to verify or boycott it. To wipe out fake news one should start with education.

As media, Sin Chew Daily is also a victim of fake news and rumours. The paper shares the same feeling with thousands of people affected by fake news and rumours. Based on the urgency of the situation, we decided to start a special page called seek the truth on May 3rd in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day to counter fake news by tracing it. Readers would be guided to identify fake news.

We hope everyone will be a responsible internet user by not forwarding unconfirmed news from unidentified sources. Bring positive energy to society.

The writer is Leader Writer, Sin Chew Daily, Malaysia. This is a series of columns on global affairs written by top editors and columnists from members of the Asia News Network.
At least nine people were killed and dozens injured when Afghan border forces fired at a census team in Pakistan's Balochistan on Friday  a day after the Afghan President turned down invitations to visit Islamabad.

Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent, Akhtar, said in a statement that five children and three women were among those killed in the firing in Chaman area. Police said that four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were among the injured.

The Afghan forces used heavy artillery to fire at the Pakistani side of the border, the Inter-Services Public Relations said, adding that border forces retaliated to the firing in Kali Luqman and Kali Jahangir areas of Chaman.

"Afghan border police opened fire on FC detailed for security of population census team," the military's media arm said.

Mortar shells fired from the Afghan side also hit houses in a village of Kali Luqman. At least three children were among the injured, who were shifted to Civil Hospital.

An emergency was imposed in Chaman.

The gunfight prompted authorities to shut the Chaman border crossing, one of the two major crossing points along the disputed frontier.

"Since April 30, Afghan border police has been creating hurdles in conducting census in divided villages of Killi Luqman and Killi Jahangir in Chaman area on Pakistani side of the border," it said.

"This was done despite the fact that Afghan authorities had been informed well in advance and coordination was carried out through diplomatic and military channels for conducting census."

The country embarked on the enormous task of conducting its first census in almost two decades in March.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office expressed serious concerns over the unprovoked firing, and summoned the Afghan Charge d' Affairs to lodge protest over the firing.

"The Afghan Charge d' Affairs was conveyed the unprovoked firing from the Afghan side not only led to the loss of precious lives and injured many, but has also disrupted the census in areas," a Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.

Zakaria said the border between the two countries is clearly demarcated and Pakistani teams were conducting the census drive in their own area, which is the country's sovereign right.

If such incidents do not stop, Pakistan reserves the right to respond to preserve its sovereignty and protect its civilians, he added.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also condemned the firing as "unfortunate".

"It is the responsibility of the Afghan government to ensure that such incidents are permanently stopped," Sharif said.

The attack came a day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani turned down Pakistan's invitation to visit the country. The president's deputy spokesperson Dawa Khan Mina Pal said Ghani was invited by Pakistan's Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. Gen Naveed Mukhtar and parliamentarians to visit the country.

The two nations are divided by the Durand Line, a 2,400 km frontier drawn by the British in 1896 and disputed by Kabul, which does not officially recognise it as an international border.


US President Donald Trump met Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for a patch-up meeting and said all issues had been "worked out" after a January telephone spat between the leaders had soured ties.

Trump said he had a "productive discussion" with Turnbull on a wide range of issues in New York after he returned to the city for the first time since taking office.

He said they discussed the future of the two countries from the perspective of national security and trade to immigration and enhanced economic cooperation.

"We affirmed the tremendous friendship between the US and Australia," Trump said, adding that the reports that they had a rough telephone call on January 28 was exaggerated.

"It's all worked out. It's been worked out for a long time," Trump said, adding, "We had a great telephone call. You guys exaggerated that call. That was a big exaggeration. We're not babies."

Trump's showering of praise came in stark contrast to what was reportedly a verbal spat between the two leaders over accepting refugees. Trump claimed the acrimonious call with Turnbull early in his White House tenure had been "fake news".

Turnbull was among the first foreign leaders with whom Trump spoke with after taking office on January 20. Trump was reportedly irritated because he was expected to honour a deal made by his predecessor Barack Obama to accept more than 1,200 refugees.

The US president had abruptly hung up the call with the Australian premier after merely 25 minutes, rather than an hour the call was supposed to last.

Last month, Vice President Mike Pence visited Australia on a fence-mending visit. Although he too made it clear that Trump was not happy with the refugee deal, the US nonetheless would honour it.

At the patch-up meeting, Trump delivered a charm offensive through his speech at an event to honour the 75th anniversary of Australian and US victory in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Trump said for nearly a century Americans and Australians have "fought together, bled together."

"Our brave warriors have fought shoulder to shoulder in every major conflict together," he said.

"Our two nations were born as the rebellious children of the same parent. Americans have had no better friends than the Australians, I mean that," he said.

Trump thanked Australia, saying the US was "profoundly grateful" for its role to limit the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Turnbull underscored the closeness of the two countries.

"We are always more assured of winning when we are fighting together," he said.

On the refugee deal, he said, "We can put the refugee deal behind you and move on."

He also supported the American stand on the North Korean issue. "Today and together we condemn and resist the reckless provocations of North Korea. We fight together in Iraq and Afghanistan to defeat and destroy the terrorists who threaten our way of life. Today Australians and Americans stand shoulder to should defending our freedoms," he said.


China on Friday dismissed reports that its foreign minister put off his visit to New Delhi last month to attend a RIC meeting to protest India's decision to allow the Dalai Lama to travel to Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of Southern Tibet.

The meeting of foreign ministers of Russia India and China (RIC) to be held in New Delhi in April was put off as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declined to attend it.

"About the meeting that was to be held last month, as far as I know the reason is not China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here when asked about Beijing s reported refusal to the attend the trilateral meeting.

He said China pays attention to the trilateral cooperation mechanism under which the three foreign ministers meet annually to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues.

"We have actively participated in the meeting of foreign ministers and also other activities under the framework," Geng said.

"According to my information, the three countries are now talking about the schedule of the next foreign ministers meeting. They are maintaining communication and consultation," he said.

Chinese officials said Wang could not confirm his participation in the meeting due to scheduling problems.

China last month lodged a diplomatic protest with India over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as part of Southern Tibet. The Chinese official media carried a torrent of articles criticising India for permitting the Tibetan spiritual leader to the area. China has also released "standardised" Chinese names for six places in Arunachal Pradesh to butters its claims.

Geng today said China objects to foreign leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama when asked about reports that Beijing has asked US President Donald Trump to not meet the Tibetan spiritual leader like his predecessors.

The Dalai Lama's meetings with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama and former US presidents have drawn protests from China.

Asked whether China has made the specific request to Trump, Geng said that Beijing is firmly opposed to any foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama.

"The 14th Dalai Lama is not a simple religious figure, but has long engaged in anti-China separatist activities. He is a political exile.We firmly oppose any foreign countries allow him to visit them or any foreign official having any official exchange with him," he said.


North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected troops on two islands near the border with South Korea in the Yellow Sea, to check the readiness of his military amid escalated tensions with the US and Seoul.

Kim went to inspect the detachments on the islets of Jangjae and Mu and was "greatly satisfied with the combat readiness" of the soldiers, the North Korean state agency KCNA reported on Friday.

After having looked at South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island from the observation post of the defence detachment on Jang Jae Islet and receiving a report on the recent reinforcement on this island, the North Korean leader "acquainted and examined the plan for fire strike" on South Korea's newly organised forces, Efe news reported.

He stressed the need for the artillery group to "keep highly alert to break the backbone of the enemy once ordered", KCNA said.

Kim then moved to Mu Islet, a military base that in November 2010 fired about 170 rounds of artillery against Yeonpyeong, killing two South Korean civilians and two soldiers.

The incident was North Korea's first direct attack on South Korea since the Korean War (1950-1953).

"The duty of the two defense detachments are very important," the North Korean leader said while giving instructions for "rounding off" the combat preparation.

On both islets, Kim had a photo session with the service members as well as the families of officers and visited the newly-built facilities for converting seawater into fresh water to supply the troops.
North Korea on Friday accused the US and South Korea of attempting to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-un with a "bio-chemical substance".

In a report, North Korean state news agency KCNA said a "terrorist group" conspired with the CIA and South Korea's Intelligence Service (IS) to "commit bomb terrorism targeting the supreme leadership".

The report claimed a North Korean citizen was involved in the plot, using "biochemical substances, including radioactive substance and nano poisonous substance" to target Kim.

It also claimed the plot was "recently uncovered and smashed", and accused members of the CIA and IS of working with the North Korean citizen to provide money and weapons to carry out "state-sponsored terrorism", CNN reported.

A statement by the North Korean Ministry of State Security said that Pyongyang would find and "mercilessly destroy" the terrorists.

The ministry claimed that the North Korean man had been "corrupted and bribed" by South Korean intelligence services while he was working in Russia.

It listed several alleged payments made to him, amounting in total to nearly $300,000, according to the report.

A similar charge was laid against Pyongyang by Seoul in February following the murder of Kim Jong-Nam, allegedly at the hands of North Korean agents.

The half-brother of Kim Jong-un was poisoned with the VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur airport and died en route to a hospital.

North Korea repeatedly denied any involvement in Kim's death.


A Pakistani civilian was killed and 17 others injured in cross-border shelling and firing from Afghanistanon Friday, police said.

Security forces said Pakistani border forces retaliated to the firing on checkposts in Balochistan's Chaman area, Dawn online reported.

During the firing, mortar shells fired from the Afghan side hit houses in a village, a senior police official said.

At least three children are among the injured and four others are said to be in critical condition.

The victim was identified was 17-year-old, the official added.

As a result of the firing, the Friendship Gate at the Chaman border crossing was sealed for all kinds of transportation, reports Dawn online.

Pakistan had closed its borders with Afghanistan at Chaman and Torkham on February 18 after a series of terror attacks in the country killed over 100 people.

After over a month of closure, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered reopening of the borders as a goodwill gesture.
US' Delta Air Lines has issued an apology for kicking a family with two young children off a flight after the customers had already boarded, the media reported.

The incident occurred on April 23 on Delta flight 2222 from Hawaii to Los Angeles, but footage of the ordeal was posted on YouTube on Wednesday by Brian Schear, the customer who can be seen arguing with a flight attendant during an eight-minute exchange, reports CNN.

At issue was a seat the man's infant son was in. That seat was booked under the name of Schear's older son, who took an earlier flight.

The family members who were on board the flight  Schear, his wife and their two children  were eventually escorted off the aircraft and flew to their destination on another flight with a different airline.

"We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta, and we've reached out to them to refund their travel and provide additional compensation," the airline said in a statement on Thursday.

"Delta's goal is to always work with customers in an attempt to find solutions to their travel issues. That did not happen in this case and we apologise."

Schear can be heard in the video repeatedly saying that he paid for the seat in which his infant son was sitting.

He said it "isn't right" that the airline was asking him to give it up, CNN reported.

Delta said the flight was not overbooked, but there were passengers waiting to fly standby, which is why they were trying to make room on the flight.

Footage of the ordeal has racked up nearly 900,000 views on YouTube
Wikimedia Commons

Noida/Kolkata, May 5 (IBNS): NIIT Technologies Limited (NSE: NIITTECH), a leading global IT solutions organization, on Friday announced its financial results for the quarter ended in March 31, 2017 with a sequential revenue increase of 7.3% over previous quarter to rupee744.7 Crores.

Operating Profits increased by 31% sequentially to Rs, 152.3 Crores and Profit after Tax expanded 60.7% to Rs. 100.3 Crores. Operating margins for the quarter jumped 370 bps over previous quarter to 20.5%.

During the quarter under review, the company received part payment against settlement of a Govt contract which was put on hold resulting in revenue recognition of 27.1 crores for services contracted and reversed provisions amounting to Rs. 13.15 crores provided in Q1 FY17.

Revenues excluding the settlement impact reflects a reported sequential growth of 3.4% during the quarter with operating margins expanding 82 bps to 17.6%. Subsequent analysis in the release excludes impact of this settlement.



The financial year ended on a positive note with robust performance during the quarter," said Arvind Thakur, CEO and Joint MD, NIIT Technologies Ltd.



BFSI vertical grew 4.1% during the quarter contributing to 42% total revenues. Revenues in Travel & Transportation segment declined 1% sequentially reflecting currency impact on large engagements in EMEA and now represents 31% of the revenue mix. Share of other segments increased to 27% mainly on account of strong seasonal growth in GIS business driven by enhanced traction in the domestic Smart Cities program.



Revenue expanded 5.2% sequentially in the US representing 48% of revenue mix. Revenue share for EMEA stood at 33% reflecting a 0.5% decline due to depreciation of Euro and GBP. In constant currency however EMEA revenues were up 1% during the quarter. ROW contributed 19% to total revenues.



The quarter saw intake of USD 112mn of new business; USD 40mn from US, 47mn from EMEA and 25mn from ROW. 5 new customers were added during the quarter, 2 in BFSI and 3 in Others. This included a 20m plus engagement with a large Airline Group in EMEA.



The company successfully executed many projects in digital space which included a Digital Client Onboarding System for a large insurer in the US, which was recognized by our platform partners Appian as the Best Overall Application at their Annual Conference in Appian World 2017.



Digital business grew 33% in FY17 contributing to 20% of total revenues for the year," said Rajendra S Pawar, Chairman, NIIT Technologies Ltd.

Headcount at the end of the quarter stood at to 8,853 and attrition was 12.7% for the year.




Venezuelan Ambassador Augusto Montiel has accused the United States of interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs and false portrayal of the country as being in a state of turmoil.

The claim was supported at a press meet here by Cuban envoy Oscars Martinez, Ecuadorian Ambassador Mentor Villagomez, El Salvador Charge d'Affaires Felix Ulloa and the Charge d'Affaires of Bolivia Juan Cortez.

All envoys stated that they reaffirm their support to CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), a regional bloc of Latin American and Caribbean states.

The statement comes in the backdrop of recent anti-government protests in the country and an International Monetary Fund report that says, "Venezuela remains mired in a deep economic crisis" with unemployment on the rise and the country in recession for the past three years. Majority of mighty western nations have called for President Nicolas Maduro's ouster while regional allies like Cuba and Bolivia continue to support the President.

Montiel showed the media photographs and videos as documented evidence of the rich domestic support Venezuelan President Maduro enjoys. He expressed surprise and anger over the blind eye turned by the global media to the support for the government.

Without mincing words, he alleged that the US was supporting the opposition parties financially and encouraging them to cause violence and turmoil. He cited the US attack on Iraq in 2003 on the suspicion of the Saddam Hussain-ruled state carrying Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) which later turned out to be false. It is relevant here that oil accounts for about 95 per cent of Venezuela's export revenues and there is a major debate on how it should be used.

Ambassador of Ecuador Villagomez extended full support to Venezuela, confirming that they stand with the Venezuelan people and government. He said Ecuador supports democracy and is against any other country to interfere and destabilise the Latin American political scenario.

Cuban Ambassador Oscars Martinez saluted the Bolivian revolution and pitched for greater cooperation amongst CELAC nations. He alleged that the US was pushing propaganda through the media and the real Venezuela was not being portrayed. He stated that the US was trying to topple the revolutionary government of Venezuela by using pressure tactics and trying to put an economic blockade.

Bolivian Charge d'Affaires Juan Cortez reaffirmed Bolivian President Evo Morales' recent statement in support of Venezuela and said that 'lies' are being spread by the West on the Latin American state. "Bolivia endorses, supports and stand with the government of Venezuela in this time of crisis," he said.

Montiel pointed at some UN reports which portray the nation's success stories in healthcare, poverty reduction, literacy rates, fulfilling millennium development goals and freedom of press. In light of these facts, the envoy wondered how a development-oriented government can be portrayed as tyrannical and anarchic.
Venezuelan students launched new protests against security forces amid escalating tensions provoked by the government's call to rewrite the Constitution.

Student leaders from numerous universities summoned several demonstrations on Thursday to support the opposition and to show their solidarity to the relatives of the 35 people who have died in the anti-government protests so far, as well as hundreds of others who were injured or arrested, Efe news reported.

The students of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) were stopped at the gates of their institution when they tried to march to the Ministry of Interior and Justice in Caracas.

Rafaela Requesens, student leader of the Federation of University Centres of the UCV (FCU-UCV), said that the President's proposal to amend the Constitution by convening the National Constituent Assembly "does not make sense" because "what has to change" is the government of Maduro.

The deputy president of the FCU-UCV, Alfredo Garcia, said at that meeting that "students have already been on the streets for more than 35 days", assuring "we will not abandon them".

The demonstration convened by the UCV was dispersed by the National Guard (GNB) with tear gas and, according to Requesens, also with rubber bullets and marbles.

The students of the private Catholic university Andres Bello (UCAB) submitted a letter, asking the Venezuelan society to remain united and also asked for the support of Pope Francis.

Meanwhile, Maduro said that four alleged protest leaders from Caracas were arrested and that they were conducting an "armed insurgency" against the state.

Maduro's government has invited the opposition alliance, Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) to a meeting on May 8, in which "the motivation of the presidential initiative" will be official presented to the National Constituent Assembly.
New Delhi, May 5 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday greeted Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on the latter's birthday.

Praying for his good health, the Prime Minister's tweet read, "Birthday wishes to Haryana CM @mlkhattar. May he lead a long life full of good health."

The veteran politician and former RSS pracharak turned 63 on Friday.
New Delhi, May 5 (IBNS) : Four years after a 23-year-old medical student was tortured and gang-raped in a moving bus in the national capital, triggering nationwide horror and indignation, the Supreme Court will decide on Friday whether the four men sentenced to death by a trial court deserve the penalty, reports said.

A two-judge Supreme Court bench will give its ruling on the appeal against conviction and death sentence of the four-Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh.

There were two more convicts in the case-Ram Singh, the driver of the bus and the one who was a juvenile. While Ram Singh committed suicide in the Tihar jail, the sixth accused walked out of a correction home in December, 2015 after spending there three years.

The brutal crime committed on December 16, 2013 against the girl, dubbed Nirbhaya by media, had created public furore for a more stringent law against sexual assault of women.

Nirbhaya, who was accompanied by a male friend, was brutally gang-raped by six persons and tortured to the extent that her intestine was pulled out.

She and her friend were then thrown out of the bus. .

She died days later in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.




Patnaik's close aides say that to understand him, one has to understand his empathy

By Pratul Sharma/Photos Sanjay Ahlawat
New Delhi, May 5 (IBNS) : The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death penalty of the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder in Delhi, rejecting their appeal for reprieve, reports said.

With this verdict, all four convicts are to be hanged.

Its a tsunami of shock in the minds of the collective and destroyed humanity. Death for all four. Compelled to arrive aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances," the three-judge bench ruled.

The convicts had been awarded death sentence by the fast track court, which was upheld by the Delhi High Court.

The execution was stayed after the four convicts  Mukesh (27), Pawan (20), Vinay (21) and Akshay (29)  moved the top court.

The fifth accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide while in jail. The sixth accused, who was a minor at the time of crime, was granted three years in a correction facility by Juvenile Justice Board. He was released from the home in November 2015.

The brutal crime committed on December 16, 2013 against the girl, dubbed Nirbhaya by media, had created public furore for a more stringent law against sexual assault of women.

Jyoti Singh, who was accompanied by a male friend, was brutally gang-raped by six persons and tortured to the extent that her intestine was pulled out.

She and her friend were then thrown out of the bus. .

She died days later in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.
A doubt has cost the Kerala government not just Rs 25,000 but its face, too. The SC on Friday imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on Kerala government which had sought further clarifications on a judgement which had asked the government to reinstate T.P. Senkumar as the DGP.

Maintaining that there is no lack of clarity in its previous judgement, the SC also went to the extent of saying that it knows how to handle the issue if its order is not obeyed. The bench comprising Justices M.B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta also issued notice to Chief Secretary Nalini Netto on the contempt plea filed by Senkumar and fixed the matter for hearing on May 9.

Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Senkumar, told the bench that the state government has "mocked" the judgement passed by the apex court, which had on April 24 directed the reinstatement of senior IPS officer as the state police chief.

The counsel representing Kerala government, however, told the bench that the reinstatement process was going on.

Kerala government will now have to file a reply on Monday, explaining why it should not be held guilty of contempt of court.

The verdict has furthered the political wrangling over the Senkumar case within the LDF. CPI leader Pannyan Raveendran has said that the verdict is a "huge setback to the government''.

"It is a lesson to the government,'' he said.

Taking a potshot at the long list of advisers to the chief minister, Pannyan said that all these happened because of them. "The penalty amount should be deducted from the advisers' salary,'' he said.

The opposition, as expected, is in a celebratory mood with all, including former chief minister Oommen Chandy, saying that the government had invited this shame on itself.

Senkumar was removed from the post of DGP in June last year. Following the reinstatement order, the Kerala government moved the Supreme Court, claiming that Senkumar cannot be reinstated as the state police chief. Seeking further clarification on the courts judgement, the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had contended that Senkumar was appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP) before his removal in June 2016 and, therefore, he cannot be reinstated as Director General of Police & State Police Chief.

In its application, the state government had argued that Senkumar was neither empanelled nor selected as the state police chief and he was holding the post as DGP and Head of Police Force when he was removed. The state government had said there was another person appointed as the state police chief.

Examining the Kerala Police Act 2011, which assures a minimum tenure of two years for DGPs, the court had held there was no justification in law to displace Senkumar before the end of his term. Senkumar was appointed in May 2015.

However, in his affidavit in the court, Senkumar said the CPM was acting maliciously against him since he had conducted an honest probe into the murder cases where CPM leaders were allegedly involved.
The central government on Friday proposed a national no-fly list for unruly passengers and has called for the views of all stakeholders on this.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the proposal for public consultation envisages a flying ban in the time range of three months to two years or beyond depending upon different levels of misdemeanour.

The new rules were announced in New Delhi at a press conference addressed by the Civil Aviation Minster Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary R.N. Choubey.

"We have put instances of unruly behaviour into three categories," said Choubey.

"Level one represents unruly behaviours such as verbal harassment, physical gestures etc, while level two includes physically unruly behaviour such as pushing, kicking, inappropriately touching," he said.

Level third will be life threatening behaviour of passengers such as damage to aircraft operating system, physical violence such as choking or murderous attempt or assault to flight compartment, he said.

The sanctions for level one would be suspension proposed to be three months, for level two suspension would be proposed for six months and for level it would be for two years, the official said.
Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan has said India should not bother why Pakistan opted out of Indias launch of the South Asia Satellite. A GSLVF09 rocket carrying the satellite successfully took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on May 5.

Said Harsh Vardhan to THE WEEK, We gave Pakistan a golden chance. But they didnt accept it. Who cares? The world knows the true colours of Pakistan. The benefits of the satellite will go a long way in meeting the needs of the participating countries. Pakistan will not benefit because of their strange attitude.

The mission, funded completely by India, would improve telecommunication and disaster needs of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. The total cost of the mission was Rs 335 crore.

Harsh Vardhan said he was proud of the scientists who were involved in the project. The launch has given a different dimension to our space programme. The satellite will create a new form of regional cooperation seen nowhere else in the world. India will always help its neighbouring countries, he added.

It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had proposed the idea of a common satellite at the SAARC summit in 2014. Pakistan wanted the satellite to be placed under the SAARCs control and not under the control of ISRO. But India rejected the condition. Among SAARC nations, only Pakistan and Sri Lanka, besides India, have a space programme of their own. The satellite weighs 2,230kg and has a mission life of more than 12 years. India will now have a hotline with the participating SAARC nations that can be used during emergencies.

Modi has time and again described the South Asia Satellite as Indias priceless gift to SAARC countries.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and apprised him of the security situation in the state, sources said.

Vohra apprised the Prime Minister of the development work undertaken by the state government. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office at South Block and lasted for about 45 minutes.

There has been a spike in militant attacks as also unrest in parts of the Kashmir Valley. A civilian driver was killed and three soldiers were injured on Thursday when militants ambushed their vehicle in the state's Shopian district.

The opposition Congress has accused the BJP-led central government of lacking a clear policy on Kashmir while the National Conference has demanded imposition of Governor's rule.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and the People's Democratic Party are in power in the state.
Parrikar's dilemma

Will it be Panaji or Curchorem? That's the dilemma Goa BJP and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar are facing. Parrikar, former defence minister, has to get elected to state legislature by mid September. Under normal circumstances he would have chosen to contest from Panaji, the assembly constituency he has represented five times. But Panaji isn't a safe seat anymore, feels a section of BJP. Reason is simple, the victory margin of Siddharth Kunkalienkar, in the recent assembly election was less than 1000 votes. Given this fact, there is a feeling in the BJP that Parrikar should not contest from Goa as the election will not be an easy ride. Elites of Panaji are not happy about the way the BJP wrested power in the coastal state despite being second largest party. Secondly, there is also the threat of Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate contesting against Parrikar to make it a prestige contest. Mapusa too was considered by the BJP but senior BJP leader Francis D'souza is happy with cabinet berth in Goa and isn't too keen to move to Rajya Sabha. The BJP top brass is happy that Nilesh Cabral, party legislator from Curchorem in South Goa, has shown willingness to resign his seat for Parrikar. Cabral won with a huge margin of over 9000 votes and hence contesting by election from Curchorem will be easier thanks to Parrikar's stature and Cabral's networking skills and connect among locals. What remains to be seen is whether he chooses a tough fight to return to Goa legislature or whether he prefers safe and hassle-free landing via Curchorem.

Village of books

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and culture minister Vinod Tawde recently inaugurated first of its kind 'village of books' in India. Bhilar, situated near hill station of Mahabaleshwar, is being modeled on Welsh town Hay on Wye, famous for its literary Hay Festival. In the first phase of this project Maharashtra government spent Rs 25 lakh to create the infrastructure, decorate the village and donate a few thousand Marathi books. The second phase will see the government donating English and Hindi books to this village where they have been kept in a special library and book shelves donated to villagers. Bhilar is know for its strawberry farming and the plantations are spread over some 8000 acres. Tourists who frequent Mahabaleshwar often stop at Bhilar to experience strawberry farming. State government now plans to promote 'literary tourism' by making Bhilar, a village of books. Initially, the idea was to develop Malgund, on Konkan coast, as the village of books. Malgund happens to be the birthplace of one of Maharashtra's finest poets late Krishnaji Keshav Damle who wrote under the pen name 'Keshavsut'. The government, however, felt that Malgund lacked the infrastructure and the tourist flow to the village wasn't much. Hence Bhilar, near Mahabaleshwar, was chosen. Sadly, however, not a single stalwart literary personality was invited for the inauguration of 'village of books'. All those present on the dias were politicians.

Corporator seeks salary hike

Rais Shaikh, a corporator of Samjawadi Party in Mumbai has launched a campaign demanding salary hike for elected representatives in Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation. As of now, elected corporators get a monthly salary of Rs 10,000. Shaikh wants it to be raised to Rs 50,000. Shaikh recently wrote a letter to BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta outlining his demand and justifying the need for the hike. He says that BMC is one of Asia's richest municipal bodies and a decent salary will attract qualified individuals to become corporators to solve city's problems. He also wants the conveyance allowance to be increased to Rs 500 per meeting, at present it is Rs 150 per meeting. The demand comes when the BMC has reduced its budget by almost 25 per cent to bring it below Rs 30,000 crore and bring in fiscal discipline.
The younger brother of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav, who has developed a bitter political animosity with his nephew and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, has announced on Friday a new political outfit. With this, the SP has split formally.

According to him, Mulayam will be the head of this new front which would be named Samajwadi Secular Morcha (secular front of the SP). Shivpal said decision about the details of this front would be taken in coming few days. Shivpal, who met Mulayam before announcing the formation of the party, claimed that he formed the secular front for ensuring social justice. He further said he is floating the front to restore the lost glory of Netaji (Mulayam)'.

With the formation of this new outfit, the Yadav family is divided between the two campsMulayam, his younger son Prateek Yadav and younger daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav supporting Shivpal while Ramgopal backing Akhilesh.

It may be recalled that there was a bitter feud in SP between Shivpal and Akhilesh even before the assembly polls in UP were announced. The major bone of contention between them were control of the party and government. While Mulayam and a few old guards of the party sided with Shivpal, the former chief minister was backed by Mulayams cousin Ramgopal Yadav and younger leaders in the party.

At party meetings, both Shivpal and Akhilesh used to express their dislike for each other. While the former CM accused Shivpal and Amar Singh of sabotaging partys poll prospects, Shivpal used to accuse Akhilesh of lying. Despite the many meetings convened to resolve the crisis at the insistence of Mulayam, the war in the party continued.

Just before polls, Uttar Pradesh had witnessed high voltage political drama which ended in the expulsion of Akhilesh and Ramgopal from the party and Shivpal becoming its state head. In retaliation, Akhilesh removed Shivpal from the cabinet.

Later, the warring factions went to the Election Commission of India to stake their claim for the party symbol. The political crisis culminated in Akhilesh becoming the head of the party in place of his father. A bitter Mulayam shied away from campaigning for the party in polls and SP fared poorly despite joining hands with the Congress.

There were allegations that Shivpal had covertly supported the BJP contestants during elections.

Although Shivpal had asked Akhilesh to step down from the post of party's national president, the latter refused to do so.

In the past few months, Shivpal, on many occasions, spoke about forming a new front. He had also held the former CM responsible for the party's rout in the assembly polls. Shivpal had also given Akhilesh three months to step down from the post. I had given him (Akhilesh) three months time, if he does not yield, I will form a new outfit, he had said.
Calling it a "rarest of rare" case, the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence on all four convicts in the brutal Nirbhaya gang-rape here of 2012 that led to her death and caused nationwide outrage.





"If ever a case called for hanging, this was it," said a bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice R. Banumathi. The ruling was applauded in the courtroom.





The judges said that the aggravating circumstances against Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur far outweighed the mitigating circumstances cited in their favour.





The four were convicted for raping and assaulting the 23-year-old paramedical student inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012 which led to her death 13 days later in a Singapore hospital.





The rapists, six in all, pounced on the young woman who had boarded the bus with her boyfriend to go home after seeing a movie.





After committing the crime, they dumped both on the side of a road. Some onlookers alerted the police. The sheer brutality of the crime led to nationwide revulsion -- and street protests.





A fifth accused, Ram Singh, committed suicide in the Tihar Central Jail here. The sixth, a juvenile, has been released after serving his probation period in a remand home.





Taking note of the serious injuries and the severe nature of the offence, the judges said they were upholding the death sentence first pronounced by a lower court and upheld by the Delhi High Court.





The crime shocked the nation's conscience, the Supreme Court judges said.





There were tears in Nirbhaya's mother's eyes when she heard the judges upholding the death sentence.





"I am happy the Supreme Court has heard our voice and understood the suffering Nirbhaya underwent," the grieving father said, referring to his daughter by the name given by the media.





"It has given justice to Nirbhaya and the entire country."





The convict's lawyer, A.P. Singh, pledged to file a review petition.





"I am not satisfied with the judgement," he told the media. "It is a violation of human rights. Someone cannot be hanged just because of public sentiments."





Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said she was happy. "It was a horrible experience and suffering for the family."





The Delhi Commission for Women welcomed the capital punishment. "Finally, justice was delayed but not denied," said its chief, Swati Maliwal.
Sabka satellite vroomed into space, and India has made a giant leap in space diplomacy, becoming the big brother, providing satellite connectivity to South Asia.

Heads of missions of the participating countriesAfghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldiveswere invited to the viewing gallery at Sriharikota to witness the launch of GSLV-F09 rocket carrying the Indias GSAT-9, which promises to provide a slew of benefits to these countries.

It is still not clear, however, why the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) did not follow tradition and invite the media for the launch. Why was it kept a close door event? Was it the fear that the launch may not be successful? The GSLV, though certified a motorable vehicle by ISRO, does not have a stellar record, having failed in five of the ten flights it has undertaken. Or was it that till the last minute, no one had any idea whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would himself attend the launch.

On Wednesday evening, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed complete ignorance about the schedule of events, though the ministry must have coordinated not just the visit of the heads of the missions but also the video links with the various countries.

The launch, at 4.57 pm, however, went off smoothly, even as people sat biting their nails in suspense. India's reputation and ambition rode atop the vehicle, along with the satellite.

Soon after ISRO chairman Kiran Kumar declared the launch a success, Modi addressed the nation via a video link. He said the satellite marks the fulfillment of India's commitment and the beginning of the journey to build the most advanced frontier of our partnership.

Modi said the project will touch the lives of the people of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India through regional cooperation in space technology applications in telecommunication and broadcasting, telemedicine, teleeducation, e-governance, banking, ATM services, cellular back haul, metereological data transmission, disaster response and networking of academic and research institutions.

In a snide remark at Pakistan, which did not join the project, he said the satellite demonstrated our collective choices for our citizens.

The satellite will undergo a series of orbit raising manoeuvres and will reach operational status by May 25.

In order to enable test television transmission in the national languages of the participating countries, India has established required ground station facility in New Delhi. This facility will also support the demonstration of the interactive services to member nations.

Shortly after the PM's speech, heads of all the member nations too made their addresses through video links.

What can member countries do with South Asian Satellite?

Banking/ATM: Using the satellite, every member country can setup their own autonomous nationwide banking networks, especially in remote areas

e-Governance: They can establish countrywide network for accessing government schemes by its citizens

Cellular backhaul: Connectivity to remote regions, where terrestrial solution does not exist, can be facilitated by nationwide cellular backhaul notworks

Infrastructure: A common ground infrastructure for connecting member nations to support activities in metereological data transmission and networking of educational and research institutions.
UP fails Modis flagship programme

UP, the most populated state in the country, gave a jolt to Prime Minister Narendra Modis Swachch Bharat mission (clean India campaign). In the Swachchta Sarvekshan2017 ranking released on Thursday, Gonda, an eastern UP city, stood last among the 454 cities. While the state capital Lucknow slipped from 28th to 269th position. Not only this, 50 cities from UP figure in the list of 50 dirtiest cities in the nation. UP has 70 BJP MPs. Though PMs constituency (Kashi) tops the list of the cleanest cities in Uttar Pradesh, the states overall performance in this regard, will surely worry the PM. Sonia Gandhis Raibareli was ranked 399. Position of UP has made Union urban development minister Venkiah Naidu quite unhappy. For the first time in three years, he plans to hold a meeting with the officials concerned in this connection.

Yogis treat

It is Yogis treat for the people of UP. The government has decided to provide tummy-full meal for Rs 5 through its Annapurna canteen which will be opened soon all over the state. The scheme will be launched from Lucknow, Kanpur, Ghaziabad and Gorakhpur, say officials. In all, the government plans to run about 200 such subsidised meal canteens throughout the state. The scheme, especially meant to cater poor and have-nots, will have roti, rice, dal and vegetables in its main course. This has been confirmed by the CMs office. It may be recalled that such subsidised food schemes have been operational in Amma canteen in Tamil Nadu. Rajasthan, another BJP ruled state too, has this model where breakfast cost Rs 5 and lunch Rs 8. Similarly, the MP government has started subsidised food scheme named Deendayal Rasoi Yojana offering meal for Rs 5 to the poor. UPs labour minister Swami Prasad Maurya and urban development minister Suresh Khanna have been working on this scheme.

Rare talaq

Triple talaq, hitherto, was the prerogative of Muslim men. But in a rare case, 24-year-old Amreen Bano of Meerut, has given talaq (divorce) to her husband turning the tables. Earlier, in a complaint to the police, Amreen Bano had said that her husband and his family had been torturing and beating her on various pretext. Amreen and her sister were married to brothers of the same family in 2012. In September 2016, her sister was given divorced by the younger brother. After this, the situation got worse and Amreen made up her mind to give triple talaq to her husband. Amreen said, My husband does not give me money and he beats me. I want him to be jailed and divorced him. For Muslims, a man gives talaq to his wife. Similarly, I want to give triple talaq to my husband in front of my community.

Front against Yogi

Two women have threatened to go on fast unto death front of the BJP head quarters in Delhi if murder accused Amanmani Tripathi joins the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. Amanmani Tripathi is accused of killing his wife Sara Singh. His mother-in-law Seema Singh and Nidhi Shukla, whose sister was allegedly murdered by Amanmani's father Amarmani Tripathi, have come out in the streets against rumours that he may join BJP. Amanmani Tripathi had shared dias with the chief minister during the latters recent visit to Gorakhpur. This had fanned speculations that Aamanmani may join BJP. Amarmani Tripathi and his wife Madhumani are currently in jail for the murder of poet Madhumita, with whom Amarmani was allegedly having an affair. Amamnmani was recently booked by CBI for his wife's murder.
New Delhi, May 5 (IBNS): Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision where it upheld the death penalty of the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder in Delhi.

"Four years after the heartbreaking Nirbhaya case that agonised the soul of India, justice has been delivered," Sonia Gandhi was quoted as saying by the Congress party as it tweeted.

"I feel deeply for the courageous family of this brave daughter of India,who rose to become a symbol of every womans fight against sexual violence," she said.

She said :"The courts judgement is a reminder to each of us to work tirelessly toward building a safe & secure environment for women."

Gandhi said :"To lead a life of dignity, pride, respect and equality is the right of every daughter of India...and it is for all of us to ensure that she gets it."

With this verdict, all four convicts are to be hanged.

Its a tsunami of shock in the minds of the collective and destroyed humanity. Death for all four. Compelled to arrive aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances," the three-judge bench ruled.

The convicts had been awarded death sentence by the fast track court, which was upheld by the Delhi High Court.

The execution was stayed after the four convicts  Mukesh (27), Pawan (20), Vinay (21) and Akshay (29)  moved the top court.

The fifth accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide while in jail. The sixth accused, who was a minor at the time of crime, was granted three years in a correction facility by Juvenile Justice Board. He was released from the home in November 2015.

The brutal crime committed on December 16, 2013 against the girl, dubbed Nirbhaya by media, had created public furore for a more stringent law against sexual assault of women.

Jyoti Singh, who was accompanied by a male friend, was brutally gang-raped by six persons and tortured to the extent that her intestine was pulled out.

She and her friend were then thrown out of the bus. .

She died days later in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.
Independent centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron appeared to cement his position as favorite for the French presidency on Thursday as the dust settled on a rancorous final televised debate with far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

Three days before the final round of France's most important election in decades, Le Pen missed her last chance to unseat Macron.

At stake are two diametrically opposed views of Europe and France's place in the world. Le Pen would close borders and quit the euro currency while Macron wants closer European cooperation and an open economy.

According to a snap poll, 63 per cent of viewers found Macron the more convincing of the two candidates in Wednesday night's debate, reinforcing his status as favorite to move into the Elysee Palace.

A second poll found that 42 per cent of people found the 39-year-old Macron more compelling in the debate, during which the candidates traded barbs over the economy, the euro and how to combat terrorism.

Twenty-six per cent found Le Pen, 48, more persuasive, while 31 per cent chose neither candidate, Harris said.

On Thursday, a survey of voting intentions showed Macron extending his lead over Le Pen to 61-39 per cent from 60-40 the previous day.

The first poll on the June parliamentary election, published on Wednesday, showed Macron's year-old En Marche! (Onwards!) movement also set to emerge as the largest party in parliament, suggesting he would be able to push through his programme.

"In France, we still talk about tail risk but that appears to be subsiding after the TV debate," said Commerzbank rates strategist David Schnautz.

Meanwhile, the rancour, accusations and counter-accusations of Wednesday night's two-and-a-half-hour debate between the two candidates continued into Thursday.

The French prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the Macron camp's complaint that fake news was being spread to influence voting.

Macron had earlier denied allegations that he used a foreign tax haven as claimed on social media and referred to by Le Pen during the debate. He accused her of spreading lies.

Separately, Le Pen's campaign issued a statement saying its website had been regularly attacked by hackers throughout the election race and that it had filed a complaint with the police.

But signs that Macron was more firmly in the driving seat than ever pervaded the day.

Former US President Barack Obama endorsed Macron in a video message released by En Marche! on Thursday, praising him for appealing "to people's hopes and not their fears".

Meanwhile, Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, was critical of his daughter's performance, saying most viewers would probably have found the first part of the debate incomprehensible.

"That may have benefited Emmanuel Macron, but it didn't work to the advantage of Marine Le Pen, who perhaps lacked gravitas," the founder of the National Front told RTL radio.

Macron has promised to stimulate economic growth with training programs and a relaxation of labor laws, while reducing state expenditure.

Campaigning on an anti-EU, anti-globalisation platform, Le Pen has sought to portray Macron, a former investment banker and economy minister, as part of an out-of-touch elite responsible for France's ills, including unemployment of about 10 per cent, low growth and a two-year spate of Islamist violence.

On the subject of the alleged fake news, Macron's camp said that, two hours before Wednesday's debate started, an anonymous account posted documents on an Internet forum purporting to prove that Macron had an offshore account, and the information was quickly distributed on Twitter.

Macron's team released a screenshot of what it said was a falsified signature on documents purportedly proving "Macron's secret tax evasion" as well as a trail of tweets spreading the information.

Le Pen said on Thursday that she had no proof Macron had an offshore account, but did not want undisclosed funds to come to light when it was too late.

Feike Hacquebord, a researcher with security firm Trend Micro, said last week he had found evidence that Macron's campaign had been targeted by a cyber espionage group linked by some experts to the Russian military intelligence agency GRU.

Russia has denied involvement in attacks on Macron's campaign.
Come monsoon, and it will be raining frogs. But tracking them is no easy task, says Dr Sanil George, a scientist at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Thiruvananthapuram. Once we had a narrow escape from a rogue elephant while looking for frogs in the Mudumalai forest. Another time, we saw two tigers wrestling and gashing each other. It was quite scary, he recalls. On a monsoon evening, one of my colleagues got leech bites that were so bad that he had to be admitted in hospital.

It was during one such trip to Kasaragod in Kerala in 2013 that George, 53, and his colleagues spotted the orange-striped Hydrophylax bahuvistara, a species of frog endemic to the Western Ghats. It was hiding under a clay pot in a kitchen, says George, who has pictures of this croaking species all over his workstation. During the course of their study, the researchers found that a peptidea chain of amino acidsthis frog secretes could kill the H1N1 virus. Our study showed that the peptide isolated from this frogs skin has antiviral property against the influenza virus and can be developed as a future therapeutic agent, explains George.

The peptide has been named Urumin after a sword, urumi, used in kalaripayat, a popular martial art form of Kerala.

The study, done in collaboration with Emory University in Atlanta in the United States, offers hope to countries like India where drug-resistant swine flu virus has become a major health challenge. The new peptide targets a different part of the influenza virus than the antivirals available in the market and is found to be effective even against drug-resistant H1 influenza viruses that currently circulate, says Dr Joshy Jacob, associate professor at the Emory School of Medicine (department of microbiology and immunology), who was an investigator in the project. Urumin destroys all the different strains of H1s.

But, researchers had initially written off Urumin as it did not show any antibacterial activity in normal tests. The viral test results though showed promise, and the researchers explored it further.

Dr Sanil George | Benny Paul

Does Urumin have preventive potential, too? Some of the studies we did in mice indicate that Urumin could protect them against the infection. However, that is not comprehensive evidence to show that it can act as a preventive or a vaccine, says Prof M. Radhakrishna Pillai, head of Viral Disease Biology Programme at RGCB. We are just done with our first round of studies in mice. Now we are going to look at whether the peptide works in other animals, which are naturally infected by the virus.

Some of the frog skin peptides are toxic, like the ones secreted by some South American species5ml of these peptides can kill 5,000 people, says George. Fortunately, Urumin doesnt seem to be toxic to human cells, he says.

The study, published in the journal Immunity in April, has set the scientific world abuzz. RGCB, a national research centre, got into the study after the outbreak of swine flu in Kerala. We set up a virology centre following requests from the Central and state governments, says Pillai.

Urumin is able to annihilate H1N1 as Hydrophylax bahuvistara is genetically programmed to fight it for its own survival, says George. It gets exposed to pathogens, while living on land and in water, that share anatomical similarities with the virus. So the frogs innate mechanism works when confronted with a similar attack.

Dr Joshy Jacob

The frog produces the peptide when confronted with a threat. To produce secretion, the frog was given mild electric shocks. Once the secretion is collected, we let the frog out, says George, who has been working towards enhancing conservation of amphibians. We never kill frogs. After the sequence of the peptide is determined, we just chemically synthesise it. Then we dont need the frogs anymore.

The researchers use a technique based on molecular biology to identify the peptides. Each frog species produces a distinct peptide. The researchers have studied these peptides and identified the ones that can tackle other epidemics and pandemics, too. These are very interesting preliminary studies. We have peptides that act against cholera bacteria and microbacterium TB. These were found in different species of frogs, says Pillai.

The Western Ghats could hold the key to new treatments in future. The mountain range is home to the largest number of endemic frog species in the world. More than 70 per cent of the frog species found in the Western Ghats are endemic, says Pillai. Peptides from these frogs offer endless possibilities for research. We have identified more than 100 peptides, some of which could combat even diseases that are hitherto untreatable.
Mumbai,May 5 (IBNS): Avika Gor and Manish Raisinghani are chuffed to call themselves the Yash Raj of short films in India, as they shoot portions of their upcoming short films in Switzerland.

The duo that played husband and wife in Sasural Simar Ka discovered a passion for making short films when they sent their debut short Ankahee Baatein to the Cannes Film Festival in 2016.

Now, with as many as three short film scripts in the pipeline, the actors are shooting in in Montreux and Zermatt in Switzerland



Weve been roped in by Star News to promote tourism in Switzerland. So while we shoot our short films there, the promotional video will capture us behind the scenes, informs Manish.

Avika quips, We are happy to believe that we are the YRFs of short films by going and shooting in Switzerland. Not just Switzerland, they would also be shooting in France before their Cannes appearance.

We are going to spend the first few days exploring Switzerland and France and shoot at the untapped locations, says Avika.
New York, May 5 (Just Earth News): Nearly 75,000 refugees and migrants, including an estimated 24,600 children, currently stranded in Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary and the Western Balkans are at risk of psychosocial distress caused by living in a protracted state of limbo, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned on Thursday.

We are seeing single mothers and children stranded in Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria who have not seen their husbands and fathers for months or even years, said Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director and Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe.

The family reunification process is slow, and its outcome uncertain and it is this uncertainty which can cause significant emotional distress and anxiety for children and families, setting them back for years to come, she added.

In many cases, adult males are the first family members to make the trip to Europe, with the rest of the family following later.

Most stranded asylum seekers do not know whether or when they will be permitted to move forward. The situation is particularly acute for single mothers and children stuck in Greece or the Balkans waiting for reunification with family members in other EU countries.

But with the 2016 border closures and implementation of the EU-Turkey statement, other family members are being held up in transit countries from where they must apply for family reunification with their loved ones  a process that typically takes between 10 months and two years.

UNICEF and its partners in Greece are monitoring mental health and general depression among single mothers and children waiting for family reunification and providing psychosocial support.

Keeping families together is the best way to ensure that children are protected, which is why the family reunification process for refugee and migrant children is so important, said Khan. With the number of those stranded continuing to rise, it is incumbent on member states to alleviate procedural bottlenecks so that families can get back together as quickly as possible.

Most of the family reunification requests originate from children and separated family members stranded in Greece, but because of the caseload and involvement of destination countries, the process can be painstakingly slow.

In 2016, nearly 5,000 family reunification requests, out of which 700 from unaccompanied and separated children, were made from Greece, with only 1,107 successful applicants having reached their destination country by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the number of refugees and migrants stranded in Greece, Hungary and the Western Balkans continues to grow  increasing by around 60 per cent over the past year from 47,000 in March 2016 to nearly 80,000 at the end of April.

Photo: UNICEF/Gilbertson VII Photo
Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern Shlita, on motzei Shabbos, made an unannounced visit to the Givat Shaul wholesale market, the areas main distribution for produce and other items. This is where much of the produce sold in and around Jerusalem is tithed.

As part of his inspection, Rabbi Stern reviewed truck rosters to determine if any of the shipments arrived on Shabbos. He also checked those arriving after Shabbos and calculated if the truck headed out from its point of origin on Shabbos.

The rav is known for his gentle demeanor and looking for the Darchei Noam if and when possible, but in this case, he explains the desecration of Shabbos cannot be ignored and something must be done to prevent future occurrence. As such, he instructed the trucks that were mechalel Shabbos to turn around and leave, without unloading their shipment  this in the hope of teaching drivers to wait until Shabbos ends! In fact, tens of tons of produce was rejected, sent back to its point of destination.

Rabbi Stern is also filing a report on his findings with the Chief Rabbinate Council, citing if that is what occurs in Yerushalayim, one can be certain the same problem exists elsewhere as well RL.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Histadrut National Labor Federation Director Avi Nissankoren has sent a letter to a number of cabinet ministers, calling upon them to cancel the decision to bring thousands of skilled construction workers from China to Israel. He explains that bringing the workers will harm the construction industry and if the government moves ahead with the plan, he will declare a work dispute which will lead to a sectoral strike.

The labor leader sent his letter to Finance Minister (Kulanu) Moshe Kahlon, Welfare Minister (Likud) Chaim Katz and Housing Minister (Kulanu) Yoav Gallant. He calls on the cabinet to cancel the agreement reached with Chinese authorities.

He warns that implementation of the plan will result in a deteriorating in the quality of construction while posing a threat to the industrys workers; many whose jobs will be lost. He is confident that the influx of so many foreign workers will result in the salary dropping, and this will result in even fewer Israelis working in the construction industry.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Miami-Dade County plans to hire a full-time entomologist in its increasingly costly fight against the Zika virus.

The Miami Herald reports the countys budget to combat the mosquito-borne virus is nearing $30 million. That figure is based on a contracting request the Miami-Dade County Commission approved Tuesday.

A spokesman for County Mayor Carlos Gimenez says the county has spent about $25 million since June 2016. The request includes additional costs the county will ask the state to cover.

A Zika outbreak in Miamis Wynwood arts district last year was the first on the U.S. mainland and lingered more than a month.

Gimenez told commissioners the county conducted nearly 51,000 mosquito inspections after the Zika infections were confirmed.

The latest request details $5 million for insecticide, including larvae-killing tablets dropped into 150,000 storm drains.

(AP)
Did you click on an unsolicited Google Docs email invite? It might have been a scam.

According to Vices Motherboard, online miscreants on Wednesday launched a massive phishing campaign targeting Google accounts. The highly sophisticated campaign appears to have hit a number of journalists, along with individuals from other industries, the report notes.

The fraudulent emails include what appears to be a Google Doc link from someone the recipient knows. These, however, are malicious emails designed to steal your Google password or hijack your account, Motherboard advises.

Reddit user JakeSteam, who received the phishing email, said clicking the purported Google Docs button in the message takes you to an actual Google page, which asks you to grant access to an app masquerading as Google Docs. Granting permission would give the attacker full access to your email messages and contacts. The email then replicates itself and spreads to everyone you have ever emailed, according to JakeSteam.

Affected individuals who clicked allow should revoke access to the fake Google Docs app right away, JakeSteam recommends.

The attack can bypass two-factor authentication, so having that additional layer of security enabled wont help you. Note that its still a good idea to have two-factor authentication enabled, as it makes your account much harder to crack.

We have taken action to protect users against an email impersonating Google Docs [and] have disabled offending accounts, Google said in a statement. Weve removed the fake pages, pushed updates through Safe Browsing, and our abuse team is working to prevent this kind of spoofing from happening again. We encourage users to report phishing emails in Gmail.

This phishing campaign comes after attackers in January targeted Gmail users with a sophisticated ploy designed to steal usernames and passwords.

(AP)
The Israel Police volunteer from northern Israel who was promoted to the rank of superintendent this week, Chezi Farkash, explains things for him and others are different in northern Israel for no one shouts Chardak at him as may be the case in Jerusalem.

Farkash, who also serves as the Zaka Northern District Operations Officer and is also a resident of Haifa, told Kol Berama Radio on Thursday morning 8 Iyar that In the north, as in Zaka or the police we do our utmost to create a Kiddush Hashem, to related to one another respectfully.

Kol Berama:

As a Seret Vishnitz chossid and Operations Officer for Zaka, do you find the positions may contradict one another?

Farkash:

Zaka is a part of the Israel Police and as a result of his work in Zaka he was able to achieve his new rank. In cases that they work to prevent an autopsy, I often appears in court in my capacity as a Zaka officer and have found if our approach is respectful, it is possible to explain our side to the other side.

I also do not feel it is correct to act disrespectfully against one another, as when some shout Chardak against frum soldier. Even if he shouts Chardak when he will need our assistance we will be there for him.

In the north, it is not like in the center and shouts of Chardak are almost non-existent. Here we are more open and accept everyone.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is not making promises, but it does appear he will be meeting with left-wing NGOs in Israel despite being instructed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu not to meet with them since they work against Israel in the international arena.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is trying to prevent the senior foreign official from meeting with representatives of BTselem and Breaking the Silence, as both organizations have told the international community that IDF soldiers are guilty of war crimes.

Israel recently canceled a planned meeting between PM Netanyahu and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel after he met with BTselem and Breaking the Silence. This led to increased tensions between Berlin and Jerusalem. Steinmeier, a former German Foreign Minister, is scheduled to arrive in Israel next week, this time as President of that country.

Ynet reports at present, Steinmeiers itinerary has not been finalized and the Prime Ministers Office is working to determine if he plans to meet with the extreme left-wing organizations or not. However, the President is unwilling to promise he will not meet with the organizations, which may lead to PM Netanyahu refusing to meet with the German President.

President Steinmeier is also scheduled to meet with President Reuven Rivlin.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
New York, May 5 (Just Earth News): The tens of thousands of members of Myanmaras Rohingya community who fled inter-communal violence in north of the country and sought refuge in Bangladesh remain highly vulnerable and risk being are-victimized even in exilea unless urgent action is taken, a senior United Nations refugee protection official has warned.

According to Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates, as of February, some 74,000 Rohingya members were living in camps and makeshift sites in Bangladesh, many in need of adequate shelter before the rainy season starts.

Without proper support, they also face risks such as child labour, gender-based violence and trafficking, said Shinji Kubo, UNHCR Representative in Bangladesh, in a news release issued by the Office.

While Rohingya displacement has persisted for decades, it made headlines last October when attacks on border posts in Myanmars northern Rakhine province triggered a security clearance operation that drove an estimated 43,000 civilians into neighbouring Bangladesh by the years end.

In a report (issued in February) into the violence, the UN human rights wing (OHCHR) had documented mass gang-rape, killings, including that of babies and young children, brutal beatings, disappearances and other serious human rights violations by Myanmars security forces.

Many witnesses and victims interviewed by OHCHR had also described being taunted while they were being beaten, raped or rounded up, such as being told you are Bangladeshis and you should go back or What can your Allah do for you? See what we can do?

The latest findings released by UNHCR in its new report on mixed movements in south-east Asia indicate that more than 168,000 Rohingya members could have fled Myanmar in the last five years. The total number of Rohingya refugees in the region and those internally displaced is estimated at 420,000 and 120,000 respectively.

Prior to the recent violence, Malaysia was the preferred destination for many Rohingya.

Between 2012 and 2015, an estimated 112,500 of them risked their lives on smugglers boats in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea in the hope of reaching Malaysia, with hopes of finding work in the informal sector.

Those who made this difficult sea journey ranged from individuals fleeing the 2012 inter-communal violence in Rakhine to those who grew increasingly desperate amid restrictions back home on their freedom of movement and access to services and livelihoods.

However, after regional Governments increased action against maritime smuggling networks in 2015, the route has been disrupted, with no confirmed boat arrivals in Malaysia last year. Furthermore, among those who tried to reach Malaysia overland in 2016, more than 100  about half of them Rohingya  were reportedly arrested in Myanmar and Thailand.

The UNHCR report also explores other routes taken by the Rohingya, including to India via Bangladesh. It notes a steady but slowing stream of arrivals since 2012 numbering at least 13,000 people.

Looking at the declining arrival numbers in India, it is safe to assume that this overland route has not replaced the maritime one, said Keane Shum of UNHCRs Regional Mixed Movements Monitoring Unit.

Compared to those who went to Malaysia by sea, the Rohingya in India travelled in larger family units and chose the route as it was cheaper and safer.

In addition to analyzing displacement patterns, the report also looked at the situation of Rohingya women and girls in Malaysia, India and Indonesia, using a snapshot of some 85 women and girls. The findings revealed that majority among them were married young (at 16 or 17) and gave birth at an average age of 18. Almost a third of them reported facing domestic violence and many said that while they would like to earn their own income, only a few were doing so despite having skills.

Those in India appeared to be more literate and educated, and were more likely to have chosen their own husbands. In contrast, those in Malaysia were more likely to have married someone chosen by their families or by brokers or agents.

On its part, the UN agency has been working with host countries on temporary stay and protection of Rohingya refugees, including supporting them to access basic services and legal work to help them become more self-reliant until longer-term solutions are found as well as advocating with the Myanmar authorities for the full resumption of humanitarian access to vulnerable people in northern Rakhine state.

We stand ready to support Government efforts to promote co-existence and address issues related to citizenship, said UNHCR.

(File) Photo: UNHCR/Saiful Huq Omi
In an interview with Yediot Achronot, former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon tells it like it is, crossing lines that he has never crossed in previous interviews.

Following is a synopsis of small portions of the extensive interview.

In recent month, the 66-year-old former IDF Chief of Staff and Defense Minister is pushing ahead, possibly to head a new political part in the next Knesset elections. Yaalon heads the Alternative Leadership NGO, and attending many a parlor meeting to get his word out.

He tells Yediot that while he is currently independent, he does not rule out joining forces with an existing part. He speaks of gaining support from many, including his former Likud colleagues, stating they too are unsatisfied with the current leadership. He speaks of how the party leader, PM Netanyahu, was constantly crossing the line of heading a national party to nationalistic one, tying to some allies in Bayit Yehudi. He explains that both Naftali Bennet and Betzalel Smotrich have wagging tails too and how they are trying to pull the government to the right.

Yaalon decries how suddenly, it was okay to attack Arabs and/or the High Court of Justice, questioning the deteriorating standards of the decision-makers. He explains he continued in his post for he felt capable of protecting the IDF and if he stepped down, he was uncertain who his replacement would be. He speaks of a responsibility to remain to protect the nations military.

Regarding personal relations with the prime minister, ongoing police investigations, allegations of corruption surrounding the IDF Navy deal and German submarines. Yaalon would not discuss matters which are still under investigation. He does however state there are things the public is unaware of, including the fact that there are issues with other naval vessels and not just the submarines.

Regarding accusations that he was too quick to condemn Sgt. Elor Azariya publicly after the latter killed a wounded terrorist in Hebron, Yaalon explains he already viewed video evidence that clearly showed what occurred. He was aware the matter was going to be publicized in a matter of hours, and he feels many used family members and others for their own political spin. Yaalon explains that as defense minister, he had responsibilities and had to act responsibly even if it was not popular.

Yaalon expresses disdain for The level of [government] corruption that has become the norm, speaking about investigations against PM Netanyahu that is ongoing. He feels the prime minister should resign as one expects of a leader under so many probes in a civilized society.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Police on Thursday morning, 8 Iyar, arrested a chareidi woman after an 18-month-old boy in her care sustained a head injury and was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. The child is reported to be in moderate condition. Police became involved after the hospital informed them of the incident.

The child was in the womans care and according to her, at some point on Thursday morning she discovered a change in the childs response, summoning an ambulance.

Hospital officials fear the child may have been injured by violence. Police are also probing the possibility the child fell and was injured by an object and the woman then summoned an ambulance.

Police later in the day announced the woman, 54, a resident of Yerushalayim, was arraigned and remanded for three additional days.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Unlike the days during the former Obama administration, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu awaits the arrival of US President Donald Trump, confident there will not be tension between Jerusalem and Washington as was the case during the previous US administration.

Prime Minister Netanyahu on Thursday, 8 Iyar,at his meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, made the following remarks:

I look forward to discussing with President Trump the best ways to advance peace. This is something we fervently share with the President. I heard President Abbas yesterday say that they teach, Palestinians teach their children peace. Thats unfortunately not true. They name their schools after mass murderers of Israelis and they pay terrorists. But I hope that its possible to achieve a change and to pursue a genuine peace. This is something Israel is always ready for. Im always ready for genuine peace.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The Kiryat Gat Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel have gotten used to seeing United Hatzalahs Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit in action over the past few months, so said Team Leader Yaakov Weinberg in a thank you note to the Unit on Wednesday, 7 Iyar.

This past week, during the Yom HaZikaron commemoration and Yom HaAtzmaut celebration, the units volunteers traveled from afar to respond to crises in the city twice, once on each day. The first instance was following the tragic death of a youngster in the city whose family was well known. Psychotrauma volunteers came from Jerusalem to help comfort the family, neighbors, and friends of the child. They helped the family mourn and cope with the incident. The volunteers stayed for a number of hours before returning home.

During the second incident, which occurred just after noon on Yom HaAtzmaut, the volunteers from the Psychotrauma Unit left their family barbecues and headed once again south to help those who suffered a tragedy in the city.

According to Weinberg I received a call around noon on Yom HaAtzmaut that a person had fallen some five stories off of a building. I was the first person to arrive on the scene. Upon arrival, I was quickly joined by other volunteers and together we immediately began performing CPR on the patient. After a few other responders arrived we learned that there were family members in the building. I went inside and found the mans wife and daughter. They were hysterical. Nothing we tried was able to calm them down. I called the dispatch center and requested that they send the Psychotrauma team immediately to help the family members. I was told that volunteers were leaving Beit Shemesh and that it would take them 40 minutes to get to us. I told them to get here as fast as they could, and indeed they almost beat the ambulance.

Weinberg described how valuable the work of the unit is to those in need of emotional support following a tragedy. Together with a police officer who arrived at the scene, I spent an hour inside trying to console the family members who were present. There were two other children who were supposed to arrive at the building as well. I tried to offer the family members whatever support and strength I could in the face of their tragedy but it was one of the hardest sights that I have ever had to witness.

The complete explosion of this family and the cries of the family members was too much to bare for me, and at times I found myself crying alongside them. When the Psychotrauma volunteers arrived, they, together with the EMS teams, told the family the news that their husband and father had been declared dead, but they did it in such a calming way that the family was comforted. The level of care and professionalism that they showed is something that I had not seen before in the field when responding to those suffering a personal trauma of this nature.

Weinberg said that the volunteers stayed for more than two hours with the family members and neighbors who had seen the incident and were having trouble understanding the next steps in dealing with the tragedy. After more than two hours I went out to buy pizza and drinks for the volunteers who arrived. As the head of the local team, it is the least that I could do for these volunteers who gave so much of their time on the holiday to help those in need. I cant thank them enough for their devotion and dedication.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
In a White House meeting with visiting PA (Palestinian Authority) President Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas), US President Donald Trump concluded that if peace is going to be achieved between Israel and the PA, it must be via direct talks between the involved parties. Trump told the media that he believes it is not as difficult as many believe, but he is certain the involved parties must work out their differences between one another.

President Trump told the PA leader he must stop the incitement to violence, as well as halting payments to terrorists and their families, including imprisoned terrorists.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
While thousands of PA (Palestinian Authority) residents marched in support of striking convicted terrorists imprisoned in Israel, the International Red Cross (IRC) turns to Israel to show more compassion vis-a-vis family visits for the hunger-strikers. As a weapon to combat the hunger strike, Israel canceled family visits for participating prisoners.

The solidarity march was held in PA-occupied Beit Lechem on Wednesday, 7 Iyar.

IRC officials have issued a statement in which they urge Israeli authorities to halt the systemic suspension of family visits for the hunger-strikers.

Back in Beit Lechem, speakers included the wife of heinous terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who leads the hunger strikers. He is serving five life sentences for his murderous acts. However, this in no way deters PA residents who compared the silence of the international community regarding the plight of the hunger strikers to encouraging a Nazi-like occupation. This refers to the Israel Prison Authority, which permits convicted terrorists to have cable TV, earn a high school and/or college degree and many other privileges not given to terrorists in a sane society.

The protest was timed to coincide with PA (Palestinian Authority) President Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) meeting in the White House with President Donald Trump.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The HaPeles newspaper, the spokesmen for the Peleg community, has turned to its readers to donate as it is in separate need of funds. The newspaper is asking for urgent loans, from NIS 10,000 and higher, which would be returned in monthly payments.

The request for funds comes shortly following the arrest of senior Peles officials, who may face criminal charges of extortion in their alleged effort to pressure large firms into advertising in the newspaper. HaPeles officials blame leaders of the Degel faction for blacklisting advertisers in an effort to shut down their voice in the litvish chareidi tzibur.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
A senator says he thinks the airline industry has become anti-competitive and is hurting the flying public.

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson says air travelers often tell him they feel like theyre being treated as self-loading cargo rather than as valued consumers.

Nelson is the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee  which is holding a hearing Thursday on airline travel.

He says people are so fed up that theyre using their cellphones to hold airlines accountable by recording incidents that show travelers being treated unfairly.

Last month, a passenger was dragged off a United Airlines flight, and on an American Airlines plane, a mother with a stroller was bullied by a flight attendant.

Videos of both incidents were widely circulated on social media.

(AP)
A U.S. judge has rejected a bid by Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman to get out of solitary confinement.

Guzmans lawyers had asked Judge Brian Cogan to order him released from an ultrahigh-security wing of a New York jail thats housed terrorism and mob suspects. They also wanted the judge to ease restrictions on his communications with the outside world.

The judge ruled Thursday in favor of prosecutors who had argued that the strict confinement is needed to keep Guzman from trying to control the Sinaloa cartel from behind bars. The judge agreed to let Guzman communicate with his wife but only through screened letters.

Guzman has pleaded not guilty to charges he oversaw a multibillion-dollar drug trafficking operation responsible for murders and kidnappings.

(AP)
A pair of President Donald Trumps recent weekend trips to his Mar-a-Lago resort cost taxpayers more than $1.2 million, new documents released by a conservative group show.

The documents made public Thursday by Judicial Watch are some of the first to put even part of a price tag on Trumps frequent visits to his Palm Beach, Florida, club. The numbers reflect only the costs associated with the presidents plane, Air Force One. Not included are expenses for Secret Service protection or support vehicles provided by the Department of Defense, which must be airlifted into place.

A Trump trip in early February cost about $670,000, and a second trip in March cost about $612,000, according to the U.S. Air Force, which operates and maintains Air Force One. Hes visited seven times as president.

Judicial Watch obtained the documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The group has spent years studying the cost of presidential travel and has argued that taxpayers are bearing far too much of the costs. Tom Fitton, president of the group, previously told The Associated Press that Trump should be transparent about the expense of his trips and should make the case to the American public that it is important for him to be at his resort.

Trump has used Mar-a-Lago  which not only is a vacation home but also a for-profit resort that charges $200,000 for memberships  to entertain foreign dignitaries and to meet with members of his Cabinet and senior leadership team.

Based on other travel reports for other presidents, Defense Department costs far exceed all other expenses related to such trips. Judicial Watch did not request that information, although its request for Secret Service expenses is pending, Judicial Watch said.

The Government Accountability Office agreed to a Democratic request to price out a few of Trumps Mar-a-Lago trips, and its forthcoming report promises a more accurate estimate.

(AP)
New York, May 5 (Just Earth News): The United Nations human rights chief on Thursday urged the Government of South Sudan to halt any further military offensives towards Aburoc in the Upper Nile region.

Civilians in Aburoc are at serious and imminent risk of gross human rights violations, inter-ethnic violence and re-displacement, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein.

He said these people fleeing from towns like Tonga and Kodok were forced to walk through the bush for up to 150 kilometres in searing temperatures. Many reportedly died along the way, but the rest ended up in Aburoc where they face grave violence and shortages of food, water and healthcare.

These are women, children and men at the mercy of military commanders, on both sides of the political divide, who have consistently shown little or no regard for the protection of civilians, he added.

Despite the August 2015 peace agreement, South Sudan slipped back into conflict due to renewed clashes between rival forces  the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) loyal to President Salva Kiir and the SPLA in Opposition backing former First Vice-President Riek Machar.

Aburoc, a town on the west bank of the River Nile, holds between 35,000 and 50,000 people, most of whom arrived in recent weeks after SPLA attacks on areas to the south.

Civilians in Aburoc now find themselves in areas controlled by the opposition armed group, facing a military offensive by the Government forces.

The High Commissioner urged the Government to adhere to the pledges made by President Kiir on 25 March, when he committed to declare a unilateral ceasefire, and to work towards political engagement to bring the conflict to an end.

Zeid called on all parties to the conflict to comply with international humanitarian law, including taking all feasible precautions to prevent civilian casualties.

He also called on the Government to grant the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) access to Aburoc and Kodok, and to ensure that humanitarian agencies are able to deliver crucial aid to the internally displaced population.

Photo: OCHA/Gemma Connell
Former President Barack Obama endorsed a candidate in the race for Frances presidency on Thursday, taking his first dive back into international politics since leaving the White House in January.

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron released a video from Obama Thursday morning with the former president touting his candidacy.

I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run, Obama said. He has stood up for liberal values; he put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world; and he is committed to a better future for the French people. He appeals to peoples hopes, and not their fears.

Macron is facing far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sundays runoff vote. Polls suggest Macron is well ahead.

Obama said he doesnt plan to get involved often in political situations. Im not planning to get involved in many elections now that I dont have to run for office again, but the French election is very important to the future of France and the values that we care so much about. Because the success of France matters to the entire world, he said.

Marcon asked Obama for his support, an Obama aide said. Obama called Marcon privately in April and praised him, but declined to make an endorsement. But now, Obama decided to weigh in because he believes Frances success impacts international challenges on the global stage, the aide said.

The aide spoke on background because the aide wasnt authorized to speak about Obamas deliberations.

Political scientist Dov H. Levin of Carnegie-Mellon University called Obamas endorsement unusual for a former president. Presidents like Bill Clinton have tried to personally influence elections in places like Russia and Israel while in office, but Levin said he has not come across an instance where a former president has offered an endorsement in a foreign leadership race like Obama.

Levin, who studies U.S. attempts to influence elections in other countries, said it is rare for a former president to have enough popularity or influence in a foreign country for his assistance to even be desired. My guess is that Marcon found that Obama, even as a former president, still has enough cachet, enough influence with French voters to make it worth asking for his endorsement, Levin said.

Obama ended his message with the words En Marche, the name of Macrons political movement which means In Motion in English, and Vive La France.

President Donald Trump has praised Marcons opponent, Le Pen, although he has not explicitly endorsed her.

Shes the strongest on borders, and shes the strongest on whats been going on in France, Trump said in an April 21 interview with The Associated Press. Whoever is the toughest on radical Islamic terrorism, and whoever is the toughest at the borders, will do well in the election.

Obama has mostly stayed in the background in American politics since Trump moved into the White House. When congressional Republicans first planned to vote down his signature health care plan, the Affordable Care Act on its seventh anniversary, Obama broke his silence to tout the laws effectiveness. Thanks to this law, more than twenty million Americans have gained the security and peace of mind of health insurance, he said back in March.

House Republicans plan to try again to pass a bill striking down parts of the law on Thursday.

Obama, through a spokesman, has also criticized Trumps attempt to ban the entry of citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries into the United States, which was eventually halted by the federal courts.

(AP)
Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is calling upon New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg to remove a marker commemorating French Vichy Leader Marshal Philippe Petain. The granite marker is located on Morris and Broadway in the Wall Street areas Canyon of Heroes.

Petain was no hero, explained Assemblyman Hikind. He willfully collaborated with Nazi Germany, conducting raids to capture Jews and other undesirables even in Frances free zone.

Petain was responsible for creating an anti-Semitic outlook and framework that, in 1940, was even harsher than what the Germans had adopted. His policies banned Jews from various professions and activities, which eventually led to the deportation and murder of nearly 100,000 Jews, as well as Gypsies, homosexuals, and left-wing activists. Petain was convicted of treason in 1945. He was sentenced to death by firing squad but Frances President Charles de Gaulle commuted the sentence to life imprisonment.

Having a monument to Petain anywhere in the United States is obscene, said Hikind.

(YWN Headquarters  NYC)
New York, May 5 (Just Earth News): Speaking to the press during his mission to Ethiopia, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Thursday highlighted the need for greater and freer civic space, with abroader latitude for the contributions of critical or dissenting viewsa to decision-making in the country.

All governments need to be held to the mark by independent media and the vital action of civil society and human rights defenders, High Commissioner Zeid Raad Al Hussein said at a press conference in the capital, Addis Ababa.

I am convinced the Ethiopian Government will find its most important and productive investment will be in the rights of the people, which build strong and safe societies.

In his remarks, the UN rights chief hailed the contributions of the Horn of Africa country ranging from its contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts as well as its commitment to protect the human rights of its people as illustrated by its accession to a number of human rights treaties and their reflection in the Ethiopian constitution.

He also expressed that the work of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission was heartening and called on the Government to continue further steps to grant the body more independence.

However, speaking on the unrest in the country in November 2015 and August 2016, and the response of the security forces, Zeid urged the authorities to allow access to UN human rights officials to visit the affected region and establish the facts.

The extremely large number of arrests  over 26,000  suggests it is unlikely rule of law guarantees have been observed in every case. I believe my staff ought to be given access to the affected areas, and I renew my request, he added, noting that he would continue to follow-up on the case.

The High Commissioner also spoke on the importance of economic, social and cultural rights and stressed that progress on these rights would translate into civil and political rights advances.

He also offered his support and that of his Office, OHCHR, to the Government and the people of Ethiopia in confronting the challenges posed by the drought plaguing large parts of the region.

During his visit, High Commissioner Zeid met with a number of senior Ethiopian officials, including the Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, Ministers, legislators, and human rights officials and defenders.

Also, while in Ethiopia, the UN top human rights official signed a Memorandum of Intent with the Government to strengthen OHCHR Regional Office in Addis Ababa programmes on capacity building for stakeholders across the region, including Ethiopia.

During his mission, Zeid also met with Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and other senior African Union (AU) officials, with whom he discussed human rights priorities with the AU, as the regional blocs new leadership develops its vision and frameworks for impact across the continent.

Photo: UN/Ahunna Eziakonwa
New York, May 5 (Just Earth News): In Colombia to acknowledge and witness first-hand both the progress and the challenges of carrying out the aims of a hard-won peace deal, a delegation from the United Nations Security Council on Thursday met President Juan Manuel Santos and applauded the country as an example for overcoming difficulties and setbacks to bring to an end more than a half a century of conflict.

Speaking to reporters in Bogota, Elbio Rosselli, of Uruguay, which holds the Councils presidency for the month, said that "with the process of pacification of Colombia, the American continent is the only region of the world in which there is no active conflict."

"We thank you for the example you are giving. These processes are never linear, they have ups and downs, they may have setbacks but what matters is to maintain the effort. This Security Council is committed to providing the support that Colombians want and deserve, "said Rosselli.

In early October 2016, Colombian voters narrowly rejected the historic peace accord between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-Peoples Army (FARC-EP). That deal was the culmination of four years of talks hosted in Havana, Cuba, between the two sides, and which led to a cessation of hostilities and agreements on key issues such as political participation, land rights, illicit drugs and victims' rights and transitional justice. The two sides signed a new agreement in late November 2016.

The Council delegation also met with Chancellor Maria Angela Holguin, Ambassador Maria Emma Mejia, and the post-conflict cabinet. The Council gave a clear message of support to the implementation of the peace process in Colombia.

In his remarks to the press, president Santos said: "I want to highlight the way the United Nations has helped us to manage the cease-fire. More than 2,670 lives have been saved so far in the peace process."

United Kingdom Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, co-leader of the visit with Uruguay, highlighted the full support of the Security Council and the international community to make the peace process a reality.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Colombians, make sure that all the parties fulfil all of the commitments and finally the peace that your country deserves will be a reality, from which there cannot be a turning back," said Ambassador Rycroft.

Before leaving New York, Rosselli noted that it is time for the Council to make contact with all parties in the process, in order to see how the UN is helping and can continue to do so.

Members of the Security Council brief the press together with the President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos. Photo: UN Mission in Colombia

Rosselli also said that the Council not only wants to recognize the importance in relation to the Colombian ceasefire and the laying down of arms, but also inform itself about the substantive part.

Late September last year representatives of the Government of Colombia, as well as members from the FARC-EP and international observers from the UN mission in the country started working together at the joint Monitoring and Verification Mechanism headquarters in Bogota.

Verification of the bilateral ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in Colombia is part of the Mechanisms task, and according to the UN Mission in the South American country, they also have been planning and coordinating logistics for the regional offices and the zones where the separation of forces has been taking place.

Earlier this year UN News reported that at eight regional and 26 local sites, FARC-EP and Government members, along with 350 UN observers, have been working together to verify the parties' commitments towards the ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.

The UN Mission in Colombia reported on Thursday that to-date they have received and stored a thousand weapons from FARC-EP combatants. The combatants are currently in camps established for their transition and reintegration into civilian life, but also to ensure the safety of the civilian population and of FARC-EP and Public Force members.

Photo: UN Mission/Juan Manuel Barrero Bueno
Restaurant Group slid down the FTSE 250 after a broker said the new menu at its Frankie & Bennys chain of restaurants could slash profits.

Following a visit to the chains Milton Keynes restaurant, analysts at Peel Hunt cut their profit forecasts for the firm by 8 per cent and retained their hold rating.

According to the broker, the number of main dishes priced under 10 rose from five to 22, with prices on average falling 9.5 per cent.

Restaurant Group slid down the FTSE 250 after a broker said the new menu at its Frankie & Bennys chain of restaurants could slash profits

With burger prices falling by more than 12 per cent and starters by nearly a quarter, Peel Hunt called the move a radical step.

Restaurant Group said it now expects profits to fall by 22 million this year, with 13 million of these losses resulting from Frankie & Bennys lower food prices.

The firm has been battling increased competition from pubs and a drop in visitors to retail shopping parks, where many of its outlets are located.

Last month, finance chief Barry Nightingale left the firm less than a year after he was brought in to turn around the business. Shares fell 4 per cent, or 14p, to 335.5p.

STOCK WATCH: Inspirit Inspirit rocketed after announcing its intention to borrow 2 million. The money will fund the final stage of development for its micro combined heat and power boilers for commercial buildings. Its shares began to rise yesterday on rumours it was structuring a fixed interest bond instrument, which was later confirmed. Inspirit has also raised 215,000 through placing 172 million shares, and intends to place 34 million more. Shares powered up 31.4 per cent, or 0.06p, to 0.23p.

The FTSE 100 rose 0.2 per cent, or 13.57 points, to 7248.1.

G4S, the worlds biggest security firm, guarded its spot at the top of the FTSE 250 throughout the day, after reporting a near 10 per cent jump in revenues over the first quarter.

The firm saw double-digit growth in developed markets and said it remains confident it can grow 4 per cent to 6 per cent this year.

Despite flat growth in emerging markets, it said momentum has continued from last year. Shares rose 3.4 per cent, or 10.6p, to 325.1p.

Sheilas Wheels owner Esure hit an all-time high after reporting a 24 per cent rise in written premiums over the first quarter.

The insurer raked in 187.4 million of written premiums, up from 151 million in the same period last year. It saw strong growth in its motor insurance market, where premiums grew 29 per cent year-on-year. But its home insurance division struggled, with premiums falling 4.5 per cent.

Chief executive Stuart Vann said the division does not currently provide opportunities for profitable growth. Shares were up 3 per cent, or 7.7p, at 266.6p.

Gem Diamonds sparkled after it unearthed a high-quality, undamaged 80-carat diamond from its mine in Lesotho, Africa.

Last month it recovered a 114-carat diamond from another mine. Shares rose 5.4 per cent, or 4.5p, to 88.5p.

Online estate agent Purplebricks posted decent results despite the ongoing investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority.

The firm announced that instructions had grown 83 per cent in the second half of the year to April 30, although it did not list the number of houses it had actually sold.

The company, which has been called the Uber of real estate, uses self-employed estate agents  who do not work on commission  to offer homeowners a flat fee regardless of whether their house sells or not.

The Advertising Standards Authority is investigating the firm after the Charter For Independent Estate And Letting Agents complained about its marketing.

Purplebricks is yet to make a profit, although it expects to report one in its final results on June 29.

It also announced that chief financial officer Neil Cartwright will step down due to ill health.

He will be replaced by James Davies, who held the same role at William Hill. Shares rose 7 per cent, or 22.25p, to 340.25p.
WAGES SHIFT Salaries have increased by more than 7 per cent in some parts of the UK in the past year, although they have fallen by more than 11 per cent in other locations, research by jobs site CV-Library reveals.

Advertised pay was 7.6 per cent more in Bristol last month compared with a year ago, but 11.9 per cent lower in Portsmouth. Wages in London increased by 0.1 per cent.

Sliding scale: Salaries have increased by more than 7 per cent in some parts of the UK in the past year, although they have fallen by more than 11 per cent in other locations

PREMIUM DEAL Insurer RSA wrote 1.7 billion of premiums in the first three months of the year, up 14 per cent on the same period last year.

However, it took a 40m hit from changes to compensation rules.

EU NO City finance bosses have hit back at a European Union power grab for Londons lucrative euro clearing market, which recommended tighter controls on locations for doing business.

ADVERT LOSS Print advertising revenues at Trinity Mirror have fallen by almost a fifth for the four months up to April 30. Group revenue was down 16 per cent.

COURIER STRIKE Workers at delivery firm DHLs warehouses in South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire are to stage a series of strikes over pay and jobs. Unite members are protesting at the closure of a site in Harworth and a 1.25 per cent pay offer.

NEW BOSS The chief of West Bromwich Building Society has been made chairman of the Building Societies Association. Jonathan Westhoff replaces Dick Jenkins, of Bath Building Society, who had held the post since November 2015.

DRINK DOWN Pubs firm Punch Taverns posted a loss of 174 million before tax in the first half of 2017. The loss included 198 million of non-underlying charges, largely because of write-downs ahead of sale of the group that is expected to complete by the end of August.

AGENCY SAVED One of the worlds oldest estate agents, London-based Cluttons, has been saved from collapse  but 300 members of its pension scheme look set to lose out while 19 jobs will be lost.

PAY OFF French bank Societe Generale has handed over 780 million to end a legal dispute with Libya over alleged bribery and corruption from 2007 to 2009.

SHELL SHOCK Profits at Shell jumped to 2.9 billion during the first quarter of 2017 - 142 per cent more than the same time last year.
Three British bankers are facing an investigation over alleged money laundering at the Swiss branch of HSBC.

A judge has ordered the probe into claims that seven senior bankers helped rich clients hide cash from the authorities.

These include top financiers who moved into other senior City jobs after quitting the bank.

Under investigation: Former chief executive of HSBC's Swiss unit Clive Bannister (left) and his successor Chris Meares (right)

It came as HSBC bosses unveiled a 19 per cent fall in profits and announced they had hired 1,800 more staff to tackle financial crime.

Bankers under investigation include 58-year-old Clive Bannister, who was chief executive of the lenders Swiss unit in 2006.

He is now boss of Phoenix Group, a FTSE 250 firm and one of Britains largest life insurers.

Married father-of-three Bannister lives in a 6.1 million townhouse in Londons fashionable Notting Hill area, and was paid 2.8 million last year.

The scandal he is embroiled in came to light after former HSBC IT expert Herve Falciani took files from the banks Swiss operation in 2008.

They contained details of about 30,000 secret account holders and were seized by the French, then shared with other countries as part of a tax crackdown.

Details were made public in 2015, with clients revealed to include the super-rich, arms dealers, blood diamond smugglers and corrupt businessmen.

Yesterday, Spanish judge Jose de la Mata ruled that Bannister and his former colleagues should be investigated.

He did not order an investigation into HSBC itself.

He found evidence that they worked with Continental lenders Santander and BNP Paribas to transfer funds until at least 2008 so that clients could avoid tax in Spain.

Chris Meares, who ran the division in 2007, and its former chairman Peter Widmer, are also being investigated.

HSBC yesterday announced profits of 3.8 billion in the first quarter of 2017, down 19 per cent from the same period a year earlier.

Profits were chiefly down because of one-off accounting changes, but beat analysts expectations, sending shares up 2.8 per cent, or 18.6p, to 663.8p.
Workers at the Rolls-Royce car factory in Goodwood are due to strike for the first time today in a long-running dispute over pensions at owners BMW.

Members of the Unite union based at the plant near Chichester are expected to walk out for 24 hours following previous stoppages at other BMW factories, including the Mini plant in Cowley, near Oxford.

Talks aimed at breaking the deadlock over BMW Groups pension changes adjourned without agreement yesterday.

Workers at the Rolls-Royce car factory in Goodwood are due to strike for the first time today in a long-running dispute over pensions at owners BMW

The union says plans to close the final salary pension scheme could lead to some workers losing more than 160,000 in retirement income.

Unite national officer Fred Hanna said: BMW bosses need to realise that workers who make the world-renowned Rolls-Royce motor cars, along with their colleagues elsewhere in BMW UK, will not roll over.

Rolls-Royce workers make some of the most luxurious cars for some of the richest people on the planet.

Yet BMW wants to repay their hard work and craftsmanship, which has generated record orders and delivered record profits, by pinching their pensions.
KPMG signed off the books of Rolls-Royce as it bribed its way around the world

The accountancy firm that signed off the books of Rolls-Royce as it bribed its way around the world is being investigated by regulators.

The Financial Reporting Councils probe into KPMG comes after Rolls paid a record 671 million fine to authorities in the UK, US and Brazil to settle claims of international bribery and corruption between 1989 and 2013.

The FRC said it had limited its investigation to the 2010-2013 period after a review of the information available to us.

The Serious Fraud Office is still investigating former Rolls-Royce executives over the case.
New York, May 5(Just Earth News): Charting data from 54 African countries, a new UN atlas reveals the continent's energy potential; revealing that investment in renewable energy would strengthen its economic advancement.

The Atlas makes a strong case that investments in green energy infrastructure can bolster Africa's economic development and bring it closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, Director and Regional Representative of the Africa Office for the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

As such, she continued, it is an important policy guide for African governments as they strive to catalyze national development by making use of their energy resources.

The Atlas of Africa Energy Resources , released by UNEP and the African Development Bank at the World Economic Forum being held in Durban, South Africa, shows both the potential and the fragility of the continent's energy resources, which are at the heart of Africa's socio-economic development.

While Africa is richly endowed with both renewable and non-renewable energy resources, its current energy production is insufficient to meet demand. About a third Africa's population still lacks access to electricity and 53 per cent of the population depends on biomass for cooking, space heating and drying.

According to UNEP, energy consumption on the continent is the lowest in the world, and per capita consumption has barely changed since 2000. The poorest African households spend 20 times more per unit of energy than wealthy households when connected to the grid. A kettle boiled twice by a family in the United Kingdom uses five times as much electricity as a Malian uses in a year, according to UNEP.

This Atlas will be instrumental to ease access to information and data in the energy sector for all stakeholders, including the donor community, African governments and the private sector, said Amadou Hott, Vice-President in charge of power, energy, climate and green growth, African Development Bank.

Providing information in the form of detailed 'before and after' images, charts, maps and other satellite data from 54 countries through visuals, the Atlas details the challenges and opportunities in providing Africa's population with access to reliable, affordable and modern energy services.

Prepared in cooperation with the Environment Pulse Institute, United States Geological Survey and George Mason University, the Atlas consolidates the information on the energy landscape in Africa, highlighting some success stories of sustainable energy development around the continent, but also shining a light on major environmental challenges associated with energy infrastructure development.

Photo: PresseBox.de flickr

Source: www.justearthnews.com
LUYENGO  A lecturer at the University of Swaziland (Luyengo Campus) had her car turned upside down by students who were protesting over her alleged abusive treatment.



The lecturers vehicle was pushed by over 700 students after a meeting with administration failed to address an impasse between the students and the academic.



Witnesses said a group of protesting students charged at the lecturers car after their complaints failed to attract a suitable response from a meeting between the Students Representative Council and administration.



Information gathered was that the over 700 angry students, who were singing protest songs, overturned the car and there were even fears they might set it alight.

Following the incident, the terrified academic is said to have locked herself in her office until the arrival of the police who were called by security guards.



This was despite that the security had informed her of the violent attack by the students.

The incident comes after numerous complaints of alleged bullying against the lecturer, who is accused of, among other things, threatening to discredit some of the students doing her course.



The students complained that the lecturer had demanded that they append their pictures in presentations submitted for assessment, and they were afraid that such could compromise their academic freedom.
New York, May 5(Just Earth News): Voicing concern over challenges to the implementation of last year's political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and deteriorating humanitarian and security situation, the United Nations Security Council has urged all stakeholders to redouble their efforts to resolve the problems faced by the country.

Keep interests of the people above all else, UN Security Council members urge political actors in DRC

Voicing concern over challenges to the implementation of last year's political agreement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and deteriorating humanitarian and security situation, the United Nations Security Council has urged all stakeholders to redouble their efforts to resolve the problems faced by the country.

The agreement, popularly referred to as the a December agreement' represented a significant step towards a peacefully managed transition. However, its implementation has since seen considerable difficulties.

Effective, swift and timely implementation of the agreement is critical to a credible process and the peace and stability of the DRC, as well as in supporting the legitimacy of the transitional institutions, as it represents a viable road map towards the holding of peaceful and democratic elections, said members of the Security Council in a statement late yesterday.

Among others, the agreement has stipulated that peaceful, credible, inclusive and timely elections would be organized in DRC no later than December 2017, and would include the participation of all sectors of the society, in particular women.

Also in the statement, the members urged for the swift and inclusive establishment of a government of national unity, the Comite National de Suivi de l'Accord, the adoption of a new electoral law and the full implementation of the confidence building measures in chapter V of the 31 December 2016 agreement, some of which are yet to be implemented.

They also urged all national political stakeholders to overcome their differences, uphold the interests of their people and ensure that they are guided by the rule of law, restraint and the spirit of compromise and dialogue.

In that regard, they called on all political actors, whether in the country or abroad, to desist from any actions that could exacerbate tensions.

Further in the statement, the members of Security Council condemned violence and alleged violations and abuses of human rights in the Kasai region as well as the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the region, which according to reports, has displaced more than one million people within the country and more than 11,000 across its borders.

The members also stressed the need for a swift and full investigation into the killing of the two members of the Group of Experts established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1533 (2004) and underlined the need for full cooperation from the Government.

In this context, they further welcomed the Secretary General's establishment of a UN Board of Inquiry to investigate the deaths of the two experts and his commitment that the UN will do everything possible to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Photo: OCHA/Vicky Prekabo

Source: www.justearthnews.com
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Joseph Ponte arrived in New York with a national reputation as a prison reformer in April 2014 when he was recruited by Mayor Bill de Blasio to head the Department of Correction. His resume included successful overhauls of prisons in seven states, including his last posting as head of the Maine correctional system.

Ponte, a former Marine who started off as a guard and worked his way up to commissioner, introduced a 14-point plan to reduce violence in New York City jails, particularly at Rikers  a notorious penal colony with about 10,000, often unruly, inmates.

He ended solitary confinement for 16- and 17-year-olds. Serious incidents also dropped at Rikers.

Despite these achievements, Ponte, 70, seems to have lost his footing at some point during 2016.

An anonymous tip that Ponte and other high-ranking DOC employees were using their city-owned vehicles for personal business led the city Department of Investigation to launch an aggressive review.

In the early stages, DOI discovered that Ponte had driven his vehicle outside New York state on personal business for 90 calendar days in 2016, including 35 work days. The majority of those 28 trips were to coastal Maine, where he used to live.

Ponte took leave on only six of the 35 days and reported he was working an eight-hour day on the remaining 29 days, DOI said. His car was driven to DOC headquarters only four times at the end of these trips.

He put 18,500 miles on the odometer at taxpayers expense in violation of city policy, which prohibits personal use of work vehicles and unauthorized out-of-state trips.

It is ironic that DOI investigators left no stone unturned, consulting E-Z pass statements, gas card data and GPS data points to track the behavior of 21 DOC officials charged with making inmates toe the line in jail. The mayor defended Ponte, saying he was misinformed about the city vehicle usage policy.

But as Ponte was zipping around out of state in 2016, DOI pointed out there were 27 inmate stabbings or slashings, three attacks on Correction officers, the death of an on-duty staffer and an inmate escape in city jails. Although the commissioner said he was on 24-hour call, he never responded to these incidents from Maine, DOI said.

Ponte has agreed to pay the city back for $1,345 in gas and $746.56 in tolls, but that will not repair his damaged reputation. He and the other DOC brass will be referred for discipline while three lower-level city workers were just suspended and fined for less serious violations of city car policy.

The question remains: Is Ponte still fit to run one of the toughest correction departments in the country after these ethical lapses?
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By Mark Hallum

The Kosciuszko Bridge, once viewed as a decaying blemish on the Brooklyn-Queens skyline, has been replaced with a sleek and modern structure directly adjacent to the old one that stood for over half a century.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and city officials from both boroughs took part in a ribbon-cutting April 27 to dedicate the opening of the bridge to traffic.

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. It was the first time the car had been driven in decades.

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 the bridge each day.

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.

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) touted her part in securing $670 million in federal funds for the new bridge, which constituted approximately 85 percent of the total price-tag.

After years of planning and construction, I am thrilled that this new, state-of-the-art span will finally be open for public use, Maloney said. With this new bridge, we continue New Yorks tradition of bold infrastructure projects that move our economy forward. The 78-year old bridge was a crumbling, dangerous eyesore, widely regarded as the worst bridge in the state. Now construction on the first phase is complete, and when it is all said and done, the new Kosciuszko Bridge will have a transformative impact for drivers and residents alike.

Cuomo incited anger among the FDNY community for opting out of attending the funeral for Firefighter William Tolley, scheduled around the same time last Thursday. The 14-year FDNY veteran perished fighting a fire in Glendale on April 20, and while Mayor Bill de Blasio attended the services in Bethpage, L.I., Cuomo continued on with the ribbon-cutting of the bridge.

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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By Bill Parry

Mayor Bill de Blasio has insisted on defending his embattled commissioner at the citys Department of Correction over his misuse of government-supplied vehicles.

DOC Commissioner Joseph Ponte, and several other high-ranking department officials, will reimburse the city after a scathing Department of Investigation report showed they had broken the citys Conflict of Interest rules by using their city-owned vehicles for unauthorized trips.

Ponte was found to have used his assigned city vehicle outside of New York State on 28 occasions in 2016, mostly for trips to Maine, and that he drove the vehicle outside the state on personal business for 90 calendar days, charging the city for $1,043 in gas and $746.56 in tolls. He headed Maines prison system until moving to New York in 2014 to become commissioner.

During his weekly appearance on NY1 Monday, the mayor provided more cover for Ponte saying he simply received bad advice.

Weve said very clearly that what happened at the Department of Correction was a mistake, de Blasio said. Joseph Pontes done a great job as commissioner. Hes gotten a lot done for this city. Hes made our correction system a lot better, but he was ill-advised by colleagues, I believe, and made a mistake, and hes been very straightforward about it. He never intended to do anything wrong, and I think hes doing the right thing by making the city whole.

When the mayor first used the in-the-dark defense to shield Ponte during a radio broadcast last week, Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark Peters, the former treasurer of de Blasios mayoral campaign, blasted his boss.

City Hall is misinformed. Our investigation conclusively demonstrated that Commissioner Ponte and others did not receive official advice that they could use their cars for personal trips out of the state, Peters said in a statement issued last Friday. Indeed, one of the senior staff was previously fined by the COIB (Conflict of Interest Board) for related conduct. There can be no defense of this behavior and City Hall harms government integrity by even trying. Regardless of City Halls response, our independent investigation will continue.

And yet the mayor repeated the defense of Ponte Monday. Host Errol Louis asked if he was out of the city for 90 days last year, did Ponte have his head in the job?

Judge by his results. Look what he achieved. This is the guy that got rid of punitive segregation for young people on Rikers Island who fundamentally changed the nature of how we handled violent inmates to make the situation safer, who instituted much greater training for our correction officers, de Blasio said. I mean, you go down the list of reforms hes put in place in just three years in a place that had not been changed in many, many years before that. Its a tough job, and hes done it well.

Some people take weekends, I dont begrudge them. Michael Bloomberg used to go to Bermuda on the weekends. A lot of attention wasnt put on that. Look, I think hes done his job. Hes done it well. And I want to see him continue doing it.
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By Naeisha Rose

UniverSoul Circus has brought its show back to Queens.

The circus began April 19 and runs through May 7 at Roy Wilkins Park between Baisley and Merrick boulevards in Jamaica.

On April 24 the circus held its first free family open house for 2,000 city kids who live in transitional housing.

UniverSoul includes acts from around the world. There was the motorcross stunt team, Xtreme Bikes from Chicago and upstate New York, the Bone Breaking Contortionists from Guinea, the dancing Roller Skaters from Ethiopia, stilt and bachanal dancers from Trinidad and Tobago, and acrobats Aerial Silks from China. As the ringmaster Lucky Malatsi clowned around and the performers soared high and limboed low, classic music like Tutti Frutti and Respect was blasted through the speakers alongside dance hit Juju on that Beat and tropical rhythms from the Caribbean.

One of the organizers of the event was Lebrandon Smith, 25, an events coordinator for Samaritan Village, which runs homeless shelters around the city.

I knew our families would enjoy the UniverSoul Circus, Smith said. I reached out to them and they jumped onboard immediately. It initially started with a few numbers of tickets, but once they learned about the homeless crisis in New York City, they decided they needed to do something and it blossomed into this.

Wycima Spence, mother to 7-year-old Girl Scout Jahzara, knew this would be a moment her daughter will cherish forever.

This is good for the community and the kids, Spence said. A lot of them have never been to the circus. Its an experience that we value.

One of the families at the event was the Nunuz family, which includes Sapphire and her daughters, Amy, 10, and Grace, 5. Together, they have lived at the Urban Strategies Shelter in Brooklyn for over two years.

Being in the shelter, I meet people from similar situations, Sapphire said. We share views, we get motivated by each others strength. Many times they give you the hope that you will leave the shelter and be successful. The facility tries to build you up.

With help from the staff of Urban Strategies, Sapphire is now able to pursue a degree in nursing at Long Island University.

Her daughters couldnt wait to see what was under the big red and orange tent.

We get to see clowns doing funny things and acrobats dancing, Amy said. Even though we live in a shelter we get to see things that we dont even know.

I want to see the zebra, the tiger and the lion, Grace said.

Smith, of Jamaica, started working with Samaritian Village because he knew people who face the same obstacles.

Assisting the veterans giving kids snacks and toys was Dr. Darlene Brown Williams, the assistant commissioner of the new Integrative Health & Community Resilience Department for NYC Veterans, which opened in July 2016.

Our veterans have served our country, and I think that it is our duty to give back when they come home after they risked their lives and put their families on hold, Williams said. We ensure that they have proper housing, secure houisng and permanent housing.

Lending out a hand during the event was Fred Green, a leader with J-CAP, which stands for Just Caring About People, a community center that helps people with different illnesses. The center is located at 116-30 Sutphin Blvd. in Jamaica.

I want to help others get clean, Green said. I was a drug user, went to jail, all of that. I got dirty in Southside, I got clean in Southside and now Im teaching in Southside Jamaica.
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By Naeisha Rose

A man was mugged at the Laundryland dry cleaners located at 114-25 Merrick Blvd. in Jamaica Wednesday, police said.

Two men dragged the 62 year-old male victim to the ground, punched him in the face and removed his wristwatch around 1:40 p.m.. according to police from the 113th precinct. The victim was also robbed of approximately $500 in cash and now has a black eye, police said. The two individuals later fled north on Merrick Boulevard.

Both of the suspects are black males in their 20s and were last seen wearing black-hooded sweaters and dark-colored sweatpants, police said. The first suspect, who is 6 feet, was wearing black sneakers, while the second suspect, who is 5-foot-9, was wearing white sneakers.

The New York City Police Department is asking for the publics assistance in identifying the individuals depicted in the attached video and photographs in connection with the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDC RIMES TOPPE RS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
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By Mark Hallum

Another mayoral hopeful bowed out of the upcoming race for Bill de Blasios job Thursday.

State Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) announced he would suspend his race, with a bleak message about funding troubles and allegations of dark money being a deciding factor in who governs in the city.

When I started this campaign five months ago, I knew that I was facing an uphill battle if I wanted to topple an incumbent mayor with deep pockets. Though uphill, the battle was not impossible. If able to stay in this race the entire way, I knew that with my resume, coupled with the incumbents disrespect, disregard, and disdain for the everyday New Yorkers, my message could resonate with New York, Avella said in a statement.

Five months later, however, I have found that staying in this race without being beholden to dark money is becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, it is with a somber heart that I announce that as of today I am officially suspending my campaign for mayor of New York City.

Avella announced he would challenge de Blasio for City Hall in December after gauging support from civic organization in Queens and Brooklyn, which share similar values to those of residents in his home district, which stretches from College Point in the west to Douglaston and Little Neck in the east. He made his official announcement at a protest against the city converting hotels into homeless shelters at the Holiday Inn in Maspeth.

Throughout my career in government, I have prided myself on being an outsider who made it to the inside and got things done. Unfortunately, in a race like this, being an outsider doesnt get you much. These days, it seems, elections are won with dollars, not votes, Avella concluded.

In 2009, Avella made his first bid for mayor during his last year in the City Council representing the 19th District but lost and has served in the state Senate since 2010.

Avella is joined in his decision to back away by Gristedes Foods CEO John Catsimatidis, who decided against challenging de Blasio as a Republican, claiming in a statement Tuesday it would be too difficult to defeat the standing mayor.

I have often said that I have one more race left in me, Catsimatidis said. But after careful consideration  I talked to my wife, my daughter, my son  we have decided that the 2017 New Yorks mayor races was not the one that I am going to be in. My decision was based in part on the fact that the power of the incumbency in the city of New York is extremely hard to defeat.

Catsimatidis, who was defeated in the GOP primary for mayor in 2013, said he would continue to be an outspoken voice in the city for the issues he is passionate about.

Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), who had been considering a run for mayor, but dropped any plans in March.

Avella came into the race with a low approval rating. A Quinnipiac University poll from February landed him at 1 percent and de Blasio with a 35 percent approval rating.
Times' Game of the Week Preview: No. 4 Mapletown vs. No. 5 South Side

No. 5 South Side gears up to stop the top-scoring No. 4 Mapletown Maples and star running back Landan Stevenson in the quarterfinal Class 1A matchup.
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ALBANY  Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he's "not afraid of no ghost."

But if there really is someone haunting him when he hears a bump in the night at the Executive Mansion, it's a mystery as to who it might be.

At recent public events, the governor has taken to playfully discussing spooky happenings in the 160-year-old Eagle Street home. And though he claims he doesn't believe in ghosts, the noises the mansion makes in the dark of night still creep him out.

"It's me alone when I'm in the house because my family's in Westchester," Cuomo said on Thursday at a Long Island event, alluding to the home he shares downstate with his partner, Sandra Lee. "The kids are in school. So it's me alone. There are stories that this house is haunted. Now, I don't believe in ghosts, and I'm a big tough Italian guy. But I'll tell you  it gets creepy in that house and there are a lot of noise that go on and you are very alone."

To allay his fears, he says he stays up reading about New York history and past governors.

Perhaps he should brush up on the history of Gov. Charles Evans Hughes.

If there is a spirit who drifts around the mansion at night, it could be that of Hughes' father, the Rev. Dr. David Hughes.

The elder Hughes died in the Executive Mansion in December 1909, "following a recent stroke of apoplexy," according to the New York Times. A native of Wales, the 77-year-old arrived in the United States in 1855 and preached at churches in Oswego, Brooklyn, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, his obituary states.

There does not appear to be any tortured history that would leave David Hughes eternally returning in the night to startle residents and guests at the Executive Mansion, though.

"We have no reason to suspect that he would be coming back," said Stuart Lehman, curator for the state Office of General Services.

"But you never know," OGS spokeswoman Heather Groll quickly chimed in during a phone interview, hanging on the "oh" sound in the last word like a campfire storyteller.

The mansion's backstory provides little evidence of any of the usual demonic or vengeful reasons for a haunting. According to Lehman:

The mansion was built in 1857 by Thomas Olcott;

It was sold in the 1860s to another Albany denizen, Robert Johnson;

Gov. Samuel Tilden rented it in 1875;

When Tilden left office two years later, the state purchased the mansion, and the keys have been handed over to governor after governor ever since.

Whether there were any other deaths in the mansion before it came into the state's possession is unknown. At the very least, none were recorded.

Yet Cuomo apparently isn't the only one to have been creeped out while staying at the mansion.

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Former Gov. David Paterson told the New York Post on Thursday that his 5-year-old nephew once said he felt an invisible hand guiding him as he climbed the stairs.

"Gov. Cuomo should be relieved," Paterson told the newspaper. "It's a friendly ghost, like Casper."

Cuomo reported in an April speech that there are some mansion staffers who won't use the elevator because they say a ghost shuts it down between floors.

And there is an urban legend  one that isn't rooted in historical fact like David Hughes' death  that on the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Capitol fire, a call was received from an unused phone line connected to the Capitol's State Police outpost regarding the fire. But Lehman's conversations with state troopers yielded no evidence of such a phone line.

It would seem that if Cuomo is going to run into any Albany spirits, he's more likely to meet them at the state Capitol, where there are said to be four people who haunt those burning the midnight oil.

Still, the governor might sleep better at night if a team comes in to the Executive Mansion to root out David Hughes or anyone else who might be lingering.

"If it happens again, I'm going to call the Ghostbusters," Cuomo told reporters in New York City on Friday.

mhamilton@timesunion.com  518-454-5449  @matt_hamilton10
BALLSTON SPA --Three Saratoga County residents admitted their role in a March 10 home invasion in Milton, District Attorney Karen A. Heggen said Thursday.

Timothy Sims, 26, of Sunset Gulch, Malta, pleaded guilty to a violent felony of burglary, admitting that he entered the victim's home intending to assault the victim while another participant in the crime was armed with a knife.

Arthur Brust Jr., 18, of Franklin Street, Ballston Spa pleaded guilty to attempted burglary, admitting he tried to enter the victim's home with the intent of assault. Linda Sims, 24, of Holly Folly, Malta, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, admitting she conspired with Sims and Brust to commit the crimes.

On March 10, police responding to the home invasion call found the defendants as they fled.

"While we are not able to disclose the exact motive of the home invasion at this time, this was not a random burglary. The parties were known to each other and the general public was not in danger," Heggen said.

Brust entered the plea April 26, Linda Sims on Tuesday and Sims on Thursday.

They are all expected to be sentenced in the next several months, Heggen said.
John Carl D'Annibale

ALBANY  Several flights were delayed Friday at Albany International Airport, and at least 10 flights to other destinations were diverted to Albany, as heavy rain on the East Coast causes headaches for travelers.

At Albany, United departures for Newark and Washington Dulles were delayed, while another flight to Newark was canceled.
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Bethlehem

Monolith Solar may be a victim of its own success.

The Rensselaer-based company is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing solar companies in upstate New York, with solar farm projects worth tens of millions of dollars either lined up or under construction from Albany to Buffalo.

That includes $9.9 million in recently signed contracts with the New York State Thruway Authority and the state Department of Transportation to build solar farms on state-owned land.

The business wins have resulted in a hiring spree at Monolith, which is adding 70 new workers in a push to get its staff up to 100 people.

That is why it has become more urgent than ever for Monolith to begin construction on a new, $4.6 million headquarters at the Vista Technology Campus in Slingerlands first announced in 2014.

"We're 100 percent moving forward," Monolith President Steven Erby told the Times Union earlier this week. "We just need the space to have all these people."

But Monolith says it has been difficult to close on construction financing for the new headquarters because of the unusual and complex way that solar projects are financed.

Monolith and other solar companies specialize in building so-called community solar farms, where they sell off portions of the solar panel output to one or several groups, often school districts that use the output to offset their electric bills. The company then finds a bank to buy the land and equipment at the project site, which it in turn leases back to the solar company. The transaction is called a sale-leaseback deal and they are common in the solar industry.

Monolith has been signing sale-leaseback deals at a furious pace, resulting in $20 million in deals with KeyBank, the largest bank in the Capital Region.

But it just so happens that KeyBank is participating in a U.S. Small Business Administration loan that Monolith is seeking for the Slingerlands project, which is in line to receive $680,000 in tax breaks from the Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency.

Last week, Monolith's controller, Jennifer Pickett, told the IDA that the holdup of the SBA loan has been largely due to its growing relationship with KeyBank. Records filed with the state show Monolith has signed 11 financing deals with KeyBank's equipment lending division over the past 12 months, although dollar amounts are not made public. KeyBank does not discuss individual customer loans.

"Because we are doing a lot of business with (KeyBank), they want to look at the $5 million loan for Vista in conjunction with the $20 million on the sale-leaseback side as an entire package and see what their limits can be as far as the total relationship," Pickett said.

Pickett told the IDA that she hopes KeyBank will make a decision soon on the loan, allowing construction to move forward.

Thomas Connolly, the Bethlehem IDA's lawyer, told the Times Union that Monolith is in compliance with its IDA agreement since it has already received a building permit from the town and Monolith's contractor, BBL, has started initial site work.

lrulison@timesunion.com  518-454-5504  @larryrulison
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New York City

A year after falling head-over-heels for a musical about Alexander Hamilton, the Broadway community threw its arms wide open at the 2017 Tony Award nominations, handing out nods to 25 shows in a season notable for its breathtaking range.

"Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812," an improbable pop-opera musical inspired by a Leo Tolstoy novel, got 12 nominations. A revival of the 53-year-old "Hello, Dolly!" about a brassy matchmaker earned 10. "Dear Evan Hansen," a heartfelt show that begins with a misfit teen's suicide got nine. Musicals about a pair of cosmetic legends, another set on 9/11 and another based on an old Bill Murray movie were all honored.

"It's a fantastic season. It's a deep, great season with people really putting themselves out there  writers and directors and producers and actors. It's a fantastic year to be a part of," said Laura Linney, who is starring in "Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes" and earned her fourth nomination. "It's a robust expression of humanity."

On the new play side, nominations were given to works about working class angst ("Sweat"), Middle East peace negotiations ("Oslo"), a behind-the-scenes look at a controversial 1923 Yiddish play ("Indecent"), and a bold sequel to a Henrik Ibsen play ("A Doll's House, Part 2"). There were also revivals of plays by giants Tennessee Williams ("The Glass Menagerie") and Arthur Miller ("The Price") and a much-cheered Broadway debut by a 65-year-old Pulitzer Prize winner (Paula Vogel).

"I'm just so glad I quit my day job," joked Vogel, 65, who has taught generations of playwrights at Brown and Yale. "To finally make it here is pretty nice, and to be in this company is an honor."

"Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" will compete for the best new musical Tony with "Come From Away," ''Dear Evan Hansen" and "Groundhog Day."

The best play revivals are "August Wilson's Jitney," ''Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes," ''Present Laughter" and "Six Degrees of Separation."

Andy Karl earned his third Tony nomination as the star of the musical "Groundhog Day," based on the much-loved 1993 movie about a jaded weatherman forced to live the same day over. Karl earned Broadway respect for struggling through opening night with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. "We all get up and we go for it," he said.

Ben Platt, a star of the "Pitch Perfect" films who recently made Time magazine's most influential people in the world list, got a nod as the star of "Dear Evan Hansen," which centers on a profoundly lonely 17-year-old who fabricates a prior friendship with a classmate who committed suicide.

Platt invited his mother to New York to join him in listening to the nominations. "I grew up watching the Tonys  devouring the Tonys each year  so just to be named is a surreal experience," he said.

Final Tony winners will be determined by some 850 industry insiders. Kevin Spacey will host the awards show June 11 from Radio City Music Hall.

Bette Midler, who stars as the matchmaker in "Hello, Dolly!" will compete with "War Paint" stars Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole; Denee Benton, of "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812" and Eva Noblezada of "Miss Saigon."

In a quirk, Midler actually earned her first Tony nomination but has already won one of the trophies  the 1974 Special Tony Award for "for adding luster to the Broadway season" during a concert stand the year before at the Palace Theatre.

Danny DeVito earned a nomination for his Broadway debut in a revival of Arthur Miller's "The Price," about an embittered New York City police officer who feels that life has passed him by while he took care of his now-dead father. Asked why it took him so long to get to Broadway, DeVito joked: "Have you seen the size of these Broadway dressing rooms?"

Oscar winner Cate Blanchett also made her Broadway debut in Anton Chekhov's "The Present." For the best leading actress trophy, she will face-off against Jennifer Ehle of "Oslo," Sally Field in "The Glass Menagerie," Laurie Metcalf in "A Doll's House, Part 2" and Linney.

Some "Hamilton" alumni struggled a year later. Phillipa Soo saw her show "Amelie" get no nominations, while "Bandstand," led by director and choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, didn't snag a coveted best new musical nod, although he was nominated for choreography.
Vila Do Abraao, Brazil

One of the first things visitors will notice about Ilha Grande, or Big Island, is that there are no vehicles. The local government prohibits private cars, maintaining the laid-back rhythms that islanders say are central to their identity.

Dirt and sand paths that run parallel to the many beaches, however, often do have travelers: scores of crabs scurrying across at a leisurely pace that only picks up if a human approaches.

"Life here is simple," said Rodison Marcos, a 48-year-old boat operator born and raised here. "We don't need a watch, or a tie or cars."

More Information If you go http://www.visitbrasil.com/en/destinos/ilha-grande/. When choosing lodging, remember that you must walk or take taxi boats to all accommodations outside Vila do Abraao. See More Collapse

For foreign and Brazilian tourists alike, that slowed development means this tropical island can offer something Rio de Janeiro and surrounding areas have not been able to for years: clean beaches. Ultimately it was a search for unsullied ocean, where my wife and I would feel comfortable letting our three young sons swim, that attracted us.

The island is a three-hour trip from Rio, but no highway or bridge connects it to the mainland. Several boats a day traverse a small stretch of sea from three different ports. The relative isolation means cellphone service is spotty, and Internet often feels nonexistent. In short, it's a place to disconnect while feeling strong connections, because everybody appears to know everybody.

"Oh, you are going to the place of Alex, the French guy," a man told me after we arrived in Abraao and asked directions to Bica Beach. "Let me get you a taxi boat."

Our Airbnb bungalow was another 10 minutes away by wobbly motorboat. Then we climbed the equivalent of six flights of stairs on a steep path through lush tropical forest. All the huffing and puffing and sweating felt worth it once there. Looking down, we saw blue ocean waters while monkeys jumped between trees.

The island  at about 77 square miles, it's roughly three times the area of Manhattan  is pristine, in large part because of an unusual history going back to the 16th century Portuguese colonization. It has been a pirates' lair, a leper colony and, most recently, home to a maximum security penitentiary that housed some of Brazil's most violent criminals, along with political prisoners during part of the 1964-1985 dictatorship.

Various rebellions and headline-grabbing escapes created headaches for islanders and kept investors away. In 1994, however, the Candido Mendes prison was closed and demolished. A few years later, the State University of Rio de Janeiro opened a research center to study the environment and sustainable development.

Today, there are numerous pousadas, or guest houses, in Vila do Abraao, which has about 3,000 residents. There are also offbeat places to stay, from beachfront villas to isolated jungle dwellings. Companies offer excursions that range from some of Brazil's best snorkeling and scuba diving to walking tours through rain forests teeming with life. Then there are the dozens and dozens of beaches that are both postcard-worthy and often empty.

"Look at this water," said Felipe Ricardo Brito, who sells caipirinhas, a mix of the national alcohol cachaca and limes, on Feiticeira Beach. "It's totally clean. There is no sewage. You can breathe pure air."

That is not the case on most beaches in and around Rio de Janeiro, the city that hosted the 2016 Summer Games. An 18-month investigation by the Associated Press during the run-up to the Olympics found dangerously high levels of bacteria and viruses in Rio beaches. Only a little more than half of the sewage in Rio is treated, meaning that each day tons of fecal matter ends up in the Guanabara Bay and surrounding beaches.

Still, while Ilha Grande doesn't have a sewage problem, it's far from an environmental paradise. For example, amid a deep economic crisis in the country, the island has struggled with garbage collection.

Earlier this year, the island captured national headlines when hundreds of bags of garbage were strewn throughout Vila do Abraao. The local government switched garbage providers and has promised to regularize service. Still, the problem periodically pops up, irking islanders and creating eyesores. When we visited in February, crabs could be seen among the garbage.

There are also worries about overdevelopment. Much of the island is protected wildland, but Brazil has a history of big money interests winning out against environmental protections. Last year, the environmental secretary of the state government invited Ilha Grande residents to present ideas about the future, from development projects to environmental issues. While billed as a way to build consensus, many residents were suspicious that it was really just a precursor to ramming through big changes.

As the island opens up, its industries and demographics are changing. While fishing is still a central industry for many residents, increasingly fishing and crab boats are used to ferry around tourists. And some tourists like it so much they are staying.

"Now there are Argentines, Brazilians from other states and hippies living here," said Selma dos Santos Garcia, an Ilha Grande native who sells snacks on the beaches. "We are at the mercy of tourists."
Albany

After hearing two loud sounds and a male voice ordering everyone to the ground, Elise Van Allen found herself crawling on the floor and thinking she was going to die in the chaos of the Crossgates Mall Apple Store.

"I pondered if it was an act of terrorism or another mall shooting," the Apple employee and prosecution witness testified Tuesday at the trial of Tasheem Maeweather, who is charged with attempted murder.

Prosecutors say the 20-year-old Albany man fired on a group of rival gang members after a chance encounter near the Apple Store on November 12, a busy Saturday afternoon. Widespread panic ensued as people tried to escape, but there were no injuries.

Prosecutor Steven Sharp showed parts of the surveillance footage from inside the store in the seconds before and after the shooting.

The defense contends police have the wrong man, focused exclusively on Maeweather and disregarded other potential suspects.

Van Allen was one of five Apple workers who took the stand and recalled hearing what many described as two loud bangs that sent them diving for cover and in some instances crawling to the back room for safety. Employees from nearby shops took the stand. Two of them said they found bloody clothing on the premises that they turned over to police.

On cross-examination, defense attorney Lee Kindlon asked each of the prosecution witnesses the same basic questions: Had they ever seen Maeweather, did they see him with a gun and did they witness the shooting. They all responded to no to each question.

Jurors viewed Maeweather, who is also charged with attempted assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment, being interviewed by Guilderland police Detective Charles Tanner, the lead investigator on the case.

Maeweather tells Tanner that he took his two younger sisters to the H&M store and bought a $205 pair of Air Jordan sneakers for himself at Champs but insisted he had nothing to do with the shooting, is not part of a gang and knows a lot of people but doesn't have beef with anyone.

"I ain't in no crew, no gang, nothing," he said. "I just be hanging around people."

In the interview, when Tanner shows Maeweather a photo of him in front of the Apple Store, he acknowledges in the interview that he was there talking to a man he calls his cousin when somebody punched him in the face. He said he started running and heard gunshots before later meeting up outside with his sisters.

Kindlon argued that Guilderland cops focused on Maeweather even though Albany police came up with other potential suspects, including one who was standing outside the Apple Store at the time of the shooting and was later picked up in Colonie and charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

Under questioning from Kindlon, Tanner said a search of Maeweather's home didn't turn up a gun or any ballistic evidence linking him to the shooting and that detectives didn't search other locations recorded by Maeweather's GPS monitor he was wearing while on probation for drug-related conviction in 2015,

Earlier in the day, Ernest Rennhack, the man who was playing Santa Claus at the mall, testified he saw shoppers heading for the doors after he heard what sounded like two gunshots.

"I saw a lot of frightened people running looking for the nearest exit to get out of the mall," said Rennhack.

The jury also heard from State Police crime lab experts in ballistics and forensics.

Testimony in Albany County Court will resume Wednesday morning before Judge Roger McDonough.

pnelson@timesunion.com  518-454-5347  @apaulnelson
A recall of 6,000 bottles of Bombay Sapphire London Dry Gin across Canada began when an unsatisfied customer in Ontario tipped off the liquor sales industry to a batch of wildly potent gin, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario told the National Post of Canada.

The LCBO's quality assurance lab found the gin had 77 percent alcohol content  nearly double the 40 percent advertised on the bottle.
Baghdad

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is in talks with the Trump administration to keep American troops in Iraq after the fight against the Islamic State group in the country is concluded, according to a U.S. official and an official from the Iraqi government.

Both officials underlined that the discussions are ongoing and that nothing has been decided. But the talks point to a consensus by both governments that, in contrast to the U.S. withdrawal in 2011, a longer-term presence of American troops in Iraq is needed to ensure that an insurgency does not bubble up again once the militants are driven out.

"There is a general understanding on both sides that it would be in the long-term interests of each to have that continued presence. So as for agreement, yes, we both understand it would be mutually beneficial. That we agree on," the U.S. official said.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

The talks involve U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Iraqi officials over "what the long-term U.S. presence would look like," the American official said.

U.S. forces in Iraq would be stationed inside existing Iraqi bases in at least five locations in the Mosul area and along Iraq's border with Syria, the Iraqi government official said. They would continue to be designated as advisers to dodge the need for parliamentary approval for their presence, he said.

He said al-Abadi is looking to install a "modest" Iraqi military presence in Mosul after the fight against the Islamic State group is concluded. The forces would help control security in the city and oversee the transition to a political administration of Mosul, he said.

The U.S. official emphasized that there were no discussions of creating independent American bases in Iraq, as such a move would require thousands more personnel. He said the troops levels would be "several thousand ... maybe a little more."

The Pentagon has close to 7,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, many not publicly acknowledged because they are on temporary duty or under specific personnel rules. The forces include troops training Iraqi forces, coordinating airstrikes and ground operations, and special forces operating on the front lines.

The news comes as Iraqi forces are struggling to push IS fighters out of a cluster of neighborhoods in western Mosul that mark the last patch of significant urban terrain the group holds in Iraq, nearly three years after the militants overran nearly a third of the country.

At the height of the surge of U.S. forces in 2007 to combat sectarian violence that nearly tore Iraq apart, there were 170,000 American troops in the country. The numbers were down to 40,000 before the complete withdrawal in 2011.

The U.S. intervention against the Islamic State group, launched in 2014, was originally cast as an operation that would largely be fought from the skies with a minimal footprint on Iraqi soil. But it has since grown given Iraqi forces' need for support.
World Press Freedom Day was observed this week  or, in the case of the White House, was pointedly not observed.

Probably journalists shouldn't take offense. There also was no record of a statement from President Donald Trump about National Textiles Day or National Chocolate Custard Day, which, according to a handy digital calendar, fell on the same day this week.

But, then again, freedom to enjoy textiles and chocolate custard aren't written into our national charter the way freedom of the press is, nor have previous U.S. administrations defended the role of cloth and dessert in international dialogue, as they have press freedom.

In fact, every recent president has stood up for "American values" around the globe, including pushing for press freedom in even the most repressive states. It's just what the leader of the free world does. President George W. Bush admonished Vladimir Putin about the treatment of journalists in Russia; the Obama administration brought up the issue in many countries, including China, Egypt, Turkey and Vietnam.

More Information Rex Smith is editor of the Times Union. Share your thoughts at http://timesunion.com/rex_smith. See More Collapse

But imagine what might happen if Trump spoke up for the press in, say, the Philippines, where more journalists have been killed in direct relation to their work over the last 25 years than anywhere except Iraq and Syria. A guess: It would probably provoke a cynical laugh from Roberto Duterte, the Philippines president accused of encouraging death squads that have killed thousands, including journalists, whom the president recently invited to the White House. Nor would an American push on press freedom nowadays get much attention from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who returned from his visit to Mar-a-Lago and imposed stringent controls on the Chinese media, including licensing for all information distributors.

No, America's leader can't very well stand up to authoritarian rulers elsewhere on behalf of a free press when he has repeatedly referred to the press here as "the enemy of the people"  a condemning phrase used by Vladimir Lenin after Russian Communists came to power in 1917, and often invoked by Josef Stalin to justify sending citizens to labor camps.

Never mind, though, the absence of Donald Trump from the celebration of World Press Freedom Day. Those of us who care about the work of media worldwide have another tool: my friend Rosemary.

Rosemary Armao and I have sat at adjoining microphones hundreds of times over the last nine years, taping "The Media Project," the weekly public radio show that WAMC's Alan Chartock and I have hosted since the mid-1990s. Now she's about to take her advocacy for tough reporting global.

Rosemary joined the faculty of the University at Albany in 2008, and has been director of the UAlbany journalism program. She grew up in this community before launching a wide-ranging career as a reporter and editor, including three years running the nation's top investigative reporting organization. Since she came back home to teach, she has been a regular presence on public radio.

But Rosemary has taken off a few weeks each year to help build the capacity for investigative reporting in places where there's no tradition of it. She has worked in eastern Europe, Asia and Africa, typically in nations with authoritarian regimes, on behalf of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. Now she is giving up her professorship and taking on an OCCRP assignment in Jordan. After at least six months there, she'll head to Eastern Europe again.

At each stop, Rosemary is teaching journalists how to hold governments to account for what they do. And that is fundamental to protecting security, as U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres noted last week.

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"Journalists go to the most dangerous places to give voice to the voiceless," he said. "We need leaders to defend a free media. This is crucial to counter prevailing misinformation... because a free press advances peace and justice for all."

Guterres' words came in a statement on World Press Freedom Day, and you can't help but contrast that with the words four days earlier by Donald Trump.

"If the media's job is to be honest and tell the truth, the media deserves a very, very big fat failing grade," he said. Reporters are "very dishonest people," he said.

Not those I know. Not Rosemary Armao, for one. When I told her I wanted to write about her in a column, she said, "Don't make me out to be some kind of a hero. I'm not. It's going to be way fun."

Got it. But I'd say standing up for truth matters, and when even your own government won't defend you, it borders on heroic.
Two men who received 20 year prison sentences for an aggravated burglary in Tipperary have had their tariffs reduced to 18 on appeal.

Dublin residents Patrick Gately (29), with an address at Primrose Grove, Darndale, Dean Byrne (23), of Cabra Park, Dublin 17, John Joyce (22), Lentisk Lawn, Donaghmede, Patrick Joyce (24), of Beaumont Hall, Beaumont Woods and Thomas Flynn (22), of Moatview Avenue, Coolock were among seven men who pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at the home of the Corcoran family in south Tipperary on November 21, 2013.

Sentences of 20 years imprisonment with the final four suspended were handed down to Gately and Dean Byrne; John Joyce was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with the final four suspended; Patrick Joyce was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with the final four suspended and Thomas Flynn received a 12 year sentence made consecutive to a sentence already being served.

They were sentenced by Judge Thomas Teehan at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on October 1, 2015.

Five of the seven men brought appeals against the severity of their sentences in the three-judge Court of Appeal. Gately and Byrne had their 20 year tariffs reduced to 18 with the final four years suspended due to the excessive divergence between their sentences and the terms of their co-accused. The three other men had their appeals dismissed.

Giving judgment today/yesterday(FRIDAY), Mr Justice George Birmingham said the court was in no doubt that the sentencing judge was correct in concluding that the case fell into the most serious category of aggravated burglary and the Court of Appeal was surprised that submissions to the contrary were advanced by some of the men's lawyers.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the sentencing judge correct to deal with all seven accused in three groups.

Michael McDonagh and Donal O'Hara had the greatest claim for leniency. They did not bring appeals against their sentences.

Dean Byrne and Patrick Gately merited the most severe sentences and Thomas Flynn along with the two Joyces made up the middle group.

The sentence imposed on Thomas Flynn had to be consecutive to a firearms sentence he was serving and the Court of Appeal saw no basis for interfering with the sentence imposed on him.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the sentences imposed on the Joyces were appropriate having regard to the gravity of the offence. He said the sentencing judge saw fit to differentiate between them. John Joyce was the driver and supplier of the VW Passat and it was his phone that was in intense contact with the phone of Dean Byrne in the Saab. Moreover, John Joyce had the more extensive prior record.

Mr Justice Birmingham said there were a number of factors why Dean Byrne and Patrick Gately should have received the most severe sentences.

First of all they were the occupants of the stolen famliy jeep when it was involved in outrageous driving. They had the most extensive prior records and their guilty pleas were entered only on the date of trial.

The Court of Appeal however, had a concern, about the divergence in the sentences. Gately's and Byrne's net sentences of 16 years were more than three times the sentence of those who received the lightest terms and six years longer than Patrick Joyce, five years longer than John Joyce and seven years longer than Thomas Flynn, though his sentence was modified on principle because it was made consecutive to a term already being served.

Significant as the reasons were for differentiating, Mr Justice Birmingham said the court concluded that the divergence was excessive and required intervention.

Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice John Edwards and Mr Justice John Hedigan, reduced both sentences from 20 years to 18 with the final four suspended.

All other appeals were dismissed.

Giving background, Mr Justice Birmingham said all seven men travelled from Dublin in convoy in order to commit the burglary at the Corcoran home, which was a bungalow, in a cul de sac, in a rural area outside Killenaule.

Mr and Mrs Corcoran lived with their three children, all girls, aged 8, 6 and 2.

Mark Corcoran had been sleeping in a secluded room at the rear of the house because he had an early start the following morning and did not want to disturb the rest of the household.

He described being woken by a man wearing a black balaclava, brandishing a machete.

Another, taller man appeared to have a black handgun he struck Mr Corocan in the face with causing him to bleed extensively.

They were shouting: where is the safe, where is the money?. Mr Justice Birmingham said there was in fact no safe on the premises but the raiders refused to accept that. As they were told there was no money or safe they became increasingly agitated.

Mr Corcoran was led into another room where he noticed a third man with a sawn-off shotgun, also wearing a balaclava.

Mr Corcoran suffered significant injuries and in particular nasal injuries which required four surgeries. He had been pinned to the ground and his hands were tied behind his back with cable ties. One raider knelt on his back between his shoulder blades, even though he was already restrained.

A threat was made to Mr Corcoran that his feet would be cut off and, given the presence of the machete, this threat was taken very seriously.

The two eldest daughters, who had a clear view of what was going on, became very distressed and were screaming. The youngest was in a cot and could hear the threats that were being made.

Emma Corcoran had cause to witness the assault on her husband and she herself was dragged through the house by her hair. She was threatened that a screwdriver would be put up her nose and threats were made to her that the raiders would shoot or kill the children.

A sum of 1,300 was handed over and a substantial quantity of jewellery was taken, including jewellery Emma Corcoran had inherited from her late mother, such as an engagement ring worth 3,500, which was of considerable sentimental value. While some of the jewellery was subsequently recovered following an anonymous tip-off in August 2015 to go to a particular location, the engagement ring has never been recovered.

While the incident was in progress Emma Corcoran, with great presence of mind, managed to make two separate 999 calls. As a result gardai were dispatched to the scene.

At one stage the raiders sought a key to the family car, which was taken and later encountered by gardai in Portlaoise. They chased that vehicle.

In order to evade the gardai, the vehicle was driven at very high speeds, leaving the motorway network. It drove throught the village of Ballybrittas at speeds of 200km/hr.

At about 4am, Gardai from the Organised Crime Unit who were travelling south on the M7 observed the VW Passat travelling north at a high speed followed closely by a Kia Sorrento. The gardai noted that the Passat was tucked in tightly behind an articulated truck as if to hide itself.

Initialy the Passat accellerated when gardai came behind it but then the occupants realised that the vehicle could not outrun the gardai and it pulled into the hard shoulder. There were five males inside.

The driver was John Joyce, the front seat passenger was Patrick Joyce, his brother, and in the rear were Donal O'Hara, Thomas Flynn and Michale McDonagh.

Later, gardai came across the Kia Sorrento as it headed north towards Dublin. At one stage the occupants of the Kia Sorrento became aware they were being followed and attempted to escape. That involved weaving in and out of the rush hour traffic that was headed to Dublin.

As they encountered heavier traffic closer to Dublin, they drove on the right margin of the motorway where there were loose stones and road work signs. The vehicle was driven through any obstacles that were there, clipping off cars which were stopped, knocking down road signs and knocking mirrors off vehicles.

It was brought to a stop at Newlands Cross. The driver was Patrick Gately and the front seat passenger was Dean Byrne.

Each man was arrested and detained.

Dean Byrne was asked during garda interviews if he could 'picture the kids'.

He responded: If you're going to be evil, I'll be evil. I don't give a fuck about kids. If they're not mine I don't give a fuck. I didn't do it. I can sleep easily out there.

In a victim impact statement, Mark Corcoran stated: On the morning of the 21st of November, 2013, my life, as I knew it, was completely turned upside down. The actions of a number of people that night will haunt me for the rest of my life. I wake up every morning, look in the mirror and still see the scar on my face from where I was assaulted on that night. It is a constant reminder of what happened. I have had surgery to try to repair the scar tissue and I still require a number of operations to try to get my eye back to normal.

I have an enormous sense of guilt, being the man of the house, that I could not do anythign to protect my wife and kids on that night. Being tied up face down on the floor, covered in blood, to have my eldest daughter stand over me crying that her daddy is dead, I can only describe as being at my own funeral but being fully awake.

My kids saw and heard things that night that no child should ever go through. I often have nights when I am afraid to go to bed and have spent hours just sitting in front of a monitor for security camera just watching what is happening outside.

My wife and I have suffered a great deal, not just emotionally but financially. The business that so much work had gone into was no longer an option as we were afraid of something happening again. Even now as I write this, I can still hear voices shouting: 'Where is your money? We want your money'. There was jewellery taken that belonged to my late mother-in-law that had great sentimental value to my wife. That can never be replaced. Our family home where we have been raising our kids and living happily, all those happy memories we have will forever be tainted by what happened that night. I can only hope as time goes on that painful day in November becomes a distant memory.
[May 05, 2017] Flexport Announces Fourth US Office Opening in Atlanta

ATLANTA, May 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexport, a leading technology-enabled freight forwarder and customs broker, has announced today its latest expansion: the opening of a fourth North American office in Atlanta this summer. Flexport expects to bring on over 200 employees in the Atlanta area in the three years after starting operations on June 1, 2017. Following the company's $65M Series B funding round in 2016, Flexport has worked to identify the ideal location to further its global expansion and ultimate goal of simplifying the complexities of global trade. With offices in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Shenzhen, the company's seventh global office in Atlanta is evidence of its commitment to putting sales and operations teams closer to clients and supply chain partners. Invest Atlanta and Georgia's Department of Economic Development, the primary economic development authorities in Atlanta and Georgia, were instrumental in facilitating Flexport's decision to expand to Atlanta and offering ongoing support. "Flexport's decision to establish a major operation here further cements Atlanta's role as a global logistics hub and home to many of the world's leading supply chain technology companies," said Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta. "By choosing Atlanta, the company will be right at the heart of our region's burgeoning cross-sector tech community and at the doorstep of Georgia Tech, the Atlanta University Center and other talent-rich academic institutions."



Georgia continues to rise as a leader in the technology sector, and Atlanta is at the epicenter of this growth," said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson . "Flexport's decision to invest and create jobs in Atlanta is a testament to our commitment to supporting innovative technologies in Georgia , and meeting the growing demands of this industry. I look forward to watching them grow and thrive here." Flexport's decision to expand into Atlanta was solidified by Georgia's exceptional talent pool and enthusiastic adoption of the latest technology in logistics and freight. The city's location, transportation infrastructure, and strong logistics sector will enable Flexport to form lasting relationships with local service providers, working together to reach clients more quickly and efficiently. By air, Atlanta's airport offers access to 80 percent of the U.S. market within a two-hour flight, while, by land, Georgia's six interstates connect the state to 80 percent of the U.S. population within a two-day truck drive. Finally, by sea, the port of Savannah is the most efficient seaport operation in North America due to its large single-terminal design. The company hopes its presence in the state will support local clients and small businesses in identifying and managing global shipping solutions.

"Atlanta is a booming technology center and is a natural fit for our next North American office," said Ryan Petersen, CEO and founder of Flexport. "The city has the busiest airport in the world to bring us closer to our air freight operations and is advantageously located near the port of Savannah, where they've been making huge investments to handle the bigger ships coming through the newly widened Panama Canal. On top of that, we already move hundreds of tons of freight through Georgia's major logistics gateways every year, so establishing a local presence will make customs clearance and local trucking cheaper. Simply put, Atlanta is giving us added access to air, land and sea, plus some of the country's best and brightest talent." Flexport is invested in continued growth of company functions in Atlanta, and is excited to begin immediate recruiting for the Atlanta office. The company will be hiring for its sales, operations, customs, and small business development departments. Flexport Recruiting Partners are looking for folks with a client-first mentality, strong communication skills and an entrepreneurial spirit and are interested in meeting Georgia's top talent from universities like Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Interested candidates should reach out to Kristen Hayward, Global VP of Recruiting for Flexport, [email protected] and check out Flexport.com/Careers. CONTACT:

Anna Beyder

(925) 408-9333

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flexport-announces-fourth-us-office-opening-in-atlanta-300452427.html SOURCE Flexport

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[May 05, 2017] BIOQuebec Welcomes the Ambitious Yet Realistic Goals Set Forth in the Quebec Government's Life Sciences Strategy

BIOQuebec welcomed the Quebec government's life sciences strategy which was unveiled earlier today, the contents of which will support the creation of value generated by the biotechnology and life sciences industry. "The government's overall objectives are ambitious yet realistic," states Anie Perrault, BIOQuebec's Executive Manager. "In fact, Quebec has the talent, research centres, companies, and innovations that allow it to not only rank in the top five hubs in North America, but also to attract substantial private investments." On a provincial level, the strategy unveiled today by Minister Dominique Anglade includes the creation of a Bureau de l'innovation, which reflects the recommendation made to the government by the life sciences working group in May of 2016. Several industry members, including representatives of BIOQuebec, participated in this working group created by the government in 2015. "Our province's biotechs market their innovations in the U.S. and in Europe, yet their innovative tests, drugs, and treatments are rarely found in our own healthcare institutions, and the patients and practitioners in Quebec who would benefit from them are often unaware they even exist. We hope that this bureau will speed up the integration of innovations into the Quebec healthcare network, which is a main concern of the province's biotechnology and life sciences industry," adds Anie Perrault, who also spoke about this important issue in a recent interview in La Presse. BIOQuebec reiterates that it is essential to promote Quebec's strengths so it can set itself apart in Canada and abroad when it comes to integrating innovations into the healthcare system, which will be advantageous to the entire population of Quebec. To this end, "we hope that one of this new bureau's main goals will be to optimize the evaluation process for promising, innovative technologies," says Anie Perrault. In fact, BIOQuebec congratulates the government on creating, within the INESSS, a unit dedicated to assessing technological innovations, which will help to support the Bureau de l'innovation's mandate. She also states that "in addition, we encourage the government to use the working group it created to act quickly in reinforcing one of the main factors that attracts investments, namely quicker access to the marketplace for drugs and other health innovations, for the benefit of the patient above all else." In terms of integration, the government also announced the creation of a fund to support innovation in health and social service which will allow for the evaluation of innovations in real-life care situations. With an $18 million budget over five years, "we hope that this fund will help us to collect the strong data necessary to endorse the integration of innovations into Quebec's healthcare system," continues Anie Perrault. BIOQuebec applauds this initiative and offers the government its support in implementing this action, which could benefit several of its members.



BIOQuebec also welcomes the creation of a fund valued at up to $75 million to accelerate the establishment of health alliances, through which money will be directly put towards the implementation of structuring initiatives and collaborative public-private projects with a total value of $150 million. Anie Perrault adds that "by choosing to prioritize precision medicine and the mining of big data on health, Quebec is providing itself with a tool to create better collaborations within the life sciences sector in Quebec, and we congratulate the province on this measure." In addition, BIOQuebec is pleased with the strategy's focus on the international component, particularly with respect to promoting Quebec's attributes. The province's biotechs and other organizations that make up the life sciences innovation chain clearly have the expertise, the talent, and the infrastructure to drive Quebec's economy. This open to the world approach matches that of BIOQuebec's members, as most of them export their products or have international partnerships. "Our association has recently been working on strengthening our industry's relationships with globally-recognized life sciences hubs such as the ones in Switzerland, with which we recently signed a cooperation agreement, and the one in Massachusetts, with which an agreement is pending," added BIOQuebec's Executive Manager.

Last year, BIOQuebec welcomed the creation of the BioMed Propulsion program. The strategy mentions this $100 million fund (over five years), which is an important measure but one with limited power as a Phase ll clinical trial costs between $30-35 million; that investment doubles for a Phase lll trial. BIOQuebec would have preferred to have the life sciences applied to human and animal health innovation financing chain reinforced by an increase in life sciences investments through Investissement Quebec's programs or other government programs, such as the issuance of Treasury bonds with the yields being allocated to research and innovation. BIOQuebec will continue to request that the government institute creative new financing strategies to foster and support the growth of life sciences companies. With more than 135 biotechnology companies and 75 contract research organizations in Quebec, not to mention the research centres, valorization corporations, and the many other organizations working closely with this sector, life sciences and health technologies are clearly an industry which is vital to the province's development. "The strategy which was introduced today is one more step in recognizing the importance of our industry to Quebec's economic development. We hope that it will also serve to promote our industry and our innovations as well as to create a well-deserved sense of pride within Quebec," concludes Anie Perrault. To increase public awareness of the industry, its members recently launched a Web-based campaign called L'innovation au Quebec, c'est dans notre ADN. View all the information capsules at www.innovationsante.quebec. About BIOQuebec

BIOQuebec is committed to supporting the growth of Quebec's biotechnology and life sciences industry which creates wealth and specialized jobs, is focused on innovation and marketing, and is dedicated to improving everyone's health and quality of life. For more information, go to www.bioquebec.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005652/en/

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[May 05, 2017] Morris Animal Foundation to Help Critically Endangered Mongolian Saiga

Morris Animal Foundation is working to save the critically endangered saiga antelope, with a $50,000 grant to international researchers studying the deadly "goat plague" virus that is pushing the species closer to the brink of extinction. Morris Animal Foundation's Betty White Wildlife Rapid Response Fund will support life-saving animal health research that the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is conducting with its partners to understand the rapidly progressing disease, in hopes of saving the Mongolian saiga before it's too late. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005661/en/ Morris Animal Foundation is fighting to save the critically endangered saiga antelope with an emergency grant from its Betty White Wildlife Rapid Response Fund which funds critical health studies. (Photo: Business Wire) "Morris Animal Foundation's support will be critical to the global effort to save this species," said Dr. Amanda Fine, a veterinarian and Associate Director of the WCS Wildlife Health Program in Asia. "The Mongolian saiga population is now experiencing a die-off that continues to escalate in scope and scale, and we feel that we may be facing the potential extinction of this subspecies of the saiga antelope, if immediate and comprehensive actions are not taken." The research team includes Dr. Richard Kock, a Professor with the University of London's Royal Veterinary College. Dr. Kock is a global expert on investigating actors contributing to the epidemic of goat plague, a highly contagious virus known to scientists as peste des petits ruminants (PPR). Typically associated with sheep and goats, the disease recently emerged in Mongolian livestock and has now spread to the saiga population.



The first Mongolian saiga casualties of the goat plague outbreak were discovered in late December 2016, following the first outbreak of the disease in sheep and goats in the country in September 2016. Despite Mongolian government efforts to halt the spread of PPR through vaccination of sheep and goats, the current outbreak has caused the deaths of more than 5,000 of the remaining 10,000 Mongolian saiga. If left unchecked, the disease could cause a further devastating reduction in the Mongolian saiga population, and potentially lead to extinction. This is the second time Morris Animal Foundation has come to support the saiga antelope with funding through the Betty White Wildlife Rapid Response Fund. In May 2011, the Foundation supported Dr. Kock's research, which helped to identify the cause of the near decimation of the population of 200,000 saiga in Kazakhstan, due to episodic outbreaks of bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia.

"We must gain a better understanding of the ecology of these disease outbreaks so that we can protect this ancient and critically endangered species from extinction," said Barbara Wolfe (News - Alert), DVM, PhD, DACZM, Chief Scientific Officer for Morris Animal Foundation. "These efforts directly support our mission to ensure the health of animals worldwide. I'm so pleased that Morris Animal Foundation is able to support, in real time, the important efforts of the scientists in the field." The unusual-looking saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), with its remarkable elongated snout, once was prolific in the Eurasian steppes. Its population was estimated to be near one million, extending from the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains and Caucasus into Dzungaria and Mongolia. The Mongolian subspecies (Saiga tatarica ssp. mongolica) is found only in western Mongolia. Historically believed to have once roamed the earth at the same time as woolly mammoths, this unique antelope now faces extinction without intervention. "The Mongolian government, NGOs, and multi-lateral stakeholders are currently doing all they can to respond to the ongoing outbreak in Mongolian saiga," said Dr. Fine. "But additional resources to study the epidemiology of the disease, and to fully understand the triggers of these die-off events, are critical to the survival of the species." Beyond saiga, noted Dr. Fine, other members of Mongolia's unique and diverse wild fauna may be highly susceptible to PPR, including the Siberian ibex, goitered gazelle, Argali sheep, Mongolian gazelle, and the last-remaining critically endangered wild Bactrian camels. Since 1967, Morris Animal Foundation-funded research has advanced the health of animals and, in some cases, has ensured the very survival of a species. The Betty White Wildlife Rapid Response Fund, established in October 2010, gives wildlife researchers timely monetary aid to respond to unexpected events, such as natural disasters and emerging diseases, which result in the need for emergency animal health research funding. About Morris Animal Foundation Morris Animal Foundation is a global leader in funding scientific studies that advance the health of companion animals, horses and wildlife. Since its founding in 1948, the Foundation has invested over $113 million in more than 2,500 studies that have led to significant breakthroughs in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases to benefit animals worldwide. To learn more, or to make a donation in support of life-saving research, visit Morris Animal Foundation. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005661/en/

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[May 05, 2017] Document Storage Systems and LiveData Exhibiting at Annual Meeting of Association of VA Surgeons

Document Storage Systems, Inc. and LiveData, Inc. today announced their participation in the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Association of VA Surgeons (AVAS), May 7-9 in Houston. The companies will exhibit their VistA-integrated perioperative workflow solution. WHO: Document Storage Systems, Inc. (DSS) and LiveData, Inc. (LiveData) WHAT: Association of VA Surgeons Annual Meeting WHEN: May 7-9, 2017 WHERE: Royal Sonesta Houston DETAILS: DSS and LiveData will demonstrate LiveData PeriOp Manager, an automated perioperative workflow solution including two new modules: LiveData PeriOp Planner and LiveData PeriOp Manager Analytics. PeriOp Planner visually coordinates the patient's steps from surgical referral through preparation to scheduling

PeriOp Manager Analytics transforms real-time operational data into actionable quality, compliance, and efficiency intelligence DSS and LiveData have partnered to deliver and install a perioperative workflow solution for users of VistA, the Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture electronic health record system. LiveData PeriOp Manager synchronizes patient workflow from initial referral through surgery to create an optimal care environment fo patients and staff alike. Coordinating patient flow, patient care, and related resources from preoperative assessment to discharge, all in real-time, PeriOp Manager streamlines OR throughput, promotes full compliance with CMS and The Joint Commission critical patient safety mandates along with VA initiatives to improve access to care.



The annual meeting of the Association of Veterans Affairs Surgeons (AVAS) is attended by general, specialist, and critical care surgeons, and anesthesia providers from VA hospitals throughout the United States. Many university-based surgeons, surgery residents, and medical students from programs with VA affiliations typically attend this meeting. Additional information on the association and the meeting can be found at http://www.vasurgeons.org/2017-meeting.html

NOTE TO EDITORS: To book appointments with executives or technical representatives of DSS contact Andrea Sucre, 561-284-7023 ([email protected]) or LiveData contact Diane Poth, 781-775-1759 ([email protected]). About Document Storage Systems

DSS, Inc. is a leading software and services company that creates and delivers advanced health information technology (HIT) solutions. For 25 years, healthcare organizations have benefited from our technical and service integration expertise. DSS has extensive experience working with federal, private, and public healthcare facilities to modernize their legacy systems and to improve efficiencies for clinical and administrative users through breakthrough technology. For more information about DSS, visit http://www.dssinc.com. About LiveData

LiveData, Inc. is a leading innovator in real-time operational intelligence solutions that enable caregivers to plan, visualize, and analyze the patient's surgical journey. Leading medical institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Veterans Health Administration facilities have selected LiveData solutions to improve patient safety, team communication, and perioperative efficiency. LiveData is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, visit http://www.livedata.com. LiveData is a registered trademark of LiveData, Inc. LiveData PeriOp Manager, PeriOp Planner, and PeriOp Manager Analytics are trademarks of LiveData, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005827/en/

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[May 05, 2017] Syniverse Schedules First Quarter Earnings Announcement

Syniverse Holdings will report its first quarter 2017 results on May 10, and will host a conference call on May 11, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss the first quarter financial results. The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter-ended March 31, 2017, will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and posted on the company website at www.syniverse.com in the Investor Relations section under About. In advance of the conference call, a presentation summarizing the financial results will be posted to the Investor Relations page and will be addressed on the call.



To participate, U.S. callers may dial toll free at (877) 359-9508 and international callers may dial direct at (224) 357-2393. The passcode for the call is 4136823. A replay of the call will be available at approximately 2 p.m. ET on May 12, and will remain available through May 12, 2018. The replay will be posted to the Investor Relations section of Syniverse's (News - Alert) website.

About Syniverse Syniverse is the leading global transaction processor that connects approximately 1,500 service providers, enterprises, ISPs and OTTs in nearly 200 countries and territories, enabling seamless mobile communications across disparate and rapidly evolving networks, devices and applications. We deliver innovative cloud-based solutions that facilitate superior end-user experiences through always-on services and real-time engagement. For more than 25 years, Syniverse has been simplifying complexity to deliver the promise of mobility - a simple, interoperable experience, anytime, anywhere. For more information, visit www.syniverse.com, follow Syniverse on Twitter or connect with Syniverse on Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170505005870/en/

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Proposed Kentucky constitutional amendment to end right to an abortion defeated in vote
UK PM Rishi Sunak's appearance at the COP27 summit in Egypt has been going viral, not as much for what he said at the summit but the way he left. Watch here.
This was the second instance of violence in Saharanpur within a fortnight (PTI photo)

By Press Trust of India: In the second incident of violence in Saharanpur within a fortnight, one person was today killed and at least 15 others, including a police officer, were injured as members of two castes clashed over loud music being played during a procession.

Around 20-25 youths of upper caste Thakur community from Shabbirpur village were on their way to Simlana village under Badgaon police station to take part in a function to garland the statue of Rajput warrior-king Maharana Pratap, when the Dalit locals objected to the loud music being played by them.

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A police report sent to the state headquarters here said the Dalits objected to the "raucous" celebration, triggering an exchange of words.

It soon snowballed into a full-blown clash with both the groups throwing stones and bricks at each other, it added.

The Dalits asked the processionists to turn off the music blaring out of loudspeakers as they passed by a Ravida's temple.

A police team, which rushed to the spot, managed to pacify the Thakur youths and asked them to return to their village, but they soon returned with more people and indulged in brickbatting and arson, torching 15 to 20 Dalit houses as well as vehicles including those of the police.

As many as 16 persons, including a police officer, were injured in the resulting clashes. Of them, Sumit Rajput (35) later succumbed to his injuries.

Fire tenders were rushed to the village, the report said, adding that the Inspector General of Police, Meerut, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Saharanpur, besides the local District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police were camping in the village to monitor the situation.

On April 20, communal clashes had broken out in the district during a Dalit procession to celebrate BR Ambedkar's birth centenary.

Around a dozen people were injured in the clashes that erupted after members of another community objected to the procession.

BJP MP from Saharanpur Raghav Lakhanpal was among those booked in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, "I can say with confidence that everyone in the state will be safe. There will be no discrimination and the rule of law is the priority of the state government."

He was responding to a question on the Saharanpur violence at a press conference here.

ALSO WATCH | 10 arrested for Saharanpur violence, FIR registered against BJP MP Raghav Lakhanpal Sharma

--- ENDS ---
Australia has never been short of rock songs that have been adopted as de facto national anthems, from Men At Works iconic Land Down Under, to tunes like Youre The Voice by Farnesy of Working Class Man by Barnesy.

But bona fide (almost) Australian Idol, Shannon Nollsie Noll, reckons its been far too long between drinks when it comes to world-shaking rock songs that capture the pride he feels whenever he bares the Southern Cross tatt on his chest.

Speaking to News Corp, Nollsie said a song like this is long overdue, and hes asking for a track that truly celebrates the country I love.

It hasnt been done for a long time, he claims, not since Solid Rock or This Is Australia or Midnight Oil; only in country music.

The times we live in now, there are a lot of people out there who would love to see a song like that. People are gun-shy of being patriotic. I just love where I come from and love the country we live in and I think its OK to say that.

Noll has of course tried his hand at belting out this sort of track himself more than once, starting with his famous rendition of Moving Pictures track What About Me, and more recently with his country-tinged, ute-powered Who I Am, which failed to make the same sort of impact.

The 2003 Australian Idol runner-up also claimed that it wasnt just his love of country, but also the birth of his daughter, that stopped him from pursuing the Holy Grail of an overseas career.

For now, check out his brand new crack at an Aussie anthem below, complete with 100% authentic, not at all impersonated audio commentary.
As if having LCD Soundsystem heading to Australia to tour for Splendour in the Grass isnt enough, theyve hit us with some more big news overnight  and some new music.

Taking to Facebook, frontman James Murphy unveiled two new tracks, titled Call The Police and American Dream, noting that theyd already given Brooklyn fans a preview of the tracks last month.

We played them both at Brooklyn Steel. Theyre new. he told fans, adding that he mixed the latter himself, while famed producer Dave Sardy handled the former.

Excitingly, Australia was first to hear the new tracks, as they dropped at midnight in every territory across the globe, starting with us (so, like, australia first, and so on and so forth). Just as exciting? Theyre both appearing on the rumoured next album, and its not far off now.

Seriously almost done with the LP, Murphy revealed. 1 more vocal and 2 more mixes to go. as eager as folks have been for me to get this done, its got nothing on how much i want to be finished myself.

He added that, while hes been a shut in for much of its production, the album has been one of the most enjoyable records to make in my life, if not the most fun ever, claiming that its the happiest (hes) ever been making a record.

While theres a chance well have the new record in hand by the time they make it to Australia, Murphy wasnt able to give a firm release date, but wed expect to be able to at least hear it played live at Splendour, and the small handful of sideshows.

Murphy also took the time to answer some questions he must be sick of hearing by now, which you can read in full below.

Q. but when is the ALBUM coming out!?!! gahh! SERiously!!

A. thats hard to say in specific, but heres some info. i insist that there is vinyl on the day its released (because well because im an old person) so it will go like this: finish last mix > get to bob to master > get masters to pressing plant > plant takes X amount of time > records get to distro so that they can go to stores > record released. however long that takes = when the record will be out.

i can control the first part, and im furiously trying to get everything to bob before shellac goes on tour and that pushes things further back, and then theres the jockeying for position in line at pressing plants, and various other things i dont control nor fully understand, but ive been assured by folks i trust that there are a series of fast runners in sweat wicking clothing waiting at the line for the baton to then bolt forward

Q. is there vinyl of this release?!?

A. no. see above. time makes that hard. also, these are album versions, so theyll be available on vinyl on the LP. im not doing b-sides for this, as this is, essentially, a double A side release. meaning that there isnt one song im like oh this is THE song and another song that im like well, this one can go on the other side with these. its not a 7, nor a 10 nor a 12, in theory or format for me these are just 2 songs that we wanted to get out to the lovely and patient (and some less patient, but one assumes equally lovely) people who want new music.

there may be singles on vinyl of these later, if that seems to make sense and not be dumb. depends on whether there are smart things to put on a b-side. theyre not necessarily things id want remixes of, so its more about whatever else would go with the songs. there is a LOT of new musicmuch more than i usually have, so were puzzling through all that.

Q. are you guys playing any SHOWS?? near ME??

A. well, that depends on where you live. but our plan is indeed to play shows near where people live. and no, not just festivals. thats all being planned as well. we loved playing the Brooklyn Steel shows, and were just in a funny place, in terms of understanding what size venues/how many nights we should play in various places. we generally prefer medium sized venues over huge ones, but we also loathe overpriced stubhub bullshit, so were navigating this as best we can.

honestly, a lot of this is down to me (james, still) being difficult when talking to our very lovely and capable managers and agents w/r/t larger venues im always like that seems insane! when a properly big venue is proposed, since weve only ever played hollywood bowl, red rocks and MSG, all of which were special shows, so its just hard to get our heads around the fact that maybe many more people that we assumed want to see us perhaps DO want to see us. its been a very nice revelation, but oh dear its still hard to make sense of.

what we dont want: us in some mega-dome (looking like we think we belong in some mega-dome) playing to 1/16th of a full room, while someone says things like well, we can curtain off the balconies so it doesnt look so bad, after telling us you have to charge $180 a ticket for it to make any sense.

what we also dont want: tickets to our shows being sold for $1000 on eBay, and people who like our band standing outside crying because they bought some bogus barcode from some shit-heel scalper.

what we want: full shows that arent so big that you feel like you need binoculars to see if pat is actually behind the drums or if its louis ck or something.
In the past few years Chance The Rapper has met with Obama in the White House to discuss the youth of Chicago, won Grammy awards, appeared on a Kanye album, and broken sales records.

But the surest sign that Chance has finally made it is in the latest issue of Spider-Man, where he is used as an example of all thats young and hip.Ask me any question about Chance The Rapper Spidey pleads, in a plot we cannot begin to attempt to decode.

Check out the panel, below Chances jaunty Favorite Song from the brilliant Acid Rap mixtape, which features Childish Gambino, who appears in the forthcoming Spider-Man Homecoming movie. Everything is connected  by webs!
Steel City Pops in Huntsville, Alabama

Popsicle purveyor coming to Decatur.

Steel City Pops , a Birmingham based popsicle business, is planning to make its Atlanta debut later this summer in Decatur. The new store is expected to open at 312 Church Street, in a space originally planned for Guy Wong's Big Boss Chinese restaurant.

Although as recently as this past December, Wong was "testing" dishes for Big Boss at his Westside eatery Le Fat, plans for the 312 Church property have been abandoned. I spoke to Wong earlier this week and he confirmed that "we are not moving forward with that project."

Wong first announced plans for Big Boss in 2013, but since then, he has opened Le Fat with Mike Blum, Ton Ton in Ponce City Market and One Rooster , also in partnership with Blum, on the Westside. Wong is no doubt plenty busy with his new restaurants, as well as his original Miso Izakaya, so perhaps it's best that he hold off for now.

Jim Watkins opened the first Steel City Pops in the spring of 2012, two years after the launch of King of Pops here in Atlanta. Watkins credits his idea with an experience at "Las Paletas," a popsicle joint in Nashville, that I have also visited. Las Paletas is owned by two Mexican sisters and offers a variety of standard and creative pop flavors.

Steel City Pops gets its name from its birth place of Birmingham, referred to as "The Pittsburgh of the South," in the late 1800s and early 1900s, due to its significant steel production.

A mini Steel City Pops cart in their Huntsville shop

Although Steel City Pops has thus far declined to return my phone calls seeking comment, it is believed that the Decatur location is the "new market" Watkins recently hinted at in a Facebook live video.



Steel City Pops recently launched a Facebook page , of which I was only their second "like," for "Steel City Pops Atlanta," with the Church Street address.

Today, there are 17 Steel City Pops locations open, with three more in the pipeline, according to the company's website. Steel City's largest market has become Texas, where it operates ten locations and has at least two more coming soon. The company operates a half dozen locations in its home state of Alabama, as well as one in Kentucky, with a second coming soon.

I've visited the company's locations at The Summit in Birmingham and also at Bridge Street Town Centre in Huntsville. The Horchata, a rotating flavor, was my favorite, and something I've suggested to King of Pops, perhaps in partnership with Willy's Mexicana Grill. (I've also publicly nudged Kat Cole of Cinnabon to partner with King of Pops on a CinnaKoP, so hopefully one of them happens)

The Decatur location of Steel City Pops at the corner of E. Trinity Place and Church Street measures about 3,500 square feet and will not only sell pops, but will also serve as a production facility for what the company anticipates will be other area locations.

In Steel City Pops lingo, the Decatur location will be a "kitchen" store which will serve other "satellite" stores.

King of Pops can often be found vending pops from a cart in the Decatur Square, around the corner from the upcoming Steel City Pops location. Steel City also has carts, but I have yet to verify whether they will be deployed in Atlanta anytime soon.

King of Pops has two "locations," a bar serving both pops and "poptails" in Ponce City Market, and another in Charleston. The company also vends from their Inman Park headquarters as well as from a network of carts in Athens, Savannah, Charleston, Greenville, Charlotte, Nashville and Richmond. (The company seems to have recently vacated the Chattanooga market.) King of Pops can also be found throughout metro Atlanta and the south in retailers like Whole Foods Market and restaurants like Willy's Mexicana Grill and at Smoke + Duck Sauce.

Have you been to Steel City Pops? Do you think Steel City will be successful in taking on the King on their home turf? What one flavor would you like to see either Steel City Pops or King of Pops produce?

Please share your thoughts below.




The Union Home Ministry has asked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi to furnish details of overseas funding to it, after suspecting that it might have violated Foreign Contribution Regulation Act provisions.

By Press Trust of India: The ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi was today asked by the Narendra Modi government to furnish details of overseas funding to it following suspicion that it might have violated the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, an official said.

In a communication, the Union Home Ministry asked the Arvind Kejriwal-led party to explain certain fundings from abroad after suspecting that it might have violated FCRA provisions.

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The MHA official said the communication to AAP was part of its "routine" queries sent to a few other political parties regarding overseas funding to them.

The official made it clear that it was not a show cause notice and a decision on it would be taken only after the AAP submits its reply.

AAP'S RESPONSE

AAP's statement on the Home Ministry's notice called it a "political witch hunt."

"We have nothing to hide. We are ready to face any probe and party will fully cooperate with all concerned officials and agencies. It's worth mentioning that the Ministry of Home Affairs had given us a clean chit before the High Court on this issue and now they are sending us fresh notices," the party said.

"It is a clear case of political witch hunt. All the agencies at Centre's disposal have been unleashed against Aam Aadmi Party, its government in Delhi and its ministers. Which is very dangerous for democracy," it added.

ALSO READ | Why Kumar Vishwas truce with Arvind Kejriwal is temporary and he may still quit AAP to join BJP

ALSO READ | Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Tarun Seem under CBI scanner in alleged bribery case

ALSO WATCH | Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan suspended by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party

--- ENDS ---
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - DUI checkpoints across Missouri rely heavily on grant money. Every year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides those funds to the Missouri Department of Transportation, which divvies up the grant money. But on Thursday the Missouri legislature made the final vote to pass a bill that cuts funding for DUI checkpoints to just a single dollar.
CHECK THIS QUICKIE TKC GUIDE TO CELEBRATING KANSAS CITY CINCO DE MAYO WITH JUST A BIT OF DIGNITY!!!

For better or worse, there's still a few authentic Mexican restaurants where Latinos actually work on The Westside and tonight hipsters will pack the Boulevard in a First Friday culture mash up that hasn't been seen since college white girls first started listening to Ozomatli during the Bush Years.









This could be the last great Cinco De Mayo in Kansas City history before Prez Trump builds the wall.Accordingly . . .No, nobody cares about the Battle Of Puebla or the fact that Cinco De Mayo is actually a tradition that was born out of the Chicano student movement and adopted as an American celebration of cultural heritage . . . Now, just like St. Paddy's Day . . . It's just another beer & fast food company gorge-fest.On the bright side . . . This still provides an opportunity to celebrate Kansas City Latino entrepreneurial culture in a convenient location before hipster gentrification pushes it all to more dangerous parts of Northeast and KCK.And that is the tonight's guide . . . The Westside is gonna be exceptionally crowded, traffic and DUI enforcement is in full effect, no the streetcar doesn't go this way and there are a lot of denizens of the surrounding neighborhoods whounderstand things like real estate speculation and market bubbles . . . Still, skipping all bustle of the urban core and hanging out at a typically lame place like Port Fonda or some suburban strip mall place means that you've lost your sense of adventure . . .But I digress . . .As usual, there's always the temptation to play the cultural purist or fall into a victim mentality about "appropriation" or whatever.Fact is, Mexican culture in general and Chicano culture in particular is adept and coping within lieu of a good time.Also, a few gringosamid today's celebration is a lot easier to handle given today's increased business, the fact that all the Mexicans are already on this side of the border, andis starting to look more like a rickety fence.Check the links:Developing . . .
The preliminary agreement between Greece and its international creditors is a positive step towards unlocking funds that will enable the country to meet its July debt maturities, Fitch Ratings said in a press release on Thursday.

It is also a prerequisite for discussions on longer-term debt relief but the eventual timing and outcome of these remains uncertain, it added.

Greece has committed to further cut pensions, raise some taxes, and reform labour and energy markets. If the Greek parliament approves these measures, eurozone finance ministers could approve the release of around 7 billion euros of European Stability Mechanism (ESM) funds when they meet on 22 May, the ratings agency said.

The funds will be partly used for clearance of general government arrears with the private sector as well as for covering 6.3 billion euros of debt due for repayment in July.

This would be consistent with Fitchs baseline assumption when it affirmed Greece's 'CCC' sovereign rating in February, the agency continued.

We took into account Greece's broad program compliance and the eurozone authorities' desire to avoid a fresh Greek crisis. We also acknowledged that popular and political opposition in Greece to elements of the program remains high, which create substantial implementation risk. But we think government MPs are more likely to approve the reforms than reject them, it said.

Fitch noted that it is not clear how close the IMF and some European creditors are to agreeing on the timing and nature of potential debt relief that could enable the IMF to join the third bailout program as a lender. And there is now a very tight timetable for securing such agreement and completing the processes that would underpin IMF participation before July.

As we noted in February, we think Greece's European creditors would be prepared to disburse funds without IMF involvement, partly because Greece has exceeded program targets (the general government recorded a primary surplus of 3.7% of GDP in 2016, well above the 0.5% target). Nevertheless, a decision by the IMF not to participate could still complicate the program review and disbursement, it added.

While Greece has exceeded fiscal targets, the macroeconomic picture is more mixed, partly reflecting the impact of program delays on confidence and payments to the private sector, the ratings agency explains. Some data suggest that the pace of the economic recovery has slowed in 2017. General government arrears with the private sector rose to 5 billion euros at end-February, and manufacturing PMIs indicate a contraction in activity in 1Q17, although industrial production has performed well.

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
Oliorama was the most successful of the Greek winners in Los Angeles this year

LOS ANGELES  Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition award winners have been announced. The 2017 competition judged 600 olive oils from 369 producers in 18 countries. Twenty-one Greek extra virgin olive oils won quality or design awards, even in this difficult harvest year. The complete list of Greek awards follows the top winners comments, Greek Liquid Gold: Authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil reports.

Oliorama was the most successful of the Greek winners in Los Angeles this year, with a gold medal for Oliorama Exclusive Olympia IGP (PGI, Protected Geographical Indication), a delicate organic extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), as well as a bronze medal for the conventionally produced Oliorama Exclusive Olympia IGP or PGI, another delicate EVOO.

Olioramas Maria Spiliakopoulou told Greek Liquid Gold that her company takes part in as many competitions as we can in different countries in order to make consumers more aware of their products. However, first of all we do our best to have healthy fruit, following scientists advice about the olive groves needs and harvesting olives and extracting their oil carefully, since every single step is equally important.

Overall, Spiliakopoulou emphasizes, we insist on quality, no matter what. This is the future for Greek extra virgin olive oil. I know it is hard and depends on various factors, but actually this is the only way. Greek extra virgin olive oil deserves it.

Hellenic Agricultural Enterprises also did very well at this competition, capturing silver medals for Acaia and Aeolian Olive, both medium intensity Kolovi EVOOs from Lesvos. As Yorkis Kyvellos told Greek Liquid Gold, the rare Kolovi olive native to Lesvos is not well known outside Greece, including by many competition judges. We hope our continued participation in the major competitions will contribute to making it an integral part of the short list of varieties from which the best oils can be extracted.

Crediting hard work by a dedicated team that spares no effort or attention whenever we have to intervene in natures ways, Kyvellos expressed extra satisfaction this year since their new brand, Aeolian Olive, received a silver award for its maiden outing, and because the medals confirm that despite very adverse harvest conditions this year, we are capable of maintaining the outstanding quality of our oils.

Continuous improvement of sustainability and quality

Jordan Olivenoel took home a silver medal for their medium intensity organic Bio-Olivenoel, Natives Extra and a bronze medal for the conventional version, Natives Extra. Currently, this olive oil is mainly sold in Germany, homeland of grandparents that immigrated to Greece in the 1980s.

Now married to a Greek woman, Bastian Jordan told Greek Liquid Gold he is focused on continuous improvement of sustainability and quality. In fact, he calls himself a Qualitarian (not a vegetarian, who might use products made with unhealthy palm oil), since he focuses on harvesting at the right moment of the perfect ripening point, processing the olives quickly, and making sure that the olive groves are maintained well.

Panayiotis Skopeteas brand-new Immortalitas olive oil, a medium intensity Koroneiki from Messinia, won a gold medal in the Packaging Design competition for Art/Illustration, earning praise for the use of original illustration as the driving element of the package design. Skopeteas told Greek Liquid Gold he was aiming for an ideal combination of visual art with the art of oil production with the help of the great artist Fikos, an unsurpassed talent.

Fikosan artist, not a graphic designerexplained that he has always admired ancient Greek art, especially the red-figure style on vases. My art is also based on the ancient Greek-Byzantine tradition, so I wanted to combine those and give the bottle the sense that it is something that has just been discovered on an archaeological excavation.

Skopeteas added that with the olive oil Immortalitas he would like to disseminate a special message  that the sense of Immortality characterizes all people who still dream despite their adversities  who still envision despite their underminers, and also the message of the Immortality of our homeland Greece and its values.

Read the Complete List of the 21 Greek Winners at the Los Angeles IOOC at

Greek Liquid Gold: Authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Author: Lisa Radinovsky

Source: http://www.greekliquidgold.com/index.php/en/

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
Bats Targets Transparency with Dedicated Data Feeds for U.S. Listed ETFs

Bats, a CBOE Holdings, Inc. company, and a leading market for exchange-traded fund (ETF) trading globally, today announced the planned introduction of the Bats ETF Implied Liquidity Feed, which provides investors with a critical reference view of ETFs versus their underlying securities.

The feed, which is the first of its kind and is filed and pending publication by the Securities and Exchange Commission, measures the implied liquidity of a fund using select data points, which includes information regarding the ETFs underlying securities. The feed includes a proprietary calculation of the funds implied liquidity and the aggregate best bid and offer of all displayed orders across the four Bats equity exchanges.

This has a range of uses throughout the ETF trading lifecycle. Pre-trade, the feed allows investors to understand the true liquidity picture when selecting investable ETFs, and better estimate trading costs before placing orders. During trading, the feed will allow investors to adjust limits to enhance the probability of orders being filled, and evaluate block-trading proposals in real-time, knowing where to trade in size. Post trade, investors can use the feed as a reference to measure trades against historical implied quotes and size. In analyzing the data, investors can optimize their approach to trade at liquidity peaks.

Accordingly, the feed gives an accurate representation of the true value of an ETF intraday, distinct from other common metrics, like average daily volume (ADV) or Net Asset Value (NAV).

Laura Morrison, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Exchange-Traded Products at Bats, said: The creation of the Implied Liquidity Feed is another example of our drive to grow the ETF market, deepen liquidity and ultimately improve ETF market structure. This feed, which is a market first, is designed specifically to improve transparency for all participants by creating a common reference guide. In giving a clearer indication of liquidity, it should encourage investing interest, particularly in less active, or newer funds. In turn, that should encourage asset growth in more funds across a broader swathe of issuers.

Added Kevin Carrai, Vice President, Market Data and Access Services: Bats ongoing mission is to increase transparency and market participation, and we believe that the Implied Liquidity Feed will help promote both in the ever-expanding U.S. ETF market. As with the Bats One feed, which we enhanced last year, the Implied Liquidity Feed is designed to support many types of customers from institutional to everyday investors, and will be accessible via direct exchange feeds and through our distribution partners.

The ETF Implied Liquidity Feed is designed for display purposes for all investors looking to obtain an accurate and indicative reference representation of the value of an ETF intraday, and is available in Certification as of May 1.

For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:
Mauritius is a famous summer spot for most Europeans because of its warm environment, amazing culture and food. Food is almost everywhere in Mauritius and truthfully, the best way to experience Mauritius food is to sample home-cooked meals by locals. However, these restaurants definitely know the heart of Mauritian dining.

Bois Cheri is a restaurant that produces the best and most unique tea in the island. The Ceylon tea of Sri Lanka imported into Mauritius is mixed with vanilla from South Africa to create the black vanilla tea. While it is a common menu item in many of the island's restaurants, Bois Cheri is the only one to make it splendid and special.

Indians and Chinese have heavily influenced Mauritians. The latter's presence can be felt with the great number of Chinese restaurants in the country. The melting pot of culture in Mauritius is evident in the First Restaurant at Port Louis' Boulet. These dumplings are Mauritian but are inspired by Chinese cuisine. It's made with fish prawns and a local vegetable called "chou chou." The dip is made out of fish broth and chili.

CNN writes that Chez Tino, run by a Mauritian family, specializes in serving gourmet versions of popular street food in Mauritius, including langoustines. The restaurant, according to an interview with owner Marie Anne Lacour, only uses the freshest ingredients and years of recipes handed down by the family's ancestors.

Chez Rosy, cited by Getaway Africa, features the island's amazing and exotic octopus curry. Octopus meat is quite chunky and chewy. The dish heavily represents Mauritian curry, which has garlic, onion and turmeric. Chez Rosy does it great and with a beachside view while dining too.

Travelers who would love to try some amazing Mauritian desserts only need to head to the Vanilla House with its signature vanilla dessert restaurant La Table du Chateau. The service is a five-star restaurant and creates only the finest creme brulee in the country.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
To be able to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, is a remarkable feat indeed. So much that this year, more than 300 permits were released by the Nepali government to allow foreigners to climb the mountain. You think this is good? According to experts, it's actually not.

A handful of Nepali climbing officials and some concerned experienced mountaineers all seem to agree that the climbing conditions of Mount Everest this year can be more strenuous because of the crowds. "Traffic jams" while climbing the mountain can be a possible life-and-death situation, which can take place in mid-May, according to Travel and Leisure.

If you add in the number of Sherpa mountain guides to the 371 would-be climbers, the number of people that will climb Mount Everest this season can go up to 800. Nepal, mountain climbing associations, and the mountain's officials are already bracing themselves for the list of things that could get problematic once the climbing season commenced. Extreme weather conditions and lack of oxygen supply while trying to reach the summit are just some of the dangerous factors experts are getting ready for.

According to Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association through Washington Post, "On average, every climbing season there are about three to four good days with appropriate weather conditions to allow a safe summit climb." The high amount of would-be climbers this season can cause a traffic jam while trekking the icy and narrow slopes of the world's highest mountain, which has already caused casualties on last year's climbing season.

A Nepali guide, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, who has already reached the summit six times, detailed in a phone interview how the team he was leading last year was delayed for four hours on their way to the summit because of traffic. It also didn't help the hour they spent waiting at the "Death Zone", the mountain's most dangerous area. Because of the ordeal, one of his climbers lost two toes due to frostbite.

That's why this year, he and other experts are worried. "We are of course worried about the high numbers," he said. "Our discussions around base camp are often focused on the same issue: what to do if traffic-related problems occur."

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
America's renewed travel restrictions to Cuba has immediately reduced the fascination of US tourists about Cuba and its communist government. As ties between former US President Barack Obama and Cuba's leadership ended with the new American government, the restrictions reintroduced against Cuba had once again disinterested Americans from heading into the country.

According to Chron, Allianz Global Assistance USA's survey unveiled that only about two percent of US tourists plan to head to Cuba in the next six months. Two percent believe they could go through with their vacation in 2017 and 10 percent believe it is possible to head to Cuba in 2018.

Allianz had 1,500 respondents in its research. In comparison to previous data, Cuban travel is likely to drop this year. Allianz said it was likely due to the lack of stories and sharing of experiences by visitors. The feedback information is unlikely to persuade new US tourists into Cuba given the difficulties of travel restrictions would once again dominate outlets for those who traveled.

Allianz noted that Americans were worried about their safety and security, given Cuba's communist government. Many also noted the added travel restrictions set in place that would make traveling to the country a huge hassle. Some cited that the lack of mobile and internet infrastructure, as well as the lack of information on travel experiences and personalized guides, also disengaged them from trying to visit the country.

News18 said tourists love Cuba because of its lush island resorts and beaches comparable to the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. Cuban travel's main draw is cultural attractions. Different cruise lines from the US could continue to engage the interest by creating more itineraries for Cuba.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
By India Today Web Desk: After the super success of Dangal, Aamir Khan and Fatima Sana Shaikh are set to recreate the magic on screen with Thugs of Hindostan. The search for the leading lady has finally come to an end. Fatima has beaten the likes of Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor to bag the role of a leading lady in the much-talked-about film.

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Director Vijay Krishna Acharya confirmed the news to BollywoodLife and said that Fatima fits the bill. In fact, she had to undergo numerous auditions and workshops to bag the role.

He told the website, "The role of the girl is pivotal to the film so it was crucial for us to find the perfect fit. Through a rigorous round of auditions and action workshops, we found in Fatima a truly dedicated actor and a gifted performer of action. We are very happy to have found the perfect girl for our film."

It was only last month that Fatima's look-test for Thugs of Hindsotan got leaked. Buzz has it that she will essay the role of a warrior in the film.

Thugs of Hindostan will be writer-director Vijay Krishna Acharya's second project with Aamir Khan. The film will also star Amitabh Bachchan. The shooting of the film will begin from June 1. However, no official release date for the film has been announced.

ALSO READ: Dangal's Fatima Sana Shaikh gives look-test for Aamir's Thugs of Hindostan

ALSO READ: Has Aamir Khan pierced his nose for Thugs of Hindostan?

WATCH: Aamir Khan discusses his acting career with Ranveer Singh

--- ENDS ---
US$50-million investment boosts Ascotts portfolio in the Americas to over 1,100 units across five properties

Singapore, 5 May 2017  CapitaLands wholly owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has acquired a prime property on New Yorks Fifth Avenue. It will invest a total of close to US$50 million (S$68 million) in the property. The operating 125-unit Hotel Central Fifth Avenue New York will undergo renovation in phases to prepare for its rebranding to Citadines Fifth Avenue New York in 2018. It will mark the debut of Ascotts first Citadines serviced residence in the U.S. This acquisition in New York follows Ascotts recent foray into South America through franchise agreements for two Citadines serviced residences in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ascotts real estate investment trust, Ascott Residence Trust, also acquired the 369-unit Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel and the 411-key Element New York Times Square West hotel in 2016 and 2015 respectively. Citadines Fifth Avenue New York will increase Ascotts portfolio in the Americas to more than 1,100 units across five properties.

Mr Lee Chee Koon, Ascotts Chief Executive Officer, said: The debut of our Citadines brand in North America is a significant move to expand Ascotts global network of properties. Citadines is Ascotts fastest growing brand having more than tripled its portfolio since our acquisition of the Citadines Aparthotel chain in Europe in 2004. We have since brought the brand to Asia Pacific, Middle East, South America and now the U.S. As a prominent showcase of the brand, Citadines Fifth Avenue New York will fast-track Ascotts plans to expand our franchise business in North America. Franchise together with investments, management contracts and strategic alliances will continue to be key strategies to bolster Ascotts leading position as we strive towards our target of 80,000 units globally by 2020.

New York has registered significant increase in average daily rate and occupancy in the past years, particularly in Manhattan where we currently own two other prime properties through our real estate investment trust, Ascott Residence Trust. All three properties in Manhattan are in high demand with close to full occupancy given their strategic locations in Times Square, Tribeca and Fifth Avenue. For many of Ascotts customers who are accustomed to the quality service offerings of our award-winning brands, our first Citadines-branded property in the heart of the bustling New York City will further strengthen our global network and provide them with yet another prime accommodation option.

Mr Lee added: The U.S. will continue to be an economic powerhouse and its potential for long term returns is attractive. It is our third largest source market for guests and we expect this to grow. Bringing our Citadines brand to the U.S. will enhance our engagement with American customers, and reinforce the cross selling of our other properties in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Besides strengthening our foothold in New York, we also see opportunities for Ascott to expand in other U.S. cities such as Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC.

The property is centrally located at 15 West 45th Street along the prestigious Fifth Avenue shopping street and near Times Square, one of the worlds most visited locations with more than 40 million visitors each year. It is also close to the Grand Central Station, easily accessible by subway and bus, and is well served by amenities  an excellent location for guests on both long and short stay. In 2016, New York City broke record with its highest ever visitor arrival  more than 60 million visitors  marking the seventh year of consecutive growth. Hotel room nights sold also increased by 1.2 million to 34.9 million nights last year [1].

Citadines Fifth Avenue New York will have access to a big catchment of business travellers as it is within walking distance to over 100 million square feet of office space where companies such as IBM, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Verizon are located. Leisure visitors can enjoy the Museum of Modern Art, catch a show at the Broadway Theater District, shop at Fifth Avenue, ice-skate at the Rink at the Rockefeller Center or take a leisurely stroll in Central Park or Bryant Park, all within the vicinity of the property.

With this latest acquisition in New York, Ascott has added 10 properties with 1,900 units to date this year, across China, Brazil, South Korea and the U.S. Ascott has also opened four properties with more than 800 units. These include its first serviced residences in Jeju, South Korea and in Makassar, Indonesia; as well as properties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Tokyo, Japan.

About The Ascott Limited

The Ascott Limited is a Singapore company that has grown to be one of the leading international serviced residence owner-operators. It has over 30,000 operating serviced residence units in key cities of the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, as well as over 21,000 units which are under development, making a total of more than 52,000 units in over 300 properties. The company operates three award-winning brands  Ascott, Citadines and Somerset, along with The Crest Collection and lyf. Ascotts portfolio spans more than 100 cities across 29 countries.

Ascott, a wholly owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited, pioneered Asia Pacific's first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984. Today, the company boasts over 30 years of industry track record and award-winning serviced residence brands that enjoy recognition worldwide.

Ascotts achievements have been recognised internationally. Recent awards include DestinAsian Readers Choice Awards 2017 for Best Serviced Residence Brand; TTG China Travel Awards 2017 for Best Serviced Residence Operator in China; World Travel Awards 2016 for Leading Serviced Apartment Brand in Asia, Europe and the Middle East; Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2016 for Best Serviced Residence Brand; Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2016 for Best Serviced Apartment Company; Business Traveller UK Awards 2016 for Best Serviced Apartment Company and Business Traveller China Awards 2016 for Best Serviced Residence Brand. For a full list of awards, please visit www.the-ascott.com/ascottlimited/awards.html.

About CapitaLand Limited CapitaLand is one of Asias largest real estate companies. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, it is an owner and manager of a global portfolio worth more than S$78 billion as at 31 March 2017, comprising integrated developments, shopping malls, serviced residences, offices, homes, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and funds. Present across more than 130 cities in over 20 countries, the Group focuses on Singapore and China as core markets, while it continues to expand in markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia. CapitaLands competitive advantage is its significant asset base and extensive market network. Coupled with extensive design, development and operational capabilities, the Group develops and manages high-quality real estate products and services. It also has one of the largest investment management businesses in Asia and a stable of five REITs listed in Singapore and Malaysia  CapitaLand Mall Trust, CapitaLand Commercial Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand Retail China Trust and CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust. Visit www.capitaland.com for more information.

Issued by: The Ascott Limited Website: www.the-ascott.com

168 Robinson Road, #30-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912

For more information, please contact:

Joan Tan, Vice President, Group Communications

Tel: (65) 6713 2864 Mobile: (65) 9743 9503 Email: joan.tanzm@capitaland.com

Chen MeiHui, Manager, Group Communications

Tel: (65) 6713 3673 Mobile: (65) 81338334 Email: chen.meihui@capitaland.com
Akshay Kumar and Sonam Kapoor are back on the sets of Padman.

By India Today Web Desk: Akshay Kumar and Sonam Kapoor, who were in Delhi recently to receive their National Awards, are back on the sets of Padman.

A day after they received the recognition from President Pranab Mukherjee, the duo has returned to their professional commitments. While Akshay received the National Award for Best Actor for Rustom, Sonam received a special mention for her role in Neerja.

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Akshay and Sonam, who will share screen space for the first time in R Balki's directorial venture, were spotted in Mumbai. While Sonam looked classy in a dress and a denim jacket, Akshay opted for a casual look.

Pad Man is said to be a biopic on Arunachalam Muruganantham, and will chronicle his journey of finding a way to make cheap, affordable sanitary napkins for women in his village.

The film, which also stars Radhika Apte, is set to hit the screens in 2018.

ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar receives his first National Award for Rustom

ALSO READ: Sonam Kapoor's boyfriend Anand Ahuja accompanies her to National Awards ceremony

ALSO WATCH: Akshay Kumar is the real 'Khiladi' of Bollywood

--- ENDS ---
Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 5

With Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) of many states, especially in Southern and Eastern region, refusing to register tractors due to confusion over BS-IV emission norms, tractor manufacturers say it may hamper the sales in May and June which is considered as the peak season.

According to tractor manufacturers, the RTOs in states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh have refused to register the tractors after the Supreme Court order in March, which banned the sales of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger and commercial vehicles meeting BS-III emission standards.

Rajeev Marwah, vice-president (Marketing & Strategy Planning), International Tractors Ltd. (makers of Sonalika tractors) said, Tractors follow Bharat Tractor Emission Norms (TREM) IIIA. These emission norms are different from the BS-IV that normal automobiles follow in India. The apex courts ban on sale of vehicles not conforming to BS-IV emission norms from April 1 was meant for two-wheelers, three-wheeler, four-wheelers, commercial vehicles but not tractors. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court order to ban the sale of BS-III compliant vehicles has been misinterpreted by many RTOs.

We are writing letters to the RTOs concerned where our customers are facing issues. We are also giving representations on one-on-one basis. However, if it continues, it will hit the sales of tractors in the kharif season, which is one of the most potential seasons for the sale of tractors, he said.

The average monthly sales of tractors in India is around 60,000 tractors and the states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh where the manufacturers and dealers are facing problems, contribute almost 70% of the total sales.

The Tractor Manufacturers Association has written to Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways in this regard.
Chandigarh, May 5

The city is now looking at Pink City in Rajasthan to get tips on managing stray dogs.

Jaipur has succeeded in substantially bringing down the stray dog population and also dog-bite cases in the past 10 years. Punjab Governor-cum-UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore said today a conference would be held to discuss the matter.

Badnore said there was a need for dog management.

I will not call it a menace, it has to be dog management. When I was an MP, I had said two things, dogs and monkeys, they are not menace, but they need to be managed, he said. Badnore, who had led a special task force to rehabilitate tigers in Sariska in Rajasthan during 2005-09, said experts who had done good work in other cities would also share their experience in the upcoming conference here. We are going to hold a conference here, in which we will bring all stakeholders together, he said.

Chandigarh Mayor Asha Kumari Jaswal, who along with Municipal Commissioner B Purushartha, met Badnore and discussed various issues pertaining to the city, said experts from Jaipur and other places will share their views and throw light on how the stray dog problem can be effectively tackled.

Jaipur was one of the first cities to start an animal birth-control programme, based on the WHO guidelines, in 1994.

Jaswal said to deal with the stray dog issue, the municipal corporations of the tricity  Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula had joined hands.

Among other steps, a joint co-ordination team would also be formed to deal with the stray dog issue, she said.

Several cases of dog bite have been reported from the tricity. During the meeting with the Mayor and the MC Commissioner, Badnore asked them to pull their socks up after Chandigarh failed to make it to the list of top 10 clean cities of India in the Swachh Survekshan- 2017.

Badnore asked them to set things right.  PTI

36 more bitten

As many as 35 more dog-bite cases were reported at hospitals and dispensaries in Chandigarh, said a senior MC official. Besides, one more person was bitten by a stray dog in Panchkula on Friday. Doctors said the wounds were not serious and the patient was sent home after treatment. TNS
When B-Towners finally decide to give it back to their trolls, their replies are epic.

By India Today Web Desk: Ever since social media became a thing, many B-Towners are active in expressing their opinions online as well as interacting with fans. But every good thing always has a catch, and the downside of social media are the trolls, who, emboldened by their anonymity on the internet, do not hesitate to personally attack celebrities.

Though the celebrities usually don't waste their time replying to haters, sometimes they put them in their place. Here are some savage AF replies from B-Towners to their trolls:

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1. Abhishek Bachchan

2. Karan Johar

3. Lisa Haydon

4. Sonakshi Sinha

5. Alia Bhatt

ALSO READ | Anupam Kher on CM Yogi Adityanath: Don't want to dignify troll attack

ALSO READ | Anurag Kashyap plays troll-troll, Twitter witnesses tamasha

ALSO WATCH | Karan Johar gives it back to trolls like a boss

--- ENDS ---
S Nihal Singh

COW protection units and other tenets of the RSS faith are transforming BJP states into major law and order problems. And PM Narendra Modi does not seem to have an answer.

The problem has many strands. Among them is the puffed-up psyche of the paramilitary organisations of the Sangh Parivar and their belief that there will be no consequences if they take the law into their own hands. The very casualness with which they kill people is frightening  the most recent incident being the killing of a Muslim man who allegedly helped an inter-faith couple to elope, laid at the door of UP CM Yogi Adityanaths paramilitary Vahini organisation.

The country has been familiar with the infamous case of the Muslim dairy farmer lynched in Rajasthan. In Assam, two Muslim men were lynched for allegedly stealing cows. And so it goes on in BJP-ruled states. State leaders preach tolerance, even RSS functionaries are beginning to call for restrain. Nothing changes. The grim reaper of death takes its toll nearly every day.

Mr Modi is silent. When he did speak out some time ago to suggest that a majority of cow protection units consisted of goons, he was made to eat his words in less than 24 hours by declaring that the goon-staffed protection units were few. Obviously, the RSS leadership had persuaded him to change the script. Given his early upbringing in the RSS, he is a disciplined soldier of the organisation.

However, as Prime Minister, Mr Modi has to think of the larger consequences of the Sangh Parivar-inspired actions on the country. The new top cop of Uttar Pradesh says the guilty will be punished. Yes, alleged perpetrators are usually arrested, but the guilty know nothing will happen to them in the end.

The basic problem is that in an effort to speed up the process of Hinduising the country after Mr Modis victory in the 2014 general election, the Sangh Parivar is anxious to bring about the Hindu rashtra of its dreams here and now. The resulting euphoria in the RSS and allied ranks is more powerful than the gentle admonitions of leaders.

This does not change the basic nature of Indian society and its myriad faiths. If what happened in Gujarat in 2002 under Mr Modis chief ministership were to be repeated on a nationwide scale, it would destroy India. True, we have a secular Constitution but the manner in which it is being nibbled at is an early warning sign that the countrys citizens need to be watchful.

There are obvious contradictions in what the BJP and, more broadly, the Sangh Parivar are trying to achieve. While on the one hand they are introducing Hindu forms of worship and invocations at state functions in the first stage of the fusion of the two, their chief aim is to convert India into a Hindu nation, with the substantial minority of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and members of other diverse faiths living at the mercy of the majority. The inadvertent statement of the Law Minister saying that his dispensation had given Muslims the right to live expressed the real feelings of the Sangh Parivar.

In essence, the philosophy of the RSS is to revive the ancient glories of India of its conception, generously leavened with myths, entirely leaving out the centuries Muslim rulers conquered and ruled India. Ironically, one of the greatest monuments of the world built by Mughal rulers, the Taj Mahal, is situated in Uttar Pradesh.

At one level, Mr Modis government is acquiring the tools of controlling Indian citizens  Adhaar is only one of the weapons. Intrusion into individual lives is increasing by the day. What you should eat, how to dress are sought to be determined by persons in authority. In other words, like in a police state or old Communist countries, individual choices will be restricted to the minimum.

Given Indias ethos and diversity, the Sangh Parivar and Mr Modis government have taken on a formidable task. Thanks to centuries of British colonial and Mughal rule, there is a distinctive streak of subservience in the Indian character. We see every day how many secularists have found shelter in the ranks of the BJP, even allowing for the fact that power exercises a pull and BJPs minorities are converted into ruling coalitions.

Morality plays little role in these manoeuvrings. Equally, for the ruling BJP, ends justify means. Gains are readily pocketed without demur. After all, we did have Chanakya preaching to one and all the art of statecraft. And the BJP is at the moment on the winning side.

For many of the citizenry, the crucial question is whether Mr Modis government and its mentors in the Sangh Parivar can take a step back to reconsider their schedule to bring about a Hindu rashtra. Even for an organisation obsessed by its dream, it must be apparent that the credibility of governments in the states it rules cannot survive the almost daily toll of killings of humans for saving the cow or drawing a line at a Muslim taking a Hindu bride.

It is a larger psychological problem for Mr Modi and the Sangh Parivar. The edifice of myths the RSS has created and propagated has been so ingrained in the ranks of its office-bearers and followers that it is difficult to bring them into the real world. Human lives are less important than the sanctity of the cow (there is now an ambulance service for the cow in parts of UP) or practitioners of the Hindu faith. How the government can reconcile the acts of Parivar followers to running the country for all its citizens hangs in the air.

BJP president Amit Shah is wooing non-BJP states to join the party. In the process, he is painting a picture of peace and prosperity if they move over to the national ruling party. If the BJP-ruled states are increasingly presented as a picture of murder and mayhem, with cow protection units and upholders of Hindu purity the masters, who will bite?
San Jose (California), May 5

A 24-year-old man was killed by San Jose police on Wednesday night after he fatally shot the parents of his estranged girlfriend.

The police received a call from the victims 20 year-old son that the suspect, 24 year-old Mirza Tatlic, had shot his parents at their house on Laura Ville Lane, near St James Anglican Church, reports sanfrancisco.cbs.

After the police arrived at the spot, they found the father, Juniper Networks VP of Engineering Naren Prabhu, deceased in the front doorway, having been shot at least once, San Jose police chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference outside police headquarters.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The suspect had been in a dating relationship with the victims adult daughter who was not home, San Jose Police Chief Eddie Garcia told reporters, adding that the relationship ended last year.

San Jose PD got a call from the adult son of the victims saying a suspect had shot his parents. When officers arrived at the home on Laura Valle Lane they saw an adult man deceased in the front doorway suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Officers learned from the adult son that his mother and 13-year-old brother, along with the suspect, were still inside the house. In addition, the adult son thought his mom had been shot, the chief continued.

A standoff quickly developed with the suspect and a SWAT team was called in.

As officers were setting up contain and arrest teams, the suspect released the 13-year-old boy, Garcia said.

Negotiators arrived at the scene and began talking with the suspect.

Investigators learned that the suspect and the victims daughter Rachel Prabhu had a romantic relationship that ended last year.

At one point, Tatlic used the 13-year-old boys cell phone to call his ex-girlfriend, who lives in another state. KPIX 5 also learned that Tatlic used the young teen as a human shield during the standoff.

Unfortunately, the suspect refused to surrender. The suspect appeared at (a window at) one point and pointed a handgun at officers. In fear for the lives of fellow officers and victims that still may have been in the house, at least one round was fired by an officer striking the suspect, Garcia added.

The officers then went into the house and found the two deceased victims and the dead suspect, however, the mother has not been identified so far.

The daughters troubled relationship had played out for months on social media with increasingly ominous Instagram posts.

On April 25, the suspect wrote there would be quote: No mercy on the ones that love you most.

We were dealing with someone who was mentally ill, said Garcia. He had choices. He didnt give this family a choice. He didnt give my officer a choice.

Tatlic was struggling to find work, and was often seen walking around without a shirt on and was described as troubled. ANI
Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 5

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar tried to give a push to his pet Beti bachao, beti padhao campaign by launching a slew of women-centric projects on his birthday here today. These include clearing the name of Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik as Wrestling Director of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, and a couple of girls colleges.

Besides, Khattar used the opportunity to make amends to students of a Panchkula-based school, who were reportedly given a raw deal at his Chandigarh residence last month when they requested him for a group photograph.

Khattar, accompanied by BJP chief whip and Panchkula MLA Gian Chand Gupta, visited the school today and celebrated his birthday with students, comprising largely girls, by performing a havan and distributing sweets and fruits among them. In the process, he tried to mollify them for the faux pas at his residence last month.

Meanwhile, Khattar approved the setting up a girls college at Adampur by the Akash Educational Society. He also okayed another girls college at Kairu in Tosham in Bhiwani. Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Chaudhry represents Tosham in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.

Later, Khattar visited Shishu Greh in Sector 15, Panchkula, and distributed cakes among children. I enjoyed meeting children and talking to them, he said.

Sources close to the Chief Minister said he cleared the women-centric projects as the Beti bachao, beti padhao campaign is close to his heart. It was on the initiative of the Chief Minister that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the nationwide Beti bachao, beti padhao campaign in Panipat on January 22, 2015. Recently, the sex ratio has crossed 900 in Haryana that is notorious for female foeticide and low status of women in society.

Birthday celebrated

Karnal: BJP workers and members of social and religious organisations celebrated Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattars 64th birthday on Friday. Mayor Renu Bala Gupta along with party leaders and workers performed a yajna and offered prayers. Chief Ministers OSD Amrinder Singh, district party president Jagmohan Anand, BJP leader Brij Gupta, Kurukshetra Vikas Board general secretary and member Ashok Sukhija and Rakesh Nagpal, respectively, took part in the yajna. The district party president along with workers performed a yajna at an orphanage and served breakfast to children. Youth BJP leaders, including state general secretary Janak Popli and Vikas Kathuria, offered prayers at a gurdwara. Members of the Bharatiya Udhyog Veyopar Mandal, led by its president Deepak Dhawan, distributed sweets at the Committee Chowk.  TNS
Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, May 5

Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma today said the government would soon formulate a policy to check poor attendance at BEd colleges in Haryana.

He said performance of a section of private education colleges was a cause of concern for the state. He said teachers were the backbone in nation building and quality of institutes preparing them was crucial.

Sharma was at Kurukshetra University to inaugurate a two-day seminar on Teacher: A Reflective Practitioner for Quality Education.

Government BEd colleges are doing well. We are well aware that a section of such colleges indulge in malpractices and the government is working to handle the issue effectively, he said.

The state Assembly had passed Chaudhary Ranbir Singh University, Jind (Amendment and Validation) Bill, he stated.

Now, all BEd and engineering colleges in Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Panchkula, Karnal and Kaithal districts would be affiliated with Kurukshetra University, he said.

Sharma said Sanskrit was a heritage language and it had several takers across the world. He said the government was reviewing the policy wherein high school students were required to choose physical education or Sanskrit as a subject.

More than 200 embassies of foreign countries in New Delhi have a regular demand for Sanskrit scholars for translation of various ancient Indian texts in their native languages. There is a need to promote Sanskrit as it offers several employment avenues, he said.

At the seminar, the minister showed concern over deterioration in the teaching profession. He urged teachers to update their knowledge and gear up for skill development.

Incidents of suicide by students under stress due to academic competition were a cause of concern, he said. Teachers may play an important role in saving precious lives by guidance and empathy, he said.

Anveesh Bhatnagar, national secretary, Vidhya Bharti Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan, urged teachers for self-evaluate and equip themselves with modern tools for effective communication.

About 150 delegates from various states were in Kurukshetra to participate in the programme organised by universitys college of education.
Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, May 5

Haryana State Commission for Women Chairperson Kamlesh Panchal today met a gang rape victim at the Mini-Secretariat here.

Sources said the chairperson recorded the statement of the victim. All three accused in the case also met her and she also recorded their statements.

On the complaint of the victim, a case was registered against Sinder, his brother Ninder, and their father Joginder Singh of Timho village under various sections of the IPC, including 376 D (gang rape) and 506 (threat to kill), at the Buria police station in the district on May 1.

The victim, a resident of Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh, stated that she was married to Sinder, but his brother and father also raped her.

Sources said the accused told the chairperson that they were innocent and the allegations were false.

After recording statements of the victim and the accused, Panchal asked DSP Usha to conduct a fair inquiry into the case.
Tribune News Service

Solan, May 5

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today announced the opening of a new college at Jai Nagar in the Arki constituency. He announced this while addressing a public meeting at Materni today. He said adequate funds were available for development and the party believed in the uniform development of all regions.

Earlier, he dedicated development projects and laid foundation stones of new projects worth Rs 65 crore in the Arki constituency.

Taking credit for the unemployment allowance scheme, the CM said Himachal was the lone state which had announced such an allowance. A monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 per month was being given to eligible candidates under this scheme and Rs 1,500 to the physically challenged. Apart from this, under the Kaushal Vikas Allowance, a provision of Rs 500 crore had been made to train youth in employable skills.

He said in a bid to strengthen the educational sector, 122 degree colleges were opened in the state and 15,500 schools were either upgraded or opened. This had specially benefitted the girls who could pursue higher education closer to their home.

He said three medical colleges were opened in the state. He said forest clearance was awaited for running medical college at Hamirpur. In addition to this, the ESIC Medical College at Ner Chowk in Mandi would soon be made functional an All India Institute of Medical Sciences was sanctioned for Bilaspur.

He also announced two ITIs for Balera and Saur gram panchayats. He also announced forest gang hut at Balera, Malaun and Bhumti Dadal.
Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 5

Notwithstanding the unemployment problem posing a serious challenge to Jammu and Kashmir, the government does not have actual figures of the unemployed people in the state.

Current figures with the defunct employment exchanges are misleading as no comprehensive survey has been conducted to gather the exact figure by the successive governments in the last two decades.

The exercise conducted during the previous NC-Congress coalition government in 2010 that revealed a total of 5 lakh unemployed people is doubtful and has been rejected by the government on account of inaccuracy, leaving the state to rely on the secondary data of various agencies.

As per the figures from various district employment exchanges, there are 1,11,077 lakh unemployed with 67,147 registered in Kashmir and 43,930 in Jammu. For a state with a population of around 1.25 crore (as per 2011 Census), such figures are quite surprising, with senior officials in the Labour and Employment Department admitting loopholes and failure to transform the system with changing times.

Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, in his budget speech, had announced that Aadhaar-seeded registration with the Employment Department will be made mandatory to apply for government jobs as well as the employment schemes, but it is yet to be implemented. This was aimed at creating a centralised database of youth, thus registering and updating the list regularly.

However, Drabu who holds the portfolio of the Labour and Employment Department was not available to comment. Officials from the department too didnt respond as offices are yet to open in Srinagar following the Darbar move from Jammu.

Much has been announced about employment generation but the successive governments have not made any serious efforts to create a database. Current figures are misleading. There will be more than two million unemployed people in the state, said Harsh Dev Singh, former education minister.

As of now, 27 employment schemes are being implemented in the state, of which 12 schemes have 100 per cent funding from the Government of India and six schemes are funded up to the extent of 90 per cent. However, in the absence of data regarding the jobless people, the entire process is riddled with corruption and with the allegation that only selective people get the benefits of schemes.

Earlier, the employment exchanges acted as a reference point for government departments, especially Central departments who would approach them with vacancies. That role has now been taken over by the recruitment agencies, said Ashish Sharma, a postgraduate student in Jammu University.

Moreover, the state government has its own nine self-employment schemes being implemented by various government departments. However, the Employment Department having abundant human resources and huge infrastructure in almost all the districts of the state is currently not running any employment scheme.

Need to revamp existing structure

"The statistics of employment exchanges does not provide an accurate picture. It is hitting the schemes to attract unemployed youth and provide them information about various opportunities. Unemployment is a social issue of serious magnitude in the state. Data suffers mainly due to two defects i.e. either all the unemployed persons do not register themselves or some registered persons may not actually be unemployed but only in search of better jobs. There is a need to revamp the existing structure."

A senior official of Employment Department
Ratna Raman

MAY Day falls on May 1 and is celebrated variously all over the world. For the Romans it was a floral festival. Christianised Europe celebrated May Day for ushering in growth and flowering at the end of April, christened by TS Eliot as the cruellest month.

International Workers Day (commemorating Haymarket Massacre, May 4, 1886) is celebrated by Labour movements worldwide on the first of May as Labour Day.

Mayday was also a distress signal sent by pilots bailing out of damaged aircraft during World War. Mayday has been about festive and spiritual rejuvenation and a rallying call for pilots of sinking craft and for workers rights. The word help (both verb and noun) draws from older celebrations of the first of May and highlights the need to acknowledge and celebrate our continued dependence on labour in modern times.

Skilled and unskilled contributors of labour in the unorganised sector are referred to as help. Human help is always required to run households, farms and small-scale industries. In order to deal with surplus work, part-time help is hired. Factories have helpers, and so does Santa Claus, although Santas helpers are elves, far from human.

Human societies built on interdependence and co-existence always required help to get by. While, Eve was Adams helpmeet (Bible, 17th century) the expression helpmate (18th century) described spouses, partners and associates. Societies flourish wherever interconnected humans have helped one other.

However, in circumstances involving helpmeets and routine help, inequalities abound. In the fairy tale, a pair of elves worked rather hard to generate wealth for a shoemaker. They left happily, despite meagre rewards of new clothes and shoes.

Inspired by this story, privileged humans have been able to get away with shabby treatment of all helpers in the unorganised sector. Most help receive a pittance for their services and most employers would prefer that robots did all their work instead. The robot-help is an avant-garde (French: experimental idea) project, furthered by mechanised societies that promote self-service outlets providing food, money, fuel and surgery; wherein requisite currency and self-help make all exchange possible.

The movie Help (2011) exposes the racist double-standard that black help were subject to in the 1960s underwhite American families. In unequal societies, workers providing cheap human labour are routinely termed unhelpful and hostile.

India celebrates Basant Panchami in fair weather. In excruciatingly hot May, part-time or full-time help leave for annual vacation, fall sick or dont report to work. At this time, mayday situations prevail in homes and at workplaces. Most of us become literally and figuratively help-less in the absence of much reviled help. Ridden by caste, class and gendered hierarchies we are very far away from a time when robots will carry out all menial activity that the privileged farm out because of its unproductive nature (poor returns for work).

Recognising helpfulness as a significant human contribution could enable us to reach out and provide help-lines (support systems) in place of the unhelpful silences experienced by those in dire need of financial or emotional help.

May I help you, a common courtesy routinely voiced by help-desk personnel is in need of some tweaking. When rendering help is internalised as a collective personal ethic, greater love is extended towards all labour, thereby incorporating both the work and the worker. Helpfulness is godliness can then become a galvanising force, transforming hearts, souls and hearths in thebylanes of Swachch Bharat.
New Delhi, May 5

The H1-B visa reforms pose a challenge to Indian companies, but it will help the country's economy in a direct way, according to Meera Shankar, former Indian ambassador to the US.

During a panel discussion on '100 days of Trump's Presidency and India-US relations', Shankar said that there was no new policy in relation with H1-B visa and the US intended to enforce it in "stricter" way to ensure it is used for "specialty occupations and not low-end occupations".

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"We do not know what that policy is going to be. It could involve enhancing threshold of wages. It could involve doing away with system of lottery. But clearly there will be process of disruption and creative engineering of process for Indian companies, which would be a challenge," Shankar said.

"I do know that they (US) use it to move up the value scale and do more work offshore in India. So benefits of that to go to our economy in more direct way."

Global software major Infosys on Tuesday said it would hire 10,000 American workers in the next two years, a move seen as a fallout of US President Donald Trump's executive order on H1-B visas a fortnight ago.

Another panelist Gurcharan Das, author and public intellectual, said the development will lead Indian talent in the US to come back to the homeland and set up business here.

"May be Trump is doing a favour to us. It is a boon for Indian companies. Now, many will come back and found start-ups," Das said.

During the discussion, Hardeep Singh Puri, who was Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, said he did not find similarities between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The Prime Minister of India has been a Chief Minister of a large state for 12 years and he has hands-on governance per se. He actually demonstrated basic trans-formative changes in (last) three years...Trump comes to governance from the perspective of businessmen," Puri said.

Shankar said there should not be any ideological differences between the two leaders as they come from the right wing politics.

"Both personalities have positioned themselves as strong political leaders. Trump praised Modi for his victory in Uttar Pradesh, personally congratulated him. This is a trend of the right-wing leaders coming to power across the globe. There should not be any ideological differences between the two. And what India is trying to do in democratic framework is of interest to the United States," Shankar said.

Puri said the US "worked against" India's plan to get permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council but said the current BJP government was "handling the issue well".

"(At least) 130 countries are ready to support us. They (US) worked against it. They like the current arrangement. It was wrong on our part to expect the Obama administration to do heavy-lifting in its last two months," Puri said.

"(Now) We are sending our messages across in very calibrated and nuanced manner. And by the time, the Prime Minister is ready to go to Washington, we will have in place an entire canvass of issues, on which we can do some give and take," Puri added.

IANS
Loud applause and a demand that the convicts be castrated before being hung were heard in the Supreme Court today as a three-judge bench confirmed the death sentence in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case.

By India Today Web Desk: The usually sombre environs of Supreme Court halls saw rare applause and demands of castration today when the a three-judge bench upheld the death penalty for the four men convicted in the December 16, 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case.

The operative portion of the main judgement that sent the four - Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur - to the gallows was read out by Justice Dipak Misra over a span of 27 minutes.

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In the 17th minute, as Justice Misra read out the judgement's conclusion, which stated that the Delhi High court had correctly confirmed the trial court's death sentence, loud applause broke out among a section of public present in the visitors' gallery.

"Therefore, we conclude and hold that the high court has correctly confirmed the death penalty and we see no reason to differ with the same," Justice Misra said before cheers and applause broke out, prompting the judge to raise his hands to signal for silence.

Justices Misra and Ashok Bhushan, both of whom authored the main judgement, signed the verdict at 2.18 pm following which Justice R Banumathi started to reading her separate, concurring judgement.

After nine minutes, as Justice Banumathi finished reading her judgement a woman from the gallery shouted "they (convicts) should be castrated first", news agency PTI reported.

Earlier, there was speculation over whether Justice Banumathi had dissented. The justices gathered in court number 2 at 2.01 pm and Justice Misra, who headed the three-judge bench, said that Justice Banumathi had come out with a separate judgement.

However, before any speculation could gather momentum, Justice Banumathi cleared all the air asking Justice Misra to clarify that she is concurring with the verdict penned by him.

COURT REJECTS FIR DELAY ARGUMENT

The Supreme Court in sending the four men to the gallows rejected the defence argument that there was a delay in registering the First Information Report over the 2012 gangrape.

"Even assuming for the sake of argument that there is delay, the same is in consonance with natural human conduct," the judgement read, news agency IANS reported.

"The sequence of events is natural and in the present case the victim was seriously injured and was in a critical condition, and it has to be treated as a natural conduct that giving medical treatment to her was of prime importance," the court added, even as it said it had no "hesitation in arriving at the conclusion that there was no delay in lodging of the FIR".

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The other argument that was rejected by the Supreme Court judges was that the FIR did not mention the name of the convicts.

"It has to be kept in mind that it is settled law that FIR is not an encyclopaedia of facts and it is not expected from a victim to give details of the incident either in the FIR or in the brief history given to the doctors," the Supreme Court judgement said.

"The impact of the omission, ... , has to be adjudged in the totality of the circumstances and the veracity of the evidence. The involvement of the accused persons cannot be determined solely on the basis of what has been mentioned in the FIR," the judgement also said.

(With inputs from agencies)

ALSO READ:

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Nirbhaya rapists to file review petition after Supreme Court upholds death sentence

Nirbhaya gangrape verdict: Justice delayed, not denied, say parents

WATCH | Nirbhaya gangrape case: This is what happened inside the Supreme Court today

--- ENDS ---
Lucknow, May 5

The Samajwadi Party (SP) government had paid a whopping Rs 21.15 lakh to different senior lawyers of the Supreme Court to avoid CBI enquiry against tainted Noida Chief Engineer Yadav Singh, accused of amassing crores of rupees through illegal activities.

This fact was revealed through an information obtained by RTI activist Nutan Thakur. She had filed a PIL in which Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court had directed the Yadav Singh case to be transferred to the CBI.

Also read: Noida Chief Engineer got Rs 100 crore as bribe

The Uttar Pradesh government had appealed against this order before the Supreme Court, which was dismissed during the first hearing itself on July 16, 2015, but the Akhilesh Yadav government had left no stone unturned to avoid the CBI enquiry.

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As per the RTI information dated May 4, 2017, provided by Surendra Pal Singh, Special Secretary, Nyay Anubhag-1, four senior lawyers were engaged by the state government in this case.

Of these, Kapil Sibbal was given a fee of Rs 8.80 lakh, Harish Salve was given Rs 5 lakh, Rakesh Dwivedi was given Rs 4.05 lakh and Dinesh Dwivedi was given Rs 3.30 lakh.

The RTI applicant said it was truly alarming that the state government had wasted such huge money to save a tainted person like Yadav Singh and sought recovery of this public money from the pocket of the concerned public authorities. Singh is currently in jail and is being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

IANS
Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5

India today urged the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting in Geneva to look at the many major initiatives launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi such as Digital India, Smart Cities and Celebrate the Girl Child to reach out to various sections of the society even as the country came under severe criticism on various fronts by the UN body.

In his closing remarks, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said India was a living civilisation with millennia-old tradition of assimilation, accommodation and tolerance. His brief remarks stood in comparison to the lengthy explanations he made on Thursday in his opening address as questions were raised on Indias clampdown on foreign funds for NGOs, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that gives the troops extraordinary powers to kill in disturbed areas, and discrimination against the LGBT community.

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Amnesty International also stepped in and urged India to heed the recommendations made at the UNHRC. In a strongly worded statement, Raghu Menon, advocacy manager at Amnesty International India, said, It was disappointing to hear the Indian delegation claim that AFSPA has enough safeguards against human rights, ignoring the impunity that this law has enabled. The delegation also suggested that there can be no racism against people of African descent in India due to longstanding cultural ties. These positions smack of denial and defensiveness. India should instead reflect on the recommendations made and commit to tackling important human rights challenges.

Rohatgi defended India on many of the charges and said theirs was a secular nation with no state religion and a Constitution that enshrined provisions for the protection of the minorities.

Countries such as the US, Germany and Switzerland were among those who strongly condemned the recent crackdown by the government on civil society in receiving foreign funding. Rohatgi, in defence, stuck to the governments oft-repeated line that the NGOs had to function within the parameters of the law of the land.

With response to the critique on AFSPA, the Attorney General noted that there had been a judicial review of the Act, and that it was applicable only at a few areas and only to deal with exigent circumstances like terrorism.
Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5

The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death penalty awarded to the four convicts of the December 16, 2012 gangrape-cum-murder case, saying the brutal, barbaric and diabolical manner of the crime made it rarest of rare warranting capital punishment.

When we cautiously, consciously and anxiously weigh the aggravating circumstances and the mitigating factors, we are compelled to arrive at the singular conclusion that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances now brought on record, the top court said rejecting the convicts appeals.

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A three-judge bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice R Bhanumathi and Justice Ashok Bhushan took note of the fact that after the sexual and physical assault on the victim, the convicts tried to run the bus over them so that there would be no evidence against them and divided the loot among themselves.

Describing the brutal nature of the crime the court said it caused a "tsunami of shock" in society. It found no fault with the Delhi High Courts verdict upholding the trial courts decision to send them to the gallows.

The bench  which had reserved its verdict on March 27  rejected their leniency plea, saying they treated the victim as an object of enjoyment with the single purpose of ravishing her.

The convicts who now face the gallows are Mukesh (29), Pawan (22), Vinay Sharma (23) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

Another accused  Ram Singh  had allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail, while the lone juvenile accused in the case was tried by a juvenile court which had sent him to a reformatory for three years. He is out after spending three years over there.

READ MORE

SC verdict will act as deterrent against heinous crimes: Maneka

Timeline: How events unfolded

Death penalty does not deter crime, say activists

Juvenile of Delhi gangrape case is now a cook: NGO official

Womens safety: No CCTV cameras in DTC buses, public places

If the four convicts are hanged, it would be only the second case of rape and murder in India in which death penalty has been executed. Earlier, Dhananjay Chatterjee was hanged in a rape-cum-murder case in West Bengal in 2014.

The victim  a 23-year-old paramedic student  was raped in a moving bus in South Delhi in the intervening night of December 16 and 17, 2012 and was thrown out of the bus along with her friend after the crime. She died of grave intestinal injuries on December 29, 2012 at Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital.

"It sounds like a story from a different world where humanity is treated with irreverence," Justice Misra said pronouncing the verdict in a jam-packed court.

As Justice Misra pronounced the verdict, many activists and lawyers started clapping. Some even said: "Shame! Shame!" in a feeble voice.

Justice R Bhanumathi, who pronounced a separate but concurring verdict, said, If at all there is a case warranting award of death sentence, it is the present case. If the dreadfulness displayed by the accused in committing the gangrape, unnatural sex, insertion of iron rod in the private parts of the victim does not fall in the rarest of rare category, then one may wonder what else would fall in that category.

However, she said: Stringent legislation and punishments alone may not be sufficient for fighting increasing crimes against women. In our tradition-bound society, certain attitudinal change and change in the mindset is needed to respect women and to ensure gender justice.

Justice Bhanumathi said: Right from childhood years, children ought to be sensitised to respect women. A child should be taught to respect women in society in the same way as he is taught to respect men. Gender equality should be made a part of the school curriculum.

Imposition of appropriate punishment is the manner in which the courts respond to the societys cry for justice against the crime. Justice demands that the courts should impose punishments befitting the crime so that it reflects public abhorrence of the crime. Crimes like the one before us cannot be looked with magnanimity, Justice Bhanumathi added.

The court said the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating circumstances in the case, given the manner in which the convicts committed the crime and then attempted to kill the victim and her friend.

After the verdict, a visibly happy Nirbhaya's mother  who was present in the court  said, "I am satisfied with the judgment. I hope all other rape victims get justice in the same manner. I thank the media and society for their support.

Advocate AP Singh  one of the defence counsel  recited an Urdu couplet to express his anguish over the verdict.

"Please also provide us with the English translation of it," Justice Bhanumathi said.

Later, Singh told The Tribune that he would file a review petition against the verdict.

What next for accused

The accused can now file a review petition and then a curative petition in the Supreme Court. If they lose the next two rounds of court battle, they could file a mercy petition before the President. The matter can again come back to the top court as a decision on a mercy petition is subject to judicial review.

The convicts had moved the top court challenging the high court's March 13, 2014 verdict upholding their death sentences. The Supreme Court had stayed their death sentence pending their appeals.

Senior counsel Siddharth Luthra  who represented the Delhi Police in the case  welcomed the verdict, saying: "In India mostly convicts are given leniency and mitigating circumstances are given undue importance. In this case the court has rightly held that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances.

Senior advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde, who assisted the court as amicus curiae, had opposed death penalty for the convicts. Both were present in the court at the time of pronouncement. On Friday, Hegde refused to comment on the verdict.
Girja Shankar Kaura

Tribune news service

New Delhi, May 5

The Government on Friday announced rules to bar passengers from flying on airlines in case of their unruly behaviour either with the airline staff or with co-passengers.

The fallout of the Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad incident in which he allegedly assaulted an Air India staffer onboard a plane the rules were announced by the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju during a press conference said that instances of unruly behaviour have been mentioned into three categories.

The government is also looking at creating a national no-fly list of unruly passengers and security threats, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said.

The list would be maintained by the DGCA.

Among the reasons for no fly for the passengers would be instances of disruptive behaviour like physical gestures, etc. Also, counted in the list would be physical or abusive behaviour like pushing, kicking, sexual harassment, besides life threatening behaviour.

Punishment for unruly behaviour will also fall under three categories. The 1st category is three months suspension. The punishment for level 2 offences will be six months and that for level 3 offences will be two years or more.

Airline can ban the passenger from flying immediately but the passenger wont come on national no-fly list immediately.

The ministry clarified that the penalty of suspension for unruly behaviour applies to domestic carriers, but if international carriers want this option they can use it too.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5

Heralding a new chapter in regional cooperation, India today launched the South Asia satellite, a first in the region, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi characterised as a historic moment and one that symbolises that even sky is not the limit for cooperation in the area.

Successful launch of the South Asian Satellite is a historic moment. It opens up new horizons of engagement, Modi tweeted immediately after the GSLV-F09 carrying South Asia Communication Satellite lifted off from Sriharikota.

Celebrating the launch of the satellite that opens new frontiers among seven of the eight members of SAARC, leaders from India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives held a video conference hailing the initiative announced by the Prime Minister Modi in June 2014. Pakistan preferred not to accept New Delhis gift to its neighbours and the project was renamed from SAARC satellite.

Modi said the launch marked the fulfilment of Indias commitment and also the beginning of the journey to build the most advanced frontier of our partnership. He said the project would touch the lives of the people of these countries in the area of space technology applications in telecommunication and broadcasting, tele-medicine, tele-education, e-governance, banking/ATM services, cellular back-haul, meteorological data transmission, disaster response and networking of academic and research institutions.

The satellite, he said, demonstrated that our collective choices for our citizens will bring us together for cooperation, not conflict; development, not destruction; and prosperity not poverty.

Thanking leaders of the participating countries for their strong and valuable support that translated this vision into reality, both PM Modi and other leaders congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation on successful development and launch of the satellite.

The 2-tonne satellite was fabricated in three years at a cost of Rs 230 crore. It has 12 Ku band transponders and each country will get at least one transponder to beam their own programme. It will facilitate DTH television and VSAT links.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said through this cooperation, countries would have to work for the poor and deprived while Bangaldesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the occasion is for the betterment of the people through fruitful engagement.

Describing the launch as ushering in a new era of regional cooperation, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said: This gift from India is an example of true friendship and cooperation. It will bring common progress of our region.

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen saw the launch as an example of Indias neighbour first policy we must work for common good, better economic opportunities... Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas.

Stating that the satellite would enhance connectivity, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said it would help provide communication service in the mountain and hilly regions of Nepal while Sri Lankan President hoped this initiative would support people in all regions, enhance economic conditions and help eliminating poverty."

Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the participating countries were invited to witness the launch at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Girja Shankar Kaura

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 5

Being unruly on a domestic flight may render erring passengers ineligible to fly for two years, say the draft rules for a national no-fly list announced today.

The announcement comes almost a month after a parliamentarian allegedly assaulted an airline crew member for not providing him with a business class seat, sending shock waves across the nation.

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In a first-of-its-kind move, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State Jayant Sinha unveiled draft rules for unruly passengers on all domestic carriers, with flying restrictions ranging from three months to two years or more depending upon the crime. This will empower airlines to take steps to control not only unruly passengers but also provide their staff with a security shield.

Raju and Aviation Secretary RN Choubey also sought consultations from public and the industry stakeholders on the draft policy guidelines.

The government has classified disruptive behaviour into three categories  level 1 for disruptive behaviour such as physical gestures and verbal harassment; level 2 for physically abusive behaviour such as pushing, kicking and sexual harassment; and level 3 for life-threatening behaviour and damage to aircraft operating systems.

As per the draft rules, the grounding for offenders would be three months for level 1, six months for level 2 and two years or more for level 3 offence. For every subsequent offence, the offender will be barred for twice the period of the previous ban.

Choubey said the punishment would be applicable to domestic flyers but if international carriers want this option, they can use it too.

Airlines can ban a passenger immediately, but that passenger wont come on national no-fly list immediately, he added.
Toronto, May 5

A cartoon carried by Canadian publications showing under fire Indian-origin Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan stewing in a cauldron has sparked outrage among the Sikh community members who say it resembles images of Sikh religious figures who were tortured.

Sajjan, 46, recently faced a lot of flak and apologised publicly for overstating his role in Operation Medusa, a pivotal 2006 battle in Afghanistan, while speaking during his India visit last month.

The Edmonton Sun and other Postmedia publications carried the controversial cartoon in which Sajjan is shown stewing in a cauldron with the label "lies", the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Postmedia later apologised for the political cartoon that sparked outrage among members of Alberta's Sikh community.

Critics say the caricature was offensive because it resembles images of historic Sikh religious figures who were tortured.

"I was really disgusted. And then I kind of felt sad as well that a prominent news outlet in the country would do so, and would play with the religious sensitivities of the community (which is) an integral part of the society here in Canada," said Harpreet Gill, who is on the executive committee of Gurdwara Siri Guru Singh Sabha.

Gill was quoted as saying that the cartoon bears a "striking resemblance" to the 5th Sikh Guru Arjun Dev, who was forced to sit on a hot plate after speaking up for minorities.

He said that the cartoon prompted similar criticism on social media in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver, with demands for an apology.

The World Sikh Organisation of Canada said the Sun's depiction of the defence minister resembled an iconic image of a martyr who was boiled to death.

Harmen Singh Kandola, an Edmonton board member of the World Sikh Organisation, said the image immediately reminded him of a "famous iconic image from Sikh history" in which Bhai Daval Das, a follower of the ninth guru Tegh Bahadur, was boiled alive.

"This cartoon has caused many Sikhs discomfort due to its resemblance to the torture and death of Bhai Dayal Das," said Kandola, explaining Das was persecuted for pursuing religious freedom for another faith group.

Kandola said it was unlikely the cartoonist was aware of the image's cultural significance. But he emphasised that "it's important to understand that type of context before making such statements, just in order to ensure that they don't cause any unintended consequences". Postmedia responded to criticism in the Letters to the Editor section of the Calgary Sun, saying: "The cartoon was not meant to insult Sikhs. It was a pun on the minister stewing in his own lies. We're sorry if it was misinterpreted".

The cartoonist, Tim Dolighan, did not respond to the controversy, the report said.  PTI
Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 4

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set for an organisational shake-up in the state. Sources said party convener Arvind Kejriwal would meet AAP MLAs in New Delhi on May 8 to discuss the restructuring of the state unit. The sources said Kejriwal would hold one-on-one meetings with the legislators, besides seeking their collective opinion on party matters.

For the past two days, Kejriwal and other senior leaders have been holding meetings to tackle the growing resentment at various levels in the party, especially in Punjab.

Recently, AAP MP Bhagwant Mann had said the party failed to come to power in the state due to a historical blunder by certain top leaders.

Sources said today that Mann held a meeting with Kejriwal on the revamp of the state unit. Instead of the convener, the party would appoint the state president. Mann is said to be one of the main contenders for this post, besides Sukhpal Khaira. Currently, Gurpreet Singh Waraich is the state AAP convener. Sources said the opinion of the 20 MLAs would matter the most in the appointment of the new state chief.

The AAP high command wants to act fast because the MC elections are due in June-July, while the Gurdaspur bypoll is expected to be held in August.

State unit taking own decisions: Phoolka

Patiala: Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka said the state AAP was now taking all Punjab-related decisions on its own and there was no interference from the Delhi leadership. He claimed that there was no internal bickering in the party and they were gearing up to contest the MC elections. TNS
Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, May 5

Liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda and his nephew, Amit, both accused in the Bhim Tank murder case, were shifted from the Amritsar jail to the Faridkot Modern Jail yesterday evening.

Sources in the Prisons Department said Doda had been shifted to help him smoothly operate his liquor business in the area.

As Dodas liquor trade is in Ferozepur and Moga districts, it is convenient for his business associates to have meetings with him in the local jail, revealed a senior officer of the Excise and Taxation Department, requesting anonymity.

Faridkot Jail Superintendent SP Singh did not respond to calls despite repeated attempts.

Ashish Kapoor, Superintendent, Amritsar Central Jail, said Doda had requested the DGP (Prisons) to shift him to a jail near Fazilka as he was facing a criminal case there. The DGP accepted the request and issued orders to shift him to Faridkot, a district adjoining Fazilka.

While lodged in the Amritsar jail, Doda had filed nomination papers from the Abohar Assembly constituency as an Independent, declaring assets worth over Rs 141 crore. Later, he had decided to withdraw his nomination in support of the BJP candidate. However, the withdrawal plea was rejected on technical grounds.

In the first week of January, Doda and his nephew had been shifted to the Amritsar jail after an illegal meeting between the liquor baron and his supporters in the Fazilka jail had stirred a controversy. (Read news item published in these columns in January)

After a complaint by Congress leader Sunil Jakhar to the Chief Electoral Officer, a team of the civil administration and the police had raided the Fazilka jail. The jail durbar row had led to the suspension of the Assistant Jail Superintendent. A criminal case was registered against 24 persons, including Doda and some SAD leaders.
The Venezuela National Guard used a riot vehicle which was on fire to run over the protesters gathered in the street.

By India Today Web Desk: The political and financial crises continue to take over the South American country of Venezuela. The two-month-old protest movement is still going on and has already claimed many lives in Venezuela.

The demand of the protesters is the immediate presidential elections and the people of Venezuela have flooded the streets in a protest march against President Nicolas Maduro's government many times.

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President Nicolas Maduro accuses the opposition of attempting a coup, and has responded with an initiative to rewrite the constitution, according to a TIME report.

RIOT CONTROL VEHICLE RUNS OVER PROTESTORS IN VENEZUELA

Amid the on-going tension in Venezuela, the Venezuelan National Guard used a tank-like riot control vehicle to run over the demonstrators.

Reuters

A video shows the Venezuela National Guard using the heavy duty armoured vehicles against the protesters in the Altamira neighbourhood of the capital, Caracas, according to RT.

The armoured vehicle which was on fire was used as battering rams against the demonstrators.

WATCH: Armored vehicle on fire moves through crowd in Venezuela

Disclaimer: Graphic video. Viewer's discretion advised.

The incident took place on Wednesday. Authorities also used water cannons in an attempt to disperse the anti-government demonstrators.

At least 36 people have lost their lives since the demonstrations spiralled into violence in April.

People of Venezuela are tired of what's going on in their country. With no food, no paper, no medicine, and rampant crimes, people have take it to the streets protesting against their government.

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MR. Bepin Chandra Pal has written to the Calcutta papers a detailed account of himself being closely shadowed by the police from Karachi to Howrah and to invite the attention of the higher authorities to the annoyance and even obstruction caused to him. The matter deserves the attention of the public and the Government because seldom has any Indian patriot escaped the sometimes annoying attentions of the C.I.D., and from the late Mr. Gokhale downwards all have complained against police methods. Surely the C.I.D. methods can and ought to be reformed, and without in any way questioning their right to shadow anyone they like, we can ask them not to do it in an obtrusive or annoying manner. In England, Mr. Pal writes on one single occasion only had I to complain against the Scotland Yard man set to watch my movement who sought to provoke a quarrel with my son, and I never saw his face again in my neighbourhood and I believe he got his sack for that offence.
Beijing, May 5

Chinas first large homemade passenger jet, touted as a competitor to Boeing and Airbus, made its maiden flight from Shanghai today, signalling the Communist giants entry into the global aviation industry.

The 158-seater C919 took to the skies from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and made China the fourth jumbo jet producer after the United States, Europe and Russia. The twin-engine plane departed with five crew members on board but without any passengers.

The C in the aircrafts name stands for both China and COMAC, while 9 symbolises forever in

Chinese culture and 19 represents the maximum 190 seats capacity.

With a standard range of 4,075 kilometres, the narrow- body jet is comparable with the updated Airbus 320 and Boeings new generation 737, signalling the countrys entry into the global aviation mark, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

It also marks a milestone for the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of the C919, it said.

Both Airbus and Boeing have assembly plants in China considering the growing demand for new aircraft.

A recent Boeing forecast said that China will need 6,810 new aircraft in the next 20 years at an estimated cost of $1 trillion.

By the end of 2016, 21 customers had placed orders for more than 500 C919 aircraft, and COMAC expects to sell at least 2,000.  PTI
Islamabad, May 5

Pakistan on Friday blamed India for its exclusion from the 'SAARC Satellite' project, saying New Delhi was not willing to develop the venture on a collaborative basis.

Pakistan's claim came on a day when India successfully launched the 'South Asia Satellite' to provide communications and disaster support to neighbouring countries.

"During the 18th SAARC Summit, India offered to 'gift' a satellite to SAARC member states, to be named as the so-called 'SAARC Satellite'. Subsequently, however, India made it clear that it would build, launch and operate the satellite solely," Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said.

However, its registration with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was to be done as a 'SAARC Satellite', he said.

Zakaria claimed that Pakistan, which has its own space programme at an advanced level, was ready to share its expertise and technological know-how and was keen to participate in the project.

"However, as India was not willing to develop the project on a collaborative basis, it was not possible for Pakistan to support it as a regional project under the umbrella of SAARC.

The Satellite was then renamed as 'South Asia Satellite' as the project was taken out of the SAARC ambit," he said.

Seven of the eight SAARC countries -- India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives -- are part of the ambitious project.

Giving a fillip to India's new age space diplomacy and "neighbourhood first" policy, the Rs 235 crore satellite GSAT-9 built as part of a Rs 450 crore project and touted as an 'invaluable gift' to India's neighbours is seen as a significant move in countering Chinese interests in the region. The project is funded entirely by India.  PTI
Washington, May 5

US' Delta Air Lines has issued an apology for kicking a family with two young children off a flight after the customers had already boarded, the media reported.

The incident occurred on April 23 on Delta flight 2222 from Hawaii to Los Angeles, but footage of the ordeal was posted on YouTube on Wednesday by Brian Schear, the customer who can be seen arguing with a flight attendant during an eight-minute exchange, reports CNN.

At issue was a seat the man's infant son was in. That seat was booked under the name of Schear's older son, who took an earlier flight.

The family members who were on board the flight, Schear, his wife and their two children, were eventually escorted off the aircraft and flew to their destination on another flight with a different airline.

"We are sorry for the unfortunate experience our customers had with Delta, and we've reached out to them to refund their travel and provide additional compensation," the airline said in a statement on Thursday.

"Delta's goal is to always work with customers in an attempt to find solutions to their travel issues. That did not happen in this case and we apologise." Schear can be heard in the video repeatedly saying that he paid for the seat in which his infant son was sitting.

He said it "isn't right" that the airline was asking him to give it up, CNN reported.

Delta said the flight was not overbooked, but there were passengers waiting to fly standby, which is why they were trying to make room on the flight.

Footage of the ordeal has racked up nearly 900,000 views on YouTube.

IANS
Former health secretary Tarun Seem is under CBI scanner for alleged irregularities in hiring three private security firms for seven government hospitals in the city.

The CBI raided the residence of former health secretary Tarun Seem (above) on Thursday.

By Mail Today Bureau: In yet another blow to the Aam Aadmi Party, a close aide of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former health secretary Tarun Seem is under CBI scanner for alleged irregularities in hiring three private security firms for seven government hospitals in the city.

The CBI on Thursday conducted raids at six places, including Seem's residence and his office at the Delhi secretariat, in connection with the said scam. The investigative agency claims the 'fraud' cost the exchequer Rs 10.5 crore.

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A case has been registered against Seem, a 1992-batch IRS officer, and the three firms - Knightwatch, Innovision and SIS India - that were contracted to provide security.

"The firms were engaged to augment security in emergency areas of Delhi government hospitals and huge loss was caused to the exchequer. The total cost of the work was approximately Rs 10.50 crore," a CBI official said.

SEEM HEADS AAP'S MOHALLA CLINIC PROJECT

Sources said that Seem, who now heads the AAP government's flagship Mohalla Clinic project, was appointed as the health secretary out of turn as this position is reserved for IAS officers. He was on temporary deputation as health secretary in February 2016, when the then secretary Amar Nath had gone on leave. His position as secretary was confirmed in April. He was later removed from the post by then LG Najeeb Jung.

Seem being an IRS officer and close to Kejriwal, who himself was an IRS officer, was also made director of Directorate general of health services (DGHS). This position was specially created to accommodate him and did not exist under the previous regimes, claimed a senior officer.

According to the case filed on Thursday, proper procedures were not followed in the hiring of the security agencies and they were paid a premium. It is being probed if authorities gave the contract for any personal benefit.

However, a Delhi government official told Mail Today that the move was taken by the Delhi government after several instances of violence at government hospitals. "To ensure better safety and security of doctors and patients, security agencies were hired at higher rates but their contracts were not renewed," said an official.

"After the strikes by doctors, the best security agencies were hired -agencies that provide security in hospitals such as AIIMS and private hospitals - but their rates were higher than our tender rates. So, they were given a special contract for six months. After the contract period was over, it wasn't renewed," the official said.

AAP HIRED BOUNCERS FOR Rs 40,000?

The case came under CBI's scanner after the LG office found that order to hire them was "illegal". Before demitting office, then Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had written to CBI to register a case against erring officers for carrying out recruitment of bouncers in city hospitals. Sources in Raj Niwas said that around 40 bouncers were hired by the health department last year without prior approval and were deployed across the city hospitals with high footfalls.

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A source said that AAP government hired bouncers at a salary between Rs 30,000-40,000. These bouncers were removed after the high court ruled that Lieutenant Governor is the administrative head of Delhi.

Mail Today contacted Seem for his version but he remained unavailable.

Reacting to CBI raids, AAP accused the Centre of misusing CBI against its party leaders. "As soon as everything returned to normal in AAP; the central government left its parrot (CBI) behind Satyendar Jain. They keep disturbing us and we keep working," senior party leader Sanjay Singh tweeted.

ALSO READ | Arvind Kejriwal,AAP,CBI,Tarun Seem,Former health secretary Tarun Seem,Bribery,Health scam

ALSO READ | Arvind Kejriwal on Aam Aadmi Party rift: Will convince Kumar Vishwas

--- ENDS ---
By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, May 5 (PTI) Leading bankers today welcomed the NPA ordinance that amends the Banking Regulation Act and gives more powers to RBI to direct banks on resolution of stressed assets to speed up the recovery process.

Last night, President Pranab Mukherjee signed the NPA ordinance to amend the Banking Regulation Act, investing the RBI with more powers to direct banks to initiate insolvency and bankruptcy in case of defaults.

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"Amendments to the Banking Regulations Act, coming on the heels of the enactment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and amendments to the Sarfaesi and the debt recovery tribunal laws indicate governments firm commitment to find a satisfactory solution to the NPA resolution problem," SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said.

She said empowering RBI with an explicit mandate, should reorient various stakeholders for effectively resolving the bad loans problem.

"The banking system must move quickly and decisively to take the benefits of these enabling provisions," she added.

Joining her, ICICI Bank chief executive Chanda Kochhar described the proposed law as a "big step" to resolve the bad loans pains as "in the last two years, there were very few decisions from banks in a coordinated manner as their focus was on NPA recognition and resolution was not happening."

"The ordinance will give a kick-start to the resolution process. Though full resolution always takes time, since a resolution structure is created and a company is on the resolution path, from there it is only an improvement," Kochhar said.

Bankers further said the move will help in setting a clear direction on stressed asset resolution and will also build confidence among lenders in their decision-making process.

"There has been a continuous movement to ease out the NPA resolution process. With todays step, government is trying to bring in a more coordinated effort to resolve large value accounts," IDBI Bank executive director Mythili Balasubramanian said.

She, however, said a better picture would emerge once RBI issues the detailed guidelines.

United Bank managing director Pawan Bajaj said the initiative will be helpful in cases where joint lenders forum is formed and the decisions are delayed due to non-cooperation of some lenders.

N S Venkatesh, executive director and CFO at Lakshmivilas Bank told PTI that the move will help banks take resolution in an orderly and speedy manner, which will ensure faster recovery."

Stating that the latest attempt should not become yet another tool in NPA fight, as the system has many tools at the disposal including a broad restructuring scheme, Kochhar said, "Whats required is RBI should expand the jurisdiction of the oversight committee (OC) and empowers its to look at all forms of restructuring."

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If done so, banks will feel more comfort in taking decisions. An equally important thing is that once a decision is taken, RBI should ensure that banks implement decisions. And the ordinance empowers RBI to do so, she said.

Kochhar also said the law should ensure that RBI creates more oversight committees with more powers and more people in them so that decisions are made faster.

"Weve tremendous experience and depth of knowledge and I think RBI will be able to find the people," she said, adding that currently on an average an OC has only two members, which needs to go up manifold.

Addressing the media earlier in the national capital, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said a list of some of the stressed assets is already with RBI and it is looking into it.

Jaitley said the ordinance was needed as RBI is required to be empowered to resolve specific stressed assets. Sale of assets, closure of non-profitable branches, reduction of overhead cost and business turnaround initiatives will be part of resolution process.

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Non-performing assets have risen to about 17 per cent of total loans, the highest level among major economies. They are about 8.4 per cent of GDP, according to a report by Swiss brokerage Credit Suisse. PTI HV AA BEN NP BAS

--- ENDS ---
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology announced Friday that Dan Peterson has been named the colleges new CEO.

Peterson said he was drawn to Spartan for the hands-on, outcome-oriented career training the school offers students.

The U.S. Air Force veteran said he also deeply appreciates the schools rich aviation history. Spartan, which trains students for careers as pilots, aviation maintenance technicians and work in related fields, will celebrate its 90th anniversary next year.

To me, the more I get involved with Spartan, the more excited I am about being able to be selected to come here and work alongside so many of the professionals that for 90 years have been providing quality training to pilots and technicians, Peterson said.

Peterson most recently served as CEO and chancellor at Kentucky-based Daymar College. He has more than 25 years in higher education as well as a military career, retiring from the Air Force and Utah Air National Guard in 2008 with 23 years of service.

Peterson has a Ph.D. from Utah State University with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction.

Peter Harris, who previously served as CEO of Spartan Education Group, has taken on the role of executive chairman through which he will have a leadership role on the board and continue to work on strategies, transactions and other matters for Spartan.

Dan has a striking combination of education, aviation and military backgrounds that perfectly align with Spartans needs, Harris said.

Like Harris, Peterson will be based in Dallas and will travel among Spartans campuses in Tulsa, Los Angeles and the Denver area. Collectively, the schools have trained 130,000 students since it was founded with approximately 90,000 of those training in Tulsa. Around 1,700 are currently enrolled systemwide.

Spartan also recently announced that after an extensive review process, its Tulsa and Denver campuses were selected by Delta Air Lines to train prospective employees as aviation maintenance or airframe and power plant technicians.

Delta Air Lines undertook an evaluation of programs across the country to prepare for the demand of highly skilled aviation maintenance technicians. According to a long-term aviation and aerospace outlook from the Boeing Co., more than 2 million pilots and technicians will be needed by 2035.

Its a fantastic opportunity to partner with Delta, and were excited to just be selected, Peterson said. I think this is unique to Spartan, its unique to the industry and its just what the industry calls for.
A Wagoner County jury has found Ray Roger Jordan guilty of first degree murder for the Dec. 20, 2015 death of Drew Gibson and sentenced Jordan to life in prison on Friday, May 5.

On that 2015 date, Wagoner County Sheriffs deputies responded to a shooting in the Rocky Point area of Wagoner where Gibsons deceased body was discovered in the home of Brandon Grimland. Gibson was killed with a single, close range gunshot wound to the chest.

WCSO investigators discovered a plot to lure Gibson to Grimlands home where Jordan was lying in wait. Authorities say Gibson was in a relationship with Jordans estranged wife at the time.

Gibson was in Grimlands home when Jordan attacked and shot him.

Also arrested in the plot to kill were Aaron Masterson of Muskogee, Grimland of Wagoner and Bethany Parris of Muskogee. Their trials are pending.
By Tanseem Haider: Delhi Police today detained the father and younger brother of the woman who allegedly honey trapped BJP's Lok Sabha MP KC Patel.

Few days ago KC Patel filed a complaint with the police that a gang operated by a woman was blackmailing him. He alleged that the woman took him to a house in Ghaziabad, spiked his drink and later filmed him in an objectionable manner. The woman later threatened to make the video clips viral if she was not paid Rs 5 crore.

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WOMAN REFUTES CLAIMS

While KC Patel has gone on record claiming he was misled by the woman who sedated him and clicked objectionable pictures, the woman has now come forward and refuted the allegations.

Speaking exclusively to India Today she said, "I have been repeatedly sexually exploited by the MP. He asked me to come to his official residence to talk regarding a Supreme Court matter. At his house, he forced himself on me and raped me."

The woman said Patel is trying to deflect attention from his own offence by making such claims.

"He threatened me with dire consequences if I ever told about it to anyone. He told me that he is from the government, which is in power at the Centre, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. We can do anything," she said.

When asked why she didn't inform the police, the woman said she was scared for her life.

"I created a sex video for self defence. The video is dated March 28. I never blackmailed him. I took the courage to approach the police after the harassment got out of hand," she said.

Also read

BJP MP honey trap: Woman refutes allegations, says he sexually exploited her

--- ENDS ---
A north Tulsa minister said Friday that a police unions recent ethics complaint alleging Officer Betty Shelby was unfairly charged only serves to erode his communitys trust in the justice system.

Pastor Rodney Goss hosted a news conference at his church, Morning Star Baptist, to address the Fraternal Order of Polices complaint accusing District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler of rushing to file a first-degree manslaughter charge in the September shooting death of Terence Crutcher.

All we ask for is the wheels of justice to turn and to turn fairly, Goss said. Those who are part of the FOP, those who are sworn to uphold and protect the rights of its citizens, how can we trust them now that the FOP sends a message that the one who is trying to prosecute, or at least allow the wheels of law to turn, is somehow biased?

Goss said the poor relationship between his community and law enforcement has created a powder keg in north Tulsa, one that could either be diffused or agitated. He said the actions by the FOP are contributing to the second option.

Were really concerned. We have to stand firm, he said. Were not trying to stir the pot because the pot is already stirred.

Tulsas FOP announced its filing of the ethics complaint against Kunzweiler in a Wednesday news conference, alleging he unfairly charged Shelby before receiving sufficient evidence from investigators.

The announcement of the charge came six days after Shelby shot and killed an unarmed Crutcher next to his stopped vehicle on 36th Street North near Lewis Avenue. The complaint, which was lodged less than a week before Shelbys trial, claims Kunzweiler lacked probable cause to charge the officer merely based on watching a video of the shooting.

Jerad Lindsey, board of directors chairman for the FOP, told reporters the grievance wasnt brought forth until now because his union had been waiting for something big to come up to explain Kunzweilers actions. He said the FOP was not trying to influence the trial.

Goss called Kunzweiler a fair man of integrity and said he was justified in his swift decision.

His moral code of conduct has been exemplified in all of his actions and in his judgments, Goss said. We dont believe he expeditiously rushed to judgment. We believed he did the right thing by making sure that charges were levied against Officer Shelby during the time of the shooting.

Kunzweiler said he found the grievances timing to be pretty interesting and anticipates obtaining legal counsel to defend himself.

Were a country of laws, and we try our cases in the courtroom, he said. Were not going to litigate this case in the media. Were going to let a judge and a jury make a proper determination based upon the rule of evidence.

State Rep. Regina Goodwin said during Fridays conference that multiple courts had ruled probable cause existed for Shelby to stand trial. The only thing that was lacking when Kunzweiler filed charges, she said, was the irrelevant background check for Crutcher.

Goodwin, D-Tulsa, criticized Lindseys statement that he doesnt want to see anyone be charged without evidence, whether they are a police officer or a citizen.

The problem with that is Im not seeing Officer Lindsey stand with the citizen, with the habitual offender, with the convicted felon at the press conference and declare that the district attorney has somehow acted unethically.

Marq Lewis, founder of the local activist group We The People Oklahoma, also called out the police unions complaint in a statement released Friday.

Although his organization has not agreed with all of Kunzweilers actions in the past, Lewis said he believes the circumstances in this case justified the timing of the charge.

We find this interesting that the FOP will file a complaint against the D.A. for alleged unethical behavior but will overlook the glaring and criminal behavior of former law enforcement officers, he stated in the release.

Shelbys jury trial is slated to begin Monday.
The closing of the only grocery store in a neighborhood west of downtown last month created more desolation in an already struggling area.

Many of the residents who walked several blocks to the Warehouse Market at 19 S. 49th West Ave. now have to travel miles to the nearest grocer.

The situation has created an increased demand on the food pantry at Neighbors Along the Line, a nonprofit located a half mile from the former grocery store. The program had already seen an 85 percent increase in demand in the past 10 years.

In April, the food pantry saw a 10 percent increase over April of last year, and year to date the service has seen a 25 percent increase compared to this time last year, said Stephanie Hester-Rodriguez, program director.

The biggest response Ive seen is how the clients feel. Theyre angry and feel forgotten, insignificant, Hester-Rodriguez said.

In addition to the food pantry, the nonprofit provides services including a medical clinic, literacy training and community assistance to an area near Charles Page Boulevard.

The surrounding area, located along the border of Tulsa and Sand Springs, has a lot of homes  many with older residents who have lived there for 50 or more years.

There are also families who have moved into their parents home after the parents died; there are single-parent homes and multigenerational families living under one roof.

Of the nearly 10,000 residents in the area, 56 percent are considered low-income  living 200 percent below the poverty line, said Shannon Chambers, executive director of Neighbors Along the Line.

Betty Warren moved into her house west of downtown when she was 20 years old and has been there for 64 years.

She has watched the area around her deteriorate to the point that she needs security doors and windows. Her daughters have tried multiple times to get her to move to an apartment in Broken Arrow, but she wants to stay at home, she said.

She had shopped at Warehouse Market since it opened.

She also has used services at Neighbors Along the Line, 5000 Charles Page Blvd., for about 15 years.

With the grocery store closing, she said she will rely on that the agency more for its food pantry.

They do so much good, Warren said.

Last year, 6,000 people used the food pantry.

With Warehouse Market closed, the closest grocery store is nearly five miles away, in Sand Springs, making transportation an even bigger obstacle.

There is already a transportation dilemma, Chambers said. Because they already dont have transportation, it causes a vulnerable population to slip further below the poverty line.

Warehouse Market was close enough for the clients where they could put their children in a stroller and walk with them several blocks.

Thats inconvenient but doable, Hester-Rodriguez said. Now you have the option of walking to Wal-Mart, which really isnt an option, or getting two small kids, a stroller onto the bus and taking the bus to Sand Springs and figuring out how to get all of that and your groceries back home. And thats assuming you have the money to take the bus.

The staff at Neighbors Along the Line is doing what it can to help the situation.

In addition to preparing to provide food to more clients, it is also planning to offer more food to those who receive services at the agency.

Neighbors Along the Line already provides enough food for a full week, Hester-Rodriguez said.

The plan is to increase that to enough food for two weeks.

Families would still only be able to use the food pantry once a month.

We want to provide more fresh produce and more protein sources, Hester-Rodriguez said.
Religious freedom is under attack in America, says Kelly Shackelford, founder of the nations largest law firm that deals exclusively with religious freedom issues.

Ive been doing this for over a quarter of a century, and Ive never seen anything like the level of attacks on religious freedom that were seeing now, said Shackelford, who founded the Texas-based nonprofit First Liberty Institute 28 years ago.

Theres a real assault on religious freedom. ... There are people who dont like religious freedom because it gets in the way of their issues.

First Liberty Institute surveys all published attacks on religious freedom, and the latest list includes more than 1,400 cases, a number that has doubled in the past three years, he said.

And those are just the published ones, so thats just the tip of the iceberg, he said in an interview before speaking this week at the Unconventional Business luncheon Tuesday at the DoubleTree Hotel  Warren Place.

Last year, he said, they turned away 60 to 70 percent of the requests for help and still handled 388 cases, working with a full-time staff of 35 and hundreds of attorneys who donate their time.

Religious freedom cases range from a public school telling a 5-year-old girl she cannot pray over her lunch, to retail giant Hobby Lobby winning a U.S. Supreme Court case involving an Obamacare requirement that the company pay for employees insurance coverage for contraception.

Its just exploding. ... Weve got attacks on veterans memorials because they have crosses or Stars of David on them.

One of the newest battleground areas is the workplace, Shackelford said, saying Its a priority for us now.

If you lose religious freedom in the workplace  thats where most people spend most of their waking hours  then youve really lost religious freedom, he said.

If the government has your livelihood at stake, your ability to feed your family, theyve really got a pressure point.

Fortunately, he said, strong state and federal laws protect religious freedom in the workplace, but those laws are under assault, and his institute is fighting that in courts.

Current laws protect both the employer and the employee, he said.

The Hobby Lobby case reinforced that employers do not waive their religious freedom when they enter the business arena.

We want people to have a free conscience and not have the government come in and force them to participate in some expression that violates what they believe, Shackelford said.

He said bakers with traditional beliefs should not be forced by the government to bake a gay couples wedding cake against their will.

How does he balance that with the civil rights of the gay couple?

Its pretty easy to balance, he said, noting that in a recent case in Oregon, a baker who didnt want to participate in a gay wedding had earlier provided the couple with other baked goods.

Its not a matter of service, its a matter of participating in an event that many people believe is religious, he said. They were able to refer them to plenty of people who would be happy to take their business.

Nobody should be forced to participate in something that violates their beliefs.

No one would say a black baker should be forced to make a cake for the KKK, he said.

A lot of Americans have different beliefs on same-sex marriage, but we should all agree that people have the right to different beliefs. Thats what being an American is all about. ... The country is big enough to allow for that kind of freedom.

People can disagree and have discussion and open dialogue. ... We dont want the government to come in and try to harm or destroy someone who has a different belief.

And laws also protect employees, he said.

Employers are required by civil rights law to make reasonable accommodations for peoples faith.

For example, Jews and Seventh Day Adventists cannot be required to work on Saturdays, their sabbath, if the employers schedules can reasonably be arranged to avoid it.

And law requires that employees not be discriminated against because of their religion.

It is pure religious discrimination to fire people for their religious beliefs, Shackelford said, noting a case in which a Georgia public health commissioner was fired for things he said from the pulpit at his church that had nothing to do with his work.

Shackelford said he was hopeful, based on the campaign, that President Donald Trump would support religious freedom, but Its too early to tell.
China's first home-grown passenger plane took to the skies for its maiden flight on Friday, in a boost for Beijing's ambitions to muscle into the global jet industry.

The C919 jet went on its maiden flight on Friday (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: China's home-grown C919 passenger jet completed its long-delayed maiden flight today, a major first step for Beijing as it looks to raise its profile in the global aviation market and boost high-tech manufacturing at home.

Under overcast skies, the white, green and blue aircraft, with "C919" emblazoned on its tail, touched down at Shanghai's international airport after an 80-minute flight to cheers from thousands of dignitaries, aviation workers and enthusiasts.

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The jet is a symbol of China's ambitions to muscle into a global jet market estimated to be worth $2 trillion over the next two decades, as well as of Beijing's broader "Made in China 2025" plan to spur home-made products, from medicines to robots.

"Seeing the C919 take off into the sky made me quite emotional. This is a moment we have waited to see for a very long time," Wang Mingfeng, 42, who witnessed the maiden flight at the Shanghai airport, told Reuters.

"I believe that in the not too distant future, we will be neck-and-neck with Boeing and Airbus."

At the moment, though, Boeing and Airbus remain far ahead in terms of sales, technical know-how and order books. And the C919, whose test flight was pushed back at least twice since 2014 due to production issues, may need years of tests to get certified in China, as well as in the United States and Europe.

PLANE FLEW AT 300 KMPH

On Friday, the C919 flew north over the Yangtze River delta, carried out manoeuvres and then returned south along the coast before landing, according to aircraft tracker Flightradar24. State media said the plane flew at around 3,000 metres and at speeds of 290-300 kilometres (180-186 miles) per hour.

The crew of five pilots and engineers, all wearing orange jump suits and aviators, were applauded as they disembarked. The plane, which can carry 158-168 passengers, had no passenger seats installed for the maiden flight.

A letter from China's ministerial cabinet, read out after the plane landed, said the successful flight marked a "major breakthrough" and milestone for China's passenger jet industry. The industry ministry said in a statement the flight went smoothly and that all the systems functioned properly.

The C919, made by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), relies on overseas technology from firms including General Electric, France's Safran, Honeywell International Inc and United Technologies Corp subsidiary Goodrich.

China Eastern Airlines is the launch customer for the plane, which COMAC says has 570 orders from 23 customers.

HARDSHIP, STRUGGLE

Conceived in 2008, China wants the C919 to eventually take market share from Boeing and Airbus in the lucrative narrow-body market which accounts for more than 50 percent of the aircraft in service worldwide. For a TIMELINE on the C919, click

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"Every year we spend billions on buying planes," a COMAC promotional video showed President Xi Jinping saying during a site visit. He added China should become more self-reliant.

However, the jet likely faces a lengthy journey from first flight to commercial usage.

China's first home-made jet, the regional ARJ-21, received its type certification in December 2014, six years after its first flight and more than 12 years after it was conceived. It made its maiden passenger flight in June last year.

Then there is also the daunting task of selling the jet in a global market dominated by Boeing and Airbus.

"Aviation is a complex market and you need experience over a long time. Boeing has 100 years, Airbus has over 40 years," said Sinolink Securities analyst Si Jingzhe, adding COMAC still lagged far behind in terms of supply chain know-how.

China is aware the path won't be easy. On a media visit on Thursday to COMAC's C919 assembly plant less than 10 kilometres from the airport, large red banners could be seen in giant hangars calling for long-term "hardship", "dedication" and "struggle" to meet the firm's goals.

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China is pushing for recognition globally of its certification by European and U.S. regulators as without their certification, it would only be able to sell the jet to a handful of countries that accept its certification standards.

But Beijing is already looking beyond the C919, with plans to develop a wide-body long-haul jet with Russia. In November COMAC and its partner United Aircraft Corp said they have started the hunt to find suppliers.

WATCH VIDEO OF FLIGHT:

China enters into the dog-fight with Boeing and Airbus as its home-grown jet takes its first flight https://t.co/yPnSIKc6ES via @ReutersTV pic.twitter.com/h6VfE9TUG8- Reuters Top News (@Reuters) May 5, 2017

(Video courtesy: Twitter/Reuters)

ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE: China's biggest cinema Wanda 'boycotts' Dangal, still beats PK on Day 1

ALSO READ | China denies Dalai Lama link to RIC meet change

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ELEVEN music show The Loop hits the road this week with a visit to regional festival, Groovin The Moo, in Maitland.

Scott Tweedie said: Groovin is absolutely one of my favourite work days each year. Its an awesome opportunity to see familiar Australian acts and some leading international talent take the stage and do their thing in such a unique location. I know the regional kids of all ages love this tour and it is a privilege to film on location.

As the official media partner of GTM, The Loop hosts Scott Tweedie and Liv Phyland sat down on the Groovin Cow-ch for exclusive interviews with The Wombats, PNAU, Violent Soho, Justin Hawkins from The Darkness, Milky Chance, Allday and more; in between presenting the freshest music videos from across Australia and the world.

Heading off stage and into the field, Scott and Liv take the show directly to the punters, chatting to some of the 20,000 people at this years Maitland stop, talking all things festival fashion, favourite acts and highlights from the day.

Saturday at 9.00am on ELEVEN.
The 70,000-tonne ship, decked in red flags, emerged out of the mist on a cool and sunny morning at Dalian harbour. Its arrival was three days late - it missed the PLA Navy's April 23 anniversary - but for China's leaders, it was well worth the wait. The unveiling of the ship, China's yet-to-be-christened first homegrown aircraft carrier (known simply as Type 001A now) has made waves around Asia. It's only the second carrier in the fleet of the PLA navy (PLAN), joining the Liaoning, a refitted version of a Soviet-era Ukrainian vessel, the Varyag.

China has long looked on enviously, not just at America's 10 aircraft carrier strike groups that strutted around the Pacific-and on occasion sailed right into the Taiwan Strait to make a point-but even at India, whose aircraft carriers were a powerful symbol of its navy's dominant presence in the Indian Ocean. Now, China's strategic experts believe, the balance of power in Asia is shifting.

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Type 001A (soon to be named the 'Shandong' after the eastern Chinese province, say reports) was built by China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC), a state-run behemoth which is the backbone of China's vast homegrown shipbuilding industry. It may be deployed by 2020, just five years after the first bolts were fastened on to its hull. And more carriers are on the way. In the Jiangnan shipyard near Shanghai, the China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), another state-run construction giant, is working on a more advanced carrier that will hold more J-15 fighter jets, as well as more developed radar and air defence missiles.

Navy admiral Yin Zhuo says China will need "five to six" aircraft carriers in the next decade and beyond, as it requires "two carrier strike groups in the West Pacific Ocean and two in the Indian Ocean" in addition to two for its periphery in the South and East China Seas. China is already laying the infrastructure in preparation for this blue-water navy, especially in the Indian Ocean. Its first overseas military facility, in Djibouti near the Gulf of Aden, opened last year, while Beijing is building and managing ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Seychelles and Darwin, Australia.

The speed with which China is moving towards a six-carrier fleet stands in stark contrast to India's delayed programme. India planned two carriers to replace the British-origin Vikrant and Viraat, and has pursued a three-carrier navy concept at least since the 1980s. This plan has never been realised. It was first scaled down during the economic downturn of the 1990s to two modest-sized carriers. In the interim, India purchased the ex-Russian carrier, the 44,000 tonne Admiral Gorshkov, delivered in 2013 after over a five-year delay and massive cost overruns. The rechristened Vikramaditya now remains the sole Indian carrier (Viraat was retired earlier this year). Approvals for construction of the first indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) began in 1999. The project was finally launched 14 years later, but delays have pushed commissioning to at least 2018 or beyond, almost two decades after work began. Plans for a second aircraft carrier, the IAC-2, which could be a nuclear-powered carrier of over 60,000 tonnes, have been further pushed into the next decade.

As China celebrated its success this month, its experts didn't miss the chance to highlight India's troubles. "The Indian navy's dream of having three aircraft carriers has fallen flat because it overestimated its R&D capability and the country's overall strength, and undertook an excessively massive strategy that eventually got stranded," surmised Liu Kui, an officer of the Naval Equipment Research Institute of PLAN, in an article published on the PLA's official website.

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Liu also stressed on the need to strengthen civilian industries, as they are ultimately key to military strength. The CSSC has since the 1980s built 22 dry docks over 300 metres long and six docks over 480 metres, giving China the biggest dock capacity in the world. Now, five out of 10 of the world's busiest ports are in China. As Liu put it, "The future of war isn't just about the military, but concerns how the whole nation develops."

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Refugee Elena Kita fled militia violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to seek safety in Angola with other family members.  UNHCR/Pumla Rulashe

DUNDO, Angola  The smoke form the burning village hung in the air as the militiamen fanned out through the fields in search of residents to butcher.

As her family scattered in different directions, Elena Kita was grabbed from behind by a strong pair of hands. The man who snatched her took out a machete and she begged for her life.

It was then that something quite surprising happened, recalls Elena. He whispered to me to listen to him. He recognized me through certain traditional markings on my body and that I was from the Chokwe tribe, which was his tribe too.

The man beat her feet with the handle of his machete, telling her to run into the forest in a certain direction that would ensure she avoided the militia.

After letting me escape, I ran in the direction he suggested. I couldnt believe he had let me go!

She eventually found some of her family members deeper in the forest, and is now among thousands of men, women and children who have fled surging violence in their native Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, to seek safety in neighbouring Angola.

After letting me escape, I ran in the direction he suggested. I couldnt believe he had let me go!

The conflict in DRCs Kasai Province began with the violent uprising of the Kamwina Nsapu militia in August 2016, which displaced over one million people in the country and destroyed their livelihoods. By the end of last month, over 20,000 people had sought refuge in Angolas Lunda Norte Province.

Elena, who reached Angola last week, is among 5,000 newly arrived refugees currently staying in Cacanda, a temporary reception centre that the Angolan government has made available to those fleeing the current upsurge in violence.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has dispatched an emergency team from the regional office in Southern Africa and its headquarters in Geneva. It is working closely with the Angolas Social Assistance Ministry and other humanitarian agencies to identify refugees most pressing needs and provide assistance.

Celeste Kasenga holds his son as he reminisces about the horrific journey he took fleeing the Kamuina Nsapu militia in Kasai province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  UNHCR/Pumla Rulashe

There are numerous accounts like Elenas of summary executions and other violent acts targeting those perceived to support either the government or militia. Concerned over the ongoing violence, UNHCR is coordinating a joint response with the government and humanitarian agencies to protect and assist refugees, pending a more long-term solution.

Top on the list of priorities is to identify and develop a refugee hosting site to which the new arrivals can be relocated.

The government has identified three sites which are almost 100 kilometres from the border with DRC, says Asis Das, a UNHCR official leading the emergency response team. We are inspecting the sites jointly with the Government and then we will begin the ground work to make the sites habitable as quickly as possible.

UNHCR has already started registering refugees currently living in two of the reception centres in Dundo. This is important as we are getting reliable data about the refugees origins and identifying people with vulnerabilities and specific needs, Das explains. The process will strengthen the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

"At a time like this, unity is the strength families need to heal the trauma and stress we have just gone through.

The registration will culminate in the distribution of food and non-food items which are desperately needed. As the numbers continue to rise beyond the initial planned figure of 5,000 people, UNHCR is working closely with the World Food Programme to continue providing food to the arrivals. Other humanitarian agencies including UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders are continuing to provide water, sanitation and health care.

Once we are able to stabilize the population by providing the most basic needs, especially at reception centres where they usually arrive exhausted, malnourished or ill, we can then look into issues relating to sexual and gender based violence, child protection and some of the psycho-social concerns that occur due to trauma, adds Das.

As she adapts to her new circumstances, Elena is still in pain, both physically and emotionally, although she can now smile. She is unexpectedly grateful to the militia man who beat her so as to deflect any suspicion about his actions towards her.

Though he beat me, I will always be grateful to him for sparing my life and allowing me to reunite with my family. It is what puts a smile on my face, in spite of the pain in my feet, she says.

Meanwhile her brother-in-law, Celeste Kasenga, is simply relieved that she is alive. If she hadnt escaped we would have been accused by her family of neglecting to protect her, he says.

That would have destroyed relations between both families. At a time like this, unity is the strength families need to heal the trauma and stress we have just gone through.
By Press Trust of India: Mumbai, May 5 (PTI) The opposition Congress and ruling partner Shiv Sena have slammed Maharashtras Agriculture and Civil Supplies ministers for joining a foreign tour while the states farm sector is in distress and tur growers hit by fall in prices.

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging his intervention for the recall of the ministers, who are on a "junket" as part of a legislative delegation to Australia, Singapore and New Zealand.

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He said that the farmers in state were on warpath and the presence of these two ministers at home were crucial.

Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar and Food and Civil Supplies minister Girish Bapat are part of the delegation led by Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde.

Tur growers are in the grip of a crisis with the price of the commodity dwindling due to a bumper production.

In his letter to Modi, Chavan, a former chief minister, recalled that the PM himself had called for increasing pulses production and the farmers in the state had responded to it with a record production of Tur dal.

Sadly, the government procurement system has badly let them down, he said.

Tur producing farmers were pressing for procurement of their output at MSP (minimum support price) rates throughout the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of the state and the number of farmer suicides was rising, Chavan said.

Instead of making personal efforts to resolve the crisis, Agriculture minister along with the Food and Public Distribution minister had gone abroad as part of the delegation led by the Speaker.

"It is appalling that these two ministers directly responsible for handling the current farm crisis have gone on a 15-day junket along with their family. The timing could not be worse. Farmers in the state are shocked," Chavan said.

"I am sure you are aware that as per rules of business, specific sanctions from the Chief Minister and the PMO are mandatory before any minister of the state government is permitted to travel abroad. Surely, these two ministers have obtained prior permission before leaving," he said.

He said, "I request you to ask the Chief Minister to immediately recall these two ministers back to their duty. The legislative delegation led by the Speaker can continue on their visit. I am sure you will appreciate the seriousness of the matter and take appropriate steps."

Chavan posted this letter on his Twitter handle and tagged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in it.

Legislators cutting across party lines are also on the tour, organised as part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) initiative. Half the tour cost is borne by the members and the rest by the CPA.

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Shiv Sena leader and state Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam also criticised his BJP colleagues in the cabinet for joining the foreign tour when farmers were suffering due to unseasonal rains in different parts of the State.

"It is insensitive to go on a foreign tour when the farmers are in trouble and need the support (of the ministers)," Kadam said.

Kadam also targetted the Congress and NCP legislators for joining the tour.

"Those who were demanding farm loan waiver are also part of the tour. They have no right to take out Sangharsh Yatras for farmers. It is because of the policies of the previous Congress-NCP government that the farmers and the state have become debt ridden," he said.

Till April 22, 40 lakh quintal tur worth Rs 1,839 crore was procured by Maharashtra at Rs 5050, including bonus of Rs 425, from 2,58,341 farmers.

Earlier this week, Chief Minister Fadnavis had directed officials concerned to complete the procurement of tur in the next five to six days. He had asked officials to work in two shifts and complete the procurement of tur on war footing.

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Also, the state government has decided to call for a global tender to auction tur. PTI MR DK NM RMT BAS

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As the saying goes, learning is a never-ending process. A person never stops learning, even when he is growing old, and a new has just proven that it is true.When people age, their brains will no longer work the same way they did before, and it will not be as sharp as they once were. It will be much more difficult for people to remember things and that is why many people believe it is impossible to learn new things and skills when they have gone past a certain age.

However, a new study by University of California - Riverside says it does not have to be like that. UCR psychology professor Rachel Wu said that there are things that people can do in order to experience healthy cognitive aging and that is by adapting to new learning strategies and habits, Science Daily reported. She said that there are habits that can encourage and discourage cognitive development.

Wu explained that in a person's lifespan, he goes through broad learning because that is when a person learns everything from infancy or childhood. Then he moves to specialized learning which means that he becomes an expert in a specific field or area. So her theory is that if people, when they become adults, still adapt or embrace broad learning and still try to learn like a child, chances are there will be an improvement in their cognitive health, instead of experiencing a decline, according to EurekAlert.

Wu said that they are yet to test their theory but also emphasized that this is based on 50 years of research. The message she wants to leave is that people can learn at any age and that it is possible to never stop learning. Many skills can still be learned even when a person is already aging, it will only have to take time and dedication.
This week on Ho Plaza, Cornell students have been assembling wood into trusses, the support structure for a house's roof as part of the Cornell Habitat for Humanity's new project. The trusses will be used to build affordable housing in Tompkins County for families who lived in substandard housing.

Chuck Newman, construction manager for Habitat for Humanity said there will be two families that will live in the house. One of them is a single mom with two girls, which Newman said is his hero. The other family is Moroccan and Muslim. Newman added that both families are working poor but are also amazing people who work hard and do amazing things.

Newman oversees the Truss Days project for both Tompkins and Cortland Counties. It is an annual event where Habitat for Humanity members builds trusses over the course of a week. Newman said the Cornell Habitat members raised money to buy the materials and Ithaca College also got involved in the project, which allowed them to build 11 more trusses, a total of 22 trusses from Cornell and IC, The Cornell Sun reported.

Apart from Truss Days, Cornell also supports Tompkins County Habitat for Humanity throughout the academic year. Student volunteers help with local building opportunities and improvement projects through weekly work trips and winter and spring break trips.

Cornell Habitat for Humanity members also seek to educate the community on the importance of accessible housing by increasing awareness through advocacies. They teach families in need about the importance of affordable and safe housing.

Elbert Mets '17, chapter president said he decided to join the Cornell Habitat chapter after he learned how homeownership positively correlates with outcomes, such as children's educational achievement. Member Ankit Rana '19 said the best reward was also seeing the smiles, appreciation and excitement of the families after completion of the major projects.
A petition has been filed by students to stop Education Secretary Betsy DeVos from delivering the commencement speech to graduating students at historically black college Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. The petition has garnered over 5,000 signatures.

It was filed on Change.org and needs to reach 7,500 signatures. DeVos has been scheduled to speak at the university's 2017 graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 10, next week.

The petition described DeVos as one of the most controversial members of the administration fo President Donald Trump. It was also noted that, back in February, the Education Secretary claimed that historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are the "real pioneers when it comes to school choice." This was met with criticisms since HBCUs were founded to provide educational opportunities to African-Americans who were denied them due to discrimination and racial segregation.

Last month, she also withdrew consumer protections for student loan borrowers. The petition noted that majority of full-time undergraduates who attended BCU receive need-based financial aid.

The petition, created by Bethune-Cookman University alumnus Dominik Whitehead, added that having DeVos speak at the commencement ceremony is "an insult to the BCU graduating class, students, alumni, family, friends and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune's legacy." It also described the Education Secretary's presence as just a photo opportunity from the Trump administration.

In the university's official website, it was announced that DeVos will be the keynote speaker for B-CU spring 2017 commencement ceremony. It was said that the Education Secretary is serving as an education policy advocate for students across the nation and that she has devoted her career in support of a quality educational experience for students.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida NAACP leader Adora Obi Nweze has said that the invitation was a "slap in the face." Evelyn Bethune, granddaughter of school founder Mary McLeod Bethune, added that a commencement ceremony is the wrong forum for the Education Secretary since it is a sacred event and a big deal for students and their families, who deserve the spotlight on them and not the controversial speaker.
Christian Wildberg, a professor of classics, teaches the course "From Pandora to Psychopathy: Conceptions of Evil from Antiquity to the Present" at Princeton University. In it, the participants question one of the most intriguing concepts anyone could raise in humanities: Moral Evil.

According to Princeton University, this class helps students articulate their own "thoughts, worries, and existential concerns."Wildberg's childhood experiences during the World War II sparked the idea for this course. He began teaching it only last year.

The lectures take place in McCosh 10, a large lecture hall that can easily accommodate the 223 students in WIldberg's class. The professor noted that he was not surprised by the high enrollment numbers because he believes that humanistic inquiry is important to everyone. Simply put, he stressed that the youth is hungry to make sense of the world they live in.

For one thing, Wildberg described evil as a "human activity" in thought, deed, or word that inflicts "unnecessary suffering" on other human beings. He then asked his students to look closely to each word used in the definition. Thus, one student asked about the phrase "unnecessary suffering".

Why do good people need to suffer things they do not deserve? Why do bad things happen to good people? to An indirect answer pulled from historical data was presented. Well, in ancient Egypt, people kill servants and put them in the tomb with the pharaohs or their masters. For them, it was not evil that time, but for modern people, it is.

With that idea in mind, does the meaning of evil change through time? Wildberg explained that "maybe" the Egyptians who committed the killings did not experience it as committing a crime. The pharaohs, meanwhile, could have thought that they were doing the right thing. Nevertheless, the relatives of the innocent victims must have been really devastated.

For the record, the readings range from the Bible to the Greek mythology. Also, it tackles the teachings of famous philosophers like Plato, Augustine, Kant, Nietzsche, and Hanna Arendt. Lastly, guest speakers discussed the practices of various world religions such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

On the other hand, per University Herald, the Princeton Class of 2021 is gearing up to enter the campus this fall. Apparently, it is highly likely for them to take Wildberg's class too. For now, the freshmen may look for more information about the University on its "Your Path to Princeton" website. The process of logging in is indicated in the previous report.
The Geostationary Communication Satellite, built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will blast off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, about 135 km from here.

By Press Trust of India: India is set to launch its Geostationary Communication Satellite (GSAT-9), the South Asia Communication Satellite, that will boost connectivity among nations in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the South Asia Satellite would be India's "priceless gift" to its neighbouring countries on his Mann ki Baat programme on Sunday.

The satellite, which costs around Rs 235 crore, will blast at 4.57 PM.

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The Geostationary Communication Satellite, built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will blast off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, about 135 km from here.

GSAT-9, considered as a gift to its South Asian neighbours, is all set to ride piggyback on the space agency's rocket GSLV-F09 with indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage.

ISRO Chairman AS Kiran Kumar said, "We have the launch at 4.57 PM... All activities are going on smoothly."

The GSLV-F09 carrying GSAT-9 will blast off from the second launch pad at the the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

"The 28-hour countdown operations of GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 mission started at 12:57 hrs today," the ISRO said on Thursday.

SEVEN SAARC AREAS PART OF PROJECT

Seven of the eight SAARC countries- India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives, are a part of the project. Pakistan had decided to opt out, stating "it has its own space programme."

The satellite, costing around Rs 235 crore, is meant for providing communication and disaster support, connectivity among the countries of South Asia region. Its mission life will span 12 years.

After coming to power in May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked ISRO scientists to develop a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated to neighbouring countries as a "gift from India."

"On May 5, India will launch the South Asia Satellite. The benefits of this satellite will go a long way in meeting the developmental needs of the countries participating in this project," Modi had said on Mann ki Baat.

On future launches, Kumar said, ISRO would launch the GSLV MK III variant which would be followed by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in the coming months.

Further, ISRO would launch Chandrayaan-II in the beginning of next year, he added.

The previous launch of communication satellite GSAT-8 was on May 21, 2011 from Kourou, French Guiana.

With inputs from PTI

ALSO READ | ISRO creates history as PSLV launches 104 satellites in one go

ALSO READ | PM Narendra Modi on Mann Ki Baat: Have to remove VIP culture from minds of select few

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ALSO WATCH | India launches PSLV carrying earth observation satellite from Sriharikota

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UTSA welcomes UT System, Mexico's National Council of Science and Technology for inaugural planning meeting

UT System institutions and CONACYT centers discussed research collaboration during visit to UTSA.

(May 5, 2017) -- Representatives from 14 UT System institutions and 26 National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) research centers in Mexico gathered at UTSA this week to advance discussions about their joint academic and research exchange programs in the sciences, engineering and social sciences. The meeting was hosted by the University of Texas System.

Last year, the UT System and CONACYT formalized an agreement to provide funding for graduate education and research programs for the mutual benefit of students and researchers in the U.S. and Mexico and for the creation of the ConTex office at UTSA. Building on strong historic ties between UTSA and Mexico, ConTex fosters collaboration between the UT System and Mexico through training, research and scientific discovery programs.

UT System Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Randall Charbeneau, one of the organizers of the event and a member of the ConTex advisory committee, says that this week's meeting was another important step for the UT System-CONACYT partnership.

"CONACYT's research centers are among the most important in Mexico, in terms of their impact, productivity and contributions not only to Mexico, but also to international science and scholarship," Charbeneau said.

More than 100 leaders in higher education, science and technology attended the ConTex meeting on May 4 and 5. The occasion marked the first time that CONACYT's research leaders gathered outside of Mexico.

Joining the center directors were Vice Presidents for Research from many of the UT System's 14 institutions, as well as senior scholars in fields as varied as oceanography and coastal ecology, public health, nanotechnology and advanced materials, biomimetics, urban studies and space science.

"The University of Texas System is among CONACYT's most important partners and we expect that this meeting will be the start of some long-term scientific collaborations that will benefit both Mexico and Texas," said Enrique Cabrero Mendoza, Director General of CONACYT.

UTSA has more than 88 formal and active international agreements with instititions and organizations located around the world, including 32 exchange agreements with universities and organizations in Mexico. It is also home to the UTSA Mexico Center, which administers academic, research and outreach partnerships to strengthen relationships between the U.S. and Mexico.

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New UTSA exhibit looks at the consequences of the latest Texas oil boom

Exhibit on the Eagle Ford Shale's effect on housing runs May 13 to Oct. 1 at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures.

(May 5, 2017) -- The oil boom in the Eagle Ford Shale region of Dimmit, La Salle, and Zavala counties permanently transformed the face of South Texas. For five years, the petroleum industry generated fantastic economic opportunities, creating employment and wealth. Nonetheless, there were consequences to the scale of economic impact that the oil boom had on the region.

In a new exhibit at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, May 13 to Oct. 1, researchers from the UTSA Mexico Center and UTSA Institute for Economic Development showcase the results of an ethnographic study on the Eagle Ford Shale's effect on housing.

With the demand for workers in the oil fields, Zavala, Dimmit and LaSalle counties saw a surge in housing construction, along with amenities for the area, including increased commerce, fast food, short-term lodging, and other products and services.

The virtual overnight surge of workers arriving in the region created a shortage in the housing supply. The three counties, which relied previously on rural agrarian economic generators, saw an influx of demand and an influx of money, driving up the cost of housing and pushing the American Dream of home ownership out of range for many local residents.

"These counties already lacked accessible, quality, affordable housing," said Harriett Romo, UTSA professor of sociology and director of the Mexico Center. "Rents increased exponentially. When families pay more than 35 percent of available income for housing, they are unable to afford medical care, educational expenses, savings for retirement, or investments in the younger generation and their community."

Over their two years of studying the region, the research team accumulated hundreds of photographs and hours of interviews for the exhibit, which was funded by the cooperative agreement RP-14-TX-004 under the Research Partnerships program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The exhibit sections follow three key factors the researchers set out to record: the impact of oil and gas exploration on low-cost housing stock, how stakeholders responded to housing availability and affordability in the region, and the strategies local officials used to address affordable housing and infrastructure needs in the region.

"Housing is a basic necessity," said Romo. "Affordable, high quality housing is an essential part of a viable community. With this exhibit we are urging local and state leaders to use the economic opportunities created by the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas reserves to invest in their communities. We hope this exhibit makes people aware of the challenges and the potential in South Texas as a result of the resources in the Eagle Ford Shale area."

The Institute of Texan Cultures is located on the UTSA Hemisfair Campus, 801 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. Regular hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

- James Benavides

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For more information, call 210-458-2300 or visit Texancultures.com.

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University of Wyoming Calendar for May 8-14

These are among the activities scheduled May 8-14 at the University of Wyoming:

Monday, May 8-Friday, May 12 -- Finals week.

Monday, May 8, 4:30 p.m. -- Scott Henkel, assistant professor in the Department of English and in African American and Diaspora Studies, will discuss The Humanities and the Land Grant University Mission from the 19th to the 21st Century. His talk will be in the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. Free.

Monday, May 8, 7 p.m. -- UW Creative Writing Program MFA students will read from their theses at Night Heron Books, 107 E. Ivinson Ave. in Laramie. Free and open to the public.

Tuesday, May 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. -- Wyoming Honors Organization, Tri Delta and Black Dog Animal Rescue will host a puppy destresser event in Prexys Pasture. Rentals cost $5 for 10 minutes.

Tuesday, May 9, 7 p.m. -- Planetarium show, The Search for the Edge of the Solar System. Tickets cost $3 for students and $4 for non-students, Physical Sciences Building basement. Advance tickets are available in the Physical Sciences Building, Room 204.

Wednesday, May 10, 7 p.m. -- UW Creative Writing Program MFA students will read from their theses at Night Heron Books, 107 E. Ivinson Ave. in Laramie. Free and open to the public.

Thursday, May 11, 4 p.m. -- UW-Casper graduation ceremonies, Casper Events Center.

Thursday, May 11, 6 p.m. -- A reception for art exhibition BFA 2017 will take place in the Visual Arts Building Gallery. Free.

Thursday, May 11, 6 p.m. -- American Indian Studies graduation ceremony, Laramie Train Depot.

Friday, May 12, 10:30 a.m. -- Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing Sigma Theta Tau Ceremony, College of Arts and Sciences auditorium.

Friday, May 12, Noon -- Veterans Services Center ceremony, Wyoming Union Ballroom.

Friday, May 12, 2 p.m. -- Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing Convocation, College of Arts and Sciences auditorium.

Friday, May 12, 3 p.m. -- Multicultural graduation ceremony, Wyoming Union Ballroom.

Friday, May 12, 8 p.m. -- Planetarium show, Brilliant Horizons. A free STAR Observatory tour (weather dependent) follows at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $3 for students and $4 for non-students, Physical Sciences Building basement. Advance tickets are available in the Physical Sciences Building, Room 204.

Saturday, May 13, 11 a.m. -- Planetarium show, A Stroll Through the Solar System. Tickets cost $3 for students and $4 for non-students, Physical Sciences Building basement. Advance tickets are available in the Physical Sciences Building, Room 204.

Commencement Ceremonies, Friday, May 12:

6 p.m. -- College of Arts and Sciences, Indoor Practice Facility.

Commencement Ceremonies, Saturday, May 13:

8:30 a.m. -- College of Health Sciences, Indoor Practice Facility.

9 a.m. -- College of Business, College of Arts and Sciences auditorium.

10 a.m. -- College of Law, Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Outreach School commencement reception, Wildcatter Stadium Club, War Memorial Stadium.

12:30 p.m. -- College of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Arts and Sciences auditorium.

1:30 p.m. -- College of Education, Indoor Practice Facility.

4 p.m. -- College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Arts and Sciences auditorium.

6 p.m. -- Army/Air Force ROTC commissioning ceremony, Performing Arts Center.
UW Solar Eclipse Expert to Visit Shoshoni, Thermopolis

This is a photo of a total solar eclipse as observed from Africa by Tim Slater, Wyoming Excellence in Higher Education Endowed Chair in Science Education at the University of Wyoming. (Tim Slater Photo)

How far would you travel to see a total eclipse of the sun?

Tim Slater, the Wyoming Excellence in Higher Education Endowed Chair in Science Education at the University of Wyoming, has traveled into deeply rural Africa to catch a glimpse of the disappearing sun. In May, hes traveling across Wyoming to visit schools, campuses, public libraries and community centers to build awareness, generate excitement and help children, parents, teachers and community leaders to prepare for the upcoming total eclipse of the sun.

Slater is scheduled to speak about the nature of eclipses in the Shoshoni and Thermopolis area Tuesday, May 9. He will visit students and teachers at Ralph Witters Elementary in Thermopolis during the morning and at Shoshoni schools during the afternoon. At 6 p.m., he will speak to the public in the Shoshoni High School community commons room.

His trip is sponsored by the UW College of Education, the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium and local entities.

In his lectures, he describes how to safely observe the Aug. 21 eclipse of the sun and uses scientific digital visualization simulations to explain why scientists from all over the world are coming to Wyoming to observe this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Visible from much of Wyoming and known as the Great North American Solar Eclipse, this rarely visible sky event occurs midday Aug. 21.

Tim Slater, Wyoming Excellence in Higher Education Endowed Chair in Science Education at the University of Wyoming, will speak about the nature of eclipses in Shoshoni and Thermopolis May 9. (UW Photo)

For several hours, the moon will slowly cover and uncover the sun, causing skies to darken dramatically. In the middle of the event -- for just about two minutes -- the moon will completely block the sun, if you are standing in the right part of Wyoming, says Slater, an internationally recognized expert on the teaching of astronomy.

Eclipses of the sun by the moon occur about twice each year. However, eclipses can only be observed from narrowly specific locations on Earth. UW astronomy Associate Professor Mike Pierce is coordinating nine scientific telescopes run by high school teachers and students spread across Wyoming in a collaborative effort to carefully monitor the sun continuously.

Its awe-inspiring, Pierce says. You see a part of the sun that is never seen. This will be something that people will tell their grandchildren about.

This August, scientists and sky-watching enthusiasts from all over the world will make Wyoming their destination, resulting in full hotels, busy restaurants and overburdened highways across the state. However, as Slater points out, It might be difficult and time consuming for families to make their way to a prime viewing location, but it is totally worth the effort to briefly stand within the dark moons shadow once in your life.

For more information, contact Slater at (307) 314-9831 or tslater@uwyo.edu.
Wyoming Business Tips for May 14-20

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 David Brim, CEO and founder of Brand Advance, guest columnist

Everyone says that I need to be on social media for my business. Ive gotten on Facebook, but I dont see anything happening. What should I do? Bob, Cheyenne

I have talked with numerous business owners of million-dollar companies who have told me, My daughter or son manages our social media. They claim that their child is an expert in everything social media -- Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Learning how to create an account on a social network and the fundamentals of using a specific social network or tool is easy, but actually investing the time to create meaningful relationships and quality content is not. Having the business maturity and experience to comprehend the overall company strategy and marketing goals, and understand how to use social media to support them, is not an easy task that should be given to a high school or inexperienced college student.

Many times, business owners will tell me that they have a Facebook page but have not seen much success from it. They ask what they can do to improve it. When I review their Facebook, I quickly see that their employees and family members are the only people interacting on their pages. They know how to post updates and content, but they do not have an idea of whom specifically they are speaking to or what they should be communicating to get a response.

Many times, they may be fishing in the wrong pond. Once they determine a core focus of whom they are trying to reach, they may alter their strategy and choose to communicate on a specific forum, LinkedIn group or blog, as opposed to their Facebook page. LinkedIn can be extremely useful for prospecting for new customers, finding new employees with specific skills and learning more about their business and industry.

It is extremely important to be clear about who your key prospects are and take time to understand them. If you have taken the time to do this, your social media initiatives will be much easier and more effective. You will know where to fish for your customers, the type of bait to use and how to most appropriately use social media to support the companys overall goals and strategy.

David Brim is the CEO and founder of Brand Advance, a full-service marketing agency based in Orlando, Fla. He has been featured in one of the most popular entrepreneurship textbooks, "Successfully Launching New Ventures," and has been interviewed on Fox, ABC and CBS about topics such as entrepreneurship and internet marketing.

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.
The United States has long recognised Tibet as part of the People's Republic of China, and does not back Tibetan independence. But that has not deterred all the recent US presidents before Trump from meeting the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

By Reuters: When Donald Trump was elected in November, the Dalai Lama said he was keen to meet the incoming US president, but since then Trump has cozied up to China's leader Xi Jinping, making it less likely the man Beijing deems a separatist will get an invite to the White House anytime soon.

The United States has long recognised Tibet as part of the People's Republic of China, and does not back Tibetan independence. But that has not deterred all the recent US presidents before Trump from meeting the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

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The United States is widely seen as the last major Western power that has still held meetings with the Dalai Lama despite Beijing's objections that such encounters foment separatism.

In past meetings, the US had consistently voiced support for the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China, and called for formal talks between Beijing and the Dalai Lama and his representatives.

A State Department spokeswoman and a White House official referred Reuters to the Dalai Lama's office when asked whether the Tibetan spiritual leader and his representatives had asked for a meeting with Trump and whether any such meetings were planned.

NO MEETING PLANNED

The Chinese foreign ministry didn't immediately respond to a faxed request asking whether Beijing had asked Trump not to meet the Dalai Lama.

"His Holiness was supposed to go (to the US) in April, but it was postponed," Lobsang Sangay, head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, told Reuters.

That trip has been delayed until June due to a hectic schedule in the preceding months that had left the Dalai Lama physically exhausted, Sangay said, adding that Washington DC wouldn't be part of the June itinerary.

The office of the Dalai Lama hasn't reached out to Trump to arrange a meeting yet, he said.

The Dalai Lama is taking a more considered approach with regard to any meeting with Trump, said a source with knowledge of the thinking of the winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.

The unpredictable US president upset protocol in December when weeks before being sworn into office he took a telephone call from the leader of self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province, only to last week rebuff Taiwanese suggestions of another call.

In the interim, Trump has met and phoned Xi, and says he has built a strong relationship with the Chinese leader.

He called Xi "a friend of mine" who was "doing an amazing job as a leader" in an interview with Reuters last week, and praised him for trying to rein in nuclear-armed North Korea. In return, the Chinese president has invited Trump to visit China this year.

In mid-2008, then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met the Dalai Lama, to the anger of Beijing. Months later, the British Foreign Secretary at that time David Miliband ditched Britain's near century-long position on Tibet, describing it as an "anachronism", and explicitly recognised Tibet as part of China.

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Based on treaties signed at the turn of the 20th century by British-administered India and Tibet, Britain had previously said it would recognise China's "special position" in Tibet on the condition that Tibet was given significant autonomy.

SILENCE FROM TRUMP

Chinese troops took control of Tibet in 1950 in what Beijing calls a "peaceful liberation". Nine years later, the Dalai Lama fled to India after an abortive uprising and set up a government in exile, which China does not recognise.

China sees the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist in a monk's robes, even though the Dalai Lama says he wants autonomy for his homeland, not outright independence. There have been no formal talks between Beijing and the Dalai Lama's representatives since 2010.

International rights groups and exiles say China stamps on the religious and cultural rights of Tibetans, accusations denied by Beijing. China says its rule has ended serfdom and brought prosperity to a once-backward trans-Himalayan region.

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Trump has been silent on Tibetan issues.

"The main change is that the US approach on Tibet seems likely to become more transactional and therefore less consistent," said Robbie Barnett, director of the Modern Tibetan Studies Program at Columbia University.

"It seems set to become more a question of contingency, dependent on how he calculates his relationship with China at any one moment."

Earlier this week, Democratic US Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts called for a new US policy towards Tibet to safeguard the identity of the Tibetan people and hold China accountable for human rights abuses.

The prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile said he is still hopeful that the United States will continue to support Tibetan issues and push for talks between the Dalai Lama's representatives and Beijing.

But he said they were prepared for any upsets.

"We are Buddhists, we believe in impermanence. You just go with your karma and whatever happens, happens, because we have seen the worst, the occupation of our country," said Sangay, who is planning a trip to Washington at the end of May.

--- ENDS ---
Reports said Foreign Minister Wang Yi had been due to attend the meeting in Delhi, first scheduled for mid-April. Russia had reportedly confirmed participation.

By Ananth Krishnan: China on Friday rejected reports that the Dalai Lama's Arunachal Pradesh visit in April was the reason behind a Russia India China (RIC) foreign ministers' meet not taking place in Delhi last month.

"About the meeting that was to be held last month [that was rescheduled], as far as I know the reason is not in China," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told reporters at a regular press briefing.

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"About the Russia India China Foreign Ministers meeting, China pays attention to the trilateral cooperation mechanism. We have actively participated in the Foreign Ministers meeting and also other activities under the framework," Geng said. "Second, according to my information, the three countries are now talking about schedule of the next foreign ministers meeting. They are maintaining communication and consultation."

"According to my information three sides are coordinating on the schedule on the next foreign ministers meeting," Geng said.

Reports said Foreign Minister Wang Yi had been due to attend the meeting in Delhi, first scheduled for mid-April. Russia had reportedly confirmed participation.

China on April 5 summoned Indian envoy to China Vijay Gokhale and formally protested the Dalai Lama's week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh. The Foreign Ministry then warned of repercussions. China's Ministry of Civil Affairs subsequently issued "Chinese names" for six places in Arunachal in a move officials said was aimed at "reaffirming" China's claims.

India and China have a busy schedule of diplomatic engagement in coming weeks ahead of the BRICS Summit China is hosting in September that PM Modi will attend, with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Power Minister Piyush Goyal and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval expected to travel to China in June and July.

Also Read:

China summons Indian envoy, slams 'obstinate' India over Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit

Dalai Lama Arunachal visit: Answer India's blows with blows if it plays dirty, says Chinese media

--- ENDS ---
Men leave their hometown to work overseas with expectation of higher incomes. With desire to work abroad but without proper understanding, many people fall victims of fraud. - VNA/VNS Illustration photo

The suspect La Thanh Khuong, 41, of ong a District, is the director of Visa World Ltd Company and ong Phuong Viet Nam International Trade Ltd Company. Both firms are not licensed to send people to work overseas.

However, polices investigation showed that between March, 2015 and July, 2016, Khuong received over VN1.6 billion (US$71,000) and $8,600 from 21 people after promising to help them get jobs in countries like Taiwan, Spain or Cyprus.

She allegedly told the victims that they could go to work overseas within three months after paying her a deposit worth $3,000 per person.

Since the case was detected, Khuong returned victims VN248 million.
Won Sug Yeon, chief financial officer of Doosan Vina

Specifically, Won Sug Yeon will become Doosan Vinas 4th CFO, responsible for the fiduciary management of the company. He and his staff oversee all financial matters of the company including the profit and loss, receivables, payables, taxes and any other financial concerns.

Won is a 24-year veteran of Doosan. He joined the company in Korea in 1993 after graduating from Sungkyunkwan University with a bachelors degree in Statistical Analysis. He has held senior positions at Doosan Korea in financial analysis, business planning, cost management, and planning and strategy.

Kim Hoon, chief representative of Hanoi Office of Doosan

At the same time, Kim Hoon has been appointed to the position of chief representative of Doosans Hanoi office. The office is responsible for strategic marketing of the company in Hanoi under Doosan Heavy Industries Global Marketing, East Asia Region 1 which encompasses Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

Kim studied at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea and in early 2008 joined Doosan Vina with Doosans $300 million investment in the central province of Quang Ngai.

At Doosan Vina he held top positions in human resources, public relations and external relations before being transferred to the Hanoi office in 2013 to handle the marketing of EPC contracts for the company. In this role he was responsible for the management of the companys multibillion dollar power plant contracts. This has included projects such as the Mong Duong 2, Vinh Tan 4, Vinh Tan 4 extension and the Son Hau 1 power plants.

Since commencing operations in 2009 Doosan Vina has produced and shipped high tech products for the power, water and logistics sectors worth more than $2.4 billion.
They shared the view that although Vietnam is assessed as potential for franchising, businesses need strategies to succeed since it is very difficult to develop a franchised brand.



Nguyen Phi Van, head of the board of directors at Retail & Franchise Asia, said Vietnams franchise market will become more and more vibrant in the next few years with the landing of global and regional brands.



Some young Vietnamese startups with new brands have been asked to franchise their brands, which is a positive sign of Vietnamese brand franchising. However, they should gear up internal strength and a strong support system before franchising, she noted.



Le Thi Ngoc Thuy, Director of the IQ Plus Joint Stock Company and representative of brand Viva Star, said if enterprises lack a good strategy and thorough preparations when they begin franchising, they will encounter problems as franchisees become involved too much in the management and operation of franchised brands.



She took store design as an example, elaborating that if franchisees change store design too much, it may alter brand recognition.



Echoing the view, Pham Ngoc Liem, who owns brand LeeAndTee, said without a clear development strategy and preparations, it will be hard to reach consensus between franchisers and franchisees when they need brand restructuring.



Lawyer Ho Huu Hoanh from the Viet Franchise law firm recommended companies make franchise contracts with concrete regulations, have risk prevention measures, and keep franchised brand development policies consistent.



According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, a number of foreign and domestic brands have been successfully franchised in Vietnam, especially in retail, cuisine, restaurant-hotel, and food-beverage.

The franchise of retail brands is forecast to continue expanding by 25% each year. Meanwhile, cuisine franchising will enjoy an annual growth of some 15%.
Vinasun and Mai Linh running around in cirlces

Vinasuns general shareholders meeting on April 28 was tense with talks about the companys lacklustre business results in the face of competition from Grab and Uber.

Smaller shareholders seem to accept the reality of cut-throat competition in the current technological revolution and want Vinasun to change its business strategy. Meanwhile, Dang Phuoc Thanh, chairman of the Vinasun board of directors, made a vehement announcement that the company will take Uber or Grab to court for unfair competition.

In the past several months, Vinasuns leadership anxiously devised strategies to fight back the advance of Uber and Grab. According to Thanh, the company is moving towards licensing, and doing so slowly but surely in order to get the approval of all employees. All of Vinasuns activities are changing and need support from shareholders.

Uber and Grab came out with the software first and are more professional, and might have an advantage in funding and government support but Vinasun can compete in quality, Thanh said.

This year, Vinasun invested in at least 750 cars and sold 1,050 old vehicles to ensure service quality. Moreover, in June, the company might license 4,000 cars and grow its customer base who pay online by integrating other payment services. However, according to shareholders, changes at Vinasun have been slow. For example, the companys technology platform has not been brought in sync with the order-by-phone feature of the Vinasun app.

A brand awareness of 70 per cent and a market share of 45 per cent suggest that Vinasun has high potential to compete. However, in order to compete, the company needs to learn from the other two tech companies ways to maximize profit, because Vinasun does not seem able to compete in price, a shareholder said.

We hope that the board of directors will act faster, and that foreign investors will join the company to improve the boards management abilities. Additionally, customer service from the side of the drivers needs to be improved, a shareholder recommended.

Vinasuns counterpart in the north of Vietnam, Mai Linh, has managed to assure shareholdersahead of its shareholders meeting by announcing that the company had become a distributor for a line of electric taxi made by US company DiMora Enterprises, LLC.

DiMora Enterprises, LLC will make several models of 5-to-7-seater electric cars to provide taxi services in Vietnam from 2020. The company will invest $500 million to roll out electric cars in the country and aims to make 5,000-10,000 electric cars each year and may raise capacity to 50,000. It is currently scouting for the best location to build a factory, with construction slated to begin in the third quarter of this year.

Alfred J. DiMora, chairman of DiMora Enterprises, LLC, believes his lines of cars can help Mai Linh compete with ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab. In addition, the company is working with the government and relevant agencies to establish policies to support electric cars.

Time will tell whether this new project will be a revival for Mai Linh in the coming years. However, as some can remember, Mai Linh used to be the biggest taxi company in the country before being overtaken by Vinasun due to strategic mistakes, inefficient investments in many non-core businesses, and neglecting the core taxi business, which altogether led to the companys sluggish results in 2012 and 2013.

At the end of the 2016 fiscal year, Mai Linhs revenue still grew by 32.3 per cent from 2015, to VND3.73 trillion ($164 million), as it purchased new cars. Revenue from the taxi business makes up 86.22 per cent of the companys total revenue. Even though revenue soared, administrative cost and interest also rose, so profit before tax in 2016 came in at VND61.12 billion ($2.7 million), a 61 per cent decrease from the previous year.

Explaining the slumping income, Ho Huy, chairman of Mai Linh, blamed Uber and Grab, but observers said the argument was hardly acceptable.

Recently, Vinasun and Mai Linhs counter-strategy against Grab and Uber was seen by observers as not well thought-out and indicative of their weaknesses. The two companies proposed transportation departments of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the central province of Khanh Hoa put a stop on new Uber and Grab cars, citing traffic jams and unfair competition.

Grab and Uber pulling ahead

While Vinasun and Mai Linh are scrambling to find new directions and blaming Grab and Uber on their falling bottom lines, the two companies are pursuing a new tacticride sharingto make it cheaper for customers and more profitable for drivers.

In May 2017, Grab will offer GrabShare, the first ride sharing service in Vietnam, as a way to help improve traffic. The service is being piloted in Ho Chi Minh City. GrabShare allows drivers to pick up two rides along the same route (each ride can have up to 2 passengers, meaning the car will have four passengers at most). Customers can save up to 30 per cent compared to the regular GrabCar service fee.

GrabShare has been rolled out and quickly gained popularity among customers in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Between its launch and December 2016, over 6 million GrabShare rides were provided in these four countries. During the trial run, GrabShare was well received by our driver partners, said Nguyen Thu An, communications director at Grab Vietnam.

Grab currently operates in 44 cities in seven countries and has a network of over 780,000 partner drivers. With over 38 million downloads of the app onto smartphones so far, Grab is holding a 95 per cent market share of ride hailing apps and a 70 per cent market share of private cars in the markets it has entered. However, Grab declined to provide details on its Vietnamese performance.

Like Grab, Uber is looking into launching UberPool in Vietnam, a model that has been a worldwide success. In San Francisco, where Uber is offering UberPool, rides are even cheaper than bus fares. The usage rate of a regular taxi is only 15-25 per cent, a private car only 5 per cent, but GrabShare and UberPool could maximize usage to 100 per cent.

Currently, at many developed countries, ride sharing is becoming more popular and proving increasingly useful. Rolling out GrabShare will be in keeping with this positive trend, which will benefit customers and free up some traffic in Vietnam, said An.

In a market economy, with a myriad of transport services and companies, customers enjoy having a variety of options. Cheaper fare, convenience, pleasant riding experience, and social acceptance are Grab and Ubers undeniable leverages. The companies are making the most of their strengths to provide riders more options to get around conveniently, safely, and economically.

This means all companies should renew themselves often to keep up with the market. Traditional taxi companies are heading for further losses if they keep on trailing behind competition, especially as the age of Industry 4.0 is setting in with even more advanced technology applications in every area of life.
File photo of World Health Organisation chief Margaret Chan.

The Ebola crisis that began in December 2013 killed 11,300 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia and has left thousands more survivors with long-term health problems.

The WHO was criticised at the time for responding too slowly and failing to grasp the gravity of the outbreak.

Speaking at an event in the Guinean capital dedicated to individuals who fought to control the disease in their communities, WHO chief Margaret Chan also thanked the Guinean government for its role in developing the vaccine, announced in December, but added a note of caution.

"Scientists do not yet know exactly where in nature the Ebola virus hides between outbreaks, but nearly all experts agree that another outbreak is inevitable," she said, speaking to an audience of scientists, Ebola response coordinators and dignitaries.

"When this occurs, the world will be far better prepared," Chan added.

In a major clinical trial using an innovative "ring", or group method, nearly 6,000 people in Guinea were given the test vaccine in 2015, during which not one of them contracted the disease.

Even with an "initially limited" first batch of the vaccine, Chan said, health authorities had another option in their arsenal "beyond isolation and quarantine".

First identified in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ebola virus erupted periodically in outbreaks of up to a couple of hundred cases, mainly across west and east Africa.

In early 2014, however, a handful of infections in southern Guinea mushroomed rapidly into an epidemic.

Chan emphasised that another positive outcome of the Ebola crisis was renewed focus and funding for vaccines against other contagious diseases, including the fatal Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) as well as the Lassa and Nipah viruses.

"These significant spillover effects strengthen the world's collective defences against the never-ending threat from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases," she said.

Also speaking at the event, President Alpha Conde said it was "time Africa benefited from cutting-edge technology, notably in the field of biomedical sciences," and called on industrialised nations to share their expertise.
On May 4, PAN Farm JSC signed the contract to mobilise VND400 billion ($17.6 million) from domestic and international investors. This is the first time PAN Farm mobilised capital after its establishment in August 2016. After this mobilisation, PAN Farms chartered capital has risen from VND1 trillion ($44 million) to VND1.22 trillion ($53.6 million).

Besides IFC and Daiwa-SSIAM Vietnam Growth Fund II, SSI was the third investor to contribute capital to PAN Farm this time.

The VND400 billion ($17.6 million) will be used by PAN Farm to expand the production and sales of seedlings, to apply high technology in the production of flowers, vegetables, fruits, and high-quality safe produce with prestigious origins, completing the supply chain to serve customers not only in Vietnam but also around the world.

IFCs equity investment, which represents about 10.4 per cent of the companys share capital, has elevated its position to become a strategic investor of PAN Farm. IFC first invested in The PAN Group in January 2015. This further investment shows IFCs commitment to the strategy and potential of The PAN Group and IFCs interest in Vietnamese agriculture.

The participation of two prestigious international financial institutions, namely IFC and Daiwa Securities Group not only increases PAN Farms financial capacity for a larger production scale, but it also brings international support for PAN Farm by expanding cooperation with the two institutions network especially in agricultural expertise, agricultural technology, distribution networks. Ultimately, this will contribute PAN Farm realise to become a leading agricultural company in Southeast Asia.

On the occasion of the ceremony, chairwoman of PAN Farm Nguyen Thi Tra My also announced that the high-tech cantaloupe by Vinaseed is officially going to be launched in the Vinmart supermarket system within a month, besides the companys traceable rice, bringing to Vietnamese consumers more high-quality choices when they shop for produce.

PAN supplies high-quality agricultural produce and packaged food to the global and Vietnamese markets. It has a total consolidated assets of VND4 trillion ($176 million). It is directly or indirectly holding a series of leading Vietnamese agricultural companies, such as Vinaseed, Bibica, Lafooco, and Aquatex Ben Tre. PANs larger shareholders include domestic investors NDH Invest, SSI, and CSC Vietnam, and foreign investors TAEL Two Partners, IFC, ORIX, GIC, and PYN.

PAN Farm owns Vinaseed, which in turn owns a bunch of large seed companies, has been the market leader in Vietnam's seed industry, and part of the joint venture with a Japanese company PAN-SALADBOWL JSC. PAN-SALADBOWL produces flowers for export to Japan and is about to enter the high-quality fruit and vegetable market in Vietnam. PAN Farm aims to create a complete supply chain in agriculture and boost its contribution to The PAN Groups Farm  Food  Family value.

Nguyen Duy Hung - Chairman of The PAN Group

Investors lined up to invest in PAN Farm, and we picked the cream of the crop with IFC and Daiwa Securities Group. PAN Farm is an agricultural company with a clear strategy, which is rare in this sector in Vietnam. We hope for IFCs continued support for many years, just like how it has been supporting The PAN Group for the past years. On the other hand, we hope for Daiwas support in expanding the market of PAN-SALADBOWL in Japan.

Nguyen Thi Tra My - Chairwoman of PAN Farm

This successful capital raise by PAN Farm represents the potential of Vietnamese agriculture in general and PAN Farm in particular to international investors and strengthens the agricultural foundation of The PAN Group.

We appreciate the partnership between IFC and The PAN Group over the years. With their international experience in the agricultural sector, IFCs investment in PAN Farm will be a great support to expand its seed and horticulture business and apply sustainable farming practices and standards as well.

Kyle Kelhofer - IFC country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao

The PAN Group has a strong management team and has been successfully leveraging international best practices. This, combined with Vietnams fundamental comparative advantage in agriculture, bodes well for the group.

With IFCs support, PAN Farms food safety, environmental, and social standards will match international best practices and boost local industry standards. Also, IFC has been investing in companies like PAN Farm in other countries, so we bring experience to the table that can help PAN Farm and Vietnam grow faster.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc - Photo: VGP

Presiding over the Cabinet meeting on May 4, the PM also required the Minister of Industry and Trade to take measures to address the declining exploitation and production of the mining sector.

Looking back the socio-economic situation in the past month, the Government leader expressed delight at the strong growth in the number of tourists in the four-day national holiday on the occasion of the anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

He noted that the macro-economy and consumer price index remained stable, while economic growth pace continued to recover and credit was at the highest growth rate in recent years.

Foreign direct investment attraction continued to rise with US$10.8 billion of investment so far this year, while State budget collection showed good signs, he said, adding that in April, nearly 40,000 new businesses were set up, along with VND825 trillion (US$36.2 billion) in investment poured into the economy.

Analysing the weaknesses and problems that need to be addressed promptly, the PM mentioned the delay in the distribution and disbursement of public investment capital.

Exports of products like iron and steel, petroleum, chemicals, and cattle-feed are sinking, while the equitisation of State-run businesses is progressing at a snails pace.

The number of private businesses has been increasing, but they are mainly small-and medium-sized, he noted.



He requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to devise measures to strengthen administrative discipline and prevent violations related to personnel work.

Regarding the land issue in Dong Tam commune, My Duc district, Ha Noi, the PM ordered ministries, departments and localities to work out solutions to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

It is impossible to just focus on economic growth but underestimate the guarantee of social order and safety, he said.

In this spirit, the PM directed cabinet members to spare no efforts to promote economic growth while ensuring social order and security across the country.

Businesses and people are relying on government and localities actions to see better changes in the future, he added.

He also suggested cabinet members discuss how to deal with 12 loss-making projects.
Eco-friendly vehicles

The emergence of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is deemed as a breakthrough in the automobile industry offering significant benefits by reducing fuel costs and mitigating environmental damage.

Unlike conventional fuel-powered vehicles, hybrid vehicles are a technological leap forward with a fuel-efficient combination of using both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. These cars use petrol or diesel to power internal combustion engines and use electric batteries to power electric motors. They are more fuel efficient than conventional cars and therefore produce less pollution and harmful emissions.

Electric vehicles (EVs) as well as hybrid vehicles (including plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) are green and ensure functionality with the added boon of environmental friendliness and well-performing operational features.

Recognising the benefits of environmentally-friendly vehicles in general and hybrid vehicles in particular, many governments have introduced regulations and policies to encourage the development of these vehicles. Specifically, they provide favourable conditions, such as lowering tax rates or even giving straight-out exemptions, with an aim to encourage automakers and traders to produce and sell green vehicles.

Tax incentives for green vehicles are a long-standing financial incentive for consumers. In addition to the form of registration fee reduction (in Hungary, Greece and Ireland), other preferential tax policies include road tax reduction (in Switzerland, Korea, Italy), tax credit (the US), even tax exemption (Japan). Tax incentives are also an important tool in stimulating consumer demand for green vehicles as well as encouraging firms to invest, design, and produce state-of-the-art models with high performance and good fuel efficiency.

Tax incentives also indirectly contribute to the protection of the limited fossil fuel resources, which are non-renewable and will one day run out. Thanks to the combination of internal combustion and electric power, hybrid vehicles can save about 20-30 per cent fuel compared to petrol and diesel vehicles in the same line.

On the other hand, the use of green vehicles instead of conventional vehicles also contributes to environmental improvement and the reduction of carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

Pressing need for incentives

In France, the financial incentive for replacing gasoline and diesel engines produced before 2005 with EVs or HEVs is 10,000 ($11,000).

Engine models produced before 2005 are also deemed to emit toxic gases (PM2.5 and PM10) that lead to the deaths of thousands of people in China alone.

Not only benefiting consumers and the environment, the application of tax incentives also create favourable conditions for the automobile industrys development, particularly for the environmentally-friendly vehicle industry.

In India, the automobile industry accounted for 7.1 per cent of the countrys GDP in 2015. The consumption of hybrid vehicles increased from 16,513 vehicles in 2014 to 65,224 in 2015.

In Southeast Asia, Thailand is also ahead of the trend and has already set the roadmap for the development of its electric vehicle industry. The Thailand Board of Investment has introduced a 15-year tax incentive scheme to encourage businesses to produce green vehicles. In addition, Thailand also applies preferential tariffs to vehicles based on CO2 emissions.

Accordingly, hybrid vehicles with engine capacity not exceeding 3,000 cc are subject to a local tax rate of 10 per cent, while the rate for fuel-poweredvehicles of the same bracket is 30-40 per cent.

In Vietnam, the government is also catching up with the trend of green vehicles and promulgated tax incentives for hybrid vehicles. However, the implementation of these policies has so far been difficult due to an unclear definition and understanding of what is a hybrid vehicle.

I think that the current Law on Special Consumption Tax that is applicable to green cars is quite inflexible. For example, it makes an issue of where the hybrid vehicles get the electricity from. Vietnam mainly use hydropower, thermoelectricity, and electric generators that are operated by diesel or gasoline, which cause environmental damage on a daily basis, said economist Vu Dinh Anh.

Therefore, Anh was urging the Vietnamese government to craft far-sighted policies and implement them right away as there are not many hybrid cars in Vietnam yet and a clear, encouraging legal framework would go far in helping hybrid vehicles take firmer roots.
Deepika Padukone is not exactly happy about constantly being mistaken for Priyanka Chopra in the US.

By India Today Web Desk: Deepika Padukone, who has been mistaken for Priyanka Chopra by the foreign media in the US multiple times, says it's racist and ignorant for people to assume that people with similar skin tones are the same.

A video doing the rounds on social media, from a few months ago, has a foreign paparazzo constantly referring to Deepika as "Priyanka, Priyanka" while she made her way out of an airport in the US.

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Deepika, who made her Hollywood debut with the Vin Diesel starrer xXx: Return of Xander Cage earlier this year, has strong views about facing this 'identity crisis' and about how the Indian media needs to deal with it maturely.

In an interview to IANS over phone from Mumbai, Padukone said, "To me it's racist and ignorant. And as a fellow Indian, you (the media) should also not be very happy about. I think just because people have similar skin tones, it doesn't mean they are the same.

"As people in a place of power that the media has, instead of creating a tabloid piece out of it, people should be educating them further."

Just back from attending the famed fashion fiesta Met Gala 2017 in New York, Deepika is now looking forward to visit the French Riviera. She will attend the prestigious Cannes Film Festival on May 17-18.

"I am very very excited. I am looking forward to the entire experience of being there and taking it all in," said the Piku actor, who had last attended the fest in 2010.

"I would happily forget that experience maybe, and start afresh," quipped Deepika, who doesn't wish to reveal her two looks for the Cannes red carpet appearance just as yet.

Earlier this week, she stepped out in a white Tommy Hilfiger gown for the Met Gala in a look which didn't find much appreciation from the international foreign police. But Deepika is not bothered; she says being on the red carpet is all about having fun.

"I've had an amazing team of people who help me put my look together, and sometimes people might like it, sometimes they may not. And that's completely okay. The idea is really to have fun with every experience that I've had and I think the only time I will worry about not being appreciated about my look, is when my mother or my girlfriends tell me so," said the 31-year-old.

At the Cannes red carpet, where Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor will also make a fashion statement, Deepika is looking forward to have plain "fun".

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"What is the red carpet without having fun? I know there is a lot of focus on the clothes, the hair and the make-up, but from all of that, I think the most important thing is that everyone who walks that red carpet must have fun with all of that and that experience."

It's the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, and no Indian film is on the list. So, apart from government officials at the Indian Pavilion at gala, only the three actors and beauty icons will be representing the country on the platform.

"I think that's an achievement in itself," Deepika said, adding, "But having said that, I think for me the two things are completely different. I feel proud that we have Indians who can represent not just at Cannes, but the world over, who represent us as a community and as a country in different walks of life."

"Yes, being an actor, one always looks forward to a film going to Cannes as well. In fact, Sanjay (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) and I have been speaking about it for years... We wanted to take Bajirao Mastani to Cannes. When it comes to taking Indian films to Cannes, he has done it in the past (Devdas) and he has done it beautifully," said Deepika, who features as the central character in the filmmaker's next movie Padmavati.

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ALSO READ: Deepika is mistaken for Priyanka again. Seriously, do they look SO similar?

ALSO READ: I was in school when Priyanka won Miss World, says Deepika Padukone

ALSO WATCH: Deepika Padukone's incredible journey to Hollywood

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Land grabbing has sparked regular protests in Cambodia over the past two decades and is the focus of a new documentary film, A Cambodian Spring, by filmmaker Chris Kelly.

Kelly spent about six years in Cambodia producing the film, which follows several land activists, including Venerable Loun Sovath, Tol Srey Pov, and Tep Vanny, as they grapple with authorities intent on displacing impoverished Cambodians from their land.

One of the problem in Cambodia is that the land in Phnom Penh is extremely valuable per square meter, Kelly said. So these people who bought the land back in 1981, they now own land that is extremely valuable and wanted by the developers, so it is very difficult for them to find a satisfactory solution when the developer doesnt treat them with any kind of respect.

Sovath, a central figure in the film, played an active role in documenting protests against land grabbing, as well as teaching human rights and Buddhist practices to land grab victims.

They stopped us from driving, but we are happy to walk, he says in the film, while leading a group of villagers to attend a hearing at a court in Siem Reap province. If we walk 10 kilometers, well get to the national road. But I dont think any taxis will dare to take us.

Sovath and other activists in the film faced constant harassment while filming protests and the trial of 10 Boeung Kak lake activists and was briefly detained by authorities and banned from temples.

The Supreme Patriarch Noun Ngeth has issued a letter evicting me from here, and banning me from all other pagodas, he says.

The Supreme Patriarch is not pleased that I share in the misery of the people, who are victims of land grabbing and forced evictions, when they have been injured, disabled or thrown in jail. If a pagoda doesnt adhere to Buddhist principles, then its Supreme Patriarch and religious officials dont abide by Buddhist principles either. Then it is not a real pagoda, and they are not leaders who will guide our religion to prosperity, he adds.

Some 700,000 people are thought to have been affected by land grabs since 2000, according to rights groups. Many have been forcibly evicted from their homes without proper compensation and some have faced imprisonment.

Some evictees continue to live in poor conditions at relocation centers outside the capital and face diseases and food shortages.

Yet others, such as Srey Pov of the Boeung Kak community, have defied orders to move.

We didnt get our land title certificates, she says. Instead we were notified that the government would lease our land to the Shukaku Inc. company. The company has started to fill the lake with sand, flooding our streets, and causing three people to die from electrocution.

Tep Vanny, who has become a household name in Phnom Penh over her opposition to the eviction and frequent run-ins with law enforcement, said the activists do not disagree with the idea of development.

But the government should talk to us and help us settle the challenges the Boeung Kak people are facing. If we can get justice and transparency, it would be a win-win-win policy.

A Cambodian Spring follows the transformation of women victims of land grabs, since 2008, into land activists.

What they really wanted to do was to make sure that they were gonna be able to stay in their home, said Kelly. Or that they will be given adequate compensation for their home that would be at the correct market value so that they would be able to buy a new home somewhere else in Phnom Penh. They always said that they werent against development, but it should be inclusive and that shouldnt be so destructive.

Their years of street protests partly paid off. In 2011, the government decided to set apart 12.44 hectares of land for their homes.

This is what we call democracy, said Phnom Penh governor Kep Chutema, at a ceremony to hand over land certificates. We do not fight in the streets. As Prime Minister Hun Sen has said, again and again, it is no longer fashionable to solve our problems with violence. But let me be clear. Dont think that the World Bank will help you. They will not.

Some of the women continue to protest as not all have received compensation.

Sovath continues to document the protests, despite threats and hindrances, while Vanny is now in jail for her continued protest.

A Cambodian Spring premiered on May 3 at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto, Canada.
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Trump Middle East Peace President Trump meets with the leader of the Palestinian Authority - both pledging to achieve a breakthrough for Middle East peace. VOA White House Bureau Chief Steve Herman talks about President Trumps meeting with Mahmoud Abbas and the push for a peace accord by the Trump administration.
Officials with Waus Unity Cultural and Development Center, a nonprofit humanitarian organization, said security operatives arrested its executive director and have yet to provide a reason for his arrest.

An official with the organization, who spoke to South Sudan in Focus, said Angelo Bensencio Mangu was detained two weeks ago and his colleagues have been contacting security operatives to try to find out the reason for his arrest.

Detained two weeks

His wife, Leticia Simom Adriano, says she has visited the security detention facility in Wau where he is being held but has not been allowed to see or speak to him. She says she worries about her husbands welfare.

We are really afraid for the past two weeks. I have been cooking and taking it to (the) detention (center) but I have never seen him. So how would you guarantee if he is there or not? Whenever I go there I cry, she said.

Yhohanna Philip, program coordinator for the organization, also is concerned.

Unfortunately, the director continues to be in detention for two weeks now without any charges or official investigation. Our office also confirmed that his close family members were denied access to see him after visiting the detention twice, and together with the family, we are also concerned about his health status, he said.

Philip said the same day Bensencio was arrested, security operatives stormed their office and confiscated two vehicles, five laptops, a printer and files.

He said the office has been paralyzed since.

Humanitarian aid suffers

UCDC is one of the lead agencies in food assistance distribution in six IDPs sites including Cathedral, Lokoloko, Nazareth, Sikka Hadid, Abunybuny and South Sudan Red Cross compound in Wau. We definitely regret the suspension and the consequences that it is already having on the vulnerable communities that we serve in Wau, Philip said.

Philip said some of the assets confiscated by security operatives in Wau are being used by the military, which is a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

Surprisingly, it has come to our notice that the detained Land Cruiser pickup plate No. SSD 822 G- was seen last Thursday moving in and around Wau town carrying armed soldiers and supplies. Notes that it was also seen late Friday evening between Kwajok and Gogirial town. And as we speak now it is also seen on the way moving to Awiel, Philip said.

Philip and Bensencios wife are urging the Wau state authorities and rights groups to intervene and secure his release.

Stephen Robo Musa, who heads a civil society network in Wau, is condemning Bensencios detention, saying it will hamper the important humanitarian work among the communities in Wau. Robo is calling on the security operatives to release Bensencio or have him tried him in a court of law if he has committed any crime.
Albania's political leaders on Thursday failed for the second time to reach a compromise as the opposition has boycotted the parliament and the June 18 parliamentary election.

Following intensive meetings with Western diplomats, Prime Minister Edi Rama, leader of the Socialist Party, and Lulzim Basha of the main opposition Democratic Party met again Thursday night.

Rama said the government offered direct monitoring of the voting with a task force of opposition representatives accompanied by monitors from the European Union, the United States and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

"That's our position. There is not much time left," said Rama after the meeting. "We do not have another offer."

Basha turned down the offer, accusing Rama and his Cabinet of direct links to crime and drug trafficking and using that money to buy ballots.

The opposition has boycotted parliament since February, demanding that Rama resign before the June 18 election out of fear that his Cabinet will manipulate the vote.

Rama said he offered Basha a task force for the vote headed by a vice prime minister, with deputy ministers and vice directors at the education, justice and interior ministries, the police and the prison department "fully entitled to check the behavior of state structures."

The opposition, which has maintained a tent in front of Rama's office since February, has also threatened "civil disobedience," starting with a local election Sunday in a western town.

"Our battle is for free and fair elections, for a citizens' ballot," said Basha.

Parliament dissolved Thursday as required by the constitution ahead of a general election.
Small-business owners are applauding President Donald Trump's plan to overhaul the tax system, saying lower taxes for everyone means more buying power for consumers and more money for businesses to hire workers. But can the White House plan simplify the nation's cumbersome tax code fairly? And how would lower- and middle-income Americans fare? Mil Arcega spoke to tax analysts to find out.
A characteristic of great cities around the world is the careful preservation of buildings that are not only stylistically representative of a time but also contribute to the public life of the place. Rome, as the eternal city, evokes its history through ancient stone monuments as much as it does through ordinary street architecture built more recently. The evolving fabric provides the citizens with consistent references to its 2,500-year-old history. When an insignificant civil war construction was impeding the construction of an apartment complex in Philadelphia, the builder himself proposed a solution, carefully saving the relic within the entrance court of the new apartment block.

It hardly need be said that in comparison to other old cities, Delhi is a wasted derelict pile. Besides serious problems of pollution, overcrowding, insecurity, lack of utilities, its visible structure resembles a ramshackle makeshift encampment-a place perpetually choking, smoking and smouldering. Moreover, its selective preservation and development have left a legacy inconsistent with its real history. While Mughal and colonial examples are allowed to persist as historical markers, little of post-independent life is preserved in public architecture. When the BBC correspondent sends his report, it is usually with a backdrop of India Gate, suggesting clearly to his viewers that little of value is visible after Edwin Lutyens. Pride of building is hard to expect in a place that lives by no particular aesthetic code.

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The recent demolition of architect Raj Rewal's Hall of Nations, a concrete structure built to commemorate 25 years of Indian independence, was consistent with the bureaucratic fatigue and indifference visible in the capital. A persistent campaign was waged in support of the country's modern heritage and indeed the design merits of the demolished building were acknowledged by a wide range of organisations: "a major heritage of post-independent architecture", said the Centre Pompidou, "the first large-scale concrete (spatial) structure in the world", said the curator at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA); "one of the most important buildings of the 20th century", the endorsement, ironically from Intach, an autonomous body set up by the government. Condemnation of the demolition, too, was swift and relentless. "...governments today believe that committing such an act is 'progress' when all it is is thinly disguised ignorance on a massive scale."

The erasure of buildings that are out of sync with government policy is a quick antidote to lengthy democratic processes that all too often yield only a stalemate. Yet the demolition raises larger questions on not just the future of architectural heritage but what constitutes heritage. For too long, architecture has been the victim of political decisions. Nehru brought a French architect to design an Indian state capital; 70 years later the Andhra government chose a Japanese architect for Amaravati; Delhi has awarded the design of the new conference complex at Pragati Maidan to a Singaporean firm. Every decision has been backed by a political ill wind, fanned by megalomaniacal pretensions.

The confusion is compounded by forsaken responsibility. It took a judge, not an environmentalist, to decide on the pollution benchmarks for Delhi; in the case of the BRT similarly, the court-and not a transport planner-made the decision. A judge also takes the call on matters of heritage. When civic decisions are left to the judiciary, architectural conservation can easily fall prey to private prejudices and inconsistencies. Besides, since major monuments all have historic associations, it falls on the political party in power to decide the relevance of that association. Will someone in government propose the demolition of Chandigarh because it was built under Congress rule; as a viceroy's house, could the Rashtrapati Bhavan not succumb one day to the rage of an irate nationalist? Till civic life remains enmeshed in political process, the future is uncertain.

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(Gautam Bhatia is a Delhi-based architect, writer and artist)

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Argentinas spy chief has been cleared of wrongdoing after news reports linked him to the biggest corruption scandal in Brazils history.

The decision was announced Thursday after a prosecutor decided not to appeal a federal judges ruling that cleared spy chief Gustavo Arribas.

La Nacion newspaper reported earlier this year that Brazilian construction conglomerate Odebrecht paid Arribas nearly $600,000 in 2013 through a black market money dealer who has since accepted a plea bargain.

La Nacion alleged the money was deposited into a Swiss bank account.

Arribas denied the reports and said he only received $70,000 as part of a real estate deal in Brazil.

Odebrecht is a key company embroiled in the so-called Car Wash probe into an alleged kickback scheme at Brazils state-run Petrobras oil company.


A judge in Brazil on Thursday sentenced eight men for planning an attack in the run up to the 2016 Summer Olympics, marking the first time that a much debated anti-terror law formed the basis of a case in Latin America's largest nation.



Federal Judge Marcos Josegrei da Silva sentenced the men to between 6 and 15 years in prison. In the 100-page sentence, da Silva included screen shots of the men extolling the Islamic State group online, both in their words and images. One picture shows one of the men posing in front of a flag with the Islamic State written on it in Arabic.



The harshest penalty went to 33-year-old Leonid El Kadre, who authorities said was the group's leader. He got 15 years and 10 months.



The judge said that El Kadre had three Facebook profiles that he used to celebrate terrorist attacks being committed in other countries and to swear his allegiance to the Islamic State.



"A Muslim will never be a true believer if he is against Jihad,'' or armed struggle, the judge wrote was one of El Kadre's most common phrases online.



Zaine el Kadri, El Kadre's mother and lawyer, said the ruling didn't prove that her son actually committed a crime.



"They have got nothing on him,'' she said in a phone interview. "We are going to appeal and get him out.''



El Kadri said her son was entering his 36th day on a hunger strike to protest unjust incarceration.



Weeks before the Olympics, 13 men were arrested in a high-profile operation in July. Five were released a few months later.



The case against them is the first to test a 2016 law that widened the scope of what could be considered terrorism in Latin America's largest nation.



When the Brazilian Congress passed the law, human rights groups warned that overly broad language could let the government move against protesters and others for simply expressing free speech. The law calls for up to eight years in prison for "advocating terrorism,'' and 10 to 20 years for "joining terrorist organizations,'' though "terrorism'' and "terrorist'' are not defined.



When the men were arrested, Brazil's then-justice minister, Alexandre Moraes, said some of them had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State without having personal contact with members of the terrorist group abroad. The men who were arrested never actually met in person and communicated with each other via messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram, he said.



Moraes called them "amateurs'' and "ill-prepared.'' The closest the group got to planning an attack was an alleged attempt to buy an AK-47 assault rifle from a store in Paraguay via email, but Moraes said police were justified in acting in light of "lone wolf'' attacks in the U.S. and Europe.
The Chinese navy on Friday handed over a notorious pirate leader captured last month after a failed hijack attempt.

Abdikarim Salah "Aw Koombe" and two other pirates are now in the custody of Puntland security officials at the Red Sea port of Bosaso.

The three, who were in handcuffs and wearing flotation jackets, were brought to the port in small rubber boats.

Colonel Yasin Ali Nur, commander of security forces at Bosaso port, told VOA Somali reporter Fadumo Yasin Jama, the three will be tried on piracy-related charges.

"These three prisoners, their weapons, will be kept here at the prison at the port until they are transferred to the central prison, until they appear before a court," Nur said.

Dozens of hijackings

One of the three prisoners was involved in up to 26 hijackings, said Abdimajid Samatar, director of Regional Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport which overseas anti-piracy activities in Puntland. It's believed Samatar was referring to Aw Koombe.

The pirates attacked the Tuvalu-flagged ship on April 8 off Socorta Island. The crew had locked themselves in a safe room making it impossible for the pirates to steer the ship toward the Somali shores.

Chinese and Indian navy ships reached the scene and rescued the ship.

Pirate leader Aw Koombe spoke candidly about what happened on the ship in an exclusive interview with VOA after his handover by the Chinese navy.

He told VOA that three of them boarded the ship in an attempt to hijack it. He said they ran into difficulties after the crew locked themselves in the safety room.

To avoid being captured by Chinese crewmen who were deployed on the ship by helicopter, Aw Koombe said he and the two others hid on the ship.

"I was sleeping 12 hours throughout the night. The next day, they [the Chinese navy] heard a bit a of noise. They find out where we were hiding, then they apprehended us," he said.

"Im back home, the sight is pleasant, my mind is good, I'm back with my people, I'm not missing anything," he said.

Poverty blamed

Aw Koombe is a well-known pirate leader who authorities say was involved in many maritime attacks against ships over the years. But, in a VOA interview, he denied being involved in any other attacks.

Asked what drove him to try to hijack this ship, he said: "Whatever reasons that were given ... poverty. Is there any other reason?"

A report released this week by the maritime group Oceans Beyond Piracy said declining vigilance is giving pirates an opening to renew their attacks on ships traveling near the Somalian coast.

The report said after several years of decreased pirate activity, ships are sailing closer to shore and the number of naval vessels patrolling the waters near Somalia has dropped.

Fadumo Yasin Jama contributed to this report from Bosaso, Somalia.
In 1950 Harvey Matthews remembers playing with friends in a cemetery across the street from their family farm outside Washington, D.C.

I was a kid, I played in it. So now where did the bodies go? Can you tell me where did the remains go? No one has answered that question for me yet he said.

For decades, stories about the black cemetery were mostly forgotten.

In the 1960s, construction of a high-rise and parking lot in Bethesda, Maryland, was thought to have covered part of the burial ground. Matthews says the workers bulldozed over African American remains, while wiping away a century-old community founded by free slaves after the Civil War.

My dad had a farm area, we had horses, chickens, and hunting dogs that my dad trained for white people who lived around the area. My dad trained the dogs for them and pretty much thats how we lived, said Matthews, 73.

Now known as the Westbard neighborhood in Bethesda, the area is filled with shopping centers and high-priced homes. Plans for a multimillion-dollar development project have been put on hold pending an archaeological investigation to determine if the project is being built on top of the historically significant cemetery.

History of a forgotten community

River Road was a popular trail, its history dating back to the Seneca Indian Trail. The rural land was owned by white plantation farmers. But by the end of the Civil War, land ownership changed.

After the Civil War, several freed black slaves, [who] were probably from relatively close to that area, they started buying land and they appeared in the census decade after decade and built a whole community, which lasted about 100 years, said Amy Rispin, local historian of the Little Falls Watershed Alliance (LFWA).

By the turn of the [20th] century, the next generation was growing up and thats where you start seeing vibrancy as well as new people entering in, and also businesses, said Paige Whitley, another local historian of LFWA. This is a time period of transportation bringing goods in, transportation setting up jobs, people there were taking advantage of those jobs.

Developers, in the 1950s, began to buy parcels of land in the community.

The developers started to build shopping centers, started to build additional residences in the area, and therefore started to purchase the land that was then still in the ownership of the African-Americans that were there, said David Kathan, local historian of LFWA.

By the early 1960s, all of the African-American families had left River Road and the area transformed from a residential to a commercial area.

Hope for the future

The last-standing building of the former African-American neighborhood is the Macedonia Baptist Church. Its congregation and others in the community want a museum built nearby that details the history of the black community that once thrived here.

Our main goal, and our No. 1 priority, is to get a museum built so we can show whoever, where [or] how far they come [from], they can go into this museum and learn the history of River Road that once was. Matthews said.

I named it, as, its like a lost colony that once was and now is gone. You see it, and now you dont, thats how it turned out to be. Were struggling, were fighting the fight. We might lose a little, a few battles along the way, but our main goal is to win the war, he added.
President Jacob Zuma has five days to explain himself to a court  and by extension, to his country  over his widely unpopular decision to fire a well-respected finance minister and reshuffle his Cabinet in March.

On Thursday, a High Court approved an opposition party demand that Zuma provide all of his records to explain why he fired Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan as part of the controversial reshuffle. The move prompted widespread outrage and caused a major ratings agency to downgrade the nation's sovereign credit rating to "junk" status, citing political instability as its cause.



It's just the latest twist in an ongoing political drama that has besieged the increasingly unpopular president, who has long governed under the cloud of long-simmering corruption scandals. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of South Africans, encouraged by a newly unified opposition, held marches demanding his resignation. Earlier this week, Zuma was booed offstage at a political rally held for union workers.

The president's political predicament further deepened Friday when three of the nation's former presidents, F.W. de Klerk, Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, spoke against him in an unprecedented show of unity. They join a growing list of luminaries, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who have criticized Zuma.

During a public talk with the three leaders in Johannesburg, Mbeki, who preceded Zuma, said, "No person or institution should have more authority than the will of the people."

Court involvement



Whether the third branch of government should get involved in politics is itself politically divisive. Zuma's ruling African National Congress on Friday panned the ruling as "unfettered encroachment of the judiciary into the realm of the executive."



The opposition Democratic Alliance, which has filed numerous court cases against Zuma, hailed it as "a victory not only for the DA but for all South Africans who deserve to know on what basis the President made this disastrous decision."



Politics professor Daryl Glaser of the University of the Witwatersrand described this as an "exceptional circumstance" for South African politics, where "the judiciary is having to, as it were, put out fires and pick up pieces because the other parts of the state are not functioning effectively."

"A lot of people will excuse or justify the court's role in that way," he said. "But I don't think it's ideal that the court should be extending itself too far into the domain of other branches of government. I think, however, on the whole, interventions in relation to Zuma have been healthy for our constitutional democracy. So it's a difficult call."



'Fair and reasonable'



South Africa's Constitution gives the president power to make changes to his cabinet as she or he sees fit, but also stipulates that decisions should be fair and reasonable. That's why this case got to court  initially, Zuma and his allies said they fired the minister because of a widely discredited intelligence report that accused him of plotting against the president.



Glaser said the court's decision could have a major impact on South African politics because "what has to be decided is whether there are other elements in play, whether the executive is required to give some account of its decisions. But then, does it mean it has to account for all of its decisions ... in the future?"

"You wouldn't want to give the impression that the court is taking sides in a political dispute," he added. "So such a principle would have to be impartially applied. And it would probably be quite unusual amongst the world's political leaders to have governments, or presidents or prime ministers, who have to publicly explain every Cabinet reshuffle."



Political pundits say it's likely and legal that the president will appeal the ruling and thereby avoid a courtroom confession. It's also likely, they say, that the president's drama is far from over.
Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has postponed tendering his cabinet's resignation until the second half of May, his office said on Thursday, buying time to push through a plan for a new government before stepping down.

Sobotka announced on Tuesday he and the government would step down, less than six months before its term ends, to resolve a long-running dispute with billionaire Finance Minister Andrej Babis, founder of the popular anti-establishment ANO movement.

The prime minister wants to form a new cabinet without Babis due to questions over Babis' business practices, even if that means stepping aside himself.

A new cabinet could include a replacement for Sobotka from his Social Democrat party, either Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek or Interior Minister Milan Chovanec, Zaoralek told reporters on Thursday.

Sobotka says Babis - the Czech Republic's second-richest businessman - failed to give convincing explanations for some past business deals.

Babis has come under fire over the morality of using of tax-free bonds and legality of the payment of European Union small business subsidies to a company he ultimately acquired. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

"The government crisis can be over in 10 minutes," Sobotka told reporters "All it takes is for Andrej Babis to recognise his responsibility and put the interests of the Czech Republic ahead of his desire to remain finance minister."

But that is exactly what ANO refuses, saying Babis had no reason to quit.

Other parties in Sobotka's governing coalition want to avoid a snap election before national elections scheduled for Oct. 20-21.

Blurred Lines

Sobotka had planned to tender the government's resignation to President Milos Zeman on Thursday. But he held back, in part due to the possibility that Zeman, whose relations with Sobotka are poor, might consider Sobotka's resignation his personal move and not the cabinet's, which would have left Babis in place.

Past prime ministerial resignations have meant the automatic fall of the government, but the constitution is not specific on the issue.

Zeman gave Sobotka a dressing down in front of cameras on Thursday afternoon, implying the postponement of the resignation plan was handled clumsily by the prime minister's office.

"I can hardly submit the resignation at a moment when it is not clear how the [presidential office] will handle it," Sobotka said.

The two men later met behind closed doors.

Before announcing the cabinet's resignation, Sobotka had weighed sacking only Babis, a move the president - who formally removes ministers - indicated he might oppose.

The sense of a government in turmoil was heightened this week by wiretaps released by an anonymous Twitter user that appeared to show Babis interfering in news coverage at one of the newspapers now in his trust fund.

In an interview with news website DVTV, Babis denied any interference and said he would file a criminal complaint related to the matter.

Babis' Agrofert group, which he shifted to a trust fund earlier this year, includes hundreds of firms in chemicals and farming, as well as two national newspapers and a radio station.
Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman will remain in solitary confinement in a federal prison in New York City, a U.S. judge ruled Thursday, although he will be allowed to send pre-screened messages to his wife for personal reasons and to help mount his legal defense.

Guzman's court-appointed lawyers argued in March that he was being held in unnecessarily harsh conditions in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan and asked that he be released into the general prison population. But U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan in Brooklyn ruled that there were good reasons for unusual measures around Guzman, who has escaped from two Mexican prisons.

"We're extremely disappointed that Mr. Guzman and his wife will not be able to see or speak to each other," Michelle Gelernt, one of Guzman's lawyers, said in an email. "This is devastating news for both of them."

She said it was "small comfort" that they would be allowed to communicate in writing.

Guzman is restricted to his cell for 23 hours a day, with the lights on at all times, and has not been allowed to speak to his wife or other family members. He has one hour of exercise in a small cage with no fresh air or sunlight, according to a March letter to prosecutors from Amnesty International.

The human rights group had asked to inspect Guzman's cell, but Cogan on Thursday denied that request.

Guzman's lawyers also sought more freedom to communicate with people in order to plan his defense, including his wife and potential witnesses.

Cogan ruled that Guzman may not communicate with witnesses, citing his "alleged history of witness intimidation."

However, the judge said he may send written messages to his wife about hiring lawyers and about personal matters. Those messages will be subject to pre-screening by U.S. authorities, though not by the prosecutors in the case.

Cogan also wrote that prison staff had relayed their observations of Guzman's visits with his attorneys to prosecutors in the past, and ordered that such communications stop.

Guzman, who sold oranges as a child before turning to the drug trade in the 1970s, was extradited from Mexico to the United States to face drug trafficking charges there on Jan. 19.

In his most recent escape in 2015, Guzman walked out of prison through a mile-long, highly engineered tunnel from his cell, a sign of the huge influence he was able to wield even from behind bars.
The number of homicides in El Salvador slumped by 52.5 percent in the first four months of 2017 compared with the same period last year, officials said Thursday, crediting new security measures in the violent Central American nation.

In the January-April period, 1,133 homicides were reported, compared with 2,387 in the same period in 2016, Security Minister Mauricio Ramirez said.

El Salvador, which saw a record number of homicides in 2015, put in place a raft of special measures in April, 2016 to combat gangs, called maras.

Recently deported by US

Speaking at a separate event, Attorney General Douglas Melendez said that gang members who have recently been deported from the United States have created new cliques named after U.S. cities and are sharing information with counterparts still in the United States.

The Salvadoran government Wednesday proposed creating a registry of deportees from the United States who have a criminal record to prevent them from entering the maras.

Authorities also said that some Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) members, who spilt from the gang because of a conflict over money management, created a new group called Mara Salvatrucha 503.

Salvatrucha's roots

The Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13 was formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s to protect early immigrants escaping civil war in El Salvador.

The gang, and its rival Barrio 18, have about 60,000 members together and are fighting each other for control of extortion, drug-trafficking and robbery in El Salvador.
A European Union official in Rwanda says President Paul Kagame is likely headed toward re-election, and says he doubts the EU will send monitors to observe the vote.

Michael Ryan, head of the EU delegation to Rwanda, spoke to journalists in Kigali Thursday, a day after a 35-year-old woman whose father was killed under unclear circumstances said she would challenge Kagame in the August election.

I think you would not lose any money if you bet on Mr. Paul Kagame, Ryan said in response to a question posed by VOA's Central Africa Service.

We have a leader who has evidence of his work in front of everybody. And you have candidates who have to prove [themselves]. They are untested and they have to prove," he said.

Kagame has effectively ruled Rwanda for 23 years and is widely credited for stabilizing the country after the 1994 genocide that killed an estimated 800,000 people.

Critics say Kagame's rule is autocratic and intolerant of opposition. They are outnumbered, however, and some observers think Kagame's popularity is the reason the EU is not sending election monitors to Rwanda this year.

Ryan maintained Thursday that the decision is mainly a financial one. It is a very expensive exercise, he said, adding that there are fewer reasons to be in Rwanda than in other countries where elections could be more controversial.

Challenger announces candidacy



Diane Rwigara announced Wednesday that she would challenge Kagame, becoming the first female to announce her candidacy.

She is the daughter of a prominent businessman who was killed when his car was rammed by a truck. The Rwanda National Police called it an an accident but his family believes it was foul play and has appealed to Kagame to investigate.

Other Rwandans face similar problems, not just my family alone and therefore I have to end their misery," Rwigara said.

She said she knows how it feels to be a victim.

Having dissenting views shouldnt be a crime, she said.

There are two other declared presidential candidates, one from Rwanda's tiny opposition party and another independent.

Election process



In order to be allowed to run, the candidates must gather 600 signatures, including at least 12 from all of Rwanda's 30 voting districts.

Once they make the ballot, candidates will have only three weeks to campaign.

Ryan says the EU told Rwanda's election body that the rules are limiting to presidential challengers.

Having to register only a few weeks before, having three weeks to campaign and if you are an independent having virtually no opportunity to raise money and to show yourself to the people... Its that environment in which I suspect the outcome will be fairly predictable.


Law enforcement sources say the younger crop of mobsters is difficult to keep tabs on as the bandits don't follow any set modus operandi.

Sonu alias Satyawan is wanted in several cases of extortion & murder, including killing of rival gangster Bhupendra (above) recently.

By Shivendra Srivastava: The badlands of Najafgarh have taken a turn for the worse as a new breed of trigger-happy and tech-savvy mobsters is ready to spill blood and drop bodies at the slightest provocation.

The battle for supremacy over large swathes of turf in the national capital region has led to a spate of bloody gang wars in the past two decades. Residents of the Jat-dominated Mitraon and Dichaon Kalan villages, just 2km apart in Najafgarh, have borne the brunt of the feuding. Satyawan alias Sonu is one of the new stars on the horizon of the Capital's underworld. On Sunday night, his gang gunned down rival Bhupindra alias Monu Dariyapur who was out on parole and was travelling with police protection in outer Delhi's Mianwali Nagar area. An assistant sub-inspector was also killed in the attack.

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The two gangsters were buddies but they fell out after Monu married Sonu's cousin. Since the bride and groom were from the same area and gotra (clan), elders considered them siblings. Sonu had threatened Monu years ago and once earlier tried to kill him and his wife.

Cops are also trying to determine if this was a case of so-called "honour" killing. Meanwhile, Sonu has remained out of clutches of police force so far.

NO SET MODUS OPERANDI

Law enforcement sources say the younger crop of mobsters is difficult to keep tabs on as the bandits don't follow any set modus operandi.

They often communicate through WhatsApp calls and messages, and even Skype. These apps are often encrypted and make it harder for police to track their movement. While Mitraon is the stronghold of the Anoop-Balraj gang, Dichaon Kalan is dominated by the Krishan Pehalwan gang.

Land dispute was previously the main trigger for clashes, but now other considerations have entered the equation.

Like Sonu and Monu, Balraj and Krishan Pehalwan were friends till the mid 1990s, and they collected commission or protection money from municipal contractors.

But then Balraj was jailed in a murder case. After his release, he tried to recover his clout and threatened Pehalwan, who by then had formed his own gang. The two then became sworn enemies and their gangs turned bitter rivals. In 1998, Pehalwan gunned down Balraj and a close aide.

In 2015, Pehalwan's younger brother, Bharat Singh, who was the Najafgarh MLA at the time, was killed by a gang led by Udaiveer Singh of Dichaon Kalan. Cops believe Pehalwan and Udaiveer had an enmity over land, which had led to the killings of Udaiveer's father and brother in 2007.

ACCUSED CARRIES REWARD OF Rs 1 LAKH

Locals say lack of education and insufficient job opportunities prompt youths from the area to join gangs.

Sonu is wanted in cases of robbery, extortion, murder, and carries a reward of Rs 1 lakh.

Among other criminals from the neighbourhood who are on police's most-wanted list is Ashok Gahlot.

He has been booked in several cases of murder and carries a bounty of Rs 50,000. Ashok extorts money from businessmen and operates in southwest Delhi.

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Deepak Dabas has seen a meteoric rise in the Neeraj Bawana gang. The 37-year-old, who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, escaped from police custody last year while cops were taking him to Sonipat for a court hearing.

He then went on a crime spree but was arrested three months later in north Delhi's Burari area.

Sources say the gangs also utilise their members lodged in prison by providing them cellphones, sim cards and other forms of support as the inmates can stay under the radar of cops searching for mobsters out on the streets.

ALSO READ | Delhi: Criminal out on parole, cop killed after masked assailants fire 20 rounds

ALSO READ | Gangs, wars and muscle of Gurugram

--- ENDS ---
Three days before French voters elect the next president of their country, front-runner Emmanuel Macron received support from former U.S. president Barack Obama.

In a video message posted Thursday on Macrons Twitter account, Obama said he was endorsing the centrist candidate because of how important this election is.

I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run. He has stood up for liberal values, Obama said. He put forward the vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world. And he has committed to a better future for French people.

Obama ended his message in French with the words En Marche, the name of Macrons political movement, and Vive La France. Obama remains popular in France.

U.S. President Donald Trump has praised Macrons opponent, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, although he has not explicitly endorsed her.

Shes the strongest on borders, and shes the strongest on whats been going on in France, Trump said in an April 21 interview with The Associated Press. Whoever is the toughest on radical Islamic terrorism, and whoever is the toughest at the borders, will do well in the election, Trump said.

Obama has mostly stayed in the background in American politics since Trump moved into the White House.
India launched a "South Asia" satellite on Friday to provide communication services to neighboring countries in a new initiative hailed by leaders of seven South Asian countries as a boost to regional cooperation.



The "space diplomacy" by India, which has an advanced space program, aims at building stronger ties in the region where China has been gaining influence. But underlining the tensions between the two most populous countries in the region, India's arch-rival, Pakistan has opted out of the project.

Soon after the launch of the $70-million satellite, which is funded by New Delhi, the leaders of the seven countries participating in the project  India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives, addressed a video conference that was nationally televised.

Calling it the "first of its kind" project, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the satellite would help meet the aspirations of economic progress of one-and-a-half-billion people in the region.

"It shows that our collective choices for our citizens will bring us together for cooperation, not conflict, development, not destruction, and prosperity, not poverty, he said."



Pointing out that South Asia was the world's least economically integrated region, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said "South Asia has taken a giant step today toward regional cooperation."



The leader of the landlocked country, which does not have road access to India, said if cooperation through land is not possible, it is certainly possible through the sky. "We are confident we will integrate," he said.



Weighing 2,230 kilograms and containing 12 communication transponders, the satellite was put in orbit by a rocket in Sriharikota in eastern Andhra Pradesh state. It will help provide services such as telecommunications, telemedicine, disaster management and weather forecasting.



In a region prone to natural disasters like cyclones, floods and earthquakes, the satellite's greatest benefit is expected to be in the area of disaster management.

The biggest beneficiaries will be the two smallest countries  Bhutan and Maldives.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay noted that his tiny Himalayan country, which measures the happiness quotient of its citizens as an indicator of progress, had neither the technical know-how nor the resources to launch their own satellite. He said the satellite will "advance the well being and happiness of our people" as it helps boost an array of services.



Pointing out that India wants to use its space program to further its regional goals, Sukh Deo Muni, a South Asia expert at New Delhi's Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses said "India wants to take the lead in integrating the region, and probably join hands on the developmental issues, cooperating with each other."



After taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi launched what he called a "neighborhood first" approach, partly to counter China, which has expanded its influence in South Asia and pumped in billions of dollars to build infrastructure projects in countries like Sri Lanka.



Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan at the Observer Research Foundation Others said that for the first time, Modi is giving a strategic dimension to the country's space program.

"India is possibly beginning to appreciate the importance of space launches as part of foreign policy tool and diplomatic engagement, something that China has been doing for a long time," he said.



Foreign policy experts say Pakistan's decision to opt out of the project is not surprising given the deep political hostilities and suspicions between the two countries.
Four-and-a-half years after the horrific gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in New Delhi, Indias Supreme Court has upheld the death penalty for four men convicted in the brutal assault that led to her death.



The decision brings to a close a case that triggered an unprecedented wave of public outrage and turned a global spotlight on sexual violence against women in India.



Applause broke out in the packed courtroom Friday and there were tears in the eyes of the young student's mother as the judgment was handed down. Her father, Badri Nath Singh, said it was a big victory, not just for the family, but for the country.



The assault



The young paramedic student was brutally assaulted by five men and a juvenile on a moving bus she had boarded with a male friend. She died two weeks later in a Singapore hospital due to the injuries she suffered.



Calling it brutal, diabolical and barbaric, the Supreme Court said the crime shook the conscience of society. The Court said the crime's perverse nature put it in the rarest of rare category that called for the death penalty.



Women activists hailed Fridays judgment as a landmark decision. This is a historic judgement, said Ranjana Kumari, who heads the Center for Social Research in New Delhi. This is a real clear message that you cannot get away with it, you will not be spared, and this is something I hope will have a deep impact on the nations psyche, of the people who create all kinds of conditions for crime and commit crimes against women.



Out of the six charged with the gang rape, one hanged himself in prison. The juvenile involved has been released after spending three years in detention. All six were poor migrants living in a crowded and poor neighborhood.



The four men sentenced to death are all in their twenties.



A defense lawyer for three of them said he would file a review petition to the chief justice.



Protests



For months after the crime, the streets of New Delhi were filled with angry protests demanding justice for the victim. Many protesters held banners calling for the death penalty.



By the standards of Indias slow-moving justice system, the intense spotlight on the case ensured that it drew to a close in fewer than five years. Many cases drag on for much longer. The initial death sentences in the rape case were handed down in 2013 by a fast-track court.



The gang rape prompted the government to speed up trials for rape and toughen penalties for offenders.



The tighter laws, however, do not appear to have been a deterrent, as the number of reported cases of sexual assaults have not come down.



Women are very, very vulnerable in our country, says Mariam Dhawale of the All India Democratic Women's Association.



Women activists like her point out that although laws have been strengthened, conviction rates in crimes against women are still low. The laws have to be implemented, punishment has to be given, this will send a strong message, she says.



On the positive side, activists say more women now have shown the courage to report a crime that had rarely been spoken of earlier, but is now very much a part of public debate.
Iran's main pro-reform opposition leaders plan to speak out from their confinement under house arrest this month to publicly back President Hassan Rouhani for re-election, aides say, helping win over voters disillusioned with the slow pace of change.

Rouhani was elected in a landslide in 2013 on promises to ease Iran's international isolation and open up society. He is standing for a second term against five other candidates, mostly prominent hard-liners, on May 19, with a runoff a week later if no candidate wins more than 50 percent of votes cast in the first round.

In his first term, Rouhani expended his political capital pushing through a landmark agreement with global powers to limit Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of international financial sanctions.

But even his supporters acknowledge he has made comparatively little progress on his domestic agenda, after promising that Iranians should enjoy the same rights as other people around the world.

Some reformist critics say he neglected the cause of curbing the powers of the security forces and rolling back restrictions that govern how Iranians dress, behave, speak and assemble.

Nevertheless, Iran's two leading champions of the reform movement, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi and former parliament Speaker Mehdi Karoubi, will urge voters to back him, a spokesman said.

"The two leaders, like in previous elections, will support the candidate backed by the pro-reform faction," said Ardeshir Amir-Arjomand, the Paris-based spokesman for the two men.

Another source close to the opposition leaders said that "Mousavi and Karoubi will announce their support for Rouhani a few days before the May 19 vote."

Khatami's backing

Rouhani has already won the backing of former President Mohammad Khatami, considered the spiritual leader of the reformists, who declared his support on his website on Tuesday.

Iranian newspapers and broadcasters are banned from publishing the former president's image or mentioning his name.

Many reformist voters will look for guidance to Mousavi and Karoubi, who both stood for president in 2009 when opposition to the disputed victory of hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to Iran's biggest mass demonstrations since its 1979 revolution.

Both men have been held under house arrest for six years, although neither has been convicted of a crime. Their pronouncements from their confinement are eagerly followed by reformists online.

Maryam Zare, a 19-year-old in Tehran who would be voting for president for the first time, said she would vote only if she heard a call to do so from Karoubi and Mousavi. "I will vote for whomever they support," she said.

Others said they would back Rouhani, but only reluctantly.

"He is part of the establishment. We have to vote for the lesser of evils," said music teacher Morad Behmanesh in the central city of Yazd. "What happened to Rouhani's promises of releasing the two opposition leaders from house arrest?"

Khamenei's authority

Under Iran's governing system, the elected president's powers are limited, circumscribed by the authority of the supreme leader, a position held since 1989 by hard-line cleric Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

During Rouhani's first term, the president won Khamenei's cautious backing for his nuclear deal. But persuading the leader to accept social change may be a more difficult task.

Some of Rouhani's allies say he will now be able to make more progress on his domestic agenda if he wins a clear, fresh mandate for another four-year term, which would prove to the hard-liners that the public wants change.

"Iranians want to be free and live freely. They are not against the Islamic Republic. People will continue to fight for their rights," a senior official in Rouhani's government said on condition of anonymity.

But international rights groups and activists in Iran say there were few if any moves to bring about greater political and social freedoms during Rouhani's first term.

Dozens of activists, journalists, bloggers and artists were jailed on political grounds.

Rouhani often suggests that he has no control over such arrests, carried out by the mostly hard-line judiciary and the Revolutionary Guards, a powerful military force.

"I have lost my hope over Rouhani's ability to reform the country. His main focus has been economy, not improving civil rights," said Reza, 28, a reformist who was jailed briefly after the 2009 election and asked that his surname not be published for security reasons.

The president has had some success on promises to loosen internet restrictions, but access to social media remains officially blocked, although Rouhani, Khamenei and other officials have their own Twitter accounts.

Human Rights Watch said last year that Rouhani had failed to deliver on his promise of greater respect for civil and political rights. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists in 2015 said that more journalists were in jail in Iran than in any country other than China and Egypt.

Prisoner total undisclosed

The total number of political prisoners held in Iranian jails has not been disclosed. About a dozen people who also hold other nationalities have been jailed for what rights groups consider political offenses.

"Whoever wins Iran's presidential election should prioritize improving the country's dismal human rights situation," said Louis Charbonneau, U.N. director at Human Rights Watch. "Iran has maintained the highest per capita execution rate in the world for years. ... It put 530 people to death last year, many for drug offenses and a number of them minors."

Rouhani benefits because reformist voters have no other choice on the ballot, where candidates are vetted by a hard-line body.

Reformist voters will have to judge him in the context of what is possible under the system, said Saeed Leylaz, a prominent economist imprisoned under Ahmadinejad for criticizing economic policy, who is now close to Rouhani's government.

"Rouhani's failure to fully deliver his promises on social reforms will impact the vote ... but Iranians are well aware of his limitations and his achievements."
Jerry Garcia's custom-made guitar is truckin' to auction in New York City.



The Grateful Dead frontman's guitar is called Wolf. Guernsey's auction house says it'll be offered May 31 at Brooklyn Bowl, a bowling alley, restaurant and venue for music shows.



The proceeds will go to the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center .



The guitar is being sold by devoted Deadhead Daniel Pritzker. The philanthropist, musician and film director bought it in 2002 at Guernsey's for $790,000. It could exceed $1 million this time.



The auctioneer says Wolf first appeared in a 1973 New York performance the Grateful Dead gave for the Hells Angels.



Garcia played Wolf everywhere from San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom to New York's Palladium and Egypt's Great Pyramids.



The 1977 film "The Grateful Dead Movie'' was directed by Garcia and features extensive Wolf footage.



Garcia died in 1995.
In Aleppo, Syria, while the Assad regime destroyed the city and its inhabitants, many civilians risked their lives to rescue the injured and pull the dead from the rubble. Since 2013, these volunteers have created the Syrian Civil Defense, known as The White Helmets. Syrian filmmaker Feras Fayyad delivers a testimonial of their sacrifices. VOAs Penelope Poulou spoke with Fayyad.
A U.S. judge has scheduled the trial of Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman  for years his country's most wanted man  on drug trafficking and conspiracy charges for April 16, 2018.

U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan in Brooklyn federal court acknowledged at a hearing Friday that the date was "somewhat aspirational" and could be delayed, given the complexity of the case and the amount of evidence that lawyers must review ahead of trial.

The hearing came the day after Cogan refused to order Guzman released from solitary confinement in a New York City federal prison, where his court-appointed lawyers have said he faces needlessly harsh and restrictive conditions that make it difficult for him to mount his defense.

The judge did, however, rule that Guzman could send pre-screened letters to his wife, Emma Coronel, who was present at Friday's hearing. She has not been allowed to visit him.

Michelle Gelernt, one of Guzman's lawyers, again brought up the conditions of Guzman's imprisonment at Friday's hearing, saying it was difficult to review evidence because lawyers were only allowed to speak to Guzman through a plexiglass barrier.

Cogan said he would send a magistrate judge to look at the room where Guzman meets with his lawyers and make recommendations about how the problem could be overcome, though he said he did not want to "micro-manage" the prison.

Guzman also said at the hearing, through an interpreter, that he understood that four of the witnesses expected to testify against him had previously been represented by the same federal public defender's office that represents him, though not by the same attorneys, raising the possibility of conflicts of interest.

He said he wished to keep his attorneys nonetheless.

All four of those witnesses, whose names have not been disclosed, are currently serving prison sentences in the U.S., Coogan said.

Guzman, who sold oranges as a child before turning to the drug trade in the 1970s, was extradited from Mexico to the United States to face drug trafficking charges on Jan. 19. He had previously escaped from two Mexican prisons.

In his most recent escape in 2015, Guzman walked out of prison through a mile-long, highly engineered tunnel from his cell, a sign of the huge influence he was able to wield even from behind bars.
After six months of intensified repairs, Iraqi officials claim the massive Mosul Dam has been saved from impending disaster. But experts say it will always be at risk of collapse and will need constant maintenance.



"There remains no danger to the dam now," Hassan Janabi, Iraq's minister of water resources, told VOA. "It is with overwhelming happiness to announce that it is going back to normal operation."



The 13-kilometer-long dam on the Tigris River in northern Iraq is the Middle East's second-largest dam. Concerns over its instability have been persistent since its construction in 1981  when it was known as the Saddam Dam  due to the fact that it was built on a soft landscape, and there have been continuing questions about shoddy work when it was built.



Located 60 kilometers north of Mosul, the dam received international attention after Islamic State took control of it for several weeks in 2014. After U.S.-backed Kurdish peshmerga forces pushed IS from the dam area, experts warned it was in dire condition and could unleash a trillion-gallon wave of water on 1.5 million people in Iraqi's two largest cities, Mosul and the capital, Baghdad.





'No significant signs of distress'



Italian company Trevi started repairs in October 2016. Carlo Crippa, the project manager, said the dam structure now shows no significant signs of distress. However, constant maintenance will be necessary, as "the rocks of the foundations are prone to dissolution due to the circulation of water."



The five waterways that control the flow of water into the dam are open, after being closed for over 12 years, and Minister Janabi said water levels are now at the highest level since 2005.



Despite these assurances, experts who have studied the dam structure say it remains far from safe.



"There is always a chance that water is going to migrate," said Azzam Alwash, an Iraqi-American civil engineer who has served as an adviser on the dam. He said 24 sinkholes remain in the dam's reservoir, making it vulnerable to pressure from water flows.



"This is a dam tantamount to a nuclear bomb," Alwash said. "Are you going to take the risk of keeping your family in a place where it can sink under as much as 15 meters of water in a matter of hours? I'm not."



More serious risk



Nadhir al-Ansari, professor of water resources and environmental engineering at Lulea University in Sweden and a published expert on the Mosul Dam, agreed that the risk is serious.



"There is no guarantee the dam will ever be safe. Studies done on the dam all show that its collapse is imminent," he said. "The minister may say it's safe because Iraq is already past the flooding season, which peaks in April and ends in May. You will have the same problem every year in April."



To fill the cavities that form underneath the concrete, engineers have injected the dam with more than 50,000 tons of grout, a liquefied mixture of cement and other additives, since it opened in 1986.



"The grouting solution by the Italian company is only a temporary measure for emergency fixes," al Ansari said. "When they block a cavity in one place, it appears in another place. This is something that can't be stopped.  The only solution is to build another [dam] close to it."



Such an effort began in 1988 with the construction of Badush Dam, 12 kilometers away. It was 40 percent complete before work was halted in 1992 due to U.N. sanctions on Iraq.



Apart from building a new water-containment system to relieve the strain on Mosul Dam, Alwash said "the solution is to empty the reservoir." To do that, Iraq would have to reach out to neighbor states upstream on the Tigris River  especially Turkey  to control the influx of water.



"Don't put more money into repairing it," he said. "Put political will to work with neighboring countries on water management."



For now, Janabi said teams of experts will continue to monitor the dam's stability. He said he is confident "in our ability to manage the dam under all difficult circumstances."
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari attended weekly prayers Friday, a development that eased but did not eliminate concerns about his poor health and its impact on the country.



This was the first time in three weeks that Buhari came to worship in the mosque, located inside the presidential villa in Abuja.The president had earlier missed three consecutive Wednesday cabinet meetings.



VOA's Hausa Service reporter, Umar Farouk Musa, said Buhari appeared hearty and cheerful as he greeted other worshippers at the end of prayers Friday.

Isiayku Ibrahim, an influential northern politician who sat next to Buhari in the mosque, said the president's ability to recognize and chat with individuals during the interaction indicates that he is still in control of his senses.



A national lawmaker from Buhari's own Katsina state, Senator Abu Ibrahim, who also attended the prayer service, cautioned against reaching quick decisions on the president's health. He said reports that Buhari was incapacitated in any way have now been proved wrong.



Despite the assurances, Nigerians continue to express concern over the president's health.



In mid-January, Buhari turned over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and flew to London, where he spent nearly two months being treated for an unspecified illness. When he returned to Abuja in March, he warned Nigerians that he may be forced to rest from time to time.



Lately, there have been calls from lawmakers, opposition governors and critics for the president to return to Britain for medical care. Some have called on him to resign or be impeached due to his inability to govern effectively.



The reluctance of Nigerian government officials to speak about Buhari's health has only heightened the concern.



Information minister Lai Mohammed stated that the president was "resting and working from home." The minister also said the president was doing this "on the orders of his doctors."



Buhari's wife, Aisha, announced last week on her Twitter page that the president's situation was not "as bad as it was made to look."
Insurance companies have been asked to issue fresh policies for second hand high-end cars only after the NOC given by transport authority is issued.

By Ajay Kumar: Delhi Police have directed insurance companies to issue fresh policies for second hand high-end cars only after the NOC given by transport authority is issued.

Senior police officers have recently held a meeting of all insurance companies in Delhi, where officials raised concern over frequent stealing of SUVs. They had discussed various methods to pin gangs operating in this field.

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"The gangs active in Delhi and NCR used to steal luxury cars and sell them after tampering with the engine and chassis numbers and replacing their registration number plates with number plates of insured vehicles, which they purchased under a 'total loss' scheme. They also look for cars which met with accidents to achieve their purpose," said an official.

Officials admitted that many gangs from Mewat have been operating here.

MAYAPURI BIGGEST AUTO-LIFTERS' HUB

The official said the roles of scrap dealers are equally important and hence they have also asked to inform transport authorities about the sale and purchase of scrap cars.

Sources said Mayapuri is the biggest hub where auto-lifters used to obtain engine and chassis number of dismantled vehicles and keep their papers with them instead of depositing them with the transport authority. Besides, Meerut is another place where they conducted the illegal practices.

"As per one of the directions, Delhi Police have asked insurance companies to inform transport authority once a person has claimed total loss of the policy. In such circumstance, vehicles should go for dismantling process and insurance companies will have to ensure about renewal of insurance," he said.

According to market capitalisation in Delhi and NCR cities, around 1 lakh high-end luxury vehicles are getting registered and five to seven per cent of them are stolen every year. Since, the auto parts of high-end vehicles have lesser demand in scrap market, it is a constraint of auto lifters to sell them off as whole. Delhi Police have registered 36,137 cases of stolen vehicles in city in 2016 while the figure in 2015 was 30,857 and 22 per cent of them are cars and SUVs.

ALSO READ | Delhi Police busts auto lifters' gang, recovers 20 luxurious cars

ALSO READ | Demonetisation drive gives Delhi's second-hand car market a boost

--- ENDS ---
North Korea on Friday accused the governments of the United States and South Korea of carrying out an unsuccessful assassination attempt against leader Kim Jong Un.

State media reports quoted the country's security ministry as saying it would "ferret out and mercilessly destroy" the agents in the U.S. and South Korean spy agencies it accuses of plotting the attack.

A cash deal

According to the Ministry of State Security, American and South Korean spies coerced a North Korean citizen into carrying out the assassination attempt in return for money and supplied the would-be assassin with satellite equipment to track Kim's movement.

The cooperation between spies and the North Korean man, identified only by his surname, Kim, allegedly began in 2014 when agents approached him while he was working in Russia.

Upon returning home, the spies allegedly had repeated contact with the man, and last month informed him he would use a biochemical weapon to carry out the assassination.

No details revealed

The North Korean statement did not provide details about how it allegedly broke up the assassination plot or if anyone else involved was in custody. North Korea regularly lashes out at the U.S. and South Korea, though the allegations lodged Friday were more specific than usual.

The CIA declined to comment on the allegations.

Earlier this year, Kim's exiled half-brother was assassinated at a Malaysian airport in a similar fashion to that described by the security ministry. The chemical attack, using the VX agent, is largely believed to have been carried out by North Korea, though the country denies involvement.
An employee of the United Nations has been kidnapped by a dissident rebel faction in southern Colombia, marring a visit by the U.N. Security Council Thursday to show support for the South American nation's recent peace deal.



President Juan Manuel Santos' administration said that the Colombian national was working on a crop substitution project in the southern state of Guaviare when he was taken captive late Wednesday.

Rodrigo Pardo, the president's top aide for post-conflict planning, said the captors are a unit of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who refused to lay down their weapons as part of a peace deal last year.



"These people live thanks to drugs and they want to continue living that way,'' Pardo said, adding that the incident wouldn't stop the government in its goal of eradicating cocaine crops in areas once dominated by the FARC.



A group of U.N. officials in coordination with Colombian authorities was attempting to negotiate the worker's release.



"Obviously the situation when someone's been kidnapped, the less we say the better,'' U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said when asked about the hostage. "What I will tell you is that we're obviously in touch with the Colombian authorities to help secure the person's release.''



Santos met Thursday with ambassadors to the U.N. Security Council who are in the country to demonstrate their commitment to ending a half-century war that has caused more than 220,000 deaths and displaced nearly 6 million people



In January 2016, the Colombian government and the FARC jointly asked the United Nations to monitor any cease-fire and disarmament process - a rare request to the U.N. for help. Currently, some 450 U.N. observers are spread out more than 20 rebel camps nationwide overseeing the laying down of weapons by the guerrillas.



But the process is slow going and has run into logistical hurdles as well as delays by the government in approving and implementing legislation mandated by the peace deal.



FARC leader Ivan Marquez said in an interview this week with Red Mas Noticias that if needed, the two sides would extend the May 31 deadline to complete the demobilization process, adding that the rebels won't begin turning over their arms until the government follows through on its commitment to free hundreds of jailed rebels subject to an amnesty.



British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, who is co-leading the visit, said the U.N. would remain in Colombia as long as it takes to secure peace.
Relatives and lawyers of jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez want the Red Cross to verify his health and are seeking to bring President Nicolas Maduro's government before a Spanish court for alleged terrorism crimes.

Spain's laws allow judges to take on cases for crimes committed outside of the country as long as the victims are Spanish, although very few have succeeded.



The family's lawyers said Friday that at least two opposition leaders with Spanish passports are being held in Venezuelan prisons in circumstances similar to Lopez's.

Lopez 'unrecognizable' in video

Lopez's father and sister also said they doubt the veracity of the video released Thursday by the leader of the ruling socialist party in Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, in response to rumors spreading online about Lopez's health.

In the video, Lopez appears unrecognizable, said Diana Lopez, the opposition leader's sister. We have big doubts about this video and we don't accept it as proof of him being alive.

Venezuela is being roiled by almost-daily protests that have shaken Maduro's grip on power and left more than 30 people dead.

The crackdown by security forces is the bloodiest since Lopez led weeks of protests in 2014, for which he was jailed and later sentenced to nearly 14 years for what are widely seen as trumped-up charges of inciting violence.

They are fearful of Leopoldo's words. That's why they condemned him, they imprisoned him and now they keep him isolated, the sister said, adding that Lopez hasn't received a visit from relatives or lawyers since April 7.

Family asks Red Cross for help

The Lopez family's Spanish lawyers wrote to the International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC, asking the organization to verify, through a direct personal contact, the whereabouts and health of Lopez.



The organization hadn't received an official request by Friday evening, but individual appeals don't change the organization's strategy of requesting access to detention centers in Venezuela and elsewhere to verify that the conditions are humane and that detainees are treated with dignity and respect, ICRC Spokesman Marco Yuri Jimenez said.

The lawyers also announced that they would take the cases of two imprisoned Spaniards in Venezuela, Andrea Gonzalez and Yon Goicoechea, hoping to prompt action by the anti-terrorism prosecutor in Spain against Venezuelan authorities and later expand the case to other prisoners, including Lopez himself.

If the government is arming paramilitary groups, allowing them and encouraging them, then authorities are also responsible for the crimes committed by these terrorists, said Alberto Ruiz Gallardon, a member of the legal team and former justice minister.
A U.N. rights expert visiting Saudi Arabia as part of an unprecedented invitation by the government to assess the country's legislation and actions in fighting terrorism said Thursday that he was not given access to imprisoned bloggers and activists.

Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson said he was, however, given rare access to top officials overseeing the country's handling of sensitive terrorism cases, including those of human rights defenders serving sentences under sweeping security legislation.

In his preliminary findings , Emmerson expressed concern about reports of the use of torture to extract confessions and due process violations by the Specialized Criminal Court, established to try terrorism cases.

Speaking with The Associated Press from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Emmerson said: "The picture is extremely mixed."

He said the Saudi government has gone to incredible lengths to humanely rehabilitate Saudis convicted in terrorism cases, while at the same time it has prosecuted and jailed citizens who have spoken out, under broadly worded anti-terrorism legislation.

Acts deemed dangerous

In 2014, Saudi Arabia issued a law that allows the kingdom to prosecute as a terrorist anyone who demands reform, exposes corruption or otherwise engages in dissent by deeming these as acts that could undermine national security.

Emmerson said he made clear during his conversations with Saudi officials that the kingdom's current definition of terrorism falls short of international standards.

He described the prison conditions for those convicted of terrorist activities as "far-sighted, imaginative, extremely well-sourced" and more humane than any other place he's seen in the world handling terrorism suspects. Many of them are young men who did not engage in deadly acts inside the kingdom, but had planned to join extremist groups or fought abroad and returned disillusioned.

"On the other side of the coin, there's the darker side of Saudi Arabia and in particular the potentially pervasive culture of fear and the fact that individuals are being imprisoned for the exercise of the right to freedom of speech and opinion," he said.

His request to meet these individuals was denied. The government cited technical reasons for denying him his request, he said.

Jailed blogger

Among those Emmerson requested to see was Raif Badawi, the liberal Saudi blogger whose public flogging drew international condemnation. Badawi is serving 10 years in prison for insulting the kingdom's powerful ultraconservatives on his blog.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's de-radicalization program is among the most revolutionary for its handling of would-be and former terrorists. Its program focuses on changing the mindsets of people lured to extremism.

A key element of the kingdom's rehabilitation program is the Mohammed bin Nayef Center. There, men who have already served their prison sentences are permitted in some cases to attend important family events, given psychological care and have access to a pool, gym and even art therapy.

While there is no indication Saudi Arabia is on the verge of changing its definition of terrorism to exclude political speech, Emmerson welcomed the U.N. visit as a step in the right direction.

"The most important indication is that they invited me to come to Saudi Arabia to review their counterterrorism provisions," he said.
A deal to establish de-escalation zones in Syria went into effect at midnight Friday (2100 UTC). Russia says the zones are now closed to aircraft from the U.S.-led coalition.

U.S. Defense Department spokesman Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway told VOA on Friday that "we certainly welcome any effort, any international effort to reduce the violence, to allow humanitarian assistance to reach those areas of Syria that need them, and ultimately a political resolution to the ongoing crisis there."

He continued with a warning: "I should point out that there will be no sanctuary for ISIS." He said the work "with partnered forces on the ground to defeat ISIS and to reclaim their so-called capitals in Iraq and Syria will continue unabated."

Alexander Lavrentyev, Russia's envoy to the peace talks in Kazakhstan, said Friday in remarks covered by Russian media that "the operation of aviation in the de-escalation zones, especially of the forces of the international coalition, is absolutely not envisaged, either with notification or without," he said. "This question is closed."

Russia, Turkey and Iran agreed to a Moscow-proposed deal Thursday to establish the so-called de-escalation zones in Syria to try to end the six-year conflict.

Representatives of the three Syria cease-fire guarantor nations signed a memorandum to that effect at the end of the latest round of peace talks in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

The proposal calls for taking measures to reduce fighting in four designated areas of Syria where rebels not associated with Islamic State terrorists control significant territory.





Progress on peace?

Despite what appears to be progress after four rounds of talks in Astana, there remains a great deal of skepticism about whether such a deal can be implemented.

No details were released on how the three countries, which support different sides in the conflict, would attempt to end the violence. And while the Syrian government voiced its support for the agreement, neither Damascus nor the Syrian rebels signed any deal.

Members of the Syrian opposition delegation in Astana walked out of the meeting Thursday shouting their dissatisfaction with Iran being part of the talks. The head of the opposition delegation, Mohammed Alloush, did not attend the second day of talks.

The rebel delegation suspended its participation Wednesday over ongoing airstrikes, but members returned to the table for the final day of talks.

While Russia and Iran support the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey backs the rebels.





Turkey - Russia agree on Syria

But during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans joint news briefing with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi Wednesday, Erdogan concentrated on condemning terrorism rather than Assads government.

Despite an earlier fallout over Syria, Putin declared a returning to normal cooperation with Turkey and expressed confidence they could set up de-escalation zones.

But analysts say there is much yet to be negotiated on Syria and remaining differences between Turkey and Russia.

The United States and some Arab countries back rebel groups that want to overthrow Assad. The U.S. sent its highest level official yet to observe the talks in Astana - Acting Assistant Secretary of State Stuart Jones.

The Kremlins plan is similar to calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for safe zones in Syria, and Putin said Trump seemed to support the idea when the leaders talked Tuesday by phone.

More details, concerns and objections are expected to be aired in the coming weeks.

Kazakhstans Foreign Ministry said the next round of expanded Syria talks in Geneva is set for late May while the next Russia, Turkey and Iran-brokered Astana meeting is set for mid-July.
Rob Dunn is trying to prevent squash heart attacks.

Carried by the spotted cucumber beetle, a bacterial disease is giving squash, pumpkins, cucumbers and melons the botanical equivalent of clogged arteries. Wilting leaves are the first sign as the bacteria multiply in the plant's circulatory system. The disease can nearly wipe out a farmer's field.

"It's a bad way to die," Dunn said. "All your veins have been filled up with some bacteria."

Dunn, an ecologist at North Carolina State University, said the way we farm today makes it easy for this and other plant plagues to spread.

Modern farms raise just a few crops over wide areas. While they feed more people more affordably than ever, there are risks in this way of feeding the world.

For a hungry pathogen, a giant monoculture is "the holy land, right? It's unbelievable. You can eat from one end to the other," Dunn said.

'A story we repeat again and again'

The Irish potato famine of the 1840s is the worst-case scenario. About a million people died when a fungus wiped out the one crop on which most of the population subsisted.

That kind of catastrophe is rare. But Dunn says devastating disease outbreaks are an inevitable byproduct of modern agriculture.

"This is a story we repeat again and again," he said.

Dunn tells several of those stories in his new book, Never Out of Season.

One example: Henry Ford's rubber plantations. The auto pioneer planted millions of rubber trees on land carved out of the Brazilian Amazon in the 1930s. But pests and disease ravaged them again and again. Ford gave up in 1945. Fordlandia, as the first plantation was known, is now an abandoned ruin.

Then there's the fungus that nearly wiped out cocoa production in Brazil, a suspected bioterrorist attack that wrecked the economy and transformed the ecosystem; and the cassava mealybug that threatened Africa in the 1980s.

Prepare now

Still, Dunn says he doesn't expect agriculture to change anytime soon.

"People like cheap food," he said. "We feed more people than we ever have."

But, he added, we should be doing much more to prepare for the next inevitable plague.

That means collecting and preserving as many crop varieties as possible, plus their wild relatives. In addition, we need to know much more about the complex microbial ecosystem living in, on and around our crops.

"If there's a fungus on which the roots of squash depend, we don't know it. If there's a fungus that grows inside the squash plant that helps it defend itself, we don't know it. If there's a parasite that attacks the beetle that carries the bacteria, probably nobody's studying it," Dunn said. "And that's true for most of our crops."

The Great Pumpkin Project

Dunn is working to fill in some of those gaps.

And he wants the public to help.

Scientists don't know how far squash heart attack disease has spread, and they don't know where the beetles that carry the disease are from year to year. So, scientists want anyone growing squash  or pumpkins, melons, cucumbers or any of the other members of the family  to watch out for them.

The Great Pumpkin Project at the citizen-science site iNaturalist.org is looking for pictures of attacking insects and sick plants.

Dunn hopes to collect millions of images from around the world, which would help scientists get a better sense of "which of these beetles is living in which places and eating what."

And, hopefully, stay one step ahead of the next plant plague.
The United Nations Security Council has condemned in the strongest terms a rocket attack on the peacekeeping camp in Mali that killed one and wounded nine others.

The council is demanding the Malian government swiftly investigate the attack and bring those responsible to justice.

It stressed that under international law, targeting peacekeepers may be a war crime.

Islamic extremists calling themselves Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims is claiming responsibility for Wednesdays rocket attack on the camp in Timbuktu. A Liberian peacekeeper was killed.

Al-Qaida-linked militants were behind another rocket attack on the camp last year.

U.N. peacekeepers and French forces are helping Mali deal with the remnants of an Islamic insurgency in the north. Militants briefly took over the area in 2012 after a failed coup in Bamako.

The militants have also spread to southern Mali, along the border with Burkina Faso.

The Security Council reiterated its full support for the peacekeeping mission in Mali and urged all parties to fully implement the countrys peace agreement.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall.



When Pope Francis meets with President Donald Trump at the Vatican at the end of this month, the world will be watching how the Argentine "slum pope'' interacts with the brash, New York billionaire-turned-president.



On many issues and priorities, the two men couldn't be more different. Francis wants bridges between nations, not the walls Trump is building. Francis brought back a dozen Muslim Syrian refugees with him when he went to Greece last year, while Trump has tried to impose a travel ban on people from a half-dozen mostly Muslim nations.



The pope sleeps in a two-room hotel suite. Trump lived in a skyscraper with his name on it before being elected.



Francis wants to end the use of fossil fuels, while Trump has pledged to cancel payments to U.N. climate change programs and pull out of the Paris climate accord. U.S. bishops have praised the Trump administration for its anti-abortion stance, but have opposed Republican health care plans because of their impact on the poor.



Those issues and more are likely on the table when Trump arrives May 24 at the Apostolic Palace in Rome for the 8:30 a.m. audience that was announced Thursday.



Despite their obvious differences, Trump and Francis share a populist bent. Both were elected on reform mandates and speak with a simplicity that has endeared them to their bases. And both share a common concern about the plight of Christians in the Middle East at the hands of Islamic militants.



"They're both populists, but populists of a different kind,'' said Mathew Schmalz, associate professor of religious studies at The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. While agreeing they are both concerned about Islamic extremism, he said they differ in approaches and vision.



"I'm not sure the Vatican at this stage wants to play along with the role envisioned by ... Catholic advisers of Donald Trump, who want to resurrect the imagery of a civilizational conflict between Christianity and Islam,'' he said.



Yet in announcing his first foreign trip itinerary Thursday, which includes stops in Saudi Arabia and Israel, Trump said he chose Saudi Arabia as his first stop precisely because it's the home of two of the holiest sites in Islam. He said he wanted to "begin to construct a new foundation of cooperation and support with our Muslim allies to combat extremism, terrorism and violence and to embrace a more just and hopeful future for young Muslims in their countries.''





The thrice-married Trump was raised as a Presbyterian and described himself as a "religious person'' during his campaign, but often struggled to affirm his Christian credentials as he wooed the Evangelical voters who helped elect him.



Francis hasn't commented on Trump's presidency other than to say, on the day of his inauguration, that he'd take a wait-and-see approach. But Francis has railed against the "false forms of security'' promised by populist leaders who want to wall themselves off and has called for world leaders to seek a future of greater solidarity.



The two got off to a rocky start when, during the U.S. presidential campaign, Francis said anyone who wants to build a wall to keep out foreigners is "not Christian.'' Trump, who campaigned on plans to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico, shot back, saying it was "disgraceful'' for a religious leader to question someone's faith.



More recently, Francis has urged the U.S. and North Korea to step away from the brink and use negotiations and diplomacy to defuse tensions on the Korean peninsula.



Francis also wrote an entire encyclical about the environment and the moral imperative to save God's creation, denouncing how the wealthy had destroyed the Earth at the expense of the poor. At the end of the audience, he will most certainly hand over a copy of "Praise Be'' to Trump, who has sought to get rid of regulations he feels are burdensome to business.



Dennis Doyle, a professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton, said both men are seen by their supporters as having an authenticity that shakes up the status quo. But beyond that, there's not much in common, he said.



"I really don't see a lot of middle ground here,'' he said.



The Vatican and the White House have often had different views over the years. During the previous two papacies, divisive issues like abortion and homosexuality often defined relations between the White House and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops  which then carried over to U.S.-Holy See relations.



But the two always found ways to collaborate, promoting initiatives to fight human trafficking and working to bridge the U.S. detente with Cuba.



U.S. bishops did strongly challenge the Obama administration's health care mandate requiring insurance coverage for birth control. Trump on Thursday signed an executive order promising "regulatory relief'' for groups with religious objections to the requirement.
May the 4th be with you, Laura Dern, and darn all the mystery surrounding the character you'll play as one of the latest additions to the Star Wars galaxy.

The actress, in New York on Thursday to support a family health-focused global initiative, was tight-lipped about her role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which opens in December.

"What I can say is I had the time of my life," Dern told The Associated Press. "I felt like an 8-year-old every day at work, to go to work and be in makeup and hair and walk out in this community of people and, you know, be in a studio where you look down the corridor and you see Chewbacca!"

The mind, Dern said, "melts and you feel like you're at play."

Academy position

Dern, who has twice been nominated for Oscars, offered no resolution on another front: a Variety report that she's among the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board members under consideration to run for president after the term of Cheryl Boone Isaacs expires in July.

Variety cited sources it did not identify as saying Dern is interested. And Dern's take?

"It was news to me. If it came from anyone at the academy, what a gorgeous compliment," she said.

Dern joined the board last July amid industry tumult over diversity. She would be the fourth woman to serve in the top spot, after Isaacs, Bette Davis and Fay Kanin. Candidates usually don't campaign for the unpaid, four-year post.

"I would love to be more and more involved for the rest of my life but don't know that that should have any predefined title," Dern said. "I'm definitely learning on the fly a great deal."

Support for women, families

When it comes to motherhood  Dern has a 15-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter  she's a font of support for women and families, serving as an ambassador for the annual Johnson & Johnson and United Nations Foundation digital fundraising campaign called the Global Moms Relay.

From May 3 to June 16, parents, community leaders, experts and celebrities are sharing personal stories about issues impacting families, with J&J donating a $1  up to $500,000  for every social media tweet, share or like. Among five causes that benefit are UNICEF and nonprofits that help girls and provide nets in the fight against malaria in Africa and elsewhere.

"A child's right to their own health and well-being should be their birthright," Dern said. "It's a nonpartisan issue."

Dern was especially touched by TV talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel's recent outpouring of emotion and support for health care for all when he revealed his newborn son's heart surgery. Dern's own son required surgery soon after birth.

"Once you've gone through anything where you're afraid as a parent and you're in a community of other parents in terror, like at a neonatal intensive care unit," she said, "you realize the fragility and the good fortune that we have to have a healthy family, or to have the privilege of health care when you need it."
A defused grenade was recovered in a well during a routine operation.

By Asian News International: A defused grenade was found in the premises of the Red Fort in the national capital on Thursday evening, triggering an alert.

The grenade was recovered in a well during a routine operation.

A team of National Security Agency and District Commissioner of Police (DCP) reached the spot and a massive search was launched to sweep the area.

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The grenade has been taken in for investigation, upon which it will be decided if it belonged to the World War era.

Earlier in February, ammunition and boxes of explosives were found during cleaning of a well inside Red Fort.

The discovery triggered panic, prompting police to cordon off the area and inform the NSG.

Also Read:

Live rounds, explosives discovered from a well in Red Fort complex

Book traces alternative histories of Delhi monuments

Explosives seized at Palghar raise security concerns for Tarapur atomic plant

Also Watch:

Defused grenade recovered from Red Fort, bomb disposal squad on spot

--- ENDS ---
Each year, the Emerging Young Leaders Award program at the State Department recognizes 10 people from around the world for their courage in resolving conflict, promoting security and creating economic opportunity in challenging environments.

Mark Taplin, acting assistant secretary for educational and cultural affairs, said any complaints about self-absorption among millennials doesn't apply to these 10.

Our honorees are climbing mountains that other 20-somethings would typically not do. Theyre ascending to new heights through courage and conviction that few would aspire to reach, and especially at their age, Taplin said of the honorees, who must range from 18 to 25 years old.

Victim to changemaker

Some of the winners come from dangerous and difficult places.

Moises Salazar Vila comes from the high-crime province of Callao, Peru. He developed a crime-fighting mobile app that transformed him from victim to change-maker.

"Several times I have very bad experience with criminals," Salazar Vila told VOA. "So when I was working when I was young, I realized that maybe I can do something against this kind of problem."

He initially wanted to study computer programing at a university but was stymied by "economical problems," Salazar said. Self-taught in software and programing, he said he "discovered my way" and created the application Reach for Crime. He said he's also working on another project.

Salazar Vila said he ended up doing this on his own, but I feel like I must do it. It was a big thing. But I feel like if I have a chance to do something against this [crime], I must do it.

Watch video report:

Positive change

Amel Mohandi helped children with cancer and created a web TV program for youth. She told VOA she was honored to represent Algeria.

My inspiration for doing my project is to make a positive change in my community and make young people in communication, Mohandi said. So in the future, I hope that my web TV becomes a platform for different organizations. That we can talk about sensitive and different humanitarian causes like refugees, children, women, and young people because I believe that young people are the future of Algeria.

Asked about what she thinks the situation will be like for girls and women in Afghanistan 10 years from now, Gharsanay IbnulAmeen told VOA she is very optimistic.

We are giving leadership workshops to girls ages 14 to 19 that [as] women, they find their potential. And then this project is a path or a way for them to see their capabilities, to build upon those skills, to make the changes possible, to dream big, to take actions, to be the policymakers, be the leaders, IbnulAmeen said.

Despite formidable challenges, the young winners envision a bright future, with youth on every continent leading the way.

The winners are:
The call of the wild is getting harder to hear.

Peaceful, natural sounds  bird songs, rushing rivers and rustling grass  are sometimes being drowned out by noise from people in many of America's protected parks and wilderness areas, a new study finds.

Scientists measured sound levels at 492 places  from city parks to remote federal wilderness. They calculated that in nearly two-thirds of the Lower 48's parks, the noise can at times be twice the natural background level because of airplanes, cars, logging, mining and oil and gas drilling.

That increase can harm wildlife, making it harder for them to find food or mates, and make it harder for people to hear those natural sounds, the researchers said. Colorado State University biologist George Wittemyer said people hear only half the sounds that they would in natural silence.

They're being drowned out, said Wittemyer, a co-author of the research.

In about 1 in five public lands, there's a tenfold increase in noise pollution, according to the study in Thursday's journal Science .

It's something that's sort of happening slowly, Wittemyer said.

Sounds are crucial

Except for city parks, though, the researchers are not talking about sound levels that people would consider unusually loud. Even the tenfold increases they write about are often the equivalent of changing from the quiet of a rural area to a still pretty silent library.

But that difference masks a lot of sounds that are crucial, especially to birds seeking mates and animals trying to hunt or avoid being hunted, Wittemyer said. And it does make a difference for peace of mind for people, he said.

Being able to hear the birds, the waterfalls, the animals running through the grasslands ... the wind going through the grass, Wittemyer said. Those are really valuable and important sounds for humans to hear and help in their rejuvenation and their self-reflection.

No escaping the noise

For study lead author Rachel Buxton, a Colorado State conservation biology researcher, it can be personal. She points to a Thanksgiving weekend hike last year with her husband in the La Garita Wilderness in southern Colorado.

We went to escape the crowds. We went to be totally isolated and have a real wilderness experience, Buxton recalled. As we're hiking, aircraft goes overhead. You're walking along and you can hear the jet coming for ages.

The research team, which includes a special unit of the National Park Service, not only measured sounds across the U.S., but they also used elaborate computer programs and artificial learning systems to determine what sounds were natural and which were made by people.

'Study makes perfect sense'

The study makes perfect sense to me, George Mason University biology professor David Luther, who wasn't part of the research. He said in an email that he's noticed more noise at many sites throughout the U.S.

Olympic National Park is currently suffering high amounts of noise pollution from military flight trainings low over the park and visitors have been complaining loudly about the diminished wilderness experience, he wrote.

But there are still some places where you can get away from it all, Buxton said, highlighting Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to be Army secretary has withdrawn his name from consideration due to complaints about comments he has made disparaging minority groups, including gays and transgender people.

The White House confirmed Friday that Mark Green was no longer being considered for the top civilian leadership position in the U.S. Army.



Green, a state senator in Tennessee, said in a statement that opposition to his appointment was based on "false and misleading attacks."

The former Army physician was criticized as an unsuitable leader for the nation's largest military service based on a widely seen video of him speaking last September in Tennessee to a group affiliated with the Tea Party, a group of fiscally and socially conservative Republicans. In his remarks, Green said people who are transgender - those born as members of one biological sex who identify themselves socially as the other gender - suffer from a "disease."

Green also assailed what he contended is the "indoctrination of Islam" in some American public schools, and said his "life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterized" by his opponents.

Critics: 'Green unfit to lead Army'

Secretary of the Army is not a Cabinet-level post, but reports to the secretary of defense, but the appointment is made by the president and must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The post of Army secretary also is different from that of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking uniformed position in the U.S. military.

Gay activist groups, the Human Rights Campaign, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and a number of Democratic senators have spoken out against Green.

Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a combat veteran in Iraq who lost her legs and partial use of her right arm in the military, said that despite his own military service, including three tours of duty in the Middle East, Green has since shown himself to be unfit to lead the Army.

There was no formal reaction to Green's withdrawal by the Pentagon, but earlier in the day a spokesman declined to say whether Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general, still supported the president's nominee, The Washington Post reported.

Green's withdrawal is 'good news' - Schumer

The Tennessee physician was President Trump's second nominee for Army secretary. His original choice, Wall Street billionaire Vincent Viola, because of what he said were difficulties in complying with Pentagon rules forbidding potential conflicts of interest involving officeholders' financial interests. Following that episode, Green was nominated on April 7.

Trump's original choice to be Navy secretary, Philip Bilden, withdrew from consideration in February, for similar reasons, but no replacement has yet been named.

The Democratic Party leader in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York, welcomed Green's decision to withdraw on Friday, saying this was "good news for all Americans, especially those who were personally vilified by his disparaging comments directed toward the LGBTQ community, Muslim community, Latino community and more."
President Donald Trump on Friday signed a $1 trillion spending bill that keeps the federal government funded through September and averts a government shutdown.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the signing of the legislation, which Congress passed overwhelmingly.

The bill keeps the government funded through the rest of the fiscal year, which ends September 30, and prevents a shutdown of many parts of the federal government that would have begun at midnight.

The legislative victory took weeks of negotiations between congressional leaders and the White House.

The final legislation boosts U.S. military spending and provides increased funding for U.S. border security, but it sidesteps many of the promises Trump and Republican lawmakers made.

It provides no money for constructing a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, and it continues funding for Planned Parenthood, a women's health organization that performs abortions.

Many conservative Republicans saw the bill as a lost opportunity that gave minority Democrats too many concessions.

The appropriations bill was supposed to have been agreed upon by last October 1, but it was delayed until now, with Congress passing a succession of stopgap measures.

Trump praised the spending bill on Twitter earlier this week, but also said the government "needs a good 'shutdown' in September," when lawmakers will be debating the 2018 funding plan.

The U.S. government has not shut down since October 2013. Many agencies were closed for 16 days in a policy and funding dispute over former President Barack Obama's national health care reform legislation.
U.S. President Donald Trump met with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in an effort to smooth relations that started off rocky after a dispute over immigrants. The meeting took place Thursday before a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. In that World War II battle, the United States and Australia together fought the Japanese navy in the Pacific Ocean. VOA's Zlatica Hoke reports.
The U.N. special envoy on extrajudicial executions Friday issued a veiled rebuke of Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes deadly campaign against illegal drugs, saying world leaders have recognized that such an approach does not work.



Agnes Callamard told a forum in Manila that badly thought out policies not only fail to address drug abuse and trafficking, they also compound the problems and can foster a regime of impunity infecting the whole justice sector and reaching into whole societies, invigorating the rule of violence rather than law.



She did not mention the Philippines by name.

Early critic of anti-drug campaign

Callamard is an early critic of the Philippine presidents anti-drug drive, and has been challenged by Duterte to debate his war on drugs that has left thousands of suspected drug dealers and users dead since he took office in June.



Human rights groups say 7,000 to 9,000 have been killed, but the government refutes that, releasing data this week showing nearly 4,600 people were killed in police operations and homicides found to be drug-related.



In 2016, the general assembly of the worlds government recognized explicitly that the war on drugs  be it community based, national or global  does not work, Callamard said.



She said that other factors exacerbate the problem, including poorly conceived policies, extrajudicial killings, deaths by criminal gangs, vigilante crimes, detention in rehabilitation centers without trial or evaluation and the breakdown of the rule of law.



She said U.N. member countries, in their joint commitment last year to counter the world drug problem, called instead for a multifaceted, scientific approach that promotes the dignity and human rights of individuals and communities.

No meeting with officials



Duterte spokesman Ernesto Abella expressed disappointment that Callamard did not contact the government before her visit, saying she has sent a clear signal that she is not interested in getting an objective perspective of issues that are the focus of her responsibility.



He said the government sent a letter to Callamard in September inviting her to visit and meet with officials to get their perspective on the drug menace. Abella failed to mention that Duterte earlier rejected Callamards proposal to hold a private meeting and instead insisted on a public debate with her.



Callamard refused to answer questions from media except to say that she was in the country in an unofficial capacity, solely to attend a two-day academic conference at the invitation of the University of the Philippines and human rights lawyers.



She invited all parties, including the government, to participate fully and take stock of what is going to be debated.
The leaders of a House of Representatives probe of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election said they had a successful hearing on Thursday, projecting unity after a partisan division had threatened to derail their investigation.

Representatives Mike Conaway, the new Republican leader of the House Intelligence Committee probe, and Adam Schiff, the top Democrat, addressed reporters together after Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey and Admiral Mike Rogers, the director of the National Security Agency, testified at a classified hearing.

We had a very successful hearing, Conaway said.

Schiff said the witnesses had provided some additional insights, and the committee was working together very well.

Neither responded to questions.

Nunes recused himself

The committee's Republican chairman, Devin Nunes, recused himself from the investigation and was replaced by Conaway last month after a dispute caused Democrats to question whether Nunes could credibly lead a probe of possible Russian attempts to influence the election in favor of President Donald Trump.

Russia denies the allegations.

Nunes had infuriated Democrats by telling reporters, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan and Trump  before informing committee Democrats  that he had seen documents showing that the communications of Trump associates had been caught up in surveillance.

It later emerged that Nunes, a close Trump ally, obtained the information at the White House, after the Republican president pushed back against suspicions that Russia boosted his campaign by making the unsubstantiated accusation that former President Barack Obama had ordered a wiretap of Trump Tower in New York.

A joint statement

Schiff and Conaway later issued a joint statement on Thursday's classified hearing saying they remained committed to working with the FBI as it continues its investigation. They said they are currently sending out invitations for witnesses to testify and requesting documents.

They said they were looking forward to the next steps of the investigation, including an open hearing with former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and John Brennan, who was director of the Central Intelligence Agency under Obama.

Nunes cancelled that hearing when it was originally scheduled in late March, frustrating Democrats, but the committee has now promised it will take place at a still undetermined date.

Yates and Clapper are due to testify in the Senate on Monday.
The United States office that handles highway safety announced it would investigate complaints that brakes can malfunction on Nissan's popular Murano SUV.



According to documents released Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 60 people have complained that the brakes on their cars lose pressure when trying to stop on a low-friction surface.



Some drivers reported increased stopping distances after pushing the pedal all the way to the floor. The investigation will cover upwards of 100,000 Muranos from the 2009 model year.



In a statement, Nissan said it is cooperating with the probe and encouraged any drivers experiencing brake problems to visit their local Nissan dealership.



Some drivers cited in the complaint said they replaced the anti-lock brake hydraulic control unit in their SUVs and that apparently fixed the problem.



The investigation will determine if Nissan needs to issue a recall on the vehicles. The NHTSA said the problem generally involves older, higher mileage vehicles.
A senior State Department official said the United States continues to enjoy a very good relationship with Myanmar, amid speculation that the country is tilting toward China and even though de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi skipped a chance to meet Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington this week.

Tillerson hosted foreign ministers from the region Thursday, a gathering meant to reinforce the strategic partnership between the United States and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to the State Department.

In a call with reporters in the region, W. Patrick Murphy, the deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, dismissed suggestions that Suu Kyis absence was anything other than a scheduling conflict.

I want to emphasize that the United States and Myanmar, Burma, enjoy a very good relationship, Murphy said. The U.S. still calls the country Burma, which the military government changed to Myanmar in 1989.

Letter to Tillerson

Murphy said Suu Kyis national security adviser represented Myanmar and that he delivered a letter to Tillerson from Suu Kyi, though he did not elaborate on what the letter said.

He came with an explanation that State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi unfortunately had a previous commitment to international travel. Shes been in Europe this week. And that commitment was made before the meeting with the foreign ministers in Washington was arranged.

Barred from the presidency by a military-drafted constitution, Suu Kyi assumed the role of foreign minister and state counselor when her party came to power last year following democratic elections that ended more than two decades of military rule.

She had a close relationship with the Obama administration, which lavished attention upon Southeast Asia in general and Burma specifically, dropping remaining sanctions against the country.

President Donald Trumps administration has made efforts of late to reach out to ASEAN leaders. In addition to the Tillerson meeting, Trump issued separate invitations to Thai leader Prayuth Chan-ocha and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte to the White House, raising protests from human rights advocates.

Prayuth has presided over an increasingly draconian Thailand, while Duterte unleashed a war on drugs that has killed thousands.

Beyond human rights abuse?

Those invitations, combined with the lack of attention paid toward Myanmar and Trumps withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, have created the impression that the administration is willing to look past human rights abuses while also suggesting a lack of vision for the region.

The meeting Thursday was dominated by talk about disputed parts of the South China Sea and North Korea. Tillerson reportedly urged member states to distance themselves from Pyongyang.

Contrary to the clarity and pro-activity of the Obama administration policies toward Southeast Asia (TPP, human rights, etc.), Trumps policies toward ASEAN, and indeed toward Myanmar, have been bogged down in ambiguity, slow transfer of presidential power, State Department budget cuts and Trumps publicly spouted prioritization of America First, Paul Chambers, a lecturer at the College of ASEAN Community Studies in Thailand, said in an email.

It is small wonder that Myanmar seems to currently be tilting toward China. Why not? Beijing is eagerly offering huge amounts of investment and ODA [Official Development Assistance] while the Trump administration appears lost in interpreting its own foreign policy.

Myanmar and China

Myanmar recently inked an agreement to send oil to China via a pipeline, while China has been a factor in peace talks with ethnic armed groups.

Last month, a Chinese official told the Reuters news agency the government could help mediate a dispute between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh fleeing a deadly crackdown by Myanmars military as it seeks to rout a militant group responsible for attacks on border guard posts in October that killed nine police officers.

Earlier this week, however, a senior official with Myanmars ministry of foreign affairs told Reuters that we dont promote relations with any country at the expense of another.
Parents and college aspirants have started looking out for alternatives available within the Capital and outside without reservations.

By Mail Today Bureau: Moving away from the contemporary courses which University of Delhi has laid out for students, parents and college aspirants have started looking out for alternatives available within the Capital and outside without reservations.

Universities like Shiv Nadar, in a hurry to admit students, have asked them in a section in their admission forms to fill up the expected range of score in their board exams, and already picked the momentum of the admission process.

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Eliminating the tall financial requirements of private institutions and long-term plans of spending wholeheartedly on post-graduation, parents have decided to move on from the static range of courses central universities offer.

"I do not mind sending my student to a private college over Delhi University which has a rather odd set-up of 100-day attendance. Attendance holds little significance if the college is not taking extra initiatives to hone my child's skill set by the means of exchange programmes and international affiliations on their own. In addition to this, strikes by DUTA make headlines," said Pradeep Sharma, a parent who has been constantly seeking career counselling for his 19-year-old son.

THE PULL FACTORS

The instrumental and pro-active approach towards providing internships, interactive clubs, involvement in global fests, which is often missing at central universities, has also motivated parents to look at private institutions, said Rajesh Mishra, national head at Career Launcher. He added that engagement with industry offered by private institutions has also played a factor in decision making of several parents.

"Engagement and interaction in range of courses - which provide students with exposure - are motivating factors and have their own perks for young students," said Mishra.

The courses have also seen favouritism from students who have left seats at prestigious institutions to pursue a rather off-beat programme. "Pursuing a course like literature, identity and theatre in a private college was a refreshing experience for me. As interesting as it is, personality usually changes after our thinking changes, when our belief system is reformed," said Nikhar Sarogi, a student from Shiv Nadar University.

OFF-BEAT COURSES

Another college aspirant, Urvi Verma, said she is not restricting her options solely to central universities. "Delhi University might not guarantee me a seat. However, I can pursue the same course at Symbiosis and be on par with other aspiring commerce industry professionals."

The options become even more lucrative due to the availability of courses which are a mix of academics and creativity. Courses available this year are drugs and their mode of action, financial frauds - the capitalistic greed, India and world war one, philology and field work, poetry appreciation, BA(H) -international relations, BFA (visual communication), BA (mass communication - international).

Private colleges, like Amity University, have also offered some offbeat undergraduate programmes like anthropology, forensic sciences and organic agriculture which have also seen trickling of students to private institutions to study a course of their preference which not offered otherwise easily in central institutions.

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ALSO READ | Delhi: DU extends deadline for admission seekers from outside India

ALSO READ | Bye-Bye DU: St Stephen's to go autonomous soon; students demand say in decision

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The current French Presidential campaign is unlike any other European electoral campaign since the Second World War  for the first time, a team experienced in war propaganda is working in the shadows for one candidate.

The favourite for the election, Francois Fillon, was eliminated immediately from the first round on the basis of accusations of nepotism and corruption which led to his being faced with legal charges. But none of these accusations has so far been verified.

The French electorate is now preparing to vote en masse in the second round for a person against whom they demonstrated just as massively two years ago, Emmanuel Macron. They are doing so in order to protect themselves from a danger which is even more deadly in their eyes - Marine Le Pen.

And yet, when you ask these electors what specific danger this candidate represents, they can find nothing pertinent for which to blame her, and shelter behind their criticisms of her father.

Every one of the regional and national daily newspapers, without exception, denounce the danger of Le Pen and call for votes for Macron in order to block her accession to power.

When we asked the French people what they thought of Macrons accusation against Marine Le Pen - that she may have supported the Prussian invasion in 1870 and the German aggression in 1914, they all laughed at us. Madame Le Pen was born in 1968.

The video we are going to show you has been very widely broadcast by the TV channels and on the Internet. When we showed it to our French interlocutors, they all agreed that they had seen it before, and had thought that Monsieur Macron was talking rubbish. When we showed it to them again, they were astounded to rediscover the accusations that they had laughed at before.

It is therefore possible, apparently, to proclaim such stupidities without anyone reacting at the time. Heres the video :

Waving the commemorative medal of the necropolis of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, cemetery for 45,000 combatants from the First World War, Emmanuel Macron declared that the war had been started by leaders who believed -  We are in better condition than our neighbours, so lets go and destroy them . Then he accused Marine Le Pen and her friends, who were  hiding in the Chateau de Montretout , of sharing the same ideology as the aggressor, and wanting to push France into an identical war. Vehemently, he shouted -  Not that! Not that! Not that! 

The Chateau de Montretout, where Marine Le Pen was brought up as a girl, was taken by the Prussians during the siege of Paris, in 1870. The expression  hiding in the Chateau de Montretout  therefore suggests a link between Marine Le Pen as a child, and the King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany Wilhelm I.

The heros of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette fell on the field of honour in 1914-18, and the aim of Emperor Wilhelm II was certainly not the destruction of France.

This is the first time that anyone has invented a causal link between the war of 1870, the First World War, and the Front National.

We are obliged to admit that the way in which these absurdities were presented has prevented the electors from consciously understanding the meaning of Emmanuel Macrons declaration, but it did allow them to understand his words unconsciously.

They are therefore absolutely right to elect a personality whom they hate, but who will protect them from a woman who pretends to be the incarnation of the Nation, when in the past, she betrayed France and is responsible for the millions of dead from the wars of 1870 and the First World War.

According to sociologist Jean-Claude Pays, the vulgarity of these accusations, supported by every one of the daily newspapers without a single exception, has provoked an effect of stupefaction in the French public. Numbed, they march towards the ballot box to vote as they have been ordered to do.

The cruder it is, the better it works.
She first met Nitish at his residence 1, Anne Marg over lunch and later in the day paid a visit to Lalu.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: DMK MP Kanimozhi met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in Patna on Friday and invited them for the 94th birthday celebrations of her father and DMK chief M Karunanidhi next month.

She first met Nitish at his residence 1, Anne Marg over lunch and later in the day paid a visit to Lalu.

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"I have come to meet Nitish Kumar and invite him for my father's 94th birthday celebrations in Chennai on 3rd June. Working president of DMK and my brother Stalin has given a invitation letter to be given to Nitish Kumar," said Kanimozhi.

The meeting of Kanimozhi with Nitish and Lalu comes in the backdrop of Congress president Sonia Gandhi holding consultations with anti-BJP parties in the country over the President candidate nominee of the Opposition.

Speaking exclusively to India Today, Karunanidhi's daughter expressed confidence that the Opposition parties would be able to reach a common ground over President candidate's name.

"I don't think any decision has been reached on Presidential election candidate. Let's see and take it forward from there. I think Opposition will come together and make a decision and after that we will decide," said Kanimozhi.

Raising concern over crippling governance in Tamil Nadu, especially the internal squabble within the AIADMK rank and file over control over the party, she said that it was disappointing to see AIADMK leaders fighting amongst themselves rather than delivering on governance.

"It's very sad that ruling govt and AIADMK has been split and they are concentrating on inner party squabble more than governance. Governance in the state is suffering to a great extent," said Karunanidhi's daughter.

She also slammed AIADMK leaders for visiting astrologers in the backdrop of political instability in Tamil Nadu politics.

" It's very sad that people are resorting to astrologers and especially from a party which comes from social justice movement and Dravidian ideology. We don't want astrologers, but people of the state to deciding the future of the state," said Kanimozhi.

Also read:

Tamil Nadu: Kanimozhi, DMK workers hold state-wide protest over govt 'sabotaging' fair price system

Presidential election: Sharad Yadav for Opposition unity; TRS extends support to NDA, does a U-turn

--- ENDS ---
In 2015, the Turkish government encouraged the creation of a political party, Parti Egalite Justice (PEJ), a replica of the Turkish AKP (the Party for Justice and Development).

Following the rhetoric of the Muslim Brotherhood, the PEJ denounces refusing cultural differences to prevail, passing judgment over an individuals convictions and disparaging others without basis. However it does not go as far to require the Freedom (to apply the Shariah).

This party presented ten candidates to the departmental elections in 2015. It presented one candidate to the Strasbourg bye-election in 2016. It is currently recruiting candidates for the legislative elections in June 2017 and has already invested in 68.

The PEJ does not make any reference to Turkey, but all its leaders are of Turkish origin and are dual citizens of France and Turkey.

The Turkish government has put in place on a vast system to control its diaspora throughout Europe. The mosques that this control system supports, have signalled to Ankara domestic opponents. This matter has already provoked some strong reactions in Germany (which has the largest Turkish community) and Sweden.

Turkey sponsored Daesh to carry out the terrorist attacks that took place on 13 November at Paris. [1]
On 25 April 2017, two US F-35 fighter planes arrived at the Amari air base, Estonia, for their first practice deployment in Europe. This is code for their first war drill in Europe. Shortly afterwards, on 28 April, another two fighter planes arrived at the Graf Ignatievo airbase, Bulgaria for this same purpose. These planes form part of the group of six F-35A Lightning II that, on 15 April, were transferred from the United States to the English base situated in Lakenheath.

The U.S. Air Force communicates that this is the first overseas practice deployment of the US F-35 and emphasizes that this will strengthen the security of our Nato allies and European partners and demonstrate our commitment to both regional and global security. At the welcome ceremony, the Estonian Minister of Defense, Tsahkna declared, that  hosting such an advanced airplane, acknowledges the important role played by this base. Amari is indeed the principal base of the Nato mission for air patrolling the Baltic, where bomber fighters, provided in rotation by the members of the Alliance (including Italy) are ready to take off 24/7 in rapid response to violations of their air space. The base is situated around 200 km from the Russian territory and around 400 km from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, which a fighter plane can reach in a few minutes. Also of strategic importance is Graf Ignatievo, one of the four US bases in Bulgaria, a little more that 500 km from the territory of Russia.

The choice of these bases for the first F-35 drill outside the US has multiple objectives. Its most important: to strengthen the European Reassurance Initiative, the operation the United States launched in 2014 to reassure their Nato allies and European partners against a Russia that is growing in its desire to assert its will through aggressive actions. For such operation, in which falls the lining up of the US 3a armoured Brigade in Poland, 3.4 billion dollars have been earmarked for tax year 2017.

At the same time, the F-35 drill serves to integrate the new fighter plane of the 5a generation into Natos infrastructure. For now, the U.S. Air Force communicates, it is not anticipating using F-35 in air patrolling the Baltic, but if necessary, the fighter plane could be used in combat.

Another aim of the exercise, carried out right at the edge of Russias border, is to test the F-35s capacity to dodge the Russian radars. This is in fact evidence of a nuclear attack: the new fighter plane is in fact assigned to be the principal vehicle for the B61-12, the new nuclear bomb that from 2020 the US will substitute for the current B-61. Italy will provide both the F-35 and the B61-12, that can be used in operations under US command.

The drill also aims at demonstrating that Lockheed Martins new fighter plane, despite its many technical problems, is finally combat ready, rebutting the warnings of those who were confident that it would never fly. On 26 April, Lockheed Martin received a 109 million dollar contract to upgrade one of so many software packages for the fighter plane. On 1 May, it has received another contract valued at 1.4 billion dollars for the first phase in the production of 130 F-35 Lightning II planes of Batch 12, earmarked for the United States and other countries.

It is now essential that the combat ready fighter plane is used in some war, so that it can be declared combat proven. In anticipation, it is sent to Estonia and Bulgaria, to fight the new cold war against Russia, to provide comfort to us, Europeans.
The Ministry for Heritage has announced that three new interpretation panels have been placed within our Old Town in order to provide information on our Medieval History, namely our Islamic and Spanish Periods.
GHA Establishes New Anonymous Complaints Hotline

The Gibraltar Health Authority, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, has set up an anonymous telephone hotline for members of the community and staff members to report any area of concern or complaints about the local health service.

The number to call is 20007919, where callers will be able to record a short voicemail message after a recorded introductory greeting.

The Patient Advocacy & Liaison Service (PALS) will staff the hotline and will ensure that genuine grievances are investigated and resolved.

The hotline is also available for GHA staff members to report their concerns.

Minister for Health, Care and Justice, the Hon. Neil F. Costa MP welcomed the initiative. Mr Costa said: I am confident that this hotline will become an important new facility for members of the public, and also for staff members, to highlight issues of concern or complaints on an anonymous basis. With the information that we obtain, PALS will be able to look into grievances and attempt to solve any issues that may otherwise remain under the radar.

The purpose of the hotline is to identify problems that do not surface through the normal channels of communication, which will allow PALS, together with the relevant GHA officials, to investigate matters. Our aim is to have an extra tool at our disposal to help us solve outstanding problems.

In a small place like Gibraltar, sometimes people will not wish to publicly make complaints. The hotline guarantees individual anonymity, and members of the public or staff members will feel reassured that they can inform us of things so that we can tackle them and come up with solutions. The telephone hotline is wholly in keeping with our overriding aim of continuously striving to improve the quality of the health care that we provide to our community.
Fighter planes, bombs, Winston Churchill quotes, civilian sailors, Harry Styles: Christopher Nolans Dunkirk has it all. The directors World War II film, which was proudly shot on film, arrives in theaters July 21, with a very stiff upper-lipped British cast that includes Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh, and of course, everyones favorite Mick Jagger impersonator. War is full of unimaginable horror, but jeez, these men are pretty.
This morning on Today, during an interview with Matt Lauer commemorating the 20th anniversary of her coming out, Ellen DeGeneres made it clear that she does not know President Trump, nor does she want to. And, she told Lauer, she wouldnt want to interview him on her show. (That answer prompted plenty of audience laughter and applause.) Im not going to change his mind, DeGeneres said. Hes against everything that I stand for. However, she went on to suggest that we should respect the views of those who dont agree with us, something she doesnt seem ready to do when it comes to our current commander-in-chief. Regardless, the two are far removed from the early days of Celebrity Apprentice, when the idea of a President Trump was still a joke and DeGeneres once interviewed him aboard his famous helicopter.
This weeks episode begins with Patrick alone in the house talking to his dog, which happens a lot on this show, and leads one to believe Patrick potentially spends all week wandering the halls of that sun-dappled cottage, muttering things aloud to his Pomeranian-Yorkie mix. If thats the case, hes living the dream. As he grabs something out the freezer, a quick glimpse inside shows a years supply of rose, which only serves to enhance the dream-life thing.

Back in New York, we see a quick montage of the guys at home. Khasan is in the dance studio, Justin is talking about art, Cheyenne and Brandon get pedicures, and Jorge Skypes with his boyfriend. This is the first time I recall hearing that Jorge even has a boyfriend, let alone one hes been with for eight years. The boyfriend, Fabio, lives in Venezuela and isnt coming to visit Jorge anytime soon. Instead, hes going to a big party in Barcelona (because thats a perfectly rational reason to not see your boyfriend of eight years for months at a time). Fabio gets awkward because his straight friends have arrived and hes apparently not 100 percent comfortable being gay. The music tells us were going to hear about this story line for the rest of the episode and I pour myself a glass of wine to wash down some Advil.

Jorge, Khasan, Cheyenne, and Brandon arrive on the island. They greet people at the ferry with typical how do you dos. Khasan says, Youre getting hairier and hairier! to a kind-faced character weve never met and who, frankly, doesnt even look that hairy. Someone else is passing out flyers for a morning dodgeball game, which coincidentally is a combination of my least favorite words: starting first with morning dodgeball and with flyers coming in at a close second.

Cheyenne tells us hes going to cook a big dinner at the house tonight because he feels bad about missing Justins art show the previous weekend. With a completely serious face, he explains that theres no better way to bring people together than with a home-cooked meal as if hes just stumbled upon this intriguing life hack after a decades worth of research and field work. Then they go shopping in one of those annoying reality-show montages thats really just four mildly interesting people goofing around in a grocery store like theyve never purchased produce before.

Back at the house, Brandon helps Cheyenne prepare dinner as they discuss what they might do later. Brandon wants to go out because hes still got that Im single and on Fire Island thing going on. Cheyenne playfully schools him for having threeways and orgies every weekend. In regards to this, Cheyenne says that their room was like a backpack holding facility the other night, which brings me to two questions. One, what the hell is a backpack holding facility? And two, who the hell brings a backpack to an orgy?

Justin arrives and immediately confronts Cheyenne about missing the art show. (I am officially over hearing about the art show, by the way.) Justin reluctantly accepts Cheyennes apology and somewhere around this point, I realize that Cheyenne is one hemp puka choker away from always being dressed like the hot one from every 90s boy band.

Patrick arrives for dinner with a gaggle of co-workers and everyone is pissed. I side with everyone else on this one: Can they have at least one night when Patrick doesnt show up with a new batch of gay people whose names I have to learn for the sake of writing these dumb things? Patricks insistence has begun to feel a little put on, as if he (correctly) knows it is a perfect way to stir the pot of drama. Having watched Camille Grammer on season one of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills by his side, I suspect I might be right. He also does this thing where he talks in the patronizing, childlike tone he used to use when we were fighting for the bulk of 2010 and I now need another Advil.

Everyone sits down for dinner and Cheyenne makes a toast. Patrick announces hes going to compete in a drag pageant in Cherry Grove called Miss Cherrys. Hes always wanted to try drag and has decided to re-create his moms look from when she competed in Miss Georgia.

The next morning, they make breakfast and prepare for the dodgeball game on the beach. Also, one of Patricks friends stayed over and hooked up with Brandon. I forgot to write this guys name down because I didnt realize hed become such a big character, but he is handsome and insanely tall. He reminds me of a hotter version of that guy from the Billy Crystal movie My Giant.

Cheyenne and Justin laugh about Brandons youthful frivolities. Justin asks, Do you remember being 21? and Cheyenne replies with a scoff: Um. No! Hes only 29, but continues doing this sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch of an old A-frame house regaling us with tales of yesteryear routine. And movies only cost a nickel! I keep expecting him to exclaim out of nowhere.

The dodgeball game is heinous and I refuse to write anything else about it. Jorge is there with a mistress and they cut to Khasan explaining what a mistress is and you have to wonder just how dumb they think we are. The mistress is a sexy Italian guy who speaks in broken English. He attempts to tell Jorge about getting to the island, but it comes out as just him naming forms of transportation: Train  train  bus  train  boat, he explains in what could pass as beat poetry in the right Portland coffee shop.

The next morning, Cheyenne has to leave for a last minute shoot in NYC, which I can only assume has something to do with Mr. Turks Instagram story. Of course, this means hes going to miss Patricks show. Brandon reveals that hes getting more and more into the My Giant guy and spends a few minutes explaining the size of his body parts, one by one.

Meanwhile, Patrick gets into drag with the help of his friend, Sarah, who I know and who has been a wonderful friend to him for many years. His drag persona is named Poly Cockit. Although hes running late getting ready, he vows, I WILL make it onstage dressed as my mom! Thats the spirit, Patrick!

While he gets ready, Jorge, Brandon, and Khasan make the trek to Cherry Grove for the pageant. They go through the Meat Rack, a rambling section between the Pines and Cherry Grove where people go to hook up with strangers. I walked through the area once and saw a plastic chair with a hole cut in the seat and havent been the same person since.

At the pageant, we see a plethora of gorgeous drag queens competing before an enthralled gazebo of drunk people. (Thats pretty much queer culture in a nutshell, isnt it?) Patrick gives it his all and his friends are very supportive. The My Giant guy arrives and he and Brandon sneak out for ice cream to discuss their future. (They met not even 24 hours ago.) As they leave, Khasan tells them, DO NOT MISS EVENING GOWNS! which, in my opinion, is a rule to live by.

Patrick wins Audience Favorite and he is thrilled. Theres a sweet moment where he FaceTimes with his mom to show her he re-created her outfit from her pageant days. In drag, Patrick kinda resembles Sheana from Vanderpump Rules meets the daughter from Father of the Bride in a hailstorm.

The high of the pageant wears off when Patrick finds out Cheyenne didnt come. Its clear hes hurt, and I get it. The pageant was clearly very important to Patrick and he put a lot of work and energy into it. Its clear the Cheyenne-Patrick feud is far from over, but he manages to shake it off for the night. As so many of us know, its never ease to stay pissed off when youre wearing a gold evening gown and a literal tiara. Oh, and I ran out of Advil.
Last Men in Aleppo. Photo: Grasshopper Film

There are several shots of bombs falling from a great distance in the devastating and essential documentary Last Men in Aleppo, and theyre like blooming flowers, like wondrous sky paintings  they look, as Michael Herr wrote of similar sights in Vietnam in his book Dispatches, so beautiful, so remote from anything that could harm you. The difference in the film is that after the bombs fall, director Feras Fayyad follows a group of Syrian men, the White Helmets, some of the last people in a city thats now rubble, to view the results on the ground. These men, whom we get to know over the next 90 minutes, are not rebel soldiers. They had, were told, normal jobs before the Assad government began its campaign against cities like Aleppo. Now they are, in effect, rubble divers. Occasionally they find a survivor. In an early scene, they pry huge blocks of concrete off a young boy with a bloodied head. He stirs, vaguely. They later learn that he died at the hospital. They pull out pieces of bodies, limbs. They pull out dead babies covered in dust, one in striped pajamas. My defenses were up  way up  in preparation for the sight of dead children. But the pajamas broke through them. There is no worse sight in this world.

Fayyad shows us these things but does not linger on them, even if to do so could be morally justified. The camera does not, for example, tilt down to show a severed leg or the feet that might be the last remains of one searchers relative. In time, the anticipation is as awful as the awful sights. Some of the White Helmets have families and, for various reasons  the hell of life as refugees in a world that doesnt want them, a fierce commitment to bearing witness and keeping their city from extinction  try to rebuild. A key symbol is a concrete goldfish pond that the films protagonist assembles in the hope that if the food runs out entirely, there will still be a source of protein. (Maybe he could make a little money, too.) But then theyll hear the warning sirens and see the planes  some of them Russian  in the distance and the process of taking shelter and, later, collecting body parts will begin again. Those swimming goldfish are the subjects of the movies overture, which is solemn and portentous, as in Kubricks A Clockwork Orange or Barry Lyndon, and doesnt entirely work  its a little arty. But the longing for normalcy and beauty hits home.

The White Helmets do not talk about religion or ideology. Its not clear if they have no burning thoughts in that area, if those thoughts have been burned out of them, or if Fayyad has left them out in hopes of finding a broader audience. What they say is along the lines of, Why dont our Arab neighbors help our people? Where is the world, man? Shame on the Arab leaders. Just shame. The talk is moving but its the weirder, less predictable elements that catch you up. Families nervously gather on a playground, aware that large gatherings are magnets for Assads bombers. The kids are in heaven  toys, candy, swings, those appetites transcend places and times. But an onlooker says of the fathers, Theyre using their kids as an excuse to play.

A cool, objective film critic could complain that Last Men in Aleppo becomes repetitious, but its that repetition that eats into your mind and makes objectivity foolish. To sit with them and then hear again those bombers, blow after blow after blow  thats the point. A few weeks ago I watched the stilted epic The Promise, in which the Turks began their wanton massacre of Armenians and the Armenians spoke of somehow getting to Aleppo, Syria. Here some Syrians speak longingly of crossing the border into Turkey. Write your own caption to that  its beyond me.

This New Yorker saw from a distance the World Trade Center towers come down and is still traumatized by that sight. Imagine seeing that every day. Imagine trying to become inured to it, simply to survive. In his 2006 film World Trade Center, Oliver Stone tried to instill hope by focusing on two American firemen rescued from under the rubble. To attempt to frame the same story in the context of Aleppo would be obscene. (Remember Gary Johnson, a major presidential candidate? Aleppo  whats that?) You should  you must  see Last Men in Aleppo to witness an ongoing tragedy. But you should also see it to learn humility. We  meaning Americans  aint seen nothin. Yet.
Richard Gere.

What would you do if you knew your child had committed a heinous act of violence that would land him in prison for the rest of his life, but you had the choice whether to keep it a secret? Thats the question faced by Richard Geres character in Oren Movermans The Dinner, in which Gere, Rebecca Hall, Steve Coogan, and Laura Linney play two couples whose children took part in an unthinkable crime. Gere couldnt have been more game to bite. The veteran actor, whos experiencing a bit of a Gere-aissance in the indie-film world, talked to Vulture about why he was particularly drawn to this complex and often unsettling film, what its like to play a politician with morals in 2017, and why acting alongside gourmet food and drink is actually overrated.

What most appealed to you about exploring the messy morally gray area where this film lives?

Whats black and white to me doesnt really exist  except maybe in World War II. That was one of few cases where one suspended all judgment and said, This is wrong. But that kind of clarity is very rare. The dialectic that goes one between the four people in this film was fascinating to me. Obviously its well-written and well-played by a wonderful cast, but mostly it forces us to ask: What is our responsibility as parents? Not just to them, but to the world?

Your character is a politician, yet he ultimately emerges as the films moral center  a bit of a twist considering our current political climate.

Thats what I said to Oren! I said, Look, Im doing this film because of my respect for you, but if you want me to play this guy, the way to make it work is to present him as Clintonian  that kind of smiley, charming, wanting everyone to love him kind of politician that we assume has no moral center to them  and then lets deconstruct that false impression.

This is your third collaboration with Oren Moverman after Time Out of Mind and more recently, Norman, which he produced. Has a collaborative shorthand emerged between the two of you?

Yes and no, because for this one, we are juggling four points of view. The way the film is constructed, we first see the world through my characters brothers eyes, played by Steve Coogan. And that turns out to be a false view as we realize he has mental-health issues and a very colored view of reality. Its takes the film a while to give us the cues to back off from identifying so much with him.

Hes the narrator, yet we cant necessarily trust him.

Right. The story reveals his issues, but also everyone elses. I told Oren from the beginning that the brothers relationship really interested me  lets explore those dynamics. Steves character is very vocal in his life, but mine had to be the adult sooner than he ever wanted to be. Everyone was nuts in their family, so he had to be the rational one. I didnt read the book on which the movie based, but its worth mentioning that we invented a lot, too. My congressman character as he exists now in the movie wasnt in the original script. But it worked because politicians are always working on something. Theres never private time, so it made sense for him to literally be at the table dealing with issues of the government. Remember at one point he says, Why dont we make legislation about mental illness? Thats a plot point that both interested him and fit clearly with Steves character. It opened up another possibility of conflict and discussion between us.

This is also your third collaboration with co-star Laura Linney, after Primal Fear and The Mothman Prophecies. Did The Dinner feel like a reunion for the two of you?

Well, lets first also acknowledge the ensemble as a whole  Steve and Laura of course but also Rebecca Hall. We all wanted to do good work  and this wasnt a paycheck for anybody. [Laughs.] But Laura is absolutely one of those incredible actresses where theres very, very little ego. She comes to do the character. And she plays the most difficult character here; you cant go halfway. Her thought process in the movie is the hardest to defend, so her completely jumping into the character allows us to understand her point of view as the truly human point of view. As a person and an actress, theres nobody better than Laura.

If I see she is in a movie, there is an immediate comfort knowing that it will be time well-spent.

Thats the way I felt with this whole project. When we first talked about casting, I wanted to know where Oren was going other parts and he asked me about Laura. I said, If she wants more money, Ill give it to her!

The film ends with an abrupt cut to the credits; we never know for sure if any violence has transpired between Steves character and your characters son. What do you think happens?

Its irrelevant, I think. Did he kill or hurt my son there in the woods? I think its best for people to figure that out for themselves

You also have a teenage son in real life. Did the film make you question what you would do in this situation?

Hopefully anyone who watches this movie is going to ask themselves those questions. And if its not about your son, its your brother, sister, father, a close friend even. When we were doing the rewrites, we improvised a bit on this stuff and I certainly was in the space of, What if it was my own son? With this type of movie, I think its really important to personalize it. It has to be completely real and multidimensional, the way one would really feel in this situation.

Compassion and honesty, themes that the movie tackles in their most brutal, raw forms, are both under siege in our country right now. How are you personally working to reconcile this as an artist?

Its complicated and Im struggling with it, as Im sure you are too. In our current situation, one can very easily get extremely angry and confrontational, or totally check out and devolve  give in to the bad guys. And neither of those things unto themselves is going to help anything. Telling the truth and confronting the lie has to be done. Fear and ignorance makes us become smaller. And leaders in this country  and in others, too  are giving the cues to make it alright to be small. But take the Womens March, right after the inauguration. It was not just in the U.S., but everywhere  Israel, Europe, Asia  and it wasnt a march of anger. It was one of solidarity, joy, and possibility. Thats the way to move into the future. This is not a time for anger and denouncement. Its a time reaffirm positive visions with great energy.

Its worth noting that despite its heaviness, The Dinner also has a clever narrative device: Its broken up into the courses of a formal, gourmet dinner. Did you actually get to eat or drink any of the delicious food and wine served during filming?

Orens a very clever guy  he certainly made his movie the way he wanted to. And were talking about doing four or five other things in the future, so I guess youre going to have to see us together again at some point! But no, truly I cant remember eating even one bite of food. If you recall, we talked the entire time. Nonstop talking. So wed pick at the salad or whatever. But there was never a moment when any of us could really eat. Also, it looks a lot better in the movie, frankly, than it did when we were shooting. [Laughs.]

This interview has been edited and condensed.
Macron, who is seen as the frontrunner in an election billed as the most important in France in decades, extended his lead over Le Pen in polls on Friday.

By Reuters: Leading French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron's campaign said on Friday it had been the target of a "massive" computer hack that dumped its campaign emails online 1-1/2 days before voters choose between the centrist and his far-right rival, Marine Le Pen.

Macron, who is seen as the frontrunner in an election billed as the most important in France in decades, extended his lead over Le Pen in polls on Friday.

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As much as 9 gigabytes of data were posted on a profile called EMLEAKS to Pastebin, a site that allows anonymous document sharing. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for posting the data or if any of it was genuine.

In a statement, Macron's political movement En Marche! (Onwards!) confirmed that it had been hacked.

"The En Marche! Movement has been the victim of a massive and co-ordinated hack this evening which has given rise to the diffusion on social media of various internal information," the statement said.

An interior ministry official declined to comment, citing French rules that forbid any commentary liable to influence an election, which took effect at midnight on Friday (2200 GMT).

The presidential election commission said in statement that it would hold a meeting later on Saturday after Macron's campaign informed it about the hack and publishing of the data.

It urged the media to be cautious about publishing details of the emails given that campaigning had ended, and publication could lead to criminal charges.

Comments about the email dump began to appear on Friday evening just hours before the official ban on campaigning began. The ban is due to stay in place until the last polling stations close Sunday at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).

Opinion polls show independent centrist Macron is set to beat National Front candidate Le Pen in Sunday's second round of voting, in what is seen to be France's most important election in decades. The latest surveys show him winning with about 62 percent of the vote.

RUSSIAN HAND SEEN

Former economy minister Macron's campaign has previously complained about attempts to hack its emails, blaming Russian interests in part for the cyber attacks.

On April 26, the team said it had been the target of a attempts to steal email credentials dating back to January, but that the perpetrators had failed to compromise any campaign data.

The Kremlin has denied it was behind any such attacks, even though Macron's camp renewed complaints against Russian media and a hackers' group operating in Ukraine.

Vitali Kremez, director of research with New York-based cyber intelligence firm Flashpoint, told Reuters his review indicates that APT 28, a group tied to the GRU, the Russian military intelligence directorate, was behind the leak. He cited similarities with US election hacks that have been previously attributed to that group.

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APT28 last month registered decoy internet addresses to mimic the name of En Marche, which it likely used send tainted emails to hack into the campaign's computers, Kremez said. Those domains include onedrive-en-marche.fr and mail-en-marche.fr.

"If indeed driven by Moscow, this leak appears to be a significant escalation over the previous Russian operations aimed at the US presidential election, expanding the approach and scope of effort from simple espionage efforts towards more direct attempts to sway the outcome," Kremez said.

France is the latest nation to see a major election overshadowed by accusations of manipulation through cyber hacking.

US intelligence agencies said in January that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered hacking of parties tied to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to influence the election on behalf of Republican rival Donald Trump.

DOUBT AND MISINFORMATION

On Friday night as the #Macronleaks hashtag buzzed around social media, Florian Philippot, deputy leader of the National Front, tweeted "Will Macronleaks teach us something that investigative journalism has deliberately killed?"

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Macron spokesman Sylvain Fort, in a response on Twitter, called Philippot's tweet "vile".

En Marche! said the documents only showed the normal functioning of a presidential campaign, but that authentic documents had been mixed on social media with fake ones to sow "doubt and misinformation".

Ben Nimmo, a UK-based security researcher with the Digital Forensic Research Lab of the Atlantic Council think tank, said initial analysis indicated that a group of US far-right online activists were behind early efforts to spread the documents via social media. They were later picked up and promoted by core social media supporters of Le Pen in France, Nimmo said.

The hashtag #MacronLeaks was first spread by Jack Posobiec, a pro-Trump activist whose Twitter profile identifies him as Washington DC bureau chief of the far-right activist site Rebel TV, according to Nimmo and other analysts tracking the election.

Posobiec could not immediately be reached to comment by Reuters.

"You have a hashtag drive that started with the alt-right in the United States that has been picked up by some of Le Pen's most dedicated and aggressive followers online," Nimmo told Reuters.

Alt-right refers to a loose-knit group of far-right activists known for their advocacy of extremist ideas, rejection of mainstream conservatism and disruptive social media tactics.

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ALSO READ | Emmanuel Macron wins televised debate before final round of French presidential election on May 7

ALSO READ | Macron vs Le Pen: Why this French Presidential election is historic

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Illustration by Valero Doval Photo: Stown

S-Town, the luscious Southern Gothic podcast masterpiece from Serial Productions, recently reached a new high-water mark for the audio-show industry: The seven-episode series closed its first month with more than 40 million global downloads. Thats a massive achievement, one that further builds upon an already unprecedented launch that saw the podcast achieve 16 million downloads within its first week. Its the biggest rollout a podcast has ever seen in the mediums history, solidly beating the previous titleholder, Serial season two, which saw an average of 4 million downloads per episode in its first 30 days, according to the measurement firm Podtrac. (For more context, consider that the This American Life podcast, one of the biggest in the industry, is said to see about 2.5 million downloads a week.)

An ambitious enterprise that sought to capture the dense and complex life of a singular man in Woodstock, Alabama, S-Town received widespread critical acclaim for its novelistic and deeply empathetic approach to John B. McLemore, its central character. The podcast sparked rich, sometimes contentious conversation over its perspective and approach  a conversation that will likely continue for some time  and it leaves behind a legacy of, among other things, being one of the most positive outcomes for a series of bold and intentionally surprising choices.

We made several decisions that we knew were counter-commercial, says Julie Snyder, S-Towns executive producer. Putting the show into a new distribution feed rather than the Serial feed, which is sitting there with millions of subscribers. Releasing all the episodes at once, which could zap word of mouth and weekly anticipation. Giving the show a super weird name. Not to mention that the production itself is arty and not that suspenseful in the traditional sense. So the fact that it was still so successful gives us confidence that we can be bold and experimental in both content and release  that the audience will follow us when we try new stuff.

S-Towns incredible success also reflects the considerable malleability of the still-nascent podcast medium  its a reminder that the rules for the form remain unwritten. The industry is in a place where creative opportunities feel boundless, and hopefully that encourages more producers to be bolder, more unconventional, and more radical in the stories they attempt to tell. Its been a good year for podcasting so far; in its first four months, weve already seen high-profile attempts at genuinely new, ambitious stuff: S-Town, of course, but also Missing Richard Simmons (despite its attendant controversies), and, more recently, Mogul: The Life and Death of Chris Lighty. These are promising signs.

Only time will tell how S-Towns legacy will play out, but in the meantime, its back to work for Serial Productions and This American Life. S-Town host and producer Brian Reed has since returned to his old day job as senior producer at This American Life, which has been taking hard editorial swings of its own. In recent weeks, theyve dedicated episodes to Russia (The Other Mr. President), the recent historical underpinnings of the current political climate (The Beginning of Now), and the first Trump administration travel ban (Its Working Out Very Nicely).



And since youre wondering: There are no new details on Serial season three, though we do know that the team is working on at least two other spinoffs. Much like S-Town, those projects will be out when theyre out  and that will likely work out just fine for everyone.
Scandal transformed into 24 so gradually, we barely noticed. Foxs recently revived terrorism thriller was in its sixth season when a nuclear suitcase bomb was detonated, turning the city of Valencia, California, into a distant memory. For 24s first five years, the mere threat of a nuclear weapon going off on American soil was enough to drive the action, but a show that relies on a breakneck pace and shocking twists must constantly up the ante. Every season has to represent more danger, a larger threat, and a wilier foe with more opaque motives.

In its sixth season, Scandal has gone full 24, with its still mysterious Big Bads positioning explosive drones over nine major American cities. Naturally, the threat itself isnt enough: Theodore Peus calls Olivia Pope to humbly request the prompt release of his female colleague  who has like five different names now  as well as the return of Mellie Grant, who went rogue by naming Luna Vargas her vice-president. If she doesnt comply with his demands, Peus says, hell detonate the drones one by one until she does. Olivia tries to call his bluff, defiantly telling Peus that not even a man of his seemingly inexhaustible resources would be able to pull off such a complicated scheme. Before she can even finish her sentence, the drone over Dallas explodes.

The thing about 24 is, it requires an enormous amount of faith and uncommon suspension of disbelief  and thats just the price of admission. Once youre on the ride, the show is usually paced so frantically in its real-time format that theres no time to stop and think about how implausible it all is. The Box tries to achieve that same relentless pace, the energy that should comes naturally from a ragtag group of bureaucrats trying to avert a multicity terrorist attack. But Scandal isnt told in real time, despite its best efforts this week and last to introduce some kind of ticking clock element. Instead of nonstop action, we get characters taking time to sip wine and give monologues while the country is waiting for the next bomb to go off.

With all the lulls in the action, theres plenty of time to think about how unsustainably goofy all of this is. For example, lets talk about how the events of Mercy and The Box all take place in the same day. To review: Olivia has Huck send a drone to the White House lawn to trigger a lockdown so the gang can convene a meeting about how to defeat Peus. Mellie calls Luna Vargas to offer her the vice-presidency, and Luna accepts. A press conference is called to announce the appointment. Peuss associate is arrested and detained. Within hours, Peus has scrambled nine drones identical to the one Olivia used earlier in the day and is ready to detonate them from a remote, untraceable location. Imagine a season of 24 where the events of the first two episodes were stretched over ten episodes, then ten episodes of action were condensed into two episodes, and thats about where we are with Scandal this season.

Scandal hasnt felt quite this unmoored since the back half of season four, when Olivia was kidnapped and the show threw itself headlong into the narrative morass of B-613. Im not sure what itll take for Scandal to figure out that the White House and Olivia Pope & Associates is where all the action needs to be. Give me illicit sex, give me double-, triple-, quadruple-crosses, give me palace intrigue. Dont give me yet another mustache-twirling villain with no apparent motivation beyond creating chaos and trying to infiltrate a White House that Fitz and Mellie earned with a campaign of murder and voter disenfranchisement. Instead of just focusing on the predators at the top of the food chain, Scandal can never resist introducing some kind of super-predator.

That super-predator was once Rowan Pope, who now, according to Olivia is being controlled for the first time. Rowan refuses to cooperate with Olivia and Fitz as they try to gather any information that could lead them to Peus. But a break comes when David Rosen discovers that the fake super-PAC associated with Peus had been sending mysterious boxes to Rowans workspace in the weeks leading up to Frankie Vargass assassination. According to the shipping records, the boxes arrived at random intervals but always with the same weight of 11 pounds. From surveillance footage of Rowans space, Olivia and Huck notice that the boxes only contain bricks. What about those boxes was making Rowan so upset? What would drive him to do Peuss bidding?

Rowan eventually reveals that Peus threatened to kill Olivia, promising that one day a box would arrive with Olivias head inside, then sending decoy boxes to remind him that any day could be the day. I could understand that as a motivator  if there was no such thing as a cell phone, a tool that allows you to contact people wherever they are and ensure their well-being. Seems like the smart thing to do, instead of continuing to open boxes and hoping his daughters head is not inside one of them, would be to just call and say, Hey, its Dad, just calling to make sure no one has decapitated you. Wanna catch a movie this weekend? Rather than figuring out another way to keep Olivia safe  surely there must be a way  Rowan agrees to Peuss terms and basically admits defeat.

Or at least he feigns defeat. You cant keep Rowan down, or trapped in a windowless cell, for long. He cons his way into a meeting with Marjorie/Samantha/Grace and escapes with her, using her as leverage to gain his freedom from Peus. Then, as a parting shot, he kills her. Its another one of Rowans riffs on how he overcame all the obstacles against him to become one of the worlds most powerful men, beholden to absolutely no one. Its also the most interesting material The Box has to offer, complete with a hammy Joe Morton monologue to drive home the significance of a black man fighting his way to the top of the heap. Unfortunately for Rowan, this is Scandal, so theres always someone poised to push you off that heap, and sometimes you dont even know their names.
Cat Power

Cat Power will be appearing with Frankie Cosmos at this years Vulture Festival on Saturday, May 20, at 7 p.m. in New York. Tickets are available now on VultureFestival.com!

Five years ago, Chan Marshall, a.k.a. Cat Power, released Sun. It was a brittle album propelled by drum machines and a looming sense of big-city claustrophobia, and it was a pretty major departure from everything shed done before: It wasnt cynical, exactly, but it didnt have the lived-in warmth that shed been exploring in the records that immediately preceded it, either. Five years later, Marshall has yet to record another album, but her back catalogue  which moves from sparse folk to lush southern, blues-inflected rock, to the uneasiness of Sun  is still plenty rich. Its telling that you can hear her influence in so much music today. Maybe youll catch a snippet of a Cat Power verse quoted on Brooklyn-based band DIIVs Is The Is Are, or youll hear echoes of her intricate lyrics in the songwriting of Frankie Cosmos, who will be playing with Cat Power at Webster Hall, Saturday, May 20, as part of the Vulture Festival. Whatever the case, Marshall is still one of our most vital songwriters, and each time she gets onstage is a unique, unexpected, and moving experience.

The event will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at Webster Hall.
Sensible economics and good politics do not always go hand in hand. As an economist, Bibek Debroy was right making the suggestion that farm incomes should be taxed. Highly profitable companies and rich individuals have used the tax exemption for farm income to great advantage. In 2014-15, for example, Kaveri Seed Company showed Rs 186.6 crore as tax-exempt farm income, while Monsanto India declared tax-exempt farm income of Rs 94 crore. During demonetisation, there were apprehensions that many got away by declaring the cash they had deposited as farm income. Debroy is not the first to propose that farm incomes be taxed. Recently, two Members of Parliament raised the same issue. And chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian has remarked that while the Centre cannot tax farm income, states can tax rich farmers as it is allowed under the Income Tax Act. (No state does it, though.)

But taxing farm income is a political hot potato. Finance minister Arun Jaitley was quick to clarify that the government had no such plan. Niti Aayog also distanced itself from Debroy's remarks, saying it was his personal opinion. Farmers are a huge vote bank and the average farmer is pretty badly off. The government told the Supreme Court on May 2 that about 12,000 farmers commit suicide every year. Farm incomes have remained stagnant for many years. While both the prime minister and the finance minister have talked of doubling farmers' incomes by 2022, experts see it as a very unlikely prospect.

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It need not be an either/or, though. The government could look at the loopholes in the farm income waiver to reduce misuse as a first step. Not allowing rich companies to claim tax waivers on hundreds of crores of farm income can be one step. Putting a cap on total farm income eligible for tax waiver can be another. A re-examination of rules to redefine farm income could be yet another step. Currently, even transfer of agricultural land is exempt, as is horticulture, while poultry and dairy farmers pay taxes. Poor farmers earn too little to be brought under the income tax net. But there is no reason why rich farmers should not pay.

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The entire state of Assam has been declared as a disturbed area under the controversial AFSPA for three more months.

By Press Trust of India: The Centre has declared the entire Assam as a "disturbed" area under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act -- the AFSPA -- for three more months, citing various violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB and others.

In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the entire Assam, besides bordering areas of Meghalaya, have been declared "disturbed" under the AFSPA for three months with effect from May 3.

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The ministry said there were 75 incidents of violence in Assam in 2016 in which 33 people, including four security personnel, were killed and 14 others were abducted.

Besides, there were nine violent incidents in the state in which four people, including two security personnel, were killed in 2017.

The violence were perpetrated by insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and others, the ministry said.

The AFSPA has been continuing in Assam since November 1990.

In another gazette notification, the ministry declared three districts of Arunachal Pradesh - Tirap, Changlang and Longding - besides areas falling under 16 police stations bordering Assam as "disturbed" area under the AFSPA for three more months.

The home ministry cited the continuing violence perpetrated by NSCN(IM), NSCN(K), ULFA, NDFB and others as the reason for enforcing the AFSPA for three months beyond May 4.

The AFSPA has been under force in the three Arunachal Pradesh districts since January 2016.

ALSO READ | Jammu and Kashmir: BJP wants to give free hand to security forces

ALSO READ | All you need to know about AFSPA

ALSO WATCH | Assam: Twin blasts in Charaideo district, ULFA claims responsibility

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Stephen Rispoli of Baylor Law School has been named the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Young Lawyer of McLennan County Award.

The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award is presented each year by the Waco-McLennan County Young Lawyers Association to a young lawyer with qualities including, but not limited to, professional proficiency, service to the profession and service to the community.

He was presented the award by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey C. Manske.

In the fall of 2014, Rispoli proposed and developed the annual MCYLA Pro Bono Challenge. This program has led to a resurgence in pro bono activity among the bar in McLennan County, and the challenge has been met and exceeded for two consecutive years.

The program led to the McLennan County Young Lawyers Association winning statewide honors  the Award of Merit from the State Bar of Texas and the Deborah G. Hankinson Access to Justice Award from the Texas Access to Justice Commission  as well as local recognition in a Lone Star Legal Aid Pro Bono Award.

Rispoli also has been integral in the formation of Legal Mapmaker, a practice development template for young lawyers to build successful law firms, while also addressing the widening access to justice gap.

As the associations vice president and chair of the Pro Bono Committee, Rispoli has ensured that meetings are run efficiently and that the high school mock trial runs smoothly while hosted at Baylor Law School. In addition, he serves on national and statewide pro bono committees, as well as on the city of Wacos Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Rispoli's title is Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Pro Bono Programs.
McLennan County Commissioner Will Jones pleaded guilty Friday to offering a gift to a public servant.

Jones, commissioner for Precinct 3, entered the guilty plea for the Class A misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to one year of deferred adjudication probation, 80 hours of community service and fined $4,000. Jones attorneys and prosecutors agreed to the punishment in exchange for the guilty plea, and a judge signed off on the deal Friday.

Jones apologized for his actions in a statement after the leaving a hearing in 54th State District Court.

I was wrong to offer to refund my opponents filing fee back, Jones wrote in the statement. Ignorance of the law is not a defense. Therefore, I accept the consequences of my actions. I have been open and honest from the beginning. I am honored that the voters re-elected me despite the negative coverage in the news media about my actions. I look forward to continuing my work as county commissioner and will serve the citizens of Precinct 3 and all of McLennan County to the best of my ability.

A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to a year in prison and a $4,000 fine.

In deferred probation cases, there is no final judgment of guilt and no final conviction on the defendants record if he or she successfully completes the term of probation.

Texas law requires officeholders convicted of crimes involving official misconduct to resign from office, but Jones will not have a conviction if he completes his deferred adjudication probation.

Visiting State District Judge James Morgan heard the case because Judge Matt Johnson recused himself. Morgan said he had to admit he had to get out the penal code and look up the charge of offering a gift to a public servant.

Jones was arrested in March for making an improper offer to reimburse his 2015 Republican primary opponents $1,250 filing fee. The offer was for Ben Matus to drop out of the race.

The attorney generals office agreed to prosecute Jones after McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna recused his office and asked the Texas Rangers to investigate, six months after the offer.

Jones admitted in January 2016 he made the offer to Matus. He called it a simple business transaction. Matus taped his phone conversations with Jones and saved text messages, which he shared with the Tribune-Herald.

Jones defeated Matus, a Texas State Technical College auto repair instructor, in the primary with 56 percent of the vote. Jones won 83 percent of the vote in the November general election against Libertarian challenger David Reichert.

As defined by the Texas Penal Code, a person commits the offense of offering a gift to a public servant if the person offers, confers or agrees to confer any benefit on a public servant that the person knows the public servant is prohibited by law from accepting. A political candidate is considered a public servant.

The plea hearing was postponed in April because the prosecutor was dealing with an unexpected health issue.

Jim Dunnam, Jones attorney, said after the hearing that Jones will be glad to get this behind him.

He stepped up and accepted responsibility, Dunnam said.
A Hewitt man was killed in a motorcycle crash in Georgetown on Thursday night, News Radio KLBJ 590 reported.

Johnie Ray Franklin, 50, was killed in the crash. He was traveling south on Highway 130 when traffic was slowing for a vehicle on fire near County Road 152. KLBJ reported Franklin was traveling at a high rate of speed and was unable to stop.

Franklin struck the back and side of one vehicle and was thrown into the back of a second vehicle, according to the radio stations report. He was taken to Seton Hospital of Williamson County, where he was pronounced dead.

A Williamson County judge ordered Franklin be sent to Tarrant County for an autopsy, according to KLBJ.

Georgetown police did not respond to a message Friday afternoon seeking confirmation of the information.
A Texas State Technical College student was killed Wednesday when she was struck by a motorcyclist on an Interstate 35 access road, authorities said.

Janette Curtis, 27, of Temple, was struck by a 21-year-old motorcyclist when she was putting gas into her car near the 4800 block of I-35, north of Crescent Street, at about 5:30 p.m., Lacy Lakeview Police Chief John Truehitt said.

He declined to release the motorcyclists name as he remains under criminal investigation.

A TSTC official identified the motorcyclist as Harley McKinney.

Curtis was taken to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center after the crash, where she was pronounced dead. The motorcyclist, who was wearing a helmet, was also taken to the hospital with severe injuries.

Witnesses said the woman was parked on the shoulder of the road using a container to put gas in her car. The motorcyclist struck Curtis, a mother of three, while she was outside her vehicle.

We have opened an accident investigation with a very experienced officer with experience in motor vehicle crash investigations, Truehitt said. From all indications at this point, speed does not appear to be a factor, the weather does not appear to be a factor and the road was dry.

Traffic was moderate at the time of the crash, Truehitt said.

TSTC Provost Adam Hutchison tweeted condolences in regards to Curtis death. He issued a statement to faculty and staff Thursday morning identifying Curtis as a culinary arts student and McKinney as an automotive technology student.

The TSTC community is shocked and saddened by the news of the accident involving two of our students this evening, Hutchison wrote. Janette and Harley are part of the TSTC family, and faculty, staff and administrators share in the grief of this tragedy.

Our deepest condolences go out to Janettes family during this extremely difficult time. Our thoughts are also with Harley, who remains hospitalized.

McKinney remained in critical condition Thursday morning, hospital officials said.

Shooting victim dies

A man shot by his brother in an East Waco home in mid-April died in a local hospital Wednesday night, authorities said.

Stanley Brooks, 65, shot Gregory Brooks, 66, in a home in the 1800 block of Pryor Street on April 13 before a two-hour standoff with police, officials said at the time. Gregory Brooks was able to get out of the house, and emergency responders took him to Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center as the standoff with his brother started.

McLennan County Justice of the Peace Walter H. Pete Peterson pronounced Gregory Brooks dead late Wednesday night. Peterson ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Police were called to the brothers home after they were involved in a disturbance earlier that night. During the fight, Stanley Brooks shot his brother in the torso, police said.

Stanley Brooks remained in the house for about two hours as police tried to convince him to come outside. Police called for assistance from Waco fire and the SWAT team as Stanley Brooks remained inside.

Officers were eventually able to talk Stanley Brooks out of the home with the help of a family member. He was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries he sustained during the fight with his brother, police said at the time.

Stanley Brooks was arrested on a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He remained in custody Thursday with no bond listed.

Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said police are awaiting autopsy results in the ongoing investigation. He said it is too early to determine whether Gregory Brooks death will be ruled a homicide.

Assault arrest

A 50-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after he assaulted a woman with a knife at a Waco home, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said.

Adam Martin, of Waco, was arrested after police were called to the 1800 block of Seneca Avenue. Swanton said a woman told police Martin forced his way into her home.

Martin appeared to be heavily intoxicated at the time.

He began verbally assaulting her and eventually physically assaulted her, Swanton said

Police arrested Martin on a second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Martin was taken to McLennan County Jail. He remained in custody Thursday afternoon with bond listed at $25,000.
Allene Rosalind Jeanes, a Waco native, served as a trailblazer in science in the 1930s and 1940s, developing processes for producing a food thickener called xanthan gum and a substance called dextran that helped save lives, starting with wounded soldiers during the Korean War.

On Thursday, 22 years after her death, Jeanes was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Alexandria, Virginia, along with 14 others whose innovative contributions changed the world.

She was a pioneer in terms of being a great role model for the women who followed her, said Rini Paiva, vice president for selection and recognition at the Hall of Fame. At the time she was going to school, not a lot of women were majoring in chemistry and not a lot of women were working as scientists. She was not only an innovator who came up with some remarkable inventions, she was a leader.

Jeanes was born July 19, 1906, in Waco and earned a bachelors degree from Baylor University and a masters degree from the University of California at Berkeley, according to a biography on the Lemelson-MIT Program website. The program provides cash prizes primarily to young inventors to encourage their work.

She taught five years at Athens College in Alabama before returning to school and earning a doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois, where she developed a specialization in carbohydrates research, according to the Lemelson-MIT biography.

After a stint with the National Institutes of Health, Jeanes worked for the U.S. Department of Agricultures Northern Regional Research Lab in Peoria, Illinois. She retired in 1976, after 35 years with the lab, according to the biography.

At the NRRL, Jeanes work included research on polysaccharides, or large molecules made of chains of thousands of sugar molecules, her biography states. One of the polysaccharides that she was most interested in was dextran, a substance that was difficult to find in nature but had a desirable, viscous quality.

Jeanes discovered an effective production method for large quantities of dextran after a soft drink company asked her to investigate how a sample of its product unexpectedly became thick and gooey. She discovered a strain of bacteria had contaminated the drink and was converting sugars into dextran, and she was able to harness the bacteria to produce dextran in useful quantities.

Researchers knew dextran had potential to slow bleeding, and it saw its first useful application treating injured Korean War soldiers, thanks to Jeanes production process, according to the biography.

Xanthan gum

Later, Jeanes discovered a process for making Xanthan gum, which is listed among the ingredients of countless foods, such as salad dressing, ice cream, canned soup and condiments. . . . Xanthan gum found widespread use around the world and has become the most mass-produced polysaccharide in existence, the biography states.

Paiva, with the Hall of Fame, could not say exactly who nominated Jeanes for posthumous induction into the place of honor.

We often will get suggestions from the public, and I believe that was the case with her. When people talk about great women innovators, Allene Jeanes is a name often heard, Paiva said. It is not unusual for someone to be nominated more than once, but I cant answer the question of whether Jeanes was.

Paiva said that when the Hall of Fame receives a nomination, the potential honoree is researched, vetted and verified by a national selection committee that includes representatives of science, technology, engineering and intellectual property organizations.

They meet with nominees if possible and come to a consensus on who should be included in the upcoming class, Paiva said. The Hall of Fames board of directors makes the final decision.

Thursdays induction ceremony was the 45th hosted by the Hall of Fame, which now has more than 500 members.

Paiva said the first person inducted into the hall was Thomas Alva Edison, whom some consider the greatest American inventor for his work that included developing the light bulb and phonograph.

Others in the Hall of Fame include Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone; Forrest Bird, who introduced the medical respirator; and Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, co-founders of Apple Inc.

Chavonda Jacobs-Young, head of agricultural research for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, represented Jeanes at Thursdays ceremony.
Cinco de Mayo takes on a renewed meaning for Mexican-American communities this year, particularly with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott poised to sign Senate Bill 4, the Arizona-style show me your papers law targeting undocumented migrants.

Commemoration of the unlikely Mexican military victory over a superior French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 resonates with the resolve many Mexican Americans have regarding their untenable position in current debates about migration and cultural change here in this country. Like the seemingly unstoppable French military in 1862, nationalist nativists have the upper hand in imposing harsh measures through sheer political might.

While a Republican-dominated Congress and conservative state legislatures rush to implement anti-migrant measures, the alt-right media stokes fears of the cultural Latinization of the United States. This tone is set at the top. President Trump has spoken of Mexican migrants as criminals, rapists and bad hombres. And now he seeks to build a 30-foot wall along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. More recently, a fraternity at Baylor University brought old-fashioned anti-Mexican racism into news headlines by throwing a Cinco de Drinko event where partygoers, dressed as maids and construction workers, chanted Build that wall.

Still outsiders to the circles of state and media power, Mexican Americans find themselves in a familiar role alongside Mexican migrants: that of the underdog facing powerful opponents.

U.S. citizenship, educational accomplishment or professional status is little defense against such attacks. While some argue Mexican Americans should separate themselves from Mexican immigrants to avoid the taint of negative association, history suggests that alliance rather than avoidance would better protect the rights of both, particularly since many Mexican Americans are but one or two generations from the experience of migration to the United States.

At the founding convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens in 1929, the great divide was about the requirement that members be U.S. citizens, a contentious issue given the large numbers of Mexican refugees from the Mexican Revolution of 1910-20 who had been active in the fight against racial discrimination in Texas. The requirement was kept and the Mexican refugee contingent walked out. While a citizens-only LULAC was instrumental in advancing the civil rights of Mexican Americans during its first decades, it missed a golden opportunity to make common cause against the common enemy of institutionalized racism.

LULAC has dropped U.S. citizenship as a membership requirement to become a leading advocate for migrant rights regardless of status. Mexican migrants, Mexican Americans and their fair-minded allies have stepped up to fight against misguided legislation that doesnt amount to immigration reform but does infringe upon human rights. In addition to opposition from migrant-rights groups, organizations as diverse as law enforcement and religious leaders provided more than 16 hours of testimony against passage of SB 4.

But as Mexican Americans, along with Mexicans, know all too well from history, the path to achieving social justice has never been easy, and there have been nearly as many setbacks as there have been successes. Even the Mexican victory at Puebla in 1862 was short-lived, as French troops occupied Mexico for another five years until the resistance, led by Mexican President Benito Juarez, regained control of the country.

This Cinco de Mayo, the famous words of Juarez ring true as never before: Entre los invididuos, como entre las naciones, el respecto al derecho ajeno es la paz, which means between individuals, as between nations, respect for the rights of others means peace. In this spirit, Mexican Americans must continue to work alongside other communities to bend the arc of history toward the peace that flows from social justice.
RAYMOND  Rescue crews worked for more than an hour to remove a man trapped in a grain bin in Raymond Thursday afternoon.

Responders from Valparaiso Fire and Rescue, Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Raymond Fire and Rescue, Malcolm and Ceresco all assisted with the effort at Farmers Cooperative.

The man became trapped after trying to unplug an auger that stopped working while employees moved grain from one bin to another, said Raymond Assistant Fire Chief Nick Monnier. Grain sloped on the sides of the bin came down and trapped the man after the auger began working again.

Overall Monnier said the man had been trapped below the waist for two hours. Crews eventually extricated him and transported him to Bryan West with non-life threatening injuries.
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 5 (PTI) The Centre today released draft rules for a "national no-fly list" of unruly passengers for all domestic carriers, proposing a ban on flying from three months upto an indefinite period.

The move follows an incident involving Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad who hit an Air India staffer "25 times" with a slipper for not being allowed to fly business class in an all-economy plane.

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The Ministry of Civil Aviation has proposed a "national no-fly list" which will comprise passengers identified as unruly after an inquiry by a committee constituted by that particular airline.

A person identified as a threat by security agencies will also be included in this list.

While the list is characterised as "national" and will compile data on disruptive passengers from all airlines, the ban recommended by the committee is not mandatory for all airlines to follow.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha termed this move a trailblazer.

"There is no other country in the world with a no-fly list based on safety. There are no-fly lists based on security where people are seen as grave threats and they are not allowed to fly. India is blazing a new trail in this regard," Sinha said at a media briefing.

The government has recommended three levels of unruly behaviours, each with a corresponding duration of flying ban.

The first level of misdemeanour includes disruptive behaviour such as physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly behaviour because of inebriation. This level of offence will carry a flying ban of three months.

The second level comprises physically abusive behaviour such as pushing, hitting, grabbing, inappropriate touching or sexual harassment. This degree of misconduct will carry a ban of six months.

The third category consists of life threatening behaviour such as damage to aircraft operating system, physical violence such as choking or murderous assault and attempted breach of flight crew compartment. This will carry a flying ban of two years or more without limit.

If a passenger repeats the same degree of offence he/she will be banned for twice the period of the previous ban.

"It is open to other airlines to use that list and simultaneously prohibit that person from flying for that period. It is not mandatory for other airlines," Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said.

The nature of misdemeanour and the punishment will be decided by a standing committee constituted by an airline. The committee will have to come out with its findings within 10 days during which the passenger will not be allowed to fly with the airlines.

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It will be a three-member committee comprising a retired district/sessions judge, representative of a different airline and a member from passengers association/consumer association/a retired consumer forum official.

A passenger can also challenge the ban and approach an appeals committee which will be set up by the Civil Aviation Ministry and headed by a high court judge.

However, passengers blacklisted from flying because of a security threat do not have the provision of approaching this committee.

The government is also examining ways to track passengers recognised as unruly through an identity document. There is, however, a lack of consensus on whether an Aadhar card will be used for this purpose.

"We will be identifying passengers on the basis of identity verification, either through an Aadhar card or passport. This will ensure that we have a secure way of identifyng a passenger and linking their secure authentication to their PNR," Sinha said.

However, Choubey said that this is still being examined.

"We are examining this. It should be possible for us to do this with any detail of passenger document, not necessarily Aadhar," Choubey said.

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While the no-fly list is applicable for domestic carriers, Choubey said there was nothing to stop international airlines from implementing it.

The draft is an amendment to the existing Civil Aviation Requirement, a set of rules on unruly and disruptive passengers.

These are being placed in the public domain for 30 days for comments and feedback from stakeholders following which the government will come out with final amendments by June 30. PTI JC AAR

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By Devarsi Ghosh: Three years after the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, the sequel is finally here and it is in many ways better than the first part. Here is our Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 movie review.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Kurt Russell, Michael Rooker, Sylvester Stallone

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Direction: James Gunn

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Rating: (4.5/5)

When Marvel does it right, the results are not simply good, they are great.

In 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy became an unlikely blockbuster. Unlikely because, like Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con that Guardians of the Galaxy was one of their "obscure titles". But thanks to a great screenplay by Nicole Perlman and director James Gunn and a bunch of committed performances from the ensemble cast, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 became a super hit. Consequently, a sequel just had to be made and the writer is very pleased to tell you that... curse of the sequel? Pfft. What is that? Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is more awesome than the first part in every single way.

The first Guardians of the Galaxy film established the characters - the daredevil Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), the sincere Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) who does not understand sarcasm or metaphors, the motormouth Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and everyone's favourite, the adorable Groot (Vin Diesel). These characters were introduced to the casual movie-watcher (i.e not a reader of the comics) for the first time in a two-hour-long movie and they became a hit! The casting, the writing, everything came together.

When Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 begins, the jokes start to rain on you without a second being wasted as the characters and the camaraderie they share have been established so well in the first film. And the jokes are not forced. The reason that Quill, Drax or Rocket or even a supporting character like Yondu's (Michael Rooker) jokey dialogues work as well as they do is because the lines are completely in sync with their characters. Nothing is out of place. Nobody gives a bad surprise.

Joining the adventure are a bunch of new characters including one really dumb but fun villain who calls himself 'Taserface' because he thinks the name sounds menacing except no one around him does. There's Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord and a post-credits scene suggests that you will see more of Stallone in the upcoming MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) movies. Kurt Russell plays Ego, Quill's father, and the man continues his streak of being just as fantastic as he has been in all his films in the last 10 years. And speaking of cameos, besides the obvious one, an unexpected three-second cameo by a popular TV star (and a cultural icon, no less) is, without a doubt, going to hassle the hoff out of you.

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Besides the characters and the humour, one reason Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is better than the first film is because this time, the story has a more personal hook. Peter Quill does not know who his father is. And here, Quill finally meets his maker Ego. But Ego is not the nice guy that he pretends to be. Something is wrong as the character's name clearly suggests. Soon enough, things go wrong and Quill has to make decisions that are tough, well at least as tough as movies of these sort can allow emotional baggage to take centre-stage.

There is a bunch of well-conceptualised action sequences that are outrageous in design and fun to look at. The climactic final 30 minutes are punctuated by strong, emotional moments - between Quill and Ego, between Gamora and his sister Nebula, between Yondu and everyone else - that add to the stakes and thus give the audience enough to care about the characters' fate. To put it simply, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a very well-made summer movie. It does not hurt your intelligence or trouble your eardrums. It is smooth, sexy and has an awesome mix for a soundtrack, obviously. What else do you want?

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ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 Hindi review

ALSO READ: Baahubali 2 Tamil review

WATCH: Baahubali 2 gets a thumbs up from fans

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Iron ore's tough week has robbed Treasurer Scott Morrison of a rare budget tailwind for as the commodity surge at the start of the year turns into a slump.

And analysts are warning it could get much worse.

The price for Australia's biggest export has fallen to the point that it has opened up a pathway for benchmark spot prices to drop back into the $US50s a metric ton, or possibly even lower, as mounting investor concern about rising supplies and tighter financial conditions in China combine to pummel prices.

The key price (Ore with 62 per cent content delivered to the Chinese port of Qingdao) fell 5.3 per cent to $US61.73 ($A83.20) a dry ton on Friday, capping the sixth weekly decline in seven, according to Metal Bulletin.
Accused drug mule Cassandra Sainsbury is reportedly receiving psychological treatment in a Colombian jail.

The 22-year-old Adelaide woman's lawyer Orlando Herran has told the Nine Network there are serious concerns for Ms Sainsbury's state of mind and a psychologist has begun visiting her at Bogota's El Buen Pastor prison.

Cassandra Sainsbury with her fiance, Scott Broadbridge.

Mr Herran also said his client was distraught and speaks a lot about her family in South Australia.

Ms Sainsbury's fiance is due to speak to the media about her detention on Friday.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has been ordered by a court to revisit the refugee application of a man he wanted to deport to war-torn Syria.

The man came to Australia on a child visa in 2005 but was sentenced to three years' prison in 2011 for intentionally causing serious injury.

Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton. Credit:Andrew Meares

In 2014, Mr Dutton cancelled the man's visa under section 501 of the Immigration Act for failing the character test.

The man is a citizen of Syria, a country locked in a bloody civil war and under siege from Islamic State, so he applied for a protection visa.
Farhad Jabar, the teenage killer of NSW Police worker Curtis Cheng "died for the sake of Allah", one of the men accused of supplying the murder weapon allegedly said.

Raban Alou allegedly consoled 15-year-old Jabar's distraught older brother Farshad Jabar two days after the teenager shot Mr Cheng dead before being killed by police in an exchange of gunfire.

Curtis Cheng was shot dead as he left work. Credit:James Brickwood

A recording of the alleged October 4, 2015, conversation was played on Thursday at a committal hearing for the group of men accused of aiding Jabar.

"He will be with the prophet," a man who prosecutors say is Alou can be heard in the recording telling an audibly distressed man, said to be Farshad Jabar.
Specialist gold theft detectives with the assistance of the Perth Mint have charged a young Mint refinery worker with stealing a gold bar worth more than $50,000.

It will be alleged on April 7 the mint identified a gold bar as missing, prompting an internal inquiry by its security management team, a police spokesman said.

The matter was then referred to the Gold Stealing Detection Unit which commenced a criminal investigation and determined the bar - worth $52,457 on the day - had been stolen.

Police searched the 25-year-old Ballajura contractor's home on April 11 and charged him with stealing as a servant and gaining benefit by fraud.
Police have charged a 50-year-old child care centre groundsman over allegations he covertly recorded staff members inside a bathroom.

Detectives will allege the man concealed a camera inside the staff bathroom at the Karawara facility between January and February this year.

A generic hidden camera. Credit:Tech Prevue

Police later obtained a warrant to search the man's Gosnells home.

Police spokeswoman Susan Usher said officers located and seized various recordings of staff members using the bathroom at the centre and ascertained the recordings were isolated to the staff area only.
The Indian owners of Collie coal mining giant Griffin Coal has announced the company has gone into receivership.

Lanco Infratech Limited made the announcement on Thursday in a statement released to the Indian stock exchange.

Griffin Coal employees and their families express their fears at a recent community meeting over the pay cuts. Credit:Collie Mail

Lanco Infratech Limited confirmed their lenders had appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services as receivers and managers.

The shock news comes after troubled times at the Collie mine.
Beijing: The worst sandstorm to hit China's capital in two years on Thursday was swept away by winds that proved fatal on Friday morning, sending walls and trees toppling onto major Beijing roads.

On social media, complaints about pollution readings that had gone off the official scales during the storm gave way to the mass sharing of videos of the wild wind scenes, captured on mobile phones.

The worst, which showed a pedestrian hit in the head by flying debris in Haidian district, and instantly killed, was taken offline within hours, after being reported by the official People's Daily website.

The mobile phone user who had posted the video had urged commuters to be careful if they were outside.
Paris: Centrist French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron extended his lead in the polls over his far-right rival Marine Le Pen on Friday, the final day of a tumultuous election campaign that has turned the country's politics upside down.

The election is seen as the most important in France for decades with two diametrically opposed views of Europe and France's place in the world at stake.

Emmanuel Macron is surrounded by journalists as he campaigns. Credit:Balint Porneczi

The National Front's Le Pen would close borders and quit the euro currency, while independent Macron, who has never held elected office, wants closer European cooperation and an open economy. The candidates of France's two mainstream parties were both eliminated in the first round on April 23.

Four new polls showed Macron on track to win 62 percent of the votes in the second round compared to 38 percent for Le Pen, his best score in a voting survey by a major polling organisation since nine other candidates were eliminated in the first round on April 23. A fifth poll showed him on 61.5 percent.
After nearly eight months, the lab reports have been unearthed and it has been revealed that all seven biryani samples have tested beef-positive containing cattle meat.

By Shivan Chanana: Haryana beef biryani row, caught the attention of the entire country last year. On collecting the biryani samples from Mewat, the police sent them for testing to Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences in Hisar last September. It is interesting to note, that the lab reports never saw the light of day and no one gained access to them until now.

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After nearly eight months, the lab reports have been unearthed and it has been revealed that all seven biryani samples have tested beef-positive containing cattle meat.

"The lab reports of the biryani samples were submitted by the lab in Hisar last year in September, but the reports were not made public for reasons unknown. After months of efforts, RTI's, and visits to court, I have been able to unearth the lab report, but even with the lab report in hand, the FIR has still not been filed in the Firozepur Zirka police station," said Naresh Kadyan, representative of the International organization for Animal Protection.

Talking about the lab report, SHO Shamsher Singh, said, "The report mentions cattle meat, which may refer to other animals too. We will take action only after receiving the report from Lala Lajpat Rai University."

It is pertinent to note that Haryana's Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act of 2015 bans the sale, possession, consumption of beef. As per the Act, beef refers to the meat of cattle i.e. cow and progeny.

India Today had earlier brought to light the lawlessness in the Mewat region of Haryana with an exclusive interview with Mewat's Tauru DSP Virender Singh who informed us how cattle smuggling and slaughtering is rampant in Mewat and the meat mafia opens fire and pelts the police authorities with stones when efforts are made to intercept the mafia goons.

In our investigation and recce in Mewat, it was found massive blood stains and limbs of camels and cows scattered in the isolated hills of Mewat's Dhaulavat village where animals are slaughtered for meat in the wee hours of the night before being smuggled into other states, including Delhi.

"Recently, over 20,000 kg's of beef was found in a cold storage on Lawrence Road in Delhi. Investigations revealed that a major amount of beef recovered from the cold storage was procured from the Mewat region. When the slaughter, sale, possession and consumption of beef is banned all over Haryana, then why are the rules being bent for Mewat?" questioned Nikita Anand, spokesperson for the Dhyan Foundation.

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While lab reports confirm that the biryani samples recovered from Mewat last year contained beef and the law prohibits the sale of beef in Haryana, but police inaction continues.

Also read:

Another beef row: Now, biryani samples collected in Mewat to test meat

Haryana cow protection group to ask state government to stop providing commercial licenses for slaughterhouses

--- ENDS ---
The 2nd Meeting of the Technical Experts Group on Non-Intrusive Inspection (TEG-NII) was held 3-5 May 2017 in the WCO Headquarters in Brussels. The meeting brought together around 60 participants from WCO Member Administrations and NII Industry members. Interactive discussions were held in two main sessions  a session on the Unified File Format (UFF) Development Programme and a session devoted to other NII-related topics such as procurement of NII systems, equipment maintenance and training of operators and image analysts.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Director of Compliance and Facilitation Mr. Luc De Blieck reminded the participants that the TEG-NII was established in 2016 with the objective of promoting synergies between Customs and the Industry to develop a standard NII data format. The standard format is aimed at facilitating interoperability of different NII equipment provided by different manufacturers, at enabling the exchange of images in a unified file format within and between Customs administrations for Customs purposes, at facilitating the development of databases or libraries of images and at assisting the training of image analysts.

During the UFF dedicated session, the participants discussed and endorsed the approach to implementing Phase 2 of the UFF Development Programme that involved setting the file structure and features, as well as testing the draft standard through a digital pilot. The practical aspects of implementation were also discussed at the meeting.

Customs and Industry discussed in an open and lively way the various issues Customs administrations around the world face in the procurement and maintenance of their NII systems, as well as in the training of operators and image analysts. Participants exchanged valuable knowledge and experience and, based on that, further guidance material such as a NII Equipment Compendium and model tender documentation will be developed and Members best practices will be compiled to assist the WCO Members in their efforts in the NII-related areas.
By Press Trust of India: Chennai, May5 (PTI) Upset by the doctors strike in government hospitals for the last two weeks, the Madras High Court today wondered if the Essential Services Maintenance Act could not be invoked against striking doctors.

A bench of justices N Kirubakaran and V Parthiban posed the query before the state health secretary and other senior government officials, whom the court had ordered to be present today to apprise it of the situation arising out of the stir.

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Taking exception to the ongoing doctors strike, a bench of justices N Kirubakaran and V Parthiban had earlier ordered the personal appearance of top officials, including Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare Department) J Radhakrishan, who were present in the court today.

Observing that the doctors should realise the importance of their profession to the society, the bench expressed hope that they would call off the stir as the matter is pending before the court.

The bench expressed the displeasure over the doctors strike while hearing an advocates plea seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association to roll back the stir.

The petitioner had pointed out in his plea that the government hospital doctors have been on strike for the past two weeks seeking reservation of 50 per cent of seats in the PG courses in private medical colleges.

Appearing before the bench, Health Secretary Radhakrishnan submitted that necessary steps are being taken by the government to defuse the situation.

He, however, said despite many discussions with the doctors, there has been no fruitful result and the medical students too have joined the stir.

The bench, which recorded the submission, at one stage observed as to why ESMA should not be invoked against the striking doctors.

"As the matter is sub judice before this court in which the state government is also supporting the striking doctors, this court hopes that the striking doctors would understand the reality and return to work," the court said.

The court said there was no moral or equitable justification for the doctors to go on strike and they cannot hold the society to ransom by going on strike.

"If at all they are aggrieved, they can very well resort to the machinery provided under different statutory provisions to redress their grievances," it said.

The doctors should bear in mind that their strike will affect the society as a whole and particularly the innocent poor patients who entirely depend upon the public health care system, it said.

"This court hopes that the doctors will call of strike and return to duty to continue their service. Despite negotiations and dialogues and the court verdict, if the doctors still go on strike, the matter will be viewed seriously and it is open to the government to act and take appropriate action in accordance with law." PTI COR BN RAX

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By Press Trust of India: for all: Nadda

New Delhi, May 5 (PTI) The Health Ministry is committed to ensuring affordable healthcare for all, Union minister J P Nadda said today, days after his cabinet colleague Ananth Kumar urged him to make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines.

The letter assumes significance as generic medicines are cheaper than their branded equivalents and is affordable for the poor.

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"Hon @AnanthKumar_BJP ji our ministry is fully committed to working out all relevant issues in ensuring affordable quality healthcare for all," Nadda tweeted.

Union Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar had written a letter to Nadda asking him to bring amendments to the Medical Council of India (MCI) Act to make it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines, a source said.

Prescribing a generic medicine means doctors write the composition of the medicine (the salt) and not a brand name.

Kumar had written the letter to Union health minister J P Nadda on April 27 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in one of his rallies, had advocated for use of generic medicines as those are more affordable, the source said.

He had also asked for amending the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, so that chemists can give generic medicine even if branded drug is prescribed by the doctor.

Sources said these generic medicines will be easily available at the Jan Aushadi stores. The government is aiming to increase the number of these stores to 3,000 across the country.

Kumar had also requested Nadda to make it mandatory for government-run hospitals to procure at least 15 per cent of their total drug requirement from public sector pharmaceutical companies. PTI JTR TDS NSD

--- ENDS ---
By Press Trust of India: New Delhi, May 5 (PTI) Drug firm Hetero today said it has received nod from the regulator DCGI for its generic Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir combination tablets used for treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

The company "has received the approval for the generic version of Sofosbuvir+Velpatasvir combination from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)", Hetero said in a statement.

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The product will be marketed and distributed under the brand name Velasof in India by Hetero Healthcare Ltd, it added.

"This fixed-dose combination is the generic version of Gilead?s brand Epclusa, approved by the USFDA for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 to 6," Hetero said.

The product will be launched under the non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences Inc, which allows to manufacture and sell generic versions of its chronic hepatitis C medicines in 101 developing countries, it added. PTI AKT MKJ

--- ENDS ---
The Line of Control between India and Pakistan is a treacherous place at the best of times. But no threat, not the peaks and ravines along its contested 740 km frontier nor enemy bullets, matches what the Indian army calls 'BAT action'. In these, the Pakistan army's 'border action teams' of SSG commandos conduct night-time infiltrations and lie in ambush for Indian army patrols. On May 1, a suspected BAT team infiltrated over 200 metres across the LoC and killed two members of a patrol, BSF head constable Prem Sagar and naib subedar Paramjit Singh, and then went on to mutilate the bodies, triggering outrage in India.

"Such attacks don't take place even during war, let alone peace," an outraged defence minister Arun Jaitley said after the incident. BAT actions-and mutilations-have been infrequently used by the Pakistan army as an escalation tool along the LoC, beginning with the mutilation of the bodies of Capt. Saurabh Kalia and his five-man patrol team in 1999. On occasion, such outrage has even led to direct military action. The last such incident occurred in October 2016 when a BAT team mutilated the body of a soldier, Manjeet Singh, in the Machchil sector. That incident led to ferocious fire assaults from the Indian side where artillery guns and mortars levelled several Pakistani posts and soldiers.

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Like terror attacks, BAT actions are effective tools for the Pakistan Army to assert itself against India-as also its own civilian leadership. This is why Indian military analysts believe the May 1 outrage could perhaps have been a warning shot-one not necessarily aimed directly at India.

Indo-Pak ties continued to slide after last year's Uri attack, the follow-up surgical strikes, attacks by cross-border terrorists and, finally, the April 10 death sentence for alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, kidnapped from Iran last year. However, the twin mutilations mark a new low in ties between the two nations, with pressure building on the ground for a retaliatory strike.

This comes at a time when prospects of a meeting between the two prime ministers had brightened. A meeting between the two sides on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (June 8-9) is still not being ruled out. The two had last met in Lahore in December 2015, when PM Narendra Modi paid a surprise visit before the January 2016 Pathankot airbase attack scuttled talks. Now, with an Indian army reprisal almost a given, the stage is set for another round of escalations along the LoC.

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WSU Facilitates Service Abroad This Summer

May 5, 2017

OGDEN, Utah  This summer, Weber State University volunteers, including the university president, will travel to Ghana and Mozambique to provide service and education to communities and citizens of Africa. Additional service efforts from the university will benefit schoolchildren in Thailand and Ecuador.

Medical Assistance in Ghana

On May 17, a team of 20 volunteers, including WSU President Charles A. Wight and his wife Victoria Rasmussen, will travel to Ghana as part of a study abroad trip. Volunteers will offer community health education courses, free medical clinics and education for healthcare workers. The team also will aid in a variety of health and art projects in three rural primary schools.

Trip director Lisa Trujillo, WSU respiratory therapy associate professor, has extensive knowledge and experience with service work in Ghana. In 2016, she helped the University of Ghana implement the countrys first and only respiratory therapy degree program. She has traveled to Ghana 20 times in the past decade, often bringing WSU students who gain international experience in underserved communities. She is pleased to welcome the university president and his wife as trip participants.

We feel it is a great opportunity for them to see firsthand the hard work our students put into study abroad and international service experiences, Trujillo said.

This is Wights first international service trip with WSU. While in Ghana, he will teach short courses on malaria prevention and represent the Rotary Club of Ogden, which is a trip sponsor. He will also meet with leaders at the University of Ghana to discuss their respiratory therapy program, which has received development support from WSU.

Victoria and I are delighted to participate in this service adventure with students and faculty from the respiratory therapy program, Wight said.

Those participating in the month-long trip will leave for Ghana May 17 and have the option to return to the U.S. June 10 or spend an additional week in Accra, the capital of Ghana, to return June 17.

Educational Resources for Mozambique

From May 11-June 2, Weber State faculty, along with 31 students and alumni, will help build a library and two classrooms for the Eduardo Mondlane secondary school in Mozambique. The school currently has 50 students per class, and the additions will help alleviate overcrowding. The added space will also allow grades 11 and 12 to be offered at the school.

Julie Rich, geography professor; Jeremy Farner, design engineering technology associate professor and Mike Moon, Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) assistant director, will host the trip. The service team has raised $57,000 to build the school structures and has partnered with the nonprofit organization No Poor Among Us to complete the humanitarian effort.

Moon said the projects will promote a quality education, which is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty. In addition to benefitting the people of Mozambique, Moon said participating WSU students gain important experience in helping others.

Our WSU students get immersed in another culture much different from their own, Moon said. While they learn about the geography, construction, politics and historical facts of Mozambique and Southern Africa, they also learn about proper ways to address critical community needs. They return to Ogden equipped with the confidence and knowledge to step in and meet those needs on a local level.

Past WSU volunteers already have witnessed the success of service in Mozambique. In 2014, volunteers helped build the Boane Womens Center. Since its construction, the facility has trained more than 450 women in business skills, micro-finance, sewing and culinary arts. In a nation where only 50 percent of females are literate, the Boane Womens Center has provided vital educational resources. To view a documentary on this service project, visit weber.edu/ccel/global.html.

Teaching English in Thailand

For the past two academic years, computer science students from the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology have worked with nonprofit organizations and primary schools in Phuket, Thailand, to use custom-built Android apps to teach English communication skills.

The goal is to provide opportunities to learn English, so children can attend universities in Thailand, which require English proficiency, or obtain well-paying jobs within the local tourism and hospitality industries.

To support the effort, Richard Fry, computer science associate professor, recently led a trip to Thailand where he and his students helped provide technology to improve English proficiency. He is now collaborating with professors from the College of Education to create software to digitalize native Thai folklore. The software will convert stories into interactive Android apps for Thai elementary students to practice English skills. Fry plans to make another trip to Thailand this summer to interview Thai children and collect more information for the project.

Service from Home to Benefit Ecuador

In 2016, zoology students from the College of Science, under the direction of zoology professor Sam Zeveloff, raised money for the Otonga Foundation, a conservation organization in Ecuador. A portion of the donated proceeds was used to purchase backpacks, which were given to 90 native Otonga children to use on their first day of school, which began just after Easter weekend in March.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

For photos, please visit the following link:

https://wsuucomm.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2017-photos/2017-Service-Trips
Tatum's 39 points help Celtics hold on to beat Grizzlies 109-106
By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 04, 2017 | 09:28 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY

Brian Harper has been selected as the next Superintendent of McCracken County Schools.

The McCracken County Board of Education announced the decision at a specially called meeting Friday afternoon in Reidland. The board voted three to two in favor of hiring Harper. Melanie Burkeen and Tiffany Watson both voted against hiring him.



McCracken County School Board Chair Kelly Walker says the board will work together with Harper. Walker said Harper will keep the continuity of Quinn Sutton. "He embraces that continuity and we're very excited to have him," Walker said.



Harper is originally from McCracken County, and is a graduate of Reidland High School. After graduating from Murray State University, Harper taught and served as an administrator for McCracken County Schools.



Harper said he is honored to have this position. "It's a once in a lifetime dream to be able to lead a district where you graduated and attended school," Harper said.



Harper said his vision is for McCracken County to be a top school district and focus on new opportunities. He said that since changes are coming from the Kentucky Department of Education, the district could help students that choose a different career path. "We would be looking at skill development, and definitely partnering with business on apprenticeship programs." Harper said.

Harper currently serves as Secondary Supervisor of Instruction at Marshall County Public Schools.



The school system partnered with the Kentucky School Board Association, an organization that has assisted in the selection process of all superintendents hired since 1992.

A seven-person search committee was formed in March. The committee consisted of two teachers  Crystal Culp (McCracken Co. Juvenile Detention), Lori Hyde (Lone Oak Middle School), one board of education member  Steve Shelby, one principal  Brent Buchanan (Lone Oak Middle School), one parent  Dan Pope, one classified employee  Larry Zacheretti (School Resource Officer Supervisor), and one minority parent representative  Cheryl Moore.



Current superintendent Quin Sutton announced in February that he will retire in June.


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By West Kentucky Star Staff

May. 05, 2017 | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 05, 2017 | 04:11 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY

A Paducah woman was arrested Thursday on felony charges.



According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, at approximately 11 pm Thursday, deputies were dispatched to an address on McNeil-Alsip Road for a vehicle driving through yards and tearing up the property. Upon arrival, deputies found 43-year-old Melanie Wilkins, of Paducah. Her vehicle was running although severely damaged and lodged in a tree line in front of the home.



Wilkins would not provide deputies with her correct name but did admit to consuming alcohol. After determining her true identity, deputies learned that Wilkins had a suspended operators license.



Police say the vehicle Wilkins was driving had been reported stolen out of Marshall County earlier this week. Deputies also found a stolen firearm inside the vehicle.



Wilkins was taken into custody without further incident and lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail. She's charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, operating on a suspended license, receiving stolen property $10,000 or more, receiving stolen property (firearm), possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and giving an officer a false name.



The Investigation is continuing and police say additional charges are likely.
By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 04, 2017 | 07:42 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY

A Paducah man wanted by police was arrested Thursday.

According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Office, deputies received a tip that 43-year-old Allen Shane Beasley, of 28th Street, had just arrived at a home in the woods on Lydon Road near the intersection of Husbands Road. Deputies had been searching for Beasley in reference to numerous outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants out of McCracken County.

Upon arrival, deputies found the home's door open and they saw fresh tracks on a footpath behind the home. The department's K-9 Unit led deputies through a wooded area to a creek approximately 300 yards from the home, where they saw Beasley hiding under some brush in the creek.

Beasley swam away as the deputies were approaching. Deputies jumped into the creek, swam across and arrested him.

Deputies said a wallet and shotgun left at the home by Beasley had recently been stolen from a nearby home on Husbands Road during a burglary on April 29.

Beasley faces numerous charges including fleeing or evading police, assault on a police officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. He was lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

May. 04, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 04, 2017 | 08:30 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Because of high water and fast currents, authorities have closed part of the Upper Mississippi River to all vessel traffic near Cairo.



The U.S. Coast Guard says traffic was closed at 12:30 p.m. Thursday from the Len Small Levee near Miller City, to the Chester Highway Bridge.



Coast Guard officials say they closed the river to traffic to protect levee integrity, and workers will continue to evaluate river conditions. That section of the Mississippi River is forecast to continue rising until it crests early Saturday at Cape Girardeau at 48.5 feet, just below the record crest of 48.9. Flood stage is 32 feet.



A rescue team was sent in Thursday to assist with the delivery of 43,500 sandbags from Sikeston to the Cape Girardeau Public Works. The team also conducted welfare checks on 285 Missouri homes on Wednesday.



One of the teams was dispatched to move five horses and two ponies trapped by floodwaters to higher ground.



Two Dolphin helicopters and one Ocean Sentry airplane have been sent to the area for flood monitoring, and search and rescue operations if needed.



"Our primary goal is to support the states, local community, and our partner agencies in a joint effort," said Commander Mark Sawyer, commanding officer of the Marine Safety Unit in Paducah. "We are here to save lives, protect the environment, and to minimize disruptions to maritime commerce."
The main objective of the satellite project is to provide communication and disaster support to the participating South Asian nations.

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of space diplomacy took wings today as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched GSAT-9, the South Asia Communication Satellite from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh.

In a flawless flight, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F09) injected GSAT-9, a Geostationary Communication Satellite, into the space at 4:57 pm in clear weather from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

HERE IS ALL ABOUT SOUTH ASIA SATELLITE GSAT-9: Funded fully by India at a cost of about Rs 235 crore, the South Asia Satellite is meant to provide various communication applications in Ku-band with coverage over South Asian nations - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India. Pakistan, which is also a part of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), has pulled out of the project saying that it has its own space programme. GSAT-9 is configured around the ISRO's standard I-2K bus, with lift off mass of 2230 kg. The main structure of the satellite is cuboid in shape built around a central cylinder with a mission life of more than 12 years. The main objective of the satellite project is to provide communication and disaster support to the participating South Asian nations. The project will touch the lives of the people of South Asia through regional cooperation in the area of space technology applications in telecommunication and broadcasting, tele-medicine, tele-education, e-governance, banking/ ATM services, cellular back-haul, meteorological data transmission, disaster response and networking of academic and research institutions. The satellite will enable a full range of services to neighbours including the areas of telecommunication, television, direct-to-home, VSATs, tele-education and telemedicine. On disaster management front, the satellite can also provide secure hotlines among the participating nations, which will be useful for management of disasters like earthquakes, cyclones, floods and tsunamis. After coming to power in May 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked ISRO scientists to develop a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated to neighbouring countries as a "gift from India." The satellite could not however be named SAARC satellite as Pakistan backed out of the project. The satellite is also an important step by India to enhance cooperation with the entire South Asia and reinforce its leadership position in the region. Therefore it is being referred to as part of a space diplomacy program and "neighbourhood first" policy of the Modi government. The satellite is also a step to counter China's growing interest and dominance in the region.

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Also read:

With launch of South Asia Satellite GSAT-9, India's space diplomacy with Modi in command takes flight

South Asian Satellite GSAT-9: How Pakistan orbited out of SAARC space

Watch the video: Flexing its space prowess, India launches South Asia Satellite GSAT-9 as gift to its neighbours

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By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 04, 2017 | 08:44 PM | CALDWELL COUNTY, KY

A man charged with killing his sister in Lyon County and stealing her car is back in the Bluegrass State.

Kentucky State Troopers extradited 66-year-old Arthur A. Long on Thursday. Long was arrested Dec. 5, 2016 by Tennessee Highway Patrol near Cookeville, TN in reference to the ongoing KSP investigation. Long is originally from Chicago, but had recently moved to Eddyville.

Upon being extradited to Kentucky, Long was charged with murder and theft by unlawful taking (auto). The charges stem from an investigation into the Nov. 30, 2016 death of Long's sister, 68-year-old Nancy P. Minor in Eddyville. Long was lodged in the Caldwell County Jail.

The investigation is continuing by Kentucky State Police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the KSP Post 1 at 270-856-3721 or anonymously at 1-800-222-5555.
By The Associated Press May. 04, 2017 | 06:49 AM | WASHINGTON, DC

President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order targeting a rarely enforced IRS rule that says religious organizations and other non-profits that endorse political candidates risk losing their tax-exempt status.

The order also promises "regulatory relief" for groups with religious objections to the preventive services requirement in the Affordable Care Act. Those requirements include covering birth control and the move could apply to religious groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor, which have moral objections to paying for contraception.

Trump will sign the order as he marks the National Day of Prayer at the White House Thursday. He planned to meet Roman Catholic leaders in the Oval Office before signing the order.
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Sarah Crompton, WhatsOnStage



"Andrew Garfield is superb. It is hard to embody this model of high camp, but he brings Prior to full, biting life, never hitting a wrong note, inviting our sympathy but not our pity, and constantly emphasising the character's gallant, open-eyed courage in the face of odds that are always stacked against him"

"It is an extraordinary, humane performance at the centre of this great epic play. The National deserves enormous credit for bringing it back to the stage with such conviction and power."

"Elliott holds it all together with a firm but gentle hand, marking the shift from the comparative realism of the first play to the operative sweep of the second with confidence."

"Scene after wonderful scene could be taught (and no doubt is) as a lesson in making a drama out of an unlikely setting; the one where Harper and Prior sit in front of a Mormon diorama that comes to life is a dazzling mixture of the humorous and the heart-felt."

Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph



"I don't mean to sound too gripey. The show's a start-to-finish sensation, but if I have a reservation about a production that's box-office dynamite, it's that there's not quite enough TNT in the visuals, at least in the first half.

"The performances and the plays themselves, however, absolutely fly. Angels will serve as a fascinating (if leftist-slanted) history lesson for the younger generation. We're reminded of the Reagan era, embodied most viciously in the closeted (also dying of AIDS) figure of legal power-player Roy M Cohn (the superb Nathan Lane, puppyish one minute, a Rottweiler the next, finally pained and emaciated).

"Garfield is boyishly intense, and intensely pitiable...And all around him, the cast do forensic justice to the atomised personalities and personal crises from which Kushner's absurdly ambitious state-of-the-nation "gay fantasia" is exquisitely constructed."

Michael Billington, The Guardian



"Do these two plays justify their formidable eight-hour length? The answer is a qualified yes. Written in the early 1990s, do they come across as a fascinating period document, or something that speaks to us today? The answer is, a bit of both."

"Even allowing for the intervening presidencies of Clinton and Obama, this has a chilling resonance today; and it comes as no surprise to learn that the corrupt Roy Cohn acted as Donald Trump's legal adviser for a decade."

"Nathan Lane, seen previously on the London stage as Max Bialystock in The Producers, is magnetic as Cohn, creating a figure who is part predator, part patriarch but, above all, a victim of his own sad delusions about the significance of power. Meanwhile, Garfield as Prior excellently combines a head-tossing, period-style camp with the desperate anguish of a man craving love in his hour of need."

Henry Hitchings, Evening Standard



"With a running time of seven and a half hours, Angels in America is a true theatrical epic. Yet for all its bursts of surrealism and outrageous grandeur, it's illuminated by moments of tender intimacy."

"Kushner's writing dazzles. Though at times overblown and ostentatiously clever, its sheer imaginative reach can be exhilarating and it's studded with devilish humour. Instead of appearing dated, it seems pointedly topical in its scrutiny of intolerance, immigration, religious values and national ideals."

"Yet it's Andrew Garfield who makes the most profound impression. As the curiously named Prior Walter, a stylish young man ravaged by sickness, he is feverish, camp and frivolous, and Garfield catches all these notes while making him vulnerable and heartrendingly eloquent."

"True, there are times when the production's intensity drops off. But this is a courageous revival, underpinned by piercingly authentic performances."

Ann Treneman, The Times



"It feels sacrilegious to say it but this Pulitzer and Tony-winning play by Tony Kushner has quite a few moments of tedium. Indeed, more than a few."

"...written in 1993, it is an uncompromising look at the advent of Aids via three interwoven stories that take in heaven and hell, life and death, lawyers and Valium. It is also populated by visitors from dreamland, including a phantasmagorical travel agent (yes, really)."

"Marianne Elliott directs but the pace is, at times, glacial. There is, however, also brilliance. Nathan Lane gives a stand-out performance as the barracuda lawyer Roy M Cohn, a bully who is also in the closet. The most affecting story by far is that of Prior, played with almost uncanny sensitivity and comic timing by Andrew Garfield, best known as Spider-Man, and his death-phobic boyfriend Louis (James McArdle)."

"At least we now know what heaven looks like: it's a fancy dress party and (spoiler) the angels wear black."

Mark Shenton, The Stage



"Tony Kushner's kaleidoscopic two-play cycle is dense, baggy and frequently feels infatuated with the sound of its own words. It occasionally seems like a gay version of George Bernard Shaw. But it also liberatingly plays with form: conventional scenes of domestic realism defiantly throw off those shackles with abandon to enter hallucinatory realms of fantasy, mystery and mysticism.

"While Andrew Garfield slightly over-amplifies Prior's feyness so that he seems to be self-consciously acting gay rather than seeming gay, McArdle catches perfectly the conflicts of helplessness and raw guilt that inform Louis. [Russell] Tovey and [Denise] Gough also plausibly convey the shame and distress of their lives together.

"There are also hugely striking supporting performances around them, including Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Louis's nurse friend Belize, Susan Brown as Harper's mother (as well as doubling up as Ethel Rosenberg) and Amanda Lawrence as the constantly mobile angel.

Andrzej Lukowski, Time Out



"It now stands as a canonical classic, probably the great American play of the late 20th century. But the plays themselves rarely get staged, for the simple reason that the enormously long, enormously arch, symbol-drenched magical realist epic (it is in fact two long plays, Millennium Approaches and Perestroika) borders on the unstageable.

"The acting company is RIDICULOUS, the sort of ludicrous confluence of talent that impressed simply for the feat of harmonising their diaries, even before we've seen the acting.

"I'd never been quite sure from his films whether erstwhile Spider-Man Andrew Garfield was anything special, but on stage he is absolutely stupendous as the sprawling show's nominal focal point Prior Walter."

"[Marianne] Elliott's production - with a remarkable, flexible set from Ian MacNeil - is suffused with rumbling existential dread, a sense that catastrophic event is just over the neon streaked horizon. In 2017, it feels entirely in tune."

Angels in America runs at the National Theatre until 19 August.
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This year's Alan Bates Award has been won by a Bristol Old Vic Theatre School student Georgia Frost.

Olivier Award-winner Noma Dumezweni presented Frost with the award at the Actors Centre in a ceremony this week. The award is given each year to a drama school student, who is chosen after a rigorous four-stage audition and interview process. The winner will receive headshots, a website, a makeover from Ted Baker, a year's theatre-going from See Tickets as well as access to many workshops and opportunities from the Actors Centre.

The six finalists - Afolabi Alli, Adam Boardman, Tok Stephen, Angus Imrie, Ross O'Donnellan and Georgia Frost - will all receive mentorship from the likes of Polly Kemp, Chris New and Nickolas Grace. The 13 year-old award was created in honour of Alan Bates, who was patron of the Actors Centre from 1994 to 2004.

Frost said of her win: "Receiving this award makes me feel like I have a base, a mentor and friends. A set up to put me in the right state of mind. As a woman it's hard for us, we are on our way to equality but we need to keep pushing, and having this network and having this support will be that thing that will lift me up and help me go far."

Dumezweni said: "I think it's such a privilege to witness people starting out, with an amazing group of judges who are great at their work. I used to work at the Actors Centre in the cafe years and years ago, because I didn't go to drama school I thought, where can I be the closet to actors, I'll work here."

This year, entrants were asked to submit a 90 second self-tape, which Actors Centre chairman Paul Clayton said was "the way forward in the profession". "The award has been more accessible than ever," he added.
THE OLD BALFOUR SCHOOL WAS CELEBRATED FRIDAY

WILL BE THE NEW SITE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, EMS, AND THE RESCUE SQUAD

WHKPS Richard Rhodes em-ceed the Balfour School celebration Friday morning.

About 200 former students,teachers,principals and community leaders attended this special ceremony.Former and current principals addressed the group..current principal Kent Parent, Past principals Corum Smith,Mike Pressely,and Beth Caudle spoke.

It was announced efforts are underway to collect the funds needed to place a permanent marker of Balfour School on the property.Plans are to tear down the historic Stillwell built Balfour School and the County EMS will take over the property.Balfour Education Center as it is now known will be a part of the all new school plans at Blue Ridge Community College.

The highlight of the event saw former teachers sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Joanne Schultz a former lunchroom employee....it was a longtime Balfour tradition for the lunch room ladies to sing happy birthday to all the students having birthdays.

To make donations for the Balfour School marker contact the Henderson County Education History Initiative....414 4th Avenue West Hendersonville 28739...donations are 100% tax deductable.Balfour School opened in 1909....it has serve the community for 108 years.
By Indrajit Kundu: Manipur's iconic human rights activist Irom Sharmila is all set to tie-the-knot with Desmond Coutinho, a British citizen of Goan origin with whom she has been in a long distance relationship since the two met for the first time in 2011.

Amid speculation over fate of their relationship, Coutinho confirmed the development. "We are getting married in Tamil Nadu as soon as the law allows," he told India Today. The couple are currently visiting Madurai where the marriage is likely to be solemnized but the date has not been fixed yet.

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Sharmila, who embarked on a tour of south India after her electoral debacle in the recently concluded Manipur state assembly elections had announced her decision to quit politics.

"I want to take a break for self realisation and solitary enlightenment," the anti-AFSPA crusader had said then.

Sharmila has often expressed her desire to get married and have a family after she broke her historic 16-year-long fast in August last year. In fact, on the day she broke her fast, Sharmila had told journalists that she was neither an icon nor a goddess but an "ordinary woman with ordinary desires."

Coutinho, on his part had clarified his intentions through a Facebook post in April this year. "I will be joining Sharmila shortly. After we marry if there are any who wish to meet her and work with her I will assist that. And if not I want her," he had stated.

Reacting to the development, Sharmila's brother Irom Singhajit welcomed the decision. "We are happy, she is the youngest and has the right to marry and we support her wishes," he told India Today.

Also Read

Happy Birthday Irom Sharmila: Manipur's Iron Lady who fasted for 16 years

FROM THE MAGAZINE: Irom Sharmila is not for sale

--- ENDS ---
From 2000 to 2016, Jammu and Kashmir - home to 1 per cent of India's population - received 10 per cent of all central grants disbursed to states. By contrast, India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, got 8.2 per cent. Read on to find out why J&K may be India's most pampered state.

By India Today Web Desk: Cross-border terrorism and violence have exacted a heavy human cost in Jammu and Kashmir: as many as 75 civilians and 221 security personnel were killed in terrorist violence between 2013 and 2016. Since the death of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani last year, the Valley has witnessed unrest and instances of violence, the most recent of which was the mutilation of two Indian jawans by a Pakistan Border Action Team in Poonch district.

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But there's another side to life in India's northernmost state, home to the strife-torn Kashmir valley and a perennial bone of contention in India-Pakistan ties. There may a case to be made for the idea that Jammu and Kashmir is India's most pampered state. J&K has been given special autonomous status as per Article 370 of the Constitution.

FINANCIAL PACKAGES

To start with, the state has received some substantial financial assistance from New Delhi. In November 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a whopping Rs 80,000 crore package, calling it a gift, and saying it was just the beginning.

Half that amount - of which Rs 19,000 crore has been released - was meant for road infrastructure.

And between November 2004 and June 2010, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced two economic packages worth Rs 24,000 crore and Rs 1,600 crore, and sops worth over Rs 1,000 crore.

CENTRAL GRANTS MORE THAN UP

From 2000 to 2016, Jammu and Kashmir - which accounts for only one per cent of the country's population - received Rs 1.14 lakh crore in grants from the Centre. That's 10 per cent of all grants disbursed to states during this period.

In contrast, India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh - home to 13 per cent of the population - got 8.2 per cent of these funds.

To put the UP-J&K contrast in perspective, the allocation of funds per capita was Rs 91,300 in Jammu and Kashmir, and Rs 4,300 in Uttar Pradesh.

Here's another statistic. From 2013-14 to 2015-16, Jammu and Kashmir got grants worth Rs 75,500.2 crore. Assam, the other major recipient of central grants, received Rs 74,761.4 crore.

DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS

Packages and grants are one thing, but standard of living can be considered to be concrete proof of development. Jammu and Kashmir's performance on certain development indicators is worth mentioning.

To begin with, as many as 97.4 percent of all households in the state have electricity. The national average is far lower: 88.2 per cent.

57.6 of J&K households have access to clean fuel for cooking (National average: 43.8 per cent), 52.5 per cent use improved sanitation facilities (National average: 48.4 per cent), and 85.7 of all births are institutional - which means that the newborns are delivered in a maternity home (National average: 78.9). .89.2 per cent of households have access to an improved water source. That number is lower than the Indian average - 89.9 per cent - but not by much. What's more, Jammu and Kashmir's performance on these indicators is generally better than that of some other insurgency-affected states, like Chhattisgarh, Nagaland and Assam.

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FINANCIAL WOES

However, for all the central assistance and positive developmental indicators, it's worth noting that the state's finances are weak. As of March 2016, Jammu and Kashmir's outstanding liabilities were worth 52.3 per cent of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). It fared worse than some other special category states - Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Himachal Pradesh, for instance - and even some non-special category states.

That's not all. J&K's deficit has been growing steadily in the past half-decade or so. While its outstanding liabilities were worth Rs 30,120 crore in 2010, they stood at Rs 50,130 crore in 2016. And each year within that time-frame, the number increased by at least Rs 2,000 crore.

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(Data sourced from: CAG, NFHS 4, The Hindu)

ALSO READ | Kashmir: After massive search operation, people think of worst years of 1990s

ALSO READ | Crackdown on WhatsApp groups in Kashmir hits separatists and militant outfits hard

ALSO READ | Kashmiris defy social media ban. Time for government to change Information Technology law?

ALSO WATCH | Jawans mutilated: Sufficient evidence to prove Pakistan Army was behind the act, says MEA

--- ENDS ---
Virtual Private Network has turned out to be the ultimate tool for the youth to access blocked websites. The fresh revelation has sent alarm bells ringing in the government and the need to look forward is increasingly being felt as the stop gap arrangements like blocking social media sites have now proved to be insufficient.

By Anand Patel: Archaic Information Technology law is helping the Kashmiri youth to bypass the social media ban imposed in the Valley last week? Valley residents posted tweets and videos to mock the ban on social media by the state government. The repeated bans on social media have virtually forced tech savvy internet users in the valley to look for alternate ways to defy the ban.

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Virtual Private Network (VPN) has turned out to be the ultimate tool for the youth to access blocked websites. The fresh revelation has sent alarm bells ringing in the government and the need to look forward is increasingly being felt as the stop gap arrangements like blocking social media sites have now proved to be insufficient.

"It is fairly simple and very easy for anyone who has even a 2G internet connection, VPN has emerged as a popular choice to access websites blocked in a region," says Javed Anwar, Tech Editor with India Today. "VPN offers the choice to access servers from an array of countries and provides the user with the option of switching to them to access websites of choice," he added.

The government had directed internet service providers to execute the ban listing out more than two dozen social networking websites and apps including popular ones like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube. But reports emerging from the Valley suggest that barring state run BSNL, bandwidth of other private service providers is good enough to allow the user to hook on to VPN. There has been a surge among internet users from the Valley connecting to servers in Japan and Korea ever since the ban came into effect.

Pawan Duggal, a cyber law expert hints towards lacunae in the IT Act in the country. "Kashmiris using VPN to defy social media ban should be an alarm bell for the government to wake up to this new challenge, our IT Act is outdated and it needs to be amended and updated according to the new challenges technology is throwing at us," said Pawan Duggal.

"Perhaps it's time now that the country needs to update its legal frameworks to issue specific and concrete guidelines for intermediaries and service providers for dealing with content published and disseminated on their networks which is anti India or which is impacting our sovereignty, security and integrity," he added.

A series of anti government protests in the Valley and the disturbing trend of even school girls actively participating in them has sent the establishment into a tizzy. The opposition parties have criticized the way Kashmir situation is being handled by the NDA government both in the state and at the Center.

Randeep Surjewala, spokesperson for All India Congress Committee, told India Today that the government has failed in its Kashmir policy, with repeated ceasefire violations resulting into losses on the Indian side and the beheading of our brave soldiers. "What can be expected from a Government which can't even manage to enforce a social media ban in the valley," he added.

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The manner in which Kashmiris have defied the latest ban has left the government looking for answers. Union Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told India Today that there is a serious issue of abuse of social media to foment trouble, and the government is looking into the matter.

Watch Video: Kashmir: 3G, 4G mobile internet services suspended following fresh violence

Also Read:

Internet suspended in Jammu and Kashmir for a month over student protests

If you are using internet from a local broadband service-provider, then beware!

--- ENDS ---
As forces carried out one of the biggest search operations carried out in last decade in Kashmir, people are asking is it back to 1990's in the valley?

By Shuja-ul-Haq : When around 3000 men from the security forces landed up in the villages of Shopian yesterday, it reminded many local people of the worst times of militancy in 1990s.

Army jawans, paramilitary troopers and policemen started one of the biggest searches and cordon operations seen in more than a decade in the Valley. The men in uniform went for house-to-house searches.

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The target villages included places like Nagbal, Molu Chitragam, Kungnoo, Heff kuri, Warpora, Kenigom, Human, Chillipora, Zainapora, Darazpora, Turkiwungam, Sugan, Kashoo, Maldera, Urpora, Aripora, Ladi and Dragad.

FEAR OF 1990s

"It was like 1990s, when cordons were a daily affair in the Valley," said a local in Shopian. During the peak time of militancy in 1990s, the forces would line up the locals from huge areas and parade them in front of the informers hidden in the vehicle one by one.

A top police official said the operation in Shopian was more of showing presence, "It was an important operation. It also was an area domination exercise."

Even Army Chief General Bipin Rawat was quoted saying, "We are making sure that the situation is brought under control" in Kashmir. When the operation was finally called off towards the evening the security forces couldn't get much. No arrests were made from the area.

LOCALS COMPLAINTS

From some areas the locals, however, alleged of excesses by the search parties. Some reports in the local media have quoted people from areas like Turkiwangam, Mandera , Urpora and Sugan as saying that forces went berserk by barging into the houses and damaged property.

At some place clashes were also reported between the security forces and the villages. Stone pelting was also witnessed as the forces advanced into the villages.

The security forces used modern gadgetry and equipment in the operation. Helicopters were also seen hovering in the sky during the search operation and use of UAV's was also reported.

The locals say it was towards to evening yesterday that security forces were seen withdrawing. However, the officials say the searches will continue.

ALSO READ |

Three jawans injured, civilian killed in massive operation to flush out militants in Kashmir's Shopian

Shopian: How apple bowl turned into hotbed of terrorism in Kashmir

ALSO WATCH |

--- ENDS ---
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the popular song Hotel California, the Eagles Don Henley sang, You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

That isnt the case at Hotel California Todos Santos, an actual 11-room hotel in Todos Santos, Mexico, from which guests can both check out and leave.

The hotel, in fact, has nothing to do with the song.

Even so, the Eagles contend the Baja California establishment has been using the name to suggest a connection with the band for financial gain.

The band filed a lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles seeking a variety of damages and a halt to any infringement.

The lawsuit claimed the hotel sells merchandise  including T-shirts, posters, sweatshirts, bathrobes, key chains, playing cards, mugs, guitar picks and refrigerator magnets  featuring the bands name and the cover art from its 1976 album Hotel California, on which the song appeared.

The band also contends that the hotel actively encourage(s) consumers to believe that the hotel in Todos Santos is associated with the Eagles to further their sale of these items by playing Eagles songs  particularly Hotel California  throughout its halls and in its lobby.

The hotel opened in 1950 and, according to the lawsuit, underwent several name and ownership changes. In 2001, Canadian couple Debbie and John Stewart purchased the hotel, restored its original name and sought to revitalize the hotel and create a reputation for it, based at least partially on the hotels reputed, but false, connection to the Eagles, the lawsuit stated.

Indeed, one Yelp review stated, The famous song by the Eagles lured us here to the town of Todos Santos  about an hours drive away from Cabo San Lucas.

The history page of the hotels website currently states that the Eagles never owned the hotel but notes many similarities the hotel shares with the lyrics of Hotel California.

It states, Many  legends are less black and white and continue to fascinate the public. Although the present owners of the hotel do not have any affiliation with the Eagles, nor do they promote any association, many visitors are mesmerized by the coincidences between the lyrics of the hit song and the physicality of the hotel and its surroundings.

It goes on to list those coincidences.

One of these, for example, is that Hotel California is accessed by driving down a long desert highway from either Los Cabos to the south or La Paz to the east.

The opening line of the song is On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair.

Another coincidence is that The Mission Church of Pilar is located directly adjacent to the hotel and mission bells are heard daily. One of the songs lyrics is I heard the mission bell.

The hotel did not respond to Reuters request for comment on Tuesday.

Henley has previously stated that the song isnt actually about a hotel or even California.

Its a journey from innocence to experience, Henley told CBS News last December. Its not really about California; its about America. Its about the dark underbelly of the American dream. Its about excess, its about narcissism. Its about the music business It can have a million interpretations.

The now-deceased Glenn Frey, another member of the band who worked on the songs lyrics, however, claimed the band members had no idea what their famous song meant.

The band has long been fiercely protective of its intellectual property.

Most notably, as reported in Billboard in 2011, it dropped a trademark infringement lawsuit against the American Eagle Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to care for and protect the USAs living symbol of freedom, the Bald Eagle, and other birds of prey, according to its website.

The band had created two companies  Eagles Ltd. and Eagles Recording Co.  and claimed the foundation infringed on their names. The band also took umbrage with the nonprofits website URL (eagles.org) and phone number (1-800-2-EAGLES.)

Previously, the band sued a Dallas restaurant called Hotel California Grill for trademark violation. The eatery reportedly changed its name.

 Washington Post
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 04/05/2017 (2015 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GRETNA  With the first group of asylum seekers to take temporary shelter in the border town of Gretna expected to arrive by this morning, fear and uncertainty is slowly giving way to support and congenial curiosity.

Hostile, tense and angry. Thats how several residents of the small town described a meeting last week when the provincial government announced it was converting an empty seniors facility into temporary lodging for refugee claimants.

There was a lot of different ideas going around that werent necessarily true, said Madison Sawatzky, who lives with his wife and three children just doors down from the facility on a wide, leafy street adjacent to Gretnas primary school.

People worried refugees would be dumped on their doorstep with no background checks and no screening of any kind, despite officials saying that is not, and has never been, the case. Others worried, despite assurances the facility is meant to host people for three days and at most five, asylum seekers would compete for what limited jobs there are in the area.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Madison and Amanda Sawatzky with their children, from left, Ruby, Lylah and Ayden live in Gretna near the seniors home that is being converted to a temporary shelter. They're happy the community is doing what it can to help the new asylum seekers.

Some of the arguments are a little bit bizarre, said Sawaktzy, although he understands some of his neighbours frustrations with how fast the facility announcement went from community concept to doors open.

The community got the news, and the next morning trucks arrived with bedding and other housing supplies, said Glenn, another longtime Gretna resident who asked his last name not be used.

I think were just misinformed on a lot of this stuff, he said. It was all planned prior to the meeting, that they were going to do this whether they informed the people in town or not.

The government is listening to community concerns, said Carolyn Ryan of Manitoba Housing. Ryan was in Gretna on Thursday afternoon to help ready the building for impending arrivals.

The long and narrow one-storey building has 17 rooms in total. Some are bachelor suites with three beds, while others are one-bedroom suites allowing for a few extra sleepers. Each suite is open and bright with a kitchenette, its own bathroom and a large window.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS This former seniors home in Gretna which has been sitting vacant, is being repurposed into a temporary shelter for asylum seekers.

Three social services workers will work in Gretna and be available after hours from their residence in Altona, a 10-minute drive away. Ryan said the facility will employ a mix of local staff members as well as others coming from Winnipeg.

Well cycle people through, she said.

The work is largely paperwork, as well as some chauffeur duties. Asylum seekers intercepted by the RCMP at the border will be taken to Emerson for processing, which Ryan said lasts several hours at least. When theyre ready, the social workers will drive to pick them up at any time of day to bring them back to Gretna.

Once there, Ryan said, Well do whatever paperwork we can with them upfront.

Some 500 people have crossed the border since Jan. 1, she said, and although in the beginning the majority indicated they intended not to settle in Manitoba, she said thats no longer the case. For those planning to leave, the social workers will help with immigration paperwork. For those planning to stay, theyll add in income assistance paperwork if necessary and give them a lift to Winnipeg.

Three days after arrival, theyre required to appear there before Border Services.

Thats our trigger, Ryan said. Theyve got to move.

The government is working with the community to make it abundantly clear the Gretna lodgings are not permanent. Although Ryan acknowledged the initial meeting was somewhat tense, she said there is effort being made to assuage lingering concerns. Initially, the plan was for 12-hour on-site security, but to appease locals thats been bumped to 24 hours.

Despite the rocky start, Ryan said she was pleasantly surprised by the number of people coming forward to ask how they could help in the days after the meeting.

We had lots of interest from community members, she said. A second meeting specifically to co-ordinate community support was scheduled for Thursday night. Thats right around the time Ryan expects the first group of refugee claimants to arrive. Social workers got the call four people were picked up and are currently being processed.

In the afternoon, Robin Neustaeter dropped off a box full of stuffed animals, as well as 40 hygiene kits, each in bags hand-sewn by locals. The bags include a towel, a face cloth, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant and a brief welcome note.

Neustaeter said she thinks people in the community either know or are coming to realize theres a history of immigration.

When the Mennonites first came to the area, we werent necessarily welcomed, she said, adding theres a recognition people should pay it forward and do good.

Neustaeter wants asylum seekers to see the best of Gretna and Canada.

Theres a lot of mixed thoughts and feelings about whats happening here and its a complex issue, I cant deny it, she said. But this is happening, we cant change that, so how can we make the best of the situation?

jane.gerster@freepress.mb.ca
The committee under the chairmanship of principal chief controller of accounts Dr DN Pathak will submit its report within three weeks, sources said.

There have been several complaints of violations of government guidelines at the prestigious Lalit Kala Akademi.

By Amit Kumar: The Centre has set up a committee to look into allegations of irregularities and violations of government guidelines that have blotted the landscape of the prestigious Lalit Kala Akademi.

The decision to constitute the three-member panel that will probe the charges against a former chairman of the academy was taken after Mail Today reported the issue in February. The autonomous organisation was established in the Capital in 1954 by the government to promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, in and outside the country. The committee under the chairmanship of principal chief controller of accounts Dr DN Pathak will submit its report within three weeks, sources said on Thursday.

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"It has been decided with the approval of minister of culture Mahesh Sharma to inquire into various irregularities by a former Lalit Kala Akademi chairman. The other two members of the committee are joint secretary and chief vigilance officer Shefali Shah and Archaeological Survey of India director PG Kaladharan," said an official in the ministry.

Mail Today had highlighted various irregularities at the prestigious institution pointed out in an internal audit by the ministry of human resource development (HRD) as well as a Delhi High Court order.

Various chairmen (retired bureaucrats) had been running the organisation allegedly through a coterie of handpicked "yes men" over the past decade before the Centre took over management control of the academy in 2015, citing complaints regarding alleged administrative and financial irregularities in its functioning.

ART FRATERNITY MEMBERS DEMAND FAIR PROBE

However, many artists associated with Lalit Kala Akademi have raised concerns as no independent members have been included in the probe panel. "It's more of an internal committee and so chances are nothing will be transparent," said KR Subbanna, former acting chairman of the institution. "What are the terms of reference prepared for the committee? What is their mandate, jurisdiction? Whose tenure or period are they investigating? It would have been better if the constituent members of this committee were included from different fields like arts, judiciary, financial experts, etc."

Members of the art fraternity have demanded a fair and independent investigation against the past chairmen. They also said that artists should also be given an opportunity to present their grievances, complaints, papers and documents before the committee.

"In the past few years we have sent several complaints but nothing has moved in the ministry of culture as the serving bureaucrats are hand in glove with their senior retired colleagues," said Partha Pratim Ganguly, former executive board member of the academy.

"We as the executive board members of preceding term witnessed ruthless abuse of the financial and administrative code by the former chairmen."

A special committee appointed by the Lalit Kala Akademi administration has also withdrawn the "blacklisting" of 23 artists who were punished by a previous regime.

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Prof Jai Kishan Agarwal, former executive board member of LKA and former principal of Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts, told Mail Today, "I am very disappointed seeing the delay from the side of the ministry of culture in bringing the culprits to book. We have time and again compiled evidences of financial mismanagement and bungling of the past chairmen. But, it seems nothing has moved as they still have clout in the bureaucracy." "We have great expectations from PM Narendra Modi that now only he can move the ministry of culture to take proactive action in nailing the culprits," said art expert Professor SK Kushwaha.

ALSO READ | Lalit Kala Akademi scrutinised by HRD ministry, accused of supporting fake NGOs

--- ENDS ---
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ABOUT 60 people will be out of work later this month, as the Price Chopper grocery store at Stafford Street and Pembina Highway is shutting down.

Signs are up at the store, which was purchased by the North West Company in 2014, announcing May 20 closure.

Price Chopper has been at that location for nearly 20 years. The company said a Giant Tiger store will open at that location later this year or in early 2018.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Price Choppers on Pembina Highway and Stafford is shutting down, with a Giant Tiger to open there either later this year or early 2018.

Derek Reimer, the North West Companys director of business development, said the store could not stay afloat in Winnipegs increasingly competitive grocery sector.

The store is just not profitable and ongoing losses resulted in the decision to close the store, Reimer said, noting the store has been operating at a loss since the North West Company bought it.

Reimer said company representatives have met with all employees.

While layoff notices were issued, he said employees have been offered severance pay and transitional services to help them find other positions within the company or other jobs.

Were grateful to all the employees who have served there over the many years, prior to us owning it and since we took ownership in July 2014. It was a dedicated team and were thankful for the work they did, Reimer said

Its unfortunate that we had to make this decision and hopefully well work with them to transition into other opportunities.

We are working with a transition employment service right now and our recruitment team will also be meeting with employees to advise them of any opportunities that may be available within the company that they can apply for.

Reimer said Giant Tiger will rent the building from the North West Company.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 04/05/2017 (2015 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

University-age children of immigrants will soon be allowed to join their parents in Canada.

The federal government said Thursday it is raising the allowable age for dependants to those under 22 from those under 19.

The new age limit takes effect Oct. 24, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced Wednesday. The increased age will apply to new applications for all immigration programs, including for refugees. Increasing the maximum age of a dependant child will allow more families to stay together, the department said, and showcases the governments commitment to family reunification.

The announcement was no surprise, said refugee advocate Tom Denton. For decades, he has watched different governments open and close Canadas immigration gates. Raising the age of allowable dependents reverses a 2014 decision by the Conservative government under Stephen Harper that lowered the age of allowable dependants to those under 19.

It simply reflects a return to the policy of many years and through many wiser governments of the past, said Denton, executive director of Hospitality House Refugee Ministry. The Harper government had a strong elitist streak that showed also in its approach to making citizenship harder to get. But then and now, we know that immigration is necessary for demographic reasons, he said, citing the latest Statistics Canada numbers that show Canada now more seniors than children. Justin Trudeaus Liberal government could do more if it wants Canada to thrive, Denton said.

While the return to the older age ceiling for children is welcome for immigrating families, it is still a far cry from allowing family immigration as we used to have it 25 years ago, he said. The immigration premise remains short-sighted and skewed to short-term economic goals rather than to nation-building ones.

It is not the arriving generation that needs to be examined every which way  it is the progeny forming the next generation after that, and the succeeding generations.

The federal government says the higher age limit announced this week is consistent with the global socioeconomic trend for children to stay home longer, including to pursue post-secondary education.

The increased age will allow older immigrant children, aged 19 to 21, to study in Canada and boost the pool of post-secondary students for Canadian universities and colleges, as well as the pool of employees once these individuals graduate with a Canadian education, and contribute to Canadas economy, the government in a news release.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The entire unit of Winnipeg police officers who investigate missing and exploited children cases will not be able to attend an upcoming conference in Winnipeg due to city budget cuts, the head of the Winnipeg Police Association said Friday.

Maurice Sabourin, the Winnipeg Police Association president, said an internal email forwarded to the WPA revealed that only about 15 officers from the 45-member WPS Specialized Investigation Division will be able to attend the 17th Annual Missing and Exploited Children Conference in Winnipeg later this month.

It was an email that one of our members shared with us and its in the area of the Special Investigations Unit which deals with exploited children, exploited women, child abuse, sex crimes. Typically the whole unit would have been able to attend in the past but as a result of, and its listed right in there (the email), as budget cuts to our training that only a third of the unit is only able to attend, Sabourin said in an interview.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Maurice Sabourin, president of the Winnipeg Police Association

Sabourin said the union believes all officers in the unit should be able to attend a conference in Winnipeg so they may receive direct access to information and benefit from the unique insights offered by conference guests in a very difficult and challenging area of law enforcement.

Members in our Specialized Investigation Division work on some of the most challenging and heart-breaking crimes which can affect our community, and cases involving missing and exploited children are some of the toughest any community can face, Sabourin stated.

These conferences provide unique opportunities to learn from other experts working in this field, and our members benefit tremendously from the training opportunities conferences like this represent.

However, police Chief Danny Smyth denied theres been any cutback in funding for conferences.

Thats not a totally accurate depiction of whats going on, Smyth told reporters following the conclusion of the monthly Friday morning police board meeting.

Smyth said theres been no cut to the conference budget, adding the division commander opted to split conference attendance this year, sending some members to the local event and other members to a conference in Ottawa, which is examining exploitation of children through the internet.

He had the same budget as he did last year, he just opted to use it in a way that spreads some training around and brings some expertise back from some other training programs, Smyth said.

Meanwhile, Sabourin said the issue is an example of how budget cuts by Mayor Brian Bowman and council ultimately impact the services we provide Winnipeg families.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth.

Its a bigger issue. This is just one example of how the mayors budget is now affecting the citizens of Winnipeg, he said.

Not only do wait times increase on calls for service, but training opportunities like this one, on a very important topic, at a conference right here in Winnipeg, need to be restricted.

Sabourin said uniformed officers on shifts have been decreased by five to six members per shift gradually over the past few years so Winnipeggers may notice slower response times this summer to calls for service.

In January, we saw a 10 per cent increase (in calls for service) from the year before so in the summer, when the hot summer nights hit, its going to be crazy, Sabourin said.

Smyth said theres been no reduction in the number of officers on patrol, adding theres a mandatory number spelled out in the collective agreement which the service has adhered to for several years.

Smyth told the police board that there has been an 19 per cent increase in the number of non-emergency calls police have been unable to respond to but said police are dealing with all emergency calls.

Sabourin told reporters that the spending cap on police budget increases that were imposed by council in 2016 and 2017 are having an impact on the WPS being able to respond to calls in a timely fashion.

Now were starting to see the affect of the 2016 and 2017 (police budgets), Sabourin said. The police board does a wonderful job but they realize (Mayor Brian Bowman and his executive policy committee) are not going to listen to what the police board wants.

New police board chairman David Asper said he agrees with the boards plan to limit police spending increases to inflation but added theres always going to be tension between service demands on police and budget limitations.

Its our job to collaborate with the police service and council and try to find some way to make it work with whatever resources are available, Asper said. Thats just the reality of what we have to do.

With files from Aldo Santin

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 04/05/2017 (2015 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man convicted in a high-profile murder-for-hire plot has had his request to appeal dismissed by the Supreme Court of Canada.

The high court announced Thursday it declined to hear the appeal from Treyvonne Willis, who argued his first-degree murder conviction should be overturned because he was under duress when he committed the murder.

Willis was convicted by a jury in 2015 of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 27-year-old Kaila Tran. He admitted to killing Tran in an attempt to get out of a drug debt that may have been as high as $100,000.

Kaila Tran was stabbed in a parking lot in the St. Vital in 2012.

The drug dealers who were threatening him wanted Tran killed, court heard, but Willis was the only one held criminally responsible for her death. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

He claimed he was in a situation of kill or be killed and appealed the conviction.

The Manitoba Court of Appeal dismissed his argument in November 2016, which led to the request to appeal at the Supreme Court.

Willis sought to argue he should have been allowed to use the defence of being under duress at the time of the killing and that the Criminal Codes stance on duress violated his charter rights.

Under the Criminal Code, a defence of duress doesnt apply to murder and can only be used when someone commits an offence under compulsion from a person who is making threats of death or bodily harm and is present when the offence is committed.

Willis was convicted of ambushing and fatally stabbing Tran outside of her St. Vital apartment building in 2012. He didnt say who put him up to the killing.

Another man was also charged with first-degree murder and accused of being the mastermind behind the killing, but charges against him were dropped in 2014.
Opinion

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This article was published 05/05/2017 (2014 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Much is at stake when provincial and federal Manitoba Liberals assemble this weekend in Brandon for their annual general meeting.

Federally, the Manitoba Liberals are faring well, with seven elected MPs waving the governments flag. They include Jim Carr, who, as minister of natural resources, is on the front line of major energy projects and is viewed by some as Captain Canada shielding our economy from U.S. President Donald Trump on critical matters such as forthcoming tariffs on lumber.

Provincially, Liberals are abuzz and optimistic as a new executive will be elected and the ensuing leadership will be a focal point. A sitting MLA, Cindy Lamoureux, has entered the race, while rumours circulate about two other caucus members, Jon Gerrard and Judy Klassen, who have yet to declare their intentions. Among others whose leadership interest would be welcomed by Liberal delegates in Brandon are outgoing president Sachit Mehra, Christian Monnin, Karen Taraska-Alcock, former Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president David Angus and Winnipeg councillors Russ Wyatt and John Orlikow.

The provincial election in 2020 presents another opportunity for Liberals to make an electoral breakthrough. Since the 1990s, the party has wrestled with the perception of strong leaders losing opportunities to the NDP. With three current seats in the legislature, one seat away from official party status, provincial Liberals must understand that their next leader will dictate the partys trajectory, not just for 2020, but for the next 10 years.

The next leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party must capture the hearts of Manitobans, methodically and intelligently rebuild the party, and possess experience, charisma, chutzpah and proficiency in both official languages. It is imperative that Liberals select a leader who can build a government-ready team by 2020. The next leader and the party must be bold and must appeal to forward-thinking, business-oriented and broadly appealing personalities.

Former NDP premier Gary Doer governed successfully, some would say, as a Liberal in disguise. The next provincial Liberal leader must, like Doer and like former Liberal leader Sharon Carstairs, be intuitively in touch with voters. He or she must develop policies that poach from the centre-left of the NDP and the centre-right of the Progressive Conservatives.

The current hard-right, ideologically-driven tenants of the legislature will naturally define the purpose of the Manitoba Liberal party. The provincial Liberals must work closely with their federal cousins and carry a business-first attitude with a sharp focus on health care, innovation and the economy.

The Pallister government has seen its popularity slip as a result of its necessary austerity cuts to essential services such as hospital emergency rooms and educational programs. This government is divesting, not investing, in Manitoba.

Still in opposition mode rather than governing mode, the governments constant message of we inherited a mess and the previous government put us here is becoming tired. The Progressive Conservatives have had one year in office but have implemented nothing original or innovative, being content to scale back initiatives of the NDP. As consequences of the Pallister governments decisions become increasingly apparent to voters, the Liberals could well position themselves as the natural alternative.

Time is short to develop a platform, a team and a war chest. The party must introduce a new leader, open a dialogue with Manitobans and prepare for an election, all in three years. It is essential for the next leader to champion reconciliation and partnerships, working closely with indigenous peoples to pursue increased employment and a higher quality of education. Manitobans want accessible health care; our economy needs new revenue streams and the province needs a strong relationship with municipalities and federal partners.

There is a script for the Liberals to aspire to: we have all seen the movies where the impossible becomes possible and the underdog crusades to victory. The unexpected Carstairs breakthrough in 1988 is an example, with the 2020 election presenting another excellent opportunity for electoral success.

I believe provincial Liberals can win in 2020. Provincial Liberals must believe too, and collaborate with their new leader to make history.

Ajay Chopra is a longstanding Liberal, a government relations consultant and a local entrepreneur. He was an adviser to former Assembly of First Nations chief Phil Fontaine, and former Liberal cabinet minister Martin Cauchon. Chopra was a Liberal candidate for Point Douglas in the 1999 provincial election.
Local anti-frac sand organization has announced its intention to become involved with a suit against Winona County over ban on industrial sand operations.

The Land Stewardship Project said it filed papers to intervene in the lawsuit, filed in mid-March by Minneapolis-based law firm Larkin Hoffman. That suit seeks to nullify the amendment to the countys zoning ordinance preventing the mining and processing of industrial silica sand.

We are committed to doing everything we can to see that the ban is upheld, Land Stewardship Project policy organizer Johanna Rupprecht said.

The intention is to become a party in the lawsuits. Parties currently involved have 30 days to file an objection against the move, which would mean that LSP would have to file another request and have a hearing before a judge, who would approve or deny the request.

Rupprecht said the move would allow them to fight against the challenge to the ordinance on behalf of their organization and those in the community who support the ban, which they feel is the majority and outweighs the potential monetary interests of a few.

Clearly we have an interest in seeing the ban upheld, Rupprecht said.

LSP was heavily involved in lobbying for the ban and drafting the language for the ban. The organizations involvement in the process leading up to the ban is a contributing factor to their request.

Ed Walsh, the lead attorney representing LSP in the intervention proceeding, said the hundreds of hours of work gives them a vested interest in preserving the ban, and that the intervention gave them a wider range of legal options to fight the suit.

It would certainly allow LSP  to do everything we can to help preserve the ordinance, Walsh said.

Walsh is an LSP member and Winona County resident and will also work with attorneys Scott Carlson and Lynn Hayes of Farmers Legal Action Group.

They are currently only filing to become involved in the first of two suits filed against the county ban. Rupprecht said LSPs involvment with the second suit would depend on how the courts decide to handle the similar litigation.

In the first of the suits, two parties are suing the county  a nonprofit formed in January called Southeastern Minnesota Property Owners, and Roger Dablestein, a Saratoga County resident who owns property in Winona County.

The complaint alleges that Dablsteins Winona County land holds significant industrial silica deposits which are estimated to be in the range of 12 million tons located on approximately 38 acres.

The complaint said the ruling was unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious and violates the United States and Minnesota constitutions, including, specifically, the equal protection, due process and takings clauses of these constitutions and the interstate commerce clause of the United States Constitution.

The complaint seeks a ruling that upholds that contention, as well as a prohibiting the enforcement of the ban on industrial sand mining.

The second suit, filed by Minnesota Sands, LLC in mid-April also claims the ban is unconstitutional, and takes away rights of land owners. They also maintain that the state has already implemented enough controls on the industry.

Minnesota Sands claimed when announcing their suit that their owner-investors have leases to over 3,000 acres of land for sand mining at undisclosed locations  one of North Americas largest deposits of high-quality silica sand that is in great demand by energy companies across the country.

Mining companies are predicting that a rise in oil prices could cause a resurgence in the demand for high-quality sand found in Minnesota and Wisconsin, which had dropped off in 2015 from cheap oil prices in favor of cheaper sand closer to the oil fields where it is used.

The Winona County Board approved the ban in a narrow vote in late-November and was immediately threatened with a lawsuit but none materialized until spring.

Supporters of the ban had been vocal for several years to move the process forward, citing concerns with water and air quality, health effects on county residents and reclamation possibilities, as well as the inability of the Winona County planning department staff to oversee the industry given its size, resources and workload.

The ban amendment was created by Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman and drew from several examples, including Goodhue Countys Florence Townships ban on silica sand mining for fracking and the Land Stewardship Projects proposed ban language from the spring.

The final language clarified distinctions between restrictions on different types of mineral excavation, extraction and land alteration by defining some as commercial minerals compared to industrial minerals.

The county also denies that it would affect the inter-county or interstate commerce of sand by truck, rail or barge, and it would only apply to new mines not grandfathered in, which were concerns with previous ban drafts.

We are committed to doing everything we can to see that the ban is upheld. Johanna Rupprecht, Land Stewardship Project policy organizer
LA CROSSE, Wis. Gov. Scott Walker kicked off his tour of the states tourism industry in La Crosse on Friday.

Walker participated in the ribbon-cutting for the I-90 rest area and visitor center on French Island and released highlights from new tourism numbers that show the state continues to grow the industry. The rest area was the brainchild of retired La Crosse County Convention Bureau Executive Director Dave Clements, who worked to replace the former rest area which first opened in 1977.

Clements worked hard with La Crosses Democratic legislators, Sen. Jennifer Shilling and Rep. Jill Billings to get state support for the project, which included buy-in from Walker in 2014. Construction on the $3.5 million facility began in 2016 and along with a visitors building and restrooms, includes a playground area, pet exercise area, picnic tables and seasonal walking paths for visitors to the state to enjoy.

Clements attended the ribbon-cutting and said the project was one of the last things on his bucket from his days as tourism director. Now that it is completed, the facility is a great boon for the state and the city which will attract people to the area.

Several dozen representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the county visitors bureau, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and local visitors bureaus packed the rest visitors center for the celebration. During his remarks, Walker spoke about the growth of the tourism industry during his tenure as governor.

The tourism industry reached $20 billion in 2016, Walker announced up more than $5 billion from six years ago. The number of visitors is up as well with 107.7 million people coming to Wisconsin in 2016.

La Crosse remained the ninth largest county in terms of tourism volume for the second year in a row, current visitor bureau executive director AJ Frels said. And visitor spending rose to more than $248 million.

This helps support more than 193,000 tourism industry jobs, which Walker said were a big boost to the state economy.

Tourism isnt just a lot of fun, he said. It is a really important economic impact for the state.
GSAT-9, considered as a 'gift' to its South Asian neighbours, rode piggyback on the space agency's rocket GSLV-F09 with indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage.

By India Today Web Desk: Boosting connectivity among nations in the South Asian region, India today successfully launched South Asia Communication Satellite GSAT-9 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The Geostationary Communication Satellite is built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's space diplomacy efforts.

GSAT-9, considered as a 'gift' to its South Asian neighbours, rode piggyback on the space agency's rocket GSLV-F09 with indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage.

ISRO launches South Asia Satellite GSAT-9 from Andhra Pradesh's Srikharikota. pic.twitter.com/59ElQn26n0; ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

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Seven of the eight SAARC countries--India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives, are a part of the project. Pakistan had decided to opt out, stating "it has its own space programme."

PM Modi said described this as a historic moment saying it opens up new horizons of engagement and will also greatly benefit South Asia and our region's progress.

The historic occasion has been made better with a surprise- we have leaders of South Asian nations joining us in celebrating this launch.- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

We are a united family of South Asian countries, united in our pursuit of peace, progress & prosperity of our region & the entire humankind.; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 5, 2017

Modi said this is a first of its kind project in South Asia which will help in regional cooperation in the area of space technology applications in telecommunication and broadcasting, tele-medicine, tele-education, e-governance, banking/ ATM services, cellular back-haul, meteorological data transmission, disaster response and networking of academic and research institutions.

He congratulated scientists of ISRO for the flawless launch which he said is a symbol of South Asian progress.

In a video-conference held to mark the launch, Modi was joined by leaders from South Asian countries participating in the project - Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, Bangladesh Prime Minsister Sheikh Hasina, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.

The satellite, costing around Rs 235 crore, is meant for providing communication and disaster support, connectivity among the countries of South Asia region. Its mission life will span 12 years.

After coming to power in May 2014, PM Modi had asked ISRO scientists to develop a SAARC satellite that can be dedicated to neighbouring countries as a "gift from India."

On his 'Mann ki baat' programme on Sunday last, Modi had announced that the South Asia Satellite would be India's "priceless gift" to its neighbouring countries."The capacities of this satellite and the facilities it provides will go a long way in addressing South Asia's economic and developmental priorities," the Prime Minister said in his radio address.

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Also read:South Asian Satellite GSAT-9: How Pakistan orbited out of SAARC space

Also read: Countdown begins for ISRO launch of South Asia satellite: PM Modi's gift to India's neighbours

Watch the video Flexing its space prowess, India launches South Asia Satellite GSAT-9 as gift to its neighbours

--- ENDS ---
A wide swath of the American health care system opposes the health care legislation the U.S. House narrowly passed Thursday  and Minnesota's industry is no exception.

Minnesota's eight House members voted along party lines as the House voted to gut the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The bill heads now for a fight in the U.S. Senate, where it faces an uncertain future.

The state's health care sectors, however, are raising alarm about the potential for the legislation, known as the American Health Care Act, to become law.

"We are concerned that the American Health Care Act is going to cause a huge retreat in the number of people who are insured," said Wendy Burt, spokesperson for the Minnesota Hospital Association, which represents nearly all the state's health systems and hospitals.

The legislation would scrap the Medicaid expansion and cap federal funding of the insurance program for low income and disabled people. It would also let states do away with consumer protections designed to ensure health insurance coverage is robust and remains available to the half of Americans with a pre-existing health condition.

States could get federal waivers that permit insurers to offer stripped down coverage, and charge more based on age and health conditions.

The quality of health care for many Minnesotans and the financial health of the hospitals and clinics that provide healthcare services are at stake, said Burt.

"We don't want to go back to the system that increases the number of uninsured where people rely on the emergency room," she said, "rather than on preventative care and we increase the amount of charity care and uncompensated care."

Minnesota 1st District Congressman Tim Walz was blunt. Instead of improving the parts of our health care system where folks are falling through the cracks, the Republican bill I opposed today does the exact opposite.," he said. "It raises out-of-pocket costs for hard-working Minnesota families, strips folks with pre-existing conditions of protections, guts Essential Health Benefits, makes draconian cuts to Medicaid, rips health care away from 24 million of our fellow Americans, and pulls billions of dollars from Medicare to provide tax cuts for pharmaceutical companies, large corporations, and Americas wealthiest citizens. As if these repercussions arent catastrophic enough, this fatally flawed bill has the potential to deny up to 7 million veterans of tax credits they use to seek affordable health care."

Minnesota Republicans who voted for the measure Thursday said the current Affordable Care Act was unsustainable. The three Republicans issued statements slamming Obamacare and saying the legislation they backed will improve the situation.

"The status quo under Obamacare is no longer acceptable," GOP U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen said in a statement.

States that allow insurers to charge more based on pre-existing conditions would have to set up what are called high risk pools to offer coverage for people with high cost conditions. Although the bill shifts much decision-making to the states, it's unclear whether legislatures or governors are authorized to make those decisions.

"I'm stunned that it's gotten this far given how many negative consequences it has on people all across the country," said Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper, who oversees the state's Medicaid program, known as Medical Assistance.

She said the state would lose $2.5 billion in federal Medicaid money within the first 18 months of the bill's implementation, and $35 billion over a decade. That loss would be devastating for more than 1 million Minnesotans enrolled in Medicaid and MinnesotaCare, another state-subsidized health plan, she added.

As for returning to high-risk pools, Piper echoes many experts saying it's not at all clear that the federal subsidies in the bill would do enough to cover the cost. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, high-risk pools were an expensive option of last resort, she added.

"They're looking through rose-color glasses. We had one of the oldest and the biggest high-risk pools in the nation in the state of Minnesota and it had issues including driving up costs, significant costs, that people couldn't afford," Piper said.

The group that represents Minnesota's major health insurance companies opposes the bill. But Minnesota Council of Health Plans President Jim Schowalter underscored that the House GOP plan is a long way from becoming law. He predicts many of the proposals won't survive in the Senate, although Republicans control that body too.

"This is one vote. The law doesn't change over night and for that I'm grateful," Schowalter said. "I think there's a lot of work and a lot of discussion that's going to happen in the U.S. Senate."

Minnesota's two DFL U.S. senators oppose the GOP bill and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton is pledging to fight any effort to reduce health insurance benefits for as long as he's governor. His term ends in January 2019.

Minnesota Medical Association Board Chair, Dr. Douglas Wood, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, said the state's largest doctors' organization is urging people to get involved in the debate. The MMA, like many other groups, is convinced if the House bill became, law millions of Americans will lose their coverage and their health will suffer as a result, Wood said.

"The general public should quickly contact their senators and express their concern," he added. "We know that the lack of coverage results in delays in care and choices not to do things that are more appropriate that have real impact on their lives. So, as a provider, this is particularly disconcerting."
Squeezed into a small storefront along Third Street downtown is a new gallery.

But it isnt a typical gallery. And it plans to display more than whats typically considered art.

The Outpost gallery, located right next to Hardts Music and Audio, is owned by Matthew Fluharty, who moved to Winona with his family about two years ago. He arrived with the goal of starting the gallery and expanding an already existing organization, Art of the Rural, which seeks to celebrate and document rural American culture while starting conversations on the topic.

Fluharty sees art a little differently than its typically viewed. Rather than seeing art as only photos, paintings and so forth, he thinks of the community itself and how people interact with each other as art. Even businesses and places where the community comes together are forms of art, Fluharty said.

For example, the Mississippi Thunder Speedway is a piece of art in how it brings the community together.

The energy of the place, the excitement, the culture it has created all come together as a form of art  or rather an expression of rural culture.

The Speedway is just as relevant  or more  than paintings, Fluharty said as his eyes lit up enthusiastically from behind his dark-framed glasses.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, the topic of urban and rural culture and how they intersect from a contemporary and historical standpoint has been Fluhartys focus since 2013. In that year he and others started a project called The American Bottom Project, which examined life in East St. Louis  both historically and what it is now.

Then in 2015 on his way home to Missouri from the Twin Cities, Fluharty made a stop in Winona. As he drove through downtown he was amazed at its vibrant energy and the richness of a culture fueled by industry, music, theater, arts, festivals and much more.

How can it be possible that all this is in this size of town? he said as he recalled his amazement.

And to top it off, he said, Winona has prime view of the Mississippi River.

Winona has the best view of the river in all the Midwest, he said.

After relaying his excitement to his wife and colleagues, Fluharty took a leap of faith and moved them to Winona to create a headquarters for the organization and to create the gallery to explore, display and engage the community and its culture through collaborative projects and much more.

In short, to bring folks together, he said.

First gallery event

For the gallerys first event, Fluharty teamed up with Jon Swanson  the curator at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum  to feature a project Swanson has just finished called Winona Characters, a portrait photography series of headshots of Winonans from all walks of life. The projects opening reception is Friday at the gallery.

From musicians, artists, lawyers, computer programmers, professors and students to bartenders, nonprofit organizers, activists, fitness enthusiasts, business owners and veterans, the project encompasses a wide range of Winonas characters done in beautiful, crisp, black and white photography.

This is really going to be a cool slice of life of Winona, Swanson said during a recent interview.

Swanson  whose background includes archeology and underwater photography and who created his first darkroom at the age of 10 said the project idea kind of fell in his lap and snowballed into a much bigger project than he originally expected.

Swanson has been known to photograph the nightlife scene in Winona and other places, especially of musicians onstage. At a certain point requests started coming in to take portraits, which is an area of photography hes not familiar with. Swanson, who is used to taking candid shots of life, said its hard to get used to directing a shot by having a person stand a certain way or move according to his instructions.

Its actually very uncomfortable for me, he said.

So to push himself outside his comfort zone, Swanson decided to pursue the project by first just taking shots of people he knew.

That became comfortable enough, so he took a step further and opened it up to the community by inviting anyone who was interested to meet up for a professionally taken portrait done with a camera lens that Swanson said is unequivocally the best lens in the world.

He was hoping for just 40 people to volunteer, but by the time he stopped taking names he was over 100.

Im very humbled by the overwhelming response, he said with a bright smile. This just really tumbled down hill and snowballed in a way I didnt imagine.

His next hope is to turn the Winona portraits into a coffee table book after the show at the Outpost  which will run from May 5 through June 4  is finished.

Although only 40 portraits will be displayed in frames at the gallery, all the photos taken will run continuously on a drop down screen.

And as a way to tie the project back into the mission of the gallery  to bring the community together in different ways  each framed photo will include a little section about the person written by them, including something they believe most people dont know, Swanson said, some of which have turned out to be very personal. That way when those who see the photos run into the photographed individuals it might be a way to start conversations, to network, to connect as a community.

It sparks this connection and community conversation, Swanson said. Really were all characters and we all have something to say.
Diane Holmay launched her nursing career four decades ago with a scrappy spirit  an attitude she has nurtured as a trailblazer to enhance nurses roles and womens health care in the Coulee Region and nationally.

Having decided she wanted to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit even before she applied for a job at then-St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse, Holmay revealed her zeal to heal when she was hired as a hospital-based medical-surgery nurse, as was common in that era.

I knew I wanted babies to be my niche, so I had to talk Sister Joyce into it, Holmay said of the late Sister Joyce Bantle, a longtime nurse and administrator at the hospital who died in 2015 at the age of 93.

Neonatal intensive care units, which feature ventilators and other advanced measures to care for premature and other fragile infants, were a novel concept when Holmay received her nursing degree from Winona State University.

In the NICU, caring for very sick babies, they didnt want you to make mistakes  well, they didnt want mistakes anywhere, Holmay said during an interview this week reflecting on her 40 years at what morphed into Franciscan Skemp Medical Center before merging into Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare.

NICU takes certain

kind of person

Working in the NICU took a certain kind of person, she said. Staff nurses at that time were not as skillful and they are now.

Holmay, a Winona native who plans to retire as chief nursing officer for Mayos southwest Wisconsin region this summer, will be recognized for her service in several roles during a Nurses Day celebration today at Mayo-Franciscan, in advance of National Nurses Week next week.

That service included becoming a mentor as well as an advocate for the nursing staff, Holmays co-workers say.

She promotes the profession of nursing, said LuAnne Kratt, Mayo-Franciscans emergency room director. She is very approachable. She takes time even when she is very busy and an issue arises, Kratt said.

Diane listens intently to find a resolution that is a win-win for everybody, she said.

She encourages nurses and is very hands on, Kratt said. She is a big advocate for shared decision-making involving counsel, bedside nurses and patients.

Dr. Tim Johnson, who heads Mayo-Franciscan as a regional vice president for the Mayo Clinic, said Holmay has excelled in every initiative she has been involved with at the hospital.

She has brought an incredible wealth of experience and broadened the knowledge on all levels  from nurses, to the hospitals and the clinic, Johnson said.

Similar accolades come from Pamela Johnson, chief nursing officer at the Mayo Clinic who chairs the systems nursing department.

Diane has led her professional life with such grace, commitment and quiet strength. Her passion and a sense of purpose have always put the patient at the center, she said.

Diane has inspired, Pamela Johnson said.

To hone her skills, Holmay took advance training in Madison to earn her status as a neonatal nurse practitioner, with duties including resuscitating and intubating babies, inserting arterial lines and other technical procedures with incredibly fragile infants.

NNPs went to all high-risk deliveries as well as on house calls for emergencies, said Holmay, who was an NNP for 11 years.

Womens health trailblazer

A member of the committee that formulated the directive of the hospitals Center for Womens Health when it was created in 1993, Holmay became its director to forge a path when many in the health care field doubted the need for such an endeavor.

The best part of that was figuring out what we could do for women and what they wanted, Holmay recalled.

That included developing Safe Path, Mayo-Franciscans domestic abuse and sexual assault program that is a common part of patient care now, Holmay said.

Everything we started seemed to be controversial, and there were a lot of hurdles, she said. It was pretty exciting.

Safe Path led to the SANE initiative, an acronym that stands for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program and fostered the now-routine ER treatment of sexual assault victims. The center also began offering alternative therapies such as massage, hormone and others.

People recoiled from words such as breast health and depression at the beginning, Holmay said.

We really introduced to the community care for menopause and breast health, she said. I couldnt get an audience for breast health, until we used more general terms. Depression  I couldnt get anybody to talk about it.

Wearing down the resistance was beneficial not only to patients but the community in general, she said, adding that a national speaker once remarked that he never had seen such an educated audience.

Holmay also became involved in marketing, which involved further efforts to determine patient needs and tailor programs to meet them, she said.

We produce the best care when we ask patients what they need, Holmay said. The womens health center opened to meet unmet needs.

That was beneficial at a time when the hospitals market share of OB patients was declining, she said.

If I hadnt been involved with that, I wouldnt have the understanding, she said. For OB, women seeking a positive experience turn into shoppers, instead of going to just a random hospital for routine procedures such as having their appendixes out.

Holmay, who said her membership in national womens health associations allowed her to influence nursing practices on a larger scale, said nursing is an education-intense field in which nurses continue outside training even as they practice day to day.

Nurses help make

best decisions

She also is a strong advocate of having nurses involved in decision-making, along with primary and other practitioners, along with patients.

Nurses are closest to patients  sometimes even closer than doctors, she said. Having nurses at the table, along with physicians and administrators, can make the best decisions.

Holmay and her husband, Steve, live in Winona and have three adult children, as well as three grandchildren, who will get plenty of her attention when she retires in August.

After she catches up on her sleep, she said, laughing as she added, It will be nice not to get up at 4:45 in the morning.

Thats not to say she wont miss nursing, she said.

The days I miss most are my NNP days, when you get to save a life, she said, smiling and pausing in reflection. Its great when a young person comes up to me and says, My parents told me you saved my life.

I feel I have been able to influence nursing and nursing care in a big way.
J.C. Penney, American Apparel, Radio Shack, Abercrombie & Fitch, The Limited. All closing stores in 2017. This is creative destruction, led by the growth of e-commerce giants like Amazon. Its the dance of progress: two steps forward and one step back. Weve been doing it since the Industrial Revolution began. More automation leads to lower costs and fewer jobs.

The New York Times reports 89,000 brick-and-mortar retail workers have been laid off since October. Thats more than the number of people who work in Americas entire coal industry. But lets be optimistic and assume theyll find other jobs  at an Amazon warehouse, perhaps, or in the food-service industry. Even so, I grieve for the high school kids who will never get to go to the best business schools in the world, and get paid minimum wage to attend, as I did at the Meyer Miller shoe store in Cleveland. Where will these kids learn transactional economics or how to close a deal? How will they find professors like the veteran shoe salesman who taught me, among other things, how to tell which customers were never going to buy, the power of incentives and the history of the America that existed in the decades before I was born?

I arrived on the sales floor in 1974 just as the revolution was hitting. Not the sexual revolution  the Ugly Shoe Revolution, which liberated men, temporarily, from black or brown, ties or loafers. This was the period of 6-inch stack heels in purple or green alligator and yellow patent-leather boots. Franco Harris was said to have had a pair of shoes with a live goldfish in the heel.

We still stocked a few styles of Allen Edmonds and Florsheim wingtips for the older Jewish men who had shopped at Meyer Miller for years and who now bent down to tie their wingtips next to young black men who might ask if I had that boot in a brighter shade of green.

I learned more about the business world that summer than I learned in my first 10 years in advertising. Practical lessons. Like you cant sell someone something they dont want.

You could pay to attend a seminar titled Closing the Sale. Theyd teach you that when someones ready to buy, you have to stop selling and let them. Jerry, a 70-year-old shoe salesman, taught me this lesson for free. He cut me off midsentence and took my customer to the cash register. When the customer left, he told me, Shut up already and let the guy buy the shoes.

My fellow salesmen were older Jewish men, semiretired, many of them immigrants or sons of immigrants. They talked about the American Dream in prose, not poetry, telling me stories of moving in and out of old Cleveland neighborhoods on their way through the various levels of the working class.

They taught me real politics  the politics of the checkbook  not the value-based kind my liberal parents talked about. I listened, and I learned that America is filled with admirable people who do the most ordinary of jobs. People I might not have met had I not left my sheltered world and gotten a summer job.

They showed me how the real world worked, something we baby boomer managers wish our millennial employees knew more about. They showed me how you could move the ugliest of shoes  just drop the price low enough. And they showed me that you could still have dignity while forcing a size 12 on the foot of a 300-pound guy who insists he doesnt need a 13.

Young job candidates need more real-world experience, not more fancy internships. They need to learn how to read people, not emojis. They need practice showing up on time, not just logging on. They need to hear practical advice, like I heard from Jimmy, a salesmans salesman: ABC. Always be charming.
In a time of surplus Minnesota's legislature should not underfund higher education.

In early April the Minnesota House Republican majority passed their higher education budget, which came in $169 million below what Gov. Dayton had requested. It also came $84 million under the MN State Budget system request and $125 million under the University of Minnesota Budget System Request.

Now, the Minnesota Republican House and Senate majorities released their joint budget number. Unfortunately, things have gotten worse for Minnesotas students: $40 million worse. Instead of working with the governor to stop tuition increases, the legislative majorities are now proposing nearly $200 million less for higher education than what Gov. Dayton had requested and $100 million under the MN State request and $129 million under what the University of Minnesota requested.

If the Republican proposal became law, Winona State University would be underfunded by $4,649,000 and Minnesota State College SE $1,134,000 and find themselves in a very precarious position. Winona State alone would need to cut roughly 50 faculty members or 80 staff members.

Both the short term health of WSU & MSCSE and the long term viability of our state college and university system is at stake. The ongoing structural imbalance to MN State could be negative $169 million. This will result in cutting programs for teachers when there is a teacher shortage, cutting programs for nurses when there is a high demand for health care professionals and cutting programs for trained workers when Minnesota is need of trained workers in every field. This disinvestment will threaten Minnesotas ability to meet the future workforce needs of our state.

Saint Mary's University will also be impacted by this lack of investment in Minnesota's State Grant Program. Governor Dayton's Higher Education Budget invested $62 million in additional funds for the State Grant Program, while the Republican investment is merely $18.5 million.

The president of the University of Minnesota said the Republicans budget would increase tuition up to 5% each of the next two years for students at University of Minnesota campuses. There will be tuition increases for four year students attending Minnesota State universities. Underfunding education will lead to increasing tuition, which is putting a tax on the backs of students in Minnesota in a time of surplus.

The amount of student debt now exceeds the amount of credit card debt in the nation. Minnesota students have suffered record tuition increases starting from the time that the legislature began cutting budgets during the great recession. Minnesota is now fourth and fifth in the nation in the amount of debt students carry and the number of students that carry debt respectively. Minnesota should be proud of leading the nation in a lot of things, but student debt isnt one of them.

The Republican majoritys education proposal not only underfunds higher education, it has numerous unfunded mandates. When the House passed their bill it had money to pay for freezing tuition for two year students in the MN State system. While the mandate to freeze tuition continues to be in the bill, theres no money dedicated to pay for freezing their tuition. Mandates like that will increase costs for colleges and universities, resulting in programming cuts, layoffs, and even higher tuition for students. We have a budget surplus. The legislature shouldnt increase costs for universities, increase tuition, or continue to cripple students with record debt.
Wisconsins U.S. representatives toed party lines Thursday in a historic U.S. House vote to undo much of former President Barack Obamas health care law.

Meanwhile, advocates expressed concern about the direction the House would take health care.

All five Republicans from Wisconsin, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Reps. Sean Duffy, Mike Gallagher, Glenn Grothman and Jim Sensenbrenner voted for the bill.

The three Democrats, Reps. Ron Kind, Gwen Moore and Mark Pocan, were opposed.

Pocan, of Black Earth, assailed his GOP colleagues for rushing to pass the measure before its financial impact is known.

To not know how its going to directly affect your constituents is really political malpractice, Pocan said.

Grothman, of Glenbeulah, said he voted for the bill because the current system is unsustainable.

With our vote today, the House has ensured that individuals and families will no longer be forced into expensive, inadequate Obamacare plans they do not want and cannot afford, Grothman said.

Sensenbrenner, of Menomonee Falls, called the bill an important first step in fulfilling the promise we made to the American people to repeal and replace Obamacare.

This bill is a free-market solution that works for the people, not the government, Sensenbrenner said.

Wisconsin health care advocates said they were especially concerned about the bills Medicaid cuts, which include a per-capita spending cap for many enrollees and are estimated to total $800 billion over 10 years.

The Medicaid cuts will gradually result in rationing of care and threaten services for 460,000 children on BadgerCare, said Jon Peacock, research director of Wisconsin Children and Families.

The Medicaid changes would also harm people with physical and developmental disabilities, according to the Survival Coalition, which represents people with disabilities.

A cut to federal Medicaid funding is a cut to the Wisconsin programs that help people with disabilities get out of bed in the morning, go to school, work and lead independent lives in the community, said Beth Swedeen, a co-chair of the coalition.

By preventing people on Medicaid from using Planned Parenthood for birth control, cancer screenings and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, the bill would make it harder to prevent unintended pregnancies and have healthy pregnancies, said Nicole Safar, government relations director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.

Lisa Lamkins, advocacy director at AARP Wisconsin, said 2.1 million people estimated to have pre-existing conditions in the state would find insurance unaffordable or unavailable. The bill would significantly increase premiums for the 132,000 Wisconsinites ages 50 to 64 who get their insurance in the individual market, Lamkins said.

One part of the bill, creating high-risk pools for people with pre-existing conditions, is not new to Wisconsin.

The states Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan, or HIRSP, insured about 21,000 people whose medical conditions prevented them from getting insurance on the individual market until the federal health laws exchanges started under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, in 2014.

While Wisconsin had the second-highest per-capita participation among 35 states with high-risk pools, HIRSP was too expensive for many people and left more than half a million residents uninsured, said Donna Friedsam, health policy programs director at UW-Madisons Population Health Institute.

Wisconsins high-risk pool had a six-month waiting period for coverage of pre-existing conditions and a lifetime cap of $2 million, similar to high-risk pools in other states but unlike coverage under the federal health law.
TOWN OF SHIELDS  Three people were injured when an air boat they were in struck a tree in a flooded portion of the Beaver Dam River in the Mud Lake State Wildlife Area.

According to the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, Erik Joost, 23, Waukesha was operating the 2006 air boat around 11 p.m. when it struck a tree.

Joost was ejected and sustained minor injuries. Zachary Azmani, 24, Hales Corners, and Ian Wolfe, 27, West Allis, were both ejected and sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries. A fourth passenger Robert Krueger, 24, Waukesha, was uninjured.

The men were able to get back into the boat and drive it to the Ranch Road boat launch. Responders met them there and began treatment.

Azmani was transported by Watertown Paramedics to Aurora Summit Hospital in Oconomowoc. Wolfe was transported by Waterloo EMS to Aurora Summit Hospital. Speed and low visibility appear to be factors in the crash.

Assisting at the scene were Watertown Paramedics, Watertown Fire Department, Waterloo EMS and the Dodge County Sheriffs Office.

The crash remains under investigation by the Dodge County Recreation Patrol and the Wisconsin DNR.
MADISON (AP)  Big box stores operating in Wisconsin, along with the state chamber of commerce, are fighting a pair of bills circulated Wednesday that are designed to result in the retailers paying more in property tax.

The bipartisan push to change how the value of stores like Menards, Lowes and ShopKo is assessed for levying property taxes also has the backing of cities and towns throughout the state that are embroiled in costly court battles.

Mayors joined Republican and Democratic lawmakers at a news conference to unveil the proposals, saying theyre needed to reverse recent court rulings that have forced municipalities to cut large checks in tax refunds to retailers like Walgreens.

The stores have been successfully arguing that their value should be based on the underlying real estate, so nearby empty big box stores can be taken into account. But municipalities call that a dark-store loophole that artificially lowers the value of the operating retail stores, shifting the property tax burden to smaller retailers and homeowners.

The bills come in reaction to court rulings in Wisconsin and nearby Midwestern states  starting in Michigan  that have helped the retail giants lower the value placed on their stores for levying property taxes.

Even as the mayors and lawmakers spoke, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce sent a memo to legislators urging them to oppose the bills as being bad for business. The state chamber and other opponents blame assessors with being overly aggressive and targeting retail stores and restaurants for large tax increases.

Thankfully, the courts have been on the side of property taxpayers and have overturned many of these unwarranted increases, the WMC memo to lawmakers said. This legislation would fly in the face of current law, overruling what the courts have said.

The bills set up the unusual dynamic of the state chamber, which typically supports Republicans, lobbying against them.

Clearly were going to be fighting people who are normally our allies in the state, said Republican Rep. Rob Brooks, the lead sponsor of the Assembly bills. The Senate sponsors are Sens. Duey Stroebel and Roger Roth. All three are Republicans, but Democratic Rep. Gordon Hintz joined them at the news conference to support the measure on what he called an issue of statewide concern.

Mayors and other local leaders from Appleton, Wauwatosa, West Bend, Pleasant Prairie and Madison were also on hand. The bills are a priority for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities.

Roth said he was hoping the Legislature would take up the bills in the fall. Brooks said he had spoken with Gov. Scott Walker about it, but would not say what his position is.

The governor has been a huge proponent on holding the line on property taxes, Brooks said.
Beaver Dam Unified School District officials announced at 4:30 p.m. Friday that there is no longer a threat to the school district, its students or staff.

As a result all events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday will continue as planned. School officials said there will be an additional police presence at events. That police presence will continue Monday when the district resumes a regular schedule.

Beaver Dam Unified School District cancelled school and all activities Friday due to a threat.

During a press conference Friday, officials said an associate principal at Beaver Dam High School was checking his email around 1:30 a.m. Friday when he became aware of emails threatening the safety of students and staff at the school.

Beaver Dam Unified School District Superintendent Steve Vessey said he closed Beaver Dam public schools while police investigated the threats.

Beaver Dam Police Chief John Kreuziger and Vessey spoke during a press conference Friday morning after investigating leads from the emails.

Kreuziger said they have spoken to two students from Beaver Dam High School, and they are being cooperative.

The emails specifically mentioned guns and explosives, Kreuziger said.

In a release Friday afternoon, Vessey reported: Law enforcement authorities are in contact with a third juvenile-aged person involved who is currently in Las Vegas, Nevada and has no intent or means to travel to Wisconsin. The individual is cooperating with law enforcement authorities. Any threat from this series of events has been eliminated.

Vessey said the time specific emails were a concern and the threat mentioned an incident that would harm students at the school during the fifth hour, which would be around lunch time at the school.

All school related events and activities were cancelled. All offsite advanced placement testing for Beaver Dam High School students also was cancelled.

Vessey apologized for the circumstances, specifically addressing students who attended the press conference.

"It's most likely a bluff," Beaver Dam High School sophomore Adam Heft said. "It's still nice that they closed the schools and thought about our safety. I never really thought something like this would happen here though."
Bombay High Court wants all papers and details pertaining to the land allotment to Patanjali.

By India Today Web Desk: The Bombay High Court today asked the BJP government in Maharashtra whether they gave away over 600 acres of land in Nagpur to Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda at a throwaway price.

Congress Mumbai chief Sanjay Nirupam had filed a petition alleging irregularities in the allotment of land to the company for setting up a food park in the Multi-Modal International Hub Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN).

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Nirupam has alleged that while the current market value of the land is at least Rs 100 crore per acre, Patanjali Ayurveda received it at a throwaway price of Rs 25 lakh per acre.

"We want to only know on what grounds concession, if any, was given to the company. We want to know if land was given at a throwaway price," a division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice G S Kulkarni asked the state government.

The court directed the Devendra Fadnavis government to file an affidavit in response to the petition within six weeks.

The court wants all papers and details pertaining to the land allotment.

"We want to know if any farmers' land was taken and allotted to the company," the court said, adding the affidavit shall also include the proposal submitted by the company to the government.

Nirupam in his petition alleged that Maharashtra government favoured Patanjali and flouted all tender norms to allot the land to yoga guru Ramdev's company.

It claimed that the allotted land is part of a reserved forest area.

The petition also claimed that the land was allotted at a concessional rate causing heavy monetary loss to the public exchequer.

The plea sought an inquiry into the land allotment and urged the court to restrain Patanjali Ayurveda from using the land, pending a final order from the court.

(PTI inputs)

Also read:

The Billionaire Monk: What is Baba Ramdev's Patanjali empire all about

Narendra Modi in Haridwar: PM is Rashtra Rishi, says Baba Ramdev in welcome note

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Local art can brighten a community and have a positive economic impact for towns across Wisconsin. Anne Katz has been a passionate voice for art in the state for 22 years.

Since 1995, Katz has led Arts Wisconsin, a non-profit organization aimed at advancing the arts in communities throughout the state. On April 27, Katz talked about the benefits of art during the Rural Arts and Creativity presentation at the Juneau County UW-Extension Lunch N Learn.

Gary Kirking, UW-Extension Community Resource Development Educator, was pleased to see a full room at the event in Mauston.

Her job is to promote arts across the state and lobby for it, said Kirking. As an educator, its great to see a full room like this with people talking to each other and sharing ideas.

Besides working to promote the arts, Arts Wisconsins mission is to also nurture, serve, and speak up for arts in the state. During the hour-long lunch session, Katz discussed a variety of topics, including success stories on how communities in the Upper Midwest have used the arts to redevelop downtowns. For instance, the small of town of Wittenberg, east of Wausau, is attracting people to its downtown with creative murals.

Mauston has seen a renewed interest in the arts with the opening of the Two Sisters Event Center/Artistic Expressions last year. The center has held workshops for budding artists, hosted movie nights and plans to bring in small musical acts.

From hearing some of your stories today Ive realized there is a great deal of creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation right here in this room, Katz said.

Arts Wisconsin is helping to promote Wisconsin Creates, a program to strengthen the states creative economy. State Senator Sheila Harsdorf and Representative Warren Petryk introduced a bill in the state legislature to establish the program as a public/private partnership to help grow resources throughout Wisconsin.

The bill has gotten great response from the state legislature so far, Katz said. Were pushing it as far as we can. It doesnt matter what party someone is in, everybody cares about their communities.

Katz said she is an advocate of the Wisconsin Idea, a philosophy embraced by UW-Madison to use research to solve problems, enhance quality of life, the environment, and agriculture for the benefits of all Wisconsin residents.

Its our responsibility to help the people of this state realize their dreams, Katz said. Creativity is the resource we need to invest in and encourage. Every community in the state has creative things going on.

Katz said small business growth will be vital in the coming years as factory manufacturing jobs continue to dry up. Workers skills will need to become more diversified to thrive in a changing economy. Katz said while there are challenges ahead, its also a very exciting time for people with creative ideas. Communities in northern Wisconsin, such as Eagle River, have used Fab Lab grants from the state to teach middle and high school students advanced tech skills. Necedah recently received over $8,000 in Fab Lab funding and Katz mentioned Maustons i-Lead Charter School as an innovative way to teach kids the power of creativity.

Since the state doesnt invest a lot of money into the arts, Katz said private non-profit groups have worked hard to establish programs. She told the story of the Mineral Point Opera House, which was revitalized through a public/private partnership. Stoughton, southeast of Madison, has also revved up its theater scene with the restoration of an old opera house.

Mineral Point is a very old Wisconsin town that has done a lot recently with its art scene, she said.

Katz presented a slide showing $535 million is spent on arts annually in the state. However, the state only invests about $800,000 into the field on a yearly basis. In comparison, Minnesota passed a sales tax which generates about $38 million for its art scene.

Down in Louisiana, they have based a lot of their recovery from Hurricane Katrina on local food and music and the culture theyre in, Katz said. Colorado has created an arts industries council, so Wisconsin really needs to ramp up its visibility in the creative industry.

In the Upper Midwest, communities have taken a look to the future by building on the past approach. For example, a small town in Minnesota has created an arts campus to attract tourists. St. Croix Falls, in western Wisconsin, has incorporated arts and creativity into its civic planning. Kenosha, once known as a large auto manufacturing city, reinvented its downtown through art, while Waunakee has taken a strong investment in the field as well.

When asked what local residents can do to create more opportunities with limited funds, Katz said never give up pushing for the arts.

Juneau County UW-Extension holds Lunch N Learn sessions during the last Thursday of every month. For more information on future sessions, contact Kirking at 608-847-9329.
Old Glory, Stars and Stripes, the Star Spangled Banner. No matter what you call it, it is our flag.

It is the best-known symbol of any country on the planet. It is ours, and it means something. It stands for something. Lately though, just what it stands for has been diminished to the point it has become inconsequential.

I see a real need to defend our flag. Between Dec. 9, 2016 and April 20, our flag was ordered lowered to half-staff nine times. Do people have any idea of whom or why our great flag was lowered? I know only because seeing that great flag lowered so many times greatly disturbed me, so I looked it up. Nine times in five months we lowered the flag to half-staff. Thats ludicrous. From Fort McHenry to Khe Sanh our flag flew high and proud, but by todays standard that means nothing.

When Francis Scott Key wrote the words to what later became the Star Spangled Banner, there was great pride in seeing that flag flying high over Fort McHenry through the bombs and rockets. For 77 days our Marines withstood everything the North Vietnamese could throw at them in Khe Sanh. My squadron, the 776th, helped supply those Marines, and not once did that proud flag dip. It never wavered.

The last few times Ive seen the Colors at half-staff Ive asked the folks involved, why? Most folks dont know; they get some notice that states the flag should be lowered to half-staff and they dutifully go out and do it. Our great flag lowered and they dont know why. Or they are afraid that if they dont do it the flag police will come and get them?

I urge you to read U.S. Code Title 4, Chapter 1: The Flag.

In it, you will see President Dwight Eisenhower made it clear that proclamations to lower the flag are specific to federal institutions, federal buildings, etc. There is one sentence that states the rules for lowering the flag may be used as a guide by the people of the nation. There is no question that proclamations coming from Washington, DC are specific to federal buildings. The same applies to proclamations from Madison, where the half-staff edict applies to state-owned buildings.

There is no law stating that every flag that flies has to be lowered simply because someone in Washington, DC or Madison says so. Think back over the past few years, weve lowered those great colors so many times that the real meaning of doing it has been diluted. Coming into Portage northbound on Highway 51/16 there are two beautiful flags, huge symbols of our country, and those wonderful flags should be flown high, wide and proud all day, every day.

The same with those wonderful flags in Blue Star Park on the near north side, featuring the symbol of our country and proud symbols of our military services. They need to fly high and proud all day, every day. And the big beautiful flag that flies over the Portage Daily Register building that we see entering Portage from the west.

I challenge every business, every service organization, and every individual to fly your flag full staff, high, wide and proud all day every day.

There is no law nor is there a flag police forcing you to lower your flag. Our flag means something, and lowering it to half-staff at the slightest whim has chipped away at the solemn promise and the reassurance that our flag offers.
Maneka has prompted the law ministry to ask the commission to submit a report based on existing laws and international trends relating to housekeeping and transportation of poultry birds.

Egg-laying hens are kept in small cages in violation of SC order.

By Harish V Nair: The cruel and unhygienic manner in which poultry birds, mainly chicken, are reared and transported across the country has come under the lens of the Law Commission.

Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi, who is also an animal rights activist, has recommended a relook at the various laws governing poultry birds. She has prompted the law ministry to ask the commission to submit a report based on "existing laws and international trends relating to housekeeping and transportation of poultry birds".

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In an appeal issued to all stakeholders and the general public, the law panel has sought views on the subject.

"The reference received by the Commission, which is based on a request from Minister for Women and Child Development, points out to the unhygienic conditions in which livestock is maintained, though various statutes are in force."

"The Commission would like to know the constraints faced by the various stakeholders - farm operators, transporters, hoteliers, NGOs - regarding rearing, maintenance, sale or any other issue related to poultry birds," the law panel's appeal said, adding that the suggestions should reach the Law Commission office within 30 days.

It reminded that Article 51 (A) of the Constitution enjoins Indian citizens to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

The commission added that the Supreme Court has in various judgments supported this view. In July last year, the apex court had asked the Centre to explain why the rules recommended by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) for preventing cruelty to egg-laying hens kept in wire cages at poultry farms were not being implemented.

ALSO READ | India's poultry farming regulations under scanner in lieu of bird flu outbreak in Delhi

ALSO READ | Love chicken? You might be vulnerable to diseases. Here's why

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India Banega Manch, the Indian version of Israeli show Win the Crowd, will be hosted by Krushna Abhishek and Mona Singh.

By India Today Web Desk: After Rising Star, Colors TV is bringing another show which will have the LIVE audience engagement. Only this time, crowd will decide the fate of the contestant, instead of people voting on app.

The brand new reality show India Banega Manch will have no judges, no voting, and no studio set-up. The participants will have to woo the crowd in 5 minutes with their talent in order to move to the next level. It is the Indian version of Israeli format Win the Crowd.

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Also read: Jassi Jaissi Koi Nahi star Mona Singh will be seen on this TV show next

Hosted by Krushna Abhishek and Mona Singh, the show will shot in the iconic locations of Red Fort and Delhi Haat in New Delhi, Juhu Beach and Kala Ghoda in Mumbai, and New Market and Princep Ghat in Kolkata to name a few.

"Following the success of Rising Star, we are taking our belief in the audiences' ability to choose extraordinary talent to the next level with India Banega Manch. We are proud to bring to our viewers another pathbreaking show which has been shot LIVE on the streets, sans any stage, judges or votes," said Raj Nayak, CEO, Colors.

The show will premiered on May 7, and will be aired every Saturday and Sunday at 9pm on Colors.

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Professor Helen Rees chairs Republic of South Sudans National Health Summit

Wits Professor Helen Rees chaired the third National Health Summit hosted by the Ministry of Health of South Sudan.

Rees is Founder and Executive Director of the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (Wits RHI) and Chairperson of the WHO'S Africa Regional Immunisation Technical Advisory Group.

More than 500 delegates attended the third National Health Summit. Delegates included representatives from donor agencies, international and national non-governmental organisations, the private sector, academia, and civil society. The theme of the Summit was "Harnessing strong partnerships for a resilient health system towards attainment of Universal Health Coverage."

The Summit fostered a broad range of fervent discussions on numerous key health topics for South Sudan, including financing, human resources, communicable and non-communicable diseases, humanitarian responses, pharmaceutical policies, maternal and child health, immunization, reproductive health and partnerships.

This Summit opened everyones eyes to the many complex interwoven challenges of building an effective health system in South Sudan, said Rees. Dialogues were very open, and at times heated, I think because everyone who participated cares about the health and well-being of the people of South Sudan. Now is the time to turn the talk into actions, and I believe we have set a clear path forward as laid out in the Summits Declaration and position papers.
In a recent incident this Wednesday, Prakash Kumar, a member of the Hindu religious minority, resident of a small town called Hub in Pakistan's Balochistan province, was arrested by police on allegations of blasphemous content posted by him on social media.

By Hamza Ameer: Blasphemy allegations leading to vicious attack by extremist mobs, leading to public lynching and death has taken Pakistan by storm.

In a recent incident this Wednesday, a 34-year-old Hindu man Prakash Kumar, a resident of a small town called Hub in Pakistan's Balochistan province, was arrested by police authorities on allegations of blasphemous content posted by him on social media.

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Police authorities said Prakash was arrested for posting rabble-rousing image on social media.

Moments after the news of his arrest spread across the town through local newspapers, a mob of at least 500 people led by local religious clerics and local leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Zia Shehzad, stormed the police station, demanding the authorities to hand over Prakash, so that they can give him public lynching.

MOB ATTACKED POLICE STATION

Upon refusal of the police authorities, the angry and aggressive mob opened fire and attacked the police station beating up officers.

"A crowd of some 500 people including traders, clerics and politicians surrounded the town's police station to demand he be handed over. When police refused, the mob turned on them, beating up officers and local government officials before opening fire with guns. A 10-year-old boy was killed and five others were wounded in the melee." said police official Abdul Sattar.

Jam Mohammad, a second police official, confirmed the account, adding, "The siege went on for about three hours and the mob went on a rampage demanding Kumar be handed over."

Situation was normalized after paramilitary troops arrived and dispersed the mob.

Prakash Kumar was arrested on complaint of various community members under Sections 295-A & 295-C of Pakistan's blasphemy law.

The violent attack left a young teenager dead while Deputy Sub Inspector Police of Hub Circle, Jan Muhammad Khosa, Police Constable Mukhtiar Ahmed, Additional Deputy Commissioner Tariq Javed Mengal and Edhi rescued official who were injured in the scuffle.

The child, shot by gunfire, succumbed to his injuries in the local hospital. The deceased boy is yet to be identified.

SEARCH OPERATION STARTED

Police authorities have started a search operation in the area while shops owned by member of the Hindu community were shut down. All roads connecting Sindh to Hub town were also closed for operations.

Over 100,000 Hindus are living Pakistan's Balochistan province, majority of who lives in the provincial capital Quetta.

Dozens of cases including kidnapping, killing, forces marriages and violent attacks on Hindus have been reported in the past. Hindu minorities believe the recent targeted attacks and actions against them is the work of criminal gangs, who they say enjoy the support of state functionaries.

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The attack on Prakash Kumar is the first attack on a Hindu person, while there have been at least three violent attacks linked to accusations of blasphemy in less than 30 days.

Mashal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province was killed by violent mob, who accused Khan on blasphemy charges. Mashal Khan was brutally killed by public punishment in university premises by miscreants.

It was later revealed that Mashal Khan killing was not a case of blasphemy, but was a case of plotted and planned murder framed under blasphemy allegations.

Pakistani authorities continue to struggle in maintaining law and order as self-provoked attacks, sheltered under blasphemy allegations continue to rise and surface from all parts of the country.

Also read:

Hindu temple vandalised in Pakistan; blasphemy and terrorism case filed

Only Pakistanis behind sullying their country's image: Malala Yousafzai on student's lynching

WATCH THE VIDEO:

--- ENDS ---
Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. (NYSE: HTA) is the largest dedicated owner and operator of MOBs in the United States, comprising approximately 25.1 million square feet of GLA, with $7.4 billion invested primarily in MOBs. HTA provides real estate infrastructure for the integrated delivery of healthcare services in highly-desirable locations. Investments are targeted to build critical mass in 20 to 25 leading gateway markets that generally have leading university and medical institutions, which translates to superior demographics, high-quality graduates, intellectual talent and job growth. The strategic markets HTA invests in support a strong, long-term demand for quality medical office space. HTA utilizes an integrated asset management platform consisting of on-site leasing, property management, engineering and building services, and development capabilities to create complete, state of the art facilities in each market. This drives efficiencies, strong tenant and health system relationships, and strategic partnerships that result in high levels of tenant retention, rental growth and long-term value creation. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, HTA has developed a national brand with dedicated relationships at the local level. Founded in 2006 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012, HTA has produced attractive returns for its stockholders that have outperformed the US REIT index.
The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, provides personal and commercial auto, personal residential and commercial property, general liability, and other specialty property-casualty insurance products and related services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. The Personal Lines segment writes insurance for personal autos and recreational vehicles (RV). This segment's products include personal auto insurance; and special lines products, including insurance for motorcycles, ATVs, RVs, watercrafts, snowmobiles, and related products. The Commercial Lines segment provides auto-related primary liability and physical damage insurance, and business-related general liability and property insurance for autos, vans, pick-up trucks, and dump trucks used by small businesses; tractors, trailers, and straight trucks primarily used by regional general freight and expeditor-type businesses, and long-haul operators; dump trucks, log trucks, and garbage trucks used by dirt, sand and gravel, logging, and coal-type businesses; and tow trucks and wreckers used in towing services and gas/service station businesses; as well as non-fleet and airport taxis, and black-car services. The Property segment writes residential property insurance for homeowners, other property owners, and renters, as well as offers personal umbrella insurance, and primary and excess flood insurance. The company also offers policy issuance and claims adjusting services; and acts as an agent to homeowner general liability, workers' compensation insurance, and other products. In addition, it provides reinsurance services. The company sells its products through independent insurance agencies, as well as directly on Internet through mobile devices, and over the phone. The Progressive Corporation was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Mayfield, Ohio.
Thomson Reuters Corporation provides business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. The Corporates segment provides a suite of content-enabled technology solutions for legal, tax, regulatory, compliance, and IT professionals. The Tax & Accounting Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on tax offerings and automating tax workflows to tax, accounting, and audit professionals in accounting firms. The Reuters News segment provides business, financial, and international news to media organizations, professional, and news consumers through news agency and industry events. The Global Print segment offers legal and tax information primarily in print format to legal and tax professionals, governments, law schools, and corporations. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Thomson Reuters Corporation is a subsidiary of The Woodbridge Company Limited.
A mother put up a photo of her baby boy with a birth control device in his hand, which was implanted in her womb before her son's conception to prevent pregnancy.

By India Today Web Desk: What does a baby get to hold soon after he is born? A birth control device and a lot of irony.

Last week, a woman from Texas, US, posted a photo of her newborn on Instagram. If you take a close look, in the photo the baby boy is holding a birth control device. It is the same IUD that was supposed keep his mother, Lucy Hellein, from getting pregnant in the first place.

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FYI || In pictures: This photographer captured her own child birth while in labour ||

But baby Dexter Tyler arrived into the world nonetheless.

Baby Dexter's mother discovered she was 18 weeks pregnant in December, according to The Sun. This happened despite being fitted with the birth control implant months earlier.

On April 27, she gave birth to the baby boy weighing over 9 pounds (4 kg approximately).

FYI || Watch: Serious BBC interview turns into comedy, thanks to funny babies ||

Lucy put up a photo on Instagram and planted the IUD (intrauterine device) in the baby's tiny hand and wrote #mirenafail.

Mirena is the IUD that is put into the womb to prevent pregnancies.

A post shared by Lucy Hellein (@curlykittycrochet) on Apr 27, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

Lucy's probable due date was May 4. "Dexter was definitely meant to be. His original due date was May 4th and even the doctor said 'the force was strong with this one'," she told Metro.

The couple already has three kids but wanted to be responsible and opted for birth control, which clearly did not work.

FYI || Bihar woman refuses to accept baby born with deformity, says he looks like an alien ||

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ONEOK, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas in the United States. It operates through Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids, and Natural Gas Pipelines segments. The company owns natural gas gathering pipelines and processing plants in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions. It also gathers, treats, fractionates, and transports natural gas liquids (NGL), as well as stores, markets, and distributes NGL products. The company owns NGL gathering and distribution pipelines in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado; terminal and storage facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois; and NGL distribution and refined petroleum products pipelines in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, as well as owns and operates truck- and rail-loading, and -unloading facilities connected to NGL fractionation, storage, and pipeline assets. In addition, it operates regulated interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines and natural gas storage facilities. Further, the company owns and operates a parking garage in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma; and leases excess office space. It operates 17,500 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines; 1,500 miles of FERC-regulated interstate natural gas pipelines; 5,100 miles of state-regulated intrastate transmission pipeline; six NGL storage facilities; and eight NGL product terminals. It serves integrated and independent exploration and production companies; NGL and natural gas gathering and processing companies; crude oil and natural gas production companies; propane distributors; municipalities; ethanol producers; and petrochemical, refining, and NGL marketing companies, as well as natural gas distribution and electric generation companies, producers, processors, and marketing companies. The company was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface.

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Akhilesh Yadav blamed it on the misleading campaign of the BJP for the electoral loss in Uttar Pradesh.

By India Today Web Desk: Since the day of swearing-in ceremony of Yogi Adityanath, there has been speculation about what Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav said in the ears of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at Panchayat AajTak, Mulayam Singh's son and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said, "Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) told Prime Minister (Narendra Modi): Watch out this is my son Akhilesh."

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Akhilesh Yadav blamed it on the misleading campaign of the BJP for the electoral loss in Uttar Pradesh. He said the Samajwadi Party talked about development, while "they (PM Modi and BJP) talked about Kabristaan and Shamshaan."

"Our glue did not work in the election. Our glue was development. Their glue was religion and nationalism. People did not understand our glue. We need to change our glue," Akhilesh Yadav said.

"People of Uttar Pradesh were misled into believing their agenda. But, this won't last long. People can't keep believing for long if their stomach remains empty," Akhilesh said.

WHAT ELSE AKHILESH SAID: THINGS TO KNOW Coming on the electoral loss, Akhilesh Yadav said, "The BJP people succeeded in misleading the people of Uttar Pradesh. People did not like metro rail in UP, laptops and Samajwadi Pension Scheme. They are now waiting for bullet train. People are waiting for jobs." Responding to his uncle Shivpal Yadav's announcement of a new front - Samajwadi Secular Morcha, Akhilesh Yadav said, "People should welcome that another secular party has been formed in the country." However, he refrained from making a direct statement. On alliance with Congress, Akhilesh said, "That was the tie-up between the two young leaders. That tie-up will last long. I am not among those who break friendships. I entered into friendship with a big heart." On the question of a possible alliance with Mayawati's BSP, Akhilesh Yadav said, "Some people won't let it happen. They are the same people who broke the previous alliance between the two parties." On the working of Yogi Adityanath government, Akhilesh Yadav said, "This government should be given time. They have not yet passed a budget. They have not brought about any new policy. They are implementing the old policies of our government."

Also read:

Samajwadi Party splits, Shivpal Yadav to form Samajwadi Secular Morcha headed by Mulayam

When Akhilesh Yadav lost his cool over India Today reporter's 'saffron' shirt

My lions are hungry, don't go near them: Akhilesh Yadav cautions UP CM Adityanath

Watch the video here: 'Watch out, this is my son', When Mulayam warned PM Modi against son Akhilesh Yadav

--- ENDS ---
Colleen Truskey 17 selected as student speaker for Commencement

Student speaker: Colleen Truskey '17 will serve as this year's student speaker for Commencement. Photo - of - Hide Caption

When asked about the message she wants to convey to her peers as they reflect on the past few years and look toward the future, Colleen Truskey 17 said that she wrote the speech that she herself would want to hear on graduation day. As this years Commencement student speaker, Truskey hopes to encourage and inspire her fellow graduates with that speech on May 13, in Kaplan Arena.

Originally from Roanoke, Virginia, Truskey is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and a minor in public health.

Seeing how anthropology can be used to understand, talk about and address public health issues in particular has been really powerful, said Truskey.

Her passion for Native American communities and indigenous people is reflected in the many activities that she has been a part of at W&M and elsewhere. Truskey has interned with the anthropology departments American Indian Resource Center, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundations American Indian Initiative and the White Earth Land Recovery Project on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota.

Assistant Professor of Anthropology Danielle Moretti-Langholtz attributes Truskeys success as a student to her genuine thirst for knowledge and growing enthusiasm for exploring contemporary real world issues.

In her four years at William & Mary Truskey has accomplished a great deal. She is a James Monroe Scholar, Altshuler Scholar and honors fellow, has studied abroad in China and was selected to be a resident of the Colonial Williamsburg house.

I look at where I was when I first arrived and where I am now, and its just really amazing, all the opportunities that Ive had access to, Truskey said.

Truskey acknowledges that every generation faces certain trials and tribulations. However, it can be tough to graduate now in a world where facts dont matter, and the points are made up, she said. What she wants her classmates to walk away knowing is that in a world full of cynicism they are graduating with a certain set of skills that are valuable and important.

We are the ones that determine the direction we are going, said Truskey. We have to stay focused and create the world that we want to see.

In preparation for graduation, yet another opportunity has presented itself for Truskey right here at William & Mary. Truskey has accepted a year-long fellowship with the W&M Center for Geospatial Analysis. She has also accepted a position with the National Trust for Historic Preservation as the Native American Heritage editorial intern for the summer.

I'm confident that, as she leaves William & Mary, a bright future lies ahead for this outstanding student, said Moretti-Langholtz.
A Muslim family donated their land worth Rs 12 lakh for the upgradation of a Hindu temple in Bihar's Gopalganj district.

By India Today Web Desk: Bihar has been by and large free from any major communal trouble, barring a few reported cases of tension, in the last few years.

Muslims form 16.5 per cent of Bihar's 105 million population. In the Seemanchal region, they account for nearly 67 per cent in Kishanganj, 37 per cent in Purnea, 43 per cent in Katihar and nearly 40 per cent in Araria.

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In times like these when hate crimes are surging, a Muslim family in Bihar donated their land for the upgradation of a temple in Bihar.

The temple is in Bihar's Gopalganj district.

MUSLIM FAMILY DONATES LAND FOR TEMPLE

Tabarak Dewan and his son Manu Dewan who are residents of Ahirauli Dubauli Tola Takia under Gopalpur police station came forward and donated their land.

THE LAND FOR THE TEMPLE

The land is near NH 28 which the Muslim family gave for the construction of the main gate of the historical temple at Bathanakuti in Bihar.

The Muslim family purchased the land for Rs 12 lakh a few months ago for setting up a business.

RENOVATION OF THE TEMPLE AT BATHANAKUTI

"By donating their costly land, the Muslim family has helped us to beautify the historical temple at Bathanakuti, which is under renovation. If they had refused to donate their land, it would have been impossible to construct the main gate of the temple. Thanks to their gesture now the temple's main gate will be constructed on their donated land," Amrender Kumar alias Pappu Pandey, ruling JD-U legislator of Kuchaikot, said.

According to JD-U legislator Pappu, another Muslim -- Aali Raza -- also donated land for the construction of the same historic temple.

Aali Raza is a resident of Ramaina village in Kushinagar district in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, termed it a symbol of communal harmony.

"We have been living here for decades and taking care of each other. It is a gesture for communal harmony. We have decided to donate land for a good cause. All religions are the same," Manu Dewan said.

MUSLIMS HAVE HELPED BUILD HINDU TEMPLES MANY TIMES

The aforementioned case is not the first such case.

Two years ago, in a demonstration of communal harmony, some Muslims in Bihar's east Champaran district donated land to help build a Hindu temple. The temple is the world's largest Hindu temple which will have the capacity to seat 20,000 people.

"Muslims have not only donated land, they have also provided land at a nominal rate for construction of the world's largest Hindu temple. Without help of Muslims, it would have been difficult to realise this dream project," Acharya Kishore Kunal, secretary of the Patna-based cash-rich Mahavir Mandir Trust that is undertaking the ambitious project, said.

Muslims have also helped build a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Durga in Bihar's Gaya district, through donations and also by supervising the construction of the temple.

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Similarly, a Muslim donated his land for constructing a temple to Lord Shiva in Begusarai district. Mohammad Fakhrool Islam had given land for the temple in Muslim-dominated Bachwara village.

Over three decades ago, some Hindus donated a piece of land for the construction of a mazar in the same village.

--- ENDS ---




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Officials from the Massachusetts State Police, Norfolk County District Attorney's Office, and Detectives from Bellingham Police look on as the casket bearing the remains of Theresa Corley, killed in 1978, is exhumed at St. Mary's Cemetery in Milford Wednesday morning.
A small group of Muslims living in this Uttar Pradesh district has banned the practice of triple talaq at one go.

By Press Trust of India: A small group of Muslims living in this Uttar Pradesh district has banned the practice of triple talaq at one go.

The Turk group will also consider it a husband's fault if a case of triple talaq at one go is reported before the panchayat.

However, it was suggested that in unavoidable cases, a man should utter talaq but only once and give time to his wife for things to resolve.

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The decision was yesterday taken in a meeting of the Turk group, which has about 50,000 members living in 50 villages of this Sambhal district.

Asrar Ahmed, who presided over the panchayat meeting, termed the practice of triple talaq at one go as wrong and said the community has decided to do away with it.

"If it is extremely necessary, then a man should say talaq but only once and give a months time to his wife," he said.

If someone divorces his wife by uttering talaq thrice, then the panchayat will punish him, Ahmed warned.

In a case of any dispute with his wife, a man should raise the matter with the panchayat which will try to resolve it.

The group had last month banned cow slaughter, and also the practice of demanding dowry and extravagant weddings.

Also read:

Meerut woman gives triple talaq to her abusive husband

Panchayat Aaj Tak: Triple talaq should be banished as it objectifies women, say leaders

--- ENDS ---
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Completed Barakah 1 awaits permission to load fuel

05 May 2017

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Initial construction has been completed at the UAE's first power reactor, Barakah 1. The operating company, Nawah Energy Company, must gain approval from national regulators before the final stage of loading fuel and bringing it into service.

The APR-1400 pressurized water reactor has been built by a South Korean consortium for its customer Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec). Initial construction covering 95% of work is complete, including tests of safety systems, said Enec.

The remaining 5% of construction is the commissioning the reactor and final preparation of its 277 systems. This process starts with loading nuclear fuel into the reactor core, an operation which cannot take place until the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) issues an operating licence to Nawah Energy Company, a joint venture of Enec and Kepco.

Barakah 1 (Image: Enec)

Enec today announced that Nawah continues to work with FANR towards obtaining this operating licence. In addition the UAE nuclear community has committed to completing two voluntary pre-operation peer reviews before moving forward: one at the industry level with the World Association of Nuclear Operators, another at the national level with the International Atomic Energy Agency. It was expected that the FANR review and licence would be completed last of these.

Enec applied for an operating licence in March 2015, but one year later created Nawah as a joint venture with Kepco to take that role instead. Nawah was boosted in July last year by an $880 million operating support services agreement where KHNP will supply 400 qualified staff until 2030. Yesterday Arabian Business reported that Nawah had finalised appointments to its board.

Acting Nawah CEO Mohammed Sahoo alSuwaidi said: "As we move towards unit 1 fuel load, we recognise the scale of both our responsibilities and of the challenges that lie ahead of us. Nawah's commitment to meeting the highest standards of safety and quality in nuclear operations is what drives the work of all our personnel, who are striving to ensure that we meet FANR's expectations."

Enec said the start-up schedule for Barakah 1 had been moved back in accordance with "a desire to achieve the highest possible nuclear quality and safety standards ... as well as lessons learned from [the commissioning of] Shin Kori 3 in South Korea, the reference plant for Barakah".

It added that the timeline includes an extension for the start-up of nuclear operations for unit 1, from 2017 to 2018, to ensure sufficient time for international assessments and adherence to nuclear industry safety standards, as well as "a reinforcement of operational proficiency for plant personnel". A spokesman for Enec told World Nuclear News it is "confident in the capacity to deliver" four APR-1400s by 2020, pending regulatory approval.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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Ignalina storage facility set for commercial operation

05 May 2017

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Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (Vatesi) said today it had issued a permit for the start of commercial operation of the country's new interim used fuel storage facility. The announcement followed State Enterprise Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant's (INPP's) successful completion yesterday of hot tests with ten new design casks. The company has demonstrated it is ready to operate the facility safely, Vatesi said.

Lithuania agreed to shut down Ignalina units 1 and 2 as a condition of its accession to the European Union. Unit 1 was shut down in December 2004 and unit 2 in December 2009.

The facility, known as the ISFSF B1 Project, is at the plant site in Visaginas municipality. Used fuel will be stored in specially designed Constor RBMK1500/M2 casks that will each weigh 118 tonnes when fully loaded. It is expected that about 190 containers with 17,000 used fuel rods will be stored in the facility for up to 50 years.

"After Vatesi inspectors reviewed the results of the completed hot test (test with materials used in nuclear fuel cycle), performed inspections and checked other information provided by Ignalina NPP, it was concluded that all the activities related to [used] fuel handling in the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant units, shipment to the storage facility and storage comply with the approved technical design documentation and final safety analysis report. That was the basis to issue the permit," Vatesi said.

All the used fuel from the Ignalina units is expected to be moved into storage at the facility by the end of 2022.

An operating licence was issued for the new storage facility in September last year. This permitted commissioning of the facility and the start of hot trials with new design casks.

INPP has said the start of 'industrial operation' of the ISFSF would start this October.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

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Few waterfalls could take your breath away, but the Bridal Veil Falls at Hanging Lake pretty much did just that  both literally and figuratively.

This waterfall was actually modestly-sized (possibly 40ft tall) as it was wider than it was tall when we saw it in mid-April 2017.

However, as you can see from the picture you see above that size wasnt the only thing this waterfall had going for it.

Indeed, that photo only hinted at the breathtaking scene with its colorful yet clear lake fronting a wide travertine waterfall.

The landscape was also flanked by tall cliffs with more cascades further downstream as well as a great view of the canyon carved out by Dead Horse Creek.

It was the kind of scene that reminded Julie and I of places like the Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, or Jiuzhaigou in China, or even the Havasu Falls.

In all of those examples, the clear water amongst travertine dams and waterfalls created a feast for the eyes and made us not want to leave.

As if that wasnt enough, there was a very impressive waterfall further upstream called Spouting Rock, where quite literally, the falls gushed out of a cliff in dramatic fashion.

That secondary waterfall even let us go behind it, while it also featured a pool of its own with an idyllic setting.

Heck, that even compelled our daughter to pick out a little nook in a rock and treat it like her couch looking out towards the pool.

The high scenic rating were giving this combination of Bridal Veil Falls and Spouting Rock was reflective of the consensus amongst Julie, Tahia, and I that it was the waterfalling highlight of our Spring Break Desert Southwest trip.

About the Hike to Hanging Lake, Bridal Veil Falls, and Spouting Rock

In addition to taking our collective breaths away in terms of sheer beauty, it also did so physically.

That was because as the name of the place suggested, the lake was hanging.

So that meant, we had to go on a hike that was relentlessly climbing to even get up to the famed Hanging Lake.

Since the lake itself was said to be at an elevation of over 7,000ft, it also meant that the air was thin and our lungs were beating harder in an effort to get as much oxygen as possible in the thin Rocky Mountain air.

Even though the hike had a modest round-trip distance of 4 miles to take in both Spouting Rock and Bridal Veil Falls, it still took us as a family about 3.5 hours away from the car to complete and ejoy the entire excursion.

By the way, it was about 3.2 miles round trip just to get up to Hanging Lake and Bridal Veil Falls alone.

Therefore, given the demands of the Hanging Lake Trail, Id say that in order to have a good time with the Bridal Veil Falls and Spouting Rock, an early start would do you some good.

It would help out both in terms of finding parking as well as ensuring that thered be more available shade to take rest breaks along the way.

It would also tax your body less as a good chunk of the trail was exposed to sun.

Hanging Lake Trail Description  from the trailhead to Dead Horse Creek

The hike began from the Hanging Lake Rest Area, which was an exit right off the I-70 (see directions below).

From the parking lot and restroom area next to a man-made lake on the Colorado River, a paved and flat trail followed along its north shore for about a half-mile.

This part of the trail was already scenic in that the lake was flanked by tall cliffs and the lake created opportunities for those reflection shots.

Another thing we noticed about this part of the hike was that most of this section of the park was devoid of the I-70 highway noise (at least until we got closer to the half-mile point).

It was a testament to the community activism that was involved to force the development of the interstate to preserve the character of Hanging Lake Park even if it meant higher development costs.

That said, environmental costs are typically externalized so perhaps the increased cost was more indicative of the true cost of having the highway in the first place.

Once we were at the half-mile point, there was a bridge over Dead Horse Creek, a small cascade on the creek itself, as well as a smaller restroom facility.

On the near side of the bridge, the Hanging Lake Trail began to climb in earnest as it left the concrete path and became more of a conventional dirt and rock trail.

It climbed almost immediately past a large scree and boulder field and ultimately followed along Dead Horse Creek.

The trail was quite obvious and easy to follow as this very popular trail had gotten a lot of use over the years.

On the far side of the bridge, the concrete path continued along the north shore of the man-made lake towards the highway noise from the I-70.

Naturally, we proceeded to climb up the Hanging Lake Trail, and it didnt take long before we understood why the park signage rated this trail as strenuous.

Hanging Lake Trail Description  hiking up along Dead Horse Creek to Bridal Veil Falls

The Hanging Lake Trail ascended up several inclines and zig-zagged switchbacks, which caused us to take frequent water breaks.

The entire time, the ascending trail was flanked by vertical cliffs while also ascending alongside minor cascades on Dead Horse Creek.

So the scenic distractions somewhat helped to take our minds momentarily off the physical exertion.

In addition, we noticed that bridges were sequentially numbered, and we saw quarter-mile posts acting as milestones (or progress indicators) to further distract us from the physical challenge.

Nevertheless, the relentless climb meant that we made very slow progress.

Heck, we wound up climbing so high that we even got to spots where snow was still covering parts of the trail!

Eventually after what seemed like forever, the trail made a turn away from the canyon carved out by the West Fork Dead Horse Creek.

Then, it started hugging the tall cliffs segregating the West Fork and East Fork of Dead Horse Creek.

This cliff-hugging section was narrow but contained railings to help assure and protect us from the dropoffs.

It also involved a steep and pretty dramatic climb up steep rock steps.

The higher we went, the more dramatic the views became when we looked back down the main canyon.

Eventually, after cresting this dramatic ascent, we encountered a trail junction where the trail on the left continued to ascend towards Spouting Rock while there was a boardwalk on the right leading to Hanging Lake and the Bridal Veil Falls.

Naturally, we did the latter first, and after all the work it took to get up here, we were quite relieved to finally see Bridal Veil Falls and Hanging Lake.

Indeed, it was well worth it!

At the Hanging Lake, in addition to the scenery, we also noticed fish in the lake.

There were benches alongside most of the boardwalk for sitting and viewing, and there was also a viewing platform right in the middle of the semi-circular boardwalk.

Despite how much work it took to get up here, this area was still very busy.

We never recalled a moment where there was no one here though admittedly, we showed up right at midday and easily spent an hour here.

Hanging Lake Trail Description  continuing to Spouting Rock

Back at the trail junction, we then continued upwards to the Spouting Rock.

As we did this, the trail continued its ascent (albeit less steep), and followed the base of more tall cliffs before heading right to the dramatic spring.

The trail allowed us to go right behind the Spouting Rock Waterfall.

Moreover, like Hanging Lake, this spot was also very popular so it would be difficult to take people-free photos.

Spouting Rock also featured a plunge pool of its own though it was shallower and featured less travertine than Bridal Veil Falls and Hanging Lake.

That said, we thought the waterfall here was pretty impressive as Im guessing it had a height of around 60ft.

When we had our fill of this both waterfalls, we then descended back down the way we came.

Since the trail was mostly downhill, it only took us 70 minutes to return to the parking lot (as opposed to over 2 hours that it took us to get up to Hanging Lake).

Authorities

Bridal Veil Falls and Spouting Rock reside in the White River National Forest near the town of Glenwood Springs in Garfield County, Colorado. It is administered by the USDA Forest Service. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions and permits, visit the USDA Forest Service website or Glenwood Springs website.
Faux Falls was another one of the waterfalling surprises during our return trip to Moab, Utah.

Like the name suggests the waterfall was technically not real (faux is French for something thats not genuine).

This waterfall was created by a diversion tunnel siphoning some of Mill Creek that eventually fed Kens Lake.

By the way, Mill Creek was the same stream responsible for the presence of Mill Creek Falls.

With water being such a precious resource, the state of Utah was no stranger to diversions resulting in waterfalls.

After all, weve seen at least two instances of this at the Fremont River Falls and the Mossy Cave Falls.

However, Faux Falls had the scenery to augment its scenic allure, and we generally thought of it as on par with other diverted waterfalls like Cascata delle Marmore in Terni, Italy and Oxararfoss in Iceland.

Yet, perhaps what this waterfall had going for it in addition to scenic allure was the chance to beat the desert heat of Southeastern Utah by being refreshed from the waterfalls spray or dipping the feet in a calm part of the diverted stream.

There were even campsites between Kens Lake and the waterfall trail (or road) making this one of the better recreational spots of this region.

Hiking to Faux Falls  walking the 4wd road

I began my hike from a little parking area right before an access road became 4wd (see directions below).

The 4wd road was a very rocky and sandy half-mile stretch that I didnt have the confidence to take a high-clearance passenger vehicle through.

I felt that I had to walk the 4wd road because it was a very rocky and sandy half-mile stretch that I felt was walkable.

Perhaps you can argue that with a lot of real slow and careful driving, this half-mile stretch was doable, but for the few minutes saved, legging this out suited me just fine.

Faux Falls was already visible from the start of the 4wd road, but it pretty much went in and out of view until I got towards the end of the road.

That was where the falls became more consistently visible once again.

At the end of the road, there was a little sandy cul-de-sac where a wooden fence marked the beginning of the official trail.

Hiking to Faux Falls  the actual trail

Even though the view of Faux Falls was already pretty impressive from the end of the 4wd road, I continued on the short trail.

It descended to a junction where I first went left to access the base of the waterfall.

I saw people on the other side of the rushing stream so it was possible to cross, but it would require getting wet during my April 2017 visit.

Still, that would be a worthwhile trade if you came prepared to get wet, especially if the goal was to cool off by the falls in the first place.

Anyways, back at the trail junction, the main trail then ascended alongside the cascading waterfall, eventually reaching the brink of the main section of cascades.

The trail actually continued to ascend maybe less than 0.2 miles beyond the waterfall.

It eventually reached some kind of pullout and gate near the diversion tunnel that was responsible for the existence of Faux Falls.

I was actually at that pullout earlier when I drove up there accidentally after missing the correct turnoff for the trailhead.

So I guess that could be a possibility in terms of shortening the hike or if parking was unavailable at the official trailhead.

Overall, I had spent about 75 minutes away from the car.

By choosing to walk the half-mile 4wd road, that made the 1/4-mile hike to get close to the falls become more like 1.25 miles round trip.

Timing a visit to Faux Falls

It was hard to say how seasonal or how often Faux Falls would flow, but it was definitely gushing during our trip in April 2017, which was a high rainfall year.

I had to believe that the amount of snow we saw that was still on the neighboring La Sal Mountains had something to do with it.

Either way, when the falls would flow, it was said to be the biggest waterfall in the Moab area.

While there were a couple dozen people coming in and out of the waterfalls vicinity, it didnt feel like there was a big crush of people here.

As a result, this place could very well still be like a locals secret.

Authorities

Faux Falls resides in the town of Spanish Valley in San Juan County, Utah. It may be administered by the government of San Juan County. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting their website.
Rifle Falls was an impressive three-segmented waterfall where each drop plunged some 70ft over travertine formations within the namesake Rifle Falls State Park.

While weve seen other three-segmented waterfalls like Triple Falls in Oregon and Waipunga Falls in New Zealand, the Colorado version had a bit more of a recreational feel to it.

After all, we saw some people fishing at the plunge pool, some kids were out and about playing in a picnic area around the falls, and there was even the ability to explore some travertine caves and alcoves.

Even our daughter got in the act by dipping her feet into the cold waters while also tossing twigs or leaves into East Rifle Creek and watch them flow beneath the bridge.

Indeed, it was just one of those relaxing experiences that contrasted the more strenuous excursion at Hanging Lake further to the east of Glenwood Springs.

Instead of spending the better part of a half-day doing a physical challenge, this particular waterfall allowed us to veg out for a similar amount of time.

Further adding to the recreational feel to this place, Rifle Falls was definitely one of the easier waterfalling excursions to boot.

Experiencing Rifle Falls  the front of the waterfalls

After parking at the day use parking area (see directions below), we walked on a short paved path leading right to a bridge.

That bridge was where we could view the triple-barreled Rifle Falls in full.

From there, we saw that there were multiple trails branching from the bridge.

The trail following East Rifle Creek to the base of the falls on the left also ascended some steps.

At the top of those steps, we got a profile view of the falls as well as the ability to go behind its leftmost segment.

The trail to the right of the bridge followed along the so-called Coyote Trail.

There was also a trail that came in from the far left side closer to the day use parking lot, which ended a loop hike that encompassed the Coyote Trail.

Experiencing Rifle Falls  the loop trail to its top

Initially, the Coyote Trail went by the far right side of Rifle Falls, but then it meandered before some travertine caves as the trail veered along the base of the travertine formation giving rise to the falls in the first place.

Beyond these interesting (albeit small) caves, the Coyote Trail then looped past the Bobcat Trail junction before climbing up to the top of Rifle Falls.

There were a couple of protruding overlooks allowing me to look at Rifle Falls from a few different profile angles.

From this lofty vantage point, I also managed to take in the view further downstream above the trees.

Something that caught my eye about this perspective of the Rifle Falls was that one of the three segments was shooting out of a pipe!

That made me question whether that (rightmost) segment of the waterfall was legitimate or not as a result of the appearance of this man-made diversion.

In any case, the Coyote Trail then continued its loop by descending past the leftmost of the drops before rejoining the paved path near the day use parking lot.

Overall, I had spent about an hour to do the entire (optional) loop as well as taking family shots with Julie and Tahia with a tripod.

That said, I could totally envision spending even more time here had it not been so late in the afternoon on the day of our visit.

Finally, the difficulty rating Im giving this waterfall presumes only taking in the waterfalls front, which was just a couple minutes walk from the parking lot.

Since I treated the Coyote Trail as optional, it did not figure into the score and thus did not raise the difficulty level as far as this writeup was concerned.

Authorities

Rifle Falls resides in the Rifle Falls State Park near the town of Glenwood Springs in Garfield County, Colorado. It is administered by Colorado Parks & Wildlife. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.
In both biology and ecology, "extinction" refers to the termination or dying out of a species. The process of extinction takes place when a particular species of animals or plants are diminished due to several factors which could include human exploitation, environmental forces, and evolutionary changes.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, almost 20,000 species of animal and plants are currently at risk of extinction. Humans have a destructive ability to have a negative impact on their environments. The following list is composed of animals whose extinction can directly be linked to the hunting habits of human beings, whether for food or sport.

10. Western black rhino

Also known as the West African black rhinoceros, the western black rhino (Diceros bicornis longipes) was a rhinoceros subspecies declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in 2011. In contrast to other rhino subspecies, the West African black rhinoceros was believed to have been genetically distinct.

The species was once widespread in the savannah regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, but unfortunately, its numbers greatly declined due to poaching. The West African black rhinoceros primarily lived in Cameroon, but hadn't been spotted since 2006.

9. Thylacine

A 3D rendering of what a thylacine looked like.

Also known as "Tasmanian wolf" or "Tasmanian tiger", the thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was the largest modern carnivorous marsupial. The species was native to the continent of Australia and is believed to have become extinct in the 20th century.

The extinction of the thylacine is blamed on bounties that encouraged intense hunting of the animals. Thylacines were believed to kill livestock. The last known species of the thylacine, named Benjamin, died on September 7, 1936.

8. Steller's sea cow

Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was a species of sirenian discovered in 1741 that no longer exists today. During the time the animal's discovery, the Steller's sea cow was primarily found in the Commander Islands between Russia and Alaska in the Bering Sea. The animal was one of the largest mammals in existence.

The closest living relative to the Steller's sea cow is the dugong (Dugong dugon). The steller's sea cow was very a slow moving animal, and was so easily captured that it was hunted to extinction for its hide, fat, and meat. It is reported to have gone extinct in 1768 - just 27 years after it first was discovered by humans.

7. Quagga

The quagga (Equus quagga quagga) was a subspecies of the common plains zebra native to South Africa. The quagga was distinct from other zebra species because of its unique stripes which featured a limited pattern of mainly brown and white stripes.

The animal was hunted for its hide and killed by ranchers who believed that the quagga was competing with livestock for grazing area. By 1878, the quagga was extinct in the wild. The last known species died on August 12, 1883 at the Amsterdam Zoo.

6. Atlas bear

The atlas bear (Ursus arctos crowtheri) was a species of brown bear who lived in Africa. The Romans are believed to have imported Iberian bears for spectacles at animal fighting events. For thousands of years, the animal was intensely hunted and captured by Romans who used them in arenas to fight against tigers, gladiators, lions, and other animals.

Atlas bears were cruelly treated, malnourished, and starved to make them desperate and aggressive while fighting. By the late 19th century, the atlas bear was extinct.

5. Great Auk

An illustration of the great auk.

The great auk (Pinguinus impennis) was a flightless coastal bird whose breeding grounds were the rocky islands of the North Atlantic, including the British Isles, Canada, Iceland, Scandinavia, and Greenland. The bird became extinct around the mid 19th century.

Until the late 18th century the species were hunted in large numbers. While their diminishing numbers could have raised alarm bells for hunters, leading to them to cease their actions, the bird just became more rare and valuable. The great auk had become a prized hunt for collectors. The last two confirmed great auk specimen were killed on July 3, 1844, off the coast of Iceland.

4. Caribbean monk seal

The Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis), also is known as the "sea wolf" or "West Indian seal" was last seen at Serranilla Bank between Nicaragua and Jamaica in 1952, although it was not officially declared extinct in the US in 2008.

The Caribbean monk seal was hunted extensively by European explorers during the late 15th century and was later exploited for their meat, fur, and oil by whalers and fishers between the 18th and 19th centuries. Overfishing and coastal development also played a big role in their extinction.

3. Passenger pigeon

Also known as the wild pigeon, the passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was a species of the pigeon that was hunted by humans to the point of extinction. Although Native Americas had longtime hunted the bird, the hunting intensified to an unsustainable amount once Europeans in the 19th century.

Hunting of passenger pigeons occurred on a large scale thanks to the commercialization of pigeon meat as cheap food. Although mass habitat degradation also contributed to the passenger pigeon's demise, it is astonishing to think that their popular in North America was once in the billions. On September 1st, 1914, the last passenger pigeon in existence, named Martha, died at the Cincinnati Zoo.

2. Dodo

A 3D rendering of the dodo bird.

The Dodo bird (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird endemic to the island of Mauritius. It became extinct between the mid and late 17th century. When humans first inhabited the island of Mauritius, they brought with them blood thirsty pigs, dogs and cats, who together they hunted the bird. As the dodo was an oblivious fearless creature with an inability to fly, it was an easy and vulnerable target. Humans also hunted dodo birds for their meat, particularly their gizzards, which many considered to be a delicacy.

1. The laughing owl

The laughing owl (Sceloglaux albifacies) was once a common bird found in New Zealand before its extinction in 1914. Weighing only 600 grams, the birds had a length of between 35 and 40 centimetres. Laughing owls were named for their unique vocalizations, which were said to mimic human shrieks.

The population of laughing owls was considerably large at the time of the arrival of European settlers in New Zealand. Although the introduction of other species and habitat degradation did contribute to the demise of the laughing owl, the birds were also hunted extensively by humans, mainly for use in museums, zoos, and personal collections.
The Great Wall is a series of military constructions that are made of stone, tamped earth, brick, and wood and are constructed along the historic northern border of China to protect the Chinese states against raids and invasions of nomadic groups along the Eurasian frontier. The building of this wall began in the early 7th century BC.

5. Juyongguan

Juyongguan is found in the Guangou valley of Changping District, a distance of 50 km from Beijing. The pass stretches down the valley and has beautiful surroundings, built during the Ming Dynasty. Juyongguan was once a military town that featured an official residence, numerous watchtowers, temples, and military installations. Today, it is a possible site for visiting the great wall, thanks to its extreme steepness and baffling views.

4. Simaitai

This section of the Great Wall is found in Miyun County at a distance of about 140 km from Beijing. This section alone has 17 watchtowers. It was rebuilt by the Ming Dynasty. For the most part, it has not been restored and retains its authentic look. Simatai Great Wall is good for hiking, sightseeing, and exploring. UNESCO has also listed Simatai Wall as a World Cultural Heritage centre.

3. Gubeikou

The views from the Great Wall at Gubeikou.

The Gubeikou section of the wall is located in Miyun County, about 140 km from Beijing. It has a length of around 20 km. This section is still very much wild and unrestored. The section is made up of two parts - the Wohushan Great Wall and the Panlongshan Great Wall. The section has 143 towers that have different interiors. Wohushan Great Wall is not opened for the public while Panlongshan Wall is partially opened.

2. Jinshanling

Jinshanling section is located in about 154 km from Beijing. It stretches to a total of about 11 km long, eight meters high, and about six meters wide. A half of the section is still wild, while half of its parts have been restored to some of the most attractive sections of the entire Great Wall. Hiking and photography are popular in this section.

1. Mutianyu

A sunset on the Great Wall at Mutianyu.

This section of the Great Wall is at Huairou district in a distance of about 80 km north of Beijing. Mutianyu is the most popular among tourists as it has been redesigned to accommodate all types of travelers, including children. Hiking and sightseeing are only some of the activities that a tourist can do in this section. The ways to get through to the highest tower is by walking up on the stone steps, using a cable car to the 14th tower, or taking a chairlift to the fourth tower.
The Republic of Georgia is an autonomous mountainous state in the Caucasus region, at the boundary between Europe and Asia. Whether Georgia is in Europe or Asia is dependent on many factors such as the global alliances, citizen passion, and cultural influence.

Georgia practices a representative parliamentary democracy with a unitary semi-presidential system, and its citizens speak the Georgian language. The capital city, also the most populous city in Georgia, is Tbilisi. The entire country boasts a population of roughly four million people. Historically, Georgia has been under different successive European and Asian rule for centuries, a factor that contributes to its dual identity.

Is Georgia in Europe or Asia?

Determining whether or not Georgia is a part of Europe or Asia is more difficult than it may seem. As the Caucasus Mountains are sometimes considered to be the easternmost border of Europe, the country of Georgia is technically located in Asia. However, culturally, many people in Georgia consider themselves part of Europe. The truth is that this Eurasian country could fit into either Europe or Asia, depending on which definition you use.

History

During the classical period, several Eurasian kingdoms conquered what is known today as Georgia. The Colchis and Iberia Kingdoms inhabited the region in the 4th century and introduced Christianity that is still prevalent in Georgia to this day. After the introduction of religion, the Georgia unity kingdom dominated the political and economic structures of the 12th and 13th centuries during the reigns of King David IV and Queen Tamar. Eventually, Georgia was conquered by several kingdoms including the Mongols, Ottoman Empire, and several Iranian rulers. The Eastern Georgian Kingdom forged an alliance with the Russian Empire in the 18th century who eventually annexed and conquered both Eastern and Western Georgia.

In 1917 following a revolution, Georgia established the first republic in the world governed by the social democratic ideology. This independence was brief as Russia invaded and absorbed Georgia into the Soviet Union in 1921, imposing socialist ideologies. Georgia regained its independence in 1991 with the fall of the former USSR. Although it has struggled with civil wars and Russian occupation, it has made significant gains in strengthening institutions.

Geography and Strategic Location

The Republic of Georgia is located at the intersections of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the west, Russia to the north and Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan to the south. Georgia follows pro-western democracy and is a member of the UN, WTO, Council of Europe, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the GAUM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development among others. On the Asian side, Georgia is a member of the Asian Development Bank but maintains close military ties with predominantly European States. Currently, Georgia is seeking to join NATO and the EU through radical democratic and institutional reforms. However, Georgia houses two independent countries that are Asian leaning and are recognized by Russia and some Asian countries. The country is led by an executive president as the head of state, and a prime minister as the head of government. The country has a unicameral parliamentary system.

Cultural Location

Though Georgians identify themselves as Europeans, their culture has an Asian identity. Georgian trade, music, architecture and food have the hallmarks of an Asian origin. Like all other Caucasian people, the Georgians do not fit into any of the major categories of Asia or Europe. The Georgian language is not Semitic, indo-European, nor Turkic.

Identity

Clinging to both European modernity and the Asian culture, Georgians, just like many in the Caucasus region, have historical backgrounds in Eurasia. Despite the topographical definition of Georgia, few Georgians identify themselves with Asia.
In 2007, the "Seven Wonders of Romania" program was started by a newspaper called Evenimentul Zilei. The program was divided into two stages.

The first stage involved the selection of sites by proclaimed travel experts. In the second part of the program, held in July 2008, internet users were encouraged to vote for their seven favorite locations out of a possible 16. 60,000 votes were registered during the program, and on July 24, 2008, the voting was closed. Results were finally announced on July 26, 2008.

7. Sphinx and Babele

The mushroom like formations of Sphinx and Babele.

Sphinx and Babele refers to an interesting landscape on Romanias Bucegi Mountains plateau. The region is famous for the mushroom shape rock formations created by the forces of erosion. It exists within Bucegi Natural Park at an altitude of 7,270 feet.

When photographed or watched from a certain angle, the rock formation appears to resemble the side profile of a face, close in appearance to the Great Sphinx of Giza from which its name is derived.

6. Piatra Craiului Mountains

The beautiful Piatra Craiului Mountain range in Transylvania, Romania.

The Piatra Craiului Mountains are a mountain range in Romania. The mountains are long and narrow, with the 7,343 feet tall Varful La Om as its highest peak. The landscape of the entire range is protected within the boundaries of Piatra Craiului National Park.

The Piatra Craiului Mountains host about 300 fungi species, 220 species of lichens, 100 species of mosses, and 1,100 species of higher plants. The park is also famous for its rich faunal diversity. Wolves, brown bears, and lynx are some of the major carnivores living in the Piatra Craiului Mountains. The other notable fauna of the region includes 270 species of butterflies, 2 endemic spider species, 110 species of birds, 17 species of bats, and several other species of animals.

5. Ceahlau Massif

A mountain resort at Durau.

Ceahlau Massif is a mountain located in the Bistrita Mountain range in Neamt County, in the northeastern section of the country. The mountain has two significant peaks, called Ocolasul Mare and Toaca. Ceahlau Massif can be accessed via the Izvorul Muntelui village from the south. The mountain is popular among hikers and is home to a number of marked trails.

Ski slopes are also located at Durau. The mountain hosts some interesting endemic species of flora and fauna, which also draws tourists to the area.

4. Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park

A river in Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park.

The Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park is located in western Romania. The landscape of the national park is largely mountainous and features peaks, valleys, crevasses, canyons, rivers, and waterfalls. The diverse habitats of the Cheile Nerei-Beusnita National Park supports a wide variety of flora and fauna. Many of these species are endemic or threatened.

The brown bear, roe deer, gray wolf, European otter, pygmy shrew, and Blasius's horseshoe bat can all be found within the park. Birds who call the park home include the golden eagle, common kingfisher, the European honey buzzard, corn crake, and the grey-headed woodpecker. Reptiles such as the common adder, smooth snake, and green lizard also reside in the forests of the park.

3. Scarisoara Cave

The Scarisoara cave.

The Scarisoara Cave is one of the largest ice caves to be found in the Apuseni Mountains of Romania. The cave was first discovered when Arnold Schmidl, an Austrian geographer, prepared the first map of the cave and recorded his observations. The Scarisoara Cave was soon visited by other researchers and was mentioned in the 1927 work Speleology from the Romanian scientist Emil Racovita.

The cave was formed during the glaciation period, about 3,500 years ago. Tourists are permitted access to some parts of the cave, although some areas are closed off to anyone but researchers with special permission from the Speological Institute of Cluj-Napoca. Bats and small bugs live in the cave.

2. Retezat National Park

The mountainous landscape of Retezat National Park.

The Retezat National Park encompasses a part of the Retezat Mountains in Hunedoara county in Transylvania, Romania. The mountains feature more than 60 peaks that are taller than 2,200 m. The tallest peak of the Retezat Mountains measures 2,509 m. Over 80 beautiful and transparent glacier lakes are also a part of the Retezat National Park. Established in 1935, it was the countrys first national park.

The park is home to one of the last remaining old-growth forests of Europe. The Retezat National Park features 1,190 species of plants of which 130 have a threatened status. The fauna found here includes the Eurasian lynx, brown bear, wild boar, roe deer, red deer, Eurasian otter, Eurasian badger, and more.

1. Danube Delta

The Danube Delta mostly falls in Romania.

The Danube Delta is the best preserved delta in Europe. It is also the continents second largest. Most of the Danube Delta is within Romanian territory (3,446 square km of a total 4,152 square km), the rest of which belongs to Ukraine. Three main distributaries of the Danube River - the Chilia, Sfantul Gheorghe, and Sulina - are part of the Danube Delta.

The delta is famous for its unique collection of flora and fauna which includes rare species. The delta features 23 natural ecosystems. It is also situated on major bird migratory routes and provides optimum conditions for the nesting and hatching of numerous bird species. For its ecological significance, the Danube Delta was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
The Swachh Mission survey results indicate a fresh interest among planners and civic body managers in various cities to get rid of the usual 'dirty picture'.

By Mail Today Bureau: With barely 20 days left for the completion of three years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance, his first 'gamechanger mission - Swacch Bharat' has turned out to be an innovative way to bring in 'a healthy competition among cities vying for the top space in urban planning'.

In the first of its kind, a Swacch Mission survey done by the Union urban development ministry in 434 cities, the results indicate a fresh interest among planners and civic body managers in various cities to get rid of the usual 'dirty picture' and showcase a clean image.

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Interestingly, the survey unveiled by Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu puts Indore as the cleanest and New Delhi (Lutyens Zone) among the top 10 clean cities in India. In Delhi's backyard, Faridabad has emerged as a fast mover among big cities.

While Uttar Pradesh's most iconic landmark - Varanasi has taken a quantum leap in swacch rankings - from 418 in 2014 to 32 in 2017, as many as 25 of its cities rank among 50 worst places in terms of cleanliness. Perhaps, new chief minister Yogi Adityanath has a task already at hand to clear the state of 'dirty picture tag'.

TOP MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Naidu told Mail Today, "Indore is the cleanest with Bhopal another one in top 10 making Madhya Pradesh second to Gujarat, which are the top movers and shakers . Closely following these two states are Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for having significantly improved their rankings from that of the survey conducted in 2014. About 12 cities of Gujarat, 11 of MP and eight from Andhra Pradesh are among the top 50 clean cities."

Naidu added, "All the cities surveyed in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand have substantially improved their rankings over that of 2016 and 2014. Besides Indore, the top 10 included Bhopal, Visakhapatnam, Surat, Mysuru, Tiruchirapally, NDMC, Navi Mumbai, Vadodara and Chandigarh."

"Such is the mission interest among the cities and the stiff competition that some cities have taken a slide from their earlier rankings despite no fall in sanitation standard. Mysuru, for example, came down to fifth place this year, but there is no decline in sanitation standards. The next two years are crucial. We all need to remind ourselves that a resurgent New India cannot be imagined without hygiene," he further said.

And the mission has significantly boosted the tourism image of India abroad and within the country, claimed Union tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma.

INDIA'S RANKING IMPROVED IN GLOBAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDEX

"When PM Modi gave the first call for Swacch Mission in his speech from Red Fort and talked about clean toilets and improving sanitation, a beginning was made by the top leadership, which was earlier not even thought of. His consistent thrust on cleanliness around historic monuments, public places and landmark cities, including heritage places like Varanasi, Mathura, Agra and Lucknow have worked in changing public view about our tourist places," he said.

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No wonder, India has improved its position by 12 places in the global travel and tourism competitive index. Modi's own constituency of Varanasi is a revelation, but not without collective planning and 24/7 monitoring by officials of all ranks.

"We took it as a challenge after our ranking in 2014 showed us at 418. We made an action plan and listed the gaps, which were many - lack of community toilets, dustbins, garbage dumpers to defunct solid waste plants. We started with door-to-door garbage collection, roped in private parties and launched a Swacch App, which had received thousands of complaints from locals and tourists on which we respond at the earliest. Garbage should not be visible is the simple mission we have in mind and that helped in this year's ranking,'' said Nitin Gokaran, Varanasi's development commissioner.

Naidu, however, cautioned states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab and Kerala to 'substantially step up efforts to improve sanitation standards in urban areas'.

ALSO READ | Beyond Swachh Survekshan 2017: Are urban bodies really committed to Clean India Mission?

ALSO READ | Swachh Survekshan Survey 2017 says Indore India's cleanest city, Gonda in UP the dirtiest: All you need to know

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ALSO WATCH | Budget 2016: Rs 9,000 crore allocated for Swachh Bharat, says Jaitley

--- ENDS ---
By Press Trust of India: Bhubaneswar, May 5 (PTI) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today refused to accept the argument of senior BJD MP Baijayant Pandas statement that a few leaders are conspiring to oust some leaders from the party.

"I do not think that (Pandas remark) is at all correct," Patnaik, also BJD president, told reporters they sought his views on Pandas statement.

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Panda, while welcoming Patnaiks decision to bring back some estranged leaders to the party fold had yesterday said that some efficient leaders had left the party due to conspiracy.

"As the chief minister has said that the matter will be considered on a case to case basis, I feel this is the right approach," Panda had said yesterday.

However, the Kendrapara MP said "Currently, conspiracy is being hatched to oust some leaders from the party which should not happen."

Panda had recently been in the news over his newspaper article where he mentioned that all was not well in the ruling party in Odisha.

His recent twitter exchange with Dhenkanal MP Tathagat Satpathy over a party MP helping BJP to divide the regional party had also raised many eyebrows in the state.

Reacting over Pandas conspiracy remark, BJD spokesman P K Deb said "If he (Panda) is aware about any conspiracy, he should bring it to the notice of the party president."

He also said that it was not acceptable to speak in the media on the conspiracy if any.

Meanwhile, Bolangir MP and BJP spokesman Kalikesh Singhdeo said "No one can mislead the chief minister. The CM is aware about every thing that is happening in the party and the govenrment." PTI AAM KK KK

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Quick thinking by members of a Fond Du Lac YMCA helped save a life early last year, and now they're getting the recognition they deserve.

During an awards presentation for staff at the Fond du Lac Fire Department, three women were given life safety awards.

They were honored for helping save the life of a man who collapsed using an elliptical machine.

One of the women grabbed an automatic external defibrillator to assist the man.
The four convicts who committed the most brutal and horrifying crime on December 16, 2012 were awarded death by hanging today by the SC. Here's all you need to know about the four rapists.

By Neha Vashishth: The case which shook the entire nation has finally come to a conclusion after a five-year-long ordeal.

Nirbhaya gang rape case was so brutal and heinous that it changed the entire way us Indians used to look at sex crimes.

Supreme Court rejected the plea of the four convicts for challenging the death penalty awarded to them. The lawyers of the four convicts still plan to file a review petition in response to today's judgment.

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Nirbhaya gang rape case was one of the 'rarest of rare cases' which was disturbing at so many levels that it's still etched on our minds.

The matter was heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.

The four convicts, Akshay, Pawan, Vinay and Mukesh were convicted for raping and brutally torturing 23-year-old paramedic Jyoti Singh on the night of December 16, 2012. A total of six people were convicted, out of which one juvenile was released after a three-year reform facility. The sixth convict, Ram Singh died during the trial.

Also read: Nirbhaya gangrape case: Supreme Court decides the 4 convicts will hang

Here's all you need to know about the four rapists:

1. Akshay Thakur

Hailing from Bihar, 28-year-old Akshay was a helper on the bus. Akshay Thakur, a school dropout moved to Delhi in 2011. Akshay's wife lives in Bihar with their son and does not believe that Akshay could ever commit a crime of such low.

Akshay denied that he was in Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012 and had left for his village in Bihar but the claims were clearly false.

2. Pawan Gupta

Nineteen-year-old Pawan, a fruit seller and his father both denied about his involvement in the case. Pawan's father said he was 'innocent' and left the area in the afternoon before the incident occurred.

3. Vinay Sharma

Twenty-year-old Vinay Sharma, also a resident of Ravi Dass slum was a fitness trainer and was educated enough to even speak in English.

Vinay denied his presence on the bus in the court and claimed he was attending a function with Pawan Gupta.

4. Mukesh Singh

Mukesh Singh is the younger brother of Ram Singh who was an occasional driver of the bus. He lived in Ravi Dass slum area with his brother. Mukesh Singh denied that he raped Nirbhaya claiming he was the one who was driving the bus.

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5. Juvenile

The 17-year-old was sent to a three-year long reform facility as it was the maximum punishment that could be granted to a minor.

Hailing from UP, the young rapist left his house when he was just 11. Being the poorest in the village, his mother sent him to Delhi in hopes of earning money as his father couldn't support the family due to his mental disability.

The juvenile has been released and handed over to a facility because of safety issues. There is no record of his existence and has been given a new identity.

6. Ram Singh

The 33-year-old convicted hanged himself in Tihar Jail. Ram Singh was a widower and came from Rajasthan at the age of 23. Ram Singh did not study after primary school and was a drop out.

Mangelal, Ram Singh's father claimed that he was murdered in Tihar Jail as his one arm was damaged due to an injury. Ram Singh's arm was damaged and had an iron rod after he met with an accident in 2009.

Also watch: Nirbhaya gangrape verdict: Supreme Court upholds death sentence for all 4 convicts

--- ENDS ---

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This speech was delivered by Bill Van Auken, from the Socialist Equality Party (US), to the 2017 International May Day Online Rally, held on April 30.

This May Day rally is directed first and foremost at the development of a mass international movement of workers and youth against war, a life-and-death task that is inseparably linked to the building of the International Committee of the Fourth International as the World Party of Socialist Revolution.

Like every other region of the globe, Latin America, obviously, will not be spared the catastrophic impact of a Third World War. It is already viewed as a field of battle by US imperialism in the struggle to defend US hegemony against encroachment by a rising China.

May Day 2017 Bill Van Auken

This May Day we mark the centenary of the Russian Revolution of 1917, and, in particular, its most enduring lesson: the irreplaceable role of a genuine revolutionary party of the working class armed with the program of socialist internationalism.

The Trotskyist movement, organized in the International Committee of the Fourth International, has alone defended this perspective, against the attempts by Pabloite revisionism to liquidate the Fourth International and subordinate the working class to Stalinism, social democracy and bourgeois nationalism.

Nowhere more than in Latin America was there are a greater attempt to impose these theories, directed at finding a substitute for the building of a revolutionary party through a relentless political struggle in the working class and theoretical battle against opportunism.

In the past year, we witnessed a series of historical milestones, marking the culmination of the political projects upon which these revisionist attacks on the Fourth International were founded. The death of Cubas Fidel Castro, at the age of 90, came amid the attempt of Cubas ruling strata to achieve rapprochement with Washington, in order to secure its own power and privileges through the influx of US capital, and at the expense of the Cuban working class.

Despite the heroic resistance of the Cuban people to US aggression, this revolution, like every other bourgeois nationalist movement and national liberation struggle, has reached an ultimate dead end, having failed to resolve the fundamental problems stemming from the imperialist oppression of Cuba.

The legacy of Castroism, however, cannot be evaluated solely through the prism of Cuba. It played an even more catastrophic role in Latin America, where various left nationalists, with the support of petty-bourgeois radicals in Europe and North America, promoted the theory that the Cuban revolution had opened up a new path to socialism, requiring neither the conscious and independent political intervention of the working class, nor the building of revolutionary Marxist parties. Rather, Castros coming to power had supposedly proven that armed guerrillas, led by petty-bourgeois nationalists, and basing themselves on the peasantry, could become natural Marxists, compelled by objective events to carry out the socialist revolution, with the working class reduced to the role of a passive bystander.

This false and ultimately catastrophic perspective was promoted most enthusiastically by the Pabloite revisionist trend that emerged within the Fourth International, led by Ernest Mandel in Europe and Joseph Hansen in the United States, and subsequently joined by Nahuel Moreno in Argentina.

The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) fought intransigently against the Pabloite perspective, insisting that Castroism did not represent some new road to socialism. It warned that the Pabloite glorification of Castroism represented a repudiation of the entire historical and theoretical conception of the socialist revolution, going back to Marx; that the emancipation of the working class, as Marx insisted, was the task of the workers themselves.

These warnings were tragically vindicated in Latin America, where the theories promoted by the Pabloites helped divert a whole layer of radicalized students and young workers away from the struggle to mobilize the working class against capitalism, and into suicidal armed struggles. These claimed thousands of lives, served to disorient the workers movement and helped pave the way to fascist-military dictatorships.

The overall impact of Castroism, and, even more decisively, that of the revisionist tendencies which promoted it, was to hold back the socialist revolution throughout the hemisphere.

In Venezuela, meanwhile, we are witnessing the death agony of chavismo and so-called 21st century socialism, in the increasingly violent confrontation between two rival sections of the national bourgeoisie, both of which fear, above all, a revolutionary eruption of the working class.

The same layers that promoted Castroism fostered illusions in the Bolivarian revolution, a bourgeois nationalist movement, based on the military. It has defended private property and, above all, the interests of finance capital in Venezuela for nearly two decades, and continues to do so as workers face unemployment and hunger.

Finally, this year has also seen the ultimate shipwreck of the Workers Party of Brazil, with the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff and the consolidation, by her former political allies, of the most right-wing government since the end of the military dictatorship.

If the PT has paved the way to the present situation, it must also be said that the collection of pseudo-left organizations, which played a pivotal role in founding and promoting the PT, themselves bear political responsibility for the sharp dangers now confronting the Brazilian working class.

The leading role in this political project was played by the same organizations that had broken with the Trotskyist movement in the 1960s, to embrace Castroism.

In the waning days of the Brazilian military regime, under conditions of massive strikes and militant struggles by students, these same elements joined with sections of the union leadership, the Catholic Church and left academics to found the Workers Party. Once again, they had found a substitute for the building of a revolutionary party and the fight for socialist consciousness in the working class. The PT was to provide a unique Brazilian parliamentary road to socialism. The dead end of that road has now been reached.

With the thorough discrediting of the Workers Party, all of these Pabloite and Morenoite groups are moving to the right, dedicating themselves to erecting a new political trap for the working class, along the lines of such left bourgeois parties as Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain.

Their efforts notwithstanding, an explosive development of the class struggle is on the agenda in Brazil and throughout Latin America.

In Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela and throughout the continent, a successful struggle against the attacks now being carried out by native and international capital requires the independent political mobilization of the working class across Latin America and internationally. That is, it requires the fight to build a unified mass movement of the Latin American working class, together with the workers of North America, in a common struggle against finance capital and the transnational corporations that exploit them all.

The urgent question remains that of developing revolutionary leadership and political perspective. This requires the assimilation of the long history of struggle for Trotskyism, embodied in the International Committee of the Fourth International, and the building of its sections in every country.
By staging provocative displays of military might, the Trump administration and the Pentagon are continuing to threaten North Korea and heighten the pressure on the Chinese leadership to intervene against its erstwhile neighbouring ally. This is taking tensions on the Korean Peninsula to fever pitch.

In the latest show of force, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson paraded with an armada off the Korean coast on Wednesday, after earlier conducting war games with the Japanese navy. For the menacing display, the giant warship was joined by two South Korean destroyersSejong the Great and Yang Manchunas well as three US guided-missile destroyers, the USS Wayne E. Meyer, USS Michael Murphy and USS Stetham, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain.

F-18 Hornets and Super Hornets flew overhead while the spectacle was recorded on video for the US Seventh Fleet, which would lead any attack on North Korea (see US Navy footage). It was the second aggressive demonstration in two days, against a backdrop of ongoing declarations by the Trump White House that all optionsincluding military onesremain on the table for dealing with the supposed danger presented by North Koreas primitive missile and nuclear arsenal.

On Monday, the US Air Force sent two B-1B Lancer strategic bombers from Guam to the Korean Peninsula, ostensibly to engage in training exercises with South Korean and Japanese military forces.

The aircraft carrier groups display was doubly inflammatory because the North Korean government had condemned the Carl Vinsons exercises as a rehearsal for invasion, and threatened to turn the carrier into a giant heap of scrap metal and bury it in the sea. Such militarist posturing by Kim Jong-uns regime has only played into Washingtons hands, giving the US pretexts to ramp up its military threats.

Further evidence of US planning for a military confrontation came with an initially unannounced three-day visit to South Korea by US Central Intelligence Agency director Mike Pompeo. In a media release on Tuesday, the final day of the visit, US Forces Korea said Pompeo conducted in-depth security discussions with local authorities, as well as US diplomatic and military officials.

According to the US statement, Pompeo met with South Korean National Intelligence Service Director Lee Byeong Ho, South Korea-US Combined Forces Command head General Vincent Brooks and US Embassy Seoul Charge dAffaires Marc Knapper, among others. Combined Forces deputy commander General Leem Ho-young also accompanied the CIA director during his trip.

Pointedly, Pompeo visited an island near the tense inter-Korean border. He travelled to Yeonpyeong Island to view the contested waters between the two Koreas and gain a first-hand appreciation of the North Korean threat to South Korea at this past and potential flashpoint, the US Forces Korea statement said.

The island became a flashpoint, and a source of a diplomatic conflict between the US and China, in November 2010, when it came under a North Korean artillery attack, in which two South Korean marines and two civilians were killed. At that time, Pyongyang insisted that its shelling was a countermeasure against South Korean military exercises in the Yellow Sea, during which shells were fired into North Koreas territory. The Obama administration exploited the clash to demand that China intervene to contain North Korea.

Pompeo is the fourth high-ranking American official to travel to Seoul in recent weeks, coming soon after Vice President Mike Pences trip to Asia last month to shore up US alliances for potential military action against North Korea. Earlier, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis made separate trips to South Korea to underscore the Trump governments focus on confronting North Korea.

A South Korean local daily, the Chosun Ilbo, said Pompeo briefed South Korean officials on details for implementing the Trump administrations new policy on Pyongyang. It quoted multiple intelligence sources. The newspaper said the officials also assessed North Koreas nuclear and missile capabilities and the internal situation of the Kim Jong-un regime.

South Korean media outlets highlighted Pompeos visit because it came just a week before South Koreas May 9 presidential election, caused by the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.

Pre-poll voting is already underway in the election, in which the leading contender, Democrat Moon Jae-in, has called for a delay in the US deployment in South Korea of its THAAD ballistic missile warfare system. Moon is seeking to exploit deep public opposition to the installation, while reassuring Washington of his support for the US alliance. The Pentagon, however, defiantly accelerated the THAAD installation to ensure it was in operation before the election.

Moons campaign office expressed surprise at Pompeos visit. We did not even know about his arrival in South Korea, an official said. There is no contact (from the US) with us.

Whatever Pompeo discussed, by rapidly installing the THAAD battery the Trump administration has made clear it will not accept any wavering by a new administration in South Korea, which hosts key US bases and 28,500 military personnel on Chinas doorstep.

Trumps calculated brinkmanship and unpredictabilityalternating between military threats and claims he would be happy to meet Kim Jong-un if the circumstances were righthas evidently raised such tensions between Beijing and Pyongyang that their growing differences have been aired publicly.

Trump has repeatedly demanded that China stop North Korea from conducting any further missile or nuclear tests. He has claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping has agreed to act decisively to do so, despite protests by Beijing that it lacks any leverage over Pyongyang. Beijing has suspended coal imports from North Korea, one of the regimes primary revenue sources, but fears that a collapse of the Norths state would create a crisis along its border and lead to the installation of a US-backed regime.

In a commentary on Wednesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) denounced the Peoples Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, and the Global Times, another Chinese state-run media outlet, for having raised lame excuses for the base acts of dancing to the tune of the US. It said Chinese suggestions that the North give up its weapons crossed a red line and China had better ponder over the grave consequences of chopping down the pillar of North Korea-China relations.

In a response on Thursday, the Global Times accused Pyongyang of grappling with some form of irrational logic over its nuclear program, and declared that Beijing should also make Pyongyang aware that it will react in unprecedented fashion if Pyongyang conducts another nuclear test.

The editorial did not spell out what such an unprecedented reaction would be. But it warned that the Norths actions threatened a 1961 treaty of non-aggression between the two countries. It added: China will not allow its northeastern region to be contaminated by North Koreas nuclear activities.

These recriminations underscore the volatile situation created by the US, in which a conflagration could erupt involving nuclear weapons.
The parents of Nirbhaya have welcome the Supreme Court judgment in the December 16 gangrape case. The apex court has announced death sentence to four convicts.

By India Today Web Desk: Parents of Nirbhaya, who was gangraped on December 16, 2012 have welcomed the verdict of the Supreme Court, which considered the case as a rarest of the rare case and awarded death sentence to the four convicts.

Nirbhaya's father said, "It is a victory for my family, I am very happy with the judgement."

Nirbhaya's mother said, "This is not just our victory. This is everybody's victory," adding, "Justice was delayed but not denied."

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The convicts had challenged the Delhi High Court's judgment in the Supreme Court. The high court had confirmed the death penalty to the convicts pronounced by the fast track trial court.

A bench comprising Justices Diapk Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan decided the case that had shaken the entire nation's conscience.

NIRBHAYA GANGRAPE CASE: THINGS TO KNOW The apex court had on March 27 reserved its verdict on the appeals of four convicts -- Mukesh, Pawan, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Kumar Singh -- against the conviction and death penalty awarded to them by the high court on March 13, 2014. The 23-year-old paramedic was brutally assaulted and raped by six persons in a moving bus in south Delhi and thrown out of the vehicle with her male friend on the night of December 16, 2012. She had died in a Singapore hospital on December 29 that year. Besides dealing with the challenge to the conviction, the apex court was also deliberating on the issue of quantum of sentence to the convicts as it has been alleged that the trial court did not separately consider "mitigating" circumstances of each convict while sending them to the gallows. While Delhi Police had sought capital punishment for the convicts, the defence counsel had said they deserved leniency considering their poor family background and young age. The police had told the bench that the horrific crime committed by these men warranted death penalty and the test of being a "rarest of rare" case was satisfied in this matter and the court should also consider the effect of crime committed by them on the victim and the society at large. Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who has assisted the court as an amicus curiae, had told the bench that there was no doubt that the crime committed was of "immense proportion" but as the evidence was not concrete, it does not warrant death penalty. Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran, also an amicus curiae, had said that option of awarding jail term for the whole life to these convicts may also be considered. The Supreme Court rejected the arguments of the defence counsel. During the hearing, advocates A P Singh and M L Sharma, representing the four convicts, had said they should be given a chance to reform and considering the mitigating factors, the court should not award them death penalty. They also raised questions about the evidence collected by the police in the matter. On February 3, the apex court bench had prima facie agreed with the contention of Ramachandran that the provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), relating to sentencing of convicts, has not been followed in letter and spirit by the trial court. It was submitted that section 235 of the CrPC provides that an accused, in the event of conviction, would be heard by on the question of sentencing individually before the trial judge passes the order awarding punishment. The bench had then mulled ways to rectify the apparent error and said there are two modes -- either the case be remanded back to the trial court to pass a fresh order on the sentence or the apex court itself hears this aspect of the matter afresh. The trial court had awarded death penalty to the four convicts. Prime accused Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in his cell in Tihar jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were abated. The high court, in its verdict, had observed that their offence fell in the rarest of the rare category and had upheld the death sentence awarded to them by the trial court.

(With PTI inputs)

ALSO READ |

Nirbhaya gangrape case: Supreme Court decides the 4 convicts will hang

ALSO WATCH | DCW issues notice to school that barred rape-survivor student from attending classes

--- ENDS ---
Between 2000 and 2016, the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has discovered the remains of 6,023 undocumented people who died crossing from Mexico into the United States.

This shocking figure, cited in a May 4 article in the New York Times, underreports the total death toll. According to one Texas sheriff, I would say for every one [body] we find, were probably missing five. That is, the number of undiscovered bodies could be in the tens of thousands.

Bodies turn up along the US-Mexico border with stunning regularity, the Times report notes. In one border area, Brooks County, Texas, 550 bodies have been discovered since January 2009, the month of Barack Obamas inauguration. At a single ranch in Texas, 31 bodies have been discovered since 2014. CBP unceremoniously throws some of the bodies together in cluster graves, often without removing them from biohazard bags.

Many of the bodies are unrecognizable, charred from the desert sun or picked away by vultures. Along well-traveled migrant paths, the dead line the way. Cadavers belonging to children are found alongside their stuffed animals. One woman who froze to death was found wearing a plastic trash bag for warmth.

In 2015, Francisco Gonzalez, a former machinist from Mexico, called emergency services from the middle of the desert, begging border patrol to arrest him to save his life. He told the dispatcher he was returning to the US to meet his newborn daughter for the first time, after having been deported for driving under the influence by the Obama administration. When officials could not locate him, Gonzalez gave the dispatcher his wifes phone number and said, Call her and tell her I didnt make it. Call her and tell her I love her and for her to take care of our baby. He died in the desert shortly thereafter.

Daniel Martinez, an assistant professor of sociology at George Washington University, told the Times, If this were any other context, if these were deaths as a result of a mass flood or an earthquake or a major plane crash, people would be talking about this being a mass disaster.

Indeed, the Times notes that the total number of bodies is greater than the total number killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks and Hurricane Katrina combined. And despite the drop in immigration since the election of Donald Trump, the number of bodies found in the first months of 2017 already equals the number found in all of 2010.

The mass casualties along the US-Mexico border are the outcome of deliberate policies of the US government, both Democrat and Republican, going back at least two decades. Under programs like Operation Gatekeeper and Operation Hold-the-Line, first enacted under Democratic President Bill Clinton in the mid-1990s, the government secured heavily populated border crossings with military defenses and increased patrols concentrated in cities like San Diego, California and El Paso, Texas.

The consequence was entirely predictable and indeed predicted. Immigrants fleeing economic and political crisis were forced to cross through deadly desert regions, where temperature can exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).

Further barriers to entry were erected under Bush (including with the Secure Fence Act of 2006, supported by Democrats) and under Obama. The deporter-in-chief Obama signed legislation in 2010 that further militarized the US border with the use of Predator drones, and deployed 1,500 National Guard troops to keep out desperate migrants.

Now, under Trump, the American ruling class is going even further. Along with the construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border, Trump is pledging to unshackle border control agents, who function as a modern-day Gestapo.

The Trump administration has already deported tens of thousands and plans on hiring thousands of immigration and border control officials. Mass detention centers established under Obama are being doubled in size, and the federal government is working with police agencies across the country to round up immigrants. The Trump administration has established a program, known as VOICE, the aim of which is to publicly denounce immigrants charged with crimes in a manner similar to the Nazi presss attacks against Jewish criminal defendants in the 1930s.

The refugee crisis is the product of imperialism and the irrational capitalist nation-state system.

The thousands of impoverished people who die in the US deserts are fleeing poverty and war caused by decades of imperialist exploitation and US military intervention across every corner of the world. The US laid waste to the entire Central American isthmus, backing dictators, funding death squads, and fanning the flames of civil wars which left hundreds of thousands dead through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

The story is the same in the Middle East and North Africa, where a record number of migrants are escaping US-backed wars in Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, and elsewhere, desperately seeking refuge in Europe and drowning by the thousands in the Mediterranean Sea. In 2015, the UN reported that there are an unprecedented 65.3 million refugees, more than the entire population of the United Kingdom.

Advances in technology have brought humanity to a level of world interconnectivity that would have been unthinkable even 30 years ago. Cell phones, the Internet, global supply chains, and advances in transportation mean that residents of the worlds most isolated villages can communicate with friends and loved ones in the worlds metropolises and learn of world events at the swipe of a finger.

But the potential for human progress is restrained by the fact that a handful of exploiters control the worlds productive forces and dictate the policies of governments.

As a result, conflicts between nation states intensify and a third world war is an immediate possibility. Far-right parties in the US, UK, France, Germany and elsewhere are being brought into government, directing popular opposition to inequality and poverty against immigrants. Under the banner of national supremacy each major power, as Leon Trotsky wrote in his 1934 essay Nationalism and Economic Life, is protecting himself by a customs wall and a hedge of bayonets.

The Socialist Equality Party opposes the division of the world into competing nation states and opposes all forms of nationalism, the poisonous ideology of this outdated system. As the 18th century philosopher Montesquieu said, I am necessarily a man, only accidentally am I French. The SEP insists that all people have the right to travel safely as they choose, without visas, passports, or the threat of harassment or deportation.

This cannot be accomplished so long as a tiny section of the worlds population controls its wealth and defends it with hedges of bayonetsand nuclear weapons. To bring the international character of the world economy into harmony with the material needs of the world working class requires world socialist revolution.
Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) supporters in Sri Lankan are continuing the struggle to free the imprisoned Maruti Suzuki workers in India.

Over the past week campaigners won support at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and Colombo University as well as from workers near the Colombo Port. Hundreds of World Socialist Web Site articles were distributed, appealing for workers everywhere to support the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals (ICFI) fight to secure the release of the victimised workers.

In March, 13 Maruti Suzuki workers were sentenced to life imprisonment. This included the entire 12-member committee of the Maruti Suzuki Workers Union (MSWU), an independent trade union established by workers at the Japanese automakers assembly plant in Manesar, northern India. The mostly young workers are now condemned to rot in the living hell of Indian prisons for the rest of their lives. Another 18 employees also received heavy jail terms.

Madhuka and Dilan, second-year art students from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, denounced the imprisonment of the Indian autoworkers. Sri Lankan workers and youth are also fighting to defend their rights, but instead of fulfilling their demands, the government is hell bent on crushing them, they said. The victimisation of the Maruti Suzuki workers by the Indian government is the worst example of this sort of attack. It is very clear that this is the situation prevailing internationally and so workers need to organise internationally.

Dilan agreed with SEP/IYSSE campaigners insistence that these attacks could not be separated from the imperialist drive to war. Its true that the imperialist powers are going for a war, he said. We saw the missile attack on Syria and the bombardment in Afghanistan. The US is using its military power to intimidate other countries. We oppose this war and I think workers have the power to stop this if they unite.

Management faculty students Thilina and Suranjith supported the ICFIs political fight for the release of the Maruti-Suzuki workers. Whoever is in power, this is how they treat workers and youth who raise demands for better conditions, Thilana said. The rulers are not doing this out of individual malice but because of the crisis of this economic system.

SEP/IYSSE campaigners explained that governments all over the world are dedicated to providing the cheapest labour in their countries in order to attract foreign investment. In India, this was exemplified by the Modi governments Make in India program.

Yes, this is true, Suranjith responded. The Sri Lankan government also claims it is building up the national economy by increasing production within the country. But what has really happened is that workers have been forced into unlivable conditions in order to maximise the profits of the investors.

Aruna, an arts undergraduate, spoke about the conditions of workers in India. The Indian government has opened up the country for investors from all around the world and because of the high unemployment, companies can hire workers and pay low wages.

Ive seen more poverty in India than Sri Lanka, but the Maruti Suzuki workers fight indicates that Indian workers are not going to tolerate these conditions anymore. Im against exploitation, and the victimisation of workers who fight it, and support your campaign to free the Maruti Suzuki workers.

Aruna supported the ICFIs fight for an international anti-war movement. None of the so-called left organisations, including the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF) which is in the leadership of university students in Sri Lanka, says anything about socialism and never speak about the danger of war. Ill listen to the online May Day Rally and follow the WSWS.

Colombo port workers vehemently denounced the Maruti Suzuki frame-up. Sri Lankan port workers face the destruction of jobs and living conditions if the governments proposed privatisation program is implemented. Port workers protesting the plans of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have been brutally attacked and injured by the police in recent months.

One port worker said he had only heard about the frame-up and jailing of the Maruti Suzuki workers through the SEP and IYSSE. No media outlets are giving any publicity to issues like this, he said, but they know it is the intention of our [Sri Lankan] rulers as well and that if workers becoming aware of this it will be a threat to the government.

Referring to the situation at Colombo port, he said management and the government had deceived workers about their privatisation plans. The previous government handed over certain port services to Chinese companies. The current government is now going to lease the rest of it to private companies from other countries. He added that the already precarious living conditions of the workers would go from bad to worse.

A Colombo port boatyard worker drew a parallel between the attack on the Maruti Suzuki workers and the Sri Lankan governments plan to appoint war criminal and former army chief Sarath Fonseka to head a special defense unit to maintain order in the country.

More and more people are taking to the streets to protect their rights. The government is considering bringing in Sarath Fonseka to crack down on these protests and control people with terror, he said.

Commenting on the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administrations claims that it would bring good governance to Sri Lanka, the boatyard worker added: The former Rajapakse government attacked workers viciously, openly cracking down on protests and abducting leading workers in the night with white vans. Now this government has launched even more brutal attacks on workers and students. Is this the good governance they promised?

Many port workers promised to sign the ICFIs online petition demanding the unconditional release of the imprisoned Maruti Suzuki workers and also expressed their interest in the ICFIs online May Day rally.
Europe Greek workers strike on May Day Greek workers held a 24-hour strike on May Day to oppose further austerity measures being planned by the Syriza-led Greek government in collaboration with the European Union. The strike saw shops closed, train and ferry services suspended and public services interrupted. Marches were held in Athens attracting 10,000, with a rally organised outside the Greek parliament building. In Thessaloniki, 3,500 demonstrated. The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), and public sector federation ADEDY, have called a general strike on May 17 to coincide with a Greek parliament vote on the latest austerity programme agreed by the Syriza government this week. Both union federations have worked to contain social discontent and subordinate it to Syriza and the Greek ruling class. Polish retail staff stage work to rule action Around 10,000 Polish retail staff employed at 1,000 outlets, including Auchan, Biedronka, Tesco, Decathlon, Dino and Makro Cash and Carry, as well as Amazon and H&M distribution centres, began a work to rule on Tuesday. The members of the Solidarity union are seeking a pay increase, improved working conditions and a ban on Sunday opening. Further strike by BMW workers in UK

Car workers belonging to the Unite union working at the BMW Hams Hall factory in Birmingham, which makes car engines, held a 24-hour strike on Wednesday. It was part of a series of eight 24-hour strikes called against BMWs intention to get rid of the current defined-benefit pension schemes, replacing them with an inferior defined-contribution scheme. BMW workers who produce Rolls-Royce cars at its plant in Goodwood, England are striking today. The company has sites at the Cowley plant near Oxford, Swindon and Goodwood in West Sussex as well as the Birmingham site. Unite members voted by a 93 percent majority on a 72 percent turnout for strikes against the pension changes, which could see some of them lose up to 160,000. The union has done everything possible to prevent a strike and is now seeking to prevent an all-out struggle, instead calling the staggered eight-hour protests. Further strikes by cinema staff in UK capital Cinema staff working for the Picturehouse cinema chain came out on strike on Monday in their ongoing struggle to be paid the London living wage rate. Workers are also demanding maternity and sick pay and for recognition of the BECTU trade union by the cinema chain. Five cinemas across London owned by the chain were affected. Currently the company only recognises BECTU at its Ritzy cinema complex. Teachers at London school strike against funding cuts Teachers at Forest Hill School in the London borough of Lewisham held a further strike on Wednesday, their seventh to date with more planned for later this month and in June. They are opposing cuts in the school budget of 1.3 million being imposed by the Labour-led Lewisham council. The cuts would lead to job losses and affect the quality of teaching at the school. The main concern of the National Union of Teachers, which organized the strike, is to protect its income from dues paying teachers. Amid mass opposition among teachers to further cuts, the NUT and the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) have called limited strike actions aimed at containing opposition. Staff at London railway to strike in defence of sacked colleague Staff working at London Bridge Tube station will hold a 24-hour strike beginning at 10pm on May 7 to demand the reinstatement of a colleague. The worker was sacked after confronting a passenger trying to evade paying for a ticket. The staff are members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.

UK nuclear power construction staff balloted for strike The 700-strong workforce of construction staff working on the 18 billion Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset are being balloted for possible strike action. The ballots are being conducted by the GMB and Unite unions, with the result to be announced next week. At issue is the amount of bonus being paid by the Bouygues TP/Laing O'Rourke (BYLOR) consortium that is overseeing construction. Finnish retail managers strike Shop managers working for the retail chains Kesko, S-group, Stockmann, Oriola pharmacies and Instru Optics held a 12-hour strike on Tuesday. They belong to the Federation of Professional and Managerial Staff (YTN), which is part of the Akava trade union confederation. The managers are seeking a collective agreement to be negotiated by the YTN and employers body, the Employers Finnish Commerce Federation. So far, the employers federation has refused to negotiate such an agreement. The managers are due to walk out again on another 12-hour strike today from noon. The strikes are aimed at headquarter operations and are expected to affect systems management operations. Middle East Egyptian strikers join May Day march Those marching on May Day in Egypt included workers at Telecom Egypt and Tourah Portland Cement, who are currently on strike. They are demanding a pay increase and are opposing the government crackdown on workers rights. The Egyptian government of dictator General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has imposed price rises in response to conditions dictated by the International Monetary Fund as terms for a loan. Israeli bus drivers set to strike Bus drivers working for the Israeli Dan bus company in Beer Sheva were due to strike on Wednesday, after the Histadrut trade union labour federation called the action. Drivers are seeking a new collective bargaining agreement with the company but negotiations have stalemated. Africa Kenyan doctors may strike again Kenya doctors in the the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPPDU), are threatening to return to strike action. The union secretary general said that none of the agreements settling the 100-day strike that began last December have been met. The union accuses governors of victimising its members for striking. He added that the action of some government officials was pushing doctors to restart the strike. Kenyas president Uhuru Kenyatta had made promises to workers, with an eye on Augusts general elections, but the state governors are refusing to implement them. During the strike, Kenyatta bitterly denounced the doctors and temporarily jailed several union officials for refusing to end it. Emboldened by the KMPPDU capitulation on the medics main demand, the implementation of the 2013 collective bargaining agreement, state governors are still holding back on wages and increments due to medical staff.

Liberian oil workers oppose sackings The Liberian oil union SYNTEPCI is demanding that the Libyan Oil Company (LOC) reinstate eight workers laid off. The company says the layoffs were because of economic reasons. The union disputes this. Liberian labour law states that companies laying off workers have to give good economic reasons to do so. The union claims the reasons given do not stand up as LOC has expanded its operations in Liberia under a growing economy, and new workers have been employed since the beginning of the year. The union states as evidence that LOC increased its oil production in Liberia in January this year by around 20 per cent on January 2016. In a dispute in May last year, where 50 workers were illegally laid-off, SYNTEPCI settled for just two workers being reinstated, and 48 given redundancy termination payments. LOC is implementing the reduction of redundancy payments for laid-off workers, which the union claims it will oppose. Kenyan ferry workers create traffic jams with go-slow Kenyan ferry workers, providing services between the mainland and Mombasa Island, embarked on a go-slow industrial action on April 29. The increased time taken to load and unload passengers and goods on each side of the half kilometre ferry trip caused large traffic hold-ups. Ferry workers are demanding the implementation of a 17.5 percent wage increase, and increased allowances awarded to them two years ago through the courts. The strikers also demand the inclusion of casual workers on the company books and that they are paid overtime for working holidays and other allowances. A spokesman for the 290 workers said he had found that when he had to attend hospital for treatment, he had been refused treatment because the company had not paid his medical insurance payments.

South Africa coal miners union demand retaining national bargaining The South African coal mining industry is facing industrial action over the decentralisation of bargaining. The existing two-year contract ends in June. A spokesman for the unions in the industry, a member of the minority union Solidarity said, If we fail to agree something like this then the industry will go on strike, no doubt. The unions already hold a certificate from the dispute resolution servicethe Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)to carry out industrial action with two days' notice. The CCMA failed to get the coal employers syndicate to accept their recommendations. The employers federation, the Chamber of Mines, has arbitrarily decided to pull out of national negotiations and agreed that its members would negotiate independently. The inclusion of the CCMA came out of a dispute called by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), against the employers move to pit-by-pit negotiations. The compromise resolution from CCMA for one more year of industry-wide negotiations was thrown out by the Chamber of Mines. It is suspected that a major reason for the Chamber of Mines resistance to compromise is the move by power stations towards the use of renewable fuels. The miners unions in South Africa have a long history of betrayal, with the companies using them to quell working class opposition. Most notoriously, the NUM participated directly in the violent suppression of the wildcat strike of miners in Marikana in August 2012. South African Airline union appeals against strike ban Airline workers at South Africas largest operator, South African Airways (SAA), were sent back to work, with the union giving way to a court order banning the strike. The union, South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA), is hoping to repeal the decision and return to industrial action, although talks have resumed with SAA. Cabin crew members came out on strike demanding an increase in allowances when on overseas flights. Their allowances for hotel and meals in other countries are not enough, on some occasions. Cabin crew staff claim they have to go without meals because the allowance does not stretch to both hotel rooms and meals. SACCA has put in an appeal to the courts, which they hoped would have been heard by Wednesday of this week.

10,000 thousand Tanzanian civil service workers purged

Nearly 10,000 Tanzanian civil servants were given a warning on April 29 that unless they vacate their posts within 10 days they face seven years in jail.

The government claims 2.4 percent of civil servants are in their post with false qualifications and will not continue to pay their salaries, starting this month.

An evaluation of 435,000 civil servants has been concluded, with the 10,000 civil servants to lose their jobs described by President John Magufulias as robbers and shoplifters.
The Supreme Court today rejected the plea by four convicts, challenging their death penalty, in Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case.

By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today rejected the plea by four convicts, challenging their death penalty, in the December 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. The apex court has decided the four convicts will be hanged till death.

Following the Supreme Court verdict, lawyers for the four rapists said they plan to file a review petition to challenge today's judgement.

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The four convicts had challenged the death sentence awarded to them by the Delhi high court, which considered it to be a 'rarest of rare' case.

The matter was heard by the apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra and consisting of Justices R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan.

"On the basis of medical evidence, physical injuries, dying statement, the Supreme Court said this is rarest of the rarest case and thus uphold the High Court judgement," said BL Kapoor, a lawyer.

Supreme Court in its order said: Taking the serious injuries, the severe nature of offence committed by the convicts, we are upholding the sentence. It is a barbaric incident, a crime of a different world. Offence created Tsunami of storm. Mitigating circumstances are outweighed by the aggravating factors. Convicts used Nirbhaya as an object for sadistic pleasure and ravaged her body. The incident created a fear psychosis in the minds of the people, especially women. Convicts played with the identity of Nirbhaya in a casual manner, which is against human civility. The incident invites the indignation of the society. The brutality, cruelty and the perverse nature of the crime makes it the rarest of rare case. Can't doubt the investigation, all DNA sampling and the other forensic tests happened with the highest possible techniques. DNA profiling proves the presence of the accused in the bus, fingerprint evidence is impeccable.

The accused were awarded death sentence in September 2013; the sentence was upheld by the Delhi High Court as well in 2014. The four whose fate was decided today are Vinay Sharma, Mukesh, Pawan, and Akshay Thakur.

On December 16, 2012, the 23-year-old physiotherapist was brutally assaulted and raped by six persons, including one juvenile, on a moving bus in South Delhi and thrown out of the vehicle with her male friend on the night of December 16, 2012.

She died days later in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012.

One of the accused, Ram Singh hanged himself in prison, while another person, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, was convicted in August last year and will serve the maximum sentence of three years in a reform home.

Meanwhile, the security of the four rapists, who remain incarcerated at Tihar Jail, has been beefed up with the aim of preventing any possible suicide attempts.

Earlier today, the parents of the victim said they are sure that the apex court will award death sentence to the guilty. Following the verdict, the parents express happiness, saying that while justice for their daughter has been delayed, it has not been denied.

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Justice Dipak Misra is known to be non-hesitant when it comes to awarding death sentences and is exceedingly sensitive to women's rights and liberties.

He has upheld rape as depravity and not curable and recently, passed a woman friendly judgement saying that "no woman can be compelled to love; she always has right to say no".

Also Read:

Nirbhaya convicts to be hanged? Supreme Court verdict on plea challenging their death sentence today

Nirbhaya case: Supreme Court to hear sentencing of four accused again

Nirbhaya gangrape convict attempts suicide in Tihar Jail

ALSO WATCH | The Reality Behind The 2012 Delhi Gang Rape

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THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) - Georgia residents are reacting to landmark legislation allowing concealed handguns on public universities and college campuses.

Governor Nathan Deal just signed the new bill into law Thursday. Now, school officials are figuring out how they'll implement it before the next school year.

Some believe the bill it will go a long way to make campuses safer, allowing students and staff to better protect themselves in dangerous situations. Others think allowing guns on campus could do more harm than good.

"I think it is a horrific idea," said Mahsheed Khajavi. Khajavi is a college professor and her son is a college senior, so when it comes to guns on campus, she has some pretty strong opinions. Khajavi does not support the new law. She believes allowing guns on campuses adds another layer to some already complicated issues, like student drinking and sexual assault.

"More men carry than women," said Khajavi. "Frontal lobe development isn't complete in males until their early twenties. Testosterone is highest during this age. The combination of non-complete frontal lobe development and high testosterone makes for poor decision making, and adding guns to that mix is just immoral. I think it's a morally inappropriate decision to do that."

Local law enforcement officers have also spoken out about the issue, saying it may make their jobs more difficult.

"It is hard already for a police officer who is trained to make those decisions. So, I am worried about the fallout if they shoot the wrong person, and there will be fallout," said Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress.

Despite these fears, the change does have a decent amount of support. Some students say they 'll feel better with more guns around.

"Since I'm on a college campus, I honestly think it would make people feel more safe and that they have a way to protect themselves if needed. I don't see a problem with it," said Cara McCalley, a Georgia college student who supports the new law.
Their advocates said they will file a review petition as the convicts should be given a chance to reform.

By India Today Web Desk: After being awarded death sentence, the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case will soon file a review petition in the Supreme Court.

Advocate AP Singh, who fought for the convicts, alleged that the human rights of the convicts have been neglected.

"Justice is not done. We will file review petition after reading the order. You cannot give a death sentence to anyone for a message to the nation," he told reporters.

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He said the meaning of punishment is improvement and there is a right to live. "In this, the human rights have been neglected, Mahatma Gandhi's ideology has been neglected as this is violence," Singh said.

Samaaj mein message dene ke liye kisi ko phansi nahi de sakte, human rights ki dhajiyaan udd gayi: AP Singh, Lawyer of convicts #Nirbhaya pic.twitter.com/DKMVXBwizn- ANI (@ANI_news) May 5, 2017

Advocate M L Sharma, who also represented the convicts, had said they should be given a chance to reform. They also raised questions about the evidence collected by the police in the matter.

The trial court had awarded death penalty to the four convicts in the December 16, 2012 sensational gangrape and murder case. Prime accused Ram Singh allegedly committed suicide in his cell in Tihar jail in March 2013 and proceedings against him were abated.

Also read:

Nirbhaya gangrape case: Supreme Court decides the 4 convicts will hang

Nirbhaya gangrape case: Parents happy as Supreme Court sends rapists to gallows

Also watch:

When an Aaj Tak reporter faced eve-teasing while reporting on Delhi gangrape case

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